Hong Kong: APEC energy modelling seminar held

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Workshop on Energy Modelling was held in Hong Kong via video conference today.



Around 90 experts and delegates from eight APEC member economies and five organisations attended the workshop to share experiences on the utilisation of energy modelling in forecasting energy consumption and tracking low carbon transition progress, as well as for formatting the energy policies.



While delivering opening remarks at the workshop, Secretary for Environment & Ecology Tse Chin-wan pointed out that Hong Kong is striving to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050.



He noted that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government published Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2050, which outlines the city's decarbonisation strategies and targets, as well as the climate adaptation and resilience measures.



Mr Tse explained that Hong Kong will tackle the carbon emissions problem at source through four major strategies, namely net-zero electricity generation, energy saving and green buildings, green transport and waste reduction.



The Hong Kong SAR Government also set up a new Office of Climate Change & Carbon Neutrality to strengthen co-ordination and promote work such as deep decarbonisation.



Mr Tse added that Hong Kong is delighted to host the workshop, which gathers experts and APEC member economies to share their experiences on adopting energy modelling and strengthening collaboration in shaping a greener tomorrow together.



Electrical & Mechanical Services Department Assistant Director (Electricity & Energy Efficiency) Barry Chu, who is also deputy lead shepherd of APEC's Energy Working Group, delivered the closing remarks.



Apart from stressing that combatting climate change is not only a task for a few economies, but an ongoing global mission, Mr Tse made it clear that Hong Kong would continue to work closely with colleagues in the working group and its expert groups to contribute to the refinement of energy modelling.



He also encouraged APEC member economies to utilise energy modelling to accelerate the progress toward achieving the organisations energy goals.

This story has been published on: 2023-08-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Fighter jets fly over mountains

China Military Online) 09:52, August 08, 2023

A fighter jet attached to an aviation brigade of the air force under the PLA Western Theater Command soars into the sky during a flight training exercise on July 30, 2023. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Yu Zeqi)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
At the age of four, Italian girl Yasmin Von Roon asked her mother to take her to China, after watching a movie about China's legendary female warrior Mulan and listening to her grandmother's account of Italian traveler Marco Polo's life, who traveled to China in the 13th century.

Now aged 26, she is a successful online influencer with 110,000 fans on TikTok, but she still recalls the strong emotional impact of learning about Marco Polo's travels.

Considering herself the "No. 1 fan" of China, she has traveled to 17 Chinese provinces since 2018, and chose Zhejiang University for her master's degree studies rather than French or British universities, and is now majoring in international affairs and global governance.

Such travels are a dream come true for the girl. She is even more delighted to see the widespread interest that her explorations have garnered online. When she traveled to southwest China's Chongqing Municipality this May, she posted several videos about the cityscape, garnering millions of views and tens of thousands of fans on TikTok.

"I never imagined these videos would go viral. I think the reason for this interest is that the videos are made without 'filters' and reflect the real China," said Yasmin Von Roon.

The Italian said that Chongqing is a futuristic city with magical architecture and an amazing transportation system with monorails passing through the buildings.

"When I was in Italy, I saw content on Chongqing circulating on the internet. I feel like 'How come I didn't know this city?'," said the girl.

Thus, when she returned to China to pursue her studies, she bought a ticket from Rome to Chongqing.

Not only was she shocked to find that these magical views were real, but she also learned that Chongqing is right next to her favorite city in China, Chengdu, which is the capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province.

When she came to China for the first time in 2018, she chose Yunnan Province and Sichuan Province rather than the popular cities such as Beijing and Shanghai. "I did some research and I just wanted to find the 'hidden gem' in China," she explained.

Chengdu and Chongqing are close to each other and have many things in common, such as the dialect and food, said the foreign vlogger, and yet they have completely different vibes, both of which are appealing to tourists.

Also, it was in Chengdu that she felt the enthusiasm of the Chinese people. When she asked a random passer-by for directions to a particular location, the local resident actually spent 30 minutes taking her there.

"She didn't do it for money, but just as a gesture, to let me know that I'm welcome in the country. The genuine character of the Chinese people is one of the reasons I've stayed here," Yasmin Von Roon recalled.

Yasmin Von Roon's father is German, and her mother is Italian, giving her an international perspective from an early age, and she has now traveled to over 70 countries. But she has been particularly impressed by China's diversity, with different ethnic groups from various settings across the vast territory, ranging from the snowy north to the warm coastlines of the south.

"I would like to stay here in China, and after finishing my studies, I will see what opportunities the country can offer me. In the meantime, I would like to continue showing the public how beautiful China is," she added.
Im not sure how long it took European explorers to realize they had not found a new way to travel to India in the 15th century, but naming the inhabitants of the New World in the Western Hemisphere Indians is a label that inexplicably stuck. You would think that this realization would have quickly led to a correction.

The Indigenous people of the Western Hemisphere and Indians from the Asian subcontinent are two groups that are incredibly diverse in their own right. American Indians, Alaska Natives, and others stretching from the top of North American down to the lower tip of South America had and still have distinct languages, customs, histories, and food traditions. The same is also true of Indians from southern Asia  a vast population of over a billion people with very different culinary practices, languages, religions, and culture. A comparison of the two  especially on the food side of things  seems to show little overlap.

With this dal dish, I developed a recipe that uses one of the most famous dishes to come out of the Indian subcontinent and used ingredients that were available to the Indigenous populations of the Western Hemisphere. Dal is a very popular Indian subcontinent meal that uses lentils and many aromatics and flavors to create a satisfying vegetarian or vegan meal. Red lentils, also known as masoor dal, break down in this recipe and create a creamy consistency that nourishes you with its superfood status.

While lentils are not a New World ingredient, we do happen to grow more of them in Montana than any other part of the country. My favorite are ones called petite crimson lentils grown by Montana farmers and sold by Timeless Food (timelessfood.com). Many stores will sell red lentils in one-pound packages or in the bulk food section.

This dal is enhanced and paired with ingredients that werent a part of Old World cuisine until European explorers brought them back following expeditions. Chiles, avocados, tomatoes, pumpkin (I use the seeds) and a cameo of American Indian fry bread (instead of the traditional Indian naan) are the ingredients that will blend some rich culinary traditions of these vast populations together into something you will love to put on your kitchen table.

For this recipe, I used Hatch chiles from New Mexico that are in season every August and September. They can often be found in Montana grocery stores during those months, or you can order them online. If not, consider using their sisters, Anaheim chiles, which can be found nearly everywhere all year. The dal and the fry bread are a great meal alone, but you can also serve on top of some fragrant basmati rice.

Dal

(Serves 4-6 people)

Ingredients:

1 cup red lentils

4 cups water

Small onion  1 cup finely chopped onion

Small tomato  1 cup finely chopped onion

3 large or 4 medium Hatch or Anaheim peppers

1 lime

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 1/2 teaspoons cumin

Fresh cilantro

Vegetable oil

Salt and pepper

Optional topping  avocado slices, thinly sliced jalapeno, pumpkin seeds, more lime juice

Fry Bread

Ingredients:

1 cup flour

1/2 cup lukewarm milk

Hefty pinch of salt

Hefty pinch of sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

Vegetable oil

Directions:

Preheat your outdoor grill. Place your Hatch or Anaheim chiles on your preheated grill and cover for 3-4 minutes without leaving unattended. Lift the lid and check how they are cooking. You want them to get dark and blistered (but not burned) and have the skin separate from the flesh. Turn the chiles when they reach this point on the first side and complete the process for all sides. When they are done, place in a large bowl and cover with plastic wrap to let them steam.

After a half-hour, you should be able to handle them well and separate the skins from the flesh. Discard the skins, and then open the chiles to remove the seeds. Cut the flesh into 1/4-inch squares and set aside.

In a medium-sized pot, saute the small finely diced onion in two tablespoons of vegetable oil on medium heat. Add salt and pepper. Cook for about 8 minutes stirring occasionally, then add your cumin, chopped tomatoes, chiles, and garlic. Cook for about 5 minutes as the tomatoes start to break down.

Rinse your lentils until the water runs clear and drain. Add them to the pot with your other ingredients plus 4 cups of water, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and bring to a boil on high heat. Once boiling, drop it to medium-low and stir every 3-5 minutes until lentils are cooked, about 30-40 minutes. The consistency should be like a rough puree with a bit of texture from the soft lentils. Keep in mind it will thicken as it cools on your plate.

Add juice from half a lime and 1/3 cup fresh chopped cilantro just before serving. Check for seasoning levels according to your taste (salt, pepper, cumin, and lime). Serve with basmati rice and fry bread and top with your choice of sliced avocado, thinly sliced jalapeno, more chopped tomato, toasted pumpkin seeds, more lime juice, and/or more chopped cilantro.

To make the fry bread, whisk dry ingredients and combine with milk until it forms a ball. Let rest 30 minutes. Divide into 6 equal pieces. Flatten with hands until each ball becomes a 4-inch disc. Cook in a preheated pan on medium heat with 1/2-inch vegetable oil until golden brown on each side.
A man was cited in Ravalli County following accusations he sexually assaulted multiple women and exposed himself at a music festival near Darby last month.

Ravalli County Justice Court documents show Travis W. Mendenhall is facing four sexual assault citations along with an indecent exposure violation and disorderly conduct citation  all are misdemeanors.

Ravalli County Attorney Bill Fullbright said Mendenhall, reportedly of Missoula, was arrested on July 30 but bailed out the following day. He pleaded not guilty to the offenses, according to Fullbright.

Around 12:30 p.m. on July 30, the host of the Crystal Mountain Music Festival called Ravalli County authorities reporting that a man attending the gathering, identified as Mendenhall in the citation form, sexually assaulted a woman at the festival.

The responding deputy spoke with four women who reported assault. They told the deputy they were touched inappropriately, including Mendenhall putting his hand between three of the accusers legs repeatedly after being told to stop, according to the citation document. The fourth woman accused Mendenhall of touching her back and arms multiple times and kissing her on the cheek.

Also at the festival, multiple parties recounted to the deputy Mendenhall exposed his genitals while on a raft with multiple children nearby, and that he repeated such behavior at a pond, too.

The Crystal Mountain festival lasted from July 28 to July 30 and featured a lineup of electronic music artists, according to the events website. It was held at the Crystal Mountain Mine, roughly an hour east of Darby.

On Friday, the Crystal Mountain Music Festival Facebook Page posted a statement about the incident.

We were deeply saddened by the events that occurred at Crystal Mountain Music Festival on Sunday, July 30th. We had an incident with one of our attendees, involving five victims at one of our stages, the post stated. They contacted security. Security and members of our community were able to contain the situation and pass that individual off to local authorities. That individual was Travis Mendenhall.

Festival organizers wrote the group is working on improving future safety responses.

We had no advanced knowledge of any issue with this individual that would have prevented them from entering the festival, it continued. While we were able to resolve the situation quickly, there are always things that we can do better as a community.

Mendenhalls next court date is scheduled for Sept. 21 in Ravalli County Justice Court. Hes ordered to have no contact with any witnesses or accusers in the case.
In January 1984, Alma McCormick gave birth to twins  a boy and a girl.

But when the children turned 1, McCormicks daughter, Camie, was diagnosed with a rare childhood cancer. Camie and her family made 10 trips to Denver for her chemotherapy treatments, and she lived almost another year before dying in December 1985.

That experience really filled my heart with passion, McCormick said. I had a passion and desire to develop something for my Crow people.

McCormicks passion paid off last month when her organization was awarded $180,000 to promote health equity.

Messengers for Health forms

A few years after hear daughters death, McCormick met with several other Crow women and a faculty member at Montana State University who were invested in health equity. Initially, the group focused on cervical cancer, which had been affecting Crow women, and as McCormick said, is usually preventable.

We sat at a restaurant here in Hardin, and it was up to us to brainstorm just how this would work, she recalled. We knew it would really take a Crow woman to talk to other Crow women to get preventive health exams, and thats how it started.

Funded by two research grants from the American Cancer Society, Messengers for Health was founded in 2001 and in 2010 became a nonprofit organization. In its early years, the organization conducted a survey of 100 Crow women ages 18 and older inquiring about their attitudes and behaviors toward cervical health.

They shared with us that if they were to talk with someone about cervical health, they wanted to do so with someone they could trust, McCormick explained. Thats how we recruited our messengers.

Messengers for Health began by having women of the community, called Messengers, educate and encourage other Crow women to receive cancer screenings and pursue other types of preventive care. McCormick said the organization recruited messengers across the reservation  in Lodge Grass, Wyola, Crow Agency and other areas  to meet with Crow women one-on-one to discuss health and preventive care.

The Indian Health Service is the federal agency responsible for providing health care to federally recognized tribes, but its long been criticized for being understaffed and underfunded.

There has to be trust, McCormick said. When our people are struggling mentally or emotionally, they will not just contact Indian Health Service and schedule an appointment. They need to meet with someone they know and trust.

McCormick added that when the organization first began, she and other staff members had to work hard to overcome cultural taboos.

It was thought that just by speaking the word cancer, we would bring it upon ourselves because our words are powerful in Crow culture, she said. But we said, Its OK. We can say the word cancer and were not going to bring it upon ourselves. Our Crow women are also modest. Its a wonderful quality. But we said, That modesty will not keep us from getting a PAP test or mammogram.

Over time, McCormick said people started spreading the word about Messengers for Health, telling others they had good experiences with the organization.

It takes time to build trust, McCormick explained. People dont just buy into this right away. My people know what I went through. They know I lost a little daughter to cancer, they saw how I coped with it, and after the funding came from the American Cancer Society, we knew we had to make this sustainable.

Messengers for Health has since expanded to improve health outcomes across the Crow community through education and other strategies. McCormick said the organization has a special focus on cancer and dialysis patients, who may need to travel from the reservation to Billings several times a week to get adequate care. McCormick gives out gas cards to help people get to their appointments, and she sometimes pays out of her own pocket to help people access care.

In July, Genentech, a biotechnology company, awarded a $180,000 unrestricted grant to Messengers for Health to promote health equity.

Danica Richards, senior manager of giving and social impact at Genentech, said Messengers for Health stood out among other applicants because the organization uses local cultural strengths to develop community-driven solutions.

Its pretty intuitive that communities know what they need, so what we wanted to do is develop a fund that leans into that, she said.

McCormick said the funding is crucial to the organizations sustainability, adding that funds will be used to pay the five staff members and support operating costs.

This keeps us going, she said.
With sky-high demand for housing in Missoula, a Bozeman-based developer is proposing one of the largest subdivisions in the area in recent years in terms of the number of dwelling units.

The Missoula Consolidated Planning Board and the Missoula City Council will soon have to vote on whether to recommend and approve an application for a massive, 614-unit housing development on 101 lots in the Mullan Road area west of Missoula and east of the airport.

Called the Icon Apartment Homes at Dougherty Ranch, the project is being proposed by Braxton Development LLC, a Bozeman company that says it has built $1 billion worth of developments in 13 states, including 6,500 housing units. In its application, the company says the project will offer high-end, multi-family housing options for the greater Missoula area.

Its pretty darn big, explained Dave DeGrandpre, a planner with the citys Office of Community Planning, Development and Innovation, when asked how the proposal stacks up against recent subdivision applications.

The 44.75-acre property was once part of the historic 270-acre Dougherty Ranch. The entire piece of land was once listed for $28 million, but separate parcels have been sold off individually. There are other huge multi-family housing projects planned nearby.

The land is currently in Missoula County, so the developers will have to seek approval to get the property annexed into the city, connected to city sewer and water, and then zoned. Then, theyll have to get approval for subdividing the property and creating a master site plan. The developers, represented by local land-use planning company IMEG Corp., will go before the Missoula Consolidated Planning Board on Tuesday, Aug. 15. The Missoula City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposal on Aug. 21.

The developers are also proposing five commercial lots that will satisfy the citys requirements for ground-floor office or retail shops.

A request for comment from Braxton Development was not returned on Monday. Its website says it has built several large complexes called Icon Apartment Homes in places like Missouri, Tennessee and Bozeman. The property is just west of 3285 Flynn Lane and is currently unoccupied. The project is proposed to be completed in two phases.

Planners for IMEG Corp. wrote in their application that the project will include multiplex apartment buildings, mansion apartments, duplexes and villas.

Site statistics, conceptual designs, and the multi-family building ethos being proposed for this subdivision are already being discussed to ensure the subdivision not only offers residential housing options in compliance with the Sxwtpqyen Neighborhoods Form-Based Code, but is providing a safe, desirable, and connected place to live, IMEG planners wrote.

DeGrandpre said that the project will go through a very detailed review process and there will be opportunities for public input.

The Sxwtpqyen (its pronounced like swept-a-kin) Neighborhood is undergoing radical change as it absorbs most of Missoulas new housing growth recently. Several large projects are in the planning stages, and if they all come to fruition the area will be home to thousands of new homes in the next decade.

Were seeing loads of (subdivision applications in the area), DeGrandpre said. Theres lots of demand.

A company called Cathcart Properties, based in Virginia, has submitted an application for 301 homes on an 18.73-acre parcel of the former Dougherty Ranch. A 260-lot subdivision nearby called West End Homes was approved for annexation, zoning and subdivision by the City Council in January. An Arizona-based company called Miramonte Homes has a pending application to build 162 new homes in a 17-acre piece of land near the Icon Homes project as well.
Get ready for some people watching, bingo, bull riding, corn dogs, live music, motorcycle racing and neon lights. And take in one last memory of the old grandstands.

The Western Montana Fair kicked off at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 9 and runs through Sunday, Aug. 13 at the Missoula County Fairgrounds.

With somewhere between 100,000 and 140,000 people expected to visit the event and beautiful weather in the forecast, Missoula's going to be a rowdy place this week.

"Things are really buzzing," said Billie Ayers, the fairgrounds events and operations manager. "The last two years have had record-breaking attendance, and we already have 1,000 more exhibits entered this year."

Ayers said there have been some additions for this year's fair. There'll be two bingo parlors, a new video arcade and two covered plazas for dancing, demonstrations and storytelling. There'll be more than 30 food vendors, and much of the proceeds from the deep-fried meatballs and Indian tacos go to local nonprofits.

There'll be live music and arena events every evening, including rodeo and bull riding.

The fair is free for everyone to attend, but parking is $7 and only cash is accepted. Ayers said she encourages everyone to carpool, bike, walk, bus or ride-share.

Mountain Line drops off multiple times a day, and maps and other guidelines, along with a schedule of events, can be found at westernmontanafair.com.

Arena upgrades

This is the last year for the grandstands at the arena. Built in 1954, they're set to be replaced after almost 70 years in service.

Recently, Missoula Concrete Construction, a local business owned by the Bauer family, donated $750,000 of pre-cast concrete for the new grandstands. They'll honor their longtime employee Dale Clouse with the donation and the new grandstands will be in the Clouse-Bauer Arena.

Dale Clouse serves on the Missoula Fairgrounds Foundation and he and his father, Harvey Clouse, served as Western Montana Fair superintendents for 40 years combined.

Recently, the Missoula County commissioners voted to approve the new name for the arena.

"Dale really facilitated the ask and the donation," explained Emily Brock, the county's director of economic and land development. "I think the Bauer family was so generous because of how loyal Dale has been to them over the years and because they really see how much the fairgrounds have improved over the past five years."

The donation will cover about a third of the cost of the arena renovation, with another third coming from private fundraising and another third coming from revenue from events at the arena.

Demolition of the existing grandstands begins this fall, and Brock said the goal is to have the new arena ready for next summer's fair.

The seating capacity will still be about the same at 3,000, but Brock said the new grandstands will be safer, more durable and cleaner. There'll be more shade as well, she said.

"The existing grandstands are beyond their useful life," she said. "We have a structural engineer come every year to verify they're safe to use. We were told this is the last year they could be used."
Last year rumors swirled around the Deer Lodge Valley that state officials were considering moving the prison from its rural anchor, a possible blow to the symbiotic relationship between the community and state institution.

Vacancies among correctional officer positions were up to 40%, as high as Montana State Prison Warden Jim Salmonsen, who has worked at the facility for 34 years, had ever seen it. Some suspected the state would look to more populous areas of Montana to draw a bigger workforce. At a community meeting assembled with prison staff last September, Deer Lodge Mayor James Jess worked to quash the narrative, telling the crowd Gov. Greg Gianforte assured him directly the prison would not move.

Ultimately, money talks: In the time since, the state Legislature approved  and fast-tracked  more than $200 million in infrastructure spending at the prison. This allocation, Salmonsen said during a media tour Aug. 4, shows the community the prison isnt moving anywhere.

"It's going to be a busy four to five years around here," Montana Department of Corrections Public Safety Chief Jim Anderson, who also attended the tour, told reporters.

The lion's share of the allocation will go toward upgrading the "low-side," or low-security, housing that holds about 800 beds. Three of the four existing units are dorm-style housing built in the early 1970s that will be torn down and replaced by new structures. Inside, the existing buildings are broken down by cubes. Areas meant for nine inmates hold 17 because of population growth at the prison, and one bed is placed in what used to be a broom closet.

Along with more than 100 additional beds, prison officials expect the new buildings will be more prison-like in their appearance, with more open fields of vision. Salmonsen said the angular design of the existing building requires more officers to post around corners.

"We're just trying to build smarter," Anderson said.

"And safer," Salmonsen added.

Nearby, the low-security recreation yard is the planned site of the three new low-security units. Staging new buildings there will require extending the perimeter fence and power lines in that corner of the compound. Once those buildings are constructed and ready for housing, the existing A, B and C units will be demolished and that site will become the new recreation yard.

Salmonsen said this rebuild has been in discussion for years. Efforts began when Mike Mahoney was warden at Montana State Prison, Salmonson said; Mahoney retired in 2011.

Part of the plan includes changes to the D unit, the fourth structure in the low-security section of the compound. The building badly needs upgrades to come into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the bathroom-to-inmate ratio is too low, too.

Four architecture and engineering firms applied for the low-side project  DLR Group (Omaha, Nebraska), HDR Engineering (Missoula), HOK (St. Louis, Missouri), Lombard Conrad Architects (Boise)  before the application period closed, and have since been interviewed by a project team with members of the Department of Corrections and Department of Administration.

Only one firm submitted a proposal for the construction management and general contractor services portion of the project by the Aug. 2 deadline, Sletten Construction in Billings.

No contract has yet been awarded to the firms that submitted proposals, a DOA spokesperson said.

In total, the Legislature allocated $211 million for projects specific to the prison outside Deer Lodge. Outside of low-security housing, the perimeter fence and check-in station need upgrades, and Salmonsen is particularly keen on the expanded staff services that will be built into the facility's Wallace Building.

The latter is part of Salmonsen's continued efforts in restoring the prison's workforce. The Department of Corrections in July notified lawmakers vacancies among correctional officers has fallen from 40% late last year to 20%, a promising reduction in a staffing gap that raised "grave concerns" with state legislators and the executive branch in recent years.

Still, the prison population remains over its 1,526-bed capacity and visitation is still suspended due to staffing. A homicide at the prison in January has yet to see a suspect charged, because, as Salmonsen put it, the list of crimes at the facility state prosecutors are working through is extensive.

Last year the department announced the formation of a recruitment and retention team to slow the outflow of workers. Detention officer Kassandra Elliott, who has worked at the prison for more than two years, is a member of that team. Threading the needle somewhere between bubbly and stern, Elliott said the culture change at the facility has been an intentional adjustment. When people at work are better rested, stress doesn't compound, she said. When new employees arrive for their first shifts on the job, a new mentoring program keeps them on page with the staff's shared goals.

"We're all in prison, too," Elliott said. "If we're not all cranky, it's a (different environment).  We want to build that bond (between employees), so we can trust our partners."

The Legislature's allocation cleared debates with relative ease on the bill sponsor's assertions of officer and inmate safety. It's a welcome bit of encouragement, Anderson said, considering correctional officers don't typically get a place at the community pedestal of support. Said another way, few, if any, think of correctional officers when they hang their "Back the Blue" signs in their window. Elliott said the budget approval showed support for "the little people."

"(Correctional officers) are the hidden heroes of the law enforcement community," Anderson said.
Shawn Clouse describes data on the internet as akin to a torn-up letter. While individually those pieces of data mean very little, information like names and addresses can be put back together.

Its not too different on the internet. Users data is all able to be pieced together, leaving the internet as an inherently insecure place increasingly relied upon, according to Clouse, area coordinator of Management Information Systems at the University of Montana.

The vulnerability can affect everything from coffee shops to schools to tractors, Clouse said. In April, Montana State University reported a cyberattack impacting all of campus, resulting in increased sensitivity to cybersecurity in Montana.

Theres become a heightened awareness in businesses of the problems with cyber, Clouse said. Its in the paper every day, so its getting to the point where everybody knows.

Beginning this fall semester, the University of Montana will offer a bachelors degree in cybersecurity aimed at addressing the need. Its the first in-person, four-year degree of its kind in Montana.

The degree is an expansion of previous programs for the university as it expects to be the future cybersecurity headquarters in Montana, according to UM Communications Director Dave Kuntz.

This is a growing area of need here in Montana and across the country, Kuntz said. And weve had similar programs that have been really successful.

In a given year, there are around 650,000 openings across the nation in the cybersecurity field, according to CyberMontana Director Dianne Burke. About each month, Montana has 300 openings, with about half being remote.

The addition of the major comes with plans to further develop a Security Operations Center (SOC) in UMs University Center this fall, part of which is already in operation. Kuntz said the SOCs primary goal is to protect UMs digital infrastructure and the data housed in UM and its affiliate colleges.

Theyre also planning to collaborate with the state of Montana, eventually providing cybersecurity training for the National Guard.

Kuntz said the SOC will try to focus on protecting the rural areas of the state where secure digital infrastructure might not be in place, which can leave them unaware of a cybersecurity attack even happening.

Our agriculture systems, our rural K-12 systems and health care systems need to be able to build a really strong line of defense to protect this infrastructure thats so critical to our economy today, he said.

As part of the Montana University System, UM and CyberMontana received roughly $6.16 million from the state of Montana for various cybersecurity initiatives from a technology appropriations bill passed earlier this year. Roughly $1.5 million will go to the development of the SOC.

Another million will go to scholarships for students in the new cybersecurity major. The scholarships will primarily be dedicated to Native American and rural students.

Expanded offerings

Certificates in cybersecurity have been offered at Missoula College since 2014, with continued demand for them being a driving factor in the creation of the major, according to Kuntz.

The four-year certificate is primarily focused on cybersecurity from a management perspective and to equip students with what to do in the case of an attack.

In 2017, the college received a designation of being a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity for its certificate, the first in Montana to do so. The college received a recertification of the designation last year.

Its a big deal, said Burke, who is an adjunct professor for Missoula Colleges cybersecurity classes. It describes quality not only in the curriculum, but in the faculty and involves community outreach. I think its really a testament to the integrity of this certificate program that we received this nationally because its a hard thing to do.

Missoula College has since partnered with the Montana Department of Labor and Industry and job service offices across the state to bring people into the program. Last summer, they implemented a rapid training program for their cybersecurity certificate.

Students seeking the major will get more of a technical exploration than the certificate, which is centered on the foundational elements of cybersecurity.

What its doing is giving people more options in terms of what they want to pursue in terms of learning about cybersecurity and then giving them more options in terms of what they can do as a practitioner, Burke said. Like if you look at our certificate, we are focused with knowledge in operations, maintenance and defense. But if you look at the job market, people want programmers. So, a four-year degree is going to have a more cohesive programming education.

Clouse, who designed the curriculum for the new degree, said they plan to continue relationships previously established in the certificate. Cybersecurity business Lake Missoula Group Security helped inform the classes when designing the major.

Similar to what is already done with the certificate, as part of a final project students will work with a nonprofit or school to analyze their network security and tell them what things should be improved in the future.

We try not to do any for-profit work because we dont want to compete with other businesses, Clouse said. Other nonprofits cant really afford to go to them. So, its just a great service for nonprofits that we do.

Clouse expects around 10 freshmen to be enrolled this fall initially after a delayed process in getting the approval for the major from the Montana Board of Regents this spring. The proposal for the degree projects 27 students and then 50 students to be enrolled in the following academic years.

In the future, the Gallagher School of Business will have a Security Operations Center alongside the one in operation at the UC, where students will have the opportunity to work as part of their education to help address security concerns and vulnerabilities across the state.

The school of business is going to continue to grow through the cybersecurity degree, Kuntz said. And well keep looking for ways that we can keep building on these really high-tech, high-need degrees that our state is in really desperate shape for.
Caldwell County hit by flash flood (Tuesday, Aug. 7, 1973)

A cloudburst raised the Yadkin River at Patterson near Lenoir 10.7 feet in two hours early today and swept house-trailers into the river.

All residents were accounted for, one being rescued while hanging onto debris in the river.

U.S. Highway 21 between Lenoir and Blowing Rock, which at the time was under as much as five feet of water, was closed for the 18 miles between the two cities by washouts, toppled trees and power lines. Several campgrounds in the area had to be evacuated, and a number of campers were brought to Lenoir High School and then the National Guard Armory facilities.

Fifty youths from the Special Opportunities Camp sponsored by the 4-H Development Corporation were evacuated from Camp Carolwood off Buffalo Creek in northern Caldwell County. Three cars owned by camp counselors were reported to have washed away. Rescue squads from Burke and Caldwell counties and members of the Agriculture Extension staff evacuated the youth from the camp. One cabin at the camp was flooded and another was damaged when a tree fell across it.

Families were evacuated from low areas in the Patterson community and taken to higher ground. Rescue squad members couldnt get to other marooned residents immediately because swampy terrain and water-covered underbrush made navigation by boat difficult.

Several businesses in Lenoir, including Lowes new supermarket, Sears, Caldwell Furniture and the Crossroads Shopping Center, were reportedly flooded and forced to close. Cellu Products in Patterson lost four to six tractors and six to eight trailers. Two of the trailers were washed more than a mile and a half downstream on the Yadkin River, and one was lodged against the Patterson bridge.

School breaks ground on chapel (Monday, Aug. 6, 1973)

Dreams became a reality at the North Carolina School for the Deaf on Sunday as ground was broken for the Chapel of the Deaf.

Rance Henderson, NCSD superintendent, asked the same question at the beginning and end of the afternoon program: How many of you feel that this is a great day? He received shouted responses of I do! from each of the 200-250 people gathered for the groundbreaking.

Golden shovels flashed in the sun as NCSD students Donna McCord and Beverly Allen turned the first shovel full of dirt on the green lawn in front of the old main building. Digging with them were two speakers at the event in David Denton, superintendent of the Maryland School for the Deaf (formerly of NCSD), and David Flaherty, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Human Resources and former legislator who helped obtain state funds for the chapel. Also digging were Charles Collins, president of the board of directors for the school, and his deaf son, Steve Collins, a Star Scout who wore his uniform. Two bottles of earth were presented. One of these went to Mrs. Ben Greene for her work with a planning committee, and the other to Denton.

I am thrilled that what started as a dream has become a reality, Denton said.

New high school gets last touches (Tuesday, Aug. 7, 1973)

Freedom High School is rapidly getting ready to open.

Contractors are finishing their work, small problems are being ironed out and plans are in the making for a dedication and open house sometime this fall. This will be after completion of the new connector highway.

All this was discussed at the regular meeting of the Burke County Board of Education on Monday evening. The board approved the recommendation of Charles Weaver, superintendent of Burke County Public Schools, that no group visitations be allowed at Freedom until after January. This means no visitors unless on official business, other than those who attend the dedication program. This action was taken to give faculty and students time to make necessary adjustments. It will not keep parents from coming to the school to consult with teachers.

The board was told that grading is underway for the driver education facility on the schools campus. Contractors are still paving parking lots and carpeting classrooms. Library books are going onto shelves, furniture and equipment are being installed, electricians are still at work in the building and some loose boards in the gymnasium floor are being fixed. The communications system is operational, and the kitchen equipment is ready except for a few little things.

No date was set for the dedication and open house. The connector road is scheduled to be completed around Nov. 1 and will be needed to handle traffic. Thousands are expected to come and see the school.

School lunches are going up (Tuesday, Aug. 7, 1973)

Higher grocery prices and rising minimum wages means that Juniors school lunch will cost more this year in Burke County Public Schools.

Lunches this year will cost 40 cents for children in kindergarten through sixth grade, 50 cents for those in grades seven through 12 and 60 cents for adults. Last year, those rates were 35 cents, 40 cents and 50 cents, respectively.

The Burke County Board of Education approved the raises Monday night after Sharon Shelton, BCPS food service director, made her recommendation. Desserts will be priced extra and sold in individual containers: 15 cents for cake, pie or ice cream; 10 cents for fresh fruit; and 5 cents for Jell-O or a fruit cup.
A local college leader will share how a new program is providing job training for youth ages 16-24 years old.

The History Museum of Burke County will welcome Thomas Rick Furse Jr., dean of workforce development and continuing education at Western Piedmont Community College, who will highlight the schools programs in the trades in a presentation at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 10, at the museum at 201 W. Meeting St. in Morganton.

Judge (Claude) Sitton, (executive director) at the History Museum, asked me to talk about the issues surrounding creating interest in the trades, our new Regional Skilled Trades Solution Center and the obstacles that we face here in Burke County to engage with our Opportunity Youth, Furse said. Opportunity Youth are individuals who are 16-24 years old who are not in school and not working. Burke County has the third highest percentage of these youth in North Carolina  22%, approximately 3,400 of our youth. There are several initiatives in progress right now in the county to find and engage these Opportunity Youth. I will be talking about what is happening, who the partners are and how this will create positive change in our county.

Furse earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, and a masters degree in business administration from Gardner-Web University. In his role at WPCC, he provides leadership for future carpenters, plumbers, electricians and heating and air technicians at the new technology building on campus.

He also serves on several local and statewide steering committees, including the Burke County OPT-IN and JET internship programs, in collaboration with Work in Burke and Burke County Public Schools, and the Apprenticeship NC steering committee. Under his leadership, WPCCs PACE Apprenticeship program was recently recognized by the United States Department of Labor as an Apprenticeship Ambassador, one of only a few programs in North Carolina to achieve that distinction.

Sitton, a former trustee of Western Piedmont Community College, encourages young men and women to attend the presentation Thursday to meet Furse and consider enrolling in the fall program before Aug. 15. The classes and training will take place in the new technology building on the WPCC campus.

The presentation is free and open to the community, and refreshments will be served. For more information, call the museum at 828-437-1777. To learn more about WPCCs programs, visit wpcc.edu.
Here's a look at trending topics for today, Aug. 7:

Bryan Randall

Bryan Randall, the longtime partner of Sandra Bullock, has died. He was 57.

Randall died Saturday from ALS, his family told People magazine. He had battled the degenerative disease privately for three years.

Bryan chose early to keep his journey with ALS private and those of us who cared for him did our best to honor his request, his family told People. We are immensely grateful to the tireless doctors who navigated the landscape of this illness with us and to the astounding nurses who became our roommates, often sacrificing their own families to be with ours.

Randall, a professional photographer, met Bullock in 2015 while working at her son Louis birthday. He and Bullock made few public appearances together and kept their relationship largely out of the spotlight.

Read more about it here:

Montgomery Riverfront brawl

Video has emerged of a fight between a man and a group of people who appear to be boaters on a riverfront dock in Montgomery, Alabama.

In one video posted to social media, a Black man, who a witness described as a cruise boat crew member, engages with a group of White men on the dock. Both sides appear to become increasingly agitated before punches are thrown.

Police were called to the area on Saturday around 7 p.m., the Montgomery Police Department said. Its unclear what led to the confrontation.

When officers arrived, they located a large group of subjects engaged in a physical altercation. Several subjects have been detained and charges are pending, according to a news release from the police department.

Officers acted swiftly to detain several reckless individuals for attacking a man who was doing his job, Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed said in a tweet.

Get the scoop here:

William Friedkin

William Friedkin, the Oscar winning director who became a top filmmaker in his 30s with the gripping "The French Connection" and the horrifying "The Exorcist" and struggled in the following decades to match his early success has died. He was 87.

Friedkin, who won the best director Oscar for "The French Connection," died Monday in Los Angeles, his wife, producer and former studio head Sherry Lansing told The Hollywood Reporter.

The movie, based on a true story, deals with the efforts of maverick New York City police Detective James "Popeye" Doyle to track down Frenchman Fernando Rey, mastermind of a large drug pipeline funneling heroin into the United States. It contains one of the most thrilling chase scenes ever filmed.

Find out more about him here:

***

Get more trending news here:

Inter Miami

England vs Nigeria
When violinist Lao Li had her concert at Carnegie Hall, New York, on July 6, she was so touched that a Chinese piece, Violin Concerto No 1, by the acclaimed composer Zhao Jiping, was met with a standing ovation.

It was performed during the second half of the concert. After Lao finished the last note, she realized that the audience was standing, cheering and applauding.

"I was so overwhelmed and touched that the audience would react so warmly to a Chinese composition," recalls Lao, who left the stage after bowing three times. Along with pianist An Tianxu, she returned to the stage and played Saint-Saens' Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, which was the last piece on the program. After the audience's enthusiastic applause, the concert ended after encores of two pieces by Lao and An, and took five curtain calls.

Violin Concerto No 1 by Zhao was commissioned by the National Centre for the Performing Arts in 2017.The concerto expresses and describes the generosity and kindness toward humankind.

Last year, the composer contacted Lao, hoping she would play the piece and give it a female perspective and a new energy. Lao spent a month learning the music piece and performed it for the first time along with the Guiyang Symphony Orchestra under the baton of conductor Zhang Guoyong during a concert tour in August 2022 in Zhao's hometown, Xi'an, Shaanxi province.

"I felt very connected to Zhao's Violin Concerto No 1, which is very warm and conveys universal love," says Lao. "I would always like to introduce more Chinese compositions to Western audiences and Zhao's Violin Concerto No 1 came to mind instantly when I prepared for the concert at Carnegie Hall."

According to Lao, she planned to give the concert at Carnegie Hall in the summer of 2020, but it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first half of the concert, she played classical Western music, such as Chopin's Nocturne in C Minor, Tchaikovsky's Melodie, and Schumann's Sonata No 1 for Violin and Piano. In the second half of the concert, she presented Chinese music.

During her concert, Lao premiered a popular Peking Opera song, called Li Hua Song, or Ode to Pear Flowers, for the first time presenting through the violin rather than voice. The song, composed by Yang Nailin, rearranged by Xia Liang, was from Peking Opera production, The Royal Consort of Tang, which is about the legendary royal concubine Yang Yuhuan of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and her tragic love affair with Emperor Li Longji. In 1925, Peking Opera master Mei Lanfang (1894-1961) premiered the Peking Opera piece by playing the role of Yang.

Lao is very fond of Peking Opera and decided to premiere the song as a violin piece.

"I used my violin to imitate Peking Opera singing, which is very challenging. I wanted to do something both to continue our culture, and in the meanwhile add some creativity. When I played the Peking Opera song at Carnegie Hall, the audience got a glimpse of the ancient art form through the interpretation of violin," Lao says.

It's not the first time that the violinist used her instrument to imitate sounds of different traditional Chinese music and instrument. In 2017, she premiered the violin version of Chinese Sights and Sounds, a suite consisting of 24 orchestral compositions by Bao Yuankai in 1991, by using violin to imitate sounds of traditional Chinese musical instruments, such as the erhu (Chinese fiddle), xiao (a vertical bamboo flute) and suona (a double-reed woodwind instrument).

During her recent concert at the Carnegie Hall, Lao also played Cai Diao, a selection from Bao's Chinese Sights and Sounds, which is adapted from a folk song of Yunnan province.

She has just finished recording an album with the leading classical music label Naxos, featuring most of the pieces she performed during the concert at Carnegie Hall.

Raised in Wuhan, Hubei province, and Beijing, Lao was introduced to the violin by her mother, who is a pediatrician and an early age music educator.

"My mother loves music and she still took violin lessons when she was pregnant. So the sound of the instrument has been with me even before I was born, I guess," says Lao.

After she was enrolled to study at the primary school affiliated to the Central Conservatory of Music, Lao studied with legendary violin professor Lin Yaoji (1937-2009) as his youngest student at that time.

At 18, Lao won a full scholarship to study at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Later, she moved to Boston in the United States to study at the New England Conservatory of Music, where she gained her Bachelor's and Master's degrees. With a full scholarship, Lao continued her academic studies at the Reina Sofia School of Music in Madrid, Spain, with the legendary violinist and professor Zakhar Bron. Inspired by Bron's teaching approach, Lao has translated Bron's The Art of the Etude, a summation of his years of teaching, into Chinese along with a violin study book.

In 2017, when the Czech National Symphony Orchestra played during the Shanghai International Arts Festival, Lao stepped in at the last moment and earned enthusiastic reviews for her performance of Felix Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op 64.

"I can still recall that I had to practice on the flight because rehearsals started right after I landed in Shanghai and the concert opened on the same night," says Lao.

Violinist Donald Weilerstein once praised Lao's performance as "delicately touching, full of imagination and the warmth of sunlight".

In 2018, Lao returned to China and has been teaching at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing since then.
J.P. Gallagher, who said in March he intended to run for a second term as chief executive of Butte-Silver Bow County next year, says hes reconsidering now because of personal attacks and other reasons.

Im not saying Im not running, Im just reevaluating, he told The Montana Standard.

He cited the weight of the job, time demands, stress and other factors, but pointed specifically to hateful comments and indirect threats he received after he canceled a planned library lecture in June by a transgender woman.

He said he believed the event might violate a new state law but hes been sued and attacked through social media and in phone calls, letters and emails  some from as far away as Europe. Photos of his house have been posted online, too, he said.

I can take care of myself personally but when some of the attacks go toward my family or identify things around my personal life, thats the struggle, he said.

Attacks have come from the right and left, he said, but more so on the far left with way more vile language from the left side of it. One person in Germany likened him to Hitler and the Nazis persecuting the Jews, he said.

Gallagher talked about the incidents when The Standard asked if he had changed his mind about running for a second term next year. The interview touched on numerous topics, but that was the first question.

Gallagher won his first term in November 2020, and he told The Standard in March he intended to run again. Now hes not sure.

The filing period for the office starts in January but Gallagher said he will sit down with his family, evaluate everything and probably make a decision by December.

If you would have asked me a month ago, I was probably leaning more toward not (running), and now Im probably more towards Im going to, he said, I dont know. A year-and-a-half from now you might be seeing me driving a school bus.

I love what I do, he said. I love being a part of the community. I love making decisions and I think I make pretty decisive decisions. But some of the decisions come with personal attacks and things like that. Ive had different things that make me reevaluate, Is it worth it personally?

Gallagher was the countys parks director when he ran for chief executive in 2020. He finished first in a five-way primary in June and won 60% of the vote in November against incumbent Dave Palmer.

He pledged during his campaign to reenergize the community by being more visible, involved, accountable and transparent, and promised to improve communications between local government and the taxpayers it serves.

He knew the job was demanding and says he understood government budgets and personnel matters going in. But theres a learning curve and a lot to the office itself, he said.

Many cities in Montana have a city manager who oversees day-to-day operations of local government and an elected mayor who serves more ceremonial and ambassador functions. And Butte-Silver Bow and Anaconda-Deer Lodge are the only two consolidated city-county governments in Montana.

I go to meetings with mayors then I go to meetings with city managers then I go to meetings with county administrators, Gallagher said. Those are three different positions in one community but its all one wrapped-up position here.

He said he loves ribbon-cuttings and community events and needs to be at them but their combination with managing city operations means time away from family things you need to do.

It all takes a toll, he said, and he had a recent health care scare that was completely tied to stress.

All of that has weighed on him, he said, but more than anything, the recent personal attacks and overall lack of civil discourse these days have caused him to reconsider a reelection run.

Its like, If you dont agree with my position, then I cant associate with you, Gallagher said. Thats not how things used to get done. It was, I dont agree with you but lets work to find some middle ground.

The attacks followed two things he did on June 1.

That morning, in the courthouse rotunda, he read a resolution proclaiming June as Pride Month. He said Butte is proud of its rugged, blue-collar reputation but also prides itself on accepting everyone for who they are. He has noted often that Butte-Silver Bow was among the first communities in Montana to enact an ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Also that day, Gallagher canceled a planned lecture by Adria Jawort, a transgender woman from Billings, at the public library in Butte. She had said via social media she would be dressed flamboyantly as a transwoman, would discuss sexuality and minors might be present.

Gallager said he wasnt personally against the lecture but feared it might violate a new Montana law barring drag performances in publicly funded schools and libraries and prohibiting minors from attending sexually oriented performances in libraries or schools that receive state funding.

Opponents of the law and of Gallaghers decision filed a lawsuit and a federal judge has temporarily blocked the statute, saying it is likely too vague and violates the First Amendment. Among others, the suit named state officials and Gallagher as defendants.

Gallagher said his actions on June 1 drew ugly comments from both sides of the political spectrum. He was accused of being a left-wing liberal for making the pride month proclamation.

And in the next email Im a right-wing fascist because Im not supporting LGBTQ, he said. None of those are true on either side.

He said his decision on the library lecture garnered attention nationally and within the LGBTQ network then went worldwide.

A man in Germany said his decision on the library lecture was worse than the way Nazis repressed Jews and he was aligning almost Hitler-ish on that, Gallagher said.

It was all disappointing, he said.

When people are flying flags above the American flag for a political candidate, something is wrong, Gallagher said. Thats the disheartening part that is making me reevaluate myself a little bit.
This year, we celebrate the U.S. Small Business Administrations (SBA) 70th anniversary and recognize the tremendous work the agency does to power the American dream of entrepreneurship. For 70 years, the SBA has empowered entrepreneurs across Montana with the resources and support they need to start and grow their businesses. The SBA is a cabinet-level agency that ensures the interests of small businesses are represented in Congress and the Oval Office, and it is the only independent voice of small business, backed by the collective power and resources of the federal government.

SBAs creation was largely a response to the pressures of the Great Depression and World War II. The agency got its formal start on July 30, 1953, after President Dwight Eisenhower signed the Small Business Act into law creating the SBA. From its inception, the SBAs mission was to aid, counsel, assist and protect, insofar as is possible, the interests of small business concerns. It was also charged with ensuring that small businesses earn a fair proportion of government contracts and sales of surplus property.

In Montana, the SBA has a rich and long history of supporting thousands of businesses with capital, business training, federal contract support, and/or disaster assistance.

The Biden-Harris administration put small business at the forefront of its historic Investing in America agenda, which includes modernizing SBA programs and resources, expanding networks and increasing access to capital and contracting so more entrepreneurs can benefit from our national investments in infrastructure and green energy spending. Over the last 30 months, the SBA has fostered a remarkable small business boom, pivoting from delivering pandemic aid to launching innovative initiatives that advance its equity plan, and expand access to capital for entrepreneurs in underserved and historically marginalized communities.

The agencys equity plan establishes a goal to improve access to capital for underserved communities  including businesses owned by women, minorities, veterans and those in rural communities; expand access to federal procurement and contracting opportunities; provide support and expanded access to disaster assistance; and increase access to business counseling, training and services to businesses in communities needing a boost. The agency is well on its way to accomplishing these goals to create a more equitable and sustainable economy supported by Americas small businesses.

For seven decades, the agency has linked entrepreneurs to the funding, counseling and mentorship they need to succeed. It has also connected small firms to opportunities for federal contracts and remains ready to provide low-interest loans to businesses and homeowners affected by declared disasters. Since 1953, SBA approved an estimated $2 trillion in non-disaster related small business lending and assisted nearly 3 million entrepreneurs through training and counseling. During the pandemic, the SBA dispersed over $1.3 trillion in disaster economic aid to 13 million businesses nationwide.

Small businesses are the innovators and job creators in our communities. They employ half our nations workforce and create two thirds of all net new jobs in the private sector. These businesses give neighborhoods their character, sponsor our Little League teams and place ads in the local high school yearbook. And in times of trouble or tragedy, its often our small business owners who step up to meet the needs of their neighbors.

Today, we celebrate the SBAs 70th anniversary and reflect on the agencys mission and seven-decade legacy of powering the American Dream. Happy birthday SBA!
The 2023 Montana wildfire season was slow to start with average snowpack and rain in much of the state sparing us an early fire season. Recent hot days and dry fuels, however, have now put Miontana into active fire season with over 40,000 acres burned by early August. Montanas average annual temperatures have been getting hotter and are currently 2.7 degrees F warmer than at the start of the Industrial Revolution. This warming fuels wildfires, drought, snowpack loss and extreme heat.

In late July, Gov. Greg Gianforte asked the federal government to declare a drought disaster for 11 Montana counties. Gianforte anticipated that conditions would continue to worsen and stated that fire officials project an above-normal fire season. Drought and heat result in more frequent, intense and longer-lasting wildfires. Extreme heat and wildfires are aggravated by greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels. Since the 1980s, the number of acres in the U.S. burned by wildfires has increased threefold, and climate change has caused at least half of this.

Wildfire smoke has significant effects on human health. Those most affected are pregnant women, children, older adults, people with respiratory or cardiovascular diseases, outdoor workers and those of low socioeconomic status. Wildland firefighters are particularly at risk. Even in healthy people, exposure to the fine particles present in smoke lead to respiratory inflammation and immune problems. Airborne fine particulates get past our body barriers, such as the blood-brain barrier and the placenta. Birth defects, low birth weight or pre-term births can result. All of our organs can be affected.

Smoke worsens asthma, cardiovascular illnesses including heart attack and stroke, causes headaches, decreased energy, appetite and sleep changes. Heart attacks can be triggered with the highest risk on the smokiest days and for several days after. Children are especially vulnerable: their bodies and lungs are still developing and they breathe more air relative to body weight. For these reasons and because children spend more time outdoors, smoke pollution is far more toxic to them.

Another significant health effect is on mental health and well-being. For example, nearly three-quarters of 120 Montana farmers and ranchers surveyed in 2020 said they experience anxiety about climate change and effects on their agricultural businesses, and for good reason. In 2017, fires in Montana burned 4.8 million acres with $2.6 billion in agricultural losses.

What can we do to lessen health effects and alter the path of changing climate?

Check air quality. todaysair.mt.gov

. When smoky, stay indoors, close windows and doors.

Mask outdoors with a well-fitted N95. Surgical or cloth masks are not sufficiently protective.

Use a HEPA air purifier. DIY a low-cost air filter (montanawildfiresmoke.org). NorthWestern Energy customers can get $100 rebates for purchased Energy Star air filters.

(NWE- MT Residential Electric- Existing Home Program Incentive).

For A/C -change air filters regularly, run on recirculate, use fan more on smoky days.

Urge legislators, regulators and energy producers to reduce fossil fuel use and shift to renewables.

Talk about climate change with others.

Doing something, even small actions, improves mental health.
Dear readers: More and more companies are asking employees to come into the office  at least a few days a week. Ive heard from several people (mostly 20- and 30-somethings) who are frustrated when they finish everything they have to do by mid-afternoon, they arent allowed to leave until the official quitting time  and some of them are considering leaving because of it. Is there any chance this is a negotiable situation?

This is a growing concern among younger generations who prioritize work-life balance and efficiency over traditional work hours, says Clarke Duncan, founder of OutsourcingStaff.ph.

And it is something companies who want to retain good employees should address.

If employees are finishing their tasks earlier, this might indicate that they are efficient and highly productive, which should be rewarded, not penalized, Kacper Rafalski, Demand Generation Team Leader at Netguru, notes.

How can a high-performing but frustrated employee negotiate shorter days if their work is done?

Here are a few tips from industry pros.

Communicate with management

If an issue is so serious that youre considering quitting your job, then it is usually better to have a conversation and communicate your concerns to your employer, says business, technology, and editing expert Stefan Campbell, owner of The Small Business Blog. We advise many small business owners, and I know that all of them would prefer to know if an employee was considering leaving, especially when their reason is potentially resolvable.

Propose some options

When discussing your work, productivity and office hours, propose a flexible schedule or task-based evaluation rather than a time-based one, Duncan suggests. Companies are gradually realizing the importance of outcome-based work rather than hours spent at the desk, he explains. If a company hasn't adopted this approach yet, employees can try to negotiate for a more flexible work policy, presenting it as a win-win situation providing increased productivity and employee satisfaction.

Proposing a results-oriented work environment  commonly referred to as ROWE  is the approach Rafalski suggests. In a ROWE, employees are evaluated on their performance, not their presence, Rafalski says. This could increase job satisfaction and employee retention.

Jared Bauman, founder and CEO of 201 Creative, also recommends bringing up ROWE with HR managers. Numerous studies have found theres no decrease in productivity or work quality in a ROWE, Bauman reports. It can even boost performance in some cases, and the well-being of employees.

Rafalski offers one caution to anyone proposing this approach.

Such a transition requires a clear and open dialogue between employees and their superiors, with a focus on how this shift could benefit the organization's productivity and overall employee morale, he says.
Muscatine County Supervisors approved a waiver of the 14 day appeal process to issue a final construction permit for a hog confinement.

The supervisors voted 4-1 to issue the permit to JDSD Farms LLC, with supervisor Danny Chick casting the nay vote. The waiver will waive the countys right to appeal the final permit and encourage the Iowa Department of Natural resources to issue the final permit immediately.

There is a period coming where they would like to get started, said Planning and Zoning Administrator Eric Furnas. "There has been no information submitted that indicated there was any issue with our scoring of the master matrix."

Supervisors Jeff Sorenson said that if the county didnt issue the waiver, the project could be delayed up to 60 days. Furnas commented that the decision on whether to waive the process was completely at the boards discretion.

Supervisor Nathan Mather said he didnt have a problem approving the waiver as long as it didnt send the message that future waivers would automatically be approved.

The supervisors had reviewed the proposal during a public hearing during the July 24 meeting. The confinement, which will be located at 1661 Atwood Ave., will have two swine confinement buildings with enclosed pits underneath. The project had received a passing score on the master matrix, which is required for the project to proceed. During the meeting, the supervisors approved sending a letter of recommendation to the IDNR.

Several neighbors had expressed concern during the meeting, as the confinement will be about 400 feet from its nearest neighbor. It was reported 14 residences are located within 1.5 miles of the site.

During the July 24 meeting, Chick commented that state law would supersede anything the supervisors did and the decision would just be a symbolic gesture.

The council also approved entering an agreement with Karpel Solutions of St. Louis, Missouri, to upgrade the Muscatine County Attorneys Offices computer system. The agreement includes installation, training and data conversion. The amount of the contract was not included.

County Attorney Jim Barry said the system is a better system than the one currently being used by his office. He also said most county attorneys offices in the state have already switched over to the system and that the money for the new software had been budgeted last year.

Barry said the cost of the new system was higher, saying the difference was about $10,000. He said there would be far fewer problems with the program than there would be with the existing program.

I think it is time to bite the bullet and get the new system, he 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
As a 20-year veteran of the US Air Force, Shane Sawyer can take apart and put back together planes, and even work on Spectre gunships.

As the veteran career planner at Iowa/WORKS, Sawyer tells people how, even with qualifications like that, it can still be hard for transitioning service members to find work in the civilian market. Because of that, Iowa/WORKS, in conjunction with the Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is planning to launch Muscatines first Veterans Network event.

As far as the veteran community stands, a lot of us have our degrees and have a lot of technical skills and we bring a lot to the table, Sawyer said. The barriers we face are cultural mostly. For the majority of my life, I spent it in the Air Force, I have never written a resume, I have never applied for a job, I have never interviewed for a job. The majority of my adult life I have dressed a certain way and spoken a certain way.

The event will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10, in Missipi Brewing Company. Area veterans are invited as well as area employers. Sawyer said the idea is to network returning veterans with resource providers and community leaders.

Community partners who serve the veteran community; community leaders; employers who want to hire veterans; and, most importantly, veterans should attend the meeting, Sawyer said. I want them to expect to come to a job fair that is completely casual. They should expect to come to an event where they are surrounded by community partners and employers.

Sawyer explained the Veterans Networks came about in the Quad Cities when a veteran was attempting to get a job. He had gotten together with several area employers to discuss the future. The event grew until it became an organization that targets veterans who recently left the service and are in need of employment. Sawyer said he got his position with Iowa/WORKS at a Quad Cities Veterans Network event.

While an event was being held in the Quad Cities, Sawyer said that he invited Muscatine Mayor Brad Bark, also director of the Muscatine Chamber. He had immediately inquired about how that kind of event could happen in Muscatine.

We are excited to have an event like this in Muscatine, Bark said. Our city is extremely supportive of our veterans. We look forward to connecting our veterans to our employers.

Sawyer said he is not only able to connect veterans with jobs, but also with resources that will make them more job ready.

For more information, contact Sawyer at (563) 445-3200 Ext. 43307 or email shane.sawyer@iwd.iowa.gov.

Photos: WWII veterans in Normandy to mark D-Day
Jury selection in the change-of-venue trial of the Davenport man accused of killing Breasia Terrell was stopped Tuesday.

Henry Earl Dinkins opted for a bench trial. A judge, instead of a jury, will hear the case in Scott County and reach a verdict.

The trial was moved from Scott County to the Linn County Courthouse in Cedar Rapids after the Iowa Supreme Court granted a change of venue April 22, 2022. Jury selection began Tuesday, but jurors were sent home.

Scott County Attorney Kelly Cunningham will lead the prosecution, while Dinkins is represented by Chad Frese and Joel Waters.

Ten-year-old Breasia Terrell was reported missing July 10, 2020, after spending the night with her younger brother at the apartment of his father, Dinkins.

Dinkins immediately became a person of interest in Breasias disappearance.

On March 22, 2021, two fishermen found human remains in a nearly hidden pond three miles north of DeWitt. The next day, investigators from the Division of Criminal Investigation finished removing the remains from the pond.

Davenport Police Chief Paul Sikorski confirmed on March 31, 2021, the remains were those of Breasia Terrell.

Dinkins, accused of killing Breasia, has been in one jail or another since July 10, 2020. First arrested for violations of the sex offender registry, Dinkins was held in the Scott County Jail before being moved to the Clinton County Jail. On April 12, 2022, he was moved to Marshall County Jail to be closer to his attorney.

On Oct. 7, 2022, District Court Judge Henry Latham granted a request to delay the trial filed by Dinkins attorney, Chad Frese, in order to allow them adequate time to prepare. On Dec. 9, 2022, Latham scheduled Dinkins jury trial for Aug. 8, 2023.
The government seeks to roll out 1450 digital hubs and harness skills in a bid to create over one million online jobs for the countrys teeming youth.

The centres championed by the Konza City and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Authority seek to promote digital skills for the youth through the connected computer hubs.

Information, communications, and the Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo says the facilities that would be domiciled in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centres aim to redefine the digital ecosystem in the country.

CS Owalo says the digital hubs, dubbed Jitume are a government initiative aimed at providing access to digital skills, e-services, and online opportunities to the youth.

He says global companies are putting work online because it is cheaper and more efficient for them, and that is why we are empowering young people to grab those web-based opportunities.

The Minister urged the youth to be conscious of the digital revolution and the information superhighway and become employers through entrepreneurship and innovation.

Mr. Owalo spoke at the Kenya Coast National Polytechnic in Mombasa during the inauguration of a new digital skills laboratory.

During the centers inauguration, Owalo was accompanied by the State Department for ICT and Digital Economy Principal Secretary Eng John Tanui, Ag Chief Executive Officer Konza City John Okwiri, and ICT Authority Board Chairman Sylvanus Maritim.

The CS disclosed that the government is working on several technological projects to transform the countrys digital landscape.

He revealed that the government is rolling out over 25,000 Wi-Fi hotspots across the country as part of the digital acceleration programme to extend the internet to remote areas.

We are confident that the innovation hubs will contribute towards efficiency in e-governance and e-commerce and create jobs for the youth, he said, adding that the country is seeking to promote itself as a tech hub for Africa.

He says the goal of the digital skills drive is to create a platform for young people to gain in-demand employable skills towards improving their livelihood.

Owalo said the 1450 digital hubs that would be set up evenly across the 47 counties are part of the digital acceleration agenda championed by the national government.

He says the emergence of artificial intelligence and increased interconnectivity mean that young people will also need to acquire technical skills to be relevant in todays digital world and deliver effectively.

PS Tanui says the ICT Authority is leveraging the national fibre-optic infrastructure to support internet connectivity.

Eng Tanui said the spread of the national fibre optic network and the rise of the internet will enable many Kenyans to formalise their businesses and embrace e-commerce.

He said the fast internet is creating many income-generating opportunities for thousands of Kenyans, especially the youth.

The PS said the Jitume digital skills training programme will enable young people to secure freelance online work and help tackle the countrys acute youth unemployment problem.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has encouraged all Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries to emulate the managerial approach employed by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki.

DP Gachagua believes that CS Kindiki has displayed an impressive record in fulfilling his responsibilities, and he asserts that the government could attain enhanced governance outcomes if all cabinet leaders draw inspiration from his methods.

I want to commend our CSs especially our son Prof. Kindiki. Wewe ngangana na hawa watu usijali. We want to really say, ministers and PSs, adopt the Kindiki style of management that once you focus on what you want to do nothing can stop you, he said.

Adding: I am very impressed by the Kindiki style of management. If he decided he will go this way, even if there is a wall he will still pass.

Gachagua was speaking on Sunday during a church service at the Sagana State lodge in Nyeri.

The Deputy President further criticized individuals who have been leveling accusations against him and fellow Mt. Kenya leaders, including Water and Irrigation CS Alice Wahome, MPs Kimani Ichungwah (Kikuyu), and Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu), labeling them as ineffective leaders in their roles.

Gachagua noted that President William Ruto intentionally chose to involve these leaders in his Kenya Kwanza government, and he stands satisfied with the roles they hold and the perspectives they bring.

People were accusing me, Ichungwah, Ndindi and Alice that we dont know what we are doing. That we were elected to government the other day and we dont know where we are taking Mt. Kenya, they are following Ruto blindly, Gachagua said.
The High Court has dismissed Busia Senator Okiya Omtatahs request to cross-examine National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula and his Senate counterpart, Amason Kingi, regarding the implementation of the Finance Act 2023.

The Senator had filed an application on Monday, seeking orders to compel the two speakers to personally attend and address inquiries pertaining to the enforcement of the recent legislation.

Omtatah is contesting the legality of the newly introduced tax regulations, asserting that the Finance Act 2023 did not undergo thorough examination within the Senate.

Justice David Majanja rejected Omtatahs appeal, issuing a ruling against the issuance of the requested orders.

We reject the application to cross-examine the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Speaker of the Senate, and we will provide detailed reasons in our judgment, ruled the Judge.

Reacting to this, Omtatah implored the court to uphold impartiality in the proceedings, arguing that the two speakers had presented falsified documents.

We want to put their feet to the fire, said the senator.

Omtatah stressed the importance of being granted an opportunity to present his case and to undergo a just legal process.

Omtatahs main concern revolves around the housing tax issue, arguing that housing is within the scope of devolved responsibilities. Consequently, he asserts that the bill should have undergone deliberation by Senators.

Meanwhile, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) is pursuing a request to halt the enactment of the Finance Act 2023, claiming that it infringes upon the constitution.

President of LSK, Eric Theuri, has called upon the court to render the implementation of the Act as unconstitutional and void.

He has named the National Assembly, Kenya Revenue Authority, and the Attorney General as parties in the proceedings.

The hearings for these matters are scheduled to be conducted by a panel of three judges, including Justice David Majanja, Christine Meoli, and Lawrence Mugambi, on September 13 and 14, respectively.
The 2023 Dehua International Ceramic Culture Week will be staged in Dehua county, Quanzhou city, Fujian province from Sept 19-25. The first promotional event of the week was hosted in Beijing from Friday to Monday.

Exquisite white porcelain works were on display and master ceramic artists gave demonstrations of their skill at the Beijing event, where visitors got to appreciate the beauty of Dehua ceramics and had a deeper understanding of the ceramic culture.

The week this year is committed to getting closer to young people and spreading the appeal of white porcelain to a wider audience, according to the organizers.

To date, Dehua is home to more than 4,000 ceramic enterprises, forming an integral industrial chain, from porcelain clay exploitation to processing and sales, says Fang Junqin, head of the county.

In 2022, local porcelain output value reached 50.2 billion yuan ($7 billion), with an annual growth of 11.5 percent on average over the years.
Cult leader Paul Mackenzie and his adherents have complained to the court that they are ready to die due to the adversity they are enduring while in prison.

Mackenzie raised concerns with the court regarding the severe circumstances he and his followers have been subjected to. These include being confined to a dimly lit room for a span of two days without access to food or the chance to bathe themselves.

Before Shanzu Senior Principal Magistrate Yusuf Shikanda, Mackenzie said that soliciting help from authorities had proven fruitless, as he believed that these authorities were consistently devising ways to subject him to mistreatment.

My colleagues and I have made a decision. If you feel tired of me and my colleagues, we are ready to be taken to River Yala. We do not have a problem with that because I will die, and you, the prosecutor, will someday die like me. There is nowhere you can hide, said Mackenzie.

Noting that he has not started a church inside prison, Mackenzie said that his intention in raising these concerns was not solely to secure his own release, but rather to implore the court to intervene and rescue him from the hardships he was enduring.

I am being held in a dark room, and my request for at least an hour in the sun has been flatly denied. I feel unheard and ignored, and I am not sure where else or who I can turn to for help. If I go to the prosecution for help, they will reject me because they see me as radicalized, the controversial preacher said.

Additionally, Mackenzie through his legal counsel Wycliffe Makasembo, raised concerns regarding the infringement of their rights, instances of isolation, and discriminatory treatment by the prison authorities.

Mackenzie is being served special meals that he fears may be contaminated with intent to harm him. Previously, all of the suspects ate together, but following the courts visit to the prison, he was isolated and is now being served special meals alone, said the lawyer.

Mackenzie and his co-accused issued a warning of their intent to stage another hunger strike to protest against mistreatment.

If these people go on hunger strike again, the prosecution will be held accountable. I pleaded with them to be good people, and they heard me, but it is unfortunate that the prosecution wants to take us back to where we started, Makasembo said.
After a very busy first year hosting tons of foreign dignitaries, President William Ruto has hinted that Kenya is yet to host its most high profile visitors yet.

Addressing Nyeri residents on Monday, the president revealed that US President Joe Biden and the new King of England Charles, will be visiting Kenya soon.

Ive been to the US, and they promised us digital jobs. German President was here and they informed us they have a shortfall of 400,000 jobs annually. Singapore president was also here, as well as Norway Prime Minister Even the US president is visiting soon, and so is UK King Charles III.

President Ruto took a few minutes to explain his recent globetrotting, explaining that neither him on foreign trips, nor the numerous heads of state that have visited Kenya in recent months, are doing it for touristic value, but rather for serious economic engagements.

Since assuming office, Ruto has played host to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Japans Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Norway Prime Minister among others.

Ruto has also been hosted for state visits by France, South Korea, Belgium, Israel, as well as multiple African countries.

Neither the White House nor Buckingham Palace has released any details on a scheduled African trip, but with both countries seeing diminishing influence on the continent, it is believed to be a matter of time.

Heres Rutos announcement.
The Pharmacy and Poisons Board has issued a cautionary notice to Kenyan women, advising them to refrain from using vaginal pearls for the detoxification of their reproductive organs.

In an announcement released on Monday via its official social media platforms, the board alerted the public to the potential health hazards associated with the Yoni Pearls brand. The statement emphasized that these products have not received approval from the appropriate authorities, raising concerns about their quality and safety.

The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) wishes to advise the general public against the use of a product known as Yoni Pearls, which may also be referred to as vaginal detox pearls, herbal tampons, cleansing pearls, or vaginal pearls, the statement reads in part.

The PPB notifies the public that Yoni Pearls is neither registered nor authorized for use in Kenya as required under the Pharmacy and Poisons Act (Cap 244). Therefore, their usage poses potential public health risks as the PPB cannot guarantee their quality, safety or efficacy.

The Board added: In light of this, the PPB strongly advises against the distribution, supply, sale or use of the aforementioned product and any other unregistered products with similar claims.

Please refrain from distribution, sale, or use of these products. Stay safe and report suspicious health products to PPB, the statement, signed off by PPB Chief Executive Officer Fred Siyoi added.

This follows a recent report from a national publication that delved into this emerging trend, highlighting that Yoni pearls have gained popularity as a remedy among Kenyan women grappling with various reproductive health challenges. These include persistent issues like yeast and bacterial vaginosis infections, infertility, and polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Healthline, a reputable health website, also advises women to steer clear of Yoni Pearls, labeling these products as essentially vaginal teabags.

Theyre bundles of cloth-wrapped herbs marketed as vaginal or uterus cleansers and detoxifiers. You shouldnt be putting them inside your body for 1 minute, let alone the 24 to 72 hours recommended on yoni pearl packaging, Healthline reports.

Healthline noted a lack of supporting research and emphasized that it would be risky for individuals to insert them into such a delicate and sensitive region.
The Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition has continued to strongly criticize International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Karim Khan for his recent visit to the country prior to the upcoming case at the Hague-based court.

Piling the pressure on Mr. Karim Khan is Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, who says the prosecutor is not fit to investigate the alleged extrajudicial killings of Azimio supporters by the Kenya Kwazna administration.

I know your visit amounts to investigating crimes against humanity. As you are aware our people were killed, butchered, tortured and murdered in large numbers. I want to advise you Karim Khan that you are not the best person to investigate this matter because of conflict of interest, Babu says in a video addressed to the ICC prosecutor.

Babu Owino argues that Karim Khan represented President William Ruto at the ICC, hence the conflict of interest.

This amounts to professional misconduct. I advise you to appoint other prosecutors to come to Kenya to investigate these murders, the lawmaker said.

Babu Owino further told Karim Khan that as he leaves the country, he carries with him the problems plaguing Kenyans.

As you leave Kenya, make sure you dont leave the challenges facing Kenyans in Kenya, Carry them with you, Carry Koome with you, carry Rigathi Gachagua with you, and carry Ruto with you. Those are the problems facing Kenyans. Make sure you go with them back to ICC. Otherwise coming to Kenya as a PR exercise will never be tolerated, Babu concluded.

Watch the full video of Babu Owinos warning to Karim Khan below.
Members of the St. Helena Police Department have settled into their new quarters at the Napa Valley College Upper Valley Campus.

Or at least most of them have. St. Helena dispatchers will be working out of the Calistoga Police Department for the foreseeable future  just one last logistical hurdle for a department thats been looking for a suitable home for decades and finally seems to have found it.

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Its new, its clean, more inviting, Chief Chris Hartley said recently as he gave the Star a tour of the new police station, located next to the new City Hall on College Avenue.

The college space represents a significant step up from the former police station at Main and Pine, which was notorious for its leaky roof, cramped offices, and slanted floor that had forced members of the department to take time off to recover from painful falls.

The new police station offers abundant natural light  albeit through bulletproof windows  adequate meeting space, and separate locker rooms for men and woman, which the old police station lacked.

Theres a spacious room for dispatchers too, although the dispatchers themselves are still in Calistoga. They cant move into the new police station until it has a redundant power source.

When theres a (Public Safety Power Shutoff) or a power outage, this quadrant of the city is the first one to go dark, Hartley said. Without redundant power, (dispatchers) computers would shut down, the 911 system would be interrupted, and we just cant have that.

The city applied for a grant for a new generator, but its been waiting for more than two years to find out whether the grant will be awarded. Hartley said it can take up to three years, so he hopes to get word within the next six months.

If the city does get the grant, there will be one more logistical challenge: Due to strict state laws governing school construction, the backup generator will have to be strong enough to power the whole building, not just the police station.

All of the generators that are that strong are on back order with a three-year wait, Hartley said. That means its likely to be years before dispatch can return to St. Helena.

A better space

Generator aside, the new police station is more secure than the old one. Surveillance cameras feed live footage to the dispatch workstation and to Hartleys desk. Unlike the cameras at the old department, these can record and retain footage for up to a year.

The new mens and womens locker rooms are in modular buildings, but theyre still a thousand times better than what we had, with showers and bathroom stalls, Hartley said.

Theres a briefing room, an evidence bay, an outdoor barbecue and picnic area, and plenty of office space.

Each office now houses a little more of our own personalities, Hartley said.

One of those offices belongs to Lt. Justin Tharp, a 21-year veteran of the department whos now in Quantico, Virginia, participating in the FBI Training Academy, an advanced law enforcement course. The last two St. Helena officers who completed the course went on to become chief.

Tharp is a success story for a department that has tended to be a training ground for rookie officers who eventually move on to better-paying agencies.

While the new police station wont hurt recruitment and retention, what will really help is money, Hartley said.

Sure enough, last week the city announced salary increases of 19.4% for police officers and 14.8% for sergeants, a move clearly aimed at keeping officers happy and attracting new ones. The new salaries are at least in the ballpark of those offered by other agencies, Hartley said.

Lean staffing

Hartley recently gave a conditional offer to a dispatcher. Another two potential officers are in the pipeline, but theyll have to go through a police academy first.

Hartley said he, other local police chiefs and the county sheriff are talking to Napa Valley College about restarting its police academy, but they havent agreed on a curriculum.

The two potential new officers would fill existing openings. The city hasnt created any new police officer positions, and Hartley said todays staffing level is the lowest its ever been.

Two officers are out on maternity or medical leave, leaving eight sworn officers. On a given day the department needs three officers (counting Hartley) for day shift and two officers for night shift. Thats eight people to fill five 12-hour shifts every day.

Hartley said the lean staffing forces his officers to accumulate a lot of overtime, which leads to fatigue and burnout.

If you have fatigued, not-fresh officers on the streets, theyre not going to be proactive and looking for things to do. Theyre going to be reactive, Hartley said. And whats their reaction time going to be when theyve worked 70 hours in a one-week period? And how does that affect their family life?

For the first time in his career, Hartley has found himself turning down requests from the community because we just dont have the bodies.

The department still knows how to put on a good time though. It held its annual National Night Out on Tuesday at the new City Hall/police station, bringing scores of families to interact with police officers and firefighters and enjoy carnival-type games.

Photos: Fourth of July in St. Helena, 2023 Lyman Park concert St. Helena fireworks American flags Bike parade Saint Helena Community Band Bike parade Bike parade Bubble Fireworks Fireworks Uncle Sam Climbing wall Slide Fireworks
Wednesday, Aug. 2

1008  Report of a dead cat in the middle of Hunt Avenue. Public Works was notified.

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1115  Report of a dog wandering near Crane/Mitchell. It was returned to its owner.

1826  A dog was reported missing from Spring Mountain Road, but its owner found it soon.

1840  A caller received a suspicious phone call claiming to be from the San Mateo County Sheriffs Office and asking her to wire $6,000 for being in contempt of court. Police told her to call the San Mateo County Sheriffs Office.

1855  There was a water leak in the backyard of a Main Street home.

1944  Police cited a driver near Main/Crinella.

2036  Report of branches falling off a tree on Spring Mountain Road.

Thursday, Aug. 3

0023  A vehicle with expired registration was towed from Main Street.

0854  Report of a dog wandering near Highway 29. It was last seen heading south toward the industrial area.

0920  Medical aid for a person with low blood sugar on Vintage Avenue.

0935  Report of a suspicious vehicle parked in a Main Street parking lot for two days, with the keys inside.

1250  Report of a man with an aggressive pit bull on Library Lane, going into the library and the museum and claiming the dog is a service animal. Police confirmed that the dog is a proper service animal.

1543  Two-car non-injury accident on Spring Mountain Road, outside the city limits.

1942  Police were asked to check on a man on Main Street who might have mental health problems. Police determined the man was a transient who didnt need any help.

Friday, Aug. 4

0003  Following a traffic stop near Main/Madrona, police arrested a 35-year-old Oakland resident on suspicion of transporting marijuana for sale and an outstanding warrant.

1016  Report of a dog barking since 9 a.m. on Spring Mountain Road.

1021  Two pruning knives were found near Valley View Court.

1050  A caller said there appeared to have been a squatter inside a house on Sulphur Springs Avenue.

1310  Report of two buses parked in a residential area on Hudson Avenue. Police contacted the company that operates the vehicles. The drivers agreed to move.

1549  Police cited a driver for speeding on Pratt Avenue.

1550  Report of garbage building up around a trailer on Adams Street.

Saturday, Aug. 5

0012  Following a traffic stop near Main/Vintage, police arrested a 24-year-old Napa man on suspicion of DUI.

0250  St. Helena police helped the sheriffs office arrest someone in Yountville.

0417  Report of a man trying to break into a car on Kearney Street, and subsequently knocking on someones door. Police arrested the 19-year-old St. Helena man on suspicion of public intoxication and providing false identification to police.

0604  Police pulled over a possible drunk driver on Highway 29. It turned out the driver wasnt drunk, just texting.

0731  Police cited a vehicle parked in a blue zone on Pope Street.

0736  Police cited a driver on Main Street for using a cellphone while driving.

0842  An electrical box at Crane Park appeared to be damaged. Public Works fixed it.

1035  A caller reported being followed by a suspicious car all the way from Santa Rosa.

1112  Police cited a driver for speeding near Main/Deer Park.

1121  A domesticated pigeon was found near El Bonita Avenue. Police investigated and were able to find the birds owner and return it.

1143  An officer conducted homeless outreach at the end of Adams Street.

1417  Report of a loose dog near a Main Street tasting room.

1842  A driver was seen throwing a lit cigarette out of a car in the 1400 block of Main Street.

2100  Police cited a driver near Main/Elmhurst.

2317  Police cited a driver for a center turn lane violation on Highway 29 south of town.

Sunday, Aug. 6

1207  Medical aid on Pope Street.

1228  A caller noticed two vehicles on Brown Street with cobwebs and dirt on them. The trailer had reportedly been there for six months. Police contacted the owners of both vehicles, who agreed to move them.

1304  Plastic car parts were blocking a lane of traffic near Starr/Pope. An officer disposed of them.

1312  Police conducted homeless outreach on Adams Street.

1317  Lift assist on Pope Street.

1344  Report of a suspicious man who rushed out of a Main Street store after the store owner greeted him.

1508  Seven kids had been seen climbing onto the roofs of commercial buildings downtown at 1 a.m.

1856  Police tried to pull over a motorcyclist who failed to yield near Main/Adams. Police terminated the pursuit and notified the CHP and the sheriffs office.

2102  A coyote was spotted in the Hillview/Vineyard area.

2208  Police responded to a loud music complaint on Stockton Street. It was turned off before police arrived.

Monday, Aug. 7

0340  Police cited a driver for speeding on Main Street.

1454  Report of gravel leaking out of a truck in the Crane/Spring area.

1543  Police were told to be on the lookout for a car that had been involved in a theft in Kelseyville.

1701  Medical aid for a sick person on Main Street.

1942  Police cited a driver near Main/St. Andrews.

2107  Report of a water leak on Stockton Street. It was just a sump pump drain working properly.

Tuesday, Aug. 8

0136  Report of a fire alarm sounding on Granger Way.

1133  Report of a vehicle parked on Railroad Avenue for over two weeks. The owner agreed to move it as soon as she comes home.

1138  Police took a report on a fraud/grand theft case.

1144  Report of a vehicle parked on Allyn Avenue for over two weeks. Police marked it to be towed in 72 hours and sent a letter to its owner.

1505  Report of a blue Subaru dragging a gas can that was leaking fuel in the Main/Grayson area.

1944  Report of a person with a warrant walking near Highway 29 and Bale Lane. Police arrested the 25-year-old Napa County man on suspicion of two outstanding warrants and additional charges of violating probation, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, receiving stolen property, possession of burglary tools, and resisting arrest.

2044  A dog was reported missing from Pope Street. A person found it, and dog and owner were reunited.

2233 A man reported feeling threatened by two people who'd wanted to hit him over the weekend.

Wednesday, Aug. 9

0117  Following a traffic stop north of the elm tunnel, police arrested a 22-year-old Sonoma man on suspicion of DUI.

PHOTOS: Training for an active shooter situation in St.Helena
Ashley Ochoa was overjoyed when she learned a new charter school was in the works in Napa.

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She alleges that her son endured bullying so bad it resulted in a physical assault that left her child with a broken arm at after-school care last spring. Ochoa claims that the school, Willow Elementary, and the Napa Valley Unified School District did not give the case the attention and care it deserved, and as a result, she is worried about sending her son to his public middle school this coming fall.

Im really fearful for his mental health and fearful for his well-being, Ochoa said.

It seemed there might be another option for Ochoa when she heard that the Mayacamas Charter Middle School would be opening this coming fall. She enrolled her son at Mayacamas, which is being planned by the Napa Foundation for Options in Education.

The school, which foundation leaders hope to open inside the former St. John the Baptist Catholic School in downtown Napa for the new school year that starts next week, aims to offer a smaller, more individualized classroom setting for children and young teenagers. Mayacamas supporters have called their project a response to shrinking academic options and poor test scores at local public schools.

However, Mayacamas has faced numerous roadblocks since plans for the school emerged nearly two years ago.

Mayacamas was effectively approved in September 2022 when the California State Board of Education overturned two local rulings that denied the school's application for an independent public school charter. Two months later, however, the Napa school district sued to overturn the state boards decision, and the lawsuit was upheld this June in Sacramento County Superior Court.

Update: Court ruling will block state approval of Mayacamas charter school in Napa A Sacramento County court ruling clears the way to overturn state approval of a charter middle school planned in Napa.

Now the school is at a crossroads.

On Wednesday, the Sacramento court filed a judgment that set aside Mayacamass charter, ruling in favor of NVUSD, whose board had unanimously voted against the school plan in December 2021. While Mayacamas can submit an appeal that results in an automatic stay and prevents the charter from being set aside, NVUSD has already filed a motion that prevents the school's organizers from opening under the charter they already have.

Mayacamas' lead petitioners, local parents Lauren Daley and Jolene Yee, believe there remains a way for the school to open this fall through a new charter, though with a few weeks' delay.

On July 11, the foundation issued a notice to file for a countywide benefit charter to the Napa County Office of Education. (The county office's board also rejected Mayacamas' charter in March 2022, leading charter backers to appeal to the state.) After a mandatory 30-day hold, the county will be able to set a date for a hearing, which will require at least 15 days' notice.

Napa Valley Unified School District to sue California State Board of Education over Mayacamas charter approval The NVUSD board voted in closed session Thursday to pursue a lawsuit against the California State Board of Education over its decision to overturn NVUSD and NCOE denials of the charter.

In the meantime, parents and teachers alike are waiting in an uncomfortable limbo.

For now, Ochoa plans to send her son to his assigned middle school, Redwood, but she has reservations.

When we went to the (Mayacamas) orientation, it was the first time I saw my son smile in months, Ochoa said. Im just heartbroken for him.

Although Ochoa claims that she is worried for her childs safety attending Redwood, when asked about Ochoa's case, Julie Bordes, the chief spokesperson for the Napa public school system, said that safety is important to the district.

Creating and maintaining a safe and welcoming environment for all children is a top priority for us, Bordes said, pointing to seven in-house wellness centers the district runs to support student mental health and safety.

Bordes added that NVUSD remains the authorizer of the Stone Bridge School, a K-8 academy in the Coombsville area that is the district's only current charter school - paying the Napa school district for use of a campus and other services, but otherwise largely self-governing. (Stone Bridge operates from the old Mt. George Elementary School campus, one of two grade schools the district closed in 2020 due to falling enrollment.)

Though Daley claimed that NVUSD is staunchly anti-charter, Bordes said that the districts denial of Mayacamas charter was based on its failure to meet legal requirements. NVUSD supports charter applications that meet Education Code requirements, she said.

Two of the main reasons the district cited for denying Mayacamas' charter in 2021 were a lack of variation between the curriculum the school plans to offer and the offerings already available at NVUSD schools, and forecasts that predicted the school could run out of money before the end of its second year based on its proposed budgets.

A third key factor was potential negative community impact, but despite that opposition, Daley and Yee believe another charter school, and specifically Mayacamas, would benefit the district.

Based on California Smarter Balanced testing data compiled by EdSource, NVUSD students performance levels in both math and English are below the state average. Students in NVUSD schools failed to meet performance standards at rates of 72.84% in math and 57.14% in English, roughly 10% and 4% below statewide rates, respectively.

Those results are worse still among Hispanic and African American students in the district. Both groups had substantially lower percentages of students meeting both math and English standards by grade level compared to Asian and white students in the district, according to EdSource.

Yee said that cutting into these disparities, as well as those found in English-learning and lower-income populations, is a key reason she and Daley believe Mayacamas is a necessary addition to Napas school system.

Those numbers are shameful; they are horrible, Daley said. The fact that we are failing the most vulnerable populations is a social justice issue in a town with a ton of money.

In fact, Daley and Yee claim that NVUSD has the highest financial reserves of similar-size school districts the same size in California, suggesting that diverting some state funding to the charter would be possible.

School districts across the state that have between 10,000 and 50,000 students tend to hold about 16% of expenditures in reserves on average, according to the state Legislative Analyst's Office's most recent report that came out in 2020. An April report from NVUSD, which teaches about 16,000 students across Napa and American Canyon, projected it would hold 24.59% in reserves at the end of the 2022-23 year.

Bordes said that figure actually reflects the state average, which is true. However, data shows that many of the districts with reserves higher than 16% tend to have fewer than 10,000 students. Some districts with as few as 300 students average reserves of up to 45%.

While Napa's reserves do seem to be relatively high, Bordes said that "when examining reserves over the two additional years ... NVUSDs reserves are projected to decline to 6.17%, largely due to the impact of declining enrollment and forecasted impacts of the new charter school," since California's per-student funding to school districts does not account for charter school students.

Daley believes the district is an underperforming monopoly. By creating an environment that focuses on individualized education, they and Mayacamas' other supporters hope to improve the education children can receive in Napa's public school system. The pair explained that when the student-to-teacher ratio is no higher than 15 or 20 to one, it's harder for students specific needs to fall through the cracks.

In addition to having a smaller student-teacher ratio, the Mayacamas school also plans to begin each day with advisory periods and operate on a block schedule to open up more time per period for individualized attention.

While some parents and teachers believe a charter school like Mayacamas could bolster public schooling in Napa, others argue that resources and energy should instead be channeled into improving existing schools.

Stephanie Trott is an eighth-grade history teacher at Redwood Middle School. She explained why she, along with some NVUSD teachers and local residents, believe Mayacamas' opening could harm the public school system.

I have felt very strongly that Mayacamas would have a negative impact on our schools, Trott said. It would be redirecting funds away from the larger public facilities that, in my opinion, are already underfunded in terms of teachers and resources.

She explained that NVUSD's superintendent Rosanna Mucetti was hired in 2018 in part to help NVUSD financially, as the district was struggling at the time, facing dwindling reserves that could have put the district at risk of a state takeover. The process of stabilizing the district included absorbing former charter schools, including River Middle School and the Napa Valley Language Academy.

We charged our charter schools their true cost. After this change, both River and NVLA closed as charters due to financial insolvency, NVUSDs second interim budget report for 2022-23 reads. (Both schools stayed open under direct district control, but River closed in 2022 and its north Napa campus was taken over by the district-run Unidos Middle School, which teaches a dual Spanish-English curriculum.)

Trott believes that in the wake of those closures, opening another charter school feels like the antithesis of what our district needs to be doing.

Trott said that some of the shortcomings parents interested in a charter school are concerned about could instead be addressed by making improvements at the district's current schools.

For one, Trott believes that in order to better serve students that have struggled in NVUSD schools  specifically those who are English learners or in disadvantaged groups  attracting a diverse teaching staff should be a priority. I think Redwood is about 60% Hispanic, and probably our staff doesnt match that demographic, she said.

However, attracting a wider range of applicants for teaching positions is a challenge, Trott said, given the cost of becoming a credentialed teacher and the relatively low starting salaries. In Napa, the starting base salary for a credentialed NVUSD teacher is $65,821. In the St. Helena Unified School District to the north, base pay begins at $81,403.

Trott added that offering and funding more targeted professional development options for staff could also help them feel better equipped to teach students requiring closer attention, including children learning English.

If there was money for us to go out and find, say, a course ... for (English language development) ... I wish there was money to support that," she said. "Like, Heres a $5,000 scholarship for you to take these courses over the next year or two to enhance your abilities. To get some real specific expert training.

Others worry that elitism could come into play when deciding which children get to attend Mayacamas if over-enrollment occurs. Daley and Yee say that based on the charter they have applied for, admission will be determined via lottery if more than their maximum of 336 students apply to the school. In that case, lottery preference would be based on a number of factors.

According to Daley, children of founding parents will be noted for enrollment preferences in the lottery, as well as children who live within school district borders, have siblings enrolled at Mayacamas, are the student of a staff member of Mayacamas, are foster children or experiencing homelessness, or live within the attendance boundaries of Shearer Elementary School. No other information, like grades or standardized testing scores, will be requested.

If the Mayacamas school does get approved for a countywide benefits charter, Daley notes that the exact language of the charter will change based on different geographical boundaries, but the spirit of the enrollment process would be the same.

On Aug. 11, the 30-day waiting period on the schools notice to file for a countywide will end, and the county will be able to schedule a hearing, which could take place as early as Aug. 25.

Photos: Could new Napa middle school come to old St. John's campus? Mayacamas Charter Middle School Mayacamas Charter Middle School Mayacamas Charter Middle School Mayacamas Charter Middle School Mayacamas Charter Middle School Mayacamas Charter Middle School Mayacamas Charter Middle School Mayacamas Charter Middle School Mayacamas Charter Middle School
Owners of a chain of service stations in Napa and four other counties will pay more than a million dollars in penalties for environmental violations, prosecutors announced Monday afternoon.

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The $1.1 million judgment by Yolo County Superior Court is connected to gas stations operating mainly under the Fast & Easy brand, the office of Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley said in a news release. The settlement involves five people and two companies, who allegedly failed to adequately install, monitor, operate and calibrate state-required equipment for detecting leaks in storage tanks.

Two of the stations implicated in the complaint are a Fast & Easy at 1108 Lincoln Ave. in Calistoga (since rebranded as a Shell outlet) and the Valley Gas & Propane (also known as Valley Liquor & Gas) at 2023 Monticello Road in Napa County, according to Carlos Villatoro, spokesperson for the Napa DAs office. Other service stations owned by the defendants operate in Yolo, Alameda, Lake and San Joaquin counties.

The defendants  Aasim Corp., Aasim Enterprises Inc., Ashraf Ali, Yasmin Ali, Samir Ali, Shafique Bhimani and Mohammed Bilal  are required to pay $900,000 in civil penalties along with $200,000 to cover investigative and enforcement costs.

The settlement also includes a permanent injunction that bars the defendants from violating laws covering hazardous waste and storage tanks, and requires them to have an independent environmental consultant assist with compliance at their gas stations.

Underground fuel leaks pose a significant threat to Napa Countys groundwater supply and to the environment, Haley said in the Monday statement. This case illustrates the importance of keeping our water supply safe from pollution by holding companies that fail to monitor and maintain their underground storage tanks accountable.

Environmental health departments in Napa, Lake, San Joaquin and Yolo counties, as well as the city of San Leandro, assisted in the case, along with Hayward Fire.

Gas prices, vehicle sales and production: Track changes in California
Picking up from our Catalan adventure after an evening on our own during the elaborate Festival of St. Joan celebration we embarked on Day 2. Since most wineries and restaurants are closed for the holiday while time is spent with families, we arranged a visit to the historic Monastery at Montserrat with Laura Coch as our guide.

The steeply spiked hillsides leading to and surrounding Montserrat contributed compelling vistas that made me wonder how did the construction workers manage to build such a spectacular edifice about 1,500 years ago in the face of such geological challenges.

Some in our group hiked to the famous cross on the hillside while others visited the farmers market to sample a selection of local cheeses, honey and other tasty treats on the way to the open square and Monastery with its historic and religiously significant Black Madonna. After Lauras well-orchestrated tour of the Monastery and surrounding grounds we were driven to the base of the mountain for a typical lunch at one of her favorite restaurants.

Our wine pairing dinner at the hotel that night was arranged by General Manager Enric Garcia and the tasting menu was executed under the very capable hand of Chef Carlos Ticona. Our tables were beautifully set and each plate enticed the eye as well as the palate. We began with an artichoke croquette paired to Alba de Miros Rueda (Verdejo) followed by a two-dish starter. Crayfish with Dashi cream with a Lustau Fino Sherry and duck ravioli in its own juice with an Abel Mendoza Rioja Crianza.

Allen Balik, The Wine Exchange: Exploring the Iberian Peninsula, parte uno Although geographically an important part of Europe, the Iberian Peninsula is somewhat isolated from its Old World neighbors and boasts its own sense of history, topography, lifestyle and traditions.

After a pause with a mouthwatering melon and mojito sherbet, we continued to a two-dish main course. Grilled turbot paired to a Picaro del Anguila Ribera del Duero and perfectly charred beef sirloin with wild mushrooms and vegetable paired to Petalos del Bierzo (Mencia). A crunchy apple puff pastry with ice cream was a simple yet perfect way to end the meal paired to Ulises Gutierrez de la Vega Muscatel de Alicante.

On our last full day in Catalonia our driver Juaquim skillfully traveled the winding, steep and perilous roads to Priorat where the hillsides are composed of black slate and quartz known as Llicorella that is unique to the area.

Priorat has been designated as only one of two DOCa regions in Spain that is the countrys highest classification for a Denominacio d'Origen Qualificada (DOQ). The other DOCa is the more familiar Rioja. The first recorded evidence of grape growing and wine production in Priorat dates from the 12th century, when the monks from the Carthusian Monastery of Scala Dei (founded in 1194) introduced the art of viticulture in the area.

Carinena (aka Carignan) and Garnaxta Negra (aka Garnacha and Grenache) are the principle red grapes of the area and supported by Syrah and several others. For the rare whites found in Priorat we look to Garnaxta Blanca (aka Garnacha Blanca and Grenache Blanc) as the principle variety. The slate soils of the steeply terraced vineyards are vertically grained so they greatly enhance drainage and provide deep highways that encourage roots to descend 40 to 50 feet below the surface.

Our first stop in Priorat was at Scala Dei where we were immersed in the history, longevity and excellence of the vineyards and wines. On arrival, we were greeted by our guide Diego who introduced us to the wines and story of Scala Dei before leading us on an eye-opening tour of the facilities and barrel cellars. Much had changed since my first visit in 2017 and all of the improvements were evident in the wines we savored. We sampled a broad range of reds and whites made from historic blends as well as some single vineyard selections and varietal offerings.

We departed Scala Dei with a fresh impression of what this area is capable of producing and the extraordinary history behind the winery and Priorat. We drove to Hostel Restaurant Mussons for a locally inspired lunch with three Catalan wines. One discovery was a blend of Albarino and Pedro Ximenez (think Sherry) that was a delightful pairing to the starter tapas course.

Our afternoon found us at Mas Doix where I had worked with owner/founder Valenti Llagostera to arrange our visit, tour and tasting. Unfortunately, Valenti was called away from the winery and we found ourselves in the very capable hands of Lluis Willaert. The facility is state of the art and presents a great complement to the extensive estate vineyards and panoramic views from every corner.

We tasted a broad selection of the Mas Doix wines  both red and white varietal bottlings and blends  where each stood on its own but definitely exhibited the house style of structure, balance and textural appeal. Two standouts were the 1902 (100 percent Carinena from vines planted in that year) and 1903 (100 percent Garnaxta from vines planted in that year). There is something magical when the fruit from 100 year-old plus vines is managed and handled in just the right way.

On returning to Barcelona we readied ourselves for our Farewell to Spain dinner at Prodigi where chef/owner Jordi Tarre closed the restaurant for us and exhibited extraordinary talents both in the preparation and plate design of each dish. And wine director Cristina Rina Bonetti was quite helpful in sourcing and serving the somewhat unusual wines we selected in our pre-planning conversations.

Our dinner began with an intriguing combination of crispy chicken and marinated mackerel with ponzu and sea fennel paired to 2021 LEnclos de Peralba El Tofol (Macabeo). This very tasty starter was followed by white asparagus and foie raviolo with wasabi mayonnaise and matcha tea paired with a most unusual 2021 AT Roca Cantallops (Xarel-lo) for just the right accent.

Next, we savored morels in red curry with braised mini sweet corn, smoked baba-ganush and coriander sprouts paired to 2020 Vinedos del Jorco Las Cabanuelas Garnacha Tinta that complemented this multi-dimensional dish on so many levels. Our main course was Maldonado Iberian pork with Compte cheese aligot and black cardamom sauce that was an ideal match to the 2020 Bodegas Mengoba Brezo Mencia from Bierzo.

For dessert, Jordi prepared an eye-catching dark chocolate and honey ganache with hoisin whipped butter, rhubarb ice cream and cassis. Here the wine choice exemplified the complexity of our dining experience at Prodigi. The Espelt Arim is a fortified dessert wine of Garnacha made in the solera system similar to that of Sherry. A fascinating meal and wine to end our Catalonian adventure.

The next day we packed our bags and flew to Porto for the Portugal leg of our Iberian Peninsula adventure. Saludos brindis and more to come on Porto and its surrounding areas next week!
Voting in California has never been easier.

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Despite all that, the people who vote most often remain older, whiter and wealthier than most Californians, according to a new survey from UC Berkeley's Institute of Governmental Studies.

Just under 4 in 10 of the state's registered voters are what Berkeley defined as regular voters  those who have cast ballots in at least five of the last seven statewide elections. Berkeley researchers determined the frequency of voting by verifying the voter histories of more than 6,000 registered voters whom they surveyed.

That pool of regular voters is 71% white, a share that is significantly larger than the white share of registered voters. Latinos, at 14%, were underrepresented among regular voters. Those frequent voters were also disproportionately over the age of 50.

Roughly another 4 in 10 registered voters are either infrequent voters  those who have voted only once or twice in the last seven elections  or people who haven't voted at all despite being registered. That group is about one-third white but about 40% Latino.

Infrequent voters are also much more likely to be young, to be renters and to be unmarried, Berkeley found.

Registered voters who identified as Asian or Pacific Islanders were also more likely to be infrequent voters or to not have cast a ballot in the last seven elections.

Black voters were represented about equally in each group.

Asked why they didn't vote more often, registered voters who cast ballots infrequently or never cited a lack of information or interest. About 3 in 10 said they didn't know enough about the candidates or the issues to vote. A similar share said they were "not that interested" in the contests.

About 1 in 4 registered voters who didn't vote frequently or hadn't voted at all said they felt their vote didn't matter much or that no matter how they voted, special interests and big money controlled politics.

Fewer than 1 in 10 said that voting was inconvenient or confusing.

By contrast, those who vote regularly said they did so to "stand up for the candidates and issues I believe are important" (65%), "to influence the direction of state and local government" (64%), or because voting is "an important civic duty" (62%).

The poll results "dramatize the differences that we knew existed. The differences are just profound. ... It's two very different worlds," said Berkeley IGS poll director Mark DiCamillo.

"The state has invested in trying to make voting easier. That's what the state is doing when it's sending out ballots early," DiCamillo added.

"What still needs to happen is the communication of the value of voting to voters. And that's the task ahead."

The prospect of Latino voters coming to the polls in numbers proportional to their 40% share of the state's population and transforming local and state races has tantalized activists and analysts for years. But it has not come to pass.

The latest example came last year when Rick Caruso ran for Los Angeles mayor.

California has been relatively successful in getting people registered to vote. The state has just under 22 million registered voters, 82.3% of the eligible population, according to the most recent statistics from the secretary of state's office. A decade ago, 76% of the eligible population was registered, and a decade before that, 69%.

California's level of registered voters is significantly higher than the nationwide average, which was 69% in 2022, according to the Census Bureau.

But the state has lagged in actual voter turnout.

In the 2022 midterm elections, California's turnout was 43% of the voter-eligible population, which ranked the state 35th in the country, according to statistics compiled by the U.S. Elections Project, based at the University of Florida.

The state's efforts to increase voter participation have included a law adopted in 2021 requiring that every voter be mailed a ballot.

A large majority of registered voters, 63%, say voting is easier now that ballots are sent a month before election day, the Berkeley poll found. Just 27% said the new law had caused no change in the ease of voting, and 4% said voting was harder.

Reflecting the partisan division nationwide over voting, 77% of Democrats said that it's now easier to vote, while among Republicans, 36% said so and 49% said the law had not changed how easy it is to vote.

About two-thirds of registered voters said they thought it was the state's responsibility to expand voter outreach among underrepresented groups. About the same number of registered voters said they'd back devoting more state money to this mission.

Candidates for statewide office next year  including in the race to replace U,S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein  have already emphasized the importance of turning out voters who have either been ignored or are not in parts of the state that receive as much attention.

Political consultants in California say, however, that it's a tall order to engage and excite potential voters who are less well off and are concerned with the tasks of getting through the day.

"It used to be if you're able to leave your job and go vote that was considered a luxury," said Democratic consultant Michael Trujillo, who has advised local candidates in races all across Los Angeles for years. Recently he helped Imelda Padilla prevail in a City Council special election in the San Fernando Valley where turnout barely broke single digits.

"So how did we eliminate that? It became about absentee balloting and making the postage free."

"But I think what it's coming down to is the luxury of thought. It's the luxury of being able to think about who your next elected (representative) should be and being able to compile the information to make an informed choice. Many of our working-class or poverty-stricken families, which may be registered or are able to register, they just don't have time to think about it. They're working two jobs there."

The poll, which was sponsored by the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, asked voters if they had participated in at least one of seven political acts or activities last election cycle, including posting on social media about candidates, donating to a political cause or wearing a button. Nearly 60% of respondents said they participated in one of these activities.

Like the act of voting itself, being politically active was more common among those who are older, wealthier and whiter. Two-thirds of white voters fit the profile of being politically active compared with half of Latino voters and just under half of Asian American voters.

The Berkeley IGS poll was conducted online in English and Spanish from July 20 to July 25 and surveyed 6,164 registered voters statewide.

The poll sample was weighted to match census and voter registration benchmarks. Because of weighting, precise estimates of the margin of error are difficult, but the results are estimated to have a margin of error of 2 percentage points in either direction for the full sample.

Los Angeles Times Senior Editor David Lauter contributed to this report.

Election advantages due to district mapping
You are here: Business

The 2023 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) plans to introduce a carbon neutrality project to achieve zero carbon emissions at this year's event, organizers said at a global cooperation signing ceremony Monday.

Beijing Capital Group Exhibition & Events, an organizer of the 2023 CIFTIS, signed a letter of intent with China Pacific Insurance (Group) Co., Ltd. and JD.com, vowing to achieve carbon neutrality for CIFTIS. The initiative aims to offset greenhouse gases generated by the event through innovative measures including purchases of carbon assets and carbon credits, and carbon neutrality insurance.

Meanwhile, all CIFTIS participants were urged to champion the carbon-neutral objective and promote a wider societal shift towards a green and low-carbon lifestyle.

In addition, the parties also signed cooperative agreements, pledging capital, technological, product, and service support for CIFTIS.

The 2023 CIFTIS will be held from Sept. 2 to 6 at the National Conference Center and Shougang Park. Focusing on emerging trade trends in services, CIFTIS will host a global summit, exhibitions, conferences, forums, promotion and negotiation events, and other supporting activities.
Facing a staggering stack of more than 500 lawsuits alleging long-ago child sexual abuse by clergy, the Archdiocese of San Francisco, one of Northern Californias oldest Roman Catholic institutions, says it will very likely join more than a dozen dioceses across the U.S., including Oakland and Santa Rosa, and file for bankruptcy.

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The lawsuits have come under a recent state law that made it easier to bring forward decades-old complaints. But this latest wave is five times what the archdiocese faced two decades ago when California last relaxed limits on filing long-ago abuse claims. A bankruptcy filing would add to a dark chapter for an archdiocese established during the Gold Rush that now serves 450,000 Roman Catholics in three Bay Area counties and once oversaw the faith throughout Northern California and beyond.

For several months now, with the assistance of our financial and legal advisors, we have been investigating the best options for managing and resolving these cases, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone wrote to parishioners Friday in a statement on the archdioceses website. I am deeply saddened by the sinful acts and the damage caused to the lives of innocent children who put their trust in priests, staff, and volunteers of the church.

Victim advocates blasted the announcement as a legal move that would limit payouts to the abused and avoid further disclosures that could invite new claims.

Santa Rosa Catholic Diocese files for bankruptcy protection over sex abuse claims The Roman Catholic Diocese of Santa Rosa filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Monday, citing unknown millions of dollars in anticipated liabilities related to pending child sex abuse claims filed in court over the past three years.

It is all about protecting secrets first, and second, to reduce just compensation to the victims they have created, SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said in a statement that noted the San Francisco archdiocese is among few dioceses that have resisted publishing lists of credibly accused clergy. The Archdiocese may indeed be morally bankrupt, as evidenced by their refusal to publish information about abusers that are known to them, but we doubt that they are really financially bankrupt.

By contrast, the Diocese of San Jose, established in 1981 and formerly part of the San Francisco archdiocese, is not considering a bankruptcy proceeding, spokeswoman Cynthia Shaw said Monday.

Dan McNevin, SNAP treasurer and an abuse victim from his days as an altar boy in Fremont, noted that most of the abusive priests in the South Bay were under the supervision of the San Francisco archdiocese at the time of their alleged actions.

There are now more than a dozen active bankruptcy cases involving Roman Catholic dioceses across the U.S., the most recent filing in the Diocese of Ogdensburg, New York, the sixth in the Empire State, according to the Catholic News Agency. Other active cases involve the dioceses of Santa Fe, New Mexico; New Orleans; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Camden, New Jersey; and Norwich, Connecticut.

Late last month, New Yorks Diocese of Syracuse announced a $100 million settlement in its 2020 bankruptcy case, which victim lawyers called the second-largest to date by a Roman Catholic institution in bankruptcy.

Victim advocates said a San Francisco archdiocese filing is expected imminently as the first of its abuse cases is set to begin later this month, and the archdiocese said a filing would freeze all litigation.

Cordileone said a bankruptcy filing would allow the archdiocese to resolve all the claims at once rather than individually, speeding a fairer resolution for all the alleged victims, while ensuring the archdiocese can continue its ministry and charitable work in San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin counties. Individual parishes and schools would not be part of the bankruptcy.

The archdiocese would not say how much it expects to pay to settle claims but denied that bankruptcy is aimed at reducing payouts to abuse victims. The archdiocese said a bankruptcy would ensure those whose individual cases are heard earliest dont have an advantage in reaching financial settlements.

The latest claims come under Assembly Bill 218, a bill Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law in 2019 after his predecessor Jerry Brown vetoed two earlier, similar bills that made it easier for adults to file older claims. The law allowed those claims to be filed from 2020 through 2022.

Cordileone said that when California lawmakers in 2003 allowed a one-year period to bring otherwise barred child sex abuse claims, the archdiocese, through property sales and insurance, paid $68 million to settle about 100 accusers claims.

Cordileone, archbishop since 2012, said the vast majority of the alleged abuse occurred in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s and involved priests who are deceased or no longer in ministry.

But McNevin said nearly 500 alleged abusers have been linked to the archdiocese, and questioned its handling of a former Marin Catholic High School lay teacher who resigned in May while Oakland Police investigated complaints that he sent an inappropriate text to a youth altar server there. McNevin said initial disclosures to Marin Catholic families about the teachers departure didnt reveal the gravity of the situation.

Peter Marlow, a spokesman for the archdiocese, said the school did everything one could reasonably expect in this situation.
The humanitarian cargo sent from Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh is in the Kornidzor village border area for the 11th day; there is no movement. Vardan Sargsyan, the representative of Armenias working group for the management of the humanitarian crisis in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), told Lurer (News) program Public TV Company of Armenia that the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh is not only not weakening, but also deepening.

According to him, extremely disturbing and painful incidents are recorded in Artsakh almost on a daily basis: people pass out in the food lines in the heat, women and children are in the bread lines day and night, there are widespread cases of malnutrition, which is fraught with health risks especially for vulnerable groups, and there is an increase in the number of deaths.

Sargsyan believes that there is a better understanding and perception among the international community of the difficult situation created, which is evidenced by the calls from the governments of various countries, foreign political departments, and international organizations.

"Indifference is simply inadmissible in the dire situation," he said.

To the question whether there is a change in Azerbaijan's behavior after those calls, Sargsyan answered: "These calls are targeted, they emphasize the urgent need to remove the blockade of the Lachin corridor, the imperative to provide humanitarian access to Nagorno-Karabakh. Perhaps this is not a coincidence, as calling the Lachin corridor the road of life is not just abstract words, the phrase Food for life that you see on our trucks is not just a slogan, it is the process aimed at saving lives, which the Armenian government has initiated.

Sargsyan stressed that the statements of the Azerbaijani side, which are aimed at the speculations of this exclusively humanitarian process, cause bewilderment.

He emphasized that the Armenian side is engaged in this initiative conscientiously and constructively, and that they expect a similar attitude from Azerbaijan as well.
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Azerbaijani Armed Forces open fire on Armenian positions in Akhpradzor section. Armenian Defense Ministry

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Russia representative at UN: We proposed parallel opening of Aghdam and Lachin corridors

Armenia MFA spox: As there is meeting at UNSC, Azerbaijan opened fire on border several times in past 3 days

President: People of Karabakh are anxiously anticipating todays special session of UN Security Council

N Koreas Kim, Russias Putin exchange letters

55 dead from clashes in Libya's capital

Armenia MoD: Azerbaijan fired at Armenian positions

Alen Simonyan, Valentina Matviyenko discuss details of humanitarian disaster in Karabakh

Photo of Armenia reservist detained by Azerbaijan appears in Azerbaijani domain of social media

OSCE Chairman-in-Office reiterates his call, asks Personal Representative Andrzej Kasprzyk to visit Lachin area

Armenia ranks 3rd in most visits to Georgia

Azerbaijan MoD announces name of captured Armenia serviceman

Azerbaijan MFA makes accusations against Armenia

Azerbaijan holds tour for foreign diplomats to familiarize them with Aghdam road being proposed to Karabakh

Group of Turkey intellectuals appeal to world regarding humanitarian disaster in Karabakh

Azerbaijan soldiers approach Armenian reservist, apprehend him: Armenia MoD releases video footage

France FM expresses concern about Azerbaijan shooting during patrol of EU monitors in Armenia

Concerned citizens staging protest in front of UN office in Armenia

Armenia FM heads for New York

MoD: Theory of Armenia reservist ending up on Azerbaijan side is being investigated

Azerbaijan announces capture of Armenia soldier

Azerbaijan praises advantages of Aghdam road to Nagorno-Karabakh

Azerbaijan MoD tries to misinform foreign embassies military attaches

Armenians prevented Ataturk statue installation in Prague, Turkish ambassador says

Armenia MoD: Reservist deserts combat position

Azerbaijan fires at grain-harvesting combine in Karabakh (PHOTOS)

Armenia to host Eurasian Intergovernmental Council special meeting

Armenians continue demonstrations outside Los Angeles consulates of UN Security Council member countries

US State Department: We urge Azerbaijan government to restore free transit through Lachin corridor

Azerbaijan accuses France of efforts to aggravate the tension in South Caucasus

Senators Menendez, Padilla send letter to US representative at UN regarding situation in Karabakh

Karabakh residents block Russian military base entrance, peacekeepers reopen it
The Mother Armenia movement has decided to run in the Yerevan Council of Elders elections. Andranik Tevanyan, the coordinator of this movement, announced this in a video message.

"I am near the statue of Mother Armenia, which is a very symbolic place for the residents of Yerevan and the entire Armenian people. [Armenian PM] Nikol Pashinyan's illegitimate policy, which is a threat to Armenia and Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)], is unacceptable to us. We do not accept Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan, and we want to prevent the abdication of Armenia. I am convinced that we have the chance to build a safe and strong country. The Mother Armenia movement has decided to run in the Yerevan Council of Elders elections, which we consider as an opportunity for a complete change of power and to get the country out of this situation," Tevanyan noted.
A group of United Nations experts have expressed alarm over the ongoing blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan, which they say has led to a dire humanitarian crisis in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh, the RFE/RL Armenian Service reported.

An August 7 statement published on the website of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights says that the blockade, obstructing the sole road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia for the past seven months, has left the population facing acute shortages of food staples, medication, and hygiene products, impacted the functioning of medical and educational institutions, and placed the lives of the residents  especially children, persons with disabilities, older persons, pregnant women, and the sick  at significant risk.

The blockade of the Lachin Corridor is a humanitarian emergency that has created severe shortages of essential food staples including sunflower oil, fish, chicken, dairy products, cereal, sugar and baby formula, the UN experts said.

They warned that the region was rapidly depleting its medical reserves, and hospitals were struggling to provide care as the operation of ambulances has been hampered due to declining fuel supplies.

The experts urged authorities in Azerbaijan to immediately restore the free and secure movement of persons, vehicles, and cargo moving along the Lachin corridor in both directions, in accordance with the ceasefire agreement of November 2020.

Also, they called on Russian peacekeeping forces deployed in the region to protect the corridor under the terms of the ceasefire agreement.

By lifting the blockade, the 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. It is essential to ensure the safety, dignity, and well-being of all individuals during this critical time, the experts said.

We urge the Government of Azerbaijan to uphold its international obligations to respect and protect human rights, including the right to food, health, education and life. We also emphasize the importance of cooperation and dialogue among all parties involved to find a peaceful and sustainable resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, they concluded.
Reaffirming Irans support for efforts to ensure peace across the region, the secretary of the countrys Supreme National Security Council called for the negotiated settlement of conflicts, Tasnim reported.

In a telephone conversation with Secretary of Armenia's Security Council Armen Grigoryan on Monday, Ali Akbar Ahmadian said diplomacy and dialogue are the best options to put an end to conflicts among countries.

He stressed that Iran fully supports the establishment of sustainable peace in the region.

The Armenian and Iranian security chiefs discussed mutual issues as well, especially the expansion of economic ties, and the latest developments in the region.

Grigoryan congratulated Ahmadian on the post and wished him success in the important position, hoping that it would bring benefit for the friendly people of Iran, Press TV reported.

Last month, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi told Armenia's Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in Tehran that Iran supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all regional countries and firmly opposes any geopolitical change in the region.

Also, the Iranian president stressed the importance of improving ties with Armenia and said no obstacle can hinder the expansion of mutual relations.
China-based global lithium battery manufacturer EVE Energy on Monday held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new manufacturing facility in Kedah, Malaysia, with an initial investment of 422 million U.S. dollars.

In a joint statement, the company and Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) said that the new manufacturing facility, which will be EVE's 53rd, will focus on the production of cylindrical lithium-ion batteries to support power tools and electric two-wheelers manufacturing in the country and across Southeast Asia.

EVE Energy Malaysia director Joe Chen said that relying on EVE's domestic advantages and operational experience, the firm will build a cylindrical battery production base in Malaysia to support the production of electric two-wheelers and power tools in Malaysia.

"This is an important milestone for EVE to expand our global businesses, enhance our comprehensive competitiveness, and to further grow our global market share. And most importantly, to let us contribute to the development of the electrical power ecosystem in Malaysia," he said.

Meanwhile, MIDA deputy chief executive officer (investment development) Lim Bee Vian said that the investment marks a crucial milestone that not only benefits EVE but also paves the way for more companies to invest in Malaysia in the electric vehicle (EV) industry and its ecosystems.

"By collaborating with industry leaders like EVE, we can foster an environment of innovation and technological advancement," she said.

She also said this project aligns perfectly with Malaysia's 12th Malaysia Plan and the National Automotive Policy 2020 as the country is committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

"By establishing this cylindrical battery manufacturing plant in Malaysia, we demonstrate our commitment to competitiveness in the international market," she noted.

She also said Malaysia's robust ecosystem, supported by strong research and development, standards facilities, and a thriving components sub-sector, positions the country to cater to the entire EV value chain.
From the day the blockade of the Lachin Corridor began, I, alongside my colleagues in Congress and Armenians around the country, have urged the White House, the State Department, and USAID, to take action to protect the people of Artsakh and their right to self-determination. Congressman Adam Schiff wrote this on Facebook. He added as follows:

With Azerbaijans refusal to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross to deliver lifesaving humanitarian aid in, and transport patients requiring urgent medical attention out of Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)], the need for the international community to take action and find a lasting solution to the conflict grows with each passing day. I've persistently called for Azerbaijan to lift the blockade and allow humanitarian aid to move freely via the Lachin Corridor, and I have urged President Biden to take immediate action to address the dire situation in Artsakh.

From condemning ceasefire violations, advocating for the release of Armenian prisoners of war, to calling for sanctions and accountability for Azerbaijan, Ive always been steadfast in my commitment to ensuring the protection of fundamental rights for the people of Artsakh.

As a Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, I've also advocated for international action to end this crisis peacefully. If we truly stand for democracy and human rights, we must recognize the independence of the Republic of Artsakh and oppose the ethnic cleansing and threats of genocide faced by the Armenian community in their ancestral homeland.

By using all tools at our disposal, including pushing for U.S. humanitarian aid to Artsakh, cutting off military and other assistance to Azerbaijan, and imposing sanctions on those responsible for this crisis, we can ensure Artsakhs safety now and in the future.

I will be with you every step of the way and will always stand with the people of Armenia and Artsakh.
Tianjin has relocated more than 80,000 residents from flood-prone areas, as a large volume of upstream water flows toward the city, posing a major challenge to authorities to prevent damage.

Located by the Bohai Sea, Tianjin covers the estuaries of three major rivers in North China's Haihe River Basin, including the Daqing, Yongding and Ziyaxin.

Unprecedented heavy rainfall since the end of last month has sent floodwaters moving toward Tianjin after the torrents passed through upstream regions last week, including some cities in neighboring Hebei province. Flooding red alerts have already been issued.

Tianjin has taken multiple measures to prepare for the floodwaters, including reinforcing riverside dikes, dredging waterways and relocating large swathes of residents.

The majority of relocations are from Xiqing and Jinghai districts, which are covered by the Dongdian water detention area. The low-lying area, which helps divert and retard floodwaters, was put into use on Aug 1.

The area covers 379 square kilometers, with 100 sq km in the two districts of Tianjin. The remainder of the detention area is in Hebei.

According to a notice from Jinghai district's flood prevention authority, all the residents in Taitou, Duliu and Wangkou townships were relocated before Thursday.

More than 30,000 people from 23 villages have been relocated, according to ThePaper.cn.

Residents of two other districts, Wuqing and Beichen, were earlier relocated, as they were also in flood-prone areas.

After residents were moved to safe areas, rescue teams started patrolling villages and riverbanks to prevent people from returning to their homes.

The dikes of rivers in the city were also strengthened and raised to reduce the threat of rising floodwaters, the report said.

The head of the floodwaters entered Tianjin on Friday and it would take two or three days for the water level to peak, Yang Bang, an official with the hydrographic office of the Haihe River Water Conservancy Commission, told ThePaper.cn.

The commission is based in Tianjin and is under the administration of the Ministry of Water Resources.

It will take a further 12 to 15 hours for the floodwaters to run into the estuaries and then flow into Bohai Sea, Yang said.

As of Monday, cornfields in some villages had been submerged by floodwater. "If there is no more rain, it will take more than two months for the floodwaters to recede from the flood detention area," Yang said.

However, the downtown area of Tianjin would not be flooded as Yongdingxin River to the north and Duliujian River to the south, had been expanded in the past to deal with flooding, said Yang Zhigang, head of the commission's flood and drought disaster prevention department.

"The rivers play important roles in preventing floodwater running into the city," he said.

Although the floodwater in the Haihe River Basin is receding, there are still risks, Yang Zhigang added.

"People that have been relocated should not go back to the flood-prone areas arbitrarily, given that the receding of floodwaters in the flood detention areas will need a long time," he said.

To allow floodwaters to subside smoothly, local flood prevention authorities should remove obstacles in river channels such as some structures and low bridges, he added.

According to Yang Zhigang, dikes in the country's northern areas have not been tested by major floods for a long time. So there may be some hidden dangers when suddenly faced with a large flood, such as collapsing structures, especially in areas soaked by water for a long time.

"Enough personnel are needed to strengthen patrols of such areas," he said.

Xie Yan, the chief economist of the State Grid Corp's Tianjin Jinghai branch said, "We have strengthened the patrols of ultrahigh voltage transmission lines near the villages, and are well prepared to do rush repairs".

The company has set up 24-hour services, including patrolling vehicles and increased numbers of engineers, to deal with any possible power cuts caused by the incoming floods.
The President of NKR, Arayik Harutyunyan, sent an urgent appeal to the international community n August 8th, appealing for immediate action to prevent the genocide of the people of Artsakh and to end the blockade.

The urgent appeal reads.

Esteemed members of the international community,

I, Arayik Harutyunyan, the President of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic), bring forth this urgent appeal to draw your attention to the fact that this very moment, the people of the Republic of Artsakh find themselves in the midst of a harrowing genocide, confronted with an imminent threat to their very existence and the homeland they hold dear.

For the purpose of controlling the only road connecting Artsakh with Armenia and the outside world, passing through the Lachin Corridor, the Azerbaijan authorities planned and initiated a show that started on December 12, 2022, under the guise of an environmental protest. In reality, this was just a prelude to the crime of genocide, which gained an official and systemic nature with the illegal establishment of an Azerbaijani checkpoint in the Lachin Corridor on April 23, 2023. On June 15, Azerbaijan completely sealed off the road passing through the Lachin Corridor, besieging the 120-thousand population of the Republic of Artsakh. For almost eight months now, the population of Artsakh has been deprived of the opportunity for unimpeded and two-way movement along the Lachin Corridor. For about two months now, there were no supplies of food, medicines and other essential goods, previously carried out by the Russian peacekeeping forces and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Azerbaijan's actions not only violate universal legal norms but also specific international legal acts regarding the Lachin Corridor, including paragraph 6 of the Trilateral Statement of November 9, 2020, legally binding decisions of the International Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights requiring the unblocking the Lachin Corridor.

The blockade of the Lachin Corridor is not an isolated incident; it should be regarded as part of a planned, large-scale and coordinated policy by Azerbaijan aimed at the destruction of the people of Artsakh as a whole. The blockade of Artsakh is a direct continuation of the military aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan in 2020, with the direct involvement of Turkey and terrorist organizations from the Middle East. Azerbaijan has consistently pursued a policy of forcibly suppressing the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination, accompanying its actions with the use of force and widespread violations of human rights. The ultimate goal of this policy is the expulsion of the people of Artsakh and closing the issue of the right to self-determination for the people of Artsakh.

It is in this context that Azerbaijan's encroachments on the sovereignty of Artsakh must be considered, since the presence of a sovereign state with international legal subjectivity is a crucial condition and means for preserving the people of Artsakh and their traditions, values, culture, as well as their natural development.

More than two years after the trilateral ceasefire statement, and having failed to achieve its criminal goal of ethnic cleansing of Artsakh through military means, Azerbaijan continues making consistent attempts to achieve its nefarious objectives mploying non-violent yet equally inhumane methods. The establishment of an illegal checkpoint in the Lachin Corridor, with its evident criminal intent to deliberately restrict and eventually halt humanitarian cargo shipments, which are crucial for sustaining the normal livelihood of the people of Artsakh, has become a new weapon in Azerbaijan's arsenal against the people of Artsakh. A direct victim of this illegally established checkpoint was Vagif Khachatryan, a citizen of the Republic of Artsakh, who was abducted by Azerbaijani military personnel in violation of international humanitarian law while traveling under the escort of the ICRC.

The Azerbaijani authorities, attempting to conceal their genocidal intentions, come up with false alternatives, supposedly aimed at mitigating the humanitarian catastrophe they have themselves created. The current critical situation, which Artsakh can overcome only with international humanitarian and political support, is a direct consequence of Azerbaijan's illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor and the factual siege of the people of Artsakh. Azerbaijan is thus trying to create the illusion that Artsakh is unsustainable and dependent on external assistance. The imposed offer of so-called assistance by the Azerbaijani authorities is an attempt to subjugate Artsakh and its people.

But make no mistake: the offer to deliver humanitarian cargo to Artsakh from Azerbaijan is yet another means of realizing Azerbaijan's criminal agenda, which will lead to imposing its own will, violating the human dignity and other criminal consequences of subjugating the people of Artsakh to Azerbaijan. Through these actions, Azerbaijan aims to hinder the normal development of Artsakh and the improvement of the people's living standards.

The Azerbaijani authorities do not conceal their goal of expelling the Armenian population of Artsakh from their homeland. Accordingly, by presenting a so-called concept of conflict resolution, along with a package of proposals, Azerbaijan is attempting to hide this new way of realizing their genocidal intention under the cover of negotiations.

The fabricated agenda of dialogue between Stepanakert and Baku promoted by the Azerbaijani authorities is, in fact, an attempt to legitimize Azerbaijan's criminal actions. Any calls encouraging Artsakh's participation in such dialogue without international mediators and effective guarantees is perceived as support for the implementation of Azerbaijan's genocidal policy. Artsakh's participation in any such talks under these conditions would be tantamount to recognizing and legitimizing Azerbaijan's veiled program of genocide.

For the effectiveness and legitimacy of negotiations, it is necessary to ensure at the very least that the parties adhere to the norms of international law. At the same time, both proposals aimed at resolving the conflict itself and the potential consequences of their implementation should align with the principles of international law and universal human values. However, all of this continues to be violated by Azerbaijan with persistence and impunity.

Artsakh, in turn, has always advocated for the start of meaningful and substantive negotiations, based on universal principles of justice, dignity and equality.

Our unwavering stance is that for negotiations to take place, first of all, it is necessary to ensure favorable and equitable conditions. Subsequently, an international mechanism with a relevant international mandate should be established to define the criteria for the negotiation process. These criteria should be based on norms of international law and international practice. Otherwise, proposals to engage in negotiations with a party that remains committed to its criminal intention of destroying the other party by all means, be it military, economic or political, cannot be a subject of discussion.

Decisions of the International Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights, periodic appeals and statements from international institutions, individual states and organizations all universally acknowledge the fact of the illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor. They underline the necessity of restoring free movement through the corridor. However, no effective and concrete steps are being taken in this direction. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan's deliberate actions to create unbearable living conditions in Artsakh with the ultimate goal of physically destroying the people of Artsakh constitutes nothing less than a crime of genocide, composed of criminal intention and explicit actions. Leading international experts also concur with this assessment. For instance, the former Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Luis Moreno Ocampo, highlighted this in his recent comprehensive report. Preventing the crime of genocide is a universal obligation of states, and each state must actively and consistently exert efforts to prevent such a crime from occurring.

In the current circumstances, displaying inaction or indifference amounts to nothing less than condoning the crime of genocide. The international community is obligated to take effective individual and collective measures to prevent Azerbaijan's attempt to inscribe another page of genocide into the annals of history.

In line with the above, I earnestly call upon international actors, within the scope of their commitments, to take decisive and effective measures to prevent the crime of genocide against the people of Artsakh. Specifically, I address:

to the Republic of Armenia

In order to adopt a resolution involving urgent and specific actions, I urge for the immediate presentation of the humanitarian catastrophe resulting from Azerbaijan's blockage of the Lachin Corridor and the unlawful blockade of Artsakh, which has escalated into the crime of genocide, to the discussion of the United Nations Security Council;

I call for intensified efforts to actively raise awareness of the issue of the unlawful blockade of the Lachin Corridor and Artsakh through information, advocacy and other platforms, as well as by informing the international community;

I call to engage with international partners to discuss and impose sanctions against Azerbaijan in order to halt its international crimes.

At the same time, I strongly urge the authorities of Armenia, public figures and political leaders to exercise caution in their public statements and assessments of the situation: no statement or action should cast doubt on the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination or contribute to further aggressive actions by Azerbaijan;

To the Armenian Diaspora

I urge you to consolidate efforts with the aim of drawing the attention of authorities and the public in the countries of your residence to the international crimes committed in Artsakh, and to demand immediate and effective measures to stop them; from our compatriots in the Diaspora, we expect actions in the following directions: ensure that your governments strongly condemn and take specific measures to increase pressure on Azerbaijan to lift the blockade of Artsakh; ensure that your governments, human rights organizations, media outlets and other actors provide direct legal and political assessments of Azerbaijan's crimes against Artsakh; ensure that your governments consider and impose sanctions against Azerbaijan to halt its international crimes;

To the Russian Federation

Emphasizing the importance of the Russian peacekeeping mission in Artsakh, I strongly urge the intensification of efforts for the immediate lifting of the unlawful blockade of Artsakh by Azerbaijan and the restoration of the functioning of the Lachin Corridor, as established by the Trilateral Statement of November 9, 2020;

To OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs  the Russian Federation, the United States of America and the French Republic

I strongly urge you, both as counties directly involved in the conflict resolution process and as UN Security Council member states, to fulfill your primary obligation by taking effective measures for the immediate cessation of the illegal blockade of Artsakh by Azerbaijan and the restoration of uninterrupted functioning of the Lachin corridor;

I call upon the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs countries to exert individual and joint efforts to establish a robust negotiation format endowed with an appropriate international mandate, which would ensure that the negotiation process, its criteria and final outcomes are in line with international law and universal human values;

I hope that the co-chairing countries will demonstrate consistency in pursuing a peaceful and comprehensive settlement of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict and will actively work towards reactivating the negotiation mechanism empowered with an international mandate for the resolution of the conflict;

To UN Security Council members states

I urge an immediate convening of a UN Security Council meeting to discuss the genocide and humanitarian catastrophe caused by the blockade of Artsakh. Furthermore, I call for the adoption of a UNSC resolution obligating Azerbaijan to promptly unblock the Lachin Corridor and restore its functioning in accordance with the decision of the International Court of Justice dated February 22, 2023;

I also remind that preventing genocide is not only an erga omnes obligation but also a collective responsibility of the international community;

To the Secretary-General of the United Nations

I urge you to demonstrate moral and political responsibility and leadership by engaging the entire UN system to prevent further international crimes committed by Azerbaijan in Artsakh;

I urge the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide and other relevant entities to present factual and legal information to the United Nations Security Council regarding the international crimes committed against the Republic of Artsakh;

I propose making a meaningful contribution to the process of forming a conflict resolution mechanism between Artsakh and Azerbaijan by using your institution of good offices;

To the Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide

I urge you to activate the early warning mechanism within your mandate, thereby presenting the crisis situation that has emerged in the Republic of Artsakh to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and through him, to the Security Council;

I urge you to take effective measures to dispatch a fact-finding mission to the Republic of Artsakh to assess the consequences of international crimes committed by Azerbaijan through the illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor;

To the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and other UN structures responsible for the protection of human rights

I urge you, within the scope of your mandates, to provide a legal assessment of the crimes committed by Azerbaijan against the people of Artsakh, document the widespread violations of human rights and provide member states of the United Nations Security Council and other international entities with detailed factual and legal information about the escalating human rights crisis in Artsakh;

To the International Committee of the Red Cross, as the sole international organization present in the Republic of Artsakh and having the appropriate international mandate

I urge you to provide all actors of the international community and, in particular, the UN Security Council member states, with detailed factual and legal information about the situation in Artsakh and the actions of Azerbaijan, which grossly violate norms of international humanitarian law;

To the Council of Europe

I urge you to take effective and decisive measures to ensure the immediate implementation of the binding ruling issued by the European Court of Human Rights on December 21, 2022;

I strongly call for measures to be taken regarding the flagrant and severe violation by Azerbaijan of the three pillars of the Council of Europe, including a potential exclusion of this member state from the organization;

To the European Union

I urge the utilization of available resources and tools within the European Union, including the imposition of sanctions, to intensify pressure on Azerbaijan to lift the blockade of Artsakh and end its widespread human rights violations;

I urge you to remain faithful to the values and principles proclaimed by the European Union, refraining in particular from prioritizing energy partnership with Azerbaijan over human rights and freedoms;

To International Human Rights Organizations and Other International Actors

I urge you to actively engage in campaigns to raise awareness about the massive and systematic violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law committed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh, including by providing clear legal descriptions and demanding that governments and international organizations take appropriate preventive measures;

To Representatives of the Media

Acknowledging the indispensable role of independent media in increasing awareness about mass crimes and their prevention, I urge you to remain true to your mission and break the unacceptable silence by providing the international community with objective information about the mass crimes taking place in Artsakh, thereby breaking the vicious cycle of injustice and impunity.

Esteemed representatives of the international community,

As I conclude this message of alarm, I implore you not to forget that Artsakh is currently the only territory in the world under a complete siege, where even the international community lacks access. Do you not question Azerbaijan's intent to subject the peaceful population of Artsakh to total isolation? Does it not concern you that, from a human rights perspective, Artsakh has become not a gray zone but a black hole where all the crimes imaginable by human civilization can occur? Do you not realize that such international impunity and the allowance of another genocide will give rise to new crimes, possibly even against your own peoples?!

Therefore, I implore and demand from all of you to promptly take action and stop this ongoing genocide of the people of Artsakh before it becomes too late.
08:42

The army on Tuesday said it, along with the Assam Rifles, will continue to remain firm and resolute in carrying out actions to prevent any attempt that could result in furthering violence in strife-torn Manipur.

In a statement posted on Twitter, the Army's Spear Corps said there have been fabricated attempts to malign the image of the Assam Rifles, which has been engaged in restoring peace in ethnic violence-hit Manipur.





"Some inimical elements have made desperate, repeated, and failed attempts to question the role, intent, and integrity of the central security forces, especially Assam Rifles, working relentlessly towards saving lives and restoration of peace in Manipur from May 3 onwards," the statement said.





The army said it needs to be understood that due to the complex nature of the situation on the ground in Manipur, occasional differences at the tactical level do occur between various security forces.





However, all such misunderstandings at the functional level are immediately addressed through the joint mechanism to synergise the efforts for the restoration of peace and normalcy in Manipur.





The army said two instances have emerged over the last 24 hours aimed at maligning the image of Assam Rifles.





In the first case, the army said, the Assam Rifles battalion has acted strictly in accordance with the mandate of the Unified Headquarters of strict enforcement of buffer zone guidelines towards the aim of preventing violence between the two communities.





In the second case, it said, the Assam Rifles being moved out of an area is not even related to them.





An infantry battalion of the army is deployed in the area, since the crisis erupted in May, from where the narrative of Assam Rifles being moved out has been made, it said.





"Indian Army and Assam Rifles assure the people of Manipur that we will continue to remain firm and resolute in our actions to prevent any attempt that could result in furthering violence in an already volatile atmosphere," the statement said.





Manipur Police has registered an FIR accusing the Assam Rifles of blocking their vehicle after an altercation between the two groups last week. -- PTI
SIUs Paul Simon Institute to host Illinois political expert Jim Nowlan

CARBONDALE, Ill.  Jim Nowlan, a former member of the Illinois General Assembly, state agency director and retired professor, will join the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute on Aug. 16 for a virtual conversation on his new book, Politics: The Starter Kit, How to Succeed in Politics and Government.

Nowlan and John Shaw, institute director, will discuss Nowlans new book as well as two of his earlier books, Illinois Politics and Fixing Illinois.

The virtual discussion via Zoom is at 10 a.m. The online program is free and open to the public, but registration is required. The conversation is part of the institutes Illinois Authors series of discussions with the writers who bring the Prairie State to life. Visit paulsimoninstitute.org/events to register.

Jim Nowlan possesses a unique blend of wisdom, practicality, idealism and sheer decency, Shaw said. He has had a deeply impressive and varied career. We are eager to explore his practical advice for students who are considering careers in politics.

Nowlan has more than 50 years involvement with Illinois politics that includes more than 600 columns, many about the challenges facing the state. He served four years as a state representative in the Illinois House and was the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor with then-Gov. Richard Ogilvie in 1972. Nowlans career also included working as a campaign manager for moderate Republican U.S. Senate and presidential candidates, newspaper publisher and columnist.

Nowlan earned his bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees  all in political science  from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He taught at both the University of Illinois and Knox College.

Attendees are encouraged to submit questions for Nowlan on the registration form or email questions to paulsimoninstitute@siu.edu.

More information, a list of the institutes upcoming events and past speakers and events are available.
PRNewswire Pune (Maharashtra) [India], August 8: Datamotive, a company that provides cloud workload portability for worldwide organizations, announced today that it has raised $3.8 million ina Pre-SeriesA funding round led by the Dubai-based VC firm Morphosis with participation from 3one4 Capital, YourNest Venture Capital and Patni Group. The new funding round will accelerate the delivery of Datamotive's products that enable organizations to seamlessly and securely scale, migrate and recover data and workloads across public and private clouds with a guaranteed 10-minute recovery service level agreement (SLA) regardless of cloud and workload size. Datamotive allows organizations to build a hybrid cloud blueprint that supports freedom of choice for any cloud service provider and offers them the ability to run workloads anywhere on any cloud. Its patented replication and recovery engine enables online, agentless replication of entire workloads (OS, platform, application, and its data), while the recovery engine provides a flat-line recovery time (RTO/CTO) of 10 minutes with zero impact on workload performance. The RTO/CTO applies irrespective of the application, its size, or the cloud platform. The company's strengths lie in enabling cross-hypervisor replication and recovering the workloads using the target native infrastructure. "We are proud of what we've accomplished so far. This funding will enable us to continue the innovation cycle with ourDR and cloud migration products, and, of course, accelerate our geographic expansion," said Yogesh Anyapanawar, co-founder ofDatamotive. "By enabling workload portability, Datamotiveaccelerates the adoption of hybrid, multi-cloud computing for organizations. This allows businesses to innovate and operate without the fear of vendor lock-in," addedSameer Zaveri, co-founder ofDatamotive. "Weare pleased to collaborate with Datamotive and support the team'svisionary approach in the workload portability market," said Amit Zutshi, managing partner and founder of Morphosis. "With its innovative, unparalleled cost-to-value ratio, best-in-class SLAs, and exceptional performance, Datamotive.io is poised to lead the way in hybrid cloud workload portability and transform multi-cloud management in the business continuity market." About Datamotive Datamotive is an enterprise workload mobility company that enables the seamless movement of workloads in a hybrid multi-cloud environment with a guaranteed SLA of 10 minutes. Its patented solution protects organizations from data losses caused by cloud security misconfigurations, data breaches, or the corruption of corporate networks. For more information, go tohttps://www.datamotive.io/. About YourNest YourNest, established in 2011 as a technology-focused Pre-Series A fund house has pioneered deep tech investing and IP-led product innovation in enterprise-driven (B2B) startups (IoT, AI/ML, Robotics, Cloud, Automation, etc). YourNest Innovative Products VC Fund III recorded its first close in Sept '21 and has NIIF as its anchor investor. In its first Fund, YourNest has provided a DPI of 1.47 with four exits. Its second Fund, fully invested with a maiden exit, features amongst the best performing AIFs in the latest CRISIL AIF Benchmark Report of Sept '22 with 34.62% net IRR as of March 31 2023, where the peer benchmark stands at 23.68% net IRR. Media Contact: Yogesh AnyapanawarFounder, Datamotiveinfo@datamotive.io Logo:https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2170614/Datamotive_Logo.jpg (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
PRNewswire Gurgaon (Haryana) [India], August 8: BharatRohan Airborne Innovations Private Limited, a pioneer inagri-tech drone services, has announced a transformative partnership with the Smart Village Movement. This collaboration is set to revolutionize ginger farming in Meghalaya, by reducing their crop losses and improving their income and livelihoods. The project will leverage advanced drone-based hyperspectral imaging and data-driven insights, ensuring affordability for smallholder farmers. The partnership aims to empower farmers with precision agriculture techniques using UAV drones equipped with hyperspectral, multispectral and thermal sensors, capable of detecting minute changes in crop health. This real-time data enables farmers to make timely interventions to improve crop yield and quality. Moreover, the initiative promotes sustainable, residue-free ginger production, which will incentivize farmers with premium prices by creating better linkages for the export markets, enhancing income opportunities and economic growth for the local farming communities. "Our drones are equipped with hyperspectral imagery, provide real-time data and precise crop health assessments, enabling swift adaptation to shifting climate patterns. We believe in creating a sustainable agricultural ecosystem by producing residue-free, better-quality produce," said Rishabh Choudhary, CTO & Co-Founder of BharatRohan. Echoing this sentiment, Megha Raju, Project Lead at BharatRohan, highlighted the critical role of the collaboration: "Integrating UAV hyperspectral technology into smallholder ginger farming in Meghalaya, our collaboration becomes crucial in providing farm specic actionable advisory, supplying high quality agri-inputs and promoting sustainable and protable agricultural practices." Vivek Shah, CEO of Smart Village Movement, also voiced his enthusiasm: "As a facilitator to take technologies and business models in rural markets, SVM looks forward to the pilot with BharatRohan in addressing the pain points and aspirations of farmers. Our experience to drive other drone-enabled use cases gives us great anticipation to propel the prospects in the agricultural sector as well. The outcomes of this would be key to understanding the technology readiness and resilience in unique conditions like dense clouds, high rainfall and the topography of Meghalaya, but most profoundly, to witness demand in villagers adapting to such innovations would be of essential value to our model." The partnership received significant support from the NASSCOM 'Center of Excellence for IoT & AI' in India, which played a pivotal role. The center's contributions were crucial in making the partnership successful and impactful, enabling positive developments in rural regions. Initially, the partnership aims to collaborate with farmers in Ri Bhoi District, Meghalaya, with plans for further expansion. Farmers will receive personalized advisory services, UAV/drone-based prescription maps and agri-input suggestions through a very easy-to-use BharatRohanWhatsApp Chatbot, alongside market linkage opportunities. The partnership plans to expand services to paddy, turmeric and pineapple-farming clusters in Meghalaya, further demonstrating their commitment to sustainable agriculture. Furthermore, they will host farmer meetings and capacity-building training programs, facilitating the understanding and effective use ofUAV/drone technology in agriculture. About BharatRohan BharatRohanis an agri-tech start-up specializing in UAV/drone spectral imaging-based Decision Support System (DSS) for farmers. They offer a comprehensive procurement platform to institutional buyers with traceability as a key value addition. The solution is vertically integrated and offers farmers andFPOs access to the markets through buyback arrangements. The value proposition for paying customers is access to pesticide and residue-free agricultural commodities, along with a farm-traceability platform. The company is tapping into the export market demand, which can offer higher margins to the farmer. For more information, visithttp://www.bharatrohan.com/ About Smart Village Movement The Smart Village Movement is a collaborative process facilitated by the SVM organization in conjunction with the Berkeley-Haas Center of Growth Markets, aimed at establishing a Smart Village ecosystem. The organization actively partners with government, academia, corporations, and rural communities, fostering independence and promoting sustainable rural development in Indian villages and other emerging markets. Its primary objective is to empower rural communities by leveraging digital technologies and open innovation platforms, thereby enabling them to access global markets. For further inquiries, contact: Megha Raju(Project Lead, BharatRohan)Email:megha@bharatrohan.inPhone: +91-92059 91781 Vivek Shah (CEO, Smart Village Movement)Email:vivek@smartvillagemovement.orgPhone: +91-9967484848 Photo 1:https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2170421/BharatRohan_SVM_Meghalaya.jpgPhoto 2: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2170422/Farmers_BharatRohan_Drone_Survey.jpgLogo:https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2170420/BharatRohan_Logo.jpg (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
New Delhi [India], August 8: Get ready to be mesmerized by a spellbinding journey as Atlas MovieTime proudly announces the successful culmination of filming the much-awaited Hindi feature, "AHUTI," in an enthralling start-to-finish schedule.

Directed by the visionary filmmaker Avishek Ghosh, and masterfully captured by Cinematographer Tiyash Sen, "AHUTI" boasts an ensemble cast featuring the exceptionally talented Purab Kohli, the enchanting Malvika Raaj, the compelling Samvedna Suwalka, and the versatile Gaurav Sharma.

This gripping cinematic creation delves deep into the realms of Obsession, Deceit, and Psychological Turmoil, urging audiences to confront their innermost fears and question the very essence of ambition and moral integrity.

The film's producers are exhilarated to present this extraordinary psychological thriller that defies conventional storytelling norms. Speaking passionately about the film's shooting and wrap-up process, the producers expressed, "With fervor and dedication, the entire team, and remarkable crew and cast, have painstakingly brought this riveting tale to life. We are certain that 'AHUTI' will weave its magic on the silver screen, leaving a lasting impression with the audiences.

"AHUTI" is set to revolutionize the thriller genre, intertwining arresting visuals, powerful performances, and an intriguing narrative that will leave viewers on the edge of their seats. As the film embarks on its post-production journey, the anticipation for its theatrical release reaches an all-time high.

For further updates please email on media@atlasmovietime.com

(Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by India PR Distribution. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Following rumours that Benjamin Millepied had an affair, Natalie Portman and her husband are reportedly no longer together, as per Page Six. The couple, who have two children together, called it quits after 11 years of marriage, a source told Us Weekly on Monday. After news of his affair came out, theyve been trying to work on their marriage but are currently on the outs, the insider claimed. Despite it being their wedding anniversary, Portman, 42, and Millepied, 46, were spotted separately in Sydney last week. Just weeks after she was pictured looking upset while out with the dancer, the "Black Swan" star's 4-carat, Jamie Wolf-designed ring was conspicuously missing from her finger. It happens two months after rumours about Camille tienne, a climate activist, and Millepied started to circulate. Photographs of Millepied and tienne meeting in his office were published in the French magazine Voici. Nearly two hours later, they were seen leaving the building separately after coming in separately. According to the article that went along with it, Portman was informed of her husband's alleged infidelity months earlier, Page Six reported. According to sources, the couple initially split up last year but were able to resolve their marital issues. They are attempting to resolve their differences without separating. Ben is making every effort to win Natalie's forgiveness. One insider revealed, "He loves her and their family. According to the source, Portman is incredibly private and her biggest focus right now is protecting the kids, referring to her children Aleph, 12, and Amalia, 6. On the set of Portman's Oscar-winning movie Black Swan, Millepied met Portman in 2009 for which he was the choreographer. They said "I do" in California, in 2012 after he got down on one knee in 2010. (ANI)
Rapper-turned-fashion designer Kanye West joined American rapper Travis Scott for his Utopia concert in Rome on Monday, giving his first performance since his antisemitic rants, PageSix reported. Ye is the only human on this planet that has ever walked side by side with me through anything and every," said Scott, who introduced him to the audience Then, as West and Scott performed Praise God from their 2021 album Donda, the audience erupted. The backing track saved the Grammy winner, who appeared to be a little out of practice as he missed most of the lyrics, according to PageSix. A performance video shows him continuing with "Can't Tell Me Nothing" from his 2007 album "Graduation." Despite working together musically, West and Scott are also related by way of the mothers of their children. Ye has four kids with Kim Kardashian, with whom he was previously married. Meanwhile, Scott is a father to two kids with Kylie Jenner, the youngest Kardashian sister. The founder of Yeezy sparked controversy in October 2022 when he tweeted that he wanted "to go death con 3 ON JEWISH PEOPLE." He continued in a string of now-deleted tweets, "The funny thing is I actually can't be Anti Semitic because black people are actually Jews." He added, "You guys have been playing with me and trying to blackball anyone who doesn't agree with your agenda." He continued by praising Hitler and asserting that the "Jewish media" had prevented him from speaking. Adidas, which had a long-standing collaboration with the Yeezy designer, cut ties with him soon after. Adidas issued a statement saying, "Adidas does not tolerate antisemitism and any other type of hate speech." Yes recent comments and actions have been unacceptable, hateful and dangerous, and they violate the companys values of diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and fairness. The Gold Digger rapper additionally posted screenshots of their conversations on Instagram, writing, "I'ma use you as an example to show the Jewish people that told you to call me that no one can threaten or influence me." When West said that watching Jonah Hill in 21 Jump Street made him like Jewish people again, he retracted his antisemitic statements from earlier this year. The unexpected appearance at Scott's concert occurs while the "Heartless" rapper and his "wife," Bianca Censori, are vacationing in Europe, as per PageSix. During their trip to Italy, the couple was seen in photographs engaging in some passionate PDA. (ANI)
Some residents of Delhi are receiving pre-recorded calls from Khalistani organization Sikhs for Justice stating that the August 15 Independence Day program in the national capital will be disrupted, the Delhi police said. The Delhi police has launched an investigation in this context. According to Delhi Police, one of the person who received the threat call informed the police through a PCR call. Delhi Police informed that legal action has been initiated on the complaint of the person and the special cell is investigating the matter. The Delhi Police said that they are trying to find out from where the call was made and who was the caller. Earlier last year, the Delhi Police tightened the security and vigilance at all the eight borders of Delhi as well as the busy markets of the city. The security near the Red Fort was beefed up with many layers of protection. For enhanced security at the Independence Day programme, the police personnel deployed anti-drone system to ensure protection against drone attacks. This anti-drone system was manufactured by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Bharat Electronics (BEL). The Red Fort was shielded with a Radar system to ensure its safety from the Drones. Police personnel were also taught ways to combat suspected objects flying in the sky. (ANI)
China's armed forces have launched massive emergency rescue and relief efforts in response to typhoon-induced rainstorms that have wreaked havoc in north and northeast China over the past few days.

The armed police force based in northeast China's Jilin Province on Sunday dispatched anti-flood commandos to critical points along the Lalin River before the arrival of the flood peak. Their mission encompassed evacuating those trapped in vulnerable areas and bolstering river embankments to mitigate the potential impact.

Against the rising water level in the Mayi River in Heilongjiang Province, the local armed police force dispatched more than 200 officers for emergency rescue assistance.

They worked continuously for 19 hours and used more than 46,000 sandbags to build an embankment that is 1.5 meters high and more than 1,000 meters long.

Also on Sunday, military personnel of the Northern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army stood fast at the right bank of Mudanjiang River as well as in Shahezi, a town in Heilongjiang Province. They continued to assist with rescue and evacuation operations, while also engaging the inspection and reinforcement of dikes, reservoirs and dangerous river sections.

Affected by Typhoon Doksuri, extreme rainfall was recorded in north China and the regions along the Yellow and Huaihe rivers in the past few days, triggering floods and geological disasters and causing heavy casualties in regions including the national capital.

Affected by the flash floods, traffic in the town of Zhaitang in Mentougou District in Beijing was interrupted.

The armed police force based in Beijing sent an emergency rescue team to deliver disaster relief supplies, such as food, medicine, epidemic prevention materials and lighting devices, to 12 villages in Zhaitang. They hiked 15 kilometers on the mountain road, with each carrying 25 kilograms of supplies on average.

Meanwhile, in Beijing's flood-stricken suburban districts of Fangshan and Mentougou, an engineer detachment of the Central Theater Command built two bridges to help clear the emergency rescue channel of a national highway, benefiting more than 80,000 residents in three townships along the route.

A medical rescue team dispatched by a hospital under the armed police force in north China's Hebei Province to Zhuozhou set up medical stations for the convenience of local residents on Sunday after floods battered the city.

While providing medical services and basic medicines, they also carried out disinfection for epidemic prevention and control and assisted in hygiene publicity.
The agency, in a statement, appealed to the public to come forward and share accounts of events to unearth the larger conspiracy behind the murder.

The agency said it was relying on any leads which could have a direct bearing on the case.

"In order to unearth the larger criminal conspiracy behind the murder of Retired Judge, Neelkanth Ganjoo three decades ago, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) has appealed to all persons familiar with facts or circumstances of this murder case to come forward and share any account of events which has a direct or indirect bearing on the investigation of the instant case," read a statement from the SIA.

Neelkanth Ganjoo, a high court judge in Kashmir, was assassinated on November 4, 1989.

Three militants surrounded Ganjoo as he was in the Hari Singh Street market and shot him dead near the Srinagar High Court. (ANI)
"The main challenges faced in adopting horticulture are high initial investment, availability of planting material, lack of technical knowledge, post-harvest losses, inefficient supply chain and weak linkages with markets," the minister said in response to a query by Rajya Sabha MP Kartikeya Sharma.

Sharma wanted to know the benefits of horticulture over traditional agricultural methods in Haryana.

Further support is also available under the Market Intervention Scheme for the procurement ofhorticultural crops, which are perishable in nature, the minister said, adding that horticulture crops are also covered under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) to provide safeguards to farmers.

The minister said the Haryana government was also in the process of implementing Bhavantar Bharpayee Yojana (BBV) to compensate horticulture growers by providing gap incentives of cost and prevailing market price of perishables.

In response to another question posed by the MP, the Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, said it promotes the industrial development of the country by facilitating investments in new and upcoming technology, accelerating Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and supporting a balanced development of industry and trade.

Meanwhile, the Minister of state for Civil Aviation informed Rajya Sabha that currently, there are 36 Flying Training Organizations (FTOs) in the country operating at 57 bases which are imparting flying training to cadets.

In 2022, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a record of 1165Commercial Pilot Licenses (CPLs) to cater to the requirement of the industry, the minister said. (ANI)
Amid a discussion on the Delhi Services Bill in the Rajya Sabha ahead of its passage, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday lashed out at the Congress, reminding them that the government was not making amendments to the Constitution to "impose (another) Emergency" in the country. The Parliament on Monday passed the Bill that empowers the Lieutenant Governor to control Group A services in Delhi, including on matters relating to appointments, transfers and postings. The Bill was passed after a division in which 131 MPs voted in favour of the legislation and 102 against it. The Bill seeking to replace the Ordinance brought earlier by the Centre will now be sent to President Murmu to be signed into law. "We are making amendments to the Constitution but they are not for imposing another Emergency. The Congress has no right to speak on democracy," Amit Shah said during his reply amid the debate on NCTD (Amendment) Bill in the Upper House on Monday. While speaking on the Delhi Services Bill, the Union Home Minister said he was also ready for a discussion on Manipur situation, adding that the Centre had nothing to hide. He added that if the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, was willing to hold a discussion on Manipur on August 11 then he, too, was ready. Speaking on the Bill, Shah said the Constitution empowers the Parliament to enact laws for the National Capital Territory of Delhi. He said the Bill doesn't violate the Supreme Court order, as its sole objective is to ensure a corruption-free administration in Delhi. He said during previous governments of the BJP and the Congress in Delhi, there were never any fights over transfer postings in Delhi and no any chief minister had any problem (with the control of Services). In 2015, a party came to power after an 'andolan' (movement). Some people said the Centre wants to wrest power from the Delhi administration. However, we don't need to do that as thepeople of India have given us the power and the right (to make laws pertaining to Delhi)," he said. Shah added that two Rajya Sabha members (BJD's Sasmit Patra and the BJP's Sudhanshu Trivedi) alleged they have not signed the motion (to be part of a select committee) moved by AAP MP Raghav Chadha. "Now it is a matter of investigation how the motion was signed," Shah said in Rajya Sabha during the discussion on the Delhi Services Bill. The Opposition sought division after almost eight-hour debate on the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023 which was moved for passage in the House earlier, on Monday by Shah. Parties in I.N.D.I.A alliance opposed the Bill, which was passed by Lok Sabha last week. The voting was held through paper slips owing to a mechanical snag in the automatic vote recording machine. Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh announced the result of division, saying, "Subject to correction, it is 131 Ayes and 102 Noes." Thirty-four MPs parties took part in the debate on the Bill. The Bill establishes the National Capital Civil Services authority, which consists of the chief minister, chief secretary of Delhi, and the Principal Home Secretary of Delhi. The authority will make recommendations to the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) regarding transfers and postings of officials and disciplinary matters. The Bill empowers the L-G to exercise his sole discretion on several matters, including those recommended by the National Capital Civil Services Authority, and the summoning, prorogation and dissolution of the Delhi Legislative Assembly. It authorises department secretaries to bring to the notice of the L-G, the chief minister and the chief secretary any matter that may lead to a controversy involving the Delhi government and the Centre. (ANI)
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who was reinstated as the Lok Sabha MP a day ago will open the debate on the no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government in the Lower House of Parliament on Tuesday, the party's Lok Sabha chief whip K Suresh said. Rahul Gandhi was reinstated as Lok Sabha MP on Monday, three days after the Supreme Court suspended his criminal defamation conviction in the Modi surname case Manipur is set to dominate the three-day debate commencing today in the Lok Sabha on the oppositions no-confidence motion. "Today in Lok Sabha, No Confidence Motion is going to be discussed. At 12 noon, the no-confidence motion will be taken up. So, from Congress' side, Rahul Gandhi is the first speaker on the No Confidence Motion," Congress' Lok Sabha whip Suresh said. Earlier on Monday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that he is ready for discussion on Manipur adding that the Centre has nothing to hide. He further said that if the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge agrees to discuss the issue on August 11 then he is also ready. The Union Minister said, "...Our issue is only Manipur. PM has not said anything so far on the issue. We continuously demanded that he come to the Parliament and make a statement on the Manipur situation. But he is not ready for it. He is not ready to accept the Opposition's demands. That is why, we moved an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha. Of course, we don't have a majority in Lok Sabha but we want to know the PM's reaction..." "In Rajya Sabha they are trying to Rule 267... so in Rajya Sabha we will also discuss on Manipur issue, but in Lok Sabha we moved a no-confidence motion that's why we are going to discuss, Congress Lok Sabha chief whip said. He further said that PM Modi talked about the Manipur somewhere outside made a statement in Parliament but he never made a statement in both the houses. "PM somewhere outside made a statement in Parliament but what about inside the house? In both the houses he never came he never said anything about Manipur," he added. Speaking on the video that showed two women being paraded naked in Manipur, the PM on July 20 said, "I am filled with pain and the incident is shameful for any civil society." "No accused will spared, we will never forgive those who are behind this," the PM had said. Opposition members have been seeking discussion under Rule 267 in the Rajya Sabha since the beginning of the monsoon session of Parliament on July 20. The Rajya Sabha has been facing a similar logjam since July 20, the day when the Monsoon Session started, over the Manipur violence issue. Manipur had been on the boil for the last three months after ethnic clashes broke out between two tribal communities Meities and Kukis, when the Manipur High Court asked the state government to consider adding one of the communities to the list of Scheduled Tribes. (ANI)
Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Tuesday sharpened his attack against the alleged Chinese funding to the Congress and Indian news portal NewsClick and targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. All I would like to say Congress ka haath 'NewsClick' ke saath, 'NewsClick' ke upar China ka haath. Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the nation and say how did Rajiv Gandhi Foundation take money from China and where did it use this, Thakur told reporters before heading to the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting this morning. The Union Minister said that the Congress leader should apologise to the country in Parliament that China funds NewsClick and explain why his party supported it. He should tell the country who are the people who provided the funding and what was the compulsion that Congress was seen standing with 'NewsClick', Thakur said. Yesterday, the Union Minister citing a report in the New York Times had in a press conference charged that China, the NewsClick website and Congress party were linked to an "anti-India umbilical cord". The US daily in its Sunday report had alleged that Chinese firms were funding the Indian news portal with the aim of spreading Beijings propaganda. Thakur alleged that China had signed an agreement with the Congress party and made payments to the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation during the regime of the UPA. US-based newspaper The New York Times had in its report alleged that American millionaire Neville Roy Singham has worked closely with the Chinese government media machine and is financing the Chinese propaganda worldwide. Union Minister Thakur said, Congress, China and NewsClick are all part of an umbilical cord. Chinese products are clearly visible in Rahul Gandhis fake Mohabbat ki Dukaan. His love for China can be seen. Their purpose was to run an anti-India and Break India agenda. Neville Roy Singham made the funding to NewsClick, and he was himself being funded by China. Neville Roy is in direct contact with the propaganda arm of the Chinese propaganda party. And these facts have been exposed by those newspapers which are highly praised by the Congress party, Thakur said. The Union Minister further alleged that when the BJP-led Centre was taking action against NewsClick, Congress and other Opposition parties had come out in its support. In 2021, we exposed NewsClick as to how foreign propaganda is used against India. But, these Opposition leaders came in support of NewsClick and alleged that the Centre is curbing the freedom of the press. Although, Chinese companies were funding NewsClick through Mogul Neville Roy Singham their salesmen were some people from India, who came in their support when action was taken against them. They tried to spread the Chinese agenda and mislead the Indian public through false propaganda. They spread fake news in the name of free news, Thakur said. Further, Thakur alleged that during the Beijing Olympics 2008, the Congress party signed an agreement with China, under which payments were made to the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation.When Rahul and Sonia Gandhi went to China for Beijing Olympics 2008, they signed an agreement under which high-level exchange were to take place. Under their agreement, a payment was also made to Rajiv Gandhi Foundation. And the agreement was signed by none other than Xi Jinping and Rahul Gandhi, Thakur said. He added, What was in that agreement came to light in July 2017, when China tried to encroach on our lands. At that time, Rahul Gandhi was shaking hands and eating food with Chinese officials. Then, again in Cambridge, Rahul Gandhi heaped praises on China calling them force of nature and aspiring superpower. BJP member Nishikant Dubey had on Monday targeted Rahul Gandhi, whose membership of Lok Sabha was restored earlier in the day, and demanded that Election Commission should probe funding of Congress by China. Dubey, who made the remarks soon after the House met following its adjournment during question hour, also posted a video of his remarks on Twitter Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary later wrote to the Lok Sabha speaker on behalf of the party demanding the libellous and defamatory remarks of Nishikant Dubey be expunged from records. (ANI)
Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi on Tuesday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has to accept that his double-engine government in Manipur has failed. A discussion on the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Narendra Modis government began in the Lok Sabha with Gogoi initiating the debate. "PM will have to accept that his double-engine government, his government in Manipur has failed. That is why 150 people died in Manipur, around 5000 houses were torched, around 60,000 people are in relief camps and around 6500 FIRs have been registered," Gogoi said. The Congress leader said that the opposition I.N.D.I.A. alliance has brought the no-trust motion for Manipur as the state wants justice. "The CM of the state, who should have created an atmosphere of talks, of peace and harmony, has taken instigating steps in the past two to three days that have created tension in society," he said. "We are compelled to bring the no-confidence motion. This was never about numbers but about justice for Manipur. I have moved the motion that this House expresses no confidence in the Government. I.N.D.I.A. has brought this motion for Manipur. Manipur wants justice," Gogoi said. Stating that the PM had taken a 'maun vrat' (vow of silence) to not speak in the Parliament so the opposition was compelled to introduce the motion to break his silence." Why did he not visit Manipur to date? Why did it take almost 80 days to finally speak on Manipur and when he did speak it was just for 30 seconds? Why has the Chief Minister not been sacked the Manipur CM so far?," Gogoi asked. Earlier in the day Congress chief whip K Suresh had said that Rahul Gandhi, who was reinstated as the Lok Sabha MP a day ago will open the debate on the no-confidence motion. According to sources, a time of 12 hours has been fixed for the discussion. The ruling BJP will get around seven hours to partake in the discussion and around one hour 15 minutes has been allotted for the Congress party.' YSRCP, Shiv Sena, JDU, BJD, BSP, BRS and LJP have been given a total of 2 hours, which has been divided according to the number of party's MPs in the House. A time limit of 1 hour 10 minutes has been allotted for other parties and independent MPs. The debate on the no-confidence motion against the BJP-led government is likely to take place on August 8 and 9 in the Lok Sabha and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to give a reply on August 10. Manipur had been on the boil for the last three months after ethnic clashes broke out between two tribal communities Meities and Kukis, when the Manipur High Court asked the state government to consider adding one of the communities to the list of Scheduled Tribes. (ANI)
During the meeting, Goyal announced India's plans to launch the BRICS Startup Forum in 2023, aimed at fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing among start-ups, investors, incubators and aspiring entrepreneurs across the member nations.

Highlighting India's progress, Minister Goyal underscored the remarkable growth of the start-up India initiative, which has nurtured the establishment of nearly 100,000 start-ups within the country.

Emphasizing the theme of "Transforming Production Systems," he expressed India's willingness to extend support and share insights with fellow BRICS members and the global community.

In his address, Piyush Goyal reiterated Indias commitment to the principle of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam," emphasizing the nation's role as a responsible global citizen dedicated to fostering a more inclusive, tolerant and interconnected world.

The Industry Ministers from Brazil, Russia, China, and South Africa also participated in the meeting, culminating in the adoption of a Joint Declaration.

Among the key points discussed were the imperatives of digitalization, industrialization, innovation, inclusiveness and investment within the BRICS countries.

The declaration highlighted the growing significance of Industry 4.0 and emerging technologies in driving digital transformation across diverse economic sectors.

The BRICS members acknowledged the importance of human resource development and cooperation on upskilling and reskilling programs to facilitate technological adaptation.

Further cementing their commitment to deepening industrial cooperation, the ministers emphasized a shared goal of expediting the recovery and growth of the Industrial Economy.

They pledged to create an environment characterized by openness, fairness, vibrancy, resilience, and non-discrimination.

Recognizing the pivotal role of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), the ministers emphasized the necessity of integrating and diversifying these entities into global industrial chains, supply chains, and value chains.

The importance of generating market opportunities within BRICS nations for projects owned or managed by women, youth and marginalized groups was also underscored. (ANI)
MoS Home Nityanand Rai in a written reply to the question of Lok Sabha MP Hanuman Beniwal that the number of cases of suicides committed by Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) personnel since 2011 said that 1,532 cases of suicides by personnel of CAPFS, Assam Rifles (AR) and National Security Guard (NSG) since 2011

MoS Home Further inform Lower House on the question of whether the Government is aware of any such cases caused due to harassment by the system and said that No such cases caused due to harassment by the system havebeen reported.

"A Task Force has been set up to identify relevant risk factors as well as relevant risk groups and to suggest remedial measures for prevention of suicides and fratricides in CAPFs and Assam Rifles (AR). The report of the Task Force is awaited" MoS Home Nityanand Rai added. (ANI)
Congress members protested in Lok Sabha on Tuesday over remarks by BJP member Adhir Ranjan Chowdury against party leader Rahul Gandhi in the House and demanded that these should be expunged. Soon after the House met for the day, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury sought to raise the issue. Speaker Om Birla said no directions had been given and the member of the Speakers panel, when they preside over the House, are empowered to take all decisions. As opposition members continued to protest, the House was adjourned till 12 noon. The House later took up debate on the motion of no-confidence against the government. BJP member Nishikant Dubey had on Monday targeted Rahul Gandhi, whose membership of Lok Sabha was restored earlier in the day, and demanded that Election Commission should probe funding of Congress by China. Dubey, who made the remarks soon after the House met following its adjournment during question hour, also posted a video of his remarks on Twitter. Congress and other opposition parties opposed his remarks. Congress members demanded that his remarks should be expunged. Dubey took a jibe at Rahul Gandhi over his mohabbat ki Dukan campaign and apparently referred to Rajiv Gandhi Foundation getting funds from the Chinese Embassy. "Rahul's nafrat ki dukaan is full of Chinese goods. The Congress policy is to break the country in league with China. The Election Commission should probe the Chinese funding of Congress, Dubey later said in a Tweet. Dubey also referred to report in a US-based newspaper about links between Chinese propaganda and a US Tech Mogul and said the article also mentions an Indian news site NewsClick, which is being probed by ED. He said some Congress leaders made statements on Twitter after raids were conducted on the news site. "Whenever India faced difficulty from 2005 to 2014...the Chinese government gave funds to Congress (Rajiv Gandhi Foundation) whose FCRA license was cancelled by the Indian government. In 2008, when the Olympics were held, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were invited, he alleged. He said Rahul Gandhi had met the then Chinese envoy during the Doklam standoff. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary on Monday wrote to the Lok Sabha speaker on behalf of the party demanding the libellous and defamatory remarks of Nishikant Dubey be expunged from records. "We demand under Rule 380 that his remarks be expunged in full and that an inquiry be conducted into how such an allegation was permitted to be raised on the record", the Congress leader wrote. Rahul Gandhi was reinstated as member of Lok Sabha on Monday after Supreme Court stayed his conviction in the Modi surname remark case. (ANI)
The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed a Bill to empower Commander-in-Chief and Officer-in Command of Inter-Services Organisations (ISOs) with all disciplinary and administrative powers in respect of the personnel serving in or attached to such organisations. The Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Bill, 2023 was passed by voice vote. Earlier, the Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on August 4. Replying to the debate, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the government is ready to take each and every step for the welfare of the forces. Singh termed the Bill as part of a series of military reforms being undertaken by the Government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with the aim to empower the nation. He described the bill as an important step taken towards integration and jointness among the Armed Forces to face future challenges in an integrated manner. The Bill seeks to empower the Commander-in-Chief and Officer-in Command of Inter-Services Organisations (ISOs) with all disciplinary and administrative powers in respect of the personnel serving in or attached to such organisations. Currently, the Armed Forces personnel are governed in accordance with the provisions contained in their specific Service Acts - Army Act 1950, Navy Act 1957 and Air Force Act 1950. The enactment of the Bill will have various tangible benefits such as the maintenance of effective discipline in inter-service establishments by the Heads of ISOs, no requirement of reverting personnel under disciplinary proceedings to their parent Service units, expeditious disposal of cases of misdemeanour or indiscipline and saving of public money and time by avoiding multiple proceedings. The Bill would also pave the way for much greater integration and jointness amongst the three Services; lay a strong foundation for creation of Joint Structures in times to come and further improve the functioning of the Armed Forces. The ISO Bill - 2023 shall be applicable to all personnel of regular Army, Navy, and Air Force, and to persons of other forces as notified by the Central Government, who are serving in or attached to an Inter-Services Organisation. This Bill empowers the Commander-in-Chief, Officer-in-Command or any other officer specially empowered on this behalf by the Central Government with all the disciplinary and administrative powers in respect of personnel serving in or attached to their Inter-Services Organisations for the maintenance of discipline and proper discharge of their duties, irrespective of the service to which they belong. The Commander-in-Chief or the Officer-in-Command means General Officer, Flag Officer and Air Officer who has been appointed as Commander-in-Chief of Officer-in-Command an Inter-Services Organisation. To maintain Command and Control in the absence of the Commander-in-Chief or the Officer-in-Command, the officiating incumbent or the officer on whom the command develops in the absence of a C-in-C or Oi/C will also be empowered to initiate all disciplinary or administrative actions over the service personnel, appointed, deputed, posted or attached to an Inter-Services organisation. The Bill also empowers the Commanding Officer of an Inter-Services organisation to initiate all disciplinary or administrative actions over the personnel appointed, deputed, posted or attached to that Inter-Services Organisation. For the purpose of this Act, Commanding Officer means the officer in actual command of the unit, ship or establishment. The Bill empowers the Central Government to constitute an Inter-Services Organisation. The ISO Bill-2023 is essentially an enabling Act and it does not propose any change in the existing Service Acts, Rules and Regulations which are time-tested and have withstood judicial scrutiny over the last six decades or more. Service personnel when serving in or attached to an Inter-Services Organisation will continue to be governed by their respective Service Acts. What it does is to empower Heads of Inter-Services Organisations to exercise all the disciplinary and administrative powers as per the existing Service Acts, Rules and Regulations, irrespective of the service they belong to. (ANI)
Rescuers perform drainage operation in downtown Zhuozhou, north China's Hebei Province, on Aug. 7, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

As floodwaters recede in north China's Hebei Province and Beijing, the disaster relief efforts in the regions are transitioning from emergency rescue and evacuation to recovery, aimed at restoring normalcy to people's lives at the earliest.

In Zhuozhou City, one of the worst-affected areas in Hebei, previously relocated residents have begun to return home, local authorities said Sunday.

Residents, volunteers and rescue personnel are actively involved in dredging, disinfection, and drainage works to repair the damage in affected communities.

As of Monday morning, electricity has been restored in 93 residential communities in Zhuozhou, with over 90 percent of the main urban zone's neighborhoods having their power supply reinstated, according to the State Grid Zhuozhou Electric Power Supply Company.

A total of 1,470 road sections in the province that were previously cut off by flooding have been reopened as of 6 p.m. on Sunday. This was achieved through the installation of emergency bridges and the opening of temporary roads, ensuring seamless transportation for relief personnel and supplies, according to the Hebei Provincial Department of Transportation.

The department has intensified inspections at road sections that remain partially accessible, promptly clearing debris on slopes, handling road collapses, and mitigating potential hazards.

To minimize agricultural losses, the province is conducting a detailed survey and assessment of the extent of crop, livestock and aquaculture damages in the flood-affected areas, according to the Hebei Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

Zhao Xiaoming, the person in charge of a family farm in Hebei's Anping County, said he can finally breathe a sigh of relief seeing the water level in the fields significantly decreasing. "The government provided us with water pumping equipment, which helped save our crops for this year."

Over 460 water pumps have been deployed across affected farmlands in Anping for drainage operations. A team of specialists has offered on-site guidance for disease and pest control and crop replanting.

In Handan City, an animal disinfection team has undertaken the task of gathering deceased chickens from a poultry farm. These carcasses were then carefully transported to a dedicated facility, where they undergo safe and professional disposal.

In the Chinese capital of Beijing, a total of over 440 km of rural roads in the nine towns of the suburban Mentougou District, which was heavily battered by rain early last week, had been reopened as of 10 p.m. Sunday, according to the district government.
Union Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Tuesday expressed surprise that the Kerala Assembly had passed a resolution against the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), for which he said even a draft had not yet been released. "See, it's surprising for everyone that on the first day of the Kerala Assembly instead of discussing the issue of rising price hike in the state, both the opposition and the ruling front decided to have a discussion on the UCC, on which even a draft has not come out," Muraleedharan said. "This discussion took place even as there is a major protest against the Speaker of the Kerala Assembly who denigrated Lord Ganesha the other day," the minister said. Kerala Legislative Assembly today unanimously passed a resolution against the Central government's "unilateral and hasty" plan to implement UCC in the country. "Kerala Legislative Assembly expresses concern and dismay at the Central government's move to impose a Uniform Civil Code. It is the opinion of this House that the unilateral and hasty action by the Central Government would topple the Constitution's secular character," the resolution moved by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan read. UCC is a common set of laws dealing with marriage, inheritance, adoption, and other matters that are not based on religion. Article 44 of the Constitution states that the State shall endeavour to secure a Uniform Civil Code throughout the territory of India. Making a strong case for the implementation of uniform civil laws across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said the country cannot be run with "two laws" when the Constitution espouses equality for all. The Law Commission of India had sought submissions from the public regarding suggestions on implementing the UCC in the country. (ANI)
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha presided over a significant meeting, orchestrating a comprehensive review of the preparations for the forthcoming Independence Day celebrations across the mesmerizing expanse of Jammu Kashmir. The meeting, a convergence of esteemed administrative and police officials, was a testament to the collective dedication to ensuring a splendid tribute to the nation's 76th year of sovereignty. Gracing the event were key figures in the administrative landscape, including Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary, and Dr Mandeep Kumar Bhandari, Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor, who together exemplified the essence of administrative prowess and unity. The presence of administrative secretaries, ADGPs, Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, SSPs, and other esteemed officers, both physically and virtually, emphasized the expansive scope and gravity of the occasion. With an unwavering sense of duty and responsibility, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha embarked on a thorough assessment of the meticulously planned campaigns and events that are poised to grace the journey leading up to the grand Independence Day spectacle. His resounding call for unity and collaboration echoed through the hallways, emphasizing the need to function as a harmonious entity in orchestrating initiatives like 'Meri Mati Mera Desh,' 'Har Ghar Tiranga,' and the iconic 'Tiranga Yatra' in the vibrant locales of Jammu and Srinagar. "The spirit of 'Meri Mati Mera Desh' and 'Har Ghar Tiranga' must unite us as we embark on this noble endeavour," remarked the Lieutenant Governor, radiating confidence in the unwavering dedication of the people to be part of this monumental celebration. A fervent directive followed, as the Lieutenant Governor ardently urged the district administration and various departments to galvanize their efforts and weave a tapestry of activities under the banner of 'Har Ghar Tiranga Abhiyan'. This call to action resonated deeply, transcending bureaucratic boundaries and ushering in a wave of commitment that promises to paint the region in the vibrant hues of the tricolour. In a gesture that underscored the inclusive nature of the festivities, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha beckoned upon the common citizens to actively participate in the commemoration. With a vision encompassing Public representatives, Youth Clubs, Civil Society, Self Help Groups, NCC Scouts and Guides, Army veterans, ex-servicemen, prominent citizens, and educational institutions, the Lieutenant Governor nurtured a collective spirit that embraced the true essence of unity. "The celebration of Independence Day is a sacred festival that binds our society together with a thread of oneness and shared emotion," emphasized the Lieutenant Governor, reminding all present that this occasion transcends the realms of mere governance and resonates as the heartbeat of the nation. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the culture department was entrusted with a unique responsibility to meticulously chronicle the lives of the nation's martyrs, immortalizing their sacrifice in the annals of history. Additionally, the Lieutenant Governor's vision extended to the majestic illumination of prominent edifices, picturesque tourist spots, and quaint border villages, resonating with the vibrant energy of patriotism. A symphony of activities honouring the eminent personalities who have been the cornerstones of nation-building would further enliven the celebrations. Beyond the thematic orchestration, the meeting delved into the progress of ongoing developmental endeavours and the unwavering dedication of the district administrations to fulfil the envisioned targets. The room was an embodiment of a shared commitment, a mosaic of leaders dedicated to ushering their region into a future adorned with prosperity and progress. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has taken a jibe at the Congress party and has said that those who used to call Lord Ram imaginary are now organising religious Katha. CM Chouhan made the remark while talking to the reporters in the state capital Bhopal on Tuesday. Congress is confused and is forced to do many things. Those (Congressmen) who were afraid to take the name of Ram and used to call Ram is imaginary, they are organising religious katha. Now they are forced to do this because the dates of state assembly elections are near. This is the electoral devotion of the Congress party, CM told reporters here. There is a conflict inside Kamal Nath. He is thinking where to go. Doubts have arisen on his being the leader. He is organising religious katha to strengthen his claim of being a leader, CM Chouhan said. Meanwhile, CM Chouhan also reacted to the oppositions no-confidence motion in the lower house of the parliament and said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi does not even have faith in himself, he is bringing no-confidence motion. Rahul Gandhi does not have faith in himself, he is bringing no-confidence motion. I cannot describe the action taken when the first no-confidence motion was brought. There is no merit in this no-confidence motion and the Congress also knows about it. The country has faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the CM said. Those who are bringing no-confidence motion, they have maximum distrust only of each other. AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) was born out of agitation against Congress, they are hugging each other. Lalu Yadav and Nitish Kumar used to abuse each other and now they are together. Similarly, leftists and Congress are together again. They have come together to avoid the spot of corruption. People do not believe in them, the chief minister added. He further said, PM Modi is visiting the state on August 12. He will participate in the concluding Saint Ravidas Samarsata Yatra. A memorial of Sant Ravidas worth Rs 100 crore will be built at Badtuma in Sagar and PM is arriving to perform Bhumi Pujan of it. PM Modi will give another big gift, Bina Refinery will be expanded and BPCL will spend Rs 50,000 crore in it, he added. (ANI)
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, has raised a pressing concern regarding the commuting challenges faced by thousands of patients, attendants, and staff visiting the institution daily. Recognizing the indispensable role of Delhi Metro in facilitating transportation to AIIMS, the institution has appealed to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to augment the feeder bus service for better last-mile connectivity. With approximately 40-50,000 individuals commuting to AIIMS each day, the majority of whom rely on Delhi Metro services, the need for convenient transportation from the metro stations to the AIIMS campuses has become evident. Presently, AIIMS is accessible from AIIMS Metro Station and South Extension Metro Station, both of which are significant entry points for visitors. However, AIIMS Campus is distributed across three different land parcels, namely Masjid Moth, Ansari Nagar, and Raj Nagar. As a result, those arriving via Delhi Metro are faced with a considerable distance to walk or the challenge of finding alternative modes of transport like autorickshaws, etc., to reach their intended destinations. This ordeal is particularly burdensome for the frail and ill patients visiting AIIMS, despite the comfortable air-conditioned metro ride. Within the AIIMS Campus, electric carts have been provided to ease the movement of patients and staff. Regrettably, this convenience is not extended from the Metro Station to the various AIIMS New Delhi Campuses. In response to this issue, Dr. M. Srinivas, Director of AIIMS, appealed to Vikas Kumar, Managing Director of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, for his kind attention and cooperation. Dr. Srinivas seeks DMRC's support in enhancing the feeder bus service, preferably by introducing air-conditioned electric low-floor buses, from AIIMS Metro Station and South Extension Metro Station to the surrounding campuses of AIIMS New Delhi, including Ansari Nagar, Masjid Moth, and Raj Nagar. The proposed improvement in the feeder bus service aims to address the acute inconvenience faced by patients and staff during their commute, ensuring a seamless and comfortable journey from the metro stations to the AIIMS premises. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that the welfare of the poor is his firm resolve and the state is continuously progressing. CM Chouhan made the remark while addressing a discussion session with experts on the report of NITI Aayog at Kushabhau Thakre International Convention Auditorium (Minto Hall) in Bhopal on Tuesday. A policy brief on multidimensional poverty was handed over to the Chief Minister on the occasion. This report highlights the journey to free 1.36 crore people from poverty in the state. The basic civic amenities will be continuously maximised and welfare schemes will be implemented more effectively for social justice. Welfare of the poor is our firm resolve. Madhya Pradesh is continuously progressing. Poverty is reduced by concerted efforts. Only income is not the measurement of poverty. Prosperity is possible by strengthening infrastructure and by raising the standard of living, balancing the environment, and conservation of wildlife, CM Chouhan said. The CM said, Only fulfilling the basic needs of food, clothes, housing, employment, education and medicine is not enough. Every human being aspires to a happy life. For this sound body, soul, intellect and mind are a prerequisite. In the past there was no electricity, no proper roads, no water system in the state. Today the state has succeeded in increasing the irrigation capacity from 7.5 lakh hectare to 47 lakh hectare in two decades. Foodgrain production has increased. The per capita income, which was only 11,000, has increased to 1.40 lakh today. The contribution of Madhya Pradesh to the country's economy has increased from 3 percent to 4.8 percent, the CM added. Notably, 1.36 crore people have come out of poverty in Madhya Pradesh between 2015-16 and 2019-21. There has been a decline of 15.94 percent in the number of poor in a period of five years in the state. It is a remarkable achievement. It decreased from 36.57% in the year 2015-16 to 20.63% in 2019-21. Madhya Pradesh has seen the fastest poverty reducing states of the country. In terms of reduction in the number of poor, the most notable districts include Alirajpur, Barwani, Khandwa, Balaghat, and Tikamgarh, the report added. (ANI)
China to make greater contributions to building clean, beautiful world

09:54, August 08, 2023 By Ren Ping ( People's Daily

Photo shows the China Global Atmosphere Watch Baseline Observatory on the top of Waliguan Mountain, northwest China's Qinghai province. (Photo from China Meteorological Administration)

Waliguan Mountain is located in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which is often referred to as "the roof of the world" and features an average altitude of over 3,800 meters above sea level. On the top of the mountain stands the China Global Atmosphere Watch Baseline Observatory, the highest baseline observatory in the world and the only one in the hinterland of Eurasia.

In the nearly 30 years since the observatory was established in 1994, generations of meteorologists have worked tirelessly day and night, producing the "Waliguan curve" that mirrors the variation of carbon dioxide concentration in the hinterland of Eurasia.

The "Waliguan curve" is of vital significance in proving climate change of the world and in supporting the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. It is another example of China actively participating in and leading global ecological environment governance.

Earth is the only planet that humanity calls home, so protecting the ecological environment and promoting sustainable development are responsibilities shared by all countries.

A Chinese expert instructs a farmer in Papua New Guinea to grow Juncao. (Photo by Chen Xiaowei/People's Daily)

In recent years, challenges including climate change, biodiversity loss, desertification, and extreme weather events have posed grave threats to human existence and progress.

Guided by the interests of all humanity, China has not only advanced its own ecological progress, but also actively participated in global environmental governance, providing more public goods to the rest of the world.

China has proposed a series of ideas like building a shared future for all life on Earth, made strategic decisions like carbon peaking and neutrality goals, promoted the construction of a green Belt and Road, and successfully hosted prominent events such as the second part of the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity(COP15) and the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands(COP14).

China is committed to putting multilateralism into action and promoting a fair and equitable system of global environmental governance for win-win cooperation, so as to facilitate sustainable development and build a clean, beautiful world.

China's ecological achievements have gained wide international recognition, making China an important participant, contributor, and trailblazer in global ecological conservation.

The ecological environment concerns the wellbeing of all peoples. Only by taking into full account people's longing for a better life and a good environment as well as the world's responsibility for future generations, can social equity and justice be delivered in the course of green transition and people's sense of benefit, happiness and security be increased.

Photo shows the Shymkent Oil Refinery in Kazakhstan. (Photo from China Petroleum Daily)

As it's often said in China, "It is more important to show people how to fish than just giving them fish." That's exactly what China has followed in participating in and leading global ecological governance. China has done its best to help other developing countries build capacity against climate change.

In Kazakhstan, a China-invested energy conservation project breathed new life into the Shymkent Oil Refinery, one of the three biggest refineries in the Central Asian country; in Nepal's Terai plain, Chinese green fertilizer trials boosted wheat and other crop yields by up to 400 percent; in over 100 countries including the Central African Republic, Fiji, and Laos, Chinese Juncao technology created many green jobs for local communities...

From technical exchanges to project development, and from personnel training to infrastructure improvement, China has achieved a series of tangible and effective cooperation results that have brought the fruits of development and sound ecosystems to the peoples of all countries in a fairer manner.

An 8K ultra-high-definition video taken by China's Shenzhou-13 crew on China's space station went viral last year. The breathtaking cosmic scenery is a reminder that the shared home of humanity, the Earth, needs joint stewardship.

As China embarks on a new journey, it will strive to build a modernization defined by harmony between humanity and nature. China will continue leveraging its own ecological progress to facilitate global ecological progress, take an active role in leading global environmental governance, and work hand-in-hand with all other countries to make greater contributions to building a clean and beautiful world.

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Liang Jun)
Late Indian athlete Milkha Singh had a heart-wrenching tale of the 1947 partition which was explained by Khalsa Vox on Tuesday. The legendary athlete whose life journey was captured in the film, "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag" shares his poignant tale of growing up in Gobindpura, Kot Addu, amidst the turbulent times leading up to the India-Pakistan partition. At the onset of the India-Pakistan Partition, a frenzied mob attacked Kot Addu, Amidst gunfire and chaos, Milkha Singh witnessed his father being struck down, who urged him to flee for safety with the cry, "Bhaag Milkha, Bhaag". By daybreak, he had tragically lost his entire family, save for two siblings. Many women, in a desperate attempt, to avoid abduction and abuse by the muslim aggressors, ended their own lives. Harrowing Escape: fleeing the violence, Singh endured a blood-soaked train ride to Multan, hiding beneath a seat in fear, and later navigated the challengers of a refugee-filled Ferozepur. In Delhi, amidst poverty, disease outbreaks, and the aftermath of the Partition, Singh showcased resilience-working various jobs, getting arrested and having his sister sell jewellery for his bail. Despite his traumatic experiences, Singh's innate resilience led to an illustrious career as a runner, earning him the title "The Flying Sikh." Yet, the wounds of Partition remained, visible in his hesitation to return to Pakistan and his emotional recount of the event. Milkha had a personal best of 20.7 seconds in 200m in Lahore on January 31, 1960. It set him up for a gallant show in the Rome Olympic Games where he clocked a National Record time of 45.6 seconds in the 400m final on September 6. Besides his 1960 Olympic Games heroics, Milkha Singh will be remembered for his victory in the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Cardiff. He won gold in the 440-yard sprint in a Games Record time of 46.6 seconds.(ANI)
The delegation on Tuesday met with Israels Ambassador to Georgia Yuval Fuchs (who escorted them to Israel), the Head of the Euro Asia Bureau at the Israel Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Einat Shlein, the head of Mashav Israels official international development cooperation program and representatives of the consular division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Israels Foreign Ministry reported that the participants stressed the good relations between Israel and Georgia and discussed further cooperation in capacity building and other issues. (ANI/TPS)
Abu Dhabi [UAE], August 8 (ANI/WAM): The UAE government approved a number of federal decrees and amendments of certain provisions on the regulations of healthcare professions, healthcare providers and veterinary medicine. This comes as part of regulating the practice of non-doctors and pharmacists for a number of healthcare professions, including nursing, laboratories, medical physics, functional therapy, physiotherapy, aesthetics, anaesthesia, audiology, and radiology. The amendments aim to aggravate penalties for healthcare workers who practice the profession without obtaining a license and those who do not meet the requirements. Also, the law and the updates on the provisions set out a number of medical ethics and professional conducts for healthcare professionals practising in the UAE, in addition to updating the disciplinary sanctions according to the violations committed with the continuity of the operation of private health facilities. The amendments included establishing a national medical register for licensed healthcare professionals in the country. As per the law, no one is allowed to practise a health profession unless they are authorised by the health authority in accordance with the provisions of this federal decree and its regulations and related decisions. Obtaining a license requires a bachelors degree or a health professional qualification recognised in the country. The health professional must be of good conduct and should be medically fit to perform their duties. The law also requires healthcare professionals to perform their duties with the precision and trust required by the profession, pursuant to the generally accepted scientific and technical standards, and in line with the dignity and honour of the profession. The UAE Government approved the establishment of a national medical register for healthcare professionals at the Ministry of Health and Prevention. Health Authorities should create their own registers linked to the national register. Also, the Ministry or the Federal or Local Health Authority will be receiving and deciding on applications for healthcare professions licences. In accordance with the law, healthcare professionals are prohibited from selling or promoting medicines or samples to patients, or directing them to purchase medicines from a particular pharmacy. The law also prohibits the submission of false documents or incorrect data to the health authority or employer, in addition to prohibiting the disclosure of the patient's secrets. Whoever practices the profession without holding a licence and without meeting the conditions that allow him to obtain the licence, or whoever submits incorrect documents or data or resorts to unlawful means that result in their wrongful licensing, will be punished by imprisonment and by a fine of not less than fifty thousand dirhams (AED 50,000) and not exceeding AED 100,000 (AED 100,000) or by either penalty. In addition, the Health Authority may close the Health Facility by administrative decision if the violator operates it individually. As per the law, should be punished with a fine of not less than ten thousand dirhams (AED 10,000) and not exceeding a hundred thousand Dirhams (AED 100,000) a person who practices the profession without holding a licence but who meets the conditions that allow him to obtain the license. In any case, the Health Authority may close the health facility by administrative decision if the violator operates it individually. The amendment to the law introduced new penalties for healthcare facilities committed for non-serious offences that do not require the temporary closure of the facility, or the suspension of its director, operator, administration or employee. Updated penalties and fines include a written warning, a fine of not less than one thousand dirhams (AED 1,000) and not exceeding five hundred thousand dirhams (AED 500,000), a temporary suspension of the License to practice the profession for a period not exceeding six months or the revocation of the License to practice the profession, in case the director or the manager of the health facility, the administration or personnel violates the provisions of the law, its executive regulations or decisions issued pursuant to it. As per the law, a fine of not less than one thousand dirhams (AED 1,000) and not exceeding one million dirhams (AED 0ne million), or temporary closure of the facility in whole or in part for a period not exceeding six months, or final closure of the facility in whole or in part, should be the sanction imposed on the private health facility in case of committing a violation of the provisions of the law or its executive regulations or decisions issued pursuant to it. In order to facilitate licensing procedures and provide functional competencies to veterinary facilities in the country, the law amendments include updating the duration of expertise required for the licensing of Emirati veterinarians and recent graduates to pursue the profession. Veterinarians and assisted medical professionals are exempt from certain fees. Amendments to the law also include allowing foreign entrepreneurs and investors to establish and own veterinary facilities, in order to enhance foreign investments in the UAE veterinary sector. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has established a national register for veterinarians, veterinarian practitioners and assistants authorised to practise in the country. (ANI/WAM)
The spokesperson for Iran's foreign ministry, Naser Kenani, reportedly stated in a press conference on Monday that various topics, including water rights, were discussed.

Quoting an Iranian news agency report, Khaama Press stated that11 member delegation from Tehran had visited Afghanistan to follow up on the matter.

"We have various issues with Afghanistan, and the issue of water is one of the issues that we pay serious attention to, Kenani said, Khaama Press reported citing the Iranian news agency.

Tensions between Afghanistan and Iran over water rights from the Helmand River have increased as a result of Tehran accusing the Taliban of failing to preserve the nation's water rights in accordance with the 1973 water deal between Kabul and Tehran.

The Taliban fighters have been repeatedly warned by Iran to respect Iran's water rights. Due to the escalating hostilities between the two sides, the Taliban sent armed forces to the borders of the two nations, reported Khaama Press. (ANI)
TheChinese militaryaircraftandnaval vessels were tracked from 6 a.m. on Monday (Aug. 7) and 6 a.m. on Tuesday (Aug. 8).

"Of the 11 Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, one Shaanxi Y-8 anti-submarine warfare plane flew into the southwest corner of Taiwans air defense identification zone (ADIZ)," the MND said on Tuesday.

However, no PLA aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line during that time.

Taiwan responded by dispatching ships, aircraft, and land-based missile systems to monitor PLA activity, reported Taiwan News.

Beijing has conducted 57 naval ship sorties and 83 military aircraft sorties around Taiwan so far this month. Since September 2020, China has increased its use of gray zone tactics by incrementally increasing the number of military aircraft and naval ships operating around Taiwan. (ANI)
A robbery attempt was successfully averted by the Sikh owner of a 7-Eleven store in California and a staff member in what was hailed as an act of bravery and self-defence. The remarkable incident was captured on camera and has now gone viral online, leaving viewers in awe of bravery, Khalsa Vox reported. A masked robber broke into the shop, moved behind the cash register and stole a number of tobacco goods, including cigarettes, cigars, and vapes. In the footage, a bystander can be heard doubting that the store owners would do anything to stop the burglar as the robber callously threw the stolen goods into a trash can. To everyone's amusement, however, the Sikh store owner and his employee immediately took action, 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. They showed extraordinary ability and tenacity to defend their store and possessions, as they swiftly wrestled the robber to the ground, the report stated. The Sikh man fearlessly challenged the thief, putting an immediate end to the theft attempt. The burglar begged for mercy as the altercation got more intense, realising he had chosen the wrong establishment to loot, the report added. The spectator, who recorded the footage, was heard encouraging the store owner to keep going with his attempt to tackle the robber. Overwhelmed and in agony, the criminal ultimately gave up, conceding defeat and declaring his decision to cease the robbery, according to Khalsa Vox. Surprisingly, after dealing with the robber, the Sikh business owners showed compassion. Instead of contacting the police, they permitted the offender to safely exit the store, according to the report. Social media users have praised the Sikh store owner's bravery and sense of justice in conversations about the incident. Some argued that the owner would have offered assistance if the thief had entered the business with legitimate requirements, such as a need for food or medicine, as it is typical in Sikh tradition to provide free meals through communal kitchens in gurudwaras (Sikh temples of worship), Khalsa Vox reported. (ANI)
Defence officials and diplomats from the United States and Iraq met at the Pentagon on Monday for the start of two days of talks that include a meeting between US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Iraqi Minister of Defense Thabit Muhammad al-Abbasi, Voice of America (VOA) reported. The United States and Iraq hope to take critical steps to expand their partnership from one focused almost entirely on countering the Islamic State (IS) to a 360-degree whole-of-government alliance, Voice of America (VOA) reported. "We recognize our military mission will change as your forces build up their capabilities," Austin told Abbasi, describing the talks as part of the "next step in our strategic defence partnership." Speaking through a translator, Abbasi said that while it was crucial to "maintain the victories" Iraqi and US forces had already secured, "[it is] most important now to enhance the relationships and the cooperation between us and the United States moving forward". "We are very encouraged that we are not going to leave Washington without success," he added. The US has about 2,500 troops in Iraq tasked with advising and assisting Iraqi security forces as they pursue the remnants of the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS or Daesh, VOA reported. US officials say the arrangement, with Iraqi forces in the lead, since December 2021, has proven successful. US estimates show IS ranks have been cut to fewer than 1,000 fighters in Iraq while the group's leadership in Iraq has likewise been continually degraded by Iraqi forces. The payoff has been a 64 per cent reduction in IS attacks in Iraq so far this year, US officials say. And the attacks that have taken place have been less deadly. "I think it's fair to say decades into the future, US forces will not be present in Iraq in the current formation that we are today," Dana Stroul, deputy assistant secretary of defence for the Middle East, told reporters before the talks began on Monday. US officials said they have also been encouraged by Iraq's progress in fighting corruption, noting improvements especially in the banking sector, though Washington's decision to blacklist 14 Iraqi banks for alleged money laundering on behalf of Iran sparked protests last month. Still, the heavy focus is likely to remain on defence cooperation given the ongoing, if somewhat minimized, threat from IS, VOA reported. "I still believe the reemergence of ISIS is a, is a considerable risk," said Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve Commander Major General Matthew McFarlane ahead of the US-Iraq talks. "Their ideology remains unconstrained and is still a threat as they seek to rebuild some capacity and capability to conduct attacks and to regain or reemerge as a, as a significant threat to the population," he said. While Iraqi forces have managed to maintain a consistent tempo of anti-IS operations, US military officials still see areas that need to be strengthened, such as using drones and surveillance aircraft to find and eliminate IS targets, VOA reported. A US Defense Department Inspector General report released earlier this month also raised concerns about Iraq's elite Counterterrorism Service, noting it "has not recruited any new soldiers since November 2018". US officials said work also needs to be done to prepare Iraqi forces to take on security concerns outside the scope of IS and counterterrorism, VOA reported. US officials are additionally aware there is competition from other countries that would like to increase security cooperation with Iraq, such as China, Russia and Turkey, according to the report. (ANI)
Gaines County authorities and the Texas Rangers are investigating a shooting that left one person dead and another injured Sunday evening near Seminole.

At about 9:15 p.m. Sunday, the Gaines County office received a call in reference to a shooting approximately 13 miles west of Seminole on U.S. Highway 180, according to a statement from the sheriff's office released on Monday.

Gaines County deputies and Seminole police arrived and located two shooting victims. One was taken to Seminole Memorial Hospital, where he later died. The second victim was taken to a Lubbock hospital, where he remained Monday.

It was not immediately clear what prompted the violence and no arrests were announced by late Monday as officials continued investigating the shooting.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Rangers investigate 1 dead,1 injured in Gaines County shooting
A 12-year-old girl died and two of her family members were critically hurt in a head-on crash as they drove home from a funeral, according to loved ones and Wisconsin authorities.

The Pepin County Sheriffs Office said the two-vehicle crash happened Friday, Aug. 4. A Pontiac Grand Prix crossed the center line of the road, striking a Chevrolet Silverado head-on, according to a news release obtained by WRDN.

Four members of the Passon family were in the truck, which deputies found on fire when they arrived. Jocelynn Passon, the 12-year-old daughter of the trucks driver, was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.

Jocelynns father, 40-year-old Steven Passon, and brother, 8-year-old Drake Passon, were flown to hospitals with critical injuries, according to the sheriffs office.

A GoFundMe says Drake has since been discharged and the father has extensive leg injuries.

The family, from Waseca, Minnesota, was traveling home from a funeral, a Pepin County deputy told The Free Press.

The sudden loss of Jocelynn has left the familys hearts shattered, the GoFundMe says.

The driver of the Grand Prix, 18-year-old Ethan Whitwham, also died in the crash, according to the sheriff.

Waseca is about 70 miles south of Minneapolis.

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Exactly fifteen years ago, on Aug. 8, 2008, Russia launched an invasion into Georgia.

The pretext for this incursion was Russias alleged support for separatist movements in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This conflict is commonly referred to as the Five-Day War, the August War, or the War of 888.

Read also: Saakashvili says Putin wanted to seize Ukraine over 20 years ago

Here, we recap the key events that unfolded during this period.

On the night of Aug. 8, 2008, Georgia reported shelling of Georgian villages from the unrecognized republic of South Ossetia, accompanied by several provocations. Following this, Tbilisi declared its intention to reinstate constitutional order in the self-proclaimed republic. The Georgian military initiated an offensive operation, gaining control over the majority of Tskhinvali, the primary populated area in South Ossetia.

Russian forces directly intervened in this internal conflict, with Russian propagandist media accusing Georgia of intentionally shelling Tskhinvali.

Read also: Francis Fukuyama on Western attitudes towards Russia and 'overemphasized' corruption  interview

Notably, on Aug. 7, 2008, Russian troops began mobilizing toward the conflict zone. As former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili noted in Jan. 2022, Russia evacuated a portion of its diplomatic personnel from Tbilisi on this day and executed the first-ever large-scale cyberattack on Georgian government websites.

During the direct ground invasion by the Russian army, Russian tank brigades crossed the borders of the self-proclaimed entity of South Ossetia, entering the Kodori Gorge. Furthermore, Russia carried out airstrikes on Georgian cities, military installations, civilian infrastructure, and deployed naval forces.

The Naval Infantry of the Black Sea Fleet seized control of Georgias main port, Poti, and incapacitated all Georgian boats and ships with military designations during their raid, including border patrol vessels.

On Aug. 10, due to Russias direct intervention, Tbilisi declared the withdrawal of its troops from Tskhinvali and a unilateral ceasefire. President Mikheil Saakashvili endorsed a ceasefire plan put forth by the European Union, specifically proposed by President Nicolas Sarkozy of France (effective from August 12). The primary components of the plan encompassed a definitive ceasefire and the return of forces from both conflicting parties to their respective bases.

Despite these efforts, Russian forces continued to advance deep into Georgian territory, occupying the cities of Gori, Senaki, and Poti, and severing the strategic road connecting western and eastern Georgia.

On Aug. 26, the Kremlin officially recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as decreed by President Dmitry Medvedev (in addition to Russia, these entities received recognition from Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru, and Syria). Concurrently, Russian forces maintained a presence on Georgian soil, in violation of the Sarkozy plan.

Subsequently, after the occupation of Georgian regions and the clearance of Georgian villages around South Ossetia, a ceasefire agreement was reached under the mediation of international parties.

Read also:

Although the withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgian territory was slated for completion by Oct. 1, 2008, Russian forces remained within the territories of the self-proclaimed republics, continuing to exert influence over Georgias internal and external policies.

In 2009, an international commission led by Swiss diplomat Heidi Tagliavini probed into the causes of the Russo-Georgian War, concluding that Georgia initiated the hostilities, but Russias provocative actions contributed to the escalation. Tagliavinis commission findings faced critique within Georgia and EU member states for not fully establishing Russias accountability in escalating the conflict.

A faction of Georgian fighters who participated in the August war now persist in combat against Russia in Ukraine. According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, among the 48 Georgian fighters who perished in Ukraine over the past year and a half, 15 had participated in the August war.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Two men charged in the death of a 68-year-old woman experiencing homelessness have pleaded not guilty, California officials said.

William Innes, 18, is accused of shooting Annette Pershal with a pellet gun on May 7 in San Diego, according to a criminal complaint filed by the San Diego District Attorneys Office.

Ryan Hopkins, 19, is accused of driving Innes to Pershals encampment where she had been staying for six days, The Guardian reported, and Innes is accused of shooting four to five rounds at her from inside Hopkins car.

Innes sent a text to a group chat involving Hopkins, saying Im going hobo hunting with my pellet gun, Tanya Sierra, assistant director of communications with the District Attorneys Office, told McClatchy News.

An attorney representing Innes did not comment in detail about the allegations in court. Attempts to contact him after the hearing were unsuccessful, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

McClatchy News could not immediately reach his lawyer for comment.

Innes and Hopkins were arrested Aug. 3 by San Diego police, according to Times of San Diego.

Pershal was found in Serra Mesa with multiple pellet gun shot wounds and died in the hospital on May 11, the outlet reported.

Shed tell me about people who would say hello to her every morning. Shed always say everything is okie dokie, Pershals daughter Brandy Nazworth told The Guardian. She was kind of a hippie  Id like her remembered as someone who was full of love  for people, animals, for everybody.

Innes pleaded not guilty to multiple charges including murder and Hopkins pleaded not guilty to assault with a deadly weapon, according to KGTV.

Hopkins is facing a maximum of 3 years in prison and Innes is facing 25 years to life in prison, the district attorneys office said.

Both men are being held without bail, officials said.

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One of Phenix Citys newest positions is helping the city manage its significant population growth and growing need for more emergency services.

Former police chief Ray Smith has now taken over as Public Safety Director full time after serving in both roles for approximately two years. The transition was possible once former Assistant Chief George Staudinger took over as the new police chief for Phenix City.

Weve always talked about having a public safety director to kind of manage as assistant to the city manager since the 90s, said former Phenix City Police Chief and now Public Safety Director Ray Smith.

Smith said the position has been experimented with in the past but has now come to fruition due to Phenix Citys growth. Smith has been in this role since October 2021 when the position was put into the citys budget, according to Phenix City Human Resources Director Stephanie Chastain.

The public safety director position was included in the citys budget and passed by city council, according to Chastain. However, the person who fills the position is ultimately appointed by the city manager, according to City Manager for Phenix City Wallace Hunter

Census data shows that in 1990 25,312 people lived in Phenix City which has grown to 38,816 people as of the 2020 census.

Smith had served as Police Chief for Phenix City Police Department since 2009 up until this month when he took over full time as Public Safety Director for Phenix City. Smith has been apart of the police department for more than 34 years.

Smith said that he has been the Public Safety Director since 2021 while he was still retaining the chief title with then Deputy Chief Staudinger helping with the day to day operation of the department.

George has proven himself as a competent administrator in his own right and hes ready to take on that responsibility, Smith said of Staudingers appointment to chief.

Chief Staudinger was sworn in as the new police chief on July 18 having previously served as assistant chief under Smith and has spent 31 years in the department.

Staudinger said he spent about 13 years in the criminal investigations division as a lieutenant and captain before moving to an administrative function.

Smith said part of his duties will involve going to the Alabama legislature and making sure the laws they are writing dont hinder the ability of police to do their jobs.

Im here as a support mechanism now from this point forward, Smith said.

Wallace Hunter is the city manager for Phenix City, Alabama.

Hunter has told the Ledger-Enquirer that the fire department, police department, and code enforcement fall under the public safety directors purview.

The person who fills the position of public safety director is appointed by the city manager, according to Hunter.

The Future of the Department

Im a product of this department. Ive come up through the ranks, held every supervisory position in the Department. So, I know how each unit runs, Staudinger said.

Staudinger said he plans to address the departments personnel shortage and come up with strategies to bring in new personnel and retain existing personnel.

Georgia Staudinger was recently promoted and is now the Chief of Police for Phenix City, Alabama.

I cant think of an anymore fulfilling or rewarding job than this, Staudinger said about being a police officer.

Staudinger said the the Phenix City Police Department currently has 93 sworn positions budgeted for but is currently 28 positions below that number.

Staudinger says he does plan on appointing a new deputy chief but no timeline has been set at this time.

Smith said the Phenix City Police Department has been facing issues with Permitless Carry legislation passed by the state of Alabama that went into effect this year.

Smith said the way the law was written has caused issues for law enforcement. Smith said the law states that people are required to disclose to law enforcement officers that they have a weapon on them if asked by the officer.

If law enforcement finds a firearm on the person after being asked, that person has broken the law but the legislature never wrote a punishment into the legislation. Smith said this has caused issues with what to charge the person with for breaking the law.

Smith said a Certain Persons Forbidden database was supposed to be online when the legislation went into effect but hasnt. Smith said now he can advocate for the state to get the database up and running with his new position.

Staudinger said that a few weeks after the legislation went into place there was an incident where an officer responded to public housing in regards to shots fired.

The officer asked a group of individuals whether they were armed and at least one said they werent armed and ended up running from the officer, according to Staudinger. After a foot chase the officer caught and detained the individual and found a gun on the suspect, Staudinger said.

We need somebody somebody advocating for us, said Staudinger. If you dont get some input from law enforcement from the police and sheriffs that are out here enforcing the law, youre going to leave some big gaping holes in these laws that make it harder for us to do our job.

Salaries

With their new roles the pay for Smith and Staudinger has increased with their promotions. Smith is now making $134,108 as the Public Safety Director, according to Chastain.

Prior to being named public safety director, Smith was being paid $117,849 when he was chief.

Staudingers salary is $101,444 in his new position as police chief, according to Chastain. Prior to being named chief Staudingers salary was $84,256 as assistant chief of the police department.

Chastain said that salaries are determined by multiple factors including time in the department and average salaries for police chiefs in similarly sized municipalities. Smith has been serving Phenix City for 34 years and Staudinger has served the community for 31 years.

What Smith and Staudinger say about each other

Theres no replacement for all those years of him (Smith) being up here, Staudinger said. Having him still actively involved as the Public Safety Director is a huge benefit to me and this department because of that wealth of knowledge.

George is much closer to the personnel on the ground than I have been and thats why I think hell be more successful in being able to advocate for what they need, Smith said.
Marching honor guards shout as US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford is welcomed by his Chinese counterpart, chief of the general staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Gen. Fang Fenghui Thomas Peter/Pool Photo via AP

The Washington Post reported on a 2020 hack on the Japanese military conducted by Chinese cyberspies.

The hack gave Chinese spies access to Japanese military plans, capabilities, and shortcomings.

China has been escalating its cyberattacks on foreign militaries in recent years, including the US.

China's escalating cyber attacks aren't limited to malware discovered in US military systems, new reporting from The Washington Post found.

The Post on Monday detailed a previously unreported hack into Japanese military networks by China's People's Liberation Army in 2020. The hack offered Chinese cyberspies access to Japanese military plans, capabilities, and shortcomings, the outlet reported.

"It was bad  shockingly bad," one former U.S. military official, who was briefed on the event, told the Post.

Japan is, strategically, the United States' most important ally in East Asia. The news, coupled with reports from May of China installing malware into US military systems, signals a significant escalation in how the People's Liberation Army  the military arm of China's ruling communist party  is targeting foreign adversaries.

The 2020 hack was among the most damaging in Japan's recent history, with Chinese intelligence maintaining deep and pervasive access to Japanese networks into early 2021, the Post reported.

In May, Insider previously reported, US officials indicated that investigations into Chinese malware had been underway for several months after discovering that malicious code had infiltrated US military systems across the country and abroad.

Previous cyber attacks had focused on surveillance, rather than disruption of system processes, but the latest attacks appear targeted to throw US military and civilian operations into disarray, according to military and intelligence experts.

"Over the years we have been concerned about its espionage program," a senior U.S. official told the Post. "But China is [also] developing cyberattack capabilities that could be used to disrupt critical services in the U.S. and key Asian allies and shape decision-making in a crisis or conflict.''

While both Japanese and US officials have indicated renewed investment into digital security in the face of cyber attacks from China, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said at a news conference in January that the two countries "are currently facing the most challenging and complex security environment in recent history."

Read the original article on Business Insider
In 2021, two FBI agents were killed while serving a search warrant in Broward County. The agents were part of an international crackdown on child porn that has led to the arrests of 98 people across the U.S. and Australia two years after their deaths.

In a news conference Tuesday, FBI Legal Attache Nitiana Mann and Australian Federal Police Commander Helen Schneider announced the arrests of 19 Australians and 79 Americans for their roles in an online child exploitation network. Thirteen children were rescued during the Australian raid.

The U.S. probe, Mann said, sparked 350 leads and 303 investigations. So far, 43 people have been convicted as part of the bust.

The FBI also sent 211 international packages, which include evidence and suspect identifying information, to investigators in different countries.

While speaking to reporters Tuesday, Mann was asked about the role of the murdered agents in the international operation.

FBI Special Agent Laura Schwartzenberger was killed on duty on Feb. 2, 2021.

Special agents Daniel Alfin, 36, and Laura Schwartzenberger, 43, were conducting a search warrant in February 2021 when they approached the Sunrise home of David Lee Huber.

Special Agent Dan Alfin was killed on duty on Feb. 2, 2021.

The 55-year-old computer programmer monitored the agents through a doorbell camera and ended up ambushing them with an assault rifle and later turning the gun on himself.

The shooting of the FBI agents did not instigate the investigation, Mann said during the news conference in Brisbane, Australia. The investigation preceded that event. As a result of the investigation, the enforcement of the search warrant, two of our special agents were killed. Ill leave it at that.

READ MORE: Ambush in Sunrise left 2 agents dead. A year later, FBI still reviewing how it went wrong.

The deaths of Alfin and Schwartzenberger marked one of the bloodiest days for the FBI in decades. The deadliest event in the bureaus history  which happened more than three decades before  also took place in South Florida.

Special agents Ben Grogan and Jerry Dove were gunned down during a shootout with bank robbers in what is now Pinecrest. Grogan, 53, a two-decade veteran nicknamed The Doctor, was one year shy of retirement when he died.

The Miami Shootout  which left five other agents wounded and the two suspects dead the morning of April 11, 1986 near Kendall  was a defining moment in the FBIs history. It prompted the bureau to make sure all agents were better armed, replacing .38-caliber revolvers with 9mm semi-automatic handguns.
A Northern California man who organized a 10-person goose hunt of protected birds has been fined and temporarily banned from hunting. (United States Attorney's Office)

The hunters stand, holding their guns, in front of their kill: birds, by the hundreds. The photo from the U.S. attorney's office shows the animals lined up, carcass after carcass, some with wings protruding. The 258 snow geese and white-fronted geese were protected birds, officials say.

Now the Northern California man who organized and participated in the 2018 goose hunt has been sentenced. His penalties: a $1,000 fine and a three-year hunting ban.

Carlos T. Ortiz and nine other hunters shot and killed the geese near California's Sutter National Wildlife Refuge, according to a news release from the U.S. attorney.

Snow geese and white-fronted geese are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, an international treaty that prohibits the killing, capture, sale, trade or transportation of protected migratory bird species without prior authorization from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Read more: Birders flock to Green Bay to catch glimpse of bird last seen in Wisconsin in 1845

If a person receives a permit, the birds must have a tag attached that is signed by the hunter, has the hunters address, the total number and species of birds, and the date the birds were killed if the birds are left somewhere other than the hunters home or at other exemptions.

None of the 258 birds were tagged, according to the release.

After entering a guilty plea to transporting and receiving untagged migratory game birds, Ortiz was sentenced to a three-year hunting ban, three years of probation and a $1,000 fine in federal court.

Read more: Unleashed dogs near Santa Ana River mouth threaten at-risk birds. Humans are partly to blame

The prosecution originally charged him with three counts, but the third count  leaving a game bird in his possession to go to waste through carelessness and neglect  was dismissed, according to court documents.

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 number of casualties as a result of a Russian air strike on the village of Kruhliakivka in Kharkiv Oblast on Aug. 7 has increased, the regional Prosecutor's Office reported on Aug. 8.

The body of a 52-year-old man was found under the rubble, bringing the total deaths to three. A 45-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man had already been reported as killed after Russian troops dropped FAB-250 air guided bombs on the village.

Russian troops hit the village again when first responders came to the scene, Kkarkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov said.

A total of nine people were injured, including two emergency workers and two employees of the National Police.

The attack destroyed and damaged peoples homes, according to Syniehubov.

Kruhliakivka lies some 25 kilometers southeast of the city of Kupiansk, liberated by Ukraine last fall.

Russia has concentrated its forces around Kupiansk since mid-July, trying to regain positions lost during the Ukrainian surprise counteroffensive.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Military confirms strikes on key bridges linking occupied Crimea with mainland Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Boeing, NASA announce Starliner delay

Last month, the debut crewed flight test of Boeing's Starliner astronaut capsule was delayed indefinitely because of safety and hardware-related concerns, the latest in a slew of problems that have kept the spacecraft grounded for over a year. Now, company and NASA officials have announced a Starliner flight to the International Space Station won't be possible any time this year.

Read the full story here.

Draper Labs buys land in Titusville

Draper Laboratories, a Massachussetts-based research and engineering non-profit and major player in the space industry, will be expanding to Titusville.

Draper this past week announced a purchase of over five acres of land near the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex for $2.2 million. In a release, the company said it plans to provide engineering and research and development services for national security, space systems and electronic systems customers at the new campus.

Read the full story here.

Upcoming launches:

August 10: SpaceX Starlink 6-9

Company / Agency: Internal SpaceX mission

Rocket: SpaceX Falcon 9

Location: Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

Launch Window: Between 8 p.m. EDT and midnight

Trajectory: TBD

Weather: 50% go increases to 80% by end of window

Landing: Drone ship

Live coverage: Starts 90 minutes before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space

About: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the company's latest batch of Starlink internet satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

August 25: SpaceX Crew-7

Company / Agency: SpaceX for NASA

Rocket: SpaceX Falcon 9

Location: Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center

Launch Time: 3:49 a.m. EDT

Trajectory: Northeast

Weather: TBD

Landing: TBD

Live coverage: Starts 90 minutes before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space

About: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, European Space Agency astronaut Andreas Mogensen, along with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Satoshi Furukawa and Roscosmos cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov on NASA's next long-duration crewed mission to the International Space Station aboard the SpaceX Endurance Dragon spacecraft from Launch Complex 39A at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Notes: Rescheduled from August 15. Rescheduled from August 17. Rescheduled from August 21.



Contact Emre Kelly at aekelly@floridatoday.com. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @EmreKelly.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: 321 Launch: Space news you may have missed over the past week (August 8)
Youre not just there for a pelvic exam and Pap smear, you need quality, compassionate care, too.

Youre not just there for a pelvic exam and Pap smear, you need quality, compassionate care, too.

A visit to the gynecologist should be thorough, methodical and focused on you. Your doctor should be able to cover it all: What you need when it comes to reproductive and sexual health, potential pregnancies (and preventing pregnancies) and menopause management.

While most qualified OB-GYNs are well versed in all of that and are patient-focused too, its not uncommon to hear women say theyve dealt with medical practitioners whove left much to be desired.

Thats especially true among women who arent married or planning to get pregnant. Chloe, a 32-year-old from Cincinnati, Ohio, is certain she doesnt want children and told HuffPost shes had less than amazing experiences with two different OB-GYNs because of that.

I was rushed in both visits and left to feel like gynecology-only patients werent as important or pressing as pregnant patients, said Chloe, who, like others in this story, asked to use her first name only to protect her privacy.

Chloe gets why obstetrics (the branch of medicine that focuses on all aspects of pregnancy) may be where an OB-GYNs interest lies: Delivering babies is probably why they pursued this field of medicine in the first place, she said.

But from her own experience, its difficult to find an OB-GYN whos equally interested in gynecology, or wholl hear out her concerns about not wanting to get pregnant.

Ive known that I dont want children since at least high school, but when I asked both OB-GYNs about options for permanent sterilization or getting tubes tied, both dismissed me without much discussion, she said.

They brought up the possibility of changing my mind or that my future spouse might want kids, Chloe explained. One of the physicians said that childbearing is a gift, and she wouldnt want to take away that gift.

Women spend the majority of their reproductive life preventing pregnancy, so it is equally important to emphasize on other aspects of womens health, sexual health and contraceptive options.

Doctors we spoke to said that kind of dismissiveness toward patients is a big red flag.

A quality OB-GYN would be receptive to all of their patients concerns and able to walk a patient through every stage of life, from menarche to menopause, said Aparna Sridhar, an associate clinical professor and a full scope clinical expert in obstetrics and gynecology at UCLA Health.

Gynecology is closely associated with obstetrics  reproductive health and pregnancy related care  but women spend the majority of their reproductive life preventing pregnancy, so it is equally important to emphasize other aspects of womens health, sexual health and contraceptive options, Sridhar said.

Now more than ever, its important for physicians to have knowledge and understanding of LGBTQ needs and culturally competent care, Sridhar added.

If we lack empathy and fail to establish rapport and level of comfort, it can create significant barriers to an open communication between patient and provider, she said.

Ultimately we should be emphasizing on patient education, preventive care, and a comprehensive approach to womens health in a long-term patient-provider relationship, Sridhar said.

If youre not sure if your OB-GYN is up to par, below we outline five signs it may be time to look for a new doctor. (Plus, we offer a few tips on how to find a better doctor.)

1. They dont provide you with comprehensive info on all your options.

Any physician, regardless of specialty, should provide comprehensive information that empowers the patient to make informed choices, Sridhar said. A doctor worth their salt respects a patients autonomy, walks them through all their options, and supports their decisions.

This becomes even more important for OB-GYNs as we should be able to keep our own biases, personal reproductive health and societal norms aside while counseling patients on reproductive and sexual health, she said.

2. Theyre qualified, but not compassionate.

A doctor can be medically competent, but you also need someone who is compassionate and has a style that matches yours, said Allison K. Rodgers, a reproductive endocrinologist at Fertility Centers of Illinois.

Gynecology deals with such a sensitive and personal part of your body, she said. You dont want to feel ashamed or embarrassed by asking your questions. You need to find someone who you feel comfortable asking and discussing even the most private and embarrassing topics.

Sometimes providing gynecological care means dealing with significant emotional challenges from patients. A patient may be facing fertility struggles, managing sexually transmitted infections, or experiencing an unplanned pregnancy.

A good doctor strives to provide emotional support while creating a non-judgmental environment where patients feel heard and cared for, Sridhar said.

How compassionate the staff is and how welcoming the space is matters, too. Numerous studies have shown health care clinics that prioritize the patients experience can reduce anxiety, lessen pain, and speed recovery and healing.

"You need to find someone who you feel comfortable asking and discussing even the most private and embarrassing topics," said Allison K. Rodgers, a reproductive endocrinologist at Fertility Centers of Illinois.

3. Theyre dismissive of your experiences.

While pregnant with her first child, Jasmine Creighton remembers being laughed at by her OB-GYN when she mentioned that she wanted to have a natural, drug free, vaginal delivery.

While laughable to her, I accomplished that goal and more, said Creighton, who is the program coordinator of maternal and reproductive health at the California Black Womens Health Project, a nonprofit organization that raises awareness about medical racism and supports Black women in receiving equal health care.

When she later became pregnant with her daughter, Creighton returned to the same OB-GYN, but then decided to go with a Black midwife instead who helped her have a home birth.

There is no worse feeling than thinking you are not valued, she said. You matter. Your health and life matter, too.

Sheryl, a 29-year-old married woman, had a similarly dismissive experience with her OB-GYN when she requested a full STD panel after her husband had cheated.

Sheryl would like a better doctor  one whos a person of color, ideally  but that would require her to drive 30 miles.

For the time being, I figured at least I know the quirks my current doctor has, and shes nearby so I can go on my lunch break from work to appointments, Sheryl told HuffPost. But eventually, I want someone who is kind, gentle and will listen to me.

4. They medically gaslight you.

As a patient, you deserve to be heard and have your concerns addressed  your health depends on it.

Be on the lookout for medical gaslighting, which is when a patient has their symptoms minimized, dismissed, ignored, or told its all in their head, leading them to question themselves, said Jessica Horwitz, a nurse practitioner and the chief clinical officer at Tia, a national womens health care clinic.

Being conscious of medical gaslighting is especially important for women since studies consistently show that women are more likely to be misdiagnosed than men. And female-specific conditions like endometriosis and fibroids often take 10 or more years for accurate identification, Horwitz said.

According to her, medical gaslighting can look like:

Your provider continually interrupting you and not appearing to be listening

Your provider downplaying your symptoms or refusing to discuss them seriously

Your symptoms are attributed to mental illness, without an appropriate work up or mental health care follow-up

Medical gaslighting is particularly common for Black women, which can have huge health consequences. Black women are three times more likely to die from complications related to pregnancy/labor than white women. Additionally, there are a range of womens health conditions to be aware of outside of just pregnancy, Creighton said.

Black women are typically more prone to fibroids and are disproportionately affected by other womens health issues like PCOS, she said. So its critical to have culturally competent and aware providers who can understand these nuanced issues, how womens health care varies by race and background, and be willing and able to provide care that suits every womans unique needs.

Medical gaslighting is particularly common for Black women, which can have huge health consequences.

Medical gaslighting is particularly common for Black women, which can have huge health consequences.

5. They dont ask you about your thoughts on their treatment plans.

A quality physician makes sure theyre informing you and allowing you to share your comfort levels and concerns about all the options theyre presenting you, Creighton said.

For example, if an OB-GYN suggests birth control but perhaps you are uncomfortable taking it due to previous side effects or negative experiences, a good OB-GYN would want to hear that and potentially offer recommendations that are more aligned with your comfort level whenever that is possible, she said.

A good practitioner knows when to tell you all of your options in a transparent and professional manner, while still being empathetic and understanding of how you feel about those options and whether or not they align with your unique lifestyle, culture or situation.

How to find a better OB-GYN

If your OB-GYN struggles with some of the above, it may be time to look for a new doctor. Heres how to begin your search.

Know whos in your network.

If youre insured, start your search for a new OB-GYN by figuring out which doctors are in your network.

Choosing an OB-GYN in-network usually means your insurance will cover more of their services, and that theyll likely be less surprise fees later on. Use your insurances directory to find an OB-GYN near you.

Ask for referrals.

Ask your family and friends who they go to and what their experiences have been like. (Ask your primary care doctor, too.)

It helps tremendously because we get to know the physicians and their office have already been vetted, Creighton said.

Do some research online.

If a friend referral isnt possible, Creighton likes to comb through online reviews and spend time reading the doctors online bios to learn more about their beliefs and practices.

Rodgers recommends checking a local Facebook group, like a local online group for moms.

Even if you arent a mom, some of the mom Facebook groups are great resources, she said. If others had a good experience, you likely will as well.

Keep in mind that fake patient reviews are making it increasingly hard to trust experiences with doctors on Google, Yelp and other directory sites.

Ive found that people only post if they are very happy or very upset, Rodgers said. Just got to take those with a grain of salt.

For most patients and most routine care, advanced practice providers such as nurse practitioners or physician assistants are great at care, said Allison K. Rodgers, a reproductive endocrinologist at Fertility Centers of Illinois.

For most patients and most routine care, advanced practice providers such as nurse practitioners or physician assistants are great at care, said Allison K. Rodgers, a reproductive endocrinologist at Fertility Centers of Illinois.

For routine care, consider nurse practitioners or physician assistants, too.

Currently, theres a national shortage of OB-GYNs, and it doesnt seem to be getting better; in the years since the Supreme Court decided on Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, OB-GYN residency applications dropped 5% nationally and 10% in states with abortion bans.

Give that shortage  and the other barriers to access that patients face when looking for an OB-GYN (a doctor being out-of-network with a preferred provider, having limited choices within the network, finding a physician whos accepting new patients and whos nearby), you may want to consider seeing a nurse practitioner or physician assistant for basic needs.

For most patients and most routine care, advanced practice providers such as NPs or PAs are great at care, said Rodgers. They often have more time with patients than a physician would have.

For more complex, unusual or surgical issues, a physician is the best bet, she added.

Remember its OK to interview your doctor and shop around for another, if need be.

If you dont like who youre paired with, remember that your decision doesnt have to be final. You can always shop around for doctors.

If you want to get a sense of whether you and an OB-GYN are a good fit during your first appointment, Horwitz recommends coming prepared with questions.

Come to your first appointment ready with topics or questions you want to discuss, and dont be afraid to write them down in advance if that helps, she said. A good provider wants to discuss and understand your health, but ultimately youre the decision-maker and should be the one driving the conversation.

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Khalil al-Sawadi plays with his adopted daughter Afraa in Jinderis, Syria, on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023. Afraa was born under the rubble of her family home, destroyed by the deadly earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria six months ago, killing her parents and siblings. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Underneath the wreckage left behind by an earthquake that devastated Turkish and Syrian communities six months ago, a baby girl was born in Jinderis.

After spending more than 10 hours below the surface of the five-story apartment building where her parents lived, Afraa was found still connected to her mothers umbilical cord, the Associated Press reported in February.

Her parents and four siblings did not survive.

When Afraa first arrived, she was initially given the name Aya  Arabic for a sign from God.

Afraa was eventually adopted by her paternal aunt and her husband, who would be raising her along with their five daughters and two sons, after spending several days in the hospital.

A DNA test was conducted to confirm Afraa and her aunt were related, her adopted father, Khalil al-Sawadi told the AP. After the family took her home, they decided to name the baby girl, Afraa, after her late mother.

Despite several offers from people around the world wanting to help or adopt Afraa, her family said the best place for the infant is with family.

I will raise her in a way that she will not feel in need for anything, said al-Sawadi, who buys and sells cars. Surrounded by his children, al-Sawadi asked them if he should give away Afraa to the well-wishers offering to adopt her and they said in one voice, No.

Afraas story began beneath the rubble

More than 50,000 people were killed by the earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria in the early morning hours of February 6, AP reported. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake was followed by multiple aftershocks.

Of those killed, 44,000 were from Turkey and about 6,000 were from Syria, mainly in the rebel-held northwest. The northwestern part of Syria is home to some 4.5 million people, many of whom have been displaced by the countrys 12-year conflict that has killed 500,000 people, AP reported.

Dozens of housing units were destroyed in Jinderis, a place Afraas family called home since 2018. When the earthquake happened, Al-Sawadi remembered how he rushed out of his home and discovered that the building where Afraas family lived no longer existed.

He and other locals dug through the debris in heavy rain for hours until he grew tired and sat to rest nearby.

He was shortly called to identity a woman they had found underneath the rubble. Al-Sawadi told everyone nearby it was his cousin, Afraa.

The group also heard a babys cry and frantically removed the sand that covered the baby. He took a razor from his pocked and cut the umbilical cord and handed the baby to another cousin and they rushed her to a nearby hospital where he was told that the girl was in good health.

They drove to a couple hospitals in the area, hoping that the baby could receive medical attention. She was later released from a childrens hospital after receiving treatment.

Al-Sawadi initially thought that the newborn was a boy and told the doctor to name him after her late father Abdullah Turki Mleihan. They later found out it was a girl.

For days, he was worried that someone might kidnap her and he visited her frequently at the hospital.

She is one of my children now. I will not differentiate between her and my children. She will be dearer than my children because she will keep the memory alive of her father, mother and siblings, al-Sawadi, who is also a cousin of the girls parents, told AP.

More: 22 US service members injured in northeastern Syrian helicopter accident, military says

Despite the rocky start, she is a happy baby

Khalil al-Sawadi plays with his adopted daughter Afraa in Jinderis, Syria, on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023. Afraa was born under the rubble of her family home, destroyed by the deadly earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria six months ago, killing her parents and siblings. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Afraa is in good health, loves her adopted family and likes to smile even to strangers, AP reported Sunday.

The 6 month old was busy enjoying herself over the weekend, swinging on a red swing hanging from the ceiling while al-Sawadi pushed her back and forth.

This girl is my daughter. She is exactly the same as my children, said al-Sawadi, sitting cross-legged with Afraa on his lap.

Days after Afraa was born, her adopted mother gave birth to a daughter, Attaa. Since then she has been breast-feeding both babies, al-Sawadi said.

Afraa drinks milk and sleeps most of the day, al-Sawadi said.

Despite several offers to live abroad, al-Sawadi refuses to leave because he wants to stay in Syria, where Afraa's parents lived and were killed.

The family spends the day at an apartment, but spends the night at a tent settlement because his children are still traumatized by the earthquake.

Al-Sawadi hopes to tell Afraa about her rescue and what happened to her family when she grows up. He said that if he doesnt tell her, his wife or children will.

We are very happy with her, because she reminds us of her parents and siblings, al-Sawadi said. She looks very much like her father and her sister Nawara.

- Contributing: Ghaith Alsayed and Bassem Mroue for the Associated Press; Amaris Encinas for Gannett

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Afraa, newborn in Syrian earthquake, thriving with family support
Seven people were killed in a series of Russian missile strikes on a city in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine on Monday evening, officials said.

Five civilians, a rescuer and a soldier were killed in the strikes on the city of Pokrovsk, Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said in a Tuesday morning post on Telegram. Another 81 people were injured  39 civilians, 31 police officers, seven emergency responders and four soldiers  he added.

Two strikes hit the city roughly 40 minutes apart on Monday evening, damaging 12 high-rise buildings, Kyrylenko said.

The chief of Ukraines National Police, Ivan Vyhivskyi, accused Moscow on Tuesday of deliberately hitting the same area a second time, while emergency workers were responding to the initial strike.

All of [the police] were there because they were needed, putting their efforts into rescuing people after the first strike, Vyhivskyi said. They knew that under the rubble were the injured  they needed to react, to dig, to retrieve, to save. And the enemy deliberately struck the second time.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky slammed Moscow on Monday for trying to leave only broken and scorched stones, following the latest missile strikes.

We have to stop the Russian terror, he said in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Everyone who fights for the freedom of Ukraine saves lives. Everyone in the world who helps Ukraine will defeat the terrorists together with us.

Russia will be held accountable for everything it has done in this terrible war, Zelensky added.

The Associated Press contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Ukraine's Interior Ministry reported that at least seven people were killed in Russian strike on Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast on Aug. 7. The ministry added that the number of wounded increased to 67, and includes two children, 29 police officers, and seven emergency workers.

The central part of Pokrovsk was hit at least twice in less than an hour in the evening of Aug. 7 , damaging apartment buildings, private residences, a hotel, restaurants, shops, and administrative buildings, Donetsk Oblast Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko reported.

Rescue operations were resumed at 7 a.m. local time, Ihor Klymenko, Interior Minister, said on Aug. 8 via his official Telegram page, adding that the rescuers had to stop working at night due to high threat of Russian strikes.

Russian forces have killed a total of 1,645 residents of Donetsk Oblast since the start of the full-scale invasion and have injured an additional 3,939 others, according to regional authorities.

Actual casualties are believed far exceed reported numbers as current figures do not include those in Russian-occupied settlements.

Read also: Russia attacks Kharkiv Oblast with guided aerial bombs, killing civilians

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Oleksandr Pivnenko, Commander of the National Guard of Ukraine (NGU), has reported that Ukraine managed to bring back 70 members of the National Guard in prisoner of war swaps. Pivnenko told this at a meeting with the families of the National Guard soldiers who protected the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP) and were captured by the Russians in 2022.

Source: Pivnenko on Telegram, comment of the press service of the NGU to Ukrainska Pravda

Quote by Pivnenko: "Today I met with the families of the members of military unit 3041 which were protecting the ChNPP and were taken captive by the Russians. We have once again discussed the issues concerning the process of exchange and the mechanisms of gaining access to the information about the prisoners of war."

Details: Pivnenko remarked that it is up to structural bodies to work in this direction on the state level, but NGU may help the soldiers brought back from captivity solve some issues.

These issues are, first and foremost, medical treatment and rehabilitation, as well as financial, social and documentation aspects that require assistance of corresponding commanders and officials.

Quote by Pivnenko: "During this time, according to the results of the conducted swaps, Ukraine has managed to bring back 70 members of the National Guard who had been captured by the Russians at the ChNPP. This work is ongoing and will last until all our defenders are home."

      ,       

Commander of Ukraine's National Guard at a meeting with families of soldiers who guarded the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant and were captured

Photo from Oleksandr Pivnenko's Telegram

Details: The press service of the National Guard specified in a comment for Ukrainska Pravda that 107 soldiers who guarded the ChNPP at the time Russia started its full-scale invasion of Ukraine remain in captivity.

Background: As of 27 April, 47 National Guardsmen who guarded the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant on the day of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation were released from captivity, while another 130 remained in captivity.

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!






Close to 100 people have been arrested in Australia and the United States in connection with a global online child abuse network uncovered in the aftermath of a high-profile murder of two FBI agents, authorities announced this week.

The myriad charges for alleged child abuse stem from the killings of two FBI special agents, Daniel Alfin and Laura Schwartzenberger, who were fatally shot in 2021 while serving a warrant in Sunrise, Florida, to search the apartment of a suspect allegedly tied to a case involving violent crimes against children.

FBI Special Agent Laura Schwartzenberger and FBI Special Agent Dan Alfin were shot and killed in the line of duty serving a search warrant in Sunrise, Florida, on Feb. 2, 2021. / Credit: FBI

The deaths of Alfin and Schwartzenberger, who both specialized in investigating crimes against children, spurred a wider international probe into an illicit online platform whose members are accused of sharing child abuse material on the dark web, according to the Australian Federal Police.

Nineteen Australians, whose ages range from 32 to 81 years old, were recently charged for their alleged involvement in what the agency described in a news release as a "sophisticated" digital network. Members are believed to have produced, searched for and distributed images and videos of child abuse material on the dark web, officials said.

Two people have been sentenced in Australia for their ties to the massive investigation, while the others have active cases in court, according to the federal police. In addition to the 19 arrests, authorities also removed 13 Australian children from harm over the course of the probe. Federal police allege some of those children were "directly abused" and others were removed as a precaution.

Called "Operation Bakis," the joint investigation involving state and local authorities in various parts of Australia ran alongside a U.S. investigation led by the FBI. The FBI investigation has so far led to the arrests of 79 people allegedly connected to the online network, the Australian Federal Police said. That probe has led to the convictions of 43 people for child abuse offenses, the Associated Press reported.

The suspects  who were arrested across Australia, including in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia  collectively face 138 charges related to the investigation. One suspect described as a "public servant" by federal police was already sentenced to 14 1/2 years in prison in June after pleading guilty to 24 charges. The same month, a call center operator on the NSW Central Coast was sentenced to five years after pleading guilty to possession of an estimated five terabytes of child abuse material.

/ Credit: Australian Federal Police

"The success of Operation Bakis was only possible because of the close working relationship between the AFP-led ACCCE [Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation] and the FBI, and our dedicated personnel who never give up working to identify children who are being sexually assaulted or living with someone who is sharing child abuse material," said Australian Federal Police Commander Helen Schneider in a statement.

Schneider added that "the lengths that these alleged offenders went to in order to avoid detection makes them especially dangerous - the longer they avoid detection the longer they can perpetuate the cycle of abuse."

Most of the suspects in Australia worked in jobs that required a high degree of knowledge in the field of information communications technology, the federal police said, noting that alleged members of the online platform "used software to anonymously share files, chat on message boards and access websites within the network." The suspects are accused of using methods like encryption to remain anonymous online and avoid being identified by law enforcement.

Both Australian and U.S. authorities noted that the success of Operation Bakis hinged on cooperation between agencies in both countries.

"The complexity and anonymity of these platforms means that no agency or country can fight these threats alone," FBI legal attache Nitiana Mann said in a separate statement. "As we continue to build bridges through collaboration and teamwork, we can ensure the good guys win and the bad guys lose."

Mann said the FBI alerted authorities in other countries to additional suspects in their jurisdictions who are allegedly connected to the online child abuse ring, but did not did say which countries, according to the Associated Press.

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Members of the U.S. Secret Service keep watch before President Joe Biden spoke at the Red Butte Airfield Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, in Tusayan, Ariz. (AP Photo/John Locher) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

PHOENIX (AP)  Abortion rights advocates on Tuesday began a push to ask Arizona voters to create a constitutional right to abortion, injecting the issue into the battleground state's volatile politics ahead of next year's election.

If proponents collect enough signatures, Arizona will become the latest state to put the question of reproductive rights directly to voters, who have turned out in large numbers to support abortion rights even in conservative states.

The fight over abortion rights helped Democrats limit their losses in last year's midterms after the U.S. Supreme Court ended the constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy. The issue remains salient as President Joe Biden seeks reelection in the face of sagging approval ratings.

Arizona currently bans abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy, with limited exceptions. Abortion opponents have asked the Arizona Supreme Court to allow enforcement of a law dating to the Civil War that bans virtually all abortions.

The proposed constitutional amendment would guarantee abortion rights until a fetus could survive outside the womb, typically around 24 weeks of pregnancy. It also would allow later abortions to save the mother's life or to protect her physical or mental health.

We know the work for achieving reproductive freedom is an uphill battle, and this ballot initiative is the next critical step in our renewed drive to protect the health and freedom of our patients and our communities, said Chris Love, senior adviser to Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona, the political arm of the state's leading abortion provider.

Maria Birnbaum, Arizona director for the anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said the proposal aims to create an Arizona unrecognizable to those of us who live here.

This proposal would impose painful late-term abortions up to birth, Birnbaum said in a statement.

The Republican Party has struggled to navigate the politics of abortion since the Supreme Court's decision last year rescinding federal protections for the procedure put the question at the forefront of state politics and created a state-by-state patchwork of restrictions and bans.

Voters in Republican-leaning states, including Kansas and Kentucky, have responded by protecting abortion access. Voters in Ohio on Tuesday rejected a proposed constitutional change that would have made it tougher to protect abortion rights.

In Arizona, about two-thirds of voters said in last year's midterms that the Supreme Court's abortion ruling was an important factor in their vote, according to AP VoteCast, an expansive survey of more than 3,200 voters in Arizona. Those voters overwhelmingly favored Democrat Katie Hobbs, who narrowly won the governor's race.

Im thrilled that Arizonans are going to have the opportunity to make their voices heard next November, and Im confident they will support a constitutional right to abortion," Hobbs said in a statement released Tuesday by her political adviser.

Biden won Arizona by fewer than 11,000 votes, one of his narrowest victories in 2020, and the state will again be central to his campaign. Biden made his second trip to Arizona as president Tuesday, announcing a national monument designation for the greater Grand Canyon.

The abortion rights groups behind the Arizona initiative include the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona, Affirm Sexual and Reproductive Health, Arizona List, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona, NARAL Arizona, and Healthcare Rising Arizona. Theyll have to collect 384,000 signatures from registered voters by July to put the question on the 2024 ballot.
A group of Arizona organizations have filed to add a ballot measure to the 2024 general election that would amend the states constitution to guarantee abortion access, following the lead of other states that have enshrined abortion access into their constitutions following the overturning of Roe v. Wade last year.

Organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Arizona, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona and NARAL Pro-Choice Arizona are coming together in support of the new Arizona for Abortion Access political action committee.

The PAC has filed the paperwork to add the Arizona Abortion Access Act to the November 2024 ballot, which would enshrine access to abortions into the Arizona state constitution.

Since the fall of Roe, we have seen our communities come together as a multigenerational and multiracial movement for reproductive freedom to fight for Arizonans fundamental rights, and this ballot initiative will continue to build on this momentum, Candace Lew, Arizona for Abortion Access chairwoman, said in a statement. Thousands of Arizonans will power this grassroots effort to not only pose this question to voters, but ensure it passes next November.

Abortions in Arizona are currently banned after 15 weeks, and state Medicaid coverage for terminating pregnancies is prohibited outside of some limited circumstances. Medication abortions are also subject to some restrictions with Arizona law blocking the drugs from being provided through telehealth services.

Voters in California and Vermont passed similar ballot measures enshrining abortion access into their respective state constitutions last year, though neither of these states has stronger restrictions on abortions.

If the ballot measure is accepted by Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes (D), the state would join Maryland, New York and Ohio in voting on abortion access amendments. The vote for Ohios ballot measure is the soonest, coming up on Nov. 7, while the ballot measures for Maryland and New York are set for 2024.

A vote on a separate ballot measure Tuesday stands to make it potentially harder for the abortion measure in Ohio to pass. Issue 1 would raise the threshold for ballot measures to pass, and critics have argued it is a purposeful attempt at sabotaging the proposed abortion amendment.

This proposal put forth in Arizona by the ACLU, Planned Parenthood and other far-left special interest groups aims to create an Arizona unrecognizable to those of us who live here, Maria Birnbaum, Arizona field director for the anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said in a release.

The ACLU and the abortion lobbys extreme and barbaric vision for Arizona aligns with their own radical agenda to eliminate parental rights and eliminate any protection for the unborn, not what Arizonans believe.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Not the way I wanted to end this movie, is what actress Rebel Wilson said following a visit to a Georgia hospital following an on-set accident while filming her latest movie over the weekend.

Wilson has been in the Savannah area over the last few weeks filming a new action comedy called Bride Hard, WJCL-TV reports.

In an Instagram post over the weekend, Wilson said she ended up in the hospital.

Three stitches and in the hospital last night after a stunt accident at 4 a.m., she said.

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Despite the writers strike, the production has been able to shoot because it is an independent film, the TV station reported.

This is what IMDB.com had to say about the plot of the movie: When a mercenary group takes a lavish wedding hostage, they have no idea what they are in for as the Maid of Honor is actually a secret agent ready to rain hellfire upon anyone who would ruin her best friends wedding.

There is no word yet on when the movie will be released.

IN OTHER NEWS:
The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation into Adobes planned $20 billion purchase of design rival Figma. The EU said its concerned about the acquisition diminishing competition for interactive design software and digital asset creation tools.

The EU Commission has until December 14th to make a decision. With our in-depth investigation we aim to ensure that users continue to have access to a wide pool of digital creative tools to choose from, European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager said in a statement to Reuters.

The move echoes a similar move from the UK last month when its Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched its own in-depth investigation into the transaction. The UK has until December 27th to complete its phase two review.

The transaction would be the largest-ever purchase for Adobe. The San Francisco-based Figma, founded in 2012, quickly grew in popularity and became a go-to tool for vector design and remote collaboration. The companys products compete directly with Adobe XD and Illustrator. Adobe has previously said it wants to incorporate Creative Cloud suite features into Figma while adding some of Figmas collaborative capabilities to its core products. It said at the time of the acquisitions announcement that it was deeply committed to keeping Figma independent and said there was no plan to change its pricing or remove its free tier.

The combination of Adobe and Figma will deliver significant value to customers by making product design more accessible and efficient, reimagining creative capabilities on the web and creating new categories of creativity and productivity, Adobe said in a statement to Engadget. We have been delighted to hear overwhelmingly positive feedback from customers worldwide and are excited about the economic benefits the deal will bring. We remain confident in the merits of the case as Figmas product design is an adjacency to Adobes core creative products and Adobe has no meaningful plans to compete in the product design space.
Oklahomas attorney general has rejected a request from a state lawmaker to reinvestigate DNA evidence in the case of a death row inmate set to be executed in September, saying that recent reprocessing already conclusively pointed to his guilt.

Attorney General Gentner Drummond was asked Thursday by state Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, to reprocess DNA evidence in the death penalty case of Anthony Castillo Sanchez, after the legislator reviewed Sanchez's case and questioned the accuracy of the DNA testing.

Drummond declined Humphreys request, reiterating his appellate team already reprocessed the DNA evidence months beforehand with results that were overwhelming in showing Anthony Sanchezs guilt.

Just as DNA evidence has helped clear the innocent, it can also conclusively show guilt, Drummond said Sunday in a statement to The Oklahoman. Anthony Sanchez is guilty beyond any conceivable doubt.

Anthony Sanchez, 44, was convicted in 2006 of first-degree murder in the death of 21-year-old University of Oklahoma dance student Juli Busken, who was found raped and shot in the head at Lake Stanley Draper on Dec. 20, 1996.

What did the AG say about the DNA evidence?

Identified as a suspect through DNA, Anthony Sanchez has maintained he is innocent of Busken's murder, and recently claimed his father, Glen Sanchez, confessed to the crime before dying of suicide last April. Drummond described Anthony Sanchezs claim as ludicrous and despicable.

The evidence is overwhelming that Anthony Sanchez brutally raped and murdered Juli Busken, Drummond said. Instead of expressing remorse, he made the cowardly decision to try blaming the crime on his deceased father  a ludicrous allegation thoroughly discredited by DNA analysis.

Related: Oklahoma death row inmate rejects clemency hearing, claims his late father was the killer

Earlier this year, investigators compared the DNA profile of Glen Sanchez to the profile that the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation took from Buskens clothing in 2000.

After testing a blood sample, investigators said they ruled out Glen Sanchez as a match for the DNA. The team then ran additional reverse paternity testing of the DNA and said there was at least a 99.9 percent probability that Glen Sanchez was the potential biological father of the DNA profile taken from Buskens clothing.

David Ballard, a private investigator hired by the anti-capital punishment group Death Penalty Action to reexamine the case, said an inexperienced lab technician miscommunicated the strength of the DNA evidence to a jury. Ballard also said the DNA evidence might have been contaminated, a claim the AGs office disputes.

There has never been any evidence presented that the DNA was not properly collected or stored, said Phil Bacharach, a spokesman for the AGs office.

A full DNA profile was obtained and shown to match Anthony Sanchez, Bacharach said, and the DNA profile found by state investigators matches exactly with the DNA profile found separately by local police officers.

The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals rejected a request from Anthony Sanchezs legal counsel for an evidentiary hearing in April. Two months later, Anthony Sanchez publicly stated he wanted to move forward without his court-appointed attorneys and has sought to prove his claim of innocence on his own behalf ever since.

What makes (Anthony Sanchezs) claim all the more despicable is that it makes a mockery of how advances in DNA evidence have exonerated wrongly convicted individuals in recent years, Drummonds statement also read.

More: With help from Democrats, AG Gentner Drummond tops fundraising among state officials

Why did Humphrey request the DNA evidence be reprocessed?

Rep. Justin Humphrey, who chairs the Oklahoma House Committee on Criminal Justice and Corrections, is a staunch conservative who strongly advocates the death penalty.

Humphrey, who chairs the Oklahoma House Committee on Criminal Justice and Corrections, is a staunch conservative who strongly advocates the death penalty. He described himself as somewhat reluctant to involve (himself) in other cases since he began intervening in the case of Richard Glossip, another high-profile death row inmate whose conviction Humphrey and Drummond both say should be overturned because of false testimony and tampered evidence.

Knowing that Drummond's stance generated a firestorm of criticism, Humphrey thanked him for his commitment in his letter Thursday while asking the AG to reinvestigate the DNA evidence in Anthony Sanchez's case.

I believe that this would be a critical step towards ensuring that the death penalty process is fair and just, not just in this case but in others like it, Humphrey wrote.

Viewpoint: 'We must be certain about his guilt before we execute'

What happens next with Anthony Sanchez?

In a letter and audio recording released in June, Anthony Sanchez said he would avoid requesting clemency, or mercy, from Gov. Kevin Stitt. He cited what he characterized as the Republican governors unwillingness to grant clemency in past cases, even after the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board recommended it.

The Rev. Jeff Hood is the spiritual adviser to death row inmate Anthony Sanchez.

The Rev. Jeff Hood, Anthony Sanchezs spiritual adviser, told The Oklahoman he is still convinced of the inmates innocence, and thanked Humphrey for his willingness to step forward with his stance.

It is my firm belief that J.J. Humphreys letter will not be the last letter, Hood said. I think a lot of people thought when Anthony decided not to do clemency, that it was over. But really, its just beginning.

Hood said he and other supporters of Anthony Sanchez will continue advocating his case to the AGs office until Drummond asks for the date of the execution to be pulled.

Anthony Sanchez is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on Sept. 21 at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma AG won't reprocess DNA evidence in Anthony Sanchez case
Detection

A new artificial intelligence algorithm has detected, for the first time ever, a killer asteroid slated to fly by Earth  and it won't be the last.

Known as HelioLinc3D, the algorithm  created specifically for the still-under-construction Vera Rubin Observatory in Northern Chile  has already identified one "potentially hazardous asteroid" or PHA that human eyes had missed, as the New York Times reports.

Dubbed 2022 SF289, the roughly 600-foot-long PHA is going to approach Earth within 140,000 miles, which is about half the distance to the Moon (i.e. a little too close for comfort). This asteroid's relatively-small stature makes its algorithmic discovery even more unprecedented because (as the report notes) asteroids under 500 feet are both harder to detect and capable of wiping out entire cities or countries if they hit the Earth.

The good news is: This asteroid isn't likely to hit our planet any time soon. But the AI's ability to find it  after the humans who run the NASA-funded Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) system missed it  is absolutely a big deal. Especially given that the Rubin Observatory hasn't even unleashed its full potential yet.

As the Times notes, the observatory's giant mirror and camera will soon be able to capture images of almost the entire night sky, and it'll do so every three nights. That's a massive amount of data to sift through, and without the algorithmic help of programs like HelioLinc3D, it would be, well, impossible for even a massive team of humans to catch everything.

Burden of Proof

Ari Heinze, a University of Washington researcher who was the principal developer of the algorithm, told the Times that the proof of the program's efficacy is in the pudding.

"By demonstrating the real-world effectiveness of the software that Rubin will use to look for thousands of yet-unknown potentially hazardous asteroids," Heinze said in a UW statement, "the discovery of 2022 SF289 makes us all safer."

While conventional telescopes require four images per night to definitively detect asteroids, Rubin and HelioLinc3D only need two, and as the report notes, don't even need those two taken on consecutive nights.

Given how powerful the observatory-algorithm combo already is without even being finished, it's no doubt going to be a game-changer. Take it from Queens University Belfast astronomer Meg Schwab, a proponent of the tech who didn't work on it, and who told the Times that the algorithm is not only going to find asteroids but "all moving objects" that fly through our night sky.

"Its going to rewrite the solar system," Schwab declared  and given this bold first example, she's probably not being hyperbolic.

More on asteroids: A Majority of Americans Dont Care About Mars, Want NASA to Defend Against Killer Asteroids
The Air Force warned of a threat of the use of ballistic weapons on the night of 7-8 August.

Source: Ukrainian Air Force; air-raid warning map

Quote from the Ukrainian Air Force: "There is a threat of ballistic missile attacks in areas where an air-raid warning has been issued! Don't ignore the air-raid warning! Proceed to shelters!"

Details: As of 00:34, an air-raid warning was issued in Poltava, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia and Sumy oblasts.

After 00:50, an air-raid warning was issued in Kirovohrad and Cherkasy oblasts.

Update: At 01:20, the all-clear began to be given in these oblasts.

At 01:52, the Air Force announced the end of the threat of a ballistic missile attack.

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!
Airmen and Space Force Guardians can now request a mental health referral from their superiors and will be connected with a medical professional within one day under the Brandon Act.

The act was signed into law in December 2021 after a 21-year-old sailor died from suicide. The Department of the Air Force has now implemented the law -- the latest military branch to do so -- and troops in the two services can voluntarily request an immediate mental health referral from a commander or supervisor with a rank of E-6 or above.

"Service members may request a referral for any reason, including, but not limited to, personal distress, personal concerns or trouble performing their duties," the Air Force said in a Monday press release. "They are not required to provide a reason or basis for the referral."

Read Next: The Military Is Missing Recruitment Goals. Are Thousands Being Unnecessarily Disqualified?

Once notified, superiors will "contact the mental health clinic and request an appointment for the member the same or next day," the release said. That follow-up will be a face-to-face, telephone or telehealth appointment.

Unlike other mental health referrals, the new policy under the Brandon Act is initiated by the service member versus having a mandatory referral initiated by superiors, giving the rank and file some control over their situation.

The Department of the Air Force program is called "the Brandon Act -- The Commander/ Supervisor Facilitated Referral Program."

Active-duty airmen and Guardians can submit the mental health referral at any time and in any environment, including deployed areas, according to the press release. It also applies to service members in active-duty status as a member of the select Reserve, those assigned to a temporary duty station, or those on leave.

"It is mandatory for commanders and supervisors to honor a Brandon Act request," the Department of the Air Force said in the release.

The legislation is named for Brandon Caserta, a naval aircrew aviation electrician's mate assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28 in Norfolk, Virginia. He died by suicide on June 25, 2018. According to his parents and a subsequent command investigation into his death, Caserta had been bullied by a supervisor and little was done to stop the abuse.

"The path for the Brandon Act has been long," Teri Caserta, mother of Petty Officer Caserta, said in the Air Force press release. "But as each military service implements the act, it has renewed our hope -- hope that these new rules will save the lives of those who are serving on our behalf."

Under a Defense Department directive issued in May, the services were to implement the policy within 45 days for active-duty members and then work to implement the policy for National Guard and reserve members.

The Department of the Air Force's public announcement is nearly two months past that May deadline.

Military.com reported last month that the Defense Department did not craft the policy in response to the law until this May. In that interim, 440 active-duty service members across the six armed forces died by suicide, according to records kept by the Pentagon and the Coast Guard.

The Navy and Marine Corps unveiled their new mental health measures under the Brandon Act last month.

In addition to the new mental health referral policy, the Air Force and Space Force are also developing training on recognizing when a service member might need mental health resources and how a member may obtain a Brandon Act referral that protects their privacy.

"Few things are more important than improving access to mental health," Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force Roger Towberman said in the press release. "Every improvement matters.

Veterans and service members experiencing a mental health emergency can call the Veteran Crisis Line, 988 and press 1. Help also is available by text, 838255, and via chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net.

-- Thomas Novelly can be reached at thomas.novelly@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomNovelly.

Related: Navy, Marine Corps Roll Out 'Brandon Act' Policy to Improve Members' Access to Mental Health Treatment
A 28-year-old Akron man has been sentenced to serve 11 years and five months in federal prison for robbing banks in Canal Fulton and Cuyahoga Falls.

U.S. District Judge Bridget Meehan Brennan sentenced Jacob K. Onusic on July 31 in federal court in Cleveland after he pleaded guilty to the robberies, as well as possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. He was ordered to pay $142,700 in restitution, pay a $300 special assessment, and serve three years of supervised release following imprisonment.

According to court documents, the first robbery occurred July 14, 2022, when Onusic entered the Peoples Bank on State Road in Cuyahoga Falls dressed in all black with a cap covering his hair and a blue medical mask.

He asked to open an account. When he was taken to meet with a teller, he told the teller to place her hands on the desk and if she moved her hands he would blow her head off. Onusic then ordered other tellers to lock the front door, open the vault and place the money in a trash bag he provided. All the tellers complied.

Onusic told one teller to empty her personal bag so he could place the stolen $142,700 inside it. He then ordered the tellers to get on the ground until he was gone.

The second robbery occurred Aug. 26, 2022, when Onusic entered the Apple Creek Bank Co. in Canal Fulton, wearing a wig and multiple masks. He asked to open an account.

When he was told he did not have the correct paperwork, he asked about getting a safe deposit box. As bank employees were taking him to the safe deposit box area, Onusic demanded they open the vault, which a teller opened.

Once the vault was opened, Onusic demanded the money in the vault, then ordered all the bank employees inside the vault. He left the bank with $57,234 and drove away.

When law enforcement tried to stop Onusics vehicle, he tried to flee and eventually crashed his vehicle in Akron. He then fled on foot. Onusic hid in a shed in the backyard of a home. He assaulted an Akron police officer and an Akron police dog handler as law enforcement attempted to take him into custody, authorities said.

Inside Onusic's vehicle, law enforcement found the $57,234, the wig Onusic wore during the robbery, a loaded firearm and ammunition.

At sentencing, the judge ordered the defendant to forfeit his interest in a gold and diamond necklace he bought for $8,500, which was seized on Aug. 26, 2022, and a 9mm pistol, also seized the same day.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI, Ohio State Highway Patrol and Cuyahoga Falls police.

Reach Nancy at 330-580-8382 or nancy.molnar@cantonrep.com.

On Twitter: @nmolnarTR

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Jacob Onusic sentenced for Canal Fulton, Cuyahoga Falls bank robberies
Children in Alachua County can get help with developing character skills during a six-week program that will benefit them in school, the workforce and life.

They can learn those skills during the Akwaaba Freedom School session, which recently graduated about 80 young scholars who attended the program held this summer at P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School.

This was the second year the program has been held in Alachua County, and organizers said it will be held at a different school in the county every year.

Akwaaba means "welcome" in the Twi language spoken by the Akan tribe of Ghana.

Deandra West and Thacher Loutin are the site coordinators of the program in Alachua County. West is the site coordinator for levels 1 and 2, and oversees elementary school students in the program. Loutin is the site coordinator for levels 3 and 4, and oversees middle school and high school students.

West and Loutin are both pursuing graduate degrees from the University of Florida.

"We use books to help them see themselves within the community and the world," West said.

Loutin said what makes the program unique is the parents' involvement with their children and the young scholars learning about civic engagement.

"Our reading curriculum involves learning empathy, social action and conflict resolution skills," Loutin said. "We focus on what kind of books to read that leads to action and education."

According to UF, faculty in its College of Education have partnered with the Childrens Defense Fund (CDF) to launch the Akwaaba Freedom School locally. It is one of over 150 Freedom Schools across the country that are sponsored by the CDF.

Freedom Schools are a six-week summer reading enrichment program that focus on conflict resolution skills, social and emotional learning techniques and academic achievement. The free program also offers extracurricular activities and field trips, as well as meals and snacks, organizers say.

It is modeled after the 1964 Mississippi Freedom Summer Project, a volunteer campaign organized to register Black voters in Mississippi, organizers say.

The program is sponsored by the Collaborative for Equity in Education at UF and the Childrens Trust of Alachua County, program officials say.

Freedom Summer: Black Power discussed at book signing held at the University of Florida

The Collaborative for Equity in Education promotes programming, research and teaching designed to remove barriers to success and provide opportunities for underserved groups, officials say.

Young scholars perform during the Akwaaba Freedom School graduation ceremony recently at P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School. (Credit: Photo by Voleer Thomas/For The Guardian)

Both West and Loutin loves seeing the young scholars evolve through character development within the program.

"I love the safe space we created here," West said. "We created a space where scholars can be themselves. We welcome people of different backgrounds and teach them about themselves. We want them to gain the confidence to speak up."

"We provide emotional safety and security to our scholars," Loutin said. "We have that approach as a staff. We put them on the right path instead of marginalizing and stigmatizing them. We cater to them physically, emotionally and mentally."

Deandra West, left, and Thacher Loutin, right, are the site coordinators for the Akwaaba Freedom School in Alachua County. West is the site coordinator for levels 1 and 2, and oversees elementary school-aged scholars. Loutin is the site coordinator for levels 3 and 4, and oversees middle school and high school students. (Credit: Submitted photo)

The program's application process is first-come, first-served, and students in K-8th grades are encouraged to apply, officials say.

Applications for next year's program is open and those who are interested can apply at https://education.ufl.edu/akwaaba-freedom-school.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Six-week Akwaaba Freedom School teaches kids how to develop character
Images of homes and trees collapsing into raging waters in Alaska have become the latest stunning symbols of climate change in a summer of wild weather  this time caused by melting glaciers.

Juneau this week saw flooding that destroyed some houses and caused others to be condemned, while other items such as trees and oil tanks were carried away.

The event was caused by water from Mendenhall Glacier pooling in its Suicide Basin. When the basin fills, it funnels water to Mendenhall Lake, which then ends up in the Mendenhall River.

Aaron Jacobs, a senior service hydrologist with the National Weather Service, said that such water has been released since 2011, but he described this years event as unprecedented  with river flooding nearly 3 feet above the previous 12-foot record set in 2016.

We never saw anything like this, this is pretty much unprecedented  how much water came out of the Suicide Basin, Jacobs said.

This led to immense erosion, he added, which took away part of the riverbank, leading homes to become exposed or even fall in.

While it may be difficult to attribute any singular event to climate change, he and other experts said global warming causing ice to melt is a factor in events like this one.

The climate is warming, and so we have seen a warming environment, Jacobs said.

Weve definitely seen a lot of ice melt and glacier receding and thinning in my time here  about 22 years, he said.

Ben Orlove, a professor at Columbia Universitys schools of international and public affairs and climate, said the glacier is primarily melting because of climate change.

This is a very well-known and well-understood glacier, he said. Its accelerated melting has been observed for decades.

The Juneau region, where there are several such glaciers, faces risks because of the melting, he said, but noted that the risks may vary between specific valleys in the area.

These glaciers are coming down from very high mountains  and each of these glaciers comes down a particular valley, he said. The risk of flooding is going to vary from valley to valley.

He said that area fisheries could also be at risk.

Orlove noted, citing the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, that Alaska is expected to see peak water  when the most meltwater will be released  between 2050 and 2080.

Orlove said some warming  and related glacial melting  is already baked in, but some of it could be prevented.

If we stop emitting any greenhouse gases this afternoon, there would continue to be melting because theres some inertia in the system, but nonetheless, theres big differences in what we choose to do, particularly in the next five to 10 years.

If we move quickly to reduce emissions, well save a lot of ice, he said.

However, Marco Tedesco, a research professor at Columbia University, said that there is years worth of warming already in the atmosphere.

If youre cooking a lasagna in the oven, even if you turn on the oven only once, the oven will still be warm, and the pasta can still be cooked and burned, Tedesco said.

Bruce Raup, a senior associate scientist at the University of Colorado Boulders National Snow and Ice Data Center, said that, in general, glacial melt can pose risks to nearby communities around the world.

Things like this have happened in Peru, certainly in many places in the Himalayas, in Alaska, Raup said.

But, he noted, that secondary consequences of glaciers and ice sheets melting could impact even more people because of the contribution to rising sea levels.

The floods in Alaska come amid a summer full of weather disasters, including extreme heat that has plagued the southwestern U.S. and other parts of the globe and Canadian wildfires that sent hazardous pollution as far as the Southeast  putting a spotlight on the changing climate.

Its telling us how things will be in 20, 30 years  10 years maybe, said Tedesco. Im actually very surprised at the pace at which the events have occurred this year.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Warden Orlando Harper plans to retire after nearly 11 years of service as warden of the Allegheny County Jail and director of the Bureau of Corrections, County Executive Rich Fitzgerald announced Tuesday.

I have been honored to serve in this role for over a decade and am announcing my retirement with mixed feelings, Harper said in a statement. When I first accepted this position in 2012, my intent was to remain here through the end of this administration. While thats just a few months away, circumstances have changed with my family and, because of that, Ive moved that end date up.

The Alliance for Police Accountability (APA) Coalition, which is a grassroots group that aims to hold police and government leaders accountable, is embracing the sudden announcement.

Finally, said Kyna James, APA Coalition organizer. We rather wish that he would have been fired, honestly.

The group has been calling for Harpers resignation for years.

Weve been packing the jail oversight board every month, said APA Coalition Founder/President Brandi Fisher. Peoples families have been coming down there whove been dying at the jail demanding for change, demanding for new leadership, so he knew his time was up.

The wardens retirement comes at a time of increased scrutiny from the public and some members of the jail oversight board. They say the jails low staffing and inadequate conditions have led to deaths under Harpers watch.

He is responsible for that, Fisher said. What justice do those families get when he just gets to resign and collect money every month for doing nothing.

According to a recent review commissioned by the county, there have been 27 inmate deaths between January 2017 and October 2022. That same report, however, found those deaths were not tied to a particular weakness or gap in operations.

The jails spokesperson, Jesse Geleynse, recently sent a statement saying theyve increased surveillance and taken other measures to prevent deaths.

The safety and security of our incarcerated population is the jails top priority, and all deaths are a tragedy, Geleynse said in the statement. The jail takes each one very seriously and is continuing to work with our partners to increase surveillance and take other measures to address preventable deaths. Through our contracts with the National Commission on Correctional Health Care, we have received recommendations on steps we can take to reduce suicides and prevent deaths, where possible. We have made those improvements, resulting in better outcomes. The recent death is the first death in our housing units since September 2022 because of the hard work that weve been doing to get people out of the facility.

Meantime, the county highlighted improvements under Harpers tenure, including:

Maintaining accreditation with the American Correctional Association and Pennsylvania Department of Corrections - one of three county jails in the state to be accredited; offering additional job training opportunities and GED classes; launching a pilot program in 2016 to connect people incarcerated with resources and tools, including virtual visitations, health care, or filing complaints; and creating a special pod for juvenile offenders.

I have always preferred to let actions speak louder than words  sometimes to my detriment, said Harper. Regardless of the public narrative about the jail, Ive seen first-hand the great work done here every day. This dedicated staff has saved and improved countless lives. Im proud of the work that theyve done, and the progress that weve made together, and thank them for their dedication and commitment to the people we serve each day.

The APA Coalition, however, is questioning the wardens timing of his retirement, saying they believe he buckled under public pressure.

This is a result of years of advocacy, of years of fighting for the people in our jail, said Fisher.

Channel 11 asked Geleynse about the timing and if the warden was under any pressure to leave early. The spokesperson said the warden is not doing interviews and doesnt have a comment.

Harpers last day will be Sept. 29.

With this announcement, the Fitzgerald administration will be working with President Judge Kim Berkeley Clark to identify a search firm. That firm will be tasked with putting together a profile on the county and jail and will also be responsible for providing opportunities for the community to weigh in on the type of person that should be selected and the priorities that the person should have for the facility and its operations.

The last search took over a year, and so the work being done now is intended to give the next county executive a head start in the search process, according to Fitzgerald.

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Arroyo Grande resident Bernadette Hiser first realized that something was wrong when she tasted her husbands pork roast.

Jeff Hiser often barbecued for his family. However, this dish tasted horrible, his wife recalled.

It wasnt like normal, Bernadette Hiser said of the pork roast. I found out he had forgotten how to make the pork roast and so thats when we went to the doctor.

In 2015, Jeff Hiser was diagnosed with Alzheimers disease, a type of dementia that affects memory and other mental functions. Its the leading cause of dementia in the United States.

Jeff Hiser is one of nearly 720,000 people living with Alzheimers disease in California, which leads the nation in cases of the disease according to a 2023 study by the Alzheimers Association.

Projections from the Alzheimers Association projections show 840,000 Californians over age 65 will be living with Alzheimers disease by 2025.

The prevalence of Alzheimers is particularly high on the Central Coast.

In San Luis Obispo County, 10.6% of the population 65 and older has been diagnosed with Alzheimers disease as of 2023, the data shows. Marin County in the North Bay Area has a similar Alzheimers prevalence at 11.1% of residents over 65 and nearby Monterey County with 12.1% among the same population.

The Alzheimers Association shows a 281.5% increase in deaths between 2000 and 2019 from the disease.

A map showing the prevalence of individuals above the age of 65 living with Alzheimers Dementia in California. Communities along the Central Coast see prevalence rates of Alzheimers Dementia as high as 12%.

SLO County families talk about dementia diagnoses

Jeff and Bernadette Hiser have been married for 46 years and have two grown children.

The couple met while Bernadette Hiser was working as a school bus driver for Newport Mesa Unified School District. Jeff Hiser worked on the districts landscape crew, she said.

They later moved to San Luis Obispo County.

The couples lives changed when Jeff Hiser was diagnosed with Alzheimers disease eight years ago, his wife said.

His condition progressed slowly at first, Bernadette Hiser said. Now, her husband struggles to speak and cannot follow conversations.

With this disease, the plateaus stay a long time, but then the dips come quick, said Hiser, who has been her husbands primary caregiver for the past eight years. You just never know when somethings going to happen, or (if) hes going to be different.

Unfortunately, I dont think anybody can understand what youre going through unless you actually live it, she said.

Bernadette Hiser spending time out of the house with her husband Jeff Hiser, who was diagnosed with Alzheimers disease in 2015.

San Luis Obispo resident Chris Broome can empathize with the Hiser familys experience with dementia.

While on vacation in 2013, he noticed his wife, software developer and artist Alyce Broome, was unusually forgetful. He recognized the warning signs of dementia, having watched his mother-in-law live with the disease for 14 years.

After a long consultation with a San Luis Obispo physician, Alyce Broome was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia in the spring of 2013. With that disease, cognitive decline is unpredictable, her husband said.

The patients cognition can remain pretty stable for a while, then it can suddenly drop, Chris Broome explained. And that drop could be tiny or that drop could be very large.

By the spring of 2022, Alyce Broomes dementia had worsened.

The former software programmer now needed her husbands help to operate anything with buttons, such as the microwave and the television remote. The couple could no longer participate in the intellectual conversations they once enjoyed, Chris Broome said.

Its like the converse of watching a child grow up, Broome said. When you see it on a day-to-day basis you dont know anything is happening. But then, if you think back to what it was like several years ago, youll notice that the differences can be fairly significant.

After nearly a decade living with Lewy body dementia, Alyce died on March 6.

Dementia is a journey with only one destination, Chris Broome told the Tribune after sharing the news of Alyces death.

For caregivers, he added, Sometimes reaching that destination is a relief.

Chris and Alyce Broome live in San Luis Obispo. Chris is the primary care giver for his wife who is experiencing a form of dementia March 28, 2022.

Dementia caregivers describe isolation, stress

Broome and Hiser said that caring for a loved one with dementia can feel isolating.

A lot of our friends have dropped off  they dont come around, Hiser said. You do feel very lonely.

In social situations, she said, I dont have anything happy to say, and not everyone wants to be around a person that has a sad story. And thats the honest truth.

Bernadette Hiser said being her husbands primary caregiver is probably the hardest  but the most rewarding thing  she will ever go through.

Its taught me a lot about myself, she said. When youre up against a wall, what are you going to do?

According to Broome, becoming a caregiver for a spouse living with dementia can change the nature of that relationship  but that doesnt mean there is an absence of love.

I think I care for (my life) a lot more, Broome told The Tribune in 2022. I think I love her a lot more.

Chris and Alyce Broome at their home Jan. 11, 2022. Chris is caregiver for Alyce who has been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia a degenerative condition similar to Alzheimers disease.

Lack of resources pushes caregivers out of workforce

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 80% of individuals who have Alzheimers or other forms of dementia are cared for at home.

In many cases, family members or friends caring for those with dementia have to reduce work hours or quit their jobs entirely in order to care for their loved ones, said Lindsey Leonard, executive director of the Alzheimers Associations Central Coast chapter.

This is a disease that is a national and global health crisis, Leonard said.

In 2023, Alzheimers and other forms of dementia will cost the U.S economy $345 billion, according to the Alzheimers Association.

That doesnt include wages for the nearly 11 million Americans that provide unpaid care for individuals with neurodegenerative diseases, the association said.

Hiser left her job as a real estate agent at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic because she was afraid she or her husband might get sick.

Id still love to be out there working, Hiser said. Id say you lose yourself on this journey.

More than 1.3 million people in California provide unpaid care to individuals with Alzheimers dementia in 2022. That unpaid care is valued at $44 billion, according to the Alzheimers Association.

Bernadette Hiser and her husband Jeff Hiser pictured together. Bernadette Hiser is the sole caregiver for her husband of 46 years, who was diagnosed with Alzheimers disease in 2015.

Adult Day Center helps people with memory problems

In San Luis Obispo County, there is just one daytime memory care facility for older adults and people with memory problems  the Adult Day Center, a program run by the Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo (CAPSLO).

The goal of our program is to provide older adults that have memory impairment, dementia or Alzheimers disease a safe place to go during the day, Adult Day Center manager Mara Whitten said, while also providing respite and support to their family caregivers.

The Adult Day Center  or as many participants call it, the club  first opened in Templeton in 2004, and now operates on the campus of St. James Episcopal Church in Paso Robles.

The homey facility, which has a donation-based payment plan, can care for 25 participants at a time with a ratio of one supervisor to every five participants.

Socialization is better than any pill they can give someone with dementia, Whitten said. That stimulation is so important, otherwise many people that have dementia are isolated and will suffer from depression, lose the abilities they have, spend the day watching TV, and have no connection with friends.

Whitten said its also important to give dementia caregivers a break.

People who care for dementia patients are at risk for developing conditions such as anxiety, depression and an overall poorer quality of life, the CDC says.

In California, about 61% of caregivers for Alzheimers patients have chronic health conditions. Also, 18.6% of caregivers in California suffer from depression.

About a quarter of people that provide care to a loved one with Alzheimers are also the primary caregiver for at least one child under the age of 18, according to the CDC

In front is Beverly Madeiros, back from left is Heather Bootzin a Cal Poly intern, Randy Zurback, Dan Walker and Ray Bayliss. They are doing stretching exercises via Zoom with Michelle Zulim-Clark a fall prevention program with San Luis Obispo County Health Department. CAPSLO Adult Day Center in Paso Robles provides adult day care for seniors with Alzheimers and other forms of dementia and respite for their family caregivers Jan. 13, 2022.

Dementia patients cared for at home

Although Bernadette Hiser prefers to care for her husband at home, that comes with its own set of challenges, she said.

Hiser has a chalkboard on the wall where she writes notes to her husband specifying where she is and when shell be back, so that she can run errands or walk their dog, she said.

I can still leave the house, but not all day long, Hiser said. I just wouldnt be comfortable with that.

Near the end of her illness, Alyce Broome sometimes wandered, her husband said. He installed alarms on the doors and eventually realized that he couldnt leave her unsupervised in the home.

Although there are paid and volunteer caregivers on the Central Coast who can come to patients home and provide assistance, Broome said scheduling was challenging, since sometimes he only needed help for shorter intervals.

The Hisers tried a volunteer program where an outside caregiver came to their home, but Bernadette Hiser didnt feel like the caregiver shared a strong connection with her husband, she said.

At some point in the future, Hiser acknowledged, her husband might need to stay in a long-term care facility for around-the-clock care. Its hard for me to think about, she said.

June Gapinski bats a balloon back to others at CAPSLO Adult Day Center in Paso Robles. The center provides adult day care for seniors with Alzheimers and other forms of dementia and respite for their family caregivers Jan. 13, 2022.

Along with the emotional difficulties of someday living apart from her husband, Hiser worries about the costs of placing Jeff in a long-term care facility because insurance wouldnt cover any of the costs.

Thats all on me, she said, noting that care at one facility starts at about $5,000 a month. Thats kind of daunting.

Medicare covers the cost for up to 100 days of skilled nursing home care in a single benefit period, but extended and long-term skilled nursing home care are not covered.

Being a primary caregiver comes with the added pressure of being on top of things all the time, Hiser said.

If something happens to me, what happens to him? she asked.

Thats where getting involved in local support groups and Alzheimers education classes has helped, Hiser said.

Bernadette Hiser smiling for a selfie with her husband Jeff Hiser. The couple lives in Arroyo Grande and have been married for 46 years.

Alzheimers Association offers classes, support

Hiser participates in a local caregiver support group sponsored by the Alzheimers Associations Central Coast chapter that meets once a month.

Were like family, Hiser said. The biggest part is that they understand what youre going through.

Before the COVID pandemic shut down in-person meet-ups in 2020, Chris and Alyce Broome attended Alzheimers Association support groups, where they were able to connect with other couples dealing with with dementia.

It helps to have someone to share the experiences with you, because you can often learn from other peoples experiences, Broome said.

While the connection is good, Sometimes it gets a little depressing to see things going downhill, he said.

Broome and Hiser recommended the educational classes offered by the organization, which cover topics ranging from how to work with dementia patients to the logistics of finances, living trusts and power of attorney arrangements.

For people that are just starting this journey, they really need to go to classes and understand, Hiser said.

As Alzheimers disease becomes more common, experts worry there will not be enough caregiving and healthcare resources available to meet demand.

I think its a worry everywhere, not only in our nation, but beyond, Leonard said. The more we know, the more we can prepare.

Stretching program with participants at CAPSLO Adult Day Center in Paso Robles, which provides adult day care for seniors with Alzheimers and other forms of dementia and respite for their family caregivers Jan. 13, 2022.

What are warning signs of memory loss?

Early detection of dementia is important.

According to the Alzheimers Association, the 10 warning signs of memory loss are:

Memory loss that disrupts daily life;

Challenges in planning or solving problems;

Difficulty completing familiar tasks;

Confusion with time or place;

Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships;

New problem with words in speaking or writing;

Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps;

Decreased or poor judgment;

Withdrawal from social activities and

Changes in mood or personality.

How to get help

The Alzheimers Association Central Coast chapter offers many free resources for families dealing with dementia, including classes, support groups, care consultations and a 24/7 hotline. Call 800-272-3900 or visit alz.org/cacentralcoast.

CAPSLOs Adult Day Center offers socialization opportunities for people with memory impairment at a sliding scale. Care is available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, at St. James Episcopal Church, 1345 Oak St. in Paso Robles. Call 805-239-5679 or visit capslo.org/adult-day-center.

More caregiver resources are available at the Coast Caregiver Resource Center at Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara. The resource center is one of 11 regional caregiver resource centers in California. Go to cottagehealth.org/services/rehabilitation/caregiver-services.
Amanda Seales is back to share her woke-comedy genius with the world on her newest project. In Amanda We Trust will be available on August 18 on Patreon. The documentary promises to give fans a good laugh while educating them on societys shortcomings and inspiring viewers to be the change they want to see.

In Amanda We Trust

According to a press release, the new documentary was produced by Seales Smart, Funny & Black Productions. She prides herself on being able to have the creative freedom which comes with autonomy from Hollywood.

I am so proud of In Amanda We Trust, Seales said in the statement. Not only because it is truly a labor of love and we made it from the ground up, but also because it speaks directly to my goal of using comedy to amplify civic and social issues.

The documentary follows Seales around Washington DC, to see if it is possible for her to run for political office. Throughout her journey, she is accompanied by names such as Rep Jamaal Bowman and Rep Ilhan Omar. Each gives the comedian insight on matters like crafting bills and who is more difficult to work with: 8th graders or Republicans.

Elsewhere in the documentary, Seales decides to go directly to the streets to ask citizens some questions about the government. She tests them on civics vs. pop culture and more in an attempt to gather a better idea of what Americans really know about the politics of the country.

The new special comes on the heels of her Smart, Funny, and Black tour which recently landed in Nashville at the National Museum of African American Music for Juneteenth. In a conversation with The Tennessean the comedian shared that she chose to make the state a stop on her tour due to Americas rapid decline settling in places like Tennessee.

Juneteenth weekend deserves to be a revitalizing celebration worldwide, she said to the outlet. Tennessee deserves a break. Some of its residents  especially in Nashville  need a moment built on laughter and love that also recharges and revitalizes them to challenge a system not serving them.



The post Amanda Seales Announces New Political-Comedy Documentary appeared first on 21Ninety.
The U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. [Photo/Xinhua]

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, "coercion" is the "practice of persuading someone to do something by using force or threats." Interestingly, the dictionary's example of how it can be used is: "Our problem cannot be solved by any form of coercion, but only by agreement." Quite ironic, given that this is Beijing's position on coercion.



Since 1776, the United States has only been at peace for 17 years. Between 1947 and 2023, the U.S. has tried to change the governments of sovereign nations 84 times, a few openly, most covertly.

Domestically, U.S. violations of human rights and the legal obligations it entered into with American Indians, are well documented, and still being litigated. Externally, particularly in the Global South, the U.S. was an eager participant in the political, economic and military exploitation initiated by Europeans.

In 1853, an expedition under Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry was ordered by President Millard Fillmore to force Japan to end its isolation and open its ports to American trade. Perry used gunboat diplomacy to force Japan to sign a treaty, in a repeat of the coercive tactics the U.S. had adopted earlier against China in 1844.

Fast forward to today. The U.S. continues to use coercive political, economic and military tactics against more than 90 nations in an effort to maintain its hegemony.

Politically, the U.S. continues to demand nations are either "with it or against it." In a poignant moment one year ago, South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor publicly rebuked U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken for his inept attempt to "bully" her country into taking sides in the Ukraine conflict. But, years before, when the U.K. had reviewed Huawei's equipment as not representing a threat, after a stormy, desk pounding video meeting, the British government acquiesced to banning Huawei. In terms of the "One China Policy," which was repeated and agreed to in three communiques signed in the 1970s and '80s, the U.S. continues to try to rewrite history, by now claiming that the independence of Taiwan, which they threw out of the U.N., was a separate and unresolved issue.

Economically, the U.S. has issued, and kept in place over two different political administrations, unilateral economic sanctions against neighbors, friends and perceived foes, contrary to the WTO  which it had already crippled, by refusing to allow Appellate judges to be seated, therefore preventing any binding legal rulings  and the U.N. Charter, against such coercive actions.

The U.S. has openly and successfully pressured the Netherlands and Japan to not sell computer chip making equipment to China, blacklisted Chinese government officials and private companies, passed legislation to prevent U.S. investments in Chinese tech, denied access to computer processing chips, and continued to impose unilateral economic tariffs despite them hurting American consumers more than Chinese companies.

Moreover, the U.S. continues to use constant disinformation campaigns to vilify China as an enemy, accusing it  without any substantive evidence  of genocide, human rights abuses and political suppression. Meanwhile, Washington instigates conflicts throughout the world, undermines and interferes in the internal affairs of sovereign nations, and applies double standards to its friends and allies.

The list of coercive actions taken by the U.S. over its 350-year history of constant aggression, is too long for a short article. But hopefully what is clear is that accusing others of what it has done, and continues to do, is a smokescreen tactic by Washington, supporting what has become a politically and economically unsustainable fraud.

The author is a senior fellow at the Beijing-based Taihe Institute.

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
By Jake Spring

BELEM, Brazil (Reuters) -Eight Amazon nations agreed to a list of unified environmental policies and measures to bolster regional cooperation at a major rainforest summit in Brazil on Tuesday, but failed to agree on a common goal for ending deforestation.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who has staked his international reputation on improving Brazil's environmental standing, had been pushing for the region to unite behind a common policy of ending deforestation by 2030 - one he has already adopted.

Instead, the joint declaration issued on Tuesday in the Brazilian city of Belem created an alliance for combating forest destruction, with countries left to pursue their own individual deforestation goals.

The failure of the eight Amazon countries to agree on a pact to protect their own forests points to the larger, global difficulties of forging an agreement to combat climate change. Many scientists say policymakers are acting too slowly to head off catastrophic global warming.

"The planet is melting, we are breaking temperature records every day. It is not possible that, in a scenario like this, eight Amazonian countries are unable to put in a statement - in large letters - that deforestation needs to be zero," said Marcio Astrini of environmental lobby group Climate Observatory.

Lula and other national leaders left Tuesday's meeting without commenting on the declaration. Presidents from Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia and Peru attended the summit, while Ecuador, Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela sent other top officials.

Bolivia and Venezuela are the only Amazon countries not to sign onto a 2021 agreement among more than 100 countries to work toward halting deforestation by 2030. A Brazilian government source told Reuters in the lead up to the summit that Bolivia, where forest destruction is surging, is a hold-out on the issue.

Bolivian President Luis Arce did not address the 2030 commitment in his speech on Tuesday.

Brazil's Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira said in a press briefing that the issue of deforestation "in no way whatsoever will divide the region" and cited "an understanding about deforestation" in the declaration, without elaborating.

This week's summit brought together the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) for the first time in 14 years, with plans to reach a broad agreement on issues from fighting deforestation to financing sustainable development.

But tensions emerged in the lead up to the summit around diverging positions on deforestation and oil development.

Fellow Amazon countries also rebuffed Colombia's leftist President Gustavo Petro's ongoing campaign to end new oil development in the Amazon. In his speech on Tuesday, Petro likened the left's desire to keep drilling for oil to the right-wing denial of climate science.

He said the idea of making a gradual "energy transition" away from fossil fuels was a way to delay the work needed to stop climate change.

Brazil is weighing whether to develop a potentially huge offshore oil find near the mouth of the Amazon River and the country's northern coast, which is dominated by rainforest.

"What we are discussing in Brazil today is research of an extensive and large area - in my vision perhaps the last frontier of oil and gas before ... the energy transition," Brazil's Energy Minister Alexandre Silveira told reporters after Petro's speech.

Silveira said they should conduct research into what oil is there in order to make a decision on the issue.

Beyond deforestation, the summit also did not fix a deadline on ending illegal gold mining, although leaders agreed to cooperate on the issue and to better combat cross-border environmental crime.

The final joint statement, called the Belem Declaration, strongly asserted indigenous rights and protections, while also agreeing to cooperate on water management, health, common negotiating positions at climate summits, and sustainable development.

As Reuters previously reported, the declaration additionally established a science body to meet annually and produce authoritative reports on science related to the Amazon rainforest, akin to the United Nations' International Panel on Climate Change.

(Reporting by Jake Spring; Additional reporting by Steven Grattan; Editing by Brad Haynes, Rosalba O'Brien, Jason Neely, Peter Graff, Aurora Ellis and Richard Chang)
American Airlines passenger who was memed is a top marketing exec in Dallas. Daniel Slim/Getty Images

In early July, a woman on an American Airlines flight was filmed telling another passenger they are "not real."

Footage of the moment went viral and became a popular meme.

The woman, who has been identified as Tiffany Gomas, has not publicly commented on the incident.

The passenger who generated dozens of memes for accusing another passenger of being "not real" on an American Airlines flight is a marketing executive who was on her way home to Dallas, the New York Post reported.

The passenger has been identified as a marketing executive named Tiffany Gomas, the Post reported, citing police documents.

Gomas, who was shown arguing with another passenger in the now-deleted viral video posted on TikTok, was eventually removed from the flight. The flight was scheduled to fly from Orlando to Dallas-Fort Worth on July 2.

Gomas is a marketing executive and business owner with 15 years of professional experience, according to her social media profiles, some of which are now set to private or have been deleted. She was named on Promotional Products Association International, or PPAI, Media's "20 Most Watchable Young Leaders" in 2017. The annual list highlights up-and-coming talents in the promotional products industry. In a now-deleted LinkedIn profile, she is listed as the owner of Uppercut Marketing, LLC, an advertising firm.

The cause of the outburst was her AirPods  Gomas had accused relatives of stealing them, the Post reported, citing police records. Gomas was handed a criminal trespass notice for disrupting the flight, but she was not taken into police custody.

Summer this year has been filled with travel chaos, from canceled flights to airline passengers berating staff and fellow passengers alike. Some of the biggest US airlines, including United and American, have been at the center of this chaos. In April, a family had to drive from New Jersey to Orlando after their flight with United Airlines was canceled. In July, American offloaded a business-class passenger after he insulted a flight attendant. And in August, a woman argued with cabin crew on a United Airlines flight and refused to remain in her seat.

Luana Marques, an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, told Insider in 2021 that unruly behavior on flights could be chalked up to fear and anxiety. Marques explained that while the world has gradually returned to normal since the pandemic, the amygdala  the fight-or-flight part of the brain  is still being activated, making people more violent and aggressive on flights. The stress and anxiety result in people "riding really high cortisol" and causes them to reach a boiling point faster, she said at the time.

American Airlines and Gomas did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment sent outside regular office hours.

August 10, 2023: This story has been updated to remove certain personal details about Gomas that were not directly relevant to the airplane incident.

Read the original article on Insider
American Woman Detained In Dubai For Allegedly Shouting In Public Is Finally On Her Way Home | Kindel Media/Pexels

Tierra Young Allen, a truck driver and popular content creator who was stranded in Dubai for months for shouting in public, is finally en route back to the U.S.

She left the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday and will travel through the United Kingdom to get back to Houston.

According to the Associated Press, Radha Stirling, who runs the UAE advocacy group Detained in Dubai, confirmed the news. She also said Allen secured her freedom by paying a $1,360 deposit to Dubai authorities to clear the travel ban she faced.

Its unclear whether Allen will face legal complaints against her in the UAE. Dubai police nor the U.S. State Department have addressed the situation since news of Allens release broke.

As Blavity reported, Allen and a friend were in a rental car in Dubai when they got into an accident. According to Allens mother, Tina Baxter, Allen and her friend went to the rental car company to get her ID, credit card and other items left in the car after the accident.

She found out she could only receive those items if she paid an undisclosed amount of money. She dealt with a very aggressive individual a young man there who was screaming at her, Baxter said, adding that the young mans tone led her daughter to raise her voice.

Dubai authorities took Allens passport and placed her under a travel ban while investigating the incident. Allens attorney informed her that she may face jail time, as there was a video of the incident.

Insulting another person is a crime in the UAE, the Associated Press reported. Actions like raising a middle finger, swearing in public or even texting someone an unkind name can easily lead to criminal charges. Emirati law states that publicly insulting someone can carry a sentence of up to one year in prison and a fine of $5,450.

As the Associated Press reports, Dubai police disputed Stirlings description of the altercation, instead saying they received a complaint from the car rental agency about Allen accusing her of slandering and defaming an employee amidst a dispute over car rental fees.'

Meanwhile, Stirling said the cae car rental agency employee of raised his voice Allen and followed her out of the shop in a threatening manner during the incident.
American soldiers fire from Bradley fighting vehicles during a joint exercise with Syrian Democratic Forces at the countryside of Deir Ezzor in northeastern Syria, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. AP Photo/Baderkhan Ahmad

Russia and Iran are working together with Syria to ultimately push US forces out of the country.

The trio has been coordinating on several fronts and has been taking aggressive actions.

US officials and war experts say these efforts are hurting the international fight against ISIS.

For years, the main worries for US forces deployed to Syria were their counterterrorism operations and taking out Islamic State militants. But regional rivals are becoming an increasingly troubling distraction, and it's threatening the American military's mission.

Russia and Iran both have security interests in Syria and appear to be working together with the Syrian government to push US forces out of the country in a coercive and systematic effort that has expanded, war experts say. The multifaceted campaign endangers American troops, threatens US interests in the region, and also directly interferes with the US-led fight against a growing ISIS threat, something that officials in Washington have increasingly raised concerns over.

There are several ways that the trio works individually and collectively to apply pressure on US forces in Syria, according to an analysis published this month by the Institute for the Study of War and supported by the American Enterprise Institute, two Washington-based think tanks. These actions include troop mobilization, intelligence sharing, aircraft harassment, and false information operations.

"Iran, Russia, and the Syrian regime have a shared interest in the departure of US forces from Syria," the experts wrote in their analysis, adding that the three countries "have aligned their actions to advance this objective" for months now.

American soldiers stand during a joint exercise with Syrian Democratic Forces at the countryside of Deir Ezzor in northeastern Syria, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. AP Photo/Baderkhan Ahmad

Both Russia and Iran are allied with the brutal Syrian government led by President Bashar al-Assad. Moscow helps support his years-long civil war, and Tehran backs several militias there. The US, meanwhile, has about 900 troops deployed to the country as part of an international coalition that works with the local Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to carry out counterterrorism missions against ISIS, missions that seem to be less of a priority for the other three players that are trying to kick the US off the field.

What are Russia, Iran, and Syria doing?

Iran has long tried to push US forces from Syria, and neighboring Iraq, and regional experts previously told Insider that this desire only increased in 2020 after Washington assassinated Qassem Soleimani, who was the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force  a branch of Tehran's military that works closely with regional militias.

In support of this mission, Iran-backed militias have routinely engaged US forces in tit-for-tat exchanges of fire, with the militias firing rockets and lobbing drones at American personnel and the US responding with airstrikes. The latest flare-up, which proved to be deadly, happened earlier this year after a suspected Iranian drone struck a coalition base in Syria, prompting a powerful American response.

While Iran's strategy has gone on for years, coordination between the three countries to oust the US really took off in late 2022, according to the ISW analysis. Since then, Russia and Iran have strengthened ties with the Syrian government as it looks to restore its diplomatic presence with the rest of the region and as Moscow and Tehran seek to increase their influence in the country.

"US military officials explain that the increase in Russian aggression against US forces in Syria is compensation for the decrease in Russian capabilities in the country and is a response to US support for Ukraine," the ISW analysis notes. "The shift in Russian strategy in Syria occurred late last year, however. Russia had restrained some Iranian efforts to expel US forces from Syria until then."

In this Friday, Sept. 15, 2017 photo a Russian soldier guards as a military helicopter flies over Palmyra, Syria. AP Photo

The coordination has become especially transparent in recent weeks. Both Iran and Syria have directed militias and soldiers to the line of contact with the US-allied SDF, and Russia has expanded its intelligence sharing with Tehran, according to the ISW analysis.

The mobilization has already led to clashes between the SDF and forces loyal to the Syrian government, and experts warn that troop buildups could eventually spark a broader conflict that involves the US. All three countries, meanwhile, have also claimed without evidence that the US and SDF plan to attack regime-held territory, part of an information operation aimed at spreading false rumors about coalition aggression.

Amid these problematic developments, Russian fighter jets have routinely harassed US military drones on counterterrorism missions above Syria throughout July, even breaking one of its aircraft in one instance. American officials have blasted Moscow's pilots for acting recklessly and unprofessionally during these engagements, but experts say the Kremlin may have directed these incidents to support Iran in its overall goal of ousting the US from the region.

Impacting the fight against terror

With Iran, Russia, and Syria all directing a lot of their effort on making life difficult for the US and its allies in Syria, there have been less resources devoted to what experts assess is "considerable evidence of a growing ISIS threat" in the country.

Syrian Democratic Forces soldiers hold a position in Hasakah, northeast Syria, Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022. AP Photo/Baderkhan Ahmad

"Iran, Russia, and the Syrian regime are giving lower priority to counter-ISIS operations while mobilizing forces in eastern Syria, which very likely presents ISIS with the space to grow its capabilities and rest and refit over the long term," the ISW analysis notes.

US officials have already accused Russia of interfering with counterterrorism operations. In early July, a Russian fighter jet flew 18 close passes near American MQ-9 Reaper drones during a two-hour-long encounter. A US military initially described the engagement as an "unsafe" situation, and those drones later went on to carry out a strike in Syria that killed an ISIS leader just a few hours later.

After the strike was disclosed, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters that the US is very upfront with communicating its counterterrorism missions to the Russians.

"The Russians know that, they know exactly where we operate, and so there is no excuse for Russian forces' continual harassment of our MQ-9s after years of US operations in the area aimed at ensuring the enduring defeat of ISIS," Singh said at the time. "And it is almost as if the Russians are now on a mission to protect ISIS leaders."

Read the original article on Business Insider
WASHINGTON  Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie called former President Donald Trump a self-centered, self-possessed, self-consumed, angry old man as Christie and the crowded field of 2024 Republican presidential hopefuls gear up for their first debate.

Christie has stood out from other 2024 GOP candidates as the most vocal critic of Trump, regularly bashing the former president on the campaign trail for his legal battles, policy priorities and more.

Christie, in an interview with CBS News Robert Costa that aired Sunday, said Trump doesnt care about anyone else other than him.

And if he were ever to become president again, Ill take him at his word. He said, I am your retribution. Well, hes not our retribution, Bob. He will be his own retribution, Christie said.

The former New Jersey governor supported Trump in the 2016 presidential campaign and even became his right-hand man. But the breaking point, Christie told Costa, came on the night of the 2020 election when Trump falsely claimed he won.

I, at that time, I had a relationship with him for 15 years. And I wanted to make him the best candidate, and if he won, the best president he could be. And I make no apologies for that. And I did the very best I could for four years, Christie said. And he failed me, and he failed the country.

Christie said Trump 'violated his oath' after 2020 election

After Trump was indicted last week on charges that he tried to steal the 2020 presidential election, Christie wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that "the events around the White House from election night forward are a stain on our countrys history & a disgrace to the people who participated."

"This disgrace falls the most on Donald Trump," Christie said. "He swore an oath to the Constitution, violated his oath & brought shame to his presidency."

Trump was charged with a conspiracy to obstruct a congressional proceeding on Jan. 6, 2021, as the results of the 2020 election were to be certified.

Christie told USA TODAY earlier that Trump was responsible for the deadly attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and he called Trump a "coward" for telling his supporters in a speech at the Ellipse, a park near the White House, that he would march to the Capitol with them but never joining in.

Christie calls on Trump to show up for the first GOP debate

Christie told Costa that if Trump doesn't show up to the first GOP debate on Aug. 23, he is a "coward."

"Either way, Ill be there telling the truth for 90 minutes," Christie wrote on X. "Because the truth matters."

Trump became one of the first candidates to qualify for the debate stage under the Republican National Comittee's rules. But the former president suggested to Fox News host Bret Baier in June that he didn't want to spar with low-polling candidates.

"They're all very low," Trump said. "So why would I allow people at 1 or 2%, at zero percent, to be hitting me with questions all night? You know, I don't think it's fair."

When asked whether Trump would elevate the rest of the field by showing up, Christie told Costa that he's "never seen Donald Trump elevate anything except for the ego factor."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chris Christie blasts Donald Trump before GOP debate: 'Angry old man'
Russias double-tap attack on the small eastern city of Pokrovsk was condemned by the United Nations on Tuesday after it caused nine deaths, injured dozens of rescue workers and prompted Ukrainian officials to accuse the Kremlin of yet another vicious tactic in the nearly 18-month-long war.

Most of the 82 people injured in Monday evenings missile strikes on a residential area in the Donetsk province city were first responders rushing to provide aid, including at least 19 police officers, officials said. Among those killed was a high-ranking local official of the State Emergency Service.

The emergency personnel were drawn to the site by the first missile hit, then fell victim to a second one less than 40 minutes later in a ploy known as a double tap in military parlance. The Russian Defense Ministry said it just struck a command post in Pokrovsk, but it has employed the same method previously in the conflict and also in the Syrian civil war.

"The second strike took place when the rescue operation began,'' said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who provided the death and injury count in his nightly video address. "This is a deliberate decision of the terrorists to cause the greatest pain and damage.''

The State Emergency Service said 78 of its employees have been killed and 280 injured since the war started. The Pokrovsk attack also damaged 12 multistory buildings, a hotel, a pharmacy, two stores and two cafes, Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said.

The U.N. humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine, Denise Brown, decried the assault as a serious breach of international law.

It is absolutely ruthless to hit the same location twice in the space of minutes, causing the death and injury of people who had quickly come to help the survivors, she said in a statement.

One of those first responders was Volodymyr Nikulin, a police officer originally from the southern port city of Mariupol who disregarded his fears of a second strike to aid the injured. He wound up in a hospital after shrapnel from the second missile pierced one of his lungs and a hand.

Today is not my happy day because Russian criminals committed another awful crime in Pokrovsk, he told The Associated Press in a video from his hospital ward.

This handout photograph taken and released by Ukrainian Emergency Service on August 7, 2023 shows rescuers carrying a wounded woman following a Russian missiles strikes in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region.

Developments:

 Two rescue workers were injured in another apparent "double-tap'' assault when they came under fire after four Russian-guided bombs hit a village near Kupiansk, in the northeastern Kharkiv province, killing two civilians, Ukraines presidential office said.

 An overnight attack on the town of Kruhliakivka, also in the Kharkiv region, killed three people and injured nine, Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said.

 The Biden administration is expected to announce this week a new package of military aid for Ukraine valued at $200 million, Reuters reported.

 Ukraine's Security Service said Tuesday the country thwarted an attempt by Russian hackers at breaching the computer system of Kyiv's armed forces and obtaining "sensitive information.''

Miles of minefields, 'dragon's teeth' slow down Ukraine attacks

The slow progress of Ukraine's two-month-long counteroffensive, which has retaken a small portion of the approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory Russia has claimed since the war started, has raised questions about how much success Kyiv's forces can attain.

Russian troops had months to dig in their defenses and prepare for the long-expected attack, laying hundreds of minefields and setting tank barriers known as dragons teeth to trap Ukrainian soldiers. In addition, Ukraine lacks the air power to support its ground incursions.

"The counteroffensive is complex,'' Zelenskyy said in an interview published Tuesday. "It is perhaps unfolding slower than some might wish."

It's not clear whether Ukraine will be able to make enough headway to improve its leverage in future peace negotiations. That still doesn't mean the $44 billion in military aid the U.S. has provided has been a poor investment, said Seth Jones, senior vice president and director of the international security program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

"The U.S. has been able to weaken one of its most significant adversaries without losing a single U.S. soldier," Jones said.

 Tom Vanden Brook

Putin empowers National Guard with heavy weapons

Russian President Vladimir Putin is boosting the strength of the Russian National Guard to prevent another mutiny, the British Defense Ministry said in its latest war update.

The 200,000-troop-strong outfit, known as Rosgvardia, will be provided with heavy weapons after Putin signed a law to that effect last week. The U.K. ministry notes the new measure comes on the heels of the short-lived Wagner rebellion June 24, a rare instance of Putin's authority being brought into question during his nearly quarter-century in power.

There's no indication the Rosgvardia did much to impede the Wagner mercenaries as they marched to within 120 miles of Moscow, but the force is led by a Putin loyalist in Viktor Zolotov, his former bodyguard, who wants it equipped with artillery and attack helicopters.

"The move suggests that the Kremlin is doubling down on resourcing Rosgvardia as one of the key organizations to ensure regime security,'' the ministry said.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Russia Ukraine live war updates: Rescue workers injured in attack
For those who want to understand the vast differences between elite and everyday Republican voters, this past weekend was a perfect study in contrasts.

Donald Trump  who has a rich-daddy-funded college degree he definitely didn't earn  spent the weekend communing with the bulk of Republican voters, who love basking in MAGA red meat, served raw. Despite agreeing in court last week not to threaten potential witnesses in upcoming trial for his attempted coup, Trump did just that, repeatedly, singling out his former vice president, Mike Pence, for the same vitriol that inspired Trump followers to threaten Pence's life on January 6, 2021. Trump also issued one of his unhinged stemwinders in Alabama over the weekend, blaming imaginary "Marxists" and "communists" for his legal woes, as opposed to his own choice to conspire to overthrow democracy. And, in a pattern we've all become numb to, the more garish Trump gets in his fascistic language, the more the GOP base swoons over him. There is no "too far" with these folks. They clearly adore Trump not just because he's a violent, racist pig, but also because he's so damn proud of it.

Meanwhile, the small but well-heeled world of "anti-woke" politics  a mish-mash of elite conservatives, "leftist" critics of so-called "identity politics," wealthy Silicon Valley investors, and centrists in a tizzy over "cancel culture"  was left rocked by its own scandal.

On Friday, Christopher Mathias of HuffPost released an expose of Richard Hanania, a rising star of the right's supposed intelligentsia. Under his real name, Hanania runs a think tank called the Center for the Study of Partisanship and Ideology, has a spot as a visiting scholar at the University of Texas, and was published in the New York Times and Washington Post. But Hanania also had a robust secret career as "Richard Hoste," who wrote for white nationalist websites, where he expressed a belief that Black people are intellectually inferior, obsessed over "miscegenation," and advocated for forced sterilization of those he considered "low IQ."

Hanania's outing embarrassed the anti-wokers, the college-educated class of people who claim not to be MAGA but who share the Trumpian loathing of liberals. Hanania had been well-regarded by that crowd, which ranged from supposed contrarians like Bari Weiss to faux-socialists like Freddie deBoer, who was recently seen gate-keeping the progressive bona fides of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. He has also bro'd down with Hanania on the "question" of female intelligence.

There are times when you stop fearing death and realize it will come as a relief. pic.twitter.com/yOSMjxAzag  Jeet Heer (@HeerJeet) August 6, 2023

After the HuffPost expose, there was a mad scramble among these self-styled "independent thinkers" to disavow Hanania.

But the protestations of shock at his secret fascist views are hard to swallow, as there is very little difference between views Hanania espoused under his own name and those he shared under the "Richard Hoste" pen name. His "academic" opinion-writing in the Washington Post was thinly veiled apologia for those who opposed equal rights for women and Black people. In May, he tweeted that we "need more policing, incarceration, and surveillance of black people." His upcoming book from Harper Collins, "The Origins of Woke," uses the current "anti-woke" mania to revitalize 60s-era racist grievances over civil rights. Then there's his 2018 doctoral thesis.

Realized it was behind the paywall, so heres another bit of Hanania trivia: a main argument of his 2018 doctoral thesis at UCLA was that liberals are warped when it comes to foreign policy because they love Black people too much. https://t.co/CRV3YVUaDB pic.twitter.com/ckSv7emjCn  Jonathan M. Katz theracket.news (@KatzOnEarth) August 6, 2023

Even in his response to the HuffPost piece, which purports to be an "apology" and offers claims to have reformed, Hanania shows he hasn't evolved. "The reason I'm the target of a cancellation effort is because left-wing journalists dislike anyone acknowledging statistical differences between races," the man who claims to not be a racist now writes.

This unseemly incident has exposed how all this "anti-woke" chin-stroking is just putting an academic gloss on old-fashioned racism. Hanania reveals that these folks may have fatter wallets, nicer clothes, and bigger vocabularies than the hoi polloi at a Trump rally, but at the end of the day, they share the same vile bigotries. John Ganz explained it beautifully in his newsletter response over the weekend:

For some, it appears to be just a pushback on annoying, overly-PC peccadilloes, but for the really serious and clear-sighted they would use that sentiment a wedge to attack and try to reverse core elements of the American democratic project. The rhetorical move is to make "woke" or "C.R.T." encompass more and more phenomena, from music to movies to basic egalitarian principles of American democracy.

As Ganz goes on to argue, "But for a lot of people in the intelligentsia, generalized anti-wokeness is a kind of gateway drug to extreme politics." Even as many on the right are trying to salvage Hanania by claiming he's de-radicalized, it's clear he and others like him play exactly the role that Ganz describes: Putting a veneer of respectability on politics that otherwise reek of a KKK meeting.

Optics are the only real difference between the redhats screaming at Trump rallies and the suit-and-tie set keen on debating the "excesses of wokeness" under the banner of "academic freedom." This difference even shows up in the most recent New York Times poll.

When presented with the choice between two hypothetical Republican candidates, only 24 percent of national Republican voters opted for "a candidate who focuses on defeating radical 'woke' ideology in our schools, media and culture" over "a candidate who focuses on restoring law and order in our streets and at the border." Around 65 percent said they would choose the law and order candidate. Among those 65 and older, often the most likely age bracket to vote, only 17 percent signed on to the "anti-woke" crusade.

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Jonathan Weisman of the New York Times offers a tortured analysis of this difference, but really what it comes down to is this: "Law and order" is a more straightforwardly racist dogwhistle than "anti-woke." Obviously, Republicans aren't for law and order in the literal sense, as their likely presidential nominee is a rapacious criminal who is facing 78 felony counts so far. It's just a paper-thin cover for what MAGA really supports, which is an aggressive police state that uses false pretexts, overpolicing, and unfair sentencing practices to relegate people of color to second-class status.

"Anti-woke," in contrast, is about burying the racism under many more layers of bad faith about "free speech" and "academic freedom." The posture of non-bigotry makes it more presentable in college-educated circles. As the Hanania example shows, it opens the door to publishing in major newspapers that would likely turn their noses up to more openly fascistic content. But it doesn't get the MAGA juices flowing like the blunter rhetoric peddled by Trump.

These right-wing elite no doubt think of themselves as more cunning than their Trump rally-going brethren that are always at risk of saying the n-word on camera. But this pathetic desire to be seen as part of the "smart" set makes it pretty easy to scam the elite right.

Take the fake presidential candidacy of Vivek Ramaswamy, an Indian-American "running" on an "anti-woke" message. Ramaswamy's schtick is transparent. Because he's not white and not Christian, he offers rich conservatives a chance to claim that being "anti-woke" is somehow separate from the earthier racism on offer by Trump. But that's also why Ramaswamy doesn't have a snowball's chance in a Republican primary, where most voters would like their racism without all the deflective set-dressing. That much was made clear after Ramaswamy, who is a practicing Hindu, appeared on the Christian nationalist program "FlashPoint" with a pandering message about how he supports "Judeo-Christian values."

The audience for "Flashpoint" leans more snake-handler than country club, and they were not having it. The producers of the show have been scrambling ever since to reassure their audience that they still hate everyone who is not a right-wing Christian. As Kyle Mantyla of Right Wing Watch writes:

Ramaswamy's appearance apparently did not sit well with "FlashPoint's" audience, prompting host Gene Bailey to reassure viewers that "neither I nor anyone else on this team has or will ever embrace another religion" and "FlashPoint" panelist pastor Hank Kunneman to deliver a Sunday sermon attacking Ramaswamy's faith and warning anyone who supports his campaign that they "will have a fight with God." "FlashPoint" continues to grapple with the fallout from Ramaswamy appearance, as far-right anti-choice activist Abby Johnson used the program Tuesday night to launch yet another attack on Ramaswamy's faith.... "Do not be fooled," Johnson warned. "Do not be a victim of Satan's confusion right now."

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Ramaswamy has not been deterred by this overt bigotry aimed straight at him. He's kept up the "I'm not a racist, but" pandering, by arguing the Juneteenth should be canceled as a "useless" holiday. Of course, on the actual holiday, he put up a video celebrating the new federal holiday as "a celebration of the American Dream." Finding that sweet spot of "racist enough to get donations, while keeping up appearances" is more art than science, I guess.

It's unlikely that Ramaswamy thinks he's got a chance at winning the GOP nomination with these transparent ploys. But he is getting loads of attention from that small-but-wealthy class of Republicans who desperately want to be told that there's a way to be "anti-woke" without being some low-rent racist. Hanania's defenestration was entertaining, but as long as there are rich people willing to pay to hear that their bigotries are smart instead of evil, there will be dozens of "anti-woke" grifters to take his place.

Read more

about the right's intellectual project
California-based Republic Metropolitan has filed documents with the city of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County for a mixed-use project it is planning on the site of NoDas Johnston YMCA.

Republic Metropolitan went under contract in May to purchase the 5.78-acre property at 3025 N. Davidson St. from the YMCA of Greater Charlotte. Republic Metropolitan is in the due-diligence phase and plans to close on the acquisition of the property in early 2024, Heather Briganti, YMCA vice president of communications and PR, told Charlotte Business Journal.

ALSO READ: Person falls ill with bacterial infection after eating oysters at NoDa restaurant

The San Francisco-based company filed a sketch review plan with the city on Aug. 1. The filing shows that Republic Metropolitan is planning a mix of uses on the property, including 455 apartments, shops and green space. Charlotte-based LandDesign is doing master-planning for the site, according to the filings.

Read more here.

VIDEO: Person falls ill with bacterial infection after eating oysters at NoDa restaurant
An attorney representing a central figure in Donald Trumps coup attempt repeatedly refused to acknowledge the former president lost the 2020 election.

First and foremost, Donald Trump lost the 2020 election. You accept that fact? MSNBCs Ari Melber asked at the start of an interview with Charles Burnham on Monday.

Burnham is representing John Eastman, a lawyer who has been identified as one of the six uncharged co-conspirators listed in last weeks federal indictment of Trump.

He didnt answer the question.

Well, theres a large portion of the country that has issues with the 2020 election. There are still discussion about things that went on, Burnham replied.

Large portion the country believes in ghosts or horoscopes, Melber shot back. Im asking you, do you accept the results of the election that Donald Trump lost?

Burnham dodged again.

Im just here as an attorney representing a client. But the important thing is, he continued, as Melber interrupted.

I want to give you the opportunity to answer, Melber said. Its a very easy question to answer. If you cant answer it, Ive got other questions.

Burnham still wouldnt say, stating only that his personal opinions are neither here nor there.

Melber: But first and foremost, Donald Trump lost the 2020 election. You accept that fact?



Eastman Lawyer: There is a large portion of the country that has issues with the 2020 election.



Melber: A large portion of the country believes in ghosts pic.twitter.com/lbu4P60yiK  Acyn (@Acyn) August 7, 2023

Eastman has been identified in the media as the second unnamed co-conspirator in the Trump indictment, described in the document as an attorney who devised and attempted to implement a strategy to leverage the Vice Presidents ceremonial role overseeing the certification proceeding to obstruct the certification of the presidential election.

The indictment details a Jan. 4, 2021, phone call in which Co-Conspirator 2 pressured then-Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers (R) to decertify the election results in the state, which President Joe Biden won.

Burnham told Melber his client had not received a target letter, and we very much hold out hope, and maybe even an expectation, that he will not be indicted. Our position has always been that he committed no crimes.

Trump is charged with four felony counts over the effort to overturn the 2020 election result in his favor, including engaging in a conspiracy to defraud the government, a conspiracy to obstruct the certification of electoral votes, and a conspiracy against the right to have ones vote counted.

Watch the interview below.

Related...
A view of wind turbines in Shantou, Guangdong province. [Photo/VCG]



"China is shoring up its position as the world leader in renewable power and potentially outpacing its own ambitious energy targets," states a recent article in the British newspaper The Guardian. The piece, citing a report by Global Energy Monitor, finds China is set to double its capacity and produce 1,200 gigawatts of energy through wind and solar power by 2025, reaching its 2030 goal five years ahead of time, a development which a project manager at the firm said was "jaw-dropping."

Obviously, such remarkable progress in expanding its non-fossil energy sources is underpinned by the range of policies the Chinese government has adopted, which have in turn created a favorable environment and offered opportunities for development of the entire sector.

Despite these achievements, Western media outlets and the U.S. continue to misleadingly scapegoat China as having increased responsibility for the global climate crisis, deflecting their own legacies and inaction. China has actually achieved the impossible, as it is undergoing a clean energy revolution despite being a developing country. When it comes to clean energy and growth, China is truly "having its cake" and eating it and should be praised rather than derided in its efforts to maximize renewables.

China has undergone incredible changes in the past 70 years, which have seen it transition from being an agrarian society into the world's largest industrial and trading country. This has been strenuous on the environment because such massive growth across a nation of 1.4 billion people has obviously mandated a need for ever-spiraling power consumption. China needs energy to grow, and that same dilemma is reflected across every single other developing country on Earth. This makes it more challenging for such countries to move away from fossil fuels and to establish renewable sources of energy, especially if that country does not have the financial resources to do so. The burden of global climate responsibility has thus been inherently unequal.

China, however, has long sought to demonstrate that it is a reliable global stakeholder and takes climate change seriously. Moreover, its growth requirement also means it needs energy sources it can feasibly use, and with limited domestic energy resources, the country is also battling to become energy-independent amidst an insecure global environment. Because of this, the Chinese government has invested overwhelmingly in renewable energy production and now leads the world with a record 23,737 renewable energy patents, as well as in investment in solar panels, wind farms, hydroelectric power stations, and electric vehicles and chargers, becoming a world leader in all of these fields.

This is having a positive impact on the rest of the world as well. China's solar panels exports grew to $54 billion last year, increasing by $20 billion from the year previously, with its total renewable energy goods exports standing at around $100 billion. A research report from Wood Mckensie found that nearly 90% of lithium-ion batteries and two-thirds of solar modules are manufactured in China, along with vast ecosystems of people, industrial parks, materials supply, and logistics. In turn, Chinese companies have also expanded their manufacturing of these goods into neighboring countries, such as Thailand and Vietnam, ensuring that all nations can benefit from increased access to renewables.

Being an emergent industrialized country, China has to balance its need for economic growth and development with considerations to address climate change. Despite this daunting challenge, the country has focused on "harmony between humanity and nature" when planning its development, making tough decisions, and striving for its ambitious targets to advance sustainable development and share its experience with the rest of the world.

Tom Fowdy is a British political and international relations analyst and a graduate of Durham and Oxford universities. For more information please visit:

http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/TomFowdy.htm

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
FILE - Celina Washburn protests outside the Arizona Capitol to voice her dissent with an abortion ruling, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022, in Phoenix. An Arizona judge ruled the state can enforce a near-total ban on abortions that has been blocked for nearly 50 years. The law was first enacted decades before Arizona became a state in 1912. (AP Photo/Matt York, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Major abortion rights groups are launching a bid Tuesday to enshrine abortion protections into the Arizona Constitution, setting off a high-stakes battle in a politically divided swing state that was once reliably Republican.

The effort represents the latest attempt by abortion rights groups to counteract bans in states across the country, and Arizona advocates said they believe the public is on their side. Abortion rights supporters scored major victories during last year's midterm elections and have since begun ballot measure campaigns in a handful of Republican-led states, such as Ohio, Florida and Missouri.

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Arizona for Abortion Access, the new political action committee supporting the ballot measure, is scheduled to file proposed language for a constitutional amendment with the Arizona secretary of state's office on Tuesday - the first step in a lengthy process to put an abortion rights question before voters on the November 2024 ballot. This initiative, first reported by The Washington Post, includes the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona, NARAL Arizona, Affirm Sexual and Reproductive Health, Arizona List, and Healthcare Rising Arizona.

Arizona currently bans most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Specifically, the proposed language would guarantee the right to an abortion up until fetal viability, which is typically around 22 to 24 weeks of pregnancy. It would require abortions to be permitted afterward when necessary to protect the life or physical or mental health of the patient.

"We know that there is support for that because candidates have organized their own political campaigns in the past on this and won, so we know that people will vote for the issue itself," said Jodi Liggett, a senior adviser for NARAL Arizona.

Appealing directly to voters has emerged as a key strategy of abortion rights leaders, who have limited tools to reshape abortion access since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year. Such ballot measure campaigns are resource intensive. They require costly and time-consuming signature-gathering efforts, as well as significant financial backing. Liggett estimates the effort in Arizona could be "a $40 [million] or $50 million project."

In states around the nation, campaigns to try to increase access to abortion are sure to be met with fierce opposition from antiabortion groups, which have argued that such ballot measures are "extreme." In Ohio - the only state where abortion is on the ballot this year - both sides have already raised millions of dollars to defeat the measure, along with a separate initiative to make it more difficult to pass constitutional amendments.

In Arizona, Gov. Katie Hobbs (D), who narrowly won the 2022 midterm election partly by campaigning on a pledge to repeal a territorial-era abortion ban, is expected to emerge as a political ally of the effort. With the state legislature and many county prosecutorial offices in the state controlled by Republicans, the governor has issued an executive order that aims to prevent the criminalization of abortion. She has also expressed support in taking the issue of abortion access directly to voters.

State legislative staff is expected to review the proposed amendment's language within the next 30 days as part of a technical review that will be requested by the group. The group has until July 3 to collect 383,923 valid signatures from registered voters across the state.

The coalition aims to collect more than a half-million signatures in an effort that could start around mid-September, said Chris Love, a senior adviser for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona.

If the initiative makes it on Arizona's ballot, it could have implications for the reelection of President Biden, who is in Arizona on Tuesday to announce the creation of a new national monument. About 62 percent of Arizona residents surveyed have said abortion should be legal in most or all cases, compared with 64 percent nationally, according to a 2022 survey by the Public Religion Research Institute, a nonpartisan group.

The initiative could help turn out independent voters, who make up about a third of the state's electorate and who, along with some moderate Republicans, helped abortion rights candidates sweep key statewide offices in recent years.

After Roe was overturned, some Arizona clinics decided to halt providing abortions for weeks because of confusion over a near-total ban dating to the mid-19th century. That measure isn't currently in effect, and a state appeals court ruled last year that Arizona cannot prosecute doctors under the 1864 ban.

Since late September, most abortions in the state have been banned after 15 weeks of pregnancy except to the save the life of the mother or in the cases of serious medical emergencies - the result of a law that Gov. Doug Ducey (R) signed nearly three months before the nation's highest court struck down the constitutional right to an abortion in June 2022.

When a leaked draft in May 2022 showed a majority of the justices were poised to overturn Roe, grass-roots advocates quickly pulled together an effort to attempt to get an abortion rights measure on the November midterm election ballot. Their last-minute quest was unsuccessful.

The campaign launching Tuesday differs from last year in several key ways. For one, the state's major abortion rights groups are involved in this effort, meaning it will probably come with significant financial support. And the groups have a much longer lead time to gather signatures.

Within the broader abortion rights movement, there have been disagreements over whether to include certain limits on the procedure in ballot measure language, such as the option to regulate abortion after fetal viability or to require minors to obtain consent for an abortion from a parent or guardian.

About 10 months ago, leaders of major Arizona abortion rights groups began discussing what a potential 2024 ballot measure campaign may look like in the state. They crafted different versions of potential language - including with and without the option to create viability limits - and pulled funding together to put polling out in the field.

"Based upon the data that we received from our polling, the language with viability was the strongest option," Love said. "And that's the option that we think most Arizona voters will go with and will support and will vote in favor of in 2024."

But perhaps, not without a fight. Those who support abortion restrictions in Arizona tend to be well-organized and well-funded. They could mount an effort to place a competing initiative on the ballot, either through the initiative process or through a legislative-directed referendum.

Arizona isn't the only state where abortion rights may be on the ballot during next year's races for president, House and Senate. Abortion rights supporters in Republican-leaning Florida and Missouri are also pursuing measures through citizen-led petitions. And in Maryland and New York, the states' Democratic-controlled legislatures referred the question of whether to enshrine abortion protections in the constitution to state voters.

But first, advocates on both sides are closely watching what happens in Ohio.

Abortion rights groups in the state gathered enough signatures to place a constitutional amendment guaranteeing access to abortion on the ballot this November. But beforehand, voters in the state are weighing whether that effort could become much more difficult. Ohio Republicans, who control both chambers of the state legislature, scheduled a special election for Tuesday asking voters whether constitutional amendments should require the support of 60 percent of voters rather than a simple majority.

"Arizonans have a long and proud history of using the initiative power when their elected representatives fail to do the right thing," Andy Gaona, an attorney representing the abortion rights effort, said in a written statement. "And this Act is just the latest example."

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After a child and her father were caught in a rapidly rising river, a young soldier ran to their aid. He didnt pause, he didnt think, he just went, and in so doing, two lives were saved.

On Tuesday, that soldier, Pvt. Matthew Cole, will be awarded the Soldiers Medal in recognition for his actions during a ceremony at Fort Moore, Georgia.

Over Memorial Day weekend, Cole was enjoying some well-earned respite in downtown Columbus, Georgia, near the Chattahoochee Riverwalk, after completing basic training. Cole, at the time a One Station Unit infantry trainee with Echo Company, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 198th Infantry Brigade, was on a day pass with his family when he saw a father and his 3-year-old daughter out on a dry patch of ground in the middle of the river  a stretch of earth thats only accessible when the hydroelectric dam is closed.

However, when the dam releases water, the Chattahoochee can rise rapidly, and thats what happened that day. As the water was released from the north, an alarm sounded, alerting visitors that they should make their way to the shore.

The dam alarm started going off while we were walking, Cole said in an Army news release. However, the father and daughter were not able to make it to safety before the water levels rose and they became trapped and began to be carried off by the current.

When he saw what was happening, Cole waded into the river and made his way to them.

The dad was holding his little girl up, he said. I grabbed her and then swam down to the riverbank and got her out.

Once the child was safely to shore, her father was able to move back to land.

First responders who arrived on scene credited Cole with saving the familys life.

Were so glad that Pvt. Matthew Cole was there that day, said Columbus Fire Department Division Chief and Fire Marshall John Shull. I have every reason to believe that he made a tremendous impact, and theres a very strong possibility that the 3-year-old and the father would not be there today if it wasnt for the brave acts of Private Cole.

The Soldiers Medal Cole will receive Tuesday is awarded for heroism in a non-combat situation.

There are currently fewer than 300 recipients of the award still serving in the Army, Zachary Harris, a Fort Moore spokesperson, told Army Times.

Pvt. Matthew Coles award citation for the Soldiers Medal can be read in its entirety below:

On the 26th of May 2023 in Columbus, Georgia, Private Second Class Cole placed himself in harms way to save a three-year-old girl from drowning in the Chattahoochee River after the flood gates of the Georgia Power Dam released, sending powerful rapids and rising water through the river. He not only demonstrated heroism and bravery, but he also put his own life at risk by immediately jumping into the river and swimming through the rapids to rescue the young girl and bring her to safety before going back a second time to assist the father dislodge his foot from the rocks as the water rose. Private Second Class Coles actions are keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon him, the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command, and the United States Army.
The mission of an ice-hunting cubesat is officially at an end.

NASA officials announced Thursday (Aug. 3) that the agency had ceased operations earlier this year on its Artemis 1 moon mission ride-along cubesat, called LunaH-Map.

These types of small satellites "are inherently risky, as they are designed to test the bounds of what can be achieved with lower-cost missions," Lori Glaze, director of NASA's planetary science division, said in an agency statement.

Operations ceased in May, as NASA previously predicted, due to a stuck valve in the cubesat's propulsion system that stranded the little satellite in the wrong orbit. NASA officials made no official declaration of mission's end until Aug. 3, however.

Related: The 10 greatest images from NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission

The statement emphasized that LunaH-Map, although it missed mapping the south pole of the moon, did achieve one of its main mission objectives. The mission was led by Craig Hardgrove at Arizona State University, and showed great performance on its main instrument.

The cubesat's neutron spectrometer "can detect water and ice at the lunar surface," the statement said. The data will continue to be parsed and the design of the cubesat will inform future missions, agency officials added.

Mission science will also live on, Hardgrove stated. "We've said goodbye to our little spacecraft, but this is not the last you'll be hearing about it," Hardgrove wrote on Twitter. "Plenty of papers and presentations are in the pipeline this year and next about the technology & science."

A version of the spacecraft's spectrometer will fly on another NASA mission, called Lunar-VISE or Lunar Vulkan Imaging and Spectroscopy Explorer. It's part of a payload that will fly to the moon's surface on a future mission under NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program that funds private landers, rovers and science on the surface.

Related stories:

 NASA's Artemis 1 mission launched 10 cubesats. Here's how they're doing

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LunaH-Map was part of a cluster of cubesats launching with Artemis 1 in November 2022. While many of them went on to complete their major objectives, other ones also struggled. For example, Japan's Omotenashi spacecraft could not drop a tiny lander on the moon due to a communications issue. And NEA Scout remained silent after launch, leaving it unable to solar sail over to a near-Earth asteroid.

The larger Artemis 1 mission met all its major goals, including flying an Orion spacecraft around the moon and sending it safely to Earth. NASA is hard at work on the second mission of the series, Artemis 2, now expected to launch four astronauts around the moon no sooner than 2024. Artemis 3, a moon-landing mission, may follow in 2025 or 2026 if all keeps to schedule.
a cone-shaped spacecraft with inflatable balloons on top floats in the ocean. it is on a tow line behind a small boat that is pulling it across the water

The first dress rehearsal for a moon crew's landing is in the bag.

NASA and the U.S. Navy together practiced in the ocean near San Diego to help the Artemis 2 crew after their flight around the moon in November 2024. Four people, standing in as the astronauts, were safely extracted from a simulated spacecraft to get ready for the real splashdown next year.

The exercise wrapped up on Aug. 1 and NASA is now reviewing the results for the next go-round in February 2024, alongside the astronauts. While the Artemis 2 crew were not directly working on recovery this time, they did meet with team members to start forging connections and team-building for their round-the-moon mission.

"It's all very important," Lisa Seiler, NASA's Artemis landing and recovery deputy director, told Space.com. While numerous recovery exercises are taking place, the one in late July and early August focused on recovering four people from the spacecraft and getting them to a nearby ship's medical bay in less than two hours.

Both daytime and nighttime exercises met the mark with room to spare, despite some mechanical trouble with helicopters tasked with ferrying the crew members from spaceship to warship, Seiler said. "We did very well," she added, but much more practice will come between now and the launch.

Related: See Artemis 2 moon astronauts train with US Navy for Orion splashdown (photos, video)

The U.S. Navy  which supplied the helicopters, the U.S.S. John P. Murtha warship and key personnel  has a deep relationship with NASA extending to the earliest days of crewed missions. Years of NASA missions required splashdowns, including the Apollo program that brought nine crews to the moon's realm between 1968 and 1972.

The runway-landing space shuttle (which flew between 1981 and 2011) and subsequent use of steppe-hopping Russian Soyuz spacecraft then brought a hiatus to splashdown operations until a new generation of U.S. spacecraft came on board. Among them is the moonbound Orion spacecraft, which will end its mission in the ocean.

Years of tabletop exercises, work in the pool at the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory at NASA's Johnson Space Center, and other activities culminated in this dramatic recovery exercise involving helicopters, ships, sailors and huge numbers of personnel in the Pacific Ocean.

Related: How Artemis 2 astronauts are training for their 2024 moon mission

"It's basically a crawl, walk, run approach," Seiler said, emphasizing the recovery crews go through many iterations of splashdown exercises before hitting the open water. Even the 10 days in the ocean involved on-the-scene training, with the dramatic practice recoveries taking place on days 5 (in day) and 7 (at night).

Just like after Artemis 2 concludes, the teams successfully opened the hatch on a floating Orion-like spacecraft, retrieved four people from inside and placed them atop a floating inflatable raft nicknamed "the front porch." From there, a helicopter scooped up the pretend "astronauts" (stand-in Navy pilots), one by one, and ferried them to the waiting warship and its staffed medical bay.

three people in a large ship's helm room. a military officer on the left is turned towards two astronauts in flight suits who are looking at a screen, not visible on camera

During recovery training on July 19, 2023, part of the Artemis 2 crew receives training on how the USS John P. Murtha is steered, using a helm control console. From left to right: L.t. j.g Thomas Lampognana, NASA astronaut (and U.S. Navy Capt.) Victor Glover, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen (also a colonel in the Royal Canadian Air Force.) (Image credit: U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication)

The Artemis 2 crew will participate in a single recovery exercise in February 2024, as mission rules dictate they need to restrict risky activities within six months of their November 2024 launch. It will basically be a repeat exercise, with day and night operations, to refine the procedures.

The last major recovery practice will take place roughly two months before the launch as a certification exercise to ready for the mission. If the launch delays beyond November 2024, the certification will also delay beyond its tentative spot that September.

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During Artemis 2 recovery simulations, helicopters from the U.S. Navy's Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23

During Artemis 2 recovery simulations, helicopters from the U.S. Navy's Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23 "Wildcards" fly over a simulated spacecraft known as the Orion Crew Module Test Article on July 29, 2023. The exercise with the U.S. military and NASA took place off the coast of San Diego.

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A U.S. Navy helicopter from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23

A U.S. Navy helicopter from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23 "Wildcards" practices scooping up people during Artemis 2 recovery exercises on July 29, 2023. NASA, the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force all participated.

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U.S. Navy divers enter a simulated Artemis 2 spacecraft, called the Orion Crew Module Test Article, during practice recovery operations on July 28, 2023. Here they are pretending to recover astronauts and lift them on to an inflatable

U.S. Navy divers enter a simulated Artemis 2 spacecraft, called the Orion Crew Module Test Article, during practice recovery operations on July 28, 2023. Here they are pretending to recover astronauts and lift them on to an inflatable "front porch" for extraction to a waiting helicopter. Their destination, the U.S.S. John P. Murtha warship, is visible in the background.

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An Artemis 2 splashdown exercise on July 27, 2023 saw divers from the U.S. Navy securing a simulated spacecraft, called the Orion Crew Module Test Article, in the Pacific Ocean. The divers were with the explosive ordnance disposal expeditionary support unit and are trained to work on the open water, in small boats. Their goal will be to help the Artemis 2 astronauts safely leave the spacecraft after the moon crew splashes down.

An Artemis 2 splashdown exercise on July 27, 2023 saw divers from the U.S. Navy securing a simulated spacecraft, called the Orion Crew Module Test Article, in the Pacific Ocean. The divers were with the explosive ordnance disposal expeditionary support unit and are trained to work on the open water, in small boats. Their goal will be to help the Artemis 2 astronauts safely leave the spacecraft after the moon crew splashes down.

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Four Naval helicopter pilots, who were not identified in this picture, stood in as the four crew members of Artemis 2 during a splashdown exercise on July 29, 2023. Like the astronauts, the pilots were brought from the capsule onto an inflatable

Four Naval helicopter pilots, who were not identified in this picture, stood in as the four crew members of Artemis 2 during a splashdown exercise on July 29, 2023. Like the astronauts, the pilots were brought from the capsule onto an inflatable "front porch" and then lifted into a helicopter for a journey to the flight deck of the U.S.S. John P. Murtha warship.

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A simulated Artemis 2 spacecraft, known as the Orion Crew Module Test Article, approaches the U.S.S. John P. Murtha warship during practice recovery operations on July 27, 2023.

A simulated Artemis 2 spacecraft, known as the Orion Crew Module Test Article, approaches the U.S.S. John P. Murtha warship during practice recovery operations on July 27, 2023.

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During an Artemis 2 splashdown exercise on July 26, a simulated spacecraft known as the Crew Module Test Article is visible at the U.S.S. John P. Murtha warship in the Pacific Ocean. NASA and the U.S. Navy worked together to practice recovery operations for the moon mission scheduled for late 2024.

During an Artemis 2 splashdown exercise on July 26, a simulated spacecraft known as the Orion Crew Module Test Article is visible at the U.S.S. John P. Murtha warship in the Pacific Ocean. NASA and the U.S. Navy worked together to practice recovery operations for the moon mission scheduled for late 2024.

All recovery exercises will use different warships and crews, both to have backup and also because the availability of ships will depend on where crews are deployed when Artemis 2 splashes down, Seiler said. The U.S. Navy will assign their warships and crews where operational needs are, closer to the date.

Recovery teams and crew will meet up several times in between these large exercises to continue team-building and getting to know each other and the procedures, Seiler added. "I think it is very important for them (the crew) to talk with who's going to be working with them. And I think we've already developed great rapport," she said.

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Artemis 2 will be the second of the Artemis program series, following the uncrewed Artemis 1 that swung around the moon in late 2022. Next up will be the moon-landing effort of Artemis 3, set to touch down in 2025 or 2026 pending readiness of the SpaceX Starship lander tasked with bringing them to the surface.

The four crew members aboard Artemis 2 are NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. Canada's contribution to the NASA-led Artemis Accords for moon and peaceful space exploration includes Canadarm3, a robotic arm that will service NASA's future moon Gateway space station. Hansen's seat is part of the exchange of astronaut time and science agreed upon for Canada's tech work.
NASA's four Artemis 2 astronauts this week got their first look at the Orion capsule that will carry them around the moon next year. The astronauts said seeing the hardware firsthand  and meeting the men and women building the spacecraft  brought home the reality of their historic mission.

"It's starting to feel very, very real," Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen told reporters Tuesday, standing with his crewmates in front of the Orion capsule. "It's not a dream. It's a program. It's real hardware."

"Yesterday, we spent a lot of time meeting other teams on site, and (seeing) just how much work there is to do, and how hard they're working...They're grinding it out over the next year and a half or so to try and take us back to the moon for the first time in over 50 years," Hansen added.

The Artemis 2 crew, standing in front of their Orion spacecraft, discusses their planned 2024 around-the-moon flight with reporters at the Kennedy Space Center. Left to right: Victor Glover, commander Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. / Credit: William Harwood/CBS News

Hansen, Artemis 2 commander Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch were named to the crew in April, but their visit to the Kennedy Space Center Monday and Tuesday was their first chance to see their spacecraft.

"When we first stuck our heads in and you look around in there, you realize this can only be one thing, a spaceship," Koch said. "Nothing else looks like that, and that's exactly what it felt like. That's what gave me shivers. We were playing 'name that item.' Honestly, we were looking around, we were trying to marry it up with everything we learned about in our technical classes."

Said Wiseman: "We're fired up. It's a great day when you walk around the corner at the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout facility and there's your spacecraft that you're going to ride in  'the ship,' as they call it (here). And we got we got to look inside and hang out, and it was really quite fascinating."

The current schedule shows Wiseman and company launching in November 2024. They will not orbit or land on the moon, but instead will put the Orion capsule through its paces during three orbits of Earth, including one with a high point of 38,000 miles, before heading out on a free-return trajectory around the moon and back to a Pacific Ocean splashdown.

The Artemis 3 Orion capsule under construction at the Kennedy Space Center. The Artemis 3 mission in the late 2025-2026 timeframe, will carry the next man and the first woman to walk on the moon. / Credit: William Harwood/CBS News

NASA is still officially targeting December 2025 for the first actual lunar landing, when an Orion capsule will carry four astronauts to the moon. Two of them will board a waiting SpaceX lander, a variant of the company's Starship rocket, and descend to the surface. But it's an open question whether the lander will be ready in time.

Jim Free, director of NASA's exploration division, said the agency recently discussed the schedule with engineers at SpaceX's "Starbase" flight test facility near Boca Chica, Texas, where the company is gearing up for a second test flight of the Super Heavy booster and Starship upper stage. The first test flight on April 20 ended in failure, reaching an altitude of just 24 miles after multiple premature engine shutdowns.

To get to the moon, the Starship lander will need to be robotically refueled in low-Earth orbit, requiring multiple Super Heavy-Starship "tanker" flights. Before NASA will know whether a 2025 astronaut landing is feasible, Free said SpaceX will need to launch enough successful flights to demonstrate reliability, carry out ship-to-ship refueling and then stage an unpiloted lunar landing.

"We were at Starbase a couple of weeks ago, and really spent some time going through their major milestones to the Artemis 3 mission, which includes a (propellant) transfer mission as well as the uncrewed demo," he said. "We'll look at that and update around that in the near future. But what we're holding all the contractors to is that December of '25 date."

If the schedule slips out too far, "we may end up flying a different mission," he added. That presumably could mean a lunar orbit mission for Artemis 3 instead of a moon landing if the Starship isn't ready, or some other major problem crops up.

An artist's impression of a SpaceX Starship lander on the surface of the moon. / Credit: NASA

"We may end up flying a different mission if we have these big (delays), we've looked at can we can we do other missions if the possibility exists there," Free said. "But right now, we're still trying to look at their schedule."

As for the Artemis 2 mission, Free said the Orion capsule, its European-built service module and the Space Launch System rocket are all on track for launch by the end of 2024. The pacing item, he said, is analysis of the heat shield that protected the Artemis 1 Orion during its high-speed return to Earth after an unpiloted maiden test flight last December.

The heat shield experienced uneven charring and erosion during its high-temperature re-entry, and while the Orion capsule was not damaged, engineers are carrying out tests to better understand why the heat shield did not behave as expected.

"I think it's definitely the biggest open issue," Free said. But, he added, "I think we're on a path to that root cause with the final disposition in April."

"Obviously, we're going to make the right decision to keep them safe," he said. "If that decision is we have to do something drastic, then we'll do that. But right now, we're on a path to get to the root cause, and then we'll make the final determination from there. "

Texas relying on renewable energy for power amid extreme heat

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Biden announces new Grand Canyon national monument
By Jonathan Saul and Nigel Hunt

LONDON (Reuters) - Russia's lack of ships and Western grain traders' shrinking appetite for business with Moscow are adding to rising costs of moving Russian wheat, at a time when the war in Ukraine has spilled perilously close to vital Black Sea supply routes.

President Vladimir Putin promised to replace Ukrainian grain with Russian shipments to Africa after Moscow in July ended an arrangement that gave Ukraine's food cargo safe passage in the Black Sea, imposing a de-facto blockade on its neighbour and attacking storage facilities, in an escalation of the war.

Ukraine's response, sea-drone attacks on a Russian oil tanker and a warship at its Novorossiysk naval base, next door to a major grain and oil port, has added to these new dangers for transport in the Black Sea.

Eduard Zernin, head of Russia's Union of Grain Exporters, cited a potential aggravation of what he called "hidden sanctions" that "may lead to an increase in freight and insurance costs" for Russia.

This "will be reflected in the price level of wheat and other grains on the world market", Zernin told Reuters.

Even though agriculture exports are not subject to direct European and U.S. sanctions imposed after Russia invaded Ukraine last year, Moscow says restrictions placed on banking and Russian individuals are "hidden sanctions" on the food trade.

The financial and security risks associated with trading with Russia - compounded by the Black Sea corridor collapse - are driving up costs of freight for Moscow and pushing it toward older and smaller vessels run by less established shipping operators, Reuters reporting based on conversations with 10 marine insurers, traders and shipping companies showed.

The situation is raising doubts about whether Russia can keep up a record pace of exports and if not resolved could push global wheat prices higher, the sources said.

Already, prior to the expiry of the deal, grain carriers and commodity houses had reduced exposure to Russia.

Global commodity houses are no longer helping Russia with the mechanics of trading its grain. Cargill, Louis Dreyfus and Viterra stopped such work on July 1, adding more pressure on Moscow to handle all aspects of grain deals including transport.

Cargill has said it would continue to ship grain from Russia's ports. It declined further comment.

Dreyfus, Viterra and ADM declined to comment, while another major international group, Bunge, did not respond to a request for comment.

"It is not going to be easy for them (Russia)," said one industry executive with knowledge of grains exports.

Last year, Russia exported a record volume of wheat on ships chartered from international companies and traders. While exports remain strong, in the past few months it has had to source more of its own freight, increasingly relying on a "shadow fleet" of older vessels typically operated by companies based in Turkey and China, three shipping industry sources said.

"There is very little coming out now for international companies", said the executive, who, like other industry sources consulted for this story, asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue. "Most of what is coming out is dealt with by Russian traders using (shadow) fleet ships, which international traders would not touch".

In a sign of Russia's growing hunt for vessels, its requests for charters doubled to 257 in July compared with the same month last year, according to data from maritime platform Shipfix that collates from hundreds of market participants.

The data does not show how many of the requests were fulfilled, or which ship operators were involved.

The requests for ships were up 40% from June, and are likely to climb further as the export season gathers pace.

Denmark's NORDEN and two other Western shipping groups that declined to be named told Reuters they stopped working with Russia after the invasion of Ukraine in February, 2022.

INSURANCE

Without the Black Sea corridor in place, both Russia and Ukraine warned in July that ships destined for each others ports could be treated as legitimate military targets, which three marine insurance source said was a further blow to Western companies' risk appetite.

Insurance for ships heading to Russia's Black Sea ports currently costs tens of thousands of dollars in additional premiums daily, the three sources said, with rates ticking higher following Russia's attacks on Ukraine's other waterways through the Danube in recent days and Kyiv's response.

The Black Sea remains a critical area for Russian exports, with other locations more complicated and costly.

One shipping source familiar with the matter said even before insurance, ship operators were charging up to $10,000 more daily for Russian cargoes than for cargoes leaving nearby ports in Bulgaria and Romania, as the collapse of the deal and Black Sea escalation weighed.

Mike Salthouse, head of external affairs with leading ship insurer NorthStandard, said that ever since the United States and Europe imposed sanctions, some traders and insurers fear the ultimate beneficial owners of Russia's ports and terminals could be connected to designated individuals.

"The ownership structure is not readily apparent from routine or even enhanced due diligence," he said, leading to "a level of reluctance with engaging in Russian trades."

The industry executive said another risk was if a vessel needed to buy fuel from Russia, a situation the source said could create problems with Western sanctions enforcers, making it harder to then conduct non-Russian business.

"It's not easy to flip into the normal trade after that", the executive said.

Russia's Black Sea terminals handle about 70% of the country's grain exports. They include the Novorossiisk and Taman ports.

"TRADE BARRIERS"

Despite the tensions, global wheat prices remain well below the peak after Russia's invasion last year triggered fears of a global hunger crisis. The removal of more Ukrainian grain from the world market could add to supply pressure unless Russian exports or large crops from other producers make up the difference.

Two sources said the escalation of tensions in the Black Sea was likely to impact Russia's export numbers, and was discouraging shipping companies from bringing vessels to Russian ports, especially newer ships that carry more.

In a statement to Reuters, Russias agriculture ministry forecast grain exports will fall about 8% during the 2023/24 season from Russian last year's high of 60 million tonnes. It did not give a reason for the drop.

Wheat exports will be down a little less, to 44-45 million tons, Zernin said, in line with estimates from the International Grains Council.

SHIP BUILDING

The ministry in December announced a plan to build a fleet of 61 new grain ships, citing "sanctions pressure and the refusal of many international carriers to cooperate with Russia".

Russian exporters need 34 grains ships with a carrying capacity of 60,000 tonnes and 27 with capacity of 40,000 tonnes, the ministry said in December. It did not say when they could be built by Russian shipyards.

Russia's state-owned agricultural leasing company Rosagroleasing said in March of this year it had placed orders for a fleet of grains ships that it planned to launch within three years.

No orders have currently been reported for Russian companies either domestically or internationally, according to data from valuation company VesselsValue. New ships typically take up to three years to build.

Many of the Russian operated current fleet of 31 mainly smaller dry bulk carriers are over 30 years old, VesselsValue data showed, making it harder to access some ports with stringent requirements for ships over a certain age.

"We dont see Russia building its own fleet from scratch in the short term in order to meet its immediate needs. The primary focus is going be on chartering from the commercial market," said Victoria Mitchell, analyst with Control Risks consultancy.

(Reporting by Jonathan Saul and Nigel Hunt in London, Reuters reporters, additional reporting by Polina Devitt in London and Gus Trompiz in Paris; editing by Frank Jack Daniel)
The polls are now open statewide for Ohioans for the August Special Election.

>>PHOTOS: Greene County Voters head to polls for August Special Election

Voters will decide on Issue 1.

It is a potential change to the states constitution.

>>August Special Election: How to find your polling location

News Center 7s Xavier Hershovitz visited a polling location in Beavercreek during News Channel 7 Daybreak.

What exactly does Issue 1 do?

Stay with News Channel 7 for comprehensive election coverage throughout the day and full results and analysis on WHIO Tonight at 11:00 p.m.

If it passes, it will require signatures from all 88 counties to get an issue on the ballot. As it stands, voters need signatures from 44 counties.

Hershovitz reported it would also require a 60% vote to pass future amendments. Currently, you need more than 50%.

>>Do you know what State Issue 1 is? Voters say theyll do homework before Election Day

When voters head to the polls today, they will need a photo id to get their ballot. A utility bill will not work as proof of address.

Hershovitz also reports there are some changes to polling locations across the Miami Valley.

>>Continuing Coverage: Election 2023 Page

As for early voting, hundreds of thousands of Ohioans have already cast their ballots.





Hershovitz says as of Thursday, Aug. 3, the Ohio Secretary of States Office says nearly 580,000 Ohioans have already voted, including just under 400,000 in-person, and just shy of 190,000 have voted absentee.

To put that in perspective, just under 640,000 Ohioans voted in last Augusts special election, all together.

The polls will close tonight at 7:30 p.m.

Voters can find their polling location on this website.

Photo from: Xavier Hershovitz/Staff

Photo from: Xavier Hershovitz/Staff

Photo from: Xavier Hershovitz/Staff

Photo from: Xavier Hershovitz/Staff

Photo from: Xavier Hershovitz/Staff

Photo from: Xavier Hershovitz/Staff

Photo from: Xavier Hershovitz/Staff

Photo from: Xavier Hershovitz/Staff

Photo from: Xavier Hershovitz/Staff

Photo from: Xavier Hershovitz/Staff

Photo from: Xavier Hershovitz/Staff

Photo from: Xavier Hershovitz/Staff

Photo from: Xavier Hershovitz/Staff

Photo from: Xavier Hershovitz/Staff
An Austin man found dead in Utah's Arches National Park is believed to have suffered from heat stroke while visiting the park during a trip to spread his father's ashes, according to his family.

James Bernard Hendricks, a 66-year-old man from Texas, is believed to have become disoriented due to heat, dehydration and high altitude, according to his sister Ruth Hendricks Brough.

She said in a social media post that his body was found off the trail with an empty water bottle.

More: Austin, get ready for 'one of the hottest weeks of the year' after record-breaking heat

His vehicle was discovered by rangers in one of the park's parking lots after he was overdue on Aug. 1, according to a press release by the National Park Service.

Balanced Rock stands 128 feet tall and can be seen from the road at Arches National Park.

Hendricks was traveling across the West to the Sierra Nevada region of Nevada and California in hopes of spreading his father's ashes, according to his social media.

The National Park Service and the Grand County Sheriff's Office were jointly investigating the incident, according to the same Aug. 2 press release.

Another sibling  brother Ron Hendricks  disappeared more than two decades ago in the Lake Tahoe area, Brough said. The family was notified this year that his remains had been found and identified through DNA testing. James Hendricks had been organizing a memorial service for him, she said.

Additional material from The Associated Press.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin man found dead in Utah park visited to spread father's ashes
By Kirsty Needham

SYDNEY (Reuters) - The prime minister and cabinet, not parliament, make the decision to go to war under Australia's political system, the government said on Tuesday, responding to a parliamentary inquiry.

The Albanese Labor government said it will increase accountability by requiring a ministerial statement to be made in both Houses of Parliament "to inform a timely debate on the decision by the Executive to engage in major military operations".

It will also set up a parliamentary committee with access to intelligence to improve scrutiny of major defence operations.

Defence Minister Richard Marles tasked a parliamentary committee in September with examining how the decision to go to war is made.

Australia has committed to 10 conflicts since World War One, most recently in Syria in 2015. Many of the wars which Australia has been involved in over its short history had been "tarnished by controversy", the committee noted in its report.

Past wars had invoked public and political debate over how the government committed to war, it said. Australia's constitution does not refer to war decisions.

The Defence Department opposed expanding parliament's powers in war, because it would stop Australia responding rapidly to threats, and strategic partners would lose confidence in Australia's ability, the committee said.

Some academic submissions referred to a blockade of Taiwan or the South China Sea as examples of where Australia needed to be able to respond quickly.

"This remains a decision for the Executive," Marles said on Tuesday, agreeing with the committee's main recommendation.

"It is important that parliament has effective mechanisms to examine and debate such decisions," he added.

Australia is overhauling its defence force and increasing its preparedness, after a government review in April found the United States was no longer the "unipolar leader of the Indo Pacific", and China was engaging in a major build-up of its military without transparency.

Australia's major security ally, the United States, is increasing the type and number of forces it rotates through Australia, but does not have a permanent base in Australia.

(Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Sydney; editing by Jason Neely)
 Flash

The crewed submersible Shenhai Yongshi (Deep Sea Warrior) resurfaces after completing a day's underwater investigation in the South China Sea, May 27, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

China on Monday urged the United States to stop utilizing the South China Sea issue to sow confusion and discord, respect China's territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, and respect regional countries' efforts to uphold peace and stability in this region.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson made the remarks in response to a U.S. State Department statement criticizing China for obstructing Philippine vessels that sought to deliver new troops and supplies to a grounded military vessel at Ren'ai Jiao and firing water cannons.

The U.S. statement says such actions are "inconsistent with international law" and "threatening regional peace and stability" and calls upon China to abide by the South China Sea arbitration award issued in 2016. The statement indicates U.S. support for "the Philippines' lawful maritime operations" and says an armed attack on the Philippines' Coast Guard would "invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments under the U.S.- Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty."

The State Department's statement, in disregard of the facts, attacked China's legitimate and lawful actions at sea aimed at safeguarding its rights and enforcing the law, and the statement also voiced support for the Philippines' unlawful and provocative behavior, the spokesperson said.

"China firmly opposes the statement," the spokesperson said.

For some time, the United States has been inciting and supporting the Philippines' attempts to overhaul and reinforce its military vessel that was deliberately grounded on Ren'ai Jiao. The U.S. even sent over military aircraft and vessels to assist and support the Philippines, and repeatedly sought to threaten China by citing the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty. The U.S. has been brazenly bolstering Philippines as it infringes upon China's sovereignty, but those moves will not succeed, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said Ren'ai Jiao has always been part of China's Nansha Qundao and the historical context of the issue of Ren'ai Jiao is very clear.

In 1999, the Philippines sent a military vessel and deliberately ran it aground at Ren'ai Jiao, attempting to change the status quo of Ren'ai Jiao illegally. China immediately made serious demarches to the Philippines, demanding the removal of the vessel. The Philippines promised several times to tow it away, but has yet to act. Not only that, the Philippines sought to overhaul and reinforce the military vessel in order to permanently occupy Ren'ai Jiao, the spokesperson said.

On Aug. 5, in disregard of China's repeated dissuasion and warning, the Philippines sent two vessels that intruded into the adjacent waters of Ren'ai Jiao and tried to deliver the construction materials for overhauling and reinforcing the grounded military vessel. Such actions violated China's sovereignty and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). The China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels stopped them in accordance with law and warned them off through appropriate law enforcement measures. Their maneuvers were professional, restrained and beyond reproach, the spokesperson said.

The South China Sea arbitration was a pure political drama staged in the name of the law with the U.S. pulling strings behind the scenes. The so-called award contravenes international laws, including UNCLOS, and is illegal, null and void. The U.S.' attempt to make an issue of the illegal award will not affect China's firm resolve to safeguard its territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interests in accordance with the law, the spokesperson said.
In this undated photo provided by the Australian Federal Police, a suspect's computer is displayed on a desk. Police have charged 19 men in Australia with child sex abuse offenses and rescued 13 children from further harm following tip offs from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation officials said on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023. (Australian Federal Police via AP)

BRISBANE, Australia (AP)  Police have charged 19 men in Australia with child sex abuse offenses and rescued 13 children from further harm following tips from the American FBI of an international online criminal network, officials said Tuesday.

Two of the 19 men already were convicted and sentenced to prison terms of almost 15 years in the Australian Capital Territory and five years in New South Wales state, Australian Federal Police Commander Helen Schneider said.

We will allege that these men were members of a technologically sophisticated online child abuse network that was operating across the country, Schneider told reporters.

The 19 had been charged with a total 138 offenses related to peer-to-peer sharing of video and images on the dark web. Most were information technology professionals with a high degree of technical competence, she said.

The men, aged 32 to 81, allegedly used software to anonymously share files, chat on message boards and access websites within the network.

Schneider said 13 children in Australia had been rescued as a result of the investigation. Police did not detail their circumstances.

The FBI alerted Australian authorities to the networks existence last year.

Australia-based FBI legal attache Nitiana Mann said 79 people had been arrested in the United States as part of the same investigation and 43 had been convicted of child abuse offenses.

Mann said the FBI had alerted other countries to suspects within their jurisdictions but did not name those countries.
At seven people were killed and 88 were injured in a pair of Russian strikes against the Ukrainian town of Pokrovsk Monday, according to Ukrainian officials. Photo by State Emergency Service of Ukraine/UPI

Aug. 8 (UPI) -- At least seven people were killed and 88 more injured in a pair of Russian strikes against the Ukrainian town of Pokrovsk Monday, according to Ukrainian authorities.

Five civilians were killed in the first strike, while a soldier and a rescuer were killed in the second, Donetsk regional military administration head Pavlo Kyrylenko in a Telegram post. The Ukrainian national police said Andrii Omelchenko, the deputy head of the Donetsk Oblast Emergency Service, was also killed in the strikes.

He added that 39 civilians, 31 police officers, and seven state emergency service employees and four military personnel were among the injured, while 12 high-rise buildings and other structures including a pharmacy, two cafes and civilian vehicles were damaged.

Kryrlenko Russia fired two Iskander missiles with the first hitting at 7:15 p.m. local time while the second struck at 7:52 p.m.

Ukrainian authorities said the second missile strike targeted rescuers trying to save victims of the first strike.

Ukrainian officials said the first strike killed five civilians, while the second strike killed a rescue worker and a member of the military. Photo by State Emergency Service of Ukraine/UPI

"All of them were there when they were needed, putting their efforts into rescuing people after their first incoming. They knew there were victims under rubble - so one had to react, dismantle. get them out and save them. And then the enemy struck again," the Ukrainian national police said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said "we have to stop the Russian terror." Photo by Ukrainian President Press Office/UPI

The city of Pokrovsk, Donetsk region. Donbas, from which Russia is trying to leave only broken and scorched stones. Two missile strikes. An ordinary residential building was hit. Unfortunately, there are victims. Rescuers and all necessary services are on the scene. The rescue of... pic.twitter.com/zsIA7dR6HR   (@ZelenskyyUa) August 7, 2023

Russian authorities said they had struck a Ukrainian command post in Pokrovsk, but Serhi Dobriak, a local military leader, told CNN there were no military targets in the city.

"This is just terror," he said. "This does not intimidate us, but people are dying and suffering."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted out a short clip of the aftermath of one of the strikes Monday.

"The city of Pokrovsk, Donetsk region. Donbas, from which Russia is trying to leave only broken and scorched stones. Two missile strikes. An ordinary residential building was hit. Unfortunately, there are victims. Rescuers and all necessary services are on the scene. The rescue of people continues," Zelensky tweeted.

"We have to stop the Russian terror. Everyone who fights for the freedom of Ukraine saves lives. Everyone in the world who helps Ukraine will defeat the terrorists together with us. Russia will be held accountable for everything it has done in this terrible war," Zelensky said.
The Dayton Police Department will be hosting a back-to-school supply drive today.

>>Back to School campaign provides local non-profit with school supplies for teachers

They will be hosting a Cram the Cruiser school supply drive today at the Safety Building on the 300 block of W. Third Street, Dayton Police wrote on social media.

The most needed school items include notebooks, pens, pre-sharpened pencils, folders, loose-leaf paper, art supplies, Kleenex, and more.

All items will be distributed to different schools across the City of Dayton, the department said.

It will take place starting this morning at 11 a.m. and go until 1 p.m. this afternoon.

For more information, contact Officer Christine Hamilton at 937-333-7431 or email her here.

REMINDER: The Dayton Police Department is hosting a Cram the Cruiser school supply drive. You can drop off items at the Safety Building August 8th from 11am to 1pm. All of the items will be distributed to different schools across the city of Dayton. pic.twitter.com/m2vQT4QSqJ  Dayton Police Dept. (@DaytonPolice) August 7, 2023




The portmanteau Barbenheimer arose to internet fame with the release of two blockbuster films that, on the surface, appeared to be extreme opposites. Yet the histories of nuclear energy as a World War II product and Barbie as a postwar creation are inextricably linked.

If you had asked Americans to name a famous bombshell following WWII, a fair number would have named one of the atomic bombs. Others would have named the actress Jean Harlow, who starred in the 1933 movie The Bombshell, a film that contributed to the terms subsequent use in reference to an attractive woman.

In truth, gender, like manpower or ammunition, was an undeniable part of the arsenal of democracy. The two nuclear weapons of decision the U.S. dropped on Japan were male, Little Boy and Fat Man. Incidentally, the third canceled bomb was to be called Thin Man. The B-29 that dropped Little Boy over Hiroshima, the Enola Gay, was named after the pilots mother.

Throughout the war, bomber crews suffered such tremendous casualties that those who survived multiple missions often drew portraits of attractive women as nose art  believing that having such depictions at ones side brought good luck.

Inspired in postwar Western Germany by the likes of Jean Harlow and the art adorning WWII aircraft, comic artist Reinhard Beuthien sketched a sassy postwar gold-digger for a Tabloid newspaper called Bild. He named his comic relief Lilli.

Lilli became so popular among West German men and American GIs that eventually Bild Lilli dolls were created to hand out at stag parties. The most important consumer of a Bild Lilly doll was Ruth Handler, who took the doll home, made some modifications to it, and eventually marketed it directly to children through Mattels sponsorship of the Mickey Mouse Club.

Thus, Barbie was born from the kind of bombshell drawn on the sides of U.S. bombers. Having originated from the male gaze, Barbie absolutely represented a capitalistic triumph of beauty mores. However, to market her, over time, she was also provided accessories enough to hold 200 different jobs, different cars to drive, and houses of all sizes to play in. She was not tied down by a husband, nor provided parents to give her context.

For many young girls, the doll acted as a writing prompt to the script that became their lives. Hers was the complexity of capitalism, reinforcing beauty and femininity while nevertheless subtly and slowly complicating visions of domesticity.

And yet, the Cold War hid far deeper complexities. As the U.S., its allies, and the Soviet Union used nuclear firepower to jockey for global position, every aspect of their respective societies, to include gender, was weaponized to undermine the other.

A key component of Americas othering was to identify the Soviets as godless and unnatural. Certain U.S. political figures identified and attacked others in U.S. society during the 1950s Red Scare  including a lavender scare that targeted those with deviant sexual and gender mores  which actively purged unapproved political and gender persuasions from federal bureaucracy. This included the U.S. military.

The goal, in many cases, was to exorcise the punished to the fringes of U.S. society. Oppenheimer himself suffered this very fate.

In 1959, as Barbie was first released to market, and as the U.S. discovered  downwind of nuclear tests  nuclear byproducts in wheat and milk, then-Vice President Richard Nixon and Soviet Premier Nikita Khruschev met at the American National Exhibition in Sokolnik Park in Moscow. There, they used a kitchen exhibit to debate their respective systems promise to aid women, while nevertheless wrestling with each societys notions of gender and othering them in the process.

The contrast between their visions of gender was striking. Nixon proposed the U.S. kitchen preserved femininity and professional domesticity. It afforded U.S. housewives time to quickly and efficiently make nutritious meals and raise children.

Insinuating that Americans had made slaves of their women, Khruschev countered that Soviet kitchens and new appliances were only of value to their women if it freed them to spend more time outside the home, where he stated women shared in the important work of society.

Confident that each had preserved and suitably advanced their societal notions of gender, both retired for the evening. Nixon returned to the Spaso house, where special agents James Golden and John Sherwood detected radioactive instruments emitting ionizing radiation from an atomic battery that Soviet intelligence used to power radio transmitters to spy on U.S. dignitaries.

As the kitchen debates indicate, gender, like nuclear energy, had been unleashed onto an interpretative world.

Oppenheimer and Ruth Handlers ideas exploded with an energy that neither creator could ever hope to contain, much less understand.

As such, we live in a world inexorably defined by the power of a bombshell.

Michael Doidge is the director of history at the U.S. Air Force Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California. He holds a PhD in U.S. history with a specialty in the history of military medicine.

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.
Experts at Liminal, a battery tech company out of California, claim they can identify flaws in power packs while they are being made.

Its a solution with great potential  for battery makers and consumers alike  that can catch problems before they lead to headaches like the Chevy Bolt recall from a few years ago. There were 50,000 U.S. electric Bolts from the 2017 to 2019 model years that were recalled because the battery packs in them were a fire risk, Reuters reported.

The Liminal team said their EchoStat system can easily integrate into battery factories. The process gives battery cells a comprehensive safety check before they are shipped out, catching issues like what happened with the Bolt packs before they leave the factory.

The insights gained using EchoStat empower EV battery manufacturers to identify and address production issues in real time, reducing scrap and costs, while increasing overall cell quality, Liminal CEO and co-founder Andrew Hsieh said in a video clip on the companys website.

The system uses ultrasound pulses that go through the battery cells. It can check all common types of packs, regardless of the chemistry inside of them. Machine learning  using computers that can handle complex tasks and adapt without exact instructions from people  is also a part of EchoStat. The setup catches flaws in battery cells, documenting when the problem happened during production, and records the information. The Liminal team said the process takes only seconds.

A faster time to market is among the improvements Liminal touts.

Working with Liminal gives us a competitive edge as the EV industry grapples with growing pains, Stefan Holzhauer, an official at Siemens, said in a testimonial on Liminals website.

The company is almost ready to validate EchoStat in a major battery factory in Europe, according to a Forbes story on the tech. Liminal has landed about $20 million in investments and hired Denise Gray as a strategic adviser.

She has 30 years of experience with GM and ran the battery operation for the Chevy Volt. Hsieh told Forbes that Liminal plans to tap her experience in quality control, safety, and bringing batteries to market.

Gray should have plenty to keep her busy, as EV demand is expected to continue rising.

Advanced battery analytics are increasingly critical as the industry continues to scale and the demands on battery performance soar. I look forward to lending my expertise to the Liminal team as they apply their solution to support the clean energy transition, Gray said in a Liminal press release.

The company is emerging from about seven years of research and development at a good time, Hsieh told Forbes. He sees a battery boom coming that will require oversight as billions of cells come off production lines.

I mean, I think the big challenge is how do we keep up with demand? he said to Forbes about the burgeoning industry.

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Billboards promoting a separation of religion from public schools will be going up in Fort Worth after the atheist group that is buying them was denied on its attempt to put up banners downtown, according to a news release.

The group, Fort Worth Atheists, was allowed to hang banners on downtown light posts in 2019, but this year the city denied the group the right to display them, according to the news release. The group has sued the city for the right to put the banners up.

But after District Judge Reed OConnor on Sunday denied a temporary injunction that would allow the banners to be posted, the group opted for the billboards, according to the news release. The advertising campaign is aimed at promoting an Aug. 26 event, Keep God out of our Public Schools. The billboards will be up until Aug. 24.

The event will focus on the dangers of christian nationalism, according to the news release. Christian nationalism is a religious and political belief system that argues the United States was founded by God to be a Christian nation, according to an article in theconversation.com.

The organizers of the event were told when their application to hang banners was denied that the event was not of a magnitude to qualify.
Bernie Kerik, a close ally of former President Donald Trump who worked with Rudy Giuliani trying to confirm baseless allegations of voter fraud in the 2020 election, on Monday met with Justice Department prosecutors probing the plot to overturn the 2020 election.

Kerik, a former New York City police commissioner, is the first witness publicly known to have been interviewed by the DOJ since Trumps indictment last week for his role in the scheme to undo Joe Bidens win in the 2020 race.

Tim Parlatore, a lawyer representing Kerik, told CNN that special counsel Jack Smith was not present during the interview. Parlatore and Kerik met with investigators for about five hours, the network reported.

Kerik was asked mostly about all the efforts in between the election and Jan. 6th that Giuliani and his associates took to prove allegations of fraud in the 2020 race, Parlatore said.

Really kind of establishing that at that time, when they werent really able to necessarily establish proof, they had probable cause and they were pursuing investigation in good faith, Parlatore said, speaking alongside Kerik.

Kerik was questioned about each of the seven states where Giulanis efforts were focused, and was asked how each separate claim of election fraud was investigated, CNN reported.

Asked if he thought Giuliani would be prosecuted, Parlatore replied: No, not at all.

Ultimately the idea that Rudy Giuliani was intentionally pushing claims that he knew were false is not something thats supported by the evidence, Parlatore added.

Giuliani appears to be Co-Conspirator 1 listed in Trumps indictment as an attorney who was willing to spread knowingly false claims and pursue strategies that the Defendants 2020 re-election campaign attorneys would not. The document mentions a phone call Trump and Co-Conspirator 1 made to then-Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers on Nov. 22, 2020, to pressure him to help them steal the election.

Giuliani, Trumps former personal lawyer, last week condemned the DOJ for pursuing charges against Trump, and suggested Smith should be prosecuted for indicting the former president.

Kerik turned over thousands of documents to the special counsel following a subpoena for files related to the operation to prove unfounded claims of voter fraud.

He was pardoned by Trump in 2020 after serving four years behind bars for tax fraud and lying to the government.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to four federal charges stemming from the 2020 election case, including conspiracy to defraud the United States.

His attorneys have been pushing the judge overseeing the case to deny a proposed protective order that would bar Trump and his team from sharing evidence collected by prosecutors.

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My favorite meal in Paris was from the Italian restaurant Libertino. Erin McDowell/Insider

When I visited Paris, I expected to be blown away by the local French cuisine.

I ate some great French food, but my favorite meal was from the Italian restaurant Libertino.

Every aspect of my experience, from the delicious pasta to the ambience, has me wanting to go back.

When I visited Paris last year for the first time, I couldn't wait to eat my way around the city.

I expected to eat some delicious French dishes  and don't get me wrong, I did  but I was surprised to find that the best food I had in Paris, by far, was at an Italian restaurant.

I made a reservation at Libertino weeks in advance after stumbling across a photo of a beautiful-looking bowl of pasta on Instagram.

I'll admit, I was a tad apprehensive about booking an Italian restaurant for a weeklong Paris trip with my family for Christmas. As the designated master of our itinerary, I wanted to ensure we were soaking up as much Parisian culture as we could and I wasn't sure about veering away from the local cuisine  even if it was only for one night.

While we enjoyed plenty of mouthwatering baguettes and croissants from local patisseries, and of course cheese, our favorite meal was full of pasta and pizza. And I'm not sorry about it.

I ate plenty of French pastries while visiting Paris. Erin McDowell/Insider

The atmosphere at Libertino was cozy and buzzy

Libertino opened in Paris' 10th Arrondissement in 2019 and is part of the Big Mamma restaurant group, which includes seven restaurants in Paris, as well as more locations in cities like London and Madrid.

My party of four arrived at the restaurant at peak dinner hour on December 29, during one of the busiest weeks of the year for tourists visiting Paris for the holidays. We were able to secure a reservation about two weeks before and could decide where in the restaurant we'd like to sit.

As a food reporter, one of my favorite places to sit in a restaurant is at a chef's counter, where you can see the food being prepared and coming out. I decided to book our table at the counter, and couldn't have been more pleased with that decision.

As soon as we sat down, we realized we were stationed right by the pick-up station for waiters so we got to see every dish being carried out into the dining room. We saw plates piled high with spaghetti, perfectly crisp pizzas, and certain dishes we had to ask our waitress about, begging to know, "What is that?"

Every chef and cook working in the kitchen was calling out to each other in Italian, which added to the ambience and made us feel confident about the food's authenticity.

The food blew me away

My two favorite dishes were the fried mozzarella and truffle pasta. Erin McDowell/Insider

At the time of my visit in December, we started off with a round of cocktails, followed by an order of burrata with pesto, which cost 15, or about $16.50, and an order of fried mozzarella, which cost around 10, or $11. Both were exquisitely prepared, but I preferred the contrast of the fried outside of the mozzarella with the creamy inside  it tasted like a gourmet version of a mozzarella stick.

For my main, I ordered the truffle pasta, which came served in a traditional French copper pot and cost 21, or about $23. The ribbons of pasta perfectly clung to the creamy sauce, while the earthy flavor of the truffles and mushrooms balanced out the rich flavor of the dish.

As a truffle fanatic, I couldn't have been happier with my choice. Of course, that didn't stop me from trying other dishes on the table, including a slice of delicious Margherita pizza topped with fresh San Marzano tomato sauce (14, or $15.40) and a bite of the restaurant's original spaghetti (15, or about $16.50). Both blew me away.

I should note that the menu at Libertino changes every month, so some of the dishes I've mentioned might not be available at other times, but I like the idea that visitors can try something a little different each time they go.

As for the cost, the meal came to around 126, or roughly $138, for our group of four. We agreed that the experience and food was well worth the cost, and it was a highlight of our trip.

I loved Paris so much, I'm planning another trip there next year. And I know I'll be back at Libertino  or one of the Big Mamma group's other restaurants, which all offer a similar Italian menu.

Read the original article on Insider
US President Joe Bidens administration is working on a request for additional funding for Ukraine, which is likely to be ready for consideration by Congress this autumn.

Source: Douglas Bush, Assistant Secretary of the US Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, quoted by CNN

Details: Bush said that the Biden administration is "working on a package for Congress to consider this fall".

He added that the details have yet to be determined by the Office of Management and Budget.

Quote: "But I think we'll have a very strong case, and hopefully garner congressional support for continued funding  in particular for munitions production increases and munitions buys to support Ukraine."

Previously: It was reported that Washington intends to announce US$200 million in new military aid to Ukraine as early as Tuesday, 8 August.

Background:

The US Department of Defense announced another US$400 million military aid package for Ukraine in July.

The aid includes additional ammunition for the Patriot, NASAMS and HIMARS systems, Stinger anti-aircraft systems, Javelin anti-tank systems, 32 Stryker armoured personnel carriers, 155mm and 105mm artillery shells, and 120mm and 60mm mortar shells.

In addition, the US military aid package includes TOW missiles, Hornet unmanned aerial systems, Hydra-70 aircraft missiles, "tactical air navigation systems", explosive munitions to overcome obstacles, more than 28 million rounds of small arms ammunition and grenades, night vision and thermal imaging systems, as well as spare parts and training ammunition.

The total amount of US military assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022 has already reached more than US$43.7 billion.

The United States announced a previous package of military assistance to Ukraine worth US$800 million on 7 July. It included cluster munitions for the first time.

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!
President Joe Biden holds a proclamation designating the Baaj Nwaavjo ITah Kukveni National Monument at the Red Butte Airfield on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, in Tusayan, Ariz. | John Locher, Associated Press

President Joe Biden designated a new national monument totaling nearly 1 million acres outside Grand Canyon National Park Tuesday.

By creating this monument, were setting aside new spaces for families to bike, hike, hunt, fish and camp, Biden said during his remarks at a historic abandoned airfield near Red Butte, a sacred site for the Havasupai Indian Tribe. Preserving these lands is good, not only for Arizona but for the planet, its good for the economy, its good for the soul of the nation.

The move was praised by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., and Arizonas Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, who both attended the signing alongside tribal and federal leaders. Hobbs called the Grand Canyon sacred and an important part of the Arizona economy and said, I can think of no better use of the Antiquities Act, which gives presidents the authority to declare national monuments out of existing federal lands.

Some of the states elected Republicans oppose the designation in part because it bans new uranium mining in the area.

Buster Johnson, a supervisor in Mohave County, which is home to the Grand Canyon, told the Deseret News a member of his office had a conversation Monday with the Utah attorney generals office about joining Utahs lawsuit against the Biden administration for restoring the boundaries of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments after being shrunk during the Trump administration.

This grab and the Utah grab are pretty similar, Johnson said.

Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., a freshman whose district includes the Grand Canyon, said in a statement the new national monument sabotages national security and energy independence.

Uranium is critical to American energy and security, and this ridiculous political posturing only makes us more reliant on foreign nations such as China and Russia, Crane said.

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In Utah, elected Republicans including Gov. Spencer Cox and Sens. Mike Lee and Mitt Romney also came out against the designation.

The new monument, called Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni  Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, is named after the Havasupai phrase for where Indigenous peoples roam (Baaj nwaavjo) and the Hopi phrase our ancestral footprints (itah kukveni).

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Its made up of three separate areas to the south, northeast and northwest of Grand Canyon National Park, and it contains 12 sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places and more than 3,000 cultural and historic sites, including some that are considered sacred by area tribes, according to the White House.

The push for a new national monument in the area was years in the making, including a failed 2017 attempt by then-President Barack Obama.

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The new national monument is Bidens fifth since taking office. Earlier this year he announced the Avi Kwa Ame National Monument in Nevada, the Castner Range National Monument in Texas and the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument in Mississippi and Illinois. His first, the Camp Hale  Continental Divide National Monument in Colorado, was designated last year.
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Chinese tourists visit the Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona, Spain, July 26, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

The number of Chinese tourists visiting Spain increased by 420 percent in the first six months of 2023, according to a report released by the Spanish tourism agency Turespana on Monday.

In the first half of this year, 135,715 Chinese people came to Spain, compared to just 26,085 between January and June 2021.

The report was welcomed by Spain's acting Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism Hector Gomez, who said the return of Chinese tourists after the pandemic is excellent news.

Gomez added that the number of flights between Spain and China would further increase in the second half of the year.

"In 2023, with the incorporation (of new flights) this summer, we will recover 80 percent of the connections we had prior to the pandemic," Gomez said. "With all certainty, 2024 will be the year which sees the full consolidation of this market, which is so important for our country."

According to data from the Spanish Statistical Office (INE), 700,750 Chinese tourists traveled to Spain in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic.
President Joe Biden greets Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., and Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., as he arrives on Air Force One at Grand Canyon National Park Airport, Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, in Grand Canyon Village, Ariz. | Alex Brandon, Associated Press

GRAND CANYON VILLAGE, Arizona  President Joe Biden arrived in Arizona on Monday as part of a three-state, multi-day trip out West to highlight his administrations climate and conservation responses, announce a new national monument and fundraise.

Biden is expected to speak Tuesday morning about conservation and climate resiliency at the Grand Canyon, according to the White House, and National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi said Biden will announce a national monument.

The monument will be Bidens fifth as president and was requested by tribal leaders, Zaidai said. It will include nearly 1 million acres and hundreds of cultural sites and will allow existing mining rights but ban mining in future development, he said.

Bidens Western swing through Arizona, New Mexico and Utah comes following Colorado River water cuts in the region and record heat last month, including the hottest July ever in Phoenix while Salt Lake City hit a record 106 degrees.

Over the last few weeks and even today, we have seen how extreme weather events impact the way we live day to day, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told the press aboard Air Force One en route to Arizona. President Biden understands how critical this moment is.

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The temperature was a balmy 78 degrees when Air Force One touched down at Grand Canyon National Park Airport in northern Arizona on Tuesday, while Phoenix some 200 miles south baked at 105 degrees.

At a virtual event last month with Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, Biden said, experts say extreme heat is already costing America $100 billion a year and that extreme heat was harming Americans health and livelihoods, but none of this is inevitable.

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Biden won Arizona in 2020 by about 10,000 votes, and the trip is his second to the Grand Canyon State since taking office. Biden last came to Arizona in December when he visited a Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. semiconductor plant under construction in Phoenix to discuss infrastructure, manufacturing and supply chain investments.

Vice President Kamala Harris visited the state in January and July, and first lady Jill Bidens last trip to Arizona was in February, when she attended the Super Bowl and spoke at Mesa Community College.

Arizona is expected to be a battleground in next years election. Early polling suggests former President Donald Trump could again be competitive with Biden in Arizona and shows Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis beating Biden in the state. Bidens approval nationally remains underwater, with 54.5% disapproval, according to FiveThirtyEights poll average.

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Biden also plans to raise money while on the trip, with fundraisers in Albuquerque and Park City. His campaign said last month it had raised $72 million in the second quarter of the year with the Democratic National Committee and their joint fundraising committees.
President Joe Biden hailed his administrations efforts to combat the effects of the climate crisis as he signed a proclamation to establish the Baaj Nwaavjo I'Tah Kukveni National Monument near the Grand Canyon in Arizona.

Mr Biden, who travelled to Arizona on Monday as part of a multi-day trip to highlight his legislative record ahead of the 2024 election season, said it was not hyperbole for him to say theres no national treasure that is grander than the Grand Canyon, which he described as one of the wonders of the world.

The first time I saw the Grand Canyon years ago, I was a young senator. I stood there and looked out. A phrase came to mind  it was instinctive  I said this must be ... this is God's cathedral, he said.

The president said he was proud that he could use his authority to protect more than a million acres near the site using the Antiquities Act, a century-old law enacted under Theodore Roosevelts administration which allows the president to designate monuments of natural, historical or cultural significance.

Mr Biden also said the monument designation would right the wrongs of the past and conserve this land of ancestral footprints for all future generations, though he lamented how the designation of Grand Canyon National Park had the effect of denying Native Americans full access to their homelands.

He noted that tribal activists had for decades fought to protect these lands from mining and development, to clear them of contamination, [and] to preserve their shared legacy for future generations, and reiterated his commitment to use his authority as president to prioritise respect for the tribal sovereignty and self-determination and honour the solemn promises the United States made to tribal nations to fulfil federal trust and treaty obligations.

My administration has worked alongside tribal leaders ... to keep that promise. At a time when some seek to ban books and bury history, we're making it clear that we can't just choose to learn only what we want to know. We should learn everything that's good or bad, the truth about who we are as a nation, he said. That's what great nations do.

Today's action is going to protect and preserve that history along with these high plateaus and deep canyons, majestic red cliffs over 300 million years old, he continued, adding later that preserving the lands he designated as a monument on Tuesday is good for Arizona, for the planet, for the US economy and for the soul of the nation.

But Mr Biden also said there is more work ahead for his administration when it comes to combatting the existential threat of climate change, citing the extreme heat that has hit Arizona and other western states in recent days.
President Biden will designate lands just outside Grand Canyon National Park a national monument, the fifth of his presidency, White House officials have confirmed.

The president will make the announcement Tuesday as part of a visit to Arizona, senior Biden administration officials confirmed on a call with reporters.

The Obama administration in 2012 implemented a 20-year prohibition on any new uranium mining in the area; the new designation would make it permanent. A White House official confirmed the designation will not affect existing mineral rights on the site, and said it represents just more than 1 percent of known uranium reserves in the U.S.

The designation of the Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument has long been sought by Native American tribes who hold the area sacred. It has also been a major ask among state and federal lawmakers. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) joined tribal leaders in a letter in April calling for the designation.

Last week, Grijalva also pointed to polling, commissioned by an organization that supports the designation, which indicated a majority of Arizonans support the national monument.

Tribal leaders had called for the designation of about 1.1 million acres, but officials confirmed the full designation would be 917,000, saying some of the land falls outside federal jurisdiction and that Bidens authority under the Antiquities Act allows for the designation of the smallest area compatible with proper care and management of the objects to be protected. However, they also confirmed the entire area covered by the Obama designation will remain closed to new mining.

Officials on the call touted the administrations record on conservation, noting his restoration of protections for 9 million acres of the Tongass National Forest in Alaska as well as protections for Alaskas Bristol Bay and Minnesotas Boundary Waters.

But the administration also came under fire this year after approving the Willow Project, a massive oil drilling project in Alaska, following intense lobbying from state officials and Alaskas congressional delegation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
TUSAYAN  President Joe Biden will designate a new national monument north and south of Grand Canyon National Park on Tuesday to preserve Native American cultural sites and protect the region from new uranium mining, the administration confirmed.

The Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni-Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument protects thousands of sites that are sacred to the Havasupai, Hopi, Hualapai, Paiute, Navajo, Yavapai-Apache, Zuni and Colorado River Indian Tribes, the administration said. Its name comes from the Havasupai words baaj nwaavjo for where Indigenous peoples roam, and the Hopi words itah kukveny for our ancestral footprints.

Native American history is American history, U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said, and this monument will give tribal members a voice in managing lands where they and their ancestors have long lived, farmed and prayed.

The president and this administration see Indian Country, said Haaland, herself a member of the Laguna Pueblo tribe. I am speaking to you as the first Native American cabinet member as a testament to that. Feeling seen means being appreciated for who we are, the original stewards of our shared lands and waters.

Biden arrived in Tusayan around 6:30 p.m. Monday, met by Reps. Raul Grijalva and Ruben Gallego, both D-Ariz. The president plans to announce on Tuesday his creation of a monument to be managed under a co-stewardship system with tribes with deep connections to the canyon and region. Officials said a commission will be appointed to determine how co-stewardship will progress.

The monument will span 917,618 acres of federal forest and range lands, including the Marble Canyon area in the northeast, Kaibab National Forest lands south of Grand Canyon, and areas around the Kanab Creek drainage on the west side of the Kaibab Plateau.

The monument is slightly smaller than the 1.1 million-acre footprint that had been proposed. Administration officials said private and state inholdings within the monument will not be included.

The designation will make permanent the moratorium on new uranium claims in much of the acreage where President Barack Obama imposed it in 2012. It will protect existing livestock grazing leases and hunting, fishing and recreational access.

Biden will also use his northern Arizona visit to draw attention to a $44 million investment from the Inflation Reduction Act in climate resilience across the national parks system.

'A sacred place': Advocates for new Grand Canyon protections rally in hopes Biden will act

Monument will raise new debate over uranium mining

Dust blows across House Rock Valley, March 28, 2022, south of the Vermillion Cliffs, Arizona. This area would be in the new Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni  Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument.

The new monument is already drawing critical reaction. Although it won't shut down valid existing mineral claims, including one at a uranium mine south of Tusayan called the Pinyon Plain Mine, the company operating that mine, Energy Fuels, Inc., said the administrations opposition to uranium mining in the region harms Americas nuclear energy industry and the larger effort at creating carbon-free energy.

These small, highly protective mines that contain lots of carbon-free energy should be celebrated, not vilified, Energy Fuels spokesman Curtis Moore said. We implore people to follow the science.

Tribes, especially the Havasupai people whose reservation is in the Canyon and contains aquamarine springs that flow to the Colorado River, worry that uranium mining will contaminate their water and all life in the area. Havasupai Tribal Councilwoman Dianna Sue White Dove Uqualla said the whole region, from the Pinyon Plain Mine to Havasupai Falls and beyond, is sacred to the tribe.

The monument, with its inclusive management plan, is a critical nod to the wisdom of ancestors both Native and non-Native, she said. Its really something that has to be now, she said. Its for all two-legged people on the world.

The Grand Canyon has always been a place where tribes welcomed each other to practice their cultures and take spiritual medicine from the waters, Uqualla said. She praised the administration for tapping tribal knowledge of the area and said the collaborative stewardship will benefit all who love the Grand Canyon region. It will help us all come together, she said.

Havasupai officials invited Haaland to their reservation earlier this year for what the Interior secretary on Monday described as one of the most meaningful trips of her life.

I hiked many majestic miles down to Supai Village, Haaland said, where I had the honor of visiting Havasupai Falls and experiencing the clear, blue-green waters that flow from the spring-fed streams. I witnessed the deep connection that the Havasupai people have with the land and the waters that have sustained them since time immemorial.

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, center, with Havasupai Tribal Council members and the Guardians of the Grand Canyon during her visit to Supai on May 20, 2023.

The question of whether current or historic uranium mining threatens those or other waters entering the Colorado River at the Grand Canyon is a matter of debate. Mining supporters point to U.S. Geological Survey analysis that did not find evidence of contamination, while opponents say there are insufficient test wells or data to determine where or when contaminated groundwater might surface.

History and culture: Indigenous people find legal, cultural barriers to protect sacred spaces off tribal lands

A history of presidents creating monuments

Bidens Grand Canyon-area announcement echoes a similar but more politically contentious trip that then-President Bill Clinton made to the national park in 1996. Thats when Clinton, on the re-election trail, announced his creation of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in southern Utah, in part to head off coal mining there.

Two decades later, then-President Barack Obama designated Utahs Bears Ears National Monument, in part to protect Native American ancestral and sacred sites. Both of those monuments faced fierce opposition within Utah, and the Trump administration would later downsize them before Biden restored protections.

In March, Biden designated a monument in southern Nevada, Avi Kwa Ame, a desert mountain that Indigenous communities in Nevada, California and Arizona consider sacred.

Those exercises of a presidents Antiquity Act powers to preserve areas of cultural or scientific significance differed from this newest monument in that both Arizona senators support it. Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Arizona, also has advocated for a Grand Canyon-area monument since the Obama administration, and on Monday he thanked the administration and others who made it happen.

First and foremost, I want to extend my sincerest and most heartfelt gratitude to the tribes who have stood firm in their quest to make the Grand Canyon a beacon of conservation and cultural preservation, no matter the obstacle or threat, Grijalva said in a written statement. Standing alongside them on this journey has been one of the greatest honors of my life.

Mohave County, which includes the new monuments northwestern segment, opposed its creation and was scheduled to host Republican state lawmakers for a public hearing about it Monday evening. Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Arizona, also opposed what he called a land grab, the same term used by the BlueRibbon Coalition, an organization that advocates for motorized recreation on public lands.

This designation will weaken the American economy, it will weaken America geopolitically, and it will lock the American people out of their public lands, BlueRibbon Coalition Executive Director Ben Burr said in a written statement.

After his Arizona appearance, Biden is scheduled to visit New Mexico and Utah, where he will discuss more of his administrations environmental priorities and investments.

Brandon Loomis covers environmental and climate issues for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Reach him at brandon.loomis@arizonarepublic.com or follow on Twitter @brandonloomis.

Environmental coverage on azcentral.com and in The Arizona Republic is supported by a grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Follow The Republic's environmental reporting team at environment.azcentral.com and @azcenvironment on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can support environmental journalism in Arizona by subscribing to azcentral.com today

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Biden plans national monument to buffer Grand Canyon National Park
A group of nearly 30 House Republicans are pressing Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm over her recently disclosed talks with a Chinese government official ahead of the Biden administration's decision to tap emergency oil stocks.

In a letter to Granholm sent Monday afternoon, 29 Republicans led by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers expressed concern that the energy secretary privately consulted China National Energy Administration Chairman Zhang Jianhua, a senior member of the Chinese Communist Party, before the White House announced its first Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) release.

According to internal Department of Energy (DOE) calendars obtained by Americans for Public Trust and shared last week with Fox News Digital, Granholm held private calls with Jianhua on Nov. 19, 2021, and two days later on Nov. 21, 2021. On Nov. 23, 2021, the White House announced a release of 50 million barrels of oil from the SPR.

"We are troubled by recent reports that you, in your official capacity as Secretary of Energy, had multiple conversations with the Chinese Communist Partys top energy official just days before the Biden administration announced it would release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in 2021," McMorris Rodgers and the other Republicans wrote.

BIDEN ENERGY SECRETARY TORCHED AFTER FOX NEWS DIGITAL REVEALS SECRET TALKS WITH TOP CCP OFFICIAL

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers led the effort in pressing Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm on Monday.

"This is concerning given the Department of Energys mismanagement of the SPR, which has left our country more vulnerable to energy supply disruptions and strengthened the leverage of our adversaries to use energy as a geopolitical weapon," the Republicans continued.

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Republicans have repeatedly raised the alarm on the Biden administration's SPR policy, noting that it has drained the critical emergency stock of crude oil while potentially giving an advantage to adversaries who have built up their reserves in the meantime.

MORE THAN 150 REPUBLICANS UNITE TO CONDEMN BIDEN'S 'ILL-CONSIDERED' ELECTRIC VEHICLE PUSH

Since November 2021, Biden has ordered the DOE to release a total of about 260 million barrels of oil stored in the SPR to combat high fuel prices hitting American consumers.

The SPR's level has fallen to about 347.8 million barrels of oil, the lowest level since August 1983 , according to Energy Information Administration data released Monday. The current level is roughly 42% lower than its level recorded days prior to the November 2021 release.

The DOE told Fox News Digital that Granholm only held one conversation with Jianhua, a 30-minute call one day before the White House announcement. The calendars reviewed by Fox News Digital do not indicate the Nov. 19, 2021, meeting was canceled.

Granholm spoke with China National Energy Administration Chairman Zhang Jianhua shortly before the White House announced a large release of oil from U.S. stocks.

"Some in Washington may have forgotten that diplomacy works by picking up the phone to talk to allies and competitors. Secretary Granholm helped convince nations to take decisive actions to bring relief to American families following the COVID pandemic," a DOE spokesperson said in a statement.

"Well continue to push past efforts to divide and distract from the progress the Biden Administration is delivering for the American people, including the fastest economic recovery in 30 years," the spokesperson continued.

Gasoline prices skyrocketed after the administration's SPR releases, hitting an all-time high in June 2022. According to AAA data, gas prices hit $3.83 a gallon Monday, nearly 13% higher than they were a day before Biden announced the first release.

BIDEN ADMIN PULLS GRANT FOR ENERGY FIRM WITH CHINESE TIES IN STUNNING REVERSAL

In addition, the Biden administration has sold at least 2 million barrels of oil from the SPR to Unipec, an affiliate of the state-controlled China Petrochemical Corp. Jianhua, who met with Granholm in 2021, served in a leadership role for years at the China Petrochemical Corp., Reuters previously reported.

The first such sale was part of an SPR sale of 20 million barrels awarded to eight companies in September 2021. The other two  both sales for 950,000 barrels of oil  came in April 2022 and July 2022.

"As a result of this administrations war on American energy and political abuse of the SPR, Americans have become more vulnerable to true energy and national security emergencies while China has profited," the Republicans wrote to Granholm.

"China now likely controls one of the worlds largest stockpiles of oil, at the expense of American taxpayers and our energy security," the Republicans continued in their letter to Granholm on Monday. "The Biden administration has helped support Chinas national security at the expense of our own security by using our strategic energy supplies to help the Chinese build up their own strategic reserves."

"China poses one of the greatest economic, security, and geopolitical threats to the United States, while continuing to be one the worlds worst polluters," they added. "As a result of this administrations war on American energy and political abuse of the SPR, Americans have become more vulnerable to true energy and national security emergencies while China has profited."

As part of its announcement in November 2021, the White House said it was releasing oil from U.S. reserves in conjunction with "other major energy consuming nations including China."

President Biden, though, said in remarks after the announcement that China "may do more as well," and Granholm told reporters during a separate press briefing that China "will make its own announcement."
Tusayan, Arizona  President Biden issued a presidential proclamation Tuesday establishing a new national monument to protect nearly 1 million acres of land around the Grand Canyon in northern Arizona.

The new national monument is meant to preserve the ancestral land that is sacred to several Native American tribes in the area. The national monument is known as Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni  Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, drawing upon the Havasupai and Hopi languages.

The president signed the proclamation at the Grand Canyon, flanked by Native American leaders and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema. His visit was part of a three-state swing out West meant to emphasize his climate agenda and economic policies.

"I've made a commitment as president to prioritize and respect the tribal sovereignty in self-determination," Mr. Biden said. "To honor the solemn promises the United States made to tribal nations to fulfill federal trust to treaty obligations. I pledge to keep using all of that available authority to protect sacred tribal lands. ... At a time when some seek to ban books and bury history, we're making it clear that we can't just choose to learn only what we want to know. We should learn everything that's good, bad  the truth about who we are as a nation. That's what great nations do."

President Biden signs a proclamation establishing the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni  Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, at the Historic Red Butte Airfield in Tusayan, Arizona, on Aug. 8, 2023. / Credit: JONATHAN ERNST / REUTERS

Establishing this area as a national monument effectively bans any new uranium and other hard-rock mining leases in the area. But more than 3,000 mining leases that existed before 2012  when a 20-year pause on new leases was put in place by the Obama administration  will be allowed to continue.

Responding to mining industry concerns about potentially limiting uranium production for nuclear energy use, one official who previewed the announcement said "significant" uranium resources can be found elsewhere, since only 1.3% of the known domestic uranium resources in the U.S. are located in this area.

Officials also said no private property or existing hunting, fishing and grazing land will be impacted by the new national monument.

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, the first Native American Cabinet secretary, welcomed the announcement and said this decision reiterates that "Native American history is American history."

Haaland also said this national monument honors the hard work by Havasupai tribal leaders to preserve their ancestral homelands after they were "driven out" by the federal government in 1919 to form the Grand Canyon National Park.

"Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument will help address past injustices and create a partnership between the United States and the region's tribal nations in caring for these lands," Haaland said.

Tuesday's presidential proclamation outlines a "co-stewardship" model of management for this land between the federal government and tribal leaders, along with input from a commission of local and state leaders.

This marks the fifth national monument the president has established so far. The others are located in Illinois and Mississippi, Texas, Nevada and Colorado.

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President Joe Biden on Tuesday established a new national monument protecting nearly 1 million acres of federal lands adjacent to Grand Canyon National Park from uranium mining and other development.

The site, named Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni  Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, spans approximately 917,000 acres north and south of the park. It is Bidens fifth national monument designation as president and advances the administrations goal of protecting 30% of the nations lands and waters by 2030.

It will also help address past injustices by safeguarding Native American ancestral homelands, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said during a call with reporters Monday.

It will help protect lands that many tribes refer to as their eternal home, a place of healing and a source of spiritual sustenance, Haaland said. It will protect objects of historic and scientific importance for the benefit of tribes, the public and for future generations.

Several area tribes, including the Havasupai, Hopi and Hualapai, have deep cultural and spiritual ties to the greater Grand Canyon landscape. Baaj Nwaavjo means where tribes roam in the Havasupai language. Itah Kukveni means our footprints in Hopi. A coalition of tribes lobbied Biden to designate a monument using his power under the Antiquities Act of 1906, citing the potential adverse impacts of uranium extraction to cultural sites and water resources.

The Grand Canyon region is sacred to each of us; it is a place where we see and understand our history, the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition said in a statement celebrating Bidens action. It is vital to our future as an eternal home and source of spiritual sustenance. Although many of our people were unjustly removed from these lands, our connections to this place and our responsibility to protect it remains strong.

Biden signed a proclamation establishing the protected site during a visit to Arizona on Tuesday. He reflected on his first visit to the area as a young U.S. senator and said there is no national treasure  none  that is grander than the Grand Canyon.

Over the years, hundreds of millions of people have traveled to the Grand Canyon, awed by its majesty, Biden said. But fewer are aware of its full history. From time immemorial, more than a dozen tribal nations have lived, gathered, prayed on these lands. But some 100 years ago they were forced out. That very act of preserving the Grand Canyon as a national park was used to deny Indigenous people full access to their homelands.

At a time when some seek to ban books and bury history, were making it clear that we cant just choose to learn only what we want to know, he added. We should learn everything thats good, bad and the truth about who we are as a nation.

Only with truth comes healing and justice.

An aerial view of Kaibab National Forest, on the border of the Grand Canyon, in Arizona.

An aerial view of Kaibab National Forest, on the border of the Grand Canyon, in Arizona.

Bidens designation effectively cements a 20-year mining ban that the Obama administration put in place in 2012. It will not affect existing mining claims or the two active mining operations within the monuments boundary.

The monument will preserve the status quo by not allowing new mining claims to be put into effect, a senior administration official told reporters Monday, noting that the area contains 1.3% of the nations known uranium reserves.

But mining interests havecondemned Bidens upcoming move, arguing it doesnt square with the administrations broader effort to combat climate change and boost carbon-free energy.

The US is rich in uranium. But US nuclear plants use almost no domestic uranium, while Russia and its allies supply nearly 50%, mining company Energy Fuels tweeted late last month. The Biden Administration aims to support domestic nuclear & clean energy, but an ill-designed monument could hobble those efforts.

Haaland, the first Native American Cabinet secretary in U.S. history, stressed the importance of Indigenous knowledge in public land management and said sites within the new monument are much more than a passthrough on the way to the Grand Canyon.

They are sacred and significant in their own right, Haaland said Monday. They should not be opened to new mining claims and developed beyond recognition. We are in a new era, one in which we honor tribally led conservation, advance co-stewardship and care about the well-being of Native people.

A map of Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni  Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument.

A map of Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni  Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument.

The United States fleet of just over 90 nuclear reactors  the largest of any nation  run primarily on uranium fuel imported from overseas. Kazakhstan provided 35% of U.S. nuclear fuel in 2021, the most recent year for which there are federal statistics, followed by Canada at 15%. Australia and Russia each provided another 14%. The U.S. produced just 5% of its own uranium.

Thats a big shift from the 1970s, when the U.S. imported virtually no uranium. Domestic production maxed out in 1980, when the country produced over 43 million pounds of uranium oxide. From there, production fell sharply, declining steadily throughout the 1990s as the Clinton-era megatons for megawatts program  which saw the U.S. buy Russian nuclear fuel made of disassembled Soviet warheads  priced U.S. fuel enrichers out of the market.

But that relationship made the U.S. and its allies so dependent on Russia that Rosatom, the state-owned nuclear company, has avoided the sanctions heaped on the Kremlins other energy businesses in the wake of Moscows invasion of Ukraine. Congress has given the Biden administration money to invest in domestic uranium supply chains, and lawmakers from both parties are pushing for more efforts to make the U.S. an alternative to Russia or China in nuclear technology.

In 2019, annual U.S. production of uranium oxide dropped below 1 million pounds for the first time since 1950, and has creeped lower since. Imports  while down from a peak in 2004  ticked upward again in 2021.

The U.S. has shuttered more than a dozen reactors over the past decade as natural gas, made cheap by the fracking revolution, put atomic plants out of business  part of a global trend of increasing fossil fuel usage to make up for lost nuclear output. But the race to get off planet-heating fossil fuels and stem the influx of blackouts in the U.S. has put a premium on the 24/7, carbon-free electricity nuclear reactors generate.

Between a wave of new government subsidies and the milestone completion of the countrys first advanced nuclear reactor last week in Georgia, the nuclear industry looks increasingly primed to reverse its downward trajectory.

If the U.S. revives its uranium industry to fuel its new or existing reactors, Arizona is a likely location for at least some future production. The northern region on the Colorado Plateau features what the Uranium Producers of America described as the highest grade deposits identified in the United States. The Grand Canyon sits right in the middle of the yellow-shaped area of a map that the trade group illustrated to show where ore can be found  but the deposit stretches well beyond the contours of the new monument.

Other states with known uranium deposits include Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.

But in Arizona, uranium mining left a fraught legacy with Navajo people in particular, many of whom participated in early mining and were paid minimum wage or less and not given the same protective gear as non-Indigenous workers, according to a 2002 study funded through a federal grant and approved by an official Navajo Nation research review board.

Signs warning of health risks are posted outside the gates of an abandoned uranium mine in the community of Red Water Pond, New Mexico, in January 2020.

Signs warning of health risks are posted outside the gates of an abandoned uranium mine in the community of Red Water Pond, New Mexico, in January 2020.

In June last year, the Environmental Protection Agency gave the Ute Mountain Ute tribe in Arizona a $75,000 grant to study whether the nations only remaining mill is responsible for an uptick in cancer in neighboring reservation communities. The results arent due until 2025.

It would be far from the first instance of the U.S. governments decarbonization efforts coming into conflict with Native Americans against whom it waged genocidal wars just a few generations earlier. The Ave Kwa Ame monument Biden designated in March closed a sun-soaked region of Nevada off from solar development, despite proposals by a series of photovoltaics companies. Various tribes around the Silver State are fighting to block what could become the largest U.S. mine producing lithium, the key ingredient in electric-vehicle batteries which requires huge amounts of water to unearth.

The Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition, which includes a dozen area tribes, had advocated for a larger 1.1 million-acre monument boundary. Asked about the smaller footprint of Bidens designation, a senior administration official said the monument does not include private or state lands and that a lot of careful thought was put into the final boundary.

The new monument follows Bidens recent designations of the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument in Mississippi and Illinois; Castner Range National Monument in Texas; Avi Kwa Ame National Monument in Nevada; and the Camp Hale- Continental Divide National Monument in Colorado.

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Bazoum became Niger's fifth leader to be overthrown since independence in 1960 (Issouf SANOGO)

Nigeria's president has not ruled out military intervention in neighbouring Niger after its president was ousted in a coup but believes diplomacy is the "best way forward" to resolve the crisis, his spokesman said Tuesday.

Bola Tinubu, also head of the West African bloc ECOWAS, weighed in for the first time since the soldiers behind the coup in Niger defied the bloc's Sunday deadline to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum or face the possible use of force.

Meanwhile efforts by ECOWAS and the United States to parlay with Niger's new rulers have made no headway ahead of a crisis summit in the Nigerian capital Abuja on Thursday.

"No options have been taken off of the table," Tinubu's spokesman Ajuri Ngelale said, while adding that Tinubu and other West African leaders favour a diplomatic solution.

The United States said it still held out hope for reversing the coup but was "realistic" a day after a top US envoy appeared to make no progress in an unannounced visit.

"We do have hope that the situation will be reversed but at the same time, we are making clear, including in direct conversations with junta leaders themselves, what the consequences are for failing to return to constitutional order," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.

- Path to dialogue -

ECOWAS -- the Economic Community of West African States -- imposed trade and financial sanctions on Niger after the rebel soldiers toppled Bazoum.

The bloc also gave Niger a seven-day ultimatum to reinstate Bazoum or face potential use of force.

A source close to ECOWAS said Monday that military intervention was not being immediately envisaged and that the path to dialogue still appeared open.

The bloc had sought to send a delegation to Niamey on Tuesday ahead of the crisis summit due to be held in Abuja on Thursday.

But the soldiers who seized power in Niamey on July 26 blocked the mission, saying public "anger" triggered by the bloc's sanctions meant the delegation's safety could be at risk.

In a statement, ECOWAS confirmed that the visit by a joint delegation with African Union and United Nations officials had been refused by Niger's new military rulers.

- US envoy -

ECOWAS is struggling with a cascade of coups since 2020 that have now hit four of its 15 members.

In Mali, Burkina Faso and now Niger, all of the takeovers have been fuelled by jihadist insurgencies that have claimed many thousands of lives, forced at least two million from their homes and dealt crippling blows to some of the world's poorest economies.

On Monday, Victoria Nuland, a veteran US envoy, met with Niger's military rulers for more than two hours but came away empty-handed.

She described her talks as "extremely frank and at times quite difficult".

She said she offered the coup leaders "a number of options" to end the crisis and restore relations with the United States, which like other Western nations has suspended aid.

"I would not say that we were in any way taken up on that offer," she told reporters before her departure.

Niger's new strongman, General Abdourahamane Tiani, did not attend the meeting, and Nuland was unable to see Bazoum, who has been detained since July 26.

- Warnings -

The military leaders in Mali and Burkina Faso have expressed solidarity with Niger, saying that any military intervention would be seen as a "declaration of war" against them.

Algeria, which shares a long land border with Niger, has also cautioned against a military incursion, which President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said would be "a direct threat" to his country.

Bazoum, 63, was feted in 2021 after winning elections that ushered in Niger's first-ever peaceful transition of power.

He took the helm of a country burdened by four previous coups since independence, and survived two attempted putsches before he himself was ousted.

His support was a key factor in France's decision last year to refocus its Sahel anti-jihadist mission on Niger after withdrawing from Mali and Burkina Faso.

France has 1,500 troops in Niger and the United States has 1,000 personnel, most of whom are deployed at two major air bases.

Mali and Burkina Faso sent letters Tuesday to the United Nations and the African Union, calling on them to prevent "military intervention against Niger" where the security and humanitarian consequences of such action "would be unpredictable".

bur/ri/gw/js
A Black defendant has received a new trial in a Michigan court after a district judge, who is white, said that the defendant looks like a criminal.

The Washington Post reported that in a 3-0 decision, an appeals court panel of judges ruled to overturn Leron Ligginss 2021 drug conviction and the decade-long prison sentence he was serving on the matter, giving Liggins the opportunity to seek a new trial.

The panel also ruled that the previous remarks made by U.S. District Judge Stephen J. Murphy III in a January 2020 hearing could be understood to demonstrate clear prejudgment of Liggins guilt.

Murphy, who was appointed by former president George W. Bush, expressed his frustration with presiding over Liggins, as the defendant moved to switch attorneys twice. Murphy, who presided over Ligginss case for two years at the time, said he was tired of getting the runaround.

Liggins was indicted by a federal grand jury in Michigan on one count of conspiracy to possess heroin with intent to distribute in February 2018, according to the Post.

This guy looks like a criminal to me, Murphy said of Liggins. This is what criminals do.

Murphy, who also oversaw Ligginss separate drug case he had in Kentucky, spoke about Ligginss inability to work with his two previous attorneys and denied the defendant the opportunity to speak during the hearing, according to the ruling.

Hes alleged to be dealing heroin, which addicts, hurts and kills people, and hes playing games with the court, Murphy told Ligginss attorney. Do you agree?

I cant argue with your logic, Ligginss attorney said.

The case, which was delayed due to COVID-19, allowing time to Liggins to find his third and fourth attorneys, came to a conclusion in which his trial date was set for October 2021, the ruling stated.

This is where Liggins requested Murphys recusal the day before the trial, citing the judges remarks during the January 2020 hearing. Murphy denied the motion for recusal, according to the Post.

I was mad, I was hostile, I was disapproving, and I regret it, Murphy said in his apology to Liggins in court, noting he lost my head. I made a mistake by yelling like that, but I wasnt upset or concluding that Mr. Liggins was  was guilty of an offense or hostile or partial toward him.

This comes as the panel determined with their decision that [i]nstead of maintaining the decorum essential to the administration of justice, the district judge permitted himself to make personal and condemnatory remarks about the criminal defendant before him.

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Eric Clay also wrote in Thursdays ruling that he and other judges were concerned with the language Murphy used to describe the defendant due to being directed toward Liggins, an African American man.

In this case, the risk of undermining the publics confidence in the judicial process is significant, Clay wrote in his opinion, saying that Murphys courtroom apology for his remark did not adequately resolve the problem, the Post reported.

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A Black man in the state of Michigan has had his drug conviction vacated because a white district court judge said the man looks like a criminal to me, according to a federal appellate court ruling.

Earlier this year, 34-year-old Leron Liggins was sentenced to 10-and-a-half years in federal prison by US District Court Judge Stephen J Murphy. Now, however, Mr Liggins wont have to serve a day of that sentence after the appellate court ruled that his conviction is null due to Mr Murphys conduct.

Mr Murphys statement that Mr Liggins looks like a criminal, which came in January 2020, was apparently not the only prejudiced remark the judge made about the then-defendant.

The appellate court wrote that it ultimately does not matter whether Mr Murphy was actually prejudiced against Mr Liggins  that the appearance of prejudice alone was enough to necessitate the vacation of the conviction.

In its judgement, the court wrote that it must consider the interpretation that a reasonable observer of this public hearing could have made, for we must guard against not only actual bias but also the appearance of bias, which demeans the reputation and integrity of the court of which the district judge is a part.

At one point during the trial, after Mr Murphys looks like a criminal comment, Mr Murphy reportedly apologised to Mr Liggins for losing his temper and stated that he was not biased against him. Mr Murphy said he was frustrated with repeated delays in Mr Liggins case, which began in 2018.

That, however, was not enough for the appellate court to consider allowing Mr Liggins conviction to stand.

The complexity or long duration of a criminal case gives no license to a district court to prejudge the defendants guilt or otherwise dispose of the case in any manner except through fair proceedings, the appellate court said.

Mr Liggins will now likely face a new trial held before another judge. According to a release from the US Department of Justice, Mr Liggins, a resident of Southfield, Michigan, has been charged with one count of participating in a drug conspiracy and one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin.

Mr Liggins attorney, Wade Fink, told CNN that the appellate court ruled correctly  even if he harbours no personal animosity toward Mr Murphy.

I want to be very clear that I have the utmost respect for Judge Murphy and people should not assume anything about his character, Mr Fink told the network. Criminal Justice requires not just actual fairness but the appearance of it, too.
The Detroit Police Department mistakenly arrested a mother of three based on a false match using facial recognition software, according to a lawsuit against the department.

The case, according to civil rights advocates, highlights the dangers of bias in using such technologies in police work, which studies have shown do a poor job of matching images of non-white people.

Early on the morning of 16 February, six Detroit police officers arrived outside the door of Porcha Woodruff, 32.

Porcha Woodruff (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Ms Woodruff, 32, was eight months pregnant at the time, and was helping her two children get ready for school.

Police informed the mother, who is Black, that she was under arrest for a January carjacking and robbery.

Are you kidding, carjacking? Do you see that I am eight months pregnant? she told officers, according to a federal lawsuit filed last week.

She later learned police identified her as a suspect after running security footage through the departments facial recognition software, then putting a 2015 mugshot from a past arrest into a photo lineup where the carjacking victim singled out Ms Woodruff as her assailant.

Though officials later dropped the case, Ms Woodruff argues in the suit the whole incident, which allegedly led her to suffer stress, dehydration, and stress-induced contractions, is an illustration of the dangers of biased facial-recognition software.

Despite its potential, law enforcements reliance on facial recognition has led to wrongful arrests, causing humiliation, embarrassment, and physical injury, as evident in this particular incident, the complaint alleges.

Detroit Police said they are investigation her claims.

We are taking this matter very seriously, but we cannot comment further at this time due to the need for additional investigation, Chief James White told CNN in a statement. We will provide further information once additional facts are obtained and we have a better understanding of the circumstances.

The mistaken arrest is believed to be at least the sixth such incident in the US, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.

Three of those have occured at the DPD, which began using facial recognition technology in 2018, according to the organisation, and all six of those wrongly arrested around the US have been Black.

Its deeply concerning that the Detroit Police Department knows the devastating consequences of using flawed facial recognition technology as the basis for someones arrest and continues to rely on it anyway, Phil Mayor, senior staff attorney at ACLU of Michigan, wrote in a statement. As Ms. Woodruffs horrifying experience illustrates, the Departments use of this technology must end. Furthermore, the DPD continues to hide its abuses of this technology, forcing people whose rights have been violated to expose its wrongdoing case by case. DPD should not be permitted to avoid transparency and hide its own misconduct from public view at the same time it continues to subject Detroiters to dragnet surveillance.

In 2019, a 25-year-old Black man named Michael Oliver was wrongly accused of felony charges of stealing and breaking a teachers cell phone.

Facial recognition software convinced police to put his photo in a lineup, even though he had visible tattos, and a different body type, skin tone, and hair style than the individual involved in the alleged theft.

The following year, Robert Julian-Borchak was arrested in front of his family for an alleged theft from a high-end Detroit Shinola boutique.

His name was given to police after a security contractor sent surveillance video to the DPD, which forwarded the footage to the Michigan State Police, who matched Mr Borchaks name using a facial recognition tool.

The case was later dismissed.

This is not me, Robert Julian-Borchak Williams told police during his investigation, according to The New York Times. You think all Black men look alike?

Facial-recognition tools can suffer from whats known as algorithmic bias, certain preferences built into ostensibly neutral technologies because of their creation by biased human beings.

Facial ID tools, for example, are often trained on large data sets of images, and using a data set that isnt diverse can breed technologies that fail to accurately identify people of colour.
A Boston musician has filed suit against white supremacist group Patriot Front nearly a year after he claimed members of the organization beat him on the street.

Charles Murrell III, a Black music teacher and musician, was near Boston Public Library on July 2, 2022, when he was approached and beaten by a group of Patriot Front members, the suit alleges.

The white supremacist group performed a march down the Boston Freedom Trail carrying banners reading Reclaim America and fascist imagery. The suit alleges that the group encountered Murrell on the sidewalk and proceeded to punch, kick and beat him with their metal shields.

The men were unidentifiable due to face coverings except for the groups leader, Thomas Ryan Rousseau.

The suit alleges Rousseau and the group violated Murrells civil rights and seeks civil damages for physical and emotional distress.

This attack left me with both physical and emotional injuries. While I am still trying to heal, I hope that this healing will be broader than salving my own wounds, Murrell said in a statement.

As a Black man and an educator, I feel like every Black and Brown child is my own. If this lawsuit helps keep even one of them  one person  safe from violent white supremacists, some justice will have been served.

Patriot Front is a known white supremacist group which has advocated for a white ethnostate in America. It has been declared a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Over 30 members of the group, including Rousseau, were arrested last June  a few weeks before the Boston march  in Coeur dAlene, Idaho on charges of conspiracy to riot at a pro-LGBTQ rally in the town.

Patriot Fronts demonstrations in Boston were racially motivated and the product of considerable planning and coordination, the suit reads. Patriot Front members who marched along Bostons Freedom Trail and in the shadow of historic Boston buildings and landmarks were primed and ready to commit acts of violence against any perceived opponents that crossed their path.

Murrell claims in the suit that he continues to suffer emotional distress from the attack, including routine nightmares and flashbacks.

Nobody has been criminally charged for Murrells beating, but an investigation is still open, local prosecutors told The Associated Press.

Human Rights First, a nonprofit which has joined the suit, said it is intended to stop the organization.

One way we can check the growth of anti-democratic extremism in the United States and the associated violence it engenders is impactful litigation like this case, Human Rights First attorney Licha Nyiendo said. By using the courts to bring a measure of accountability, we hope that the senseless trauma brought on Charles Murrell can result in not only justice, but profound positive societal change.

The suit lists the history of the group, including its founding after the 2017 Charlottesville, Virginia Unite the Right march and its split from a larger white supremacist group. It also lists actions the group has taken credit for, including defacing monuments and murals to Black figures.

A similar suit resulted in a $25 million judgment against the organizers of that Charlottesville rally in 2021. Advocates for Murrells case want the same outcome.

These violent neo-Nazis have seen such little accountability. This lawsuit seeks to change that, holding Patriot Front accountable for its brutal attack on Mr. Murrell  and we know that legal accountability can have significant financial and operational impacts, because we saw it firsthand in our Charlottesville case, Human Rights First advisor Amy Spitalnick said.

The Charlottesville lawsuit pushed leading extremists to bankruptcy and irrelevancy. We hope to do the same to Patriot Front in this case  to make clear there will be consequences for their violent hate, she added.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Protective styles are an excellent way for women to switch up their looks, especially during the summer. Unfortunately, the products used can cause scalp irritation, specifically synthetic hair extensions. Rebundle is a plant-based hair extension company doing its part to reimagine sustainability in the Black hair community. The companys founder Ciara Imani May initially created the brand to combat the itchy, irritated scalp that sometimes comes from the extensions used in protective styles. In doing so, May also learned about the importance of sustainability and found a way to make scalps and the Earth happy.

Black Business Month

During the month of August, Black-owned businesses are celebrated and uplifted. 21Ninety is highlighting several, Black women-owned companies that you should know. That includes Rebundle and its innovative offerings!

Sustainability in Black Hair Community

The Black hair industry, known for its vibrant innovation and influence, struggles with the urgent question of sustainability. Characterized by an extensive array of products catering to specific needs, this $2.5 billion industry carries significant environmental implications. Concerns like single-use plastics in packaging, chemically-intensive formulations, and the broader impact on health and the environment have surfaced. The ethics surrounding human hair sourcing for wigs and extensions is also gaining attention. Exploitative practices in this area remain problematic, reinforcing the urgency to promote ethical and fair trade standards.

During an interview with InStyle, May also touched on another issue that comes with synthetic hair, an itchy, irritated scalp.

There are many reasons why plastic synthetic braiding hair might cause the scalp to itch, May said. A lot of chemicals are used to give plastic synthetic hair the same shine, smoothness, and style as human hair extensions. These ingredients can easily cause a negative reaction on your scalp.

May continued that one in three people experience scalp irritation because of this.

These toxins are known carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, and huge pollutants in the environment, she explained. Unlike human hair, plastic synthetic hair isnt as breathable. With your natural hair hidden underneath the synthetic styles, theres potential for bacteria and irritation to form, causing itching and scalp inflammation. These irritations can then lead to further issues down the line, such as hair shedding and daily discomfort from your protective style.

Rebundle removes the worries of unknown, harsh chemicals by repurposing discarded banana stems, thus, creating sustainable and non-toxic hair extensions. According to the official website, the plant-based extensions are here for the eco-girl, the next-gen girlie, the cool mom of three, those with sensitive scalps, and every person in between who wears braids.

How to Care for Your Rebundle Hair

Currently, the plant-based hair comes in eight shades, but the website encourages customers to email in to suggest different hair colors. The hair comes in two lengths  22 inches or 30 inches  but since it is hand cut lengths may vary. People can use heat on their Rebundle extensions up to 350 degrees like other extensions. If you want to seal the hair, you can dip, flat iron, or curl the ends without worrying about melting.

Wearers can get a max of six weeks out of the hair and have the ability to wash and condition the hair while installed. If you dont wear it the full six weeks, then youre able to clean and reuse the hair.

The post Black-Owned, Plant-Based Hair Extension Company Reimagines Sustainability appeared first on 21Ninety.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Russias Wagner mercenary group is trying to take advantage of the ongoing stability in Niger after a coup attempt was launched late last month.

I think what happened, and what continues to happen in Niger was not instigated by Russia or by Wagner, but they tried to take advantage of it, he told BBC.

Blinken told the outlet that wherever Wagner has gone, death, destruction and exploitation have followed.

Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, head of Nigers presidential guard, has named himself head of a transitional government in the West African country after overthrowing democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum late last month.

The United States has avoided calling the takeover a coup, instead calling on Tchiani to reverse course. Niger hosts more than 1,000 U.S. troops in the country mainly for counterterrorism operations.

At the time of the military takeover last month, Wagner group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin released a statement in support of the attempted coup and offered his organizations services. A Wagner chat on Telegram said Prigozhin continues to strengthen the position and influence of Russia and Wagner in Africa.

The State Department has previously said that there is no evidence that Wagner was involved in the coup.

The U.S., France and regional leaders in Africa have been pushing for Nigers coup leaders to allow Bazoum to return to power. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), spearheaded by Nigeria, warned of potential military confrontation if the coup leaders refuse to back down by a Sunday deadline.

ECOWAS will meet on Thursday to discuss how to respond now that the deadline has passed.

Blinken reiterated in a separate interview with Radio France Internationale that the U.S. is focusing on diplomatic efforts to resolve the situation.

So, like other countries, we are trying to advance diplomacy to ensure a return to constitutional order, he said. What we are seeing in Niger is extremely troubling and provides nothing to the country and its people. On the contrary, the interruption of this constitutional order puts us, and many other countries, in a position where we have to stop our aid, our support, and this will not benefit the people of Niger.

Blinkens comments come after Victoria Nuland, the acting deputy secretary of state, held extremely frank and difficult talks with Nigers junta leaders to urge them to abandon their coup attempt.

We kept open the door to continue talking. But again, it was difficult today, and I will be straight up about that, she told reporters.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Toronto Blue Jays' Kevin Kiermaier catches a fly ball by Boston Red Sox's Luis Urias in the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

CLEVELAND (AP)  The Toronto Blue Jays placed center fielder Kevin Kiermaier on the 10-day injured list Tuesday after he cut his arm making a leaping catch against the wall in Boston on Sunday.

Kiermaier needed eight stitches to close the gash on his right forearm. In the sixth inning, Kiermaier raced back and jumped against the center-field wall to rob Red Sox infielder Luis Urias of extra bases.

But in making the grab, Kiermaier's arm scraped against a metal screen, causing the laceration.

A nasty Fenway Park cut, Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. Its a weird spot, so he cant really bend or extend, and if he does its going to re-open. Nothing structural, just a cut. Just let it heal and hopefully hell be back soon.

To take his spot, the Blue Jays recalled outfielder Nathan Lukes from Triple-A Buffalo.

The Blue Jays also got good news on starter Hyun Jin Ryu, who was struck on the right knee by a liner in Monday's win.

Schneider said X-rays on Ryu were negative. The left-hander was making just his second start after undergoing Tommy John surgery last year.

Schneider expects Ryu to make his next start on Sunday.

With the way he's feeling today, we're pretty optimistic he's going to be good, he said.

The 36-year-old South Korean went down in the infield grass after he was struck by the shot from Clevelands Oscar Gonzalez. Ryu retrieved the ball and threw out Gonzalez before collapsing to the right of the mound.

Schneider joked that he couldn't repeat what he said at the sight of Ryu going down.

Immediately, you think about everything he has done for the elbow and then to have a line drive hit his knee and think that can't be how this is going to end," Schneider said. He's tough. He's a big, strong dude. You saw everyone on the field huddle around him and were like, Dont let this be bad.'

We were holding our breath there, for sure.

___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Human remains found in a barrel in the Missouri River were identified last week as those of a woman considered a potential witness in the case against a Missouri man accused of holding a Black woman hostage in his basement.

At a hearing Monday seeking a bond increase for Timothy Haslett Jr., who is white, prosecutors said the woman found in the barrel, Jaynie Crosdale, "was inside" Haslett's home in Excelsior Springs before he was arrested in October.

The Clay County Prosecutor's Office, which did not provide further details, said it presented the evidence to the court.

Excelsior Springs police had identified Crosdale as a potential witness in Haslett's case in January and asked for the publics help in finding her. Authorities said at the time that they believed Crosdale had "information about the investigation."

She was later found dead after kayakers spotted her body in a blue barrel in the Missouri River, according to NBC affiliate KSNT of Topeka, Kansas. Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Immediately after police identified her remains last week, prosecutors filed a motion seeking a higher bond for Haslett, writing in a court filing that they had "concern for the safety of the community." Prosecutors said Hasletts bond of $3 million was "insufficient to insure the safety of the community and the victim."

The court ruled against increasing Haslett's bond. His attorney did not immediately reply to a request for comment Tuesday.

The home in Excelsior Springs, Mo., where neighbors raised the alarm. (Sarah Plake / KSHB)

Haslett was arrested in October after the 22-year-old unidentified victim escaped from his basement wearing a metal dog collar and ran to neighbors for help. The woman said she had been held captive and assaulted.

Lisa Johnson, a neighbor who helped the woman, said she was getting ready for work when she heard a faint "help me" from outside her front door.

"She looked straight at me and said 'help,'" Johnson has said.

Johnson said that the woman feared that Haslett would kill them both if the police were called but that she called authorities anyway.

"I understood where she was coming from at that point. But I did it anyway," she said.

Police said they found the woman wearing a metal collar with a padlock and latex lingerie, with duct tape around her mouth, according to a probable cause statement filed in October.

The woman said Haslett picked her up in early September and kept her in a small room in his basement, restraining her wrists and ankles with handcuffs, the document said. She said that she had been repeatedly raped and whipped and that she escaped when Haslett left to take his child to school, according to the probable cause document.

Haslett was indicted in February on one count of first-degree rape, four counts of first-degree sodomy, one count of first-degree kidnapping, two counts of second-degree assault and one count of endangering a child. He faces more than five life sentences if he is convicted.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Boeing's new astronaut taxi for NASA won't carry people this year after all.

The company had been targeting July 21 for the first-ever crewed launch of its Starliner capsule on a mission, known as Crew Flight Test (CFT), that will send NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams on a shakeout cruise to and from the International Space Station (ISS).

In early June, however, Boeing and NASA announced that CFT's liftoff had been delayed indefinitely due to newly discovered issues with Starliner's parachute system and its wiring. The company said those problems could potentially be resolved in time for a launch this fall, but that's not going to happen, Boeing and NASA officials said today (Aug. 7).

"Based on the current plans, we're anticipating that we're going to be ready with the spacecraft in early March," Mark Nappi, Boeing's Starliner vice president and program manager, said during a press conference today.

And that's just an anticipated spacecraft readiness date, he stressed; a target launch date has not yet been set.

Related: Starliner: Boeing's next-generation spaceship for astronauts

In September 2014, NASA selected Boeing and SpaceX to ferry agency astronauts to and from the ISS, awarding both companies multibillion-dollar contracts. SpaceX is fully up and running  it's scheduled to launch its seventh operational crewed flight to the orbiting lab on Aug. 25  but Starliner has just two uncrewed test missions under its belt to date.

The first of those, known as Orbital Flight Test (OFT), suffered a number of problems shortly after lifting off in December 2019 and failed to meet up with the ISS as planned. The follow-up, May 2022's uncrewed OFT-2, had better luck, successfully docking with the orbiting lab and returning safely to Earth.

Starliner's next big leap, CFT, has been pushed back repeatedly  from December 2022 to February 2023, for example, then to March, then to April, and then to July.

This latest slip results from two potential safety issues: Boeing engineers found that the "soft links" used on the suspension lines of Starliner's three main parachutes are not quite as robust as previously thought, and the company determined that the protective tape it used to wrap the capsule's many wires is flammable.

Boeing is taking the tape off in places where it's easy and safe to do so and considering other remediation techniques, such as protective barriers or coatings over it, in trickier spots, Nappi said.

The parachute work is multifaceted as well. For example, Boeing has modified the soft link design to make it stronger, and the new version is being manufactured now, Nappi said. The company also decided to swap out Starliner's parachute system, putting a new version slated for the first operational mission on board for CFT.

The new soft links will be incorporated into the new chutes, which will get to strut their stuff during a drop test soon.

"We expect that the drop test will occur in mid to late November," Nappi said. "That's what the planning indicates at this point, and we'll watch that closely."

Blue and white spacecraft parked with the Earth behind it.

RELATED STORIES:

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Boeing is on pace to finish the required work by early March, Nappi said. But there are other boxes to check as well before Starliner  and Wilmore and Williams  can take to the skies atop a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket.

"We're now working with NASA's Commercial Crew Program, ISS and ULA on potential launch dates based on our readiness," Nappi said. "It's a complicated manifest on ISS, as you all know, and the launch pad of ULA. So, we'll work that throughout the next several weeks and see where we can get fit in, and then we'll set a launch date."

Despite the delays, the company remains committed to Starliner and fulfilling its contractual obligations to NASA (at least seven crewed flights to the ISS, including CFT), Nappi added.

"We're very excited about it," he said. "This is a pretty exciting business."
Leer este articulo en espanol

Bright is a startup with a straightforward but tricky goal: to make it easier for homeowners and businesses to buy and install rooftop solar in Mexico.

Now the company has an additional $31.5 million in funding to try and make that happen.

Bright is building a software and finance platform meant to change the way Mexico's homeowners and businesses get connected to solar power. The startup allows installers in the country to provide prospective rooftop-solar customers with an array of financing options at no upfront cost.

Jonah Greenberger, Brights CEO, told Canary that the company provides solar installers and sales entrepreneurs with workflow automation, speedy customer-eligibility assessments, and underwriting to gain access to its finance partners, including the Inter-American Development Bank.

Back in 2015 when the company was founded, Greenberger told me his goal was to process 500 rooftops by the end of that year. He saw that as a good start for a small firm about to face cultural, organizational and financial challenges. Another of the CEOs goals was to improve his then-decent Spanish.

Eight years later, the CEO told me that Bright has helped install a total of more than 30 megawatts of distributed solar for 4,700 customers and has become Mexicos No. 1 financier of distributed solar.

It wasnt a direct or easy path.

A lot of startups have this challenge  to get enough scale to attract low-cost project finance. Project financiers really want to do $50-million-plus deals, and in our early days, it was hard to get to that scale. But in the last three years, we've grown over 100 percent year-over-year, said Greenberger, attributing the uptick to securing cost-effective project finance and automating a lot of sales and service processes, as well as the declining cost of solar. The CEO says his Spanish-speaking skills have improved too.

The Series C financing round was led by the IFU, Denmarks state-owned fund for investing in developing countries, and a long list of notable investors including Lynn Jurich and Edward Fenster, the founders of Sunrun, JB Straubel, co-founder of Tesla and current CEO of Redwood Materials, Grupo Bimbo president Daniel Servitje, Leonardo DiCaprio, First Round Capital, Y Combinator, and one of the biggest U.S. family offices.

Opportunities for solar in a challenging market

Mexico would seem to be an ideal place to install distributed solar power  the country is located in one of the sunniest parts of the world and has relatively high electricity rates. Net metering, a policy that pays solar customers for excess power they export to the grid, has been in place since 2010.

The countrys installed solar capacity is over 9.7 gigawatts, 2.6 gigawatts of which is distributed solar, according to the Mexican solar industry association Asolmex. That puts Mexico in second place in Latin America behind Brazils 32 gigawatts and ahead of Chiles 6+ gigawatts of solar generation capacity.

But Mexicos policies, market structures and public acceptance of renewables have not yet caught up with the countrys rich solar resources  or the ambitions of its clean-energy advocates.

Mexicos president is more a fan of oil and gas than solar and wind. Forbes points out that investment in solar energy has stalled since President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador took office in 2018 and stopped issuing permits and canceled auctions for solar projects, effectively cutting off the flow of private sector investment in solar projects.

But despite the headwinds, Greenberger sees an opportunity in what he says is a flawed utility model in the country.

"The utility model is challenged in the U.S., but it's far more challenged in other countries, said Greenberger. In the developing world, there's "government-run customer service," and "generation is mostly fossil fuels." He added, "If people in the U.S. struggle with their utility, then people in Mexico really struggle."

"We want to provide a utility alternative in developing nations and be "a trusted partner that customers love, said Greenberger.

Brights solar program starts out with a leased rooftop-solar system that ensures customers pay less for electricity than they would have paid otherwise  and they have the option to buy the installation at any point.

The homeowner can also cancel the subscription, and Bright will take back the system and redeploy it elsewhere. The companys short-term leases offer the option to renew each year.

Trust is critical, said Greenberger. In the U.S., you have Yelp and Google reviews, but in Mexico, it's really about who you know that's gotten solar and who you know that works at the company. Our strategy is one of partnership with installers and entrepreneurs to serve that sector.

The startup guarantees the minimum energy production of the system, and if something goes wrong, Bright is the primary touch point for the customer  even though all systems are installed and serviced by third parties.

Greenberger said that customers are looking for a trusted name thats used across Mexicos large number of small installers. There are something like 5,000 installers across Mexico, so we just partnered with them, said the CEO.

Installation costs in Mexico are much cheaper than in the U.S. because of lower labor costs and less stringent permitting requirements. A typical 3-kilowatt installation costs approximately $1.40 per watt, for a total of about $4,200, according to the CEO. A residential solar system in the U.S. comes in at $2 to $3 per watt, according to the Center for Sustainable Energy.

A lot of the soft costs are just taken out. We're not having to deal with a lot of homeowners associations, for instance, said Greenberger.

The company's analytics focus is on which customers pay their bills, with a preference for higher-income clients in households with higher rates. This is the Tesla strategy: sell to the well-heeled in order to drive volume and finance future lower-cost offerings.

Ultimately, in helping to expand access to financing tools in Mexico and professionalize the solar workforce, Bright aims to legitimize residential solar in the eyes of customers and financiers. Attracting international capital to the Mexican market will continue to lower costs and expand the addressable market to solar-curious middle-income households  and commercial and industrial customers, too.

Another opportunity that Greenberger is eager to explore is the growing trend of major manufacturers moving some or all of their operations from Asia to Mexico. In 2020, Ford announced it was moving production of some vehicles from China to Mexico. Other manufacturing giants such as Apple, GM, Honda, Tesla, Foxconn, Audi and Heineken are considering or already making their move to Mexico, as well. And as more manufacturing shifts from China to Mexico, so too will the sustainability mandates of multinational corporations requiring factories powered by clean energy.

That's a huge growing sector with big energy consumers that we're starting to serve, Greenberger said. We can enable them to manufacture with clean energy.


If you were planning on hopping on a Brightline train to head to Disney World next month, you might be out of luck.

Brightlines new Orlando station wont be opening on Sept. 1, a spokesperson confirmed to the Miami Herald on Monday evening. A new opening date hasnt been set, though the spokesperson said Brightline hopes to set a date as soon as possible.

The first available tickets to Orlando are for Sept. 15, according to the Brightline booking website.

Were working through the final stages of certification and crew testing but its apparent that we wont hit our opening weekend as planned, the Brightline spokesperson said in a statement.

Affected guests will receive a full refund  as well as credits for future use that depend on the size of the reservation, the spokesperson said. Guests also have the option to use a 35% off discount for an Avis car rental, if they still need to travel on their booking date.

Knowing its a holiday weekend, we want to give guests as much time as possible to adjust their travel plans, the spokesperson said.

Impacted travelers took to social media to share screenshots of the email from Brightline  as well as their frustrations with the delays.

Just got this email regarding my trip to Orlando on @GoBrightline. They wont be ready for Sept. 1 and are refunding tix + gifting Premium credits. Official opening date still unknown pic.twitter.com/z6aOJ8FZM2  Joel Franco (@OfficialJoelF) August 7, 2023

And its not the first time. In December, the opening date of Brightlines Aventura station faced several delays due to pending elevator permits.
A tourist was stabbed in the queue for the British Museum by a screaming and swearing stranger armed with a 12-inch knife, witnesses said.

Tourists were evacuated from the museum after the attack, at around 10am on Tuesday, with a heavy police presence at the scene within minutes of the assault.

A cordon was put in place and a tent erected after officers cut off public access to the surrounding streets, with locals saying the area was like a ghost town in the aftermath of the incident.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman confirmed a man had been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm, with another taken to hospital wounded.

Witnesses claimed a middle-aged victim was seen dripping blood everywhere after a random attack in the queue along busy Great Russell Street.

The victim was seen staggering around the road with red stains soaking his white shirt sleeve, according to witnesses.

Ajmal Mohamad, 38, the manager of Distinctive London souvenir store, said he hadnt seen anything like it in the decade he had worked there.

He said: There was a lot of panic after it happened. It was quick, very quick. There were blood stains on the pavement and near the pub opposite us. There was loads of blood and the guy was walking with it dripping all over.

There was a heavy police presence at the museum, following the stabbing

He was wearing a white shirt which was covered in red. He looked worried and confused. He was a tourist, I think.

The attacker was screaming and swearing before he stabbed the guy in the queue, it seemed completely random.

Its the first time Ive seen something like that in my 10 years at the shop.

He added: Police pulled in from every direction after it happened and the area was quickly deserted, it was like a ghost town straight after.

The force said it was an isolated incident with no outstanding risk to the public and it was not being treated as terrorism-related.

Another shop worker who wished to remain anonymous said police arrested the alleged assailant nearby.

Fahim Ahmed, 28, who works at a cafe opposite the museum, claimed he saw police putting the foot-long kitchen knife into evidence.

Mr Ahmed said: After the police arrested the guy, I saw them handling this 12-inch kitchen knife, they were putting it in one of those plastic bags.

A man has been arrested for causing grievous bodily harm

One Starbucks employee claimed officers asked her for a bucket of water and added: I saw the police putting the tape up after it happened, there were 10 police cars and so many officers.

They asked us for a bucket of water, but Im not sure what they did with it.

The British Museum reopened to visitors with stepped up security including a heightened search operation at around 12.30pm on Tuesday.

The London Ambulance Service said it was called to the scene at around 10.19am and treated a man for a stab wound to the arm. He was taken to hospital where he underwent further assessments.

George Osborne, the former chancellor and current chairman of the British Museum, has thanked the museums security team and other staff who reacted promptly to the incident and wished the victim the best recovery.

The museum reopened with stricter security - Anadolu

The 52-year-old tweeted: Disturbing news of a knife attack near the gates of the British Museum.

Museum has now reopened; everyones thoughts at the BM are with the victim and we wish him the best recovery.

A Met Police spokesman added: Police have arrested a man on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.

A man was treated for a stab wound to the arm at the scene and taken by London Ambulance Service to hospital. His condition is being assessed.

This was an isolated incident and there is no outstanding risk to the public.

03:33 PM BST

'There was a lot of panic'

An employee of a souvenir shop metres from where the incident took place said he saw loads of blood on the street after the attack, Alex Barton reports.

The bloodied victim was seen staggering around the road after being stabbed in the arm.

Red stains soaked a mans white shirt sleeves following the assault, witnesses claimed.

Ajmal Mohamad, 38, the manager of Distinctive London souvenir store, said he hadnt seen anything like it in the decade hed worked at the shop. He said:

There was a lot of panic after it happened. It was quick, very quick. There were blood stains on the pavement and near to the pub. Its the first time Ive seen an incident like this in 10 years at the shop. Police pulled in from every direction after it happens and the area was quickly deserted, it was like a ghost town straight after. There was loads of blood and the guy was walking with blood dripping all over the street. He was a smartly dressed Chinese guy in his late 30s. He looked like a tourist. His white shirt and trousers were covered in blood. He looked worried and confused and then an ambulance came.

02:29 PM BST

Victim 'screaming' and 'dripping blood everywhere'

The manager of a nearby souvenir shop, who wished to remain anonymous, said he saw a middle-aged man stabbed while he waited in the queue for the museum on Great Russell Street not far from the Museum Tavern pub.

He attempted to escape and was dripping blood everywhere, the witness claimed.

The male attacker was arrested by police a short distance away on Coptic Street, he said.

A local businesswoman heard the victim screaming and saw a trail of blood along the street in the aftermath of the attack.

A police tent was erected on the pavement on the museum side of Great Russell Street, just metres from the entrance.

02:14 PM BST

Moment 'lockdown' hit British Museum

The site of Tuesday mornings incidents houses a permanent collection of more than eight million works, making it the largest in the world, Alex Barton reports.

Simon Keller, a 44-year-old father of two from New York, who is visiting family in London this week, was planning on going to the museum on Tuesday afternoon.

He and his family decided against going in because the queues and the commotion were too much. Mr Keller told The Telegraph:

Im with my two kids and partner and visiting the museum today is not worth the wait and the worry. We got an alert on the way here and saw there was a lockdown. I suspect it was an isolated incident and it looks like it was. Now the queue to get back in is so huge because of it, we are going to have to find something else to do. We are from New York, so this sort of stuff isnt too much of a surprise.

02:10 PM BST

10 police cars and fire engine

A Starbucks employee who works opposite the main entrance said 10 police cars and a fire truck arrived but didnt use sirens.

Police asked the coffee shop employees for a bucket of water after the incident unfolded, it is claimed. The woman, who asked not to be named, told The Telegraphs Alex Barton:

I saw the police putting the tape up after it happened. There were 10 police cars and a fire engine. Lots of people - lots of police officers. Then they put up a small blue tent and tape up about just outside the entrance but now its gone. They asked us for a bucket of water, but Im not sure what they did with it. The police told us someone had been attacked in the queue and they closed the road because of it. They didnt know who the man was or why it happened. People were still queuing after the stabbing, we didnt hear anything when it happened and people just kept queuing to get in. Until the police told them to move, they stayed in the line in the rain.

01:50 PM BST

Extra security as museum reopens

The British Museum has now reopened to visitors with security stepped up.

A statement said: The museum has now reopened with raised security including a heightened search operation.

01:40 PM BST

Latest from the scene

Police outside the British Museum in London - Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire

Police outside the British Museum - Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire

A large cordon is in place - Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire

01:35 PM BST

Attack 'took place in the queue'

A steady stream of sight-seers carrying brollies followed a snake of metal fencing inside the outer gates as they filed back into the British Museum after it was reopened this afternoon, Alex Barton reports.

Some claimed the assault, which police have said was Grievous Bodily Harm, took place in the queue.

The Met said there was no wider risk to the public.

01:26 PM BST

Tourists flock to get back into the British Museum

Police set up a cordon and a small blue tent around 20 metres from the main entrance of The British Museum after the incident, Alex Barton reports from the scene.

Once the tent and tape were removed, a queue stretching for hundreds of metres formed around the perimeter of The British Museum, with people hoping to get back in.

Security staff at the main gates were allowing people back into the grounds slowly at around 12.30pm on Tuesday afternoon.

Dozens of people were heard questioning them about what had happened earlier in the day, but they refused to answer.

01:21 PM BST

British Museum chairman George Osborne thanks security for 'quick' reaction

George Osborne, former chancellor and chairman of the British Museum, has thanked the museums security team and other staff who reacted promptly to the incident and wished the victim the best recovery.

The 52-year-old tweeted: Disturbing news of a knife attack near the gates of the British Museum this am.

Much thanks to our security team and other BM [British Museum] staff, who reacted quickly, with the police.

Museum has now reopened; everyones thoughts at the BM are with the victim and we wish him the best recovery.

12:22 PM BST

Crowds gather outside British Museum

Tourists gather outside the British Museum - Carl Court/Getty Images

A police officer pours water on the pavement outside British Museum - Carl Court/Getty Images

12:15 PM BST

Video: Crime scene at the British Museum

12:05 PM BST

British Museum confirms evacuation

The British Museum has confirmed its evacuation, saying in a statement: The Museum is temporarily closed due to an incident close by. We will update visitors as soon as we are able to reopen.

The Museum is temporarily closed due to an incident close by. We will update visitors as soon as we are able to reopen.  British Museum (@britishmuseum) August 8, 2023

11:44 AM BST

Victim taken to major trauma centre

Weve just had a statement in from the London Ambulance Service. A spokesman said:

We were called at 10.19am today (8 August) to reports of a stabbing on Great Russell Street, WC1B. We sent an ambulance crew and an incident response officer to the scene. We treated a man at the scene for an arm injury before taking him to a major trauma centre as a priority.

11:37 AM BST

Pictures live from the scene at the British Museum

Visitors were told to leave the queue

Police have descended on the scene - Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire

A crime scene tent has been erected - Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire

11:34 AM BST

Just in: full Met Police statement

We now have a full statement from Scotland Yard on the British Museum stabbing:

Police have arrested a man on suspicion of GBH following an incident at the junction of Russell Street and Museum Street around 10am on Tuesday 8 August. A man was treated for a stab wound to the arm at the scene and taken by London Ambulance Service to hospital. His condition is being assessed. This was an isolated incident and there is no outstanding risk to the public. It is not being treated as terror-related. The scene may be in place for much of today. Anyone with information or footage which could assist the police investigation is asked to contact police on 101, quoting CADF 2184/08AUG, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

11:33 AM BST

'Man with the knife in the queue'

Another British Museum visitor has said there was a man with the knife in the queue.

A self-described eyewitness tweeted: Within ten minutes of entering, they are kicking us out. the @britishmuseum is closing due to police alert?? A man with a knife in the queue.

Within ten minutes of entering, they are kicking us out. the @britishmuseum is closing due to police alert?? A man with a knife in the queue  Hank_Floyd (@Hank_Floyd) August 8, 2023

11:27 AM BST

Met Police: Man arrested and another man hospitalised

#INCIDENT A man has been arrested on suspicion of GBH following an isolated incident at the junction of Russell Street /Museum St approx 10am - a man was taken to hospital with a stab wound.

No outstanding risk to the public

Call 101 or @CrimestoppersUK w/info, CAD 2184/08AUG  Camden Police (@MPSCamden) August 8, 2023

11:18 AM BST

Ambulance 'rushed down the street'

Ms Renee, a journalist who was at the British Museum in London this morning, told The Telegraph that there are reports of a stabbing and she saw paramedics arrive.

She said: I was at the scene, I heard that someone was stabbed and the ambulance was parked inside near the grass area and then rushed down the street, right by me, with a police following behind. A cop told me the museum is completely closed until tomorrow.

11:16 AM BST

'Large crime scene'

Keira Renee, a journalist at the Financial Times, tweeted: Was just waiting in line to enter.. Being told by police that its a large crime scene and that the museum will be closed until tomorrow.

11:13 AM BST

The British Museum has been evacuated

The British Museum in central London has been evacuated today following reports of a stabbing.

We will be bringing you live updates as we know more.

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.
Leading a delegation of Ukrainian officials, Military Intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov made a visit to Bulgaria, Bulgarian news agency BGNES reported on Aug. 8.

According to the report, the delegation held meetings with Bulgarian Defense Minister Todor Tagarev and the head of the countrys Military Intelligence Service, Venelin Venov.

Read also: Bulgarian Parliament approves transfer of 100 armored vehicles to Ukraine

During the negotiations, the state of regional and international security, the prospects for the development of the situation, and other topics of mutual interest were discussed, Bulgarian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The Bulgarian side raised and clarified the issue of the Myrotvorets website.

Read also: Bulgaria arrests man for death threats to Ukraine supporting minister

Myrotvorets is an activist website that publishes a list of individuals, including foreign nationals, who are considered enemies of Ukraine. It has been running since 2014, and over the years several countries have objected to some of their citizens being listed there as tools of Russian foreign policy.

Read also: US to supply 155mm shells to Ukraine via Bulgaria, South Korea, possibly Japan - FT

The ministry further "emphasized the productivity of the negotiations and expressed satisfaction with the level of bilateral cooperation."

The Bulgarian side did not disclose the timing of the visit. However, at the end of last week, local TV channel bTV published an interview with Venov, where he talked about cooperation between Kyiv and Sofia in the field of armaments.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Major General Kyrylo Budanov, Head of Ukraine's Defence Intelligence, has paid a visit to Bulgaria, chairing the delegation.

Source: This was announced on Tuesday, 8 August, with reference to the Ministry of Defence of Bulgaria by local media, in particular BGNES, reports European Pravda

The Ukrainian delegation met with Bulgarian Defence Minister Todor Tagarev and Venelin Venev, Director of the Bulgarian Military Intelligence Service

"During the talks, they discussed the state of regional and international security, the prospects for the development of the situation and other topics of mutual interest. On the Bulgarian side, the issue of the Myrotvorets website was brought up and clarified, the ministry said in a statement (Myrotvorets, or "Peacemaker", website that publishes a running list of people who are considered by authors of the website to be "enemies of Ukraine"  ed.).

The Bulgarian Ministry of Defence also commended the meetings, "emphasising the productivity of the negotiations and expressing satisfaction with the level of bilateral cooperation."

The Bulgarian side did not disclose when the visit took place, but at the end of last week, the local TV channel bTV published an interview with Budanov, where he spoke about the cooperation between Kyiv and Sofia in terms of arms supplies.

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A GoFundMe page for Kevin Ford raised more than $400,000 from more than 13,500 donations. Getty Images

A Burger King worker who went viral last year has been given $400,000 in crowdfunding donations.

A video posted last summer showed Kevin Ford being given a paltry goody bag for his 27-year tenure.

Ford told TMZ that the gifts, including candy and pens, looked like things they "had lying around."

A Burger King worker has been given $400,000 in crowdfunding donations after the fast-food chain gave him a paltry goody bag to celebrate his 27-year tenure.

Kevin Ford, a cook and cashier at the Burger King at Harry Reid International Airport in Paradise, Nevada, went viral last summer in a video that said he had never missed a day of work in 27 years. In the video, he showed the goody bag the chain's hiring company, HMSHost, gave him to reward his loyalty: A movie ticket, a Starbucks cup, a bag of Reese's candy, two packets of Life Savers, two pens, two keychains in a plastic drawstring backpack, and some chocolate cake.

"Like most big corporations, they've kind of lost touch with their workers," Ford told TMZ last year. He said that he was grateful for the gifts but that they looked like things HMSHost "had lying around."

One of Ford's daughters created a GoFundMe page in response to the video's traction on social media. She wrote on the page that Ford began working at the restaurant as a single father when he gained custody of his first two daughters and that her father stayed there because his healthcare insurance covered his four daughters through high school and college.

"My dad continues to work there, because though he does look young, he is coming up on retirement age and leaving would cost him his retirement," the GoFundMe description reads. "In no way are we asking for money or is he expecting any money but if anyone feels like blessing him he would love to visit his grandchildren." Ford visited his grandchildren in Texas after the donations came in.

"I feel like the whole world lifted me up," Ford told Today in December. "It's still like a dream every day that I hope I never wake up from.

The GoFundMe page has raised more than $402,000 and has received more than 13,500 donations, one of which included a $5,000 donation from the actor David Spade, who also congratulated Ford in a message, according to TMZ.

Burger King and HMSHost did not immediately respond to requests for comment made outside of regular working hours about whether Ford has received other rewards from the company.

Burger King told People that Ford's goody bag was a "peer-to-peer reward in recognition of a short-term positive performance/experience" and that the franchise had a "robust employee recognition program" with monetary awards.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Lyudmila, 70, has fond memories of travelling freely to Europe from her native Belarus, before its repressive government was slapped with waves of sanctions plunging it into isolation.

Strongman Alexander Lukashenko violently put down historic anti-government demonstrations in 2020 and last year helped Russian forces invade Ukraine, sparking flight bans and border closures.

Waiting at the last open passenger crossing point to neighbouring Poland, Lyudmila, who only provided her first name due to security concerns, recounted hassle-free trips, including to Spain, in the years before the unrest.

"It's all become harder of course," she said, resting on a sunny patch of grass as passengers on her bus to the Polish capital passed through border checks near Brest.

The pensioner with heavily drawn eyebrows is one of thousands of Belarusians who now rely on the route to Warsaw to exit the increasingly authoritarian country.

The closed air and rail routes point to how that link has become a lifeline for those fleeing Lukashenko's authoritarian rule -- or just holidaying in Europe.

Poland has emerged as a safe haven for Belarusians since the demonstrations, and official data show they now make up the second-largest foreign nationality in the country after Ukrainians.

Even though she had grown used to flying, Lyudmila has chosen to see the positives in the longer route imposed by politics.

"I look at the countryside. I like it. (You can) relax!" she said with a smile.

- Plans came 'crashing down' -

Western countries imposed the aviation ban over Belarus after Lukashenko scrambled his air force to divert a passenger jet to arrest an activist onboard in 2021. Rail links were halted during the pandemic.

"The alternative is fine, even if it's a long way and your legs go numb," said Piotr Sadko, who was chatting with his wife on the bus en route to visit their daughter in Germany.

The bus journey from Minsk to Warsaw takes around 12 hours, but there are often delays at the border.

"Naturally, if there were no political conflict, it would all be wonderful," he added.

Ilya, who has historic family links with Poland and was travelling alongside his girlfriend to the European Union for the first time, said he agreed.

The couple stayed in Belarus after the protests and watched as many friends left.

Ilya, who only gave his first name fearing his security, did not link their decision to secure year-long Polish visas to either the Ukraine war or the protests but recognised the far-reaching impact of the conflict.

"The situation in the world changed after the events of 2022," adding their plans to travel in Europe had come "crashing down" after the protests.

"A friend of ours is already waiting in Warsaw. He said, 'Guys, everything is ready, just come and we'll have dinner!'"

- 'Facing prison for their beliefs' -

In 2020, Poland launched expedited visas for Belarusian tech specialists, touting a "democratic, free-market economic haven".

Despite its otherwise contentious record on immigration, Poland is housing more Belarusian political refugees than any other country.

Official data show 79,030 Belarusians in the country as of this year -- a three-fold increase from before the protests.

"It's important to understand that most Belarusians left their homeland, families and homes not of their own will," said 49-year-old Elena, who left in late 2021 to follow a family member worried about being targeted by security services.

"They are facing prison for their beliefs in Belarus," she told AFP by telephone, providing only her first name.

Rights activists say nearly 1,500 political prisoners are currently detained in Belarus, pointing to the very real threat of persecution.

Elena, a regular on the bus route, still returns several times a year to visit her daughter and handle administrative issues.

But that vital link home is increasingly precarious.

Belarus welcomed Wagner fighters after their short-lived mutiny against Russia's conventional army. Lukashenko has claimed they have designs to march on Warsaw.

Poland and other EU countries have warned any incident involving the private fighting force could result in the border being entirely sealed.

"If it is completely closed, life will become very, very hard for Belarusian people," Elena said.

burs-brw/jbr/giv/lb
Property  its one of Britains best-loved investments. A pension plan for many, it provides the benefit of regular rental income, as well as capital growth in the long run, providing an ultimate pay-off after years of monthly payments when sold.

But like any financial asset, it carries risk.

You need to factor in costs such as maintenance, repairs, insurance, tax and other fees  as well as void periods.

Buy-to-let investors also need to be aware that recent changes to the tax rules, along with a stamp duty surcharge on the purchase of additional homes, and new legislation on the energy efficiency of newly let properties, could all push up costs  not to mention add extra red tape.

That said, if you take a long-term view of buy-to-let, you can make it work for you.

When it comes to purchasing a rental property, unless you are lucky enough to have the cash to buy outright, you will need a type of mortgage known as a buy-to-let.

Here, we take a closer look at the ins and outs of this type of deal.

Now read: How much stamp duty buy-to-let landlords pay  and how to cut it

How do buy-to-let mortgages work?

A buy-to-let mortgage is a way to purchase a property you plan to let out, as opposed to living in yourself.

Most are interest-only, meaning you only pay the interest each month, but not the capital amount  and pay off the mortgage balance at the end of the term.

While deals are also available on a repayment basis, landlords typically opt for interest-only, as the monthly payments are a lot lower  increasing their overall cash flow.

But if you do decide to go for interest-only, you must have a viable repayment plan in place and understand the risks involved.

Should I register as a limited company?

In recent years, there has been a rise in the number of people registering as limited liability companies to purchase buy-to-let properties. This move has been prompted by changes to the tax rules (and specifically the mortgage tax relief rules).

For some, starting a limited company may provide a more favourable taxation scenario, but this is not the case for everyone  so make sure youve done your research.

Who can apply for a buy-to-let mortgage?

Generally speaking, someone purchasing a buy-to-let already owns a place which they live in themselves, though it is possible to buy an investment property if you are a first-time buyer.

Marylen Edwards, head of buy-to-let at MT Finance, a lender, said: Anyone has the ability to apply for one of these mortgages, subject to passing the lenders due diligence checks and the property being suitable at valuation stage.

For example, we accept applications from individuals, limited companies, first timers, first-time landlords and more.

Age limits may apply. Jonathan Samuels, of property finance firm Octane Capital, said: Most lenders require you to be at least 21, though some will consider applications from those aged 18 or above. At the other end of the scale, most buy-to-let lenders wont lend beyond age 75.

Lenders use a rental affordability calculation to determine how much you can borrow, and whether they think your buy-to-let mortgage is viable.

Nick Mendes, of mortgage broker John Charcol, said: When assessing your affordability, buy-to-let lenders will base your loan on the expected rental income of the property. Some lenders can take personal income into account as well, to support the application. This is called top-slicing.

Lenders assess affordability by comparing gross rental incomes with interest payments via a measure called the interest coverage ratio, or ICR.

Mr Mendes said: Banks usually require a minimum ICR of 125pc for limited companies and basic-rate taxpayers, rising to 145pc for higher-rate taxpayers.

Buy-to-let mortgages typically require a minimum deposit of 25pc. The larger your deposit, the greater the range of mortgage products you can choose from and, usually, the cheaper the rate.

Howard Levy, director of mortgage broker SPF Private Clients, said: Purchases via limited companies qualify for more sympathetic stress tests and therefore potentially higher loan amounts, due to the more favourable taxation rules.

Now read: The five key rules that every buy-to-let landlord must know

Where can you get a buy-to-let mortgage?

There are currently around 1,500 buy-to-let products offered by a mix of high street lenders, building societies and specialist lenders.

While many will allow you to approach directly as a customer, several lenders will only offer their products through an intermediary, such as a broker.

When looking for a buy-to-let, as with any type of mortgage, it makes sense to speak to a broker, to help you get the deal best suited to your needs.

Choosing a buy-to-let mortgage

When making your choice, there are many different things to consider.

As mentioned above, you need to choose between interest-only and repayment; you then need to make a decision between fixed rates, trackers, discount rates and so on.

Mr Levy said: Choosing a buy-to-let can be a minefield, as its not as simple as opting for the lowest rate. Each lender has specific criteria that need to be adhered to.

Other things to think about include whether you are buying in your own name, or a limited company, the rent achievable from the property, and how many properties you already own.

How to apply for a buy-to-let mortgage

You can apply for one of these deals either directly or via a broker.

Given buy-to-lets can be quite complex, especially if youre a new landlord, there may be a lot of benefits to using a broker.

They will, for example, know the particular requirements for each lender and will look at your entire situation and needs and advise you accordingly.

A broker will also guide you through the process, ensuring you understand how buy-to-let mortgages work and exactly what youre applying for.

Now read: How to build a buy-to-let empire, by the landlords who did it

How tax is applied with buy-to-let

With buy-to-let, there are different forms of tax to consider. The main three are stamp duty, capital gains tax and income tax. These are paid at different times.

*Stamp duty

This tax is paid on the initial purchase.

Mr Mendes said: When you acquire a second home or a buy-to-let property, youll pay stamp duty at the standard rates, plus a 3pc surcharge on each band.

Stamp duty

*Capital gains tax

You pay capital gains tax on the portion of the profit you earn from the sale of a buy-to-let property. The amount you pay depends on your personal income and the profit you get from the sale.

You can deduct certain costs from taxable gains to reduce the tax you pay, such as stamp duty, estate agent fees, solicitor fees and costs for improvements to the property.

For the 2023-24 tax year, the tax-free allowance for gains is 6,000, down from 12,300 previously. This means you dont pay any tax on the first 6,000 you earn from the sale of your property.

Mr Mendes said: You dont pay capital gains tax on property owned and sold by a limited company. You pay corporation tax. This currently stands at 25pc. This is because any property you own is viewed as part of your business, not a personal investment.

*Income tax

Your income tax band determines the rate at which youll pay tax on rental income that year.

Mr Mendes said: The income tax rates and thresholds for your rental income are the same as those for your personal income. However, adding your net rental income to any other income you receive may push you over your usual tax threshold and into a new, higher band.

income tax

Note that if you earn less than 1,000 a year in rental income, you do not have to report it to the taxman. Earn more than this, and you will need to register with HM Revenue & Customs for self-assessment.

Mr Samuels said: You will need to declare this income on your tax return, though it can be offset against a range of expenses, such as letting agent fees, maintenance costs and council tax.

What has happened to mortgage interest relief?

Over the last few years, the Government phased out the amount of mortgage interest relief you could claim, while simultaneously introducing a new tax relief, called a tax credit.

Mr Mendes said: Holding buy-to-let property in a limited company may offer some tax benefits to certain individuals. For example, some higher-rate taxpayers may find it to be more tax-efficient than owning property as a private landlord.

That said, some will still be in a better tax situation if they remain without one.

Now read: How to (legitimately) reduce stamp duty on your second home

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A Caldwell man is expected to spend the next decade in prison after authorities located dozens of child pornography images and videos on his cellphone.

U.S. District Judge Amanda Brailsford sentenced 53-year-old Richard Alan Stansell to 135 months in federal prison  just over 11 years  Tuesday after he pleaded guilty in February, according to a news release from U.S. Attorneys Office and court documents obtained by the Idaho Statesman.

In exchange for the plea deal, the attorneys office agreed to dismiss an additional charge of distribution of child pornography, according to a plea agreement.

The defendants illegal and harmful conduct in this case is deserving of the significant sentence imposed, Idaho U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit said in the news release. Other offenders tempted to produce, obtain or share child pornography should know that they cannot hide.

After Stansell is released from prison, he will be placed on supervised release for an additional 16 years and required to register as a sex offender, the release said.

The Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, a coalition of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies that investigate individuals who use the internet to prey on children, began investigating Stansell in October 2021. Law enforcement received a tip that several files of child pornography were uploaded to various social media accounts and a Google account that belonged to Stansell.

In January 2022, Idaho State Police also opened an unrelated investigation into Stansell after he began communicating online with two state police detectives who were posing as a 13-year-old girl, according to the plea agreement and news release. Stansell engaged in sexually explicit conversation with the detectives and also sent them photos of his penis and other pornographic images, the attorneys office said.

The Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force seized Stansells phone after obtaining a search warrant in May 2022, according to the release and court documents, and located 16 images and 84 videos of child pornography along with evidence that he had exchanged child porn files with other people online.

Stansell admitted during an interview to receiving, viewing and disturbing child pornography, and he also confessed to chatting online and receiving explicit images from underage girls, according to the attorneys office.

Hurwit in the release said the attorneys office and Idahos law enforcement agencies are laser-focused on prosecuting anyone who victimizes children to the fullest extent.

I am proud of the work done by our office in cooperation with the U.S. attorney, Idaho State Police, and the Caldwell Police Department, Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador said in the news release. The ICAC unit has been instrumental in protecting children by putting offenders away.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta and four of his colleagues filed an amicus letter Monday, expressing strong concerns about a $1.18 billion sum that DuPont  and spinoffs Chemours and Corteva  said they would agree to pay affected providers.

The attorneys general say they support moving forward with the settlement, but they argue in the new filing that DuPont and the other chemical companies should actually be paying more to address the pollution in public waters caused by forever chemicals.

As a result of our negotiations with DuPont, the revised proposed settlement is a better deal for the American people and I am supportive of it moving forward, Bonta said in a statement, a nod to how the settlement terms have been revised in several important ways since its July 10 filing date.

But DuPont must pay far more to address the damage its toxic products have caused, he added.

Joining Bonta in submitting amicus letter were the attorneys general of Arizona, the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

In response to the letter, DuPont spokesperson Daniel Turner explained that in 2019, DuPont de Nemours was established as a new multi-industrial specialty products company.

That company, he stressed, is different from legacy E. I. du Pont de Nemours and its history of operations.

DuPont de Nemours has never manufactured PFOA, PFOS or firefighting foam, Turner said, referring to two of the most notorious types of PFAS.

While we dont comment on litigation matters, we believe this complaint is without merit, and we look forward to vigorously defending our record of safety, health and environmental stewardship, he added.

The Hill has reached out to Chemours and Corteva for comment.

The negotiations in question involve a massive class action settlement with public water suppliers that have already detected the presence of cancer-linked compounds known as PFAS, as well as those that might do so in the future.

Known for their ability to linger in both the human body and in the environment, these so-called forever chemicals  or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances  are found in certain kinds of firefighting foam and in a variety of household items.

DuPont, Chemours and Corteva announced the preliminary version of the $1.18 billion deal with water suppliers in June  separate from another $10 billion settlement proposed by the company 3M to the same providers a few weeks later.

The tentative settlements pertain to multi-district litigation that consolidated thousands of cases against the manufacturers of a PFAS-laden firefighting foam before a federal judge in South Carolina.

The product, known as aqueous film forming foam (AFFF), has long been used to fight fuel-based fires at military bases, civilian airports and industrial sites.

Last month, a group of 22 attorneys general took bipartisan legal action against 3Ms proposed deal  stressing that providers would be bound to the agreement unless they took proactive measures to opt out, without necessarily knowing how much money they could receive.

The group, also led by Bonta, filed a motion to intervene and a document of opposition, also taking issue with 3Ms insistence that the proposal is not an admission of liability.

Bonta and his colleagues filed no such motion with regards to DuPont, Chemours and Corteva  and instead filed the Monday amicus letter in which they expressed concern about one element of this settlements revised terms: the payout amount.

Their letter, submitted to the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, argued that the $1.18 billion fails to fully count for DuPonts liability and only reflects the company and its partners share of the AFFF market from 2002 to 2014.

With water utilities unable to cover the entire costs of related drinking water monitoring and treatment, they will need to pass costs on to American ratepayers, according to the writers.

The costs for California water systems alone to take samples, install new infrastructure and maintain equipment could easily surpass the $1.18 billion figure, they contended.

Nonetheless, the attorneys general recognized several improvements made by DuPont and its partners in the revised proposal.

To its credit, DuPont negotiated with a large and bipartisan coalition of states and territories in an effort to address a number of that groups concerns, they wrote in the amicus letter.

The officials expressed support for DuPonts willingness to provide water suppliers with tools for estimating the payouts that they would receive. Under the original deal, they would have had to opt out of the settlement without such data  similar to the terms of the tentative 3M deal.

The public water providers would now also have 90 days to opt out, instead of the 60 days included in the original proposal.

The revised settlement also withdrew a requested nationwide injunction of other PFAS lawsuits by the states against DuPont, while clarifying that the deal would not prevent states from recovering more money from the company.

This clause was particularly important to Bonta, who in November 2022 launched a case that accuses PFAS manufacturers of endangering public health, inflicting irreparable harm upon states resources and deceiving the public.

California will vigorously prosecute its own PFAS lawsuit to ensure the company is held accountable, Bonta said Monday.

When reviewing future settlements with DuPont or other PFAS manufacturers, we urge the court not to consider the DuPont settlement as a point of reference, he added.

This story was updated at 9:38 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Karen Seifert has watched year after year as colleagues in the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) have left for higher-paying careers in the private sector.

Later this month, shell join them.

Seiferts new job at a private Bay Area hospital pays close to $200,000  double what she earned as a state nurse tasked with auditing medical facilities to ensure patients were receiving adequate care.

Im sad to leave my job, Seifert said. I wouldnt be leaving if I could make it. But I cant financially.

After the COVID-19 pandemic shined a light on the often invisible, but essential, work of those in the public health sector, California made it a priority to reverse decades of underinvestment. It set aside hundreds of millions of dollars to increase staffing.

But retaining professionals like Seifert, who worked tirelessly on the pandemics frontlines, while trying to recruit thousands of skilled workers to fill new roles in state and local public health agencies will be a daunting task.

You have a lot of people with (public health) degrees, but the competition for them is really fierce, said Heather Krasna, an associate dean at Columbia Universitys School of Public Health. If you dont pay people enough, you wont be able to recruit them or they wont stay.

About 24% of the jobs across CDPH were vacant in June  nearly 10% higher than six years earlier, according to the State Controllers Office.

Over those same six years, the department added more than 1,200 positions, including more than 750 in just the past two years. Its budget jumped from $3.2 billion to $5.5 billion.

The department is currently recruiting for 114 of its vacant positions.

Most of the vacancies are for Associate Governmental Program Analysts, a broad role in state government that varies from department to department.

At CDPH, for example, someone in this role might oversee and approve spending plans for local health departments whove received state and federal grants for infectious disease research. Another analyst might oversee asset management and inventory for the departments financial branch.

CDPH also needs more Health Facilities Evaluator Nurses, such as Seifert, and Health Program Specialists, described by the state as critical to the departments basic mission.

Should the thousands of positions at the state and county level remain unfilled, the systems ability to perform its basic missions  let alone combat the next pandemic  could be at risk.

Public health workers are principal players in curbing the fentanyl crisis. They convince reluctant residents to get vaccinated. They inspect restaurants and educate the public about the risks of mosquito-borne diseases, including recently reported cases of Malaria. And thats just part of their portfolio.

Public health is about preventing people from getting sick in the first place, said Brad Pollock, chair of the UC Davis Department of Public Health Sciences. If you dont have enough people working in the agencies, then these issues are going to get ignored, which means more people get hurt and compromise their health.

COVID pandemic spurs investment in public health

In the wake of COVID-19, federal and state officials vowed to strengthen the countrys public health system.

President Joe Bidens 2021 American Rescue Plan earmarked $7.4 billion for state and local public health workers, including a new $3 billion grant program to directly support state and local public health agencies. The funds will assist with recruiting, hiring and training epidemiologists, nurses, contact tracers and other health workers, according to a report from the Legislative Analysts Office.

That same year, California launched a major study of its public health system. Based on the recommendations of The Future of Public Health working group, the state committed an additional $300 million to local public health agencies, and $100 million for 404 new positions in the CDPH.

The agency declined repeated requests for an interview with The Sacramento Bee about this story.

An emailed statement, sent from the communications office on behalf of spokesperson Ali Bay, said the departments high vacancy rate is inflated due to the influx of positions created with the new funds. The email also said the states months-long hiring process, which includes multiple rounds of exams and interviews, keeps the agency from filling positions in a timely manner.

According to an analysis of federal data by the Rockefeller Institute of Government, 2021 marked the highest rate of job openings in state and local public agencies, including public health, over the past 20 years.

When you get a huge influx all at once in the number of authorized positions, that can sometimes take years to fully fill, said William Owens, an analyst for the Legislative Analysts Office. ... Looking year over year, we would expect vacancy rates to generally decline as positions get filled.

Still, openings have been hard to fill and public health officials worry that elected officials are already beginning to undervalue the sectors workforce, as they say was the case prior to the pandemic.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, for instance, proposed paring back $49.8 million from public health workforce training and development programs in January as a way to bridge the states budget gap. Although he eventually withdrew the item in the states final version of the 2023-24 budget, public health funding still took a hit at the federal level.

The debt ceiling deal reached between President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in late May clawed back $400 million in workforce grants for local public health workers who fight infectious diseases, including sexually transmitted infections.

Its a critical alarm for us, said Megan McClaire, chief deputy director of the Los Angeles Public Health Department, which was slated to receive $6.6 million in grants annually over the next two years. Were hoping that this is the worst of it.

Expanding Californias public health workforce will take time

Even with the post-pandemic surge in funding and expanded public health programs at universities, such investments are not going deliver immediate, microwave results, said Sara Bosse, director of the Madera County Department of Public Health.

Theyre going to be slow-cooked, pull-apart tri-tip results, she said. Its going to be worth the wait.

Many health professionals took early retirement or left the field, burned out by the pandemic-eras long hours and low pay, as well as trauma from intimidation and harassment.

More than half of U.S. public health workers reported at least one symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a 2022 survey of nearly 45,000 state and local employees. They said they were contemplating leaving because of high levels of stress.

Meanwhile, the majority of graduates with public health degrees are going into the private sector, where funding tends to be more stable and salaries are higher. Only about a fifth of those with public health degrees are pursuing a career in government, according to the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health.

Awais Khan, 29, of Sacramento, recently found himself making that decision. Khan graduated from UC Davis with a Masters in Public Health in 2021 and now works as a clinical educator for Dignity Health, the California-based non-profit hospital system.

As his time at UC Davis wound down, Khan considered a range of career opportunities, including public health, healthcare and academia. He was offered two positions  one at UC Davis and another at Dignity Health. The position at Dignity paid almost double what he was offered at the university and what he saw listed on public agency job boards.

I loved both of them honestly but I couldnt continue with Davis knowing that I could do that much better somewhere else, Khan said, adding that hes never looked back.

A history of underfunding for public health

State and local public health agencies were thrust into the pandemic after years of chronic underfunding. Federal and state support had been flat for a decade, according to the study by CDPHs Future of Public Health Workgroup. Across the country, funding dropped 16% over the past decade and agencies lost a quarter of their workforce, the report also found.

The leader of Sacramento Countys public health department said a history of under-investment left the agency unprepared.

Most of the responsibility for infection control fell to a handful of people on the core public health team, who ended up working long hours and through the weekends. The department also relied heavily on volunteer medical professionals to staff test sites and vaccination clinics, as well as answer phones and emails.

There were just a few of us that had the expertise and experience to be able to do the work that was required, said Dr. Olivia Kasirye, public health officer for Sacramento County. I think that contributed to a lot of exhaustion and burnout that we were seeing.

Felicia Barbato, who has worked as a health facilities evaluator nurse for CDPH for 12 years, said the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the revolving door of people leaving her division.

I really worry about whats going to happen during the next pandemic, said Barbato, who serves on the bargaining committee for SEIU Local 1000, which is currently negotiating a new contract with hopes of securing unprecedented raises.

The base salary range for state evaluator nurses is a little under $78,000 to just over $102,000, according to CalHR records. By contrast, the mean wage for a private registered nurse in the San Francisco and East Bay area was just under $165,000 in 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In the Sacramento area, it is about $145,000.

When colleagues leave, as Seifert plans to, Barbato said she ends up shouldering their unfinished work. And now that her workload is higher, Barbato has less time to dedicate to each audit or complaint before having to move on to the next one. The time crunch forces her to sometimes cut corners and not make as many follow-up calls or review additional documents.

Theres no end. You never get to a point where you go, Oh, I got all my work done, Barbato said. Its incredibly demoralizing.

Seifert understands the additional weight her colleagues will have to carry in her absence. But as a recently divorced single mother, she said the career move is necessary to plan for her and her childrens future.

I dont really have a choice, she said. Financially, I have to go.
Canadas threat to press ahead with a special tax on American tech giants could blow a big hole in President Joe Bidens bid to remake the international tax system.

It amounts to a vote of no confidence in the long-running effort, one the administration is worried could prompt other countries to follow suit  unraveling years of difficult negotiations.

Officials, including Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, are now furiously lobbying their Canadian counterparts to back off, so far without much progress.

Thats led to the spectacle of policymakers teeing off on one of the U.S.s closest allies.

The Canadian government has repeatedly been warned, said Senate Finance Chair Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

If Canada continues to move forward with these discriminatory policies, the Biden administration must examine all options under USMCA and other domestic statues to address this matter, and they will have my strong support.

In a sign that Canada is serious about the tax, the government published on Friday a draft of the plan, which officials intend to formally take up in the Parliament this fall.

Its a surprising twist in the administrations efforts to get the rest of the world on the same page when it comes to taxing giant multinational companies.

The administration has tangled with other countries before  it nixed a 40-year old tax treaty with Hungary, for example, because it was so unhappy with that country for stalling the EU's implementation of part of the global plan. But Canada  a major developed country, an important trading partner and a longstanding ally  is by far the most politically important country thus far to threaten the pact.

Its the first G-20 country to walk away, said Itai Grinberg, who stepped down earlier this year as the U.S.s top negotiator on OECD plan.

Canada going ahead, given its important to the process, will likely trigger a breakdown in Pillar One negotiations.

The entire effort was designed to stop a proliferation of digital services taxes countries began imposing on American tech giants in the wake of complaints that they were ducking tax collectors around the world.

The initiative was designed to replace those with a plan to distribute corporate tax revenue from the worlds biggest companies to countries in which they sell goods and services.

But hammering out the details of the agreement has been arduous work. (Theres a separate section of the OECD pact known as Pillar Two that is much further along, which would create a new international 15 percent minimum tax).

In July, more than 130 countries that are party to the deal, including the world's largest economies, agreed to hold back DSTs until 2025 to give negotiations more time. But Canada says it has already put off its digital services tax for two years, that it has waited long enough and that it will begin imposing the tax in January "if the treaty to implement Pillar One has not come into force," which is unlikely.

Canadas being asked, again  having agreed to a two-year standstill  to agree to further standstills with no fixed date on when the process will be completed, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said last month in an interview with POLITICOs editor-in-chief Matthew Kaminski. For us, thats clearly a disadvantageous position.

The administration is making no secret of its unhappiness.

Implementation of a DST by Canada would seriously undermine the Pillar One negotiations, Michael Plowgian, Treasurys top OECD negotiator, told lawmakers.

Treasury is engaged with Canada at all levels, including Secretary Yellen, to dissuade them from implementing a discriminatory DST.

It wont be easy for Canada to back down now.

Not only has Freeland repeatedly publicly warned that Canada will press ahead if there isnt a plan in place by the end of this year, the OECD is not close to reaching an agreement.

"There are many open issues on Pillar One," Plowgian told a congressional panel last month.

There are issues around how much should existing taxes offset the Pillar One taxing right," he said. "There are questions about how withholding taxes imposed by jurisdictions should be treated. There are questions about what is the threshold for residual profits on which the Pillar One taxing right should be made.

And even if they reach an accord, there is considerable skepticism it could win the required approval from Congress.

(If theres a silver lining in the fight for the Biden administration, its that it appears increasingly likely that the fates of the two pillars do not depend on one another  that one can survive without the other, something that wasnt clear a year ago. Canada supports the other leg of the plan, creating the minimum tax).

Canadas unhappiness stretches back to the beginning of the OECD process, when negotiators agreed to grandfather digital services taxes already on the books in places like France and the United Kingdom but not the one Canada was planning.

Under the accord, what companies are now paying under those DSTs will be credited toward what they owe under an OECD agreement.

The ask of Canada was that we would accept not being grandfathered, although we had a published intention to move ahead, said Freeland. That was a big concession.

Pillar One hasnt progressed, she said, and at the end of the day, you have to stand up for the national interest.

The 3 percent revenue tax on online marketplaces, social media and other online services is projected to raise C$1 billion annually. It would apply to companies with at least 750 million Euros in worldwide revenue and Canadian receipts exceeding C$20 million. The charge would apply retroactively, going back to 2022.

But much of the business community in Canada is now urging the government to hold off.

They worry it could prove counterproductive if the U.S. retaliates by imposing tariffs on Canadian goods, saying a trade war would cost them more money than the tax would generate.

This will penalize Canadian businesses, said Matthew Holmes, senior vice president for policy and government relations at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

Not just that.

Goldy Hyder, head of the Business Council of Canada, worries what it will mean when the free trade agreement with U.S. and Mexico comes up for review by lawmakers in a few years.

Both senior Republicans and Democrats have made clear that it will be hard to get the USMCA extension through Congress if Canada has a DST in place, he said.
By Ismail Shakil and Zaheer Kachwala

OTTAWA (Reuters) -Canadian news industry groups on Tuesday asked the country's antitrust regulator to investigate Meta Platforms' decision to block news on its platforms in the country, accusing the Facebook parent of abusing its dominant position.

Meta started blocking news on its Facebook and Instagram platforms for all users in Canada last week in response to a law requiring internet giants to pay for news articles.

Canada's Online News Act, part of a global trend to make tech firms pay for news, became law in June but has not yet come into effect. The government is finalizing rules that would require the platforms to share some advertising revenue when the law is implemented by the end of this year.

"Through its decision to block news content from its digital platforms, Meta seeks to impair Canadian news organizations' ability to compete effectively in the news publishing and online advertising markets," news industry groups said in an application with Canada's Competition Bureau.

The application was filed by industry bodies News Media Canada and the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, along with public broadcaster CBC/Radio-Canada, and asks the Competition Bureau to investigate Meta and stop it from blocking news.

"Meta's anticompetitive conduct, which has attracted the attention of regulators around the world, will strengthen its already dominant position in advertising and social media distribution and harm Canadian journalism," the applicants said in a statement.

A spokesperson for the Competition Bureau confirmed that it had received a complaint from Canadian news industry groups and that it was in the process of conducting a preliminary review of the matter.

"The Bureau is gathering information to consider whether this conduct may fall under the Competition Act, including ways that this specific conduct may harm competition," the spokesperson said.

A Meta spokesperson referred to a statement issued last week, in which the company said the Canadian law was based on "the incorrect premise that Meta benefits unfairly from news content shared on our platforms."

Meta has said users do not come to its platform for news and forcing the company to pay for content shared on its platforms is unsustainable for its business.

Ottawa has said the company has no obligation under the law right now and accused Meta of refusing to partake in discussions while final rules are being drafted.

Canada's media industry had called for tighter regulation of internet giants to allow news businesses to recoup financial losses suffered in the years that Facebook and Alphabet-owned Google gained a greater share of the online advertising market. Google has also said it will block news in Canada by the time the rules come into effect.

(Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Ottawa and Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; additional reporting by Kanjyik Ghosh; Editing by Deepa Babington, Jonathan Oatis and Anil D'Silva)
Indian parliament revokes Rahul Gandhi's disqualification

Xinhua) 10:08, August 08, 2023

NEW DELHI, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- The lower house of the Indian parliament (locally called Lok Sabha) Monday revoked the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi, the country's prominent opposition party leader belonging to the Indian National Congress (INC).

The notification issued by the Lok Sabha secretariat restored the membership of Gandhi two days after India's Supreme Court stayed his conviction in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his "Modi surname" remark.

"In view of order dated 04.08.2023 of the Supreme Court of India, the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi... in terms of the provisions of Article 102(1)(e) of the Constitution of India read with Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, has ceased to operate subject to further judicial pronouncements," reads the notification.

The move has paved the way for Gandhi's return to the lawmaking body for the first time since March 24, the day he was disqualified following his conviction in the case. A local court in the western Indian state of Gujarat sentenced Gandhi to two years in prison in the case.

According to the Indian law, a punishment of two years and above automatically disqualifies a lawmaker.

Gandhi is a lawmaker from Wayanad in the southern state of Kerala.

"The decision to reinstate Rahul Gandhi as a member of parliament is a welcome step. It brings relief to the people of India, and especially to Wayanad," INC President Mallikarjun Kharge said in a statement.

Leaders of other opposition parties, who have recently formed an alliance with Congress known as -- the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), also expressed their joy over Gandhi's return to parliament.

The INC has already moved a no-confidence motion in Lok Sabha against the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Both houses of parliament have seen repeated disruptions over violence in Manipur. Lawmakers have been pressing for a statement from Modi in parliament over the Manipur issue.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The designated cup for the Canton Downtown Outdoor Refreshment Area. Canton has a second designated outdoor refreshment area, or DORA, at the Hall of Fame Village. (Photo first published in June 2016.)

CANTON  Parents soon could be cited if their child is caught attending Canton's First Friday or other downtown activity after 9 p.m. without permission.

With a 7-4 vote, Canton City Council on Monday approved allowing city officers to cite the parent or guardian of children who are found unaccompanied by an adult between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. in one of the citys two designated outdoor refreshment areas. The DORAs are located in downtown Canton and at the Hall of Fame Village. Councilman Greg Hawk did not attend Monday's meeting.

The new legislation will take effect in 30 days.

Under city law, parents could be charged with a minor misdemeanor for a first offense and a fourth-degree misdemeanor for subsequent violations of the juvenile curfew law. Cantons citywide juvenile curfew, which council approved in May 2022, allows police to charge parents and youths under the age of 18 if the child is found in a public place between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. unless the child is accompanied by an adult or meets other limited circumstances.

Juveniles could be charged with unruliness in Stark County Family Court for violating either curfew.

Juvenile curfew law citations are for repeat offenders

Dont expect police to start doling out citations to parents immediately.

Law Director Jason Reese has repeatedly emphasized that the citations will be reserved for the parents whose children repeatedly break the DORA juvenile curfew law and who choose not to cooperate with authorities to help their child comply.

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 because juvenile court officials can ensure the child and the family receive the resources they need, such as food vouchers or bus passes.

This (citation ordinance) is for the parent who weve talked with who continuously chooses not to help us help their child, Reese said.

At-large Councilman Louis Giavasis, who chairs councils judiciary committee, said one reason he supported giving officers the ability to cite the parents whose child violates the DORA juvenile curfew is because the police requested it.

Were just trying to give the Police Department the tools that they need to protect everybody downtown, said Giavasis, adding that several business owners have expressed support for the DORA juvenile curfew. We have an obligation, not just to that child and their parent, we have an obligation to every individual who is in those DORA districts and every business that is operating in those DORA districts.

Councilman Robert Fisher, D-Ward 5, fears that fining or charging parents due to the actions of their children may create a significant burden for families already struggling.

It doesnt make sense to fine people who may not be able to afford it, he said.

He joined council members Chris Smith, D-Ward 4, Kevin Hall, D-Ward 6, and Frank Morris, D-Ward 9, in voting against the ordinance on Monday.

Smith, Hall and Morris have expressed concerns about the law penalizing parents and grandparents who may not be able to control their childs activities, unfairly targeting Black children and it being enforced unevenly or not at all.

Reach Repository staff writer Kelli Weir at 330-580-8339 or kelli.weir@cantonrep.com.

Correction: This story has been updated to correct the timing of when the law takes effect. The Repository previously was told it would take effect today. Mayor Thomas Bernabei clarified that it will take effect in 30 days.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton lets police cite parents of juvenile curfew violators in doras
The fire department said it took about three hours to remove the car from the second floor

A man drove his car into the second floor of a Pennsylvania home on Sunday in what officials say was an "intentional act".

Charges are pending against the driver after police found a grey vehicle sticking out of the side of the house in the city of Lewistown.

Officials have not said how exactly the vehicle made its way to the second floor.

"The pictures speak for themselves," a fire official told the BBC.

Anywhere from one to three people were inside the home at the time of the crash but were not injured, according to Sam Baumgardner, an administrator at the Junction Fire Company, which assisted in the response to the crash.

The driver was able to climb out onto the roof after the crash and was taken to the hospital with injuries, Mr Baumgardner said.

Car after crash into the second floor

He added that the car likely hit the second floor because of a culvert - a tunnel that carries a stream under a road or railway - on the left side of the house.

The driver "went into the culvert and propelled into the air and landed on the second floor", Mr Baumgardner said.

In a report, Lewistown police said they had determined through an investigation that the crash was "an intentional act".

Officials added that the driver will face charges for the crash.

The house after the crash

The BBC has reached out to police for comment.

The fire department said it took about three hours to remove the car from the second floor.

"The crew that was on the rescue definitely had to think outside the box," Mr Baumgardner said.

Rescue crews helped stabilise the house and put a tarp over the hole from the crash because of upcoming storms, the Junction Fire Company said in a post on Facebook.

The inside of the house after the crash
Indigenous people of different ethnic groups marched in Belem for land demarcation ahead of the summit

This week, delegates arriving in Belem's international airport are being welcomed with a lively "Boi de mascara" folkloric dance routine. In fact, the whole city is celebrating being in the spotlight, playing host to the Amazon Summit.

It also feels like a bit of a warm-up for 2025 when the city will host COP30. These two events are a big deal for this part of Brazil - a region that often feels forgotten. Belem is well placed too, as the capital of Para, the state with the highest deforestation rate in Brazil.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called this summit to bring together the eight South American countries who share a slice of the Amazon.

As it opened, he asked those nations to resume cooperation and agree on common policies to tackle deforestation and illegal mining.

Meanwhile Colombian president Gustavo Petro called for the creation of an international court to punish environmental crimes committed in the Amazon. He also defended a total ban on oil exploration in the region - a proposal backed by indigenous leaders.

Representatives from the eight countries which share the Amazon will attend

It is the first time in years that there has been a meeting like this, ensuring a regional response to combat crime and deforestation as well as climate change.

"I think the world needs to look at this meeting in Belem as a milestone," President Lula told the BBC last week.

"I've participated in several meetings and many times they talk, talk, talk, approve a document and nothing happens. This meeting is the first great opportunity for people to show the world what we want to do."

President Lula has promised to reverse rising deforestation seen under his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro. In July this year, deforestation fell 66% compared with the same month in 2022, and Lula says he is committed to zero deforestation by 2030.

Bar chart showing lower deforestation rates in 2023 compared to 2022 across most months from January to July

Bar chart comparing annual deforestation rates in Para state and adding the figure so far this year

"You have no idea how much pressure there was in our community from the Bolsonaro government," says Robson Goncalves Machado, a resident of a community by the Acangata river. "Landowners circling in planes, soya farmers wanting to buy the land to deforest it."

Robson lives on the banks of one of hundreds of waterways that wind their way through Ilha do Marajo.

Marajo is the world's largest river island and sits on the northern coast of Brazil near Belem - the easternmost part of the Amazon.

Map showing location of Portel and Belem within Para state in Brazil

The only way to get to Robson's community is by boat - 13 hours overnight from Belem. It may feel isolated, but he is definitely aware of the demand there is for their land from outsiders.

While Para is well known as the epicentre of Brazil's deforestation, more recently it has also become an appealing prospect for another burgeoning forest industry - carbon credits.

A satellite map of the State of Para in Brasil, overlaid with regions that have suffered from deforestation between 2019 and end of July 2023. The map also features a locator showing Para's location in the north-east of Brasil.

The way it works is this: an organisation that pollutes can buy a credit which is worth one tonne of carbon dioxide.

The money paid by the organisation is meant to go towards carbon-lowering schemes, so for every tonne of CO2 emitted, the credit represents a tonne of CO2 that was captured.

A view down part of the Amazon river with trees on either side

Those credits are bought and sold and their prices are determined like any other market. With the World Bank estimating the carbon credit market in the forest is worth $210bn (165bn) a year, there is huge potential.

While the summit is a diplomatic event, the run-up to the meeting included several days of discussions on issues including the carbon market.

Robson's community of Acangata recently signed a statement of intent with one of the carbon credit companies working in the area.

It has not kicked off in earnest, but the community has agreed to undertake courses that include sustainable forestry management, chicken rearing and biogas projects.

Robson Goncalves Machado lives on the banks of the River Acangata

"At the beginning there were lots of doubts," says Robson. "In the municipality there was a huge land grab worth millions of reais [Brazilian currency] of carbon that was sold and that didn't get passed down to the community."

Carbon credit companies operating in Ilha do Marajo have been accused of harassing people into contracts, pressuring people to be a part of their projects, without actually giving them much detail about the investment they will receive in return.

Para's public prosecutor has since got involved to halt projects that have caused concern. The market still remains unregulated although President Lula has promised to address this.

Teacher Bianca Teles and her family make their living from cassava flour in a community which is a two-hours' boat ride from Robson's. The $200 (157) they earn a week is not enough.

When a carbon credit company offered to help build a school and health centre, even that was not enough to convince her.

Bianca Teles's family earns a living from their cassava plantation

"It's not that transparent," she said. "We can't see how it would give us a secure life. We're always on the back foot, fearing the consequences. Because of these stories we heard, we decided not to sign a contract."

Many of the problems arise because the state is so absent in the Amazon - public services are weak, people feel abandoned. And that is when companies often come in to fill that gap - for good and bad.

"When the state isn't there, it creates a no man's land where anything can happen," says prosecutor Eliane Moreira.

On the other side of Ilha do Marajo, Hernandez Pantoja proudly shows off his acai and cacao plantation. The machinery and training were provided for by Carbonext, a Brazilian carbon credit company that has received investment funding from Shell. The community will also get a share of the credits.

"Just last year we chucked out five illegal sawmills from our land," Mr Pantoja says.

The community knows that defending their territory from illegal logging is a challenge on their own. But partnering with a company with the funds behind it, and a plan to ensure sustainable forestry, is the only way forward, he argues.

"We want support to look after our forest - we don't want to cut down trees anymore."

For Carbonext, empowering the communities to look after their land is important. So, too, is empowering the region as a whole.

Janaina Dallan is CEO of Carbonext, which works on carbon capture projects

"When the global north comes to the global south and says, 'I have the solution,' we're like, 'Really? Have you been to the Amazon?'" says CEO Janaina Dallan.

"How can you solve that problem if you've never been there? You don't have your boots on the ground. So it's very easy to say, 'I have the solution.'"

People on the ground in the Amazon - and those at the summit this week - are determined to make South America's voice heard when it comes to climate change.
The claim: There was an active shooter at a Virginia Walmart store on Aug. 7

An Aug. 7 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) claimed an emergency situation was underway at a major retailers location in northwestern Virginia.

"Active Shooter at Walmart in Front Royal WTH GOING ON WITH PEOPLE," reads the post.

One version of the claim was shared on Facebook nearly 250 times in several hours before it was deleted.

Follow us on Facebook! Like our page to get updates throughout the day on our latest debunks

Our rating: False

Suspects in a carjacked vehicle fled into the Walmart location and were arrested on store property, according to the Warren County Sheriffs Office. Handguns were recovered at the scene but no shots were fired.

Four suspects arrested in incident, handguns recovered but no shots fired

There was not an active shooter at our Walmart today, Warren County Sheriffs Office spokesperson Capt. Robert Mumaw told USA TODAY.

Virginia State Police were pursuing a carjacked vehicle when it entered Warren County and crashed on eastbound Interstate 66, Mumaw said.

Three occupants fled into the Walmart, but one exited the store and attempted to carjack two other people, Mumaw said. A fourth occupant stayed outside of the store.

Fact check: Report of active shooter at Pennsylvania high school is a hoax

All four were eventually taken into custody. No shots were fired, though handguns were recovered at the scene, Mumaw said.

The store was evacuated during the incident, but Walmart spokesperson Joe Pennington told USA TODAY it was open for business as of Monday afternoon.

A carjacking victim suffered a minor injury during the incident, Mumaw said. An investigation is ongoing.

The sheriffs office posted a similar statement on its Facebook page.

Police tape cordons off the scene of a fatal shooting at a Chesapeake, Va., Walmart Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022.

There have been fatal mass shootings at Walmart locations in recent years, including in El Paso, Texas, in 2019 and Chesapeake, Virginia, in 2022.

USA TODAY has previously debunked false claims of active shooters at Walmart stores in Tennessee and Illinois.

USA TODAY reached out to the user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

Our fact-check sources:

Joe Pennington, Aug. 7, Phone call with USA TODAY

Robert Mumaw, Aug. 7, Phone call with USA TODAY

Warren County Sheriffs Office, Aug. 7, Facebook post

Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or e-newspaper here.

Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: No, there was no active shooter at a VA Walmart on Aug. 7 | Fact check
As the road to the Renaissance World Tour begins, Beyonces inspiration from an underground scene called ballroom are effervescent in Charlotte. And with TV shows in recent years like Legendary on HBO Max and Pose on FX, the attention to the ballroom scene seems to be growing in mainstream media.

The Carolinas very own Xclusive International Haus of Anna Wintour competed in a KiKi ball at the Mint Museum, and most recently, the Summer Renaissance Ball at Charlotte Black Pride.

The Haus with members in Paris, Atlanta and the DMV (D.C., Maryland and Virginia) began in late 2021, when co-founder and father Joshua Times aka Sugarbear and mother Ron Dunkin aka Big Tiff teamed up to launch their mission.

He was like, Hey, I got a mission, and I want you to be a part of it,  Dunkin said.

Beginning in the scene as a founder, Dunkin saw taking on such a coveted leadership role as somewhat of a risk.

Its fun, but it was a challenge, Dunkin said.

During Fresh2Death weekend, four of the Xclusive international Haus of Anna Wintours members competed in the fashion show.

[RELATED: Club Renaissance is THAT GIRL: How to prepare + more experiences like it in Charlotte.]

What is ballroom?

Ballroom, in general, is a no-judgment zone.

So, regardless of anything, you can still walk out there. Like, anybody can walk out there or participate, said Xavier Campbell, who walks the runway category with the stage name Bambi.

Ballroom culture, which has origins that can be traced to New York, Chicago and Baltimore, began as safe and exclusive in response to stigmas that Black and brown transgender and gender-nonconforming people faced.

Ballroom is a place where people and members of houses come to compete, and participants are welcome to express themselves freely. But it is organized in categories such as runway, face and performances. Performers are typically judged by respected members of the ballroom scene.

Fresh2Death: Its Giving Ballroom, was hosted in partnership with the Harvey B. Gantt Center. Along with the Kiki ball, the weekend included a drag brunch, vendors, a p anel discussion, installation areas, workshops on voguing and runway and a fashion show.

Whats Beyonces connection?

While the Renaissance album is filled with references to ballroom culture, Beyonce also brought members of the ballroom scene with her on tour, such as Legendary star Honey Balenciaga and Kevin JZ Prodigy.

I think she definitely put ballroom on, Campbell said.

She exposed people and gave them opportunities because ballroom is definitely idolized by celebrities and people wanting to have a name. So, to use people in our community  that did mean a lot to them, and now we look to them as celebrities, said Quinton Davis, father of The Xclusive International Haus of Anna Wintour, who also goes by Zooetah.

Ballroom was an inspiration for Beyonce, Campbell said. Thats why she made her album, as a love-letter to us.

Xlclusive International Haus of Anna Wintour member Wayne Boyd goes by Stormi D.

What is the Charlotte ballroom scene like?

Recently, Charlotte Black Pride hosted the Summer Renaissance Ball, where the theme was inspired by Black Afro Pop.

And members of the Xclusive International Haus of Anna Wintour brought out their chicest zebra, cheetah and snakeskin prints.

Each ball, we try to have a look as a house. So, I thought it would be fun to do the animal prints, Davis said. I love a theme of a ball. Thats what makes a ball.

As the members of the house boasted the Charlotte scene as family oriented, the feel of Southern hospitality flows through the veins of Charlottes LGBTQ+ community and underground ballroom scene.

We do have more time to bond and connect with each other in our free time compared to just being like, Oh well Ive got something else to do. We kind of make time for each other. I guess thats a Southern thing  Southern hospitality, Davis said.

We just like to bond. We make anything fun.

While the house held a picnic event, it also held a Fourth of July cookout event with fireworks and grilled food.

I think they are family-oriented if anything else. Thats what I can appreciate about this house, Davis said.

Is ballroom going mainstream?

While Beyonce celebrated the ballroom community in her recent album, as for shows like Legendary and Pose, Davis said he looks at those shows as mockeries. No shade.

Only because they dont get to see the real everyday life challenges that we face .. theres even challenges in ballroom, as much as it may seem fun. It can get stressful, Davis said.

Campbell added, To me, they were good shows. They just dont show the real stuff. They were good, cute shows, but to go to an actual ball vs. watching on that show. Its just two different things.

And while Beyonce is putting ballroom on one of the biggest stages in the world, the scene is just as cherished by ballroom veterans as it always was before.

I feel like the ballroom community will keep it and hold on to it. No matter how mainstream it gets, what artist or anything else, ballroom will still be ballroom, Dunkin said.

Its still going to be the packed nights in a tight little space. Everybodys enjoying each other, sweating and just having a good time  that will never go away.

While Niyah Wintour, who walks the runway category, feels as though ballroom should stay underground, she said, Honestly, no matter how mainstream it is, it would never give the real experience of actually being at an actual ball  I feel like they just give the showcase part of it in the mainstream world. But, to actually know what ballroom really is, you have to come to a real ball.
Sarabi Medina was shot in the head by Michael Goodman as she rode her scooter home after getting ice cream, say police (ABC7)

An eight-year-old Chicago girl was shot and killed by a neighbour after he complained about children making too much noise outside his home, according to officials.

Sarabi Medina was shot in the head by Michael Goodman as she rode her scooter home after getting ice cream, police said.

The 43-year-old suspect, who is known to authorities, allegedly walked up to a group of people in the Portage Park neighbourhood on Saturday evening before opening fire.

During a struggle that ensued with the victims father, the suspect was hit in the face with a bullet from his own gun. Sabrina was rushed to Stroger Hospital in critical condition where she died a short time later, police said.

Mr Goodman was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center in critical condition and has been charged with first-degree murder.

You killed an innocent child, an innocent baby girl for what reason? Now these parents have to mourn their baby and everything else, and every time you turn around and look, theyll know it was across the street. Nobodys going to let their kids come around here and play. People arent going to take their kids to this park because they are terrified. We just wanted to pay our respects to her and to her family. But its just crazy, Sue Kyser, who lives in the neighbourhood, told ABC7.

The family had moved to Portage Park after the youngsters mother, 29-year-old Bianca Miranda, was shot and killed in 2018.

Neighbour Megan Kelley said that the suspect had confronted the victim and her father about noise before the fatal incident.

Yesterday, when he came out, before he shot her, he had said something about them being too loud, she told The Chicago Sun-Times.

And she added: Just little kids playing, he would come out just yelling about the noise. It just didnt make sense, none of it made sense.

Everybody in the community would just tell him they are just kids having fun playing, just let them be.
Chicago PD favourites Jesse Lee Soffer and Tracy Spiridakos have reunited on the picket line, as part of the ongoing SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild  American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) strike.

The actors, known for their on-screen roles as the married couple Jay Halstead and Hailey Upton, met up at the protest with One Chicagos executive producer Derek Haas.

Soffer posted a snap of the 'Upstead' reunion on his Instagram on Monday (August 7) with the caption: "Team, assemble!"

Related: Chicago PD's Benjamin Levy Aguilar shares hopes for season 11 following intense reveal

Fans were delighted to see the duo back together, after Soffer exited the show at the start of season 10. His character moved to Bolivia and started to avoid his wifes calls.

The writers and actors guilds have been on strike for several months, with SAG-AFTRA since July 13 and WGA since May 1. To date, no agreement has been reached to resolve the strike and resume production.

Lori Allen/NBC

Related: Chicago PD star Sophia Bush files for divorce one year after wedding

Speaking about his departure from the show at the time, Soffer revealed it was "one of the toughest decisions Ive ever had to make in my life".

However, the actor hasnt ruled out a return to the show in the future, adding: "Never say never. Halsteads always going to be in my blood. Thats never going to change."

This reunion comes after their co-star LaRoyce Hawkins confirmed that season 11 of Chicago PD will be delayed due to the strike.

He explained at an acting masterclass lecture at Louisiana State University: "Naturally, after the writers' strike, it's going to take the writers a while to start warming up their rooms again and starting to conceptualise stories again. So we might need like a three-week buffer."

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WEST PALM BEACH  Veteran prosecutor Craig A. Williams has entered the race to become the next Palm Beach County State Attorney.

Williams joins fellow Palm Beach County prosecutor Alexcia Cox and defense attorney Gregg Lerman in seeking to succeed three-term incumbent Dave Aronberg, who announced in June that he will not seek a fourth term in 2024.

Williams filed to run July 31, qualified for the ballot Aug. 2 and will seek the office as a Democrat, like Cox and Lerman. He formally announced his candidacy in a statement Monday.

Williams is one of Aronbergs chief assistants, supervising the State Attorney's Office's felony trial, intake, organized crime, traffic homicide and mental health units, as well as its offices at the Criminal Justice Complex on Gun Club Road near West Palm Beach and in Belle Glade.

'Baby June': A dead baby was found off the coast of South Florida in 2018. DNA helped convict her mother.

Williams believes he can recruit, retain top prosecutors in office

Williams has been a prosecutor off and on for more than 26 years and practiced criminal defense law from 2010 to 2012. He said he decided to run for the top prosecutor job after being encouraged to do so by several people within the legal community.

Craig A. Williams of Palm Beach Gardens announced his candidacy for Palm Beach County State Attorney on Monday, Aug. 7, 2023. He is a longtime chief assistant state attorney.

I believe my style, the way I treat people, I can get the best-quality and the best-trained prosecutors, he said Monday.

The state attorney doesnt do it all. At the end of the day, we need really good prosecutors and really well-trained and ethical prosecutors, and thats what I can bring.

About 250 people staff the State Attorney's Office, with about 100 of them prosecutors.

Democratic primary in August 2024 could decide race

During his tenure with the State Attorneys Office, Williams himself has prosecuted high-profile cases such at the 2017 retrial of Dalia Dippolito, who was found guilty of trying to kill her husband by hiring a gunman.

He was also involved in the 2006 prosecution of Jeffrey Lamb, who was convicted in the bludgeoning death of his wife, Cathy.

That Williams, Cox and Lerman have all filed to run as Democrats means the election would be decided in the August 2024 primary unless a challenger from a different party or independent candidate files.

Otherwise, the primary winner would advance to the general election that following November.

The filing deadline is April 2024.

Julius Whigham II is a criminal justice and public safety reporter for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jwhigham@pbpost.com and follow him on Twitter at @JuliusWhigham. Help support our work: Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Craig Williams announces candidacy for Palm Beach County State Attorney
Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!

ESSAYLI DEMANDS JUSTIFICATION FOR CIVIL RIGHTS INVESTIGATION

Assemblyman Bill Essayli, R-Riverside, challenged California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Monday to provide a legal justification for his Department of Justice civil rights investigation into the Chino Valley Unified School District boards decision to enact a policy of outing transgender students to their parents.

As previously reported in The Bee, the Southern California school district this summer voted in favor of a policy that requires teachers and other school staff to inform parents if their child requests to go by a different name or pronoun, or if they use a bathroom or participate in school programs (such as sports) that dont match their sex on official records.

The school boards decision mirrors a bill, AB 1314, which Essayli authored earlier this year. That bill would have required every school in the state to adopt a similar policy, but never made it to a committee hearing.

Assembly Education Committee Chair Al Muratsuchi, D-Torrance, called the bill bad policy and said that a hearing for it would potentially provide a forum for increasingly hateful rhetoric targeting LGBTQ youth.

In his letter to Bonta, Essayli wrote that the California Department of Educations guidance to schools to protect the privacy of transgender and gender-nonconforming students who may not be out at home is faulty advice ... suggesting that students possess a legally cognizable privacy interest from their parents.

Essayli wrote that by protecting the privacy of transgender students, schools are increasingly implementing illegal, unconstitutional and unethical policies that exclude parents from the affairs of their children.

Last month, a federal judge in Sacramento ruled that the State of California has a legitimate interest in protecting the privacy of transgender students who may suffer adverse hostile reactions, including, but not limited to, domestic abuse and bullying if outed, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Surveys show that only a third of transgender students report having a safe and affirming home environment.

In his letter, Essayli demanded to know whether Bontas DOJ also would investigate school districts that violate the civil rights of parents.

Without a transparent accounting of your departments actions, I will be left to conclude that your announcement was designed to chill the political activities of local school boards who disagree with the narrative of the ruling political party in Sacramento. I sincerely hope that is not the case, Essayli wrote.

In a tweet announcing his letter, Essayli wrote that children belong to their parents, not the government.

That prompted one person to reply, Children dont belong to anyone. Its not the 19th Century, children arent possessions.

Reached for comment, Bontas office said that Essaylis letter is currently under review.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Floridas latest curriculum  featuring cartoon Christopher Columbus explaining, being taken as a slave is better than being killed! and telling time-traveling kids that slavery was no big deal. This is the kind of propaganda DeSantis and his friends at PragerU are teaching our children.

- California Gov. Gavin Newsom, via the platform formerly known as Twitter.

Best of The Bee:

Fast food chains have spent millions this year on lobbying and advertising campaigns to stave off a bill that would hold corporate owners responsible for abuses that occur at franchise restaurants, according to a Sacramento Bee analysis, via Lindsey Holden , Mathew Miranda and Stephen Hobbs .

Sacramento District Attorney Thien Hos office has decided to freeze out a Superior Court judge from hearing any criminal cases coming from its prosecutors, employing a rule that allows them to reject a judge for being prejudiced against their interests, via Sam Stanton .

Members of Congress representing the San Joaquin Valley, a farming-reliant region with some of the worst air quality and poorest health in California, have introduced a series of bills in the last few weeks intended to attract and keep more physicians, via Gillian Brassil .

The California governor says hes not running, not in 2024 or any other year. Yet, quietly but aggressively, Newsom is following the playbook for White House aspirants, via David Lightman.
China can be an "objective and rational voice" in achieving a peaceful settlement to Russias war against Ukraine, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in a phone talk on Aug. 8.

China also emphasized its "independent and impartial position" in a foreign ministry statement released following the summit in Saudi Arabia on finding a peaceful way to bring the war to an end.

Read also: China not fully aligned with Russia on settlement to end war in Ukraine  ISW

The two-day talks helped "to consolidate international consensus," China's Foreign Ministry said.

Peace summit in Saudi Arabia: What is known

Read also: Promise for peace? Saudi-hosted summit on conditions to end war good and constructive, says USA

Two days of negotiations on the Ukrainian peace formula took place in the city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Aug. 5-6. Top diplomats and officials from about 40 countries took part in it, including China, India, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Turkey, and South Africa with Russia excluded.

It is the second peace summit with the previous one held in Copenhagen, Denmark, in June 2023.

All countries participating in the peace talks for Ukraine in Saudi Arabia have reaffirmed their commitment to UN principles and respect for the countrys sovereignty and territorial integrity, Presidential adviser Andriy Yermak said.

Also, the participants agreed that any peace talks should be based on respect for the countrys sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Read also: Presidential adviser Yermak reveals details of agreement struck at peace formula summit in Saudi Arabia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented a 10-point "peace formula" at the G20 summit in November 2022. It includes the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity, the withdrawal of Russian troops, the release of all prisoners, a tribunal for those guilty of aggression, and security guarantees for Ukraine.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
An automatic toilet paper dispenser (R) at a Chinese railway station uses facial recognition technology. China is drafting rules on use of the technology (STR)

Firms using facial recognition in China will be required to obtain consent or legal permission before collecting personal information, draft regulations released Tuesday said, while stipulating the rules would not apply to some bodies.

China is one of the most surveilled societies on Earth, with thousands of CCTV cameras scattered across cities and facial recognition technology widely used in everything from day-to-day law enforcement to political repression.

Draft regulations released by China's Cyberspace Administration warned that use of the technology must "abide by laws and regulations, comply with public order, respect social morality, assume social responsibility, and fulfil duties to protect personal information."

Use of the technology to "analyse... ethnicity or religion" is prohibited, and the processing of facial data can only be carried out with the individual's consent or written legal permission, the law said.

It must also not be used to "endanger national security, harm public interests", or "disrupt social order", the regulations said.

Such technology may be used "only when there is a specific purpose and sufficient necessity, and when strict protection measures are taken", reads one article of the regulation.

But, it stipulated, the rules would not apply to those "not required by laws and administrative regulations to obtain personal consent". It did not specify what those were.

The regulations will enter effect on September 7 following a public consultation period.

A number of top Chinese facial recognition and surveillance firms have faced sanctions by the United States for their alleged role in repression.

State-owned surveillance giant Hikvision was blacklisted in the United States for allegedly helping Beijing carry out a "campaign of repression".

And Hong Kong-listed SenseTime was placed on a similar blacklist in 2019 over the use of its technology in mass surveillance in the western region of Xinjiang.

At an industry expo in Beijing in June, AFP saw a number of prominent firms showcasing tech that allowed them to identify "undesirable" behaviours and scan faces from more than 100 metres (yards) away.

pfc/oho/mtp
China's imports and exports fell more sharply than expected last month as weaker global demand threatened the recovery prospects of the world's second-largest economy.

Official figures show that exports fell by 14.5% in July compared with a year earlier, while imports dropped 12.4%.

The grim trade figures reinforce concerns that the country's economic growth could slow further this year.

It will increase pressure on Beijing to help boost the post-pandemic recovery.

China's economy grew just 3% last year - apart from the slowdown when Covid struck, the weakest rate since 1976 - reflecting the toll from coronavirus restrictions that remained some of the most stringent in the world, long after many other countries had resumed more normal patterns.

A full lockdown was imposed for two full months from March 2022 in the financial hub of Shanghai, home to around 25 million people, with the government delivering food packages to residents confined in their home.

Though officials loosened restrictions in November, recovery has remained lacklustre.

The unemployment rate among China's youth exceeded 20% in May and a crisis in the housing sector has damaged confidence.

Weaker economic growth overseas has also reduced foreign demand for Chinese goods, while geopolitical tensions between China and the US and others have taken a further toll on trade, encouraging international firms to shift investments out of the country.

July was the third month in a row that China's shipments overseas have declined, marking the sharpest fall since February 2020 at the height of the pandemic.

Exports to the US, one of China's biggest buyers, fell 23.1% year-on-year.

The European Union also bought 20.6% less from China.

Louise Loo from Oxford Economics warned that the pressures on foreign trade will linger, as higher borrowing costs and rising living costs weigh on economic activity in other parts of the world, eroding demand for goods.

"The backdrop for China's external demand could become considerably more challenging in the coming quarters," she said.

China's position as a major importer also means its sluggish trade performance is likely to have a knock-on effect on the global economy, said Steve Clayton, head of equity funds for investment firm Hargreaves Lansdown.

Prices for commodities from oil to copper slipped in response to the news, while shares in luxury goods producers such as LVMH - which have long looked to China for growth - also dropped.

"A weaker China means lower demand in the wider global economy too," Mr Clayton said. "China's woes may well be felt beyond its own shores, underlining the interlinkage of the world's leading economies."

China's central bank has cut interest rates in recent months in a bid to boost the economy and regulators have also relaxed their scrutiny of key sectors such as the tech industry. But officials have so far resisted major measures to stimulate the economy.

Weak growth means China is not facing the rising prices that have rattled many other countries and prompted central bankers elsewhere to sharply increase borrowing costs.
China has added a new satellite to its fleet of meteorological spacecraft.

A Long March 4C rocket lifted off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert on Aug. 2 at 11:47 p.m. EDT (0347 GMT; 11:47 a.m. Beijing Time on Aug. 3). Orange smoke from the rockets hypergolic propellant billowed out upon ignition, with purple exhaust pushing the rocket into blue skies. Insulation tiles, used to keep propellant at optimum temperatures, fell from the rocket as it climbed.

Aboard was the Fengyun-3F satellite , which joins the China Meteorological Administrations fleet of Fengyun satellites in low Earth and geosynchronous orbits. It replaces the Fengyun-3C satellite, wihch launched in 2013.

Related: China's Long March rocket family: History and photos

Fengyun-3F carries a suite of 10 payloads for weather data, including new instruments for tracking ozone. The satellite had a mass of around 5,070 pounds (2,300 kilograms) at launch and is expected to operate for around a decade. The satellite was developed by the state-owned Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST).

Chinese state media report that the satellite will be used to collect data for climate change , atmospheric chemistry and atmospheric environment research.

U.S. Space Force situational awareness tracked the satellite in a nearly circular 501-mile-high (806 kilometers) orbit with an inclination of 98 degrees, seeing it orbit close to the poles.

That path sends the satellite across the equator at 10:00 a.m. local time, meaning it is operating in a "morning orbit."

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China is currently the only country with four near-Earth orbit meteorological satellites in sun-synchronous early morning, morning, afternoon and non-sun-synchronous orbits, according to an article posted by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

The launch was China's 32nd orbital launch of 2023. The country plans to launch around 200 spacecraft on Long March rockets this year, with Chinese commercial launches sending additional satellites to space.
Chinas increasing misalignment with Russia on finding a settlement to end the war in Ukraine was evident at the talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Aug. 5-6, the UKs Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in its Aug. 7 update.

The Financial Times reported that the Chinese representatives at the meeting were constructive and keen to show that (China) is not Russia.

Read also: Ukraine peace formula summit helping to consolidate international consensus  China FM

The Financial Times quoted one European diplomat present at the talks as saying that the mere presence of China shows Russia is more and more isolated.

The Chinese delegation reportedly indicated its willingness to attend the next meeting of a similar format that will likely also exclude Russia.

Read also: Progress on peace talks made in Saudi Arabia  Fesenko, political scientist

A Russian insider source alleged that Russia has rejected Chinas 12-point peace plan for the war in Ukraine from February 2023 (which the Chinese delegation re-introduced during the talks in Saudi Arabia) and that some Chinese elites are secretly expressing their dissatisfaction with the actions of the Russian leadership.

These reports from the talks in Saudi Arabia and insider allegations, if true, align with ISWs previous assessments that China is not fully aligned with Russia on the issue of Ukraine and that Russia and Chinas relationship is not the no limits partnership as the Kremlin desires, ISW wrote.

Peace summit in Saudi Arabia: What is known

Two days of negotiations on the Ukrainian peace formula took place in the city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Aug. 5-6.

The summit was attended by high-ranking officials and diplomats from about 40 countries, including representatives from India and China. Russia, however, was not invited to attend.

Read also: Principles of peace agreement agreed at summit in Saudi Arabia, media report

Deputy Head of the Office of the Ukrainian President Ihor Zhovkva said ahead of the summit that the task of the negotiations in Jeddah was to distribute the points of the Ukrainian peace formula among the participating countries.

This was already the second such meeting  the previous one was held in June in Copenhagen, Denmark.

In November 2022, at the G20 summit, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented a 10-point peace formula, which includes the restoration of Ukraines territorial integrity, the withdrawal of Russian troops, the release of all prisoners, a tribunal for those guilty of aggression, and security guarantees for Ukraine.

Kyiv has proposed that its foreign partners each take the lead in implementing one of the points of the plan.

Read also: Promise for peace? Saudi-hosted summit on conditions to end war good and constructive, says USA

All countries participating in the summit in Saudi Arabia on the peace formula for Ukraine have reaffirmed their commitment to UN principles and respect for the countrys sovereignty and territorial integrity, the head of the Presidents Office, Andriy Yermak, who headed the Ukrainian delegation in Jeddah on behalf of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said on Aug. 6.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The News

Stepped up naval altercations between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea  and repeated U.S. pledges to defend Manila  are exposing the growing risk of military conflict in the Indo-Pacific, despite growing efforts between Washington and Beijing to defuse these tensions.

The latest standoff occurred on Saturday in the Spratly Islands chain west of the Philippines, where Manilas forces attempted to resupply a military facility. Chinas Coast Guard, along with irregular Chinese naval vessels, disrupted the operation using both water cannons and blocking maneuvers, according to Philippine and U.S. officials.

It was the second time in recent months that Beijing and Manila clashed over this territory, called the Second Thomas Shoal. In February, Chinas Coast Guard used a military-grade laser to try and disrupt a Philippine resupply there.

The Second Thomas Shoal sits 120 kilometers to the west of the island of Palawan, where the U.S. and Philippine militaries are jointly developing four new military bases that could be used in any American conflict with China over Taiwan. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris visited Palawan in November in a sign of the increased strategic importance Washington places on the island, as well as the Philippines overall.

The Biden administration on Saturday stressed to Beijing that the U.S. is committed to defending all Philippine naval vessels and territory under the countries 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty. The State Department also accused Beijing of violating international law, as an international tribunal ruled in 2016 that Beijing had no legal claim to these islands.

The United States reaffirms an armed attack on Philippine public vessels, aircraft, and armed forces  including those of its Coast Guard in the South China Sea  would invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments, the State Department said in a statement released on Saturday.

Jays view

The Philippines is just one in an emerging ring of hot spots in Asia and the Pacific that could embroil the U.S. and China in conflict, either deliberately or through miscalculations. And this threat is only intensifying as China and Russia have begun conducting joint-military training exercises in strategic waterways in the region in recent months.

Last week, the Pentagons Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command tracked a Russian and Chinese naval patrol that operated off the coast of Alaska. The joint force had started in East Asia the week before and crossed the Pacific towards American territory. Pentagon leaders said such cooperation between Beijing and Moscow has increased since the Kremlins invasion of Ukraine last year. South Korean and Japanese militaries have scrambled patrol boats in recent months in response to Chinese and Russian operations off their coasts.

But these tensions are reverberating far into the western Pacific as the U.S. and China compete for influence there. Leaders of countries including Palau, Micronesia, and Papua New Guinea are seeking greater military backing against what they see are growing Chinese naval operations in their waters. But other countries, such as the Solomon Islands, have moved to secure defense commitments from Beijing.

Meanwhile, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has reinvigorated Manilas military alliance with Washington since taking office last year, including visiting the White House on an official visit in May. His predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, drifted toward Beijing during much of his six-year tenure and questioned the continued utility of the U.S.-Philippines defense pact.

The View From Beijing

Beijing has cast its military training with Russia as defensive. On Monday, Chinas Foreign Ministry blasted American criticism of its naval operation off the Philippines and claimed to have been guarding Chinese territory.

The State Departments statement, in disregard of the facts, attacked Chinas legitimate and lawful actions at sea aimed at safeguarding its rights and enforcing the law, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

Notable

The Australian National University identified four flashpoints  Taiwan, the Korean Peninsula, South China Sea and East China Sea  that will determine whether Asia descends into war.
BRP Sierra Madre, a dilapidated Philippine Navy ship that has been aground since 1999 is pictured on the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, part of the Spratly Islands, in the South China Sea

China, Philippines' dispute over grounded warship heats up BRP Sierra Madre, a dilapidated Philippine Navy ship that has been aground since 1999 is pictured on the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, part of the Spratly Islands, in the South China Sea

By Ella Cao, Liz Lee and Karen Lema

BEIJING/MANILA (Reuters) -China again asked the Philippines to tow away a grounded warship - a World War Two-era vessel now used as a military outpost - from a disputed shoal on Tuesday, after Manila rejected Beijing's earlier demand.

Tensions have soared between the two neighbours over the South China Sea under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, with Manila pivoting back to the United States, which supports the Southeast Asian nation in its maritime disputes with China.

China's embassy in Manila criticised Washington for "gathering" its allies to continue "hyping up" the South China Sea issue and the boat incident.

"South China Sea is not a 'safari park' for countries outside the region to make mischief and sow discord," the embassy said in a statement on Tuesday.

The Second Thomas Shoal, which lies within the Philippines exclusive economic zone, is home to a handful of troops living aboard the former warship Sierra Madre. Manila deliberately grounded the vessel in 1999 to reinforce its sovereignty claims.

Manila has repeatedly accused the Chinese coastguard of blocking resupply missions to its troops there, as it did on Aug. 5 when it sprayed a Philippine vessel with a water cannon.

China maintains the Philippines' occupation of the shoal is illegal.

The Philippine military described the Chinese coastguard's actions on Saturday as "excessive and offensive". China said the incident was a "warning" and that it has exercised "rational restraint" at all times.

China's defence ministry on Tuesday urged Manila to stop all "provocative" actions, and vowed to continue taking necessary measures to safeguard sovereignty and maritime rights.

CONTROL

Security experts say China's actions around the atoll point to one thing - Beijing wants to take control of Second Thomas Shoal, also known in China as Renai Reef, and Ayungin in Manila.

"We must reestablish sea control around the shoal because if we don't control it, our resupply is vulnerable to their coercive tactics," said Rommel Ong, a maritime security expert and retired vice commander of the Philippine Navy.

China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, which overlaps with the exclusive economic zones of Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan and the Philippines.

Both Ong and Collin Koh, a security fellow at Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, believe China would think twice about using outright force to occupy the shoal lest it triggers a 1951 U.S.-Philippines mutual defence treaty.

"There's probably no question about whether China has the means to up the ante here, but more about its willingness over those political risks," said Koh.

Jonathan Malaya, assistant director general of the Philippines National Security Council, urged China "not to escalate matters" and put lives at risk.

Japan and France, through their embassies in Manila, have expressed concern over China's recent actions and repeated their support for a 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated Beijing's expansive South China Sea claims.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Philippines Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro on Tuesday to discuss the alliance between the two countries, the Pentagon said.

(Editing by Bernadette Baum, Alex Richardson and Sharon Singleton)
Late last year, Nikkei Asia reported that Japan was planning to add thousands of personnel to its military cyber defense unit. Now, we might know why. According to a report from The Washington Post, hackers in China had "deep, persistent access" to Japanese defense networks. When the National Security Agency is said to have first discovered the breach in late 2020, NSA Chief and Commander of US Cyber Command General Paul Nakasone flew to Japan with White House deputy national security advisor Matthew Pottinger to report the breach to officials.

Despite briefings that reached as high as Japan's prime minister, The Post reports that hacking from China remained an issue for several months, persisting through the end of the Trump administration and well into early 2021.

US Cyber Command initially offered Japan assistance in purging its systems of malware but were reportedly rebuffed because the country was not comfortable with another nation's military accessing their systems. Instead, Japan elected to use domestic commercial security firms to find vulnerabilities, relying on the US only for guidance on what those firms found. Japan would eventually adopt a more active national security strategy, which is said to include a new cyber command to monitor networks around the clock, and as many as 4,000 active cybersecurity personnel.
Two days ago, eleven Russian and Chinese warships came together off the coast of Alaska in the largest gathering of its kind yet seen. The US Navy sent four destroyers in their direction as a response. All these ships have now dispersed, seemingly with no up-close interaction. There have been similar occurrences previously.

Not too long ago I commanded the Royal Navys standby warship tasked with responding to events such as this if they happened in UK waters (they did) and so I have been involved in similar occurrences.

Basically there are two reasons why navies gather and operate together like this, both simple  to influence (task one) and to prepare to fight (task two).

Task one, Naval Influence, covers a vast range of activities that take place around the clock around the world and often unseen. Activities range from patrol vessels visiting ports in the Indo-Pacific, to frigates escorting Russian warships as they transit the Channel, to signalling the Argentinians that a nuclear-powered attack submarine is on its way, to sitting an aircraft carrier off someones coast. There are many others but we have this and were not afraid to use it is the gist of it, a messaging activity that navies spend a lot of their time on.

In this recent instance, the Chinese and Russian message to friend and foe alike was, we can operate together, far from home and with impunity.

Is that provocative in itself? Not really, and besides, its the same message the Royal Navys carrier strike group gave during its 2021 deployment to the Indo-Pacific, and the same message US warships send all the time.

Task two is more interesting  preparing for what happens when task one fails. Operating warships together is much harder than Hollywood would have you believe and needs constant practice. Gathering in one place in formation for a photo is one thing: learning how to fight together is something else entirely.

The network required to make ships capable of fighting together extends well beyond the platforms themselves. Intelligence systems, logistics, communications, orders, rules of engagement, all require a high degree of commonality and understanding to work. Nato ships have an advantage here as by and large they all operate using the same rule books but even then it can take days to get everyone on the same communications circuits and operating from the same picture. The first week of the multinational maritime exercise held off Scotland twice a year is called the Integration Phase for a reason  and these are countries that operate warships together all the time.

If you do work with someone where these things dont mesh as easily, things get complicated quickly. In 2007, HMS Ark Royal sailed from Portsmouth in company with two Chinese naval vessels; the guided missile destroyer Guangzhou and the supply ship Weishanhu. The aim was to conduct a search and rescue exercise. In the end, a formation photo is just about all we could manage. Totally different languages, doctrines and communications systems.

This latest meeting of the Chinese and Russian navies delivered both tasks. My assessment is 80/20 in favour of Influence  here we are talking about it, we have been influenced by the deployment. It will take a lot more practice for China and Russia to be able to fight together, but its a start.

The other thing this deployment has done is highlight the strategic importance of Alaska, this vast state purchased by the US from the Russians in 1867 for 7.2 million dollars and only 50 miles from Russian territory even today.

Alaska gives the US its foothold in the High North, a part of the world where conflict at some point feels inevitable despite Natos increasing strength there: every Arctic nation except Russia will soon be in Nato. Its rich in oil and gas and 29 per cent of Alaska is covered by glaciers. The Aleutian Islands, stretching some 1200 miles out to the west, are home to the Cobra Dane radar station, the USs first line of defence against ballistic missile attack. Though Alaskas population density is such that if it was Manhattan there would be just 16 people there, it is nonetheless one of the most populated places in the High North. Alaska matters.

The Aleutian islands are relevant here as the Chinese-Russian gathering took place near them rather than mainland Alaska. Legally, the implications are the same: as a practical matter they are not. If the Isles of Scilly stretched halfway across the Atlantic, our response to Russian warships operating there would be different to them anchoring in the Moray Firth.

But what is the right response? The US Navy sent four destroyers this time  which has been met with general approval. The decision to send a single coastguard cutter last September to intercept seven Russian and Chinese warships was not. The appropriate level of response is a hard one as it entirely depends on your philosophical stance. In 2016, conversations in the British Ministry of Defence around the Russian carrier Kuznetsov heading home through the Channel ranged from let it go  dont stoke their propaganda machine to lets get everything out of the door and give them a show of strength.

Where you personally sit on this continuum will determine what you think is the right response. Often these philosophical debates resolve themselves when they meet the cold reality of available resources. In this case, the US Navy having four destroyers available for short notice retasking is impressive. Also, its not all about navy vs navy  having the intelligence, surveillance apparatus and aircraft in place to detect and track ships and then message to say you are doing both, is just as important.

That the Russians and Chinese are increasing the regularity of these meet-ups is of note when one considers their strategic relationship more generally. Eyes are inevitably drawn to Taiwan when talk of conflict with China comes up but what does any of this mean in the High North or the Middle East, which offers scope for some disagreement between the two in recent months? Will this cooperation alter their discussions about Ukraine? As ever with joint exercises, conversations reach much deeper than just the ships.

And when these questions are answered, will the US military change its posture in Alaska? There are nine US bases there but none belong to the Navy or Marines. The USN has two icebreakers, Russia has fifty-four. Should USN surface combatants operate there more often? Any such move will mean resources inevitably have to be taken from elsewhere, but to me this sort of practical discussion is more interesting than breathless talk of incursions and invasions.

Surface warships meeting and operating with allies is as old as navies, as is exercising ones legal right to operate on the High Seas. Such deployments influence friends and deter adversaries, and then affords precious opportunities to learn how to fight together if that fails.

My assessment is that Russia and China still have a way to go in this regard. More interesting will be to track what this means to their political relationship and what it means to US operating posture in that part of the world.

Tom Sharpe is a former Royal Navy officer. He commanded an anti-submarine frigate on operations in the Greenland-Iceland-UK Gap, involving live contact with Russian ships and submarines

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From shining lasers at Philippine ships in February to firing water cannons at them over the weekend, China keeps testing the limits of aggressiondialing up the notch but carefully keeping short of an outright act of warin disputed waters like the South China Sea.

Beijings sweeping claims to virtually all of the South China Sea were invalidated by a U.N.-backed tribunal at The Hague in 2016, but that hasnt stopped Chinese ships from firing lasers and water cannons or performing close-in maneuvers and fleet blockades to assert territorial dominance.

While such actions have prompted strong condemnation from the likes of the Philippines and other countries on the receiving endas well as from Chinas rivals like the U.S. and JapanChina has displayed no remorse, often defending the behavior as legal and necessary to defend its interests.

More From TIME

Read More: China Says It Doesnt Want Conflict. Its Actions at Sea Suggest Otherwise

Experts say that China appears to be baiting a military response from opposing claimants in the South China Sea (or their allies) that would trigger an even more dangerous but legally justifiable use of force on its part, but so far none of the nations involved have militarily engaged with China over the issue. The Philippines has repeatedly pursued diplomatic pathways to file its grievances, including summoning the Chinese ambassador over the incident on Monday. Short of military escalation, however, experts say China appears to be discerning more and more of what it can get away withand isnt likely to stop antagonizing its neighbors.

The South China Sea issue is not just a clear cut sovereignty issue or great power rivalry issue, but underpinning it is also an issue of who holds the moral high ground, says Collin Koh, a regional security analyst from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. I think China is assiduously trying to avoid becoming the first one to fire a shot because it's going to undermine its case on many fronts.

Though Chinas shooting of the water cannon was dangerous, says Derek Grossman, senior defense analyst at the RAND Corporation in Santa Monica, Calif., it would not be considered an armed attack that would trigger a mutual defense treaty between Washington and Manila. Typically, an armed attack results in permanent destruction or disabling of an asset, with possible human casualties or loss of life.

There are certain red lines, Koh tells TIME, that China would not cross, including using firearms or anything bigger than that like missiles. Doing so would allow Manila to launch a new legal challenge against Beijingand if the 2016 Hague ruling is any indicator, such a challenge would almost certainly go against China. An unprompted armed attack would also galvanize the Philippines allies like the U.S. and other states in the region to respond in force.

But by doing everything short of an armed attack, says Koh, China can chip away at and gradually erode the Philippines and other parties ability to respond in time and over time. In particular, notes Koh, because the U.S. wont respond in a decisive manner, China seems to hope that its bullying of the Philippines, a prominent U.S. ally, will serve to undermine the regional credibility of partnering with the U.S., as Manila is made to appear defenseless.

The Philippines is unfortunately in a very tough spot, as are the other maritime counterclaimants like Vietnam and Malaysia, says Grossman, when going up against these assertive Chinese gray zone operations.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
The News

Chinas new proposed facial recognition laws aim to limit their use in the private sector, while leaving the scope of its use wide open for national security purposes.

According to the draft guidelines by the countrys internet regulator, the technology will be explicitly banned from identifying race, ethnicity, religious belief or health status without consent from users. But there are exceptions for the governments use of the technology for national security purposes.

Weve curated reporting and commentary on the proposed laws and how China has been using facial technology.

Insights

The proposed laws encapsulate the sweet and sour approach of Chinese governance which on one hand reflect an authoritarian tech-enabled superpower, and on the other show legitimate concern about the misuse of facial technology, Samm Sacks of Yale Law Schools Paul Tsai China Center told the Wall Street Journal. The regulations would bring China closer to Western norms on the tech, including proposed rules in the European Union and in U.S. states.

The draft rules suggest there was public concern over the technologys intrusiveness , including its use in bathrooms to activate toilet paper dispensers. When the guidelines are finalized, facial recognition will no longer be allowed in places like gyms, changing rooms, and hotel rooms. 

Beijings facial recognition technology was like marrying Big Brother to big data, ABC Australias Matthew Carney said in a 2018 documentary. In one instance, Carney attempted to jaywalk before his picture was pulled up on a billboard with an announcement instructing him to return to the other side of the street. Chinas AI capabilities left no dark corner to hide in, Carney said.

Activists continue to worry how facial recognition will target minorities , given the national security exceptions in the proposed laws. China has been repeatedly accused of using facial recognition to monitor dissidents and Uyghur Muslims. A 2020 Washington Post article detailed how Chinese tech giant Huawei tested software that would send police Uyghur alarms. Huawei later said the software was not put to use.

Americans often swing between being afraid of government surveillance and being fearful of crime, Adam Schwartz of the Electronic Frontier Foundation told CNN last year. This has resulted in some U.S. cities repealing laws banning facial recognition use, many of which were passed in the wake of the 2020 George Floyd protests. At the time, citizens were worried about police using AI to target Black people, but then there was a pendulum swing to people being afraid of more crime. However, Schwartz said the overall trend is more favorable towards limiting the governments use of surveillance tech.
FILE PHOTO: A vial and a syringe are seen in front of a displayed AstraZeneca logo, in this illustration taken

By Casey Hall

SHANGHAI (Reuters) -CanSino Biologics has agreed with AstraZeneca to provide "contract development and manufacturing services" to support the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker's messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine programme, the Chinese company said on Tuesday.

In a filing to Shanghai's stock exchange, CanSino said it would manufacture and supply unspecified mRNA products to AstraZeneca. It did not disclose the value of the deal.

AstraZeneca said the deal would support investigational mRNA vaccines in its early pipeline.

"AstraZeneca is working on next-generation technologies to develop vaccines and monoclonal antibodies for infectious diseases where there is high unmet need," the company said, adding it would share more details as the candidates progress.

In China, which has relied on locally produced COVID-19 vaccines rather than allowing mRNA products from foreign manufacturers to be imported, mRNA vaccines are still not widely used.

The country approved in March its first homegrown mRNA vaccine against COVID, developed by CSPC Pharmaceutical Group.

CanSino has been working on its own mRNA COVID vaccine, and said in February it was in discussion with Chinese regulators around the protocol for a late-stage study for its COVID mRNA booster vaccine, CS-2034.

AstraZeneca is the largest foreign drugmaker in China and is doubling down on the world's No.2 pharmaceutical market amid slumping sales of its COVID vaccine.

At an event in China in May, its China president pledged to "build a local, transnational company that loves the Communist Party and loves the country".

The cooperation deal comes only a month after China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao told foreign pharmaceuticals firms including AstraZeneca at a roundtable meeting that they can expect "more development opportunities".

It also comes after vaccine maker Moderna, which has said that it was keen to sell its mRNA vaccine to China, announced a deal last month to develop and manufacture mRNA medicines in the country.

(Reporting by Casey Hall; Additional reporting by Ludwig Burger in Frankfurt; Editing by Miyoung Kim, Mark Potter and Himani Sarkar)
BEIJING  First, temperatures soared for weeks on end, baking the Chinese capital in triple-digit heat. A month later, flooding from Beijing's worst storm in 140 years killed at least 20 people in and around the city.

Summer in China so far has been a season of extremes, with the country lurching between stifling, unrelenting heat and heavy, monsoonal rainfall.

The Chinese Ministry of Emergency Management said Friday that 147 people were dead or missing because of natural disasters in July.

The bouts of extreme weather have taken a toll not just on Chinas 1.4 billion population but also on the size of harvests in the worlds biggest food-producing country.

As the world warms, extreme events like those unfolding in China  and in the U.S. and other countries  are expected to become more common. With that prospect comes the worrying potential for widespread crop failures in major food-producing regions.

Most of Chinas farming regions are under the monsoon influence, making them susceptible to meteorological disasters such as floods and drought. Farmers say the situation is getting worse as extreme weather events occur more often.

Vehicles parked on the side of a road are stuck in flood waters in Chongqing, China (Huang Wei / Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images file )

Flooding in Chongqing, a metropolis in Chinas southwest almost 1,000 miles from Beijing, is not unprecedented in summer. But the intensity of the flooding in July prompted the countrys highest emergency alert as it killed at least 15 people, affected more than 13,000 others and damaged tens of thousands of acres of crops, including rice and corn.

Ran Chaoyin, a Chongqing farmer in his 30s, said only about one-fifth of the 1.3 acres of corn he had planted survived the deluge.

Ive worked as a farmer all my life, and this is not the first time Ive had damage from floods, he said. But the damage this year is the worst.

Ran also experienced extreme weather last summer, as persistent heat and drought swept through a large swath of southern China, almost drying up the countrys largest freshwater lake and taking a huge toll on crop yields.

The drought here was very bad last year, he said. The crops almost reached harvest time and then they all dried up.

Unexpected torrential rainfall hit the central province of Henan, Chinas top wheat producer, right before harvest time in May. The prolonged downpours flooded wheat fields, causing pre-harvest sprouting and blight.

Wang Guirong, the director of the rural division of Chinas National Bureau of Statistics, said last month that summer grain yield had fallen 0.9% compared with last year, the first such decrease in years, though he said the 146 million tons were still a bumper harvest. He said continuous rainfall in the northern wheat region, including Henan province, was to blame.

The opposite is happening in some parts of northern China, which have been gripped by scorching heat this summer. The record temperatures and dry spell have compromised the quality and quantity of crops suitable for harvest and sowing in summer, which is an important season for agriculture in those areas.

Chen Shutao, 32, a straw purchaser whose family plants corn in the northern province of Hebei, said the stalks were a foot shorter than usual and wont be fully grown.

The corn we grew in spring will have little or zero harvest this year, depending on if we have any rain in the upcoming two weeks, Chao said.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said last week that eight provinces, including Hebei, would receive 432 million yuan ($60 million) in flood relief funds to support agricultural output. It earlier said that drought conditions had been eased by recent rainfall and that China had enough wheat stock to last almost a year.

A slight reduction in production will not have a major impact on the grain market, Pan Wenbo, the director general of the ministrys crop production department, said July 21. The current market price of wheat is also basically stable.

The new normal

The extreme weather in China, the worlds top greenhouse gas emitter, was on display last month as U.S. climate envoy John Kerry arrived in Beijing the day Chinas hottest-ever temperature  126 degrees  was recorded in the western region of Xinjiang. Kerrys visit restarted U.S.-China climate talks that had been suspended since last year but did not produce any breakthroughs.

As the planet warms, Chinas droughts and floods will become more frequent and intense, said Liu Junyan, the manager of the climate and energy program at Greenpeace East Asia.

A security guard wipes off sweat in Beijing in July. (Andy Wong / AP file )

Drought will dry up crops in their key growing period, Liu said. Flooding will not always cause 100% damage to the crops because it will recede, but the impact will last longer if its compounded by mudslides.

The extreme weather events lashing China this summer are in line with what scientists have predicted if global warming continues unchecked.

Prolonged heat waves, severe storms, intense flooding and widespread drought are all becoming part of the new normal of climate change, said Cascade Tuholske, an assistant professor of climate change, urbanization and food security at Montana State University.

As we warm our climate, what was once viewed as extreme happens more frequently, he said.

The impacts of climate change can also overlap as compounding hazards, making it even more challenging for countries to mitigate the consequences.

Parts of China, for instance, were being deluged, while others suffered oppressively high heat and humidity. The two extremes, however, are related.

As we heat up the air, the atmosphere can hold more moisture, so storm systems are pulling more moisture off the ocean, Tuholske said. Its not surprising, then, that were getting heat waves at the same time with extreme precipitation events.

Extreme weather events around the world are expected to be worsened by the return this spring of El Nino, a naturally occurring climate pattern. El Nino conditions are characterized by changes in the strength or direction of trade winds that cause waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean to become warmer than usual. The shifts typically have significant and far-ranging effects on global temperatures, rainfall patterns and severe storm systems.

A woman shelters under a mask as she walks out of the Forbidden City during hot weather conditions in Beijing (Wang Zhao / AFP via Getty Images file )

Rising global temperatures could also change the agricultural landscape in China, as some crops grown mainly in southern China move northward, Liu said.

But its not all good, because a warmer winter will bring more pest infestations, she said.

In addition to being the worlds biggest food producer, China is also the biggest food importer, with key imports including soybean, corn, wheat and sorghum. The country imported more than 140 million tons of grains last year, which was equal to 21% of its annual domestic grain production.

China has increasingly turned to countries such as Brazil and Argentina for food imports amid tensions with the U.S., which was its biggest agricultural supplier before a trade war began in 2018.

Faced with global uncertainties, China has in recent years been ramping up efforts to ensure food security, striving to increase crop yields and carrying out a high-profile campaign against food waste.

But extreme weather is a wild card for agriculture and a headache for farmers, who are very dependent on climate.

The drought in my area used to happen every eight to 10 years, Chen said. But it happened in 2021 and 2023. Too close.

The future is hard to predict for us, he added. Many of us dont dare to contract land anymore.

Dawn Liu reported from Beijing, and Denise Chow reported from New York.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The News

Chinese state media CCTV released an eight-part docuseries about the armys preparations to invade Taiwan, in conjunction with the People Liberation Armys 96th anniversary.

features military drills and testimonials from soldiers pledging to die in any attempt to take control over Taiwan, the self-governed island which Beijing claims as its own.

Weve gathered reporting and insights on how the new documentary is part of a broader propagandistic effort to showcase Beijings military prowess.

Insights

Much of what is shown in the docuseries has been attempted in real life. In one episode, the PLA conducts Joint Sword drills  exercises where precision strikes against Taiwan are simulated. The drills were activated after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen visited the U.S. in April, and were similar to missile strikes launched around Taiwan during then-Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to the island last August. The Shandong, an aircraft carrier that has been spotted along the Taiwan Strait and used as an intimidation tactic, was also featured in the film.

A recently-released Chinese film in the style of was also seen as another way for China to boast its combat readiness. tracks PLA pilots fending off unidentified, English-speaking, American-accented enemies. Its not a good movie by any standard, the Sydney-based Lowy Institute wrote. However, it does possibly reveal how the Chinese government and military perceive their standing in international affairs.

is intended not only to demonstrate Chinas confidence in invading Taiwan but also to intimidate the U.S., according to military commentator Song Zhongping, who spoke with the South China Morning Post. U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Chief Philip Davidson had previously predicted that the PLA would likely take control over Taiwan by 2027  the year in which China aims to be a world-class military. However, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley expressed skepticism about that timeframe, saying that capturing an island as big and as combat-ready as Taiwan would be extraordinarily complicated and costly.
A graffiti wall in Londons bustling street art hub of Brick Lane has become an unlikely canvas for protest messages against Chinas authoritarian rule, after it was whitewashed and painted over with propaganda slogans promoting Chinese Communist Party ideology.

The bright red slogans, spray-painted by a group of young Chinese artists over the weekend, consisted of 24 large Chinese characters outlining the countrys core socialist values.

The 12 values include prosperity, harmony and patriotism, as well as concepts like democracy, freedom, equality, justice and rule of law  liberal philosophies familiar in the West, but their meaning and application differ greatly as defined by the Chinese Communist Party.

Endorsed by Chinese leader Xi Jinping, the slogans are a common sight in China, displayed on posters and billboards across the country and frequently featured on state television.

But their sudden appearance in east London  and the way the slogans wiped out existing art, including a tribute to a street artist who had died  shocked and angered the local artists as well as parts of the Chinese expatriate community living in Britain who are critical of Xis rule.

The slogans also attracted a great deal of attention and controversy on social media, where the creators first documented and shared their work.

On Chinese social media, some supporters argued the young Chinese artists were exercising freedom of expression and applauded them for exporting Chinese culture and values. Critics accused them of destroying local street art and promoting Communist Party propaganda.

In Brick Lane, a cultural thoroughfare in Londons East End famed for its curry houses and a vibrant art scene, the backlash was swift.

By Sunday, the slogans had been overlaid with a flurry of new graffiti that was deeply critical of both Xi and the Chinese Communist Party.

Above the word equality, someone had written But some are more equal than others, using a famous line from George Orwells novel Animal Farm. Others added no in front of the characters for democracy and freedom.

Other messages decried the Chinese governments recent crackdown in Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet, as well as the 1989 Tiananmen square massacre, an event that is highly censored inside China.

A grafitti wall in Brick Lane was whitewashed and painted over with red slogans promoting China's "core socialist values." - @yiqueart/Instagram

Whitewashed, and spray painted, again

Then, by Monday early morning, all the graffiti had vanished, painted over in white.

Tower Hamlets Council, the local authority which runs that area of London, said it had removed it in line with its unwanted and illegal graffiti policy. The council did not explain why it chose to remove only the China-related graffiti while leaving intact other parts of the same wall and the wall directly opposite.

When CNN visited the site later on Monday, what remained on the white wall were a few post-it notes, describing what happened in the past few days.

Leaning against the wall was a bouquet of flowers with a note signed by an anonymous Chinese. It read: For the erased colors, for the silenced voices, we saw, we hear, we remember.

But the wall did not stay silent for long.

Around noon, a young man from Hong Kong arrived with a bag of spray-paint and daubed the first new graffiti on the white wall. He opted for a quote from Milan Kundera in Chinese: The struggle of men against power is the struggle of memory against forgetting.

The 24-year-old, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he arrived in the UK to seek asylum after participating in Hong Kongs pro-democracy protests in 2019.

What is happening right now in China is very said  its a disaster, but the government is trying to wipe out all the memories, he said.

He decried the whitewashing of the subsequent protest art.

They just tried to make people forget what happened here in the past week. I wanted (the graffiti) to stay, to be there, because its their chance to express themselves, he said.

By late Monday afternoon, the wall was full of new signs, slogans and posters about China once again, with scores of tourists and local residents arriving to take photos.

Lyndon Li Shixiang, an activist from China who said he is exiled in the UK where he is seeking an asylum, said he spent hours over the past two days in Brick Lane observing events and chatting to people. It was encouraging to see Chinese people in Britain joining together and expressing their political opinions, he said.

I think its a great day  everybody was coming here voluntarily. There is no organization. Theres no one leader or anything, but everybodys expressing their dissenting views against the Chinese Communist Party, he said. It unites everybody.

Chinese activist Lyndon Li Shixiang says the wall has united people who are critical of China's authoritarian rule. - Ivana Kottasova/CNN

Intentions and repercussions

Despite the controversy and backlash the Chinese propaganda slogan has set off, the initial intent of those who stenciled the slogans is less clear. On social media, users debated whether the slogans were an expression of support for the regime or an act of cleverly subversive political satire.

In a printed statement pasted next to the slogan on the wall, the creators described themselves as a group of free-spirited Chinese artists.

In an adamant display of freedom of expression, the characters stand as a silent reminder of the oppression of thought, press freedom and to free speech that is still rampant in China in 2023, the statement said.

However one of the artists, who goes by the name Yi Que, suggested an alternative motive.

Lets see what happens when we use the method of socialist construction to decolonize the false freedom of the West, he wrote on Instagram.

Many replies underneath Yis post were critical of the project.

Obstructing freedom of speech is not a part of freedom of speech. The jargons you used cannot justify your brutal destruction of other peoples art, said a top reply on the post.

It is such a shame that you [are] repeating and promoting a totalitarian governments political propaganda without having the guts to mention the political implications and satire behind the socialist core value, it added.

Badiucao, a prominent Chinese-Australian dissident artist, said regardless of the creators intention, they were wrong in erasing other artists work. While graffiti artists often paint over older pieces, they are expected to follow established etiquette and unwritten rules withing the street art community, he noted.

The Chinese creators had little respect for other peoples artistic expression and freedom of speech, he said. The way they presented their work is by destruction of others.

On Monday evening, Yi Que posted another statement on Instagram, insisting that he holds no political stance.

I love my country, but we still have the right to introspect objectively, he said.

The situation escalated beyond my imagination, to the point where I must protect myself and my family, he said, citing severe cyber-bullying and death threats.

He did not respond to CNNs interview request.

By Tuesday morning, the wall had been whitewashed again.

This story was updated with new information about Lyndon Li Shixiangs status.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
WASHINGTON  Presidential hopeful Chris Christie, who has asserted himself as former President Donald Trumps chief antagonist in the 2024 Republican primary race, also took shots at former President Barack Obama and President Joe Biden Tuesday, pinning the war on Ukraine on all three presidents.

The truth is that years of failed leadership are responsible for (Russian President Vladimir) Putins reign of terror in Eastern Europe. And it's only going to get worse, Chris Christies campaign wrote in an email to supporters. He took Crimea under Barack Obama, buddied up to Donald Trump, and knows that Joe Biden can't stop him from committing countless war crimes in Ukraine.

The former New Jersey governor made a surprise visit to Ukraine last week, where he met with President Volodmyr Zelenskyy to reiterate his support for the war effort against Russias invasion. His trip comes as continuing U.S. aid to Kyiv divides Republicans.

I wanted to know about the atrocities that were being and are being committed against the free Ukrainian people by the Russian military, Christie said on CNNs State of the Union Sunday. This is (an) absolute authoritarian attempt by Vladimir Putin to overtake the free country of a neighbor.

Exclusive: Chris Christie, ready to take down Donald Trump, talks Hunter Biden, 'woke' Dems, more

Republican presidential candidate former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks with reporters outside the Child Rights Protection Center in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Aug. 4, 2023.

America is right to supply and I spoke with President Zelenskyy for an hour, Christie continued. All he wants is the ability to fight the war on an even basis.

Christie has slammed Trump before for suggesting the U.S. should slow its aid to Ukraine, but during the trip in an interview with the Washington Post, he also criticized Biden for being too timid with providing the supplies Kyiv needs.

Christie is expected to address his trip during multiple campaign events this week in New Hampshire, a key early voting state that his campaign has zeroed in on as he seeks the GOP nomination.

Trump still dominates the Republican field across the board, including the Granite State, where he has 43% support among New Hampshire GOP primary voters, according to a poll conducted by NHJournal and co-efficient. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Christie are behind Trump, both at 9% at second and third place respectively. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percentage points.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chris Christie blames Ukraine on Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Joe Biden
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said Donald Trump should be very worried about a close member of his inner circle from his final year in office.

Ive said all along I think Mark Meadows is already a cooperating witness, Christie, a former U.S. attorney, told CNNs Anderson Cooper on Monday. He has all the looks of a cooperating witness, running into coffee shops away from the press.

Meadows was White House chief of staff during much of the final year of Trumps presidency, including the period after the election, the focus of Trumps indictment on federal charges of election obstruction and conspiracy.

Christie, who was a member of the Trump inner circle during that period, said the former president should have special reason to be concerned about Meadows.

He was a very involved chief of staff, in my experience, Christie said. He made sure he was in every meeting and every conversation. And we remember, there are hundreds of text messages that he turned over to the special counsel that he kept.

Christie said that Meadows could deliver the worst testimony against Trump of anyone, other than family members.

A number of observers have zeroed in on Meadows as someone who may be cooperating with prosecutors, given his months of near silence. That belief was only bolstered by the indictment, which barely mentions Meadows despite his close involvement in White House activity from the time of the 2020 election to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Christie was one of the first prominent Republicans to endorse Trump in 2016 after abandoning his own presidential campaign, and was close to him through much of his presidency  even developing a COVID-19 infection while helping Trump prepare for the 2020 debates. He spent a week in the ICU.

Christie has since turned into a Trump critic and is running against him for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

See more of Christies conversation with Cooper below:
Chris Christie (left) and Donald Trump. Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images; Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

Chris Christie said Trump "certainly committed crimes" related to his classified documents indictment.

He compared the case to "maybe 'Abbott and Costello' meets the 'Corleones.'

Christie has already qualified for the first GOP presidential debate later in August.

GOP presidential candidate and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said former President Donald Trump "certainly committed crimes" related to his federal classified documents case, and he compared the government's allegations against Trump to the fictional family of mobsters in "The Godfather" franchise and slapstick comedians Abbott and Costello.

In June, a federal grand jury indicted Trump, accusing him of mishandling classified documents after he left the White House. The grand jury named Trump's personal aide, Waltine Nauta, as a co-defendant in the case.

A superseding indictment was later filed at the end of July, adding Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira as a co-defendant plus additional charges against Trump. The superseding indictment alleged that De Oliveira, Nauta, and Trump conspired to delete surveillance footage at the resort and obstruct the federal investigation.

During a Tuesday appearance on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," Christie shared his thoughts on the matter.

"I believe the keeping of those documents was a crime and the obstruction was clearly a crime," Christie said. "And now the superseding indictment where he was ordering folks allegedly to delete the surveillance cameras, you know, it reminded me of like what maybe 'Abbott and Costello' meets the 'Corleones' would've looked like."

He continued, saying the allegations against Trump showcase the combination of traits he believes the 45th president brings to the table in 2024, referring to Trump's "combination of criminality and abject stupidity both in terms of his comments and in terms of his actions."

Christie supported Trump's campaigns in 2016 and 2020, and advised the latter campaign.

He's currently drawing in an average of 2.1 percent support, according to an average of major polls by FiveThirtyEight. Whe he has a ways to go to catch up to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Trump, he's successfully qualified for the first GOP presidential debate later in August.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Presidential candidate and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) criticized former President Trump for the patriotic rhetoric of his campaign and attempts to push past his criminal charges.

Hes not putting America first. Thats the great irony of this campaign, Christie said in an MSNBC interview Tuesday. Hes put Donald Trump first.

The problem with Trump is that he knows no sense of history, no intellectual curiosity, and doesnt care whether he puts himself before the country at every turn, he added.

Trump, who is still the current GOP front-runner despite mounting legal woes, has brushed off the significance of his three criminal indictments in campaign events, saying in recent weeks he was indicted for you, painting himself as a martyr of his political movement.

The former president was indicted after two federal investigations into allegations he mishandled classified documents and attempted to overturn the results of the 2020 election. He was also indicted in New York on charges he made an illegal hush money payment to an adult film actress.

Christie, one of Trumps strongest critics in the race, called those comments patently absurd.

The Hill Elections 2024 coverage

How are the American people benefited by keeping boxes of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago? Christie said. They were there for him to continue to pretend he was president and show off for people who were on the back patio at Mar-a-Lago by showing them things he shouldnt have been showing them.

Trump has called the indictments a badge of honor and claimed theyve helped his campaign.

Recent national polling averages show Trumps support has grown in recent weeks, mostly as support for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantiss (R) campaign has dropped off. Trump has about 53 percent support in recent polling, compared to Christies about 2 percent.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Former New Jersey governor and 2024 Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie said it wasnt his decision to stop supporting and helping former President Donald Trump in an interview on CNN Tuesday.

I didnt leave Donald Trump  he left me. When he stood there on election night 2020 behind the seal of the president in the East Room of the White House and said the election had been stolen when he had absolutely no evidence to support that, Christie said in an interview with Christiane Amanpour. We know now, that was a complete lie.

Christie said he supported Trump because he thought Trump would be a better president than former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. However, he also said he has always been critical of the former president when he thought he made mistakes.

In 2020, after the election, and on election night, I broke with him permanently, Christie continued. And Im running in this race because I do not believe that America needs the type of leader who puts themselves before the country.

Christies comments come a week after Trump was indicted in Washington following an investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

The Hill Elections 2024 coverage

Christie on Sunday pushed back against Trumps arguments that jurors in a trial related to the indictment, who would be Washington residents, wouldnt be fair to him due to what the former president claims are their left-wing political leanings.

My view is, yes, I believe jurors can be fair. I believe in the American people. And I believe in the fact that jurors will listen fairly and impartially, Christie told CNNs Dana Bash in an interview on State of the Union.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
An 18-year-old man was arrested Tuesday in connection with a fatal shooting that happened in July in West End, Cincinnati police said.

Dacari Isham is accused of causing the death of 41-year-old Brandon Miller, who officers found suffering from a gunshot wound in the 400 block of Findlay Street just before 1 p.m. July 11, officials said.

Miller died of his injuries at the University of Cincinnati Medial Center not long after.

Jail records show Isham was booked into the Hamilton County Justice Center at 1:08 p.m. Tuesday. As of 3:45 p.m., neither jail nor court records listed what charges Isham is facing.

The Enquirer will update this story as more information becomes available.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Police: 18-year-old arrested in fatal shooting in West End
Los Angeles government employees plan to shut down the city for 24 hours, joining the neighboring strikes of hotel workers, Hollywood actors and screenwriters across the region.

#HotLaborSummer lives on, SEIU Local 721 posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Were proud to join writers, actors, and our countless other Union siblings striking for respect in Los Angeles.

More than 11,000 city employees  including sanitation workers, traffic officers and heavy duty mechanics  will participate in the 24-hour strike, according to SEIU Local 721. The union represents more than 95,000 city and county workers across Southern California, which it says makes it the largest public sector union in the area.

This is the first strike of its kind by the union in more than 40 years. Local 721 said its members are going on strike over bad faith bargaining by Los Angeles management.

Despite repeated attempts by city workers to engage management in a fair bargaining process, the city has flat-out refused to honor previous agreements at the bargaining table, prompting workers to file Unfair Labor Practice charges with the City of Los Angeles Employee Relations Board, the union wrote in a Facebook post.

The union said the charges include the failure to bargain in good faith over hundreds of proposals at the table, sending negotiators to the table without authority to bargain, the restriction of union access to worksites, and retaliation against union leaders organizing at their worksites.

Were striking for respect, plain and simple  and if we dont get it well shut it down, the union wrote.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) reassured residents that the city will not shut down due to the strike in a statement issued Monday. She also said that the city government is available to bargain.

The City of Los Angeles is not going to shut down, Bass said. My office is implementing a plan ensuring no public safety or housing and homelessness emergency operations are impacted by this action. Like I said over the weekend, the City will always be available to make progress with SEIU 721 and we will continue bargaining in good faith.

In a separate statement issued Saturday, Bass said that Los Angeles was available to make progress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

City workers are vital to the function of services for millions of Angelenos every day and to our local economy. They deserve fair contracts and we have been bargaining in good faith with SEIU 721 since January, she said in a statement at the time.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
AP Psychology will not be offered in Clay County schools this school year.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

The districts announcement Tuesday makes it the second in Northeast Florida to decide against offering the course in the past two days.

Duval County Public Schools announced it would drop the course on Monday.

The decisions were made despite the Florida Department of Education telling school districts they can offer AP Psychology in its entirety on Friday.

Duval School Superintendent Dr. Dana Kriznar argued theres still too much uncertainty surrounding how the course could be taught because it includes a section on gender and sexual orientation, which state law restricts.

The College Board has said that the way that they interpret what the legislation says regarding what we can teach and what we cant teach, they cannot imagine approving the course in that form with all of the topics, said Kriznar.

In Clay, students will be moved to either AICE Psychology or dual enrolment.

Our goal in Clay County District Schools is to ensure that our students are receiving a world-class education and awarded the proper credits for the courses they are enrolled in throughout their academic career, said a spokesperson for Clay County Public Schools in an emailed statement.

Duval County Public Schools said it plans to retrain teachers who were set to teach AP Psychology.

Over the coming days, they will transition to teaching AICE, AP Seminar, or IB Psychology, which will allow students to keep their same schedules, instructors and opportunities to earn college credit.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

DCPS Chief of Marketing and Public Relations Dr. Tracy Pierce didnt express concerns when asked if retraining teachers was feasible less than a week before the start of the school year.

Its all going to happen as quickly as possible, said Pierce.

Pierce explained the districts decision was also based on the risk of legal challenges from parents if teachers offered the full AP Psychology course with content that might violate state law.

So, students are still getting a similar curriculum. Its coherent with state law and it doesnt have those risks associated with it and the students will be able to get college credit if theyre successful, said Pierce.

St. Johns and Nassau County Public Schools do plan to offer AP Psychology this school year.

It remains to be seen whether those districts run into the issues DCPS predicted it might face by offering the course.

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Clovis Unified School District is taking initial steps toward implementing a district-based election system, a change some hope will lead to more diverse representation on the school board.

Clovis Unified board members are currently elected at-large, meaning they are required to live in the specific area that they represent, but they are selected by all voters from across the entire school district.

During its meeting last week, the school board unanimously, and with no discussion, declared its intention to transition to district-based elections. This means voters that reside in a specific area would only cast ballots for a representative for that area.

District-based elections are believed to diversify governing bodies, because minority or diverse communities that might be the majority within a specific district could vote for someone from their community to represent them.

Of the 42,699 students enrolled at Clovis Unified during the 2021-2022 school year, 39% were Hispanic or Latino, 35% white and 15% Asian, according to state data. District spokesperson Kelly Avants said the district doesnt ask people to declare their race when running for school board, and therefore she couldnt answer specific questions about the race of current or previous board members.

The district held a public workshop regarding the transition to district-based elections in 2021. The board set a timeline for changing the election system at that point, Avants said in a statement to The Bee, and this weeks action was right on schedule.

Attorney calls for district-based elections in Clovis Unified

While Avants said the boards plan to implement changes before the 2024 elections is occurring independent of any outside pressure, the district has faced criticism for its voting process.

Malibu-based attorney Kevin Shenkman, known for demanding these types of changes to local elections, wrote a June letter to the Clovis Unified board on behalf of the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project and its members living in Clovis, urging the district to voluntarily change its at-large election system or we will be forced to seek judicial relief.

He charged that the districts at-large elections violate the California Voting Rights Act of 2001, which aims to protect people of color against voting systems that limit their voice. He also argued that Clovis Unifieds current system leads to vote dilution, resulting in school boards that are not representative of the district or the city of Clovis.

When Latino candidates have stepped forward to seek a seat on the districts governing board, the results demonstrate racially polarized voting, Shenkman wrote.

Shenkman pointed to the 2004 and 2016 Clovis Unified board elections, in which two Latina candidates werent elected despite significant support from the Latino community, due to a lack of support from non-Latinos.

The district has seen the letter and doesnt agree with Shenkmans characterizations, Avants said.

When will Clovis Unified transition to district-based elections?

The new voting process is scheduled to be implemented for the 2024 election, when the district two, four and five seats are up for a vote.

Before any changes are implemented, Clovis Unified must:

hold at least two public hearings where the community can provide input on how the districts boundaries should be drafted.

hold at least two public hearings where the community can weigh in on the draft district map.

The current Clovis Unified trustee area map was adopted fairly recently based on the 2020 census, Avants said. Its yet to be determined whether this map will be changed, too.

These public hearings are an opportunity for the community to first share their own perspectives about the possibility of moving to fully district-based elections, Avants said. Later in the process, the public has an opportunity to give feedback on potential trustee area maps before they are considered by the governing board.

So far, no specific dates have been set for these legally required public hearings. Yet, the district intends to host five public hearings and adopt a map of trustee voting areas by January 2024, according to the timeline included in the boards approved resolution.

After these hearings, a sixth one will be conducted by the Fresno County Committee on School District Organization sometime in February or March of next year.

The district expects to present a timeline with dates for the five required public hearings at its next meeting on Aug. 16, Avants said.

Full agendas and the rest of the years meeting schedule are online at www.cusd.com/BoardMeetingsAgendasArchives.aspx.
The initial "unrealistic" expectations by the West regarding Ukraine's counteroffensive now contribute to the growing pressure on Kyiv to start peace talks with Russia, even at the price of territorial concessions, CNN said on Aug. 8, citing U.S. and Western officials.

The Western leadership receives increasingly "sobering" assessments on Ukraine's capacity for a breakthrough that would change the balance of the conflict, recognizing the challenges that Ukrainian troops face, the officials briefed on the latest intelligence said.

Ukrainian forces made limited gains weeks into their counteroffensive. The advance is held up by heavy Russian defensive lines, including dense minefields, and regular Russian counterattacks.

According to CNN's sources, the Ukrainian military has not yet "really gone through the first line" of Russian defenses.

The coming fall and winter will present further obstacles to the offensive operations, creating only a limited window of opportunity that Ukraine can exploit.

"Even if they would keep on fighting for the next several weeks, if they haven't been able to make more breakthroughs throughout these last seven, eight weeks, what is the likelihood that they will suddenly, with more depleted forces, make them? Because the conditions are so hard," one of the officials said.

Some of the cited officials however noted that the coming weeks still present a possibility for further Ukrainian gains: "We all recognize this is going harder and slower than anyone would like  including the Ukrainians  but we still believe there's time and space for them to be able make progress."

CNN's sources noted that the slow progress highlighted the difficulty of transforming Ukrainian forces into combined mechanized fighting units. The lack of significant progress is one of the reasons why Ukrainian forces have been striking more often inside Russian territory to "show Russian vulnerability," a senior U.S. military official told the news outlet.

The Russian landing craft Olenegorskyi Gornyak was reportedly heavily damaged by a Ukrainian surface drone at the naval base at Novorossiysk. Russia's capital of Moscow was recently targeted by several drone strikes, and a city in Rostov Oblast Tangarog was reportedly hit by a missile on July 28.

The initial overly optimistic expectations of the counteroffensive can contribute not only to pressure from some in the West toward Kyiv to start peace talks with Russia but can also spark a "blame game" between Ukraine and its partners, undermining the unity of the alliance, the officials told CNN.

According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine has been planning to launch the counteroffensive much earlier to prevent Russia from building up its defenses. The plans were postponed due to the slow progress of Western supplies and training, he said.

Ukrainian armed forces' Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi told the Washington Post that Ukrainian troops are making limited gains daily despite the lack of much-needed supplies, including F-16 fighter jets and artillery ammunition.

Politico wrote on Aug. 1 that the Pentagon expects the campaign to continue at least through the fall and into the winter as Ukraine's 150,000 troops, including several Western-trained brigades, have been committed in the three directions of the counteroffensive.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Military confirms strikes on key bridges linking occupied Crimea with mainland Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Editors note: This story is available as a result of a content partnership between WFTV and the Orlando Business Journal.

The new co-owners of a Space Coast shopping center plan to reinvest in the property -- with new tenants on the way.

Read: Cha Cha Slide creator, DJ Casper dies

Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts-based WS Development bought partial ownership of The Avenue Viera in May, giving it shared ownership of the 600,000-square-foot property with Newark, New Jersey-based PGIM Real Estate.

With the acquired ownership stake, financial terms of which were not disclosed, WS Development also is responsible for managing, leasing and marketing the 62-acre lifestyle retail center, which has more than 80 tenants supporting 1,300 employees.

Click here to read the full story on the Orlando Business Journals website.

Click here to download our free mews, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search for a 44-year-old man who went missing during a dive to a shipwreck off the Florida Keys last week, officials announced Monday. Crews had been searching for Thomas Faulkenberry since he was reported missing Wednesday.

"This was a tragic accident," Coast Guard Capt. Jason Ingram, commander of the agency's Key West sector, said in a statement. "Diving is an inherently dangerous activity. Mr. Faulkenberry's passion for the sea is well remembered by the dive community here in the Keys and my deepest condolences are with his family at this difficult time."

Faulkenberry was reported missing Wednesday morning after he was overdue returning from a dive to the wreck of the USS Vandenberg about 7 miles off Key West, the agency said. The decommissioned ship dates back to World War II, and it was intentionally sunk in the area in 2009 to add an artificial reef to a marine sanctuary.

#BREAKING @USCG air and surface crews are searching with partners for 44yr old Thomas Faulkenberry, who was last seen diving, Wed., wearing black dive gear with black fins in the vicinity of Vandenburg Wreck.



Anyone with more information call Sector Key West @ 305-282-8727#SAR pic.twitter.com/AQoRszyLPl  USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) August 2, 2023

Crews searched an area of approximately 4,300 square miles, about the size of Connecticut, for Faulkenberry without success, the Coast Guard said.

Anyone with information about Faulkenberry's whereabouts was urged to contact the Coast Guard.

Ron DeSantis replaces campaign manager

Asian factories struggling to keep young workers, U.S. prices may rise as result

Trump campaigning in New Hampshire as judge weighs gag order
Dario Antonio Usuga was arrested in 2021 in Colombia and was extradited last year to face drug trafficking charges in the US

A US court has sentenced Dairo Antonio Usuga, who was once Colombia's most-wanted drug lord, to 45 years in prison.

Usuga, also known as Otoniel, was a notorious cocaine trafficker who was the leader of Colombia's most powerful gang for more than nine years.

He pleaded guilty in January to running a criminal enterprise and drug smuggling.

During his sentencing on Tuesday, Usuga said he was sorry for his actions.

"I apologise to the governments of the United States and of Colombia and to the victims of the crimes that I have committed," the 51-year-old said.

Prosecutors had described him as "the most significant Colombian narcotics trafficker since [the leader of the Medellin cartel] Pablo Escobar" and said he helped ship nearly 100,000 kilograms (220,500 pounds) of cocaine to the US.

The US Drug Enforcement Administration labelled him "one of the most violent and prolific drug traffickers in the world".

Usuga was arrested in 2021 and was extradited last year to face drug trafficking charges in the US.

His lawyers sought a sentence of no more than 25 years. They argued that his upbringing in rural poverty, surrounded by guerrilla warfare, led him to a life as a career criminal.

But Judge Dora Irizarry, the US district judge presiding over the case, rejected these arguments, saying her upbringing in a South Bronx housing complex around drugs and violence did not lead her down a similar path.

Usuga has handed over $216m (170m) in drug proceeds as part of his guilty plea.

He was the leader of the Gulf Clan cartel in Colombia, which is one of the country's most powerful and brutal gangs.

The gang, which operates in many provinces and has extensive international connections, is engaged in drug and people smuggling, illegal gold mining and extortion.

It controls many of the routes used to smuggle drugs from Colombia to the US, and as far away as Russia.
Columbus police have identified the two victims in the fatal double shooting that happened early Sunday afternoon on the citys Near East Side.

Officers responded at 12:35 p.m. Sunday to the 1400 block of East Mound Street to reports of a shooting, where they found Nicholas L. Ealy, 41, and Alberto C. DeLeon, 69, suffering from gunshot wounds, according to Columbus police.

Columbus Fire medics took Ealy to OhioHealth Grant Medical Center, where he died at 1:01 p.m., Columbus police Sgt. Joe Albert said. DeLeon took himself to Ohio State University East Hospital, where he died at 1:14 p.m.

Authorities ask anyone with details about the shootings to call Columbus Police Detective Poliseno at (614) 645-6420, the Homicide Unit at (614) 645-4730, or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477).

gtucker@dispatch.com

@tucker0527

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus police identify victims in Aug. 6 shooting on Near East Side
Thousands of city workers walked a picket line in front of Los Angeles City Hall on Aug. 8, 2023, for a scheduled 24-hour work stoppage prompted by what their union believes is a lack of good-faith labor negotiations. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

It was 4:30 a.m., but the hit sound of this hot summer echoed up and down the streets near City Hall:

On strike! Shut it down! L.A. is a union town!

Members of Service Employees International Union Local 721, which represents more than 7,000 city workers, went on a one-day strike Tuesday to highlight what they claim are stalled contract negotiations and unfair labor practices. It was the first walkout involving city workers in over 40 years.

Winchell's coffee and donuts sat on a table as about 15 people marched and chanted in a small circle in front of the City Hall steps. Few reached for the energy boost: Their fuel in those early hours was the excitement of joining the stream of labor strikes that has hit Los Angeles over the last 12 months and doesn't seem to be drying up anytime soon.

In December, UCLA graduate student workers joined a five-week UC-wide strike that was the largest of its kind and led to a historic contract. In March, the Los Angeles Unified School District shut down for three days as teachers walked off their jobs alongside their blue-collar co-workers, who were represented by SEIU Local 99 and trying to negotiate a new contract. The Writers Guild of America is 100 days into its strike, while SAG-AFTRA members stopped showing up to work in July  the first time in 63 years that the two Hollywood unions have gone on strike together.

Read more: A hot labor summer heats up with hotel workers' strike

Unite Here Local 11, which represents hotel and hospitality workers, has staged rolling walkouts across Southern California since the Fourth of July weekend. Kaiser Permanente workers picketed across California last month. UPS just dodged a strike. Starbucks baristas continue to unionize across the Southland.

L.A. has seen consequential labor actions before  the Justice for Janitor campaigns of the 1990s, the supermarket strikes of the early 2000s, the last WGA one  that helped realign city politics. Union members are so ubiquitous 'round town that the colors of their T-shirts  Unite Here red, SEIU purple, SAG-AFTRA black  are as much a part of the city's palette as Dodger blue and USC cardinal and gold. .

But what's happening now feels different. There's a level of cross-union support across radically different workplaces, along with a knowledge of one another's respective struggles, that I've never seen, or frankly ever thought possible.

In a famously fractured city, it's a lesson everyone can learn. You don't have to like the labor movement to see that they're the canary in the coal mine of L.A.'s economic health. If belonging to a union isn't enough to guarantee a well-paying job, then what is? And if you can't care about someone else's struggles, how good of an Angeleno can you truly be?

Members of Unite Here Local 11 and members of the Writers Guild of America picket together outside the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica on July 13, 2023. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

United Teachers Los Angeles Vice President Julie Van Winkle and a co-worker received cheers when they joined the SEIU picket line Tuesday morning. "L.A. is at a critical point," Van Winkle said. "We need a big drastic change, and we can only do that on the streets demanding it together."

"We're all united, and were not gonna take it anymore," said SEIU 721 Vice President Simboa Wright, who has been a wastewater collection worker for 20 years. When I asked where he lives, Wright laughed and said, "Inland Empire, because I can't afford to live here!"

Maria Coreas has worked as a city custodian for 21 years. Living in the city "has gotten worse, because our salaries dont really go up, but the cost of everything does. The bosses have made promises, and they havent complied with them. Well, we need to make them comply."

Even longtime union leaders  prone to superlatives about solidarity while straining behind closed doors to quash inter-union beefs  are surprised.

Unite Here Local 11 Co-President Ada Briceno asked other unions to support her when she spoke about the struggles of hotel workers at the University of California Board of Regents meeting last month in San Francisco. Representatives of the United Farm Workers and National Union of Healthcare Workers showed up to address the regents. Outside, a loud rally included hundreds of members from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the United Auto Workers. Briceno described the moment as "mind-blowing."

"In my 32 years [of organizing], I have not seen this," she said. "We have started something for the rest of the nation to follow."

Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Yvonne Wheeler led some of the predawn chants in front of City Hall. She credited the joint UTLA-SEIU strike in the spring as what "got us to this moment" of cross-sector unity. This spring, Wheeler called a special Labor Fed meeting to urge unions to not just support one another but learn about one another.

"When they saw the similarity of the issues each of them has to deal with, that's when they realized people needed to stand together," Wheeler said. "Your fight is their fight. And an injury to one is an injury to all."

This so-called "hot labor summer" is especially remarkable because it's happening during the centennial year of what my fellow Times columnist Patt Morrison has described as L.A.s Big Bang  when Los Angeles leaders effectively announced to the world that the city had arrived.

Read more: The Hollywood sign debuted 100 years ago in 1923, the year of L.A.s 'Big Bang'

1923 is when the Hollywood sign went up, along with the Memorial Coliseum, the Automobile Club of Californias Spanish Colonial Revival headquarters near USC, the Biltmore Hotel and El Cholo Cafe. The previous year saw the debut of the Rose Bowl and the Hollywood Bowl. All are beloved landmarks today, but they opened as civic temples to the L.A. that boosters wanted to sell, a paradise where the problems of big cities  poverty, diversity, density  were far away.

Part of that sales pitch was also a proudly hostile attitude to workers seeking better wages and the right to organize. 1923 was also the year that famed author Upton Sinclair was arrested in San Pedro for reciting the U.S. Constitution to show his support for striking port workers, whom authorities were arresting by the hundreds. This scorched earth policy reigned for decades in a city whose fathers have long touted its key industries  Hollywood, oil, oranges, housing, aerospace, tech  with the paternalistic view that the bosses and monied few knew better than the rabble about how to develop L.A.

That sort of thinking led to the segregated, stratified megalopolis of today, which seems perpetually on the precipice of collapsing on itself. All these strikes aren't merely individual efforts but a collective rallying cry: We're a city of workers  blue collar and white collar, unionized and not, immigrant and native  and no one's future is secure unless everyone can earn a just wage.

If L.A. can think of itself like this, a more equitable city  one that the titans of a century ago never even considered  is possible.

United Teachers of Los Angeles and SEIU Local 99 members hold a joint rally at Grand Park on March 15. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

I left the SEIU mini-rally as the sun began to rise. The crowd in front of City Hall now numbered about 100 and was growing by the minute. The next day, the strikers would return to work.

After marching for a good half hour, Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Los Angeles) stood on top of the steps with a picket sign in one hand and a coffee cup in the other.

"L.A. can show the world that you can take care of the people that keep the city running  all parts of it," he said, softly chanting along with the boisterous crowd. Volunteers were setting up a stage for a lunchtime rally. A flatbed truck displayed 3-foot-tall letters spelling out "Union Strong."

"It's not a down moment," Bryan concluded. "It's a hope moment."

Sign up for Essential California, your daily guide to news, views and life in the Golden State.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A reporter once asked comedian George Burns how it felt to be 99. Burns replied, Consider the alternative. I recalled this anecdote after reading the Aug. 3 op-ed, If Biden wants young climate voters to support him again, he needs to brag about his wins.

In this unprecedented heat, those young voters should examine the options under former President Trump. To head the EPA, he appointed Scott Pruitt, a climate denier who sued that very organization on behalf of the fossil fuel industry 14 times as Oklahoma attorney general.

Rep. Ryan Zinke, a supporter of increased coal production, headed Trumps Department of the Interior from 2017-2019.

Drain the swamp?

Yeah, if its the Everglades. I urge young voters, for their sake and the planet, to consider the alternative.

Jeff Spiero, Hollywood

Home equity

I find it amusing that Sen. Marco Rubio, whose family came from Cuba where an insurrection has lasted nearly 70 years, is not one of the loudest voices against the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

What about that criminal regimes selfish calculations? How could Rubio lecture us to be tough on these other countries when he doesnt have the intestinal fortitude do it in his own party?

In his Aug. 6 letter, No going back, Rubio names El Salvador, Ecuador and Guatemala as examples of pro-U.S. countries. Ecuadors president, Guillermo Lasso, will soon step down and most likely will be replaced with ex-President Rafael Correas cronies, who detest the United States.

President Nayib Bukele, of El Salvador, might be friendly to the United States, but is on a path toward dictatorship. And many of the immigrants at our border come from Guatemala.

Rubio should get his own house in order before fixing other peoples houses.

Douglas Gonzalez,

Coral Gables

Be honest

As a retired Miami-Dade County Public Schools counselor, I find the new Florida curriculum standards concerning. Apparently, changes have to be made to hide the cruel treatment Black slaves endured at the hands of slave owners.

As a member of Cuban American Women Supporting Democracy (CAWSD), a non-partisan civic organization, and as a staunch anti-communist, I wonder if the Florida Board of Education fear telling the hard truth, in case it reinforces hatred. Yet the opposite is true.

Black history is part of American history and it must be taught at all levels. Acknowledging that we took part in the horrific human slave trade is important. The curriculum must address the realities of systemic slavery, along with the reasons it led to a Civil War. Our youth will learn ethical values of freedom and democracy to build egalitarian societies that value differences and to understand we all belong to the same human race.

American values favor equal treatment under the law. We cant hide the truth of our past. In doing so, were only justifying it.

Delia Garcia, Miami

Two-tiered injustice

A young Black social-media influencer directs his followers to Union Square in New York with promises of free gaming equipment. The crowd goes out of control, property is damaged and several police officers are injured. The influencer is immediately arrested for inciting a riot.

An old white election loser directs his followers to the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., with the admonition to fight like hell in support of his Big Lie. The crowd goes out of control, the Capitol building is breached and damaged, and 140 police officers are injured.

Two and a half years later, the loser is still roaming free with no consequences for these actions. Talk about the ultimate in white privilege.

Michael Marmesh,

Miami

Cease and desist

Lets give the news about Donald Trumps indictments a rest. The media and Democrats are on a crusade to destroy Trump and couldnt care less whether he is guilty or not. They want him removed because he is a threat to President Joe Biden in the 2024 presidential race.

The many charges against Trump are clearly politically motivated.

Is he completely innocent?

Probably not. The former president can be obnoxious and is known to make dumb statements and make a spectacle of himself at times. His actions, however, do not warrant the Justice Departments unrelenting investigations and round-the-clock media coverage.

While all this is going on with Trump, the Biden familys crimes receive little attention.

Gilbert Schwartz,

Aventura

No fins, no dinner

The July 30 story, Paris, but make it kosher: Chef to open a unique new French restaurant in Miami, sounded very exciting. I especially want to meet the mashgiach (Yiddish for supervisor) who approves of crab cakes with truffle beet mousse.

Crab is definitely not kosher. This supervisor is more likely a mashuganah  crazy man.

The rabbi will likely not be coming to dinner.

Bill Silver,

Coral Gables

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Train collisions are, unfortunately, not uncommon in California.

A pedestrian was fatally hit by a Union Pacific Railroad train at Roseville Road and Myrtle Avenue in February, The Bee reported. In March, a Sacramento light rail hit a pickup truck in Rancho Cordova. The truck driver suffered minor to moderate injuries.

In June, a Union Pacific train struck and killed a pedestrian in south Sacramento, and a month later, a man was struck by an Amtrak passenger train in Yolo County.

Most recently, a pedestrian was fatally hit by a freight train in midtown Sacramento, near 20th and Q streets, Monday afternoon.

How common are train crashes in California?

More than 2,000 train collisions occurred throughout the country in 2022, according to preliminary data from the Federal Railroad Administration.

California had the second highest rate of accidents, with 172 total highway-rail grade crossing collisions, 42 deaths and 38 injuries, statistics showed. Texas ranked No. 1 for the most accidents in the U.S. with 241 total collisions, 31 deaths and 80 injuries.

Every 3 hours in the country, a person or vehicle is hit by a train, Operation Lifesaver, a national non-profit that leads rail safety education, stated on its website.

The organization advises pedestrians to always expect a train, adding that walking on or beside the tracks is illegal. You should never pass when the lights are flashing, dont go around the gates and wait to cross once you can see clearly in both directions, it recommended.

Trains also have the right of way over cars, pedestrians and emergency vehicles.

How police respond

Sacramento Police Officer Anthony Gamble told The Bee that when a train collision happens, the police departments role is to respond, provide medical assistance and stabilize the scene.

Investigations into the accident are conducted by the respective train agency, Gamble said.

In Mondays fatal collision, police blocked off several surrounding streets.

If roads need to be blocked off after the accident, Gamble said the length of time will vary depending on the train company.

What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com.
Community Leaders React To Sacramentos Black History Museum Receiving Threatening Voicemail: Stay On Your Toes | TEK IMAGE/SPL via Getty Images

Sacramento residents are on edge after a Black history museum in the city received a voicemail from someone threatening to kill Black children.

While police said theyre not yet sure if the threat is credible, Black leaders in the community are advising families to stay alert and take the necessary steps to protect their children.

We dont know how valid it is, because folks who usually warn you arent really doing that, Tanya Faison, founder of Black Lives Matter Sacramento, told ABC 10. But we dont know how stupid they are either. They might just be dumb. Its always good to stay on your toes, and be prepared for anything to happen and make sure that our schools are protecting our babies.

The Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum received the voicemail around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, KCRA reported. Black Lives Matter Sacramento then received a copy of the voicemail from the museums founder and shared the audio on its Facebook page to alert the public. The chilling voicemail, which appears to be disguised with an automated voice and a fake phone number, claimed that there is a plan to collaborate with schools and kill Black children in California.

In California, agendas are active to murder Black children in the Sacramento area. Murders are to be in cold blood with no remorse, the voicemail stated. The intel relay has contacted more than 100 schools in the Sacramento area to structure this agenda.

Shonna McDaniels, founder of the Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum, said she was in shock when she heard the voicemail.

I couldnt believe someone would leave a voicemail on our phone talking about harming Black children, Daniels told KCRA 3. At first, I thought it was maybe a prank, but in the world we live in today, I take all threats seriously. I wish in 2023 folks would get over all the hatred and do some soul-searching to have peace for humanity. Im sending a message for parents and community members to be on alert to take this message seriously.

Police said they are still investigating the threat.
In this file photo from May 13, 1982, Ernestine M. Raclin poses by a work of art at 1st Source Bank in South Bend. The philanthropist and former chair of 1st Source Bank and 1st Source Corporation died July 13, 2023, at the age of 95.

SOUTH BEND  Ernestine M. Raclin was the type of community leader and benefactor that any city across America would love to have as its own.

Born and raised in South Bend, Raclin, who died Thursday at the age of 95, served as chairman of what became 1st Source Bank and 1st Source Corporation for more than 20 years after her first husband, O.C. Carmichael, died in 1976.

And after her banking career was over, she continued to focus her energy and resources on helping solve needs throughout the community, according to those who worked with her on some of those projects.

Named for Raclin: New inpatient center for hospice patients to open soon in Mishawaka

Take a look and youll notice her family name on many of the buildings in the community and on the campuses of the University of Notre Dame and Indiana University South Bend, which named its school of the arts in her honor.

She was a truly powerful woman in the best sense of the word, said Rose Meissner, president of the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County. Her clout didnt come solely from her title but from the great respect people had for her. She set a very high bar for community service that her family continues to honor.

Those feelings are echoed by everyone who crossed paths with Raclin.

Ernestine M. Raclin, left, attends an open house at 1st Source Bank in South Bend in this May 13, 1982, file photo. Raclin's son-in-law, Chris Murphy, the bank's current CEO, is in the middle. A philanthropist and former chair of 1st Source Bank and 1st Source Corporation, she died July 13, 2023, at the age of 95.

Our family is not only grieving the loss of a caring and wonderful mother and grandmother, but also the loss of a mentor, advisor, friend and an endless source of wit, wisdom and love, Raclin's son-in-law, Chris Murphy, chairman of 1st Source Bank and chairman, president and CEO of 1st Source Corp., said in a press release issued after Raclins death.

Beyond her efforts to improve the community, Raclin also set the standard for 1st Source, Murphy said.

"Her values informed how 1st Source does business every day and how our family prioritizes the wellbeing of our hometown," he added. "Her legacy will live on through her philanthropy and through our continued commitment to community leadership and business growth.

Among other accomplishments, Raclin was the first woman in the country to chair a local United Way chapter, serve on the United Way of America's National Board of Governors and serve as a trustee of the University of Notre Dame. She also was the first woman to head Project Future and to serve on the board of the St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce.

Ernestine M. Raclin attends a meeting of the University of Notre Dame's trustees in this May 9, 1993, file photo. The businesswoman and philanthropist died July 13, 2023, at the age of 95. Raclin, a philanthropist and former chair of 1st Source Bank and 1st Source Corporation, died July 13, 2023, at the age of 95.

Additionally, she was co-founder of WNIT, Michiana Public Television Corporation and Stanley Clark School.

When it came to community involvement, Raclin was especially passionate about economic development, the arts, education and human services.

Ernie was a moderating and unifying force, the kind of leader I wish we had a lot more of in these very divided times, Meissner said. She cared about social justice and addressing racial divides. Her influence was felt across many important issues.

IUSB impact

Marvin V. Curtis remembers meeting Raclin for the first time after he was named dean of the Ernestine Raclin School of the Arts. She was quite something, he said. I remember her walking down the hall in yellow and pearls, and she gave me my marching orders.

So what were those? I guess to bring stability to the school of the arts, said Curtis, who is now an emeritus dean at IUSB and president of the South Bend Symphony Orchestras board of directors.

Ernestine was a wonderful woman whose vision and her insight to the role of the arts in this community was huge, Curtis said. She built upon what her mother did, Ella Morris. Ernestine continued the legacy of the Morris-Carmichael-Raclin family, and we are indebted to her as a community  South Bend and Mishawaka."

Fred P. Crowe, left, Ernestine M. Raclin and James W. Frick celebrate Project Future's success on Jan. 25, 1987, in this file photo. Raclin, a philanthropist and former chair of 1st Source Bank and 1st Source Corporation, died July 13, 2023, at the age of 95.

Raclin and her first husband were negotiators for a regional IU campus in South Bend and worked on land acquisition. After that was accomplished, she turned her attention to the arts on campus.

Her passion for the arts and its transformative power live on, every day, in the programs we offer in communication studies, fine arts, music, theatre and dance for our students and our community, IUSB Chancellor Susan Elrod said in the release provided by the family.

Besides being a visionary and benefactor, Curtis also gave a glimpse into the type of person Raclin was.

She had a great sense of humor, he said. I had dinner with her at her house several times. For all the wealth she had, she was a down-to-earth person.

Those attributes were noted by others who worked with Raclin on projects throughout the community.

A rendering shows what the outside of the Raclin Murphy Encore Center would look like. It would be built next to the Morris Performing Arts Center in South Bend.

Morris Performing Arts Center

Raclin and her family provided the lead $5 million gift toward the campaign to upgrade and expand the Morris, which was named for her mother, who saved the structure from the wrecking ball.

Besides Raclin, the money came from son-in-law Chris and daughter Carmi Murphy and the O.C. Carmichael Foundation.

Sometimes its hard to get the momentum going toward a goal, said Aaron Perri, who helped lead the project as former executive director of South Bends Venues, Parks & Arts. That was really a big vote of confidence.

More: What you didn't know about theater-loving woman who saved the Morris

Perri said the $30 million campaign has $3 million to go, having finished $10 million in upgrades to the Morris last year, and now is seeking to build the Raclin-Murphy Encore Center and garage to adjoin the Morris.

The main thing is, this wasnt about them, said Perri, who in June began a job as consultant for a Louisville-based firm, Block by Block, that helps downtowns, transit and park systems, and universities around the U.S. to reimagine spaces that need a lift. They said they wanted the community to be behind it.

More: Morris Performing Arts Center receives $1 million donation as 100th anniversary approaches

Projects that are visionary and meaningful need that type of support, he said.

Countless other efforts in the arts and elsewhere in the community have likewise benefited without the public noticing, he said.

That generosity is unparalleled, and its humbling, Perri said.

The University of Notre Dame

The same families also were key to the construction of the new Raclin Murphy Museum of Art, which will replace the Snite Museum of Art. Scheduled to open in late November, the new museum is located on the southern edge of campus.

More: Notre Dame receives gift for new $66 million art museum

Rarely do cultural angels walk among us that think of the whole community so inclusively and extensively as did Ernie Raclin, said Joseph Becherer, director of the museum. "We at the Museum are deeply moved to be an important part of her legacy and living history in the forthcoming Raclin Murphy Museum of Art.

Although we wont be able to physically walk the galleries together, she will be with us as an inspiration to engage, enliven and offer ourselves to all others through direct experiences with art, with beauty.

Raclin also was a key contributor to the renovation of the Morris Inn, which was named after her parents, when it was restored just over 10 years ago, again demonstrating the ubiquitous range of the familys community-boosting endeavors.

More: Morris Inn reopens to public on Saturday

The Rev. John I. Jenkins, president of Notre Dame, said Raclin brought a wise and steady presence to the board of trustees and was a transformative benefactor to the university. "She has also been a dear friend to me and many, and, while we grieve her passing, we celebrate a life well-lived. My prayers and those of the entire Notre Dame community are with her family and friends, he said in the press release.

Ernestine M. Raclin

Services

Though many have people have built fortunes in South Bend, Mishawaka and the surrounding community over the past 100 years, few have left as indelible of a mark as Raclin and her family members, including her sister Mary Lou and her husband Judd Leighton, whose names adorn several of the buildings their philanthropy helped to make possible.

Its been no accident.

Her work will live on despite her not being here, Curtis said. When you see the names Carmichael, Raclin and Morris, that was her family. They will live on forever. 

Jeff Rea, president and CEO of the South Bend Regional Chamber of Commerce, agreed. "She believed a lot in her hometown and worked hard to make it a better place," he said. "Her legacy is apparent throughout the community and will be felt many years after her passing."

There will be a visitation at 2:30 p.m. July 18 at The Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame followed by a Memorial Service in the Basilica at 3:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that people send donations to The Boys and Girls Club of Saint Joseph County, the Center for Hospice Care in Mishawaka, The South Bend Symphony Orchestra, The Stanley Clark School, The University of Notre Dame or a charity of your choice.

Tribune staff writer Joseph Dits contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Ernestine Raclin is gone but her legacy will live forever in South Bend
Zoom is not the first company to call employees back to the office after the pandemic, but it may be the most ironic, as the companys services allow employees across the country to work from home.

Based out of San Jose, California, the tech company is requiring employees who live within a 50-mile radius of the office to work there at least twice a week starting in August and September  moving the company toward a hybrid approach, reported Business Insider.

We believe that a structured hybrid approach  meaning employees that live near an office need to be on-site two days a week to interact with their teams  is most effective for Zoom, a company spokesperson said, per The New York Times. Well continue to leverage the entire Zoom platform to keep our employees and dispersed teams connected and working efficiently.

A Gallup poll from mid-2022 examined the benefits and challenges of hybrid work.

Notably, the top challenges of hybrid work are far less prevalent than the top advantages, the poll concluded. This indicates that the greatest advantages of hybrid work substantially outweigh the biggest challenges.

Related

Benefits, it noted, included greater flexibility, productivity and well-being, while the challenges included difficulty of having needed resources for work at home, feeling less connected than being totally in-person, and decreased team collaboration.

Stanford economist and hybrid work expert Nick Bloom told The New York Times that for Zoom, fully remote work didnt make sense financially.

Theyre paying for their office and hiring local people so they get no upside from being fully remote, Bloom told the Times. The most surprising thing to me was they took so long to formally announce this.

Earlier this year, the company cut pay and laid off 15% of its staff, which the founder and CEO of Zoom, Eric Yaun, commented on.

Related

As the world transitions to life post-pandemic, we are seeing that people and businesses continue to rely on Zoom, Yuan said. But the uncertainty of the global economy, and its effect on our customers, means we need to take a hard  yet important  look inward to reset ourselves so we can weather the economic environment, deliver for our customers and achieve Zooms long-term vision.

Computer and IT companies, like Zoom, led the remote work movement because of its easy transition. Now theres a transition that hints that working will never be the same. Perhaps the pandemic helped find a middle ground between remote and in-person work.

Forbes reported that the vast majority  98%  of employees want the option to work from home at least one day during the week, which could force employers into more of a hybrid model that satisfies both employee and employer needs. But two years after the pandemic, hybrid work is on the rise, as only 12.7% of full-time employees work remotely, while 28.2% follow a hybrid model.

I think hybrid work is going to stay, Yuan said, per the Times.

Related
Confederate monuments burst into public consciousness in 2015 when a shooting at a historically Black church in Charleston, South Carolina, instigated the first broad calls for their removal. The shooter intended to start a race war and had posed with Confederate imagery in photos posted online.

Monument removal efforts grew in 2017 after a counterprotester was killed at the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, where white supremacist groups defended the preservation of Confederate monuments. Removal movements saw widespread success in 2020 following George Floyds death at the hands of the police.

These events linked Confederate monuments to modern racist beliefs and acts. But whether monuments carry inherent racism or are merely misinterpreted requires further exploration.

Research by economist Jhacova A. Williams has shown that Black Americans who live in areas that have a relatively higher number of streets named after prominent Confederate generals are less likely to be employed, are more likely to be employed in low-status occupations, and have lower wages compared to Whites.

I study economic and political history and have researched the effects of Confederate monuments in the post-Civil War South. I found that these symbols helped solidify the Jim Crow era, which established segregation across the South and lasted from the 1880s until the 1960s. These symbols were accompanied by increases in the vote share of the Democratic Party  the racist party that had supported slavery and, after the Civil War, supported segregation for another century. The building of these monuments was also accompanied by reductions in voter turnout. Further research I conducted shows that these political effects disproportionately occurred in areas with a larger share of Black residents.

In other words, as these monuments were erected, the vote increased for members of the then-racist Democratic Party, and people turned out to vote in lower numbers in predominantly Black areas.

These findings demonstrate that a connection existed between racism and these monuments from their inception  and provide context for modern monument debates.

Richmond, Va., city workers prepare to drape a tarp over a statue of Confederate Gen. Stonewall Jackson in 2017. AP Photo/Steve Helber

Monumental history

The South saw almost no monument dedications during the Civil War, which lasted from 1861 to 1865. Monuments first appeared during the Reconstruction era  1865 to 1877  when Southern states were occupied by the North and integrated back into the Union.

Reconstruction-era monuments in general did not glorify the Confederacy. These monuments largely honored the dead and were placed in cemeteries and spaces distant from daily life. They compartmentalized the trauma of the war, commemorating lives but not placing the Confederacy at the center of Southern identity.

As Reconstruction neared its end in 1875, a Stonewall Jackson monument erected in Richmond, Virginia, foreshadowed the different monuments to come.

The monuments dedication drew 50,000 spectators and included a military-style parade. The potential presence of a local all-Black militia proved to be controversial. To avoid accusations of race mixing, organizers planned to place the militia and any other Black participants in the back of the parade.

The militia did not attend, likely in anticipation of the controversy, and the only Black Southerners present in the parade were formerly enslaved people who had served in the Confederacys Stonewall Brigade. This stark picture of Southern race relations served as a preview of political developments to come.

This trend continued after Reconstruction, which ended with the Compromise of 1877. This compromise settled the disputed 1876 presidential election, giving Republicans the presidency and Democrats, then a pro-segregation party, full political control of the South. Democrats subsequently established what would become known as Jim Crow laws across the South, an array of restrictive and discriminatory laws that disenfranchised Black Southerners and made them second-class citizens.

Monuments played a cultural role in establishing the Jim Crow South. Unlike Reconstruction monuments, post-Reconstruction monuments were erected in prominent public spaces, and their focus shifted toward the portrayal and glorification of famous Confederates. Monument dedication ceremonies were particularly popular around the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War, peaking in 1911.

Additional Confederate monuments have been dedicated since that period, but those numbers pale in comparison to the monument-building spree of 1878 to 1912.

The Mississippi state and U.S. flags fly near the Rankin County Confederate Monument in the downtown square of Brandon, Miss., on March 3, 2023. AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File

Monumental effects

My research investigates the political effects of Confederate monuments in the Reconstruction and early post-Reconstruction  1877-1912  eras, namely their effects on Democratic Party vote share and voter turnout.

I expected monuments potential effects to be directly related to their centrality to everyday life and glorification of the Confederacy. This is the primary difference between soldier-memorializing Reconstruction and Confederate-glorifying post-Reconstruction monuments.

I expected to find little political effect from soldier-memorializing Reconstruction monuments, but some pro-Jim Crow effects from Confederate-glorifying post-Reconstruction monuments. As monuments moved from cemeteries into central public spaces such as parks and squares, I expected them to affect voters decisions.

That is precisely what I found.

During Reconstruction, counties that dedicated Confederate monuments saw no change in voter turnout or Democratic Party vote share in biennial congressional elections. These symbols were soldier-memorializing and physically separate from public life and did not influence voter decision-making.

However, when monuments began to glorify the Confederacy and shifted into public life, political effects emerged.

Counties that dedicated monuments in the early post-Reconstruction period saw, on average, a 5.5 percentage point increase in Democratic Party vote share and a 2.2 percentage point decrease in voter turnout compared with other counties.

As monuments changed, so did their effect on the public. Glorifying public monuments communicated to the public that the Confederacy was worth preserving, thus strengthening Democratic majorities and lowering participation in the political process.

Larger Democratic majorities alongside lower voter turnout already suggests Black Southerners, who almost exclusively voted for Republicans at that time, were voting less in areas with monuments. I conducted further exploration and found that these political effects disproportionately occurred in counties with larger Black populations. This suggests that Black voters were more responsive to Confederate monuments, which suppressed their political activity by signaling they were not accepted by the local community.

The effects of post-Reconstruction monuments suggest that they played a role in continued racism throughout the South into the early 20th century.

Their controversy today demonstrates the values still conveyed by their presence in society. Recent research has demonstrated the long-run effects of the spread of Southern white culture and prejudices across the United States post-Civil War, connecting it to higher levels of modern-day Republican Party voting and conservative values.

It is thus no wonder Confederate monuments, as prominent symbols of pro-Confederate, Southern white culture, continue to be  and are likely to remain  cultural flashpoints.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. The Conversation is trustworthy news from experts. Try our free newsletters.

It was written by: Alexander N. Taylor, George Mason University.

Read more:



Alexander N. Taylor does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The routine testing of bathing water at North Shore and Cayley Promenade showed raised levels of bacterial pollution

Swimmers have been warned not to enter the sea due to bacterial pollution at beaches in north Wales.

Natural Resource Wales (NRW) is trying to trace the source of the pollution after routine summer testing highlighted raised levels of E.coli and intestinal enterococci.

Conwy council put up warnings telling visitors of the pollution at Colwyn Bay, Rhos-on-Sea and on North Shore in Llandudno.

NRW said the water was being tested.

The council said: "We were notified about levels of bacteria in bathing water at North Shore and Cayley Promenade by NRW who carry out regular water quality testing.

"Notices advising against swimming or paddling in the sea were put out on Saturday."

Swimmers have been told to avoid the sea due to E.coli

NRW said: "We continue to investigate potential sources of pollution after bathing water samples collected last week at Llandudno North Shore and Colwyn Bay showed high levels of bacteria.

"Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water have confirmed that there are no issues with the sewer line and their assets are operating normally."

It added water samples were being taken from the "affected locations" and Welsh Water was assisting in the collection from "surface water drains further inland".

The results from the tests should be known in about two days and warning notices will likely be removed if bacteria levels drop to acceptable levels.
via Twitter

Alabama cops have started cracking down on the agitators who sparked a viral melee on a Montgomery, Alabama, riverfront over the weekend, with officials on Tuesday announcing a series of charges.

Three white men have warrants out for their arrest for assault in the third degree, Chief Darryl Albert said Tuesday. They were identified as Richard Roberts, 48, Allen Todd, 23, and Zachery Shipman, 25, who all have listed addresses in nearby Selma and Orange Beach.

One of the men is in custody and two others were expected to turn themselves in later Tuesday in Selma, Albert said. Investigators went above and beyond to see if hate crime charges were warranted but ultimately decided they werent, Albert said.

The three men are accused of assaulting Damien Pickett, the Black riverboat worker who had asked the men to move their pontoon boat, as well as a 16-year-old white boy who had initially transported Pickett to the dock via a smaller vessel so that he could move the pontoon.

Albert also called on Reggie Gray, a 42-year-old Black man accused of wielding a folding chair in the chaos, to contact police. He was not facing charges as of Tuesday, but Albert said hes wanted for further questioning.

Thirteen people were initially detained, questioned, and released by police on Saturday. But cops were now combing through hoards of video posted online and expect additional charges, Albert said. When it initially took place, the police didnt have the luxury of the videos that we all have seen now. [They were] acting on statements and witness statements that occurred as we arrived, he said.

Do you comprehend the historic gravity of a Black man swimming from a riverboat to a Montgomery Alabama dock to help his fellow man run some white mens fade?! pic.twitter.com/1xMUqjm5SZ  Old Atlanna (@ATLboneNbred) August 6, 2023

Albert also explained what preceded the fracas, largely confirming what the riverboats captain, Jim Kittrell, explained to The Daily Beast on Tuesday.

Kittrell said that he was trying to dock the Harriott IIa historic ferry on the Alabama riveraround 7 p.m. Saturday when he came across an inebriated group whod docked their pontoon boat in the ferrys reserved spot.

I asked them over the PA six, seven times, Please move your boat two or three feet forward so we can dock. And they wouldnt even budge, he said. And I said, OK, Im gonna have to call the police. Albert added that the Harriott II and its passengers sat idle near the dock for about 45 minutes.

Before cops arrived, Kittrell said the group of men walked away from their boat, so he ordered his first mate, Pickett, to move the vessel himself. Pickett was taken to shore in a small boat by the 16-year-old independent worker, who was also later assaulted.

Albert said Pickett was peacefully trying to move the unmanned pontoon boat out of the way but the group of white men suddenly re-appeared and confronted him in a very hostile manner.

The co-captain [Pickett] was doing his job, Albert said. However it quickly escalated.

As the viral footage has since shown, one of the white men pounced on Pickett after a short verbal exchange. Kittrell said some of his remaining crew then jumped into action to help their colleague and other bystanders did the same, resulting in a minutes-long brawl. One teen, since dubbed Black Aquaman, even swam to the rescue.

Within a minute or so, it was an all-out brawl, he told local radio station News & Views with Joey Clark on Tuesday. I saw some more guys coming, and I said, Oh, thank God, theyre going to break it up, but instead of breaking it up, they jumped on him, too.

As more people swooped in to avenge the outnumbered worker, the tables turned. From then on, it was clear the initial group of aggressors took the brunt of the beating.

WATCH: Massive Riverfront Brawl in Alabama Leads to Multiple Arrests

Kittrell called the entire ordeal unfortunate. While punches were being thrown by both sides, he said he pleaded over the PA for the violence to stop.

He told The Daily Beast that he believes the initial attack on Pickett was racially motivated. But going against speculation online, he said he didnt think race was a factor in the subsequent brawl, despite cell phone footage showing it was predominantly a fight between the white instigators and a group of Black bystanders, riverboat crew members, and passengers.

It was just a shipmate trying to help a shipmate. They couldve been little green men, for all they cared, he said. When they attacked [Pickett], my crew was gonna jump out and do the best they could to help him out. It was my crew against the people who attacked their shipmate, thats all it was.

Local officials described the scene similarly. Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed, the citys first Black mayor, said in a statement Sunday that officers acted swiftly to detain several reckless individuals for attacking a man who was doing his job.

The Harriott II is one of Montgomerys top attractions for tourists and locals alike. The citys paper of record, the Montgomery Advertiser, wrote on Sunday that the docking area where the brawl broke out is the regular spot reserved for the Harriott II Riverboat, suggesting those with the pontoon boat shouldve known better than to dock there.

Were a fun city, Albert said Tuesday. We dont want this type of activity to shine a dark eye on what the city is all about. Were going to do all we can to do our due diligence to ensure that this case is solved and put to rest.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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A Florida Keys couple in custody face charges related to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot in Washington:

 Bryan Roger Bishop, 51, is accused of spraying a chemical irritant in the face of two Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department officers who were trying to contain the riot, according to court documents released Monday.

 Tonya Bishop, 47, is accused of trespassing in the Capitol and faces charges of entering a restricted building, disorderly conduct in the Capitol and parading and demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.

The FBI said two people were arrested in the Keys Monday night in connection with the attacks.

Here are the criminal complaints for each of them:
The Pechersk Court in Kyiv ordered on Aug. 8 the arrest of the Donetsk Oblast military enlistment office chief and set bail at Hr 3 million (about $82,000), the State Bureau of Investigation (DBR) reported.

The official is accused of illegal payments to his subordinates and helping criminals avoid justice. On Aug. 3, he was detained and charged with power abuse committed under martial law.

The law enforcement didn't name the suspect, but the current head of the Donetsk Oblast military enlistment office is Colonel Hennadii Yaremenko.

According to the investigation, Yaremenko, while in charge of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast military enlistment office in 2022, carried out a scheme in which his subordinates to whom he was personally connected received an unjustified allowance for participating in hostilities.

The official's subordinates were deployed to a brigade near the front line but did not perform any tasks and were not assigned to a combat unit, the DBR wrote. Despite this, the suspect assigned them a cash allowance for combat deployment totaling Hr 981,300 thousand (over $26.600).

Yaremenko also allegedly hired local criminals at the enlistment office to help them avoid trial and responsibility for their crimes.

If the suspect is proven guilty, he will face up to 12 years of imprisonment.

The Ukrainian authorities began a nationwide inspection of military recruitment offices after journalists discovered that the family of Yevhen Borysov, the former head of the Odesa Oblast military enlistment office, had purchased property worth $4.5 million in Spain during the full-scale war.

On Aug. 8, the DBR announced that it had started 112 investigations regarding abuses by military enlistment offices since the start of Russia's all-out war on Feb. 24, 2022.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A crash Tuesday afternoon that took down a power pole, which closed Albemarle Road at Jenkins Road in east Charlotte, police said.

LINK: WSOC Live Traffic Map

The road closed at about 2:45 p.m.

The road is expected to reopen by 3 .a.m. Wednesday, DOT said.

No further information was released.

VIDEO: One killed, two hospitalized in early morning crash in east Charlotte
Credit - Illustration by Pete Reynolds for Time

Peter Paccone, a social studies teacher in San Marino, Calif., has a new teachers aid helping him in the classroom this year. He plans to defer to his helper to explain some simpler topics to his class of high schoolers, like the technical aspects of how a cotton gin worked, in order to free up time for him to discuss more analytical concepts, like the effects of the first industrial revolution.

His new assistant? ChatGPT.

What I feel that I dont have to do any longer is cover all the content, Paccone told a group of more than 40 educators in a May Zoom workshop, which he organized. If artificial intelligence is on the cusp of reshaping entire aspects of our societyfrom healthcare to warfarethe first realm that leaps to many minds is education: Asked a question online, the ChatGPT chatbot will produce an answer that reads like an essay. So as students and teachers prepare for a new school year, they are also grappling with AI's implications for learning, homework, and integrity. Paccone is only one of many high school teachers who has been experimenting with ChatGPT in the classroom. But the tool is inspiring as much trepidation among educators as it is excitement.

Earlier this year, as OpenAI.com, the website of the company that produced ChatGPT, became one of the 50 most visited websites in the world, some of the nations largest school districts, from New York City to Los Angeles, banned its usage in the classroom while they worked to formulate policies around it. Meanwhile, teachers desperate to figure out how to harness the tech for good congregated in Facebook groups like chatGPT for teachers (about 300,000 members) and The AI Classroom (more than 20,000 members).

More From TIME

The majority of the teachers are panicked because they see [ChatGPT] as a cheating tool, a tool for kids to plagiarize, says Rachael Rankin, a high school principal in Newton Falls, outside of Youngstown, Ohio.

But Paccone and a growing group of educators believe its too late to keep AI out of their classrooms. Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, a major teachers union, believes the panic about AI is not unlike the ones caused by the Internet and graphing calculators when they were first introduced, arguing ChatGPT is to English and to writing like the calculator is to math. In this view, there are two options facing teachers: show their students how to use ChatGPT in a responsible way, or expect the students to abuse it.

Math raps and Shakespeare translation

As teachers wrestle with whether to use AI in their classrooms this year, theyre also learning about the pernicious ways that abuse can take place.

At another Zoom teacher training workshop that TIME observed in July, hosted by Garnet Valley School District in Garnet Valley, Penn., education consultant A.J. Juliani ran through various AI apps that students are using to cut corners in class. Photomath lets students upload a picture of a math problem and get detailed instructions on how to solve it. Tome can turn notes into a narrative, perfect for essay writing and preparing for presentations. And Readwise can highlight key parts of PDFs so that students can get through readings faster.

Many of them are just using it to do the work because they're bored, Juliani said. They're not engaged. They don't care. And we have to own up to that.

Many of the more than a dozen teachers TIME interviewed for this story argue that the way to get kids to care is to proactively use ChatGPT in the classroom. A Walton Family Foundation survey published July 18 found 73% of teacher respondents had heard of ChatGPT, and 33% used it to help come up with creative ideas for classes.

Some of those creative ideas are already in effect at Peninsula High School in Gig Harbor, about an hour from Seattle. In Erin Rossings precalculus class, a student got ChatGPT to generate a rap about vectors and trigonometry in the style of Kanye West, while geometry students used the program to write mathematical proofs in the style of raps, which they performed in a classroom competition. In Kara Beloates English-Language Arts class, she allowed students reading Shakespeares Othello to use ChatGPT to translate lines into modern English to help them understand the text, so that they could spend class time discussing the plot and themes.

Teachers are also using ChatGPT to generate materials for students at different reading levels. Aileen Wallace, who teaches a class on current events in Falkirk, Scotland, said the tool could instantly produce simplified versions of readings on the causes of terrorism for 14-year-olds who either read at lower reading levels than the rest of the class or have been learning English as a second language.

To be sure, ChatGPT doesnt always get things rightbut teachers are finding that provides its own way to engage students. Some are having students fact-check essays generated by the program in response to their prompts, hoping to simultaneously test students knowledge of the topic and show them the problems with relying on AI to do nuanced work. In Panama, International Baccalaureate teacher Anna May Drake had juniors and seniors critique a ChatGPT-generated essay comparing George Orwell's 1984 and Margaret Atwoods The Handmaid's Tale, while in the Detroit area, Sarah Millard, a ninth-grade honors English teacher, had students critique a ChatGPT-generated essay on Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet. My students have never been so engaged in writing, Millard says. They wanted to beat the computer and were tearing apart the AI-generated essay.

Teachers are even finding ChatGPT is a big time-saver for their own homework. Larry Ferlazzo, who teaches English, Social Studies, and International Baccalaureate classes in Sacramento, has had AI help write college recommendation letters for some of his students. He says it did it "10 times better" than he would have alone.

'There's a tidal wave coming'

While many educators seem to agree that an outright ban on ChatGPT in the classroom is not the answer, they differ on how much it will change schools.

Some think it will be a revolution. There's a tidal wave coming for education, says Dan Fitzpatrick, an author and keynote speaker on AI in education and administrator of The AI Classroom Facebook group. Our schools could really find themselves irrelevant in the next few months to a few years.

Others believe it may become a useful tool, but the basics of schooling wont change. I've lived through probably nine hype cycles of AI and education where visionaries proclaim that this is the big breakthroughand then it isn't, says Chris Dede, a Senior Research Fellow at Harvard Graduate School of Education who is an expert on the history of educational technologies. Generative AI is certainly not, in my opinion, some kind of enormous breakthrough that's going to transform education.

There are real concerns about ceding too much instruction to the program: Weingarten of the teachers union and others fear it will promote educational inequities, further dividing classrooms into students whose families have the resources to afford the high-speed internet connection that eases access to ChatGPT and students whose families do not. There are also worries about biases in the data AI uses to craft its answers to users prompts. Much of the information thats online, that ChatGPT is trained on, is going to be predominantly of western perspective, and what's going to be less represented are the perspectives, knowledge, and experiences of underrepresented communities, says Ezekiel Dixon-Roman, Director of the Edmund W. Gordon Institute for Urban and Minority Education and Professor at Teachers College, Columbia University.

And it will be no small challenge for teachers to figure out how to use the technology to develop students' critical thinking skills without sacrificing the meaningful connections that can be the product of human-to-human teachingan even more urgent challenge when it comes to students who mentally checked out during the abrupt shift from in-person instruction to virtual school during the pandemic. When it comes to getting knowledge to stick, there may be no substitute for human relationships. To many teachers, even if theyre getting ready to welcome ChatGPT into the classroom when the doors re-open this year, thats reason enough not to fear the extent of the disruption on the horizon.

I've been to former students weddings and baby showers and funerals of their parents, says Millard, the high school English teacher in Michigan. I've hugged my students. I've high-fived my students. I've cried with my students. A computer will never do that. Ever, ever.

Correction, Aug. 8

The original version of this story misstated the surname of a professor at Teachers College, Columbia University. He is Ezekiel Dixon-Roman, not Ezekiel Dixon-Ramon.

Write to Olivia B. Waxman at olivia.waxman@time.com.
Time is running out for donors to receive tax credits for contributions over $1,000 to the Community Development Partnership.

Thats too much money for many Cape residents to give. For those who can, the donations do double duty: they help the work of the Outer Cape nonprofits mission, and they help a donor's bottom line.

The Community Development Partnership, in Orleans, was established to help people in Brewster, Chatham, Eastham, Harwich, Orleans, Provincetown, Truro and Wellfleet. Nearly 44% of households here have incomes below 80% of the area median income, according to the nonprofit's Community Investment Plan. High real estate prices, a lack of affordable housing, the seasonal economy and dearth of year-round jobs present serious challenges to thousands of residents in the region.

Jay Coburn is the president and CEO of Community Development Partnership, which has an office in Orleans.

The partnership has helped by developing housing and small business development programs. They've worked with municipalities and regional social service and housing organizations. They manage 100 affordable housing units, hold annual educational programs for business and civic leaders, and lead efforts that support housing and homeownership initiatives.

How does the tax credit work?

With about 15% of its funding from donations, the ability of donors to collect tax credits has meant more people with big pockets are donating. The Community Investment Tax Credit program created by the state 10 years ago means that donors can get credits to apply to their income tax filings to offset what they owe. For instance, anyone who gives $1,000 or more receives a tax credit of half that amount. ($500 credit for $1,000 donation; $2,500 credit for a $5,000 donation, etc.) That credit can be deducted from a donors state income tax bill.

The credit is a refundable credit, so if a donor is an out-of-state resident, made a donation through a private foundation, or doesnt owe much in taxes, the credit gets refunded in the form of a state check, according to Jay Coburn, CEO of the Community Development Partnership.

The tax credit program helped boost donations from individuals, businesses and foundations from $34,302 in 2013 to more than $750,000 in 2022, according to the Partnerships Community Investment Plan for 2023 to 2025. Its especially significant given that government grants have decreased from 70% to 50% of the nonprofits revenue.

In 2022, the partnership had more than 275 donors with 128 (46%) participating in the program, according to Chief Development Officer Laura Cannata. From 2017 to 2022, more than 98% of those credits were used annually. As of Aug. 1, the Partnership had 48% of its $300,000 in allotted tax credits remaining for 2023.

We have a lot of donors, Coburn said. This is a good motivator.

Denise Coffey writes about business and tourism. Contact her at dcoffey@capecodonline.com. Follow her on Twitter: @DeniseCoffeyCCT.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Community Development Partnership donors eligible for tax credits
Three indictments, 78 charges, three trials. What might Donald Trump's defence be in court and which of the three cases will be hardest for him to win?

The former president stands accused of a litany of crimes. Conspiring to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Undermining Americans' right to vote.

Hoarding classified documents at two of his properties. Using fraudulent means to pay off an adult film actress in the heat of the 2016 race.

He faces nearly 80 counts in three states and possibly more if, as expected, he is indicted for election interference in Georgia.

We have seen the prosecution's case as laid out in the indictments but what do we know of how Mr Trump - who denies any wrongdoing - will defend himself at the trials next year?

A slam-dunk - or is it?

The most interesting dynamic is found in the Florida classified documents case, legal experts tell the BBC.

"While it's probably the strongest case legally - it is absolutely airtight - the jury pool might be favourable enough that Donald Trump will be able to essentially get a juror or a handful of jurors to nullify and get him out of it," said Anthony Michael Kries, a professor of election and employment law at Georgia State University.

The Department of Justice has accused Mr Trump of illegally taking classified White House materials after he left office, storing them improperly at his Mar-a-Lago estate and then obstructing the government's repeated attempts to retrieve the documents.

US law requires departing presidents to hand over such materials to the National Archives. There is a tried and tested law governing the possession of classified material and plenty examples of case law to draw on. Other ex-officeholders, such as former Vice-President Mike Pence, have returned such documents as soon as they found them.

The indictment lays out reams of evidence against Mr Trump, including photos of boxes stored haphazardly at his Florida home. Prosecutors even obtained audio of Mr Trump talking about a classified document in front of people without proper clearance, and admitting he could not declassify the material now that he had left office.

Mr Trump has inaccurately claimed in public that he could have declassified the documents. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Miami in June and has called the prosecution politically motivated.

But he could find favour in the state's jury pool. Mr Trump is loved and loathed equally in southern Florida and legal experts based there say choosing an impartial jury could prove challenging.

"The added element is people with agendas," Rob Mendell, a Florida trial attorney, told the BBC in June.

More on Trump's indictments

A more shaky case

The first case Mr Trump faced this year may prove the most straightforward for him to win.

In March, New York prosecutors issued 34 felony charges of falsifying business records. These relate to a $130,000 hush money payment Mr Trump's lawyer made to an adult film star in the final weeks of the 2016 election campaign.

The cash was to stop her talking about an alleged affair, a relationship denied by the former president. Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg alleges that Mr Trump funnelled the payment through his lawyer, Michael Cohen, and fraudulently recorded the payments as legal expenses.

Ordinarily, falsifying business records would only amount to a misdemeanour. But if they were falsified to commit another crime, that could constitute a felony. Mr Bragg does not necessarily need to prove Mr Trump committed one to secure a felony conviction. He has not yet definitively said what his full theory of the additional crimes are.

But he alleged during an April press conference that Mr Trump made the payments "to cover up crimes relating to the 2016 election", and committed a tax violation. Mr Trump's team has made moves to change the jurisdiction from state to federal court and may attempt to have the charges dismissed. They have previously argued that Mr Trump made the payments to save his family from embarrassment, not commit a crime.

A July decision by a federal judge to deny Mr Trump's attempt to move the trial to federal court was "a 100% victory for us", Mr Bragg told local radio station WCBS this week. The federal judge also signalled support for the district attorney's attempt to raise the crimes to a felony.

'The hardest case to beat'

Last week, the Justice Department charged Mr Trump on four counts related to election fraud. It's an unprecedented case, involving a president allegedly trying to use the levers of government to cling on to power.

He is accused of pressuring election officials and the vice-president to change the outcome of the 2020 election, which he lost to Joe Biden. He also stands accused of widely spreading disinformation that the election was stolen, which ultimately led to the US Capitol riot.

Some legal experts think the litany of evidence, the unsympathetic jurisdiction of Washington DC, and the way Special Counsel Jack Smith constructed the case all mean it's an uphill battle for Mr Trump.

"The election violation in DC - I think that is a legal slam dunk," said Mr Kreis. "I think that might be the hardest [for Trump] to beat."

One crucial factor Mr Trump can fight against is the issue of intent, whether or not he actually planned to commit these crimes. Prosecutors will have to show that Mr Trump knowingly made false claims in the service of committing crimes.

"The person has to know that it's false, and then purposely, intentionally make the statement, for the purpose of influencing government activity," said Morgan Cloud, a professor at Emory University Law School.

Trump in courtroom

That is the key, adds Mr Kreis. "Did Donald Trump honestly believe and honestly come by his understanding that the election was fraudulent and that he had actually won?"

Mr Smith went to great pains in the indictment to show multiple moments where top aides and allies warned Mr Trump that the election interference claims were bogus, yet he proceeded anyway.

His lawyer John Lauro said the former president believed "in his heart of hearts" that he won the election and the prosecution will not be able to prove otherwise. His client was being attacked for exercising his First Amendment right to free speech, he added, and his requests to election officials were just "aspirational".

There is a strong chance, however, that Mr Trump cannot rely on a free speech argument. Some of what he said might be protected by the First Amendment, said Aziz Huq of the University of Chicago Law School. But, he added, "speech that is used to facilitate the crime is almost never covered".

Trump supporters near the U.S Capitol, on January 06, 2021 in Washington, DC

Mr Smith made this point in the indictment, that while Mr Trump could freely say what he liked about the election outcome, he could not use that belief to try to overturn the result.

But not everyone believes the case will result in a conviction.

Sarah Isgur, legal commentator at conservative website The Despatch, told the Economist the statutes under which these counts were brought require proof of intent. This means the fact that people were telling him his claims were untrue is not enough, she said.

Mr Trump can also point to lawyers like John Eastman and others who were telling him his claims were correct, she added.

The wildcard - juries

Regardless of how both sides argue the case, they must convince a jury. And it is this variable that legal experts say is most difficult to predict.

Four different jurisdictions at play - Washington DC, Florida, Manhattan and potentially Georgia - will result in four very different jury dynamics.

The threshold for a conviction is beyond reasonable doubt and decisions must be unanimous, two factors in Mr Trump's favour.

"That's certainly going to make Trump's case easier," says Mr Kreis. "He doesn't need to convince 12 people they only need one person."

The other big variable is Mr Trump himself.

In theory he could delay any convictions by appeal, win the presidency, and press the Department of Justice to drop its investigations.

Or even, as he has reportedly mused in the past, pardon himself.
Cruise, the self-driving subsidiary of General Motors, has expanded its robotaxi radius in the Phoenix area by 20x as it seeks to compete with Alphabet-owned Waymo in its home court.

Cruise soft-launched its robotaxi service in Chandler, a city southeast of Phoenix, in December 2022. The expanded arena will now include Tempe and Scottsdale, according to a map of the region shared by CEO Kyle Vogt on Twitter. The service is free for now and will be available from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Vogt said the expansion will hit "power users" first, then roll out to everyone else. Power users are members of the public who provide regular feedback to Cruise. In San Francisco at least, power users have access to an expanded service area at night and can use the robotaxis during the day.

The company would not share how many vehicles it would add to its fleet.

Cruise will have to contend with Waymo in the Phoenix area. Waymo, which has been operating a paid, driverless robotaxi service in Chandler 24/7 since 2020, recently doubled its service area in the downtown area and opened up driverless rides to the airport to members of the public.

While the race has been a tight one between the two companies, Cruise has touted its ability to rapidly expand its geofenced boundaries as it "deploy[s] new foundational AV capabilities," according to Vogt. A spokesperson clarified that Vogt is referring to the AV's ability to generalize behaviors and circumstances in new markets so that Cruise isn't starting from scratch in every new city it enters.

"The AV is learning from the more than 3 million driverless miles the fleet has driven and continuously learns and improves with each mile," Elizabeth Craig Conway, a Cruise spokesperson, told TechCrunch.

Cruise's expansion in Phoenix is just one of a slew of announcements from the AV company in recent weeks. On Monday, Cruise said it has begun testing its self-driving cars in Atlanta. In July, Cruise also announced the start of initial robotaxi testing in Miami, as well as plans to launch a service in Nashville.

Cruise's growth also comes as the company, along with Waymo, awaits a decision this week from California's Public Utilities Commission on whether it will be granted a permit extension that would see it operating a commercial, driverless robotaxi service throughout San Francisco 24/7.
Finding quality kitchen appliances is a whole lot easier if you know where to look  and one lucky Redditor hit the jackpot with a KitchenAid from a thrift store.

In a recent post on the r/ThriftStoreHauls subreddit, a user shared the crown jewel of their thrift store finds: a high-quality KitchenAid that they purchased for just $10.

Comes with three attachments, one new, the posts caption reads. It was very dirty and I thought its rust, but after using Clorox wipes, its like new.

The KitchenAid is a black Professional 5 Plus model, which currently costs $450 on the companys website  and, as the post states, it looks brand new after being cleaned.

This particular store gave me a lot of treasures through [the] years, like high-end designer stuff and expensive kitchen items, the user wrote in a comment. Last month I found [an All-Clad] pan with lid and a frying pan for $6 each. Also a painting that I posted here and a person found my post and bought it from me for $800.

One commenter offers some helpful advice about used appliances that look dirty when you buy them. Make sure you check their insides for bugs or nasty substances to make sure the device is clean before you use it. Depending on the last owner, it may have been in filthy living conditions, they explained.

Users expressed their excitement in the posts comments.

Im so envious! In Europe, theyre really expensive and Ive never heard anybody finding them second hand here, not even in France or U.K. Seriously  a great find!, one commenter wrote.

Wow. Thats the top of the line one too! What an amazing find!, another commented.

$10 is an outstanding find. Happy for you! a third user writes.

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Immigration continues to be one of the most polarizing issues in the U.S. The ongoing struggle between border states like Texas and Florida and sanctuary cities across the country embodies that tension. Since last year, thousands of people who showed up at the border seeking refuge have been mass relocated to sanctuary cities to protest the Biden administration's immigration policies. Leaders in these cities have begged the federal government to step in as the influx of immigrants has outpaced the resources they have to offer.

Recently the spotlight has been on New York City, where the situation has become so dire Mayor Eric Adams declared there was "no more room." The city's "descent from a place that was managing to keep up, just barely, with a ceaseless flow of asylum seekers to a place that had declared defeat was sudden," The New York Times wrote. "From this moment on, it's downhill," Adams said at a City Hall news conference last week. As the crisis in NYC plays out, people are looking at it as an example of how sanctuary cities handle the influx of asylum seekers.

What are sanctuary cities?

Currently, sanctuary cities or states are communities with policies that limit local law enforcement's cooperation with federal authorities' efforts to deport immigrants. For the past few decades, "U.S. sanctuary city policies have been chiefly about welcoming immigrants whom the federal government has refused to grant humanitarian protection," The Washington Post explained.

In the 1980s, a wave of cities and towns officially declared themselves sanctuary cities and adopted policies restricting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Los Angeles was the first city to offer this sanctuary for people fleeing civil wars in El Salvador and Guatemala in 1979, per the Post. Other large cities and college towns followed suit and provided access to local services like schools and healthcare, regardless of immigration status. A clause of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 "played an outsize role in producing our contemporary landscape of sanctuary cities and anti-immigrant jurisdictions," the Post added. The 287g clause allowed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities to deputize local police to help detain and deport illegal immigrants. Many cities have designated themselves as sanctuary cities in response to the clause, making them safe havens for asylum seekers.

How are they handling the influx of asylum seekers?

Since last year, thousands of migrants have been relocated from the border in Texas, Florida, and Arizona to larger sanctuary cities like New York, Denver, Chicago, and Washington D.C. Republican governors have sent busloads and planes full of migrants to these cities to protest the federal government's lax immigration enforcement and the burden being shouldered by border cities. Most relocations have come as a complete surprise for the receiving cities, and they are struggling to keep up with the influx. Mayors from the cities have called on the federal government to help mitigate the crisis, especially leading to the end of Title 42, the pandemic-era asylum regulation that expired in May. With even more migrants projected to enter the country, the cities worried the crisis would put more strain on their resources and budgets.

Before Mayor Adams announced NYC had run out of room, he'd repeatedly asked for government assistance and better communication from the states sending the buses. Migrants had begun to sleep on the streets as placement in the city's shelter system became scarce. The city has spent millions of dollars so far securing housing and providing services to migrants from all over the world. There has been a steady flow of incoming migrants for the past year or so, "nearly doubling the city's homeless population in one huge spasm," the Times reported. Over 100,000 people currently live in shelters throughout the city. The city has tried to find several resolutions to the lack of housing, including taking over entire hotels in Manhattan and building and promptly shutting down temporary shelters.

Denver officials announced in May that they would only allow migrants with formal applications to remain in the U.S. in their emergency shelters. The city has struggled to keep up with the influx of asylum seekers, having spent $20 million sheltering and supporting 12,700 migrants since December, per Axios. The shift could be attributed to a "lack of funding, lack of policy, lack of guidance from our federal government to be able to respond to this crisis appropriately," Victoria Aguilar, a spokeswoman for Denver Human Services, told the Associated Press. Last month the outgoing mayor, Michael Hancock, announced that his administration was no longer moving forward with a $40 million contract with a private company to oversee the city's migrant shelter system, Denverite reported.

Chicago is another sanctuary city feeling the strain for resources for migrants arriving there. At one point, migrants waiting for space in city shelters resorted to sleeping on the floors of local police stations and the airport. The city's shelter system was "over capacity," in May, according to a statement from Brandie Knazze, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services, to city officials. "Make no mistake, we are in a surge, and things have yet to peak," he added. While the migrants staying in police stations have since been relocated to temporary shelters, Chicago officials continue to pressure the federal government to mitigate the ongoing crisis.

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Dozens of German-made Leopard 1 tanks and other armoured vehicles are seen in an hangar in Tournais

By Andrew Gray

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Dozens of second-hand Leopard 1 tanks that once belonged to Belgium have been bought by another European country for Ukrainian forces fighting Russia's invasion, the arms trader who did the deal said Tuesday.

The German-made Leopards were at the centre of a public spat earlier this year after Belgian Defence Minister Ludivine Dedonder said the government had explored buying back tanks to send to Ukraine but had been quoted unreasonable prices.

The clash highlighted a predicament faced by Western governments trying find weapons for Ukraine after more than a year of intense warfare  arms they discarded as obsolete are now in high demand, and often owned by private companies.

Freddy Versluys, CEO of defence company OIP Land Systems, bought the tanks from the Belgian government more than five years ago.

He told Reuters he had now sold all 50 tanks to another European government, which he could not name due to a confidentiality clause. He said he also could not disclose the price.

Germany's Handelsblatt newspaper reported on Tuesday evening that arms maker Rheinmetall had acquired the tanks and would prepare most of them for export to Ukraine.

The company declined to comment.

"The fact that they leave our company proves that we asked for a fair market price and someone was more than happy to take them," Versluys said in a post on LinkedIn, accompanied by a picture of tanks next to a bottle of Ukrainian vodka.

He said the tanks were now being transported to a factory for a substantial overhaul. Some of the tanks would be used for spare parts while others would be repaired, he said. He estimated it could be four to six months before they were on the battlefield in Ukraine.

A defence source told Reuters that the German government was paying for 32 of the Leopard 1 tanks to be restored and sent to Ukraine and that this was part of a support package for Ukraine that Germany announced at the NATO summit in Vilnius in July.

The German Defence Ministry had no immediate comment.

Several of Kyiv's Western allies agreed earlier this year to send modern Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and also to send older Leopard 1 models.

The Leopard 1 was made by German firm Krauss-Maffei, starting in the 1960s. It is lighter than the Leopard 2 and has a different type of main gun. The models sold by Versluys were last upgraded in the 1990s.

A spokesperson for the Belgian defence ministry declined to comment on the sale of the tanks.

(Reporting by Andrew Gray; additional reporting by Christoph Steitz and Sabine Siebold; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Alex Richardson)
MUNCIE, Ind.  A Delaware County man was arrested Monday after authorities found more than two pounds of heroin in a bedroom at his home in Albany.

Kirk Allen Wood, 62, was being held Tuesday in the Delaware County jail under a $130,000 cash bond, preliminarily charged with two counts of dealing in a narcotic drug, a Level 2 felony carrying up to 30 years in prison.

Albany police and Gary Vannatta, Delaware County's chief deputy coroner, were investigating a death at Wood's home, in the 300 block of North Mound Street, when a large amount of narcotics were found there. Members of the Muncie-Delaware County Drug Task Force were then called to the scene.

In an affidavit, Stephen Wright, a corporal with the sheriff's department and an investigator with the task force, said 1,191.6 grams of heroin  about 2.6 pounds  were found in the home.

Jeff Stanley, the sheriff's chief deputy, said Tuesday the street value of the heroin could be $120,000 to $200,000, depending on how the drug was "cut."

Also seized were numerous tablets of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid at times mixed with heroin, that weighed nearly 1,000 grams, or more than two pounds.

Stanley estimated the street value of those pills at $38,000.

Also found were a semi-automatic handgun and a shotgun.

Wright reported Wood was later arrested at an abandoned mobile home park in Albany.

Vannatta said the death in the Mound Street home  of 75-year-old Delmar Claude Holland  remained under investigation, with what was at first believed to be a "cardiac event" now being probed as a possible overdose.

Anyone with information how to reach family members of Holland  believed to be from California and with Colorado plates on his vehicle  is asked to call the Delaware County coroner's office at at 765-747-7724. A voice-mail message can be left if the call is made when the office is not staffed.

Investigators determined Kirk Wood was the target of an arrest warrant issued in San Bernardino County, California, where he faces a weapons-related charge.

Wood declined to discuss the drugs and firearms found in his home, but reportedly acknowledged he was prohibited from possessing guns due to a burglary conviction.

The Albany man  who apparently has no previous convictions in Indiana  was also preliminarily charged Monday with unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon and possession of meth.

Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Death leads to Albany man's arrest, seizure of two pounds of heroin
DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, Calif.  More than 1 million people visit the park along the California-Nevada state line every year, some seeking to experience the scorching landscape.

A thermometer outside the Furnace Creek Visitor Center is one of the parks most popular attractions, where tourists stop to take a photo with the thermometer. Radiant heat from the thermometer display makes it read slightly hotter than the official temperature.

Death Valley National Park Ranger Nichole Andler said human nature drives people to feel the need to experience the heat.

CHILLING IRONY: HOW WORLD HEAT CHAMP DEATH VALLEY OWES NAME, IN PART, TO A SNOWSTORM

"I think because, as human beings, we're curious," Death Valley National Park Ranger Nichole Andler said. "And so people like to experience something that they haven't experienced before, and so we do get folks coming here to experience that extreme heat."

Tourists stop at the Furnace Creek Visitors Center to take pictures in front of the thermometer showing the current extreme record-breaking temperature of 135 degrees Fahrenheit in Death Valley National Park, California Saturday July 10, 2021.

Death Valley National Park claims the hottest recorded temperature on Earth of 134 degrees, a world record that was set in 1913.



Sandra Uckschweret, visiting from Germany, said the heat feels hotter than a hair dryer. Italian tourist Marco Cortella said it's more comparable to sticking your head in a hot oven.

While the heat attracts some, it can be deadly. Cellphone and GPS services are sparse across the 3.4-million-acre park, and visitors are told to stay on paved roads. Two people have died from heat-related illnesses inside the national park during this summer's relentless heat wave.

Map showing location of Death Valley National Park.

A 71-year-old man died inside the park in June as temperatures soared above 120 degrees, according to the National Park Service. In July, a 65-year-old man was found dead in his car without working air conditioning when temperatures reached 126 degrees. Another man was treated for heat-related illness in early July after taking a wrong turn and getting his car stuck in a salt flat.

WHY THE HOTTEST PLACE ON EARTH IS BEING USED TO UNDERSTAND ALIENS

Summer temperatures regularly reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade at Death Valley, and this summer's sweltering heat has been record-breaking across the Southwest.

Still, Death Valley's title as the hottest place on Earth remains.

"So Death Valley National Park claims the world record temperature of 134 degrees in July of 1913," Andler said. "Of course, now we have more sophisticated instruments and have more accurate temperature taking. There may have been some human error, but we hold that one. Thirty-four is still the record, and Death Valley still holds it."
One of two U.S. Navy sailors who have been charged with providing sensitive military information to China in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars went to high school in Wisconsin.

Jinchao Wei, a 22-year-old sailor assigned to the San Diego-based USS Essex, was arrested last week while boarding the ship. Wei is a 2019 graduate of Delavan-Darien High School, according to an online version of the school's yearbook. Delavan is less than an hour drive southwest of Milwaukee in Walworth County.

Wei, who also was known as Patrick, is accused of providing as many as 50 manuals containing technical and mechanical data about Navy ships to a Chinese intelligence officer. He also provided photographs and videos of Navy ships, a federal indictment states.

Wei, who was born in China, met the intelligence officer in February 2022 while he was applying to become a naturalized U.S. citizen, prosecutors said. Wei admitted to the officer that he knew the arrangement could affect his application.

Over the course of a year, Wei continued to send sensitive information to the officer, according to prosecutors.

The Justice Department charged Wei under a rarely used Espionage Act statute that makes it a crime to gather or deliver information to aid a foreign government. Wei entered a plea of not guilty on Thursday. An email to Wei's listed attorney was not immediately answered.

Aviation Boatswains Mate 3rd Class Alysa Sanchez, from Las Cruces, signals to an AV-8B Harrier attached to Marine Attack Squadron 214, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), as it takes off of the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), Jan. 4, 2022.

Prosecutors said Wei made between $10,000 and $15,000 in the past year from the arrangement.

The Justice Department also charged sailor Wenheng Zhao, 26, with conspiring to collect nearly $15,000 in bribes from a Chinese intelligence officer. Zhao was based at Naval Base Ventura County, north of Los Angeles.

U.S. officials declined to specify whether the two men were courted by the same intelligence officer. Zhao is accused of exchanging information, photos and videos of Navy exercises, operations and facilities. He was arrested on Wednesday and plead not guilty Thursday in a courtroom in downtown Los Angeles.

Wei was ordered to remain in custody during a detention hearing Tuesday, according to online court records.

If convicted, Wei could face up to life in federal prison while Zhao could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

Contributing: The Associated Press

Drake Bentley can be reached at DBentley1@gannett.com.

Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Delavan-Darien grad and U.S. Navy sailor accused of spying for China
Petro, 63, came to power vowing to shake up a country long ruled by a conservative elite, and dogged by massive social inequality and decades of armed conflict with armed groups and drug traffickers (Daniel Munoz)

While Colombian farmer Crisanto celebrates finally getting the deed to his land, widow Yaneth believes an increased laxness in security contributed to the murder of her policeman husband.

One year after Gustavo Petro became Colombia's first left-wing president, the country is as polarized as ever, with his successes overshadowed by corruption scandals and persistent insecurity.

Petro, 63, came to power vowing to shake up a country long ruled by a conservative elite, and dogged by massive social inequality and decades of armed conflict with armed groups and drug traffickers.

He launched an ambitious plan to negotiate with a variety of armed groups -- guerrillas, paramilitaries, and criminal gangs -- in his quest for "total peace," signing various ceasefires, some of which later collapsed.

"Petro's arrival created very high expectations, people imagined that everything was going to change and disappointment is deep," said Eugenie Richard, an analyst at the Externado University.

The president's popularity has plummeted to 34 percent, according to a June poll.

Petro's main support came from the marginalized and the youth, drawn to his promises to tackle hunger and inequality, and his grassroots supporters still believe he can transform the country.

- Precious title deeds -

One area where he has made gains is in tackling the country's historic battle with unequal land distribution -- an issue at the heart of the country's six decades of armed conflict. The FARC rebel group was initially formed to fight for land rights and protect poor rural communities.

Over subsequent decades, the conflict drew in paramilitary groups and state forces in what became a many-sided war fueled by drug trafficking.

In Villapinzon, 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Bogota, Crisanto Heredia and Maria Romero -- who farm potatoes and cattle -- battled since 2005 to win formal ownership of the land they briefly lost in fighting between the state and FARC.

At the end of June, the couple finally got their title deed.

"We are very happy to have this document in our hands," said Heredia.

Petro's government says it has already given title deeds for more than one million hectares of land to farmers and Indigenous people, compared to the 1.4 million hectares given out by his conservative predecessor Ivan Duque over his four-year mandate (2018-2022).

The president has also won support from those who were held in prison after protesting Duque's government, and released after he came to power.

"We can't say everything is perfect, but Gustavo has given hope back to the youth," said Laura Ramirez, 25, who was imprisoned for eight months. She now works for the new government.

- 'They have given too much' -

One of the main criticisms faced by Petro is that his efforts to negotiate with armed groups -- which include an order for the army to suspend operations against them -- has in fact allowed criminals to expand into new territories.

"They have given too much to the rebels," said Yaneth Calvo, who is mourning the death of her policeman husband. In March, Ricardo Arley Monroy was stabbed by protesters who took a group of officers hostage while demonstrating against an oil company in the south of the country.

The government says the protesters are being manipulated by dissident FARC rebels, who did not sign a historic peace accord in 2016.

Calvo said her husband "felt that security forces had been abandoned and deprived of the means to defend themselves" since Petro took office.

In the southern region of Meta, governor Juan Guillermo Zuluaga is alarmed at what he sees as the growth of armed groups in regions that had previously been spared.

"We are allies of the government in the search for peace, but 'total peace' without total security, does not exist."

Petro's efforts to reform the country have butted up against a hostile political environment, and he has since lost the political majority he needs to pass reforms, such as an amnesty for gang members who give themselves up, the redistribution of unproductive land, and reforms to labor and pension rules.

The president's first year has also been tainted by scandal, such as claims of the illegal financing of his election campaign.

His son, Nicolas Petro -- who was arrested for money laundering -- admitted to prosecutors that money he received from a drug cartel filtered into his father's campaign, but without the president's knowledge.

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CHICAGO  Minyon Moore, who served as an adviser to President Joe Biden during his nomination of the first Black woman to the Supreme Court, has been named chair of the 2024 Democratic National Convention.

The selection of Moore, a Chicago native and confidante of Hillary Clinton, reflects the significance Biden continues to place on Black women voters in the Democratic Party. Moore is credited with playing a role in helping get Vice President Kamala Harris on Bidens 2020 presidential ticket.

Other members of the convention team are also closely aligned with Biden, the expected Democratic nominee.

Alex Hornbrook, who led the convention selection process, has been named executive director of the convention. Louisa Terrell will serve as a senior adviser to both the convention and the Biden-Harris campaign. Democratic National Committee Deputy Executive Director Roger Lau has been named a senior adviser to the Biden Victory Fund, which is part of an expanded role that includes advising the convention.

In a statement to POLITICO, DNC Chair Jaime Harrison said the convention team brings unmatched experience and expertise to the event.

At the very beginning of the 2024 convention selection process I said that we were looking for a turnkey operation, and I am confident this leadership team will deliver, Harrison said upon the DNC naming Moore to lead the convention.

In a separate statement, Moore said she is thrilled to serve as convention chair in my hometown of Chicago, Ill. I am grateful to the team members who have already been working hard, and know that through their work, and the strong team we continue to build, that this convention will be a success. I cant wait to showcase all that Chicago and the Democratic Party have to offer as we celebrate the renomination of President Biden and Vice President Harris next year.

Chicago beat out Atlanta and New York to host next years Democratic convention Aug. 19-22, 2024.

Moore grew up in Chicago, went to public schools, graduated from University of Illinois at Chicago and went on to work for the National Rainbow Push Coalition, which is based in the city. She got her start in politics working on Rev. Jesse Jacksons presidential campaign before becoming a Democratic power player in Washington, D.C.

Moore would go on to work in former President Bill Clintons White House and on Hillary Clintons presidential campaign. She counts former President Barack Obama as a friend, and she is a former CEO of the Democratic National Committee.

Hornbrook currently serves as the DNCs director of convention planning and before that led the DNCs debate planning. Terrell most recently served as Bidens director of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs. And Lau came to the DNC after working for Sen. Elizabeth Warrens office.
Marion County deputies named the husband of a man they said died following a violent attack as a suspect in his death.

Deputies said Timothy Smith, 59, was found dead inside a Citrus Park home on March 25 after he didnt show up for work. The sheriff described the case as a brutal murder. On Tuesday, deputies announced that his husband, Herbert Swilley, is considered a suspect in Timothys murder. Deputies said Jordan Swilley, Herberts daughter, is considered a person of interest.

Detectives spoke with Mr. Swilley at the earliest stages of the investigation and they have been trying to speak with him again, but his attorney has indicated that he will only cooperate if he is provided with immunity from prosecution for Timothys murder, deputies said in a statement.

Investigators said Jordan also spoke with detectives early on but has failed to cooperate since then.

Read: Deputies are trying to find out whos responsible for this Central Florida mans violent murder

Because neither party will speak with detectives, the sheriffs office is asking anyone in the community who could have information related to the case to come forward.

This could include information regarding Timothys activities in the days and weeks leading up to his death, or information about Timothy and Herberts relationship. If you know anything that might help investigators - even if it seems unimportant - please call us and let us know. It may be the piece of the puzzle we need, deputies said.

Read: Deputies: Man used dead persons credit card for cash advances

If you have any information, you are asked to call Detective Daniel Pinder at 352-368-3508 or the Marion County Sheriffs Office non-emergency number at 352-732-9111. To remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers of Marion County at 352-368-STOP (7867) and reference 23-21 in your tip.

In addition to the $3,000 reward offered by Crime Stoppers of Marion County, an enhanced reward of up to $6,500 is available through the Florida Association of Crime Stoppers, in partnership with the Florida Office of the Attorney General. The additional reward is available through June 30, 2024. To get the reward, the anonymous tip must come through the Crime Stoppers program.

Read: Report: Belleview man caught impersonating U.S. Marshal after running red light

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.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks at a press conference to announce the opening of a monoclonal antibody treatment site for COVID-19 patients at Lakes Church in Lakeland, Florida on August 21, 2021. Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

GOP presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis keeps hiring people to lead his campaign who have no national campaign experience.

His campaign, so far, has been repeatedly hampered by self-inflicted controversies.

Former President Donald Trump currently holds a commanding lead in the polls over the GOP field.

GOP presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis keeps putting rookies in charge as he attempts to take control of his sinking campaign.

When DeSantis launched his presidential campaign in May 2023, he chose trusted ally Generra Peck as his campaign manager. Peck, who managed DeSantis' 2022 gubernatorial re-election bid, had no experience working on a national campaign before being selected to helm his bid for office.

In the three months since DeSantis announced his presidential campaign as a potential frontrunner, Peck has had to guide the campaign through a series of self-inflicted errors, like when the campaign's "war room" Twitter account promoted an anti-LGBT video created by a campaign staffer or when a campaign staffer created a video featuring DeSantis and a pro-Nazi symbol.

The inexperience at the top may have hurt DeSantis' presidential ambitions. According to an average of the most recent major national polls by FiveThirtyEight, DeSantis only brings in an average of 15% support in Republican primary polling, 38.3 percentage points behind former President Donald Trump.

As his campaign continues to circle the drain, it would make sense for DeSantis to replace Peck with someone with ample experience working on presidential campaigns.

But DeSantis didn't do that. Instead, he elevated James Uthmeier, his gubernatorial chief of staff, to become his new campaign manager.

Uthmeier has no campaign management experience at all. But he does have years of experience working with DeSantis in an official capacity. The Messenger reported that Uthmeier had a hand in "nearly every conservative and controversial policy" that's occurred under DeSantis' leadership, including his war on local mask mandates, Florida's decision to reopen schools early after the COVID-19 pandemic, and DeSantis' attempt to redraw Florida' congressional map.

Many of the policies instituted by DeSantis with Uthmeier have been unpopular nationally, and the Florida governor desperately needs to gain as many new supporters as he can around the country.

The DeSantis campaign may be expecting some growing pains from Uthmeier in his new position, as it also named a new deputy campaign manager on Tuesday, David Polyansky, who, unlike Peck and Uthmeier, has ample experience working with presidential campaigns.

But even with Polyansky on his staff, DeSantis is betting the success of his campaign on rookies. And if hiring Uthmeier and Polyansky does lead to some positive movement for DeSantis in the polls, it might be too late for a comeback anyway.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Joel Schleicher, who represents Sarasota and Charlotte counties on the governing board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has re-appointed Sarasota businessman Joel Schleicher and two other individuals to the governing board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District. He also appointed one new board member.

The district sets water management policies for a 10,000-square-mile area that stretches from Charlotte County in the south to Levy County in the north. DeSantis office announced the appointments to the districts board in a news release late last week.

Schleicher is an entrepreneur and the former founder and executive chair of Focal Point Data Risk, LLC, a cybersecurity services firm. For more than 30 years he has run and founded technology companies selling enterprise solutions, according to his SWFWMD profile.

Schleicher represents Sarasota and Charlotte counties on the Governing Board. (Only part of Charlotte County is in the district.) He has served on the board since 2017.

Schleicher has served on the Florida Talent Development Council and was a member of the Business Executives for National Security, according to the governors news release. He earned his bachelors degree in accounting from the University of Minnesota.

Previous coverage: Sarasotas Bobby Jones water quality project funding survives challenge

Other news: Sarasota and Manatee schools face school year under new leadership amid teacher shortage

DeSantis also re-appointed Ashley Bell Barnett, a Winter Haven resident, and Kelly Rice, a Webster resident, to the board. Barnett, who represents Polk County on the board, is a community advocate who serves on the Polk State College District Board of Trustees. Rice, who represents Citrus, Lake, Levy and Sumter counties, has several businesses and formerly served as state director of the Florida Farm Bureau Federation.

DeSantis also appointed one new board member: Nancy Watkins. A Tampa resident, Watkins is an accountant and serves on the Hillsborough Community College District Board of Trustees.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: DeSantis makes picks for west coast water management board. See who.
Weeks into an overhaul of his struggling presidential campaign, Ron DeSantis is turning to a deeply trusted but inexperienced adviser in the Florida governors office to lead a reboot of his political operation.

DeSantis, according to two people familiar with the decision, tapped 35-year-old Chief of Staff James Uthmeier Monday night to manage his presidential campaign. Uthmeier replaces Generra Peck, who had run the campaign since its launch in late May and led DeSantis blowout 2022 reelection bid. Peck will remain on the governors team as chief strategist.

In another move, David Polyansky, a veteran Republican operative who has been advising the pro-DeSantis super PAC Never Back Down, is moving to the campaign as deputy campaign manager.

The appointment of Uthmeier, who played a key role in planning and executing Floridas controversial migrant flight program, is the latest staffing shakeup for DeSantis campaign, which is just a few weeks into a revamp aimed at reversing the governors polling deficit and financial strains. Late last month, the campaign laid off 38 staffers in an effort to cut costs and streamline their operation.

A recent New York Times/Siena College poll found former President Donald Trump leading DeSantis 54% to 17% in the race for the GOP nomination. Even in Iowa, a state that DeSantis and his team see as a must-win, the governor trailed Trump by 24 percentage points.

In a statement, DeSantis Communications Director Andrew Romeo cast the reconfiguration at the top rungs of the campaign as a decision that would put the governor in the best possible position to win this primary and defeat Joe Biden.

He noted that Uthmeier  who has no experience running campaigns  would work hand in hand with Peck in their new roles, while Polyanksys hire would give the campaign a critical leg-up in Iowa, which holds the first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses. Polyansky has deep experience working on presidential operations in Iowa, helping U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz win the caucuses in the 2016 Republican primary.

The staffing moves were first reported on Tuesday by The Messenger.

While Uthmeier has never before run a political campaign, DeSantis hasnt shied away from inexperienced consultants, choosing to work with operatives who have gained his trust.

Prior to leading DeSantis 2024 bid, Peck had never managed a national campaign. She earned the confidence of the governor, however, during his 2022 reelection effort, which saw DeSantis notch a staggering 19-point victory in a state where gubernatorial elections have long been decided by only a few percentage points or less.

As campaign manager, Peck kept a low-key profile, but saw her leadership come under scrutiny last month after DeSantis campaign finance disclosures revealed that his team had burned through roughly $8 million in a matter of weeks and had tapped out many large-dollar donors, who are barred from giving more money due to federal contribution limits.

Part of the problem was the campaigns decision to hire about 90 staffers early on, saddling it with a massive payroll. While the campaign moved shortly after to lay off roughly one-third of its staff, some donors became wary of Peck and her strategic vision.

Some DeSantis allies and donors have called for weeks for Peck to be removed from the campaign manager role, citing early financial struggles, the campaigns bloated staff and early strategic missteps under her leadership. One DeSantis fundraiser expressed confidence in Peck, but said that the campaign needed a change in philosophy after a couple rough months on the trail.

Uthmeier, meanwhile, has proven himself to be one of DeSantis most loyal advisers. He joined the governors office in 2019 as deputy legal counsel before ascending to chief legal counsel and, eventually, chief of staff in 2021, replacing Adrian Lukis, who left to take a job in lobbying.

Uthmeier, a native of the North Florida town of Destin, came to DeSantis from the Trump administration, where he served as a senior adviser and counsel to U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.

Uthmeier played a key role in planning and executing Floridas controversial migrant flight program, working with fellow Destin native Larry Keefe, to coordinate the covert operation relocating migrants from San Antonio to Marthas Vineyard. Although the exercise has been popular among the GOP base, it also led to a criminal investigation and a separate U.S. Treasury Department probe. Uthmeier is also named in a class action lawsuit filed against the governor on behalf of the migrants.

Replacing Uthmeier as DeSantis acting gubernatorial chief of staff is Florida Secretary of Commerce Alex Kelly, who previously served as DeSantis deputy chief of staff, according to Jeremy Redfern, a spokesperson for the governors office.

Uthmeier isnt the first staffer in DeSantis office to move over to the political side of things. The governors former Communications Director Teryn Fenske left his office in June to join Never Back Down, while Stephanie Kopelousos, who served as DeSantis director of legislative and intergovernmental affairs, is now working on the campaign as chief of staff for the governors wife Casey DeSantis, according to a person familiar with the move.

Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau Chief Mary Ellen Klas contributed to this report.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.  Ron DeSantis has replaced his campaign manager, Generra Peck, in what is the third major reshuffling of his operations, a campaign spokesperson and a person familiar with the move confirmed to POLITICO.

Peck will be shifted to a role of chief strategist as part of the new order. Taking her place atop the campaign will be James Uthmeier, who has served as chief of staff in DeSantis governors office. In a text message, Uthmeier said the change was happening ASAP.

The move comes just weeks after the DeSantis campaign and close advisers insisted that Pecks job was secure, even after the team shed a third of its staffers amid a budget crunch and concern about the direction of the operation.

The governors team pledged to scale back, build an insurgent operation, and do more mainstream media outreach. Theyve done all that. But the results have yet to be reflected in the polls.

One person close to the campaign, who was granted anonymity to freely discuss the issue, said that Pecks removal, which was first reported by The Messenger, was no surprise. Should have happened a few weeks ago.

DeSantis campaign spokesperson, Andrew Romeo, also confirmed the staff moves in a statement, saying that Uthmeier has been one of Governor DeSantis' top advisors for years and he is needed where it matters most: working hand in hand with Generra Peck and the rest of the team to put the governor in the best possible position to win this primary and defeat Joe Biden.

He added that David Polyansky, who worked with Never Back Down, the super PAC supporting DeSantis, will also move to the campaign.

One person familiar with the shake-up said that Uthmeier, who had conducted a review of campaign operations before the switch, has the trust of DeSantis and his wife, Casey, and is also well-regarded by campaign staff. This person, who was not authorized to speak about the matter, said there was managerial angst with Peck who had lost [the] confidence of the campaign team.

The person also described Uthmeiers role as CEO of the campaign but who will rely on Polyansky  and Marc Reichelderfer, a veteran political consultant from Tallahassee  as senior vice presidents with national campaign experience. Ryan Tyson, a well-regarded pollster, is also expected to have an elevated role in the campaign.

Uthmeier has served as DeSantis' chief of staff since October 2021 and worked as the governors general counsel before he became his top aide. He has been involved in some of the governors most high profile initiatives, including the controversial program to transport migrants from Texas to Marthas Vineyard last year.

Uthmeier also worked as a senior adviser to former Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross but his background is primarily in legal work and not in running political campaigns.



Uthmeier is taking an unpaid leave of absence from the administration to work on the campaign and is not resigning permanently from his job as chief of staff, according to the governors office. Alex Kelly, a former top deputy to DeSantis who was recently appointed to be the secretary of the Department of Commerce, will step in as acting chief of staff while Uthmeier works with the campaign, which operates out of an office building in Tallahassee.

This is not the first time that DeSantis  whose inner circle is very tight  has leaned into people who worked for him in the governors office to help with his presidential aspirations.

In early July, Stephanie Kopelousos, the governors long-time legislative affairs director, left to work for the DeSantis campaign while Taryn Fenske, the governors communications director, departed to work for Never Back Down, the super PAC supporting DeSantis.

It was Peck who tried to reassure donors and supporters during a retreat held late last month in Utah. During the event, she acknowledged that the campaign had spent too much money ramping up its operation and that the campaign would turn to a leaner insurgent posture.

Since that time, DeSantis has been relying on smaller campaign events  some of which are being done in concert with Never Back Down  while also sitting down for interviews with mainstream media outlets. This week, for example, DeSantis did an interview with NBC News just months after a top spokesperson in office said they were boycotting the network.



Nikki Fried, the chair of the Florida Democratic Party, said in a statement that allowing Uthmeier to take a leave of absence is a blatant middle finger to the people of Florida  whos actually going to run the state while hes gone? Its certainly not Ron.

Fried had previously filed ethics complaints against Uthmeier and Kopelousos for allegedly soliciting donations from lobbyists and lawmakers for DeSantis presidential campaign.

Despite polls showing him trailing former President Donald Trump, DeSantis has vowed to plow ahead in the early states such as Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

While brushing aside some of his poll numbers, DeSantis told NBC News this week that I would much rather be underestimated when asked about some of the problems with his campaign so far.
GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantis said that he would not support punishments for women who violate abortion bans.

Not at all, DeSantis responded when NBCs Dasha Burns asked whether he supported punishments for those who violate an abortion ban. No, I dont think this is an issue about the woman. I think a lot of these women, you know, are in very difficult circumstances. They dont get any support from a lot of the fathers.

DeSantis and his wife, Casey DeSantis, sat down with Burns in a new NBC interview that aired Monday. The Florida governor  who signed a six-week abortion ban in the state earlier this year  said that many women get abortions because they do not have adequate support, noting that Florida has support in place for women.

And a lot of them, the number one reason why women choose to have an abortion is because theyre not getting support and they feel abandoned, he continued. Now, in Florida weve provided support and weve put our money where our mouth is, but at the end of the day, you know, I would not support any penalties on a woman.

Burns also asked whether DeSantis would veto a federal bill that would place a nationwide abortion ban in place.

We will be a pro-life president and we will support pro-life policies, he responded.

DeSantis, along with other GOP presidential candidates, has been hesitant to support an abortion ban on the national level. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and former Vice President Mike Pence have each come out in support of a 15-week abortion ban, but other candidates, including former President Trump, have yet to do so.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantis suggested Monday that former President Trumps legal woes may hinder Republicans chances in the next presidential election, saying the party will lose the general race if it becomes a referendum on Jan. 6, 2021 and classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago.

If the election is a referendum on Joe Bidens policies and the failures that weve seen and we are presenting a positive vision for the future, we will win the presidency and we will have a chance to turn the country around, DeSantis said in a NBC News interview that aired Monday.

If, on the other hand, the election is not about Jan. 20, 2025, but Jan. 6, 2021, or what document was left by the toilet at Mar-a-Lago, if its a referendum on that, we are going to lose, he added.

The Florida governor also dismissed Trumps 2020 election claims during the interview, saying of course Trump lost.

Whoever puts their hand on the Bible on Jan. 20 every four years is the winner, he said.

Trump has been indicted twice in connection with two separate federal investigations spearheaded by Special Counsel Jack Smith, who is investigating the former presidents alleged mishandling of classified documents and his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

DeSantis is not the only GOP presidential candidate warning that Trumps legal challenges are serving as a distraction in the Republican primary.

In a statement after Trump was indicted for charges relating to efforts to overturn the 2020 election, former Vice President Mike Pence said Trumps campaign meant less attention paid to Joe Bidens disastrous economic policies afflicting millions across the United States and to the pattern of corruption with Hunter.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The solution to the homelessness crisis in Sacramento and other California cities will not be found through law enforcement; the law is clear that a city cannot make it a crime or a public nuisance for people to sleep in public unless there are adequate humane alternatives. Thats why Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho is plainly wrong in his threat to investigate city officials for failing to enforce state public nuisance laws and allowing homeless encampments within the city limits.

No one disputes that homelessness is a serious problem in every major city in California. There are many causes of the problem, but especially a statewide shortage of affordable housing. No easy solutions exist, and every city is struggling with finding ways of providing shelter for their unhoused.

Opinion

What is clear is that cities cannot make it a crime or a public nuisance for people to be homeless when there is not adequate shelter space.

In Martin v. City of Boise, in 2018, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that the Eighth Amendment, which outlaws cruel and unusual punishment, prohibits the imposition of criminal penalties for sitting, sleeping or lying outside on public property for homeless individuals who cannot obtain shelter.

Just last month, the Ninth Circuit reaffirmed this in Johnson v. City of Grants Pass. The court declared an Oregon citys ordinance was unconstitutional when it stated that no person may sleep on public sidewalks, streets or alleyways at any time as a matter of individual and public safety.

The citys ordinance also precluded homeless persons from using a blanket, a pillow or a cardboard box for protection from the elements while sleeping within the citys limits. The Ninth Circuit also declared this unconstitutional because the government cannot punish people  criminally or civilly  for being unhoused.

These decisions are correct; every human being must sleep. It is cruel and unusual punishment to punish people for conduct where they have no alternative. If there are not adequate shelter beds  which there arent in California  then people have no choice but to sleep on public sidewalks and in parks, and they need blankets and cardboard for warmth.

Given this context, District Attorney Hos threats against Sacramento city officials are unfounded and misguided.

In a letter to members of the Sacramento City Council, Ho rightly declared that (b)eing unhoused is not a crime and we should not seek to criminalize homelessness. But then he makes clear that is exactly what he wants to do.

However, my office has a duty to prosecute offenses in violation of Californias criminal statutes, he wrote. In fact, the Sacramento District Attorneys Office has entire units dedicated to prosecuting misdemeanor and felony cases. The responsibility to enforce and prosecute Sacramento City Ordinances and Code violations rests squarely upon the City of Sacramento and the City Attorneys Office.

Ho goes even further in his suggestion that he is investigating Sacramento city officials for their failure to take action against the unhoused. The DA is seriously overstepping his authority here. His role is to prosecute crimes; it is just wrong to suggest that city officials might have committed a crime by not enforcing laws, let alone criminal laws that they cannot constitutionally enforce against the unhoused.

Sacramento City Attorney Susana Alcala Wood has publicly responded to Ho and pointed out that his letter misinterprets federal court decisions and that he wrongly asserts that California law imposes on government agencies an affirmative obligation to eliminate public nuisances on their property.

The solution to the problem of homelessness is not going to emerge from this unnecessary dispute among government officials or from actions of the DAs office. Being homeless cannot be made a crime or a public nuisance.

The answer, as difficult as it is to find, must come through building more shelters and providing more services.

It is possible that the dispute between the DA and the city attorney could go to court if Ho decides to initiate an action against city officials. Such a suit would be frivolous and likely to be quickly thrown out of court. If Ho decides to initiate prosecutions against the unhoused, these will fail based on the Ninth Circuits decisions. Indeed, there almost certainly would be a suit in federal court to enjoin Ho, which will make it back to the court of appeals in a year or two.

That will provide the Ninth Circuit with another chance to reaffirm a basic principle of law and human decency: The government cannot make it a crime for a person to sleep in public if there is nowhere else for them to sleep.

Erwin Chemerinsky is the dean and a professor at the UC Berkeley School of Law.
A newly released law enforcement report includes some new details about what happened on the night that Miami-Dade Countys police director wounded himself with a gunshot on a highway outside Tampa.

Alfredo Freddy Ramirez, a Democratic candidate for sheriff, shot himself in the head the night of July 23rd while on a drive home from Tampa with his wife, Jody. The self-inflicted wound followed a traumatic evening that saw Tampa police called to the couples hotel room after a report that he had pulled out his gun during an argument with her outdoors.

READ MORE: Miami-Dade police director denies pulling out gun in Tampa, says wife saved his life

The couple released a joint statement Sunday calling the claim false that Ramirez unholstered his gun outside the hotel and described him being briefly cuffed by Tampa police profoundly disturbing. Both of them were still distraught when Ramirez injured himself, the statement said, and Jody Ramirez grabbed her husbands arm in time to prevent the gunshot from being fatal.

In a lightly redacted report filed that night and obtained as part of a records request by the Miami Herald, a Florida Highway Patrol trooper included several details about the incident that havent been previously released or confirmed. Those include:

 Ramirez appeared to fire his gun while still in his vehicle, a county police SUV that was found on the side of I-75 with its emergency lights flashing. The trooper wrote that he found the drivers side window had a bullet hole that appeared caused by someone firing from inside the vehicle. There was also blood inside. Freddy Ramirez had already been sent to a Tampa hospital when the trooper arrived, but Jody Ramirez remained on the scene.

 In addition to arguing outside the Tampa hotel where they were attending a Florida Sheriffs Association convention, the Ramirezes had a disagreement while driving back to Miami. The troopers report said Jody Ramirez told a Hillsborough County sheriffs deputy that they were involved in a dispute while driving from the conference leading up to Mr. Ramirez attempting to take his life.

 Mental health has been a theme when public officials, including Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, addressed the Ramirez shooting in public. While it was all but confirmed by the Ramirezes Sunday statement, the FHP report appears to be the first official record to describe his gunshot wound as a suicide attempt.
Porcha Woodruff poses on Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, in Oak Park, Mich. Woodruff, who was falsely arrested when she was eight months pregnant and accused of a carjacking, is suing the city of Detroit and one of its police officers due to what she says is an overreliance on facial recognition technology. | Carlos Osorio, Associated Press

Porcha Woodruff was eight months pregnant when six cops showed up at her home in February, told her she had been identified as a suspect in a carjacking incident and arrested her in front of her children.

Woodruff, a 32-year-old Black woman, thought it was some kind of a joke and, per a report from The New York Times, pointed to her stomach and asked police, Are you kidding me?

Turns out it was no joke and Woodruff was held for 11 hours before posting a $100,000 personal bond and being released but not until after she was charged with robbery and carjacking.

Police zeroed in on Woodruff after they used an artificial intelligence-driven software program that matched an image of a woman captured in surveillance video footage, believed to be a suspect in the incident, to a picture contained in a law enforcement database. An eight-year-old photo of Woodruff was in a file of police mugshots following an arrest for driving without a license. The carjacking victim then picked Woodruff out of a group of six photographs and that led to her arrest. But, even though police had access to a more recent photograph of Woodruff, one taken for her Michigan drivers license, they failed to perform a double-check, according to the Times.

Police eventually recognized their mistake and the case against Woodruff was dismissed, but now she is suing the city of Detroit and says she and her family continue to suffer from the impacts of the mistaken identity and arrest.

My two children had to witness their mother being arrested, Woodruff told The Associated Press. They stood there crying as I was brought away.

The lawsuit says that Woodruff has suffered, among other things, past and future emotional distress because of the arrest, per AP. Woodruff said her pregnancy already had multiple complications that she worried the stress surrounding the arrest would further exacerbate.

I could have lost my child, Woodruff told the AP in a phone interview.

The ACLU of Michigan is also pursuing litigation related to false identifications made by police using AI software tools. Woodruffs arrest represents the third known allegation of a wrongful arrest by Detroit police based on the technology, according to the ACLU and, in each case, the victims of those mistaken identifications were Black.

Its deeply concerning that the Detroit Police Department knows the devastating consequences of using flawed facial recognition technology as the basis for someones arrest and continues to rely on it anyway, said Phil Mayor, senior staff attorney at ACLU of Michigan, in a statement.

Mayor represents Robert Williams, a Detroit man who was arrested in January 2020 for shoplifting based on a faulty facial recognition match, for which the prosecutors office later apologized, according to The New York Times.

Shoddy technology makes shoddy investigations, and police assurances that they will conduct serious investigations do not ring true, Mayor told the Times.

A slew of independent analyses have uncovered racial biases in the models used to train artificial intelligence facial recognition software including a study published last fall by Georgia State University researchers that found significant racial disparities when it came to arrests that used facial recognition software as a basis for establishing probable cause. Their conclusions included a call for heightened human involvement and oversight when it comes to law enforcements use of AI-driven software in criminal investigations.

Results suggest a need for civic leaders to scrutinize the relative contributions of structural factors, agency policies and government directives to officer decision-making before widely deploying (facial recognition technology) in jurisdictions, researchers wrote. For agencies currently using this technology, it would imply the need for policies and supervision that guide, and in some cases restrict, officer discretion in (facial recognition technology)-assisted contexts.
A 26-year-old man has died 20 minutes after undergoing a medical examination at a military office to ascertain his fitness for military service, activist Pavlo Polamarchuk wrote on Facebook on Aug. 4.

Borys Hlushak, a resident of the village of Shyriaieve in Odesa Oblast, reportedly had a disability since childhood. However, military officers still handed Hlushak a mobilization summons and took him for a medical examination.

He worked at the local market, earning a penny for a living. Hlushak was served with a summons, but immediately, as local residents write, he was examined in 20 minutes. Having, of course, found him fit for military service (since he didnt have $5,000-8,000), they packed him and sent for enrolment.

The specialized prosecutors office in Odesa is already investigating the circumstances of Hlushaks mobilization and medical assistance.

Read also: Mariupol defender, Azov commander Oleh Mudrak, starved while in Russian captivity, dies of heart failure

Criminal proceedings have also been initiated to investigate the possible negligence of personnel of the Berezivka territorial recruitment, and the social support center of Odesa Oblast, the specialized prosecutors office stated.

The head of the Shyriaieve Central District Hospital, Valeriy Ben, told Ukrainian television service TSN.ua that he had a report from the military medical commissions leadership regarding Hlushak.

I have an explanatory note from the head of our military medical commission, he said.

Borys Hlushak wasnt registered with a psychiatrist, narcologist, or neurologist. He didnt seek medical help for schizophrenia, epilepsy, or mental disorders. He hasnt sought medical help at all for the past five years. And he had no complaints at the time when he passed the medical commission.

Ben added the medical death certificate he had been provided stated that Hlushaks death was caused by cerebral edema (swelling of the brain  ed).

Read also: American Iraq veteran dies in Bakhmut

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A former high-ranking FBI official is expected to plead guilty next week in Manhattan federal court for his alleged ties to a Russian oligarch.

Charles McGonigal, 54, the former head of the FBI's counterintelligence division at the agency's New York field office, will appear at a "plea proceeding" on 5 August, according to court records.

He is one of the highest-ranking FBI officials to ever face criminal charges, according to ABC News.

Mr McGonigal retired from the FBI in 2018. He initially pleaded not guilty to four charges brought against him.

"The Court has been informed that Defendant Charles McGonigal may wish to enter a change of plea," a judge's order said.

The former federal agent was charged with violating US sanctions after he allegedly tried to get Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska off of the sanctions list.

He has also been accused of investigating a rival Russian oligarch in exchange for payment by Mr Deripaska. Investigators believe Mr McGonigal accepted payments through shell companies and forged signatures in order to obfuscate the fact that Mr Deripaska was paying him.

"The FBI is committed to the enforcement of economic sanctions designed to protect the United States and our allies, especially against hostile activities of a foreign government and its actors," FBI Assistant Director in Charge Michael Driscoll said in a statement at the time of Mr McGonigal's arrest. "Russian oligarchs like Oleg Deripaska perform global malign influence on behalf of the Kremlin and are associated with acts of bribery, extortion, and violence."

Charles McGonigal was arrested in January on charges of money laundering and conspiring to commit money laundering, among other charges. (Executive Mosaic/Potamic Officers Club)

Each of the four counts Mr McGonigal was charged with carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. It is unclear what sentence he will receive in exchange for a guilty plea, should he make one.

Mr McGonigal was arrested in late January after he returned from traveling to Sri Lanka. A judge released him on a $500,000 personal recognisance bond with restrictions on his travel.

He was also prohibited from contacting anyone else associated with his case.

Mr McGonigal is also facing charges in a separate case in Washington DC. He is accused of concealing $225,000 he allegedly received from a former Albanian intelligence agent.

His attorney said those charges are likely to be resolved without going to trial.
A pair of divers who volunteer their time to search underwater for missing people came across several dozen cars submerged in a Florida lake  and believe they could be connected to cold cases.

Doug Bishop and Ken Flemings latest research led them to a lake in Doral, Florida, near the Miami International Airport when they stumbled upon the vehicles.

Were here trying to solve missing persons cold cases, Mr Fleming told local 7News. When we discover a spot like this, with multiple vehicles, it pretty much indicates that a crime [has been committed], where theyre disposing the vehicles and hiding them from law enforcement.

Video shows one of the divers inspecting a vehicle deep in the lakes murky waters. The sleuths use sonar technology to search bodies of water across the state, aiming to crack cases. Bishop is with the United Search Corps, a non-profit that searches and advocates for the missing and families of the missing.

We have a giant database of our own that we extract, where we go, This person is missing with their vehicle in this general region of South Florida, said Mr Fleming, and so, we have 40 that were targeting right now of folks that disappeared, anywhere from two or three months ago to 30, 40 years ago.

Mr Fleming said that they believe the vehicles were dumped in this lake during various criminal activities.

We have a case where someone drove from Pinellas County down to pick up their relatives at the airport, and then they disappeared, said Mr Fleming, so, in this spot, were near the airport, its a large body of water, it has easy access to get into, so we would target that as a potential foul play spot.

Police in Doral and Miami-Dade County were alerted of their findings and both the divers and the authorities have been working together to remove all 32 vehicles. The divers said they would give any information they have in order to help solve any cold cases.

In a press briefing held this week, MDPD Spokesperson Alvaro Zabaleta said theres a chance the vehicles could be linked to a crime like fraud or homicide. But as of Tuesday, there is no indication that they are connected to any murders.

He confirmed that the first vehicle they recovered was confirmed to be stolen.

These are most likely the type of vehicles were going to find in this lake, Mr Zabaleta said. Vehicles that perhaps have been abandoned and they wanted to get rid of them, and they got rid of them here, or those that took them for a joy ride, they were stolen and then they were dumped inside the lake.

Mr Zabaleta said the vehicles pulled from the lake were covered in vegetation growing on them and that many seemed very old, but assured that investigators could still run VINs to see if the cars are connected to any active cases.

[The] majority of the vehicles in there are very old vehicles, just like the one we just saw, leading us to believe that these vehicles were dumped in this lake probably way before these warehouses were even here, Mr Zabaleta said.

Meanwhile, Mr Bishop and Mr Fleming said they will remain at the scene to help police and continue their mission of searching for missing people.

The divers told 7News that they have found 60 submerged vehicles to date across the state of Florida that are possibly linked to crimes. They said they do it for the families.

Its about providing answers for families where they dont have them, said Mr Bishop.

Departments, respectfully, have to justify their use of resources, and when a case goes cold, we have the ability to step in. We dont have to justify our use of resources, and we can help eliminate the drag on personnel locally. We can do this, we specialise in it, we can do it on a high level and do so as volunteers.
The Supreme Court voted 5-4 on Tuesday to allow the Biden administrations regulations on so-called ghost guns to go into effect.

The ruling is a temporary victory for the administration, but a lawsuit challenging the regulations will continue in the lower courts.

Two conservative justices  Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett  joined with the courts three liberals to allow the government to begin enforcing the regulations that were celebrated by groups pushing for tighter gun laws. Four other conservative justices dissented.

At issue are kits used to make homemade firearms, which are commonly called ghost guns because they dont have serial numbers that make them traceable. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives rolled out regulations on these kits last year that required them to have serial numbers and ordered sellers to keep transaction records and run background checks on buyers.

A company that sells gun parts and pro-Second Amendment groups sued to overturn the rule. They argued that ATF overstepped its authority by broadening the definition of a firearm in the rule. Judge Reed OConnor, a conservative in the Northern District of Texas, blocked the rule from taking effect nationwide last month. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals left OConnors ruling in place.

The Biden administration then filed an emergency appeal at the Supreme Court, urging the court to reinstate the rule. Lawyers for the government argued that unassembled ghost guns should be treated like guns that come fully assembled.

Every speaker of English would recognize that a tax on sales of bookshelves applies to IKEA when it sells boxes of parts and the tools and instructions for assembling them into bookshelves, Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar wrote in the governments emergency appeal. The courts insistence on treating guns differently contradicts ordinary usage and makes a mockery of Congresss careful regulatory scheme.

Attorneys for the challengers countered that, since the gun kits dont always come with all the parts necessary to make guns, the IKEA analogy doesnt work.

A better analogy would be to a taco kit sold as a bundle by a grocery store that includes taco shells, seasoning packets, salsa, and other toppings, along with a slab of raw beef, they argued. No one would call the taco kit a taco. In addition to assembly, turning it into one would require cutting or grinding and cooking the meat  and until that was done, it would be nonsensical to treat it as food and the equivalent of a taco.

On Tuesday, the court sided with the government, at least for now. The case now returns to the lower courts, where the challengers may continue to press their arguments that the rule is illegal.

Joining Roberts and Barrett in the majority were Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh dissented. As is common with orders on the courts so-called shadow docket, neither the majority nor the dissenters explained their reasoning.

Supporters of stricter gun laws praised the ATF rule when it was rolled out last year. This final rule would shutter many of the ghost gun companies that flooded the market with untraceable ghost guns intentionally designed to evade regulation, said an Everytown for Gun Safety fact sheet.

ATF received more than 45,000 reports from 2016 to 2021 of suspected ghost guns recovered by law enforcement officials, including almost 700 in homicide or attempted homicide investigations, according to a DOJ statement. Ghost guns are difficult to trace and easy to acquire by criminals, that statement added.


On Aug. 14, Dolly Parton is coming to Kansas to celebrate the statewide success of her Imagination Library program.

Dollys Imagination Library is an example of how music, art, and culture can intersect with social change. Through her deep commitment to education and literacy, Dolly has shown that celebrities can be powerful catalysts for positive transformation.

Founded in 1995 by Dolly Parton herself, the Imagination Library is a unique book-gifting program that provides free books to children from birth to 5 years old with the mission of fostering a lifelong passion for reading.

The program runs in all 50 U.S. states, including Kansas, and has gifted more than 200 million free books across the globe.

The Imagination Library has had a significant positive impact on childhood development and literacy skills for Kansas children.

Research has consistently shown that early exposure to books, and reading, positively influences a childs cognitive development, language skills, and emotional well-being.

Children who have participated in the program have demonstrated better preparedness for school, stronger reading and math skills, improved vocabulary, and increased levels of reading comprehension.

Some studies have indicated that children who participated in the Imagination Library program are more likely to perform better academically throughout their school years. Improved early literacy skills have been associated with higher achievement levels in later grades.

The Imagination Library has also become a significant force in leveling the playing field for young readers.

By delivering carefully selected books tailored to each childs age and interests, Dollys library has equalized access to education for children irrespective of their socio-economic backgrounds.

The Imagination Library ensures that every child, regardless of their familys status, has access to books from an early age.

By providing free books directly to childrens homes, the library ensures that even those in underserved and disadvantaged communities have access to quality literature. This reduces educational disparities and helps bridge the gap between different social and economic groups, promoting inclusivity and equal opportunities for all children.

But, while Dollys Imagination Library provides an incredibly important service for children, and certainly earns the praise it receives, it is also indicative of a concerning societal shift towards the outsourcing of public services.

Rather than coming together in collective action and making demands on government, such as increasing funding to local libraries, citizens are relying on private entities to provide public goods  like sending free books through the mail.

When public services are outsourced to private entities, citizens may feel less connected to the provision of those services. They might also perceive their role in contributing to the common good as diminished.

Research on civic engagement suggests that this leads to a reduced sense of civic duty, which results in a less engaged, informed, and active citizenry.

Civic duty refers to the responsibility and obligation citizens feel to actively engage in the democratic process and contribute to the well-being of their communities.

When citizens experience a weakening of this sense of duty, it can lead to reduced levels of participation in several ways: a decline in political engagement, decreased interest in public affairs, and lower levels of volunteering and community involvement, just to name a few.

Citizen involvement is essential for a robust and thriving society.

Historically, such involvement has pressured government to create comprehensive and equitable social safety nets that address the broad spectrum of societal needs.

Charitable organizations like the Imagination Library can complement and enhance government efforts, but a collaborative approach between the public and private sectors is most effective in achieving lasting social change.

So, while charitable organizations like Dolly Partons Imagination Library provide an important service to young children, they should not be viewed as a replacement for government-provided public goods.

Alexandra Middlewood is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Wichita State University.
A Macys worker is recovering after witnesses said he was slashed inside the department store while confronting a group of unruly kids.

The attack happened Monday in the Macys at 450 Washington St. in Downtown Crossing. Two juveniles were arrested at the scene, according to Boston Police.

The employee, later identified by a co-worker, could be seen outside the store talking to police with blood and a bandage on his left hand. A frustrated Macys employee later said theyve been dealing for years with groups of children acting out and causing chaos inside the store.

At Macys, the safety of our customers and colleagues is our top priority. We are working closely with the local police department and defer all comments about the case to them, per policy, a Macys spokesperson said.

While gathering information at the scene, a group of teens confronted a Boston 25 photographer. A nearby police officer could be heard telling the group, I told you guys Im not going to play this game with you all tonight. This is the second time weve gotten a call for you guys with knives.

There have been several recent reports of violence in Downtown Crossing, including many cases involving teens. Two 13-year-olds were accused of attacking people and vandalizing businesses in May 2022. In February, police said five adults were hurt in attacks involving suspects between 11 and 16 years old, and a man died after being punched near an ATM on Winter St. on St. Patricks Day.

Kaissa Oulhadj is a Macys shopper and witnessed the aftermath Monday.

I saw a lot of people gathering around. The police officer came running and he was talking to some kids, there were about five or six of them, Oulhadj said. I would feel really scared if I were [the injured employee] because at your workplace you want to feel safe. You want to know that theres someone to take care of you while youre doing your job, your duty, and its really sad.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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One person was killed Monday when a car ran off a major highway in Richland County and crashed into a tree, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

The single-vehicle collision happened just as the evening commute was beginning at about 4:45 p.m., said Lance Cpl. Nick Pye.

A 2013 Toyota sedan was driving north on Interstate 77 when it ran off the highway near the 26 mile marker, according to Pye. Thats in the Blythewood area, not far from Exit 24 on I-77, which is the junction with U.S. 21/Wilson Boulevard.

The car went off the right side of I-77, crashed into a tree and the driver died, Pye said.

The Richland County Coroners Office has not publicly identified the driver.

There was no word if the driver was wearing a seat belt.

No other injuries were reported.

Information about what caused the car to veer off I-77 was not available, but the crash continues to be investigated by the Highway Patrol.

One northbound lane on I-77 was temporarily closed and the scene wasnt cleared for about 2 hours, according to the South Carolina Department of Transportation.

Through Sunday, 599 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 37 people have died in Richland County crashes in 2023, according to DPS data. Last year, 67 deaths were reported in the county, DPS reported.
A Duquesne man who has been considered a most wanted fugitive for the last two years has been arrested in Ohio.

According to the Allegheny County Sheriffs Office, Jordan Lattimer, 23, has been wanted since September 2021.

Lattimer was wanted on multiple bench warrants on more than a dozen charges, including several counts of aggravated assault.

In July, detectives learned Lattimer was staying in Columbus, Ohio.

Detectives reached out to Columbus police last week, and officers took him into custody on Aug. 1.

Lattimer is in jail in Ohio and is awaiting extradition back to Allegheny County.

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In a phone call with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Aug. 8, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the Netherlands is "looking into what else we can do to strengthen Ukrainian air defenses" to protect civilians from Russian attacks.

Rutte said that one way his country was already providing assistance was by working with partners to train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16s.

During a previous phone call with Rutte on July 8, Zelensky said that he had confirmed the dates when Ukrainian pilots would begin their training, though the date itself was not disclosed.

On Aug. 5, Politico reported that the first group of eight Ukrainian pilots fluent in English that will participate in F-16 training has been identified. Twenty more pilots with minimal English skills are available to start language instruction in the U.K. within the month, according to the report.

Rutte said on Aug. 8 that he condemned the "unrelenting, random and brutal" Russian attacks which target Ukrainian civilians and food stocks, and underscored his country's continued support for Ukraine.

Zelensky, meanwhile, wrote that he spoke with Rutte about the situation on the battlefield and outlined the current defense needs, including artillery, armored vehicles, and air defense systems to protect the infrastructure of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

Rutte also congratulated Zelensky on"the successful meeting in Saudi Arabia," which representatives from the Netherlands attended. Rutte added that it is "important to continue talking about peace in Ukraine with this broad group of countries."

Zelensky said that the two leaders "exchanged positive assessments" of the meeting in Saudi Arabia and discussed the next steps in preparing for the Global Peace Summit.

The talks in Jeddah, which were hosted by Saudi Arabia upon the invitation of Zelensky, gathered diplomats and national security advisors from over 40 countries around the world.

The countries, which did not include Russia, met to voice their position and vision on the implementation of Ukraine's peace formula, a 10-point peace plan Zelensky announced in November 2022 at the G20 summit.

Read also: Investigative Stories from Ukraine: Russia hits Ukraine with missiles that once belonged to Ukraine

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US DJ and producer Grandmaster Flash performs during the 50 years of Hip-Hop Grandmaster Flash and friends "Birth of a Culture: The Four Elements Block Party" at Capital One City Parks Foundation Summer Stage on August 4, 2023 in New York (ANGELA WEISS)

From the disco samples of old school hip hop to the deadpan delivery of today's drill, American hip hop has morphed in every direction over its 50-year history, defying categorization.

Still, patterns have emerged: what follows is a run-down of some of hip hop's prominent phases.

- Old school -

What's now broadly referred to as old school hip hop is the genre's earliest commercially recorded music, and typically refers to songs put out from approximately 1979 to 1983.

The Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight" became the first commercially successful hip hop song after it was released on September 16, 1979. It's preserved in the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry.

"The Message" from Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, released in 1982, brought a socially conscious element to the genre, delivering a raw portrait of urban life and the stresses of poverty.

Other prominent artists of the moment included Afrika Bambaataa, DJ Kool Herc, Melle Mel and Grandmaster Caz.

- East Coast -

New York and the East coast were pivotal to the development of hip hop throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, the "golden age."

Run-DMC was among the most influential acts of the era, achieving a smattering of notable firsts for the genre.

They, the Beastie Boys and Public Enemy offered harder renditions of hip hop than their disco-tinged predecessors, with the latter rising to prominence for their political themes including racism and Black power.

More complex wordplay with swift delivery and elaborate metaphors were emblematic of the age, with acts including Eric B. & Rakim, LL Cool J, Nas, Big Daddy Kane and The Notorious B.I.G. gaining wide acclaim.

De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest were meanwhile pioneering "alternative hip hop," bringing in jazz and R&B elements.

Salt-N-Pepa, Foxy Brown and Lauryn Hill broke barriers for women, with Hill in particular popularizing melodic rapping.

The Notorious B.I.G. -- or "Biggie" -- with the backing of Puff Daddy's "Bad Boy Records" became the East Coast's king following the release of his landmark debut album "Ready to Die" in 1994, up until his shock murder in 1997.

And the Wu-Tang Clan also popularized East Coast styles emphasizing hard edges and strong beats.

- West Coast -

The sounds emerging from California were fast and influenced by electronica, centering more on DJs than raps.

Ice-T pioneered West Coast and gangsta rap in the late 1980s, while N.W.A went platinum with its album "Straight Outta Compton" in 1988.

Dogged by controversy and censorship over profane lyrics -- which many alleged were misogynist while also glorifying drug use and crime -- N.W.A. made waves for laying bare experiences of endemic racism and excessive policing.

The group's dissolution saw members including Dr. Dre and Ice Cube gain solo acclaim.

And Tupac Shakur also proferred messages of injustice as he became among the greatest rappers of all time prior to his 1996 murder, which came just months before Biggie's.

Dr. Dre's "The Chronic" charted new paths for rap as a seminal record of the era.

It also introduced one of his most famous proteges, the then-budding rapper today known as Snoop Dogg, whose laid-back, windows-down lyrical delivery came to epitomize G-Funk, and whose debut album "Doggystyle" was a Dre production.

Dre also shaped another household name: Eminem.

"He's a creator who has moved popular culture three times... with gangsta rap, G-funk and Eminem," said industry magnate Jimmy Iovine of Dre.

- Bling and Prog -

Biggie's commercial fame paved the way for other East Coast stars, including Jay-Z, DMX, Busta Rhymes and 50 Cent, with the turn-of-the-millennium bling era.

Jay-Z's "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" was a major hit years before he would become one of hip hop's billionaires and an industry magnate.

His work also brought producers including Kanye West to the fore.

In his early career, West gained near-universal acclaim, not least for his integration of house, electronica and soul into creatively risky productions.

And Nicki Minaj was praised for her chameleon talents and blistering flow, while Drake brought in R&B sensibilities and churned out hit after hit.

Kendrick Lamar became one of contemporary music's most impactful writers, with his verses offering insight both personal and systemic, all set to jazz-heavy instrumentals.

Lamar along with West and Common all became torch-beareres of the broadly defined progressive rap, defined by a focus on social ills and change.

Hip hop was also burgeoning across the South, with artists including 2 Live Crew, Missy Elliott and Outkast gaining traction.

- Trap and Drill -

Into the 2010s rap's nexus shifted to Atlanta, home to the trap subgenre characterized by cymbal patterns and synthesized drums.

Trap remains among American music's most popular styles, with its influence crossing into pop and EDM as well as Latin America's wildly popular reggeaeton.

Much of its lyricism focused on life in "the trap" -- a reference to drug-dealing spots.

Artists including Outkast, T.I., Gucci Mane and Lil Wayne expanded its popularity, while the idiosyncratic Young Thug became one of contemporary hip hop's most emulated artists.

Today's trap-influenced superstars including Migos, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion.

Internet virality has been key to several contemporary movements including "Soundcloud rap," whose angsty, jagged sound injected vulnerability into hip hop.

And the equally dark drill has brought the aggressive lyricism of gangsta back to prominence. It began percolating in Chicago before traveling to Britain and resurfacing in New York.

Brooklyn drill gained mainstream clout thanks to work from artists including the late Pop Smoke and Fivio Foreign, as today's stars like the Bronx's Ice Spice take it viral.

mdo/caw
HENDERSONVILLE - Design work has been completed for 6 miles of the Ecusta Trail in Henderson Countys jurisdiction, but an attempt to attract bids for construction failed after only two firms submitted proposals.

State law requires the county to receive at least three proposals or republish its request for bids. The bidding process will be re-advertised, Christopher Todd, Business and Community Development director, said in a presentation to the Board of Commissioners at its Aug. 7 meeting.

If the second call for bids also fails to attract at least three bids, the county can choose the lowest bid from the submissions. The first call for bids was published in July.

Design work has been completed for six miles of the Ecusta Trail in Henderson County, but an attempt to attract bids for construction failed after only two firms submitted proposals, according to a report at the Aug. 7 County Commission meeting.

The 6-mile stretch runs from the Gateway Park area near Fresh Market to the intersection of U.S. 64 and Battle Creek Road in Horse Shoe. Todd said he wont have a timeline for construction until after the next bid opening.

The path will be 14 feet wide through White Pine Drive in Laurel Park to accommodate an expected larger number of users, Todd said, then decrease to 12 feet wide to the Battle Creek Road intersection.

It will be signalized with traffic lights at crossings on Kanuga Road and at the Battle Creek/64 intersection.

The county, along with NCDOT and the city of Brevard, is negotiating two grants with the federal government totaling $46 million as part of the projects funding.

More: Biden-Harris administration announces $21.4 million grant to complete Ecusta Trail

More: Tillis: US Department of Transportation awards $24.6 million to Brevard for Ecusta Trail

Im extremely happy to say that this project has been designed, and will be constructed, with no taxpayer dollars, Todd said.

Commissioners also discussed incorporating a counting or tracking system into the design to record use.

Project and design details can be found at hendersoncountync.gov/greenway-network.

Company chosen to build EMS station next to Fletcher Elementary

Commissioners unanimously agreed to contract with G.W. Liles Construction Co. of Concord to build the Fletcher EMS No. 6 station. The facility will be built next to Fletcher Elementary near the intersection of the schools driveway and Howard Gap Road.

Although architects had given the county a cost estimate of $3.25 million for the project, Liles Construction submitted the lowest bid of five firms at $1,954,600, Facility Services Director Andrew Griffin told the board.

Liles Construction gave a timeline of 224 days, or roughly seven-and-a-half months, for the project, which should be completed in March, Griffin said. Commissioner Michael Edney said that timeline was substantially lower than other bidders, and Griffin said standard penalties would apply if the company did not make the deadline.

Design costs for the project were $91,000, and traffic signal pre-emption, which will give EMS control of the signal when the station receives a call, will cost $101,000. Overall, the project is set to come in under budget by $1,103,400, Griffin said.

The county already owned the land, Chairwoman Rebecca McCall said, and the school system is supportive of the project.

Commissioner Daniel Andreotta said the EMS station project was a long time coming and noted that the northern portion of the county is the fastest-growing area. He added that Fletcher does not have a 24-hour, in-area ambulance.

Bridge to be named in honor of Hendrix

A bridge on U.S. 64 over I-26 is now a step closer to being named in honor of fallen Henderson County Deputy Ryan P. Hendrix.

Commissioners approved a resolution in support of the naming, as suggested by Henderson County Sheriff Lowell Griffin and the Sheriffs Office. The request now heads to the NCDOT for approval.

Hendrix, a Marine who served in Iraq in 2006 and joined the Sheriffs Office in 2012, was killed in the line of duty on Sept. 10, 2020.

Deputy Ryan Hendrix

We have learned to deal with the pain, Sheriff Griffin said, adding that nothing can come close to replacing Hendrix, who will be forever missed.

I think its important, not only for those who are here now but those that are here for generations to come, to remember Deputy Hendrix, the sacrifice that he made, and the sacrifice that his family made, Sheriff Griffin added.

Lt. Gov Robinson praises county

Controversial gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson also spoke to the board at the 5:30 p.m. meeting after spending the day in the county visiting apple farms. He was followed by two residents who spoke out against the Republican lieutenant governor during public comment.

Robinson said Raleigh is moving slowly but deliberately and doing good work.

We expect to have a budget pretty soon. And we hope to see some great things come out of that budget, he said, citing raises for state personnel such as teachers and law enforcement.

Were also making some significant investments in places that we desperately need to. Thats something thats near and dear to my heart, he said, adding that as he travels the state, he sees great opportunities and talented people. Its time for us to start taking advantage of that.

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson

Robinson said the state currently has a $3 billion surplus, in stark contrast to the $3.4 billion the state owed the federal government in 2010.

Were doing quite well in this state, he said, adding that he wants to see money invested into the people and talent in the western and eastern parts of North Carolina to grow the economy.

He also said hes proud of the commissioners work and wants to encourage and partner with them to serve the community.

Two residents who spoke after Robinson, however, said the lieutenant governor should not have been recognized by the county to speak. They mentioned Robinsons stances opposing climate change, abortion and the LGBTQ community.

More: Hendersonville LGBTQ pastor criticizes lt. gov's 'filth' comments

Speaker Joe Elliott said any recognition of Robinson was an insult to residents, and the candidates cancerous, hate-filled resume does not align in any good way with the people of Henderson County.

The meeting can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/event/3361431.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Design on 6 miles of Henderson County Ecusta Trail completed
Cindy Sharif is retiring as Eddy County DWI Program Director Aug. 31 after 25 years of leading efforts to stop intoxicated drivers in the county.

In addition to working for Eddy County, Sharif spent five years with the New Mexico Corrections Department and the New Mexico Department of Human Services.

She said thoughts of retirement have been on her mind for years and after taking an extended leave at the end of August will retire.

More: DWI Program and Sheriff's Office expand roadside cleanup program. Here is what we know.

I have a wonderful staff at the DWI Program and they are able to carry on the mission without me, develop new programs and expand on the programs already in place, she said.

Sharif said collaboration with Eddy County, the four municipalities, law enforcement and others was key to reducing the incidence of drunk and intoxicated drivers in Eddy County.

DWI prevention education and awareness is paramount to public safety. We work diligently to keep the issue in the public eye, she said.

Eddy County Sheriff Mark Cage (left) and Eddy County DWI Program Director Cindy Sharif confer before a memorial service for slain New Mexico State Police officer Darian Jarrott in Carlsbad on Feb. 27, 2021.

Sharif said two programs enacted after her arrival in 1998 have had a lasting impact on the DWI Program.

The Roadway Cleanup Community Service Program was implemented in 1999 and remains operational today. Community Service workers remove on average 2,000 pounds of trash from the streets and highways in Eddy County each weekend, she said.

Sharif said a DWI Memorial Sign Program enacted in 2002 remains as an active partnership between the DWI Program and the Eddy County Public Works Department.

It began as a (New Mexico) Department of Transportation (NMDOT) Program and they allowed us to modify the program to include a picture of the victim on their DWI Memorial Sign. The Carlsbad and Artesia highway departments and their employees were instrumental in working with us on this program. None of the victims were drunk drivers they were all killed by drunk drivers. The state discontinued the program in 2017, she said.

Sharif said the Eddy County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to continue with the memorials after NMDOT canceled the program.

She said the DWI Program received money from the New Mexico Legislature to help the Eddy County Sheriffs Office to purchase equipment for its traffic crash unit.

More: Eddy County DWI Program uses basketball to keep kids away from alcohol and drugs

Sharif added the DWI Program has assisted the Carlsbad Police Department, Artesia Police Department, Eddy County Sheriffs Office, New Mexico State Police and Loving Police Department with sobriety checkpoints.

Artesia Police Cmdr. Pete Quinones said Sharif was usually the first to help law enforcement with DWI operations anywhere in Eddy County.

"Cindy has had such a significant impact on the lives of Eddy County residents for decades," said Eddy County Sheriff Mark Cage.

"Her tireless efforts to prevent DWI injuries and deaths while educating the public are legendary. Her legacy will remain for generations to come."

Carlsbad Mayor Dale Janway said Sharif devoted many decades of her professional career combating drunk and intoxicated driving and increased awareness of the dangers of drunk driving.

We know she was successful in saving lives and in making a difference and we appreciate all of her dedication and hard work toward this very worthwhile effort, he said.

A DWI Memorial sign in Artesia on Aug. 2, 2023. Eddy County DWI Program Director Cindy Sharif announced her retirement on Aug. 1, 2023.

Eddy County Manager Roberta Gonzales said she worked with Sharif for nine years.

I can tell you she runs the DWI program with her whole heart. She truly loves her job and has always strived to make a difference in the community. Never wanting any recognition for the wonderful work she does, but always going the extra steps to ensure the program continues to grow and evolve, she said.

Sharif said a potential replacement would be determined by Eddy County and she will continue to remain active in curbing DWI along pursuing other interests.

I plan to learn to play the piano and learn to speak a second language. I will keep my counseling license active and take continuing education courses. I also plan to travel, she said.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Eddy County DWI Program Director Cindy Sharif retires
FILE - Forest lines the Combu creek, on Combu Island on the banks of the Guama River, near the city of Belem, Para state, Brazil, Aug. 6, 2023. The two-day Amazon Summit opens Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, in Belem, where Brazil hosts policymakers and others to discuss how to tackle the immense challenges of protecting the Amazon and stemming the worst of climate change. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

BELEM, Brazil (AP)  Leaders from South American nations that are home to the Amazon challenged developed countries on Tuesday to do more to stop massive destruction of the worlds largest rainforest, a task they said cant fall to just a few when the crisis has been caused by so many.

Assembling in the Brazilian city of Belem, the members of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization, or ACTO, also sought to chart a common course on how to combat climate change, hoping a united front will give them a major voice in global talks.

The calls from the presidents of nations including Brazil, Colombia and Bolivia came as leaders aim to fuel much-needed economic development in their regions while preventing the Amazons ongoing demise from reaching a point of no return, according to a joint declaration issued at the end of the day. Some scientists say that when 20% to 25% of the forest is destroyed, rainfall will dramatically decline, transforming more than half of the rainforest to tropical savannah, with immense biodiversity loss.

The forest unites us. It is time to look at the heart of our continent and consolidate, once and for all, our Amazon identity, said Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. In an international system that was not built by us, we were historically relegated to a subordinate place as a supplier of raw materials. A just ecological transition will allow us to change this.

The two-day summit ending Wednesday reinforces Lulas strategy to leverage global concern for the Amazons preservation. Emboldened by a 42% drop in deforestation during his first seven months in office, he has sought international financial support for forest protection.

The Amazon stretches across an area twice the size of India. Two-thirds of it lie in Brazil, with seven other countries and one territory share the remaining third. Governments have historically viewed it as an area to be colonized and exploited, with little regard for sustainability or the rights of its Indigenous peoples.

All the countries at the summit have ratified the Paris climate accord, which requires signatories to set targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. But cross-border cooperation has historically been scant, undermined by low trust, ideological differences and the lack of government presence.

Aside from a general consensus on the need for shared global responsibility, members of ACTO  convening for only the fourth time in the organizations existence  demonstrated Tuesday they arent fully aligned on key issues. This week marks the first meeting of the 45-year-old organization in 14 years.

Forest protection commitments have been uneven previously, and appeared to remain so at the summit. The Belem Declaration, the gatherings official proclamation issued Tuesday, didnt include shared commitments to zero deforestation by 2030. Brazil and Colombia have already made those commitments. Lula has said he hopes the document will be a shared call to arms at the COP 28 climate conference in November.

A key topic dividing the nations on Tuesday was oil. Notably, leftist Colombian President Gustavo Petro called for an end to oil exploration in the Amazon  an allusion to the ambivalent approach of Brazil and other oil-producing nations in the region  and said that governments must forge a path toward decarbonized prosperity.

A jungle that extracts oil  is it possible to maintain a political line at that level? Bet on death and destroying life? Petro said. He also spoke about finding ways to reforest pastures and plantations, which cover much of Brazil's heartland for cattle ranching and growing soy.

Lula, who has presented himself as an environmental leader on the international stage, has refrained from taking a definitive stance on oil, citing the decision as a technical matter. Meanwhile, Brazils state-run Petrobras company has been seeking to explore for oil near the mouth of the Amazon River.

Despite disagreements among nations, there have been encouraging signs of increased regional cooperation amid growing global recognition of the Amazons importance in arresting climate change. Sharing a united voice  along with funneling more money into ACTO  could help it serve as the region's representative on the global stage ahead of the COP climate conference, leaders said.

The Amazon is our passport to a new relationship with the world, a more symmetric relationship, in which our resources are not exploited to benefit few, but rather valued and put in the service of everyone, Lula said.

Bolivian President Luis Arce said the Amazon has been the victim of capitalism, reflected by runaway expansion of agricultural borders and natural resource exploitation. And he noted that industrialized nations are responsible for most historic greenhouse gas emissions.

The fact that the Amazon is such an important territory doesnt imply that all of the responsibilities, consequences and effects of the climate crisis should fall to us, to our towns and to our economies, Arce said.

Petro argued that affluent nations should swap foreign debt owed by Amazon countries for climate action, saying that would create enough investment to power the Amazon regions economy.

Signed by officials from eight nations, the Belem Declaration also:

 Condemns the proliferation of protectionist trade barriers, which signatories said negatively affects poor farmers in developing nations and hampers the promotion of Amazon products and sustainable development.

 Calls on industrialized nations to comply with their obligations to provide massive financial support to developing nations.

 Calls for the strengthening of law enforcement cooperation. Commits authorities to exchanging best practices and intelligence about specific illicit activities, including deforestation, human rights violations, trafficking of fauna and flora and the sale and smuggling of mercury, a highly toxic metal widely used for illegal gold mining that pollutes waterways.

Colombia's Petro also called for the formation of a military alliance akin to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, saying such a group could be tasked not only with protecting the Amazon, but tackling another major problem for the region: organized crime.

Few border areas are policed seriously and there has been scant international cooperation as rival organized crime groups compete for drug-trafficking routes. Drug seizures have increased in Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia and Peru over the past decade, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported in June. Lula previously announced a plan to create an international police center in Manaus.

Also attending the summit Tuesday were Guyanas prime minister, Venezuelas vice president and the foreign ministers of Suriname and Ecuador.

On Wednesday, the summit will welcome representatives of Norway and Germany, the largest contributors to Brazils Amazon Fund for sustainable development, along with counterparts from other crucial rainforest regions: Indonesia, Republic of Congo, and Democratic Republic of Congo. Frances ambassador to Brazil will also attend, representing the Amazonian territory of French Guiana.

___

Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about APs climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
The UK's elections watchdog has revealed it has been the victim of a "complex cyber-attack" potentially affecting millions of voters.

The Electoral Commission said unspecified "hostile actors" had managed to gain access to copies of the electoral registers, from August 2021.

Hackers also broke into its emails and "control systems" but the attack was not discovered until October last year.

The watchdog has warned people to watch out for unauthorised use of their data.

In a public notice, the commission said hackers accessed copies of the registers it was holding for research purposes, and for conducting checks on political donors.

Chief executive officer Shaun McNally said the commission knew which of its systems were accessible to the hackers, but could not "conclusively" identify which files may have been accessed.

The watchdog said the information it held at the time of the attack included the names and addresses of people in the UK who registered to vote between 2014 and 2022.

This includes those who opted to keep their details off the open register - which is not accessible to the public but can be purchased, for example by credit reference agencies.

The data accessed also included the names - but not the addresses - of overseas voters, it added.

However, the data of people who qualified to register anonymously - for safety or security reasons - was not accessed, the watchdog said.

The commission says it is difficult to predict exactly how many people could be affected, but it estimates the register for each year contains the details of around 40 million people.

'Very sophisticated' attack

The personal data held on the registers - name and address - did not itself present a "high risk" to individuals, it added, although it is possible it could be combined with other public information to "identify and profile individuals".

It has not said when exactly the hackers' access to its systems was stopped, but said they were secured as soon as possible after the attack was identified in October 2022.

Explaining why it had not made the attack public before now, the commission said it first needed to stop the hackers' access, examine the extent of the incident and put additional security measures in place.

Defending the delay, commission chair John Pullinger said: "If you go public on a vulnerability before you have sealed it off, then you are risking more vulnerabilities."

He said the "very sophisticated" attack involved using "software to try and get in and evade our systems".

He added that the hackers were not able to alter or delete any information on the electoral registers themselves, which are maintained by registration officers around the country.

Information about donations and loans to political parties and registered campaigners is held in a system that is not affected by this incident, the notice added.

Mr McNally said he understood public concern, and would like to apologise to those affected.

The commission added that it had taken steps to secure its systems against future attacks, including by updating its login requirements, alert system and firewall policies.

The Information Commissioner's Office, which is responsible for data protection in the UK, said it was urgently investigating.

Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner said: "This serious incident must be fully and thoroughly investigated so lessons can be learned."

Analysis box by Joe Tidy, Cyber reporter

On paper, this is about as serious as it gets.

Hackers interfering in elections is one of the biggest fears of the democratic world.

Luckily, the commission says in this case the cyber intruders did not have an impact on any elections, or anyone's registration status.

But make no mistake - this is still a serious breach and the nature of the attack is telling.

For supporters of the UK's manual voting system, the attack will bolster the case against using e-voting in future.

"Pen and paper can't be hacked" is often what supporters say when debates about modernisation come about.

The fact the hackers were inside the Electoral Commission systems from August 2021 indicates this was not a criminal hacking operation looking to make a quick buck through extortion.

This was a patient and skilled adversary to have been inside undetected for so long.

This operation looks like a probing one seeking out information about the UK's democratic process to search for weaknesses.

The Electoral Commission isn't saying who it was (if they know).
The personal information of approximately 40 million U.K. voters was exposed to hackers for more than a year after the Electoral Commission fell victim to a complex cyberattack.

The Electoral Commission, the watchdog responsible for overseeing elections in the U.K., said in a statement on Tuesday that it first identified suspicious activity on its network in October 2022, but later confirmed that unnamed hostile actors had first accessed its systems over a year earlier in August 2021.

When asked by TechCrunch why the organization has only just notified those impacted, Electoral Commission spokesperson Andreea Ghita said there were several steps that the Commission needed to take before it could make the incident public.

We needed to remove the actors and their access to our system. We had to assess the extent of the incident to understand who might be impacted and liaise with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the Information Commissioners Office (ICO). We also needed to put additional security measures in place to prevent any similar attacks from taking place in the future, the spokesperson said.

These measures include strengthening its network login requirements, improving its threat monitoring capabilities and updating its firewall policies, according to an FAQ published by the Electoral Commission.

The Electoral Commission's spokesperson told TechCrunch that the incident, which saw hackers access the Commissions email, control systems, and copies of the electoral registers, may have affected as many as 40 million U.K. voters. This includes anyone who registered to vote between 2014 and 2022, as well as the names of those registered as overseas voters.

'No impact' to U.K. election security

While the Electoral Commission has been unable to ascertain whether the attackers exfiltrated data held on its systems, it says that data potentially impacted includes U.K. citizens full names, email addresses, home addresses, phone numbers, any personal images sent to the Commission, and any details provided via email or online contact forms.

The watchdog notes that while much of this information is already in the public domain, it could be combined with other data to infer patterns of behavior or to identify and profile individuals.

The Electoral Commission added that there has been no impact on the security of U.K. elections.

The UKs democratic process is significantly dispersed and key aspects of it remain based on paper documentation and counting, the Commission states. This means it would be very hard to use a cyberattack to influence the process.

It's not yet known who was behind the attack. The Electoral Commission said "we do not know who is responsible for the attack," and the NCSC declined to answer when asked by TechCrunch.

"We provided the Electoral Commission with expert advice and support to aid their recovery after a cyber incident was first identified," the NCSC spokesperson said, who declined to provide their name. Defending the UKs democratic processes is a priority for the NCSC and we provide a range of guidance to help strengthen the cyber resilience of our electoral systems.

When reached for comment, ICO spokesperson James Huyton confirmed the Electoral Commission notified the data protection agency of the breach, but declined to say why there was a nine-month delay in public disclosure.

Do you work at the Electoral Commission? Do you have more information about the cyberattack? You can contact Carly Page securely on Signal at +441536 853968, or by email. You can also contact TechCrunch via SecureDrop.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Gov. Ron DeSantis. Michael A. McCoy/Getty Images, SERGIO FLORES/AFP via Getty Images

Sen. Warren and Gov. DeSantis have expressed support for student loans to be dischargeable in bankruptcy.

The Education and Justice Departments announced reforms to the process last year.

Borrowers previously had to meet a strict standard to get rid of their debt in court.

It's not often Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis agree on policies. But a path for student-loan borrowers to get rid of their debt in court might just be that opportunity.

When a student-loan borrower finds they cannot afford their monthly payments, they cannot simply declare bankruptcy and be absolved of their debt. They have to go to court and meet a high standard known as "undue hardship," which requires borrowers to show that they could not maintain a minimal standard of living, that their circumstances weren't likely to improve, and that they had made a good-faith effort to repay their debt.

The standard was strengthened due to a 2005 bankruptcy law that President Joe Biden supported when he was a senator, and it expanded undue hardship to borrowers with private student loans, along with federal. Given that courts often had a very strict interpretation of the rule  keeping many borrowers from getting relief  the Education and Justice Departments in November announced a series of reforms to the process to make it easier for borrowers to access bankruptcy.

And it's something both Warren and DeSantis support. As part of his presidential campaign, DeSantis recently unveiled his "Declaration of Economic Independence," which included ten pillars he said would support the economy and middle class. One of those pillars included reforming education  and the student-loan system.

"The reality is we've had a generation of students go deep into debt, and some of them end up with degrees in things like zombie studies, which are just not making a difference," DeSantis said during his remarks.

"At the same time, I have sympathy for some of these students because I think they were sold a bill of goods. I think these universities knew that they could take all this federal loan money," he said, adding that colleges should be held financially accountable if students were unable to pay off a "successful" degree and that "student loans should be dischargeable in bankruptcy."

While Warren does not agree with DeSantis' stance against broad debt relief  she is a strong supporter of Biden's plan to cancel up to $20,000 in debt for borrowers and has pushed for more  she also has said bankruptcy should be a viable option for borrowers, especially with federal payments set to resume in October after an over three-year pause.

At the end of July, Warren sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland requesting an update on the Justice Department's implementation of the new bankruptcy reforms. She said that the undue hardship standard "has been narrowly interpreted by courts, and has proven to be so difficult to meet that most borrowers do not even attempt to discharge their student loans through the bankruptcy process. Between 2015 and 2020, roughly 250,000 borrowers filed for bankruptcy annually. Of those, less than one percent saw their student loan debt discharged."

It appears the issue is picking up steam on both sides of the aisle. GOP Rep. Thomas Massie posted a poll on X, formerly Twitter, last week asking if student loans should be dischargeable in bankruptcy, with 67% of respondents  19,711 people voted, per X  saying yes.

Along with the Education and Justice Department reforms, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has also kept an eye on the bankruptcy process for borrowers. Last year, the agency released a report outlining the options for relief that borrowers with private student loans have, and it said that there are several types of education loans that do not have to meet the undue hardship standard: loans to pay for education at places ineligible for federal funding, like unaccredited colleges, loans made to cover fees and living expenses while studying for professional exams, and loans to a student attending a school less than half-time.

Still, both Warren and DeSantis have argued all borrowers should face an easier path to bankruptcy if they are dealing with unaffordable student debt.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Colonel Mart Wendla, the Chief of the General Staff of the Defence Forces of Estonia, believes that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are superior to the Russian Armed Forces in long-range artillery and strike accuracy.

Source: Wendla in the Ukraina Stuudio programme on the ETV channel, ERR reports

Details: The colonel called the 1,000km-long theatre of hostilities "quite diverse", where "on the Kherson front, from the Russian point of view, the defence is greatly helped by a large and wide river, which is difficult to cross".

"The Zaporizhzhia front will obviously help the Ukrainians achieve their strategic goal of regaining Crimea, the prerequisite of which is the cutting of land routes of communication," Wendla believes.

At the same time, he noted, "if in the rest of the oblasts there are an average of 400 defensive structures per region, then on the Zaporizhzhia front there were 1,400 of them," which, in his opinion, "testifies to the scale of the depth of the defence," so "the task Ukraine is facing is very serious".

Wendla says, "Ukraine is able to use all its assets better and more accurately than the Russians because the Ukrainian Armed Forces have relatively good combat intelligence and therefore can use their troops as efficiently as possible".

"Therefore, all these deep strikes serve the same purpose and isolate the troops on the battlefield from ammunition, sandwiches or whatever. It certainly helps the situation," Wendla noted.

He also pointed to the "quite revealing fact" that "at a distance of 700 km, Russia cannot protect its own landing ship". In his opinion, this means that "the ability (of the Russian Federation) to protect its infrastructure on the Black Sea has actually been dealt quite a blow".

Quote: "If we talk about the drones that are launched towards Moscow, then these are mainly drones of small weight, size and power. But at the same time, they achieve their goal and bring a sense of the front to Moscow", Wendla specified, expressing the opinion that these drones were most likely launched from Russian territory, and it is still unclear who is behind these attacks.

In any case, the fact that explosions in Moscow have become an almost daily phenomenon is still telling. This shows that the structure of Moscow's air defence system does not correspond to modern threats".

Background:

The UK Intelligence reported that the Russian aviation at the front did not have a decisive operational effect.

Before that, the US Department of Defence warned that the struggle that Ukraine faced in the war against Russia was not an easy one.

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!
The European Union's climate monitor confirmed Tuesday that July was the hottest month on record. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

Aug. 8 (UPI) -- July 2023 was officially the hottest month ever on planet Earth, punctuated by numerous new heat records across the globe and following a record-setting June, according to research by the European Union's climate monitor.

The study, published Tuesday by Copernicus Climate Change Service, determined that July comprised 29 of the hottest days ever recorded.

The July sizzler began with global surface air temperatures that set new records four days in a row, while all the remaining days of the month were hotter than the previous monthly record of 62.24 degrees set in August 2016, the report said.

Copernicus, which tracks climate data across the globe for the EU, said daily surface air temperatures had risen drastically since 1940, with 2023 outpacing all other years in what's now considered the hottest summer ever on record.

According to the study, the hottest day of the month was July 6, when the average global temperature reached 62.74 degrees, followed by several days of equivalent heat.

The study, published Tuesday by Copernicus Climate Change Service, determined that July comprised 29 of the hottest days ever recorded. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

While that average temperature may seem relatively balmy, when taken as the global average it indicates the planet is quite warm.

The global average temperature has been elevated since April, and began to reach unprecedented levels around May, leading to a series of alarming reports from the world's climate watchers in the past month.

According to the study, the hottest day of the month was July 6, when the average global temperature reached 62.74 degrees, followed by several days of equivalent heat. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

Scientists attribute the extreme heat to a long period of unusually high sea surface temperatures, echoing a recent report from the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which blamed carbon emissions for warming the planet continuously for more than half a century.

Another concerning climate report released last week by Copernicus Marine Service called attention to the rapid warming of the Mediterranean Sea, which has caused ocean temperatures in the region to soar to record levels over the past year.

Marine heat waves, which are characterized by prolonged periods of higher-than-normal ocean temperatures, have been occurring more frequently in the 21st century, scientists say.

"Record-breaking temperatures are part of the trend of drastic increases in global temperatures," said Copernicus Director Carlo Buontempo. "Anthropogenic emissions are ultimately the main driver of these rising temperatures."

Sweltering conditions around the world are expected to continue for the foreseeable future -- potentially into late fall and the start of winter, according to meteorologists with 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.

Extreme temperatures were still being felt during the first week in August, including in the Southwest United States, Mexico, Southern Europe, China, the North Atlantic, and the Mediterranean, with temperatures soaring above 122 degrees in some places.

World temperatures in July also rose above the 1.5-degree threshold put in place by the 2015 Paris Agreement, which set tangible goals for hundreds of nations to lower global warming levels over the next decade.

A recent analysis by World Weather Attribution says extreme world temperatures in July were a likely sign of worsening climate change, and that heat waves were no longer rare but at least 50 times more likely in the modern world.

"The extreme weather which has affected many millions of people in July is, unfortunately, the harsh reality of climate change and a foretaste of the future," said Petteri Taalas, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization. "The need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is more urgent than ever before. Climate action is not a luxury but a must."
The European Commission has initiated the preparation of an enlargement report, expected to recommend the start of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the European Union.

Source: Rikard Jozwiak, a journalist of the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, on 8 July, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The journalist said the European Commission's report on enlargement was expected to be issued in the second half of October.

Quote: "State of play is that there will be recommendations for Ukraine [and] Moldova to start EU accession talks [and] Georgia to get candidate status," Jozwiak added.

drafting of European Commission enlargement report due in 2nd half of Oct has started. state of play is that there will be recommendations for #Ukraine & #Moldova to start EU accession talks & #Georgia to get candidate status. But consensus of 27 EU members in Dec still needed  Rikard Jozwiak (@RikardJozwiak) August 8, 2023

Details: The Radio Liberty journalist clarified that the European Commission has not yet abandoned the idea of a "conditional" candidate status for Georgia, meaning it must fulfil certain conditions and criteria for the next stage (i.e. the start of negotiations).

He also said EU leaders are expected to finally approve these decisions at the December summit.

Background:

At the end of June last year, EU leaders decided to recognise Georgia's European perspective, but unlike Ukraine and Moldova, the country will be granted candidate status only after a set of reforms.

Earlier this year, the European Commission was reportedly considering recommending that EU member states start accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova and grant candidate status to Georgia.

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The European Space Agency (ESA) recently performed an assisted/semi-controlled descent of its retired Aeolus, a wind-studying spacecraft lofted into Earth orbit in 2018.

Mission scientists and engineers took on the tricky task of targeting a remote stretch of the Atlantic Ocean for the plunge to Earth of Aeolus. A key aspect of assisted reentry is that, for any spacecraft leftovers believed to survive the plunge, those bits and pieces would fall into a remote area.

ESA confirmed that Aeolus reentered Earth's atmosphere on July 28 above Antarctica, an outcome that was verified by the U.S. Space Command.

The "adios to Aeolus" action underscores a novel approach for the disposal of active satellites that were never designed for controlled reentry.

Related: European satellite falls to Earth in landmark 'assisted reentry'

Windage

But "above Antarctica" versus the Atlantic Ocean caught my eye. Did something not go according to plan?

An infographic outlines the re-entry steps and trajectory for the Aeolus satellite. A grid-lined sphere within an outlining sphere to represent atmosphere, is shown next to multiple illustrations of a satellite, which follows a dotted line from a high altitude into the atmosphere, where it burns up.

In an assisted reentry, you have to accept inaccuracies along the desired target coordinates, and we required that it was maximum +\- half orbit centered in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean," responded Tommaso Parrinello, ESA Aeolus mission manager.

"We re-entered within less than a quarter of an orbit. Better than expected," Parrinello told Inside Outer Space. It took almost a year to develop the assisted re-entry, or semi-controlled, concept, he said. That work involved designing the best corridor of reentry, changing the satellite configuration and designing the timeline, along with more checks via simulation.

People sit at a long, conjoined desk, staring at computer monitors. A lit sign on the wall denotes ESA mission control.

As for the price tag of the Aeolus assisted reentry, "the funds were within the foreseen operation coststhere is not a figure to give," Parrinello said.

Minimize risk

"With the growing number of objects being launched into space, we certainly expect that many will reenter over time, so I think ESA's efforts to develop and test an assisted controlled reentry is important to minimize the risk to human life on or near the surface," said T.S. Kelso of CelesTrak, an analytical group that keeps a sharp eye on Earth-circling objects.

Similar in view is Darren McKnight, a senior technical fellow for LeoLabs.

"This is significant for several reasons," McKnight said. "First, it is critical for everyone to note that sometimes the act of reducing orbital collision risk comes at the cost of risk to aviation and ground impacts. The U.S. has a self-imposed threshold of 1/10,000 chance of ground casualty from a reentry, but that is not accepted worldwide."

Related: Kessler Syndrome and the space debris problem

McKnight said that it is laudable to see others minimizing this reentry risk. He added that this spacecraft was not designed to do these maneuvers, yet performed them admirably.

Continual innovation

"Much of the positive space safety behavior over the last few years has been by systems not designed to perform that way. The continual innovation by many has been impressive," McKnight told Inside Outer Space.

Lastly, McKnight said that "active debris removal is a complex but greatly needed operation to improve the state of the debris environment in low Earth orbit, and it requires several steps: identify, rendezvous, grapple, de-tumble and de-orbit safely. This exercise builds confidence in the ability to do the last critical stage of safe de-orbiting of large spacecraft."

Responsible behavior

Aeolus had a dry mass of 2,425 pounds (1,100 kilograms). The most critical removal sequences, McKnight said, will be performed on orbiting objects over 2,200 pounds (1,000 kg).

"It should be noted that any spacecraft above 500 to 800 kilograms [1,100 to 1,760 pounds] in mass is likely to have sufficient debris survive reentry as to warrant controlled reentry to meet the 1/10,000 threshold for ground casualty," said McKnight. There are currently nearly 800 rocket bodies and over 300 non-operational payloads in low Earth orbit with a mass over 1,000 kg, he pointed out.

"This demonstration showed how individual responsible behavior can contribute to the growing space safety expertise, highlighting that space safety does not have to be debilitating for space operators," McKnight concluded.

A man in a green jumpsuit raises his arms next to a white utility vehicle containing a dilapidated metal shard in its bed.

Detrimental effects

On the other hand, there remains the issue of rubbish from spacecraft falling out of orbit having harmful effects on global atmospheric chemistry.

Some experts are concerned that the growing scale and pace of space activities may lead to new unforeseen impacts on the environment and climate. Furthermore, what appears required is improved monitoring of the situation, as well as regulation to create an environmentally sustainable space industry.

These are observations from recent research on atmospheric impacts of the space industry led by Jamie Shutler, associate professor of Earth observation in the Center for Geography and Environmental Science, College of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Exeter, Cornwall.

diagram showing the layers of earth's atmosphere

Full impact, not known

As for the outcome from assisted reentry, like that done with ESA's Aeolus satellite, it's a tough call, Shutler told Inside Outer Space.

"Its good that agencies are now starting to consider the environmental aspects of these technologies and how previous standard approaches are not sustainable," Shutler said. Those prior strategies include shifting satellites to a graveyard orbit or just leaving the satellite in its original orbit to slowly de-orbit.

"But equally, de-orbiting for burn-up in the atmosphere and with roughly 20% of the satellite landing in the ocean is not sustainable or environmentally good," Shutler said. "The satellite components don't just vanish; they instead get re-distributed throughout the atmosphere, and the full impacts are not known."

Related: Coming increase in rocket launches will damage ozone, alter climate, study finds

Ozone loss

For example, Shutler added, satellites are mainly made of aluminum, and we know that aluminum in the upper atmosphere can promote ozone loss. "Whilst being claimed to be 'harmlessly falling in the ocean,' it's still littering in the ocean on which we rely for food, and for regulating our weather and climate."

Shutler said the ESA effort is a step in the right direction, "but only if this is the start of greater efforts by all agencies and private organizations to question and reduce the environmental impact of space activities."

Orbital debris of varying sizes floats in space above Earth

Sustainable space?

In Shutlers view, greater efforts need to be made, for example, in controlling the overall quantity of satellites in orbit, like sharing resources efficiently, rather than large-scale duplication, as we see now with commercial activities.

Also needed is a reduction in the quantity of aluminum within those satellites, "and showing greater consideration for the atmosphere, the ocean and whole of Earth's environment, instead of just protecting the land, whilst simultaneously considering everywhere else as being acceptable for littering."

Shutlers bottom line: "Overall, I would hope that the approach of simply de-orbiting all satellites is not the future. Much more needs to be done to address the problem, and recognizing this wider issue, as it seems is being done by ESA [is] a good first step. But despite the social media tagging, we have a long way to go before we have anything close to 'sustainable space.'"

Reentry regime

Also noting the Aeolus outcome is Aaron Boley, an associate professor of physics and astronomy at the University of British Columbia in Canada.

"It is positive to see the ESA using available spacecraft capabilities to reduce the risks of lethal reentry debris, instead of leaving the reentry outcome entirely to chance," said Boley.

A woman on her cell phone leans over to inspect a large piece of fallen space debris.

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For large satellites in orbit that were never designed to conduct controlled reentries, assisted/semi-controlled re-entries are a step in the right direction, Boley told Inside Outer Space.

'It should nonetheless be recognized, while things went well in this case, that such maneuvers are not a controlled reentry and still carry substantial reentry time uncertainties. Not all large spacecraft in orbit will be capable of such a semi-controlled reentry, either," Boley pointed out.

Moving forward, Boley said that states and operators need to work together to develop a controlled reentry regime for new satellites and launch vehicles in an effort to limit the risks of reentry debris to people on the ground, at sea, and in airplanes in flight.

"Such a regime would include requirements for controlled reentries, and in circumstances where a controlled reentry is not feasible, the requirements would include risk reduction measures as part of the satellite design," said Boley.
The European Union cannot provide security guarantees to Ukraine because it is not a security bloc, lead spokesperson for EU foreign affairs and security policy, Peter Stano, said on Aug. 8, as reported by German broadcaster DW.

"We are not a security organization; this is a discussion for NATO and individual countries, but not for the EU as an organization," said Stano.

Read also: Emerging Chinese threat to NATO and the EU

He added that the EU supports Ukraine in several areas, including funding for arms supplies. According to him, the bloc can support third-party security guarantees, but it itself is not a guarantor.

Read also: Germany expands state guarantees for investing in Ukraine

During the NATO summit in Vilnius on July 12, the leaders of the G7 announced that they had agreed on a declaration on security commitments for Ukraine. These involve multilateral efforts to build up Ukraines armed forces to deter any future Russian aggression.

Read also: World summit on Ukrainian Peace Formula may take place in late 2023  Kyiv

The Office of the President stated that the declaration is a general framework document, and the next step should be a system of bilateral security agreements between Ukraine and individual countries.

The first country with which Ukraine started negotiations on bilateral agreements is the United States.

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
Evacuations were ordered at Tinker Air Force Base amid reports of a possible bomb threat Tuesday.

Operations at Tinker Air Force Base have returned to normal after reports of a bomb threat prompted evacuations Tuesday afternoon.

Officials found a suspicious package during a routine inspection at the bases truck gate, according to a tweet from the official Tinker Air Force Base account on the website X (formerly known as Twitter).

Evacuations were ordered as personnel cordoned off the area and a bomb squad investigated further, security said.

The Tinker Air Force Base Law Enforcement Desk confirmed that the bases security forces and other personnel had been working a bomb threat since midday Tuesday.

All agencies and all personnel are in place right now, and were currently working the situation, an official said shortly after 1:50 p.m. Tuesday.

REAL WORLD

UPDATE: A suspicious package was found during a routine inspection at Tinkers Truck Gate today. As a precaution, Security Forces closed the truck delivery gate, cordoned off the area and evacuated several nearby buildings, pending a detailed inspection  Tinker AFB (@Team_Tinker) August 8, 2023

More: Tinker, Boeing share long history

According to numerous tweets, evacuations were also ordered for employees at the nearby Boeing facility.

Another Tinker AFB tweet also confirmed that the Gott Gate in the southwest part of the base was temporarily closed. Special control measures were implemented at the bases truck gate as well, according to the tweet. Vehicles were advised to avoid the area until the situation was resolved.

The Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office confirmed a team was called in to assist the bomb squad. Oklahoma City police officers were also helping with traffic control, according to Sgt. Gary Knight.

Spokespeople for the Midwest City Police Department and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol told The Oklahoman they were not among the agencies at the site. Del City police have yet to confirm or deny involvement in coordinating assistance.

By 5 p.m., officials at the base had given the all-clear and the Gott Gate resumed operations. The truck containing the suspicious package was turned over to authorities.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Tinker AFB bomb threat prompts evacuations, all clear given
FILE - Penguins walk on the shore of Bahia Almirantazgo in Antarctica on Jan. 27, 2015. A new study released Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, concludes that Antarctica is already being and will continue to be affected by more frequent and severe extreme weather events, a known byproduct of human-caused climate change. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File)

Even in Antarctica  one of the most remote and desolate places on Earth  scientists say they are finding shattered temperature records and an increase in the size and number of wacky weather events.

The southernmost continent is not isolated from the extreme weather associated with human-caused climate change, according to a new paper in Frontiers in Environmental Science that tries to make a coherent picture of a place that has been a climate change oddball. Its western end and especially its peninsula have seen dramatic ice sheet melt that threatens massive sea level rises over the next few centuries, while the eastern side has at times gained ice. One western glacier is melting so fast that scientists have nicknamed it the Doomsday Glacier and theres an international effort trying to figure out whats happening to it. And Antarctic sea ice veered from record high to shocking amounts far lower than ever seen.

What follows if the trend continues, a likely result if humans fail to curb emissions, will be a cascade of consequences from disappearing coastlines to increased global warming hastened by dramatic losses of a major source of sunlight-reflecting ice. That's something scientists have long been watching and are even more concerned about now.

A changing Antarctica is bad news for our planet, said Martin Siegert, a glaciologist, professor of geosciences at University of Exeter and lead author on the paper.

Siegert said he and his team wanted to understand more about the causes of extreme events, and whether more of those events would happen as a result of burning fossil fuels, so the team synthesized research on a wide range of topics including atmosphere and weather patterns, sea ice, land ice and ice shelves and marine and land biology. The study found climate change extremes are getting worse in a place that once seemed slightly shielded from global warmings wildness. The continent is not a static giant frozen in time, they said, but instead feels climate changes wrath and extremes sporadically and unpredictably.

Anna Hogg, a co-author on the paper and professor at the University of Leeds, said that their work illustrates complex and connected changes between the ice, ocean and air. Once youve made a big change, it can then be really hard to sort of turn that around, she said.

And it's a change with links to human activity. This is indeed a strong signature of climate change, Helen Fricker, a professor of geophysics with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego who was not involved with the study, said in an email. Its not good.

Siegert and Hogg's team looked at several factors including heat waves, loss of sea ice, collapse of ice shelves and impacts on biodiversity. Siegert described last year's heat wave in Antarctica, which brought research station thermometers to a whopping 38 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit) above normal temperatures. Hogg said that sea ice is at an all time low, a major cause for concern: In the Antarctic, the July average for sea ice extent fell below previous low set in 2022. And ice shelves, which can be the size of several large buildings, are also under threat as they melt and eventually collapse.

Sea ice and ice shelves work like a cork in a bottle, holding back glaciers that would otherwise rush into the ocean. When they disappear, glaciers flow many times faster. What's more, the disappearance of large swaths of ice accelerates warming like swapping a white T-shirt for a black one on a hot summer day  replace ice with land or water, and suddenly the earth is absorbing the sun's rays rather than reflecting them.

The topic of extremes is with us more frequently and will be with us even more frequently in the future, said Peter Schlosser, vice president and vice provost of the Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University not involved with the research. Systems like Antarctica are extreme by nature, but that doesn't mean they're not vulnerable, he added  they're highly susceptible to small changes.

I'm not an alarmist, but what we see is alarming, said Waleed Abdalati, an environmental researcher at the University of Colorado not involved with the study. He said that extreme events are one thing, but when superimposed on a trend  a trend of global warming that heightens those extreme events  that's a cause for concern. We can handle events, he added, but we can't handle a steady increase of those destructive events.

That's something climate scientists say we'll need to prepare for, by continuing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while introducing adaptation measures for sea level rise and extreme weather around the world.

We've been saying this for 30 years, said Ted Scambos, an ice scientist at the University of Colorado whose paper from 2000 was cited in Siegert and Hogg's article. I'm not surprised, I'm disappointed. I wish we were taking action faster."

___

Seth Borenstein contributed from Washington, D.C.

___

Follow Melina Walling on Twitter @MelinaWalling.

___

Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about APs climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Tuesday is Springfield's special election held solely to ask local residents whether the city should impose an additional 3% sales tax on recreational marijuana.

When Missouri voters approved the legalization of recreational marijuana in November 2022, a statewide 6% sales tax on recreational sales was established. The additional 3% was left up to local municipalities to impose with voter approval. In May, Springfield City Council approved the single-issue ballot going before voters.

The current sales tax within Springfield's city limits is 8.1%. If the additional sales tax is approved, those purchasing recreational marijuana products in Springfield would pay a total 17.1% sales tax.

More: Tuesday's election leaves 3% additional recreational marijuana tax in voters' hands

According to a city news release, the additional tax could generate up to $1.8 million a year in revenue which would be used toward "public safety, mental health services, housing, and substance abuse services." The 3% tax would not apply to sales of medical marijuana.

Only registered voters within the city limits of Springfield are eligible to cast their votes in this election. To find your polling place and learn more about the election, visit vote.greenecountymo.gov

Anyone experiencing difficulties at a polling place can call the Greene County Clerk's office at 417-868-4055.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Marijuana sales tax will be voted on at Tuesday's election
Mike Pences former national security adviser slammed the ex-vice president as unworthy of the presidency as he endorsed former president Donald Trump.

Retired Gen Keith Kellogg put out a statement on Truth Social, Mr Trumps social networking platform, expressing his dissatisfaction with Mr Pences actions towards the former president.

While I respect his service to our Nation, I must express my disappointment in his recent actions regarding President Trump, he said in his statement. Where President Trump is bold and unafraid to challenge the status quo, Pence has often chosen the passive route, avoiding confrontation.

Specifically, Gen Kellogg faulted Mr Pences adviser and former chief of staff Marc Short and said Mr Pence displayed a laissez-faire style unworthy of the presidency.

Mr Pence is currently running against Mr Trump for the 2024 Republican nomination for president. Throughout his campaign, he has criticised Mr Trumps overtures to have Mr Pence try to overturn the presidential election results on January 6.

After the most recent indictment, Mr Pence lambasted Mr Trumps crackpot lawyers. But Gen Kellogg said Mr Pence acted in an opportunistic way.

While President Trump has consistently put America first, prioritizing its citizens, our economy, and global standing, Pences actions have often seemed more focused on political maneuvering and maintaining his image, he said. That is not what Republican voters want.

In turn, Gen Kellogg said he would support Mr Trump instead of Mr Pence.

I believe in the future President Trump envisions, he said. A future that demands bold and decisive leadership, something we have seen from President Trump but not the former vice president.

Mr Pence significantly trails not just his former president, but other Republicans such as Florida Gov Ron DeSantis in polls. But on Monday, his campaign reported that he had qualified for the first Republican primary debate on 23 August, Fox News reported.

The Republican National Committee requires that candidates have donors from at least 20 states. He has already passed the polling threshold.
A former San Joaquin County Jail guard was sentenced to four months on the other side of the bars after he pleaded guilty to having an illegal assault weapon, prosecutors announced Monday.

Brandon Wolff  hired as a correctional officer in 2016  also pleaded guilty to unauthorized use of computer data, said Lee Neves, a spokesman for the district attorney's office. Wolff was also sentenced to two years probation.

The former jail guard was arrested Feb. 1 on suspicion of owning an assault weapon and carrying drugs with the intent to sell, Sheriff Patrick Withrow said in statements at the time. An internal investigation into Wolffs conduct was ongoing, Withrow said.

Days later, Wolff was charged in San Joaquin County Superior Court with unauthorized use of computer data, illegal computer access and fraud.

Neves did not respond to a question by press time regarding whether prosecutors ever charged Wolff for the alleged drug crimes.

Two weeks ago, the ex-jail guard resigned in lieu of being fired from the sheriffs office, spokesman Nicholas Goucher said Monday.

In addition to Wolff, two correctional officers and one member of the sheriff's civilian staff were investigated for related potential misconduct, Withrow said. Their names have not been disclosed publicly.

The two corrections officers are still under investigation, Goucher said, and the civilian staff member was cleared of wrongdoing and has returned to work.

Record reporter Aaron Leathley covers public safety. She can be reached at aleathley@recordnet.com or on Twitter @LeathleyAaron. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record athttps://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Ex-SJ County jail guard sentenced to 4 months behind bars
US hype of China-Russia joint naval patrol near Alaska is overreaction, exposes double standards

10:41, August 08, 2023 By Liu Xuanzun and Guo Yuandan ( Global Times

Warships of Chinese navy take part in a joint naval exercise, Joint Sea 2022, in the East China Sea on Dec 21, 2022. Chinese and Russian navies on Dec 21 kicked off a joint naval exercise, Joint Sea 2022, in the East China Sea. Photo: Xinhua

China and Russia's third joint naval patrol that allegedly reached international waters near Alaska last week has touched the nerves of US media, which hyped the voyage as "highly provocative," ignoring the fact that the US constantly sends warships and warplanes to China's doorsteps for close-in reconnaissance and military exercises under the so-called freedom of navigation.

11 Chinese and Russian vessels approached the Aleutian Islands and have since left without entering US territorial waters, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Sunday, citing US officials.

Four US destroyers and a P-8 maritime patrol aircraft shadowed the combined Chinese and Russian naval force, the report said.

While the WSJ report quoted a US Northern Command spokesperson who said the patrol remained in international waters and was not considered a threat, it also quoted US experts as saying the voyage "is a historical first" and "highly provocative."

The US media reports came after China's Ministry of National Defense announced on July 26 that China and Russia would soon launch their third joint naval patrol, which would see both sides' warships sail into West and North Pacific waters following the Northern/Interaction-2023 joint exercises in the Sea of Japan.

The operation is not targeted against any third party and is not related to any international or regional situation, the Chinese Defense Ministry said in a press release at the time.Two Type 052D guided missile destroyers, two Type 054A guided missile frigates and a Type 903 comprehensive replenishment ship of the Chinese Navy are included in the flotilla, while the Russian Navy is represented by vessels including large anti-submarine ships and corvettes, according to media reports.

The Northern/Interaction-2023 joint exercises and the subsequent joint naval patrol fully reflect the level of the strategic mutual trust between the two countries and further enhanced the traditional friendship between the Chinese and Russian militaries, said Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, a spokesperson at China's Defense Ministry, at a regular press conference on July 27.

China is willing to continue to boost pragmatic communication and cooperation with all parties and contribute positive forces in safeguarding regional peace and stability as well as deal with all kinds of security threats, Tan said.

Despite that China and Russia announced the joint patrol, US media are attempting to hype the "China and Russia threat" theory, Zhuo Hua, an international affairs expert at the School of International Relations and Diplomacy of Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times on Monday.

The China-Russia joint patrol in international waters in the North and West Pacific marks a positive force that helps safeguard regional stability and security of strategic routes in the Asia-Pacific region at a time when the US is enhancing combat readiness, rallying allies and partners in the region to change defense policies and expand militaries, which escalated regional tensions, Zhuo said.

'Not first, not last'

This is not the "historical first" that a China-Russia joint naval patrol flotilla has reached waters off Alaska as US media has claimed, as a similar case took place during the second joint naval patrol between the two countries in September 2022.

At that time, only a lone US Coast Guard cutter was on the scene, compared to the USS John S. McCain, the USS Benfold,the USS John Finnand the USS Chung-Hoondestroyers and a P-8 maritime patrol aircraft deployed this time, the WSJ said.

The US media linked such an escalation in US reaction to the Ukraine crisis and the Taiwan question, but such speculation is purely groundless and is aimed at throwing mud at the normal military cooperation between China and Russia, analysts said, noting US' hegemonic mindset and its double standard are the true reasons behind its anxiety.

The international waters in the North Pacific including the Bering Sea are important because from here ships can access the Arctic, Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times on Monday.

With the global warming, the Arctic shipping routes could become key passages for civilian ships to carry out commercial activities, Fu said.

While the joint patrols by China and Russia aim to safeguard the security of key strategic routes, the US wants to control the passages out of its hegemonic mindset, experts said.

The US is nervous because the Bering Sea is close to Alaska, but the US should not forget that it frequently sends warships and warplanes to other countries' doorsteps for so-called freedom of navigation operations, including to the South China Sea and the Taiwan Straits, sometimes alone and sometimes together with other countries' forces, Fu said.

While the China-Russia joint flotilla did not enter US territorial waters, US warships have in many occasions trespassed into Chinese territorial waters in the South China Sea.

It is ironic that all US forces involved in shadowing the China-Russia joint flotilla have provoked China on Chinese doorsteps, observers said. The USS John S. McCain, the USS Benfold,the USS John Finnand the USS Chung-Hoondestroyers and a P-8 maritime patrol aircraft have all made transits in the Taiwan Straits in the past, while the USS John S. McCain, the USS Benfold and the USS Chung-Hoonhave records of being expelled after trespassing into Chinese territorial waters in the South China Sea.

It exposes the US' double standard that only allows its military presence near other countries and not accepts other countries' military presence near it, observers said, urging the US to reflect on itself.

From a military perspective, the four US destroyers and a US patrol aircraft could only monitor the China-Russia joint flotilla of 11 warships, and were not capable of doing anything more than that, analysts said.

"In the future, the Chinese Navy could conduct more far sea patrols like this, either alone or together with other countries. The Americans should get use to it," Fu said.

Before the China-Russia joint naval patrols, Chinese naval warships had already reached international waters near Alaska.

Once such case was in August 2021, in which a four-ship Chinese naval flotilla led by a Type 055 10,000 ton-class large destroyer was reportedly spotted by the US Coast Guard in the US Exclusive Economic Zone, off the coast of the Aleutian Islands in Alaska.

In 2015, five PLA Navy ships transited expeditiously and continuously through the Aleutian Island chain in a manner consistent with international law, the US Naval Institute News reported at the time. It was an "innocent passage" within 12 nautical miles of the Aleutian Islands, the report said.

Chinese experts said this kind of far sea exercise serves as a countermeasure and a signal against the US hegemonic actions of frequently making provocations near China in the name of freedom of navigation.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Exclusive-As US navigates summer of strikes, Biden's top labor adviser exits, source says FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Biden hails U.S. railway labor agreement following talks in Washington

By Nandita Bose

(Reuters) -President Joe Biden's top labor adviser, Celeste Drake, has stepped down, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter, as the administration attempts to maintain labor peace and avoid threatened strikes during an election year.

Drake is leaving the White House to serve as the Deputy Director-General of the International Labor Organization (ILO), based in Geneva, Switzerland, and starts in her new role on Aug. 14, according to the source, who did not wish to be named.

The ILO did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

Drake's departure comes at a critical time for an administration dealing with a summer of labor unrest, with estimates from national labor unions showing more than 650,000 U.S. workers were on or threatened strikes in the first half of 2023.

Hollywood actors and writers are currently on strike, and auto worker unions last month warned they are prepared to do the same unless Detroit's Big Three automakers - General Motors, Ford Motor and Chrysler parent Stellantis - agree to fair contracts. Workers at UPS and its Teamsters union just signed a tentative labor deal.

Biden, 80, is tying his 2024 re-election bid to the health of the economy, highlighting job growth, rising wages and easing fears of a recession. Any major strike, especially of a key link in the supply chain or industry, could hurt the Democratic president's pitch.

At the White House, Drake advised Biden and his team on labor negotiations that had a direct impact on the country's supply chain and the economy, current and former White House officials said.

She carried the title of deputy assistant to the president as well as deputy director of the White House's economic policymaking arm, the National Economic Council (NEC).

"She was involved deeply on some of the most consequential labor negotiations that we've seen from ports to railways, and also in crafting policy around how to support workers," said Brian Deese, former director of the NEC, adding that her tenure came at a "very complicated and consequential time."

Drake helped direct a team of top White House officials and three cabinet secretaries, including former Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, during the rail negotiations that helped Biden block a strike that could have devastated the American economy.

Even though a majority of the unions involved in the negotiations approved the deal, some workers and labor allies criticized Biden, a staunch union backer, for the contract that increased wages but lacked paid sick leave.

A competitive market for workers, increased job site risks during the pandemic, high housing and food costs, tech disruptions, expiration of cyclical contracts and union-friendly policies from the Biden administration are fueling a workers' rights movement in the country.

Responding to concerns around the timing of her departure, Deese said the White House has planned for this transition and it will be able to maintain its "strong focus on labor."

The White House did not comment on Drake's potential successor.

The source said a replacement for Drake is expected to be named soon.

Another key Biden labor adviser, Erika Dinkel-Smith, was recently promoted to the position of senior labor adviser within the White House's Office of Political Strategy, the source added. Gene Sperling, Biden's longtime adviser, who oversaw the implementation of the $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package, has also been appointed co-ordinator between the administration, the auto workers unions and the companies, the source said.

A former trade specialist at the labor confederation AFL-CIO, Drake joined the administration in April 2021 as the first ever director of the Made in America Office at the White House's Office of Management & Budget.

She then transitioned to the NEC in summer 2022, where she served as deputy assistant to the President and deputy director of the NEC for labor and economy.

She took over the position from Biden's former top labor adviser Seth Harris.

In a statement, Biden's acting secretary of labor, Julie Su, described Drake as one of the administration's "leading authority on labor policy" and one of its "greatest champions for working families."

Biden's chief of staff, Jeff Zients, praised Drake's "sharp policy focus" and "deep relationships" and said "nobody could have served better" as Biden's voice in working with unions.

(Reporting by Nandita Bose in Washington; Editing by Trevor Hunnicutt, David Gregorio and Mark Potter)
FILE PHOTO: Republican presidential candidate DeSantis delivers remarks at the annual Christians United for Israel summit in Arlington, Virginia

By Tim Reid

(Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis replaced his campaign manager on Tuesday, as he tries to recalibrate his struggling White House bid. Here are some of the missteps made by the Florida governor and his campaign.

UKRAINE WAR A "TERRITORIAL DISPUTE"

In March, even before he had officially launched his campaign, DeSantis called Russia's invasion of Ukraine a "territorial dispute" and claimed the war was not a "vital" U.S. interest.

While those comments reflect the thinking of part of the Republican base, the blowback from several rival candidates and Republican leaders was so strong that DeSantis was forced to walk back those comments a few days later.

It was the first real sign, after DeSantis appeared as a formidable challenger to former President Donald Trump at the beginning of the year, that he was not as sure-footed a candidate as many had believed.

TWITTER LAUNCH BLUNDER

In May, DeSantis decided to formally announce his presidential bid during an online forum on Twitter, now known as X, hosted by its billionaire owner Elon Musk.

It was one of the most catastrophic campaign launches in recent U.S. political history.

For nearly 25 glitch-filled minutes, the audio-only feed failed time and again, overshadowing DeSantis' big announcement and undermining his attempt to gain ground on Trump.

Political analysts said it was a rookie mistake to hold a major event over which DeSantis had no control.

ABORTION BAN, TEACHING OF SLAVERY TURNS OFF DONORS

DeSantis signed a series of laws in Florida he believed would burnish his credentials with the right-wing Republican base.

That included an April law banning abortions after six weeks, and a new series of teaching standards unveiled in July that tells the state's public school pupils that Black people benefited from slavery because it taught them useful skills.

Last week, Robert Bigelow, DeSantis' biggest donor, told Reuters he will not donate more money unless DeSantis moderates his policy positions. Bigelow said the Florida abortion ban was his motivating factor.

DeSantis also received wide condemnation for the slavery provision in Florida's new teaching curriculum. Tim Scott, a fellow Republican White House rival who is Black, decried Florida's new standards, describing slavery as "devastating" for Black families.

EXTREME VIDEOS THAT EVEN SOME REPUBLICANS COULD NOT STOMACH

In June and July the DeSantis campaign shared videos that were condemned as anti-gay rights and racist, even by some fellow Republicans.

The first ad came at the end of June's Pride Month, when his campaign shared a video highlighting some of Trump's past statements supporting gay rights.

The video featured a montage of muscle-bound men, bolts of electricity flying from DeSantis' eyes, and an image of actor Christian Bale in the movie 'American Psycho', in which he plays a serial killer.

In July the DeSantis campaign fired a staffer who shared a pro-DeSantis video that featured him at the center of a Sonnenrad, a symbol appropriated by the Nazis in 1930s Germany and still used by white supremacists.

ODD COMMENTS ON THE TRAIL

DeSantis has long had a reputation as being a poor politician when in more intimate settings with voters. On the campaign trail, some of DeSantis' off-the-cuff comments have come off as strange or dissonant.

Last week, he vowed to start "slitting throats" inside the federal bureaucracy if he becomes president. Asked if he had watched Trump on Aug. 3 being arraigned for a third time this year on criminal charges, DeSantis said he had been too busy overseeing an execution in Florida.

(Reporting by Tim Reid; Editing by Ross Colvin and Alistair Bell)
(Reuters) - Novo Nordisk said a large study had shown its highly effective obesity drug Wegovy also had a clear cardiovascular benefit, boosting the Danish drugmaker's hopes of moving beyond Wegovy's image as a lifestyle drug.

Novo, Eli Lilly and Pfizer are among the dozens of drugmakers chasing an up to $100 billion market of obesity treatments, which could also include oral options in the future. The following is a list of companies targeting the next big blockbuster opportunity:

NOVO NORDISK

Novo Nordisk said a large study had shown its highly effective obesity drug, Wegovy, also had a clear cardiovascular benefit.

The drugmaker in June reported late-stage trial data from a high-dose oral version of its drug, semaglutide, helping overweight or obese adults lose 15% of their body weight in a, which was in line with recent results for other experimental obesity pills.

Novo Nordisk's weekly injection Wegovy, known as Ozempic when used for diabetes, was approved in 2021. The company also has an older product Saxenda, approved in 2014, but Wegovy is considered safer and more effective.

ELI LILLY

Lilly reported last year that diabetes drug Mounjaro showed a 22.5% weight loss in people who were obese or overweight but did not have diabetes.

Mounjaro, also known as tirzepatide, is awaiting U.S. regulatory approval for the treatment of obesity.

Eli Lilly said a mid-stage trial of its next-generation obesity drug candidate, a once-weekly injection of retatrutide, showed it led to a weight loss of up to 24.2% after 48 weeks.

PFIZER

Pfizer Inc said it was scrapping the development of its once-a-day pill on concerns about liver safety, but will continue developing its other obesity pill, the twice-daily danuglipron.

The company expects to finalize plans for a late-stage program for danuglipron by the year-end and is also developing a once-daily version of that drug.

In May, danuglipron showed results in weight loss similar to that of Novo's semaglutide.

AMGEN

Amgen's experimental obesity drug, AMG133, showed a mean weight loss of 14.5% after 12 weeks of treatment at the highest monthly dose.

ALTIMMUNE

Altimmune said in March its drug, pemvidutide, helped reduce weight by more than 10% on average in a mid-stage trial.

However, patients also experienced nausea and vomiting of mild and moderate severity.

VIKING THERAPEUTICS

Viking Therapeutics Inc's drug, VK2735, showed up to 6% reduction in mean weight in an early-stage study.

The company plans to test higher doses of the drug over a longer treatment window in a mid-stage trial.

ZEALAND PHARMA

Denmark's Zealand Pharma and Boehringer Ingelheim's experimental obesity treatment achieved up to 14.9% weight loss in a mid-stage trial on Wednesday.

OPKO HEALTHOpko Health has completed a mid-stage trial of its obesity drug, pegapamodutide, which it expects will have fewer side effects.

(Reporting by Mariam Sunny, Pratik Jain and Sriparna Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila and Anil D'Silva)
The funeral and celebration of life service for the Easley police officer who died last week in the line of duty was held Tuesday morning.

Matthew Logan Hare, 22, was struck and killed by a train in the early hours of Aug. 2 while assisting an individual undergoing what officials say was "a mental health crisis."

Several hundred members of the community and law enforcement, as well as Gov. Henry McMaster, attended the service honoring his life.

Individuals who knew Hare, including his great-uncle Perry Stancil, spoke during the ceremony and shared memories of him as a cheerful, selfless and purposeful individual who was committed to his job. Hare was hired by the Easley Police Department in October 2022 and graduated from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy in March of this year.

Hare was a 2019 graduate of Easley High School where he played football. He's remembered as an "avid fan" of Clemson Football, and his greatest joy came from spending quality time with loved ones.

Hare's service took place at 11 a.m. at Rock Springs Baptist Church in Easley. Around 10 a.m., a large crowd of mostly law enforcement gathered outside the church and afterward welcomed a procession that started at Robinson Funeral Home.

A number of law enforcement helicopters also participated in a flyover.

The procession departed the funeral home onto South 1st Street and from there left onto West 1st Avenue, right onto S. Pendleton Street and left onto Highway 123 towards Greenville before ending at the church.

Hare's casket was removed from the hearse shortly before 11 a.m. Sergeant James Ryan from the North Charleston Police Department played the bagpipes while law enforcement filed inside the church where members of the community were already seated.

James Ryan of North Charleston police plans bagpipes during a Celebration of Life service for fallen Easley officer Matthew Hare, at Rock Springs Baptist Church in Easley, S.C. Monday, August 7, 2023. Easley native Hare, 22, passed away August 2 while serving in the police department. Family and law enforcement honored him with their presence, as well as visitors along U.S. Highway 123.

Rev. Lawson Clary of 5 Point Church in Easley began the ceremony with prayer and opening remarks. Clary and others said Hare was a "hero" for saving someone he did not know.

"I've never really known a hero till now, and I hate that this is the way I got to feel what that's like," Stancil said. "But I do thank the Lord for the short time we all had Matthew, and the short time I got to spend around him."

"Everyone knew that Matthew was always going to do the right thing, no matter what," Easley PD Uniform Patrol Captain, Brandon Liner said.

Liner described Hare as an eager and dependable young man who strove to keep his community safe.

Hare was pronounced dead on scene at 6:20 a.m. last Wednesday, Aug. 2 by the Pickens County Coroner's Office. After a call that came in around 5 a.m. of an individual undergoing a "mental health crisis," Hare and another officer located the individual on the railroad tracks near the 2000 block of East Main Street around 6 a.m., according to a Facebook post by the Easley Police Department.

On Thursday, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division announced that the woman Hare assisted was charged with breach of peace, aggravated in nature. According to the warrant from SLED, the woman laid across the tracks while intoxicated and resisted law enforcement's attempts to remove her. That charge will be prosecuted by the 13th Judicial Circuit Solicitors Office, according to SLED.

"The circumstances that surrounded last Wednesday are tragic, and we anguish over that," Dr. Chris Jordan, chaplain with Easley PD, said.

After remarks Tuesday, Hare's end-of-watch radio call was held and he was honored with a 21-gun salute.

A recording of the ceremony can be watched here.

A memorial fund for Hare has been set up and has raised over $35,000 as of Tuesday afternoon.

Chalmers Rogland covers public safety for the Spartanburg Herald-Journal and USA Today Network. Reach him via email at crogland@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Matthew Hare died in the line of duty. Funeral held in Easley SC.
A falling tree killed a 15-year-old boy as he entered his grandparents garage during a powerful storm, South Carolina officials said.

The teenager was getting out of a car when rain and strong winds caused a tree to come out of the ground. The uprooted tree hit the boy and also toppled onto the homes garage and fence, according to the Anderson County coroners office.

The 15-year-old was found trapped under the tree and was pronounced dead. He was identified in a news release as Evan Christopher Kinley of Anderson.

The teen died at about 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 7. That afternoon, the National Weather Service warned that dangerous storms could batter the region with 75 mph winds, tornadoes and hail the size of ping-pong balls. Thousands of Duke Energy customers had no power after the bout of severe weather, which created widespread storm damage, officials said.

Anderson School District Five said Evan was tragically killed as the storms rolled through. He was a 10th grader at T.L. Hanna High School, which planned to have additional support in place for students and employees.

Words never seem to convey comfort during a time like this, but please take a moment to remember why we are in the roles that we are, and please keep Evan, his family, and the TLH students, faculty, and staff in mind as you go about your day, Superintendent Brenda Kelley wrote in a statement to workers, according to an email the district shared with McClatchy News.

Though an investigation continues, Evans death has been ruled a weather-related accident. He died of multiple traumatic injuries secondary to blunt force trauma, the coroners office wrote.

In addition to the tree that hit Evan, several others fell on his grandparents property and in the surrounding Anderson neighborhood, officials said.

Anderson is roughly 30 miles southwest of Greenville.

Falling tree kills wife canoeing on river, injures husband and a child, NC officials say

Family watches on FaceTime as falling tree kills 59-year-old, California officials say
Hundreds of migrants amassed in Juarez on the south banks of the Rio Grande in an hours-long clamor for a chance to enter the United States.

The Monday protest emerged after a false rumor circulated that the U.S. would "open the border" on Aug. 8  the latest ruckus sparked by misinformation spreading online through migrant communities.

Venezuelan and other migrant men and women shouted and rattled the steel gates of a railroad crossing and allegedly threw rocks across the river.

At 8:50 p.m., the group of migrants attempted to breach the crossing and make a mass entry, said U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials.

U.S. border authorities, including CBP's Special Response Team, responded by discharging pepper balls at protesters to disperse the crowd.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers stand behind concertina on the northbound railroad bridge after migrants congregate on the south side in Ciudad Juarez after a social media rumor circulated that they would be allowed entry to seek asylum.

The number of migrants encountered in Border Patrol's El Paso Sector dropped by half after the end of Title 42 expulsions in May, declining to roughly 13,000 encounters in June from more than 26,000 in May. The sector includes El Paso, part of West Texas and New Mexico.

But migrants have continued arriving in Juarez through the summer months, and tensions are again growing.

Many Venezuelan families have been less willing to stay in a network of faith-based shelters in Juarez, where migrant aid organizations often provide factual information about migration opportunities in the U.S. Some sleep in the streets, even as triple-digit temperatures break historical records.

Migrants pleaded with U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers to allow entry into the U.S. as they stood next to a gate on the northbound railroad bridge in Ciudad Juarez that leads into El Paso after a rumor on social media circulated claiming that they would be allowed entry to seek asylum.

Migrants say they face robbery and mistreatment in Juarez by criminals and law enforcement.

More: 'Its burning out there': Amid record heat, migrant deaths at border surge in Sunland Park

A Chihuahua state migrant aid organization, the Centro de Atencion Integral al Migrante, has recorded between 100 and 150 migrants per day seeking assistance at the agency's office near the border in Juarez, Director Enrique Valenzuela said.

"Every day more people arrive. We are seeing more people in the streets again," he said. "We have so many people who don't want to go to the shelters. We insist on the official information that we have. The CBP One application has facilitated access for many people who want to request a date and time to present. But the demand is great."

Migrants pleaded with U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers to allow entry into the U.S. as they stood next to a gate on the northbound railroad bridge in Ciudad Juarez that leads into El Paso after a rumor on social media circulated claiming they would be allowed entry to seek asylum.

The Biden administration rolled out new features on the government's CBP One cellphone application earlier this year, allowing some migrants to seek entry to the U.S. via an appointment system.

An appointment doesn't guarantee a migrant will be released into the country or afforded immigration relief; the administration continues to remove migrants to Mexico and their countries of origin.

NOTICE: People should not believe smugglers or others claiming the borders are open. The borders are not open to irregular migration, and people should not make the dangerous journey. https://t.co/WM82es32fO pic.twitter.com/OmQghDCkJD  CBP (@CBP) August 8, 2023

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Migrant protest treatment in Juarez after false 'open border' rumor
One of the larger fireworks businesses off Carowinds Boulevard in Fort Mill may one day be the site of a new fast food restaurant -- or two.

The owner of House of Fireworks at 3474 U.S. Highway 21 has applied to rezone the almost three-acre site. The new zoning would allow a fast food restaurant with a drive-thru. Current zoning does not allow that use for the site, despite the propertys location among several similar restaurants. House of Fireworks sits just beside a McDonalds.

The York County planning commission will hear the case Aug. 14.

The property up for rezoning is a 20,000-square-foot fireworks business. The large red and yellow building is prominent as one of several big firework retailers along Carowinds Boulevard. For decades that area has been a fireworks hot spot due to its close proximity to I-77 and the North Carolina border. Fireworks sales are legal in South Carolina, but not in North Carolina.

According to its website, House of Fireworks has been a family-owned business for more than 50 years.

Crazy, screaming noise: S.C., N.C. fireworks fans flooding York County

Several other large firework retailers surround House of Fireworks.

Four years ago, a fire broke out on July 4 in a storage unit between neighboring Davey Jones Fireworks and House of Fireworks. It sent sights and sounds of fireworks exploding into the sky until fire crews were able to contain it. That fire eventually was ruled as arson.

Morning sky ablaze in South Carolina town as fireworks containers burn on July 4th

According to the zoning information from the county, the 20,000-square-foot building, which includes firework sales along with auto repair and rental services would be demolished. The property owner proposes construction of two new quick serve restaurants, each with a drive-thru.

A site plan submitted by the property owner shows a two-restaurant layout with access off U.S. 21, and another access to the rear of the property. The site plan and other documents sent to the county dont identify the new restaurants.

A more than 2,800-square-foot restaurant at the center of the site would have two full drive-thru lanes with two ordering stands, according to the site plan. That would be similar to how a Cook Out or Chick-fil-A might be oriented.

The smaller restaurant would be about 2,300 square feet on the side facing McDonalds. It would have one drive-thru lane that splits into two ordering stands, according to a site plan, the way a McDonalds might be oriented.

The Carowinds Boulevard area near I-77 has grown in recent years and has a variety of fast food options. Near the main entrance to Carowinds at Regent Parkway there are a Wendys, Moes, McDonalds, Burger King, Bojangles, Zaxbys, Culvers, Starbucks, Jimmy Johns and two Subways.

The two proposed new restaurants would start their drive-thrus toward the rear of the property and exit on the U.S. 21 side. There is a planned Pennies for Progress road improvement in the area. It will realign U.S. Highways 21 and 51. As part of that work, access points to properties in the area will be evaluated to fit the new road layout.

Gas station, vet office

The county has other rezoning proposals to consider when the planning commission meets. One would bring back a convenience station at S.C. 160 and Gold Hill Road, between Fort Mill and Tega Cay. Another would allow for a veterinarian beside a popular Lake Wylie attraction.

Here is a preview:

An attorney for Sams Commercial Properties has applied to rezone half an acre at 2891 S.C. 160. There was a gas station there previously but it hasnt been open in some time, so now the site needs rezoning to allow a new one.

The original plat for the since-closed gas station dates back to 1979 when Gold Hill Road was listed as Tega Cay Road. A new site plan shows an almost 2,400-square-foot metal building with three gas pumps. According to the application, existing structures will remain on-site as part of the reopening. A specific gas station company isnt named.

Another zoning proposal involves the Lake Wylie Bowl N Bounce shopping center off S.C. 49. The 20-acre shopping center developed a decade ago by York Development Group at 4035 Charlotte Highway would be allowed more business use types with the zoning change. Specifically, a veterinarian could set up shop there.

The zoning change wouldnt impact the ability of existing businesses in the 51,000-square-foot shopping center.

All of the zoning requests must go to the county planning commission for a recommendation. That recommendation then goes to York County Council, which will have final say. Council would need three votes and a public hearing to change any property zoning.
Ashley McKenzie-Smith, stands in front of Mt. Moriah police precinct as she demands answers from Memphis Police Department about the death of her son, Aug. 8, 2023.

Family and friends of Jaylin Keshawn McKenzie stood in front of the Mt. Moriah Memphis police precinct Tuesday, demanding answers about the death of the 20-year-old Atlanta native. The intimate crowd gathered under umbrellas and held signs, while McKenzie's mother gave a heartfelt address.

Ashely McKenzie-Smith, the mother of McKenzie, told reporters that the family still does not have a police report of the traffic stop or an incident report. McKenzie-Smith said that there are still inconsistencies with the limited information Memphis Police Department has released.

"The police claim that my son shot first, so I ask myself 'Where is the gun? Why haven't they been able to produce any evidence of a gun at all?'" McKenzie-Smith said.

McKenzie was shot and killed by a MPD officer after a traffic stop in December 2022, according to MPD. His death was one of five officer-involved shootings that finished out the final five weeks of the year.

Family and friends of Jaylin McKenzie, a 20-year-old who was killed after a Memphis Police Department traffic stop in December of 2022, held a memorial on June 10, 2023 at American Way park in Memphis, Tenn.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said on Dec. 16 MPD officers attempted to pull over a vehicle and three individuals exited the vehicle and ran away from officers. TBI said that one male was pursued down the street, and exchanged gunfire with an officer. The individual was later identified as McKenzie, and after the gunfire exchange was shot by the officer. McKenzie received medical aid but later died on the scene, according to reports from law enforcement.

According to his mother, McKenzie was visiting family in Memphis and was riding in a white Infiniti with three other males. McKenzie-Smith said that she has not been able to identify the other passengers in the vehicle, or other personnel on the scene when McKenzie was shot and killed.

MPD still has not publicly identified the officer who shot McKenzie, but the family claims to know the name of the officer.

McKenzie-Smith called on Memphis politicians and community leaders to join her in the fight for answers about her son's death, saying that she has reached out to multiple politicians but has not received a response. McKenzie-Smith also said she is happy about the Department of Justice's investigation of MPD.

Family and friends of Jaylin McKenzie, a 20-year-old who was killed after a Memphis Police Department traffic stop in December of 2022, held a memorial on June 10, 2023 at American Way park in Memphis, Tenn.

"We have been asking for help, but MPD, TBI and the local politicians haven't helped at all," McKenzie-Smith said. "In fact, our open records requests have been denied three times. I am being denied the right to know what happened to my son."

DA addresses ongoing investigation

During a separate press availability Tuesday morning, Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy said he could not discuss the specific details of the TBI investigation, but said he had been in contact with TBI about the McKenzie investigation.

"I spoke to a TBI person about that very case, Jaylin McKenzie, this morning," Mulroy said. "Part of the holdup has been waiting for lab results to come back. There are ballistic tests that still need to come back, and I've asked to talk to the lab people about speeding that up. [The person I spoke to] thinks that it's a matter of days before we will be able to get that [test]."

Mulroy  in an address marking his first 100 days in office on Dec. 21, five days after McKenzie was killed  said he hoped giving the Shelby County District Attorney's Office's Justice Review Unit jurisdiction to advise charges for police shootings would add trust and transparency to the process.

Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy is seen during a court hearing in July, 2023.

Tuesday morning, he said that information should be given out quickly even as his office has only publicly announced charges  and released video or other related documents  for officers in the Tyre Nichols case.

"I think all agencies should be as transparent as possible and should give information out as quickly as possible, so long as it doesn't undermine or in any way threaten the legitimacy of the investigation," he said Tuesday. "In the case of video, if all the key witnesses, whose testimony or statements to police might be influenced by the video have already been interviewed, then we should be moving to get that video out sooner rather than later because I think transparency is an important consideration. So I think there's room for improvement for all of us in that respect."

McKenzie-Smith said that the family is planning for another protest on Sept. 16th if their demands are not met. The family wants the TBI investigation to be completed, MPD to release all the names of the officers involved and those who were on the scene, for video footage of the incident to be released and the police report and incident report of the shooting to be released.

"The police have still never given us anything official, we are waiting," McKenzie-Smith said.

Brooke Muckerman covers Shelby County government for The Commerical Appeal. She can be reached at brooke.muckerman@commercialappeal.com and followed on Twitter @BrookeMuckerman.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Family of Jaylin McKenzie, shot by Memphis police, seek police report
The family of Pvt. Travis King is walking back claims that they have not been contacted by the Army since King went over to North Korea.

Jonathan Franks, a spokesman recently hired by the family, took responsibility for the shift in message, telling Military.com in a phone call Monday that "in the hectic end to the week, I got my wires crossed."

An Army spokesman told Military.com that the service was "confirming details with Travis' unit" but asserted it was "in regular contact with the family and endeavored to provide all possible information."

Read Next: Air Force, Space Force Offer New Mental Health Referrals Under Brandon Act

On Monday, Cynthia Smith, an Army spokeswoman, told Military.com that, since King crossed into North Korea, "an Army commander continues to communicate with [King's mother] via telephone several times a week."

Smith did not immediately provide additional details when asked by Military.com about the frequency of the phone calls, duration of each conversation, and the name of the Army commander.

"The questions that she has, like any mother would have, are probably pretty difficult for the military to answer at the moment," Franks said.

Although Franks readily took responsibility for the mismatch in statements, he also noted that the family has struggled with the amount of attention they've received from national media since the story of King's departure broke on July 18, 2023.

Four days ago, King's mother, Claudine Gates, and his uncle appeared on "Good Morning America," where she said she couldn't "function" or "think straight."

"I was sure that at the end of the week, the issue was the Army was calling and not getting an answer, and it turned out they've been calling," Franks said.

Meanwhile, questions swirl about whether the military will consider King a prisoner of war -- a designation that carries certain protections and entitlements under the Geneva Conventions.

Franks says that former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who has negotiated with North Korea on numerous occasions and helped arrange prisoner releases from other countries, has agreed to help in their case.

It was only on Aug. 1 -- two weeks after King disappeared into the reclusive dictatorship -- that the Pentagon announced North Korea had acknowledged the United Nations Command's inquiries. But the Pentagon's top spokesman, Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, told reporters at the time that he didn't have "any substantial progress to read out."

Last week, Reuters reported that U.S. officials have yet to confer the status on King, citing his decision to cross into North Korea of his own free will and in civilian attire.

Speaking with reporters Monday, Ryder said that granting King that status is just one possibility -- there are others.

"That's all still under discussion right now," Ryder said, before noting that "the primary goal right now is just ensuring that Pvt. King is OK, that he's being taken care of."

A defense official told Military.com that they expect King to be treated humanely, in accordance with international law.

-- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin.

-- Thomas Novelly can be reached at thomas.novelly@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomNovelly.

Related: Frustration and Questions Swirl for Family of Soldier Who Ran into North Korea
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has told US media she is carrying out the Trump probe as she would any other case

Fani Willis was preparing to start her new role as Fulton County District Attorney in Georgia when Donald Trump made a phone call to a top Republican in the state that would upend her work for the next several years.

On 2 January 2021, the former president phoned Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and asked him to "find 11,780 votes", the number he needed to beat Joe Biden, who had won the state and the 2020 presidential election several weeks before.

Audio from the call was leaked to US media the next day, sparking an outcry on Ms Willis's first day in office.

"How soon I knew an investigation may be warranted was on day one," Ms Willis told USA Today in 2022. "The phone call was enough to cause grave concern."

Two-and-a-half years after that phone call, on 14 August 2023, a grand jury in Fulton County voted to charge Mr Trump and 18 others with attempting to overturn the election result in the state.

Mr Trump's lawyers called the indictment "shocking and absurd" while the former president derided it as the latest development in what he's branded a political "witch hunt".

Fani Willis is known by fellow Georgia lawyers and those who have worked with her as a dogged prosecutor capable of securing convictions in high-profile and complex cases.

"She had a reputation of always being prepared," said Melissa Redmon, who worked in the Fulton County District Attorney's office at the same time as Ms Willis. "Given the type of cases she prosecuted, that took a tremendous amount of dedication."

Some of Ms Willis's most-prominent trials to date include a controversial Atlanta Public Schools scandal involving officials who cheated to improve standardised test scores, and several well-known rappers who were accused of gang crimes.

Ms Willis has insisted that in the investigation into Mr Trump's activities her office followed the same procedures it would if anyone had potentially committed a crime in her area.

"The reality is, we have a job, and the job is just to try to find the truth," she told the New York Times in February. "We're just going to do that [Trump] case like every other."

The BBC has reached out to Ms Willis's office for comment.

The first female Fulton County DA

Born in Inglewood, California in 1971, Ms Willis was raised primarily by her father, a criminal defence lawyer and member of the Black Panthers, the radical political party which championed black rights.

The district attorney has said her father's work led her to the courthouse from an early age.

She graduated from the historically black college Howard University in 1993, before receiving a law degree from Emory University in Georgia in 1996.

Just five years later, Ms Willis joined the Fulton County District Attorney's office, where she served in several different divisions until 2018.

During her nearly two decades there, Ms Willis led more than 100 jury trials, including the longest criminal trial in Georgia history. It ended with convictions for 11 of 12 Atlanta public school officials accused of cheating on state-administered standardised tests in 2009 for better bonuses and promotions.

Her successful trials quickly secured her a reputation of being an exceptionally skilled prosecutor, even among the accused, said Ms Redmon. During her time at the DA's office, Ms Redmon remembers hearing a defendant once plead with a relative to try to get a witness to leave town because the prosecutor tackling their case, Ms Willis, was "a genius".

After her time in the office ended, Ms Willis spent several years in private practice. Then, in 2020, she decided to go head-to-head with her former boss, six-term Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard.

She won in a runoff election with 73% of the votes, becoming the first black woman to serve as Fulton County's top prosecutor. As Fulton County's district attorney, she is responsible for representing the government in criminal cases, investigating crimes in the county, determining whether charges should be brought and prosecuting cases in court.

The probe against Trump

Ms Willis launched the investigation into Mr Trump's post-election conduct just a month after his infamous phone call to Mr Raffensperger.

Her office has interviewed dozens of witnesses, including top Georgia Republican officials like Governor Brian Kemp and Mr Raffensperger as well as Mr Trump's former lawyer Rudy Giuliani.

Mr Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social to repeatedly lambast the investigation. The "Radical Left Democrat 'Prosecutor' from Georgia who is presiding over one of the most Crime Ridden and Corrupt places in the USA, Fulton County, has put together a Grand Jury to investigate an absolutely 'PERFECT' phone call to the Secretary of State", he wrote in 2022.

In response to the former president's attacks, Ms Willis has argued that no one is above the law.

"I do not have the right to look the other way on a crime that could have impacted a major right of people in this community and throughout the nation," she told the New York Times last September.

She has faced threatening messages - some littered with racist and sexist language - because of the work, according to emails she reportedly forwarded to Fulton County commissioners.

With additional reporting from Kayla Epstein
A left-wing consultant who has pocketed tens of thousands of dollars from a committee linked to House members of the far-left 'Squad' claims Israel is "intent" on committing genocide against Palestinians, Fox News Digital has found.

The Squad Victory Fund, a joint fundraising venture that includes the campaigns and leadership PACs of Democrats such as Reps. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Cori Bush of Missouri and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, has doled out $86,000 to Unbought Power LLC for fundraising consulting since June 2022, a review of Federal Election Commission records shows.

Unbought Power is a Florida-based consulting and advocacy firm owned and operated by Rasha Mubarak, a Palestinian-American Muslim activist who has repeatedly voiced anti-Israel viewpoints on social media platforms. Mubarak recently took her contentious beliefs to another level, stating that she believes Israel intends to destroy Palestinians.

CORI BUSH'S CAMPAIGN CONTINUES TO SHELL OUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO HER HUSBAND FOR PRIVATE SECURITY

"An Israeli occupation tank attacks the entrance of a hospital  their genocide is clear, their intent to ethnically cleanse Palestinians is immeasurable, the impact is 75 years and counting," Mubarak tweeted in early July.

Mubarak, who locked her Twitter profile after Fox News Digital reached out for comment, which she did not provide, has a history of bashing Israel over what she calls its "state-sanctioned violence."

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"These aren't clashes  it's an ongoing occupation," the Palestinian activist tweeted in May 2021. "These aren't evictions  they are forced expulsions. This isn't a conflict  it's settler colonialism, it's ethnic cleansing, it's oppression, it's apartheid."

"Say it loud. Say it clear. Palestine will be FREE," she added.

Mubarak also attacked Jewish Florida Democrat Rep. Ted Deutch in September 2021 after he had pushed back against Tlaib when she labeled Israel an apartheid state.

AOC'S CAMPAIGN KEEPS PAYING CHINESE FOREIGN AGENT, FEC FILINGS SHOW

The Squad Victory Fund, which raises money then passes it to campaigns and committees of far-left Democrats, has paid Mubarak's firm nearly $90,000. (Getty Images)

"Oh look it's [Deutch] throwing another tantrum," Mubarak tweeted. "He used his time to attack [Tlaib] for underscoring facts also made by Human Rights Watch [and B'Tselem]  Israel is indeed an apartheid state."

"He's flustered [because] how else does one rebuttal the truth?" she added. "Bullying [and] disparagement."

Like Mubarak, many of the Squad members have slammed Israel or made comments deemed antisemitic that landed them in hot water. Last month, several of them also voted against a resolution to affirm that Israel is not a racist or apartheid state.

Tlaib, the only Palestinian American member of Congress, tore into the resolution on the House floor ahead of the final vote.

"We're here again reaffirming Congress' support for apartheid," Tlaib said. "It's an attempt to deny the reality and to normalize violence of apartheid."

Tlaib also appears to have linked Mubarak up with the Squad Victory Fund.

Before Mubarak began performing work for the committee, Tlaib's campaign added Unbought Power to its payroll in March 2020. Later that year, Tlaib's PAC, Rooted in Community Leadership, where Mubarak serves as treasurer, also started paying the firm for fundraising consulting. According to a review of their filings, they have combined to funnel $344,000 to her firm.

Rashida Tlaib's campaign and leadership PAC added Mubarak's firm to their payrolls prior to the Squad Victory Fund, signaling she put in a recommendation for her. (Getty Images)

Tlaib's committees and the Squad Victory Fund are the only federal entities to pay Mubarak's consulting company, a search of the FEC database shows.

The Squad Victory Fund did not respond to a Fox News Digital inquiry regarding Mubarak's payments and her comments.
Taco Johns, the fast food restaurant that has served tacos, quesadillas, burritos and potato oles from its spot near Kennewick High School for more than 40 years, will close at the end of the month.

The Kennewick restaurant is a franchise of Wyoming-based Taco Johns International.

Officials could not be reached about the closure but a local employee confirmed the restaurant is vacating its leased quarters at 701 W. Vineyard Drive, at South Garfield.

Taco Johns will close by the end of August, according to a notice offering the property for lease on LoopNet, a commercial listing service.

Taco Johns has been a staple of the neighborhood since the building was built in 1981. A Vancouver, Wash.-based owner is looking for a new tenant to take over, with asking rent of $6,750 per month.

Lance Bacon of Kiemle Hagood is the listing agent.

He expects the space to be quickly released to another restaurant.

Taco Johns is closing in August after 40 years at 701 W. Vineyard Drive, near Kennewick High School.

The location is close to downtown Kennewick, on a corner used by about 12,000 vehicles per day.

There are relatively few other fast food options in that area which includes Kennewick High, St. Joseph Catholic Church and School, the Kennewick School District headquarters and businesses such as Big 5 Sporting Goods and SpareTime Lanes & Arcade.

Cascade building burns, again

The Cascade building, a historic structure in the heart of downtown Kennewick, caught fire again Aug. 4, about 18 months to the day after an earlier blaze left it a charred husk and forced out neighboring businesses.

Fortunately, the latest fire isnt as damaging as the first and neighbors report they were spared the water and smoke damage of the first fire.

Kagen Cox, owner of Kagen Coffee & Crepes, said his plans to open a second location, at 308 W. Kennewick Ave., are unaffected by a recent fire at the Cascade building next door.

Kagen Cox, of Kagen Coffee & Crepes, said his efforts to open a new edition of his Richland restaurant in downtown Kennewick were unaffected by the fire next door.

Cox is taking over the spot formerly occupied by Foodies Brick & Mortar and recently painted his logo in the window.

Foodies was driven out by the fire and moved to Columbia Park on the Kennewick waterfront.

Desert Gem & Mineral, another neighbor, was forced to rebuild after the first blaze. Owner Dennis Schoeneberg said he had a bad case of deja vu when he arrived at work at 6:30 a.m. Sunday to find firetrucks parked outside his business once again.

Dennis Schoeneberg of Desert Gem & Appraisal, said his downtown Kennewick business suffered only minor damage after a recent fire at the adjacent Cascade Building. Desert Gem had to be rebuilt after an earlier, devastating fire in the same building in February 2022.

The first time around, he was alerted when firefighters broke through his front door. That didnt happen this time, so he was caught by surprise when he pulled up.

Schoeneberg said the damage was minimal, with some ceiling tiles wrecked by water and a roof needing repair. He planned to be back in business Tuesday.

As a neighbor, Scoheneberg is eager to see the Cascade building restored and reoccupied with tenants on the second floor.

Repair work noticeably picked up in the month before the new blaze, which Kennewick fire officials deemed suspicious after initial reports that someone forced their way inside the building before the fire broke out.

The Little Plant Shop

The Little Plant Shop has closed its original Pasco location, 3315 W. Court St., Ste. 100, according to a Facebook post. The shop is keeping its store at 709 The Parkway in Richland.

Owner Jose Chavez opened the Pasco shop in 2021 and followed that up with the Richland location in early 2023.

The Little Plant Shop is a plant nursery offering houseplants, accessories and classes on topics ranging from re-potting to making Japanese moss balls.

Follow The Little Plant Shop at LittlePlantShopTC.com

Real Deals closing

Mother-daughter entrepreneurs Vikki Butler and Brittini Van Heel are closing their Richland boutique at 1364 Jadwin Ave. in the Uptown Shopping Center in Richland.

Butler and Van Heel, have owned Real Deals since 2017, put the shop up for sale in June as Butler made plans to retire.

To date, no buyer has materialized. Real Deals has been holding an ongoing liquidation sale for the past several months.

It is currently expected to close at the end of August, according to the Uptown Shopping Center Facebook page.

The shop is accepting gift cards. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Go to realdeals.net/richland

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Few Wisconsin colleges consider legacy in admissions decisions. But some offer scholarships

The U.S. Supreme Courts decision to ban the consideration of race in college admissions has put pressure on institutions to end another controversial practice: preferences for children of alumni.

In Wisconsin, few colleges and universities consider "legacy" status in admissions decisions, according to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel review. And because most Wisconsin schools accept far more students than they reject, it's likely many legacy students would have gotten in regardless of their family's history of attendance.

But there's another way in which legacy can benefit already advantaged students: Some schools offer scholarships specifically for students with a family member who graduated from there. At least 13 Wisconsin institutions do, according to the news organization's review of 28 school scholarship websites.

Richard Kahlenberg, a nonresident scholar at Georgetown University and longtime critic of legacy preference, called legacy scholarships "equally troubling." He urged institutions to phase them out, especially if scholarship criteria don't consider other factors, too, such as financial need.

"To the extent that (schools are) trying to diversify in new ways after the Supreme Court ruling, then having a scholarship for legacy students seems counterproductive," he said.

White House takes aim at legacy admissions

Giving admissions preference for legacy students has been around for decades, but there's renewed scrutiny of the practice in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling, which many expect will lead to less diverse college campuses.

President Joe Biden said he'd ask the Education Department to examine practices like legacy admissions and other systems that expand privilege instead of opportunity.

Is legacy considered at the Wisconsin flagship?

At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the most selective school in the state, legacy status is not reviewed or considered as part of the admission process, and it hasn't been for many years, according to UW-Madison spokesperson John Lucas.

That's despite the university indicating the opposite for more than a decade on its Common Data Set, a questionnaire schools file annually. Beginning in 2019, "we ensured our answer was changed and properly reported," Lucas said.

In other public statements, the university has offered contradictory information about legacy preference.

In 2019, for example, then-Chancellor Rebecca Blank wrote in a blog post: If you want to get into UW-Madison, youll have to rely on your own record, not the record of your parents."

The following year, the Wall Street Journal wrote a story about legacy admissions that included an interview with Blank's chief deputy, Provost John Karl Scholz.

Theres no rule, theres no leg up, theres no bump, theres no points given to legacy applicants, Scholz told the Journal in 2020. But there is a minuscule weight. If we have two applicants who are truly otherwise viewed as equivalent, I think legacy would favor the applicant who has that legacy.

Asked about the conflicting information, Lucas said Andre Phillips, who has served as director of the Office of Admissions and Recruitment since 2017, confirmed legacy status has not been used as a factor during his entire time on campus.

Other Wisconsin schools and legacy preference

Twelve other Wisconsin institutions indicated on their most recent Common Data Set that alumni relationships are considered in the review of applications. But when contacted, seven indicated the form  assembled by their own employees  was incorrect, and legacy is not considered in admissions decisions.

"This may be a sign that there is a new stigma associated with legacy preferences," Kahlenberg said. "This is a practice that no one really wants to defend publicly."

At UW-La Crosse, which indicated on its form that legacy status is considered, university spokesperson Kyle Farris said legacy "has not been a significant consideration for admission in the past and will not be a consideration for admission in the future."

Schools that consider legacy in admissions said it plays a small role in the overall process.

UW-Platteville uses legacy status primarily to point prospective students to scholarships, spokesperson Paul Erickson said. GPA, rigor of high school classes and the student essay are much more important.

At Lawrence University in Appleton, legacy has been "a minor factor among the many factors" in the admissions process. University spokesperson Ed Berthiaume said Lawrence is currently reviewing how it will handle legacy admissions going forward.

Beloit College considers legacy status, but doesn't give preference to those applicants, spokesperson Jennifer Fetterly said. The information is used to tailor communications to specific students. College officials are mulling whether to remove information on legacy status from application reviews.

At Marquette University, the largest private institution in the state, admissions officers review a wide range of submitted materials, including legacy status if students wish to submit that information as part of their applications. Last year, 23% of the incoming freshman class were first-generation students and 19% were legacy students, university spokesperson Lynn Griffith said.

What about scholarships?

A handful of states interpreted the Supreme Court decision as forbidding them to consider race or ethnicity not only in admissions, but scholarships, too.

In Wisconsin, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, indicated the Legislature will move to repeal state laws and programs based on race, including a state-run scholarship program for students of color.

Most Wisconsin schools have said they're waiting on federal guidance to see how the court ruling will affect scholarships.

At least 13 institutions, including several that don't consider legacy status in admissions, offer scholarships for legacy students.

The scholarships can help less-selective schools on the recruiting front.

Carthage University's Alumni Council provides three $1,500 scholarships annually to direct relatives of graduates. Daughters, granddaughters, sisters or nieces of Alverno College alumnae can receive a $1,000 scholarship for up to four years.

Some schools don't require students to apply for the money. Edgewood College students with a family history at the school are automatically awarded between $500 and $3,000.

Other schools target the scholarship to returning students. Legacy students at Lakeland University who have finished their first year can receive up to $3,000 in scholarship money as upperclassmen.

"It hopefully gives us an edge in that the family has some familiarity with the institution," Lakeland spokesperson David Gallianetti said. "Maybe that young person knows Lakeland because their mom or dad came here and have memories of the place."

Contact Kelly Meyerhofer at kmeyerhofer@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KellyMeyerhofer

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin colleges weigh legacy admissions after Supreme Court ruling
Compiled by California Outdoors Hall of Fame member Dave Hurley and edited by Roger George, who guides in the greater Fresno area and holds the striper record at Millerton Lake.

Photo gallery

Show off your success! Share your fish photos and videos with Bee readers. Please share only jpeg images and Mp4 video files. Include Fishing Report in the subject line and a full caption and email to sports@fresnobee.com.

Best bets

Westside waterways catfish and stripers active, Bill Sterling said. Don Pedro kicking out trout, king salmon and Kokanee, Monte Smith reported. Pine flat bass on a good bite, Michael Crayne said. Millerton spotted bass hitting, Michael Spencer reported. New Melones still producing big Kokanee, Kyle Wise said. San Luis stripers on the prowl, Josh Mesa reported. Delta bass and striper bites going, Alan Fong said.

Valley

Westside waterways

Striper 3 Catfish 3

Bill Sterling of Striperz is a RT Gone Wild said, The water in the aqueduct north of the ONeill Forebay is running fast as the head gates are wide open, and you have to know how to fish the fast current with lures. I keep catching and releasing a limit of stripers with a Lucky Craft Pointer 120 in Sexy Shad along the sides of the headgates in the Gustine, Newman, Westley, and Patterson areas. South of the forebay, the moss is accumulating as boat traffic in the forebay breaks off the weeds which end up in the aqueduct. Anglers have been complaining about the amount of weeds, particularly those who are soaking bait. Josh Mesa of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill reported a consistent catfish bite with chicken livers or dough baits.

Striperz Gone Wilds Three-Year Anniversary Fall Classic Striper Derby is 5 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 7 at the Hilldale Bridge with a BBQ, 50/50 raffle, and prizes in the adult and youth divisions.

In the south aqueduct in Kern County, the striped bass bite is strong with pile worms, cut bait, or nightcrawlers coated with garlic scent. Catfishing remains solid with Triple S Dip Bait, cut baits, or chicken livers. Largemouth bass are active around the floating mats with plastics or topwater lures.

Call: Valley Rod & Gun, Clovis 292-3474; Bobs Bait Bucket, Bakersfield (661) 833-8657.

Eastman Lake/Hensley Lake

Bass 2 Trout 1 Bluegill 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2

Eastman and Hensley remain very tough for bass anglers as the fish are holding in the deepest water. Michael Crayne of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis said, The water on top is hot with the coldest water on the bottom. The schools of bait fish are heavy at Eastman, and this may be why the bite is so bad. Small algae blooms are taking place in both lakes. Hensley has been a ghost town with few anglers trying.Eastman dropped 2  feet to 554.95 feet in elevation and 66% with Hensley dropping 3 feet to 507.55 feet in elevation and 51% as water releases continue.

Call: Eastman Lake (559) 689-3255; Valley Rod & Gun, Clovis (559) 689-3255; (559) 292-3474; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hensley Lake Hidden Dam 673-5151

Lake Don Pedro

Bass 2 Trout 3 Kokanee 3 King salmon 3 Crappie 2

Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing said, We are still catching kokanee, king salmon, and rainbow trout, and we were out on Sunday without a bite for the first few hours before we started getting hit. After missing out on the first four hook ups, my clients got into the groove with three big kokanee, three rainbows, and a 5-pound king salmon. I saw the big salmon at 45 feet, and I quickly raised up the downrigger to this depth. Before I could get it to 45 feet, the line came off the downrigger, and I grabbed the rod and started reeling before handing off the rod to young Hayden Andrews. It started taking line, and it ran out 200 feet in short order before he was able to make up ground. We saw the big fish come to the surface, and we all kept quiet until the big king was in the net. The kokanee are scattered at depths from 65 to 75 feet, and they are in a totally different area than they were a few weeks ago. The key is working along the east side of the lake where the prevailing wind is pushing up both the plankton and the bait. For bass, John Liechty of Xperience Bass Fishing Guide Service said, My client, Berah McSwain of Nashville, Tennessee, caught and released a 9-pound largemouth on a trout-patterned swimbait. Pedro has been the most consistent Mother Lode lake for both spotted and largemouth bass. Ryan Cook of Ryan Cooks Fishing said, Its definitely been a tougher bite here, but we are still scoring with the Megabass Vision 110 + 1 jerkbait in shad patterns, 1/4-ounce Kastmaster in blue/silver, or shad-patterned plastics on the drop-shot. The bass are all suspended, and there are large schools of small shad. The Tuolumne River arm is open as the log boom near Wards Ferry Bridge was removed on August 3rd giving boaters access to the entire lake. There is still some floating driftwood in the upper river. The lake dropped 1.25 feet to 823.75 feet in elevation and 96%.

Call: Monte Smith, Gold Country Sport Fishing (209) 581-4734; Kyle Wise, Head Hunter Guide Service (209) 531-3966; Ryan Cook, Ryan Cooks Fishing (559) 691-7008.

Lake Isabella/Bakersfield area

Bass 3 Trout 2 Crappie 2 Catfish 3 Bluegill 3

The lake dropped a foot to 2,602.63 feet in elevation and 94%. With the lake reaching an elevation not seen for years, the bass action has been stellar with crankbaits, walking-style topwater lures in. the early mornings, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, or big plastic worms in the 7-to 10-inch range with the best fishing remaining in the South Fork. Trout fishing is best in the colder waters of the North Fork with bank anglers working deep water access with garlic Power Bait or spinners. Trollers are finding success with shad-patterned spoons on leadcore line. Catfishing remains best with Triple S Dip Bait, nightcrawlers, or cut baits.

The Kern River at Kernville dropped from 622 to 157 cfs while water releases out of the dam have held steady at 2969 cfs at First Point. With the high flows out of the lake, the lower Kern is challenging, but in the long run, the flows will pay dividends in both the upper and lower Kern.

Call: Copes Tackle and Rod (661) 679-6351; Bobs Bait Bucket, Bakersfield (661) 833-8657; North Fork Marina (760) 376-1812; Golden Trout Pack Station (559) 542-2816. Lake Kaweah

Bass 2 Crappie 2 Trout 2 Catfish 3

The lake dropped 8 feet to 688.18 feet in elevation and 81%. There is a decent topwater bite in the early mornings along rocky structure with deep water access. Plastics on a Ned-rig, drop-shot, or Texas-rig are other solid producers once the sun comes out. The lake will be dropping water rapidly within the next few months. Catfish are another option with Triple S Dip Bait or chicken livers. The Kaweah River at Three Rivers is dropping, and it came down from 1092 to 712 cfs this week.

Lake Success

Bass 2 Crappie 2 Trout 2 Catfish 2

The lake dropped 1.25 feet to 646.78 feet in elevation and 85%. Despite the heat, bass fishing is fair at best with a decent reaction bite with chatterbaits or crankbaits before heading to the bottom with jigs or plastics on the drop-shot or Texas-rig. Catfishing remains best with Triple S Dip Bait or cut anchovies.

Call Copes Tackle and Rod (661) 679-6351; Sequoia Fishing Co. 539-5626, sequoiafishingcompany.com.

McClure Reservoir

Bass 2 Trout 2 King salmon 0 Kokanee 0 Crappie 2 Catfish 3

Few bass fishermen are targeting McClure as the bite remains challenging with the absence of a larger grade of fish. Typical of the other Mother Lode lakes, small bass are the rule with a topwater bite in the mornings before a reaction bite with deep-diving shad patterned crankbaits or spinnerbaits along the mud lines. Finally, plastics on the drop-shot is best by mid-morning. Catfishing remains solid at night along sloping banks with chicken livers, nightcrawlers, or cut baits. The lake dropped 2.5 feet to 853.09 feet in elevation at 91%.

Call: Ryan Cook, Ryan Cooks Guide Service (559) 691-7008.

McSwain Reservoir

Trout 2

The lake rose slightly from 93 to 95% with water releases down the Merced River. With the lack of trout plants since May, anglers are spending hours in the heat without a bite. There are some bass in the lake, but few are targeting the largemouths and spotted bass that have spilled over from Lake McClure. Kayaking, recreational swimming and boating dominate activity at McSwain during the summer months. Trout plants should resume in the fall months prior to the October Merced Irrigation District Trout Derby.

Call: Anglers Edge Market (209) 226-4416; McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534.

Millerton Lake/San Joaquin River

Bass 3 Striped bass 1 Shad 1 Bluegill 3 Crappie 2

Michael Spencer, advisor for the Roosevelt High School Bass Fishing Club, said, The club had a fun day on Sunday with everyone catching fish as we had a reward day at the lake after holding a huge clean up on Saturday. School starts next week, but the RHSBFC is not one to wait. We were part of the Mayors City Wide Clean Up putting a little polish on the neighborhood around Mosqueda Park, and Sunday was a day of fishing at Millerton practicing their fishing skills. Our anglers do not get on the water without our amazing boat captains, and Chase Dixon, Pierre Matthews, Daniel Lopez, and Mike Pawlowski gave their boats, their time, and their experience to the club to make it happen for our student members. The lake is way up, but everyone caught fish. Bill Kunz of St. Croix Rods was on the lake on Sunday for a few hours.

He said, I ran into a few decent ones. Michael Crayne of Valley Rod & Gun in Clovis reported a solid jig bite in the main lake and upriver near Finegold. He added, There is a decent topwater bite in the early morning, but there havent been any stripers reported recently. Water releases down the San Joaquin have dropped slightly from 525 to 457 cfs at Friant. The San Joaquin River from Friant Dam to the Merced County line is open for recreational use. Sycamore Park is open seven days per week. Bass action in the Trout Pond has been strong with a variety of techniques including plastics or crankbaits. The boat launch, parking area, and fishing pier are now fully open, dry, and accessible. The lake dropped 6 feet to 571.95 feet in elevation and 94%.

Call: Valley Rod & Gun (559) 292-3474.

New Melones Reservoir/Tulloch

Bass 2 Crappie 2 Catfish 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 3

Kyle Wise of Head Hunter Guide Service reported big kokanee continue to come at depths from 40 to 50 feet with Apex lures behind a gold Indiana dodger along with T-Bones Tackles Turtle lure. He said, This lure is similar to a big J-Pex, and we crushed them this week. Richard Kowski of Browns Valley reported landing a 20.75-inch kokanee weighing 3.2 pounds this week. There have been kokanee over 20 inches and 3 pounds reported this week.

I start every day by throwing topwater lures such as Whopper Ploppers or Spooks, and if we get six blow ups, that is a high point as the topwater bite has been basically non-existent, John Liechty of Xperience Fishing Guide Service said. The most consistent bite has been with plastics on the drop-shot or shakey head along with spinnerbaits or crankbaits along the mud line when the boat traffic picks up. Small Keitech swimbaits are also working, and the average fish are in the 1.5- to 2-pound range. The largemouth bass are all skinny with no weight at all, and the lake has totally flipped as this is the most difficult I have seen it since I started fishing here in 2006. There are lots of fry consisting of baby bass, but the shad schools are not in the shallows. They may be in deep water, but we arent seeing them. Last May, I had 30 days of chasing boils. Water releases have started, and the lake has dropped 2 feet to 1054.10 feet in elevation and 84%.

Call: John Liechty, Xperience Fishing Guide Service (209) 743-9932; Ryan Cook, Ryan Cooks Guide Service (559) 691-7008; Kyle Wise, Headhunter Guide Service (209) 531-3966; Monte Smith (209) 581-4734.

Pine Flat Reservoir/Kings River

Bass 3 Trout 2 Kokanee 0 King salmon 0 Catfish 2 Crappie 2

The lake dropped 4 feet to 943.09 feet in elevation and 95%. The lake has been fishing very well for bass with many area bass anglers focusing on Pine Flat. Michael Crayne of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis said, Anglers are scoring with Flutter Spoons, deep-diving crankbaits, umbrella rigs, jigs, and plastics on the drop-shot. There is a good topwater bite in the early mornings with some good action around the main launch ramp at Deer Creek and along all of the small points near the marina. The lake is releasing water, and the restroom is now completely out of the water as it was inundated only a few weeks ago. Parking a trailer remains a challenge with the high water. The flows on the lower Kings at Trimmer have dropped from 5359 to 3298 cfs. Spotted bass have moved into the lower Kings from over the spillway, and bass fishing has been solid in the recently-opened waters of the river.

Call: Valley Rod & Gun (559) 292-3474; Sequoia Fishing Co. (559) 539-5626.

San Luis Reservoir and ONeill Forebay

Striper 3 Catfish 2 Bass 2 Crappie 2

The lake is releasing water, and it has dropped from 92 to 90 %. Josh Mesa of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill said, Anchovies form the banks continue to produce limits of schoolie striped bass in the 20- to 26-inch range with larger fish to 32 inches a possibility. Most of the action has been around the pumps with moving water, particularly around Check 12. There is a topwater bite with Super Spooks as well as a jerkbait bite with Duo Realis 120s. The Duos have been hard to keep in stock.

Roger George of Roger George Guide Service said that the overall bite for boaters has picked up since the full moon began waning.  I took out three anglers from San Jose on Saturday and we hit it right for once trolling Lucky Crafts in Portuguese Cove at 50-70-feet.

Right off the bat Frank Castillo hooked a huge fish that measured 42 -inch and weighed 29.1 pounds, a huge new personal best. Not much later his buddy, Angel Nava also connected with a big fish that was 36 -inch and went 17.2 pounds, another big personal best.The third angler in the party also got his personal best with a 28-inch fish. Its very unusual to have all three anglers score new personal bests on the same trip - especially with those sizes in the mix, George said. All the fish were released using the Seaqualizer release tool.

In the forebay, the weeds are getting thick, and largemouth bass are chasing bait amongst the weeds along the shorelines. There is a topwater bite for bass along with plastics on the outside weed line, he added The forebay is at 81%.

To check the wind conditions on the lake use windfinder.com/forecast/san_luis_reservoir.

Call: Coyote Bait and Tackle (408) 463-0711, Roger George, rogergeorgeguideservice.com (559) 905-2954.

High Sierra

Bass Lake

Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 0

Mike Beighey of Bass Lake Fishing said, The lake is on one day and slow the next. The best trout action in front of Millers Landing to in front of the Forks at holdover rainbows to 19 inches with Apex lures behind a blue Rocky Mountain Signature Dodgers or Dicks Mountain Dodger along orange Dicks Mountain tubes. There is lots of boat traffic, but this doesnt bother the bite. The trout are at the surface in the morning before dropping down when the boats take off after 8 a.m. The kokanee remain MIA. Boat traffic will continue to be heavy until school opens once again in southern California. The heat has slowed the bass bite. A webcam of the launch ramp is available at https://basslakeca.com/.

Call: Mike Beighey, Bass Lake Fishing 676-8133.

Edison/Florence/Mammoth Pool

The Kaiser Pass lakes are rising, and trout fishing has been solid at both Edison and Florence Lake. Edison has is kicking out multiple browns and rainbows for troller with the high water level. All the lakes are nearly filled with Edison at 95, Florence at 84, and Mammoth Pool at 99%. Road conditions 297-0706.

Call: Vermilion Valley Resort at Edison Lake (559) 259-4000.

Shaver Lake/Huntington Lake

Kokanee 2 Trout 2

Dick Nichols of Dicks Fishing Charters, Shavers Guide Emeritus, said, Shaver action slowed as the week progressed as prior to the weekend. Trout are the predominant catch since the Department of Fish and Wildlife planted them last week. The plants, along with the holdovers, provided anglers with fair to excellent results. But as the days passed, the fish spread about the lake and there were less of them. The kokanee bite remains somewhat off.

Nichols fished on Thursday with Dr. Barbara Stewart who is known in the mountains and foothills as Doc Barb.

He said Stewart picked up over two limits of mixed fish, keeping only kokanee to 16 inches, carefully releasing the smaller fish and trout.

Her best tackle came on pink or orange Mountain Tubes tipped with scented corn behind her namesake dodger, the Doc Barb Mountain Dodgers that she designed.

On the side poles were purple Dicks Koke Busters or Dicks Scout Trout Busters tipped with a piece of crawler behind weighted Mountain Flashers at a setback of 120 feet.

We found trout to be in the 20-to-35-foot level, and the kokanee at 33-to-45 foot depth. The trout are scattered, and the kokanee that were biting seem to hang in front of Shaver Marina and the Point. On my Friday fishing trip with four relatives, we experienced a very slow early morning bite. By 8 a.m., we were hammering trout at the mouth of Dorabella Cove. We managed to keep a dozen yearling 14-to-15-inch rainbows and released the smaller fresh plants.

We used the same tackle as the day before. Sadly, we never had a known kokanee hook up. I think many koke fishermen are experiencing the slower koke bite. Most of the reports from Huntington trollers have been a good trout bite mixed with a few kokes. The kokanee are smaller than normal, the trout are recent plants. Basically, similar type tackle and bait are the favorites.

A webcam of the Shaver launch ramp is at sierramarina.com/webcam-weather-page.html and for Huntington at http://www.shaverlakewebcams.info/huntington.html. Shaver at 94 and Huntington at 97%.

Call: Todd Wittwer, Kokanee.net Guide Service 288-8100; Jerad Romero, Jrods Guide Service (559) 392-6994; Tom Oliveira, Tom Oliveira Fishing (559) 802-8072

Wishon/Courtright

Trout 2

Michael Crayne of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis said, Courtright remains slow, but there are trout taken deep in the back of the reservoir by trollers pulling blade/crawler combinations, spoons, or Rapalas. There have been more browns than normal landed this year. The trout action at Wishon has been fair, but with the triple-digit heat in the valley, the lake has been crowded, particularly on the weekends. The last plant was two weeks ago.

Call: Wishon RV Park (559) 865-5361

Ocean

Half Moon Bay

Rockfish 3 Striper 2 Bluefin tuna 2 Halibut 2 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 3

There is finally a weather window after over 30 days of offshore wind, and boats will be heading out mid-week to see what is out there. There is tremendous excitement about bluefin, and both private and party boats will be chasing the big fish. Most boats will be trolling Nomad Designs Mad Macs, and a trip on a party boat ranging from $500 to $600 with a limited load.

Coastal rockfishing remains excellent with Capt. Michael Cabanas of the New Capt. Pete saying, Our coastal shallow water rockcod trips continue to produce some nice quality rock cod and lingcod with limits of mostly bottom dwellers, Our last trip produced 10 limits of rockfish. Earlier in the week, Cabanas took out volunteers and staff from the California Collaborative Fisheries Research Program to the Marine Protected Area cells within Ano Nuevo for a total of 384 fish from a season-high 18 different species! Memorable catches from the day included a California halibut and three tag recaptures from three different species! Rockfishing is open at any depth until Dec. 31.

Call: Capt. Michael Cabanas, New Capt. Pete (510) 677-7054; Capt. Chris Chang, Ankeny Street (650) 279-8819; Capt. Bill Smith, Riptide (650) 728-8433; Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing, Queen of Hearts (510) 581-2628

Monterey/Santa Cruz

Rockfish 3 Halibut 2 Striper 2 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 3

Rockfishing remains outstanding out of Monterey Bay with the Check Mate out of Chriss Fishing and Whale Watching in Monterey checking in with 22 limits of rockfish and 28 lingcod to over 20 pounds on Monday. The weather window for bluefin tuna will open by mid-week, and the boats are icing up.

Call: Chris Landing (831) 375-5951; Allen Bushnell, Santa Cruz Kayak and Surf Casting (831) 251-9732

Golden Gate/San Francisco Bay

Halibut 3 Striper 3 Rockfish 3 Leopard shark 2 Sturgeon 2

Boats are gearing up for the mid-week weather window, and Capt. Jerad Davis of Salty Lady Sportfishing out of Sausalito has accumulated his heavy tackle and is ready to go for one of the best prices at about $500 per angler. Capt. James Smith of the California Dawn 2 has a waiting list for the ideal opportunity to use his new sonar unit to hunt tuna on an overnight trip. This will be the first northern California vessel to attempt the same techniques used in southern California waters. His trips are limited to 12 anglers on his spacious boat with its huge cabin. If, and when Smith finds success, others are sure to follow his lead.

With the weather finally calming down, rockfishing will open up once again at the Farallon Islands along with deep water locations like Fanny Shoals and the Rittenburg Banks. Coastal rockfish action remains outstanding with party boats finding limits of rockfish and limits of ling cod on a routine basis. Halibut continue to be found outside the Golden Gate on either the North Bar or along the coastal beaches.

This weeks vastly improved weather will allow for more drifts on the North Bar.

Capt. Ron Koyasako of Nautilus Excursions had a banner day on Monday on a half-day trip with limits of quality halibut and 7 big striped bass up to the 12-pound range for a group of four anglers. Captain Jonathon Smith of the Happy Hooker out of Berkeley put in 10 halibut in the bay during the morning on Saturday before running outside in challenging weather conditions for 14 limits of rockfish and 15 lingcod. The sister ship, the Pacific Dream, is taking a Phenix Rods coastal combination trips on Tuesday with an AXIS Rod for the jackpot winner while the Happy Hooker will be on a halibut trip. The next Phenix Rods trips on the Pacific Dream, hosted by Fresno-native Vince Borges, is Sept. 8 and Oct. 14. Western Outdoor News has a open load charter trip on Oct. 13 on the California Dawn 2 with plenty of swag from the magazine. Captain James Smith of the California Dawn 2 continues to put on stellar coastal combination trips with 20 limits of lingcod, 18 halibut to 22 pounds, and 3/4 limits of rockfish.

Coastal combination trips will continue through October depending upon weather and the diminishing presence of halibut, but another combination window opens on the first Saturday in November with the arrival of recreational Dungeness crab season for crab/rockfish combinations.

Call: Capt. Ron Koyasako, Nautilus Excursions (916) 704-4169; Capt. Jerad Davis, Salty Lady (415) 760-9362; Capt. Steve Mitchell, Hookd Up Sport Fishing (707) 655-6736; Happy Hooker (510) 223-5388

San Luis Obispo

Rockfish 3 Surf perch 3

Rockfish season is now open all depths through Sept. 30. The Black Pearl out of Virgs Landing was on a 1.5-day trip ending Monday with 22 anglers for 18 lingcod, 176 vermilion, 170 assorted, 79 Boccaccio, 6 rock sole, and 2 halibut while the Fiesta was on a 3/4th-day trip on Monday with 20 passengers for 60 vermilion, 60 assorted, and 20 Boccaccio for near-limits. Out of Morro Bay Landing, the Avenger was on a 3/4th-day trip on Monday with 13 anglers for limits consisting of 100 assorted, 20 vermilion, and 10 Boccaccio. Out of Patriot Sport Fishing in Port San Luis, the Patriot was out on Monday with 18 anglers for 153 assorted rockfish, 7 vermilion, 1 lingcod, and one rock sole. Webcams of many of the coastal locations are available at https://805webcams.com/.

Call: Virgs Landing (800) 762-5263; Patriot Sport Fishing (805) 595-4100; Morro Bay Landing

Others

Delta/Stockton

Bass 3 Striper 3 Sturgeon 2 Catfish 2 Bluegill 3

The big news out of the California Delta is the upcoming Fish and Game Commission Meeting to take place in the San Jose area on Oct. 11th as the Department of Fish and Wildlife will present recommendations based upon research, the recent angler survey, and the collaboration of a select committee on sturgeon including department biologists, representatives of the recreational party boat community, and recreational sturgeon fishermen. One possibility is a pause on the take of white sturgeon during the 2024 calendar year, creating the opportunity to allow the sturgeon population to be adequately studied prior to developing additional regulations for 2025. Despite information floating around the internet that a catch-and-release fishery-only is proposed starting in 2024, the department employees and committee members continue to evaluate information and work through internal discussions. A final recommendation has not been determined, but closer to September, the recommendation will be publicly noticed to provide stakeholders to attend and provide the opportunity to voice their opinions prior to the Oct. 11 meeting. The proposed 2025 regulation changes would reflect a harvest rate of 4%, down from the 8 to over 20% harvest rate estimated over the past several years.

Interested sturgeon anglers should put this meeting date on their calendars now, but in the meantime, anglers have until August 15th to complete the white sturgeon survey from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Fishes/Sturgeon along with educating themselves on the issue at the same website.

Alan Fong of Alan Fong Outdoors continues to throw chatterbaits in the flats north of the Rio Vista Bridge for outstanding action for both largemouth bass and striped bass at depths from 2 to 4 feet. The key is finding moving water over the tops of the flats.

Randy Pringle, the Fishing Instructor, was the tournament director for the weekends Snag Proof Open.

We were fortunate to host 142 teams not counting our juniors, and the anglers at the top of the leader board did well, he said. In the past, we had three-fish limits to 17 pounds during the Snag Proof, but this is a very different year. The water is still high and herbicide spraying continues throughout many areas of the California Delta. Anglers are concerned about the amount of spraying affecting the bass. About 60% of the field found good bites, but the other 40% struggled. There were bass blowing up on the frogs, but they werent eating it. One team of experienced anglers in their 70s didnt have a fish on a frog for two days, so they decided just to fun fish with spinnerbaits and crankbaits while dropping out of the tournament. They landed a 7-pound largemouth on crankbait and had a great time. Fishing with a frog can be feast or famine, and you might throw it a hundred times without a hit, and you still have to be ready to set the hook right away when they do take it. It is very easy to miss a bite on a frog. We were very happy with our field, and thanks to American Bait Works, we were able to send home our juniors loaded up with tackle.

The Delta Cross Channel Gates at Walnut Grove have been opened, but they may be closed from time to time on a short-term basis. Updated information on the status of the gate is available through this link - https://www.usbr.gov/mp/cvo/vungvari/dcc_chng.pdf.

Call: Randy Pringle (209) 543-6260; Capt. Steve Mitchell, Hookd Up Sport Fishing (707) 655-6736; Vince Borges, Vince Borges Outdoors (209) 918-0828.

Lake Nacimiento/San Antonio/Santa Margarita/Lopez

Bass 2 White bass 2 Striper 0 Catfish 3 Crappie 2 Bluegill 2 Trout 2

At Nacimiento, water releases have started, and although the lake is historically full, it has dropped to 78%. Spotted bass action is fair, but by far, the best action is in the early mornings before the heat and heavy recreational boating drives anglers off the water. Keitech swimbaits, plastics on the drop-shot or Ned-rig along with grubs and tubes are working. White bass are boiling on occasion, and white Kastmasters or white grubs are the key for the whites. Catfishing is best with Triple S Dip Bait, anchovies, or fresh shrimp. A webcam of the lake is available at https://805webcams.com/lake-nacimiento-live-webcam/. Lopez Lake dropped slightly to 98.6%, but it is basically still full. There is a finesse bite with big plastic worms, lizards, or Brush Hogs in crawdad-imitation patterns around the flooded vegetation. Anglers can view a live webcam of the lake at https://805webcams.com/lopez-lake-webcam/.

At Santa Margarita, area with flooded vegetation is the key for largemouth bass, and chatterbaits, Senkos on a wacky-rig, or walking-style topwater lures are working best. While Lopez has a good finesse bite, the reaction bite at Santa Margarita has been outstanding with topwater lures, chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, or jerkbaits around the heavy vegetation. The lake is releasing water, and it dropped slightly to 94.3%. A webcam of the lake is available at https://805webcams.com/santa-margarita-lake-webcam-california. At San Antonio, the lake helped at 68%. Catfishing remains best with chicken liver, mackerel soaked in garlic scent, or Triple S Dip Baits. With the high water, the bass remain a challenge as they are spread out throughout the lake. Finding the shad schools are the key, and shad imitation lures are most effective.

Reminder: consuming white bass, black bass, crappie, catfish, or carp are subject to safe eating guidelines due to excessive mercury.

Events

Striperz Gone Wild Three-Year Anniversary Fall Classic Striper Derby - 5 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 7 at the Hilldale Bridge with a BBQ, 50/50 raffle, and prizes in the adult and youth divisions.

Tournament results

Aug. 5-6

Delta/Russos Marina  Snag Proof Open Pro Division (Six Fish total)

1st  Austin Wilson/Kirby Wallace  25.64; 2nd  Hung Ho/Mui Loung  21.41 (Big Fish  9.58); 3rd  Tyler and J.D. Madden  21.33.

Delta/Russos Marina  Snag Proof Open Amateur Division (Six Fish total)

1st  Mario Blackwell/Lewis Spalling  19.79 (Big Fish  6.85); 2nd  Charles Cornelison/Sheldon Bisbee  19.20; 3rd  Larry Lubner Sr./Larry Lubner Jr.  18.54.

Aug. 5

New Melones  Manteca Bassin Buddies Night Tournament

1st  Bill Vernon/Brian Mackey  9.15; 2nd  Fred and Jim Ruiz  6.75; 3rd Jason and Jake Hopper  6.45.

Upcoming tournaments (dates and locations subject to change)

Aug. 9

Delta/Ladds Bertolli Disposal Wednesday Night Shoot Out

Aug. 9-10

Tulloch  Grumpy Old Men

Aug. 12

Delta/Ladds Marina  Bass Anglers of Northern California/Tri Valley Bassmasters

New Hogan  Outlaw Bass Club

Isabella  Golden Empire Bass Club

Lopez  Kern County Bassmasters

Aug. 13

Don Pedro  Best Bass Tournaments/Modesto Ambassadors

Aug. 16

Delta/Ladds Bertolli Disposal Wednesday Night Shoot Out

Aug. 16-17

Tulloch  Grumpy Old Men

Aug. 19-20

Millerton  Fresno Bass Club

Aug. 19

Delta/Ladds Marina  Nor Call Bass

Bass Lake  Sierra Bass Club

Isabella  American Bass Club

Santa Margarita  805 Bass Addicts

Aug. 20

Delta/Russos - Anglers Press

Pardee  Gold Country Bass Tour

Aug. 23

Delta/Ladds Bertolli Disposal Wednesday Night Shoot Out

Aug. 26-27

Millerton  Bass 101

Aug. 26

Delta/Big Break  Bass N Tubes

Santa Margarita  805 Bass Addicts

Aug. 27

New Melones  Riverbank Bass Anglers

Aug. 30

Delta/Ladds Bertolli Disposal Wednesday Night Shoot Out

For more go to fresnobee.com/fishing.
Inspectors at Mississippi Health Department found critical violations at five South Mississippi restaurants since mid-July, grading one restaurant a C for the fifth time since 2020 and another for the third time.

These restaurants were cited since July 21:

Sushilicious & Thai at 315 U.S. 90, Waveland, was inspected Aug. 4 for a permit renewal and earned its fifth C in three years.

It was cited for:

 Food not in good condition, safe and unadulterated

 Improper date marking and disposition

Corrected during the inspection was certified manager in place.

IHOP at 11475 Cinema Drive, DIberville, was inspected Aug. 1 for a permit renewal.

It was cited for:

 Insects, rodents or animals present

 Inadequate hand washing facilities supplied and accessible, a repeat violation

Corrected during the inspection were:

 Food separated and protected

 Food contact surface cleaned and sanitized

 Proper cold holding temperatures

This is the third C at the restaurant since 2020.

Twin Peaks restaurant, 3516 Sangani Blvd., DIberville, was inspected Aug. 1 for a permit renewal.

It was cited for:

 Improper tasting, drinking or tobacco use, a repeat offense

 Toxic substance properly identified, stored and used, a repeat offense

 Inadequate hand washing facilities supplied and accessible

Corrected during the inspection were:

 Certified manager

 Last inspection report posted

This is the first C dating back to 2015.

Circle K Store, 10010 U.S. 49, Gulfport, was inspected Aug. 3 for a permit renewal.

It was cited for:

 No certified manager

 Improper cold holding temperatures

Corrected during the inspection was adequate hand washing facilities supplied and accessible

This was the first C since 2016.

El Sabor Costeno, 220 Eisenhower Dr., Biloxi, was inspected July 13. It had seven violations, six of which were corrected during the inspection. It was cited for sewage waste water not properly disposed.

During a follow-up inspection on Aug. 3, the restaurant again scored a C when the sewage waste water issue was not corrected.

Restaurants and other food service establishments in Mississippi are rated A if they pass the health department inspection, B if violations are corrected during the inspection, and C if the violations are critical.

Since July 21, there have been 92 restaurants in South Mississippi that scored an A for no violations and 14 that got a B when violations were corrected during the inspection.
Residents of Masiphumelele set up burning barricades amidst an ongoing strike by taxi operators against traffic authorities in Cape Town, South Africa, August 8, 2023

Five people have died in violent protests relating to a taxi strike in Cape Town, South Africa, officials say.

The victims include a 40-year-old British national whose family is being supported by the UK Foreign Office.

The week-long strike was called in response to what drivers said was "heavy-handed tactics" by law enforcement authorities.

The taxi drivers and owners said their vehicles were being targeted and impounded for minor offences.

Infringements included not wearing a seatbelt and illegally driving in the emergency lane, drivers said. They claimed others doing the same only faced fines.

Minibus taxi operators across Cape Town also aired frustrations that the government was impounding taxis they claimed were not roadworthy.

On Tuesday, South Africa's transport minister Sindisiwe Chikunga ordered the immediate release of the minibus taxis impounded by the City of Cape Town.

Ms Chikunga said the legislation used by the city had been "executed and implemented wrongly" and added that "it doesn't exist" under current laws.

The South African Ministry of Police said 120 people had been arrested since the strikes began on 3 August and they were aware of incidents of looting, stone throwing and arson.

Police Minister Bheki Cele also confirmed a police officer was among those who died.

On Tuesday, residents in the Masiphumelele township set up barricades, preventing other residents from leaving. Many of those barricades were set alight.

Speaking to the press on Tuesday, Mr Cele called for co-operation between the Cape Town government and taxi operators. He said those affected by the strike included children who could no longer get to school.

"People must swallow their pride, come together and resolve this issue", he said.

The UK has issued a travel warning after the strike was listed as a high security threat for tourists visiting South Africa.
Floridas Controversial Slavery Education Standards Divide Black Republicans | Pixabay

The controversy over Floridas attempt to whitewash the history of slavery continues to rage within the state and throughout the country. New details about the process that led to the guideline changes point to two Black Republican operatives as the driving force behind the new curriculum. Meanwhile, a number of Black Republicans have broken ranks with their party to condemn the suggestion of slavery as beneficial to Black people.

The Florida State Board of Education set off a firestorm last month when it published new education standards for the teaching of Black history in public schools, including instructions that appear to whitewash the history of slavery and anti-Black violence in American history. The new standards include teaching how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit. The curriculum also takes a both-sides approach to acts of anti-Black mass violence like the 1921 Tulsa Massacre and the 1923 Rosewood Massacre, describing acts of violence perpetrated against and by African Americans. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis claims not to have been involved in crafting the new requirements but has stood by the offensive idea that slavery imparted skills that enslaved people could later use for doing things later in life such as being a blacksmith. DeSantis has also taken to blaming the uproar over the curriculum on Vice President Kamala Harris, who made a special trip to Florida to denounce the changes as an attempt to gaslight us about slavery.

Even as DeSantis, who is running for the Republican presidential nomination, doubles down on the attempts to whitewash history, members of the committee that approved the new standards have distanced themselves from the decision. According to statements made by members of the 13-person committee, many of them opposed the new standards. They point fingers at William Allen and Frances Presley Rice, two Black Republicans on the committee, as the driving forces behind the new standards. The two issued a joint statement defending the curriculum and listing various people who they claim validate their statements about the beneficial skills learned through slavery; others have since criticized their list as inaccurate.

Want the truth on Floridas African American History Standards? See statement below from experts who crafted them. 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. pic.twitter.com/7pR8GBFu2l  Alex Lanfranconi (@AlexLanfran) July 20, 2023

Some of the strongest condemnation has come from Black Republicans who have broken ranks with their party over the Florida education standards. Former Texas representative and current presidential candidate Will Hurd was quick to condemn the reinterpretation of history, saying that slavery was not a jobs program. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, another presidential candidate, said that slavery was just devastating and urged the Florida politicians to clarify their positions. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., said the new slavery teaching regarding personal benefit is wrong and needs to be adjusted, while Diante Johnson, president of the Black Conservative Federation, used the controversy to argue that Ron DeSantis is not the candidate for Black conservatives. DeSantis has lashed out against people like Scott and Donalds, accusing them of siding with Harris. This led to Rep. John James, R-Mich., another of the few Black Republicans in Congress, condemning DeSantis for going too far by attacking Black conservatives over their opinions on slavery.

With the Florida education guidelines being condemned across the country, the controversy over Floridas latest effort to whitewash history wont die down soon. The states attempt to minimize the evils of slavery has created a racial rift within the Republican Party that is impacting the presidential race, and it may have continuing repercussions within the party and the country as a whole.
Floridas fourth largest school district is advising its teachers and faculty to only address students with names and nicknames that have been signed off by their parents amid concerns about the states strict new pronoun policies that have been slammed as anti-trans.

In a memorandum addressed to school staff and faculty on Monday, Orange Countys deputy general counsel instructed educators to obtain written permission from parents to use any name deviations.

As an example, if the student is named Robert, but likes to be called the nickname Rob, the form must be filled out authorizing teachers and other personnel to call Robert the nickname Rob, wrote John C. Palmerini, the countys deputy general counsel office of legal services.

If a form is not filled out, the staff is advised to address students by the first name listed on the class roster or their last name to avoid potential sanctions.

The guidance is in response to the recent passage of House Bill 1069 that expanded the Parental Rights in Education law, which critics have dubbed the Dont Say Gay law. The Florida Capitol in Tallahassee is pictured.

The guidance is in response to the recent passage of House Bill 1069 that expanded the Parental Rights in Education law, which critics have dubbed the Dont Say Gay law. The Florida Capitol in Tallahassee is pictured.

The guidance is in response to the recent passage of House Bill 1069 that expanded the Parental Rights in Education law, which critics have dubbed Dont Say Gay. The legislation  signed among a number of controversial bills targeting the LGBTQ+ community by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) in May  imposes new rules on school bathrooms, preferred pronouns and permitted classroom topics.

The bill prohibits employees and students from providing, being asked to provide, and being required to use certain titles and pronouns.

Palmerini, in a separate letter to the schools principals and technical college directors on Monday, said its unclear under the new rules whether a parent is allowed to request that a school employee address their child by a pronoun that does not correspond with the childs biological sex at birth.

The State Board of Education has not given guidance on this precise question, Palmerini stated.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in May signed a number of controversial bills targeting the LGBTQ+ community. HB1069 expanded the so-called Dont Say Gay law.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in May signed a number of controversial bills targeting the LGBTQ+ community. HB1069 expanded the so-called Dont Say Gay law.

However, educators found violating the states pronoun rules risk disciplinary action, including the potential revocation of their teaching certificate.

An educator cannot solicit a childs pronouns, as this is directly prohibited by law  a parent would have to approach the educator about utilization of a pronoun differing from the childs biological sex at birth, wrote Palmerini.

The states Department of Education and office of the education commissioner did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday.

In addition to new rules on pronouns, HB1069 prohibits classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity from pre-K through eighth grade. All K-12 schools, as part of school policy, also must state that a persons sex is an immutable biological trait and that it is false to give someone a pronoun that does not correspond to their sex.

The legislation has been dismissed as an anti-LGBTQ+ effort to erase transgender and non-binary people from schools curricula. It would further lead to staff and students being deadnamed or misgendered by one another, the Human Rights Campaign has said. Being deadnamed is using a transgender persons name from before they transitioned.

The ACLU of Florida has called the legislature shameful, anti-LGBTQ+, and blatant government overreach.

Make no mistake: The First Amendment protects the right to learn and share ideas. But the legislature has tried everything in its power to diminish and stigmatize Floridas LGBTQ+ community and chill free speech in classrooms, said Tiffani Lennon, the non-profits executive director. By signing this bill into law, the Governor continues his assault on our First Amendment rights. This is a clear example of dangerous governmental overreach and a threat to our democracy.

Related...
Hillsborough County in Florida has informed educators they are only allowed to teach specific excerpts of William Shakespeares works due to new state laws restricting certain discussions in class.

The county school district said certain parts of Shakespeare can not be taught because of the Parental Rights in Education Act, dubbed the Dont Say Gay law by opponents, which restricts classroom discussions that are sexual in nature, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

It was also in consideration of the law, school district spokeswoman Tanya Arja told the outlet.

Students will be taught parts of Macbeth, Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet, but will not have to read the full plays for class.

Another reason for the change is the new state curriculum and exam standards, according to the outlet. Before, students had to read two full novels or plays, but changes have been made due to the new Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking standards.

Due to the number of books that can be on the exam, students now need to read one full novel and excerpts from five or seven different books.

We need to make sure our students are prepared with enough material during the year so they will be prepared for their assessments, Arja said, according to the local outlet.

A school board member took to social media to express her displeasure at the decision and how the board has not been informed of many recent changes before they were made public.

I spent hours on the phone this morning with frustrated parents (of all partisanship) who are outraged with the direction of public education and who feel like the people who are influencing public education policies have zero stake in public education, and dont have children who utilize our public school system, board member Jessica Vaughn said in a Facebook post.

Honestly, it feels that much of this is intentional, in order to cause as much chaos in public education as possible, so that the collapse of public education is swift and the agenda of education privatization can move forward with less obstacles, Vaughn added.

The Hill has reached out to the Hillsborough County school district for comment.

Joseph Cool, a reading teacher in the district, told the Tampa Bay Times that the rest of the nation  no, the world, is laughing us.

Taking Shakespeare in its entirety out because the relationship between Romeo and Juliet is somehow exploiting minors is just absurd, he added.

The GOP-led changes to Floridas education system have increasingly raised eyebrows. The states Orange County Public Schools announced Monday that transgender employees cannot use their pronouns or bathroom that matches their gender identity due to the Parental Rights in Education Act.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.  Federal authorities are probing state and local officials over the Florida Department of Educations handling of a multimillion dollar bid to oversee a rural school district, an issue the DeSantis administration pledged to investigate last year.

Federal prosecutors in Gainesville have requested scores of documents  including correspondence between school officials, charter school lobbyists and former top leaders in DeSantis education department  surrounding a long-running Jefferson County School District saga that sparked the resignation of a high-ranking Florida Department of Education staffer and former state Board of Education chair, according to a subpoena first reported by the Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times.

In the subpoena, federal authorities are also looking into how the Florida Department of Education may have steered a contract to help run the school district toward a former GOP state representative and colleague of former Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, a top education ally of the governor.

The federal grand jury, which issued the subpoena in late June, could ultimately shed more light on a scandal that produced outrage and a state investigation in 2022, yet no findings that have seen the light of day.

The investigation centers around a contract sought by Florida in 2021 to help transition Jefferson County schools back to becoming a traditional local school district. A charter company had operated Jefferson County schools since 2017-18 after years of poor academic performance and financial turmoil.

In two different instances, it was previously revealed that vendors with ties to the DeSantis administration and Corcoran attempted to land the states $4 million bid to work alongside schools in Jefferson County. Now, both of these cases appear to be on the radar of U.S. Department of Educations Office of Inspector General based in Pembroke Pines in Broward County.

The Florida Department of Education, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment, previously investigated Andy Tuck, a citrus grower first appointed to the state board in 2014, and Melissa Ramsey, the vice chancellor for strategic improvement at the agency, to determine if they broke conflict-of-interest rules by attempting to leverage their positions to score the contract with the state.

That investigation, led by FLDOEs inspector general, revealed that a company run by Tuck and Ramsey submitted an application through a third individual for a state contract. However, that contract was only open to certain approved vendors, and their proposal was partially copied and pasted from a competitors work.

But both Tuck and Ramsey resigned from their posts amid the probe, essentially closing the door on the agencys investigation.

The federal subpoena requests mounds of records in an attempt to gain more details about meetings and inner workings between state, local officials and other players, naming Ramsey, former K-12 chancellor Jacob Oliva and Suzanne Pridgeon, FLDOE deputy commissioner for finance and operations.

Oliva, now the secretary of education in Arkansas, was never subpoenaed and has not been asked to testify, state officials there said when asked about the news from Florida.

The articles reference a bid that was reviewed by the Inspector General about two years ago, Kimberly Mundell, spokesperson for the Arkansas Department of Education, said in a statement to Arkansas Times. At the time of the state investigation, no evidence was found of any wrongdoing involving the secretary. The secretary is completely unaware of any new investigation.

The only other bid received by the state to run Jefferson came from MGT Consulting  an outfit operated by Trey Traviesa, a former state representative and colleague of Corcoran. Reports from the Miami Herald suggested the Jefferson County bid was tailored specifically to MGT, and that the company was given prior knowledge surrounding the project criteria. MGT, however, did not win the bid, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

To that end, federal authorities also sought communications between Traviesa, MGT Consulting, Jefferson County schools superintendent Eydie Tricquet, representatives from Somerset Academy Inc., which was operating Jefferson schools, and Ralph Arza, a well-known charter school lobbyist and Corcoran ally.

Officials with the DeSantis administration said in January 2022 that Florida Chief Inspector General Melinda Miguel would investigate the Jefferson County contract fracas. Nothing from this probe, if it exists, has been made public.
A statewide firefighters union has joined the Florida Police Benevolent Association in challenging the way a state agency is carrying out a new law that placed additional restrictions on public-employee unions.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

The law, approved this spring by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-controlled Legislature, included restrictions such as preventing union dues from being deducted from workers paychecks. But in a move that drew debate, lawmakers exempted unions representing law-enforcement officers, correctional officers and firefighters from the restrictions.

The Police Benevolent Association, however, filed a challenge in late July to proposed rules issued by the Florida Public Employees Relations Commission, which is responsible for carrying out the law.

The proposed rules would apply the restrictions to PBA bargaining units made up of workers such as dispatchers and 911 operators who are not law-enforcement or correctional officers, according to the challenge. The Florida Professional Firefighters joined the case this week, and the Teamsters union, which represents a smaller number of public-safety workers, also intervened.

The case, filed at the state Division of Administrative Hearings, contends the exemptions from the restrictions were intended to apply to all workers represented by public-safety unions  not just law-enforcement officers, correctional officers and firefighters.

In an apparent disregard for and in contravention of the plain and unambiguous language of the exemptions  the proposed rules impermissibly limit the scope of the exemptions based on the classification of members within individual bargaining units rather than applying the exemptions to the employee organization as a whole, the PBAs lawyers wrote in the challenge, filed July 27. Under the proposed rules, the PBA and the members of the individual bargaining units comprised only of civilians, would not be exempt.

Administrative Law Judge Robert Cohen has scheduled an Aug. 29 hearing in the case.

The administrative case is one of a series of legal challenges to the law. Teachers unions and other public-employee unions have filed at least three lawsuits in federal and state courts arguing parts of the law are unconstitutional.

In addition to preventing dues from being deducted from workers paychecks, the law requires union members to fill out new government-worded membership forms and will require unions to be recertified as bargaining agents if fewer than 60 percent of eligible employees are members.

GOP lawmakers were widely viewed as exempting public safety unions from the restrictions because organizations such as the PBA and the firefighters union have supported DeSantis and other Republicans politically. Meanwhile, for example, teachers unions have been among DeSantis biggest critics.

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But the PBAs concerns about the restrictions applying to members who are not law-enforcement or correctional officers surfaced in June when the union filed an administrative challenge. The PBA later dropped that case before filing a renewed challenge in late July.

In a motion to intervene, the firefighters union cited non-firefighter members such as dispatchers and emergency medical technicians and the dues-deduction issue.

In plain English, the exemption from the prohibition against dues deductions is a right of the union acknowledged by the Legislature when the union has been certified by PERC (the Public Employees Relations Commission) as a bargaining representative of certified firefighters, the motion said. It does not say that all of those who are represented must be certified firefighters.

The challenge accuses the agency of what is known in administrative law as an invalid exercise of delegated legislative authority.

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A Florida Keys couple accused of taking part in the Jan. 6, 2021, riots at the U.S. Capitol in Washington were released from federal custody after making their first appearance before a judge in Key West on Tuesday afternoon, according to court documents.

Bryan and Tonya Bishop were released on $100,000 personal surety bonds each after appearing before Judge Lurana Snow in federal court in the Southernmost City around noon.

The bond means they didnt have to put up any money before being released, but they are responsible for the full amount if they fail to show up for their initial appearance to answer to charges against them, scheduled for Aug. 17 in Washington, D.C.

As part of the couples terms of release, they must be monitored electronically, remove firearms from their home, which is a sailboat moored in a harbor in the Middle Keys city of Marathon, surrender their passports, and they cannot mortgage or sell any of their property, court documents state.

Their attorney, a federal public defender, did not return an emailed request for comment.

Out of the two, Bryan Roger Bishop, 51, faces the more serious charges, including assaulting police with a deadly or dangerous weapon. Hes accused of spraying a chemical irritant in the face of two Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department officers who were trying to contain the riot, according to court documents released Monday.

Tonya Bishop, 47, is accused of trespassing in the Capitol and faces charges of entering a restricted building, disorderly conduct in the Capitol and parading and demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.

Heavily armed federal agents arrested them Monday night after they came ashore at Marathons municipal marina in a dinghy from their sailboat. The agents were backed by the Monroe County Sheriffs Office and state fish and wildlife officers.

Sources say they have been living on their sailboat, named Glory, in Boot Key Harbor, for about a year.

Not much else information about the couples personal or professional life was immediately available. They also appear to have no social media footprint.

According to court documents, the couple married sometime after the Jan. 6 attacks. Tonya Bishop went by the name Tonya Allison-Oberst prior to the couples marriage, the FBI said in its criminal complaint.

Bryan Bishop was identified by matching his photo captured on Capitol security camera footage with his photos on drivers licenses from Florida, Minnesota and Idaho, as well as a passport application, according to the FBI complaint.

January 6, 2021: Protesters at a pro Trump protest, shown here on the west side of the U.S. Capitol

Agents say that one of the officers he sprayed temporarily lost his eyesight and had to be led to safety by a fellow officer.

For the next seven to 10 minutes [the officer] had to fight through the crowd without being able to see and was in fear for his life, the FBIs complaint states.

Federal agents said the Bishops were part of a group that traveled to the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, the day of a joint session of Congress to certify the election of President Joe Biden.

According to the complaint against Tonya Bishop, she called her husbands son on Jan. 4, 2021, while he was in prison, and told him: On the 6th, Trump has called The Patriots together, a bunch of us are headed over there. The call was recorded, the complaint states.

Her specific charges in the complaint say she entered and remained in the Capitol building and engaged in disorderly conduct while inside restricted buildings or grounds.

Trump supporters rally to enter U.S. Senate during a protest on Capitol Hill in Washington on January 6, 2021.

So far, more than 1,000 people have been arrested in connection with the riots, and former President Donald Trump was indicted this month for what federal prosecutors say was his role in the events that led to the attack on the Capitol.
A Florida man was arrested on fraud charges in July in the case of a stolen 1977 Porsche 911 Turbo. The car was taken from the Sarasota Classic Car Museum back in June, and the man allegedly used the VIN number from another vintage 911 out of a California salvage yard to register the car, court documents show.

Police responded to the Sarasota Classic Car Museum after the burglary alarm was tripped during the early morning of June 14, according to police arrest records. The officers were unable to make contact with a museum employee at that time and initially determined that the building was secure. It surely wasn't, however, as the officers would return later that morning to find pry marks on one of the doorways, as well as an open section of fencing. Inside the museum, seven vehicles had been moved out of the way of the Porsche, which was missing. The robbery suspect, who police say is currently unknown, was able to fill the car with fuel found on site and used the keys stored inside the drivers footwell to simply drive the car out of the collection.

The 911 Turbo in question is an early 3.0-liter example, which is highly sought after among collectors. While the later 3.3-liter Turbos are really the performance icons in the 930 family, Porsche built some 15,000 fewer cars with the smaller motor. The museum values the car in the neighborhood of $250,000.

Police were later able to briefly locate the 930 on surveillance footage, unable to make much headway beyond that. Officers ultimately received an anonymous tip a few days later stating that Daniel Boyce, 36, had been seen with a brown Porsche at an unnamed local warehouse. The Sarasota Police Department worked alongside the Hillsborough and Manatee County Sheriffs, as well as a Sarasota County Tax Collector supervisor to try and locate the Widowmaker. It was through this collaboration that officials were able to determine that Boyce allegedly registered a brown Porsche 911 under a company called Triton Engineering LLC on June 21. The VIN associated with that registration belonged to a 1976 Porsche 911 owned by a California salvage yard, which had been wrecked 23 years prior. A Maine bill of sale, an odometer verification letter, and an approval letter from Triton Engineering used in the registration process were all allegedly fraudulent.

Sarasota Police Department

Boyce was arrested on July 21 for failing to appear in court for a Grand Theft Auto charge in Sarasota County. A search warrant issued for his phone at that time allegedly led officers to photos of the stolen Turbo inside a storage unit, along with the unit number and code. The 911 was located and recovered with that information. Boyce was then hit with a felony charge of scheming to defraud (over $50,000) on July 26 and is otherwise "a person of interest" in the robbery, police say. He is currently being held without bond at the Sarasota County Jail.

More charges may be forthcoming, but Boyce is currently scheduled for arraignment on September 22.

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A Florida school board has lifted restrictions on a childrens book with a male penguin couple that has been at the center of a lawsuit against the school.

The Lake County school district, located outside Orlando, said restrictions on the book And Tango Makes Three were lifted after the state clarified its Parental Rights in Education law.

The law, dubbed Dont Say Gay by opponents, says sexual orientation and gender identity cannot be discussed for younger students.

The book is based on a true story of two male penguins that bonded, with a zookeeper giving them an egg to care for. The chick that was born under the two male penguins care was named Tango at New Yorks Central Park Zoo.

Authors and students filed a lawsuit against the Lake County school district earlier this summer after And Tango Makes Three was banned, arguing the move violated the First Amendment.

The school board argues the lawsuit is now moot since the Florida Department of Education declared the Parental Rights in Education law does not apply to school libraries, only classrooms.

On Friday, the school board asked the judge to dismiss the case, arguing the plaintiffs do not have standing.

As this Court intimated in denying Plaintiffs motion for a preliminary injunction, DE51, the case is now moot because the County has abandoned its erroneous interpretation of the statute and formally lifted the restriction on Tango, the school district said in a court document.

On Monday, the school board went further and asked for the judge to postpone any more discovery in the case until he makes a decision on whether to dismiss it.

The case is the latest in the book ban battle in Florida as the state has implemented laws this year that have made it easier for parents to challenge books in schools.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
As a result of the states dont say gay law, a large Florida school district sent out a document on Monday forbidding transgender employees from using their preferred pronouns and forcing them to use group restrooms based on their biological sex at birth. Additionally, simply calling a student by a nickname now requires written permission, according to the district. While the pronoun guidance also applies to students, it imposes stiff penalties on faculty and staff who violate it.

Orange County Public Schools serves about 210,000 Orlando-area students, and the pronoun and nickname policies are included in its updated academic guidance for the upcoming school year, NBC News was first to report.

The memo was sent to employees in response to two new Florida laws. House Bill 1069 limits sex and human sexuality education. In addition, House Bill 1521 defines how restrooms should be used. After Gov. Ron DeSantis, Floridas anti-woke Republican governor, signed both bills into law in May, they became effective on July 1.

As a result of those changes, guidance documents summarizing district rules and punishments were written.

Rather than their gender identity, the memo explains that students and employees are categorized by the hormones and genitals present at birth.

Employees and contractors who are transgender may not provide a personal title or pronoun to students which does not correspond [to] the employees or contractors biological sex at birth, according to the memo.

This would also mean that a transgender woman who goes by Ms. would, under these guidelines, have to ask to be addressed as Mr.

Furthermore, employees and contractors cannot ask students to specify their preferred pronouns or titles.

Additionally, according to the deputy general counsel for Orange County Public Schools, educators concerned about pronoun usage and potential liability can contact students using their first or last name.

Students can only be addressed by a preferred or nickname if a parent submits a permission slip in writing that indicates the name a student could be called. A student named Michael, for example, couldnt be called Mike without written permission.

The document also states that parents may indicate the name a transgender student uses if it differs from their other records but that while the students name will be honored, the pronouns they identify with will not.

According to the State Board of Education, education licenses can be revoked for teachers who break the pronoun rule.

Under House Bill 1521, all state-owned buildings in Florida must separate bathrooms according to the same present at birth sex identification policy.

For our transgender students and employees, they must be provided single stall restrooms for their usage, the direction noted. Transgender students and employees may not enter into a group restroom which is designated for the sex other than their biological sex at birth.

Any student who willfully enters a bathroom or changing facility designated for the opposite sex if the student refuses to depart when asked to do so by any instructional personnel, administrator, or school resource officer can be punished.

Employees who use another restroom than their birth ses risk being disciplined as well.

Violators can be fined up to $10,000 under the law.

Asked to clarify why the policy protects the right of those who disagree with transgender peoples gender identity to use the pronouns they wish to address individuals but fails to allow transgender employees to refer to themselves by the pronoun and honorific with which they identify, a spokesperson for the Orange County Public Schools referred to the "don't say gay" law.

There have been state legislative and rule changes around the Parents Bill of Rights since last school year, which impact students, teachers, and staff. All of our school principals have been provided information and guidance to share with staff, media relations administrator Michael Ollendorff told The Advocate.

Equality Floridas parents and families support manager Jennifer Solomon condemned the policy announcement.

The guidance developed by Orange County Public Schools, in order to be compliant with the Dont Say LGBTQ law, is the inevitable result of vague and bigoted legislation championed by this administration. Governor Ron DeSantis has turned Floridas classrooms into political battlefields, and now our schools, parents, and kids are paying the consequences, she told The Advocate.

Solomon continued, Parents and families of LGBTQ+ youth are pushing back and proclaiming the freedom to decide what is best for our children.

Florida is currently experiencing a severe teacher shortage with thousands of staff and teaching vacancies across the state.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at a press conference at LifeScience Logistics to urge the Biden administration to approve Florida's plan to import prescription drugs from Canada, thereby saving Floridians an estimated $100 million annually on drug costs. Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

In an effort to comply with Florida's expanded-upon "Don't Say Gay" law, one school district is no longer asking students to read Shakespeare in its entirety.

Originally passed in 2022 and expanded in 2023, the law in part allows parents to object to any materials depicting sexual conduct.

The law has also led to another school district forbidding teachers and students from using pronouns that don't correspond with their sex at birth.

In an effort to comply with a controversial law instated by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state legislature, the school district in Florida's fourth-most populous county is restricting teachers from teaching the full works of Shakespeare, according to a recent report from the Tampa Bay Times.

The Parental Rights in Education Act, nicknamed the "Don't Say Gay" law, was signed by DeSantis in 2022 and was originally written to, in part, prevent public school teachers from discussing gender identity and sexual orientation with students between kindergarten and third grade. DeSantis and the legislature expanded on the legislation in 2023, broadening its scope to students below kindergarten age and up to those in eighth grade.

In addition to expanding which age groups the law covers, the expansion allows parents to object to any books or classroom materials that "depicts or describes sexual conduct." After an objection is made by a parent, the materials are required to be gone in five days "and remain unavailable to students of that school until the objection is resolved."

As a result, the curricula of schools in Florida's Hillsborough County won't require students to read any works of Shakespeare in their entirety, instead choosing to provide select passages for them to read instead. If the students want to read the writing in its entirety, they'll have to find a copy themselves.

Hillsborough School District Spokeswoman Tanya Arja told the Tampa Bay Times the changes were made "in consideration of the law"  Shakespeare's writings, like many classics, are filled with sexually-charged innuendos and romance.

The Times' report also noted the changes are occurring as the school district adapts to changes in Florida's "Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking" educational standards.

English class curricula isn't the only thing being affected by the expansion of Florida's Parental Rights in Education Act. As a result of the law, the Orange County School District announced on Monday that to follow the law, it will be policy this upcoming school year that transgender students and teachers will be required to use restrooms that correspond to their sex at birth.

It's also now Orange County School District policy that transgender teachers and contractors are barred from asking students to refer to them using honorifics or pronouns that do not correspond to their sex at birth.

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Ron DeSantis is cracking down on education in Florida, and now some schools are cutting back on Shakespeare to comply with the governors expansive slate of restrictions.

The Tampa Bay Times reported on Monday that schools in Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa Bay and the surrounding area, are mostly assigning excerpts by the English languages most famous writer. The schools previously required students to read two of Shakespeares novels or plays, in their entirety, per year.

The decision comes as educators must prepare students for a new set of state exams that cover a wide variety of subject matter, and also, in consideration of the law, according to a school district spokesperson. The law in question is the new Parental Rights in Education Act, which prohibits teaching any content that is sexual in nature. Shakespeares work sometimes can include some raunchiness, as local English teacher Joseph Cool put it to the Tampa Bay Times, which means teaching it could open educators up to disciplinary measures if a parent were to file a complaint.

DeSantis has long been working to overhaul Floridas education system. The Parental Rights in Education Act, known by opponents as the Dont Say Gay act, went into effect last year, barring instruction about gender or sexual orientation up to third grade. The DeSantis administration then expanded it to cover instruction through high school. The College Board released a statement last week claiming the Parental Rights in Education Act has also effectively banned AP Psychology in the state.

The DeSantis administration has restricted the teaching of so-called critical race theory, as well, with his administration using the states Stop WOKE Act to block the College Board from testing a pilot Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum. The states education department said alleged the program is inexplicably contrary to Florida law and significantly lacks educational value.

Cool, the English teacher who spoke to the Tampa Bay Times, said he thinks the nation is laughing us because of the DeSantis administrations education restrictions. Taking Shakespeare in its entirety out because the relationship between Romeo and Juliet is somehow exploiting minors is just absurd, he said.

DeSantis may be able to muscle his war on education through the Florida state legislature, but it doesnt seem to be helping his bid for president. Hes dozens of percentage points behind Donald Trump in the polls, donors are getting uneasy if not abandoning him altogether, and on Tuesday he reworked his strategy yet again by ousting his campaign manager.

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Days after Florida officials seemingly backed off demands to censor the AP Psychology curriculum, confusion remains over what can be taught.

Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz on Friday sent a letter to school districts stating, AP Psychology can be taught in its entirety in a manner that is age and developmentally appropriate. The position reversed a decision by the Florida Board of Education that contents about sexuality and gender identity must be censored, which prompted the College Board to say Florida could not offer an abridged class at all.

The new direction from Diaz appears to have satisfied the College Board, but school districts remain uncertain, especially because Diazs direction still uses language that appears in Floridas widely derided dont say gay law. DeSantis initially insisted the controversial law, when he first signed that law in 2022, would only bar instruction on gender and sexuality through 3rd grade. But the Florida Board of Education, made up of DeSantis appointees, in April extended the prohibition through high school.

The Duval County School District still moved ahead with plans to drop the course from its curriculum, days ahead of the start of school in the Jacksonville area.

If AP Psychology is taught in its entirety, which is required for students to sit for the exam, it could place teachers and school leaders in uncertain waters with potential charges under the law, district officials wrote in an email to the CBS affiliate in Jacksonville.

Now teachers, parents, and advocacy groups are urging DeSantiss administration to clarify that teachers wont be punished if they teach AP Psychology in its entirety.

The Florida PTA, the largest parent association in the state, said if parents have no objection to the AP Psychology curriculum, the course should remain available. The group sent a letter to Diaz demanding he clarify the state's position.

We urge you to make the definition of appropriate a matter of informed parental discretion, and to state this explicitly, wrote Florida PTA President Carolyn Nelson-Goedert.

The Florida Education Association, the states largest teachers union, wants a guarantee faculty wont face retribution later if they teach curriculum items on sexual orientation.

We call on you to clearly and unambiguously state that nothing in AP Psychology course violated Florida statutes of Florida State Board of Education rule, FEA President Andrew Spar wrote in a letter to Diaz.

For its part, College Board officials say Diazs letter addresses the concerns the organization held when it first announced Florida could not offer a censored version of the course.

Fridays statement from the Florida Department of Education represents revised guidance on AP Psychology. While district superintendents continue to seek additional clarity from the department, we note the clear guidance that, AP Psychology may be taught in its entirety, reads an email from College Board.

We hope now that Florida teachers will be able to teach the full course, including content on gender and sexual orientation, without fear of punishment in the upcoming school year.

Officials at Equality Florida, the states most prominent LGBTQ+ advocacy group, encouraged districts to offer to the unabridged version of AP Psychology. But the group also said the state should offer reassurance to faculty that doing so wont put their own careers at risk.

We applaud the school districts that have held strong in the fight against the censorship of the Dont Say LGBTQ law and rule and encourage all education leaders to take the Commissioner at his word, said Equality Florida senior political director Joe Saunders. Districts and teachers should teach AP Psychology in its entirety -- including the LGBTQ-inclusive content. Additionally, we call on the Department of Education to immediately issue clarifying guidance that affirms AP Psychologys alignment with state standards and protects AP Psychology teachers from political attacks for teaching the course in its entirety."
In 2018, the dance of Vladimir Putin and Karin Kneissl was discussed by all the world's media

Former head of the Austrian Foreign Ministry, Karin Kneissl, who danced with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin at her wedding in 2018, has moved to the Russian village of Petrushovo, Ryazan Oblast.

This was reported by Russian media outlet Vid Sboku on Aug. 8. Journalists claim to have met Kneissl at a local event. The former minister told them that acquaintances helped her rent a place in Petrushovo.

Read also: Hungary, Austria, Greece added to the Economists list of Putins useful idiots in Europe

"I paid for another month, and then we'll see; I don't know anything about my future, nothing," Kneissl said.

Read also: ICC may issue another arrest warrant for Putin  Ukrainian intelligence

She claims to have last seen Putin in 2019. Kneissl added that in September 2020, she supposedly had to leave Austria due to constant death threats and an effective ban on work. After that, she settled in France and then moved to Lebanon. Kneissl did not specify when she moved to Russia.

The former minister added that in Petrushovo she continues to write books, teach, and has been invited to work at the G.O.R.K.I. Center at St. Petersburg State University. Karin Kneissl is listed as the head of the center on the university's website.

Read also: Over six million Ukrainians leave country since Russian invasion, says official

In August 2018, Putin was present at Kneissl's wedding. At the event, he greeted the newlyweds with a bouquet of flowers and danced with the bride.

In early March 2021, Kneissl was nominated to the Rosneft Board of Directors. In May 2022, after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Kneissl stepped down from the board.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The former Brockton RMV manager accused of accepting money for agreeing to give out passing learners permit test scores was sentenced in Boston federal court Tuesday.

Mia Cox-Johnson, 44, was sentenced to four months in prison and one year of supervised release after allegedly telling applicants to request a written test instead of a computerized version in order to manually correct them with passing scores, according to the US Attorneys Office.

In 2018, the former manager allegedly accepted $1,000 in cash from an individual in exchange for providing a passing score to the bribers relative who had failed the test six times in their native language. The next year a customer allegedly paid Cox-Johnson $200 to score three multiple-choice tests in their favor. The applicant failed one of the tests but received a passing grade from Cox-Johnson.

Cox-Johnson was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.

Estevao Semedo, 61, also of Brockton, was also charged with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services mail fraud in the scandal. Hes accused of paying a road test examiner at the Brockton RMV to approve drivers license applicants who never completed or passed tests.

25 Investigates: Two charged in connection with Brockton RMV Drivers License Fraud

Cox-Johnson pleaded guilty to counts of extortion and one count of conspiring to commit extortion in March.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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The then-leader of the US Coast Guard covered up an explosive investigation four years ago into rapes and sexual assaults at the agencys academy despite prior plans by top officials to come clean about the inquiry, a CNN investigation found.

Commandant Karl L. Schultz took charge of the agency in June of 2018 as the secret investigation, dubbed Operation Fouled Anchor, was concluding. The inquiry revealed a dark history of sexual misconduct at the prestigious academy, substantiating dozens of rapes and assaults from the late 1980s to 2006.

The probe  the existence of which was first reported by CNN in late June  found that the academys leadership had been more concerned about the schools reputation than victims wellbeing. While the reports findings were not flattering, internal records reviewed by CNN show that people involved with the investigation had made plans to brief Congress and officials at the Department of Homeland Security, which has direct oversight of the Coast Guard. One internal memo shows that investigators believed Fouled Anchors findings should be required reading for current and future Academy leadership teams. Another detailed plans for DHS to be briefed in October 2018, with a Hill brief to follow a few weeks later.

Schultzs predecessor, Admiral Paul Zukunft, said in an exclusive interview with CNN that in addition to briefing Congress and DHS, he planned to issue a public apology to the victims the investigation identified. But he retired before the probe was over. He said he briefed Schultz on the matter.

Im a big believer that bad news, like dead fish, dont get better with time, Zukunft said.

But under Schultz, none of that happened.

Now, lawmakers are demanding to know why.

Internal records and interviews with those involved in the investigation show that Schultz and his second-in-command, Admiral Charles W. Ray, failed to act on plans to share the findings with Congress and the public, and maintained a veil of secrecy around the investigation. At the time, the agency was embroiled in a controversy surrounding the academys treatment of minorities and was lobbying Congress for funding. In June, Democratic Sens. Maria Cantwell of Washington state, chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, and Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin sent a letter to the Coast Guard, saying the committee was concerned about the Coast Guards failure to disclose its investigation the withholding of which some have described as intentional. The senators argued that some level of disclosure was required by law.

Coast Guard Admiral Karl Schultz took over for Admiral Paul Zukunft as Coast Guard commandant at a Change of Command ceremony in June 2018. - Jacquelyn Martin/AP

By keeping the investigation secret, the Coast Guard avoided further scrutiny of how alleged rapists and other attackers were not held accountable at the academy. In the wake of CNNs reporting and the congressional outrage that followed, other alleged victims have reached out to CNN and congressional offices, saying they too were assaulted as cadets at the academy, but were not included in the Fouled Anchor investigation. The victims, some who attended as recently as a few years ago, said their alleged assaults drastically affected their mental health, personal relationships and careers, while some of their attackers went on to have impressive careers in the Coast Guard and other military agencies.

During the course of the Fouled Anchor probe, Coast Guard leaders guarded its secrecy to the point that officials with access to case materials had to sign non-disclosure agreements, records show. It wasnt until CNN started asking questions about Fouled Anchor several months ago that Coast Guard leaders officially briefed Congress on the scope of the scandal. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, where the academy is based, characterized the suppression of the report as probably the most shameful, disgraceful incident of cover-up of sexual assault that I have seen in the United States military ever.

A congressional aide familiar with the probe told CNN that it seems Schultz and Ray made a political calculation to withhold the information. They knew. They read it. They signed off on it, the aide said. It seems like the most logical reason is that they didnt want to have controversy under their leadership.

Neither Chad Wolf, the acting secretary who led the Department of Homeland Security when the investigations final report was issued in January 2020, nor his then-deputy, Ken Cuccinelli, recalled being briefed on the investigation, according to people familiar with the matter. Multiple sources said leadership at the agency would have expected to be briefed given the gravity and scope of the investigation. The Department of Homeland Security declined to comment on a prior administration.

Schultz and Ray declined comment, referring questions to the Coast Guard. Coast Guard officials did not specifically comment on the two leaders.

Linda Fagan became the first female commandant when she took charge of the Coast Guard in 2022. - Evan Vucci/AP

The current commandant, Linda Fagan, who took over for Schultz after he retired last year, has apologized to the victims of the sexual assaults and pledged to be more transparent about the agencys problems. Just like on a ship when you have rust, weve got pockets of rust that need to be eliminated from the organization, she said at a congressional subcommittee hearing last month.

She said she only became aware of the totality of Fouled Anchor following CNNs reporting. It was at that point, she said, that the agency started to brief Congress. The agency said in a statement that Fagan was not included in the group of senior leaders who oversaw closing the operation, nor was she consulted when it was closed regarding disclosure in or outside the Coast Guard. She was not briefed on the operation when she became commandant in 2022, according to the statement. The agency said she read the final report for the first time after CNNs inquiries. She has acknowledged, however, that she had learned of the investigation prior to CNNs reporting when she had to temporarily relieve someone from her command who was caught up in the investigation.

Fagan is not the only current Coast Guard official who was aware of the secret operation at some level. Internal records and interviews show that several of those intimately involved with the operation remain employed at the agency. Those who have retired in recent years, meanwhile, remain on the agencys books as pension recipients, and some have gone on to top positions elsewhere, including one who leads a university.

Ray, for example, retired as vice commandant in 2021, but now works at the academys Loy Institute for Leadership, which aims to develop leaders who inspire others to achieve a goal by seeking to discover the truth, deciding what is right and demonstrating the courage to act accordinglyalways.

We cant just sweep it under the carpet

Zukunft, who launched Operation Fouled Anchor in 2014, called the investigation a big deal because sexual assault victims faced betrayal up the chain of command. He said he was incredulous that officials didnt brief Congress and publicize the findings after the final report was issued in January of 2020.

At a bare minimum, we owed it to these victims to provide some sense of emotional closure, Zukunft said. We cant just sweep it under the carpet.

"At a bare minimum, we owed it to these victims to provide some sense of emotional closure," former Commandant Paul Zukunft told CNN. - Jessica Hill/AP

Schultzs silence on Fouled Anchor stands in contrast with public statements he made when he led the agency about the importance of preventing sexual assault. He called such crimes a direct attack on our people in a 2018 video and met with Coast Guard Academy cadets in 2020 to discuss the issue.

In a House hearing in 2021, Schultz even suggested congressional oversight had helped the Coast Guard make improvements in addressing sexual assault and harassment. With the committees assistance and keen oversight, we have considerably increased the fidelity, and really the professionalism of our investigatory actions, he said.

Despite extensively discussing sexual assault during that hearing, Schultz did not mention Fouled Anchor or its findings.

Several retired Coast Guard officials who worked closely with Schultz and Ray could not offer a specific reason for why Congress was kept in the dark, though several acknowledged in interviews with CNN that it should have been handled differently.

Melissa Bert, who was the head of government and public affairs at the agency from 2018 to 2020 and went on to serve as the agencys first female chief counsel before retiring this year, acknowledged that the agency could have been more transparent. But she also pointed to constant turnover at the agency. At some point it was not the top thing on somebodys mind, she said. There is so so much going on in the Coast Guard.

Bert argued, however, that a lack of transparency does not equate to a lack of action or responsiveness and pointed to improvements in how alleged attackers are investigated and held accountable, as well as support services provided to assault survivors, that she said she and others had fought for at the agency.

While it should have been a huge deal to let people know that the Coast Guard had responded, it just went with the past, she said. There is always a new problem every day.

Do you have information to share about the Coast Guard Academy or Coast Guard? Email melanie.hicken@cnn.com.

Audrey Ash, Allison Gordon and Alexis Timko contributed to this report.

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Former Georgia Republican Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan received subpoenas to testify before a Fulton County grand jury this month, a source with direct knowledge of the 2020 election interference investigation in the state told CNN.

Duncan has been a sharp critic of Donald Trumps efforts to upend Georgias election results. He recently told CNN that he was embarrassed when Rudy Giuliani, a former attorney for Trump, and other allies of the former president appeared before Georgia state lawmakers. While Duncan was president of the Georgia state Senate at the time, he told CNN he did not sanction those meetings, and that they were not official hearings.

In an interview Monday with CNNs Wolf Blitzer on The Situation Room, Duncan committed to testifying in front of the grand jury, saying hell be there to answer the facts as I know them and to continue this process of trying to discover what actually happened during that post-election period of time.

We can never repeat that in this country. Certainly I never want to see that happen in my home state of Georgia, a lot of good peoples lives were uprooted, a lot of peoples reputations have been soiled, Duncan, a CNN political contributor and Republican, said.

Duncan said that he would be willing to testify and tell the truth in as many settings as I possibly can, in response to a question about whether hed be willing to testify in any other related trials.

A spokesperson for the Fulton County district attorneys office declined to comment.

The former lieutenant governor is the third witness publicly known to receive a subpoena for grand jury testimony. CNN previously reported independent journalist George Chidi and former Georgia Democratic state Sen. Jen Jordan have also been subpoenaed.

On December 3, 2020, while Duncan was president of the state Senate, Giuliani spread conspiracy theories about widespread irregularities and fraud in the state during a Georgia Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing about election integrity. Jordan was in attendance.

At the hearing, Trumps team presented a video of what they claimed was evidence of fraud from election night ballot tabulating in Fulton County, allegations that were investigated by the FBI, Department of Justice and state election officials  and proven to be erroneous.

The recent subpoenas are the clearest indication Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis intends to seek indictments in her long-running criminal probe into efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.

Willis told CNN affiliate WXIA at an event late last month that the work is accomplished, adding later, Weve been working for two and half years. Were ready to go.

Sources expect Willis team to spend roughly two days presenting its case before one of the two grand juries meeting regularly in Fulton County with the power to issue indictments. Willis has said she will make her charging announcements before September 1.

The subpoenas for grand jury testimony call on the witnesses to appear before the grand jury during the month of August and state that witnesses will get a 48-hour notice when they are required to appear. Multiple people who were subpoenaed told CNN they have not yet been notified of an appearance date.

Duncan on Monday would not comment on the timing of his expected appearance in front of the grand jury: I dont want to infringe on any details of the investigation, so Ill leave that offline and off of this commentary here. But Im committed to telling the truth  I know a number of people are around this process.

Duncan, Jordan and Chidi were all part of the group of 75 witnesses who previously testified before the special grand jury Willis used last year to gather evidence in her investigation.

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Southern Door School District's new interim superintendent is a graduate of the district.

Tony Klaubauf, a 1976 graduate of the high school, was announced Monday as the interim leader.

Klaubauf previously was the superintendent of the Denmark School District for 11 years before he retired in October 2018.

Tony Klaubauf is the interim superintendent for the Southern Door School District.

I had settled on the retirement life, but the opportunity to help Southern Door School District to continue to excel in academic achievement and student growth was enough to get me excited again," Klaubauf said in a statement released by the school district. "I read this summer that if a person wants to stay young, stay around young people. Since all the employees and students will be younger than me, this shouldnt be a problem!

Klaubauf will succeed Chris Peterson, who resigned as the superintendent effective June 30 after being placed on administrative leave in mid-March by the board for unspecified reasons. Peterson was in his second year with Southern Door.

Klaubauf has been a teacher in Stockbridge, Hillsboro and Waupun, and served several positions in Mishicot  elementary principal, curriculum coordinator and superintendent.

After retirement, Klaubauf served as co-executive director for the Association for Equity in Funding, a group that advocates for equitable funding for public school students across Wisconsin.

In 2019, Klaubauf was named to the Southern Door Alumni Hall of Fame.

He and his wife, Janet, have two boys, Collin and Ben, who are both students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Contact Kevin Dittman at 920-431-8416 or kdittman@gannett.com.

MORE: Custom-designed Door County home wins Wisconsin homebuilding award in $500,000 category

MORE: Classic boats, tractors, booyah, blues and BBQ: Here's what to do in Door County in August

FOR MORE DOOR COUNTY NEWS: Check out our website

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Klaubauf named Southern Door School District interim superintendent
(Bloomberg) -- Former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso said a show of strength was needed to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait, pushing a hawkish position likely to displease China.

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Like-minded countries need to communicate so they can deter anyone from disturbing the peace in the region, Aso, a senior member of the ruling party, said in a speech in Taiwan on Tuesday.

The comment was likely aimed at China, which sees democratically run Taiwan as part of its territory that must be united, by force if necessary.

Aso has previously said an invasion of Taiwan by China could be seen as an existential threat to Tokyo. His comments have added to a drumbeat of concern from Japans Liberal Democratic Party about Beijings intentions toward the island of 23 million people.

During a visit to Taiwan in 2021, Aso said Japan and the US would have to defend the island together in the event of a major problem. The comments were criticized by Beijing as being extremely wrong and dangerous.

Taiwan will likely be a focus when current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida meets President Joe Biden at a summit in the US later this month, along with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has also staked a hawkish position on Taiwan. Biden has also sought the help of Taiwan, Japan and South Korea to use their strength as major makers of semiconductors to cooperate in establishing supply chains that are less reliant on China.

See: Why Taiwans Status Risks Igniting a US-China Clash: QuickTake

Japan has sought to avoid alienating China, its biggest trading partner, while maintaining its alliance with the US amid tensions between the worlds two largest economies over topics including the origins of Covid-19, human rights and trade.

Aso has a history of making controversial remarks, including suggesting in 2013 that Japan learn from the Nazis. He later withdrew the comment. In the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic, he explained Japans relatively low death rate from the disease by saying its people were of a different cultural level.

--With assistance from Sing Yee Ong.

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Keith Kellogg, who served as national security adviser to former Vice President Mike Pence, has endorsed former President Trump for the GOP nomination in 2024.

Kellogg, who worked for Pence for about three years, said in a post on Truth Social on Monday that Trump stands apart as a figure of unwavering determination, a deep vision for America, and the courage to take a stand where others wilt.

His bold and dramatic leadership style during his Presidency resulted in significant achievements for our country, he said.

Kellogg said he respects Pences service to the country but is disappointed with his recent actions concerning Trump. He said Trump has focused on the countrys citizens, economy and global standing, but Pence has concentrated on political maneuvering and his image.

It is not the decisive leadership that we have seen from President Trump, Kellogg said, referring to Pence. Where President Trump is bold and unafraid to challenge the status quo, Pence has often chosen the passive route, avoiding confrontation.

The Hill Elections 2024 coverage

Kellogg did not specify which of Pences actions he is referring to, but Pence has criticized Trump in the aftermath of the former president being federally indicted last week in the case on his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Pence said the indictment is a reminder to the country that anyone who puts himself over the Constitution should not be president.

Our country is more important than one man. Our constitution is more important than any one mans career. On January 6th, Former President Trump demanded that I choose between him and the Constitution. I chose the Constitution and I always will, he said.

Trump thanked Kellogg for the endorsement in his own Truth Social post Tuesday, calling him a true warrior.

What a Great Honor it is for me to receive a powerful Endorsement from very highly respected General Keith Kellogg, a true WARRIOR who was in the Trump Administration from the beginning. He knew the ins and outs, and the people, perhaps better than anybody, he said.

Kellogg was serving as Pences national security adviser during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot and testified before the House select committee that investigated the attack. He told the committee that Trump told Pence before the riot that he is not tough enough to act on Trumps push to overturn the election.

Trump has stepped up his long-running attacks on Pence following the indictment, slamming his refusal to help Trump overturn the results and his position in the polls for the Republican primaries.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A former Republican lieutenant governor of Georgia has received subpoenas to speak before a grand jury in Fulton County this month, according to a new report.

Geoff Duncan  a sharp critic of Donald Trumps efforts to upend Georgias election results  was subpoenaed to testify before the grand jury, according to sources familiar with the investigation into the 2020 election interference in Georgia that were cited by CNN.

In a recent interview with CNN, Mr Duncan had committed to testifying in front of the grand jury, saying hell be there to answer the facts as I know them and to continue this process of trying to discover what actually happened during that post-election period of time.

We can never repeat that in this country. Certainly, I never want to see that happen in my home state of Georgia, a lot of good peoples lives were uprooted, and a lot of peoples reputations have been soiled, he said.

The former Republican official said he would be willing to testify and tell the truth in as many settings as I possibly can, when asked whether he would be willing to testify in any other related trials.

Last week, Mr Duncan likened picking Donald Trump to be the 2024 GOP nominee to peeing in your pants.

The former Republican official attacked the ex-president in an appearance on CNN.

Nominating Donald Trump for the Republican Party is a lot like peeing in your pants, right? Mr Duncan said.

Its gonna feel good for a couple of seconds, but then you wake up and realise the realities of what you just did.

Were gonna get beat in the general [election] because we picked the wrong candidate. We couldnt get out of our own way, he continued.

Meanwhile, Mr Duncan chose not to discuss when he might appear before the grand jury.

I dont want to infringe on any details of the investigation, so Ill leave that offline and off of this commentary here. But Im committed to telling the truth  I know a number of people are around this process.
A former Trump White House lawyer took aim at former President Trumps aspirational defense in his federal Jan. 6 case, where he is charged with four counts related to alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Current Trump attorney John Lauro has recently argued in the media that Trump asked former Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the election results in an aspirational way.

CNNs Erin Burnett asked Ty Cobb, who served in the White House for about 10 months beginning in July 2017, whether he thought that defense would work in court.

Not at all, Cobb said Monday. Im not aware of the aspirational defense or the free speech defense to a gang leader saying to two of his subordinates, I need you to please rob a bank for me, and they do it. You know, thats  thats aspirational, but it leads to a crime. And thats exactly what Trump did with Pence.

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Cobb also said that while Lauro is a respected attorney and has a good reputation, most of Lauros talking points are false.

Trump was indicted last week on four federal charges in connection to his alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. According to the indictment, the former president asked Pence to halt Congresss counting of Electoral College votes.

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Lauro told CNNs Dana Bash in an interview that aired Sunday that Trump was exercising his First Amendment right by asking Pence to toss Electoral College votes from certain states, seeking to draw a line between asking and directing his vice president to take actions on Jan. 6, 2021.

Asking is aspirational. Asking is not action. Its core free speech. The press should be defending free speech, Lauro said.

Pence has maintained that what Trump asked him to do was wrong and that he had no power as vice president to overturn the 2020 election.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Former Vice President Mike Pence has surpassed the required threshold of 40,000 individual donors to participate in the GOP primary debate later this month, according to multiple reports.

Pence will face off against other GOP candidates on the debate stage who also met the qualifications. So far, the list includes former President Donald Trump, who has said he may not participate in the debate; Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis; businessman Vivek Ramaswamy; former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley; Sen. Tim Scott (S.C.); former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie; and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, according to Politicos debate tracker.

The candidates were required to reach 40,000 individual donors and earn at least 1% support in polling. Trump, who has been indicted three times in the past four months, was leading the polls with a support rate of 47%, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll last week. DeSantis followed with 13%.

The remaining candidates, including Pence, remained in the single digits in the poll.

Pence has drawn an onslaught of media attention triggered by Trumps indictment over his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. Trump has attacked Pence, who testified before the grand jury in the special counsels investigation, claiming still that his then-vice president had the power to overturn the 2020 election.

President Trump was wrong then and hes wrong now. I had no power to overturn the election, the former Vice President told Dana Bash on CNNs State of the Union on Sunday.

I truly do believe that we kept our oath to the Constitution that day. But the American people deserve to know that President Trump, you know, asked me to put him over my oath to the Constitution, but I kept my oath, and I always will, Pence said. And Im running for president in part because I think anyone who puts themselves over the Constitution should never be president of the United States.

The debate will be hosted by Fox News, which first reported on Pences qualification, on Aug. 23 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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Francis Suarez says hes met the fundraising threshold to qualify for the first Republican primary debate, which would put Miamis mayor one step closer to making a national appearance he has said is crucial for his long-shot White House bid.

Suarez, who launched his campaign for the GOP presidential nomination in mid-June, said Monday on social media that he had met the Republican National Committees requirement that candidates have at least 40,000 unique donors in order to be included in the first debate on Aug. 23.

In less than six weeks my team and I have quite literally gone from zero to a hundred and we are confident that I will be on the debate stage in two weeks, the mayor stated.

I am extremely pleased to announce that my campaign has today passed the 40,000 unique donor threshold set by the @GOP to make the debate stage.



In less than six weeks my team and I have quite literally gone from zero to a hundred and we are confident that I will be on the pic.twitter.com/sx6oAwhkmA  Mayor Francis Suarez (@FrancisSuarez) August 7, 2023

Suarez had previously tweeted that he had met a separate debate requirement that candidates have donors from more than 20 different states.

In order to make the debate, the mayor still needs to boost his polling numbers. Suarez needs to reach 1% in three national polls or in two national polls plus two separate polls from states with early primaries or caucuses. National averages from polling analysis website FiveThirtyEight show Suarez below the 1% threshold required to qualify for the debate. Hes reached 1% in one poll, a Fox News Business survey of Iowa voters.

Read more: Suarez can get big campaign checks from the wealthy. Can he get $1 from regular folks?

Suarezs campaign has used fundraising tactics to draw small-dollar donors in the effort to meet the RNC benchmarks. Hes raffled tickets to see Lionel Messi play for Inter Miami, pledged to give donors $20 gift cards if they donate $1 and said his campaign is accepting donations in the cryptocurrency Bitcoin.

Suarezs campaign did not immediately respond to the Miami Heralds questions about his fundraising.
Carl Eugene Sears pleaded not guilty Monday to a 36-year-old cold-case murder that could send the 71-year-old convicted sex offender to prison for life or to death.

Sears is accused of sexually assaulting and stabbing to death 22-year-old Jacqueline Denise Henry on Feb. 24, 1987, in the parking lot of Pearly Grove Baptist Church on East Church Avenue in southwest Fresno.

About a dozen of Henrys supporters attended the arraignment in Judge Charles Lees courtroom. A few them gave the defendant cold stares as court bailiffs took him out of the courtroom. Several of Henrys relatives were at the press conference last month when Fresno police announced his arrest, and they expressed relief that Henrys murder had been solved.

Police said Sears moved her body from the church parking lot to a field across the street where it was found several days later. Detectives investigated, but the case remained unsolved for 36 years, until detective Bartlett Ledbetter submitted DNA evidence in the case to the state Department of Justice.

The test results showed Sears was a match to the sample.

Sears, who was on probation for an assault with a deadly weapon conviction in 2020, was arrested and charged with Henrys murder and her assault. Because of his conviction, police had access to his DNA profile.

Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama held a press conference on July 25 to announce there had been an arrest in the cold-case murder.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Kaitlin Drake said after the hearing that the district attorneys office has not made a decision on whether to pursue the death penalty.

Sears, who is represented by Christopher Irwin with the office of the Fresno County Public Defender, remains in the Fresno County Jail with bail set at $1.1 million.
Big Boy branding at Carew Tower in 2018. Frischs Big Boy announced Tuesday it will open a new franchised location in Terminal A at CVG.

Frischs Big Boy is coming to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG).

The restaurant chain announced Tuesday it will open a new franchised location at CVG's Terminal A in November. United Concessions Group, an Ohio-based, family-owned airport concessionaire, will operate the new site.

The new Frisch's location joins other local favorites featured at the airport, including Graeter's, Braxton Brewing Co., Christian Moerlein Brewing Co. and Skyline Chili.

Our team is delighted for the opportunity to bring another iconic Cincinnati brand to CVG," said Spencer Shaw, executive vice president of United Concessions Group, in a statement. "We are dedicated to giving the team members and travelers of CVG the best the Queen City has to offer, and this is another step in the right direction.

Frischs has over 80 locations in the tri-state, including the upcoming CVG restaurant. The chain also plans to refranchise additional locations this year, per a press release.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Frisch's Big Boy opening in CVG airport this fall
If our social media feeds are any indication, its clear that Americans love traveling to Europe. Year after year, European cities like Paris and Rome are among the most popular international destinations for U.S. travelers.

That means increasing numbers of Americans are getting a firsthand look at the many differences between Europe and the U.S. And plenty have shared their hilarious musings about this clash of cultures online.

Below, weve rounded up 21 funny posts that sum up the difference between life in Europe and in the U.S.  from the approach to work to the size of the water glasses at restaurants and everything in between.

European out-of-offices: Im away camping for the summer. Email again in September



American out-of-offices: I have left the office for two hours to undergo kidney surgery but you can reach me on my cell anytime  Samuel Pollen (@samuel_pollen) April 30, 2021

Europeans: I know English, French, German, and Polish.



Americans: I know RHOBH, RHOSLC, RHOA, and RHONY.  Evan Mills (@awkvanmills) January 14, 2022

Are people in Europe dehydrated all the time? They are so stingy with water and the cups are so small. I am thirsty just thinking about being in France again.  Kristen Anderson (@FintechKristen) June 29, 2021

AMERICANS: Our culture is so hopelessly fractured and polarized. There is no longer anything that binds us together.



EUROPEANS: I could tell you were American by the way that you walk.  R.J. Lehmann (@raylehmann) September 28, 2020

Europeans: I drove 30 minutes to Germany for a drink then I took a 15 minute ferry to Switzerland for some groceries and I drove another 30 min to Italy for dinner.



Americans: Im in Texas, I drove for 6 hours and Im still in Texas.  traaaashpanda.bsky.social  (@TraaaashPanda) May 9, 2020

Europeans: We can fit cars, buses, and electric trains on a street built to be just wide enough for 2 horse-drawn carriages, in a very dense parts of the city.



Americans: You want to put a bus route on this 6 lane suburban road? We're gonna need at least 2 more lanes then!  Chris (@MixingChris) November 5, 2021

Europeans: I'm back from vacation; my 6 months catching up on emails period starts today



Americans: I'm back from vacation, have you seen the email Ive sent at 3 am on Sunday?  kate (@whoiskatrin) February 14, 2022

Europeans Americans

going to the going to the

grocery store grocery store pic.twitter.com/7MXe6NPxl4  Liz | Speak Now 7/7  (@feverdreamliz) March 27, 2023

Americans: Look at these buildings theyre so old.



Europeans: Weve got bird shit on roof tops older than your country.  ChiChi Greenblatt (@ChiChiGreenblat) August 4, 2021

I miss America a little bit but only because in Europe the glasses of water are so small  formerly freeewifi (@teamk8e) May 27, 2015

on my european shit (my apartment does not have air conditioning)  i praydalor my sodakeep (@almondtiddies) June 16, 2022

americans have a well-deserved reputation abroad but i refuse to apologize for iced coffee. why are europeans afraid to live deliciously  zeeno (@slimshaitan) September 8, 2018

Americans: I use miles and pounds



Europeans: I use kilometres and kilograms



Canadians: [snorting a line of assorted measuring systems] I'm 5'3, I weigh 150lbs, horses weigh 1000kgs, my house is an hour away and I drive 80 km/h to get there, I need a cup of flour and 1L of milk  Janel Comeau (@VeryBadLlama) June 29, 2023

Europeans: I've found this cool coffee shop nearby. 10 mins walk



Americans: This place nearby is so amazing and its just 2 hours drive  kate (@whoiskatrin) January 24, 2023

Europeans: I'm leaving, my 6 month transition period starts today

Americans: I'm leaving, my last day is 5pm  Jack Kleeman (@JackKleeman) October 6, 2021

European architecture vs. American architecture pic.twitter.com/kBZaNIuNf3  sara  (@_sarawithoutanH) November 21, 2019

Now that I live in Europe I can confidently say that the metric system is overall superior but Celsius is a garbage scale compared to Fahrenheit. Fight me.  Nony Dutton (@NonyDutton) July 2, 2022

europeans: the us election is so confusing



also europeans: pic.twitter.com/41c2YSnttv  swiftie struggle tweets (@swifferstruggle) November 4, 2020

me finishing 6 full glasses of water at lunch and looking around and seeing everyone else has hardly finished their first glassim telling you, europeans just dont drink water and it FREAKS ME OUT  Naz (@nazzobetweeting) August 4, 2022

Young Americans getting upset about this meanwhile 13 year old Europeans be like: https://t.co/joajHZQmZfpic.twitter.com/zWSRoQPW7F  Grace (@graceyldn) May 26, 2023

Finding out most European countries dont have air conditioning really cleared up any wanderlust real quick  1984s George Whorewell (@EwdatsGROSS) November 20, 2022

Related...
Peter Phillips says Gatcombe Festival is a "great source of pride" in Gloucestershire

An eventing festival founded by the Princess Royal will be back again next year "in full strength" after its final day was rained off.

Washout conditions at Gatcombe Festival meant it was unsafe for competitors to attempt Sunday's cross-country element.

The cancellation had a "massive impact" on both the event itself and traders, Festival Director Peter Phillips said.

Seven thousand people were due to attend the last day on the event's 40th anniversary.

Mr Phillips, son of Princess Anne and her first husband Captain Mark Phillips, told BBC West the cancellation had "put a dampener" on the anniversary celebrations.

The rain meant the ground was unsafe for competitors

The festival - which takes place on the HRH Princess Royal's estate near Stroud - includes the Magic Millions British Open, which decides the national champion of eventing.

"When my parents started it 40 years ago, I don't think they had envisaged it still going 40 years later," he said.

"They started it to put something back into the sport that had given them so much and its sort of grown, morphed into a real celebration of (eventing).

"We will be back again next year in full strength and with all the work we did this year to try and accommodate as many people as possible, from the public to the traders, hopefully everyone else will be back too."

He added: "It is an event that has become very well established in the calendar and one that is very well supported by the sport and by everyone locally and it is a great source of pride that we are a significant event and one which I hope we will be for many years to come."

Tractors helped traders pack up their stalls and leave the site

Mr Phillips said traders would be partially refunded, but said that because turnout had been poor on Saturday they had effectively lost two days trade.

He said the heavy weather would likely drive up insurance premiums, and that the cost implications would linger "for many years".

Marcus Smith, of luxury belt company Estribos, had been hoping to make sales of 2,500 to 3,000 per day.

But the company trades at around 85 sporting events each year, and Mr Smith said that he and his staff anticipated the odd washout.

He praised the team at Gatcombe organising tractors to get traders back on the churned up site to break down their stalls, and getting them off site again with no damage to stock.

Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk
A gay couple had twins via surrogate but were almost forced to raise them separately. The dads sued to keep their family together  and won.

Twins Ethan and Aiden Dvash-Banks, now 6, were born 4 minutes apart. Andrew Dvash-Banks

Andrew and Elad Dvash-Banks had twins via surrogate. They were conceived using the sperm of each man.

US immigration refused to recognize the biological son of Israeli-born Elad as an American citizen.

The dads fought for the right to keep their family together  and won a landmark court case.

When Andrew and Elad Dvash-Banks showed up at the US consulate in Toronto, they thought getting American passports for their newborn fraternal twins would be relatively straightforward.

The men had decided to move the family to Los Angeles, Andrew's home city. They wanted the boys, who were born via surrogate, to live closer to their relatives, including Andrew's parents and siblings.

Andrew, who has dual American-Canadian citizenship, had fathered one of the twins, Aiden, and Israel-born Elad had fathered the other, Ethan. But they ran into a roadblock: Because Ethan wasn't biologically related to an American citizen, he couldn't get a US passport.

The immigration-rights group Immigration Equality, which supported the legal battle for Ethan to become a US citizen, said Ethan was discriminated against because he and Andrew weren't biologically related  but the rule didn't apply to heterosexual couples who'd adopted their kids or conceived them in a similar way.

It took three years for the courts to rule in their favor, and the decision means that other LGBTQ+ parents won't be subject to the same treatment.

A psychologist who studies twins said it would be detrimental to the brothers if they had to live apart

"We had to stand up for our beliefs and principles," Andrew told Insider.

The landmark case is the topic of a new book, "Gay Fathers, Twin Sons: The Citizenship Case That Captured the World." The book, written by the psychologist Nancy Segal, the director and founder of the Twin Studies Center at California State University, Fullerton, details the family's determination to win equal rights for their sons.

"The story tugs at the heartstrings," Segal told Insider. "In the worst-case scenario, Andrew and Elad would have been forced to separate their sons  siblings born just four minutes apart. They'd bonded as twins but would have grown up more like cousins than brothers," she said.

Andrew and Elad, who got married in Toronto in 2011  four years before gay marriage was legalized in the US  discussed becoming parents soon after they met while studying at the University of Tel Aviv.

Ethan Dvash-Banks, left, with his twin brother, Aiden, as newborns. Images of Life by Ashli

Andrew said they were thrilled when their surrogate became pregnant with twins. But it wasn't by design that each of them fathered one of the kids. "Those two embryos were just the most healthy and viable," he said.

He said only they, the surrogate, and their IVF specialist knew which twin was which in terms of genetics. "It was a private thing. We didn't even tell my mother because she was grandmother to both," he added.

But 42-year-old Andrew and his husband were told by staff at the consulate they needed to prove which twin was biologically theirs. They said that only one of their sons  the blood relation to Andrew  would be granted a US passport.

"I said I wasn't going to tell them who was genetically connected to Elad or me because it was none of their damn business," Andrew said.

"They said, 'Well, it's important to us, and if you withhold that information, both of them will be denied citizenship,'" he went on.

He said that Elad argued that the same requirements wouldn't be expected of a straight couple. "Would the same thing apply if I was an Israeli mom whose American husband was infertile, so we'd used a sperm donor?'" Andrew said.

Ethan was initially admitted to the US on a temporary tourist visa

The immigration officer said he had the "discretion" to make the decision, Andrew said.

"It was very emotional and humiliating," Andrew told Insider. He said both their names were on the birth certificates as the boys' parents, but they were forced to have DNA tests.

As a result, Andrew and Aidan were allowed to cross the border as US citizens. Elad, now 38, was admitted because he had a green card by marriage. Meanwhile, Ethan was allowed to "visit" the country on a temporary tourist visa.

"We decided that it would be better to fight from the US," Andrew said.

Nevertheless, they lived in constant fear that Ethan might be deported. "They were concerned that he would be taken away by officers from ICE at any moment," said Segal, who interviewed the dads extensively for her book.

In 2018, their case was taken up by Immigration Equality, which filed a lawsuit against the US State Department. A federal judge decided in the fathers' favor in 2019, but that ruling was overturned on appeal. The State Department insisted that a married US citizen required a biological connection to a child in order to pass on birthright citizenship.

From left: Aiden, Andrew, Ethan, and Elad Dvash-Banks in Italy. Andrew Dvash-Banks

In the meantime, Ethan's legal status within the US became more secure after lawyers got a permanent extension of his entry visa. "But he still didn't have the same citizenship rights as Aiden," Andrew said.

In February 2021, a California judge sided with the dads, and the government lost a second appeal. Ethan finally got his American passport. Three months later, the requirement for a biological connection to a parent for transnational citizenship was eliminated.

The Dvash-Banks case set a precedent so other transnational LGBTQ+ parents can live in the US

"We celebrated because we felt we'd won a victory for not only ourselves but other LGBTQ+ people who are parents or want to become parents in the future, " Andrew said. The couple's case attracted worldwide publicity.

The twins, now 6 years old, are living happily with their dads in LA. "They blazed a trail," Andrew said.

Do you have a powerful story to share with Insider? Please send details to jridley@insider.com.

Read the original article on Insider
The Georgia Department of Labor announced Monday that more than $105 million in unremitted funds were moving to the states Treasury.

Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson said the funds have been uncovered during an internal audit of GDOL, which discovered the funds had been building up unclaimed since 2014 under the leadership of former Labor Commissioner Mark Butler.

On Aug. 3, Thompson had the funds transferred to the Georgia Department of Treasury.

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In the announcement, Thompsons office said the discovery of the $105,170,128.20 comes as he continues efforts to investigate fraud and unemployment insurance system vulnerabilities.

Following the disclosure that millions had gone unremitted for nearly 10 years, Thompson said hell be holding a briefing on Thursday at the state capital to discuss the uncovered funds and answer questions about the process.

TRENDING STORIES:

As far as the unremitted funds themselves, theyre collected from a variety of people and places, but essentially, theyre overpayments on collections that had been intended to pay out unemployment claims or other expenses but have not been used.

The exact nature of what the funds were meant for was not clear in the announcement but with Thursdays scheduled news conference, more information may come to light on how the funds will be used, and where they should have gone over the past nearly 10 years.

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OTHER NEWS:
ATLANTA  The scene outside the Fulton County Courthouse in downtown Atlanta is perhaps the biggest indication that something major could soon be happening inside.

The road in front of the building has been closed to traffic, orange barricades and metal barriers line the street, and officers from both the sheriffs and marshals offices have a visible presence.

Monday morning, a bomb-sniffing dog was brought in to check media vehicles.

The dramatically increased security is one of numerous signs that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis will soon be presenting her 2020 election interference case to a grand jury.

Willis, who has been investigating whether former President Donald Trump and his allies meddled in Georgia's 2020 presidential election, has sent subpoenas to witnesses in the probe, telling them to be prepared to testify before the end of the month.

The extra security measures in place Monday were expected after Willis sent the chief judge and law enforcement officials letters this year indicating her office could seek indictments in the first half of August.

I respectfully request that judges not schedule trials and in person hearings during the weeks beginning Monday, August 7 and Monday, August 14, Willis wrote in her letter to the chief judge in May.

Willis has been conducting a wide-ranging investigation since early 2021 into whether there were any coordinated attempts to unlawfully alter the outcome of the 2020 elections by Trump and his allies.

She enlisted a special grand jury last year that was empowered to subpoena witnesses to assist in the probe; it heard testimony from 75 witnesses, court records show. The panel recommended indicting more than a dozen people, its foreperson said on NBCs Nightly News in February.

Fani Willis. (David Walter Banks / The Washington Post via Getty Images file)

Among those who have received subpoenas to testify are former state Sen. Jen Jordan and state Rep. Bee Nguyen  two Democrats who attended hearings where Rudy Giuliani, then a lawyer for Trump, urged officials not to certify the Georgia election results based on debunked conspiracy theories.

Republican former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan also confirmed he has received a subpoena to testify.

The subpoenas instruct each recipient to remain on call in August, noting that they will receive at least 48 hours notice before your presence is required.

Duncan, Nguyen and Jordan said they haven't received their 48-hour notices to appear, an indication that Willis might not be presenting her case until later this week or next.

Atlanta journalist George Chidi tweeted last week that he had received a subpoena. He discovered a meeting of the so-called fake electors on Dec. 14, 2020, and was told at the time that it was an education meeting.

Willis' probe also looked at Trump's efforts to pressure Republican Gov. Brian Kemp and GOP Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger about the election results, as well as a scheme to have a slate of alternate presidential electors in place.

Both Trump's call to Raffensperger and the electors' scheme figured prominently in special counsel Jack Smith's federal indictment last week alleging Trump used "unlawful means" to try to stay in office.

Kemp's office said that as of Monday morning he hadn't been subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury. Raffensperger's office declined to comment.

Trump has pleaded not guilty in the federal case. He maintains that he hasn't done anything wrong in the Georgia case, and he instead has accused Willis, a Democrat, of pursuing a politically motivated "witch hunt."

With potential indictments looming, some Fulton County departments are adjusting their staffing levels or workflows. The majority of Willis staff is working remotely. Anyone scheduled to appear before the county magistrate court in the next two weeks has been asked to do so virtually.

Despite the security activity outside the courthouse, Fulton County spokesperson Jessica Corbitt said that inside, "for the most part, it's still business as usual."

We are prepared, and all of our county facilities are open, she said.

Blayne Alexander and Charlie Gile reported from Atlanta, and Dareh Gregorian reported from New York.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Police in LaGrange are investigating a shooting with five victims from just after midnight on Wednesday. One victim was a juvenile.

According to police, officers were called to a home on Laurel Lane after reports of a person shot.

When they arrived, they found a woman, Anaya Daniel, with a gunshot wound to her ankle.

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Police said the LaGrange Police Departments Criminal Investigation Department went to the house and found that Daniel was shot when a black vehicle, possibly a Kia, drove by and the vehicles passengers opened fire toward her.

Daniel was struck once, with multiple gunshots also entering the home behind her with four others inside, including the juvenile.

TRENDING STORIES:

Police said the other victims were Reshea Heard, Braylon Flowers, and Kameron Goode, in addition to the juvenile victim.

Daniel was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Officers are still investigating the shooting. Anyone with information about it is asked to call the LOPD at 706-883-2603.

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OTHER NEWS:
A duo of Georgia Republicans have announced a legislative push to require children to have their parents permission to use certain social media accounts.

In a news conference Monday, Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones (R) and state Senate Majority Caucus Chairman Sen. Jason Anavitarte (R) said they plan to introduce the bill during the states 2024 legislative session.

The proposed legislation would require social media platforms to take concrete steps to verify the age of their users. Existing rules requiring school systems in the state to monitor bullying and educate students and educators on the issue of social media would also be updated to reflect the realities of modern technology.

Social media companies will also be required to remove features that are addictive to children, according to the proposed legislation.

Anavitarte also said that the legislation would be modeled on a law in Louisiana that was passed earlier this year.

Louisianas state Legislature passed a bill in June that bans interactive computer services from allowing people under 18 years old to sign up for accounts on the social media platform without their parents consent, according to The Verge.

We want to be sensitive to the First Amendment, Anavitarie said, according to the Polk County Standard Journal. [But] were making a stand here in Georgia. Somethings got to change.

Other GOP-led states such as Utah, Arkansas and Texas either passed or enacted laws earlier this year that required parental contest for children to use social media platforms.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed into law last year a bill that requires social media services to do more to protect children that use their sites.

Social media companies are already required under federal regulation to ban children under the age of 13 from creating accounts on their platforms, but children have found ways to evade those rules.

Social media touches every part of our daily lives, and while it certainly has its benefits, the potential negative impacts it has on our children cannot be dismissed, Jones said in a statement, noting that the legislation will be a critical step toward age verification, removing addictive content, and cracking down on cyberbullying in the social media landscape.

The Associated Press contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
French police on Monday said they had arrested a 55-year old German after his wife was discovered naked in a poor state following what she said was 12 years in captivity at the couple's home.

But her husband denied this and added that his wife was suffering from cancer and that he was caring for her.

A police source said initially the woman, also German, was found with her head shaved in a bedroom of the apartment, had multiple injuries and was undernourished. She had probably been tortured, the source said.

The state of her health was "not good", local prosecutor Olivier Glady told AFP after her examination by the local forensic medicine service.

But he later told a news conference that initial examinations had not found fractures or bruises, contrary to media reports.

Blood tests showed that she was not significantly dehydrated, he said, adding that there were "inconsistencies" in her accounts to investigators.

"The cursor is probably moving away from a scenario of horror, towards unsatisfactory conditions of the care of a sick person," Glady said.

He said her bald head and her skinny frame could be due to cancer and her semi-nude state could be explained by the fact that the police went to their flat in the morning to detain her husband.

- No 'Bluebeard' -

"The current state of investigation appears us to move away from the spectre of a Bluebeard of the Moselle region," the prosecutor added, a reference to "Bluebeard", a French folk tale about a wealthy man who murders his wives.

Police said the bedroom and other rooms in the apartment were closed off with metal wire at the flat in Forbach in eastern France, near the German border.

That setup may have been meant to keep the household's 10 cats in, Glady said.

A police source said the woman, who is 53, got access to a phone and called police in Wiesbaden, western Germany, who in turn alerted their French colleagues.

- 'Maybe 10 years ago' -

Over the years, the man had told everyone in the building that his wife had cancer, said Alicia, a neighbour.

"I never saw the lady, I don't think she ever left the house," she said.

"Sometimes I heard screams," Alicia said, but added that she thought they were caused by the illness.

About the man, she said: "Very polite, nice".

Erika, another witness who lives in an adjacent street, said she last saw the woman "maybe 10 years ago", and thought that "maybe she had died, or moved out".

Police are investigating the man for kidnapping, aggravated rape, and acts of torture and barbarism, French broadcaster BFMTV said.

Broadcaster RMC said police found a diary-type notebook in which it was believed the man kept a record of his actions and of the times he gave his wife food but the prosecutor did not confirm this.

Police had already been called to the couple's home in 2019, but said they did not detect any signs of trouble.

The man is jobless and believed to have worked in German industry previously, Glady said.

Police have extended his custody by 24 hours, the prosecutor said.

burs/ach/gw
Total investments in the German factory, TSMC's first in Europe, are expected to exceed 10 billion euros (Sam Yeh)

Taiwanese chip giant TSMC agreed Tuesday to plough $3.8 billion (3.5 billion euros) into a new semiconductor factory in Germany, lending a major boost to Europe's efforts to bring production onto the continent.

Total investments in the factory, TSMC's first in Europe, are expected to exceed 10 billion euros, with "strong support from the European Union and German government", along with TSMC's partners in the project.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company will set up a joint venture with German groups Bosch and Infineon and Dutch firm NXP to build the plant, the companies said, with construction to begin in the second half of 2024.

TSMC is a key player in the sector, controlling more than half the world's output of microchips.

The facility in Germany is expected to begin production by the end of 2027, with monthly capacity to reach 40,000 300mm (12-inch) wafers. It will also create about 2,000 direct jobs, the companies said.

Hailing the news, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that Germany "is now likely to become the major location for semiconductor production in Europe."

This was important "for the future viability of our European continent and it is, of course, particularly important for the future viability of Germany," he said.

Stung by the energy crisis unleashed by Russia's war in Ukraine, Germany and its allies have been racing to slash dependencies on countries such as China and ramp up domestic production of sensitive components such as semiconductor chips.

The ambition set by the EU under its "Chips Act" is to increase Europe's slice of global semiconductor production to 20 percent by 2030.

Such chips are necessary to power everything from computers to smartphones to missiles in an increasingly tech-dependent world.

The EU's industry commissioner Thierry Breton hailed the planned new plant as the Chips Act "in motion -- bringing stronger security of supply for Europe, including for EU's automotive industry".

- Huge challenges -

Tension between China and Taiwan, a self-ruled democracy that Beijing claims as its territory, has prompted the West to cast a wary eye on its reliance on TSMC.

The new German factory will be based in the eastern city of Dresden in a region known as Silicon Saxony for its high-tech manufacturing base.

"Europe is a highly promising place for semiconductor innovation, particularly in the automotive and industrial fields, and we look forward to bringing those innovations to life on our advanced silicon technology with the talent in Europe," TSMC's chief executive CC Wei said in a statement.

Michael Kretschmer -- leader of Saxony state, where the plant will be based -- said the project would have an impact across the region.

"It will generate billions in investment and many jobs -- both directly and indirectly, including in skilled trades and for small- and medium-sized enterprises," he said.

But the German chip drive faces numerous challenges, ranging from high energy prices following Russia's invasion of Ukraine to shortages of skilled workers.

In June, Berlin and Intel signed a deal for the US chip behemoth to build manufacturing sites in the eastern city of Magdeburg after months of tense negotiations.

But the huge level of state support -- Berlin is providing 9.9 billion euros for the 33-billion-euro project -- has proved controversial, with some questioning whether the investment is worth it.

TSMC did not disclose the level of financial support from Germany but business weekly Handelsblatt reported on Monday that it would reach five billion euros.

bur-hmn-sr/giv
Antonela Raccuzzo looks to be enjoying her new life in South Florida.

Over the weekend Lionel Messis wife posted a snap sitting with her new besties at Papi Steak in Miami Beach. The upscale eatery is best known for a $1,000 steak that comes in a gold briefcase.

The stellar crew included Isabela Grutman, whose husband co-owns the hot spot; as well as Victoria Beckham (no description necessary); Elena Galera, Sergio Busquets partner; and Andrea Rajacic, former Barcelona star Thierry Henrys girlfriend.

Girls, said the Argentine models simple caption in English, along with a heart emoji.

Victoria responded with hearts of her own while Grutman said she had so much fun.

Its nice to see newcomers Roccuzzo and Galera checking out our dining scene and boost our local economy. The ladies also did date night at Bad Bunnys clubstaurant Gekko, along with their guys.

READ MORE: Messi seen house hunting in Boca Raton

We would love to have been a fly on Papi Steaks famed black floral wallpaper that day, but we can assume one topic of conversation may have been Messis amazing goal making skills.

Roccuzzos fans were duly impressed, with one snarkily commenting that the mother of three had 36.3 million followers, about 5M more (give or take) than Mrs. Beckham.

Welcome to Miami, yall.
GM will offer V2H, or vehicle-to-home, bidirectional power on all its Ultium-based electric vehicles by model year 2026.

The Silverado EV pickup truck will be first to get it when it debuts this year.

The technology is already offered by Ford, Nissan, Mitsubishi, and Hyundai.

Electric cars run on juice provided by the electric grid, but more and more EVs are going the other way and sending electricity from their battery packs back to the home or even to the electric grid from whence the power came.

Ford has been offering it for two years on the F-150 Lightning, while Nissans Leaf and Mitsubishis Outlander PHEV offer it, but now GM has announced that it, too, will offer bidirectional charging on all its Ultium-based electric models by 2026.

Better late than never.

There are basically four types of bidirectional charging now:

Vehicle-To-Grid, where electricity stored in an EVs battery is sent back to the electric grid that originally supplied it, potentially keeping CON Edison or Nevada Light & Power from instituting rolling blackouts on really hot days when everyones using their air conditioning. Vehicle-To-Load, which means having a 120-volt AC electrical outlet on your car or truck into which you can plug appliances that run on electricity like a power drill, your home window-mounted air conditioner, or the laptop computer on which youre reading this. Vehicle-To-Home, which is like turning your electric cars battery into a Tesla Power Wall that charges everything in your house. Vehicle-To-X, meaning vehicle to everythingsort of a catch-all phrase that generally means all of the above.

The GM systems will be that third one, V2H. They will turn GM Ultium batteries into the wheeled equivalent of a Tesla Power Wall (or other fine home battery system).

General Motors announced today that it will expand vehicle-to-home bidirectional charging technology across its retail portfolio of Ultium-based electric vehicles by model year 2026, the company said this morning.

The General outlined which vehicles will get V2H and when:

2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV RST

2024 GMC Sierra EV Denali Edition 1

2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV

2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV

2024 Cadillac LYRIQ

And the upcoming Cadillac Escalade IQ, which will be revealed on Aug. 9.

Thats a lot of electricity flowing around, but it will only be part of the electrification of General Motors.

Building on the companys plan to deliver a growing suite of energy management products and services through GM Energy, V2H unlocks additional value for EV drivers, who will be able to transfer energy from their vehicles to a properly equipped home when desired, the company said. The technology allows consumers to store and transfer energy to help offset electricity needs during peak demand days and mitigate the impact of power outages, making the transition to an all-electric future even more compelling.

How Will This Technology Affect Battery Life?

GM customers can leverage V2H technology on compatible GM EVs through GM Energys available Ultium Home offerings, and the GM Energy Cloud, a software platform which will allow users to manage the transfer of energy between applicable and connected GM Energy assets and the home, the company said.

The Detroit automaker did not comment on how regular use of a car battery to power a home or the grid will affect battery life. Will your cars battery die sooner if you use this new technology regularly? A casual gander at studies shows disagreement, with more saying its helpful to battery life than not.

A 2017 University of Hawaii study quoted in ptolomeus.com showed that unmanaged charge and discharge patterns by V2G puts strain on the battery cell resulting in a loss of battery capacity. A British study last year found that V2G use in a battery can optimize the battery condition and improve its health by 8.6 to 12.3 percent over one years operation compared to conventional charging alone The key is proper battery management while the discharge is happening.

So maybe its win-win? Your cars battery is either discharging electricity to your wheels or to the grid, so a discharge might just be a discharge, and it wont be harmful if its managed well. Imagine the power available if all EVs had V2G, V2H, or V2L capabilities. Itd be like the entire grid had an enormous backup battery.

Does an EVs ability to send power back to your home or the grid change your perception of battery-electric vehicles? Please comment below.
Ron DeSantis says the military is more interested in global warming and gender ideology initiatives than in national security.

Tim Scott says the Justice Department continues to hunt Republicans.

Vivek Ramaswamy has vowed to shut down the deep state, borrowing former President Donald Trumps conspiratorial shorthand for a federal bureaucracy he views as hostile.

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As Trump escalates his attacks on American institutions, focusing his fire on the Justice Department as he faces new criminal charges, his competitors for the Republican nomination have followed his lead.

Several have adopted much of Trumps rhetoric sowing broad suspicion about the courts, the FBI, the military and schools. As they vie for support in a primary dominated by Trump, they routinely blast these targets in ways that might have been considered extraordinary, not to mention unthinkably bad politics, just a few years ago.

Yet, there is little doubt about the political incentives behind the statements. Polls show that Americans trust in their institutions has fallen to historic lows, with Republicans exhibiting more doubt across a broad swath of public life.

The proliferation of attacks has alarmed Republicans and Democrats who worry about the long-term impact on U.S. democracy. Public confidence in core institutions  from the justice system to voting systems  is fundamental to a durable democracy, particularly at a time of sharp political division.

Weve had these times of division before in our history, but weve always had leaders to bridge the gaps who have said we need to build respect, we need to restore confidence in our institutions  today we have just the opposite, said Asa Hutchinson, the former governor of Arkansas and a moderate whose campaign for the Republican presidential nomination has gained little traction.

That defines the course of 2024. Were going to have a leader that brings out the best of America, which is the first job of being president. Or youre going to have somebody that increases distrust that we have in our institutions.

Trump is still the loudest voice. As he blames others for his defeat in 2020 and, now, after being charged in three separate criminal cases, he has characterized federal prosecutors as henchmen orchestrating a cover-up. After he was indicted last week on charges related to his attempts to overturn the election, his campaign cited abuse, incompetence, and corruption that is running through the veins of our country at levels never seen before.

DeSantis, however, has echoed that view, making criticisms of educators, health officials, mainstream media, elites and government employees central to his campaign, and even, at times, invoking violent imagery.

All of these deep state people, you know, we are going to start slitting throats on Day 1, DeSantis said during a New Hampshire campaign stop late last week. The Florida governor, a Navy veteran, used similar language about the Department of Defense late last month, saying that if elected he would need a defense secretary who may have to slit some throats.

Other candidates, too, have keyed into voters trust deficit. Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur, wants to shut down the FBI and the IRS as part of his fight against the deep state. Nikki Haley, a former South Carolina governor and ambassador to the United Nations, has said she opposes red-flag gun laws because I dont trust that they wont take them away from people who rightfully deserve to have them.

Even Mike Pence, who has criticized Trumps plot to overturn the 2020 election at the heart of the charges filed late week, has suggested the Justice Department is politically motivated in its prosecution, warning of a two-tiered system of justice, with one set of rules for Republicans, and one set of rules for Democrats.

Running against the government is hardly new, especially for Republicans. For decades, the party called for shrinking the size and reach of some federal programs  with the exception of the military  and treated President Ronald Reagans declaration that government is the problem as a guiding principle.

But even some Republicans, largely moderates whove rejected Trumpism, note the tenor of the campaign rhetoric has reached new and conspiratorial levels. Familiar complaints about government waste or regulatory overreach are now replaced with claims that government agencies are targeting citizens and that bureaucrats are busy enacting political agendas.

Does anyone believe the IRS wont go after Middle America? Haley tweeted in April.

None of the candidates responded to requests for interviews about these statements.

Casting doubt on the integrity of government is hardly limited to Republican candidates. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a long-shot candidate for the Democratic nomination, has made questioning public health officials on long-established science a focus of his campaign. In her quixotic bid for the nomination, Marianne Williamson has declared that she is running to challenge the system.

And President Joe Biden, whose resistance to institutional change has often frustrated the left wing of his party, has mused about his skepticism of the Supreme Court  this is not a normal court, he said, after the courts ruling striking down affirmative action in college admissions.

A Gallup poll released in July found that public confidence in major U.S. institutions is at record low levels, with historic levels of distrust in the military, police, schools, big business and technology. Several other institutions  including the presidency, the Supreme Court and the criminal justice system as well as newspapers and broadcast news, are just slightly above the record low they hit last year.

There is an unmistakable partisan divide: Republicans are far less likely to express confidence in a majority of institutions in the survey, including the presidency and public schools. Democrats have far more doubt about the Supreme Court and the police. (There is bipartisan distrust in the criminal justice system, with less than 1 in 4 voters expressing confidence in the system.)

The military has seen an especially steep decline in trust from Republican voters, with 68% saying they have confidence in the armed forces, compared with 91% three years ago. DeSantis in particular has spoken to that shift on an institution that Republicans were once loath to criticize.

When revered institutions like our own military are more concerned with matters not central to the mission  from global warming to gender ideology and pronouns, morale declines and recruiting suffers, he said when he announced his bid. We need to eliminate these distractions and get focused on the core mission.

In a Fox News interview, he recently said, The military that I see is different from the military I served in.

Feeding on voters already deeply embedded skepticism might have once been seen as politically risky, but social media and the right-wing media have helped change that, said Sarah Longwell, a Republican consultant who conducts weekly focus groups with her partys voters.

Longwell says these forces have created a Republican triangle of doom, with the partys voter base, politicians and partisan media creating a feedback loop of complaints and conspiracy theories.

The lack of trust has become a defining feature of our politics, she said. Voters feel like there is an existential threat any time that someone who doesnt share your politics is in charge of something. Weve lost the sense that neutral is possible.

But that does not explain the whole picture. The publics trust in government institutions has been slipping for decades, first declining in the wake of the Vietnam War and then again after Watergate and yet again after the war in Iraq and the Great Recession.

Former Gov. Jerry Brown of California noted that he ran for the Democratic nomination for president in 1992 by attacking Washington institutions as corrupt, but the argument never caught fire in the way it has with Republicans, he said, in part because his partys base generally trusted government.

Today he sees the country as more polarized. Notions that would have once been seen as being on the fringe, such as Trumps false claims that the 2020 election was stolen, are mainstream. Many Republican voters expect to hear candidates attack election results routinely, undermining the system they depend on for power.

Democracy does depend on trust, even if politics depends on fear, Brown said in a recent interview. The world is getting more dangerous, and at home its getting less governable.

The impact of the lack of trust was particularly apparent in the pandemic, when many Americans blamed public authorities for inconsistent guidance and unpopular lockdowns. Ultimately, that distrust fed the anti-vaccination campaigns.

Questioning public health officials has been essential to the rise of DeSantis, who more than two years ago wrote an essay in The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: Dont Trust the Elites.

Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur, has also taken aim at the government. In another era, he might have been an unlikely hero for the anti-establishment  a Harvard-educated business owner who has lent more than $15 million to his own campaign.

Still, as the disdain for the elites has metastasized deeper and further into the party, Ramaswamy has embraced the pugilistic language of Trump, frequently on social media.

Shut down the FBI & IRS, he posted this month. Pardon defendants of politicized prosecutions. Replace civil service protections with 8-year term limits. Punish bureaucrats who violate the law. Get aggressive.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
Top Republicans went all out to avoid a contentious primary in Montanas Senate race by urging GOP Rep. Matt Rosendale to stay in the House.

Its not working.

Rosendale, who lost a Senate bid in 2018, is moving closer toward another statewide run, hiring a well-connected fundraiser and working to lock up support from top conservatives. Hes also trying to silence any doubters after the Club for Growth walked back a previous plan to back his bid.

Hes running, said former conservative Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), who has pledged to help Rosendale. Of course hes running.

Rosendale remains publicly undecided about a Senate bid. But the private steps hes taking threaten to complicate his partys carefully laid plans to unseat Sen. Jon Tester, one of the chambers most endangered Democrats.

GOP leaders launched a concerted campaign to box out Rosendale and clear the path for Tim Sheehy, a Navy SEAL-turned-business executive who launched a Senate bid in June. Their fear was that Rosendale would prevail in a primary, given his statewide name recognition, but flub a general election against Tester  just as he did in 2018. With a narrow deficit in the Senate, winning in Montana is a linchpin in the partys broader 2024 strategy.

But Rosendale appears undeterred. He has brought on Caroline Wren, a former Trump campaign aide who helps fundraise for conservative candidates, including Kari Lake in Arizona. And he's spent the summer attending events in Kalispell, Bozeman and Polson, all of which are represented by Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.), who has endorsed Sheehy  a sign that his ambitions are statewide.

In recent weeks, he has received encouragement to jump in from Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah), as well as members of the House Freedom Caucus. And he has secured vows of support from DeMint and members with a slew of allied groups, including Heritage Action and Turning Point Action. Senate Conservatives Fund, a PAC founded by DeMint, is also expected to back Rosendale should he enter the race, according to two people familiar with those conversations.

(A spokesperson for Heritage Action said the group does not get involved in GOP primaries and that it has not made plans to support any candidate in the race.)

Several prominent conservatives sent a flurry of tweets over the past two weeks, praising the congressman, including Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and Eli Crane (R-Ariz.).

The Senate is not going to change the direction of the country unless we have more people like Matt over there, said DeMint. So I encouraged him to run. I'm a big supporter of his being there to help change the culture a little bit on the Senate side.

Speculation about a statewide run heightened when Rosendale attended a fundraiser last week in Kalispell. Local GOP supporters of Rosendales placed a piece of tape over one of Rosendales campaign signs to black out a line that said U.S. Congress  a cheeky push to encourage him to mount a Senate run, according to a person familiar with the event.

Rep. Rosendale is the clear choice among Montana voters. He has their overwhelming trust and support, should he decide to run, said Aashka Varma, a top aide to the congressman.

Varma also took a shot at Sheehy, previewing potential attack lines on diversity, equity and inclusion programs and environmental, social, and governing investing  two contentious issues with the partys right flank. The people of Montana, she said, will not elect a candidate who supports Leftist ESG and DEI provisions and sending American troops into Ukraine.

The two men have, at times, been allies. Sheehy hosted various campaign events for Rosendale over the years at his home, according to a person familiar with those gatherings.

Sheehy, an aerial firefighter with great personal wealth, has enjoyed a wide array of support since entering the race. Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), the chair of the National Senatorial Campaign Committee, took the unusual step of endorsing him and publicly nudging Rosendale to remain in the House. A slew of senators, including Minority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.), followed his lead in a clear and coordinated effort to send Rosendale a message: stay out.

I really like Matt Rosendale, which is why I am encouraging him to build seniority for the great state of Montana in the House and help Republicans hold their majority, Daines told POLITICO in June.

The impact of any eventual primary will be felt far beyond Montanas borders. Republicans need to capture two and potentially just one seat to reclaim the Senate. Their strongest targets lie in West Virginia and Montana.

But the real blow for Rosendale came last month when David McIntosh, the president of the influential Club for Growth, signaled that the group was not certain it would back the congressman in a Senate race, despite supporting him in 2018.

The congressman has said publicly that he spoke with McIntosh and that the Club president relayed that he was misquoted. But McIntosh has not publicly walked back his remarks. According to a person familiar with that conversation, McIntosh did not tell Rosendale that he was misquoted when the two men spoke.

Questions about the Clubs support of Rosendale began late last month. Speaking to a group of reporters, McIntosh praised Sheehy as an impressive candidate and said his group had not decided what to do if Rosendale decided to run.

If he does, we're going to take a close look at that race and figure out what the best answer is, McIntosh said.

At a similar dinner in February, McIntosh adopted a very different posture: If he decides to run, wed want to support him again, he said of Rosendale.

The Club has an impressive collection of wealthy donors and is able to funnel money into key races. It already plans to boost Rep. Alex Mooney in another potentially contentious GOP primary  the Senate race in West Virginia  and has helped collect $13 million. Its not clear what it would spend  or if it would spend  in Montana.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this report misspelled the first name of Sen. Jon Tester.
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) took aim at a group of hecklers in his state who were filmed targeting Mike Pence on the campaign trail for refusing to help Donald Trump overturn the 2020 election.

Angry, unhinged Trump supporters? I dont think anyone surprised to see it, Sununu told CNNs Erin Burnett in an interview on Monday.

I mean, his base supporters tend to be very extreme, very angry. Theyre very defensive. Theyll do anything to try to make sure that Trump just kind of is handed the nomination and doesnt have to earn it.

Obviously, theyre going to use Mike Pence as a punching bag, he continued. Mike Pence stood up for America.

As Pence was entering an event in New Hampshire on Friday, a group of Trump supporters accosted him, calling him a traitor and a sellout, and demanding: Why didnt you uphold the Constitution?

Sununu praised Pence for doing the right thing when Trump pushed him to support his scheme to reverse his 2020 election defeat.

The former president was indicted on four federal felonies last week in connection to his coup attempt. According to the indictment, Trump and his co-conspirators tried to pressure Pence into using his ceremonial role at the Jan. 6, 2021, certification of electoral votes to fraudulently alter the election results.

Pence is no stranger to attacks from his former running mates supporters, having faced calls to be hanged on Jan. 6 because he wouldnt bow to Trumps demands.

He criticized Trump over the riot in the past and has intensified his reproval in the wake of the indictment, accusing the former president and his gaggle of crackpot lawyers of trying to make him literally reject the electoral votes favoring Joe Biden.

Sununu, a vocal critic of the former president, announced in June he would not run for president in 2024, opting instead to campaign against Trump.

The stakes are too high for a crowded field to hand the nomination to a candidate who earns just 35% of the vote, and I will help to ensure this does not happen, Sununu said at the time.

Related...
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers is calling on state lawmakers to put $1 billion toward child care services and workforce development programs  a longshot request similar to failed spending proposals introduced during the state budget-writing process that Republicans who control the state Legislature quickly promised to reject again.

Evers' $1 billion plan would allocate more than $365 million to child care programs, guarantee 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave for Wisconsin workers, invest $66.4 million in UW System schools, award nearly $200 million for UW-Madison's proposed engineering building and millions more for workforce education and grant programs.

The proposed special legislative session, scheduled for Sept. 20, is also Evers' latest attempt to extend funding for Child Care Counts, a pandemic-era program that has helped keep child care centers open in an unstable economy. Evers and Democrats tried on multiple occasions to include $340 million in permanent funding for the program in the new two-year state budget but Republican lawmakers included $15 million for other child care services instead.

Child Care Counts will run out of funds by January 2024 without additional funding, something Democrats and program advocates warn could trigger large tuition hikes for parents, worsen staff shortages and shutter child care providers.

Thats a completely catastrophic but preventable scenario for our kids. So, Im calling on the legislature to invest more than $365 million in child care support statewide and childcare programs that we already know are successful," Evers said Tuesday at Tiny Green Trees, a nature-based child care center in Milwaukee. "Its really not rocket science."

Both Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, dismissed Evers' announcement in statements Tuesday, with Vos calling it "nothing more than a rehash of Tony Evers tax and spend budget" that did nothing to address long-term child care industry challenges.

Republicans made the decision to return the budget surplus to the taxpayers through a middle-class tax cut. Governor Evers vetoed it," Vos said, referencing Evers' partial veto of GOP tax cuts included in the state budget last month. "Now hes rushing to spend billions of dollars again so it cant be given back."

Rep. Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam, who co-chairs the Legislature's budget-writing committee, told the Journal Sentinel on Tuesday he had "no interest" in re-opening budget deliberations, effectively paralyzing Evers' workforce development plans. Born said he would instead focus on sending $3.3 billion in tax cuts that Evers vetoed "back to the hardworking taxpayers of Wisconsin."

Gov. Tony Evers announced on Tuesday a $1.1 billion proposal that would in part fund child care centers, paid family leave and higher education. He's calling for a special session Sept. 20 to take up his plan.

How many times has Gov. Tony Evers called a special session?

Evers during his first term in office called Republican lawmakers into special session 12 times, the second-most in a four-year term of any Wisconsin governor. Most tried but failed to urge legislative action from Republicans on issues they already opposed.

Examples from last year include special sessions called to overturn Wisconsin's 1849 near-total abortion ban or giving every state resident a $150 tax rebate. Republicans gaveled in and gaveled out of both sessions in seconds, as has become common practice since Evers took office in 2019.

The same is expected to happen when lawmakers are asked by Evers' executive order to gavel into the special session on Sept. 20. Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee twice rejected Democratic proposals to spend $340 million on Child Care Counts, fund paid family leave and bolster higher education funding during the budget process that ended last month.

Why Gov. Evers thinks Republicans could be open to his proposals

Evers believes this session will be different than past special sessions where Republicans gaveled in and out in seconds.

I know Republicans do not want to be responsible for farmers, hospitals, schools and other businesses in their district not being able to find workers because parents care for their kids," Evers said. If they dont take this seriously, it will not be a bipartisan responsibility for the financial consequences, but their responsibility.

Rep. Jessie Rodriguez, R-Oak Creek, said in June a separate $121 million funding increase for programs overseen by the state Department of Children and Families would help stabilize some child care centers through a $15 million fund to provide loans to child care providers.

What does the Child Care Counts program do for Wisconsin families?

Child Care Counts began in May 2020. The most recent iteration of the program began in November 2021 and gave providers monthly funding after Evers directed $351 million in federal pandemic relief dollars to keep the program running through at least the end of 2023.

Child Care Counts has distributed more than $630 million in federal pandemic relief funds directly to 4,956 Wisconsin child care providers since its inception as of mid-June, according to the state Department of Children and Families.

A Wisconsin Early Childhood Action Needed survey distributed to child care providers found that, for nearly half its respondents, Child Care Counts comprises between 20% and 30% of their revenue.

What else is Gov. Evers proposing in his $1 billion plan?

Other Evers proposals from Tuesday included:

$22.3 million for the Partner Up! Program, which supports employers purchasing child care spots for their employees at existing regulated child care providers across the state.

$40 million increase in general aid for the Wisconsin Technical College System.

$17.3 million over the biennium for the Wisconsin Grants program, which provides college students with need-based financial aid.

$100 million to continue the Workforce Innovation Grant Program, which provides grants to regional organizations to design and implement plans addressing healthcare-related workforce challenges.

$10 million for Wisconsin's nurse educators program.

$60 million to address healthcare workforce shortage solutions through nurse education and healthcare opportunity grants, among numerous other programs.

$16 million to address teacher staffing shortages.

Madison Lammert of USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin contributed to this report.

Tyler Katzenberger and Yash Roy can be reached at tkatzenberger@gannett.com and yroy@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Gov. Tony Evers calls special session on child care, workforce plan
Russian troops struck the city of Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast on Aug. 8, wounding a 14-year-old boy, according to the regional governor Oleh Syniehubov.

The injured teenager was taken into medical care, the official said on Telegram.

Syniehubov added that Russia had intensified attacks against Kupiansk, urging residents to be careful and use bomb shelters.

According to the Prosecutor General's Office, Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine has killed 499 children since Feb. 24, 2022. An additional 1,092 have sustained injuries of varying degrees of severity.

Read also: Stolen generation. Russia systematically abducts children from Ukraine, gives them to Russian families

However, the actual numbers may be much higher since they do not fully account for territories still under Russian occupation, recently liberated by Ukrainian forces, or experiencing heavy fighting.

Ukraine's eastern Kharkiv Oblast is subjected to daily attacks by the Russian military due to its proximity to the Russo-Ukrainian border.

On the morning of Aug. 8, Russian forces hit the regional village of Kozacha Lopan, injuring two men and damaging people's homes.

A day before, Russian multi-weapon strikes against Kharkiv Oblast killed two people and wounded nine more, including four emergency workers and police officers.

Read also: Investigative Stories from Ukraine: Russia hits Ukraine with missiles that once belonged to Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Russian forces struck Kharkiv Oblasts village of Kozacha Lopan on Aug. 8, wounding two men, reported Governor Oleh Syniehubov.

The injured were hospitalized in serious and moderate conditions, the official said on Telegram.

The morning attack hit houses and outbuildings, causing a fire, according to Syniehubov.

First responders are working on the spot to eliminate the consequences, the oblast governor added.

Ukraines eastern Kharkiv Oblast is subjected to daily attacks by the Russian military due to its proximity to the Russo-Ukrainian border.

On Aug. 7, Russian multi-weapon strikes against Kharkiv Oblast killed two people and injured nine more, including four emergency workers and police officers.

Read also: Russian forces kill at least 11, injure 91 over past day

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
(Bloomberg) -- A group of artists apparently from China whitewashed a wall long decorated by artists in London and then spray painted characters listing the Communist Partys 12 core socialist values, setting off a graffiti battle over the Asian nations politics.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The bright red words such as freedom, equality and democracy lasted just a few hours over the weekend before expressions of discontent with Beijings policies and President Xi Jinping appeared. Calls for Solidarity with Hong Kong and references to Xinjiang, where China is accused of human rights violations against minority groups, were plastered over and around the red characters.

The wall has now become the focal point for criticism of China and inflamed divisions online too. The episode comes as governments in Europe are redefining their relationship with Beijing, which the US increasingly sees as a threat to its national security.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has sought to reset ties with China without angering hawks in his own party. Hes seeking to repair a relationship strained over everything from Chinas tightening political grip on Hong Kong to Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Theres signs that perceptions of China are souring in nations around the world, largely over Xis policies. A recent poll by Pew Research Center recorded negative views reaching record highs in 10 of the 24 nations where it conducted its survey.

See: Five Tools Europe Will Use to Counter Chinas Geopolitical Rise

One of the artists claiming to be responsible for the original 12-word graffiti said the work was intended to be neutral, and the person holds no political stance, according to a post on Instagram. Yique, the name the artist uses, said theyve received death threats and other attacks, including the release of their parents personal details online.

The post couldnt immediately be verified and the person didnt respond to requests for comment.

A hashtag about the graffiti has attracted more than 23 million views since Sunday on the Weibo social media platform. The former editor-in-chief of the party-backed Global Times, Hu Xijin, wrote in a post that the episode showed some people outside China hold special prejudices.

The environment in the West cannot tolerate the display of Chinas socialist core values, Hu wrote. We should not be discouraged. We should continue to be confident in our socialist core values.

More: Xi Has Few Good Options to End Historic China Covid Protests

The wall has since been whitewashed again, and artwork critical of China and referencing sweeping protests in the country in November against harsh Covid policies has since reappeared.

The local council of Tower Hamlets, where the wall is located, did not respond to requests for comment outside business hours.

Tower Hamlets is also home to the site Beijing had hoped to build a new embassy, which would have been its largest in Europe. That plan was scuppered by the council in late 2022.

Residents had raised worries that the area would become a target for terrorists and a surveillance camera hotspot.

Also late last year, China removed consular officials from the UK following a diplomatic spat over an attack on a Hong Kong man staging a peaceful protest outside the consulate in Manchester.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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It has long been believed great white sharks arent friendly, even to each other, but new research suggests some actually have best friends.

Satellite tracking has revealed some have the suspicious habit of following each other around, according to OCEARCH researchers.

Examples include 9-foot Simon and 8-foot Jekyll, who have stayed together since being fitted with tags off Georgia in 2022.

This is potentially ground breaking, according to OCEARCH chief scientist Bob Hueter.

White shark Simon was tagged in 2022 off Georgia. He has since traveled 4,000 miles with another shark named Jekyll, suggesting they are friends, OCEARCH says.

White sharks lead a very solitary existence. We dont really expect to see these white sharks staying together. But Simon and Jekyll, they seem to be buddies in the sense that theyre going in the same place at the same time.

Tracking shows the two sharks have practically moved together in tandem as they traveled more than 4,000 miles into Canadian waters, officials said.

Both are now together in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, data shows.

Weve never seen anything quite like this before, Hueter says.

OCEARCH takes fluid and tissue samples when it captures sharks for tagging, Hueter says, and geneticists are now re-examining blood samples from Simon and Jekyll to see if they may be brothers or half brothers.

OCEARCH satellite tags have been fitted on 92 white sharks along the East Coast, leading to new data on the travel habits of white sharks. Among the discoveries is the apex predators make seasonal migrations from the North Atlantic to the tip of Florida and the Gulf of Mexico.

The reason is not completely understood, but researchers suspect it may involve mating, pursuit of prey and avoiding waters that are too warm or too cold.

OCEARCH believes white sharks may be using waters of North Carolinas Outer Banks as a mating spot.

Waters off SE coast fill with great white sharks in winter, but no one knows why  yet

12-foot shark tagged off SC mysteriously emerges almost 2,000 miles away, off Mexico

This indestructible shark has amazing healing ability. See photos taken 1 year apart
SpaceX founder Elon Musk (L) and Canadian musician Grimes (Claire Boucher) attend the 2018 Space X Hyperloop Pod Competition, in Hawthorne, California on July 22, 2018. Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images

Grimes said she's not looking forward to watching Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg fight it out.

The artist, who shares two children with Musk, told Wired that she would prefer he doesn't fight.

But Musk is "very strong" and the fight is probably a good outlet for his masculinity, she added.

Grimes said her former partner Elon Musk is "very strong" ahead of a potential cage fight with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and that he's using the match as an outlet for his masculinity.

In an interview with Wired published on Tuesday, Grimes said that she thinks the highly-anticipated fight between the two tech giants will eventually go ahead, but added: "I would prefer that it didn't happen."

Grimes, who has two kids with Musk, told Wired: "I love gladiatorial matches, but watching the father of your children in a physical fight is not the most pleasant feeling.

"But it's not going to cause brain damage, so actually, I think this is good. Dudes need some outlet for trad masculinity."

The Canadian artist, whose real name is Claire Boucher, also said that she thinks the fight will make the billionaires "respect each other more."

Both Musk and Zuckerberg recently started getting hyped about the potential cage fight again after a month of radio silence on the particulars of when and where they would face off.

Musk said Sunday that the fight would be streamed live on X  the platform formerly known as Twitter  and that its proceeds would "go to charity for veterans."

But he might not be ready to fight just yet, he added, because he needs to get an MRI of his neck and back, and might even require surgery.

Musk was responding to Thread's message from Zuckerberg, who said he was waiting for confirmation to set a date for fight night. Both have been training for the match.

Mark Zuckerberg participates in jiu-jitsu tournaments and Bill Gates has played tennis against Jeff Bezos. Mark Zuckerberg/Instagram

The idea for the fight initially came from Musk who joked in June that he would be "up for a cage match" to settle his 7-year-old beef in the ring with Zuckerberg, who took up mixed martial arts during the coronavirus pandemic.

Zuckerberg responded to Musk's challenge and has since boasted that he's ready to take on Musk at any time.

In July, Musk tweeted: "Zuck is cuck. I propose a literal dick-measuring contest."

Grimes took credit for this tweet, telling Wired that she was the one who gave him the idea.

"I was like, why don't you cut to the chase and get out a ruler? I didn't think he was going to tweet it," she said.

Musk and Grimes made their first public appearance as a couple in May 2018, but said they had separated in September 2021. The former pair still appear to have a strong co-parenting relationship.

Last year, Grimes told Vanity Fair that she and Musk are "very fluid," adding: "We live in separate houses. We're best friends. We see each other all the time."

Read the original article on Business Insider
The News

Unionization efforts in the entertainment industry are expanding.

As writers and actors strike demanding better pay and over the role artificial intelligence could soon play in their industry, movements are growing for better compensation in other Hollywood niches.

Weve collected insights you should read on the other unionization efforts in film and television.

Insights

Visual effects workers with Marvel demanded union recognition from the studio. Fifty VFX employees at the studio signed union cards with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), and theyre hoping for an election before the end of this month. VFX workers have long been left out of the massive unions that represent workers across Hollywood, and Marvel, with its lengthy list of films and television series that rely heavily on visual effects, is seen as the industrys biggest bully. 

In South Korea, actors with the Korea Broadcasting Actors Union are still waiting for streaming giant Netflix to acknowledge them. Netflix has a huge foothold in the country, where , the streaming platforms largest-ever hit, was produced. As in Hollywood, Korean actors are looking to be paid residuals for their appearances in Netflix productions. Theres also a massive pay discrepancy: While A-list actors might receive $400,000 per episode, supporting cast members might earn as little as $300. 

The WGA strike is marching closer to its 100-day mark. The previous strike, in 2007, was resolved after 93 days, and the 1988 strike after 154. But those strikes occurred at a more stable time in Hollywood, and with the growth of AI and the ubiquity of streaming services, the threat to writers and actors could be existential, Oliver Darcy writes in the newsletter Reliable Sources. With no negotiating sessions on the books and with the relationship between the two sides defined by mud-slinging, dont hold your breath hoping the situation will be resolved soon. 

Know More

The writers union met with studio representatives on Friday, but made no ground in reaching a deal that would end the strike. Both camps have repeatedly accused the other of being unwilling to negotiate, Bloomberg notes, and have similarly avoided offering any concessions that might bring about at least some movement.
GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley criticized Sen. Tommy Tubervilles monthslong hold on military promotions Tuesday, questioning whether it represents a distressing low point in the nations commitment to its armed forces.

This just goes to show how messed up our country is, Haley told radio host Hugh Hewitt. I mean, you look at the fact that the Department of Defense shouldnt be doing this in the first place. But theres got to be other ways to go about doing this. ... I appreciate what Tubervilles trying to do. I do. Like its totally wrong that the Department of Defense is doing this. But have we gotten so low that this is how we have to go about stopping it?

Haley, a former ambassador to the U.N., did not explicitly call for Tuberville to lift his blockade. She focused her criticism on the Department of Defenses handling of promotions and implementation of the Pentagon policy that pays travel expenses and offers leave to service members seeking an abortion.

Youre dealing with a Department of Defense thats not focused on making sure that our military has the equipment, ammunition up to date that they need. Instead, they want them taking gender pronoun classes, she said. Weve got a serious problem when youve got China threatening us, Russia threatening us, Iran threatening us, and were going to sit there and play games like this?

Haley  whose husband is currently deployed with the South Carolina Army National Guard and served in Afghanistan in 2013  said that dangling the promotions as fodder in a political maneuver could worsen military recruitment and morale.



I just think it shouldnt get to this point. And you know, for my husband whos serving overseas, and for all those military men and women, the idea that this is what theyre looking back and seeing, and this is what they are dealing with on top of the stresses of keeping themselves safe and being away from their families, its wrong, she said.

Tubervilles blockade has stalled more than 270 high-ranking military promotions since February and left the Army and Marine Corps without confirmed leaders for the first time in American history. The deadlock has caused noticeable splintering within the Senate GOP and among Alabama Republicans after failing to resolve before the August recess, a time when many military families plan to move to new posts. With no resolution in sight, the hold is expected to continue well into September.

Haleys comments break from the views of others vying for the GOP presidential nomination. Former Vice President Mike Pence  the most fervent GOP candidate in embracing abortion restrictions  said in June that he strongly backed Tuberville. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis voiced his support for the blockade last week, arguing that the Pentagon first picked the fight with Tuberville by violating the law with its abortion travel policy.

I think that standing up for that is the right thing to do, DeSantis said.

Several candidates, including Republican frontrunner Donald Trump, have stayed silent on the issue.
At 56 years old, Halle Berry continues to defy stereotypes regarding age. The Oscar winner recently took to Instagram to celebrate her natural hair as she rocked an Afro.

Sunday servemy man loves this. Forward all complaints to him @vanhunt, she captioned her post.

In the comments, fans and onlookers approved of the actors new look.

A natural black woman is power and light. You embrace both, one person commented.

You could be bald and you will always look amazing, kudos to your man for this look, you wear it well, another person said.

One person even asked if Berry was filming a biopic about Angela Davis due to her uncanny resemblance to the political activist.

As Blavity previously reported, Berry recently caused a bit of controversy when she posted a photo of herself enjoying a cup of coffee in the nude. Trolls accused her of posting a thirst trap.

Berry quickly clapped back with a since-deleted tweet that read, Did you guys know the heart of a shrimp is located in its head?

In a recent interview with Womens Health, the Hollywood icon opened up about her journey with menopause.

The most important thing about owning your sexuality as a woman is accepting the station youre at  and embracing that, she told the outlet. And I say that because Im smack dab in the middle of menopause.

She continued, Im challenging all those stereotypes about how you have to look a certain way or feel a certain way. Im my best self now that I reached 56 years old. I have the most to offer. I have zero blanks to give anymore. Im solidly in my womanhood. I finally realize what I have to say is valuable, even if no one else agrees.

Go on with ya bad self, Halle!
Since 2015, New Hampshire Republican lawmakers have steadily lowered the states business profits tax, taking it down from 8.5 percent to 7.5 percent in intervals of two-tenths of a percent. The reduction has been touted as a means to make the Granite State more inviting to businesses, inspire expansion and hiring, and grow the economy.

And the state has captured much more business tax revenue in recent years, increasing 118 percent since the tax cuts began.

But a new report from the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute, a think tank advocating for economic policies for low-income residents, argues that the tax cuts are not the cause of that growth, and not making the cuts could have given New Hampshire hundreds of millions of dollars more in revenue.

Here are three takeaways from the report, and the reaction from supporters of the cuts.

The extent to which tax cuts spur growth is difficult to measure.

No significant link between NH business tax reductions and the states recent revenue increases

Tax policies can affect the decisions made by businesses, the NHFPI report notes. But the report contends that smaller changes to a state business tax  like New Hampshires  are unlikely to have major short-term effects.

An analysis by NHFPI of the states Gross State Product between 1970 and 1998 found no statistically significant relationship between New Hampshires business tax rates and the states Gross State Product. In the period between 1998 and 2022, about 15.4 percent of the Gross State Product growth was found to be correlated with the tax cuts, the organization found.

But when compared to regional economic growth across New England, New Hampshires economic growth appears less unique, and less tied to its business profits tax rate, the report states.

Controlling for economic growth in New England shows there is no statistically significant relationship between the BPT rate and overall economic growth in New Hampshire relative to New England, the report found.

One factor: State business taxes are only one component of a companys state tax bill. About half of all the state and local taxes paid by New Hampshire businesses go to property taxes; the state business tax makes up about 26 percent, the NHFPI says, citing fiscal year 2021 figures from the Council on State Taxation.

Meanwhile, when the state does reduce business taxes by two-tenths of a percentage point, the savings for most businesses are relatively low, the report found.

Businesses paying between $1,000 and $10,000 in business profits taxes every year  the bracket of the tax with the highest number of filings in New Hampshire  saw an average of only a $50 reduction in taxes for every tenth of a percentage point that lawmakers reduced that tax, the report found, citing 2020 data from the Department of Revenue Administration.

And the report argues that because 57.6 percent of the states business taxes in 2020 came from waters edge, multinational companies paying more than $1 million in taxes to New Hampshire per year, any savings those companies receive from the state tax cuts that are returned to shareholders through dividends will leave the New Hampshire economy. NHFPI points to a report from the Tax Policy Center finding that 40 percent of corporate stock shareholders live outside the United States.

The extent to which tax cuts spur growth is difficult to measure. Academic literature at the national level has provided conflicting conclusions.

A 2014 Harvard University and Texas A&M study that looked at 28 years of changes to business taxes in all 50 states found little to no positive impact on gross domestic product, job creation, and other factors. A 2013 study published in Business Economics found that corporate tax reductions tend to spur initial job growth, but that the benefits drop off after a year.

General Fund revenues swelled largely due to national events

New Hampshires state coffers have definitely increased in recent years. But the NHFPI report says thats likely due to other factors.

First, the economic recovery in the decade following the Great Recession gradually increased corporate profits and state tax revenues, the report notes.

Second, the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which created incentives for large corporations to move profits that were sitting in overseas banks back into the United States, became a windfall for most states, including New Hampshire. Because many companies were repatriating their money in the U.S., the business taxes captured much more revenue. For most companies, the extra cost in state taxes was justified by the savings in federal taxes; but for the states, the extra money made a major difference.

Third, in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, and a wave of federal aid to both businesses and consumers, corporate profits soared.

The revenue growth seen in New Hampshire has also happened in other states that did not lower business taxes, the report notes: Corporate tax revenues rose 32 percent in Maine, 45 percent in Massachusetts, and 18 percent in Vermont between state fiscal year 2020 and 2021, the report noted. New Hampshires intake rose 41 percent in the same period.

Those latter two one-time events have allowed New Hampshires General Fund to grow significantly in the past six years, and helped provide the funding for the $15 billion, two-year budget approved by lawmakers in June, the report concludes.

Keeping the tax rate at higher levels could have brought New Hampshire more revenue

Because most of New Hampshires recent revenue growth has been driven by the profits of national and international companies, NHFPI estimated that the state could have gained even more in revenue had the tax rates not been lowered. In total, the state missed out on between $496 million to $729 million in revenue between 2016 and 2022, the report estimates.

To reach that projection, NHFPI staff designed a spectrum defined by a high-value estimate and a low-value estimate. The high-value, $729 million estimate of how much revenue was not captured is based on the assumption that the tax cuts created no economic growth that would generate revenue and offset themselves.

The low-value estimate was based on the assumption that the tax cuts did generate growth. To do that, the NHFPI projected what would happen if the business tax cuts spurred enough economic growth to pay for 32 percent of the revenue growth. That percentage was chosen because it is almost double what rosy models in other states have suggested could be generated in economic growth, allowing it to serve as a best-case scenario upper bracket.

The NHFPI argues that the extra revenue could have been invested into state programs to help low-income New Hampshire residents, stimulating the local economy without giving corporate tax breaks.

Key research also suggests dollars retained in the New Hampshire economy, particularly those targeted at services for individuals and families with low and moderate incomes, provide more effective economic stimulus than corporate tax reductions, NHFPI stated in a press release accompanying the report.

Fiscal conservatives push back, say tax cuts still worth doing

Reacting to the reports release, New Hampshire fiscal conservatives have stood by the tax cuts. And they have rejected the idea that the states potential lost revenue is a problem.

Drew Cline, president of the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy, a free-market think tank that supports the tax cuts, said the business tax cuts were never intended to create a windfall of revenue for the state in the short term. Instead, Cline argues that lowering the rate was necessary to improve the business climate in the long term, even if it didnt have the effects that some have claimed.

They werent supposed to pay for themselves, Cline said in an interview. No serious policy analyst believes that a business tax rate decrease of this nature is going to immediately pay for itself.

Instead, Cline said: The purpose of cutting those tax rates was to provide some level of stimulus for the economy so that it would grow and hopefully make everybody more prosperous and have all of the benefits from a growing economy, which include increased government revenue.

Cline said that even if the short-term, national factors that swelled New Hampshires revenues fade away, the result will still be positive from a fiscally conservative standpoint.

I thought the spending was too high on this last budget, Cline said. But its kind of hard to make the case that government should have kept tax rates even higher so that the budget could have spent three quarters of a billion more.

Republican lawmakers were even more emphatic.

I dont think this comes as a surprise to anyone that when you lower state taxes, taxpayers keep more of their own money, said Sen. Tim Lang, a Sanbornton Republican. If the criticism is that New Hampshire taxpayers kept between $500 million to $750 million in their pockets since 2015, I think thats great.

This story is published courtesy of New Hampshire Bulletin.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH business tax cuts did not create states economic boost: report
It has been more than two years since a Paso Robles school district committee suggested Georgia Brown Elementary School be shuttered.

And for the past two years, the dual immersion Spanish-English-language schools future has been anything but clear.

After voting in February 2022 to remodel the dilapidated Georgia Brown campus and shift the dual immersion program to another campus down the street  Glen Speck Elementary School  the school district was thrown a massive curve ball.

Pre-remodel surveys in May found an unclear geologic feature beneath the Georgia Brown Elementary School campus which could be indicative of an active earthquake fault.

Now, the Paso Robles school district staff has given the school board a broad question to tackle during its Tuesday evening board meeting: What should happen next to the elementary school campus?

Georgia Brown Elementary School in Paso Robles.

Community largely in support of saving Georgia Brown campus

During a special meeting held Monday evening at Paso Robles High School, community members overwhelmingly told the school board that remodeling the Georgia Brown Elementary School campus was vital.

Weve been more than patient, more than understanding; weve made it work because thats just the community at Georgia Brown, said Christina Olivo, a parent of five students in the Paso Robles school district, during the Monday meeting. Nows the time for moving Georgia Brown to a permanent, appropriately functioning, safe and healthy facility.

Marcus Rostro, a soon-to-be fourth grader at Georgia Brown, advocated for the campus to be remodeled during the Monday evening meeting.

Im speaking up and asking that our voices be heard, he said. Georgia Brown needs a home, a permanent home, for us to succeed and thrive in our Spanish-speaking abilities and continue positively learning.

Some speakers mentioned their support for expanding Georgia Brown from kindergarten through fifth grade into a K-8 dual-immersion Spanish-English language school.

At the core of all these dreams, all these things, lies money, said Alex Thompson, a parent and school counselor in the Paso Robles school district. Georgia Brown is the single largest elementary program in the district ... and having the potential to grow into the K-8, which might be controversial, might retain more students  which, again, means more money.

To continue with the districts $15.5 million remodel plans for Georgia Brown Elementary School, the district would need to dig a massive trench on the campus to determine what the geologic anomaly is. One company has estimated the cost of digging the 30-foot-deep, 3-foot-wide and 150-foot-long trench could be about $294,000.

Budget concerns initiated unclear future of Georgia Brown campus

That cost of such intensive work has appeared to leave district staff wavering on their enthusiasm to remodel the Georgia Brown Elementary School campus.

District staff have long told the school board that declining student enrollment across all of its schools gives cause for concern and puts future budget predictions in the red.

Budget concerns even brought about the creation of the 11-member district committee that suggested to the board in January 2021 to shutter the aging Georgia Brown Elementary School campus. Their report to the school board noted that closing the crumbling campus could save about $700,000 annually.

That committee is now at the center of a U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights investigation.

According to the complaint filed with the federal agency, the district allegedly discriminated against the Latino and Spanish-speaking community during the committees decision-making process by not having a diverse committee and not dispersing information in Spanish.

Since the committee suggested to the school board that the Georgia Brown campus close, however, the district has found itself in better financial straights.

Thats due to new administration at the district, dramatic cuts in expenses, one-time monies from the federal government for COVID-19-related costs and an increase in unduplicated students  those who qualify for free and reduced-price meals, foster youth or English-language learners.

A jump in the known number of those students in the Paso Robles school district resulted in a budget boost of more than $1.5 million during the 2021-22 school year, according to Brad Pawlowski, the Paso Robles districts chief business officer.

With its financial situation looking up, the school board voted during a February 2022 meeting to use Measure M bond money to remodel Georgia Brown Elementary School instead of tearing it down.

Bond money set aside for Georgia Brown campus remodel

Voters approved Measure M, a $95 million bond measure, in 2016. Of that, $13.85 million was set aside for Georgia Brown.

The funds were supposed to pay for 10 new classrooms, a cafeteria upgrade and major modernization of the campus, among other things. But none of that happened, even though construction was originally scheduled to begin in June 2020.

Now, the district has a little more than $30 million left in Measure M funds, according to Pawlowski.

During the February 2022 meeting, the board voted to spend $15.5 million of that to remodel the Georgia Brown campus into a smaller school. With that vote, enrollment would go from 642 students to 317, according to district projections.

The board also voted to move the dual immersion program to the Glen Speck Elementary School campus, which would be expanded to fit 642 students, up from its current enrollment of 336 students.

But the discovery of the geologic anomaly has thrown a wrench in those plans and could require the district to spend hundreds of thousands of unbudgeted money on a Georgia Brown campus remodel.

Georgia Brown Elementary School in Paso Robles.

Options for future of Georgia Brown campus unclear

School district staff have not given the board specific options to choose from as it discusses the future of the school Tuesday night, though they were asking for direction on how to move forward.

The board could choose to move forward with funding the necessary geologic anomaly survey to continue forward with the potential remodel  or it could explore not funding the survey.

Some members of the community during the Monday meeting at Paso Robles High School said there was not enough clear information for the board to make a decision on the future of the Georgia Brown Elementary School campus at this time.

Its premature to make any big decisions now, parent Tracy Dauterman said during the Monday meeting. Theres too much to learn, too many possibilities we havent even considered.

Tuesdays meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. in the Paso Robles school board room at 800 Niblick Road.
The father of Harmony Montgomery denied murdering the five-year-old as he was sentenced to decades in prison on firearms charges.

I love my daughter unconditionally and I didnt kill her, claimed Adam Montgomery as he appeared in New Hampshires Hillsboro Superior Court in an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs.

Montgomery, 33, is facing a second-degree murder charge over the death of his daughter, who was last seen alive in December 2019. He faced a judge after being found guilty in June of a string of weapons charges and took the chance to profess his innocence over Harmonys killing.

So, I understand that I was found guilty by a jury, and Im not here to dispute that at all, he told the court on Monday.

The only consideration that I have is for you not to consider anything as it relates to the case regarding my daughter, Harmony.

I didnt kill my daughter, Harmony, and I look forward to my upcoming trial to refute those offensive claims.

And he added: You probably wont believe me when I tell you that I didnt wake up one morning and chose to become an addict. I dont want to be an addict, and I will spend my time in prison realizing it to the best of my ability to change things about myself.

The judge handed down a sentence that could see Montgomery behind bars until 2099.

FILE - A man walks past the missing child poster for Harmony Montgomery on Thursday, 5 May, 2022, in Manchester, New Hampshire (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

New Hampshires state Attorney General John Formella announced last August that investigators had reached the conclusion that the youngster was killed in early December 2019.

The assessment by prosecutors came months after they searched an apartment where Adam Montgomery and her stepmother Kayla Montgomery, had previously lived.

When Harmony disappeared she was in the legal custody of her father, who has been indicted on an assault charge that he hit the youngster in the face in July 2019.

Harmony was only reported missing in November 2021, two years after she disappeared and her body has never been found.

Prosecutors claim that Montgomery killed his daughter by repeatedly hitting her his the head with his fist.

He is set to go on trial for her murder in November, and last October pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, falsifying physical evidence and abuse of a corpse.

Kayla Montgomery, Adam Montgomerys estranged wife, is serving an 18-month prison sentence after she pleaded guilty to lying to a grand jury about her whereabouts when she last saw Harmony.
For self-proclaimed coffee nerd Jack Sullivan, the savory beverage is not just a morning necessity but a lifestyle of both joy and opportunity.

Sullivan, a Hartford resident who taught both German and Latin at Achievement First Hartford High School in the citys North End for the past six years, was first introduced to coffee while studying for a midterm exam in college.

I was a late bloomer, I didnt drink coffee until I was a little older, Sullivan said. It was a cup of Folgers actually my friend gave me.

Since that first cup in 2014, Sullivan began a love affair with the beverage that has since sparked an idea to open a coffee roaster and cafe in the Parkville neighborhood.

In 2019, before the pandemic, I had this romantic idea that I was going to take all of my savings and rather put it in a mutual fund, I was going to invest in Hartford and in the city where I worked and lived. I wanted to do that by buying property, Sullivan said.

Sullivan, who bought a former law office at 16 New Park Ave., lives upstairs in the two-story property with his wife and runs a coffee roaster business downstairs. The property, around 1,400 square feet, includes a now-occupied 400-square-foot area where Sullivan roasts and bags coffee beans he sells online. But Sullivan dreams of much more than just online commerce.

The plan is to open a cafe in the 1,000-square-foot front of the building, Sullivan said. Right now the hurdle Im working on is trying to bring on some financial partners and thats still in the works.

Sullivan said that hes talking to a few active investors as he works to get a permit for a cafe from the city. The process could take months before any actions are taken to bring a cafe to the building.

The long-term goal is for the entire space to be a cafe and the roasting operation to be in a different place entirely, Sullivan said. The plan would be to have a bigger industrial facility to do our roasting. But thats still a while away.

The BOP Coffee Roaster

For now, Sullivan operates the micro coffee roaster Beans of Parkville or BOP Coffee Roaster from his home. Instead of roasting the beans in bulk, the slower process of roasting beans in small batches is thought to result in a product with more flavor and better taste.

In 2018, I found some green raw coffee beans and started roasting at home, sharing with friends and family, Sullivan said. The actual store didnt open until earlier this year but business has been steady, according to Sullivan.

I started the BOP for two reasons. First, I wanted to create a space in Hartford where folks can access delicious, unique coffees that are thoughtfully sourced, giving respect to the farmers and the earth. Second, I wanted to contribute to the Hartford community by paying taxes and creating new jobs, Sullivan said.

Sullivan, who both runs and operates the business, imports coffee beans from across the world with offerings from Haiti, Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Brazil among other countries. All of the bean offerings come from importers that practice sustainability and transparency across the coffee supply chain, according to Sullivan. Importers Sullivan uses include JNP Coffee, Sucafina, and BD Imports.

For each of the coffees they offer, they provide a detailed report of all the conditions at origin and how they view their role in that supply chain. They consistently use their resources to support farmers strategically through education and infrastructure investment, and are diligent about reporting out progress or issues on the ground, he said.

The BOP currently offers seven types of beans with more to be added, Sullivan said.

Coffee consumption is a very ritualistic thing and everyone likes it differently. So it really depends on what people like and how they drink their coffee. If someone really likes fruity with a little sweetness, I would recommend Burundis roast. If youre more into espresso and something a little thicker, I would recommend the Ugandan or Haitian which has more of a chocolatey sweetness.

More than just coffee

For Sullivan, an educator by trade, the vision is more than just about sharing his love of coffee, its about giving back to the citys youth.

In my career as an educator, I have talked to many kids who werent sure what to do with their lives. I wanted to give more options for kids graduating high school, especially here in Hartford, Sullivan said. We have a lot of great programs in the city for kids who may need a lot of supports. But a lot of kids in the middle fall through the cracks.

Sullivan envisions a cafe that focuses on job training, mentoring, and guidance for young people to learn some skills while earning money and gaining independence. The cafe will be focused on breakfast and lunch, but in the evenings transform into a pop-up culinary incubator, where young people can showcase their talent.

I envision this for a lot of young people working in restaurants around the city who really want a chance to show off their skills and create their own offerings, Sullivan said. There would be some sort of application process and a few people would be chosen.

Sullivan said that those who are selected would be able to earn money while also gaining recognition, with the hope that such a program can lead to other young people starting their own culinary businesses.

Im an educator, I still think of myself that way, Sullivan said. Ive never opened a cafe before, but Im constantly thinking about ways to help our youth.

Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@courant.com
AUSTIN  In late 2012, Judge David Alan Ezra stepped down from the federal bench in Hawaii and agreed to be reassigned to Texas to help manage a growing backlog of immigration cases.

Ezra was 65, the age at which federal judges may opt to take what's called senior status where they can handle a lighter caseload and allow the president to nominate a replacement.

Judge David Alan Ezra

Even though Ezra was born in Ohio and grew up in Hawaii, the move to Texas wasn't just out of the blue. He earned his undergraduate and law degrees from St. Mary's University in San Antonio, and his wife was from the Lone Star State, according to several online biographies.

But the part about helping clear some of the immigration cases piling up in the federal court system's Western District of Texas would prove prescient way back in 2012.

Fast forward almost 11 years and now the veteran jurist has caught what might be the mother of all immigration cases. Ezra will be the presiding judge in U.S. v. Abbott, which was filed by the Justice Department last month over the governor's decision to place buoys in the Rio Grande without federal permission.

And the case may well end up deciding how much authority the Texas governor has in his effort to curb unlawful immigration.

It's sometimes tempting to predict how a federal court case will go by looking at which president nominated the judge. That might be a dicey proposition in the lawsuit that pits Republican Gov. Greg Abbott against the Democratic Biden administration.

Ezra was nominated to the federal bench in Hawaii in 1988, the final full year of Ronald Reagan's tenure as president. As it turns out, then-Sen. Joe Biden chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee that sent Ezra's nomination to the full chamber where it was approved unanimously.

Razor wire and buoys in and around the Rio Grande placed to prevent unauthorized border crossings on Thursday, July 20, 2023, in Eagle Pass, Texas.

But that was an era before every judicial nomination handed down from the White House was seen as an invitation to a red-team, blue-team cage match, and certainly before any president would expect a judge he nominated to be "loyal."

And federal judges, who have lifetime appointments, sometimes evolve in their political thinking as their time on the bench progresses.

Cases in point: Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens was appointed in 1975 by Republican President Gerald Ford. When Stevens retired in 2010, he was the dean of the court's liberal wing. Justice Byron White was appoint to the high court in 1962 by Democrat John F. Kennedy. A decade later, he was a dissenting vote in the landmark abortion case, Roe v. Wade. And in 1986 wrote he the majority opinion allowing states to restrict homosexual conduct.

More: MORITZ: Lawsuit against Texas a no-lose bargain for Abbott  and maybe a no-win for Biden

Here's what we know about Ezra. At 39, he was among the youngest federal judges when he assumed the bench in Hawaii. And he went on to become the state's longest serving active federal judge.

He's also a former vice president of the U.S. Federal Judges Association and a former president of the Ninth Circuit U.S. District Judges Association.

Since coming to Texas, Ezra maintains court chambers in both Austin and San Antonio and he is a "visiting jurist in residence" at St. Mary's.

More: How the buoys and other parts of Operation Lone Star affect life in Eagle Pass

In 2007, he was awarded the Rosewood Gavel Award for "his contributions to the adjudication of justice," according to his federal court bio. That puts in the same company as retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day OConnor.

Supporters of the First Amendment cheered his ruling that overturned a law in Hawaii that prohibited reporters from speaking with prisoners. The Hawaii Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists also awarded Ezra its Freedom of Information Award.

As is the practice with judges at every level, Ezra declined to publicly discuss the case involving Abbott and the federal government.

The federal action is still in the early stages with both sides submitting motions regarding ground and procedures. It will be up to Ezra to rule on all of them, which may or may not offer clues on how he'll handle this politically charged legal drama.

And because the case is politically charged, expect it to be a magnet for the media. So once the courtroom action begins, Texas will likely have the opportunity to get to know Judge Ezra a little better.

John C. Moritz covers Texas government and politics for the USA Today Network in Austin. Contact him at jmoritz@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @JohnnieMo.

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: The judge in US v. Abbott hails from Hawaii and was appointed by Reagan
The former head of Mayor de Blasios security detail has been fired by the NYPD while under investigation by the Manhattan district attorneys office, the Daily News has learned.

Inspector Howard Redmond was suspended July 11. In a terse statement, the NYPD confirmed Monday he has since been terminated. The individual was dismissed from the NYPD, a spokesperson said.

Redmonds termination comes amid expectations he will soon be charged by Manhattan prosecutors for obstructing justice during a Department of Investigation probe into his actions as head of the mayors detail.

Until his suspension, Redmond had been working as an NYPD inspector in the mayors Office of Emergency Management over the past year, where he earned a salary of $230,000.

A lawyer who represents the Captains Endowment Association, where Redmond has been a member, did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

It remains unclear whether Redmond will get his NYPD pension. Typically, officers who are not convicted of a crime keep their pensions.

In late 2021, DOI made a referral to the DAs public integrity bureau regarding Redmond after concluding de Blasio misused the detail for personal and political reasons, including bringing members of the unit along for out-of-state trips during the then-mayors failed 2020 presidential bid.

DOI found that Redmond went to extensive lengths to obstruct the probe, including deleting text messages and not giving credible answers under oath.

In recent months a number of current and former members of de Blasios security detail have been called in by prosecutors, The News previously reported. Redmond was also called in to talk with prosecutors.

In June, the city Conflicts of Interest Board decreed that de Blasio has to repay $475,000 for the misuse of the detail during 31 trips to states including Iowa and South Carolina between May and September 2019 in the presidential bid.

The ex-mayor has sued to overturn the fine arguing it was beyond the scope of the agencys powers.

A spokesman for Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg declined comment Monday.

This story has been updated to more clearly reflect the circumstances of Redmonds departure from the NYPD.
NEW YORK  The man who was head of former Mayor Bill de Blasios NYPD security detail put in his retirement papers amid an investigation by the Manhattan district attorneys office, the New York Daily News has learned.

Inspector Howard Redmond was suspended without explanation by the department on July 11. In a terse statement, the NYPD confirmed Monday he has since left the department. The individual was dismissed from the NYPD, a spokesperson said without giving a reason.

A former NYPD officer still in city government said Redmond put in his retirement papers to retire ahead of an impending department disciplinary proceeding.

Redmonds resignation comes amid expectations he will soon be charged by Manhattan prosecutors for obstructing justice during a Department of Investigation probe into his actions as head of the mayors detail.

Until his suspension, Redmond had been working as an NYPD inspector in the Mayors Office of Emergency Management over the past year, where he earned a salary of $230,000.

A lawyer who represents the Captains Endowment Association, where Redmond has been a member, did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

In late 2021, DOI made a referral to the DAs public integrity bureau regarding Redmond after concluding that de Blasio misused the detail for personal and political reasons, including bringing members of the unit along for out-of-state trips during the then-mayors failed 2020 presidential bid.

DOI found that Redmond went to extensive lengths to obstruct the probe, including deleting text messages and not giving credible answers under oath.

In recent months a number of current and former members of de Blasios security detail have been called in by prosecutors, the Daily News previously reported. Redmond was also called in to talk with prosecutors.

In June, the city Conflicts of Interest Board decreed that de Blasio has to repay $475,000 for the misuse of the detail during 31 trips to states including Iowa and South Carolina between May and September 2019 in the presidential bid.

The ex-mayor has sued to overturn the fine arguing it was beyond the scope of the agencys powers.

A spokesman for Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg declined comment Monday.

_____
The head of former Mayor Bill de Blasios police security detail, Howard Redmond, is expected to turn himself in at Manhattan Criminal Court Wednesday on charges stemming from a probe into his efforts to stifle a city investigation into the ex-mayors misuse of his detail, the Daily News has learned.

Redmond, a former NYPD inspector, is expected to be arraigned on criminal charges at 2:15 p.m. after surrendering to the Manhattan district attorneys office, according to three sources familiar with the arrangements. The charges are not yet public.

The News reported late Monday that the NYPD fired Redmond after his July 11 suspension, with the department confirming he had been dismissed without further details.

The NYPD did not immediately reply to inquiries regarding Redmonds upcoming court appearance. Redmond could not be reached. His lawyer declined to comment.

A spokesman for Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg declined to confirm or comment. Ken Frydman, a Captains Endowment Association representative, declined to comment.

The case brings to a head the DA probe prompted by a referral from the city Department of Investigation almost two years ago for Redmonds potential prosecution.

DOI investigators found de Blasio misused his detail for personal and political purposes, including his ill-fated 2019 presidential campaign run. He took the detail on 31 campaign trips, including to states like Iowa and South Carolina, between May and September 2019, costing taxpayers a mint  nearly $320,000.

Its not security, then-DOI Commissioner Margaret Garnett said in October 2021. Its essentially a concierge service.

The report by the DOI found Redmond took extraordinary steps to obstruct its probe, including deleting text messages and giving less-than-credible answers to investigators.

In recent months, Braggs prosecutors interviewed several current and former detectives assigned to the detail, The News reported. Prosecutors have also interviewed Redmond.

In June, the city Conflicts of Interest Board fined de Blasio $475,000, encompassing the tab from his doomed cross-country trip campaigning for the presidency and $155,000 in fines. The board said it marked the largest fine its ever levied.

In a three-page decision, COIB chairman Milton Williams said de Blasio had plainly violated city ethics laws barring public servants from using city resources for any non-city purpose.

De Blasio filed suit against the watchdog agency within hours of the fines announcement, arguing it was beyond the scope of COIBs powers.

On Aug. 7, lawyers in the case agreed to a schedule of legal motions that will likely extend into 2024, court records show. COIB has agreed as part of the stipulation not to seek enforcement of the fine until the dispute is resolved.

De Blasio, who described Redmond in 2021 as an incredibly devoted public servant, a person of real integrity, did not immediately return requests seeking comment, nor did his lawyers. The ex-mayor has remained mum about the investigation into his former security chief.

Redmond, a cop for 30 years, made $230,000 last year as an NYPD inspector in the citys Office of Emergency Management.

By Tuesday, his name had already been scrubbed from the NYPD personnel database.
Gov. Maura Healey has declared a state of emergency in Massachusetts due to the rapidly rising numbers of migrant families arriving in the Bay State in need of shelter and services, with state officials calling the current expansion on the states shelter system unsustainable.

State officials on Tuesday also said that the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and The Boston Foundation have launched the Massachusetts Migrant Families Relief Fund to assist new migrant arrivals in Massachusetts.

Healeys declaration serves as a notice to the federal government and the Commonwealth that the states shelter system is rapidly expanding capacity in an unsustainable manner, and that further assistance is urgently needed, Healey said in a statement on Tuesday.

The demand for emergency shelter in Massachusetts has skyrocketed over the past year.

There are currently nearly 5,600 families, or more than 20,000 people living in emergency state shelter, including children and pregnant women, many of whom are migrants who recently arrived in Massachusetts, officials said. Thats up from around 3,100 families a year ago.

That figure is 80% higher than it was just one year ago, Healey said at a press conference Tuesday. It represents more than 20,000 people.

Massachusetts spends around $45 million a month on emergency assistance for families, according to Healey.

Families are being housed in shelters, dorms and even Joint Base Cape Cod.

Her emergency declaration places the National Guard on standby and pressures the Biden administration to provide work permits and financial help.

Meanwhile, the number of families leaving emergency shelter for permanent housing has dwindled, in large part due to a lack of affordable housing options, officials said.

I am declaring a state of emergency in Massachusetts and urging my partners in the federal government to take the action we need to address this crisis by streamlining the work authorization process and passing comprehensive immigration reform, Healey said. Many of the new arrivals to our state desperately want to work, and we have historic workforce demands across all industries. I am also calling on all of our partners  from cities and towns to the faith community, philanthropic organizations, and human service providers  to rise to this challenge and do whatever you can to help us meet this moment.

This year, the states Emergency Assistance system has spread to more than 80 communities, and state officials have added thousands of new units of emergency assistance housing, launched new shelter sites, including activating 50 National Guard Members at Joint Base Cape Cod, and created Family Welcome Centers to serve as central intake centers to connect families with shelter and services.

Despite these efforts, demand has continued to rise at a pace that the Emergency Assistance system cannot sustain, Healey said.

On July 31, state officials announced the opening of a migrant shelter and resource center on the campus of Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy.

The Family Welcome Center on the private, Christian college campus in Quincys Wollaston section is the second site to be opened in Massachusetts since June.

In her statement, Healey said she is calling on bipartisan leaders in Congress to address outdated and punitive immigration laws.

The governor also called on the cities and towns, charities, advocates, faith organizations and providers to continue to partner with the administration to meet the need for shelter and work. Information about how the public can help is available at mass.gov/sheltercrisis. Anyone who can help should contact the state at shelterhelp@mass.gov or by dialing 211, which will be monitored by MEMA.

In May, the state launched the Immigrant Assistance Services program, awarding $1.75 million to the program, which provides case management, legal services and other support for families in state shelters.

Healey said the program, not yet replicated in any other state, is providing an unprecedented level of legal support toward asylum, work authorization, and other legal steps to help new arrivals integrate into Massachusetts.

The governor said the state is also working to establish new pathways for new arrivals to secure work, urging federal officials to expedite and streamline the work authorization process.

State employees and our partners have been miracle workers throughout this crisis  going above and beyond to support families and using every tool at their disposal to expand shelter capacity by nearly 80 percent in the last year. But in recent months, demand has increased to levels that our emergency shelter system cannot keep up with, especially as the number of families leaving shelter has dwindled due to a lack of affordable housing options and barriers to securing work, said Healey.

In a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, Healey pointed to work authorizations as a primary driver of the crisis. She called on the federal government to take urgent action to streamline and expedite work authorizations and increase funding to states to assist in providing shelter and services to families.

Lenita Reason, executive director of the Brazilian Worker Center in Boston, said its time for the federal government to act.

We are asking the federal administration to speed up the process and let people be able to work and provide for themselves, Reason said.

Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll said in a statement that the states Emergency Assistance system is designed to be a temporary, emergency safety-net program. It is not equipped to handle the demand that we have seen in recent months. While we have made herculean efforts to expand capacity as much as possible, weve reached a point where the expansion is unsustainable.

We know what it will take to truly address the root causes of this emergency  rapidly increasing housing production across the state and implementing comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level, including work authorizations, Driscoll said.

Meanwhile, Healey said the Migrant Families Relief Fund will rapidly deploy emergency financial assistance through a network of human services and shelter organizations in Massachusetts to ensure individuals, children, and families have access to essential needs (temporary accommodations food, clothing, diapers, hygiene items, transportation). The fund will also fund health screenings, translation services, legal assistance, work authorizations, ESOL classes, and other socio-economic and cultural integration supports.

In a statement, M. Lee Pelton, president and CEO of The Boston Foundation, said the foundation is banding together with the United Way and community leaders to assist new arrivals.

As we face this unprecedented stress on our shelter system, we must embrace our collective responsibility to care for those individuals and families in need of housing and support, and to work in partnership with cities, towns and civic and community organizations leading this work, Pelton said. We are honored to join the Healey Administration, the United Way and the roster of community leaders who are tirelessly working to ensure the dignity, safety, and health and wellbeing of these new arrivals.

Paul Craney, president of the conservative group Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, said he has compassion for immigrants  but he believes theres simply not enough funding.

But at some point we also have to have compassion for the people currently here and if Massachusetts cant care for the people already here, why should we bring more people in the state? Craney said.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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HYANNIS  Dr. Daniel Arnold has been working as a primary care physician on Cape Cod since 2009 and opened his own primary care practice in 2018. Over the years, he noticed frustrations and burnout issues from both the physician and the patient side.

Amid skyrocketing health care costs, Arnold decided to transition his practice into a different model of primary care called direct primary care.

Arnold, along with Dr. Anne Marie Kelly, are the first two physicians on Cape Cod to start this model. Both Arnold and Kelly are licensed in Massachusetts with a specialty in internal medicine, according to state records.

Direct primary care, or DPC, is an alternative payment model, with a membership fee and no fee-for-service payments.

Dr. Anne Marie Kelly will convert to a direct primary care model of patient care in January as part of Veritas Direct Care in Hyannis. "I want my patients to be happy, and I want them to feel like they're getting well cared for and that means privacy, continuity and someone who will listen," Kelly said.

According to the Direct Primary Care Coalition, since 2009, almost 1,200 new direct primary care practices have emerged across the country.

Physicians and basically the entire health care profession has given up control over itself to insurance companies, the government, and corporations for the last 60 years, said Arnold.

According to him, the direct primary care model helps physicians focus more on the patient rather than billing hours.

This model was born out of necessity, because the current reimbursement system is not sustainable anymore, said Kelly. It's not sustainable psychologically for the well-being of both the patient and the physician. I want my patients to be happy, and I want them to feel like they're getting well cared for and that means privacy, continuity and someone who will listen.

How does direct primary care work?

The direct primary care model is an alternative to fee-for-service insurance billing, typically by charging patients a monthly, quarterly or annual fee. This fee covers all or most primary care services including clinical services, laboratory services and consultations.

With direct primary care, patients dont pay monthly health insurance premiums or copays. Instead, its a monthly or annual fee system with a primary health care provider. Providers do not accept insurance or participate in government programs, relying solely on patient fees.

In a traditional primary care practice, doctors are compensated based on how they code and the quantity of patients they see, rather than the quality of care that they provide, according to Arnold. Established direct primary care practices average 800 to 1,000 patients while a comparable insurance-dependent practice averages 2,500 to 4,000, according to the American Association of Retired Persons.

The American Academy of Family Physicians' official position on direct primary care is that it supports the physician and patient choice to, respectively, provide and receive health care in any ethical health care delivery system model, including the DPC practice setting.

The practice started in April

Arnold started practicing the direct primary care model on Cape Cod in April. At his practice, Veritas Direct Care in Hyannis previously known as Primary Care of Cape Cod  each patient has a designated provider who they will have direct communication with at all times.

At Veritas Direct Care, patients have access to a physician of their choice, and physicians are accountable first and foremost to their patients, according to Arnold. The number of visits or consultation with the provider doesnt have any limits, though it may vary from clinic to clinic.

Physicians and basically the entire health care profession has given up control over itself to insurance companies, the government and corporations for the last 60 years, said Dr. Daniel Arnold of Veritas Direct Care in Hyannis. According to him, the direct primary care model helps physicians focus more on the patient rather than billing hours.

The problem is if you're in the insurance model you don't work for the patient, you work for the insurance company who pays you, said Arnold. In the current insurance model, Medicare model or the government health care model, physicians are supposed to spend less than seven minutes per patient and that's just not appropriate.

The direct primary care model takes down these barriers by focusing solely on the relationship between a health care provider and a patient.

Spending more time with patients

Physicians working in a direct primary care practice are able to spend additional time with patients. Patients have easier access to appointment times that meet scheduling needs. Patients are guaranteed to see their doctor, not another provider. Patients are able to reach out to their doctor via email and cellphone, in times of urgent consultation, according to direct primary care proponents.

In Salem, a direct primary care practice has been in place since 2015

We've used insurance as a form of payment rather than actual insurance for decades, said Jeff Gold, a primary care physician and founder of Gold Direct Care, a direct primary care practice in Salem. Gold has been operating his clinic following the direct primary care model since 2015.

Using an insurance card to pay for a $5 blood test makes no sense for anyone but that's what we've been doing for decades and now were seeing all the cost shifting on to patients with deductibles and higher co-pays, said Gold.

We want people to know that there's an option of getting affordable, accessible and transparent quality care where they can come in, even for 45 minutes and just share their health concerns, said Gold.

According to Gold, there's clearly a demand for an alternative model but people don't know that this option exists.

The biggest misconception for the direct primary care model is getting it confused with the concierge model. Concierge practices continue to bill patients insurance companies for covered services in addition to the membership fee, while a direct primary care practice charges only the membership fee and includes all services.

Patients still need to keep their insurance plans

According to Gold, an insurance policy is necessary for emergencies, chronic illnesses and more complicated health care procedures.

Generally, patients should still retain an insurance policy for more specialized and complex treatments. Patients under the direct primary care model should choose a high deductible insurance plan with a lower monthly premium because there are discounted laboratory tests done on site. Reduced imaging fees at outside sites are offered, in some clinics.

With the direct primary care model, physicians still accept patients that are on Medicare or other insurance policies; however, they do not bill these insurance policies. Insurance will still cover any laboratory testing, imaging, medications, referrals to specialists and hospitalization.

I want to provide a reasonable fee and I don't want to work for insurance companies, said Kelly. I think medical insurance is much needed and it's an excellent system, but the way its been shaped is not right.

I no longer work for Medicare, I can still use a patient's Medicare, can order a test through Medicare or refer to another Medicare physician if needed, but I don't bill Medicare or any other insurance companies anymore, said Arnold. Its the patients who are directly paying us.

Awareness and education about these alternative models are crucial for patients to make informed decisions

People need to know that there are other options available. I would suggest patients read more about the DPC model, ask questions to your providers or directly talk to the physicians who are providing this model to know more, said Gold.

In the current health care system, physicians are not happy and they are leaving the Cape, said Kelly.

My patients are witnessing these shifts among doctors and so far they have been supportive about me adopting this model, she said.

Kelly will remain in the insurance-based model through the end of the year and start the direct primary care model in January.

So far we're getting great feedback from patients and the job satisfaction amongst our providers and nurses here is improving, said Arnold. I would love to spread this model around Cape Cod, as there is an increasing number of frustrated physicians that are moving away, or going into early retirement.

Most of my patients have been very supportive, said Kelly. And even the ones that are not ready to sign up with this model, they have wished me well in this new transition.

Rasheek Tabassum Mujib writes about health care and education. Reach her at rmujib@capecodonline.com.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Direct primary care practice opens on Cape Cod, sidestepping insurance
Wegovy, a weight-loss drug from Novo Nordisk, also helps prevent heart attacks and stroke in people at high risk, according to a company news release.

The trial of more than 17,000 adults 45 and older with obesity or overweight showed a 20% reduction in first heart attack, stroke or death from a cardiovascular event. Participants were given weekly injections of 2.4 mg of the drug semaglutide, sold as Wegovy, or a placebo, for as long as five years.

The results, released Tuesday, have not yet been peer reviewed or published in a scientific journal, and the Danish pharmaceutical company only provided limited information.

Doctors who treat patients with obesity were thrilled by the report, which is the first to show a major health benefit for a class of drugs first approved to treat people with diabetes.

"Obesity treatment is far more than about weight loss. It's about health improvement. It's about extending life," said Dr. Michael Albert, an obesity specialist in Oklahoma who runs a telehealth medical practice called Accomplish Health. "I think we'll look back and see this was a watershed moment (in the treatment of obesity)."

Albert, who has consulted for Novo Nordisk in the past, said he thinks the new trial will be enough to convince the federal government to cover the cost of Wegovy and weight-loss medications, known as GLP-1 agonists, which can run $1,300 a month or more without insurance.

Earlier generations of weight-loss medications have helped people lose about 5% of their body weight, which wasn't enough to see a benefit in terms of heart health, Albert said. Semaglutide has been shown to help people lose about 10% to 15% of body weight, which he said likely explains the better results.

Another GLP-1 agonist, tirzepatide, so far only approved for people with diabetes, can help people with obesity lose as much as 27% of their body weight, according to data released late last month. Eli Lilly, which manufactures tirzepatide and sells it under the brand name Mounjaro, is also studying the drug for heart disease.

Common side effects of the GLP-1 agonists, which suppress appetite, can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, dizziness and headaches. Rare, more serious potential side effects include pancreatitis, gallstones, kidney damage, allergic reactions or thyroid tumors.

Both Wegovy and Mounjaro are in short supply and have been hard to get even for people who are prescribed and can afford them. Albert said he's had a harder time getting coverage for his patients as this calendar year has progressed, with fewer insurance companies covering the drugs and more companies adding coverage restrictions.

Costs won't fall in the U.S., Albert said, until someone with a lot of negotiating power, like the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, covers the drugs and bargains the price downward. "Right now, with the supply and demand economics, the drug manufacturers can't even keep up with the global demand for these drugs," he said, "so there's no incentive for them to lower the price of these at the moment."

Critics remain concerned about the pressure drug companies have put on the government to cover costly medications and are unconvinced by the new data.

"I don't think this means anything," said Ragen Chastain, who writes and researches on the intersection of weight science, weight stigma, health and health care.

By releasing just a short statement without the full study results, it's impossible to tell how many people dropped out of the study, were unable to tolerate the full 2.4 mg dose of semaglutide or how the results might be extrapolated to a broader population, Chastain said.

"They get to put out a press release with a big headline and have zero accountability and then hope that people don't remember maybe when the study does get peer reviewed," she said.

Novo Nordisk's stock rose nearly 16% on Tuesday on the news of the study's result.

Contact Karen Weintraub at kweintraub@usatoday.com.

Health and patient safety coverage at USA TODAY is made possible in part by a grant from the Masimo Foundation for Ethics, Innovation and Competition in Healthcare. The Masimo Foundation does not provide editorial input.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Wegovy weight-loss drug appears to reduce heart attack, stroke risk
A Falcon 9 rocket and its cargo  15 Starlink satellites  lifted off Monday night from Vandenberg Space Force Base, the 19th launch so far this year.

Launch of the SpaceX rocket occurred at 8:57 p.m. from Space Launch Complex-4 near Lompoc on an especially foggy night, prompting the company to again employ a sketched outline as proof of the shrouded vehicle.

More than nine minutes after departure, the rockets first-stage booster returned to land on a droneship positioned in the Pacific Ocean.

SpaceX said the Starlink satellite deployment was set to occur more than 14 minutes after liftoff, but officials were awaiting confirmation once the spacecraft passed over a ground station.

Following this launch, well have matched our impressive 2022 launch cadence, Vandenberg officials said Monday on social media. With five months left on the calendar, were expecting to achieve over 30 launches this year.

This is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our amazing #TeamV members and partners who make these missions possible.

Earlier this year, Vandenbergs officials had estimated the base could see more than 40 missions.

Launch schedules remain fluid based on various factors, including the readiness of the payload.

Designed and manufactured by SpaceX, Starlink is a space-based constellation to provide internet access where land-based service remains unavailable or unreliable.

SpaceX reportedly plans to eventually place 30,000 Starlink satellites in orbit, explaining the high launch tempo from both California and Florida.

In fact, Monday nights mission occurred approximately 24 hours after 22 Starlink satellites traveled to space Sunday night from Floridas Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Twelve of the West Coasts 16 Falcon 9 rocket missions so far this year carried Starlink satellites. Four others involved payloads for assorted other customers.

Vandenberg also has conducted three suborbital missions  or those that travel to space and then return  including two Minuteman III missile tests, plus a Stratolaunch flight.

Previous Falcon missions from Vandenberg involved as many as 52 Starlink satellites.

The number of satellites per launch has dropped as SpaceX moved to delivering the second-generation, and bigger, satellites into space.

Gen 2 satellites, as they have nicknamed, first flew from Florida, before SpaceX began sending them to space from Vandenberg.

The firm received authorization to launch additional, much-improved spacecraft with significantly more throughput per satellite than the first-generation systems, Starlink representatives said.

For the end consumer, this means more bandwidth and increased reliability. As a result, millions more Americans will have access to high-speed internet no matter where they live.

In total, SpaceX has launched more than 4,900 Starlink satellites, but approximately 4,560 remain in orbit, according to the tally kept by Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer and astrophysicist at the HarvardSmithsonian Center for Astrophysics who also compiles statistics for Jonathans Space Report.

Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at jscully@noozhawk.com .
Henrietta Lacks family recently settled their lawsuit with the biotechnology company that kept and used her cancer cells without her consent.

In 2021, the Henrietta Lacks estate filed a lawsuit against Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. for the exploitation that occurred when they shared the HeLa cells with other scientists and profited off them. According to the Associated Press, civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who represented her descendants, announced an agreement has been made following a long day of court. The outlet reported that negotiations regarding the case took place Monday in a private room in Baltimores federal courthouse with some of Lacks grandchildren involved in the process. Following the deal, both parties released the same statement.

Members of the family of Henrietta Lacks and Thermo Fisher have agreed to settle the litigation filed by Henrietta Lacks estate, in U.S. District Court in Baltimore, the statement read. The terms of the agreement will be confidential. The parties are pleased that they were able to find a way to resolve this matter outside of Court and will have no further comment about the settlement.

The finalization of the settlement happened to be the day before what wouldve been the mother of fives 103th birthday, People reported. Crump shared that she is a monumental figure and should be recognized in America.

Henrietta Lacks was not inferior  in fact, she was extraordinary. On this birthday, America should acknowledge that she was extraordinary in every way, Crump said, according to the Washington Post.

When Lacks became a patient at Johns Hopkins Hospital over 70 years ago to seek help for cervical cancer, she had no clue shed be a major key in science and modern medicine, assisting a company to generate billions and helping to save the lives of others. She was only at the medical center two months before she passed at 31 years old. Unknown to her and her family, doctors took some cancer cells from a biopsied tumor they removed to run tests while she was in the facilitys care. They were then cultured by Dr. George Gey, which wasnt illegal at the time due to the racism heavily involved in medical practices at the time.

Medical practitioners nicknamed what they removed from the tumor HeLa cells, which were miraculous because they continued to divide, and were able to be used for continuous testing outside of her body. Due to this, scientists were able to help shape todays medical landscape since HeLa cells were used to create new medical discoveries like vaccine development, cancer treatments and even AIDS research. Decades later, her family found out that Lacks cells were used to change the trajectory of how doctors combatted multiple diseases in the name of science.

Despite settling, the amount of money the estate will receive has not been disclosed. The company and the family also agreed there wouldnt be any more public statements released regarding the matter. The grandson, Alfred Lacks Carter Jr., of Lacks last living child, 86-year-old Lawrence Lacks Sr., said hes happy that his father was able to see his grandmother finally get the flowers she deserved.

There couldnt have been a more fitting day for her to have justice, for her family to have relief, he said. It was a long fight  over 70 years  and Henrietta Lacks gets her day.
The Harriett II Riverboat in Montgomery, Alabama, in 2010. Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty Images

A fight broke out in Montgomery, Alabama, after a group of white people punched a Black dock worker.

Montgomery police have charged three people with assaulting the dock worker and another employee.

A video of the incident that was shared on social media went viral and sparked a boatload of memes.

The internet is ablaze after a Saturday brawl in Montgomery, Alabama, that began after an unnamed Black worker reportedly asked a group of white people to move their pontoon boat to make way for a large riverboat trying to dock.

Where did the incident occur?

The Montgomery Police Department told Insider that the incident occurred near Montgomery Riverfront Park on the 200 block of Coosa Street.

Who has been charged so far?

Darryl J. Albert, the chief of the Montgomery Police Department, said in a Tuesday press conference that three white men connected to the pontoon boat had been charged so far.

Richard Roberts, 48, was charged with two counts of third-degree assault. Allen Todd, 23, and Zachary Shipman, 25, were charged with one count of third-degree assault, he said.

Albert said that the men had been charged in connection to attacks against the dock worker, who was identified as a cocaptain of the Harriett II riverboat named Damien Pickett, and that Robert "struck" a white 16-year-old boy who worked for the riverboat.

Roberts turned himself in on Tuesday, Albert said, adding that others had been instructed to come forward.

More charges are likely, Albert said. One man, who was seen using a white folding chair against a few people during the brawl, is also being asked to contact the Montgomery Police Department for further interviews as part of the investigation.

Will there be hate-crime charges or charges for inciting a riot?

Albert said that the police department examined whether they could bring hate-crime charges or charges for inciting a riot but that the events didn't "fit the criteria" for such charges based on current evidence.

What is city leadership saying happened that day?

Albert said the incident began when the Harriet II, which was carrying 227 passengers on Saturday, attempted to dock in a space designated for the ship. However, the pontoon was parked in the space.

The captain of the riverboat spent 40 to 45 minutes using a PA system to ask the owners to move their boat out of the way, Albert said. The cocaptain was picked up by a smaller boat and taken to the dock to speak with the pontoon-boat owners when they did not move. Albert said the boat owners "only responded to, what I've seen, gestures, curse words, and taunting."

"The co-captain approached the dock and attempted to peacefully move the boat over just enough so that the Harriett II could park," Albert said. "The owners of the boat confronted him in a very hostile manner. There were words exchanged and then it turned into a physical encounter that you've all seen. The co-captain was doing his job. He was simply trying to move the boat just enough to where the ship can park safely in its identified location."

A spokesperson for the Montgomery Police Department told Insider in a statement that officers responded to the incident at about 7 p.m. local time on Monday.

"At the scene, they located a large group of subjects engaged in a physical altercation. Several subjects have been detained and charges are pending," the spokesperson said.

Albert said officers detained 13 people for questioning on Saturday and later released them.

Steven Reed, the mayor of Montgomery, released a statement following the incident that said officers "acted swiftly to detain several reckless individuals for attacking a man who was doing his job."

Mayor Steven L. Reed (@MayorofMgm) August 6, 2023

What do we know so far based on social-media videos?

Most information about the events leading up to the larger brawl, which included dozens of people, has been pieced together with bystander footage.

Online videos showed the Black worker speaking to the group, apparently asking them to move their boat per onlookers narrating the situation, before one of them ran toward him and swung. The initial swing makes contact, the video shows. The worker then threw his hat in the air before fighting back until more people arrived to aid the white man and began attacking, videos showed.

In the clips, onlookers could be heard shouting requests to help the dock worker before others began running toward the group of white people. One worker, a 16-year-old boy named Aaren who has been called a hero, even swam across the Alabama River to help the man.

The riverboat eventually docked, and additional fights erupted as a group rushed toward the pontoon. One person could be seen using a white folding chair as a weapon.

Police eventually made their way to the scene and began handcuffing individuals, the videos show.

What is the internet's reaction to this?

Although the brawl is over, it lives on as internet legend. Users, many on the side of the dock worker and those who came to defend him, are posting memes about the various characters in the videos, portraying them as superheroes and lionizing the star of the incident: a white folding chair.

Some people have even posed to take photos with the chair and have requested that it be preserved in a museum.

Reenactments have also surfaced, with internet users posting their artistic takes on the punch that set off the brawl.

Users set clips of the brawl to Jason Aldean's "Try That in a Small Town" to turn the tables on a tune critics said was a racist dog whistle aimed at Black Americans.

Read the original article on Insider
Ron Gibson, owner of Gibsons Green Acres and president of the Utah Farm Bureau, drives a tractor while planting a field with corn in Ogden on May 4. Utah agriculture officials announced the recipients of 93 water optimization projects on Monday. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

Utah agriculture officials say they expect to save more than 60,000 acre-feet of water annually from close to 100 water-saving projects that received state grants this year.

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food officials announced their spring 2023 agriculture water optimization grant recipients on Monday, handing out more than $20 million in grant funds to 93 projects scattered across the state. The Utah Legislature set aside the spring 2023 round of funding during its 2022 legislative session, using money it received from the American Rescue Plan Act.

While the department didn't disclose exact project details, they contend that the projects will save about 61,599 acre-feet of water annually when they are completed, which is close to the size of Rockport Reservoir at full capacity.

"We are excited to continue the charge to help Utah's farmers and ranchers better optimize their water use on their farms," said Hannah Freeze, the department's agricultural water optimization program manager, in a statement. "The response from the agricultural producers to optimize and save water has continued to grow with each application period for this program, showing they are stepping up to be part of the solution."

Most of Utah's water consumption goes toward agricultural uses. They accounted for about 82% of Utah's water consumption in 2015, though various reports estimate that they account for anywhere between 75% and 85%.

The agriculture water optimization grant program was created in 2019 to help Utah farmers and ranchers pay for projects that help them be more efficient with their crops and reduce the amount of water that they consume, as droughts have become more frequent in the state and across the West. It provides as much as $500,000 for a project and up to 50% of a project's total cost.

Previously funded projects have helped the agriculture industry trim about 172,847 acre-feet of water use altogether, according to department officials.

Utah's water supply received a boost from a record snowpack earlier this year. Its reservoir system is listed at nearly 82% capacity, down from its peak at 86% capacity in July, according to Utah Division of Water Resources data. That's still well above the median August capacity of 64% and last year's average of 50%.

But experts have warned that the boost doesn't mean much for long-term security, which is why the water optimization program is expected to grow. The Legislature allocated another $200 million in program funding earlier this year, which became available after the spring 2023 round of funding.

Craig Buttars, the commissioner of the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, told KSL.com last year that many in the agricultural community have embraced changes in how water is used.

"A lot of farmers are considering the crops that they're growing and trying to find ways to grow more water-efficient crops to still meet the needs that they have for watering their livestock," he said. "It's been a gradual paradigm shift. ... Over the past 10 to 20 years, we've seen a lot more interest in greater efficiency."
Florida Gov. and Republican presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis is gaining support among Wichitas base of conservative political donors, sources told The Eagle.

DeSantis held high-dollar fundraising luncheons in Wichita and Kansas City on Monday and Tuesday. The Kansas campaign stop comes as DeSantis tries to close the widening gap between him and former President Donald Trump, who is the leading candidate for the GOP nomination.

Big name Wichita attendees at the fundraiser included Charlie Chandler, CEO and chairman of Intrust Bank; Dave Murfin, CEO of Murfin Inc.; Steve Clark and his son Stephen, leaders of Clark Investment Group; Todd Lair, president of Leading Technology Composites; and Adam Beren, president of Berexco, according to an invitation to the fundraiser obtained by The Wichita Eagle.

Its not clear how much money DeSantis raised at the Wichita luncheon.

Stephen Clark II, a Wichita real estate developer and longtime boyfriend of Wichita mayoral candidate Lily Wu, confirmed his attendance. He said Wu did not attend the fundraiser; he declined to comment on the DeSantis luncheon. The other listed attendees did not immediately return phone calls on Tuesday.

Herb Krumsick, a Wichita real estate broker and executive vice president of J.P. Weigand & Sons, told The Eagle he and his wife, Kathy, attended the fundraiser and were impressed by DeSantis.

Because hes in Florida, we didnt have a real good feel for him, Krumsick said. But he was everything I would have hoped for.

Hes a gentleman, Krumsick said. I know he impressed us. . . . What you see is what you get. Hes a really stand up guy, and I can see why they love him in Florida.

Krumsick said others who attended appeared to be happy with his answers to questions.

He has conservative views, and he was obviously not pleased with the woke attitudes of Washington, Krumsick said. And it just seemed to me like he had a tremendous amount of common sense. That was the main thing. He was very consistent in his views.

Can he beat Trump in a Republican primary?

Its really hard to say, Krumsick said. I dont think its a question that hes second in line. And whether he can beat Trump or not, its really hard. You know, the polls arent saying that. But whos to say whats going to happen?

DeSantis tours NIAR

DeSantiss fundraising luncheon came after a tour of Wichita States National Institute for Aviation Research facility in Park City on Monday morning. Wichita State leases the facility from longtime Wichita developer and oilman Johnny Stevens, a Clark and Murfin business partner who also attended the luncheon.

Gov. DeSantis was in town today for other business and asked to tour NIAR. He heard about us and wanted to see what we are doing to help the U.S. military sustain its legacy fleet of air and ground vehicles, Tracee Friess, WSUs associate vice president of strategic communications and marketing, told The Eagle in an email.

NIAR has worked closely with the U.S. Department of Defense in recent years. In March, the Army awarded the institute a $100 million contract for advancing and modernizing its tank fleet.

After the tour, DeSantis departed to court donors. Tickets for the luncheon started at $3,300 per person, with a VIP reception priced at $13,200 for a couple or $6,600 a person. The maximum donation listed on a contribution form for the event was $23,200 per couple. The money goes to Team DeSantis 2024, a joint fundraising committee for Ron DeSantis for President and Great American Comeback PAC.

The private fundraising events come as DeSantis tries to rejuvenate the viability of his campaign. His share of Republican support has been shrinking since he announced his run.

The DeSantis campaign laid off more than a third of its staff two weeks ago in a cost-cutting measure as the second-place candidate attempts to reset his struggling campaign. While DeSantis has struggled to get unified support from Republican donors, Trumps stronghold on the GOP base has grown as prosecutors have announced one state criminal charge and two federal indictments.

In a New York Times-Siena College national poll conducted in late July, 54% of likely Republican voters said they support Trump, compared with 17% for DeSantis.

Koch has not endorsed a GOP challenger

This week, in his first broadcast network interview since he launched his campaign, DeSantis told NBC News that Trump lost the election and blamed it on the $2.2 trillion CARES Act, which provided $400 million to help states run elections during the COVID-19 pandemic. On Tuesday, news broke that he replaced his campaign manager with his chief of staff in the governors office.

Wichita billionaire Charles Kochs SuperPAC, Americans for Prosperity Action, has raised tens of millions of dollars to oppose Trump in the Republican primary. But neither Koch nor AFP have endorsed a Republican challenger. Bloomberg News recently reported that the lack of coordination among Republican campaign contributors, who are scattering funds to a packed list of Trump challengers, is likely creating a dream scenario for Trump.

The DeSantis campaign and Koch Industries did not respond to questions last week about whether the candidate would meet with Charles Koch while in Wichita.

Koch-backed political organizations  Freedom Partners and Americans for Prosperity  have endorsed DeSantis for his past Florida gubernatorial races.

DeSantis previously visited Kansas last September to stump for then-Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, the Republican nominee for governor, who Gov. Laura Kelly defeated in November.
The human remains found by a hiker have been identified, Arizona officials said.

A hiker was in South Mountain Park in Phoenix on Jan. 14 when they came across human remains, 12 News reported Aug. 4.

In July, Phoenix police officers announced the remains were those of 31-year-old Jerole Tsinnijinnie.

Tsinnijinnie was last seen in January 2020, 12 News reported.

Along with his skull that showed signs of trauma and a set of car keys, the Navajo Nation members clothes and shoes were found, according to FOX 10.

I had hope that he would be in our presence once again, and that hope just broke completely and came crashing down, Tsinnijinnies mother told the outlet. It was very painful.

McClatchy News reached out to Phoenix police on Aug. 8 for more information and is awaiting a response.

The case remains ongoing as a homicide investigation, azcentral reported.

21-year-old mom identified as woman who was found dead in 1999. Mystery lingers in NC

Hiker found dead on California trail was doing his favorite thing, wife says

Remains found by hikers in Arizona desert are now IDd as missing man, reports say
The things that Frederick Douglass and other Black residents of 19th century Rochester deemed lacking in the Fourth of July, they found instead in a lesser-known commemoration: August First.

The date in 1834 brought the abolition of slavery in the British empire, including in Canada. For several decades afterward, Black residents in Rochester and other western New York communities held their own celebrations to mark the date and attended ones in Canada, in particular in the small city of St. Catharine's, near Niagara Falls.

Those August First celebrations were a striking example of the powerful and dynamic cross-border ties among Black communities in the Niagara region, which are highlighted by historian dann j. Broyld in his book "Borderland Blacks."

"Blacks, particularly in the Niagara district, led lives of uncertainty and flux that prompted movement and migration," he wrote. "In spaces like Western New York, they knew that proximity and access to the American-Canadian border gave them ways to negotiate change, to communicate with like-minded people, and to share resources and ideas."

Broyld, a Rochester native and professor of African American history at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, will be at the Kodak Center, 200 W. Ridge Road, in Rochester at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10, for an event sponsored by the Lower Falls Foundation.

Optional donations will go to the Lower Falls Foundation, a nonprofit that aims to help revitalize the neighborhoods around Rochester's Lower Falls.

dann Broyld, professor of African American history at University of Massachusetts Lowell and author of the book "Borderland Blacks."

Why the Niagara region became a hub for America's abolitionist movement

Broyld focuses his book on Rochester and St. Catharine's, arguing that their close geography and shared status as centers of abolitionism and Black activism made for a unique relationship.

"To Black people in particular, what made Rochester dynamic is its proximity to British Canada," Broyld said in an interview. "My goal with the book was to shift the thinking about Rochester from local and regional history to transnational and international history."

All of the significant Black leaders and abolitionists who spent time in the Niagara region  Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Austin Steward, Jermaine Loguen, John Brown  moved freely across the border as circumstances dictated. Many of the Underground Railroad travelers who boarded boats on the Genesee River were bound for St. Catharine's.

Samuel Ringgold Ward, a speaker at some of the historic August First gatherings, wrote that celebrants "wrought and rejoiced on one side of the line; we did the same on the other side of the line. ... We were yokefellows, why should we not recognize each other as such?"

dann Broyld, professor of African American history at University of Massachusetts Lowell and author of the book "Borderland Blacks."

The ebb and flow of people between the two cities was, of course, strongly affected by developments in the American fight against slavery. After the passage of the Fugitive Slave Law in 1850, many Black Rochesterians found it safer to relocate to Canada, while others worked to thwart Southern bounty-seekers and kidnappers.

During the period when slavery was abolished in Canada but remained legal in the United States, the legal advantages of moving to a city like St. Catharine's were clear. But Broyld writes how social dynamics with white leadership in the two cities were distressingly similar.

"Although Canada offered Blacks greater legal rights, the belief in Black innate inferiority was a transcending sentiment in the Niagara region," he wrote. "Blacks arriving in Canada soon found that legal privileges did not feed, clothe or employ them."

After the Emancipation Proclamation, many Black emigrants left St. Catharine's either to resettle in Rochester or, more specifically, to enlist in the Union Army. The unique nature of the relationship dissolved after the end of the war, though there were later fruitful exchanges including W.E.B. Du Bois's Niagara Movement.

How dann J. Broyld, a Rochester native, sees borders

Broyld was born in Rochester's 19th Ward but moved when he was young to Chili  the city line acting as another active and significant border, he noted, in particular for families with school-age children. He got a master's degree in history at SUNY Brockport before receiving his doctorate degree from Howard University.

The most durable truth about political borders, Broyld said, is that they're human-made and subject to redefinition based on laws and other circumstances. In 2023 the Canadian border has less significance for Black people but enormous significance for refugees now being denied entry at the Roxham Road border crossing, for example.

"Borders are really artificial; they're there for power-holders to retain power over particular areas," he said. "But what ordinary people do is mess borders up. ... We in the borderlands have an opportunity to do something that others cannot do."

Contact staff writer Justin Murphy at jmurphy7@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Historian dann Broyld to make presentation at Rochester's Kodak Center
(Bloomberg) -- Hong Kong will appeal the High Courts decision to reject its request to wipe a controversial protest song from the citys internet, a move that could overturn a rare victory for free speech in the city.

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The citys justice department said in a statement Monday that it considered it necessary to appeal the courts decision last month to block an interim injunction. That measure would have made it illegal for anyone with criminal intent to perform or broadcast Glory to Hong Kong.

Reiterating that disseminating or distributing the song was a national security crime, the government said in the statement that the injunction was crucial for safeguarding the city.

The judge handling the appeal will be under extreme pressure to grant the injunction, since the government is signaling that this injunction is a significant priority, said Thomas Kellogg, an executive director of the Center for Asian Law.

The governments decision to appeal represents a further politicization of the court system, he added. A court date hasnt been set to hear the appeal.

If the government exhausts its appeal options in Hong Kong, Chief Executive John Lee could potentially turn to Beijing. Last year, the city leader asked Chinas national legislature to intervene after losing a bid in the citys courts to block media mogul Jimmy Lai from being represented by a UK-based lawyer in a national security trial.

READ MORE: Hong Kong Fails to Bar Protest Song in Surprise Court Ruling

Wiping Glory to Hong Kong from the citys internet would directly challenge the freedoms that differentiate the former British colony from mainland China. It would also raise the legal risks for Silicon Valley tech giants  from Alphabet Inc. to Apple Inc. and Meta Platforms Inc.  that quit the mainland Chinese market years ago due to onerous censorship demands.

The governments appeal, which could head to the citys Court of Appeal, would challenge a surprise defeat to an administration thats chalked up a string of legal victories against publishers and journalists accused of endangering Chinese national security. Those rulings have had a chilling effect on a once free-wheeling global commercial hub.

Still, several pro-Beijing politicians voiced support for the governments appeal after it was announced.

Starry Lee, Hong Kongs sole representative member on Chinas top legislative body, said she firmly supports the country and the SAR government to firmly defend national dignity, on a Facebook post Monday, referring to Hong Kong as a special administration region.

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To win a majority in congress in 2024, the largest GOP super PAC told donors that the path to victory lies in blue states, according to a memo sent to donors and obtained by POLITICO.

Congressional Leadership Fund, a PAC aligned with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, has identified that about one-third of swing seats are in traditionally blue states. Republicans hold just a four-seat majority in Congress and will have to defend 13 seats in deep blue New York and California for the best chance to hold on to power in 2024.

To aid in that effort, CLF is launching a Blue State Project to compete in traditionally blue states.

We have an opportunity to continue to capture the frustration of middle of the road voters in liberal states crying out for common sense, the memo written by CLF president Dan Conston said. It is no accident that weve had our biggest gains in NY and CA for four straight years, but it also means we have extraordinarily expensive fights ahead with 11 targeted incumbents in the NYC and LA media markets alone.

This memo lays bare that as Republicans ramp up in a presidential year, they are aware that some of the issues they most need to focus on are different from those that rile up the base.

The memo told donors that swing voters in blue states are different from those in swing states. This will let Republicans blame Democratic leaders for problems like cost of living and crime rates  both of which played prominent roles in New York last cycle, where Republicans flipped four seats and Lee Zeldin came close to an upset win against Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Republicans in blue states will have a disadvantage when it comes to party infrastructure. CLF said it must create its own infrastructure focused on reaching ticket-splitting voters, building field programs to reach voters and investing in early voting, which Republicans have advised against in past cycles.

The memo also told donors that CLF will need early funding to reserve television time in these comparably more expensive markets during the presidential year, which will also drive up rates.

In addition to defending GOP gains in deep blue states, the Congressional Leadership Fund also identified offensive opportunities that it plans to invest in, starting with the open seats currently held by Democrats Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, and Abigail Spanberger of Virginia. It also said it plans to support challengers in the five seats held by Democrats that Donald Trump won in 2020.

The memo also took direct aim at two vulnerable Democrats in Pennsylvania, Susan Wild and Matt Cartwright. CLF said they were able to win because of poor candidate quality at the top of the ticket.

Wild and Cartwright only won because of top-of-ticket drag from Doug Mastriano. Their images are hobbled, and theyre strapped for cash after last cycle. They will face serious challenges, the memo said.

National Republicans breathed a sigh of relief when Mastriano said he wouldn't run for Senate this year, and still hope to see their top recruit, David McCormick, enters the race.

CLFs memo was bullish overall on its chances to continue expanding the Republican majority, highlighting that GOP-targeted members have raised more and have more money cash on hand than Democrats as well as the fact that Democratic President Joe Biden and Bidenomics are unpopular in public opinion surveys.

House Republicans picked up 15 seats in 2020 and won back the majority in 2022, while Republicans regressed elsewhere, the memo said. With a little over 15 months until Election Day, we have a strong opportunity to hold and grow the majority and deliver a third-straight cycle of victories.
House Republicans view it as almost certain that they will move forward with impeaching Biden this fall.

Right now, the question is about a vote to authorize an impeachment inquiry.

But in actuality, House Republicans think it's likely they'll later impeach Biden.

House Republicans increasingly believe it is near certain that they will move forward with an impeachment against President Joe Biden later this fall, CNN reported.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has raised the possibility that Republicans will take the step to formalize an impeachment investigation. A vote to authorize an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden is not a direct vote on impeachment, but it would make a major escalation in House Republicans' probes of Biden.

Republicans, according to CNN, don't think they can abandon their moves against Biden without giving him the imprimatur of innocence. Thus far, Republicans have yet to produce evidence that Biden was the beneficiary of a nefarious bribery scheme while he was vice president. The FBI lashed out at Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, for releasing a confidential bureau document that recounted an alleged bribery scheme.

"Once the barn doors are open, so to speak, the horses are out," an unnamed senior House Republican told CNN. "You're not gonna get them back in the barn."

CNN also reported that House Republicans are increasingly resigned that, if they vote for an impeachment inquiry, they will later vote to explicitly impeach Biden.

While often the case, a formal impeachment inquiry vote is not necessary to impeach an official. It is almost beyond certain that the Senate would vote to acquit Joe Biden. Senate Democrats hold a narrow majority and it takes 67 votes to convict.

Many Republicans feel that Democrats unfairly impeached President Donald Trump and have hinted as a result they want to retaliate against Biden. Trump's second impeachment in the House was the most bipartisan impeachment vote in history.

Republicans control a razor-thin majority, meaning they could only lose four votes if every single Democrat opposed moving forward on impeachment. Of particular note are the 18 Republicans who represent congressional districts won by President Joe Biden in 2020.

Rep. Don Bacon, a Nebraska Republican who represents a Biden-won district, told CNN that it "seems apparent that President Biden wasn't being honest" when he denied involvement in Hunter Biden's business dealings.

"Did the president commit high crimes or misdemeanors? The committees need to do more digging to clarify this," Bacon told CNN. "There's tons of smoke, but let's verify what's beneath that all."

The White House quickly dismissed the latest report as another example of an effort to "smear" Biden.

"The real truth: Their own witnesses testified POTUS wasn't involved. Subpoenaed records they obtained show no link to him. In-depth independent reporting has proven many of their claims false," White House spokesperson Ian Sams wrote on Twitter, quoting the CNN article. "Yet the @HouseGOP won't let facts stand in the way of abusing their power to smear him."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Oakland teachers striking in May noted then that providing assistance outside the classroom would enhance learning conditions and increase their retention.

A new housing initiative hopes to keep Black teachers educating kids in Oakland, California.

According to a press release, some select Black teachers in the Bay Area will have access to brand new apartments thanks to a collaboration between Riaz Capital, a pioneer in providing affordable, high-quality housing for middle-class families in the region, and Urban Ed Academy, a leading nonprofit organization assisting Black men who want to work in education.

The alliance will initially accommodate 10 teachers, who will reside at Artthaus Six, Riaz Capitals most recent development in Oakland. There are plans to provide more housing options, the press release states.

A new housing initiative hopes to keep Black teachers, especially men, in Oakland, California. It accommodates 10 teachers, who will reside at Artthaus Six, Riaz Capitals most recent development in Oakland. (Photo: Adobe Stock)

The initiative follows a four-clause common good agreement made in spring between the Oakland Unified School District and striking school staffers to address housing and transportation, the community schools grant, the Black thriving community schools initiative and school closures, The Associated Press reported.

In May, the 34,000 students in the Oakland Unified School District missed eight days of classroom lessons before district officials and the Oakland Education Association reached an agreement that returned striking teachers, nurses, librarians and other employees to campuses after almost two weeks away.

Teachers noted then that adding support outside the classroom would enhance learning conditions and increase teacher retention. More mental health services, renovation of crumbling schools and subsidized transportation for low-income students were a few other common-good demands.

Riaz Taplin, CEO of Riaz Capital, expressed his companys excitement in working with Urban Ed Academy on this transformative initiative.

Our goal is to empower Black teachers by providing exceptional housing opportunities. By supporting their well-being, we contribute to their ability to positively impact students lives, said Taplin. By addressing the housing needs of Black teachers, this collaboration creates a positive ripple effect that extends beyond the educators themselves, benefitting the students they teach and the broader community.

The National Education Association reports that just 2 percent of Black men in America are teachers. A new study from John Hopkins University discovered that Black students are 13 percent more likely to attend college if they even have one Black instructor by the third grade.

Riaz Capital and Urban Ed Academy are actively addressing this issue and encouraging greater diversity in the educational system by providing housing alternatives specifically suited to Black male instructors.

The organizations, referencing their shared dedication to equal opportunity, high-quality education and community empowerment, want to help retain Black male educators and assist their professional development and well-being by reducing the housing burden.

According to CBS News Bay Area, data from the California Department of Education showed that approximately 3.9 percent of public school teachers in the state are Black. Black students make up roughly 5.4 percent of the student body.

Black male teachers in the state are 1.2 percent of its public school teachers.

Our teachers deserve the opportunity to live near the schools they serve, and this partnership helps us make that happen, said Randal Seriguchi Jr., executive director of Urban Ed Academy. Riaz Capital has been an amazing partner throughout this process, and their commitment to innovative racial equity strategies was clear to us from the start.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin relies on the manipulation of media narratives and limiting access to information to maintain popular support and acceptance of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

The Kremlin has pruned Russian news to convey a firehose of disinformation based on three storylines: life outside Russia is horrendous, Russia is powerful despite foreign interference, and any effort to reform Russian power structures is futile due to Kremlin near-omnipotence.

Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhins uprising in June publicly revealed the limitations of Russian state power and the instability of Kremlin control.

Meanwhile, a new kind of social media commentator  the military blogger (milblogger)  has more gradually, securely, and subversively  if unintentionally  challenged the Kremlins management of the war in Ukraine, the performance of the Russian military, and, thus, the competence of the state.

Igor Girkin (Strelkov), the former commander of Russia's proxies in occupied Donetsk Oblast and milblogger, during a pre-trial hearing in Moscow, Russia on July 21, 2023, after he was arrested for extremism. (Photo by ALEXANDER ZEMLIANICHENKO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

These milbloggers are not part of the so-called democratic opposition but nationalist voices. They, like Prigozhin, support the invasion but are frustrated by the militarys shortcomings, and they seek to advance their own diverse range of agendas, likely in support of a more hidden network of patrons.

In depicting official failures, milbloggers have demonstrated by example that one can contradict and critique state policy without official retribution. The milbloggers not only survive but sometimes receive government positions of prominence and platforming by state-controlled mass media  signs not only of Kremlin tolerance but support.

Their soft immunity ensures a platform for powerful hardline voices to lobby for an even more aggressive approach to the war and for their elite backers to play out Russian inter-agency competition, and they make it more difficult for Putin to bring the war to a negotiated conclusion.

However, the recent arrest of milblogger and war criminal Igor Strelkov Girkin indicates that actors within the Russian state are taking steps to curtail the immunity the milbloggers have long enjoyed.

Rise of the Telegram channels

For Putin, controlling Russias information space is critical to maintaining power and avoiding the lot of his immediate predecessors, whose political decline partly resulted from a public image of ineffectiveness.

To avoid the same fate, Putin reasserted control over television and print media corporations and their oligarch owners shortly after election. Putin chased independent actors out of Russia and captured their assets, thereby controlling Russias primary sources of information. At the same time, the Kremlin invested heavily in restructuring and expanding state-run media.

Russian authorities recognized the emerging threat of the internet after witnessing its impact on the Arab Spring, color revolutions in Ukraine and Georgia, and, inside Russia, on domestic accusations of election fraud in 2010 and 2012.

Read also: Yaroslav Azhnyuk: Why doesnt Ukraine restrict use of the Russian Telegram app?

In 2012, Russia responded with a law on foreign agents, which it progressively expanded, to surveil, fine, regulate, and discredit individuals and organizations sharing undesirable information. In 2014, Russia granted the small regulatory agency Roskomnadzor sweeping authority to regulate the internet and block access to harmful media, including entire platforms.

Five years later, Russian authorities adopted a series of amendments supporting the creation of a Russian sovereign internet. They also have taken steps to censor Google, YouTube, and Western social media. Independent media condensed within echo chambers or fizzled out altogether.

Despite this crackdown, Russian social media app and messenger Telegram evaded cooptation and closure. Telegram founder Pavel Durov publicly refused to cooperate with censorship and continues to feature diverse voices. Telegrams endurance, lack of a sorting algorithm to suggest posts to users, and effectively nonexistent content moderation make the platform a wild west of online speech.

Though television remains the Russian publics primary form of news provision, Telegram became Russias most popular messenger regarding mobile internet traffic in early 2022. It rapidly came to help set the policy agenda. Mass media and elite political discussions often align with debates conducted via Telegram.

State propaganda loses credibility

When Putin launched Russias total war in Ukraine, Russian authorities intensified existing media suppression tactics.

Putin signed a law on March 4, 2022, giving the government powers to prosecute any individual or group and ban any online resources that spread unreliable information, discredit the Russian state or armed forces, or support sanctions against Russia. These nebulous terms expanded the extensive system of Russian censorship and granted authorities unlimited regulatory discretion.

Russian authorities at first had no reason to rein in pro-war, nationalistic milbloggers active on Telegram. Officials spared them the tight television, radio, and print media controls. But the Russian militarys problems, crackdowns on Western messengers, and incoherent official reporting provided an opportunity for alternative voices  including milbloggers  to gain influence.

Russian proxy Pavel Gubarev pickets outside the Moscow City Court with a placard reading "Freedom to Strelkov. Glory to Russia!" during a pre-trial hearing on the arrest of Igor "Strelkov" Girkin, a Russian war criminal, milblogger, and the former commander of Russia's proxies in occupied Donetsk Oblast, detained on July 21 and accused of extremism, in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP via Getty Images)

Milblogger war coverage diverged from official narratives when Russian forces faced a series of humiliating setbacks, and official misrepresentations piled up. Russian milbloggers resisted such spin. They published more accurate reports, including those criticizing the countrys military shortcomings.

False official war coverage, in turn, fueled a widespread desire for alternative sources of information. Many Russians turned to the milblogger community to ground rumors about military failings and fill the information vacuum.

As the months passed, the actors influence grew. The following of already-reputed war correspondent Sasha Kots on Feb. 23, 2023, was over six times larger than his following on Feb. 24, 2022. Daily analysis channel Rybars subscribership was over 16 times larger by the end of the same period. Milblogger posts continued to contradict official reports and became increasingly critical of the armed forces, including military leaders.

Today, these milbloggers share insider war coverage, nationalist opinions, and pro-war analyses via Telegram. Their posts receive significant attention due to their large followings (ranging from a few tens of thousands to over one million subscribers) and mass media amplification. Many milbloggers also appear to use their influence to collect advertising revenue and to amass power.

Milbloggers play a critical role in soldier and mercenary recruitment campaigns and in collecting donations for troops (of which they almost certainly embezzle a portion). Powerful political figures such as Prigozhin and Russian Chechen Republic head Ramzan Kadyrov  though not milbloggers  also use Telegram to advance their agendas and opaquely sponsor milbloggers as megaphones for their political aims.

How do milbloggers avoid censorship?

The Kremlins lack of censorship and even platforming of certain milbloggers  such as Putins inclusion of Kots on the Russian Human Rights Council, the appointment of milbloggers to a newly-formed mobilization working group, and invitation of milbloggers to state functions  suggest the Kremlin has viewed milbloggers more as effective tools than as political threats. Putin thus allows milbloggers to vent unavoidable societal and elite tensions over the war.

Allowing criticism of the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) or specific generals redirects verbal fire away from Putin himself and the powerful Presidential Administration. Milblogger criticism also allows Putin to set Russian force organs against each other to protect his political position.

Read also: Ukraine may be winning worlds first cyberwar

But there are clear downsides.

The Kremlins allowing of milbloggers to scapegoat the MoD and the army for their performance may permanently damage the relationship of the armed forces with the remaining Russian elite, even if Russia were eventually to achieve victory.

Putins limited tolerance of criticism of the armed forces could weaken popular support for the war or embolden broader attacks on his rule.

Finally, milblogger activity could increase political pressure for greater media transparency by lowering the threshold for acceptable criticism of the regime.

Unintended consequences

Milbloggers so far mostly have redirected criticism from the Kremlin, as Putin wants. They do not appear to have destabilized the Russian government or pressured it to change its policies in Ukraine. There is little evidence to support some optimistic claims that milblogger criticism will catalyze significant challenges to Kremlin control.

However, the situation poses political peril for Putin which the milbloggers could amplify. Putin depends on a base of loyal  yet internally competitive  elites to maintain power, and the war puts increased demands on their loyalty.

Putin has avoided announcing full mobilization or mobilizing Russias economy. He instead pushes regional budgets (and regional politicians) and Russias elite to shoulder the significant costs of the war.

Meanwhile, Kremlin efforts to scapegoat political and military leaders exacerbate frictions between Russian force structures, driving a wedge between them, as fueled Prigozhins attack on the MoD. Should the MoD and key leaders see themselves as at odds with the Kremlin rather than subordinate to it and in tension with each other or as able to cannibalize other key force structures, Putin could be in trouble.

Kremlin efforts to distance itself from responsibility for the war also risk presenting Putin as out of touch or incompetent, images which help ring down his predecessors. This look clashes with Putins desire to project an image of complete power over the so-called Kremlin Towers  the regimes power centers that appear to control factions of the milblogger network.

Looking forward

In the short term, creating a hostile political environment for Russian military leadership could blow back and weaken the effectiveness of Russian troops in Ukraine. The amplification of milblogger critiques and Kremlin scapegoating of MoD leaders disincentivizes promotion, discourages tactical initiative-taking, and inflames coordination challenges within the ranks.

Over the longer term, the amplification of internal disagreements may shatter the delicate balance of inter-elite competitive cooperation and Putins ability to hold the system in check.

Russian society may also see milbloggers publication privileges as a foot in the door leading to pressure to broaden the boundaries of allowed speech. Milblogger criticism may also exhaust other targets and shift to Putin himself. Given the current mood of society, prominent narratives and leaders would be even more extreme rather than ones that call for reconciliation with the West.

Read also: Why Russias war in Ukraine is not Putins war (VIDEO)

As Ukrainian forces successfully conduct counteroffensive operations, drones strike Moscow, and Prigozhins troops march to the vicinity of the capital, Russians question the states ability to protect border areas and maintain control. These developments give Putin even less room to make mistakes.

Girkins arrest suggests that Putin may have come to fear the impact of wild card information competitors on Telegram. He may hope to crack down on milblogger rhetoric or to sacrifice a vitriolic critic as a signal to the elite that control him and similar actors.

Though Russian milbloggers influence has been limited so far, they may have laid the groundwork for a genuine political shift over time, leaving Putins hands tied should he later choose to kill the online threats he has created.

Editors Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent.

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Just how different is a Delaware River fish?

The answer might matter to more than just the fish.

A new petition by environmental group the Delaware Riverkeeper Network may set off a pitched battle between two giants of the Delaware: On the one side, there are the massive container ships worth billions in commerce to ports in Philadelphia and Wilmington.

On the other is the largest freshwater fish on the East Coast, a prehistoric leviathan on the brink of extinction.

The Atlantic sturgeon is a survivor from the time of the dinosaurs, a scale-armored tank of a fish that can live for 60 years, hoover crabs whole and swell to 800 pounds  the size of a full-grown grizzly.

Not too long ago, the Delaware River was its densest home. The river teemed with sturgeon, a burly-meated lifeline for Lenape tribes that was praised by William Penn for its bounty. The sturgeon ran so thick the brave could conk them with a skillet, and jumped with such force and regularity the meek might need to dodge them while riding a ferry.

This abundance made the Delaware River into the caviar center of the world in the late 19th century, transforming fishermen into black-gold millionaires in the boomtown of Caviar, New Jersey.

Now Caviar is gone without a trace, sunk into Greenwichs Bayside Tract. And the endangered sturgeon fights to exist.

Atlantic sturgeon fish are prehistoric and look every inch the part. They have a long snout, no teeth, or scales. Their body is covered with large bony plates that resemble and feel like hard armor.

From an estimated population of 360,000 Atlantic sturgeon in 1890 near the tail end of the caviar boom, new research shows that fewer than 250 breeding adults likely remain in the Delaware River  victims to overfishing, pollution and a new apex predator in the form of giant cargo ships.

Theyve survived since the time of the dinosaurs, said Delaware Riverkeeper Maya K. van Rossum. Will they survive the time of people?

Other rivers, from the Hudson in New York to the James and the Nanticoke on the Chesapeake Bay, have shown signs of a resurgence in Atlantic sturgeon since fishing was halted in 1997 and the species was listed as endangered 15 years later.

But theres no evidence yet thats happening in the Delaware, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration  a situation advocates attribute in part to pollution and a narrow maritime corridor that causes fish to get run over by cargo ships.

The river, van Rossum says, is on the precipice of losing our genetically unique population forever.

Why does it matter whether a Delaware sturgeon belongs to New York?

The fate of the Delaware River sturgeon might hinge on just how unique the federal government believes those sturgeon are.

This federal determination could also affect river dredging and port renovation projects projected to be worth billions of dollars in increased ship commerce at ports in Wilmington and Philadelphia.

Last month, van Rossum petitioned the U.S. Secretary of Commerce and NOAA to treat Atlantic sturgeon in the Delaware River as a genetically distinct endangered population in dire need of protection, one of the last three such river populations to survive in the Northeast.

Delaware River Atlantic sturgeon are considered part of whats called the New York Bight, a larger population that includes the much more robust sturgeon population in the Hudson River, whose population is believed to be on the rise.

When federal agencies assess the environmental impact of a dredging or construction project in the Delaware River, theyre looking at the impact on this much larger population.

Because the Delaware population is estimated to be anywhere from half to a quarter as big, this practice masks the actual impact of commercial projects on the foundering Delaware River population, van Rossum said, allowing the National Marine Fishery Service to continue to approve big projects.

Theoretically, argued van Rossum, the Delaware population could go extinct  but the overall New York Bight population could still be considered healthy if the much larger Hudson River population continued to grow.

The current conflation of the Delaware River and Hudson River populations into a single DPS undermines the potential continued existence of the Delaware Rivers population, precludes its recovery, and likely accelerates its downward spiral into extinction," van Rossum wrote in the July 19 application.

Is a Delaware River sturgeon distinct, or just different?

The petitions argument hinges, in part, on the notion that Delaware River sturgeon are genetically distinct from Hudson River sturgeon.

Each rivers population of Atlantic sturgeon has its own genetic signature, said David Kazyak, a research fish biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey.

In 2021, Kazyak's research team used a relatively novel genetic approach to estimate the number of adult sturgeon. The team estimated that just 125 to 250 adults were breeding in the Delaware, fewer than previously thought.

Sturgeon, like salmon, are imbued with both wanderlust and a homing instinct. Tagged Atlantic sturgeon born in the Delaware River have been found in the ocean from Canada to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and may take anywhere from 15 to 30 years to reach breeding age.

Over thousands or likely millions of years, each new generation has returned to spawn in the river where it was born. Theres remarkably little crossover between Delaware and Hudson River sturgeon, Kazyak said  even less than youd find in Southern rivers whose mouths might be closer together.

It's essentially a group of fish that is behaving as a population, Kazyak said. They're born in the river. They grow up, they come back, and they spawn within their same population.  When theyre gone, theyre gone.

Kazyak will not weigh in on whether this difference makes the Delaware River sturgeon distinct, however  a word that carries regulatory weight.

'Distinct in this context is a policy choice, Kazyak said. Genetic differences are something that we can go out and measure.

Death by a thousand cuts: Why Delaware River sturgeon are dying

Delaware State University fisheries professor Dewayne Fox is less circumspect, saying that the Hudson and Delaware River populations face distinct threats.

As a scientist, I see little reason to put them together, Fox said.

The Delaware River population faces obstacles that amount to death by a thousand cuts, Fox said, including a head-on match with enormous container ships in a Delaware channel that's narrower and shallower than the Hudson.

Currently, its a losing battle for the fish.

Sturgeon are rolling the dice anytime they travel near large container ships, Fox said. The tight quarters of the Delaware River leave little room for error.

Around 400 sturgeon in the Delaware River lost this game of chicken in 2018 and 2019, according to Foxs recent research.

But though the shallowness of the Delaware is part of the problem, deepening the river carries its own hazards.

For more than a decade, the Army Corps of Engineers has been at work on a main channel project to deepen 100 miles of the Delaware River from 40 to 45 feet, including maintenance dredging at the Tacony-Palmyra bridge due to begin this month.

The river deepening is an essential component of a proposed Edgemoor container terminal project at the Port of Wilmington and a planned $3.5 billion expansion at the Port of Philadelphia.

Proponents say these projects are necessary to compete with other ports around the region and country and to accommodate the ever-inflating size of massive container ships. The Army Corp of Engineers limits the use of explosives to the winter months when sturgeon dont migrate upstream.

Dredging increases the volume of the water, the speed of the currents and the saltiness of the water. All of these are disadvantageous to the sturgeon, Fox said, as is muddying the river bottom where sturgeon lay eggs and find food.

The economic goals of the project likely also mean more and larger ships. Even the massive dredge itself runs a risk of killing sturgeon.

Add it all up, said Fox, and pretty soon, you got a whole lot of dead sturgeon.

The Delaware Riverkeeper petition is 'unprecedented'

Changing the classification of Delaware River sturgeon could change the math on how the National Marine Fisheries Service calculates the environmental impact of these large river projects, van Rossum hopes.

If the petition is successful, it may make new projects harder to approve or reduce the allowable "take: the expected number of sturgeon killed by dredging or other manmade activity.

The success of the Riverkeeper's petition is far from assured. Fellow advocates say theres no precedent for this petition to NOAA.

But van Rossum succeeded last year with another federal petition sturgeon advocates called unprecedented, leapfrogging officials at the Delaware River Basin Commission that van Rossum alleged were dragging their heels.

In December, she convinced the Environmental Protection Agency to step in to develop tighter regulations governing the amount of dissolved oxygen in the Delaware River: a measure of how much life the river can sustain.

The fact that they stepped up in the way they did was really a very loud repudiation (of) DRBCs failure to take timely and meaningful action, van Rossum said.

In a statement responding to the EPAs determination, the DRBC called the petition unnecessary, but accepted the federal agencys stance. In response to recent inquiries, the agency said they will continue to work cooperatively on improving water quality in the Delaware River Estuary.

In 2014, the Delaware Riverkeeper successfully litigated to obtain a settlement forcing the fisheries service to designate critical spawning habitat on the Delaware River.

Experts at NOAA, the parent agency of the fisheries service, say the data on Delaware River sturgeon abundance is thin.

While theres no evidence that Delaware River sturgeon are recovering, wrote NOAA's Atlantic sturgeon coordinator Lynn Lankshear, there's also not enough data to say for certain that the population is declining.

The long life cycle of northern Atlantic sturgeon, which can wait more than a decade to breed, can make year-to-year trends difficult to assess.

In a 2018 assessment, the fisheries service concluded that the continued dredging of the Delaware "may adversely affect, but is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence" of the Atlantic sturgeon and other threatened species.

In the face of this uncertainty, van Rossum argues the government shouldn't take any chances: Any moment, any year, could be the tipping point beyond which the Delaware River loses its Atlantic sturgeon forever.

"In terms of being saved, your guess is as good as mine and thats part of the problem," she said. "We could have a couple of years. We could not. Every year has an impact."

Matthew Korfhage is a Philadelphia-based reporter for USA TODAY Network. Contact him at mkorfhage@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter/X @matthewkorfhage. Contact Konner Metz at kmetz@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter/X @konner_metz.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Atlantic sturgeon are returning. But is the Delaware River in crisis?
Hundreds of Lebanon residents gathered in the parking lot of the YMCA Train Depot Saturday morning for fun, food and free school supplies at the back-to-school festival.

The festival, organized by Making a Difference of Lebanon, United Way of Lebanon County and the Lebanon Valley YMCA, ran from 9 a.m. until noon. Guests, however, began forming a large line earlier than that while organizers were setting up.

"There's a lot of kids in Lebanon City that start the first day of school and don't have what they need," said Amy Pennycoff, director of community engagement at the YMCA. "That's as simple as pencils, backpacks, any of those things. Our goal in this event is to make sure every child has a little bit of what they need, so they don't feel different, they don't feel insecure about that fact that they're going to school without anything and all these other kids have all this stuff."

Hundreds of Lebanon residents gathered in the parking lot of the Lebanon Valley Family YMCA for the back-to-school festival Saturday.

Roughly two dozen additional tables, set up by organizations like SARCC, LCCM, UPMC and WellSpan Health, handed out everything from community resources for students, clothes and additional school supplies.

Other organizations, like the Lebanon Salvation Army, served food. Some offered free games in which students could win prizes.

Bert Miuccio, executive director of United Way of Lebanon County, estimated that roughly 650 students received free school supplies during the event.

"There's about 10% of the population in Lebanon County that lives at or below the federal poverty level," Miuccio said. "But there's another approximately 30% that live at a level that is referred to as A.L.I.C.E.," or asset limited, income constrained, employed.

A.L.I.C.E. refers to families and individuals whose income exceeds the federal poverty level, but who still struggle to pay for basic needs. Miuccio puts the percentage of people in Lebanon County who are struggling to make ends meet at 30% to 40%.

More: The school year is just around the corner. Here's when Lebanon County's districts start

"It's not just people who are disabled or unemployed, it's people who are working, families who have maybe multiple people in the family who are employed, but are just really struggling to make ends meet," he said.

According to the ALICE report that was released in fall 2022, 31% of children in Lebanon County are within the A.L.I.C.E. threshold and 20% of children are at or below the federal poverty level.

Sean Nagel and his son, Tyten, attended the back-to-school festival Saturday at the YMCA Train Depot.

"It's beautiful, it's awesome. It's what we need more of. We need more of the community," said Sean Nagel, who was at the event with his son, Tyten. "Just think: If we'd all be in unity, where's the room for us to get discouraged with one another and try to bring each other down, you know what I mean? We're building each other up and encouraging one another. That's where the peace comes from, true peace."

The weekend before the festival, United Way held its annual Stuff the Bus school supply drive, where thousands of school supplies were collected for hundreds of community members across the county.

Hundreds of Vans backpacks were donated and handed out by the Vanity Fair Volunteer Committee, which also had a separate tent set up for students to play a game and win a pair of Vans socks.

Virtually all of the items that had been donated for Stuff the Bus had been distributed only a couple of hours into the festival. By about 10 a.m., the rooms used for storage, packed to the door leading up to event, had been all but cleared out.

Bert Miuccio, executive director of United Way of Lebanon County, said the nearly empty room in which he stood Saturday had been packed full of school supplies before the back-to-school event began.

Between collecting school supplies from the various tables, families talked to each other, children ran around and played in the two bounce houses, enjoying free popcorn, hotdogs and refreshments.

Fernando Melendez was at the event with two of his youngest children. He said they came out for the community aspect, to meet the people helping others.

More: Northern Lebanon's new elementary built with the future in mind

"I like to come out to see the camaraderie and the community," he said, "It's actually really good to see everyone getting along here, to see how powerful and how much respect people have for each other in the community here. No matter what goes on every day, people can come together here and see what they have as far as resources."

Fernando Melendez attended the event with two of his children, Noah and Natasha, to experience the sense of community the back-to-school festival offered.

Melendez believes events like the back-to-school festival are crucial not just for community building, but also for relief for families that might be struggling.

"The outcome and turnout of this, is awesome," Melendez said. "I think this is probably one of the biggest ones I've seen since maybe three or four years ago."

A bit past 10:30 a.m., the deejay cut the music for raffle ticket giveaways which included several board games given away by Cornell Wilson of Making a Difference of Lebanon and a custom lowrider bike built by Pedro Cartagena, owner of Chino Bicicleta.

The custom lowrider on the left, built by Pedro Cartagena, right, was raffled off to Eric Rios and his son, Eric, left.

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

This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Bags, pencils, notebooks, more given at Lebanon back-to-school fest
On 8 August, Hungarian President Katalin Novak gave her consent to the appointment of a new Ukraines ambassador  Fedir Shandor, a professor of the National University of Uzhhorod and a serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Source: ATV, a Hungarian TV channel, reported by European Pravda

Details: Kyiv sent a request for an agrement for Fedir Shandor to Budapest several months ago, but the Hungarian side has only approved it now.

Media outlets reported that the reason was supposedly the unwillingness of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to communicate with his Hungarian counterpart. It is not clear what exactly explains Katalin Novak's decision to grant the agrement now.

At the same time, ATV pointed out that the Hungarian president is due to visit Kyiv on 23 August to take part in the Crimean Platform summit, and before that, she will visit Zakarpattia Oblast and meet with local representatives of the Hungarian minority.

The agrement signed by Novak will now be submitted to the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for countersignature by Minister Peter Szijjarto. The decision will be shared after Shandor arrives in Budapest and presents his letter of credence to the Hungarian president.

Fedir Shandor's name became known because he voluntarily joined the Ukrainian army after Russia attacked Ukraine in February 2022 and lectured students from the trenches in between battles.

Background: In July 2022, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Liudmyla Nepop from the position of Ambassador of Ukraine to Hungary.

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!
Hungarian President Katalin Novak has finally signed off on the appointment of Fedir Shandor as Ukraines Ambassador, Hungarian TV channel ATV reported on Aug. 8, citing unnamed diplomatic sources.

Shandor is a professor at the Uzhhorod National University, and currently serves in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Read also: Hungarian PM voices support for China's peace plan

Ukraine had requested approval for Shandor's appointment to Budapest back in March.

According to the publication, the alleged reason for the lengthy process was that the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not wish to engage with the President of Hungary.

Read also: Budapest mayor criticizes Hungarian government for making gas deals with Putin

Shandor's credentials will now be sent to be certified by Hungarys Foreign Minister, Peter Szijjarto.

The report said that Novak's official decision will be published in the Hungarian Gazette after Shandor arrives in Budapest and presents his credentials to the President.

Read also: Hungary wasnt involved in POW transfer from Russia, says Hungarian FM

On July 16, Hungarian news portal Telex reported that Novak had accepted an invitation from the Ukrainian government to participate in the upcoming Crimean Platform meeting on Aug. 23 in Kyiv. She also plans to visit Zakarpattia Oblast, which borders Hungary and is home to a sizeable Hungarian diaspora.

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
Family and friends were gathering on Monday evening for a candle lighting ceremony to honour a slain Georgia mother-of-four after her body was found near her charred car last week.

Imani Roberson, 29, who was last seen on 16 July in Conyers, had been missing for two weeks before her remains were found on Friday.

Robersons husband, Donell Anderson, 22, was arrested and charged with her murder, Rockdale County Sheriff Eric Levett announced on Saturday. He said during a news conference that more arrests were coming in the case.

Police said Roberson disappeared after she visited her mothers house for a family dinner along with her four children. She left two of the children with her mother and returned home with her three-year-old and one-month-old.

The next day Robersons mother called her repeatedly, but she did not answer. When she travelled to her daughters house to find her, she found it empty. She filed a missing persons report on 17 July. All four children are safe, authorities added.

Imani Roberson was last seen alive in July (Roberson Family provided photo)

When I couldnt reach Imani almost three weeks ago, I knew something was wrong, her mother, Clarine Andujar-White, said during the press conference on Saturday.

Late last night my worst fears were confirmed and our family is devastated.

Investigators were immediately suspicious after finding blood in Robersons home and other places, CNN reported.

It was clear that foul play was evident in the disappearance of Imani, the sheriffs office said.

A week later, Robersons white Mazda SUV was found charred after it had been set on fire in the Atlanta area, about 24 miles away.

Her body was found by cadaver dogs on Friday and her husband Donell Anderson was arrested at an apartment a short time later.

Mr Anderson was charged with felony murder, malice murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during commission to attempt a felony.

Donell Anderson was arrested and charged in connection with the disappearance and death of his wife (Rockdale County Sheriff)

aaWhen that body was found, it was our mission, especially mine, to make sure that we could convince our judges and/or DAs office that we have enough evidence to secure a warrant and to get him off the street, Sheriff Levett said.

"This investigation is still ongoing and I can assure you that another arrest will be made," the sheriff added.

Mr Anderson appeared in court on Sunday morning. He was represented by a public defender but he will eventually retain his own lawyer, officials said.

Sheriff Levett said the medical examiner is conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of Robersons death. Her children will now be in the care of their grandparents.

Robersons father, Ronald Acklin, became emotional during Saturdays news conference and said that it was "not the news" the family was hoping for.

He also said this was not the first time he had lost a child and he was prepared for the news of her death.

Ive made my peace with it, he said.

The ceremony for Roberson was being held in front of Robersons home in Conyers.

The family asked people to bring candles and balloons in Robersons favourite colours, purple and white.
A Meridian man who was arrested in June after reportedly shooting at electrical substation equipment at two Idaho dams now faces federal charges over the incidents, the U.S. Attorneys Office announced Tuesday.

Randy Vail, 58, was arrested near Cambridge early on a June morning following reports of an individual on a white motorcycle firing a rifle at power substations at Hells Canyon and Brownlee dams.

Washington County sheriffs deputies attempted to stop Vail, who fit the suspect description. Police said Vail then led the deputies on a high-speed chase on his motorcycle before eventually pulling over.

When deputies made contact with Vail, they found two tire repair cans that are used to hold compressed air that smelled of gasoline, court documents said. According to the documents, Vail told the deputies they were gas canisters for the motorcycle.

Vail was arrested and charged in Washington County with attempting to flee law enforcement and possession of a bomb or destructive device because of the gas-filled repair cans. He was also charged with malicious injury to property in Adams County, where the dams are located.

He now faces two additional charges of destruction of an energy facility, which is a federal crime. He could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office news release, Vails alleged attack resulted in significant interruption and impairment of a function of the facilities, which provide and store power for Idaho, Washington and Oregon. Idaho Power owns the dams.

During his arrest and a pretrial conference in June, officials said Vail refused to respond to a judges questions and said he didnt understand his Miranda rights. Third District Judge David Eames ordered an evaluation to determine whether Vail was fit to proceed in court.

In the past several months, substations in North Carolina, Washington and Oregon have been damaged in various attacks. In February, the Department of Homeland Security warned in a bulletin that domestic violent extremists have looked at attacking electrical and communications infrastructure as a means to create chaos and advance ideological goals. The motivation behind Vails alleged attack is unclear.
Idahos restrictive abortion laws have attracted another lawsuit, this time from educators.

Six professors and two teachers unions Tuesday sued the state over a 2021 law that bars public employees from promoting abortion or counseling in favor of the procedure. Attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union, representing the educators, called the prohibitions simultaneously sweeping and unclear, leading professors to censor themselves and eliminate class content for fear of prosecution.

The lawsuit asked the U.S. District Court for Idaho to declare the law an infringement of First Amendment rights and block state and local prosecutors from enforcing it.

Its vital for Idahos public universities to have autonomy in fostering vibrant debate on their campuses, free from government interference, Leo Morales, executive director for the ACLU of Idaho, said in a news release. However, Idahos abortion censorship law directly undermines that autonomy, attempting to restrict educators free speech and stoke fear of retaliation for such speech in our state.

State Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa, former Sen. Christy Zito, R-Hammett, and the Idaho Family Policy Center, a religious lobbying group, co-wrote the legislation. Most Republicans in the Legislature supported the 2021 bill.

Their meritless lawsuit wont be successful, Blaine Conzatti, president of the Family Policy Center, said in a news release Tuesday. The No Public Funds For Abortion Act simply does not infringe on academic speech protected by the First Amendment, including classroom discussion on the topics related to abortion.

Idaho professors censor classroom content

The abortion law, which lawmakers called the No Public Funds for Abortion Act, made it a crime for public employees to promote abortion or counsel in favor of abortion. But the law is unconstitutionally vague about what kind of speech is permissible, ACLU attorneys argued.

It creates a set of poorly defined concepts and perspectives that must be avoided if we are to protect ourselves from draconian penalties, Martin Orr, president of the Idaho Federation of Teachers, said in the news release. This makes reasoned discussion impossible. How can we teach about U.S. society without addressing abortion  one of the defining cultural and political issues of the day?

The plaintiffs included five professors at the University of Idaho, who teach philosophy, political science, American literature and journalism, as well as a Boise State University social work professor. The Idaho Federation of Teachers  a state chapter of the American Federation of Teachers that represents faculty at Boise State, U of I and Idaho State University  and the University of Idaho Faculty Federation are also challenging the abortion law.

In September, the U of I sent a memo to employees that recommended limits on discussions of abortion in the classroom. A U of I philosophy professor excised an entire module on human reproduction, including reading assignments and a class discussion, from a biomedical ethics course because she feared prosecution under the law, according to the lawsuit.

In addition to pulling course modules and reading materials, professors have curtailed lectures and classroom discussion; stopped assigning, evaluating and giving meaningful feedback on student research and writing; and refrained from pursuing certain scholarship or publicizing their academic work, attorneys said in the lawsuit.

Public employees who violate the law can be fired and charged with misuse of public moneys. The crime results in a misdemeanor or felony conviction that can carry up to $10,000 in fines and a maximum 14-year prison sentence.

The educators named as defendants Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador and the county prosecutors responsible for enforcing abortion laws where the universities are located, including Ada, Bannock and Latah counties.

States sue Idaho over abortion travel ban

Educators challenge to the states restriction on abortion speech adds to a slew of lawsuits Idaho has faced this year over its abortion laws. A separate Idaho abortion restriction, which bans helping minors obtain abortions out of state, has gained national attention and prompted 19 states and Washington, D.C., to join a lawsuit against Idaho. The initial lawsuit was filed by an Idaho attorney who represents survivors of domestic and sexual violence last month.

The first-of-its-kind law, enacted this year, prohibits traveling with a minor to another state for an abortion, or helping a minor obtain an abortion-inducing drug, without consulting one of their parents or guardians. The crime is punishable by up to five years in prison.

Idahos neighbors are already flooded with Idahoans seeking abortion care, wrote Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson in a court brief. The threatened criminalization of travel and provision of information will delay patients ability to access lawful care, leading to increased health risks, illness and death.

Last year, the Idaho Supreme Court upheld Idahos near-total abortion ban against a constitutional challenge by Idaho abortion providers and attorneys from Planned Parenthood. But the U.S. Justice Department won an injunction on Idahos criminal abortion penalties in emergency situations, after federal attorneys successfully argued that the restrictions could jeopardize the health of a pregnant patient.

Another lawsuit was decided last week, when U.S. District Court Judge B. Lynn Winmill ruled that Labrador cant seek criminal penalties against medical providers who refer patients out of state for legal abortions. A gynecologist and a family doctor sued Labrador after he issued a legal opinion declaring that out-of-state abortion referrals violate Idaho law.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed three bills into law on August 4 that will increase protections for Native American gravesites and more across the state.

The bills include procedures for the treatment of Native American remains, protections for wearing regalia at graduation ceremonies, and mandates Native American history to be taught in public schools.

The laws include:

HB3413: Amends the Human Remains Protection Act to establish procedures for encountering human remains or gravesites. Additionally, the law brings the Illinois State Museum in coordination with federally recognized tribes with ties to Illinois to determine the remains' tribal identity and return them to the appropriate burial.

SB1446: Protects the rights of Illinois students to wear accessories that reflect cultural, religious or ethnic heritage protected under the Illinois Human Rights Act at graduation ceremonies.

HB1633: Includes Native American history to the list of required curriculum for state public schools. The law specifically mentions requirements focused on teaching about the genocide and forced resettlement of Native Americans by settlers and the history of tribes in the midwest.

Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Chairman Joseph Rupnick praised the legislation for taking steps to undo the grave injustices done to Native Americans at the hands of colonizers.

Illinois has made tremendous strides this year in its work to repair the centuries-long injustices that started with colonizers doing everything they could to extinguish our people and the origins of this land on which the U.S was constructed, said Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Chairman Joseph Rupnick in a statement. Illinois today proved that a government is capable of reflecting on its past injustices and planning for a future that respects and celebrates our interconnectedness.

Thousands of Native remains and artifacts currently sit in museums across the country. According to a statement released by the governors office, many remains were dug up by the Department of Transportation to build highways years ago and were housed in desk drawers. The state is in the process to return 1,100 of the 7,000 Native American remains it currently holds.

Native tribes have existed since before colonization, and our land and culture are the foundation of our society. Yet the remains of thousands of our ancestors have been in the hands of the government and institutions, just as our Native lands have been for centuries, said Rupnick. By signing this bill today Pritzker is undoing a modern-day extension of colonization. This new law will bring respect to our ancestors the way they shouldve been respected centuries ago.

Illinois is the only state in the Midwest  and one of 15 states across the country  without a federally recognized Native tribe. The state sits on the ancestral lands of numerous indigenous tribes and is home to approximately 35,000 Native Americans. The Prairie Band Potawatomi is still advocating for Congress to pass a plan to officially recognize their land.

In 1849, the U.S government illegally auctioned off more than 1,280 acres of Potawatomi Chief Shab-eh-nays land near the village of Shabbona in southern DeKalb County. Illinois owns and operates a state park on a portion of the Prairie Bands 1,280 acres. The state has the agency to return that back to the Prairie Band with legislation or through executive action.

"Although our land was illegally taken from us, we're still here, living and contributing to life in Illinois, all while practicing our traditions and serving our country," Rupnick said. "We may not yet have our Reservation land back in the hands of our tribe, but we have the truth and increasing acknowledgement that our cause is just."

About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. "

Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net
Daria Maya (left) and Kristopher Jenerette both work as lifeguards. Maya works in Westport, Connecticut, and Jenerette is in Philadelphia.

Daria Maya (left) and Kristopher Jenerette both work as lifeguards. Maya works in Westport, Connecticut, and Jenerette is in Philadelphia.

When Daria Maya was 9 years old, she witnessed a lifeguard jump into the pool and save a child from drowning at her birthday pool party. It was an event that helped inspired Maya to seek her own lifeguard certification at age 15. Maya, now 20, has been lifeguarding ever since.

Although its a very responsibility-heavy job, I would say its one of the most rewarding things I have done, knowing that youre protecting people in the water, said Maya, who is working at Longshore Pool and Compo Beach in Westport, Connecticut, this summer. She created WeLifeguard, a nonprofit service for finding and hiring certified lifeguards in Connecticut and New York for events.

Lifeguarding can be a physically and mentally demanding job for young people. It requires knowing how to swim well and stay calm in emergencies  and its a job that you can start as a teenager.

Kristopher Jenerette, 18, is a lifeguard for the John B. Kelly public pool in Philadelphia. In the three summers hes been a Philadelphia lifeguard, hes needed to rescue about 10 people in the pool.

Theres a lot of responsibility. Like anybody can start drowning ... . So I would say my first year I kind of felt on edge a little bit, he said. You may be flustered at first, but as you get used to it, it starts to get more easy.

HuffPost asked Maya and Jenerette to share the biggest misunderstandings about what lifeguards do and what they wont do at beaches or pools after working as a lifeguard  and hope that you dont do either.

I wouldnt ignore a lifeguards whistle.

Ideally, a lifeguard does not ever need to do a dramatic rescue in the water.

Although it may seem cool in movies, like, Oh, the Baywatch lifeguard who goes and saves someone, you actually never want to be in a position where you have to save someone. You want to do as many things as possible to prevent something from happening, Maya said.

Part of that means listening when a lifeguard is blowing the whistle at you to get your attention in the pool or at the beach.

When I do blow the whistle, Im usually talking to a specific person. I usually point them out, Jenerette said. So I think everybody should focus their attention. It could be something very serious.

What the whistles mean can vary depending on where you are, but in general theyre asking for your immediate attention.

We might blow our whistle and we might say Get out of the water because we heard thunder or lightning and being in the water during those times is extremely dangerous, Maya said. If someones drowning, we will tell everyone to get out of the water ... . Its important that youre paying attention to the lifeguard when you hear those whistles so you know what to do.

Kristopher Jenerette, 18, works at Kelly Pool in Philadelphia. He has been a lifeguard for three summers.

Kristopher Jenerette, 18, works at Kelly Pool in Philadelphia. He has been a lifeguard for three summers.

I wouldnt assume that the lifeguard stopping me from doing what I want is being mean.

Jenerette said it would be helpful for pool visitors to understand that lifeguards enforcing rules are not being mean.

Sometimes people get, like, hostile. Like, Why does my kid have to do this? Its better if parents understand where its coming from, Jenerette said. Were just trying to be here for everybodys safety. Making sure that everybody has a good time at the pool.

I would tell the lifeguard Im a new swimmer.

Instead of seeing lifeguards as only an enforcer of rules, see them as a resource you can go to for assistance.

Most important things that people dont really understand that they can do is that you can always introduce yourself to the lifeguard, Maya said. So if youre a new swimmer, this will help the lifeguard pay extra attention to you when youre swimming ... were able to know who you are and know your swimming ability, and that helps us make sure, obviously, nothing happens.

I wouldnt swim alone.

Maya noted that even when there are lifeguards, she always wants the parents to be watching children, too. Just in general, its a good idea to always have someone in your party looking out.

Always swim with a buddy and never swim alone. That way, if something happens, theres always someone with you. And theres always an extra set of eyes, she said.

Preventing drownings is everyones responsibility. Thats why the Water Safety USA organization recommends assigning a person in your group to be a watcher of everyone in or near water every time there is a pool gathering or beach outing, even when a lifeguard is present.

If youre at a beach, try swimming directly in front of where the lifeguard is posted. Thats like a straight shot for the lifeguard. They know where you are. They can see you; you can see the lifeguard, Maya said. So if anything happens, were on it.

"You can always introduce yourself to the lifeguard, Maya said.

I would not plunge into deeper waters than my limits.

Jenerette advised knowing how deep you can go into the pool before you take a plunge, because some people try to who are not strong swimmers, he said.

Maya said a lot of times people do not realize the difference between a shallow and deep end of a pool, but there can be a simple way to find out.

There will be markers on almost every pool you go to or you can just look down and see the depths of the shallow versus the deep end, she said. Beginner swimmers should stick to the shallow end, and if youre not sure which side that is, ask a lifeguard, Maya said.

As for beaches, stick to the areas being lifeguarded. A lot of times we see people who swim too far out, Maya said. It takes a lot of energy to swim out, and they forget about the currents and the riptides that make it a lot harder to swim back in than it is to swim out. And I think thats one of the biggest problems we see at the beach.

I do like getting in the pool on my breaks, Jenerette said about his favorite parts of his job. Other than that, I like interacting with different types of people at the pool.

I do like getting in the pool on my breaks, Jenerette said about his favorite parts of his job. Other than that, I like interacting with different types of people at the pool."

I wouldnt let a kid swim without lessons.

Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4 and the second-leading cause of unintentional death in children ages 5 to 14, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Thats why learning how to swim can be so important.

Thats the best, most helpful thing for a lifeguard, is putting your kids in swimming lessons so theyre able to swim, Maya said. That helps us a lot because were less worried that anythings possibly going to happen.

I wouldnt jump into the water without looking to see whos already there.

Plunging into the pool can be refreshing, but when youre not checking to see where you are landing, accidents are more likely to happen.

Most common things we see is people not looking and they just jump, and they jump one on top of each other. So thats obviously not good, Maya said.

Most people, as long as you have the ability to swim, youre probably able to become a lifeguard,

Most people, as long as you have the ability to swim, youre probably able to become a lifeguard," Maya said.

I would encourage teens to become lifeguards.

Lifeguarding can involve rigorous training and big responsibilities. In the city of Philadelphia, for example, where Jenerette works, his lifeguard screening involved 12 nonstop laps of swimming in a 25-yard pool, treading water for two minutes without using arms and physically retrieving a 10-pound brick.

I had to rescue it from the bottom of the pool and bring it back, he said. And thats on top of online training. Theres a lot of stuff you have to remember for when you actually do the training in person, Jenerette said.

But it can also be a lot of fun.

I do like getting in the pool on my breaks, Jenerette said. Other than that, I like interacting with different types of people at the pool. A lot of people like to have conversations with the lifeguard, which is one of my favorite parts about the job.

Maya said when she was younger she had all the swimming skills needed to do the job well, but she was nervous about the lifesaving responsibility.

But what she would want her younger self and any aspiring lifeguard to know is that theres no reason to be nervous. All your other guards are there to help you. And theres a lot of support surrounding being a lifeguard ... . If you want to become a lifeguard, go for it. Most people, as long as you have the ability to swim, youre probably able to become a lifeguard.

Related...
For months, Democrats have worried about a three-way Senate race in Arizona giving the GOP a boost.

But a new Emerson College poll shows Democrats ahead in three-way matchups that include Sinema.

Republicans in the key battleground state are eyeing the seat as potential pickup opportunity.

When Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema left the Democratic Party to become an Independent last December, many members of her former party fretted about the implications for her potential 2024 reelection bid.

While Sinema has not shifted her voting pattern and is not looking to caucus with Republicans, a possible three-way race looms if she decides to run for a second term in the upper chamber.

But based on a recently-released Emerson College poll, Sinema's entry into the race may actually give an advantage to Rep. Ruben Gallego, the Phoenix-area lawmaker who's widely seen as the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination.

In a one-on-one matchup between Gallego and Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, a Republican, both candidates were tied at 42% support in the poll, while 16% of respondents indicated that they were undecided. But in a three-way race with Gallego, Lamb, and Sinema, the Democratic candidate leads with 36% support, followed by Lamb at 29% and Sinema with 21% support  while 15% of respondents were undecided.

Similarly, in a one-on-one matchup between Gallego and Republican candidate Brian Wright, the Democrat posted a 41%-38% edge. And in a three-way contest with Gallego, Wright, and Sinema, the congressman leads with 37% support, with Sinema at 26% and Wright with 25% support.

One of the more fascinating elements of the polling is Sinema's continued popularity with a sizable bloc of Republicans, a dynamic similar to her 2018 Senate victory when she ran as a Democrat. That year, she peeled off enough Republicans and independents to defeat then-GOP Rep. Martha McSally.

In the Emerson College poll, 21% of Republicans opt for Sinema with Lamb on the ballot, while 34% of GOP respondents backed Sinema with Wright as their party's nominee.

Meanwhile, Sinema only peeled off 8% of Democratic respondents against Gallego, according to Emerson.

Should Sinema run for reelection, it is unclear how her Democratic Senate colleagues will navigate her candidacy given their preexisting relationships with her and the fact that the party will have an official nominee.

But the Republican race remains more fluid, as 2022 gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake may enter the race later this year, while 2022 Senate nominee Blake Masters and 2022 state attorney general nominee Abe Hamadeh could also jump into the contest. Jim Lamon, a former solar energy executive who ran for the party's Senate nomination last year, might also be in the mix.

The Arizona Senate race could end up with a Sinema victory, which would reaffirm the state as a purple battleground; a Gallego victory, which would solidify Arizona as an emerging foothold for Democrats in the West; or a Republican victory, which would serve as a reminder of continued conservative strength in the state.

And all eyes will also be on the presidential race in Arizona.

In 2020, now-President Joe Biden narrowly defeated then-President Donald Trump in the state, edging out the incumbent by almost 11,000 votes out of nearly 3.4 million ballots cast.

The latest Emerson College survey predicts another close presidential race in Arizona.

In the poll, Trump led Biden 45%-43% among registered voters. With third-party candidate Cornel West in the mix, Trump led Biden 42%-41%, while 4% chose West.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Mr Modi is expected to reply to the debate on Thursday

India's parliament is debating a no-confidence motion that opposition parties have brought against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.

Congress party lawmaker Gaurav Gogoi, who brought the motion on 26 July, initiated the debate.

Lawmakers will vote on the motion on Thursday after the debate ends.

Mr Modi's government won't lose the vote as his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies have a majority in parliament.

But opposition leaders say the debate will force Mr Modi to speak on ongoing ethnic clashes in Manipur state.

More than 150 people have died and tens of thousands have been displaced in Manipur since early May, when ethnic clashes broke out between the majority Meitei group and the tribal Kuki minority. Mr Modi only publicly addressed the violence weeks later, after a video that showed two women being paraded naked by a mob sparked global outrage.

Speaking in the house, Mr Gogoi said that the opposition had brought the motion to "break Mr Modi's silence" on Manipur. He also asked why Mr Modi had not visited the state yet.

Other opposition leaders also expressed concern about the situation in Manipur and the safety of women in the state.

Speakers from the BJP accused the opposition of playing political games and said that the no-confidence motion would be "resoundingly defeated".

The current parliament session, which began on 20 July, has been marked by protests from opposition leaders who have demanded that Mr Modi address the house on the violence in Manipur.

Some key bills have been passed with little debate amid the disruption and protests.

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.

The no-confidence debate is also a chance for a newly formed opposition alliance of 26 parties - called INDIA - to display their unity. The alliance, which was formed in July - aims to take on Mr Modi's BJP in the general election next year.

Mr Modi is expected to reply to the debate on Thursday.

BBC News India is now on YouTube. Click here to subscribe and watch our documentaries, explainers and features.

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Major China-Europe railway steams ahead with continued growth

People's Daily Online) 10:42, August 08, 2023

A photo shows a freight train running on the Yiwu-Xinjiang-Europe freight train route linking Yiwu in east China's Zhejiang Province and Madrid, Spain  Europe's largest small-commodity distribution center  via northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo/Hu Xiaofei)

A major China-Europe freight train route linking Yiwu, known as the worlds supermarket in east Chinas Zhejiang Province, and Europes largest small-commodity distribution center in Madrid, Spain, has steadily developed since its launch.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of both the launch of the first freight train via the Yiwu-Xinjiang-Europe freight train route, known as Yixin'ou in Chinese, and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The Yixin'ou route spans more than 13,000 kilometers and launched its maiden trip on Nov. 18, 2014. It is China's only rail link to Europe run by a privately-funded company.

On July 29, a China-Europe freight train loaded with 110 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers of various goods, such as automotive parts, electric bicycles, and photovoltaic modules, departed from Yiwu West Railway Station in Yiwu for Madrid. This marked the 10,000th trip by China-Europe freight trains this year. The train will pass through the Alataw Pass in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and arrive in Madrid around Aug. 19.

A freight train loaded with 110 twenty-foot equivalent unit containers of goods departs from Yiwu West Railway Station in Yiwu, east Chinas Zhejiang Province, July 29, 2023. (Photo/Qian Xusheng)

The 10,000-trip mark was reached 22 days earlier than last year. Trains have also transported over 1.08 million TEUs of goods this year, a 27 percent increase from a year ago.

"The 10,000th trip of China-Europe freight trains this year was made via the Yixin'ou route. It's a great honor for us," said Ye Qiuran, vice president of operations at Yiwu Timex Industrial Investment Co., Ltd., the operator of the Yixin'ou route.

"The Yixin'ou route is a very important early result of the BRI," said Huang Wei, who was the driver of the very first train on the Yixin'ou route.

A photo shows Huang Wei, a train driver on the Yiwu-Xinjiang-Europe freight train route. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee)

"I'm proud to be a China-Europe freight train driver. I can make participating in the BRIs construction a lifelong career," added Huang.

Three to four trains depart from Yiwu for Madrid via the Yixin'ou route each day. The ratio of return trains to Yiwu via the route reached 42.8 percent in 2022, up from 9.6 percent in 2015.

Zhou Huawei, an official with Yiwu Customs, noted that the number of freight train trips via the Yixin'ou route handled by customs in recent years has shown rapid growth momentum.

The rapid growth of the China-Europe freight train route can be attributed to its unique advantages: trains are safer, faster, more convenient, and environmentally friendly, and are less likely to be affected by natural conditions. Additionally, Yiwu's status as the "world's capital of small commodities" provides industrial advantages.

A photo shows a Yiwu-Xinjiang-Europe freight train loaded with goods containers. (Photo/Hu Xiaofei)

"In the early days, most goods exported through the Yixin'ou route were small commodities. Nowadays, the structure of export products via the route has changed, with the proportion of high-tech products increasing gradually. Exports of high-value goods, including smart devices, solar panels, automobiles and spare parts, and large medical equipment, have increased markedly," Zhou explained.

Zhou further stated that imports from Europe via the Yixin'ou route have expanded from consumer goods like wine and dairy to more diversified products, such as mechanical and electrical products and high-end furniture.

So far, Yiwu Customs has handled over 6,000 freight trains via the Yixin'ou route, becoming an integral part of BRI development.

To ensure the smooth operation of China-Europe freight trains, Yiwu Customs offers 24/7 customs clearance services alongside other facilitation measures. For instance, it has adopted the H986 large container inspection system that uses X-ray imaging to scan containers. These measures have reduced the customs clearance time for cargo transported via the Yixin'ou route to just 10 minutes.

A photo shows Yiwu Railway Port in Yiwu, east China's Zhejiang Province. (People's Daily Online/Fang Pengyimeng)

After years of development, the Yixin'ou route has opened 18 international freight routes and reached over 160 cities in more than 50 countries across Europe and Asia. As a result, China's "circle of friends" for economic and trade exchanges along the Yixin'ou route has continued to expand.

"The Yixin'ou route has promoted high-level opening up and enabled the transportation of over 10,000 types of goods," said Bi Fei, deputy general manager of Yiwu Land Railway Port Development Co., Ltd.

It has facilitated convenience for people in countries along the Belt and Road and played a vital role in deepening international economic and trade cooperation that is mutually beneficial and win-win, Bi added.

According to statistics, freight trains running on the Yixin'ou route have made 1,044 trips so far this year, reflecting an increase of 14.7 percent year on year.

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Liang Jun)
[Source]

An Indian American teen raised over $10,000 in funds for the victims of a tragic triple-train collision that occurred in India.

Act of kindness: Tanishka Dhariwal, 16, set up a campaign on GoFundMe on June 5, three days after the tragic incident that happened near the Bahanaga Bazar railway station in Odisha's Balasore district. The collision, considered to be India's deadliest rail accident in over 20 years, left over 1,000 people injured and at least 295 dead, 29 of whom remain unidentified as of this writing.

Dhariwal rallied her friends from diverse backgrounds to help her reach out to schools, districts, friends and family to gather a substantial amount to help the crash victims. With a total of 62 donations, Dhariwal was able to raise $10,498, exceeding her $10,000 target.

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What caused the crash: Findings from the Commissioner of Railway Safety's report revealed that lapses in the signaling circuit alteration at North Signal Goomty station caused the Coromandel Express to veer onto the loop line instead of the main track. Due to the error, the Coromandel Express collided with a stationary goods train on the loop line, leading to a domino effect that involved another passenger train, the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express.

Three Indian Railways employees  Arun Kumar Mahanta, Mohammed Amir Khan and Pappu Kumar  have since been arrested under section 304 of the Indian Penal Code for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

Successful drive: Dhariwal presented the raised funds to Indian New York Consul General Randhir Jaiswal during a ceremony on Friday. The funds will be channeled to the PM CARES Fund, which was established to provide assistance during times of emergency or disaster.

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"I believe a little goes a long way, and hopefully, this is a good start to it," Dhariwal said, according to ANI.

The Rajasthan Association of North America, of which Dhariwal is a youth member, also played an essential role in her philanthropic gesture. Notable members who attended the event included Haridas Kotewala, Ashok Sancheti, Ravi Jargarh and Chandra Sukhwal.

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In India's brutal ethnic war, women are participants as well as victims A Kuki woman prays inside a church at Kangvai village in Churachandpur district

By Krishn Kaushik and Sunil Kataria

MOIRANG/CHURACHANDPUR, India (Reuters) -In the sectarian violence that has ravaged India's Manipur state, women have been victims of brutal attacks. Residents and security officials say they are also at the forefront of the conflict, picking up arms, blocking troops and according to police complaints, instigating sexual assaults.

India's northeastern states have been historically prone to insurgencies and ethnic violence but the vicious conflict between majority Meiteis and minority tribal Kukis in Manipur hit world headlines last month when a video surfaced of two Kuki women being paraded naked through a jeering mob. In a police complaint reviewed by Reuters, one of the women said she was raped and her father and brother killed.

Kukis say a loosely formed group of Meitei women, known as Meira Paibis, or Women Torchbearers, is responsible for instigating some of the rapes of women of the minority community. The Meiteis deny the accusation but the incidents underline the bitterness between communities in the small state on the border with Myanmar.

"Womens participation in it (the rapes) underscores the absolute breakdown of all social ties," said Praveen Donthi, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group who has written a report on the Manipur conflict.

"It has made the physical and emotional divide between the communities complete and reconciliation now looks unattainable."

India's Supreme Court announced this week that it will monitor investigations into cases of sexual violence in the state.

The federal parliament began a no-confidence debate on Tuesday against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government for being unable to control the violence, although there is no threat to the administration.

Manipur police chief Rajiv Singh and other senior police officials did not respond to multiple requests for comment on the cases of sexual violence.

Since the fighting began in early May, at least 180 people, including 21 women, have been killed and tens of thousands made homeless, according to government data.

Security forces say women also block peacekeeping operations, taking advantage of laws that prevent male troops from any physical confrontation with women. They also occupy bunkers on the frontlines, rifles in hand.

In one case of sexual assault, a 19-year-old Kuki tribal woman told Reuters she was raped near the state capital Imphal on May 15 by three men after she was taken to a group of Meira Paibis and beaten in their presence.

"One of the women from the mob gave clear instructions to four men to kill me," she said in a police complaint filed on July 21, which Reuters has reviewed. She escaped and said she had been too scared to file the report earlier.

Police did not answer questions about the case and there is no record of any arrests.

Moirangthen Thoibi Devi, a Meira Paibis member in Moirang town near Imphal, said suggestions that any Meitei woman could instigate or even support acts of sexual violence were completely "untrue".

"Meira Paibis does not differentiate between Kuki or Meitei," she said, speaking alongside a group of other Meitei women. "Kuki mothers are also in pain, Meitei mothers are also in pain."

WORSE THAN ANARCHY

The women said they had heard of nine Meitei women being raped, but they had no evidence and were not directly aware of any incidents. Reuters was unable to locate any victim and police and Meitei civil society bodies did not share information of any known cases.

Ngainekim, the president of the Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights, said she had sent a letter to the prime minister in July saying that "sexual violence and rape as a method or tactic of warfare is being widely perpetrated" by the Meiteis.

Ngainekim, who uses one name, said in the letter that she knew of 13 cases of Kuki women being raped or murdered, including two women who "the Meira Paibis dragged out... from their hostel and handed over to the Meitei menfolk". They were "later gang-raped and killed in a car wash shed" in East Imphal, she said in the letter, which was reviewed by Reuters.

In a police complaint reviewed by Reuters, the mother of one of the victims blames unnamed Meitei youth but does not mention Meira Paibis.

"The reports of women urging their menfolk on to rape Kuki women...should terrify us," wrote historian and author Mukul Kesavan in a newspaper column. "A state where women abet the public rape and murder of other women is slouching towards a nightmare worse than mere anarchy."

TAKING ADVANTAGE

Security officials accuse women on both sides, but largely Meiteis, of blocking troops from conducting operations, and regulating entry points to their villages. With few women soldiers, the army does not have the authority to act against women.

The Meira Paibis have weaponised it very well, its a major chink in our system, said a senior officer from the Assam Rifles paramilitary organisation assigned to peacekeeping duties.

"There is a reason we block the army...because they have directly supported the Kukis," said Thoibi Devi, the woman from Meira Paibis, standing with other women at a checkpoint where they stop all vehicles, including military ones.

Vak Vaiphei, a Kuki leader in the tribal-controlled Kangvai village, said when military personnel try to take over their bunkers, women surround them and push them out.

Nearby, a Kuki woman, wearing a black T-shirt, camouflage trousers and holding a double-barrelled gun, said she felt safer taking up arms against the Meiteis.

"I will be scared if I sit at home," Lamnu Haokip, 23, said. "But now I'm here, so I can shoot them."

(Reporting by Krishn Kaushik in Manipur; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
a shot of the moon from lunar orbit, with a spacecraft's golden solar array slanting across the moon's face in the foreground

India's Chandrayaan-3 lunar lander has returned its first images from the moon after entering orbit around our nearest neighbor.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) released the images on Sunday (Aug. 6), showing that the spacecraft had reached its destination ahead of a lunar landing attempt expected on Aug. 23.

Chandrayaan-3 launched on July 14, heading into an initial highly elliptical Earth orbit. It then gradually raised its orbit before making a burn on July 31 that set it on course for the moon. The spacecraft successfully entered orbit around our natural satellite on Saturday (Aug. 5), according to ISRO .

Related: Chandrayaan-3: A guide to India's third mission to the moon

a shot of the moon from lunar orbit, with a spacecraft's golden solar array slanting across the moon's face in the foreground

The spacecraft will conduct further engine burns to bring it into a circular track about 60 miles (100 kilometers) above the surface of the moon a week ahead of the expected landing attempt.

The newly released images, which ISRO stitched into a 45-second video, show the solar arrays of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft in the foreground. The moon, with features including large impact craters and lunar mare, or seas, is in the background.

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The 6-billion-rupee (roughly $73 million) Chandrayaan-3 mission aims to make a precise landing in the vicinity of the moon's south pole. If it's successful, India will join the United States, the former Soviet Union and China as the only nations to perform a soft lunar landing.

The mission's lander, known as Vikram, also carries a small rover called Pragyan. The pair will spend the best part of a lunar day (about 14 Earth days) conducting surface operations and experiments before succumbing to the deep cold of the lunar nighttime.
Myanmar's civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi was deposed in a military coup two years ago and is currently serving a lengthy jail sentence (Sai Aung Main)

Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Tuesday said a resolution to the Myanmar crisis that has dragged into its third year needed "political will" from all sides of the conflict, as divided Southeast Asian nations step up diplomatic efforts.

The country has been ravaged by violence in the two years since civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi was deposed in a coup and hit with 19 criminal cases ranging from corruption to breaching Covid-19 rules.

"We are aware the situation in Myanmar is still full of challenges. We must also realise this situation can only be resolved if there is political will from all parties," he told an anniversary event for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The Indonesian leader told foreign dignitaries the 10-member bloc, which includes Myanmar, must continue to work together to find a breakthrough to the crisis.

"ASEAN, as a big ship, must move forward. This big ship must continue to sail," he said.

"This big ship cannot sink because this is our responsibility to hundreds of millions of people inside."

Indonesia is this year's chair of the ASEAN bloc and will host a leaders' summit in September. Jakarta has engaged in what it calls "quiet diplomacy" with the Myanmar junta in a bid to bring it back to the negotiating table.

Widodo said the bloc's efforts to solve the crisis would continue along the lines of a five-point deal agreed with Myanmar's junta two years ago.

But the junta has largely ignored that agreement, which aims to end violence and resume talks between the military and the anti-coup movement.

ASEAN has been divided over how to engage with junta since the 2021 coup and has barred it from high-level summits over a lack of action on the five-point agreement.

Thailand has taken a separate track to ASEAN efforts, hosting "informal talks" with the junta's foreign minister.

Bangkok's top diplomat also said last month that he met with deposed democracy leader Suu Kyi and said she was in good health.

The junta has since granted the 78-year-old a partial pardon, reducing her 33-year sentence by six years.

mrc-jfx/mtp
Zoom is asking employees to spend more time at the office.

If managers were waiting for a sign that it was the right time to call employees back to the office, they couldnt hope for one any clearer than the announcement that Zoom, whose videoconferencing technology made remote work possible for millions during the coronavirus pandemic, was limiting its own work-from-home policies.

The remote-work revolution is officially dead, declared Business Insider.

According to Forbes, about 13% of the full-time American workforce is fully remote; another 28% workers are hybrid, meaning that they work some days from the office and some from home.

But those figures could change in the coming weeks. Elected officials, corporate executives and civic leaders say that its time to curb a practice that was convenient during the early days of the pandemic but that has outlived its usefulness.

Read more on Yahoo News: The remote-work culture wars are far from over

New findings on productivity

Many workers enjoy the comforts of remote work.

When remote work was first introduced in the spring of 2020, it was a matter of necessity, not convenience, since most of the country was under strict lockdown orders.

At first, managers were pleasantly surprised to find productivity increasing. Workers no longer had to brave lengthy commutes or engage in chit-chat with colleagues who wanted to share their vacation photos.

Now, however, most evidence is pointing in the other direction. Remote workers may be becoming more disconnected and therefore less productive. Fully remote workers who have no contact with their colleagues could be 20% less productive than their peers, according to one study.

Corporate executives also say that creativity has suffered, and that younger workers are missing out on mentorship opportunities.

Its time to admit that remote work doesnt work, says Silicon Valley technology investor David Sacks.

Read more on Yahoo News: The coming culture war over returning to the office

The end of an era for Zoom

Zoom is bucking a trend it helped to pioneer.

Zoom was hardly the only platform white-collar workers used to stay in touch and collaborate during the pandemic, but it came to symbolize  arguably more than any other company  how work was transformed by COVID-19.

Even Zoom happy hours were a thing, however briefly. A local official in Northern California attained notoriety by throwing his cat during a Zoom meeting.

But those days seem to be over. Last week, Zoom said that its own employees needed to come back to the office, at least part of the time.

We believe that a structured hybrid approach  meaning employees that live near an office need to be on-site two days a week to interact with their teams  is most effective for Zoom, a spokesperson said.

Read more on Yahoo News: Study finds remote work and hybrid schedules might increase stress in U.S. workers, via Deseret News

White House tells government workers to return

The FBI building, during afternoon hours, in Washington, D.C., on March 26. (Tom Brenner/Reuters)

Zoom is not alone in asking workers to come back to the office. The nations largest employer, the federal government, is also signaling a shift in its approach to remote work.

For nearly two years, the Biden administration has been generous in allowing federal agencies to allow their employees as much latitude as they wanted regarding where they work. That position frustrated local officials in Washington, D.C., who grew increasingly frustrated with how empty the city had become.

In recent months, however, the Biden administration has taken a tough approach to work-from-home policies. In April, its Office of Management and Budget director, Shalanda Young, said in a memo that agency leaders needed to plan to spend more time in the office.

Earlier this month, a government report found that billions of dollars were being wasted on barely used government offices.

Several days later, Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire former New York City mayor and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, wrote in a widely shared guest essay in the Washington Post that it was time for federal workers to return to the office.

Remote work by civil servants is especially troubling because the federal government is a monopoly supplier, Bloomberg wrote. In the private sector, if remote workers do a poor job, business suffers, and customers take their spending elsewhere. In the public sector, people just have to put up with poor service.

The publication of Bloombergs message coincided with a memo from the White House chief of staff, Jeff Zients, that told agency heads that they needed to bring government workers back into the office.

This is a priority of the President  and I am looking to each of you to aggressively execute this shift in September and October, Zients wrote.

Read more on Yahoo News: Americans are paying billions for empty government offices
Smoke billows as Israeli soldiers demolish a house at the Askar camp for Palestinian refugees east of Nablus city in the occupied West Bank (Jaafar ASHTIYEH)

Israel's army said Tuesday it demolished the home of a Palestinian accused of killing a soldier and his brother in the occupied West Bank, which has seen months of violence.

Clashes occurred during the overnight incursion to destroy the residence of Abdel Fatah Khroushah in the Askar camp for Palestinian refugees, in the northern city of Nablus, the military said.

The army said "explosive devices were hurled, and live fire was shot at the forces, who responded with riot dispersal means."

Witnesses told an AFP journalist that soldiers had clashed with Palestinians, some of them armed, as they entered the city.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said six Palestinians were wounded, including one by live ammunition.

The medical organisation said Israeli forces directly targeted one of its ambulances with rubber bullets and tear gas.

The army had accused Khroushah of shooting dead two Israeli settlers -- Halel Menachem Yaniv and his brother Yagel Yaakov Yaniv -- in February as they drove through the West Bank town of Huwara.

Israeli forces killed Khroushah, 49, during a raid the following month.

After the military blew up his residence, smoke billowed across the densely populated neighbourhood and neighbours inspected the damage.

"This is a brutal and barbaric act. They destroyed the house completely," said Ramzeyah Mustafa Khroushah, the wife of Khroushah, who lived at the family's third-floor home with two daughters.

"We are now looking for a place to live," she told AFP, adding her three sons had been arrested by the army the day her husband was killed.

- 'Escalate the resistance' -

Israel regularly demolishes the homes of Palestinians it accuses of deadly attacks on Israelis, arguing such measures act as a deterrent.

Human rights activists say the policy amounts to collective punishment, as it can render non-combatants, including children, homeless.

Palestinian militant group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, said such measures had proved to be a "failure" in the past.

They would instead "push our people in the West Bank and Jerusalem to escalate the resistance", the group said in a statement.

Since early last year, deadly violence has rocked the northern West Bank, a stronghold of Palestinian armed groups where Israel has stepped up military raids often in crowded neighbourhoods.

The area has seen a spate of attacks on Israelis as well as attacks by Jewish settlers on Palestinian communities.

Violence this year linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has killed at least 212 Palestinians, 28 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.

Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967.

Excluding annexed east Jerusalem, the territory is home to nearly three million Palestinians and around 490,000 Israelis who live in settlements considered illegal under international law.

str-gb-he-jd/dv
JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel threatened on Tuesday to "return Lebanon to the stone age" in any war against Hezbollah, following weeks of friction with the armed Iranian-backed group along the countries' border.

"Do not make a mistake. We do not want a war. But we are prepared to protect our civilians, our soldiers and our sovereignty," Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said in a statement, his remarks intended for Hezbollah.

Such rhetoric has been heard from both sides since the last Israel-Hezbollah war, in 2006. But it has become more pointed since a roadside bombing in Israel in March, which it blamed on an Hezbollah infiltrator.

The group did not claim responsibility for the bombing.

Recent weeks have seen face-offs between Lebanese civilians, at least one group of Hezbollah operatives and Israeli troops across the fortified frontier.

(Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Gareth Jones)
FILE PHOTO: Girls walk on the outskirts of the Bedouin city of Rahat

Israeli finance minister suspends funds to Arab towns, East Jerusalem FILE PHOTO: Girls walk on the outskirts of the Bedouin city of Rahat

By Henriette Chacar and Maayan Lubell

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has frozen funds for Arab towns and Palestinian education programmes in East Jerusalem, citing crime and safety fears and prompting accusations of racism.

Smotrich, a key member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's nationalist-religious government, said on Monday some of the budget funds meant for Arab local councils were a political pay-off by the previous cabinet that could end up in the hands of "criminals and terrorists".

"The priorities of our national government... are different from those of the previous leftist government and we should not apologise for that," said Smotrich, head of the pro-settler Religious Zionism party whose past comments about the Palestinians have drawn international condemnation.

Israel's public broadcaster Kan first reported the freeze on Sunday when it published a letter from Interior Minister Moshe Arbel to Smotrich, urging him to release 200 million shekels ($54 million) of the funds at stake that are intended for administration and another 100 million for economic development.

Lawmaker Mansour Abbas who heads the United Arab List accused Smotrich of racism.

"Arab citizens are entitled to those funds, which were meant to close the gaps between Arab and Jewish communities," he told Reuters.

Arab citizens, most of whom are descendants of Palestinians who stayed in the new Israeli state after the 1948 war surrounding its creation, make up about a fifth of Israel's population.

Netanyahu's office did not respond to a request for comment, while opposition leader and former prime minister Yair Lapid also accused Smotrich of racism, "abusing Arab citizens simply because they are Arab".

Israel's Arab minority has for decades faced social and economic disparities compared with Jewish citizens, including high poverty rates, overcrowded towns lacking in infrastructure and poorly-funded schools.

The extra funds, designated in 2022 for 67 Arab councils, were the state's acknowledgement of years of insufficient resource allocation to Arab localities, said Ameer Bisharat, head of the National Committee of Arab Local Councils in Israel.

The freeze could mean that councils are unable to provide basic services such as garbage collection or reopening schools after the summer holiday, he said.

'HATRED AND RACISM'

Smotrich said a separate 200 million shekels for encouraging academic studies among Palestinians from East Jerusalem would also be frozen until what he described as "extremist Islamic activity" on campus was eradicated.

In May, the government extended a 2018 2.1 billion shekel five-year plan meant to improve education, employment, health and infrastructure in East Jerusalem, which Israel captured in a 1967 war and annexed in a move unrecognised internationally.

It includes programmes to help Palestinians - who make up almost 40% of Jerusalem's population, with almost two thirds below the poverty line - integrate into Israeli academic institutions.

Smotrich said the new East Jerusalem plan would have a total increased budget but that although encouraging academic studies among the city's Palestinians was a worthy cause, this also had unwelcome consequences.

"In recent years, radical Islamic cells have developed in Israeli universities and colleges, over and over again they express solidarity with Israel's enemies," he said on Facebook, responding to Kan's report.

It was unclear on what data or research Smotrich had based his radicalisation claim, though he cited pro-Palestinian student protests during the 2021 Israel-Gaza war. The academic institutions involved rejected his claim.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, along with three other institutions, expressed shock at Smotrich's funding decision, which will affect hundreds of Palestinian students, and urged Netanyahu not to let "voices that promote hatred and racism" prevail.

Security chiefs have made clear that Smotrich's decision will be counterproductive, the university added.

(Reporting by Henriette Chacar and Maayan Lubell; Editing by James Mackenzie and Gareth Jones)
ROME  As Italy gets down to work with Japan on the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) with the aim of building a new sixth-generation fighter by 2035, it has boosted defense ties with Tokyo by dispatching F-35s for a first-ever training exercise in Japan.

Four Italian Air Force F-35As arrived at Komatsu air base in Japan on Friday ahead the exercise, which launched on Monday, after flying from Italy with stops in Qatar, the Maldives and Singapore, where the aircraft were held up for two days by a typhoon.

The F-35s were joined by three Italian KC-767A tanker-transport aircraft, a G-550 early warning jet and two C-130J aircraft in sea search-and-rescue configuration.

Japan is using four F-15s and a KC-767 in the joint training exercise.

The get-together follows a meeting held in Japan in March between the defense ministers of Japan, Italy and the U.K. to confirm the three nations partnership on GCAP, an evolution of the U.K.-led Tempest program.

The training exercise with Japan is the latest air force tie-up between Rome and Tokyo. Japanese pilots have been training since 2021 at Italys flight training school, which is now based at Decimomannu on the Italian island of Sardinia.

Italy and Japan have both opened final assembly and checkout lines for F-35s they are ordering.

In November 2022, Japanese KC-767 pilots and technicians visited Italy to meet Italian air force counterparts to discuss flying the tanker.

Speaking at the GCAP meeting in Japan in March, Italian defense minister Guido Crosetto said, Once, the Indo-Pacific area and the Mediterranean were considered far from each other. Today, however, the world has got smaller, crises are growing and the situation will probably worsen this decade.

He added, The future of the Mediterranean will depend on what happens in the Indo-Pacific area and vice versa. That is why our nations must work together.

Editors note: This story was updated on Aug. 8 to change the number of Italian F-35s involved in the exercise from three to four, per information from the Italian Air Force.
Italy has suspended the Investor Visa program for Russian and Belarusian citizens, the country's Business Ministry announced on its website.

The Italian magazine Altreconomia reported on Aug. 8 that the Italian government made the decision in mid-July, more than a year after the European Commission recommended this measure after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Altreconomia said that the Italian authorities issued at least 32 Russian citizens with two-year "investor" visas out of 36 applications, based on data provided by the business ministry.

This means that the "golden visas" issued to Russian citizens outnumbered those awarded to the U.S. (12) and the U.K. (12) nationals, the outlet commented.

The data obtained by Altreconomia did not reveal the number of "investor visas" issued for Belarusians and Russians in 2023.

The European Commission called on the EU members in March 2022 to suspend their investor visa programs for Russian and Belarusian nationals.

"Some Russian or Belarusian nationals who are subject to sanctions or are significantly supporting the war in Ukraine might have acquired EU citizenship or privileged access to the EU, including to travel freely in the Schengen area, under these schemes," the European Commission said.

Read also: NYT: Russian oligarchs enjoy luxury life in UK under sanctions exemptions

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
United States Special Counsel Jack Smith is having the summer of a lifetime. In June, he indicted Donald Trump on four criminal counts in connection with the trove of documents improperly stored at the former president's Mar-a-Lago resort. Then, in August, he dropped another bevy of federal charges, including conspiracy to defraud the U.S., in regard to Trump's alleged attempts to overturn his loss in the last presidential election.

The historic development marks the first time a former president has been hit with one federal indictment, let alone two, and Smith, with his reputation as an "aggressive prosecutor known for trying high-stakes, politically explosive cases," per The Wall Street Journal, appears up for the challenge. "I intend to conduct the assigned investigations, and any prosecutions that may result from them, independently and in the best traditions of the Department of Justice," he said in a statement when first appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland last year. "The pace of the investigations will not pause or flag under my watch. I will exercise independent judgment and will move the investigations forward expeditiously and thoroughly to whatever outcome the facts and the law dictate."

"He is fearless"

Smith, 54, was born in June 1969 and grew up in a suburb of Syracuse, New York. After graduating from the State University of New York at Oneonta in 1991, he earned his Juris Doctor at Harvard Law School and later began working as a prosecutor in the Manhattan DA's office. In 1999, he switched to a similar role at the U.S. Attorney's Office in Brooklyn, where he was involved in the prosecution of Ronnell Wilson, a gang leader who murdered two undercover NYPD officers, as well as that of Charles Schwarz, one of multiple former city officers implicated in an assault case against a jailed Black inmate.

In 2008, he moved to The Hague, Netherlands, to work at the International Criminal Court before coming back to the Justice Department to lead its Public Integrity Section from 2010 and 2015. At the DOJ, he oversaw "high-profile cases that often targeted elected officials" like Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, who was investigated for "alleged campaign finance violations aimed at hiding an extramarital affair," per ABC News; the case was later dropped. By 2018, Smith had returned to The Hague, before Garland tapped him to serve as special counsel in the investigations against the former president.

Greg Andres, one of Smith's former colleagues, described the veteran prosecutor as "independent, thoughtful" and "deliberate," Andres told ABC News. "He's going to do what's right and he has a tremendous amount of experience." Not only that, but "he is fearless," added attorney Mark Lesko, who worked with Smith at the U.S. Attorney's Office in New York, per Reuters. "If the case is prosecutable, he will do it." Others have characterized him as the "consummate prosecutor and public servant," said former federal prosecutor James McGovern, who is "not interested in prosecuting somebody for the point of prosecuting," added ex-DOJ colleague Brian Kidd. "If it moves to that next level, it's because the facts are there and he believes a crime was committed."

It would seem Smith views himself and his industry with similar regard. "If I were the sort of person who could be cowed," he said back in 2010, "I would find another line of work."

The Trump indictments

Smith will "exercise independent prosecutorial judgment to decide whether charges should be brought," Garland said when announcing the special counsel's appointment last November, a decision he reportedly made on account of Smith's trademark autonomy and work ethic.

Despite the high-profile nature of both Trump investigations, Smith has "cut an elusive figure since his appointment" and "kept a profile so low" that a "recent sighting of him emerging from a Subway with lunch was news in the Justice Department headquarters across town," The New York Times wrote in June. Even at a "high-stakes meeting" with Trump's lawyers that month, Smith was said to have sat back and allowed his underlings to take charge. The former president, meanwhile, has (unsurprisingly) grabbed the mic, attacking Smith as "deranged" and alleging that the investigation is intended to hurt his chances of winning the Republican nomination in 2024, The Wall Street Journal noted.

"Deranged Jack Smith is going before his number one draft pick, the Judge of his "dreams" (WHO MUST BE RECUSED!), in an attempt to take away my FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS," the former president wrote on Truth Social on Monday, referring to both Smith and Tanya Chutkan, the judge assigned to oversee proceedings in the election case. "This, despite the fact that he, the DOJ, and his many Thug prosecutors, are illegally leaking, everything and anything, to the Fake News Media!!!"

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Jada Pinkett Smith at the 2022 Oscars. ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images

Jada Pinkett Smith has alopecia, as she first publicly shared in 2018.

On Monday, Pinkett Smith shared in an Instagram post that her hair was making a comeback.

She previously said on "Red Table Talk" that it was "terrifying" when her hair first started falling out.

Jada Pinkett Smith shared an update on her alopecia diagnosis.

On Monday, Pinkett Smith, 51, posted two selfies in an Instagram carousel. In the first shot, her head appears nearly bald, while in the second, she has a pixie cut.

In the caption, Pinkett Smith said the first photo was taken in the past, while the second was from the present, indicating her hair has been growing back.

"This here hair is act'n like it's try'n a make a come back," she captioned the post. "Still have some trouble spots but  we'll see."

Pinkett Smith first opened up about her alopecia diagnosis in 2018 on her show "Red Table Talk," saying she was "terrified" when her hair first started falling out.

"It was terrifying when it first started," she said at the time. "You know, I was in the shower one day, and then just handfuls of hair just in my hands. I was like, 'Oh my God, am I going bald?'"

Pinkett Smith's feelings towards her hair also became a topic of conversation after the 2022 Oscars, when her husband Will Smith slapped Chris Rock after he made a joke about Pinkett Smith's shaved head while presenting an award.

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith. Jae C. Hong/AP Images

In an apology he posted on Instagram in March 2022, Smith said, "Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada's medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally."

Smith, who was named best actor for "King Richard" shortly after hitting Rock, was banned from attending the Oscars for 10 years after the incident.

Pinkett Smith didn't specify what's helped with the hair growth in Monday's post, though People reported in 2018 that she said she was receiving steroid injections to treat her hair loss in an Instagram post, which has since been deleted.

According to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, corticosteroid injections in bare patches of skin are the most common treatment for alopecia. As Insider previously reported, the injections can help new hair grow, though the treatment does not prevent new hair loss from developing. There is currently no cure for alopecia.



Read the original article on Insider
Japan's Former Prime Minister and current Vice-Presidentof the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Taro Aso, speaks during the Ketagalan Forum in Taipei

By Sakura Murakami and Satoshi Sugiyama

(Reuters) -Former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso said on Tuesday that a tougher security environment in the Taiwan Strait means Japan, the United States and others need to show strong resolve to come to Taiwan's defence if it were attacked.

"The most important thing now is to make sure that war doesn't break out in the Taiwan Strait," Aso, vice president of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said in a speech in Taipei during a three-day visit to Taiwan.

"I believe that now is the time for Japan, Taiwan, the United States and other like-minded countries to be prepared to put into action very strong deterrence," he said in remarks streamed online. "It's the resolve to fight."

He added that clearly showing the will to defend Taiwan was a form of deterrence. He did not specify China as the aggressor, but said it was crucial for Japan, as a neighbour of Taiwan, and other countries that are upholding international order, to send the message to China and the rest of the international community.

Aso is the most senior Japanese political official to visit Taiwan since 1972.

China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has never ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its control. Taiwan's government strongly rejects China's sovereignty claims.

Speaking before Aso at the same forum, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said her government was committed to improving its defences and did not take the backing of its security partners for granted.

"While we don't seek military confrontation and hope for a peaceful, stable and beneficial coexistence with our neighbours, Taiwan is always ready to defend our democracy and way of life," she said.

Tensions over Taiwan have contributed to a decision by close U.S. ally Japan to boost its defence spending.

In 2021, Aso, then deputy prime minister, called any invasion of Taiwan by China a "threat to Japan's survival" and said Japan and the U.S. would defend Taiwan together should such an incident happen.

Those comments angered China, which said the remarks "harmed the political foundation of China-Japan relations."

Aso meet Tsai on Tuesday afternoon at the presidential office, where he told her about the popularity of Taiwanese comic books in Japan.

Tsai thanked Aso for the "encouragement" in his morning speech.

(Reporting by Sakura Murakami, Satoshi Sugiyama, Kantaro Komiya in TOKYO; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim and Gerry Doyle)
A letter from then-Vice President Joe Biden to Hunter Biden's former friend and business partner, Devon Archer, underscores his closeness to his son's business activities.

In a widely discussed 2011 letter, which Fox News Digital has also obtained, Biden thanked Archer for attending an event where he hosted then-Chinese President Hu Jintao.

"I apologize for not getting a chance to talk to you at the luncheon yesterday," Biden wrote to Archer. "I was having trouble getting away from hosting President Hu. I hope I get a chance to see you again soon with Hunter. I hope you enjoyed the lunch. Thanks for coming."

Biden then included a handwritten note: "Happy you guys are together."

HUNTER BIDEN'S LONGTIME BUSINESS PARTNER VISITED OBAMA WH, VP RESIDENCE MORE THAN PREVIOUSLY KNOWN

Fox News has obtained a 2011 letter from then-VP Biden to Devon Archer, thanking him for attending a luncheon at the State Department hosting then-Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Hunter was also at the State Department luncheon that Archer attended, and Fox News Digital previously reported that Hunter used that event as a networking opportunity to help one of his firm's clients secure an event at the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan said the letter's content further demonstrates how Biden had knowledge of and "connections" with his son's dealings.

"Remember, two and a half years ago, we had a former business partner, [Tony] Bobulinski, say that the email from the laptop  said '10% for the big guy,'" Jordan told Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum last Thursday.

"He says, 'the big guy is Joe Biden.' We have the piece of evidence you just talked about there  this note from 2011. We have the WhatsApp messages."

Biden and his White House aides have frequently maintained that the president has never discussed business dealings with his son, despite evidence suggesting otherwise.

The House Ways and Means Committee released testimony in June from two IRS whistleblowers who said Justice Department, FBI and IRS officials interfered with the investigation into Hunter Biden and that prosecutorial decisions were "influenced by politics."

BIDEN'S NARRATIVE ON NEVER DISCUSSING BUSINESS DEALS WITH HUNTER CONTINUES TO CRUMBLE

Joe Biden, Hunter Biden and Devon Archer

One of the whistleblowers, IRS Criminal Supervisory Special Agent Gary Shapley, said Hunter Biden invoked his father to pressure a Chinese business partner while discussing deals. Shapley oversaw the IRS probe into the president's son and said the agency obtained a July 2017 WhatsApp message from Hunter to Harvest Fund Management CEO Henry Zhao in which Hunter alleged that he was with his father in order to pressure Zhao to satisfy a pledge.

"I am sitting here with my father, and we would like to understand why the commitment made has not been fulfilled," Hunter wrote in the WhatsApp message to Zhao, according to the documents. "Tell the director that I would like to resolve this now before it gets out of hand, and now means tonight."

"And, Z, if I get a call or text from anyone involved in this other than you, Zhang or the chairman, I will make certain that between the man sitting next to me and every person he knows and my ability to forever hold a grudge that you will regret not following my direction," Hunter said.

Top House Republicans have described the WhatsApp messages as a "shakedown" by the Biden family. Photos from Hunter Biden's laptop show he was at the then-vice president's home in Delaware at the same time as the messages, Fox News Digital reported previously reported.

OBAMA-ERA EMAILS REVEAL HUNTER'S EXTENSIVE TIES TO NEARLY A DOZEN SENIOR-LEVEL BIDEN ADMIN AIDES

Biden has maintained he has not discussed business dealings with his son.

The whistleblower testimony came to light almost a year after reports surfaced on an alleged voicemail from President Biden to Hunter in which he purportedly discussed his son's international business dealings.

"Hey, pal, it's Dad. It's 8:15 on Wednesday night. If you have a chance, give me a call. Nothing urgent  I just wanted to talk with you," Biden is heard saying in a voicemail from 2018. "I thought the article released online, it's going to be printed tomorrow in the Times, was good. I think you're clear."

The article Biden was referring to in the voicemail was published by the New York Times in December 2018 and documented a private meeting between the chairman of a now-defunct Chinese energy company, CEFC, and Hunter Biden at a Miami hotel in May 2017.

Fox News Digital reported Monday that Hunter's former friend and longtime business partner, Eric Schwerin, visited the Obama White House and then-Vice President Biden's residence at least 36 times during the Obama administration, including at least 15 receptions at Biden's residence and a one-on-one meeting with Biden in 2010.

And last week, Archer confirmed that then-Vice President Biden was at the infamous spring 2015 dinner with son Hunter's foreign business associates, despite the Biden campaign repeatedly saying Biden was never there.

Congressional investigators had asked Archer about the dinner mentioned in a 2020 New York Post report, which occurred at Washington, D.C.'s, upscale restaurant Cafe Milano in 2015. The story revolved around an April 2015 email from Burisma board adviser Vadym Pozharskyi, who had written to Hunter Biden the day after the dinner to thank him for inviting him to the nation's capital and allowing him to meet his father and spend "some time together."

President Biden and Hunter Biden

Hunter had served on Burisma's board and reportedly collected more than $50,000 per month.

According to the transcript, the investigators asked Archer who attended that spring 2015 dinner.

"That dinner was  I think we went over it before, but it was Vadym, Hunter, Joe, myself, Karim Massimov, a Greek Orthodox priest, maybe someone from World Food Programme," Archer said.

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"And what did Joe do at that dinner? Did he have dinner? How long was he there?" the congressional investigator asked Archer.

"He had dinner," Archer responded. "And there was  on that one, I believe the first one was, like, a birthday dinner, and then the second was  I think we were supposed to talk about the World Food Programme. So, there was some talk about that."

The White House did not respond to multiple past Fox News Digital requests for comment on Biden and their repeated insistence that he did not discuss business deals with Hunter as the narrative has come into question.
Former Watergate figure John Dean on Monday spelled out the significance of potential testimony against Donald Trump by Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, who some people speculate may have become a cooperating witness against the former president.

It would be as important as mine was during Watergate, Dean told CNN on Monday. It would actually be more important, because he was at the scene of so many of the activities that occurred that are now causing Trump the problems hes got.

Dean was White House counsel to President Richard Nixon. He eventually turned on the then-president to cooperate with prosecutors, for which he was nicknamed the Watergate master manipulator.

Meadows was part of Trumps inner circle during the aftermath of the 2020 election, when the then-president attempted to overturn his loss to President Joe Biden. Trump was indicted last week on four federal charges related to the election plot.

Meadows would be a remarkable star witness if hes cooperating, said Dean.

And hes got an attorney who could guide him that way. I dont know if hed do a plea deal, or how hed work it out, but hed be a powerful witness and Trump would be in deep problems, he added.

Watch the video here:

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A Johnson County judge appeared skeptical Tuesday that a Kansas law imposing a 24-hour waiting period on women seeking abortions in Kansas would stand up to standards established by the states constitutional right to an abortion.

Judge Christopher Jayaram, who was appointed by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly in 2021, heard arguments from attorneys representing Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach and a pair of Kansas abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood. Tuesdays hearing focused on the providers effort to block enforcement of the Womens Right to Know Act while their lawsuit seeking the total overturning of the law moves through court.

The case will play a key role in determining the bounds of Kansas abortion law in the post-Roe era. Kansas has established itself as a key access point for abortion since voters last year overwhelmingly voted to retain the state-level right to an abortion.

The state constitution places an extremely high bar on any abortion restrictions requiring evidence that the restrictions are narrowly designed to serve a compelling state interest.

The results of the case could send a signal to lawmakers about how far they can go in regulating and restricting the procedure beyond rules applied to other medical care.

The challenged law requires physicians to listen to the fetus heartbeat 30 minutes prior to an abortion. The policy requires providers to, without evidence, post information in their clinics and websites that abortions could increase their risk of breast cancer and premature birth in future pregnancies. Clinics must also provide information about pregnancy resources and fetal development. A packet of information must be provided 24 hours before an abortion in specific fonts and colors.

Portions of the law were first enacted in 1997. Lawmakers have amended the law several times since, most recently adding a policy this year requiring providers to tell patients a medication abortion may be reversible, though the science is unproven.

Attorneys representing two Kansas abortion providers challenged the law in June, arguing it violates the states constitutional right to an abortion by overburdening providers and patients in a way that limited access to the procedure. Furthermore, they argue it violates a providers first amendment rights by forcing them to tell patients things they dont personally believe.

Alice Wong, an attorney for the Center for Reproductive Rights representing the abortion clinics, said in court that infringement has become more pronounced as a flood of patients come to Kansas from Texas, Missouri, Oklahoma and other states that have banned or severely restricted abortion in the past year.

Every day the act remains in effect, it denies plaintiffs and their patients constitutional rights, she said.

Kobach, a Republican, hired the Alliance Defending Freedom to represent Kansas in the case. The right-wing firm played a key role in the overturning of Roe v. Wade last year.

Denise Harle, an attorney for the firm, argued the law did not infringe upon a womans right to an abortion and therefore should be evaluated on a lower legal bar offered to medical regulations. Furthermore, Harle pushed against a temporary injunction arguing providers had successfully complied with the law for more than two decades.

Harle said the 2019 decision outlined that a law that made abortion more difficult did not necessarily infringe access. She said the law must make abortion dangerous or inaccessible, which this law does not.

Its not a right to unregulated abortion, Harle said. Arguing that the policy actually enhanced that right by providing patients with the information needed to make a decision.

While questioning attorneys on both sides, Jayaram seemed skeptical of Kobachs office. Though Harle suggested the case should be evaluated on a lower standard applied to medical regulations, Jayaram said the 2019 ruling establishing a state-level right to an abortion was crystal clear that he must evaluate the case using the highest legal bar.

At one point, Jayaram reminded attorneys that his background included extensive work in medical malpractice law in Kansas, granting him a high familiarity with informed consent laws.

Im struggling to see why were singling out one specific provider type, Jayaram said. And how that makes consent any more informed.

Despite Jayarams questioning in court Kobach issued a statement after the hearing that he was confident that the court will uphold this common-sense statute.

Before he can rule on whether the law itself violates the constitution, Jayaram must first act on the request to block the law pending litigation.

Harle argued the inaction of abortion providers over the decades parts of this law have been in effect indicated the law was not overly burdensome or unconstitutional.

Theyre saying that these other circumstances, external factors suddenly make this law that theyve never had an issue with unconstitutional just because other people in other states are making decisions and thats not how unconstitutionality works, Harle told reporters after the hearing.

Wang, the attorney for the abortion providers, said her clients were spurred to action by the new abortion pill reversal provision of the law because it is a bridge too far. In June, the Kansas attorney general agreed that the state will not enforce that piece of the law until after Jarayram rules on the temporary injunction.

Furthermore, in the post-roe landscape, Wang said providers have had more issues turning patients away because they did not print state mandated information in the proper format prior to arriving.

For many of our patients right now what it means is we say, sorry, youve got to go home. But we often dont have other appointments on the calendar to put them, Emily Wales, CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains told reporters. We also often tell people youve got to go home to Texas.
[Source]

Nine former employees of a Jollibee branch in New Jersey organized a protest against the fast food restaurants alleged illegal firings after they advocated for higher wages.

#Justice4JollibeeWorkers: The ex-employees launched the #Justice4JollibeeWorkers campaign to fight for the rights of Jollibee workers on July 6, which is National Fried Chicken Day in the U.S.

With a crowd of more than 50 supporters, the group marched into Jollibees branch at Journal Square in Jersey City to demand reinstatement, back pay and a public apology from the Jollibee Food Corporation (JFC).

We do our jobs right, and we received this  getting laid off because we want a better workplace, holiday pay, and a $3 wage increase to support ourselves and our families, former employee Keyser Garganera told Asian Journal.

More from NextShark: Son of fatal Fremont hit-and-run victim pleads for information leading to driver

Along with the support of community group Pilipinos Organizing for Worker Empowerment and Rights, the ex-employees demanded a wage increase from $14 to $17 an hour. Vincent Cruz, a 19-year-old former fry cook, also encouraged his former colleagues to be brave and take action. Cruz claimed that the Jollibee branch hired 13 new employees two weeks after firing him and eight other workers.

SHAME ON JOLLIBEE! Jollibee workers who were illegally terminated for organizing for higher wages at Journal Square marched into the restaurant to deliver a letter of demands. Instead of hearing their demands, management collaborated with NJPD to kick them out of the restaurant. pic.twitter.com/DHz5yALHmi More from NextShark: Drunk Man Has a Racist Meltdown Over Asian Family at California Restaurant  Justice for Jollibee Workers (@JollibeeWorkers) July 8, 2023

Alleged unfair labor practices: In July, the ex-employees filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), accusing the restaurant of unfair labor practices and unlawful termination on Feb. 20 as retaliation for organizing efforts.

More from NextShark: Asian Restaurant Locks in Teens Allegedly Trying to Dine and Dash

Hopefully, the NLRB will be sympathetic. To us its a very slam-dunk case  its obvious that Jollibee violated labor rights, Jackie Mariano, a lawyer with the advocacy group Mission to End Modern Slavery, told Al Jazeera.

Mariano said Jollibee practices misclassification, where workers hold part-time status despite working close to full-time shifts. According to Mariano, the practice allows the company to avoid granting benefits to staff, including full-time wages and paid leave.

Its Jollibees motive to maintain high profits by cutting labor costs, Mariano added. Thats where they got all that capital, from unpaid benefits. It also relies on the labor export program of the Philippines with 4 million Filipinos in the U.S. comprising the companys market base.

More from NextShark: Chinese-American Virologist Who Helped Identify the Cause of AIDS Dies at Age 73

The power of the people is on our side. The former Jollibee workers were greeted outside by 50+ supporters to amplify their message and make sure that the management and the public knew of their demands.#Justice4JollibeeWorkers pic.twitter.com/YOnfx5sapS  Justice for Jollibee Workers (@JollibeeWorkers) July 8, 2023

Jollibees response: Jollibee North America refuted the former employees claims, saying that the Journal Square branch had terminated the workers due to financial issues.

The Jollibee Journal Square store in the US implemented a workforce reduction that unfortunately affected nine store crew members who were selected on a last-in first-out basis of hiring, Jollibee said in a statement to CNN. The action was due to financial circumstances specific to this store and not related to other claims being circulated online.

New Jersey law: Under New Jersey law, all employment is considered at-will, meaning an employer can terminate an employee at any time without cause. However, workers are still protected from at-will termination if the reason is based on discrimination or for retaliatory purposes.

Jollibee has long been accused of depriving employees of job security and benefits, according to Al Jazeera. In the Philippines, JFC topped the list of companies with the most contractual employees in 2018. The #Justice4JollibeeWorkers campaign members, who are waiting on the outcome of NLRBs investigation, claim that there have been several cases of mistreatment, misclassification, casualization and chronic understaffing in Jollibee branches all over the world.

Our demands are clear, @Jollibee. The illegally terminated Journal Square workers demand:

1 Reinstatement

2 Back pay

3 Apology#Justice4JollibeeWorkers pic.twitter.com/6IDU5iEL0U  Justice for Jollibee Workers (@JollibeeWorkers) July 16, 2023
Documents show what prosecutors and the judge should have known when a man who shot two police officers was arrested in March after he was accused of raping a 14-year-old girl.

9 Investigates has been looking into how Daton Viel, 28, bonded out after that arrest.

He was on state probation from charges in Georgia.

Documents show in 2022, Viel plead guilty to a list of charges. He was put on probation and in March of 2022, the probation was moved from Georgia to the state of Florida.

Read: Daton Viel: What we know about man accused of shooting 2 Orlando police officers

That means he was on probation when he allegedly raped a 14-year-old girl and a year before he faced the judge to bond out on those charges.

The question still remains four days after, why that didnt keep him from being let out?

On the information sheet for Viels first appearance, after he was arrested on charges after being accused of raping the 14-year-old, there is list of previous charges including terroristic threats, cruelty to children burglary and robbery.

Read: Daton Viel: What we know about the criminal history of man who shot 2 Orlando officers

The defense and prosecutors could presumably see all of that information during the hearing.

The paperwork also stated he was on state probation, and hes marked as a violent offender of special concern.

Former judge Belvin Perry said those things should have raised eyebrows in this hearing.

Watch: State Attorney Monique Worrell discusses Daton Viels criminal history

But we dont know what the judge factored in because the court said judges dont explain their decisions.

But court officials said that bond is the right of everyone who isnt charged with a life felony unless a motion for pretrial detention was made.

In this case, it was not.

State Attorney Monique Worrell didnt explain why that motion was not made, just saying a million things could have been done.

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.
NEW PHILADELPHIA  Efforts are moving forward to inventory and appraise the assets of the former Newcomerstown Emergency Rescue Squad Inc. (NERS), which previously provided fire and ambulance service to the village of Newcomerstown and nearby townships.

It ceased operation in June.

More: Newcomerstown rescue squad shuts down as ordered by judge

Columbus attorney Ken Goldberg, the court-appointed receiver for the organization, said he is in the process of doing an inventory and appraisal of the assets at both the fire station and the NERS-owned David Barber Civic Center.

Attorney Ralph F. Dublikar, left, speaks during a hearing in the case brought by the Ohio Attorney General's Office against Newcomerstown Emergency Rescue Squad Inc., (NERS), Monday. Due to miscommunications, attorneys for the state did not show up for the hearing in which oral arguments on a default judgment were to be heard. Pictured at center is Carol Harper, former treasurer of NERS, and at right, Ken Goldberg, a Columbus attorney appointed receiver by the court in the case.

He spoke following a hearing Monday in Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court on a motion by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost seeking default judgment against NERS. Judge Elizabeth Lehigh Thomakos denied that motion.

Thomakos ordered the organization to stop providing services in response to a lawsuit filed in April by Yost, which alleges that NERS failed to follow state laws regarding nonprofits.

The village of Newcomerstown started its own fire department May 15 to replace NERS. Emergency medical service is provided by the Tri-County Joint Ambulance District.

Default judgment

In a motion filed on July 7, the attorney general asked for default judgment because NERS had failed to respond to the state's complaint. It also asked for permanent dissolution of the organization and $10,000 in civil penalties.

Attorney Ralph F. Dublikar speaks during a hearing in the case brought by the Ohio Attorney General's Office against Newcomerstown Emergency Rescue Squad Inc., Monday, Aug. 7.

Attorney Ralph F. Dublikar, representing NERS, questioned where the money for the civil penalty would be coming from and where it would go.

"I don't think that a motion for default judgment is appropriate. I think that Mr. Goldberg needs to continue to do his work and do what has to be done pursuant to the court's prior order," he told the judge.

No attorney for the state was present at the hearing, apparently because of a miscommunication.

There was also discussion about a letter sent to the court by Julie McKibben, statutory agent for NERS. In it, she said she shouldn't be involved in the suit because she is no longer connected to the organization. Thomakos said her letter did not qualify as an answer from the defendant in the case.

Dublikar was given permission to file an answer for the defendant within seven days.

'There should be assets left over.'

Goldberg said no decision has been made on whether to sell the civic center or the 12 to 14 vehicles owned by NERS. He said it was likely the vehicles will be sold. He noted he has received a lot of requests from area non-profits to either use the civic center or purchase it.

Carol Harper, former treasurer of Newcomerstown Emergency Rescue Squad Inc., listens to discussions between Judge Elizabeth Lehigh Thomakos and attorneys, Monday, Aug. 7 during a hearing.

He has also sent out proofs of claim to about two dozen individuals or companies that may be owed money by NERS. The individuals and companies need to return it with proof of the debt they are owed.

"My job is to gather all the assets and value them and liquidate them to pay the claims of creditors. I think we're going to have more assets than we have creditors, at least that's from my initial review. So, there should be assets left over. Whether those go to a Newcomerstown charitable organization or to the Ohio Attorney General's charitable entity fund, that would be decided by a judge," Goldberg said.

Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at jon.baker@timesreporter.com.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Motion for default judgment against rescue squad denied by judge
A judge in Bergen County dismissed sexual assault charges Monday against a former Teaneck restaurant owner, after determining the FBI had violated Shalom Yehudiel's rights by not turning over a disputed video.

State Superior Court Judge Christopher Kazlau dismissed the charges without prejudice, meaning they could be reinstated if new evidence comes to light, after a hearing at the county courthouse in Hackensack.

The 40-year-old kosher chef gained fame by appearing on the Food Network show "Chopped" in 2020. But he subsequently faced two lawsuits claiming sexual harassment, including one by a former employee at his restaurant Humble Toast. He was arrested in March 2022 on charges of allegedly assaulting a third victim, who prosecutors said was underage.

Yehudiel, who could not be reached for comment on Monday, has denied the allegations.He faced two counts of aggravated sexual assault, two counts of sexual assault and one count of endangering the welfare of a child. The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office said it filed charges after the FBI contacted the prosecutor's Special Victims Unit about allegations of sexual crimes involving a child younger than the age of 16 in Teaneck on more than one occasion.

Contestant Shalom Yehudiel during round 1, as seen on Chopped, Season 46. Yehudiel is the owner of The Humble Toast in Teaneck.

Yehudiels lawyers argued that prosecutors had omitted exculpatory evidence when the assault, which allegedly occurred in November 2021, was presented to a grand jury.

In his motion, Lee Vartan, one of the chef's attorneys, said the timeline regarding the sexual assault was impossible and that a potential eyewitness who disputed the allegations, David Mandigma, was never interviewed by authorities.

Additionally, Vartan argued there was video evidence proving the eyewitnesss account that was never given to the defense lawyers.

Before charges were filed by the Prosecutors Office, the FBI investigated the claims, gaining access to the surveillance video mentioned by Vartan. Kazlau said the prosecution provided two video clips to the defense that were given to them by the FBI, but the FBI had unfettered access to the entire video, which covered the entire span of the alleged victims employment at the Humble Toast.

The Bergen County Prosecutors Office has been unable to access the encrypted video, Kazlau said, noting that while evidence is being withheld from the defense, it is not the fault of the prosecutor.

Local: Abandoned as a newborn in a Teaneck apartment building, a man seeks answers 77 years later

He said the prosecutor, Nicole Patton, has conducted herself with nothing but integrity and honesty.

The judge said the state is just as eager as the defense to be able to access the full surveillance video, since it is unknown what the full video shows. He said it is hard to know whether the contents of the video prove Yehudiels innocence.

It is inexplicable to this court why the FBI has not turned it over or provided the Bergen County Prosecutors Office with access, thereby in turn providing the defendant with access, Kazlau said. Especially considering the nature and seriousness of the charges themselves. It has grave implications, not only for Mr. Yehudiel, but for the alleged victim as well.

However, because the evidence is being withheld, it is a violation of Yehudiels due process rights, which led Kazlau to dismiss the charges. Because he dismissed the charges without prejudice, they could be refiled if the FBI were to turn over the full video and it provides new evidence to bolster the state's case.

Despite dismissing the charges, Kazlau disagreed that Mandigmas statement should have been presented to the grand jury. The judge said Mandigmas statement doesnt establish that a sexual assault did not occur but may actually corroborate [the accuser's] account that she and the defendant were together in his office on Nov. 8, 2021.

Kazlau pointed out that the accuser's statement never said anything about anyone being there and that Yehudiel would watch the security cameras to see if someone was approaching his office.

Shalom Yehudiel is the first "Chopped" contestant able to cook a kosher meal on the show.

He also agreed with the state about the employment records. The defense tried to argue that the alleged victims timeline meant Yehudiel would have had to start sexually assaulting her from the day she started working. Kazlau said the accuser reported that the sexual contact began on her third day at work. He said the defenses argument was an attack on the accuser's credibility and would be more of an argument for trial.

Kazlau also did not agree that the prosecution somehow misled the grand jury through erroneous testimony in Yehudiels response to the accuser's sexual text messages, which was questioned by the grand jury. He said he did not find it to improve the grand jury's decision-making and that the prosecution called a witness back to get clarification.

During the grand jury hearing, the alleged victim admitted to sending Yehudiel texts that were sexual in nature and he would either not respond or tell her to call on the phone or through FaceTime.

A technician called as a witness before the grand jury testified about text messages pulled from the alleged victims phone that spanned only from mid-October 2021 to the beginning of November 2021 and that some of the messages may have been deleted.

Local: Teaneck names former Air Force sergeant as its first poet laureate. Here's what he'll do

"We are pleased with the court's decision, which vindicates Shalom's due process rights, and we are grateful that the court carefully considered and accepted our arguments," Zach Intrater and Vartan, Yehudiel's lawyers, said in a statement.

Michael Gorokhovich, an attorney representing one of Yehudiel's accusers in a separate case that is pending, said the dismissal was not on the merits of the case but on the failure of the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office. "This has nothing to do with Yehudiel being exonerated and everything to do with the Prosecutor's Office not doing what it's supposed to do to protect victims," he said.

The Prosecutor's Office declined to comment on that matter.

Previously, there was a different case brought by another former waitress from Yehudiels restaurant. "Her dismissal was civil and was based on her failure to show up for her deposition, which she found too traumatizing. That dismissal was procedural as well," said Gorokhovich.

The allegations against Yehudiel roiled the Orthodox Jewish community and prompted some patrons to avoid dining at Yehudiel's two Teaneck restaurants, Humble Toast and La Cucina Di Nava. Some called on the Rabbinical Council of Bergen County, which grants kosher certifications, to revoke that designation from his two establishments as a result of the accusations.

The council first announced that Yehudiel would step away from daily operations until the matter was resolved and later said it would not renew its contracts with the chef. Both restaurants were sold in September of last year.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Shalom Yehudiel: Charges dismissed for 'Chopped,' Teaneck chef
The world got its first preview last month of what summer will be like at 1.5 degrees of global warming  a threshold that scientists warn the planet should stay under, yet one that it has flown increasingly close to in recent years.

The average global temperature in July, the hottest month on record by far, was around 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer than the pre-industrial era that ended in the mid-to-late 1800s, the European Unions Copernicus Climate Change Service reported Tuesday.

The announcement came after a series of deadly heat waves and remarkable record-breaking temperatures for several continents, as well as unprecedented ocean heat around the globe. Copernicus scientists say its the first summer month that has surpassed 1.5 degrees, offering a glimpse of future summers.

The 1.5-degree threshold is significant because scientists consider it a key tipping point for the planet, beyond which the chances of extreme heat, flooding, drought, wildfires and food and water shortages will become even more unfavorable for life as we know it.

Its the goal that scientists chose in the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement to minimize the damage of the climate crisis while affording time to wean society and the economy off planet-warming fossil fuels.

Its also not something thats tracked by the day or month. Scientists are particularly concerned that global temperature will stay above 1.5 degrees for the long term. Through 2022, the world had warmed around 1.2 degrees.

While breaking the 1.5-degrees-Celsius threshold for a day or a week or a month is not the same as breaking it for the long-term average, it is important to monitor how frequently, and for how long, we exceed this threshold, Rebecca Emerton, scientist with Copernicus, told CNN. As temperatures continue to rise, the effects will continue to become more serious.

The last few years have made it abundantly clear that the world is already feeling alarming effects of the climate crisis that many are not prepared for. If the planet continues to heat up, Emerton said the world will face even more extreme weather than what much of the planet has already experienced.

Weve seen the impacts these kinds of events are already having on people and on our planet, and so every small part of a degree of warming is significant, Emerton said.

According to Berkeley Earth, an environmental data nonprofit, there have only been 10 other months that were warmer than 1.5 degrees Celsius above their historical average, with March 2023 being the most recent. Before that, the other months that have been 1.5 degrees warmer than pre-industrial times have occurred during winter or early spring.

Berkeley Earth Lead Scientist Robert Rohde said surpassing 1.5 degrees Celsius in July is the first time that threshold has ever been crossed during the summer in the Northern Hemisphere, which makes this a critical moment for the planet.

While the past unusually warm winters are notable, observing extreme warmth in summer is likely to have greater direct impacts on peoples lives, Rohde, who is not involved with the Copernicus report, told CNN. Adding 1.5 degrees Celsius in winter makes for a mild winter but doing it during summer can give rise to unprecedented extremes.

Although Rohde said it is likely that 2023 will be the warmest year on record, its unlikely that 2023 as a whole will be 1.5 degrees warmer than pre-industrial times.

The year-to-date average is still below 1.5 degrees Celsius, and we find it unlikely that the rest of 2023 will be warm enough to bring the whole year average above 1.5, he said.

Copernicus scientists noted that as El Nino continues to develop, the world may witness more of these unprecedented temperature breaches.

Even if the climate crisis does not accelerate, but continues on its current trajectory, we will see more days, weeks, months and years with record-breaking temperatures, and other impacts on our Earth system, Emerton said. We need to be doing all that we can to reduce emissions and limit future warming.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
July was world's hottest on record, EU scientists say FILE PHOTO: Heatwave across Italy

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Last month was the hottest July on record, with abnormally high temperatures recorded on both land and sea, the European Union's Copernicus climate change panel said on Tuesday.

Scientists warned late last month that it was on track to become the world's hottest month on record.

This year has been the third-warmest year to date, Copernicus deputy head Samantha Burgess said.

"We just witnessed global air temperatures and global ocean surface temperatures set new all-time records in July," she said.

"It shows the urgency for ambitious efforts to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, which are the main driver behind these records."

June had also smashed through the previous temperature record for that month, according to Copernicus, which bases its calculations on a dataset going back to 1950.

Sweltering temperatures have affected considerable swathes of the planet, with heat records registered from Death Valley in the U.S. state of California to a northwest China township as Canada and southern Europe battle wildfires.

(Writing by Gabriela Baczynska; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
Typically, smart grills equal pellet grills. While pellet models played a key role in popularizing connected outdoor cooking, there are plenty of other options for controlling and monitoring things from the comforts of your living room. After introducing a smart controller for its ceramic grills in 2018, Kamado Joe released its own connected pellet version in 2020. Earlier this year, the company combined its add-on controller with its popular charcoal-burning red cookers, resulting in the Konnected Joe.

At first glance, the Konnected Joe looks like any other ceramic grill in Kamado Joes lineup. However, the bottom half is black where most of the companys other options are solid red. The display (or Kontrol Board) also sets the Konnected Joe apart, and its situated beside three food probe jacks, the power button and a temperature dial. Here, you can see temperature graphs, select a cook mode and receive alerts. The grill will also advise you on how to adjust the vents based on your selected temperature. Buttons on the left allow you to set timers and reconnect to WiFi, in addition to adjusting the display to show grill or food temperatures in large numbers visible from afar.

Kamado Joe Konnected Joe $1,699 at Home Depot

The Konnected Joe retains a lot of the features that make the companys ceramic grills great for your deck or patio. The Kontrol Tower top vent, Air Lift hinge and heavy-duty cart all make using the grill easier. Inside, the companys two-tier Divide & Conquer design allows you to cook different foods at different temperatures by changing the proximity of the stainless steel grates to the fire. You can also set up one side for direct grilling while using a heat deflector for indirect on the other. Most of the components for the grill are semi-circular, which makes the Konnected Joe just as versatile as a regular Kamado Joe. The folding side shelves are modestly sized, but theyre enough to hold a plate, tray or small cutting board.

Kamado Joes latest smart grill is compatible with all of the accessories for the Classic Joe grill, except for the charcoal basket. This means you can add a rotisserie (JoeTisserie), pizza stone (DoJoe) and more to expand the capabilities of the Konnected Joe. Theres a ton of options here, ranging from the affordable half-moon reversible griddle ($70) to the pricey JoeTisserie ($300), with some bundles going for even more. You dont need to purchase anything extra to get started with the Konnected Joe, though. The grill ships with grates, heat deflectors for low-and-slow cooking and all you need for that optional two-tier configuration.

Kamado Joe put its smart-grilling expertise into a WiFi-connected model with all the benefits of a ceramic cooker. Charcoal offers unique flavor and versatility while the company sells a range of accessories to expand the grills toolbox. The companion app is a work in progress, but it does well with the basics. Plus, that Automatic Fire Starter will save you lots of headaches.

Just under the three food probe jacks is a dedicated button for the Automatic Fire Starter (AFS). WiFi connectivity may get the bulk of the attention on this Kamado Joe, but the AFS is the real star. Its essentially a heating element at the bottom of the cooking chamber where you load your charcoal and wood chunks. When you turn it on, it runs for 15 minutes to light your charcoal without any additional lighter fluid or fire starters. Ive used this every time Ive cooked with the Konnected Joe, even when Im otherwise running the grill in Classic Cook Mode without the automatic temperature control. It consistently, completely lit up the charcoal. See ya later, charcoal chimney.

In addition to built-in WiFi, another key aspect of smart grilling is a mobile app. The Kamado Joe App allows you to adjust time and temperature without being directly in front of the grill. During my tests, changes were typically quick although there have been a few times I had to input the desired temperature twice to get it to stick. Those temperature graphs from the onboard display are here as well, alongside the ability to browse recipes and monitor food probe temps. However, where Kamado Joe currently lags behind the competition is its library of recipes and how theyre presented.

Right now, there are over 150 recipes available in the Kamado Joe app, organized by food type and cooking method. For comparison, the Traeger app currently houses over 1,000. The Kamado Joe app is also missing a few glaring items, like pulled pork, but the company says it continuously adds new recipes. It also said its working to bring recipe videos and step-by-step guidance to the app sometime next year. These are two more items that both Traeger and Weber offer in their apps and they can be a big help when youre trying a new recipe or are a beginner griller. Still, the app does a solid job with the basics of monitoring and controlling the grill.

Kamado Joe app

Another area the Kamado Joe app could offer guidance is preparing the grill to cook. There are some tips in recipes, like waiting for clean smoke when you add wood chunks before putting any food on, but there arent any tips on how much charcoal to add in the first place. This is a lesson I learned the hard way, as the Konnected Joe would consistently overshoot the set temperature during low-and-slow smoking in my initial tests.

After consulting with the company, I determined I was using too much charcoal and the extra fuel was igniting before I needed it during the longer sessions. Using less at the start fixed my problem, but extended cooking times may require you to add more. This means moving your food and any racks to the side to access the bottom of the chamber. Its not ideal, but its hardly a dealbreaker.

None of this means much if the grill cant produce great-tasting food, and the Konnected Joe does an excellent job in that regard. Since this is mostly a Kamado Joe ceramic grill with some smart-cooking bits added on, its performance is similar to those non-WiFi models. You get the flavor of charcoal, which has a more pronounced smoky essence than pellet grills produce. Sure, you can impart plenty of smoke with wood pellets, but what you get from charcoal is just different. And, at least to me, its slightly more intense. You also get the flavor of charcoal through direct cooking for a true grilled essence as opposed to hot-and-fast searing on a pellet grill.

Kamado Joe put its smart-grilling expertise into a WiFi-connected model with all the benefits of a ceramic cooker. Charcoal offers unique flavor and versatility while the company sells a range of accessories to expand the grills toolbox. The companion app is a work in progress, but it does well with the basics. Plus, that Automatic Fire Starter will save you lots of headaches.

Over the course of testing, I did a mix of high-heat grilling and slow-smoked barbecue. This included a lot of steaks, a Boston Butt for pulled pork, baby back ribs and more. I was consistently impressed by the charcoal smoke flavor present in all of my cooks, especially in the longer sessions for the pork shoulder and ribs. Whats more, the Konnected Joe allows you a bit more room to experiment with types of wood as you add chunks to supplement the charcoal. There are different kinds of pellets intended for different foods, but sometimes those arent a single type of wood even if they're labeled as such. For example, Webers Cherry pellets are 60 percent Maple. With the Konnected Joe, you can grab a bag of a single type of wood chunks (I use Kingsford) and change them up based on what youre cooking.

Another thing you need to be aware of (and this applies to ceramic grills in general) is the long cool-down period. Due to the nature of the materials, these models retain heat a lot more efficiently than a kettle or gas grill  or even most pellet options. This is great while youre cooking, but it also means you need to plan for an extended time for the grill to cool off before you can put the cover on. As an example, I finished cooking ribs around 5PM at a temperature of 275 degrees (a five-hour cook). When I locked up for the night around 11PM, the grill was still warm to the touch, so I couldnt cover it yet. High-heat searing required even more time to cool off, and in most cases, I had to leave the grill uncovered until the next day.

Kamado Joe put its smart-grilling expertise into a WiFi-connected model with all the benefits of a ceramic cooker. Charcoal offers unique flavor and versatility while the company sells a range of accessories to expand the grills toolbox. The companion app is a work in progress, but it does well with the basics. Plus, that Automatic Fire Starter will save you lots of headaches.

One area where the Konnected Joe surpasses WiFi-enabled pellet grills is the ease of cleanup. You only need to use the included ash tool to scrape debris through the holes in the bottom of the cooking chamber, leaving larger pieces of used charcoal for the next cook. A tray inside the bottom vent slides out for easy disposal. If theres a large amount of ash, you may need to use the tool to scrape that slot, but you shouldnt need to get out the shop vac like you do for a pellet grill. Of course, the accessories may require a thorough scrubbing after use, but thats nothing some grill cleaner or soapy water cant handle.

If youre looking for a charcoal-burning alternative to the Konnected Joe, you dont have to go far. Parent company Middleby Outdoor also owns the Masterbuilt brand that has the Gravity Series smart grills we tested in 2020. While the Gravity Series 560 was the first version, the company has since introduced the larger Gravity Series 800 that comes with a griddle insert and the Gravity Series 1050 with the largest cooking capacity of the trio.

The design is the same across all three models: a gravity-fed hopper on the right side funnels charcoal down to a digitally-controlled fan to maintain temperatures. You can add wood chunks to the ash bin to produce more smoke. The Gravity Series is capable of hot-and-fast searing, low-and-slow smoking and everything in between, all with the ability to monitor temperatures from your sofa. One key issue with those grills is they can be difficult to light when you have used charcoal at the bottom of the hopper, so its best to cycle through and have fresh fuel to light, mixing any used bits mid-chamber.

Kamado Joe put its smart-grilling expertise into a WiFi-connected model with all the benefits of a ceramic cooker. Charcoal offers unique flavor and versatility while the company sells a range of accessories to expand the grills toolbox. The companion app is a work in progress, but it does well with the basics. Plus, that Automatic Fire Starter will save you lots of headaches.

If ease of use is your top priority, a pellet model is worth considering when shopping for a smart grill. In addition to full-featured apps for monitoring and controlling the grill from afar, Traeger and Weber both offer easy-to-follow recipe guidance. Both companies also give you estimated completion times in their apps (via Meater for Traeger) so you have an idea of when to have the sides ready (and to keep hungry guests informed of the situation).

Whats more, pellet grills dont require you to futz with components to add more fuel as you simply refill the hopper outside of the cooking area if you start to run low. Cleanup is a little more involved, but for longer cooks that dont require any spritzing to keep the meat moist or wrapping to expedite cooking, this type of grill is truly set it and forget it. Webers most recent model is the SmokeFire Sear+, which offers over 1,000 square inches of cooking space for $1,599. The best new Traeger for most people is the recently redesigned Ironwood, the smaller version of which is $1,800.

At $1,699, the Konnected Joe is very expensive for a charcoal grill. However, its more affordable than the Classic Joe Series III, which offers the same cooking area without the connectivity and AFS igniter. A comparably sized Big Green Egg is around $1,100, but again, youll need a secondary device for any kind of temperature monitoring. When you pit it against WiFi-equipped pellet grills, the Konnected Joe isnt that far off. In fact, its slightly cheaper than Kamado Joes own Pellet Joe. A connected grill and all the convenience that it affords has never been cheap, but the Konnected Joe pairs all the versatility of a ceramic cooker with the advantages of charcoal and performs well. If the company can expand and refine its companion app, this grill will be a complete package  even if it commands a steep investment.

Kamado Joe Konnected Joe review Kamado Joe put its smart-grilling expertise into a WiFi-connected model with all the benefits of a ceramic cooker. Charcoal offers unique flavor and versatility while the company sells a range of accessories to expand the grills toolbox. The companion app is a work in progress, but it does well with the basics. Plus, that Automatic Fire Starter will save you lots of headaches.
TechCrunch

There was plenty going on as usual -- with fintech investors sounding off, payments companies seeing big stock moves and much more. One other note, you can find Mary Ann on TechCrunchs Equity podcast, which she co-hosts every Friday with Alex Wilhelm, including this episode that came out Friday. This past week, we saw two global payments companies release earnings with wildly different results.
Kansas City police identified the person shot and killed late Sunday night on Bruce R. Watkins Drive as a 15-year-old boy while detectives continued to search for a suspect Monday.

Sgt. Jake Becchina, a Kansas City Police Department spokesman, said in an email that the teenager fatally shot was Diego Almeda, whose 16th birthday would have passed Thursday. Almedas death is the third homicide investigation of a minor teenager led by Kansas City police over the past two weeks.

Around 11 p.m. Sunday, officers were called to the northbound lanes of U.S. Highway 71 near 22nd Street for a reported shooting. On the side of the highway was a vehicle with two gunshot victims inside.

Almeda and the other shooting victim, described by police as an adult teenage male, were taken to the hospital by ambulance. The other teen was in critical condition Sunday night.

Police believe the gunfire came from another vehicle on the highway. The motivation behind the shooting was still unknown. As of Monday evening, police had yet to develop a suspect description or identify a person of interest.

Becchina said there was no indication that Almedas homicide is connected to any other recent homicides, though he added that police were still investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

The killing marks the 123rd homicide in Kansas City this year, according to data tracked by The Star, which includes fatal police shootings. There were 101 killings by this time last year, which ended as the second-deadliest year on record with 171 killings.

In 2020, 182 lives were lost, the most homicides ever recorded. As of Monday, Kansas City remained on pace with the deadliest year in its history.

Anyone with information about the fatal shooting is asked to call homicide detectives at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS Hotline.

The Stars Robert. A Cronkleton contributed to this report.
Kansas State president Richard Linton has shared an unfortunate update on his health.

Just when he was hoping to focus his attention on the start of a new academic semester in Manhattan, he learned that he was diagnosed with throat and tongue cancer. Linton announced the news on Tuesday in a letter to the K-State community. He plans to undergo daily treatments in Kansas City at the KU Cancer Center for the next few months.

Dr. Marshall Stewart, who currently serves as senior vice president and chief of staff at K-State, will partner with Linton in a special capacity and help lead the university while Linton is away and undergoing cancer treatment.

This is obviously not how I envisioned starting the fall semester, Linton wrote, but it is necessary that I take these steps at this time, as this cancer is treatable and curable. I need to be at my best for this institution  you deserve that from me, and in consultation with my medical team, I also know this is what is best for me and my family.

Linton wrote that he was hesitant to share such personal and difficult news, but he felt he owed it to my K-State family to let them know what was going on his life.

He is optimistic that he can continue to lead the university while he undergoes treatment.

I will stay engaged with the university and the great work were doing, Linton wrote, but I also recognize I wont be able to be present in the way youve known me to be, as much of my work will have to take place remotely from Kansas City.

Even though this is a scary situation for Linton, he is not worried about what comes next.

As I look to the future, I want you to know that I look to it with optimism  that is the K-State way, and this community has instilled that in me, Linton wrote. K-Staters dont shy away from difficult situations or moments of uncertainty. We face them head on and fight for the greatest outcome. That is what I do for you every day, and that is what I will continue to do for you as I embark on this journey.

Linton was hired as the 15th president in K-State history in 2022 after previously serving as dean of the college of agriculture and life sciences at North Carolina State. Before that, he spent time working at Ohio State and Purdue.

He has hit the ground running since he arrived in Manhattan and has not been afraid to make public appearances on the universitys behalf. He is a regular at K-State sporting events and never seems shy to speak in front of a crowd.

But he wont be nearly as noticeable around campus while he undergoes cancer treatment.

K-State football coach Chris Klieman mentioned Linton during his weekly news conference on Tuesday.

Our thoughts and prayers are with President Linton right now, Klieman said. Hopefully theyve caught it in time and I know hes going through some treatments in the near future and were thinking of him. With K-State football, for sure, and the entire K-State community were praying for you. Weve got your back.
Kanye West made a surprise appearance at Travis Scotts Circus Maximus concert in Rome, Italy, on Monday (7 August).

This is the first time 46-year-old West has been on a stage ever since the row over the rappers antisemitic comments.

During his performance of tracks from his new album Utopia, Scott welcomed Ye to the stage to perform his tracks Praise God and Cant Tell Me Nothing.

There is no Utopia without Kanye West. There is no Travis Scott without Kanye West, Scott said during the performance. There is no Rome without Kanye West. Make some noise for Ye.

Scotts event was originally intended to take place at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, but the show was cancelled due to complex production issues.

Ye found himself mired in various controversies in 2022 after making a number of antisemitic comments on Twitter, which has since been rebranded as X by owner Elon Musk.

He also sparked a backlash when he debuted his fashion brand Yeezys White Lives Matter shirts during Paris Fashion Week in October last year.

In December 2022, Ye appeared on right-wing commentator Alex Jones show Infowars where he made the declaration that he likes Hitler, sparking a fresh wave of condemnation from celebrities and former fans.

Following multiple controversies, Ye was dropped by both Adidas and Balenciaga over what were branded as hateful and dangerous comments relating to Jewish people.

Travis Scott WELCOMES KANYE WEST TO UTOPIA IN ROME OMGG pic.twitter.com/Ni54si7Ytj  Ye Streams (@kanyestreams1) August 7, 2023

Despite all the backlash, Ye continued standing by his comments, adding to them by claiming that he doesnt believe in the term antisemitism.

During another appearance on the Drink Champs podcast, the Follow God rapper claimed that George Floyd, who died at the hands of a Minnesota police officer, actually had taken the drug Fentanyl and that a police officers knee wasnt even on his neck like that. In response, the mother of Floyds daughter sued Kanye West for $250m.

Elsewhere in the interview, West shared a number of theories, and claimed that hed been blocked by the Jewish media.

The episode was later deleted, with host N.O.R.E apologising and claiming that the most offensive comments were not meant to have made the final edit.

(Getty Images)

Since the controversy, Ye has largely stayed away from the public eye, until now. The rappers Twitter account, now called X, was also reinstated this month. He was suspended eight months ago for hate speech.

In May this year, Ye reportedly married to Bianca Censori in a private ceremony, after which the couple were spotted wearing wedding rings.

The Closed On Sunday rappers ex-wife Kim Kardashian filed for divorce from Ye in 2021. After that, the Atlanta rapper started lashing out on social media against Kardashian, her family, and her then-boyfriend Pete Davidson.
If you were planning to retrieve a suitcase full of pot from baggage claim at Orlando International Airport, dont bother.

Karma beat you to it.

Karma  an Orange County Sheriffs Office K-9  recently sniffed out the 18-pound stash of marijuana in a piece of luggage.

READ: Orange County Public Schools releases guidance on student pronouns, restroom rules

Officials bragged about her find on social media, praising the dog detective for her talents.

Thanks to K-9 Karma and her skilled detection, these drugs will never make it to the streets of Orlando, OCSO said.

READ: Brightline delays start of passenger train service from Orlando to South Florida

Investigators also noted that Karma would like to meet the owner of the suitcase.

OCSO K9 Karma would like to meet the owner of this suitcase found at baggage claim with 18lbs of marijuana inside of it. Thanks to K9 Karma and her skilled detection, these drugs will never make it to the streets of Orlando. pic.twitter.com/SZmy3HDIU8  Orange County Sheriff's Office (@OrangeCoSheriff) August 7, 2023

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The sun sparkled over the bay in eastern Canada as Rick Austin trawled along in his motorized fishing kayak. Watching his fishing line, he had no idea he was about to experience the biggest adrenaline rush of his life.

Austin had fished in Nova Scotias Minas Basin many, many, many times but in a bigger boat, he told McClatchy News. The excursion on Sunday, July 30, was his first time fishing from his kayak.

Hoping to catch some striped bass, he picked a spot and anchored his kayak. When nothing bit, he changed tactics and put a live mackerel on the line.

Then (I) just lowered it right off the side of my kayak, Austin said. I didnt have to fish very long, and my reel starts clicking.

I got something on. Shes pretty big, he said in a YouTube video of the encounter. The reel bent under the weight of the catch.

The animal swam beneath the kayak, and Austin got a glimpse of it. Moments later, the massive creature leaped out of the water and exposed its full size, video shows.

When I saw it, I was pretty shocked, he said.

At the time, Austin thought hed snagged a porpoise  but it was actually something much deadlier. Hed caught a juvenile great white shark.

The shark was identified by experts from the New England Aquarium in Boston and the University of Guelph in Ontario, Austin wrote in a Facebook post. The great white was between 6 to 8 feet long and weighed between 200 and 250 pounds.

It was the biggest fish I ever, ever hooked. And Ive caught a lot of big fish, he said.

As Austin initially wrestled his catch, it was moving that kayak over to the right with no problem at all  and, I mean, thats a very, very heavy kayak.

Concerned for the fishs safety  and his own  Austin cut the line when the shark swam under him the second time. There it goes ... holy cow, he said at the end of the video.

That shark was probably underneath my boat for a while, he told McClatchy News on Aug. 7. It came back twice to my kayak. The first time, when I first saw it directly under the kayak, it was just kind of looking at me.

What wouldve happened on its third time coming back? I might not have been so lucky  because great whites, they like to charge boats (and) take bites out of boats, he said. They like to leap onto boats. They can be very, very aggressive.

Im glad I cut the line, Austin said. Its still scary when you think back. My life could have ended right then and there.

This was by far the biggest adrenaline rush of my life absolutely, he told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

After letting the great white shark go, Austin stayed out fishing for another hour and a half  something he certainly wouldnt have done if hed recognized the dangerous animal sooner.

The next time I go out there in my kayak, I think Ill have somebody else with me, he said. I dont think Im gonna do that alone next time.

Minas Basin is along the western coast of Nova Scotia, about 560 miles east of Ottawa.

Man in flooded boat saw sharks circling while trapped 38 hours off Florida, reports say

Watch boaters get lucky as massive sea creatures give them surprise show in Australia

Elusive creatures  known for hunting sharks  spotted in rare California encounter
Sendy, a Kenyan logistics startup that enabled retailers to purchase FMCGs directly from manufacturers, among other services, is shutting down its operations and exploring a sale of its assets, TechCrunch has learned.

Meshack Alloys, Sendy co-founder, confirmed the sale to TechCrunch without offering more details, saying: We are in the middle of an acquisition process. So yes, Sendy is being acquired. We will issue a formal joint statement in two weeks or so time. In the meantime, we are unable to comment on further details at this time.

According to several sources, the company ran out of funds two months ago and had been scrambling to cut costs for the past year to remain afloat. Last July, it announced a 10% cut of its workforce, which Alloys noted was in response to the current realities impacting tech companies globally. Since then, however, Sendys workforce has been pruned further in more cost-cutting measures (shuttering a product line and exiting a market). Last October, the Kenyan startup laid off 54 employees and wound down its supply service -- and this February, it exited its end-to-end fulfillment offering in Nigeria, a market it entered two years ago.

Sendys struggles marked the latest setback for a crop of B2B e-commerce companies that enjoyed a fine run, raising millions of dollars and ballooning in value, but have since run into operational costs and marginal customer pricing problems.

The startup had targeted to raise $100 million last year but only got a fraction of the funding from MOL PLUS, the corporate venture capital of Japanese transport company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines. Since the deal, Sendy has been exploring other options to shore up its business these past few months, including seeking fresh capital and a buyer, three people familiar with the matter said. But that hasnt come easy.

The Kenyan startup, valued at over $80 million late last year, was in talks with several investors to raise additional capital a few months back but at a lower valuation of $40 million to $60 million. However, one of its key investors backed out of the transaction, leaving Sendy short on funds for the last two to three months, including funds to cover salaries -- it is now attempting to sell some of its assets, the people said.

Furthermore, the pool of potential buyers is small. According to people familiar with the companys dealings, Sendy is in talks with other African companies in the B2B e-commerce and trucking space, including Trella, Sabi, Wasoko, and one of its investors, to sell some of its assets, including tech and fulfillment operations. Its unclear if any of the talks have resulted in a deal, and discussions on various options could still be ongoing, including an acquisition, as claimed by the startup. Over 200 employees are set to be affected by the closure.

Sendy was co-founded in 2015 by Alloys, Evanson Biwott, Don Okoth and Malaika Judd. It has raised $26.5 million in disclosed funding from several investors, including Toyota Tsusho, Atlantica Ventures, VestedWorld, Keppel Capital, Enza Capital, AAICA Investment Pte Ltd, Sunu Capital and Goodwill Investments.
When a middle-aged man arrived at Margates HCA Northwest Hospital emergency room with major muscle cramping from his feet to his shoulders. Dr. Craig Kushnir knew right away what was going on.

He was dehydrated, the emergency room doctor said, adding that he has seen several patients with intense muscle cramping in the last few weeks as South Florida temperatures have climbed.

Doctors say all kinds of offbeat heat-related illnesses are cropping up from this summers extreme heat and sending people to local emergency departments. While heat stroke is one of the most worrisome health risks, the health impacts of scorching temperatures can include anything from horrible anxiety dreams, to painful kidney stones  to people being burned just by falling on the ground.

Rashes and burns

At Cleveland Clinic Florida in Weston, Dr. Aisha Subhani, chair of the emergency department, has had patients arrive with ghastly rashes. They dont understand why they are breaking out so badly and think they are having an allergic reaction to something, she said. Most end up just being heat rashes.

Then there are the odd burns caused by the near-100-degree temperatures: Children who scorch their rear ends on the playground slide; the beachgoer who fries the bottom of his foot on the broiling sand; or the senior who falls and burns themself on the pavement.

In Florida, where falls are the leading reason people visit emergency rooms, it can take only minutes when bare skin hits the heated asphalt to cause dangerous injuries.

The burns can be pretty serious, Subhani said.

Sunburns this summer also are intense. Youve got people who fall asleep on the beach, and wake up and they are toast with severe sunburns, she said. We have to treat them like a burn patient.

Kidney stones

People in pain with kidney stones are frequent visitors to emergency departments this summer, too, doctors say.

Super-hot weather tends to trigger dehydration, which can lead to stone formation.

Dr. Raymond J. Leveillee, a urologist with the Center for Advanced Robotics and Urologic Care at Baptist Health Medical Group North, said Florida is a high-risk zone for kidney stones, particularly in the summer.

People dont drink enough fluid and get dehydrated, increasing the chance that crystals can form, Leveillee said. While Floridians outdoors lose fluids through sweating, those going into air conditioning are at risk too, he explains.

In air conditioning, we can get dehydrated from water evaporating from our skin and not seeing it, he said. Its important to keep your body temperature cooler, but also recognize even in the A/C you need to hydrate.

The amount of fluid each person needs to drink varies based on how much they sweat, he says. A good way to measure is that you should urinate about a half-gallon of liquid each day.

Some smaller stones can be flushed out by drinking lots more water or lemon-lime drinks.

Leveillee advises anyone with signs of stones, such as pain under their rib cage that comes and goes, or has blood in their urine, to go to a doctor. If you are in agony, go to an ER.

Medication reactions

AARP has alerted its members that soaring temperatures put people  especially older adults  at risk for medication interactions. Certain medications reduce blood flow to the skin and interfere with your bodys ability to cool itself down. That makes it harder for someone to handle the heat.

This issue is particularly important for older people because they tend to be on more medications, said Kushnir at HCA Northwest Hospital. If you feel weak and dizzy and are sweating like crazy, that can quickly progresses to heat stroke.

Heart medications, antidepressants, antipsychotics, ADHD medications, anticholinergics prescribed for Parkinsons disease and overactive bladder, antihistamines and decongestants can affect your heat tolerance.

Other medications can cause dehydration, and may make the skin more sensitive to the sun, raising the risk of a rash or sunburn.

Medicines that make your skin sensitive in the sun and put you at greater risk for sunburn-like symptoms are antibiotics, antifungals, statins and diabetes medications.

Gastrointestinal illness

In extreme heat, leaving food in the car or outside on a table can cause it to spoil much faster than people are used to, even in Florida. Subhani at Cleveland Clinic says she has treated patients who are vomiting or have severe diarrhea that they eventually trace back to spoiled food.

Preterm birth

Pregnant mothers need to be extremely careful with Florida having just closed out its hottest month on record.

A study of close to 14,500 births by researchers at the Kaiser Permanente found exposure to high temperatures, including in early stages of pregnancy, are associated with premature birth and stillbirth.

The study shows living with unusually warm temperature during weeks 1-7 and 15-21 in particular are associated with increased risk of pre-term birth and low birthweight.

In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found pregnant women are more likely to get heat exhaustion, heat stroke, or other heat-related illness sooner than non-pregnant women. When pregnant, womens bodies must work harder to cool themselves down as well the developing baby. Pregnant women also are more likely to become dehydrated.

The CDC warns pregnant women to limit outdoor activities and drink plenty of fluids.

Sleep issues

Sleep experts are seeing an increase in people with insomnia and anxiety dreams stemming from the record heat.

If someones bedroom is too warm, natural temperature fluctuations in the brain and body can be affected, and not only can they have trouble falling asleep, but the hot air can interrupt their rest at various points throughout the night, said Dr. Jaime Tartar, research director with Nova Southeastern Universitys Department of Psychology and Neuroscience

This is important because during REM sleep, we process our emotions, and interruptions to REM sleep can impair our daytime mood, Tartar said.

Climate also can affect how you dream, and what you remember.

When your body is hot, dreams can become more vivid, unpleasant and cause you stress long after you wake up. You may even wake up feeling more tired and stressed than you did when you fell asleep.

Tartar recommends keeping the bedroom dark and cool, at an ideal temperature of 65F.

Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are a risk, too.

Overall, emergency medicine doctors in South Florida say they are seeing patients with heat-related illnesses that could be prevented. If you plan on hydrating once you start sweating, then its too late, Kushnir says You have to do it before.

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Ohios special election Tuesday could raise the threshold for amending the states constitution and have a potentially critical impact on the future of abortion rights in the state.

With few other elections happening in an off year, a ballot measure in Ohio that would enshrine abortion rights in its constitution will be one of the most closely watched elections in November 2023. But first, voters will decide this Tuesday whether a supermajority should be necessary for constitutional amendments, which could require abortion rights advocates to climb a steeper hill to achieve their goal this fall.

Here are three things to know ahead of Ohios special election Tuesday:

Its the first of two key ballot measures in Ohio this year

Ohio voters will turn out at the polls twice in three months for ballot measures that will have long-lasting implications.

First, theres the ballot measure being voted on in Tuesdays special election. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R) and state Rep. Brian Stewart (R) last November proposed this measure, which would raise the threshold for amending the state constitution. They said at the time that the amendment was intended to counter the influence of special interests and out-of-state actors.

Second, theres a ballot measure Nov. 8 that would enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution. The measure specifically states that Ohioans would have a fundamental right to reproductive freedom with reasonable limits.

The Aug. 8 vote comes despite state lawmakers having approved legislation that mostly banned holding special elections in August.

The lawmakers determined that holding special elections that month was too expensive and had too little turnout to be fair or worth having. But Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) went ahead and signed the resolution from Stewart following approval from the state Legislature, setting the Tuesday special election for raising the threshold to change the constitution. The Ohio Supreme Court ruled in June that the special election could move forward despite the law.

Abortion rights advocates, meanwhile, had proposed the second ballot measure, which seeks to protect abortion rights, after the states six-week ban on the practice was temporarily blocked amid legal battles. The ban had gone into effect after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last June, but was put on hold in September.

A representative for Ohioans for Reproductive Freedom, which proposed the abortion ballot measure, told The Hill last week that they do not expect to ultimately win the case, so it turned to the ballot measure.

Abortion rights advocates were able to gather more than 700,000 signatures to put the abortion measure on the ballot in Novemberabout 300,000 more than necessary. LaRose certified that enough signatures had been obtained late last month.

Its seen as a direct response to November abortion measure

The amendment being voted on Tuesday, called Issue 1, would implement three policies that would make passing future amendments  including the November abortion rights measure  more difficult.

If approved, Issue 1 would require that, effective immediately, amendments would need to receive support from at least 60 percent of voters instead of the current threshold of a simple majority in order to go into effect.

It would also require that, starting Jan. 1, petitions for constitutional amendments receive signatures from at least 5 percent of voters in all 88 of Ohios counties, based on how many people voted in the last gubernatorial election. Petitions currently only need to receive support from that amount in half of the states counties.

Lastly, the measure would eliminate a 10-day period that a petitioner has after submitting a petition for an amendment to obtain additional signatures if some of their signatures are determined to be invalid. That would also go into effect Jan. 1.

Abortion rights activists have argued that Issue 1 was specifically designed to prevent the abortion rights measure from passing in November, as polls show a majority of Ohioans would vote to protect rights to the procedure.

LaRose has mostly argued that Issue 1 is about protecting the constitution, but he faced controversy for saying at one point that it is 100 percent about keeping a radical pro-abortion amendment out of our constitution.

Lauren Blauvelt, the vice president of government affairs and public advocacy at Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio, told The Hill last week that her coalition reached enough signatures in 55 counties  considerably more than the current requirement  for the abortion measure to qualify for the November ballot. She argued that requiring signatures from all 88 counties would make citizens being able to put forward a ballot measure impossible.

Those advocating in favor of Issue 1, most of whom are Republican, have argued that putting these rules in place is necessary to stop special interests from being able to influence a governing document as powerful as the states constitution.

GOP strategist Mark Weaver argued that only having a simple majority to amend the constitution is a very low bar. His firm has produced some ads encouraging people to vote yes on the Aug. 8 ballot.

The current system for constitutional amendments in Ohio has operated since the modern constitution went into effect in 1912.

Both are part of nationwide battle over abortion rights

The fight over abortion in Ohio is just the latest in an extensive struggle over access to abortion in the aftermath of the Supreme Courts ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, which overturned Roe.

Regardless of whether Issue 1 passes Tuesday, the abortion amendment passing in November would undoubtedly be a major win for abortion rights advocates in a state that moved to ban the procedure after Dobbs.

Referenda have been held in a half-dozen states on abortion access questions over the past year. In each of those votes, the side in favor of abortion rights won.

A measure to state that the Kansas constitution does not protect abortion rights failed last August, in the first major test on abortion rights in the post-Roe world.

Voters in Vermont and California, two solidly liberal states, comfortably approved measures to codify abortion rights in their state constitutions in November, further safeguarding protections already protected through state law.

Michigan voters also approved a state constitutional amendment to protect access to abortion, overturning an almost century-old state ban that went into effect after Dobbs. At the same time, measures that would have put additional restrictions on abortion were narrowly rejected in the conservative-leaning states of Kentucky and Montana.

If the Ohio abortion rights amendment passes in November, it would be a major win for liberals in a state that has been trending red for years.

Jeff Rusnak, an Ohio strategist supporting the abortion amendment, told The Hill last week that the Tuesday measure can be a change election that sets the stage for November.

Advocates are also engaging in efforts to put abortion rights on the ballot in several other states.

Those on both sides of Issue 1 have said they expect higher turnout than usual for a special election, given the attention that has been given to it.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Why is it interesting that U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham responded harshly to Dmitry Medvedev's latest threat to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine?

Read also: Retired Russian colonel proposes blowing up the North Pole to send message to the West

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican, has responded to Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of the Security Council of the aggressor country of Russia, who threatened to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine. According to the American politician, the use of nuclear weapons against Ukraine would be an attack on NATO itself. "To my Russian friends who are talking about the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine: You have to understand that this would be an attack on NATO itself, given Ukraine's proximity to NATO territory," he wrote on Twitter.

Here we have to understand that Graham is a veteran of the Senate. That is, he belongs to an informal Areopagus. He remembers the collapse of the Soviet Union, how it all happened, how Russia was defeated. He knows what to say to Russians.

Read also: Medvedev says Russia could use nuclear weapons to end war in matter of days

Even before the start of the counteroffensive operations in the south, Lindsey Graham came to Ukraine and said that the way America is helping Ukraine, all these billions of dollars of military aid, is the best investment, perhaps, in the history of the country in destroying the enemies of the United States. At such a low cost to the United States, without direct intervention in the conflict, the threat to Americans is being reduced. Moscow's response to this was so strong that it could be heard as far away as Beijing. They then began to shout that America was preparing for World War III and all that.

The second point is: why do people in the West pay attention to Dmitry Medvedev?

Medvedev used to be the Prime Minister and even President of Russia, and was considered in the West to be a representative of the so-called "liberal wing" of the Russian regime, as they thought at the time. It is clear that they were sorely mistaken. But he is a person who is close to Putin and should be listened to. When he says something, you have to listen. He also broadcasts the Kremlin's ideas.

What is interesting about the current situation with Graham's response to Medvedev? The deputy secretary of the Russian Security Council, ex-President Medvedev, was actually demoted to the level of a United States senator. There is such an important thing here - in information, formal and informal interstate communications, who communicates with whom.

Read also: A Tricky Game for the Kremlin? Now it is Clear what Putin is Doing  opinion

In other words, Medvedev was effectively told to speak only with one of the hundred U.S. senators. This is your level. This is how we take you "seriously." This again emphasizes how the United States is unafraid of these political statements. In fact, the United States has enough technical and intelligence means to monitor the territory of Russia 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and any movements around, near, towards, or away from the so-called nuclear facilities, whether they are mines or storage facilities for all these nuclear arsenals. US officials very carefully weigh their political decisions at a high level, whether it's the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, or the US General Staff. Therefore, when such statements are made about certain nuclear moves by Russia at this level, it already indicates some grounds for concern and some preparations.

When Lindsey Graham talks about the nuclear threat, it is simply the United States once again showing the Russian leaders' place and at what level they will communicate with them. They are demonstrating that they realize that this is a bluff. Any sound from Medvedev is a bluff that should not be taken seriously.

Another interesting point: Republican Lindsey Graham, together with Democrat Richard Blumenthal, Senator from Connecticut, co-authored a congressional resolution that says that an attack on Ukraine with nuclear weapons should be considered an attack on NATO with a corresponding response. Of course, this is a political resolution, not a law. But if Congress adopts the resolution, it is not customary for the executive branch to ignore such things. It is a political instruction to act. If the executive branch ignores it, it should go to Congress and explain why it has a different opinion. It would also have to happen publicly in front of the Senate and in front of the entire American people. So now, look at the situation.

That's why the United States has a very serious, interesting internal dialog

The Kremlin is burying itself deeper and deeper with missile strikes and drone attacks on our cities. For example, they launched an Iskander at Kryvyi Rih. People were killed  a terrible tragedy. Let's compare this to another situation that happened on September 11, 2001. When airplanes also hit office buildings, thousands died in New York. It was a colossal tragedy. What did the Americans do with the organizer of these attacks? They found him and killed him. It was a terrorist act. And then, tell me, from the point of view of American voters, how does that act in New York differ from what they did in Kryvyi Rih, what they did in Mariupol, and what they did in many cities? There is no difference. It is the same act of terrorism. That's why the Senators are right. They say: here we have a terrorist who must be destroyed before he destroys humanity. The executive branch has to do something about it.

The Biden administration will not be able to get away with it for long. That's why the United States has a very serious, interesting internal dialog. It involves serious people from the Pentagon, the State Department, and the Central Intelligence Agency. The Kremlin should have no illusions that there are no plans to destroy Putin. Putin can be destroyed in the same way as bin Laden, just by different means.

The main argument is that Ukraine is not a NATO member, and no one has any obligations to Ukraine. But, I'm sorry, the NATO text is not strictly tied to each country. The point is that each country acts as it can. Each country fights as hard as it can.

Read also: Paralyzed Putin did nothing despite knowing of Wagner rebellion in advance  Washington Post

During the Cold War, it was clear what awaited the Soviet Union. An attack on West Berlin, or small Denmark, or any small Italian island, it doesn't matter if it's Greek or Turkish territory, it would be a war with the whole of NATO. The point is that if Putin is allowed to break Ukraine or destroy Ukraine, he will not stop. He will go further and destroy further, continuing to use nuclear blackmail.

Let's be honest; if Putin is not stopped, it only means that nuclear blackmail is working for him. That all these talks about nuclear weapons are working. Then China will use nuclear blackmail to take over Taiwan. A whole host of other things then arise. Iran will use nuclear weapons allowed to it by Russia. The world could simply explode. There are people in the American establishment, both in the Senate and in the government, who say that if we don't stop Putin now, we will face a crisis that we simply cannot digest or that we will not survive. So we need to be proactive.

That is why there is this discussion about inviting Ukraine to NATO, and the sooner it happens (there is talk of a deadline for the Washington NATO summit), the less risk that the whole world will be drawn into a nuclear catastrophe. On the other hand, there is no need to harbor illusions. There is still another side in the United States. There is Trump, who says that this is all nonsense and that it is possible to reconcile Zelenskyy with Putin. Such talk is a threat to us. We must also work systematically and not only at the state level to counter this threat.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin. GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images

The Kremlin's spokesperson said Russia "theoretically" doesn't need to hold presidential elections next year.

The elections don't need to happen because "it's obvious that Putin will be reelected," Dmitry Peskov said.

Putin has maintained a tight grip on power, making his 2024 re-election all but certain.

A spokesperson for the Kremlin said this week that Russia "theoretically" doesn't need to hold presidential elections next year because it's "obvious" that Vladimir Putin will win.

Dmitry Peskov, Putin's chief spokesperson, described Russia's presidential election as "not really democracy" but "costly bureaucracy" in an interview with The New York Times over the weekend.

"Mr, Putin will be reelected next year with more than 90 percent of the vote," he added.

After the article was published, Peskov claimed he was misquoted by The Times and tried to clarify his comments, telling Russia's RBK news outlet that the 2024 election "theoretically" doesn't need to happen because "it's obvious that Putin will be reelected."

Putin's reelection in March 2024 is indeed almost certain; but the Russian leader has largely maintained his grip on power by cracking down on the independent press, reportedly approving the assassinations and imprisonment of dissidents and political rivals; and approving a sweeping change to Russia's constitution that allows him to stay in power until 2036.

Next year's presidential election  if it happens  will also come amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Putin, who described the invasion as a "special military operation," has characterized it as being essential to Russia's survival as a nation, but the war is increasingly unpopular among Russian citizens and even within the Russian military.

One Russian inmate told The New York Times in June that he believed he was signing up to become an army construction worker when a government official recruited him from prison. Instead, he was sent to the frontlines in eastern Ukraine and captured by Ukrainian forces a few days later.

Other Russian soldiers said that they were "fucking fooled like little kids" and had no clue they were being sent to a war zone. In one audio recording previously obtained by The Times, a Russian soldier told his mother during a phone conversation that "no one told us we were going to war. They warned us one day before we left."

Read the original article on Business Insider
At a large, new facility on Michigan State University's campus, the boundaries of nuclear science are being taken further than they've ever gone before. And scientists from around the world are lining up to get involved.

The Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, or FRIB, is a three-decade dream. The $730 million facility took almost 14 years to build, and was made possible by more than $635.5 million from the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science and $94.5 million from the state of Michigan. The first experiments were conducted at FRIB in May 2022.

FRIB moves stable atoms through a 1,600-foot linear accelerator shaped like a giant paper clip, taking them to half the speed of light to collide with targets and, in a billionth of a trillionth of one second, create rare isotopes almost never seen on Earth.

A 'dream of the nuclear science community'

These exotic isotopes are increasingly found to have specialized applications for health care, national security and industry. But they are also helping scientists understand fundamental questions about the world around us.

"We are exploring, theoretically, the limits of atoms," said FRIB Science Director Brad Sherrill.

"How is the atomic nucleus even possible? Why do atoms exist at all? We want to develop a predictive model of atomic nuclei and how they interact. That turns out to be important for a lot of reasons, not just our fundamental curiosity.

"FRIB is a long-term dream of the nuclear science community of a tool that is really needed."

MSU on Friday announced the commitment of an additional $529 million from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science for FRIB to continue its groundbreaking research over the next five years.

The measurements of exotic isotopes that FRIB enables are expected to advance understanding of even more cosmic questions: phenomena such as neutron stars and answers to the origins of our own atoms and elements in the universe.

"As famously noted by the late astronomer Carl Sagan, we are all made of star stuff. Or are we?" said Timothy Hallman, associate director for nuclear physics at the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.

Various workstations are set up to complete intricate multistep processes inside the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University in East Lansing on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023.

"The elements inside us and around us were produced in the cosmos and not on planet Earth  thats for sure. But was it in the violent supernovae collapse of stars, or was it in the merger of colliding neutron stars? Or something else completely? The Facility for Rare Isotope Beams was built to answer the processes and location in the cosmos where elements key to our life and existence were forged," Hallman said.

"In the process, it will be a watershed of new knowledge and technology key to other national priorities such as nuclear nonproliferation, nuclear medicine, space exploration and the discovery of physics beyond our current understanding."

'Imagine not having to recharge your phone for, like, nine years'

But for those looking for more down-to-earth applications, FRIB is enabling a line of research at Michigan State into promethium. The isotope promethium 147 holds promise as a nuclear battery.

"Promethium 147 is fantastic because it doesn't have a gamma associated with it really at all, which makes it OK to use around a human," said Alyssa Gaiser, an MSU assistant chemistry professor."So imagine not having to recharge your phone for, like, nine years. Awesome, right?"

It's not explosive

And for those whose alarm for all things atomic was enhanced by the movie "Oppenheimer," rest easy.

An atomic explosion can occur two ways: fusing light things together, like our sun fuses hydrogen to helium; or fissioning heavy things, like uranium, said FRIB Laboratory Director Thomas Glasmacher.

"But for all of these things, to make an explosion, you need many, many nuclei  you need moles of the stuff," he said.

A mole is a big number; a 6 with 23 zeroes after it. At the most, the FRIB deals with atoms at 10 to the 13th power per second  still a huge number, but 10 zeroes shy of being anywhere near atomic explosion range.

Chirag Vyas, project manager and scientist, left, and Thomas Glasmacher, FRIB laboratory director, look at a machine for isotope harvesting inside the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University in East Lansing on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. In the radiochemistry lab, isotopes from beam dump water are collected and produce purified radioisotopes for different applications such as nuclear astrophysics to nuclear medicine.

"We have such small amounts, we just can't do it  we wouldn't do it," he said with a laugh, "But we are physically unable to do it." Similarly, the FRIB activities also don't pose a potential radioactivity hazard like a nuclear power plant, as there is no ongoing radioactivity, he said.

"We are not a reactor; we are an accelerator," he said. "We are sticking energy in to smash those atoms. But when the energy stops, the acceleration stops."

Isotopes: Same element, different nuclear structure

To better understand what the FRIB does and why, let's go back to physical science class. You  and everyone and everything around you  are made of atoms. They are the smallest units of matter. They consist of an inner nucleus made up of positively charged protons; neutrons that have no charge; and surrounded by a cloud of electrons with a negative charge.

The same element can be built in slightly different ways atomically, depending on the number of neutrons in its nucleus. Those different atoms, with different numbers of neutrons but the same chemical properties, are isotopes. For example, carbon occurs naturally in three isotopes: carbon-12, which has six neutrons (plus six protons equals 12; hence the number), carbon-13, which has seven neutrons, and carbon-14, which has eight neutrons.

Those one or two extra neutrons can make the properties of isotopes quite different from one another. Carbon-12 is stable, meaning it never undergoes radioactive decay. But carbon-14 is unstable and undergoes radioactive decay with a half-life of about 5,730 years, meaning that half of the material will be gone after 5,730 years. This decay means the amount of carbon-14 in an object tells its age, which is why archaeologists and similar science fields use carbon-14 dating.

Many isotopes are very unstable and can exist in that form for only a very short time; others can last billions of years. Gold has 40 known isotopes, and another 20 not yet seen but theorized by scientists to exist. But only one is stable and typically encountered; the naturally occurring gold that makes necklaces, rings and watches.

Many unstable isotopes give off radioactive energy as they decay. And science and industry have figured out how to put that to use. An isotope of the element fluorine, known as Fluorine-18, is frequently used in medical PET scans. Its radioactivity lasts long enough to generate body scans for health professionals, but dissipates within two hours, making it safer to use with patients.

How it works  and why it's so cold

The FRIB moves stable atoms through a gas of electrons, which removes the atom's electrons, creating a positively charged ion. Those ions are then guided into the linear accelerator, where they are moved through 46 cryomodules across a superconducting material, speeded ever faster through alternating voltages  eventually up to about half the speed of light, which is 186,000 miles per second.

Zach Constan, outreach coordinator for FRIB, stands near a cryomodule inside the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University in East Lansing on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023.

As the stream of ions strikes a target, the resulting collisions cause the ions to lose or gain neutrons or protons and become unstable. This causes them to create thousands of rare isotopes, themselves highly unstable  often existing for only the smallest fraction of a second.

"The ones we are interested in, we can separate them very quickly," Sherrill said. "In a few hundred nanoseconds  a few billionths of a second  we can direct them to the experimental device, catch them and do the measurements."

FRIB requires cryogenics, extreme cold. Conducting this type of activity at room temperature using a common electrical conduit like copper would result in tremendous energy use and loss, as well as damaging heat release, said Ting Xu, director of FRIB's Superconducting Radiofrequency and Superconducting Magnet Department. The method used by FRIB requires 2 to 3 megawatts of power, about 3 million watts; as opposed to a gigawatt of power  1 billion watts  that would be needed to do the same things at room temperature.

Room temperature would also require a much larger construction to do the same activities  "probably bigger than the MSU campus," Xu said.

Duncan Kroll, a graduate research assistant, shows a helium purifier he works on inside the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University in East Lansing on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023.

To reach the extremely cold temperatures needed, 4.5 degrees Kelvin, or about minus 450 degrees Fahrenheit, requires the use of liquid helium, the only element that doesn't solidify at that extreme temperature. To meet its need for liquid helium, FRIB built and runs its own helium cryogenic plant, one of the largest helium liquefaction plants anywhere in the world. Most of the cryogenic system infrastructure is designed, fabricated and installed by FRIB staff and students.

"Developing the equipment, that's important. But that's not sufficient if we don't have a skilled workforce," said Nusair Hassan, FRIB senior cryogenics engineer.

MSU has developed a Cryogenic Initiative with its College of Engineering "to train the future cryogenic engineers, system designers and researchers," he said. The skills will also have utility in emerging sectors such as aerospace and quantum computing.

Using the leftovers to fight cancer

When a company, a researcher or the U.S. or a foreign government comes to FRIB looking for answers about a particular rare isotope, the beam creating it often makes thousands of other isotopes not relevant to that experiment.

But MSU chemists are developing a program to work with FRIB, capture and separate those leftover isotopes, and isolate valuable ones for emerging uses in health care and other fields.

"We kind of work in the background and pull out things which we can use to do other experiments," said MSU associate professor of chemistry Greg Severin.

Alyssa Gaiser, assistant professor of chemistry, left, Thomas Glasmacher, FRIB laboratory director, and Greg Severin, associate professor in the chemistry department, show a radiochemistry lab for isotope harvesting inside the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University in East Lansing on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. In the lab, isotopes from beam dump water are collected and produce purified radioisotopes for different applications such as nuclear astrophysics to nuclear medicine.

Added Gaiser, "The primary beam at FRIB does not get used, and it gets put into this water pit, where we as radiochemists get to hand-pick whatever we want to play with  which is fantastic."

The medical industry is increasingly interested in using difficult-to-produce radioisotopes in internal radiotherapy, using radioactivity to destroy cancer, Severin said.

"Now that chemistry is so good at targeting the cancers, now we can attach radioisotopes which can ... really pinpoint target the cancer and just do damage to the cancer," he said.

Severin noted research with the rare isotope actinium-225, which has caused a dramatic reduction  "basically an elimination"  of metastatic cancer in patients to whom it has been administered.

Before and after images of a single patient with end-stage metastatic prostate cancer treated with the isotope actinium-225. The first image was taken before treatment, the second after three doses of actinium-225, and the third after an additional dose. The patient was treated at the University Hospital Heidelberg in Germany.

"That isotope that people want to use to do this therapy, actinium-225, is exceptionally hard to make," Severin said. "But it's one that gets made as a byproduct of normal operations of FRIB. So our project is to try to pull that out and get it into a useful form so that the clinicians can start getting it into practice."

Gaiser is also involved in the MSU Chemistry Department's isotope harvesting program, studying prometheum  that promising, nuclear but non-health-harming battery isotope, also potentially useful for PET imaging in health care. Other radionuclides could be attached to radium "so that we can send it to other parts of the body and treat other forms of cancer" besides bone metastasized cancers for which it now has utility.

The program hopes to be capturing leftover isotopes by next year.

MSU a nuclear science leader since the 1950s

Michigan State University started a nuclear physics program in 1958, and within three years had a National Science Foundation-funded cyclotron, a type of particle accelerator. The world's first superconducting cyclotron, the K500, became operational at MSU in 1982 and upgraded capabilities.

MSU's nuclear physics graduate program has been top-ranked in the U.S. for 28 years, awarding 10% of the nuclear physics doctorate degrees awarded in the country.

But despite that rich history, Glasmacher said he wasn't overly confident as MSU decided to compete for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science's request for proposals to construct a facility for rare isotope beams.

"We sent in a 700-page proposal that June, and then we had to go to Maryland and present about 2,000 slides," he said. "They broke us into groups and put us on video."

The proposal had powerful, bipartisan allies in Congress: then-U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, a Democrat; and Republican Rep. Mike Rogers, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee who later became chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

"Sen. Levin would always tell me, 'Now listen, I can't win this for you. But I can give you a fair chance,'" Glasmacher said.

With support from the state of Michigan, corporations and unions, MSU won the bid for $550 million in federal funds to build FRIB in December 2008. The state and university would contribute nearly $200 million more, much of it involving MSU campus property.

"The industrial infrastructure we have, and also the workforce we have, it was key to our success," Glasmacher said.

'A serendipitous byproduct'  microchip testing

When the federal government provides hundreds of millions of dollars to build your facility, and an additional $120 million a year to help operate it, when it asks for your help with a problem, you do what you can.

The Department of Energy's Office of Science last year asked FRIB whether it could help with a pressing national concern: microchip testing capacity and capability.

"Cosmic rays are heavy ions that bombard us all the time here on Earth," Glasmacher said. "We are exposed to them, but for chips, which are getting smaller and smaller, they can be damaged when a heavy ion hits a piece of silicon just right."

That's problematic for the U.S. military, its satellites, vehicles and other equipment. But also for commercial satellites, cars, and airplanes.

Senior scientist Walter Hartung, left, mentors Sara Zeidan, an undergrad research assistant with the Accelerator Science and Engineering Traineeship (ASET), as they work on a plasma cleaning of a half wave cavity at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University in East Lansing on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023.

Now, companies such as Boeing, Texas Instruments and Raytheon are using FRIB's facilities to test microchips. It's led to a whole new niche of study: corporate-supported students gaining the education and skills to test microchips, skills with nearly immediate marketability.

With the need ever increasing, the U.S. Department of Defense recently granted MSU $14 million to refurbish its old K500 cyclotron from the early 1980s to facilitate even more microchip testing.

The next generation of cellphones, so-called 6G, will apparently be satellite-based, Glasmacher said. "So they have got to do many more satellites for the next generation of cellphones."

That means more microchips and more chip testing.

"It's a serendipitous byproduct," he said.

Creating future scientists  and finding the occasional prodigy

Maya Wallach is a FRIB veteran. After a summer internship there, she came to MSU to study and work with FRIB as a student last fall. She spent last summer at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico and this summer at Fermilab in Illinois. She started her master's degree coursework at MSU last semester, and wrote a computer program that uses available data to predict the size of neutrons. That program is now at the foundation of the work of a FRIB-affilated Ph.D. student. "Now we have a full-blown research program that is spawned from" Maya's computer program, said Paul Gueye, an associate professor of physics at MSU. Maya Wallach is 17 years old.

She's an unusually gifted example of FRIB's focus on providing exposure and opportunity for pre-college students to nuclear physics.

MSU sophomore Maya Wallach, then 16, pictured with MSU Associate Professor of Physics Paule Gueye, Tuesday, Nov 23, 2021, at the Facility of Rare Isotope Beams at Michigan State University.

Growing up in a family of educators in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Maya always displayed a thirst for knowledge and a knack for computer programming going back to third grade.

She won a regional science fair as a high school freshman by developing a computer program that studied mass shooters' manifestos and then Twitter data to screen for potential future shooters.

After developing an interest in nuclear and particle physics  but not yet having the advanced math capabilities necessary to fully understand it  Maya wrote computer programs that helped advance her interest.

"What about it appealed to me? I'm not really sure, to be honest," Maya said.

At that point in her exploration, Maya had gone beyond where her parents could take her educationally, Maya's mother, Kenya Wallach, said. "I try to get my kids to have 'educated others' whenever they have something that is of deep interest to them," she said.

The mother reached out to area physicists, and a couple at Virginia Union University who knew Gueye told the Wallachs about him and FRIB. After some online meetings, Maya attended FRIB's PING program, Physicists Inspiring the Next Generation, a two-week summer program exposing high schoolers from around the country to nuclear physics, using undergraduate students at MSU as mentors.

Seeing her potential, Gueye took her under his wing. He initially gave her very elementary physics material, and after she breezed through that, increased the difficulty to material he typically presents to second-year undergraduate students. Maya kept devouring the information with aptitude.

"It was at that point I realized we have somebody here who is not normal," Gueye said.

That's when he reached out to Maya's parents with a startling proposal.

"He told me, 'I think Maya needs to be done with high school. I need her at Michigan State,'" Kenya Wallach recalled. Maya was in the summer before her sophomore year of high school.

Maya Wallach, then 16, a Michigan State University physics student, speaks with Allena Opper, National Science Foundation program director for experimental nuclear physics, during an October 2022 conference of the American Physical Society's Division of Nuclear Physics in New Orleans.

"Of course, I put it into Maya's hands," her mother said. "Maya had to make the decision whether she wanted to do this or not. Yes, she was 14 at the time, but it's her journey; not mine.

"She decided that was something she wanted to explore."

It helped that because of COVID-19 restrictions, Maya finished high school  and the first year-plus of MSU academic coursework  at home with her family's nearby support.

Gueye expects that by next spring, Maya will be completed or nearly completed with her master's degree in physics at Michigan State.

Where are her academic interests leading her professionally? Like many young people around her age, Maya doesn't know yet.

"I try to keep an open mind with what I want to be," she said.

Expanding what is possible in 'the FRIB era'

Since beginning experiments in May 2022, FRIB has created 200 rare isotope beams, supporting nearly 500 experiments. Two research papers from those first experiments have already been published in scientific journals.

The facility utilizes 400 Michigan State staff, 200 students and scores more researchers from around the U.S. and world. FRIB last month announced a collaboration with the French government's Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique to establish the International Research Laboratory on Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics at FRIB. Two French scientists will be stationed in East Lansing long-term to conduct ongoing research.

"The French are really good at nuclear physics, and they want to associate with us and put some of their people here, some of their government-paid researchers, at MSU to make discoveries," Glasmacher said. "We welcome the collaboration. We need the best people in the world to make the best discoveries."

The isotope beam typically operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with requests for "beam time" outpacing availability by about 3-to-1. An international panel of experts in nuclear physics helps sift through proposals and prioritize requests.

All told, FRIB has meant a nearly $1.7 billion investment in Michigan, with ongoing annual support from the federal government of $120 million a year, with more than 80% of that expenditure and economic impact staying in the Great Lakes State, Glasmacher said.

Mejdi Mogannam, a Ph.D. student, left, and Rebeka Lubna, a post-doctoral researcher, work with a clover detector at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University in East Lansing on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023.

As FRIB expands what can now be known about atomic nuclei and the origins of elements in the universe, FRIB officials have already begun planning for an even more powerful rare isotope beam, years down the road, that will enable even more discovery.

"In a lot of the meetings with scientists, the discussion has moved toward what kind of new science can we do now that FRIB is available  even using the words, 'in the FRIB era,' " Severin said.

"So it's my impression it has made quite a stir in the community."

Contact Keith Matheny: kmatheny@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: MSU's Facility for Rare Isotope Beams probes atom's, universe's secrets
 Read the full article on Motorious

This relaunch reinforces the Land Cruiser's enduring legacya perfect blend of the past and present.

The iconic Toyota Land Cruiser is marking its return, boasting a brand-new retro design, just three years after its North American discontinuation. This comeback underlines a growing trend of melding contemporary technology with vintage aesthetics in vehicles, especially in the SUV segment.

See a teenagers missing car found by a YouTuber here.

Toyota's decision is in tandem with a rising demand for SUVs that reflect classic truck aesthetics. A notable example is Ford's recent relaunch of the Bronco in 2021, aimed at tapping into the renewed fascination with vintage brands. The Land Cruiser, with its enduring legacy, is no different.

Interestingly, the latest iteration of the Land Cruiser presents a more compact version than its 2021 model, which bore a close resemblance to the luxurious Lexus LX. Previously priced at a hefty starting figure above $80,000, the revamped Land Cruiser is projected to start at a more affordable $55,000. This price shift indicates Toyota's intent to take the vehicle back to its original personaa rugged adventurer rather than a sophisticated city traveler. The car is slated for release in the U.S. by spring 2024.

For enthusiasts eager to embrace the authentic Land Cruiser spirit, Toyota is set to release the 'Land Cruiser 1958 Edition'. This special edition pays homage to the year the SUV was first introduced in the U.S., and will feature traditional design elements such as round headlights. Additionally, a limited series of 5,000 'First Edition' models, showcasing a two-tone paint job and enhanced off-road gear, will hit the market.

While the 2024 Land Cruiser may exude a vintage vibe, under the hood, it's all modern. The SUV will be equipped with a hybrid system, combining a 2.4-liter gas engine and an electric motor, delivering an impressive 326 horsepower. Toyota's commitment to hybrids remains unwavering, even as they venture into producing more fully electric vehicles, emphasizing their role in carbon emission reductions.

The Land Cruiser's rich history traces back to its initial development during the Korean War era, designed to accompany the renowned Jeeps. Although the early model wasnt an instant hit, by 1960, with improved features and a robust dealer network, the Series 40 Land Cruiser became a bestseller, solidifying its reputation in the American market.

Land Cruisers hold a special place worldwide, particularly in regions with challenging terrains. Their durability and reliability have made them a staple in such areas. For many, the Land Cruiser is more than just a vehicle; it's a dependable partner in daily life, ensuring safe commutes in the most challenging conditions.

Over the years, the early Land Cruiser models have grown significantly in the collector's market. Classic Land Cruisers were among the pioneering SUVs to appreciate in value, with some models fetching over $100,000 between 2010 and 2015.

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People walk along a flooded road along the bank of overflowing Bagmati river following heavy rains, in Kathmandu

Landslides, floods kill 38 so far as monsoon rains lash Nepal People walk along a flooded road along the bank of overflowing Bagmati river following heavy rains, in Kathmandu

By Gopal Sharma

KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Landslides caused by heavy rain have killed at least one person, and blocked a major highway in Nepal this week, officials said on Tuesday, as the death toll from the annual monsoon rains nears 40.

The rains, which lash the Himalayan nation from June to September, kill scores of people every year, and many more go missing as the monsoon triggers landslides and floods.

This year, 38 people have died and at least 33 people are missing, Mana Acharya, an official at the home ministry said.

Rescue workers are also searching for another 6 people who have gone missing after a landslide swept away their home in a village near Kathmandu, she added.

Landslides have also blocked a major highway connecting the capital with the southern plains, police said.

Rains have also caused the Bagmati river in the Kathmandu Valley to breach its banks, flooding areas of the region that is home to about four million people.

Television channels showed footage of people trying to bail flood waters out of their homes. Authorities have also asked residents near the eastern Sindhuli River to evacuate as the water rises.

(Reporting by Gopal Sharma; editing by Miral Fahmy)
A motorcyclist heading the wrong way on I-5 was killed after colliding with an oncoming car.

The collision occurred Tuesday around 4:06 a.m. on Interstate 5, just south of Lake Samish Road near milepost 240 in Whatcom County. All northbound lanes of traffic were blocked for about three hours.

The motorcyclist, a 38-year-old man from Monroe, Washington, was airlifted to a hospital, where he died from his injuries, according to a social media post from Washington State Patrol public information officer Kelsey Harding.

The motorcyclist was heading south in the northbound farthest left lane, or fast lane, Harding told The Bellingham Herald.

His name was not immediately released.

The driver of the other vehicle, 25-year-old Julio C Jimenez from Mount Vernon, was transported to Skagit Valley Hospital. Details about his injuries are unknown.

A detour route through Bow Hill Road was established at the time. The traffic backup reached as far south as Burlington, according to a WSDOT traffic map.

The roadway has been cleared and all lanes were reopened about 7 a.m.
An Argentine restaurant group is opening its first venture into the U.S. in Miami.

A concept from Grupo Alfoz, a company with more than 10 restaurants in Argentina and recently Tulum, is opening Chimba in Midtown Miami this month.

The restaurant, which is in the process of a soft opening, is an all-day restaurant that highlights Latin influences from Argentina, Mexico and Peru.

Franco Yannelli, co-founder of Grupo Alfoz, said that opening a spot in Miami has long been a dream of the group.

Weve always wanted to open in Miami because of the strong sense of Latin American culture, he said. Miamis culinary scene is only growing, and were thrilled to be in the middle of it.

The bar at Chimba restaurant in Midtown.

Helming the kitchen is Nicaraguan-born chef Kevin Acosta, who was a chef at Pura Vida and worked in such hotel kitchens as The Setai on Miami Beach.

The menu will feature small and large plates and everything from acai bowls to empanadas. Other highlights are the provoleta with grilled provolone, cherry tomatoes and grilled peppers; a beet arepa filled with pork carnitas and smoked Gouda; and a cured fish on sourdough toast with cream cheese and crispy sunchoke.

Theres also a choripan sandwich with chorizo and shrimp chaufa (Peruvian fried rice).

Chimba will also offer specialty cocktails like the Huancaina Sour with Caravedo pisco, passionfruit juice, pineapple syrup, lime and egg white and the Terre Collins shaken with gin, yerba mate syrup, sauvignon blanc, grapefruit and lemon juice, basil and fever tree tonic.

The 4,500-square-foot-restaurant, which features abstract art by Argentine and Mexican artists, seats 100 inside and 60 on an outdoor patio. The decor is imported from Mexico, Brazil and Nicaragua, with a neon light proclaiming We are all Chimbas for your Instagramming pleasure.

Outdoor seating at Chimba in Midtown Miami.

Chimba

Where: 2830 NE Second Ave., Miami

Hours: 9 a.m.-midnight Tuesday-Sunday starting Aug. 18; soft opening hours 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Reservations: OpenTable or 786-558-5898

More information: www.ChimbaMiami.com

One of the burgers at the new Chimba restaurant in Miami.

Its the place to be: World-famous chef opens new restaurant in Miami near waterfront
Two US lawmakers raise security concerns about Chinese cellular modules FILE PHOTO: FCC commissioners testify before U.S. Congress in Washington

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Two U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday asked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to address questions about potential security concerns involving cellular modules made by Chinese companies including Quectel and Fibocom Wireless.

The Republican chair of the House of Representatives China Select Committee, Mike Gallagher, and the panel's top Democrat, Raja Krishnamoorthi, in a letter to FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel raised alarm that U.S. medical equipment, vehicles and farm equipment could be accessed and controlled remotely from China if they use Chinese-made cellular modules.

An FCC spokesperson said the commission "will closely review the committees letter. We take very seriously the security of U.S. networks and equipment" and noted commissioners have "taken strong actions on a bipartisan basis to remove untrustworthy equipment and network operators from U.S. networks."

The companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Cellular modules are components that enable internet of things (IoT) devices to connect to the internet. Noting that they are typically controlled remotely and are the necessary link between the device and the internet, the lawmakers said that if China "can control the module, it may be able to effectively exfiltrate data or shut down the IoT device. This raises particularly grave concerns in the context of critical infrastructure and any type of sensitive data."

In September, the FCC named Chinese telecom companies Pacific Networks, its wholly owned subsidiary ComNet (USA), and China Unicom (Americas) as threats to U.S. national security under a 2019 law aimed at protecting communications networks.

In March 2021, the FCC initially designated five Chinese companies under its "Covered List" - including Huawei Technologies, ZTE, Hytera Communications, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology and Zhejiang Dahua Technology.

The lawmakers asked the FCC to consider using the Covered List to address Chinese-owned cellular modules and to answer if the commission can track the presence of Quectel, Fibocom and other modules provided by Chinese companies.

In 2022, the Chinese Embassy in Washington said the FCC "abused state power and maliciously attacked Chinese telecom operators again without factual basis." Huawei has repeatedly denied allegations of wrongdoing.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Leslie Adler and Lisa Shumaker)
Porcha Woodruff is the third Black Detroiter to be wrongfully arrested after flawed facial recognition technology used by police falsely tied her to a crime she did not commit, according to a federal lawsuit filed against the city and the detective who put her behind bars.

It's a case made more shocking by the fact that Woodruff was eight months pregnant when Detroit police handcuffed and arrested her in front of her crying children Feb. 16, accusing her of carjacking and robbery  and the fact that the detective on the case knew the perpetrator of the crimes wasn't visibly pregnant, but did nothing to investigate further, Woodruff's lawyer, Ivan Land, argued in the wrongful arrest and imprisonment lawsuit.

A bank of monitors show surveillance footage from around the city used by Detroit police.

Even though Woodruff and others emphasized to police that Woodruff is pregnant and could not have committed the crime, she was instead questioned for 11 hours, her phone was taken away and searched, and she was placed in a cell with only a concrete bench, according to the lawsuit.

She suffered severe dehydration and had to be taken to the hospital after she was released on $100,000 bond, the lawsuit claims. The stress of the arrest caused her to have contractions.

Charges against Woodruff were dropped a month later because of insufficient evidence, the lawsuit states.

There was no mention in the police report prepared by LaShauntia Oliver, the detective on the case, that the female suspect appeared to be pregnant. The lawsuit states that when Woodruff asked Oliver during questioning whether the carjacking and robbery victim had described the female suspect as eight months pregnant, Oliver said "no."

When six police officers showed up to her home that February morning while her kids were getting ready for school, she thought the police were joking.

"Are you kidding, carjacking? Do you see that I am eight months pregnant?" she asked officers, according to the lawsuit.

They weren't. She had to ask her young children to wake her fiance up and deliver the news, the lawsuit states: "Mommy is going to jail.

"The need for reform and more accurate investigative methods by the Detroit Police has become evident, as we delve into the troubling implications of facial recognition technology in this case," Land wrote in the lawsuit.

Woodruff is the sixth person to report being falsely accused of a crime because of facial recognition technology, according to the New York Times, which first reported the lawsuit. All six people are Black. Woodruff is the first woman to be falsely accused, but she's also the third case out of Detroit. The lawsuit points to two other high-profile cases in which Detroiters had been wrongfully accused of crimes because of the controversial technology: Robert Williams and Michael Oliver.

More: Controversial Detroit facial recognition got him arrested for a crime he didnt commit

More: Farmington Hills man sues Detroit police after facial recognition wrongly identifies him

Activists who oppose the technology have expressed concern that it perpetuates racist surveillance practices and does little to protect citizens.

"Often, (Detroit Police) is cherry-picking which data theyd like to politicize. But yet when folk wrongfully arrested are consistently Black folk, its not common practice to interrogate the efficacy of the technology," said Kamau Jawara, a lead organizer in metro Detroit for We the People Action Fund.

"We need to be much more thoughtful of what paradigm were setting. What is to be obtained when Black folk whove lived here for years cant move about their neighborhoods freely without feeling the intrusive presence of policing? The public deserves both transparency but also interrogation of surveillance tech (and) all decision makers endorsing it," Jawara added, highlighting other surveillance technologies police have advocated for, including ShotSpotter and license plate readers.

Detroit Police Chief James White said in a statement that he has read the allegations in Woodruff's lawsuit and described them as "very concerning."

"We are taking this matter very seriously, but we cannot comment further at this time due to the need for additional investigation," he said.

"We will provide further information once additional facts are obtained and we have a better understanding of the circumstances.

What led to the arrest

On Jan. 29, a 25-year-old man called Detroit police and reported he had been robbed at gunpoint, according to a police report of the incident. The man told police he met a woman at Hoover Market on the city's east side and drove to the Bellagio Liquor store, where they had sex in the parking lot. Later, the two drove to a BP gas station in the area, where, the victim told police, he saw the woman hug a man in another vehicle. He then dropped the woman off near Bessemore Street and Gratiot Avenue, where the man he saw at the gas station appeared, produced a handgun, pointed it at his chest, robbed him and drove off in his vehicle, according to the police report.

Police soon arrested someone driving the stolen vehicle, and a woman dropped off the victim's cellphone at the BP gas station, the police report states. The woman matched the description the victim gave police of the woman he had been with, according to the police report.

Oliver ran surveillance footage from the BP gas station into the Detroit Police Department's facial recognition technology, DataWorks Plus, which uses a database of criminal mugshots and human analysts to identify unknown suspects.

The technology matched Woodruff's mug shot from a 2015 arrest out of Canton to the surveillance footage, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit alleges false arrest and imprisonment, malicious prosecution, violations of Michigan civil rights law and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

It asks for unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, along with legal fees.

Andrea Sahouri covers criminal justice for the Detroit Free Press. She can be contacted at 313-264-0442, asahouri@freepress.com or on Twitter @andreamsahouri.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Facial recognition tech caused wrongful arrest of pregnant woman
A Mesa woman and her mother who were falsely accused by the woman's ex-husband of leading a political "bribery" operation blame a former state lawmaker for helping spread the claims.

Brittany Thaler and her mother, Dawna Chavez, spoke to the news media for the first time after appearing in a Mesa courtroom Monday for the sentencing of attorney John Thaler on 13 misdemeanor protection-order violations against the women. Facing six months in jail, he skipped the hearing and was on the run from police.

The attorney is the source of bogus allegations aired at a legislative hearing in February that a Mexican drug cartel, with the help of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was bribing local elected officials and judges with forged property deeds.

Outrage over the claims led a majority of Republican state House members to later join Democrats in expelling the Chandler lawmaker, Republican Liz Harris, from office for lying about her role in allowing the testimony.

The allegations, which were reviewed and dismissed by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, are essentially the same as John Thaler made in court in 2021 during a child-custody dispute with his ex-wife. A few years before that, he had made similar claims against another former wife and her mother, court records show.

"It's unfair that somebody gave him a platform to harass and torment my family and everyone else he meets," Brittany Thaler told The Arizona Republic Monday, referring to Harris. "I understand that when you want to believe something so bad that you'll look at crazy delusions as facts. And unfortunately, these are just his crazy delusions and continued attempts to harass me and my family because I chose to escape the abuse."

"He found a forum to continue to harass us," Chavez said. "Harris allowed that. Harris created another situation where we are a victim of his again."

Harris didn't respond to a request for comment.

False allegations continue to spread

Mark Finchem, Arizona secretary of state candidate, listens to a speaker discuss the importance of state elections at the Unite and Win Rally organized by Turning Point Action in Phoenix on Aug. 14, 2022.

The false allegations continue to be spread on social media. Mark Finchem, a former Republican lawmaker who unsuccessfully ran for Secretary of State last year and may run for public office in 2024, has pushed the bogus claims. Steven Steele, the chair of the GOP in Harris' district, which includes Chandler and part of Gilbert, said in July that he's not ruling out the possibility the allegations are true.

While social media pundits and far-right-wing politicians have used the bribery allegations for political purposes, Brittany Thaler and Chavez have had to fight the same bogus claims in lawsuits John Thaler filed against them and other court proceedings. Fortunately for them, they said, a judge ordered John Thaler to pay the family's $115,000 in legal costs. He owes another $46,000 in child support, Brittany Thaler said.

Brittany Thaler was given sole custody of her child with John after their divorce. The women say he's used his legal knowledge to attack them in court and repeatedly defied court orders to quit harassing them.

On Monday, Chavez asked Judge Alicia Lawler to order the highest bond possible to ensure that John Thaler could not leave jail if police should find him.

The judge, noting that Thaler has been charged with seven other yet-to-be-adjudicated, alleged violations of orders of protection that ban Thaler from contacting the women, imposed a $306,000 cash bond. Chavez asked if Thaler could receive more than six months in jail; Lawler said that Thaler received the maximum sentence for each violation but acknowledged they would run concurrently and not be "stacked" to create a longer sentence.

Brittany Thaler told The Republic she met her ex-husband on a dating app and thought he shared her "same ideals and morals." Her mother and friends warned that something about John Thaler didn't seem right to them. Brittany herself found that she didn't like how he talked about his former wives. But she "dismissed" such red flags. After they married in 2016, "it all turned," she said.

"I was abused emotionally, mentally, and I should have left, but I stayed, not understanding what was going on," Brittany Thaler said.

When she did decide to leave him, the attorney fought aggressively over custody of their child. He filed hundreds of pages of complaints and exhibits with courts in Arizona and California, accusing his ex-wife and Chavez of a massive criminal conspiracy.

Somehow, Harris learned of Thaler's allegations. A first-term lawmaker and far-right conspiracy promoter, Harris invited Thaler's girlfriend, insurance agent Jacqueline Breger, to air the claims at the joint state House and Senate hearing in February.

Chavez said Harris should vetted the information and "not allowed it."

"It's sad that people believe it," Brittany Thaler said.

Liz Harris greets people on April 17, 2023, during a Legislative District 13 meeting to nominate three candidates to replace her after she was expelled as state House of Representatives member.

John Thaler tweets after missing court hearing

After the Mesa Municipal Court hearing he skipped, John Thaler tweeted that the hearing was "unlawful."

He wrote that he filed an eight-page brief with 1,500 pages of exhibits in Mesa court on Aug. 4 contesting the proceedings and that he'll file an appeal with the Arizona Court of Appeals within 30 days.

He accused the judge of "illegal" acts in the proceedings. Lawler's name is on the list of alleged bribe-takers that Breger submitted to the Legislature, which also included Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs and Republican House Speaker Ben Toma. He said his upcoming book would expose Mesa government as a "racketeering organization," echoing the false claims of his conspiracy theory.

John Thaler's ability to practice law in Arizona has expired, according to the State Bar of Arizona, but he can still work in California.

He's also facing trial in September on a felony charge of unlawful flight from Tempe police in another case related to his contentious child-custody challenge.

Reach the reporter at rstern@arizonarepublic.com or 480-276-3237. Follow him on Twitter @raystern.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: John Thaler, who alleged bribery of public officials, sought by police
A West Georgia man was sentenced Monday for trafficking methamphetamine across the state of Georgia.

Freddie Strickland, 47 of Villa Rica, was sentenced in Carroll County Superior Court, bringing a case stemming from his September 2020 arrest to a close.

Strickland was arrested by agents from the Georgia Bureau of Investigations West Metro Regional Drug Enforcement Office, while under investigation for distributing meth throughout West Georgia.

He will serve 30 years in prison without parole, plus 60 years of probation once hes released from prison.

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According to the Coweta County Judicial Circuit District Attorney, 12 cases, including 11 from the GBI investigation, and a 12th case filed by the Carrollton Police Departments arrest of Strickland.

In total, all of these cases included 13 counts of Conspiracy to Violate the Georgia Controlled Substances Act, 13 counts of Illegal Use of a Communications Facility, 5 counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, 2 counts of Trafficking Methamphetamine, and 1 count of Possession of Marijuana with the Intent to Distribute, DA John H. Cranford, Jr. said in a statement.

Strickland pled guilty to all of the charges instead of going to trial, according to officials.

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In addition to the charges from 2020, the DAs office said Strickland continued to produce methamphetamine.

The DA said more than 20 others were arrested as co-conspirators, with approximately 40 kilograms of meth, multiple firearms, large amounts of cash, and multiple vehicles all being used to prove Strickland was transporting meth across Georgia.

While he was out on bond from his 2020 arrest, the DA said officers from the Carrollton Police Departments ACE unit executed a search warrant at his home, finding him in a workshop with roughly two kilograms of meth and packing materials in September 2022.

During Stricklands guilty plea, Agent Morris testified that Strickland was the leader of the largest Methamphetamine distribution network that has ever been brought to justice in Carroll County, the DA said in a statement.

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The most important function of local government is to enforce the law and fight crime. The most important concern of a mayor should be public safety. I know that Mayor Reed is concerned about this issue, as is his police chief.

As we consider whether or not to re-elect Mayor Reed, or to elect someone else, we should look at Montgomerys recent crime rates  not so much in relation to what they were last year, but in relation to the state crime rate and the national crime rate.

Federal Bureau of Investigation statistics show that Montgomerys crime rate is still considerably higher than both the state crime rate and the national crime rate, per every 100,000 persons.

Whether or not someone else can do a better job at controlling the too-high crime rate of our city is another question.

Daniel Haulman, Montgomery

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Letter: Montgomery's crime rates are too high
Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot says she has no plans on leaving the Windy City in the wake of her departure from public office.

"I have no intention to leave Chicago. My daughter is a rising sophomore in high school and I want to make sure that I am here and present for her in these most critical years. I think I owe it to my wife to be physically present and take on a greater share of the parenting and household responsibility," Lightfoot told WGN-TVs Paul Lisnek Sunday when asked if she would leave the city for a political appointment.

"Plus, I love the city. Im not going anywhere."

Lightfoot lost her re-election bid back in February, setting the stage for a run-off between two other candidates, with Brandon Johnson ultimately clinching the victory and assuming office in May. Voters cited public safety and crime issues as their top concerns leading up to the election, followed by other issues such as the economy, education and homeless issues.

CHICAGO'S LORI LIGHTFOOT SLAMMED OVER CRIME PIVOT FOLLOWING OUSTING: 'TOO LITTLE TOO LATE'

Under Lightfoots tenure, Chicago was rocked by crime - similar to other cities across the nation in 2020 following the murder of George Floyd and when pandemic restrictions upended day-to-day life. In 2021, Chicago recorded more than 800 homicides, the most the city had on the books since 1996, while simultaneously dealing with other crimes such as smash-and-grab robberies, carjackings and illegal street racing.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

OUSTED CHICAGO MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT URGES DEMS TO 'SPEAK THE TRUTH' ON VIOLENT CRIME AMID SPIKE

Chicago recorded 2,784 homicides and a total of 14,681 shooting incidents, according to police data from under Lightfoots tenure from May 2019 to May 2023. The number of homicides and shooting incidents during Lightfoots administration notched a 9% increase from the 2,546 homicides and 13,421 shootings that took place during her predecessor, Mayor Rahm Emanuels, final term in office.

Lightfoot said during the interview that "voters were choosing between two polar opposites" and lamented that "a lot of the gains that we had made are starting to disappear."

BRANDON JOHNSON WINS CHICAGO MAYORAL CONTEST, REPLACING FORMER MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT

Brandon Johnson stands with then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot before he is sworn in as Chicago mayor on May 15, 2023, at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

"On crime, you live in a city, I live in a city. People are still very concerned and very fearful. And unfortunately, a lot of the gains that we had made are starting to disappear over the course of time. I think fundamentally, we still have to focus on a couple of things. Youve got to deal with the immediate problem of, in my view, still too many violent, dangerous habitual offenders walking the street," Lightfoot said when asked about Johnsons initiatives to open more mental health facilities and work programs in a bid to combat crime.

LORI LIGHTFOOT TORPEDOED AFTER LOSING RE-ELECTION BID: 'GOOD RIDDANCE!'

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot dances in the street during a Lunar New Year Parade.

"That really lies squarely in my view, at the feet of the court, that the courts have to take into consideration, community safety in making pretrial release decisions. I was a broken record on that. I will always be a broken record on that," Lightfoot continued.

The former mayor will serve as a senior leadership fellow at Harvards T.H. Chan School of Public Health during the fall semester, where she will teach a course tentatively titled, "Health Policy and Leadership."
Twelve houses have been bought by a Lincolnshire council to provide homes for families fleeing war zones.

The properties in Langtoft, near Market Deeping, cost 1.8m and will be jointly paid for by the government and South Kesteven District Council.

They will be used as temporary accommodation for Afghan and Ukrainian families who have arrived legally in the UK, the council said.

Afterwards they will be added to the council's social housing stock.

The homes are the first of a total of 21 earmarked for the scheme in the area and are a mix of two and three-bedroom new-build houses and two-bedroom bungalows.

Independent councillor Phil Dilks said the properties were expected to be ready by the end of August.

"This process will help refugees at a time when they need it the most, having escaped the prospect of terrible suffering in their own countries," he said.

"The properties we have identified for purchase provide value for money and, at the same time, enable the council to progress this important project within a challenging timescale."

He added the homes would eventually become "valuable assets to our own property portfolio when the demand for housing is so strong".

The Afghan resettlement prioritises those who assisted the UK with military operations in the country, plus those at greatest risk from the Taliban, the council said.

Schemes to assist Ukraine nationals focus on legal resettlement and support for women and children refugees displaced by the conflict.

Follow BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk.
FILE - Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., speaks during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions confirmation hearing for Julie Su to be the Labor Secretary, on Capitol Hill, Thursday, April 20, 2023, in Washington. Rejani Raveendran, a 40-year-old college student and chair of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point College Republicans, planned to announce her candidacy for the 2024 election against Baldwin. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

MADISON, Wis. (AP)  A longshot candidate for U.S. Senate in Wisconsin who has never run for office in the state before plans to launch her candidacy Tuesday, becoming the first Republican to officially get in the race against Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin.

Rejani Raveendran, a 40-year-old college student and chair of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point College Republicans, planned to announce her candidacy for the 2024 election at an evening event in Stevens Point, according to her campaign.

Several other higher-profile Republicans have decided against taking on Baldwin as she seeks a third term in a presidential election year. U.S. Reps. Mike Gallagher and Tom Tiffany have both opted against a run. Other Republicans considering getting in the race include Madison businessman and 2012 Senate candidate Eric Hovde, Franklin businessman Scott Mayer and former Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke.

Raveendran declined to comment ahead of the campaign launch event to The Associated Press. But in a flyer detailing her candidacy, provided by her campaign, Raveendran said that she decided to run because she felt the political system needed "new people with new ideas.

Raveendran said she is a single mother with three children and is running to bring the perspective of regular people and regular moms to Washington, according to her campaign material. She said that she was motivated to run for the Senate after visiting Washington earlier this spring.

Raveendrans campaign flyer said if elected she will push for eliminating illegal immigration, fight against the woke agenda and preserve the innocence of our children, end the war in Ukraine and push for congressional term limits.

Raveendran plans to graduate with a bachelors degree in political science and a certificate in international relations next year.

She immigrated to the United States in 2011 from India where she was a nurse and midwife. She became a U.S. citizen in 2015 and lived in California before moving to Wisconsin in 2017.

Raveendran told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that she supported former President Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020 and is supporting him again in 2024.
Bernard Kerik, who helped lead a Trump campaign investigation in to false claims of voter fraud, met Monday with prosecutors from special counsel Jack Smiths office.

The meeting comes after Kerik, a former New York City police commissioner, turned over all documents relating to the effort to prosecutors last month.

Timothy Parlatore, Keriks attorney, said the meeting lasted about five hours, though Smith himself was not in attendance.

The meeting was largely to review Keriks role on former Trump attorney Rudy Giulianis team, as they looked for evidence that would back former President Trumps claims of widespread voter fraud.

At the time, they had a good faith basis to believe that there was fraud and they were trying to gather more evidence, Parlatore said. Thats what it was.

Keriks interview follows last weeks indictment of Trump.

Parlatore said he does not expect Kerik will be charged in the probe.

Kerik previously pleaded guilty on tax crimes charges and was pardoned by Trump in 2020.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Los Angeles city employees picket outside City Hall on Tuesday. (David Crane/Orange County Register via AP)

A major strike in Los Angeles and Marvel Studios visual effects artists moving toward unionization are the latest actions in what appears to be a reenergized labor movement in the U.S.

California has been the epicenter of labor activity, with union leaders coining the term hot labor summer. Writers and actors, both striking for the first time in more than half a century, and picketing hotel workers were joined by thousands of members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) walking off the job.

Another shutdown in L.A.

Thousands of Los Angeles city employees, including sanitation workers, engineers and traffic officers, walked off the job for a 24-hour strike, alleging unfair labor practices. (David Crane/Orange County Register via AP)

On Tuesday, 11,000 municipal workers in Los Angeles launched a 24-hour strike to protest what they called bad-faith negotiating by the city. SEIU Local 721s contract was agreed to last year and runs through the end of 2023, but workers say the city has not considered hundreds of proposals as it had promised. City mechanics, sanitation workers, lifeguards, traffic officers and airport personnel were among those striking.

Despite repeated attempts by city workers to engage management in a fair bargaining process, the city has flat-out refused to honor previous agreements at the bargaining table, prompting workers to file Unfair Labor Practice charges with the City of Los Angeles Employee Relations Board, the union said in a statement.

Picketing began early Tuesday, including at Los Angeles International Airport and City Hall. Mayor Karen Bass said the city was not going to shut down but acknowledged that there would be delays in service, adding, "The city will always be available to make progress with SEIU 721, and we will continue bargaining in good faith."

Thousands of hotel workers in the city have already been staging rolling walkouts over the last month after their contract expired at the end of June. On Monday, the union held a protest over claims of hotel security being violent with picketers.

Up the coast, 4,500 city employees in San Jose voted to authorize a three-day strike later this month, citing concerns similar to those of the SEIU members in Los Angeles. The San Jose municipal workers have been working without a contract since June after months of failed negotiations.

Marvel workers announce intent to unionize

Tony Chambers, head of theatrical distribution for Disney Entertainment, addresses a National Association of Theatre Owners convention in Las Vegas, April 23. (Chris Pizzello/AP)

While the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers is dealing with strikes from writers and actors, it is also witnessing the rise of a new union of visual effects artists at Marvel Studios. The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) announced Monday that a supermajority of Marvels 52 VFX crew members had petitioned to be represented by the union.

For almost half a century, workers in the visual effects industry have been denied the same protections and benefits their co-workers and crew mates have relied upon since the beginning of the Hollywood film industry, said Mark Patch, VFX organizer for IATSE, in a statement. This is a historic first step for VFX workers coming together with a collective voice demanding respect for the work we do.

Visual effects artists have been outliers in Hollywood in their lack of union representation, which has led to complaints about being taken advantage of for long hours and short wages. The next step will be a union election, which New York Magazine reports could be held as soon as Aug. 21.

IATSE represents a wide range of more than 150,000 workers, including costumers, makeup artists, camera operators and set builders. The union was on the brink of a strike in in late 2021 that was averted at the last minute.

Hollywood still at an impasse

Members of the SAG-AFTRA union join a picket line with screenwriters outside Paramount Studios on July 14, the first day of the actors' strike. (David McNew/Getty Images)

As for the current shutdown in Hollywood, theres little sign it will end, as negotiations have not resumed. The demands of the unions are centered around residual payments from streaming services and concerns over the studios using artificial intelligence to replace human writers and actors.

Despite having more high-profile members than other unions, the writers' and actors' guilds have stressed solidarity across different industries since launching their strikes.

When SAG launched its strike last month, union president Fran Drescher said, The eyes of labor are upon us.

Its very important that everybody appreciate that were not just sticking up for ourselves, but were sticking up for everybody else, because it is a slippery slope into a very dangerous time, and a real dystopia if big business, corporations, think that they can put human beings out of work and replace them with artificial intelligence. Its dangerous, and its without thinking or conscience or caring, Drescher said.

Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, head of the California Labor Federation, said there was staggering solidarity across the picket lines.

I think its in levels we havent seen before. If you look at the difference between what a fast food worker makes and a writer makes, its smaller than the difference between what either of them makes and their CEO, Fletcher told the outlet CalMatters this week.
Strong storms Monday night left nearly 2,000 residents across Middle Georgia without power Tuesday morning, according to Georgia Power.

The companys outage map reported 69 total outages affecting 1,862 customers in Bibb County after sheets of rain, high winds and lightning hit the greater Macon area for much of Monday night and early Tuesday morning.

Rosa Taylor Elementary School lost power after the thunderstorms and did not open for school Tuesday, according to a release from the Bibb County School District. The school restored power at about 12:15 p.m., the county said.

Other outages include much of Corbin Avenue between Vineville Avenue and Riverside Drive, where 400 residents were without power, and an area on Beaver Ridge Circle near Lake Tobesofkee with 66 residents without power.

Georgia Power estimates that most residents in the Bibb County area will get power back at around 6 p.m., the outage map shows.

As for road blocks and damage, Bibb County spokesperson Chris Floore said there were no major roads closed but that there were around a dozen reports of trees down.

Crews were working on clearing trees Tuesday morning, including one at Northminster Presbyterian Church near Wimbush Road and Old Lundy Road.

Macon-Bibb Emergency Management Agency encouraged residents to call the non-emergency number at 478-751-7500 to report any road blocks or trees down.
The Mega Millions jackpot is getting big  as in, the biggest ever. Ron DeSantis' lagging presidential campaign gets another shakeup. And even Zoom wants its workers back in the office.

 Hey there! Laura Davis here. Hows your week going so far? Its time for Tuesdays news!

 But first: She's got a funky haircut and smells like the basement! A new "Weird Barbie" doll based on Greta Gerwig's summer blockbuster movie is part of a new limited-edition collection inspired by the movie.

The Short List is a snappy USA TODAY news roundup. Subscribe to the newsletter here.

$1.55 billion: Thats a whole lot of money

A historic lottery jackpot is up for grabs. With no Mega Millions jackpot winners since April, the grand prize continues to grow for Tuesday night's drawing.

 How much is the jackpot? The Mega Millions jackpot sits at an estimated $1.55 billion with a $757.2 million cash option, which would be the largest prize in the lottery's history if won.

 When is the drawing? The next drawing for the jackpot will be Tuesday night at 11 p.m. EDT. Here's everything you need to know.

What would you do if you won the Mega Millions jackpot? Share your answer here! We can't help you win the big prize, but you might see your answer in tomorrow's newsletter. 

Mega Millions is nearly impossible to win. Why are we still playing?

A Powerball and Mega Millions lottery advertisement is displayed at a convenience store on July 12 in New York City.

Biden's tougher rules on 'ghost guns' backed by SCOTUS

The Supreme Court on Tuesday backed a Biden administration effort to regulate ghost guns. Ghost gun kits allow people to purchase parts that can be built into a weapon without the usual regulations that come with an assembled gun. President Joe Biden last year announced regulations requiring companies selling the kits to adhere to the same rules as other gunmakers, such as conducting background checks on customers and marking products with serial numbers. The Supreme Court agreed 5-4 to pause a lower court's ruling, allowing the rule to be enforced while the underlying case continues. What are ghost guns, and what does the ruling mean?

What everyone's talking about

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Zoom wants employees back in the office

After soaring to new heights when it came to remote work during the pandemic, even video communications company Zoom wants its workers back in the office. Joining a growing number of companies across America instituting return mandates, the San Jose, California-based business wants its own employees back in the office  at least part time. Calling it a hybrid approach "most effective for Zoom," a company spokesperson said Tuesday that employees who live near an office must work in person at least twice a week. What to know.

Zoom has become synonymous with videoconferencing and remote work, but the company is now requiring many of its employees to return to the office part time.

Trailing Trump, DeSantis ousts campaign manager

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is shaking up his campaign crew. As he continues to retool a struggling presidential campaign that trails far behind former President Donald Trump in the polls, DeSantis is replacing his campaign manager, Generra Peck, with James Uthmeier, who has served as chief of staff in the governor's office. Peck is staying with the campaign as chief strategist, according to the campaign. The shakeup is the latest in a series of overhauls. DeSantis has cut staff twice to rein in spending that was rapidly depleting his campaign account. How the DeSantis campaign is doing.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis campaigns for the Republican presidential nomination on July 31 in Rochester, N.H.

A break from the news

Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at USA TODAY. She loves new Twitter pals and emails from readers: laura@usatoday.com. This is a compilation of stories from across the USA TODAY Network. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to USA TODAY here.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mega Millions jackpot, Ron DeSantis, remote work: Tuesday's news
Lucy Letby was a neonatal nurse at the Countess of Chester Hospital - Chester Standard/SWNS.com

The jury in the trial of Lucy Letby, the nurse accused of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder ten more, have been told they can return majority verdicts.

The judge, Mr Justice Goss, gave the jury the direction on the 15th day of deliberations at Manchester Crown Court.

Ms Letby, a former neonatal nurse at the Countess of Chester Hospital, is accused of attacking babies, by injecting them with air, poisoning them with insulin or overfeeding them, between June 2015 and June 2016.

The trial began on October 10 last year and the jury has heard ten months of evidence.

Last week a female member of the jury was discharged for what the judge said were good personal reasons.

Ms Letby from Hereford denies all the charges.

Addressing the jury at Manchester Crown Court, Mr Justice Goss said: I am going to ask you to return to your deliberating room and continue with your deliberations and strive to reach unanimous verdicts.

However, the time has now come when it is possible for me to accept verdicts upon which you are not all agreed, commonly referred to as majority verdicts.

It must be by a majority of at least 10 of you, either 11-0 or 10-1.

Nothing else will do.

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 Madison County man charged with molesting three children entered a guilty plea Monday in Athens, but the presiding judge stepped way beyond the plea deal negotiated between the defendant and the district attorneys office.

Western Circuit District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez and the defendants lawyer Thomas McCormack of Jefferson had reached an agreement that Wendell Daniel Coker would plead guilty to the five-count indictment and receive a sentence that included four years in prison.

But after hearing some details of the case, in which Coker is charged with molesting three children, all under the age of 10, Clarke County Superior Court Judge Eric Norris eventually imposed a 15-year prison term. He initially imposed a 20-year prison term, but the DA and defense lawyer renegotiated the plea and settled on 25 years with 15 years in prison.

Coker, 34, of Danielsville, had pleaded guilty to aggravated child molestation and four other counts of child molestation. The indictment alleged the children were molested during a time period ranging from November 2019 to April 2022.

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The charge alleges he committed various indecent acts with the children, but one count charged that the molestation caused physical injury to one childs body.

That charge appeared to concern Norris, who noted the aggravated child molestation crime carries a maximum of life in prison or a minimum of 20 years in prison.

McCormack told the judge that the law allows for a lower sentence when the district attorney and the defendant agree to a lower sentence.

When Norris questioned if the victims mother was in agreement, she could be heard in court saying seven years.

Norris also imposed 15-year prison terms for the remaining charges and those terms were run concurrently.

Coker left the courtroom with his lawyer, but before he did Norris told him he was to have no contact with the mother of the children or the children.

Coker is currently in the Athens-Clarke County Jail.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Madison County sentenced to prison for molesting 3 children
To commemorate World Breastfeeding Week, which was the first week of August, a group of male health care leaders at Covenant Health participated in a "simulated breastfeeding challenge," as FOX34 reported .

Covenant Health is a Christian health network located in Lubbock, Texas .

For four days, the men simulated the act of breastfeeding every three hours for 20-minute stints, the report stated. They summarized their daily experiences in video diaries.

The goal was to get an idea of the challenges working mothers face when breastfeeding and having to pump milk at the workplace during the day.

BEST FOR BABY AND MOTHER? AAP'S NEW GUIDELINES ON NURSING HAVE MOMS IN A QUANDARY

"Wondering why I agreed to do this," Matt Mitchell, interim director of critical care, said in his video diary, according to the report.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"First day was pretty rough," he also said. "It got a little bit easier once you got the schedule down, but a whole new perspective for sure."

To commemorate World Breastfeeding Week, which was the first week of August, a group of male health care leaders at Covenant Health participated in a "simulated breastfeeding challenge." Said one participant, "There was no way to multitask."

Some of the men reported missing pumping sessions, as it was challenging to schedule them around work obligations, they said.

Others said that given the difficulties of breastfeeding , they would opt to use formula instead.

"There was no way to multitask," said Walt Cathey, CEO of Covenant Health.

"I mean, youre basically having to hold the two pumps, so you couldnt really do anything for 30 minutes."

Another challenge the men faced was finding private spaces to pump.

"I made the effort to go sit in a public restroom for 20 minutes," which was "uncomfortable from a vulnerability standpoint," Mitchell said.

BREASTFEEDING BAN: GEORGIA MOTHER IS TOLD SHE CANT NURSE HER BABY AT WATERPARK, SPARKING DEBATE

"Finding a place that you feel is secure for you is definitely difficult," Cathey said in his video diary, noting that he did not have enough privacy in his office or in a conference room, per the report.

Covenant Health offers a "lactation lounge" for moms who need to breastfeed at work, the report said, but the men said the simulation helped them understand the logistical challenges involved.

"Even with my two rooms, I was always sitting there going, Man, whos gonna walk in?" Cathey said.

While Covenant Health offers a "lactation lounge" for moms who need to breastfeed at work, the report said, the men said the simulation helped them understand the logistical challenges involved.

"This is the first time weve really kind of challenged ourselves to look in the mirror on this situation," Cathey said, per the report.

"We have to create a more open environment for our moms to feel comfortable  I mean, we are health care ."

"It was a huge eye-opener for me," he continued. "The dedication that they put into this  you cant have anything but respect for these ladies."

The goal of the challenge was for men to get an idea of the challenges working moms face when breastfeeding and having to pump at work.

The men said the exercise deepened their respect for what working mothers must juggle.

"What we had to do was minimal in comparison [to] what our working moms go through  being pregnant , giving birth, and even after that, sustaining life for this infant. Its incredible," Mitchell said.

Amy Wenger, co-executive director of the Vermont Donor Milk Center and a childbirth and newborn educator, agreed that the biggest challenge is for women to have the "appropriate time and space" built into the day in order to pump, as well as the feeling that they can do this consistently without being made to feel "like a burden," she said.

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"There should be mandatory policies  that support this," Wenger told Fox News Digital.

"It should be a conversation prior to delivery about what support their business can have for them when they get back to work."

There is the "grieving" that comes with not being able to feed one's own baby and not being supported to do so, said one childbirth and newborn educator. It can be "a core memory that is carried throughout a womans life."

"There should also be policies on how the states can support employers to make this happen," she added.

Regarding breastfeeding simulations like the one done at Covenant Health, Wenger said they cannot replicate the full spectrum of the challenges women face .

"Not only is there the hormonal piece, but there is the discomfort, the expectations and the overwhelming feeling of not being able to feed your baby," she said.

"The mental load that women have as the sole responsible person to feed their baby is more than any simulation" could represent, Wenger said.

There is also the "grieving" that comes with not being able to feed one's own baby and not being supported to do so, she said.

Some of the men in the challenge said that given the difficulty of breastfeeding  they would opt to use formula instead.

"That feeling becomes a core memory that is carried throughout a womans life," she said.

"It affects [women's] mental and sometimes physical health."

Wenger called for giving postpartum and lactating women the "space and support they need with their babies, more than just a couple of weeks when they themselves are healing."

The benefits of breastfeeding include better nutrition, growth and development for babies, as well as the prevention of certain illnesses and diseases in both mom and baby, per the CDC.
FILE PHOTO: The United Nations headquarters building is pictured though a window with the UN logo in the foreground in the Manhattan borough of New York August 15, 2014. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Mali's troops and its foreign security partners, believed to be Russia's Wagner mercenaries, are using violence against women and other "grave human rights abuses" to spread terror, U.N. sanctions monitors said in a report seen by Reuters on Monday.

The monitors also warned in their report to the U.N Security Council that the sexual violence by Mali's troops and their foreign security partners is "systematic." They said the foreign partners were "presumed to be elements of the Wagner Group."

Mali has long been battling an Islamist insurgency and the West African country's junta, which seized power in coups in 2020 and 2021, teamed up with Russia's Wagner mercenary group in 2021. There are about 1,000 Wagner fighters in Mali.

Western countries have long raised concerns over Wagner's activities in Mali. The United States has imposed sanctions on Wagner and Malian officials and repeatedly warned of what it says are Wagner's destabilizing activities.

"The Panel believes that violence against women, and other forms of grave abuses of human rights and international humanitarian law are being used, specifically by the foreign security partners, to spread terror among populations," wrote the U.N. sanctions monitors, known as a panel of experts.

"These practices potentially create a fear of reprisals, which acts as a deterrent for communities and armed groups who would otherwise seek to threaten the foreign security partners or harm them," they said.

'THE WHITES'

The Wagner group could not immediately be reached for comment. Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin led a short mutiny against the Russian defence establishment in late June.

The U.N. Human Rights Office in May accused Malian troops and "armed white men" of likely executing at least 500 people, and sexually assaulting or torturing dozens of others during a five-day operation in central Mali last year. Russia said the operation "contributed to peace and tranquility".

"Elements of the foreign security partners are usually referred to in interviews with survivors of their operations as 'The Whites/Les Blancs'," the sanctions monitors wrote in their annual report, which covered the period from Aug. 3, 2022 to June 23 this year.

The monitors visited Moscow in March and wrote that Russian officials confirmed the presence of the Wagner group in Mali as private contractors and the presence of Russian military instructors, based at the airport in the capital Bamako, "who do not participate in operations."

They said Mali's authorities have not allowed them to visit the country but that they have "maintained the highest achievable standard of proof."

The U.N. Security Council unanimously voted on June 30 to end a decade-long peacekeeping mission in Mali after the junta abruptly asked the 13,000-strong force to leave - a move the United States said was engineered by the Wagner Group.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Michael Perry)
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan on Monday night ordered a hearing to discuss a protective order proposed by special counsel Jack Smith's team to prevent him from publicizing evidence in the case.

Prosecutors asked Chutkan to issue a protective order after Trump issued a seeming threat on Truth Social, writing, "If you go after me, I'm coming after you!"

"The order  which is different from a so-called 'gag order'  would limit what information Trump and his legal team could share publicly about the case brought by special counsel Jack Smith," as the Associated Press noted. The order would not inhibit Trump from discussing the case in its entirety, nor would it limit him from speaking about aspects of the case that are already publicly available, per ABC News.

In response to Smith's filing, the ex-president's legal team issued a statement arguing that the post was directed at political interest groups, saying, the "Truth post cited is the definition of political speech." On Monday, the Trump's attorneys submitted their own filing to Chutkan, accusing Smith and his team of asking the judge to "assume the role of censor and impose content-based regulations on President Trump's political speech that would forbid him from publicly discussing or disclosing all non-public documents produced by the government, including both purportedly sensitive materials, and non-sensitive, potentially exculpatory documents."

Trump, the filing adds, "does not contest the government's claimed interest in restricting some of the documents it must produce" but "the need to protect that information does not require a blanket gag order over all documents produced by the government."

The special counsel's team in a quick response filed hours later slammed Trump's lawyers for attempting to advance a motion "designed to allow him to try this case in the media rather than in the courtroom."

"To facilitate the efficient production of discovery to the defense, the Government proposed a reasonable protective order consistent with current practice in this District," Smith's team wrote. "To safeguard witness privacy and the integrity of these proceedings, the Court should enter the Government's proposed protective order."

Trump's proposed protective order, Smith argued, "would lead to the public dissemination of discovery material."

Chutkan ordered the two sides to set a hearing for later this week.

Former federal prosecutor Andrew Weissmann, who served on special counsel Bob Mueller's team, said it was "interesting" that Chutkan excused Trump's presence at the hearing "given his dangerous and contumacious social media posts."

"Agreeing to a hearing at all is indulgent of Trump and his far-fetched arguments about using discovery to try the case in public," tweeted former U.S. Attorney Harry Litman. "But the resolution of his arguments on Friday will not please him I think."

"Trump may win a few points in this battle (although Smith will likely win more)  but the speed at which this is moving suggests he will lose the war," tweeted Norm Eisen, who served as special counsel to the House Judiciary Committee during Donald Trump's first impeachment trial.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

Retired California Superior Court Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell told CNN that Trump's rageful Truth was "clearly a threat."

"I don't know necessarily that that quote impacts the protective order, but that certainly would get me thinking if I were the trial judge about a gag order in this case," Cordell said. "It's clearly a threat, and a good trial judge doesn't just look at the law, you use common sense."

Cordell, who noted that she feels a gag order is impending, also felt that "Trump would violate it in a heartbeat and then we'll see what the judge does in terms of consequences for violating yet another court order."

"I absolutely can see it coming because this man cannot shut up. He's a 'chatty Charlie' and he's going to just talk and talk and he really doesn't care about rules that say you can speak or cannot speak," Cordell said.

"So this is where the test of a good trial judge comes about. If you're going to have a fair trial, it's going to be by the rules set by that person in the black robe. And if the rules are you do not talk about this other than in the court, because it's not punishment it's to ensure fair trial. If that doesn't happen, there have to be immediate consequences to violating a court order. Only in that way can everyone have respect for the system."

Read more

about Trump's court battles
A man is charged with murder after a tip alerted police in Massachusetts that a woman who disappeared was harmed, officials announced on Aug. 8.

A search for her body was underway, according to the Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker and Salem Police Chief Lucas Miler.

Pablo Vicente, 33, of Salem, has been charged with the womans murder and disappearance, authorities said in a news release.

After Salem police were notified of the woman being harmed on Aug. 7, an investigation revealed further evidence of foul play, according to the release, which didnt specify when she went missing.

When Vicente appeared in court for an arraignment on Aug. 8, Assistant District Attorney A.J. Camelio said her body was disposed of in a dumpster, Glen Johnson, a spokesman for the district attorneys office, told McClatchy News in an emailed statement on Aug. 8.

As of the afternoon of Aug. 8, police have found some body parts in connection with the investigation, Camelio said, according to Johnson.

The woman wont be publicly identified until her family is notified of her death, officials said in the release.

The Essex County District Attorneys Office plans to release more information on the case, according to Johnson.

As of the afternoon of Aug. 8, its unclear whether Vicente and the victim knew each other and potential motives werent specified.

Man gets lured onto boat for fishing trip before hes shot and left to drown, feds say

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A 58-year-old man drove his car into Racine City Hall after being seen traveling at high speeds and driving through stop signs, Racine police said.

The man is in critical condition at a Milwaukee hospital, police said. The damage to City Hall was "substantial," according to a statement from police.

Officers were on foot Saturday shortly before 6 p.m. in the 1000 block of Villa Street when they observed a maroon Dodge Charger fail to stop for a posted stop sign, police said. The officers attempted to catch up for a traffic stop but the Charger evaded police by traveling at a high rate of speed, police said.

Moments later, it was reported that a Charger crashed into City Hall. The man was trapped inside the vehicle and needed to be extricated. He was transported to Ascension All Saints and ultimately airlifted to Milwaukee with severe injuries, police said.

Any witnesses, or citizens with information, are asked to call the Racine Police Department Investigations Unit at (262) 635-7756.

Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Man crashes speeding Dodge Charger into Racine City Hall, police say
A man died following a shooting late Monday in Kansas City, according to police.

Officers responded around 11:40 p.m. to the area of 59th Street and Virginia Avenue, where they found a man shot and unresponsive in the front yard of a home, said Sgt. Jake Becchina, a spokesman for the Kansas City Police Department.

Emergency medical crews took the man to a hospital, where he was declared dead.

The incident was the 124th homicide in Kansas City this year, according to data tracked by The Star, which includes fatal police shootings. At this time last year, there had been 101 killings.

Police ask anyone who heard or saw anything to contact homicide detectives at 816-234-5043 or the anonymous TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477. A reward of up to $25,000 is available for information provided to TIPS that leads to an arrest in this case.
A Texas man died at a national park in Utah after coming down with heatstroke while spreading his father's cremated ashes, according to his sister.

James Bernard Hendricks, 66, was found dead on 1 August in Arches National Park. His death is being investigated by the park service and local sheriff.

Officials have not yet confirmed that his cause of death was heat-related.

His sister told a newspaper in Texas he was travelling through the US West on a mission to spread his father's ashes.

"He was loved by countless people because he was an unusually kind, sweet person who made friends easily," Ruth Hendricks Brough told the San Antonio Express-News.

"Now all these people are grieving. It was a horrible shock."

Hendricks had been posting updates to Facebook about his travels with the caption "A Final Journey with My Father".

A post from 28 July described his plans to enter Arches National Park "at the crack of dawn" in order to avoid traffic and get the best photos. Other recent posts are from the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Mesa Verde national parks.

Park rangers found his vehicle at the Sand Dune Arch Trail after he was reported overdue from a hike. His body was found "off-trail nearby", officials say.

A Facebook post by his sister says that he was found with an empty water bottle.

Mrs Brough added that he may have wandered off trail after becoming disoriented by the heat, dehydration and the high elevation environment.

Arches is just north of the city of Moab, Utah. Its famed rock arches draw around 1.5 million visitors per year, according to the National Park Service.

His sister told the Express-News that Hendrick's final destination was Reno, Nevada, where their father lived for many years.

"He was a person who spread joy to every living thing he met, and to him, all the universe was alive, from human beings to fossils to stardust," she said. "It was all precious to him."
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A man never returned from a late-night lobster fishing trip off the coast of Southern California in October 2019.

Instead, his body was found floating face down in the Pacific Ocean, several miles offshore from Oceanside, a coastal city about 40 miles northwest of San Diego, on Oct. 16, 2019, according to federal prosecutors and court documents.

His cause of death was determined to be drowning, but other factors indicated homicide, including blunt force trauma and gunshot wounds, according to an autopsy performed by the San Diego Medical Examiners Office, court documents say.

As an investigation ensued, investigators learned the man owed a debt to Hoang Xuan Le, 42, of Fountain Valley, who lured him on the lobstering trip the night of Oct. 15, 2019, according to prosecutors.

It was revealed the trip was actually a ruse to murder the victim at sea, a criminal complaint filed in court says.

Le shot the man on the boat that evening and left him to drown after he went overboard, according to prosecutors.

In the cases latest development, a judge sentenced Le to life in prison on Aug. 7 on charges including murder, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Central District of California announced in a news release.

Le committed murder, and, as a result, (the victims) family will never see him again, prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum filed in court. Les crime has left a grieving mother, grieving widow, grieving brothers, a grieving sister, and two fatherless small children.

His sentencing comes after he was found guilty of first-degree murder within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the U.S., conspiracy to commit murder, and using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence in December 2021, prosecutors said. Afterward, he also pleaded guilty to narcotics-related felonies in February 2022, according to the release.

Craig Wilke, a federal criminal defense attorney who represented Le, told McClatchy News in a statement on Aug. 8 that his client plans to appeal his sentence and that certain erroneous evidentiary rulings undermine confidence in the outcome.

In April, Les co-defendant, Sheila Marie Ritze, the owner of the boat who drove Le and the victim out to sea on the evening of the victims death, was also sentenced in the case, according to an earlier news release.

Ritze, 43, of San Juan Capistrano, was sentenced to 262 months in federal prison on April 17 after she was previously found guilty of second-degree murder within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the U.S. and making false statements, prosecutors said.

David W. Wiechert, a defense attorney who represented her, told McClatchy News in a statement on Aug. 8 that they plan to appeal her conviction and sentence.

There will be numerous issues on appeal, he said.

The fishing trip ruse

The evening of Oct. 15, 2019, Ritze, Le and the victim departed from Dana Point Harbor to embark on the purported fishing trip on Ritzes boat, according to prosecutors.

According to a sentencing memo filed on behalf of Ritze by Wiechert, this was a spontaneous trip planned hours earlier by Le.

Le is accused of inviting the victim to go fishing for spiny lobster with him in front of the victims girlfriend and his children as they were out at a restaurant together, Ritzes sentencing memo says.

Wiechert argued his client had a limited role in the victims death, which came as a terrible surprise to her after she saw Le shoot the victim and throw him overboard from the boat, according to the sentencing memo.

Afterward, Le and Ritze headed back to Dana Point Harbor, prosecutors said.

Ritze was accused of lying to federal investigators during a December 2019 interview, including that she didnt know the victim before he was a passenger on her boat, according to the earlier news release.

Prosecutors said Ritze and the victim were in Las Vegas together 11 days before his death.

At her sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge David O. Carter described Ritzes actions as horrific and horrendous and said she acted with callousness, according to the earlier news release.

As for Le, life in prison was a mandatory sentence, prosecutors said.

In commenting on Les plans to appeal, Wilke said that the jurys verdict was the product of juror misconduct, and that the expansion of federal criminal jurisdiction to crimes committed on the ocean within three miles from shore is not supported by precedent and represents a significant encroachment on the power of states which have historically exercised jurisdiction over such matters.

The Coast Guard Investigative Service and the FBI investigated the case against Le and Ritze, according to prosecutors.

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A man shot four people, killing one, at his relatives funeral after family asked him to leave the service in central Alabama, federal prosecutors said.

Gerald Dyron Little, 42, of Montgomery, initially disrupted the funeral in Fort Deposit before leaving upon mourning family members request on June 26, 2021, according to prosecutors.

As graveside services were underway, Little returned, argued with family and opened fire on funeral attendees  fatally striking Jerry Gipson, the brother of the deceased  and left the scene littered with shell casings, according to court documents.

The funeral was held for Littles step-uncle, James Gipson, AL.com reported.

Little violated federal law by possessing a gun and ammunition due to a prior, unrelated felony conviction, prosecutors said.

As a result, he was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison on Aug. 7 after he was accused of illegally possessing ammunition during the funeral shooting, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Alabama announced in an Aug. 8 news release.

He still faces state charges in connection with the shooting, prosecutors said.

Federal public defenders representing Little declined a request for comment from McClatchy News on Aug. 8.

This prohibited person showed total disregard for the law and committed an inhumane act of violence against an innocent group of grieving people, Marcus Watson, the special agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said in a statement.

The shooting

When Little returned to Gipsons funeral service after leaving, he blasted music from his vehicle with a female passenger inside the car, a criminal complaint filed in court says.

This led to Jerry Gipson and other funeral attendees approaching Little, according to the criminal complaint, which says they asked him to turn down the musics volume.

Little refused, became very angry, and began to curse and threaten the funeral attenders, the criminal complaint says.

The woman with Little pulled out a handgun, which prosecutors said Little seized and fired at the funeral attendees  fatally striking Jerry Gipson, who was pronounced dead at the cemetery, according to the criminal complaint.

The other individuals who were shot were taken to nearby hospitals for gunshot wounds, the complaint says.

Ultimately, investigators analyzed shell casings left at the scene linked them back to Little, prosecutors said.

After Little serves his sentence, he will serve three years of supervised release, according to prosecutors.

It goes without saying that mourners should not have to fear gun violence when they gather to honor and remember a loved one, U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Stewart said in a statement.

Fort Deposit is a town about 35 miles southwest of Montgomery.

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A man in a shallow 12-foot fishing boat that ended up taking on water was found alive over the weekend after having spent nearly two days on the ocean off Florida, officials said.

Charles Gregory, 25, was brought ashore Saturday near St. Augustine and checked out by medical personnel, who found nothing concerning, the Coast Guard said in a statement.

Gregory offered a shaka, or "hang loose" hand sign, to a news crew as he was wheeled on a stretcher along a dock.

Charles Gregory is found by the Coast Guard in St. Augustine, Fla., on Aug. 5, 2023. (Coast Guard District 7)

The Coast Guard said the man had launched from Lighthouse Park Boat Ramp in St. Augustine on Thursday. His father, Raymond Gregory, told NBC affiliate WTLV of Jacksonville that his son was at sea for 38 hours.

"There's a God up there," he said as his son arrived at Vilano Beach Fishing Pier in St. Augustine.

The station reported that Charles Gregory had cracked lips. The effect of the sun on his unprotected skin was apparent as he arrived by Coast Guard boat at the fishing pier.

Officials said his flat-bottom jon boat, designed for fishing and waterfowl hunting in calm waters like lakes and bays, was swept to sea after its launch.

"Not the kind of vessel you want to be on in an offshore environment," said Nick Barrow, the Coast Guard's Jacksonville-area rescue coordinator, told WTLV.

Coast Guard Petty Officer First Class Lecongie Wortherly said the boat capsized after it was swept to sea, dumping Gregory's phone and safety gear into the vast Atlantic and disabling its small motor.

"He lost all his survivor equipment," he told WTLV.

EMS transfer Charles Gregory to a local hospital after Coast Guard crews rescued him off a partially submerged 12-foot jon boat 12 miles offshore St. Augustine, Florida, Aug. 5, 2023. Charles departed the Lighthouse Park Boat Ramp Thursday night and his parents reported he was missing to Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville watchstanders. (Coast Guard Station Mayport)

Gregory righted his watercraft, but he was ultimately faced with its partial submergence, leaving him vulnerable to sharks and other marine life, Wortherly said.

The search included an HC-130 Hercules airplane crew, a Jayhawk helicopter crew and rescuers on three Coast Guard boats, the Coast Guard said. But as the mission wore on into Saturday, hope was harder to grasp.

"The odds were starting to be against us in this case, despite all of our search effort," Barrow said.

A concentrated effort by the HC-130 crew to cover as much of the ocean as possible, documented by a map showing neat, long lines and tight turns over the sea, resulted in success.

Gregory was found sitting in the low-riding boat 12 miles offshore, according to Coast Guard statements and video. He waved to acknowledge his saviors.

Raymond Gregory faulted himself for briefly losing hope.

"Don't give up on the big guy," he said, referring to God.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A U.S. Marine Corps M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank (MBT), 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Special Operations Capable (SOC), in convoy along the streets of An Najaf, An Najaf Province, Iraq, on Aug. 12, 2004, during a raid of the Muqtada Militia strong points in the area. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Daniel J. Fosco) (Released)

The Battle of Najaf took place from August 5 to August 27, 2004. This gritty encounter pitted U.S. and Iraqi government forces against the Mahdi Army. In fact, many consider this to be one of the Marine Corps' forgotten battles in Iraq.

The Mahdi Army was a Shiite militia led by the influential cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. In this fierce urban battle, both sides displayed unique tactics and determination. However, the Mahdi Army held their ground against a formidable foe.

Facing the Mahdi Army: Who were they?

The Mahdi Army included mostly young, ill-equipped and poorly trained fighters. It didn't appear to stand much of a chance against the highly skilled and technologically advanced U.S. and Iraqi forces. However, their knowledge of the urban environment and guerrilla tactics caught their opponents off-guard. Imagine trying to locate hidden enemies, lurking in alleys and civilian homes, ready to ambush you at any moment.

Putting the enemy on the back foot

In response to the Mahdi Army's relentless guerrilla tactics, U.S. forces had to adapt their strategies quickly. Relying on precision airstrikes, armored vehicles and cutting-edge weaponry, they successfully countered the Mahdi Army's rocket-propelled grenades, snipers and small arms fire. These measures, however, were not enough to completely suppress the enemy.

Surprisingly, the Mahdi Army displayed an exceptional level of resilience. It utilized their intimate knowledge of the city and its terrain to evade, ambush, and harass U.S. and Iraqi forces. This continuous urban warfare forced the U.S. forces to adjust their tactics. Revision approaches included employing small units to counter the unconventional warfare tactics used by the Mahdi Army.

Staff Sgt. Scott Smith, 26, of the 2nd Battalion 7th Cavalry Regiment, is awarded the Purple Heart by Maj. Gen. Peter Chiarelli, the 1st Cavalry Division Commander, for wounds received at the battle of Najaf. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Rebekah-mae Bruns, 39th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs)

An Unconventional Battlefield: The Holy Imam Ali Shrine

One of the most notable aspects of the Battle of Najaf was the Mahdi Army's strategic decision to use the historic Imam Ali Shrine as a stronghold. This move complicated the U.S. and Iraqi forces' mission. That's because they had to engage with the enemy and preserve a holy site at the same time.

The Imam Ali Shrine holds deep significance for the Shiite Muslim population, making it a highly sensitive target. U.S. and Iraqi forces were forced to carefully consider their actions. But it wasn't very easy to avoid damaging the site.

This delicate balancing act meant that U.S. and Iraqi forces had to engage in combat with extreme caution. Both militaries took care not to escalate the conflict and cause irreparable harm to the shrine. This constraint significantly impacted their tactical options. In turn, it allowed the Mahdi Army to exploit the situation. The site became a defensive position.

Ceasefires and the human cost

As the battle raged on, several ceasefires were negotiated, only to be shattered by sporadic outbreaks of fighting. This brutal conflict took a heavy toll on both sides. While estimates of Mahdi Army fatalities ranged from 300 to 1,000, U.S. forces reported 11 deaths and over 100 injuries. The number of casualties among Iraqi government forces remains unclear. However, it was evident that they had also paid a high price.

The Role of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani

When the situation in Najaf seemed to be at a breaking point, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq's most respected Shiite cleric, stepped in. His goal was to mediate between the warring factions. He immediately got to work to diffuse the escalating tension and bring the bloody conflict to a close.

Brokering the Najaf Peace Accord

Al-Sistani wasted no time in his efforts to broker a peace deal. He immediately called for a mass march of Shiite Muslims toward Najaf. The goal was to show solidarity and support for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. This demonstration of unity and commitment to peace put immense pressure on both the Mahdi Army and the U.S. and Iraqi forces to reach an agreement.

After intense negotiations, al-Sistani successfully brokered the Najaf Peace Accord. This groundbreaking agreement addressed the key concerns of all parties involved. Under the terms of the accord, the Mahdi Army was required to disarm and disband. U.S. and Iraqi forces agreed to withdraw from the city. In addition, the accord called for the Iraqi government to implement a comprehensive security plan to maintain stability and order in Najaf.

A U.S. Marine Corps M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank (MBT), 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Special Operations Capable (SOC), in convoy along the streets of An Najaf, An Najaf Province, Iraq, on Aug. 12, 2004, during a raid of the Muqtada Militia strong points in the area. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Daniel J. Fosco) (Released)

Overcoming obstacles and saving lives

Al-Sistani's intervention came at a critical moment. Fighting in Najaf had caused significant loss of life, widespread destruction, and strained relations between the Shiite population and the U.S. and Iraqi forces. By stepping in and using his influence, al-Sistani not only helped broker a peace deal but also likely saved countless lives by preventing further escalation of the conflict.

Moreover, al-Sistani's involvement demonstrated his dedication to preserving the sanctity of the Imam Ali Shrine and the well-being of the Shiite community. His actions earned him even greater respect and admiration from the people of Iraq and cemented his position as a key player in Iraqi politics.

Learning from the Battle of Najaf

Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani's timely intervention in the Battle of Najaf played a crucial role in resolving the conflict and preventing further bloodshed. Through his leadership and diplomacy, he managed to bring together the warring factions and broker the historic Najaf Peace Accord. This showcased the power of religious influence in times of crisis and the importance of dialogue and negotiation in conflict resolution.

While U.S. and Iraqi government forces eventually prevailed, the Battle of Najaf exposed the challenges they faced in dealing with insurgent groups and urban warfare. It also highlighted the tenacity of the Mahdi Army and the leadership of Muqtada al-Sadr, who would become a prominent political figure in Iraq. The battle served as a sobering reminder of the complexities of the Iraq War and the struggle for peace in a region steeped in historical, religious, and ethnic divisions.
Mark Watson has poked fun at the debate surrounding comedians posting about their sparse crowds at Edinburgh Fringe festival.

The debate began when actor Georgie Grier shared a photo of herself crying after just one person showed up to her first performance.

Griers photo went viral on social media, with Jason Manford, Dara O Briain, Sarah Millican and Jermaine Clement sending their support to the comedian, and sharing similar accounts from when they started out in the business.

There was one person in my audience today when I performed my one woman play, Sunsets at #edfringe. Its fine, isnt it? Its fine? she wrote. One day later, Griers set was almost sold out.

While many are supporting Grier for sharing the post, there are some who believe it was sent in the hope it would attract attention and, consequently, ticket sales.

However, Grier said: I thought I might find a couple of other people who had one person or get some words of comfort. I did not expect the level of reaction Ive had its been so lovely, so unexpected, so many words for what I have experienced. I am so appreciative of what I have experienced.

Comedian Watson has poked fun at the furore, sharing a photo of an empty crowd at his own show, writing: Bit of a disappointing crowd tonight but well have fun.

Manford quipped in response: Dya need me to do you a video?

However, many believed the comedian was being serious, and he was quick to point out that the photo was, in fact, taken 20 minutes before his set, which was sold out. Watson performed to a 300-strong crowd.

Not everyone got the joke so I should make it clear, this was taken 20 minutes before the start of the show, he wrote, adding in a separate post: This was a joke that people horrifyingly took seriously.

Mark Watson joked that nobody had shown up to his Edinburgh Fringe show (Twitter)

Watson, who has made appearances on Mock the Week and Taskmaster, was part of the revue that was nominated for the Best Newcomer category in the Perrier Comedy Awards at the Fringe festival in 2001.

He was a member of the University of Cambridge's student sketch troupe Footlights, which was founded in 1883.
BOSTON  Maura Healey of Massachusetts is the latest Democratic governor to declare an emergency over the migrant surge as blue-state leaders ramp up pressure on the Biden administration to expedite work permits for asylum-seekers and support their overwhelmed shelter systems.

On Tuesday, Healey declared a state of emergency that essentially puts the National Guard on speed dial and expedites the processes for creating or renting more migrant housing.

The emergency declaration will allow the state to utilize and operationalize all means necessary to secure more accommodations and assist the more than 5,000 families currently in the states crowded shelters, Healey said during a press conference at the State House.

It also provides an avenue for the governor to more directly pressure the Biden administration for additional assistance. In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas Tuesday, Healey called on the White House to expedite work permits for asylum-seekers, slamming the administration for what she described as a federal crisis of inaction that is many years in the making.

A Biden administration spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

While the state is suffering workforce shortages, waiting times for work authorizations are stretching from several months, to several years, to longer, Healey said.

The emergency declaration notably does not try to suspend or alter the states 1983 right-to-shelter law that requires Massachusetts to provide immediate housing to qualified families. Any attempts to alter the statute would likely have faced legal challenges, as New York City Mayor Eric Adams found when he tried to weaken a similar law in his city.



Healeys emergency declaration comes as Democratic leaders from Massachusetts and New York have been increasingly calling on the Biden administration fast-track work permits to asylum-seekers.

When asked about Healey's announcement Tuesday, Adams was happy to have another partner pressing the White House for intervention.

"Democratic governors and mayors, mayors in Houston, Chicago, Los Angeles, here in New York, El Paso, Brownsville, all of the mayors have been saying that this is a national problem and we need national leadership," he said at an unrelated press conference in Manhattan.

"We all should be talking about this in a very real way. And there was a moment that I felt, as though, was I the only one that was seeing this? ... I was asking myself, are we the only ones that are seeing whats happening to human beings?

Healey and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul have made private entreaties and public pleas to Biden administration officials for faster work authorization. Massachusetts all-Democratic federal delegation sent a letter to top Biden immigration officials last week urging them to expedite processing employment authorization documents for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

In New York City, where asylum-seekers are sleeping on sidewalks outside a makeshift intake center, Adams is again blaming the White House for not sending enough federal aid to the city thats seen more than 93,000 newcomers since last spring.

So far, the Biden administration has barely budged on the politically thorny issue, saying the national immigration problem requires a congressional solution.

Blue-state leaders including Healey, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have been careful not to call out President Joe Biden by name even as they have acknowledged the migrant surge requires more federal attention.

Newsom and Pritzker have instead trained their ire on the Republican governors whove flown and bused thousands of asylum-seekers to their states over the past year to protest the Biden administrations immigration policies.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has sent nearly 250 migrants to the Los Angeles region over the past two months, according to the Los Angeles Times.

And a steady stream of migrants continues to arrive in Chicago from Texas. More than 12,000 migrants have come to the city since last August, with a busload of 40 to 50 migrants arriving every day in July, according to the city.

In Massachusetts, Healeys emergency declaration is the latest in a series of increasingly dire actions the governor has taken to deal with the influx of migrants that has grown exponentially in the past year and stretched state services to a breaking point.

When Healey took office in January, there were less than 3,700 homeless families in the states emergency shelter system. As of Monday, there were more than 5,500, her administration said. (Massachusetts does not differentiate between migrants and others seeking shelter.) Shelters have hit capacity, and homeless families are flooding hospital emergency departments for refuge.

The state has resorted to placing migrants and homeless families in motels and empty college dormitories, opened two welcome centers and stood up a temporary shelter at Joint Base Cape Cod, where the 49 migrants flown to Marthas Vineyard by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis administration last September were also taken to receive emergency services. Healey has activated 44 Massachusetts National Guard members to support efforts at the military base.

On Tuesday, Healey also announced the launch of the Massachusetts Migrant Families Relief Fund, a joint effort from United Way of Massachusetts Bay and The Boston Foundation to provide financial and community assistance to newcomers.



Many of the migrants arriving in Massachusetts are from Haiti  the Boston metropolitan area is home to the third-largest Haitian population in this country. Others, like many of the migrants sent by DeSantis, are from Venezuela.

But outside of the Marthas Vineyard flights, Massachusetts has rarely been the direct recipient of the migrant transports DeSantis and Abbot have been organizing for over a year now.

New York leaders also say the states at a breaking point. Hochul declared a state of emergency in May and sent hundreds of New Yorks national guard members to the city to help handle the influx of newcomers.

Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other members of the states Democratic congressional delegation met with DHSs Mayorkas in Washington last week. Mayorkas committed to appointing a federal liaison to help New York triage the migrant crisis, but New York Democrats have said the White House must do more to help.

All we need is for the White House to give us that TPS status to allow the men and women to work, Adams said on ABCs Nightline on Tuesday. He was referring to Temporary Protected Status, a federal designation that allows migrants from certain countries to live and work in the U.S. without fear of deportation.

The congressional delegation is calling for it, local leaders are calling for it, everyone is calling for it. It is something within our powers and there's no reason we're not doing it, Adams said.

The escalation from Democratic governors demanding their party leader in the White House act on asylum-seekers is particularly bad timing for Biden, whos sure to face an onslaught of attacks from Republicans on the issue during his reelection campaign.

Shia Kapos and Janaki Chadha contributed to this report.
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D) on Tuesday declared a state of emergency as the states shelter system struggles to house newly arrived migrants without work authorization.

In a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Healey blamed a number of factors for her states inability to cope with new arrivals.

This state of emergency arises from numerous factors, among them federal policies on immigration and work authorization, inadequate production of affordable housing over the last decade, and the end of COVID-era food and housing security programs, wrote Healey.

But her direct appeal to the Biden administration focused on two things: more funding for the shelter program, and work permits for new arrivals.

Healey joins a growing number of Democrats whove voiced frustration over receiving a large number of people in a time of high labor demand, but not being able to legally employ them.

These new arrivals desperately want to work, and we have historic demand for workers across all industries, wrote Healey.

The Hill has reached out to DHS for comment.

Last month, Reps. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) and Jesus Chuy Garcia (D-Ill.) called on the Biden administration to aggressively use his immigration parole authority and other executive means to unlock work permits for both newly arrived and longtime immigrants.

The current work permit backlogs are leaving migrants unable to support themselves and their families and are compounding the existing labor shortage that American employers are facing, said Goldman.

While millions of undocumented immigrants work and pay taxes despite having no formal work authorization, many asylum-seekers fear illicit employment could hurt their immigration cases.

Generally, asylum applicants are barred from working for 180 days after they are admitted to the United States, forcing people to subsist on humanitarian aid for their first six months in the country.

Healeys state of emergency also echoes a shelter crisis that frayed relations between President Biden and New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D).

In May, Bidens reelection campaign dropped Adams as a surrogate after the New York mayor sharply criticized federal immigration policy amid relentless Republican attacks on the issue.

Healeys appeal, while signaling a reset in the states management of shelters, treaded carefully to avoid criticism of either the Biden administration or of migrants themselves.

The need for action is urgent. The state of emergency arising from the shelter crisis demands that I exercise my powers as Governor to protect all the residents of Massachusetts, particularly those who lack access to safe housing, she wrote.

Healey praised the states efforts to house more than 5,500 families including through volunteer efforts and coordination with charitable organizations and local jurisdictions.

But those efforts have not been enough, wrote Healey.

The states shelter system has gone from attending 25 families per day in March 2022 to more than 100 families per day in July 2023, according to Healey.

These trends are driven by many factors, including a confusing tangle of immigration laws, an inability for migrants to obtain work authorization from the federal government, an increase in the number of people coming to Massachusetts, and the lack of an affordable housing supply in our state, she wrote.

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In this April 26, 2007, file photo, the Mattel company headquarters is seen in El Segundo, Calif. Mattel Inc., the worlds largest toymaker, on Monday, April 21, 2008. Mattel announces plans to release limited-edition Weird Barbie doll. | Reed Saxon, Associated Press

If you thought the Barbie hype was ever going to decline, now Mattel has announced plans to sell a limited-edition Weird Barbie doll.

CNN reported that the doll is based on the character played by Kate McKinnon in the hit movie.

Mattel unveils Weird Barbie from the #BarbieMovie as its latest doll.



: https://t.co/M27KF3SZSx pic.twitter.com/981AIjTZAs  Pop Crave (@PopCrave) August 4, 2023

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When can you buy the new Weird Barbie doll? KSBY reported that preorders for the limited-edition doll are currently being accepted until 12:59 p.m. MDT on Aug. 18.

The dolls are reportedly planned be shipped on or before May 31, 2024, and customers will be notified through their email address with updates about when the doll should be arriving.

Business Insider reported that the dolls will be made-to-order with features such as a bright pink dress with colorful artwork and puffy sleeves, green snakeskin boots, and markings on her face to emulate a doll thats been played with a little too much.

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Where can I order Weird Barbie? The doll is available to preorder from Mattels website beginning today for $50.

Mattels website also details that the company may shorten or extend the sale window at its sole discretion. A charge will be placed on your payment account and will be processed on the date you place your order.

Customers can also cancel their order during the sale and as soon as the sale closes, all purchases are reportedly final.

Mattel Executive Vice President and Chief Brand Officer Lisa McKnight said in a news release according to USA Today, We are thrilled to see how much love and excitement Barbie the Movie has already sparked among fans.

McKnight continued, Barbie continues to be the cultural event of the summer, and as we chart Mattels path forward, she will continue to serve as an icon of empowerment and inspiration for generations to come.
Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Monday declined to label the GOP-led investigation into President Biden a bribery scandal.

Republican investigators for months have cited an FBI form that contains an unverified tip alleging that Biden, as vice president, was involved in a bribery scheme to benefit Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company that his son, Hunter Biden, sat on the board of. The White House has denied any wrongdoing, and Republicans have been unable to corroborate the claims.

Republicans released a copy of the FBI form, known as an FD-1023 form, last month.

Asked by Fox Newss Sean Hannity if the allegations constitute a bribery scheme, McCarthy deflected.

The bribery statute, Mr. Speaker, does not demand that somebody benefit themselves financially. In this case, the vice president, as the 1023 form pointed out, took a specific action and his family, you know, was involved in personal enrichment. That being Hunter. Based on his actions, is that bribery to you? Hannity asked.

Well Sean, everything that you just talked about, nobody in America knew until you had a change in Congress, McCarthy responded, before running through various allegations Republicans have mounted.

Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.)

Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) gives a press conference in Statuary Hall at the Capitol on Wednesday, July 19, 2023.

Pressed again by Hannity on whether the claims amount to a bribery scandal, McCarthy dodged.

Do you believe we are looking at a bribery scandal with Joe Biden, whos now president, actions he took as vice president in exchange for family enrichment? Hannity asked.

McCarthy responded by running through other points Republicans have cited throughout their investigations, including testimony from Devon Archer, a former business associate of Hunter Biden who spoke to the House Oversight and Accountability Committee last week. Archer said he was not aware of any wrongdoing by then-Vice President Biden but did say Hunter Biden put his father on speakerphone during some meetings with associates.

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Archer also testified that he was not made aware of bribe payments made to two different Bidens, which are the crux of the allegations in the FD-1023 form.

I think theres enough proof out there that this Biden family needs to come forward and show there wasnt a pay-to-play, McCarthy told Hannity. America deserves more and Americans want to know. And the one thing I will tell you is, as this Congress, the Peoples Congress, we will follow the facts and provide it to the American public, just like the Constitution tells us to do.

The White House on Tuesday, for its part, came out against McCarthys comments on Fox News, saying the Speaker was lying in order to appease the far-right lawmakers in his conference.

Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, was pressed on the bribery allegations last month and said he was not sure if they were accurate.

I dont know if the allegations are true or not, Comer told reporters before Congress broke for August recess.

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Asked if he would agree that the bribery claim is just an unverified allegation, Comer said, Ill not answer that right now, because weve got people coming in that hopefully can answer that question better than I can.

The conversation about the bribery allegations comes as McCarthy floats a potential impeachment inquiry into President Biden. For months, Republicans have tried to link the president to his sons business dealings.

Last month, the Speaker said that if actions rise to the level of an impeachment inquiry, he would open such a probe.

McCarthy re-upped that position Monday.

I raised it on this show not long ago, that because the actions of the Biden administration, withholding information, that that would rise to the level where we need impeachment inquiry, to get the strength of the Congress, to get the information that we need to give to the American public and follow through on our Constitutional authority, McCarthy told Hannity. That is exactly what were doing and thats exactly what well continue to do.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall was identified as the previously unknown buyer who recently purchased 50 Leopard 1 tanks from the Belgian company OIP Land Systems, the Handelsblatt newspaper reported on Aug. 8.

The company purchased the tanks as part of its future exports of armored vehicles to Kyiv. The vehicles will be refitted in Germany, and around 30 of them will be delivered to Ukraine, Handelsblatt said, citing industry sources.

Belgian newspaper De Standaard reported on Aug. 7 that a secret buyer purchased 50 Leopard 1 tanks from a private company in Belgium to donate to Kyiv. Handelsblatt did not specify why only 30 are being currently prepared to be shipped to Ukraine.

The tanks come from the stockpile owned by Freddy Versluys, CEO of Belgian defense company OIP Land Systems, who bought 50 tanks a decade ago when the Belgian military sold them to reduce expenditures.

Belgian Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder announced in January 2023 that the government wanted to buy the tanks to donate to Ukraine. However, Dedonder said the asking price was "unreasonable," a claim Versluys denied.

Handelsblatt reported in April that Rheinmetall is preparing to supply 50 Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine, citing the company's CEO.

The German government has already begun supplying Leopard 1 tanks to the Ukrainian military as part of the package that should include at least 100 of these vehicles.

Read also: Media: Secret buyer purchases Leopard tanks from private Belgian stockpile for Ukraine

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Belgian newspaper De Standaard reported on Aug. 7 that a secret buyer purchased 50 Leopard 1 tanks from a private company in Belgium to donate to Kyiv.

The first two Leopard 1 tanks, out of a collection of 50, are being transported to Ukraine.

Before reaching Ukraine, the German-made tanks will be fitted with modern weapons systems in Germany and Italy.

The tanks come from the stockpile owned by Freddy Versluys, CEO of Belgian defense company OIP Land Systems, who bought 50 tanks a decade ago when the Belgian military sold them to reduce expenditures.

Belgian Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder announced in January 2023 that the government wanted to buy the tanks to donate to Ukraine. However, Dedonder said the asking price was "unreasonable," a claim Versluys denied.

Versluys refuses to say who, or which country the buyer is or how much they paid. So far, only Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands have said they will supply Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine.

In June, a source from the Dutch parliament told the Dutch broadcasting service NOS that the Dutch government was planning to buy several dozen new Leopard 1 tanks for the Ukrainian military from a Swiss company.

However, Switzerland rejected the export license for the tanks the Netherlands had ordered and blocked the transfer of 96 tanks to Ukraine on June 28. Swiss law does not currently allow the delivery of Swiss weapons to combat zones, even when supplied by an intermediary country.

Due to the "high demand for tanks and long waiting times" for their production in factories, a single tank can have a market value that reaches 500,000 euros, De Standaard reported.

According to Voice of America, Versluys said he purchased the tanks for about 2 million euros ($2.2 million today), of which 33 were usable. The rest require extensive repairs, which Versluys said can range from 75,000 euros ($82,000) to replace asbestos in an engine to 350,000 euros ($383,000) for updating a tank's gunfire control system.

Versluys told Voice of America in February that if Belgium does not buy back the tanks, he was open to the option of selling them to another European country and had "held discussions with several European governments."

Versluys claims he accepted a price under the market value and therefore rejects the accusation that he is "earning heaps of money from the Russian invasion," De Standaard added.

He told De Standaard that he does not know when the buyer of the tanks expects to deliver them to Ukraine, as it can take up to six months to modernize them.

Read also: Ukraine may be winning worlds first cyberwar

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Head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) Kyrylo Budanov led a Ukrainian official delegation to Bulgaria to discuss security issues, the Bulgarian BGNES News Agency reported on Aug. 8.

Ukrainian representatives met with Bulgarian Defense Minister Todor Tagarev and head of the Bulgarian military intelligence General Venelin Venev, BGNES said, without specifying the date of the visit.

The two parties reportedly discussed the matters of regional and international security, the possible development of the Russo-Ukrainian War, and other topics of mutual interest.

According to BGNES, Bulgarian officials also raised the topic of the Myrotvorets website, a Ukrainian site launched in 2014 by politician and activist Heorhiy Tuka listing "enemies of Ukraine" or those who committed crimes against Ukraine's security, together with their personal information.

The news agency said that the issue of Myrotvorets was "clarified" during the talks.

Bulgaria's most recent government began making strides in Kyiv's support despite the opposition from President Rumen Radev.

Bulgaria announced its second military aid package for Ukraine on June 27 without specifying its content. Sofia already pledged additional aid in the future, including 100 Soviet-era armored personnel carriers, and joined the EU initiative to supply artillery ammunition to Ukraine.

Read also: Doug Klain: How to open NATOs door for Ukraine

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A Texas medical marijuana business is looking to expand access to prescription cannabis in the Metroplex.

Texas Original, a medical cannabis producer, is opening a pickup site in Hurst, where patients who qualify for the Texas Compassionate Use Program can get prescribed marijuana.

The site at 760 Airport Freeway opens Wednesday.

This is simply one of the many steps right now that were working toward our mission, which is increasing access for Texans, said Nico Richardson, the CEO of Texas Original. Hurst was an obvious location. We have a very loyal and growing patient base within the direct Hurst area but also obviously within North Texas from Dallas, through to Fort Worth.

Texas allows for use of low-THC cannabis to treat certain medical conditions, such as epilepsy, seizures, cancer and post traumatic stress disorder. In recent legislative sessions, there has been a push to expand Texas medical marijuana program to chronic pain when an opioid would otherwise be prescribed, but the effort has been unsuccessful.

Texas law is tough on marijuana offenses including illegal recreational use, including when purchased in neighboring states.

The new pickup site in Hurst will be a more permanent location for patients who currently have to either drive to Austin, have their prescriptions delivered to their homes, or stop by North Texas sites that are not open daily. These sites are in Frisco, Fort Worth, North Dallas, Addison and Arlington.

The Hurst location is Texas Originals third permanent pick up site, in addition to Houston and its Austin dispensary where the cannabis is grown and products manufactured. The Hurst site initially will be open Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with plans to open six days a week in the coming months.

The Hurst location is not a dispensary where products are stored on site for inspection or immediate pickup. Instead customers would be able to place orders by phone or online, and then pick up their prescription during operating hours, Richardson said.

Think of it almost as walking into CVS and getting your prescription and walking out, he said.

A doctor will be giving free prescriptions to the first 75 Texas Compassionate Use Program qualifying patients who visit the Hurst site.
Megan Thee Stallion says mercy is for people who show remorse as Tory Lanezs sentencing looms

Tory Lanezs sentencing was once again delayed following his court hearing on Monday (7 August).

The Los Angeles Superior Court is waiting to see what sentence Lanez (legal name Daystar Peterson), 31, will be given after he was convicted of first-degree assault, discharge of a firearm with gross negligence and having a concealed and unregistered firearm in a vehicle in December 2022.

Megan Thee Stallion (real name Megan Pete), 28, had accused Lanez of shooting her in the foot in a July 2020 incident.

Court reporter Meghann Cuniff  who has earned the affectionate monicker Meghann Thee Reporter from Megans fans during the longwinded trial  tweeted: Incredibly, Judge Herriford managed to not finish today... Megan did not speak in person, but she submitted a statement that DA Kathy Ta read aloud.

According to Cuniff, the WAP artist said she struggled with whether to attend in person, and her absence should be seen as her preserving her mental well-being.

She reportedly said since Lanez shot her, Ive not experienced a single day of peace. He lied to anyone that would listen, Megan said of Lanez.

Cuniff added: Megan said mercy is for people who show remorse, and Lanez has shown none. She thanked the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office for their support. She wants the sentence to be a message for everyone woman of violence.

Megan said mercy is for people who show remorse, and Lanez has shown none. She thanked for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office for their support. She wants the sentence to be a message for everyone woman of violence.  Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) August 7, 2023

Los Angeles prosecutors are seeking a 13-year prison sentence for Lanez, who also faces deportation to his native Canada. The sentencing is now expected tomorrow (8 August), which his lawyers plan to appeal.

During the court hearing on Monday, Judge Herriford read out more than 70 letters of support Lanez had received, one of which reportedly came from Australian rapper Iggy Azalea.

Herriford reportedly told the court that Azaleas letter asked him to impose a sentence that is transformational, not life-destroying.

Azaleas representatives did not respond to The Independents request for comment.

Megan The Stallion (real name Megan Pete) testified during the trial that Lanez had shot a handgun towards the back of her feet and told her to dance b**** after she got out of his SUV and walked away from it. The pair had left a party at Kylie Jenners Hollywood Hills home.

She required surgery to remove bullet fragments from her feet and alleged Lanez offered her $1m (830,000) to stay quiet about the incident as he was on probation.

Lanez has been in jail since he was convicted by a jury last year.

In April, Megan  real name Megan Pete  spoke for the final time about being shot by Lanez and the public reaction to the shooting.

Explaining that she saw herself as a survivor, because I have truly survived the unimaginable rather than a victim, Megan said that shed had to face her trauma being turned into a running joke.

I understand the public intrigue, but for the sake of my mental health, I dont plan to keep reliving the most traumatic experience of my life over and over again. Im choosing to change the narrative because Im more than just my trauma, she said.
(Bloomberg) -- Giorgia Melonis economic policy has just taken a sharply populist turn, launching an assault on bank profits and vying to tighten its grip over corporate Italy.

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The prime ministers nine-month-old far-right coalition government is doubling down on a state-led approach to managing prosperity with a program unveiled on Monday that unsettled investors and threatened to overshadow relations with China.

Italian bank stocks plunged in the wake of the late-night decree whose 40% tax on lenders profits was just the most eye-catching item in a whole raft of measures.

To contain the damage, the finance ministry issued a late-night statement saying the impact may be limited because some banks have already raised rates for deposits and the levy wont exceed 0.1% of a firms assets.

Ministers also backed limits on transfers of technology and the creation of a new special commissioner for large foreign investments.

The package extends the Meloni alliances attempt at wielding power over the economy, after already instituting a changing of the guard in its own image at the Treasury, several state-owned companies and even the central bank.

It shows her determination to expand its populist agenda in the third-biggest member of the euro zone and appease the US  which she visited just last month  even at the expense of real or potential international fallout.

In terms of popularity, I think its a good move, said Wolfango Piccoli, research director at political risk advisory Teneo in London. Itll fly well, especially with the constituency of the ruling coalition.

Piccoli referred in particular to the windfall tax on banks, which wiped out about $10 billion from the market value of the countrys lenders. The decree could cost banks more than 3 billion ($3.3 billion) in taxes, according to Bloomberg Intelligence.

Salvinis Role

That the package was unveiled in public by Deputy Premier and League Leader Matteo Salvini, the most overtly populist member of the coalition, was a likely signal of messaging the governments intent.

Politicians are prioritizing short-term fiscal gains over the longer-term cost of equity for the banking sector, Filippo Maria Alloatti, head of financials at Federated Hermes, told Bloomberg Television. Its not the first time and neither wont be the last time.

The governments package included a measure to exercise special golden share powers to block technology transfers abroad in strategic sectors including artificial intelligence, production of semiconductors, cybersecurity, aerospace, and energy.

That may be a jab at China, and is in line with US pressure on Italy to move away from its Belt and Road Initiative and commercial ties with the country.

The government must decide by the end of the year whether to renew its involvement in the that initiative, Chinas investment pact designed to deepen economic ties with allies across the world. Italy is the only G-7 member country in the program and its 46-year-old leader  described by close supporters as assertive, self-aware and strategic  is under pressure to pick sides in the increasingly fraught rivalry between China and a US suspicious of Beijings ambitions.

Its about China without mentioning China, said Julian Ringhof, a policy fellow at the European Council for Foreign Relations in Brussels. China realizes the mood is changing in European member states.

Such laws exist in the US with a clear focus on stopping transfer to countries like China. The EU recently released its European Security Strategy as a new tool that also deters interaction with that nation in certain sectors, though never actually mentioning it by name.

Earlier this year, the Dutch government said it would prohibit Europes most valuable technology company, ASML Holding NV, from shipping some of its machines to China.

For example, the EU urges member states to tighten export controls on technology that could be exploited by rivals and cautions not to share information with countries of concern that could harness AI and quantum computing for military use.

Piccoli of Teneo agreed that its possible to speculate that the new move reflects China concern.

Symbolically, its an important exit, he said. In reality, not much is going to change in terms of the Italy and China relations.

The governments surprise legislative onslaught hit Italians at an awkward moment, with much of the country on vacation in advance of the Aug. 15 national holiday.

Even so, it still marks gear shift in the Meloni coalitions engagement with its guardians of prosperity, after a three-stage changeover of the economic elite as the coalition took advantage of opportune timing of several job terms ending concurrently.

That began with the installation of new Treasury officials earlier this year and continued with selections of state enterprise chiefs in recent months. Then in June, the government picked ECB Executive Board member Fabio Panetta as the next chief of the Bank of Italy.

By confronting the countrys lenders however, the possibility of more impact  and the corresponding risk of damage  is greater than the governments prior moves to remodel Italy, not least at a time when the economy has begun to contract.

In theory they could say, OK you know what, were going to lend less to the real economy, said Alloatti of Federated Hermes. This, I think, is a possibility, in order to retain more earnings.

(Update with Italys late-night clarification in fourth paragraph.)

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Former President Trumps legal woes are overshadowing everything else in the political world  but they are causing much more serious political problems for his GOP rivals than for his own candidacy.

Its become next to impossible for the Republicans chasing Trump to get traction, or even attention for their ideas, while the maelstrom swirls around him.

Trump was indicted in a third case last week, relating to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election. He has previously been indicted in New York in April regarding the alleged falsification of business records, and in June in Florida relating to the sensitive documents uncovered at Mar-a-Lago.

An investigation in Georgia into efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn the election result in that state could produce more charges any day now.

In aggregate, those events would be politically fatal to any other candidate. To be sure, they could wound Trump badly in a general election if he becomes the GOP nominee.

An ABC News/Ipsos poll released Friday indicated that 52 percent of Americans believe Trump should indeed have been charged in the latest indictment, compared to 32 percent who thought he should not have been charged.

But Trump is leading the GOP field by almost 40 points in national polling averages and, if his previous two indictments are any guide, he will likely get a fundraising boost in response to his most recent legal troubles.

Meanwhile, his rivals trail far in his wake.

Look, they are on an impossible road, said former Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.), who ran a long-shot campaign against Trump for the GOP nomination in 2020.

Walsh argued that Trumps rivals cant win by frontally opposing him, because of his popularity with the Republican base, but if they embrace him, they cant then really differentiate themselves from him.

That conundrum is made all the more difficult when Trump commands the news headlines, even for negative reasons.

Walsh drew a comparison with the initial publicity his own bid received in its early days of the 2020 cycle before news broke of the Ukraine-related events that led to Trumps first impeachment.

That became the biggest story in the country for three months, he noted.

Far from trying to move past his legal troubles, Trump has instead sparked further controversies that could be designed, at least in part, to keep controversy blazing  and perhaps to prolong the period before any trial.

On Sunday, he demanded the recusal of U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who has been randomly assigned to his case, contending that there is no way I can get a fair trial under her.

Previously, special counsel Jack Smith had cited a Trump social media post  If you go after me, Im coming after you!, it said  in a Friday court filing seeking a protective order to curb public disclosure of information provided under the discovery process in the case.

There are some signs that Trumps rivals are recalibrating their approach in response to the most recent developments.

Former Vice President Mike Pence has been direct in outlining his differences with Trump over the then-presidents efforts to pressure him to overturn the 2020 election result.

President Trump was wrong then and hes wrong now, Pence said on CNNs State of the Union on Sunday. I had no right to overturn the election.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Trumps closest, if distant, GOP rival told NBC News in an interview broadcast Monday of course he lost, in reference to Trumps fate in the 2020 election. Joe Bidens the president.

DeSantiss comment is plainly true, but polling has consistently shown around 70 percent of Republican voters refuse to accept the legitimacy of President Bidens victory.

The new Ron DeSantis view  Of course Trump lost  is a new, big change in the DeSantis approach, said Jamil Jaffer, who served as associate counsel to former President George W. Bush. That should not be undercounted, because this is the first time his principal rival is saying that he lost and there is no question about it.

Others argue that, for all of Trumps strengths with the Republican base, questions about his capacity to win a general election will ultimately undercut his candidacy. His nomination is far from a foregone conclusion, they contend.

Barry Bennett, who was a senior adviser to Trumps 2016 campaign but is supporting Miami Mayor Francis Suarez (R) in this campaign, contended that questions over winnability were Trumps Achilles heel.

Trumps path is like the Titanic; you dont turn 90 degrees just like that, Bennett claimed. It takes a while. There is not going to be this one day where there will be a poll and people will have abandoned Trump. Thats just not the way it works. They have to get comfortable with their next choice. I think it is a much slower, more deliberative process.

But even Bennett acknowledged that Trumps long shadow over the news agenda was a problem for this GOP rivals.

It certainly makes it more difficult, because every time you do a TV hit or a media interview, the only questions are what you think about Trump, he said.

Independent experts agree  and argue that no competitor to Trump has yet found a way to thread the needle.

Every time they turn around, they are being asked to comment on his latest troubles, and many of them are not happy about that, said Danielle Vinson, a professor of politics and international affairs at Furman University.

The Nikki Haleys and Tim Scotts would much rather talk about something else, Vinson added. But anybody who is interested in becoming the front-runner is going to have to find a way to knock him off.

The Memo is a reported column by Niall Stanage.

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A recent study that tested the absorbency levels of a range of period products found that menstrual discs had the highest holding capacity, followed by cups and "heavy" day pads and tampons. Period underwear had the lowest capacity. Photo by unknownuserpanama/Pixabay

For women with heavy periods, some newer menstrual products may offer more security than old-fashioned pads and tampons.

That's among the findings of a new study that tested the absorbency levels of a range of period products -- from traditional pads and tampons, to newer options such as period underwear and reusable menstrual discs and cups.

It turned out that discs had the highest holding capacity, followed by cups and "heavy" day pads and tampons. Period underwear had the lowest capacity, according to findings published Monday in the journal BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health.

Those differences are not necessarily surprising -- particularly for anyone who has ever tried different products through trial and error.

But what might surprise people, experts said, is that so little research like this has been done.

In fact, studies of menstruation, in general, are strikingly uncommon: A search of the medical literature for the term "menstrual blood" turns up about 400 articles published over the past several decades -- versus 10,000 on erectile dysfunction, according to an editorial published with the new research.

"That's what's so refreshing about this new study," said Dr. Nichole Tyson, an author on the editorial and a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Stanford University.

Period products carry labeling descriptions, like "super" and "heavy," to convey their absorbency powers. But only tampons are actually regulated in their absorbency testing, because they are associated with an increased risk of toxic shock syndrome (TSS) - a rare but dangerous complication of certain bacterial infections.

The point is to help consumers choose the tampon with the lowest absorbency to meet their needs, which reduces the chances of TSS. But even those metrics are based on a tampon's holding capacity for saline, not menstrual flow.

The new research appears to be the first published study to test the range of period products using red blood cells.

That's not a perfect surrogate for a menstrual period, either -- but it's closer to the real thing than saline, said senior researcher Dr. Bethany Samuelson Bannow, an assistant professor at Oregon Health & Science University.

For the study, her team tested 21 period products, including different brands of pads, one brand of tampon at various absorbency levels, one brand of "super" absorbency period underwear, several brands of menstrual discs, and one menstrual cup brand at different sizes.

Menstrual discs and cups are similar in that they are inserted into the vagina and meant to be emptied, cleaned and reused. Discs sit a little higher in the vagina, and have been marketed as having a higher holding capacity; cups, on the other hand, may be a bit easier for new users to insert and remove.

Bannow and her colleagues found that menstrual discs, indeed, had the highest capacity of the products they tested -- with one brand holding 80 mL of blood cells. For comparison, the highest-absorbency tampon held 34 mL, while the large-size menstrual cup held 35 mL.

Bannow, however, did not want to frame the findings as a product endorsement.

For one, she said, "there are a lot of different reasons that a particular option might be good for you."

As an example, Bannow pointed to women who have jobs that leave them with few bathroom breaks over the course of the day: Regardless of whether they have "heavy" periods, they might prefer a menstrual disc. On the other hand, Bannow said, someone with a history of sexual trauma might want to use period underwear, even if the absorbency level is lower.

There's also the issue of cost. Menstrual cups and discs typically fall in the range of $25 to $35, but because they are reusable, they end up being cheaper than disposable products.

Tyson agreed that women base their product decisions on various factors, not just absorbency levels.

"But I think it's important to be aware there are different options available," Tyson said.

And that, both doctors said, speaks to a larger issue: Girls and women are not necessarily aware of their options because menstruation is still something of a taboo subject -- whether in conversation between mothers and daughters, friends, or doctors and patients.

"Period conversations are still not normalized," Tyson said. "Menstruation shouldn't be embarrassing or stigmatized."

Bannow agreed. "I really wish we could get rid of this menstrual taboo."

That, she said, might encourage more patients to talk to their doctor when they have heavy periods that are interfering with the quality of their life.

In some cases, heavy menstrual flow may require an evaluation for an underlying health condition.

And, both doctors said, women with heavy periods have options other than discs. Menstrual "suppression" with medication, including certain birth control pills, can reduce or eliminate periods.

"That's an area that's definitely riddled with myths," Tyson said. "But it's a very safe option for people who do not want to have periods."

More information

Planned Parenthood has more on menstrual cycles.

Copyright  2023 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, a vocal advocate for addressing a shortage of child care options in Washington, visited the site of the proposed early learning center on Monday in Whatcom County.

Plans are underway to create the Whatcom Early Learning Center in the Meridian School District, which will use the site to offer a solution to child care deserts in the rural parts of the county, according to the Whatcom County Early Learning Center information guide.

The center plans to have space for up to 120 children who are infants through 5-years-old. There would be extended hours and days of operation as a way to support working families.

This is exactly what we need to be doing. We need child care available for people to go to work. We need to train people to be child-care providers and we have to have facilities that are accessible to people in their own communities, and this facility is exactly what thats all about, said Murray, D-Washington, during a visit Monday to Whatcom County.

There also is a proposal for infant to early childhood mental health services due to a prevalence in mental disorders in children as identified by the state.

A meta-analysis of studies published between 2006 & 2020 estimated a 20.1% prevalence for diagnosable mental disorders in children ages 1-7, the guide said.

The Meridian School District will also serve as a place to have the proposed Whatcom County Skills Center, which would increase career and technical education opportunities for students. This is done through a partnership with the Northwest Career and Technical Academy which has its own skills center in Skagit County, according to the Meridian School District website.

The school district was awarded $2 million by Whatcom County through funding from the American Rescue Plan Act to establish the early learning center. It is also awaiting federal funding of $4 million to be approved by Congress, which was requested by Murray. Once that is approved, the work of the Whatcom Early Learning Center can begin.

This is a connection that stems from establishing a skills center that will serve all Whatcom County schools. When we did the feasibility study, we discovered theres a large number of women who arent in the workforce because of children, said Meridian Schools Superintendent James Everett.

Murray met with Everett and Lynette Brower, director of the Northwest Career and Technical Academy, to discuss the plans.

Prior to Murrays visit to the future site of the early learning center, she toured a number of small businesses in Bellingham to discuss revitalization efforts and visited the Rural Broadband Project site to talk about expanding internet access in the county.

Murray told the Bellingham Herald that once the Covid-19 pandemic hit, a lot of child-care centers were being shut down. Many parents could not find child care or places to work and the problem soon ballooned into a crisis.

According to the guide, over 85% of Whatcom County businesses are challenged by staffing due to a lack of access to early learning and child care facilities. Everett said the Whatcom Early Learning Center would help bring more families back into the workforce.

At approximately 10,000 square-feet, this center would provide an infant room, two toddler preschool classrooms, a transitional kindergarten room, ancillary service areas and an adult classroom for skills center and college students, the website states.

The Whatcom Early Learning Center is slated to be ready in 2026, the website said.
A Methuen police officer was arrested on a child pornography charge Tuesday, state police tell Boston 25 News.

Matthew Bistany, 51, was arrested at his home by state police troopers and Methuen police on one count of child pornography, according to an MSP spokesperson.

A search warrant was executed prior to Bistanys arrest, MSP says.

An investigation began earlier this year when the Massachusetts State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received a Cyber Tipline Report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reporting the upload of child sexual assault material to a specific IP address connected to Bistany.

Bistany has been placed on administrative leave by the Methuen Police Department, according to Police Chief Scott McNamara.

While Officer Bistany is presumed innocent until proven guilty, the Methuen Police Department condemns the officers conduct as alleged in the charging documents. These allegations in no way reflect upon the character and reputation of the men and women of the Methuen Police Department who stand committed to protecting children and continue to serve with distinction, said McNamara

The Massachusetts State Police and our law enforcement partners like the Methuen Police Department stand committed to protecting children, who are among the most vulnerable members of society, from sexual abuse, which is what child pornography is. I commend the work of our Cyber Crimes Unit and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and am grateful for our partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, said Massachusetts State Police Colonel John Mawn Jr.

Bistany will be arraigned in Lawrence District Court Tuesday afternoon.

Officials say more information will be released once Bistany is arraigned.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District has chosen Adam A. House to lead the seventh-largest local firefighting agency in California, where he has risen through the ranks since the fire departments inception 23 years ago.

Metro Fires Board of Directors selected House as the agencys seventh fire chief following a nationwide search. House will also become the first fire chief to work for the agency continuously since Metro Fire was created in 2000.

As a trusted member of Metro Fires leadership team for many years, Chief House has the experience and respect of the Board of members and the districts employees to lead this organization in the coming years, Metro Fire Board President DElman Clark said Tuesday in a news release. We have great confidence that under his leadership Metro Fire will remain one of the best fire districts on the West Coast for effectiveness and innovation.

House, who will be formally sworn in this week, will now be in charge of the agency with slightly more than 700 full-time employees working across 41 stations. Metro Fire  with a budget of slightly more than $300 million  serves about 720,000 people across 359 square miles in unincorporated areas of Sacramento County and portions of Placer County. Metro Fire also serves the cities of Rancho Cordova and Citrus Heights.

House is replacing former Metro Fire Chief Todd Harms, who announced his retirement a year ago after serving as head of the agency since November 2016. Dan Haverty has served as Metro Fires interim fire chief since January.

A native of the Sacramento area, House graduated from Cordova High School in 1987. He has 36 years of experience as a firefighter, including four years with the U.S. Army, where he worked as a firefighter.

In 1991, House worked as a firefighter in Yuma, Arizona, where he was eventually promoted to the rank of captain. He returned to Sacramento County to join the newly created Metro Fire agency, where he started as a firefighter.

House was later promoted to captain, battalion chief and later assistant fire chief with Metro Fire. He was instrumental in establishing the agencys special operations division, according to the news release. He served as the first manager for the agencys Type 1 hazardous materials program.

Metro Fire officials said House has played pivotal roles in firefighter recruitment and the fire academy, where he served as a drill master. House he contributed as a member of the Federal Emergency Management Agencys Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 7, the California Governors Office of Emergency Services Task Force 9 and the Type 3 Sacramento Regional Incident Management Team.

House currently lives in Sloughhouse with his wife Gia; the two met in middle school and have been married for 30 years. They have an adult son and daughter; their son Joshua is a Metro Fire firefighter stationed in Gold River.

Metro Fire will host a swearing-in ceremony for House at its regularly scheduled board meeting this Thursday.
FILE - Tourists hang out on the Gaviota Azul beach in Cancun, Mexico, March 2, 2010. A four-day inspection raid targeting drugstores in Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulu resulted in the shuttering of 23 pharmacies at Caribbean coast resorts, six months after a report warned that the drug stores were offering foreigners pills they passed off as Oxycodone, Percocet and Adderall without prescriptions, the Navy Department said Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Israel Leal, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

MEXICO CITY (AP)  Mexico has shuttered 23 pharmacies at Caribbean coast resorts, six months after a research report warned that drug stores in Mexico were offering foreigners pills they passed off as Oxycodone, Percocet and Adderall without prescriptions, authorities said Tuesday.

A four-day inspection raid targeted drugstores in Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum.

In March, the U.S. State Department issued a travel warning about sales of such pills, and the practice appears to be widespread.

The Navy Department said Tuesday that irregular sales were found at 23 of the 55 drug stores inspected.

The Navy said the pharmacies usually offered the pills only to tourists, and the drugstores advertised such pills, and even offered home delivery services for them.

The Navy said it found outdated medications and some for which there was no record of the supplier, as well as blank or unsigned prescription forms.

In February, the University of California, Los Angeles announced that researchers there had found that 68% of the 40 Mexican pharmacies visited in four northern Mexico cities sold Oxycodone, Xanax or Adderall, and that 27% of those pharmacies were selling fake pills.

UCLA said the study, published in January, found that brick and mortar pharmacies in Northern Mexican tourist towns are selling counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine. These pills are sold mainly to US tourists, and are often passed off as controlled substances such as Oxycodone, Percocet, and Adderall.

These counterfeit pills represent a serious overdose risk to buyers who think they are getting a known quantity of a weaker drug, Chelsea Shover, assistant professor-in-residence of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, said in February.

And the U.S. State Department travel warning in March said the counterfeit pills being sold at pharmacies in Mexico may contain deadly doses of fentanyl.

The Mexican Navy did not confirm that any fentanyl-laced pills had been found in last week's raid, but said medications had been seized to test whether they contained fentanyl.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid far more powerful than morphine, and it has been blamed for about 70,000 overdose deaths per year in the United States. Mexican cartels produce it from precursor chemical smuggled in from China, and then often press it into pills designed to look like other medications.
A candidate for Miami City Commission is suing the city to stop the use of a voting map that excludes his home from the district hes lived in for 20 years  a new legal challenge amid an ongoing battle over how to draw the citys political boundaries.

Miguel Gabela, an auto parts retailer who is running against incumbent District 1 Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla, is accusing the city commission of violating city and state laws by passing voting map that excludes Gabelas home from District 1, where he has been campaigning since February. In 2019, Diaz de la Portilla beat Gabela to win the seat and return to elected office for the first time in years. They are the only two people who have filed to run for District 1 this year.

According to the lawsuit filed Monday in Miami-Dade County Circuit Court, a published agenda for the June 14 meeting improperly stated that the hearing would not allow public comment on the discussion about changing the citys district boundaries. Commissioners approved a new map that day, weeks after a federal judge tossed out a previous voting map that is being challenged in a separate, unresolved federal racial gerrymandering lawsuit.

Other online notices for the meeting advertised a public comment period for the discussion, but the published agenda stated that no member of the public may address the City Commission during the discussion. The commission still allowed the public to speak, and Gabela voiced his displeasure for being drawn out of the district he wants to represent. Hours later, the commission approved a map that excluded Gabela from District 1.

On Monday, City Attorney Victoria Mendez said the city is aware of the lawsuit and reviewing the allegations.

We will respond accordingly once we are properly served, she said.

Miguel Gabela

On Monday, Gabela told the Miami Herald the approval of the new map was a political move to prevent him from running because Diaz de la Portilla feared losing in the November election.

What they were doing was wrong, Gabela said.

In a statement Monday, Diaz de la Portilla said that living in the district a candidate wants to represent provides a needed connection to the district and an understanding of how government can best serve the interests of those constituents. The commissioner said Gabela was admitting he is not a District 1 resident, making him unqualified to represent the area.

Instead of fighting the city he supposedly wants to help govern, Gabela should help inform the voters of where the law requires them to vote, the commissioner said. That would be an ideal example of public service, something I strive to do every day.

Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla, District 1, at the City of Miami commission meeting in Miami, Florida, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020.

Gabelas lawsuit, filed by attorney David Winker, also accuses the city of breaking a newly enacted state law that prohibits city governments from changing district boundaries 270 days before a regular general election. The law, which went into effect July 1, also bans the drawing of districts to favor or hurt candidates or incumbents based on their addresses.

The legal argument based on the new law could hinge on how the court interprets the back-and-forth happening in an ongoing federal lawsuit over the citys redistricting plan. Community groups represented by the American Civil Liberties Union have accused the city of drawing racially gerrymandered districts that unconstitutionally pack Black and Hispanic voters in certain districts.

The federal case has taken several turns recently.

On July 30, a U.S. District Court judge sided with the community groups and ordered their preferred map to be used for the November election. Friday night, a three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit ruled 2-1 to rejected the lower courts decision, allowing the city to use the commission-approved June 14 map. On Sunday, the ACLU asked the U.S. Supreme Court to vacate the appellate decision and block the citys map, urging the court to rule by Friday.

The appellate courts decision reintroduced the city map after July 1, when the new state law took effect. Mondays lawsuit argues the citys approval of the map violates the new law because the map was drawn to disfavor Gabela.

Thats going to be my argument, Winker said.
More than 30 public officials from South Florida and the state asked President Joe Biden in a letter on Tuesday to expand immigration protections for migrants in the U.S. who are without pathways to permanent immigration or whose protections from deportation are nonexistent or potentially at risk.

We write from the state of Florida to urge you to take immediate action to improve our broken immigration system and provide protections for immigrant families who have long called America their home, reads the letter sent Tuesday, spearheaded by the Florida Immigration Coalition and signed by Democrats and non-partisan office holders from across the state.

The correspondence asks Biden to address the immigration needs of long-term populations living and working in America. It focuses on undocumented adults who came to the country as children, citizens of several Latin American countries already designated for the Temporary Protected Status program, and people who could gain lawful status through family members.

The letter comes in the wake of a new state law that makes it harder for undocumented immigrants to live and work in Florida. The legislation compels hospitals who take Medicaid to ask and report patient immigration status, and orders private businesses with more than 25 workers to use the E-verify platform to check their employees eligibility to work in the U.S., among several other immigration-related restrictions and measures.

The threats to immigrant families continue to grow as extremist politicians propose policies that could ultimately upend their lives and impact the stability of our local communities and economy, the letter says.

State senators and representatives, city and county commissioners, school board members and county mayors and vice mayors were among those who signed the letter. They include Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, County Commissioner Marleine Bastien, Miami Commissioner Sabina Covo, and Miami-Dade School Board Members Lucia Baez-Geller and Luisa Santos.

The letter asks the White House to ensure that recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which allows undocumented people who came to the U.S. as children to stay in the country, stay shielded from deportation and keep their work authorizations regardless of the outcome of ongoing federal litigation. There were nearly 590,000 active DACA recipients in the United States as of last September, according to U.S. and Citizenship services. About 23,000 were Florida residents.

The elected officials also urged the Biden administration to redesignate Venezuela, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Honduras for Temporary Protected Status, a federal program that allows migrants from countries in turmoil to continue living and working in the United States. Hundreds of thousands of people from those countries were recipients of the program in 2021, according to federal government data. A redesignation would expand eligibility for the program to more people from these four countries and for a longer period of time.

The letter also asks the administration to cut down the backlogs of family-based visas that relatives can sponsor and petition for family members, such as certain kinds of green cards and family reunification programs for Cuba and Haiti, which can take years to process.

We live, work, pray and play with those who have come to America to build a better life for their families, the letter says. We urge you to use your authority to make life better in our states by extending and expanding protections for our friends and neighbors.
WASHINGTON  Former Vice President Mike Pence has qualified for the first Republican presidential primary debate, benefiting from a surge of donations after the latest indictment of his former boss, Donald Trump.

Pence, one of the most recognizable names in the race, took a while to get here. By contrast, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie entered the race a day earlier than Pence and qualified for the debate a month sooner than Pence.

But as Pence has become more critical of Trump, he has attracted more donors  and more ire from the former president.

Pence will be on the debate stage Aug. 23 in Milwaukee, his campaign confirmed Monday. Trump has still not said whether he will be there. He is seemingly leaving it to his supporters to decide.

Why did it take Pence 9 weeks to qualify?

A candidate must have 40,000 unique donors and score above 1% in a certain number of national and state polls to qualify to be on stage  requirements set forth by the Republican National Committee.

Pence has scored 3% or higher in some national and state polls. His campaign also said he had met the donor threshold and "chose not to employ schemes, giveaways, or gimmicks used by other campaigns" to do so.

Fox News first reported on the development.

Pence became the eighth candidate to qualify after Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Christie, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, biotechnology entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.

He had struggled for weeks to meet the donor threshold. University of New Hampshire political scientist Dante Scala told USA TODAY last month that Pences candidacy was a nonstarter to those who wanted him to stand by Trump during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. But Pence also had not appealed to GOP voters who want to move on.

Pence sells 'Too Honest' merch

After Trump was indicted on four counts last week on charges related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election, Pences team started selling hats and T-shirts with the label Too Honest  a reference to an instance described in the indictment  as a way to bolster his presence in the crowded GOP field.

The Pence campaign found a way to profit, literally, from all the fresh attention. Hats and T-shirts with the label Too Honest appeared on his campaign site Thursday, a reference to an instance described in the indictment.

In a phone call in January 2021, Trump berated Pence for saying there was no constitutional basis for the vice president to reject electoral votes during the certification of results, according to the indictment.

Pence could face off against Trump in the Aug. 23 debate, but it is still unclear whether the former president will take part.

"Mike Pence made quick and easy work of the donor threshold, and hes looking forward to a substantive debate about the issues important to the American people, said Pence communications adviser Devin OMalley. Hopefully, former President Trump has the courage to show up.

Contributing: Savannah Kuchar and Francesca Chambers

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How Mike Pence qualified for the first GOP debate on Aug. 23
Russian Defense Ministry claimed that the Aug. 7 missile attack on Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast, which killed seven people and injured nearly 90, hit a command post of Ukraine's Khortytsia Operational and Strategic Group.

In a comment for Ukrainska Pravda, the group's spokesperson Serhii Cherevatyi denied the statement, saying that it's already the "third or fourth time" Moscow claims to have destroyed this command post.

"This is Russian propaganda, which of course, does not correspond to reality. Russian terrorists continue to fight with peaceful people," Cherevatyi told the media outlet.

"The enemy will get a response from the 'destroyed' team of Khortytsia." The Khortytsia group under Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi leads Ukrainian troops in the east.

Russian forces hit the central part of Pokrovsk with Iskander missiles twice on Aug. 7, causing large-scale damage to civilian infrastructure.

According to regional authorities, 12 high-rise buildings, a hotel, the building of a local prosecutor's office, a Pension Fund building, a pharmacy, two shops, two cafes, and cars were damaged in the attack.

As of 11 a.m. local time on Aug. 8, seven people are known to have been killed, including five civilians, a rescuer, and a soldier. Additional 88 people were injured, Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said, including three currently in critical condition.

Pokrovsk is located some 50 kilometers from the front line, close to the administrative border with Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russia bombards Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, killing 5, injuring 31

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Its military camouflage patterns all over again.

In a recent brief to a Defense Department advisory committee, fitness experts for each of the military services described how theyre on track to eliminate the inaccuracies in body-fat measurement methods that have frustrated service members with nonstandard builds for decades.

But this quest for accuracy has led them to distinctly different conclusions: No two services can even agree on where to measure a service members waist when deploying the hated, but hard-to-eliminate tape test.

The good news is multiple branches are investing in the same high-tech fat-measurement equipment that officials say will be the final word on whether troops fall outside standards for troops approved to use it.

Marine Corps will move away from tape test when measuring body fat

With a Defense Department-wide pause on fitness testing during the COVID-19 pandemic, each of the services has had the chance to evaluate its methods and make changes. The DoD requires each service to conduct a body composition assessment, but existing measurement-based methods are error-prone, particularly for women.

A recent Marine Corps study found that .6% of male Marines and 6.3% of female Marines were incorrectly measured under the services existing tape test.

The Army, which has worked for years to refine and roll out its new Army Combat Fitness Test, announced in June that in 2024 it will do away with its old tape test, which measured men at the waist and neck, and women at the waist, neck and widest part of the hips, in favor of a single-site measurement for both genders at the waist.

If a soldier is out of standards in both height and weight screening and waist measurement, he or she can seek a commanders approval to get scanned via the state-of-the-art DEXA, InBody 770, or Bod Pod methods.

The Marine Corps in 2022 made a similar change, requiring a bioelectrical impedance analysis of body fat, such as that provided by the InBody 770, prior to kicking anyone out for being out of standards.

The service also increased the maximum body fat allowable for women by 1%, permitting anywhere from 27% to 30% body fat based on age. This change, officials said at the time, optimizes the balance between health and performance for women.

The tape test, however, continues to be required prior to the machine assessment for those found out of height and weight regulation, with three site measurements for women and two for men like the Armys legacy test.

The Air Force also unveiled a new body fat assessment program for airmen and Guardians in 2023, actually bringing back a tape test that assesses only waist-to-height ratio, after shutting down the old waist-measurement tape test in 2020. A more comprehensive new program is still forthcoming.

Meanwhile, the Navy is halfway through a two-year study of its body-fat analysis methods, continuing for now to measure men at the neck and waist, and women at the neck, waist and hips. It stopped administratively separating sailors for physical fitness test failures in 2017, and expects to announce changes to its program after the study wraps up in 2024.

For now, though, every service has a waist-measurement element of body fat assessment, having independently determined that to be a meaningful indicator of health and fitness to fight. As the Air Force said upon bringing the measurement back, Excess fat distribution in the abdominal region is associated with increased health risk.

But what exactly is the abdominal region, and how do you measure it? Regardless of who you ask, theyll tell you the other services have it a little bit wrong.

The Armys new program mandates taping right at the belly button, or the umbilicus, to use the services preferred term.

The Navy tapes at the iliac crest, where the top of the hip bone can be felt.

The Marine Corps opts for the natural waist, between the belly button and the bottom end of the breast bone.

The Air Force takes the midpoint between the iliac crest and the bottom of the ribs, providing a detailed anatomical chart showing musculature to help assessors find the right spot.

Finding the umbilicus is typically a fairly easy thing, versus something like the iliac crest, Michael McGurk, director of research for the Armys Center for Initial Military Training, told the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services at its June meeting. Were already ready, theres going to be some question someplace where were going to have somebody that doesnt have an umbilicus because of surgery or something, but well figure out how to adjust for that.

Col. Kevin Baldovich, chief of integrated operational support at the Air Force Medical Agency, said he was concerned about variability with the Army measurement: What if the belly button pointed down or otherwise thwarted accurate measurement?

His slide presentation also took issue with the multisite measurements the Marine Corps and Navy continue to use, saying they have less correlation to abdominal obesity and a relatively large potential for error. After assessing many studies with varying conclusions, he said, we had to define a landmark.

The Navy and the Marine Corps, which historically have beefed over fitness testing methodology, refer in part to the same 1980s studies on body fat, but end up with different conclusions about where to measure. In presentation briefing slides, Navy Lt. Geoffrey Ciarlone, a service physiologist, said the Navy referred to National Institutes of Health guidance in choosing the iliac crest as its measuring spot.

As the largest service, we like to lead the way, McGurk said of the Army approach. And we do talk with our sister services all the time. Sometimes talks are more productive than others. But I think that were generally in the right area.

Apart from the services determination to find unique ways to solve identical problems, the brief also revealed the difficulty of getting away from some manner of tape test, which troops and experts have long criticized as inaccurate.

Its so cheap and efficient to take circumference with a tape measure that the relative accuracy it provides has long been assessed as a reasonable tradeoff in lieu of buying bioelectrical impedance analysis scanners at $21,000 apiece for every base. While some studies continue and more changes may be forthcoming, officials hope making the best-in-class scanners available to the small percentage of troops who require them will be an acceptable solution.

Concerns already have arisen that service members requiring access to the scanners might not be able, or permitted, to travel to a location that has one.

But in a rare show of service cooperation, McGurk said, the Army and the Marine Corps are investing in the same model: the InBody 770.

The Army plans to buy 500600 of the machines, and the Marines reportedly are purchasing more than 250. For those who dont regularly visit a military installation, such as members of the Reserve Officer Training Corps, McGurk said, any body fat-measuring machine under government control, including those at state-owned universities, may be used to meet the requirement.

We think with that, plus the ones were giving to our National Guard and Reserve, theyll be widely, widely available, he said.
Ukrainian forces hold the initiative on the battlefield in the Bakhmut direction despite heavy Russian artillery fire, Serhii Cherevatyi, the spokesman for Ukraine's Eastern Military Command, said on Aug. 8.

"The Bakhmut direction remains to be a sector where our Defense Forces hold the initiative," Cherevatyi said on television.

"The enemy is desperately resisting, using all types of artillery, from mortars to multiple-launch rocket systems," he added.

According to the spokesperson, Russian forces shelled Ukrainian positions 508 times and launched six air strikes during the day.

Some 16 combat engagements occurred, leaving 65 Russian soldiers killed, 120 wounded, and three captured, Cherevatyi said. Russian losses also included a tank, a Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer, a Msta-B howitzer, an ammunition warehouse, five trucks, and a communications hub, he specified.

According to Cherevatyi, the quality and precision of Ukrainian artillery crews surpass the quantitative advantage of their Russian counterparts.

The Bakhmut direction remains one of the main sectors of the ongoing Ukrainian counteroffensive. The Ukrainian military reported advances along the southern and northern flanks of the city, which fell to Russian forces in late May.

Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi said on July 20 that the conditions are right for Ukraine to retake Bakhmut. While not giving a clear timeframe, he said that the operation will be attempted "as soon as possible."

Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said on Aug. 1. that Russia is concentrating its forces along the eastern front line, namely in the Kupiansk, Lyman, and Svatove directions, trying to pull Ukrainian forces away from Bakhmut and stop their advance in that area.

Read also: Investigative Stories from Ukraine: Russia hits Ukraine with missiles that once belonged to Ukraine

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Americans are used to cheap toys made in Asian factories. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews

Young people in Asia don't want factory jobs, so companies are raising wages and adding perks.

In turn, some companies are raising prices on goods in part to offset these wage hikes.

The days of cheap electronics, clothes, and toys could be numbered.

Stock up on your Barbie dolls while they're still relatively cheap. Prices could shoot up in the years ahead, and it's not just due to the hype around the new blockbuster film.

The same goes for a wide range of products Americans have grown used to splurging on, including clothes, TVs, furniture, and toys.

That's because factories across Asia that have traditionally produced many of these goods are struggling to find workers, The Wall Street Journal reported. In response, many manufacturers are raising wages and offering other perks  including yoga classes, better cafeteria food, and subsidized kindergarten for workers' children.

While this is good news for Asian workers, it could be bad news for American shoppers when factories raise prices to offset their rising labor costs. The days of cheap stuff could be coming to an end.

"For U.S. consumers that have been used to having goods at a certain and relatively stable part of their disposable income, I think that foundation is going to have to be rejiggered," Manoj Pradhan, a London-based economist, told the Journal.

Over the past two decades, cheaper overseas manufacturing costs in Asian countries like China have driven down prices for a variety of goods. But factory work isn't quite as cheap as it used to be. In China, manufacturing workers' wages have more than tripled over the past decade, and factory workers in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Japan, have seen notable pay bumps as well.

The trickle-down effect on prices has already begun. Companies like the Barbie manufacturer Mattel, the toy maker Hasbro, and Nike are facing elevated labor costs in Asia that have contributed to price hikes.

Mark Perry, University of Michigan economist

Experts attribute Asia's factory labor shortage to a variety of factors. It starts with young workers, many of whom have little desire to work in the industry. Some have pushed back on the working conditions, while others are holding out for higher-paying jobs more in line with their education levels. China's unemployment rate among workers aged 16-24 hit a record 21% last quarter despite the fact many factories are in need of workers.

"After a while, that work makes your mind numb. I couldn't stand the repetition," former Chinese factory worker Julian Zhu told VOA News last November.

In 2001, Nike's typical Asian factory worker was 22 years old. Today, the company's average Chinese and Vietnamese workers are aged 40 and 31 respectively.

Moving factories from Asia might not help American shoppers

Faced with this shifting manufacturing environment, US corporations can choose to either stick it out in Asia or move some of their manufacturing to the US or other countries like Mexico. COVID supply chain headaches, in addition to national security and human rights concerns, have already led many businesses to shift some of their production lines from China in recent years.

While moving to the US has certain advantages, like creating American jobs and improving supply chain resiliency, it's unlikely to save shoppers from rising costs. That's because, due to the cost of labor and other factors, it's generally more expensive to manufacture goods in the US than Asia.

Some companies, like Barbie's Mattel, see "nearshoring"  shifting supply chains to countries closer to the US  as the best path. In 2019, the company closed two of its Asian factories and spent $50 million to expand an existing plant in Mexico.

"Being able to have product close to your consumer and not having to transport it from Asia, that's going to be more profitable and more competitive when you take costs into account," Gabriel Galvan, Mattel's Latin America managing director, told Reuters last year.

While Mexico may offer cheaper labor than the US and lower shipping costs than Asia, it remains to be seen whether this will be enough to keep prices in check.

It's probably best to just buy that Barbie now.

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Miss Indonesia Laksmi De Neefe Suardana competes in the evening gown competition in the 71st Miss Universe Beauty Pageant in New Orleans. De Neefe Suardana did not compete in the 2023 Miss Universe Indonesia competition. AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

Miss Universe Indonesia 2023 contestants have accused organizers of sexual harassment.

Several alleged that they were forced to strip down for topless "body checks," Reuters reported.

The Miss Universe Organization told Insider it is looking into the matter.

Contestants who recently competed in the 2023 Miss Universe Indonesia pageant have alleged that they were forced to strip down for topless "body checks" and were then photographed, according to reports.

An attorney representing six of the beauty pageant contestants said on Tuesday that the group has filed complaints with Indonesian police accusing the organizers of the competition of sexual harassment, Reuters reported.

Local authorities told Reuters that the contestants filed a police report and that an investigation into the matter would be launched.

The national director of the Miss Universe Indonesia pageant did not immediately respond on Tuesday to a request for comment by Insider sent via social media. Insider also messaged the official Instagram account for Miss Universe Indonesia but did not immediately hear back.

The Miss Universe Organization told Insider in a statement that it was recently "made aware of the allegations regarding the Miss Universe Indonesia 2023 pageant and the franchisee in Indonesia that operates the pageant."

"Miss Universe takes allegations of sexual abuse and impropriety extremely seriously. Providing a safe place for women is the Miss Universe Organization's utmost priority, and we are looking into this matter," the organization added.

Miss Universe Indonesia 2023 was held in the Indonesia capital of Jakarta from July 29 through August 3.

The contestants who filed the police report alleged that organizers asked five of them to strip down to their underwear for physical exams in front of more than 20 people, including men, Reuters reported.

The attorney for the group of women, Mellisa Anggraeni, said the competitors were then photographed while topless, according to Reuters.

"I felt like I was being peeked on, I was very confused and uncomfortable," one unidentified accuser said during a press conference broadcast by local news network Kompas TV, Reuters reported.

Anggraeni said in an Instagram post that the unwarranted "body checking" happened in a hotel ballroom in Jakarta on August 1.

The Miss Universe Organization has been embroiled in controversy over the last year. It first made headlines in October after more than a dozen contestants alleged that the Miss USA 2022 pageant had been rigged in favor of Miss Texas R'Bonney Gabriel, who went on to win Miss Universe in January.

Insider spoke to many of the competing contestants, who pointed to multiple conflicts of interest between Gabriel and Miss USA's national sponsors  including Miss Academy, the pageant school owned by Miss USA president Crystle Stewart.

The Miss Universe Organization suspended Stewart and launched an investigation. On August 1, the Miss Universe Organization said a "thorough and extensive investigation" had found that the rigging allegations "were false" but said Stewart will no longer serve as president of Miss USA.

Contestants of the Miss USA 2022 pageant also told Insider that they had received no mental health support during the competition, which occurred just months after Miss USA 2019 Cheslie Kryst died by suicide.

Weeks after the rigging allegations were made, it was also revealed that Stewart's husband, Max Sebrechts, had stepped down as vice president of Miss USA after multiple contestants from the 2021 pageant said he had sexually harassed them during the competition.

In a statement sent to Insider in October, a spokesperson for Miss Universe said the organization was made aware of the allegations against Sebrechts in late December 2021 and "immediately requested a review." Sebrechs was removed as an employee from the organization in January 2022.

Read the original article on Insider
Republican Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann speaks to reporters after voting in the party primary at his precinct in Jackson, Miss., Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023. Hosemann who is seeking reelection, faces two opponents in the party primary. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann defeated state Sen. Chris McDaniel in the states bitter Republican primary for lieutenant governor Tuesday, staving off a primary challenge for one of the most powerful positions in Mississippi government.

The results are the culmination of a contest that divided conservatives and turned increasingly nasty in its final weeks. Hosemann, 76, is seeking a second term as lieutenant governor after serving three terms as secretary of state. He called McDaniel a pathological liar during the campaign and decried the coarse tone of the race in a victory speech Tuesday.

There are people on the internet that really are gutless. And what they do is spew venom for just people they dont even know," Hosemann said. "And to those people I would ask you: When you wake up in the morning and you look in the mirror, what have you done positive for Mississippi? And I think the answer is nothing.

McDaniels loss was his third unsuccessful campaign for higher office after two failed bids for U.S. Senate in the past decade. The four-term state legislator of Ellisville hammered Hosemann throughout the campaign cycle for, in his view, being insufficiently conservative.

In a speech, McDaniel said it was a tough night and that he'd keep fighting for his principles out of office. He later conceded the race to Hosemann in a written statement.

"Not for a moment was I built to compromise. Not for a moment was I built to reach across the aisle," McDaniel said. I was able to deliver a contrast between what we believe and what the moderates or what the establishment believes. Now the people tonight have rejected that.

On the campaign trail, Hosemann touted a teacher pay raise, millions in new funding for public education, and a budget surplus. McDaniel said the incumbent appointed too many Democrats to committees chairmanships in the state Senate. The candidates also brawled over their commitment to restricting abortion rights.

In the November general election, Hosemann will face business consult D. Ryan Grover, who ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination. The winner will preside over the 52-member Mississippi Senate, appointing senators to committees and naming the committee leaders.

Educator Tiffany Longino, who ran a low-budget campaign for the Republican nomination, finished a distant third.

The Republican primary for lieutenant governor was one of several races to watch in Mississippi's party primaries. Republicans currently hold all eight statewide offices and a majority in the state House and Senate. Primary runoffs are Aug. 29. The general election is Nov. 7, with runoffs Nov. 28. Here are the results of other statewide contests:

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Republican incumbent Lynn Fitch and Democratic challenger Greta Kemp Martin won their party primaries after running unopposed.

Fitch was first elected attorney general in 2019 after two terms as state treasurer. Under Fitch, the state attorney general's office argued the case that the U.S. Supreme Court used in 2022 to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that legalized abortion rights nationwide.

Kemp Martin is an attorney for Disability Rights Mississippi. She says Fitch was wrong to push the case that overturned Roe v. Wade, and women are worse off because Mississippi and some other states have restricted women's access to healthcare.

SECRETARY OF STATE

Republican incumbent Michael Watson and Democratic challenger Shuwaski Young won their party primaries after running unopposed.

Watson was elected secretary of state in 2019 after three terms in the state Senate. He says his office is working to build confidence in Mississippis election process. That has included backing a law to strengthen proof of citizenship requirements for voting and shoring up paper trails for voting machines. If re-elected, Watson says he will conduct post-election audits in all 82 counties.

Young worked in the Department of Homeland Security during Barack Obamas presidency and in the Secretary of States Office under Democrat Eric Clark and Republican Delbert Hosemann. Young launched his campaign for secretary of state after running unsuccessfully for Mississippis 3rd District congressional seat in 2022. Young wants to expand early voting and allow online voter registration. He also pledged to work with Republicans to monitor the states voter rolls.

TREASURER

Republican incumbent David McRae and Democratic challenger Addie Green won their party primaries after running unopposed.

McRae was first elected treasurer in 2019 after running unsuccessfully for the office in 2015. He says he opposes screening investments based on corporations' environmental, social and governance strategies.

Green is a former Bolton alderwoman and has run unsuccessfully for other offices, including treasurer in 2019 and state agriculture commissioner in 2015. She says Mississippi should set a $15-an-hour minimum wage, up from the $7.25 federal minimum.

AUDITOR

Republican incumbent Shad White and Democratic challenger Larry Bradford won their party primaries after running unopposed.

White was appointed by then-Gov. Phil Bryant in 2018 and was elected to a full term in 2019. White's office investigated the misspending of $77 million of federal welfare funds that were diverted to allies of Bryant. The Republican former governor has not been charged with a crime.

Bradford, a former mayor of Anguilla, says he would focus on protecting public money and would not get distracted by hot-button social issues. He criticizes White for attacking Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives at public universities.

INSURANCE COMMISSIONER

Incumbent Mike Chaney has defeated Mitch Young in the Republican primary. In the general election, he will face Bruce Burton, who won the Democratic primary after running unopposed.

Chaney was elected insurance commissioner in 2007 after serving in the state House and Senate. He says he has focused on making insurance more affordable, and he has touted efforts to investigate complaints and help residents recover from natural disasters.

Young, who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2015, served in the U.S. Navy from 1979 to 1999. He said Mississippi's insurance industry needs to be better regulated.

Burton is a Belzoni-based attorney. He has run unsuccessfully for other offices, most recently in 2022 for a judgeship on the Mississippi Court of Appeals.

AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER

Republican Andy Gipson, a former state representative who has been agriculture commissioner since 2018, won the Republican primary after running unopposed. Former Gov. Phil Bryant first appointed him to the vacant job. Gipson was then elected agriculture commissioner in 2019.

Democrats have a three-person primary in the agriculture commissioners race that was too early to call Tuesday. The three candidates seeking the Democratic nomination: Robert Brad Bradford, Bethany Hill and Terry Rogers.

Bradford is the emergency manager director in Adams County. Hes a military veteran and a fourth-generation farmer from the Mississippi Delta.

Hill grew up on a farm in north Mississippi, and she publicly supported the effort to legalize medical marijuana in the state.

Rogers, 19, is the youngest candidate in the race. He says he supports having a Future Farmers of America chapter in each high school to encourage young people to consider agriculture jobs.
Yasmin Von Roon poses for a photo as a train runs through a 19-story residential building at Liziba Station of Chongqing Rail Transit Line 2, southwest China's Chongqing, on April 27, 2023. Italian girl Yasmin Von Roon is a successful online influencer with 110,000 fans on TikTok, but she still recalls the strong emotional impact of learning about Marco Polo's travels. (Xinhua)

CHONGQING, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- At the age of four, Italian girl Yasmin Von Roon asked her mother to take her to China, after watching a movie about China's legendary female warrior Mulan and listening to her grandmother's account of Italian traveler Marco Polo's life, who traveled to China in the 13th century.

Now aged 26, she is a successful online influencer with 110,000 fans on TikTok, but she still recalls the strong emotional impact of learning about Marco Polo's travels.

Considering herself the "No. 1 fan" of China, she has traveled to 17 Chinese provinces since 2018, and chose Zhejiang University for her master's degree studies rather than French or British universities, and is now majoring in international affairs and global governance.

Such travels are a dream come true for the girl. She is even more delighted to see the widespread interest that her explorations have garnered online. When she traveled to southwest China's Chongqing Municipality this May, she posted several videos about the cityscape, garnering millions of views and tens of thousands of fans on TikTok.

"I never imagined these videos would go viral. I think the reason for this interest is that the videos are made without 'filters' and reflect the real China," said Yasmin Von Roon.

The Italian said that Chongqing is a futuristic city with magical architecture and an amazing transportation system with monorails passing through the buildings.

"When I was in Italy, I saw content on Chongqing circulating on the internet. I feel like 'How come I didn't know this city?'," said the girl.

Thus, when she returned to China to pursue her studies, she bought a ticket from Rome to Chongqing.

Not only was she shocked to find that these magical views were real, but she also learned that Chongqing is right next to her favorite city in China, Chengdu, which is the capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province.

When she came to China for the first time in 2018, she chose Yunnan Province and Sichuan Province rather than the popular cities such as Beijing and Shanghai. "I did some research and I just wanted to find the 'hidden gem' in China," she explained.

Chengdu and Chongqing are close to each other and have many things in common, such as the dialect and food, said the foreign vlogger, and yet they have completely different vibes, both of which are appealing to tourists.

Also, it was in Chengdu that she felt the enthusiasm of the Chinese people. When she asked a random passer-by for directions to a particular location, the local resident actually spent 30 minutes taking her there.

"She didn't do it for money, but just as a gesture, to let me know that I'm welcome in the country. The genuine character of the Chinese people is one of the reasons I've stayed here," Yasmin Von Roon recalled.

Yasmin Von Roon's father is German, and her mother is Italian, giving her an international perspective from an early age, and she has now traveled to over 70 countries. But she has been particularly impressed by China's diversity, with different ethnic groups from various settings across the vast territory, ranging from the snowy north to the warm coastlines of the south.

"I would like to stay here in China, and after finishing my studies, I will see what opportunities the country can offer me. In the meantime, I would like to continue showing the public how beautiful China is," she added. 

Yasmin Von Roon poses for photos in front of Hongya Cave, a popular tourist attraction in southwest China's Chongqing, on April 27, 2023. Italian girl Yasmin Von Roon is a successful online influencer with 110,000 fans on TikTok, but she still recalls the strong emotional impact of learning about Marco Polo's travels. (Xinhua)
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell at a press conference on Capitol Hill on July 26, 2023. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

House Republicans appear increasingly likely to launch an impeachment inquiry into President Biden.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is bemoaning the increased use of the measure.

"Impeachment ought to be rare," said the top Republican. "This is not good for the country."

As House Republicans appear increasingly likely to pursue an impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden, one top Republican appears unenthused: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

In an interview with the New York Times, McConnell weighed in on the subject of impeachment for the first time publicly since House Speaker Kevin McCarthy began teasing the prospect last month.

"I said two years ago, when we had not one but two impeachments, that once we go down this path it incentivizes the other side to do the same thing," said McConnell.

While he did not comment on the specifics of the potential impeachment probe, he criticized the increased use of the practice.

"Impeachment ought to be rare," said McConnell. "This is not good for the country."

As they've teased a potential impeachment inquiry, House Republicans have zeroed in on unproven allegations that both Biden and his son, Hunter, accepted millions in bribes from a Ukrainian gas company. They are also looking into Hunter Biden's business dealings more broadly, hoping to turn up evidence that those activities substantively involved then-Vice President Biden or affected US policy.

McConnell, the Senate Republican leader since 2007, opposed both the first and second impeachments of former President Donald Trump.

But during the second impeachment trial in February 2021, even as he argued that it was unconstitutional to convict Trump since he had already left office, he said Trump was "practically and morally responsible for provoking the events" of January 6, 2021.

And he even noted at the time that Trump could be held criminally liable down the line.

"We have a criminal justice system in this country. We have civil litigation," he said at the time. "Former presidents are not immune from being held accountable by either one."

Last week, Trump was indicted on four counts by the Department of Justice for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

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Lurking beneath the murky waters of Scotlands Loch Ness is a strange, elusive creature with the neck of a brontosaurus and the humps of a camel.

Most of the time, the aquatic beast remains out of sight. But when it breaches the surface, its distinctive silhouette can be glimpsed by those lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.

Or so the legend of the Loch Ness monster goes.

Now, researchers are organizing a massive search for the fabled monster, known as Nessie, in the hopes of unraveling a 90-year-old mystery clung to by believers and considered a hoax by others.

The upcoming exploration will be the biggest search of the 23-mile-long loch in a half-century, according to a news release from the Loch Ness Center.

The organization, a visitor center on the loch, is asking budding monster hunters to take part in a surface watch on Aug. 26 and 27, which will entail looking for movement on the water.

While the ring of volunteer observers surrounds the loch, keeping their eyes peeled for breaches, a team of researchers will take to the air and water to further the search.

The researchers, part of a team called Loch Ness Exploration (LNE), will unleash drones to capture thermal images of the water. And a hydrophone, an underwater recording device, will be employed to listen for Nessie-like acoustic signals.

Neither of these high-tech surveying methods have previously been employed on Loch Ness, a cavernous body of water with a maximum depth of 754 feet, according to the BBC.

Its our hope to inspire a new generation of Loch Ness enthusiasts, Alan McKenna, of Loch Ness Exploration, said in the release. And by joining this large scale surface watch, youll have a real opportunity to personally contribute towards this fascinating mystery that has captivated so many people from around the world.

The story of Nessie first captured the public imagination in 1933, when a string of news reports detailed sightings of a monster in Loch Ness, according to a 2020 study published in the journal Environmental Humanities.

The phenomenon was swiftly married to the Scottish legend of the Kelpie (water horse), and it was subsequently alleged that the monster had been there for centuries, according to the study.

A year later, a black-and-white photo depicting a prehistoric-looking creature emerging from the loch, circulated in newspapers around the world, seemingly providing proof of Nessies existence.

The famous grainy image, known as Surgeons photograph, was determined to have been faked, according to the book The Unidentified: Mythical Monsters, Alien Encounters, and Our Obsession with the Unexplained.

Still, the legend lives on, and enthusiasts continue to scour the loch for signs of Nessie.

For just about every alleged sighting in recent decades  which are recorded on an official register  there are nearly as many theories seeking to debunk the creatures existence.

Those claiming to have seen Nessie may have observed a floating tree branch, an eel or even an erect whale penis, according to theories, some more credible than others.

But with any luck, the August search, which seeks to plumb the depths of the Loch Ness phenomenon, can finally get to the bottom of one of Scotlands most enduring legends.

Kayaker fishing for bass snags something much larger  and deadly, Canada video shows

Anti-vampire device found in childs grave from 17th century, Poland officials say

Mysterious chapel found beneath school garden in Turkey. Take a look inside
The past weekends cool temperatures and widespread rain slowed the advance of wildland fires across Montana allowing public safety officials to downgrade evacuation orders in several locations. However, dozens of fires continue to burn across the state, including seven that are more than 1,000 acres in size.

Much of the most intense fire activity is occurring in the northwest corner of the state, an area that did not receive the same level of spring rains that covered the rest of Montana.

Wet forest fuels and increased humidity continue to aid firefighters efforts, but as the weather pattern returns to summertime heat, the fuels will begin to dry once again prompting concern for increased fire activity. The four largest fires currently burning in Montana are described in greater detail below.

Niarada Fire burning on Flathead Indian Reservation

The Niarada Fire started on July 30 as a widespread lightning storm swept across northwestern Montana. The fire is burning on the Flathead Indian Reservation 12 miles west of Elmo and has already consumed more than 20,365 acres of timber and grassland.

Retardant drop on Niarada Fire.

The fire prompted widespread evacuations orders near the town of Elmo, and temporarily closed U.S. Highway 28 west of Flathead Lake. Cooler temperatures and much welcomed rainfall have allowed the Lake County Sheriffs Office to downgrade the evacuation orders to a pre-evacuation warning. Travel along U.S. 28 has resumed, but the public is urged to use extreme caution when driving on the highway as firefighters are still working in the area.

A total of 152 firefighting personnel are currently fighting the Niarada Fire, which is now 25% contained. Fire officials expect fire behavior to remain moderate due to wet fuels and elevated relative-humidity, but there are concerns that an approaching weather system will bring gusty west winds and the potential for thunderstorms.

Colt Fire 39% contained

The Colt Fire is burning in dense timber with heavy dead and down fuels in the Lolo and Flathead National Forests 12 miles northwest of Seeley Lake. The fire was first reported on July 18 following widespread thunderstorms and has now burnt across 7,179 acres of heavy timber and brush.

The 506 firefighting personnel battling the Colt Fire were given a boost over the weekend as heavy rains slowed the fires progress. The Colt Fire is now 39% contained and firefighting crews are now working to mop-up hot spots along the fires eastern and southern flanks

Tinder dry trees northwest of Seeley Lake in Montana explode in flames form the Colt Fire.

Low clouds and fog covered the area Tuesday morning, as an approaching cold front began to move into the area. Forecasters expect widespread showers and thunderstorms to move into the northern Rockies Tuesday evening, bringing both welcomed precipitation and the possibility of lightening and gusty winds.

Multiple campgrounds remain closed along U.S. Highway 83 north of Seeley Lake, and motorists are urged to drive with caution as firefighters, emergency vehicles and heavy equipment continue to use the Highway 83 travel corridor.

Big Knife Fire consumes nearly 4,900 acres

The Big Knife Fire was ignited by lightening on July 24 and is burning on the Flathead Indian Reservation five miles east of the town of Arlee. It is burning in heavy timber with a large load of dead and downed fuels and has already consumed close to 4,900 acres.

With 316 firefighting personnel on the scene the Big Knife Fire remains only 5% contained. While the weekends moisture and cooler temperatures did moderate the fires behavior, muddy roads and slippery footing halted much of the fire suppression efforts.

Big Knife Fire burning on Aug. 2.

Firefighters expect to see a steady increase in fire activity as fuels begin to dry out. Light to moderate rain is possible, but forecasters predict only a 20% chance of any precipitation accumulations over a tenth of an inch. They also note that a lack of available firefighting resources means that they may not be able to meet their firefighting objectives at the Big Knife Fire.

Bowles Creek Fire burning in Sapphire Wilderness Study Area

The Bowles Creek Fire east of Hamilton was first reported following a lightning storm on the evening of July 20 and has now burned 3,559 acres. The fire is located approximately three miles southwest of Skalkaho Pass in the Sapphire Wilderness Study Area in steep terrain.

Helicopter supporting firefighting efforts on the Bowles Creek Fire.

Nearly 240 firefighting personnel are working to extinguish the Bowles Creek Fire, which remains just 3% contained. Crews are working add to fuel breaks on the fires east flank and are scouting for additional opportunities to construct new fuel breaks to the north and south of the fire.

Fire danger in both the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest and the Bitteroot National Forest has been elevated to Very High, and firefighters at the Bowles Creek Fire do not anticipate being able to fully contain the Bowles Fire until the middle of October.

This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: Montana wildfire updates: Dozens of fires burn across the state
An image of the fight that broke out on the dock of Riverfront Park in Montgomery, Ala. (Joe Davenport via Facebook)

Montgomery, Ala., police announced Tuesday that three men have been charged with assault and a fourth man is wanted for questioning following a massive weekend brawl involving more than a dozen people on the dock of the citys Riverfront Park that appeared to be racially divided between Blacks and whites.

This is not who we are as a city, Police Chief Darryl Albert said at a press conference Tuesday afternoon. The city of Montgomery is better than this. ... We are about having a good time and enjoying ourselves, so it was quite disturbing that we saw this happen.

Richard Roberts, 48, was charged with two counts of third-degree assault, and Allen Todd, 23, and Zachary Shipman, 25, were each charged with one such count, Albert said. All three men, the chief said, are white and associated with a small pontoon boat that was docked in a space reserved for a commercial ship. Roberts is currently in custody, and the other two are expected to turn themselves in later Tuesday, according to police.

Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed, left, with Police Chief Darryl Albert at a press conference on Tuesday. (Julie Bennett/Getty Images)

The charge of assault in the third degree is a Class A misdemeanor in the state of Alabama, punishable by a fine of up to $500, plus court costs, and up to 180 days in the city jail.

A fourth man, Reggie Gray, 42, who hit a woman in the head with a folding chair, is wanted for further questioning, police said. Gray, who is Black, is not associated with the small boat.

Albert added that a number of authorities, including the district attorneys office and the FBI, are assisting in the case and that more charges are likely. Hate crime and riot charges were considered, he said, but officials determined that the situation did not meet the threshold for those charges.

The victims in the assaults were identified as Damien Pickett, the co-captain of the riverboat, and a 16-year white male, who is also not associated with the small boat.

There was no need for this to take the path that it did, Albert said.

What happened?

According to Albert, the fight on Saturday was initiated by the owner of a small pontoon boat, as he refused to remove his vessel from a dock space that was needed for the Harriott II Riverboat cruise ship. The ship, he said, takes hundreds of passengers at a time on two-hour tours of the city, and docks in the same space every day.

Multiple videos of the incident, which began to go viral Sunday on X (the social media platform formerly known as Twitter), show different angles and vantage points of the ordeal that apparently began as a verbal argument between Pickett and one of the pontoon passengers and escalated when another man lunged at Pickett and threw a punch.

Within seconds, at least four other white men joined in on beating Pickett while he was on the ground, video shows. Seconds later in the video, another Black man runs to the pileup, seemingly trying to deescalate the situation, which appears to work for a short time as the passengers of the vessel retreat to their small boat.

Meanwhile, a Black male employee from the riverboat dives into the water, footage shows, which was several yards from the dock, in an apparent attempt to help defend the dockworker.

As the riverboat docks, videos show several more boat employees and onlookers, who are all Black, approach the small vessel and a larger fight breaks out, which lasts several minutes. At least one woman was thrown into the water and two people were hit with chairs before police intervened and arrested several people, both Black and white. The 16-year-old white male who was assaulted worked with the riverboat company and had driven a smaller boat to the dock to deliver ship employees from the cruise ship.

At Tuesdays presser, Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed called the brawl an isolated incident, adding that none of the passengers of the pontoon boat were residents of Montgomery.

I think people will view this [incident] as the actions of a few individuals and not our entire community, Reed, the citys first Black mayor, said.

The significance of Montgomery in African American history

For many people who saw last weekends fight, the videos served as a blunt illustration of race relations in the U.S., both past and present, where white privilege has historically assumed dominance over Black bodily autonomy, from slavery to the civil rights era to today.

You can't help but conclude that this was racially motivated, when you think about the history of Montgomery, Ala.,  this was a huge slave-trading community, civil rights attorney Areva Martin said on ABC News Live Tuesday. What really caused such a visceral response from the Black community ... was this sense that these white men couldnt believe this Black man had authority over him  had authority to tell them to move their boat.

Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King, lead a march in support of Black voting rights from Selma, Ala., to the state capital of Montgomery in 1965. (William Lovelace/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Whats not lost on critics is the significance of Montgomery in the African American story. Dating back to the early 1800s, the downtown part of the city became a hub for the domestic slave trade in the South, with tens of thousands of enslaved Africans brought to America through the same dock where the brawl broke out.

Between 1808 and 1860, the enslaved population of Alabama grew from less than 40,000 to more than 435,000, making Alabama the home of one of the largest slave populations in America by the start of the Civil War, according to the Montgomery-based human rights nonprofit Equal Justice Initiative (EJI).

The forced migration of thousands of enslaved people from the Upper South to the Deep South in the 19th century is a phenomenon most people dont understand, Bryan Stevenson, executive director of the EJI, told the Montgomery Advertiser in 2013, adding, You cant understand civil rights or the Civil War without an appreciation of slavery and what the slave trade did to places like Montgomery.

Today the EJI, which houses the National Lynching Memorial and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, just miles from the riverboat dock, stands as a stark reminder of the citys complex past. The organization has documented over 4,400 lynchings of Black men, women and children across the U.S. between 1877 and 1950, 359 of them in Alabama  the fifth most of any state  almost exclusively at the hands of white supremacists.

A sculpture commemorating the slave trade at the entrance to Montgomery's National Memorial for Peace and Justice. (Bob Miller/Getty Images)

Sixty years removed from the birth of the civil rights movement, where Montgomery played arguably the biggest role in fighting for Black voting rights and against white supremacy, for many Black Americans the brawl on Saturday offered insight into what a different kind of resistance looks like today.

What happened in Alabama over the weekend didnt start on that dock in Montgomery, Keith Boykin, a New York Times bestselling author and political commentator, tweeted. It was the cumulative impact of hundreds of years of racial oppression, bubbling back to the surface after yet another incident of white privilege disrespecting Black bodies.
FILE - Smoke rises over Khartoum, Sudan, on June 8, 2023, as fighting between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces continues. A leading human rights group said on Thursday Aug. 3, 2023 Sudan's warring parties have committed extensive war crimes including mass killings of civilians, rape and sexual slavery of women in the ongoing conflict. (AP Photo, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

CAIRO (AP)  Sudans escalating conflict has driven more than 4 million people from their homes, including over 884,000 who have fled to neighboring countries, a U.N. official said Tuesday.

The fighting has also triggered outbreaks of disease and an increase in malnutrition, according to William Spindler, a spokesperson for the U.N. refugee agency. From mid-May to mid-July, the UNHCR recorded over 300 deaths from measles and malnutrition, mainly among children under 5, Spindler said, speaking to reporters in Geneva.

His remarks came as clashes between the Sudanese army and its rival paramilitary force intensify in the eastern part of the capital, Khartoum, and the nearby city of Omdurman.

Sudan was plunged into chaos in April when simmering tensions between the military, led by Abdel Fattah Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, commanded by Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, exploded into open fighting in Khartoum and elsewhere.

Chronic shortages in health staff, as well as attacks on personnel as reported by the World Health Organization, have significantly compromised the quality of health care across the country, Spindler said.

On Tuesday, Nabil Abdallah, the militarys main spokesman, said army forces killed and injured hundreds of RSF fighters in ongoing operations in Omdurman. The RSF did not acknowledge those casualties and instead said its fighters had killed scores of army soldiers in street battles there. The Associated Press could not verify either claim.

The rival forces had ordered civilians to evacuate Omdurmans riverside district of Abu Zouf due to the intensifying fighting, according to Sudans Resistance Committees, a pro-democracy network.

Omdurmans Al-Nou Hospital  where many of the wounded are being treated  is short on surgeons, blood supplies and oxygen tanks, the Sudan Doctors Union said Tuesday.

In June, the government said more than 3,000 people had been killed in Sudan's conflict so far but has not released any data since then. Activists and doctors say the real death toll is likely far higher.

The fighting has reduced Khartoum to an urban battlefield where many residents live without water and electricity. In the western region of Darfur, the fighting has morphed into ethnic violence with RSF and allied Arab militia targeting African ethnic group communities.

Amnesty International has accused both sides of committing war crimes and the International Criminal Courts prosecutor announced last month an investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the latest fighting in Darfur.

With Sudan's rainy season underway, Spindler said the UNHCR expects an uptick in cholera and malaria in the coming months. Last fall, flooding killed scores of people across the country.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.  There were no tires to kick, but the quartet of astronauts on the Artemis II mission that aims to fly around the moon next year got their first look Tuesday at the spacecraft that will take them there.

NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen flew into Kennedy Space Center to view the Orion capsule that will take them on the roughly nine-day mission. Its still on track to fly in late November 2024.

Thats real. Thats it, Hansen said Tuesday, pointing over his shoulder to the capsule set up at the end of a massive factory floor holding hardware for Artemis II, III and IV at Kennedy Space Center's Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building. Its starting to feel very, very real. Its not a dream. Its a program. Its real hardware. Were touching it. Were talking to the experts. Were on a path.

The astronauts wont get to suit up and climb into it until next year as it still faces several rounds of testing, but Koch said it was satisfying to get eyes on something that isnt just a simulation.

When we first stuck our heads in and you look around in there, you realize this can only be one thing  a spaceship. Nothing else looks like that, and thats exactly what it felt like. Thats what gave me shivers, she said. But we were playing Name That Item. Honestly, we were looking around, we were trying to marry it up with everything weve learned about in our technical classes.

Glover said that while seeing it was certainly emotional, preparing for the mission remains front-of-mind.

I think the most overriding piece of the next 18 months for me is its clear that we have a lot of work to do and its going to require focus, he said.

When they do climb in for flight, the Orion will be sitting atop the Space Launch System rocket, the most powerful rocket to have ever made it to orbit, a feat accomplished when it first launched on the uncrewed Artemis I flight in November 2022.

Artemis II will fly to the moon and back without landing, which will then pave the way for Artemis III on a mission that aims to return humans to the lunar surface for the first time since the end of the Apollo program in 1972.

Theres still a lot of work before Artemis II can fly, though.

The capsule wont be leaving the building until April, said Debbie Korth, NASAs deputy program manager for the Orion program. Its currently set up to endure acoustic testing surrounded by speakers supplied by a local company that normally works at area rock concerts, she said.

We actually will be bombarding the spacecraft with acoustic noise that simulates the launch of SLS rocket, she said. I guess its just regular noise. Its about 140 (decibels). And it is funny. I mean they really did say, We cant support you this week, we have the Taylor Swift concert. It is a concert company, so we plan around them.

The capsule, the primary contractor of which is Lockheed Martin, also has to be integrated with a massive European service module thats also on site on the factory floor. It will keep the astronauts alive during their flight along with actually propelling them on their way to the moon and back.

That integration wont start until about September, something that takes about three months, after which the combined Orion crew module and service module will go through further testing.

Meanwhile, NASA is awaiting a completed core stage to the massive SLS rocket being completed by prime contractor Boeing at NASAs Michoud Assembly Facility. Its expected to arrive at KSC by November while the two solid rocket boosters built by Northrop Grumman, which with the core stage produce 8.8 million pounds of thrust on liftoff, are ready and waiting to be shipped from a facility in Utah.

Jim Free, NASAs associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, said all the moving parts are still on track with initial rocket stacking beginning by February to hit that late November 2024 liftoff date.

Thats critical to stay on that path. Its this balance of pushing hard but maintaining the right philosophy of not pushing too hard, he said.

There are some issues found with the Artemis I mission that still need to be signed off on, including making sure the heat shield is safe enough for human passengers.

We still need to press and get our missions on a cadence where were doing the exploration around the moon and on the surface. This is a great first step for us. But we do need to be vigilant and care about the people going on these missions.

Wiseman, the commander of the mission who stepped down from his role as head of the astronaut office so he could fly in space again, said the heat shield certainly has been on his mind.

Every time you see me coming, you take a step back because Im coming about the heat shield, he told Free during a press conference later Tuesday. But we really have a lot of really strong trust in this team. We have some really talented researchers and engineers looking at the problem, and I know we will find the right solution.

Wiseman spoke about his teams role in history, playing down their individual hallmarks that include Glover, who will be the first Black man to fly to the moon, and Koch, who will be the first woman. Hansen will be the first Canadian.

If history wants to put our picture on a wall somewhere and they want to paint a painting of (Glover) and hang it in the nations capital, awesome. That is not why we are standing here today, Wiseman said.

The crews goal, he said, is to set up future success allowing for Artemis III and the return to the moons surface, for beginning construction of the lunar space station Gateway on Artemis IV and then eventually seeing people that are following in our footsteps walking on Mars and coming back to planet Earth.

Artemis II is the tiniest footnote in the Artemis campaign, he said. That is really what we believe, and every day that we go to work, were looking at this vehicle for the future.

_____
By Catarina Demony and Miguel Pereira

ODEMIRA, Portugal (Reuters) -Nearly 1,000 firefighters were battling a wildfire in southern Portugal on Tuesday that has been raging for four days, scorching thousands of hectares and forcing the evacuation of around 1,400 people.

The wildfire started on Saturday in the municipality of Odemira, in the Alentejo region, but has since spread south towards the Algarve, one of Portugal's top tourist destinations.

High temperatures and strong winds have hampered efforts by the firefighters and six water-dousing planes to extinguish the flames, which have destroyed some 7,000 hectares, including large areas of highly flammable pine and eucalyptus trees.

Jose Ribeiro, regional commander of the emergency and civil protection authority (ANPC), said weather conditions were expected to remain challenging.

Shortly before sunset on Monday, the sky in Odemira turned dark as a huge smoke cloud filled the air.

Odemira's mayor, Helder Guerreiro, called the situation "critical, difficult and complex", while Ribeiro said the perimeter of the fire had been contained for now but there was still work ahead to bring it under control.

"It is a worrying situation," Ribeiro told reporters on Tuesday, adding there were two active fronts, with one heading to Monchique, a lush green mountainous area in the Algarve's countryside.

FIRE BREAKS

Andre Fernandes, ANPC's national commander, said bulldozers were being used to build fire breaks and prevent the blaze from spreading further.

Monchique, which last burned in 2018, is popular among locals and tourists due to its thermal springs and hotels.

Around 20 villages, one of them in Monchique, four tourist accommodations and a camping site have been evacuated as a precaution. Several roads have also been blocked off.

There are currently several wildfires burning across Portugal but Odemira is the most worrying, Fernandes said.

This summer most southern European countries have been grappling with record-breaking temperatures during the peak tourist season, prompting authorities to warn of health risks.

Scientists say heat waves are becoming more frequent, intense and spread out across seasons due to climate change.

Three districts in northern Portugal were placed under red alert on Tuesday. Temperatures were expected to hit 41 Celsius (105.8 Fahrenheit) in the northern city of Castelo Branco.

Authorities say more than 120 Portuguese municipalities,including in Lisbon, Alentejo and Algarve, are at maximum risk of wildfires.

"The weather conditions we are going to experience in the coming days means any small occurrence (fire) could become a big one," Civil Protection secretary of state Patricia Gaspar told a news conference.

(Reporting by Catarina Demony, Miguel Pereira and Pedro Nunes;Editing by Christina Fincher and Gareth Jones)
Most Americans in a new poll said they would take candidates abortion policies into consideration before voting them into public office.

The new CNN poll released on Tuesday found that 55 percent of U.S. adults would consider a candidates position on abortion as one of several important factors when voting, while 29 percent said they would only vote for a candidate who shares their views on abortion.

Another 16 percent said they do not see abortion as a major issue that would affect how they cast their ballot, according to the poll.

The survey also found that Americans hold largely the same views on the Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade as they did shortly after the ruling came down last June.

While 36 percent in Tuesdays poll said they approved of the high courts decision that the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion, 64 percent said they disapproved. Half of those polled said they strongly disapproved of the decision, while 23 percent said they strongly approved.

Among those who approve of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, 66 percent said they believe that politicians who oppose abortion should leave decisions about abortion restrictions up to the states. Another 34 percent said politicians should push for further restrictions nationwide.

While the majority still favor leaving the issue up to the states, this represents a decrease from last July, when 80 percent said politicians should let states decide on abortion restrictions.

Among those who disapprove of the Supreme Courts decision, 60 percent said their state government is not doing enough to ensure access to abortion and 78 percent said the same of the federal government.

The CNN poll was conducted by SSRS from July 1-31 with 1,279 U.S. adults and had a margin of error of 3.7 percentage points.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
In what the Columbia County Sheriffs Office called a multi-jurisdictional drug task force seizure, two individuals were taken into custody and various types of illegal drugs were confiscated.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

According to officials, Clay County Sheriffs Office deputies and detectives assisted Columbia County Probation and Parole in an investigation at 994 NW Georgia Ave. in Lake City. A search warrant was issued.

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Once members of the multi-jurisdictional drug task force made their way into the residence the following was seized:

241 grams of Marijuana

8.1 grams of Alpha PVP

26.9 grams of Crack-Cocaine

9.3 grams of Power Cocaine

5 pressed Fentanyl Pills

19.3 grams of Amphetamine/Meth Pressed Pills

21.5 Percocet Pills

James L. Brown Jr., 50, and Rodney Farmer, 34, both from Lake City, were in the home during the investigation. Columbia County Sheriffs Office said that both men were taken into custody. Brown was arrested for violation of probation and Farmer was arrested for outstanding child support warrants. The sheriffs office did say that both will face additional charges related to the narcotics violations at some point.

Read: St. Johns River State College Palatka campus on lockdown for reported nearby shooting

This is yet another example of working together with our local partners to protect our community. These partnerships are invaluable and we continue to see the benefits of these ongoing efforts, Sheriff Hunter said of the multi-county investigation.

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Theres a sign in the office of Judy Shepards Wyoming home  beyond the refrigerator with its photos of her murdered son, less than three hours from the capitol building of one of the few states still to enact hate crime legislation  that reads: Im sorry, did I roll my eyes out loud?

Ms Shepard, who turns 71 this month, starts talking about that sign as she attempts to describe her feelings in the wake of recent decisions by the US Supreme Court.

I think I probably did more than roll my eyes, she tells The Independent of the courts June ruling allowing creative businesses to refuse services for same-sex clients.

Because Ms Shepard has spent nearly the past quarter-century fighting for equality legislation, thrown into the international spotlight in 1998 by the brutal murder of her 21-year-old son, Matthew. The gay University of Wyoming student was badly beaten and tied to a fence in Laramie, already in a coma when he was discovered 18 hours later and succumbing to his injuries the following week on 12 October 1998.

His death galvanised a movement; Matthews name became something of a rallying cry amongst LGBT+ activists, and Judy and her husband, Dennis, were highly visible and vocal  particularly when it came to issues facing gay youth. They began the Matthew Shepard Foundation two months after his murder and pushed doggedly for change; the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama in October 2009, and, ten years later, Matthew was one of the inaugural 50 American pioneers, trailblazers, and heroes inducted on the National LGBTQ Wall of Honor within the Stonewall National Monument (SNM) in New York Citys Stonewall Inn. Also in 2019, Matthew was honoured with a plaque at Washington National Cathedral, where his remains had eventually been interred after years of searching for a safe and appropriate resting place.

Matthew Shepard was just 21 when he was brutally beaten in Wyoming and left tied to a fence, succumbing to his injuries days later on 12 October 1998

For an encouraging stretch of time, there were victories, both in the courts and socially; before the 2016 election, Ms Shepard says, she and her husband had ideas of, actually, Well, we think our work is pretty much over now ...They dont need us anymore. Were good. We can go home now if we want to.

And it just didnt turn out that way, she says, referring to the election of Donald Trump and his subsequent installation of conservative Supreme Court judges. And I just sometimes feel like were just starting completely over.

There have been several significant blows to LGBT+ rights and other causes central to the left. Five years ago, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Colorado baker who objected to designing a cake for a same-sex wedding; last year, the Court overturned Roe v Wade; and on 30 June, the Courts conservative majority ruled that a Christian designer could refuse to work with gay couples.

During the Trump presidency, Ms Shepard says, the whole administration was just completely opposite of everything we had all been fighting for  all the marginalised communities  for decades. And it was just like, we see the haters unleashed now, even encouraged now. So thats very scary, and Im worried that right now, at this moment in time, some of them, even in my state, those people are being elected into office ... we are outnumbered in Wyoming at least three to one. So really, its going to be a while before I expect to see [progressive legislation].

Before that, she says, shed been heartened by the stories shed hear from gay youth around the country  and she still is, to some extent. Things seemed to have been changing on a grassroots level when it came to acceptance across the sexual spectrum.

One of the coolest things is, I did a lot of colleges in the beginning, and now I'm meeting them as adults in the corporate world, which is very cool to me, she says. The stories we used to hear from kids were, I wish my parents were as accepting as you. And now we don't hear that so much, which is, I think, great.

She says: Certainly, the young people I come in contact with, they just dont give a crap about any of that stuff ... theyre worried about climate change and gun safety and getting an education and a job, not whos in love with who and all that stuff, she says. So they believe in equality across the board.

Mrs Shepard continues: I think its because theyre more educated and because theyve seen same-sex marriage now and families with two moms and two dads.

A pair of Matthew Shepards sandals are displayed at the White House as part of the commemoration of LGBTQ+ Pride Month on June 25, 2021 in Washington. (Getty Images)

She does concede, however, that its a geographic thing in the sprawling US.

If youre living in the Deep South, that may not be as widely accepted as it is in Minnesota or Colorado or California  some parts of California, not even all of California, she says, highlighting the stark division within the country.

While the youth may be accepting, however, a vast swathe of problematic haters are the adults who should be setting a societal example, she says.

What were hearing is, kids in school, its not so much the kids that are giving those kids problems, its staff, she says. Its either the principal who goes to the evangelical church, or its the one teacher who just cannot let go of their own bias or the janitor or the lunch lady or the bus driver. Its not so much the kids anymore in public schools, its the staff.

She fears that trend shed been seeing of more familial and social acceptance may be changing, fuelled by ongoing alt-right rhetoric.

What breaks my heart is when I hear people, really genuine people who should know better, saying those things  like parents, right? If you have a gay kid, your responsibility is your child. Its not your fault, or anybodys fault that theyre gay; they are who they are  and just, you know, figure it out. Love them. Thats what youre supposed to do. So thats the heartbreaking part to me ... why are they letting somebody in the pulpit tell them how to think? I dont get that at all.

And Ive met so many parents who are like, Im not letting anybody tell me how to raise my kids. However, that is also what the other side says.

Shes certain that, had Matthew lived, he would have been hugely active in social causes, not just for the gay community but all the marginalised communities.

Thats who Matt was, she says. He didnt understand categorising people, putting them in a category, Black or Mexican or immigrant or Muslim ... to him, they were people, first and foremost.

At the time of his death, Matthew  whod already lived overseas with his family after his father secured work in Saudi Arabia, introducing the teen not only to the Middle East but also to Switzerland, where he attended school  was studying political science at the University of Wyoming with a minor in languages.

His dream was to be part of the State Department, Ms Shepard tells The Independent. He wanted to do this work internationally, magnified by living in Saudi and seeing the discrepancy between the haves and have nots, especially when it comes to US foreign aid.

He was venturing into the fledgling world of social media  complete with a MySpace page and would have fully embraced the advent of anything that would have put him in touch with more people, according to his mother.

She wants people to remember that he was a human being and had friends and family who cared about him ... he was a real person with real flaws but a heart as big as the all outdoors.

He loved people, the theater, politics, she says, describing him as very much an extrovert.

Every day was a new adventure, she says. He just wanted the world to be a better place. [He was] very empathetic, good listener, smart ... The world lost something really special when we lost Matt.

Since then, Ms Shepard says, Dennis and I have figured, weve sort of come to the conclusion, that the work we do now is what Matt would be doing if he were here.

She also believes that, right now, her son would be very discouraged and angry  and all the more out there, speaking out, trying to remind people.

Theres a fear, I feel, that the gay community in states where they have all the rights have kind of forgotten that there are others out there that dont have those rights ... and weve sort of dropped the ball in demanding them, she says, adding that shes a little more worried about that now that the extreme right wing has gained a louder voice.

I think that this is a moment in time ... people will wake up and go, This is really not what I want my country to be, she tells The Independent. But in the meantime, its hurting kids, especially trans kids and gay kids. And yes, so that, that worries me ... Im just tired of being angry all the time.

She stresses the need for political action rather than complacency, but acknowledges that, for one thing, people are trying so hard right now just to get by day to day.

And they're tired, and they have work responsibilities and family responsibilities, she says. Not everybody has the freedom to just go to a school board meeting ... what are they going to do with their kids? Its a big choice now. So there's priorities, but there are folks who don't have those other things going on that should be doing more, I think.

She says: A lot of young people just don't understand how government works, how important it is to use your privilege to vote. And I just think it's kind of escaped  well, until recently, anyway  a lot of young people that don't understand how important it is that they do vote. But as, as just regular folks, yall have got to start going to school board meetings and fighting back. You just cannot let that stuff happen, continue to happen  and town council meetings and county commissioner meetings. All politics are local, and then they become national.

When it comes to factions pushing for division and intolerance, Ms Shepard has witnessed the vitriol firsthand  such as members of the infamously anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church picketing at Matthews funeral.

She says of such haters: I pity, them, actually, that their lives are so steeped in finding ways to hate people and take away their rights and privileges. Im just befuddled. Animosity? Probably not. Im just like, What are you people doing? Thats just stupid. Westboro Baptist Church, when they used to follow us around? ... I feel bad for them. Their lives are just surrounded by hate. What must their lives be like?

Her own life remains committed to combating such hate, she says, and continuing the fight for equality which has become her sons legacy.

I didn't expect to be here, 25 years later, doing this work, she says. Quite honestly, [after] two or three years, I thought people were just going to move away from Matt onto the next horrible thing, because that's what humanity does ... maybe I didn't have an idea of how big the scope was of Matts story.

Even if, as time passes, people dont remember her sons name, she says, this may sound weird to you, but thats okay with me: Just get the work done.

She remains determined, despite feeling frustrated and tired.

I love meeting people and working with them, but I'm really disappointed that it's not further along now and disappointed in the population in general, I think, that they didn't fight back against this nonsense, she says.

So all thats left is to continue looking forward  and remain beyond hopeful.

I am positive, she says. Im 100 per cent positive people are going to look back at this and go, What were we thinking? Or What were they thinking?

The majority is going to take hold again, she says. But it is a moment in time where we're just stuck right now.
Global financial institutions increasingly upbeat on Chinese market

Global Times) 11:04, August 08, 2023

A growing number of global financial institutions have in recent days increased or plan to increase their holdings of Chinese assets, as they express confidence in the recovery of the world's second-largest economy amid robust support measures, while other major economies, particularly the US, face rising economic risks, pushing investors to find other growth spots.

Global investors have already been pouring investment into China's financial market in recent months amid the country's economic recovery, and growing signs of troubles for the US economy, including the recent downgrade of its credit rating, could further accelerate the trend of increased foreign investments into China, analysts said on Monday.

Apart from measures to support overall economic growth, China is moving swiftly to make it easier for foreign investors to invest in Chinese assets, in contrast to US politicians' push for ever more restrictions on US financial institutions' Chinese investments, analysts pointed out, noting that global financial institutions will likely continue to expand investments in Chinese stocks and bonds in the coming months.

Growing optimism

The trend of global financial institutions pouring capital into the Chinese market has already taken shape in recent months. In the latest development, Bertelsmann Investments, one of Germany's biggest venture capital funds, plans to invest $700 million in Chinese start-ups, the Financial Times (FT) reported on Saturday.

Carsten Coesfeld, chief executive of the firm, said that there was "sometimes a bit of a disconnect" between the Western media portrayal of China's struggle to return to growth since the pandemic and reality, according to the FT.

While foreign media continue to hype claims of an economic slowdown in China, many foreign institutions continue to hold upbeat sentiment toward the Chinese market. A Global Times' review of research notes or market analysis published by more than half a dozen major global financial institutions, including Goldman Sachs, HSBC, UBS, Standard Chartered and Morgan Stanley, showed that all but one expressed optimism for the Chinese market.

While analysts at Morgan Stanley asserted that "investor confidence and conviction level are still very fragile," other major global financial institutions, whose research notes and relevant reports were reviewed by the Global Times, including Standard Chartered, Goldman Sachs and HSBC, remain upbeat about the Chinese market.

In its weekly market report released over the weekend, Standard Chartered said that global stocks tumbled for the first time last week after rating agency Fitch downgraded the US' credit rating, and as US growth continues to slow, a significant rise in yields is not expected. However, the report, which was released in Chinese, said that China's undervalued equities will benefit from a rotation in stocks in developed markets as China optimizes property policies and boosts consumption.

In the first half of 2023, Standard Chartered saw pre-tax profits from its onshore and offshore China business quadruple to $700 million and the Chinese market remains the largest contributor to Standard Chartered's overall revenue, according to a statement the bank sent to the Global Times.

"China is the power source of world economic stability and growth, and Standard Chartered is firmly optimistic about China's long-term development," Zhang Xiaolei, head Standard Chartered China, was quoted as saying in the Chinese statement.

UBS also said in a recent report that the investment bank remains bullish on Chinese stocks thanks to measures to boost consumption. Targeted measures to boost consumption of automobiles, electronics and home appliances will not only help boost revenue of related companies, but also benefit platform companies, the report said.

"Recently, we have seen accelerated inflow of foreign capital into the A-share market," Yang Delong, chief economist at Shenzhen-based First Seafront Fund Management Co, told the Global Times on Monday, noting that the amount of foreign capital flowing into A shares has exceeded 180 billion yuan so far this year, twice that of last year. "Foreign investors are accelerating their purchases."

Increasing investments

Such upbeat sentiment is reflected in the actual data. In the first six months of 2023, China's inbound foreign direct investment recorded a net inflow of $32.3 billion, with significant growth seen in investment in Chinese stocks and a gradual return to net inflow in investment in Chinese bonds, Wang Chunying, a spokesperson for the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE), said on Friday.

Hu Qimu, chief research fellow at the Sinosteel Economic Research Institute, said that the continuously improving sentiment of global investors toward Chinese assets is due to several factors, including the rising competitiveness of China's emerging industries, including electric car batteries, growing policy support for many areas such as foreign investment, recession risks in the US and Europe, as well as undervalued A shares.

"On the one hand, the Chinese market will be further opened up, and on the other hand, there are many supportive policy measures for the domestic economy. That means that there is a period of policy bonus for foreign capital to enter the Chinese market," Hu told the Global Times on Monday.

After a series of measures to boost development in various aspects of the Chinese economy, including consumption and the private sector, Chinese policymakers vowed to take more vigorous policy measures to bolster the economy, including a possible cut to the reserve requirement ratio, according to officials on Friday.

Chinese authorities have in recent days rolled out targeted policies to further improve the business environment for foreign businesses operating in the Chinese market, while vowing to continuously expand market access. During a meeting for work in the second half of 2023 last week, the People's Bank of China and SAFE said they will further facilitate foreign investors to increase their holdings of yuan assets, and promote the internationalization of the yuan in an orderly manner.

"With the further opening-up of China's capital market, the participation of foreign capital is also increasing. The inflow of foreign capital will bring more liquidity and vitality to the A-share market and play a positive role in the market trend," Yang said, adding that with the gradual implementation of a series of policies to stabilize economic growth, China's economy is expected to accelerate its recovery in the second half of the year.

However, even as the country continues to open up its market and create more opportunities for foreign investors, some US politicians are pushing for more restrictionson investments in the Chinese market based on a Cold War mentality and an over-stretched concept of national security.

Mike Gallagher, chair of the so-called China committee of the US House of Representatives, wrote a letter to US President Joe Biden, urging him to expand a reported forthcoming ban on certain US investments in China to cover US firms' purchases of Chinese stocks and bonds. Gallagher noted that over $200 billion of US capital is invested in Chinese companies through private markets, and more than $1.1 trillion of US capital is invested through public markets in Chinese stocks and bonds.

While US politicians are trying to use such radical moves to show their "toughness" on China for domestic political expediency, it will not stop the US firms from seeking profits in the Chinese market through investments, Hu said. "The US still depends on these big capital firms and this is something politicians cannot easily challenge."

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
VIENTIANE, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of people across Laos have been affected by flooding and landslides as a result of continuous heavy rain, which caused havoc in several parts of the country.

Laophattana Daily News on Monday quoted Governor of Khammuan province Vanxay Phongsavanh as saying that torrential rains, which started on July 27, have caused widespread floods, destroyed homes and farms, and washed away roads and other infrastructure.

Khounkham district in Khammuan province, some 250 km southeast of Lao capital Vientiane, has been hit by heavy floods, and more than 12,000 people living in 14 villages, or almost half the population in the district, have been affected by the flooding.

In the Hinboun district, more than 180 houses and hundreds of hectares of farmlands in four villages have been impacted by the floods. Several roads were cut off, and the electricity and telecommunication networks were disrupted by the floods, according to the report.

In addition, heavy rains over the past few days have caused landslides along a stretch of National Highway No. 8 between Khoun district in Khammuan province and Bolikhamxay province, with more than 80 people and about 90 vehicles trapped on the highway.

Days of torrential rain have also caused landslides blocking roads in districts of northern Laos' Luang Prabang province. Relevant authorities are making efforts to restore normal traffic, the Public Works and Transport Office of Phonxay district under the Lao Ministry of Public Works and Transport reported on Monday.

The Lao Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources released a notice on Monday, advising citizens across the country to monitor the weather and be on alert for possible flash floods and landslides.

The rain will continue to fall across the country, causing rivers to further rise and overflow.

Meanwhile, hundreds of hectares of farmland and thousands of families in Savannakhet province have been affected by the floods.

In Atsaphone district, 28 villages have been affected by flooding, which has also inundated more than 1,300 hectares of farmland. In Atsaphangthong district, more than 1,400 households in 19 villages were affected, with at least 2,900 hectares of farmland also submerged.

Lao Deputy Minister and Deputy Chairman of the National Disaster Management Committee, Khambay Khatthiya, and representatives of relevant authorities on Sunday launched a ceremony on the delivery of relief items to the people affected by flooding in the provinces of Bolikhamxay, Khammuan and Savannakhet. 
Thank you for the opportunity to help my friends and family to a good time! It's nice to forget about life for a few hours! Peter, U.S. Army veteran

We all have our favorite songs, our favorite performers, our favorite music. What we may not realize is that as we play music, music has the power to play us. Music is a powerful tool when used to help those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and its symptoms  but it doesnt have to be solely in a therapeutic session.

Studies show that even just listening to music and going to see shows can have a substantial effect on our quality of life. It can help us live longer, stimulate our senses, and even increase our self-worth through a shared experience. It may even help repair neurological damage. Thats the power of music. Vet Tix is working to make music and concerts more accessible to every veteran, military member, and their families.

Now Read: How Vet Tix can help military families through their biggest life changes

The rise of music therapy has made a lot of headlines in the past few years, and rightly so. Its been shown to reduce anxiety levels in intensive care patients by as much as 65%. It reduces pain levels, improves moods, and even helps build motor function in stroke patients. But its power isnt limited to therapy. Music can play a role in coping with trauma for both individuals and communities, even if theyre simply listening to their favorite tunes.

Thanks vettix., show was awesome. Family had a great time. -Sokharackvutey, U.S. Navy veteran

Music has long been used as a coping mechanism for dealing with traumatic experiences, Even Plato wrote about the importance of music and medicine in The Republic, some 2,500 years ago. Music as a therapeutic tool is still fairly new, but studies are being done all the time. Music can force us to recall certain experiences, face the trauma, and deal with the distress in our own ways.

It has the power to help us facilitate our grieving processes and reflect on the things that ail us, all while helping us relax. We dont all respond to music in the same way and theres a lot more work to be done, but veterans and military members seek out Vet Tix, which has provided more than 17 million tickets since its inception in 2008. The power of show like those offered by Vet Tix lies not only in music, but in music, sports, and games as a community event.

Checking out ones favorite band (or any band, actually) had a lot of unexpected but welcome benefits in a study conducted by behavioral scientist and University of London lecturer Patrick Fagan. Using heart rates as a measure of well-being, Fagan and his research found that just 20 minutes of checking out a gig could increase an individuals well-being by 20%.

With that increase in well-being came a significant jump in ones feelings of self-worth and their feelings of closeness to others, both of which increased by 25% after only 20 minutes. Over time, regular concert-going (around once every two weeks) saw respondents give their happiness, productivity, and self-esteem at the highest possible ratings. It may even increase life expectancy by nine years.

"A big thanks to Live Nation and Vet Tix for the tickets to see Disturbed with Jinjer and Breaking Benjamin in Charlotte NC. My family really enjoyed the show. -Daniel, U.S. Air Force veteran

Those experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, struggling to cope, or having trouble reintegrating into civilian life after military service should seek help from a professional. Music, sports, and going to regular concerts is not a silver bullet to mental health. Music therapy may not even be helpful for some individuals seeking help  there is no one-size-fits-all answer to any mental health treatment. Music is a powerful tool in the hands of a licensed professional but it can be powerful even in our own hands.

So whether you are using music in a therapeutic context, listening to your favorite Five Finger Death Punch tracks, or have a library of vinyl, be sure to give your favorite songs a little credit where its due: music is an important part of our lives, makes our lives richer, more fulfilling, and, in some cases, longer.

For veterans, military members, and military families who want to make gig-going a regular part of their lives, check out Vet Tix. All you have to do is sign up with the Vet Tix site, look through the offerings to find your show, and then request tickets. All it costs is a nominal delivery fee and a few minutes  minutes that music will help you get back.
Officials and media personnel are seen inside the Operations and Checkout Building (O&C) at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida (CHANDAN KHANNA)

NASA's Artemis 3 mission, set to return humans to the Moon in 2025, might not involve a crewed landing after all, an official said Tuesday.

Jim Free, the space agency's associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, told reporters in a briefing that certain key elements would have to be in place -- notably the landing system that is being developed by SpaceX.

Should that not be ready on time, "We may end up flying a different mission," he said.

Under the Artemis program, NASA is planning a series of missions of escalating complexity to return to the Moon and build a sustained presence in order to develop and test technologies for an eventual journey to Mars.

The first, Artemis 1, flew an uncrewed spacecraft around the Moon in 2022. Artemis 2, planned for November 2024, will do the same with crew on board.

But it is during the Artemis 3 mission planned for December 2025 that NASA has planned its grand return to the Moon with humans for the first time since 1972, this time on the lunar south pole, where the ice can be harvested and turned into rocket fuel.

Elon Musk's SpaceX has won the contract for a landing system based on a version of its prototype Starship rocket, which remains far from ready. An orbital test flight of Starship ended in a dramatic explosion in April.

Free said NASA officials had visited SpaceX's Starbase facility in Texas a few weeks ago to "learn where they are with the hardware, trying to understand their schedule some more."

Though he found the visit insightful, he said he remained concerned "because they haven't launched," and will need to do so multiple times before the rocket will be ready.

What's more, delays to Starship have knock-on effects because the spacesuit contractor needs to know how the suits will interface with the spacecraft, and simulators need to be built for astronauts to learn its systems.

He added that NASA will update the public in the near future once it has had time to "digest" the information gathered during the Starbase visit.

la-ia/md
NASA has reestablished connection with Voyager 2 after a tense two weeks of not hearing anything from the probe. On July 21st, the agency lost contact with Voyager 2 following a series of planned commands that mistakenly pointed it two degrees away from our planet. While it is scheduled to automatically reset its orientation on October 15th, it's not surprising that NASA scientists didn't just wait for that date to know whether the spacecraft is still running. Voyager 2 was launched way back in 1977, and it's one of the only two probes sending us back valuable data on interstellar space.

For a few days after July 21st, NASA wasn't even sure what the spacecraft's condition was. It wasn't until August 1st that multiple ground antennas from the Deep Space Network (DSN) were able to detect a carrier signal from the probe. A carrier signal is what a spacecraft uses to beam data back to the ground, but NASA said the one DSN detected was too weak to be able to transmit any information. Still, it was enough to confirm that Voyager 2 was still working and that it hadn't deviated from its trajectory.

Instead of simply waiting for October, Voyager's ground team decided to take action. They concocted a plan to "shout" a command to the spacecraft across over 12.3 billion miles of space using the DSN, telling it to turn its antenna back to Earth. The whole process illustrated just how vast outer space truly is: It took 18.5 hours for that message to reach the probe, and another 18.5 hours for NASA to start receiving science and telemetry data again, indicating that Voyager 2 had received the command.

This isn't the first time NASA has had issues with the spacecraft. In 2020, it had to provide tech assistance from billions of miles away after it tripped a system that shut off its scientific gear to conserve electricity. Voyager 2 entered interstellar space  that means it exited the plasma bubble created by our sun  back in 2018, becoming the second human-made object to do so after Voyager 1. Although NASA believes that both Voyager 1 and 2 could remain in contact with the DSN until 2036, it also says that "science data won't likely be collected after 2025." The spacecraft could only be providing us information on interstellar space for less than two years, so it stands to reason that scientists don't want to waste a single day it can send data back to Earth.
A new animation from NASA visualizes what it would look like if carbon emissions were visible  and it isnt pretty.

It shows a frightening amount of pollution enveloping the Northern Hemisphere. Visualized as a light brown vapor, the pollution almost looks like a sandstorm or a hazardous gas swirling around the northern half of the globe  gradually inching its way past the equator and into the Southern Hemisphere.

In the description accompanying the post, Futurism calls the animation horrifying, saying Its not always easy to conceptualize the weight of something that you cant see.

The video is a sobering reminder of the drastic effects that dirty energy has on the environment and makes it easy to understand how emissions in the atmosphere can contribute to the dangerous overheating of our planet.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most prevalent greenhouse gas driving global climate change, NASA says in its blog post. However, its increase in the atmosphere would be even more rapid without land and ocean carbon sinks, which collectively absorb about half of human emissions every year. Advanced computer modeling techniques in NASAs Global Modeling and Assimilation Office allow us to disentangle the influences of sources and sinks and to better understand where carbon is coming from and going to.

One fascinating element of the video is its depiction of Brazil  the country, which contains a vast amount of the Amazon rainforest, looks far less affected than the surrounding areas. NASA explains that the fast oscillation over the Amazon rainforest shows the impact of plants absorbing carbon while the sun is shining and then releasing it during nighttime hours.

In a post previewing the video on Futurism, Instagram users expressed their horror in the comment section.

The whole world is either drowning or on fire and people still deny climate change. What will it take, one user said.

Omggg Im so terrified this is the scariest thing Ive ever seen, another user wrote.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
The construction of another camp for Wagner Group fighters has begun in Zyabrovka airfield in Belarus, Ukraine's National Resistance Center reported on Aug. 8.

Zyabrovka is located near Gomel in southeastern Belarus, about 40 kilometers from the border with Chernihiv Oblast in Ukraine.

The center said that in the future, there is a plan to deploy mercenaries to imitate "subversive activities" on the border with Ukraine.

On July 21, the Ukrainian military reported that Russian sabotage units tried unsuccessfully to cross the Ukrainian border into Chernihiv and Sumy oblasts.

Both regions were invaded and partially occupied during Russia's initial onslaught in February 2022, but the invading forces withdrew in April after the Kremlin's failure to take Kyiv.

Recently, thousands of Wagner fighters have moved into Belarus at Minsk's invitation following the mercenary group's short-lived rebellion against the Kremlin in late June.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko claimed that he brokered a deal that meant the fighters would leave Russia.

Minsk has claimed that the mercenaries are training the Belarusian military, with exercises taking place in the westernmost Brest Oblast close to the Polish border.

The Polish Defense Ministry said on Aug. 1 that two Belarusian helicopters violated the country's airspace during exercises.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on July 29 that over 100 Wagner mercenaries were also deployed in the Grodno region of Belarus near the Suwalki Gap, from where they could infiltrate into Poland.

The Suwaki Gap is strategically important due to its location sandwiched between Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.

Lithuania, another country that borders Belarus, plans to close two border checkpoints due to the presence of the Wagner Group, Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT reported on Aug. 4, citing Deputy Interior Minister Arnoldas Abramavicius.

Ukraine's National Resistance Center reported on July 27 that the paramilitary organization is recruiting fighters in Belarus under the condition that they are ready to participate in hostilities in neighboring countries, such as Poland and Lithuania.

Read also: Belarus Weekly: Helicopters violate Polish airspace; Wagner moves closer to border

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
FILE - Wolf Ramerez of Houston, Texas, center, joins others with the Carrizo Comecrudo Tribe of Texas in holding up his fists as indigenous and environmental activists protest in front of the White House in Washington, Oct. 11, 2021. Members of the Native American Journalists Association are voting on whether to change the name to the Indigenous Journalists Association. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, file)

ATLANTA (AP)  The Native American Journalists Association is aiming to become more inclusive as its members vote on whether to rebrand as the Indigenous Journalists Association  a move inspired, in part, by evolving trends in cultural identity.

The group, with more than 950 members mostly in the United States, is expected to approve the change at its annual conference this week in Winnipeg, Canada. Voting on the new name, as well as branding that would replace a feather with an ija logo in stylized letters, runs through Thursday, Aug. 10.

Founded in part by Canadians in 1983, NAJA wants to foster inclusion with Indigenous journalists there as well as in Alaska and Hawaii, since  Native American  is a modern alternative for  American Indian   referring specifically to the millions of descendants of the original inhabitants of what is now the Lower 48 states.

Essentially, were going back to our roots and trying to create and provide support and resources for Indigenous journalists all across Turtle Island, board member Jourdan Bennett-Begaye said, invoking the term some Indigenous people use to refer to the North American continent.

More broadly, the proposed change aligns with terminology used by the United Nations and many multinational organizations as the group also seeks allies among Indigenous journalists worldwide. The Maori people in New Zealand, the Sami people in Arctic Scandinavia and Russia, and the Mapuche people in Patagonia all face similar issues, with journalists who cover climate change, conflicts over land and resources and missing and murdered women, she said.

The change also would reflect an evolution in how Indigenous people see themselves. They're increasingly calling for decolonizing language, moving away from terms that were imposed on them, like Indian  a legacy of Christopher Columbus' infamous cartographic blunder  and even, in some contexts, American, which derives from a mapmaker's effort to honor another Italian explorer, Amerigo Vespucci.

Its part of this larger movement thats happening in Indigenous people, just reclaiming everything thats theirs that should be theirs," Bennett-Begaye said. "Since contact, decisions have been made for us and not by us.

Still, some NAJA members have raised concerns that if the association globalizes, its focus on issues particular to Native Americans might be lost. Board members have proposed creating regional chapters if that happens.

Indigenous is inoffensive, but it also doesnt do any of the kind of distinct sovereignty work, distinct political work, distinct cultural affiliation  that other words do, said Elizabeth Ellis, a historian at Princeton University and an enrolled citizen of the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma. It doesnt tell you much beyond the fact that youre existing in opposition to a history and ongoing legacy of colonization.

Usage of the word Indigenous has soared in recent years, particularly after demonstrations against the Dakota Access Pipeline in 2016 forged the largest pan-Indigenous alliance in North American history. Standing Rock marked a before and after for Native American visibility in the media and popular culture, Ellis said.

But the proliferation of its usage doesn't mean other terms should disappear, because they're not always interchangeable, said Ellis. Indian, American Indian, Native American, Native, and even NDN  a tongue-in-cheek slang popular in social media  each have distinct meanings and are appropriate in different contexts.

Indian, for example, is a historical reference used to connote barbarism to justify enslaving Indigenous people during the colonial era  settlers equated it to savagery while seizing more land and federal policies invoked it as a racist concept in the 19th century, Ellis said. Indian Law remains embedded in the U.S. Constitution and in the official names of many Indigenous nations, so its usage in such contexts is inescapable.

Indigenous applies worldwide, including to anyone whose ancestors didnt come from somewhere else, and whose communities have endured oppression of their people. But it doesn't reflect the particular duality that many Native Americans experience as citizens of their tribal nations as well as the U.S., Ellis said.

This is why many Native Americans, when communicating with wider audiences, identify themselves first by their tribal affiliations, and increasingly, in their Indigenous language. Ellis intentionally introduces herself as Peewaalia, just as Bennett-Begaye tells people shes Dine, a member of the Navajo Nation.

Young people in particular are driving these changes in language, Bennett-Begaye said.

A lot of older folks, and across Indian Country, they still call themselves Indian. My late grandmother, she still calls herself Indian," she said. "But young people ... they see that as derogatory. Theyre like, We dont call ourselves that. And I think thats the cool part, like, young people owning their identity.

As editor of Indian Country Today, Bennett-Begaye oversaw that media organization's recent name change to ICT, prompted by conversations about identity that were happening across the United States after the police killing of George Floyd in 2020.

For older generations, ICT can still mean Indian Country Today, while for younger folks, it can mean Indigenous Cultures Today, or Indigenous Communities Today, she said. We really left it up to interpretation for our readers and our audience.

___

This story was first published on August 8, 2023. It was updated on August 10, 2023 to correct where the group was founded. It was founded in the U.S., in part by Canadians, not in Canada.
One of the iconic Onion headlines of the late 20th century was 1998s Why Do All These Homosexuals Keep Sucking My Cock? The satirical first-person column is written by a stereotypical macho hetero male, who insists he has nothing against gays, but is growing increasingly outraged by the audacity of the many men who insist on orally pleasuring him in gym locker rooms, remote hiking trails, and random bathrooms.

For the irony-averse, the joke is that if youre finding yourself increasingly homophobic after unwittingly receiving fellatio from many anonymous members of your own genderwhile insisting youre not gay and have no idea how you keep finding yourself with your pants down in the company of strange menperhaps youre overdue for a moment of honest self-reflection.

That quarter-century-old joke headline is reminiscent of whats happening to many prominent voices and organizations among the ostensibly reasonable and respectable political rightas well as the right-leaning center. They insist they have no tolerance for bigotry, and yet, they keep finding themselves with their pants down in a room full of racists. And they dont seem much interested in figuring out how or why it continues to happen.

Elon Musk, Joe Rogan, and the Apocalyptic Centrists

NAZI STUFF IN CAMPAIGN VIDEOS, THE N-WORD IN CHAT GROUPS, AND EUGENICS IN THE UNIVERSITY

I can already hear the free speech tourists dashing off their libel lawsuit threats, but this isnt even hyperbole, much less slander.

In just the past two weeks, the conservative/libertarian/heterodox-centers relative comfort with online edgelord shitposters, ironic lib-trolling racism, and alt-right-adjacent race realism blew up spectacularly in its own faceas three young rising stars of the mainstream right were unmasked as being a little-too-cool with overtly racist stuff to be good for business.

Nate Hochman lost his gig with the Ron DeSantis presidential campaign after creating and posting a short video (from a campaign social media account) that ends with Nazi imagery superimposed over the candidates face as emotionless stormtroopers march in formation. Hochman was, until a few months ago, a staff writer for National Reviewarguably the most prestigious mainstream conservative journaland as a Claremont Institute fellow, an in-demand speaker at various right-wing intellectual events.

Hochman was also a Robert Novak Journalism Fellow, where young right-of-center journalists are awarded $35,000 (according to the fellowships website) to help get their careers jumpstarted. Alumni of the Novak fellowship include the current editors-in-chief of the libertarian Reason magazine and the arch-MAGA site The Federalist, as well as the co-founder of the anti-Trump conservative site, The Dispatch. (Hochman was reportedly stripped of his Novak fellowship after he said Nick Fuentes, the white nationalist antisemite and Trump dinner guest, was probably a better influence than Ben Shapiro on young men who might otherwise be conservative.)

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis attends a barbecue in Rye, New Hampshire on July 30, 2023. REBA SALDANHA/Reuters

Put simply, he was as mainstream as it gets in right-leaning politics. And he was fired from Ron DeSantis presidential campaign for posting Nazi shit.

A few days later, the right-leaning Washington Free Beacon reported that the pro-DeSantis journalist and influencer Pedro Gonzalez was again found to have contributed antisemitic, homophobic, and racist commentary in private messages and group chats. Among his other high-profile conservative media exposures, Gonzalez was a regular on Tucker Carlsons Fox News show, which was regularly the highest-rated show on cable news. Again, this guy was a budding mainstream right-wing media star.

But it was Free Beacon reporter Aaron Sibariums tweet promoting his story on Gonzalez that proved accidentally revelatory about the modern conservative movement. Sibarium wrote, Whenever Im on a career advice panel for young conservatives, I tell them to avoid group chats that use the N-word or otherwise blur the line between edgelording and earnest bigotry. Im often asked afterwards why I made a point of saying so. This is why.

As you might expect, Sibariums tweet took on a life of its own, as many commentators from across the political spectrum argued it was evidence of a unique rot within the conservative movement itself.

Whenever Im on a career advice panel for young conservatives, I tell them to avoid group chats that use the N-word or otherwise blur the line between edgelording and earnest bigotry. Im often asked afterwards why I made a point of saying so.



This is why.https://t.co/jjwSAOs8eH  Aaron Sibarium (@aaronsibarium) July 31, 2023

Kind of revealing that this advice is necessary, tweeted center-left New York writer Jonathan Chait. *scribbling in my notepad at Conservative Training Camp* n-word bad??? tweeted the left-leaning legal account, @Ugarles. Like dont engage in cannibalism, this is sound enough advice, but if you routinely find yourself in company that requires it, maybe its a sign of deeper problems, wrote Julian Sanchez, a former senior fellow at the libertarian-leaning Cato Institute.

I said that I used to think accusations of ironic edgelord line blurring were overblown, but I've seen it become a far more common way for people to excuse flirting with (or fully engaging in) actual bigotry, the right-leaning podcaster Noam Blum wrote. Bulwark contributor and former George W. Bush administration official Christian Vanderbrouk added, My advice to young conservatives is to publicly denounce bigots and drive them out of the movement. Not sure its good career advice but youll leave things better than you found them.

But it was Christopher Mathias scoop for Huffpost published on Friday that really ought to provide a Are We the Baddies? teachable moment for the right-wing commentariat, were they open to such soul-searching.

Richard Hanania, another rising star on the right known for his race realist takes, has published in numerous right-leaning publicationsbut also mainstream liberal outlets like The New York Times and The Washington Post. He also used an alias for years to publish all kinds of much more explicitly racist bile on alt-right and white nationalist-friendly websites.

Once again, this is not hyperbole. He wrote as Richard Hoste for VDare, the notoriously racist anti-immigrant blog that regularly publishes white nationalists, and alternativeright.comthe original alt-right website founded by Richard Spencer.

Mathias also reported:

Hanania has his own podcast, too, interviewing the likes of Steven Pinker, the famous Harvard cognitive psychologist, and Marc Andreessen, the billionaire software engineer. Another billionaire, Elon Musk, reads Hananias articles and replies approvingly to his tweets. A third billionaire, Peter Thiel, provided a blurb to promote Hananias book, The Origins of Woke, which HarperCollins plans to publish this September

Meanwhile, rich benefactors, some of whose identities are unknown, have funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars into a think tank run by Hanania. The think tank doles out cash to conservative academics, and produces political studies that are cited across right-wing media.

As of this writing, Hanania is still scheduled to lecture at Stanford Universitys Graduate School of Business in October. He was also a 2022 visiting scholar at the University of Texas at Austins Salem Center.

You Should Have Taken Alt-Right Trolling Seriously

And he was advertised as a 2023 lecturer in Forbidden Courses at the University of Austinthe prospective college co-founded by former New York Times writer and editor Bari Weiss. (Semafors Ben Smith reported late Sunday that the anti-cancel culture University of Austin had canceled Hananias invitation after learning his writing used to be much more openly racist.)

Hanania has continued to publish Substack articles that share the same obsessions as his former white supremacist pen name, Richard HosteIQ scores, eugenics, the need for fat-shamingeven if he writes about these subjects in a more moderate tone, Mathias reported.

Young, intelligent, increasingly popular and influential in right-leaning media and academia, admired and supported by politically active right-wing billionaires. Doesnt get much more mainstream on the right than that!

The Intellectual Dark Webs Descent Into Paranoia and Trumpism

Hanania on Sunday responded to the Huffpost piece on his Substack, where he penned a Ben Shapiro-esque half-assed mea culpa that basically said, Sorry for that disgusting stuff I wrote, but I was just a kid and don't do that anymore and talking about it at all is left-wing cancel culture.

The reason Im the target of a cancellation effort is because left-wing journalists dislike anyone acknowledging statistical differences between races, Hanania wrote.

And while defending himself against charges of guilt by association (associations that include writing for the original alt-right website founded by the most prominent neo-Nazi in America), Hanania says of Mathias, The journalist behind the piece is a supporter of antifa, and in the days before publishing his article he reached out to everyone he could think of to try and get them to cut ties with me.

That sure sounds a lot like a guilt by association smear of a reporter who had the temerity to ask the many organizations that pay Hanania money if they have any comment on his long record as (at the very least) an alt-right-adjacent writer of unequivocally bigoted content.

Hanania describes his own racist writings as those of a young LARPer with a tendency to get carried away with certain arguments, enamored by the romantic idea of grappling with supposedly suppressed ancient truths, simply couldnt handle that level of nuance.

Its a ridiculously transparent attempt at a Jedi mind trick, These arent the racists youre looking for And yet its one that the conservative and center-right tribes simply will not stop falling for.

HAPPENS SO OFTEN YOU WONT EVEN NOTICE

It cannot be understated that these unmaskings are merely the most recent. The ultra-rights influence on the modern mainstream right remains pervasive, and there are few voices on the right willing to take on members of their own political tribe, to purge the poison, and maybe make the big tent just a little bit smaller.

The Libertarian Partys paleolibertarian Mises Caucus believed the party was getting too woke (Im not kidding) during Trumps presidency, and successfully took it over at the partys 2022 convention. Now the nominally pro-free speech LPs national account tweets out calls to arrest teachers who talk about critical race theory, while some of its state accounts throw up white nationalist dog whistles when theyre not engaged in racist trolling.

A man carries a Confederate flag in the US Capitol Rotunda on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. Saul Loeb/Getty

And wed be remiss to not recall that the thrice-indicted former President Donald Trump not only attempted a coup (for months, not merely on Jan. 6), but did so with the coordinated assistance of neo-fascist groups that included a guy wearing a Camp Auschwitz shirt and another carrying a Confederate battle flag while they sacked the U.S. Capitol.

There was a subset of us on what was heretofore known as the center-right who, pre-November 2016, warned our erstwhile allies and colleagues of what was likely to come.

We argued that the calls for violence, the unabashed racism, and the oh-they-dont-really-mean-it footsie-games with dishonest, edgelord provocateurs would swallow anything positive and righteous. And besides, these things were simply wrong, against our stated principles, and its the height of cowardice to whitewash horrible ideas just because theyre coming from people that are popular with the same uber-wealthy donors who keep the lights on at almost every right-of-center journalistic outfit, think tank, and university center.

Contrarian Defenses of RFK Jr. Are Not BraveTheyre Boring

For the most part, we dissenters were waved off as overwrought tools of the Cathedral or squishes desperately seeking the approval of the woke. But we learned that pissing off the rights big-money donors for writing too stridently about Trumps racism could cost you your job. While reporting from the 2016 Republican National Convention, I was expressly forbidden from writing for a libertarian outlet about a notoriously racist and Islamophobic pro-Trump eventwhere friendly donors and fellow travelers just happened to be lounging in the VIP area.

As the rise of right-wing media stars like Hochman, Gonzalez, and Hanania has shown, there are career-enhancing incentives to blur the lines between just lol trolling and overt racism and antisemitismjust as there are incentives to crying cancel culture and wokeness run amok! when those tendencies are exposed. (Likewise, there is a disincentive to forcefully oppose whats popular among the in-group.)

There are, thankfully, still thoughtful voices of dissent on the right, but they are few. If I had to place a bet, Id say the careers of Hochman and Hanania, in particular, wont be on the canvas too long. When it comes down to it, you can only be canceled by your own side, and the rehabilitation efforts for these two well-connected right-wing media climbers are already underway

I dont expect many of the high-profile political campaigns, think tanks, publications, cable news shows, and thought leaders on the right to ask themselves, Why is it that racists, antisemites, and alt-right types keep finding themselves in influential positions in our movement?

If you never ask the question, you dont have to come up with an answer.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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A sign near the Bug River on the Polish-Belarusian border

Poland will send additional troops to its border with Belarus as the situation there remains tense, Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said on Aug. 8, according to Wprost.

"Due to the dynamic situation on the Polish-Belarusian border, and at the request of the Commander of the Border Guard to increase involvement in border protection, more troops will be transferred to the border," the minister said in a statement.

Read also: Russia and Belarus engineering another migrant crisis, Poland says

Up to 2,000 Polish military personnel are currently stationed along the Polish-Belarusian border.

Meanwhile, Russia and Belarus are currently engineering another migrant influx into the EU through the Polish border, Deputy Interior Minister Maciej Wasik said on Aug. 6.

Read also: They stress me out  Lukashenko complains to Putin about Wagners wishes to march on Warsaw

Wagner Group mercenaries have also moved to Belarus following the unsuccessful coup by their leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, which also raises tension between the two countries.

Belarus self-proclaimed president Alexander Lukashenko complained that Wagnerites were causing him stress due to their determination to attack Poland. He later claimed he was joking.



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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The sweeping landscape of the Grand Canyon is already protected, but land nearby will now become a monument

US President Joe Biden has announced a new national monument, preserving a vast swathe of land around the Grand Canyon in Arizona.

The nearly 1m acre (404,700 hectare) Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument includes thousands of indigenous cultural sites.

The designation also severely limits the amount of mining permitted in the area.

Mr Biden has so far designated five national monuments since taking office.

The area, also known as the Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, is culturally significant to many tribal nations of the US Southwest, including the Hopi, Navajo and Yavapai-Apache peoples.

Indigenous advocacy groups and environmental organisations have for decades been calling for the area to be protected, but have met opposition from some Republican lawmakers and mining industry figures who argue that mining in the area is important to the US economy and national security.

The area of the monument is home to about 1.3% of all known uranium reserves in the US, according to officials.

Speaking at an event at the historic Red Butte Airfield near the Grand Canyon on Tuesday, Mr Biden said the designation of the monument will "help right the wrongs of the past and conserve this land of ancestral footprints for all future generations".

"Our nation's history is etched in our people, and our lands," Mr Biden said. "Today's act is going to preserve that history".

A previous campaign to declare the area a national monument under President Barack Obama failed after Mr Obama backed off in the face of stiff opposition from then-Governor Doug Ducey and Arizona's two senators.

The current Arizona governor, Katie Hobbs, was among those urging Mr Biden to use his authority under the Antiquities Act of 1906 to declare the area a national monument.

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland - the first Native American cabinet secretary in the US - was quoted by National Public Radio as saying that the declaration was "historic".

In May, Ms Hobbs said in a statement that her office has "heard from people across the political spectrum including sporting groups, faith leaders, outdoor recreation businesses, conservation groups and others from a broad array of interests that support this monument designation".

"It will help protect lands that many tribes referred to as their eternal home, a place of healing and a source of spiritual sustenance," she said. "It will help ensure that indigenous peoples can continue to use these areas for religious ceremonies, hunting and gathering of plants, medicines and other materials, including some found nowhere else on earth."

"It will protect objects of historic and scientific importance for the benefit of tribes, the public and for future generations," Ms Haaland added.

The proclamation of the national monument means that only two approved mining operations will be allowed to operate within its confines. Existing claims that pre-date a mining moratorium declared in 2012 will also be allowed to remain in place.

Since the passing of the Antiquities Act of 1906, 18 US presidents have used it to declare national monuments at naturally or historically significant sites across the country.

Mr Biden has declared four other national monuments during his presidency, including the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument in Illinois and Mississippi last month.

Barack Obama, under whom Mr Biden served as vice-president, created or expanded 34 national monuments during his presidency - the most of any US leader.

Only three US presidents did not use the Antiquities Act to create national monuments: Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George HW Bush.
NIAMEY, Niger  A senior U.S. diplomat said coup leaders in Niger refused to allow her to meet Monday with the West African countrys democratically elected president, whom she described as under virtual house arrest.

Acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland also described the mutinous officers as unreceptive to U.S. pressure to return the country to civilian rule.

They were quite firm about how they want to proceed, and it is not in support of the constitution of Niger, Nuland told reporters. She characterized the conversations as extremely frank and at times quite difficult.

She spoke after a two-hour meeting in Nigers capital, Niamey, with some leaders of the military takeover of a country that has been a vital counterterrorism partner of the United States.

In speaking to junta leaders, Nuland said, she made absolutely clear the kinds of support that we will legally have to cut off if democracy is not restored.

If the U.S. determines that a democratically elected government has been toppled by unconstitutional means, federal law requires a cutoff of most American assistance, particularly military aid.

She said she also stressed U.S. concern for the welfare of President Mohamed Bazoum, who she said was being detained with his wife and son.

The meeting was with Gen. Moussa Salaou Barmou, a U.S.-trained officer, and three of the colonels involved in the takeover. The coups top leader, former presidential guard head Abdourahamane Tchiani, did not meet with the Americans.
KHARTOUM, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Violent clashes erupted on Monday between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Omdurman city, north of the Sudanese capital Khartoum.

Witnesses reported heavy artillery bombardments in the old neighborhoods of Omdurman, leading civilians to flee the area.

The Sudanese army bombarded the RSF stations in the old neighborhoods such as Bait Al-Mal, Al-Shuhada, and Al-Mulazemin, while the RSF responded with anti-aircraft missiles, leading to casualties among civilians and the destruction of houses.

Local medics reported that the RSF randomly bombarded the area, resulting in the death of five people in the al-Sharafiya neighborhood.

The Resistance Committees of Omdurman's Abu Rouf neighborhood stated that both the Sudanese army and RSF ordered residents to evacuate their homes, declaring the area an operation zone.

Also on Monday, the Sudanese army shared videos on its Facebook page showcasing the deployment of its forces in various areas of Omdurman.

"Today, August 7, the heroes of the special forces carrying out combing operations starting from the Al-Imtidat area to Ombada neighborhoods (in Omdurman)," the army said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman of Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council Malik Agar revealed a government-proposed roadmap on his Facebook page to end the conflict. The roadmap includes separating the warring forces, expediting humanitarian aid delivery, protecting civilians, and initiating a political process based on state establishment.

Since April 15, Sudan has experienced deadly clashes between the Sudanese army and the RSF in Khartoum and other regions, resulting in over 3,000 deaths and more than 6,000 injuries, as reported by the Sudanese Health Ministry.

Negotiations between the Sudanese warring parties have been taking place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, under the auspices of Saudi Arabia and the United States since May 6. Multiple truces have been reached and violated, with both sides accusing each other of breaches.

UN estimates indicate that more than 3 million people have been displaced within and outside Sudan. 
Chairperson of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, reacts while addressing the ECOWAS head of states and government in Abuja on July 30, 2023

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu is facing a huge backlash at home over his threat to use military force to reverse the coup in next-door neighbour Niger.

Local media report there was strong opposition to military intervention at a session of the upper chamber of parliament, the Senate, on Saturday, despite the fact that it is controlled by Mr Tinubu's party.

This was especially the case among lawmakers representing states along the more than 1,500km (930 mile)-long border with Niger, but there has also been countrywide condemnation of the possibility of war.

West African regional bloc Ecowas had set a deadline of Sunday for the junta to give up power - or face possible military action.

The decision was very much seen as Mr Tinubu's as he is Ecowas' current chairman, and Nigeria is its most influential member.

Although the junta has defied the ultimatum, Ecowas did not respond by immediately sending troops. This came as a relief to many Nigerians who prefer a diplomatic resolution to the crisis.

Some question whether a seven-day deadline was realistic given that Nigeria and other countries have to get parliamentary approval before deploying the military.

Many people are also appalled that electricity to Niger was cut on President Tinubu's orders, causing blackouts in Niger's capital, Niamey, and other cities.

Critics claim that this is in violation of a treaty that had enabled Nigeria to build a dam on the River Niger, though Mr Tinubu's supporters say the power cuts are aimed at pressuring the junta to hand back power to ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, without military confrontation.

Nigeria and Niger share strong ethnic, economic and cultural ties and any military intervention against Niger would affect northern Nigeria, already facing serious security challenges of its own.

An influential group of Muslim clerics in northern Nigeria said Mr Tinubu must not "rush into an avoidable conflict with a neighbour at the behest of global politicking".

The junta in Niger say it will resist any "aggression" by Ecowas and Western powers

Mr Bazoum was a key ally of the West, allowing former colonial power France and the US to keep military bases in the country to help in the fight against militant Islamists wreaking havoc across much of West Africa.

The military juntas in Mali and Burkina Faso have vowed to come to the defence of Niger's coup leaders if Ecowas does use force, raising the prospect of a major regional conflict.

All eyes are now on Mr Tinubu who has been the most vocal in condemning coups in West Africa, and said last month that Ecowas cannot be made up of "toothless bulldogs".

"We must stand firm on democracy. There is no governance, freedom and rule of law without democracy. We will not accept coup after coup in West Africa again," Mr Tinubu said, shortly after taking the leadership of the regional body.

Nigeria's constitution states that the president cannot deploy troops without the approval of the National Assembly - made up of both the upper and lower chambers of parliament.

It is unclear whether Mr Tinubu will get its support, given the opposition he is facing.

"Ecowas goofed, the Nigerian president also goofed," said Prof Khalifa Dikwa, an academic at the University of Maiduguri and a member of an influential group of elders in northern Nigeria.

In a cautious statement after Saturday's closed-door session, Senate leader Godswill Akpabio threw the ball into the court of the Ecowas parliament, saying it should provide "solutions to resolve this logjam as soon as possible".

President Tinubu's tough line against coups might be rooted in his own experience. He was barely a year in office as a lawmaker in the early 1990s before elections were annulled, parliament was dissolved and Gen Sani Abacha seized power.

He joined the pro-democracy movement that campaigned for a return to civilian rule, putting him in the crosshairs of the military that forced him into exile. He returned in 1998 after the death of Gen Abacha, one of Nigeria's most brutal and corrupt military rulers.

But there is a feeling among many Nigerians that Ecowas was too hasty in issuing an ultimatum to the junta, and President Tinubu had not given enough thought to the domestic implications of using force.

"Niger was a continuation of the northern part of Nigeria until the Berlin Conference [of 1884-1885, when foreign powers created Africa's current borders]. You expect the north to go to war against itself?" asked Prof Dikwa.

Supporters of Niger's National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) demonstrate in Niamey on August 6, 2023

Unlike his predecessor Muhammadu Buhari, President Tinubu does not have a military background and neither does his national security adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, who is a former policeman.

Ecowas army chiefs issued their own statement last week, saying they saw military intervention very much as a "last resort".

Critics say Mr Tinubu has a history of rushing to make big decisions, pointing to the fact that he used his first speech as president in May to announce the ending of a decades-long fuel subsidy, in unscripted remarks which led to chaos.

Ecowas leaders will now hold a summit in Nigeria's capital Abuja on Thursday to decide on the next line of action.

Although some other West African countries have promised to take part in any military intervention, it is hard to see them doing so without Nigeria, if the National Assembly does not give its backing.

Mr Tinubu wears two hats - that of Ecowas chairman and Nigeria's president. The one necessitates acting in the regional interest and in defence of democracy, but it could prove very costly to the other hat.
At a Republican Party dinner in Alabama Friday night, former President Donald Trump delivered his first public remarks since being indicted earlier in the week for conspiring to overturn his 2020 election loss.

True to form, Trump decided to indulge in some armchair punditry about his polling.

Any time they file an indictment, we go way up in the polls, he said. We need one more indictment to close out this election. One more indictment, and this election is closed out. Nobody has even a chance.

The first part of Trumps analysis has almost become the conventional wisdom. But is it accurate? And what can the relationship (so far) between his poll numbers and his indictments really tell us about his reelection chances?

Hush money indictment bump

Trump is right about one thing: His lead in the Republican nominating contest has grown since he was indicted in Manhattan for allegedly covering up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. On that day  March 30  he was averaging 45.3% support among GOP primary voters, according to the aggregators at FiveThirtyEight. His closest rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, was averaging 27%; the gap between them was 18.3 percentage points.

Two weeks later, Trump was ahead of DeSantis 54.1% to 24.1%  a 30-point margin. Its hard to deny that the initial indictment  widely seen as the weakest of the bunch  had an effect on Republicans.

Since then, however, the story has gotten more complicated.

Assist from DeSantis

Consider Trumps next indictment, on June 8, for mishandling classified documents and obstructing the governments repeated efforts to recover them. Before this second round of (more serious and solid) federal charges was filed, Trump was averaging 52.2% support among GOP primary voters  down slightly from his peak after the previous indictment. Two weeks later he was down even more, to 50.5%.

So no, Trump does not go way up in the Republican primary polls any time they file an indictment. Instead, he appears to have climbed into the low 50s after the Manhattan charges, then leveled off.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis addresses Ashley's BBQ Bash on Aug. 6 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Which isnt to say that Trumps basic observation  that he is now the prohibitive favorite for the GOP nomination  is wrong. But his three indictments (and counting) probably arent the main reason. DeSantiss numbers, for instance, have been plummeting since before any charges were filed: from a high of 40.5% in January (after he handily won reelection in Florida), to about 31% in early March (after he stumbled on Ukraine and other issues), to about 22% after his glitchy campaign launch in late May, to a paltry 15.1% today.

So the size of Trumps current lead (38 points) is less about his support going way up since March (it hasnt) and more about DeSantiss support going way down.

General election warning signs

Even if Trumps indictments havent hurt him with the GOP base, they certainly havent helped him with general-election voters. In fact, the opposite is probably closer to the truth.

According to FiveThirtyEight, 56.4% of Americans now have an unfavorable opinion of the former president  up about 2 percentage points since his first indictment, and tied with his highest number since leaving office. Just 39.4% of Americans have a favorable opinion of him. The gap between those two numbers  17%  hasnt been so wide since February 2021, right after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

And while only 51% of Americans said in the latest Yahoo News/YouGov poll that they consider falsifying business records to conceal hush money payments to a porn star to be a serious crime, that number rose to 65% for taking highly classified documents from the White House and obstructing efforts to retrieve them and 70% for conspiring to overturn the results of a presidential election. Among independents, who will likely decide the 2024 election, those same numbers rose from 45% to 63% to 70%, respectively.

At the same time, just 24% of Americans  and 25% of independents  think Trump should be allowed to serve as president again if convicted of a serious crime in the coming months.

A Trump supporter at the Silver Elephant Dinner on Aug. 5 in Columbia, S.C. (Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)

For Trump, those stats point to the political peril of adding more indictments to the pile. In 2020, he earned 46.8% of the popular vote  and lost to Joe Biden by 7 million ballots. To win the 2024 general election, the former president needs to gain votes, not just retain them.

Yet Trump is currently averaging 44% among the general electorate, and trailing Biden slightly.

We know from 2020 that Trump cant win a national presidential election without drawing a significant number of self-identified independents, Ankush Khardori, an attorney and former federal prosecutor, wrote last week in Politico. I find it very hard to believe that it could actually be good for a candidate running for president to be under federal indictment for trying to steal the last election.
DARLINGTON TWP.  As officials from Norfolk Southern continue to reimburse Pennsylvania communities for the Ohio toxic train derailment near the state border earlier this year, a new portion of funds has been secured to repair one of the roads damaged by the accident.

On Aug. 3, Pennsylvania's elected officials and Darlington Township Supervisors announced their requests for $544,700 in reimbursement related to the damages to East Palestine Road during the derailment were officially approved by Norfolk Southern.

In the six months since Norfolk Southerns disastrous train derailment, I have fought to hold the rail company accountable for the hell theyve put the Darlington community through, saidSen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, who assisted in the requests for reimbursement. This money will help fix East Palestine Road, but thats just the start of what Darlington residents, businesses, and the wider Beaver County community, are going to need. It will take years for Darlington families to rebuild their lives, and Norfolk Southern owes it to them to be there every step of the way.

With the recent reimbursement for road repairs, Norfolk Southern has paid more than $2.5 million to Pennsylvania communities recovering from evacuations and potential exposure to vinyl chloride released during the accident. In addition to direct payments, the corporation has sponsored several events in the state, such as the New Galilee Carnival and the connected Farmers Market events.

Previous reimbursement coverage: Lawrence County and Darlington Twp. to receive $1 million for train derailment relief

Elected officials from the governor's office to municipal boards have said they will continue to seek funds to continue supporting those affected by the incident. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said that the recent funding is part of a "multi-million-dollar commitment" to Pennsylvania that was made by Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw.

The Darlington Township Board of Supervisors, along with our state and federal partners, will continue to hold Norfolk Southern accountable for their actions," said Mike Carreon, chairman of the Darlington Township Supervisors. The repair of East Palestine Road is just another small step. We will continue in discussions with Norfolk Southern until all of our current and future concerns are addressed."

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Norfolk Southern reimburses community for repairs to East Palestine Road
North Korea broke into a major Russian weapons developers computer network as part of its bid to build an intercontinental missile, according to security researchers.

Hackers breached the cybersecurity defences of NPO Mashinostroyeniya, a rocket design bureau commonly known as NPO Mash, in late 2021.

It is not clear if any data was taken during the intrusion, but in the months that followed Pyongyang announced several developments in its ballistic missile programme.

Experts say it shows that North Korea will target its allies in order to acquire critical technologies. The news comes after Sergei Shoigu, the Russian defence minister, was welcomed to Pyongyang in July.

Hackers remained on NPO Mashs system for at least five months until they were detected in May 2022, and were able to read emails, jump between networks and extract data.

The company, which is based on the outskirts of Moscow, has pioneered developments of hypersonic missiles, satellite technologies and newer generation ballistic armaments.

These areas are of interest to North Korea since it has embarked on a mission to create an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking the US.

In 2019, Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, praised NPO Mashs Zircon hypersonic missile as a promising new product capable of travelling at around nine times the speed of sound.

Markus Schiller, a missile expert based in Europe, said the company was a valuable target but stolen schematics would be of limited use to Pyongyang.

He said: Getting plans wont help you much in building these things, there is a lot more to it than some drawings.

SentinelOne, a US cybersecurity firm, discovered the hack after an NPO Mash employee accidentally leaked the companys internal communications online.

Malware in Japans defence networks

It follows the recent revelation that Japans defence networks were penetrated by China in one of the most damaging security breaches in its history, according to officials.

The hackers, who were discovered by the US National Security Agency (NSA) in autumn 2020, were able to access defence plans, capabilities and assessments of military shortcomings.

One US official called the breach shockingly bad, according to the Washington Post. Japan has said it cannot confirm if any security information was leaked.

Gen. Paul Nakasone, the director of the NSA, and Matthew Pottinger, a White House national security adviser, travelled to Tokyo to brief the Japanese defence minister once the hack was discovered.

The situation was seen as so serious that officials suggested it could derail intelligence sharing between the Pentagon and Japans defence ministry.

Although the US team offered to purge Chinese malware from the defence systems, the Japanese were said to be wary of having another countrys military on their networks.

Although Gen. Nakasone and Mr Pottinger believed they had really made a point, US officials realised in autumn 2021 that Japan had failed to expel China from its networks.

Japan has since announced that it will increase its cybersecurity budget tenfold over the next five years, while boosting its military cybersecurity staff fourfold to 4,000 people.

We see tremendous investment

Lloyd Austin, the US defence secretary, has indicated to Tokyo that sharing information for advanced military operations could be slowed without tightening its security.

A senior US defence official said: We see tremendous investment and effort from the Japanese in this area.

The department feels strongly about the importance of cybersecurity to our ability to conduct combined military operations, which are at the core of the US-Japan alliance.

On Tuesday, Hirokazu Matsuno, Japans chief cabinet secretary, said both countries have always been in close communication.

He added: Due to the nature of the matter, I am unable to provide further details of the communication but we havent confirmed the fact that security information has been leaked due to cyber attacks.

Mr Matsuno said cybersecurity was the foundation of the US-Japan alliance and insisted Japan would continue to work to keep its network safe.

There was no immediate comment from Beijing.

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"They destroyed everything within seconds," said a tearful Mohammad Saud, standing before a towering mound of debris.

He and his younger brother Nawab Sheikh were looking at the broken remains of shops they ran in a neighbourhood in Nuh district in the northern Indian state of Haryana. As he spoke to the BBC on Saturday, a yellow bulldozer rumbled noisily behind him.

"We owned 15 shops which were built on our family's land. We had all the documents but they [the police] insisted the buildings were illegal," Mr Saud said.

The brothers' buildings were among hundreds of shops and houses demolished by district authorities in the aftermath of communal violence which broke out last week in Nuh, a Muslim-majority district that is among the poorest in India's national capital region (which includes Delhi and its suburbs).

Police have said the clashes between Hindus and Muslims began after a march led by a hardline Hindu organisation was pelted with stones when it passed through Nuh. As news spread, violence also broke out in Gurugram, just outside Delhi. Six people were killed in Nuh and Gurugram as rioters set fire to shops, vehicles and a mosque.

Days later, in what has become a pattern in many states governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), bulldozers descended on shell-shocked residents of Nuh and tore down hundreds of structures, alleging they were built illegally. The action only stopped after four days, on Monday, when the state's high court on its own accord issued a notice to the government.

"Apparently, without any demolition orders and notices, the law and order problem is being used as a ruse to bring down buildings without following the procedure established by law," the court said. It also asked if the state was conducting "an exercise of ethnic cleansing" by targeting buildings mostly owned by Muslims.

Hundreds of structures were demolished in Nuh

Civil society groups and opposition parties say there has been a surge in violence and hate speech against Muslims since 2014, when the Hindu nationalist BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, came to power.

In BJP-governed states such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Assam, it is now common for bulldozers to swiftly demolish the houses of people who have been accused of crimes. The reason cited is illegal construction but legal experts question this. The chief ministers of these states have also often linked the demolitions with their government's tough stance on crime.

While the victims include the families of Hindus, opposition leaders and several activists say that the action is mostly targeted at Muslims, especially after religious violence or protests.

In Nuh, officials gave contradictory answers when asked about the reason for the demolitions. District Magistrate Dhirendra Khadgata told BBC Hindi that only illegal buildings were being razed. But Vinesh Singh, planning officer for the district, said that authorities were demolishing houses from which "stones had been pelted".

Mr Saud's brother, Nawab Sheikh, wept at the sight of the demolished shops

Critics say these demolitions are particularly brutal as they leave innocent family members, including children, homeless.

"Arbitrarily demolishing someone's home or shop is a very crude and medieval form of collective punishment," says political scientist Asim Ali. "Their presence in contemporary India indicates that the rule of law regime has broken down."

Legal experts agree that dispensing instant and collective punishment is inhuman and illegal.

"How can the State club everybody and put them in one basket, regardless of the facts, without ascertaining the truth and go on a demolition spree? In situations like this, collective punishment is anathema to the rule of law and constitutional rights, regardless of religion," says Justice Madan Lokur, a former Supreme Court judge. He points out that according to reports, "the owner is not given due notice or time to remove the belongings from the home and is also not given even a day's time to find alternate accommodation".

The deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure is not allowed under any law, adds Shadan Farasat, a Supreme Court lawyer. "If you want to charge someone for violence, you need to arrest them and put them on trial - you cannot simply destroy their house within a day."

Many in Nuh say they had the documents to prove their buildings were not illegal

Justice Lokur says that authorities do have the power to demolish illegal buildings but only according to rules. The owner has to be served a notice and given the chance to pay fines or file an appeal. Even then, authorities have the option of demolishing only the parts built in violation of the law. If the structure is entirely illegal, authorities must provide a "reasoned" explanation to the owner before razing it. "The entire demolition exercise is reportedly being conducted arbitrarily and in complete violation of constitutional rights," he said.

In Nuh, police said that they served notices to the alleged encroachers, but several families told the BBC that they didn't get a warning. Others claimed they were not even in their houses at the time of the riots but were punished anyway.

Musaib, 20, could not stop crying as he watched authorities demolishing his week-old tuck shop, built with his father's savings.

"How do I build a life again?" he asked.

His question was echoed by others, including Hindus. Chamanlal, whose barber shop was destroyed, says he had built it with a loan.

"A family of 10 people survived because of this shop. We have been forced to come out on the streets now," he said.

Chamanlal says his shop was razed without prior notice

Others fear that communal polarisation could shatter peace in Nuh, where Hindus and Muslims lived mostly in harmony for decades.

While the demolitions have stopped for now, some Muslim residents say they no longer feel safe.

"We are being oppressed every day. Where will we go if something like this happens again?" Mr Sheikh said.

But not everyone agreed that the authorities were wrong.

"The government did the right thing, these rioters should be taught a lesson," said Ashok Kumar, who had accompanied his friends to watch the demolitions.

Even Harkesh Sharma, whose pizza place was demolished, agreed - with a caveat. "Just that, if the government had punished only those who were involved in the violence, it would have been better."

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As of 07:00, the number of wounded in the missile attack on Pokrovsk has increased to 88, seven people have been killed, and preliminary information indicates that there are no people under the rubble.

Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs; State Emergency Service; Pavlo Kyrylenko, Head of Donetsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram and on air during the 24/7 national joint newscast

Details: The ministry has released updated information on the victims in Pokrovsk.

It is noted that seven people had been killed.

67 people were injured, including 29 police officers, seven rescue workers and two children.

Quote from the Ministry of Internal Affairs: "We are resuming the clearing of the rubble. At night, we had to suspend the work due to the high threat of repeated attacks."

Update: The State Emergency Service reported that five fires over a total area of 75 square metres in a residential building and a hotel were extinguished in Pokrovsk.

Preliminary reports indicate that there are no people under the rubble. SES units are conducting rescue operations in a 5-storey residential building.

Update at 11:20: Pavlo Kyrylenko said that as of 11:00, seven people had been reported killed (five civilians, a rescue worker and a soldier) and 81 wounded (39 civilians, including two children (a 17-year-old and an 11-year-old), 31 police officers, 7 employees of the State Emergency Service and 4 soldiers).

As of 11:00, 12 high-rise buildings, a hotel, a prosecutor's office, a pension fund offic, a pharmacy, two shops, two cafes and two civilian cars were damaged.

Update at 11:45: Kyrylenko said on air during the 24/7 national joint newscast that 88 people had been wounded and 7 killed. He added that the information is being collected promptly from hospitals. Representatives of military administrations are present there.

Background: A Russian missile strike on residential buildings in the centre of Pokrovsk killed seven people and injured about 30 others. Among the dead is the deputy head of the State Emergency Service in Donetsk Oblast, and among the injured are police officers, rescue workers and a child.

Later, 57 people were reported injured.

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A judge on Monday temporarily barred New York from issuing new cannabis dispensary licenses as part of a lawsuit claiming regulators unjustly favored people impacted by past marijuana prohibition enforcement.

State Supreme Court Justice Kevin Bryants ruling sided with a group of service-disabled veterans seeking dispensary licenses. Their lawsuit asserted in part that cannabis regulators violated the state Constitution by exclusively granting licenses to justice-involved business owners during the initial marijuana marketplace rollout.

Customers browse products for sale at Union Square Travel Agency: A Cannabis Store, located on 13th St. in Manhattan Feb. 13, 2023. Touch screen kiosks, like the one at left, are located throughout the store at which customers can browse and order products. The cannabis dispensary is the third to open in Manhattan in recent weeks, and the fourth to open in New York State.

Now, the case heads to a court date on Friday, when Bryant will consider legal arguments over the veterans request for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against the state, which could halt cannabis dispensary licensing during a potentially lengthy legal battle.

How halting marijuana dispensary licenses impacts NY

The ruling is the latest blow to New Yorks floundering legal cannabis marketplace, which launched in January and had seen 20 dispensaries open through June.

As New York cracked down on unlicensed cannabis shops recently, sales of legal marijuana grew to reach a total of $33 million during the industrys first six months.

But the legal cannabis marketplace remains far from realizing the lofty political promises of state lawmakers who championed adult-use marijuana legalization in 2021.

What NY marijuana lawsuit says

The veterans lawsuit claims in part that officials with the state Office of Cannabis Management and Cannabis Control Board unconstitutionally created the Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) license category, as first reported by Politico.

These CAURD licenses are going exclusively to justice-involved businesses, which violates the 2021 state law that required prioritizing a range of social equity applicants, such as minority or women-owned businesses, distressed farmers, or service-disabled veterans, the lawsuit claims.

NY marijuana: NY's legal weed sales aren't raking in cash as predicted. How much has sold so far?

In other words, (regulators) invented a new licensing category out of whole cloth that is at odds with the statutory requirements, the lawsuit stated.

One key legal argument in the case asserted the cannabis regulators violated the states separation of powers doctrine, which gives the Legislature exclusive constitutional authority to develop a policy to address a social and economic problem that is as systemic as the ill-founded War on Drugs.

In order to be eligible for CAURD licenses, a person had to have a cannabis conviction themselves or have a family member who had one, and they must own a profitable business. Eligible nonprofits had to have a history of working with current or former justice-involved individuals, among other requirements.

State lawmaker reacts to marijuana lawsuit

State Sen. Jeremy Cooney, D-Rochester, and chair of the Senate subcommittee on cannabis, described the ruling as deeply disappointing.

It is no secret that New Yorks adult-use cannabis roll-out has been slower than expected, and now is not the time to stand in the way of progress made, he said in a statement.

We must focus on awarding non-conditional licenses, which will prioritize social equity candidates and allow more businesses to open, he added.

Who filed NY marijuana lawsuit?

The veterans and businesses filing the lawsuit include:

Carmine Fiore, of Levittown, founder of Fiore Enterprise.

William Norgard, of Manhattan, founder of 2 Forest Park Lane.

Steve Mejia, of Woodhaven, founder Blushed Petals.

Dominic Spaccio, of Montour Falls, founder of MoxBeacon.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: New NY marijuana dispensary licenses temporarily stopped. Here's why
[Source]

A former physician at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital in Queens previously accused of drugging, raping and filming a 19-year-old patient has been charged with 50 new counts on Monday after investigations revealed more alleged victims.

The allegations: Dr. Zhi Alan Cheng, 33, is now accused of drugging and raping at least 13 women, according to prosecutors. The victims, which include patients and dating partners, all appeared to be unconscious when Cheng allegedly recorded their sexual assaults.

Aside from the hospital, the incidents allegedly took place elsewhere in New York, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Thailand. A search of Chengs home revealed videos of the alleged sex crimes and multiple drugs, including fentanyl, ketamine, MDMA and sedatives like propofol and sevoflurane.

The charges: At his arraignment Monday, Cheng was charged with 50 new counts: 10 of predatory sexual assault, three of first-degree rape, seven of first-degree sexual abuse, three of second-degree criminal sexual act, four of second-degree assault, 11 of second-degree unlawful surveillance, four of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and eight of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

More from NextShark: Sister of police recruit fatally shot on Oakland freeway calls on officials to 'step up' against gun violence

He was previously charged with 11 counts, which included two of first-degree rape, two of first-degree sexual abuse, one first-degree criminal sexual act, two of second-degree assault and four of second-degree unlawful surveillance.

Possible sentence: Cheng, who is being held without bond on Rikers Island, pleaded not guilty to his charges on Monday. If convicted, he faces multiple sentences of 25 years to life in prison.

Whats next: Prosecutors are urging other potential victims to come forward. Meanwhile, New York-Presbyterian is reportedly planning to review patient safety policies and conduct further training for all employees.

More from NextShark: GoFundMe Set for SF Chinatown Restaurant Vandalized TWICE in Three Days

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Dolce & Gabbana Now Seeking $660 Million From Diet Prada in Defamation Suit

Australian man sentenced to over 5 years in Singapore prison for wine bottle killing of Malay father
New York City Mayor Eric Adams , a Democrat, announced that a new taxpayer-funded tent city for illegal migrants will be going up in the Big Apple.

Adams announced Monday that Randalls Island in New York City will be the new spot for the more than 57,000 illegal migrants living in the city that never sleeps.

"As the number of asylum seekers in our care continues to grow by hundreds every day, stretching our system to its breaking point and beyond, it has become more and more of a Herculean effort to find enough beds every night," Adams said in a press release on Monday.

FORMER NY DEM GOVERNOR WARNS NYC MIGRANT CRISIS AT TIPPING POINT: SLEEP ON THE STREETS

"We're grateful to Governor Hochul and New York state for their partnership in opening this new humanitarian relief center and covering the costs, and we need more of the same from all levels of government," Adams continued.

"We will continue to work with the governor and elected officials across the state to address this crisis as New York City continues to do more than any other level of government," the mayor said.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Former New York Gov. David Paterson said the migrant crisis in New York City was reaching its "tipping point" in a recent radio interview.

"I think its at a tipping point," Paterson, a Democrat, said during a radio interview with business mogul John Catsimatidis on Sunday.

Migrants camp out in front of the Watson Hotel after being evicted, Feb. 1, 2023, in New York City.

"Look what happened at the hotels where the hotels were filled up," he said. "They were trying to get the excess migrants, mostly males, who couldn't get into the hotels, and they chose to sleep on the streets instead of going to another facility," the former governor said.

New York City lawmakers have pleaded for help as migrants have started sleeping on the sidewalks in Midtown Manhattan. Councilwoman Vickie Paladino warned that the surge of illegal migrants is affecting New Yorkers' quality of life and that the situation is "absolutely out of control."

New York City has more than 50,000 migrants in its shelter system in what has become one of the most publicized migrant crises on the East Coast. Adams recently said that the sanctuary city has "run out of room" for new migrants and even called for a "state of emergency" in the city to battle the crisis.

New York lawmakers announced in June that the city would receive $104.6 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency funding for its Shelter and Services Program.

Fox News Digital's Jeffery Clark contributed reporting.
The Oakwood City Council has unanimously voted to approve a plan to seek funding for a new roundabout.

The city is asking the Ohio Department of Transportation for money to help pay for a roundabout at the Five Points intersection on Far Hills Avenue.

Commissioners said there were almost two dozen crashes there between 2018 and 2021.

>> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Oakwood reveals design proposal for Five Points roundabout, sets dates to hear public input

They hope the roundabout will help make the intersection safer for drivers and pedestrians.

At Monday nights meeting commissioners said they heard from both those for and against the roundabout.

Its ranged from its the greatest idea since the invention of the iPhone ... to a big giant no on the comment sheet. So obviously we have a wide range of opinions in the town and were still gathering more to decide, Mayor William Duncan said.

Through the next month, the city said they will take comments from residents, to find out more and give feedback visit here.




ISLAMABAD, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Tuesday that the country's federal government will step down on Aug. 9, following which a caretaker setup will take charge till the next general elections.

Sharif made the remarks when he paid a farewell visit to the Pakistan Army's general headquarters in Rawalpindi, a neighboring city of the capital Islamabad, and met relatives of the soldiers who got killed or injured during terrorist incidents in the country.

The government step-down will come as a result of the dissolution of the National Assembly or the lower house of the parliament which directly elects the federal government. The National Assembly will be dissolved on Aug. 9, three days ahead of the completion of its five-year term on Aug. 12, according to the prime minister.

Sharif said he would send advice to the President of the country for the dissolution of the assembly on Wednesday, and if the President does not approve it, the assembly will be dissolved automatically after 48 hours.

The prime minister and opposition leader Raja Riaz Ahmad will have a meeting on Wednesday morning to finalize the name of a caretaker prime minister, who will choose his cabinet for a period of three months or until the formation of the next elected government.

According to the country's constitution, if the national assembly is dissolved ahead of its scheduled time, the general elections will be held within 90 days under the supervision of the caretaker setup. 
UPDATE @8:30 a.m.

Officers are searching for a suspect after a stolen vehicle crashed into a vacant house in Huber Heights Tuesday morning.

>>PHOTOS: Officers investigating after stolen vehicle crashes into Huber Heights house

Huber Heights Police officers began chasing the suspect in the area of Damascus and Bassett, according to a police spokesperson.

The driver was the only occupant of the vehicle during the pursuit and fled the scene after crashing into the house in the 7000 block of Harshmanville Road.

Officers are still searching for the suspect, a spokesperson told NewsCenter 7.

The extent of the damage to the house has not yet been revealed.

Mutual aid was provided by Butler Township, Riverside, and Montgomery co. So.

We will continue to provide updates on this developing story.

-INITIAL STORY-

Officers are investigating after a vehicle crashed into a house in Huber Heights Tuesday morning.

>>PHOTOS: Vehicle crashes, damages house in Huber Heights

Officers and medics were dispatched around 3:20 a.m. to the 7000 block of Harshmanville Road on initial reports of a vehicle into a house, according to initial scanners.

The vehicle reportedly crashed into a house after officers were chasing it, scanner traffic indicated.

AES Ohio and CenterPoint Energy have been requested to the scene.

News Center 7 has reached out to Huber Heights Police about what led to both the chase and crash.

We will continue to provide updates on this developing story.

Photo from: Adam Ewry/Staff

Photo from: Adam Ewry/Staff

Photo from: Adam Ewry/Staff

Photo from: Adam Ewry/Staff

Photo from: Adam Ewry/Staff

Photo from: Adam Ewry/Staff
Since the beginning of the all-out war, 78 Ukrainian first responders were killed in Russian attacks while doing their job, the State Emergency Service's spokesman Oleksandr Khorunzhyi said on Aug. 8.

An additional 280 emergency workers have sustained injuries, according to Khorunzhyi, cited by Ukraine's Defense Ministry media center.

Russia violates international conventions by attacks against the first responders as they don't take part in hostilities but rescue civilians and provide aid, the official added.

On Aug. 7, Russia's missile strike against Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast, killed seven people, including Andrii Omelchenko, a senior official within the regional emergency service department.

Colonel Omelchenko was 52 years old. "He gave half of his life to the service," Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko wrote on Telegram.

According to Donetsk Oblast Governor Kyrylenko, the Pokrovsk attack injured seven first responders. As of 11 a.m. local time on Aug. 8, a total of 88 people were confirmed wounded, said Kyrylenko.

Two more emergency workers sustained injuries on Aug. 7 in a Russian air strike on Kharkiv Oblast's village of Kruhliakivka. Russian troops hit the settlement again when the first responders arrived at the scene of the first strike.

Read also: Endless Russian assaults near Kreminna test Ukraines defenses

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The News

Its the final busy election day of August  a few local races across the country, one bitter primary in Mississippi, and a fight over democracy itself in Ohio. That last one is the contest of the day, with major long-term implications, as the outcome could make future constitutional amendments  including one aimed at restoring abortion rights thats scheduled for the ballot later this year  much harder to pass via referendum.

Heres what to watch, with a brief catch-up on the campaigns and tips on how to read the early vote count.

The Races

Ohio. Theres just one thing on the ballot today: Issue 1, the Republican-backed effort to make amending the states constitution more difficult by requiring that initiatives get signatures from all 88 Ohio counties, and pass with 60% of the vote. We covered it last week, and the final stretch of early voting was torrid, with turnout running ahead of last years final August primary.

The major parties have driven some of that turnout; elected Republicans have campaigned almost unanimously to pass Issue 1, and the shrunken bench of Democrats stumped for the no campaign. The opposition is led by the One Person, One Vote coalition, with funding from pro-abortion rights groups and the ACLU, which has framed the whole election as a way for conservatives to block the scheduled November vote on abortion rights.

Theyve lost the argument, when it comes to abortion, former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland told no organizers at a rally in Columbus on Friday. The fact is that the people of Ohio believe in a womans right to choose; and given the chance to express that at the polls in November, theyre going to do it.

Republicans disputed the centrality of abortion to this election; Secretary of State Frank LaRose, Issue 1s champion in the party, tells crowds that everything from gun rights to the viability of their farms is at stake.

But a lot of the muscle and money for yes has come from anti-abortion groups  still outspent, by the end of the campaign, but far more competitive than theyd been in last years Kansas and Michigan votes, which abortion rights groups won by wide margins.

Supporters drummed up votes at churches, and they amplified a campaign to warn that child gender surgeries would multiply if the funders of the no campaign prevailed (their argument is based on what fact checkers have described as a misleading reading of the abortion initiative). On Sunday, at a Catholics for Catholics rally in Cincinnati, they heard from Chloe Cole, a de-transitioner who has lobbied for bans on gender medicine for minors, merging the two campaigns.

Cincinnatis Hamilton County is now reliably Democratic, and if this vote falls along mostly partisan lines, no will win easily there. Watch Loran and Mahoning counties, in eastern Ohio, to see whether the yes campaign has built on Republican gains there since 2016.

Polls close at 7:30 p.m. eastern time.

Mississippi. Republicans hold every major office here, and Democrats only think they can make a serious run at one of them  the governors office, which Brandon Presley is trying to take from Gov. Tate Reeves.

Neither man has a credible primary challenger, but Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, who barely had any opposition four years ago, is facing state Sen. Chris McDaniel, whos accused the incumbent of failing to use his power fully to advance a conservative agenda.

Thats what McDaniel wanted the race to be about. Hosemann has declined to debate the challenger, best known nationally for a near-miss primary loss to the late Sen. Thad McConnell in 2014. He was felled by the U.S. Chamber of Commerces successful single-cycle effort to keep hard-right candidates from winning primaries, and many of his previous supporters have sat this race out; Ted Cruz is a notable exception. McDaniel raised less than $170,000, while Hoseman raised nearly twice that, deploying his war chest and incumbency to freeze out the challenger.

Theyve made fun of the car I drive, McDaniel told supporters in a Facebook town hall last week. Theyve made fun of my ego. Theyve made fun of calling me a liar.

McDaniel craved a debate with Hosemann, focused on the powers of the office, but he never got it. After McDaniel claimed that Hosemann had led an abortion clinic, the state released, for the first time, paperwork revealing that the health clinic he worked for didnt provide abortions at that time. When a pro-McDaniel PAC poured resources into the race, Hosemanns campaign filed a complaint, and Attorney Gen. Lynn Fitch announced an investigation.

Do we really think a Washington dark money PAC cares about Mississippi citizens? Hosemann asked, in a statement. He skipped an all-candidate event last week, losing the endorsement of the host citys mayor, but headed into Tuesday as the favorite.

Polls close at 7 p.m. local time, 8 p.m. eastern. If the Hosemann-McDaniel primary is close, thatll be evident along the Gulf Coast, which McDaniel narrowly lost in his 2014 primary.

Notable

Other reporters who headed to Ohio in the final stretch saw a competitive race unfolding.

In The Atlantic, Russell Berman finds one Democratic organizer calling it kind of an easy campaign  not much need for persuasion  while the ex-GOP congressman leading the state Chamber of Commerce calls the timing not ideal. In the Washington Post, Patrick Marley looks at how the debate unfolded at voters doors. And in the New York Times, Michael Wines investigates the growing use of moves that defy norms of democratic behavior in red states.
Ohio voters rejected Issue 1 on Tuesday, dealing a blow to Republicans who wanted to hamstring a November ballot question on abortion rights.

The no vote prevailed 57% to 43% with over 3 million votes cast, according to unofficial results. About 58,000 absentee and provisional ballots were outstanding as of Wednesday.

"Tonight, Ohioans claimed a victory over out-of-touch, corrupt politicians who bet against majority rule, who bet against democracy," Ohio Democratic Party Chair Liz Walters told reporters at an election night gathering in Columbus. "Tonight, Ohioans everywhere have claimed a victory for the kind of state we want to see."

Opinion: Ohio could now be a bellwether on abortion

Tuesdays election was the culmination of a months-long fight that began last year, when Secretary of State Frank LaRose and Rep. Brian Stewart, R-Ashville, first introduced a plan to tighten the rules for constitutional amendments. The debate played out in the halls of the Ohio Statehouse, on the campaign trail and even in the courtroom as opponents tried to stop GOP lawmakers in their tracks.

Proponents of the measure said they wanted to keep controversial policies out of the constitution and reserve it for the state's fundamental rights and values. Critics argued the ballot measure was a power grab that would hinder the rights of citizens to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot.

Ohioans bought the message opponents were selling. "No" votes poured in from progressive strongholds around Columbus, Cincinnati, Akron and Cleveland, but the measure also garnered opposition from voters in key GOP areas. For example, nearly 58% of voters in suburban Delaware County north of Columbus rejected Issue 1 despite the county's long history of supporting Republicans.

The same percentage of voters opposed Issue 1 in Mahoning County. The blue-collar county was once safe Democratic territory, but it's now driven by populist conservatives who support former President Donald Trump.

The fight over Issue 1 generated national attention.

"Today, Ohio voters rejected an effort by Republican lawmakers and special interests to change the states constitutional amendment process," President Joe Biden said in a statement Tuesday night. "This measure was a blatant attempt to weaken voters' voices and further erode the freedom of women to make their own health care decisions. Ohioans spoke loud and clear, and tonight democracy won."

Ohio August election sets stage for abortion fight in November

Tuesday's outcome means it's business as usual for changing the Ohio Constitution. Future proposed amendments will only need a simple majority of the vote to take effect, and there will be no changes to the signature-gathering process for citizen groups.

People celebrate the defeat of Issue 1 during an election night party at the Columbus Fire Fighters Local 67.

That's good news for supporters of abortion access, who placed a proposal on the November ballot to enshrine reproductive rights in the constitution. Republicans set the August election to preempt that vote and make it harder for the abortion amendment to pass.

The move turned Tuesdays election into a nationally watched proxy war over the abortion debate, as Ohio is the only state voting on the issue in 2023.

"Winning in August was vital," said Lauren Blauvelt, vice president of government affairs for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio. "It is important that majority rule is the standard. It is the right that Ohioans had for 100 years. We're not going to give that up."

Opponents of the abortion amendment funneled millions of dollars into the campaign to support Issue 1. Now, they're focused solely on convincing Ohioans to vote no in November  the opposite message they sold for August.

"I think the Republicans that decided to vote no today voted no outside of their positions on abortion, Second Amendment or small businesses," Ohio Right to Life President Mike Gonidakis said. "They'll come home. I don't think the other party is offering them anything that they want to latch on to."

People celebrate the defeat of Issue 1 during an election night party at the Columbus Fire Fighters Local 67 in Columbus.

Issue 1 drew heated summer campaign

Even with such high stakes, convincing Ohioans to pay attention to a convoluted political issue in the summer cost both sides millions of dollars.

The One Person One Vote coalition opposing Issue 1 spent roughly $12.4 million on TV, cable and radio advertising, according to ad-tracking firm Medium Buying. The group dominated the airwaves for weeks  much to the chagrin of Issue 1 supporters  but Protect Our Constitution eventually launched ad buys to the tune of $2.5 million.

Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman enters a media room to discuss the defeat of Issue 1 on Aug. 8.

Senate President Matt Huffman, R-Lima, said supporters of Issue 1 didn't have enough time to educate voters about the issue, even though Republican lawmakers unilaterally set the August election date. And Huffman suggested this question could come before Ohioans again in the future.

"I think it's a question that was worth asking of the voters, not only because of the two issues that are on the ballot in November, but the six to 10 that are planned over the next couple of years," Huffman said.

More: Issue 1 poll: Most Ohio voters oppose plan to make it harder to amend constitution

Both campaigns were largely bankrolled by out-of-state donors, even as they railed against the influence of outside interests. Protect Our Constitution received most of its funding from Illinois billionaire and conservative donor Richard Uihlein, while opponents got substantial help from progressive groups in California and Washington, D.C.

The full cost of the election wont be known until September, when the campaigns face their next filing deadline.

Their efforts appeared to pay off. Critics of Issue 1 were concerned that turnout would be low, and lawmakers limited August special elections for that very reason. But voter enthusiasm ultimately exceeded expectations. Early in-person and absentee voting outpaced early turnout for the May 2022 primary, and unofficial results put overall turnout around 38%.

Haley BeMiller and Lily Carey are reporters for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Voters reject Ohio Issue 1 in August special election
Late year, the Republican-led Ohio Legislature passed a law all but eliminating August elections, citing high costs and low turnout. In the spring, Ohio Republicans created and scheduled an Aug. 8 referendum on raising the threshold for voter-approved constitutional amendments to 60 percent, from the simple majority in place since Ohio first allowed citizen-led referendums 111 years ago.

Supporters of Issue 1, which also requires amendment backers to get signatures from all 88 Ohio counties instead of just 44, say its about good governance and limiting "out-of-state meddling" in state affairs. Opponents  including Republican former Ohio governors and Supreme Court justices  say the measure is aimed at weakening direct democracy and giving "special interests the winning advantage." Millions of dollars have bolstered both camps, much of it from out of state, The Associated Press detailed.

But everyone acknowledges that, at least to some sizable extent, Tuesday's vote is aimed at thwarting an amendment on the ballot in November that would enshrine abortion rights up to about 24 weeks in the state constitution. That would overturn a six-week ban, passed by the GOP Legislature but put on hold by a state judge, that took effect when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022.

Polls show a majority of Ohio voters oppose the abortion ban, and a USA Today/Suffolk University poll from July found that 58% of Ohioans would vote for the November constitutional amendment. That's in line with other states that have put abortion rights to a popular vote in the past year  in all six states, the abortion rights side won, but with less than 60% of the vote.

If Ohio follows suit in November, "it will confirm that there's some sort of consensus around abortion rights, even in conservative states," University of California, Davis, law professor Mary Ziegler told BBC News. GOP lawmakers "think if voters had a straight up and down decision on abortion it wouldn't go their way, so they're trying to do what they can to prevent that from happening."

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Today's special election in Ohio will determine the fate of Issue 1, a ballot measure meant to make it harder to amend the state's constitution and to get amendments on the state's ballot in the first place. Wrapped up in this battle is a larger fight over abortion rightsand one that could be coming soon to other states.

If Issue 1 passes, Ohio will require proposed constitutional amendments to receive 60 percent of the vote, instead of the current simple majority required. It would also change signature collection rules for groups trying to get amendments on the ballot, requiring the collection of signatures from at least 5 percent of voters in the last gubernatorial election in all counties, instead of the now-required 44 counties. And it would get rid of a 10-day period currently allowed to replace signatures that the secretary of state deems invalid.

Issue 1 is backed by Ohio Republicans, who have promoted it with some interesting rhetoric. One talking point has been that it protects the Ohio Constitution from out-of-state interests. (For instance: "At its core, it's about keeping out-of-state special interest groups from buying their way into our constitution," Protect Women Ohio Press Secretary Amy Natoce told Fox News.) Another has been that it signals trust in elected officials to safeguard citizen interests, rather than letting a random majority of voters decide what's best. (The current simple-majority rule for amending the state constitution "sends the message that if you don't like what the legislature is doing, you can just put it on the ballot, and soon the constitution will be thousands of pages long and be completely meaningless," Carol Tobias, president of the National Right to Life Committee, told Politico in a prime example of this tack.)

Arguments like these are notable because they go against conservative rhetoric in other realms. One could easily imagine an alternate universe in which Ohio Republicans railed against a measure like Issue One on the grounds that it sought to make it harder for ordinary people to have a voice.

But Republicans have an ulterior motive in making it more difficult for Ohio voters to amend the Constitution: an amendment on the ballot this November stating that "every individual has a right to make and carry out one's own reproductive decisions, including but not limited to decisions on contraception, fertility treatment, continuing one's own pregnancy, miscarriage care, and abortion."

"The State shall not, directly or indirectly, burden, penalize, prohibit, interfere with, or discriminate against either an individual's voluntary exercise of this right or a person or entity that assists an individual exercising this right, unless the State demonstrates that it is using the least restrictive means to advance the individual's health in accordance with widely accepted and evidence-based standards of care," it continues. "Abortion may be prohibited after fetal viability. But in no case may such an abortion be prohibited if in the professional judgement of the pregnant patient's treating physician it is necessary to protect the pregnant patient's life or health."

Because of the upcoming vote on the abortion amendment, the battle over Issue 1 has turned into a proxy battle over Ohio abortion laws. (For instance, in my parents' Catholic parish bulletin in Cincinnati, a section purporting to explain the impact of Issue 1 instead focused almost entirely on the fall abortion measure.)

"Given current polling, Republicans are expected to lose the November vote, so they're trying to change the rules mid-game," writes Politico contributor Joshua Zeitz. "The gambit is so transparent that even two former GOP governors, Robert Taft and John Kasich, have come out in opposition."

The abortion element means Issue 1 has attracted a lot more attention than a battle over ballot procedures and constitutional amendment rules likely otherwise would. As of yesterday, "more than 500,000 voters [had] already voted on Issue 1," reported Politico.

A USA TODAY Network/Suffolk University poll from July suggested that Issue 1 has a wide range of detractors. Fifty-seven percent of the voters polled said they were against it, while just 26 percent were for it. Opponents came from across the political spectrum. "Democrats are more likely to oppose Issue 1, but 41% of Republicans, 60% of independents and 41% of Ohioans who voted for President Donald Trump in 2020 said they're also against it," reported the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Many supporters of Issue 1 have been open about the fact that it's meant to prevent the November abortion initiative from passing. But supporters have also been playing up other conservative fears in an attempt to pass it. For instance, one particularly disingenuous ad that's been running frequently in Ohio in recent weeks suggests that Issue 1 protects against those who would "put trans ideology in classrooms and encourage sex changes for kids."

Measures like Issue 1 may be coming to many more states than just Ohio.

One "trend in the post-Dobbs era has been the use of direct democracy to protect abortion rights," notes The New York Times. "The mechanisms of direct democracyreferendums, initiatives, ballot questions and the likeallow voters to register their preferences directly, bypassing elected officials and other intermediaries." That's made them an appealing target for anti-abortion advocates worried about what will happen when protecting abortion is put to a popular vote.

FREE MINDS

Kat Rosenfield looks at recent controversies over books and suggests the popular narrative surrounding this surge of "book bans" is wrong. Media coverage has focused largely on right-wing parents with anti-LGBT agendas or qualms about books concerned with race. Conservatives certainly are pushing for certain books to be restricted or excluded from school libraries. But "for every parents' rights group demanding the removal of Gender Queer from the school library, members of the political left have their own, no less ideology-driven ways of restricting access to books," writes Rosenfield for Pirate Wires. What's more, the battle lines haven't been drawn over book bans in any traditional sense of the word but over what books should be stocked in school and public libraries.

The ubiquity of the term, "book ban," elides the fact that book bans as such don't really exist anymore.  By the time you're talking about limiting its distribution in a library setting, you're not really fighting about the book anymore. You're engaged in a bigger, uglier power struggle for the soul of the library itself.  This is perhaps the most important context missing from the "book banning" discourse: absolutely none of this is about the books themselves. This is also the good news: despite the efforts of folks on both sides of the political aisle, and despite the enormous amount of ink spilled about the scourge of book bans, the actual content of most school libraries  even the ones in Florida  remains truly and wildly diverse in the original sense of the word. For every explicitly ideological YA book aimed at gender-questioning or LGBT youth, there's a slew of ordinary coming of age novels, faith-based books about troubled Christian teens, and no shortage of deeply unwoke heterosexual smut for the brazen few who are both nerdy and horny enough to go digging through the stacks for Flowers in the Attic or Clan of the Cave Bear (a.k.a. every school library's true, albeit silent constituency). Instead, this is a conflict centered on the library as a public institution  and more specifically, on what happens when one of those institutions abandons political neutrality as a core value. We've already seen how this has played out in media and academia, how the perception of political partisanship leads to a catastrophic loss of trust. As the columnist Megan McArdle notes, "It turns out that if you treat your profession as an explicitly political project, people will extend your profession the same trust they extend politicians."

More here.

In related news:

????In a new report, PEN America warns against the cancellation of books due to online outrageand calls for a broad recommitment to the freedom to write & the freedom to read. Read: Booklash: Literary Freedom, Online Outrage, and the Language of Harm https://t.co/vyvuhHcmYk pic.twitter.com/lNUbWQFV9G  PEN America (@PENamerica) August 7, 2023

FREE MARKETS

The trucking company Yellow Corporation has filed for bankruptcy, with plans to lay off 30,000 employeesand default on a $700 million pandemic aid loan. The company "blames the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) trucking union, of which 22,000 of the company's 30,000 employees are members," notes Reason's Joe Lancaster:

Yellow CEO Darren Hawkins criticizes the union for "literally driving our company out of business" due to "nine months of union intransigence, bullying and deliberately destructive tactics."  But the situation is more complicated than a disagreement between a company's management and its workers. In 2020, as countless companies struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress apportioned trillions of dollars to help both workers and companies survive the sudden economic blow. But hidden in that amount was a $17 billion fund under the Treasury Department's sole control, to be disbursed to companies deemed necessary to national security. In May 2020, Sen. Jerry Moran (RKan.) petitioned then-Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin for help on Yellow's behalf; six weeks later, the company was approved for a $700 million loan, and in exchange, the government took a 29.6 percent stake in the company. The Treasury Department later explained that Yellow was "the leading transportation provider to the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection." But at the same time, the Department of Justice was suing Yellow over allegations that the company overcharged the government by inflating its freight volumes. (The company settled the case in March 2022 for $6.85 million.)

Yellow Company's bankruptcy "underscores criticism" of the loan, notes Axios. "Criticism of the Yellow loan has been bipartisan, beginning when Democrats controlled the House of Representatives and continuing under Republican leadership," and now "taxpayers are about to take a bath on Yellow."

QUICK HITS

 "I think it is very safe to say at this point that 2023 is the odds-on favorite to be the warmest year on record," climate scientist Zeke Hausfather told The Washington Post. Hausfather previously expected 2023 to be the fifth-hottest year on record. "What's changed is the last two months have been incredibly hot, setting records by a very large margin compared to what we've seen in the past."

 What's going on in Niger?

 A federal judge has rejected former President Donald Trump's defamation countersuit against E. Jean Carroll, who earlier this year won a $5 million judgment in a sexual misconduct suit against him.

 The Free Press explores Anthony Fauci's behind-the-scenes machinations to control the narrative about COVID-19's origins.

 Texas has appealed a judge's Friday ruling that women with medically complicated pregnancies were exempt from the state's bans on abortion. "The appeal placed a stay on the injunctionmeaning that the abortion ban will not change in practice," explains The Dallas Morning News. "The case's fate is now up to the Texas Supreme Court."

 Are Republicans tiring of attacks on "wokeness"?

 PayPal has launched a stablecoin. The coin "is 100% backed by U.S. dollar deposits, short-term U.S Treasuries and similar cash equivalents," and is "redeemable 1:1 for U.S. dollars," states the company in a press release. "The stablecoin is built on Ethereum," notes The Verge.

 The Food and Drug Administration has approved zuranolone, the first drug specifically aimed at postpartum depression.

The post Ohio's Issue 1 Doesn't Mention Abortion. But That's Why People Are Voting Today. appeared first on Reason.com.
Ohio has rejected a Republican-crafted constitutional amendment, widely seen as an attempt to derail a coming referendum to protect abortion rights.

Tuesday's vote was over a measure called Issue 1, which would have raised the bar for future constitutional amendments to 60% from a bare majority.

Issue 1's proponents argued the proposed change would guard the constitution from outside influence.

Some three million Ohioans cast ballots definitively rejecting the measure.

As of Wednesday afternoon local time, with nearly all voting precincts tallied, 57% of voters had rejected Issue 1, with the 'yes' side trailing by 14 points.

Ohio's rare summer vote, seen as another test case for abortion's popular support among voters, drew national attention.

President Joe Biden, a Democrat, called the Republican-backed move a "blatant attempt to weaken voters' voices and further erode the freedom of women to make their own health care decisions".

Ohioans, too, seemed energised by the special election. Nearly twice as many people voted on the Ohio measure than cast ballots in primaries for governor, Senate, House and other major state-wide races in last year's midterms.

"The amount of public debate and advocacy on both sides was unprecedented," said former Ohio Governor Bob Taft.

Here's a breakdown of the measure's controversies and a look at what comes next.

What is Issue 1?

Issue 1 was the only question on the ballot in Ohio's 8 August special election.

If passed, it would have changed the threshold for approving amendments from 50% to 60%. Issue 1 would have also made it harder to put amendments before voters in the first place, asking petitioners to gather signatures from 5% of eligible voters in each of Ohio's 88 counties, instead of the current 44.

In the 111 years since Ohio first granted voters the power to introduce citizen-led amendments, just 19 of 71 proposed measures have passed the 50% benchmark.

Why is it controversial?

Issue 1 was championed by Ohio's Republican led-legislature and the state's chief election official, Republican secretary of state Frank LaRose.

Mr LaRose and his allies said Issue 1 was about protecting the Ohio constitution from outside moneyed interests.

"Constitutions are for fundamental rights, widely held beliefs," he told the BBC this week. "Not just a controversial issue that may have 51% support."

But opponents of Issue 1 - a diverse and bipartisan coalition - insisted it was actually an effort to block the abortion amendment.

"They've seen polls in Ohio that show 58, 59% of Ohioans support this amendment," said Kellie Copeland, executive director of Pro-Choice Ohio. "And so they were looking to put it just out of reach."

And most of Ohio's voters seemed to agree.

"Prior to Issue 1 becoming a thing, no one ever expressed concern about Ohio's amendment process, and suddenly it's the biggest fight of the century overnight?" said Tyler Grote, 35, a small business owner in Cincinnati. "The entire measure was preposterous."

What are the likely consequences?

Polls suggest that the abortion rights amendment - which protects abortion access up until foetal viability (around 24 weeks of pregnancy) - would be likely to win a majority. But meeting the 60% threshold would have been a long shot.

Now, activists will turn to that November vote, with the wind at the backs of abortion supporters.

There have been six state-wide abortion-related ballot initiatives since Roe v Wade was overturned last year. In every one so far - Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, California, Montana and Vermont - abortion rights have won.

Experts say Ohio is likely to follow.

"Yesterday was a great day for democracy, Ohioans rejected an outrageous attempt by extremists to silence our voices," said Dr Lauren Beene, founder of Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights. "Today we begin the battle to protect our constitutional rights and reject government interference in November."

And beyond abortion, observers say the implications of Ohio's August election could spill over into the state's election for US senator next year, in which Mr LaRose may be a candidate.
A Chinese-made Graco car seat is visible behind Oklahoma Superintendent for Public Instruction Ryan Walters as he sits in his vehicle, going full-out nuts in a video he would then post on X (formerly Twitter.)

Good afternoon, Oklahomans, Ive been looking more and more into whats going on at Tulsa Public Schools, and its just been unbelievable to find out that theyre one of the only schools in the country taking money from the Chinese government, he says in the Aug. 3 post first reported by Tulsa World and the Oklahoman.

Walters looks and sounds like a right-wing zealot as he alleges that the Tulsa Public Schools is accepting money intended to sabotage America.

You have communist China that is giving money to Tulsa public schools in order to try to undermine our United States government, our country, Walters continues. Its unbelievable.

One reason it may be unbelievable is the fact that it does not appear to be true. The Tulsa Public Schools did have one high school teacher, Lin Tao, of Booker T. Washington High School, attend a professional development program at the International Leadership of Texas. The Texas entity partners with Confucius Classroom, which is linked to the Chinese Ministry of Education. But Tulsa Public Schools pays Taos salary. Not so much as a yuan comes from China.

Tulsa Public Schools does not receive money from the Chinese government, as Oklahoma State Superintendent Walters has alleged without evidence, the Tulsa Public Schools said in a statement to The Daily Beast on Monday.

China will not be allowed in Oklahoma schools. pic.twitter.com/BC4caDvPuj  Superintendent Ryan Walters (@RyanWaltersSupt) August 2, 2023

When reached by the Daily Beast, Lin Tao sounded a lot less like somebody who is party to undermining America than a teacher who is what every kid in America should have.

All I want to do is give the best to my students, she said.

Tao sounded wary and ended the interview after that. She had good reason to be careful. Back in August of 2022, Walters called for a Norman high school English teacher named Summer Boismier to lose her teaching license for providing students with a QR code that linked to banned books via the Brooklyn Public Library. The teacher had already resigned, saying she did not think she could accommodate Oklahoma's new anti-woke edicts.

And in recent days, Walters has been talking about stripping the entire Tulsa School system of its accreditation, at least ostensibly due to poor academic performance, but also because it perpetuates radical left ideology.

Walters has in the past described teachers unions as terrorist organizations. but he is the one who is scaring teachers across Oklahoma. Jamie Lee, a U.S. government and history teacher in the Tulsa suburb of Bixby, told The Daily Beast that she and her colleagues are required by state law to cover the Tulsa Race Massacre and the Holocaust, but are also required to do so without talking about race or making the subject matter controversial. And they know that their ultimate judge is Walters, who caused a stir last month by insisting that the Tulsa Race Massacre was not about race.

And so then its just a constant fear of someone misinterpreting what youre talking about or someone just not liking what youre saying, she said. Youre constantly fearful of What if a parent who doesnt like what I'm saying gets a hold of my lesson plan, takes it to the State [Education] Department and complains about me and I just lose my job overnight.

When it comes to China, Walters information apparently originates from such right-wing outfits as Parents Defending Education, which released a report late last month titled Little Red Classroom: Chinas Infiltration of American K-12 Schools. The report includes Tulsa among seven school districts supposedly with Chinese government backed programming, adding to the paranoia by noting they are near 20 U.S. military bases.

The Parents Defending Education report prompted a July 30 Daily Mail story headlined Now China is Funding Americas Public Schools. The article included a map of the School District with Little Little Red Classrooms' Still in Operation. They prominently include Tulsa Public Schools.

It would seem likely that Walters would target a teacher who participates in a program that he describes as part of an effort to undermine America, but he might have a harder time bullying Tao than some other teachers. Taos classroom was one of the stops when Frank Brogan, then U.S. assistant secretary of education for elementary and secondary, visited Booker T. Washington High School and two other Oklahoma schools three years ago. He was accompanied by U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern (OK-01), who issued a press release.

Within moments of walking into Lin Taos International Baccalaureate Chinese classroom, where fourth-year students were working on a writing assignment, Brogan marveled at the fluency with which Taos students spoke Chinese as they bantered with her, the release said.

The release quoted Tao telling Brogan, I always say about the kids: How far you push themthats how far they can get.

Last year, two of Yaos students placed among the top three in the 2022 National Chinese Language Speech Contest. Kailen Brown finished first out of more than 550 contestants. Hericberto Hernandez finished third.

Meanwhile, the school system where Walters terrorizes and demoralizes teachers ranks 47th in the nation.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Let us consider the federal government's second criminal indictment and forthcoming trial of Donald J. Trump, as well as his likely impending criminal indictment and subsequent trial in Fulton County, Georgia. Both these prosecutions are for conspiracies to subvert American democracy, disenfranchise voters and defraud the government. There are also related charges and counts regarding the corrupt obstruction of a congressional proceeding on Jan. 6, 2021, in the former case, and anticipated counts of obstructing justice according to Georgia's racketeering statutes in the latter case. Together, they make it perfectly clear why both of these trials must occur  and must be televised for the world to see.

As Jamelle Bouie of the New York Times writes in his latest column, even if Trump's Democratic opponents must ultimately "defeat him at the ballot box, it would have been untenable for the legal system to stay quiet in the face of an effort to put an end to the American experiment in republican self-government." It is also worth underscoring that Trump's "attempt to overthrow our institutions," in Bouie's phrase, could never have occurred without the distinctively American and undemocratic institution of the Electoral College.

As almost everyone outside Trump's MAGA base knows, the ex-president is guilty of these crimes as charged whether he is convicted or not. What most people do not know, but what Trump and his lawyers know all too well about these charges  despite their empty political rhetoric about "free speech" and "criminal intent," not to mention their ace-in-the-hole argument that #45 was simply relying on the advice of his attorneys  is that there is no legitimate legal defense to these criminal charges.

What passes for a substantive legal defense is the argument that free speech has been weaponized by Trump's opponents. That may work in the court of public opinion, but it will not in a court of criminal law. All Team Trump really has are procedural legal defenses. That is to say, Trump's attorneys will file a few serious motions  and as many frivolous motions as they can  aimed at indefinitely delaying the eventuality of a criminal trial. That's exactly what they did at 4:55 p.m. on Monday in their 29-page response to the prosecution's protective order motion regarding the rules of behavior during discovery.

In short, the Trump defense team's primary tactical goal is to run out the clock in hopes of preventing the trial from occurring before the 2024 election. If Trump regains the keys to the White House, he clearly intends to derail his own prosecution and continue with what Times columnist Maureen Dowd has dubbed his "Coup-Coup-Ca-Choo, Trump-Style."

Dowd reminds us that "we're mid-coup, not post-coup. The former president is still in the midst of his diabolical 'Who will rid me of this meddlesome democracy?' plot, hoping his dark knights will gallop off to get the job done." She continues, "While Trump goes for the long con, or the long coup  rap sheet be damned, it's said that he worries this will hurt his legacy."

I am not sure what "alternative" legacy Trump imagines for himself. As for the one he has cemented in American history, his real legacy is safe. Drawing a term from Gaelic folklore, Dowd calls him "the most democracy-destroying, soul-crushing, self-obsessed amadan ever to occupy the Oval."

As much as we know from Jack Smith's two criminal indictments of Trump and the forthcoming indictment in Georgia, we still know relatively little about the facts behind these indictments. That includes the vast amount of information and evidence gathered from the House select committee that investigated Jan. 6 (but had no subpoena power) as well as that gathered by Smith and Atlanta District Attorney Fani Willis that almost certainly will not be shared with the American public until Trump faces a courtroom trial.

For example, to this point we do not know how many individuals and groups were involved in the coordinated efforts across seven states and the District of Columbia to steal the 2020 election from the American people. The number of knowing or unknowing participants in that conspiracy, at a minimum, will be over 100 and probably closer to 200.

As for the millions of dollars spent by pro-Trump PACs and supporters to fund the coup, or spent by federal and state governments to investigate it, we are all but clueless and still in the dark. Rest assured that Jack Smith and company are following the money, as the hoary but useful saying holds.

Here's one more thing we do not know: what role Mark Meadows, Trump's last White House chief of staff and apparent point man for all things coup, will play in Smith's prosecution of the crimes leading up to the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol.

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That's why the first thing I will look for in the Georgia indictment is whether Meadows is listed as an indicted or unindicted co-conspirator. Will he be left out of the document altogether, as he was in Smith's second Trump indictment?

If that happens again in the Georgia charges, it is safe to assume that Meadows will soon become Trump's No. 1 "traitor," ahead of even former Vice President Mike Pence (and Michael Cohen, Trump's longtime personal attorney). That would strongly suggest that Meadows will be a star witness for the prosecution, both in Washington and Atlanta.

This is of course a familiar scenario in classic racketeering cases regarding organized crime conspiracies. It is often the consigliere who brings down the boss  but never before has the crime boss in such a case been a former president of the United States.

Read more

from Gregg Barak about Donald Trump's life of crime
US Presidential hopeful and former Vice President Mike Pence arrives at a campaign event at American Legion Hall Post 27 in Londonderry, New Hampshire, on August 4, 2023.

Hi OnPolitics readers! Debates are a critical part of campaign season, and primary debates are no different. They give voters the opportunity to weigh Republican or Democratic candidates against each other before the parties pick their final nominees.

Former Vice President Mike Pence has qualified for the first Republican presidential primary debate, which is scheduled for later this month, USA TODAY's Sudiksha Kochi reported.

 Why did it take Pence 9 weeks to qualify? Even with widespread name recognition  hes a former vice president, after all  Pence struggled to meet the donation requirements set by the Republican National Committee. A candidate has to have 40,000 unique donors and score above 1% in a certain number of national or state polls to qualify.

 Pence received a surge of donations after former President Donald Trumps third indictment this year, which accused the former commander in chief of trying to pressure Pence to help overturn the results of the 2020 election.

This debate is going to be different: The first GOP primary debate later this month might not look like previous Republican faceoffs. Why? The clear frontrunner might not attend.

Trump has argued that, with his major lead in polls across the country, he shouldnt have to debate his Republican rivals. But the former president hasnt formally announced whether hell go to the first debate, seemingly leaving it to his supporters to decide.

Mike Pence makes the debate stage: 'Hopefully former President Trump has the courage to show up'

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mike Pence qualifies for 2024 Republican presidential debate
JERUSALEM, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced on Tuesday that he has frozen funds for Arab municipalities in Israel and for Palestinian higher education programs in East Jerusalem.

Smotrich, an ultranationalist and pro-settler key partner in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right coalition, told the state-owned Kan Reshet Bet Radio that the funds were originally allocated by the previous government as "a political pay-off," and that they could potentially end up benefiting "criminal organizations" within Arab society.

Smotrich said he is halting an additional 200 million shekels (about 53.72 million U.S. dollars) that were designated for Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem to participate in preparatory classes at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and two other colleges in the city before being enrolled in academic studies. The funds is intended to provide scholarships to low-income Palestinian students who otherwise cannot afford higher education.

According to Smotrich, the funds intended for scholarships could potentially be misused by "terrorists." He emphasized that "the priorities of our national government differ from those of the previous leftist administration and we should not apologize for that."

Opposition leader Yair Lapid, Israel's former interim prime minister, criticized this decision as "racist."

"I am ashamed that racism has become an official policy of the State of Israel," he tweeted.

The Hebrew-language Ha'aretz newspaper reported that the head of the Shin Bet security agency has met with Smotrich and asked him to maintain the allocation for scholarships. The security agency argued that increasing the number of students in higher education has demonstrated a positive impact on reducing violence in East Jerusalem.

Israel gained control of East Jerusalem during the 1967 Middle East war and subsequently annexed it. The move has not been widely recognized by the international community.

Israel's Arab minority consists of Palestinians who remained in the region during the 1948 war that led to the establishment of the state of Israel. They make up about 20 percent of the country's total population. 
Thursday is Agent Orange Awareness Day.

I didnt know such a day existed until I received an email from David Hine, a retired Air Force veteran and board member of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF).

Of course, I heard of Agent Orange and its connection to the Vietnam War, and I knew it was bad for many who were exposed to it, but I didnt know the full extent of what Agent Orange was or how dangerous the chemical was until I spoke with Hine. Agent Orange was life altering for so many who were exposed to it.

I didnt know Agent Orange was one of several chemical defoliants and herbicides known as rainbow herbicides used to help destroy the thick vegetation in Vietnam that provided cover for the enemy. And a rainbow it was. There was Agent Blue, Agent Green, Agent Pink, Agent Purple and Agent White, all named for the colored band on the storage drums. Agent Orange alone accounted for more than half of the total volume of herbicides deployed. One of its key ingredients, dioxin, is highly toxic even in tiny quantities, according to the VVMF website.

With a garden tool, Rick Brown removes dirt from a vase hole cover Thursday, July 7, 2022, inside Forest Lawn Memory Gardens in Greenwood. Brown, Indiana point man for the nationwide nonprofit Mission Restore Bronze, helps restore and clean grave markers of veterans who have died. The service is done at no cost to the family. Brown is a veteran himself, serving two tours in Vietnam. He's disabled now. He says it's most likely a mixture of Agent Orange, a traffic accident breaking his leg after his first tour in Vietnam, and now Parkinson's disease, but says he's happy to be off pain killers.

Our soldiers were told it was harmless, but turns out all of these contained dioxin which is known to be a cancer-causing agent, Hine said.

Agent Orange was anything but harmless. The list of illnesses connected to Agent Orange or other herbicide exposure is long. To make matters worse, the risk didnt just come from firsthand exposure either. The children of those who were exposed were at risk of birth defects.

More: He was our hero: Vietnam War veteran Fred Norris remembered for his heart

Although Hine didnt serve in Vietnam, creating awareness around this day and VVMFs In Memory Program, which honors deceased Vietnam War veterans, is personal. Hines brother-in-law suffered from Agent Orange exposure and died in 2006 and was inducted into the honor roll in 2013.

In this past year, I had four good friends who passed away from Agent Orange exposure  three of them were in the same graduating class in high school. That was kind of strange, Hine said.

Many soldiers who served in Vietnam lived with PTSD, addiction and illness. Ive always been intrigued at the way we treated Vietnam veterans when they returned home. Just about everything Ive ever seen or heard made it clear many werent treated well and life was difficult for them. Its always bothered me. So, when Hine contacted me about VVMFs In Memory Program, I wanted to learn more.

According to the website, The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) believes all those who served in Vietnam should be honored and remembered for their service. The In Memory program enables the families and friends of those who came home and later died the opportunity to have them be forever memorialized.

More: In 1945, Black officers entered a 'white only' club in Indiana, forever changing the Army

Hine wants more Hoosiers honored. Friends of the Vietnam Veterans started In Memory in 1993, and only 147 Hoosiers have been inducted into the In Memory Honor Roll. Only 16 are from Indianapolis. The ceremony happens the day before Fathers Day in Washington, D.C., and of the 566 Vietnam veterans inducted this year, only 12 were from Indiana, and none from Indianapolis. Hine believes there are more Hoosiers who should be honored for serving in Vietnam, and he wants to spread the word to their families.

Since it is estimated that 136,000 Hoosiers served in Vietnam, my guess is that there were thousands from Indianapolis that served, and probably hundreds have now passed away. To have only 16 from Indianapolis inducted into the Honor Roll is heartbreaking, Hine wrote in an email to me.

Heartbreaking indeed.

Oseye Boyd, public engagement editor for the Indianapolis Star, on Friday, June 10, 2022, in Indianapolis.

Like Hine, I can only surmise that there arent more Hoosiers on the honor roll because families just dont know of its existence. My hope in writing this column is that more people become aware of the In Memory Honor Roll and apply to have their loved ones inducted and more of us learn about Agent Orange Awareness Day.

Contact IndyStar Public Engagement Editor Oseye Boyd at oboyd@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @oseyetboyd.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Remembering Vietnam War veterans and the havoc Agent Orange caused.
When I was 7, my mom and I were displaced from our two-bedroom apartment in Fresno. With nowhere else to go, we bounced from shelter to shelter, feelings of shame, hopelessness and helplessness following us wherever we went.

I spent most of my young life thinking something was wrong with us. The truth is that we were among millions of Californians who have lost their homes across the state, and not just in its most notoriously expensive cities.

As skyrocketing housing costs in Los Angeles and the Bay Area push more people into outlying regions, those places have increasingly experienced the same pressures. Communities such as Fresno, once known as a relatively affordable oasis in a costly state, are the newest epicenters of Californias housing crisis. One study found that Fresno endured the fastest rent growth of any major city nationwide in 2021, 28%.

Read more: We want to hear how you navigated the costly housing market in L.A. Tell us your story

A young Fresno native, Miracle Jackson, recently recounted her two-year search for stable housing in the area, noting that she nevertheless considers herself one of the lucky ones in a crisis that has left others even worse off. Many of the citys families are one financial emergency away from eviction and possibly homelessness. The Fresno region recently reported a nearly 16% increase in its unhoused population over the previous two years even though the city already had a higher rate of unsheltered homelessness than any other major urban center nationwide.

The crisis is particularly hard on young people in newly unaffordable communities. A recent survey of young California voters found that 40% had taken on second jobs, nearly as many had considered leaving the state due to the cost of living, and almost a quarter had missed a rent payment, with half citing housing or homelessness as their top concern. The poll found young people in the Central Valley to be among the states most pessimistic.

That may be partly because families in cities such as Fresno face a devastating combination of deep need and political neglect. Last spring, teams of young people and volunteers with Power California and the Fresno Housing Coalition contacted more than 1,000 Fresno voters from across the political spectrum and found that the overwhelming majority support rent control and tenant protections. A report commissioned by the city found similar needs. And yet the citys mayor and council have taken few steps to protect renters.

Read more: Our family of four shared a cramped studio for 25 years. L.A. housing costs nearly kept us there forever

Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer, who has proudly trumpeted devastating rent increases as evidence that the city has the hottest real estate market in the U.S. , has said rent control would drive away developers . One City Council member said he hesitated to support such policies because business and real estate interests would make large political contributions to unseat anyone who did so.

Although a majority of its households pay rent, Fresno is one of only two major cities in California without rent control, the best immediate defense against rapidly rising rents and displacement. That leaves its residents more vulnerable to escalating housing costs than much smaller cities in Southern California and across the state.

Given the inaction at the local level, residents of cities such as Fresno rely on state housing and homelessness policies even more than other Californians. Just last month, my moms landlord threatened to raise her rent by 40%, which could have left her homeless if not for a 2019 law capping rent increases statewide.

Read more: Op-Ed: How do we keep L.A.'s housing costs affordable? Build more homes

We need more such state-level responses to the problem. State Sen. Maria Elena Durazos Senate Bill 567 , for example, would protect more tenants by stopping landlords from finding loopholes around the very few existing tenant protection policies and strengthening enforcement.

Renters and activists in Fresno have won additional funding for eviction protection, mobile home rehabilitation and a youth LGBTQ+ shelter. But that wont be enough to address the housing affordability crisis that is now at our front door, a far-flung consequence of the forces driving the crisis in L.A. and other coastal metropolises.

We need to understand that failing to address the housing crisis in Southern California and the Bay Area has exported the hardship to the Central Valley and beyond. And we need strong, statewide protections against predatory rent increases and eviction that we wont get until Californians demand them.

Young people in Fresno shouldn't be forced to live with the fear and shame I felt. This city is their home, and their leaders need to make it possible for them to stay here.

Alicia Olivarez is a Fresno native and the associate director of Power California, where she leads community organizing campaigns across the Central Valley.





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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Fulton County, Ga., Dist. Atty. Fani Willis is expected to bring state charges against former President Trump for allegedly trying to subvert the 2020 presidential election in her state. (Brynn Anderson / Associated Press)

In Fulton County, Ga., Donald Trump and others are widely expected to be indicted any day for attempting to illegally reverse Joe Bidens victory in that state in 2020. Trumps alleged interference includes his infamous call with Brad Raffensperger, Georgias secretary of state, in which Trump cajoled him to find 11,780 votes so he could overtake Bidens lead.

In Michigan, three allies of Trump, including last years Republican nominee for state attorney general, were indicted in state court for engaging in a plot to illegally seize voting machines and examine them in a failed attempt to prove a Trump victory in the state.

And in Michigan and elsewhere, fake electors who purported to cast electoral college votes for Trump in states that Biden won are facing or may face an array of state charges of forgery, fraud and other crimes.

You might be tempted to see these criminal proceedings in state courts as a superfluous sideshow to Trumps federal indictment on charges related to overthrowing the 2020 election. In fact, these parallel cases are essential to protecting American democracy in three ways.

Read more: Georgia's top court rejects Trump attempt to thwart prosecutor in 2020 election investigation

First, state charges could stick against Trump in a way that federal charges might not. If Trump is elected president again in 2024, he would have the capacity to have federal special counsel Jack Smith fired, and he could direct his handpicked attorney general to shut down any still-pending federal prosecutions. He could even try to pardon himself, although the legality of self-pardons is uncertain.

But even a newly inaugurated President Trump could not fire Fani Willis, the Georgia district attorney investigating his crimes in that state  or any other state official. He couldnt call a halt to their investigations or indictments, although if he were indicted after reelection, he could probably delay the case until the end of his term.

Most important, state crimes are not subject to pardon by the president. To the extent that Trump needs to be held accountable and deterred from future election subversion or other crimes through prosecution, the state route is as promising, if not more so, than the federal one.

Second, Trump is not the only person who allegedly engaged in election subversion in 2020 and 2021, and the states are likely to be the most promising path for holding the others accountable too.

Read more: Georgia grand jury says witnesses in Trump inquiry may have lied under oath

So far, the federal government has indicted or convicted more than 1,000 people for Jan. 6, 2021-related violence and seditious conspiracy related to the Capitol invasion, but no one other than Trump has been charged or tried in federal court for the machinations in the states and in Washington to reverse Joe Bidens election. The Department of Justice may eventually go after some of these people, but that is far from certain.

Finally, the state prosecutions remind us that American elections are decentralized and that the safeguarding of our democracy cannot just be the responsibility of the federal government.

In the U.S. Constitution, each state and Washington, D.C., are assigned a specific number of presidential electors, but the rules for choosing those electors are left primarily to the states. States legislatures, in turn, delegate most of the management of elections to counties or other smaller government units, further decentralizing control over elections.

Those who attempted to steal the 2020 election from Biden sought to leverage this intense decentralization by finding willing participants at every level of government who would claim fraud, illegality, voting machine malfunctions or something else as a predicate to undoing a result that proved  in recounts, court cases and investigations  to be fair and accurate.

Read more: At least 8 fake Trump electors have immunity in Georgia election investigation

The state prosecutions should help to show just how vulnerable to manipulation our voting systems are. Is there an insider threat from those working for state or local election officials with access to voting machinery and voter data? Does the state have an adequate set of rules to ensure that the correct electoral college votes will be transmitted to Congress? Is there adequate opportunity to observe ballot tallying? Are electoral procedures transparent and checkable?

The one downside of state prosecutions is timing. They could throw a monkey wrench into the federal effort to prosecute Trump for his most serious crimes before the 2024 election. And yet there remains a more than negligible chance that the federal case will be delayed anyway, given the factual and legal complexities of the case.

In that case, a state prosecution such as the one expected in Georgia  which involves an alleged conspiracy in just a single state  could be the only hope of holding Trump criminally accountable before he stands again in front of voters in 2024.

Richard L. Hasen is a professor of law at UCLA and the director of the Safeguarding Democracy Project. His latest book, "A Real Right to Vote: How a Constitutional Amendment Can Safeguard American Democracy," will be published in 2024.





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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
In this photograph taken Thursday, Aug. 8, 2013,, a tour bus kicks up dust during a sunny day at Denali National Park in Alaska as Mount Denali appears in the background. Three Orem firefighters were dispatched to the Anderson Complex fires, city officials said Monday. | Manuel Valdes, Associated Press

Three Orem firefighters are joining more than 200 personnel assigned to a series of wildfires just north of Denali National Park, city officials said Monday.

The three firefighters, all members of the Orem Fire Department wildfire team, will be dispatched to the Anderson Complex fires.

"There are mutual aid agreements between fire departments throughout the country, but it is also part of the code of being a firefighter to go where your assistance is most needed," Orem city officials wrote on social media Monday. "We wish them safety and a speedy trip as they answer the call for help."

A storm that brought more than 7,000 ground lightning strikes on July 26 ultimately sparked 11 different fires within close range of each other near Anderson, Alaska, on July 26, according to the Great Basin Incident Management Team 3, which was brought to fight the fires. The agency condensed these into six active fires that make the complex.

Combined, the fires have scorched more than 18,000 acres and remain 0% contained. Close to 250 personnel were assigned to battle the "very active" series of fires, Great Basin Incident Management officials reported Monday. They wrote that firefighters were hoping to establish "control lines" to protect cabins, but thunderstorms forecast this week may cause more concerns on top of above-normal temperatures in the area.

"Fires in the complex are primarily burning in dense black spruce stands," officials wrote in a report. "Winds fed rapid fire growth on several of the fires within the complex."

A smoke column from the Anderson Complex fires is pictured on Saturday. | InciWeb

Alaska has faced "dangerous fire-weather conditions" between the hot temperatures and severe thunderstorms, the Washington Post reported on July 28. The newspaper noted that Alaska's fire season had gotten off to a slow start because of a wet spring and few thunderstorms.

But the final week's average temperature at Denali National Park ended up more than 8 degrees above normal, including a high temperature of 84 degrees on July 24, according to National Weather Service data. The first week of August is also 7.6 degrees above normal, showing the change in conditions in Alaska.

Meanwhile, Utah's fire season remains mostly quiet after a major monsoonal surge last week, freeing up firefighters to help in other parts of the West.

The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands reported Wednesday there have been nearly 500 wildfires that have burned 5,900 acres throughout the state this year. The total number of fires entering August is down about 26% from the same point in 2022 and 43% in 2021.
Organise or fight? Three years in exile, Belarus opposition divided about path As Ukraine war roils Belarus, opposition in exile eyes its moment

By Agnieszka Pikulicka-Wilczewska

WARSAW (Reuters) - Pavel Maryeuski, 33, was an activist committed to peaceful politics who had never held a weapon, when he fled his native Belarus after President Alexander Lukashenko's crackdown on protests following an election three years ago.

Last year, when Russia invaded Ukraine, he felt the call to battle, and joined a Belarus volunteer unit fighting in support of Ukraine at the front.

"At first I thought about Ukraine, about Ukrainians and about protecting life," he told Reuters in Poland. "Then I thought about Belarus."

If Russia loses, there could be change in Belarus too. And his fellow veterans of the Ukraine conflict are bound to play a role in the fight for their own country.

"I see this as an opportunity for us Belarusians to return home."

On the third anniversary of the election her followers believe she won, Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, 40, has all the trappings of a leader in waiting: a cabinet in exile, diplomatic missions, regular meetings with Western dignitaries.

With nearly all the opposition now in jail or exile, that is no small feat. The opposition is diverse and diffuse, probably comprising a few thousand of the 100,000 people estimated to have fled the country in the past three years, with politics ranging from liberalism to nationalism.

UNITED BY ANGER

Many face lengthy sentences for criminal charges in absentia should they return to Belarus. Reuters spoke to more than 20 opposition figures to gauge their mood three year after the election that ignited the crackdown. Most see little path to a quick victory over a leader in power for nearly 30 years.

They are divided over tactics, but they are united by their anger at Lukashenko's continued rule, his jailing and torturing of thousands of opponents, and his close alliance with Russia which they say negates Belarus's sovereignty.

"We managed to maintain the unity of democratic forces and restructure them, that is, create new bodies and maintain cooperation between political actors and civic initiatives," Tsikhanouskaya told Reuters last week in a Zoom interview from Lithuania.

She still has hopes even of opening up dialogue one day with officials still serving the government in Minsk: "Perhaps some of them will have enough common sense, and will understand that Lukashenko is leading Belarus nowhere, that he is selling our sovereignty," she said.

Stanislava Glinnik, whose grandfather was Belarus's first post-Soviet head of state until he lost the last competitive election to Lukashenko in 1994, is now part of a body called the Coordination Council, a network for civil society groups.

"This is no longer opposition, it is a real government-in-exile," she told Reuters, sitting in Karma, a bar in Warsaw that used to be based in Minsk.

Opposition groups now maintain more than 20 alternative embassies, consulates or information centres for Belarusians abroad, and run at least two intelligence bodies seeking to influence events in Belarus.

Activists help Belarusians escape abroad, hackers are developing apps that allow safe communication within Belarus and some groups track the location of troops in the country.

But a small but growing number of activists, many with combat experience in Ukraine, say it is time to train for a real fight.

At a conference in Poland last week, some of the biggest applause went to a veteran of combat in Ukraine, Pavel Kuhta, who gave a fiery speech denouncing members of Tsikhanouskaya's exiled cabinet for failing to do enough to organise armed resistance.

Sergey Kedyshko, 47, who leads a group of around 200 Belarusian volunteers conducting combat training in Poland and Lithuania, agreed with the premise that the opposition needs to get more fighting fit.

"When some kind of military action takes place, when it is necessary to act very quickly and effectively, the Belarusian opposition always lags behind, so we are losing," he said.

Six weeks ago, there was a brief jolt of hope for the Belarus opposition, when Russia's Wagner mercenary group launched a mutiny inside Russia.

At the height of the uprising, with Wagner fighters bearing down on Moscow, Tsikhanouskaya tweeted that she was "establishing a United Operational Headquarters" to "coordinate our activities at this critical time".

With Lukashenko's Kremlin sponsors in jeopardy, he was suddenly weaker than ever, she said.

But within hours, Lukashenko himself helped bring an end to the Russian mutiny, negotiating for Wagner fighters to move to Belarus. Weeks later, hundreds of battle-hardened fighters arrived. The opposition's optimism swiftly fizzled.

Exactly what role the Wagner fighters will play in Belarus is anyone's guess, but for the opposition, nothing good can come of it, said Kedyshko.

"The situation is getting worse."

(Reporting by Agnieszka Pikulicka-Wilczewska; Editing by Mike Collett-White and Peter Graff)
The State Bureau of Investigation (DBR) has announced that 112 cases regarding abuses by military enlistment offices have been brought to investigation since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022.

According to the DBR, a "popular" motivation for officials under investigation is personal profit.

The DBR said that 15 cases have already been sent to court and it is "intensifying the fight" to bring those guilty of abuses to justice.

One of the most recent cases is the investigation of a military enlistment officer in Zakarpattia Oblast, who allegedly forced soldiers to build him a private house.

During a search of the suspect's property, a Russian flag, clothing with Russian state symbols, and personal documents issued in the territory of Russia were found, the Interior Ministry said on Aug. 2.

Another case concerns the head of the Rivne Oblast military enlistment office, who was detained with another senior officer after abusing a subordinate, the DBR announced on July 27.

Ukrainian authorities launched a country-wide inspection of military enlistment offices in late June after an investigation by Ukrainska Pravda into Yevhen Borysov, the head of the Odesa Oblast military enlistment office.

The official had allegedly acquired assets, including a villa and luxury cars, worth $4.5 million in Spain at the end of 2022 during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Borysov is under investigation for illicit enrichment and the violation of the order of military service.

Read also: This Week in Ukraine Ep. 10  Corruption in Ukraine, and where reforms fall short

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A file photo of Imran Khan before his arrest in Lahore, Pakistan, March 2023.

The former prime minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, has been barred from holding public office for five years by the country's electoral authorities.

The decision was announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan three days after Mr Khan was sentenced to three years in prison for corruption.

Tuesday's announcement also means Mr Khan will be dismissed as an MP.

He maintains the charges are politically motivated, but the Pakistani government denies this.

Marriyum Aurangzeb, Pakistan's minister of information and broadcasting, told the BBC before the announcement: "You have to be accountable for your deeds in law. This has nothing to do with politics. A person who has been proven guilty by the court has to be arrested."

Mr Khan, 70, was elected as Pakistan's leader in 2018, but was ousted in a no-confidence vote last year after falling out with the country's powerful military.

His guilty verdict on Saturday was centred on charges he incorrectly declared details of presents from foreign dignitaries and proceeds from their alleged sale.

The gifts - reported to be worth more than 140m Pakistani rupees ($635,000; 500,000) - included Rolex watches, a ring and a pair of cufflinks.

Local media reported that Mr Khan's disqualification from running in any elections for five years was in line with that guilty ruling.

Under Pakistani laws, a convicted person cannot run for public office for a period set out by the Election Commission of Pakistan.

His legal team has challenged the guilty verdict and the case will be heard in the Islamabad High Court on Wednesday.

The former prime minister is currently being held in a prison near Islamabad.
When former prime minister Imran Khan was arrested over the weekend over corruption allegations, there was barely a whimper of protest.

Not a single major demonstration was reported anywhere in the country.

Compare this to a few months ago, when the 70-year-old was arrested and taken from a court complex in Islamabad on 9 May. It sparked protests around the country, which also led to violence in some places as Mr Khan's supporters clashed with security forces. Some protesters raided military buildings and even ransacked the home of the most senior military commander in Lahore.

But this time around, when Mr Khan was sentenced and then taken to a prison in Attock city, authorities were ready. His destination was kept secret and reports say there were a number of decoy convoys to deceive the media. Police and the military were on high alert across all major cities, and dozens of people were pre-emptively taken into custody.

Pakistan's governing party and the army have pointed to the lack of protest over Mr Khan's arrest as a sign that the former PM no longer enjoys the support of the people. But his Pakistan Tehreek-e Insaf (PTI) party and supporters say they have been forced into silence by a swift crackdown. The BBC also understands that media outlets were told not to cover PTI's activities or even mention Mr Khan's name on air following the mass protests in May.

Thousands of Mr Khan's supporters have been arrested since May. The army has said they intend to try them in military courts, which human rights groups have said is against international law. The PTI has also been systematically gutted, with numerous party workers and leaders being arrested, or facing court cases. Mr Khan himself still faces some 200 cases. Several PTI members have since defected or quit politics altogether.

Ali Akbar, a senior political analyst, said this is why Mr Khan's calls for a protest went unheeded this time - not only did workers and supporters fear arrest, but they were also unable to mobilise support because of the lack of leadership left in PTI.

Fatima, a PTI supporter whose name has been changed on request, said police action against party leaders had frightened her into silence - even online.

"I used to still support the party on Twitter, but one day I received a phone call from an anonymous number warning me against posting such tweets. I got scared and my parents also advised me to delete my Twitter account as they said no-one would be able to help me if I were arrested," she said.

Another party worker said he did not want to put himself in a difficult situation given the police appeared ready to arrest anyone who came forward to protest.

"After so many of their leaders and workers were arrested, my family members are not even allowing me to meet other lady workers of the party," says Naheed, a homemaker in the conservative Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwest Pakistan, whose name has been changed on request.

She says she began supporting Imran Khan and the PTI after they were ousted from power in April last year. But now, she adds, she is unable to even leave her house, because of the extent of the police action against party workers.

Other supporters who spoke to the BBC also said they did not want to protest this time. One man who did not want to be identified said he believed in peaceful demonstration, but was disheartened after the May protests turned violent: "I don't know who was behind it but I cannot support such violence and destruction."

But many also said they still support Mr Khan and the PTI, even if they were not doing so publicly. The strength of this "silent support" is still visible. The PTI recently won a by-election in an area where it lost last year - and by a notable margin.

Anti-establishment stances quickly become popular in Pakistan, says Irfan Khan, a political analyst.

"Earlier when the PTI was in power and the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) took an anti-establishment stance, the PML won by-elections at many seats even in PTI strongholds," he said.

Mr Khan himself was seen as an ally of the establishment when he rose to power in 2018, and is widely believed to have been ousted after the relationship soured.

Many PTI supporters, including Fatima, vow that they will still vote for Mr Khan and his party in the next general election, which is expected to be held later this year.

Naheed also says her vote will go to the PTI: "These actions will not make us leave the PTI. Our love for Imran Khan and the party is only getting stronger, and we will continue to support them."
A Utah man raced to save a paralyzed woman struggling in a lake after hearing her cries for help, fire officials said.

Kelly Rountree had been playing darts with his daughter Aug. 1 when he heard a muffled cry for help coming from Stansbury Lake, the North Tooele Fire District said in an Aug. 7 Facebook post.

Rountree rushed to his car and drove around the lake, fire officials said.

On the other side, he found a paralyzed woman belted to her wheelchair and trapped in the water, rescuers said.

He took off her seat belt and held her head above the water until rescuers arrived at the lake to help her.

Now fire officials are calling Rountree a hero for his help saving the woman.

This is a perfect example of people helping people, and while Kelly is very humble about his role in this, we have no problem calling him a hero, the fire department said.

Stansbury Lake is a man-made lake that wraps around homes in Stansbury Park, which is about 30 miles southwest of Salt Lake City.

Nurse struck and killed while helping patient outside nursing home, Michigan cops say

Girl dies after shes pulled from bottom of hotel pool, Georgia authorities say

Swimmer struggling at beach rescued by heroic pair of friends, Connecticut cops say
The parents of a woman charged in a Boston Police officers death say theyre confident in their daughters innocence as her legal fight continues.

Karen Read, the girlfriend of late Boston Police Officer John OKeefe, has been accused of backing over her boyfriend in Canton, MA, and leaving him to die in a January 2022 blizzard.

She was charged with second-degree murder, motor vehicle manslaughter, and leaving the scene of a collision in connection with OKeefes death. The case has drawn national attention over claims of a cover-up. A Facebook page called, Justice For John OKeefe & Karen Read (Mass corruption) has more than 18 thousand followers.

In Massachusetts, second-degree murder includes when a person intentionally kills another without premeditation.

Well resolve these issues, William Read, father of Karen Read, told Investigative Reporter Ted Daniel. My daughter will be free. Thats what I believe.

William Read says his daughter told him she thought she struck something while she was at Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton, where OKeefe was pronounced dead.

The father denied that Karen Read thought she struck OKeefe.

No, no, no, William Read said. She felt she struck something. She said: Dad, I think I struck something. I said, What do you mean? This was in the hospital, she says, I remember backing up and hitting something, but I cant say what it was and at this point, shes frantic.

VIDEO FROM THE BAR HOURS BEFORE DEATH

Karen Reads parents say she and OKeefe became serious in 2019 right before the Covid pandemic.

They just seemed to be in a happy place, you know, Karens mother Janet Read said.

The Reads shared multiple pictures of the smiling couple at family events and on vacation.

Daniel also reviewed surveillance video showing Read and OKeefe laughing and embracing at C.F. McCarthys, a restaurant and bar in Canton.

According to police, Karen Read would back over OKeefe and leave him for dead in a snowstorm less than 3 hours after the bar video was recorded. In court documents, police estimated that Reads blood alcohol level would have been between .13% - .29%. at 12:45 a.m., the time they believe OKeefe was struck.

Police determined Read backed over OKeefe after dropping him at 34 Fairview Road where a party was taking place. At the time, the home was owned by another Boston police officer named Brian Albert.

SUCKER PUNCHED IN THE BASEMENT THEORY

William Read told Daniel he believes OKeefe was lured to the late-night gathering and quickly ended up in the basement.

I think John OKeefe entered that house, was sucker punched, a fight ensued, and he was overwhelmed, he said.

William Read suggested OKeefe was dragged out of the house through a basement bulkhead, taken around the side of the house, and placed near the road where he was found unresponsive in a snowstorm later in the morning.

Hospital medical records detailed OKeefes injuries: including his eyes swollen shut black and blue, a cut on his right eyelid, a cut to the left side of his nose, a two-inch laceration on the back of his head, multiple skull fractures, and six bloody cuts of varied length on his right forearm from his forearm to bicep.

Reads defense team has argued that police failed to seriously consider any of the party attendees as potential suspects.

According to the Norfolk County DAs office, eight people inside the home and three more outside testified that OKeefe never entered, and the office states that GPS data from OKeefes phone supports that.

William Read suggested that the alleged attack was kept secret from most of the people inside the Albert home, including teenagers celebrating a birthday, and only a limited number of adults were aware of it.

Ted Daniel asked Reads parents: if the events happen the way Karens attorneys say they did, how many people would have to be involved in the cover-up?

Reads father said: My sense is that there are a handful of people, influential people, who know what happened.

The Norfolk DAs Office tells Daniel, There was no conspiracy or cover-up, and such claims have been systematically refuted by evidence submitted to Norfolk Superior Court and provided to the defense.

TAILLIGHT DAMAGE

Police found damage to the passenger side taillight of Karens Lexus LX-570. How the damage occurred is disputed by Reads legal team.

A party attendee who helped Read search for OKeefe on the morning of January 29 said Read had shown her a cracked right rear taillight on her vehicle and questioned if she could have hit OKeefe.

The Reads believe the damage occurred when Karen Read backed out of OKeefes driveway to look for him  hours after she is accused of striking him. A Ring camera at John OKeefes home shows Karen Read back out of his garage and directly towards OKeefes vehicle parked in the driveway.

Look at it frame-by-frame, William Read said. And you tell me whether or not the OKeefe vehicle, the left rear wheel, does not jettison forward upon impact and return to its previous position.

According to court documents filed by the prosecution, the video only shows Read coming close to OKeefes car.

Police say they didnt find any damage to OKeefes car or garage doors, or any fragments or pieces of broken taillight in his driveway.

According to prosecutors, a state police team discovered two red plastic pieces and one clear plastic piece of a taillight in the area they believe OKeefe was struck outside 34 Fairview Rd.

The SERT team discovered these items after digging through the still-falling snow, reads a prosecution memorandum.

The Reads say that wasnt until after Karens SUV was in the custody of law enforcement.

They confiscate Karens car at my parents residence .. at 4:16 P.M. and somewhere in the neighborhood of 5:30, 5:45, Mass State Police SERT (Special Emergency Response Team) comes back to the scene, Karens older brother Nathan said, They search the scene then with two feet of snow, pieces of a taillight are found on top of the snow.

In court filings, the prosecution says that state police found the pieces of taillight while digging through the snow.

ALLEGED DOG ATTACK

Karen Reads defense team have raised several concerns about the prosecutions evidence  evidence that prosecutors say is backed by medical examiner analysis.

The Reads question the injuries seen in Johns autopsy photos. They say he appears to have dog bites on his right arm.

The defense theory is that OKeefe was beaten inside the Albert home and attacked by Alberts German Shephard, but the medical examiner says those markings are scratches caused by a blunt object  not animal bites.

Medical examiner Irini Scordi-Bello testified that skull fractures caused OKeefes eyes and face to swell and grow discolored and she stated she saw no signs of an altercation or fight.

NO BACKING DOWN

William and Janet Read say they have mortgaged their home and dipped into their retirement savings to help pay for Karens defense. The family says Karen is confident she will be cleared of all charges.

This is a watershed moment. And I think as it continues to gather momentum and national exposure, it will lead to changes and more transparency, William Read said.

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JERUSALEM, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant issued a strong warning to Hezbollah during a tour along the Israeli-Lebanese border amid weeks of frictions between Israel and the Iranian-backed armed group.

Galant surveyed a tent recently allegedly erected by Hezbollah near the Shebaa Farms, a disputed strip of land at the intersection of the Lebanese-Syrian border and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. According to Israel, the tent is manned by Hezbollah militants. Another tent erected by Hezbollah was removed in July.

"We do not want a war, but we are prepared to protect our civilians, our soldiers, and our sovereignty," the Israeli minister said in a video statement.

Israel has intensified its rhetoric following a roadside bomb in March that injured an Israeli Arab man. Israel alleges that Hezbollah orchestrated the attack by sending a militant to plant the bomb. However, Hezbollah has not claimed responsibility for the incident.

The last major conflict between Israel and Hezbollah took place in 2006, mainly on Lebanese territory. 
Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover, a U.S. Marine from Utah, is among the 13 U.S. service members who were killed in an attack outside the Kabul airport. | Hoover family photo

Fear causes hesitation and hesitation will cause your worst fears to come true, Kelly Barnett, Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoovers mother said. My worst fear has come true, and I have been hesitant about speaking out, and Im not doing that anymore.

Barnetts opening remarks at Escondido City Hall in California on Monday filled a quiet room. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., held the first congressional forum for the Gold Star families of the 13 service members lost in the Afghanistan withdrawal in August 2021.

Two suicide bombings took place at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan on Aug. 21, 2021, amid a chaotic evacuation and withdrawal of U.S. troops, killing 13 U.S. service members and over 150 Afghans trying to flee the country.

The Biden administration was seeking a swift withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan after a 20-year war. They began the withdrawal on May 1, 2021 and set a deadline for the withdrawal on Sept. 11, 2021  the 20th anniversary of the wars start.

The war officially ended on Aug. 30, 2021.

Hoover, from Salt Lake City, was one of the service members who lost their lives in the airport bombings.

(This is) for my son. Im gonna be brave and tell you about my kid, Barnett said.

Hoovers mom opened up about her sons character, describing him as a natural born leader.

He led by his heart and his knowledge, he never led by his title ever, she said. He always, always, always gave his whole heart to everything that he did.

Barnett said her sons concern began the moment he landed. His words were, chaos, no communication, lack of leadership, she said. He said hed never seen anything like it.

Hoover had been deployed to Afghanistan twice before his final deployment.

I now know the command cares nothing for us, Hoover told his mom.

My son, these 12 others left this Earth thinking their command cared nothing for them. The wounded felt their command felt nothing for them, the survivors felt that their command felt nothing for them, Barnett said. I feel this as well.

Barnett said after the troops had watched their friends die, then being told to destroy everything at the airport, they were told they had to clean up the airport because we cant leave it dirty for the Taliban.

What kind of disrespect? What kind of hatred for our military? she said, between sobs.

Confusion, deceit, lost, angry, sad, heartbroken and disgusted. Barnett said, describing the feelings she and Hoovers family have.

We were told lies, given incomplete reports, incorrect reports, total disrespect, she said.

There were gunshots. All I wanted to know was where my kid was, where he fell, how long did he last? Did he fight? I was told to my face that he died on impact. Thats not true. The only reason that I know this is because witnesses told me the truth, she said.

I dont understand the reasoning for that lie. It makes no sense. ... Did they really even do an investigation?

She asked why there couldnt have been some sort of apology because at least that would have been something.

Family members attend a vigil to honor the life and service of Marine Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Sunday, Aug. 29, 2021. Hoover was one of the 13 U.S. service members killed by the terrorist attack at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. | Shafkat Anowar, Deseret News

I want justice. I want accountability, Barnett said.

In a press release Issa said, For almost two years, the Gold Star Families of the fallen in Afghanistan have waited for answers and accountability for the loss of their loved ones  and they have waited long enough.

At every turn, theyve been shut out and ignored by the Biden administration that prefers to turn the page on its disaster. That stops now.

After several other family members spoke and shared their stories of lost loved ones, Issa said this forum wont be the last.

There are many, many questions unasked or unspoken today that have been asked that we will get to the bottom of, so for the families who came so far and said what they said here today, thank you, Issa said.

Darin Hoover, Taylors father, shared how his son left big shoes to fill  shoes that may never be filled.

This compassionate and caring man was always looking out for others, but especially his Marines, his dad said.

Darin Hoover said his son will forever live on through the lives he touched.

He would never hesitate to pull a Marine  regardless of rank  to the side and ask him how things were going if he had the slightest inclination that there was something bothering him, Darin Hoover said.

Darin Hoover also called out the Biden administration, and while he understands war, the withdrawal from Afghanistan didnt need to happen the way it did.

For those who had power over our military, know that they made a conscious decision that led to the chaotic and frantic withdrawal from Afghanistan. ... To say that theyre satisfied with the withdrawal of our troops is nothing short of disgusting and ignorant.

Neighbor Cora McIllece puts up flags around the house belonging to the father of U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover Jr. in Sandy on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021. Hoover Jr. was killed in the suicide bombing at the Kabul Airport in Afghanistan. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Darin Hoover spoke specifically about several leaders in command of the operation.

Im calling out Secretary Blinken, Secretary Austin, General Milley, General McKenzie, Lieutenant Colonel Whitehead, who could not give the order to the snipers to take out the bomber before he detonated his vest, he said. And ultimately the President, do what our son did  be a grown ... man. Admit to your mistakes, learn from them, so that this doesnt happen ever, ever again.

The other service members killed were Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, 20, of Rio Bravo, Texas; Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23, of Roseville, north of Sacramento; Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio; Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, 20, of Jackson, Wyoming; Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga; Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, 20, of Norco; Cpl. Daegan W. Page, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska; Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts; Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, 22, of Logansport, Indiana; and Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, 20, of St. Charles, Missouri.

Also, Navy Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio, and Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, 23, of Corryton, Tennessee.
Part of U.S. Highway 54 between Pratt and Haviland was closed after a crash that killed a woman and two children on Tuesday.

A mile stretch from mile marker 136 to the west edge of Pratt was expected to reopen before 3 p.m. Until then, the Kansas Highway Patrol and the Kansas Department of Transportation were detouring traffic on alternate routes.

The crash was reported at 10:35 a.m. along westbound U.S. 54 at mile marker 136, which is just west of Pratt, KHP trooper Chad Crittenden said over the phone.

A semi truck towing a trailer had stopped at construction zone waiting for a worker to flag him in order to pass. Construction crews were out doing some mile marking work, Crittenden said.

A 2021 Nissan SUV driven by a Kansas woman in her 30s with two children in the back seat rear-ended the stopped semi truck. The woman and two children died at the scene, Crittenden added.

The identities of people who died were not immediately available.
A Southwest Airlines pilot said it wasn't okay to joke about pilots flying under the influence. Elliott Cowand Jr/Shutterstock

A TikToker is facing backlash for jokingly asking a Southwest Airlines pilot if he'd been drinking.

The pilot was visibly upset and told the passenger that he shouldn't joke about crews flying drunk.

It's rare for airline pilots to show up to the cockpit intoxicated, but it has happened before.

Don't even joke about airline pilots and alcohol.

On Thursday, the TikToker Jamie DeGeorge posted a now-deleted video of him asking a Southwest Airlines pilot whether he'd been drinking before the flight.

The visibly upset pilot did not find the remarks funny, pushing back on the comments. DeGeorge responded with, "Oh my god, you ever heard of a joke? I'm a comedian."

The 45-second video then showed the pilot pulling DeGeorge aside to tell him why even joking about a pilot drinking could create problems.

"You don't do that," the pilot said. "And the reason being you don't do it is because that gentleman there and anyone else who's around now doubts what I do for a living."

"I understand, I didn't mean to offend you," DeGeorge responded. After the pilot admonished him, he said: "Wow, see what I mean about life."

DeGeorge, who has since deleted the viral video, told Insider that he received immense backlash from people and airline pilots on social media who called him "stupid" and "small-minded."

Insider viewed and verified the messages sent to DeGeorge.

He said that his flight was delayed and that he wanted to make light of the stressful situation.

"I was just trying to be funny," he told Insider. "I'm not in the aviation industry, I had no clue how serious of a question it was, so I apologized immediately  and, if I knew then what I know now, I would not have made the joke."

DeGeorge told Insider that he was actually a "heavyweight boxer and entertainer" and that he told the pilot he was a comedian because he didn't want to be booted off the flight.

Southwest told Insider in a statement that it stood by the pilot's response to DeGeorge.

"As an airline responsible for the wellbeing of hundreds of thousands of people every day, we take safety very seriously, and our crewmember's response aligns with that tenet," Southwest said.

"We are accountable for the comfort and confidence of every passenger that boards our aircraft and while we always strive for an environment of mutual respect, we support our pilot's assertion that an accusation of compromised safety is not a joking matter," the statement continued.

Why you shouldn't joke about pilots flying intoxicated

A pilot in the cockpit of an aircraft.

A pilot in the cockpit of an aircraft.sharrocks/Getty Images

Making comments about pilots flying under the influence  even jokingly  is extremely serious in the airline industry.

Carriers have the authority to pull pilots from duty because of concerns about drinking raised by passengers, flight attendants, or any other person  and replace the crew member or delay the flight until the pilot is tested.

"Accusing a pilot of drinking before a flight is an incredibly serious charge  akin to joking about a bomb on the plane," Scott Keyes, the CEO of the airfare website Going, told USA Today on Friday.

The Federal Aviation Administration has strict protocols regarding alcohol and on-duty pilots, including a maximum 0.04% alcohol limit via blood or breathing test and a required eight-hour window between drinking and flying.

In the industry, it's common to hear "eight hours from bottle to throttle" in reference to the law, though some carriers have stricter policies.

Despite the rarity of airline pilots flying intoxicated, there have been instances in recent years of aviators showing up to the cockpit with alcohol in their system.

In 2019, two United Airlines pilots were arrested in Scotland after failing a breathalyzer test before their duty flight to New York. The same year, a Delta Air Lines pilot was arrested on suspicion of being drunk before his flight out of Minneapolis.

And, more recently, a United pilot had his license suspended after showing up to his transatlantic flight with a blood-alcohol level of 0.132%  that's six times the 0.02% legal limit in Europe and three times the 0.04% limit in the US.

The French government handed the pilot a fine and a six-month suspended prison sentence.

Read the original article on Insider
A TUI 737 MAX 8 plane lands. Julian Stratenschulte/picture alliance via Getty Images

A TUI plane was meant to fly from the south of Italy to the United Kingdom.

But an unscheduled diversion meant it took a detour and stopped off in northern Africa.

Passengers had to wait on the runway in Tunisia while the airline delivered a part for another plane.

TUI passengers on board a flight from Italy to the UK found themselves unexpectedly diverted to northern Africa, where they remained on a runway for an hour while the airline delivered a plane part.

The Independent was the first to report on the incident, in which passengers on Flight BY4651 from Lamezia Terme in southern Italy to London Gatwick Airport took an unusual detour.

Instead of heading northwest toward the UK, the Boeing 737 MAX 8 flew in the opposite direction, toward Africa.

A map shows Lamezia Terme, Italy, and both the unscheduled diversion route to Tunisia and the scheduled route to the UK. Google Maps, Insider

The plane, and its 189 passengers, touched down at an airport in Tunisia shortly after the time it was originally scheduled to land in London, flight-tracking data from FlightRadar24 shows.

In an email to Insider, TUI confirmed that the flight made a short stop at Enfidha-Hammamet Airport in Enfidha, Tunisia, on Saturday to "drop off equipment required at the airport for another aircraft."

The airline said the equipment was intended for a TOM529 aircraft which had suffered a technical issue and needed "engineering support."

The London-bound TUI aircraft stayed on the runway for a little over an hour while it refueled and the airline delivered the plane part, according to the Independent. The newspaper noted that it is at an airline's discretion to make such a diversion if it resolves an operational issue.

Flight-tracking data from FlightAware shows that the flight eventually arrived at London Gatwick Airport at 6.14 p.m.  a delay of more than four hours.

"We'd like to apologize again for any inconvenience caused and thank customers for their patience and understanding," a TUI spokesperson said by email.

"All customers were given a complimentary drink on board as a gesture of goodwill and all will be entitled to claim EU261 flight delay compensation," they added.

Under the EU's flight-delay compensation rule, airlines are mandated to compensate passengers when flight delays or cancellations result in passengers reaching their final destination more than three hours later than originally scheduled.

Last December, TUI passengers were left stranded in the wrong country overnight, after their plane made an unscheduled stop due to staff scheduling issues.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A pastor who founded a halfway house is accused of abusing his authority and organizing a crime ring that stole at least $1.4 million from Home Depot, Florida officials say.

Robert Dell, 56, of St. Petersburg coordinated a retail theft ring with family members and two others for years, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said in an Aug. 7 news release. The group stole merchandise from Home Depots in Florida and resold it on an eBay account called Annointed Liquidator, according the release. The account has since been shut down.

This pastor clearly skipped over the commandment  thou shall not steal, Moody said.

Dell is a pastor at The Rock Church in St. Petersburg and runs a halfway house for those recovering from substance abuse.

Dell demanded the crimes under threat of abuse and used the positions of being a pastor and founder of a halfway house to manipulate other vulnerable people to participate in the criminal scheme, according to the release.

The two people not related to Dell stole most of the merchandise, investigators said. They are accused of stealing from five to six stores a day and delivering the merchandise to Dell to be resold online.

Officials said the theft ring shoplifted from Home Depot locations in seven counties.

Dell faces felony charges of conspiracy to commit racketeering, dealing in stolen property (organized) and racketeering. He was also charged with drug possession, according to records from the Pinellas County Sheriffs Office. He is being held on bond of $750,000.

Dells 39-year-old wife and 72-year-old mother were charged as co-conspirators and are being held on bond of $250,000 each.

A spokesperson from Moodys office said during the six-month investigation, officials documented at least $1.4 million in losses. Home Depot places the number at upwards of $5 million and suspects Dells scheme had been ongoing for more than 10 years.

Scott Glenn, Home Depots Vice President of Asset Protection, said in a statement from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Organized retail crime is a growing problem for retailers, and The Home Depot is fighting it on all fronts. Were proud to partner with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to work together to stop dangerous criminals from stealing from our stores.

FDACS Commissioner Wilton Simpson expressed pride for the investigators who helped with the case.

This operation sends a clear message that Florida is relentless in our pursuit of justice and will not tolerate this criminal activity, he said.

Moodys Florida Organized Retail Crime Exchange (FORCE) Taskforce was also involved in helping shut down the theft ring.

The Office of Statewide Prosecution has a nearly 100% conviction rate for organized retail theft cases, according to the release from Moodys office.

The Rock Church did not immediately respond to request of comment from McClatchy News on Aug. 7.

Man duped Christians out of $30 million for Bible outreach and went gambling, feds say

Odd siren coming from truck leads corporal to man posing as US Marshal, Florida cops say

Lightning bolt hits patrol car, putting Florida deputy in hospital, sheriff says

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Almost three years after PayPal started supporting cryptocurrency for all US accounts, the fintech company has launched its own stablecoin that's pegged to the US dollar. PayPal USD, the payment processor said, is "100 percent backed by US dollar deposits, short-term US Treasuries and similar cash equivalents." The company first confirmed that it was "exploring a stablecoin" back in January last year after a developer found code and images for a "PayPal Coin" in its app. It said back then that it will work with relevant regulators "if and when [it] seek[s] to move forward."

In its announcement, PayPal explained that its coin is a token issued on the Ethereum blockchain by the Paxos Trust Company, which is subject to the regulatory oversight of the New York State Department of Financial Services. The company also obtained a BitLicense, or a business license of virtual currency activities, from the NYDFS in June 2022.

Users can buy and sell PayPal USD coins for $1 each. They can send the coins to other users as payment or use them to purchase goods and services by selecting the option during the checkout process. They can also transfer PayPal USD to compatible external wallets or convert other cryptocurrencies in their account to and from the stablecoin.

As Reuters notes, authorities previously thwarted attempts by major companies to introduce stablecoins of their own. Meta, for instance, spent two years trying to launch a stablecoin, but the project collapsed after repeated delays due to regulators' concerns that it could be used for money laundering and other nefarious purposes. Ian Katz, managing director of Capital Alpha Partners, told Reuters that PayPal USD could soon attract the attention of the Federal Reserve and the Securities and Exchange Commission. For now, PayPal is focusing on rolling out the new currency and all the things people can do with it in the US.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that his proposed peace formula for a fair end to Russia's war against Ukraine can become the basis for ending other military conflicts on Earth.

Source: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in an interview with Latin American journalists, posted by the Office of the President of Ukraine

Quote: "The Formula is primarily about Ukraine, but if certain international institutions do not enable a just end to such aggressive wars and achieving peace, as the example of Ukraine eloquently demonstrates, the Peace Formula can become a new universal foundation for appropriate solutions.

Unfortunately, we are not the only ones, and this is not the last military conflict in the world. And I believe that after the end of this war, such a Formula can be the basis for overcoming other global problems."

Details: Zelenskyy stressed that today, the correct and so far the only diplomatic way to achieve peace in Ukraine is the peace formula he initiated.

Countries can choose which part of the formula to take on, taking into account their own experience of overcoming certain problems.

Zelenskyy added that individual countries may have their own opinions on certain points of the Peace Formula, agree with something and disagree with something, and offer something of their own.

Quote: "The basis must be Ukrainian because the war is in Ukraine. And the proposals can be from any country, because we value the experience and opinion of each country that really wants to achieve peace, not to play along with Russia, not to play along on the Peace Formula for the sake of future economic relations with Russia. Because this is a game with real people."

Details: Zelenskyy stressed that it was necessary to prepare for the Global Peace Summit, and he was interested in the maximum number of states being represented at the event, "for us to politically decide that this is the right platform and that the majority of the world views this Formula as a basis, a map, steps and a plan to overcome this terrible tragedy".

Zelenskyy also noted that he would like to organise a Ukraine-Latin America meeting.

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!






The writers' association PEN Ukraine reported on Aug. 8 that 25,000 English-language books will be donated to libraries across Ukraine, including those located near the front line or in recently-liberated territories.

The initiative is part of PEN Ukraine's Unbreakable Libraries project which was launched in 2022. The U.K. charity Book Aid International, along with English PEN and PEN International, teamed up with PEN Ukraine to procure the books from U.K. publishers.

According to PEN Ukraine, it launched the Unbreakable Libraries project to help Ukrainian libraries during wartime. Many libraries have been damaged or outright destroyed by Russian forces since the start of the full-scale invasion, especially those located in eastern and southern Ukraine.

PEN Ukraine has already sent books to libraries in Chernihiv, Mykolaiv, Kherson, Sumy, Dnipro, Kharkiv, and Donetsk oblasts. Ukrainian publishers have also provided books from their catalogues to libraries in need.

"This additional donation of 25,000 books will enable PEN Ukraine to expand its campaign and support more institutions," reads the statement.

Russia has been targeting Ukraine's cultural heritage sites since the start of the full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, and the Culture Ministry has been keeping record of the damages on a monthly basis. In late July, it reported that 607 libraries had been negatively impacted by Russia's all-out war.



In early January, the number of libraries damaged or destroyed by Russian forces stood at 453. Over 100 libraries across Ukraine have been impacted by the fighting in 2023 alone.

However, the actual numbers are likely much higher since they do not account for the libraries located in Russian-occupied territories or those in heavy combat zones.

PEN Ukraine wrote that libraries have become "social hubs where people can spend time with their community" and that "some even serve as shelters" during Russian attacks.

The growing knowledge of English among Ukraine's population also adds to the importance of easy access to English-language books.

"The use of English is a significant part of daily communication in Ukraine. More and more people use it daily for work, leisure, or want to learn it from scratch," Tetyana Teren, the executive director of PEN Ukraine said.

"Unfortunately, acquiring new English books is currently challenging in (wartime) Ukraine. That's why our goal is to assist libraries in fulfilling readers' aspirations to learn, improve, and practice English," she added.

Read also: Art under attack: How Russia destroys Ukraines cultural heritage (VIDEO)

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
FIRST ON FOX: Former Vice President Mike Pence has met the requirements to qualify for the first Republican presidential nomination debate, his campaign tells Fox News.

Pences 2024 presidential campaign said on Monday that earlier in the day they crossed the 40,000-donor threshold  one of two criteria set by the Republican National Committee for GOP White House hopefuls to reach the debate stage. Pence had already passed the polling threshold mandated by the RNC.

The former vice presidents political team said they reached out to inform the RNC that Pence had qualified and spotlighted that they were the first campaign to submit their numbers for the national party committees verification process.

Fox News is hosting the debate, which will be held August 23 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

THESE GOP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES HAVE QUALIFIED TO MAKE THE DEBATE STAGE AT THE FOX NEWS SHOWDOWN

Former Vice President Mike Pence speaks at the Republican Party Of Iowa's annual Lincoln Dinner in Des Moines on July 28, 2023.

Pence becomes the eighth Republican presidential candidate to announce theyve passed the thresholds to qualify for the debate. The other contenders whove already reached the criteria are former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, former ambassador and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, South Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, and entrepreneur and best-selling author Vivek Ramaswamy.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Trump has yet to say if hell attend the first debate.

Pences campaign said they have 200 or more donors in 40 states, far higher than the 20-state threshold mandated by the RNC. They also highlighted that the former vice president  who launched his 2024 campaign in early June  reached the donor threshold in nine weeks, which was quicker than three of his rivals, Scott, Haley, and Ramaswamy.

IN BATTLE VERSUS TRUMP, DESANTIS, REST OF THE GOP FIELD, PENCE CONFIDENT HE'LL HAVE THE RESOURCES TO COMPETE

And Pences team emphasized that they met the donor threshold without any giveaways or gimmicks. Burgum, a wealthy former software executive whos been mostly self-funding his campaign, made headlines by offering $20 gift cards in return for one-dollar donations. The former vice presidents team also noted that they brought in less than half of their donors through digital outreach and said that events with the candidate and direct mail continue to be strengths for their campaign.

Pence has campaigned extensively in the early voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina since launching his presidential bid. But his support in the latest Republican presidential primary polls stands in the single digits, far behind Trump, his former running mate, who remains the commanding front-runner for the 2024 GOP nomination as he makes his third straight White House run.

WHO'S IN AND WHO'S ON THE SIDELINES  YOUR GUIDE TO THE 2024 GOP PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION RACE

But Pence grabbed plenty of attention last week after the former president was indicted and arraigned in federal court on charges he attempted to overturn his loss in the 2020 election. Trump, over the weekend, turned up the volume on his attacks towards Pence after the former vice president sharpened his criticism of Trump over the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters who temporarily disrupted congressional certification of President Bidens Electoral College victory, which was overseen by Pence.

"Mike Pence made quick and easy work of the donor threshold, and hes looking forward to a substantive debate about the issues important to the American people. Hopefully, former President Trump has the courage to show up," Pence campaign spokesman Devin OMalley said in a statement.

Pence had been saying for the past couple of weeks that he would qualify for the debate in time. And last week, in a conference call with donors in which reporters were invited to attend, Pence campaign manager Steve DaMaura highlighted that the campaign had topped 30,000 unique donors and was averaging over 1,000 new, unique donors per day in recent days.
Former Vice President Mike Pence has qualified to make the stage at the first Republican presidential primary debate, his campaign confirmed Monday night.

Pences campaign surpassed the 40,000 individual donors required by the Republican National Committee (RNC) to make the debate stage. The former vice president had previously met the polling requirement, which stipulated that candidates be polling at a minimum of 1 percent in a combination of national polls or early primary state polls.

The first debate will be hosted by Fox News on Aug. 23 in Milwaukee, Wis.

Pence joins several other candidates who have qualified for the event: Former President Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Tim Scott (S.C.), former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.

Trump has indicated he may skip the debate, however, citing his large lead in the polls.

Mike Pence made quick and easy work of the donor threshold and hes looking forward to a substantive debate about the issues important to the American people, Pence communications adviser Devin OMalley said in a statement. Hopefully, former President Trump has the courage to show up.

The campaign said it had received 200 unique donors from 40 different states, surpassing the RNCs requirement of 200 unique donors from at least 20 different states.

Pence declared his candidacy in early June and had lagged behind in terms of donors. Pence had been adamant that he would not resort to gimmicks to encourage donations, a reference to other campaigns offering kickbacks to contributors.

The former vice president saw a spike in contributions in recent days after he was a central figure in the indictment against Trump for his efforts to remain in power after the 2020 election.

The indictment laid out how Trump pressured Pence to reject the election results on Jan. 6, 2021, which the former vice president made plain he did not have the authority to do.

Pence has in recent days reiterated that he did not have the power under the Constitution to do what Trump had asked, and he has argued that Trumps actions that day should disqualify him from returning to the White House.

Updated Aug. 8 at 8:56 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
TEHRAN, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- A senior Iranian diplomat said on Tuesday that the collective capacities and capabilities of the BRICS countries have elevated the five-member bloc's standing in the global community.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Affairs Mehdi Safari made the remarks at a conference titled "Iran and BRICS: Prospects for Partnership and Cooperation" in the capital Tehran, the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) reported.

Despite facing tough sanctions, Safari highlighted Iran's strong potential to carry out cooperation with BRICS countries in the fields of transportation, energy, and technical and engineering services, adding Iran is willing to deepen its economic ties with the bloc that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

He noted that the BRICS can increase its global clout by strengthening cooperation with other countries, stressing that Iran welcomes any move and contribution toward the promotion of multilateralism globally. 
Former Vice President Mike Pence came out in support of Ohios Issue 1 constitutional amendment that is on the ballot Tuesday, saying that passing it would help stop the radical left.

The amendment, funded by conservative interests, would raise the required vote threshold for a constitutional amendment from 50 percent to 60 percent and would require prospective amendments to get petition signatures from every county in the state. Critics have called the measure undemocratic, saying it would take away majority rule.

For years, left-wing interests have abused the constitutional amendment process in Ohio to get their extreme agenda into law, but the Ohio Constitution Protection Amendment will put an end to that, Pence said in a campaign video.

A constitutional amendment protecting abortion rights will be on the November ballot in Ohio, and passage of Tuesdays measure could significantly lower its chances.

Issue 1 is the only issue on the ballot statewide in the special election, sparking criticism against Republican election officials who pushed for an opportunity to pass the measure before the abortion rights amendment is considered.

August special elections are mostly banned in Ohio, as they are considered too expensive to be worthwhile. Despite calls to place the measure on the November ballot, Gov. Mike DeWine (R) pushed ahead, with the state Supreme Court agreeing that the election could be held in August earlier this year.

Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R)  who is the states top elections official and is seeking to unseat Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) next year  had previously stated that the amendment is about protecting the constitution, but he said in June it is 100 percent about keeping a radical pro-abortion amendment out of our constitution.

The measure has brought Ohioans to the polls, with some early voting locations lacking enough staff under the strain of too many voters.

Pence has the strongest anti-abortion stance of any 2024 GOP presidential candidate, making the issue central to his campaign. He has previously called the fight against abortion rights more important than politics.

State constitutional amendments on abortion similar to Ohios succeeded in Kansas and Kentucky in 2022.

Polls close in Ohio at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The United States approved a shipment of the first batch of M1 Abrams battle tanks to Ukraine, U.S. Army Acquisition Chief, Doug Bush announced on Aug. 7.

They are expected to arrive in Ukraine in early fall.

Bush said that not only the tanks will be transferred, but a complete package of equipment needed to support and maintain them.

"Ammunition, spare parts, fuel equipment, repair facilities. So you know, it's not just the tanks, it's the full package that goes with it. That's still on track, he added.

Washington announced the decision to equip Ukraine with 31 Abrams tanks in late January. They are now expected to arrive in September, with several vehicles being dispatched to Germany in August, to undergo final repairs and modernization.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Military confirms strikes on key bridges linking occupied Crimea with mainland Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Future high-flying Chinese surveillance balloons that enter U.S. airspace could be captured in flight and brought to Earth, for a detailed analysis of their payload and capabilities. That, at least, is the aspiration outlined by the Pentagons research and development agency, although at this stage it remains unclear how that might be achieved. The development comes in the wake of multiple shoot-downs of flying objects over U.S. and Canadian airspace this year.

According to an article yesterday by Aviation Weeks Steve Trimble, the plan is taking shape under the appropriately named CAPTURE project, standing for Capturing Aerial Payloads to Unleash Reliable Exploitation. This is being run by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), responsible for the development of emerging technologies for use by the U.S. military.

U.S. Navy personnel in small rigid hull inflatable boats manually pull portions of the Chinese surveillance balloons envelope and its payload out of the water, February 6, 2023. U.S. Navy



Details of CAPTURE were related to Trimble by Kyle Woerner, DARPAs program manager. He explained that the program aimed to develop a means of bringing down surveillance balloons, and other high-altitude surveillance systems, at a time and place of our choosing to minimize collateral damage, maximize usefulness of the recovered payload, and minimize the cost of the response.

While such a concept would yield an intelligence windfall and perhaps even serve to dissuade China or other nations from sending high-altitude surveillance over North America in the first place, actually making it work is set to be a significant challenge. In particular, the target balloon in question might well be sailing upwards of 70,000 feet  on the edge of space, and twice the height of a commercial airliner.

https://twitter.com/stratoballoon/status/1621483867969409025?s=20

Nevertheless, DARPA is pressing ahead with CAPTURE, with management via the agencys Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, which directs funds to non-traditional manufacturers and technology firms. SBIR describes its role as funding a diverse portfolio of startups and small businesses across technology areas and markets to stimulate technological innovation. It has an annual budget of approximately $150 million.

Normally, the SBIR process includes two phases, but in the case of CAPTURE, it will move straight to an SBIR XL Phase 2 award, which could be worth up to around $4 million with an option to add another $500,000. While receiving a greater budget share than a standard SBIR effort, the total funds are still well short of a more traditional DARPA program.

A view of the Chinese surveillance balloon while it was traveling over the United States and the solar-powered payload handing beneath it. Tyler Schlitt Photography / LiveStormChasers.com



Should a company be chosen to receive this investment, it will be expected to demonstrate a viable CAPTURE solution to secure a high-altitude asset. The company wont, however, have to demonstrate the system under operationally realistic conditions.

Instead, as Woerner explained to Steve Trimble, the emphasis is on removing the risks involved with the broader concept, tackling the biggest challenges that might stand in the way of a future program of record for a production-level CAPTURE system.

That means that we wont likely see a fully functioning CAPTURE system being put to the test against a high-flying target any time soon. More likely is that DARPA will instead be left with a viable concept that could eventually be put to use in an operational context.

If successful in a minimum viable program, DARPA may choose to further invest to mature such a technology, often with the support of our military service partners, Woerner told Aviation Week.

Of course, the fact that a surveillance balloon operated by a potentially hostile nation might be flying at an altitude of 75,000 feet (at least that is what DARPA mentions as an altitude figure) or more is just one of the problems to be addressed. Few manned aircraft can even approach this kind of ceiling in a sustained manner, with examples being the U.S. Air Forces F-22A Raptor stealth fighter and the soon-to-be-retired U-2S spy plane.

A U.S. Air Force U-2S pilot looks down at the Chinese surveillance balloon as it hovers over the Central Continental United States, February 3, 2023. U.S. Department of Defense

It is worth noting, too, that during the Cold War, the Soviet Union went to great lengths to develop a dedicated balloon-interceptor aircraft, after existing fighter jets and anti-aircraft missiles proved to be not entirely effective against the balloons. The Myasishchev M-17 Mystic-A, which you can read about here, was only intended to intercept and shoot down balloons, not retrieve them, but it still proved to be a challenge to realize.

Once the CAPTURE system gets to the altitude of the balloon or other high-flying asset, it will need to somehow secure it, at which it can either gather the relevant payload or, better still, the whole vehicle. This is without accounting for the possibility that the targeted vehicle might be maneuvering to avoid capture, or otherwise employing countermeasures to frustrate efforts to retrieve it.

In the past, the U.S. Air Force used adapted C-119 and C-130 transport aircraft to capture film canisters released by Corona spy satellites. However, these payloads were only around the size of a garbage can and were descending under a parachute. The aircraft then met them at far lower altitudes, around 12,000 to 15,000 feet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2YQqAnEN_0

However, using a transport aircraft at a lower altitude might still be an option, providing that the target balloon can be brought down tens of thousands of feet in a controlled way. That might require CAPTURE to have a means of deflating the gas envelope and then securing the balloon to a parachute.

Speaking to Aviation Week, one analyst, Luis Pacheco, the editor of StratoCat, a website specializing in stratospheric balloons, raised the possibility of some kind of harpoon or similar device which could make the balloon burst and at the same time hook the bag to a big parachute to lower the descent.

Then, CAPTURE will need to have some means of transporting the asset back to the ground safely, and in a predictable way, avoiding any damage to potentially highly sensitive sensors and avionics. The size of the largest Chinese surveillance balloons, for example, also means they cant be safely brought down in or near populated areas.

Indeed, the weight of the largest high-altitude balloons, like the one that was shot down by an F-22 off the coast of South Carolina last February 4, is said to be in the region of thousands of pounds. The CAPTURE program is setting its sights on smaller balloons and flying objects, at least for the time being, as it seeks a means of retrieving assets weighing between 500 and 1,500 pounds.

A close-up view of the Chinese balloons suspended payload, which consists of a center section flanked by two arrays of solar panels. U.S. officials assess that the entire assembly likely weighed two thousand pounds or more. U.S. Department of Defense

Importantly, the scenario outlined here implies that the targeted high-flying object has been identified in a timely way and that the CAPTURE system is able to be deployed quickly enough to actually intercept and retrieve it.

In an operational situation, this is much less likely to be the case. With that in mind, CAPTURE would need to respond within hours of an engagement decision. That would seem to pose a particular challenge in getting the system to the target area, quickly.

https://twitter.com/Video_Forensics/status/1622037298073464834?s=20

DARPA also says it wants the system to be able to cover potential high-altitude airspace incursions by objects either within or approaching any sovereign U.S. airspace. This means that CAPTURE would have to be able to respond to contingencies over an enormous geographical range, not just limited to the continental United States, but also Hawaii and Guam, for example.

https://twitter.com/adegrandpre/status/1621329811653132289?s=20

To what degree that is achievable remains highly questionable, although there is meanwhile no doubt that Chinese high-altitude surveillance balloons have entered U.S. airspace multiple times before, including in these specific locations, as we have explored in the past. This topic is also intertwined to a troubling degree with the issue of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), better known by UFOs. Adversaries spying on the U.S. and its most advanced military capabilities using lower end technologies like balloons and drones is a reality The War Zone was first to discuss years ago.

As Politico confirmed in May this year, the Pentagon is aware of a large-scale Chinese balloon spying program that has spanned years, with many sightings of unidentified aerial phenomena off U.S. coasts in military training areas actually being the result of adversaries operations.

At lower levels, officials have tracked multiple instances of balloon activity over U.S. territories in recent years. One of the Trump-era balloons hovered over Guam, according to two U.S. officials. And in 2020, the intelligence community assessed that much smaller balloons detected off the coast of Virginia were Chinese radar-jamming devices, according to a former senior DoD official.

Aside from the practical questions about CAPTURE, theres no doubt that the Pentagon is very seriously thinking about how it can respond, in the future, to high-altitude aerial incursions, whether by balloons or other vehicles.

This reality was brought into much sharper focus earlier this year, during the February 4 incident in which an F-22 Raptor used a heat-seeking AIM-9X Sidewinder missile to shoot down a Chinese spy balloon that had been traversing North America in a very public episode. After the engagement, portions of the balloon were recovered, but CAPTURE indicates that there is a requirement for a closer analysis of what these balloons and others like them carry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUwvJ_RU2D4

Three more objects flying over the United States and Canada were also brought down by Air Force fighters, earlier this year. The U.S. government insists that those still-unidentified objects were likely benign, but nothing was recovered in those instances and no imagery of them has been released to date to support this assessment. Once again, this would seem to point to the need for the technologies outlined in the CAPTURE program.

The deadline for companies to respond to DARPAs CAPTURE requirement is September 21. With no shortage of challenges, any responses are likely to be highly innovative. However, it remains to be seen whether it really is feasible to pluck a high-flying spy balloon out of the stratosphere and bring it safely to Earth for study.

Contact the author: thomas@thedrive.com
A new Pentagon inspector general report found military recruiters have failed to comprehensively screen applicants for their connections to political extremist groups and criminal gangs.

The 82-page report determined that while military recruiters screen applicants, they did not complete all required steps in the statistical sample reviewed by the Inspector Generals office.

About 40 percent in the sample did not give the relevant screening questions or forms to applicants, while 9 percent failed to identify possible signs of affiliation through tattoos and body modification and another 9 percent failed to properly conduct fingerprint identification.

The report said military recruiters may not have identified all applicants with extremist or criminal gang associations during the screening process.

Defense Department Inspector General Robert Storch said the missteps were increasing the potential for security risks and disruptions to good order and discipline within the joint force.

Recruiting high-quality servicemembers is essential to mission readiness, he said in a statement.

The Biden administration has expressed concern about extremists across the military ranks, particularly after veterans and even active duty members were found to have participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, rioting at the U.S. Capitol.

Veterans have also joined extremist groups such as the Oath Keepers, whose leader Stewart Rhodes was convicted of seditious conspiracy for his role in the Jan. 6 riots and sentenced to 18 years in prison.

Some Republicans, such as Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) have cautioned against suggesting the military is more extreme than the broader population. A Rand Corporation study released this year found veterans are no more extreme than the average American.

The Inspector General review follows in the footsteps of the Pentagon, which issued an April 2021 memorandum that created a working group to address concerns about extremist groups in the military.

The Defense Department has also updated guidelines and screening questions on applications to include participation with racially biased groups or extremist activity. The military generally bans anyone from enlisting who has a significant criminal record or history with violent gangs or extremist groups.

The Inspector General review was conducted from July 2021 to January 2022, analyzing 224 applicants from a subset of 193,702 applications.

While recruiters generally follow the guidelines, the Pentagons watchdog recommended the Defense Department issue a policy memorandum directing recruiters to complete all screening steps. It also recommended the secretaries of each military branch conduct periodic reviews of the screening process.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
People who arrived at the site of the first missile strike on a high-rise building in Pokrovsk managed to disperse because information about a possible second strike was received.

Source: Pavlo Kyrylenko, Head of Donetsk Oblast Military Administration, on air during a Radio Liberty broadcast

Quote: "Yes. There is a proven algorithm: do not go to the scene [of an attack  ed.], and, depending on the type of attack, leave after a certain period of time, measured in minutes. But this [in Pokrovsk  ed.] was a hit in a residential high-rise building, where people could be under the rubble. That's why the investigative and operational group, the State Emergency Service, and military administration employees immediately went to the site to conduct a search and rescue operation.

Yes. We were able [after the first strike  ed.] to receive an additional signal about the high probability of a second strike. People were dispersed, evacuated, and the territory was cordoned off."

Details: Kyrylenko said that "a large number of people were saved in that short period of time". In particular, media representatives immediately tried to get to the scene after the first hit.

He added that the main category of victims was the employees of the services who inspected the scene and carried out the search and rescue operation after the first strike.

Background:

Russian troops launched a missile attack on the centre of Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast, on the evening of 7 August.

Seven people were killed and 67 more were injured, including 29 police officers, seven rescue workers and two children, as a result of a missile attack on residential buildings.

The first strike targeted civilians, and the second targeted the services that arrived at the scene. Kyrylenko said the first strike took place at 19:15 and the second at 19:52.

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Opening statements in the perjury trial of Democratic insider Tim Mapes are finally set to begin Wednesday, when prosecutors are expected to outline allegations that he lied to a federal grand jury to protect his powerful former boss, ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Jurors were chosen Tuesday afternoon after a longer-than-expected selection process. U.S. District Judge John Kness originally had expressed hopes that attorneys could present their opening remarks as early as Monday.

In all, 56 prospective jurors were interviewed before the final 12 were chosen along with three alternates. The trial is expected to last up to three weeks.

The jury includes an ultrasound technician, a meteorologist for a local TV station, and a man who volunteered to pass out campaign signs for Chicago mayoral candidate Paul Vallas.

After a backroom meeting regarding jurors late Tuesday, Mapes strode through a door from beside the judges bench followed by his defense team and prosecutors, reentering the courtroom with the same determined clip he often used while traversing the Illinois House floor.

Prosecutors said in court they plan to call former House Majority Leader Greg Harris, D-Chicago, as a witness Wednesday morning. And unless Mapes defense team succeeds in their objections, prosecutors also intend to play at least two recorded phone calls: one between Harris and Madigan loyalist Michael McClain, and another in which McClain and state Rep. Bob Rita, D-Blue Island, discuss gambling legislation.

The jury selection process this week often homed in on prospective jurors political activities. One potential juror said Tuesday he has donated to the Illinois Democratic Party, which inspired Mapes to scribble notes intensely. Another said he grew up with the grandchild of perennial right-wing candidate Chad Koppie. Neither man made the jury. On Monday, memorably, one potential juror wrote in her questionnaire that Madigan and all his friends should go to jail. She was promptly dismissed.

Mapes perjury and attempted obstruction of justice charges are tied to allegations that he lied to a March 2021 grand jury in hopes of shielding Madigan in a widespread corruption scandal.

His allegedly misleading statements did not stop Madigan from being indicted on racketeering charges along with McClain, a former lobbyist and longtime Madigan confidant. They face trial next year.

Mapes, 68, is accused of failing to give truthful answers to prosecution questions about the relationship between Madigan and McClain.

Mapes has pleaded not guilty to both the perjury and attempted obstruction counts. The latter charge calls for up to 20 years in federal prison, while lying to a grand jury carries a five-year maximum prison sentence.

According to prosecutors, Mapes lied repeatedly to grand jurors, contending he couldnt recall anything relevant about Madigans relationship with McClain.

While Mapes is hardly a household name outside the states political circles, his indictment marked an intriguing power play by the U.S. attorneys office in what has become one of the biggest political corruption scandals in state history.

Attorneys for Mapes have maintained federal authorities were attempting to squeeze him to give up information to bolster the prosecutions case against Madigan.

In the Madigan-McClain case, prosecutors allege Madigan was at the top of a criminal enterprise aimed at enriching himself and his cronies and maintaining his nearly unfettered political power. Madigan and McClain have pleaded not guilty.

McClain was convicted of bribery conspiracy earlier this year in the ComEd Four trial. Along with three others, he was found guilty on charges related to a scheme to bribe Madigan to win his support for the utilitys legislative agenda in Springfield.

Prosecutors at the Mapes trial may play secret recordings of a conversation with a member of Madigans inner circle regarding proposed legislation to transfer state property in Chinatown over to the city, part of an alleged scheme to bring business to Madigans property-tax law firm.

Jurors also may hear evidence, including wiretap recordings, related to a wide range of insider Springfield dealings, from the Chinatown proposal to a series of 2018 #MeToo allegations that brought down some Madigan allies, including Mapes.

Madigan in June 2018 ousted Mapes from his top roles as chief of staff, House clerk and executive director of the Madigan-run Democratic Party of Illinois. It happened just hours after a downstate staffer accused Mapes of sexual harassment and fostering a culture of sexism, harassment and bullying. Mapes disputed the allegations.

Mapes indictment in May 2021 caught many by surprise, particularly since he was granted immunity from prosecution by the U.S. attorneys office and warned by the chief judge before his grand jury testimony that failing to answer truthfully could result in criminal charges against him.

Mapes is receiving just under $150,000 a year in a taxpayer-supported state pension. Since his ouster in 2018, he has received $711,282 in pension benefits, according to the states pension system.

mcrepeau@chicagotribune.com

rlong@chicagotribune.com
Trailblazing Native American attorney John E. Echohawk (Pawnee Nation) was honored with the prestigious Thurgood Marshall Award from the American Bar Association (ABA) on August 5 at ABA Annual Meeting in Denver.



The award was established to honor the impact and legacy of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, a civil rights lawyer, and the courts first Black justice. As an attorney, Marshall won 29 of the 32 civil rights cases he argued before the U.S. Supreme Court, creating equal access to public education and desegregating law schools by removing laws and policies that allowed discrimination to persist in American society. Marshall served on the court from 1967 to 1991 after he was nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

As an attorney, Thurgood Marshall removed barriers so his community could seek justice, and as a U.S. Supreme Court justice, he vigilantly defended the equal application of the law for each of us for 34 years, said Echohawk in a statement. The American Bar Association honors his legacy and the lifelong commitment it takes to address societal inequities by bestowing the Thurgood Marshall Award. I am very honored to stand among the recipients of this award.

Now, Echohawk works to achieve equality for Native Americans, dedicating his career to defending the rights of tribal nations and Native people, which he calls an unending and complex legal necessity. Throughout history, and still today, treaties between the federal government and tribal nations are either violated or not upheld.

In 1970, Echohawk earned a J.D. from the University in of University of New Mexico School of Law and was the first Native American to graduate from the program.l While here, Echohawk was a founding member of the American Indian Law Students Association.

After he graduated from law school, he began working for California Indian Legal Services. In August 1970, he co-piloted a Ford Foundation-funded program that aimed to offer legal services to federally recognized tribes across the United States. This is the initiative that became what is known today as NARF, a non-profit law firm that works to uphold Indigenous rights by protecting tribal resources, ensuring government responsibility, expanding Indian law, and educating on Native American issues.

Echohawk has served as NARFs executive director since 1977. Under this leadership, NARF has provided legal representation and technical assistance to tribes, organizations, and Native American individuals across the United States in legal cases that have come to define Native American rights, including cases that led to the passing of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act and upheld the Indian Child Welfare Act.

As well, Echohawk services on a number of boards across Indian Country, including the American Indian Resources Institute, the Association on American Indian Affairs; the Indigenous Language Institute; the Natural Resources Defense Council; and the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development.

In addition to this new award, he has also been recognized as one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America by the National Law Journal and has received numerous service awards and other recognition for his leadership in the Indian law field.

About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. "

Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net
[Source]

Researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) Faculty of Medicine are leading a first-of-its-kind international study of Alzheimer's to help prevent and treat the disease in people of Asian ancestry.

About the study: The Asian Cohort for Alzheimers Disease (ACAD) is reportedly the first major Alzheimers disease genetics cohort for Asian Americans and Asian Canadians, according to a press release.

ACAD, which received a $40.6 million grant from the National Institute on Aging, is a collaboration between 16 academic medical centers across North America.

Underrepresented in research: According to UBC, Asians are vastly underrepresented in Alzheimer's research, accounting for less than 3% of participants in national data sets and major clinical trials used to set prevention and treatment guidelines.

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In the world of medical research, Asians are generally under-represented in many research cohorts, leading to significant knowledge gaps when providing healthcare to this population, said Dr. Robin Hsiung, associate professor at UBC and research lead for ACADs Vancouver site.

"In this study, we aim to examine the differences and similarities in genetic and environmental risk factors for Alzheimers disease between Asian immigrants and other North Americans of European ancestry. Given the large Asian population in Vancouver, we expect to contribute significantly to this endeavor. The findings will increase our understanding of Alzheimers disease and lead to improved care and treatment."

ACADs research: The ACAD team is recruiting Asian adults aged 60 and older, with or without cognitive issues, of Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese ancestry before expanding their study to other major Asian populations.

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The researchers will analyze genetic and environmental data to identify risk factors for Alzheimers disease in Asian American and Asian Canadian populations with the goal of developing blood biomarker benchmarks and a polygenic risk score model.

The team also hopes to raise awareness and overcome language barriers to participation by reaching local Asian communities in nine recruitment areas with large Chinese, Korean and/or Vietnamese populations.

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US Women's Open champ Minjee Lee says her record $1.8 million payout is 'big step' forward
A new partnership between Pittsburgh Public Schools and Tutor.com will give all 19,000 students access to tutoring 24/7.

Just in time for the start of school on Aug. 28, all students in K-12 can connect to a live tutor on the site. Students have unlimited access and can get one-on-one help with test prep and homework.

They also have the option to submit written work and get detailed feedback from a tutor within twelve hours.

PPS says providing this service advances the districts mission to prepare all children to achieve academic excellence and strength of character so that they have the opportunity to succeed in all aspects of life.

Tutor.com is headquartered in New York City.

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An artists conception shows an Atlas V rocket launching Amazons Project Kuiper satellites. (ULA / Amazon)

Amazons plans to launch the first prototype satellites for its Project Kuiper broadband internet constellation have changed for the second time in a year  and once again, rocket development snags are the reason.

The revised plans call for KuiperSat-1 and KuiperSat-2 to be sent into low Earth orbit by a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, with launch set for no earlier than Sept. 26 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

The spacecraft are meant to test the systems and processes that Amazon will use for thousands of satellites designed to provide global internet access. Production of those satellites is scheduled to begin this year at a 172,000-square-foot factory in Kirkland, Wash.

Originally, Amazon planned to have the prototypes launched last year on ABL Space Systems RS1 rocket, but ABL repeatedly ran into setbacks during development of the rocket. (Its first RS1 launch failed in January.)

Last October, Amazon switched the KuiperSat launch to ULAs next-generation Vulcan Centaur rocket. The plan called for the prototypes to go into orbit as secondary payloads on the first-ever Vulcan launch, with Astrobotics Peregrine lunar lander as the primary payload.

At that time, the Vulcan launch was set for early 2023; however, issues involving the readiness of the lander and the rocket have caused a string of delays since then. In March, the rockets Centaur V second stage exploded during a pre-launch test, due to a hydrogen leak. ULA has reinforced the Centaurs structure to address the problem, but further testing could require further delays.

Last week, a filing with the Federal Communications Commission suggested that ULA was planning to launch the KuiperSats on its tried-and-true Atlas V rocket rather than on the first Vulcan rocket. Amazon and ULA confirmed the switch today.

ULA is working backward from a launch date in fall 2023, Amazon said in an updated blog posting. We will have more detail to share as the mission approaches.

Although Amazon didnt provide further details, the realities of the companys development timetable probably factored into the decision to make the switch. Under the terms of its FCC license, Amazon is required to have half of its planned 3,236-satellite constellation operating in low Earth orbit by mid-2026. Even though ULA insists its on track to launch Vulcan by the end of this year, Amazon may have decided to reduce the risk of further postponements.

Amazon has reserved nine Atlas V launches as part of its grand plan to deploy the Project Kuiper constellation, and next months launch counts as one of those nine.

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SINGAPORE, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- More than 4.7 kg of heroin was recently seized from a Malaysia-registered car at Singapore's Woodlands Checkpoint, according to a joint statement by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) on Tuesday.

Officers from the ICA and the CNB on Aug. 5 discovered ten bundles of heroin in the car, with an estimated value of more than 331,400 Singapore dollars (around 24,6260 U.S. dollars), the statement said.

A 22-year-old male Malaysian traveling in the car was arrested for suspected drug offenses, the statement added.

The ICA pledged continuous efforts to work with the CNB to prevent drug smuggling across Singaporean borders, the statement noted. 
A house in Pokrovsk after the attack of the Russian Federation

The number of people injured in the Russian strike on Pokrovsk has risen to 81 as of Aug. 8, Pavlo Kyrylenko, the head of Donetsk Oblast State Administration (OVA), wrote on Telegram.

Kyrylenko reported that the attack has claimed the lives of seven individuals, including:

Five civilians,

One rescuer,

One military serviceman.

Read also: Russia strikes Pokrovsk with Iskander missiles: 7 dead, 67 injured, including 2 children

Of the 81 individuals injured 39 are civilians, including:

Two children, born in 2006 and 2012,

31 police officers,

Seven State Emergency Service workers.

By 11 a.m., damages have been recorded to the following buildings:

Twelve multi-story apartment buildings,

A hotel,

Prosecutors office,

Pension fund building,

Pharmacy,

Two shops,

Two cafes,

Two civilian vehicles.

Read also: Russians had fire adjuster on site after Pokrovsk attack, says ex-SBU officer

Russian forces carried out two missile strikes on Aug. 7, targeting the city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, partially demolishing a residential high-rise. The enemy reportedly used Iskander missiles.

Several apartments and the upper floors of a residential building were destroyed. Within half an hour of the first attack, the Russians launched another assault on a nearby civilian target.

Read also: Kursk Oblast attacked by drone, two administrative buildings and church reported damaged

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Commander Helen Schneider refused to rule out further arrests after their latest successful raid - AFP

Police in Australia say they have dismantled a sophisticated global network of paedophiles, arresting 19 men with the help of the FBI.

On Tuesday, Helen Schneider, the Australian Federal Police commander, said 13 children had been rescued from the clutches of the dangerous network, which used sophisticated knowledge of the dark web to evade police for up to 10 years.

A government employee in Canberra is among 98 men accused of sharing exploitative images of children.

Among the alleged offenders was a man who is accused of filming himself abusing a toddler. There were allegedly 800 child victims in videos and pictures on the mans hard drives on which officers also found instructions on how to deceive police under questioning.

Australian Federal Police released this image of the suspect's computer - Australian Federal Police/AP

The longer people like this avoid detection, the longer the cycle of abuse continues. This was a sophisticated network, Ms Schneider said.

Two of the 19 men were convicted and sentenced to prison terms of almost 15 years in the Australian Capital Territory and five years in New South Wales state, Ms Schneider added.

The men, aged between 32 and 81 years old, distributed images and videos of child-abuse material, chatted on message platforms and allegedly used encryption to avoid detection.

Most of the Australian offenders were employed in jobs that required a high degree of knowledge of internet networks. Some are accused of having produced their own child abuse material, police said.

The long-running investigation made headlines in 2021, when FBI special agents Daniel Alfin and Laura Schwartzenberger were gunned down as they prepared to search the home of reclusive paedophile David Lee Huber.

Huber, a 55-year-old father and experienced computer programmer, had watched through the doorbell camera as the agents approached his apartment in Sunrise, near Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

He killed Agent Alfin and Agent Schwartzenberger with an automatic rifle, and injured three others, before turning the weapon on himself.

Evidence on Hubers computer led police to expand their investigation across the US and to Australia.

Criminals using encryption and the dark web are a challenge for law enforcement, but Operation Bakis shows that when we work together we can bring alleged offenders before the courts, said Ms Schneider, who commanded the operation.

Nitiana Mann, the FBIs legal attache in Canberra, said: The complexity and anonymity of these platforms means that no agency or country can fight these threats alone.

Ms Mann said 79 people had been arrested in the United States as part of the same investigation and 43 had been convicted of child abuse offences.

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Miami-Dade police and fire-rescue divers submerged themselves in the waters of a Doral lake, shedding more light on reports of dozens of cars possibly linked to old cases.

On Sunday, the department learned that a team of volunteer divers found more than 30 cars in the lake near Northwest 13th Terrace, police spokesperson Alvaro Zabaleta said. The divers have located about 20 cars in the lake, though its difficult to say how many are underwater until crews finish combing the area.

Miami-Dade Police and Fire Rescue divers get ready to pull out a car from a lake in Doral on Tuesday, August 8, 2023. Divers located about 20 cars in the lake, following a tip from a team of volunteer divers who discovered more than 30 cars in the lake near Northwest 13th Terrace.

Most cars, however, are older models and were likely dumped before warehouses sprung up in the area.

The first car pulled out on Tuesday morning, Doral police confirmed, was a 2002 Nissan Altima that was reported stolen.

View of a 2002 Nissan Altima being pulled out from a lake in Doral by Miami-Dade Police and Fire Rescue divers. Divers on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, located about 20 cars in the lake, following a tip from a team of volunteer divers who discovered more than 30 cars in the lake near Northwest 13th Terrace.

These are most likely the type of vehicles that were going to find here dumped in this lake, Zabaleta said. Vehicles that perhaps have been abandoned, and they got rid of them here or those... [that] were stolen and then they were dumped inside.

Ken Fleming and Doug Bishop, the volunteer divers who tipped police off on the submerged cars, told WSVN-Channel 7 that they made the discovery while investigating missing-person cold cases.

We have a case where someone drove from Pinellas County down to pick up their relatives at the airport, and then they disappeared, Fleming told Channel 7. So, in this spot, were near the airport. Its a large body of water. It has easy access to get into, so we would target that as a potential foul play spot.

Bishop and his nonprofit United Search Corps did not respond to inquiries from the Miami Herald.

Miami-Dade Police and Fire Rescue divers prepare to pull out a car from a lake in Doral on Tuesday, August 8, 2023. Divers located about 20 cars in the lake, following a tip from a team of volunteer divers who discovered more than 30 cars in the lake near Northwest 13th Terrace.

While Miami-Dade detectives havent received other tips that led to the lake, Zabaleta said police arent going to discard the possibility that theyre tied to murders or missing persons cases.

No information that we have so far would lead us to believe that these cases are going to go elevate to that level.

Zabaleta urged people to come forward with any information and contact Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477 (TIPS).

No matter how small it may be, it could help us close cases, just like this first vehicle.
Police and emergency services have posted footage of the rescue operation at the site of the Russian missile attack on Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast.

Source: National Police of Ukraine, State Emergency Service of Ukraine

Details: The police inform that bomb disposal experts, investigators, criminologists, operatives, and paramedics are currently working at the spot of the tragedy. The police accept appeals, document the destruction, and help the victims and their relatives.

A total of 46 employees and 12 pieces of equipment from the State Emergency Service are involved in dealing with the aftermath, including a combined squad of rescue workers; 63 tonnes of construction debris were removed from the scene.

Background:

On the evening of 7 August, Russian troops launched a missile attack on a residential building in Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast.

Seven people were killed and 88 injured in the strike on residential buildings.

The first strike targeted civilians, the second was aimed at the emergency workers that had arrived at the scene.

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!
Authorities have issued arrest warrants after a chaotic brawl broke out Saturday on a popular riverfront dock in Montgomery, Alabama, with punches thrown, people hit with chairs and at least one person tossed into the water.

The melee began when a Black man, who a witness described to CNN as an employee, engaged with a group of White men on the dock, according to footage of the incident. A shirtless White man then charged and shoved the employee, and others pushed the worker to the ground and started punching him.

The fight escalated further, with other groups of people entering the fray, and after a short break in the action, a second round of punches and attacks, the footage shows.

Montgomery Police said they were called to the scene and found a large group of subjects engaged in a physical altercation, according to a Monday news release. Several people were detained and charges were pending, police added. There are four active warrants and more could come, Maj. Saba Coleman, a Montgomery police spokesperson, told CNN in an email.

(Police) acted swiftly to detain several reckless individuals for attacking a man who was doing his job, Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed said Sunday in a post to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Warrants are being signed and justice will be served.

The fight largely broke down along racial lines in a city with a fraught history of racial animus. Reed, the first Black mayor of a city at the center of the civil rights movement, said the incident was still under investigation and officials were looking into all angles of it.

Officials plan to hold a news conference Tuesday afternoon to offer more information on the incident.

Witness says fight began over dockside parking

Multiple people stood over and beat an employee in a chaotic fight in Montgomery, Alabama, on Saturday. - @myteks/X

It all started with a request to move a boat, witness Lauren Spivey told CNN.

A small vessel was blocking the large Harriott II Riverboat from being able to dock near Riverfront Park, a waterfront area that features a splash pad and hosts concerts and other community activities.

The riverboat, which was filled with guests, had been waiting for like 30 to 45 minutes and they did not want to touch these peoples boat, but nobody came forward, Spivey said.

The worker went over to the small boat and started untying the vessel and a man, who appeared to be White, ran over, Spivey said.

Two men who appeared to be White then came over to the dock and engaged in what looked like a heated argument, video of the interaction shows.

The gentleman, ran down there, the White guy and  thats when it escalated, said Spivey, explaining the employee was telling the man he needed to move the boat to make room for the large riverboat.

One of the men who was part of the group then ran up and pushed the employee and then appeared to throw a punch, the footage shows. Several other men in the group, who appeared linked to the small boat, then jumped on the worker and also started punching the worker while he was on the ground, according to the video.

As the fight continued, others watching the melee ran down toward the fight and attempt to pull the group off the employee. At one point, a man is swam to the dock to help.

After the fight was broken up, the boat and those who fought with the worker didnt leave the area, Spivey said.

They got back on their little boats down there like nothing happened, like nothing happened. And the whole time the Harriott is still slowly coming in sideways so they can dock, Spivey said.

Spivey said she was taken aback by what she described as the entitlement shown by the group in the smaller boat.

They assaulted him and got back on their boat and didnt try to leave, Spivey told CNN.

After boat docks, another brawl

Police responded to the scene of the melee on Saturday. - WSFA

A second, larger brawl then broke out after the Harriott II Riverboat was able to dock and those aboard, many of whom watched the clash, ran over to the boaters, videos show.

I knew once that boat hit that dock  all hell was gonna break loose, Spivey told CNN.

Footage shows a group made up of what appeared to be riverboat workers hopping off the riverboat and running towards the smaller boat. The workers appear to pause and say something to the people on the boat, then the video shows one of the men from the riverboat punching one of the men from the smaller boat.

A second brawl gets underway. This time the Black boat workers are seen punching and beating the group on the small boat, the video shows.

The fight moves down the dock and grows. Videos of the chaos show punches being thrown between the groups and at least one person being knocked into the water.

Another video of the scene just down the pier where the riverboat docked shows a man, who appears to be White, getting hit over the head with a white folding chair at least six times and a woman, who also appears to be White, getting kicked and punched before she, too, was hit over the head with the chair. Police officers are then seen in the footage breaking up the altercation.

The Montgomery Police Department said they were called to the area around 7 p.m. Journalists from CNN affiliate WSFA at the scene saw people in handcuffs, the station reported.

Reed called the incident unfortunate and urged people not to become desensitized to violence in the community in a statement posted on X Sunday night.

Those who choose violence will be held accountable by our criminal justice system, the mayor said in a statement.

CNNs Eric Levenson contributed to this report.

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Pittsburgh police are searching for a suspect after a bank on the North Shore was robbed on Tuesday.

According to police, officers were called to the Citizens Bank on Isabella Street just after 12:30 p.m.

A man, who police believe is in his late 30s or early 40s, entered the bank and demanded cash.

No weapon was used or seen during the robbery.

The man took an undisclosed amount of money. He was last seen on Sandusky Street, heading toward East Lacock Street.

Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh police at 412-323-7800 or FBI Pittsburgh at 412-432-4000.

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Pope Francis says everyone is welcome in the Roman Catholic Church, including LGBTQ+ people, but they have to follow the rules.

The popes remarks came in a press conference aboard his plane as he was returning from the churchs World Youth Day gathering in Lisbon, and he had made similar statements at the event.

Addressing about 500,000 World Youth Day attendees at the welcome ceremony Thursday, Francis said, There is room for everyone in the church, and whenever there is not, then, please, we must make room, including for those who make mistakes, who fall or struggle, according to the National Catholic Reporter.

The Lord does not point a finger but opens wide his arms: Jesus showed us this on the cross, he added. He does not close the door but invites us to enter; he does not keep us at a distance but welcomes us.

On the plane, a reporter asked the pope if this attitude was inconsistent with its exclusionary policies concerning women and LGBTQ+ people, Reuters reports. Women cannot become priests, and same-sex couples cannot marry within the church. Clergy members have often denied Communion to people in same-sex relationships, and some LGBTQ+ people have been fired from Catholic schools and other church-affiliated institutions. The church considers same-sex relationships sinful, and it teaches that gender is fixed at birth.

Francis replied, The church is open to everyone but there are laws that regulate life inside the church.  According to the legislation, they cannot partake in [some] sacraments. This does not mean that it is closed. Each person encounters God in their own way inside the church.

During the decade since he became pope, Francis has opened some high-ranking roles to women (but definitely not the priesthood), has taken a more conciliatory tone toward LGBTQ+ people than his predecessors did, and has met privately with some LGBTQ+ Catholics and others.

He called transgender women daughters of God in a recently published interview with Vida Nueva, a Spanish Catholic magazine. The first time a group of transsexuals came to the Vatican and they saw me, they came out crying, saying that I had given them a hand, a kiss  as if I had done something exceptional with them, he said. But they are daughters of God!

All along, however, he has made clear that the churchs doctrine hasnt changed. Nevertheless, he has been criticized by right-wing Catholics for going too far in LGBTQ+ acceptance (as well as by LGBTQ+ advocates and allies who point out the anti-LGBTQ+ aspects of church teaching). There was some conservative criticism of World Youth Day as being too secular, and last Thursday there was a protest at a Mass for queer Catholics in Lisbon.

About two dozen LGBTQ+ Catholics had gathered at the Church of Our Lady of the Incarnation organized by the Global Network of Rainbow Catholics and a Portuguese LGBTQ+ group, according to the Reporter. Protesters interrupted the Mass with what they called a reparatory prayer. They said they were speaking out against the mortal sins that come out of an LGBT ideology that today exists within the Catholic Church, Portuguese publication Visao reports.

Individually, we have nothing against these people, Rafael da Silva, one of the protests organizers, told Visao. The enemy is this ideology and some priests who defend it against what the Catholic Church should be and against what Gods will is.

Police officers soon escorted the demonstrators out, and the Mass continued as planned, the Reporter notes. The police responded quickly because they had already been notified that there might be a disruption  there had been a change of venue for the event because warnings of a protest had circulated on social media.

Father James Alison, a gay British priest who helped conduct the Mass, told the Reporter he felt sorry for the protesters and that he found their message inconsistent with the popes. I was terribly sorry to see these people who have been led to this terrible ideology of hatred, he said. They live in a weird, alienated world and did not look happy. We were principally sad for them. The Mass, he said, was clearly in line with the Holy Fathers message that everyone is welcome in the church.
Hundreds of firefighters are battling wildfires in Portugal where 1,400 people have been evacuated in a 46C heatwave.

The wildfire started on Saturday in the Odemira region on the west coast but it has since spread south towards the tourist hotspot of the Algarve.

Nine have reportedly been injured as a result of the fire.

High temperatures and strong winds have continued into Tuesday with two active fronts of the fire have now been confirmed  with one spreading towards the picturesque Monchique village.

Three districts, Braganca, Castelo Branco and Guarda, are currently on red alert for extreme heat. Authorities say that more than 120 Portuguese districts, including Lisbon, Alentejo and Algarve, are at maximum risk of wildfires.

Around 850 firefighters have been out battling the large blaze in the Alentejo region, with planes carrying water dousing the flames from above.

A firefighter airplane drops water in a wildfire in Carrascal, Proenca a Nova (AFP via Getty Images)

Odemiras mayor, Helder Guerreiro, called the situation critical, difficult and complex while Civil Protection commander Jose Ribeiro said there was a lot of work ahead to bring the wildfire under control.

The weather conditions we are going to experience in the coming days means any small occurrence (fire) could become a big one, Civil Protection secretary of state Patricia Gaspar told a news conference.

View of a wildfire in Aljesur, Portugal, (REUTERS)

Advice for tourists

The primary wildfire area is the municipality of Odemira, in the Alentejo region, although there could soon be a major spread into the holiday destination of the Algarve.

Some roads in the Alentejo region have been blocked off, while 19 villages, four tourist accommodations and a campsite have been evacuated.

 Temperatures have increased across Spain, Portugal and North Africa in recent days, widely into the mid 30s C, if not into the low to mid 40s C



 The heat is expected to extend further north and east by midweek, before temperatures return closer to average by the weekend pic.twitter.com/HqEs43Tk1S  Met Office (@metoffice) August 7, 2023

The UKs Met Office has also issued a weather warning for Spain, Portugal and Africa as wildfires rage across some of Portugals most popular tourist hotspots.

Temperatures have increased across Spain, Portugal and North Africa in recent days, widely into the mid 30s C, if not into the low to mid 40s C, the Met Offices statement, released via Twitter, read.

A tractor cleans up land during a wildfire in Aljezur, Portugal (REUTERS)

The heat is expected to extend further north and east by midweek, before temperatures return closer to average by the weekend.

As of Monday, Portugals minister of internal administration confirmed that for now the government will not declare an alert.

Firefighters battle a wildfire in Carrascal, Proenca a Nova (AFP via Getty Images)

The UK Foreign Office has said: Forest fires can occur anywhere in Portugal. Risk of fires is higher when the weather is hot and dry. Fires have become more common due to drought and high temperatures.

Forest fires are highly dangerous and unpredictable.

No holidays to Portugal appear to have been cancelled by travel companies at this time.

Firefighters try to extinguish a wildfire in a forest area in Puerto Real, near Cadiz (AFP via Getty Images)

Fires continue to burn elsewhere

There have also been wildfires in Sardinia, while in Greece, the island of Rhodes is recovering from 10 straight days of fires and the community is hoping for a return of tourists to bolster its local economy after thousands of tourists were evacuated due to the blazes last month.

In Algeria, approximately 35 wildfires have been spreading across more than 11 regions in the northeast since 24 July. The Algerian Government has reported 34 deaths, with temperatures exceeding 45C and high wind speeds reaching over 50kmph by the Tunisian border worsening the situation.
The coup that shook Niger nearly two weeks ago triggered an international outcry and curbs on domestic freedoms, yet many people in the capital say the change is a breath of fresh air.

Around 30,000 people turned out on Sunday for a rally in a Niamey stadium to support the soldiers who on July 26 toppled Niger's elected president, Mohamed Bazoum.

For foreign and local critics, the event was a stage-managed show, designed to back the coup leaders in their faceoff with the West African bloc ECOWAS, which is waving the threat of force to reinstate Bazoum.

But within the stadium, and on the streets of Niamey, there were plenty of people who seemed genuinely relieved to see the end of 12 years in government by Bazoum's Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS).

"It's liberation!" said Ousseini Tinni, a mechanic.

"Given the situation that this country has been in for decades, we feel free," said Alhassane Adamou, an office administrator in the private sector.

Niamey has long been known as a stronghold of the opposition, and domestic critics of the coup and its impact on rights have kept their heads down.

The coup leaders have also announced the suspension of the constitution, banned demonstrations and arrested several of Bazoum's ministers, although there have not been mass arrests.

In this context, many of the people who spoke to AFP said democracy under the PNDS had been a sham.

"I support the soldiers 100 percent," said Samaila Abdourahim, a trader.

"Under the old regime, they talked about democracy but it was merely words. We weren't experiencing a democracy but a dictatorship."

- Different view -

Bazoum is feted abroad for his election in 2021 that ushered in Niger's first-ever peaceful transition of power since gaining independence from France in 1960.

But there is often a different view of Bazoum in Niamey, where many people nurse bitterness or disappointment.

They point to the condemnation of opposition leader Hama Amadou to a one-year jail term on charges of child trafficking -- a sentence that made him ineligible for the election.

Riots broke out in the capital after Bazoum's victory that led to two deaths and 468 arrests.

In its 2022 Democracy Index, the Economist Intelligence Unit placed Niger among countries with "authoritarian regimes."

"We were afraid of expressing ourselves. As soon as you expressed your opinion, they came and arrested you," said Tinni.

Others spoke out about cronyism, corruption and insecurity that they said had flourished under the PNDS.

"This is what prompted the public to support the putsch," said Adamou, whose words drew nodding heads of support among the onlookers surrounding him.

Part of the hostility is directed towards France, whose support for Bazoum -- a key ally in the French anti-jihadist strategy in the Sahel -- is deemed to be proof of complicity.

Ken Opalo, an associate professor at Georgetown University in Washington, drew a parallel between the coup in Niger and military takeovers in neighbouring Mali in 2020 and Burkina Faso in 2022.

Foreign allies prioritised "stemming the flows of migrants, accessing natural resources, fighting jihadist(s) in the Sahel so they don't have to fight them in Western cities, and maintaining overall geopolitical influence in the region," he wrote in a blog.

"Democracy and economic development have mostly been subordinated to these larger objectives."

- 'Tolerate the military' -

"President Bazoum launched a sincere effort to reform institutions and governance... but his capacity for changing the real practices of the state and its representatives was restricted by the need to balance the political forces that brought him to power," the International Crisis Group (ICG) think tank said in a report on Monday.

The question is whether General Abdourahamane Tiani, Niger's latest strongman and a reputed confidant of former president Mahamadou Issoufou, will change things.

According to an opinion poll published in March 2022 by the survey firm Afrobarometer, more than half of the Nigeriens interviewed said they were dissatisfied with the functioning of democracy.

However, 61 percent said they preferred democracy to other forms of government -- and 84 percent opposed dictatorship.

"If the military start to turn into politicians, we will rise up against them," said Abdourahim.

"If we tolerate them today, it's because it's in our interest for them to be there. Because now, it's us, the people, who will be making the decisions."

str/stb/emd/ri/lcm
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Pittsburgh Police are investigating a mail carrier being robbed. The postal worker was pumping gas at noon on Friday, Aug. 4, at the Sunoco on North Negley Avenue, when police say two men approached him and made small talk. Police say the men then demanded the mail carriers arrow key. Its a master key that opens all mail receptacles in a given zip code.

While its the first instance of a mail carrier being targeted in Pittsburgh, law enforcement says it sadly will not be the last. Frank Albergo is the President of the Postal Police Officers Association.

Its at epidemic proportions, Albergo tells Channel 11. It has spiraled out of control. Thieves are stealing the mail, stealing personal identifying information, they are washing checks, they are counterfeiting checks, they are opening up fraudulent bank accounts.

In some cases, criminals are selling checks online and unknowing victims are having their bank accounts drained.

Geroge Jarbo was shocked to hear a local letter carrier was targeted.

I think thats awful, Jarbo tells Channel 11. Especially if you live on a fixed income.

11 Investigates reporting on the epidemic of crimes against postal workers in February. In 2021, a mail carrier was shot and killed in Collier Township. Then, last May, a mail carrier was beaten with a baseball bat in Brookline. Just this past January, a mailman escaped gunfire when someone got out of a car and started firing an AK-47 where that postal worker was making deliveries in Perry North.

Albergo says the problem is that postal police are no longer able to go out and protect letter carriers. That ended in 2020.

And since then, mail theft has exploded, Albergo added. The inspection service released an internal memo which basically grounded us, it benched us. We were no longer able to protect postal workers and we were no longer able to do these proactive mail theft prevention patrols.

Albergo says since 2019, robberies against mail carriers, a federal crime, is up 1400%.

Fortunately, the local mail carrier robbed was not hurt.

Police say the suspects are two men in their 20s who were driving a black sedan with a heavily tinted back window.

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Tourists visit the Ulanhada volcano cluster in Qahar Right Wing Rear Banner of Ulanqab, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Aug. 6, 2023. The Ulanhada volcano cluster has special geological landscapes such as volcanoes and lava landform. (Xinhua/Peng Yuan)

This photo taken on Aug. 6, 2023 shows a volcano of the Ulanhada volcano cluster after rainfalls in Qahar Right Wing Rear Banner of Ulanqab, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The Ulanhada volcano cluster has special geological landscapes such as volcanoes and lava landform. (Xinhua/Peng Yuan)

Tourists take photos in front of a volcano of the Ulanhada volcano cluster in Qahar Right Wing Rear Banner of Ulanqab, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Aug. 6, 2023. The Ulanhada volcano cluster has special geological landscapes such as volcanoes and lava landform. (Xinhua/Peng Yuan)

This aerial photo taken on Aug. 6, 2023 shows a volcano of the Ulanhada volcano cluster in Qahar Right Wing Rear Banner of Ulanqab, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The Ulanhada volcano cluster has special geological landscapes such as volcanoes and lava landform. (Xinhua/Peng Yuan)

This aerial photo taken on Aug. 6, 2023 shows a volcano of the Ulanhada volcano cluster in Qahar Right Wing Rear Banner of Ulanqab, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The Ulanhada volcano cluster has special geological landscapes such as volcanoes and lava landform. (Xinhua/Peng Yuan)

Tourists take photos in front of a volcano of the Ulanhada volcano cluster in Qahar Right Wing Rear Banner of Ulanqab, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Aug. 6, 2023. The Ulanhada volcano cluster has special geological landscapes such as volcanoes and lava landform. (Xinhua/Peng Yuan)

This aerial photo taken on Aug. 6, 2023 shows a volcano of the Ulanhada volcano cluster in Qahar Right Wing Rear Banner of Ulanqab, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The Ulanhada volcano cluster has special geological landscapes such as volcanoes and lava landform. (Xinhua/Peng Yuan)

This aerial photo taken on Aug. 6, 2023 shows a view of the Ulanhada volcano cluster in Qahar Right Wing Rear Banner of Ulanqab, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The Ulanhada volcano cluster has special geological landscapes such as volcanoes and lava landform. (Xinhua/Peng Yuan)

This aerial photo taken on Aug. 6, 2023 shows tourists visiting the Ulanhada volcano cluster in Qahar Right Wing Rear Banner of Ulanqab, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The Ulanhada volcano cluster has special geological landscapes such as volcanoes and lava landform. (Xinhua/Peng Yuan)
An impassioned group of military veterans are continuing to use their collective voices to heighten awareness about service members who remain missing in action.

The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 233 of New Jersey will host its annual National POW/MIA Recognition Day Vigil at Memorial Park on Essex Avenue in Metuchen during the weekend of Sept. 15-16.

The 24-hour event will commence with opening ceremonies Sept. 15 at noon and conclude with closing ceremonies Sept. 16 at 10 a.m.

All are invited to attend the solemn ceremony, which Chapter 233 has hosted for more than three decades.

According to the National League of POW/MIA Families, 40 of the countrys current 1,584 missing and unaccounted for members of the U.S. Armed Forces who served in Vietnam are from New Jersey. They are among more than 83,000 American heroes who fought with valor from World War II through today who are still classified as missing and have not returned.

Those service members gave their lives so that we can be part of the greatest country on the face of the earth, said state Sen. Patrick Diegnan, who will be among several dignitaries delivering remarks at this years opening and closing ceremonies.

Its incomprehensible to think of the sacrifices of POWs and MIAs and their families. This annual vigil is so important to give recognition to those that made beyond the ultimate sacrifice.

VFW Past National Commander in Chief George Lisicki, left, speaks during the 2022 National POW/MIA Recognition Day Vigil at Memorial Park in Metuchen. U.S. Navy veteran Al Miller is also pictured.

The military veterans who organize and participate in the vigil honor and remember those service members who remain unaccounted for through powerful stories and emotional speeches, all delivered in front of a fitting backdrop of photos, plaques, flags, flowers, and memorabilia.

As long as Im alive and were alive we are going to remember these people, Jim Hixon, a U.S. Air Force veteran who was stationed in Vietnam in the mid 60s, said during last years vigil. We were there and it could have been us. Its hard to explain without getting emotional. I could have never come home. Ill never forget that.

This years vigil will be held nearly four months after the remains of Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Michael Uhrin were returned to his hometown of Metuchen, where on Memorial Day the veteran was honored with a ceremony at Memorial Park before finally being laid to rest alongside family members at Hillside Cemetery.

At the age of 21, Uhrin was killed in October 1943 while serving as a radio operator on a bombing raid over Germany during World War II.

Uhrins remains were considered nonrecoverable until the U.S. Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency identified his remains in 2021 using dental, anthropological, circumstantial, and other evidence.

More: WWII flyer killed over Germany makes final journey home to Metuchen

Although Uhrins immediate family will never know that Michaels remains would come back to Metuchen, it should give us all great comfort to know that our nation and our borough never forgot him and will continue to honor his legacy, Metuchen Mayor Jonathan Busch said on Memorial Day weekend.

Among the most moving moments of Chapter 233s annual vigil is the reading of names along with rank, town, birthdate, and date reported missing of those New Jersey service members who never returned home from Vietnam. Each is honored with the lighting of a candle, the ringing of a bell and the tethering of a custom-made oversized dog tag to a bamboo cage such as that which the North Vietnamese used to imprison service members.

A contingent of U.S. Naval Sea Cadets from the NWS Earle Division and Young Marines from Iselin will participate in this years event, providing an invaluable infusion of youth, according to Chapter 233 President Robin Goodrich.

An oversized POW-MIA banner and accompanying American flag will wave proudly from Memorial Park to drivers navigating the Essex Avenue stretch of Route 27 in Metuchen, which runs parallel to the park. Dozens of trees adorned with yellow ribbons and veterans donning military garb will reflect a solemn ceremony is taking place.

The vigil is among many events marking National POW/MIA Recognition Day, held annually across the country the third Friday of each September. All are designed to ensure America remembers its responsibility to stand behind those who serve and do everything possible to account for those who do not return.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: POW/MIA Recognition Day vigil returning to Metuchen
The Power of Access: How Three Black Women Are Making Their Way And Driving Impact | Courtesy of Mastercard

Representation matters. And one major output for inclusive representation is the power of access. With proper access comes opportunities for growth, exposure to diverse ideas, and sustainable impact for generations to come.

For many historically underrepresented communities, having access meant having a seat at the table to offer the unique perspectives and experiences that can drive change and innovation.

Throughout history, there have been several examples of people breaking down barriers to ensure those who look like them have greater access to the things they fought so hard for. Black women, in particular, have consistently set the standard for what it means to reach back and build up.

One example of this is through the power of entrepreneurship. From changemakers like Madame CJ Walker to Oprah Winfrey, Black women have set the standard for community change and overall advancement regardless of industry.

Mastercard recognizes the power of Black women in business but also the expansive possibility when small businesses have access and resources needed to succeed. In fact, they have invested $500 million to help close the racial wealth and opportunity gap across America. Mastercard is dedicated to supporting small business owners with digital tools, education, funding, and mentorship to help grow their businesses and spotlight the change they are making to inspire future generations of entrepreneurs.

Blavity had the opportunity to sit with three exemplary small business owners  Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon of Our Village United and Village Market, Egypt Otis of Comma Bookstore, and Talia Boone of Postal Petals to learn about the work they are doing in their respective fields and how their partnership with Mastercard has helped them to continue to impact their communities.

Our Village United

Hallmon is the founder and CEO of Village Market, Village Retail, and Our Village United. Her work centers on creating community for Black businesses, to raise awareness and be a connecting hub for entrepreneurs and patrons alike.

A part of the connectivity aspect is helping to circulate the fluidity of Black dollars while also being an incubator and knowledge hub for businesses and entrepreneurs.

With a presence in 21 cities across 18 states, Hallmon and team are committed to being a key supporter and community advocate for businesses and leaders looking to advance and grow their footprint in their respective industries.

Comma Bookstore

Comma Bookstore was founded and is headed by Egypt Otis. The business specializes in Black and brown literature, carries and sells local art and brands, and hosts community events rooted in the arts, music, and culture.

Starting this work amid the pandemic, Otis quickly had to pivot her model of selling books not exclusive to brick and mortar.

Ironically, Otis business was not born from her love of reading but a realization to empower and give back to the community that raised her.

Growing up, I struggled with reading and didnt have access to books. But I always said that books saved my life. It gave me an opportunity to really put purpose to the pain and the suffering that I was experiencing in my life growing up in Flint, Michigan, Otis explained.

Postal Petals

Boone is the founder and CEO of Postal Petals. She runs an immersive floral and wellness company that uses fresh-cut flowers and do-it-yourself flower arranging as a tool for creative expression, relaxation, self-care, and wellness.

What started as a means of self-care for her own decompression from her former professional and activism work is now centered on curating a creative experience for corporations, couples, and individuals that includes workshops, team-building models, and self-expression tools.

Advancing The Community

While Hallmon, Otis, and Boone are making waves in separate lanes, the impact of their work in the communities they are a part of is at the core of their work.

Being community focused is paramount for each of the ladies who are identifying ways that their work is not only effecting change today but leading the world into a more sustainable future, wanting to see everyone succeed.

I always say that to people; I operate from a spirit in a place of abundance, not scarcity. There is plenty enough for all of us, Boone pointed out. And thats why I believe so strongly in the power of collaboration and working with people, right?

Community impact has been advanced through the support of Mastercard. Hallmon, Otis, and Boone all agree that the contributions and support of Mastercard have been game-changing in helping their businesses by providing education, funding, network and tools through their Digital Doors program and funding through various grant programs, all critical resources that when provided and working together have an incredible impact.

People always want to give us information and never want to give us the resources we need to build that thing, Boone said. And thats why I think its so important that Mastercard not just stepped up with all this access and information, but they also stepped up with dollars.

An additional way Mastercard has remained committed to supporting the work and community impact of these women has been through their Strivers Initiative  a program launched by Mastercard in 2021 to amplify the voices of Black Women Business owners and provide the products, solutions, and mentorship to help these women maintain and grow their businesses while encouraging consumers and businesses alike to shop, share and support them.

Mastercard has brought these changemakers incredible access through their own platforms and sponsorships, like being featured as a community superhero in the companys Black Panther: Wakanda Forever commercial ad spot, to being spotlighted on The Jennifer Hudson Show Strivers Experience, to introducing their business to new innovative environments such as the Mastercard Small Business Metaverse and tapping into key leaders at Mastercard for additional advice, resources and tools to grow their business.

The Importance Of Pouring Back Into Oneself

And while impacting the community and having a thriving business is at the forefront of success, none of this work is possible without proper self-care. Hallmon is a large proponent of looking within, so when she speaks about the communitys power, selfreflection is a part of that scope.

Internal change is our compass of what we should be doing in the world and completing our assignments to lean deeply into self. So you can get the answers in the spiritual download or whatever you believe in, and in that space, you will realize that were meant to be in community. That individualism is a tool that weaponizes our mobility, Hallmon said.

Otis, Boone, and Hallmon are all on big boss status, but know the power of paying it forward lies within being able to be their best self. Each business owner noted the power of self-care and its impact on the work they continue to do.

I would say to be careful, I had to learn how to say no, which is very, very difficult for me to do. But you cant continue to invest in other people if you dont have anything to give yourself. So be protective of your time, your mind, your overall wellness, Otis shared.

In a similar way that Mastercard believes in the power of self-care, utilizing its resources as a form of support and investing in the lights that already shine so brightly in each of the change-making business owners they work with.

The greatest masterpiece of our life should be our work, the internal work we do so our lights can shine brightly. Im just hoping entrepreneurs trust the light theyve been bestowed. And if anyone had tried to dim it, speak light into yourself, keep other lightworkers around you because we all need people, and have needed people to light our fire for us when it went down, Hallmon continued.

To learn more about Mastercards small business coalition, sign up here to be part of the Mastercard Small Business community to learn how to grow, protect and promote your entrepreneurial endeavors.
The Florida Department of Education is raising alarm with its recent approval of the conservative education platform PragerU, which touts itself as an alternative to progressive indoctrination, for use in classrooms this school year.

The supplemental curriculum means educators can if they choose show PragerU materials in class without fear of repercussions, with video titles ranging from Was the Civil War About Slavery? to The Inconvenient Truth About the Democratic Party.

Critics contend PragerU has promoted videos with misinformation and is too biased for public schools, escalating the controversy regarding changes to Floridas education system under Gov. Ron DeSantis (R).

Heres what to know about PragerU and the fallout in Florida:

What is PragerU?

PragerU is a conservative platform that was founded by conservative talk show host Dennis Prager and Allen Estrin in 2009.

On its site, it touts itself as a nonprofit focused on a free alternative to the dominant left-wing ideology in culture, media, and education.

The platform gained popularity from short videos on topics ranging from a host of political issues. Some of the platforms most popular five-minute videos include Is Islam a Religion of Peace and Make Men Masculine Again.

PragerU says its videos have garnered 7 billion views, and that 70 percent of viewers changed their mind on at least one topic after watching their videos.

In 2021, PragerU launched PragerU Kids and started creating lesson plans for educators to use. The lessons cover a variety of topics such as history, financial knowledge and political issues.

PragerU in Florida schools

PragerU celebrated last month that educators in Florida are now allowed to use their content in schools.

The state of Florida just announced that we are becoming an official vendor, CEO Marissa Streit said. This means if you are a teacher in Florida you can not be fired for using PragerU content.

Streit said in the announcement video other states are also signing up for their content, although no additional states have yet been announced.

None of PragerUs materials are considered required content.

The Florida Department of Education reviewed PragerU Kids and determined the material aligns to Floridas revised civics and government standards. PragerU Kids is no different than many other resources, which can be used as supplemental materials in Florida schools at district discretion, a spokesperson for the agency said.

For the average educator, the development is unlikely to change much.

I think its approval by the state, you know, certainly opens the door and maybe puts it on a few more peoples radar, but I think its probably, at the end of the day, something thats not going to show up a whole lot in the average class, said Chris Curran, director of the Education Policy Research Center at the University of Florida.

Pushback from critics

The approval spurred backlash from critics who say PragerU has pushed misinformation and shows the direction Florida education is going.

I think, broadly, the videos on the content have been criticized by some for their portrayal of things like race, explanations of differences of poverty levels by race or the history of racism and slavery in the country. Ive also seen criticisms around issues like climate change, Curran said.

One of the PragerU Kids lessons challenges climate change and the effects of fossil fuels.

Kids are told to fight climate change but are rarely taught about the human cost of reducing emissions. This animated video teaches middle and high school students about energy and the environment through the eyes of young Ania living in Poland, who must face a devastating winter after the Polish government bans the use of coal, the video description reads.

Ania becomes a climate change activist until she is challenged with some thought-provoking questions from her parents.

Recently, Anias classmates have all been talking about climate. Like many people around the world, they think that Polands smog and carbon emissions will contribute to rising temperatures across the planet, the narrator of the video says.

Later, the video says her parents raised questions after Ania became anxious about climate change, saying the Earth has always been warming and cooling and pointing out Poland has fewer emissions than countries such as China.

Her parents questions have made Ania wonder if shes only been hearing one side of the argument at school and in her online community. She definitely has some research to do, the video says.

Other PragerU Kids videos include How to be a rational patriot and How to embrace your femininity.

This is not PragerUs first brush with controversy.

In 2020, it lost a lawsuit after suing Google for YouTube flagging some of its videos as inappropriate. Some of the video titles that were flagged were Are 1 in 5 Women Raped at College? and Why Isnt Communism as Hated as Nazism?

Escalating tensions in Florida

Florida has become a hot spot for education controversy as DeSantiss administration solidifies what sort of curriculum it wants to be taught in its classrooms.

Lawmakers have buckled down on approved materials, with state officials banning the discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in K-12 schools.

The curriculum standards for African American history also got revamped, with criticisms arising after the changes said students would learn that enslaved people developed skills that helped them during American slavery.

The curriculum changes led to AP African American studies getting rejected in Florida. The College Board is also battling with Florida over AP Psychology, with the company saying the course cannot count for credit without lessons on gender identity and sexual orientation.

We hope now that Florida teachers will be able to teach the full course, including content on gender and sexual orientation, without fear of punishment in the upcoming school year, the College Board said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The News

Despite inflation cooling, food prices across the world are soaring, owing to extreme weather events coupled with Russias exit from a deal that allowed Ukraine to export grain  notably wheat, of which its the worlds eighth largest producer.

Throughout sub-Saharan Africa, where millions are already fighting hunger, the food pice hike could be devastating.

Weve gathered reporting and analysis on why food prices are rising and why they may remain high for the foreseeable future.

Insights

Russias refusal to renew the Black Sea grain deal led to a sharp rise in wheat prices. Meanwhile, El Nino  a warm-weather pattern  led India to restrict non-basmati rice exports, contributing to a global rise of 1.3% in food prices in July, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization said. It will be especially challenging for sub-Saharan Africa to cope as people there dedicate a larger share of their incomes to purchase food, Maximo Torero, the FAOs chief economist told Al Jazeera.

While climate change can affect food production, it can also disrupt labor and transportation in the global food supply chain, Suzi Kerr, the chief economist of the Environmental Defense Fund, wrote for the Guardian. Heatwaves, wildfires, and power and internet outages affect workers in warehouses and on roads, pushing prices higher. Heatwaves alone are expected to reduce working hours worldwide by more than 2% by 2030, equivalent to a loss of 80 million full-time jobs and $2.4 trillion globally.

Extreme weather events  from record heatwaves in Europe and the U.S. to deadly floods across Chinas grain belt  are hurting the worlds food supply like never before. As these events become more frequent, they could permanently hobble the worlds food production. Its possible we could face unprecedented market impacts if we dont do anything in terms of mitigation and adapting to extreme weather events, Roderick Rejesus, agricultural economist at North Carolina State University said.

Higher food prices may be permanent, the chief economist at the Bank of England said. Although prices in the U.K. are expected to fall by the end of the year, cheaper food is something we may not be seeing for a while yet, if in the future at all, Huw Pill said. Shop prices in the U.K. were 7.6% higher in July compared to the same month last year.
The June mutiny led by Yevgeny Prigozhin and his Wagner Group private military company was a special operation coordinated with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, Ukraines National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) secretary Oleksiy Danilov told Ukrainian TV broadcasters on Aug. 8.

"Today we can already say that it was a special operation coordinated with Putin to expose those generals who were not entirely loyal to Putin and his entourage," said Danilov.

Read also: Former Wagner prisoner kills 5 Russians in drunken rampage after return from Ukraine

The official suggested that Kyiv is aware of the number of these generals. According to him, some of them are behind bars and have been relieved of duty.

Danilov said that the "divergences" within the Russian state will continue to gain momentum.

Read also: Ukraine wont be able to develop an independent nuclear deterrent  Danilov

"And we believe that this will happen in the fall or winter of this year because the number of people who understand where Putin has led them to is increasing every day," he added.

When asked by a journalist about who could provoke the next uprising in Russia, Danilov said this question requires time.

Read also: Polish PM concerned that Wagner mercenaries in Belarus could infiltrate Poland

He believes that it could be an unexpected figure who will be quickly supported by the people because in Russia, "love is just one step away from hate," suggesting that public opinion in the country could quickly turn against Putins rule.

Previously, The Washington Post reported that Russian intelligence agencies informed Putin about the Wagner mutiny at least several days before it took place.

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 Trump-aligned Michigan lawyer facing criminal charges for allegedly plotting to seize voting machines in the wake of the 2020 election didn't want anyone to know that she gained access to the equipment, according to text messages she sent.

Michigan lawyer Stefanie Lambert Junttila, who faces charges related to unauthorized possession of voting tabulators, wrote to Doug Logan  the former CEO of the now-shuttered cybersecurity firm Cyber Ninjas  in a March 14, 2021, text message, "We have access to new machines here."

"Keep that a secret," she wrote in a subsequent text message. Logan allegedly tampered with tabulators accessed by Lambert and other allies of former President Donald Trump in Michigan, according to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel's Office, which carried out an investigation along with the Michigan State Police, into reports of third-party access to voting machines in the state.

Stefanie Lambert Junttila, an attorney who has represented 2020 election deniers across the country, is accused of illegally accessing Michigan voting equipment.

The text messages were obtained through a public records lawsuit filed by The Arizona Republic in 2021. A judge in January 2022 fined Logan's company $50,000 a day for failing to turn over all Arizona election audit-related records. Logan was hired by the Arizona Senate to oversee a so-called forensic audit in Maricopa County that ultimately found that President Joe Biden won the county.

Messages exchanged between Lambert and Logan offer a window into what appears to be a coordinated plan to carry out an election review in Michigan that prompted even those involved to tread carefully. In one message, Logan questioned how he should describe his access to equipment in Michigan out of an apparent concern about potential issues arising from handling it.

Asked to comment on the messages, Lambert provided a statement she said was from her attorney Michael Smith denying that his client violated any laws. "Unfortunately, she is unable to answer your questions because she is bound by attorney client privilege," the statement reads. Neither Logan nor his attorney immediately responded to voice messages from the Free Press seeking comment.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel investigated allegations of unauthorized third-party access to voting machines and accused Lambert, former Michigan GOP attorney general candidate Matt DePerno and former state Rep. Daire Rendon, R-Lake City, of orchestrating a plot to access voting machines. Nessel's Office also accused Logan and others of breaking into the machines.

Matt DePerno, Republican candidate for Michigan attorney general, left, speaks outside before a Save America rally at the Michigan Stars Sports Center in Washington Township on April 2, 2022, At right, Michigan state Rep. Daire Rendon, of Lake City.

Nessel sought the appointment of a special prosecutor to consider bringing criminal charges in the matter because she was campaigning against DePerno at the time. Muskegon County Prosecutor DJ Hilson was appointed to the role and announced last week that a grand jury brought criminal charges against DePerno, Lambert and Rendon.

The trio of Trump allies were arraigned in Oakland County Circuit Court and released on personal bonds.

Voting machine probe: Pro-Trump attorney Stefanie Lambert Junttila charged

Logan will not face criminal charges in the matter, according to a news release from Hilson's Office. Those asked to analyze voting machines were "deceived" by some of those charged "and made to falsely believe on multiple occasions that their possession and tampering of the tabulators was lawful," the release states.

In text messages exchanged between Lambert and Logan, the two discussed plans for carrying out some kind of investigation, referring at one point to a "mi forensic group," an apparent reference to some type of election review.

"It appears they want an investigation w integrity," Lambert wrote to Logan on March 12, 2021. She does not name the individuals who apparently sought a review. "That's good :-)" Logan replied. "Yes," Lambert wrote. "And we will find you if needed," she added. Logan responded, "I told them I had to speak with Matt Deperno first."

Cyber Ninjas CEO Doug Logan (right) talks with others on the coliseum floor as Maricopa County ballots from the 2020 general election are examined and recounted by contractors hired by the Arizona Senate in an audit at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix on May 24, 2021. Cyber Ninjas is the contracting firm hired to handle the audit.

Two days later, she told Logan about gaining access to "new machines" and directed him to keep the information secret. Logan responded with a note stating that "Cyfir can do that work," an apparent reference to a contractor for Logan's Cyber Ninjas.

Cyfir founder Ben Cotton joined Logan in breaking into tabulators during tests performed on the machines in Oakland County, according to the request from Nessel's Office for a special prosecutor in the voting machine investigation.

An exchange several days later indicates that Lambert and Logan met in Barry County at some point. A voting machine from the county was turned over to a third party, according to the petition from Nessel's Office.

"LOL, what are you still doing awake :-D," Lambert wrote to Logan on March 19, 2021. In a text message Logan sent Lambert later, he wrote, "I don't sleep LOL. I thought we went over that in Barry county. I have a country to save LOL."

In a different series of exchanges that same day the two made plans to grab takeout dinner in Detroit, and Lambert said restaurants were limited in the city due to COVID-19. "Very little to love about Detroit," Lambert said at the beginning of the exchange. "Just a few awesome attorneys."

About a month later, Lambert told Logan, "I just got a full investigation in a Michigan county." "I'll need to speak with you regarding the audit," she added in the April 27, 2021, text exchange.

Several weeks later, Logan later appeared to express concerns about how to characterize his role examining voting equipment and sought Lambert's input.

"Its my opinion that the equipment in Michigan was put under your care, and even if I used it that doesn't put under 'my control,'" Logan wrote to Lambert on May 14, 2021. "However, is that accurate / right way to approach and view this, or should I be more careful with my wording?"

An Oakland County judge last month ruled that the Michigan election law banning undue possession of voting machines bars possession not authorized by the Secretary of State or a by a court order.

Lambert, through her attorney, argued in an April court filing indicated that local election officials and law enforcement could authorize third parties to carry out their own election probes and analyze voting machines. But her attorney later walked back that assertion in a subsequent filing and hearing.

Arizona Republic investigative reporter Robert Anglen contributed to this report.

Contact Clara Hendrickson: chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743. Follow her on Twitter @clarajanehen.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Pro-Trump lawyer's texts shed light on voting machine probe
Your slice of the headlines in Ukraine. Daily. Tuesday, August 8, 2023.

 Promise for peace? Saudi-hosted summit on conditions to end war good and constructive, says USA

Ukraine and its allies are impressed with the results of talks held in Saudi Arabia centered on finding a peaceful resolution to Russias war on Ukraine, a U.S. official told Al Arabiya English on Aug. 6.





 Ukraine returns 22 more defenders from Russian captivity, including two officers

Another 22 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) were released from the Russian captivity on Aug. 7, Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak said on Telegram.





 Ukraine knocks out two critical bridges used by Russia to supply southern troops from Crimea  ISW

The Ukrainian army stuck two bridges connecting Crimea with the Russian-occupied part of Kherson Oblast, forcing Russian forces to detour to much longer western route and creating the condition for a breakthrough in the Russian defense, the UK's Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in its Aug. 6 update.





 Five dead in Russian strike on Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast

Five people were killed and 18 injured in a Russian missile strike on a residential building in Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraines Interior Minister Igor Klymenko said in a Telegram post on Aug. 7.





 Freezing winter? Ukraine slow to repair +$1 billion damage to energy system in Russian attacks

Ukraine could be in for a chilly winter as the country struggles to repair its energy transmission system destroyed by Russia last winter.





 Russias military losses in Ukraine now over a quarter million soldiers

Russias overall personnel losses since beginning its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in Feb. 2022 have now exceeded a quarter million, with Ukraines Defense Forces eliminating 540 in the past 24 hours as part of its expanding counteroffensive, Ukraines General Staff reported on Aug. 7.





 Russian attacks on Ukrainian air bases ineffective, Air Force spokesperson says

Russian attacks on Ukrainian airfields are futile because Ukrainian aircraft relocate promptly before a strike comes, Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat told Ukrainian TV broadcasters on Aug. 6.





 New photos of Ukraines de-Sovietized Mother Ukraine monument released

New photos of Kyivs imposing Mother Ukraine monument, newly adorned with Ukraines iconic Tryzub (Trident), were released by Ukrainian photographers Kostiantyn and Vlada Liberov on Instagram on Aug. 7.





 Odesa prepares for beach season

Black Sea beaches in Odesa Oblast will once again open to the public by the end of the week, regional governor Oleg Kiper said in a Telegram post on Aug. 7.





 Russian invaders terrorize Kherson overnight, striking same civilian apartment three times, killing one

The Russian invaders shelled the center of Kherson three times overnight on Aug. 7, killing a woman and injuring another 11 people, including two rescuers, the regions governor, Oleksandr Prokudin, reported on Telegram.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A deadly shooting in which a deputy shot a man at the Ozark Square in April has been ruled justified following an investigation.

Christian County prosecuting attorney Kristen Tuohy told the News-Leader in a news release Monday that "following a review of evidence related to the incident, it was determined that the law enforcement officer involved acted reasonably and the use of deadly force was justified under the circumstances."

Sparta resident Travis Bullington, 52, was shot and killed by a Christian County deputy around 4 p.m. on April 30 after authorities reportedly witnessed Bullington shoot a young woman following a physical altercation near the Christian County Courthouse. She survived.

A 17-month old child was also involved in the incident and was not injured.

Bullington appears to have attended a third-party custody hearing at the Christian County Courthouse the day of the shooting, according to court records, which indicate he and his wife were involved in a case against the mother of their deceased son's child.

Bullington was a former Clear Creek County Sheriff's deputy in Colorado, according to online records.

Greene County was among the agencies that investigated the shooting before submitting their findings to prosecutors.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Christian County deputy cleared in fatal shooting outside courthouse
Mark Ridley-Thomas, center, was convicted in March of federal corruption charges. On Monday, prosecutors asked a judge to sentence him to six years in federal prison. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

Prosecutors asked a federal judge Monday to sentence veteran Los Angeles politician Mark Ridley-Thomas to six years in federal prison, citing the menace of public corruption in a democracy and the lawmaker's exploitation of the power and privileges of his office.

In a stinging memo, prosecutors summarized Ridley-Thomas' conduct in blunt terms as a "shakedown" in which he "made his self-interested demands known" to a USC dean and sought favors from the university for his son in exchange for county business. At the time, he was one of five members of L.A. County's powerful Board of Supervisors.

"Defendant is highly educated, richly supported, and politically connected. He was uniquely positioned to serve his constituents. Instead, he served himself," prosecutors wrote in a 32-page memo.

"Through his own corrupt actions, abuse of his powerful elected office, failure to accept responsibility, and efforts to undermine the publics faith in this judicial process, defendants overall conduct strongly supports a sentence of 72 months imprisonment."

Late Monday, defense attorneys filed their own sentencing papers, asking the judge for a range of 21 to 27 months, then seeking a downward variance that features no time in prison and, instead, a period of probation with home confinement, community service and a monetary penalty.

"There is no need to incarcerate Dr. Ridley-Thomas to protect the community," his lawyers wrote. "The shame of his convictions is punishment and provides ample specific deterrence."

U.S. District Judge Dale Fischer is scheduled to hand down her sentence Aug. 21.

Ridley-Thomas' request for a probation term of less than 21 months is striking, considering his co-conspirator, former USC dean Marilyn Flynn, received a three-year probation sentence earlier this summer. At that proceeding, Fischer remarked of Flynn, "I seriously considered imprisonment."

Flynn pleaded guilty to one count of bribery in 2022. Ridley-Thomas, by contrast, was convicted by a jury in March of four counts of honest services wire fraud and one count each of bribery, conspiracy and honest services mail fraud.

Jurors acquitted him of 12 other fraud charges related to a scholarship and job his son received from USC around the time the politician was voting on other matters sought by the university.

In their sentencing memo, Ridley-Thomas' defense attorneys repeated some points from trial, emphasizing that their client received no financial benefit.

"The county motion he supported would have passed regardless; it was non-controversial and every supervisor voted for it," his lawyers wrote.

Much of Ridley-Thomas' sentencing papers quoted from some of the 130 or so letters of support written to the judge, including from Aileen Adams, chair of the Weingart Foundation; retired lawmaker Sheila Kuehl; and Ridley-Thomas' wife and daughter-in-law.

The identities of those who submitted letters supporting Ridley-Thomas are unclear. His defense attorneys filed the letters under seal Monday but told The Times that redacted versions would be available later in the week.

Supporters and defense attorneys spoke glowingly of Ridley-Thomas' political record and framed the jury's guilty convictions around the community impact.

"Whatever the Court decides, Los Angeles has lost one of its most effective public servants ever; Dr. Ridley-Thomas will never hold office again," his lawyers wrote.

Seemingly anticipating this argument, prosecutors criticized Ridley-Thomas as leaning "into a flattering (yet false) narrative that he always acted in 'good faith,' never for himself or his son, and consistently for the good of the community  the community he defrauded."

Prosecutors also lambasted Ridley-Thomas for allowing a "public narrative" in which "community groups and media personalities with ties to [him] encourage the public to discount the verdict."

"Defendant is not a victim," prosecutors wrote. "He was not targeted by the federal government or USC. He is not a casualty of false testimony. And his trial was not unfair."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A vessel taking more than 1,600 tonnes of frozen prawns from Indonesia arrived Monday at a port in Fuzhou, the capital of east China's Fujian Province.

This is the first batch of exports China received from Indonesia since the two countries agreed to promote the joint construction of the flagship project of "Two Countries, Twin Parks" which aims to build a cooperation platform centered on the international food industry chain and supply chain.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Editor's note: This story contains references to allegations of domestic and other violence. Information about domestic violence warning signs and resources for those in crisis can be found at the bottom of this story.

A Pueblo judge found enough evidence to send a man to trial in the March 2022 shooting death of Kaylie Marcum.

Jesse Grondahl, 36, faces first-degree murder charges in connection with the death of the 23-year-old Marcum, Grondahl's ex-girlfriend and the mother of his child.

Marcum, who also went by Kaylie Lints, was at Riverside Bar and Grill late on the night of March 13, 2022, Detective Joe Cardona of the Pueblo Police Department said Friday during a preliminary hearing.

Marcum had been dropped off at her residence earlier that day by a friend whom she planned to go out with later that night. However, after being dropped off, Marcum texted the friend saying she probably couldn't go out because Grondahl was "having a fit" and had hidden her keys from her.

A short time later, Marcum again texted her friend asking for a ride to go out and saying she needed a drink, Cardona testified.

While out at the bar, Cardona claimed Grondahl repeatedly called and texted Marcum. Marcum allegedly responded to one call and asked Grondahl what he wanted, but heard only silence on the other end.

Text logs indicate Marcum told Grondahl that the pair were broken up and that she was not coming home that night. While the two had separated as partners, they still lived together to co-parent their child, Cardona testified.

Shortly after midnight, Grondahl allegedly entered the bar and appeared to be looking for someone, a bartender at the establishment later told police, according to Cardona's testimony. At around 12:10 a.m., Cardona said, security camera footage showed Grondahl approach the table where Marcum and her friend were seated.

The friend later told police that Grondahl asked to sit down and Marcum told him he needed to go home. Marcum reportedly told him that he was "making her friend nervous" and Grondahl allegedly responded that it was "about to get worse," before shooting Marcum in the chest and exiting the bar.

Cardona testified that in security camera footage later reviewed by police, Grondahl did not appear to show any emotion as he left the scene.

Grondahl then walked outside, called police, and surrendered on scene. Despite the best efforts of both bar patrons and first responders, Marcum died within minutes, according to Cardona.

After Grondahl was taken into custody, he allegedly showed self-harming behavior, purposely hitting his head on the cage of a Pueblo police officer's patrol car and later on an interview table.

He allegedly told a police officer he should have kept the gun and made the officer shoot him. He also said that night was his and Marcum's four-year anniversary.

Cardona testified that Grondahl told police he had "aimed for the shoulder" and expressed disbelief the shot he fired was fatal.

A doctor who performed an autopsy on Marcum stated that the bullet entered just below her neckline before exiting her right armpit, striking the aorta. The doctor indicated that the bullet had been fired from near point-blank range.

Sgt. Steven Jesik, a police firearms instructor, stated in Friday's hearing that a single spent .45-caliber shell casing was found at the scene. Jesik testified that while Marcum's wound was a few inches above "center mass," the placement of the shot was likely to be deadly in most cases.

Cardona stated that Marcum's father-in-law had suspected physical abuse in the relationship between Marcum and Grondahl, but Marcum had denied it. However, Marcum's friend at the scene of the murder alleged to police that Grondahl had previously broken doors, pulled out a gun, and threatened suicide.

Paul Jose, a public defender representing Grondahl in the case, asked Cardona about a call made to police about an hour and a half before the shooting.

Cardona confirmed that a friend of Grondahl's, who knew him from previous Navy service, had called from Japan to tell police Grondahl had made statements that he was going to take his own life.

Cardona also testified that Grondahl told his mother that he'd planned to go to the bar to kill himself in front of Marcum, but decided at the last second to shoot her instead.

When asked by Jose if, when he'd pulled a gun in the past, Grondahl had ever directly threatened Marcum with it, Cardona stated that Grondahl had only used it to threaten to kill himself.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline defines repeated threats of suicide as a form of emotional abuse.

"Your partner is manipulating you by playing on your feelings of love and fear for them," the hotline's website states. "You might get angry when this happens, but you also might feel like you have to give in to them to avoid a potential tragedy."

Jose argued that a charge of first-degree murder requires deliberation as well as intent. He cited previous cases where deliberation was only found when the offender used repeated acts of violence on the victim in the same incident, and argued that Grondahl did not "deliberate" before shooting Marcum. However, he acknowledged that under Colorado law, deliberation can take place in a very short amount of time.

Judge Thomas Flesher stated that in a light most favorable to the prosecution  the standard for preliminary hearings  the 10th Judicial District DA's office had met its burden, and set the case to continue to trial.

Grondahl is scheduled for an arraignment on Aug. 11.

More on the public safety beat: Pueblo law enforcement agencies weigh in on recent rash of fatal hit-and-runs in Pueblo

Domestic violence signs to watch for

Domestic violence, according to the Department of Justice, is a pattern of abuse that can include physical, sexual, emotional, verbal, and financial elements where the abuser's conscious or unconscious goal is to gain or maintain control. There are not always physical signs of abuse.

Girls and young women ages 16-24 experience the highest rate of intimate partner violence.

Early warning signs of an abusive partner include:

Controlling behavior

Guilt trips

Threats

Intimidation

Isolation

Jealousy

Name-calling

Manipulation

Explosive temper

Mood swings

Checking your cellphone or email without permission

Help for people in crisis

If you or someone you care about is in a domestic violence situation, call the 24/7 hotline for ACOVA  A Community Organization for Victim Assistance, at 719-583-6250.

You may also contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233.)

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in court. Arrests and charges are merely accusations by law enforcement until, and unless, a suspect is convicted of a crime.

Questions, comments, or story tips? Contact Justin at jreutterma@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @jayreutter1. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo man who police say shot ex-girlfriend in local bar set for trial
Putin has said it is 'necessary' to increase the production of the drones - Alexander Kazakov/Shutterstock

Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, has ordered the head of a state-owned defence conglomerate to increase the production of attack drones, as the drone war in Ukraine ramps up.

In televised footage of the meeting on Monday night, the Russian president was told by the head of Rostec, which produces around 90 per cent of Russias military equipment, to increase the number of kamikaze drones being churned out.

Putin said Russia needed more Kub and Lancet drones, which have become a thorn in the side of Ukraines advancing forces, saying they had proven very effective.

It is necessary to increase the percentage of the production of the latest types of weapons. T-90 Proryv tanks and aircraft systems, the Russian leader said.

Russian state media said, last month, that the Lancet drone was going into mass-production, with Rossiya-1 television reporting that production would be tripled in the coming months.

Ukrainian military officers have described the drones as being among their biggest threats on the battlefield as Moscows kamikaze drones are difficult to defend against.

The drones fly low and slow to avoid traditional air defence systems and can be piloted directly by operators on the ground, unlike the Iranian-made Shahed drones which are pre-programmed to head to a target that cannot be changed once launched.

Analysts have suggested that Russias defence ministry is keen to get hold of more of the Lancet drones, which reportedly cost around 28,000 each, as a low cost way of making up for losses of their more expensive and sophisticated equipment.

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A senior Russian official said Tuesday that Russia is "strong enough" to defeat NATO countries who are assisting Ukraine amid Russias ongoing military invasion. The official also reaffirmed Russian President Vladimir Putins commitment to conquerer Eastern Ukrainian territories.

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation directly under Putin, accused NATO of "openly fighting" against Russia and vowed enemies of Russia would be "vanquished" in a post on Telegram Tuesday.

"The entire NATO system is almost openly fighting against us. We are strong enough to achieve all of the goals of the special military operation," Putin's deputy wrote according to a translation. He also compared the current occupation of Ukraine to Moscows invasion of neighboring Georgia in 2008.

He added, "Just like in August 2008, our enemies will be vanquished and Russia will secure peace on its own terms. Victory will be ours!"

UKRAINE SAYS RUSSIA HAS LOST 250K TROOPS SINCE PUTIN FIRST INVADED, ZELENSKYY SHARES TRIUMPHANT MESSAGE

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation directly under Putin, accused NATO of "openly fighting" against Russia.

NATO has 31 member countries, with Finland being added earlier this year. Some NATO members include the U.S., U.K., France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Poland and Portugal.

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Ukraine is seeking to join NATO and received a pathway to membership. Still, world leaders said the country would only be added after its war with Russia ends, as membership requires NATO countries to also declare war on Russia.

Medvedevs comments come as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced early Tuesday that he had a phone call with Prime Minister Mark Rutte of Netherlands, also a NATO member.

"I am grateful for the accession of the Netherlands to the G7 Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine. We discussed future bilateral security guarantees in the framework of this declaration, which should be based on the key role of the Netherlands in the coalition of fighter jets," Zelenskyy said.

US TROOPS IN UKRAINE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE HAZARD PAY IN MOVE THAT MAY RILE PUTIN: EXPERT

He added, "I spoke about the situation on the battlefield and outlined the current defense needs, including artillery, armored vehicles, and air defense systems to protect the infrastructure of the Black Sea Grain Initiative."

The comments also come as Russia launched a "double tap" missile strike into the downtown area of the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk Monday evening, leaving at least seven dead. The deceased included five civilians, one rescue worker and one soldier.

At least 39 victims were left injured in the attack.

The "double tap" attack  or striking an area twice within a short period  specifically targeted rescue workers in the war, Ukrainian officials said.

Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said a barrage of Iskander missiles struck the city. About 40 minutes later, another barrage struck as rescue workers were tending to the victims of the first attack.

"All of (the police) were there because they were needed, putting their efforts into rescuing people after the first strike," Ivan Vyhivskyi, chief of Ukraines National Police, said Tuesday. "They knew that under the rubble were the injured  they needed to react, to dig, to retrieve, to save. And the enemy deliberately struck the second time."

Russias military has used "double tap" attacks with missiles, drones or artillery throughout its invasion of Ukraine. It used the same tactic when fighting in Syrias civil war.

The head of the Pokrovsk City Administration, Serhii Dobriak, described the attacks on Pokrovsk as "a typical Russian scenario: 30-40 minutes between missiles."

"When rescuers come to save peoples lives, another rocket arrives. And the number of casualties increases," he said in a video comment to local media.

Ukraines presidential office said Russia launched separate attacks overnight on the town of Kruhliakivka, leaving three civilians dead, and on a village near Kupiansk, killing two civilians.

Russia first invaded its neighboring Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. The invasion crossed 530 days earlier this week.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Rachel Morin was last seen on Sunday (Harford County Sheriffs Office)

Rachel Morin shared a post on Facebook that hinted at her possible affinity for thrill months before she was found dead along a forest trail in Maryland.

The mother-of-five was last seen around 6pm on Saturday when she allegedly went out for a run on the Ma and Pa Trail in Bel Air. The 37-year-old failed to return home that night and her boyfriend reported her missing, according to Harford County sheriff Jeffrey Gahler.

Morins vehicle was found in the parking lot at the entrance to the popular walking route on Sunday morning and hours later, at around 1pm, a member of the public discovered a womans body close to the trail.

Morin shared a post in February that read: "Risk can be dangerous, but routine can be deadly. Comfort has killed more dreams than daring ever did."

Authorities on Sunday night said they have opened a homicide investigation as they awaited formal identification and cause of death from the medical examiners office.

Rebekah Morin, the victims devastated sister, claimed on a GoFundme page that her sister's death was "not accidental" and she did not go "willingly".

Morin's 27-year-old boyfriend, Richard Tobin, broke his silence on Sunday night, saying he would never do anything to her.

Yes I have a past but I also have 15 months clean and have changed as a person. Please, Mr Tobin wrote on Facebook.

Court records showed Mr Tobin has two arrests for second-degree assault, and separate arrests for violating restraining orders, malicious destruction of property and drug possession dating back to 2014.

Mr Tobin has also faced charges of being a fugitive from justice, resisting arrest and disorderly intoxication, according to Maryland judiciary case search records.

He is, however, not been named as a suspect, or accused of any wrongdoing in connection with the homicide inquiry.

Right now detectives continue to work the case as aggressively as they possibly can and we will leave no stone unturned, Sheriff Gahler told reporters. I hope that changes in the coming hours, but at this point in time, there is not a suspect.
APOLLO BEACH  Deep in the throes of the most severe coral bleaching event in Floridas history, Keri ONeil, a coral scientist by trade, was in need of some hope.

It was two weeks since her team joined the scramble to rescue corals from superheated ocean waters off the Florida Keys. The whirlwind few days of travel left ONeil and many scientists feeling deflated, and hope was hard to come by.

But at exactly 2:25 p.m. Friday, after scientists had checked in on the saltwater tanks in their pitch-dark lab every seven minutes for the past hour, hope finally arrived.

At that minute, excitement replaced exhaustion. Coral babies were on the way.

An exhilarating Its happening! rang through the lab when an elkhorn coral started to spit out teeny spheres, one by one. These are commonly called bundles, a combo of sperm and egg that meander like bubbles in a lava lamp to the surface.

Bundles are precious to ONeil and her team at the Florida Aquarium, who eagerly scooped them from the tank and placed them in containers. Bundles are smaller than a millimeter across, but if handled properly, they could soon be the next generation of corals that may, one day, be planted at sea.

The buildup and release of these bundles, called spawning, is hard to accomplish in a lab. But when it happens, its a big milestone in the fight to increase the genetic diversity of an animal in desperate need of saving.

Its tough work getting corals to successfully spawn in an environment outside of the ocean. For one: It only happens once a year, and the labs conditions must mimic the ocean at night to kick off the spawning process. Corals typically spawn during the first full moon in early August, which means scientists have to perfect the lighting so it resembles a sunset.

Another complicating factor? Different coral species may not spawn on the same day, and some eggs take up to 10 months to form. It has taken researchers decades of careful observation to learn their different behaviors, their likes and dislikes.

Add an unprecedented, ongoing severe marine heat wave that threatens the existence of one of the most complex creatures on Earth, and the miraculous significance of this years coral spawning starts coming into view.

Its been an emotional roller coaster. Im running on lots of caffeine and adrenaline still, but we have to keep the hope, said ONeil, director of the Florida Aquariums Coral Conservation Program.

These spawning events captivate me every time it happens. Every single time I get just as excited and just as silly and happy, ONeil said. Theres still hope.

Coral successes put to the ultimate test

The Florida Aquarium team will now separate the eggs and sperm and pair them with the releases from other corals, usually from a reef dozens of miles away, to improve genetic diversity.

It wasnt just ONeils lab in Apollo Beach that has successfully spawned corals in recent days  despite the risk to restoration posed by the hottest ocean temperatures ever documented in the Keys region.

Several rescued corals plucked from Miamis hot waters spawned in the University of Miamis Rosenstiel hatchery lab last week. At a lab farther south, staghorn corals evacuated by the Coral Restoration Foundation spawned at Keys Marine Laboratory on Long Key late Friday night.

And offshore in ocean waters, marine biologists from the university also filmed threatened staghorn corals spawning off Key Largo, despite many of them being bleached or dying.

So poignant to see these incredibly stressed corals still helping the population continue, wrote Liv Williamson, the assistant scientist of marine biology and ecology at the University of Miami who filmed and shared footage of the offshore spawning last week.

When temperatures rise, corals bleach, or weaken, as they oust the tiny algae species in their tissues. As global climate change worsens from human-released greenhouse gas emissions, corals are only becoming more vulnerable.

Some entire sections of reef, like Cheeca Rocks within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, are now nearly or entirely bleached.

We keep seeing the reefs get hit  over and over and over again, said Jennifer Moore, the threatened coral recovery coordinator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. But the whole point of this reproduction is so that we can create new corals that we can put out on the reefs.

Moore has worked with corals for two decades, she said, but it wasnt until recently that organizations such as the Florida Aquarium began successfully spawning corals in a laboratory setting.

In 2019, the aquarium spawned several species of Atlantic coral for the first time. And more recently, in 2022, ONeil and other scientists successfully reproduced elkhorn coral for the first time in history. Those victories are now being put to the test like never before.

Its really hard because we put so much blood, sweat and tears into restoration activities, said Moore, who was visiting the Apollo Beach lab Friday.

But I have hope  because were all doing stuff.

We absolutely have to deal with the primary threats.

Waters offshore of the Florida Keys first crossed a crucial boundary, called the bleaching threshold, on June 14, according to data provided by federal ocean scientists. Water temperatures have remained above that line since.

The first signs of trouble emerged in mid-July when heat-stressed corals in the southern Florida Keys began showing signs of bleaching. Bleaching starts when temperatures reach about 2 degrees Fahrenheit above the usual summer peak.

The stress first shows itself when corals become patchy-looking. Even a few more days in scorching temperatures after that, and corals turn stark white. Its the ultimate signal of distress.

Now, fast forward weeks later, with little relief from the heat, and scientists fear the possibility of a mass-mortality event as some reef sections are already entirely bleached. Thats why coral spawning in a lab is so crucial, Moore said.

As of Sunday, the entirety of the Florida Keys was under a bleaching Alert Level 2, the highest alert level on the scale. That threshold is reached when the average sea surface temperature runs above the normal maximum for eight weeks. Tampa Bay was also placed under a Level 2 last week.

During a bad summer, the number of weeks when the water temperature is above a corals bleaching threshold for a given location is usually eight to 10 weeks, according to Bill Precht, a Miami-based coral scientist.

If temperatures hold through August and September, corals could be looking at 14 weeks or more of extreme heat this year. The effects of climate change superimposed by an El Nino weather pattern are to blame for the crisis, Precht said.

While on the campaign trail for president, Gov. Ron DeSantis has not mentioned the coral reef crisis either in public or on his social media accounts.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection said the state has devoted more than $50 million since 2019 for coral reef recovery and restoration but stopped short of connecting supercharged temperatures to climate change.

While coral bleaching events due to unseasonably hot global ocean temperatures  through El Nino or some other factor  are unwelcome, this summers trend has been forecast previously by federal ocean scientists, spokesperson Brian Miller said in an email to the Tampa Bay Times.

While recent spawning is hopeful, scientists say, coral recovery will require a multiyear, multifaceted approach. That includes reining back greenhouse gas emissions by curbing fossil fuel use, Moore said.

We absolutely have to deal with the primary threats like climate change. But if we dont also do what were doing right now, with restoration, there wont be any corals left, Moore said. So we have to do both at the same time.
The American Red Cross will be hosting blood drives across the region this month due to the shortfall in donations.

>>PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Red Cross urges people to donate; Donors to receive e-gift card, chance to win Florida trip

The Red Cross has seen a shortfall of about 25,000 blood donations in the first two months of this summer making it harder to keep hospital shelves stocked, a spokesperson said.

They are seeking donations of type O negative, type O positive, type B negative, and type A negative blood donors, as well as platelet donors.

Anyone who donates this month will get a $10 e-gift card, according to a spokesperson.

Upcoming blood donations will happen in Clark, Greene, Logan, Miami, and Montgomery Counties from August 16-31.

To see where and when those blood drives will take place, visit this webpage.

People can also make an appointment by calling 1-800-733-2767 or by clicking here.
The U.S. Air Force's premier air combat exercise, Red Flag, has been blended together with a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier's capstone Composite Training Unit Exercise, or COMPTUEX, for the first time.

The latest iteration of Red Flag was centered on longer-range maritime combat scenarios that American military aviators might expect to encounter in the Pacific, with a particular eye on a potential future conflict with China. This reflects a broader trend in joint Air Force-Navy high-end air combat training that The War Zone has been closely following, with the U.S. military as a whole now pivoting to preparing to fight a conflict over large maritime expanses with all the challenges that go with it.

A US Air Force F-35A takes off for a sortie during Red Flag 23-3. USAF

Air Force Gen. Mark Kelly, head of the service's Air Combat Command, announced the first-ever melding of a Red Flag exercise and a COMPTUEX in a Tweet earlier today. Previously, the service had only said that Navy assets, including EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft and other "carrier-based aircraft and surface vessels," had taken part in what was formally known as Red Flag 23-3. The Air Force says its F-35A Joint Strike Fighter and F-22 Raptor stealth fighters, B-1 bombers, KC-135 and KC-46 tankers, and HH-60G Pavehawk rescue helicopters also took part in the exercise, which ran from July 17 until August 4.

https://twitter.com/ACC_Commander/status/1688898247669014528

"The last week of Red Flag 23-3 occurred in conjunction with the U.S. Navy," said U.S. Air Force Col. Eric Winterbottom, head of the 414th Combat Training Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, which leads all Red Flag exercises, said in a statement in a press release today. "Integrating the Air Force and Navy into a large-scale exercise places emphasis on joint planning, communication, and execution to enhance interoperability and joint operational effectiveness."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVm3rpxahMo

At the time of writing, the Air Force does not appear to have identified the specific carrier strike group that took part in the hybrid Red Flag. However, the USS Carl Vinson is the only carrier known to have been in the region. In June, the Navy said the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group was due to hold its next COMPTUEX "later this year." A COMPTUEX is the last major training event for American aircraft carriers before their next scheduled deployment and brings together the rest of the accompanying strike group so it can practice key skill sets as a complete fighting unit.

The USS Carl Vinson and elements of its strike group during a deployment in 2018. USN

The exact composition of the carrier strike group that took part in Red Flag 23-3 is not entirely clear, either. They typically include the carrier's air wing, a Ticonderoga class cruiser, a number of Arleigh Burke class destroyers, and often at least one attack submarine. Navy carrier air wings at present include a mixture of F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters, EA-18G Growler electronic warfare jets, E-2D Hawkeye airborne early warning and control aircraft, MH-60 Seahawk helicopters, and Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) assets. The service is also in the process of integrating F-35Cs into its carrier air wing, and Carl Vinson has already previously deployed with those fighters embarked, and is also transitioning from the C-2 Greyhound COD aircraft to the CMV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor.

A Navy EA-18G Growler arrives at Nellis for Red Flag 23-3. USAF

It is worth noting that Navy aircraft, along with assets from other branches of the U.S. military, as well as allied and partner forces, regularly take part in Red Flag exercises. Red Flag 23-3 is differently significant for a number of reasons.

Historically, the Red Flags have been primarily held within the confines of the sprawling Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) complex adjacent to Nellis. Red Flag 23-3 took place in part in ranges off the coast of southern California, which are often used for COMPTUEXs. Aircraft taking part in the exercise, including F-22s, also operated directly from Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego.

https://twitter.com/wavy_zyro/status/1684986069186674688?s=20 https://twitter.com/DanielFireTruck/status/1686909498340851712

Plane spotters using online flight tracking software also tracked many participants that are staples of Red Flag as they ventured west out to the SOCAL range complex. These included RC-135 Rivet Joints, E-3 AWACS, lots of tankers, and combat search and rescue aircraft. The many tactical aircraft that were also present are not commonly shown on flight tracking apps. Some of the aircraft that were traceable ventured far out over the ocean, likely simulating a realistic combat scenario like what would occur in a fight in the Pacific against China.

https://twitter.com/thenewarea51/status/1687378769919496192?s=20

When the Red Flag exercise series began some 50 years ago, "the idea was to give them [Air Force pilots] up to 10 reps of realistic live training in air-to-air combat, large force engagement, so they had those [skills] under their belt when they went to deployment," the narrator of a video accompanying Gen. Kelly's Tweet, who is not identified, explains. "When we first started to pivot about eight-ish years ago to the INDOPACOM [U.S. Indo-Pacific Command] theater, as our interest turned to our peer competitor [China], our exercises soon followed suit."

The War Zone has highlighted this trend in the past already. Though this is the first time a COMPTUEX has been combined with a Red Flag, it is not the first time one of those Navy carrier exercises has been coupled with a major Air Force training event, either.

Last summer, pilots and aircraft assigned to the Air Force Weapon School at Nellis linked up with a carrier strike group as part of a so-called integration exercise, or WSINT. This is another type of large-scale exercise and they serve as capstone events for various courses at the Weapon School, as you can read more about here.

"What we've seen is an exponential leap in how we drive scenarios in Red Flag, and most other exercises, to Pacific-driven [ones] and all the challenges that provides, [like] the unique challenges of the large distances you find when you fight in areas like the Pacific," the narrator of the video in Gen. Kelly's Tweet continues "We've expanded our training with the Navy to include maritime training... [at] similar distance[s] that we might see in a Pacific fight, [and] that actually goes over water and poses those new challenges that flying sorties over exposed ocean does provide as opposed to doing it overland."

Air Force A-10 Warthog ground attack jets and B-1 bombers fly in formation over the Pacific during an exercise in 2022. USAF

On top of all this, the U.S. military, as a whole, is increasingly concerned about the vulnerability of existing large bases, especially to stand-off strikes. As a result, the Air Force has been focusing heavily on distributed concepts of operation that require various types of aircraft to be ready to rapidly deploy to less typical locales, including ones that might be remote or austere. In the Pacific region, available operating locations can often be very far away from each other, to begin with, further underscoring the need for experience flying overwater for extended periods.

This is all to say nothing of the demands of conducting actual combat sorties from these disparate sites or being prepared to respond to various other kinds of contingencies. The Air Force is being presented with particular challenges with regard to conducting combat search and rescue operations in the context of a high-end fight in the Pacific where traditional CSAR platforms like the HH-60G (and its replacement, the HH-60W Jolly Green II), are seen as too vulnerable and too short-legged. The service has already said that it is likely it will have to rely on other services, like the Navy, for the recovery of downed pilots in the future.

An HH-60G Pavehawk rescue helicopter taking part in Red Flag 23-3. USAF

Beyond specific types of environments, there is a growing demand to replicate potential future operations across very large areas, which has also been pushing the Air Force to expand the physical scope of Red Flag and other similar exercises. Being able to include range complexes off the southern California coast offers one option for doing this.

A map showing US military offshore training ranges along the West Coast of the United States, as well as elsewhere in the Pacific. Public Domain

The Air Force has also been increasingly using other airfields around the Nevada Test and Training Range to expand the scope and complexity of Red Flag exercises.

Overall, Red Flag 23-3 provided "provide more complex target areas" and an opportunity to practice "camouflage and concealment techniques in multiple spectrums," according to the Air Force. It included "realistic scenarios forcing reattacks in accordance with acceptable levels of risk as it concentrates on the Indo-Pacific Command," as well.

The Air Force has also been investing significantly in new technologies and tactics, techniques, and procedures to help camouflage and conceal its activities and otherwise deceive opponents to help further reduce vulnerabilities. Much of this work is classified due to operational security concerns, but The War Zone recently dove deep into what is known about what the service is doing in this regard.

The Air Force says the "prototype portable camouflage, concealment, and deception hangar" seen here at Homestead Air Reserve Base in Florida during an exercise in 2023 is one of the ways it is working to obscure its activities from enemy forces during future conflicts. USAF

The Air Force also said that this most recent iteration of Red Flag gave an opportunity for "aggressors [to] refine threat replication, apply advanced threats and jamming capabilities, and increase threat capabilities to maximize training in non-permissive environments."

Last year, the Air Force created its first dedicated aggressor squadron with F-35s, the 65th Aggressor Squadron at Nellis, with a specific mandate to replicate higher-end threats posed by Chinese forces. In May, the service announced it had stood up a new F-16 Viper-equipped aggressor unit, the 706th Aggressor Squadron, also at Nellis, to help more generally with growing demand for advanced mock opponents in large-scale exercises like Red Flag.

An aggressor F-16 takes off from Nellis Air Force Base during Red Flag 23-3. USAF

From what we know so far about Red Flag 23-3's structure, it was fully in line with a focus on preparing for a major future conflict with China in the Pacific, possibly prompted by a crisis over the status of the island of Taiwan. U.S. military officials have been increasingly sounding the alarm over China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) reaching a point where it would be confident in succeeding in an armed intervention against Taiwan before the end of the decade. Whether or not such conflict would occur along that timeline is unknown, but authorities in Beijing have made clear they are willing to use force against the island, if necessary, including if the government there declares formal independence.

In addition, the PLA has been steadily modernizing over the past few decades, in general, expanding both its operational capabilities and its capacity to project force further and further beyond the country's borders. Stealth aircraft, like the J-20 fighter, advanced drones, hypersonic weapons, and high-end electronic warfare systems have been major focus areas for China's armed forces. The PLA Navy (PLAN) has seen particular growth, too, including with the commissioning of two aircraft carriers with a third more advanced type getting ever closer to entering service.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE9yIG8zjQk\u0026t=2s

The Department of Defense prioritizes the Peoples Republic of China as our number one pacing challenge, Col. Winterbottom, the 414th Combat Training Squadron, said about Red Flag 23-3 in today's press release. By training together in a realistic and challenging environment, the USAF and Navy enhanced their joint capabilities, bolstering the nation's ability to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific.

"My priority for future Red Flag exercises is to ensure realism and relevance, he continued. Red Flag will continue to expand into long-range, dispersed, joint and coalition, peer-contested training scenarios. We also train to respond to and effectively deter nation-state threats emanating from Russia, Iran and North Korea, and transnational and non-state actor threats from violent extremist organizations, such as those operating in the Middle East, Africa, and South and Central Asia.

Altogether, Air Force large-scale exercises, overall, appear to only be increasing in size and scope, including in the physical spaces they're conducted in and the kinds of higher-end missions and threats they replicate, especially Chinese ones. While Red Flag 23-3 was the first to be interwoven with a Navy carrier's COMPTUEX, this, specifically, only looks set to become more commonplace in the future.

Contact the author: joe@thedrive.com
EXCLUSIVE: Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear's attempt to win a second term in this year's most closely watched race could buck political trends should he come out on top and remain one of the few Democrats in the country to lead a deep-red state.

Fox News Digital spoke with Beshear during a multiday campaign swing across rural Western Kentucky amid his brutal campaign for re-election and asked him how he managed to maintain one of the nation's highest approval ratings for any governor considering the stark political divide gripping the country.

"Well, every day I try to focus on those concerns of parents that they feel when they put their kids to bed at night. Those concerns that if you don't address, you don't get to anything else," Beshear said.

"Those are things like, do I have a good job? Can I afford to take my parents or kids to a doctor when they're sick? Do I feel safe in my community? Are my kids getting the best education that they can? Those things aren't red or blue, Democrat or Republican, they're just really important for those families," he said.

POPULAR DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR BREAKS WITH PARTY, SPEAKS OUT AGAINST SEX CHANGE SURGERIES FOR MINORS

Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear speaks with Fox News Digital in Paducah, Kentucky on August 4, 2023.

According to a July Morning Consult poll, Beshear holds a 64% approval rating, which includes a plurality (49%) of Kentucky's Republican voters.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Beshear also attributed his popularity to investment in Kentucky's infrastructure, including expanding roadways and access to clean drinking water. "Those are good for everyone. We try to govern in a way where we don't pull a state to the right or the left, but move it forward for all of our families," he said.

Polls have shown a tight race between Beshear and Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron, with the governor having a slight edge, a surprise to many, given the unpopularity of President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, as well as the race being largely viewed as a bellwether for the 2024 elections.

Election analysts have rated the race as either a "tossup," or "lean Democratic."

NATIONAL REPUBLICANS WADE INTO 2023'S MOST HEATED RACE, LAUNCH FIRST ATTACKS IN BID TO TAKE DOWN RED-STATE DEM

Endorsements in the race have also turned heads. In May, Beshear received the support of a number of Kentucky's coal industry leaders, and in June, he was endorsed by more than 35 sheriffs and police chiefs from across the state.

Although Cameron holds a weightier portion of the state's law enforcement endorsements, the Republican focus on rising crime across the country adds emphasis to Beshear's ability to attract such support, who he told Fox are "looking for leadership."

"I've worked with these groups these last several years, had an open door policy with the [Fraternal Order of Police] and law enforcement. I've been there in the toughest of times with them and then celebrated in some of their major accomplishments," he said.

"The coal sector  we support all energy in Kentucky, and we know how critical it is to Eastern Kentucky especially. That's why we stepped up and took on the EPA when they recently tried to put out rules that, first, simply wouldn't work, but second, would harm Kentucky," he said, referencing his clash with the Biden administration last year over fuel regulations.

DEMOCRATS COME OUT SWINGING WITH TOUGH-ON-CRIME STANCE IN DEEP-RED STATE AS REPUBLICANS PLAY CATCH-UP

A yard sign for Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear's re-election campaign outside the Walker Hall Events Center in Paducah, Kentucky on Aug. 4, 2023.

Beshear added that people were tired of things always being either "left or fight, D or R," and that his policies were "about being a Kentucky first governor and a Republican or a Democrat second."

When asked about the ongoing congressional investigations into the international business dealings of President Biden and his son Hunter, and whether that could affect the outcome of his re-election run, Beshear insisted the race was not about what happens in Washington, D.C.

"I focus on Kentucky each and every day. And let me tell you, this race isn't about Washington, D.C. and it's not about next year. It's about who Kentuckians think will do the best job as their governor," he said.

"We're seeing more investment and more opportunity coming to all of our families than we have ever seen. This is about keeping our win streak going, keeping our team together, staying together as one Kentucky and becoming the economic powerhouse that we've always dreamed of being. This race, in the end, is about our state and not anything else," he added.
By Gram Slattery, Alexandra Ulmer and Tim Reid

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Republican U.S. presidential candidate Ron DeSantis replaced his campaign manager on Tuesday as the Florida governor tries to reboot his flagging bid to overtake front-runner Donald Trump in the race for his party's 2024 nomination.

Generra Peck, a longtime DeSantis aide who had served as campaign chief since the governor launched his candidacy in May, will be replaced by James Uthmeier, another close adviser, said Andrew Romeo, the campaign's communications director.

The campaign had already made significant staff moves in July, firing almost 40 employees and reshuffling some middle- and upper-level positions.

Still, donors are anxious, and some remaining staff members are frustrated by a campaign they see as rudderless and lacking a clear vision on the trail, according to people close to the operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

It was not yet clear whether the latest reshuffle would satisfy DeSantis allies.

Dan Eberhart, a prominent Republican donor, suggested that the move was still too tepid given that Peck and Uthmeier are both simply switching from one senior campaign position to another similar position. Peck is remaining on the campaign team as chief strategist.

"Governor DeSantis has to change the dynamics," Eberhart said. "That much is clear. This is a realignment rather than a reset because both folks were already senior advisers."

DeSantis is running second in the race for the Republican nomination to face Democratic President Joe Biden in the November 2024 election, but has been sinking in opinion polls for months. The latest Reuters/Ipsos poll put his national support at just 13%, far behind former President Trump's 47%.

Uthmeier, a staunch conservative, has relatively little experience with campaigns or electoral politics in general, and it is unclear if he will take a tack to the ideological middle, which some donors are advocating.

A former senior adviser for Wilbur Ross, the secretary of commerce under Trump, Uthmeier had served as general counsel for DeSantis and most recently as his chief of staff.

"James Uthmeier has been one of Governor DeSantis' top advisers for years and he is needed where it matters most: working hand in hand with Generra Peck and the rest of the team to put the governor in the best possible position to win this primary and defeat Joe Biden," Romeo, the communications director, said in a statement.

A LOOMING DEBATE

Peck's removal came four days after Robert Bigelow, the biggest individual donor to a group supporting the DeSantis candidacy, told Reuters he would not donate more money unless the governor changes his approach because "extremism isn't going to get you elected." Bigelow said he had told Peck, who he called "a very good campaign manager," that DeSantis needed to be more moderate to have a chance.

Asked how Peck reacted, Bigelow said, laughing: "There was a long period of silence where I thought maybe she had passed out. But I think she took it all in."

DeSantis faces a crucial moment on Aug. 23 in Milwaukee at the first Republican debate of the 2024 campaign. Trump has said he plans to skip the debate, which could make DeSantis the focus of attacks from other candidates.

Also joining the DeSantis campaign as a senior adviser will be David Polyansky, who had a key role at the main outside spending group supporting DeSantis, according to one person with knowledge of the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The latest shakeup fits into a historical pattern for DeSantis, said Whit Ayres, a Republican operative who was DeSantis' pollster when he ran for Florida governor in 2018.

"This is par for the course for DeSantis' campaigns," Ayres said. "He's run for Congress three times, and for governor twice. He had different campaign staff for all five campaigns. It is very difficult to run for president the first time if you have nobody around you who has presidential experience."

It is relatively common for presidential campaign managers to get the boot during the summer before the election year when campaigns fail to take off. Republican Senator John McCain, for instance, fired almost all of his senior campaign staff in June 2007 before staging a comeback and ultimately clinching the 2008 Republican nomination.

Still, DeSantis faces historically long odds. Trump's lead of 34 percentage points has little precedent in competitive presidential primary races.

(Reporting by Gram Slattery in Washington, Alexandra Ulmer in San Francisco and Tim Reid in Los Angeles; Editing by Ross Colvin and Will Dunham)
In the summer of 1963, civil rights advocates made significant strides in breaking segregated barriers here in Maryland and nationally.

Black Baltimoreans, interfaith leaders and allies were organizing and preparing for demonstrations, such as the March on Washington  which included nearly 6,000 people from Baltimore  and the desegregation of Gwynn Oak Amusement Park in Woodlawn.

Today, that amusement park is Gwynn Oak Park, 64 acres of grassy land and picnic tables in Baltimore County. But in the summer of 1963, demonstrators from different religions and racial backgrounds drew national attention to the area by protesting against the private parks segregation policy, which allowed only white visitors.

Around 3 p.m. on the Fourth of July that year, demonstrators attempted to enter the park from various directions. Some successfully entered through the front and back entrances. As demonstrators peacefully protested, they were met with racist reactions from parkgoers.

Negroes tried to enter the park but were repulsed and arrested as white hecklers howled and cursed them, The Sun wrote at the time.

The Black press in Baltimore not only reported on the protest, but also participated in it.

Jimmy Williams, former assistant managing editor of the African-American, was arrested during the demonstration.

There comes a time in life when one can no longer sit on the sidelines while others fight his battles, Williams wrote in the Afro in 1963. For a number of us that time came on Sunday afternoon under a warm and almost cloudless sky and the dark glances and darker words of a mob, we went to jail for entering Gwynn Oak Park.

White parkgoers hurled slurs and physical objects at the demonstrators. Charles Mason, who was 25 at the time, told The Sun he was hit in the head by a rock.

They ought to shoot those white trash, an unknown man in the park told The Sun about white demonstrators.

Religious leaders such as Eugene Carson Blake, the vice chairman of the National Council of Churches, Rabbi Morris Lieberman of the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation, the Rev. Joseph Connolly of the Catholic Interracial Council, Edward A. Chance, a chairman of the Congress of Racial Equality, and other ministers were among the demonstrators.

Our business is to be where there is action  it is not for us to hide, said Bishop Daniel Corrigan, director of the Home Department of the National Council of the Protestant Episcopal Church, who was escorted out of the park and into a police wagon alongside other religious figures, according to The Sun.

Police wagons and school buses were used to haul protesters away from the park after their arrest. Nearly 300 of them were arrested for trespassing and disorderly conduct, according to The Sun.

The protest led to the integration of the park. Then-Baltimore County Executive Spiro T. Agnew negotiated the end of the parks segregation policies with the private owner Aug. 28. Later that day, a Black family entered the park, officially integrating it.

The Langleys, a family from Philadelphia that had moved to Baltimore just four years prior, brought along their 11-month-old daughter, Sharon Langley, who became the first Black child to freely ride the parks merry-go-round.

While on the ride, a white woman asked Sharons father, Charles C. Langley Jr., to watch her daughter as Mr. Langley rode with Sharon, The Sun reported.

Those are the kind of things that make me feel well be accepted, he told The Sun in 1963.

The Sun reported the scene as quiet and added that it contrasted with the protest from July 4 weeks earlier.

Nearly 50 years later, Sharon Langley, then a resident of Los Angeles, returned to Baltimore for the 50th anniversary of that moment in 2013.

So many ordinary people were part of civil rights, she said. Im glad my family felt this was an important thing to do. Every person has a part to play. Every person can do something in her community to move her community forward.

On the same day Gwynn Oak Park was integrated, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his I Have a Dream speech at the March on Washington, also known as the March for Jobs and Freedom, which drew over a quarter million people.

Protesters told The Sun the only unsympathetic note they saw on the way to the march was a car with a sign reading National Advancement of white people.

With the bloody road of the late 1960s riots ahead, thousands of Black and white Baltimoreans from different religions demonstrated against segregation back at home. Nearly 6,000 people from Baltimore traveled by bus and cars to protest segregation, with religious leaders and clergy at the forefront.

Some places we go, we arent recognized and cant eat, William Meyers, an unemployed cook, told The Sun in August 1963. He said he was sometimes told a job wasnt open to Black people.

The summer of 1963 wasnt as violent as previous summers in Baltimore.

Juanita Jackson Mitchell, the former president of Marylands NAACP Baltimore City branch and civil rights advocate, spoke about the harshness of Baltimore in the 1920s.

Mitchell was among those who pushed for Maryland to be the first Southern state to integrate schools after the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education. Like many Black people in Maryland, Mitchell attended college outside the state due to segregation laws of the time. Kings I Have a Dream speech resonated with the then-70-year-olds experience.

This was a mean city, she told The Sun in 1963 in reference to Baltimore in the 1920s.
CAIRO, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Serbia's Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Milos Vucevic met here on Tuesday to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral ties as well as military and security cooperation.

During the meeting, Sisi said Egypt values its historical ties to Serbia and reiterated Egypt's commitment to advancing cooperation in various domains that include the defense sector, according to a statement released by the Egyptian presidency.

"Egypt seeks to advance the two countries' partnership on the basis of their potentials," the president was quoted by the statement as saying.

The two sides also discussed global issues of common concern, particularly the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and its far-reaching geopolitical and economic impact.

Vucevic underlined the growing relations between the two countries and praised Egypt's increasingly influential role on both regional and international arenas.

He also commended Egypt for its unwavering efforts in countering terrorism in the region, the statement added. 
Moscow is facing challenges in exporting its grain products, namely the lack of ships, rising insurance costs, and the unwillingness of Western companies to deal with Russia, Reuters reported on Aug. 8.

Russia's exports are hindered by the so-called hidden sanctions that "may lead to an increase in freight and insurance costs," Reuters said with reference to Eduard Zernin, the head of Russia's Union of Grain Exporters.

Although Russian agricultural exports are not directly sanctioned by the West, the restrictions imposed on the banking sector and Russian individuals contribute to the rising costs, Reuters noted.

Merchant vessels are also more hesitant to sail through the Black Sea following Russia's unilateral termination of the grain deal, the news agency reported. Russia followed up its withdrawal from the grain deal by strikes against Ukraine's ports and agricultural infrastructure.

Both Moscow and Kyiv announced that ships sailing to the ports controlled by their opponent will be treated as military targets. The U.K. and the U.S. warned that Russia may also attempt to target civilian cargo ships to further hamper Ukraine's export capacities.

According to Reuters, the risks associated with sailing through the Black Sea are driving up the costs, specifically in terms of insurance, and pushing Russia toward older and smaller vessels run by less established shipping operators.

According to Reuters' sources, Russia's Agriculture Ministry predicts that grain exports will fall about 8% during the 2023-2024 season.

The ministry also announced a plan in December to build 61 new cargo vessels, citing sanctions and the refusal of many international carriers to work with Russia, Reuters said.

Russia unilaterally terminated the Black Sea Grain Initiative on July 17. The deal allowed Ukraine to export its grain even amid the ongoing full-scale invasion.

Ukraine's grain exports are vital to the world's food supply. Before the full-scale invasion, Ukraine was the fifth-largest wheat exporter globally. The grain deal had allowed for nearly 33 million metric tons of food to be exported through Ukrainian ports while it was in force, according to the U.N.

At the Africa-Russia summit in late July, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia can supplant Ukrainian exports to Africa with its own products, both as aid and on a commercial basis.

Putin presented this plan also to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a phone call, voicing hope for Turkey's cooperation.

Read also: Risk of big disruptions high in grain markets, says Black Sea expert

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
FILE PHOTO: A man rides a bike in front of the Bank of Afghanistan in Kabul

By Jonathan Landay

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S.-funded assessment of Afghanistan's central bank found that it lacks independence from the Taliban administration and adequate safeguards against money laundering and terrorism financing, a U.S. watchdog told Congress on Tuesday.

Reuters last month reported that the assessment, whose conclusions had not been made public at the time, failed to win Washington's backing for a return of central bank assets held in a $3.5 billion Swiss-based trust fund.

The U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), in a quarterly report to Congress, disclosed that the assessment found flaws with the management of the central bank, known as Da Afghanistan Bank, or DAB.

The DAB "lacked independence from the Taliban regime and had deficiencies in anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism," SIGAR said the assessment showed.

The U.S. Agency for International Development funded the review by an outside contractor.

The finding that DAB lacks independence from the Taliban, which returned to power after the August 2021 U.S. troop pullout, apparently referred to the three Taliban officials who oversee the bank and are under U.S. and U.N. sanctions.

Concerns in Washington and other capitals about the bank's leadership and anti-money laundering safeguards are at the heart of a standoff over the Taliban's demand for the return of DAB cash frozen in other countries since their takeover.

Half of about $7 billion frozen in the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank of New York was placed in the Swiss-based trust fund. The rest is being sought in lawsuits against the Taliban brought by families of victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. The Taliban harbored al Qaeda militants who plotted the attacks.

A U.S. Treasury official told Reuters last month on condition of anonymity that Washington will not support a return to DAB of Swiss-based trust fund assets until the bank shows it is free "from political influence and interference."

It also must demonstrate "adequate" controls against money laundering and terrorism financing, the official said.

(Reporting by Jonathan Landay; editing by Grant McCool)
Columbia County Sheriffs Office needs help with trying to make an arrest for the person responsible for Linville Curtiss death.

On Feb. 13, 2020, CCSO responded to a person shot at 300 Southwest Donovan Glenn.

When officers arrived they found a victim laying dead near a running vehicle. They identified the victim, Mr. Curtis, 54, from Lake City.

Read: Woman dies in Duval Co. Jail, JSO says

He was shot in his upper body.

Crime Stoppers of Columbia County is offering a reward of $1000 for information that leads to any information involving this crime.

Read: Jacksonville Sheriffs Office is asking for the communitys help in finding out how a man drowned

Also, the Florida Sheriffs Association is partnering with CCSO and crime stoppers of Columbia County to offer an additional reward of $5000.

This reward is to help locate Curtiss killer. The reward expires on May 16, 2024.

If people wish to remain anonymous, contact crime stoppers by calling 386-754-7099. Or you can submit a web tip at www.columbiacrimestoppers.net.

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Read: Man identified in brutal stabbing before being shot to death by JSO officer had violent past

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Rex Heuermanns two adult children are now living in a surreal, waking horror show following his shock arrest for the infamous Gilgo Beach serial killings, according to their attorney.

Victoria Heuermann, 26, and Christopher Sheridan, 33, still lived at home with their parents when investigators arrested their 59-year-old father on suspicion of at least three murders that rocked Long Island over a decade ago.

Mr Heuermann, a professional architect, was charged with the murders of Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy and Amber Costello last month.

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, together 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. Their remains were found in December 2010 within one-quarter mile of each other, bound by belts or tape and some wrapped in burlap  all dumped along Gilgo Beach.

They were among 11 victims found in the area  some of whom are yet to be identified  which sparked fears of one or more serial killers on the loose.

Mr Heuermann has claimed his innocence of the murders which investigators believe may have taken place inside the one-storey home in Massapequa Park that he shared with his wife of two decades Asa Ellerup, their daughter Victoria and his stepson Christopher.

Since his arrest, search teams have combed every inch of the family home looking for clues about the killings or any potential trophies taken from the victims by the accused serial killer.

Victoria, who worked at her fathers Manhattan-based architecture firm up until his arrest, and Christopher, who has developmental disabilities, have now been left to deal with the aftermath of their fathers alleged actions and the fallout from the high-profile case.

Their attorney Vess Mitev, of Mitev Law Firm, told Fox News Digital that the siblings have found themselves thrust into the developing legal case of the century and are trying to claw back some basic sense of normalcy.

Theyre constantly... having to reevaluate what is happening to them, almost in real-time, he said.

Mr Mitev said that a major concern for them is the state that their home was left in following a 12-day search by authorities.

Asa Ellerup, Victoria Heuermann and Christopher Sheridan (left to right) (GoFundMe)

Images of the aftermath show the bathtub with holes cut out and possessions strewn everywhere inside the property.

Obviously, the deplorable conditions that their house was left in  torn apart from the floorboards to the shingles, basically, is their paramount concern, he said.

[Theyre] trying to regain some basic sense of normalcy, which is completely impossible at this point.

Theyre living in a surreal, waking horror show.

Mr Mitev said that the two children had hired his services to protect their own rights and liberties as their role in their fathers murder case has yet to be determined.

Their rights and liberties have to be protected. And that investigation  is now heating up with the DA handing over troves of documents last week, and ... the leads the DA may be pursuing, whatever they may be, at some point may intertwine  with the rights and remedies that my clients have and enjoy under the Constitution and under the laws of New York, he said.

At this point, they want to hold onto whatever minimum degree of privacy they can, he said  adding that this is something that has been completely eroded under the harsh glare of the spotlight.

The comments on behalf of Victoria and Christopher come after their mother broke her silence in her first interview last week where she revealed that she has been left filled with anxiety and their two children cry themselves to sleep over the horror.

I woke up in the middle of the night, shivering ... anxiety, she told The New York Post.

My children cry themselves to sleep. I mean, theyre not children. Theyre grown adults but theyre my children, and my son has developmental disabilities and he cried himself to sleep.

Gilgo Beach serial killer suspect Rex Heuermann in court (jtc)

Ms Ellerup filed for divorce just days after his arrest but her attorney has confirmed that she has had some contact with her husband.

She found support from a somewhat unlikely source as Melissa Moore  the daughter of the notorious Happy Face Killer  launched a GoFundMe campaign to help her start her new life.

Today, I have an opportunity to use my voice to help Asa, who isnt in a place to speak about the terror and horror she and her family are experiencing at this moment, she wrote in the GoFundMe, which had topped $38,000 as of Tuesday morning.

Ms Ellerup, Victoria and Christopher were all out of town at the time of the three murders and investigators are allegedly probing whether Mr Heuermann brought the victims to the family home.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said that a massive amount of evidence had been recovered from the property as part of the investigation.

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 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.

Aerial view of search on Rex Heuermanns home (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

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 home 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.

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.

Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Costello, Maureen Brainard-Barnes and Megan Waterman (clockwise from top left) (AP)

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.
German defense contractor Rheinmetall AG has purchased 50 Leopard-1 main battle tanks from Belgium, in order to ultimately send them to Ukraine, German newspaper Handelsblatt reported on Aug. 8.

According to the report, Rheinmetall purchased 50 Leopard-1 tanks from the Belgian company OIP Land Systems. It is reported that the company plans to overhaul the tanks at its German facilities before dispatching them to Ukraine.

Read also: Russia threatens to attack planned Rheinmetall factory in Ukraine

On Aug. 7, Belgian media reported that the first batch of Belgian Leopard tanks were sent to Ukraine, purchased by an unknown country. The tanks left for Ukraine after major overhauls in Germany and Italy

Read also: Unknown country buys Leopard 1 tanks from Belgium for Ukraine

These tanks were previously in service of the Belgian army. They were decommissioned several years ago in order to save money, as the Belgian army's leadership decided to remove all heavy tracked vehicles and replace them with lighter wheeled armored vehicles.

Belgium previously refused to transfer Leopard-1 tanks to Ukraine, stating that they were "too expensive to maintain."

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
If you have decaying fruit sitting out in your kitchen you keep forgetting about, let this be a reminder to go ahead and throw it away.

Thats unless you want a swarm of fruit flies to make your kitchen their home.

Raymond Cloyd, Ph.D. and entomology professor at Kansas State University, said while fruit flies can be seen year-round, theyre most common in the summer, when fruit is more often found in kitchens.

Any location outside or inside that has rotting or ripening fruit ... is going to be a source for fruit flies, Cloyd recently told the Eagle.

If you see tiny insects resembling gnats in your kitchen buzzing around your fruit, they are probably fruit flies, scientific name Drosophila melanogaster.

Cloyd said there are other flies that may be mistaken for the fruit fly, but the distinguishing factor is bright red eyes. Other flies that may look similar will have black eyes, Cloyd said.

A single fruit fly can lay up to 500 eggs, and the females like to lay them in ripening fruit, vegetables or any organic matter, which is why fruit flies seem to appear out of nowhere. Fruit flies are also attracted to fermented goods, including liquor, wine and beer.

The life cycle of a fruit fly is extremely rapid, only taking eight days for the young to become an adult. But because female flies can lay so many eggs at once, it can be a challenge to get a population under control.

So how do you keep these small insects out of your kitchen? Here are some tips.

How to keep fruit flies out of your kitchen

The first tip is an obvious one: To keep fruit flies away, get rid of all over-ripe fruit.

Cloyd said while people may try to use aerosols to get rid of fruit flies, the best way to keep them away for a long period is by getting rid of the source.

We dont recommend spraying inside the home, Cloyd said. That will cause problems and flies are very agile ... The key is source reduction, find the source and eliminate it as soon as possible.

Make sure to clean your drains, too. Anything that could have rotting organic matter in or around it can be a breeding ground for fruit flies, Cloyd said.

Fruit flies can also breed outdoors. That means if you have fruit trees in your backyard with fallen rotting fruit, the insects breeding there can then enter your home and repopulate. Its best to get rid of any organic matter, indoor or outdoor, Cloyd said.

When getting rid of organic matter, the professor recommends using an active compost pile. If you use a trash bag, make sure to get rid of it right away, as thats just shifting the fruit flies to another location in your home.

If fruit flies are already in your home and wont seem to go away  even after throwing out all organic matter  there are several ways you can trap and dispose of the insects.

One easy way is creating a trap using apple cider vinegar and plastic wrap. Fill a glass with the vinegar, which fruit flies are attracted to, cover the opening of the glass with plastic wrap and poke enough holes so flies can get in.

Once the fruit flies enter the trap, they wont be able to get out. Good Housekeeping also recommends trying the paper funnel method or purchasing a pre-made fly trap.
Two Cal Fire employees and a contract pilot died Sunday night after their firefighting helicopter hit another chopper in midair near Riverside County, according to emergency officials and media reports on Monday. The two helicopters were fighting the Broadway Fire near the town of Cabazon.

The three men who died were 46-year-old Assistant Chief Josh Bischof, 44-year-old Capt. Tim Rodriguez and 55-year-old contract pilot Tony Sousa, Cal Fire spokesperson Capt. Chris Vurno confirmed Monday.

It is with great sadness that #CALFIRE shares the tragic loss of our employees who perished in a midair collision yesterday evening, the department posted on its social media accounts on Monday.

In the desert about 85 miles east of Los Angeles, a Sikorsky S-64E and the smaller Bell 407 (which carried Bischof, Rodriguez and Sousa) worked together to contain the Broadway Fire, which at the time covered only about 3 acres, the Associated Press reported. The Bell helicopter was being used for observation and coordination, said Cal Fire Southern Region Chief David Fulcher at a news conference early Monday. The Sikorsky can drop water or retardant on fires.

While battling the blaze, the two helicopters collided just before 7 p.m. The larger Sikorsky landed safely, but the Bell crashed and caused an additional 4-acre fire, which was extinguished, according to Associated Press reporting.

Although this was a tragic event, we are also thankful today that it wasnt worse, Fulcher said at the conference.

Bischof, Rodriguez and Sousas mission was to tell other helicopters where to drop flame retardant. They worked together with the crew of an airplane flying above all others, Cordova said. That aircrews role is called air attack.

They kind of work together, Cordova said. The air attack is the main boss up in the sky and the helicopter coordinator assists with the air attack and helps out with the helicopters.

Sousa was flying under contract with Cal Fire. The Sikorsky and its two-person crew were also under contract.

Cal Fire operates its own fleet of about 60 aircraft but also contracts with commercial companies for additional helicopters and airplanes that are on standby at bases statewide.

Cordova said in-flight collisions are rare but have occurred during previous California wildfires. He recalled two instances over several decades but did not immediately have details.

The crash is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
South Carolina health inspectors found multiple violations at restaurants in the Upstate in July, from dead roaches stuck in grease on walls to mold on salsa and refried beans. The state each month releases grades and inspection reports for food establishments across Upstate counties.

Here are the restaurants that received some of the lowest ratings in July.

Fuji Japanese Steakhouse at 152 Commons Parkway in Anderson

Fuji Japanese Steakhouse had an inspection on July 17 and got a C grade. An inspector observed multiple employees handling ready to eat foods without gloves and hand sinks at the sushi prep and bar being used for purposes other than hand washing. Also observed was escolar being sold as white tuna.

Dishes and utensils were seen with accumulations of grease and food buildup. Certain foods were seen not kept at proper holding temperatures. Various raw proteins were seen thawing at room temperature.

The restaurant had a required followup inspection on July 25 and got an A grade.

K & S Restaurant at 3107 White Horse Road in Greenville

K & S Restaurant had an inspection on July 24 and got a C grade. An inspector observed the presence of live flies landing on food prep surfaces. Floors and walls were observed as not being cleaned often enough to remove grime and debris buildup.

The restaurants food temperature thermometers accuracy was seen off by 10 degrees. Certain foods were seen not kept at proper holding temperatures.

The restaurant had a required followup inspection on July 26 and got an A grade.

Carniceria Y Taqueria El Gallo Giro at 3401 White Horse Road in Greenville

Carniceria Y Taqueria had an inspection on July 3 and got a C grade. An inspector observed large and small cockroaches in the kitchen, along with flies. Many dead cockroaches were observed trapped in grease on floors and walls. The walk-in cooler fan was seen dripping water into pans of food.

Knives were seen stored in between cooking equipment in crack that cannot be cleaned and sanitized. Whole chickens were seen stored in a non-food grade rubber tray can. Hoods, flat top grill, ice machine and other equipment were seen with grease and grime buildup.

The restaurant had three followup inspections in July and earned a B grade each time. Another required followup inspection has not yet been held.

Viva Villa Mexican Grill 3 at 929 Main Street in Greenville

Viva Villa Mexican Grill 3 had an inspection on July 10 and got a C grade. An inspector observed a can opener blade encrusted with food debris and an employee begin cooking customer orders without properly washing hands.

Shrimp was seen being thawed in a sink. An accumulation of dust was seen on the wall and ceiling of the walk-in cooler.

The restaurant had a required followup inspection on July 16 and got another C grade. The restaurant had another followup inspection on July 20 and earned an A grade.

La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant at 1011 Montague Ave. in Greenwood

La Hacienda had an inspection on July 20 and got a C grade. An inspector observed multi-colored growth on refried beens and salsa and on sides of pans in walk-in cooler. The dish washing machine was seen with brown residue.

Refrigeration equipment was seen not working properly. Multiple dishes in the facility were seen unclean to sight and touch.

The restaurant had a required followup inspection on July 20 and got another C grade. The restaurant had another followup inspection on July 24 and earned an A grade.

Nagoya Japanese Steakhouse at 225 Bypass 72 NW in Greenwood

Nagoya Japanese Steakhouse had an inspection on July 13 and got a C grade. An inspector observed the dish washing machine and dish racks with an accumulation of grime and mildew. Dishes and containers were seen broken and cracked, making them not easily cleanable.

Certain foods were seen not kept at proper holding temperatures. Some dishes were seen not cleaned properly.

The restaurant had a required followup inspection on July 18 and got a B grade. The restaurant had another followup inspection on July 21 and earned an A grade.

Dozo Sushi and Hibachi at 6606 Calhoun Memorial Highway in Pickens

Dozo Sushi and Hibachi had an inspection on July 13 and got a C grade. An inspector observed an abundance of flies and roaches throughout the facility. A buildup of grease was observed throughout the facility, on kitchen equipment and shelving.

Buildup of a black substance was seen in the ice machine.

The restaurant had a required followup inspection on July 20 and got an A grade.
No excuses.

Dwayne The Rock Johnson freaked people out late last month when he made a surprise cameo at the Equinox in Aventura.

Page Six reports that the wrestler turned actor sashayed in just before closing, telling the staff that he had just gotten off a long flight and badly needed a workout.

Its unclear whether Johnson flew into the airport in Miami-Dade or Broward County, as Aventura is kinda in the middle, or if he flew private. All we know is our guy, who entered with two people, was so itching to sweat that he bypassed the check-in process at the door.

The front desk team was noticeably shaken by the visitors, and had to address them, a source told the media outlet, adding one staffer couldnt help but be overwhelmed by the Jumanji star.

Hes so big, a staffer said before approaching Johnson and having him check in like all the other gym rats.

The Rock reportedly apologized profusely and thanked them for letting him push some iron and do whatever else he does to look like a human version of He-Man.

So what was the former Hurricane defensive lineman doing in his old stomping grounds?

On his social media, Johnson tells his followers how he was moved by the story of homeless UFC fighter Themba Gorimbo who recently won his first match, with just $7 in the bank. (The native Hawaiian has often told the inspirational story about how he only had the same amount before he hit big, even naming his production company Seven Bucks.)

With Gorimbos winnings, instead of getting an apartment, the African athlete built a water pump for his village back home in Zimbabwe.

So Johnson decided to purchase him a crib in the 305. On the water.

He never asked me for anything, but I just wanted to help the guy out, said the stars post.

On his own Insta on Friday, Gorimbo shared the video of him being surprised by the Rock at the gym where he sleeps: My life has been changed and I will use this as motivation to change others lives too.
Daniel Sancho Bronchalo has been charged with the murder of a 44-year-old Colombian surgeon in Thailand

Renowned Spanish actor Rodolfo Sancho Aguirre's son has been charged with murder for killing and dismembering a man in Thailand.

Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, 29, pleaded guilty to the murder of Edwin Arrieta Arteaga, 44, in a Thai court on Monday.

Police discovered parts of Arrieta's body at a landfill in the southern island of Koh Phangan last week.

Mr Sancho told Spanish news agency EFE he had been a "hostage"to Arrieta, who was obsessed with him.

The YouTube chef went to a Koh Phangan police station last Thursday to report that Arrieta, a Colombian surgeon, was missing, local media reported. Koh Phangan is a popular beach destination known for its raucous 'full moon' parties.

Mr Sancho filed the report shortly after human remains were discovered by trash collectors that morning, with more discovered the following day at the same location.

Through DNA tests, police determined that the remains were those of Arrieta. Questioned again on Friday, Mr Sancho admitted to killing him.

On Sunday, he led police to seven sites, where he allegedly disposed of the victim's dismembered body in plastic bags.

Local media reported that investigations showed Mr Sancho had bought, among other things, a knife, rubber gloves and a bottle of cleaning agent last Tuesday, leading police to conclude that he had made plans to kill Arrieta.

Mr Sancho hails from a well-known Spanish acting dynasty. His mother is the actress Silvia Bronchalo, while his grandfather is the late actor Felix Angel Sancho Gracia.

Mr Sancho's family released a statement on Sunday asking for "maximum respect, both for Daniel Sancho himself and for the whole family, in these delicate moments of maximum confusion."

He is currently being held in a prison on the island of Koh Samui as police continue their investigation into the murder, which they allege is premeditated, and has been denied bail.

The search for the rest of Arrieta's remains continues.
China's industry minister urges BRICS economies to collaborate in building open, inclusive digital economy

Global Times) 11:12, August 08, 2023

China's Minister of Industry and Information Technology Jin Zhuanglong on Monday emphasized the need for BRICS economies to work together to create an open, inclusive and fair environment for the development of the digital economy.

Jin made the remarks at the 7th BRICS Industry Ministers Meeting held via video conference. The meeting centers on promoting the upgrading of manufacturing industry and establishing a sustainable industrial chain and supply chain.

Jin noted that facing challenges and new opportunities in manufacturing transformation and upgrading, BRICS economies should open their doors for development and embrace cooperation with the spirit of openness, inclusiveness, and win-win cooperation.

He called for the BRICS economies to grab the opportunity of the digital era and work together to promote the digital transformation of manufacturing through key means such as industrial internet.

Jin said that BRICS economies should together build an open, inclusive, fair, just and non-discriminatory environment for the development of the digital economy, while creating a safe, stable, efficient, inclusive, and mutually beneficial global industrial supply chain system.

He suggested BRICS economies should focus on demand for talent in key areas such as industrial internet, blockchain, artificial intelligence, and big data, while jointly promoting capacity building in the field of the new industrial revolution among BRICS economies.

Jin said that the Chinese government is actively promoting new industrialization, focusing on supply-side structural reform, intelligent manufacturing and digital technology innovation and application.

The aim is to accelerate the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, advance the high-end, intelligent, and green development of the manufacturing industry, and promote the deep integration of the digital economy and the real economy, Jin noted.

The meeting reached an important consensus on topics such as the digital transformation of BRICS economies, cooperation among small and medium-sized enterprises, and the enhancement of industrial supply chain resilience.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
COLOMBO, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal to implement the national policy for 2023-2028 on anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism, the government's information department said on Tuesday.

The proposal was presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is also the country's finance minister.

The department, in its statement that lists out Cabinet decisions, said that the financial intelligence unit, operating as a department of the Sri Lankan Central Bank, enforces provisions to prevent money laundering, financing of terrorism and other illegal activities.

The financial action task force is the intergovernmental body that sets international standards to prevent money laundering and financing of terrorism and it has introduced 40 recommendations to be implemented by all countries, the information department said.

The Asia Pacific Regional Group on Money Laundering, the regional body of the financial action task force, is evaluating whether Sri Lanka is complying with the recommendations of the financial action task force.

The 3rd mutual evaluation is scheduled to start in March 2025. 
Gov. Ron DeSantis has replaced the campaign manager on his struggling GOP presidential run, his campaign said Tuesday, the latest revamp for a candidate who has plunged in the polls over the last few months.

James Uthmeier, who has served as chief of staff to DeSantis in the Florida governors office, will replace Generra Peck, who had been guiding a campaign dogged by budget troubles and defined by its flame-throwing far-right imagery.

Peck, a 36-year-old political operative who led the campaign through a bumpy launch on Twitter, had been under scrutiny in recent weeks as the campaign laid off more than a third of its staff and the candidates polling woes seemed to deepen.

James Uthmeier has been one of Governor DeSantis top advisors for years and he is needed where it matters most: working hand in hand with Generra Peck and the rest of the team to put the governor in the best possible position to win this primary and defeat Joe Biden, Andrew Romeo, a DeSantis spokesman, said in a statement.

Its time to reverse our nations decline and revive Americas future, Romeo added.

Peck will remain on the campaign as chief strategist, according to The Messenger news outlet, which previously reported the news of the switch.

Peck did not immediately respond to requests for comment for this story.

Uthmeier, who studied at the University of Florida and Georgetown Law School, clerked in the office of Sen. Marco Rubio, worked for the Jones Day law firm and then spent about two years in the U.S. Department of Commerce under former President Trump, according to his LinkedIn page. Uthmeier, 35, did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

At the start of the spring, DeSantis was scoring about 32% support from the GOP electorate, but his share has since dropped to around 15%, according to an average from the aggregation website FiveThirtyEight.

Trump has opened up a commanding lead in the GOP primary and appears to hold support from more than 50% of likely Republican voters. His polling numbers have only strengthened after he was indicted in New York, Miami and Washington, D.C.

The first Republican presidential debate is scheduled for Aug. 23. Voters are not set to head to the polls for the primary until next winter in Iowa, a state that could be trickier for Trump to win than others due to its evangelical-leaning electorate.

DeSantis has begun to sharpen his attacks on Trump.

In an NBC News interview published Monday, DeSantis rejected Trumps claims that he beat President Biden in 2020. Of course he lost, DeSantis said of Trump.
The News

Ron DeSantis has settled on a new attack, arguing that Donald Trumps giant COVID aid package is responsible for the nations current ills, from mail-in voting to rising national debt to freeloaders who wont work.

Theres just one problem: It implicates almost the entire Republican party  and possibly DeSantis himself.

Know More

The Florida governor has mentioned the $2 trillion aid package, signed by Trump in the earliest days of the pandemic in March 2020, at least three times in recent weeks.

He tweeted at the beginning of August that the Fitch Ratings downgrade of the U.S. credit rating was a result of frivolous spending and ballooning national debt for programs like the CARES [Act].

He said CARES underwrote COVID restrictions and encouraged people not to work at an event in New Hampshire.

And he amped things up even further during an NBC News interview that aired throughout Monday, saying the aid fueled 2020 election practices that Trump decried. They embraced lockdowns, he said. They did the CARES Act, which funded mail-in ballots across the country.

Shelbys view

The original CARES Act was probably the least-controversial major bill of Trumps presidency at the time  it passed the Senate with unanimous support and the House by voice vote as COVID-19 ravaged New York City. Polls showed voters of all parties strongly backed it as well.

That makes it hard to throw mud at Trump (and perhaps Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C.) without dirtying a whole lot of Republicans who might not appreciate it, even if they went on to oppose later iterations of COVID aid.

One of the rare critics of the bill at the time of passage was Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., a DeSantis ally. But almost every senator or House member, including key figures in early voting states like Sens. Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley in Iowa, supported the law, while governors across the country relied on its funding to power their own COVID responses.

DeSantis himself frequently cited CARES Act funding in press releases and sometimes on Twitter. We thank President Trump for this much-needed support and look forward to our continued work to defeat COVID-19 and emerge stronger than before, he said in one April statement announcing billions in emergency aid.

Room for Disagreement

Its possible DeSantis can recontextualize the law for voters who havent considered it in awhile. While the original CARES Act itself has not been a frequent political target, there were more intense debates later on about extending its aid provisions. By the time President Biden passed his own COVID relief bill a year later, which incorporated Trumps call for $2,000 stimulus payments, it had zero Republican votes.

The View From Trump World

If he cant remember his own glowing statements about the CARES Act from just a few years ago, how the hell does he think he can be president? Trump spokesman Steven Cheung asked in a statement.

Notable

Congress rushed to get money out the door to workers and businesses in the early days of the pandemic  now its trying to calculate how much was lost to fraud. The Department of Labors Inspector General has estimated at least $191 billion in pandemic unemployment aid may have been improperly claimed. The Small Business Administrations inspector general has estimated more than $200 billion may have wrongly gone to small businesses.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis replaced campaign manager Generra Peck with a trusted political adviser who has worked with him for years but has little campaign experience.

DeSantis handed the role over to James Uthmeier on Tuesday, pulling the staffer up from his original position as chief of staff to the DeSantis' gubernatorial office. The change, confirmed by Fox News Digital, is the latest in a weekslong "reload" of the DeSantis campaign amid disappointing poll numbers in the 2024 GOP primary race.

While Peck will stay on with the campaign as chief strategist, the move comes just weeks after top DeSantis campaign and outside advisers insisted that Pecks job steering the governor's White House bid was safe.

"James Uthmeier has been one of Governor DeSantis' top advisors for years and he is needed where it matters most: working hand in hand with Generra Peck and the rest of the team to put the governor in the best possible position to win this primary and defeat Joe Biden," campaign Communications Director Andrew Romeo told Fox in a statement. "David Polyansky will also be a critical addition to the team given his presidential campaign experience in Iowa and work at Never Back Down. We are excited about these additions as we continue to spread the governor's message across the country. It's time to reverse our nation's decline and revive America's future."

WHERE TRUMP, DESANTIS, REST OF THE FIELD STAND IN LATEST POLL IN KEY PRIMARY STATE

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis replaced campaign manager Generra Peck with a trusted political adviser who has worked with him for years but has little campaign experience.

Critics have pointed to the recent staff shakeups as evidence of a collapsing campaign, but Uthmeier argued that DeSantis still "knows how to win."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"People have written Governor DeSantiss obituary many times," Uthmeier said in a statement to The Messanger, which was first to report the news. "From his race against establishment primary candidate Adam Putnam, to his victory over legacy media-favored candidate Andrew Gillum [in 2018], to his twenty point win over Charlie Crist [in 2022], Governor DeSantis has proven that he knows how to win. Hes breaking records on fundraising and has a supporting super PAC with $100 million in the bank and an incredible ground game. Get ready."

CHECK OUT THE LATEST FOX NEWS POLL IN THE LEAD OFF STATE OF IOWA

From left to right, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former President Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and South Carolina GOP Sen. Tim Scott.

Florida's 44-year-old governor saw his popularity soar among conservatives across the country over the past three years due to his forceful pushback against coronavirus pandemic restrictions and his aggressive actions as a culture warrior going after media, corporations and teachers unions. And DeSantis won an overwhelming 19-point gubernatorial re-election victory last November, amid a cycle where the GOP suffered some high-profile setbacks at the ballot box.

But DeSantis has suffered a series of setbacks the past two months, which triggered weeks of negative stories spotlighting his campaigns overspending, staff layoffs and downsizing, and other stumbles.

Former President Donald Trump, who remains the commanding front-runner in the GOP nomination race as he makes his third straight White House run, has expanded his large double-digit lead over DeSantis in numerous polls since the governor declared his candidacy two months ago. And Desantis' advantage over the rest of the large field of 2024 Republican presidential candidates has eroded since late spring.

Trump's political allies quickly spotlighted the latest DeSantis campaign news.

"Ron DeSantis has already delivered a political hat trick today and its not even lunchtime. The only problem? All three goals were scored on himself," Karoline Leavitt, spokeswoman for the pro-Trump super PAC MAGA Inc., argued in a statement to Fox News.

WHO'S IN AND WHO'S ON THE SIDELINES  YOUR GUIDE TO THE 2024 GOP PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION RACE

DeSantis raised an impressive $20.1 million during the first six weeks of his campaign. However, nearly half  $8.2 million  came in the first 24 hours after DeSantis declared his candidacy.

And peeking past the top lines, only a small percentage of the cash DeSantis raised came from donors contributing less than $200, with much of his fundraising coming from top-dollar donors, some of whom have now maxed out and are prevented by Federal Election Commission rules from giving further contributions to the governor. Trump, by comparison, saw the lion's share of his fundraising come from small-dollar, grassroots donations.

DeSantis has also been burning through his campaign coffers at a quicker rate than Trump. The governors campaign spent $7.9 million in half the time that Trumps team shelled out $9.1 million.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (right), a 2024 Republican presidential candidate, arrives at former Sen. Scott Brown's (left) No BS Backyard BBQ event, on July 30, 2023 in Rye, New Hampshire.

The DeSantis campaign late last month told top financial contributors that a "reset" was underway. DeSantis officials acknowledged during a meeting with leading campaign donors and bundlers that they spent too much money since DeSantis launched his White House bid.

The past couple of weeks, a leaner DeSantis campaign has been holding smaller events, many of which are being organized by Never Back Down, the super PAC that's supporting the governor's 2024 White House run and which has taken over many of the tradition roles that a campaign normally conducts.

Dan Eberhart, an oil drilling chief executive officer and a prominent Republican donor and bundler who's supporting DeSantis, told Fox News on Tuesday that the Florida governor's "trying change the dynamics. That much is clear. This is a realignment rather than a reset because both folks were already senior advisors."

And Eberhart emphasized that DeSantis "'great American comeback' needs to start with the campaign."
Following one of the biggest severe weather days of the year Monday, more thunderstorms will be on the prowl in multiple parts of the United States through the end of the week, AccuWeather meteorologists warn.

Monday's deadly severe weather outbreak, which was warned by AccuWeather days in advance, triggered more than 500 reports of high winds east of the Mississippi River. The staggering number of wind reports was part of a multiple-day severe weather event that began across the Great Plains Saturday.

Mother Nature is far from done producing severe weather this week.

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The same storm system responsible for several days of severe thunderstorms finished up its dangerous and disruptive rampage in New England Tuesday evening, bringing hefty rainfall totals and areas of flash flooding. By late Tuesday night, 24-hour rainfall totals neared the 3-inch mark across central Maine, with daily records set in locations like Augusta.

Localized flash flooding was reported in portions of New Hampshire, Vermont and northeastern New York state as rain shifted northeastward across New England on Tuesday.

"These same areas in the northern tier of the Northeast were hit hard by a season's worth of rain in a few weeks' time during July," AccuWeather Meteorologist Lauren Hyde said.

Farther south, a complex of thunderstorms tracked across the Southeastern states throughout the afternoon and evening hours on Tuesday, spreading damaging winds and hail to Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. This same thunderstorm complex produced torrential rain and flash flooding in portions of eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas Tuesday morning as it tracked across the region.

AccuWeather Radar view of storms pushing across far eastern Nebraska and Kansas shortly after midnight on Wednesday.

As a separate storm system, not unlike the storm that sparked multiple days of severe weather from Saturday to Tuesday, moves out of the Rockies, it continued to trigger damaging thunderstorms over a large part of the central Plains during the early morning hours on Wednesday.

The same feature that triggered severe weather across the central Plains on Tuesday will continue to move eastward through Thursday with the likelihood of igniting damaging thunderstorms and dangerous flash flooding.

On Wednesday, a large area of severe weather is likely over the middle portion of the Mississippi Valley, including in St. Louis and Nashville.

AccuWeather meteorologists have outlined a moderate severe weather threat zone that extends across much of southern Missouri and northern Arkansas to south-central Kentucky and part of Middle Tennessee.

"Within this moderate threat zone, portions of southern Missouri and northern Arkansas could be a hot spot for a few tornadoes on Wednesday afternoon and evening," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Matt Benz said.

The same storm system will renew the risk of urban and small stream flooding from parts of Missouri and Arkansas to portions of Kentucky and Tennessee into Thursday.

Part of this region received 6-12 inches of rain from repeating storms last week. It will take less rain to trigger quick rises on small streams that could inundate campsites and communities in low-lying, unprotected areas.

On Thursday, severe weather associated with the same system will push into the Southeastern states.

Thursday's severe weather threat will stretch across a large part of the Carolinas and into Virginia, as well as much of eastern Tennessee and northern Georgia.

An area of steady rain is likely to set up north of where severe weather erupts, including across a portion of the mid-Atlantic, Benz said. He added that if the system tracks a bit farther north, the severe threat could extend into northern Virginia and central Maryland.

Even though there is some uncertainty as to how far north severe weather will fire up, a new round of downpours and thunderstorms will pivot slowly across the Northeast, causing disruptions.

As if two cross-country storms were not enough, a third system is likely to push across the northern tier of the U.S. from Thursday to Friday.

Parts of the Dakotas and Minnesota will be at risk for locally severe storms packing high winds and hail Thursday.

By Friday, the severe weather threat will shift into the upper Great Lakes region.

The strongest storms that erupt from southeastern Minnesota to northwest Indiana from Friday to Friday night can bring the threat of hail, flash flooding and localized damaging winds of 60-70 mph.

Cities within the risk zone on Friday will include Des Moines, Iowa, Chicago, Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Rochester, Minnesota.

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.
The US Department of Defense has increased its vigilance and is ready to act accordingly following joint manoeuvres of Russian and Chinese warships near Alaska.

Source: Ukrinform, citing Pentagon spokesperson Patrick Ryder

Quote: "I think that it's no surprise to anyone that China and Russia continue to look at ways to cooperate [in the military sphere  ed.] and we'll continue to monitor this situation and act appropriately."

Details: This was how Ryder answered questions about the joint manoeuvres of Russian and Chinese warships near the Aleutian Islands, which belong to the US.

Ryder noted that the Russian and Chinese warships were operating in international waters, which is perfectly legitimate. However, he said the US NORAD and NORTHCOM commands were monitoring their presence.

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Humenyuk stated that the Russian Federation has dispersed its naval group in the Black Sea

Russia has concentrated its naval fleet in the Black Sea amid minor panic, Natalia Humeniuk, spokesperson for the Southern Ukraine Defense Forces, said on national television on Aug. 8.

In the Black Sea, there is a hint of panic following recent events. They have significantly dispersed their naval fleet in an area that they once considered secure for themselves and their fleet, Humeniuk said.

Read also: Russian Black Sea Fleet facing conundrums as Ukrainian sea drones keep attacking

Ten Russian naval ships operate in the Black Sea; one is surveying the Sea of Azov, and the rest of the fleets missile carriers are moored at dock, Humeniuk said, adding that after a massive missile-drone attack, when the Russians shot off powerfully, they need to regroup.

And lets remember, the enemy has the practice of launching missiles straight from bays, she added.

Read also: Ukraine braces for new wave of Russian missile terror

Two maritime drones attacked Novorossiysk, Krasnodar Krai on Aug. 4. Subsequently, a video emerged of the large Russian landing ship Olenegorskiy Gornyak listing heavily to starboard. The ship was towed to port.

Powerful explosions were also heard near the Crimean Bridge. The Russian tanker Sig, transporting fuel for the Russian military, sustained damage. The vessel began to sink in the Kerch Strait.

Read also: Ukrainian Armed Forces taking measures to boost Odesa Oblasts defense  Humeniuk

By morning, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) confirmed it had launched a special operation attack on the Russian tanker using an underwater drone.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
(Reuters) - Russia on Tuesday aligned itself with its ally Iran in rejecting Western attempts to maintain curbs on Iran despite the collapse of a 2015 deal intended to restrain Tehran's nuclear program in return for relief from sanctions.

After a meeting between respective deputy foreign ministers in Tehran, Russia's foreign ministry said Moscow and Tehran were unanimous in believing that the failure to implement the deal stemmed from the "erroneous policy of 'maximum pressure' pursued by the United States and those who think similarly".

Then-U.S. president Donald Trump quit the deal known as the JCPOA in 2018, leaving economic sanctions in place, and Iran's relations with the West have been deteriorating ever since, as it has accelerated its nuclear programme.

But Russia, which signed the deal alongside the U.S., China, Britain, France, Germany and the European Union, has been deepening ties with Iran since its invasion of Ukraine.

The war, which Russia calls a "special military operation", has driven its own relations with the West to their lowest level in decades.

Sources told Reuters in June that European diplomats had informed Iran they planned to join the U.S. in retaining sanctions on Iran's ballistic missile programme that are set to expire in October under the nuclear deal.

They gave three reasons: Russia's use of Iranian drones against Ukraine; the possibility that Iran might transfer ballistic missiles to Russia; and depriving Iran of the benefits of the nuclear deal, which it violated after the U.S. withdrew.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov met Iranian counterparts Ali Bagheri Kani and Reza Najafi.

Russia's foreign ministry said the meeting had emphasised "the unacceptability of any attempts on the part of the West to impose some new schemes and approaches to solving problems related to the JCPOA, which imply damage to legitimate and mutually beneficial Russian-Iranian cooperation in various fields".

It said there was still "no reasonable alternative" to implementing the JCPOA, as approved by the U.N. Security Council.

(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Kevin Liffey; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
A Soyuz-2.1b rocket booster on a launchpad at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia. ROSCOSMOS via Reuters

On Friday, Russia returns to lunar exploration with its first expected moon landing since 1976.

But one village in Russia's Far East, which could be hit by falling rocket debris, is being evacuated.

Residents will go to a designated spot for a complimentary breakfast to wait and witness the launch.

Russia is evacuating residents of a village in its Far East due to concerns that fragments of the rocket boosters used to launch the country's first lunar lander since 1976 could potentially fall on it, according to a local official.

The residents of Shakhtinsky, a tiny village of around 27 people in Russia's Khabarovsk region, will be evacuated at around 7.30 a.m. on Friday, Alexei Maslov, the head of the Khabarovsk region's Verkhnebureinskyi district, said in a Telegram post on Monday.

The village falls within the potential impact zone of the launch, making the evacuation necessary, he added.

After a hiatus of nearly 50 years, Russia will launch its first lunar landing spacecraft on Friday.

It will be the country's first post-Soviet moon landing mission and, if successful, the first research station to land on the moon's south pole.

The Luna-25 lunar lander is scheduled to launch from the Vostochny Cosmodrome, approximately 3,400 miles east of Moscow. The launch center is about 460 miles west of the village of Shakhtinsky.

A map of Russia's Far East shows the Vostochny Cosmodrome and village of Shakhtinsky. Google Maps, Insider

Maslov also highlighted the potential danger of falling fragments in a Telegram post on August 2, describing the risk of injury to people nearby and likening the sound of fragments hitting the ground to "thunder."

In the same post, he asked tourists, vacationers, fishermen, and hunters in the potential fall zone to leave the area and refrain from visiting between August 11 and August 13.

According to Reuters, Maslov told Russian news outlet Business FM that the villagers will be taken to a spot where they will be able to watch the launch and get a free breakfast. They will be able to return to their homes within three-and-a-half hours, he added, per Reuters.

The launch will mark the first time a Soyuz-2 Fregar rocket booster is used for a lunar mission, which adds to what Yuri Borisov, head of Roscosmos, described in June as a high-risk mission, per Agence France-Press.

Borisov estimated that it only has a 70% chance of success, AFP reported.

The launch puts Russia in direct competition with India, which is competing to get to the moon's south pole first, with its Chandrayaan-3 mission scheduled to land later this month.

Scientists believe the south pole of the moon contains a lot of water ice, which astronauts could potentially mine for rocket fuel.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Since the beginning of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, 78 rescue workers have been killed by the Russians, 280 more have been injured.

Source: Colonel Oleksandr Khorunzhyi, spokesperson for the State Emergency Service (SES) of Ukraine, during the briefing in Military Media Center

Details: Since the beginning of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, 78 SES rescue workers have died while dealing with the aftermath of Russian missile attacks, and 280 more have been injured.

He stressed that the emergency workers are protected by international conventions since they do not participate in combat action but arrive at the site of the attacks to save and help people.

Background:

On 7 August, the deputy head of State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Donetsk Oblast was killed in the Russian missile attack on the town of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast. He arrived at the site of the strike to save people.

Two more emergency workers were injured on the same day in Kharkiv Oblast as a result of a bomb being dropped on a village.

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TEHRAN, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran and Vietnam on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to expand parliamentary cooperation, according to the ICANA news agency of the Iranian parliament.

The MoU was signed by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and visiting Chairman of Vietnam's National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue in a ceremony held after a meeting between the two sides in Iran's capital Tehran.

Speaking at the meeting, Qalibaf said cooperation with East Asia is one of Iran's foreign policy priorities, adding parliamentary diplomacy between the two countries can prepare the ground for strengthening bilateral ties at both regional and international levels.

He called for efforts to strengthen cultural, tourism, scientific and academic cooperation between the two countries, and promote the exchange of citizens' visits by facilitating visa issuance.

Qalibaf noted that launching a direct flight between Tehran and Hanoi and setting up a joint banking committee between the two countries can also facilitate the promotion of bilateral relations.

The Vietnamese official, for his part, hailed 50 years of relations between the two countries, saying there are no obstacles to the expansion of bilateral cooperation.

He added his country attaches great importance to Iran's significant role in the region, adding his country's market is open to Iranian goods and he is confident that the issues of money transfer between the two countries can be resolved by setting up a joint banking committee. 
Russian Education Minister Sergei Kravtsov attends a press conference to present a new schoolbook for high school students on general world history and Russian history, mentioning the the country's ongoing military action in Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea in 2014, in Moscow on August 7, 2023. YURI KADOBNOV/AFP via Getty Images

The Kremlin unveiled a new textbook that glorifies Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine.

The textbook is aimed at 17-year-old students and will be taught in the upcoming school year.

The book labels the Crimean peninsula as a "Nazi state," according to multiple reports.

The Russian government on Monday revealed a new high school history textbook that largely praises Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, according to multiple reports.

The book, aimed at 17-year-old students, was written and rushed out in only five months, Education Minister Sergei Kravtsov said at the Monday presser, The Independent reported.

It will become a staple of the upcoming school year's curriculum, including a period of history from 1945 to the 21st century, The Guardian reported, and will be "in all schools on September 1," Kravtsov said.

Kravtsov said the material will "convey the aims [of the Ukraine offensive] to schoolchildren," according to the Independent, which he baselessly said were "demilitarization and denazification so that schoolchildren are convinced that this is really the case."

"After the end of the special military operation [in Ukraine], after our victory, we will further supplement this book," Kravtsov said, according to The Guardian.

According to The Guardian, the textbook cites Putin when it describes how the war in Ukraine started, who has repeatedly and baselessly claimed he marched on the neighboring country because of pressure from the West.

The textbook adds that Ukraine is an "artificial state," The Guardian reported, and that the "main goal" of the West is to "destabilize the situation inside Russia," adding that Moscow often has to fight for its existence, painting the city as a victim of western aggression.

Additionally, the textbook includes a section on Russian soldiers "saving peace" during the 2014 annexation of Crimea by the Kremlin, which is labeled as a "Nazi state," throughout the book, The Guardian reported.

According to The Guardian, the Kremlin and Putin have further tightened control over the historical narrative being taught in schools, especially since the invasion of Ukraine, which has been presented to school kids as a part of Moscow's historical mission.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Russian forces shelled four communities in Sumy Oblast on Aug. 7, firing over 80 rounds from various types of weapons, the Sumy Oblast Military Administration reported on Telegram.

According to the post, Russia shelled the Krasnopiliia, Bilopillia, Seredyna-Buda, and Velyka Pysarivka communities.

Russian forces used mortars to target the Krasnopillia and Bilopillia communities, while the Seredyna-Buda community was also attacked with the grenade launchers. A private residence was damaged in the community, according to the administration.

No casualties have been reported following the shelling.

Sumy Oblast is located on Ukraine's northeastern border with Russia. It has been the target of daily Russian shelling and attacks from across the border since parts of the oblast were liberated from Russian troops in early April 2022.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Military confirms strikes on key bridges linking occupied Crimea with mainland Ukraine

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Russian propagandists are now being told to try to convince the countrys citizens of the need to support the military junta that seized power in Niger but are unable to hide their own racism, according to a new video.

Russias chief propagandist, Vladimir Solovyov, called on Russia to create close ties with African dictatorships. His attitude toward Africans was quickly made apparent.

Read also: Russian propaganda reports rise in Putins popularity despite Wagner debacle

"Why shouldn't we provide all kinds of military and technical assistance to the people of Niger in their "just" fight? Provide everything they need!" he demanded during one of his hateful broadcasts, decisively stressing the hard G sound.

Niger is correctly pronounced with the j as in jump sound; pronouncing it with the g as in green sound sounds like a well-known and highly offensive racist term  the same one practically banned in the USA and widely known throughout Russia.

Read also: Russian propagandist Solovyov has a "secret family" with US-born children

Replying to a comment from the audience about the "brotherly" and "historically close" people of Niger, Solovyov did not refrain from showcasing his racism.

"Black Rus should be free... Provide them with systems! I am sure that a lot of Niger people have mastered our systems. I am confident in it. That's how I feel. I feel they all can operate them. They have ready crews. Of strongly tanned people," he said.

Read also: Peter Pomerantsev on trying to comprehend Russian war crimes  interview

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
In an interview with NV Radio on Aug. 2, Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Refat Chubarov spoke about the explosions that have occurred over the past few days in Crimea, why the Kerch bridge is not operating, and whether there was an attack on Russian ships in the Black Sea.

NV: Fresh explosions in Simferopol region. Explosions thundered in Hvardiiske. What do you know about these incidents? Can you confirm them?

Chubarov: Drone attacks occur every day in Crimea. The occupiers are trying to hide the consequences as much as possible.

[On Aug. 1] there were explosions in near Sevastopol. The local gauleiter tried to convince everyone that a drone had been shot down after being electronically jammed and fell into a field. But experts very clearly figured out that one of the arsenals of the Russian Black Sea Fleet is located there.

Read also: Ukraine knocks out two critical bridges used by Russia to supply southern troops from Crimea  ISW

[On Aug. 2] in the morning there were similar explosions in the village of Hvardiiske, as it is now called, or Sarabuz by its historical name. It is close to Simferopol. There is an active military airfield. By the way, before the occupation of Crimea by Russian troops, it belonged to the Russian Black Sea Fleet  that is, they also used it even while Ukraine maintained sovereignty over the peninsula.

Also, there is an information skirmish in the public. Local representatives of the occupation structures say there are no consequences of this strike. Were still finding out what really happened there. And the explosions occurred where the airfield is located.

NV: Again, traffic on the Crimean bridge has been halted. What is happening on it now? Are there long lines? Is there panic? What other routes can be used by those who decide to leave the peninsula? And what about the bridge itself? We remember that they have been trying to carefully repair it for a long time since the previous attack on it.

Chubarov: After these two explosions, which occurred on July 17, the bridge is very damaged, and everyone knows this. There are repairs going on. The occupiers first announced that they would repair everything by November, but then they were forced to add to that, clarifying that it would be by December 21 of this year.

Read also: Russian invaders ship out stolen Ukrainian grain via Mariupol and Crimea

They are really working there. Although there is traffic across the bridge, it is in alternating transit mode, where they [go] in one direction, then they wait, and then the other direction moves. The bridge has really already become crippled, since in addition to the fact that traffic is very limited, it is very often stopped, because the Russian occupiers are being as careful as possible.

As soon as there is any reason, they announce a halt to movement.

Now they are building barriers to prevent, as they think, an attack by surface drones on the bridges support structures. The bridge is operating in manual mode. Fewer people are trying to use it  that is, people trying to illegally enter Crimea from the aggressors territory  because they are already aware of the threats that await them on this bridge.

NV: Are the Russians managing to transport their goods across the bridge in this ad-hoc mode? It seems that the Crimean bridge has been closed more often than it has been open for the past few weeks.

Chubarov: They are trying to further mitigate this with a ferry service. They had an expectation that the bridge would be a target for Ukrainian forces.

In advance, in the spring, they restored their ferry crossing, which had not been working for a long time after they built this bridge. There are now six ferries running constantly, and sometimes they manage to add one or two more. They transport regular buses and passenger vehicles in order to unload the bridge a little.

Read also: Risks and Dangers at the Zaporizhzhia NPP

But they allow most of the cargo through the "alternative route"  which is what they call the corridor that they created from occupied Crimea through the occupied areas of Kherson and Zaporizhzhya oblasts to Rostov region. They are trying to disperse the load on the bridge.

NV: You have already mentioned Sevastopol, and explosions were heard there the day before. There may have been some blasts in one of the ammunition depots. Please tell us more about this incident. What exploded there, and how significant was it?

Chubarov: There needs to be additional confirmation here by objective means like satellite images. This can only be done by our special services. I think we will soon get confirmation from experts of what has happened.

Experts say that one of the arsenals of the Russian Black Sea Fleet is located where the explosions occurred.

NV: Explosions in the Crimea are becoming consistent and regular. Can you assess the consequences of the blasts in Crimea over the past month? Because July on the peninsula was very "hot."

Chubarov: The damage to the bridge is a very significant result. It has significantly worsened the logistics capabilities of the occupiers, primarily with regard to their ability to ensure the reliable movement of various military cargoes and ammunition. These two attacks on the bridge are very important in terms of weakening the occupiers and reducing their military potential in occupied Crimea.

To this we can add the destruction of very large warehouses.

Read also:

On July 19, if I'm not mistaken, secondary detonations lasted more than two days in the Kirovsky District. This is far away, in an area away from noticeable communications, in the Crimean foothills. They [built] an ammunition depot, but, you see, they didn't manage to hide it even that far away.

And then similar warehouses were destroyed in the Dzhankoy district, in the village of Volnoye, an oil storage facility in the village of Oktyabrskoye.

Im only talking about objects that are directly related to the capacities of Russian troops  ammunition, fuel, equipment, and the like.

But, in addition to such war materiel losses, it is also necessary to evaluate the morale significance. After all, they were sure that Crimea was primordial Russian territory, as the Kremlin convinced them of this. They were sure, as they were assured, that no one could encroach on the Crimea.

But when all this happened, they realized that they could not defend Crimea.

This realization is also worth a lot.

First of all, for the mood of our people, who make up hundreds of thousands of residents of Crimea. These are both Crimean Tatars and ethnic Ukrainians who remain loyal to the Ukrainian state. Each of these strikes raises their spirit and strengthens hopes for the liberation of Crimea, confidence in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and in the Ukrainian state as a whole, that they would not be abandoned.

NV: To what extent have these explosions become commonplace for ordinary inhabitants of the peninsula?

Read also: Crimeas full liberation only way to guarantee Middle East security, says top security official

Chubarov: I don't know how common it is for them. Id have to be in their shoes.

But with the people we're talking to... They're expecting better results, I think. For example, when the Kerch bridge was blown up, one of my sources in Crimea, said: Listen, well, we have been waiting for a long time, October 2022 and now July. When will the next blow be, in 2024? He asks me like this, as if in jest, but it speaks of their mood.

They want to see results as soon as possible in the form of the liberation of Crimea. It is clear that these are expectations, the desire of people, but they also understand how difficult it is  every step by our forces, every [liberated] meter. We just need to know that these people are looking forward to that.

NV: The other day there were reports of the liberation of the Crimea before Christmas. UK troops are preparing a Ukrainian special forces brigade to de-occupy the peninsula. This slogan liberate Crimea before Christmas, what do Crimeans themselves feel about it? What do they say about it in Crimea?

Chubarov: In Crimea, everyone realizes that liberation is inevitable. This is the absolute truth. And everyone, based on their expectations or they behaved, is already trying to adjust accordingly.

Read also: What Russia could do in the Black Sea

We have already spoken about those hundreds of thousands of people who are waiting for liberation. But do not forget that there are more than a million people who have appeared in the Crimea who were convinced that this is now their land. They invested their resources there and built life plans based on living there.

And now, realizing that this is all collapsing before their eyes, they, of course, are in great disarray. Not in a panic, but they are trying to take the next steps as carefully as possible. We are trying to explain to them: it is best if they leave Crimea without waiting for the return of the Ukrainian military and authorities, and the restoration of our sovereignty. This would be their best option.

NV: What is Russian propaganda saying after the explosions in Hvardiiske?

Chubarov: The first official announcements appeared even before my [conversation] with you. Of course, they say that these were attempted strikes, but "these drones were destroyed by air defense forces and there was no significant damage."

But I'm saying that we need to wait for confirmation by objective means. I think we'll get it in a few hours.

The local occupation authorities make full use of two tools. Firstly, they are using every means of propaganda they can to instill into the population that what the Armed Forces of Ukraine are doing is having no effect and will have no effect.

Then, as an element of blackmail, they repeat what they are saying in the Kremlin: if there is something more serious that threatens Crimea, then Russia will use more powerful weapons, hinting at nuclear weapons.

We need to prepare for the fact that the closer our armed forces get to the Crimean Peninsula, the more actively they will try to force the message at the international level  that the advance of Ukrainian forces contributes to escalation of the war; and any direct attempt to liberate Crimea could threaten global peace.

Read also: Russian occupiers in Ukraines Crimea claim 13 drones attacked peninsula overnight

And we will hear more and more voices from European politicians  not leading ones, but ones that the Russians will have recruited and paid for this work. And there will be more voices in the world directed at demanding that Ukraine stop, otherwise there will be a threat to the whole world. Therefore, we need to prepare for this and prevent these voices from capturing public opinion among our partners.

NV: The Russian Defense Ministry reported an attack on two Russian warships in the Black Sea with naval drones 340 kilometers from Sevastopol. The Ukrainian Internal Ministry has already said that Ukraine is not involved in the attack. How was this news received in Crimea itself? What did this attack look like through the eyes of Crimeans?

Chubarov: The ships were 340 kilometers from their base of deployment in Sevastopol. There were two warships  the Sergey Kotov and the Vasily Bykov. This attack is also confirmed by independent means from our international partners.

Read also: Ukraines SBU involved in both Crimean Bridge attacks, confirms National Security Secretary

These ships are probably elements of the Russian plan that they want to implement in the Black Sea in the near future  to totally blockade our ports from access to shipping lanes. They have so far not succeeded. But they are not abandoning this plan, and they are stepping up air strikes. And they want to blockade [Ukraine] from the sea.

These attacks have shown that there may be even more radical actions or radical countermeasures. And Russia must prepare for the fact that its ships will be destroyed.

Read also: Russia concentrates Black Sea fleet following drone attacks  OK South

I am absolutely not a soldier, and it is up to the military to decide, but this vector must now be strengthened in order to prevent the absolute dominance of the Russian navy in the Black Sea.

They must be absolutely sure that as soon as they move to the final phase of this program, when they have collected enough warships to block the sea lanes with their forces, they will immediately be rebuffed. If that happens, I don't think they will risk losing their ships.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Russian invasion forces launched a missile attack on Aug. 7, targeting the city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast.

Seven people were killed in the attack and 67 people were injured, including two children.

Read also: Russia strikes New York village in Donetsk Oblast, killing four and wounded three

The invaders launched two missile strikes on the city center with an interval of several minutes, Pavlo Kyrylenko, the Head of Donetsk Oblast State Administration (OVA), wrote on Telegram. The attacks inflicted damage on nine- and five-story residential buildings, private sector homes, a hotel, restaurants, shops, and administrative buildings.

Andriy Omelchenko, the deputy chief of the State Emergency Service in Donetsk Oblast, was among the fatalities. He was 52 years old.

He devoted half of his life to service. Sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased, wrote Ihor Klymenko, the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in a Telegram message.

Read also: Two killed, 20 injured in Russian missile attack on Kryvyi Rih

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also paid tribute to Omelchenkos memory during an evening address, expressing gratitude to the State Emergency Service personnel who risk their lives to save others.

We must stop Russian terror. Anyone who fights for Ukraines freedom is saving peoples lives. Everyone in the world who aids Ukraine will, together with us, defeat the terrorists. Russia will be held accountable for everything it has inflicted in this dreadful war, Zelenskyy said.

The first floor of the residential building targeted by the Russians houses the Korleone restaurant, often frequented by volunteers and foreign journalists heading to the frontlines, according to journalist Denys Kazanskyis post on Telegram. Reportedly, the terrorist nation sought to repeat the history of the Rio pizzeria in Kramatorsk.

To hit it (the restaurant), they had to strike right into the building with people. And these monsters did just that. They deliberately targeted a residential high-rise with people, he added.

Read also:

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The number of fatalities in the 7 August Russian attack on the village of Kruhliakivka, Kharkiv Oblast, has risen from two to three persons.

Source: Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutors Office

Quote: "As of 13:18, the number of people killed has risen to three: a 45-year old woman and two men aged 65 and 52 have died."

Details: On 7 August at about 19:00, the Russian forces dropped guided aerial bombs on the village of Kruhliakivka in Kharkiv Oblast. When members of law enforcement and State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SES) arrived at the scene, the Russians launched another attack on the village using a multiple-launch rocket system.

Two people were reported killed and nine people injured. A 45-year old woman and a 65-year old man died in the attack; two women aged 57 and 60, and three men aged 61, 59 and 46 have been injured. As a result of the attack, two policemen aged 21 and 24 and two rescue workers aged 22 and 46 were injured.

A number of residential houses have been damaged or partially destroyed.

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The number of people wounded in the Russian Aug. 7 strike against Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast, has increased to 88, Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said on national television.

As of 11 a.m. local time on Aug. 8, seven people are known to have been killed, including five civilians, a rescuer, and a soldier.

Donetsk Oblast Military Administration is collecting data on casualties from all the hospitals where victims were taken after the missile attack, according to Kyrylenko.

Among the injured, three people are in critical condition  a police officer and two emergency workers, the official told journalists.

An hour before this report, Kyrylenko wrote on Telegram that the Pokrovsk attack had wounded 81 people. The previous number included two children, 31 police officers, seven first responders, and four service people.

On the evening of Aug. 7, Russian forces hit the central part of Pokrovsk with Iskander missiles twice  at 7:15 p.m. and 7:52 p.m.

According to regional authorities, 12 high-rise buildings, a hotel, the building of a local prosecutor's office, a Pension Fund building, a pharmacy, two shops, two cafes, and two civilian cars were damaged in the attack.

Pokrovsk is located some 50 kilometers from the front line, close to the administrative border with Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Military confirms strikes on key bridges linking occupied Crimea with mainland Ukraine

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A day after the Russian missile strike on the city of Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast, the Russian Ministry of Defence falsely claimed that it had struck a command centre for the Khortytsia Operational-Strategic Group of Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Ukraines Armed Forces said that this is not the first time Russia claims to have struck that particular command centre.

Source: Igor Konashenkov, spokesman for the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, in BBC News Russian Service; Serhii Cherevatyi, Deputy Commander of the Khortytsia Operational-Strategic Group of Forces and spokesman for the Skhid (East) Group of Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in a comment for Ukrainska Pravda

Details: The day after Russias deadly missile strike on Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, which killed at least 7 civilians and left another 88 injured, and which damaged a hotel and a high-rise apartment building, the Russian Ministry of Defence claimed that it struck an area near "Krasnoarmeysk" (what Pokrovsk was called in the USSR), destroying a "key Khortytsia group of Ukrainian forces command centre".

Meanwhile, Serhii Cherevatyi, spokesman for the Skhid (East) Group of Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, told Ukrainska Pravda the following.

Quote from Cherevatyi: "Of course this claim by Russias deceitful propaganda has no basis in reality. This is the third or fourth time they [claim to] destroy this command centre. Russian terrorists continue waging a war on civilians.

The destroyed group of Khortytsia forces will continue retaliating against the enemy attacks."

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A deadly Russian attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk appeared to be designed to specifically target rescue workers and first responders, Ukrainian officials alleged Tuesday, a potential war crime.

Nine people were killed and 82 were injured in the attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his daily address.

The bombardment began at 7:15 p.m. local time on Monday (12.15 p.m. ET), said Serhii Dobriak, a local military leader, when a short-range ballistic missile hit what President Zelensky called an ordinary residential building in the eastern Ukrainian citys center.

First responders arrived on the scene to treat the wounded and dig people out from under the rubble, only to be targeted themselves. The second missile struck a nearby popular hotel, though it had been empty for five weeks, according to Dobriak.

Half of the building is gone, so its good that no one was inside, he said.

The Russian Ministry of Defense said its forces had hit a command post, but Dobriak said there were no military targets near the city.

This is just terror, he told CNN by phone. This does not intimidate us, but people are dying and suffering.

Dobriak said that all the victims in the attack were either residents, rescue workers or police, including some officers who had been displaced from their homes in Mariupol after the Kremlin bombarded and eventually seized the coastal city.

Volodymyr, one of the policeman who was wounded, had helped people escape from Mariupol, including filmmakers working on a documentary called 20 days in Mariupol.

He drove us out of Mariupol in his car when the green corridor opened, thus saving us and all the materials that formed the basis of the film, the documentarys director, Mstyslav Chernov, told CNN.

Rescuers work at the site of a destroyed building on Monday. - State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Reuters

The twin strikes bore hallmarks of a "double tap." - Viacheslav Ratynskyi/Reuters

Zelensky also said there were two children among the injured, both boys, and one of them is in serious condition. His name is Mykyta, he is only 11 years old, he is a 6th grade pupil, he said.

The Ukrainian president reiterated that the fact that the second strike on Pokrovsk occurred when the rescue operation was underway indicated it was a conscious decision of terrorists to cause the most pain and the most damage.

Among the injured were first responders working for Ukraines State Emergency Service and dozens of police officers, according to Pavlo Kyrylenko, the head of Donetsk Regional Military Administration. The deputy head of the Emergency Services Donetsk branch, Andrii Omelchenko, was killed, according to Ukraines national police.

All of them were there when they were needed, putting their efforts into rescuing people after the first incoming. They knew there were victims under the rubble  so one had to react, dismantle, get them out and save them. And the enemy struck again, the national police said in a statement.

Volodymyr, the police officer from Mariupol who had helped the documentary filmmakers, told a Ukrainian public broadcaster from his hospital bed that he arrived to the scene of the attack in between the two strikes.

Volodymyr said he heard information that there might be a second strike, but chose to stay because people needed his help. He was helping first responders move the wounded into vehicles when the second missile hit.

I heard the sound of a missile, tried to fall down, but a fragment hit me in the back and punctured my lung, Volodymyr said.

The second strike prompted authorities to suspend work to clear the rubble due to fear of another strike, despite the widespread damage.

One video Zelensky posted on social media showed a heavily damaged apartment block at sunset, with residents seemingly in shock trying to assess the damage. Another clip showed emergency officials working through the smoke-filled, hazy ruins after what seemed to be one of the missile attacks.

Authorities said the blast radius of the two strikes was very large, shattering at least 2,000 windows across the city and damaging residences, shops, administrative buildings and the Friendship Hotel. Photographs shared by Ukrainian officials showed the hotel with several floors completely missing.

A wounded local resident is seen in her destroyed flat after the strikes in Pokrovsk. - Viacheslav Ratynskyi/Reuters

Debris cleanup had resumed by Tuesday morning. Rescue operations near a damaged five-story residential building were also underway, the State Emergency Service said.

The strikes in Pokrovsk appeared to bear the hallmark of a double-tap attack, in which troops conduct a first missile strike, wait, and then a fire a second projectile shortly after, allegedly targeting the emergency works responding to the initial attack.

Russian forces have been accused of carrying out double-tap strikes in both Ukraine and Syria.

A report last year from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) accused Russia of carrying out a double-tap attack in Kharkiv as well as other clear patterns of violations of international humanitarian law.

At least 78 rescue workers have been killed in Ukraine since the invasion began and another 280 have been wounded, a spokesman for the State Emergency Service said.

Pokrovsk is located in Donetsk, an eastern Ukrainian region where fighting has been ongoing since 2014, when Russia began backing pro-Moscow separatists in the Donbas region. Donetsk was one of four territories President Vladimir Putin said Russia would annex last year in violation of international law.

CNNs Yulia Kesaieva and Joshua Berlinger contributed to this report.

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A spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin claims the unified coalition around the leader makes democratic elections unnecessary and irrelevant.

Press secretary Dmitry Peskov remarked to Russian media that democratic elections have become a "costly bureaucracy" that serves no purpose due to the supposed widespread support for Putin.

"Elections are what a democracy demands and Putin himself decided to hold them, but theoretically, they dont even have to be held," Peskov told state media outlet RBK.

RUSSIAN OPPOSITION LEADER ALEXEI NAVALNY SENTENCED TO 19 YEARS IN PRISON

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends a joint news conference of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Moscow.

He added, "Because its clear that Putin will be elected. Thats completely my personal opinion."

Peskov told RBK he was seeking to clarify his statement to The New York Times earlier this week that he claims was misquoted.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"Our presidential election is not really democracy, it is costly bureaucracy," Peskov told the New York Times in an article published Aug. 6. "Mr. Putin will be re-elected next year with more than 90 percent of the vote."

RETIRED FBI COUNTERINTEL AGENT REPORTEDLY INVOLVED IN TRUMP-RUSSIA PROBE ARRESTED FOR TIES TO RUSSIA

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the government via a video conference at the Kremlin in Moscow.

The press secretary's comments on Russian democracy follow the conviction of political opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who was found guilty of extremism by a Russian court on Friday.

Navalny, already serving a nine-year sentence on separate political charges, was sentenced to an additional 19 years.

"I understand perfectly that, as many political prisoners, Im serving a life sentence, which is measured by the length of my life or the length of life of this regime," Navalny told his supporters via social media.

Navalny has long been Putin's most outspoken critic, leading anti-corruption watchdog organizations and protesting Kremlin policy.

In 2020, he sought medical attention in Germany after being poisoned with a nerve agent. He was arrested after returning to Moscow in January 2021.
KABUL, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The international community is interested in cooperating with the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) to strengthen humanitarian aid in the country, according to a statement of the charity on Tuesday.

The Acting President of the ARCS Mawlawi Matiul Haq Khalis shared the details of his recent trip to Qatar, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia in a meeting held on Monday with other staff members of the organization, according to the statement.

If the skills and capabilities of the charity's personnel in the field of humanitarian aid management are improved, charitable supplies will be distributed to the vulnerable in Afghanistan regularly under a well-managed process, the official said.

The official also stressed the need to provide work and employment opportunities for the vulnerable to help them become self-sufficient in the future, the statement said. 
Russian forces attacked five oblasts over the past day, killing at least 11 people and injuring at least 91 others, according to the authorities on Aug. 8.

Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Sumy oblasts came under attack.

In Donetsk Oblast, rescue operations are ongoing following repeated Russian strikes on the center of Pokrovsk on the evening of Aug. 7. The rescuers had to stop working overnight due to the high threat of another strike.

Ukraine's Interior Ministry reported that at least seven people were killed and 67 wounded, including two children, 29 police officers, and seven emergency workers.

Donetsk Oblast Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko reported that the outskirts of Kramatorsk were also hit, as well as multiple other settlements.

Russia also bombarded the city of Avdiivka with tanks, artillery, and air missiles, according to Kyrylenko.

In Kharkiv Oblast, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported that Bohodukhiv, Kharkiv, Chuhuiv, and Kupiansk districts were attacked over the past day.

Two civilians aged 45 and 65 were killed when Russian forces dropped four guided aerial bombs on the village of Kruhliakivka.

Nine people were injured, including two emergency workers, and six houses were damaged, Syniehubov said.

Russia also targeted the city of Kharkiv on the morning of Aug. 7 with an S-300 missile, damaging a building. No casualties were reported.

In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, repeated Russian shelling killed one 36-year-old man and injured an elderly resident in the city of Nikopol, Governor Serhii Lysak reported on Aug. 7.

The shelling of Nikopol continued overnight, Lysak said on Aug. 8, damaging two schools, 12 houses, two farm buildings, and a gas pipeline.

In Kherson Oblast, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported that the city of Kherson was shelled 18 times by Russian forces over the past day.

In the early hours of Aug. 7, Russian forces fired on a high-rise apartment building in Kherson, killing one 59-year-old woman and injuring 12 people, including two emergency workers.

In Sumy Oblast, Russian forces shelled four communities on Aug. 7, the Sumy Oblast Military Administration reported on Telegram.

Two settlements were also shelled overnight, the administration said on the morning of Aug. 8. No deaths or injuries were reported.

Read also: Update: 7 killed, 67 injured in Russian attack on Pokrovsk

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Cyber specialists of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) have blocked attempts by Russian military intelligence to gain access to the Armed Forces' combat data exchange system.

Source: press service of the Security Service of Ukraine

Quote: "As a result of complex measures, the SSU uncovered and blocked the illegal actions of Russian hackers who tried to penetrate Ukrainian military networks and organise intelligence gathering.

The SSU's prompt response prevented Russian secret services from gaining access to sensitive information on the actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the location and movement of the Defence Forces, their technical support, etc."

Details: The defensive cyber operation was conducted in cooperation with the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Illia Vitiuk, Head of the SSU Cyber Security Department, said that the hacker group Sandworm controlled by Russian military intelligence is responsible for the cyberattacks.

As a result of the investigation, SSU cyber specialists found that the Russians relied on the Ukrainian tablets seized on the battlefield to spread the viruses.

They planned to use the accesses and programs available on these devices to penetrate the system.

It is reported that the Security Service has detected almost a dozen Russian spyware programs that were designed to obtain information from the system.

It is stated that the SSU continues to work closely with the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and is documenting the actions of Russian secret services and bringing the perpetrators to justice.

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Russian forces carried out 11 attacks on Sumy Oblast on 7 August, with 88 explosions recorded.

Source: Sumy Oblast Military Administration on Telegram

Details: Seven settlements in four hromadas were attacked, including Krasnopillia, Bilopillia, Seredyna-Buda and Velyka Pysarivka. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a town, village or several villages and their adjacent territories  ed.]

Fire from mortars (32 explosions) was recorded in Krasnopillia hromada.

Russian forces deployed a grenade launcher (27 explosions) and mortars (2 explosions) to fire on Bilopillia hromada.

Seredyna-Buda hromada came under attacks from mortars (18 explosions) and grenade launchers (4 explosions). A private residential building was damaged in those attacks.

Russian forces fired from mortars (5 explosions) on Velyka Pysarivka hromada.

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The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs has claimed that "phone scammers from Ukraine" are forcing Russians to commit sabotage and terrorist attacks.

Source: Interfax, a Russian news outlet, with reference to the press service of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs

Quote from the Russian Interior Ministry: "The scammers start a conversation with victims using standard techniques: they report supposedly suspicious transfers from their bank account, attempts to take out a loan on their behalf, or offer to help law enforcement agencies stop the criminals.

After the scheme is successfully implemented and the deceived people lose all their money, the criminals do not stop. Now they try to push their easily influenced victims into committing a crime."

Details: "Phone scammers" offer a way to return the money, take revenge on the scammers or help in their detention, and sometimes "employ threats".

Quote from the Russian Interior Ministry: "But whatever the pretext, it all ends the same way: with a demand to set fire to military, transport or banking infrastructure facilities.

... It is noteworthy that fraudsters began to use this technique on a large scale only during the last week."

More details: The so-called scammers also directly address Russians with a proposal to arrange a sabotage for money.

Background:

Since the end of July 2023, more than 30 military enlistment offices have been set on fire in Russia. Some arsonists claimed that they were following the "instructions of the FSB" and were carrying out tasks given to them over the phone.

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Nikopol district in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast has suffered four Russian attacks using heavy artillery and Grad multiple-launch rocket systems overnight, with damage caused to two lyceums, 12 private residences and other facilities in Nikopol [a lyceum is a specialised secondary school - ed.].

Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration

Quote: "Two lyceums in Nikopol were damaged at the same time. An administrative building was damaged as well. In addition, 12 private residences, 2 outbuildings, a car, a gas pipeline and 4 power transmission lines were damaged."

Details: Lysak said that the Russians also hit an energy facility in Pokrov hromada [an administrative unit designating a town, village or several villages and their adjacent territories  ed.].

In addition, the Russian army attacked Nikopol again in the morning. Information on the aftermath of the attack is being confirmed.

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Russias strike on the town of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast was a terrorist attack, Ivan Stupak, military expert of the Ukrainian Institute of the Future, and a former employee of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), told Radio NV in an exclusive interview on Aug. 8.

This is terrorism. This is not just an allegory but a terrorist attack, Stupak said.

Read also: Russian troops attack Pokrovsk, hitting multi-story building

When there is a bomb blast in a market in the Middle East a car explodes, for example, law enforcement officers always cautiously approach the site since there is a high probability that the car, which is 15-20 meters away, is filled with explosives. The terrorists wait at a distance for people to start gathering, carrying out the wounded, and pulling out the dead from under the rubble.

Thats when the terrorists see that even more people have gathered than during the previous blast, then they activate the second or even the third explosive mechanism.

This is the tactic the Russians used in Pokrovsk, Stupak said.

Read also: SBU detains Ukrzaliznytsia employee for facilitating Russian attack on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast

And Ill tell you even more: among those people who stood at the site of the tragedy after the first explosion in Pokrovsk, there was at least one fire adjuster from the Russians who also watched what was happening, Stupak said.

And then, perhaps, he passed the information on to his supervisors that many people have already gathered, you can strike once again. And it happened. In other words, the Russians had their eyes on the scene.

Russia launched two missile strikes at Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast on Aug. 7, partially destroying a high-rise residential building.

Seven people were killed in the attack and 67 people were injured, including two children.

Read also:

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Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, in July 2023. Sputnik/Alexander Kazakov/Kremlin via REUTERS

Russia is granting its 200,000-strong national guard force heavy weaponry, the UK MOD said.

This shows how the Kremlin sees the force as key to ensuring "regime security," per the MOD.

While its leader bragged of its response to the Wagner mutiny, there's no sign it did much, the MOD said.

Russia's 200,000-strong national guard force is likely to be armed with heavy weaponry in a sign of its growing importance to President Vladimir Putin's regime security, according to UK intelligence.

The UK Ministry of Defense said in an intelligence update on Tuesday that Putin signed a measure into law on Friday that allows Rosgvardia "to be equipped with heavy weaponry."

It described Rosgvardia as "a sprawling organisation of up to 200,000 frontline personnel."

The MOD noted that the decision came after the uprising of the Wagner mercenary group in June, which involved the paramilitary force taking over military headquarters in a key Russian city and marching towards Moscow, before a deal was struck to have it stand down.

The leader of Rosgvardia, Putin's former bodyguard Viktor Zolotov, said that his forces "performed 'excellently' during the mutiny," the MOD said.

But "there is no evidence that Rosgvardia carried out any effective action against Wagner: exactly the sort of internal security threat it was designed to repress," it added.

The MOD also said that: "With Zolotov previously suggesting that heavy equipment should include artillery and attack helicopters, the move suggests that the Kremlin is doubling down on resourcing Rosgvardia as one of the key organisations to ensure regime security."

Reports have suggested that Putin has become increasingly isolated and paranoid since he launched the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russian independent outlet Verstka reported in May that Putin was so afraid he would be assassinated that he was refusing to travel outside of Russia.

Reports of a paranoid Putin have only intensified since the Wagner Group's mini-mutiny, which could lead to a bigger role for the national guard.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The city of Sacramento has violated a federal court order temporarily barring it from clearing homeless encampments during a heat wave.

The city on Friday and Monday cleared homeless camps from the overhangs surrounding City Hall, a city spokesman has confirmed.

The city respects the order issued by the federal court and has been working diligently to follow all aspects of it, city spokesman Tim Swanson said in a statement Monday. The city has communicated the information contained in the order to its employees, including those in the Sacramento Police Department, Code Enforcement and other departments and divisions. However, the city was previously not as effective in communicating with one of its contractors and their employees, leading to the unintentional oversights that occurred Friday and Monday. At this time, the situation involving City Hall has been addressed and remedied, with the city proactively informing the Sacramento Homeless Union this morning about the mistaken enforcement.

The Sacramento Homeless Union, which filed the lawsuit that resulted in Thursdays order, now plans a new legal action.

If theyre going to disobey the court order not once but twice at City Hall, what does that say about our confidence that theyre obeying the (order) elsewhere in the city of Sacramento? Sacramento Homeless Union attorney Anthony Prince said. Many are now going to be on the sidewalk, not protected from sun.

The union now plans to make a new filing, Prince said. In that filing the union will attempt to require the city to show why they should not be held in an order of contempt.

Prince said the city also cleared camps from outside City Hall Tuesday morning. Swanson said that is not true. When a reporter visited City Hall at 10 a.m., there were no camps.

The council is set to discuss the lawsuit Tuesday during a closed session meeting.

The council in 2019 passed an ordinance barring people from sitting or lying outside City Hall from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays. The city contracts with Allied Universal Security to roust people from the overhangs in the mornings, causing many to migrate to Cesar Chavez Plaza or the surrounding downtown streets.

The city and county have roughly 2,300 shelter beds, but all are typically full. There are roughly 9,300 homeless people living in Sacramento, most of whom are unsheltered and living in the city limits.

Judge Troy L. Nunley, who issued Thursdays ruling, issued a similar ruling against the city last summer.

The city has been under pressure to clear camps from District Attorney Thien Ho, who has been threatening to file civil or criminal legal action against city officials over the homeless crisis. Days before the ruling, the city cleared a camp at 28th and C streets, offering everyone spaces at Miller Park Safe Ground sanctioned campground, where tents sit in the sun.

Sacramentos triple digit summers can be deadly, even for those who do arent located directly in the blazing sun. In September, unhoused man Michael Hooper, 49, died of heat stroke while living in his van near a Sacramento park, according to the coroner death report.

The city and county open cooling centers during extreme heat waves, but there are no 24/7 walk-up cooling centers in Sacramento.
The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors will decide Tuesday afternoon whether to authorize a $654 million mental health annex at the downtown jail and reimburse itself for expenditures of up to nearly $1 billion for the project.

In December, county leaders voted to approve the jail mental health annex at a projected cost of $450 million.

Ken Casparis, a public information officer for the county, said the cost of the project had gone up by $200 million because the $450 million approved in December was for construction, and the $654 million figure is based on the current planned project scope, duration and estimating for contingencies, such as market escalation and other unknown factors. He said the larger number also includes furniture, equipment, permitting, utility, staff and consultant costs.

The county may agree to reimburse itself for $925 million  nearly $1 billion  which includes potential future debt obligations. In recommending the resolution, county staff wrote to the board that that large sum includes a not-to-exceed amount that is greater than the anticipated actual issuance and includes non-project costs such as costs of issuance, capitalized interest, bond insurance, a fully funded reserve fund, and other bond related expenses.

If passed, the resolution would not require the county to spend close to $1 billion on the project, but it would give officials the option to do so.

At the Tuesday board meeting, the matter is scheduled for discussion at 2:30 p.m. Members of the public will be allowed to comment, and local mental health providers and advocates have said they will protest the resolution. In a meeting last year, critics of the proposal urged the board to focus on reducing the jail population instead of building a new annex.

Supervisor Phil Serna, whose district covers much of the city of Sacramento, voted against the mental health annex in December. At the time, he noted that the price of the new building was roughly five times our annual parks budget.

Why spend millions on a mental health annex at the jail?

Because so many people incarcerated in the jail have mental health diagnoses, the Sacramento County Main Jail has become one of the countys largest mental health service providers.

And the county is under pressure to improve conditions at the I Street facility because of the a lawsuit that led to the Mays Consent Decree. Three years ago, the county settled a class action lawsuit brought by people incarcerated in the county jails.

The lead plaintiff in that case, Lorenzo Mays, spent eight years in solitary confinement while awaiting trial. In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs described inhumane conditions in the jail, including understaffing and overcrowding that led to dangerous situations and a dire lack of adequate health care services.

Previous Sacramento Bee reporting revealed that the jail put people with serious mental illness into solitary confinement, seeing no alternative because of overcrowding. Studies have shown that isolation tends to worsen mental health problems, and a study in Forensic Science International found that solitary confinement increases suicide risk.

If conditions do not improve, a court could appoint a receiver to make decisions for the board to bring the jail into compliance with the federal consent decree.

As part of the countys response to the Mays Consent Decree, a majority of supervisors previously voted to build a new mental health annex at the I Street facility.

An earlier analysis by the county said that more than half of people housed in the jail have a mental health diagnosis and receive some kind of treatment while incarcerated. Critics of the jail expansion have said that many of those people should not be incarcerated, but rather receiving treatment in a therapeutic setting.
Mayor Darrell Steinbergs attempt at a homeless strategy partnership with District Attorney Thien Ho has resulted in Ho figuratively pointing a gun at the citys head with a long list of demands and no similar set of actions of his own.

It is hard to imagine a worse relationship between the top county prosecutor and the largest city as it struggles to solve its largest problem. This is all Hos doing. It is a spectacularly unfortunate tactical decision that sets the district attorney and the city on a confrontational path just when the city has made some tough decisions about how to expand its shelter capacity for unhoused individuals.

Opinion

In a recent interview with members of The Bee Editorial Board, Ho explained that Steinberg had recently contacted him with some proposals on how to work together. Both leaders are frustrated with the proliferation of homeless encampments, the garbage on city streets, the discarded hypodermic needles and the disruption to civic life.

As events have revealed, the two leaders are polar opposites in approaches. Steinberg has sought a collaborative approach among their respective staffs to prioritize city actions leading to a greater district attorney caseload that hopefully leads to greater use of services such as addiction treatment.

Ho, meanwhile, has launched an investigation that may target unnamed city officials. And, on Monday, he responded to Steinbergs olive branch with a club.

At a press conference Tuesday morning, Steinberg detailed how he had privately made Ho a very provocative offer. The mayor said he would support something that I am not comfortable with, which is citing homeless residents en masse for misdemeanor crimes. In turn, however, Ho would have to adopt a prosecution strategy for these cases that prioritizes the care they deserve, namely diversion into substance abuse and mental health services.

Ho so far has refused such a partnership. Instead on Monday, he basically offered nothing new from his office while asking the impossible of city hall. He wants shelters with 24-hour security for thousands of homeless (75% of the estimated outdoor population) established in 30 days. He wants four new city attorneys hired in 30 days to prosecute more code infractions, and he wants the 16 identified major encampments eliminated. All in 30 days.

Government cannot get through the advertising process for a new hire in 30 days, much less interview and hire new staff members. New ordinances take considerable time to craft and enact. Ho has been in government long enough to know this, yet demands it from Sacramento anyways. He appears to be playing to a different audience than the social service workers, law enforcement officers and non-profit organizations that confront this crisis each and every day.

Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the UC Berkeley School of Law, argues that Hos threat of prosecution is based on a misreading of a court decision that essentially prevents cities from criminalizing homelessness. The humanitarian crisis by definition is both a nuisance and a tragedy.

Hos investigation is both a waste of precious government resources and is based on a wildly unrealistic set of demands.

There is, however, a great price to be paid when one government chooses confrontation with another. It destroys the ability to develop a better working relationship. Conflict consumes the energy of both sides, and it reduces the amount of government capacity to confront the actual crisis.

The city should continue to offer a partnership path to the district attorney. Hos offer, with its absurd timetable and detail, is not intended to be taken seriously.
TEHRAN, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi stated on Tuesday that while the country will continue discussing the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal with "dignity," it will also work to counteract the U.S. sanctions, as there is a lack of trust in "the other side."

He made these comments during the closing ceremony of the 21st National Media Festival of Iran, which coincided with National Journalist's Day on Aug. 8, according to a statement from the Iranian president's office.

"We have never violated the (nuclear) agreement and never left the negotiating table. Today, although we have the upper hand in the negotiations to lift the sanctions and solid demands, we will never trust the other side as we have, on numerous occasions, seen them breaking their promises," Raisi said.

Iran signed the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with world powers in July 2015, agreeing to put some curbs on its nuclear program in return for the removal of the sanctions on the country. The United States, however, pulled out of the deal in May 2018 and reimposed its unilateral sanctions on Tehran, prompting the latter to reduce some of its nuclear commitments under the deal.

The talks on the JCPOA's revival began in April 2021 in Vienna, Austria. No breakthrough has been achieved after the latest round of talks in August 2022. 
Sacramento Superior Court Judge Stephen Acquisto is at the center of a controversial move by first-term Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho to bar him from hearing criminal cases from county prosecutors.

Hos office is mum on the move, and local attorneys are buzzing about what triggered it  and why the veteran jurist is an apparent target.

So who is Stephen Acquisto? Here is a look at his history and resume, compiled using news reports from the Stockton Record and Lodi News-Sentinel, as well as legal research website Trellis.

Stockton native with California education

Acquisto attended Stockton public schools through middle school and graduated from Stocktons St. Marys High School in 1986.

He then went on to earn a bachelors degree from University of California, Santa Barbara and his juris doctor from University of San Francisco School of Law.

Private practice in Sacramento, then California AGs office

Acquisto worked as an associate for Rushford and Bonotto LLP from 1995 to 1998; and for Mennemeier, Glassman and Stroud LLP from 1998 to 2001.

Acquisto then spent a decade as a deputy attorney general in the state Attorney Generals correctional law division, where his caseload consisted of prisoner civil rights cases before moving to tackle public policy issues for the state office.

On to the Capitol

The Stockton native joined then-Gov. Jerry Browns administration in 2011 where, as chief deputy legal secretary, Acquisto took on prison overcrowding, parole review and health care matters.

Two years into his stint at the governors office, Brown tapped Acquisto for a Sacramento Superior Court judgeship. Acquisto was appointed in 2013, filling the spot vacated by the retirement of Sacramento Superior Court Judge Peter J. McBrien.

Acquisto sits in Sacramento Superior Courts Department 36.

How is Sacramento County DA barring Acquisto from cases?

Hos office confirmed to The Sacramento Bee that prosecutors plan to use a section of the California Code of Civil Procedure to blanket paper Acquisto.

The maneuver allows prosecutors to reject a judge for allegedly being prejudiced against their interests.
As Midlands students prepare for classes in the coming weeks, some students can expect to see some new security measures on the first day of school.

In Richland and Lexington counties, schools are opting for more metal detectors and school resource officers to deter bad behavior and offer some peace of mind to those sending their children to school in a post-Columbine world.

All Richland 2 high schools will now have safety screening stations, including metal detectors, at their main entrances when schools open Aug. 8. The stations will operate all day, not just in the morning, and will impact all students and visitors as they enter and exit the schools. Last month, the Richland 2 board unanimously voted to update the districts policy on the security measure.

The district is asking student drivers and car riders to arrive early to avoid being tardy to class because of wait times. Student will be asked to remove their computers, binders and any metal objects like water bottles out of their backpacks.

Theres a lot of people that are very anxious about their children going to school these days, especially when you hear stories about shootings, and last year we had a student that was stabbed on campus, said Richland 2 school board chairman Joe Trapp. In April, a student at Ridge View High School was stabbed multiple times by another student, according to a lawsuit.

Richland 2s pop-up metal detector program, which had been piloted in the district, will continue its middle schools.

Its been just over a year since Richland 1 implemented the first phase of its metal detector program. Now, the district will move to the next phase of the plan.

Metal detectors were first piloted in district schools last spring, following a review of the districts security procedures.

In April 2022, R1 Superintendent Craig Witherspoon wrote to parents, notifying them that metal detectors would be installed at various middle and high schools following the districts spring break in light of some incidents that had occurred on several school campuses. The district had been discussing the use of metal detectors several months prior to Witherspoons letter. The roll-out directly followed a situation at Lower Richland High School, in which a student was found with a stolen weapon that they had brought to school.

By the 2022-2023 school year, every Richland 1 high school had metal detectors. Now, the district is moving to have them in all middle schools as well.

Our hope is to have them ready by the time school starts, said district spokeswoman Ilyssa Weiner. Classes for Richland 1 begin Aug. 16.

Richland 1 school board chair Cheryl Harris said when the program is complete, metal detectors will have a presence in every district school, including elementary schools. Richland 1 is taking a phased approach because of the additional staffing that metal detectors require.

We know were not going to have 100% free of issues schools, but we want to get as close to 100% as possible, Harris said. From what Im hearing from parents, and even from students, they are appreciative.

Harris said that teachers and students feel safer in their classrooms with metal detectors implemented.

When they drop their children off, when their children catch the bus, we want (parents) to know that we are putting things in place to help ensure their peace of mind, Harris said.

In January, The State put out a poll regarding the use of metal detectors in schools. Of the 80 participants, 79% were in support of the security measure and 21% were opposed. Schools in Richland County have more instances with firearms that almost anywhere else in South Carolina, according to data from the states 2021-22 school report card.

Meanwhile, in Lexington County, the sheriffs office has announced that for the first time all schools in the county will have their own dedicated, full-time school resource officer.

This is a landmark accomplishment that has taken a lot of work and cooperation from all the law enforcement agencies and the five school districts across Lexington County, Sheriff Jay Koon said in a statement, crediting the move to recent increases in funding in the state budget for school resource officers. Thanks to pay increases the previous two budget cycles, weve seen deputies step up to take on these important roles. The pay increases have also positioned us to hire deputies from the outside.

When the new school year begins this week, five elementary schools will have school resource officers for the first time. Carolina Springs, Centerville, Pleasant Hill, Red Bank and White Knoll elementary schools will add resource officers to their campuses. Previously, all five had shared SROs with neighboring schools.

All five elementary schools are in Lexington 1, which returns to school Aug. 9.

In total, sheriffs deputies act as resource officers in 35 Lexington County schools. Other schools are also served by municipal police departments in Batesburg-Leesville, Cayce, Gaston, Irmo, Lexington, Pelion, Pine Ridge, Springdale, South Congaree, Swansea and West Columbia. Lexington-Richland 5 schools in Richland County are also served by Richland County deputies.

Last year, some schools experienced a shortage of school resource officers at the beginning of the school year. Lexington-Richland 5 had to contract with a private security firm to police some of its Lexington County schools, and ended up calling in some Richland County deputies to cover schools in the other county. The school board also amended its policy to allow some school district security personnel to carry guns on campus.

As schools implement more and more security measures, will they make a difference?

Anecdotal evidence suggests that metal detectors are effective in screening out weapons in schools, but according to the WestEd Justice & Research Center, statistics dont back it up. In many instances, students actually feel less safe when greeted by a metal detector, and more likely to perceive violence on campus. And research shows that the presence of school resource officers doesnt necessarily reduce school violence or mass shootings, according to the Center for Public Integrity. School policing often disproportionately affects students of color and those with disabilities.

But Trapp said that if metal detectors keep even one weapon out of schools, theyve accomplished their purpose.

I dont know that its the best thing we can do, but it does bring comfort to a lot of people, Trapp said.
Two San Diego teenagers have been arrested in the fatal shooting of Annette Pershal, a 68-year-old unhoused woman who had lived on the streets for years and was known to locals as Granny Annie.

Related: Five-hundred-pound bear Hank the Tank caught after home break-ins in Tahoe area

Pershal was found on the street unconscious on 8 May and taken to the hospital where doctors discovered shed been shot multiple times with a pellet gun, officials said. She died several days later and her death was ruled a homicide.

Police announced Friday that officers had arrested Ryan Hopkins, 19, and William Innes, 18. In an arraignment on Monday, Innes was charged with murder, unlawful possession of an assault weapon and two counts of assembling a handgun without a serial number. Hopkins was charged with assault with a deadly weapon.

Twenty minutes prior to the shooting, Innes texted a group chat, which Hopkins was a part of, saying, I want to go hobo hunting with a pellet gun, the San Diego district attorneys office alleged in court. Hopkins picked up Innes and drove to the spot where Pershal had been camping for the previous six days, the DA said. Innes then allegedly fired four to five rounds out of Hopkins vehicle.

Pershal was repeatedly struck by a pellet gun that had metal bullets, one of which hit her in the shoulder and chest, nicking a major artery, causing internal bleeding and multiple strokes, her daughter Brandy Nazworth told the Guardian on Saturday. Neither defendant sought help for the woman after the shooting and she was found the following morning with a medical emergency, the DA said. She was also hit in the head and hip, and never regained consciousness, said Nazworth, who lives in Louisiana and rushed to San Diego in May to be with her mother in her final days.

An attorney for Hopkins said in court that the group chat involved more than 150 people and claimed the hobo hunting text was sent after the shooting and that there was no evidence Hopkins saw the message. A judge ordered both men be held without bail. Innes faces a 25 years to life sentence, and Hopkins faces three years. Lawyers for the men, who both pleaded not guilty, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Pershal grew up in San Diego and often slept near a public library, 7-Eleven convenience store and other businesses in the Serra Mesa neighborhood of the southern California city, Nazworth said: She just loved the area and her community so much and didnt want to leave.

Pershal had long been waiting to get placed into housing and was working with case workers, but she was unable to secure a spot in the area that could accommodate her, her daughter said. She used a walker and couldnt move into a place with stairs.

The killing of Pershal has shone a harsh light on the violence that unhoused people face on the streets of San Diego, the second largest city in California which is grappling with a rapidly worsening homelessness and housing crisis. A government count earlier this year estimated that more than 5,000 people are living outside on the streets or in cars in San Diego county, with 1,500 of them age 55 or older.

Researchers also recently found that more than half of all unhoused adults in California are over age 50, many experiencing homelessness for the first time while struggling with housing costs and financial crises. There have also been high-profile incidents of violence against unhoused people across the Golden State, including a spate of murders in 2016 in San Diego and recent assaults captured on camera in San Francisco.

Pershals mother had owned a house in the area near where Pershal died, but had to sell the property, and Pershal became homeless around 2017 after the death of her boyfriend, Nazworth said. Nazworth and her husband visited her often and tried to get her to move to Louisiana with them, but Pershal wanted to stay in the neighborhood where shed spent her life. Nazworth would send her money and at times Uber food deliveries directly to her tent.

Brandon Nazworth, Brandys husband, said they met people in San Diego who talked about how Pershal took care of others struggling on the streets: Someone from the community told us, When I first ended up on the streets, she took me under her wing and made sure I was taken care of. She was always trying to help.

She was a grandmother figure, and she wore her Granny Annie title very strongly, Brandy added.

Last year, Pershal was placed in a rehabilitation center to help her with foot problems, but she ended up back on the street without housing. At one point, she was also in an encampment with close friends, but it eventually got shut down and scattered her community, her daughter said. Police enforcing anti-camping policies had also put her in a shelter at one point, but she ended up back on the streets and lost her tent and belongings in the process.

The city at one point discussed building a shelter in her neighborhood, but it was not built, Brandy said: She was already there, waiting for that.

I wish there was more help and accommodations for senior citizens, her daughter continued. I hope at least this brings some light to the elderly who are homeless and how unprotected they are. They are very vulnerable, and I feel like this was a hate crime. There was nothing but hate they showed my mother. I still question why they attacked her. How threatening could my mother have been to these two young men?

She suggested that part of the mens sentence could involve doing work to help unhoused people, such as building shelters.

The Nazworths had planned a trip to San Diego earlier this year to try and help Pershal, but ended up coming to organize a memorial instead. Brandy made signs that said Queen of S.M. [Serra Mesa]. Granny Annie will live on. RIP 1955  2023. Locals have maintained a memorial site for her since her death.

Pershal never complained about life on the streets, her daughter added. Shed tell me about people who would say hello to her every morning. Shed always say everything is okie dokie. She was kind of a hippie  Id like her remembered as someone who was full of love  for people, animals, for everybody.
A satellite was recording as a deadly line of thunderstorms crossed the Southeast Monday, Aug. 7, and the sky appeared to be on fire at times.

Time-lapse footage, recorded from a height of 22,300-miles and shared by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on social media Aug. 8, shows lightning strikes increased as the front neared the Appalachian Mountains in West Tennessee.

The strikes  including cloud to cloud and cloud to ground  reached a zenith late in the day as countless flashes linked to form a fluorescent arc from Georgia north into New Jersey.

At least two people died in the havoc. A 28-year-old man was killed when he was struck by lightning at an industrial park in Alabama, and a 15-year-old boy was crushed by a wind-blown tree in South Carolina, officials say.

Gusts of 70 mph were reported in some states, with 4-inch hail and a tornado with winds of 85 mph touched down north of Charlotte, North Carolina, officials say.

More than 900,000 people were left without power, and there were hundreds of reports of strong/damaging winds stretching from Mississippi to New York. NOAA says.

Lightning bolt hits patrol car, putting Florida deputy in hospital, sheriff says

Satellite shows ocean sparked as noreaster formed off North Carolinas Outer Banks
Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) reported on Aug. 8 that it had detained a collaborator in Kherson who purportedly took part in the Russian repressions against locals during the city's occupation.

The suspect voluntarily cooperated with Russian forces when they invaded Kherson last year and was given a job at a local detention facility, according to the SBU. He escorted kidnapped Ukrainians to the prison cells, where they were then tortured.

The investigation revealed that the alleged collaborator had beaten the prisoners, confiscated their personal belongings, and kept them without food and water "for a long time."

"While using physical violence against the victims, the collaborator repeatedly threatened to kill them," the SBU wrote on Telegram. "In this way, the Rashists (Russian forces and their supporters) tried to intimidate the residents and 'break' the fighting spirit of the resistance movement members."

Read also: Tortured Khersonians speak of Russias crimes

After the liberation of Kherson, the suspect went into hiding, trying to avoid justice, but the SBU eventually found him.

The law enforcement officers searched his residence, where they reportedly found documents confirming that he cooperated with Russian occupation forces, applied for Russian citizenship, and gave a "loyalty oath" to Russia.

If convicted, the suspect may face up to 15 years in prison.

According to the Aug. 2 report compiled by Western lawyers, almost half of Ukrainians held in Russian detention centers in Kherson Oblast during the occupation were tortured, with many also subjected to sexual violence.

Ukrainian troops liberated the city of Kherson and other settlements on the west bank of the Dnipro River in November 2022. The part of Kherson Oblast located on the river's east bank remains under Russian occupation.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The S.C. state agency charged with the care of foster children has received a positive progress report for the first time from a judge overseeing the settlement of a lawsuit against the agency.

Federal Judge Richard Gergel last week issued whats known as a maintenance of effort order to the Department of Social Services, as the agency is meeting specific target metrics related to children in foster care.

Those metrics include how well DSS tends to the health care needs, education and mental health of children in the agencys custody, as well as the size of caseloads for DSS employees.

This is the first time the state has been recognized for its progress since the 2016 Michelle H. lawsuit settlement, where the agency agreed to make improvements to its foster care system.





We know we have a lot of work to do and still have struggles we are working to overcome, said DSS Director Michael Leach, who joined the agency in 2019. It is gratifying to recognize our progress along the way meeting some of our goals, knowing that we are currently making a positive difference in the lives of children and youth in foster care.

Leach has said on average it takes 17 years for a state to ultimately exit from a settlement agreement.

In 2015, the agency was sued for overly relying on group home or congregate care settings rather than family-like settings and for not meeting the medical and food needs of children in foster care.

Since the 2016 settlement, the agency has aimed to invest more money for case managers, treatment programs, programs to help foster families navigate financial assistance programs and employee raises, among other initiatives to improve the care of children.

During the 2022-23 state budget process, the agency received $39.2 million more in annual money from lawmakers to continue to comply with requirements of the Michelle H. settlement agreement. The money helped pay for an agency child welfare salary plan that rewards workers based on years of service and how much education they have.

DSS Director of Communications and External Affairs Connelly-Anne Ragley said without that additional money, the agencys ongoing transformation of its child well-being system would grind to a halt.

DSS professionals have signed on to a career in service to their community and they want to help children, teens and families achieve permanency and stability, Leach said. This is a sign that the resources, including investments by the South Carolina General Assembly, and initiatives led by the agency are working. We are getting better at our work, and we are going to keep improving.
Labour wants private schools to be stripped of their charitable status, resulting in the loss of breaks on corporation tax and the likely imposition of VAT on parents bills - Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Europe

Private school fees will double for the next generation under a Labour government, research suggests.

The average cost of sending a student to boarding school will be 688,000 by 2036 if fees continue to rise by 5pc a year, according to a study carried out by Weatherbys Private Bank.

This is almost double the overall cost of 378,000 of private education for sixth formers completing their A-levels this summer, assuming they began their fee-paying education from the age of seven, the bank said.

Costs for day school pupils would rise from 186,000 to more than 344,000 under the same scenario, based on average fees. Some schools charge far more.

But the hit on families with children in boarding school would be as much as 826,000 if schools are forced to hike their fees above that level because of Labours tax raid  more than double the cost today.

For day pupils, costs would rise to 413,000. Labour wants private schools to be stripped of their charitable status, resulting in the loss of breaks on corporation tax and the likely imposition of VAT on parents bills.

Clare Munro, of the private bank, said: For many families private schooling will be possible only with the support of grandparents. They also need a realistic idea of the fees before agreeing to help  you very quickly lose a grasp of the costs once your own children have left school, and these numbers could be a shock.

She added: The parents who feel the imposition of VAT most are likely to be those professionals paying fees out of income. Most will still have to pay mortgages, which may have risen substantially, and all their other living costs. School fees are an optional extra. Youre paying that over a long period and have to hope your employment is secure and salaries rise at the same rate as school fees do.

School fees are rising by an average of 5.6pc a year. But if schools have to raise their boarding fees by 6pc, families will be charged 900,000 for a boarding school education if their child started today. At 8pc, that amount rises to 1.07m, the research found.

It comes as many middle-class families are already being priced out of Britains best private schools due to surging fees.

Telegraph analysis previously showed average boarding fees have now hit 39,000 and account for 56pc of the take-home pay of a household in the wealthiest 10pc of the country, up from 41pc in 1997.

Day fees have jumped from 7,199 to 15,654, meaning fees today account for 23.7pc of the disposable income of the wealthiest households in Britain.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies, a think tank, last month warned Labours VAT raid would push up to 40,000 children out of private schools and into state schools and into state schools  at a cost of up to 300m per year to the taxpayer.

Other parents have considered sending their children to less expensive fee-paying international schools abroad in countries such as Spain, while some are increasingly seeking help from other family members.

A report that surveyed 2,000 high-net-worth grandparents, published in June, showed that more than two-thirds of respondents (79pc) said they were helping to pay school fees for grandchildren due to the ongoing cost of living crisis.

The report, from Saltus Wealth, claimed school fees are now the biggest expense for wealthy older people.

Labour has previously defended its tax plans, saying it will fund fully-costed plans to drive high and rising standards in our state schools by ending private schools unjustifiable tax breaks.

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.
On Friday, July 28, the wind-measuring spacecraft Aeolus made its fiery return to Earth, disintegrating high above the planet's surface in the first controlled reentry of its kind.

Now, about one week later, engineers at the European Space Agency (ESA) have calculated the descent path of Aeolus, the first satellite ever to measure the winds of Earth from space and named after the keeper of the winds in Greek mythology.

Guiding Aeolus back to Earth was a tricky operation, the goal of which was for Aeolus to hit Earth as far away from population centers as possible as up to one quarter of the satellite was expected to make it all the way down to the surface.

Aeolus was brought down using a series of maneuvres beginning on Monday, July 24, and though the mission, which used the spacecraft's remaining fuel was a success, no one was around to see Aelous go down in a blaze of glory as the satellite entered Earth's atmosphere at 14:40 EDT (1840 GMT) that day over Antarctica.

Related: ISS experiment to help develop air conditioning for future space habitats

ESA's Space Debris Office used data collected during the final orbit of Aeolus together with data from U.S. Space Command to build a map that shows the approximate location of the spacecraft's disintegration in Earth's atmosphere. This process was believed to have destroyed around 80% of the spacecraft, but the map was also able to determine where in the Atlantic Ocean the remaining 20% was dispersed.

The map revealed that upon reentry and for just two minutes, Aeolus became a fireball over Earth, a manmade shooting star streaking through the atmosphere over Antarctica.

At six minutes after reentry, the team marked the location at which any surviving pieces would have fallen into the ocean. There are no plans to recover these fragments, which would have quickly sunk to the sea floor.

This final position marked on the map is remarkably close to the planned resting location of Aeolus, despite the spacecraft having never been designed for such a controlled descent or for flying at low altitudes.

The achievement of landing the craft minutes from its target is even more impressive, considering that Aeolus was traveling at around 17,000 miles per hour (27,360 kmh) , about 11 times faster than the top speed of a fighter jet.

the flight path of Aeolus over Earth as it makes its fiery reentry

Planning the fall of Aeolus

The ESA team that engineered the fall of Aeolus had several potential descent paths to choose from, but they eventually decided on one that would guide the satellite down a long path over the Atlantic Ocean. This was favorable as it saw Aeolus descend as far away from inhabited regions as possible during its final Earth orbit.

The guided reentry is estimated to have reduced the risk of surviving fragments landing near populated areas by a factor of 150. The risk of getting struck by man-made space debris is infinitesimally small. Although there have been no major incidents of injury or property damage as the result of such an incident so far, pieces of the first U.S. space station Skylab fell on a farm in Australia in 1979, and there have been multiple reports of Chinese rocket stages crashing on Asian villages. ESA therefore takes the issue of reentering spacecraft seriously.

Related stories:

 Debris from SpaceX rocket launch falls on farm in central Washington

 Debris from Chinese rocket crash found in Indonesia and Malaysia

 China's huge rocket that fell from space highlights debris risk of uncontrolled reentries

The example set by Aeolus can now be applied to other satellites in orbit around Earth that are too large to burn up completely in Earth's atmosphere.

"Space is limited and shared, and therefore space sustainability must be a global effort," head of ESA's Space Safety Programme Holger Krag said in a statement. "To ensure spaceflight for the future, we need to significantly improve the way we design and operate missions today. With Aeolus, we decided to go well beyond what Aeolus was required to do."
With national embarrassment building over the World Scouts Jamboree evacuations, a South Korean lawmaker has issued an SOS to supergroup BTS (Anthony WALLACE)

With national embarrassment building over the World Scout Jamboree evacuations, a South Korean lawmaker has issued an SOS to supergroup BTS.

The K-pop megastars are currently on a hiatus with two members -- Jin and J-Hope -- performing their mandatory military service, and another member, SUGA, set to enlist shortly.

South Korea's military should give them a leave pass so they can briefly reunite and perform for the thousands of mostly teenagers from around the world left stranded by the jamboree fiasco, according to lawmaker Sung Il-jong.

"For these precious guests, it is necessary to fill the lack of schedule... with the power of Korean culture," Sung wrote on his Facebook page.

He asked Seoul's defence ministry to "take all necessary measures" to allow BTS to perform at a K-pop concert in Seoul on Friday for the scouts.

Doing so "would help elevate South Korea's national prestige."

Sung, also a member of the parliament's national defence committee, said the jamboree had "tarnished our country's reputation due to inadequate preparation and poor management".

The defence ministry told AFP that it had "nothing to comment" on Sung's request.

About 43,000 people had gathered on South Korea's coast last week for the World Scouts Jamboree.

But it was plagued by problems, initially with a heatwave that led to mass sunstroke casualties. Poor sanitation was another problem.

An approaching typhoon led organisers to scrap the campsite proceedings completely this week.

Thousands of students were being evacuated to Seoul and other parts of the country on Tuesday.

Even before the typhoon warning, Korean media had called the jamboree "a national disgrace".

But Sung's request prompted angry responses from some BTS fans online.

"Please don't use BTS to cover yourselves up!" one wrote on Twitter, which is now being rebranded to X.

"Isn't it absurd that (the South Korean authorities) are putting the responsibility on BTS to clean up the mess they produced -- by not adequately preparing for the Jamboree?" wrote another.

BTS has played a significant role in promoting South Korea's culture, once even serving as the country's presidential envoys.

Last year, they threw a free concert in Busan in support of South Korea's bid to host the World Expo 2023 in the southern port city.

It was their last concert as a group before the members started joining the army for mandatory military service.

cdl/ceb/kma
A Kentucky-based distillery has been sold to an unlikely buyer: A major beer company..

Beer maker Molson Coors announced on Tuesday that it is purchasing Blue Run Spirits, which announced in March plans to build an innovative $51 million distillery in Lanes Run Business Park in Georgetown, with a design by the same firm that did Googles headquarters. The distillery is expected to open in 2025.

Those plans will go forward, according to the announcement. As will Blue Runs association with Bourbon Hall of Famer Jim Rutledge, who will continue to serve as the brands distillery consultant.

A purchase price for Blue Run was not immediately announced.

Blue Run Spirits released a rendering of its proposed $51 million distillery in Georgetown. The non-traditional design incorporates production and aging in one curving building topped with photovoltaic tiles. Beer maker Molson Coors announced on Tuesday it has purchased Blue Run.

Blue Run Spirits, which has released several bourbons and rye whiskies since the company was founded in 2020, announced plans to build a $51 million distillery in Scott County.

What is Molson Coors?

Chicago-based Molson Coors is the second-largest brewer in the U.S. with more than $10 billion in sales and the parent company of Coors Light, Miller Lite, Molson Canadian, Blue Moon Belgian White, Leinenkugels Summer Shandy and many other alcohol brands.

Molson Coors has been on a journey to broaden beyond our beer roots and build powerful brands in growing categories, and Blue Run joining us is an exciting next step as we establish Coors Spirits Co., said Molson Coors chief commercial officer Michelle St. Jacques in a news release. Blue Run has accomplished in three years what many brands hope to do in a generation and has done it at the luxury end of the whiskey category. Importantly, we are committed to maintaining Blue Runs well-known quality, design and innovation as we continue to grow our spirits portfolio.

Blue Run launched in October 2020 and almost immediately became a hot whiskey brand, with individual releases selling out in minutes. Releases have won many awards in spirits competitions.

Three new Blue Run releases are slated for late summer/fall release, according to the news release. Blue Run, known for its bottles with the butterfly medallion, is available online and in 31 states.

Blue Run Spirits has released several acclaimed bourbons and rye whiskeys. The brand is building a distillery in Georgetown.

Blue Run will join Molson Coors other whiskey brands, Barmen 1873 Bourbon and Five Trail Blended American Whiskey, in the new Coors Spirits Co. under the larger Molson Coors umbrella.

Blue Run joins the newly established Coors Spirits Co., which is an expansion of its current spirits business.

Rising spirits star Shaylyn Gammon will serve as whiskey curator for Coors Spirits Co. and Blue Run co-founder and CEO Mike Montgomery will become VP of Coors Spirits Co. David Coors will continue to lead Molson Coors full-strength spirits strategy and business development as executive chair of Coors Spirits Co.

Shaylyn Gammon, who worked with whiskey legends Jimmy and Eddie Russell at Wild Turkey, has been named the first whiskey director at Blue Run Spirits.

Jim Rutledge will continue as contracted distillery consultant for Blue Run under the new Coors Spirits Co.

Molson Coors sells more than beer, now sells whiskey

Molson Coors, known primarily as a publicly traded beer company, entered the spirits business in 2021 with the launch of Five Trail Blended American Whiskey. In 2022, Molson Coors introduced Barmen 1873 Bourbon.

Since launching Blue Run, we have always strived to do things a little differently to truly embrace todays younger, more diverse generation of whiskey drinkers, Montgomery said. We are humbled by how the whiskey community has embraced our vision and that Molson Coors wants to join and support us in this journey.

Blue Run Spirits released renderings of the $51 million distillery that is planned for Georgetowns Lanes Run Business Park. Construction will begin later this year; its expected to open in 2025. Molson Coors announced on Tuesday it has purchased Blue Run.

Other big Kentucky distillery sales

The Blue Run sale is at least the fourth major sale in the last two years. In March 2022, Bardstown Bourbon Co. was sold to Pritzker Private Capital. June 2022 Bardstown Bourbon Co. bought Green River distilling in Owensboro. And in October 2022, Wilderness Trail Distillery in Danville, the 14th largest in the world, sold for $600 million to Campari Group.
JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Two children were killed and three others injured as unknown men threw grenades into a house in east Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, provincial police spokesman Abdul Basir Zabuli said Tuesday.

According to the official, the incident occurred in the Shiekh Musri locality of Surkhrod district late Monday night when unidentified men threw two grenades into a house, killing two children on the spot and injuring three other people, including a woman.

The official added that further investigations had been initiated into the incident without providing more details. 
NASHVILLE, Tenn.  A security guard charged with second-degree murder over a 2018 fatal shooting outside the Nashville restaurant where he was working headed to trial Monday, a case that hinges on whether he was justified to fire at a man involved in a shootout outside the business.

Nathan Glass faces an indictment in the October 2018 death of 25-year-old Deangelo Knox, who was engaged in a shootout with people in another car outside a well-known Nashville restaurant named The Pharmacy Burger Parlor & Beer Garden.

During opening arguments, Assistant District Attorney David Jones contended that Knox was was fleeing and fighting for his life, returning fire at the other car before Glass shot him. Jones said no gunfire was aimed toward the restaurant until Glass fired his shot, attracting attention and gunfire from those in the shootout.

Glass "chose to murder a crime victim when he chose to shoot Deangelo Knox in the head," Jones said.

Angela Dotson-Heard, mother of DeAngelo Knox, attends a press conference at NAACP headquarters to talk about the arrest of Nathan Glass in the fatal shooting of her son in Nashville, Tenn. Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020.

In response, Glass' attorney argued that Knox was looking for a "gun battle" with the people in the other car, and Glass acted within his duty as a security guard to protect himself and others.

"What Nathan Glass did was justified," said David Veile, Glass's defense attorney. "What Deangelo Knox did was not."

Knox crashed his car into a parked car and got out as the gunfire continued, prosecutors said. Glass shot Knox from behind the cover of the door of the restaurant, the prosecutor said.

The arguments kicked off the trial without mentioning a key point in the case's backdrop: Glass was hired as a Nashville police officer after the shooting.

Months before the shooting, Glass had been admitted to the police academy. His entry into the program was paused due to the investigation into the shooting. He was allowed to attend the academy in March 2019 after an assistant district attorney determined prosecutors couldn't overcome Glass's claim of self-defense and defense of others. That assistant district attorney was no longer working with the office as of a couple weeks prior to Glass' indictment in November 2020.

In October 2020, Glass was decommissioned of his policing authority by the Nashville department pending an investigation by its Office of Professional Accountability into social media posts by Glass in 2013. The social media posts attacked former President Barack Obama, immigrants who are in the country illegally and Muslims, the internal police investigation shows.

The local NAACP chapter raised concerns about the posts by Glass, who is white. Knox was Black.

Police were only checking job applicants' Facebook profiles at the time and didn't search for or ask about a potential Instagram page, an internal investigation found. Now, Nashville Police have a full-time social media analyst to wade through multiple social media sites for background checks, according to department spokesperson Don Aaron.

Glass resigned as an officer in late 2021, with disciplinary action pending from his department, as police investigators cited the grand jury's indictment.

A lawsuit by Knox's family over the shooting against Glass and other parties was settled, without settlement details made public.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville security guard on trial in 2018 shootout near Pharmacy Burger
Security around the judge overseeing former President Trumps Jan. 6 case has reportedly increased at the federal courthouse in Washington, D.C., where the case will be tried.

A spokesman for the U.S. Marshals Service in a statement would not confirm if security has increased around U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan but said it ensures judges can do their jobs free from harm.

Ensuring that judges can rule independently and free from harm or intimidation is paramount to the rule of law, and a fundamental mission of the USMS, said Brady McCarron, a spokesperson for the agency. While we do not discuss our specific security measures, we continuously review the measures in place and take appropriate steps to ensure the integrity of the federal judicial process.

CNN first reported that Chutkans security was increased, writing that its reporters observed additional protection for the Obama appointee, and that deputy U.S. Marshals discussed security plans for her Monday.

Chutkan was randomly assigned to Trumps case after he was indicted last week on four charges. Her role in the case has placed her squarely in the former presidents line of fire. Trump has said on Truth Social that his counsel plans to move to recuse Chutkan from the case, calling her the Judge of [special counsel Jack Smiths] dreams.

There is no way I can get a fair trial with the judge assigned to the ridiculous freedom of speech/fair elections case, Trump wrote in all caps in a Truth Social post Sunday. Everybody knows this, and so does she!

Chutkan has handed down tough sentences to Jan. 6 defendants, matching or exceeding the sentences prosecutors have asked. But legal experts described her as an experienced judge and suggested efforts to disqualify or recuse her are ridiculous.

Theres absolutely no basis for that, said David Sklansky, a Stanford Law professor and co-director of the universitys Criminal Justice Center. I will be interested to see whether any of Trumps lawyers are willing to make that suggestion; its such a crazy suggestion from a legal standpoint.

John Lauro, one of the attorneys representing Trump in the D.C. case, said on a podcast with Florida defense attorney David Markus that Trumps counsel has made no final decision on that issue.

It has to be really looked at with a fine-toothed comb, Lauro said. It raises a lot of issues.

The first hearing in Trumps case before Chutkan is scheduled for Aug. 28, where the judge is expected to set a trial date. Trump is not expected to be present.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) sent a letter to Google leaders Tuesday, warning the company over its testing of Med-PaLM 2 artificial intelligence (AI) in hospitals.

In a rollout of the technology earlier this year, Google said the AI tool could answer medical questions to assist health care providers. The first-of-its-kind tech is being tested in a limited capacity at medical facilities including the Mayo Clinic, The Wall Street Journal reported last month.

But Warner urged caution, saying it might not be ready for these uses.

While the technology has shown some promising results, there are also concerning reports of repeated inaccuracies and of Googles own senior researchers expressing reservations about the readiness of the technology, Warners office said in a statement.

While artificial intelligence (AI) undoubtedly holds tremendous potential to improve patient care and health outcomes, I worry that premature deployment of unproven technology could lead to the erosion of trust in our medical professionals and institutions, the exacerbation of existing racial disparities in health outcomes, and an increased risk of diagnostic and care-delivery errors, Warner said in the letter.

The Med-PaLM2 is the first large-language model to reach expert level on U.S. medical exam questions, with about 86 percent accuracy, the company claims.

Warner said he is concerned about the technologys accuracy and the privacy of patient data. Med-PaLM2 is representative of the AI industrys penchant for pushing technology into the market before it may be ready, he said.

This race to establish market share is readily apparent and especially concerning in the health care industry, given the life-and-death consequences of mistakes in the clinical setting, declines of trust in health care institutions in recent years, and the sensitivity of health information, Warner said.

The letter includes a list of questions for Google leaders to answer about the technology, including details on how Google collects and retains private data and where the tech is in use.

A Google spokesperson stood by the companys technology, reiterating that the rollout is limited and that the company does not control private data.

We believe AI has the potential to transform healthcare and medicine and are committed to exploring with safety, equity, evidence and privacy at the core, the spokesperson said.

As stated in April, were making Med-PaLM 2 available to a select group of healthcare organizations for limited testing, to explore use cases and share feedback  a critical step in building safe and helpful technology. These customers retain control over their data.

Updated: 2:37 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A top State Department official met with Nigers junta leaders, urging them to back down from an attempted coup in the country and pushing for the release of the detained president.

Victoria Nuland, the acting deputy secretary of State, said in a call with reporters late Monday night that she held extremely frank and difficult talks with the nations self-proclaimed chief of defense, Gen. Moussa Salaou Barmou, and three colonels supporting him.

The U.S., France and regional leaders in Africa are pushing for Nigers coup leaders to abandon their overthrow of the democratic government or risk a military confrontation threatened by neighbors in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and led by Nigeria.

Nigers junta refused to step down by a Sunday deadline set by ECOWAS, and the heads of state of member nations are set to meet Thursday to discuss the next steps. They have said military intervention is a last resort.

The U.S. has carefully called the military takeover in Niger, which was launched July 26, an attempted coup to maintain diplomatic channels that would otherwise be shut by a formal declaration.

Nulands visit to the capital of Niamey made her the highest-ranking U.S. official to meet face-to-face with Nigers military junta, whose leaders have a long and personal history working with the American military.

Nuland was blunt about how Barmou and his backers were uncompromising in the face of U.S. offers for mediation, and that the military officials rejected Biden administration calls to meet with Nigers detained president, Mohamed Bazoum, who is under house arrest with his family.

We kept open the door to continue talking. But again, it was difficult today, and I will be straight up about that, she said.

Weve talked to [Bazoum] on the phone, but we havent seen him  and that was never granted, she added.

We also asked for some gestures of health and welfare; he is in a very difficult situation under virtual house arrest, along with his son and his wife. I hope, over the coming period, the people responsible for the current situation will come back to those requests.

Nuland also said that Barmou also rejected requests for U.S. officials to meet with the leader of the attempted coup, Gen. Abdourahamane Tiani.

We also were not granted an opportunity to see the self-proclaimed president, Mr. Tiani. So we were left to have to depend on Mr. Barmou to make clear, again, what is at stake, Nuland said.

Niger hosts more than 1,000 U.S. troops in the country who worked closely with Nigerien forces in counterterrorism operations and provided training and assistance. The U.S. has paused more than $100 million in security and development assistance to the government in response to the coup, but had yet to change its military posture in the country as of Monday.

Barmou, who was a colonel before the coup was launched, has a long history of working with U.S. special forces, and Nuland said this allowed her to go into considerable detail the risks to aspects of our cooperation that he has historically cared about a lot. So we are hopeful that that will sink in.

Nuland also warned Nigers military junta against inviting Russias Wagner mercenary group into the country to provide military support. U.S. officials have said they view Wagner as an extension of the Russian government. Wagner forces hold active contracts with African governments acting as supplemental military forces but are accused of atrocities against civilians and of illicit business dealings.

Of course I raised  Wagner and its threat to those countries where it is present, reminding them that security gets worse, that human rights get worse when Wagner enters, Nuland said. I would not say that we learned much more about their thinking on that front.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Ukrainian MP and member of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys Servant of the People party, Anatolii Hunko, has been taken into custody on charges of accepting a bribe, NVs sister publication, Ukrainska Pravda, reported on Aug. 8, citing sources within law enforcement agencies.

Hunko and two associates were caught receiving a bribe for allegedly facilitating the leasing of state-owned land to a businessman. It is reported that they were on the verge of obtaining the first installment of $85,000 for land registered to the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences.

Read also: Yermaks ally Tatarov could be difficult to remove, says Ukrainian MP

Evidence of the parliamentarians illicit activities was documented, and he was caught in the act while receiving the initial portion of the illicit benefit, amounting to $85,000, the Security Service of Ukraine stated.

Hunko has been charged with the acceptance of offers, promises, or receipt of improper benefits by a public servant. He faces up to 12 years in prison in addition to property confiscation if found guilty.

Read also: Conscription officials arrested for drug possession and assaulting a servicemember

Hunko won the by-elections for the Ukrainian Parliament in 2020 in District  208, receiving 33% of the vote (21,245 individuals).

In 2016, Anatolii Hunko was reportedly involved in a land scandal in the Brovary region, and in 2023, a court found him guilty of violating requirements regarding conflict-of-interest prevention and resolution.

There have been several scandals with the members of the presidents political party recently, with at least 17 former Servant of the People MPs forced to leave or quitting the party.

Read also: Who is Olena Duma, head of Ukraines odious Asset Recovery Agency

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 woman was critically injured in the latest shark attack in the New York City area, and the beach where it happened remained closed to swimmers and surfers Tuesday.

Police said the 65-year-old woman was bitten on her leg while swimming close to shore at Rockaway Beach around 6 p.m. She was taken to a local hospital in critical condition.

Police gather along Rockaway Beach after a woman was attacked by a shark in the early evening on August 7, 2023 in New York City. / Credit: Getty Images

Before Monday, there were no reports of shark bites at Rockaway Beach in recent memory. The beach was closed while city officials continued enhanced surveillance of the water. Police were flying drones overhead to monitor for sharks, NYC Parks said.

After the incident Monday, a witness said the woman was awake but seemed to be in shock.

"The lady's on the stretcher. She's bleeding on the leg," the person said.

"I see one big bite and one little one," they said.

"That's crazy, though. I can't believe someone got attacked," surfer Yaan Vessial said.

A stretch of beach stands empty along Rockaway Beach after a woman was attacked by a shark in the early evening of August 7, 2023 in New York City. / Credit: Getty Images

Far Rockaway residents said they were surprised to hear of a shark attack at the beach because the water is usually pretty barren.

"There's nothing here. You don't really see any fish. It's just sand, like a big desert under there," Vessial said.

"Finding out about the shark bite  that blew my mind," remarked Colin Smith.

There have already been at least five other shark bite incidents at New York beaches this summer. Last year, there were at least eight statewide.

The city Parks Department issued a statement saying: "We hope for a full recovery for this swimmer. Though this was a frightening event, we want to remind New Yorkers that shark bites in Rockaway are extremely rare. We remain vigilant in monitoring the beach and always clear the water when a shark is spotted."

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Holes star Khleo Thomas put on a cast reunion to celebrate the films 20-year anniversary.

The 2003 neo-Western comedy-drama based on the best-selling novel of the same name starred Shia LaBeouf, who made an appearance at the reunion, as a child who is wrongly sent to a juvenile detention camp.

Thomas played deuteragonist Zero, a silent child who was abandoned at a young age.

The actor documented the reunion, featuring a special screening for fans of the film, held at the Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles in a YouTube video shared 1 August.

LaBeouf, Jon Voight (Mr Sir), Byron Cotton (Armpit) and Miguel Castro (Magnet), plus director Andrew Davis and author/screenwriter Louis Sachar were among those to attend the event.

The video shows LaBeouf and Thomas embracing as the Transformers star enquires about how life has been.

Thomas, 34, made a number of TV appearances following his role in Holes including ER, The Bernie Mac Show, House, Sons of Anarchy and Bones. He now runs a popular Twitch streaming channel where fans watch him play video games.

I was a huge gamer, always, he tells LaBeouf, 37, in the video. I just invested into my own equipment and just made me, brother, he added.

Its a rare public appearance for LaBeouf who is currently fighting a legal battle over allegations of abuse made against him by his former partner, the musician known as FKA Twigs.

Though he denied each of the allegations, LaBeouf admitted to being aggressive and mentioned his alcohol addiction, stating: Im not in any position to tell anyone how my behaviour made them feel. I have no excuses for my alcoholism or aggression, only rationalisations.

You can read a full breakdown of LaBeoufs career and controversies here.

In an interview earlier this year, director Abel Ferrara announced that his Padre Pio star LaBeouf was writing a movie about Auschwitz.

Ferraras film marked LaBeoufs first film appearance since the actor took an acting hiatus following the 2020 abuse allegations.

Hes doing real good, man. Hes doing real good, the director told The Film Stage. He went off and he did a Coppola movie [Megalopolis]. So that was, there was one of those films, right? I mean, Padre Pio was 15 days or 20 days and he was in for four so he wasnt there a long time. But anyway, it was good and hes working.
Musicians, politicians and fans gathered to pay their respects to the late Sinead OConnor as her private funeral was held in Bray, Co Wicklow, on Tuesday (8 August).

The Irish singer, who rose to global fame in 1990 with her cover of Princes Nothing Compares 2 U, died in July aged 56. The cause of her death has yet to be disclosed.

On Tuesday morning, fans gathered to pay their respects and wait for the procession outside Montebello, the property where she lived for 15 years. She sold the property in 2021, and it has been empty ever since.

OConnors life was honoured in a private ceremony led by Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri, an Islamic scholar and Chief Imam at the Islamic Centre of Ireland.

Al-Qadri, who met the star in 2018, remembered OConnor in his eulogy as a voice that moved a generation of young people who could reduce listeners to tears by her otherworldly resonance.

His speech was shared online, and he later described the service as moving and spiritual, reflecting both her Irish identity as well as her Muslim identity.

The ceremony was attended by fellow musicians Bob Geldof, a close friend of OConnors, and Bono. Irish president Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar were also in attendance.

While the private ceremony took place fans gathered outside OConnors former home, laying notes, prayer candles and flowers were laid outside the residence.

(PA)

Roads near the home were closed and local public transport packed out as fans travelled in for the procession. The towns Strand Road was soon packed with wellwishers, many of whom were pictured crying and holding flowers.

Many of the letters referenced OConnors son Shane, who died by suicide aged 17 in January 2022.

Thanks for your short, special life, one note read. Gone too soon. Give your lovely son Shane a hug for me in heaven. Have a nice long rest with Shane.

Crowds gathered for OConnors funeral procession (PA)

One fan, Sara Mohamed, said she had travelled to Bray to pay her respects to the Irish legend.

"As an Irish Muslim, I felt that I should be here on behalf of my community to pay my respects to the Irish legend she was, she said.

I just think she was massively outspoken and she spoke for minorities who didnt have a voice. And thats very admirable and very brave.

The funeral procession, led by a hearse bearing OConnors coffin, then departed from the service. The coffin was covered in blue and pink flowers, with fans applauding and throwing flowers and Irish flags as it passed by her home.

A Volkswagen camper van decorated with the Pride flag and the Rastafarian flag drove in front of the hearse, with OConnors songs playing from speakers mounted on the roof.

The Volkswagen van drove in front of the hearse bearing OConnors coffin (PA)

Fans sang along as her biggest hit, her 1990 cover of Princes Nothing Compares 2 U blared. Geldof also drove in a taxi as part of the procession.

Remembering OConnor, Irish president Higgins said: The outpouring of grief and appreciation of the life and work of Sinead OConnor demonstrates the profound impact which she had on the Irish people.

The unique contribution of Sinead involved the experience of a great vulnerability combined with a superb, exceptional level of creativity that she chose to deliver through her voice, her music and her songs.
An independent Senate bid from Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) could help Democrats win her seat in 2024, according to a poll released Tuesday.

The Emerson College poll found that Sinema may hurt the Republican nominee for Senate more than Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), who has declared his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for the seat.

The poll showed Gallego and Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb (R) tied at 42 percent each in a hypothetical head-to-head between them. But Gallego leads in a three-person race with 36 percent of the vote, to Lambs 29 percent and Sinemas 21 percent.

A similar situation is true if the GOP nominee is professional speaker and mechanical engineer Brian Wright, according to the poll. Gallego leads Wright by 3 points, 41 percent to 38 percent, in a head-to-head matchup, but he leads with 37 percent of the vote to Sinemas 26 percent and Wrights 25 percent in a three-way race.

It appears Senator Sinema pulls more support from Republican voters than Democrats on the ballot. About 21% of Republicans would vote for Sinema with Lamb on the ballot, and 34% of Republicans would support Sinema with Wright on the ballot, Emerson College Polling Executive Director Spencer Kimball said in a release. By contrast, Sinema only pulls about 8% of Democratic support from Gallego.

Pollsters found that white voters are evenly split between Gallego and Lamb with 32 percent each, while 23 percent support Sinema. Gallego had a plurality of Hispanic support with 44 percent.

The poll also found that voters who supported President Biden in 2020 are more solidly behind Gallego than those who supported former President Trump are behind Lamb as the Republican nominee. More than 70 percent of Biden voters support Gallego, but 57 percent of Trump 2020 voters support Lamb and 27 percent support Sinema.

Sinema was originally elected to the Senate as a Democrat in 2018 but left the party in December. She has not yet said whether she will run for reelection.

Former Arizona GOP gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake has strongly hinted that she might launch a run for the Senate seat, and early polling has shown her with a significant lead in a hypothetical Republican primary.

The Emerson poll was conducted among 1,337 registered voters between Aug. 2-4. The margin of error was 2.6 points.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon decreased 66 percent in July 2023 compared to the same period last year, reaching the lowest figure for this month in five years (MICHAEL DANTAS)

Eight South American countries agreed Tuesday to launch an alliance to fight deforestation in the Amazon, vowing at a summit in Brazil to stop the world's biggest rainforest from reaching "a point of no return."

The closely watched summit of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) adopted what host country Brazil called a "new and ambitious shared agenda" to save the rainforest, a crucial buffer against climate change that experts warn is being pushed to the brink of collapse.

The group's members -- Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela -- signed a joint declaration in Belem, at the mouth of the Amazon River, laying out a nearly 10,000-word roadmap to promote sustainable development, end deforestation and fight the organized crime that fuels it.

But the summit stopped short of environmentalists' and Indigenous groups' boldest demands, including for all member countries to adopt Brazil's pledge to end illegal deforestation by 2030 and Colombia's pledge to halt new oil exploration.

"It's a first step, but there isn't a concrete decision, just a list of promises," said Marcio Astrini, head of the Brazil-based Climate Observatory coalition.

"The planet is melting, temperature records are being broken every day... it is not possible for eight Amazonian leaders to fail to put in a declaration in bold letters that deforestation must be zero," he added.

In his opening speech of the two-day summit, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva emphasized that the "severe worsening of the climate crisis" required action "in unison."

"It has never been so urgent," he said in remarks just hours after the European Union's climate observatory confirmed July had been the hottest month ever recorded.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro meanwhile called for a massive program to cancel developing countries' debt in exchange for action to protect the climate, linking the idea to the post-World War II "Marshall Plan."

"If we're on the verge of extinction and this is the decade when the big decisions have to be made... then what are we doing, besides giving speeches?" he said.

- Vital carbon sink -

Seeking to pressure the gathered heads of state, hundreds of environmentalists, activists and Indigenous demonstrators marched to the conference venue in Belem, urging bold action.

It is the first summit in 14 years for the eight-nation group, set up in 1995 by the South American countries that share the Amazon basin.

Home to an estimated 10 percent of Earth's biodiversity, 50 million people and hundreds of billions of trees, the vast Amazon is a vital carbon sink, reducing global warming.

But scientists warn the destruction of the rainforest is pushing it dangerously close to a tipping point, beyond which trees would die off and release carbon rather than absorb it, with catastrophic consequences for the climate.

Regional leaders appeared divided on some issues.

Colombia's Petro is pushing other countries to adhere to his pledge to ban all new oil exploration -- a touchy subject for some members, including Brazil, whose state-run oil company is controversially seeking to explore new offshore blocks at the mouth of the Amazon River.

"Achieving zero deforestation isn't even enough to absorb all our carbon emissions," Petro said.

"The solution is to stop burning coal, oil and gas."

- Lula test -

The summit is something of a dress rehearsal for the 2025 UN climate talks, which Belem will host.

Lula, Petro, Bolivian President Luis Arce and Peru's Dina Boluarte were all present.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, absent due to an ear infection, sent Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, while Ecuador, Guyana and Suriname were represented by high-level officials.

Arce urged wealthy nations to help fund efforts to protect the Amazon.

"All the responsibility for the climate crisis and its consequences shouldn't fall on our shoulders and our economies. We're not the ones who created the crisis," he said.

The summit is a key test for veteran leftist Lula, who previously served as president from 2003 to 2010 and returned to office in January, vowing "Brazil is back" in the fight against climate change, after four years of massive deforestation under his far-right predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro.

Indigenous groups -- whose lands are crucial buffers against the destruction of the world's forests, according to experts -- urged South American leaders to take decisive action.

"Our struggle isn't just for Indigenous peoples," said Nemo Guiquita, head of Ecuadoran Indigenous confederation CONFENIAE.

"It's for the entire world, so future generations can survive on this planet," she told AFP.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 7)  Nine Imus police personnel were relieved from their posts while under investigation after a video went viral on social media showing them ransacking the house of a retired professor suspected of involvement in illegal drugs, the Cavite Police Provincial Office reported Monday.

The unidentified police personnel in the CCTV footage could be seen taking out motorcycle tires and other things out of the residence.

To our chiefs of police, let us religiously remind our personnel to refrain from engaging in any illegal activities of whatever forms and we do not tolerate any of these under any circumstances, Cavite Police Office Provincial Director PCol Christopher Olazo said.

If warranted, we will file administrative charges against erring Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel who are found guilty of any unlawful acts up to the extent of dismissing them outrightly from the PNP service, he added.

Last Wednesday, Station Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU) operatives of Imus conducted an anti-illegal drug operation at around 8:10 p.m. in Barangay Alapan 1-A that resulted in the arrest of one street value individual and her accomplice.

Authorities were said to have recovered six heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing around 20 grams of suspected shabu with a street value of 136,000.00, one black pouch, and a 500 peso bill used as buy-bust money.

The retired professor was arrested and currently detained at the Imus Police Station for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Some netizens doubt that the son of the retired professor, is involved in illegal drug activities. The son also alleged that the policemen stole jewelry, ATM cards, gadgets, and motorcycle documents, among others.
What do drag queens, zombie Santa Claus and murderous puppets have in common?

This isnt the set up for a lame joke. This is the campy, spooky and risk-taking lineup for Popcorn Frights, South Floridas largest genre film festival. The 10-day-long fest, which runs from Thursday to Aug. 20, features horror, fantasy, action and cult classic movies that dont take themselves too seriously. The festivals program ranges from indie horror films to screenings of Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Jaws 3-D.

The lineup features 116 films representing 20 countries at three venues: Savor Cinema Fort Lauderdale, the Gateway Theater in Fort Lauderdale and O Cinema South Beach. This year is the festivals most ambitious yet with something for everyone to enjoy, said co-founder and co-director Igor Shteyrenberg.

We were drawn to films that were aesthetically and politically urgent that transported us somewhere new as viewers and that were, above all, fun and push the boundaries of storytelling, Shteyrenberg said. Popcorn Frights is a safe space where everyone is welcome.

Shteyrenberg and colleague Marc Ferman started Popcorn Frights nine years ago with a $500 budget and a simple goal, to celebrate films that were not being shown in South Florida. Before Popcorn Frights, genre film screenings were hard to come by here, pushing fans to travel to cities like New York and Los Angeles for premieres, Shteyrenberg said.

When the festival first launched at O Cinema in Wynwood, every screening was sold out, Shteyrenberg said. Popcorn Frights, which also includes a virtual program, expects to reach an audience of at least 10,000 fans.

We knew that there was an untapped community, he said.

Comedy, Camp and Nightmare Fuel

Fans will recognize several classic films in the festivals program. On Friday is a screening of Friday the 13th Part III 3-D followed Jaws 3-D the next day. On Aug. 17 is a screening of Alfred Hitchcocks 1963 film The Birds. And theres a screening of Tobe Hoopers Texas Chainsaw Massacre on Aug. 18, exactly 50 years after the fictionalized massacre occurred.

A scene from Friday the 13th Part III.

Popcorn Frights presents a rare opportunity to watch weird, obscure films on the big screen, Shteyrenberg said.

On Friday at Savor Cinema is a unique screening of Blood Feast, a 1963 movie considered to be the first splatter film. The movie, which was filmed in Miami, tells the harrowing tale of Fuad Ramses, who acquires the body parts of young nubiles for a party. The original trailer for the 1963 film includes this warning: This picture, truly one of the most unusual ever filmed, contains scenes which under no circumstances should be viewed by anyone with a heart condition or anyone who is easily upset.

Popcorn Frights is celebrating the films 60th anniversary with a live original score performance by artist Richard Vergez. In the past, Vergez has done live score performances for Popcorn Frights, but with silent films like Nosferatu. This time, hell have to work around the dialogue.

While the movie plays, Vergez will use a guitar, cassette tape player, cake mixer, ice crusher and bicycle wheel to create music and sound effects on the spot.

Artist Richard Vergez will perform a live score for the film Blood Feast at Popcorn Frights.

Its really campy and silly, he said about the movie. My approach to it is to make it a little more modern, but staying in that time frame, so Im not using any advanced technology.

On Aug. 20 at O Cinema South Beach is a special screening of South Beach, which Shteyrenberg described as a silly romp of a film. This 1993 murder mystery film follows a serial killer who targets phone sex operators in South Beach. During the screening, local comics Lisa Corrao and Elli Scharlin will provide live, comedic commentary on the film.

Fans of camp will find it in the programs modern films, too. Theres Hundreds of Beavers, which looks to be exactly what the name suggests. In Santastein, a 2023 Florida-made horror movie, a kid named Max accidentally burns Santa to death on Christmas Eve and then resurrects him 12 years later. As part of the festivals virtual program, fans can watch The Last Movie Ever Made, a charming comedy about a man who convinces friends and strangers to help him finish a sci-fi movie he abandoned in high school before the world ends.

A scene from The Last Movie Ever Made, a comedy horror film.

If youre looking for nightmare fuel, theres Abruptio, a gore-filled film made entirely with puppets starring horror legends Robert Englund and Jordan Peele that took nearly a decade to complete. In the movie, a man who is ridiculously down on his luck finds a bomb implanted into his neck. In order to survive, he has to commit heinous crimes and figure out who the evil mastermind is.

Fresh Florida Films

This years program boasts the biggest spotlight on Florida filmmakers that weve ever had, Shteyrenberg said.

Film fans who like to keep an eye on the next big thing can dedicate an afternoon to Homegrown: 100% Pure Fresh Squeezed Florida Horror on Aug. 20 at O Cinema South Beach. This sidebar event features seven short films all made by emerging Florida filmmakers. A man trying to cook dinner goes insane while trying to kill a fly in The Housefly, a 10-minute film by Darshan Patel. In Theyre Real, a 14-minute film directed by Jack Kierski, a group of friends on vacation have to fight for their lives when an alien-masked maniac attacks. In the 8-minute long Unknown, directed by Jay Henric, a girl finds a sinister phone after her roommate dies.

Also hailing from the Sunshine State is Big Easy Queens, a feature-length drag queen horror flick so highly anticipated the festival added an encore screening after its Aug. 11 world premiere sold out. (Tickets for the Aug. 12 screening are available online.)

This glam horror movie, directed by local filmmaker Erynn Dalton, stars Eric Swanson as his drag persona Miss Bouvee. Set in New Orleans, the film follows a bitter turf war between Minnie Bouvee (Swanson) and her arch-nemesis Poodles Makenzie. After Minnie has Poodles crew slaughtered, a creepy masked figure begins to stalk her. But whos behind the mystery? Is it Poodles? Or is it Minnies estranged sister who stole her man years ago? The thriller features blood, glitter, zombies, hijinks and original musical numbers.

If Rocky Horror Picture Show and Carol Burnett had a child, it would be Big Easy Queens, Swanson said.

South Florida drag queen Miss Bouvee stars in the horror film Big Easy Queens.

While Swanson has worked full-time as a drag cabaret performer for years, this was his first time acting in a feature film. The screenplay was written by a friend, Robert Leleux, who approached Swanson about starring in a movie as Miss Bouvee. The next day, Swanson happened to meet Dalton, a horror film producer and director.

It felt like we have been struck by lightning, Swanson said.

The premiere of Big Easy Queens comes at a fraught time for the LGBTQ community in Florida. Though the movie wasnt specifically made in response to conservative politicians rhetoric against drag artists or the so-called Dont Say Gay education laws, Dalton said the current political climate made the cast and crew even more determined to make the film.

Representation in film is important, Swanson said, even in fun, campy thriller movies.

We were in that moment of history, and we were like, OK, we cannot wait two years for this film to be edited, Swanson said. We have to do what we can do to get this out because we want to prove that we have a voice. Theres representation in the state of Florida, even regardless of this kind of government.

While the film industry is stuck in a loop of big budget superhero movies and remakes, indie horror films have been making waves by offering viewers original, risk-taking content, Dalton said. That is what she set out for with Big Easy Queens.

Horror has always embraced the rebels in the in the film industry, she said. We fit there perfectly.

Popcorn Frights Film Festival

When: Aug. 10 - 20

Where: Screenings and events hosted at Savor Cinema Fort Lauderdale, the Gateway Theater in Fort Lauderdale and O Cinema South Beach

Info: Tickets and full schedule available online at popcornfrights.com

This story was produced with financial support from The Perez Family Foundation, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners, as part of an independent journalism fellowship program. The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work.
South Korea evacuates tens of thousands of scouts ahead of typhoon South Korea begins to evacuate thousands of scouts due to expected typhoon

By Hyunsu Yim and Hyonhee Shin

BUAN/SEOUL, South Korea (Reuters) -South Korea on Tuesday evacuated the majority of teenage scouts from their campsite ahead of an approaching typhoon, the latest disruption to the World Scout Jamboree which has been marred by illness and criticism of its organisation and facilities.

More than 1,000 buses were being deployed to move the scouts out of the southwest, a region that Typhoon Khanun is expected to hit as early as Wednesday.

There were about 36,000 participants at the campsite, near Buan city, and more than two-thirds have already left, Interior Minister Lee Sang-min told reporters.

Seoul and its surrounding province of Gyeonggi would host almost half the scouts, with the rest fanning out to six other areas, Lee said. Police cars and helicopters will escort the convoys to safety, he added.

South Korean organisers are keen to minimise any further problems at the jamboree, the first global gathering of scouts since the pandemic. Since the event began last week, hundreds of participants have fallen ill due to a heatwave, triggering criticism from the public and parents about a lack of preparation.

The British scout contingent, the event's biggest, also left early, citing poor sanitation and food quality, among other concerns. The U.S. scout group followed.

"This is the first time in more than 100 years of World Scout Jamborees that we have had to face such compounded challenges," Ahmad Alhendawi, Secretary General of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, said in a statement.

At the sprawling campsite, scouts dismantled tents and folded up ground sheets, before carrying their backpacks to board nearby buses.

Typhoon Khanun, which has already wreaked havoc in southern Japan, is moving toward South Korea bringing heavy rain and winds of up to 125 kph (78 mph) as of Tuesday afternoon, according to the weather agency.

Khanun is expected to hit southern regions of South Korea on Wednesday afternoon before tracking up the peninsula, prompting the government to raise its typhoon alert to the highest level and close some roads, mountain trails and beaches.

President Yoon Suk Yeol called for thorough preparations for the typhoon, warning of further damage especially in areas struck by last month's torrential rain. He also ordered the scouts to be evacuated without a glitch.

"We will make every effort to ensure their safety until the end of the event, so that young people from all over the world can return home with good memories," Yoon told an emergency meeting held for the typhoon.

Poland is due to host the next World Scout Jamboree in 2027, but President Andrzej Duda cancelled plans to attend this year's closing ceremony due to the typhoon, an official at the Polish Embassy in Seoul said.

A closing ceremony, to be followed by a K-pop concert, will now be held on Saturday at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, the culture ministry said.

South Korea has successfully hosted several major events including the summer and winter Olympic Games, as well as jointly hosting the soccer World Cup with Japan. The port city of Busan is currently bidding to host the Expo in 2030.

(Reporting by Hyunsu Yim, Park Ju-min and Hyonhee Shin in Seoul and Hyun Young Yi in Buan; Editing by Ed Davies and Sonali Paul and Miral Fahmy)
The son of two Spanish film stars reportedly has been arrested in Thailand after allegedly murdering and dismembering a man whose body parts were found scattered around a tourist island known for its dance parties.

Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, the son of Rodolfo Sancho Aguirre and Silvia Bronchalo, was taken into custody Monday after allegedly confessing to the grisly crime on the island of Koh Phangan, Reuters reported, citing local police.

Sancho, a 29-year-old chef with a YouTube channel, allegedly led police to various sites on the island to recover bagged pieces of Colombian surgeon Edwin Arrieta Arteaga, 44, which were confirmed through DNA testing, police said.

Daniel Sancho Bronchalo is the son of Rodolfo Sancho Aguirre and Silvia Bronchalo. He's seen in the custody of Thai police on Monday.

Daniel Sancho Bronchalo is the son of Rodolfo Sancho Aguirre and Silvia Bronchalo. He's seen in the custody of Thai police on Monday.

Sancho initially reported Arrieta as missing to police late last week, the BBC reported, also citing local media. His missing person report was made shortly after trash collectors reported finding human remains on the island, which is known for its monthly Full Moon Party.

Surveillance footage taken on Wednesday appeared to capture the pair riding a motorcycle together one day before the body parts were discovered. Sancho was also seen buying a knife, plastic bags and cleansing fluid, local broadcaster Thai PBS reported.

The Bangkok Post, citing local police, reported that Sancho and Arrieta had been in a yearlong romantic relationship and that the killing followed an argument between the pair in a hotel room.

Sancho is escorted by Thai police on Monday after being arrested on charges of murder in the death and dismemberment of Edwin Arrieta Arteaga.

Sancho is escorted by Thai police on Monday after being arrested on charges of murder in the death and dismemberment of Edwin Arrieta Arteaga.

According to a police source, Sancho said he punched Arrieta, causing him to hit his head on a bathtub and lose consciousness. Sancho said he then dismembered his body to get rid of it, the source reportedly said.

Surat Thani provincial police commander Saranyu Chamnanrat told The Associated Press that the killing was likely due to a personal relationship between the pair though he declined to elaborate.

Colombias Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed in a statement Sunday that an investigation into Arrietas death is underway.

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Special counsel Jack Smiths probe of efforts by Donald Trump and others to subvert the 2020 election remains ongoing  with at least one interview this week that focused on fundraising and spending by Trumps political action committee.

Meanwhile, the grand jury that indicted Trump last week was spotted meeting Tuesday in the federal courthouse in Washington.

In a closed-door interview on Monday with Bernard Kerik, investigators asked multiple questions about the Save America PACs enormous fundraising haul in the weeks between Election Day and the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, according to Keriks lawyer, Tim Parlatore, who was present for the interview and shared details with POLITICO.

Its a laser focus from Election Day to Jan. 6, Parlatore said.

The special counsel has long been thought to be scrutinizing whether Trump or his PAC violated federal laws by raising money off claims of voter fraud they knew were false. Last weeks indictment of Trump, on charges that he conspired to overturn the results of the 2020 election, did not include any allegations of financial crime.

But the interview with Kerik, a longtime ally of Rudy Giuliani, shows that Smiths team is still gathering information about how Trump and his allies handled the post-election period, and that investigators interest in Trump-related finances continues. Kerik, who served as New York City police commissioner when Giuliani was mayor, helped Giuliani in his efforts to contest the results of the election in the weeks leading up to Jan. 6.

The interview, as described to POLITICO, is the clearest indication of Smiths focus after last weeks historic indictment and arraignment. While six alleged co-conspirators, including Giuliani, were identified in the indictment, none have been charged. But the continued presence at the courthouse of the grand jury overseeing the matter suggested that additional charges may still be forthcoming.

Months after Trump left office, Giulianis allies urged him to use Save America funds to pay Giuliani for his post-election legal work, according to The New York Times.

Parlatore said Smiths team didnt ask any questions about Jenna Ellis  another lawyer who worked on Trumps efforts to contest the election  or about Mark Meadows, Trumps chief of staff in his final days as president. The team did ask a few questions about Boris Epshteyn, a lawyer who worked with Trump after Election Day and who now works on his campaign and as his in-house counsel. And the investigators asked multiple questions about Justin Clark, who was deputy campaign manager of Trumps re-election bid, Parlatore added.

There was significant tension between Clark and Giuliani over Trumps strategy of contesting the results in Georgia, where Joe Biden narrowly won. Kerik described to the special counsels team a contentious phone call where Giuliani yelled at Clark and called him a liar, Parlatore said.
Spoonbill fledglings at a nature reserve are believed to be the first known breeding success in the Norfolk Broads for about 400 years.

The chicks were the first successful hatchlings at Hickling Broad, which has been a haven for the species in recent years, Norfolk Wildlife Trust said.

It is believed that there are just eight breeding sites in England.

The trust's Robert Smith said it had been a "privilege" to monitor the birds over the past few years.

"Now we can officially celebrate the return of a former lost breeding species to the Broadland landscape with the first fledged spoonbill here since the mid-17th Century," he added.

"Watching the fledgling flying around the reserve and hearing its trilling begging call as it pesters its parents for food is a truly wonderful sight and sound.

"It shows that our work to enhance the habitats on our reserves, and across Norfolk, is hugely important to the survival of our wildlife, including visitors such as the spoonbill."

The spoonbill is a large white heron-like wading bird that stands at three feet tall and has a wingspan of 4ft (1.2m).

It gets its name from its long bill, which has a flat spoon-shaped tip.

The species is of European conservation concern and a very rare breeding bird in the UK.

Fledglings - known affectionately as teaspoons, on account of their shorter bills - can also be identified by the black in their wing tips.

The youngsters at Hickling will commute between their nest in the trees and the pool at first, then move further afield when brave enough, before the family leave the nest for good and depart south, Norfolk Wildlife Trust said.

Poole Harbour in Dorset is a key wintering spot for Norfolk breeding spoonbills.

Follow East of England news on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Got a story? Email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 0800 169 1830
Migrants gather near the border to request asylum in the United States, in Ciudad Juarez

Spurred by rumor, hundreds of migrants mass at US border in Mexico's Ciudad Juarez Migrants gather near the border to request asylum in the United States, in Ciudad Juarez

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico (Reuters) - Hundreds of migrants gathered alongside the U.S. border in the northern Mexican city of Ciudad Juarez late on Monday, after false rumors spread via social media and word-of-mouth that the U.S. would allow entry to a mass group.

Some said they had been waiting weeks to secure appointments to request asylum via a U.S. mobile app called CBP One, and were eager to try their luck at the border itself.

About 1,000 people clustered around the border just opposite the Texas city of El Paso - some peering through the slats of the border wall while others sat alongside an industrial train line headed to the United States.

Officers from Customs and Border Protection uncoiled razor wire across the railway gate.

"You can just see how many people want to pass ... for our families, for our future," said Venezuelan migrant Johan Ramirez. "We've spent many days here. Our money is running out, we're sleeping in the streets."

(Reporting by Jose Luis Gonzalez, Additional reporting by Lizbeth Diaz, Writing by Daina Beth Solomon, Editing by Sandra Maler)
When she enrolled her fourth grader at a St. Louis public school last fall, Krystal Barnett knew she was doing something that has become increasingly rare.

Abandoned by thousands of families and dogged by a well-earned reputation for poor performance, the local school system shrank over the past few decades to a fraction of its former size. If they choose to stay in the area, a sizable number of parents now either opt for a charter alternative or shell out for private tuition.

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But Barnett, a mother of two, was dissatisfied with the pandemic-era instruction her daughter had received at a nearby private school and wanted to make a change. It was the exact kind of move she often recommends to other families as the CEO of Bridge 2 Hope, an activist group she founded in 2019 to lobby for better educational services throughout the city and empower parents to advocate for their kids.

Krystal Barnett

Soon, however, Barnett was alarmed to see her daughter floundering even before shed gotten a chance to settle in. Shed never experienced significant disciplinary problems before, but within days, she was involved in a fight and placed on a behavior plan. Barnett attributed the struggles to the vast difference between her daughters prior experience of school and the new environment she was adapting to.

It was our first week in St. Louis Public Schools, she said.

The institutional troubles facing St. Louis students are typical of those that have marked much of the citys last half-century. As in other regional metropolises that faltered in the middle of the last century  from Detroit to Cleveland, Milwaukee to Memphis  disorder rose, the middle class fled and public services like K12 education unraveled spectacularly.

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The situation now appears especially dire to many onlookers. A national study this spring confirmed the fears of many parents and educators, showing that the pandemic saddled St. Louis elementary and middle schoolers with some of the worst learning damage suffered by any students in the United States. The district is also navigating a generational shift in leadership, with Superintendent Kelvin Adams retiring last December after 14 years of service; his successor, former Seattle Public Schools administrator Keisha Scarlett, only took office in July.

Collin Hitt, the executive director of the Policy Research in Missouri Education (PRIME) Center at Saint Louis University, said that the task ahead is to not only turn around learning outcomes in the short term, but also set a sensible course for the transformation of the district into a smaller, more successful entity for the foreseeable future.

Youve got some kids two or three grade levels behind where we would have expected them to be if not for everything thats happened over the past four years, Hitt said. Recovering from that has got to be the focus of the education policy conversation for the next decade.

Upheaval, turnover, chaos

Missouri is not a high-flier nationally, ranking for the most part around the middle of the pack in test scores and graduation rates. But it would be impossible to overlook St. Louis and its vicinity as the most educationally woeful community within its borders. A 2019 inventory of the weakest schools in the state  those performing among the bottom 5 percent of all that receive Title I funds, which are themselves only granted to schools enrolling high percentages of students from low-income families  revealed that half were located in the St. Louis area, with over one-quarter in the city itself.

Decades of failure, segregation and financial dysfunction finally led the Missouri State Board of Education to revoke the districts accreditation in 2007, turning its governance over to a three-member administrative board appointed by both state and local leaders. After a dizzying sequence of seven superintendents in the space of five years, Adamss lengthy tenure was received well locally, though he held far less authority than chiefs in other districts.

The past 12 years, weve seen stability, but weve also seen further deterioration of the district. Kelly Garrett, executive director, KIPP St. Louis

In 2011, Kelly Garrett became the executive director at KIPP St. Louis, a charter network that has grown to six schools in the last decade. Garrett credited the former superintendent with steadying the ship given the insane amount of managerial upheaval, turnover, chaos that preceded him. But after previously working to seed charters in districts like Houston, Memphis, and Boston, he said the change on display closer to home fell short of the transformational.

The goal was stability, which was not a bad goal at the time, Garrett said. The past 12 years, weve seen stability, but weve also seen further deterioration of the district.

The administrative panel voted in 2018 to restore control to a locally elected board, even as serious concerns remained. In that years administration of the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) standardized tests, the districts schools were awarded just 78 percent of all possible points  much lower than Missouris state average of 90 percent, or even the 88 percent earned by similarly troubled Kansas City.

After the ravages of the pandemic, those numbers looked much worse. The state average in 2022 fell from 90 percent to just 65 percent, while St. Louis Public Schools earned a staggeringly low 31 percent. Among students from grades 38, no more than 56 percent in any grade scored at or above the level of Basic (defined as demonstrating a partial or uneven command of the tests necessary skills and processes) in English; two-thirds or more students in all grades scored below that level in math.

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Recent research suggests that while Missouri students absorbed a sizable blow from COVID, the once-in-a-century emergency left a particularly distinct mark on St. Louis. In May, a nationwide analysis conducted by Harvard economist Thomas Kane and Stanford sociologist Sean Reardon found that the city  along with a handful of others, including New Haven, Connecticut, and Richmond, Virginia  sustained some of the greatest reversals in academic performance anywhere in the United States.

While Kansas City is home to approximately the same percentage of students from low-income families, its average drops in learning were not as severe: the equivalent of -0.52 grade level in reading and -0.95 grade level in math from 2019 and 2022, compared with St. Louiss slide of -0.81 grade level in reading and -1.64 grade levels in math. The split between the two districts is all the more notable given that, according to Kane and Reardons data, Kansas City students spent considerably more time in virtual instruction than their St. Louis counterparts.

In Kanes view, learning loss of that magnitude is likely irrevocable without drastic changes to instruction. He believes the same old quality of teaching, delivered in the same quantity as before the pandemic, couldnt possibly make up the difference.

If Ive lost a year and a half of school, or more, it is just impossible to imagine making up for that lost ground without additional instructional time, Kane argued. Otherwise, its imagining that teachers are teaching 150 percent of what they would normally teach within the school calendar, and thats unreasonable to hope for.

For parents like Jen Wadley, it can seem optimistic to even expect more than a year of stability from local schools.

As COVID shuttered schools throughout the city in early 2020, she learned that Carondelet Leadership Academy, the K8 charter school attended by all three of her children, would close due to persistently poor academic results. Similar news came the following January, when Cleveland Naval JROTC  a specialized high school her oldest son, Troy, attended as a freshman  was similarly targeted for closure after a year substantially spent in remote learning.

If Ive lost a year and a half of school, or more, it is just impossible to imagine making up for that lost ground without additional instructional time. Thomas Kane, Harvard University

In a process she called chaotic, Troy moved on as a sophomore to a public magnet program, Central Visual and Performing Arts, for his third school in three years. The options were very limited for high schools in the city, Wadley said. Finding a school in St. Louis City  an adequate school  is a job within itself.

Representatives from St. Louis Public Schools did not respond to requests for comment.

A shrinking district

Major urban districts like St. Louis were once hulking entities dotted throughout the Midwest, each serving six-figure student bodies. So plentiful and diverse were the schools that locals still frequently resort to the introductory St. Louis question: Where did you go to high school?

But total enrollment in the district has fallen, almost unbelievably, from a peak of about 115,000 in 1967 to under 17,000 in 2022  a reduction of more than 85 percent. This is a proportionately greater decline than the broader citys contraction from over 850,000 residents in 1950 to roughly 285,000 today.

The gradual dissipation of huge swaths of school-age children is a factor of multiple trends. Births throughout much of the metropolitan area have been outpaced by deaths, resulting in fewer and smaller young families within the district. According to a 2022 brief produced by the PRiME Center, the elementary-aged population of St. Louis fell from 17,300 to just 15,300 between 2010 and 2019. Over 60 percent of the citys neighborhoods lost children between the ages of 5 and 9, with an average decline of about one-third, and no area saw a greater drop than traditionally African American North St. Louis.

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Barnett of Bridge 2 Hope  who was raised in north St. Louis but attended school in the suburbs through the districts voluntary desegregation program  reported that large areas of the city have been transformed by the departure of families to nearby suburbs like Eureka and Ladue, each located across the county line. While speculating that many students would prefer to attend schools in their own slice of the city, she said that it was difficult to contest the perception that schools there are better.

Some blocks in heavily African American north St. Louis are studded with abandoned and decrepit houses. (Getty Images)

My whole neighborhood looks different, Barnett said. All those people are in west County, north County, south County now. I dont know if the experience is better, but the education is better. The chance to give your child a great education is a great chance.

The end result is schools operating far below their official capacity, with a few enrolling just 100 students or so. Former Superintendent Adams shuttered several dozen during his tenure. The district even started a Building Revitalization Collaborative intended to attract developers to its acres of surplus properties.

But in a shrinking city like St. Louis, closures also devastate families and alumni, which look to schools as anchors of their communities. When officials considered closing Sumner High School in the historically African American neighborhood of The Ville, the community panicked at the prospect of losing an institution that once schooled luminaries like Chuck Berry, Tina Turner and Dick Gregory. The proposal was dismissed after an eleventh-hour organizing drive, but the necessities driving it have only grown greater since.

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John Wright Sr., a Sumner alumnus, later enjoyed a career as one of the regions most distinguished educators. After serving as a teacher, administrator and superintendent at the suburban Normandy and Kinloch districts, he led St. Louis Public Schools as an interim chief in 2008. In retirement, he has also advised both mayors and Missouri governors on K12 education, and served another brief term on the St. Louis Board of Education last year.

Wrights perspective dates back to the 1940s, when he attended three different local schools before the fifth grade due to overcrowding. At that time, he recollected, a typical classroom might hold 4050 students and even elementary schools sometimes consisted of multiple buildings. Now, many have fallen into dilapidation and disuse.

Its a matter of how you use that smaller size to bring about change. Whats left of the population has stabilized, so how do you improve matters now that youve got a size that you can put your arms around? John Wright Sr., former interim chief, St. Louis Public Schools

While a disappointment to some, Wright said, the diminished scale of St. Louis Public Schools could become an asset to Keisha Scarlett, the incoming superintendent. Rather than presiding over mass building campaigns, he argued, she could mostly focus on consolidating assets and improving outcomes for the students who remain.

Its a matter of how you use that smaller size to bring about change, Wright said. Whats left of the population has stabilized, so how do you improve matters now that youve got a size that you can put your arms around?

Poised for rebirth?

Scarletts arrival this summer has been seized upon by some parents and educators as a cause for hope.

Amidst a hundred-day listening tour around the district, the 24-year veteran of Seattle Public Schools is already leading a project to remove miles of lead-painted fencing around 21 schools. She has said that the city is poised for a rebirth in the years to come. Whatever her long-term vision, however, even the prospect of fully staffing classrooms this September is looking hazy. District representatives announced in June that 15 percent of its teaching positions, amounting to nearly 280 jobs, were as yet unfilled.

Theyre thrown so many curveballs  their dream school closed, theres a school shooting, there are no buses  and they just get to the point where they dont care. Jen Wadley, parent

Another lingering question is how Scarlett will choose to deploy two sources of newly available money. According to Georgetown Universitys Edunomics Lab, St. Louis Public Schools has received over $165 million in federal COVID relief funds since 2020, only 13.7 percent of which has yet been spent. (Federal law stipulates that 30 percent of such aid must be spent directly on learning recovery; the districts information page offers little in the way of specifics.) In a hopeful sign of public faith, voters also approved a $160 million bond issue last year to fund building repairs and upgrades.

City leaders, meanwhile, have devoted the last two years drafting a citywide plan to address the most pressing issues confronting both traditional and charter schools. But while some observers applaud the efforts at strategic thinking in a system that has too often veered from one emergency to the next, others have critiqued the 128-page document for offering scant details on how to stem the migration of families to suburbs or offload unneeded building inventory. Some of its recommendations essentially advise still more planning.

A further worry, highlighted by Scarlett in an interview with a local news station, is the threat to students posed by violence in school facilities or elsewhere. The city has been one of Americas most crime-afflicted for decades, and scores of children in the St. Louis area were injured or killed with guns in 2022. KIPPs Garrett said the local levels of gunplay seemed unique.

Ive personally watched  within 100 yards of me sitting in a chair or standing at a window  four different shootings in my day-to-day activities, Garrett said. The access to weapons and the level of violence in the community is constantly present.

A deadly shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School jarred the city last fall. (Getty Images)

The communitys worst fears were realized last October, when a former student broke into Central Visual and Performing Arts High School and shot nine people with an assault rifle. A 61-year-old teacher and a 15-year-old student were killed, along with the perpetrator after a shootout with police.

Though enrolled in his second year at the school, Jen Wadleys son Troy wasnt present on the day of the attack. Still, the tragedy threw up yet another obstacle in the way of his education. Having already sat through months of virtual instruction in the eighth and ninth grades and switching to a new high school as a sophomore, he didnt return to in-person classes for three months after the shooting.

Even outside of school, driver shortages have forced St. Louis Public Schools to periodically suspend bus routes, including to credit-recovery programs over the summer. Heading into what should be his senior year, Wadley said, her oldest son has spent almost as much time outside of high school as in, and the status of his graduation credits is still unclear. She worries that he views his time at school with more apathy than interest.

Its hard enough to get a kid to participate in high school, Wadley said. But then theyre thrown so many curveballs  their dream school closed, theres a school shooting, there are no buses  and they just get to the point where they dont care.
Today, we stand united as a community, celebrating a resounding victory in our fight against political violence and extremism. The recent civil court decision to hold Ammon Bundy and his associate Diego Rodriguez accountable for their actions at St. Lukes Health System serves as a powerful reminder that no one is above the law, and that our collective commitment to justice and empathy will prevail against those who seek to sow discord and chaos in our society.

The incident at St. Lukes Health System was a distressing display of extremist behavior, where Mr. Bundy and his followers trespassed on private property and, more alarmingly, blocked access to emergency services. As a result of their actions, the hospital was forced to shut down, diverting ambulances and blocking emergency department care. Subsequently, the hospital and staff members were targeted and defamed with vicious lies.

Bundy and Rodriguez even claimed that the hospital was working with the government to take children away from Christian families to be sexually abused and given to gay couples. Such actions are utterly reprehensible and stand in stark contrast to the values we hold dear as Idahoans.

The very nature of extremism lies in the manipulation and exploitation of peoples fears and insecurities. Extremists like Bundy often exhibit narcissistic tendencies, seeking grandiose attention and power at the expense of others. Their lack of empathy for those they harm is deeply troubling, as they prey on controversial social issues to breed fear and division among our communities.

By peddling misinformation and stoking the flames of fear, extremists like Bundy aim to collect a following of easily influenced individuals who may feel marginalized, frustrated, or disenfranchised. They prey on the vulnerable and attempt to control them through manipulation and false promises. As responsible leaders, it is our duty to remain vigilant against such divisive forces and uphold the principles of justice, fairness, and compassion.

The jurys decision to award $26 million in punitive damages and $26.5 million in compensatory damages sends a powerful message that extremist actions will not be tolerated in our society. We commend the legal system for holding Bundy and his followers accountable for their actions and ensuring that justice is served.

However, our work is not done. As we celebrate this triumph, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to building a society where empathy, understanding, and dialogue are at the forefront of our interactions. To combat extremism effectively, we must foster an environment where individuals feel heard, valued and included, rather than exploited and manipulated by divisive ideologies.

Together, let us reinforce the ties that bind us as Idahoans, standing firm against extremism and political violence and working towards a brighter future where compassion, and cooperation prevail. We must build bridges, not walls and reject the dangerous allure of divisive rhetoric that seeks to tear us apart.

Idaho Leaders United extends our gratitude to all those who stood up for what is right and just. Let us continue to be the shining example of a state that rejects extremism and embraces the values that make Idaho a great state  a place of respect, understanding and compassion.

The Idaho Leaders United Board of Directors consists of Odette Bolano, CEO, Saint Alphonsus; Tommy Ahlquist, CEO, Ball Venture Ahlquist; Gary Raney, Ada County Sheriff (retired); Bill Shawver, brigadier general (retired), Air National Guard; Doug Gross, CEO, Gross Farms; and Cortney Lilliard, CEO, Ball Ventures.
Signs for and against a proposal making it harder to amend the Ohio Constitution outside of the Franklin County Board of Elections in Columbus, Ohio. (NYT)

Ohioans will finish voting Tuesday on a referendum with an ostensibly straightforward question: Should it be harder to amend the state constitution?

But the results could have far-reaching consequences for another, more explosive issue on the ballot in November: whether to establish a right to abortion.

That subtext has turned what would normally be a sleepy summer election in an off year into a highly visible dogfight that has taken on national importance and already drawn nearly 600,000 early voters.

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The few polls taken leave it unclear which side has an edge, and there are plausible scenarios in favor of both.

Who is behind the referendum, and why?

The Republican-led state Legislature ordered the referendum, known as Issue 1, this spring in a vote that was largely along party lines. Proponents argued that it is too easy for special interests to rewrite the state constitution to their benefit.

Attempting to amend Ohios Constitution is a lucrative business, and moneyed interests see Ohio as an easy mark, state Rep. Brian Stewart, who sponsored the resolution ordering the referendum, said during a debate in early May.

But Republicans soon conceded that the referendum was really prompted by something else: the November effort to add an abortion-rights amendment to the constitution, and the success last year of six ballot proposals across the country protecting abortion after Roe v. Wade was overturned.

Ohios proposed amendment is the product of a grassroots campaign mounted after the Legislature enacted one of the nations most restrictive abortion bans last year. (It has not yet taken effect, as the state Supreme Court is reviewing the measure.)

Tuesdays referendum is 100% about keeping a radical, pro-abortion amendment out of our constitution, Secretary of State Frank LaRose, a Republican candidate for a U.S. Senate seat in 2024, said in a speech in June.

What does it take to amend the state constitution, and how would that change?

Since 1912, when Ohioans authorized ballot initiatives at a constitutional convention, adding an amendment has required approval by a simple majority of voters. The new referendum would raise that threshold to 60%.

That is a high bar to clear. Historical records show that only about 1 in 3 amendments submitted to Ohio voters has gotten more than 60% of the vote, according to the political data aggregator Ballotpedia. For example, a 1918 Prohibition amendment banning alcohol sales in the state gained but 51.41% of the vote.

But it is not impossible: Two amendments that sought to prohibit political gerrymandering of state legislative and congressional districts, in 2015 and 2018, were approved by about 75% of voters.

Polls indicate that the abortion-rights amendment is very likely to win approval by a simple majority. But 60% would likely be a stretch; none of the six abortion-related referendums in other states last year managed to reach that level.

The measure at issue Tuesday would not just make it harder for voters to approve amendments, it also would make it tougher to get them on the ballot, requiring petitioners to gather signatures from 5% of eligible voters in each of Ohios 88 counties, instead of the current 44.

Who have been the loudest voices on either side?

The fight over the referendum has not only energized abortion-rights supporters and the anti-abortion movement. It has also attracted ideological allies on both sides of the issue.

Major supporters of higher thresholds for future amendments, led by the group Protect Our Constitution, had raised $15.6 million as of late July, according to Ballotpedia. The biggest donors include Richard Uihlein, the billionaire co-founder of the packaging and supply company Uline and a major contributor to conservative causes who donated $4 million; the national anti-abortion advocacy group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America; and Roman Catholic Church dioceses in Ohios three largest cities.

Major support also has come from the Buckeye Firearms Association, an Ohio pro-gun group with an interest in discouraging initiatives that could limit access to guns. And the movement has a prominent supporter in Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, who said in an interview that he cast a yes vote last week.

It seems to me that its not a radical or crazy idea that you should require a supermajority to change the constitution of Ohio when, for over 200 years, thats been the rule for the U.S. Constitution, he said.

On the other side, abortion-rights advocates have been joined by voting-rights organizations, unions and scores of other groups. Ohios four living former governors, two from each party, have urged that proposal be voted down, as have the state Libertarian and Green parties. The main coalition opposing raising the bar for passage, One Person One Vote, reported last week that it had raised $14.8 million.

The executive director of Common Cause Ohio, Catherine Turcer, noted that the 1912 constitutional convention that birthed the current amendment provisions sought to check a corrupt and unaccountable government.

Now, in the wake of perhaps the biggest corruption scandal in state government history  the racketeering conviction of former House Speaker Larry L. Householder for accepting $60 million in bribes  the state Legislature should choose to actually make changes that create greater transparency and greater accountability, Turcer said. But theyre not. Instead, theyre playing around with the rules.

What do we know about turnout so far?

The turnout has been more than double the number of people who cast early votes in a regular primary election in May 2022  and that election included contests for governor and the U.S. House.

But its unclear which side that will help. Most people will concede there is higher energy on the no side, said Curt Steiner, a former Republican political strategist who is advising abortion-rights groups on the November proposal.

But that could be offset by Ohios voting rules, which some analysts say are tilted in Republicans favor.

One wrinkle potentially looms large: Two-thirds of all early ballots were cast in person  that is, at polling places. But Ohio law allows in-person early voting at only one location in each county, meaning that the 870,000 registered voters in heavily Democratic Cuyahoga County, home to Cleveland, are allotted the same number of polling places as the 41,000 registered voters in heavily Republican Lawrence County, on the states southern border.

What does the vote mean beyond Ohio?

Beyond abortion, political analysts say Ohios vote could be a major moment in an ongoing tug of war nationwide over how much power ordinary voters should have over elected legislators.

Republican-led legislatures have increasingly sought to rein in ballot initiatives, mostly without success, in the last decade. Those efforts have ramped up since the U.S. Supreme Courts overturning of Roe. v. Wade, said Sarah Walker, the director of legal and policy advocacy at the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, a nonprofit advocacy group.

What happens in Ohio is likely to shape the contours of what that debate looks like going forward, she said.

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A stylized illustration shows one satellite closing in to rendezvous with another satellite, with the aid of Starfish Spaces Cephalopod guidance software. (Starfish Space Illustration)

Kent, Wash.-based Starfish Space says its been awarded $1.8 million by AFWERX, the innovation arm of the Department of the Air Force, to support continued development of the companys Cephalopod software for satellite guidance, navigation and control.

The award builds on previous collaborations between Starfish and the Air Force Research Laboratory.

Technically speaking, the contract is known as a Tactical Funding Increase, or TACFI. Ari Juster, strategy and operations lead at Starfish, said it was awarded as a follow-up to a $1.7 million Phase II Small Business Innovation Research contract that the startup received in 2021.

In a news release, Starfish co-founder Austin Link said he was excited to continue our collaboration with AFRL.

Cephalopod can serve as a key technology enabling future servicing missions to benefit satellite operators, and we have found the AFRL team to be great partners in supporting its development, Link said.

Cephalopod is a software platform that enables satellites powered by electric propulsion systems to rendezvous, conduct proximity operations and execute docking maneuvers with other objects in space autonomously. The software is built into Otter Pup, a demonstration spacecraft that was sent into low Earth orbit in June.

Otter Pup was designed to test Cephalopod and Starfishs other innovations under real-world orbital conditions. But when the Launcher space tug that was designed to put Otter Pup into its proper orbital position went into an extreme spin, Launchers team made the emergency decision to deploy the satellite immediately. As a result, Otter Pup went into a tumble, and the Starfish team wasnt sure whether the satellite could rendezvous and re-dock with the space tug as planned.

The Starfish team has been working for more than a month to de-tumble the satellite in hopes of rescuing the mission. The satellite is still alive, and we remain in communication with it, though there are many challenges we are still working on, Juster told GeekWire in an email.

Juster said the newly announced contract will complement the Otter Pup mission and enable Starfish to make substantial enhancements in the Cephalopod platform. The initial period of performance will be 18 months, and though it will initially run in parallel to the Otter Pup mission, performance of this contract is not dependent on the status of Otter Pup, he said.

Starfishs long-term plan calls for building a full-featured satellite known as the Otter that could be used to service other satellites in orbit to extend their operating lives  or push them down to be deorbited when their work is done. The company was co-founded in 2019 by Link and Trevor Bennett, who previously worked for Jeff Bezos Blue Origin space venture in Kent.

The startup has attracted more than $21 million in investment, including a $14 million Series A funding round that was announced in March. In addition to the work for the Air Force Research Laboratory, Starfish has also won contracts from NASA and the U.S. Space Forces SpaceWERX program.

Update for 4:15 p.m. PT Aug. 8: Weve revised the description of the anomaly that occurred during Otter Pups deployment to state more clearly what happened.

More from GeekWire:
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 8)  The piece of bone found in the septic tank at the New Bilibid Prison compound is not of human origin, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said Tuesday.

NBI forensic expert Annalyne Dadiz said the bone is similar to a chicken leg based on their investigation.

"We conducted the process of forensic identification," Dadiz told the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights. "Through this process we made use of elimination and comparison, and we concluded that it is not of human origin."

"Likelihood, through the process of comparison, it is consistent with a chicken leg bone," she added.

The piece of bone was found along with male underwear and several lighters and razors, mixed with the solid waste in the septic tank.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier retracted his statement that the human remains found in the septic tank belongs to Bilibid inmate Michael Cataroja, who has been missing since July 15. The justice chief said that he received wrong information.

With the NBI's finding, Bureau of Corrections chief Gregorio Catapang Jr. said that Cataroja could have possibly escaped the NBP compound and is now hiding.

"Malakas po ang kutob ko na nakatakas. Kasi si [Cataroja], ang kaso po niyan ay magnanakaw ng mga sasakyan. Kaya niya pong kalikutin kung ano man, carnapper po siya. May chance po na nakalusot," he said.

[Translation: I have a strong hunch that he was able to escape. Because his case was for theft of vehicles. He can work his way around because he is a carnapper. So theres a high chance that he escaped.]

Meanwhile, Cataroja's fellow members in the Sputnik gang inside the Bilibid, say they also have no any idea of his whereabouts.

But Senator Ronald Dela Rosa said that it is impossible that they do not have any hint on what happened to Cataroja.

Imposible, hindi ako maniwala na walang nakakaalam diyan. So kung hindi sumisingaw 'yung impormasyon na 'yan, nagco-cover up kayo diyan, kayong mga leader-leader diyan sa loob, the former police chief said.

[Translation: Its impossible, I dont believe that no one knows where he is. So if the information has not spread, you leaders inside could just be covering up for him.]

The DOJ earlier said that gangs inside the prison have been dumping bodies in the septic tank.

Meanwhile, two BuCor officials were relieved from their posts on August 5 in relation to the disappearance of Cataroja.
The Ukrainian State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has opened 112 proceedings against officials from territorial recruitment and social support centres since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and 15 charges have already been filed in court.

Source: SBI on Telegram

Quote: "Motives for the popular offences by military enlistment office officials are their own profit, for the sake of which they ignore both their conscience and responsibility for the fate of the country."

Details: The SBI recalled that about 10 military enlistment officers have been exposed in the past few weeks alone:

in Zaporizhzhia, a military enlistment officer organised an enrichment scheme for his entourage in the army and helped criminal elements hide from the court,

in Transcarpathia, a military enlistment officer forced soldiers to build his own mansion,

in Kyiv Oblast, an official of the territorial recruitment and social support centre facilitated illegal border crossing for money,

in Poltava Oblast, a military enlistment officer brutally beat his subordinate,

in Odesa, a former military enlistment officer was caught for illegal enrichment,

in Rivne Oblast, the head of the Oblast Military Committee beat a soldier,

in Cherkasy Oblast, an employee of the Military Enlistment Office received "backhanders" of US$10,000 for helping men dodge enlistment,

in Vinnytsia Oblast, a criminal group helped draft dodgers at a territorial recruitment centre,

in the Kramatorsk district, a military officer from Donetsk Oblast established a mechanism for issuing fictitious documents for crossing the state border,

in Bukovyna, "dealers" wanted to make money by issuing certificates of postponement of mobilisation.

The SBI emphasised that they are strengthening the fight against crimes at military enlistment offices and warned that any schemes would be exposed, and the perpetrators brought to justice.

"Checking the activity and lifestyle of employees of the territorial recruitment and social support centres is currently ongoing. All violations will receive a principled and uncompromising assessment in accordance with the Criminal Code," the bureau assures.

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!
State Sen. Sylvia Santana, D-Detroit, whose district includes a high concentration of residents concerned about Palestinian rights, has apologized to her Arab American and Muslim constituents after recently traveling to Israel.

Santana, whose 2nd Senate District includes all of Dearborn, Dearborn Heights and parts of Allen Park and Detroit, posted an apology Saturday on Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter.

The apology came after an uproar from Arab American advocates who learned of her trip, made amid an escalation of settler attacks on Palestinian civilians in recent months and a broader wave of violence that gained momentum after an Israeli hard-line government took office in December. A two-day offensive in the Jenin refugee camp in May left 12 Palestinians and one Israeli soldier dead.

Dearborn Heights City Councilman Mo Baydoun canceled a previously scheduled ice cream social with Santana set for Monday at The Custard Company, which he co-owns, with locations in Dearborn and Dearborn Heights, community advocates said.

An official with the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, David Kurzmann, told the Free Press in a statement Monday the federation facilitated a trip to Israel by several lawmakers.

State Sen. Sylvia Santana, D-Detroit, represents Michigans 2nd Senate District, which includes all of Dearborn and Dearborn Heights, and parts of Allen Park and Detroit. She apologized August 5th, 2023, for a trip to Israel

"I recognize my presence on this trip has sparked anger and disappointment by many in the Arab/Muslim community," Santana wrote in her apology. "For this I truly apologize, seek your forgiveness and hope that you will understand that I had no malicious intent. There is no perfect combination of words that I can offer that truly reflects the feelings in my heart. My only goal was to learn about this region of our world and to improve my understanding of matters related to Michigan."

Santana said she "should have exercised better discretion and engaged in a different protocol with community leaders to seek their counsel prior to the trip."

This was Santana's second trip to Israel, said Osama Siblani, a longtime Arab American advocate who is publisher of the Dearborn-based newspaper, Arab American News.

"It's offensive," Siblani told the Free Press on Monday. "We're upset about it."

Santana did not notify Arab American leaders or others about her visit until it became known on social media in recent days, Siblani said.

More: Hamtramck approves proclamation supporting Palestinians

On Saturday morning, Siblani posted on Facebook that she had traveled to Israel: "The news about Santanas visit to Israel shocked and angered the Arab American community, to say the least. Santanas visit constitutes a slap in the face to the Arab American community who has been supportive and respectful to the Senator."

Siblani said that many in Santana's district have roots in southern Lebanon, an area that has over the decades been under Israeli occupation and fought with Israel, like in the summer of 2006. Other Arab American groups in Dearborn are also generally sympathetic to Palestinians. Dearborn is 47% Arab American and Dearborn Heights about one-third Arab American, according to census data. Along with Hamtramck, they have the highest concentrations of residents with Arab ancestry among municipalities in Michigan. For decades, Dearborn residents have held rallies and other events in support of Palestinians.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer hugs Sen. Sylvia Santana, D-Detroit, right, before Whitmer's State of the State address on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, at the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing.

Silbani and TCD Dearborn News both said that Councilman Baydoun had canceled the ice cream social after learning about her trip. Baydoun did not return an email Monday seeking comment.

Just after 6 p.m. Saturday, Santana posted a statement on Facebook: "It has come to the attention of my constituents specifically those in the Arab/Muslim community that I recently visited Israel in my capacity as a State Senator. This is a trip offered to state lawmakers to learn more about Michigan's relationship with Israel."

Santana added: "I understand now more than before the level of pain, sensitivity and deep rooted emotions that this trip has produced. This experience will always stay with me and will help guide my work in Lansing."

It's unclear when the trip was held, who paid for it, how many lawmakers attended and who they met with. Santana did not return an email seeking comment.

Osama Siblani, publisher of the Arab American News, takes in the scene as people chant during a rally and march in support of Palestine held by New Generation for Palestine on Sunday, May 16, 2021, in Dearborn.

Kurzmann's statement read: The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit facilitated a bipartisan, bicameral legislative trip to Israel including educational, social welfare and economic development meetings.

Kurzmann did not offer additional information about the trip. Siblani said about 16 lawmakers attended it. Supporters of Israel say it's important for Michigan and Israel to have solid ties that can promote trade.

Hussein Dabajeh, legislative director for Wayne County Commissioner Sam Baydoun, whose district includes Dearborn, commented in response to her apology on Facebook: "You have many friends in the Arab American community that you could have talked to BEFORE committing to this trip and we could have talked to you about many reasons why you should not have taken this trip. ... I will never vote for you again."

Abed Ayoub, a Dearborn native who is national executive director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), told the Free Press that her trip did "a disservice to her constituents ... we see her actions as a dismissal of our concerns and a blatant disregard for the moral imperative to champion human rights."

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer visited lsrael in 2019, prompting similar criticisms from Arab American advocates.

In May 2021, Arab Americans held protests in Dearborn criticizing Democrats and President Joe Biden for supporting Israel during a conflict with Palestinians.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Contact Niraj Warikoo: nwarikoo@freepress.com, Facebook.com/nwarikoo, Twitter @nwarikoo.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: State senator Santana apologizes to Arab Americans after Israel trip
Research consistently shows that having one or more teachers of color has a dramatic, positive impact on students of color, including higher academic achievement, better attendance and higher rates of high school graduation and college-going. Yet just 20% of teachers are people of color, compared with 50% of public school students.

With an eye toward changing this, the National Council on Teacher Quality, a nonprofit focused on educator quality, has issued State of the States 2023, a report detailing the size of the gaps throughout the country and summarizing promising policies. To diversify the ranks of their teachers, the groups researchers say, states need to attend to every aspect of training and hiring people from underrepresented communities and making the schools where they work more hospitable.

Data suggests there is a profoundly leaky pipeline of potential teachers of color into the classroom, with candidates leaving the pipeline at every point from high school through teacher preparation, the report states. States can slow the leak by shoring up the pipeline at each point where potential teachers of color slip through.

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Here are five top takeaways from the report:

States should set explicit diversification goals and collect data tracking progress toward meeting those targets.

An appropriate goal might be increasing the diversity of the teacher workforce to match the population of students of color. Officials should collect and publish both district- and school-level data outlining progress  something only a handful of states currently do.

In the same spirit, states should use data to evaluate all their efforts to diversify the teacher workforce, with an eye toward identifying  and investing in  the most effective strategies. Nearly every state has created programs to encourage high school students to consider teaching careers, for example, yet little evidence has been published showing how well this strategy works.

The figure above shows changes in the diversity of enrollment in traditional teacher preparation programs over the last 10 years. Darker red indicates greater declines in the diversity of enrollment while darker blue indicates greater increases in the diversity of enrollment. In this time, enrollment appears to have increased across most states, with dramatic exceptions in several states, where enrollment has dropped precipitously. (NCTQ)

Unless education officials fund efforts to increase racial equity at every stage of teacher training, recruitment and retention, they are unlikely to reach their goals, the researchers warn.

Track how well early career teachers are faring using retention data disaggregated by race and ethnicity at the individual school level.

This should include surveying educators in their first five years on the job  a time when many struggle and leave  on working conditions and satisfaction. Currently, just one state, Delaware, collects information on how many new teachers of color stay at each school.

Surveys of working conditions are also important sources of information on teachers success and satisfaction. Understanding the factors that cause new educators to quit is important if school leaders are to address their challenges.

The report also recommends improving school climate and leadership and training human resources staff to respond to concerns raised by educators of color.

Every state and the District of Columbia has a higher percentage of students of color than teachers of color in public K-12 schools. In the above map, we show the relative gap (or percent difference) between teachers of color and students of color in each state, compared to the population of students of color, with darker blue colors indicating larger gaps. For example, in Maine, 4% of public school teachers identify as people of color and 13% of Maines public K-12 students identify as people of color. While the percentage point gap is -9 percentage points, the relative gap is 66.2%6, showing that Maine has three times more students of color than teachers of color. States with a larger relative gap often have a less diverse teacher workforce to start with and so may face greater challenges in building a more representative workforce, indicated by a darker blue color in the map. (NCTQ)

Pay teachers more to work in hard-to-staff schools.

Teachers of color are more likely than their white counterparts to work in schools that struggle to attract and retain top talent, and are more likely to serve large numbers of students who look like them and would benefit from more diverse staff. The NCTQ researchers pointed to a RAND Corp. study that found that for every $1,000 increase in pay for teachers working in these schools, attrition fell by 6%.

While not specific to teachers of color, this policy would have an immediate impact on those educators (who are more likely to be people of color) already working in schools with the highest need, the report notes.

Change layoff policies so teachers of color are no longer disproportionately impacted.

In many places, teachers of color are much more likely to have probationary status or to be at the bottom of seniority rolls, making them much more vulnerable to losing their jobs when budgets must be cut. States should make sure that decisions about educator layoffs incorporate multiple factors, rather than using seniority as the top or only criterion.

According to the report, research suggests that making decisions about layoff priorities locally, using information about a communitys needs, can be helpful.

Teachers of color should be at the policymaking table.

Educators of color have different ideas about what it will take to diversify teaching than white teachers and education experts do. When asked about barriers to diversification, non-white teachers named better pay, loan forgiveness and supportive administrators, for example, and were less likely to say they want Grow Your Own programs where schools and districts seek to train future staff.

Disclosure: Charles & Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, The Joyce Foundation and Walton Family Foundation provide funding to the National Council on Teacher Quality and The 74.
A damaged road after the Susa river running through Are town following heavy rains in Are, northern Sweden, on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023. (Johan Axelsson/TT News Agency via AP)

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP)  Norwegian authorities warned Tuesday to prepare for extremely heavy rainfall after Storm Hans caused two deaths, ripped off roofs and upended summertime life in northern Europe.

Strong winds continued to batter the region along with rains, causing a lengthy list of disruptions in Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Lithuania, Finland, Estonia and Latvia. Ferries were canceled, flights were delays, roads and streets were flooded, trees were uprooted, people were injured by falling branches and thousands remained without electricity Tuesday.

In Oslo, officials urged people to work from home. On its website, the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate warned of extremely heavy rainfall in the country's south, adding unnecessary traffic should be avoided.

This is a very serious situation that can lead to extensive consequences and damages. There will be extensive flooding, erosion damage and flood damages to buildings and infrastructure, it said in English on its website.

In Finland, authorities urged people to rethink whether it it is necessary to go out to sea, Ville Hukka, a spokesperson for the Gulf of Finland Coast Guard District was quoted by the Hufvudstadsbladet newspaper.

SMHI, the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, on Tuesday issued a red warning for parts of central Sweden, signaling very large amounts of rain causing extremely high flows in streams and ditches in several places.

Floods and slides closed dozens of roads in southern Norway and neighboring Sweden and dozens of people have been evacuated. Norwegian police said at least 119 people had been evacuated by Tuesday midday. There were scattered reports of helicopters being used to fly people out of affected areas.

Denmark's Meteorological Institute, meanwhile, reported of waves of up to 8 meters (26 feet) and beach houses were seen washed into the North Sea.

On Monday, a 50-year old woman was killed in Lithuania by falling trees near the Latvian border. In central Sweden, a train was partly derailed because the embankment under the rails had been washed away. Three were people were slightly injured.

Also Monday in Latvia, near the Belarus border, a second person died on Monday when a tree fell on him, Latvian television said, adding he died of his injuries. The man was not further identified.

In Estonia, nearly 10,000 people were without power Tuesday morning, according to the Baltic News Service, the regions main news agency.

Norwegian authorities kept the extreme weather warning alert at its highest level in southern Norway due to heavy rain, mudslides and flash floods. They also sent out text messages in several foreign languages, including English, to holidaymakers warning of the foul weather.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre called it a very serious situation, said late Monday. We see floods and destruction. There is reason to expect that this will last another day, he said.

Meteorologists in Norway said rain can be expected over the country's south until Wednesday.

Plan for the fact that roads may be closed and that electricity, telephone and internet may be lost in parts of the county for periods, Norwegian police said in a statement.

In the Swedish town Are, a ski resort, roads and streets were flooded. The Susaback river that runs through Are, some 533 kilometers (331 miles) from Stockholm, went over its banks and flooded much of downtown.
Stephen Fry has opened up about the impact of reading about Oscar Wilde as a teenager and its effects on his thoughts on being gay in the UK.

Wilde was an Irish poet and dramatist, best known for his 1890 novel The Picture of Dorian Gray and 1895 play The Importance of Being Earnest. Before his death aged 46 in 1900, Wilde was a high-profile societal figure in Victorian London, and was married to a woman while keeping his homosexuality a secret.

However, he was shunned and shamed after allegations of engaging in sodomy, and in 1895 was sentenced to hard labour in jail for gross indecency.

After his two-year imprisonment, which had a profound effect on his health, Wilde left the UK for France and spent the rest of his life wandering Europe in exile with a dwindling fortune.

Wildes life has been documented in several biographies, with his legal battle in particular detailed in H Montgomery Hydes The Trials of Oscar Wilde (1948).

In a new interview with Radio Times, Fry, 65, spoke about how reading this account at a young age highlighted his own homosexuality.

I started to gasp and pant and feel simultaneously triumphant and terribly, terribly worried, Fry told the publication.

I suddenly understood this extraordinary man and that his nature  the word he used in his famous letter to his lover Bosie  his nature was the same as mine. As soon as I read that, I knew that I was gay.

As well as being key for Fry realising his own sexuality, the book also made the broadcaster worry about what his life would be like as a gay man in a homophobic society.

Stephen Fry (Getty Images)

Fry explained his fear that my life was absolutely cursed if I wanted to stay in Britain, in that I would have to live a life of secrecy, shame, exile, disgrace, he said. All the horrors.

Private homosexual acts between men over 21 were only decriminalised in the UK in 1967, with the passing of the Sexual Offences Act. Prior to that, Fry knew of the lives of gay men as being seen as disgusting, sent to prison, losing their name and their livelihood.

Fry played Wilde in the 1997 biographical film, Wilde, and received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor for his performance.
Karin Rojas left her native Peru at 13 years old but she didnt leave behind her homegrown artistic ability to knit, crochet and sew.

Rojas has been living the American dream for the past five and a half years as the owner of Zulema Custom Interiors & Covers in Virginia Beach.

I love to sew, she said. Its like therapy.

She specializes in designing and fabricating high-end custom interior seating for collectible and standard automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, boats and aircraft using leather, vinyl, metal, plastic and composites all via hand tools.

Omar Griffin of Norfolk works in the automotive restoration industry and he said he wont take his cars anywhere else.

Rojas reupholstered the interior of his 1984 Buick Regal and it won first place at the Rollin Legends Car Show in Portsmouth in June.

Thats a win for both of us, Griffin said. Everybody wanted to know who did it.

Passionate and meticulous about her work, Rojas remembers the difficulties she experienced breaking into the primarily male-dominated industry.

The single mother of two made a living doing visual merchandising at a retail store by day and alterations from home by night while she went to Tidewater Community College and then earned her bachelors degree in fashion merchandising from Old Dominion University.

Following graduation in 2012, Rojas received a message on Facebook from international fashion designer Lizzi London.

Starstruck, Rojas worked as her assistant for a year, learned the art of creating a pattern on a mannequin from scratch and explored the world of couture and runway fashion design.

When London left for the West Coast, Rojas took her seamstress skills into a local upholstery shop.

They called me Speedy Gonzales, Rojas said of her ability to work quickly and consistently.

Eager for more and the chance to showcase her creativity, Rojas asked her employer to transfer her to car upholstery.

She said we only hire men because you need a lot of strength, Rojas recalled.

Not easily deterred, Rojas reupholstered the seats in her 1994 Isuzu Amigo  adding piping, embroidery, binding and diamond stitching  to show her then-employer that she was more than capable.

While she didnt get to break into car upholstery there, Rojas said Nick French, owner of Nicks Upholstery in Virginia Beach, gave her a chance and taught her a lot of skills and tricks of the trade.

After a few months, in 2018, Rojas decided to become a solopreneur. She opened up Zulema Custom Interiors, named for her mother who died when Rojas was 6 years old. After a few months, her kitchen was filled with car seats waiting to be reupholstered.

It was time to move to a shop, Rojas said.

She operated from a location in Norfolk, specializing in boat covers throughout the pandemic as more people were redoing their boats. In 2020, Rojas moved to her current space at 1906 Virginia Beach Blvd. and work remains steady.

Rojas maintains her fashion sense and said she incorporates a bit of pizzazz into her work whenever she can. Customers requesting a new car interior get one of Rojas custom gym bags to match.

All of her hard work and determination continues to pay off. She bought herself a home and is paying off her student loans.

Rojas has made a name for herself in the industry  stitch by stitch  and shes proud of where she is now. She even designed and sells a perfume, aptly labeled Zulema.

For more information, visit zulemainteriors.com.

Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836, sandra.pennecke@insidebiz.com
Stranger Things actor Joe Keery was recently spotted in New Hampshire.

Keery, known for playing Steve Harrington in the hit science fiction Netflix series, was photographed during a visit to NorEast Architectural Antiques in South Hampton on July 30.

In a Facebook post, the store wrote, Yesterday was a strange day at Noreast!! Big thanks to Joe Keery for letting me snap a picture to share here. We are big fans! Hope you enjoyed your visit.

NorEast Architectural Antiques specializes in salvaged antique building materials from 1700-1940, according to their Facebook page.

Keery grew up in Newburyport, Massachusetts, where he attended River Valley Charter School for elementary and middle school, and then Newburyport High School, his IMDB page indicated.

Yesterday was a strange day at Noreast!! Big thanks to Joe Keery for letting me snap a picture to share here. We are big fans! Hope you enjoyed your visit. @strangerthingstv Posted by Nor'East Architectural Antiques on Sunday, July 30, 2023

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Michelle Elissiry says she doesnt leave her home very often. If she does, its to go to work or grief therapy.

Its been the same routine for her father Bob Edwards and brother Rob for the past nine months since Edwards wife Billie, 73, and her sister Carolyn Rose, 76, were struck and killed by a vehicle while on their morning walk last Nov. 2.

Were not coping very well, Elissiry said. We have everything delivered. We are all struggling.

The family wasnt happy when they found out the 55-year old Atwater women, who was driving the vehicle that killed the two sisters, will face two misdemeanor charges.

Debra Huddleston is facing two counts of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter.

Huddleston was driving a black Chrysler mini van, traveling westbound on East Juniper in Awater in November when it left the roadway and struck Edwards and Rose.

Rose and Edwards were killed instantly.

The family of the two victims say the potential punishment is not enough. The maximum penalty for misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter is one year in county jail.

Im devastated, my mom and my aunt are gone forever, said Elissiry. They were the pillars of our family. Their lives are worth more than this.

Two misdemeanor charges, she may not even do any jail time, Elissiry added. Theres that potential. Im going to push that she gets a year each. I want to see her have to pay for what she has done.

During a press conference in November, Atwater Police Chief Michael Salvador announced the police department recommended the suspect receive felony charges.

Salvador announced during the press conference the investigation revealed the cause of the collision was the vehicle making an unsafe lane change, causing it to leave the roadway and placing it in the path of the two women who were walking on the sidewalk.

Neither alcohol or speed, played a factor in the collision, according to police.

The family believes mistakes made by the Atwater Police Department during their investigation led to the lesser misdemeanor charges.

I understand what the family wants, Salvador said. Im hoping for a successful prosecution. I feel for the family, I absolutely do. They lost loved ones. I have to revert back that it was an extensive investigation, it was a lot of work by my team and now its time to go to court.

Elissiry says Huddleston wasnt given a field sobriety test by officers after the incident. She says the Atwater police returned Huddlestons cell phone to her just 23 hours after the collision.

Meanwhile the victims phones werent returned to the family until February.

The Atwater Police Department has denied us the justice we deserve, Elissiry said. Not doing the field sobriety test screwed us, giving the phone back. The police report being a mess in itself creates a problem because its a credibility problem if it had to go to court. The fact that so many mistakes were made that justice will not be served.

Salvador says he respectfully disagrees.

I revert back to the fact that there are six search warrants on this case, there are two toxicology results in this case  one for alcohol and one for drugs, Salvador said. The length of time it took for us to get to this point, were competing with limited resources. We share a crime lab with agencies from Sacramento to Merced.

Salvador said his department executed search warrants, including warrants for cell phone records, infotainment systems and medical records.

The cell phone is the most important tool we use in a death investigation cases, Salvador said. The data is the data. People think when they delete digital data that it is gone forever and companies taut the fact that their encryption is unbreakable. That isnt the truth. Its just not.

Salvador says there wasnt enough probable cause at the time of the collision to do a field sobriety test.

There was no evidence of alcohol at the time of the collision, he said. A prescription drug thing is something you only get with blood tests and toxicology results and the driver of the vehicle fully cooperated with us, and gave us a blood sample contemporaneous to the accident.

According to the police report, a toxicology report showed there was gabapentin and hydrocodone in Huddlestons system.

The family isnt going to be happy unless this lady spends the rest of her life in prison, Salvador said. Theyre not happy with me, theyre not happy with my department and I can understand that. They lost two loved ones. I get it.

I think its a prosecutable case, Salvador added. I think we can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the driver was impaired.

Elissiry says the family plans to file a complaint with the state Attorney Generals Office and have reached out to Congressman John Duartes Office.

I really hope I dont need to go that route, Elissiry said. I hope that we can get this resolved. Im not a litigious person, thats not what Im after here. Im after justice for my mom and my aunt. Im not after money.

An arraignment hearing is scheduled for Aug. 14 at the Merced County Superior Court.
Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis has struggled to connect with voters on the campaign trail (SCOTT OLSON)

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis fired his campaign manager on Tuesday as he struggles to close the gap in the US Republican presidential primary on runaway frontrunner Donald Trump.

James Uthmeier, the candidate's longtime chief of staff in his day job in Tallahassee, replaces Generra Peck -- the latest of a number of unofficial campaign reboots with the candidate languishing almost 40 points behind Trump in polling averages.

The shake-up comes in the wake of DeSantis firing more than a third of his staffers, with aides acknowledging overspending amid a series of negative headlines over the 44-year-old governor's hardline right wing policies and awkwardness with voters.

Uthmeier joins the team alongside a second appointment, longtime Iowa Republican operative David Polyansky, as DeSantis and his rivals hope for a breakout moment in the first debate on August 23, which Trump has suggested he may skip. Peck will stay on as a strategist.

"We are excited about these additions as we continue to spread the governor's message across the country. It's time to reverse our nation's decline and revive America's future," said DeSantis spokesman Andrew Romeo.

DeSantis used his first network television interview of the campaign on Monday to go further than he has before in criticizing the frontrunner, explicitly rejecting Trump's false claims of voter fraud in the last election.

The majority of Republican primary voters believe wrongly that Trump won the last election, and bolstering the former president's false claims of fraud had become a litmus test for those hoping to rise in the party ranks.

The governor said the last election had not been perfect, but he dismissed the former president's allegations of foul play by President Joe Biden's Democrats.

The twice-impeached Trump has been indicted over his efforts to overturn the election that culminated in the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the US Capitol.

The case is the most serious of four criminal probes that have yielded dozens of felony charges, including allegations that the 77-year-old billionaire endangered national security by storing classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago beach resort in Florida.

ft/bfm
A flow of people carrying bags and crates left University of Delaware dorms on March 20, 2020, after the school suspended in-person classes following the first positive case of coronavirus in the state.

Thousands of college students will get hundreds of dollars in compensation as colleges and universities move this summer to settle multimillion-dollar lawsuits stemming from canceled classes and activities during COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns.

While some of the class-action suits against the colleges and universities are still in litigation, and still others dismissed, several major cases have been settled in recent weeks.

The settlements mean students who were charged tuition and fees but werent able to use in-person services during the pandemic shutdowns will receive some compensation, though they wont be refunded for all the on-campus amenities they lost.

The amounts depend on the total settlement figure, minus legal fees and other court expenses. Each case has a different timeline.

Most recently, the University of Delaware agreed in June to set up a $6.3 million fund to partially reimburse tuition and fees that the students paid for classes, housing and activities in 2020. The students argued that they did not receive the full benefit of in-person participation in academics and extra-curricular activities. Each student is expected to receive several hundred dollars in cash as part of the agreement.

But the university did not admit wrongdoing and maintained that extenuating circumstances of the pandemic, and the lack of an official contract between the school and each student, meant it was justified in taking the tuition and fees  an argument made by many other schools.

Many universities also have argued that they incurred significant expense in making the almost immediate transition to online classes. In interviews with Stateline, attorneys for some schools argued that the students argument was undercut by the fact that many chose to remain in remote classes after the campuses reopened, for convenience or health concerns.

Florida attorney Mendy Halberstam, who was not involved in the Delaware case but who represents other universities that have been similarly sued, said in an interview that the schools feel compelled to defend themselves against cases they believe are lacking in merit.

They are not looking to make life difficult for their students, he said, but they also have to make sure of their [lack of] liability.

There have been about 300 such lawsuits, according to Times Higher Education, a British publication that partners with The Wall Street Journal on rankings and evaluations of U.S. schools.

The University of Colorado, for example, settled a similar class-action case in April for $5 million.

Incoming freshmen walk through campus after moving into dormitories at University of Colorado Boulder on Aug. 18, 2020. Due to COVID, many colleges and universities are using different strategies, with even students living on campus attending all classes remotely.

Attorney Igor Raykin, who represented the Colorado students, said the settlement was a reasonable offer given the challenges of the suit itself and the legal landscape in general.

Among the challenges, Raykin said, is the fact that these were precedent-setting cases and that a lengthy legal process meant many of the students have already graduated and gotten on with their lives.

We wanted to make sure the students would be getting something that would benefit them. Individual awards will vary, he said, but typically will be in the hundreds of dollars.

In May, the University of Minnesota also settled a class-action lawsuit, allowing students to get bigger refunds of tuition and fees than the school initially allowed. And in June, a judge certified a group of students in a class-action suit against the University of Washington.

However, early this year a judge in Rhode Island dismissed a case against the University of Rhode Island and several other schools in that state, ruling that there were no enforceable contracts breached in the shutdowns. The plaintiffs argued that the shutdowns denied them university experiences they expected, based on the schools marketing materials, websites, course catalogs, student handbooks and the like.

But U.S. District Judge John McConnell Jr. ruled that, unfortunately for [the] plaintiffs, these general advertisements and distinctions do not create obligations on the part of the university  they are vague and more akin to puffery, rather than enforceable promises.

Two weeks ago, the Florida Supreme Court announced it would consider a class-action suit from University of Florida students asking for compensation for being denied services during the COVID-19 shutdown.

Pedestrians walk past the Husky Union Building on March 20, 2021, on the University of Washington campus in Seattle, Washington.

But in another Florida case, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a ruling from a lower court dismissing a students lawsuit against the University of Miami, a private school.

The university refunded pro-rated fees for housing, dining, student centers and gyms. The student argued that wasnt enough, but the court ruled that she was not entitled to damages stemming from any alleged breach of contract, unjust enrichment, or inadequate refunds on the part of Miami.

The pandemic forced students of all ages to learn from behind their computer screens for a period of time, and we certainly harbor a great deal of sympathy for those students whose educations and relationships were affected by the transition, the court wrote.

We hope that some comfort can be found, however, in our certainty that despite enduring the hardships created by the pandemic, any student who has earned a degree from a school like the University of Miami retains the unspoiled potential for a fulfilling and prosperous future.

Florida attorney Jeffrey Ostrow, who represented students in a lawsuit against Barry University, a private school in Miami, said the cases have been a mixed bag all over the place. In one of the earliest settlements, Barry University in September 2021 agreed to set up a $2.4 million compensation fund for students.

Ostrow maintains that universities did enter contracts for in-person learning and campus activities.

All these students signed up for a program in class, he said, noting that schools often charged less for online classes before the pandemic. Whether [the university] was forced to, or decided unilaterally to shut those things down, its not fair for them to keep the [in-class payments].

He also noted that many schools got pandemic relief payments from the federal government to help them weather the pandemic.

There was federal money that a lot of the schools were able to get, Ostrow said. And we believe that money should have gone back to the students.

Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a national nonprofit news organization focused on state policy.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College students blocked from campus during COVID are getting refunds
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 8)  The captain of the sunken motorbanca in Binangonan, Rizal has admitted giving a pangiti or bribe to Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel to allow him to sail on July 27 even when the vessel was overloaded with passengers.

Bumili lang po ako ng 100 na saging, boat captain Donald Anain told the Senate Committee on Public Service on Tuesday. Minsan, may involved din pong money na 50.

[Translation: I just bought 100 worth of bananas. Sometimes, money worth 50 is also involved.]

PCG Commandant Admiral Artemio Abu said the sanctions for the sub-station commander who failed to inspect the boat in Rizal and his immediate supervisor are currently under evaluation by the national headquarters of PCG.

Meanwhile, PCG Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said Anains claim was absurd.

I do not think our personnel would resort to accepting banana and 50 in exchange for favors, Balilo told reporters.

The captain denied giving liquors to our personnel. Our personnel also denied demanding any of these items. Wala silag tinatanggap [the do not accept anything], he added.

According to the Maritime Industry Authority, motorbanca MB Aya Express, also known as Princess Aya, has an authorized capacity of 42 passengers, including four crew members.

Nearly 70 people were reportedly onboard Princess Aya when it sank.

The incident left at least 26 people dead while 41 others survived.

READ: Sunken boat in Binangonan leaves at least 26 dead

John Delos Reyes, one of the survivors, told senators that even though the boat already sailed, Anain went back to shore to get eight more passengers.

He added that Princess Aya was also loaded with sacks of rice, grocery items, a motorcycle and textiles.

Delos Reyes also said the passengers of Princess Aya were not wearing life vests. A video provided by Delos Reyes showed that the life vests were only hanging in the boat.

Sa tingin ko wala pa yang 50 [na piraso], Delos Reyes said. Wala hong coast guard that time. Kung may coast guard that time, pagsusuotin kami ng life vest.

[Translation: I think the life vests were not more than 50 pieces. The coast guards were not present at that time. If there is a coast guard present, they will hand out our life vests.]

Senator Raffy Tulfo said the crew should ensure the safety of its passengers even without the inspection of PCG.
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez (R) announced Monday that his campaign has hit the donor requirement for joining the partys first presidential debate, bringing the White House hopeful a step closer to getting on stage with his fellow GOP candidates.

I am extremely pleased to announce that my campaign has today passed the 40,000 unique donor threshold set by the @GOP to make the debate stage, Suarez said on X, the platform previously known as Twitter.

In less than six weeks my team and I have quite literally gone from zero to a hundred and we are confident that I will be on the debate stage in two weeks, he said.

Before presidential candidates can get on the Aug. 23 debate stage, they must first meet several requirements set by the Republican National Committee (RNC).

They need to meet a donor benchmark of at least 40,000 unique donors, including at least 200 from 20 or more states and territories each.

They also need to be polling at 1 percent or higher in at least three authorized national polls  or at 1 percent or higher in two national polls together with one early state poll from two separate carve out states recognized by the RNC: Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina.

Suarez says hes cleared the donor mark, but it appears he has yet to reach the polling requirements. FiveThirtyEights tracker of national polls has Suarez at an average of no more than 0.1 percent since he joined the contest.

The candidates who appear so far to have met the polling and donor requirements are former President Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley, conservative entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Sen. Tim Scotts (S.C.) and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.

The RNC has also said its asking candidates to sign a loyalty pledge to support whomever becomes the eventual Republican nominee.

Suarez kicked off his 2024 campaign in June, becoming the third Floridian to jump into the GOP race, alongside Trump and DeSantis.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Tafaul Omar, a pregnant 26-year-old nurse from Sudan, talks to a group of men as she is stranded in the desert on the Libyan-Tunisian border, near Al-Assah

Sudanese woman tells of 'horrible' desert journey after expulsion from Tunisia Tafaul Omar, a pregnant 26-year-old nurse from Sudan, talks to a group of men as she is stranded in the desert on the Libyan-Tunisian border, near Al-Assah

By Ahmed Elumami

ALASAA, Libya (Reuters) - Exhausted, pregnant and weeping, Sudanese nurse Tafaul Omar sat under the scorching desert sun along with 14 other migrants who said they had been arrested by Tunisian authorities and dumped in the border area with Libya - a practice Tunisia denies.

The group of men and women from Sudan, Senegal, Ghana and Mali had walked for four hours before a Libyan border patrol that Reuters accompanied found them at the weekend and gave them water and food, Omar and the others said.

"It was just a horrible feeling to walk in the middle of nowhere," she said with sand caking her clothes, adding that she feared for her unborn baby after her ordeal in the desert.

Migrants, Libyan border guards and rights groups accuse Tunisia of expelling migrants across the frontier into a featureless wilderness far from towns or villages in the height of summer as part of a months-long crackdown.

Libya has reported finding bodies of migrants who died in the desert.

Tunisia's Interior Ministry denies dumping migrants in the desert and President Kais Saied has described the reports as misinformation aimed at discrediting the country.

"Tunisia rejects all accusations of expelling African immigrants," said Interior Ministry spokesperson Faker Bouzgaya, when asked by Reuters about the migrants' accounts.

Asked how those stranded in the desert had arrived there, he said "People who meet the conditions for legal entry into Tunisia will be allowed in," adding "Tunisia is not responsible for what happens outside its borders" without elaborating.

Bouzgaya pointed to work by Tunisia's Red Crescent to assist migrants at the border.

REMOTE AND DESOLATE

Omar, 26, said she and her husband Yaseen Adam had been living in Zarziz, a southern Tunisian town near the border with Libya, saving up to pay smugglers to take them to Italy. She said police arrested them last week and drove them to the border.

The couple fled their Khartoum home because of the warfare that suddenly broke out there in April with shellfire in their neighbourhood killing Omar's father, and travelled through Chad and Algeria before arriving in Tunisia, they said.

After the police arrested them along with other migrants, they beat the men, took the phones of everybody in their group and abandoned them in the desert, Omar, Adam and the others found by the Libyan patrol and the Reuters reporters said.

Reuters could not independently verify their accounts of what took place before they were found in the desert.

The U.N. migration agency IOM said about 300 individuals had been provided with food and medical assistance by it and other U.N. agencies at a Libyan government facility in Alasaa in Libya, near where Omar's group were found.

"The situation at the border is very complicated: it seems there are around 350 migrants still stranded in Ras Ijder", a coastal area about 35km (20 miles) from Alasaa, said Giacomo Terenzi of the IOM in Libya.

Last month the IOM and the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR said they were deeply concerned for the safety of hundreds of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in Tunisia who had been removed to "remote and desolate" border areas or pushed across the frontier.

CRACKDOWN

Expulsions over the desert border were first reported in early July after confrontations between local people and migrants in the port city of Sfax, a main departure point for illicit voyages to Italy on small, flimsy boats.

Thousands of migrants who had been living in Tunisia have tried to leave for Europe this year after President Saied announced a crackdown on them in February, saying their presence was part of a plot to change Tunisia's demographic makeup.

That campaign, denounced by the African Union for what it called "racialised language", prompted a wave of reported attacks on migrants from sub-Saharan African countries.

Migration across North Africa and the Mediterranean to Europe has surged this year and shows little sign of slowing, with more departures - and deadly shipwrecks - reported on routes through and from Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.

Despite the criticism directed at Tunisia's approach, the European Union last month said it would give the country more than 100 million euros to help combat people smuggling and improve border management.

Rights groups have also criticised the EU for its support of migration measures in Libya, where armed factions control migrant detention centres in which Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have documented torture. Libya's government has denied there is torture at the centres.

Omar and her group said they had been given water and food by Libyan border guards, which come under Brigade 19 of the Tripoli government's Defence Ministry.

When the patrol found them, they were lying on the ground resting, their lips chapped and ashen, their heads covered with scarves against the sun and a strong sand-filled wind.

The border guards said they would be transferred to the government facility in Alassa. Terenzi said migrants it was working with there would not be sent to detention centres.

Kufi Mousa, 23, and his wife Blessing David, 20, were also in Omar's group. They reached Tunisia three months ago via Algeria, they said. Like Omar, David said she was pregnant. They had hoped to travel on to Europe but could not make enough money to do so.

"I'm frustrated. I've lost hope. I just want to return to Ghana. They expelled me and my wife and let us walk in the desert facing terrible conditions," Mousa said.

(Reporting by Ahmed Elumami; Additional reporting by Latifa Guesmi; Writing by Angus McDowall, Editing by William Maclean)
Suga becomes third BTS member to begin military service in South Korea

BTS star Suga has become the third member of the K-pop band to join South Koreas compulsory military service.

The news was announced by the bands label Big Hit Music.

We would like to inform our fans that Suga has initiated the military enlistment process by applying for the termination of his enlistment postponement, the label said in a statement.

We ask you for your continued love and support for Suga until he completes his military service and safely returns.

Our company will spare no effort in providing support for our artist.

In South Korea, all able-bodied men aged 18 to 28 are required by law to complete 18-21 months of military service under a conscription system meant to deter aggression from rival North Korea.

The law gives special exemptions to athletes, classical and traditional musicians, and ballet and other dancers if they have obtained top prizes in certain competitions and are assessed to have enhanced national prestige.

K-pop stars and other entertainers, however, arent subject to such privileges.

(AP)

In April this year, BTSs J-Hope entered a South Korean boot camp to start his 18-month compulsory military service. Before him, Jin, 30 and the oldest member of BTS, became the bands first member to enter the army after revoking his request to delay his conscription.

There was a heated public debate in 2022 over whether to offer special exemptions of mandatory military service for BTS members until the groups management agency announced in October 2022 that all seven members would fulfill their duties.

In September 2022, Busans mayor asked South Koreas president to exclude BTS from mandatory military service so they can help support the citys bid to host the World Expo in 2030.

Park Heong-joon told president Yoon Suk-yeol that without solving the military service issue, BTS actively promoting Busans bid for the Expo might be impossible.

However, during a conference at the National Assembly, South Korean defence minister Suh Wook said that it would be difficult to extend this alternative programme to BTS due to aspects of fairness on fulfilling mandatory military service.

Additional reporting by agencies
Summit Coffee has growth on its radar, with nine new cafes planned over the next two years.

The 25-year-old Davidson company is set to become one of the largest specialty coffee brands in the Southeast. Current expansion is planned for Charlotte, Atlanta and Charleston, South Carolina. It will open a bakery this month to supply all of its Charlotte-area stores with sweet treats such as croissants, danishes, scones and cookies.

Summit expects to have 25 cafes open by the end of 2025, as well as its certified organic coffee roasting and distribution business. It is a member of 1% For The Planet, and its roastery is certified climate neutral.

ALSO READ: Indian Trail coffee shop offers nutritious bites and beverages

Since we decided in earnest early in 2020 to pursue significant growth through the cafes, weve known what the outlook was, says Brian Helfrich, CEO and owner.

Read more here.

VIDEO: Indian Trail coffee shop offers nutritious bites and beverages




The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has pointed out that the talks in Jeddah witnessed the growth of China and Russias different views over the war in Ukraine.

Source: ISW

Details: ISW said China's growing disagreement with Russia over a settlement to end the war in Ukraine was evident at talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on 5-6 August.

ISW noted that "The Financial Times reported that the Chinese representatives at the meeting were constructive and keen to show that [China] is not Russia".

The Financial Times cited a European diplomat present at the talks, saying that the "mere presence of China shows Russia is more and more isolated".

The Chinese delegation is reported to have expressed its willingness to participate in the next similar-format meeting. Russia will probably not be at this meeting either.

A Russian insider source claimed that Russia has rejected China's 12-point peace plan for the war in Ukraine [re-presented by the Chinese delegation during the talks in Saudi Arabia  ed.] made on February 2023, and that some Chinese elites are secretly expressing that they are dissatisfied with the Russian leaderships actions regarding a peaceful resolution of the war in Ukraine.

"These reports from the talks in Saudi Arabia and insider allegations, if true, align with ISWs previous assessments that China is not fully aligned with Russia on the issue of Ukraine and that Russia and Chinas relationship is not a no limits partnership as the Kremlin desires," ISW concluded.

To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 7 August:

Ukrainian forces continued counteroffensive operations on at least two sectors of the front on 7 August.

Russian forces and occupation administrators continue to seek to mitigate the impact of recent Ukrainian strikes on logistics nodes along key Russian ground lines of communication (GLOCs) connecting occupied Crimea with occupied Kherson Oblast.

Russian opposition media outlet Verstka suggested that the Russian Investigative Committee and its head, Alexander Bastrykin, are directly involved in the forced deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia and the forced placement of Ukrainian children into Russian military training programs.

China's increasing misalignment with Russia on any settlement to end the war in Ukraine was reportedly evident at the talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on 5-6 August.

The Ukrainian delegation at the talks in Saudi Arabia presented a 10-point peace plan that reportedly included calls for global food security, nuclear safety, environmental security, humanitarian aid, and prisoner releases.

Ukrainian officials reported that Ukrainian and Russian forces conducted a prisoner-of-war (POW) exchange on 7 August.

Russian forces conducted offensive operations along the Kupiansk-Svatove-Kreminna line, near Bakhmut, along the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line, along the Donetsk-Zaporizhzhia Oblast border, and in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast on 7 August and made advances in certain areas.

The Kremlin continues efforts to portray itself as adequately mobilising the Russian defence industrial base (DIB) for a protracted war effort.

Russian occupation authorities continue to use maternity capital benefits to coerce Ukrainian civilians in occupied territories to accept Russian citizenship and increase social control in occupied areas.

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!
The U.S. Supreme Court has sided with the Biden administration, temporarily allowing enforcement of regulations over so-called "ghost guns" that can be made from kits at home.

The administration appealed a federal judges earlier ruling tossing out the regulations. In a 5-4 vote, the high court put that ruling from Texas on hold while the case is appealed further on the merits. The regulation will be enforced while the case is appealed to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans and possibly further to the Supreme Court.

Justices Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh would have allowed the lower court ruling to go into effect.

The federal regulation was put into place a year ago, and would put ghost guns under the same control as other fully assembled firearms, making it easier to trace serial numbers, background checks, and sales. The rule requires unfinished parts of a firearm like the frame of a handgun or the receiver of a long gun to be treated like a completed firearm. These parts need to be licensed and must have serial numbers.

CALIFORNIA LAW ENFORCEMENT SEIZE 54 GHOST GUNS LAST YEAR FROM PEOPLE WHO CAN'T LEGALLY OWN FIREARMS

Kings County District Attorney Eric Gonzalez holds a 3D printed ghost gun during a statewide gun buyback event held by the office of the New York State Attorney General, in the Brooklyn borough of New York on April 29, 2023.

The rule also requires manufacturers to run background checks before selling these parts, as they are required to do for whole commercial firearms.

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The Biden administration argued the rule is necessary to respond to rising numbers of untraceable guns.

The Justice Department had told the court that local law enforcement agencies seized more than 19,000 ghost guns at crime scenes in 2021, a more than tenfold increase in just five years.

PHILADELPHIA SUES GHOST GUN DISTRIBUTORS AFTER DEADLY MASS SHOOTING

"The public-safety interests in reversing the flow of ghost guns to dangerous and otherwise prohibited persons easily outweighs the minor costs that respondents will incur," Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, the administrations top Supreme Court lawyer, wrote in a court filing.

FEDERAL JUDGE IN COLORADO BLOCKS LAW RAISING AGE REQUIREMENT FOR GUN PURCHASES

Seized ghost guns on display at LAPD Headquarters during a news conference to announce a reward program focused on getting unserialized ghost guns off the street.

Gun rights groups and a firearms parts manufacturer challenging the regulation argue the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) lacks the authority to change the definition of a firearm in federal law without an act of Congress. U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor, in Fort Worth, Texas, sided with plaintiffs challenging the rule last June, finding that the definition of a firearm in federal law does not cover the individual parts of a gun.

Lawyers for the Firearms Policy Coalition told the Supreme Court that O'Connor was right and that ATF had abandoned more than half a century of regulatory practice by expanding the definition of a firearm.

"Were deeply disappointed that the Court pressed pause on our defeat of ATFs rule effectively redefining firearm and frame or receiver under federal law," said Cody J. Wisniewski, FPCAFs General Counsel and Vice President of Legal, and FPCs counsel in this case. "Regardless of todays decision, were still confident that we will yet again defeat ATF and its unlawful rule at the Fifth Circuit when that Court has the opportunity to review the full merits of our case."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON  A divided Supreme Court on Tuesday backed a Biden administration effort to regulate ghost guns, temporarily allowing the government to require manufacturers of the untraceable weapon kits to conduct background checks on customers and mark their products with serial numbers.

Ghost gun kits allow people to purchase parts that can be built into a weapon without the usual regulations that come with an assembled gun. President Joe Biden last year required companies selling the do-it-yourself kits to adhere to the same rules as other gunmakers, such as keeping records that help police trace the weapons.

The Supreme Court agreed 5-4 on Tuesday to pause a lower court's ruling, allowing the Biden administration to enforce the rule while the underlying case continues. Justice Amy Coney Barrett and Chief Justice John Roberts, both conservatives, sided with the court's three-member liberal wing to keep the Biden rule in place for now.

Four other conservative justices  Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh  said they would have temporarily blocked enforcement of the rule. As is often the case on its emergency docket, the high court issued only a short order and did not explain its reasoning.

Sgt. Matthew Elseth displays "ghost guns" at the headquarters of the San Francisco Police Department on Nov. 27, 2019.

What are ghost guns?

So-called "ghost guns" are often kits sold on-line that allow purchasers to assemble parts into a functioning weapon.

Gun control advocates see the kits as a dangerous loophole and point out that police frequently find the weapons at crime scenes. The Biden administration told the Supreme Court that law enforcement agencies submitted 1,600 ghost guns to federal authorities for tracing in 2017. Four years later, that number had increased to more than 19,000.

Those tracing requests were largely futile, the administration says, because the kits do not carry serial numbers.

"These guns are weapons of choice for many criminals," Biden said last year. "We are going to do everything we can to deprive them of that choice and, when we find them, put them in jail for a long, long time."

More: How a Second Amendment case at the Supreme Court is putting gun rights groups in a jam

Gun owners, advocacy groups and companies that make or distribute the products sued. They told the Supreme Court that Biden overstepped his authority by defining firearm to include the kits. Rather than take matters into its own hands, the plaintiffs say, the administration should have tried to convince Congress to change the law.

Eleven states, including Illinois, California and New York, have regulations on ghost guns in place intended to curb their use, according to the gun control advocacy group Everytown.

White House, gun rights groups respond

White House spokesperson Olivia Dalton said the Supreme Court's order "will keep in place important efforts to combat the surge of unserialized, privately-made 'ghost guns' which have proliferated in crime scenes across the country."

Cody Wisniewski, a lawyer for the Firearms Policy Coalition, said the gun rights group was "deeply disappointed" in the order but said the group is "still confident that we will yet again defeat ATF and its unlawful rule" when lower courts review the case on the merits.

'Ghost guns' on the 'shadow docket'

A U.S. District Court in Texas blocked the regulation from covering ghost guns in June. The Louisiana-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit declined to pause the lower court's ruling. The Biden administration then filed an emergency appeal at the Supreme Court late last month.

The Supreme Court's ruling arrived on its "shadow docket," where such emergency cases are handled. The court did not decide whether the rule is legal. Rather, the court allowed the regulation to stand while the case continues.

The nations highest court is already set to consider a significant Second Amendment later this year: A challenge to a federal law that prohibits Americans subject to domestic violence orders from possessing a gun. A Texas man is appealing his conviction under that law in a case that could have sweeping implications for other gun regulations.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Supreme Court allows Biden's tougher rules on 'ghost guns' for now
The Supreme Court issued an order on Tuesday allowing the Biden administrations regulations on ghost guns to continue.

In a narrow 5  4 vote, the Court permitted President Joe Bidens regulations banning the manufacturing of unserialised buy build shoot kits, otherwise known as ghost guns, to continue.

The Court did not provide any reasoning or detail to its miscellaneous order other than clarifying that Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the liberal Justices in the decision.

The order will allow the regulation to remain in place as challenges to it continue in court.

Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh denied the regulation to remain in place.

Mr Bidens regulation, enacted last year, re-defines the meaning of a firearm to include ghost guns, which can be easily sold and bought online or in a store without a background check.

After the rule, manufacturers of ghost guns must obtain a license, conduct background checks and sell their products with serial numbers.

It is part of an effort to reduce gun violence by making untraceable firearms less accessible to the public.

As of 2021, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) reported approximately 20,000 suspected ghost guns had been recovered by law enforcement officials in criminal investigations.

Gun advocates, including gun rights groups and firearm part manufacturers, challenged the regulation in court.

A case, brought forward by Tactical Machining LLC but joined by Polymer80, Defense Distributed and Blackhawk Manufacturing Group disputed that the regulations contradicted wording in the 1968 Gun Control Act that defined a firearm.

The Supreme Courts order was a response to a challenge in the US District Court for the Northern District of Texas where a judge struck down the ruling.

Judge Reed OConnor argued that a weapons part kit is not a firearm and even if it is interpreted as such it is ultimately up to Congress to decide.

In the Biden administrations emergency application, Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar appealed to the Supreme Court to keep the regulations in effect due to the urgent public safety and law enforcement crisis posed by the exponential rise of untraceable firearms.

She wrote: Every speaker of English would recognize that a tax on sales of bookshelves applies to IKEA when it sells boxes of parts and the tools and instructions for assembling them into bookshelves.

The courts insistence on treating guns differently contradicts ordinary usage and makes a mockery of Congresss careful regulatory scheme.
The Supreme Court revived the Biden administrations restrictions on so-called ghost guns in a 5-4 emergency ruling Tuesday.

The justices agreed to pause a lower courts decision, which invalidated the regulation nationwide, as the administration continues its appeal.

The decision hands a victory to Biden, at least for now. Biden last year announced the crackdown on ghost guns, referring to firearms that are sold as do-it-yourself kits and are generally hard to trace.

The case will now proceed in a lower appeals court, which is slated to hear oral arguments next month. The matter could ultimately return to the Supreme Court.

Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the courts three liberals in temporarily reviving the restrictions. Conservative Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh dissented.

Chief Justice of the United States, John Roberts walks to the Senate chamber at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Chief Justice of the United States, John Roberts walks to the Senate chamber at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

The new regulations implemented by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) have come under multiple legal challenges from gun rights advocacy groups.

In June, a Republican-appointed federal judge in Texas ruled the regulation exceeded the ATFs authority and vacated it, siding with two firearm owners, two advocacy organizations and five entities that manufacture or distribute guns.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals later narrowed the decision, but the Supreme Court on Tuesday put the rest of the Texas judges decision on hold.

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At issue is how the ATF places restrictions on ghost guns by expanding its interpretation of two provisions of a long-standing federal gun law. The first clarifies that the federal definition of a firearm includes certain parts kits, and the second defines frame or receiver to include disassembled parts that can be readily converted into a functional gun.

By expanding the definitions, the regulation stretches federal serial number, record-keeping and background-check requirements to ghost guns. But the federal judge in Texas ruled the ATFs interpretation exceeded the laws scope.

Beyond the debates over the agencys interpretation, the Justice Department also argued to the Supreme Court that the judge had improperly made the ruling take effect nationwide.

Alito, who handles emergency requests arising out of the 5th Circuit, had previously issued two brief pauses in the same case in recent days as the court weighed the administrations bid.

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In seeking the pause, the administration cited a rise in ghost guns submitted for tracing, from 1,600 in 2017 to more than 19,000 in 2021.

Allowing the judges ruling to take effect would let tens of thousands of untraceable ghost guns flow into our Nations communities  with many going to felons, minors, or those intending to use them in crimes, the Justice Department wrote in court filings.

A stay, in contrast, would simply require respondents to comply with the same straightforward, inexpensive requirements for commercial firearms sales that tens of thousands of dealers already comply with in millions of transactions each year, the filing continued.

The request was supported by March for Our Lives, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. The attorney general for Washington, D.C., joined by 20 Democratic state attorneys general, also filed an amicus brief backing the Biden administration.

The Final Rule stops a growing segment of the modern gun industry from exploiting new technology to widen the very gaps that the [Gun Control Act of 1968] sought to close, the attorneys general wrote to the justices. It is no surprise that law enforcement strongly supports efforts to treat ghost guns the same as other firearms.

The groups that filed the lawsuit were backed by a national trade association representing U.S. firearms manufacturers.

Were deeply disappointed that the Court pressed pause on our defeat of ATFs rule effectively redefining firearm and frame or receiver under federal law, said Cody J. Wisniewski, general counsel at Firearms Policy Coalition Action Foundation, which represents the challengers.

Regardless of todays decision, were still confident that we will yet again defeat ATF and its unlawful rule at the Fifth Circuit when that Court has the opportunity to review the full merits of our case, he said in a statement.

Updated at 2:06 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Surfside Beach leaders on Tuesday are expected to talk behind closed doors about the professional fate of several top-ranking employees, along with an all-volunteer board.

During the town councils executive session, time will be spent discussing employment, appointment, compensation, promotion, demotion, discipline, or release of the pier committee, interim fire chief, police chief Kenneth Hofmann, the fire chief and finance director, according to an agenda.

Town council member Cindy Keating, who has been openly critical of the pier committee while pushing for greater government transparency, did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

A message left for Mayor Bob Hellyer Monday was not immediately returned.

Although city and town councils are permitted by law to privately talk about employment matters without disclosing names or entities, its illegal for any action to be taken during those closed sessions.

Misuse of executive session is a violation of state law and can result in injunctive relief, civil fines, awards of attorneys fees and invalidation of official actions related to the violation. Misuse can come in several forms, such as an executive session without properly advertising the meeting, or taking a vote to enter executive session, the Municipal Association of South Carolina says on its website.

Its not known which council member requested the item be added to the agenda, but it comes at a time of upheaval in the town of 4,200.

Last week, Rob Clemons and Diana King handed in their notice to leave to town administrator Gerald Vincent. Clemons led the towns fire department since 2021 and briefly served as interim administrator, while King submitted a letter of retirement.

Clemons, King and police chief Kenneth Hofmann were all in line for pay raises under the current years budget until the town council rescinded them days before the start of the July 1 fiscal year.

On July 13, Hellyer told The Sun News that newly-installed administrator Gerald Vincent is examining what happened and is expected to draft corrective measures to ensure nothing similar takes place in the future.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 8)  Lawmakers from the Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) Party-list are calling for a House of Representatives inquiry on the reclamation projects in Manila Bay in light of concerns on their possible social, economic and national security implications.

Representatives Erwin Tulfo, Jocelyn Tulfo, and Edvic Yap filed House Resolution No. 1171 on Tuesday which calls on appropriate committees  including the Committee on National Defense and Security, and the Committee on Ecology  to probe the status of the projects, their impact on the environment, and their compliance with laws.

The preservation and security of our nation are of paramount importance, and any activity that may impact our national security requires scrutiny, read the resolution.

The lawmakers added that while the land reclamation may offer potential economic benefits and development opportunities, it also raises concerns about its environmental impact, such as the alteration of coastal processes, and the possible effects on water quality and marine biodiversity.

They further noted that the United States Embassy in Manila recently flagged the projects ties to a Chinese firm, which it said helped Beijing construct and militarize artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea. The embassy also said the company supposedly engages in fraudulent business practices."

RELATED: Lawmakers raise concerns over Chinese state firm's ties to Manila Bay reclamation

Last Friday, Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga told reporters her department is studying the possibility of suspending or reducing the reclamation activities in the bay, pending the findings of its cumulative impact assessment.

Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Monday that all reclamation projects were suspended pending review, except for one, which he did not identify.

Naka-suspende silang lahat, under review ang lahat ng reclamation. Yung isa lang ang natuloy dahil na-review na, Marcos said during a situation briefing in Bulacan, without giving specifics.

Maraming problema. Marami kaming nakita na hindi masyadong magandang patakbo. But anyway, isa pang malaking problema na kailangan ayusin yan...Wala na ngang ano eh, yung Roxas Boulevard wala na yung dagat eh, mawawala yung dagat, the president added.

[Translation: All reclamation projects are under review. Only one pushed through since the review was already completed. We saw several problems with the way they were handled. But anyway, thats another major problem that needs to be addressed. The sea has even disappeared from Roxas Boulevard. Its disappearing.]

According to Loyzaga, a team led by Filipino scientists will conduct the impact assessment of the Manila Bay reclamation projects, with the help of foreign experts.
The Swansea man charged with rioting on Jan. 6, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol to overturn the 2020 presidential election in favor of Donald Trump will appear next week before a federal judge in Washington, D.C.  the same judge who heard the arraignment of Trump on charges he attempted to subvert the election that day.

Michael St. Pierre, 46, was arraigned on a federal felony offense of civil disorder and a series of misdemeanors at the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse in Boston on July 27. St. Pierre was released on bail, and his case was transferred from Massachusetts to the District of Columbia district. He is being represented by federal defender Timothy G. Watkins.

On Aug. 17, he will appear via video teleconference before Magistrate Judge Moxila A. Upadhyaya.

Mike St. Pierre appears in a still frame of a video he recorded himself and live-streamed to Facebook in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021, where he said he was going to march to the Capitol and break in. St. Pierre was later recorded on video hurling an object into the building.

Facing the FBI: Swansea man who was at the Jan. 6 Capitol riots arrested. Here's what he's charged with

St. Pierres judge has dealt with Trump over the Jan. 6 riot

Upadhyaya, on Aug. 3, presided over Trumps arraignment on four felony charges: 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 former president is accused of engaging in schemes to block the legal transfer of power to President Joe Biden after losing the 2020 presidential election. This culminated in the attack on the Capitol by a violent mob of right-wing supporters who disrupted the official counting of Electoral College ballots.

During Trumps arraignment, Upadhyaya released the former president without cash bond or travel conditions, but warned him that he cannot attempt to influence or threaten any witnesses in his case.

Mike St. Pierre of Fall River is seen here in a still frame from a TikTok video after hurling an object into the building during the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C.

Westport police: Couple nearly swindled out of thousands in 'grandparent' phone scam

What happened in St. Pierres case, and what did he say afterward?

St. Pierre has admitted to being in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021. In video he posted to his own Facebook page at the time, he is seen wearing head gear and a flak jacket marching toward the Capitol, saying he wanted to assault House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Hopefully theyll bust through, and Ill join them to rush the Capitol, to grab Nancy Pelosi by the hair and f twirl her around, St. Pierre states in the video.

He is accused of destroying federal property; aiding and abetting or coercing others to do the same; impeding official government functions; engaging in physical violence against a person or property in a restricted building; engaging in physical violence in the Capitol; and obstructing law enforcement while committing an act of civil disorder.

According to FBI investigators and federal prosecutors, St. Pierre is seen in camera footage that went viral throwing an object into the Capitol, pushing against rioters forcing their way against police officers, and egging on rioters using a megaphone, saying, We need everybody, lets get in the Capitol, according to the affidavit.

Five people died in the riot, including a Capitol police officer, and 138 law enforcement officials were injured.

A week after the riot, St. Pierre told The Herald News he had been questioned by the FBI and regretted taking part in the insurrection. Less than a month after the attack, St. Pierre filed for bankruptcy. St. Pierre was, at the time, owner of the Family Foods Grocery Outlet on William S. Canning Boulevard; that store closed in 2021. He now owns the Fall River Snack Factory on Pleasant Street in the Pilgrim Mills.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Swansea man caught at Jan. 6 Capitol riot to face a judge in D.C.
Roper Technologies, a lesser-known company that creates engineering products for niche markets, this morning announced that it acquired Syntellis Performance Solutions, a provider of enterprise performance management software, for $1.25 billion.

The transaction includes a $135 million tax benefit and will result in Syntellis' performance management and data solutions being combined with Roper's healthcare finance planning and decision support business, according to Roper president and CEO Neil Hunn.

"The Syntellis transaction is another great example of Ropers disciplined and process-driven acquisition approach," Hunn said in a statement. "Syntellis is a fantastic business that meets all of our acquisition criteria, including niche market leadership, mission critical solutions, a high recurring revenue mix, strong customer retention, negative working capital and excellent cash conversion."

While not necessarily a household name, Syntellis is a spin-off of Kaufman Hall, the Chicago-based healthcare management consultancy. Syntellis became an independent company in 2020 with investment support from private equity firms Thoma Bravo and Madison Dearborn Partners.

Over the past three years, the firms worked with Syntellis to grow the companys products and platforms business, most recently directing its acquisition of healthcare data analytics firm Stratasan. Syntellis formed a strategic alliance with Kaufman to serve as its enterprise performance management and data analytics provider of choice, and pursued customers not only in healthcare but also in higher education and the finance industry.

Those specific customer segments aside, enterprise performance management is a profitable sector. According to a report from Allied Market Research, the global market for enterprise management software could be worth as much as $12.56 billion in 2025, up from $4.73 billion in 2016.

A separate report from IDC found that in 2022, the enterprise performance management applications market grew 8.7%, with public cloud deployments growing by 26.5%. One of the coauthors, senior research analyst Roy Huo, posited that the increased demand for capabilities like "predictive modeling, scenario planning, predictive forecasting, integrated planning, and external intelligence" played a pivotal role.

In 2020, Syntellis claimed to have over 2,800 customers, with around 450,000 users relying on its data solutions.

"Thoma Bravo and Madison Dearborn Partners' support and collaboration have propelled our growth, helped advance our product roadmap and enabled us to better serve our valued clients," Syntellis CEO Flint Brenton said in a canned statement. "Todays announcement is a testament to the great work from the entire Syntellis team and marks an exciting new chapter for the company. As part of Roper, we will further our mission to empower our clients to optimize performance through our industry-specific, tailored solutions."

Roper has an interesting history, dating back to 1890 primarily as a manufacturer of home appliances, pumps and other industrial products. It began broadening its business into software in the early 90s, after launching a corporate acquisition program supported by an IPO.

As of 2017, Roper -- which has several main business lines, including core industrial tech, radio frequency tech, scientific and industrial imaging and energy systems and controls -- had annual revenues of more than $1.23 billion.
FILE - Trucks loaded with United Nations humanitarian aid for Syria following a devastating earthquake are parked at Bab al-Hawa border crossing with Turkey, in Syria's Idlib province, on Feb. 10, 2023. On Tuesday, July 11, 2023, the U.N. Security Council failed to renew the Bab al-Hawa border crossing into opposition-held northwestern Syria from Turkey. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

UNITED NATIONS (AP)  The United Nations announced late Tuesday that an agreement had been reached with Syria to reopen the main border crossing from Turkey to its rebel-held northwest for six months.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the understanding reached following talks between U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths and Syrian officials, U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said.

The agreement will reopen the Bab al-Hawa crossing which has been used for 85% of deliveries to the northwest Idlib region.

Haq's statement followed his earlier announcement Tuesday that Syria has agreed to keep two other crossings to the northwest, Bab al-Salameh and al-Rai, open for three months until Nov. 13.

The U.N. Security Council had failed to adopt either of two rival resolutions on July 11 to authorize further deliveries through the Bab al-Hawa border crossing to Idlib province.

It is home to about 4.1 million people, many of whom have been forced from their homes during the 12-year civil war, which has killed nearly a half million people and displaced half the countrys pre-war population of 23 million. Hundreds of thousands of people in Idlib live in tent settlements and had relied on aid that came through the Bab al-Hawa border crossing.

Syrian President Bashar Assad opened the two additional crossing points from Turkey at Bab al-Salameh and al-Rai to increase the flow of assistance to victims of the devastating magnitude 7.8 earthquake that ravaged northwestern Syria and southern Turkey on Feb. 6. He extended their operation for three months in May until Aug. 13.

Haq said the Syrian government informed Griffiths in a letter on Sunday that it would allow the U.N. to continue using the two crossings until Nov. 13.

Syria had set conditions for the renewal of deliveries through Bab al-Hawa, which the U.N. humanitarian office had largely rejected.

Haqs statement gave no details on the agreement reached with the Syrians.

Syria has insisted aid deliveries must be done in full cooperation and coordination with the government, that the U.N. would not communicate with terrorist organizations and their affiliates, and that the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent would run aid operations.

The U.N. responded that the prohibition on communicating with groups considered terrorist by the Syrian government would prevent the U.N. and partner organizations from engaging with relevant state and non-state parties as operationally necessary to carry out safe and unimpeded humanitarian operations.

Stipulating that aid deliveries must be overseen by the Red Cross or Red Crescent is neither consistent with the independence of the United Nations nor practical, since those organizations are not present in north-west Syria, it said in a letter.

The letter also noted that the Syrian governments request that aid deliveries should be carried out in full cooperation and coordination with Damascus requires review.

___

This story has been corrected to show that the earthquake was on Feb. 6, not Feb. 8.
Tan France shared his tips for not looking like a tourist in Europe. Trainline

Tan France shared his tips for dressing chic in Europe  and avoiding looking like a total tourist.

France told Insider that wearing socks with sandals was "very much an American thing."

He also recommended leaving your beret behind if you were planning a trip to Paris.

As people from around the world flock to Europe for their summer holidays, there's been no shortage of tourists behaving badly.

So we wouldn't blame you for wanting to blend in as you visit Parisian cafes or Italian beaches. Thankfully, Tan France is here to help.

France, one of the stars of "Queer Eye," recently spoke with Insider about his new style guide with Trainline. He also shared some tips for dressing chic in Europe  and avoiding looking like a total tourist.

France advised against wearing a beret in Paris. Westend61/Getty Images

France said you should never pack a clothing item stereotypically associated with the country you're visiting.

"The best example I can give you is a beret in Paris," he said. "They're not really wearing those, and you might embarrass yourself."

"A beret is real cute  wear it in America, wear it somewhere else, maybe just don't wear it there," he added. "Anything that you have seen in a cartoon and you're like, 'Oh my God, Parisians wear this'  that's a cartoon, that's not real life."

He said wearing socks with sandals was another tourist giveaway.

"I know it's become a trend, but it is very much an American thing," France said. "So if you don't want to stand out as an American tourist, the socks and sandals can stay at home."

France recommended sticking to cotton and linens in the European heat. Trainline

France has more tips for dressing like a European in his Trainline style guide, including ditching your camera bag and bucket hat.

The fashion designer also shared some of his vacation-packing tips with Insider, including sticking to cotton and linen fabrics to stay sweat-free in the scorching summer heat.

"Anything that feels cumbersome is going to feel horrible when you're in a place that doesn't typically have air conditioning, and most places in Europe don't," he said. "You might have a gorgeous silk dress, but silk does not do well in humidity or heat."

And France said he always tried to stick to a carry-on when traveling around Europe.

"Getting around is so much easier with a carry-on bag," he said. "And quite honestly, if you're going for four to five days, you can get everything you need into your hand luggage without an issue."

Read the original article on Insider
A teenager accused of fatally stabbing Black dancer OShae Sibley in an alleged racist and homophobic attack was described by his lawyer as a good Christian boy.

Dmitriy Popov, 17, had reportedly claimed he was Muslim during a deadly confrontation with Sibley and his friends over their shirtless voguing dance moves at a Mobil gas station in Brooklyn on 29 July.

Mr Popov has been arraigned as an adult on murder and hate crime charges and ordered to be held without bail after allegedly going on the run for a week after the killing.

After a court appearance on Monday, Mr Popovs lawyer Mark Pollard told PIX11 that he was a high school senior who worked two jobs and a good Christian boy.

According to the NYPD, Sibley, 28, and a group of friends had pulled in to the Coney Island gas stations forecourt at about 11pm on 29 July and began voguing to Beyonces Renaissance album.

Mr Popov and his friends were captured on surveillance coming out of the stations convenience store and demanded the men stop dancing because it offended their faith, NYPD Assistant Chief Joseph Kenny told a press conference on Saturday.

As the group began to yell at Mr Sibley and his friends, they began to call them derogatory names and used homophobic slurs against him, NYPD Assistant Chief Joe Kenny said at a press conference Saturday.

They also made anti-Black statements, all while demanding that they simply stop dancing.

OShae Sibley with fellow students from the the Ailey Extension dance school in Manhattan (Whitney Brown / Alvin Aliey)

Court records obtained by the New York Daily News allege Mr Popov said: Stop dancing here... we are Muslim. Get that gay s*** out of here.

As the confrontation continued, Sibley followed Mr Popov around the back of an SUV and was allegedly stabbed once in the chest. He died in hospital a short time later.

At a court appearance on Monday, Assistant District Attorney Sarah Jafari said that Mr Popov had shaved his hair and turned off his phone in an attempt to evade capture, the Daily News reported.

He surrendered to detectives on Friday.

Friends and LGBT+ community members gathered at events across New York over the weekend to mark Sibleys death (Associated Press)

Mr Popovs grandmother said outside court that he acted in self-defence, while his mother read a statement expressing sympathy for the Sibley family.

My heart goes out to the family of Mr Sibley, she said, according to the Daily News.

She said her son was a good boy and regular churchgoer.

A funeral for Sibley is due to be held in his home city of Philadelphia on Tuesday.

Sibley attended the Philanco dance academy in the city before moving to New York about three years ago to further his dream of becoming a professional dancer.

Friends and LGBT+ community members gathered at events across New York over the weekend to mark Sibleys death.

Voguing is a form of house dancing that emerged from the ballroom scene in Harlem, and has been popularised by the LGBT+ community.
Teen Charged In Hate Crime Murder Of OShae Sibley Claimed He Is Muslim, But Family Says Hes Russian And A Good Christian Boy | Stephanie Keith/Getty Images

The teen charged with a hate crime in connection with the fatal stabbing of OShae Sibley at a Brooklyn gas station initially identified as a Muslim before the brutal killing of the 28-year-old dancer. However, his family and lawyer are refuting those claims.

Dmitriy Popov, 17, was arrested on Friday and arraigned on multiple charges, including hate crime and second-degree murder. He is being prosecuted for the crime as an adult and appeared in court again on Monday for a procedural hearing, PIX11 reported.

Blavity noted Sibley, a gay Black man, was killed July 29 at a Brooklyn gas station after reportedly dancing and voguing with his friends to Beyonces music. The 28-year-old and his friends were approached by another group who identified as Muslims.

Both parties exchanged words, and a witness told investigators Popov hurled homophobic slurs at Sibley. They heard him saying, Stop dancing here. We are Muslim. Get that gay s**t out of here. Moments later, the teen fatally stabbed Sibley in the chest, according to The Daily Beast.

Popovs defense attorney Mark Pollard told PIX11 that despite previous reports, his client is a good Christian boy, not Muslim. He was born in the United States, and his parents are from Russia. Pollard also said the teen is a high school senior who worked two jobs and never had a criminal record.

Sibleys mother, Onetha Sibley, shared her thoughts on Monday following Popovs court hearing.

The grieving mother said shes overwhelmed by everything but is glad hes off the streets.

Sibleys family and friends will gather to celebrate his life in his hometown of Philadelphia.

CBS News reported a funeral service for Sibley will occur on Tuesday. A viewing will be held from 9:30 to 11 a.m. before the service at the Metropolitan Opera House.
Teenage cousin of Uvalde school shooter arrested and accused of threatening to do 'the same thing'

The teenage cousin of the Uvalde, Texas, school shooter has been arrested after he threatened to do the same thing at a local school, police said Tuesday.

The 17-year-old, whom NBC News is not naming as he is a minor, was arrested Monday on charges of threatening to commit an act of violence to cause serious bodily injury and making a terroristic threat in a public place causing fear of serious bodily injury.

The boy's mother called San Antonio police Monday saying her son was threatening to commit a school shooting, police said.

She said he planned to do the same thing as his cousin, who committed a mass shooting 2022 at an elementary school, the arrest warrant affidavit said.

The memorial to the victims of the massacre at Robb Elementary School on April 25, 2023 in Uvalde, Texas. (Jordan Vonderhaar for NBC News)

The teenage suspect is the cousin of Salvador Ramos, who killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde in May 2022. Police did not state the boys' familial relationship but said the affidavit was factual.

Sgt. Washington Moscoso confirmed they are cousins to The New York Times.

The boys mother was especially concerned because her son was on probation and was intoxicated at the time and because they lived directly across from an elementary school, the affidavit said.

The woman had called police after the suspect made alarming comments to his sister, who then told her mother, authorities said.

The woman told detectives she overheard a phone conversation her son had that morning trying to acquire an AR-15 through an illegal private sale with an unknown actor, the affidavit said.

The sister told police that she had given her brother a ride and that while they were in the car he threatened to shoot her in the head and stated that he would shoot the school, the affidavit said. He allegedly noted that school is starting soon.

The sister believed the threat was credible due to the recent history of their family and the suspects knowledge of his cousins actions, police documents said.

The teenage suspect was taken into custody, interviewed by a detective and denied making any threats, the file said.

He was arrested on an active warrant, San Antonio police said. The charge of threatening to commit an act of violence to cause serious bodily injury was in connection with his alleged comments to his sister, and the terroristic threat charge was in connection with his alleged comments toward the school, authorities said.

It was not immediately clear whether he has an attorney.

The Edgewood Independent School District said in a statement that it was aware a teenager was in police custody accused of making a threat against a school on the city's west side, NBC affiliate WOAI of San Antonio reported.

Edgewood ISD is committed to the safety and security of all students, faculty, and staff. Each campus has an assigned Safety Officer. We encourage everyone to report any suspicious activity," the statement said.

Police called the case an example of see something, say something.

With school starting, SAPD wants parents and faculty to know, that SAPD takes all reports of threats seriously and will investigate and take appropriate action, police said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Gloria Johnson (D), a member of the Tennessee Three, has launched an exploratory committee for a potential 2024 Senate run.

The 61-year-old state lawmaker filed exploratory paperwork, a step potential candidates typically take before launching a campaign, last week.

Johnson is expected to challenge Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R) for her Senate seat, as Johnson has been a longtime critic of Blackburn and other GOP leaders in her home state.

Blackburn, who spent the last sixteen years as a House Representative for Tennessee, defeated former Gov. Phil Bredesen (D) in 2018 to be elected to the states Senate seat.

Tennessee has a Senator that stands with bullies, I have a reputation for standing up to bullies, Johnson said in a statement, according to The Associated Press. Im taking a serious look at this race and having great conversations with folks who are hungry for better leadership in Washington.

Johnson gained national attention earlier this year for participating in a pro-gun control protest with fellow Democratic state Reps. Justin Pearson and Justin Jones inside the Tennessee Capitol that attracted thousands of demonstrators, calling for lawmakers to address the states gun laws.

The protest came days after a gunman entered The Covenant School, a private Christian school in Nashville, Tenn., and opened fire, killing three students and three adults. The shooting renewed calls for action against gun violence in the U.S. and prompted Gov. Bill Lee (R) to call for a special legislative session focused on gun reform and public safety, which will begin later this month.

The incident also led to GOP-controlled Tennessee House of Representatives vote to expel Jones and Pearson  who are Black for their participation in the protest. Johnson survived her expulsion vote after the House failed to meet the necessary two-thirds majority.

Both Jones and Pearson were reinstated to their positions a week after the vote, and both lawmakers won back their seats in separate special elections races last week.

The Hill has reached out to Johnsons office for comment and more information.

 The Associated Press contributed to this report.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A 32-year-old Tennessee woman has been charged with three felonies in the police chase connected to a shootout at a Johnson County gas station that killed a Fairway police officer and another suspect, court records show.

Andrea Rene Cothran of Goodlettsville, Tennessee, was charged Tuesday morning in Johnson County District Court with one count each of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer and theft. She also faces a charge of reckless driving, a misdemeanor.

The officer killed in the shootout was identified as 29-year-old Jonah Oswald, a four-year veteran of the Fairway Police Department.

In the charge of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, Cothran is accused of knowingly causing bodily harm to a different officer. The charge alleges the battery was done with a deadly weapon or in a manner where great bodily, disfigurement or death could be inflicted.

The suspect killed in the shooting was identified by police as Shannon Wayne Marshall, 40, of Ashland City, Tennessee.

In meeting with the media Tuesday afternoon, Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe said prosecutors continue to review the case with investigators to determine if any additional charges against Cothran are warranted.

We would just ask the public to give us some patience as we work through a very complicated crime scene and investigation, Howe said.

He noted all of the charges pertain to the police chase. The aggravated battery charge is related to the initial start of the chase, using the vehicle as a deadly weapon, he said.

As the rest of the community, we were shocked by what has happened in the death of Officer Oswald and again, our condolences to his him and his family and to the fairway police department, Howe said.

But we have a job to do. And the tough part about prosecutors and law enforcement is that we cant get consumed by that situation and the loss of an officers life, but instead stay focused on our jobs. Were human beings, so it does impact us. But we try to do our very best to stay objective and focused on our our duties and responsibilities, he said.

This is the third officer thats lost their life since Howe became district attorney.

In response to a question about the felony murder rule, which holds accomplices culpable when someone is killed during the commission of a serious crime even if they were not the killer, he said the investigative process allows for that type of analysis.

Again, this is 48 hours into the investigation, he said. That along with many other factual and legal considerations, our office will review to determine whether or not there are sufficient facts and evidence to support any additional charges.

Howe said he couldnt discuss why the two people from Tennessee were in the Kansas City area because of the pending criminal case.

That is part of the ongoing investigation. He said the district attorneys office is working together with the investigators with the Lenexa Police Department and the Johnson County Officer-Involved Critical Incident Investigation Team to determine the background that lead up to the shooting.

The chase and shooting

The events that led to the deadly shootout began around 7:30 a.m. Sunday with reports of a stolen Jeep Grand Cherokee at the QuikTrip near West 95th Street and Interstate 35 in Lenexa.

As officers were investigating the theft, a woman driving the SUV allegedly rammed a Lenexa police cruiser and then fled. Lenexa police chased the vehicle north on I-35. When the SUV crashed at Lamar Avenue, a man and woman ran into a nearby QuikTrip.

Officers from other agencies followed the pair into the QuikTrip. Then shots were exchanged inside.

Marshall was pronounced dead at the scene. Oswald was taken to a hospital, where he died on Monday.

Cothran was being held on $1 million bond. She made her first appearance in a Johnson County courtroom at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

In 2016, she pleaded guilty to two counts of soliciting sexual exploitation of a minor, according to the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry.
The construction of a tent city to accommodate around 1,000 Wagnerites has begun near the Zyabrawka airfield in Belarus.

Source: Ukraines National Resistance Center (NRC)

Quote: "The reports from the resistance indicate that a new camp for Wagner PMC [Private Military Company  ed.] mercenaries is under construction in the village of Zyabrawka in the Republic of Belarus, [the settlement] bordering Ukraine. They are further planned to be used to imitate subversive activities on the border with [Ukraines] Chernihiv Oblast.

Meanwhile, Wagnerites are highly likely to be used to imitate activities in support of Russia's and Belarus' information operations to pressure European nations.

This campaign aims to force European countries to reduce their support for Ukraine. 'Just so we aren't attacked'."

Details: The NRC says that at the initial stage, such an information operation imitates the deployment of Wagner PMC camps and spreads narratives that mercenaries are ready to march on the EU.

Background: The Ukrainian State Border Guard Service noted that Belarus is using Russian mercenaries from the Wagner PMC to aggravate the situation, whereas their number and location in Belarus do not pose a threat to Ukraine.

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 8)  An official of the National Security Council (NSC) on Tuesday said the country is "lukewarm" to the idea of joint patrols with China in light of the China coast guard blockade of Ayungin Shoal.

"Because of what happened over the weekend, lukewarm tayo doon [we are lukewarm to that]," said Jonathan Malaya, NSC director general and spokesperson of the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea.

He said the country has no visiting forces agreement with the Asian giant.

"Ang pinaka importante kasi is for us to have a legal basis for the joint maritime exercises or kung anuman yung kanilang pino-propose. Kasi wala tayong visiting forces agreement or wala tayong similar arrangement with China so papanong pupunta yung mga tropa nila dito or papano magkakaroon ng ganong klaseng activities between China and the Philippines without a similar arrangement? Malaya said.

[Translation: The most important thing here is for us to have a legal basis for the joint maritime exercises or whatever they are proposing. Because we have no visiting forces agreement or no similar arrangement with China so how can their troops come here or how can there be these activities between China and the Philippines without a similar arrangement?]

In July, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said China offered to conduct joint military exercises -- an offer he said the country will have to study first. Talks were still informal, he said.

In Tuesday's interview with the media, Malaya also said planned joint patrols with the United States could be a deterrent against similar incidents in the future.

"Yes, definitely we can consider that a deterrence primarily because the purpose... is freedom of navigation. At yung ginagawa natin ngayon in resupplying our troops in Ayungin Shoal is also a form of expressing freedom of navigation ensuring the freedom of navigation in the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines," said Malaya.

Earlier this month, Malaya said Manila and Washington were finalizing details for the joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea.

Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel "Babe" Romualdez earlier said the patrols were not directed at any country and the move is expected to ensure freedom of navigation in the West Philippine Sea.
The Texas attorney generals office is often in headlines representing a conservative voice in legal fights over health care, abortion and immigration  and more recently, regarding suspended Attorney General Ken Paxtons impeachment.

But it was once a quiet state agency that mostly collected child support and defended the state in bureaucratic lawsuits.

Over the course of more than two decades, the office has become a well-known champion of a strict interpretation of the U.S. Constitution and a pipeline for conservative federal judges. Nine federal judges appointed by former President Donald Trump had worked in the Texas attorney generals office beginning in 1999, according to a Texas Tribune review of the offices recent history.

These judges have been key in deciding cases in favor of conservatives on a wide range of issues, including abortion, COVID-19 vaccine requirements and immigration policies, through the framework of constitutional originalism. This framework argues that judges should rely solely on the text of the nations founding documents, and how it was publicly understood at the time of their writing, to answer essential questions about applying the law to modern life.

Heres a timeline of how the office transformed under the leadership of now high-profile Republicans Sen. John Cornyn, Gov. Greg Abbott and Paxton. For an in-depth history of the office, you can read the Tribunes three-part series here.

1998: John Cornyn elected attorney general

John Cornyn became the first Republican to win an election to the Texas attorney generals office since the Reconstruction era of the late 1800s. He left his seat on the Texas Supreme Court for the role.

He stepped into the job just as attorneys general across the country began to gain more power, working across state lines on issues like suing tobacco companies for the public health costs associated with smoking.

In Texas, Cornyn created the solicitor generals office, an elite, specialized unit of lawyers to handle state and federal appeals all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court. The office drew young, smart lawyers with the promise of courtroom experience. The office also began to slowly wade into more political lawsuits over topics like abortion laws and religion in schools.

2002: Greg Abbott elected attorney general

Like Cornyn, Greg Abbott left the Texas Supreme Court and was elected attorney general. But Texas Republicans now controlled the state Legislature and every statewide office. Under Abbott, the attorney generals office more clearly championed conservatism.

Lawyers who felt politically aligned flocked to the office, including Ted Cruz, who was hired by Abbott as solicitor general and is now one of Texas two U.S. senators. Under Abbott and Cruzs leadership, the office defended conservative principles in federal cases about abortion, voting and guns  even if they did not directly involve Texas.

Read more about how the agency came to draw conservative lawyers and leaders in the first part of our series here.

2008: President Barack Obama elected

Republicans had lost the White House and Congress, but they found power in the Texas attorney generals office. Under Abbott, Texas brought more than 30 lawsuits against the Obama administration in six years.

Texass federal legal fights, which often argued that Obama had overstepped the power granted to the president in the U.S. Constitution, included attempts to:

Stop the Affordable Care Act, the federal expansion of government-subsidized health care.

Block Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, protections for young people who entered the country illegally with their parents.

Guard businesses against environmental regulations intended to stave off climate change.

2014: Ken Paxton elected attorney general

Paxton, a former Republican state lawmaker, quickly pushed the office further to the right.

Paxton, who found early support among advocates of religious liberty, joined a conservative Christian legal movement against federal LGBTQ+ protections, which gained traction after the U.S. Supreme Courts 2015 landmark ruling establishing protections for same-sex marriage.

His office began strategically filing lawsuits in remote areas of Texas where just one judge hears most cases, ensuring any cases would be heard by a conservative judge.

Read more about how Texas took on the Obama administration in the second part of our series here.

2016: President Donald Trump elected

After Obama failed to prioritize judicial appointments, Trump entered office with more judicial vacancies than almost any president in U.S. history.

By then, Cornyn and Cruz had gained influence on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and nominated a class of young, conservative lawyers to become judges, many of whom had worked in the Texas attorney generals office.

Nine federal judges appointed by the Trump administration from 2018-20 had previously worked in the Texas attorney generals office under Cornyn, Abbott or Paxton.

Trump also appointed seven conservative judges to single-judge divisions in Texas, hugely expanding the number of venues where Paxton could file cases and effectively handpick the judge who would hear it. And with four former Texas attorney general employees appointed to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Texas also increased its odds of getting favorable appeals rulings.

Lawyers like Jonathan Mitchell, a private lawyer and solicitor general under Abbott, have also taken advantage of the increasingly conservative roster of judges. Mitchell, for example, scored a victory with a Trump-appointed judge in a case that blocked confidential contraception access for minors in Texas.

2020: President Joe Biden elected

The Texas attorney generals office has continued barraging the federal government with lawsuits over issues such as environmental protections and immigration policies.

The office now sees itself as at war with the forces that want to destroy the American order, root and branch, as Aaron Reitz, former deputy attorney general, said in November 2021. Our soldiers are lawyers, and our weapons are lawsuits, and our tactic is lawfare. This is the project that were engaged in.

Although conservative judges have not always taken up or supported the cases, the office has succeeded in delaying the rollout of federal policies amid ongoing lawsuits.

2023: Paxton impeached

In June, the Texas House of Representatives voted to impeach Paxton after he asked the Texas Legislature to fund a $3.3 million settlement in a lawsuit brought on by former employees.

A House committee launched an investigation into the matter, resulting in 20 articles of impeachment listing a yearslong pattern of alleged misconduct. Paxton was suspended from his role and is awaiting a Senate impeachment trial scheduled to begin Sept. 5.

Paxton has faced criminal investigations, legal battles and accusations of wrongdoing for years. But he had eluded consequences and remained popular with Texas voters.

A handful of top agency employees took leaves of absence to defend Paxton. But the office has continued launching legal challenges against new federal smog regulations and protections for transgender student athletes under interim attorneys general appointed by Abbott.

And if a Republican is elected to the presidency in 2024, Texas conservatives could make further inroads in the judicial system, including in the U.S. Supreme Court.

Read more about how Trump helped cement Texas influence in federal courts in the third part of our series here.

Eleanor Klibanoff contributed to this story.

More than 200 speakers are now confirmed for the 2023 Texas Tribune Festival in downtown Austin from Sept. 21-23. Each year, the Festival engages, challenges and surprises attendees with unexpected talent mashups, must-see interviews and more, curated by the award-winning journalists at The Texas Tribune. See the lineup and get tickets today.
A Texas judge issued a temporary injunction against the state's abortion ban on Friday, which exempted doctors from prosecution for abortions performed when pregnancy complications risked the mother's life or health, or when there were fetal abnormalities.

However, this injunction was itself blocked just hours later by an appeal from the state attorney general, leaving a final decision on the case to the Texas Supreme Court.

Travis County District Court Judge Jessica Mangrum issued an injunction against the law as part of a ruling in Zurawski v. State of Texas, a lawsuit brought by five Texas women who claim that they were denied medically necessary abortions due to unclear language in the state's abortion ban that left doctors unsure if they could legally provide an abortion.

According to the lawsuit, two plaintiffs experienced severe complications from miscarriages that went untreated due to the ban. The three other plaintiffs had fetuses with severe abnormalities that carried high risks of medical complications for the mother, like hemorrhaging.

Texas law currently bans almost all abortions, providing an exception only in the case of a "medical emergency," defined as a "life-threatening physical condition aggravated by, caused by, or arising from a pregnancy that, as certified by a physician, places the woman in danger of death or a serious risk of substantial impairment of a major bodily function unless an abortion is performed."

In their lawsuit, plaintiffs argue the law is too vague, leading doctors to deny them abortionsplacing the women at riskdue to concerns that the women were not in sufficiently imminent danger of death for doctors to risk possible prosecution if they performed an abortion. Under the law, doctors who perform illegal abortions face life in prison.

"With the threat of losing their medical licenses, fines of hundreds of thousands of dollars, and up to 99 years in prison lingering over their heads," the suit states, "it is no wonder that doctors and hospitals are turning patients awayeven patients in medical emergencies."

On Friday, Mangrum issued a temporary injunction, pending a final ruling on the case, against the portion of the state's abortion ban pertaining to medical emergencies.

"The Court finds that there is uncertainty regarding whether the medical exception to Texas's abortion bans . . . permits a physician to provide abortion care where, in the physician's good faith judgment and in consultation with the pregnant person, a pregnant person has a physical emergent medical condition," Mangrum wrote. "The Court further finds that any official's enforcement of Texas's abortion bans as applied to a pregnant person with an emergent medical condition for whom an abortion would prevent or alleviate a risk of death or risk to their health (including their fertility) would be inconsistent with the rights afforded to pregnant people under" the Texas Constitution.

Mangrum's ruling barred Texas from enforcing its abortion ban against doctors who provide abortions in cases where the patient has "a complication of pregnancy that poses a risk of infection or otherwise makes continuing a pregnancy unsafe for the pregnant person," "a condition exacerbated by pregnancy, that cannot be effectively treated during pregnancy, or that requires recurrent invasive intervention," or "a fetal condition where the fetus is unlikely to survive the pregnancy and sustain life after birth."

However, less than a day after the injunction was issued, the attorney general's office appealed the decision directly to the state's supreme court, effectively blocking the injunction and keeping existing laws in effect until the justices issue a ruling.

"Texas pro-life laws are in full effect," said a press release from the attorney general's office on Saturday. "This judge's ruling is not."

The post Texas Attorney General Blocks Injunction, Will Keep Enforcing Anti-Abortion Law appeared first on Reason.com.
A Texas woman named Rosa Jimenez who was wrongfully imprisoned for nearly two decades for allegedly choking an infant child with paper towels was fully exonerated on Monday, after a court approved a local prosecutors request to dismiss the indictment.

Travis County district attorney Jose Garza argued in court the 2005 conviction was based on false medical evidence and testimony.

"It is clear that false medical testimony was used to obtain her conviction, and without that testimony under the law, he said in a statement to the Austin American-Statesman. "Dismissing the Jimenez case is the right thing to do.

"In this case, our criminal justice system failed, he added. It also failed Rosa Jimenez.

Ms Jimenez was released from prison in 2021, and earlier this year, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals overturned the conviction.

I feel grateful, Ms Jimenez said at a news conference following the final dismissal of the indictment. Grateful for everybody that supported me, everybody that believed in me. Its a new life.

In 2003, the Texas mother was convicted of the murder of 21-month-old Bryan Gutierrez, a child she was babysitting.

Ms Jimenez always maintained her innocence.

At the time of her arrest, she spoke little English, and was interrogated by an officer who spoke little Spanish, according to The Innocence Project, an advocacy organisation which assisted Ms Jimenez in her legal fight for exoneration.

At trial, the state presented since-disproven evidence that an infant would be unable to swallow a mass of paper towel. A federal appeals court later found in 2018 that during the proceeding, Ms Jimenez received such ineffective counsel that her constitutional rights were denied.

She was forced to give birth to her son in jail, shackled, while awaiting trial. For the past 20 years, she has fought for this day, her freedom, and to be reunited with her children, Vanessa Potkin of the Innocence Project said in a statement. Her wrongful conviction was not grounded in medical science, but faulty medical assumptions that turned a tragedy into a crime  with her own attorney doing virtually nothing to defend her. I wish we could say that what happened to Rosa was an isolated occurrence, but we have a real, pervasive problem in our country when it comes to how the criminal legal system treats the caregivers of children who are hurt or die.

As The Independent has reported, women face particular biases and exceptional treatment when accused of capital crimes, especially against children.

Forty per cent of female exonerees were originally convicted of harming children or other loved ones in their care, according to the National Registry of Exonerations.

Ms Jimenez now lives in New York and is seeking medical treatment and an organ donor for a serious kidney condition she was diagnosed with while in prison.
School district officials in Hillsborough County, Fla., have implemented a newly designed curriculum guide for English teachers that will see students reading only selections from William Shakespeare plays, The Tampa Bay Times reported.

The change comes as a result of amended state teaching standards and new state exams endorsed and inked by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in the Parental Rights in Education Act. DeSantis, who has decried anything deemed to be sexual in nature, has taken his culture war crusades to schools with various book bans and curriculum revisions. Now, rather than read titles like "Romeo and Juliet" or "Macbeth" in full, students will be assigned excerpts from the works. District officials stated that students seeking to read the classics in full may do so if they obtain copies; however, teachers have been cautioned to heed the excerpt-only guidelines, as they could face parent complaints or disciplinary action for going against them.

The decision was made "in consideration of the law," according to school district spokeswoman Tanya Arja. "There's some raunchiness in Shakespeare. Because that's what sold tickets during his time," said Joseph Cool, a reading teacher at Gaither High School. "I think the rest of the nation  no, the world, is laughing us," he added. "Taking Shakespeare in its entirety out because the relationship between Romeo and Juliet is somehow exploiting minors is just absurd." When asked by the Tampa Bay Times if he felt students could glean the same experience from reading play excerpts as one might from the full works, Cool replied, "absolutely not."
The Thornton Reservoir is known far and wide for providing many locals, and some passersby, with a lingering smell of sewage.

I can smell it going down I-80, said Thornton Village Administrator Doug Beckman of the Deep Tunnel reservoir, which has been online since late 2015.

But Beckman said the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago is now taking a proactive approach to address the odor concerns.

Theyve been talking to us about different operational procedures to try to control it, but I think they finally realized they have to do more than that, Beckman said. They finally started investing some money.

The investment comes from an expanded budget and recently signed contracts with outside companies. By January 2024, the odor neutralization system will be expanded at a cost of $1.05 million, said Allison Fore, the public and intergovernmental affairs officer for MWRD. This is on top of $1.3 million that was spent on a similar expansion when the reservoir opened.

MWRD also entered into a contract with Jacobs Engineering in June to have outside national odor experts evaluate its strategies to minimize odor complaints and address any identified gaps, Fore said.

MWRD executed another contract July 13, 2023, with OptimaBiome for $936,400 to test a biological-based product to naturally mitigate odors in 2024 and 2025.

In 2020, the water reclamation district commissioned a study to investigate the reservoirs first several years of operation.

Shortly after the reservoir went online, the MWRD immediately increased the number of solar aerators from seven to 20 to enlarge the oxygenated lens on the surface of the water in the reservoir to minimize odor releases, Fore said. The MWRD installed a state-of-the-art odor neutralization system at its nearby shafts to address the release of odors.

The 2020 study found that odor complaints appear to be trending downward. That trend seems to be continuing. There had been few complaints this year with no one expressing displeasure with the smell between March and June.

But then in July, historic storms drenched the state causing flooding in some areas. Wet weather can often serve to exacerbate sewage runoff problems and spread odor. The monthslong streak of silence from the noses of residents was broken, presumably from the heavy rains, and five complaints were registered last month, according to Fore.

Yet while the floods may have triggered an increase in the odor complaints, the reservoirs presence could have helped to avert heavy damage in the area.

This reservoir was designed to minimize overbank flooding on the Thorn Creek and to intercept combined sewage overflows; the captured sewage is properly cleaned and disinfected before it is released into the environment, Fore said.

Beckman says his office used to receive numerous complaints about odor when the reservoir first came online. Now the village redirects the communitys qualms to MWRD.

Beckman says some residents have said they stopped complaining, despite the odor being so overwhelming it sometimes prevents them from being outside.

When they started complaining two to three years ago about it, it just didnt seem like things were getting done so they just gave up, Beckman said, reflecting on a recent conversation with one resident.

In a written response, Fore said MWRD has been committed since the groundbreaking of the reservoir to ensure that the smell is reduced each year.

No, the MWRD was not slow when addressing this issue, she said. After installation of the infrastructure as well as some operational changes, there was a significant decline in odor complaints  from 174 odor complaints in 2016 to fewer than 10 annually in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Beckman said he believes there was a lack of action for many years, so there are people who experience odors that just dont call anymore. But regardless of whether the decrease is because of tangible action from MWRD or a response to inaction by the water district, the future investments clarify the groups mission to reduce the nuisance.

I am hoping MWRD continues with their commitment to provide odor reducing measures and well just have to wait and see if they work, Beckman said.
Los Angeles city employees with SEIU Local 721 join a picket line at the Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023. Thousands of Los Angeles city employees, including sanitation workers, engineers and traffic officers, walked off the job for a 24-hour strike alleging unfair labor practices. The union said its members voted to authorize the walkout because the city has failed to bargain in good faith and also engaged in labor practices that restricted employee and union rights. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

LOS ANGELES (AP)  Thousands of Los Angeles city employees including sanitation workers, lifeguards and traffic officers walked off the job Tuesday for a 24-hour strike demanding higher wages and alleging unfair labor practices.

Picket lines went up before dawn at Los Angeles International Airport and other locations, and a large rally was held later in the morning downtown at City Hall. SEIU Local 721 said mechanics, engineers and airport custodians are among the more than 11,000 LA city workers who are striking.

The union said its members voted to authorize the one-day walkout because the city has failed to bargain in good faith and engaged in labor practices that restricted employee and union rights.

City workers are vital to the function of services for millions of Angelenos every day and to our local economy," Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement. "They deserve fair contracts and we have been bargaining in good faith with SEIU 721 since January. The city will always be available to make progress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Strikers said some employees earn so little they can't afford to live near their jobs, sometimes making 100-mile (160-kilometer) commutes.

You cant work for the city and live in LA, said Marce Dethouars, 54, a sanitation worker who resides east of Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley.

Destiny Webb, a college student who manages a city pool, said she and her fellow marchers downtown were calling for a 40% to 50% raise and more resources at LA facilities that are poorly staffed.

A lot of us are students, and what we get paid does not help us at all, said Webb, 21. So with inflation and everything, its not working.

A pay increase would give younger, part-time employees like her an incentive to stay with the city for a career after graduating, Webb said.

Its the latest strike to overtake the nations second largest city in recent months. Hollywood writers have been striking since May, and actors joined them last month. Los Angeles hotel workers have staged staggered walkouts all summer, and earlier this year school staff walked picket lines. There was also a contract dispute at Southern California ports.

The City of Los Angeles is not going to shut down, Bass insisted. But her office said some services would be affected, including parking enforcement and traffic operations. This weeks trash pickup will be staggered by one day citywide until normal service resumes Monday, officials said.

Los Angeles International Airport officials urged travelers to allow for extra time for travel to and from LAX during the strike. Some shuttles were operating on a reduced schedule, but no major disruptions were reported.

LAX is working diligently with our airport partners to ensure that our operations will continue as close to normal as possible and to mitigate the impacts of the work action to our guests, airport spokesperson Dae Levine said in an email.

The union said it expects about 300 lifeguards working at dozens of city swimming pools would strike. The Department of Recreation and Parks said some pools were closed Tuesday.

Michael Mitchell, a 33-year-old port worker, said many workers were struggling with basic living costs and are simply seeking a fair wage.

We just want to be able to survive and feed our families out here, he said. Everything is high  groceries, gas. In a minute were going to be drowning.

About 300 Port of Los Angeles employees are union members, but it wasn't immediately known how many were striking. "The Port of Los Angeles respects the bargaining rights of all employees. On Tuesday, some Harbor Department employees are participating in a job action. Port terminals remain open and operational," port spokesperson Phillip Sanfield said in an email.

The union approved a one-year deal with the city in November 2022 with the understanding that they would return to the bargaining table in January, SEIU Local 721 Chief of Staff Gilda Valdez said. With the broader agreement in place for the next year, the city and the union would then negotiate over a number of specials, or smaller specific proposals, Valdez told The Associated Press.

But the city reneged on the promise to negotiate on those issues and only gave us some small agreements that basically amount to peanuts, Valdez said. The union filed an unfair labor practice claim with the City of Los Angeles Employee Relations Board over this issue, along with previous claims filed over several other issues.

This strike is a very strong message: Come to the table,' " Valdez said, noting that the unions members had worked throughout the coronavirus pandemic to keep the city running.

Eddie Flores said he and his fellow sanitation workers were up there on the front lines during Covid and they were striking Tuesday to demand a fair pension and retirement plan.

Flores, 64, said city officials didn't fulfill their end of the bargain.

The union plans to return to negotiations with the city the week of Aug. 14 to resume talks, Valdez said.

Television writer Mike Royce walked the picket lines Tuesday, returning the favor for SEIU members who have supported striking members of the Writers Guild of America West.

Maybe in the past, the idea of a Hollywood writer and a city employee wouldnt seem to have much in common," said Royce, 59. Right now were in a place where were not getting paid enough to make a living at the thing we do.

In Northern California, two unions that represent nearly 4,500 San Jose city employees voted Monday to authorize a three-day strike for next week.
At least two killed, thousands of flights cancelled and 1.1 million without electricity in eastern US storms

At least two people died, thousands of flights were cancelled and over 1.1 million residents were left without electricity as storms swept across the Washington DC area late Monday afternoon and evening,

The nations capital was on high alert as powerful storms unleashing winds up to 60mph in a few locations brought strong winds and rains, toppling trees and triggering power outages.

The National Weather Service also issued a tornado watch for the greater DC area, lasting until 9pm but so far no tornadoes had been confirmed in the region.

One of the two victims of the extreme weather was a 15-year-old boy in Anderson, South Carolina, who was killed when a tree fell on him as he got out of a car at his grandparents house, according to the Anderson County Office of the Coroner.

The second victim was a 28-year-old man in Florence, Alabama, who was struck by lightning, WAAY-TV reported quoting police.

By Monday night, more than 2,600 flights were cancelled and nearly 7,900 delayed, according to flight tracking service FlightAware.

Many cancellations were at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which was digging out from disruptions caused by Sundays storms.

The flight disruptions also impacted president Joe Bidens four-day trip to Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah as the White House pushed his flight up by 90 minutes. While the first lady Jill Bidens back-to-school cybersecurity event was also cancelled.

Federal office workers were sent home early out of caution, while concertgoers at Nationals Park sheltered under eaves to wait out the rain.

The storms postponed a Major League Baseball game between the Phillies and the Washington Nationals in Philadelphia, and in Maryland.

This does look to be one of the most impactful severe weather events across the Mid-Atlantic that we have had in some time, NWS meteorologist Chris Strong said in a Facebook live briefing.

Have yourself in a strong shelter. Be at home or be at work, Mr Strong advised people.

The NWS issued a flash flood warning into Tuesday after 4 inches of rain fell in a short amount of time.

Flash Flood Warning including Washington DC, Arlington VA and Alexandria VA until 2:45 AM EDT pic.twitter.com/UAoqRDjXfz  NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) August 8, 2023

The storms caused dramatic images like dark clouds about the Capitol and Washington Monument.

Its like the Fourth of July with lightning strikes popping off in every direction, NBC4 photographer Nick Leimbach said of conditions in Northern Virginia around 5.30 local time.

People battling storm conditions in Washington DC on Monday (AFP via Getty Images)

By early evening, more than 1.1 million customers were without power across Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia and Virginia  all states along the storm systems path, according to poweroutage.us.

The Knoxville Utilities Board tweeted that the damage across its service area in Tennessee was widespread and extensive and will likely take several days to repair.

As of 7.45pm, about 1,800 people were without power in Marylands Montgomery and Prince Georges counties, while 40,000 lacked electricity in Carroll County, per the Post. Meanwhile, in Virginia, 12,500 were without power and in Loudoun County and 20,000 suffered outages in Fairfax County.

We saw the clouds coming and could hear a rumbling in the distance, Tom Tomovich, whose home was damaged, told The Associated Press.

We went into the house and we were on the first floor, and before we could blink an eye the winds just came right through the back of our house.

Overnight some areas continue to witness showers and lightnings. The inclement weather in Washington was part of a series of storms battering the East Coast.
Beyond protecting democracy and the rule of law, experts say the United States must commit to a new level of engagement to build a more prosperous Africa.

The escalating tension in Niger amid the military capture of its president is proving difficult for the United States and its Western allies, exposing historical and present cracks in their relationships in Africa.

On the surface, the potential coup of President Mohamed Bazoum is fueling tension driven by growing national insecurity and increasing worry over threats to the global state of democracy. Peeling back the layers, however, its far more complex.

During a demonstration this week at a stadium in Nigers capital, Niamey, coup supporters watched Mohamed Toumba, one of the leading figures of the National Council for the Protection of the Fatherland, the group that now rules the nation after capturing President Mohamed Bazoum late last month. (Photo by Balima Boureima/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

As the United States weighs halting financial aid to Niger in the event of a coup, economic insecurity continues to plague the impoverished West African nation that has also seen increased terrorism activity over the years.

More broadly, the July 26 capture of Bazoum inside his presidential palace exposed divisions among its citizens about the state of Niger and cracks in the broader mission of the United States and its allies to strengthen relationships in Africa and advance democracy. It also highlights the ongoing geopolitical war between the West and Russia, which also has complicated but significant ties on the continent.

This is a really big moment, said Joseph Tolton, a Pan-African activist and executive director of the advocacy group Interconnected Justice. He told theGrio that it is an opportunity for the U.S. and international partners to, beyond protecting democracy and the rule of law, commit to a level of engagement that will build a kind of Africa that [Africans] want to live in.

The fact that thousands of Nigerien citizens took to the streets in support of a military coup signals the fragility of democracy in a region where several military coups have been successful and where animosity grows toward Nigers former colonizer, France, and by extension, its allies like the U.S. Nothing is more indicative of that fact than the attack on the French embassy in Niger and the Russian flags waved by pro-military coup demonstrators over the weekend.

A protester in Nigers capital holds an anti-France sign placard during an Aug. 3 demonstration as security concerns were building ahead of planned protests. France demanded safety guarantees for foreign embassies as some Western nations reduced their diplomatic presence. (Photo credit: AFP via Getty Images)

Due to high poverty rates in the worlds third-poorest country, a severe lack of electricity, and grave food and national insecurity for the people of Niger, Tolton said, Its easy for their hearts to then be captured by the militants who facilitated the coup and easy for them to then saylets look to Russia. He added, Its about looking to anybody who has their interests at heart.

Despite calls for Niger to return to civilian rule and restore power to its democratically elected president, junta leaders remained quite firm in their mission to hold Bazoum and his family captive inside the presidential palace while they forged ahead under military rule, according to acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland, who traveled to Niger on Monday.

During a press briefing, Nuland said military leaders refused to allow her and other U.S. officials to meet Bazoum in person during their diplomatic visit. She condemned the takeover as undemocratic and said it does not comport with the constitution of Niger.

Nigers President Mohamed Bazoum is seen in May 2022 at the presidential palace in Niamey, where he met with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. (Photo by Issouf Sanogo/AFP via Getty Images)

The geopolitical sensitivity in the region is why the ranking member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., said he welcomes mediation efforts led by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a political and economic union of 15 countries in West Africa.

Its significant and important to have ECOWAS, other African countries in the regionnegotiating hopefully tobring back President Bazoum to the presidency, Meeks told theGrio.

ECOWAS, chaired by the president of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, threatened military action if military leaders in Niger did not restore power to Bazoum. Meeks described the leadership of ECOWAS as encouraging and inspiring.

However, the military leaders, led by Gen. Abdourahamane Tiani, defied the Aug. 6 deadline set by the African bloc and appeared undeterred despite the threat of France and the U.S. pulling financial aid and thousands of military troops deployed to assist with counterterrorism operations.

It makes it hard for countries like the United States toprevent terrorism in various areas when you dont have trusted individuals and systems and institutions that are in place, Meeks said of the consequences of instability in the region. Ultimately, he said, the crisis in Niger is about the hard-fought democratic gains won by the people of Niger.

Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the leadership of a Western Africa bloc amid the Niger crisis is encouraging. (Photo by Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Tolton cautioned the U.S. government about approaching Niger and other African nations from a policy-first perspective. He draws a distinction between U.S.-Africa policy, which was renewed last year during President Joe Bidens U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, and U.S. engagement in Africa.

Our engagement in Africa should always start with how this will impact the people of Africa, particularly the young people of Africa, said Tolton.

Africa as a huge consumer market should be foremost in our minds, he explained. The continent, he said, will determine what happens with the Fourth Industrial Revolution because all of the raw materials that we need to power our economy are in Africa.

Tolton added, If our sense of how we engage with Africa does not always inform and drive our policy, I think that that will prove to continue to be problematic for us.

Western countries like the U.S. and France perpetuate all the negative stereotypes in terms of how it relates to Africa, said Tolton. He continued, The reciprocity must always be on the front end of our relationships because we have such a negative history to overcome.

Meeks agreed that the U.S. improving its engagement and continuing to invest resources is crucial to building a more secure and advanced Africa. He said there are opportunities such as connecting Africans with African-American-owned businesses in energy and education.

They want us present, the congressman said of African leaders he met with as a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee. He warned, If were not doing these things, then it leaves it open [and] they have no choice but to look to a Russia or to a China.

African nations know that they get a better deal and better product when dealing with the United States, said Meeks.

Africa is the youngest and the fastest-growing continent, he added. And when you talk about the future, the future lies on the continent of Africa.

Gerren Keith Gaynor

Gerren Keith Gaynor is a White House Correspondent and the Managing Editor of Politics at theGrio. He is based in Washington, D.C.

TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today!

The post Threat of coup in Niger exposes cracks in US-Africa policy appeared first on TheGrio.
Police have issued arrest warrants for three white pontoon boaters who allegedly attacked the Black captain of a riverboat cruise over a docking dispute along the Alabama River in Montgomery on Saturday.

Richard Roberts, 48, was charged with two counts of third-degree assault, while 23-year-old Allen Todd and 25-year-old Zachary Shipman were each charged with one count of third-degree assault over the riverfront brawl, Montgomery Police Chief Darryl Albert said Tuesday.

One of the three men was already in police custody at the time of Tuesdays press conference, while the other two were set to turn themselves in shortly after, Albert said. Montgomery police are also asking a Black man who was seen wielding a folding chair to come in for further questioning, he added.

The chaotic brawl, which expanded to involve multiple people largely divided along racial lines, has become a national news story, with videos and memes shared widely on social media.

The police chief noted that the investigation is ongoing and more charges are likely. However, he added that the incident does not appear to meet the criteria for hate crime or riot charges.

The brawl was the result of a dispute between the co-captain of the Harriott II riverboat and the owner of a private pontoon boat that was parked in the riverboats designated space.

The Harriotts co-captain, Damien Pickett, remained away from the dock for 40-45 minutes as he attempted to contact the operators of the pontoon boat using a PA system. However, Pickett was met with obscene gestures, curse words and taunting, Albert said.

He was then picked up by a smaller boat and brought to the pier in attempt to have a conversation with the boats owner. Pickett and a 16-year-old boy who transported Pickett to the pier were attacked by members of the pontoon boat, leading bystanders and passengers on the Harriott to come to their defense.

Thirteen people were detained and interviewed by police Saturday before ultimately being released.

This is not indicative of who we are as a city. The city of Montgomery is much better than this. Our people are fine people, Albert said at Tuesdays press conference. We about a good time, enjoying ourselves and being neighborly.

So, it was quite disturbing that we saw this type of activity happening, he continued. And thats why the Montgomery Police Department and all of our partnering agencies got together to make sure were doing all we can to not only bring this case to a close but prevent it from happening in the future.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Three arrest warrants were issued on Tuesday by authorities in Montgomery, Alabama, relating to the chaotic riverfront brawl that broke out on Saturday during which punches were thrown, people were hit with chairs, and others were thrown into the river.

Related: Large brawl in Alabama as people defend Black riverboat worker against white assailants

Montgomery police chief Darryl Albert announced on Tuesday that one man is in custody and two others were expected to turn themselves in. Montgomery mayor Steven Reed said none of the three are residents of the city.

The three white men named by Montgomery police were Richard Roberts, 48, who faces two charges of assault, Allen Todd, 23, and Zachary Shipman, 25, both facing one charge of assault.

Albert also asked that 42-year-old Reggie Gray, who is Black, come in to the police for questioning over allegations that he was violently swinging a chair during the brawl.

The Montgomery Advertiser reported that the police chief said at a press conference that the investigation is ongoing and more charges are possible. He noted that no charges related to hate crimes or riot were expected at this time.

Albert described the brawl as starting when Damian Pickett, the co-captain of a riverboat called the Harriott II, who is Black, asked the white owners of a private boat, who had docked their craft in the riverfront space designated for the Harriott II, to move, the Advertiser reported.

He confirmed that the riverboat was returning from a 2-hour tour with 227 passengers and could not dock for at least 45min after requests to move the obstructing boat were met with curse words, obscene gestures and taunting, the outlet reported.

The white boaters then allegedly assaulted the riverboat worker, while one Black riverboat passenger dove in the Alabama River and swam to shore to Picketts aid. Once the Harriott docked a number of Black passengers engaged the white boaters.

The racial contours of the fight, coupled with Montgomerys historic connections to the civil rights movement, spurred millions of views for multiple videos of the brawl posted online.
Indian railway constable receives additional charge of promoting enmity after killing 4

Xinhua) 13:38, August 08, 2023

NEW DELHI, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- A constable with India's Railway Protection Force (RPF) was charged additionally with promoting enmity after killing his senior colleague and three other passengers on a moving train, officials said Monday.

Other charges against the constable Chetan Singh also include kidnapping, wrongful restraint, wrongful confinement, murder, and relevant sections of the Arms Act and the Railways Act.

Meanwhile, the court extended the police remand of Singh until Aug. 11.

On July 31, Singh shot dead four people, including an assistant sub-inspector, onboard a running train. Following the incident, a video of Singh was recorded by some passengers, showing the body of a man lying at his feet while he made a communal speech mentioning domestic political issues.

Singh tried to flee after the killings but was arrested.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 8)  The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG ) on Tuesday said the country still has other bigger vessels it can use during resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal following the water cannon incident that could have put the lives of Filipinos at risk.

Speaking to CNN Philippines The Source, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said the government has an option to deploy additional and larger ships during resupply missions, especially after a water cannon was used by the China Coast Guard (CCG) on Philippine vessels during the weekend.

Were still going to clear this to the National Task Force West Philippine Sea if there is a need for us to increase the number of the coast guard vessels to support the resupply mission, he noted.

On Aug. 5, Chinese vessels fired water cannon against Philippine vessels that were supposed to bring food, water and other supplies to military troops based in BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal.

READ: PH summons Chinese ambassador, files diplomatic protest after incident near Ayungin Shoal

The PCG then deployed 44-meter vessels BRP Malabrigo and BRP Cabra, which were no match to Chinas bigger ships.

Tarriela said the PCGs bigger ships include 97-meter BRP Melchora Aquino and BRP Teresa Magbanua, as well as 83-meter BRP Gabriela Silang.

Despite the incident, Tarriela said the personnel aboard the affected ships still have morale and are not afraid to carry out another supply mission to support troops onboard BRP Sierra Madre.
An Oregon-based animal sanctuary is thanking TikTok users for helping settle some of the vet bills after several of its dogs contracted a rare type of pneumonia.

Lee Asher, owner of The Asher House in Estacada, near Portland, went viral over the weekend after posting a somber video on TikTok and Instagram sharing news that the sanctuary was hit hard "with a rare type of pneumonia ... its unpredictable, fast-acting and quickly leads to an infection in the lungs."

Roo, one of the sanctuary's dogs, died as a result of the illness, Asher said, with four other pups going in and out of the emergency room over the weekend.

Lillie is on oxygen while in the ICU for pneumonia. (@theasherhouse via TikTok)

The organization rescues and rehabilitate animals that have been abused, abandoned or discarded and provide them with a safe home, according to its website.

Since the sanctuary has a quarantine system, Asher said it was unclear how the outbreak started. He said that other dogs in the area were also impacted by the illness.

Unfortunately, many of the emergency clinics dont even have a room for us because they are dealing with this, Asher said. Their oxygen chambers are full. So this is something that is new not only to the Asher House, this is new to the community. The doctors arent really sure where this is stemming from or how this is happening.

Asher said that a large handful of his 42 dogs became sick, but five of them got it the worst.

He did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.

In a video update posted Sunday, Asher shared that the rest of his hospitalized animals had been brought home and are recovering.

He also thanked his 1.2 million TikTok followers for donating over $50,000 to cover vet bills and oxygen chambers for the recovering dogs.

I want to let you guys know we dont want to take more than what we need, he said in a video Sunday. Because of your support already, we do not need any more donations.

Asher told his followers that the symptoms he noticed in his dogs before they had to be rushed to the emergency clinics included coughing and a lack of appetite. He added that pet owners shouldnt worry if their dogs dont exhibit the symptoms.

Asher also said that one of the sanctuarys dogs, Lady, had 20% of her lung removed due to the illness. While Lady is recovering, he said the veterinarians were going to do a biopsy on her lung tissue to learn more about the disease.

When we get those results back, well have way more answers, Asher said in his video posted Sunday.

Andrea Cantu-Schomus, director of communications at the Oregon Department of Agriculture, told NBC News in an email that the state veterinarian had not received reports of animal influenza or pneumonia as of Monday morning.

The state veterinarian has received secondhand information about possible animal influenza cases at the animal sanctuary and is investigating. There is no evidence of any human connection currently, Cantu-Schomus said in an email.

Asher said he would update his followers as he learned new information. For now, he said he is focusing on the animals recovery and mourning the loss of Roo.

Under his videos, Asher and his dogs received an outpouring of support from followers.

Appreciate your vulnerability, honesty and updates. You and your staff are amazing. Thank you all, one commenter wrote.

Im so relieved," another added. "Much love to you and your staff and doggies."

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
[Source]

A McDonald's employee-turned-content creator shared how an unexpected viral post earned her thousands of dollars in one day on TikTok.

In a post on July 28, Kai, known on the platform as @kaisbubbletea, discusses how her profits soared while performing her nighttime skincare routine. She reveals that she earned over $3,500 in just a day after her lighthearted video amassed over 3 million views within 24 hours.

The Grimace incident: In the viral clip, a customer can be heard playfully asking Kai where Grimace was and other random questions about the Grimace meal, a recent promotion celebrating the mascot's birthday. A woman can also be heard complaining about her "cold fries" to workers in the background.

More from NextShark: Chinese woman claims to be detained by police in secret location after Beijing protest

Money matters: Kai, who earns $13.50 per hour at McDonald's, shares that she previously owned 20 other accounts before finally striking gold with her 21st TikTok account.

She reveals that she only started earning money on the platform after signing under its Beta Creativity Program, which is open to creators with over 10,000 followers and 100,000 authentic video views accumulated in 30 days. Sharing a snapshot of her remarkable $3,595.09 in earnings, Kai notes the amount is nearly equivalent to her earnings from working an entire summer at the fast-food chain.

More from NextShark: Elderly Asians Attacked and Robbed in 2 Separate Incidents in SF

Paycheck disparity: Kai acknowledged that since such trends are often fleeting, she still works hard to support herself. According to Kai, the realization that a lot of hardworking people will probably never see paychecks as large as those of influencers who easily make bank with their content makes her sad.

More from NextShark: Video of 'beautiful ramen master' in Osaka cooking goes viral with 1 million views in 5 days

"These influencers ... they're out here making so much money and they're not putting in as nearly as much effort as like your day to normal f*cking person," she muses.

More from NextShark: Taiwanese man wins historic medal at 2022 World Judo Championships


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The controversial Church of Scientology is known as much for its unique lorean intergalactic overlord named Xenu and life forces called thetans attaching to human bodies, among other beliefsas for the A-list followers it has attracted.

Founded by L. Ron Hubbard in the 1950s, Scientology has counted some of the biggest stars in film, television, and music among its members. Some have remained loyal, even with the organization facing startling accusations of abuse, intimidation, and even human trafficking in recent yearsclaims it has vehemently denied. Others have broken away, becoming vocal critics of its methods.

Heres a look at 10 notable celebrities who have practiced Scientology and where their faith stands today.

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Tom Cruise

Scientology Status: Member

Tom Cruise, the star of Top Gun: Maverick and Mission Impossible, is Scientologys most prominent member, having joined during his marriage to Mimi Rogers in the late 1980s. He received a special award from the church called the Freedom Medal of Valor in 2004. According to Vox, the 61-year-old is even viewed by some members as a savior figure.

But the 2015 documentary Going Clear claimed the church helped contribute to Cruises split from ex-wife Nicole Kidman, and it reportedly played a role in his breakup with our next star...

Learn More About Tom Cruise

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Katie Holmes

Scientology Status: Former member

Katie Holmes, 44, practiced Scientology after she began dating Cruise in 2005, and they married a year later in November 2006. Cruise memorably jumped on a couch during an interview with Oprah Winfrey in excitement over their relationship.

However, the former Dawsons Creek star filed for divorce from Cruise in 2012 and also left Scientology. That year, the New York Post reported Holmes believed the church was trying to intimidate her. She won full custody of their daughter, Suri, whom Holmes reportedly didnt want involved in the faith.

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John Travolta

Scientology Status: Member

John Travolta has practiced Scientology since 1975 and served as a producer and star of Battlefield Earth, the 2000 science-fiction film based on Scientology founder Hubbards 1982 novel.

Following the 2020 death of his wife, Kelly Preston, rumors of a rift between Travolta, now 69, and the church gained steam. Preston had undergone treatment for breast cancer, though Hubbard reportedly opposed methods like chemotherapy and radiation. However, in 2021, Travolta told Kevin Hart on an episode of Hart to Heart that the faith still works for me.

Learn More About John Travolta

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Leah Remini

Scientology Status: Former member

After spending more than 35 years in the organization, Leah Remini, 53, has become one of its harshest critics since her departure in 2013. The actor wrote about her experiences in her 2015 memoir Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology. She then hosted the A&E docuseries Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, which detailed stories of alleged abuse and manipulation within the church. The series won two Emmy awards.

Last week, The King of Queens star sued the organization and its leader, David Miscavage, accusing them of harassment, intimidation, and defamation.

Learn More About Leah Remini

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Danny Masterson

Scientology Status: Member

According to People, Danny Masterson, 47, grew up in a family that practiced Scientology and began studying Hubbards book Dianetics at age 15.

His long-established connection to the church played a part in his recent criminal trial. The actor was convicted on two counts of forcible rape in May 2023 and awaits sentencing. He faces 30 years to life in prison.

During his trial, victims testified that the former That 70s Show actor used his prominence within Scientology to avoid consequences for his crimes for decades and even said they felt intimidated by some members in the courtroom. The church called the testimony and description of Scientology beliefs during the trial uniformly false.

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Elisabeth Moss

Scientology Status: Member

Elisabeth Moss, 41, has been a Scientology member since childhood and told The New Yorker in a 2022 profile that she credits the faith for helping her develop her communication skills growing up. Its not really a closed-off religion, said the star of Mad Men and The Handmaid's Tale. Its a place that is very open to, like, welcoming in somebody who wants to learn more about it. I think thats the thing that is probably the most misunderstood.

Learn More About Elisabeth Moss

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Jenna Elfman

Scientology Status: Member

Jenna Elfman, best known for her Golden Globewinning role on the sitcom Dharma & Greg, has been a part of Scientology for more than three decades. She said it has been crucial to her relationships with husband Bohdi Elfman, as well as sons Story and Easton. I use it every single day of my life, and it keeps me energized and vivacious and happy, she told People in 2018. I think that anything that works tends to get attacked.

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Lisa Marie Presley

Scientology Status: Former member

The only daughter of Elvis Presley, who died in January, said she became involved with Scientology immediately after his death when she was 9. Then in 1985, Lisa Marie met her first husband, Danny Keough, at the Scientology Celebrity Centre, where she received treatment for drug addiction.

However, she told reporter Tony Ortega of The Underground Bunker she left the church for good in 2014 and helped get her mother, Priscilla Presley, out as well. Priscilla later denied leaving Scientology in 2017.

Learn More About Lisa Marie Presley

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Kirstie Alley

Scientology Status: Former member

Actor Kirstie Alley, known for starring in Cheers and Veronicas Closet, practiced Scientology for more than 40 years up until her death in 2022. She credited counseling with the church for helping her kick an addiction to cocaine. When I was straight, I had the courage and energy to try to become an actress. I owe my career to my will to stop using, she told The Los Angeles Times in 1990.

Learn More About Kirstie Alley

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Juliette Lewis

Scientology Status: Its complicated

Yellowjackets star Juliette Lewis, now 50, has said Scientology helped her become sober when she was 22 years old. She even once claimed Tom Cruise was the victim of an anti-Scientology conspiracy over past comments regarding prescription drug use.

However in a 2021 interview with The New York Times, Lewis revealed she doesnt identify as a Scientologist. Im a spiritualist, she said instead. Its unclear if this was an actual denial of the church and its practices.

Learn More About Juliette Lewis

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Celeste Drake, a top labor adviser to President Biden, has stepped down from her post, according to the White House.

Drake, whose last day was Sunday, is leaving to be deputy director-general of the International Labor Organization starting Aug. 14, the White House said. The organization is based in Geneva.

Drake led labor policy at the National Economic Council (NEC), along with Erika Dinkel-Smith, who has been promoted to senior labor adviser in the Office of Political Strategy. Drake was pivotal during the labor disputes between the UPS and Teamsters, which were resolved last month, as well as the deal to avert a rail strike that came together late last year.

She left her post as the White House has struggled to get its nominee for Labor secretary, Julie Su, through the Senate. Sus nomination is largely at a standstill because she doesnt have support from moderate Democrats to get confirmed.

The White House also recently announced that senior adviser Gene Sperling is leading outreach to the United Auto Workers and to the top car manufacturers as they work through their contract negotiations.

Before the NEC, Biden chose Drake in April 2021 to serve as the first director of Made in America at the Office of Management and Budget. She was tasked with federal procurement policy to carry out the presidents goal to manufacture more in the U.S.

White House chief of staff Jeff Zients on Tuesday praised Drake for her sharp policy focus, trusted voice, deep relationships, and unwavering commitment to working Americans that helped Bidens promise to be the most pro-union president in U.S. history.

Celeste Drake is the embodiment of President Bidens commitment to putting working Americans at the center of his economic policy. Her policy expertise, relationships of trust, and wise counsel have made Celeste an essential part of the White House team, NEC director Lael Brainard said in a statement.

And Su praised her for being one of the administrations greatest champions for working families.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Ukrainian soldiers of the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade, named after King Danylo, prepare to operate the test flight a new FPV drone in the training area as soldiers test their new military equipment as Russia-Ukraine war continues in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on August 03, 2023. Wojciech Grzedzinski/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Ukrainian and Russian heavy armor, including their better tanks, are facing a growing threat: FPV drones.

These cheap hobby drones run for a few hundred dollars but are hunting tanks worth millions.

The growing presence of these drones on the battlefield speaks to an evolution in modern warfare.

Cheap hobby drones rigged with a variety of explosives are wreaking havoc on expensive tanks and armored vehicles, as well as other weapons and even supply systems, on the battlefields in Ukraine, and it's a development that will likely have far-reaching implications.

This week, a video emerged of first-person-view (FPV) drones slamming into what appeared to be a Russian T-90M, an advanced Russian tank worth as much as $4.5 million by some estimates  significantly more than the price of the drones, likely only a few hundred dollars apiece.

Drone videos like the one above are becoming very common. Footage like this comes out almost daily, highlighting how prominent this capability has become. Drone targets include not just tanks, but also troop transport vehicles, infantry fighting vehicles, and supply and ammunition trucks.

That these drones are a pervasive threat stands in stark contrast to the notable absence of combat aviation over the same areas due to the high risk of manned jets being shot down.

The cost of a single FPV drone, like the ones being used in these strikes, tends to be around $400 to $500, or roughly the cost of a new Playstation.

Rigged with explosives, these cheap drones can damage combat systems and paralyze key logistics and supply operations behind the front lines, imposing far greater costs on the enemy.

"The whole point is cost," Samuel Bendett, a Russia defense and technology expert at the Center for Naval Analyses, told Insider. "These are extremely cost effective."

A Ukrainian drone operator from the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade holds a drone during the testing of new military equipment including FPV drones on the training area amid Russia-Ukraine war in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on August 03, 2023. Wojciech Grzedzinski/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

What are FPV drones?

The FPV drones that are being used in combat in the war in Ukraine are basically amateur loitering munitions, and they can pack a punch. Many of the drones have five- to nine-inch frames and carry a payload weighing between 0.5 and three kilograms.

The unmanned systems are modified high-speed hobby racing drones that are assembled with parts sourced from China and other affiliated markets and armed with a makeshift warhead made using plastic explosives or a rocket-propelled anti-tank grenade.

Operators wear special goggles, which offer a first-person perspective of the battlefield, and use a remote control to pilot these unmanned aerial vehicles.

A Ukrainian drone operator from the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade tests new military equipment including FPV drones on the training area amid Russia-Ukraine war in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on August 03, 2023. Wojciech Grzedzinski/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Though the drones themselves are one-way drones that explode on impact, the operator systems are reusable, and a single operator might ultimately pilot numerous drones over the course of a battle, making these troops high-priority targets far more valuable than the actual drones.

A view of a drone during the testing of new military equipment, including FPV drones, by soldiers from the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade on the training area amid Russia-Ukraine war in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on August 03, 2023. Wojciech Grzedzinski/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Where are they coming from?

The one-way FPV drones being used by both the Ukrainians and the Russians are largely coming through companies and volunteer operations, though only one side has government support.

In the case of the Ukrainians, there's more top-level support, but for the Russians, it's significantly more piecemeal and the defense ministry has yet to throw its weight behind these operations, despite pressure.

Ukraine has effectively crowdsourced and crowdfunded an "Army of Drones," and non-profit operations like Escadrone have been, per technology journalist David Hambling, turning out as many as 1,500 FPV drones a month to keep pace with soaring demand.

A Ukrainian drone operator from the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade holds a drone during the testing of new military equipment including FPV drones on the training area amid Russia-Ukraine war in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on August 03, 2023. Wojciech Grzedzinski/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The cost of each of Escadrone's Pegasus drones, top speeds for which are about 60 mph, ranges from just $341 to $462. For comparison, a loitering munition built to military specifications, like the US-provided Switchblade, can run anywhere between $60,000 and $80,000.

On the Ukrainian side, there's "better organization between the government, the volunteers and the military," Bendett said. "There's better cooperation, there's better integration, there's better communication on what's needed. That's still largely missing on the Russian side right now."

For Russian forces, FPV drones are the product of multiple organizations funded through private donations.

Russian organizations include Sudoplatov, DroneZ, and Project Archangel, among others. Some operations are making thousands of these drones while others are only producing hundreds and have not yet been able to scale up.

These Russian efforts, Bendett said, are regularly "calling on the defense industrial sector in their country to invest in the products, to scale up these products of their enterprises, and to flood the Russian forces with tens of thousands of these drones on a monthly basis to meet the challenge. And that hasn't been happening yet."

Instead, individual units are putting in orders for FPV drones, and these outfits are doing what they can to meet the demand.

The delivery process aside, though, both the Russians and Ukrainians are becoming increasingly effective at integrating FPV drones into their combat operations, changing the way this war is being fought. The Ukrainians, however, seem to have a noticeable edge in drone operations, experts say.

Unmanned systems have become an integral part of the war, and as drone technology expert Steve Wright recently told Newsweek, at the moment, there really isn't "any doubt that Ukraine is winning the drone conflict."

Ukrainian forces have been using drones to conduct reconnaissance and surveillance, to coordinate and correct indirect artillery fire, to drop grenades on vehicles and ground troops, remotely detonate mines and vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, and to strike targets.

And that's just the ones that fly. Ukraine has also been using unmanned ground vehicles to evacuate wounded soldiers and plant mines and drone boats to attack Russian warships, among other targets.

Exploding FPV drones are just one of many types of unmanned systems in this war, but they're proving to be a substantial threat for both sides.

Ukrainian military member works with drone parts in a lab on July 10, 2023 in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine. Yuriy Mate/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

Can they be beat?

Unmanned aerial vehicles are vulnerable to a wide range of different countermeasures, especially electronic warfare and jamming, and the FPV drones are no different.

A report from the Royal United Services Institute's Jack Watling and Nick Reynolds, both land warfare experts who interviewed Ukrainian service members, revealed in May that Ukrainian forces were losing as many as 10,000 drones every month. It is unclear if or how the FPV drones factored into this figure.

The RUSI report said that along the front line, which spans hundreds of miles, Russia has a major electronic warfare system about every six miles or so, in part to neutralize Ukrainian drones by breaking or blocking the data communications that link them to their operator.

Electronic warfare can have an effect on FPV drones, as can the rough cope cages some armored-vehicle crews have welded on their tanks and fighting vehicles to shield it from the exploding FPV drones, though not always.

The crude cages highlight the desperation emerging in response to a growing threat that first appeared last year but has become one of the Ukraine conflict's signature and ever-present weapons.

Drones are also susceptible to air defenses, but the cost of a missile intercept compared to the cost of the drone is wildly disproportionate.

Drone operators, who have typically gone through extensive training, are more valuable from a targeting perspective, and as a Ukrainian engineer told PBS Newshour earlier this year, it is not uncommon for drone operators to hunt each other.

"The operators are the most valuable thing here because an experienced operator who survives can pilot multiple FPV drones against targets," Bendett said, adding that "both sides are prioritizing going after the operator."

A Ukrainian drone operator from the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade tests new military equipment including FPV drones on the training area amid Russia-Ukraine war in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on August 03, 2023. Wojciech Grzedzinski/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

That said, there continue to be innovations in the field aimed at disrupting the FPV drones, including systems that could potentially be incorporated into the defense of armored vehicles, but it's unclear how far along these projects are at the moment.

"There's a lot of experimentation on both sides about what could potentially be effective," he explained. "But, you know, the solutions are not sort of widespread, or the solutions haven't been introduced at scale enough to actually counter these technologies."

So for now, these systems remain a deadly threat.

The FPV drones are cheap, they are plentiful, and, as Bendett told Insider, "it's a devastating weapon because it can fly low above ground at high speed, which means it won't be noticed until it's too late."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Tory Lanez was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Tuesday (8 August) following a drawn-out trial over the shooting of fellow rapper Megan Thee Stallion.

Lanez (whose legal name is Daystar Peterson), 31, has been in jail since 23 December after a jury convicted him of first-degree assault, discharge of a firearm with gross negligence and having a concealed and unregistered firearm in a vehicle.

Megan (real name Megan Pete), 28, testified during the trial that Lanez had fired a gun at the back of her feet and shouted for her to dance as she walked away from an SUV in which they had been riding in the summer of 2020. The pair had left a party at Kylie Jenners Hollywood Hills home.

During the court hearing in Los Angeles on Monday, Superior Court Judge David Herriford summarised more than 70 letters of support for Lanez, including one from Australian rapper Iggy Azalea.

Los Angeles prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum that along with the crimes for which he was convicted, Lanez has re-traumatized Megan with social media posts about the case that emboldened many among his more than 2 million followers to attack her.

Judge Herriford denied a motion from Lanez defense attorneys for a new trial on 9 May.

Lanezs lawyers had argued that a post from his Instagram account was improperly admitted into evidence. They said that Megans testimony that Lanez urged her not to go to police because he was on parole and would be in serious trouble was both untrue and an improper allowance of prior bad acts. And they said DNA evidence that prosecutors used to argue Lanez was the likely shooter fell well short of industry standards.

Megan Thee Stallion and Tory Lanez (Getty Images)

I could be your son. I could be your brother, Lanez pleaded with Herriford as he was led from the courtroom the day before the judge ruled that excluding the disputed evidence wouldnt have made a difference.

His lawyers plan to appeal the conviction.

The day after Megan named him as the shooter, Lanez released his Daystar album with a track featuring lyrics that appeared to be aimed at Megan: How the f--- you get shot in your foot / dont hit no bones or tendons.

Once arrested, he posted bail at $190,000 and was ordered to surrender all weapons and not contact Megan. He pleaded not guilty in November 2020 but violated the protective order after appearing with rapper DaBaby during a Rolling Loud Miami festival set in July 2021, moments after Megan got off stage. His bail was increased to $250,000.

In April 2022, he was briefly jailed for sending tweets that appeared to target her, increasing his bail to $350,000. And in October 2022, Lanez was placed on house arrest until the case went to trial after allegedly attacking another musician, August Alsina, at a concert, violating his bail.

Lanez began releasing mixtapes in 2009 and saw a steady rise in popularity, moving on to major-label albums. Megan Thee Stallion, now 28, was already a major rising star at the time of the shooting, and her prominence has surged since. She won a Grammy for best new artist in 2021, and has had No. 1 singles with Savage, featuring Beyonce, and as a guest with Cardi B on WAP.

The allegations and subsequent charges against Lanez unleashed several waves of misinformation and online vitriol aimed at Megan, prompting conversations about misogynoir  a specific form of misogyny experienced by Black women.

In April, Megan  real name Megan Pete  spoke for the final time about being shot by Peterson and the public reaction to the shooting.

Explaining that she saw herself as a survivor, because I have truly survived the unimaginable rather than a victim, Megan said that shed had to face her trauma being turned into a running joke.

I understand the public intrigue, but for the sake of my mental health, I dont plan to keep reliving the most traumatic experience of my life over and over again. Im choosing to change the narrative because Im more than just my trauma, she said.

Additional reporting by the Associated Press
Tory Lanez was instructed to stay away from guns after charges were filed against him connected to an incident with Megan Thee Stallion. Johnny Nunez/Getty Images

Tory Lanez was sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting Megan Thee Stallion in 2020.

Lanez was found guilty of three felony charges including one count of felony assault with a semiautomatic firearm.

Prosecutors had requested he be sentenced to 13 years in prison.

Rapper Tory Lanez was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion.

Judge David Herriford handed down Lanez's sentencing at a hearing in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday after reading more than 70 letters from Lanez's family and supporters, including from fellow musician Iggy Azalea.

Lanez spoke briefly ahead of the judge's decision, saying he still cared about Megan Thee Stallion, and calling her his "friend," despite what she may think of him, legal journalist Meghann Cuniff reported.

Stallion, whose real name is Megan Pete, did not attend the hearing. But Deputy District Attorney Kathy Ta read a written statement that detailed the lack of remorse she's seen from Lanez and the pain she's experienced since the shooting.

"He not only shot me, he made a mockery of my trauma. He tried to position himself as a victim and set out to destroy my character and my soul," Stallion's letter said, per Cuniff. "He lied to anyone that would listen and paid bloggers to disseminate false information about the case on social media.

"He released music videos and songs to damage my character and continue his crusade," she continued. "At first, he tried to deny the shooting ever happened. Then, he attempted to place the blame on my former best friend. In his tantrum of lies, he's blamed the system, blamed the press and, as of late, he's using his childhood trauma to shield himself and avoid culpability."

On December 23, 2022, Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, was found guilty by a Los Angeles jury on three charges  one count of felony assault with a semiautomatic firearm, a count of possession of a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence  in relation to a July 2020 incident with Megan Thee Stallion.

Los Angeles prosecutors had requested in a June hearing that Lanez be sentenced to 13 years in prison.

On July 12, 2020, Stallion and Lanez were at a party at Kylie Jenner's home in Hollywood Hills, California. At approximately 4:30 a.m., police responded to reports of gunshots outside the house and later arrested Lanez on a felony count of carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle, Billboard reported at the time. CBS News reported that Lanez posted a $35,000 bail.

It was revealed four days later that Lanez was accused of shooting Megan Thee Stallion at the scene. Megan Thee Stallion first denied that Lanez had shot her, only to accuse Lanez of shooting her a day later on Instagram Live.

The former Los Angeles district attorney Jackie Lacey charged Lanez with felony assault in October 2020, to which his attorney pleaded not guilty on his behalf. Lanez was issued a $190,000 bond, NBC reported.

The New York Daily News reported in October 2020 that Lanez was ordered to stay at least 100 yards away from Megan Thee Stallion. Prosecutors later accused him of violating the order when he appeared at Rolling Loud in 2021, where Megan Thee Stallion was performing, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors upheld Lanez's charges in December 2020, and he pleaded not guilty for a second time in January 2021. Prosecutors added a third charge to Lanez's case in December 2022, just weeks before his trial.

The three charges carried a possible sentence of 22 years in prison plus deportation to Canada, his home country.

Read the original article on Insider
Daystar Peterson, the Canadian rapper known as Tory Lanez, is driven away from the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center, in Los Angeles in December. Lanez was sentenced to 10 years in state prison for shooting Megan Thee Stallion. (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)

Canadian hip-hop artist Tory Lanez was sentenced to 10 years in prison Tuesday for shooting Megan Thee Stallion after an alcohol-fueled argument in the Hollywood Hills in 2020.

Lanez, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, was convicted of assault with a firearm, illegal possession of a firearm and negligent discharge of a gun last December after a dramatic trial that featured tearful testimony from Megan Thee Stallion and a key witness requesting immunity shortly before stonewalling prosecutors on the stand.

He faced a maximum of 22 years and 8 months in prison. Peterson, who did not testify at his trial, has denied all wrongdoing. Addressing the court on Tuesday for the first time since his arrest, Lanez talked about his religious upbringing and how he'd spent his life doing charitable works. He asked Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge David Herriford not to punish him too harshly for what he called a wildly out of character moment.

While he never admitted to the shooting, Peterson said he still "cared for" Megan and felt regret for the heated argument and insults that led to the shooting.

"I'm asking for redemption," he said. "I'm asking for another chance."

Herriford, however, seemed to believe Peterson's explosive decision to fire five bullets at Megan, striking her twice in the feet, outweighed his good works.

"Unfortunately, sometimes good people do bad things ... Mr. Peterson's actions in those few seconds changed many lives," he said.

Prosecutors initially asked Herriford to sentence Peterson to 13 years in prison. Peterson's lawyers sought probation, arguing Peterson had been greatly affected by his mother's sudden death when he was a child, grief which led him to abuse alcohol. His attorneys argued Monday that Peterson's alcoholism played a role in the shooting, which followed a hard-drinking party.

Peterson's legal team went through a post-trial shuffle and is now spearheaded by Florida attorney Jose Baez, who successfully defended Casey Anthony in a nationally watched trial in which she was accused of murdering her young daughter. After the sentencing, Baez said he was "extremely disappointed" and planned to appeal.

Read more: Tory Lanez guilty in shooting of Megan Thee Stallion

In court papers asking for a sentence of probation, Baez and attorney Matthew Barhoma cited the evaluation of an independent psychologist, who said Peterson was at low risk to reoffend if he stayed sober.

Several witnesses also spoke to Peterson's history of charity work and religious beliefs. His father, Sonstar Peterson, tearfully recounted his wife's sudden death and swore that, if released, his son would be even "more of a credit to the community" after his trip through the legal system.

Herriford said 76 letters had been submitted in support of Peterson, including some from former law enforcement officials in San Diego, Torrance and as far away as Missouri. Rapper Iggy Azalea also filed a letter asking Herriford to hand down a "sentence that is transformative, not life destroying," to Peterson.

The letters also caused Herriford to raise an eyebrow at Peterson's claims of being affected by alcoholism, however. He asked Baez and Barhoma to explain how the rapper's addiction issues could go unmentioned in 76 written correspondences about his life and throughout the testimony of six character witnesses.

Peterson was convicted of a pair of sentencing enhancements related to the use of a gun in a violent crime and the fact that he caused "great bodily injury" to Megan Thee Stallion  born Megan Pete  making him ineligible for probation under California law. At sentencing, Herriford threw out one of the enhancements due to a change in California law that limits their use.

The shooting happened after the superstar Houston rapper left a party at Kylie Jenner's home in an SUV alongside Peterson, his driver and her then-close friend Kelsey Harris.

Pete said an argument erupted after Peterson revealed to Harris that the two rappers had become romantically involved. Harris had previously been involved with Peterson and became angry, Pete said. At trial, Pete said she demanded to be let out of the vehicle on Nichols Canyon Road.

Read more: Megan Thee Stallion had a gunshot wound needing surgery after Tory Lanez rift

But as she walked away, prosecutors allege, Peterson shouted, Dance, b! before firing a volley of gunshots at Pete. Pete was struck several times in the feet and had to undergo surgery to remove bullet fragments.

In the seconds after the shooting, prosecutors and Pete contended that Peterson begged both women not to report him to police and offered them $1 million for their silence. Peterson denies both claims.

Los Angeles police stopped the vehicle in Hollywood a short time later and arrested Peterson on suspicion of illegal weapons possession. Dramatic video later emerged of a wounded and crying Pete limping out of the car, falling to the ground shortly before she was detained by police.

The "WAP" rapper did not report the shooting to investigators for several days, instead insisting she stepped on broken glass. Although Pete has since testified that she was afraid to cooperate in part due to the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor that spring, Peterson's defense seized on her delayed reporting as a sign her version of events was unreliable.

Pete did not appear in court for sentencing , but Deputy Dist. Atty. Kathy Ta read an impact statement on her behalf. Pete said in the statement that she couldn't stand to be in the same room as Peterson and accused him of using his fan base to torment her for years after the shooting.

"He not only shot me, he made a mockery of my trauma ... mercy can only be granted to those who accept responsibility for their actions," the statement read.

The shooting was one in a series of violent attacks on hip-hop stars in L.A. in recent years. Since 2019, rappers Nipsey Hussle, Drakeo the Ruler and PnB Rock were all killed in the city. The slaying of Drakeo, whose real name is Darrell Caldwell, remains unsolved.

The attack on Pete also reignited discussions about misogyny in the hip-hop industry. Despite his arrest and conviction, Peterson has retained an extremely vocal fan base, members of whom often showed up around the courthouse during last year's trial and decried the prosecution as corrupt.

Both Peterson and fellow Canadian rapper Drake have released tracks in recent years questioning the validity of Pete's accusations. During the trial, Pete expressed fury that much of the discussion around the case had to do with her sexual liaisons instead of the fact that someone fired a gun at her.

This whole situation in the industry is like a big boys club, she said. Like Im telling on one of yall friends, now youre all about to hate me.

Peterson's team has repeatedly hinted Harris may have actually shot Pete, echoing a popular theory of the crime espoused by the Canadian rapper's most ardent supporters. But Harris was never charged with a crime in the case, and no evidence was presented suggesting her guilt. She tested positive for gunshot residue in the hours after the shooting, but such residue is often found on any person who was in the vicinity of a gun when it was fired.

Harris did request immunity in order to testify and then spent her time on the stand contending she couldn't remember the events of a shooting that happened in front of her. Harris had been Pete's best friend, but the women's relationship has all but collapsed since the shooting. Harris has gone so far as to release a diss track attacking Pete.

Read more: Megan Thee Stallion pens essay on Tory Lanez verdict: 'final time Ill address this'

In a recorded interview that was played during trial, however, Harris told law enforcement officials last September that Peterson was the shooter and also echoed Pete's allegation that Peterson tried to bribe them.

Recordings may have proved fatal for Peterson at trial. While there was no physical evidence conclusively trying Peterson to the gun used in the shooting, prosecutors were able to point to calls and texts in which he apologized to Pete in the hours after his arrest.

In a jailhouse phone call that night, he said he was deeply sorry  so I feel crazy that I made a mistake,

What happened, happened already. I cant take it back. Im just telling yall Im sorry," he added.

Peterson's defense team has contended he was only apologizing for the argument and the revelation he'd been sleeping with both Pete and Harris.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The police officer who was critically wounded during a Sunday morning shootout at a Johnson County gas station died in the hospital on Monday, according to police.

The officer, identified as 29-year-old Jonah Oswald, was a four-year sworn member of the Fairway Police Department. Fairway Chief of Police J.P. Thurlo said in a statement Monday night that he was heartbroken at the tragic loss, saying Oswald made the ultimate sacrifice while carrying out his oath to serve and protect.

Officer Oswald was an integral part of our team and made significant contributions to our department and to the Fairway community, Thurlo said. We will remember him as a warm-hearted individual whose hard work and passion touched the lives of many.

Oswald was a husband and a father to two young children, Thurlo said. He expressed sympathies and condolences to the officers family and friends in the wake of his death.

The shooting began with a police chase led by police in Lenexa that ended at the QuikTrip at 4700 Lamar Ave. in Mission, just west of Fairway. Officers from other area departments assisted with the report of a stolen car whose driver allegedly rammed a police cruiser and fled.

Members of the Claycomo Police Department helped escort the body of Fairway Police Officer Jonah Oswald, who died Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, following a shootout between police and suspects at a Johnson County gas station.

Two suspects, a man and a woman, were seen running into the convenience store as officers  including Oswald  from several agencies responded to arrest them. Police have said Oswald was critically wounded and the male suspect was killed during an exchange of gunfire.

The suspect killed Sunday morning was identified by police as Shannon Wayne Marshall, 40, of Ashland City, Tennessee.

The second suspect, Andrea Rene Cothran, 32, of Goodlettsville, Tennessee, was charged Tuesday morning in Johnson County District Court with three felonies, including one count each of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer and theft. She also faces a charge of reckless driving, a misdemeanor.

She was scheduled to make her first court appearance Tuesday afternoon.

The Johnson County Officer-Involved Critical Incident Investigation Team, which is comprised of various area law enforcement agencies, is investigating the shooting.

A blue ribbon is seen tied around a tree along Fairway Road on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, in Fairway, Kan. Neighbors wanted to honor Jonah Oswald, Fairway Police officer, who was killed in the line of duty.

The Sunday morning shooting

Officers responded around 7:30 a.m. to the area of West 95th Street and Interstate 35 to reports of a stolen vehicle, according to Lenexa Master Police Officer Danny Chavez.

As officers were investigating the theft, a person driving the car believed to be stolen hit a Lenexa patrol vehicle, then drove away, Chavez said. Officers chased the car north on I-35 until the driver stopped near Lamar Avenue and I-35 in Mission. Police said two people in the suspect vehicle then ran into a nearby QuikTrip.

Officers from other agencies followed the pair into the QuikTrip. From there, gunfire rang out, Chavez said.

The man was declared dead at the scene, Chavez said.

Chavez told reporters at the scene that its not yet known how many shots were fired, or by whom. Multiple agencies were on the scene at the time, including Lenexa police, Fairway police, Mission police and the Kansas Highway Patrol.

Aisha Jefferson, QuikTrips Corporate Communications Manager, said in a statement Monday that QuikTrip will continue cooperating with police in the investigation.

We are saddened by the tragic event that took place on Sunday, Jefferson wrote.  ... We will continue to take necessary and appropriate measures to ensure the safety and well-being of our employees, customers and communities we serve.

Police radio captures tense moments

Police radio traffic recorded on the website Broadcastify offered further detail Monday of the response by officers.

It started with a vehicle theft reported from another QuikTrip near 95th Street and I-35. As police were in chase, a dispatcher relayed that the vehicle had struck a patrol car.

Then there were reports of a crash near the Lamar Avenue exit off I-35.

We are getting a call from the QuikTrip, the dispatcher said. Its a black SUV wrecking out at the exit. Subjects ran from the vehicle. A heavy set white female and a white male in bikers vests.

Other officers told dispatchers that they would respond to the area to help set up a perimeter.

Subjects might possibly be inside the QuikTrip according to Lenexas notes, the dispatcher said.

Soon after, a dispatcher advised that shots had been fired. There was an officer down.

Another dispatcher advised that officers at the scene were requesting an officer with a ballistic shield to respond.

Suspect is in a bathroom there at the QuikTrip, a dispatcher advised. They are not detained and not down. They are requesting a shield.

The suspect was armed, the dispatcher advised. The dispatcher also advised a patient had been moved out of the building so emergency medical crews could safely respond.

Shortly thereafter, dispatchers advised that Lenexa police said the suspect was dead.

The Stars Robert A. Cronkleton and Andrea Klick contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 8)  The National Security Council (NSC) on Tuesday denied the Philippines made a commitment to remove BRP Sierra Madre from the Ayungin Shoal as claimed by China.

"The PH has not and will never enter into any agreement abandoning its sovereign rights and jurisdiction over Ayungin Shoal, NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said in a statement.

BRP Sierra Madre, a US Navy ship used during World War II, has been at the Ayungin Shoal since 1999 and was intentionally grounded there to serve as a military outpost in the contested waters.

According to a statement by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Manila made a commitment to remove the vessel, but has yet to act on it.

It also accused the Philippines of wanting to permanently occupy the Ayungin Shoal.

A former Defense chief further said that there was no promise made to China to remove the almost eight-decade-old warship, which ran aground in 1999.

"Hindi naman pwede na manggaling sa amin ang pangako eh kami nga ang nagsadsad noon [We cannot make that promise because we were the ones who put it there]. We never promised them anything," also former senator Orlando Mercado told CNN Philippines.

Mercado lamented the current state of the commissioned vessel at Ayungin, which he described as a "manifestation of lack of continuity."

Also called the Second Thomas Shoal, Ayungin is located 104 nautical miles west of Palawan and is well within the Philippines' 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The Philippines maintains it has sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the Kalayaan island group, which China is also claiming through its nine-dash line.

A 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling, however, invalidated China's expansive claims in the South China Sea. The tribunal largely ruled in favor of the Philippines in areas of its EEZ and continental shelf that are being claimed by China.

According to security expert Raymond Powell, China has been resorting to aggression whenever there are resupply missions going to Ayungin because it is part of its overall strategy to take over the shoal.

The reason theyre blockading the Sierra Madre is because they want to make it uninhabitable," he told CNN Philippines' The Source on Tuesday.

"So, eventually, once the Philippine Navy leaves the Sierra Madre, whether it breaks up, slides off the shoal, simply becomes untenable, that gives China essentially possession of the shoal, Powell also said.

Speaking to reporters, Malaya said it is the responsibility of the Philippines to maintain Sierra Madre not only to ensure the country keeps its presence, but also for the benefit of the troops based there.

What we are doing is purely supply of our troops there," he emphasized. "As I said, sila nga nagmi-militarize ng mga ibang mga kapuluan (they are even militarizing some islands). Tayo, (For us) we are just supplying our troops to maintain our presence in the shoal."

On Aug. 5, the China Coast Guard (CCG) fired water cannon at Philippine vessels en route BRP Sierra Madre to bring supplies to military troops there.

Even prior to this, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela told CNN Philippines' The Source in another interview that the CCG was already seen shadowing Manilas vessels deployed in Escoda Shoal while waiting for the resupply ships from Palawan.

Tarriela said the CCG obviously planned its moves as the number of Chinese ships intercepting the Philippine contingency gradually increased to six, which was the first time ever.

They conducted dangerous maneuvers, blocking the Philippine Coast Guard and there was a need for the commanding officer to order the engine to stop at tsaka mag-backing kasi otherwise babangga sila (and to do backing otherwise they will crash), he also said, noting that the distance then of one Chinese vessel was 10 meters.

Had the water cannon also directly hit the resupply boat, it could possibly have capsized, Tarriela said.

This was not the first time the CCG used water cannons against Philippine vessels, with the first one being in 2021.

While the Philippines also has its own water cannons, Tarriela said these are only used for firefighting.

Aside from filing diplomatic protests and deploying more vessels to support the resupply missions, Tarriela said modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the PCG is vital to ensure Filipinos are well-equipped during these kinds of situations.

READ: PH summons Chinese ambassador, files diplomatic protest after incident near Ayungin Shoal

CNN Philippines' correspondent Tristan Nodalo contributed to this story.
A hit-and-run driver killed a Kennewick father while he was walking along Highway 11 south of Walla Walla early Sunday.

Oregon State Police were called to the highway near Milton-Freewater about 3:30 a.m. after a report of a pedestrian being hit.

Investigators found Carlos Antonio Perez, 27, of Kennewick, but the driver had fled the scene.

Perez reportedly had been walking to work in Milton-Freewater when he was struck, according to the My Town Walla Walla Washington Facebook page.

State police were still searching Monday for the driver.

According to initial dispatch reports, police are looking for dark color SUV or pickup with center front-end damage.

No one was prepared for this and I really am at (a) loss for words, Carlos father Ramiro Perez said in a message on his GoFundMe campaign. I love him very much and I still cant believe this happened.

The family had received more than $5,700 in donations by Monday. Ramiro Perez asked people to give what they could to cover funeral expenses.

Antonio Perez had two children.

Anyone interested in donating can go to bit.ly/PerezFundraiser.
A Saint James City man facing felony conservation charges in involving his contact with manatees and other sea animals in Lee County is headed to trial this week after several delays.

The trial for Gary Lee Stone, 70, begins Tuesday before Lee Circuit Judge Bruce Kyle following a Monday trial call.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office arrested Stone on March 17, 2021, on a warrant from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The warrant alleged disturbing marine turtles, eggs or nests  a third-degree felony  and misdemeanor violation of a law written to protect manatees from harm or capture.

Stone claimed he was doing informal research, according to his arrest report. He was charged with harassing West Indian manatees in Lee County and for possessing a juvenile loggerhead sea turtle.

He was released from the Lee County Jail on March 18, 2021, on $10,000 bond, records indicate.

The FWC said it received numerous complaints over several years in reference to Stones activities.

On May 21, 2020, a search warrant was served at Stones Coconut Drive home in Saint James City.

The images and videos were found at the home showing interactions with manatees, the arrest affidavit shows. The 25 violations were depicted among approximately 88,000 pictures and videos including thousands of pictures and videos of manatees on electronic devices Stone used.

The FWC arrest affidavit said Stone also told investigators that he recorded the videos and posted them on his Facebook page. Stone said the feet, hands, and legs seen on the videos were his.

During the investigation at his home, Stone told authorities he has been doing research for the last 10 years and said he had a Bachelor of Science in biological sciences with honors from the Florida Institute of Technology, as well as a Master of Science in agriculture from the University of Florida.

Stone said he did not have a marine biology degree.

He also said, "No, not yet," when asked if he had posted anything in a scientific journal.

When asked if he has ever been issued a permit by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the FWC, Stone said: "No, I dont want them, I dont need them. I am retired, I dont need to do formal research where I am associated with a university. I do informal research, I am retired, I dont have to, you know, have any supervision over informal research."

Review of digital data did not find any digital word documents, excel documents, PowerPoint slideshows which had any research, data or any research papers created or written by Stone.

The arrest warrant also said that there were videos and photos that showed Stone possessed a juvenile loggerhead sea turtle September 2, 2019.

Authorities said there was no evidence that Stone was issued a FWC Marine Turtle Permit nor listed as an authorized personnel on a FWC Marine Turtle Permit.

Officials added that Stones interactions were considered harassment and a violation of the federal Marine Mammal Protection act.

Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran, Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews and Twitter @TomasFRoBeltran.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Trial begins for St. James City man accused of harassing manatees
Troopers said they are still searching for the vehicle involved in a crash that killed an Orlando bicyclist last month.

Troopers said the vehicle was traveling east on Jetport Drive east of Benrus Street around 8 a.m. on July 26 when the driver hit a bicyclist.

Investigators said the bicyclist, a 65-year-old Orlando man, died two days late in the hospital.

Read: Daytona Beach motorcyclist dies in Volusia County crash

Troopers said they are possibly looking for a white GMC vehicle that may be missing its front left headlight with damage to the left front bumper and fender.

Anyone with information about this crash is asked to call FHP at 407-737-2213 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS.

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.
The Donald Trump-appointed judge overseeing the criminal case into his handling of classified documents has sided with the former president once again  dealing multiple blows to special counsel Jack Smith.

Judge Aileen Cannon, who was appointed to the bench during Mr Trumps final days in office, on Monday struck down two of Mr Smiths court filings and gave him a dressing down over his use of grand juries in the case.

In the ruling filed in south Florida, the judge rejected the Justice Departments request for sealed filings in order to preserve the grand jury secrecy in the case where Mr Trump is currently facing 40 charges.

The Special Counsel states in conclusory terms that the supplement should be sealed from public view to comport with grand jury secrecy, but the motion for leave and the supplement plainly fail to satisfy the burden of establishing a sufficient legal or factual basis to warrant sealing the motion and supplement, she wrote in the brief.

Judge Cannon ordered that two such sealed filings be struck from the record altogether.

These filings related to a motion brought by Mr Smiths office arguing that Stanley Woodward  the attorney for Mr Trumps aide and codefendant Walt Nauta  has potential conflicts of interest as he represents other individuals who could be called to give testimony in the case.

In Mondays brief, Judge Cannon also questioned what she described as the legal propriety of Mr Smiths office using an out-of-state grand jury to investigate the case.

Prosecutors were ordered to file a response which shall address the legal propriety of using an out-of-district grand jury proceeding to continue to investigate and/or to seek post-indictment hearings on matters pertinent to the instant indicted matter in this district.

Most of the classified documents case is being handled out of Judge Cannons district in South Florida  where Mr Trumps Mar-a-Lago sits.

However, some grand jury work in the case was also carried out in Washington DC.

Aileen Cannon is presiding over Trumps classified documents case (AP)

Judge Cannon took issue with this and questioned why a grand jury heard evidence in DC after Mr Trump had already been indicted by a grand jury in Florida.

She has demanded that Mr Smiths office respond to the court filing by 22 August with an explanation.

Her latest briefs have raised fresh questions about the judges handling of the case  given she was appointed by Mr Trump and has repeatedly handed him favourable, and questionable, rulings.

Former US attorney Andrew Weissmann described the judges filing as off base.

Judge Cannon clearly shows her ignorance (bias? both?); the obstruction crimes that were investigated are charges that could have been brought in [Florida] or in DC and thus could be investigated in either district, he wrote on Twitter.

And there was conduct that is alleged to have occurred outside [Florida].

Last year, Judge Cannon, who was randomly assigned to preside over the case following Mr Trumps indictment in June, previously sided with Mr Trumps request to appoint an independent special master to review the documents in the classified papers case before they could be handed to the DOJ.

The decision was branded deeply flawed by Mr Trumps own former attorney general Bill Barr and was later thrown out by an appeals court.

Superseding indictment in classified documents case (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Mr Trump was initially indicted on 37 federal charges in early June over his alleged mishandling of classified documents, becoming the first current or former US president ever charged with a federal crime. He pleaded not guilty to the charges at his arraignment in a Miami federal courthouse. His longtime aide Mr Nauta was also charged in the case as his co-defendant.

In a superseding indictment filed in late July, Mr Trump was hit with three new charges and a third defendant  Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira  was added to the federal criminal case.

Prosecutors now allege that Mr Trump even went as far as to plot with two employees to delete security footage from Mar-a-Lago in his quest to hide the classified documents  and what exactly he was doing with them.

Now, with the additional charges, Mr Trump has a total of 40 federal counts over his handling of classified documents.

Last week, he was also charged in a separate federal case over his role in the January 6 Capitol riot and his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

This comes after he was hit with state charges in New York in April over hush money payments to cover up affairs in the lead-up to the 2016 election.
A federal judge in Texas has ordered attorneys for Southwest Airlines to take religious-liberty training from an influential right-wing Christian legal group behind anti-abortion policies and litigation targeting LGBT+ rights.

US District Judge Brantley Starr  a member of the Federalist Society who was appointed to the bench by Donald Trump in 2019  issued additional sanctions in an employment law case on 7 August that directs the airlines lawyers to take eight hours of instruction from Alliance Defending Freedom, which is designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

The group is among esteemed non-profit organizations that are dedicated to preserving free speech and religious freedom, according to the judges order, first reported by Chris Geidner.

While Alliance Defending Freedom promotes religious freedom principles, the group has played a critical role in legal efforts to incorporate Christianity into government, schools and public life. At the Supreme Court, the group supported the legal effort to overturn Roe v Wade and litigated a case in front of the justices to argue that a website designer has a First Amendment right to reject LGBT+ couples. The group is currently leading efforts to block the federal governments long-standing approval of a widely used abortion drug.

But Alliance Defending Freedom is not involved in this case, and it is unclear why the judge specifically recommended the group. The woman who sued Southwest did not make any request that its employees undergo religious liberty training.

The case stems from flight attendant Charlene Carters firing in 2017 after she sent anti-abortion messages to her unions former president. She argued that the company discriminated against her religious beliefs. Following a jury verdict, the judge ordered that she be reinstated last year.

Judge Starr also ordered Southwest to issue a statement to all employees stressing that the company may not engage in religious discrimination. Southwests subsequent statement said the company does not do that.

The judge reprimanded the company for the change in language and mulled additional sanctions, including religious liberty training, in May  one month after that another Trump-appointed judge in the North District of Texas ruled in the Alliance Defending Freedoms favour in a case that threatens access to a critical abortion drug.

Southwest is still appealing the jury verdict.

In his latest order, the judge wrote that religious liberty training amounts to the least restrictive means of achieving compliance with the courts order, and that the Alliance Defending Freedom has conducted such training in the past, and the Court deems that appropriate here.

Under the order, Southwest is responsible for transporting a representative of the group to Dallas along with any food, accommodation, or other travel expenses.

That training must be completed by 23 August.

The Independent has requested comment from Alliance Defending Freedom and TWU Local 556, the Union of Southwest Airlines Flight Attendants.
President Biden and former President Trump are neck and neck in a hypothetical 2024 matchup in Arizona, new polling shows.

A new survey from Emerson College Polling found Trump with nearly 45 percent and Biden with just higher than 43 percent in the state, a 1.5-point difference within the polls 2.6-point margin of error.

Another 9 percent of registered Arizona voters said theyd support someone else in a hypothetical Trump-Biden general matchup, and 4 percent were undecided.

Trump and Biden are both polling as the clear front-runners of their parties  both in Arizona and nationwide  as the 2024 race gets rolling, setting the field up for a rematch of the pairs 2020 presidential contest.

The new survey found Biden leading the Democratic field with 65 percent support, far ahead of the 10 percent earned by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and the 2 percent garnered by Marianne Williamson. Nearly a quarter of Arizona Democratic voters, 21 percent, said theyre undecided.

Trump led the crowded GOP field with 58 percent support, followed by 11 percent who said they backed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Six percent supported former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and 4 percent backed conservative entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. All other GOP candidates snagged 3 percent or less, with another 9 percent saying theyd back someone else. Just 0.5 percent of the states GOP primary voters said theyre undecided.

Adding Green Party candidate Cornel West to the general election hypothetical narrowed the gap between Biden and Trump even further. In that scenario, Trump received 42 percent of the vote to Bidens 41 percent, while West snagged 4 percent.

In national and statewide polling in recent months, Wests candidacy has taken votes away from Biden in the general election, however in Arizona it appears to tighten the race, rather than just reduce Bidens support, said Spencer Kimball, Executive Director of Emerson College Polling, in a release.

Recent polling has indicated a Biden-Trump rematch in next years general election could be a close race. An Emerson College poll focused on Michigan found the current and former presidents tied in the battleground state, while other national polls have found the pair similarly deadlocked.

Conducted Aug. 2-4, the Emerson College poll surveyed 1,337 registered Arizona voters and had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.6 percentage points.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
From the attorneys prosecuting his cases to his allies-turned-foes, few who have gone up against former President Trump have been spared his wrath.

Now, in the days after his indictment over efforts to subvert the 2020 election results, Trump is directing his anger at a new target: U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing that case.

There is no way I can get a fair trial with the judge assigned to the ridiculous freedom of speech/fair elections case, Trump wrote in all caps in a Truth Social post Sunday. Everybody knows this, and so does she!

Chutkan was randomly assigned to Trumps case after he was indicted last week on four charges. An Obama appointee, Chutkan has given out tough sentences to Jan. 6 defendants, either matching or exceeding the sentences for which prosecutors asked.

She also previously denied a Trump lawsuit seeking to block the National Archives from turning over documents to the House Jan. 6 committee, writing that Presidents are not kings, and Plaintiff is not President.

Her role in Trumps Washington, D.C., case has placed her squarely in the former presidents line of fire. Trump has said on Truth Social that his counsel plans to move to recuse Chutkan from the case, calling her the Judge of [special counsel Jack Smiths] dreams.

While its rare for a criminal defendant to go out of their way to antagonize a judge, Trumps recent social media posts will likely not have meaningful bearing on the case, according to Bruce Green, director of the Louis Stein Center for Law and Ethics at Fordham University.

I dont think the judge will respond to his public statements, and I dont think she should, Green said. If he wants to make a recusal motion and theres a nonfrivolous recusal motion to be made  hes entitled to make the motion if he wants to make it.

He has a First Amendment right, at the moment, to post things on social media, he added.

Taking his legal frustrations out on social media is not a new tactic for Trump, who has questioned the motives of judges or legitimacy of court rulings throughout his presidency and post-presidency.

Trump has taken aim at the judge overseeing the civil case involving the writer E. Jean Carroll, deriding him as a Clinton-appointed judge. He also previously posted multiple times about Judge Juan Merchan, who is handling the former presidents hush money case in Manhattan, referring to him as a Trump Hating Judge and claiming Merchan HATES ME.

Previously, Trump lambasted the judge who oversaw the case of his 2016 campaign Chairman Paul Manafort, derided some jurists who ruled against him as Obama judges and suggested a judges Mexican heritage meant he was potentially biased against him.

The tactic appears to be one motivated by Trumps own issues with judges whom he perceives as biased, largely because of who appointed them, and it has typically been out of step with his own legal team.

David Sklansky, a Stanford Law professor and co-director of the universitys Criminal Justice Center, said Chutkan is an experienced judge unlikely to be fazed by Trumps comments. Suggestions she should be disqualified or made to recuse are ridiculous, he said.

Theres absolutely no basis for that, Sklansky said. I will be interested to see whether any of Trumps lawyers are willing to make that suggestion; its such a crazy suggestion from a legal standpoint.

John Lauro, one of the attorneys representing Trump in the D.C. case, said on a podcast with Florida defense attorney David Markus that he is still assessing the potential for a motion to seek the judges recusal.

I need to take a hard look at this issue from a legal perspective and want to make sure it is correctly and exhaustively analyzed. So, weve made no final decision on that issue. It has to be really looked at with a fine-toothed comb. It raises a lot of issues, Lauro said.

Lauro added that Trumps comments about Chutkan came from a laymans political perspective, referring to the fact that Chutkan was appointed to the bench by a Democratic president. Joe Tacopina, an attorney representing Trump in the New York hush money case, made similar remarks when Trump attacked Merchans credibility.

But sometimes Trumps online attacks have escalated to real-life violence. Merchan and his family received death threats after Trump criticized him, and a bomb threat interrupted the start of proceedings in a $250 million civil litigation brought by New Yorks attorney general against the Trump Organization and Trump family, as The Hill previously reported.

To the extent [Trumps comments] pose the risk of personal harm to the judge and others, they need to be dealt with forcefully, said Daniel Richman, a professor at Columbia University Law School.

Jon Lewis, a research fellow at the Program on Extremism at George Washington University, said Trumps social media attacks follow the same playbook as those ahead of the Capitol attack, where his posts were used as a motivating force for violence.

We just spent the last two-plus years talking about the role of Trump as a social media amplifier, as a radicalizing figure, and how the playbook that we saw going into Jan. 6 had moved beyond just one individual, Lewis said. Its this unique spot that Trump continues to sit in.

Though an event like Jan. 6 is unlikely to happen again as a result, lone actors  such as the man who attempted to breach an Ohio FBI field office or the man who allegedly attacked former House Speaker Nancy Pelosis (D-Calif.) husband  pose a real threat, Lewis added.

Lone actors who see posts from politicians and prominent figures in this right-wing space as a call to arms are, to some extent, looking for an excuse to commit political violence against their enemies and are happy to seize upon these posts as their chance to do something, he said.

A defendant provoking violence could be ordered remanded by a judge ahead of trial, Green said.

If a defendant is obstructing justice, destroying evidence, intimidating witnesses, provoking violence against witnesses  that defendant can land in jail prior to the trial, he said.

Keeping Trump in check without infringing on his right to free speech  all while the 2024 presidential election rages on  will be a difficult issue for Chutkan to navigate, Sklansky said.

Its going to be a work in progress, Sklansky said. The trial judge needs to be concerned with preserving the fairness of the potential jury venire and ensuring that Trump and the prosecutors both can receive a fair hearing at trial. On the other hand, Trump does have First Amendment rights and he is running for president.

The judge is not going to want to step on that, he said. Shes going to need to find a middle ground.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Donald Trumps attacks against Chris Christie turned uglier than ever on Tuesday as the former president spoke at a rally in New Hampshire, the site of the second Republican statewide nominating contest.

Mr Trump has long leaned on jabs aimed at making fun of the former New Jersey governors weight in Truth Social postings and other comments about his once-ally. But on Tuesday, Americas 45th president took the stage in front of cheering supporters and demeaned his combative primary opponent as a fat pig, while mockingly imitating an aide advising him against doing so.

Sir, please do not call him a fat pig, said the twice-impeached former president, who is currently facing nearly 80 criminal charges in three indictments.

It was an otherwise unnotable moment for Mr Trump that is, however, worth understanding as a revealing preview of his debate strategy should he eventually end up onstage with Mr Christie and his other GOP rivals like his former vice president, Mike Pence, later this summer and into the fall.

The GOP debates are set to be the bloodiest televised fight for the former president in years, following a largely sleepy set of debates against now-President Joe Biden in 2020 and the tame performance, by comparison, of Hillary Clinton in 2016. Theres no indication that either Mr Trump or Mr Christie, who has made a name for himself in recent weeks with aggressive attacks of his own against his rival, will hold anything back should they come face-to-face in front of the cameras.

Trump: "Christie is eating right now, he can't be bothered. Sir, please do not call him a fat pig." pic.twitter.com/vaonrKOujg  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 8, 2023

And there are other Republicans who will be on that debate stage who have likely learned the lessons of 2016 and 2020 and plan to take on Mr Trump in his own commandeering manner, if only to avoid the fates of Jeb Bush and other Republicans who were bullied into submission by him in his first presidential run.

Several Republicans including most prominently Mr Christie have attacked Mr Trump over his leadership and electoral track record, blaming him for poor GOP perfomances in the House and Senate. Mr Christie has also taken a sharp edge against the former presidents campaign to overturn the lawful results of the 2020 election, which has now resulted in four criminal charges against Mr Trump as well.

Mr Christie and to a lesser extent other Republicans like Asa Hutchinson have argued that Mr Trumps growing legal baggage makes him an untenable candidate for the GOP to field against an incumbent Democratic president, Joe Biden, in 2024.
WASHINGTON  The judge presiding over Donald Trumps election case has ordered attorneys from both sides to meet in court Friday to discuss proposed restrictions on what the former president can publicly disclose about evidence gathered in the investigation.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan had ordered special counsel Jack Smiths office and Trumps lawyers to pick a date on or before Friday for a hearing in a dispute over competing protective order proposals that would enable the government to start handing over evidence to Trump's team.

Trump's attorneys  John Lauro and Todd Blanche  contend that the prosecution's proposed order is too broad and could partly muzzle their client, who's the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination. Federal prosecutors countered in a court filing that Trump's proposed revisions to their order were "designed to allow him to try this case in the media rather than in the courtroom."

At a rally Tuesday in New Hampshire before Chutkan issued her order, Trump portrayed the government's proposed order as an assault on his First Amendment rights.

I will talk about it. I will. Theyre not taking away my First Amendment rights, Trump told the crowd.

Attorneys for Trump didn't immediately respond to requests for comment about the Friday hearing or his rally remarks.

The special counsel's office declined to comment.

Chutkan scheduled the hearing after the special counsels office said in a joint filing earlier Tuesday that it was available for a hearing Wednesday, Thursday or Friday.

Trumps team said Thursday was no good because Blanche is due in federal court in Florida for Trumps arraignment in a superseding indictment in a separate prosecution brought by Smiths office alleging Trump mishandled national security documents and tried to cover it up.

The defense instead asked that the hearing be held Monday or Tuesday of next week but didn't explain what its issues were with this Wednesday or Friday, except to say it had lost Friday as an option.

In a terse ruling late Tuesday, Chutkan ordered both sides to appear before her at 11 a.m. ET Friday.

Trump's attorneys separately filed a motion seeking to exclude the 25 days between Trump's initial court appearance last Thursday and a hearing set for Aug. 28 from the time calculation under the Speedy Trial Act.

They cited a federal law that allows the court to exclude certain periods of delay when it computes time limits to begin a trial and argued the proposed exclusion "is warranted by the complexity of this matter, including the substantial volume of discovery and novel questions of fact and law."

The Speedy Trial Act holds that when a not guilty plea is entered, a trial should begin within 70 days of the indictment's filing or the defendant's appearance before an officer of the court, whichever is later.

In a statement Tuesday night, prosecutors said that "the ends of justice are best served by a speedy trial," adding that they would respond "more specifically" after they review Trump's motion.

Meanwhile, members of the grand jury that voted to indict Trump were seen back at work in the E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse in Washington on Tuesday morning. It wasn't clear whether they were hearing testimony from witnesses. They left the courthouse around 1:30 p.m. ET.

The four-count indictment accusing Trump of using unlawful means to try to stay in power alleged that he carried out his schemes with help of six co-conspirators  four attorneys, a Justice Department official and a political consultant.

Trump has pleaded not guilty and maintains the probe is part of a Democratic "witch hunt" against him.

While the alleged co-conspirators aren't named in the indictment, NBC News has been able to identify five of the six based on details in the court filing and transcripts of testimony to the House Jan. 6 committee and other records. The five appear to be former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a longtime Trump attorney; lawyers John Eastman and Kenneth Chesebro, architects of the fake electors scheme"; attorney Sidney Powell, who helped lead Trumps post-campaign legal efforts and promoted conspiracy theories; and former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark, who tried to put the weight of the Justice Department behind Trump's debunked fraud claims.

Attorneys for Giuliani and Eastman have acknowledged their clients appear to be identified as co-conspirators and have denied they did anything illegal.

Representatives for Powell, Clark and Chesebro haven't responded to requests for comment.

On Monday, Smith's team interviewed former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik in connection with the election probe.

The interview, which lasted about five hours, largely focused on Kerik's work investigating voter fraud allegations on behalf of Giuliani, his longtime friend and former boss, Kerik lawyer Timothy Parlatore said Monday.

Daniel Barnes reported from Washington and Dareh Gregorian from New York.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
If Donald Trump is anything, he is a man comfortable speaking aloud any and every thought that crosses his mind  whether or not it's in his best interest. He peppers his speeches with extended ad-libbed asides and non-sequitur riffs, often to the delight of his adoring audiences; his social media is rife with ruminations on everything from Hollywood romances to matters of national security; and now, facing perhaps the most significant criminal peril of his personal and professional life, Trump is betting that the very loquaciousness which contributed to his historic slate of criminal indictments may also be a winning legal strategy to keep him out of prison, and back into the White House.

This week, attorneys representing the former president against charges stemming from his alleged 2020 election interference argued that a request from prosecutors to limit the amount of evidence Trump could access and publicly disclose was a violation of his right to free speech. The request, made by Special Counsel Jack Smith's team, came after Trump posted "IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I'M COMING AFTER YOU!" on his Truth Social platform  a message prosecutors claimed was a sign that Trump was planning to "litigate this case in the media." Not so, claimed Trump's attorneys, who wrote that "the government seeks to restrict First Amendment rights" by asking to limit what evidence presented during the trial's discovery phase can be accessed and made public by Trump beyond "only genuinely sensitive materials."

Particulars of the debate over the requested "protective order" aside, the filing by Trump's attorneys is notable for offering a glimpse at their larger legal strategy: framing the former president's alleged election subversion as fundamentally a "trial about First Amendment rights."

"A showdown between two opposing assertions of principle"

The actions for which Trump has been charged were simply an example of the former president "exercising his right to talk about the issues and advocate politically for his belief that the election was stolen and was improperly run," attorney John Lauro told NPR recently, calling Smith's prosecution "the first time in the history of the United States where a sitting administration is criminalizing speech against a prior administration." Trump's legal team is essentially claiming that the former president had "every right to express views about election fraud that they say he believed, and still believes, to be true," The New York Times said, contrasting the strategy to prosecutors' focus on Trump's "pervasive and destabilizing lies" existing not simply as an expression of free speech, but in service of a larger criminal act. The charges against Trump, and his legal team's subsequent maneuvering are themselves a preview of a "showdown between those two opposing assertions of principle."

"Even assuming Trump knew his claims were false, there would still remain the controversial effort to link his false claims to the actions of others in challenging the election," attorney Jonathan Turley, who previously rejected the constitutional grounds for Trump's two impeachment trials, wrote in The Hill. "Even then," Turley added, "there remains the constitutional problem of criminalizing political lies."

Already a number of prominent conservative lawmakers and pundits have signed on to the Trump legal team's "free speech" framing. "President Trump had every right under the First Amendment to correctly raise concerns about election integrity in 2020," House Republican Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik said in a statement after Smith's indictment was made public. Former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani similarly claimed in an interview that Jack Smith's legacy will ultimately be one of "violating the right of free speech of an American citizen." Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Al.) claimed in a statement that "President Trump's statements are protected by the First Amendment right to free speech, especially political speech," and that the indictment "raises serious concerns about the public's right to speak openly in opposition to policies they oppose."

"The First Amendment doesn't shield fraud"

While the former president's free speech argument "might sound exciting to Trump's base," it's "likely to fall flat in court because speech in service of criminal conduct is not protected," MSNBC commentator Zeeshan Aleem wrote, highlighting the indictment's focus on Trump's having used "information he knew was false as part of a campaign to subvert the electoral process."

"There is no First Amendment privilege to commit crimes just because you did it by speaking," Duke University Law Professor and former federal prosecutor Samuel Buell concurred in the New York Times. "Tony Soprano can't invoke the First Amendment for telling his crew he wants someone whacked."

There is, in fact, Supreme Court precedent to that effect, Ciara Torres-Spelliscy, professor at Stetson Unversity law school, explained to NPR. Allowing that "the Supreme Court has been very lenient with liars" in general, Torres-Spelliscy pointed to the recent United States v. Hansen ruling, which made "really clear that the First Amendment doesn't shield fraud." No matter if Trump believed the lies about election fraud or not, he "simply did not have the legal authority to do what he is accused of doing, and he thus violated federal criminal law."

Ultimately there is legal precedent to placing limits on a president's First Amendment protections  made against Trump in regards to civil lawsuits stemming from the speech he made on Jan. 6 which allegedly incited the attack on the U.S. Capitol complex.

"Only in the most extraordinary circumstances could a court not recognize that the First Amendment protects a president's speech," Washington Federal District Court Judge Amit Mehta ruled in 2022. "But the court believes this is that case. Even presidents cannot avoid liability for speech that falls outside the expansive reach of the First Amendment. The court finds that in this one-of-a-kind case the First Amendment does not shield the president from liability."

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 7)  Senate President Migz Zubiri wants to invite several officials from the executive branch to discuss the recent water cannon incident near the Ayungin shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

In a privilege speech on Monday, Zubiri said that while it is the president that makes decisions on foreign policy, the Senate cannot remain quiet on the issue.

He said instead of military action, the government should lessen economic transactions with China.

"But how can we not speak up when the very troops who secure our borders and stand on harms way have been airing their disgust? We can learn from our neighbor Vietnam. Vietnam, they decided to boycott all Chinese-made products. They decided to veer away from China as its number one trading partner," he said.

Senator and former Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa, meanwhile, said even if no guns were fired by the Chinese Coast Guard, its actions were still very dangerous.

"Tambaloslos. Sobra na tayong ginagago ng China. Alam nila na hindi sila pwedeng magpaputok sa ating tropa doon, sa ating Coast guard because it will trigger the mutual defense treaty with the US," he said. "Ang ginagawa nila binomobomba lang nila tayo ng tubig. Pareho lang rin iyan sa pagpapaputok, kapag ikaw ay tinamaan ng high pressure na tubig na yan pwedeng mabali ang braso, leeg mo so ganoon na rin ang epekto."

[Translation: China is making a fool of us. They know they can't fire at our troops there, at the coast guard because it will trigger the mutual defense treaty with the US. What they're doing is using water cannons. It's the same as opening fire, when you're hit by a high-pressure jet of water, you can break an arm, your neck...the effect is the same.]

Sen. Robin Padilla again pushed for the amendment of the Constitution to allow the president to declare martial law in the face of imminent danger.

He asked fellow senators, why should we wait for an invasion by China?

Padilla also volunteered to set sail for the West Philippine Sea and report to the Senate his experience there to aid in the Senate investigation.

CNN Philippines' Eimor Santos contributed to this report.
By Sarah N. Lynch

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A federal judge presiding over former President Donald Trump's trial on charges of trying to overturn the 2020 election has ordered his attorneys and federal prosecutors to appear in court on Friday for a hearing to help determine how evidence can be used and shared in the case.

U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan set the hearing for Friday at 10 a.m. ET (1400 GMT), shortly after Trump's attorneys and members of U.S. Special Counsel Jack Smith's office had clashed in a joint court over when to schedule the proceeding.

Prosecutors had said they were available all week, while Trump's lawyers had asked for a postponement until early next week.

Friday's hearing comes after Trump's defense team on Monday opposed a request from prosecutors for Chutkan to impose a protective order to ensure confidential evidence is not shared publicly by Trump, suggesting he could use the information to intimidate witnesses. Trump has pleaded not guilty and called the charges politically motivated.

Trump's attorneys said limits would infringe on his right to free speech, protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Trump is not expected to be present in the courtroom on Friday, after Chutkan waived his appearance.

Typically, defense lawyers do not oppose such protective orders because doing so can delay the government from producing the evidence it intends to use at trial in a process known as discovery.

The disagreement between the parties over the hearing date represented the latest effort by Trump's team to delay or slow legal proceedings.

It also underscored the logistical challenges that Trump's team may have as it continues to represent him in two separate federal criminal cases brought by Smith's office, one in Washington, D.C., and the other in southern Florida, where Trump is charged with retaining highly classified records after leaving the White House and obstructing the government's efforts to have the records returned. Trump also pleaded not guilty in that case.

One of Trump's attorneys, Todd Blanche, will be in federal court in Florida on Thursday for an arraignment, after the government filed a superseding indictment that charged Trump with additional criminal counts and also charged another one of his employees in the case.

In the joint Washington filing, Trump's lawyers said Trump wished for both Blanche and his other lawyer John Lauro to be present for the hearing before Chutkan.

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by Howard Goller and Lisa Shumaker)
Former President Donald Trumps attorneys asked a federal judge to reject a proposed protective order in the governments election conspiracy case, claiming the effort to limit any public release of evidence would restrict his First Amendment rights.

Special counsel Jack Smiths team first asked U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan on Friday to issue a protective order related to any evidence shared with Trumps team as lawyers prepare for trial. Though requesting such orders is not unusual, prosecutors suggested Trumps bombastic use of social media could be a concern as the case moves forward.

Smiths team included a screenshot of a Truth Social message Trump posted last week, declaring in all caps: IF YOU GO AFTER ME, IM COMING AFTER YOU!

A protective order is a relatively standard move that would limit how Trump and his legal team can use evidence collected by prosecutors and shared with Trumps side before the trial begins. Generally, a court can order that such evidence be used only for work on the case and not be publicly released.

Trumps lawyers filed their own motion in court Monday asking the judge to limit a protective order to genuinely sensitive material.

In a trial about First Amendment rights, the government seeks to restrict First Amendment rights, Trumps attorneys wrote. Worse, it does so against its administrations primary political opponent, during an election season in which the administration, prominent party members, and media allies have campaigned on the indictment and proliferated its false allegations.

The attorneys added that any claim Trump would release secret grand jury information was merely provocative.

Smiths team quickly fired back Monday, accusing the former president of trying to try the case in the media rather than in the courtroom. In a filing, prosecutor Thomas Windom blasted a Trump attorney for appearing on five television programs on Sunday to discuss the case in detail.

Chutkan ordered the two sides to meet on Tuesday and said a hearing would be held no later than Friday to decide on the matter.

Prosecutors have expressed their worry that Trump will continue to attack the case, go after witnesses and inflame his supporters. The former president spent the weekend after his indictment lambasting Smith as deranged and saying Chutkan should recuse herself.

The defendant has previously issued public statements on social media regarding witnesses, judges, attorneys, and others associated with legal matters pending against him, Smiths team wrote in Fridays filing. If the defendant were to begin issuing public posts using details  or, for example, grand jury transcripts  obtained in discovery here, it could have a harmful chilling effect on witnesses or adversely affect the fair administration of justice in this case.

Related...
Former President Donald Trump, frantic to avoid being judged by a jury of the very Americans affected by the violent riot of his attempted 2021 coup, keeps signaling a plan to somehow escape the clutches of Washington, D.C.by transferring the case to the conservative confines of West Virginia.

It sounds petty and deeply unfair. And the request has already been ridiculed by legal scholars whove laughed at the idea that a former president can somehow wave his hand and move a case to a place thats politically convenient.

But in theory, it could work.

Its a long shot, but its not frivolous, said Henry H. Perritt Jr., the former dean of Chicago-Kent College of Law at Illinois Institute of Technology, where he is now professor emeritus.

Trumps Lawyers Preview Defense for D.C. Case in New Motion

The notion that the original venue is not suitable is not a shocking idea. Its provided for in federal rules, said Perritt, who has written about the limits of law enforcement jurisdiction and the proper court venue for cases. If the defendant can show that the prejudice is so great in the original venue that the defendant cannot obtain a fair and impartial trial, then the judge must transfer it to another venue.

Trump initiated this discussion the day after he got indicted for defrauding the nation in a failed attempt to remain in the White House after losing the 2020 election. In a Truth Social post on Wednesday, he suggested that the case should be moved to the politically unbiased nearby State of West Virginia!

NO WAY I CAN GET A FAIR TRIAL, OR EVEN CLOSE TO A FAIR TRIAL, IN WASHINGTON, D.C. he followed up on one of his all-caps rages Sunday morning, later adding that his team would formally seek for a venue changeand even the judges recusal.

The thing is, this hasnt worked for the MAGA diehards who angrily marched on the Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021 at Trumps behest and were later hunted down by the FBI and prosecuted by the Department of Justice.

In the 15 months after the insurrection, nearly 800 participants were arrested for trespassing on government property or trying to interrupt the certification of electoral ballots, according to the public statements by the DOJ. CBS News undertook an extensive review of thousands of court documents and found that only a dozen or so tried moving their trials out of the nations capital by citing jury bias, and not a single one managed to pull it off as of April 2022.

A look at their failed attempts proves instructive.

It didnt work for Thomas Caldwell, a Navy veteran in his late sixties who showed up wearing an Oath Keepers militia T-shirt and was charged with seditious conspiracy. His lawyer, David W. Fischer, wrote to the judge that jurors outside of the D.C. media market will have far less exposure to the non-stop biased and prejudicial press coverage. Federal prosecutors countered that extensive pre-trial screening will suffice to ensure that defendants receive a fair trial by an unbiased jury. They also cited Article III of the U.S. Constitution, which plainly states that the trial of all crimes shall be held in the state where the said crimes shall have been committed.

U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta was utterly unconvinced by the insurrectionists arguments.

Caldwell has not put forth a scrap of evidence to support his claims of jury bias, and his motion to transfer venue is denied without prejudice, Mehta wrote.

USA-ELECTION/TRUMP REUTERS/Sam Wolfe

But importantly, he hinged his decision on the idea that the average D.C. juror wouldnt have a clue who Caldwell was, noting that there wasnt any proof that the residents of the District of Columbia have any preconceived notions about Caldwell specifically, let alone that anything about him has been seared into the minds of potential D.C. jurors.

By contrast, Perritt said, that judicial reasoning doesnt apply to Trump; he may have more preconceived notions than anyone else in the worldand has been widely labeled the main orchestrator of the entire attack.

When its been denied, the reasoning had to do with the fact that, even though the publicity might have been prejudicial as respect to the riot, the publicity was not focused on this defendant. Publicity has very much been focused on him, Perrit said.

Then again, with someone as divisive as Trump, its reasonable to expect that peoples opinions of him are already solidified in West Virginia, too. Indeed, Trumps very reason for choosing West Virginia over Maryland or Virginiaor even, say, Pennsylvania or New Jerseyis that he won West Virginia by nearly 30 points.

As far as the law goes, theres also the case of Sean McHugh, a California construction worker who sprayed an unknown substance at police protecting the Capitol while yelling at them You're protecting communists! and: There is a Second Amendment behind us, what are you going to do then?

In court documents, his lawyers compared Jan. 6 news coverage to that of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack and whined to the judge about how the attackers were labeled insurrectionists, rioters, and seditionists. Defense lawyers also noted that an overwhelming number of District of Columbia residentsover 92 percentvoted for President Biden, citing the same argument that can be expected of Trump down the road in his own case.

Once again, prosecutors cited the Constitution. They also pointed out that the D.C. federal appellate court had already rejected the argument that the nations left-leaning capital would be unfair to a Republicanback in 1976 in a case related to Nixons Watergate scandal.

In March, U.S. District Judge John D. Bates decided to keep the case in Washington. The very next month, McHugh decided to skip a jury trial, took a partial plea, and the judge found him guilty at a one-day trial.

That case also shows how a judge could reasonably conclude that Trump would be treated fairly in D.C., particularly because the American legal system is built on the fundamental concept that a person should be judged by their local peers, who are best suited to consider the specific accusations at hand.

The Real Tragedy of Jan. 6 Is That Its Still Not Over

But in what may come as a surprise, Professor Perritt said this centuries-old core concept is one thats increasingly becoming outdated.

The notion that you should be tried by a jury of your peers in the area where a crime was committed comes from an earlier time when jurors were expected to know the facts already. There wasnt as much reliance on witnesses. You empanel a jury, and they knew what happened. So you kind of turn things over to them, he said. Thats not thought to be the role of the jury anymore.

Hence, why defense lawyers occasionally succeed in changing the venue of a trial from one state to another.

But the best example might be that of Alabama body-shop owner Russell Dean Alford, who walked into the Capitol through already-broken doors and later posted on social media videos and photos of himself at the scene of the crime. He too tried to change his cases venueand was swiftly rejected by U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan, the very same person now overseeing Trumps case.

She wasn't swayed in the slightest when Alford trotted out the same statistic noting that 92 percent of the District voted for Biden, calling it misleading and ultimately unavailing, and noted how unfair it is to have such little faith in Americans tasked with doing their civic duty.

Jurors political leanings are not, by themselves, evidence that those jurors cannot fairly and impartially consider the evidence presented and apply the law as instructed by the court, she wrote.

Chutkan also said moving the case out of D.C. wouldnt mean jurors would be unaware of Jan. 6 or have no opinions on the matter.

In any U.S. jurisdiction, most prospective jurors will have heard about the events of January 6, and many will have various disqualifying biases, she added.

The jury ultimately found Alford guilty on all three counts, and Chutkan sentenced him to a year behind bars at an Alabama federal prison.

John Lauro, one of Trumps two defense lawyers on this case, made clear this weekend that they are dead set on requesting a venue change outside the beltwaybut not just yet.

We are... at the appropriate time, Lauro said on the legal podcast For the Defense with David Oscar Markus.

Lauro said his team plans to do some hard, quantitative analysis on where people are and what the venue looks like, but then immediately noted that Washington, D.C., went 95 percent for Joe Biden, which sounds like theyre going to cite the same statistics that failed to convince other federal judges at the E. Barrett Prettyman courthouse.

However, Lauro indicated that the teams request to change venue will focus heavily on more counterintuitive logic: the idea that the people who live in the nations capital are somehow ill-suited to the task, because they were so deeply impacted by the insurrection in their own hometown.

The political piece is in play to some extent, but its more of whether or not youre facing this roadblock of bias, and whether the community in which youre trying the case has been affected in an emotional or passionate way, which certainly Washington, D.C., was, he said.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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MANCHESTER, N.H.  Former President Donald Trump mocked Chris Christie, one of his rivals for the Republican presidential nomination, over his eating habits and his weight Tuesday.

"Don't call him a fat pig," Trump playfully admonished an audience member who shouted out during a speech at a high school gym in Windham, New Hampshire. "You can't do that."

Trump was apprising the audience of recent polls that show him leading when he first mentioned Christie, the former New Jersey governor, who was once a close adviser.

"Christie, hes eating right now," Trump said. "He cant be bothered.

That's when a man in the crowd shouted out to prod Trump.

Sir, please do not call him a fat pig. Im trying to be nice. Dont call him a fat pig," Trump said. "You cant do that.

Christie, who pulled into a tie for second place in the state with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in a New Hampshire Journal poll released Tuesday, has been a sharp critic of Trump.

In a full-page ad in the Union Leader newspaper Tuesday, a super PAC supporting Christie accused Trump of being "afraid to debate" because he has not committed to compete in the first GOP debate in Milwaukee this month.

Republican presidential candidate former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie lays flowers at the Wall of Remembrance to pay tribute to killed Ukrainian soldiers in Kyiv on Aug. 4, 2023. (Efrem Lukatsky / AP)

Speaking with reporters Wednesday at a campaign stop in Canterbury, New Hampshire, Christie said Trump's insult was "typical him."

"Hes such a hot mess," Christie said. "And hes like, talking to me about what I look like. Take a look at him. I mean, its kind of funny, right?"

Christie added that he's known Trump for 22 years, and he's "so in his head."

"If he looks at everything Ive done in my career, and what he wants to talk about is the way I look? Fine. Because Ill tell you this, there are tens of millions of Americans who have struggled with their weight the same way I struggle with my weight. And they look at somebody who talks like that, and they say thats a child."

In an interview on Fox News in June, Christie addressed Trump's previous comments about his weight with a quip.

"Oh, like he's some Adonis?" Christie said.

At Monday's rally in a gym that lacked air conditioning, Trump repeated his lie that the 2020 election was "rigged" and "stolen."

He also called the indictments against him  in New York, Florida and Washington, D.C.  "bulls---."

That prompted the supportive crowd to begin chanting the word.

Trump said he was limited in his ability to campaign because he has had to sit in courtrooms. He faces federal charges related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his retention of classified documents after he left the White House.

Image: Former President Donald Trump on stage before delivering remarks at Windham High School on Aug. 8, 2023 in Windham, N.H. (Scott Eisen / Getty Images)

In state court in New York, he has been charged with crimes related to his payment of hush money to Stormy Daniels, a pornographic film actress and director whom he denies having had sex with.

Trump also addressed the federal government's request for a protective order from the judge in the 2020 election case. Prosecutors last week asked U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to issue an order preventing Trump from publicizing material provided to his defense team through the legal process of discovery.

He said Tuesday that the government is "taking away my First Amendment right." His lawyers have asked the judge to issue a less restrictive protective order than the one proposed by the government.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Former President Donald Trump could soon be strapped with an order limiting him in speaking publicly about the federal charges he is facing. But that wont stop him from using his legal woes to galvanize voters on the campaign trail.

I will talk about it, I will, theyre not taking away my First Amendment rights, Trump said on Tuesday about his latest federal indictment, riling up a crowd at a campaign stop in Windham, N.H.

A court-ordered muzzle could be imminent for Trump, after the current GOP front-runner appeared to declare that hes coming after those he views as responsible for his myriad legal challenges. Prosecutors brought the comments to a judges attention last week, calling for Trump to be ordered to keep any evidence prosecutors turn over to his defense team away from public view.

But Trump said Tuesday that he didnt care, calling the charges against him bullshit and accusing President Joe Biden of weaponizing the Justice Department to take out a political rival.

They dont want me to speak about a rigged election. They dont want me to speak about it. Whereas I have freedom of speech, First Amendment, Trump said. Biden, Trump claimed, is forcing me nevertheless to spend time and money away from the campaign trial in order to fight bogus, made-up accusations and charges.

Im sorry I wont be able to go to Iowa today, I wont be able to go to New Hampshire today because Im sitting in a courtroom on bullshit, Trump said to the crowd, eliciting cheers and chants of bullshit.

The former president was charged with four felony counts last week and accused of conspiring to seize a second term after losing to Joe Biden in the 2020 election. He is also facing charges in two other cases  a federal case in Florida in which hes accused of hoarding classified documents and obstructing the governments efforts to retrieve them, and a hush money case in Manhattan. A fourth indictment against Trump is expected in the coming days in Georgia, also related to Trumps efforts to interfere with the results of the 2020 election.

All of Trumps legal battles threaten to take him away from the campaign trail and into the courtroom just as the 2024 presidential race picks up speed.
When it comes to criminal cases, many lawyers advise their clients not to speak publicly about their cases.

But most clients are not former President Trump.

As Trumps legal problems continue to pile up, the former president has remained outspoken on social media and in public, attacking prosecutors, judges and potential witnesses, all while speaking openly about the actions that set off the investigations in the first place.

Its a unique setting, because normally what we tell clients, of course, is, Dont say anything; dont make any public comments, said John Lauro, one of the attorneys representing Trump in his Jan. 6 case in Washington, on a podcast with Florida lawyer David Markus.

With President Trump, because of the campaign, and I would say because of his personality, its impossible for him not to speak out on the issues. So it does present unique circumstances, Lauro added. I think, in his mind, its sort of fair game from a political perspective to make these comments.

Trump is unfiltered when he posts on Truth Social, and his political speeches often veer from his prepared remarks. That has already gotten him in trouble in some of his legal cases, and political advisers and legal experts warned that Trumps tendency to speak out could land him in hot water, posing additional risks as he hits the campaign trail and mulls attending the first GOP primary debate.

They may be able to use some of his statements against him. Given what the potential for him saying things is, its hard to imagine its going to do him any good in the trial. But I suspect that his lawyers have absolutely no control over what hes saying, said Alan Morrison, a law professor at George Washington University.

The risks Trump poses to himself and his legal defense have been evident in recent months.

Writer E. Jean Carroll amended her defamation lawsuit against Trump in May to include comments he made at a CNN town hall calling her a whack job and dismissing her allegations of sexual abuse.

Trump in a June interview with Fox Newss Bret Baier defended his actions laid out in the federal indictment over his handling of classified materials by claiming he may not have had a physical document with him when he allegedly discussed a top-secret Pentagon document with individuals at his Bedminster club. That episode was later added to a superseding indictment filed by prosecutors.

The former president last Friday wrote on Truth Social: If you go after me, Im coming after you! The message came one day after a judge warned Trump in the case over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election not to influence or intimidate witnesses. Prosecutors quickly cited the post in asking for a protective order to limit what Trump can publicly say about the case.

Speaking to supporters Tuesday in New Hampshire, Trump blasted the move by prosecutors and vowed he would continue to speak out about his legal woes.

I will talk about it. I will. Theyre not taking away my First Amendment right, Trump said to applause.

Lauro, one of Trumps attorneys, said on the Markus podcast that he thinks judges and prosecutors understand the dynamic in terms of there being sort of a campaign going on, and I think its a little bit different than our standard case where we would pull our hair out if a client commented on a prosecutor or a judge.

While Trump has indicated he may skip the first two GOP presidential primary debates because of his large lead in the polls, officials said they could envision scenarios where Trump is put on the spot on the debate stage about his legal problems, potentially drawing him further into trouble.

They noted that former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) is a former prosecutor whose candidacy has thus far been focused squarely on getting under Trumps skin and arguing Trump is unfit to serve another term in the White House.

And they pointed to the presence of former Vice President Mike Pence, who was a central figure in the Justice Departments indictment against Trump for his attempts to subvert the 2020 election results, with prosecutors detailing numerous instances of Trump pressuring the then-vice president to reject the results on Jan. 6.

Pence has been adamant he had no right to overturn the election, and he has argued Trump asked him to put the president over the Constitution.

Trump and other candidates would be almost certain to be asked about the former presidents legal troubles at the upcoming debate. Former Trump campaign advisers said they saw little upside to the former president getting up on stage given both the political and legal risks.

Sean Spicer, who served as Trumps White House press secretary, said he doesnt think Trump cares as much about the potential legal implications of debating, though he said its a legitimate argument to make.

Youre up there and you start tangling with these one-percenters, and its not just the legal pitfalls, its the political pitfalls, Spicer said. Their goal is to trip you up. So again, high risk, low reward.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Im a lifelong Reagan Republican who desperately wants to restore commonsense conservative leadership to the White House, but Im also part of the more than 60% of Americans who believe that the country cannot afford a Trump vs. Biden rematch in 2024.

Unfortunately, at this moment, that appears to be the most likely outcome. And when three-quarters of Americans say the country is on the wrong track and many disapprove of their leaders in Washington, D.C., more of the same is an unsustainable position for our country to sustain.

The nonpartisan citizens group No Labels is working on a break glass in case of emergency plan for 2024 that involves adding a third option on the presidential ballot in all 50 states, which will only be used if a majority of voters are dissatisfied with the two major party nominees. In that case, No Labels would give its ballot line to a unity ticket featuring a Republican and a Democrat willing to put the country first by running together.

An Arizona election worker boxes tabulated ballots on Nov. 9, 2022, in Phoenix.

Fear tactics and baseless smears against No Labels

While most Americans would welcome better options, our plan has triggered panic from political elites in Washington. The same people who present themselves as champions of democracy have been meeting behind closed doors to plot decidedly anti-democratic attacks against No Labels.

They are pulling every trick in the book to try to kick No Labels off the ballot, spending millions on frivolous lawsuits, fear tactics and baseless smears.

Sen. Joe Manchin: Extremist Democrats and Republicans threaten America's future

Why are these groups so desperate to stop No Labels?

Its because they benefit the most from the broken status quo. Groups such as the Lincoln Project raise millions of dollars from the rage industrial complex against Donald Trump. In the 2022 election, Democratic groups in Washington spent millions propping up election deniers in states across the country, including in my state of Maryland.

The extremes feed off each other, allowing both parties to ignore the voices of the exhausted majority. This is exactly why so many Americans are fed up with Washington.

People of goodwill can disagree about whether No Labels approach is the right one, but the hypocritical campaign to deny voters choice and access to votes will inevitably backfire.

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.

Support best policies to help Americans regardless of political party

However, there is a clear path for these Washington insiders to avoid a third-party challenge. Instead of engaging in a race to the bottom with their political opponents, they should try a novel idea: Start taking the concerns of the American people seriously.

No Labels recently released "Common Sense," a booklet that features 30 ideas that a majority of Americans across the political spectrum support. You dont need to agree with every idea to recognize that this is a road map to restore the faith of the American people. Republican and Democratic leaders would be wise to draw from it.

National debt: Democrats' excessive spending, mounting debt earn US credit downgrade

The booklet is based on the same idea that guided my eight years as governor of Maryland  that we should advance the best policies regardless of which party they come from. We must hold violent criminals accountable while addressing the root causes of crime. We can secure the border and fix our immigration system. We need an all-of-the-above energy policy to lower prices for consumers.

Lets expand economic opportunity for every American by making sure no child is forced to attend a failing school, lowering the cost of housing, giving small businesses the resources they need to grow and helping veterans find employment.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan at a news conference in Annapolis in 2020.

It also breaks from both parties where Washington has been grossly irresponsible. For example, the booklet focuses on finally getting our fiscal house in order and proposes that members of Congress should not get paid unless they do their jobs to pass a budget.

The truth is there is more that unites us as Americans than that which divides us. Its time to put aside all the political nonsense and start solving our biggest challenges and healing our country.

This might be terrifying to some in Washington, but  to most Americans  its just common sense.

Larry Hogan is a former governor of Maryland and a national co-chair of No Labels.

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: Americans don't want another Trump vs. Biden election. We can fix it
Gov. Katie Hobbs (right), TSMC Arizona President Brian Harrison (center) and ADOSH Director James Ashley (left, all sitting) sign a voluntary protection program during a press conference, Aug. 4, 2023, at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company in Phoenix.

TSMC has been the darling of elected leaders since the semiconductor manufacturer announced it would build its first American plant in north Phoenix.

They gush over the thousands of high-wage jobs it is expected to bring, the promised $40 billion investment and the many other companies that are locating here in its wake.

Its an economic game-changer for Arizona, were often told.

But for as much as that praise occurs, I hear as much from regular folks who wonder if thats really the case.

Can TSMC sustain a factory in Arizona?

Their anxiety is understandable, given the steady stream of national and international press questioning the wisdom of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. expanding to America.

It costs a lot more to produce microchips here than it does in Taiwan, experts say.

And while some expect demand to rebound next year, TSMC recently reported flagging sales as the global economy flexes and sputters.

The company says it needs $15 billion in tax credits and grants from the federal CHIPS Act, which was passed to help build more semiconductor factories, to make the numbers work on its Arizona plant.

TSMC also has struggled to hire skilled workers to run it.

Some chalk that up to an industry-wide worker shortage, while others say a brutal corporate culture and non-competitive wages are chasing away in-demand talent.

Why the delay? Depends who you ask

The company announced last month that it would delay opening its Arizona facility for a year, in part because it needed to import workers from Taiwan to finish construction.

But some local contractors have alleged that they were pushed aside once foreign workers arrived.

And that the construction site was full of potential safety hazards  allegations the governor tacitly acknowledged last week in announcing a stricter, albeit voluntary, safety program that includes site inspections every other month.

Another view: TSMC praised us. Now it says we lack skills

Fueling the skepticism is how notoriously secretive TSMC is.

Granted, the company makes some of the worlds most advanced semiconductors, which are needed to power virtually everything from cellphones to military technology.

And TSMC engineers them a stones throw from China, which no doubt would like to get its hands on their intellectual property.

There are dozens of complicated geopolitical reasons why TSMC remains so tight-lipped about its expansion in Arizona.

TSMC's secrecy does Phoenix no favors

But the secrecy does no favors for Phoenix, which has devoted $200 million to develop roads and other critical infrastructure for the massive factory.

Residents want to know that TSMC wont just pull up stakes after the subsidies run out, leaving a slew of development nearby that probably wouldnt exist if not for TSMC.

And if the company is here for the long haul, they want to know that the right plans are in place to ensure it is using precious resources, like water and power, wisely.

The company has promised, for example, to recycle most of the water it uses.

It has said that Arizonas factory will meet the highest standards of environmental stewardship.

But neither TSMC nor local officials have been willing to answer specific questions about the setup.

Engagement is a process. Let's see more

Its like that with many other aspects of the north Phoenix project.

Theres a lot of trust us and not a lot of see for yourself.

Some observers say that TSMCs willing participation in the governors construction safety plan is a show of good faith that it has Arizonas best interests at heart.

A step in the right direction, certainly.

But community engagement is a process, not a single action.

TSMC should do a lot more to show skeptical residents that the promises theyve heard are real.

Reach Allhands at joanna.allhands@arizonarepublic.com. On Twitter: @joannaallhands.

If you love this content (or love to hate it  hey, I won't judge), why not subscribe to get more?

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Can TSMC survive in Arizona? Why some residents remain skeptical
At least two people died, one hit by a lightning and another by a falling tree, as a powerful storm ripped through the eastern US on Monday.

Thousands of flights were cancelled and nearly a million homes and businesses - from New York to Alabama - lost power.

Over 50 million people were under tornado and thunderstorm watches.

Power had still not been restored for almost 250,000 homes and over 1,000 flights were delayed on Tuesday morning.

Evan Christopher Kinley, a 15-year-old boy, was killed by a tree as he exited his car when he arrived at his grandparents' home during the storm in Anderson, South Carolina, the city's fire department chief told the BBC's US partner CBS News.

In Florence, Alabama, police said a 28-year-old man was struck and killed by lightning in a parking lot.

The National Weather Service says being killed by lightning is rare - only about 20 people on average are killed by lightning strikes annually in the US.

Tornado watches and warnings were posted across 10 states but only one tornado was confirmed in upstate New York.

Federal workers in Washington DC were sent home early in anticipation of the extreme weather

Severe storm spread downed trees and power lines up and down the eastern seaboard.

As of Tuesday morning, power still has not been restored for 100,000 people in North Carolina, 95,000 in Pennsylvania and 64,000 people in Maryland.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued several ground stops on Monday for airports in New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Washington, DC.

Thousands of flights were disrupted and a knock-on effect was felt on Tuesday morning with over 1,000 flights delayed, according to FlightAware.

Forecasters had warned of "one of the most impactful severe weather events" and the National Weather Service issued a Level 4 out of 5 risk for the first time in decades for the Washington, DC metro area. Federal workers around the capital were sent home early in anticipation of the extreme weather but the storms were generally less severe than feared.

"Damage is not as bad or as widespread as it could have been, however, we did get a lot of rain, wind, and thunder across the D.C. region," Eileen Whelan, DC meteorologist, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The federal government has taken the final steps to ban inclined infant sleepers and crib bumpers. Officials say the items were dangerous and parents should not be using them.

This means infant sleepers and crib bumpers are banned from being sold, manufactured, and distributed in the United States. The Consumer Product Safety Commission just passed these two final rules.

It comes after Congress passed the Safe Sleep for Babies Act last year, which requires these items to be off the market.

The number one thing parents need to remember is the best place for an infant to sleep is a firm, flat surface in a crib or a bassinet.

The CPSC says infants should always be placed on their backs to sleep. And if the baby falls asleep in an upright position, youll want to move the baby to a flat surface to better protect them.

An important notice for parents this morning: The government has issued two final rules to codify bans of infant sleepers and crib bumpers. Officials say the products are linked to nearly 200 infant deaths. We break it down on @boston25 pic.twitter.com/2JtJAuPYr8  Samantha Manning (@SamManningNews) August 8, 2023

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 8)  Only essentials to sustain troops are brought to the BRP Sierra Madre, according to a National Security Council (NSC) official, who stressed that carrying supplies to the vessel at Ayungin Shoal is within the Philippines rights and cannot be interfered with.

Ang dinadala natin doon ay mga bagay na kailangan ng ating tropa. We are not bringing things that are not essential, NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya told the media on Tuesday.

Kung anuman yung mga kailangan nilang dalhin, we are well within our rights na dalhin yun, at hindi tayo pwedeng diktahan kung ano yung mga dadalhin natin at hindi natin dadalhin, Malaya added.

[Translation: What we are bringing there are things that our troops need. We are not bringing things that are not essential. Whatever we need to bring, we are well within our rights to bring that, and we cannot be dictated to what we can and cannot bring.]

The Chinese Coast Guard earlier said it fired water cannons at Philippine vessels en route to Ayungin Shoal to block them for carrying illegal building materials and breaking into waters under Chinas jurisdiction. https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/8/6/chinese-coast-guard-water-cannons-ph-vessels-ayungin-shoal.html

Sila nga nagmimilitarize ng ibang mga pulo, naglalagay ng kung ano anong radar tapos batteries [Them, they militarize other islands, installing some kind of radar and batteries]. Tayo, we are just supplying our troops to maintain our presence in the shoal, the NSC official said.

The commissioned vessel is situated at Ayungin, also known as the Second Thomas Shoal, which is 104 nautical miles west of Palawan and lies within the Philippines' 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The Philippines claims sovereignty and control over the Kalayaan island group, which China insists is under its jurisdiction via its nine-dash line claim.

A 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling, however, invalidated China's expansive claims in the South China Sea. The tribunal largely ruled in favor of the Philippines in areas of its EEZ and continental shelf that are being claimed by China.

Malaya also pointed out that it is the Philippines responsibility to maintain the BRP Sierra Madre for the benefit of our troops there and failure to do so reflects negligence on the part of the national government.

China impeded PHs legitimate resupply mission

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) asserted that the BRP Sierra Madre serves as a permanent station for Filipino military troops sent to preserve and secure the country's rights and interests in the West Philippine Sea.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed that Manila made a commitment to remove the vessel but has yet to act on it. Malaya also denied this.

The DFA further emphasized that the resupply mission and repair of the BRP Sierra Madre are part of regular operations in line with domestic and international law.

According to the DFA, the recent water cannon incident impeded the countrys legitimate and regular activities in its own EEZ, violating the 1982 United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea, the 2016 South China Sea arbitration, among other international maritime laws.

The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) made the same statement, stressing that the Philippines will continue protecting and upholding [its] legal maritime entitlements.

The Philippines demands that China immediately stop its coercive, unlawful, and unjustifiable activities in our maritime zones, the NTF-WPS said in a statement.
A Houston woman was permitted to leave the United Arab Emirates and was reportedly on a flight headed back to the U.S. on Tuesday after months stuck in Dubai after being arrested for "shouting" in public during an argument with a car rental company.

Social media influencer Tierra Allen, who posts online under the handle "Sassy Trucker," boarded a flight to the U.S. from the UAE after paying a fee of about $1,300 to have a travel ban lifted by authorities, according to the "Detained in Dubai" international nonprofit organization that worked to secure her return.

Texas resident Tierra Allen poses for a photo in front of the Global Village attraction in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in a photo posted to her Facebook account in March 2023. / Credit: Tierra Allen/Facebook

Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, announced Allen's imminent return home in a statement shared on social media, adding that the case had highlighted "the crucial role played by the media, and by the public, in demanding accountability and justice in the UAE."

"Tierra was living a nightmare and facing fines and lengthy imprisonment, until her case was brought into the spotlight of international media scrutiny. Without that attention, all too often, Emirati authorities pay little heed to due process, fairness, and human rights," Stirling said.

Great News: Tierra Allen boarded a flight home to the United States today after police lifted her travel ban. She nearly didn't make it through airport immigration and thought she would be jailed but all worked out and Tierra is now relieved her nightmare has come to an end.  Radha Stirling - CEO @detainedindubai (@RadhaStirling) August 8, 2023

Allen was arrested in May following a confrontation with a male employee of a car rental company in Dubai.

"She was told at the police station (Bur Dubai) that she has been accused of 'shouting,' which under the UAE's laws is illegal under 'offensive behavior,' which is an unclear and subjective regulation, but warrants up to two years in prison, a fine and deportation," Stirling told CBS News last month.

Stirling also told CBS News the employee had been trying to intimidate Allen into paying thousands of dollars she didn't owe.

"Tierra is the latest American tourist to get caught up in what is a common rental car extortion scheme," Stirling said.

"Rental car agencies are notorious for opening criminal cases against visitors with the promise to drop the case if they are paid off. The prevalence of blackmail is damaging to the UAE's tourism and investment sectors and Dubai's government needs to crack down on this abuse of process," said Stirling, an activist and lawyer specializing in Arab nations' laws.

After being arrested and released on bail, Allen was not allowed to retrieve her belongings from the rental vehicle and later noticed that several fraudulent charges were attempted on her credit cards, which were in the back of the vehicle she had returned, according to Stirling.

The man who worked at the vehicle rental agency and initially accused Allen left the country for Pakistan after filing his police report, Stirling noted.

Allen has been told to not return to Dubai by UAE authorities, and Stirling said Allen told her she "was never thinking twice about coming back. I was so stressed every day."

Allen has not posted on her TikTok account since her detention.

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The University of California admitted a record number of California applicants for fall 2023  led by Latinos, who were part of the largest class of underrepresented students ever  as campuses received more funding to increase coveted seats, according to preliminary data released Tuesday.

Overall, UC admitted 88,285 Californian first-year applicants, an increase of 3.5% over last year, with gains posted at most of the nine undergraduate campuses. Admission rates inched up systemwide, to nearly 67%, and at nearly all campuses. UC Santa Cruz opened its doors most widely, accepting 10,000 more first-year students for this year over last year, a whopping 44.5% increase.

At several of the system's most sought-after campuses, the admission rate is much lower. UCLA admitted 9.5% of California first-year applicants and UC Berkeley, 15.1%, both slightly up compared to last year.

UC campuses also increased admission offers to transfer students  even as their applications last fall declined amid plunging community college enrollments in California and throughout the nation. UC San Diego led the way, admitting 11,200 California transfer applicants, an 11% increase over last year.

Latinos were the largest group of admitted California first-year students at 38%, followed by Asians at 34%, white applicants at 19% and Black applicants at 5%. American Indians made up 1% of admitted students but grew overall with significant gains at UCLA, UC Santa Cruz and UC Santa Barbara. The system launched a major effort last year offering free tuition and fees to California residents who are members of federally recognized Native American, American Indian and Alaska Native tribes.

Engkanchanith Tan, an electrical engineering student, relaxes in a hammock on the UCLA campus in June. The University of California admitted a record number of California first-year students for fall 2023. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

The Universitys latest admissions data reflects our commitment to expanding opportunity and to ensuring that students of all backgrounds have a chance to attend one of our excellent undergraduate campuses, UC President Michael V. Drake said in a statement. Were pleased to support thousands more Californians who wish to pursue a higher education, benefiting themselves and communities across the state.

The new data about the diversity of UC's admitted class comes as campuses throughout the nation are faced with a ban on using race as a factor in admissions following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June striking down affirmative action. Overall, 44% of UC's admitted class of first-year applicants and 37% of transfer students are members of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, a diversity reflecting the state's demographic shifts and more than 25 years of UC experimentation in how to create diverse classes without affirmative action.

Read more: 'We're really worried': What do colleges do now after affirmative action ruling?

About 45% of California admitted students are the first in their families to attend college and 47% are low-income.

The University of California continues to set an example for our peer private and public institutions as we strive to recruit talented and diverse students from around the state, said Han Mi Yoon-Wu, executive director of undergraduate admissions at the UC Office of the President.

Students and faculty walk across the UC Irvine campus in May. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

The number of admitted students from other states and countries rose over last year but was lower than 2021 levels. UC admitted 23,696 first-year students from other states, compared with 22,798 in 2022 and 28,157 in 2021. International students numbered 17,704 for fall 2023 compared with 17,531 in 2022 and 19,973 in 2021.

Following the Great Recession of 2008, several UC campuses had begun enrolling more nonresidents, who pay higher tuition, to offset major state funding cuts. UC Berkeley, for instance, increased its share of nonresident students from 9.3% in 2008 to 23.7% in 2022.

But that triggered a public outcry from Californians upset that they paid taxes to support the university system while their children were often rejected from their campuses of choice.

Drake has also unveiled a plan to increase enrollment of California students by more than 20,000 by 2030  and possibly as many as 33,000, the equivalent of a new campus, if resources are available.

Read more: UC could grow by 33,000 California students, equivalent of new campus, to meet surging demand

UC plans to expand enrollment of California undergraduates by 4,200 this fall under an agreement with Gov. Gavin Newsom. UCLA, UC Berkeley and UC San Diego, the three most selective campuses, also plan to swap out about 900 out-of-state and international students this fall and give those seats to Californians under a deal with Newsom and legislators who increased state funding to pay for losses in higher nonresident tuition.

That additional funding helped UC Santa Cruz, for instance, admit the largest class of California students ever.

Michelle Whittingham, UC Santa Cruz associate vice chancellor of enrollment management, said the campus plans to enroll 4,189 first-year students this fall and winter  an increase of 733 over last year  thanks to such factors as additional state funding and quicker completion of degree programs through more summer classes.

But, demonstrating the myriad factors that affect admission planning, UC Santa Cruz accepted 10,200 more students this year to hit that enrollment target. One reason, she said, was because the campus reduced by half the number of seats in the popular computer science major and increased offers in other majors where more students are likely to turn down their acceptance. Whittingham explained that officials reduced computer science slots this year after 300 more students than expected enrolled in the program last year; campus officials wanted to maintain the program quality.

Whittingham said the campus expects to honor its one-year housing guarantee to all new students  one reason it is offering winter admission to some of them.

"To see such a significant increase in access is beyond exciting," she said.

Read more: UCLA to expand in downtown L.A. with purchase of historic building for satellite classes

UCLA admitted 163 more California first-year students this year than last, with a slight rise in the admission rate to 9.5%, and fewer students from other states and countries. The share of admitted Californians from historically underrepresented groups climbed to 37% this year, the highest proportion in more than three decades.

The Westwood campus also admitted 5,665 transfer students from the community college system, a 9% increase. Overall, UCLA expects to enroll hundreds more California students this fall but does not need to appreciably increase admission offers because so many applicants accept them, officials have explained.

UC Berkeley admitted 10,994 California first-year students, an increase over last year's 10,518, which reflected a slight rise in the admission rate to 15.1%. The campus reduced offers to students from other states and countries. The number of Black students dropped slightly but the overall number of admitted applicants from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups increased, as did first-generation and low-income students.

Admitting more students who reflect the socioeconomic diversity of the state has been a priority for us, said Jocelyn De Jong, UC Berkeleys assistant vice chancellor and director of undergraduate enrollment. We know that academic talent can be found in all communities and settings and we value bringing together a diverse class of students with different experiences and perspectives.

UC Irvine admitted 24.6% more first-year students for fall 2023, including 2,160 more Californians, after cutting back admission offers last year, especially for out-of-state and international students. Dale Leaman, Irvine's executive director of undergraduate admissions, said the campus plans to enroll about 700 more Californians this year  500 first-year students and 200 transfers. Irvine also increased nonresident admissions by nearly 42% but they remain below 2021 levels.

"The real point of our efforts ... was to provide more access to Californians," he said. Increasing California enrollment was quite intentional; an effort to support and be responsive to systemwide and statewide interests.

UC Santa Barbara also increased admission offers to both California and nonresident first-year students by nearly 8%. Admission offers to Latinos increased the most, by 639.

UC San Diego's efforts in admitting more transfer students is grounded in close work with community colleges to help potential applicants clearly understand the courses required for their majors and structure their schedules to complete them on time to move to a four-year institution, campus officials said. UC San Diego is launching new efforts in the coming year with community colleges in San Diego and Imperial counties to expand that work, including adding staff and greater outreach efforts.

"We are excited that these collaborations with community colleges  especially those in the local San Diego area  are a positive addition to our relationships with these campuses and their applicants, and that we are consistently offering admission to the highest number of California Community College applicants of any UC campus," said Jim Rawlins, associate vice chancellor of enrollment management.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The British government has unveiled its largest sanctions package yet aimed at foreign businesses supplying Russia with weapons and spare parts, the governments press service reported on Aug. 8.

Twenty-five companies and individuals are listed in the package, along with three Russian companies which import electronics "vital" for the Russian military.

Read also: Which American companies continue to supply electronics to the Russian military-industrial complex?

The sanctions are meant to hinder Russian defense by impeding access to foreign military technologies.

The list of the sanctioned persons and enterprises includes:

Two Turkish companies, Turkik Union and Azu International, which supply microelectronics to Russia

Dubai-based Aeromotus Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Trading LLC, which provides Russia with drones and spare parts

Slovakian national Ashot Mkrtychev, who attempted to mediate arms deals between North Korea and Russia

Swiss national Anselm Oskar Schmucki, who plays an active role in Russian financial services and works as Chief of the Moscow office of DuLac Capital Ltd.

Iranian individuals and enterprises involved in the research, design, and production of drones

Belarusian defense companies producing military equipment for the country's needs, as this is directly affiliated with Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.

"This sanctions package is part of a series of wider action targeting those supplying and funding Putins war machine  and it is the biggest ever UK action on military suppliers in third countries," the UK's Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said.

Read also: Lithuanian parliament calls for Russias full international isolation

"Todays landmark sanctions will further diminish Russias arsenal and close the net on supply chains propping up Putins now struggling defense industry."

On July 17, the UK introduced sanctions against 14 Russians involved in the illegal detention of Ukrainian children.

Russia is still able to buy vast quantities of Western technologies it needs for military manufacturing via loopholes in export controls, Newsweek reported on June 21, with over 60% of crucial components coming from US companies.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The Kremlin is "doubling down" on providing the Rosgvardia, the Russian National Guard, with heavy equipment, as it sees the force as a key organization for ensuring regime security, the U.K. Defense Ministry said in its Aug. 8 intelligence update.

On Aug. 4, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law a measure which allows Rosgvardia to be equipped with heavy weaponry.

Viktor Zolotov, the director of Rosgvardia and a former bodyguard for Putin, previously suggested the force should be armed with artillery and attack helicopters, according the the update.

Zolotov claimed that Rosgvardia performed "excellently" during the short-lived Wagner Group mutiny against the Russian government on June 23-24.

Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko allegedly helped broker a deal for Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin and his troops to relocate to Belarus after they stopped short of reaching Moscow.

However, U.K. intelligence believes there is "no evidence that Rosgvardia carried out any effective action" to suppress the armed rebellion, despite it being "exactly the sort of internal security threat" the force was set up to control.

Following the crisis, Putin held a meeting with Zolotov and other top security officials on June 26, according to Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesman.

Rosgvardia was created in 2016 by presidential decree and is a separate force to the Russian Armed Forces. The U.K. Defense Ministry believes it has up to 200,000 front-line personnel.

Read also: Increased attacks on Crimea disrupt Russian logistics, attempt to derail its southern defenses

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Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's decision to put heavy weapons at the disposal of the Rosgvardia (the Russian National Guard) may indicate that he views this structure as one of the main pillars of the regime's security.

Source: UK Defence Intelligence review on the Russian-Ukrainian war for 8 August, as reported by European Pravda

Reference: Rosgvardia has about 200,000 personnel and has existed in its current form since 2016, headed by Viktor Zolotov, Putin's former bodyguard.

On 4 August, Vladimir Putin signed a law allowing the provision of heavy weapons to Rosgvardia, and about a month before that, there was a mutiny by the Wagner Private Military Company (PMC).

UK Defence Intelligence emphasises that, despite Zolotov's statement that this structure performed "excellently" during the mutiny, there is no evidence that Rosgvardia took any effective action against Wagner, although this was exactly the kind of internal security threat that the organisation was created to respond to.

Quote: "With Zolotov previously suggesting that heavy equipment should include artillery and attack helicopters, the move suggests that the Kremlin is doubling down on resourcing Rosgvardia as one of the key organisations to ensure regime security," the review notes.

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The UK, Costa Rica, Italy, and Japan have expressed their deep concern over the criminal procedure launched by Russia against the prosecutor and judges of theInternational Criminal Court (ICC) in a joint statement released on Aug. 7.

Russia is targeting ICC prosecutor Karim A. A. Khan, as well as the following judges: Sergio Gerardo Ugalde Godinez, Rosario Salvatore Aitala, and Tomoko Akane.

Read also: Putin to skip BRICS summit in South Africa amid risk of arrest

"It is regrettable that Russia continues its attempt to undermine the mandate of the court, and we reiterate our unwavering commitment to stand firmly by the court, its officials and personnel, as well as those cooperating with it, together with other state parties," the statement reads.

The ICC is fully trusted by the aforementioned parties as an independent and impartial court of law" which means to protect the values and principles of the Rome Statute, "preserving the courts integrity undeterred by any threats."

Read also: Medvedev threatens ICC with hypersonic missile strike over Putin arrest warrant

Russia put the ICC prosecutor Khan on its "wanted persons list" on May 19 in apparent revenge for the international court's arrest warrant for Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.

The ICC expressed its deep concerns over "unreasonable and unjustified coercive measures" taken against ICC officials by the Russian authorities.

Khan had previously emphasized that the ICC possesses clear evidence that Putin bears criminal responsibility for the deportation of Ukrainian children from occupied Ukrainian territories starting from Feb. 24, 2022.

Russia put Akane on the "wanted list" on July 27 after he issued an arrest warrant for Putin and Russias childrens ombudsperson, Maria Lvova-Belova on March 17.

The Kremlin dictator can be arrested on the territory of 123 countries that have ratified the Rome Statute, said President Judge of the ICC Piotr Hofmanski.

Read also: ICC may issue another arrest warrant for Putin  Ukrainian intelligence

Russia signed the Rome statute, which governs the ICC, in 2000. Puttin withdrew Russia from the treaty in 2016, years after his invasions of Ukraine and Georgia.

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The U.K. Foreign Office announced a new sanctions package on Aug. 8 against individuals and companies outside Russia in an effort to curb Moscow's ability to obtain foreign military equipment.

The new sanctions target two Turkish businesses, Turkik Union and Azu International, for their role in exporting microelectronics components to Russia that are used for military purposes in Ukraine.

The list further includes Aeromotus Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Trading LLC, a company based in the United Arab Emirates, for its role in supplying drones and drone components to Russia.

The UK has also sanctioned 22 individuals for facilitating foreign military supplies for Moscow.

This includes a Slovak national Ashot Mkrtychev for his involvement in an attempted arms deal between North Korea and Russia, and a Swiss national Anselm Oskar Schkmucki for his role in Russias financial services sector, including through working as Chief of the Moscow office of DuLac Capital Ltd.

London's new sanctions further include Iranian individuals and entities involved in the research, development, and production of drones that are supplied to Russia, and Belarusian defense organizations linked to the manufacturing of military technology for the Belarusian military.

The U.K. is also sanctioning three Russian electronics companies for their role in procuring U.K.-sanctioned Western microelectronics.

As the U.K. Foreign Office noted, this is the largest U.K. action against Russia's military suppliers in third countries.

"Today's landmark sanctions will further diminish Russia's arsenal and close the net on supply chains propping up Putin's now struggling defense industry," said Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.

"Alongside our G7 partners, the UK has repeatedly called on third parties to immediately cease providing material support to Russias aggression or face severe costs."

Despite Western sanctions to curb Russia's ability to produce weaponry such as missiles or drones, Moscow has been reportedly circumventing them by procuring these components from third countries, such as Kyrgyzstan, Iran, or China.

According to the Yermak-McFaul Expert Group on Russian Sanctions, up to 81% of components found in Russian missiles originate in the U.S., followed by Switzerland (8%), Germany (3.5%), and Japan (3.5%).

Kyiv's allies including the U.S., the EU, and the U.K. previously vowed to crack down on the circumvention. The EU's 11th sanctions package was primarily aimed against Russia's ability to avoid Western sanctions.

Read also: Investigative Stories from Ukraine: Russia hits Ukraine with missiles that once belonged to Ukraine

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The government of Russia is warning residents to be on guard against phone scammers from Ukraine who trick elderly Russians into setting fire to military enlistment offices after a recent surge in such arson attacks around the country, state media reported Tuesday.

Moscows interior ministry issued a caution that a sharp increase in firebombings at registration offices were all linked by variations on the same scam, according to RIA Novosti. They not only steal the money of deceived Russians, but also try to involve them in committing sabotage and terrorist acts, the ministry said.

Desperate Russian Shoots Recruitment Officer Instead of Signing up to Fight in Ukraine

Since the end of July, over three dozen military registration and enlistment offices have gone up in flames around Russia, according to Meduza. Many of the people subsequently detained and accused of the attacks say they were duped by fraudsters who gave them instructions while claiming to be officers with Russias Federal Security Service (FSB).

According to the interior ministry, the scam typically works like this: Russian victims receive a phone call in which they are informed about suspicious banking transactions, or theyre invited to help Russian authorities stop criminals. The first phase of the grift then involves gaining access toand ultimately stealingthe victims money.

Once complete, the scammers shift to a second phase in which the victim is told of an opportunity either to get their money back, take revenge on the scammer who swiped their cash, or help law enforcement catch the fraudsters. At this stage, the ministry says the scammers goal is to push their easily influenced victims into crime.

Another option scammers allegedly use to convince their aged victims to do something even more extreme than hand their money over is to simply threaten the victim or the victims family with violence. But whatever the pretext, everything ends the same way, the ministry said. A demand to set fire to military, transport or banking infrastructure.

In one recent example, a 66-year-old supermarket cashier was detained last week after she was filmed setting fire to the door of a military enlistment office in St. Petersburg. She reportedly said shed been instructed to do so by someone who said they were from the security service who first began contacting her in May, eventually talking her into a scheme to help catch scammers. The woman was allegedly even taken by a taxi to a gas station where she bought materials to make a Molotov cocktail and told to disguise herself with a scarf and sunglasses before setting fire to the building.

The moment of the arson of the military registration and enlistment office in St. Petersburg.



an unknown girl approached the entrance to the building of the military commissariat on Angliysky Prospekt, put some kind of bundle at the door and set it on fire. After that, the girl pic.twitter.com/mUrDUZj6YX   paolo rel (@paolobucci18) August 2, 2023

State media reported that the ministry has seen fraudsters massively accelerate the use of the scam over the last weekwhich Russian authorities interpret as evidence of Ukraine turning to unusual tactics to undermine Moscow during Kyivs ailing counteroffensive. The Prosecutor Generals Office of Russia said the uptick in bogus calls coincided in time with the dates of the successful advance of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the zone of the special military operation, referring to the Kremlins favorite euphemism for the bloody war in Ukraine.

The prosecutor generals office further alleged that the scammers are being financed by organizations associated with the Kyiv regime. Regardless, Russian authorities warn that any Russian citizens who actually obey the scammers instructions face serious consequences themselves.

It should be taken into account that such acts related to arson, explosions, other deliberate destruction and damage to government facilities can be regarded as a terrorist act, the prosecutor generals office said. It also reminded citizens that Russian law enforcement agencies do not involve citizens in assistance through telephone conversations and do not fight crime in illegal ways.

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KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine has started work on alternative export opportunities for its grain crop by organising transshipments near the mouth of the Danube River, ports authorities said on Tuesday.

A major grain grower and exporter, Ukraine's 2023 grain output is seen at up to 55 million metric tons in 2023 versus from 53 million in 2022 and a record 86 million in 2021.

As it consumes only about 17 million tons per season Ukraine needs to export the remainder. However, a blockade of its major sea ports since Russia's invasion in February 2022 has impacted its ability to export.

The ports authority said on Facebook that the government had adopted a resolution to formally expand the boundaries of one of Ukraine's Danube ports.

"The document was supplemented with new geographical coordinates for the location of anchorages near the mouth of the Bystre, to organise roadside transshipment of grain cargo from the sea ports of Ust-Dunaisk and Izmail to Panamax vessels," the authority said.

The move makes it possible to transship cargo from one vessel to another when vessels are anchored rather than at the port berth.

In the 2022/23 season, most of Ukraine's grain was exported via deep Black Sea ports under a deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey.

However, Russia left the deal on July 17 after saying its demands to ease sanctions on its own grain and fertilizer exports had not been met.

That has left Ukraine with limited export options, mainly through small river ports on the Danube and via its western land border with the European Union.

Ordinarily about half of Ukrainian agricultural exports exits via Black Sea ports, a quarter through its Danube ports and a quarter via its western border.

The authority did not say how much the Danube transshipments might increase once the new scheme starts working.

(Reporting by Pavel Polityuk; editing by Jason Neely)
KYIV (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a video published on Tuesday that Ukraine would fight back against Russia in the Black Sea to ensure its waters were not blockaded and it could import and export grain and other goods.

The comments, published on the president's website, come days after Ukrainian maritime drones packed with explosives damaged a Russian warship near a major Russian port and struck a Russian tanker.

"If Russia continues to dominate the Black Sea, outside its territory, blockading or firing at us again, launching missiles at our ports, Ukraine will do the same. This is a just defence of our opportunities, of any corridor," Zelenskiy said.

"We don't have that many ships. But they should clearly understand that by the end of the war, they will have zero ships, zero."

He called on Russia to stop firing missiles and drones at Ukrainian ports and to allow trade to take place, in comments made at a briefing with reporters from Latin American countries.

It was not clear when the briefing at his office in Kyiv had taken place.

Tensions in and near the Black Sea have escalated since Russia last month withdrew from a deal allowing the safe export of grain from Ukrainian ports. Russian drones and missiles have repeatedly struck Ukrainian port facilities and grain silos.

Ukraine responded by launching sea-drone attacks on a Russian oil tanker and a Russian warship at its Novorossiysk naval base, next door to a major grain and oil port.

Russia blocked Ukrainian Black Sea ports at the start of its invasion in February 2022. The blockade is suffocating Ukraine economically as its pre-war economy was largely export-driven, with steel and grains as key exports.

(Reporting by Olena Harmash; editing by Tom Balmforth and Alex Richardson)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 8)  The United States is considering sending its students to nursing schools in the Philippines amid the shortage of programs and residency slots there, Malacanang said on Tuesday, citing a US lawmaker.

The Radio Television Malacanang (RTVM) said US Senator Tammy Duckworth shared that she discussed the possibility with the US Embassy in Manila.

The lawmaker made the disclosure when she met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during a courtesy call at Malacanan Palace.

Noting the number of Filipino nurses in the US and the quality of service they provide, Senator Duckworth opens about her talk with the US Embassy in the Philippines about the possibility of sending American students to nursing schools in the country, RTVM said, as it uploaded a short clip of Duckworths meeting with Marcos.

The Philippines is also facing its own set of problems regarding the nursing industry, including the exodus of Filipino workers due to low wages in the country.

RELATED: Herbosa to tackle nurses low pay after addressing workforce shortage

Earlier, the Commission on Higher Education also noted the need to produce more nursing teachers, saying it is developing a shorter master's program that would help achieve this.
Ukraine has accused Russian forces of aiming a double tap missile strike on the eastern city of Pokrovsk.

Seven people have died and a reported 88 have been injured in the event on Monday night that saw two blasts, forty minutes apart, in a residential area.

Kyiv has claimed Russias intention was for responders to arrive at the scene of the residential flats and then be hit by a second missile.

"All of (the police) were there because they were needed, putting their efforts into rescuing people after the first strike," Ivan Vyhivskyi, chief of Ukraine's National Police, said Tuesday.

"They knew that under the rubble were the injured  they needed to react, to dig, to retrieve, to save. And the enemy deliberately struck the second time."

This double tap tactic was used by Russia in its campaign in Syria.

Elsewhere, the US has announced the first of its promised Abram tanks will be in Ukraine in September to help bolster the countrys defence while Vladimir Putin has ordered more attack drones for Russia.

Key Points

Ukraine detains woman accused of spying on Zelensky for Russia

Independent TV: Ukraines First Lady Olena Zelenskas interview with Bel Trew

Ukraine and Russia confirm Kyiv hits Chonhar bridge to Crimea

Russian retaliation threat sees up to 70 air assault weapons used overnight

Volodymyr Zelensky condemns Russian attack on blood transfusion centre

Ukraine says Russia targeted rescue workers with a 'double tap' missile strike

14:15 , William Mata

Ukraine has said that the second of two missiles aimed at a residential area in Pokrovsk was intended to target rescue workers.

The dead in the Monday evening strikes in the city of Pokrovsk were five civilians, one rescuer and one soldier, Donetsk governor Pavlo Kyrylenko has said.

Dozens more were wounded, most of them police officers, emergency workers and soldiers who had rushed to the scene to assist residents.

Russia has since the start of the war aimed artillery and missiles at the exact same spot it struck around 30 minutes earlier, often hitting emergency workers who had deployed at the scene.

It is called a double tap in military jargon and a tactic the Russians also used in Syrias civil war.

All of (the police) were there because they were needed, putting their efforts into rescuing people after the first strike, Ivan Vyhivskyi, chief of Ukraines National Police, said Tuesday.

They knew that under the rubble were the injured  they needed to react, to dig, to retrieve, to save. And the enemy deliberately struck the second time.

(REUTERS)

Russia says it hit Ukrainian command post in Pokrovsk region - reports

13:50 , William Mata

Russias defence ministry on Tuesday said that the Kremlins forces had hit a Ukrainian command post in Pokrovsk, the Interfax news agency reported.

The eastern region was hit by missiles twice on Monday night, killing at least seven people and injuring 88. In the attack, flat blocks and apartments were destroyed.

It is understood that rescue efforts are continuing into Tuesday afternoon.

Communal workers clean an area at the site of an apartment building destroyed during a Russian missile strike (REUTERS)

Britain provides more detail on the sanctions it is giving out

13:30 , William Mata

Britain has said its 25 sanctions to Russian and Belarusian individuals will aim to stop Vladimir Putin accessing foreign military supplies.

Earlier on Tuesday, the foreign office said it was giving 19 Russian sanctions and six to Belarus in addition to those already in place.

The Foreign Office said those sanctioned include businesses based outside Russia but said to be supplying drones, microelectronics and attempting to supply arms to Russia.

Three Russian companies operating in the electronics sector have also been sanctioned, the department added.

British foreign secretary James Cleverly said: Todays landmark sanctions will further diminish Russias arsenal and close the net on supply chains propping up Putins now-struggling defence industry.

There is nowhere for those sustaining Russias military machine to hide.

Foreign secretary James Cleverly (PA Wire)

Death and injury toll update

13:10 , William Mata

Ukrainian authorities have said that the two explosions in Pokrovsk have now led to seven deaths and 88 injuries.

It had previously been reported by Ukrainian authorities that eight had died - but this figure had been widely downscaled by all reports to seven by Tuesday lunchtime.

Rescue efforts are continuing to be made.

(REUTERS)

Putin has equipped Russian guard with heavy weaponry - says UK

12:50 , William Mata

Russia has reportedly signed a law to allow the Russian National Guard to be equipped with heavy weaponry.

British intelligence has stated on Tuesday that the decision was made following the aborted Wagner mutiny - although it is disputed as to what role the Russian guard played in that incident.

President Putin signed into law a measure which will allow Rosgvardia, the Russian National Guard, to be equipped with heavy weaponry, the UK Ministry of Defence said on Twitter.

A sprawling organisation of up to 200,000 frontline personnel, Rosgvardia was created in its modern form in 2016 and is led by Putins former bodyguard Viktor Zolotov. The decision to strengthen the force follows the abortive Wagner mutiny of June 2023.

Despite Zolotovs claim that his force performed excellently during the mutiny, there is no evidence that Rosgvardia carried out any effective action against Wagner: exactly the sort of internal security threat it was designed to repress.

 With Zolotov previously suggesting that heavy equipment should include artillery and attack helicopters, the move suggests that the Kremlin is doubling down on resourcing Rosgvardia as one of the key organisations to ensure regime security.

This is the most difficult time of the war - Western allies say of Ukraine situation

12:41 , William Mata

Western officials are reportedly braced for what they consider to be the most difficult time of the war for Ukraine.

US representative Mike Quigley said our briefings are sobering, and that they remind us of the challenges we face.

This is the most difficult time of the war, he told reporters.

Theyre still going to see, for the next couple of weeks, if there is a chance of making some progress, an unnmaed diplomat told CNN.

But for them to really make progress that would change the balance of this conflict, I think, its extremely, highly unlikely.

Rescuers are at work near a damaged residential building following Russian missiles strikes in Pokrovsk (AFP via Getty Images)

Britain adds 19 Russian designations to sanctions list and six to Belarusian list

12:30 , William Mata

Britain has reportedly added almost 20 designations to its Russia sanctions list and six to its Belarus sanctions regime.

The government said on Tuesday that it would be adding the 19 Russian firms to the list and it has also released a new map showing that Ukraine is trying to push back.

The graphic, released via Twitter, has shown that Kyiv forces are pushing back in Orikhiv and Vuhledar.

The illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine is continuing.



The map below is the latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine  08 August 2023



Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/j92ICY6NCA#StandWithUkraine  pic.twitter.com/T9nW0B3lxD  Ministry of Defence  (@DefenceHQ) August 8, 2023

US announces first of its Abram tanks will arrive in Ukraine by September

12:30 , William Mata

The US has announced its first set of its Abram tanks will arrive in Ukraine by September.

Army acquisition chief Doug Bush said on Monday that the first shipment has been signed off - with the US having pledged in January it would send 31 Abrams to Ukraine.

Mr Bush said in a briefing: They have to get to Europe, and then to Ukraine, along with all of the things that go with them.

Ammunition, spare parts, fuel equipment, repair facilities. So you know, its not just the tanks, its the full package that goes with it. Thats still on track.

An Abram tank (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Russian students to get pro-Putin take on invasion in new school coursebook

12:10 , William Mata

Russian students will be reading a coursebook that praises Valdimir Putins invasion of Ukraine on their national curriculum when they return to school next month  as the Kremlin seeks to control the historial narrative around its war provided to young people.

The Kremlin is said to have ordered the rapid writing of the coursebooks, which will be aimed at 17-year-olds, with Ukraines Western allies seeking to make Moscow a global pariah over the invasion of its neighbour.

The full article is here.

Sergei Kravtsov, Russian education minister (AFP via Getty Images)

Zelensky makes statement on anniversary of conflict in Georgia

11:50 , William Mata

Volodymyr Zelensky has shared a video message on the 15h anniversary of the Russo-Georgian War.

In the five day conflict in 2008, Russia was able to set up bases in South Ossetia and Abkhazia .

Mr Zelensky tweeted: Every year on this day, the world remembers Russian aggression against Georgia.

Fifteen years have passed. The Russian occupation remains - this wound on the body of the Georgian state remains. Many words have already been said that if the world had been decisive back in 2008, many things would have been different.

Back then already Russia should have realised that the aggressor pays the highest price for aggression. It must definitely realise this now.

August 7. Every year on this day, the world remembers  aggression against . 15 years have passed. The Russian occupation remains - this wound on the body of the Georgian state remains. Many words have already been said that if the world had been decisive back in 2008, many pic.twitter.com/o4OWjVLiqA    (@ZelenskyyUa) August 7, 2023

Poland to send additional troops to Belarus border

11:30 , William Mata

Poland has committed to sendig additional troops to the border with Belarus, the countrys PAP news agency has reported on Tuesday.

Around 1,000 more personnel could be sent to counter attempts to cross the frontier illegally, the deputy interior minister told PAP.

Due to the dynamic situation on the Polish-Belarusian border... the Minister of National Defence ordered that the request be implemented and that additional soldiers be assigned to patrol the Polish-Belarusian border, a defence ministry statement read.

In recent weeks, soldiers from the Wagner mercenary group have appeared near the border.

Pictures: Rescues made in the rubble

11:10 , William Mata

Emergency services assess the damage (AP)

Responders check on a casualty (AFP via Getty Images)

Rescue workers attend the site (REUTERS)

A wounded woman is carried to an ambulance (UKRAINIAN EMERGENCY SERVICE/AFP)

Further details about missile attack in Pokrovsk

10:45 , William Mata

Here are the facts of the missile attack in Pokrovsk:

- Two missiles were fired into a residential area in Pokrovsk, in Donesk region to Ukraines east, on Monday night.

- The strikes came 40 minutes apart and a hotel as well as a residential flat block were hit directly while a pizzaria was also struck.

- President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia used Iskander ballistic missiles while it has also been reported that responders to the first blast were killed in the second.

- Interior minister Ihor Klymenko said seven people, including five civilians, were killed. But other reports have claimed that the death toll is now eight.

- As of Tuesday morning, emergency services have resumed attempting to clear the rubble.

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, rescuers work on the scene of a building damaged after Russian missile strikes in Pokrovsk (AP)

Accounts from the scene: My window fell on me'

10:23 , William Mata

Pokrovsk residents have shared their accounts of the Russian missile strike on a flat block which has killed two people and injured many more.

Among those killed in the second blast have been reported to be first responders to the initial one which struck 40 minutes or so before.

Kateryna, a 58-year-old resident of Pokrovsk, told Reuters: A flame filled up my eyes. I fell down on the floor, on the ground. My eyes (hurt) a lot.

Another resident, 75-year-old Lidia, said: Suddenly this [a curtain] flew out and wrapped me up. Then the window fell on me.

"My back has cuts. I just got back from the hospital... My knee and my thigh have cuts."

A wounded local resident is seen in her destroyed flat in an apartment building destroyed during a Russian missile strike (REUTERS)

Search continues for survivors in rubble after attack in Pokrovsk

10:09 , William Mata

Rescuers are searching for survivors amid the ruins afer Russian missiles hit a residential building in Pokrovsk, eastern Ukraine, on Monday.

Ukrainian Emergency Services were out in force on Tuesday morning to try and find any hope in the rubble after the attack which has killed at least eight people.

Pavlo Kyrylenko, head of Donetsk's military administration, said on Telegram that at least 67 people have been confirmed to be injured.

Today we are overwhelmed with pain, anger, tears, the Pokrovsk military administration wrote on Facebook.

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, rescuers work on the scene of a building damaged after Russian missile strikes in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region (AP)

Putin orders increased production of very effective drones

09:49 , William Mata

Vladimir Putin has ordered the increased production of kamikaze attack drones as the war escalates.

The Russian president was seen in television footage on Monday night asking the head of state-owned defence conglomerate Rostec to increase the number of these weapons.

Drone warfare is becoming an increasing part of the battle with Ukraine and Mr Putin is looking specifically for Kub and Lancet drones which have proved difficult for Kyiv forces to counter.

Mr Putin has called the drones very effective.

Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with Rostec state corporation CEO Sergei Chemezov in Moscow (via REUTERS)

At least eight dead after missile strike on flats in Pokrovsk

08:47 , William Mata

At least eight people have died and many more could be wounded after two Russian missile strikes on the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk.

Rescue efforts are currently ongoing and president Volodymyr Zelensky has commented that the flat block at the centre of it was an ordinary residential building.

A hotel that is popular with journalists covering the war was also hit as was a pizzeria.

Pokrovsk is 43 miles from Donetsk and 30 miles from the battle frontline.

Mr Zelensky tweeted: The city of Pokrovsk, Donetsk region. Donbas, from which Russia is trying to leave only broken and scorched stones. Two missile strikes. An ordinary residential building was hit.

Unfortunately, there are victims. Rescuers and all necessary services are on the scene. The rescue of people continues.

Pavlo Kyrylenko, the head of the Donetsk region, said the number wounded is now 31.

Among them are 19 police officers, five rescuers and one child, he added on Telegram.

The city of Pokrovsk, Donetsk region. Donbas, from which Russia is trying to leave only broken and scorched stones. Two missile strikes. An ordinary residential building was hit. Unfortunately, there are victims. Rescuers and all necessary services are on the scene. The rescue of pic.twitter.com/zsIA7dR6HR    (@ZelenskyyUa) August 7, 2023

Putin arming national guard to protect his regime, says UK MoD

07:06 , Arpan Rai

The Kremlin is likely bolstering its efforts to resource the Russian National Guard, Rosgvardia, with heavy weapons to built it as one of the key group to protect Vladimir Putins regime, the British Ministry of Defence said today.

It pointed to president Putin signed into law a measure which will allow Rosgvardia, the Russian National Guard, to be equipped with heavy weaponry last week.

A sprawling organisation of up to 200,000 frontline personnel, Rosgvardia was created in its modern form in 2016 and is led by Putins former bodyguard Viktor Zolotov. The decision to strengthen the force follows the abortive Wagner mutiny of June 2023, the ministry pointed out.

It added: Despite Zolotovs claim that his force performed excellently during the mutiny, there is no evidence that Rosgvardia carried out any effective action against Wagner: exactly the sort of internal security threat it was designed to repress.

With Zolotov previously suggesting that heavy equipment should include artillery and attack helicopters, the move suggests that the Kremlin is doubling down on resourcing Rosgvardia as one of the key organisations to ensure regime security, the MoD said in its latest intelligence update.

Ukrainian foreign minister requests tactical ballistic missiles from US

07:01 , Andy Gregory

Ukraines foreign minister has requested ATACMS long-range missiles from the United States.

Dmytro Kuleba said on Monday that he made the request for the tactical ballistic missiles, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, during a phone call with his US counterpart Antony Blinken

In our call, [Mr Blinken] and I discussed further steps to broaden global support for the Peace Formula and solutions to expand grain exports, Mr Kuleba wrote on social media.

I thanked the U.S. for all the assistance provided and stressed the need to enhance Ukraines long-range capabilities by providing ATACMS.

Ukrainian lost a lot of men early in counter-offensive, says commander

06:28 , Arpan Rai

A lot of men deployed by Ukraines marines were killed in the early days of the countrys anticipated counter-offensive, a battalion commander said.

Oleksandr, 28, the battalion commander of the 37th Marine Brigade confirmed to the New York Times that he lost a lot.

He added that some of the newly added men in the brigade are mentally broken, confirming the massive toll of the continuing Russian invasion of Ukraine.

After building up its arsenal in spring and some of Summer, Ukraine fired its first stage of counter-offensive to throw Russian forces out of its territory in eastern and southern areas.

While Ukraine does not publish figures for its losses, a Western official had claimed that Kyiv had suffered more than 100,000 casualties since the start of the war.

US says Chinas presence at Jeddah talks is productive

06:03 , Andy Gregory

The United States has said it was productive that China attended talks in Saudi Arabia aimed at laying the groundwork for a peaceful settlement of Russias war in Ukraine.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters that US national security adviser Jake Sullivan and deputy secretary of state Victoria Nuland held a brief separate meeting with Chinas special envoy for Eurasian affairs and former ambassador to Russia, Li Hui, at the talks in Jeddah.

Russias foreign ministry has criticised the talks as not having the slightest added value because Moscow was not invited.

Ukraine detains woman accused of spying on Zelensky for Russia

05:06 , Arpan Rai

Ukraines domestic intelligence agency said that it had detained a woman who it accused of gathering information about President Volodymyr Zelenskys itinerary ahead of a trip and also trying to pass information about military facilities to Russia.

The Ukrainian security service SBU did not give the name of the alleged agent. A dark-haired woman in a black-and-white dress surrounded by two servicemen was seen in a picture published by the agency. All of the faces in the image were blurred.

The suspect was arrested in the southern Ukrainian port city of Mykolaiv, the security service said. Mr Zelensky last visited the city on July 27, his media channel reported.

The SBU also accused the alleged agent of trying to establish the locations of Ukrainian electronic warfare systems and ammunition depots near the port town of Ochakiv, 30 miles (48 km) from Mykolaiv.

Members of the SBU caught the traitor red-handed when she was trying to pass intelligence to the invaders, the SBU said, adding that additional security measures were taken during the presidential visit.

The woman is from Ochakiv and used to work at an army store selling goods to soldiers at one of the local Ukrainian military units, the SBU said. A court approved her arrest and, if convicted, she would face a prison term for up to 12 years, according to the statement.

ICYMI: Russias torture chambers in Kherson tip of the iceberg, investigators warn

05:06 , Andy Gregory

Harrowing new accounts of Ukrainians being tortured during Russias eight-month occupation of Kherson are just the tip of the iceberg, an international team investigating the alleged war crimes has warned.

The acts described by those detained in dozens of makeshift detention centres  including the use of sexual violence as a common tactic among Russian guards, and genital electrocution  are evocative of genocide, the team of lawyers and prosecutors said this week.

The UNs special rapporteur on torture, Dr Alice Jill Edwards, told The Independent that similarities in the accounts of victims across several different regions of Ukraine expose a deeper concern that torture and intimidation are a policy and strategy of the Russian state.

You can read the full report here:

Inside Russias torture chambers as investigators warn Kherson tip of iceberg

US to send Kyiv first $200m of arms freed by $6.2bn accounting error

04:18 , Arpan Rai

Joe Bidens administration will announce $200m (156m) of new weapons aid for Ukraine as soon as today, US officials told Reuters.

The tranche is coming out of $6.2bn (4.8bn) of funds discovered in an accounting error by Pentagon which over-valued billions of Ukraine aid, two US officials said.

Washington is currently working on a supplemental budget request to continue to aid Kyiv, the U.S officials said.

This will be the first tranche of the $6.2bn windfall of previously authorised Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), the officials said.

Washington is packing mine clearing equipment, TOW and AT4 anti-tank weapons, guns and ammunition, air defense interceptors made by Lockheed Martin Corp for the Patriot system, Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets and Javelin anti-tank missiles made by a joint venture between Lockheed and RTX Corp, along with other equipment in this tranche of military aid.

Ukraine needs weaponry that can be shipped from US stocks in a matter of days or weeks so it can keep up its fight to repel Russias invasion - the accounting error worked to Kyivs benefit because more equipment can be sent.

How to watch Independent TV on your smart TV

04:02 , Andy Gregory

You can now watch The Independents documentary about Ukraine, Body in the Woods, and our exclusive interview with Ukraines first lady Olena Zelenska on your smart TV:

How to download the Independent TV onto your smart TV

Survivors describe fiery blasts in Donetsk that killed 8

03:51 , Arpan Rai

Survivors in a deadly Russian missiles attack that struck the centre of Ukraines Pokrovsk said they heard a bang during twin strikes which left them with multiple injuries.

A 58-year-old resident of Pokrovsk, Kateryna, was at her home when she heard the first blast and thought that the attack spared her.

She even told someone who called to check on her that she was alright but at this moment the place was hit for the second time.

Thats it, bang  and thats all. A flame filled up my eyes. I fell down on the floor, on the ground. My eyes (hurt) a lot, Ms Kateryna said pointing at multiple scratches around her eyes. She had bandages on her forehead.

Another resident, 75-year-old Lidia, said she was also on the phone at the moment of the second blast. She had picked up from the floor a torn white curtain covered with broken glass.

Suddenly this flew out and wrapped me up. Then the window fell on me, she said sitting on her sofa.

My back has cuts. I just got back from the hospital My knee and my thigh have cuts. I had glass here, she said pointing at her head.

The death toll includes five civilians, two rescuers and one military person. Officials said the second missile hit the Ukraine-controlled town near the frontline 40 minutes after the first. The explosion killed and injured first responders, witnesses said.

Nineteen police officers wounded in Russian missile strikes, officials say

03:10 , Andy Gregory

Nineteen police officers are among 31 people wounded in Russian missile strikes which have killed at least five people, according to Ukrainian officials.

Two Russian missile strikes hit the city centre of the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk in the eastern Donetsk region on Monday, officials said.

Ukraines interior minister Ihor Klymenko said one of the strikes killed four civilians, and the other killed the deputy head of the regional branch of Ukraines State Emergency Service.

At least 31 people  including 19 policemen, five rescuers and one child - have been wounded in the attack, Mr Klymenko said. The strikes damaged a hotel, residential buildings and other civilian structures, according to Donetsk governor Pavlo Kyrylenko.

Video report: Moment Russian drone nearly hits Ukrainian evacuation car

02:11 , Andy Gregory

Zelensky hails prisoner swap freeing 22 Ukrainians

01:05 , Andy Gregory

Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky has celebrated the return of 22 Ukrainian troops in a prisoner swap with Russia, some of whom are wounded.

The 20 soldiers and sergeants, and two officers, were captured in different areas of the front, Mr Zelensky said in his nightly address, adding: We will do everything to bring back to Ukraine all our people who are now in Russian captivity. We remember everyone and are looking for everyone on the list of missing persons.

He added that every Ukrainian who captures Russian troops on the frontline speeds up freedom for Ukrainians, saying: It is important to remember this.

Watch: Ukraines First Lady criticises other countries for circumventing Russian sanctions

Tuesday 8 August 2023 00:08 , Andy Gregory

Belarus begins military exercises near border with Poland and Lithuania

Monday 7 August 2023 23:14 , Andy Gregory

Belarus has initiated military exercises close to its border with Poland and Lithuania, amid existing tensions with the two Nato powers over Minsks decision to host Wagner mercenaries.

Both Poland and Lithuania have increased border security since thousands of Wagner fighters arrived in Belarus, with the leaders of both nations warning last week at a meeting near the Suwalki Gap  a region close to their nations borders with Belarus and Russia  that they are braced for further provocations.

The Belarusian defence ministry said the drills that began on Monday are based on experiences from Russias so-called special military operation in Ukraine, and includes the use of drones as well as the close interaction of tank and motorised rifle units with units of other branches of the armed forces.

The war games were taking place near the Suwalki Gap.

UK government echoes frustrations of Ukraines first lady on sanctions intervention

Monday 7 August 2023 22:32 , Andy Gregory

The UK government echoes the frustrations of Ukraines first lady over sanctions-busting efforts by Russian allies, a spokesperson for the foreign secretary has said.

To combat Putins regime the world must impose hefty sanctions, and terminate the possibility of circumventing these sanctions, Olena Zelenska told Independent TV from the heart of the presidential compound in Kyiv, in an interview now available to watch in full here.

The foreign secretary, James Cleverly, immediately backed the first ladys call. A spokesman for Mr Cleverly told The Independent that the assessment the government has echoes the frustrations the first lady has expressed about the use of third countries to circumvent sanctions.

Foreign Office fury at sanctions-busting by Russian allies  after Zelenskas plea

In pictures: Residential building in Donetsk hit by Russian missiles

Monday 7 August 2023 22:00 , Maanya Sachdeva

A view shows a building destroyed during a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, Ukraine (via REUTERS)

A view shows a building destroyed during a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, Ukraine (via REUTERS)

A view shows a building destroyed during a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, Ukraine (via REUTERS)

Exclusive: Ukraines children losing the will to live, First Lady says

Monday 7 August 2023 21:30 , Maanya Sachdeva

From inside the heavily-guarded Ukraine presidential compound in Kyiv, First Lady Olena Zelenska has spoken in a rare and wide ranging interview with The Independents Chief International Correspondent Bel Trew.

During their discussion Mrs Zelenska blasted countries for circumventing Russian sanctions, saying the conflict in her nation will drag on endlessly until Russias ability to wage war is stopped.

She also warned Ukraines children are losing the will to live in an emotional plea for help, as she spoke of the struggle to retrieve the children disappeared into Russia.

Watch the full interview here:

Ukraines First Lady Olena Zelenskas interview with Bel Trew

Exclusive: Foreign Office to act over Ukraine first ladys plea on sanctions

Monday 7 August 2023 21:11 , Andy Gregory

The government is reviewing its sanctions on Russia after a dramatic intervention from Ukraines first lady Olena Zelenska condemning loopholes that allow Moscow to fund its invasion.

The Foreign Office has expressed its fury over sanctions-busting efforts by Russian allies to use a third country to continue trading with Moscow despite the hefty economic measures imposed since Russian president Vladimir Putin launched his invasion.

The government is weighing how it can act and hopes to move imminently, The Independent can reveal, after Ukraines first lady made the plea in an interview with Independent TV, which you can watch here.

My colleagues Kate Devlin and Bel Trew have the full story here:

Foreign Office fury at sanctions-busting by Russian allies  after Zelenskas plea

US Justice Department helping Ukraine in war crimes investigations

Monday 7 August 2023 21:00 , Maanya Sachdeva

The US Justice Department is cooperating with the International Criminal Court and supporting Ukrainian prosecutors carrying out war crime investigations, Attorney General Merrick Garland said Monday as he reaffirmed his departments aid more than a year after the Russian invasion.

Congress recently allowed for new US flexibility in assisting the court with investigations into foreign nationals related to Ukraine, and the Justice Department will be a key part of the United States cooperation, Garland highlighted.

We are not waiting for the hostilities to end before pursuing justice and accountability, he said in a speech to the American Bar Association in Denver.

We are working closely with our international partners to gather evidence and build cases so that we are ready when the time comes to hold the perpetrators accountable, he added.

He appointed a prosecutor to serve at a center opened last month in The Hague to support nations building cases against senior Russian leaders for the crime of aggression.

International Center for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression will not issue indictments or arrest warrants for suspects but will instead support investigations already underway in Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

The Justice Department is giving wide-ranging assistance to Ukraine, from training on prosecuting environmental crimes to help developing a secure electronic case-management system for more than 90,000 suspected atrocity crimes.

Garland also touted the $500 million seized assets and over three dozen indictments the department has handed down to enforce sanctions.

Ukraine must do three things simultaneously: it must fight a war; it must investigate war crimes; and it must ensure that a just society comes out on the other side of the war, he said.

The Justice Department is honored to stand with them.

Ukraine says Russian missile strikes on apartment buildings kill five in east

Monday 7 August 2023 20:12 , Maanya Sachdeva

Two Russian missile strikes killed five people and injured 31 when they hit residential buildings in the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region, Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said on Monday.

Videos and pictures released by Ukrainian officials showed people sorting through the rubble including a badly damaged five-story apartment building. An ambulance was on the scene treating the wounded.

According to Klymenko, four civilians died in the first attack and Donetsk emergency official was killed during the second attack.

Facade of the residential apartment that was hit by Russian rockets on Monday (Ihor Klymenko/Telegram (obtained by Kyiv Independent))

Search and rescue operations were ongoing, Klymenko said.

Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraines presidential administration, later reported two more victims of Russian strikes in Kruhliakivka village in Kupiansk district.

Russia blasts peace talks in Saudi Arabia as pointless

Monday 7 August 2023 20:07 , Maanya Sachdeva

Russias foreign ministry on Monday criticised efforts by international officials meeting in Saudi Arabia to find a peaceful settlement for the war in Ukraine, saying the talks dont have the slightest added value because Moscow - unlike Kyiv - was not invited.

Senior officials from around 40 countries gathered on Sunday in Jeddah for a two-day meeting that aims to agree on key principles about how to end the conflict that has raged for more than 17 months.

But without Russias participation and without taking into account Moscows interests, the meeting was pointless, a Russian Foreign Ministry statement said.

It repeated previous assurances that Russia is open to a diplomatic solution on its terms that ends the war and is ready to respond to serious proposals.

Let's make this clear. Any scenario of a ceasefire and freezing of the war in Ukraine in the current disposition will mean only one thing - Russia's actual victory and Putin's personal triumph. International law will ultimately lose any force, and the "law of the jungle" will be    (@Podolyak_M) August 7, 2023

But Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, ruled out Moscows previous demands that would give Russia time to dig in deeper in the parts of Ukraine it has occupied.

He said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Russian forces must fully withdraw from the occupied areas and there would be no Kyiv compromise on that.

Restaurant frequented by journalists was target of Donetsk attacks'

Monday 7 August 2023 19:35 , Maanya Sachdeva

A Ukrainian journalist, Denys Kazansky has shared more footage from outside the residential building that was hit by Russian rockets in the eastern city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk.

He claimed Corleone, a restaurant on the ground floor of the apartment complex, was the target since it was frequented by journalists and volunteers.

At least 2 dead civilians in Pokrovsk



There was "Corleone" restaurant on the ground floor of the house that was hit by the rocket. Volunteers and journalists often visit it. It was the target



Russians repeated what they did in Kramatorsk, where they bombed RIO cafe with people pic.twitter.com/5pkZy1HVxs    (@den_kazansky) August 7, 2023

Two dead after Russian missiles hit residential building in east Ukraine, Kyiv says

Monday 7 August 2023 19:09 , Maanya Sachdeva

Two people were killed in two Russian missile strikes on a residential building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk region, Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraines presidential administration, said on Monday.

As of now, it is known about two dead people - a woman and a man. The four wounded were taken away by an ambulance. Rescuers and medics are working, Yermak said in his Telegram channel.

There are victims: Russian missiles hit residential building in Donetsk

Monday 7 August 2023 18:51 , Maanya Sachdeva

Two Russian missile strikes hit a residential building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday.

He wrote on his Telegram channel: Two missile strikes. An ordinary residential building was hit. Unfortunately, there are victims.

Rescuers and all necessary services are on the scene. The rescue of people continues.

Kyiv troops hold initiative over Putins forces on frontline

Monday 7 August 2023 18:26 , Maanya Sachdeva

Ukrainian troops are creating conditions to advance forward step-by-step and have the initiative on the battlefield, Ukraines commander-in-chief said on Monday.

Kyivs defensive lines are stable with troops repelling Russian attempts to counter-attack and distract Ukrainian forces from other parts of the front, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app.

Heavy fighting is underway, and step-by-step, Ukrainian troops are continuing to create the conditions to advance. The initiative is on our side, Zaluzhnyi said after a telephone call with US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Mark Milley.

Ukraine launched a counteroffensive at the start of the summer, attempting to retake swathes of territory captured by Russia in the south and east of the country.

Officials have brushed aside criticism that they are advancing slowly, saying they are trying to avoid high casualties as they attack well-fortified Russian lines that are strewn with landmines.

ICYMI: Ukraine: Moment camera operator runs for safety during shelling in Donetsk

Monday 7 August 2023 17:31 , Eleanor Noyce

Point-of-view footage shows the moment a camera operator had to run for cover during what a Russian official said was Ukrainian shelling on Russian-controlled Donetsk in eastern Ukraine on Saturday, 5 August.

The camera was following firefighters as they approached a university building in the city, which was burning after what Russian-installed mayor Alexei Kulemzin called a Ukrainian attack.

Moments later, a loud blast is heard and the camera operator runs away whilst crouching down.

Kulemzin said initial reports indicated the cause of the fire was an attack by Ukrainian forces using cluster munitions - this has not been independently verified.

Ukraine: Moment camera operator runs for safety during shelling in Donetsk

Ukraine says Jeddah talks 'huge blow' to Russia, new meeting agreed

Monday 7 August 2023 17:05 , Eleanor Noyce

A senior Ukrainian official said on Monday that the weekends talks in Saudi Arabia about the war in Ukraine dealt a huge blow to Russia, and that the participants agreed to hold another meeting of political advisers within about six weeks.

More than 40 countries, including China, India, the United States, and European countries, but not Russia, took part in the talks that were seen as an attempt by Kyiv to build a broader coalition of powers to support its vision of peace.

We will hold another meeting within a month, month-and-a-half and we will move towards (holding) a summit, presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak told reporters at a briefing in Kyiv.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has promoted a set of 10 principles that Kyiv wants to serve as the basis for peace to end the full-scale war launched by Moscow in February 2022.

The principles include the withdrawal of all Russian troops and the return of all Ukrainian territory to its control.

Yermak said all the countries present at the talks in Jeddah fully supported Ukrainian independence and territorial integrity, and that only peace initiatives put forward by Ukraine were discussed at the meeting.

Ukrainian troops creating conditions to advance - commander-in-chief

Monday 7 August 2023 16:45 , Eleanor Noyce

Ukrainian troops are creating conditions to advance forward step-by-step and have the initiative on the battlefield, Ukraines commander-in-chief Valeriy Zaluzhnyi said on Monday.

Zaluzhnyi also said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app that the Ukrainian defence was stable with troops repelling Russian attempts to counter-attack and distract Ukrainian forces from other areas of the front.

China tells Russia it will uphold 'impartial' position on Ukraine

Monday 7 August 2023 16:30 , Eleanor Noyce

Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in a phone conversation on Monday that China would uphold an independent and impartial position on Ukraine as it strives to find a political settlement to the issue.

Wangs comments to Lavrov were announced in a Foreign Ministry statement on Monday that said China would be an objective and rational voice at any international multilateral forums and actively promote peace talks. The statement came after the ministry said earlier on Monday that international talks in Saudi Arabia at the weekend on finding a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine crisis had helped to consolidate international consensus.

More than 40 countries, including China, India, the United States and European countries, but not Russia, took part in the Jeddah talks that ended on Sunday.

China sent its Special Envoy for Eurasian Affairs and former ambassador to Russia, Li Hui, who in May toured six European capitals to try to find common ground for an eventual political settlement of the conflict, now in its 18th month.

Beijing has refused to condemn Moscow for the invasion of Ukraine it launched in February 2022. It has offered its own peace plan, which received a lukewarm response in both Russia and Ukraine, while the United States and NATO were sceptical.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi poses as he meets Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, 26 July 2023 (via REUTERS)

Russia blasts Saudi Arabia talks on ending war in Ukraine after Moscow gets no invitation to attend

Monday 7 August 2023 16:15 , Eleanor Noyce

Russias Foreign Ministry on Monday chided efforts by international officials meeting in Saudi Arabia to find a peaceful settlement for the war in Ukraine, saying the talks dont have the slightest added value because Moscow  unlike Kyiv  wasnt invited.

Senior officials from around 40 countries gathered Sunday in Jeddah for a two-day meeting that aims to agree on key principles about how to end the conflict that has raged for more than 17 months.

Read more:

Russia blasts Saudi Arabia talks on ending war in Ukraine after Moscow gets no invitation to attend

Ex-FBI agent accused of working for Russian oligarch may change plea

Monday 7 August 2023 16:05 , Eleanor Noyce

A former FBI agent accused by U.S. prosecutors of working for sanctioned Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska may change his plea in relation to criminal charges of evading U.S. sanctions and money laundering, court records showed on Monday.

Charles McGonigal had previously pleaded not guilty. A change of plea hearing before U.S. District Judge Jennifer Rearden in Manhattan has been scheduled for 15 August.

McGonigals lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesman for the U.S. Attorneys office in Manhattan, which brought the case, declined to comment.

Prosecutors in January said McGonigal, who led the FBIs counterintelligence division in New York before retiring in 2018, received concealed payments from Deripaska in exchange for investigating a rival oligarch and unsuccessfully pushed in 2019 to lift U.S. sanctions on Deripaska.

The charges against McGonigal came as U.S. prosecutors ramped up efforts to enforce sanctions on Russian officials and police their alleged enablers in response to the invasion of Ukraine.

Deripaska, the founder of Russian aluminum company Rusal , was among two dozen Russian oligarchs and government officials blacklisted by Washington in 2018 in reaction to Russias alleged meddling in the 2016 U.S. election.

He and the Kremlin have denied any election interference.

Japan raises concerns over Iran's nuclear enrichment and drone supplies to Russia for Ukraine war

Monday 7 August 2023 16:00 , Eleanor Noyce

Japan expressed concern on Monday over Irans advancing uranium enrichment program and the Middle East countrys suspected supplying of combat drones to Moscow for Russias war on Ukraine.

Japans Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi raised the two issues during talks with his visiting Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amirabdollahian, the foreign ministry in Tokyo said. A statement from the ministry said Hayashi appealed for Iran to act constructively in the matter but did not elaborate.

Read more:

Japan raises concerns over Iran's nuclear enrichment and drone supplies to Russia for Ukraine war

Ukraine says Jeddah peace talks 'huge blow' to Russia, new meeting agreed

Monday 7 August 2023 15:49 , Eleanor Noyce

The Ukrainian presidents chief of staff said on Monday that talks about the Ukraine war in Saudi Arabia at the weekend dealt a huge blow to Russia, and that the participants agreed to hold another meeting of political advisers within about six weeks.

Andriy Yermak told a briefing in Kyiv that no other peace initiatives were discussed at the meeting in Jeddah apart from Ukraines, and that all countries present at the talks had fully supported Ukrainian independence and territorial integrity.

Chief of Staff of Ukrainian Presidential Office Andriy Yermak speaks during a press conference, 29 June 2023 (REUTERS)

China's foreign minister Wang Yi holds call with Russian counterpart - ministry

Monday 7 August 2023 15:45 , Eleanor Noyce

Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday spoke with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on the phone, the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement.

On the Ukraine crisis, Wang told Lavrov that China will uphold an independent and impartial position, actively promote peace talks and strive to find a political settlement to the issue, according to the statement.

Russian leftist dissident critical of war designated a "terrorist"

Monday 7 August 2023 15:30 , Eleanor Noyce

Prominent Russian sociologist and leftist political activist Boris Kagarlitsky was designated a terrorist on Monday, weeks after being arrested under an article that forbids public calls for terrorist activities using the Internet.

Since starting the war in February 2022, Russia has made it a crime to discredit its armed forces and cracked down on those who oppose what it calls a special military operation in Ukraine.

Kagarlitsky, 64, known as a dissident since Soviet times, has repeatedly spoken out against the war in a magazine he edited and on his YouTube channel.

Kagarlitsky, who teaches at the private Moscow Higher School of Social and Economic Sciences, had already been designated a foreign agent since 2018, and on Monday he appeared on a list of registered terrorists on the website of Russias Federal Financial Monitoring Service.

He was detained last month by the FSB security service and remanded in custody for two months in the city of Syktyvkar, 1,000 km (620 miles) northeast of Moscow.

Polish Border Guard asks for 1,000 more soldiers on Belarus frontier

Monday 7 August 2023 15:10 , Eleanor Noyce

Polands Border Guard has asked the defence ministry to send another 1,000 troops to the border with Belarus, the deputy interior minister said on Monday, amid an increase in attempts to illegally cross the frontier.

The head of the Border Guard, Tomasz Praga, said this year 19,000 people had tried to cross the Polish-Belarusian border illegally, up from 16,000 last year.

The general (Praga) asked to move another 1,000 soldiers to the Polish-Belarusian border, Deputy Interior Minister Maciej Wasik said.

Poland has built a face on the border with Belarus, equipped with electronic protection.

In recent weeks, soldiers from the Wagner mercenary group have appeared near the border, which, according to Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, is aimed at destabilising the situation on NATOs eastern flank.

End of war only possible if Kyiv lays down arms, Russia says

Monday 7 August 2023 15:00 , Maanya Sachdeva

Russia has said the end of the war in Ukraine is only possible if Kyiv stopped the hostilities and terrorist attacks and western countries ceased supplying arms, according to a report.

Moscow was commenting on the two-day talks held in Jeddah over the weekend, when over 40 countries came together to discuss the peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict.

According to The Guardian, foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said: The original foundations of Ukraines sovereignty  its neutral, non-aligned and non-nuclear status  must be confirmed.

Russia also called on Ukraine to cede its occupied territories to Moscow, as per AFP.

Ukraine MP says key German lawmakers reach consensus on long-range missile supply

Monday 7 August 2023 14:45 , Eleanor Noyce

A senior Ukrainian lawmaker said on Monday that key parliamentary factions in Germany had reached a consensus to supply Ukraine with Taurus cruise missiles with a range of 500 km (310 miles) but that an official decision was yet to come.

Germanys defence minister said last week Berlin does not plan to supply the missiles for now and that the weapons are not the most urgent priority. A ministry spokesperson told Reuters on Monday that Berlins position had not changed.

However Yehor Chernev, a lawmaker who heads Ukraines delegation at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, said: My friends in the Bundestag just told me that key parliamentary factions have reached consensus regarding the transfer to Ukraine of long-range Taurus missiles.

Weve worked for a long time with German parliamentarians to form a support group and now finally the ice has broken. We await an official decision, he wrote on Facebook.

Ukraine is hoping to secure long-range weapons from the West to strike back at Russia which has used an array of missiles fired from hundreds of kilometres away to wreak damage on its infrastructure.

Russian informant detained over Zelensky assassination plot, Kyiv says

Monday 7 August 2023 14:44 , Eleanor Noyce

A Russian informant has been detained over a plot to assassinate Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, Kyiv has said.

The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) said it has detained a Russian informant who was preparing a Russian airstrike in the Mykolaiv region during the visit of the President of Ukraine.

The alleged informant on the eve of the recent trip of the President of Ukraine to Mykolaiv region, was gathering intelligence about the planned visit, the service said, referencing a trip Zelensky made to the region in July.

In a statement, the SBU said that the individual tried to establish the time and list of locations of the approximate route of the Head of State in the territory of the region, but agents had obtained information about the subversive activities of the suspect and subsequently introduced additional security measures.

Monitoring the communications of the woman - who has not been named, but is understood to be a resident of Ochakov in southern Ukraine - the service established that she had been tasked with locating electronic warfare systems and warehouses with ammunition of the armed forces.

The individual allegedly travelled around the district and filmed the locations of Ukrainian objects.

Zelensky attends an event on the Day of Ukrainian Statehood held on Mykhailivska Square in downtown Kyiv, Ukraine, 28 July 2023 (EPA)

Intense defensive and offensive operations underway on front line, Zelensky says

Monday 7 August 2023 14:30 , Maanya Sachdeva

Ukrainian president Volodymr Zelensky has said intense defensive and offensive operations are underway on the front line, as the war enters a pivotal, new phase on the 530th day since Russia launched a special military operation in the country.

Zelensky shared updates from his daily conference call with ministers on the situation in Ukraine, where at least three people were killed after Moscow launched a multi-wave overnight assault in retaliation for attacks on its naval vessels in the Black Grain sea last week.

Writing on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Zelensky said: We heard a report from Commander-in-Chief Zaluzhny on the situation at the front. Intense defensive and offensive operations are underway.

The daily conference call.



We heard a report from Commander-in-Chief Zaluzhny on the situation at the front. Intense defensive and offensive operations are underway.



The Ministry of Defense reported on the supply of equipment and ammunition, as well as the supply calendar for pic.twitter.com/7SlGd4lR1w    (@ZelenskyyUa) August 7, 2023

He also reported we understand the enemys immediate plans, noting that he had received data from Russia that was provided by the Main Intelligence Directorate and the Foreign Intelligence Service.

What Ukraines First Lady Olena Zelenska wants the world to know

Monday 7 August 2023 14:00 , Eleanor Noyce

In a rare interview the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, has spoken to Independent TV about her work rebuilding Ukraine in the middle of war, the pressures on her family and concerns for the future of her country.

From the presidential palace, she told The Independents Bel Trew about the need to reconstruct cities despite the fighting raging on, about building cutting-edge facilities to treat the countrys war-wounded and fighting stigma on trauma around the country.

Watch the full interview on Independent TV, across mobile and connected TV from Monday 7 August.

What Ukraines First Lady Olena Zelenska wants the world to know

Ukraine: Moment camera operator runs for safety during shelling in Donetsk

Monday 7 August 2023 13:30 , Eleanor Noyce

Point-of-view footage shows the moment a camera operator had to run for cover during what a Russian official said was Ukrainian shelling on Russian-controlled Donetsk in eastern Ukraine on Saturday, 5 August.

The camera was following firefighters as they approached a university building in the city, which was burning after what Russian-installed mayor Alexei Kulemzin called a Ukrainian attack.

Moments later, a loud blast is heard and the camera operator runs away whilst crouching down.

Kulemzin said initial reports indicated the cause of the fire was an attack by Ukrainian forces using cluster munitions - this has not been independently verified.

Watch:

Ukraine: Moment camera operator runs for safety during shelling in Donetsk

Russia attacks eastern Ukraine over 9,000 times in recent days, deputy defence minister says

Monday 7 August 2023 13:06 , Eleanor Noyce

Kyiv has pushed back Putins forces around Bakhmut despite continuous artillery fire, Ukraine has said.

Hanna Maliar, the deputy minister of defence of Ukraine, said that Russia has attacked eastern Ukraine over 9,000 times in recent days.

The enemy spent almost half a million rounds of ammunition in the East last week alone, Ms Maliar said, adding that our fighters continued offensive operations on the Bakhmut front under such continuous artillery fire.

The news comes as Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that advanced air defence systems, including the US-built Patriot and Germanys IRIS-T, were proving highly effective and had already yielded significant results.

Zelensky said Ukraine had shot down a significant part of Moscows attacks over the past week, which included 65 missiles of various kinds and 178 assault drones, including 87 Shaheds - despite waves of Russian air strikes that Kyiv says targeted residential buildings and civilians, leaving some dead.

Kyiv struck and damaged the Chonhar road bridge linking mainland Ukraine to Russian-occupied Crimea and a smaller bridge linking the town of Henichesk with the peninsulas northeast coast on Sunday, Moscow-appointed officials and Ukraines armed forces said.

Why did Russia invade Ukraine?

Monday 7 August 2023 13:00 , Eleanor Noyce

Russias special military operation in Ukraine has been raging for one year now as the conflict continues to record devastating casualties and force the mass displacement of millions of blameless Ukrainians.

Vladimir Putin began the war by claiming Russias neighbour needed to be demilitarised and de-Nazified, a baseless pretext on which to launch a landgrab against an independent state that happens to have a Jewish president in Volodymyr Zelensky.

Read more:

Heres why Putin really invaded Ukraine

ICYMI: Russias war with Ukraine has generated its own fog, and mis- and disinformation are everywhere

Monday 7 August 2023 12:30 , Eleanor Noyce

On the battlefields of Ukraine, the fog of war plagues soldiers. And far from the fighting, a related and just as disorienting miasma afflicts those who seek to understand whats happening in the vast war.

Disinformation, misinformation and absent information all cloud civilians understanding. Officials from each side denounce devious plots being prepared by the enemy, which never materialize. They claim victories that cant be confirmed  and stay quiet about defeats.

Jim Heintz has more:

Russia's war with Ukraine has generated its own fog, and mis- and disinformation are everywhere

In pictures: Serhiy Prytula crowdfunds for Ukrainian military

Monday 7 August 2023 12:06 , Eleanor Noyce

Serhiy Prytula, a former stand-up comedian whose crowdfunding campaigns for the Ukrainian military have made him a national hero, has been pictured alongside volunteers loading equipment for the army.

Crouching beside Ukrainian-made kamikaze drones on a runway, TV star Serhiy Prytula appears keen to taunt Moscow with a crowdfunded fleet that experts have linked with recent strikes inside Russia.

(AFP via Getty Images)

(AFP via Getty Images)

(AFP via Getty Images)

(AFP via Getty Images)
It appears that Ukraine tried to establish another small bridgehead on the Russian-occupied side of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast Tuesday. This latest cross-river incursion may be an attempt to take advantage of seasoned Russian forces leaving to reinforce against Kyivs counteroffensive elsewhere.

Russian Telegram channels say a small force of Ukrainian troops on Tuesday entered Kozachi Lageri, a town about two miles south of the Dnipro River and just on the other side of the much smaller Konka River.

https://twitter.com/front_ukrainian/status/1688824357118693376?s=12\u0026t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A

Its unclear at the moment how many Ukrainian troops have entered Kozachi Lageri, or how successful the incursion is. But Russian Telegram channels say this is a move by Ukraine to take advantage of Russias need to bolster the front lines in Zaporizhzhia and the Donbas, where elements of Russia's vaunted Airborne units have transferred.

After the replacement of the Airborne Forces units, which had been operating there for a long time, attacks on Russian positions intensified with new formations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Russian Two Majors Telegram channel wrote on Tuesday. The goal, in this case, is simple - to take advantage of the inexperience and ignorance of [the new troops] to create a bridgehead on the left bank.

Russian Telegram channels report a Ukrainian incursion into Kozachi Lageri in Russian-held Kherson Oblast. (Google Earth image)

There is a difference of opinion among Russian Telegram channels about the success of the Kozachi Lageri advance.

Two Majors said that under the cloud of smoke to obfuscate their movement, six or seven boats full of six- to seven-man Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance teams crossed the Konka River, not far from where Ukrainian forces forded it late last month.

Ukrainian forces took advantage of the replacement at the forefront and struck from the flank, reaching a settlement on the banks of the Dnipro, Two Majors wrote. The effect of surprise and belated reaction allowed the Armed Forces of Ukraine to land and advance unhindered towards [Kozachi Lageri], after which the Russian troops had already driven them back.

The Russian The 13th Telegram channel offered a different assessment, reporting that Ukraine occupied the town and advanced 800 meters into Russian-held territory.

This is a very bad trend, The 13th reported.

The Romanov Telegram channel also confirms the information, including the possible preparation of a crossing for vehicles.

https://twitter.com/wartranslated/status/1688826769095249921

As we noted back in January, any large-scale attempt to cross the Dnipro is a huge challenge. A major Ukrainian river crossing, using pontoon bridges, is impossible right now due to the ongoing Russian shelling, a Ukrainian military advisor told us at the time. The Russians, you might remember, came under tremendous fire trying to get across the river during their retreat from Kherson City last fall.

However, given that Russia may also be transferring artillery batteries to Zaporizhzhia and the Donbas, Ukraine may be looking for opportunities to bring more troops across the Dnipro, which at 50 miles from Crimea is far closer to the occupied peninsula than the current front lines near Robotyne, some 130 miles to the northwest of it.

Kozachi Lageri is much closer to Crimea than the furthest advance of Ukraine's counteroffensive in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. (Google Earth image)

But even with Russia shifting forces to the front lines, it still seems to possess formidable tubed and rocket-launched artillery, plus swarms of drones that would impede any such crossing attempts.

Still, the Russian Two Majors Telegram channel sees an increase in Ukrainian attempts to advance on the Russian side of the Dnipro.

In recent days, [Kozachi Lageri] is not the only area where the enemy is trying to gain a foothold, Two Majors reported Tuesday. Gunfights were also noted near the railway bridge near Pishchanivka, where the [Russian] Armed Forces achieved little tactical success.

Ukrainian forces, meanwhile, are still dug in near the Antonovsky Bridge, according to Two Majors. On Monday, a Ukrainian effort to reinforce that bridgehead was thwarted, Two Majors claimed. It's the latest in a situation at that location that has been going on for more than a month.

There was also an advance across the Dnipro about 12 miles northwest of Kozachi Lageri that we wrote about on Saturday. That status of that bridgehead is unclear.

https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1687831992702791680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1687831992702791680%7Ctwgr%5E04369e542a6f490a6f5ab9668c1aadf4a0a2013c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_\u0026ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedrive.com%2Fthe-war-zone%2Fukraine-situation-report-photos-show-damage-to-russian-tanker-after-drone-boat-strike

Ukrainian officials are saying little about the fight in Kherson, but on Monday, the Defense Intelligence Directorate (GUR) acknowledged that one of its special units is operating in Russian-held territory there.

The fighters of the special purpose unit GUR of the Ministry of Defense, the Shaman Battalion, are moving deep into the occupied territories and continue to cause losses to the enemy, the GUR reported on its website Monday. Thanks to their actions, one of the units of the racist 'special-purpose missile troops' were destroyed. You can read more about the Shaman Battalion, which has also been carrying out raids inside Russia, in our exclusive interview with the group's leader here.

https://twitter.com/walter_report/status/1688613148331323392?s=20

Regardless of what either side is saying, NASA's Fire Information For Resources Management System (FIRMS) imaging seems to show what may be an increased level of artillery fire taking place in this area, @CasualArtyFan noted in a Tuesday Tweet.

https://twitter.com/casualartyfan/status/1688957480666091520?s=12\u0026t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A

Given the fog of war, its hard to say exactly what is going on in the Russian-occupied part of Kherson Oblast. But we will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates when available.

Before we head into the latest news from Ukraine, The War Zone readers can catch up on our previous rolling coverage here.

The Latest

There was another dour media analysis of Ukraines ongoing counteroffensive, this time by CNN. The outlet reported on Tuesday that Western officials describe increasingly 'sobering' assessments about Ukrainian forces ability to retake significant territory."

CNN cited four senior US and Western officials briefed on the latest intelligence.

Theyre still going to see, for the next couple of weeks, if there is a chance of making some progress. But for them to really make progress that would change the balance of this conflict, I think, its extremely, highly unlikely, a senior Western diplomat told CNN.

Our briefings are sobering. Were reminded of the challenges they face, said Rep. Mike Quigley, an Illinois Democrat who recently returned from meetings in Europe with U.S. commanders training Ukrainian armored forces. This is the most difficult time of the war.

https://twitter.com/CNN/status/1688882807139868674

Ukraine would have had a much easier time rolling out its counteroffensive if Western allies acted sooner, says Jack Watling, Senior Research Fellow for Land Warfare at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in an editorial he published Tuesday on the organizations website.

Following retreats in Kharkiv and Kherson last fall and its misguided attempt at a winter advance in the east with conscripts and other poorly trained troops, Russia found itself especially vulnerable to a counterpunch in early 2023, Watling said. But a delay in providing Ukraine badly needed Western aid led to a failure to capitalize on that weakness and drastically increased the cost in blood and treasure of Kyiv's slow-moving counteroffensive.

By April 2022 it was clear that Ukraine would eventually go on the attack, Watling noted. Its requirements to do so were largely known by Western officials in July. But it wasnt until January 2023 that the U.S. and allies finally signed off on providing Challenger 2 and M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks as well as heavy armor like U.S. Bradley Fighting Vehicles, German Marder Infantry Fighting Vehicles and French AMX-10 RC armored vehicles. That armor - along with Leopard 2 tanks donated by a variety of countries that first arrived in Ukraine in February - is now in the fight. However, as we wrote yesterday, the initial tranche of 31 Abrams tanks won't even reach the front line units until next month.

https://twitter.com/ChallengerInUA/status/1688122212618792960

The delay between knowing what was needed and agreeing to do it has proven very costly, Watling wrote. The disarray among Russian forces in the winter of 20223 following a chaotic mobilization and a lack of preparedness for winter warfare left them vulnerable early in 2023. Luckily for Ukraine and its partners, this weakness was extended by the stupidity of General Valery Gerasimov, who embarked upon an ill-conceived series of offensive operations using under-trained troops throughout February, slowing the preparation of Russian defenses.

But the long debate in the West about heavy armor for Ukraine wasted that luck, said Watling. It gave Russia more time to regroup and dig in and less time for Ukrainian troops to train on their new equipment.

Ukraine was therefore forced to go on the offensive before its units were fully prepared, because not doing so would have seen the task exceed the capabilities of the available forces, said Watling. Had the decision to equip and train Ukrainian forces been taken and implemented when the requirements were identified in the autumn, Ukraine would have had a much easier task in reclaiming its territory.

"The Ukrainian offensive may yet succeed," said Watling. "But the price has risen steeply because of Western lethargy."

https://twitter.com/Jack_Watling/status/1688888401456455680

Speaking of tanks, a large batch of used Leopard 1 tanks that once belonged to Belgium have been bought by another European country for Ukrainian troops, according to Reuters, citing the arms trader who arranged the deal.

Freddy Versluys, CEO of defense company OIP Land Systems, bought the tanks from the Belgian government more than five years ago.

Versluys told Reuters he had now sold all 50 tanks to another European government, which he could not name due to a confidentiality clause. He said he also could not disclose the price.

The German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall is refurbishing the tanks, about 30 of which will be delivered to Ukraine, according to the German Handelsblatt news outlet.

https://twitter.com/kyivpost/status/1688885805895335941?s=12\u0026t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A

Russia, meanwhile, has been pulling tanks and other armor out of deep storage.

A Moscow Times visual investigation into the effect of the war on Russian supplies determined that Moscow has withdrawn 40% of the old Soviet tanks and armored personnel carriers stored Russia's "largest known base of mothballed military equipment.

The Vagzhanovo in Buryatia occupies about 11 square kilometers, according to the publication, which is much more than the area of two dozen other known storage bases of military equipment in Russia.

In September 2021 - five months before the full-on war - there were about 3,840 armored vehicles stored at the base, according to The Moscow Times, which derived its calculation based on Google Earth images. After eight months of war - in November 2022 - there were only about 2,600 armored vehicles. By May 2023, that figure dropped to about 2,270, according to the publication, accounting for the 40.8% reduction. Most of that - nearly a third - took place after Russia announced mobilization efforts in late 2022, according to The Moscow Times.

https://twitter.com/EuromaidanPress/status/1688907974796808192?s=20

The Ukraine Weapons Tracker open-source intelligence page is reporting the first confirmed loss of a rare Russian Eleron T-16 drone, which they say was downed by the Ukrainian Stalevy Kordon Brigade in Kharkiv Oblast. The drone is capable of performing both reconnaissance and strike missions, with munitions mounted on hardpoints.

https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1688901561961861120?s=20

Ukrainian troops released an intense 11-minute, 33-second video of an encounter with Russian forces near Bakhmut. The video opens with the Ukrainians in an armored vehicle experiencing a machine gun jam as they engage Russian troops. They later dismount and the action only gets wilder from there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDOSjUWYnDY

Ukrainian First Person Video drones continue to create havoc for Russian troops. This video below, produced by Ukraine's state security service (SBU), shows a compilation of FPV drone attacks on Russian tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and even a remote monitoring station atop an electric transmission wire tower.

https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1688885198446837760?s=20

Several years ago, the so-called Donetsk People's Republic developed a 324mm multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) called the Snezhinka. Mounted on a KrAZ truck chassis, the homespun system contains two rockets with a reported range of about 9 km. You can watch them launch and strike targets in the video below.

https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/1688863462040997889?s=20

And finally, Ukraine's Defense Ministry (MoD) continued its mastery of information operations. Playing on the spate of hot weather in Ukraine, the MoD sardonically reminded Russians it gets even hotter when munitions are dropped through vehicle hatches.

https://twitter.com/DefenceU/status/1688777305349644288?s=20

That's it for now. We'll provide more news about Ukraine when warranted.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
The first batch of Abrams tanks that the U.S. is providing to Ukraine was approved for shipment over the weekend, and the tanks remain on track to arrive in Ukraine by early Fall, Army Acquisition Chief Doug Bush told reporters on Monday.

"The last of the set was officially accepted by the U.S. government or the production facility over the weekend. So they are done," said Bush. The 31 Abrams tanks destined for Ukraine - older M1A1 variants - had been undergoing refurbishment and preparation for shipment for months.

https://twitter.com/IntelDrop_/status/1688660153040523264

Though the tanks are ready, they still have to be shipped overseas and sent to Ukraine, "along with all of the things that go with them - ammunition, spare parts, fuel equipment, repair facilities," Bush said. "So it's not just the tanks."

The goal, said Bush, remains to get the Abrams tanks to the unit level by "early Fall." He did not give a specific date or even month. Last month, Politico reported that the tanks would arrive on the battlefield in September.

https://twitter.com/anno1540/status/1684680795565228033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1684680795565228033%7Ctwgr%5E884c54844600aa722e7f7cf9ad97521a44e9e812%7Ctwcon%5Es1_\u0026ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedrive.com%2Fthe-war-zone%2Fukraine-situation-report-key-donetsk-city-liberated

"I think what's been said it's still accurate," said Bush, without referring specifically to the Politico story. "That timeline is definitely on track."

President Joe Biden initially approved delivery of the Abrams tanks to Ukraine in January.

During a separate press briefing, the Pentagon's top spokesman said there was no timetable for a decision on whether Ukraine would also get depleted uranium rounds.

"I don't have anything to provide, no announcements to make regarding any type of tank ammunition at this point," said Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder.

In March, the British government disclosed that it is sending 120mm tank ammunition containing depleted uranium (DU) to Ukraine for its Challenger 2 tanks. You can read more about those rounds in our story here.

Though the Abrams tanks have yet to arrive, Ukraine has been using the Challengers and donated Leopard 2 tanks, as well as Bradley Fighting Vehicles, the latter two systems lauded by a commander from the 47th Mechanized Brigade that has been operating them. He recently spoke about their performance in a battle in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

We had a Leopard tank as a gift, the commander said. In fact, it is a very powerful machine with very modern weapons. Modern optics which destroyed the tank - the one that was supposed to attack our column.

The Western equipment we receive is an order of magnitude... higher than the Soviet ones we had, he said.

https://twitter.com/front_ukrainian/status/1688465230580387845

Before we head into the latest news from Ukraine, The War Zone readers can catch up on our previous rolling coverage here.

The Latest

On the battlefield, Ukraine is making incremental progress, but facing a new challenge, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said Monday on her Telegram channel.

Ukrainian forces had tactical success near Robotyne in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, she said. However, the Russians are seriously strengthening their defensive lines. And our troops are now faced not only with mining, but also with concrete engineering fortification of key commanding heights. This significantly complicates the counteroffensives advance.

Maliar did not specify what types of fortifications.

https://twitter.com/front_ukrainian/status/1688574182563434501?s=12\u0026t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A

The heaviest fighting, however, remains in the east, she said. The Russians are continuing to try to break through near Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast.

In the Kupiansk direction, the enemy searched for weak points in our defense, unsuccessfully conducted assaults in the area east of Petropavlivka, Kharkiv region.

Russian forces have attempted to break through near Petropavlivka, Kharkiv, according to Ukraine's deputy defense minister. (Google Earth image)

The Russian Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said it has made incremental advances toward Kupiansk.

The Zapad Group of Forces' assault detachments, in the course of conducting offensive operations on a wide front line, have improved the situation along the front line close to Olshana and Pershotravnyovoye in Kharkiv Oblast, the Russian MoD reported Monday on its Telegram channel. Within the last three days, the Russian troops' advance towards Kupiansk direction has been 11 km along the front line and more than 3 km in depth of the enemy defense.

https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/1688672296045584384

Russia fired chemical weapons at Ukrainian troops on Sunday near Novodanylivka in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Alexander Tarnavsky, the commander of the "Tavria" operational and strategic group of troops claimed, according to the Ukrainian Defense Express publication.

The Russians fired those munitions from multiple launch rocket systems that containing a chemical agent Tarnavsky suggested could have been chloropicrin. That's a chemical used in agriculture as a soil fumigant, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. It has also been used as a chemical warfare agent (military designation, PS) and a riot control agent, the CDC says.

The Russians conducted such shelling to stop our troops forward, Tarnavsky claimed, without offering proof. The enemy violated all possible international conventions that prohibit the use of chemical equipment ammunition. But it is important that as a result of this attack there are no victims on our side, obviously, both military and civilian residents.

We cannot confirm the commander's claim at this time and it must be taken as such until there is further confirmation.

https://twitter.com/euromaidanpress/status/1688577223270219776?s=12\u0026t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A

A woman has been detained by Ukraines state security service (SSU) for trying to give Russia advanced details about a recent visit to Mykolaiv by President Volodymyr Zelensky, the agency said in a media release Monday.

The woman, who was not named in the release, tried to establish the time and locations of Zelenskys visit last month so he could be targeted. However the plot was uncovered before the woman was able to pass the information along to her handlers, the SSU said.

If convicted, she faces a sentence of up to 12 years in prison.

SSU operatives established that the spy had been instructed to identify the location of the [Armed Forces of Ukraine's] electronic warfare systems and ammunition depots near Ochakiv, Mykolaiv Oblast, according to the SSU.

Russians planned to use these data to prepare a new massive air strike on the region, the SSU claimed, including target Zelensky. The SSU apprehended the traitor red-handed when she was trying to pass intelligence to the invaders.

To gather intelligence, the woman drove in the target area, taking photos or video footage of Ukrainian facilities. She also tried to obtain intelligence through her connections, hoping that her acquaintances would unwittingly provide certain information.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8ic9vHdz04

During his nightly address Sunday, Zelensky lauded foreign donated advanced air defense systems.

Systems like the Patriot, National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missiles Systems, or NASAMS and the IRIS-T SLM surface-to-air missile system are proving "highly effective" and had "already yielded significant results," Zelensky said, according to Reuters.

Zelensky said Ukraine had shot down a significant part of Russia's attacks over the past week, which included 65 missiles of various kinds and 178 drones, including 87 Shaheds.

Ukraine's military said later that Russia had launched 30 missiles and 48 air strikes.

"Unfortunately, there are casualties and wounded among the civilian population. Residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure suffered destruction," the military said in a statement.

Zelensky also condemned what he said was a Russian guided air bomb" attack late Saturday "against a blood transfusion center in Ukraine. This evening, Kupiansk community in Kharkiv region. Dead and wounded are reported. My condolences! Our rescuers are extinguishing the fire.

https://youtu.be/6fA18h07ZU4

During a visit to a Ukrainian Air Force base on Sunday, Zelensky had the chance to check out a Czech-donated F-16 flight simulator.

"Using this simulator, the Ukrainian servicemen are currently studying the features of modern equipment and its capabilities," according to the official Ukrainian presidential website. "Volodymyr Zelensky tested the complex's operation in practice and hit one of the virtual targets, a Tu-95."

https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1688269993299828736?s=20

U.K. Defense Ministry on Monday noted what it said was an increase in Russia's reliance on glide bombs in an effort to avoid Ukrainian air defenses. The MoD also suggested that Russia - which had relied heavily on its rotary wing assets in the early days of Ukraine's counteroffensive - appears to be generating less tactical air support in the southern section of that advance. You can read more on Russia's use of Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopters in our story here. But unlike the Ka-52 and other attack helicopters, those crude, guided glide bomb kits can't hit moving targets, like Ukrainian armor.

https://twitter.com/defencehq/status/1688428055428059136?s=12\u0026t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A

Ukraine's request for Germany's Taurus air-launched cruise missile seems to be getting closer to fulfillment.

As we noted yesterday, there are increasing indications that German reluctance to provide the weapon is fading.

On Monday, a top Ukrainian lawmaker announced on his Facebook page that Germanys legislature has concluded that the missiles should be sent to Ukraine.

My friends at the Bundestag have just informed me that key parliamentary factions have reached consensus on the transfer of Taurus missiles to Ukraine, said Yehor Cherniev, Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada National Security, Defense and Intelligence Committee.

These rockets can hit 500 kilometers and are able to cover all the occupied territories, including the southern coast of Crimea," he said. "For a long time we have been working with German parliamentarians to form a support group, and here, finally, the cry has been crossed. We are waiting for an official decision.

There was no official word yet from Berlin on the matter.

https://twitter.com/front_ukrainian/status/1688495580413038592?s=12\u0026t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A

The Russian chemical/oil tanker Sig, struck three days ago by a Ukrainian uncrewed surface vessel (USVs) at the mouth of the Kerch Strait, has still not moved, according to the vessel tracking MarineTraffic website.

The latest tracking information as of 7:30 p.m. Eastern, the Russian tug Merkuriy and dive support vessel Voldolaz Kuzminykh appeared to be near the stricken Sig. That tanker, sanctioned by the U.S. previously for shipping jet fuel to Syria, suffered a flooded engine room and other damage as a result of the USV explosion. It was the second attack on a Russian ship within 24 hours and the latest in an increasing series of Ukrainian aerial drone and USV attacks on or near the Crimean peninsula. You can read more about that in our story here.

https://twitter.com/NZ_Trav/status/1688499503865929729?s=20

Despite the ongoing war, Russia continues to receive raw materials for titanium production from Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian RBC-Ukraine media outlet.

Titanium is used in the production of weapons like the Su-34 Fullback strike aircraft, which has a cockpit surrounded by a titanium alloy box that protects pilots flying over hostile air defenses.

Data obtained by RBC-Ukraine from insiders working in the titanium industry confirm that a significant portion of titanium raw materials exported from Ukraine is in Russia through intermediaries, the publication claimed in a story published Monday.

Ukraine has significant titanium ore reserves. The state-owned United Mining and Chemical Company estimates, 20% of the world's total resources of this raw material are concentrated in Ukraine, according to RBC-Ukraine. However, Ukraine doesn't manufacture metallic titanium or products from it, instead exporting concentrate from which finished products are manufactured in other countries.

While the concentrate comes in several forms, only ilmenite concentrate is considered dual-use for civilian and military applications, requiring export documentation by the State Export Control Service, according to RBC-Ukraine. The other types of titanium concentrate are exported without such restrictions.

It was sold to intermediary companies in Poland, Hungary, Czechia, and Slovakia, which have Russian citizens among their founders and operate with Russia, the publication reported.

https://twitter.com/feher_junior/status/1688492449654575104?s=12\u0026t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A

Ukraine's Territorial Defense Forces (UTDF) released images Monday of an uncrewed ground vehicle (UGV) it says can serve as both an ammunition delivery system and a way to evacuate the wounded. UTDF claims the UGV can carry 330 pounds and has a range of just under two miles.

https://twitter.com/tdf_ua/status/1688477591135498240?s=12\u0026t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A

U.K.'s Defense Ministry (MoD) released more video Monday from Operation Interflex, a U.K.-led effort to train Ukrainian recruits. It show's the recruits learning combined arms maneuver - working in conjunction with armor - as well as building entry techniques.

https://twitter.com/defencehq/status/1688498499053080576?s=12\u0026t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A

Bakhmut continues to be a focal point of fighting by both sides. In this video below, a Ukrainian First Person Video (FPV) drone is seen destroying a Russian observation tower in that devastated city.

https://twitter.com/Flash_news_ua/status/1688521956763500544?s=20

A Russian T-90M tank can be seen in this video being hunted down and destroyed by Ukrainian FPV drones in Donetsk Oblast.

https://twitter.com/osinttechnical/status/1688578040408780800?s=12\u0026t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A

Due to the proliferation of drones like FPVs, damaged armor has become even more vulnerable. In the case of this video below, a Russian tank under repairs in a field was hit by an FPV.

https://twitter.com/region776/status/1688423514859315200?s=12\u0026t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A

Thanks to its range - able to hit targets some 50 miles away - the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) munitions fired by the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS and the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) have given Ukraine a qualitative edge in counter-battery artillery battles. The video below reportedly shows the destruction by GMLRS of two 2S1 Gvovdika 122mm self-propelled howitzers and one 122mm D-30 howitzer.

https://twitter.com/gloooud/status/1688469147250749440?s=12\u0026t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A

Ukrainian artillery crews zeroed in on and then apparently destroyed a Russian command post. However, it took several salvos to hit the main target and several Russian troops can be seen escaping.

https://twitter.com/region776/status/1688515966572134400?s=20

It seems the Russians are not amused with the decision by Ukraine to swap out the Soviet hammer and sickle on the shield on the shield of the Motherland statue in Kyiv with the Ukrainian trident.

https://twitter.com/Euan_MacDonald/status/1688521665431420930?s=20

And finally, someone had a little fun with the spate of Ukrainian USV attacks on Russia in this play on the opening credits to the Miami Vice TV series, which ran on NBC from 1984 to 1989.

https://twitter.com/Biz_Ukraine_Mag/status/1688592565665251338

That's it for now. We will be back when there's more news to report about Ukraine.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
Key developments on Aug. 8:

Russian Aug. 7 attack on Pokrovsk kills 9, injures 82

Ukrainian forces hold initiative as counteroffensive underway, says Zelensky

Ukraine repels Russian attacks in Donetsk Oblast

UK imposes biggest sanctions against companies helping Russia's military efforts

Initial 'unrealistic' Western expectations contributes to the growing pressure on Kyiv, CNN writes

President Volodymyr Zelensky described the counteroffensive as "challenging," adding that Ukraine still holds the initiative.

"The counteroffensive is complex. It is perhaps unfolding slower than some might wish," he said in an interview with the Latin American media outlets published on Aug. 8.

However, Zelensky says that the ongoing counteroffensive signifies that the army is continuing to advance and is not retreating.

"This is a significant positive. The initiative lies in Ukraine's hands," Zelensky said.

The Ukrainian counteroffensive has been underway in at least three directions in Ukraine's southwest and east since early July.

Ukrainian forces reclaimed several settlements during the initial phase and deployed additional Western-trained troops and hardware to the front line in late July to bolster its combat operations.

On Aug. 8, CNN wrote, citing U.S. and Western officials, that the initial "unrealistic" expectations by the West regarding Ukraine's counteroffensive contributes to the growing pressure on Kyiv to start peace talks with Russia, even at the price of territorial concessions.

The Western leadership receives increasingly "sobering" assessments on Ukraine's capacity for a breakthrough that would change the balance of the conflict, recognizing the challenges that Ukrainian troops face, the officials briefed on the latest intelligence reportedly told CNN.

Read also: Ukraine may be winning worlds first cyberwar

On the battlefield

Ukrainian forces hold the initiative on the battlefield in the Bakhmut direction in Donetsk Oblast despite heavy Russian shelling, Serhii Cherevatyi, the spokesman for Ukraine's Eastern Military Command, reported on Aug. 8.

The military reported that in 16 battles over the past day, 65 Russian soldiers were killed, 120 wounded, and three captured as prisoners of war, Cherevatyi said.

Russia also lost military hardware on the battlefield, including a tank, a Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer, a Msta-B howitzer, five trucks, and also an ammunition warehouse, and a communications hub.

"The enemy is desperately resisting, using all types of artillery, from mortars to multiple-launch rocket systems," he told national television.

The Bakhmut direction remains one of the main sectors of the ongoing Ukrainian counteroffensive. The Ukrainian military reported advances along the southern and northern flanks of the city, which fell to Russian forces in late May.

Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said on Aug. 1. that Russia is concentrating its forces along the eastern front line, namely in the Kupiansk, Lyman, and Svatove directions, trying to pull Ukrainian forces away from Bakhmut and stop their advance in that area.

On Aug. 8, Ukrainian forces repelled Russian attacks near Klischiivka, Avdiivka, Siverne, Marinka, and Staromaiorske in Donetsk Oblast.

Read also: Increased attacks on Crimea disrupt Russian logistics, attempt to derail its southern defenses

Sanctions against Russia

The U.K. Foreign Office announced the largest sanctions package on Aug. 8 against individuals and companies outside Russia in an effort to curb Moscow's ability to obtain foreign military equipment.

The new sanctions target companies registered in Turkey and the United Arab Emirates for their role in exporting microelectronics components used for military purposes against Ukraine.

The U.K. has also sanctioned 22 people from Iran, Slovakia, and Switzerland for facilitating foreign military supplies for Moscow.

The sanctions also targeted three Russian electronics companies for procuring microelectronics.

"Today's landmark sanctions will further diminish Russia's arsenal and close the net on supply chains propping up Putin's now struggling defense industry," British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said.

Despite Western sanctions to curb Russia's ability to produce weaponry such as missiles or drones, Moscow has been reportedly circumventing them by procuring these components from third countries, such as Kyrgyzstan, Iran, or China.

Kyiv's allies, including the U.S., the EU, and the U.K., previously vowed to crack down on the circumvention. The EU's 11th sanctions package was primarily aimed against Russia's ability to avoid Western sanctions.

Read also: Halushka, Shevchuk: A call to put Russian assets toward Ukraines reconstruction

9 killed, 82 injured in Aug. 7 Pokrovsk missile strike

The rescue operation finished nearly 24 hours after Russian forces struck downtown Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast, with two Iskander missiles on Aug. 7, killing and injuring civilians, emergency workers, police officers, and the military.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address that nine people were killed, and 82 were injured, including two children, one of which is in critical condition.

Five civilians, a rescuer, and a soldier are among the dead, while three other injured people are in critical condition  a police officer and two emergency workers, according to the regional authorities.

Since the beginning of the all-out war, 78 Ukrainian first responders were killed, and 280 were injured in Russian attacks while doing their job, the State Emergency Service's spokesman Oleksandr Khorunzhyi said on Aug. 8.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that the Aug. 7 missile attack on Pokrovsk "hit a command post" of Ukraine's Khortytsia Operational and Strategic Group.

The military spokesperson Serhii Cherevatyi dismissed the Russian claim, saying it's already the "third or fourth time" Russia is said to have destroyed this command post.

"This is Russian propaganda, which of course, does not correspond to reality. Russian terrorists continue to fight with peaceful people," Cherevatyi told Ukrainska Pravda media outlet on Aug. 8, adding that Russian troops "will get a response from the 'destroyed' team of Khortytsia."

Pokrovsk is located some 40 kilometers from the front line, close to the administrative border with Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

Russian forces hit downtown Pokrovsk at 7:15 p.m. and 7:52 p.m. on Aug. 7, damaging 12 high-rise buildings, a hotel, a local prosecutor's office building, a Pension Fund building, a pharmacy, two shops, and two cafes.

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Ukraine has weapons of its own production to strike at Russia, and it is asking its partners for long-range weapons in order to liberate the occupied territories.

Source: Oleksii Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, on 8 August on air during the national joint 24/7 newscast

Quote from Danilov: "I can say that we have what it takes to strike on the territory of Russia with our own production. And in order for us to liberate our occupied territories, we are calling on partner countries to help us specifically with weapons to liberate these territories."

Details: The Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council drew attention to the fact that both Germany and France have recently changed their positions and are currently "cooperating with our country as much as possible, understanding all the treachery of the Russian Federation, which demonstrated this not only during our war but also during those events that are currently taking place on the African continent".

At the same time, he predicts that despite what is happening in Niger, where "the Russians again have their part", the war in Ukraine will not leave the agenda of the world community because Russian aggression "in the centre of Europe" worries all the countries of the European Union.

Background:

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!
Dmitry Medvedev is afraid. Hes afraid because his boss, Vladimir Putin, is also afraid.

Former Russian president Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russias security council  which autocrat Putin chairs  is a useful mouthpiece for Putin. A proxy whos just far enough removed from Putin to say things even Putin should not say, but close enough that we can sense Putin silently mouthing the words coming from Medvedevs mouth.

So when Medvedev threatens for the umpteenth time to nuke Ukraine, we may as well attribute those words to Putin. And when we smell Medvedevs fear  the feeling soaking every syllable of his apocalyptic utterances  we can whiff if wafting off Putin, too.

Medvedev is afraid. Two months into Ukraines long-anticipated counteroffensive, Ukrainian brigades have advanced only a few miles along three or four critical axes across Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts in southern and eastern Ukraine. And theyve paid in blood for every yard.

But theres a reason the Ukrainians are moving slowly. Kyivs fast-improving artillery corps, exquisitely supplied by NATO countries, is destroying three or four Russian howitzers for every one Ukrainian howitzer the Russians destroy. And, in stark defiance of historys preference for defending armies, the attacking Ukrainian army is killing as many Russians as the Russians are killing Ukrainians.

Kyivs forces are moving slowly because theyre letting their artillery lead the way. And the big guns are working methodically, grinding up one Russian echelon at a time.

Medvedev is afraid because Putin is afraid. And Putin is afraid because, 18 months into Russias wider attack on Ukraine, his army of more than a million people still cant beat the Ukrainian army, which is half that size and has fewer of everything.

Its Putins fear that feeds his worst impulse: to threaten, through Medvedev, the nuclear annihilation of human civilization. The virtual destruction of the only sentient species we know to exist anywhere in the vast cosmos. Make no mistake, when Medvedev says Russia might use nuclear weapons  as he did again on July 30  hes saying that Putin is saying that ending everything is a better outcome, for Russia, than losing a regional war of choice.

Imagine if the  offensive, which is backed by Nato, was a success and they tore off a part of our land, Medvedev seethed on his official social media accounts. Then we would be forced to use a nuclear weapon according to the rules of a decree from the president of Russia.

There would simply be no other option, Medvedev said. So our enemies should pray for our warriors. They are making sure that a global nuclear fire is not ignited.

Hes bluffing. Because he and his boss are afraid and because the bluff is all they have left as Russias disastrous wider war grinds into its 18th month, with no sign that Ukraine or its allies are giving up. If he werent bluffing, wed know. Wed know because we  well, a vanishing few of us, maybe  would already be living in an irradiated post-apocalyptic wasteland.

In the spring of 2022, Ukrainian brigades defeated Russias assault on Kyiv and forced the Russian survivors back to the fringes of eastern and southern Ukraine. Six months later, eager Ukrainian brigades exploited gaps in Russian lines and pushed back the Russians even farther. And eight months after that, the Ukrainians kicked off their current counteroffensive.

And all the while, Ukrainian rockets, drones, saboteurs and assassins have killed Russian officials, shot down Russian warplanes, sunk Russian warships and blown up military sites in Russian air space, in Russian waters and on Russian soil.

Putin didnt trigger a nuke then. He wont trigger a nuke now. Because even as wicked, craven and cruel as Putin is, hes not insane. And he doesnt want to die in the retaliatory nuclear strike that surely would follow any atomic attack on Ukraine.

And even if theres an edge of insanity in Putins deepening desperation, the United States and its NATO allies shouldnt bow to nuclear threats. If Putin could merely say, through Medvedev, the word nuclear and get his way, he would say nuclear all the time  and march his army across Eastern Europe, its troops shielded by their leaders atomic threats.

Medvedev is afraid. Because Putin is afraid. That fear makes them reckless with their words. But it doesnt make them suicidal.

And if Im wrong, it wont matter. If Im wrong, then Putin was ready to end the world after any defeat. And if that defeat didnt come in Ukraine, it would eventually come somewhere else. Which means Armageddon has been inevitable since 1999.

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.
Over the past day, Ukrainian defenders killed another 560 invaders and destroyed 10 tanks, a helicopter and 19 artillery systems.

Source: General Staff of Ukraines Armed Forces

Details: The total combat losses of the Russian forces from 24 February 2022 to 8 August 2023 are estimated to be as follows [figures in parentheses represent the latest losses  ed.]:

approximately 250,800 (+560) military personnel

4,254 (+10) tanks

8,278 (+8) armoured combat vehicles

4,996 (+19) artillery systems

709 (+0) multiple-launch rocket systems

468 (+1) air defence systems

315 (+0) fixed-wing aircraft

312 (+1) helicopters

4,158 (+4) operational-tactical UAVs

1,377 (+0) cruise missiles

18 (+0) ships/boats

7,460 (+9) vehicles and tankers

737 (+2) special vehicles and other equipment

The data is being confirmed.

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!
The members of the Offensive Guard of Ukraine have shot down a Russian Eleron T-16 UAV on the Kharkiv front, using an anti-drone gun.

Source: the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine

Quote: "Today on the Kharkiv front, an anti-drone group of the 15th Mobile Border Unit managed to successfully shoot down one of the most recent developments in the Eleron T-16 drone family with the help of an ordinary anti-drone gun."

Details: A border guard with an alias Slon (Elephant) states that it was the first time that his unit has encountered such a drone.

Eleron is an immediate-range system that conducts aerial reconnaissance and observation with unmanned aerial vehicles, developed by Russian enterprise ENICS.

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!






The advance of Ukrainian troops may take place before winter, the representative of the General Staff of Estonia said

Ukraines counteroffensive could continue into the winter months, contingent upon Russias actions, which are unpredictable, the Deputy Chief of the Estonian General Staff of the Armed Forces, Colonel Mart Vendla, was quoted as saying by Estonian news outlet ERR on Aug. 7.

However, its evident that the 1,000-kilometer frontline is not uniformly defended. Ukraine, adept at identifying gaps in the defensive line, is better trained in the tactics of small units and possesses more accurate firepower and superior reconnaissance information. They certainly have a chance, Vendla said.

Read also: 15 years ago, Russia invaded Georgia under the pretext of supporting separatists

Ukraine has yet to achieve a significant breakthrough, primarily due to the diversity of the frontline, which complicates advances.

When we examine this theater of operations spanning over 1,000 kilometers, its rather diverse, said the colonel.

Read also: Long way to go before victory, says Zaluzhnyi

For instance, in the Kherson direction, the enemys defense benefits considerably from the [terrain] due to a large, wide river, which makes transitioning difficult from there.

If we consider the Zaporizhzhya direction, it clearly aids the Ukrainians in their strategic objective, specifically the retaking of Crimea, Vendla explained.

In Donetsk Oblast, he explained that progress is hindered by the regions extensive urban areas, suggesting that any offensive in this direction would likely involve intense urban combat.

He further noted that Luhansk Oblast features abundant marshes and forests, which provide advantages for the Russian occupiers in terms of defensive positions.

Vendla highlighted that Russian forces have significantly bolstered their defensive structures in southern Ukraine.

Read also: Ukraine knocks out two critical bridges used by Russia to supply southern troops from Crimea  ISW

While other oblasts typically have around 400 defensive installations, the Zaporizhzhya direction boasts 1,400. This underscores the extensive depth of their defensive preparations. Therefore, Ukraine is facing an exceptionally serious challenge, he added.

Vendla concluded that even though Ukrainian forces have not yet breached the initial line of defense, there are still observable signs of limited advances.



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Head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) Kyrylo Budanov led a Ukrainian official delegation to Bulgaria to discuss security issues, the Bulgarian military intelligence announced on its website on Aug. 8.

Ukrainian representatives met with Bulgarian Defense Minister Todor Tagarev and head of the Bulgarian military intelligence General Venelin Venev, the Bulgarian official sources said, without disclosing the date of the visit.

The two parties reportedly discussed the matters of regional and international security, the possible developments of the security situation, and other topics of mutual interest.

According to Bulgarian military intelligence, Ukrainian representatives "clarified" an issue raised by the Bulgarian side regarding the Myrotvorets website, a Ukrainian site launched in 2014 by politician and activist Heorhiy Tuka listing "enemies of Ukraine" or those who committed crimes against Ukraine's security, together with their personal information.

The HUR told the Kyiv Independent that they cannot confirm whether Budanov led the delegation to Bulgaria.

Bulgaria's most recent government began making strides in Kyiv's support despite the opposition from President Rumen Radev.

Bulgaria announced its second military aid package for Ukraine on June 27 without specifying its content. Sofia already pledged additional aid in the future, including 100 Soviet-era armored personnel carriers, and joined the EU initiative to supply artillery ammunition to Ukraine.

Read also: Doug Klain: How to open NATOs door for Ukraine

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(CNN)  A total of 98 people have been arrested in connection with child sex abuse, and 13 children rescued from harm, US and Australian authorities said Tuesday, more than two years after two FBI agents were killed investigating an alleged international pedophile ring.

In a news conference Tuesday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Australian Federal Police (AFP) said 79 arrests, 65 indictments, and 43 convictions in the US were carried out as a result of the joint operation, while 19 men were arrested in Australia.

Two FBI agents investigating the alleged ring were shot dead in 2021 while executing a search warrant for a computer programmer suspected of possession of child abuse material, CNN previously reported.

The alleged child abuse ring was a peer to peer network with some offenders committing offenses for over 10 years, said Australian Federal Police Commander Helen Schneider.

Some of the children were known to the men who were arrested, Schneider added, but refused to comment further.

Australian investigation

The Australian police investigation began in 2022 when the FBI passed on details of Australian members of a peer-to-peer network allegedly sharing child abuse material on the dark web.

This operation was highly complex, the FBIs legal attache in Canberra, Nitiana Mann, told reporters Tuesday. The complexity and anonymity of these platforms means that no agency or country can fight these threats alone.

Most of the Australian alleged offenders had jobs that required advanced IT skills, police said in a statement.

Members of the network allegedly used software to anonymously share files, chat on message boards and access websites within the network, using encryption and other methods to avoid law enforcement detection, the statement added.

AFP Commander Schneider said the alleged offenders operated a sophisticated network.

Viewing, distributing and producing child abuse material is a horrific crime, and the lengths that this network went to to avoid detection is an indication of just how dangerous they were, she said.

The longer people like this avoid detection, it means the longer the cycle of abuse continues.

Further arrests could not be ruled out, she added.

More than 200 international leads had been sent to partner countries and more than 300 investigations opened as a result of the joint operation, Mann said.

Fatal shooting

FBI Special Agents Daniel Alfin and Laura Schwartzenberger died in shootout at a Sunrise, Florida apartment complex while executing a federal search warrant on February 2, 2021.

Three other agents were wounded and the suspect in the shooting died at the scene.

At the time, Miami FBI Special Agent in Charge George Piro called the shooting and the loss of Alfin and Schwartzenberger, a very dark day for the FBI.

The agents were known for their exemplary efforts in the field, curbing child abuse with their investigatory work and educating students to the perils of sex crimes.

Their deaths marked the first time since November 2008 that an FBI agent was fatally shot in the line of duty.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Dozens arrested over alleged child sex abuse following murder of two FBI agents."
Previously, these tanks were used in the Belgian army

Ukraine received the first batch of German-made Leopard 1 tanks from Belgium on Aug. 7, though it is unknown who exactly purchased the tanks, reports Belgiums Business AM.

Belgium had previously declined to transfer the Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine as they were too expensive to operate, however an unknown country stepped in to buy the tanks and repair them, says Business AM.

Read also: Lithuania says it plans to acquire German Leopard tanks

After major repairs, the tanks have already left for Ukraine via Germany and Italy, where they will be equipped with new weapons systems.

Though in previous use by the Belgium army, 50 Leopard 1 tanks have been in storage since the Belgium army made the decision to move away from heavy-tracked vehicles to lighter-wheeled armored vehicles as a cost-saving measure.

Read also: Ukraine to receive dozens of Leopard-1 tanks soon  Germany

Germany supplied the first 10 Leopard 1A5 battle tanks to Ukraine on July 21.

Ukraine will soon receive more military aid from Spain including four Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks and a dozen armored vehicles, Spanish Defense Ministry said on July 24.

The Material and Technical Support Department of Lithuania sent a letter to the German Ministry of Defense on July 28 outlining its intentions to purchase Leopard tanks for Ukraine.

Earlier, Denmark and the Netherlands announced a purchase of 14 Leopard 2 tanks for Ukraine, to be delivered in 2024.

Read also: Spain transfers more Leopard-2 tanks to Ukraine

Copenhagen also announced the provision of 100 Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine, with deliveries starting this summer. According to Acting Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, Copenhagen aims to transfer at least 80 of these tanks by the end of 2023.

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Abby Zwerner was critically injured after after being shot by the 6-year-old student in January at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia (Abby Zwerner/Facebook)

Newly unsealed court documents reveal that the first-grader who shot his teacher earlier this year later bragged to school officials, claiming I shot that b**** dead.

Abigail Abby Zwerner was left with severe injuries to her torso and her hand after being shot on 6 January at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia.

The six-year-old boy who pulled the trigger of his mothers gun made the shocking comments, according to the unsealed search warrants obtained by WTKR.

I did it, the boy told school officials just after the shooting, according to the affidavit. I got my moms gun last night.

The mother of the student pleaded guilty to federal gun charges in connection with the incident as part of a plea deal. She will be sentenced in October.

One of the staff members was Amy Kovac, a reading specialist at the school, who heard from two students on the day of the shooting who said the six-year-old had a gun in his book bag.

Ms Kovac notified school administration and the boys bag was checked while he was at recess, but no gun was found, the warrant revealed.

When the class returned from recess, Ms Kovac heard a gunshot from the classroom and several children fled, according to the warrant. Ms Zwerner was also seen running from the classroom bleeding from her hand and torso.

Ms Kovac entered the classroom to find the six-year-old boy with the gun on the floor next to him. She held him in place until police could respond to the scene.

It was then that he told her, I shot that b**** dead, according to the search warrant.

Ms Zwerner spoke to police from the hospital where she was treated for her injuries.

She recalled how the boy pulled the gun from his pocket and pointed it at her as she asked, What are you doing with that?

The boy paused, Ms Zwerner said and then fired one shot that struck Zwerner in her left hand and upper torso, according to the affidavit.

Ms Zwerner has since filed a $40m lawsuit against Newport News Public Schools, alleging officials of ignoring several warnings about the student leading up to the shooting.

The warrant also detailed how Ms Zwerner allegedly told investigators there had been multiple disciplinary incidents involving the boy before the shooting. The incidents involved physical violence and threats of violence.

A retired Newport News elementary school teacher who had been assigned to Richneck told investigators that she was choked in September 2021 by the same student.

This affiant was able to obtain limited school records pertaining to [the student] from Child Protective Services, the search warrant reads.

The shooting happened on 6 January at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

The incident to which [the kindergarten teacher] describes above is not found in these records. This affiant believes that [the kindergarten teacher] incident and possibly others were not readily provided by Newport News Public Schools.

James Ellenson, a lawyer for the childs family told CNN on Tuesday that the child is in therapy and has shown improvement.

The child had extreme emotional issues, and we are all working to see that he improves every day, he said.

Newport News Public Schools released a statement on Tuesday.

Since the tragedy at Richneck Elementary School in January, Newport News Public Schools has worked cooperatively with the Newport News Police Department and other authorities in support of the investigation. While the school division cannot comment on legal actions, NNPS remains committed to ensuring the well-being and care of all students and staff.
The Ohio Statehouse, pictured during a protest in 2020, is at the center of a controversy over abortion rights (STEPHEN ZENNER)

Voters in Ohio on Tuesday rejected a proposal that would have made amending the state's constitution more difficult, US media projected, in a case viewed nationwide as a test of conservatives' power to oppose liberal causes such as abortion rights.

The "Issue 1" special election -- which united anti-abortion groups with opponents of a minimum wage hike -- was centered on proposals to increase the bar to pass constitutional amendments to 60 percent of the vote from a simple majority.

Tuesday's vote was seen as an attempt to thwart a referendum scheduled for November on codifying abortion rights into Ohio's constitution.

The issue itself only needed a simple majority to pass.

By about 10 pm Tuesday evening (0200 GMT), the "no" position to reject Issue 1 had about 57 percent of the vote, with 60 percent of votes counted, the USA Today newspaper network projected.

US cable network CNN also projected the referendum would fail.

"Today, Ohio voters rejected an effort by Republican lawmakers and special interests to change the state's constitutional amendment process," President Joe Biden said in a statement.

"This measure was a blatant attempt to weaken voters' voices and further erode the freedom of women to make their own health care decisions. Ohioans spoke loud and clear, and tonight democracy won," he added.

Abortion rights activists also cheered the outcome.

"Great news! Ohioans showed up to the polls and rejected the opposition's attempts to undermine democracy and restrict reproductive freedom," head of Planned Parenthood Alexis McGill Johnson posted on Twitter, rebranded as X.

"Abortion is on the ballot this November. Mark your calendars now, Ohio!" she added.

Republicans were looking to replicate the Issue 1 strategy in other states if Tuesday's vote had been successful. US media has reported spending from mostly out-of-state political groups on both sides totaling around $35 million.

After the 2022 Supreme Court decision ending nationwide protection for abortion rights, Ohio introduced a six-week ban that has been held up in the courts.

But 58 percent of likely Ohio voters support enshrining abortion rights in the constitution, according to polls released last month by USA Today/Suffolk University and in June by Scripps News/YouGov.

The League of Women Voters of Ohio called the referendum measure, proposed by Ohio's Republican-controlled legislature, an "attempt to strip away the power of everyday people."

Business groups came out in support of Issue 1 because it would complicate future attempts at raising the minimum wage, with a referendum already scheduled for November 2024 on an increase from $10.10 an hour to $15.

"Ohio's constitution is the bedrock of our system of government and should not be subject to changes based on fleeting public opinion," the state's chamber of commerce said in a joint statement with other national and local business groups.

"For far too long, the Ohio constitution has been an easy target for those seeking to enact anti-business policies or further narrow special interest initiatives outside of the traditional legislative process."

A special election at the height of summer would normally attract a relatively low turnout, but nearly 600,000 Ohioans had already voted early by the end of last week, according to the Columbus Dispatch. There were fewer than 150,000 early votes for an August special election last year.

Last year, voters in Kansas, Kentucky and Michigan voted to protect abortion rights by a simple majority. None of the votes achieved 60 percent support, however.

ft/bfm/caw/sco
Two Airmen connect a re-entry system to a spacer on an intercontinental ballistic missile at a launch facility near Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Mont. Senior Airman Daniel Brosam/U.S. Air Force via AP

The US Air Force said it found unsafe levels of possible cancer-causing chemicals at a Montana base.

It found the chemicals in nuclear missile launch control centers at Malmstrom Air Force Base.

The military previously decided to investigate unusual blood cancer cases among missileers.

The US Air Force revealed this week that it found unsafe levels of probable cancer-causing chemicals in nuclear missile launch control centers at a base in Montana. The discovery comes after the US military decided to investigate unusual blood cancer cases among several military officers who had worked at the site.

A team of experts that carried out testing at Malmstrom Air Force Base in June discovered levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) that were above federally recommended thresholds in two facilities at the site, Air Force Global Strike Command said in a statement on Monday.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, PCBs are a "group of man-made organic chemicals" that it considers to be "probable human carcinogens" and have a demonstrated ability to cause a range of negative health effects

To test for PCBs and other potential contaminants, the experts collected 300 surface swipe samples across Malmstrom's launch control centers, which is where individuals can control and monitor missile launch facilities.

"Of the swipes, 279 returned non-detectable results," the Air Force said. "Of the 21 with detectable results, 19 were below the mitigation level established by federal law and regulation."

None of the air samples of the launch control centers and launch control support building revealed any detectable levels for PCBs. They only appeared in the surface swipes. It is unclear how many individuals may have been exposed to these likely carcinogens.

"Based on the initial results from the survey team, which discovered PCB levels above the cleanup threshold designated by law in two of our facilities, I directed Twentieth Air Force to take immediate measures to begin the cleanup process for the affected facilities and mitigate exposure by our Airmen and Guardians to potentially hazardous conditions," said Gen. Thomas Bussiere, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, in the statement.

"These measures will stay in place until I am satisfied that we are providing our missile community with a safe and clean work environment," he added.

In this image provided by the U.S. Air Force, Airman 1st Class Jackson Ligon, left, and Senior Airman Jonathan Marinaccio, 341st Missile Maintenance Squadron technicians connect a re-entry system to a spacer on an intercontinental ballistic missile during a Simulated Electronic Launch-Minuteman test Sept. 22, 2020, at a launch facility near Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Mont. Senior Airman Daniel Brosam/US Air Force via AP, File

The Air Force said the Malmstrom results are the first of a widespread sampling of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) bases across the country, with the goal of being to address the missile community's cancer-related concerns. There are still results pending from air and surface tests at two other bases in Wyoming and North Dakota  F.E. Warren and Minot, respectively  as well as ground and water samples from all three.

These three bases maintain and operate the country's silo-based Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles, key components of the US nuclear triad which also consists of nuclear-armed bombers and ballistic missile submarines. Malmstrom, located in central Montana, is home to the 341st Missile Wing, of which over 3,300 active-duty service members are a part.

The testing comes several months after the US military said it was looking into blood cancer cases among officers who were previously stationed at Malmstrom.

Several missileers who worked underground were diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at relatively young ages, and Air Force officials confirmed in January that the service was looking to see if there was any connection between the disease and their respective military careers  some of which went back decades. Since then, dozens of additional blood cancer cases have been reported at Malmstrom and other bases.

US service members have been exposed to cancer-causing agents in a wide range of settings  both at home and overseas. One American veteran who helped with cleanup efforts after atomic testing in the Pacific Ocean said he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that he believes is tied to his service, and he said he was not alone.

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(Bloomberg) -- Nigers junta moved to consolidate power as regional leaders prepared for a second emergency summit since the countrys July 26 coup.

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The soldiers now running Niger continued to ignore demands to relinquish power and began announcing a new cabinet, days after the expiration of a deadline imposed by its neighbors to restore democracy. West African heads of state are due to meet in Abuja, the capital of neighboring Nigeria, on Aug. 10 to discuss Niger, where President Mohamed Bazoum was deposed two weeks ago.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday that America backs regional efforts to bring a diplomatic resolution to the extremely troubling situation in Niger, a key ally in the global fight against jihadists in the western Sahel. His top deputy, acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland, traveled to the capital, Niamey, on Monday for what she described as difficult talks with junta officials about reinstating Bazoum.

We are supporting the efforts of regional leaders to restore constitutional order in Niger, Blinken said in an interview Tuesday with Radio France Internationale. The coup puts us and many other countries in a position where we have to stop our aid, our support, and this will not benefit the people of Niger.

Leaders of the Economic Community of West African States regional bloc gave Nigers military leaders until Aug. 6 to hand back power to Bazoum or face the potential threat of military intervention. The junta restricted access to the countrys airspace over the weekend, and postponed a visit by an Ecowas mediation delegation scheduled for Tuesday, according to a letter dated Monday.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who currently chairs Ecowas, has ordered additional sanctions on entities and individuals linked to the junta, government adviser Ajuri Ngelale told reporters on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said the president was unequivocal about the use of diplomacy and will remain so until Ecowas delivers a different verdict.

The coup in Niger is the sixth in West Africa over the past three years. Ecowas didnt threaten to use force to reverse any of the others, and Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso are today under military rule, with their leaders dragging their feet to return power to civilians.

The bloc is likely to ultimately take a similar tack in Niger, Vladimir Antwi-Danzo, a security analyst and director of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, said by phone from the capital, Accra.

Theres the threat of a military intervention, but we dont see any sign of troops preparing to deploy, he said.

The 15-member bloc successfully intervened in Gambia in 2017 to help oust dictator Yahya Jammeh, who refused to step down after an electoral defeat. That time there was no violence  Senegalese troops advancing toward the capital, Banjul, were enough to make Jammeh change his mind.

Niger is more than 100 times the size of Gambia, and has close cultural and trade ties to neighboring Nigeria, which would have to lead any intervention given that its the regions most influential country and has its biggest military. Senators and civil society groups from Nigerias north  which borders Niger  have already expressed their opposition to any intervention.

The junta has so far largely ignored the threat. Nigers self-declared military leader Abdourahamane Tiani on Monday appointed Ali Lamine Zeine as prime minister, according to a statement read on state broadcaster Tele Sahel. Tiani didnt meet Nuland, the second-ranking diplomat from the US, which has about 1,000 troops in the country.

--With assistance from Ruth Olurounbi.

(Updates with Nigeria imposing additional sanctions on Junta-linked entities in seventh paragraph.)

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The cluster munitions the U.S. provided to Ukraine amid international scrutiny are playing a key role in the counteroffensive against the Russian invasion.

Ukrainian forces have used the cluster munitions  which break up into swarms of smaller bombs before hitting their target  to break through Russian defenses such as trenches and groups of vehicles, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The Ukrainian counteroffensive got off to a slow start as troops encountered entrenched Russian resistance. Extensive minefields also impeded the use of Western-provided tanks to dig out the invaders.

"The cluster bombs are good. They are effective," Capt. Anatoliy Kharchenko, commander of a reconnaissance company, told WSJ. "But the Russians are dug in deep, and they learn quickly."

UKRAINE SAYS RUSSIA HAS LOST 250K TROOPS SINCE PUTIN FIRST INVADED, ZELENSKYY SHARES TRIUMPHANT MESSAGE

The divisive cluster munitions the U.S. provided to Ukraine are playing a key role in the country's counteroffensive against the Russian invasion.

When the munitions first arrived, Kharchenko says they were used on dense groups of Russian infantry, but he says Russian forces have since learned to spread out more thinly behind their fortifications.

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The munitions are only the latest piece of weaponry the U.S. has delivered to Ukraine. President Biden's administration has sent some $110 billion in security aid to the country since Russia first invaded in February 2022.

NEARLY 50K RUSSIAN MEN HAVE DIED IN UKRAINE WAR, NEARLY 9X LARGER THAN RUSSIA'S OFFICIAL FIGURE: NEW STUDY

Despite some Ukrainian progress, Russian missiles continue to rain down on the country's major cities. Ukrainian officials on Tuesday accused the Kremlins forces of targeting rescue workers as the death toll from two Russian missile strikes that slammed into residential buildings climbed to seven.

Russian missiles, drones and artillery have repeatedly struck civilian areas throughout the war. The Kremlin claims its forces target only military assets, saying other damage is caused by debris from Ukrainian air defense weapons.

Cluster munitions were a controversial choice to send to Ukraine among many Americans as well as U.S. allies. Leaders from both the United Kingdom and Spain came out against it at the time.

"The U.K. is signatory to a convention which prohibits the production or use of cluster munitions and discourages their use," British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in July. "We will continue to do our part to support Ukraine against Russias illegal and unprovoked invasion, but weve done that by providing heavy battle tanks and most recently long-range weapons, and hopefully all countries can continue to support Ukraine."

"Spain, based on the firm commitment it has with Ukraine, also has a firm commitment that certain weapons and bombs cannot be delivered under any circumstances," Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles said.

More than 120 countries have signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) prohibiting all use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions out of humanitarian concern. The U.S., Ukraine and Russia are not among them.

Fox News's Danielle Wallace and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The U.S. embassy in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, was closed Tuesday due to rapid gunfire nearby, the embassy announced.

Violent protest and gang activity has taken over Port-au-Prince in recent months, which prompted the U.S. to encourage nonessential personnel to leave the country last month, citing the threat of kidnappers.

Given the recent armed clashes between gangs and the police and the high threat of violent crime and kidnapping throughout Port-au-Prince, the Department of State urges U.S. citizens to make plans to depart Haiti As soon as possible via commercial means, the embassy said in late July.

Last week, a New Hampshire nurse and her daughter were kidnapped in Haiti. The pair is still missing.

Gang violence in Haiti has increased by 28 percent in the first quarter of 2023, and the senior U.N. representative in Port-au-Prince told the U.N. Security Council earlier this year that in 2022, gang violence overall reached levels not seen in decades.

The violence has caused at least 165,000 Haitians to flee their homes, mostly to temporary shelters.

As many as 750,000 people require food aid as the country experiences famine. The United Nations World Food Program reduced its programs in the country last month, citing budgetary limits. Those cuts took away aid from about 100,000 people.

Nearly five million Haitians dont have enough food, the U.N. organization said.

Last week, the U.S. backed a United Nations plan for a multinational police force in Haiti. Led by Kenya, the force would fight gang violence, mostly in Port-au-Prince.

Helen La Lime, the secretary-generals special representative in Haiti, has called for the forces deployment since October 2022.

The embassy has encouraged Americans to avoid crowds, attempt to leave affected areas of Port-au-Prince if possible and beware of roadblocks in streets.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
By Daniel Wiessner

(Reuters) -Southwest Airlines Co on Tuesday said it will appeal a Texas federal judge's unusual order requiring three of its senior lawyers to attend "religious liberty training" by a prominent conservative Christian legal group.

The airline in a statement confirmed that it would file an appeal one day after U.S. District Judge Brantley Starr said the lawyers had undermined his earlier ruling in a religious bias case by Southwest flight attendant Charlene Carter.

Starr said that instead of notifying employees of their rights against religious discrimination, as he had ordered Southwest to do, the lawyers penned a memo warning workers not to violate the company policy that led it to fire Carter.

Carter says she was fired for criticizing her union's decision to participate in the 2017 Women's March, a nationwide protest following the inauguration of former President Donald Trump, because Planned Parenthood was a sponsor. Carter has said she is a Christian who opposes abortion.

Starr, a Trump appointee, gave the lawyers until Aug. 28 to attend an eight-hour training conducted by Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), which is routinely involved in high-profile court cases on abortion and religious liberties.

ADF has spearheaded efforts to restrict the availability of abortion pill mifepristone and helped draft a Mississippi abortion ban upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in its June 2022 ruling eliminating women's constitutional right to abortion.

Southwest in its statement did not elaborate on the basis for its appeal.

Carter is represented by the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, a conservative worker advocacy group. Mark Mix, the group's president, said Monday's ruling "shuts down Southwest Airlines bald-faced attempt to dodge its responsibility to inform flight attendants of its wrongdoing."

Judges often require employers to take steps to remedy discriminatory conduct, such as training workers and adopting new policies, but it is unusual for them to order company officials to undergo training conducted by specific groups. Starr cited older rulings requiring lawyers to attend continuing education or ethics training.

The ruling may be unprecedented, and the choice of ADF to conduct the training is troubling given its history of advocating a conservative Christian viewpoint, according to David Lopez, who was general counsel of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) during the Obama administration.

That could interfere with the lawyers constitutional rights, he said, especially if they practice other religions.

The court is moving into some really dangerous territory here, said Lopez, who is now a law professor at Rutgers University in New Jersey.

But Andrea Lucas, a current EEOC commissioner appointed by Trump, said the case highlighted that many companies view workers' religious liberty as an afterthought.

"Companies and their lawyers should take findings of religious discrimination as seriously as discrimination based on race (or) sex," Lucas said.

ADF's chief legal counsel, Jim Campbell, said the group was "happy to help" by providing training on laws barring religious discrimination.

Every company should respect religious liberty and diverse viewpoints in the workplace," Campbell said in a statement.

Southwest has maintained that Carter was fired for harassing coworkers about the Women's March on social media in violation of a company "civility policy."

A jury last year found that Southwest and Carter's union had engaged in religious discrimination. Starr ordered them to pay Carter more than $800,000 and reinstate her to her job.

Southwest and the union are appealing that decision, which also required the airline to notify employees of their right to express their religious views on social media.

Starr on Monday said Southwest flouted that order by instead telling employees that "the court ordered us to inform you that Southwest does not discriminate against our employees for their religious practices and beliefs."

Southwest in a memo drafted by the three lawyers - Kerrie Forbes, Kevin Minchey, and Chris Maberry - also defended Carter's firing and said it would continue enforcing its social media policy.

(Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York; Editing by Deepa Babington and Jonathan Oatis)
The U.S. will announce a new military aid package for Ukraine at the end of the week, spokesperson of the U.S. State Department Matthew Miller said on Aug. 8.

"As we've said before, we continue to supply Ukraine with artillery, with a whole host of weapons," Miller said.

"We have other announcements coming later this week about additional assistance that we plan to provide to Ukraine."

Miller also said that the U.S. is considering the transfer of new missiles and defense systems to Ukraine. The spokesperson did not say whether these new systems include long-range ATACMS systems.

Reuters reported on Aug. 8 that Washington plans to announce a $200 million military aid package for Ukraine, citing two unnamed U.S. officials.

The new funds will be allocated thanks to the $6.2 billion "accounting error" discovered in June. According to Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh, the U.S. Defense Department overestimated the value of arms sent to Ukraine over the past two years by $6.2 billion, freeing up additional funds for Ukraine military aid.

The U.S. announced its previous package for Ukraine worth $400 million on July 25, including additional munitions for Patriot air defense systems, NASAMS, HIMARS, as well as Stingers, Javelins, and other weapons.

Read also: Andreas Umland: Should Kyiv be pressured to exchange land for peace?

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The U.S. State Department has confirmed that another package of security assistance for Ukraine will likely be announced in the coming days.

We continue to supply Ukraine with artillery and a whole range of weapons, Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the State Department, said at a press briefing on Aug. 8.

Read also: US announces $400 million aid package for Ukraine

At the end of this week, there will be announcements about additional assistance that we plan to provide to Ukraine.

Read also: Russia, China exploring paths for military collaboration, says Pentagon

He added that the Washington is considering the possibility of sending new missiles or defense systems to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. However, Miller did not respond to questions about the transfer of long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine.

Read also: UK closes net on Russian war machine by unveiling major sanctions package against third parties

Sabrina Singh, a spokesperson for the Pentagon, also stated that the U.S. Department of Defense currently has $6.2 billion allocated for supplying weapons to Ukraine. These funds were made available after correcting an accounting error that overvalued the cost of previously provided military support.

Earlier media reports said that the White House will announce military assistance to Ukraine in the amount of $200 million this week.

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Hong Kong (CNN)  Chinas top diplomat Wang Yi told his Russian counterpart that Beijing remains impartial on the war in Ukraine, a day after a Chinese delegation participated in international talks on ending the conflict that included Kyiv, but not Moscow.

In a call Monday, Wang stressed to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that China and Russia are trustworthy and reliable good friends and partners.

On the Ukraine crisis, China will uphold an independent and impartial position, sound an objective and rational voice, actively promote peace talks, and strive to seek a political solution on any international multilateral occasion, Wang said, according to a readout of the call released by Chinas Foreign Ministry.

The call followed two-day talks hosted by Saudi Arabia, where around 40 nations including key Ukraine allies the United States, Britain and Germany, as well as India and a number of Middle Eastern nations, met to discuss the resolution of the conflict, nearly 18 months since Moscows invasion began.

The group agreed on the importance of international dialogue to find common ground that will pave the way for peace, according to official Saudi media.

Lavrov appreciates and welcomes the constructive role played by China toward a political resolution of the Ukraine crisis, Chinas Foreign Ministry said in their readout of Mondays call.

A role for China in peace-making?

Ahead of the talks in Jeddah, Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called Chinas participation a super breakthrough and a historic victory.

Ukraine and its Western allies have long expressed hope that China and its leader Xi Jinping, a self-described friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, could play a role in pushing Moscow toward peace.

Both Xi and Putin see the other as a critical partner in reshaping what they see as an American-led world order hostile to their aims.

China has continued to bolster its economic, diplomatic, and security ties with Russia, despite Putins invasion of Ukraine, which Beijing has never condemned.

It did not send a delegation to previous international talks in Denmark in June, despite attempting to position itself as a potential peace broker on the conflict in recent months.

Chinas participation in the Jeddah talks comes as the country has strengthened its ties with Saudi Arabia, and has been ramping up efforts to rekindle its relationship with key economic partners in Europe amid economic woes and ongoing friction with Washington.

Beijings reputation in Europe has been significantly damaged by its support of Russia.

Chinas special envoy on Eurasian Affairs Li Hui, who led the delegation, had extensive contact and communication with all parties on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis listened to all sides opinions and proposals, and further consolidated international consensus, Chinas foreign ministry told Reuters in a statement Monday. CNN has reached out to the ministry for comment.

Chinas participation in the talks did not appear to alter its own stance on the conflict, however.

Beijing would continue to strengthen dialogue based on its 12-point position on a political settlement to the crisis, the ministry said following the talks, according to Reuters.

That proposal, which Beijing put forward earlier this year, calls for peace talks to end the conflict. But it departs significantly from Ukraines own vision for peace in that it urges a ceasefire without also calling for the withdrawal of Russian troops  an outcome critics say would help Moscow consolidate its illegal wartime gains.

Ukraine and Russia remain publicly committed to prerequisites for direct negotiations that the other side finds unacceptable.

Work closely and strategically

Chinas proposal was also discussed during the Monday call between Wang and Lavrov, according to the Chinese foreign ministry, with its readout quoting Lavrov as saying Russia highly endorses it.

The conversation also emphasized their alignment in the international arena more broadly, with Wang calling for both sides to work closely and strategically to promote a multi-polar world and democratization of international relations  terms used to express their shared vision for a world order where Western nations hold less sway.

An official Russian account of the call published by state-run news agency Tass said the two once again confirmed unanimity or broad consonance of Moscow and Beijings approaches to world affairs.

They noted their rejection of the Western blocs confrontational policy toward Russia and China, its attempts to contain their development by means of sanctions and other illegitimate methods, Tass said.

The call was also the first between the two since Wang was reappointed Chinas foreign minister following the shock ouster of his successor Qin Gang, who was suddenly replaced without explanation in late July after only six months in the role.

Wang was previously foreign minister for roughly a decade before being promoted to lead the ruling Chinese Communist Partys foreign affairs arm late last year. He now holds both posts.

Lavrov congratulated his Chinese counterpart on his appointment and wished him great success in his new demanding role, Tass said.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "China assures Russia it remains impartial on Ukraine war after attending Saudi peace talks."
The United States is seeking to prevent Russia from scoring a major new win with coup-hit Niger, wagering despite initial disappointment that long-standing military ties will keep the country in the Western orbit.

Niger has been the linchpin of US and French anti-jihadist operations in the Sahel, especially since the military takeover of neighboring Mali, which has shown the door to Western forces and welcomed Russia's ruthless Wagner mercenary force.

Victoria Nuland, the acting deputy secretary of state, on an unannounced visit to Niamey on Monday acknowledged little progress on reversing the July 26 coup but said that the military leaders "understand very well the risks to their sovereignty when Wagner is invited in."

She said that her main interlocutor, the newly named military chief of staff Brigadier General Moussa Salaou Barmou, has worked closely with US Special Forces and that she went into detail on "aspects of our cooperation that he has historically cared about a lot."

"So we are hopeful that that will sink in," she said.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken just months earlier paid a highest-ranking visit ever by a US official to Niger. He saluted gains under the elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, who was an honored guest both at democracy and Africa summits thrown by President Joe Biden.

US policymakers see no Russian hand in the coup but point to Russian influence operations since then, including French-language social media postings and rallies in support of the military takeover.

Playing on resentment of former ruler France, Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in a purported audio message hailed the coup as "nothing more than the struggle of the people of Niger against colonizers."

In an interview with the BBC, Blinken said that Bazoum's ouster was "not instigated by Russia or by Wagner," but warned that Wagner would "try to take advantage of it."

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller brushed aside suggestions of pro-Moscow sentiment after Russian flags appeared in demonstrations in Niger.

"I think it's very strange that if your country is taken over by a military junta and you want to show your support, the way you decide to do that is by running out and buying -- I guess at a store locally -- a Russian flag," Miller said.

- Different from Mali? -

Cameron Hudson, an Africa expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the coup showed the West had made incorrect judgments on Niger, where France and the United States together have stationed some 2,500 troops.

"I think Washington was operating under the impression that they were engaged with a very reliable Western partner," he said.

But Hudson said Niger was different from the Wagner strongholds of Mali and the Central African Republic, which both turned to the Russians after sensing an "existential threat."

He said that Niger's military, by contrast, appears happy to preserve relations with the United States -- which instead has suspended aid and demanded restoration of the constitutional order.

"But the one thing that Russia does offer is a chance to break isolation," Hudson said.

"If you do find yourself being pressured by regional and international organizations like the UN and the AU and ECOWAS, then Russia presents itself as a very convenient tool for helping to skirt or undermine that isolation."

- Benefits for Russia -

Wagner has also backed warring sides in Sudan and Libya and allegedly has links with Burkina Faso. The mercenaries offer brutal military tactics -- UN investigators say more than 500 people were massacred last year in the Malian town of Moura -- and support to preserve regimes.

In return, Wagner wins coveted access to minerals and other natural resources and Russia gains diplomatically, with Mali one of the only countries to vote no at the United Nations on condemning the Ukraine invasion.

A month before the Niger coup, Prigozhin -- a gruff former inmate who grew wealthy on catering contracts to Vladimir Putin's Kremlin -- staged a dramatic revolt at home as he derided supposed military weakness in Ukraine.

But to the surprise of many outside observers, he has survived. Shortly before the Niger coup he vowed that Wagner would step up operations in Africa.

Prigozhin "has created such a complex network of companies as well as mercenaries that he's still of value to the Kremlin, despite his actions with the mutiny," said Heather Ashby, acting director of the Center for Russia and Europe at the US Institute of Peace.

"It's lucrative for Russia to continue along these lines. And so I don't anticipate that Wagner will go anywhere."

sct/md
During a press briefing on Aug. 7, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that it was "productive that China attended" discussions on peace in Ukraine held in Saudi Arabia on Aug. 5-6.

"We have long said that it would be productive for China to play a role in ending the war in Ukraine," as long as the state respected Ukrainian territorial integrity, Miller added.

However, he said that he could not comment on Beijing's motivation for sending a representative to the talks, but believed that it is "productive for any country to come and hear directly from Ukraine."

The talks in Jeddah, which were hosted by Saudi Arabia upon the invitation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, gathered diplomats and national security advisors from over 40 countries around the world.

The countries, which did not include Russia, met to voice their position and vision on the the implementation of Ukraine's peace formula, a 10-point peace plan Zelensky announced in November 2022 at the G20 summit.

The summit comes as Russia and the West battle over the support of developing countries, which have mostly stayed neutral throughout Russia's war against Ukraine.

According to a Reuters report on Aug. 6, experts believe China's participation could signal a shift in Beijing's allegiance.

The discussions were key to the second phase of Zelensky's three-phase plan around the peace formula.

The first phase took place in June in Copenhagen, Denmark, and included a detailed discussion of each point of the proposed Peace Formula with representatives from over 20 countries.

While China was not in attendance, the Copenhagen meeting resulted in the informal agreement among participants that the format works as a platform for discussions on Ukraine's conditions for peace and how to hold a Global Peace Summit in the future.

Zelensky said on Aug. 3 that the third phase will be the organization of a Global Peace Summit by the end of 2023.

Miller said that there are no peace talks with Russia currently on the horizon, since Russia "has shown no sign of curtailing its imperialist ambitions" and refused to engage in meaningful negotiations. "This still remains an active war," he added.

Read also: Presidents Office denies Ukraine has softened its position on peace talks

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Linda Thomas-Greenfield, United States ambassador to the United Nations speaks during the UN Security Council meeting to discuss the maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine, Friday, July 21, 2023, at United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

UNITED NATIONS (AP)  The United States and its allies vowed Tuesday to keep Syrias failure to account for its chemical weapons program in the spotlight at the U.N. Security Council every month despite opposition from Russia and China.

U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the council Syrian President Bashar Assads government has repeatedly lied to the international community and to investigators from the international chemical weapons watchdog, which has confirmed that it used these banned weapons on at least nine occasions.

She said the Biden administration will continue to demand a full accounting from Syria as it pledged after joining the Chemical Weapons Convention in September 2013, when it was pressed by its close ally Russia following a deadly chemical weapons attack in the Damascus suburb of Ghouta, which the West blamed on Damascus.

For the first time, Russia and China refused to speak at the monthly meeting on the Syria chemical weapons issue, saying they are repetitive and should be cut back.

Syrias minister counsellor Alhakan Dandy did speak, saying his country was surprised at this month's meeting given that there have been no developments that would require it, other than what he called continuous attempts by the United States to exploit the chemical weapons file to serve their agenda of hostility against Syria.

He repeated Syrias condemnation of the use of chemical weapons and called claims it used such weapons in Ghouta, where more than 1,400 people were killed, lies." He also insisted the Syrian military doesn't possess any chemical weapons.

Dandy said Syria has cooperated with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, which monitors implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention. But he also accused its investigators of being politicized and using unprofessional working methods and double standards.

U.N. deputy disarmament chief Adedeji Ebo told the council, however, that Syria has failed again to provide the OPCW with a full accounting of its program, citing gaps, inconsistencies and discrepancies in its declaration.

He singled out unanswered questions about activities at Syrias Scientific Studies and Research Center and the declaration of quantities of nerve agents produced at one chemical weapons production facility that was declared by the Syrian Arab Republic as never having been used to produce chemical weapons.

Ebo reiterated the U.N.'s repeated call on Syria to respond with urgency to all OPCW questions.

Syrian representatives did meet a delegation from the OPCWs technical secretariat in Beirut on June 22 and 23, and Ebo said Syria committed to present proposals for better implementing its obligations. He said the OPCW is waiting to hear from Damascus about resuming consultations.

Thomas-Greenfield expressed regret that two permanent council members, which she didnt name, didnt speak. Russia and China were the only countries to remain silent.

The Assad regime is betting that this council will simply move on, she said. It is hoping we will change the subject.

We must not succumb to fatigue or, worse, indifference. The Assad regime used weapons of mass destruction against its own people.  And we will not move on, and the regime will not escape accountability, the U.S. ambassador said.

There was widespread support from other council members that Syria must answer all questions from the OPCW, although the United Arab Emirates, the Arab representative on the council, said the council should discuss the Syria chemical weapons issue every three months, not every month.
An internal Department of Defense audit has found military recruiters frequently failed to complete mandated checks to find recruits who are members of extremist groups, including not giving a screening questionnaire to 4 in 10 eligible recruits.

The new watchdog report amplifies the findings of a USA TODAY investigation last month, which concluded the military was unable to show any results for most of the steps in its sweeping new effort to combat extremism in the ranks.

Of 20 action steps specified by the Defense secretary and a military working group to tackle extremism, most appeared stalled or inactive, USA TODAY found. Asked specifically how many recruits had been screened out, and how many times recruiters had used new tools to scrutinize recruits' tattoos or personal histories as directed, military officials were unable to provide answers.

The U.S. military embarked on a major new initiative to safeguard its ranks from the influence of extremist groups in 2021.

The new report, completed by the Department of Defense Inspector General this month and announced on Monday, provided new specifics, from a statistical sample of recruits from July 2021 through January 2022.

It found 41% of applicants who were supposed to undergo additional screening were not asked about extremist or gang affiliations. And 40% were not asked to complete new screening forms that were introduced to the military recruitment process in 2021.

"It's unacceptable," said Heidi Beirich, co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism. "It's really just shocking that they aren't taking this seriously."

On Tuesday morning, the Department of Defense sent USA TODAY a statement acknowledging that: "due to some additional oversight it was discovered that some recruiters were not utilizing the required applicant screening steps. As a result Military Service recruiters may not have identified all applicants with extremist or criminal gang associations during the screening process."

A military official said the department has recommended more steps and reviews to make sure recruiters comply with the new rules

Investigation: The military ordered big steps to stop extremism. Two years later, it shows no results

Extremism in the military

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin launched a revolutionary new effort to combat extremism in military ranks in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.

Being affiliated with the U.S. military is the single strongest predictor of violent extremism in America, according to a report earlier this year from researchers with the University of Marylands National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism, or START.

Austin's reforms sought to confront extremism before, during and after military service. In April 2021, he authored a memo calling for four "Immediate Actions" to be taken to address extremism. The second of these required military recruiters across the armed forces to update their screening questionnaires to grill potential recruits about any previous involvement with extremist groups.

But as detailed in USA TODAY's exclusive story last month, the military since then has been largely unable to demonstrate any effects of the new efforts.

A working group was formed to assess the military's progress in implementing Austin's changes, including his order to update and standardize so-called accession screening questionnaires for new recruits. The working group concluded in December 2021 that the armed forces had updated those forms to include questions about whether recruits were part of racially biased or extremist groups.

But when USA TODAY asked to review copies of those new questionnaires this year, the military did not provide them. Indeed, in response to a request under the federal Freedom of Information Act, Marine Corps officials on Monday said they could not locate a current accession screening questionnaire and requested further clarity about what, exactly, the form might be.

As the new audit finds, recruiters often aren't using the new questionnaires anyway.

The audit's findings

In addition to not using the new screening questionnaires, the Inspector General's audit also found:

 9% of applicants were not fingerprinted.

 1% of applicants (one person) did not undergo a background check.

 Air Force recruiters initially erroneously labeled 34% of the sample of recruits as having extremist or gang affiliations. Despite the false red flags, however, those recruits' applications were not halted "because of a lack of system controls."

The Inspector General found that most recruits were being checked for questionable tattoos, with recruiters failing to check for them in only 9% of cases. But the military's extremism efforts called on recruiters to do more than simply review tattoos.

The previous military working group touted a partnership offering military recruiters access to FBI databases of extremist symbols, specifically to review questionable tattoos. When USA TODAY asked the military and FBI how often this partnership was being used, the agencies had no response.

The new Inspector General's report concludes: "While the FBI is available to assist with tattoo analysis, we did not identify any instances where recruiters contacted the FBI."

The Inspector General's survey obtained data about applicants from a statistical sample of recruits. From July 1, 2021, to Jan. 31, 2022, inspectors sampled a population of 193,702 people to examine the records of about 200 people.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin during a meeting with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius at the Pentagon on June 28, 2023 in Arlington, Virginia.

The Inspector General's office included in its audit a list of recommendations to fix the recruiting problems. "Officials from the Offices of the Secretary of the Army, Navy, and Air Force agreed with the recommendations," the report says.

Some branches of the armed services told inspectors they had already brought in new changes. The Army, for example, has pledged to stop applications from anyone who admits to past involvement with criminal gangs or extremists, the audit states. A waiver is then required for the application to continue.

An 'astonishing lack of commitment'

Kathleen Belew, a Northwestern University historian and author of Bring the War Home: The White Power Movement and Paramilitary America, has been sounding the alarm about extremism in the military for years. Belew called the Inspector General's findings "an astonishing lack of commitment to a problem that the FBI, DHS, and DOD itself have recognized as a threat to our nation: extremism, and violent attacks, by white power and militant right activists."

"It seems to me that either people aren't following military policy ... or that the policy was only for show," Belew wrote to USA TODAY. "Either scenario is a damning indictment of our attempt to reckon with the high number of military personnel involved in extremist violence."

Still waiting on an internal study

Another of Austins orders was to commission a study into extremism in the militarys total force, something experts told USA TODAY would be an essential foundation for dealing with the problem.

USA TODAY confirmed that the study was completed more than a year ago, in June 2022, but as of last month remained in an indefinite holding pattern as senior leaders review its findings. The Inspector General's report makes no mention of the total force study, which has yet to be released.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Military failed to screen for extremists, Inspector General finds
Law enforcement stand watch near a memorial dedicated to the 19 children and two adults murdered on May 24, 2022 during the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2023 in Uvalde, Texas. Brandon Bell/Getty Images

A cousin of the Uvalde school shooter threatened to "do the same thing," his mom told police.

His mother called police, saying her son had threatened to shoot his sister and a nearby school.

His mother also told police she had overheard him trying to illegally buy an AR-15 rifle.

The Uvalde school shooter's teenage cousin tried to illegally get an AR-15 rifle and threatened to "do the same thing" as his cousin, his mother told police.

The San Antonio Police Department arrested the 17-year-old on Monday and charged him with one felony and one misdemeanor count of making terroristic threats against a public place and a family member, CNN reported.

According to an arrest warrant viewed by The New York Times, the teen had threatened to shoot his sister in the head and to "shoot the school." The family lives across the street from an elementary school, the Times reported, citing the arrest warrant.

The teen denied making threats against the school or his sister, The Times reported, citing the warrant. His lawyer, Jacqueline Lamerson, declined to comment on the case.

The teen's mother told police that her son told his sister that he wanted to "do the same thing" as his cousin, who killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, in May 2022, according to the affidavit seen by The Times.

The teen's sister told their mother about his statements, and the mother called the police, local outlet Fox29 reported.

His mother also told police she had overheard her son on the phone trying to buy an AR-15 rifle through "an illegal private sale," the warrant said, according to The New York Times.

The San Antonio Police Department did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Insider
A 17-year-old cousin of the Uvalde mass shooter who gunned down 19 children and two teachers at a school last year was arrested after he reportedly told his family that he planned to do the same thing.

Nathan Cruz, 17, was taken into custody on Monday and charged with making terroristic threats to a public place and threats to a family member, according to online jail records.

In an arrest warrant obtained by KSAT, Mr Cruzs mother alerted the authorities after she discovered that her son had made statements that he planned to shoot the school.

She was especially concerned because the suspect is currently on probation, was intoxicated at the time, and for the fact that they live near an elementary school, the affidavit states. It was noted that they live across the street from the Gardendale Early Learning Program.

Mr Cruz is the cousin of Salvador Ramos, the 18-year-old who opened fire at Robb Elementary School in May 2022, San Antonio police Sgt Washington Moscoso told the New York Times.

Nathan Cruz, 17, is the cousin of Salvador Ramos, the 18-year-old who fatally shot 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in May 2022 (San Antonio Police Department)

Ramos was armed with an assault rifle and tactical vest when he carried out one of the deadliest school shootings in recent years.

He was eventually shot and killed by an officer but law enforcements response to the rampage and the decision to wait more than an hour to enter the classrooms where children were left dying has been heavily scrutinised.

More than a year later, Ramos cousin apparently told his sister that he planned to do the same thing as his cousin, according to an arrest affidavit. He later denied making the threats.

Salvador Ramos is the 18-year-old who opened fire at Robb Elementary School in May 2022 (Texas Department of Public Safety)

Mourners walk next to a mural of shooting victims before a candlelight vigil in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 24, 2023 on the one year anniversary of the rampage (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Mr Cruzs mother added in her statement that he had threatened to shoot his sister in the head, and that his sister believed it was a credible threat due to the recent history of their family and the suspects knowledge of his cousins actions.

Sgt Moscoso of the San Antonio Police Department told The Times that the threats were serious enough to merit an arrest.

She called the police because she was concerned of what her son was going to do, he said.

God knows what could have happened, he added. Because she did the right thing, this individual has been arrested.

Mr Cruz is in the Bexar County Jail on a $160,000 bond, jail records show.
The 17-year-old cousin of a gunman who killed 21 people at a Texas elementary school in 2022 was arrested after being accused of threats to execute his own mass shooting, reports say.

Nathan Cruz, the cousin of the Salvador Ramos, was reportedly arrested Monday, Aug. 7, in San Antonio. Ramos fatally shot 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde on May 24, 2022.

According to an arrest warrant obtained by WOAI, Cruz told his sister he would do the same thing as his cousin. His sister told their mother, the station reported.

His mother also heard her son on the phone trying to illegally purchase an AR-15, according to the San Antonio Express-News. An AR-15 is the same style of gun used in the Robb Elementary School shooting.

Cruz, who is also accused of threatening to shoot his sister, was arrested after his mother called police.

God knows what could have happened, Sgt. Washington Moscoso of the San Antonio Police Department told The New York Times. Because she did the right thing, this individual has been arrested.

Cruz lives across the street from a San Antonio elementary school, KSAT reported.

Edgewood ISD has been made aware a teenager is now in police custody accused of making a threat against a school on the citys west side, the school district said in a statement obtained by WOAI. Edgewood ISD is committed to the safety and security of all students, faculty, and staff. Each campus has an assigned Safety Officer. We encourage everyone to report any suspicious activity; if you see something, say something. 

Court records show Cruz faces a felony charge of making a terroristic threat to a public place and a misdemeanor charge of making a terroristic threat to a family member.
A cousin of the shooter who killed 19 students and two teachers at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, was arrested on Monday after his concerned family allegedly told police he threatened to do the same thing.

The 17-year-old was taken into custody on Monday morning on suspicion of making a terroristic threat to a public place after his mother called police.

According to an arrest warrant obtained by HuffPost, she said her son had made concerning statements to his sister that indicated he was going to commit a mass shooting at an elementary school across the street from where they lived in San Antonio.

This photo taken on May 24 shows pictures of victims of a school mass shooting placed at the former Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

This photo taken on May 24 shows pictures of victims of a school mass shooting placed at the former Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

According to the arrest warrant, the 17-year-olds sister told officers that her brother threatened to shoot her in the head and made alarming statements to shoot the school and that school is starting soon.

The suspects sister feared the suspect would act on his threat to shoot her and was placed in fear of serious bodily injury or death, the warrant read. She also believed that the threat to the school was credible due to the recent history of their family and the suspects knowledge of his cousins actions.

On May 24, 2022, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos shot his grandmother before traveling to Robb Elementary School in Uvalde and killing 19 students and two teachers using an AR-15 rifle. He was then shot and killed by law enforcement.

The San Antonio teenagers mother told officers she had overheard a phone conversation in which he was attempting to buy an AR-15, the warrant said. It wasnt clear who he was talking to on the phone. It is illegal to sell a firearm in Texas to anyone under the age of 18.

According to the arrest warrant, the teenager was on probation at the time, and his mother also told officers he was intoxicated at the time he made the statements.

He was taken into custody shortly after his mother called police, but he denied making any threats, according to the arrest warrant.

According to Bexar County court records, he is currently awaiting indictment. The Bexar County public defenders office declined to comment on the case.

Related...
FILE - Flowers and candles are placed around crosses on May 28, 2022, at a memorial outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, to honor the victims killed in the school shooting. The teenage cousin of the gunman responsible for deadly school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, has been arrested Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, after his family told police he was trying to buy a gun and do the same thing, court records show. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

SAN ANTONIO (AP)  The teenage cousin of the gunman responsible for the deadly school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, has been arrested after his family told police he was trying to buy a gun and do the same thing, court records show.

Police in San Antonio took Nathan James Cruz into custody Monday on charges of making threats to a public place and a family member. The 17-year-old cousin was being held in the Bexar County jail on a $160,000 bond Tuesday, jail records show.

According to police and court records, Cruz is the cousin of Salvador Ramos, the 18-year-old Uvalde resident who authorities say fatally shot 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in 2022. Police waited more than an hour to confront and kill Ramos.

The charges against Cruz stem from his mother calling police to tell them he was also threatening to open fire at a school and had said he'd shoot his sister, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by local news outlets. The San Antonio Express-News reports the mom also told officers she overheard Cruz trying to obtain a rifle over the phone.

Cruz denied making any threats when interviewed by detectives, according to the court record. The Bexar County Public Defenders Office, which is representing him, declined to comment.

Following the massacre in Uvalde, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has waved off calls for tougher gun laws, just as he did after mass shootings at a Sutherland Springs church in 2017 and an El Paso Walmart in 2018. The issue didn't turn Texas voters away from the Republican, who easily won a third term months after the shooting.

More than a year since the killings, the state criminal investigation into the hesitant police response to Texas deadliest school shooting remains ongoing.
Homeless and at-risk veterans in central Florida will soon have easier access to medical care through a new program that brings a clinic to them.

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced last week that it will deploy mobile medical units to 25 cities across the country in the next six months to provide services to unhoused veterans and others who face difficulties getting to a VA medical center or clinic.

The first, a Ford F-550 unit, arrived in Orlando, Florida, last week, while the second, a Sprinter unit, will go to Oklahoma City on Sept. 1. Los Angeles, the city with the largest population of unhoused veterans in the U.S. -- an estimated 1,500 -- is expected to get the third unit.

Read Next: Air Force, Space Force Offer New Mental Health Referrals Under Brandon Act

The remaining mobile units will roll to their destinations through February 2024, according to the VA.

The clinics are designed to move to different locations to provide medical care and services to unhoused and at-risk veterans, including primary care, women's health, mental health, laboratory tests and audiology.

More than 33,000 veterans are homeless in the U.S., and thousands more are at risk for losing their homes or being on the streets as the result of financial difficulties or unstable living conditions, such as residing temporarily with friends or family.

The mobile medical units, provided as part of the department's Homeless Patient Aligned Care Teams program, help ease the challenges these veterans face when needing health care.

"Veterans experiencing homelessness face a variety of barriers to accessing health care, including a lack of transportation," VA Secretary Denis McDonough said in a statement released Thursday. "With these new mobile medical units, homeless and at-risk veterans don't have to visit VA hospitals -- we come right to them."

According to results of the 2022 "Point-In-Time," or PIT, count, roughly 33,136 of the nation's estimated 582,000 homeless persons are veterans. The estimate is based on a count conducted by volunteers on a single day in January and is not considered a full accounting of the nation's homeless, given that it does not include those living in hotels or temporarily staying in someone else's house. However, the count is considered the primary source of nationwide data on homelessness.

The VA has made abolishing homelessness among veterans a priority. In 2022, it housed 40,401 veterans, exceeding a goal it set for the year by more than 2,000 veterans.

The department also helped keep 17,700 veterans in their homes last year and prevented 191,700 veteran families from losing their homes as the result of financial difficulties.

According to the Homeless Services Network of Central Florida, homelessness among veterans in the counties surrounding Orlando increased by 27% during the 2023 PIT count to 189 individuals.

The new mobile medical van will help these former service members and soon others in 18 states.

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Military.com.

Related: Homelessness Among Veterans Down 11% Since Start of Pandemic
Former President Donald Trump claimed he would be seeking the recusal of U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan  the federal judge overseeing his election conspiracy case  in a recent Truth Social post, but his latest lawyer seemed to indicate that the legal team has no such immediate plans. "THERE IS NO WAY I CAN GET A FAIR TRIAL WITH THE JUDGE 'ASSIGNED' TO THE RIDICULOUS FREEDOM OF SPEECH/FAIR ELECTIONS CASE," Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday. "EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS, AND SO DOES SHE! WE WILL BE IMMEDIATELY ASKING FOR RECUSAL OF THIS JUDGE ON VERY POWERFUL GROUNDS, AND LIKEWISE FOR VENUE CHANGE, OUT IF D.C. [sic]"

Not long after, however, Trump attorney John Lauro claimed that the former president had merely been speaking with "a layman's political sense," expressing frustration that Chutkan had been nominated to the bench by former President Barack Obama. "We haven't made a final decision on that issue at all," Lauro said on a podcast hosted by David Markus, a Florida attorney who previously turned down Trump as a client. "I think as lawyers we have to be very careful of those issues and handle them with the utmost delicacy," Lauro continued. "I think it's a little bit different than our standard case where we would pull our hair out if a client commented on a prosecutor or a judge. He feels strongly that he needs to speak out, and he also, in particular, looks at this prosecution as a political prosecution. I think, in his mind, it's sort of fair game from a political perspective to make these comments."

"I have a responsibility, certainly, as an officer of the court to conduct the proceedings in a dignified manner, and I will do that at all times," Lauro added. "To the extent that I can make any appropriate suggestions to a client, I do. But as we know, David, sometimes clients follow our suggestions, sometimes they don't."
In July 2023, Facebook users began to copy, paste, and share a post that described a scary-sounding incident that supposedly occurred on a woman's solo drive from Kaleva, Michigan, to the town of Ann Arbor.

According to the story, an unnamed woman was told by an unspecified car rental company employee that her SUV rental had been "flagged" in yellow paint by one or more criminals with the letters "AF." The letters purportedly stood for "alone female," according to the employee, who then advised that she call the police.

The apparent implication in the viral post was that the matter was connected with kidnapping and possibly human-sex trafficking, a kind of rumor that we had seen many times before.

As of Aug. 8, we have thus far been unable to confirm the details of this story. The original post, before it spread virally, had either been made private or was removed. We found no news stories in the state of Michigan that talked about "AF" for "alone female" being painted on a car. Further, the story presented no names other than "a friend of a friend," no brand for the car rental company, and few other identifying details.

To learn more, we contacted media relations representatives for the Michigan State Police and the Ann Arbor Police Department. We also reached out to Avis Budget Group, Enterprise Holdings, and Hertz. Each of the three companies represent most, if not all, of the major U.S. brands that offer car rentals.

This story will be updated if we receive any responses to our emails. If any readers have further knowledge of any such incident and can provide evidence regarding the matter, please contact us.

In the comments section of one of the Facebook posts, we noticed a familiar conversation that we often see with many of these sorts of stories. After one user referred to the story as a "hoax," another person responded, "I don't care if it's true or if it's a hoax," adding that the tale was "a good reminder of the need to be aware."

The original post was being shared as what we refer to as "copypasta," and read as follows:

WARNING!!!!!! This is from a friend of a friend who was driving from Kelava, MI, to Ann Arbor, MI. But the point is it could happen anywhere. I'm driving a rental and noticed some strange letters in yellow paint marker today on the corner rear, driver's side back window. It says "AF". I've had this SUV a few days, and swear it wasn't there when I picked it up. So, I phoned the rental company and asked if they wrote anything on the window? He replied, " Is it two letters"? "Yes," I said. "AF, why?" (He said no, they don't write anything on their rentals.) He then asked if I recall making any stops along my trip, [to] which I replied, "Yes, several." "Be watchful the rest of your trip, remove the letters, and check every stop if there are more," he said. "Your vehicle was flagged somewhere you stopped. The letters mean, 'Alone Female.'" "Call the police if you come out at any stop and see any letters on your window."

Sources:

Emery, David, and Bond Huberman. "Snopestionary: What Is Copypasta?" Snopes, 19 Sept. 2021, https://www.snopes.com/articles/369246/what-is-copypasta/.

"WARNING!!!!!! This Is from a Friend of a Friend Who Was Driving from Kelava, MI to Ann Arbor, MI. But the Point Is It Could Happen Anywhere." Facebook, 19 July 2023, https://www.facebook.com/turner.stefany/posts/1945962692435702.
Today, voters in Ohio will go to the polls to deliberate on a change to the states referendum law. Backed by prominent Republicans and their patrons in the business community  particularly, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce  the initiative would raise the bar required to secure amendments to the state constitution. Since 1912, when Ohio joined other states in adopting the referendum system, voters have been able to bypass the state Legislature and amend the constitution by a simple majority. The new measure would require 60 percent support.

Its little mystery why Ohio Republicans snuck a late initiative onto the ballot, just months after the GOP-dominated Legislature passed a law banning August referenda at the local level, on the reasonable grounds that voter participation rates are lower during the dog days of summer. In 2019, the heavily gerrymandered Legislature passed a deeply unpopular bill prohibiting abortions after six weeks of pregnancy  before many women know they are pregnant  without exceptions for rape or incest. The law is currently on hold, pending judicial review. In response, reproductive rights advocates secured enough petition signatures to put a referendum before the voters this November; if it passes, abortion rights will be enshrined in the Constitution, beyond the Legislatures ability to meddle.

Given current polling, Republicans are expected to lose the November vote, so theyre trying to change the rules mid-game. The gambit is so transparent that even two former GOP governors, Robert Taft and John Kasich, have come out in opposition.

The struggle over popular governance is an old one. As is the case today, many state legislatures in the early 20th century had grown unrepresentative, through a combination of malapportionment and gerrymandering. During the Progressive Era, states like Ohio adopted new political instruments, including popular referenda and ballot initiatives, to circumvent legislatures that no longer reflected the will of the voters.

Whats at stake in todays vote is not just abortion rights, but whether Ohio will turn its back on a hard-won legacy dating back over a century.



Though dynamics in every state were different, powerful corporate interests increasingly controlled the economy during the early 20th century. Between 1897 and 1903 the number of tight combinations, or mega-holding corporations, grew from just seven to over 300, and these 300 corporations controlled 40 percent of all manufacturing in the United States.

In a nation where state legislatures still elected United States senators, and where in many states, legislatures were not apportioned strictly by population, but rather, by town or county, corporate interests held considerable sway over government at all levels. They funded well-oiled machines that controlled the levers of government and easily exploited the electorates limited ability to affect the practical outcome of elections. Unsurprisingly, those who governed were increasingly removed from a rising population of urban workers, many of them non-Protestant immigrants who clamored for better public services, regulation of public utilities  like railroads, power and street cars  and new worker and consumer safety protections.

While legislatures tended to be undemocratically apportioned, voters could often elect mayors and governors who favored progressive reforms. Such reforms included home rule charters, which freed cities from oversight by corrupt state legislatures, as well as new provisions such as ballot initiatives and referenda, which allowed a states voters to govern themselves directly, without legislative oversight. In 1896, the National Direct Legislation League met in St. Louis and selected 56 delegates from 37 states who would lead the charge for these innovative electoral reforms. California, under progressive Governor Hiram Johnson, and Wisconsin, under the progressive Governor Robert LaFollette, were early trailblazers in direct democracy. But Ohio was not far behind.



There, progressive forces, including those aligned with Cleveland Mayor Tom Johnson, and Social Gospel activists led by the Reverend Herbert S. Bigelow of Cincinnati's Vine Street Congregational Church, clamored for initiative and referenda reforms. In 1906, a referendum bill passed the state Senate but died in the lower house. Two years later, activists secured full legislative approval, but the governor, closely aligned with the states business interests, worked behind the scenes to kill the bill in conference committee.

It took a state constitutional convention in 1912, during the high-water mark of political progressivism  the same year that Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson squared off against each other for the White House  to get a referendum provision on the ballot. Notably, both leading presidential candidates backed the idea. In a speech before the Ohio constitutional convention, Roosevelt affirmed, I believe in the Initiative and Referendum, which should be used not to destroy representative government, but to correct it whenever it becomes misrepresentative. Wilson, for his part, observed that the immediate thing we have got to do is resume popular government. We are cleaning house and in order to clean house the one thing we need is a good broom. Initiative & Referendum are good brooms.

The lead-up to the ratification vote was the most bitter and momentous struggle known in the state for a generation, a contemporary observer noted. Every ruse and trick known to Big Business politicians was employed to frighten the people of Ohio from adopting the I&R. The whole corporate power of the state backed by Wall Street money and influence was thrown into the fight. In the end, the provision won with over 57 percent support.

Once a swing state, Ohio has grown steadily redder in recent years. But it is also one of the most extreme cases in legislative and congressional gerrymandering in the country. By drawing maps that stack the decks in their favor, engaging in widespread voter registration purges that disproportionately affect young and minority voters and making it harder to register altogether, the legislative majority  even in defiance of the State Supreme Court, which has ruled some of these practices unconstitutional  has ensured for itself a lasting supermajority, seemingly in perpetuity.

But in attempting to ram an unpopular abortion ban down the voters throats, and in their cynical attempt to change the way referendums operate to preserve that widely detested law, the GOP majority may have overplayed its hand. To paraphrase Roosevelt, when a legislature becomes misrepresentative, a referendum can operate as a much-needed corrective.

Todays vote will determine whether Ohioans preserve an important artifact of their Progressive Era legacy. As was the case in 1912, at issue is the very nature of what it means to govern and be governed.


(Bloomberg) -- The Central African Republic voted to abolish term limits in a July 29 constitutional referendum, which may result in President Faustin-Archange Touadera seeking reelection in 2025.

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The proposed new constitution that abolishes a two-term limit and extends the presidential mandate from five to seven years won approval by 95% of voters, the National Electoral Authority said in a statement. Voter participation was 61%. Opposition parties and civil society groups boycotted the referendum, which they deemed unlawful.

The Central African Republic is one of several African countries where Russias Wagner Group has established a presence in recent years, offering its services often in return for mineral resources, as a way to indirectly bolster the Kremlins geopolitical reach, according to the US Treasury and the Sentry, a US nonprofit.

The foreign fighters have played a central role in helping Touadera, 66, maintain his grip on power. Wagner was hired by Touadera in 2018 to help fend off rebels that continue to control large swathes of the country. Two years later, they protected him again, as rebels advanced on Bangui, the capital, days before Touadera sought reelection.

Wagner has about 1,500 troops including instructors and private military contractors in the Central African Republic, where they operate alongside the countrys army.

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Central African Republics president won a referendum scrapping term limits on his rule. Though the vote was criticized by opponents who claimed low turnout, it cast a spotlight on CARs reliance on the Wagner mercenary group, which is helping the nations security forces combat an alliance of rebel groups.

And in Niger, which is currently gripped by the fallout of a coup, the military-led authorities have also reportedly requested the organizations help.

Weve collected insights you should read about Wagners influence in Africa.

Insights

The CAR referendum victory gave President Faustin-Archange Touadera the ability to run for office as many times as he wishes , scrapping an existing two-term limit. He won the vote by a 95% margin, but in some parts of the country, which is suffering a protracted civil war, only an estimated 10% of voters actually cast a ballot. Wagner mercenaries  who were previously accused of war crimes in CAR  provided security at the referendum, and have propped up Touaderas government against rebel groups which control huge portions of the country. 

In Niger, which is currently navigating the fallout of a coup , one junta leader made contact with Wagner forces in neighboring Mali. They need (Wagner) because they will become their guarantee to hold onto power, journalist Wassim Nasr said. The request was made as a deadline for the junta to release the countrys President Mohamed Bazoum, or face military intervention, passed. 

Despite rumors that Wagner was pulling forces from Africa, there are signs that the paramilitary group is actually upping its presence in the region. That could be because the organization is useful for Russian foreign policy. Given that Africa remains a very permissive environment for Russian engagement, I suspect that well continue to see Wagner (or a reconstituted version of Wagner) continue to operate in Africa, Joseph Siegle, the director of research at National Defense Universitys Africa Center for Strategic Studies, said in a recent interview. 

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There are about 1,500 Wagner troops in CAR. They work in conjunction with the countrys own military, and protected Touadera during a 2018 re-election. The mercenary organization, headed by Russian oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin, has established itself in several African countries, including Sudan, Libya, Burkina Faso, and Mali.
FILE PHOTO: An aerial view of Bin village of the Mingin Township in Sagaing region after villagers say it was set ablaze by the Myanmar military

GENEVA (Reuters) - War crimes committed by Myanmar's military, including the bombing of civilians, have become "increasingly frequent and brazen", a team of United Nations investigators said in a report published on Tuesday.

The report by the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), which covered the period between July 2022 and June 2023, said there was "strong evidence that the Myanmar military and its affiliate militias have committed three types of combat-related war crimes with increasing frequency and brazenness".

These crimes include the indiscriminate or disproportionate targeting of civilians using bombs and the burning of civilian homes and buildings, resulting at times in the destruction of entire villages, it said.

The report also cited "killings of civilians or combatants detained during operations".

"Our evidence points to a dramatic increase in war crimes and crimes against humanity in the country, with widespread and systematic attacks against civilians, and we are building case files that can be used by courts to hold individual perpetrators responsible," said Nicholas Koumjian, head of the IIMM.

Since a junta seized power two years ago, Myanmar has been plunged into chaos, with a resistance movement fighting the military on multiple fronts after a bloody crackdown on opponents that saw Western countries re-impose sanctions.

A spokesperson for the junta could not be reached for comment on the findings made by U.N. investigators.

The junta has previously denied atrocities have taken place, saying it is carrying out a legitimate campaign against terrorists.

Although it has justified bombings as attacks against military targets, UN investigators said the Myanmar military "should have known or did know" that a large number of civilians were in or around the alleged targets when the attacks took place.

(Reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber and Thu Thu Aung; Editing by Gareth Jones)
KITTERY, Maine  A developer has a purchase and sale agreement for Warrens Lobster House and is seeking approval to turn the iconic restaurant into eight residential condominiums and a 20-slip marina.

Kittery Planning Board documents outline applicant Green & Company Real Estate's proposal to acquire the 9-13 Water Street property where the 350-seat restaurant is located. A duplex residence is also located on the property, as is the Chrissy D. Lobster Company.

The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is seen across the river from the well loved Warren's Loster House in Kittery Aug. 11, 2023. The Cunningham family is considering selling Warrens and the entire property after being approached by the potential buyer in the spring.

The Planning Board held its first review of the proposal Thursday.

Longtime property owner Scott Cunningham confirmed his family is considering selling Warrens and the entire property after being approached by the potential buyer in the spring. A sale of the property, however, depends on the outcome of the Planning Board process.

The restaurant will remain open for the foreseeable future as the development review process takes place, Cunningham said.

'We are getting older'

Scott and Claudia Cunningham are seen in a 2015 Foster's Daily Democrat file photo that accompanied a story on the Cunningham's earning a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Maine Restaurant Association.

Both myself and my wife, who are the primary shareholders, are getting older, Cunningham said. Our second generation running the operation, being my son and daughter, are also aging. The restaurant business has changed dramatically from what it was prior to COVID-19. Its gotten much more difficult, and we felt that when we were approached with the offer, it was time to take a look at it and see what the viability of selling it was.

Cunningham owns the restaurant with his wife, Claudia, in addition to their son, Brad Cunningham, and daughter, Colleen MacDonald. The Cunninghams purchased the business with a partner in 1984, though the family has owned it outright since 2006.

Green & Company Real Estate will be represented by John Chagnon of Ambit Engineering/ Haley Ward, and the applicant is seeking Planning Board guidance on the feasibility of the proposed housing and marina project, which would require town approval of a non-conforming use.

A proposal going before the Kittery Planning Board reveals Warren's Lobster House, established in 1940 on Water Street, may be sold and redeveloped into condominiums and a 20-slip marina, pending the board's approval and a sale of the property.

The developer argues the restaurant itself is already a non-conforming use and the proposed condominiums and marina would simply change one non-conforming use to another, which the town is allowed to approve.

(Town code) states that an existing nonconforming use may be changed to another nonconforming use with the approval of the Planning Board' within Shoreland or Resource Protection Overlay Zones, the developer states in documents filed with the Planning Board. This authorizes the board to approve the non-conforming restaurant use to be changed to a non-conforming residential use.

Chrissy D Lobster Company is part of the 9-13 Water Street property which also contains Warren's Lobster House in Kittery.

The applicant is considering whether to purchase the property for this purpose, the project description continues. The principal question before the board is whether expansion and relocation of a non-conforming use is supported along with a reduction in the non-conformity of structures and impervious surfaces on the site

Plans state the eight condominium units will be listed for ownership. The right to lease eight of the marina slips would be assigned to the individual owners of the condominiums, though the rest may be available to the general public.

The restaurant dates back to 1940 when Warren Pete Wurm opened the then six-stool lobster stand.

Warrens reopened to the public in February of this year after closing for over a month due to a pre-Christmas 2022 storm that flooded the restaurant with four to six inches of water, leading to all carpeting, hardwood, subflooring and drywall being replaced.

More: Warren's Lobster House reopening after storm damage: 'More water than weve ever seen'

The proposals first appearance before the town Planning Board this week was the first in a lengthy process before the body. Even if the deal comes to pass and the town signs off on the proposal, Warrens would not be closing for some time, Cunningham said.

Cunningham predicted it could be at least a year before anything happens to the waterfront eatery and its landmark lobster sign above U.S. Route 1 and Water Street, which reads: The Seacoasts Finest Salad Bar.

A narrative for the project filed with the town planning department notes the business sign and the garage on the lot would also be removed as part of the potential project.

The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is seen across the river from the well loved Warren's Loster House in Kittery Aug. 11, 2023. The Cunningham family is considering selling Warrens and the entire property after being approached by the potential buyer in the spring.

We realize that should it come to pass, its going to be hard for us, as well as hard for other folks. After all, Warrens has been in existence for 80-plus years, Cunningham stated. As I said, the restaurant business has changed dramatically and when we were approached with the possibility, we felt it really was time to look at this and time for the current management to possibly move on and move to another chapter in our lives. We understand that its a lot of history and its not going to be an easy thing to walk away from.

The 9 Water Street site where the restaurant, built in 1955, is located was last appraised by the town at $2,015,600, town property records show. The entire Water Street area involved in the proposal sits in the towns Mixed-Use Kittery Foreside zoning district.

Related story: Chauncey Creek Lobster Pier owner retiring. Iconic spot to be listed for $3.9 million.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Warren's Lobster House in Kittery faces demolition for condos, marina
Some military recruiters are skipping a screening process meant to flag whether applicants looking to enlist have affiliations with gangs or extremist groups, the Pentagon's internal watchdog has found.

In a sample of 224 recruits from 2021 to 2022, 41% of applicants were not properly interviewed about affiliation with radical groups or gangs, while 12% did not have their tattoos properly examined, according to a Defense Department inspector general report released to the public Monday.

The news comes as the services confront an unprecedented recruiting crisis and recruiters face immense pressure to meet quotas and get a shrinking pool of eligible applicants to sign up. At the same time, the Pentagon has grappled with how to root out extremists from the military ranks as the threat of violence from extremist groups -- and members with military backgrounds -- has ballooned in the U.S.

Read Next: Army's New Enlisted Leader: The Bet a Green Beret Can Lead the Rank and File

"As a result of not completing required applicant screening steps, military service recruiters may not have identified all applicants with extremist or criminal gang associations during the screening process, increasing the potential for future security risks and disruptions to good order, morale and discipline," the IG said in a statement.

Recruiters are expected to do a broad interview with applicants, mostly to determine whether anything in their background could compromise their ability to serve. But when it comes to extremist or gang affiliation, most of that is self-reported.

The military's vetting process generally does not go deeper than an applicant's criminal background and an unobtrusive questionnaire.

However, as part of the process, recruiters are supposed to identify whether applicants' tattoos comply with policy. Each service has generally relaxed rules for tattoos, but they draw the line at anything obscene, discriminatory, or referencing radical ideologies or gangs.

Tattoos can be an indication of membership in extremist groups, such as the National Socialist Movement or the Atomwaffen Division, two neo-Nazi white supremacist groups that are active in the U.S.

However, there is a wide and ever-changing range of extremist groups, meaning numerous logos and potential tattoos referencing them. Obscure references could skate by any examinations. If a tattoo is in question, the applicant self-reports what its meaning is.

Social media activity -- where members of extremist groups may often expose their beliefs -- is also a weak point of military enlistment vetting.

There is no broad Pentagon policy to vet an applicant's social media, which could provide the military with important indicators. But such an effort could also be a minefield by attempting to train midlevel noncommissioned officers on complex indicators of radicalism.

Experts have increasingly warned that those with a military background can serve as force multipliers for radical groups as extremist threats of violence and attack plots have proliferated in recent years. Also, even the most basic military training -- including mission planning, weapons maintenance and simple combat maneuvers -- can be useful to those extremist groups.

Spc. Killian Ryan, an 82nd Airborne Division soldier, was arrested in August last year and later kicked out of the Army.

Ryan claimed to have joined the military to become proficient at killing Black people, according to one social media post he wrote in May 2021, two weeks after he enlisted in the service. His personal email address was "NaziAce1488," a reference to Adolf Hitler and white supremacy.

In the past 30 years, Americans with a military background have killed 314 people in extremist activity and injured another 1,978, according to a congressional report.

-- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon.

Related: An Accused White Nationalist Is Serving in the Montana Guard Despite Efforts Against Extremism
Wayne Brady has come out as pansexual.

The 51-year-old American television personality, actor and comedian opened up about his sexuality and the process of how he came to terms with his identity.

In an interview with People, the Lets Make a Deal host revealed hes pansexual.

I am pansexual. [Im] Bisexual  with an open mind, Brady said.

The How I Met Your Mother star said hed been doing research on different types of sexualities and couldnt determine whether he was bisexual because I had to really see what that was, especially because I really have not gotten a chance to act on anything.

So, I came to pansexual because  and I know that Im completely messing up the dictionary meaning  but to me, pan means being able to be attracted to anyone who identifies as gay, straight, bi, transsexual or non-binary. Being able to be attracted across the board, Brady said.

And, I think, at least for me for right now, that is the proper place. I took pan to mean that not only can I be attracted to any of these people or types physically, but I could be attracted to the person that is there.

In Greek, pan translates to all and therefore, the term pansexual can be understood as a sexual identity used to describe being attracted to people of all genders, beyond male-female parameters.

(2022 Invision)

This can include those who identify as transgender, non-binary, intersex and more.

Brady revealed the first person he came out to was his ex-wife Mandie Taketa, who was quite supportive of her ex.

Taketa reportedly told Brady that discovering his identity was great for him as she knew coming out would help him be happier.

Im still coming together. But If Im healthy, then I can go onstage at Lets Make A Deal and be the best Wayne Brady that everybody wants and expects, Brady said.

I can be the best dad that Maile needs. I can be the best friend to Mandie, the best son to my mother, and one day, the best partner to someone, because Im doing this for me, he said.

Not dating yet though! [Laughs] I am single, but its not about being with someone right now. Ive got some work to do still. Then, Wayne as a single, open-minded pansexual can make a decision and be free and open to other people.
Wayne Brady | Bruce Glikas via Getty Images

After embarking on a path of self-discovery in recent years, Wayne Brady has found an answer that has helped him find peace within himself. Speaking with People, the 51-year-old actor came out as pansexual. Although he initially considered the definition of bisexual, Brady said he realized that he doesnt fit into that description.

I couldnt say if I was bisexual, because I had to really see what that was, especially because I really have not gotten a chance to act on anything, the Hollywood star told People.

Brady said he realized that he is attracted to anyone who identifies as gay, straight, bi, transsexual or nonbinary.

I think, at least for me for right now, that is the proper place, he said. I took pan to mean that not only can I be attracted to any of these people or types physically, but I could be attracted to the person that is there.

Brady said Robin Williams death in 2014 inspired him to look deep within himself. At that time, Brady became involved with several organizations, including mental health advocacy groups.

And not just the buzzword of mental health, but really what do I have to do to function in this big world and still be OK with yourself and more importantly, to love yourself so that you dont hurt yourself? he said. Not even just physically hurting yourself, but not taking care of yourself because you are depressed and frightened and weighed down.

The path of self-discovery prompted Brady to ask tough questions about himself.

Once I opened that door to myself though, I had to start learning about myself, and I had to start owning up to things that maybe Id either repressed, suppressed, or just didnt wanna deal with, he said.

At one point, Brady said he thought, I could be absolutely pain-free of whatever this is inside of me, he said. And when I felt that, I went, Oh, s**t. OK. lets get to the bottom of it. Lets do it now.

When he chose to do therapy, Brady said he was treated for love addiction.

I had to start examining why I was looking for myself and happiness in a slew of people. If I marry this person, then everything will be fine. If I date this person, everything will be fine, he said. I now know absolutely that love addiction is borne of trauma. I cant feel any shame around that, just like I wouldnt shame somebody if they said they were addicted to meth or cocaine. Thats a sickness.

As he continued to wonder what hes looking for in other people and why he is never satisfied, Brady asked himself if he is gay.

The answer was no because despite having been in all of these unsuccessful relationships and now dealing with what I know can be diagnosed as love addiction, I started to go, OK, Im feeling something, but I just dont know how to get there,' he said. And then I felt like a fraud.

Now that he found a part of himself that has brought him peace, Brady said hes still coming together and trying to be the most Wayne Brady I can be.

If Im healthy, then I can go onstage at Lets Make A Deal and be the best Wayne Brady that everybody wants and expects, he said. I can be the best dad that Maile needs. I can be the best friend to Mandie, the best son to my mother, and one day, the best partner to someone, because Im doing this for me.
At Reykjavik's famous Rainbow Street. Talia Lakritz/Insider

I went on a five-day trip to Iceland in June and didn't check a bag.

Waterproof walking and hiking shoes, rain-resistant clothes, and my winter coat all came in handy.

But I didn't end up needing a waterproof phone case for the lagoons, or my winter gear.

After one too many lost-luggage incidents, I don't check a suitcase anymore.

The author at the airport with her carry-on suitcase. Coren Feldman

My trusty carry-on and backpack have served me well through numerous trips abroad, including Scotland, New Zealand, and Iceland.

On a recent, five-day trip to Iceland, I went to three lagoons, visited a black sand beach, spent a day with an elopement planner who hosted a wedding in an ice cave, and slept in a clear plastic bubble in the woods.

Here's everything I packed to prepare for the wide range of activities and climates, and four things I wish I'd left at home.

I was glad I packed a swimsuit, swim shirt, and water shoes for my trip to Iceland, where I spent a lot of time in the water.

At the Blue Lagoon in Iceland. Talia Lakritz/Insider

For swimming in lagoons, I packed a bathing suit, swim shirt, and water shoes.

I was grateful for the water shoes so that I didn't have to walk barefoot in the locker rooms. And while the geothermal lagoons were a comfortable, hot-tub temperature, the swim shirt helped keep me warm in chilly temperatures outside the pools.

Pajamas and a sleep mask were a must for my visit to the country in June, when there's 24 hours of sunlight.

In my pajamas the night I stayed in a clear plastic bubble at Buubble by Airmango. Talia Lakritz/Insider

The sun doesn't fully set in Iceland between May and August, with June being peak midnight sun season, according to Guide to Iceland. I visited at the beginning of June, when there are 24 hours of daylight.

Because the Northern Hemisphere tilts towards the sun during the summer months, countries north of the Arctic Circle such as Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Iceland are continuously exposed to the light of the sun.

Even with blackout curtains at hotels, I was surprised by how much sunlight still remained as I went to sleep. The mask also came in handy on my red-eye flight to Iceland and the night I spent in a clear plastic bubble in the woods.

I brought jeans, leggings, and a pair of waterproof pants in case of heavy rain.

Walking around downtown Reykjavik. Talia Lakritz/Insider

The weather in Iceland can be unpredictable, even in late spring and summer, so I knew having a mix of layers would be essential. Thankfully, I ended up wearing all of these items, so they weren't just taking up space in my luggage.

A mix of long-sleeve and short-sleeve shirts also came in handy, as I prepared for all kinds of weather.

At Buubble by Airmango in Iceland. Talia Lakritz/Insider

I brought three short-sleeve shirts, four long-sleeve shirts, one sweater, and a zip-up hoodie to dress for all possibilities with lots of layers.

I brought a travel adapter to charge my phone, AirPods, and laptop in Iceland's round-prong sockets.

My passport and laptop. Talia Lakritz/Insider

I also packed a plug-in phone charger as well as a portable charger.

And of course, I made sure to throw some sunscreen in my toiletry bag.

Applying sunscreen. Talia Lakritz/Insider

Aside from the usual toiletries  a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, etc.  I made sure to pack sunscreen to protect my skin from the midnight sun.

Applying sunscreen at 6 p.m. before going out to dinner was strange, but at least I didn't get sunburned.

With constant sunlight, sunglasses were a must.

Behind the wheel in Iceland. Talia Lakritz/Insider

I found sunglasses essential for visibility while driving in Iceland, even when it was cloudy out.

My reusable water bottle came in handy for sampling glacier water during a hike.

Filling my water bottle with water from a glacier. Talia Lakritz/Insider

I was surprised to learn that it's safe to drink straight from many clear rivers and streams in Iceland, and tasted some water from a melting glacier.

To cut down on food costs, I packed some of my own shelf-stable snacks.

Eating instant ramen during my trip. Talia Lakritz/Insider

According to Iceland Review magazine, food prices are higher in Iceland since it relies heavily on imports and has high import taxes.

I saved some money on food by bringing snacks including peanut butter crackers, granola bars, trail mix, instant ramen, and tuna packets.

Both pairs of shoes I packed were waterproof.

Wearing waterproof boots on a black sand beach. Talia Lakritz/Insider

I brought two pairs of shoes with me to Iceland: a pair of comfortable boots for everyday wear and a pair of hiking shoes.

With the strong winds and chilly evenings, I was glad I packed my lightweight but warm winter coat.

The author in Iceland. Talia Lakritz/Insider

Even when the sun was out, temperatures usually hovered around the low 50s and 60s.

I didn't end up needing a hat, scarf, and gloves.

A hat, scarf, and gloves. Talia Lakritz/Insider

I packed my warm winter gear in case I needed it, but I got extremely lucky with the weather I experienced during my trip. It barely rained, and I even had some perfectly sunny days.

These items were bulky and took up valuable space in my suitcase, so I wish I'd left them at home.

I also wish I hadn't bought a waterproof phone case.

A waterproof phone case. Talia Lakritz/Insider

Since I was going to be swimming and taking pictures in several lagoons, including Iceland's famous Blue Lagoon, I wanted to be extra careful and protect my phone with a waterproof case.

However, I found that the case actually made my phone bulkier and more difficult to use. The case also obscured my photos. I ended up taking the case off and just holding my phone very tightly while in the water, and noticed lots of other people doing the same.

Read the original article on Insider
The good news is that, according to recent research in the journal Nature Geoscience, we're dumping less plastic into the ocean than previously estimated. The bad news is that it's still a dangerously high amount that will have dramatic negative effects for the environment if not mitigated.

From an ecological standpoint, the new study is equivalent to a doctor telling a patient with high cholesterol: Your cholesterol is still dangerously high, but perhaps not as bad as we previously thought.

The difference is that, for the planet Earth, the "cholesterol" is plastic pollution clogging up and contaminating its oceans. According to researchers from Utrecht University in the Netherlands, "long-lived plastic pollution in the world's oceans, which our model suggests is continuing to increase, could negatively impact ecosystems without countermeasures and prevention strategies." At the same time, like a patient with high cholesterol who finds out that it at least is not even higher, the authors argue there is not as much plastic being dumped into the oceans as previously estimated.

To ascertain the quantity of plastic in Earth's oceans, the researchers analyzed a wealth of data, such as "different marine reservoirs, including coastlines, the ocean surface and the deep ocean" while analyzing plastic particles ranging in size from "0.11,600.0 mm." Ultimately they concluded that larger plastics bigger than 25 millimeters contribute to "more than 95% of the initially buoyant marine plastic mass: 3,100 out of 3,200 kilotonnes for the year 2020."

Additionally, they determined that annual human plastic pollution in the ocean equals "about 500 kilotonnes per year, less than previous estimates." Previous annual estimates placed plastic pollution in the ocean at roughly "8002,400 kilotonnes from rivers and 4,80023,000 kilotonnes from coastal regions."

At the same time, the study's authors emphasized that plastic pollution in the ocean is dangerous for Earth's future. A chief problem, they identified, is that the amount of plastic being dumped into the ocean continues to increase by roughly 4% each year.

"Without further mitigation strategies and clean-up efforts, our estimated growth rate of 4% per year has the potential to double the plastic standing stock within two decades," the authors write, later adding that "the combination of a projected exponentially increasing input and long persistence of marine plastics means a likely increasing negative impact of marine plastic pollution on ecosystems in the future."

Want more health and science stories in your inbox? Subscribe to Salon's weekly newsletter The Vulgar Scientist.

There are a number of reasons why environmentalists are concerned about the amount of plastic in our oceans. From the perspective of animals' rights, plastic pollution is known to cause endless hardships, from drinking straws getting painfully stuck up turtles' noses to Cape fur seals being torturously tangled in discarded fishing gear, often on multiple occasions in a single lifetime.

A 2019 study by Duke University student Caroline Gordon for the Nicholas School of the Environment chronicled how "at least 700 species worldwide have been affected by plastic ocean pollution, including 84% of sea turtle species, 44% of all seabird species, and 43% of all marine mammal species. It is also estimated that one in three marine mammals have been found tangled in some type of marine litter, such as lost fishing gear or plastic bags."

There are also human health concerns associated with plastic pollution in the oceans. In 2021, Salon discussed these issues with John Hocevar, Oceans Campaign Director for Greenpeace USA.

"The plastic commonly used in packaging contains thousands of chemicals that are known carcinogens [a term for cancer-causing agents] and endocrine disruptors," Hocevar told Salon. "Chemicals from packaging can leach out of packaging into our food, particularly when the plastic is heated. Once we're done with the plastic packaging, it goes into a landfill or an incinerator, or often straight into the environment. Very little of it is recycled."

Hocevar added, "If it's incinerated, there are extremely dangerous chemicals called dioxins that can be produced which cause cancer and other health impacts. If it's landfilled, the chemicals can still leach out into water and soil or be blown into the air. At this point, we've put so much plastic into our environment that we're eating it, breathing it and drinking it every day."

Additionally, there are chemicals in many commonly-used plastics that have been linked to infertility. Dr. Shanna Swan, a professor of environmental medicine and public health at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, spoke with Salon in 2021 about that aspect of the plastic pollution crisis  particularly as it involves "endocrine disruptor" chemicals like phthalates and bisphenols.

"These chemicals have a direct action on the steroid hormones, and the steroid hormones are critical for proper development during pregnancy," Swan explained. Because they interfere with the fetal development of male humans, they are linked to inadequate sperm count, genital birth defects and reproductive diseases like testicular cancer.

Finally there is the impact that plastic pollution has on communities which directly depend on the ocean for survival. Erin Simon, head of plastic waste and business at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), broke down this problem for Salon in 2021.

"We also know that we have these areas, where a lot of this plastic waste is persisting and collecting, in coastal communities, right at the ends of waterways entering our oceans, and those are areas where you have a lot of communities that depend highly on fishing for their livelihoods and food," Simon told Salon. "And because of the increase of plastic rates, they're having to travel further off shore. It costs them more in fuel and it means they may make less money. They may not be able to provide that for their family."

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about plastic pollution
Philip Breedlove, former Supreme Commander of the NATO Allied Forces in Europe, believes that preparations for the exercises of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets are slowing down because some countries are afraid to provoke Russia.

Source: European Pravda, citing Breedloves comment for Voice of America

The retired American general says many countries are now ready to start training Ukrainian pilots to fly the F-16s. Preliminary plans were developed, but "the main slowdown in this process is taking place inside" the United States, he said.

"There is restraint regarding quick action due to fears that Mr. Putin may cause certain important events. As I have said many times, the situation with the F-16s is just the case," Breedlove said.

He added that in terms of providing Ukraine with fighter jets, the Russian policy of intimidating the West showed considerable effectiveness.

"Mr. Putin's ground forces are failing him on the battlefield. But Putin's war of intimidation, his war to deter the West, is a resounding success. And this is what he works hard [on]. This intimidation led to deterrence, and slowed down things like sending the F-16s," added the former Commander of NATO Forces in Europe.

Background:

On 11 July, Ukraine signed a memorandum with its 11 partner states at the NATO Summit in Vilnius. The memorandum defines the conditions of training of Ukrainian pilots on the F-16 fighters.

The exercise is scheduled to start in August, but media reports say the United States has yet to approve the final plan to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets since European states have not agreed on all the specifics.

John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House, previously said that the US may deliver F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by the end of this year.

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!






The officials in Ukraine's partner countries have become increasingly aware of the growing unrealism of their initial expectations for the Ukrainian counteroffensive, no longer anticipating major progress on the battlefield by autumn and fearing a "blame game" on Ukraine's part.

Source: CNN

Details: Following weeks of Ukraine's much-anticipated counteroffensive, Western officials are receiving increasingly "sobering" assessments of the potential of Ukrainian forces to retake significant territory, four senior US and Western officials familiar with the latest intelligence told CNN.

"Theyre still going to see, for the next couple of weeks, if there is a chance of making some progress. But for them [Ukrainians] to really make progress that would change the balance of this conflict, I think, its extremely, highly unlikely," a senior Western diplomat told CNN.

"Our briefings are sobering. Were reminded of the challenges they face," said lawmaker Mike Quigley, a Democrat from Illinois who has recently come back from meetings in Europe with US commanders training Ukrainian armoured forces.

According to Quigley, "This is the most difficult time of the war."

The main challenge for Ukrainian forces remains breaking through Russia's multi-layered defensive lines in the country's eastern and southern parts, covered with tens of thousands of mines and an extensive network of trenches.

CNN reports that the Ukrainian army suffered "staggering losses" there, pushing the Ukrainian command to hold back some units to regroup and mitigate losses.

Quote from a senior Western diplomat: "Russians have a number of defensive lines and they [Ukrainian forces] havent really gone through the first line. Even if they would keep on fighting for the next several weeks, if they havent been able to make more breakthroughs throughout these last seven, eight weeks, what is the likelihood that they will suddenly, with more depleted forces, make them? Because the conditions are so hard."

Details: A senior US official said the United States recognised the struggles faced by Ukrainian forces albeit remained hopeful for further progress.

"We all recognize this is going harder and slower than anyone would like  including the Ukrainians  but we still believe theres time and space for them to be able make progress," the official said.

Many officials said the coming autumn, when weather and combat conditions are expected to deteriorate, leaves Ukrainian forces with limited time to make headway.

Furthermore, Western officials say the slow progress exposes the complexity of transforming the Ukrainian army into a combined mechanised fighting force, often with only eight weeks of training on tanks and other new weapons systems supplied by the West.

A senior US military official suggested that the lack of progress on the ground is one of the reasons why Ukrainian forces are increasingly striking Russian territory "to try and show Russian vulnerability".

CNN says the latest estimates are a significant change from the optimism seen at the start of the counteroffensive.

These officials say these expectations were "unrealistic" and are now contributing to pressure from some in the West to start peace talks, including considering territorial concessions. "Putin is waiting for this. He can sacrifice bodies and buy time," Quigley said.

Some officials are concerned that the widening gap between expectations and results will lead to a "blame game" between Ukrainian officials and their Western backers, possibly generating friction within an alliance that remained largely intact for almost two years after the war began.

Quote from a senior Western official: "The problem, of course, here is the prospect of the blame game that the Ukrainians would then blame it on us."

Background: At the Aspen Security Forum in July, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pointed to the slow flow of weapons from the West as a reason for the slow advancement of the Ukrainian Armed Forces: "We planned to start [the counteroffensive] in the spring, but we didn't. Because, frankly, we don't have enough ammunition and weapons, and we don't have enough properly trained brigades. I mean properly trained in [operating] these weapons."

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!






Iris Sidikman, harm reduction coordinator at the Womens Health Center of West Virginia, poses for a portrait beside a syringe disposal box in the clinic parking lot on Thursday, August 4, 2023, in Charleston, W.Va. (AP Photo/Leah Willingham)

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP)  City councilors in West Virginia's Democrat-controlled capital city voted against a proposal from the state's long-time abortion provider to start a syringe service program in one of the country's most opioid-devastated areas.

The 17 to 9 vote on Monday came two years after the council and the Republican-controlled state Legislature passed regulations restricting the programs, which are supported by the Centers for Disease Control as scientifically-proven methods to curb drug use and prevent the spread of infections like hepatitis c and HIV. The opposition said they feared the program would bring increased drug use and crime into Charleston's west side, a low-income area that has suffered from redlining and historic disinvestment.

Supporters of the Women's Health Center of West Virginia said drug use is already prevalent and that a syringe service program would help more people get into recovery in the community, which has also historically seen the citys highest percentage of emergency overdose calls.

The meeting was the latest development in a years-long, highly contentious battle for recognition of what is considered medical best practice for harm reduction in substance use disorder and its intersection with poverty, race, and economic equity in West Virginias capital city.

Our city is dying  it's our responsibility to do something about it," said Republican Frank Annie, a sponsor of the proposal and a research scientist specializing in cardiovascular health at Charleston Area Medical Center Memorial Hospital.

Annie, who represents the more affluent South Hills and was working with a coalition of all-Democratic councilors, spoke about the high rates of hepatitis c, HIV and endocarditis from intravenous drug use that are crippling local healthcare systems.

Dr. Adina Elise Bowe, an addiction psychiatrist with Charleston Area Medical Center, asked councilors to put emotions aside and look at the evidence" supported by three decades of medical research.

West Virginia is the U.S. state with the highest rate of opioid overdoses. In 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared Charleston the scene of the countrys most concerning HIV outbreak due to intravenous drug use.

Womens Health Center of West Virginia providers said their proposal was part of an effort to expand services for marginalized communities now that a near-total ban on abortion is in effect in the state.

Syringe service programs operate by allowing people to exchange dirty syringes used to inject drugs for clean, sterile ones. They are CDC-recommended methods to curb the spread of infection and typically offer a range of services, including referrals to counseling and substance use disorder treatment.

Such programs exist nationwide, but they are not without critics, who say they dont do enough to prevent drug use. The city has one syringe service program now, located in the more affluent east end. A program run out of the Charleston-Kanawha Health Department was shuttered by the city in 2018.

West Virginia Republican Gov. Jim Justice signed a law in 2021 requiring syringe providers to be licensed with the state and recipients to show proof of residency and return each needle after use.

The Charleston City Council followed with an ordinance requiring programs to collect at least 90% of the syringes distributed. Exchange programs violating the restrictions can be charged with a misdemeanor criminal offense, adding fines of $500 to $1,000 per offense. The programs also must be approved by the council and county commission.

Christy Day, a Black west side resident who spoke against the proposal, said she's tired of coming to city council to talk about programs like syringe service without an equity plan focused on bringing other needed resources, like new families and businesses like grocery stores.

Larry Moore, the city council member representing the west side, said people in his community feel like they haven't always had a voice in decisions that are made in the city.

Kenny Matthews, a Black man in recovery from opioid use who lives on west side, said syringe service programs save lives by building trust with a hard-to-access community and connecting people to treatment while offering resources like fentanyl test strips and overdose-reversal drugs.

What were asking to be done is to allow people to be surrounded by people that say, Youre worth living. You have something to contribute, and you can be better, he said. If we say that we dont want harm reduction, then youre saying that you dont want people to live."

After the meeting, Democratic Mayor Amy Goodwin  who voted against the proposal  said she sees the benefit of syringe service programs and voted in support of the existing program run by a clinic for underinsured residents on the east end. But, she said more medical expert testimony and more time was needed to ask questions before being pushed to vote on this latest proposal. Women's Health Center providers said they reached out to Goodwin to talk about the program in June.
The World Food Programme has started distributing food aid in Ethiopia's war-scarred Tigray region, in a test for new monitoring measures after halting assistance over the diversion of supplies, the United Nations agency said on Tuesday.

WFP and US aid agency USAID halted food aid to Africa's second most populous country in June after discovering that supplies were not reaching those in need, raising fears that the decision would leave millions of Ethiopians in desperate straits.

On Tuesday, the UN food agency said it had "started distributing 15-kilogramme (33-pound) pre-packed bags of wheat to just over 100,000 people" as part of a pilot project with improved monitoring mechanisms.

"On July 31, the World Food Programme started testing and verifying enhanced controls and measures for delivering food assistance in four districts of Tigray," it said in a message to AFP.

The new measures in the "test distributions" include the tracking of supplies and the digital registration of recipients to prevent aid from falling into the wrong hands.

Millions of Ethiopians are facing severe food shortages following a brutal two-year war in Tigray as well as a punishing drought in the Somali region that has also struck Somalia and parts of Kenya.

The Amhara region, which neighbours Tigray, has also witnessed clashes between a local militia and the national army in recent weeks, affecting humanitarian operations there, according to the World Health Organization.

"WFP also plans to begin registering populations and rolling out the new enhanced control measures for targeted, vulnerable people in Amhara, Afar and Somali regions, as well as other parts of Tigray region, as soon as possible," the agency said.

- 'Begging, child labour' -

A spokesperson for USAID, the US government's main international aid agency, told AFP that "at this time, US food assistance in Ethiopia remains paused".

"We are committed to resuming food assistance as quickly as possible once we can be confident our assistance is reaching the most vulnerable that it is intended for."

Prior to the nationwide suspension, WFP and USAID said in May that they would freeze food aid to Tigray after discovering that shipments were being diverted to local markets.

Neither agency has identified those responsible for taking the aid and reselling it.

Tigray suffered from dire shortages of food, fuel, cash and medicines during the two-year conflict between forces loyal to the federal government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front.

On Friday, the UN's humanitarian agency OCHA said: "In Tigray, the pause in food aid is leading to increased number of people resorting to negative coping mechanisms, including skipping meals... begging, child labour, transactional sex."

The war ended with a peace deal signed last November, and some basic services have resumed to the region of six million people.

But media access remains restricted and it is impossible to independently verify the situation on the ground.

dyg-amu/txw/gil
Ohio is holding an uncommon election today over a proposal that would make it harder to amend the state constitution.

Voters will decide whether the state should require 60% of voters to enact new constitutional amendments, instead of the current simple majority of 50% plus one. GOP lawmakers pushed for the election ahead of a potential November ballot question that would enshrine abortion rights in Ohio.

Statewide elections aren't often held in August, and turnout is typically low because Ohioans are preoccupied with summer activities. The last time Ohio voters considered a proposed constitutional amendment in August was 1926, according to the secretary of state's office.

What to know about Issue 1: Everything to know about Ohio Issue 1 and the August special election

Here's what you need to know about where to vote and what you'll need in order to cast your ballot.

What to know about Issue 1 in Ohio

The only thing on today's ballot is Issue 1. If passed, the measure would make it more difficult to amend the state constitution, requiring 60% approval for amendments instead of the current simple majority.

Issue 1 would also require citizen groups to collect signatures on petitions for constitutional amendments from at least 5% of voters from the last gubernatorial election in all 88 counties, instead of 44. (The current rule uses the 5% mark, as well.)

It also would eliminate a 10-day cure period that allows citizens to replace any signatures deemed faulty by the secretary of state's office.

If approved, the 60% threshold would take effect right away, and changes to signature gathering would be in place starting Jan. 1.

When are the polls open in Ohio?

The polls are open between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Mail-in ballots postmarked by Monday must be received at your local board of elections by Aug. 12 to be counted. You can also return your absentee ballot in-person at your local board of elections before 7:30 p.m. on election day.

Where is my polling place in Stark County?

The Stark County Board of Elections moved a few polls earlier this year:

Canton precincts 7D, 7E and 9G were moved to Canton Nazarene Church at 522 30th St. NW. The move affects 2,278 voters. They previously voted at St. George Romanian Orthodox Church. Precincts 7C, 7F and 7G were already voting at Canton Nazarene.

The elections board also voted to move a polling location in Perry Township to Grace Fellowship, 6282 Nave St. NW, as the result of the Perry Baptist Church closing. That change affects a total of 3,045 voters in Perry precincts 11, 16 and 20.

Meanwhile, the Stark County Board of Elections also mailed postcards to voters in a Massillon precinct that contained incorrect polling location information.

The correct polling location for voters in Massillon 6D is St. Barbara Catholic Church/Divine Mercy Parish, 2813 Lincoln Way NW. The polling location was the Boys and Girls Club of Massillon, but that facility is under construction.

The Board of Elections mailed letters to the voters who received the incorrect postcard to inform them of the error. A sign also will be posted at the Boys and Girls Club directing voters to St. Barbara.

To find your polling location, visit https://stark.oh-vote.org/VoterView/PollingPlaceSearch.do. To look up your voter information, visit https://starkcountyohio.gov/government/offices/board_of_elections/.

What kind of photo ID do I need?

A new law that went into effect at the end of April requires voters must now present a photo ID when they cast ballots in-person, either during early voting or on election day. That can be an Ohio driver's license, state ID, U.S. passport, passport card, military ID or interim identification issued by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The ID does not need to have your current address on it.

County-issued veteran IDs do not qualify.

Voter voices: From Akron to Columbus: What Ohio voters think about Issue 1

To vote by mail, Ohioans need to provide a copy of their photo ID, driver's license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number.

The new law also allows Ohioans 17 and older to receive a free state ID card. Voters who have religious objections to being photographed can cast a provisional ballot that excludes them from the ID requirement.

Another part of the new law requires the BMV to place "noncitizen" labels on the driver's licenses and state IDs of those who lack citizenship and are in the country legally.

Early voting for the Ohio special election

The high stakes of the election have already driven voters to the polls. Because Ohio hasn't held a statewide election in August since 1926, many were initially concerned that turnout would be low. Yet as of Friday, 578,490 Ohioans had voted early on Issue 1.

For comparison, about 288,700 people voted early for the May 2022 primary election, which featured highly contested races for governor and U.S. Senate. And in last August's primaries, just under 143,000 voted early.

"For the naysayers who said there would be low turnout for an August election, I think the turnout for early and absentee voting has been very robust," said Rob Nichols, spokesperson for the Secretary of State's office.

Who's voting early on Issue 1 ?

Though the state hasn't tracked early voting breakdowns by party, Franklin County has seen far more Democrats and independents voting early than Republicans on the GOP-backed issue. Of the 46,000 total early votes cast in the reliably blue county, more than 25,000 came from Democrats, with another 16,000 coming from independents. Yet uncertainty remains for election day itself.

"Everything with elections is about comparing, and with this one, you just can't really compare," said Aaron Sellers, spokesman for the Franklin County Board of Elections in Columbus.

The trend has echoed in urban counties across Ohio. Though wait times were shorter in Hamilton County this weekend, County Board of Elections Director Sherry Poland said they ended up with over 36,000 early in-person voters throughout the election cycle, and over 20,000 who requested an absentee ballot by mail.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Issue 1 special election in Ohio: Where do I vote? What ID do I need?
Shortly before First Lady Jill Biden took the podium at the White House Tuesday to champion a new federal initiative to combat K-12 school ransomware attacks, the cyber gang Medusa announced its latest victim on the dark web.

Such unrelenting attacks  this time against a Bergen County, New Jersey, district are what brought the first lady as well as some 200 federal cybersecurity officials, school district leaders and tech company executives together for a first-ever White House summit on strengthening school district defenses.

Its going to take all of us, Biden said.

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The breaches have grinded school technology systems nationwide to a halt, the first lady said at the East Room gathering, forcing some districts to cancel classes as reams of sensitive student, parent and educator data were stolen and leaked online. In March, a Medusa attack on Minneapolis Public Schools exposed records about child abuse inquiries, student mental health crises and campus physical security details.

If we want to safeguard our childrens futures, we must protect their personal data, she said. Every student deserves the opportunity to see a school counselor when theyre struggling and not worry that these conversations will be shared with the world.

Related

Schools Are Now the Leading Target for Cyber Gangs as Ransom Payments Encourage Attacks

Among the new strategies announced Tuesday is the creation of a Government Coordinating Council that will provide formal, ongoing collaboration between all levels of government and school districts to prepare for and respond to data breaches. Officials with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said the agency would provide individualized assessments and cybersecurity training to 300 K-12 education entities over the next year.

First Lady Jill Biden and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona look on as Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas speaks during a back-to-school K-12 cybersecurity summit at the White House on Aug. 8. (Getty Images)

Tuesdays cybersecurity event didnt come with the announcement of any new federal regulations but was instead positioned as the first step in a new-found federal urgency around cybersecurity in schools. The Federal Communications Commission in late July proposed a $200 million pilot program to enhance cybersecurity in schools and libraries that still needs to be approved.

When schools face cyber attacks, the impacts can be huge, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said. Lets be clear, we need to be taking these cyber attacks on schools as seriously as we do the physical attacks on critical infrastructure.

In a new report released by the Education Department and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the agencies recommended that school districts implement multi-factor authentication, enforce minimum password strength standards and ensure software is kept up to date. They should also consider moving on-premises information technology services to cloud-based systems.

Do not underestimate the ruthlessness of those who wish to do us harm, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said. They have proven their willingness to steal and leak such private student information as psychiatric hospitalizations, home struggles and suicide attempts. Do not wait until the crisis comes to start preparing.

School cybersecurity expert Doug Levin, who attended the summit, said it was a positive development to see the federal government, and the Education Department in particular, focus on the effects of ransomware on schools. The Education Department has been mostly absent from these conversations in the past, said the national director of The K12 Security Information eXchange.

Meanwhile, several companies, including education technology vendors, unveiled new commitments to help facilitate digital security in schools. Amazon Web Services announced a new $20 million grant program to bolster K-12 school cybersecurity while Cloudflare committed to providing free cybersecurity tools to small districts with 2,500 or fewer students.

Schools are now the single leading target for hackers, outpacing health care, technology, financial services and manufacturing industries, according to a global survey of IT professionals released last month by the British cybersecurity company Sophos.

In the U.S. school district cyber attacks reached a record high of 37 in the month of June alone, according to one tally, but Tuesdays event centered largely on a crisis that unfolded in Los Angeles nearly a year ago.

Last September, a notorious ransomware group carried out an attack on the Los Angeles Unified School District, the nations second largest, that resulted in some 500 gigabytes of district data being published to the Russian-speaking groups dark-web leak site.

A major theme of the White House summit was the politically connected superintendents swift outreach to federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Education and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. That collaboration, Superintendent Alberto Carvalho and federal education officials said, set into motion a response plan that mitigated the attack, limited the number of files breached and avoided class cancellations.

Jen Easterly, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, called it the Harvard Business School case study on how to get this right.

Other school districts should respond similarly, said FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate. When school leaders suspect theyve been the target of an attack, he said, its incumbent that they please call us immediately. In L.A.s case, the FBI was able to have a team of agents on the ground in less than 24 hours, he said, enabling them to freeze vulnerable accounts and secure sensitive information that had been sought out by the threat actors.

That coordinated response didnt prevent some 2,000 current and former students highly sensitive psychological evaluations from being leaked on the dark web, an investigation by The 74 revealed. Carvalho initially denied that such records were exposed in the attack, but the district acknowledged they were after the story was published. The district also initially said the attack began and ended on Sept. 3  the Saturday of Labor Day weekend  but a follow-up investigation determined that an intrusion began as early as July 31, the Los Angeles Times reported.

While Carvalho didnt comment Tuesday on the leak of sensitive psychological information, he said the number of stolen files could have been much worse, adding that the hackers encrypted and exfiltrated very little thanks to our actions. Among the actions they didnt take, the schools chief said, was paying the undisclosed ransom demand because we dont negotiate with terrorists.
Mary MacCarthy alleges that a Southwest employee reported her to Denver police about possible trafficking for no other reason than the different color of her daughters skin from her own.

A white mother is taking legal action against Southwest Airlines, alleging that employees accused her of trafficking her biological daughter, who is biracial.

The lawsuit, filed Aug. 3 with the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, asserts that on Oct. 22, 2021, Mary MacCarthy and her daughter, Moira, then 10, were traveling from Los Angeles to Denver to attend MacCarthys brothers funeral, People reported.

MacCarthys lawsuit claims that a Southwest employee reported her to Denver police about possible trafficking, believing the child could not be hers for no other reason than the different color of her daughters skin from her own.

Mary MacCarthy (right) is suing Southwest Airlines, claiming that airline employees accused her of trafficking her daughter, Moira (left), who was 10 at the time of the 2021 incident. (Photo: Screenshot/YouTube.com/FOX31 Denver)

I want Southwest Airlines and the Denver police to be held accountable for what is undoubtedly a case of racial profiling involving a 10-year-old Black girl, who was already suffering the worst day in her life  a death in her family, said MacCarthy, People reported.

The lawsuit claims Denver authorities met MacCarthy and her young daughter at Denver International Airport after receiving information that the single mother was suspected of trafficking children, an allegation motivated by a racist assumption about a mixed-race family.

MacCarthy told People in 2021 that she and her daughter initially couldnt sit together on the trip from Los Angeles to San Jose, where they had a layover en route to Denver. However, on the next flight, she found two available seats next to each other, as instructed by the Southwest attendants.

While the flight appeared uneventful after that, a Southwest staffer and two police officers greeted MacCarthy on the jet bridge upon the pairs landing at the Denver airport. She initially believed they were coming to let them know another family member had died.

Instead, she learned authorities were there to speak with her because she and her daughter were said to have been behaving suspiciously. Police told her it was regular operating practice to look into the allegations, according to video captured by MacCarthy. While this was happening, the recording shows, Moira could be seen crying.

At that point in my mind, it clicked that we had probably been profiled, recalled MacCarthy. Ive been raising this girl for 10 years; shes my biological daughter, and I knew things like this could happen.

According to police investigations, the Southwest employee believed MacCarthy may have been a human trafficker after the family boarded the plane at the last minute and requested a seat swap. The employee reported that Moira did not converse with the staff or MaCarthy during the flight.

The lawsuit states that police allowed MacCarthy to leave after questioning, but not before this display of blatant racism by Southwest Airlines caused Ms. MacCarthy and her daughter extreme emotional distress.

MacCarthy, who is requesting punitive damages, denied any involvement in human trafficking and said she was surprised by the accusations.

Southwest officials indicated they have nothing further to add about the pending litigation.

David Lane, MacCarthys attorney, asserted in a statement that Southwest Airlines tried to handle the severe offense of sex trafficking by employing a stereotypical, easy formula.

Just as the police are constitutionally not permitted to stop-and-frisk young men of color based upon their race, corporate America is similarly not permitted to resort to such profiling in using law enforcement to stop and question racially diverse families simply based upon their divergent races, which is what Southwest did, said Lane, according to People. The lawsuit is designed to bring some accountability to the airline and cause them to re-examine their training and policies.

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The post White mother sues Southwest Airlines after being accused of trafficking biracial daughter appeared first on TheGrio.
It may not be a household name to most Americans, but the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is vital to our national defense, responsible, in its own words, for leading the national effort to understand, manage, and reduce risk to the cyber and physical infrastructure that Americans rely on every hour of every day.

So, what did CISAs director tell lawmakers about the cyber threat posed by China?

This, I think, is the real threat that we need to be prepared for, and to focus on, and to build resilience against, Jen Easterly told the Aspen Institute in Washington in June. Given the formidable nature of the threat from Chinese state actors, given the size of their capability, given how much resources and effort theyre putting into it, its going to be very, very difficult for us to prevent disruptions from happening.

Easterly is far from alone. On March 8, the five directors of the most senior intelligence agencies advised the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence that the Chinese Communist Party represents the leading threat to U.S. national security and leadership globally.

China uses cyberattacks below the threshold of war to coerce its rivals, according to a recent report by consulting firm Booz Allen. For instance, it has targeted American critical infrastructure to deter U.S. involvement in Asia. Chinas cyberattacks can affect government agencies, global corporations, and small businesseseither directly or via cascading risks.

Indeed, the litany of infamous attacks linked to Chinese hackers reads like a greatest hits of cyber terrorism. They include the massive data breach at the federal Office of Personnel Management in 2015, the Equifax breach in 2017, an attack in 2021 on six state governments computer networks, and the theft of trillions in intellectual property from about 30 multinational companies.

This is all scary stuff. But the increasingly stealthy and dangerous activities linked to China beg the question of whether both the government and the private sector are truly taking these cyber threats seriously enough and sufficiently working to get ahead of future attacks.

Im not sure we are.

I think back to a panel discussion I had with several governors a couple of years ago on the topic of emergency preparedness. The governors had much to say about their response plans for a hurricane, flood, or other natural disaster. But when I asked what theyd do in the event of a major cyberattack sabotaging key infrastructure, some adopted a deer-in-the-headlights gaze, while others muttered something to the effect of, Wed call our CIO.

Thankfully, this dynamic has improved significantly over the years since that conversation. Collaboration and cohesion between Homeland Security, Public Safety, Federal and State officials to build a comprehensive cyber response plan has increased, and these concerns are now considered and addressed beyond the walls of IT departments.

Even so, that anecdote confirmed for me that U.S. preparedness suffers from what could be called a visibility gap  the lack of total visibility and intelligence around all assets within their environment, which can prevent an organized, integrated approach to threat analysis, strategy, and information sharing among decentralized federal agencies, state and local governments and the private sector.

Take, for example, the findings of the bipartisan Cyberspace Solarium Commission charged with developing a strategic approach to cyber defense. The groups executive director recently criticized the system for managing cyber risk among critical infrastructure sectors as obsolete and said it hampers private-sector cooperation.

Whats needed is a consistent, proactive, collaborative effort that brings the government and private sector together as much as possible. The private sector cant wait for the government to lead, and vice versa. The time is now for holistic action by both.

Fortunately, some of this already is bubbling up.

CISAs Shields Up program was launched in February 2022 to foster information sharing about cybersecurity threats, products, and other resources after Russias invasion of Ukraine. Agency director Easterly has said CISA could soon start a similar campaign focused on China.

This program is proving helpful so far in uncovering and understanding crucial risks, identifying attack vectors, recommending ways to shore up defenses, and containing any exploits.

Such work has become especially important as the growing use of interconnected devicessuch as beacons and sensors used to control and operate power and gas supplies, nuclear power plants, oil refineries, and other critical systemsdramatically increases the potential areas for attackers to target.

Meanwhile, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a Commerce Department office that develops cybersecurity best practices, recently announced a new initiative to work with the private sector and others in government to improve cybersecurity in supply chains.

And, though its not specific to cyber security, the Defense Departments decision to explore ways to partner with commercial space companies to access their services during national security emergencies is another great example of how effective public-private sectors can be. The DoD is considering creating the space equivalent of the civil reserve air fleet, or CRAF, a program the Pentagon conceived 70 years ago to leverage commercial airlift capacity in emergencies.

The benefits of stronger public-private collaboration can even spill over into better awareness of the risks posed by artificial intelligence, which represents a new expansion of the attack surface. As generative AI advances, it creates troubling new scenarios such as a hacker creating convincing replicas of voice recordings and images that can be used for fraudulent activities such as identity theft and deepfakes.

Whether its dealing with the noted threat from China, or addressing the growing threat surface that AI technologies are now introducing, the country simply cant afford information silos and disjointed, disorganized responses to important problems.

The emergence of a rapidly growing threat surface demands that our actions match our rhetoric. Our nation must go beyond the rhetoric and legacy approach to analyzing and discussing the challenge and instead embrace a model that focuses on outcomes and time to impact. While we take time to discuss, our adversaries are introducing the next threat.

The time is now for robust public-private collaboration and activation. We cant afford otherwise.

Tom Guarente is Vice President of External and Government Affairs at Armis, an asset visibility and security company.
Thus far, most reactions to the indictment of former President Donald Trump have fallen into two depressing categories: rejection by his fans and cheers by his opponents.

I suspect this is not where the middle third of the American publici.e., the chunk of the population that generally decides presidential electionsstands.

For all the poll data showing Trumps support among the MAGA faithful, for whom the growing shelf of indictments is evidence of persecution rather than prosecution, many independents and moderates are, it seems, waiting to see what comes of the legal processes presently unfolding in (checks notes) three jurisdictions as of today.

Trump Was Indicted for Being WrongWhich Is Not a Crime

One such voice, Republican congressman turned libertarian influencer Justin Amash, recently weighed in with a 225-word tweet opposing the indictments. I may not like Trump, it began (with significant understatement, given that Amashs courageous defiance of Trump ultimately cost him his congressional career), but I love our Constitution, so I feel compelled to speak out.

Because ex-Rep. Amashs take likely reflects what many independent-minded people are thinking, it merits a closer look. Because it is also quite wrong.

In a way, Amashs argument is a more nuanced version of the Republican party line: that the indictments are political, not criminal. Referring to Trumps misdeeds, he says they constitute precisely the sort of wrong that must be addressed politically under our Constitution, not criminally.

But he continues with a tongue-in-cheek analogy: Remind me again which former presidents have been indicted for going to war without congressional approval, spying on Americans in violation of the Fourth Amendment, abusing emergency declarations to bypass checks and balances, or ignoring legal advisers to pursue a clearly unlawful policy.

And so, he concludes, We dont criminalize these actions, egregious as they are, because they are matters of political contention. Were allowed to disagree about the workings of our constitutional system without fear of criminal reprisal It endangers all Americans to begin treating politicians false beliefs regarding political or constitutional matters, even when theyre obviously wrong, as criminal offenses.

In principle, Amashs argument makes sense. In practice, it does not.

First, lets dismiss its weakest point: that the indictments are about Trumps false beliefs. That is obviously not true. The indictments arent about Trumps beliefs; theyre about how he conspired with advisors and government officials to throw out legitimate election results, and exploited a riot to try to force Congress to do so as well.

Amashs argument is stronger when it comes to presidential misdeeds, but it still collapses.

His examples are all about the nebulous gray zone of executive power, actions which libertarians may believe to be unconstitutional, but which the Supreme Court does not: going to war without congressional approval spying on Americans abusing emergency declarations [and] pursu[ing] a clearly unlawful policy.

Setting aside the tautological last element, these are all acts in which multiple presidents have engaged, with tacit or overt approval from Congress and the courts. They may indeed be symptoms of an imbalance of power, but they are not unconstitutional, let alone criminal.

The Hidden Messages in the New Trump Indictment

In contrast, like Amash, I recommend that you read the indictment itself. Unlike the rhetoric one finds on both left and right, it is sober and meticulous. And it makes clear that there is also no analogue in American history, let alone the examples Amash cites, for the crimes Trump allegedly committed following the 2020 election.

There is no analogue for the Big Lie, which a majority of Republicans now believe. Not since the racist lies of slavery and Jim Crow has a profound untruth been so widely promoted, in contradiction to all available evidence, and with such terrifying success.

But remember: Trumps crimes arent believing and spreading the Big Lie, which is protected by the First Amendment. They are the concrete actions he took to violate the Electoral Count Act of 1887: attempts to change or ignore vote tallies, the selection of alternate electors in seven states, efforts to enlist the Justice Department to perpetuate a fraud, and the exploitation of the violence on January 6.

One of the crucial elements of the indictment is that Trump knew he was lying, and told numerous people that he knew he lost, ( 11) yet still took numerous actions to try to get public officials to throw out legitimate election results. That has never happened before in American history, not on this level anyway.

As the indictment states in exhausting, damning detail, Trump tried to get everyone from governors to secretaries of state ( 13-69) to Justice Department officials ( 70-85) to the vice president of the United States ( 86-95) to effectively burn the ballot boxes and declare him the winner. That is absolutely nothing like the potential excesses of presidential power that Amash cites.

Finally, of course, there is no analogue in American history for Jan. 6. As anyone watching the news that day remembers, it was completely unprecedented: a violent mob, egged on by a still-sitting president, invaded and attacked the United States Capitol. But for the heroism of a few law enforcement officers, they may well have murdered numerous government officials.

Once again, the indictment exhaustively documents Trumps tweets, exhortations, actions, and attempts to leverage the violence to defraud the United States, obstruct the governmental function of certifying the Electoral College, and deprive voters of their right to vote. ( 96-124)

These are not political decisions. They are, if proven true, crimes. As the indictment states, they target[ing] a bedrock function of the United States federal government: the nations process of collecting, counting and certifying the results of the presidential election. ( 4)

Trump Is a Dangerous Criminal Who Belongs in Prison

Yes, presidents may sometimes overreach, and if they do so, Amash is correct that their misdeeds should be corrected by the electoral process in most cases, impeachment in extreme ones.

But trying to throw away lawfully-cast ballots isnt in any way like that. Its not even like lying under oath (Clinton), plotting and covering up a burglary (Nixon), or attempting to bribe foreign leaders (Trump). It contains all the elements of a criminal conspiracy to commit fraud and the criminal obstruction of a governmental function. And Trump is, to this very day, repeating the lie at the heart of it, and promising, if elected, to once again weaponize the federal government on the basis of it.

The actions described in the indictment arent political decisions. They arent even just crimes. They are crimes that the criminal has promised he will repeat if given the chance to do so.

In short, they are exactly the kinds of unlawful acts from which the rule of law is meant to protect us.

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Ghost guns are coming under fire from gun-control advocates. But why are these weapons so difficult to trace? And can anything be done to keep them from getting into the wrong hands?

Manuel Yambo had never heard of a "ghost" gun until his 16-year-old daughter was killed by one.

He was at home, getting ready for work, when he got a call that every parent dreads. His daughter Angellyh had been hit by a stray bullet near her school. Before he could get to the hospital, another call came in: She was dead. He didn't believe it until he saw her for himself.

It was just a few months ago that Angellyh was celebrating her sixteenth birthday, dancing with her father wearing a pink gown and a crown.

"Angellyh, she was funny, she came out like me," Mr Yambo remembers.

Officials told him the 17-year-old suspect used a ghost gun, which is a privately made firearm that is unregistered and untraceable.

Until August 2023, anyone with access to the internet could legally buy many of the parts needed to make a gun without a background check. Tutorials online explain how to assemble the pieces into a fully functioning firearm with just basic tools in less than an hour.

"I was just in shock how easy it was to get it," Mr Yambo told the BBC. "You would think things like that, you can't just order it online as if it was a toy."

Angellyh had just turned 16 when she was killed by a ghost gun, her father Manuel Yambo says

Experts are calling ghost guns the fastest-growing gun safety problem in America. The number of ghost guns recovered from crime scenes by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), has risen by more than 1,000% since 2017.

In New York City, where Mr Yambo lives, the NYPD seized the first ghost gun back in 2018, recovering 17 in total that year. In 2019, it was 50. By 2020, the number was 150. And then in 2021, it was up to 275.

At the ATF's National Integrated Ballistic Information Network facility in Washington, DC, ballistic evidence is evaluated and matched to crime scenes from across the country. But without serial numbers on the gun frames, it is virtually impossible to trace ghost guns and track down dealers who are selling guns illegally to minors or to people without proper firearm licenses.

"Pretty much anyone can get these ghost guns and order parts and make a gun that's just as well as the guns we carry," ATF officer Jerome McClinton told the BBC.

Last August, new regulations introduced by the Biden administration came into effect that say key products used to make ghost guns qualify as traditional firearms, and thus must include serial numbers. Those components include commonly sold, pre-packaged ghost gun kits that are easily converted into firearms, as well as functional "frames" or "receivers".

"This rule will make it harder for criminals and other prohibited persons to obtain untraceable guns," said Attorney General Merrick Garland at the time. "It will help to ensure that law enforcement officers can retrieve the information they need to solve crimes. And it will help reduce the number of untraceable firearms flooding our communities."

But it was blocked by a federal judge in Texas who had ruled that the White House had overstepped its authority when it issued the ban. On 8 August 2023, the Supreme Court allowed the new rules to stand pending an appeal of the Texas judgement by the Biden administration.

That appeal could eventually end up back in front of the Supreme Court.

There are also bans on ghost guns in about a dozen states. But David Pucino, the deputy chief counsel at the Giffords Law Center, a gun-control advocacy group, said the new regulations aren't comprehensive enough because they don't cover all parts that can be used to make a ghost gun, such as some "unfinished" frames or receivers. He also said that without a national framework, gun traffickers can simply move ghost guns from states where they are legal to states where they are banned.

In October, a group of senators asked the ATF to provide a report on enforcement of the law, but the agency has told Congress it is worried more robust action would lose in court, after several rulings by the Supreme Court affirming the Second Amendment broadly protects gun owners from restrictions.

Ghost guns are also becoming an international problem, even in countries with tight restrictions on weapons. Some are being trafficked out of the United States, such as gun parts that are shipped directly to Mexico, where there is fear they could be used by cartels. In Western Europe, 3D printers have been used to make ghost guns, Mr Pucino said.

The ATF has cautioned that America's ghost gun trend could take off abroad.

"I would say that if ghost guns has not been an issue for those other countries, then it's probably going to be eventually," said ATF Special Agent in Charge Charlie Patterson.

New York officials have made cracking down on illegal ghost guns a priority

The growing proliferation of ghost guns has inevitably led to closer scrutiny of the various manufacturers. In 2022, New York's attorney general sued several online retailers for allegedly selling illegal unfinished and unserialised frames and receivers. This January, a New York court granted an injunction in that lawsuit, effectively pulling ghost guns from the market in the state.

Polymer80, the largest ghost-gun manufacturer in the US, has been the subject of much of the ire from lawmakers across the country.

In addition, Washington, DC, won a $4m (3.2m) judgment against the company for violating consumer protection laws by falsely claiming that its weapons are legal in the District and for selling illegal guns to DC consumers.

Ghost gun manufacturer Polymer80 says ghost guns are not to blame for gun deaths

But Loran Kelley, the co-founder of Polymer80, called the concerns over ghost guns a "myth," and a "divisive non-issue". He is appealing the DC ruling, and said other lawsuits are frivolous. He also secured a victory in Nevada, where his company is based, when a judge struck down parts of the state's ghost gun ban, calling them "unconstitutionally vague".

Mr Kelley argued that ghost guns make up a small fraction of the total number of weapons recovered by law enforcement. In 2021, the ATF recovered 460,024 guns, compared to 19,273 ghost guns.

While Mr Kelley said he felt for Angellyh's family, he was personally against any government regulation of firearms based on his interpretation of the Second Amendment right to bear arms.

He dismissed statistics, such as those that show firearms are the leading cause of death for American children and teens, as missing the point.

"People need to separate in their minds violence and guns," he said.

"If we have troubled kids or we have people who feel disenfranchised in this country, which we do in spades, that's the source of this (violence)."

It's a distinction Angellyh's family does not make - Mr Yambo blamed the manufacturers for her death, and is starting a foundation to help those affected by gun violence.

"Who were these guns made for? Why were they sold in parts - in order to avoid being detected by the Department of Justice and the ATF?" he asked.
Weve been wondering what goes on inside the minds of animals since antiquity. Dr. Doolittles talent was far from novel when it was first published in 1920; Greco-Roman literature is lousy with speaking animals, writers in Zhanguo-era China routinely ascribed language to certain animal species and theyre also prevalent in Indian, Egyptian, Hebrew and Native American storytelling traditions.

Even today, popular Western culture toys with the idea of talking animals, though often through a lens of technology-empowered speech rather than supernatural force. The dolphins from both Seaquest DSV and Johnny Mnemonic communicated with their bipedal contemporaries through advanced translation devices, as did Dug the dog from Up.

Weve already got machine-learning systems and natural language processors that can translate human speech into any number of existing languages, and adapting that process to convert animal calls into human-interpretable signals doesnt seem that big of a stretch. However, it turns out weve got more work to do before we can converse with nature.

What is language?

All living things communicate, an interdisciplinary team of researchers argued in 2018s On understanding the nature and evolution of social cognition: a need for the study of communication. Communication involves an action or characteristic of one individual that influences the behavior, behavioral tendency or physiology of at least one other individual in a fashion typically adaptive to both.

From microbes, fungi and plants on up the evolutionary ladder, science has yet to find an organism that exists in such extreme isolation as to not have a natural means of communicating with the world around it. But we should be clear that communication and language are two very different things.

No other natural communication system is like human language, argues the Linguistics Society of America. Language allows us to express our inner thoughts and convey information, as well as request or even demand it. Unlike any other animal communication system, it contains an expression for negation  what is not the case  Animal communication systems, in contrast, typically have at most a few dozen distinct calls, and they are used only to communicate immediate issues such as food, danger, threat, or reconciliation.

Thats not to say that pets dont understand us. We know that dogs and cats can respond accurately to a wide range of human words when they have prior experience with those words and relevant outcomes, Dr. Monique Udell, Director of the Human-Animal Interaction Laboratory at Oregon State University, told Engadget. In many cases these associations are learned through basic conditioning, Dr. Udell said  like when we yell dinner just before setting out bowls of food.

Whether or not our dogs and cats actually understand what dinner means outside of the immediate Pavlovian response  remains to be seen. We know that at least some dogs have been able to learn to respond to over 1,000 human words (labels for objects) with high levels of accuracy, Dr. Udell said. Dogs currently hold the record among non-human animal species for being able to match spoken human words to objects or actions reliably, but its difficult to know for sure to what extent dogs understand the intent behind our words or actions.

Dr. Udell continued: This is because when we measure a dog or cats understanding of a stimulus, like a word, we typically do so based on their behavior. You can teach a dog to sit with both English and German commands, but if a dog responds the same way to the word sit in English and in German, it is likely the simplest explanation  with the fewest assumptions  is that they have learned that when they sit in the presence of either word then there is a pleasant consequence.

Hush, the computers are speaking

Natural Language Programming (NLP) is the branch of AI that enables computers and algorithmic models to interpret text and speech, including the speakers intent, the same way we meatsacks do. It combines computational linguistics, which models the syntax, grammar and structure of a language, and machine-learning models, which automatically extract, classify, and label elements of text and voice data and then assign a statistical likelihood to each possible meaning of those elements, according to IBM. NLP underpins the functionality of every digital assistant on the market. Basically any time youre speaking at a smart device, NLP is translating your words into machine-understandable signals and vice versa.

The field of NLP research has undergone a significant evolution in recent years, as its core systems have migrated from older Recurrent and Convoluted Neural Networks towards Googles Transformer architecture, which greatly increases training efficiency.

Dr. Noah D. Goodman, Associate Professor of Psychology and Computer Science, and Linguistics at Stanford University, told Engadget that, with RNNs, you'll have to go time-step by time-step or like word by word through the data and then do the same thing backward. In contrast, with a transformer, you basically take the whole string of words and push them through the network at the same time.

It really matters to make that training more efficient, Dr. Goodman continued. Transformers, they're cool  but by far the biggest thing is that they make it possible to train efficiently and therefore train much bigger models on much more data.

Talkin jive aint just for turkeys

While many species communication systems have been studied in recent years  most notably cetaceans like whales and dolphins, but also the southern pied babbler, for its songs potentially syntactic qualities, and vervet monkeys communal predator warning system  none have shown the sheer degree of complexity as the call of the avian family Paridae: the chickadees, tits and titmice.

Dr. Jeffrey Lucas, professor in the Biological Sciences department at Purdue University, told Engadget that the Paridae call is one of the most complicated vocal systems that we know of. At the end of the day, what the [fields voluminous number of research] papers are showing is that it's god-awfully complicated, and the problem with the papers is that they grossly under-interpret how complicated [the calls] actually are.

These parids often live in socially complex, heterospecific flocks, mixed groupings that include multiple songbird and woodpecker species. The complexity of the birds social system is correlated with an increased diversity in communications systems, Dr. Lucas said. Part of the reason why that correlation exists is because, if you have a complex social system that's multi-dimensional, then you have to convey a variety of different kinds of information across different contexts. In the bird world, they have to defend their territory, talk about food, integrate into the social system [and resolve] mating issues.

The chickadee call consist of at least six distinct notes set in an open-ended vocal structure, which is both monumentally rare in non-human communication systems and the reason for the Chickadees call complexity. An open-ended vocal system means that increased recording of chick-a-dee calls will continually reveal calls with distinct note-type compositions, explained the 2012 study, Linking social complexity and vocal complexity: a parid perspective. This open-ended nature is one of the main features the chick-a-dee call shares with human language, and one of the main differences between the chick-a-dee call and the finite song repertoires of most songbird species.

Dolphin translation by Tea Strazicic

Dolphins have no need for kings

Training language models isnt simply a matter of shoving in large amounts of data. When training a model to translate an unknown language into what youre speaking, you need to have at least a rudimentary understanding of how the the two languages correlate with one another so that the translated text retains the proper intent of the speaker.

The strongest kind of data that we could have is what's called a parallel corpus, Dr. Goodman explained, which is basically having a Rosetta Stone for the two tongues. In that case, youd simply have to map between specific words, symbols and phonemes in each language  figure out what means river or one bushel of wheat in each and build out from there.

Without that perfect translation artifact, so long as you have large corpuses of data for both languages, it's still possible to learn a translation between the languages, but it hinges pretty crucially on the idea that the kind of latent conceptual structure, Dr. Goodman continued, which assumes that both cultures definitions of one bushel of wheat are generally equivalent.

Goodman points to the word pairs man and woman and king and queen in English. The structure, or geometry, of that relationship we expect English, if we were translating into Hungarian, we would also expect those four concepts to stand in a similar relationship, Dr. Goodman said. Then effectively the way we'll learn a translation now is by learning to translate in a way that preserves the structure of that conceptual space as much as possible.

Having a large corpus of data to work with in this situation also enables unsupervised learning techniques to be used to extract the latent conceptual space, Dr. Goodman said, though that method is more resource intensive and less efficient. However, if all you have is a large corpus in only one of the languages, youre generally out of luck.

For most human languages we assume the [quartet concepts] are kind of, sort of similar, like, maybe they don't have king and queen but they definitely have man and woman, Dr. Goodman continued. But I think for animal communication, we can't assume that dolphins have a concept of king and queen or whether they have men and women. I don't know, maybe, maybe not.

And without even that rudimentary conceptual alignment to work from, discerning the context and intent of a animals call  much less, deciphering the syntax, grammar and semantics of the underlying communication system  becomes much more difficult. You're in a much weaker position, Dr. Goodman said. If you have the utterances in the world context that they're uttered in, then you might be able to get somewhere.

Basically, if you can obtain multimodal data that provides context for the recorded animal call  the environmental conditions, time of day or year, the presence of prey or predator species, etc  you can ground the language data into the physical environment. From there you can assume that English grounds into the physical environment in the same way as this weird new language grounds into the physical environment and use that as a kind of bridge between the languages.

Unfortunately, the challenge of translating bird calls into English (or any other human language) is going to fall squarely into the fourth category. This means well need more data and a lot of different types of data as we continue to build our basic understanding of the structures of these calls from the ground up. Some of those efforts are already underway.

The Dolphin Communication Project, for example, employs a combination mobile video/acoustic system to capture both the utterances of wild dolphins and their relative position in physical space at that time to give researchers added context to the calls. Biologging tags  animal-borne sensors affixed to hide, hair, or horn that track the locations and conditions of their hosts  continue to shrink in size while growing in both capacity and capability, which should help researchers gather even more data about these communities.

What if birds are just constantly screaming about the heat?

Even if we wont be able to immediately chat with our furred and feathered neighbors, gaining a better understanding of how they at least talk to each other could prove valuable to conservation efforts. Dr. Lucas points to a recent study he participated in that found environmental changes induced by climate change can radically change how different bird species interact in mixed flocks. What we showed was that if you look across the disturbance gradients, then everything changes, Dr. Lucas said. What they do with space changes, how they interact with other birds changes. Their vocal systems change.

The social interactions for birds in winter are extraordinarily important because you know, 10 gram bird  if it doesn't eat in a day, it's dead, Dr. Lucas continued. So information about their environment is extraordinarily important. And what those mixed species flocks do is to provide some of that information.

However that network quickly breaks down as the habitat degrades and in order to survive they have to really go through fairly extreme changes in behavior and social systems and vocal systems  but that impacts fertility rates, and their ability to feed their kids and that sort of thing.

Better understanding their calls will help us better understand their levels of stress, which can serve both modern conservation efforts and agricultural ends. The idea is that we can get an idea about the level of stress in [farm animals], then use that as an index of what's happening in the barn and whether we can maybe even mitigate that using vocalizations, Dr. Lucas said. AI probably is going to help us do this.

Scientific sources indicate that noise in farm animal environments is a detrimental factor to animal health, Jan Broucek of the Research Institute for Animal Production Nitra, observed in 2014. Especially longer lasting sounds can affect the health of animals. Noise directly affects reproductive physiology or energy consumption. That continuous drone is thought to also indirectly impact other behaviors including habitat use, courtship, mating, reproduction and the care of offspring.

Conversely, 2021s research, The effect of music on livestock: cattle, poultry and pigs, has shown that playing music helps to calm livestock and reduce stress during times of intensive production. We can measure that reduction in stress based on what sorts of happy sounds those animals make. Like listening to music in another language, we can get with the vibe, even if we can't understand the lyrics
Former President Trumps attorneys are battling with the Justice Department over a protective order in his criminal case stemming from efforts to overturn the 2020 election and the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

The proposal would not limit Trumps ability to discuss the prosecution generally, making it distinct from a gag order, which would restrict Trumps ability to speak about the case outside of court filings and hearings.

But Trump has claimed prosecutors proposal, which would place rules on how Trump can access and discuss evidence he receives in preparing his defense, would violate his First Amendment rights.

A gag order refers to a judge barring attorneys, parties or witnesses from discussing a case with the public, according to Cornell Universitys Legal Information Institute.

The special counsel is not seeking a gag order, said Barbara McQuade, a former U.S. attorney and current law professor at the University of Michigan. He is instead seeking a protective order that would prevent the public disclosure of discovery material such as evidence, witness grand jury testimony and interviews.

Prosecutors have been seeking a protective order before turning over any evidence to Trump and his legal team. Resolving the battle could impact the case timeline: Trumps attorneys have said they cant suggest a trial date until seeing the scope of prosecutors evidence.

On Friday, special counsel Jack Smith told the judge overseeing Trumps Washington, D.C. criminal case that the government is prepared to provide the former presidents attorneys with a substantial amount of discovery, including some to which the defendant is not entitled at this stage of the proceedings.

But to do so, the judge must stop Trump from engaging in improper dissemination or use of discovery materials, including to the public, Smith said.

The DOJ special counsel argued that Trump has previously issued social media statements regarding witnesses, judges, attorneys and others linked to his legal matters. He cited an ambiguous but forceful post Trump made Friday on Truth Social that read: IF YOU GO AFTER ME, IM COMING AFTER YOU!



If the defendant were to begin issuing public posts using details  or, for example, grand jury transcripts  obtained in discovery here, it could have a harmful chilling effect on witnesses or adversely affect the fair administration of justice in this case, Smith wrote in the filing.

Trumps attorneys hit back, accusing the government of trying to hamper Trumps First Amendment rights while he runs for president. His attorneys argued that prosecutors are working for a Justice Department under President Biden, whom they dubbed Trumps primary political opponent.

In response, Smith accused Trumps attorneys of proposing an order designed to allow (Trump) to try this case in the media rather than in the courtroom.



McQuade said protective orders like the one requested by the government are routinely granted in criminal cases and will likely be granted in Trumps case.



Discovery is intended to help the defendant prepare his defense for trial, not to enable him to try the case in the media, she said.



The broad language proposed by Trumps attorneys might allow his team to share discovery material with any lawyer who may be assisting Trump as opposed to his retained defense team, she added.



That would mean that lawyers like Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell could receive the discovery material, McQuade said. Because they are described as co-conspirators, such language would compromise the integrity of any ongoing investigations.

The judge overseeing Trumps case indicated she plans to hold a hearing this week on the protective order request and asked the parties to provide possible times

Prosecutors said they were available anytime over the next three days. Trumps team noted one of his attorneys, Todd Blanche, will be in Florida on Thursday for a proceeding in the classified documents case, asking for a hearing on Monday afternoon or Tuesday so he could also attend.

Trumps Jan. 6 case wouldnt be the first time the former president is put under a protective order in his criminal cases. Judges previously approved such orders for his classified documents case in federal court in Florida and his hush money case in New York state court.

During Trumps arraignment in the hush money case, prosecutors and the former presidents attorneys indicated they were close to reaching an agreement on a protective order.

But in the weeks following, talks broke down. Trumps attorneys pushed back against Manhattan prosecutors proposal, although the judge ultimately entered a protective order.

In the classified documents case, Trump did not object to a protective order.

Updated at 2:34 p.m.



For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
WASHINGTON  Ukrainian forces have had limited success uprooting entrenched Russian soldiers in eastern Ukraine after several weeks of fighting and significant losses of troops and equipment, according to U.S. officials.

Now the Western-backed counteroffensive that began with great hope faces crunch time with fall approaching. The rain and mud of autumn will make the slog even harder.

There is grinding progress, said Seth Jones, senior vice president and director of the international security program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Its the beginning of August. The reality is that its not clear how much the Ukrainians will be able to take back in a short time frame.

The counteroffensive began early in the summer amid high expectations. U.S. and Western allies had trained more than 60,000 troops in NATO tactics that stress synchronizing attacks among ground combat units, artillery and air power. The Pentagon provided dozens of armored personnel carriers and other allies sent modern tanks and equipment.

Visions of quick gains were based in part on last falls experience when Ukrainian forces retook swaths of northern Ukraine as Russian troops retreated in disarray.

The war, launched as an illegal, unprovoked invasion in February 2022 by Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been enormously bloody and costly. More than 9,300 Ukrainian civilians have been killed and 16,600 wounded, according to the United Nations. Estimates of Russian and Ukrainian troop deaths and wounded vary. Russias wounded totaled about 200,000 troops, 40,000 of them killed, U.S. officials estimated this spring. U.S. classified documents allegedly leaked by a U.S. airman showed about 125,000 wounded Ukrainian troops, about 17,000 of them killed in action.

A Ukrainian artilleryman fires a 152 mm towed gun-howitzer D-20 at Russian positions on the front line near Bakhmut, eastern Ukraine, on July 20 amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The Pentagon has shipped or promised more than $44 billion in military aid to Ukraine. For Putin, the war has been a strategic blunder. Ukrainian resolve dashed his hope of a swift victory in days or weeks. The fighting exposed deficiencies in the Russian army's leadership, training and equipment. Instead of dividing NATO, the alliance added Finland to its ranks, and, along with it, another 800 miles of its border with Russia. Sweden is now poised to become NATO's 32nd nation. But to break the stalemate and advance Ukrainian progress, western officials say Ukraine will need more help in its counteroffensive, including advanced fighter jets to break past Russian defenses in occupied territory.

Limited gains

Ukrainian forces this summer have made minimal gains along a 600-mile front in eastern Ukraine, according to U.S. officials who were not authorized to speak publicly. Some potentially significant thrusts have been made in recent days.

But thus far little ground has been retaken. In most spots, progress is measured in tenths of a mile, said one U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly. Thats not a lot considering Russia illegally occupies about 20% of Ukraine.

One of the brighter spots, the source said, has been in Western Zaporizhzhia province in southeastern Ukraine where Ukraine has committed resources and troops there.

Advances there, however, are likely to be marked by periods of pause and setbacks, according to an assessment Thursday by the Institute for the Study of War.

Ukrainian troops have also made gains near the hollowed-out city of Bakhmut, the official said. That city was the site of fierce fighting over the winter.

Why Ukraine hasn't made more progress

Russian forces spent the winter and spring preparing elaborate layers of defense, according to an analysis by Jones. They seeded the ground with vast minefields as a first line of defense, built berms and erected tank barriers known as dragons teeth to funnel Ukrainian forces onto the ground they can blanket with artillery fire.

Ukrainian troops have confronted hundreds of minefields, the U.S. official said. Its difficult to thread through mines safely in the best circumstances. Doing so under fire has killed or wounded a significant number of Ukrainian troops, the official said, adding total injuries were unclear. Dozens of Western armored vehicles have also been destroyed or damaged.

Slow progress isnt a surprise nor an indictment of Ukrainian resolve or Western tactics, Jones said. The lack of air support for Ukrainian ground troops has been hamstringing their counteroffensive.

No U.S.-led attack would involve just one component of the Pentagons land, air and sea forces, Jones said. Yet the Ukrainians have been limited to attacking almost exclusively on the ground. Ukrainian pilots fly a relatively small number of Soviet-era aircraft that are overmatched by Russia's modern fighter jets and air defenses.

I dont want to dismiss the possibility of breakthrough in a given area, Jones said. But honestly, its going to be very difficult to retake the 19% or 20% of Ukraine that Russia occupies.

What's next

Expect the Biden administration to continue furnishing Ukraine hundreds of millions of dollars worth of ammunition, mine clearing equipment and air defenses every few weeks, the official said. Air defense is particularly critical because Putin continues striking civilian targets with drones and missiles.

Constant resupply of ammunition is also vital. Ukrainians have fired as many as 10,000 artillery shells per day at Russian troops. Cluster munitions, shells that scatter smaller explosives, sparked controversy when the Biden administration approved their inclusion in earlier military aid packages. The weapons, banned by more than 100 countries, can leave unexploded bomblets that can kill or maim civilians. They will continue to be sent to Ukraine, the official said.

Using cluster munitions, Ukrainians have had success attacking concentrations of Russian troops, a second U.S. official said. That official, citing recent intelligence reports, also said that Ukrainians have breached minefields in some areas, a hopeful sign that could lead to greater advances.

Notably absent from military air are two items that could accelerate the counteroffensive, Jones said. Advanced fighter jets like the F-16 could provide cover for Ukrainian ground troops, and the Armys Tactical Missile System, known as ATACMS, has a range of nearly 200 miles and can reach key logistics and command posts operated by the Russians. Still, the $44 billion in military aid has been a good investment, Jones said.

"The U.S. has been able to weaken one of its most significant adversaries without losing a single U.S. soldier," Jones said.

Ukrainian pilots are set to begin training on F-16s, which U.S. allies have committed to providing, sometime this month. ATACMS remain on Ukraines wish list but a decision by the White House to send them is not imminent, the first official said. The White House and Pentagon have held back sophisticated weapons like the F-16 over concerns that Russia would escalate the war and strike at nearby NATO countries, sparking a wider conflict. The Ukrainian government has provided assurances that it will not use the weapons to attack inside Russia.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., a member of the Armed Services Committee, backs sending the Ukrainians both weapons systems.

"It is an incremental step that is well-warranted," Blumenthal said. "It is not providing anything drastically different. Its more artillery that is deeply necessary due to the entrenched defenses of the Russians, the mines and dragon's teeth. It's a profoundly difficult and deadly defense."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ukraine isn't advancing against Russia like the west would hope.
An Indiana woman shot and killed a man in defense of her husband, according to state police.

Deputies with the Washington County Sheriffs Department responded to a call about a shooting at 6:32 p.m. on Aug. 7 at a home in Salem, Indiana State Police said in an Aug. 8 news release.

A man, Michael T. Chastain, arrived at the address moments before the shooting, according to police.

Chastain drove across the front lawn of the home, got out of his vehicle, grabbed the homeowner and forced him to the ground, the release said. Chastain then pulled out a gun and aimed it at the mans head.

The mans wife was inside the home and, seeing what was happening, grabbed a handgun, headed outside and ultimately shot Chastain, police said.

He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to the release.

Officials did not say what led to the confrontation.

Salem, a town of about 6,200 people, is roughly 100 miles south of Indianapolis.

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As a member of Wisconsins 54-officer Wisconsin State Fair Park Police Department, Dezjorn DJ Gauthier became the first out transgender officer in the state in December 2022, according to local media.

The park is located in the Milwaukee suburb of West Allis.

You know, being a transgender officer, nothing is different, Gauthier told Milwaukee NBC affiliate WTMJ. Walking these grounds is the same as any officer that is down here.

He spoke to the news station during the Wisconsin State Fair, which ends August 13. The grounds have their own police force that deploys multiple officers daily to deal with the events on the property instead of paying an outside security agency.

While officers can work 12-14 hours during hectic times, such as the State Fair, Gauthier appreciates the challenges and opportunities of working with the public.

The folks that we encounter, right? We want to be the face of the same folks that are here on the ground, he said.

Ken Pileggi, chief of the Wisconsin State Park Police, encouraged Gauthier to become a police officer after seeing his work as a public safety officer.

The rookie is doing outstanding. The rookie has natural leadership abilities, Pileggi said. I saw so much potential in him that we decided  in talking with him  we sponsored him for the Milwaukee Area Technical College recruit academy to have him become a police officer after the 720-hour basic academy (training).

Gauthier says hes proud to be on the force, and his colleagues feel the same about him.

Hes an integral part of that team, so were very lucky to have him, State Park Police inspector John Flannery said.

Pleggi added, We all wear the same patch. We all wear the same badge. Hes part of that while yet still advancing his [transgender identity] and bringing a better understanding not only just for our staff but for fairgoers as well.

Aside from being a positive representation as a police officer, Gauthier hopes to show others that transgender people exist in all areas of life.

It is vital for him for people to know that [We] are here, that we do exist, and that there are employment areas that completely accept us with open arms, he said.
Jamie Tompkins says her Etsy business took off after she began selling beaded bracelets for Taylor Swift's sold-out Eras Tour. Courtesy of Jamie Tompkins; Christopher Polk/Penske Media/Getty Images

Jamie Tompkins says she's made $16,000 from selling Eras Tour-themed bracelets on Etsy.

Tompkins tells Insider she opened her Etsy shop PigtailsandPixiDust in early 2022 as a hobby.

She hopes her sales will allow her to retire early and focus on her Etsy shop.

Swifties are trading friendship bracelets, and Etsy sellers are cashing in on it.

One creator says she's made tens of thousands of dollars by selling colorful friendship bracelets to Taylor Swift fans.

Jamie Tompkins, 46, tells Insider she opened her Etsy shop PigtailsandPixiDust in early 2022 as a hobby. Based in Oklahoma, she also has a full-time job as an events manager in Oklahoma City.

But Tompkins' side hustle really took off after she and her daughter went to the Eras Tour show in Arlington, Texas, on April 2.

Tompkins, who describes herself as a "huge Swiftie," says she got into making the bracelets when she and her daughter crafted them for the concert.

"I started out selling hair bows and headbands on my shop, then my daughter and I made 100 friendship bracelets to trade at the Eras Tour," Tompkins says. "We ended up having roughly 50 left and my daughter suggested that I put them on my Etsy shop and see if I could sell them. They sold out in two days, and I have been making more every day since."

Tompkins sells packs of five bracelets for $15, all of which feature iconic Swift lyrics like "Shake It Off," "I'm The Problem," and "Fearless."

Jamie Tompkins says she's made about $16,000 from selling Swift-themed bracelets

An Eras Tour attendee shows off her arms covered in friendship bracelets. Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

Ever since the Eras Tour kicked off in March, attendees have taken to social media to share photos and videos of their arms decked out in bracelets.

One TikTok user, Katherine Zaino, made a video in May that showed her bare arms before the concert and after when they were covered in friendship bracelets. The video has nearly 3 million likes as of Tuesday.

Another TikTok user, Emma Elliott, shared her tips and tips for trading bracelets at the concert. Her video has over 250,000 views as of Tuesday.

The trend is inspired by one of the lyrics in Swift's "Midnights" song, "You're On Your Own Kid," in which Swift sings: "Make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it, you've got no reason to be afraid."

The bracelets, made from brightly-colored beads, pay homage to various Taylor Swift songs, lyrics, and Easter eggs, and fans have started a tradition of trading bracelets with each other at every stop of the Eras Tour.

One creative fan went as far as making a dress out of hundreds of friendship bracelets.

And celebrities have even gotten in on the trend, with everyone from Gigi Hadid to Flavor Flav showing off their stacks of friendship bracelets.

While some fans are making their own bracelets, many seem to be buying them online from sellers like Tompkins. And she's not the only Etsy creator to jump on the trend. A search for an "Eras friendship bracelet" on Etsy yields 7,595 results, as of Tuesday. Some creators are selling friendship-bracelet kits for fans as well.

Tompkins says that her small business has been so lucrative, she hopes to save the money she's made and be able to retire early to focus solely on her Etsy shop.

As for aspiring Etsy sellers wanting to get in on the friendship-bracelet trend, Tompkins says they should anticipate a lot of hard work.

"You have to put in a lot of work to make it successful," she says. "It's not an easy side hustle, it requires a lot of hard work and dedication, but if you're making something you love it is all worth it."

Read the original article on Insider
A woman who was accused of trafficking her biracial daughter while flying Southwest in 2021 is suing the airlines involved.

Mary McCarthy, who is white, filed the suit on August 3 in Colorado. In the suit, McCarthy detailed her experience at the airport while traveling to her brothers funeral from Los Angeles to Denver in October 2021. Her filing states that she was reported for suspected child trafficking by a Southwest employee.

There was no basis to believe that Ms. MacCarthy was trafficking her daughter and the only basis for the Southwest employees call was the belief that Ms. MacCarthys daughter could not possibly be her daughter because she is a biracial child, the suit reads.

The suit went on to allege that McCarthy and her then 10-year-old daughter were confronted by Denver authorities at the Denver International Airport based on the child trafficking suspicion as she was White and her daughter was biracial. Although the pair were eventually released, the suit claims that the incident caused them emotional distress.

A Fight For Accountability

In an interview with PEOPLE shortly after the incident took place, McCarthy promised to pursue legal action against Southwest Airlines and the Denver Police.

I want Southwest Airlines and the Denver police to be held accountable for what is undoubtedly a case of racial profiling involving a 10-year-old Black girl, who was already suffering the worst day in her life  a death in her family, she said at the time.

David Lane, MacCarthys attorney, shared an official statement with the magazine where he reiterated the discriminatory nature of the case.

In using racial profiling to cause the Denver police to stop innocent travelers, Southwest Airlines has attempted to address the serious crime of sex-trafficking through use of a stereotypical, easy formula, Lane wrote. Just as the police are constitutionally not permitted to stop-and-frisk young men of color based upon their race, corporate America is similarly not permitted to resort to such profiling in using law enforcement to stop and question racially diverse families simply based upon their divergent races, which is what Southwest did. The lawsuit is designed to bring some accountability to the airline and cause them to re-examine their training and policies.

Southwest Airlines is yet to release an official statement regarding the lawsuit.

The post Woman Sues Airline That Accused Her of Trafficking Her Biracial Daughter appeared first on 21Ninety.
Elizabeth Gebert helps her husband, Tim Gebert, put on his judge's robe during his investiture ceremony Friday afternoon.

WISCONSIN RAPIDS  Attorney Tim Gebert officially became Wood County Branch 4 Circuit Judge Gebert Friday afternoon when he took his oath of office and donned his robe during an investiture ceremony.

Gebert, 53, is the first Branch 4 judge for Wood County. In November 2021, the Wisconsin Supreme Court announced Wood County was one of four counties that would receive an additional circuit court branch. Clark, Sawyer and Manitowoc counties also received new judges this year.

Gebert defeated Wood County District Attorney Craig Lambert in the April election.

Gebert's family, friends, colleagues and Wood County officials packed the Branch 2 courtroom Friday during the investiture ceremony.

Wood County Child Support Director Brent Vruwink, who helped Gebert with his election campaign, told the group about Gebert's dedication. During the campaign, Gebert traveled around the county to meet people, Vruwink said. The new judge didn't just talk to people, he also really listened to them and got to know them, Vruwink said.

"I know he won't let the people of Wood County down when he takes the bench," Vruwink said.

Retired Attorney Kenneth Gorski said he's known Gebert for 20 years. Gebert is intelligent, ethical and someone who treats other people with respect, Gorski said.

"I know he'll be a great addition to the county," Gorski said.

Wood County Branch 1 Circuit Judge Greg Potter gave Gebert the oath of office and advice on how to be a good judge. A good judge respects every person who comes into the courtroom, prepares for the cases in advance, has patience and listens, Potter said.

Gebert's wife, Elizabeth, helped him put on his robe. Gebert said his mother was the best person he knew, his father was the smartest, and his wife is the most patient.

Wood County Branch 1 Circuit Judge Greg Potter swears in new Branch 4 Circuit Judge Tim Gebert Friday afternoon.

Gebert grew up in Wisconsin Rapids. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in industrial organizational psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in 1991 and got his Juris Doctor from Michigan State Law School in 1994. He's practiced both criminal and civil law for the past 28 years.

Gebert has been sitting in Wood County Branch 1 with Potter for a week, learning what it's like to be in charge of a courtroom.

"It's a different perspective being there on the other side," Gebert said.

More: Judge enters not guilty plea for Nekoosa man charged in fatal September motorcycle crash

More: Wisconsin Rapids man pleads not guilty to June 16 hit-and-run in Wood County

Following Friday's ceremony, people got the chance to see the inside of the newly created Branch 4 courtroom and chambers. The courtroom, the smallest of Wood County's four courtrooms, is in the former Wood County Clerk of Courts Office. Gebert said he's happy to have the newest courtroom. Any of the county's other three judges could have claimed it, but they didn't, he said.

Gebert said he's noticed the positive working relationship the Wood County judges have had through the years. It's not like that in all counties, he said. He's looking forward to being a part of the positive environment and serving the residents of Wood County. Gebert served as a Wisconsin Rapids Municipal Court prosecutor and worked in Marshfield for 15 years. He wants to continue to serve all the residents of Wood County in his new role.

Gebert said he'll be taking the bench for the first time in about a week.

Contact Karen Madden at 715-345-2245 or kmadden@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @KMadden715, Instagram @kmadden715 or Facebook at www.facebook.com/karen.madden.33.

SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM: Our subscribers make this coverage possible. Click to see the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune's special offers at wisconsinrapidstribune.com/subscribe and download our app on the App Store or Google Play.

This article originally appeared on Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune: Wood County Branch 4 Circuit Judge Tim Gebert sworn into office Friday
Zagreb police chief hails joint Chinese-Croatian police patrol

Xinhua) 13:40, August 08, 2023

ZAGREB, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- A joint police patrol of Chinese and Croatian police officers will not only promote safety and security in Croatia's popular tourist destinations, but also help promote bilateral cooperation and relations, said Velimir Tisma, head of the Prevention Service at the Zagreb Police Department, in a recent interview with Xinhua.

"As in previous years, this year we expect the joint Chinese-Croatian police patrol in Croatia will help achieve the goal of the Safe Tourist Destinations project, which is to provide maximum security for Croatian citizens and foreign tourists during the tourist season," said Tisma, who has been in charge of the joint patrol of Chinese and Croatian police officers.

Joint police patrols since 2018 have boosted the project and provided safety for Chinese tourists in Croatia. During their patrols, Chinese police officers can directly help Chinese tourists if they are in trouble or in need of help, Tisma noted.

"We are convinced that the joint police patrol this year will continue to provide a sense of security to Chinese tourists in Croatia," he said, adding that Chinese police officers, together with their Croatian colleagues, have provided useful information including self-protection and crime prevention to tourists and local residents.

Zorica Lausic, chief of the International Police Cooperation Division at the Croatian Interior Ministry, attended the joint patrol launch ceremony held at the Chinese embassy here in mid-July, the fourth of its kind since 2018.

"With this year's number of eight Chinese police officers participating in joint patrols in Croatia so far, the total number is 30. All this makes us very proud and confirms our success within the project of Safe Tourist Destination which would not have been possible without you, our strong partners," Lausic said in remarks at the launch.

The joint police patrol this year, which will last for one month, is being conducted in Zagreb, Zadar, Plitvice Lakes National Park and Dubrovnik, all of which are major tourist destinations in Croatia.

The joint police patrol has contributed to "mutually beneficial and fruitful" cooperation between the law enforcement departments in the two countries and the Safe Tourist Destinations project has injected "strong impetus" to bilateral police cooperation as well as the development of bilateral relations, Tisma told Xinhua.

According to an agreement signed between the two sides in 2017, joint Croatian-Chinese police patrols are expected to continue in the future, Tisma added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
WORCESTER - Jennifer Algarin, the woman who stabbed and killed her boyfriend in a city apartment in 2019, was sentenced to 12 to 15 years in prison by a Worcester Superior Court judge Tuesday, according to a spokesperson for the district attorney's office.

The sentencing came two months after Algarin, 37, pleaded guilty to one charge of voluntary manslaughter for fatally stabbing 40-year-old Jason Swedberg on the morning of Oct. 18, 2019, in an apartment at 39 Dixfield St., where the couple of more than three years had been living together.

Prosecutors have said that Algarin had ascribed the stabbing to a dream in which "they told me to stab him." The woman also said to police she had been using new medication for mental health conditions shortly before the killing.

Tuesday, Judge Janet Kenton-Walker also sentenced Algarin for a domestic assault charge for 2 -years, balance suspended for five years with probation.

As part of the probation conditions, Kenton-Walker ordered Algarin to attend mental health checkups, to avoid substance use and to stay away from the victim's family.

Two other charges were previously dismissed as part of the plea deal June 1.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Jennifer Algarin sentenced to 12 to 15 years in prison
FILE PHOTO: A participant stands near a logo of World Bank at the International Monetary Fund - World Bank Annual Meeting 2018 in Nusa Dua

By Andrea Shalal and Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The World Bank said on Tuesday it would halt new lending to the Ugandan government after concluding that its anti-LGBTQ law, which has been condemned by many countries and the United Nations, contradicts the bank's values.

In response, the East African country dismissed the move as unjust and hypocritical.

A World Bank team traveled to Uganda immediately after the law was enacted in May and determined that additional measures were needed to ensure projects were being implemented in line with the bank's environmental and social standards.

"No new public financing to Uganda will be presented to our Board of Executive Directors until the efficacy of the additional measures has been tested," the bank said in a statement, adding that such measures were now under discussion with Ugandan authorities.

"Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Act fundamentally contradicts the World Bank Group's values. We believe our vision to eradicate poverty on a livable planet can only succeed if it includes everyone irrespective of race, gender, or sexuality," the bank said.

"We remain committed to helping all Ugandans - without exception - escape poverty, access vital services, and improve their lives."

World Bank President Ajay Banga, who took office in June after the Ugandan law was enacted, has come under pressure to respond to the Ugandan law. On June 15, 170 civic groups urged Banga to take "specific, concrete and timely actions" in response to the Uganda anti-LGBTQ law, including suspending future lending.

Uganda's state minister for foreign affairs, Okello Oryem accused the bank of hypocrisy, saying they were lending to countries in the Middle East and Asia that have the same or harsher laws on homosexuality.

"There are many Middle East countries who do not tolerate homosexuals, they actually hang and execute homosexuals, in the United States of America many states have passed laws that are either against or restrict activities of homosexuality ... so why pick on Uganda?" he said.

"The World Bank has been put under pressure by the usual imperialists."

The World Bank had provided $5.4 billion in International Development Association financing to Uganda by the end of 2022, including many health and education projects that could be affected by the new law.

The existing portfolio will continue to disburse funds, even as new lending is put on hold, a World Bank source said.

Private sector projects backed by the International Finance Corporation and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) would proceed only "on a selective basis," the bank said in a separate note to staff seen by Reuters.

It said the IFC and MIGA would also implement additional measures to "ensure inclusion and non-discrimination as needed."

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh and Andrea Shalal in Washington; Additional reporting by Elias Biryabarema in Kampala; Editing by Leslie Adler, Jonathan Oatis, Richard Chang and Christina Fincher)
U.S.-supplied cluster munitions are destroying Russian positions in areas where Ukrainian troops had struggled to advance, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Aug. 8.

Ukrainian forces have been striking Russian infantry, vehicles, and artillery positions, clearing the way for ground forces' advances. This allowed Kyiv to take positions its troops have long struggled to reach, the WSJ said, citing Ukrainian soldiers.

The effectiveness of the ammunition has been demonstrated during recent fights around Robotyne in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Russian forces pinned down a Ukrainian platoon until Ukraine's artillery provided a cover with cluster munitions, causing heavy casualties among the Russian ranks and forcing them to retreat.

According to Ukrainian soldiers, cluster munitions are effective but Russian troops are already adapting to their use by digging deeper trenches and by spreading their positions more thinly.

Read also: How controversial cluster munitions give Ukraine needed punch during counteroffensive

Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, the commander for Tavria military sector, confirmed to CNN on July 13 that the U.S. had already delivered the weapons it had pledged as part of the latest $800-million aid package to Ukraine the week before.

The announcement that the U.S. was sending cluster munitions to Ukraine was seen as controversial due to humanitarian concerns over their use.

Cluster munitions scatter bomblets over a wide area. The cluster munition duds, or unexploded bomblets, can pose a danger to the civilian population in the area long after the hostilities end.

The Ukrainian military has therefore said that cluster munitions will not be used in cities, densely populated areas, or on Russian territory.

While Russian forces have been using munitions with a dud rate of 30-40%, the U.S.-provided cluster munitions would have a dud rate not higher than 2.5%, according to National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.

Over 120 countries banned using, developing, producing, acquiring, stockpiling, or transferring cluster munitions in the 2010 convention. Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia are not signatories to the convention.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
ABUJA (Reuters) - The World Trade Organization's director-general said on Tuesday she discussed measures, including support from the agency, with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu that could help cushion the impact of ending a subsidy on petrol that has increased the cost of living in Africa's largest economy.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who is on a private visit to her home country, said talks focussed on immediate community programs to create jobs for young people and women "who are those bearing the brunt" and long-term opportunities that Nigeria can seize, including investment in the pharmaceutical industry.

"We are already working in Nigeria with women in particular, who own small and medium enterprises, to try to help them upgrade the quality of their products, whether it's in agricultural, textiles, and in other areas so that they can sell more internationally," she told reporters in Abuja, the capital.

"We are going to try to do the most we can to support Nigerians at this particular time, she said.

Since being sworn into office on May 29, Tinubu has embarked on the country's boldest reforms in decades, scrapping the popular but expensive subsidy, which cost $10 billion last year, and relaxing foreign exchange regime.

Tinubu, who is under pressure as prices soar following his reform agenda, has defended his decision saying Nigeria has saved over 1 trillion naira ($1.31 billion) in just over two months since reforms were started.

($1 = 761.4400 naira)

(Reporting by Felix Onuah; Writing by Elisha Bala-Gbogbo; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
Moriah Barnhart is exhausted.

But the Tampa mom keeps going. Shes caring for her 12-year-old daughter, Dahlia, who uses a specific strain of cannabis  without psychoactive properties  to treat a rare and debilitating form of brain cancer. Barnhart wants to grow that strain of cannabis at home rather than rely on dispensaries. Shes not the only one, she said.

Eighteen states allow growing marijuana at home, 16 of which also allow recreational use. Florida isnt one of them. So shes leading the charge to change the law.

Barnharts fight may call to mind the saga of Joe Redner, the strip club king of Tampa who tried and failed to win a personal right to grow marijuana at home to treat his stage four lung cancer. Friends of Redner maintain that the state constitution already allows patients to grow their own cannabis. A Florida appeals court dismissed that logic.

Barnhart said Redners court case only went so far.

Had he won the case, it would be for him and him only, she said. But, she added, Redner educated the public on home grow.

Barnhart is spearheading a petition that could allow Florida voters to decide next year whether all qualifying medical patients can grow their own cannabis at home.

About 200 dispensaries around the state have agreed to display copies of that petition, possibly starting this month, Barnhart said. Some of those dispensaries are owned by two top medical marijuana companies in Florida, Trulieve and Surterra, which have publicly endorsed the idea.

But the major dispensaries have yet to support Barnharts campaign with big-dollar donations.

Barnhart said her daughter is the prototype of a medical patient looking to grow marijuana at home: someone who uses a specific strain under the advice of a doctor. Parents with sick kids often feel like they dont have any option but to break the law and grow at home, she said.

Barnhart said shes motivated to help others besides Dahlia.

I could have taken my daughter out-of-state and gotten all the product we needed, she said. But it just seemed outrageously unfair that there would be so many people without the friends and connections we have, who couldnt have that thing.

In 2020, Barnhart helped launch the cannabis advocacy group Womens Initiative for a Safe and Equitable Florida. Two years later, she registered a political action committee, Wise and Free Florida, dedicated to getting home grow on the 2024 ballot.

How likely is it that this will pass?

Barnhart has chronicled the steps to get a grassroots initiative on the ballot on her Facebook page. In recent years, Barnhart, other moms and nonprofits have spent over $100,000 to promote home grow at the state level. The political campaign, Wise and Free Florida, has disclosed only about $4,000 in contributions this year.

Barnhart set an end-of-year deadline for collecting the near-900,000 signatures required for Florida Supreme Court review. Shes got a long way to go.

Three hurdles stand before Barnhart. Collecting enough signatures is her first challenge. From there, the process gets more complicated.

Once the state validates those signatures, petitions for ballot amendments must withstand scrutiny from the state Supreme Court, a body that rejected two marijuana-related ballot initiatives in 2021 on the grounds that they were misleading to voters. Only with the blessing of the Florida Supreme Court can a proposed amendment appear on the ballot, where it would need approval from 60% of voters.

Trulieve is waging its own campaign to get a measure on the 2024 Florida ballot that would allow adult recreational use of marijuana. The group has gathered the necessary signatures. In late June, the state attorney general filed her first opposition brief, arguing that the petitions language misleads voters. A state Supreme Court ruling may not come until early next year, said Dustin Robinson, an attorney and founding partner for Mr. Cannabis Law.

Meeting the signature requirement took nearly $40 million from Trulieve, Robinson said. Trulieve might find it worthwhile to throw some dollars behind home grow from a PR perspective, he said, but itll take more to jumpstart a sleepy petition.

I think the money is going to be a big challenge for [Barnhart], Robinson said. She will most likely run out of time.

With more focus on the recreational marijuana measure, Barnharts home grow amendment might not get enough attention this year, said Jeff Marks, an attorney and business partner of Redner. But the outlook could improve, he said.

If recreational usage becomes legal, itll be so ubiquitous ... that the interest in regulating home grow will just disappear, Marks said. It might be illegal on the books, but unless your backyard was filled with 1,000 cannabis plants, what individuals want to do in their homes just isnt really of any interest to anybody.

As for Redner himself, hes mindful of his own bruising legal battle. Then, a First District Court of Appeal judge ruled that the states definition of medical use of marijuana does not mean grow or process.

While Barnhart is petitioning to change the constitution, Redner said he still doubts Attorney General Ashley Moody will make it easy to get home grow on 2024 ballots.

How businesses could capitalize

Garyn Angel is a Tampa cannabis entrepreneur who first came to the scene in 2013 with a device called Magical Butter. It allows consumers to extract certain ingredients  such as the psychoactive ingredient in hemp and marijuana plants known as THC  and infuse the extract into food. The device has raked in $70 million in sales.

Now hes back with a machine called Magical Grow, a system that uses artificial intelligence to grow a perfect plant. Just buy a seedling, fill the machine with water and watch it grow, he said.

The device uses artificial light, air filtration, a nutrient dispensing system, water and just a touch of soil to adjust and optimize the growing conditions for the plant. One version of the machine is roughly the size of a refrigerator and costs $4,000.

Sales for the machine, which went on the market in June, are split between cannabis operations that need to make specific strains for medical patients and high-end buyers, including home developers, who want to put the machine in kitchens so residents can grow vegetables, or whatever else they want.

For cannabis, Angel said, what we do is we really focus on one plant, one patient, one recipe, so that finished product is incredibly tight. We want that patient experience to be tremendously consistent.

The machine is ready-made to grow marijuana at home. Joseph Dorsey, director of food sustainability and security at University of South Florida, said small-scale devices like Magical Grow already exist. What makes Angels machine unique, he said, is how discreet it is.

You can grow it without people knowing youre growing it, he said.

Barnhart calls Angel a very close personal friend. Shes hoping the two will team up to market the machine and her ballot initiative.

As for medical marijuana companies, theyre not fretting about how home grow might hurt their bottom line.

Im living in a state where I can grow 12 plants in my backyard, and the industry is alive and well and just had record sales in the last month, said Lynnette French, a Massachusetts resident and chief operating officer of Surterras parent company, Parallel.

Growing marijuana at home might be cheaper, but its complicated to actually get it from seed to flower state intact, French said. That reality will keep consumers from cultivating cannabis purely at home.

Home grow could also help expand product lines for medical dispensaries, Marks said.

If youre like Trulieve ... its not unrealistic that you would want to sell seeds and clones, he said.

With businesses and patients in line, two questions linger: how public support will measure up, and how the state Supreme Court will react. Home grow, unlike recreational marijuana, hasnt drawn opposition from Gov. Ron DeSantis or other state officials yet.

Barnhart thinks the language of the petition could clear court scrutiny. But she knows full well that it comes down to money.

Even if theres no opposition, how much tangible support will there be? Barnhart said. Whos going to do the grueling work behind the scenes?

What keeps her up at night is whether she can find the energy to keep going.

Weve got to get help, she said. This is too much for any one person.
PROVIDENCE  A judge overturned the murder conviction of a New Bedford man serving two consecutive life terms for a fatal shooting outside a club in 2012 after finding that the state relied on false or misleading DNA evidence at trial.

Superior Court Judge Luis M. Matos granted a new trial to Terrel Barros, 34, in the shooting death of Jamal Cruz and the wounding of Rokiem Henley on Aug. 26, 2012, outside Monet Lounge in Providence.

While Cara Lupino, the DNA expert for the state, concluded that the DNA found on the handgun excluded Barros from handling the weapon, the judge ruled "it appears that the prosecution specifically elicited the testimony to create a false impression that Barross DNA was on the gun.

Lupino, who testified at trial that multiple people had handled the weapon, admitted during a post-conviction hearing that some of her trial testimony was incorrect, according to the ruling.

The case was prosecuted by Stacey Veroni Erickson and Peter Roklan, who are both now with the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Not only did the prosecution fail to correct the evidence, but the prosecutor reinforced the testimony that insinuated that Barross DNA was on the gun during the states closing arguments ... The presentation of false and misleading evidence by the state was material because a reasonable likelihood exists that the evidence could have affected the judgment of the jury, Matos said in the ruling Friday.

A 2013 photo shows Terrel Barros, center, conferring with his lawyers in Judge Krause's courtroom.

Robert Kando, who has represented Barros in seeking post-conviction relief since 2017, said Monday that he plans to seek his clients release on bail after 11 years in prison. Barros is being held in maximum security at the Adult Correctional Institutions and has always professed his innocence.

Brian Hodge, a spokesman for the Attorney Generals Office, said prosecutors were still reviewing the decision and did not comment on whether the state would appeal.

A night of partying turns to tragedy

Testimony at Barross 2013 trial revealed that Henley and Cruz had traveled from Brockton, Massachusetts, hours before the shooting to attend a friend's birthday celebration at the Monet Lounge. They were seated in the VIP area, with bottles of Hennessy and Ciroc on hand.

Henley, who was shot in the leg, identified Barros as one of the two men with whom 38-year-old Cruz had argued inside the club shortly before closing, causing tensions that spilled out into the parking lot.

More from courts: 'It's a match:' Text messages at the center of lawsuit over cold case murder of 10-year-old

While the police said Cruz nodded that Barros was the shooter as he told officers "I'm fading, I'm fading, a lawyer for Barros insisted it was Stephen Bodden, Barros's companion, who shot the gun that night. The late Thomas Connors, who with Joseph Voccola represented Barros, told jurors that police found Bodden jamming the gun into the passenger side door after the shooting and that evidence would show Bodden's DNA, not Barros's, was on the gun.

In addition, there was evidence that Bodden told the police Its me. Its all me. Its all mine. Barros tried to call Bodden as a witness at trial, but he invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

Barros was found guilty on six counts, including the first-degree murder of Cruz. Superior Court Judge Robert D. Krause sentenced him to two consecutive life sentences plus three consecutive 10-year terms for the shootings of Cruz and Henley.

Bodden pleaded guilty to charges of carrying a pistol without a license and common law felony. He was sentenced to 10 years at the ACI, with four to serve, on the charge of carrying a pistol without a license, and a full term of five years on the common law charge.

Witnesses come forward after Boddens death

In overturning the conviction, Matos emphasized that the central question at trial was who committed the shooting: Barros or Bodden.

Kando presented statements by several of Boddens associates who identified him as the triggerman, but who also said they were too afraid of retribution to come forward until after his death in 2017.

Matos determined that most of those statements did not qualify as newly discovered evidence because they were known associates of Barros and Bodden who were questioned, or could have been, by defense lawyers before trial. But he ruled that was not the case with Boddens close cousin, Gloria Parajon.

According to Parajon, Bodden immediately confessed to her upon his release from the ACI and that she wasnt surprised based on her knowledge of his character and reputation.

Parajon failed to come forward, presumably due to her loyalty to her cousin. Critically, Bodden is now deceased. His reckless and violent life caught up to him when he was murdered in October of 2017. Unencumbered by the threat of Boddens presumed retaliation, his associates and family now freely profess his guilt, Matos wrote.

Matos found that Parajons testimony, had it been heard at trial, is of a kind that could change the verdict at a new trial since it offers new and exculpatory evidence.

Parajon would testify that Bodden admitted to being the shooter, the issue in this case, which would obviously be significant in light of the competing evidence that was presented at trial. The testimony would add to and give context to Boddens statement that, `Its me. Its all me. Its all mine, the ruling states.

Judge also rules original counsel was ineffective

Matos ruled, too, that Barross Sixth Amendment right to effective assistance of counsel was violated when his defense lawyers failed to appeal the trial judges ruling regarding Cruzs verbal statement to Providence police Detective Sean Maxwell.

Maxwell told jurors that he asked Cruz while he was in the back of the ambulance who shot him and he responded that "'it was the second person the police had showed him. The second guy.

Judge Krause found at trial that Cruzs statements were not testimonial because they were elicited for the primary purpose of resolving an ongoing emergency and that Maxwells question was not investigative. The defense counsel stated that he chose not to appeal Krauses ruling because he thought that the trial judge made a sound ruling.

Matos, however, found that more than 10 minutes had passed before Maxwells arrival on the scene  after the police had secured a handgun and detained Barros and Bodden. Another detective had already conducted a show-up in which Cruz had nodded at Barros.

Matos determined that Cruzs purported statement to Maxwell was a testimonial statement and thus was subject to the Sixth Amendments Confrontation Clause.

Matos reasoned that without the statement to Detective Maxwell, the states case is premised on the contradictory statements of who possessed the gun, the head nods, and is undercut by Boddens statement that the gun was his. Thus, there is certainly a reasonable probability that the outcome of Barross trial would have been different if defense counsel appealed the trial judges adverse ruling regarding Cruzs verbal statement.

Matos concluded that defense counsels failure to appeal such a decision amounted to ineffective assistance of counsel because it was objectively unreasonable . [and] prejudiced Barros, especially in light of the remainder of the conflicting evidence at trial.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Terrel Barros, convicted of killing Jamal Cruz in 2012, gets new trial
Yellow Corp. officials have announced that its trucking company has declared bankruptcy following a tense standoff with the Teamsters Union.

The bankruptcy announcement put one of the final nails in the coffin for numerous Yellow-based facilities across the U.S., including those located in Adelanto, Bloomington and Fontana, all located in San Bernardino County.

A massive pandemic-era federal loan also failed to stave off the struggling Yellow and its mounting debt of about $1.5 billion, the Nashville, Tennessee-based company added.

Yellow Corp. officials have announced that its trucking company has officially declared bankruptcy, ending the company's 100-year run.

It is with profound disappointment that Yellow announces that it is closing after nearly 100 years in business, CEO Darren Hawkins said in a statement. Today, it is not common for someone to work at one company for 20, 30, or even 40 years, yet many at Yellow did. For generations, Yellow provided hundreds of thousands of Americans with solid, good-paying jobs and fulfilling careers.

The filing will put an estimated 30,000 people out of work, including 22,000 union members, according to the Washington Post.

In a news release on Sunday, Yellow officials said it was seeking bankruptcy protection so it can wind down its business in an orderly way. The Chapter 11 petition was filed in federal bankruptcy court in Delaware.

While a Chapter 11 filing is used to restructure debt while operations continue, Yellow will liquidate and the U.S. will join other creditors unlikely to recover funds extended to the company, according to the Associated Press.

'Decades of mismanagement'

Many saw the end of Yellow coming after the company stopped operations in late July and with news of layoffs of nonunion employees beginning to spread.

The Teamsters Union, which had been engaged in contract negotiations on behalf of unionized Yellow employees it represents, previously said that it had received legal notice on July 31 of the impending bankruptcy filing.

Teamsters General President Sean M. OBrien has long accused Yellow of mismanagement. He referenced Yellows decades of gross mismanagement, which included spending a $700 million pandemic-era loan from the government, which the company has failed to repay in full.

However, in announcing its bankruptcy filing, Yellow also blamed the Teamsters for causing "irreparable harm" to its efforts to modernize its business to compete with non-union carriers that "increasingly dominated the industry."

We faced nine months of union intransigence, bullying and deliberately destructive tactics," Hawkins said in the statement. "A company has the right to manage its own operations, but as we have experienced, (Teamsters) leadership was able to halt our business plan, literally driving our company out of business, despite every effort to work with them.

Yellow sued the Teamsters in June, claiming it had caused more than $137 million in damages for unjustifiably blocking restructuring plans needed for the companys survival  litigation the union called baseless."

In a statement Monday, the Teamsters, which said it agreed in 2011 to a pay cut for employees to keep the company in business, denounced "any attempt by the company to evade its financial obligations through legal maneuvers."

"Teamster families sacrificed billions of dollars in wages, benefits, and retirement security to rescue Yellow  But Yellows dysfunctional, greedy C-suite failed to take responsibility for squandering all that cash. They still dont, OBrien said in a statement. They shamelessly pin their corporate incompetence on working people."

Closing after 100 years

Yellow became the third-largest small-freight-trucking company in the U.S. with clients that included both big box retailers and small family businesses.

However, the company had an outstanding debt of about $1.5 billion as of March and has continued to lose customers as its demise appeared imminent.

The debt includes what it owes to the federal government to pay back its multi-million dollar loan it received in 2020 when it was known as YRC Worldwide. The loan issued by former President Donald Trump's administration was part of a relief program as the COVID-19 pandemic crippled the U.S. economy and many businesses along with it.

A congressional probe recently concluded that the Treasury and Defense departments made missteps in the decision and noted that Yellows precarious financial position at the time of the loan, and continued struggles, expose taxpayers to a significant risk of loss.

Yellow said on Sunday it intends to fully pay back the loan, and that it has partnered with the American Trucking Associations to launch a searchable job database for Yellow employees to find work in the freighting industry.

The Teamsters have also said that it would shift focus to help its members find "good union jobs in freight and other industries."

Goodbye Yellow in the High Desert

In 1973, Yellow Freight Systems announced it would move its Barstow relay facility on West Main Street to a new 60-door terminal being constructed on 50 acres off Lenwood Road.

After opening in 1974, the Barstow terminal employed nearly 700 and ranked seventh in the city in property tax revenue, generating about $40,000 annually, the Daily Press reported.

Barstow Yellow Freight shut its doors in May 2001 and relocated to San Bernardino, mainly due to issues with the BNSF intermodal yard, according to Yellow.

After closure, the building had mainly been unused while construction along the Interstate 15 interchange boomed.

The former Yellow Freight terminal sprang to life in 2019 as the American Quartz Group hosted a groundbreaking of its state-of-the-art quartz-surface manufacturing facility.

In February 2023, an unplanned raid at a Barstow warehouse owned by the quartz-countertop company revealed a more than 80,000-square-foot cannabis-growing operation.

The Associated Press and USA Today contributed to this story.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Yellow Corp. files bankruptcy, trucking firm ends 100-year run
New York City's Rockaway Beach will remain closed to surfers and swimmers on Tuesday

New York City closed its popular Rockaway Beach on Tuesday after a 50-year-old woman was bitten by a shark Monday evening, officials said.

The woman was swimming near Beach 59th Street when a shark bit her leg, New York City Parks officials said.

Lifeguards took the woman out of the water and gave her first aid before she was taken to the hospital.

Officials said she is in critical but stable condition, with a deep cut in her thigh.

The incident marks the first confirmed shark bite on Rockaway Beach in recent memory, the parks department said.

"We hope for a full recovery for this swimmer," the parks department said in a statement. "Though this was a frightening event, we want to remind New Yorkers that shark bites in Rockaway are extremely rare."

The state of New York has seen a spate of human encounters with sharks off its Long Island beaches this summer. Experts say more sharks are swimming closer to the shore due to warming waters from climate change and a recent law in New York protecting sharks' primary food source, bunker fish.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has been sending more drones to local officials to scan for sharks near the shore so lifeguards can take precautions if needed.

After the shark bite on Monday, helicopters searched the waters for sharks but did not find any, the parks department said. New York City's fire and police departments will continue to search the waters, and the beach will remain closed to both surfers and swimmers on Tuesday.

Experts say shark attacks are extremely infrequent. According to the International Shark Attack File, New York state had only 8 unprovoked bites in 2022, and none proved fatal.
A Queens doctor has been charged with drugging, raping and filming the sexual assaults of a string of women, including patients at the prominent New York hospital where he practiced, according to prosecutors.

Zhi Alan Cheng, who was first arrested and charged with rape in December, had 50 new counts brought against him Monday for sexually abusing three patients at New York-Presbyterian Queens hospital and raping three other women in his home, according to the Queens District Attorneys office.

In addition to seven identified victims, prosecutors say they have video evidence showing there are at least six other victims assaulted across multiple cities and countries.

Cheng was initially arrested on December 27 and charged with drugging and raping a female acquaintance in his home in Queens. Now prosecutors say that the assaults werent limited to his home.

Cheng has pleaded not guilty to the new charges as well as the counts from the December arrest.

The new charges are a result of an investigation that began when that female acquaintance tipped off authorities that she found videos in Chengs home of him assaulting her and other women in December of last year, according to a statement from the DAs office.

Evidence showed the young gastroenterologist was a sexual predator of the absolute worst kind, said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, who called Cheng a serial rapist, someone willing to not only violate his sacred professional oath and patients trust, but every standard of human decency.

A search of Chengs home uncovered multiple videos of unconscious female hospital patients and female acquaintances, as well as drugs like propofol and sevoflurane, used in health care settings to sedate people, according to prosecutors.

Investigators also found narcotics, including fentanyl, ketamine and LSD, the DAs office said.

The new charges include rape, unlawful surveillance and criminal possession of a controlled substance, according to the Queens district attorney.

Dr. Cheng has pleaded not guilty to the charges and we intend to fight them, Chengs attorney Jeffrey Lichtman told CNN in a written statement.

Since his arrest in December, Cheng has been held without bail and placed on suicide watch, at the request of the district attorneys office, chief public information officer Frank Sobrino told CNN.

His next court date is set for September 19.

The crimes committed by this individual are heinous, despicable, and a fundamental betrayal of our mission and our patients trust, New York-Presbyterian said in a statement. In December 2022, as soon as the District Attorney made us aware of allegations of sexual abuse against this individual, he was immediately placed off duty, banned from hospital property, and terminated.

A string of heinous assaults

Cheng received his medical license in May of 2020, according to records maintained by US Health and Human Services. The assaults started sometime that year, prosecutors say.

Videos show Cheng assaulting three separate hospital patients between March 2021 and May 2022, all of whom appear unconscious, prosecutors said. All three victims had one of their closed eyelids pulled open during the assault, according to the district attorneys office.

Prosecutors described three separate victims who were assaulted or raped in Chengs apartment, all of whom have no memory of the events. In videos of two assaults, Cheng is seen handling a brown bottle resembling one seized from his apartment containing sevoflurane, an anesthetic sometimes used to put patients to sleep before surgery, the district attorneys office said.

Those were the victims prosecutors have been able to identify. Additional videos show victims being assaulted at New York-Presbyterian Queens, at Chengs Queens apartment, and also at other locations in Westchester County, Manhattan, Las Vegas, San Francisco and Thailand, according to the DAs office.

Katz is urging women who think they may have been victimized to contact her offices Special Victims Bureau at (718) 286-6505 or SpecialVictims@queensda.org.

An alleged pattern of ignoring abuse complaints

One of the victims who Cheng allegedly assaulted at New York-Presbyterian Queens is suing the hospital system, saying it was aware that Cheng had sexually assaulted her and conspired to cover it up.

In June 2021, the 19-year-old Queens resident was admitted to the emergency room for severe pain caused by gallstones, where Cheng performed an unnecessary rectal exam, injected her with an unknown substance and assaulted her while she was unconscious, according to the complaint.

When she informed hospital staff about the injection that caused her to lose consciousness, the hospital conducted a lineup of male employees, and the victim identified Cheng as the man who injected her, according to the suit.

The hospital did not inform police about the incident or make any notes about the lineup, according to the complaint.

The suit also says that the hospital did not collect any forensic evidence, including robe or bedsheets, did not test the plaintiffs blood to determine what she was injected with, or offer her sufficient and timely support services.

Cheng was not fired or suspended after the incident or being picked out of lineup.

Unbelievably, on June 22, 2021  after the hospital conducted the lineup and knew that Dr. Cheng had sexually assaulted the plaintiff  records indicate that he provided medical treatment and care to her while she was under sedation during surgery, according to a statement by Liakas Law and Slater Slater Shulman, the law firms representing the victim.

When asked whether New York-Presbyterian had received any complaints about Cheng prior to prosecutors making the allegations known in December 2022, Angela Smith Karafazli, a senior media director for the hospital system, told CNN they had nothing additional to share.

The hospital system has a years-long pattern of ignoring specific activity by doctors and in some cases, actual complaints from patients, Adam Slater, founding and managing partner of Slater Slater Shulman, told CNN. Slater said his firm has brought previous suits against New York-Presbyterian for ignoring complaints about its doctors assaulting patients.

One of those doctors was Robert Hadden, a former Columbia University gynecologist who was sentenced in July to 20 years in prison for sexually assaulting his patients. Slater said he hopes to see the hospital system implement mandatory law enforcement reporting for patients complaining about any type of abuse.

New York-Presbyterian said it has reviewed its patient safety practices and implemented additional training for its staff.

CNNs Nicki Brown and Sabrina Souza contributed to this report.

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WELLINGTON, New Zealand  New Zealand has released three defense and national security documents outlining prevailing challenges, principals for its military and ways to improve the force.

Defence Minister Andrew Little on Aug. 4 presented to lawmakers a 36-page Defence Policy and Strategy Statement, a 12-page Future Force Design Principles document and an inaugural 44-page National Security Strategy.

A year ago we commissioned the Defence Policy Review, to provide a roadmap for the future of Defence as part of the national security of New Zealand, and to do so in the context of the rapidly changing conditions we see around us, Little said, per a transcript of a speech in which he introduced the documents. One of the first actions [Prime Minister] Chris Hipkins government took was to speed up work on that review.

Overall, the documents outline challenges and pressures; introduce sliding principles and four underlying assumptions; and conclude that, in the mid- to long-term period, investment in the military is needed to continue to protect and promote New Zealands interests.

Threats

In 2023 we do not live in a benign strategic environment, Little said. New Zealand is facing more geostrategic challenges than we have had in decades  climate change, terrorism, cyberattacks, transnational crime, mis and disinformation, and competition in our region which, up until recently, we thought was protected by its remoteness.

Those challenges appear to have overtaken expectations, with the government writing that the military is designed for a relatively benign strategic environment, and not the challenges of increased strategic competition and the adverse effects of climate change that the Defence Policy and Strategy Statement 2023 identifies. As a result, it is not in a fit state to respond to future challenges.

A rough sea can still be navigated, the government wrote, and even in difficult times we can act to find our way through.

But its unclear how that could be the case, given the Defence Policy and Strategy Statement acknowledges it does not in itself address capability investment questions or require particular investment tracks to be adopted.

New Zealand's defense minister, Andrew Little, attends a meeting at Parliament on Feb. 8, 2023, in Wellington. (Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

Instead, the document includes a range of defence activities which can be delivered in various combinations of scalable defence capabilities, from defence diplomacy through to combat operations. The task of examining how to best match capabilities to these activities, and balancing the required resourcing with associated trade-offs on policy outcomes, is the subject of a future capability planning process.

More specifically, the government calls out regional neighbors as threats to existing international rules and norms. Those countries include an increasingly powerful China that continues to invest heavily in growing and modernising its military, and is increasingly able to project military and paramilitary force beyond its immediate region.

New Zealand also calls out Russias invasion of Ukraine and North Koreas nuclear weapons program as challenging the effectiveness of international institutions.

The government also notes that strategic interest in Antarctica and the continents surrounding waters is growing, but fails to mention its March 2022 decision to defer the purchase of a regional patrol vessel.

Principles and assumptions

The Future Force Design Principles document describes eight areas designed to be scalable  from low to medium to high.

Given the need for flexibility in force design, the government wrote, they are movable and their positioning is a distinct policy choice. All principles are interrelated and must be used in combination to effectively deliver a coherent force. Each sliding principle includes a specified area on a scale.

Those principles include:

Combat capability: Marked as medium on the governments desired policy scale, it represents the extent to which the New Zealand Defence Force can deploy for noncombat operations and in conflict zones, and be able to recover.

Concurrency: Falling between medium and high, this represents the militarys ability to simultaneously operate in multiple locations.

Resilience: Also between medium and high, it measures whether the military is prepared for shocks, including disruptions to supply chains and digital networks.

Flexibility: Set as medium, this amounts to the range of circumstances the military can handle.

Scalability: Also medium, this covers the Defence Forces ability to either rapidly expand or reduce its capabilities, and structures, allowing it to adapt to future changes in the strategic environment.

Partnered: Another principle landing at medium, it covers how well the military can operate independently. Still, the government notes New Zealand will continue to partner with other government and non-governmental agencies, New Zealands ally Australia, Pacific partners, other security partners, and industry.

Technological approach: Landing between medium and high, this represents the pursuit of leading-edge technologies. The Defence Force will seek opportunities to adopt technologies earlier in their lifecycle once proven, and in line with what our partners are doing, the government wrote. However, the military will not seek to be at the leading edge.

System complexity: Between low and medium, this final principle notes the military will seek lower system complexity, including acquiring off-the-shelf instead of bespoke military capabilities where possible. Some systems will be proprietary, but generally simpler systems will be sought.

The same document also lists four planning assumptions that underpin the principles and will be taken as fact in the development of investment planning and policy:

There is less time to plan and react.

The Defence Force will leverage partnerships to deliver outcomes.

The military will be prepared for combat.

The government will improve funding certainty for the military.

Future force

New Zealand describes Australia as its most critical defense and security partner, and the island nations only formal defence ally. But it also mentions its Five Eyes intelligence-sharing partners  the United Kingtom, the United States, Canada and Australia  as critical to the Defence Force leveraging science and technology developments.

To this end, New Zealand notes the second pillar of AUKUS  a deal between Australia, the U.K. and the U.S. to provide nuclear-powered submarines, among other technology, to Canberra  may present an opportunity for New Zealand to cooperate with close security partners on emerging technologies.

That pillar encompasses the development of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence.

New Zealand also called the United States a crucial defence partner for New Zealand, with defence engagement deepening over the past decade.

New Zealands first National Security Strategy covers the 2023-2028 time period and mentions a dozen core issues: strategic competition and the rules-based international system; emerging, critical and sensitive technologies; transnational organized crime; economic security; Pacific resilience and security; maritime security; border security; cyber security; and space security.

In response, the government wrote, over the next two years New Zealand will deliver a programme of national security reform, in line with the Royal Commissions emphasis on collective accountabilities and national security community leadership. These reforms will ensure we have the right structures and arrangements in place to deliver a more strategic approach. (The Royal Commission was set up to investigate an attack on Christchurch mosques in 2019.)

However, that plan could change if a the country votes in a new government during elections scheduled for Oct. 14.

I can only hope that whichever government is formed will look at the work thats been done and say: Keep doing the work on the defence capability plan. This country needs a defense force which can respond when called on by the government, and it will be the government of the day that decides what those capabilities look like, Chief of the Defence Force Air Marshal Kevin Short told Defense News.

But the messaging, which is the strategy and the assessment of what the global situation is  it doesnt matter which governments in  that is actually whats happening, whether its climate change or whether its about the international competition and uncertainty that were all seeing, he added. Weve been working with the Ministry of Defence and the minister for those policy documents. Weve got the framework now. Weve got the principles to work, too. The meat on that will be when we do the [Defence Capability Plan] over the next year. Im very comfortable with what those principles and what the policy says.

Little told media earlier this month that he doesnt expect to see a rise in defense spending over the next two or three years. He also said he doesnt think funding will reach 2% of gross domestic product, although added that the budget would have to rise at some point to replace the Royal New Zealand Navys two frigates in a decade or so. In 2022, New Zealand spent 1.18% of gross domestic product on defense, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute think tank.

The frigate prepares to dock during the ceremonial homecoming of HMNZS Te Mana at Devonport Naval Base on July 8, 2022, in Auckland, New Zealand. (Dave Rowland/Getty Images)

He also said the world is not nearing war in the region, although there is some rising tension in the Pacific.

When asked about efforts to recruit former military personnel to return to the force, Little told Defense News that recovering the experience weve lost is difficult.

I do know anecdotally of some recently departed personnel who have said they would like to come back, and theyve seen the increases in remuneration, and for some of them it might be enough to entice them back. Some might wait a little longer to see what else happens, Little added.

One Defence Force officer told Defense News that he was previously worried about the militarys preparedness, but that the newly released documents have eased his concerns.

We need people, kit and capabilities, and you have got to have a pathway for that, which I can see here. A commitment to it [is what] I am looking forward to seeing because if we look back through time, we have been slow to invest in the practical and materiel side of the capability. And my reading is that it has cost us the blood of the nation. Thats unnecessary, he said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the press.

So if we can invest in building those capabilities before theyre required, it deters madness in the world and it minimizes the investment of the nations youth and blood. This strategy goes a long way towards that; it outlines the governments objectives and the necessity for it.

Chris Martin contributed to this report.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the peace formula he proposed to bring the end to Russia's war against Ukraine could be used as a basis for other conflicts.

"The peace formula today is about Ukraine. But if international institutions do not provide an opportunity to end the war, and our example speaks eloquently of this, then the peace formula can become such a foundation," Zelensky told Latin American journalists.

Zelensky presented the 10-point peace formula, supported by many Western allies, in November last year. It includes the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity, the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, and the release of all prisoners of war and deportees.

The proposals also call for punishing those responsible for war crimes, preventing ecocide in Ukraine, and ensuring energy and food security as well as nuclear safety.

A Ukrainian delegation discussed the peace plan during the international talks held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between Aug. 5-6. Andriy Yermak, the head of the President's Office, said that the meeting of delegations from 42 countries  excluding Russia  focused only on the Ukrainian peace formula.

In his Aug. 8 interview, cited by Presidential Office, Zelensky said his peace plan was the only diplomatic way to achieve peace in Ukraine.

Read also: US State Department: Productive that China attended peace talks

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy considers the Ukrainian counteroffensive "difficult", but an important positive thing is that the initiative now belongs to Ukraine.

Source: Interfax-Ukraine news agency, which quotes Zelenskyy's interview with Latin American media

Quote: "The counteroffensive is complex. It's probably slower than anyone wants."

Details: But Zelenskyy stressed that a counteroffensive "is when the army advances and does not retreat back. And this is an important positive. The initiative is in the hands of Ukraine."

Quote: "It is very difficult to fight for so long. It is very difficult when you have a shortage of one or another weapon. All this is very difficult, because this is a war. I just know that it is difficult for us, but I know for sure that it is more difficult for Russians. There is fatigue in our eyes, and in their eyes there is fear."

"Russia, unlike us, can really end this war faster, without unnecessary casualties. This is to get out of our territory. Because Ukraine is not going to continue the war on the territory of the Russian Federation. This was never our goal. We are de-occupying our territories. And this is the difference. They have places to go back, but we don't.

Background:

Previously, CNN reported that the officials in Ukraine's partner countries have become increasingly aware of the growing unrealism of their initial expectations for the Ukrainian counteroffensive, no longer anticipating major progress on the battlefield by autumn and fearing a "blame game" on Ukraine's part.

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!








Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has held a meeting to discuss the liberation of Crimea, which, he explained, is becoming more and more achievable and well-thought-out.

Source: President Zelenskyys video address

Quote: "It is clear that after Crimea is liberated from occupation, economic opportunities, a sense of personal security for civilians, and a real sense of freedom, which has not been felt there since 2014, will return."

Details: Zelenskyy said that Crimeas liberation is not an abstract concept; on the contrary, each aspect of the peninsulas liberation has to be rooted in concrete measures. In particular, what the return to normal life will look like in Crimea, and what it will mean for every Ukrainian citizen, has to be considered and clearly set out.

"This has to be clear to everyone. We are making the liberation of Crimea more achievable and more thought-out, one step at a time," Zelenskyy stressed.

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!






Russian Navy vessels near the Black Sea port of Sevastopol in Crimea, Ukraine, on February 16, 2022. REUTERS/Alexey Pavlishak

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia may lose its ships if it keeps attacking Ukrainian ports.

Russia's attacks have killed civilians, but Ukrainian forces have recently hit back with sea drones.

Though Russia's navy is bigger, Ukraine has made some bruising strikes with exploding naval drones.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia may find itself without ships by the end of the war if it continues to attack Ukrainian ports.

"We don't have as many weapons, but if they continue to shoot, they may be left without vessels by the end of the war," Zelenskyy told Argentina's La Nacion newspaper, according to a CNN translation.

Zelenskyy's comments were published days after Ukrainian exploding sea drones struck a Russian oil tanker and a Russian warship.

While Russia's conventional naval power dwarfs Ukraine's, Ukraine has been needling Russia's fleet with maritime drones. At the end of July, Ukraine demonstrated the capabilities of a fast and powerful new sea drone when it launched a strike on the Kerch Bridge in Crimea, Ukraine.

The drone-technology expert Stephen Wright told Insider earlier this month that Ukraine's maritime drones were a growing threat to Russia because they were being packed with large amounts of explosives.

And defending against them isn't easy. Wright said that putting up defensive floating barriers, as Russia has attempted to do at key ports, could be circumvented by blasting through them with more drones.

Zelenskyy said in his comments to La Nacion that Ukraine had the right to import and export goods through the Black Sea, which Russia is blockading.

"If Russia continues to dominate the Black Sea and block it with firing missiles, then Ukraine will do the same, which is a fair defense of Ukraine's capabilities," he said, according to CNN's translation.

In July, Russia refused to renew a deal brokered with the UN and Turkey to allow a sea corridor for grain exports from Ukraine. The UN's Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, condemned Russia's withdrawal and said it would end a "lifeline" for global food security.

Russia has since ramped up its attacks on Ukrainian ports and recently made a strike that killed some civilians just a few hundred yards from a border with Romania, a member of NATO.

The Kremlin also said that vessels traveling through the Black Sea to Ukraine would be "considered to be involved in the Ukrainian conflict on the side of Kyiv."

Ukraine made similar comments about ships traveling to Russian-controlled ports, and Zelenskyy vowed to respond to attacks on Ukraine's civilian populations in the interview published Sunday.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Aso Taro, vice president of Japan's main ruling Liberal Democratic Party, has laid flowers at the grave of the former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui, who fostered close ties with Japan.

Aso, who formerly served as Japan's prime minister, arrived in Taiwan on Monday for a three-day visit.

He visited the military cemetery where Lee was buried in 2020 after his death at the age of 97. Lee contributed to Taiwan's democratization by allowing voters to directly cast ballots in a presidential race for the first time.

On Tuesday, Aso is scheduled to meet President Tsai Ing-wen, as well as deliver a speech on regional affairs at an international forum.

Aso is also due to meet with Vice President Lai Ching-te, who is likely to run as the ruling Democratic Progressive Party candidate in the presidential election in January.

In addition, he will have talks with Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an, a great-grandson of Taiwan's first President Chiang Kai-shek.

Aso hopes to highlight the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait amid China's growing military pressure on Taiwan.
The Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry has compiled new guidelines for businesses to develop human resources proficient in the use of generative artificial intelligence.

While citing communication skills as necessary for the full use of generative AI, the guidelines warn against excessive reliance on the technology, noting the importance of ethics and education.

Japan lacks personnel with expertise in AI or data analysis. The ministry aims to help companies achieve digital transformation by encouraging the appropriate use of AI through the guidelines.

The ministry released a revised version of the Digital Skills Standard, a set of guidelines for human resource development that outlines skills and other aspects of the digital field, on Monday.

The guidelines state that the emergence of generative AI is requiring changes in the way work is performed, noting that the ability to critically study things will be more important than ever. In order to give precise instructions and elicit appropriate responses from AI, the guidelines call for improving the ability to communicate or verbalize, including in Japanese. ...continue reading
A leading US newspaper says Chinese military hackers compromised Japan's classified defense networks three years ago.

The Washington Post on Monday revealed the alleged cybersecurity breach by the Chinese military, citing sources in both Japan and the United States.

The report says, "Cyberspies from the People's Liberation Army had wormed their way into Japan's most sensitive computer systems."

It also says, "The hackers had deep, persistent access and appeared to be after anything they could get their hands on -- plans, capabilities, assessments of military shortcomings."

Washington Post: China hacked Japan's sensitive defense networks, officials say

The US National Security Agency reportedly discovered the breach.

The White House deputy national security adviser and other senior US officials flew to Tokyo to brief Japan's defense minister. They described China's breach as "one of the most damaging hacks in that country's modern history."

Breaking news | In the fall of 2020, the National Security Agency made an alarming discovery: Chinese military hackers had compromised classified defense networks of the United States most important strategic ally in East Asia.https://t.co/VQYYwCZrBD  The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) August 7, 2023

The administration of US President Joe Biden was informed in January 2021 that Chinese spies were still in Japan's defense networks and that Japan's measures were not sufficient.

In November that year, a senior White House official in charge of cybersecurity visited Japan and discussed with Japanese officials how to respond to the Chinese hackers.

The Washington Post quote US officials as saying, "Tokyo has taken steps to strengthen its networks. But they are still deemed not sufficiently secure from Beijing's prying eyes, which could impede greater intelligence sharing between the Pentagon and Japan's Defense Ministry."

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Japan's Defense Minister Hamada Yasukazu said that he would not elaborate on the matter as it concerns capabilities of the defense ministry and the Self-Defense Force.

Hamada said that he has not confirmed any leaks of classified information kept by the ministry.

He said that Japan has taken a range of effective measures, and the Self-Defense Force's activities to complete its missions have never been affected by a cyberattack.
During a meeting with Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen, Aso Taro, the vice president of Japan's main ruling Liberal Democratic Party, expressed his willingness to further enhance bilateral ties.

Aso, who formerly served as prime minister, met Tsai in Taiwan's presidential office on Tuesday afternoon.

Tsai described Japan as Taiwan's important partner and voiced her willingness to cooperate on reinforcing supply chains and other areas of mutual interest.

Aso responded that even after diplomatic ties between Japan and Taiwan were severed, there has consistently been a sentiment within the LDP advocating for maintaining robust relations with Taiwan. ...continue reading
The Great Plains Wing of the Commemorative Air Force held its annual fly-in breakfast and open house Saturday, Aug. 5, at the Council Bluffs Municipal Airport.

Its our way to reach out to the community, to open the airport up to the community, to make people aware that we actually have an airport in Council Bluffs, said Jeff Hutchinson, an event organizer. Weve got an awesome museum here in the hanger.

The wing has been based at the airport since about 1986 and has invited the community to come visit its hanger for the past 25 years, Hutchinson said.

Saturday mornings foggy weather suppressed air travel to the event, with only a few airplanes flying or taxiing in as of mid-morning.

Our community turnout has been awesome so far, Hutchinson said. We like to see people who have never been here before come out to the airport. It makes us feel good, and were kind of like the best kept secret in southwest Iowa  that theres actually an airport here in town. It is the third busiest airport in Iowa at this point.

The Great Plains Wing of the Commemorative Air Force brings together people to honor the aviation history of the U.S. military. There are 58 wings of the organization nationally.

The group repairs, maintains and restores historical airplanes, including two that are currently being rebuilt. The open house provides a chance for those interested to meet members and learn how to become involved.

These people were flying basically wooden skeletons, Hutchinson said. We went to war in these airplanes. So part of the mission of the Commemorative Air Force is to restore, maintain and fly these aircraft so people dont forget the importance of aviation to our history and to our military history.
Google announced Tuesday afternoon it will invest another $350 million this year into its sprawling data center campus south of Council Bluffs.

The company cited growth in artificial intelligence and cloud computing as fueling the investment in its infrastructure. The new spending will build upon more than $5 billion that Google has invested since breaking ground on the site in 2007.

"This infrastructure that you're sitting in the middle of right now, this is American innovation," Allie Hopkins, Google's head of data centers for Iowa and Nebraska, told an assembled crowd of dignitaries, community leaders and news media. "You need all of this innovation to really supply and support the critical AI innovations that we have coming."

The Council Bluffs data center is among Google's largest facilities in the world.

"That's something that we love to say," Hopkins said. "It's a very proud moment for us."

The local facility helps to power worldwide digital services such as Gmail and the rest of the company's Workspace products, including Docs and Sheets, as well as Google Cloud, Google Maps and its core search function.

The crowd applauded as Hopkins announced the $350 million in further investment.

"This is all to really support that AI innovation and the support for the services that we continue to use every single day," Hopkins said. "This underscores our long-term commitment in this area, for Council Bluffs and the state of Iowa."

Hopkins announced a $250,000 grant Google awarded to Advance Southwest Iowa to help launch an entrepreneurial hub in Council Bluffs.

"This adds to Google's history of being involved in the community," Hopkins said.

Google also recently celebrated its involvement over the past decade with the BLink Wi-Fi network, which was built out with a variety of community partners.

"Thank you for allowing us to be part of a great state and a great community," Hopkins said.

Council Bluffs Mayor Matt Walsh said in a news release that Google's continued commitment to the community is apparent from its investments to its community initiatives.

The new investment announced today in the Council Bluffs data center facilities, along with Googles support of the new co-working hub, will continue to provide a ripple of economic impact throughout our community, Walsh said.

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst and Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg joined Google at its data center Tuesday, going through security alongside the delivery drivers, employees and others who come and go from the massive concrete fortress at 10410 Bunge Ave.

"We are so glad that you've chosen us to have your home," Ernst said. "With this expansion, not only are they making that physical capital investment here in Pottawattamie County but (they are) affecting the livelihoods of so many people that will choose to call southwest Iowa (and) southeast Nebraska their home."

Gregg said it surprises people when they learn that Iowa is home to major technology industry players like Google, saying the company's investments are reaching "mind-boggling proportions."

"Today is a great opportunity to say thank you and let you know how much we appreciate Google's presence in Council Bluffs and Iowa generally," Gregg said. "You provide great jobs at your facilities here."

With its data centers, Google has created jobs for more than 900 people, counting both full-time and external supplier roles  so that's computer technicians, engineers and a variety of construction, food services, maintenance and security positions.

The company says its data centers are among the most efficient in the world, and it is aiming to run entirely on carbon-free energy 24/7/365 by 2030, including its Council Bluffs campus. Last year, the company self-reported its energy use in Iowa as 96% carbon-free.
Weather Alert

...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON MONDAY TO 10 PM CDT WEDNESDAY... * WHAT...Heat index values up to 109 expected. * WHERE...Portions of west central Iowa and east central and northeast Nebraska. * WHEN...From noon Monday to 10 PM CDT Wednesday. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses to occur. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1. &&
Morocco has warned against the terrorism-separatism nexus before the 44th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly currently held in Jakarta saying this nexus threatens the territorial integrity of States.

The alarm was sounded by Rachid Talbi Alami, Speaker of the Moroccan House of Representatives, which is participating in this conference in its capacity as an observer member of the AIPA.

Alami who spoke of the Sahara issue and how a separatist movement sheltered, financed and armed by a neighboring country is a breeding ground for terrorism and terrorists recruitment, explained that international relations have become based on more fragmentation and rupture, instead of polarity, and on the multiplicity of alliances and axes, with the resulting security challenges, such as the spread of terrorist movements and separatist tendencies allied to them.

These trends create risks for the unity and stability of States and for global security, he insisted, alluding, as put by analysts, to Moroccos eastern neighbor, Algeria, and its Polisario puppet.

In his address before the conference held under the theme Parliament is proactive in adapting for a stable and prosperous ASEAN, Rachid Talbi Alami underlined that the parliaments of the world have a crucial role to play. First of all, they must alert on the dangers of international situations, in addition to seek to prevent crises and settle disputes.

These institutions must also plead for the need to build a fair international economic system that takes into account the interests of the countries of the South. Finally, they must strengthen institutional democracy, he said.

As to Moroccos relations with ASEAN countries, he said fraternity and friendship unite us with all the ASEAN countries, with whom we shared the struggle against colonialism, and with whom we share, today, the struggle for development and progress.

He pointed out that the Kingdom, which enjoys historic relations with these countries, shares the same concerns with them in the fight against the causes of climate change and environmental degradation, particularly pollution of the oceans and seas, with a view to deploying green economy projects at national level and producing energy from renewable sources. These projects are of strategic importance to Morocco and open up wide prospects for balanced partnerships, he said.

The Lower House Speaker also welcomed the opening up of new horizons for cooperation with ASEAN member countries, which include strategic projects that contribute to food production, underlining that the Kingdom is carrying out major projects and contributing to the development of African agriculture, thanks to its expertise in this field and the great resources it has at its disposal in terms of phosphates and fertilizers, as well as in the green economy sector and related technologies.

The free trade agreements linking Morocco to major countries and economic blocs, including the United States, a long-standing ally and friend of the Kingdom, offer great opportunities for access to markets of around one billion consumers, explained Talbi Alami, who also highlighted the potential offered by some 1,500 agreements between Morocco and sister African countries, 1,000 of which have been signed since the accession of King Mohammed VI to the Throne in 1999.

In addition to its strategic location close to Europe and its African and Mediterranean roots, Morocco boasts modern infrastructures, notably ports on the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, assets that qualify it to be a center for trade with the rest of the African countries with which it maintains numerous partnerships, as well as with European countries, as it enjoys an advanced status in its relations with the European Union.

All these achievements are consolidated by the stability and security enjoyed by Morocco, as well as by the economic freedom and incentives to foreign investors, he said, noting furthermore Moroccos central role in promoting peace and coexistence between religions, civilizations and cultures, in which the Monarchy plays the role of strategic and spiritual guarantor.

On the sidelines of his participation in the conference, Talbi Alami held meetings with the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Indonesia, Puan Maharani, as well as with the Vice-Speaker of the House, Rachmat Gobel.

Moroccos House of Representatives enjoys Observer Member status within AIPA. Validation of membership was announced at the Assemblys 41st Session, held in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi in September 2020, an unprecedented feat given that the House of Representatives is the only parliament in Africa and the Arab world to enjoy membership of this Asian interparliamentary body.
Morocco has called on the United Nations Security Council to adopt sanctions against those responsible for diverting humanitarian aid.

This call was made by the Deputy Permanent Representative of Morocco to the UN, Omar Kadiri, during a public debate on famine and conflict-induced food insecurity, chaired by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council for the month of August.

The diplomat recalled that 5 years ago, the Security Council had unanimously adopted resolution 2417 which highlighted the link between armed conflicts and violence, on the one hand, and conflict-induced food insecurity and the threat of famine, on the other hand.

This resolution strongly condemns, among other things, violations of international humanitarian law, such as the intentional obstruction of the delivery of humanitarian aid, noted Kadiri, adding that as stipulated in operational paragraph 9 of this resolution, the Council must adopt sanctions against the persons or entities responsible for the diversion of humanitarian aid and who obstruct the delivery, distribution, or access to this aid.

The diplomat also deemed it appropriate to strengthen the role of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) to make food security a central element of the consolidation and sustainability of peace, taking into account the specificities of the countries concerned, and by mobilizing the necessary efforts to this end.

Food security and the sustainability of food systems are strategic priorities for Morocco at the national, regional and international levels, he stressed, pointing out that these priorities are at the center of Moroccos South-South cooperation with brotherly countries, particularly in Africa, in accordance with the guidelines of King Mohammed VI.

He recalled that Morocco launched, at the Kings initiative during COP22 held in Marrakesh, the Triple A Initiative for the Adaptation of agriculture to climate change, and the Triple S initiative, to support sustainability, stability and security in Africa through the vector of agriculture.

Similarly, during the African Summit for Action, organized on the sidelines of COP22, three Climate Commissions were created in Africa to fight climate change  the main contributor to food insecurity  he said, adding that Morocco accompanies politically, financially, and technically the effective implementation of their important mandates.

The Deputy Permanent Representative of Morocco to the United Nations also pointed out that in the context of strengthening food security in Africa, the Kingdom allocates to the continent millions of tons of fertilizers, adapted to African soils and crops. He noted in this connection that Morocco devotes in 2023, more than 4 million tons of fertilizer to African farmers, more than double the volume of 2021, thus providing support to more than 44 million African farmers.

Morocco also allocates millions of tons of fertilizer to developing countries in other regions, and is continuing to implement its large-scale program to address food security in Africa through a scientific and holistic approach, he said, adding that the Kingdoms action aims to mobilize and align the government resources, development partners, and private sector funding to unlock Africas food production potential through South-South and triangular cooperation, with a view to ending food insecurity, and thereby preventing potential conflicts.

He reiterated Moroccos full support to the Secretary General for the implementation of the Response Group to the Global Crisis on Food, Energy and Finance, while calling for active international solidarity to put an end to the serious threats posed by hunger and food security in several regions of the world, particularly in Africa.

The diplomat further noted that the world is currently going through a multitude of tensions which have exacerbated a multidimensional crisis  food, energy, climate and financial  which particularly impacts the most vulnerable countries and economies, mainly in Africa.

In such a fragile context marked by interconnected crises, which erodes our collective response capacity, the implementation of SDG 2 on ending hunger, ensuring food security, and improving nutrition, is greatly at risk. This situation requires a collective response that is humanitarian, development-friendly and peace-oriented, as well as a strengthening of the peace and food security nexus, with a particular focus on prevention, he said.
The National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), the new leadership in Niger, appointed Monday former Finance Minister Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine as the countrys transitional Prime Minister.

Zeine served as Finance minister under Mamadou Tandja, who led the country from 1999 to 2010 after return to civilian rule.

The 58-year-old politician and technocrat currently serves as the African Development Banks Country Manager for Chad. Zeine is expected to lead consultations for the formation of a new government.

The CNSP on July 26 removed elected and west-backed leader Mohamed Bazoum. The move has been rejected by western powers and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The ECOWAS gave until Sunday August 6 to the junta led by Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani to restore power Bazoum or face military intervention.

Neighboring countries namely Burkina Faso and Mali slammed the regional block and vowed to stand in the way of the intervention.

The fall of Bazoum is the latest blow dealt to France, the former colonial power, which has been losing its influence in the region after Mali, Burkina Faso cut off ties.
The Central African Republics electoral body, LAutorite nationale des elections (ANE), indicated that the July referendum on the new Constitution, allowing incumbent leader Faustin Archange Touadera in power since 2016 to run for another term, has been popularly validated with 95.27 per cent of votes.

Mathias Morouba, head of the ANE, indicated that 4.73 per cent rejected the referendum. He put turnout at 61.10 per cent. The new Constitution removes the cap on the two-term basis and will allow Touadera to run in 2025. The new text also extends the term period of five years to seven years.

The final results will be rubber-stamped on August 27 by the countrys Constitutional court.

Touaderas critics, including former President Francois Bozize, rejected the referendum and accused him of wanting to hijack power.

The Central African country slid into civil war in 2013 after Bozize was ousted by turned self-appointed President, Michel Djotodia.
A North Platte man has to serve a year in jail after hitting a car while driving, getting into another car at the scene and driving away without leaving contact information.

Terry L. Johnson, 61, pleaded no contest to felony driving with a revoked license from a DUI and misdemeanor leaving the scene of an accident. District Judge Cindy Volkmer sentenced him to 364 days in the Lincoln County Detention Center with 8 days credit. He is scheduled to report to Lincoln County Jail on Saturday.

According to court records, Johnson was driving a Chevy Trail Blazer when he struck a white Dodge Dakota. During the accident investigation, the owner of the Chevy told police her boyfriend, Johnson, had been the driver.

Johnsons girlfriend, who is a caregiver, told police that one of the people she cares for was in the Chevy with them at the time and was distraught after the accident. His girlfriend said Terry left the scene to drive the woman home.

Johnson was driving on a 15-year suspended license from a prior driving with a suspended license conviction in Lancaster County.

Police later arrested Johnson.

In other court cases (defendants are from North Platte unless otherwise noted):

Dirk A. Paxton, 38, pleaded guilty to felony DUI over .15 BAC or refusal, second offense. As part of the plea deal, charges of DUI over .15 BAC or refusal, third offense was amended down and bribery of a witness was dropped. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 16.

Valerie A. Soto, 28, pleaded no contest to misdemeanor attempted possession of methamphetamine and obstruction of a peace officer. As part of the plea deal, charges of felony possession of methamphetamine and theft by receiving stolen property under $500 were dropped. Volkmer sentenced her to 18 months probation.

Michael L. Matthews, 56, pleaded no contest to felony possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person. As part of the plea deal, charges of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and possession of a controlled substance were dropped.

Tera R. Dewolf, 36, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor attempted possession of methamphetamine. As part of the plea deal, the charge of felony possession of methamphetamine was amended down. Volkmer sentenced her to 240 days in Lincoln County Detention Center with 88 days credit.

Sheridan Stark, 26, pleaded not guilty to felonies distribution of an exceptionally hazardous drug, methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine. His next schedule court appearance is Oct. 10.

Richard F. Curry, 42, admitted to violation of probation from a case where he pleaded guilty to felony possession of methamphetamine. Volkmer sentenced him to 270 days in Lincoln County Detention Center.

Brandon Rader-Schmidt, 19, pleaded not guilty to felony distribution of child porn and possession of child porn. His next scheduled court appearance is on Oct. 16.

Roxanne S. Duran, 48, pleaded not guilty to felony possession of methamphetamine, possession of a concealed weapon and misdemeanor possession of marijuana over one ounce.

Thomas D. Foster Jr., 29, admitted to violation of probation from cases where he pleaded no contest to felony burglary, possession of a controlled substance and theft over $5,000. District Judge Michael Piccolo sentenced him to 2 years specialized substance abuse supervision.

Dallas E. Loving, 19, pleaded no contest to a felony charge amended down from an original charge of felony first degree sexual assault. He is scheduled for sentencing Oct. 10.

Tylar L. Popham, 24, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor attempted possession of methamphetamine. Piccolo sentenced him to 180 days in the Lincoln County Detention Center with 55 days credit.

Martin P. Ramos Sr., 49, of Grand Island pleaded not guilty to felony burglary and violation of a protection order. His next scheduled court appearance is Oct. 30.

Jeffrey D. Shafer, 31, pleaded not guilty to felony possession of child porn, possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person, tampering with a witness, misdemeanor violation of a harassment protection order, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and carrying a concealed weapon. His next court appearance is Aug. 21.
This may not be where Ron DeSantis envisioned himself when his campaign was a all-powerful Death Star. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images

Historically, some presidential-campaign shake-ups and reboots have led to victory, while others have proved to be symptoms preceding defeat. We dont know yet which precedent Ron DeSantiss 2024 campaign will ultimately follow. But we do know its almost never a good sign when shake-ups and reboots have to be repeated.

So its not great news for the Florida governor that hes just undertaken the third round of major staffing changes in his campaign in less than a month, as the Messenger first reported:

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis replaced his embattled presidential campaign manager with one of his most trusted, and most conservative, advisers: his gubernatorial offices chief of staff, James Uthmeier.

Outgoing campaign manager Generra Peck will remain as chief strategist on the campaign as part of the restructuring. Peck guided DeSantiss blowout reelection bid last year, but she quickly became the subject of criticism from DeSantis advisers and donors in mid-July after his presidential campaign stalled and money dried up.

The campaign then twice cut staff and expenses and retooled DeSantiss press strategy to make him more available to the mainstream media.

But donors and some outside advisers werent satisfied, leading DeSantis last week to ask Uthmeier to diagnose problems with the campaign and see if he could fix them. Ultimately, it led the governor to ask Uthmeier to take the job.

Like Peck, Uthmeier is a 30-something with zero experience in national political campaigns. The shake-up also gave him a deputy, David Polyanski, who moved over from the Never Back Down super-PAC thats been doing a lot of the heavy lifting for DeSantis. Like many of the honchos at Never Back Down, Polyanksi is close to 2016 Trump rival Ted Cruz, who tried the true conservative alternative message that year without much success. Cruz did win Iowa, though, and thats Polyanksis stomping grounds (he worked for Mike Huckabees successful 2008 Iowa Caucus campaign too, and for Joni Ernsts successful debut race for the Senate in 2014). Its unclear how much clout he will have with the candidate and his wife, who are known for valuing longstanding ties with loyal aides like both Peck and Uthmeier.

But whoever is calling the shots, there are growing signs that DeSantiss strategy for winning the nomination may be coming down to an all-or-nothing push in Iowa. His super-PAC has spent heavily in Iowa campaign infrastructure, especially knocking on doors, a staple of pre-caucus politicking in the state. Stung by allegations he is uncomfortable with the retail campaigning Iowans are known to value, he committed to the full Grassley, which means appearances in all of the states 99 counties (hes up to just under 30 so far). This time-consuming approach is more typical for candidates who have all but written off campaigning in other states for the time being.

There are some good reasons for DeSantis to focus on Iowa to a fault, aside from the super-PAC investments made by all those ex-Cruz staffers who may just be trying to duplicate what happened there in 2016. While Trump has had a solid lead in Iowa of 27 points on average, its less than his 38-point lead nationally. Whats more, hes has given his rivals a possible opening in Iowa by going out of his way to offend major GOP power brokers like conservative Evangelical leader Bob Vander Plaats and the very popular Governor Kim Reynolds, both of whom are theoretically neutral but conspicuously friendly with DeSantis.

But make no mistake, there are risks involved in where it appears the DeSantis campaign is headed. One recent danger sign for him was a cutoff in donations from his biggest single donor, Robert Bigelow, who gave a cool $20 million to Never Back Down. Bigelow really doesnt like the decision to run to Trumps right, and suggested that in particular any future donations would depend on DeSantis moderating his position on abortion. An Iowa-focused DeSantis longing for endorsements from the likes of Vander Plaats (a hard-core anti-abortion leader for decades) and Reynolds (currently battling to enact an abortion ban very similar to the one DeSantis signed in Florida) isnt going to do that. Hes already lost his electability edge over Trump. The way hes now campaigning wont likely win it back.

Its also clear that whatever Trump has done to complicate his mission in Iowa, its the early state most demographically congenial to the MAGA movement with a relatively large white, non-college-educated population. He lost Iowa narrowly in 2016 after running a clumsy, amateurish campaign. He wont make that mistake twice.

Any way you look at it, the DeSantis campaign has unquestionably shrunk. It looked initially like a Death Star with vast resources and a highly disciplined candidate who could appeal to both MAGA and anti-Trump Republicans across a broad landscape of primary-state terrain. Now its beginning to look like a poorly managed, narrow effort to upset Trump in one state no matter the cost later. It could still work. But the shake-ups and reboots really need to end.
Photo: Getty Images for Take Back the C

Mondaire Jones introduced himself to New Yorks Democratic Establishment by lunging for its jugular. In 2020, he announced what looked like an improbable primary against Nita Lowey, a 30-year House veteran and co-chair of the states congressional delegation. Just one cycle prior, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had unseated 20-year incumbent Joe Crowley in Queens, and it got Joness attention, inspiring him to run his own insurgent campaign in the Hudson Valley.

Lowey decided to retire rather than risk an upset, and seven other Democrats jumped in to enter the race. Jones captured the progressive lane with the endorsements of Ocasio-Cortez, a graduate of Yorktown High School in the district, and Bernie Sanders. Young, Black, and openly gay, he was soon hailed by left-wing outlets from Democracy Now! to Mother Jones as proof of the next generations challenge to the status quo. Just to the south, Jamaal Bowman, another young Black lefty, was running to unseat Establishment stalwart Eliot Engel with the endorsement of the Democratic Socialists of America.

As Black Lives Matter protests stretched out that summer, Jones appeared at events with Bowman and flexed his endorsements in mailers blasted throughout the district, touting his support for a Green New Deal and Medicare for All. Jones also supported defunding the police, as he put it in a joint appearance with Bowman on a panel: We have to make sure that we have a broad conception of systemic racism. It cannot just be confined to individual instances of police officers killing unarmed Black and brown people in this country, he said. And of course, we need to end mass incarceration and legalize cannabis and defund the police.

Three years after he won that race, and after effectively being pushed out of his district only to lose a bid to represent Brooklyn, Jones launched his third bid for Congress with a campaign ad that shows him in a different light: shaking hands with the police chief of Pound Ridge, who says, Ive worked in law enforcement in the Hudson Valley for just about 40 years. We do not get the funding they get in the city. Mondaire Jones listened and funded the police.

While picking at his gyro platter at a Greek restaurant in Tarrytown last month, Jones explained that what he really meant back in 2020 was a reallocation of money from police funds to mental-health services. Either way, last year the GOP knocked out four New York congressional incumbents and took control of the House, thanks, in part, to campaigning against some Democrats support of defund and cashless bail. On the scale of really stupid slogans that dont convey what it is that you intend, it has got to be extremely high on the list, he told me.

After entering politics by spurning the centrist Democratic Establishment, Jones now seems like he wants to be a part of it. But as he has returned to Westchester County to launch his third bid for Congress, Jones is driftingor pivoting, depending on whom you askto the middle in order to campaign as the sole candidate who can turn the district blue again. But the Establishment is not so easily wooed, and some members have already lined up behind his opponent Liz Gereghty, the sister of Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer.

In 2017, Jones was scouted as a fresh young talent who could run for the State Senate as a progressive firebrand to primary one of the stale incumbents who made up the Independent Democratic Conference, which teamed up with Republicans in Albany to block progressive legislation. He had a compelling personal story, growing up in public housing as the son of a single mother who suffered from mental illness and relied on her parents, a janitor and housekeeper, to help raise him. Im running  to represent the same people whose homes I watched my grandmother clean, he said throughout the race. Now, when Jones tells voters he is from Spring Valley, they often raise their eyebrows, shocked not only that he made it out but that he made it to Congress. Last month, the water in the public-school system he attended was declared unsafe to drink.

After Stanford, Jones did a yearlong fellowship in the Obama Justice Department before going on to Harvard Law School and then a position at a white-shoe law firm. But after a few years, he took a steep pay cut to work in the Westchester County Attorneys Office under John Nonna. I knew he wanted to run for office eventually, Nonna said. But it was quite a surprise when he walked into work one day and said he was going to challenge Nita Lowey.

After winning 41 percent of the vote in his primary, Jones was added to a group chat with the newly elected Bowman by Ocasio-Cortez, who gave them both advice on staffing and security protocols. He immediately joined the Progressive Caucus, though he pledged he wanted a fantastic relationship with Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Once in office, he co-sponsored bills to implement universal child care and expand the Supreme Court. While he doesnt reject the term progressive, which he has called himself in the past, he now thinks a more accurate word might be pragmatist.

There are people who say things like Billionaires should never exist, and I think thats so silly because so long as we are providing a certain standard of dignity for everyone in our society, what does it matter that billionaires would still exist past that point? Jones said. I mean, these slogans are oftentimes intellectually unserious.

He said that it was perhaps inevitable that people would project their own leftmost positions to the young, gay Black outsider, but to hear Jones tell it, those saying hes changed might just be unfamiliar with his consistent voting record.

Progressives give me shit for wanting to lift the cap on the SALT deduction, or wanting to fund the police, or  my pro-Israel stance, but Im not changing, said Jones. Thats who I am. And for what its worth, my district also supports me.

Left-wing Democrats had dismissed the move to lift the cap on how much property tax can be exempted from federal taxes as a handout to the rich, but Jones introduced a bill to lift it before he was even sworn in. In another break with his lefty allies, Jones said he would have gladly attended the Israeli presidents address to Congress last month, which Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez, and Bowman boycotted. Since then, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee started recruiting a primary challenger to Bowman. As for Jones, he said, Ive got a great relationship with AIPAC, and his team would not say whether he would endorse the AIPAC-backed challenger or Bowman, only that Bowman doesnt need his endorsement. (The 17th District where Jones is running has the largest Jewish constituency in the country.)

Reps. Jimmy Gomez, Cori Bush, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Mondaire Jones walk together outside of the Capitol in 2021. Photo: Bill Clarke/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Imag

But it was not the left that Jones sparred with when he first arrived in Congress. During his first month in office, he pressured then-Governor Andrew Cuomo to oppose the expanded operation of a power plant in the Hudson Valley that burns fracked natural gas. His team circulated a letter to Cuomo throughout the New York congressional delegation to collect signatures, but Sean Patrick Maloney didnt sign on. Maloney, whose Establishment roots go back to Clintons White House, had been endorsed by the power plants union, and members of his team made it clear to Joness that the opposition was not only inconvenient but reflected a lack of deference that was inappropriate.

Eventually, Jones gave in and dropped the issue. But it wouldnt be the only time that Maloney bullied Jones into submission.

In May 2022, a court-appointed special master redrew New Yorks congressional maps, placing the hometown of Maloney, who was by now the boss of the powerful Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, in Joness district. Without giving Jones a heads up, Maloney announced he would run in the newly drawn 17th District. Despite the optics of a powerful white Establishment figure trying to push aside Jones, Democratic House leadership approved the decision. Were very proud of Sean Patrick Maloney, Pelosi told reporters right after the power grab.

Faced with the prospect of running against the man in charge of funding for every Democratic congressional campaign in the country, Jones looked elsewhere. At first, according to three sources, he weighed a primary against his neighbor to the south, Bowman, conducting polling to see how Jones would fare. The two have since stopped doing events together, which they frequently did after winning their first primary.

Jones decided instead to look for an open race and moved to Brooklyn to establish residency for the new 10th District. After trying and failing to get the left-wing Working Family Partys endorsement, he was unable to consolidate a splintered progressive field. Pelosi threw him a bone and endorsed Jones, but Dan Goldman, the wealthy veteran federal prosecutor who received the backing of the real-estate lobby and the endorsement of the New York Times, won. As for Maloney, he was humiliated both as DCCC chair and as candidate after losing to Republican Mike Lawler, whom Jones is now trying to unseat.

Just two years after he shot to fame, Jones found himself on the sidelines, pushed out by the Establishment of his own party. And almost as soon as he moved back to his district in the riverfront town of Sleepy Hollow, he ran into the Establishment again in the form of Liz Gereghty.

Gereghtys run for Congress is being received with more national support than might otherwise be expected of a woman whose highest office has been trustee on her local school board. Shes earned donations from California representative Eric Swalwells PAC, the vice-chairman of the Detroit Pistons, and the CEO of Visa, who both live in California, as well as the CEO of Zillow in Seattle.

Learn her family name, though, and things begin to make sense. Before she became Liz Gereghty, she was Liz Whitmer. Now, as she makes her first bid for Congress, she has rebranded herself Liz Whitmer Gereghty, and shes banking on her familys national political connections. But she takes issue with people asking if shes using her original name to capitalize on her sisters clout.

You know what, heres the thing  and this is what women will tell you  like, no matter what choices we make, theyre always going to be wrong according to someone, she said in an interview.

Gereghty added that she was Liz Whitmer longer than she was Liz Gereghty, although she declined to explain why she didnt use Whitmer in her school-board elections in 2019 and 2022. Before then, she owned a knickknack store called pOp in Katonah, selling a wide variety of resistance kitsch: soda with labels like Make America Grape Again, Barack Obama action figures, Catholic iconography candles featuring Robert Mueller, and temporary Ruth Bader Ginsburg knuckle tattoos that spell Dissent with a letter for each finger.

In June, she hosted a fundraiser with her sister Gretchen in Tarrytown, though she said the governor was only at the fundraiser because she happened to be in town for Gereghtys sons graduation party. But the evite suggests it was an intentionally planned sister-themed event. Shes making phone calls to my former colleagues and to some people in the district, asking them to support her sister, Jones complained, before qualifying, which is her right to do.

The phone calls have helped Gereghtys fundraising catch up to Jones. Since announcing in May, she has collected just over $400,000 in donations, most of it from out-of-state donors, compared to the $500,000 he has raised since announcing last month. Gereghty has also received the endorsement of EMILYs List, a PAC that endorses pro-choice women candidates, while Jones has the backing of some 122 mayors, supervisors, and other local officials. According to a recently released poll commissioned by his campaign, Jones leads Gereghty by 43 to 8 percent, with 51 percent undecided a year before the primary.

Gereghty is reluctant to take digs at her opponent, but she did suggest Joness previous use of defund the police was reason enough for voters to choose her instead. If that isnt, then, in her opinion, Joness move to Brooklyn ought to be, suggesting he abandoned the district. Anyone paying attention to what happened last year knows that I didnt just wake up one day and decide not to represent my district, Jones told me.

As Gereghtys campaign bids for support from party leadership, Jones earned the tacit approval of one of New Yorks most powerful Establishment figures when he received the endorsement of the Congressional Black Caucus. They would not endorse Mondaire unless Hakeem said they could, an operative told me, referring to Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader from Brooklyn who has a reputation for his intolerance of the left. In 2020, Jones criticized the CBC for not endorsing him until right before the primary, but this cycle he has received its approval more than a year out.

The endorsement will probably mean more for Joness reception in Washington than for his reputation at home in his district  not many voters make decisions because of caucus endorsements  but it has now officially allied him with the very Establishment he began his career antagonizing.

I have never been more confident that these labels mean very little, he said.
Jurors in Grady Wayne Wilkes' capital murder trial saw police body and dash camera footage from the May 2019 shooting that left one Auburn police officer dead and injured two others.

Wilkes appeared at Lee County Justice Center on Monday morning for the first day of trial. He faces one count of capital murder and three counts of attempted murder in the shooting that killed 37-year-old Auburn police officer William Buechner. Prosecutors have decided to seek the death penalty.

On Monday, the jury heard opening statements from the prosecution and the defense, watched police body camera and dash camera footage and listened to five witnesses testify.

Assistant District Attorney Clay Thomas began the opening statements by describing an account of the night of May 19, 2019.

Lord, please help me. These were the last words ever spoken on this earth by Officer Will Buechner, Thomas told the jury. He said this while he was lying in a drainage ditch at Arrowhead Trailer Park dying from gunshot wounds. He died in the line of duty because of the intentional conduct of one person, the defendant Grady Wayne Wilkes, Thomas said pointing to Wilkes.

Thomas told the jury that Wilkes opened his door wearing a military helmet and a vest with chest plates and was holding an AR rifle at low ready.

Hes ready for battle, Thomas said. The evidence is going to show, the videos, the testimony of the witnesses are gonna show clearly what the defendant intended. He intended to kill each and every officer that responded that night.

Wilkes defense attorney William Whatley reminded the jury to look at all the evidence before making their decision. He said the evidence will show that Wilkes is not guilty because of "mental disease or defect.

Whatley said Wilkes was suffering from bipolar disorder and long-standing depression exasperated by excess alcohol use. He said Wilkes had pre-existing post-traumatic stress disorder, causing hypervigilance.

This case is on the State of Alabama to prove beyond a reasonable doubt to each and every member of the jury that Wayne is guilty of capital murder and these other offenses for which hes charged, Whatley said.

Witnesses and footage

Auburn officers Evan Elliot, Ron Askelson and Mark Webb Sistrunk responded to the 2019 domestic disturbance call. All three testified on Monday and their camera footage from that night was shown to the jury as well as Buechners body and dash camera footage. APD officers Jimmy Butler Jr. and Michael Creighton also testified.

Former APD officer Evan Elliot was the first to take the stand Monday morning. During his testimony, Lee County District Attorney Jessica Ventiere played Elliots body camera footage from the time he and Askelson arrived at the trailer park until Elliot was loaded into an ambulance.

Around 10 p.m., Elliot, whod been with the department for only six months, responded to a domestic disturbance call with the officer he was training under, Ron Askelson.

Elliot and Askelson arrived at Lot 237 in Arrowhead Trailer Park off Wire Road in Auburn. Elliot said no one was there, but they found the woman who made the 911 call, Brooklyn Isaacs, in the driveway of a nearby trailer.

On the body camera audio, Isaacs told the officers that she was getting ready for bed when Wilkes, her live-in boyfriend, came home drunk.

Isaacs informed the officers that shed been trying to break up with Wilkes, but she didnt want to talk to Wilkes about the situation that night because she had to get up early the next morning.

He basically takes my wrist, squeezed it really hard, pushes me against the wall and squeezed me into the wall, basically telling me that he can hurt me if he wants to. I cant do anything about it, Isaacs told police that night.

She said Wilkes left her alone briefly, but returned to choke her. She said Wilkes told her you better run or Im going to kill you. Isaacs told police she grabbed her phone and ran.

Because Wilkes was a resident of the trailer, police informed Isaacs that they legally couldnt force him to leave. They informed her of legal paperwork that would be involved in the process, and asked if she had somewhere else she could spend the night.

Isaacs informed police that Wilkes was in the National Guard and would be leaving for an army drill the next week. She also told the officers that he had two rifles and a handgun in the trailer.

She said she didnt think Wilkes would use the weapons against the police, but also said she wouldnt count it out because of the state he was in.

Sistrunk said he and Buechner drove separately, but both responded to the domestic disturbance call, meeting Elliot and Askelson with Isaacs.

After their conversation, the four officers went to Lot 237 to get the belongings that Isaacs needed for the night. They didnt turn on their police lights or sirens.

Sistrunk stood at the bottom of the trailer parallel with the porch and Buechner went around to the back.

Elliot walked up the porch and knocked on the door. He said he heard footsteps inside the trailer coming to the door. Before he could introduce himself, Wilkes stepped out wearing body armor and holding an AR rifle.

On the video played in the courtroom, Elliot was heard saying, Hey bud, hey bud, in an effort to keep Wilkes calm. Askelson yelled, Hey, get back! Shots rang out and an officer screamed.

Elliot testified that Wilkes was already zoned in on the officers. Askelson jumped over the railing, losing his body camera. Elliot retreated down the steps of the porch as gunfire went off.

Elliot ran away from the trailer realizing hed dropped his weapon and hed been shot in the forearm. He heard more shots as he ran to the front of the park. Sistrunk radioed that hed also been hit by gunfire.

Askelson testified that he felt they were outgunned and decided it would be safer to leave.

I couldnt believe actually what I was seeing at the time. I looked him up and down, and he was just giving us that dead stare. So at that point, I made the decision to yell 'get off the porch,' and then I jumped over the banister to my left, Askelson said.

Sistrunk said he heard one of the officers scream and saw Askelson jump off the porch.

Due to the fact that they screamed, I remember I drew my weapon just trying to figure out what the threat was, he said.

After seeing Wilkes, Sistrunk said his first thought was that they were outmatched and outgunned. He ducked down looking for cover and was hit in the right shoulder.

The bullet hit him from behind and exited out the front of his chest.

Sistrunk said he dropped his weapon and his body camera fell off. He tried to find his gun but couldnt. He ran for cover behind a neighboring trailer. He kneeled there trying to process what had happened. Then he realized he needed medical attention.

Elliot made it to the front of the park, warning a resident to stay inside along the way. First responders applied a tourniquet to Elliot's arm and got him in an ambulance to take him to the hospital. Askelson also made it to the front of the park.

Sistrunk said he made it to his vehicle and attempted to pack his own wound with the supplies he had in his backpack. He got on the radio to tell communication that hed been hit.

First responders got him in an ambulance and he was taken to a hospital in Columbus. He was in the ICU for 5 days, had surgery and went through months of physical therapy. He said he still has pain in his shoulder every day.

APD Sgt. Jimmy Butler Jr. was one of the investigators on this case. He told the jury that Wilkes also shot the police vehicles strategically.

Each of the patrol cars had bullet holes in them, Butler said. One thing that was interesting about that was  25 years Ive been to many crime scenes and shootings  it wasnt just a car with bullet holes. These in particular seemed to be placed in strategic places, exactly where someone would have been seated in the patrol car.

A civilian, Ann Reed, was with her boyfriend who lived in Arrowhead Park that night in 2019. She said they heard the gunfire and looked outside to see what was happening. She told the jury that she saw police officers running to the left and saw a white man running to the right towards the woods.

Reed and her boyfriend went back inside, locked the door and sat on the couch in shock. Several minutes later, they went back outside to check things out. Reed said they found Officer Buechner lying on the ground without a pulse.

The trial will continue Tuesday at 9 a.m.
Safe + Sound Week 2023 Focuses on Mental Health in the Workplace

The annual celebration spreads awareness of workplace health and safety concern.

Every August, OSHA leads the nation in marking Safe + Sound Week. Although keeping workers safe and healthy is a year-long goal, this event invites employers to take stock of their successes.

In a release dated August 1, OSHA shared details of Safe + Sound Week 2023, which started on August 7 and runs through August 13. This years event highlights mental health in the workplace. With the relationship between workers and mental health coming increasingly into focus, Safe + Sound Week 2023 hopes to provide employers with the resources to address workers mental health.

To that end, the American Psychological Association released a 2023 study that pinpointed the effect of a toxic work environment on workers mental health. Ninety-two percent of respondents said it is very or somewhat important their employers value emotional and psychological well-being. And 92 percent also believe it is very or somewhat important for their employers to support employee mental health. So this years Safe + Sound feels all too timely.

"We want businesses to have a system, not just good intentions, and make safety a core value for every worker in every workplace," OSHA Assistant Secretary Doug Parker said in a statement. "During this week and throughout the year, we urge every employer to commit to implementing a program that drives continuous improvement in safety and health."

Thousands of employers participate in Safe + Sound Week to promote the benefits of their safety and health programs. Companies looking to get involved can do so on the OSHA website.
Brent crude fell below $85 per barrel on Tuesday as poor import/export data from China weighs on oil markets.

Chart of the Week

- China has become the most important bearish factor weighing on oil prices recently, with July export-import data showing the Asian countrys economy is struggling to outgrow its post-COVID woes.

- Overseas exports of Chinese goods have recorded the worst month-on-month decline since February 2020 last month, down 14.5% in dollar terms, with weak consumer spending and investment growth aggravating the outlook.

- Chinas crude imports have followed suit and decreased by 19% month-on-month to 10.3 million b/d, the lowest daily rate since January even though onshore crude inventories have continued to climb.

- The Chinese Central Bank set the yuan at the weakest level in almost a month today, seeking to stimulate further exports by means of a slightly devalued currency, however with demand slowing in the US, too, such measures might not be enough.

Market Movers

- US oil major ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) initiated a review of its shale oil and gas assets in Argentina, including stakes in oil pipelines, citing dissatisfaction with slow progress at its Vaca Muerta projects.

- US refiner Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX) is reportedly in talks with agricultural trading giant Archer-Daniels-Midland (NYSE:ADM) to establish a biofuels JV to produce sustainable aviation fuel.

- Brazils national oil firm Petrobras (NYSE:PBR) may ramp up investments in its 5-year business plan by 10% amidst robust revenues, with most of the incremental $8 billion slated for low-carbon projects.

Tuesday, August 08, 2023

Storm clouds are gathering over the oil markets, with weaker-than-expected Chinese macroeconomic data disappointing again and most probably putting an end to six consecutive weeks of Brent/WTI price gains. The bullish effect of Saudi Arabias production cut extension and Russias export curbs in September has evaporated, though disruptions in US refinery operations might boost product cracks further and help recoup some of the lost pricing territory as ICE Brent is back at $84 per barrel.

Saudi Aramco Profits Drop 40% Y/Y. Saudi national oil company Saudi Aramco (TADAWUL:2222) reported a 38% year-on-year decline in Q2 net profit due to lower prices and curtailed oil supply, aggravated by a collapse in petchem margins, nevertheless raking in a tad north of $30 billion.

Ukraine Drone Hits Russian Tanker. The Russian-flagged Sig tanker was struck by a Ukrainian sea drone whilst approaching the Kerch strait, with the missile hitting the US-sanctioned vessel near its engine room and seeing significant damage as Black Sea oil flows become part of the war.

Refinery Outages Tighten US Gas Market. The TotalEnergies-operated (NYSE:TTE) 225,000 b/d Port Arthur refinery in Texas was forced to shut down its FCC unit after a leaky pump, adding pressure onto the tight US gasoline market only days after a similar incident happened in Baton Rouge, LA.

Kuwait Doubles Down on LNG. According to Kpler data, Kuwaits LNG imports reached an all-time high in July with 0.9 million tonnes of LNG delivered to Al Zour amidst extremely high temperatures, with market reports indicating KPC bought six additional spot LNG cargoes for September.

Pakistan Scraps Iran Gas Deal. Merely two days after Irans foreign minister visited Islamabad, Pakistan suspended the completion of the multi-billion Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline citing US sanctions as the main reason, though pledging to restart works as soon as sanctions are removed.

Environmentalists Sue Germanys LNG Terminal. A German environmental group filed a lawsuit with the Federal Administrative Court against the operator of the Lubmin FSRU regasification plant, saying the environmental permits of Deutsche ReGas were inadequately assessed.

Californias Drilling Imbroglio Continues. The California Supreme Court struck down Monterey Countys ban on oil and gas drilling in California, handing a win to US major Chevron (NYSE:CVX), saying counties cannot ban fossil fuels as only state regulators decide what methods can be used.

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Poland Pipeline Leak Contained. Pipeline transportation along the northern Druzhba pipeline system to Poland and Germany was halted after a leak in central Poland, however Russian oil supplies along this route are already under EU sanctions, minimizing the impact of the incident.

Norway Wants to Connect LNG Terminal to Grid. Suffering several power outages in 2023 alone, Norways government wants the Hammerfest LNG terminal to be connected to the hydro-dominated national grid by 2030, saving 2% of the countrys annual emissions.

Chinese Coal Imports Soar Amidst Heatwaves. Chinese coal consumers imported 39.26 million tonnes in July, marking the second straight month when inflows are significantly above the average of 37 million tonnes, as abnormal heat is forcing power generators to run at maximum capacity.

Nigeria Sends Jet Fighters to Destroy Illicit Tankers. The Nigerian security forces launched airstrikes at vessels carrying stolen crude in the Niger Delta this week, only a couple of days after the army destroyed 36 illegal refining sites across the region as part of a wider clampdown.

Unfazed by Weaker Profits, Glencore Is On the Hunt. Posting EBITDA figures that were down 50% year-on-year at 9.4 billion, Swiss-based trading major Glencore (LON:GLEN) reiterated its interest in further M&A deals regardless of how the Teck takeover saga ends.

Venezuela Biding Its Time, Fixing Infrastructure. The CEO of Venezuelas national oil company PDVSA Pedro Tellechea said the firm is working to fix leaks and contain spills around Lake Maracaibo, a key production hub, however, they are yet to start dredging operations.

By Tom Kool for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Little-known and newly-incorporated trading companies have handled large volumes of Russian crude oil and products since the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the withdrawal of Western firms from trades with Russias oil.

The little-known oil trading companies that have mushroomed are incorporated in jurisdictions outside of Europe and are often notoriously opaque in their management and dealings.

Some of those companies are said to have some representatives in common, according to documents reviewed by Bloomberg.

Two of the new large traders of Russian crude and refined petroleum products  Coral Energy and Nord Axis Ltd  have had representatives in common. One representative for Coral Energy and a lawyer who has done work for Coral have both been directors of Nord Axis, per the documents dated 2022 Bloomberg has reviewed.

Nord Axis is not as unknown as many other oil traders that have sprung up and started trading Russias oil.

Nord Axis, a Hong Kong-registered trading company, acquired the 10 percent non-operational, passive shareholding of oil trading giant Trafigura in the Vostok Oil project last year. Back then, Western majors were quitting en masse operations and non-operational stakes in Russian energy projects.

Nord Axis is now a major exporter of Russian crude and handled as much as 586,000 barrels per day (bpd) worth $3.66 billion in the first four months of 2023, per data from the Kyiv School of Economics KSE Institute cited by Bloomberg. Nord Axis also traded $2.19 billion worth of refined products in the first four months of the year. Coral Energy, for its part, has seen its trade in Russian oil plunge this year, after saying in February that it was no longer trading any Russian crude or products.

According to KSE Institutes study on the sanctions on Russian oil, Russia continues to earn around $425 million per day from oil exports.

These inflows of foreign exchange play a key role for overall macroeconomic stability. Furthermore, revenues from oil production and exports help Russia to pay for the war, the authors of the July 2023 report from the Kyiv School of Economics said, calling for much lower price caps on Russian crude oil and refined products.

Russian customs data cited by Bloomberg has recently shown that the little-known newly-set up oil trading firms are handling a large part of the Russian oil supply to the market. Nord Axis Ltd, Tejarinaft FZCO, QR Trading DMCC, Concept Oil Services Ltd, Bellatrix Energy Ltd, and Coral Energy DMCC together handled about 1.4 million bpd of Russian crude oil. Thats more oil than what the commodity giants typically handled before the war in Ukraine and enough to meet the entire needs of countries such as the UK and Italy.

Newly established commodity trading firms incorporated in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have replaced trading and oil giants in handling Russian crude oil and products after the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the EU and G7 sanctions and price caps that followed.

By some estimates, these one-year-old or younger trading companies have shipped at least half of all the Russian crude and refined products exports so far this year.

The business of transporting Russian crude to Asia has become crazy good, a trader dealing with Russian oil told Reuters early this year.

Most of the shipping companies transporting Russian crudewithout breaching the sanctions and price capare based in the UAE, Greece, India, and China, and some of them are partially owned by Russian firms, according to numerous anonymous banking and trading sources who spoke to Reuters.

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Russian crude and petroleum product exports held high in the first half of this year, contrary to many expectations of a slump in Russian exports after the embargo. The newly-created trading firms have played a key role in keeping those exports high.

Lately, Russian crude oil exports by sea have plunged. They were estimated by Bloomberg to have averaged below 3 million bpd in the four weeks to July 30, the lowest four-week average since the start of the EU embargo.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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The use of artificial intelligence (AI) and other digital technologies in the oil and gas industry has increased dramatically in recent years and is expected to continue growing over the coming decades. Modernisation and digitalisation were already starting to be welcomed by the oil and gas industry, but the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions drove an acceleration in the adoption of a range of new technologies, which has since continued.

AI is now viewed as a game changer for the oil and gas industry, used to reduce operational costs, improve sustainability, and speed up processes. According to market research carried out by Mordor Intelligence, the use of AI in the oil and gas market is expected to increase at a CAGR of 10.81 percent between 2022 and 2027. And a recent Ernst & Young survey showed that 92 percent of oil and gas companies around the globe are investing in AI or have plans to do so within the next 5 years.

Despite the accelerated adoption of AI technologies, the rate at which companies are adopting AI remains slower than the speed at which it's being developed and applied in other sectors. Kumar Lakshmipathi, principal solutions architect for Amazon Web Services, explained In the energy sector, were not seeing adoption as we should Compared to other industries, this is not what we see.

AI could be applied in a variety of ways in the oil and gas industry, such as to monitor and improve safety, increase operational performance, or provide insights and forecasts. The use of AI could significantly improve supply chain management, with the potential to reduce errors by between 20 and 50 percent. This is seen as increasingly important following the supply chain disruptions during and following the Covid pandemic. The delays in the manufacturing and delivery of energy components created a significant backlog in the industry, with many operations experiencing cost and time increases. Using AI to manage supply chain systems could help to alleviate these pressures in the future.

New AI technologies can also dramatically help to improve safety standards, enhancing company ESG practices and potentially preventing disasters. Better monitoring of oil and gas platforms could help to improve worker safety, further mitigating the chance of health and safety issues. This technology can also be used for the monitoring of pipelines and other infrastructure to prevent leaks and oil spills. This could help companies save millions in losses as well as avoid major damage to the environment.

To date, some of the leading energy companies in AI adoption include Shell, BP, and ExxonMobil. Shell has introduced AI technologies across its whole oil and gas supply chain, with more than 160 active projects by May this year. It has used these technologies to reduce gas extraction costs and automate drilling systems to help drill operators better understand the environment. It has also introduced the Shell AI Residency Programme to give data scientists and AI engineers experience with a range of AI projects at Shell. The oil major is also using AI technology in its renewable energy operations, to predict the varying demand for EV charging stations through the day to supply power appropriately.

Meanwhile, ExxonMobil is using AI to assess the viability of a region for drilling. In its recent Guyana operations, the firm used closed-loop automation, which controls the drilling process without human intervention. The use of this technology has allowed rig workers to shift their attention to other important tasks, helping to reduce the need for engineers to carry out repetitive tasks that can be managed by machines. Exxon is also using AI in its Permian basin operations in the U.S. to improve efficiency.

And the British oil major BP has partnered with Microsoft since 2017 to implement its Azure cloud solutions to improve drilling processes, leading to a reduction in drilling time. BP has since partnered with Bluware to use deep learning to enhance subsurface data interpretation by eliminating manual, time-consuming interpretation of seismic data.

The firm also recently invested $5 million in the start-up Belmont Technologys Series A financing to improve the companys AI and digital capabilities in its Upstream business. This follows a wide range of other investments in AI companies to enhance decision-making. BP has also trialled the AI-driven Spot robot at one of its refineries, using the robot to gather data, detect abnormalities and emissions, and take workers out of potentially hazardous situations.

Innovative digital technologies, such as AI, are becoming vital to the running of oil and gas operations, used to reduce times and costs as well as to enhance worker and environmental safety. More companies, big and small, are now open to adopting AI technology, particularly following the challenges faced during the Covid pandemic. However, the rollout of the most up-to-date AI technology is still lacking in the energy sector, with significant room for improvement.

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By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

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A surge in U.S. crude oil exports is changing the face of the global market and how oil is priced, with the price of U.S. crude gaining weight against other benchmarks.

This is what traders and analysts have observed this year, as Europe became a major destination for U.S. oil as it sought to replace sanctioned Russian barrels. But Asia has been receiving more U.S. oil, too, because of its competitive pricing, Reuters reported, citing trade industry insiders.

Earlier this year, in February, the number of oil swaps linked to oil produced in Texas hit a record. As of early 2023, the number of such swaps in total also sat at a record and has likely increased further since.

In June, WTI Midland was added to the Brent basket of crude oil grades that is used as a benchmark for pricing the world's most traded oil contract. Plans to add it to the Brent basket had been underway for some time but were only finalized this year as the surge in U.S. production coincided with a stable decline in the output from the five fields that comprised the original Brent.

These developments were made possible by the shale revolution that turned the United States into the world's biggest oil producer and a major exporter, especially since last year when the European Union embargoed Russian crude oil and fuels. And because U.S. crude is so competitive, it is probably going to gain further ground on international markets.

"As Midland becomes more and more important in the dated Brent assessment, it has a knock-on effect on other grades having to price themselves lower to compete with WTI Midland," Reuters quoted Vortexa market analyst Rohit Rathod as saying. Related: India Scoops Up Cheapest Russian Oil Since Start Of Ukraine War

The reason Midland is becoming more and more important in the dated Brent assessment is, again, the volume of U.S. crude being shipped abroad, which has averaged over 4 million barrels daily since the start of the year.

The pricing power that U.S. crude has acquired over Brent and, through the abovementioned knock-on effect on other benchmarks as well makes these benchmarks more vulnerable to production swings in the U.S. Analysts noted this was to be expected when WTI Midland was added to the Brent basket as was a greater influence of U.S. politics on global oil prices.

Yet politics aside, the growing clout of U.S. oil means that any downward change in U.S. production would have an upward effect on global prices and vice versa. For instance, the recent streak of drilling rig declines as reported by Baker Hughes, suggests flattening oil production.

Separately, Reuters' John Kemp recently reported that production growth in May compared to April was a meager 19,000 bpd, excluding the Gulf of Mexicoa further suggestion that U.S. oil production growth may be slowing down because of the price slump from earlier this year.

At the same time, however, Bloomberg reported last week that some shale majors have been revising upwards their production targets for the year. Per the report, the reason for the revisions was not the recent oil price improvement. It was a boost in well productivity that few appear to have expected.

The news is a reversal of last year's sentiment among some industry executives who worried that shale wells are underperforming in terms of productivity, raising questions about the longevity of the shale boom. Now, it turns out that what seemed like the inevitable is not, in fact, inevitable.

Trends and developments like the above would have normally affected U.S. prices more than any other benchmarks. Since this June, this is no longer the case, and whatever happens in the U.S. shale patch also affects the price of oil in Europe and the Middle East as well to a much more substantial degree than before.

All this appears to be good news for oil buyers. According to the traders who spoke to Reuters for the abovementioned report, the abundance of U.S. oil internationally and its competitive pricing is essentially putting a sort of a cap on other producers' prices as well.

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As Saudi Arabia raises its oil prices yet again amid curbed production, WTI could become even more attractive to refiners in Asia and Europe. However, this increase in attractiveness would only be to a certain degree: the Saudis are curbing the supply of medium sour crude, which WTI is not. And sour crude prices have recently surged regardless of increased U.S. exports globally because demand has been outstripping supply.

That said, the curbs on Saudi oil output would benefit U.S. producers, just like previous cuts benefited them by boosting international prices, of which WTI is now a much bigger part than before. It seems that even with such a change in the pricing balance amid the influx of U.S. oil, the global market remains as interconnected as it has ever been, with its various parts as interdependent as before.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Indias crude oil imports from Saudi Arabia plunged by 34% in July just as the top global exporter started reducing its production by 1 million barrels per day (bpd) on top of its cuts within OPEC+, moneycontrol reports, citing data from cargo tracker Vortexa.

India imported 484,000 bpd from Saudi Arabia in July, down from 734,000 bpd in June, according to the data. Russia was once again the top supplier of crude to India. At 1.9 million bpd, Russian deliveries exceeded supply from Saudi Arabia and Iraq combined.

Commenting on global crude oil flows in July, Jay Maroo, Head of Market Intelligence & Analysis (MENA) at Vortexa, wrote last week,

Unlike China, Indias imports remained almost unchanged at 4.5mbd in July but the nation continued to reduce intake of Middle Eastern grades (down 170kbd m-o-m)

In the previous month, Indias crude oil imports from Russia in June were the cheapest since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, during which time the worlds third-largest oil importer became a key Russian oil customer alongside China.

The average cost of a barrel of Russian crude that landed at Indias ports in June was $68.17. To compare, India paid $70.17 on average per barrel of Russian crude in May and $100.48 a barrel in June 2022.

Indias crude oil imports from Russia could be headed to a more significant decline in August, to the lowest since January this year, according to Kpler.

In July, crude imports from Russia into India, the worlds third-largest oil importer, dropped to 2.09 million barrels per day (bpd), down from 2.11 million bpd in the previous month, Viktor Katona, head of crude analysis at Kpler, told Bloomberg last week.

This month, Indias crude oil imports could further decline and fall to 1.6 million bpd, Katona added. If the projection is correct, Indias imports of Russian oil in August could drop to their lowest level since January 2023.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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It is easy to lose sight of the wood for the trees sometimes in the complex world of global oil. And perhaps no subject in that world involves so many different intricate moving parts as the extraordinary relationship between the Federal Government of Iraq (FGI), based in Baghdad, and the government of Iraqs northern semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan (KRG), centred in Erbil. It is only when something such as the suspension of major flows of oil from Kurdistan to Turkey occurs, as began on 25 March, that many analysts start trying to unravel what has caused it. And they find themselves entering an Alice In Wonderland world in which anything is possible, but nothing is as it seems. It is in this world, then, a step back should be taken, to answer precisely why the suspension is in place and when it will end.

Such a step back reveals clearly that the FGI  supported by Iran  does not want Iraqs Kurdistan region to have any true autonomy. Shutting down the KRGs ability to generate its own significant revenues through the sale of oil independently of the FGI is simply part of efforts to deny the region this independence. Sustained over a long enough period, Baghdad and Iran  and Russia and China too  believe that the Kurdistan region can rolled back into the rest of Iraq to all meaningful intents and purposes. The drive towards this reintegration was stepped up by Baghdad and Tehran dramatically stepped up their efforts to achieve this after the 2017 independence vote in Iraqi Kurdistan. It is apposite to note that the vote on independence for Iraqs Kurdistan region only occurred through pressure from the U.S., as analysed in depth in my new book on the new global oil market order. Specifically, Washington had privately assured the Iraqi Kurds in 2014 that in exchange for their Peshmerga armed forces taking the principal combat role against a surging ISIS, they would eventually be given their own independent country. Although the 2017 independence did not automatically grant Iraqi Kurdistan its independence from Baghdad, it was seen by the U.S. as a litmus test of how such an independent Kurdistan would be received in the region. As it transpired, the 92.73 percent vote on 25 September 2017 in favour of Kurdish independence went down extremely badly with the remainder of Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey. The key reason for this was that each of these countries had sizeable Kurdish populations themselves  Iran 9 percent, Syria 10 percent, and Turkey 18 percent - and the thought was that if the Iraqi Kurds successfully gained independence from Iraq then their own Kurdish populations might try to do the same. Related: Egypts Energy Hub Plagued With Power Shortages, Output Declines

Consequently, the 2017 Iraq Kurdistan independence vote was immediately followed by elements of Irans military rolling into Iraq Kurdistan, including the prime oil-rich areas. Additionally, very senior officers from Irans Quds branch of its Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp, and from its Vezarat-e Ettela'at Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran intelligence service, made it clear to several of Iraq Kurdistans leading politicians that it would not be in their best interests to continue to push for independence from Iraq. At the same time, Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi, a top military adviser to Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, called for a blockade on Iraq Kurdistans land borders. Turkish President then as now, Recep Erdogan, also threatened to invade the Iraqi Kurdish area. He added that Turkey could also cut off the oil export pipeline from Iraq to the Turkish port of Ceyhan. At that point, the region was producing around an average of 500,000-600,000 bpd of oil exports, by far the mainstay of Iraq Kurdistans economy.

It was then that Russia stepped in, taking effective control of all of Iraqi Kurdistans oil sector through three key means. First, it provided the KRG with US$1.5 billion in financing through forward oil sales payable in the next three to five years. Second, it took an 80 percent working interest in five potentially major oil blocks in the region. And third, it established 60 percent ownership of the vital KRG oil pipeline to Ceyhan in Turkey by dint of a commitment to invest US$1.8 billion to increase its capacity to one million barrels per day. Over and above specific oil and gas exploration and development opportunities, Russia saw an opportunity to leverage its new-found influence in Iraq Kurdistan into the rest of Iraq too. Already active in several oil fields in Iraq, it wanted to expand this presence, including into those with significant gas resources. Russia also wanted to support the already extensive influence in Iraq of one of its key allies in the region, Iran. The principal method it used as leverage was the oil-for-budget disbursements deal done between the KRG and FGI back in 2014. By ensconcing itself first in the heart of Iraq Kurdistan and then in the key role of negotiator in the oil-for-budget disbursements deal with the FGI, Russia could ensure that the KRG was under its effective control, and that the government in Baghdad would fall into line at some point, as also analysed in depth in my new book on the new global oil market order. At the end of 2020/beginning of 2021, China stepped into Iraq to support Russias efforts, as also analysed in my book, using the same strategy in Baghdad as Russia had used in 2017 with the KRG.

By that point, then, the 2014 oil-for-budget disbursements deal between the KRG and the FGI had ceased to function in any meaningful way. The situation was not helped by the lack of legal clarity over whether the KRG is entitled to sell its oil independently from SOMO and Baghdad. According to the KRG, it has authority under Articles 112 and 115 of the Iraq Constitution to manage oil and gas in the Kurdistan Region extracted from fields that were not in production in 2005  the year that the Constitution was adopted by referendum. The KRG also maintains that Article 115 states: All powers not stipulated in the exclusive powers of the federal government belong to the authorities of the regions and governorates that are not organised in a region. As such, the KRG argues that as relevant powers are not otherwise stipulated in the Constitution, it has the authority to sell and receive revenue from its oil and gas exports. However, the FGI in Baghdad and SOMO argue that under Article 111 of the Constitution oil and gas are under the ownership of all the people of Iraq in all the regions and governorates. Consequently, they believe that all oil and gas developed across all of Iraq should be sold through official channels of the central FGI in Baghdad.

The 25 March turning point for the halting of all independent oil exports from Iraq Kurdistan was the ruling by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) that Turkey is legally only allowed to purchase oil via SOMO. Consequently, Kurdish oil production dropped from around 450,000 bpd to around 20,000 bpd at most currently, according to SOMO data. The ICC also ruled that Turkey must pay the FGI around US$1.47 billion in compensation for having facilitated Iraqi Kurdish oil exports between 2014 and 2018 without the Iraqi federal governments permission. Although Turkey expected the compensation to be much higher, a senior European Union energy security source exclusively told OilPrice.com last week, it has nonetheless sent a list of conditions to the FGI in Baghdad that needed to be met before it would consider resuming oil imports from Iraq Kurdistan. It is a very long list, including a reduction in compensation, guaranteed discounts on oil purchases, withdrawal of a second lawsuit from Baghdad still pending at the ICC, and guaranteed payments for the maintenance of the Ceyhan pipeline, among others.

According to the E.U. source last week, Baghdad has no interest whatsoever in agreeing to any of Turkeys terms. It also has no interest in Iraq Kurdistan resuming its independent oil sales either. On the one hand, independent oil sales jeopardise the oil flows that are meant to be sent to Baghdad to sell, so there is no upside to that for the FGI, he said. On the other hand, Baghdad does not want the oil either, as if [Iraq] Kurdistan resumed full production it would put it [Iraq] over its OPEC+ quota, he added. As Baghdad does not see an independent Kurdistan in the future of Iraq, it sees the best solution as keeping the independent oil sales stopped and the Kurds financially paralysed, he concluded. This view finds further resonance in a statement late last week from Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Al-Sudani, that Baghdad has drafted a new oil and gas law that will unify regulations in the industry in all governorates, including the Kurdistan region.

By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com

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Via the Jamestown Foundation

In May 2018, the World Bank opened bidding to all eligible firms from any country on a $72.6 million submarine fiber-optic cable system that sought to enhance the Internet infrastructure of three Pacific island nations: the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Kiribati, and Nauru (World Bank, May 1, 2018). Companies like Japans NEC, Frances Alcatel Submarine Networks, and Chinas HMN Tech leapt into the procurement frenzy. HMN Tech, formerly known as Huawei Marine Networks, submitted a bid that was 20 percent lower than its competitors and seemed to be in a favorable position to win. But in February 2021, the World Bank canceled the bidding process altogether, invalidating all participants as non-compliant with the required conditions (Nikkei Asia, March 18, 2021). The procurement contest concluded without an award.

Subsequently, it was later revealed that the World Banks decision was largely influenced by US diplomatic pressure. In July 2020, a note from the US State Department warned officials in Micronesia that HMN Techs involvement in laying the cable posed a security risk of espionage by the Chinese government. In December 2021three years after the World Bank initiated the bidding processthe United States, Australia, and Japan announced that they would finance a cable along the same route. In June, manufacturing work on the 1,398 mile-long East Micronesia Cable System was officially underway (US Department of State, June 6). The story of the East Micronesia Cable System is just one example of the intensifying competition between Washington and Beijing to assert their influence over the 800,000-mile ecosystem of undersea cables.

These cables are crucial to the world economy and international communications: 99 percent of intercontinental data traffic, the SWIFT financial messaging network that transfers $5 trillion worldwide daily, diplomatic cables, and military orders traverse these cables (Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, accessed August 3). However, the preeminence of these underwater fiber-optic systems also makes them attractive targets for sabotage and espionage. The US Office of the Director of National Intelligence has labeled cyberattacks against cable landing stations a high risk to national security (Director of National Intelligence, September 28, 2017).

Increasingly, policymakers view cables as critical infrastructure that must be protected. But asking whether a particular cable is owned by China Telecom or supplied by HMN Tech is not enough to guarantee a cables security from foreign and domestic threats. Another important question is whether the legal regimes of countries provide sufficient protection for the subsea communication lines in their waters. This article will analyze the governance regimes of the US and China, evaluating whether their domestic legal frameworks adequately deter against deliberate damage, comply with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and stipulate flexible policies to facilitate rapid repair in the case of damage. On each metric, both Beijing and Washington fall somewhat short, albeit for different reasons.

The Punishment Does Not Fit the Crime

The legal frameworks governing submarine cables in the US and China each face a distinct set of challenges. In the case of the US, the legal regime is hampered by antiquated and inadequate domestic legislation to protect its submarine cables. Conversely, while the PRC has relatively modern national laws in place, the countrys governance suffers from insufficient enforcement mechanisms.

The most recent US legislation to protect against submarine cable sabotage dates to the Submarine Cable Act of 1888. Under 47 US Code Chapter 2, breaking a cable results in a maximum prison sentence of two years and a $5,000 fine (United States Code, accessed August 3). This penalty offers little deterrence against prospective cable saboteurs and cannot compensate for the cost of repairs, which average between $1 and $3 million (International Cable Protection Committee, accessed August 3).

On the other hand, China does not have a strong track record of enforcing its laws. Under the Regulations on the Protection of Submarine Cable Pipelines, Beijing imposes different financial penalties depending on the type of criminal act. If a cable operator intentionally damages submarine cables or fails to take effective measures to ensure their protection, he will be ordered to cease operations and be subjected to a maximum fine of 10,000 RMB ($1,385) (State Council, January 9, 2004). Cable operators who lay submarine cables and pipelines without proper authorization face the harshest penalty, incurring a fine of 200,000 RMB ($27,700) (State Council, August 26, 1992). Despite these relatively robust measures, Beijings more modern legal framework has not achieved much success due to a lax record of enforcement; between 2008-2015, China averaged 26 cable faults each year, the highest of any nation in the world (Submarine Cables Protection and Regulations, 2021).

Although China has taken steps to improve its enforcement mechanisms, their long-term impact remains to be seen. In 2020, the China Coast Guard launched a special operation called Deep Sea Defender 2020 in which it investigated potential threats to cables like sand mining, drilling, anchoring, and bottom trawling. In September 2021, the agency announced the seizure of a ship suspected of breaking a military communication cable (China Coast Guard, November 15, 2021).

Examples of strong laws and robust enforcement exist elsewhere in the world, from which both Washington and Beijing can draw lessons. In New Zealand, willfully or negligently damaging a submarine cable results in a fine of up to 250,000 NZD ($152,530 (New Zealand Legislation, October 28, 2021). In Australia, the offense carries a maximum penalty of three years imprisonment and a fine of 40,000 AUD ($26,550) (Australian Federal Police, August 21, 2021). In August 2022, Singapore imposed three fines totaling 300,000 SGD ($220,000) on a private construction company for damaging multiple telecommunication cables while carrying out sheet piling works. [1]

Inconsistencies With UNCLOS

Both the US and China also have domestic regulations that are inconsistent with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the international agreement often described as the constitution of the oceans. China embraces an excessively liberal interpretation of the rights of coastal states, while the US lacks national legislation making damage of a submarine cable a punishable offense. Both countries also require cable laying ships to obtain permits before initiating operations in their respective waters, which contravenes Article 58 of UNCLOS.

China subjects the delineation of cable routes to the consent of the coastal state, although UNCLOS does not allow this. Under Article 79(3), the delineation of the course for the laying of such pipelines on the continental shelf is subject to the consent of the coastal State, and no such requirement is mentioned for subsea cables (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, accessed August 3). This legal distinction reflects the disparate environmental impacts of a broken cable and a broken pipeline, the latter of which is far less ecologically benign. Under the Implemented measures for the Provisions Governing the Laying of Submarine Cables and Pipelines, foreign companies seeking to lay cables and survey cable routes on Chinas continental shelf must notify the nations State Oceanic Administration, and all routes must receive the express consent of Chinese authorities (Ministry of Natural Resources, August 26, 1992).

The US also has domestic laws that are inconsistent with UNCLOS provisions. While Washington has not ratified the international agreement, US administrations have consistently treated the international treaty and its provisions as customary international law (US Embassy and Consulate in Vietnam, July 21, 2020). Article 113 of UNCLOS mandates that all states must adopt laws that define the breaking of a submarine cable willfully or through culpable negligence as a punishable offense. As previously mentioned, the US has not updated criminal penalties for cable faults for over 130 yearssince the Submarine Cable Act of 1888.

Permits, Permits, Permits

Both countries impose strict permit requirements that run counter to UNCLOS. The licensing measures of both states highlight their prioritization of national security considerations, but these regulations do not come without cost. Article 79(2) of UNCLOS empowers states to adopt reasonable measures in exploring the continental shelf and the exploitation of its natural resources, although such measures should not impede the laying or maintenance of such cables or pipelines (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982). While states with licensing requirements might argue that they are necessary to ensure that foreign cable ships are not engaging in potentially harmful activities, the legal text of UNCLOS explicitly indicates that this remains outside the scope of their jurisdiction.

The US permitting process is particularly complex. Under the Cable Landing License Act of 1921, all submarine cable operators must acquire a license from the FCC (FCC, accessed August 3). For cables with significant foreign ownershipor cables that connect the US with foreign landing pointsapplications must undergo review by the Committee for the Assessment of Foreign Participation in the United States Telecommunications Services Sector, previously known as Team Telecom (Federal Register, April 8, 2020). Cables must also receive a federal permit from the Army Corps of Engineers to evaluate its potential impact on the environment and any endangered species. [2] This requirement is just at the federal level; it is often necessary to obtain state and local permits as well. Overall, the combined licensing processes can take up to two years. A 2016 report prepared by an FCC working group on enhancing submarine cable resiliency urged the US government to streamline its permitting requirements (FCC, June 2016). While many policymakers in Washington acknowledge the problem posed by such permitting standards, a workable solution that sufficiently balances legitimate national security considerations remains to be found.

In the case of China, cable-laying providers must first obtain a letter of nonobjection from the Chinese military before they can submit a formal application to land fiber-optic systems in Chinese-controlled territories or waters (Nikkei Asia, May 19). Should a foreign vessel successfully obtain a license and start carrying out any laying and repair activities, however, other burdensome requirements remain. Foreign ships must report their ship names, call signs, and numbers; current positions and previous locations; and satellite telephone numbers to maritime authorities (Baijiahao, August 29, 2021).

Chinese officials have also started requiring cable-laying permits in its exclusive economic zone, the waters that extend between 12 and 200 nautical miles from a states coastline. This infringes upon Article 58 of UNCLOS, which affirms the right of all States to navigation, overflight, and the laying of submarine cables and pipelines, and other internationally lawful uses of the sea related to these freedoms in the exclusive economic zone (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, accessed August 3). Moreover, Beijing reportedly has a lengthy approval process for cable projects within its nine-dash line, an expansive claim over much of the South China Sea that was rejected by an international tribunal at the Hague in 2016 (Nikkei Asia, May 19).

In addition, the PRC has stringent cabotage laws that strongly preference domestically flagged and domestically crewed vessels for submarine cable installation and repair. Under Article 70(6) of the Marine Environment Protection Law, foreign vessels must obtain prior approval to enter Chinas territorial sea to repair, adjust, or remove its subsea cable lines (National Peoples Congress, 1982). That said, foreign maintenance ships may act where urgent repairs are required for damaged cables laid on Chinas continental shelf, provided that such operations do not violate Chinas sovereign rights and jurisdiction (State Council, January 20, 1989).

Such bureaucratic requirements can significantly impede the maintenance of broken cables. Between 2005 and 2009, there were 19 cable faults caused by fishing vessels in Chinas EEZ in the East China Sea, and repairs were delayed by a couple of weeks due to Beijings requirements (Submarine Cables: The Handbook of Law and Policy, 2014). China is not likely to remove such requirements in the near future. The China Academy of Information and Communications Technologypart of the influential Ministry of Industry and Information Technologypublished a white paper in 2018 that recommended establishing a security review process for foreign enterprises which aim to partake in Chinas submarine cable construction environment (China Academy of Telecommunication Research of MIIT, August 2018).

Beijings cumbersome permitting processes have caused some multinational companies to rethink plans to lay subsea internet cables crossing the South China Sea. Examples include the Meta-backed Echo and Bifrost subsea cables, scheduled for completion in 2024. Meta aims to establish the first transpacific cables that chart a new route through the Java Sea (Meta, March 28, 2021). By the end of 2024, a consortium of companies including Meta, Google, and Japans NTT aim to complete Apricot, a 7,439-mile cable that passes through the waters of the Philippines and Indonesia. One executive involved in the cable projects noted that over the past two to three years, weve been struggling with the permit acquisition, particularly for the territorial waters claimed by China (Nikkei Asia, May 19). For many corporations, navigating Chinas regulatory environment has become a major challenge to implementing cable routes that traverse its claimed waters.

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Arguably, these permitting measures might be relevant to safeguarding national security interests, especially given the sensitivity of critical infrastructure like subsea cables. But such laws require difficult tradeoffs. Current regulations increase costs, slow installations, and can consequently delay repairs of much-needed Internet access. These policies contradict the recommendations of the International Cable Protection Committee, an international non-profit organization that promotes the protection of the worlds submarine cables. [3]

Conclusion

The US and China are not alone in the need to modernize their submarine cable regulatory provisions. The same is true for the UNCLOS framework, which still fails to address several critical issues. For example, deliberate attacks on cables lying outside territorial seas are unlikely to be crimes under international law. [4] Additionally, coastal states have no legal obligation to adopt laws protecting submarine cables in their territorial seas. [5]

If UNCLOS does not update its cable governance regulations to ensure adequate national security protections, states will take their own steps to do so, and the trend of a fragmented undersea cable landscape is likely to persist. This past March, the US House of Representatives passed the Undersea Cable Control Act, which would require the White House to develop a strategy to prevent foreign adversaries from acquiring American-made goods and technologies used in developing undersea cables, as well as establishing agreements with allies and partners to do the same (US Congress, accessed August 3).

The domestic regulations within the US and China are particularly significant given the importance of both countries to the international submarine cable market. State-owned China Telecom has a network of 33 submarine cables that connect 72 countries, and the US boasts 88 FCC-licensed systems of the 400 total submarine cables worldwide (China Telecom Americas, accessed June 29; Submarine Networks, accessed August 3). As policymakers in both capitals start to analyze, review, and update their respective legal regimes, the regulatory frameworks of subsea cables will remain a critical space to monitor.

By William Yuen Yee

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The premium for Brent Crude prices to Dubai crude has evaporated in recent weeks and has swung to a discount as Middle East oil availability has shrunk with OPEC+ and Saudi production cuts. This dramatic shift in the usual trading pattern could change global oil flows and prompt Brent-linked barrels to sell more easily on the Asian markets.

The spread between swaps for Londons Brent and Middle Easts Dubai crude has now turned into a discount of $1.60 a barrel on Monday, per data from brokerage PMV cited by Bloomberg. In early January this year, Brent traded at a premium of over $3 per barrel compared to Dubai crude.

Brent crude typically fetches higher premiums than Dubai crude due to the lower-sulfur content compared to the sour Middle Eastern grades.

The Saudi and OPEC+ cuts, however, have constrained the supply of Dubai-priced crude in recent weeks, prompting higher prices for the Middle Eastern benchmark, traders told Bloomberg.

Saudi oil giant Aramco, the worlds top oil exporter, has also raised in recent months the official selling prices (OSPs) for its crude going to Asia, further boosting the Dubai benchmark. Just this month, Saudi Arabia increased the prices to Asia after extending its unilateral production cut of 1 million barrels per day (bpd) into September.

The reduced supply from the worlds top crude exporter has sent the prices of sour crudes rallying in recent weeks. With a lower supply of Saudi and other Middle Eastern sour crudes, buyers are looking for alternatives in other parts of the world, driving up sour crude prices.

The latest shift in the typical Brent-Dubai price differential has resulted in one of the oil markets hottest trades this year. Open interest of traders on the spread hit a record high and jumped by 67% in July compared to the same month of 2022, per data cited by Bloomberg.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Norway's government has approved a project by energy major Equinor and its partners for the future operation of Snhvit and Hammerfest LNG, including electrification of the plant from 2030.

The government approval entails onshore compression from 2028 and electrification of the plant from 2030, Equinor said in a statement on Tuesday.

Compared to the operator's application, the Norwegian authorities have postponed the start of electrification by two years, from 2028 to 2030. The plant will continue to run on gas turbines during this period.

"The Snhvit owners are pleased that the government has now approved Snhvit Future, a project that will strengthen Norway's position as a reliable, long-term supplier of gas produced with very low greenhouse gas emissions," said Geir Tungesvik, Equinor's executive vice president for Projects, Drilling & Procurement.

"The project ensures long-term operation and export from Melkya towards 2050," Tungesvik added.

Electrification of Hammerfest LNG will replace gas turbines with electricity from the grid.

During normal production levels, the Hammerfest LNG project accounts for 5% of all Norwegian gas exports, equivalent to the energy demands of around 6.5 million European households, Equinor says.

Norway is now the single biggest provider of natural gas to Europe after Russia's Gazprom cut off most of its supply to the EU after the Russian invasion of Ukraine early last year.

Hammerfest LNG, however, has been plagued by incidents and operational issues in recent years.

Hammerfest LNG, which receives gas from the Snhvit field operated by Equinor, was offline for a year and a half after a fire at the facility in September 2020. The plant, Europe's only large-scale LNG export facility, resumed operations in March 2022.

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The plant was again taken offline in early May 2023 due to a compressor failure, and was offline until May 19. It was also shut down for a previous leak in March.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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New Zealand has partnered with BlackRock in a $1.2-billion fund that would be used to accelerate the countrys efforts to become a net-zero emitter.

Bloomberg reports that the money from the fund, when raised, would be used to finance local companies in their shift from hydrocarbons to solar, wind, green hydrogen, and battery storage.

For BlackRock, the fund is a means to draw private investment into New Zealands transition, which, according to the asset manager would cost some NZ$42 billion or $25.5 billion.

This is the largest single-country low-carbon transition investment initiative BlackRock has created to date, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink said in a LinkedIn post.

It will enable New Zealand companies to access greater pools of capital to build out climate infrastructure across the countrys energy system including in wind power, solar power, battery storage, electric vehicle charging, and natural capital projects.

The New Zealand minister of energy and resources, Megan Woods, said that the fund would seek investments from local state and private companies, including pension funds.

Woods also said, as quoted by Bloomberg, that This arrangement means we will get there faster, with opportunities for local investment in a low emissions economy. That will be a significant selling point for New Zealand businesses as consumers demand more sustainable products and services.

New Zealand already gets most of its energy from hydropower, which makes it a lot greener than, for instance, Germany. However, the goal is to be 100% low-carbon in terms of energy and the investment fund launched with BlackRock is expected to help achieve that.

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This is a first-of-its-kind fund in the country that demonstrates the huge economic potential of New Zealand being a climate leader, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said. This fund is a massive opportunity for New Zealand innovators to develop and grow companies.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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The Druzhba oil pipeline from Russia to Europe has returned to full functionality after a leak was detected during the weekend that needed repairs, Polands pipeline operator PERN said on Tuesday.

PERNs technical services restored full functionality of the damaged pipeline on Monday evening, the pipeline operator said in a statement carried by Reuters.

The company said on Sunday that it had halted a section of the Druzhba pipeline carrying oil from Russia to Europe after detecting a small leak that was being fixed. Back then, oil flows were expected to be restored by Tuesday.

The damaged section, where there is no indication of the leak being caused by a third party, was under repairs for two days until the damage was fixed.

Parts of the Druzhba pipeline have come under attack since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Earlier this year, a pumping station on the Druzhba oil pipeline was shelled in a western Russian region bordering Ukraine and Belarus, but the oil flows continued.

The Druzhba pipeline is a key artery of oil supply from Russia to Europe, with two branches  a northern one via Belarus to Belarus, Poland, Germany, Latvia, and Lithuania, and a southern one passing through Ukraine and sending oil to the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Croatia.

Flows through the Druzhba pipeline are exempted from the EU embargo on imports of Russian crude oil by sea that came into effect on December 5. The EU has exempted pipeline oil flows to landlocked EU member states from the ban.

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Nevertheless, Germany and Poland have said they would halt imports of Russian crude via the Druzhba pipeline as of January 1. Germany did it on the first day of this year, following through on a previous pledge to stop buying Russian pipeline crude despite the fact that the EU embargo exempts pipeline flows from Russia to Europe.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Saudi Arabias cabinet, or Council of Ministers, showed its support for what it considers to be precautionary measures taken by OPEC+ to stabilize the oil market, Saudi Arabi media said on Tuesday.

It said it would continue to boost OPEC+ precautionary efforts to support the stability of the oil markets, Kingdom officials said.

Saudi Arabia, the worlds largest oil exporter, said last week that it would extend its 1 million barrel per day production cut through the month of September, past its original deadline at the end of August. Saudi Arabia also suggested at the time that that could be extended even beyond September and could also be deepened should the market conditions warrant such a move. With the cut extension, Saudi Arabias oil production for September would be 9 million bpd if it adhered to its self-assigned quota.

But oil prices began to fall on Tuesday on weak China data, with Brent crude futures sinking by 0.76%. Saudi Arabias cabinet reaffirming that it supports OPEC+ precautionary efforts to stabilize the markets isnt quite as strong a commitment as its years-ago promise of whatever it takes, but the jawboning could at least arrest the price slide.

Saudi Arabia is carrying the bulk of the groups production cut promises, along with Russiathe latter which has run up against price caps and import bans as the West attempts to keep oil money from flowing to the nation that could perpetuate its war in Ukraine.

Because of its disproportionate production cutsmuch of which is voluntarySaudi Arabias support in holding back OPEC+ production is crucial to the groups oil-price-persuading power.

Brent crude was trading at $84.69 per barrel on Tuesday at 11:30 a.m., down $.65 on the day, and down from this time last week despite the production cut extension.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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The Sarpy County Sheriffs Office has earned accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.

The purpose of accreditation, which was announced by the office Monday, is to improve public service by maintaining and following comprehensive law enforcement standards set by seasoned law enforcement personnel, researchers, and accreditation experts, according to the press release.

There were policies that we changed. It wasn't that we were deficient or were doing something wrong, so to speak, Sheriff Jeff Davis told The Times. They set certain standards nationwide that we're required to meet, and so that requires you to review some policies. It caused us to combine some policies, separate some policies. Just changes like that, nothing that was drastic.

The accreditation process includes internal and external reviews of policies, procedures, ethics, recruitment, hiring, training, and discipline. The sheriffs office applied to CALEA in November 2020, and received accreditation this year  along with the Sarpy County Juvenile Justice Center  on July 29 at a hearing in Oklahoma City.

We had contemplated certification for some time, Davis said. It is labor intensive to an extent that one of the things you have to consider, the personnel that are dedicated to that. We're no different than anybody else. When you're short (staffed), it's a very difficult decision to make. But, at some point, we just decided we had to do it.

While the sheriff's office had been looking into accreditation through CALEA for a while, it was the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer that prompted local officials to go ahead and apply to the program.

There wasnt anything we were or werent doing training-wise or equipment-wise where we had to change anything," David said. "However, incidents like that throughout the country have caused other, whether it be city councils or state legislatures, to try and move in an area where many or most of their departments have some kind of certification."

Sarpy County Sheriff's Office leadership felt those requirements would likely come to Nebraska as well.

"We talked to our insurance company, NIRMA (Nebraska Intergovernmental Risk Management Association), they thought it was a great idea," Davis said of seeking accreditation from CALEA. " Our (county) commissioners, the same thing. They felt thats probably the wave of the future, we should be on board as quickly as we possibly can.

The Sarpy County Sheriffs Office is the eighth law enforcement agency in Nebraska to receive accreditation from CALEA.

The Papillion Police Department has held accreditation for years, and it's joined by the Omaha and Lincoln police as well as the Douglas County Sheriffs Office and Nebraska State Patrol. The University of NebraskaLincoln and Union Pacific police departments also are accredited.

Once accredited, law enforcement agencies have to get reaccredited every four years.

Everybody has policies and procedures, and you certainly hope your people follow them, but how do you know unless you routinely revisit those policies department wide, Davis said. It's one thing to have policy, and it's another thing to make sure people understand it, and they follow it.
A two-block stretch of 42nd Street through the Nebraska Medical Center campus will be closed for the rest of August after a water-main break Monday evening at 42nd and Harney Streets.

42nd Street has been shut down between Farnam Street and Dewey Avenue, said Taylor Wilson, a Nebraska Medicine spokesman.

That effectively blocks off access from the north to Clarkson Tower, which contains hospital wards and the Nebraska Medical Center's emergency room. Wilson said the hospital is still accessible from the south on 42nd Street.

Nebraska Medicine also closed the Clarkson Doctors Building South  a medical office building less than one block west of the leak site  until Monday, Wilson said. Patients are being contacted to reschedule appointments.

All other areas of the Nebraska Medical Center campus are open and operational, Wilson said in a statement.

Campus security and Omaha police blocked off the intersection of 42nd and Harney about 8:30 p.m. Monday after a 16-inch water main sprung a leak and began shooting a small geyser of water onto the road.

Metropolitan Utilities District workers shut off water to the site as well as to one customer, a nearby parking garage. Service was restored by 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, said Jessica Heidebrecht, an MUD spokeswoman.

The repairs have already been made, she said.

Its the second water-main break at the same intersection in less than a year. A broken pipe Oct. 22, 2022, shut down 42nd and Harney for about two weeks.

We are further evaluating this cast iron main as this break location is in the same area as a disruptive water main break last October, Heidebrecht said in a statement. Our team will conduct a thorough assessment of the pipe that was removed from the ground to help determine the root cause.

MUD and Omaha have been plagued by water-main problems this summer.

A break May 15 on West Center Road shut down westbound traffic between 105th and 108th Streets for nearly three months. Repairs were completed only last week.

Another break June 20 closed 42nd Street completely between Pacific and Leavenworth Streets just south of the University of Nebraska Medical Center for several weeks.

And last Thursday, a water-main break on North 72nd Street forced the rerouting of all southbound traffic for almost 24 hours. Traffic is still restricted to one lane in each direction and will remain so until Sept. 29, Omaha Public Works said Tuesday.

Heidebrecht said MUD is monitoring pressure in its water lines and using other new technologies to detect problems before they happen, and catch them when they do. Many of the citys water mains have been in the ground for decades.

We aim to limit the likelihood of future breaks in major corridors, she said.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of August 2023
COUNCIL BLUFFS  One of the largest data centers in the world is getting larger.

Google announced Tuesday that it is investing an additional $350 million this year to expand its Council Bluffs data center.

The money is on top of the $5 billion Google has already invested in the area since it broke ground about two decades ago, according to Allie Hopkins, Googles head of data centers for Iowa and Nebraska.

The expansion will support artificial intelligence innovation, increased use of cloud storage, and the everyday services that people use online, she said.

Weve got to build out that infrastructure to continue to support that, Hopkins said.

The expansion absolutely will mean more jobs, though she didnt provide a figure.

More buildings, she said. More support needed across all fronts ... not just the technicians and facility technicians but all the support services that we need to keep these buildings running.

The center, she said, is like a warehouse of computers that houses all of the services people are used to using with Google, plus all of their information.

We maintain all the machine capacity that it takes to keep those services running, she said.

She said the $350 million is definitely an investment for what we know is coming as customer demands grow and the company innovates.

Gmail, photos, maps, YouTube, all of that continues to grow, and so the expansions really are to satisfy that customer demand as well as our own internal innovation to help us be even more efficient with what were producing, she said.

The announcement was made at a press conference inside the Council Bluffs center, located at 10410 Bunge Ave., which Hopkins said is one of the largest in the world.

Thats something we love to say, she said.

Google also announced Tuesday a $250,000 grant to the Advance Southwest Iowa Corp. to support the creation of a co-working entrepreneurial hub in Council Bluffs. The collaborative space will help local entrepreneurs overcome the challenges to starting and running a successful business by providing a variety of services and resources, it said.

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and Iowa Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg spoke at the press conference.

Ernst said Googles high-tech investments are a tremendous opportunity for Iowa and Nebraska.

With this expansion, not only are they making the physical, capital investment here in Pottawattamie County, but affecting the livelihoods of so many people that will choose to call southwest Iowa and southeast Nebraska their home, Ernst said.

In a press release on the event, Google indicated an announcement regarding Nebraska would be coming soon after this one. Asked for details at the press conference, Hopkins declined.

Not at this time. That announcements going to be in Nebraska.

According to Dgtl Infra, the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro area is currently home to at least 20 data centers from a dozen different providers.

Overall, global internet usage has grown 20-fold since 2010. And lifestyle changes since the pandemic, with the rise of working from home and more online shopping, have only helped to further drive the demand for data centers. The rise of artificial intelligence has become another recent driver.

Data centers gobble up incredible amounts of power  for big ones, as much as a small city. And Omahas data center growth is leading whats believed to be the largest spike in demand for electricity in the Omaha Public Power Districts 77-year history.

To meet that growth, Omahas public customer-owned electric utility is now looking to spend some $2 billion to nearly double its generating capacity over the next decade.

Asked if local electric utilities can supply the expanded centers needs and the demand of other centers in Nebraska, Hopkins said Google has a tight relationship with utilities.

Were not going to expand beyond their ability to serve us, to support us, as far as power goes. The same thing with water, she said.

She said there are lots of conversations years before Google would consider an expansion.

In addition, Google has scientists and researchers who work on ways to keep the data centers cool and keep the infrastructure running efficiently.

The Google data centers are the most efficient you can find. Were very proud to say that, she said.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of August 2023
Not only did the Sarpy County Sheriffs Office recently receive a seal approval from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, but the honor came with the unusual caveat of including the juvenile justice center in the evaluation.

We didnt have to change a lot of policies, but we did implement mechanisms to make sure those policies are followed in our daily work, Sheriff Jeff Davis said Sunday. And to have the (Pat Thomas) Juvenile Justice Center also be accredited at the same time is wonderful. I dont know of another juvenile center in the nation that has done that.

The Sheriffs Office approval for accreditation was announced by CALEA at its summer conference last month. Lt. Dan Golda, Sgt. Bruce Meyer and Deputy Kelli Waller led the 2-year process, Davis said.

The process is very labor intensive with policies and procedures of each agency put under stringent review starting with a self-assessment period, Davis said. It was even more so for Sarpy County because its juvenile center was included in the process.

We are very proud of our juvenile center and wanted to make sure that it was thoroughly vetted, Davis said. Hundreds of kids are helped by the programs there, including two alternative schools.

Only 10% of all law enforcement agencies nationally are certified by CALEA. The commissions accreditation program, often termed the gold standard for law enforcement practices, was created in 1979 by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, National Sheriffs Association and the Police Executive Research Forum.

According to CALEA, public comment sessions, interviews with various individuals associated with the respective agency, process and outcomes-mapping, and community feedback factor into its ratings. The assessment model works to ensure agency policies have been implemented that complement CALEA standards and that the agency is complying with the requirements associated with the accreditation process.

The other Nebraska law enforcement agencies with CALEA accreditation are the Omaha and Lincoln Police Departments, Papillion Police Department, Douglas County Sheriffs Office, Nebraska State Patrol, Union Pacific Police Department and University of Nebraska-Lincoln Police Department. The Alliance Police Department has begun applying for accreditation.

The University of Nebraska at Omaha also has campus security accredited, and Douglas County and Union Pacific both are accredited for communications, according to CALEA.

The national accreditation for Sarpy County comes on top of the new law enforcement training standards passed by the Nebraska Legislature in 2021. That law, which was introduced by then-Sen. Steve Lathrop after the tragic death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, increased the hours of annual continuing education required of all officers to 32 hours starting this year. The bill also required a psychological evaluation of any applicant who has not worked previously in law enforcement to determine fitness for duty.

Lathrop applauded Sarpy County for stepping up to earn national accreditation.

The fact that they have gone through this process of accreditation, I think, demonstrates a commitment for a high level of professionalism, Lathrop said. In our bill, we looked at requiring accreditation (for state law enforcement agencies) but realized that it was too costly and too time consuming for many of the smaller departments.

Incidents such as the death of George Floyd did add impetus to the decision to seek national accreditation, Davis said.

Im sure everyone in law enforcement stopped and looked at How we are doing after (Floyds death), said Davis, who was first elected in 2005. We want to know if theres something we can do that we werent doing or do something better.

The public, Davis said, needs to understand there are about 800,000 law enforcement contacts with citizens each day. Its important to remember, he said, that egregious incidents such as Floyds death are a small portion of those contacts.

That being said, just one of those incidents is too many, Davis said.

We need to know how these things happen and ask ourselves if we have done everything that we can to make (law enforcement contacts) better for everyone in the future, he said.

The CALEA accreditation programs provide public safety agencies with an opportunity to voluntarily meet an established set of professional standards, which include: Comprehensive and uniform written directives that clearly define authority, performance, and responsibilities; reports and analyses to make fact-based and informed management decisions; preparedness to address natural or man-made critical incidents; community relationship-building and maintenance; and independent review by subject matter experts.

Each year, we will have to go through a process of resubmitting additional information, Davis said. Its as much or more difficult to retain accreditation as to reach that level in the first place.
Spend enough time with ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence chatbots and it doesn't take long for them to spout falsehoods.

Described as hallucination, confabulation or just plain making things up, it's now a problem for every business, organization and high school student trying to get a generative AI system to compose documents and get work done.

Some are using it on tasks with the potential for high-stakes consequences, from psychotherapy to researching and writing legal briefs.

"I don't think that there's any model today that doesn't suffer from some hallucination," said Daniela Amodei, co-founder and president of Anthropic, maker of the chatbot Claude 2.

"They're really just sort of designed to predict the next word," Amodei said. "And so there will be some rate at which the model does that inaccurately."

Anthropic, ChatGPT-maker OpenAI and other major developers of AI systems known as large language models say they're working to make them more truthful.

How long that will take  and whether they will ever be good enough to, say, safely dole out medical advice  remains to be seen.

"This isn't fixable," said Emily Bender, a linguistics professor and director of the University of Washington's Computational Linguistics Laboratory. "It's inherent in the mismatch between the technology and the proposed use cases."

A lot is riding on the reliability of generative AI technology. The McKinsey Global Institute projects it will add the equivalent of $2.6 trillion to $4.4 trillion to the global economy. Chatbots are only one part of that frenzy, which also includes technology that can generate new images, video, music and computer code. Nearly all of the tools include some language component.

Google is already pitching a news-writing AI product to news organizations, for which accuracy is paramount. The Associated Press is also exploring use of the technology as part of a partnership with OpenAI, which is paying to use part of AP's text archive to improve its AI systems.

In partnership with India's hotel management institutes, computer scientist Ganesh Bagler has been working for years to get AI systems, including a ChatGPT precursor, to invent recipes for South Asian cuisines, such as novel versions of rice-based biryani. A single "hallucinated" ingredient could be the difference between a tasty and inedible meal.

When Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, visited India in June, the professor at the Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi had some pointed questions.

"I guess hallucinations in ChatGPT are still acceptable, but when a recipe comes out hallucinating, it becomes a serious problem," Bagler said, standing up in a crowded campus auditorium to address Altman on the New Delhi stop of the U.S. tech executive's world tour.

"What's your take on it?" Bagler eventually asked.

Altman expressed optimism, if not an outright commitment.

"I think we will get the hallucination problem to a much, much better place," Altman said. "I think it will take us a year and a half, two years. Something like that. But at that point we won't still talk about these. There's a balance between creativity and perfect accuracy, and the model will need to learn when you want one or the other."

But for some experts who have studied the technology, such as University of Washington linguist Bender, those improvements won't be enough.

Bender describes a language model as a system for "modeling the likelihood of different strings of word forms," given some written data it's been trained upon.

It's how spell checkers are able to detect when you've typed the wrong word. It also helps power automatic translation and transcription services, "smoothing the output to look more like typical text in the target language," Bender said. Many people rely on a version of this technology whenever they use the "autocomplete" feature when composing text messages or emails.

The latest crop of chatbots such as ChatGPT, Claude 2 or Google's Bard try to take that to the next level, by generating entire new passages of text, but Bender said they're still just repeatedly selecting the most plausible next word in a string.

When used to generate text, language models "are designed to make things up. That's all they do," Bender said. They are good at mimicking forms of writing, such as legal contracts, television scripts or sonnets.

"But since they only ever make things up, when the text they have extruded happens to be interpretable as something we deem correct, that is by chance," Bender said. "Even if they can be tuned to be right more of the time, they will still have failure modes  and likely the failures will be in the cases where it's harder for a person reading the text to notice, because they are more obscure."

Those errors are not a huge problem for the marketing firms that have been turning to Jasper AI for help writing pitches, said the company's president, Shane Orlick.

"Hallucinations are actually an added bonus," Orlick said. "We have customers all the time that tell us how it came up with ideas  how Jasper created takes on stories or angles that they would have never thought of themselves."

Here's why 61% of Americans think AI could spell the end of humanity Here's why 61% of Americans think AI could spell the end of humanity
VINTON, Iowa (AP)  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is increasingly urging Republicans to avoid the temptation to refight the 2020 election next year, even as former President Donald Trump remains the dominant favorite for the 2024 GOP nomination on a message of vindicating his defeat.

Though DeSantis recently cast doubt on the false theories about the 2020 election at the heart of Trump's federal indictment, DeSantis is saying in early-voting states that any focus except on defeating Democratic President Joe Biden would be dire for his party.

If that is the choice, we are going to win and we are going to win across the country," DeSantis told reporters Saturday after a campaign stop in northern Iowa. If the election is a referendum on other things that are not forward-looking, then Im afraid Republicans will lose.

DeSantis was on the second of a two-day trip across Iowa, pressing his recent record in Florida of conservative education, abortion and gender policy, and an equally GOP crowd-pleasing agenda for the nation.

He ignited applause at a Saturday morning event in Cedar Falls promoting a balanced budget amendment, term limits for Congress and promising his audience of about 100 that he would declare a national emergency and dispatch the military to the U.S.-Mexico border upon taking office.

His labor to spur the party forward stood in sharp contrast to the Trump campaign's release of an on-line ad attacking Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith, who led the investigation that culminated in an indictment charging Trump with four felony counts related to his effort to reverse his 2020 election loss. The charges include conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding.

Likewise, he boasted at an Alabama Republican Party fundraising dinner Friday that the indictment was a political asset. Any time they file an indictment, we go way up in the polls, Trump told his audience in Montgomery, Alabama. One more indictment, and this election is closed out. Nobody has even a chance.

On Saturday night in South Carolina, Trump kept up his false characterizations of the 2020 election while also maintaining the pressure on DeSantis, a distant runnerup that he said has gotten so low in the polls we dont watch him anymore.

Of the new federal charges against him, Trump continued to argue that his political enemies were bringing the charges in an effort to keep him from returning to power.

Only a party that cheats at elections would make it illegal to question those elections," Trump told more than 1,000 attendees at the state Republican Party's 56th annual Silver Elephant Gala. "They dont go after the people that rigged the election  they go after the people that want to find out what the hell happened.

Still, DeSantis has gone marginally further in recent days in discussing Trump's defeat, though more typically when talking to the media after campaign events than during events with voters, many of whom remain sympathetic to Trump.

During Saturday morning campaign events, he blasted weaponization of federal agencies, a term that resonates with Republicans sympathetic to the belief that the Justice Department has persecuted Trump.

But after a stop to meet voters at a small-town restaurant, DeSantis sidestepped when asked if he would have certified the 2020 Electoral College vote as former Vice President Mike Pence did the day the pro-Trump rioters attacked and breached the Capitol.

DeSantis responded that Vice President Kamala Harris does not have the power to overturn the 2024 results, which Congress made explicit by passing an act after the 2020 election that says a vice president has no role in validating a presidential election results beyond acting as a figurehead who oversees the counting process.

In January 2025, "the electoral votes will be submitted and Kamala Harris will certify. Shes not going to have the opportunity to overrule what the American people say, he said in a brief press conference. I dont think that Kamala Harris has that authority.

On Friday, DeSantis, who has often pivoted away from questions about whether the 2020 election was legitimate, went a little further when asked about it, suggesting Trump's false claim that he actually beat Biden was unsubstantiated.

But DeSantis minced no words to his audience packed into a meeting room at a Pizza Ranch restaurant in Grinnell.

The time for excuses for Republicans is over, he said firmly. It's time to get the job done."

Associated Press writer Meg Kinnard in Columbia, South Carolina contributed to this report.
Peggy had watched this exact same scenario play out in nature: Hawk sets its sights on its prey, swoops in to attack, drops it on a barbed-wire fence, then goes back to claim its prize. But she never imagined shed play the role of fence.
NORMAL  State police are investigating a shots fired incident reported in west Normal late Monday.

About 11 p.m., Illinois State Police troopers were called to the area of Rivian Motorway and West College Avenue for reported gunfire, according to a statement issued by state police Tuesday.

In their preliminary investigation, they found a vehicle that was traveling south on Rivian Motorway had been shot multiple times by a suspect in a different vehicle.

No injuries were reported and no arrests have been made.

The incident remains under investigation by state police. Anyone with information related to the shooting is asked to contact Illinois State Police at ISP.CrimeTips@Illinois.gov. Anonymous tips will be accepted, police said.

This is the third shooting reported in Bloomington-Normal on Sunday and Monday.

Two people were hurt in gunfire in the 200 block of Lindell Drive in Normal early Sunday and one person was hurt in gunfire in the 500 block of West Grove Street in Bloomington early Monday.

A property damage shots fired incident was reported Sunday afternoon on Lindell Drive.

The US surpasses 160 mass shootings in 2023. Here's every event mapped The US surpasses 100 mass shootings in 2023here's every event mapped Mass shootings have happened in gun-friendly statesand some stricter ones Mass shootings take place in nearly every type of public and private space Mass shootings have happened in gun-friendly statesand some stricter ones Mass shootings take place in nearly every type of public and private space Mass shootings have happened in gun-friendly statesand some stricter ones Mass shootings take place in nearly every type of public and private space Mass shootings have happened in gun-friendly statesand some stricter ones Mass shootings take place in nearly every type of public and private space
FARMER CITY  The Salt Creek Resource Center Food Pantry received a $7,000 grant from the Bayer Fund, a philanthropic arm of Bayer in the United States.

The grant will be used to purchase new food-grade shelving for the storage of more than 46,000 pounds of food for DeWitt County and Blue Ridge School District.

In 2022, the Bayer Fund also awarded the Farmer City food pantry a grant for stainless steel tables for handling food, along with a new upright freezer for additional food storage.

The goal of the pantry and the fund is to help the communities they serve to flourish.

The Bayer Fund awarded more than $13.4 million to over 2,700 organizations in 2022 to help address essential needs in Food and Nutrition, STEM Education and Health & Wellness. Nonprofit organizations across the U.S. have received nearly $90 million.

Visit fund.bayer.us for more information.

Photos: Stretch of I-74 named for fallen state trooper Ryan Albin 090518-blm-loc-8albin 090518-blm-loc-1albin 090518-blm-loc-2albin 090518-blm-loc-4albin 090518-blm-loc-5albin 090518-blm-loc-3albin 090518-blm-loc-7albin 090518-blm-loc-6albin 090518-blm-loc-9albin
BLOOMINGTON  The McLean County Republican Party has announced plans for several upcoming events.

The party's Summer Picnic will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13, at the Hesed House, 3637 N. 1600 East Road, Heyworth.

U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood and other officials will be in attendance. Meals are $18 per adult, $10 per child, and available by pre-paid reservation only.

The party will also host a speaker event with former Illinois state representative Jeanne Ives at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22, at the DenMik South Assembly Room, 1304 Morrisey Drive, Bloomington.

Light refreshments will be provided. Seats are limited and reservations are due by Thursday, Aug. 16.

Reservations for both the picnic and Ives event can be made at mcleancountyrepublicans.org.

Additionally, party members are invited to attend Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair. The event starts at noon Thursday, Aug. 17, on the Director's Lawn at the state fairgrounds in Springfield. Gates open at 11:30 a.m. Food will be served.

Tickets can be requested at Illinois.gop/statefairtickets-public.
BLOOMINGTON  Around 50 Purple Heart recipients were recognized by members of the American Legion Post 635 honor guard during a special ceremony outside of the McLean County Museum of History on Monday.

The event was in recognition of Purple Heart Day, which was first observed nationally in 2014 to remember the bravery of military servicemembers killed or injured. Approximately 1.8 million veterans have been awarded the Purple Heart throughout history.

Jerry Vogler, superintendent of McLean County Veterans Assistance Commission, said the Purple Heart is a symbol of having someone's back.

"Nobody went into the military with the idea that they're going to get wounded or killed," Vogler said. "They went in there to serve their country, to serve their fellow man (and) serve their current service members that they served with."

The Purple Heart, or Badge of Merit as it was known at the time, was first awarded in 1782 for actions of heroism or merit, similar to the Bronze Star or Silver Star that are awarded to soldiers today.

But after the signing of the Constitution in 1787, Vogler said the award became a "lost issue" for the next 150 years.

Although new medals and honors were created to recognize military service, it wasn't until 1932 that the Badge of Merit was revived as the Purple Heart. This time the medal was meant to recognize those killed or injured in combat in addition to commendable actions.

In 1944, the Purple Heart's purpose was modified specifically to honor soldiers wounded or killed in action.

After a brief prayer and the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance, members of the honor guard read the names of about 50 Purple Heart recipients, some of whom were provided by attendees.

David Brown of the American Legion Post 635 said he was honored to recognize the valor of his twin brother, Daniel Brown, who received five Purple Hearts while serving in the Army in Vietnam.

He added that his brother's injuries were what prompted him to leave active duty.

"Between my mother and wife, I decided not to chance it," Brown said.

However, Brown said his brother's proudest achievement was that no one soldier in his command returned home in a body bag.

Vogler said the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, a New York-based museum, is trying to collect and preserve the names and stories of all Purple Heart recipients.

"They would like to have people who have families or are Purple Heart award winners themselves to contact the National Hall of Honor for the Purple Heart and tell their stories," Vogler said.

For more information on the Hall of Honor, visit thepurpleheart.com.

Watch now: American Legion Legacy Run comes through Bloomington Watch Now: American Legion Legacy Run bikers ride through Bloomington 082522-blm-loc-1motorcycle.jpg 082522-blm-loc-2motorcycle.jpg 082522-blm-loc-3motorcycle.jpg 082522-blm-loc-4motorcycle.jpg 082522-blm-loc-5motorcycle.jpg 082522-blm-loc-6motorcycle.jpg 082522-blm-loc-7motorcycle.jpg 082522-blm-loc-8motorcycle.JPG 082522-blm-loc-9motorcycle.JPG
BLOOMINGTON  Authorities on Tuesday released the name of a U.S. Postal Service worker killed in a two-vehicle crash Monday, about a month prior to what would have been his three-year work anniversary.

McLean County Coroner Kathy Yoder identified 36-year-old Ronald W. Bethard Jr., of Pontiac, as the man who died that morning in a collision at Ashley Drive and Beich Road in southwest Bloomington. Bloomington police said he was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to a joint statement from the coroner's office and the Bloomington Police Department, preliminary autopsy results indicate Bethard suffered multiple blunt injuries when his postal service vehicle was struck by a sport utility vehicle. Bethard was the driver and sole occupant of the postal service vehicle. Toxicology results are pending.

The driver of the SUV was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, Bloomington police told The Pantagraph.

Bryce Janssen, spokesman for the Bloomington Police Department, said Bethard was working at the time of the crash.

Tim Norman, strategic communications manager for USPS, said Tuesday they are deeply saddened to learn of the death of one of their employees and co-workers.

He said Bethard was a rural carrier in Bloomington, and as of September, he would had been employed for the postal service for three years.

"Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to his family and friends, including the many people he worked with at the Postal Service," Norman said.

He said assistance services are being offered to his family and co-workers.

BPD Chief Jamal Simington also expressed condolences to Bethard's family, friends and colleagues. He described the crash as a tragedy and a reminder of dangers of the road.

"Eliminating distractions and following the rules of the road are imperative to improving safety in our community," the police chief said.

The circumstances of the crash remain under investigation by the coroner's office, police department and the McLean County Accident Reconstruction Team.

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In the world of banking, the mention of art might seem out of place. Yet, Absa Bank is defying this notion, thanks to its more than three decades of association with the esteemed L'Atelier pan-African Art competition.



For 37 years, the Absa L'Atelier has been one of Africa's most prestigious art competitions, captivating artists and enthusiasts alike. What sets this competition apart is Absa Group's transformative decision to extend it to some of its markets across the continent. Since Ghana's inclusion in 2015, three Ghanaian artists  Henry Obeng, Michael Jackson Blebo, and Gandor Collins  have been crowned winners.



This bold move by Absa demonstrates its unwavering commitment to its clients and customers.

"What matters to our customers is of utmost importance to us. The L'Atelier art competition clearly shows our dedication to meeting the needs of our customers in every possible way. Art is a common platform for bringing people together in Africa and Ghana. By associating with this art platform, we bring our customers closer and foster stronger connections," affirms Nana Essilfuah Tamakloe, Director of Marketing and Corporate Relations at Absa Bank Ghana.



As part of the 2021 prize package, The Absa Gallery introduced country tours, allowing some winners to exhibit in their home countries. Ghana had the privilege of hosting the roadshow exhibitions in 2023, with Michael Jackson Blebo, the 2021 winner, leading a group of artists, Adelheid Frackiewicz and Ayobolo Kekere-Ekun, from South Africa and Nigeria respectively.



At the Institute Museum of Ghana, Noldor Residency in Accra, the exhibition titled "Refuge: An uncommon home" provided a captivating experience for art enthusiasts. Michael Jackson Blebo expressed his excitement, saying, "The L'Atelier competition gave me the platform to showcase my talent to diverse audiences across the continent. It was an exciting period in my career journey, and I hope to leverage that success to take my career to new heights."



The exhibition delved into themes that spoke to the artists' self-reflective journey through art, confronting personal trauma, and anxieties about the past and future. Using a blend of objects and traditional materials, they delicately navigated the creation of these artworks, discovering solace and tranquillity within their own personal spaces.



Visitors to the Noldor residency in Accra spoke of a reimagined experience of the home as a place of refuge, extending beyond the physical realm. Theodore Albright, an art enthusiast and legal professional, marvelled at the "visceral experience of pure traditional African art on display. You felt you were in a different place; total serenity and clarity."



Absa Bank's commitment to art and culture through the L'Atelier competition not only elevates the profile of African artists but also strengthens the bank's connection with its clients and communities. It is a testament to how finance and art can beautifully intersect, shaping a more vibrant and culturally enriched Africa.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The US Secretary of State warned that "every single place that this Wagner group has gone, death, destruction and exploitation have followed"



Russia's Wagner mercenary group is "taking advantage" of instability in Niger, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has told the BBC.



The country has been ruled by a junta following the ousting of President Mohamed Bazoum nearly two weeks ago.

There have been suggestions the coup leaders have asked for help from Wagner, which is known to be present in neighbouring Mali.



Mr Blinken said he did not think Russia or Wagner instigated Niger's coup.



However the US was worried about the group "possibly manifesting itself" in parts of the Sahel region, he told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme



"I think what happened, and what continues to happen in Niger was not instigated by Russia or by Wagner, but... they tried to take advantage of it.



"Every single place that this Wagner group has gone, death, destruction and exploitation have followed," said Mr Blinken.



"Insecurity has gone up, not down".



He added that there was a "repeat of what's happened in other countries, where they brought nothing but bad things in their wake".



Both the US and France operate military bases in Niger as part of operations to disrupt jihadist groups operating in the wider region. Niger became the main base for French troops after they were told to leave Mali following a coup there.



Wagner is believed to have thousands of fighters in countries including the Central African Republic (CAR) and Mali, where it has lucrative business interests but also bolsters Russia's diplomatic and economic relations.



The group's fighters have been accused of widespread human rights abuses in several African countries.



Despite this, there has been speculation Niger's army has asked Wagner for assistance as the country faces the possibility of military intervention.



On Monday, US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland held what she described as "difficult and frank" talks with the coup leaders, whom she said understood the risks of working with the mercenaries.



Mr Bazoum, who is currently being detained, has also spoken of his concerns about Wagner's influence in Africa.

"With an open invitation from the coup plotters and their regional allies, the entire central Sahel region could fall to Russian influence via the Wagner Group, whose brutal terrorism has been on full display in Ukraine," he wrote in an opinion piece for the Washington Post published last week.



It is currently unclear if Wagner fighters have entered the country but the prominent Wagner-affiliated Telegram channel Grey Zone said on Monday that some 1,500 of its fighters had recently been sent to Africa.



It did not specify where on the continent they had allegedly been deployed.



Wagner's leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin has urged the junta to "give us a call" in a voice message uploaded to Telegram on Tuesday.



"We are always on the side of the good, on the side of justice, and on the side of those who fight for their sovereignty and for the rights of their people," he said.



Niger is a former French colony and the coup has led to a wave of anti-France and pro-Russian sentiment in the country - similar to that experienced by neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso, which have both pivoted towards Moscow since their own coups.



The two countries, which are both suspended from West African regional bloc Ecowas, sent a delegation to Niamey to reassure the coup leaders they will come to their defence against the other West African nations and their Western allies if needed.



"I would like to remind you that Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have been dealing for over 10 years with the negative... consequences of Nato's hazardous adventure in Libya," Mali government spokesperson Abdoulaye Maiga said during the visit.



"One thing is certain, [Mali's] President Goita and [Burkina Faso's] President Traore have clearly said no, no and no. We will not accept military intervention in Niger. They are coming for our survival."



Meanwhile Niger's junta has refused to receive a delegation of representatives from West African regional bloc Ecowas, the African Union and UN, which was due to arrive in the capital Niamey on Tuesday.



In a letter seen by AFP on Tuesday, the coup leaders said the group's security could not be guaranteed because of "public anger and revolt" over sanctions imposed by Ecowas.



Ecowas had given Niger's coup leaders until Sunday to stand down and restore Mr Bazoum to the presidency and are now due to meet on Thursday to decide what to do next.



Niger's junta has appointed the country's former finance minister, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, as the country's new prime minister following the coup.



Mr Zeine replaces Mahamadou Ouhoumoudou, who was in Europe during the coup.

Source: BBC









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Some say that the 10,000km trip from Accra to London further strengthened perhaps, an already strong bond between this father and son, but the simple thought of how they accomplished this feat together warms hearts.



It is the story of Franklin Peters, and his son, Quincy, who were among the team of Ghanaians that made the historic journey to London.



While there is little on who Franklin and his son are, GhanaWeb has been able to gather, from posts made by people on social media, that Franklin is the Chief Executive Officer of InkIt Ghana Limited, a prominent signage and digital printing company based in New Town, Accra.



According to multiple posts, Franklin Peters son, Quincy decided to join his father on this memorable trip because the initial plan was that the InkIt Ghana CEO was going to drive alone.



Not wanting his father to go solo on that trip, Quincy decided to tag along.



On arrival in London, the two could not hide their excitement, even as Franklin posted on Facebook, Finally arrived in UK by road from Accra.



The duo made the journey in a Lexus RS35, the least aggressive car in the fleet of cars that were used on the trip.



The cars used to travel from Accra to London:



In total, 13 gentlemen and one female took 5 vehicles and set off.



Confirmed participants were Kwabena Peprah, Saka, Fred Papa Kwofie, Richard, Kwame Peprah, Kofi Peprah, Kwadwo Prakah-Asante, Franklin Peters and his son Quincy, Joseph, Cyprian Ed, Kwabena Ayirebi and his brother Kojo and the only female in the pack, Serwa the Shecanic.



According to them, they sought for vehicle sponsors by contacting auto marketing companies who they hoped would provide vehicles and get promotions in return. In doing this, they approached every major car dealer in Ghana including Kantanka which produces Made in Ghana vehicles but were ignored.



In the end, they decided to use their own vehicles; 2 Land Cruisers, a Raptor, a Defender, a G63 and an RX350.



In a recent post, one participant of the trip; Wanderlust Ghana while showing pictures of the vehicles used, sought to suggest that deliberations are being made about whether or not the vehicles should be auctioned in London or be shipped to Ghana for auctioning later.







Source: ghanaweb.com









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The Presidential Advisor on Health, Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare has said that President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has a keen interest in the need for the legislation of organ donation in Ghana.



According to him, president Akuffo-Addo is ever ready to append his signature to the legislation when it gets to his office.



He disclosed that the Ghana Kidney Association (GKA) and then the Ghana Ophthalmologic Association (GOA) of Ghana are working assiduously to ensure that the legislation of organ donation comes to fruition.



In an interview with GhanaWeb TV on The Lowdown, on August 7, 2023, Dr. Nsiah-Asare said that he has briefed President Akufo-Addo comprehensively on the legislation of organ donation in Ghana and he is optimistic it will be passed into law before the president leaves office.



We advise the president [Akufo-Addo] and he's very interested in improving the health systems in this country he showed it during the COVID, day and night.



"He was chairing the National COVID Tax Force, asking the relevant questions. He gave 29 addresses, the fellow Ghanaian's addresses. You can see that anytime he's speaking, he speaks with passion.



People were thinking he has now become a professor of epidemiology because he listens and he looks at the welfare of Ghanaians and anything which will improve the health system because health is wealth. But we have to go through a system before we get this thing done. We are speaking behind closed doors, people who matter.



"We know already that they have something in front of them and they are looking at the ministry. But once in a while, I call to ask the legal person, where have you reached? And we are all keen.



Apparently, both the Ghana Kidney Association and then the Ghana Ophthalmologic Association of Ghana have also all charged me personally, of course, when they have any meetings, they intentionally know you have the yes of the president now. And because of that, it's very dear to my heart both the kidney and the cornea, he said.



Dr. Nsiah-Asare further intimated that education on organ donation in Ghana should not be limited to only health professionals but all individuals.



The education should not be only for the health professional. Should be for everybody, the entire population. They are going to be the donors. And especially, as you rightly said, the spiritual aspect of it is very important.



"So we let the spiritualists and the other people understand that if somebody dies yes. And he has a very good organ to donate, and he takes it and is buried or he's cremated, you just burn it off, which he can use to save people, he said.















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The Youth Employment Agency (YEA) will, on Monday 14th August 2023, launch one of its modules named Youth in Garment and Textiles Module at the Prempeh Assembly Hall in Kumasi.



The Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Madam Frema Osei Opare will be the Guest Speaker for the event.



This arrangement follows conclusion of extensive discussions and inspection of facilities of the players in the garments and apparel industry that are collaborating with the agency to train prospective unemployed youth to acquire the relevant skills to become professional tailors and dressmakers.



The garment and textile industry plays a significant role in Ghana's economy, contributing to export revenue, employment generation and culture preservation.



In consideration of the continued growth of the industry, the Youth Employment Agency finds the youth in garment and textile training and employment module a sustainable means of creating jobs for the youth.



The module aims to bridge skill gaps and create sustainable employment opportunities for young people interested in tailoring or dressmaking and ultimately contribute to the growth and development of the industry and by extension, Ghana.



This module has been designed carefully to afford beneficiaries the opportunity to receive in-depth knowledge and hands-on training in various aspects of tailoring and dressmaking including fabric selection, cutting techniques, sewing, garment construction, pattern making and alterations.



The programme also aims to directly engage already existing apparel startups to support in the implementation process to achieve the desired objectives and this will involve;



1. On-the-job training in the various skill areas to be undertaken by selected garment and textile partner companies.



2. Micro and small- scale seamstresses and tailors; they would provide apprenticeship for the youth within their communities.

Ahead of the launch, the garment and textile module has generated positive response from the stakeholders as two thousand (2000) registered beneficiaries have so far been shortlisted as trainees with five hundred (500) mastercraftmen in the category of micro and small-scale dressmakers and tailors selected as trainers of the trainees.



Over twenty (20) selected industrial garment companies are also being engaged as trainers of the beneficiaries in large scale garment manufacturing.



There will be a one-day exhibition session on the sidelines of the event for those shortlisted service providers who wish to showcase their garments.



They are to contact Mr. Chris Arthur, Director Technical Services Directorate on 0541173031 and Mr. Joseph Bannerman of the Technical Services Directorate on 0242381777 for details of the arrangement.



The Youth Employment Agency takes this opportunity to assure the general public of its commitment to staying focused on its core mandate by rolling out sustainable employment programmes aimed at addressing youth unemployment in the country.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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There was euphoria at the Klottey Korley Constituency yesterday in Accra as the darling boy of Osu, Valantino Nii Noi Nortey submitted his nomination forms to contest the NPP Parliamentary Primaries for the 2024 elections.



Tens of thousands of NPP delegates, Osu Chiefs and supporters clad in NPP paraphernalia lined up the streets of Osu amidst singing, chanting and dancing as they joined Nii Noi and his campaign team for the historic moment.



They cheered him at the forecourt of the Osu Mantse Palace in appreciation of his good works for the party and the crowd continued their chanting; "No Nii Noi, No vote".



Nii Noi Nortey who was optimistic of unseating Zenator Rawlings in the 2024 general parliamentary election said; My message is simple. It is to unseat Zenator Rawlings in the 2024 election.



He continued; it is has been 16 years in opposition for the NPP but in 2024, we want to wrestle the seat from the NDC. So after vetting, I will plead with delegates to look at my good works in reviving the constituency to be a winning one for the NPP and vote for me.



He further said my message to the delegates is to look at my hard work and reward me accordingly. Osu Adabraka, Asylum Down victory is near for us to change the destiny of this constituency.



He expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the delegates and his support base and stressed my slogan is action and not words.



Over the years, there have been speculations against Nii Noi Nortey about his identity with few people saying hes not a Ga but yesterday that conspiracy was disregarded as Osu chiefs threw their full support for their son.



Joseph Nii Noi Adumuah, a principal member of Owuo wei Royal family, confirmed that Valentina Nii Noi Nortey belongs to this house Owuo We Royal house and whoever is saying otherwise should prove because we know our own.



The entire family give him the full support and we are hoping that he will succeed. If anyone knows the source of his birth, he should prove it. You cant go to any family house you dont belong to but you go to where you belong to and the people receive you, he added.



He urged the good people of Osu and the constituency to disregard the false information against their Nii Noi Nortey.



The Constituency Secretary of the NPP, Richard Kwabena Mpery also stated; We empowered you to go fight and be elected by the delegates so that you can help us wrestle the seat from the NDC.

We want peace and unity in this constituency, so after the primaries we will also need all on board to win the general election so we will plead with you to advice your supporters to campaign devoid of insults.



Some of the delegates described Nii Noi Nortey as a unifier, charismatic and down to earth leader who listens and understands his people.



The delegates touted Nii Noi as the right candidate for the party to win the parliamentary seat saying the NPP must make a conscious and deliberate effort to support to win us majority seats, come the 2024 general elections.



He was accompanied by NPP delegates from all the 11 electoral areas, Osu Chiefs and Queenmothers, Asafo groups, Opinion Leaders, Assembly Members, supporters and sympathizers across the Klottey Korle constituency.

Source: Peacefmonline









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Former General Secretary of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Member of Parliament (MP) for Okere, Dan Botwe has conceded that even though in his estimation the NPP will win the 2024 general elections, the party must put in a lot of hard work as it has always done.



He stressed that based on his experience as a former administrator of the party; Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is the right person to lead the NPP into victory. He has therefore appealed to the delegates to vote massively for him.



NPP is going to win 2024. But as we always do, we have to do the hard work to win 2024. However we need a winning candidate [Dr Mahamudu Bawumia], he declared.



Mr. Botwe minced no words in asserting that for the sake of strengthening the NPP and winning the 2024 general election, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia ought to be elected flagbearer come November 4, 2023, when the National Delegates Conference is held.



I love all the aspirants, but I love the NPP more. My friends in the NPP, if we look at what is happening in Ghana and NPP now, we are looking into the future.



Based on my knowledge of the Party and judging from what is happening, I want to say and ask all of you to go and vote for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. We have to be very strategic as a party in order to win 2024 and the best strategic decision is to elect Vice President Bawumia as our flagbearer, he added.



Dan Botwe made the pronouncements when Dr. Bawumia visited the Okere Constituency on Sunday as part of his interaction with the people of the Constituency ahead of the partys Super Delegates Conference scheduled for August 26, 2023.





Source: mynews









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Minister for Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong has clarified a controversial comment he made months ago on whether or not the New Patriotic Party will be the next government in power.



The Minister addressing supporters at an event at Mpraeso in April this year told them that "it will never happen that we, the NPP, will stand on a platform to hand over power to the NDC".



He cautioned; "If the NDC dares to use threats, violence and foolishness in the 2024 election, we will let them know we have the men. We will show them that we have the men."



These statements by the Agriculture Minister caused a stir in the public as many people wondered what he meant by the New Patriotic Party will not cede the seat of government to the National Democratic Congress.



Some critics from the National Democratic Congress also called for his arrest.



Hon. Bryan Acheampong, in an interview with host of Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, Kwami Sefa Kayi, has broken his silence on the backlash of his previous comments.



According to him, his comments were misconstrued stressing "I didn't say it to destroy the nation but I said it to encourage the NPP that things will be better and when it becomes better, we will remain in government".



Revealing the true meaning of his statements, he explained "it is the Electoral Commission that declares results and when the Electoral Commission declares the results, nobody in Ghana has the authority to refuse it".



"President Rawlings couldn't do that. President Kufour didn't do that, likewise President Mills. President Mahama didn't do that and President Akufo-Addo won't do it. Once the Electoral Commission declares, it is final but the fact is that, when we put our things in order, I believe the Electoral Commission will declare in favor of the NPP. And when they declare for the NPP, NPP will not hand over that power," he added.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is calling for the resignation of the Governor of Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr Ernest Addison and his deputies.



The party has threatened to march to the premises of BoG to drag Dr Ernest Addison and his deputies from office if they fail to resign within 21 days.



Minority Leader, Ato Forson addressing Journalists under the NDCs Moment of Truth series on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, accused Dr Addison of mismanaging BoG resulting in an IMF bailout.



The Bank of Ghana recorded a staggering loss of GH60.8 billion within the 2022 fiscal year.



"We in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) saw the red flags and have consistently warned of the

mismanagement of the financial sector by the Governor of the Central Bank and his team of incompetent deputies.



"Only last week, the Annual Report and Financial Statement of the Bank of Ghana was released. This report depicted the catastrophic decline of the Bank into a bottomless pit. The report revealed the following astonishing facts:



1. The Bank of Ghana recorded a staggering loss of GHS60.8 billion, which is equivalent to $6 billion.

This is twice the amount we are to receive from our recent IMF bailout.

This means the recklessness and mismanagement of the Governor of the Bank of Ghana has cost the nation twice what we are struggling and sacrificing to receive from the IMF amid major conditionalities," a statement read by Minority Leader, Ato Forson outlined.



According to him this is how the Governor of the Central Bank, Dr. Ernest Addison who is now known as the Printer of Money, conspired with members of the Economic mis-management Team led by the failed Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia and the inept Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta aka One Problem, One Bond, to destroy Ghanas Central Bank.



Call to Step Down



In this regard, the NDC is calling for the resignation of the Governor of the Central Bank and his deputies within 21 days from today.



"We are resolved to embark on popular action to occupy the Central Bank and drive out the team of inept,

callous and criminal mismanagers of the finances of this country and Save the Bank of Ghana.



"The March to Ensure Accountability will begin in 21 days if the Governor of the Bank of Ghana does not do the needful and pack bag and baggage out of that sacred institution that he has so desecrated.



"Dr Ernest Addisson Must Go! There has to be an end to impunity and it is NOW!"



Read attached the full statement





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Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Three more persons have been arraigned in addition to four others who were initially charged with counts of stealing and dishonestly receiving monies stolen from the home of former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Dapaah while one other person who is of interest to the investigations is said to be on the run.



This brings to eight the number of people standing trial currently.



The court however discharged Kwaku Botwe, father of the first accused person, Patience Botwe who was initially charged with the offence of dishonestly receiving.



These were made known to the court after police prosecutors substituted the charge sheet based on the advice of the Attorney General.



The police prosecutor revealed that charges against the father of Patience Botwe were dropped following the advice of the Attorney General, Godfred Dame.



Kwaku Botwe was previously charged with dishonestly receiving after he was accused of receiving GH50,000 out of the stolen money from his daughter.



Mr. Botwe however in his caution statement noted that he only received GH10,000 from his daughter and was not aware that it was stolen money.



Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame after analysing the case against Mr. Botwe concluded that there is not enough evidence to sustain a charge of dishonest receiving. Based on this, his name was excluded from the new charge sheet and was therefore discharged by the court.



The police prosecutor further revealed that based on the advice of the Attorney General to broaden the scope of investigation, three more persons have been arrested while one person is at large.



The three new arrests are Christiana Achab, Job Pomary, Yahaya Sumail. The person at large is one Franklin Sarakpo.



According to the facts of the case against the three new arrests and the one at large, the first accused (Patience Botwe) gave unspecified amounts of dollars to her brother identified as Joe, who parted some of the stolen money to Christiana Achab who was living in a wooden structure in the same neighborhood as the first accused person.



Christiana Achab is said to have received over GH2 million of the stolen money, purchased an eleven-unit chamber and hall self-contain house at Budumburam at the cost of GH800,000 for herself. She is also alleged to have purchased a three-bedroom at Aplaku at the cost of GH300,000 for A1 (Patience Botwe).



Christiana Achab and Job Pomary are also alleged to have purchased a four-bedroom house at Kokrobite at the cost of GH280,000 for Christiana Achab.



Christiana Achab is further accused of contacting A7, Yahaya Sumaila, and purchased a three-bedroom self-contain house at Amrahia at the cost of GH850,0000 in the name of Yahaya Sumaila.



Christiana Achab the fifth accused person, is said to have also purchased two Honda Acura vehicles at the cost of GH300,000 each registered in the name of A8, Franklin Sarakpo, who is stated to be at large and A1, Patience Botwe.



Prosecution prayed the court to further remand the accused persons as investigations were still ongoing.



But the defence team opposed this on grounds that the continuous detention of their clients will be against their rights as the prosecution has not even proved that the accused when granted bail will interfere with investigations.



Lawyers of A2 (Sarah Agyei) and A5 (Christiana Achab) urged the court to grant their clients bail as they are lactating mothers. The judge granted bail to the two lactating mothers and remanded the rest.



The bail conditions for the two lactating mothers are set to the tune of GH1 million each, with three sureties each to be justified. The three sureties according to the court are expected to deposit their passports and Ghana cards with the court registry and not to leave the jurisdiction of the court.



The case has been adjourned to August 22.

Source: Citinewsroom









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Ghana's hip-hop scene is experiencing a renaissance, with a new generation of talented rappers breaking through the barriers and captivating audiences both locally and internationally.



These young wordsmiths are not only showcasing their lyrical prowess but also bringing innovative styles and fresh perspectives to the genre. Among these promising artists, Rayoe stands out as a remarkable talent alongside nine other rappers who are shaping the future of Ghanaian hip-hop.



In this article, we will explore 10 Ghanaian rappers with soaring popularity due to their craft and attention-calling niche.



1. Kwesi Arthur: He is a household name in the Ghanaian music industry. His authentic storytelling, combined with his captivating delivery, has endeared him to fans worldwide. He has successfully bridged the gap between traditional hip-hop and Afrobeat, creating a distinct style that sets him apart from his peers.



2. Kofi Mole: Known for his energetic performances and infectious hooks, Kofi Mole has swiftly risen to prominence. With hits like "Mensah" and "Don't Be Late," he has become a favorite amongst the youth, consistently delivering bangers that dominate the airwaves.



3. Medikal: He has been a trailblazer in the Ghanaian rap scene for some time now. His impressive wordplay and confident delivery have earned him a massive fanbase, and he continues to solidify his position as one of Ghana's top rappers.



4. Rayoe: A true lyrical craftsman, he has been steadily gaining momentum in the Ghanaian rap scene. The 'Miracle Road' rapper who is known for his versatile flow, poignant storytelling, and thought-provoking lyricism has also collaborated with global music giants, such as Akon. The duo featured on Canadian producer, St Kelly's banger titled 'Tables Turn'.



The California-based rapper's ability to address social issues and personal experiences in his music has earned him a devoted following, making him one of the most exciting prospects in Ghanaian hip-hop making his country proud.



5. Amerado: His unique selling point is his weekly "Yeete Nsem" rap series, where he cleverly weaves together current events and social issues in his verses. This creative approach has garnered him a significant following and helped him make his mark in the industry.



6. Yaw Tog: Yaw Tog's breakthrough hit "Sore" catapulted him into the limelight, and he hasn't looked back since. This young rapper's raw talent and charisma have captured the hearts of many, making him a rising star in the Ghanaian hip-hop scene.



7. Eno Barony: As one of the few female rappers in Ghana, Eno Barony has broken barriers and proven her mettle as a skilled rapper. Her confidence, combined with her bold and unapologetic style, has garnered her widespread attention and acclaim.



The 'Heavy Load' rapper has won the Best Rap Performance of the Year award at the 22nd edition of the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) held on Saturday, June 26, 2021. The self-acclaimed Rap Goddess became the first female act to take home the coveted award.



8. Tulenkey is known for his witty punchlines and wordplay that effortlessly blends humour and social commentary. With a growing catalogue of hits, he has cemented his position as one of the most promising talents in the Ghanaian rap game.



9. Black Sherif: Black Sherif's emotionally charged music has struck a chord with listeners, touching on struggle, hope, and ambition themes. His vulnerability and honesty have earned him a dedicated fanbase, positioning him for a bright future in the industry.



10. Kweku Flick: Kweku Flick's breakout hit "Money" made waves in the Ghanaian music scene, and he has since proved that he's more than a one-hit-wonder. His knack for catchy hooks and relatable storytelling has garnered him significant attention and praise.



With these acts, the future of Ghanaian hip-hop looks incredibly promising, with an influx of young and talented rappers bringing fresh perspectives and innovative styles to the genre.



Rayoe, along with the other nine artists mentioned above, is at the forefront of this movement, captivating audiences and solidifying their positions as the top upcoming trending rappers in Ghana. As these artists continue to evolve and push the boundaries of their craft, we can expect Ghana's hip-hop scene to reach even greater heights in the years to come.





Source: Evans Annang









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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" " The Department of Justice released its FBI affidavit from the search warrant on Mar-a-Lago. Among the information not redacted shows the DO found 184 classified documents in 14 of the 15 boxes returned to the FBI. Public Domain

On Aug. 8, 2022, the FBI executed a search warrant on former president Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. The search warrant was part of an investigation into how Trump was handling presidential documents, including classified documents.

Just a few days later, Friday, Aug. 12, a federal judge unsealed that warrant and its property receipt (the property taken during the search) and it confirmed the FBI removed 11 sets of classified documents, including some labeled top secret and "TS/SCI," the highest levels of government classification.

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The warrant also confirmed that the Department of Justice was investigating Trump for three possible crimes:

violation of the espionage act ). 18 U.S.C.  793 : Gathering, transmitting or losing defense information, which carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison ().

concealing of public records ). 18 U.S.C.  2071 : Concealment, removal or mutilation generally, which carries a penalty of up to three years in prison and disqualification from holding office ().

obstruction of justice). 18 U.S.C.  1519 : Destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in federal investigations and bankruptcy, which carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison ().

Given the unprecedented nature of searching a former president's home, there was been an unusual amount of transparency surrounding the warrant. And attorneys for several media outlets, including The Associated Press, The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, argued in court for the release of the affidavit supporting the warrant. Affidavits often contain information about what evidence law enforcement thinks is at a property, and other facts, including witnesses who may have provided testimony.

The U.S. Justice Department objected to the release of the affidavit, saying it would compromise their investigation. But U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce E. Reinhart ruled Aug. 18, 2022, that portions of the affidavit could be released, with stipulations. From the court order:

As I ruled from the bench at the conclusion of the hearing, I find that on the present record the Government has not met its burden of showing that the entire affidavit should remain sealed. It is ORDERED that by noon EST on Thursday, August 25, 2022, the Government shall file under seal its proposed redactions along with the with a legal memorandum setting forth the justification for the proposed redactions.

On Aug. 26, around noon, the DOJ released the 38-page affidavit, with more than half of it blacked out. So what's the point?
Feeling wary about expressing even heartfelt sympathy is understandable, but the worst thing a person can do is fail to acknowledge the death affecting a bereaved person. Pretending that the grief isnt happening will only make your loved one feel alone in a dark time. That said, do try to steer clear these misguided tropes if at all possible.

1. "Everything happens for a reason," or "It was Gods will."

These are two very similar phrases that people commonly utter when they arent sure what to say. Meg P. heard them both a lot when her daughter Johanna was delivered stillborn at full-term following an umbilical cord accident. Well-meaning friends and family routinely said things like "God wanted her in Heaven more than here," or "Everything happens for a reason."

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Meg P. recalls, "Basically, lots of things that pinned tragedy on Gods will." For someone who is reeling from shock and sadness, statements like this are counterproductive. "This phrase seems philosophical, but it can also be invalidating to someone who has just lost a loved one," Koger says.

2. "Try to be strong for the kids."

Life goes on even in the midst of tragedy. However, that doesnt mean that people have to march on unaffected. Melinda J. of Australia recently lost her father, and she said that "Try to be strong for the kids" really hit her in the worst way.

"In such a situation, it froze me because I felt as if I was denied the right to come to terms with my feelings, even if they mean devastation, plus my motherhood got somehow involved," she explains. "As if, being a mother, I was supposed to be denied as a daughter."

3. "He's in a better place," or "Shes not suffering anymore."

Jennifer M. of Americus, Georgia, heard these a lot when her sister died of cancer. "Most of the people saying that she was in a better place did not even know her. She was spiritual but not religious, and their idea of where she was going was not the same as hers," Murphy explains.

Indeed, statements like these, while intended to provide comfort, can be dismissive of the tragedy, says Rachel Nithya Karat, a psychologist at Allo Health. "It's important to respect the grieving person's beliefs and refrain from making assumptions about their perception of the afterlife," she explains.

4. "Everything will be okay," or "Time heals all wounds."

Anyone who has been through a serious loss knows that eventually the scab of grief usually starts to heal, but it is rare that everything goes completely back to normal. Nothing will ever be the same, says Ashley F. of Lawrenceville, Georgia, whose mother passed away in 2020.

Vered D., of Memphis, Tennessee, concurs: At that moment of intense loss you don't want to think about the future or about the fact that eventually, you will move on, at least to some extent.

5. "Let me know how to help. I'm just a phone call away."

No matter how well-intentioned this is, it places a burden on the bereaved to think of things they need help with. Instead of offering ambiguous help, be more specific.

Suggest setting up a meal train for a couple of weeks so that they dont have to worry about making dinner, or providing food for the post-funeral reception. If they have to travel for services, offer to mow their lawn, check the mail, care for pets and offer other practical support of that nature.

All of these gestures lighten their load and make the grief a tiny bit easier to bear. Koger suggests putting together a care package of helpful or comforting items, like tissues, a journal and a candle.

6. "At least she lived a long life."

Death is a loss at any age, and while it may be extra tragic when a young person dies, its still very normal and expected to grieve deeply when a beloved older person passes away.

"Although it's true that a long life is often seen as a blessing, this phrase may minimize the grief someone feels after losing a loved one," says Karat. "It's better to acknowledge the pain they're going through rather than trying to find silver linings."

7. "He wouldnt want you to be sad."

No matter how true this statement probably is, it still isnt very helpful. "This is invalidating the person's grief, [and] while it may be uncomfortable to see someone in active grief, it is not their job to make you feel comfortable," Koger says. Tara H. of Sacramento, California, said that, after losing her father, statements like this left her "feeling rejected, alone and unseen."

8. "I know how you feel," or "I know when I lost my [insert loved one here]; my experience was "

The knee-jerk reaction to empathize with someone by relaying your own personal experiences can be difficult to resist. While this might make some people feel like they arent alone in the experience, it can also minimize what theyre going through.

"Even if youve experienced a similar loss, everyones grief journey is unique and deeply personal," said Ramiro S. of Argentina. Instead, focus your sympathy on the person who is actively grieving and how you can support them.
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Research-related image. Credit: POSTECH

In 2004, the public first became acquainted with graphene- a remarkably thin, flexible, and electrically conductive material possessing considerable strength. However, harnessing graphene's potential as a component has presented numerous challenges.

For instance, creating electrode-based transistors requires depositing extremely thin dielectric films. Regrettably, this process has led to a reduction in graphene's electrical properties and caused defects during implementation.

A research team comprising of co-researchers including Professor Jihwan An from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Dr. Jeong Woo Shin from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at NTU Singapore, and Geonwoo Park from the Department of MSDE at SEOULTECH employed a novel approach called UV-assisted atomic layer deposition (UV-ALD) to treat graphene electrode.

This pioneering technique resulted in successful production of high-performance graphene-dielectric interface. Their findings were featured in Advanced Electronic Materials.

The research team became the first to apply UV-ALD to the deposition of dielectric films onto the surface of graphene which is a 2D material. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) involves adding ultra-thin layers at the atomic scale to a substrate, and its significance has grown considerably as semiconductor components have shrunk in size. UV-ALD, which combines ultraviolet light with the deposition process, enables more dielectric film placement than traditional ALD. However, no one had explored the application of UV-ALD for 2D materials such as graphene.

The research team employed UV light with a low energy range (below 10 eV) to deposit atomic layer dielectric films onto the graphene surface, effectively activating the graphene surface without compromising its inherent properties. This activation was achieved under specific conditions (within 5 seconds per cycle during the ALD process), demonstrating the possibility of depositing high-density, high-purity atomic layer dielectric films at low temperatures (below 100).

Furthermore, when graphene field effect transistors were fabricated using UV-ALD process, the graphene's exceptional electrical properties remained intact. The outcome was a three-fold increase in charge mobility and a significant reduction in Dirac voltage due to the reduced defects on the graphene surface.

Professor Jihwan An who led the research explained, "Through UV-ALD, we achieved high-performance graphene-dielectric interface." He further added, "Our study resulted in uniform atomic layer deposition without compromising the properties of this 2D material. I hope this development will pave the way for the next-generation semi-conductor and energy devices."

More information: Geonwoo Park et al, HighPerformance GrapheneDielectric Interface by UVAssisted Atomic Layer Deposition for Graphene Field Effect Transistor, Advanced Electronic Materials (2023). DOI: 10.1002/aelm.202300074
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Using ancient DNA, researchers show that African cattle were likely brought to the Americas more than a century before written records document their arrival. Credit: Florida Museum/Jeff Gage

Cattle may seem like uniquely American animals, steeped in the lore of cowboys, cattle drives and sprawling ranches. But cattle didn't exist on the American continents prior to the arrival of the Spanish, who brought livestock with them from Europe by way of the Canary Islands.

In a new study, researchers analyzed ancient DNA from Spanish settlements in the Caribbean and Mexico. Their results indicate cattle were also imported from Africa early in the process of colonization, more than 100 years before their arrival was officially documented.

Records kept by Portuguese and Spanish colonists reference breeds from the Andalusian region of Spain but make no mention of transporting cattle from Africa. Some historians have interpreted this omission to mean that the first wave of colonists relied entirely on a small stock of European cattle initially shipped to the Caribbean Islands.

"Early studies concluded a few hundred animals were brought over in the early 16th century, which were then bred locally on Hispaniola. From there, the initial population was inferred to have spread across the Americas," said lead author Nicolas Delsol, a postdoctoral associate at the Florida Museum of Natural History.

During his second expedition in 1493, Columbus brought the first cattle to the Caribbean, where they were used as farm animals and a source of food. These new transplants did so well that feral livestock became a nuisance on the Island of Hispaniola. The Spanish distributed cattle widely through the Caribbean, and by 1525, foreign livestock were being farmed in parts of Central and South America. The Portuguese meanwhile moved related breeds from mainland Europe and the Cape Verde Islands to modern-day Brazil.

But researchers have reason to suspect the version of events gleaned from historical records was incomplete. In 1518, Emperor Charles V passed an edict making it legal to transport enslaved people directly from their homelands to the Americas, a practice which commenced less than three years later. In the ensuing decades, enslaved Africans would play a vitaland often unrecognizedrole in the development of cattle ranching.

"The earliest ranchers in Mexico were nearly all of African ancestry," Delsol said. "We know that people like the Fulani in West Africa formed herder societies in which they lived in what could be described as a symbiosis with cattle. Both these lines of evidence made us think there was a strong possibility that the Spanish brought cattle from the same region as the people they enslaved."

Previous genetic studies seem to support this idea. DNA from modern American cattle bears the signature of their European ancestry, but it also reveals a history of hybridization with breeds from Africa and Asia. Without archaeological data, however, it's not possible to pinpoint exactly when these events took place.

The first records of African cattle in the Americas date back to the 1800s, when humped zebu from Senegal and n'dama cattle from Gambia were moved to areas with similar environments across the Atlantic.

Beginning at roughly the same time and continuing into the 1900s, cattle domesticated in southeast Asia for thousands of years were also imported from India. Hybridization among these cattle led to common breeds that are still around today, such as the Senepol from the Virgin Islands and the American Brahman common in the tropics.

Median joining network of B. taurus and B. indicus mitogenomes with 21 archaeological genomes (archaeogenomes labeled in green). Credit: Scientific Reports (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39518-3

Do these records represent the first instance of cattle imported from regions other than Europe, or are they merely the continuation of a longstanding practice that had, until then, gone undocumented?

The only way to know for sure, Delsol said, would be to sequence ancient DNA from cows and bulls preserved during the colonial era. Researchers in only one other study had attempted to do, using 16th century bones from Jamaica, but their results were inconclusive.

Delsol gathered 21 bones from several archaeological sites. Seven were excavated in Puerto Real, a former ranching town in Hispaniola established in 1503 and abandoned decades later due to rampant piracy in the region. The remaining specimens correspond to 17th and 18th century sites in Central Mexico, including settlements and convents in a long arc from Mexico City to the Yucatan Peninsula.

After extracting DNA from bone material, he compared their genetic sequences with those of modern breeds around the world. As expected, most of the sequences shared a strong relationship with cattle from Europe, which was especially true for specimens from Puerto Real. Six of the bones from Mexico also had sequences common in African cattle but, crucially, also found in breeds present in southern Europe.

"To make things difficult, there are cattle in Spain similar to those in Africa due to centuries-long exchanges across the Strait of Gibralter," Delsol said.

But a tooth found in Mexico City stood out from the rest. Buried in the tooth's mitochondria was a short sequence virtually unknown from anywhere other than Africa. The cow it came from likely lived in the late 1600s, pushing back the introduction of African cattle by more than a century.

When looked at over time, the bones also reveal a pattern of increasing genetic diversity. The oldest bones from Puerto Real and Xochimilco (a settlement south of Mexico City) all originated from European stock, whereas those from later sites in Mexico seem to have descended from animals more common in the Iberian Peninsula and Africa.

Taken together, the results suggest Spanish settlers began importing cattle directly from West Africa as far back as the early 1600s.

"Cattle ranching profoundly shaped the landscape and social systems across the American continents," Delsol said. "We've known about the diverse genetic ancestry of American cattle for a long time, and now we have a more complete chronology for their introduction."

The research is published in the journal Scientific Reports.

More information: Nicolas Delsol et al, Ancient DNA confirms diverse origins of early post-Columbian cattle in the Americas, Scientific Reports (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39518-3 Journal information: Scientific Reports
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Penguins and a seal on the Antarctic Peninsula. Credit: Prof Anna E. Hogg, University of Leeds

Extreme events in Antarctica such as ocean heat waves and ice loss will almost certainly become more common and more severe, researchers say.

With drastic action now needed to limit global warming to the Paris Agreement target of 1.5C, the scientists warn that recent extremes in Antarctica may be the tip of the iceberg.

The study reviews evidence of extreme events in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, including weather, sea ice, ocean temperatures, glacier and ice shelf systems, and biodiversity on land and sea.

It concludes that Antarctica's fragile environments "may well be subject to considerable stress and damage in future years and decades"and calls for urgent policy action to protect it.

"Antarctic change has global implications," said lead author Professor Martin Siegert, from the University of Exeter. "Reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero is our best hope of preserving Antarctica, and this must matter to every countryand individualon the planet."

Professor Siegert said the rapid changes now happening in Antarctica could place many countries in breach of an international treaty.

"Signatories to the Antarctic Treaty (including the UK, U.S., India and China) pledge to preserve the environment of this remote and fragile place," he said.

"Nations must understand that by continuing to explore, extract and burn fossil fuels anywhere in the world, the environment of Antarctica will become ever more affected in ways inconsistent with their pledge."

The researchers considered the vulnerability of Antarctica to a range of extreme events, to understand the causes and likely future changesfollowing a series of recent extremes.

For example, the world's largest recorded heat wave (38.5C above the mean) occurred in East Antarctica in 2022 and, at present, winter sea ice formation is the lowest on record.

Extreme events can also affect biodiversity. For example, high temperatures have been linked to years with lower krill numbers, leading to breeding failures of krill-reliant predatorsevidenced by many dead fur seal pups on beaches.

Co-author Professor Anna Hogg, from the University of Leeds, said, "Our results show that while extreme events are known to impact the globe through heavy rainfall and flooding, heat waves and wildfires, such as those seen in Europe this summer, they also impact the remote polar regions."

"Antarctic glaciers, sea ice and natural ecosystems are all impacted by extreme events. Therefore, it is essential that international treaties and policy are implemented in order to protect these beautiful but delicate regions."

Dr. Caroline Holmes, a sea ice expert at British Antarctic Survey, said, "Antarctic sea ice has been grabbing headlines in recent weeks, and this paper shows how sea ice recordsfirst record highs but, since 2017, record lowshave been tumbling in Antarctica for several years."

"On top of that, there are deep interconnections between extreme events in different aspects of the Antarctic physical and biological system, almost all of them vulnerable to human influence in some way."

The retreat of Antarctic sea ice will make new areas accessible by ships, and the researchers say careful management will be required to protect vulnerable sites.

The European Space Agency and European Commission Copernicus Sentinel satellites are an essential tool for regular monitoring of the whole Antarctic region and Southern Ocean.

This data can be used to measure ice speed, sea ice thickness and ice loss at exceptionally fine resolution.

The paper is published in the journal Frontiers in Environmental Science.

More information: Martin Siegert et al, Antarctic Extreme Events, Frontiers in Environmental Science (2023). DOI: 10.3389/fenvs.2023.1229283
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Hammersmith bridge, London. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

The increasing frequency and intensity of flooding events worldwide due to climate change have drawn attention to the pressing issue of flood risk management. The loss of life can be devastating, particularly in less developed and more vulnerable parts of the world. In developed countries, the response is likely to save lives but sees a greater economic loss because of the damage to expansive and advanced infrastructure. That said, even in the developed world there is a big difference between the impact on low-income and affluent areas within the same regions.

Research in the World Review of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, has focused on two disparate regions of London: the low-income and ethnically diverse Newham and the more affluent Hammersmith. The study reveals that Newham has a much lower level of resiliency compared with Hammersmith in terms of flood risk, despite both being equally in the Thames flood plain.

The researchers, Arzoo Hassan and Cody Morris Paris of Middlesex University Dubai in the United Arab Emirates point out that it might be argued that floods are not a wholly natural phenomenon given that they are almost always associated with the structures of roads and building in an at-risk area. Moreover, they are socially constructed disasters because those worst affected are usually the most vulnerable communities.

Certain neighborhoods often have a higher susceptibility to damage even within geographically close urban areas, the researchers explain. Poorer and marginalized populations are, they suggest, affected the most. In addition, socio-economic inequalities exacerbate the vulnerability of a given area relative to a more affluent and less demographically diverse area and hinder the ability of the area to recover quickly from the impact of the flood. Part of the problem, of course, is the lack of money to pay for the requisite insurance policies to cover damage and replace and rebuild.

The implications of this study are profound. As flooding events become more intense and frequent, it is critical that the social construct of floods and the disproportionate impact on vulnerable communities is recognized. Investing in resilience-building measures becomes paramount, particularly in low-income areas, to ensure equitable disaster response and recovery. Indeed, tailored flood risk management strategies are needed to protect vulnerable populations and foster resilient communities.

More information: Arzoo Hassan et al, Flood risk: a capacity and vulnerability analysis of Newham and Hammersmith, UK, World Review of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development (2023). DOI: 10.1504/WRSTSD.2023.131924

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Classroom activity to show relationships between wildlife in the ecosystem. Credit: Romy Rice

With increasing urbanization and advances in technology, children's exposure to the natural world has decreased.

To respond to this, conservationists have promoted educational activities to increase children's understanding and awareness of environmental issues, but new research shows that this doesn't always translate to them changing their attitudes or encourage them to become more involved in protecting the environment.

In a study published in Oryx, researchers from the University of Bath worked with conservation non-profit Maio Biodiversity Foundation (FMB) in Maio, Cape Verde, to assess the impacts of environmental education on schoolchildren from the island.

The Cape Verde Islands, near the west coast of Africa, are powerhouses of evolution, home to an abundance of wildlife, including whales, turtles, sharks and shorebirds.

However, unsustainable practices such as turtle poaching, off-road excursions through protected areas, and large scale litter dumping threatens to put local wildlife at risk.

The researchers investigated the influence of a one-time classroom activity on children's knowledge of local environmental issues, environmental attitudes and future aspirations.

The half-day activity, with 10 classes of 910-year-olds (4th grade) across eight schools (around 140 children), was focussed on the large wetland habitat of the island that is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including the largest breeding population of plover shorebirds that are genetically unique to the island.

The researchers talked to the children about the different species found locally, the environmental issues that threatened the wildlife and used a game activity to show the complex ecosystem of the area, helping the children understand how all the different parts were connected.

They assessed the children's conservation knowledge, and attitudes to science and the environment before and after the activities to see how it had changed.

Conservation education activities increase awareness and knowledge but don't necessarily change attitudes towards the environment. Credit: Romy Rice

They found that while the activity was successful in improving the children's knowledge and awareness of environmental issues, it did not change their attitudes towards animals and other wildlife.

Romy Rice, Ph.D. student at the Milner Centre for Evolution at the University of Bath, was first author on the paper.

She said, "There is a real need to reconnect society with natureespecially in places of rich biodiversity, like Maio. It is so important to raise awareness of how certain human activities can put the amazing wildlife on people's doorstep at risk."

"Educating schoolchildren about conservation increases eco-awareness among their parents too, so it could be a powerful tool to influence knowledge and positive attitudes towards the environment across generations."

"We were surprised that although the activities increased the children's knowledge, it didn't necessarily change their attitudes towards nature. In some cases it actually decreased their interest in science."

"This study shows the importance of evaluating activitieswe shouldn't assume that increasing knowledge will help solve environmental issues."

"Instead we must carefully plan and assess activities to make sure they are achieving the desired objectives."

Herval Silva, Assistant for Sustainable Development at FMB and co-author on the study, said, "This project was great to see how children learn and how we can improve their learning, especially when it comes to their understanding of our island's biodiversity and their appreciation of the local wildlife."

"Right now, these children are the future of conservation, so the more we understand how they feel towards the environment, the better we can go on to develop ways to protect it."

Romy plans more research to assess whether field trips are more impactful than classroom activities, or whether it simply distracts them.

More information: Romy Rice et al, Environmental education in the classroom: pilot study in Cabo Verde suggests differing impacts on local knowledge and environmental attitudes, Oryx (2023). DOI: 10.1017/S0030605323000303 Journal information: Oryx
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New specimens of Hupehsuchus nanchangensis. (A) Photograph of 2020-NYF-84-4. (B) Photograph of WGSC V26007. Scale bar = 5 cm. Credit: BMC Ecology and Evolution (2023). DOI: 10.1186/s12862-023-02143-9

A combined team of paleontologists and geoscientists from China University of Geosciences and Hubei Geological Bureau, both in China, working with a colleague from the University of Bristol, has found more evidence suggesting that the ancient marine reptile Hupehsuchus nanchangensis, was a filter feeder. In their paper published in the journal BMC Ecology and Evolution, the group describes how they compared newly found Hupehsuchus skulls to those of modern baleen whales and other creatures, and what they found by doing so.

Approximately 252 million years ago, the Earth experienced volcanic eruptions that emitted so much material into the atmosphere that approximately 95% of all marine species were killed off. Called the "great Dying," the sudden change in climate led to changes in the creatures that survived. Once such creature evolved over a few million years into Hupehsuchus.

First discovered in 1972, in Hubie Province in China, Hupehsuchus, has remained a bit of a mystery. Unlike most other marine creatures of its time, it had no teeth and a skinny snout.

Such characteristics would have made it impossible for the creature to survive by catching and eating smaller prey, suggesting that it might have been a filter feederlike modern baleen whales. But until now, evidence was lacking. In this new effort, the researchers obtained and studied two Hupehsuchus fossil specimens that had recently been found by other researchers.

One of the fossils was of a whole skeleton, the other was of a head, neck and clavicle. Both allowed for viewing the skull from above, something that had not been available with other Hupehsuchus fossils that have been found. Neither of the fossils had any evidence of a baleen or something resembling one, which was not a surprisein modern whales, they are made of soft tissue which would not fossilize well, or at all.

Undaunted, the researchers sought to find evidence another way. The compared the new fossils with skulls from 130 modern aquatic animals, including both those that were filter feeders and those that were not. In so doing, they tested how the new skulls aligned with the skulls of modern creatures and found the closest fit was with modern baleen whales, suggesting that Hupehsuchus was likely a filter feeder.

More information: Zi-Chen Fang et al, First filter feeding in the Early Triassic: cranial morphological convergence between Hupehsuchus and baleen whales, BMC Ecology and Evolution (2023). DOI: 10.1186/s12862-023-02143-9 Journal information: BMC Ecology and Evolution

 2023 Science X Network
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

What drives a person's preference towards traditional luxury brands? Flinders University researchers have found it's all about inflating the image of the purchaser, who desires such expensive luxury brands such as Rolex and Chanel to enhance their own identity.

"The findings indicate that only hedonism drives brand prestige and symbolism," says Dr. Nasser Pourazad, marketing researcher and lecturer in the College of Business, Government and Law at Flinders University.

"It shows that the development of love for luxury brands is primarily driven by symbolism rather than prestige brand attributes."

The study, "What (really) drives consumer love for traditional luxury brands? The joint effects of brand qualities on brand love," has been published by the Journal of Strategic Marketing.

The new findingswhich contrast to previous studiessuggest that while a traditional luxury brand's social status and upscale position in the market are important to trigger love for a brand, consumers are more attuned to how they see the brand as a vehicle for their self-expression and social approval.

"Therefore, the prestige of traditional high-end luxury brands is less powerful in driving strong pro-brand connections, because consumers view these brands to be serving a higher purpose, such as symbolizing and reinforcing their personalities, values and self-identity," says Dr. Pourazad.

Luxury brands' power to symbolize meaningful values acts as the strongest trigger of brand lovea finding that expands an understanding of the symbolism attached to brands including social approval, self-personality, personal status and image driving.

"Brand uniqueness is a key driver of brand love for traditional luxury brandswhich positively impacts the prestige of traditional luxury brands and enhances individuals' identity," says Pourazad.

"Brand prestige and symbolism then jointly shape brand love for traditional luxury, ultimately impacting all response variables."

The researchers tested the relationships between brand uniqueness, hedonism, brand prestige and symbolism; brand love; and purchase intention, positive word-of-mouth, and attitudinal brand loyalty.

The emotional experiences and hedonic benefits associated with owning a luxury brand shape the consumer's perception of the brand's symbolic values, luxuriousness, and exclusivity. Hedonism positively impacts the perceived prestige and symbolism of the brand.

Noting that 53% of the respondents to the study are Australian students, who can only aspire to buy these products, Pourazad says the findings illustrate what fuel the desires of consumers.

The study found that brand love is a strong predictor of repurchase intentions, positive word-of-mouth, brand advocacy, and brand forgiveness for traditional luxury brands. It is also more strongly related to behavioral loyalty than brand attitude.

The article highlights the importance of brand symbolism in driving consumer love for traditional luxury brands. Symbolic brands address consumers' needs to enhance their self-image and social image, and are chosen for their desirable meaning in social and cultural contexts.

More information: Naser Pourazad et al, What (really) drives consumer love for traditional luxury brands? The joint effects of brand qualities on brand love, Journal of Strategic Marketing (2023). DOI: 10.1080/0965254X.2023.2236615
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Hierarchical structural ordering of the ion solvation shell. Credit: Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40278-x

Optimum performance of upcoming thermochemical energy storage and other technologies depends on proper applications of the principles that underpin salt ion hydration. Now, researchers from Japan have solved a long-standing puzzle of ion hydration that will be useful in electrolyte design for such technologies.

In a study published in Nature Communications, researchers from the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo have proposed an explanation for the ion-specific properties of ion hydration in water-based solutions. By revealing the nature of ion hydration and how it can be dramatically stabilized, they have advanced a broad spectrum of applications across various fields, such as chemistry, biology, and materials science.

To explain salt ion hydration, researchers have long grouped such ions into those that are structure-forming (facilitate formation of water molecule networks) and structure-breaking (disrupt these networks). However, recent evidence that this explanation is too simplistic suggests the need for a new molecular-level explanation of ion hydration.

Deriving such an explanation has been attempted in prior work by focusing on the ionic field, which depends on the relationship between the ionic charge and the ionwater distance, as a possible driving force for ion hydration. These investigations have focused on ions with discrete sizes and charges that are present in nature, rather than on synthetic or unnatural ions.

Researchers from the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, provide physical insights into ion hydration in water-based solutions, which will aid electrolyte design for energy storage technologies. Credit: Institute of Industrial Science, the University of Tokyo

Corresponding studies that also include unnatural salt ions with continuous size and charge would greatly aid in developing a comprehensive understanding of the ionic field. Obtaining such understanding by computational simulations is the problem that the researchers sought to address.

"Our molecular dynamics simulations focus on pseudo-main-group cations that interact with water through two intermolecular forces, Coulomb and Van der Waals interactions," explains Rui Shi, lead author. "Our work reveals previously unknown details of the ion hydration shell and their impact on water dynamics."

The researchers' main result is that ions with a lower charge density interact with more water molecules, which undergo weak bonding with each other. This result is general, regardless of the ion. The distance at which the ionwater interaction is as strong as waterwater hydrogen bonding can be viewed as the crossover between accelerating versus decelerating water dynamics around the ion.

"We also reveal an explanation for the 11 orders of magnitude difference in the residence times of hydration water," says Hajime Tanaka, senior author. "By tuning the ion size and charge to specific combinations, we realize the bond-orientational order of hydrated water molecules can develop and stabilize the hydration shell. This leads us to establish a new mechanism for the highly stable hydration of certain ions."

This work has broad applications across multiple disciplines, including chemistry, biology, materials science, and various industries. For example, research on using salt hydrates for energy storage and purification technologies for RNA-based medical therapeutics will benefit from modern insights into the principles that underpin ion hydration in water-based media.

More information: Rui Shi et al, Impact of hierarchical water dipole orderings on the dynamics of aqueous salt solutions, Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40278-x Journal information: Nature Communications
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Researchers report new upgrades to a computational miniature mesoscope that enable single-shot, 3D high-resolution imaging with a wide field of view. The simple, low-cost miniature instrument could be useful for a wide range of large-scale 3D fluorescence imaging and neural recording applications.

Qianwan Yang from Boston University will present this research at the Optica Imaging Congress. The hybrid meeting will take place August 1417, 2023, in Boston, Massachusetts.

"Freely moving animal neural recording is vital as functional brain interactions change with motivation and behavior. The mesoscope aims to measure activity across the full extent of the cortex of mice at cellular resolution as animals engage in complex, cognitively demanding behaviors. Fluorescence microscopy is commonly used to study biological structures and dynamics, but most microscopes require a trade-off between field of view, resolution and system complexity," explains Yang.

"To overcome the limits of the microscope, Professor Tian from Boston University and his group developed a computational miniature mesoscope (CM2)a microscope with both a high spatial resolution and a large field of view. The instrument is based on computational imaging, which combines imaging hardware and computational algorithms to accomplish otherwise impossible imaging capabilities."

The researchers recently upgraded their mesoscope by adding new miniature optics that greatly improve light throughput and image contrast. They also developed a new deep learning model that significantly improves axial resolution and reconstruction speed. The resulting system is simple and low cost thanks to the off-the-shelf and 3D-printed components used.

The hardware upgrades included miniature LED collimators based on freeform optics and fabricated using a clear resin and tabletop 3D printer. By adding the new collimatorseach weighing just 0.03 gramsto the instrument's four-LED array illuminator, the light efficiency reached approximately 80%. This update also produced a highly confined, uniform illumination with up to 75 mW excitation power across an 8-mm diameter circular region. The researchers boosted image contrast by incorporating a new hybrid emission filter that combines interference and absorption filters.

The new deep learning model optimizes the computational aspects of image formation to enable high-quality 3D imaging across a wide field of view. The algorithm enhanced the axial resolution to approximately 25 m, about eight times better than the method previously used for reconstruction, while also reducing reconstruction time to less than 4 seconds for a volume with a 7 mm field of view and a 0.8 mm depth.

Yang added, "Future work will focus on addressing the outstanding challenge of tissue scattering. We envision exploring promising solutions like the miniature structured illumination techniques and scattering-incorporated 3D reconstruction frameworks to expand the utility of CM2."

Provided by Optica
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The proposed encircling method can facilitate the development of novel, high-performing materials of both physical and biomedical relevance. Credit: Tokyo Tech

Polymeric materials are essential for our everyday lives. In the search for new functional materials, scientists have placed focus on polymers composed of rigid aromatic frameworks, displaying unique electronical/optical properties, heat resistance and mechanical advantages.

However, due to their high rigidity and strong self-aggregation, aromatic polymers are insoluble in organic solvents and water, which hampers their processing and further development. Current solubilization methods mainy rely on laborious and costly installation of side-chains onto the polymer backbone, furthermore resulting in undesired property changes.

To address this issue, scientists from Tokyo Tech's Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science in Japan studied the water-solubilization of such hard-to-handle, insoluble aromatic polymers utilizing so-called bent aromatic amphiphiles (i.e., surfactants).

Published in Angewandte Chemie, Shinji Aoyama, Lorenzo Catti, and Michito Yoshizawa demonstrate that anthracene-based amphiphileAAand its pentamethylbenzene derivativePBSdeveloped in their laboratory, are capable of solubilizing various insoluble aromatic polymers in water with high efficiency through encircling.

AA and PBS are representatives of a new class of amphiphiles, consisting of a hydrophobic bent aromatic framework featuring two hydrophilic side-chains. In water, these aromatic amphiphiles form micelle-like nanocapsules that can encapsulate a wide variety of hydrophobic molecules.

For the water-solubilization, the polymer and aromatic amphiphile were subjected to a simple grinding-sonication protocol. UV-visible analysis of the obtained clear aqueous solutions clearly showed new absorption bands derived from the solubilized polymers.

The high generality of the the methodology allowed solubilization of several polymers, including poly(para-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole)) (PBO; Zylon), poly(benzimidazobenzophenanthroline) (BBL) and notoriously insoluble poly(para-phenylene) (PP). Under the same conditions, the water solubilization efficiency was found to be more than 50 times higher than that with coventional amphiphiles (SDS and DTAC).

"Besides efficient water-solubilization, we were surprised to find that the resultant PP solution exhibits unprecedented strong bluish fluorescence (30% quantum yield (F F )). While PP shows only weak fluorescence in the solid state, the fluorescence could be increased by a factor of ~10 using our nanocapsulation strategy", says Dr. Catti.

Structural analysis of the solubilized polymers was conducted via atomic force microscopy (AFM). The obtained data, in combination with molecular modeling studies, indicated solubilization of the polymers as small bundles (~1 nm in thickness) encircled by the aromatic amphiphiles.

Importantly, aqueous processing of the solubilized polymers into thin films was achieved through a simple filtration protocol. The obtained sub-micrometer thick films were shown to consist of a compact network of tightly entangled polymer fibers, as evidenced by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Filtration of mixed polymer solutions furthermore provided access to multicomponent polymer films (e.g., PBO-BBL). The recovered amphiphiles were fully reusable, further contributing to the sustainability of the methodology.

The team concludes, "While the focus of this study was placed on 1D polymers, we are convinced that the generality of the method will allow us to process of a wide range of 2D and 3D polymers in the future. Doping and processing of these polymers is expected to contribute to the development of unprecedented aromatic materials."
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Newly described tarantula species Chaetopelma persianum, commonly referred to as the Persian Gold Tarantula. Credit: Kari Kaunisto

The Persian Gold Tarantula (Chaetopelma persianum) is a newly described species recently discovered in northwestern Iran. In fact, the "woolly, golden hairs" the scientists observed and examined on a single specimen, were one of the features so unique that it was not necessary for additional individuals to be collected and physically studied. It was clear enough that it was a species previously unknown to the scientific community.

The paper, authored by Iranian arachnologist and taxonomist Dr. Alireza Zamani (University of Turku, Finland) and his Canadian colleague Rick C. West, was published in ZooKeys on the observance of the Tarantula Appreciation Day: the 8th of August.

The new species belongs to Chaetopelma, a relatively small genus, distributed in Crete, Sudan, and the Middle East. It is also one of the only two tarantula genera inhabiting the Mediterranean region.

The newly published discovery also presents the first record of this genus in Iran and the third known species of tarantulas in the country. Additionally, it extends the known range of Chaetopelma spiders by almost 350 km eastwards.

The name of the new to science species, Chaetopelma persianum, pays tribute to its country of occurrence, as Iran has historically been known as Persia. The authors suggest "Persian Gold Tarantula" as a colloquial name for the species.

This tarantula is an obligate burrower and inhabits high elevations in well-vegetated mountainous regions of the northern Zagros Mountains. The collected specimen used to describe the new species was found in a self-made ground burrow on sloped rocky ground, amidst sparse low vegetation and grasses.

The newly described tarantula species (Chaetopelma persianum) seen in a defensive posture. Credit: Kari Kaunisto

It all started with local nature enthusiast Mehdi Gavahyan, who photographed a wandering male and sent the photo to Zamani. Having figured that the spider was likely a species currently unknown to science, the scientist asked Gavahyan to team up with Amir Hossein Aghaei, a nature enthusiast and a friend, and send him specimens of these spiders for further examination. However, Gavahyan and Aghaei managed to only collect and send a single female specimen that would later become the spider used in the species description.

Additionally, thanks to local citizen scientists and naturalists, the authors of the study later got hold of photos of another two males of the same genus, taken very close to the type locality of the new species: one in Sardasht in West Azerbaijan Province of Iran, and the other in the surroundings of Sulaymaniyah in Iraq. While it is highly probable that both these males belong to Ch. persianum, this cannot be confirmed until further examination of collected material from both sexes is conducted.

"Looking ahead, we believe that more comprehensive investigations employing integrative methods would greatly benefit our knowledge about the Chaetopelma spiders," say the researchers.

"Additionally, further collection efforts in lesser-sampled or completely unexplored regions, such as Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iraq, eastern Turkey and western Iran, could lead to the discovery of additional Chaetopelma species or records. These findings would be instrumental in gaining a more comprehensive understanding of the taxonomy and distribution of this genus."

More information: Shan Tong et al, Podarkeopsis chinensis sp. nov. (Annelida, Hesionidae) from southeastern China, ZooKeys (2023). DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1173.106112 Journal information: ZooKeys
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Firefighters are using water bombers to battle fierce blazes in Portugal.

Hundreds of firefighters were on Tuesday battling a wildfire that has burned for four days in Portugal, which, like neighboring Spain, is sweltering in a heat wave that has triggered widespread weather alerts.

The Iberian Peninsula is bearing the brunt of climate change in Europe, witnessing increasingly intense heat waves, droughts and wildfires.

The temperature rose to 46.4 degrees Celsius (115.5 degrees Fahrenheit) in Santarem, central Portugal, on Mondaya record for 2023according to provisional data from the meteorological office.

Some areas of Portugal were forecasts to hit 40C on Tuesday.

The met office in Spain said the heat there was expected to top 44C on Tuesday and Wednesday, which is predicted to be the fiercest day of this heat wave, the third this year.

On Tuesday, around 900 firefighters backed by 10 water-bomber planes were battling a blaze that has already burned thousands of hectares in Odemira, southwestern Portugal, near the southern tourist mecca of the Algarve.

Portugal's civil protection authority said the perimeter of the wildfire had been "stabilized" overnight on Monday but there were still "two critical points" that required "a lot of effort".

Some 20 inland villages and a number of rural tourist sites were evacuated on Monday, bringing the number displaced since Saturday to 1,500.

Around 40 people, including 28 fire officers, have been given emergency medical treatment.

Heat wave alerts

A separate wildfire that has already destroyed around 7,000 hectares (17,300 acres) in Leiria, central Portugal, calmed somewhat overnight on Monday.

Across the country, nearly 2,800 firefighters and 16 water-bombers were in action on Tuesday.

Weather warnings remained in place in both Portugal and Spain.

Much of the southern half of Spain was on orange alert on Tuesday.

The Spanish met office (AEMET) issued maximum red alerts for parts of Andalusia in the south, the Madrid region in the center and the Basque Country in the far north.

More than 1,000 hectares of land were destroyed by flames in Spain over the weekend.

A fourth large wildfire broke out on Monday in Estremadura, central Spain, near the border with Portugal. Firefighters were unable to contain it overnight.

In total, wildfires have destroyed 100,000 hectares of land across the Iberian Peninsula this year, according to preliminary estimates. This is on top of the record 400,000 hectares destroyed last year.

 2023 AFP
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Known as non-locality, electrical stimuli passed between neighboring electrodes can also affect non-neighboring electrodes. Credit: Mario Rojas / UC San Diego

We often believe computers are more efficient than humans. After all, computers can complete a complex math equation in a moment and can also recall the name of that one actor we keep forgetting. However, human brains can process complicated layers of information quickly, accurately, and with almost no energy input: recognizing a face after only seeing it once or instantly knowing the difference between a mountain and the ocean.

These simple human tasks require enormous processing and energy input from computers, and even then, with varying degrees of accuracy.

Creating brain-like computers with minimal energy requirements would revolutionize nearly every aspect of modern life. Quantum Materials for Energy Efficient Neuromorphic Computing (Q-MEEN-C)a nationwide consortium led by the University of California San Diegohas been at the forefront of this research.

UC San Diego Assistant Professor of Physics Alex Frano is co-director of Q-MEEN-C and thinks of the center's work in phases. In the first phase, he worked closely with President Emeritus of University of California and Professor of Physics Robert Dynes, as well as Rutgers Professor of Engineering Shriram Ramanathan. Together, their teams were successful in finding ways to create or mimic the properties of a single brain element (such as a neuron or synapse) in a quantum material.

Now, in phase two, new research from Q-MEEN-C, published in Nano Letters, shows that electrical stimuli passed between neighboring electrodes can also affect non-neighboring electrodes. Known as non-locality, this discovery is a crucial milestone in the journey toward new types of devices that mimic brain functions known as neuromorphic computing.

"In the brain it's understood that these non-local interactions are nominalthey happen frequently and with minimal exertion," stated Frano, one of the paper's co-authors. "It's a crucial part of how the brain operates, but similar behaviors replicated in synthetic materials are scarce."

Like many research projects now bearing fruit, the idea to test whether non-locality in quantum materials was possible came about during the pandemic. Physical lab spaces were shuttered, so the team ran calculations on arrays that contained multiple devices to mimic the multiple neurons and synapses in the brain. In running these tests, they found that non-locality was theoretically possible.

When labs reopened, they refined this idea further and enlisted UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering Associate Professor Duygu Kuzum, whose work in electrical and computer engineering helped them turn a simulation into an actual device.

This involved taking a thin film of nickelatea "quantum material" ceramic that displays rich electronic propertiesinserting hydrogen ions, and then placing a metal conductor on top. A wire is attached to the metal so that an electrical signal can be sent to the nickelate. The signal causes the gel-like hydrogen atoms to move into a certain configuration and when the signal is removed, the new configuration remains.

"This is essentially what a memory looks like," stated Frano. "The device remembers that you perturbed the material. Now you can fine tune where those ions go to create pathways that are more conductive and easier for electricity to flow through."

Traditionally, creating networks that transport sufficient electricity to power something like a laptop requires complicated circuits with continuous connection points, which is both inefficient and expensive. The design concept from Q-MEEN-C is much simpler because the non-local behavior in the experiment means all the wires in a circuit do not have to be connected to each other. Think of a spider web, where movement in one part can be felt across the entire web.

This is analogous to how the brain learns: not in a linear fashion, but in complex layers. Each piece of learning creates connections in multiple areas of the brain, allowing us to differentiate not just trees from dogs, but an oak tree from a palm tree or a golden retriever from a poodle.

To date, these pattern recognition tasks that the brain executes so beautifully, can only be simulated through computer software. AI programs like ChatGPT and Bard use complex algorithms to mimic brain-based activities like thinking and writing. And they do it really well. But without correspondingly advanced hardware to support it, at some point software will reach its limit.

Frano is eager for a hardware revolution to parallel the one currently happening with software, and showing that it's possible to reproduce non-local behavior in a synthetic material inches scientists one step closer. The next step will involve creating more complex arrays with more electrodes in more elaborate configurations.

"This is a very important step forward in our attempts to understand and simulate brain functions," said Dynes, who is also a co-author. "Showing a system that has non-local interactions leads us further in the direction toward how our brains think. Our brains are, of course, much more complicated than this but a physical system that is capable of learning must be highly interactive and this is a necessary first step. We can now think of longer range coherence in space and time."

"It's widely understood that in order for this technology to really explode, we need to find ways to improve the hardwarea physical machine that can perform the task in conjunction with the software," Frano stated. "The next phase will be one in which we create efficient machines whose physical properties are the ones that are doing the learning. That will give us a new paradigm in the world of artificial intelligence."

More information: Ravindra Singh Bisht et al, Spatial Interactions in Hydrogenated Perovskite Nickelate Synaptic Networks, Nano Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c02076 Journal information: Nano Letters
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Figure 1. Synthesis method of polycarbonate, (a) The phosgene method, (b) The photo on-demand synthesis method previously developed by this group, (c) The newly developed photo on-demand interfacial polymerization method. Credit: Kobe University

As an engineering plastic having high transparency and impact resistance, polycarbonate (PC) is employed in eyeglass lenses, camera lenses, DVDs, automobile headlights and bulletproof glass.

The industrial production thereof is mainly performed by means of interfacial polymerization reacting highly reactive phosgene with alcohol at the interface of water and an organic solvent. However, because phosgene is extremely toxic, a synthesis method not employing it has been actively studied from the perspective of safety.

In recent years, phosgene substitutes (diphenyl carbonate, etc.) has been employed in the synthesis of relatively low molecular weight PC, but for the manufacture of high-grade PC with a large molecular weight, there was no alternative to using the conventionally very-more-reactive phosgene.

With the objective of developing a new chemical reaction enabling the synthesis of safe, inexpensive, simple and low environmental load carbonates, the research group of Associate Professor Akihiko Tsuda of Kobe University Graduate School of Science has worked on the development of an interfacial polymerization reaction by means of the photo-on-demand organic synthesis method developed by that same group.

They discovered that when ultraviolet light was shone on a mixed solution of aqueous sodium hydroxide, chloroform and alcohol (in a three-phase separated state of the gaseous phase, aqueous phase and the organic phase), while oxygen gas is being bubbled through it, a reaction is generated at the interfaces and the target polycarbonate could be obtained at a high-yield. This new method is suitable to the small-scale synthesis of a wide range of carbonate products.

The research team has obtained patents on the photo-on-demand interfacial synthesis method of carbonates in U.S., Singapore, Japan, China, Germany and eight other countries. A paper relating to this study was published in ACS Omega.

The research team succeeded in synthesizing carbonates safely, inexpensively, simply and with a low environmental load by merely shining ultraviolet light on a mixed solution of commercially available chloroform, alcohol and an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide. Generally, because an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide breaks down both chloroform and phosgene, and while it would be expected to prevent reactions, surprisingly contrary to that expectation, the reaction was promoted.

Currently, most polycarbonates are manufactured by reacting phosgene gas with alcohol. In the synthesis method described here there is no need to directly handle phosgene, because the required amount of phosgene is generated by irradiating the light to the chloroform solvent.

The research team succeeded in synthesizing four types of commercially available carbonate, three types of fluorinated carbonate (used as a phosgene substitute), three types of general use polycarbonate, one type of a specific fluorinated polycarbonate and six types of urea derivatives.

Whereas the conventional method employing phosgene directly is preferred to large-scale production of a small variety of carbonates, this synthesis method is preferred to the production of a wide variety of polycarbonates on a small scale. This could contribute to the implementation of a carbon-neutral and sustainable society with low CO 2 emissions, energy consumption and wastes. This study was supported by Adaptable and Seamless Technology Transfer Program Through Target Driven R&D (JST A-STEP SEED Oriented Results).

Phosgene (COCl 2 ) is used as the raw material for pharmaceutical intermediates and polymers. The worldwide phosgene market continues to increase at a scale of several percentage points per year at present, with 89 million tons produced annually. However, because it is highly toxic, there are active studies on the development of compounds and chemical reactions which can replace it for safety reasons.

The research group of Associate Professor Akihiko Tsuda discovered for the first time that when ultraviolet light is shone on the chloroform solvent, the photochemical oxidation occured to produce phosgene with high efficiency (Patent No. 5900920).

Furthermore, the research team discovered a synthetic method in which the reaction substrates and catalysts for reacting with phosgene are dissolved in chloroform in advance, and when phosgene is generated by irradiating with light, they react immediately to give the product. (Patent No. 6057449). This method enables the implementation of organic synthesis using phosgene, while apparently not adding phosgene. This research team named that effect "the photo-on-demand organic synthesis method," and succeeded in synthesizing a great number of useful organic chemicals and polymers.

When compared with the conventional direct handling of phosgene, the photo-on-demand organic synthesis method features safety and economy, as well as a low environmental load, and is receiving a lot of attention currently from industry and academia as a next-generation novel chemical synthesis method.

A number of chemical reactions using phosgene are known and used in industrial production. The research team has currently discovered that the photo-on-demand organic synthesis method can be used in most of these chemical reactions, and continues that research, while actively announcing that activity in journal articles, conferences and to mass media.

Figure 2. A typical example of the synthesis of polycarbonates using the photo on-demand interfacial polymerization method. Credit: Kobe University

This study employs a heterogenous solution mixing alcohol, chloroform (CHCl 3 ) and an aqueous sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution, traversing the three phases of a gaseous phase, an aqueous phase and an organic phase, and succeeded in developing a new photo-on-demand interfacial reaction.

Using this photochemical reaction, the research team succeeded to synthesize carbonates from aromatic alcohols, and polycarbonates (PC) from aromatic diols, enabling a safe and practical scale, high-yield, simple, inexpensive and low environmental load synthesis (Fig. 1, reaction c; Fig. 2). Compared with some of the reactions in a homogenous solution using organic bases developed previously by this research team (Fig. 1, reaction b), there are the benefits that synthesis costs can be reduced, savings can be made in the purification, as well as suppressing the discoloration of the products.

The photochemical oxidation of chloroform to phosgene could be triggered by vigorously stirring the sample solution under oxygen bubbling and irradiating both the gas and liquid phases with UV light from a low-pressure mercury lamp. Because an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) generally decomposes chloroform and phosgene, it could be expected to prevent the reaction, but surprisingly, it promotes the reaction, contrary to that expectation. It is thought that because the solution is separated into the two phases of the aqueous phase on the organic phase, the decomposition is suppressed, and the reaction is promoted.

It is expected that the alcohol and water competitively react with the generated phosgene in situ, at the interface of the organic phase/aqueous phase and the aqueous phase/gaseous phase, generating carbonate. The highly volatile alkyl alcohols diffused in the gaseous phase did not cause the reactions, but carbonates were obtained at a high yield from commercially available aromatic alcohols and diols having electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents.

Most of the industrial production of polycarbonate is currently performed by the interfacial polymerization method using phosgene directly (Fig. 1, reaction a). The method described here avoids the direct handling of that dangerous phosgene, and is an innovative and practical chemical reaction enabling the synthesis of polycarbonate by a photo-on-demand interfacial synthesis reaction of chloroform and alcohol.

More information: Akihiko Tsuda et al, Photo-on-Demand In Situ Phosgenation Reactions That Cross Three Phases of a Heterogeneous Solution of Chloroform and Aqueous NaOH, ACS Omega (2023). DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c04290 Journal information: ACS Omega
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NCAR scientist Jacqueline Witte (kneeling) and software engineer Isabel Suhr (standing) measure the distance between sonic anemometer arms on an Integrated Surface Flux System (ISFS) weather tower. As the snowpack melts, they move the instruments down to stay close to the surface. This allows them to collect data on what happens to snow and water vapor at different levels in the air. Credit: Rosalyn Stilling, UCAR

Scientists have wrapped up a major field project high in the Colorado mountains that will eventually help water resource managers to better quantify critical water resources stored in mountain snowpacks.

The Sublimation of Snow (SOS) project, which ran from October 2022 to May 2023, aims to advance understanding of the process of snow evaporating into the atmosphere instead of melting into water. This process, known as sublimation, has a major effect on water resources in the western United States, where runoff from mountain snowpack is needed to ensure adequate water for farms, businesses, and growing numbers of residents.

In order to improve predictions of water availability in the spring and summer, officials must be able to quantify how much water is being lost to sublimation. The main culprits of sublimation are sunshine beating down on the surface of the snow and dry winds sweeping across it.

The SOS project was led by the University of Washington and the Aspen Global Change Institute in collaboration with NCAR.

To observe what happens to snow as it falls and piles up on the ground, scientists set up the SOS field site near the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory outside of Crested Butte, Colorado. The site consisted of four towers, 1020 meters high, loaded with a variety of instruments that collected data on wind speed, snowfall, and blowing snow. This enabled the scientists to measure the depth of the snowpack, temperature of the snowpack surface, and intensity of the sun.

The three-pronged claws on this sonic anemometer are 3-D wind sensors that use sound to measure wind direction and speed. These measurements are vital for understanding exactly how sublimation occurs. Credit: NCAR & UCAR

One of the early findings that has emerged from the data is that blowing snow is sublimating higher above the snowpack than previously thought.

"As the wind lofts up the loose snow on the surface of the snowpack, the sensors are showing that a portion of the blowing snow is sublimating into the air rather than falling back down," said NCAR scientist Ethan Gutmann. "The 20-meter tower showed that wind is blowing plumes of snow higher than the instruments can measure, so it is likely that more sublimation is occurring even higher in the air."

He and his colleagues said they're looking forward to further analyzing the data and narrowing the range of uncertainty around how much snow is sublimating.

"The brighter the sun and the higher the wind, the more will be sublimated," said Isabel Suhr, an NCAR software engineer and field technician supporting the SOS campaign. "It could be anywhere from 10% to 90% of total snowfall that is sublimating. We don't really know how much."

Provided by NCAR & UCAR
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A Louis Vuitton crossover bag bearing the Supreme label. Credit: Shutterstock

In 2017, Louis Vuitton caused a stir in the luxury industry by partnering with the New York skateboarding brand Supreme.

This collaboration became a milestone in the luxury industry, showcasing the potential of unexpected partnerships between luxury brands and an unconventional partner seemingly at the opposite end of the design spectrum, a street wear brand.

The iconic brand raised interest again when, in 2019, it partnered with the video game franchise League of Legends.

It may appear odd for a renowned French luxury design house and a game developer to team up. After all, their audiences are quite different. Whereas anyone with an internet connection can jump into a "free-to-play" game, few can afford a luxury brand.

So why are luxury brands collaborating with street brands, cartoons and video games? Part of the reason is their success with young Asian consumers, who are driving demand for luxury consumer goods.

Given their growing importance for the luxury industry, we conducted a study of unconventional luxury brand collaborations. We wanted to investigate why this strategy appeals to Chinese luxury consumers of the post-1990s generation.

The study reveals potential opportunities for Australian brands, for instance, through partnerships with old-world luxury brands.

The luxury strategy

Luxury typically brings to mind ultra-expensive products such as yachts and private jets that are not within most people's reach. However, there is another kind of luxury in which products that are not inherently expensive, like cosmetics, perfume or even chocolate, can be luxurious through their brand's prestige.

Business managers call this approach the luxury strategy. It has specific rules that luxury managers must follow. One of them is that luxury brands must remain above controversy, using aesthetics and tradition to signal exclusivity. Luxury brands are timeless because they resist the whims of fashion and don't date.

New ways to convey exclusivity and uniqueness in digital and experiential contexts are emerging. For example, consumption experiences can feel like "a moment of luxury" if they convey a pleasurable escape from day-to-day routines.

As a result, new forms of luxury consumption, like second-hand luxury markets, are popping up.

While luxury brands are known to collaborate with artists, they have been pushing the boundaries of the luxury strategy by teaming up with unexpected non-luxury partners. One early example was between the Swedish fast-fashion retail outlet H&M and designer Karl Lagerfeld in 2004.

A partnership between a designer house and a fast-fashion retailer builds upon each other's strengths, brand prestige and mass distribution. However, luxury brands are growing more creative with their partnerships.

There are renowned luxury pairings like Fendi x Versace but also pairings with streetwear brands including Adidas x Gucci, with celebrities such as Kanye West x Louis Vuitton, anime characters like Doraemon x Gucci, and now video game franchises like Fortnite x Balenciaga.

These collaborations are becoming increasingly popular, especially with Chinese consumers.

Why do young Chinese consumers love luxury collaborations?

Australian designers and producers of high-end goods must keep young adult Chinese consumers top of mind given the growing importance of Asian consumers in the luxury industry.

Reports by consulting agencies Bain & Company and McKinsey predicted that, by 2025, East Asia can become the world's largest personal luxury goods market. China alone will consume about half the global market value of luxury goods.

In 2019, McKinsey reported that "Chinese consumers are now the engine of worldwide growth in luxury spending," driven in part by consumers "born between 1980 and 2015 [who] are reshaping global luxury."

Our study focused on the generational divide that is a uniquely Chinese phenomenon.

The 1990s economic reforms and China's one-child policy shaped the generation. In 1979, a government program restricted (most) Chinese families to having one child each. The policy was updated to two children per family in 2016 and three in 2021.

During the 1990s, the media called lone children "little emperors" because they became the sole recipient of the family's attention and financial support.

Analysts often subdivide the cohort into an affluent post-1980s generation consolidating their careers and a post-1990s generation characterized by urban lifestyle and social media savviness.

The post-1990s cohort of Chinese young adults, now in their 20s or early 30s, is characterized by their economic prowess, always-online presence, international mobility, and taste for luxury brands.

We find that Chinese luxury consumers of the post-1990s generation appreciate when luxury brands collaborate with non-luxury partners seemingly at the opposite spectrum of design, image and values. These collaborations are exciting when they are ephemeral, trendy and playful.

Ephemeral collaborations are transitory, existing only for a limited time, and will not reappear. Trendy collaborations help consumers navigate the ebbs and flows of social media to capture novelty and hype. Playful collaborations appeal to a youthful audience by mocking traditions and not being too serious.

In the words of one of our respondents, "Most of my friends in China like these collaborations [] Sometimes they are like: "Oh! Wow, your limited edition! Where? How did you get this? Oh my gosh! You must have connections."

Collaborations are instantly recognizable in social media. When asked why purchase a collaboration, a respondent said, "Selfies (giggles). I mean, I am going to take a selfie with it. You must post it! (giggles). Others will see it and ask me how I got it."

A rising opportunity for Australian firms

The popularity of unconventional luxury brand collaborations among young adult Chinese consumers opens timely strategic opportunities for Australian designers and producers of high-end goods.

The young adult Chinese segment remains important in Australia because of its purchasing power and influence in redefining luxury. By seeking collaborations that are ephemeral, trendy and playful, Australian brands can meet this segment's preferences and adapt to the changing rules of luxury.

Australian brands can also position themselves as attractive partners for fresh collaborations. As global luxury brands seek partners who, in the words of one of our study participants, "bring something new to break through old-fashioned limits," Aussie brands can offer just that.

Upcoming Australian designers are known for their effortless elegance, down-to-earth aesthetics and their values of sustainability and ethics, making them great potential partners for luxury brands.

Aussie brands and consumers are intrepid innovators in outdoor gear and adventure activities, like water sports, offering hype, trendiness and authenticity.

This sets Aussie brands up well to enter the coveted luxury market, gaining a foothold in the fast-growing Chinese market and opening opportunities worldwide.

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:

A dead banteng with Lumpy Skin Disease. The animal was also badly injured in a snare. Credit: WCS Cambodia

Scientists from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the Ministry of Environment, and the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries of the Royal Government of Cambodia have documented the first case of lumpy skin disease (LSD) in wildlife in Cambodia.

The case involved a banteng (Bos javanicus), an endangered wild cattle species, that was discovered by community patrol members from Our Future Organization while on patrol in Phnom TnoutPhnom Pok Wildlife Sanctuary in September 2021.

It is suspected that the banteng contracted the virus from infected livestock grazing nearby as the virus had already been detected in domestic cattle in the country at that time. To protect free-ranging wild bovids from LSD, a vaccination campaign was launched for domestic cattle ranging within a 20 km radius of protected areas in Mondulkiri and Preah Vihear provinces. WCS and partners published the effort this month in Frontiers in Veterinary Science.

LSD is a highly contagious viral disease that primarily affects domestic cattle and buffalo but can infect wild ruminants. The virus is transmitted through biting insects and contact with infected animals or their bodily fluids. The disease is characterized by the appearance of raised, fluid-filled bumps on the skin, fever, and other symptoms. In severe cases, LSD can be fatal. It does not infect humans.

Through this collaborative effort between veterinarians, wildlife experts, NGOs, and government officials a total of 20,089 domestic cattle and water buffalo have been vaccinated to date around banteng habitat in Cambodia.

"This vaccination campaign serves as an example of protecting both livestock and wildlife health in parallel. Cambodia is conserving wild bovids by taking practical, preventative steps in improving livestock health," said Mr. Daro Sok, the chief of investigation, Surveillance and Control of Animal Disease for the General Directorate of Animal Health and Production.

"This joint effort to provide this vaccination to cattle may have played a crucial role in preventing a larger scale disease outbreak in both domestic and wild cattle, and helped protect community livelihoods and especially to halt public health risks. We thank the Royal Government of Cambodia and our partners for their support in this important effort," said Mr. Seng Teak, Country Director of the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) Cambodia. Since the launch of the campaign, no further cases of LSD have been reported in wild banteng or in gaur (Bos gaurus), another susceptible wild cattle species.

Although LSD is a serious threat to livestock and livelihoods around the world, data are scarce on the impact on and susceptibility of wild ruminant populations. LSD is one of several diseases emerging as a direct consequence of livestock and agricultural encroachment into wildlife habitat. Targeting prevention measures towards domestic animal hosts, as was carried out around Cambodia's protected areas, is an example of One Health in action to protect biodiversity.

More information: Alice Porco et al, Case report: Lumpy skin disease in an endangered wild banteng (Bos javanicus) and initiation of a vaccination campaign in domestic livestock in Cambodia, Frontiers in Veterinary Science (2023). DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1228505
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:

Common Noctule in a deadly trap in the inner city war zone in Ukraine. Credit: Anzhela But

Russia's war in the Ukraine has severe consequences not only for humans, it also has detrimental effects on populations of urban and semi-urban wildlife in the attacked cities and regions.

Scientists from the Ukrainian Bat Rehabilitation Center recently examined the effects of war-related damages to buildings on urban populations of one important and widespread bat species, the Common Noctule (Nyctalus noctula), in the city of Kharkiv in north-eastern Ukraine. Their findings have been published in the Journal of Applied Animal Ethics Research.

They showed that many buildings used by bats as roosts have been destroyed and approximately 7,000 bats were killed. In addition, partially destroyed buildings have become a death trap for bats, resulting in several thousand more victims.

The mission of the Ukrainian Bat Rehabilitation Center (UBRC) is to protect, rescue and conduct long-term research on bats, with the Kharkiv region as the focus of their efforts.

Kharkiv is Ukraine's second largest city and one of the places where conflicts between Ukrainian and Russian forces have been most intense to date. UBRC director Dr. Anton Vlaschenko, who is also affiliated with the Berlin-based Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW), says, "Our findings suggest that 45.1% of buildings used as wintering roosts for Common Noctules were either partially damaged or completely destroyed by shellings, which may have led to the direct killing of approximately 7,000 bats."

Additionally, the war-damaged urban environment in Kharkiv has become a deadly trap for the bats during the period of autumn migration or swarming. "Bats entered the interiors of buildings through windows that were left open or broken by blast waves, resulting in entrapment," says former Leibniz-IZW Ph.D. student Dr. Kseniia Kravchenko from the UBRC.

Windows left open by people and/or were broken by blast waves are a notable threat for migratory bats that enter the building and get trapped inside the apartments or between window frames. Some of the windows in the city are of an old double-glazed typetwo frames with a space between themand the bats end up trapped in the middle. "The issue has been known to occur in Kharkiv since the 1960s, but the war exacerbates the problem by creating ever more human-made traps for bats," reports Vlaschenko.

Before the war, UBRC scientists used to rescue up to 500 bats from such windows during the autumn bat migration. Owing to the war, the number of cases of bats trapped in partially damaged buildings and/or abandoned apartments was three times higher than in previous years. Almost all of them were Common Noctules.

The team reports that they discovered 2,836 Common Noctules trapped inside buildings damaged by shelling and that approximately 30% of them were already dead upon discovery. Noctules flies in groups and these groups can get lost in urban structures. "The size of trapped groups was clearly larger than in previous years, especially in the districts of the city most damaged by the ongoing war such as Saltivka," says Kravchenko.

During the first weeks of the full-scale war (FebruaryMarch 2022) alone, almost half of the buildings known as winter roosts of Common Noctules were partially (31.4%) or fully (13.7%) damaged by Russian shelling, which may have led to the direct killing of thousands of bats.

The number of bats present in Kharkiv in 2022 was exceptional high, as Common Noctules stayed in the Kharkiv city area all autumn. The scientists also found that these bats had a larger body mass than usual. These changes might have been a consequence of the destruction of street lights and power plants in Kharkiv and most of the settlements in Ukraine since the beginning of the war. The absence of artificial light might result in more bats entering the city, as this removed any "light barrier" for nocturnal animals and facilitated a rapid recovery of night-active insect populations.

The war has made their working condition extremely difficult, but the team of the Ukrainian Bat Rehabilitation Center remains very active and continues to save bats, gather data, run workshops and collaborate with many scientists and institutes in Ukraine and beyond, such as with the Leibniz-IZW.

More information: Anton Vlaschenko et al, The War-Damaged Urban Environment Becomes Deadly Trap for Bats: Case from Kharkiv City (NE Ukraine) in 2022, Journal of Applied Animal Ethics Research (2023). DOI: 10.1163/25889567-bja10035

Provided by Leibniz-Institut fur Zoo- und Wildtierforschung (IZW) im Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V.
By Chernor Alimamy Kamara

A helicopter with two crew members, one British and the other South African, has crash landed at Mashehwureh Village, a suburb some 15 miles away from Central Waterloo.

The crew members were rescued by the Local Unit Commander (LUC), Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Ibrahim M. Sama on the 5th August, 2023 after receiving intelligence of the crashed helicopter.

According to the two crew members, the crashed landing incident was as a result of Mechanical failure of the Rotor Blade of the helicopter. They were said to be traveling from Monrovia to Lungi Airport, then to Banjul.

The media officer and spokesperson of the Waterloo Police Division, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Alieu Jalloh confirmed that no casualties were reported from the crash site. He added that the police couldn't identify any strange luggage of police interest, but just the personal luggage of the crew.

Copyright  2023 Politico (07/08/23)
By Chernor Alimamy Kamara

After the spike in resignations, the Board of the Society for Radio Democracy 98.1 FM has allayed the fears of the public and assured everyone that there is no crisis at the broadcaster.

The Board made this clarification in a press statement dated 5th August, 2023 after the resignations of some senior staff of the institution made public.

The statement noted that the institution is simply going through a process of review and reforms as all forward-looking institutions do from time to time, in order to ensure that the station continues to effectively deliver on its mandate of championing the cause of democracy, good governance, and human rights in Sierra Leone.

It stated that the attention of the Board of Directors of the Radio was drawn to ongoing discussions on social media regarding recent resignations at the institution and the rather wild speculations doing the rounds. The Board therefore clarifies in the statement that Asmaa James who has served as Station Manager for more than a decade, had more than a year ago informed the Board that she wished to move on to other endeavours.

She was said to have eventually tendered her resignation as Station Manager effective the end of July and the Board is planning a befitting send-off for her in the near future when she returns to the country, as she is currently abroad.

The statement further noted that in a bid to revitalize the station, bring in fresh ideas, and set the station on a sustainable course to meet the current and future challenges of the media sector in the country, the Board decided to hire a consultant on a six-month contract to manage the station.

The Board described the consultant, Kakpindi Jamiru in the statement, as someone with a lot of broadcasting experience, having worked for Search for Common Ground and BBC Media Action, and provided mentoring for radio stations. He was said to have commenced work on Tuesday 1st August 2023.

The Board also decided in the statement that the position of Station Manager will be advertised before the end of the six months mandate of the consultant, and a substantive Station Manager will be appointed through a transparent process. It noted that the Deputy Station Manager, Mabel Kabba, and Producer Kadija Bangura resigned from their positions, ostensibly to pursue other opportunities.

However, in a departure notice from the former Producer Kadijah Bangura circulated on social media, she indeed confirmed her resignation from Radio Democracy. She said, it was not a decision I took lightly, but it came to a point when I felt strongly that I had to move on and challenge myself differently.

The former Deputy Station Manager, Mabel Kabba also confirmed in a statement to have tendered her resignation to the Radios management on the 2nd August, 2023, citing to seek new challenges and opportunities which she said played a crucial role in her decision.

I will never compromise my principle of fairness, honesty, objectivity and above all the fear of God no matter what, part of her statement reads

She concluded by thanking the management and Board for the opportunity they accorded her to serve in the institution.

The Board in conclusion stated that Radio Democracy will continue to provide a space for all voices to be heard and for discussion and debate on issues of national concern.

The outgoing station Manager in a verified Social Media post expresses fulfillment having served in the institution for 22 years. Twenty two years it has been ..Years of learning &growth. By the end of September 2023, I will end my journey at Radio Democracy 98.1 FM to face a season of new adventures, challenges and wins! Exploring the road not taken that will undoubtedly lead to somewhere, the post reads.

Copyright  2023 Politico (07/08/23)
By Nasratu Kargbo

President Julius Maada Bio has expressed the governments wish and determination to drastically reduce hunger in the country and make the country food self-sufficient. He made this statement at the State Opening of the Sixth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone on the 3rd of August 2023.

Speaking on his manifesto commitment, Bio said The flagship "Feed Salone" initiative is an unwavering testament to our commitment to forging a self-sufficient Sierra Leone where agricultural productivity thrives, hunger diminishes, and societal resilience flourishes.

He stated that his flagship programme will facilitate agricultural productivity, safeguard food security, and foster inclusive economic growth that will lay the foundation for sustained prosperity.

The President explained that food security is relevant in the pursuit of a stable and democratic society, stressing that it exceeds its role as a mere necessity to becoming a foundational pillar upon which the prosperity of a nation is built. He added that a government that ensures its citizens access to a dependable food supply encourages resilience, safeguards public health, and fosters social cohesion.

This symbiotic relationship between food security, democracy, and stability empowers individuals, promotes economic stability, and mitigates the perils of social unrest, he said.

Bio said that through the collection of comprehensive pledges and strategic endeavours, they embark on a transformative journey that seeks to harmonise agricultural development, economic growth, and societal progress that will firmly anchor the future of the nation on the bedrock of food sufficiency and sovereignty.

Speaking on other areas he wants to improve, the President said the government is committing to Human Capital Development, saying that they know the significance of human capital development in fostering stability and driving progress within developing nations.

He recalled that over the past five years, their flagship programme which is Free Quality School Education has propelled them to remarkable achievements, noting that it has resulted in an extraordinary surge in the number of students seeking admission to schools.

In addition, Bio stated that they have made significant strides in expanding access to higher and technical education, especially in STEM courses and that they have established technical and vocational centres across most chiefdom in the country.

He said in the next five years the government will focus on translating the achievements made in developing a highly skilled labour force that is equipped to tackle the challenges of 21stCentury industries. Bio added that their efforts will be directed towards bridging the gap in the labour force and nurturing talents for professional roles in both the private sector and the Civil Service.

With a robust policy and legislative framework, we stand poised to surpass these milestones and reach even greater heights. Our profound understanding of the significance of Foundational Learning has solidified our commitment to investing in primary and secondary education he promised.

Copyright  2023 Politico (07/08/23)
The Security Sector of Sierra Leone and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on 1st August 2023 converged in Freetown to dialogue in a bid to proffer enduring solutions to the associated problems that they conceived are an affront to the peace and stability of the country.

The Dialogue which was organised by CSO Fambul Tok in collaboration with the Security Sector attracted Security Chiefs from the Office of National Security (ONS), the Police, and Military and representatives of various CSOs in Sierra Leone.

National Security Co-ordinator and Head of ONS, Abdulai Caulker in addressing the gathering, recalled how at the end of the countrys civil conflict , a new security architecture was created that identified civil society as one of the six instruments of national power.

Mr. Caulker emphasised the importance of civil society with regard to national efforts in dealing with an emergency or complex security and governance situations .

In the course of the elections , we have had to meet with members of the CSOs , either individually or collectively, to not only update them on our security preparedness for the elections but to also harness their perspectives and contributions to ensuring that we conducted violence-free elections, the NSCoord said.

He spoke of the various roles played by the civil society organisations in helping to usher in a peaceful outcome of the Polls that he said have been acknowledged nationally and internationally.

He also mentioned the peaceful atmosphere that generally surrounded polling precincts across the country at the time, which encouraged the voters to make their choices at the ballot box, a development that he said drew commendation from both international and local observers.

In that vein, Mr. Caulker said it was critical that in post-elections Sierra Leone, stock-taking of the entire process was undertaken and performance assessments conducted.

However the security chief drew the attention of all to the threats that emanated from social media targeting individuals and groups during the electioneering period, threats that he stressed were peddled by wicked and hired bloggers whose only aim was to undermine the security of the state and give a false impression that the lives of certain group of people were in jeopardy.

He said the reality on the ground, however, has always been radically different from what has been blogged in the social media.

He said such misuse of social media has increased tensions, created an environment of mistrust, hampering electoral activities, and making life difficult for working staff of Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs).

Mr. Caulker noted that the negative use of social media has threatened the countrys democracy and encouraged people to make up stories for asylum claims.

I would like to repeat that as a security sector, whilst we reinforced zero tolerance to violence during the election period including cyber bulling and other forms of intimidation, we also underscored free speech as a fundamental element of human rights, ensuring no person or group of persons were chased or issued death threat for expressing their free speech or opinion on crucial matters related to the elections. And up to now, as far as the security sector is concerned, this essential precaution in favour of democratic liberty has not changed. There are no political prisoners, Mr.Caulker stated.

All parties to the dialogue agreed that the security sector has a critical role to play in developing the CIVIC SPACE as a critical pathway in strengthening Sierra Leones hard won democracy.

After detailed deliberations over a number of Thematic issues around CSO engagements with elections in Sierra (including Elections Observation), the following recommendations were adopted:

1) CSOs to continue engagements across Sierra Leone in the National security architectures organs of the Chiefdom security committee (CHISEC), District Security Committee(DISEC) ad provincial security committee (PROSEC) and all their processes.

2) Enhance CSO understanding of the National Security architecture through a dedicated platform facilitated by ONS.

3) Security sector to be proactive and facilitate timely investigations of all reported cases of threats of violence during political events including but not limited to subnational and national elections.

4) Security sector to facilitate public information and education during electoral cycles on the legal framework, Roles of elections observers in support of credible elections.

5) Security Sector, CSOs and the public to ensure continued active condemnation of threats of violence against election management personnel including election observers.

6) The security sector to roll out public awareness initiatives and remedies available to citizens from the SLP and other security sector entities to report cases of threat of violence especially during electoral cycles in Sierra Leone.

7) Ensure full application of policies that prevent security actors who openly participate in politics especially during electoral cycles.

8) The reactivation of the constitutional review press with a view of addressing the lacuna in the 1991 constitution of Sierra Leone.

9) Security Sector to consider the establishment of public complaint centres across the country as well as ensure adequate mechanism are in place for witness protection.

10) Capacity building should be facilitated for CSOs on Cyber Legislation, Cyber threats and handling misinformation.

11) Political parties must be encouraged to work with and build trust in election management bodies.

12) The state must endeavour through the security sector to at all times ensure the rule of law is upheld.

13) Political tolerance by state authorities to accept feedback and respect the views expressed by CSOs on security and other National issues

14) EMBs to facilitate timely and correct information sharing prior, during and after elections

A communique was then developed at the meeting and signed by Mr. Abdulai Caulker as National Security Coordinator , Mr. John Caulker Executive Director of Fambul Tok and regional representatives of CSOs.

Copyright  2023 Politico (07/08/23)
By: Sorie Ibrahim Fofanah

The Sierra Leone Government has deployed 110 new doctors across the country, which has had a paucity of medics especially in the provinces. Fifty of them were sent to the countryside and the remaining 50 in and around Freetown.

Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Austin Demby said the number of doctors  who will be doing their houseman-ship for about two years  represented a 20 per cent increase in the current number of doctors in public service.

Speaking in an interview with Politico, he said that of the little over 500 doctors there was in the country, only 350 of them were in clinical care for a population of around 7 million.

Sierra Leone is faced with the issue of inadequate medical doctors to match up with the growing number of the population. It is therefore important to have at least five to seven thousand doctors to meet the basic needs for the country, the minister went on.

He said that when he succeeded Dr Alpha Wurrie as the minister one of his engagements with him was the need to increase the enrollment as well as the quality of medical students from fifty to sixty every year which he said was now being realised.

Dr Demby said there plans underway to expand medical school to Njala University and possibly the University of Makeni (UNIMAK) even though he said they were pleased with the enrolment numbers at the current medical school of College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences which admitted 300 students last year and more than 400 this year..

Despite that satisfaction, he said the country needed around 6,000 doctors to meet the basic needs of its people.

He said that the current and future doctors graduating needed the hospital facilities and equipment to be able to put their craft into practice and look after the health needs of the people.

Dr. Demby said that some anonymous donors had given some money, which was being used to invest in the preservice training as well as the post-service training for medical doctors.

One of the things we will be able to do is to invest in the preservice and as well as the post service training for medical doctors, the minister said.

Dilating on the set of 110 fresh graduates doctors, the minister said that 50 of them had already finished a year of their two-year houseman-ship while the remaining 50 would were beginners who would be working under a high level of supervision.

He went on to say to make things easy for the young doctors, as they go out, we have agreed to give them an allowance to cover their accommodation, which he said would be the leone equivalent of $ 150 in addition to their salaries.

He said the young doctors expressed their desire to pay back to the country, as they were more needed in Sierra Leone than abroad, heaping praises on them by calling them bright, determined and intelligent.

He said their message to them was thus: The Government and the people of Sierra Leone paid for your training [and you are ] funded by taxpayers resources.

Meanwhile, Dr. Demby reiterated that they would be reaching out and providing support to the recruited medical doctors out in the field.

Copyright  2023 Politico (07/08/23)
By Nasratu Kargbo

Proprietor and Principal of Education Centre for the Blind and Visually Impaired Thomas Alieu has expressed frustration over what he described as repeated thievery of the schools property.

Speaking to Politico on the 4th of August 2023, Alieu highlighted the challenges they face as an institution, saying: Thieves always invade our place and take away our property including machines, hence my cry for help for parimeter fence.

He said that he had started fencing the other end of the building and fixed a gate, explaining that he hasnt been fully capacitated to finish the other end. According to the Proprietor, the other end which is not fenced has exposed the campus to thieves, adding that they have broken into their place on several occasions.

The Principal further explained how a few weeks ago they stole a generator, gate, grinding machine, steel door, and other equipment in the metal workshop department where their students get trained on technical welding skills.

Highlighting other challenges, Alieu said his institution does not have vehicle to transport the visually impaired students to and from their homes and campus.

He explained that some of their visually impaired students who have attempted to go to campus without aid have been knocked down by motor bikes and vehicles, noting that this has led to a drastic reduction in the student population at the institution. He said the institution has no boarding facility which could have avoided the students everyday commuting.

He recalled that he had visited London in 2013 and that some people had helped the institution with a bus, stating that since the bus got faulty theyve been unable to get another.

I have made several appeals for assistant, especially from the Ministry of Education the Proprietor said. He explained that years ago the Ministry gave buses to other special needs institution, but left out his institution, adding that he has met and wrote an official letter to the then Minister of Basic and Senior School Education (MBSSE) Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, however nothing has been done in that regard.

In addition, the proprietor mentioned that they do not have access to clean water, explaining that the water they have access to is the stream water which according to him is not hygienic for consumption.

He said that he has to pay an amount of one thousand five hundred Leones (NLE1, 500) to get water in the school compound.

The school was established in 2006, with intention of catering for only the visually impaired, however, according to the Proprietor they now cater for other persons with special needs and the general public. The institution offers diploma and certificate courses and is accredited by the NCTVA.

The campus which is located at Main Motor Road Grafton is halfway fenced, with the exposed side facing the street and car wash centre. The institution has different departments such as catering, welding, tailoring, banking and finance, social work, and cosmetology amongst others. Another part of the campus such as the welding department is very close to the car wash and a nearby stream, which attracts many passersby.

Apart from the different departments, the main campus building holds eight classes and the principals office which looks decent and well taken care of.

Copyright  2023 Politico (07/08/23)
Deanna Denham Hughes was stunned when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer last year. She was only 32. She had no family history of cancer, and tests found no genetic link. Hughes wondered why she, an otherwise healthy Black mother of two, would develop a malignancy known as a silent killer.

After emergency surgery to remove the mass, along with her ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes, and appendix, Hughes said, she saw an Instagram post in which a woman with uterine cancer linked her condition to chemical hair straighteners.

I almost fell over, she said from her home in Smyrna, Georgia.

When Hughes was about 4, her mother began applying a chemical straightener, or relaxer, to her hair every six to eight weeks. It burned, and it smelled awful, Hughes recalled. But it was just part of our routine to deal with my hair.

The routine continued until she went to college and met other Black women who wore their hair naturally. Soon, Hughes quit relaxers.

Social and economic pressures have long compelled Black girls and women to straighten their hair to conform to Eurocentric beauty standards. But chemical straighteners are stinky and costly and sometimes cause painful scalp burns. Mounting evidence now shows they could be a health hazard.

Relaxers can contain carcinogens, like formaldehyde-releasing agents, phthalates, and other endocrine-disrupting compounds, according to National Institutes of Health studies. The compounds can mimic the bodys hormones and have been linked to breast, uterine, and ovarian cancers, studies show.

African American womens often frequent and lifelong application of chemical relaxers to their hair and scalp might explain why hormone-related cancers kill disproportionately more Black than white women, say researchers and cancer doctors.

Whats in these products is harmful, said Tamarra James-Todd, an epidemiology professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, who has studied straightening products for the past 20 years.

She believes manufacturers, policymakers, and physicians should warn consumers that relaxers might cause cancer and other health problems.

But regulators have been slow to act, physicians have been reluctant to take up the cause, and racism continues to dictate fashion standards that make it tough for women to quit relaxers, products so addictive theyre known as creamy crack.

Michelle Obama straightened her hair when Barack served as president because she believed Americans were not ready to see her in braids, the former first lady said after leaving the White House. The U.S. military still prohibited popular Black hairstyles like dreadlocks and twists while the nations first Black president was in office.

California in 2019 became the first of nearly two dozen states to ban race-based hair discrimination. Last year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed similar legislation, known as the CROWN Act, for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair. But the bill failed in the Senate.

The need for legislation underscores the challenges Black girls and women face at school and in the workplace.

You have to pick your struggles, said Atlanta-based surgical oncologist Ryland Gore. She informs her breast cancer patients about the increased cancer risk from relaxers. Despite her knowledge, however, Gore continues to use chemical straighteners on her own hair, as she has since she was about 7 years old.

Your hair tells a story, she said.

In conversations with patients, Gore sometimes also talks about how African American women once wove messages into their braids about the route to take on the Underground Railroad as they sought freedom from slavery.

Its just a deep discussion, one that touches on culture, history, and research into current hairstyling practices, she said. The data is out there. So patients should be warned, and then they can make a decision.

The first hint of a connection between hair products and health issues surfaced in the 1990s. Doctors began seeing signs of sexual maturation in Black babies and young girls who developed breasts and pubic hair after using shampoo containing estrogen or placental extract. When the girls stopped using the shampoo, the hair and breast development receded, according to a study published in the journal Clinical Pediatrics in 1998.

Since then, James-Todd and other researchers have linked chemicals in hair products to a variety of health issues more prevalent among Black women  from early puberty to preterm birth, obesity, and diabetes.

In recent years, researchers have focused on a possible connection between ingredients in chemical relaxers and hormone-related cancers, like the one Hughes developed, which tend to be more aggressive and deadly in Black women.

A 2017 study found white women who used chemical relaxers were nearly twice as likely to develop breast cancer as those who did not use them. Because the vast majority of the Black study participants used relaxers, researchers could not effectively test the association in Black women, said lead author Adana Llanos, an associate professor of epidemiology at Columbia Universitys Mailman School of Public Health.

Researchers did test it in 2020.

The so-called Sister Study, a landmark National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences investigation into the causes of breast cancer and related diseases, followed 50,000 U.S. women whose sisters had been diagnosed with breast cancer and who were cancer-free when they enrolled. Regardless of race, women who reported using relaxers in the prior year were 18% more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer. Those who used relaxers at least every five to eight weeks had a 31% higher breast cancer risk.

Nearly 75% of the Black sisters used relaxers in the prior year, compared with only 3% of the non-Hispanic white sisters. Three-quarters of Black women also self-reported using the straighteners as adolescents, and frequent use of chemical straighteners during adolescence raised the risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer, a 2021 NIH-funded study in the International Journal of Cancer found.

Another 2021 analysis of the Sister Study data showed sisters who self-reported that they frequently used relaxers or pressing products doubled their ovarian cancer risk. In 2022, another study found frequent use more than doubled uterine cancer risk.

After researchers discovered the link with uterine cancer, some called for policy changes and other measures to reduce exposure to chemical relaxers.

It is time to intervene, Llanos and her colleagues wrote in a Journal of the National Cancer Institute editorial accompanying the uterine cancer analysis. While acknowledging the need for more research, they issued a call for action.

No one can say that using permanent hair straighteners will give you cancer, Llanos said in an interview. Thats not how cancer works, she said, noting that some smokers never develop lung cancer, despite tobacco use being a known risk factor.

The body of research linking hair straighteners and cancer is more limited, said Llanos, who quit using chemical relaxers 15 years ago. But, she asked rhetorically, Do we need to do the research for 50 more years to know that chemical relaxers are harmful?

Charlotte Gamble, a gynecological oncologist whose Washington, D.C., practice includes Black women with uterine and ovarian cancer, said she and her colleagues see the uterine cancer study findings as worthy of further exploration  but not yet worthy of discussion with patients.

The jurys out for me personally, she said. Theres so much more data thats needed.

Meanwhile, James-Todd and other researchers believe they have built a solid body of evidence.

There are enough things we do know to begin taking action, developing interventions, providing useful information to clinicians and patients and the general public, said Traci Bethea, an assistant professor in the Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities Research at Georgetown University.

Responsibility for regulating personal-care products, including chemical hair straighteners and hair dyes  which also have been linked to hormone-related cancers  lies with the Food and Drug Administration. But the FDA does not subject personal-care products to the same approval process it uses for food and drugs. The FDA restricts only 11 categories of chemicals used in cosmetics, while concerns about health effects have prompted the European Union to restrict the use of at least 2,400 substances.

In March, Reps. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) and Shontel Brown (D-Ohio) asked the FDA to investigate the potential health threat posed by chemical relaxers. An FDA representative said the agency would look into it.

Natural hairstyles are enjoying a resurgence among Black girls and women, but many continue to rely on the creamy crack, said Dede Teteh, an assistant professor of public health at Chapman University.

She had her first straightening perm at 8 and has struggled to withdraw from relaxers as an adult, said Teteh, who now wears locs. Not long ago, she considered chemically straightening her hair for an academic job interview because she didnt want her hair to be a hindrance when she appeared before white professors.

Teteh led The Cost of Beauty, a hair-health research project published in 2017. She and her team interviewed 91 Black women in Southern California. Some became combative at the idea of quitting relaxers and claimed everything can cause cancer.

Their reactions speak to the challenges Black women face in America, Teteh said.

Its not that people do not want to hear the information related to their health, she said. But they want people to share the information in a way that its really empathetic to the plight of being Black here in the United States.
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An Atlantic City man was sentenced to 3 years in prison Tuesday in separate incidents in which he was found with meth and a gun, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said.

Hamid Palmer, 23, pleaded guilty in June to unlawful possession of a handgun and possession of methamphetamine.

Palmer first was charged with possessing methamphetamine after the drug was discovered in a plastic bag inside a vehicle parked at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City on May 3, 2021. Police were called to the resort to investigate a verbal altercation between Palmer and Daniel Brown, who was bitten by Palmer during a subsequent fight inside a car, the Prosecutor's Office said in a news release.

Neither Brown nor Palmer claimed responsibility for the substance, which was confirmed to be methamphetamine following lab testing.

Palmer's second case arose from shots being fired in the 400 block of N. North Carolina Avenue on April 16, 2022.

Bystanders reportedly heard about 12 shots being fired at North Carolina and Adriatic avenues. Palmer was later seen leaving the area, and police questioning him found a .38 special handgun in his possession, the Prosecutor's Office said.
Facts about Ukraine crisis: Russia destroys UAV over Kaluga region: official

Xinhua) 13:46, August 08, 2023

MOSCOW/RIYADH, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- The following are the latest developments related to the Ukraine crisis:

Russia's air defense system has destroyed an unmanned aerial vehicle over the country's Kaluga region, the region's governor Vladislav Shapsha said Monday.

"There has been no impact on people or infrastructure," Shapsha said on the Telegram messaging app.

The Kaluga region borders the Moscow region to the north.

- - - -

Security advisors and representatives from 43 countries on Sunday concluded a two-day meeting in Jeddah, a coastal city in western Saudi Arabia, where they discussed solutions to the Ukraine crisis that has dragged on for more than a year.

The closed-door meeting was attended by quite a number of developing countries, many of which have primarily stayed neutral in the crisis. Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Eurasian Affairs Li Hui also attended the meeting.

Analysts said that China's participation reflects its role as a responsible major country in promoting peace, and the meeting represents the latest efforts by the international community in solving the crisis.

- - - -

Russia expects the BRICS countries to inform Moscow of the outcome of the recent Saudi-led peace talks on Ukraine, the country's foreign ministry said in a statement Monday.

"We expect that, in accordance with the agreements, they will share their assessments with us," said the ministry's spokesperson Maria Zakharova.

Zakharova further commented on Moscow's position with regard to Ukraine's 10-point peace plan discussed during the meeting in Jeddah.

Russia does not see any grounds for a peaceful settlement under such conditions, the spokesperson said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE  Cape May County is moving to have portions of a lawsuit dismissed over its withholding of easement and road permits pertaining to the construction of an offshore wind farm.

Michael Donohue, who is representing the county in a lawsuit by Ocean Wind LLC, contends the litigation cannot be filed under state law as "an action in lieu of prerogative writ," according to a letter submitted to the courts Monday.

Because of the technicality, those counts should be dismissed, he wrote.

Donohue did not return requests for comment.

A hearing on the motion is scheduled for Aug. 15 before Superior Court Judge Michael Blee, state court records show.

Ocean Wind LLC is suing Cape May County and several of its officials for not fulfilling logging easements granted by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities regarding the development of wind farms and related infrastructure.

The company is owned by rsted, a Danish firm seeking to build offshore wind turbines to send power inland, in what state and federal officials have said will be a move toward clean energy for New Jersey.
OCEAN CITY  Matthew Maas cruises smoothly down a wide city street, moving faster than he appears to be pedaling.

His bike gives each turn of the pedal a boost, giving his ride a little more power and a little more speed.

Maas, a school librarian in Upper Township who also works at the Ocean City Free Public Library on the research desk, follows the rules. Hes wearing a helmet, he signals before he turns, he stays off the sidewalks and on the right side of the lane.

But he can understand the temptation to make the most of that extra speed and possibly not be very careful.

If I had this when I was 16, I would have been a real idiot, Maas said.

Just the same, he does not think the city should enact additional restrictions on e-bikes, such as keeping them off the Boardwalk or limiting the hours more than the ones for conventional bikes.

He is unlikely to see any new limits, at least for the time being and almost certainly not this summer.

At the start of the summer, Ocean City considered limiting e-bikes, including keeping them off the Boardwalk, after residents complained about young riders speeding and operating recklessly.

Ocean City reports packed holiday weekend Visitors packed Jersey Shore towns for the long Independence Day weekend, including Ocean City, which saw crowded beaches, heavy traffic and few parking spaces anywhere on the island.

City Council decided not to take any action in June, after several residents and visitors said the bikes allow them to ride the length of the Boardwalk, about 2 miles one way, a distance that would be too far for them without the battery assist.

Since then, the city has been quiet about the issue, and no one seems to be in a hurry to bring it back.

Council President Pete Madden said recently the matter is in the hands of police Chief Jay Prettyman and the city administration. He said council had an education phase, which got everyone upset about the matter at a council meeting, but it will likely be up to Mayor Jay Gillians administration to bring an ordinance back to council.

Gillian first mentioned the possibility of banning powered bicycles from the Boardwalk in early June, when discussing new rules aimed at curbing rowdy teens.

City spokesperson Doug Bergen said it was council that decided to table the ordinance.

I know City Council is still looking at the issue and considering different measures for the safety of both pedestrians and the riders themselves, but nothing has been scheduled for another vote, Bergen said last week.

Over the winter, several residents complained to city officials about the operation of the bikes, raising concerns both about the speed at which the bikes operate and the additional momentum in case there were an accident, because e-bikes weigh more than conventional bikes.

In June, when council took up the issue, some members of the public took up those concerns, and the potential that some of the bikes can attain speeds of 38 mph.

Im 73 with a heart condition and a proud owner of an e-bike, said resident Bill Eberle at the June council meeting. He and other speakers said the power assistance of e-bikes allows those with limitations to exercise regularly and enjoy the Boardwalk.

E-bikes had formerly been governed in the same way as mopeds, which fall under more lenient rules than motorcycles. In 2019, Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation that categorized low-speed electric scooters and e-bikes in the same way as bicycles.

That means they can be operated on streets and bike paths throughout the state. In addition to governing where they can be ridden, the e-bikes do not require registration, insurance or a license. That is supposed to be for bikes that do not exceed 20 mph, although there are e-bikes that can far exceed that speed.

Several businesses that sell or rent power-assisted bikes in Ocean City did not respond to requests for interviews. Maas and other e-bike riders say they extend the practical range of a bike ride, and make it easier to ride into the wind or to get back up to speed after stop, reducing the temptation to roll through a red light or avoid a full stop at stop signs.
In a joint operation conducted by the Aurangabad police and the Special Task Force (STF), a significant breakthrough was achieved with the arrest of two hardcore Naxal operatives from Pema village in the Aurangabad district.

The coordinated efforts of the law enforcement agencies resulted in the apprehension of the two individuals, accompanied by the recovery of a loaded revolver (referred to as a "Sixer"), a locally manufactured firearm known as a 'katta,' 16 live cartridges, a booklet, and a motorcycle from their possession on the late evening of Monday.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Rohit Rai, who also goes by aliases such as Prakash and Dharmaraj Mor. He hails from Lathibar village in the Bhabua block of Kaimur district. The second individual is Pramod Yadav, a resident of Sosuna village located under the jurisdiction of Badeya police station in Gaya district.

Swapna Ji Mesham, the Superintendent of Police (SP) for Aurangabad, provided insights into the ongoing investigation, stating, "Interrogation is currently underway. We have successfully recovered firearms and other incriminating evidence. The arrested Naxal operatives were found to be involved in extortion activities within Aurangabad. We are actively working to identify the sources of their financial support."

Meshram praised the outstanding efforts of the team involved in the operation, comprising officials from the Goh police station and the STF. She acknowledged their dedication and competence in bringing about the arrests, emphasizing, "The team's exceptional work has led to these arrests, and they deserve commendation. Their efforts will not go unrecognized."

The apprehension of these Naxal operatives represents a significant step towards curbing unlawful activities and maintaining security within the region. As investigations progress, authorities are committed to uncovering the full extent of their involvement in criminal enterprises and ensuring that justice is served.

This collaborative operation serves as a testament to the commitment of law enforcement agencies in safeguarding the peace and security of the region, as well as their unwavering dedication to maintaining the rule of law.
Eight fire tenders were pressed into service to control the fire

A fire broke out in the endoscopy room on the second floor of a building at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here on Monday said a fire department official, adding that the flames had been doused and all are safe.

The official said that all patients in the room were evacuated safely..

A fire call was received from the emergency ward of AIIMS at 11.54 hours. Total 8 fire tenders rushed to the site, Delhi Fire Services Director Atul Garg said earlier.

Garg said that the fire was on the second floor of the main building (Old RajKumari OPD building) and the fire is under control now.

Images showing the endoscopy room, which was severely damaged by a fire, were circulating widely on social media. These pictures clearly revealed the extent of the destruction. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. IANS
East Moline police are asking the publics help in locating a man wanted in connection with a stabbing early Saturday.

Police Chief Jeff Ramsey said there is a warrant issued for Kenneth J. Steele, 34, of Colona.

Steele is wanted on a charge of aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony under Illinois law that carries a prison sentence of two to five years.

Ramsey said that at 12:39 a.m. Friday, East Moline officers were sent to a home in the 400 block of 15th Avenue to investigate the report of a stabbing.

A 37-year-old man had suffered a non-life-threatening knife wound to his back, he said.

After interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence, a warrant was issued for Steeles arrest.

According to Rock Island County Circuit Court electronic records, Steele is ordered to report to the Rock Island County Jail on Aug. 14 to be transported to the Illinois Department of Corrections to begin a 4-year prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to counts of possession of meth less than 5 grams. In accordance with a plea agreement two other counts of possession of meth less than 5 grams were dropped.

Steeles bond in the connection with the stabbing incident is set at $30,000, or 10%.

Ramsey said Steele should be considered armed and dangerous.

Silvis and Moline police departments assisted in the case.

Police ask that anyone with information about this incident to call the East Moline Police Department Investigations Division at 309-752-1547 or Crime Stoppers of the Quad-Cities at 309-762-9500, or submit an anonymous tip via the P3 Tips mobile app or submit a tip online at qccrimestoppers.com.
Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) is currently accepting applications for its fall 2023 Venture School cohort, in an ongoing partnership with the Iowa Small Business Development Center (SBDC).

Open to regional startups, small businesses, non-profits and corporate innovation teams, the fall 2023 cohort will meet from 5:30 to 9 p.m. each Wednesday from Oct. 4 to Nov. 15 at Scott Community College's Urban Campus, located on 101 W. Third St. in downtown Davenport.

Hailing from the University of Iowa's John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (UI JPEC), the statewide Venture School program aims to help high-potential startups turn their entrepreneurial ideas into reality. The SBDC and EICC have partnered with UI JPEC for the past 16 years to bring Venture School to the Quad-Cities area.

Venture School cohorts meet for seven weeks to work with instructors and mentors  here, cohorts will dig into topics client discovery, customer archetypes and learn tactics for marketing, distribution and product concepts.

The seven-week session culminates with each cohort member pitching a business plan and product to a venture capitalist and a lender.

Interested entrepreneurs must apply online by Monday, Sept. 18 at https://iowajpec.org/form/venture-school-application.

Our Venture School graduates have excelled in raising capital, creating jobs, launching products and services, turning profit, and creating additional joint ventures, said Joel Youngs, Eastern Iowa SBDC Regional Director. We are proud of the work we do to ensure entrepreneurs in our region have all the tools, resources, and opportunities to excel. Every successful start-up strengthens our communities.

The program is built from a streamlined curriculum crafted by the National Science Foundation I-Corps at Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley. The curriculum aims to enhance participants' entrepreneurial skills, challenging them to use their findings to pivot, preserve or enhance their original business plans.

Since 1985, EICC has served small business owners in Scott, Clinton, Jackson and Muscatine counties as one of 15 centers in the Iowa SBDC network. For more questions about SBDC at EICC, contact Youngs at jeyoungs@eicc.edu or 563-336-3401.

Photos: EICC students compete in inaugural welding competition
Authorities accuse a Davenport man suspected of a July 31 shooting of preparing to carry out another when he was arrested on Monday.

Jimmy Maldonado Jr., 28, faces charges of attempted murder, first-degree burglary and intimidation with a dangerous weapon in connection to the July 31 incident in Davenport, according to Scott County court records. For the incident on Monday, he is charged with going armed with intent and assault while displaying a dangerous weapon. They were filed in separate cases.

It was unclear from the records if the victim listed in each case was the same person.

July 31 shooting

Davenport police officers responded at about 10:30 p.m. to a residence in the 1600 block of West 3rd Street to investigate a report of someone being shot, records state. When they arrived, they found a person shot in the arm and chest.

Investigators think Maldonado forced his way into the residence and shot at the victim, according to court records.

After he was read his Miranda rights on Monday, Maldonado admitted to police that he fired the gun at the victim, authorities allege in court records.

Mondays confrontation at Family Dollar

Officers went at about 8 p.m. to the Family Dollar at 1932 Brady St., Davenport, to investigate a complaint of a disturbance involving a weapon.

Authorities accuse Maldonado of being armed with a handgun and following a person to the business with the intent to shoot that person, records state. Maldonado had the gun in his pants pocket when he confronted the person and the person saw it there.

Maldonado tried to get the person to come outside with him to continue the confrontation, records state.

The person was afraid of getting shot, both because of Maldonados actions at the store and because of Maldonados prior behavior, according to court records.

Police found a witness who told them about hearing Maldonado say he intended to shoot the victim, records state. Maldonado has made threats about shooting the victim for several months.

Arrest and court

Davenport police officers brought Maldonado to the Scott County Jail at 11:37 p.m. Monday, the jail website states.

To be released, he would have to post a total bond of $60,000 in cash, according to the jail website.

The charges in both cases were filed Tuesday, court records state. Maldonado made his first appearance on all the charges on Tuesday and his next court date has been set for Aug. 18.

Photos: Historic Downtown Davenport
The possibility of a class action lawsuit in the collapse of The Davenport started a legal argument over evidence late last week.

The May 28 partial collapse of The Davenport, 324 N. Main St., killed three people, left one woman with an amputated leg and many others lost property and their homes.

Since the collapse, seven lawsuits have been filed on behalf of 19 plaintiffs who are suing a number of defendants, including the City of Davenport; building owner Andrew Wold of Bettendorf and his limited liability corporation, Davenport Hotel.

A number of plaintiffs' attorneys raised the possibility of a class action suit, including Christopher Stombaugh and Jeffery Goodman, the attorneys for Dana Feuerbach. They said they represent 25 clients who will make claims against the city, Wold and others. None of those clients, besides Feuerbach, have filed suit in Scott County Court.

In response to the possibility of a class action suit, attorneys for the City of Davenport asked the court for discovery to be delayed "for a period of at least nine months to allow for additional cases to be filed."

Discovery is the formal legal process of exchanging information about the witnesses and evidence the plaintiffs and defense plan to present at trial. Discovery enables the attorneys for both sides, and the court, to know what evidence may be presented before the trial starts.

The city's response does not take issue with the possible consolidation of all the cases into class action suit. The response points out that once the discovery process is started, evidence collection  like witness and resident depositions  will have to be done multiple times as cases join the class-action suit.

Feuerbach's attorneys argue that "it is not procedurally proper for the city to bootstrap a motion to stay discovery for a significant period of time into its response to plaintiff's motion for consolidation."

Feuerbach's attorneys also pointed out all the plaintiffs need time to meet and discuss the city's suggestion to delay the discovery process. They further argue that "there are certain discovery issues that are not in any way impacted by future cases being potentially filed, such as disclosure of defendants' insurance coverages."

What class action means

Two of the suits include wording that could lead to a single class-action case. Along with Feuerbach's filing, the suit filed on behalf of Jennifer Smith, Dionte McMath and several other people impacted by the collapse raised the possibility of a class action suit.

The attorneys for Smith, McMath and the others explained what a class action suit does.

The point of the class action is mainly for judicial expediency, Camille Kahn, one of the attorneys representing the Smith/McMath suit, said in July.

All of the efforts to seek compensation essentially become one effort, she and John Flynn, her co-counsel, said.

The courts in Iowa have said if there are more than 40 claims of a similar nature in a similar group, then thats going to be considered as a potential class action, Flynn said.

Once that is determined, one of the parties has to file a petition, requesting that the court certify the case as a class action, Flynn said.

So in our petition, our last part of the pleadings, we ask for the certification of a class action, Flynn said. We have not taken any steps forward, but I have an order prepared to submit to the judge at the appropriate time, asking him to set a hearing on the issue of whether a class action should be certified.

If there are multiple requests for a class action, the result would be the same, regardless of which request the judge uses to certify the action, Flynn said.

Once a judge decides there will be a class action, attorneys would be appointed to represent the action, Flynn said. Those appointed by the court would then have some control over the direction the case would take, he said.

Their duties would include making recommendations about different classes, because the court is going to categorize the plaintiffs, Flynn said. Those plaintiff classes will depend on the nature of their injuries and potentially the amount of their claims.

In the case of the collapse, Kahn said, a class might include anybody who had a lease agreement at 324 Main St.

Not only does a class action consolidate suits, it opens the door for other people to join who are seeking compensation, she said, including those who have not yet hired their own counsel.

Criminal charges?

So far, no criminal charges have been filed in relation to the partial collapse of The Davenport.

The Scott County Attorney declined to comment on the possibility of any arrests or criminal charges in the case. When asked about the possibility of arrests, Marty Guinn of the office responded:

"Scott County Attorney Kelly Cunningham asked that I respond to you that anything of an investigative matter is confidential and is not something that we can talk about."
Iowa has joined other state attorneys general as part of an investigation into the social media company TikTok and its possible harmful effects on young users' mental health.

The five-member Iowa Executive Council  comprised of the governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, secretary of agriculture and state auditor  unanimously agreed this week on granting a request from Iowa Attorney General Brenna Birds office to bring in special counsel to help the office in its investigation into and possible litigation against the wildly popular video platform and its "potential negligent, deceptive, or otherwise unlawful provision of products and services to minors."

Several states are investigating TikTok over whether it violated state consumer protection laws. The investigation has focused on the harm social media usage causes to young users, what TikTok knows about those harms, the techniques used by TikTok to boost young user engagement  including increasing the duration of time spent on the platform  and the frequency of engagement with TikTok.

Government officials and child-safety advocates have cited TikToks practices and computer-driven promotion of content they say can endanger the physical and mental health of young users, such as video content that promote eating disorders, self-harm and suicide. U.S. lawmakers this spring grilled TikTok Chief Executive Officer Shou Zi Chew about data security and harmful content, with some pushing to ban the app.

The platform has more than 150 million American users.

The Iowa Executive Council granted the Attorney Generals request to bring in the Washington, D.C.-based law firm of Cooper & Kirk, which is representing five states in their investigation into TikTok. Litigation is underway in Indiana and Arkansas.

The law firm also represented Florida in the states defense of its Stop W.O.K.E Act, which prohibits public schools and universities from enabling frank discussions about the nations racial history in classrooms, and in a lawsuit by Walt Disney Co. against a Florida tourism board and Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis alleging retaliation against Disney after it opposed a new state law restricting instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in public schools.

Cooper also represented former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions in the Justice Departments investigations into Russian election interference.

Chief Deputy Iowa Attorney General Sam Langholz, in his request, wrote the law firm was instrumental in developing those five states legal arguments of consumer fraud arising from TikToks representations about its content and the privacy of user data.

The firm will be paid based on contingency, where attorneys will get paid only if the state recovers compensation. Should the state not receive any money through litigation, it will not be required to pay the attorneys, according to state officials.

Because of the nature of the alleged misconduct, the magnitude of the recovery effort, and the anticipated aggressive defense by the Defendants, the Attorney General has determined that it is necessary and appropriate to retain private Special Counsel to assist her Office in the representation of the State of Iowa to continue such investigation and pursue potential litigation and recovery on a contingency fee basis, Langholz wrote.

TikTok is a wholly owned subsidiary of Beijing-based parent company ByteDance. Attempts Tuesday to reach a TikTok representative for comment were unsuccessful.

In response to an investigation by Texas last year into TikTok's alleged violations of children's privacy and facilitation of human trafficking, the company told CBS News it has tools in place, such as screen-time management, to help young people and parents moderate how long children spend on the app and what they see, and disables direct messaging for young users.

"We care deeply about building an experience that helps to protect and support the well-being of our community, and appreciate that the state attorneys general are focusing on the safety of younger users," the company told CBS News.

Lawmakers pursue social media restrictions for teens

State lawmakers this year advanced, but failed to approve, limits on social media platforms for teens. Iowa teens would have been prohibited from using social media platforms without explicit approval from a parent or guardian under a measure that advance out of a House committee but failed to make it to the House floor.

The bill would prohibit companies from collecting data on children under 18 without verifiable parental consent. That includes providing information required to create a profile on sites like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook.

Similar age limitations for tech platforms signed into law in Arkansas and Utah have raised questions about the privacy and First Amendment rights of young Americans. Critics worry restricting childrens access to social media restricts their access to supportive communities. Some children, like LGBTQ teens, may find a sense of belonging online they may not find in their physical communities, they said.

Rep. John Wills, a Republican from Spirit Lake and the bills floor manager, said lawmakers plan to revisit the issue next session.

The after-effects of the TikTok Kia Challenge on car insurance The after-effects of the TikTok Kia Challenge on car insurance How specifically has this affected the owners of Kia and Hyundai? The Kia challenge targets specific vehicle models Level of impact
Iowa judges recently have sided with open government advocates trying to gain access to public records and attend public meetings  with the latest ruling requiring the state to pay $135,000 in legal fees for three media organizations denied records by Gov. Kim Reynolds.

But advocates would like to see courts and the Iowa Public Information Board use penalties already in Iowa law to discourage repeat offenses.

When a District Court judge ruled in June the Central DeWitt superintendent and school board violated Iowa law by holding closed meetings under false pretenses, school board members were unapologetic, according to Rep. Norlin Mommsen, R-Dewitt, who was one of 75 residents who attended a July 13 school board meeting.

The school boards response to this is was we did nothing wrong, Mommsen told The Gazette. Its this defiance. And maybe it is because theres no penalty.

Recent court wins for open records advocates

Iowa Code Chapter 22 requires government bodies  which include any state, county, city or school group supported with taxes  to allow people to view or copy public records in a reasonable amount of time for a reasonable cost, if not for free.

The sticking point often is whether specific records are considered confidential under one of more than 70 exceptions in the law.

But in a lawsuit settled in June, the plaintiffs sued not because Reynolds and her staff claimed the sought records were confidential, but because the governors office did not respond to records requests for more than 18 months.

The governors office fulfilled the requests in January, 2022, a month after Clark Kauffman and the Iowa Capital Dispatch, Randy Evans and the Iowa Freedom of Information Council and Laura Belin and Bleeding Heartland filed the lawsuit.

The governors office asked to have the lawsuit dismissed, but the Iowa Supreme Court ruled in April the case could proceed. Reynolds team settled June 3, agreeing to let a state district court resolve any open records disputes with the plaintiffs that may arise over the next year.

The governors office makes no admission of guilt in the settlement. Reynolds staff said the delays were caused by the state being busy dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 response put unprecedented demands on the governors team to meet the immediate needs of Iowans. As a result, responses to requests were unintentionally delayed, which is not acceptable, spokesman Kollin Crompton said in June. Our office has assessed our internal processes and we continue to reevaluate the process to improve timeliness.

Evans said he hopes the ruling stops the worrisome trend of government bodies ghosting public records requests.

I was concerned if we didnt prevail it would embolden, not only the governor, but other state agencies and local governments as well, to drag their feet, Evans said. To take the position they (government bodies) hadnt rejected open records requests if they were too busy to get to it would cut the legs out from under open records statute.

School districts violate open meetings law

Other recent decisions show school boards trying to shield their discussions from the public.

Bettendorf Community School District in June settled a lawsuit filed by media outlets challenging the legality of a May 2022 board meeting.

One day after the Uvalde, Texas, school massacre, the Bettendorf superintendent and school board  minus one member  met with about 300 parents to discuss misbehavior and harassment by some middle school students. Journalists were blocked from the meeting and parents were told not to record the session.

Iowas public meetings law, outlined in Iowa Code Chapter 21, requires meetings with a board majority in which they are acting on their policymaking duties to be open to the public, including journalists.

As part of the settlement, the district acknowledged the meeting was illegal and promised future meetings would meet the laws requirements. The district agreed to reimburse plaintiffs $6,500 for attorney fees, reported WQAD, one of the plaintiffs.

In the Central DeWitt case, Superintendent Dan Peterson and the school board told the public they were closing their Feb. 7, 2022, meeting to the public to evaluate Petersons performance.

Instead, they discussed controversial topics, including gender and sexuality issues, instructional materials, and an administrative realignment, Seventh Judicial District Court Judge Mark R. Lawson wrote in a June 26 ruling.

First, the scope of the meeting was breathtaking in contrast to its stated purpose, Lawson wrote. In other words, this was not a minor or technical violation. Second, as noted earlier, no one in the meeting spoke up to argue the meeting was straying well beyond its stated purpose.

Lawson ordered the school district to pay Sycamore Media, which publishes the DeWitt Observer, more than $18,500 for legal fees.

We have accepted the district court judges decision, will abide by the decision, and already have worked on improving our processes and procedures regarding scheduling and holding closed session meetings, Peterson said in an email this week.

Iowa Supreme Court ruling in 2011 set precedent

When government bodies keep information secret, Iowans seeking access may choose to file a lawsuit. But hiring a lawyer can cost thousands of dollars, deterring many Iowans.

Not Allen Diercks. The 66-year-old Bettendorf chiropractor has been a government watchdog for decades, once filing more than 50 records requests in two years.

The public deserves public records, Diercks said. This isnt a political thing. Its really an American thing.

Diercks, represented by Bettendorf attorney Mike Meloy, won a 2011 Iowa Supreme Court case that set precedent for helping citizens recoup legal fees in public records cases.

Riverdale, a city of about 400 near Bettendorf, sued Diercks, Marie Randol and Tammie Picton in 2008 over whether the defendants were entitled to view security camera video showing then-Mayor Jeffrey Grindle arguing with Diercks over a records request.

Diercks, Randol and Picton won the case at trial and the district court awarded them $64,732 in attorney fees. An appellate court reversed that award, but the Iowa Supreme Court later ruled the district court was right.

Statutory attorney-fee awards motivate lawyers to step up and fight city hall on behalf of residents whose elected officials refuse requests for disclosure, Justice Thomas D. Waterman wrote in the Nov. 18, 2011, decision.

Close 101917-OPEN-GOVERNMENT-FORUM-002 Davenport Mayor Frank Klipsch asks a question during Thursday's forum. 101917-OPEN-GOVERNMENT-FORUM-003 Quad-City Times reporter Amanda Hancock and Davenport Mayor Frank Klipsch act out a skit during an open government forum at the Figge Museum in Davenport on Thursday, October 19, 2017. The forum discussed public meetings and open records through discussion as well as interactive skits played by elected officials as well and Quad-City Times staff members. Open Government forum Randy Evans, director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, speaks alongside Kathleen Richardson, the dean of the Drake School of Journalism and Mass Communications in Des Moines, during an open government forum Thursday at the Figge Art Museum in Davenport. The forum looked at public meetings and open records through discussion as well as interactive skits played by elected officials and Quad-City Times staff members. 101917-OPEN-GOVERNMENT-FORUM-004 Quad-City Times City Editor Liz Boardman and Davenport Superintendent Dr. Art Tate act out a skit during an open government forum at the Figge Museum in Davenport on Thursday, October 19, 2017. The forum discussed public meetings and open records through discussion as well as interactive skits played by elected officials as well and Quad-City Times staff members. 101917-OPEN-GOVERNMENT-FORUM-005 Quad-City Times editorial page editor Jon Alexander and publisher Deb Anselm watch a skit during an open government forum at the Figge Museum in Davenport on Thursday, October 19, 2017. The forum discussed public meetings and open records through discussion as well as interactive skits played by elected officials as well and Quad-City Times staff members. QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_097.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_099.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_102.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_104.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_019.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_022.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_025.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_027.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_028.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_029.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_032.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_033.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_034.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_035.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_037.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_038.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_039.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_040.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_041.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_052.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_055.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_062.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_065.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_066.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_068.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_080.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_082.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_086.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_092.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_087.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_094.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_096.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_070.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_014.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_013.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_010.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_009.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_003.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_001.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_018.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_015.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_078.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_073.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_071.jpg Photos: Open Government Forum On Thursday, the Quad-City Times hosted a night of discussing open government at the Figge Art Museum auditorium. Randy Evans, director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council and Kathleen Richardson, the dean of the Drake School of Journalism and Mass Communications in Des Moines, were the guest spearkers. The forum looked at public meetings and open records through discussion as well as interactive skits played by elected officials and Quad-City Times staff members. 101917-OPEN-GOVERNMENT-FORUM-002 Davenport Mayor Frank Klipsch asks a question during Thursday's forum. 101917-OPEN-GOVERNMENT-FORUM-003 Quad-City Times reporter Amanda Hancock and Davenport Mayor Frank Klipsch act out a skit during an open government forum at the Figge Museum in Davenport on Thursday, October 19, 2017. The forum discussed public meetings and open records through discussion as well as interactive skits played by elected officials as well and Quad-City Times staff members. Open Government forum Randy Evans, director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, speaks alongside Kathleen Richardson, the dean of the Drake School of Journalism and Mass Communications in Des Moines, during an open government forum Thursday at the Figge Art Museum in Davenport. The forum looked at public meetings and open records through discussion as well as interactive skits played by elected officials and Quad-City Times staff members. 101917-OPEN-GOVERNMENT-FORUM-004 Quad-City Times City Editor Liz Boardman and Davenport Superintendent Dr. Art Tate act out a skit during an open government forum at the Figge Museum in Davenport on Thursday, October 19, 2017. The forum discussed public meetings and open records through discussion as well as interactive skits played by elected officials as well and Quad-City Times staff members. 101917-OPEN-GOVERNMENT-FORUM-005 Quad-City Times editorial page editor Jon Alexander and publisher Deb Anselm watch a skit during an open government forum at the Figge Museum in Davenport on Thursday, October 19, 2017. The forum discussed public meetings and open records through discussion as well as interactive skits played by elected officials as well and Quad-City Times staff members. QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_097.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_099.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_102.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_104.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_019.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_022.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_025.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_027.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_028.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_029.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_032.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_033.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_034.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_035.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_037.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_038.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_039.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_040.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_041.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_052.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_055.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_062.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_065.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_066.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_068.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_080.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_082.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_086.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_092.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_087.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_094.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_096.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_070.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_014.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_013.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_010.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_009.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_003.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_001.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_018.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_015.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_078.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_073.jpg QCT_OpenGov_Figge_101917_071.jpg
A Michigan man was identified Tuesday as the person who died in the hospital Thursday night after a one-motorcycle crash last Monday, July 31, 14 miles southeast of Custer.

Anthony Verpooten, age 65, of Oxford, Michigan died at Monument Health after he was airlifted from the crash days earlier.

Preliminary crash investigation suggests his 2006 Harley Davidson FLSTCI was traveling eastbound on Wildlife Loop Road. He failed to negotiate a right-hand turn. Verpooten became separated from the bike. Both he and the motorcycle came to rest on the north side of the road.

Verpooten was taken by Life Flight helicopter to Monument Health Rapid City with life-threatening injuries where he passed away from his injuries Thursday night.

He was not wearing a helmet.

South Dakotas Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. All information released so far is preliminary.
Sturgis Police Department statistics for Monday show a steady level of DUIs and drug arrests as the week continues, traffic and nontraffic-related arrests were up over 60 with 15 people jailed.

The statistics include data from 6 a.m. Monday, Aug. 7, to 6 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8, and do not include numbers from other agencies.

There were eight arrests or citations for driving while intoxicated in the city, bringing this year's total-to-date to 34  down two from this same time last year.

Fifteen arrests or citations were made for misdemeanor drug possession. Eleven arrests were made for felony drug possession. So far this rally there have been 50 arrests or citations for misdemeanor drug possession, up 17 from the same time last year. There have been 21 total arrests for felony drug possession since SPD began keeping statistics Friday morning, which is 10 higher from the same period in 2022.

In total, there were approximately 158 calls for service from Monday to Tuesday morning, and 15 people jailed  bringing the total number of people jailed so far for this year's rally up to 62  three less than the same time last year.

South Dakota Highway Patrol numbers for 6 a.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Tuesday show total warnings are down this year compared to last but actual citations are up so far over the same time in 2022. Between Rapid City and Sturgis, 52 arrests were made for driving under the influence, 81 for misdemeanor drug offenses, and 35 for felony drug offenses. About 590 total traffic citations were issued, and 1739 warnings  down from 1,368 at the same time last year.

SDHP has responded to 21 non-injury accidents and 26 accidents with injuries.

Two accidents have been fatal so far this year.

Monday the South Dakota Department of Transportation tallied 50,487 vehicles entering Sturgis. That number is down 16.9% below the five-year average.

On Friday, they counted 45,652 vehicles entering Sturgis, Down 13.4% from the previous five-year average. Saturday, the count was 38,126 vehicles, down 37.3% from the previous five-year average. Sunday, they tallied 60,586 vehicles, up 4.4% from the previous five-year average.

So far in 2023, DOT has tallied 194,851 vehicles below the five-year average of 232,353 vehicles.

The Meade County Sheriff's Office said on Facebook their deputies responded to 119 calls for service Sunday. Five people were arrested for driving under the influence with one being a felony. The county had five injury accidents and three non-injury accidents.

The 83rd Sturgis Rally continues through Sunday, Aug. 13 with scheduled rides, hundreds of vendors, and concerts.

See day three's stats by clicking here.
The mysteries of dark matter, neutrinos and underground science attracted 72 scientists from around the world to the Black Hills this summer.

The Institute for Underground Science at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead hosted The Center for Theoretical Underground Physics and Related Areas (CETUP) from June 19 to July 14. Scientists representing 47 institutions came to Lead to learn, research and share their knowledge at local events such as the 15th annual science festival Neutrino Day.

CETUPs mission is to promote organized research in physics, cosmology and astrophysics, geoscience, and other fields related to science that are done in underground laboratories worldwide.

The group is a mix of theoretical physicists and some experimentals. CETUP is not a hands-on, going to the lab [event]. This is more like a think tank. You are looking at the status of experiments around the world. You are discussing whats our next step and where should we be going? What is needed to explain the results we see from experiments, and what experiments should we be thinking about? said Barbara Szczerbinska, associate dean of Academics and a professor at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

Szczerbinska is the coordinator of CETUP. Her research interests are neutrino physics, geoneutrinos and dark matter.

Worldwide, more than 20 underground laboratories provide space for experiments in nuclear and particle physics, astrophysics, cosmology and geosciences. In response to the growing interest in underground science, CETUP brings together scientists who are working in theoretical and experimental aspects of a variety of disciplines.

We have people from South Dakota, Texas, Japan, India, China, Germany  this years attendees represent 22 countries of origin, Szczerbinska said. The conference creates one big community.

Szczerbinska said CETUP intentionally provides an environment for creative thinking and open discussion. Researchers with varying experience, from different countries and scientific backgrounds, can collaborate. CETUP also hopes to attract rising young scientists to participate.

CETUPs daily schedule included two short talks followed by time for discussion and unstructured collaboration. Szczerbinska described it as informal and inspiring.

The lack of structure is a structure, Szczerbinska said. From the beginning, we wanted to bring people together  not in the traditional conference setting, when you have a lot of talks and little time for interactions  but in a way that creates a think tank to address what is happening now in our fields and paints the vision for whats next.

One of the goals is really to create an environment which is going to make people feel welcome, she said. People love it. It was a worry-free environment for people to do nothing but science.

The combined expertise allows this intellectual community to address the most pressing questions in fundamental research, such as the nature of dark matter, the origin of neutrino masses, how neutrinos have shaped the evolution of the universe, and the origin of matter-antimatter symmetry in the universe.

This years CETUP focused on two main topics: dark matter  the missing mass that holds our universe together  and neutrinos, the ghostly particles that could be the key to understanding why matter exists at all.

We dont know what dark matter is or what its properties are. There are hundreds of possible candidates, said Kaladi Babu, CETUP organizer and regents professor at Oklahoma State University. Theorists [came] to this conference to discuss the pros and cons of these candidates, and, with the experimentalists, discuss ways to test those theories through experimentation.

These theory calculations involve sophisticated techniques, and not everyone is an expert in all aspects of these calculations, Babu said. CETUP brings people with different expertise  from early universe cosmology to theoretical particle physics to nuclear physics  together to work on these questions.

After the conference, scientists will further develop theories into testable predictions, which could lead to new experiments hosted at laboratories such as SURF.

Those are topics that will help us understand the nature of the universe, the origins of the universe and what the universe is made of, Szczerbinska said. Knowing the properties of neutrinos and dark matter...its very difficult to move science forward if we dont have that.

Local residents benefitted from the scientists knowledge when some of the scientists were special guests at Neutrino Day and Ask A Scientist. Sanford Homestake Lab hosts Ask A Scientist to give the public opportunities to ask questions about research happening at SURF, neutrinos and dark matter. The next Ask A Scientist event will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 10 at Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center in Lead.

SURF revived CETUP, which had been held annually from 2011 through 2016, as part of the newly formed Institute for Underground Science at SURF. In 2011 through 2016, CETUP developed a reputation as a much-needed source of collaboration and resulted in the publication of 119 scientific papers.

The Institute will provide a space for intellectual communities to come together and have truly transformative conversations, said Michelle Kane, director of the SURF Foundation. We want to create a world-class experience for researchers and students, and CETUP is the prototype of the programming we envision for the Institute.

SURF plans to host CETUP annually in conjunction with other Institute programming that will connect leaders in physics, biology, geology and engineering and ignite pivotal conversations about the future of underground science.

We are planning for next year. We are planning to expand it. We are hoping we will bring more people and make the program even more diverse, Szczerbinska said. Its going to be super exciting.
Thousands make the journey to Sturgis for the motorcycle rally each year.

Here are some of the faces that stood out.

Name: Pete Emerson and Tate Miller  Grandfather and grandson.

Age: 69 and 18

From: Iowa

How many rallies have you attended previously? Emerson: This is my first. It's on my bucket list. Miller: This is the first one.

Favorite thing about the rally? For Emerson, all the bikes. For Miller, the bikes and spending time with his grandpa.

Name: Bryan Seiler

Age: 22

From: Wichita, Kansas

How many rallies have you attended previously? This is my first time. They (friends) made me.

Favorite thing about the rally? Seeing all the bikes.

Name: Garet

Age: 22

From: Scandia, Kansas

How many rallies have you attended previously? First time. Been planning it for about a year.

Favorite thing about the rally? The bikes.

Name: Timothy Motes

Age: 30

From: Beloit, Kansas

How many rallies have you attended previously? This is the first one. They (friends) pretty much forced me.

Favorite thing about the rally? The bikes.

Name: Gary McIntyre

Age: 79

From: Wisconsin

How many rallies have you attended previously? At least 20.

Favorite thing about the rally? Riding down with my son.
The Summerset Police Department is asking for the public's help to locate a wanted suspect who fled after a traffic stop Monday.

On August 7, a Summerset police officer initiated a traffic stop on a Honda Civic in the area of Interstate 90 and Stagestop Road. During the course of the stop, the vehicle fled at a high rate of speed on Stagestop Road before turning northbound onto Sturgis Road. The pursuit was terminated due to the drivers reckless disregard of the safety of others.

A short time later, a homeowner notified law enforcement that the vehicle was found abandoned in the Piedmont area and observed two male subjects fleeing from the vehicle. After an exhaustive search by multiple law enforcement agencies, both subjects are still at large.

The driver has been identified as Ambrose Williams. Williams is wanted on a felony warrant out of North Dakota for unlawful possession of a firearm and domestic violence. He has a history of carrying weapons, according to Summerset PD.

If encountered, please exercise caution and contact law enforcement immediately. Do not approach. Anyone with any information regarding Williams' whereabouts is asked to call the Summerset Police Department at (605) 721-6806.

The investigation is ongoing.
A thunderous roar echoed through Bear Butte State Park early Sunday as streaks of red ribbons flew in the wind and more than 100 motorcyclists took off from the park to take part in the annual Medicine Wheel Ride.

Lynette Kills Back, Oglala Lakota, led this year's ride. Kills Back rode for two family members, her cousin Leatrice Leah Jealous of Him, whose remains were found on the railroad tracks in Rapid City in 2008, and cousin Sharyn Kills Back, who was killed in 1985, whose killer was caught. Fifteen years later, Jealous of Hims murder still remains unsolved.

The Medicine Wheel Ride is an annual motorcycle ride to honor and bring attention to victims of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives crisis. Riders came from all over the United States, some from as far as Hawaii and several from the Navajo Nation.

I think everybody needs to know that there are missing and murdered Indigenous women, Kills Back said. I stress that because when Native people go missing theres no publicity through the national media. I want to change that narrative and give our Indigenous people that voice.

The ride generally takes place on the first or second day of the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Rider registration funds are used to provide financial aid to victims family members for whatever they need, whether it be transportation, legal fees or other costs.

Lorna Cuny, Oglala Lakota and one of the Medicine Wheel Ride founders, said originally the group was formed as an Indigenous womens motorcycle club but as time went on, the group felt it was important to use the ride to uplift community voices and concerns.

During the nearly two-hour, 70-mile ride from Bear Butte to the Crazy Horse Memorial, Kills Back prays. She said she prays for her Indigenous relatives whose lives have been lost and whose bodies have never been found.

I ask Creator to help find those women and bring justice to their families. We have children growing up without mothers, grandmas, sisters and nieces or even without their male relatives, Kills Back said.

Many of the riders remarked on the importance of bringing attention to missing and murdered Indigenous people during the Sturgis Rally, a time when hundreds of thousands of people pour into the Black Hills and sex-trafficking increases. Since 2020, authorities have arrested 23 individuals on human trafficking charges during the rally.

A 2022 report from the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Hearing stated that 40 percent of sex-trafficking victims in South Dakota are Native American women, despite Native women only making up 8 percent of the state's population.

From July 28 to Aug. 4, several of the Medicine Wheel riders rode from Phoenix up through Wyoming into Montana and finally to the Sturgis Rally. During the ride, riders stopped in several locations to screen their documentary We Ride For Her: Chandler and Tuba City, Arizona; Towaoc, Colorado; Riverton and Worland, Wyoming; Lame Deer, Montana; and Rapid City.

In each community, family members or loved ones of a victim could write their names on a red ribbon, which was then attached to one of the motorcycles, carrying the victim's name and memory along the route.

I think they (the families) felt really supported, just being able to hear from others and from us, Cuny said.

The ride itself also provided exposure of MMIP to non-Native communities. Cuny said when the group would stop to get gas theyd often have curious individuals come up and ask them what the red hands represented and for what reason they were riding.

We Ride for Her is an 18-minute short film that details the Medicine Wheel riders, their journey and focuses on the disappearance of Susan Fast Eagle, who was last seen in Rapid City in 2021. Several members of Fast Eagles family discuss her disappearance and the struggles theyve faced ever since.

To finish out their ride, We Ride for Her was screened again at the Crazy Horse Memorial.

I hope that we can impact everyone in a positive way and that maybe they can share our message and collaborate with us in some way, Kills Back said.
The Montana State Hospital in Warm Springs, the states only public adult psychiatric facility, is continuing to see high staff vacancies, budget deficits, and shortfalls in health and safety standards more than a year after losing federal accreditation following investigations into patient deaths and injuries.

In a virtual public meeting last week with the hospitals governing board  composed of top administrators from the Department of Public Health and Human Services and the Warm Springs facility  staff and consultants delivered presentations about safety trends and plans for improvement while touting encouraging changes at the state-run facility.

The state health department has said that the oversight from the recently created governing board and focus on improving conditions at the facility is part of the Gianforte administrations commitment to regaining the hospitals federal certification from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. One of the consultants hired by the state to help oversee hospital operations described that effort in a written report on Tuesday as a multi-year rigorous journey, an assessment echoed by members of the group during the hour-long meeting.

The hospital is currently operating at roughly 80% capacity, with about 216 patients residing there, including the geriatric-psychiatry Spratt unit and a forensic wing for evaluating and treating criminal defendants. The hospitals forensic unit was the only part of the facility with a wait-list. It is licensed for 54 beds, but has operated at a consistently lower census since last year. As of June, it was occupied by 46 people with 70 people across the state waiting for admission that month.

There have been 159 patient falls  one of the key indicators of patient safety that federal investigators flagged in 2022  recorded across all parts of the facility so far this year. The highest frequency of falls  an average monthly rate of 12.1 per 1,000 patient days  has occurred in the Spratt unit. Staff told the governing board that falls are being tracked and reported more accurately across the facility and are down on the geriatric unit by roughly 25% compared to last year.

The hospital also reported failing to meet its goal of zero chemical restraints used on patients in the main hospital and geriatric wing.

Chemical restraints  defined by the federal Centers for Medicaid and Medicare as any drug used for discipline or convenience and not required to treat medical symptoms  were most commonly employed in the main hospital, where the intervention was reported at an average rate of 8.85 instances per 1,000 patient days in 2023. The practice was less common in the Spratt unit, while the hospitals forensic unit reported zero instances of chemical restraint this year.

A 2022 clinical resource document created by the American Psychiatric Association said that using medication to treat a patients agitation should be voluntary and that medication should never [be] used as a chemical restraint, but noted that the term is poorly defined and misunderstood. Involuntary medications, the publication says, should be used as a last resort for situations that present as acutely dangerous.

A spokesperson for the health department did not respond before deadline to questions about how the hospital defines chemical restraints and what counts as an occurrence.

Bernie Franks-Ongoy, director of the federally designated oversight group Disability Rights Montana, said Thursday that while eliminating the use of chemical restraints entirely should be a priority, defining and documenting the misuse of medication is often complicated.

It is difficult to know exactly what the numbers represent without knowing precisely how the term chemical restraint is defined under current hospital policies and what the reporting requirements are, Franks-Ongoy said. It would be good to know, for example, how many occurrences of chemical restraint were the result of genuine patient safety concerns and how many were based on staff convenience.

The rate of patient seclusion also exceeded goals in different parts of the facility, sometimes significantly. In the main hospital, hours spent in seclusion per 1,000 patient hours ranged from 16.68 in January to 1.81 in May, far exceeding the goal rate of less than .36 hours.

In the forensic unit, rates of seclusion also varied widely, recorded at .05 hours per 1,000 patient hours in March to 24.73 hours in May. In the Spratt unit, rates of recorded seclusion were much less common and consistently below the hospitals goal.

The hospitals quality improvement metrics did not include how many of its patients have died this year. A health department spokesperson did not respond to multiple questions from Montana Free Press about patient deaths before deadline.

Safety issues resulting in serious injuries continue to occur, officials said Tuesday, with a total of 10 recorded between the main hospital and the Spratt unit so far this year, compared to 14 in the prior year.

One patient recently ingested a toxic cleaning agent brought into the facility by a contractor, interim hospital administrator David Culberson said. The patient was transferred to another facility for a higher level of care and later returned to the psychiatric hospital. That patient has since been discharged, Culberson said, and the hospital has implemented five new safety protocols to more closely monitor contractors entering the facility in the future.

The hospital reported a 37% employee vacancy rate in June, down from 45% last summer. After a hiring surge in January, February and March of this year resulting in a net gain of 39 employees, the hospital reported losing nine staff members in May and June.

The highest vacancy rates are among registered nurses, with an 82% vacancy rate, and clinical therapists, whose vacancy rate was 72%, according to the hospitals latest finance and human resources report.

With high rates of contract staff and traveling professionals continuing to work at the facility, the hospitals director of nursing, Jocelyn Peterson, told the governing board that Warm Springs is working to extend the length of traveler contracts to 26 weeks instead of 13 weeks to increase training opportunities for short-term workers.

This way we can give them a couple more weeks of actual training and speak to some of those areas of safety, and things to look for, and kind of give them a better idea of what the facility is like and how important it is to treat our patients and make sure that theyre safe, Peterson said.

Culberson also told the board that the hospital is working hard to respond to the passage of House Bill 29, which will restrict the admission of patients with a primary diagnosis of Alzheimers, dementia or traumatic brain injury to the Montana State Hospital beginning in 2025.

Thats a good portion of the folks in [the] Spratt [unit] right now. And we will not only have to turn down admissions, but we will have to discharge everybody with those three diagnoses, Culberson said. So its a big project weve started here with the help of [contractor Alvarez & Marsal] and then the care team in Spratt.

As of June, the hospital reported overspending its annual budget significantly, with about $93 million in expenses versus its stated budget of $48.9 million, a trend that has continued from 2022. Of the listed expenses, the finance report said roughly $3.9 million was spent on the cost of traveling staff in June, a figure that has fluctuated month-to-month.

The hospital was given nearly $16 million in additional funds by the 2023 Legislature to make facility repairs and upgrades to help regain federal certification.

Out of that total budget for capital projects, the hospitals Tuesday report outlined specific uses for $5.9 million, including repairing the HVAC system, replacing fire doors, and other safety and medical upgrades. The report said the remaining $10 million in legislative appropriations will be set aside as contingency for unanticipated repair projects impacting recertification.

The group did not receive any public testimony during the designated public comment period. It is slated to meet again in the fall.
Criminal charges have been filed against a juvenile male who authorities say stole a car and crashed into a boy who was riding his bike on Monday.

Henrico County police in a statement said officers responded to the 4300 block of Lakefield Mews Drive at about 10:34 p.m. Monday for a report of a carjacking.

The scene is near South Laburnum Avenue and Gay Avenue.

Police said a witness told them a man wearing a mask with a gun approached him, then got into his vehicle and fled. Officers found the vehicle and chased it on Williamsburg Road at a high rate of speed before the car crashed into a cyclist from behind, police said. The car crashed into a utility pole near Williamsburg Road and Millers Lane. The boy on the bike was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver, identified by police as a juvenile male, was transported to a local hospital for treatment. A firearm was recovered at the scene of the crash, police said.

Charges of felony murder, carjacking, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and felony eluding have been filed.

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Murder charges have been filed against a man who police say was in a standoff for more than three hours in the Gates Head neighborhood in Henrico County on Monday. A womans body was found at the scene, police said.

Richard Alan Lombardi, 51, of Henrico, faces a charge of second-degree murder. He was being held at the Henrico County Jail on no bond as of Tuesday.

Police identified the victim as Amber Kavanagh Riley, 49, of Henrico County. Riley and Lombardi knew one another, according to police.

Police said they arrived in the 9500 block of Downing Street at around 3:01 p.m. for a report of a domestic disturbance. Officers said Lombardi refused to come out of the home.

The area around the house was locked down and residents were told to stay inside homes.

Lombardi was taken into custody at about 6:21 p.m. without incident, police said.

The Henrico Police Forensics Unit remained at the site Monday evening to collect evidence and process the scene. The investigation is ongoing.

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Our beautiful city has a fair number of notable historical distinctions and oddities to its name  Shockoes triple railroad crossing, the first practical electric trolley system in the world, the only insurgent executive mansion on U.S. soil  but perhaps none is so markedly unique as the building at 100 N. Ninth St., the only known structure in the country to have housed both a Federal Reserve bank and a state supreme court.

You have doubtlessly noticed the captivating structure at 100 N. Ninth if youve visited the Capitol area downtown at any point in the last 100 years. Built in 1921 by the Baltimore firm of Sill, Buckler & Fenhagen, the buildings relatively unadorned alabaster base is fronted by a line of simple Beaux-Arts grilles and topped by a soaring march of Ionic columns, between which are placed cascading triple-stacked windows featuring aprons that are alternately stamped and embellished with elevated flourishes.

Its a beautiful structure both for its understated grandeur and its classical appeal, its lines as familiar to the American portfolio as Art Deco or Palladian. Upon its opening the Federal Reserve described the structure as more suggestive perhaps of the great Mausoleum at Halicarnassus than of any other single building. As late as the early 20th century the Greek revival craze was still strong enough in the U.S. that they were modeling bank buildings after literal tombs. It was a different time.

The bank would call Ninth Street its home for a little over 50 years. At some point in the early days of the facility, George Seay  the first governor of the Richmond Fed  is reported to have hung a number of canary cages in the buildings ornate marble-flagged lobby. (He and his wife were raising canaries, one observer drily noted, and the bank lobby seemed a useful place to hang them.)

Central banks have a habit of outgrowing their quarters, and by the 1970s the Richmond Federal Reserve had outgrown Riggin Bucklers Grecian temple. In 1978, it vacated 100 N. Ninth Street for its current towering skyscraper on Byrd Street, a monument of New Formalism designed by Minoru Yamasaki. The State Supreme Court moved into the Ninth Street location the same year; the seven-judge panel has presided there ever since.

Where the Richmond Feds grand central banking room once stood now houses the primary hearing room of the Virginia Supreme Court. The Court has retained the rooms original line of Doric columns, though two annex chambers have since been walled off, cutting the columns in half. Also vanished is the rooms original grand coffered ceiling, now hidden by a drop structure. It is still there, however; the courts librarian archivist, Ashley Vavra, told The Times-Dispatch the beautifully embellished vaulting can still be viewed from the utility space above the existing room.

Aside from a magnificently gilded revolving door in the lobby, little evidence exists to suggest the structure was ever a bank  above ground, anyway. It is in the buildings cavernous basement level that its onetime status as a Federal Reserve branch is still obvious. Few subterranean levels in downtown Richmond could possibly be as bewilderingly warrenous as that of 100 N. Ninth Street. The product of decades of additions and expansions, the basement level contains an endlessly complex series of hallways, storage rooms, abandoned bathrooms, utility rooms, darkened stairways descending even further underground. In one hallway hangs a massive old civil defense map with the Federal Reserve districts marked out in bold lines and numbers; somewhere close by is a room used at one point by the Virginia Capitol Police as a firing range.

At points, one comes across what looks vaguely like machine-gun nests walled with thick bulletproof glass, an obvious Fed-era security feature of some kind. Hauntingly, a few of the glass faces of these blockades are marked with what are clearly bullet holes  the product of a shooting in 1972 that stemmed from a workplace dispute and that claimed the life of guard Capt. Earl Compton.

The centerpiece of the sprawling basement complex is the old Federal Reserve vault, long emptied of all its valuables yet still sitting there among the decades of basement pileup. Built by the Diebold Safe & Lock Co. out of Canton, Ohio, the vault is massive; it contains within itself two sub-levels and dozens of individual storage safes.

We were offered a tour of the interior of the vault, but maintenance had forgotten to open the padlock that normally secures the day gate. Someone suggested, perhaps in jest, that it was possible to stretch the heavy metal chain just enough to squeeze into the interior. We tried gamely, but failed; the Fed commissioned its wares just as well back then as it does today. Yet that is how your correspondent found himself in the unexpected position of literally trying to break into a Federal Reserve bank vault. Ones career often takes one in unpredictable directions.

About this story "Small History" examines the stories behind Richmond places and figures. Have an idea for an upcoming feature? Email danielpayneauthor@gmail.com.

After more than 50 years, the Supreme Court is slated to move out of the old Fed building sometime in the near future, with a new modern building being planned on Main Street.

Asked what will happen to the historic structure at 100 N. Ninth street, Vavra said the decision was still in flux. Its historic, so they wont knock it down, she said. Theyll find something to do with it.

In a city as wonderfully historic as Richmond, they always do. (tncms-asset)92dbe9d6-361e-11ee-a426-43923c5cd07b[5](/tncms-asset)(tncms-asset)45c43e44-1ade-11e7-97b7-3fa4981872d4[6](/tncms-asset)
When it comes to wine, many decisions in the vineyard can affect quality and taste: density of vines, uniformity of grapes, frequency of fungicide, weather. What might not make a difference  at least, as much as tasters and growers think it does  is whether grapes were picked by hand or machine.

The decision to mechanize or not is one weighing on Virginia winegrowers minds, especially as the wine country grows, gaining national and international attention.

Some have already mechanized. Lakeview Vineyard Equipment, a vineyard machinery distributor based out of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada, has sold mechanical harvesters, leaf removers, trimmers and pesticide sprayers to several vineyards in Virginia. Keswick Vineyards near Charlottesville has been mechanically harvesting grapes for almost 10 years.

Mechanization is not without controversy: Virginias slopes and smaller vineyards make mechanization not only difficult but costly. Thats not to mention the pushback from certain industry insiders who maintain that mechanization might negatively affect the harvest, producing lower-quality wine.

But with a small and unreliable local labor pool and high-cost barriers to importing foreign labor, mechanization might just be inevitable, said Stephen Barnard, president of the Monticello Wine Trail and former winemaker at Keswick Vineyards.

The labor pool hasnt grown as exponentially as the amount that vineyards are growing, Barnard said. The question mark of labor and mechanization is going to be interesting. Theres been a lot of inquiries into harvesting and mechanization.

I do think theres going to be a certain paradigm shift to the use of that, Barnard said.

For vintners, a race against time

When a winegrower decides its time to pick a grape, its often a race against the clock. Fickle and furious Virginia weather can narrow the picking window to a day or less. Wait too long, and the crop could be damaged or lost.

For vineyards with an on-site crew, that means all hands on deck. But for vineyards without a stable, abundant source of labor, using a machine allows a winegrower to harvest quickly without waiting for extra hands to show up.

Keswick started using automated machinery to pick its grapes in 2015, said Barnard, now the winemaker at Delfosse Vineyards & Winery in Nelson County.

There are not enough good, skilled laborers to manage the amount of vineyards that need to be served, Barnard said. When were trying to pick, everyones trying to pick. ... Having the flexibility of pulling out the harvester, hopping in and going out, theres value in that.

At Barboursville Vineyards 178 acres under vine, a team of roughly 20 laborers works to prepare the grape fields for the harvesting machine, which Barboursville winegrower Fernando Franco said he has been using for 18 years.

Without mechanization, we would need 100 people, Franco said.

Theres a lot riding on it. The Virginia Wine Board last year estimated the economic impact of the industry totaled $1.73 billion in 2019, fueled by wineries from New Kent County to Glen Allen to virtually every corner of the state.

Yet the most obvious barrier to mechanization, especially for smaller vineyards, is the sheer capital investment: It can cost $100,000 for a tow-behind harvester and up to half a million dollars for a fully autonomous vehicle. And thats not including the continued investment required to calibrate and repair the machines.

It blows my mind that a vineyard the size of Keswick has a harvest machine, said Robbie Corpora, winegrower at Grace Estate Winery in Albemarle County. That was a hefty investment for 62 acres.

Grace hires a small crew of laborers every year through the governments H2-A program for nonimmigrant, seasonal agricultural foreign labor. That comes with its own set of costs in visas, transportation and housing. But for Corporas vineyard, its worth it.

Theres no work thats more detailed and precise than the handwork, Corpora said. If you watch a leaf-puller go through a vineyard, it looks pretty destructive for the grapevine. You watch the crew go through and pop little leaves off, you can barely tell there was a leaf there to begin with.

Jonathan Wheeler, winemaker at Trump Winery in Albemarle, agreed.

I prefer using my team because they have eyes on everything that I want and they know what to exclude, Wheeler said. If we get some clusters that have detritus or mold and the machine goes down and picks it, its going to be in the wine.

But mechanical harvesters have advanced over the years. The idea that mechanically harvested grapes are lower in quality is largely a myth, but one that is pervasive among Lakeview Vineyard Equipments prospective customers, according to company President Joe Pillitteri.

Many newer harvesters come with optical sorters, which mechanically sort desirable grapes from unwanted ones. Sorters can be extremely gentle and precise, filtering out around 99.8% of leaves, sticks and matter other than grapes, or MOG, Pillitteri said.

The newer models of harvesters shake the picked grapes, which fall through a belt with holes in it, filtering out sticks, leaves and stems, he explained. Then a pressurized stream of air is applied to shoot out anything that is light, including raisins and under ripe berries.

What were left with is basically perfect berries in the harvest, Pillitteri said.

In California, the majority of vineyards use autonomous machines to harvest their grapes. In a place where labor is expensive and often scarce, mechanization is often the cheaper option, according to Anita Oberholster, professor of cooperative extension in enology in the Department of Viticulture and Enology at the University of California, Davis.

According to multiple studies by Oberholster and her colleagues to compare wines made with handpicked and mechanically harvested grapes, the differences between the two are extremely subtle, Oberholster said.

In one study published in 2016, blind tastings between hand- and mechanically picked pinot noir produced only two differences among 18 aroma, taste and mouthfeel attributes tested.

There wasnt a clear quality difference among these wines, Oberholster said. There were very small differences, differences that I think your general consumer would probably not pick up on.

While mechanical harvesting might hold different implications among varieties, other studies in Californias vineyards reached the same conclusion.

At the end of the day, I think if you dont have the labor, (mechanized harvesting and sorting) is not as detrimental as people think, Oberholster said. It doesnt have as big of an impact as people believe by what their eyes show them.

The only thing that it doesnt do is ferment the wine

To address the freakout factor of a new, intimidating machine, Pillitteri said Lakeviews technicians train a vineyards staff upon delivery of the machines and then return before harvest to make sure the operator is completely comfortable.

Its not as complicated as it seems. Most operators, within a half an hour of training, are what I would consider near-experts on using them, he said.

And despite the upfront cost, Pillitteri said his customers agree its worth it.

There are other ways to deal with the price tag. In California, vineyards can rent out machinery for the harvest instead of purchasing their own equipment, Oberholster said.

Lakeview also sells used harvesters and mechanical equipment, which reduces cost significantly. The company once sold a used harvester to a vineyard with only 4 acres, Pillitteri said.

After 18 harvests, Franco at Barboursville said his harvester still runs beautifully.

It harvests, cleans the grapes, destems them, and only the green fruit falls into its tanks, Franco said. The only thing that it doesnt do is ferment the wine.

There is still the question of practicality: Virginias farmland is often sloped, with vines planted close together, such as Trumps. One of Wheelers concerns with using a mechanical harvester is that a machine might slide and get stuck in the mud on a rainy day.

If it slid into the vineyard, how am I going to get it out? And now Im waiting on all this fruit, Wheeler said.

Oberholster said there is a movement in Europe to make machine harvesting more accessible. That means planting new vineyards farther apart and higher off the ground to make mechanical harvesting easier and circumvent the same labor shortages in Europe.

Those working in Virginias vineyards appear to carry a similar sentiment. Pillitteri said there is a growing market for Lakeview in Virginia, and winegrowers similarly remarked on the growing interest in mechanization.

In Virginia, were still very much doing everything by hand, said George Hodson, president of the Virginia Wine Board and CEO of Veritas Vineyards and Winery in Afton. We have been trying to move more and more mechanized, as much as we possibly can.

From the Archives: Professional baseball in Richmond, 1953-1990
Gov. Glenn Youngkin made the third stop on his parents matter conversation tour Tuesday morning, joining state Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant, R-Henrico, at Crestview Elementary School in Henrico County.

The event was a chance to tout bills that have passed and bills that the administration plans to keep fighting for, along with listening to the audience for concerns and suggestions.

The parent-focused conversations have featured GOP candidates running in competitive districts in this years General Assembly contests where a handful of hard-fought districts give each party a chance to gain the majority. Youngkin emphasized parents role in their childrens education during his successful campaign for governor in 2021.

Dunnavant faces Del. Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Henrico, in Henricos Senate District 16. At previous parents matter conversations, Youngkin was joined in Salem by Sen. David Suetterlein, R-Roanoke County and in Prince William County by Bill Woolf, who faces Del. Danica Roem, D-Prince William, in Senate District 30.

All 140 legislative seats are up for election in November. For Youngkin to accomplish more of his agenda as governor, Republicans would need to keep control of the House of Delegates and flip control of the Senate to the GOP.

Youngkin noted the 2022 passage of Dunnavants Senate Bill 656, which requires schools to notify parents of assignments that contain sexually explicit content so that they can choose whether to have their child opt out of it with a replacement assignment.

I will not hear any more that an educator thats taken a class on age-appropriate education for a child knows more than I do about what is appropriate for my child to learn, Dunnavant said to applause from the crowd.

After she and Youngkin had spoken, a microphone was passed around to members of the audience who wished to add their input. Several participants raised concerns about social media.

One man implored legislators and Youngkin to explore laws that would prohibit transgender minors from receiving gender-affirming medical care.

Youngkin did not clarify when speaking with reporters following the event whether he would support such measures, but he did say that he wants local school boards around the state to adopt his administrations model policies for transgender students as a starting point to future conversations.

The previous administrations policy did not require parents to be at the table, Youngkin said of policies in Gov. Ralph Northams administration that did not require schools to notify parents if a student began using a different pronoun or needed to use a bathroom that did not match their assigned sex at birth.

We have to first get parents back to the table, and thats where my full attention has been, Youngkin said. Well have good discussions around these other issues. But I have got to move first in order to have our model policies adopted by all the jurisdictions.

As with Northams model policies, some localities say they will not follow the governors new guidance, and Henrico County has yet to take a stance. But Youngkin said local school boards dont have a choice.

One of the top concerns several parents at the event voiced was a call for tighter restrictions on social media for children and teens.

Earlier this year, Youngkin unsuccessfully pushed for a law to require parental consent for minors under 18 to sign up for social media sites. Suetterlein and Del. Emily Brewer, R-Suffolk, carried the measures, which failed to pass this year. Youngkin hopes the measures fare better next session. (Brewer also is in a closely contested race for state Senate, facing Del. Clinton Jenkins, D-Suffolk, in Senate District 17.)

Some parents and the governor also noted the mental health impact of social media use and the strain that the COVID-19 pandemic placed on learning.

Youngkin, who has pushed for an increase in mental health funding, stressed that it is critical to progress under his Right Help Right Now plan.

House and Senate budget negotiators continue to seek an agreement on revisions to the two-year state budget. As he has echoed repeatedly this summer, Youngkin said Tuesday that he needs a budget.

When the General Assembly adjourned its 2023 session, it had yet to agree on a budget. Youngkin says there is sufficient revenue for $1 billion in tax cuts in addition to investments in key priorities. Senate Democrats have been pushing for a larger investment in the states schools.

While chatting with the media after the event, Youngkin said he is frustrated.

We can invest in behavioral health. We can invest in education, we can invest in law enforcement, we can make government work better. We can in fact, reduce tax burdens on Virginians, he said. We have plenty of money to do all of it.

The Trump factor

Asked about the latest indictment against former President Donald Trump, Youngkin again criticized what he termed a two-tiered justice system.

When asked if he thinks Trump bears any responsibility for the violence that occurred when his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, Youngkin did not clarify, but he condemned the violence.

The violence that happened on January 6 is unforgivable, Youngkin said. Theres no room for violence in this nation, certainly not in our nations capital, but anywhere. This is the moment where we got to step up and say, how are we going to hold people accountable? In this case, theres no excuse for any violence (on) January 6.

Top five weekend events: Richmond Jazz Festival, Carytown Watermelon Festival Carytown Watermelon Festival Richmond Jazz and Music Festival Parliament Funkadelic featuring George Clinton JamPacked Craft Beer & Music Festival RVA Rapper's Delight
The former spy looked out upon a vast green sea of soy.

After spending Wednesday traveling across the countryside of Virginias 7th District, Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger stood by the long driveway of Charity Hill Farms in Caroline County with seventh-generation farmer Chris Smith to her right and his mother Cindy to her left.

It was the last stop of her daylong farm tour, and as the afternoon drew to a close, the ex-CIA officer, amid corn, soy and cattle, took and asked questions about how Congress can better serve farmers.

In many ways, this journey through the bucolic counties of her district was unremarkable: Since assuming office four years ago and joining the House Committee on Agriculture, Spanberger has toured many a farm.

But with murmurs in Washington about her political ambitions, the tour may have served an additional purpose: a test run for a gubernatorial campaign.

Im really focused on November, Spanberger told The Daily Progress when asked if there is truth to reports that she plans to run for governor in 2025. Weve got 140 seats up as well as board of supervisors and school board races, and those are incredibly important. I dont want to distract from that.

It was not a denial.

As the only Virginian on the Agriculture Committee and with a $1.5 trillion farm bill expected in 2024, meeting with farming families such as the Smiths can be valuable for a congresswoman.

After all, Spanberger conceded she knew literally nothing about farming before joining the committee. Much of what shes learned since  about crop insurance, rotational grazing, cover crops and more  she said shes learned by talking to farmers.

I have loved the committee, she said, standing in her baby-blue blazer under the shade of a tree. What happens on the Agriculture Committee really matters to every single community, from the most urban of the urban to the most rural of the rural.

If Spanberger does make an announcement to run for governor, the centrist Democrat may need to pick off votes in more Republican parts of the commonwealth like Caroline County, which former President Donald Trump won in 2020 with 51.2% of the vote.

But when will that announcement come?

Not before the elections this fall, predicted outgoing Democratic Del. Sally Hudson.

Everyone in Virginia politics is laser focused on November. Theres no reason to start a governors race in a major public way right now, Hudson told The Daily Progress. Its August two years out. Most people are winding down summer days and getting ready for back-to-school season.

With big races in Virginia and elsewhere this fall, announcing now might indeed distract from that, as Spanberger said.

Right now, the calculation is, whether youre a Democrat or Republican looking to run, Do I get perceived as getting in the way of competitive elections that are happening first? said Tom Kramer of Christopher Newport Universitys Wason Center for Public Policy.

They dont want to be perceived as doing that, he told The Daily Progress.

Hudson said she thinks that for a well-known candidate such as Spanberger, theres no hurry to announce. She already has earned a national profile, and announcements matter more for outsider candidates, Hudson said.

Theres no swing voter at the ballot box who remembers what campaign launch timing looked like, she said.

Of course, theres no guarantee that Spanberger will run.

Sometimes candidates simply mention theyre thinking about running because they want to test the waters, Kramer said. Its simply them gauging how much support theyd get and where might it come from.

What is clear is shes interested in running, he added, referring to media reports.

Its certainly possible the congresswoman has already decided shell make a bid for the Executive Mansion in 2025. But her camp may still be determining whether she should also try to retain her House seat in 2024.

Kyle Kondik of the University of Virginias Center for Politics called this running from safety, meaning to run for office while still holding office.

If the governorship doesnt work out, she could still stay in the House. If she gives up her House seat, someone else will hold it and she might find herself completely out in 2025, Kondik told The Daily Progress.

On the other hand, staying in the House would require her to run two campaigns back to back.

If she knows shes going to run for governor, it makes sense for her politically to just focus on that over the next two years, instead of a closely contested and expensive campaign in 2024 and then run again in 2025, Kondik said.

If it were up to House Democrats, the House member would likely stay in the lower chamber in D.C. In addition to being a prolific fundraiser, Kramer said Spanberger has shown she can win in a competitive district.

Her seat is one they wont look forward to having to compete for, Kramer said. If she left Congress, her seat adds to the number of competitive seats in what is already a narrowly divided Congress.

Rich Anderson, chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, told The Daily Progress that the trial balloon Spanberger has released could signal an opening for his party in 2024.

This would be a win-win for Virginia Republicans, because we have a stable of quality candidates who will likely seek the governorship in 2025, preceded in 2024 by an equally attractive slate of Republican candidates, he wrote in an email.

While Republicans may welcome her House exit, some of Spanbergers own constituents would be less happy to see her go.

It would certainly pain us to lose Abigail as our Congresswoman, Sandra Smith, co-chair of the Orange County Democratic Committee, told The Daily Progress in an email. We understand that she is making no definitive plan until late fall after the House of Delegates and State Senate elections are over. Were confident shell base her decision on where she can do the most good.

Before Spanbergers arrival on Wednesday, Chris Smith stood on the farm that his family has owned since 1856. While 150 beef cattle grazed the land, corn and soybean are the moneymakers for the Smiths these days, and Chris Smith crossed his fingers that the fields would get rain over the weekend.

Why was the congresswoman coming to visit this old farm?

I have no idea, Chris and his father Steve Smith both said when asked 10 minutes apart.

For Spanberger, the trip was at least in part to learn more about Virginias farming community.

It was also an opportunity to meet with people who may not share her party affiliation.

Driving through the winding roads en route to Charity Hill, one large, handmade sign read in bold letters: When will Democrats blame Democrats for what Democrats have done?

Spanberger thinks visits to red parts of her district might help explain why shes been able to win three races in a competitive seat. For some people, she said, being a Democrat is a bridge too far. But demonstrating respect may help win a couple votes.

Ive had the occasion to show up in spaces where I say, Listen, I know yall dont vote for me, but I still work for you, she said. If somebody might say, Well, shes a Democrats but, and that but is she hears about my issues or she shows up or she respects me or she tries to understand what my day-to-day is like, then thats my goal.

On Wednesday at least, she appeared to achieve that. Spending time with the Smiths, she asked about their lives and listened to their concerns, occasionally jotting down notes with a stylus on her tablet.

Chris Smith said he thinks she still has some learning to do. Theres more to agriculture than just farming and subsidies, he said. Hed like to see the Spanberger do more for vocational schools and find other ways to get the younger generation more interested in where their food comes from.

But it definitely meant something that she took the time to come out, he said on the phone after picking up his beef from a nearby processor, which hell later sell to neighbors and local restaurants. Our views might not line up completely on all platforms, but she was a nice person and I enjoyed talking to her.

Might that visit have earned Spanberger a vote in her expected gubernatorial race?

Smith wont commit to that. He likes to stay out of politics, but mentioned hes been happy with what Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin has done for the farming community.

Youngkin, of course, cannot run again. And its unclear which Republican might replace him on the ballot.

Its also unclear if and when Spanberger will make her candidacy official, and if shed be able to win a primary. Already, another powerful Virginia Democrat, Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, has been hinting at his own gubernatorial ambitions.

But Kramer, Hudson and Kondik said they think shed be a compelling candidate.

If she were to advance to the general election, the Smiths and other farming families will have a choice to make.

Well see when the time gets closer, Chris said.

So too will Spanberger. And so too will the rest of Virginia as it waits for her decision.
At least 11 GOP senators who voted not to convict Donald Trump during his second impeachment trial in February 2021 referred to him as a private citizen, claiming obliquely or explicitly that they didnt have the power or jurisdiction to convict a man who was no longer president of the grave offenses he openly committed against the country. Alabamas Richard Shelbys sentiments were common: the Constitution speaks of removing a sitting president, not a private citizen.

This spineless cop-out, and the subsequent absence of a vote to bar Trump from ever holding public office, has left us in this position of having a fraudster who has taken the most concrete steps to terminate American democracy since the Civil War now a major-party front-runner again. Yet it also unwittingly made a separate case: if impeachment was not the proper place to convict a former president, then naturally a federal court, which has jurisdiction over offenses committed by non-presidents, is the proper venue, right?

Theres no possible way that those same craven senators, who waved their awesome responsibility away, would be against Special Counsel Jack Smith, a federal prosecutor, now bringing charges  backed up by ample evidence already  that were approved by a grand jury and are slated to be heard in a federal courtroom before a jury, as the law calls for when it comes to private citizens? Thats a rhetorical question, of course. They will obviously twist themselves into pretzels to claim that its this process thats political, actually.

Wyomings John Barrasso, the chair of the Senate Republican Conference, said back then that his no vote on impeachment was consistent with my duty to the Constitution, I opposed this impeachment trial of a private citizen and former president. After Smiths indictment of Trump this week on charges related to the former presidents efforts to overturn the 2020 election, Barrasso said the public is uncomfortable watching the current president weaponize the justice system against his political opponent. So, you cant impeach and try private citizen Trump in the House and Senate, but he cant be tried in the federal courts either. Its almost like these officials believe that Trump should face no consequences by any means.

Like many of his colleagues, Barrasso also absurdly brought up a U.S. attorneys recent deal with Hunter Biden over charges of gun possession and tax evasion, which Republican lawmakers crowed was a Joe Biden-directed sweetheart deal (ignoring that it was reached by a Trump-appointed prosecutor) and which fell apart for technical reasons.

Among these was the unusual requirement, rejected by Delaware Federal Judge Maryellen Noreika (also a Trump appointee), that she be the one to oversee Hunter Bidens compliance with conditions the agreement set, a stipulation the defense pursued in part out of concern that a potentially reelected Trump would order his Justice Department to arrest his political rivals son whether or not he complied. If anything the deal spoke to concerns over Trumps, not Bidens, weaponization of the Justice Department.

Not that any of these facts actually matter. A controlling subset of the GOP now exists in thrall to Trump, and to point out their increasingly strained rationalizations and hypocrisy is to miss the point. They know, and they dont care.
WASHINGTON  Nicole Leger always thought of the burn pits at military bases in Afghanistan as more like campfires than health hazards. Ordered to dispose of sensitive documents, she would toss the paperwork into the flames while catching up with fellow soldiers, moments of quiet bonding that provided a respite from her riskier work as a hastily trained medic for the U.S. Army.

"We really didn't see that it was dangerous at the time," she said. "It was just part of the mission. So we had to get it done."

But then her sinus problems began, only worsening after she returned home, where she sometimes found herself gasping for breath at night. She remembered thinking, "This wasn't who I was before I got in."

Although Leger already received disability benefits for post-traumatic stress, migraines and a hip fracture, it wasn't until President Joe Biden signed legislation known as the PACT Act last year that her monthly payments expanded to take into account the impact of the burn pits.

Now 34 years old, Leger and her fiance have moved out of a cramped town house and into a larger home in a suburb of Tampa, Florida, where their four children can each have a bedroom.

"I still wake up pinching myself," she said.

Leger is one beneficiary of the largest expansion of veterans assistance in decades, and the administration is racing to sign up as many people as possible as the first anniversary of the law approaches. Although there's no deadline to apply, anyone who files a claim or simply signals the intent to do so by Wednesday could collect payments retroactive to last year if the claim is approved.

Under the law, certain cancers and ailments are presumed to be connected to the burn pits that were used to dispose of trash and potentially toxic materials. For veterans who served during the Vietnam War, hypertension and other conditions were added to the list of problems presumed to be caused by exposure to Agent Orange, which was used by the U.S. military to clear vegetation.

Biden will mark the law's anniversary at a Veterans Affairs hospital in Salt Lake City on Thursday. According to administration statistics, the Department of Veterans Affairs has received nearly 786,000 disability claims under the PACT Act, processed almost 435,000 and approved more than 348,000.

About 111,000 veterans who are believed to have toxic exposure have enrolled in VA health care since the law was enacted. In addition, more than 4.1 million veterans have completed toxic screenings, which are questionnaires to analyze their potential exposure and determine whether additional tests are required.

Implementing the legislation has proved challenging for the VA despite hiring new staff to accommodate a historic influx of claims. The backlog is about 266,000, meaning waits of at least four months for claims to be processed, and the list is expected to grow to 450,000 in October and 730,000 in April. During a recent oversight hearing. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., expressed concern about "bad trends."

Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough said his agency is doing better than expected based on internal projections and is using new technology to process claims faster.
(Image: New Straits Times)

In a bid to cultivate the vibrancy of Malaysias capital market, the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) said that several initiatives will be rolled out to encourage youth participation and investment in the market. In addition to kickstarting its new InvestED Leadership Programme 2023 with the first cohort, the SC also announced a university adoption scheme by stockbroking companies to promote greater understanding of the capital market.

With regard to the InvestED Leadership Programme, the chairman of the SC, Datuk Seri Dr Awang Adek Hussin said that the first cohort of this SC-led flagship graduate programme has already been selected, and the chosen individuals will first need to go through a one-month comprehensive and interactive learning module conducted by the Asia School of Business (ASB). Following that, theyre required to complete a six-month training with invested partners from the industry.

Datuk Seri Dr Awang Adek also shared that the response to the programme has been overwhelming, with more than 2,000 applications received. There were, however, only spots for 200 individuals.

(Image: Bernama)

The SCs partnership with the Asia School of Business (ASB) today further strengthens the programmes credibility and reinforces our commitment to provide programme participants with the necessary capital market industry knowledge needed to be market ready. We see this initiative as vital for an industry with high talent mobility and demand like the capital market, Datuk Seri Dr Awang Adek further said, adding that InvestED was also the first collaboration between the SC, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), as well as the capital market industry and universities.

The SC is currently expected to continue the InvestED programme for three years, in hopes that the programme will be able to positively impact the industry in the future.

Aside from InvestED, Datuk Seri Dr Awang Adek also revealed that the Association of Stockbroking Companies Malaysia is introducing an adoption scheme where stockbroking companies will adopt a university to educate its lecturers and students about the industry.

Under the scheme, each company would adopt a university to plan and work with students and lecturers to promote greater understanding and appreciation of the capital market. For instance, the company can assist lecturers in crafting a course related to the capital market to be taught to students, said Datuk Seri Dr Awang Adek.

(Image: Bernama)

Additionally, participating companies can assist students in establishing investing clubs to build awareness of investment opportunities in the capital market. Ultimately, these initiatives will not only expose students to how the capital market works, but also boost their employability and teach them about financial scams.

Finally, Datuk Seri Dr Awang Adek stressed that these initiatives are necessary in order to encourage more young individuals to invest in the capital market. To underline the gravity of the situation, he shared that investors aged 45 and below made up only 7% of the total number of investors in the stock market, whereas those between the age of 20 to 30 are believed to be even lesser. Most remisiers, meanwhile, are currently aged 50 and above.

The capital market industry needs an injection of new blood, both as employees as well as investors. We need young executives to attract young investors as they are more tech-savvy and they understand each other better, Datuk Seri Dr Awang commented.

(Source: The Star)

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AMLO says his government is no longer interested in Banamex due to lack of time

Mexico City, Mexico  President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador says his government is no longer interested in trying to acquire Banamex since there is not enough time. Instead, he says, the next government would have the opportunity to consider it.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador confirmed that his government is no longer interested in trying to acquire Banamex as had been proposed in the past.

He said initally, there was interest because it is important to have a government bank to manage funds, government accounts and save commission fees, but now, there is not enough time.

The purchase takes a year then the operation also takes time, he said adding that a new government could do it and it wouldnt be a bad deal.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador will finish his term as President in 2024.
Arrest made after 49 people held against their will rescued from Cancun hotel

Cancun, Q.R.  Authorities in Cancun have released official information regarding the rescue of illegal people from inside a Cancun hotel. The group were rescued from inside the hotel August 3 during an operation after reportedly being held against their will.

At least three patrol units were seen parked outside the Cancun hotel on Jose Lopez Portillo Avenue during the rescue operation. On Monday, Cancun authorities reported 49 people were found inside the hotel.

According to the State Attorney General during his Monday press conference, what they have named The Jaguar Operational Group deployed a reaction plan at the Azteca Hotel in SM 68 of Cancun to rescue 49 people. Those rescued were of Chinese, Indian and Honduran origin.

A total of 49 illegal people were located inside a Cancun hotel being held against their will. Photo: FGE August 3, 2023.

During their operation, 52 packages of cocaine were seized from inside the hotel. One person, 25-year-old Jesus Adonaid N, was arrested for his involvement in the illegal holding of the 49 migrants as well as drug related charges.

Details as to how the 49 arrived in Mexico or ended up in the Cancun hotel were not provided by authorities.
Former Monterrey chiropractor extradited to Mexico to face patient rape charges

Monterrey, Nuevo Leon  A Peru man wanted by Mexican authorities for the rape of a Mexican woman has been extradited. On Monday, Abel L was returned to Mexico where he will face charges in a Monterrey court room.

In a statement, the State Attorney of the Republic (FGR) said they received in extradition from the Government of Peru, a person of Peruvian nationality required by a Monterrey court for the rape of a patient.

Abel L, worked as a chiropractic doctor in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, when a woman, who attended therapy with him and without her consent, was sexually assaulted by him, they reported.

After being arrested in August 2022, based on the Red Note issued against him at the request of INTERPOL-Mexico, the Government of the Republic of Peru granted the extradition of the defendant to the Government of Mexico.

Subsequently, the fugitive was handed over at the International Airport of Lima, Peru, and transferred on a commercial flight to Mexico City.
A recent New York Times op-ed took to task the elites who thumb their noses at Trump supporters. Maybe if the smart set listened more and harangued less theyd better understand why so many of their fellow citizens vote the way they do.

It has taken some time but there are signs that the cultural elites, members of what has been called Americas ruling class, have started to engage in some long overdue self-examination as it relates to their engagement with populist dynamics, especially as represented in the figure of Donald Trump.

David Brooks recent column wonders of his fellow elites, What if Were the Bad Guys Here? As a Calvinist, Im always in favor of asking that question, even on a more personal and individual level, on a daily basis. More often than not the answer is going to come back affirmative, at least in some respects.

But Brooks query is significant because it demonstrates the beginnings of a posture of humility and self-criticism all too often absent nowadays for people of any political persuasion or none at all. If theres one thing that defines our cultural moment its how everyone is convinced theyre right. About almost everything.

Brooks walks us through a litany of elite offenses, both real and merely perceived, before concluding,

Its easy to understand why people in less-educated classes would conclude that they are under economic, political, cultural, and moral assaultand why theyve rallied around Trump as their best warrior against the educated class. He understood that its not the entrepreneurs who seem most threatening to workers; its the professional class. Trump understood that there was great demand for a leader who would stick his thumb in our eyes on a daily basis and reject the whole epistemic regime that we rode in on.

The distinction between elites and the masses isnt just about education, although thats a good proxy for some of this. Its also about cultural power and influence, and what those things have been used for. If elites want to be trusted, they could start by being more trustworthy.

Its high time for cultured despisers of populism to start to think more sympathetically about those deplorables in flyover country who cling to their guns and their religionthings elites are often unable to disambiguate.

I distinctly remember sitting in a room five years ago full of the Christian version of the kinds of elites Brooks describes here. The basic takeaway from the conversation was one of incredulity: How could people who calls themselves Christian support Trump?

There was no sense that there might need to be a follow-up to that question, any kind of investigation into motivations for such support. The entire discussion was basically an exercise in throwing hands up in the air and writing off such know-nothings as too far gone. This was a room full of smart people, people who should know better than simply to dismiss others, no matter how misguided they might be.

This is a script that has played out over and over again in elite discourse, whether in lunch meetings, on social media, or in the pages (web or print) of mainstream media. This kind of posture leads to simplistic judgments about the 81% of evangelicals who supported (and may still yet support) Donald Trump. In no way does this kind of insular chatter lend itself to finding a point of connection with others. Another way of putting it is that elites are not immune to their own echo chambers.

It is beyond time for elitesliberal, progressive, or otherwiseto at least try to understand some of the motivations for supporters of Trump. Doing so doesnt mean those motivations have to be validated, agreed with, or legitimized (although in some cases, valid grievances might be discovered). But it does require basic sympathy, which might turn out to be the key to real communication and connection. Many people feel as though Donald Trump identifies with them, or at least recognizes their grievances in ways other powerful people do not.

Of course this is only a potential beginning for such conversations, but important things can begin in small ways. Just as elites need to be self-critical, the grievance politics of the populist right needs to be interrogated, too. The difference between a principled populist and a demagogue lies in the ability to critique the populace where and when they deserve it. For example, may it be time to question tactics unworthy of a great nation even in redressing legitimate grievances, especially when results have proved to be either transient or wanting?

Elites are supposed to be smart, but theyve been, by and large, pretty dumb over recent years. You cant just write off a large swath of people as beyond the pale and expect to win them over to your way of thinking. Real self-critical questions need to be asked, and its noteworthy that someone like Brooks has started to ask them in a public way. Im not particularly optimistic about how the conversation is going to go, however, because you can already see in elite and progressive reaction to Brooks piece that his argument is anathema to the purity of the cause of those who are on the right side of history. But its a potential starting place, and one we shouldnt let go of, particularly in this moment of deep cultural crisis.
A short, wide, dog with a powerful-looking physique is one of the pets you can see at Canine City, a new local pet store.

Jonathan King, the employee standing behind the counter, informed me the handsome creature was his exotic bully, a breed created through selective breeding, and named bank girl.

Conrad Claytor, a Roanoke small business owner, said he started the pet shop June 1, taking one of the storefronts at the shopping center at Melrose Avenue and Peters Creek Road in Roanoke. He and King are partners who run the business retailing pets and pet supplies.

The men, also partners in a breeding business, said the store carries puppies for sale through the store (but kept in private homes) including the exotic bully, French bulldog, German shepherd and rottweilers. The store plans to add huskies and yorkies, Claytor said.

Canine City also carries pet food, snacks, supplements, leashes, collars, toys, shampoo, clothes and strollers.

In addition, customers with a dog they wish to breed can purchase stud services. Canine City also accepts pets for sale by consignment.
As the two people who were arrested at Julys Roanoke County School Board meeting were arraigned on misdemeanor charges Monday morning, supporters of trans youths rights rallied outside the county courthouse.

You cant remove us. You cant make this be silent, said Samantha Newell, who organized the rally through Facebook. People exist. Their lives, their identities, who they love, it all matters, and were going to keep showing up.

Danny M. Clawson of Roanoke and Benjamin C. James of Roanoke County were charged with trespassing July 27 after Roanoke County School Board members asked the public to leave the meeting room.

During that meeting, the board had unanimously passed a new policy regarding classroom displays and decor. After a public comment period ended, the county board said in a statement, a handful of individuals chose to be disruptive and disrespectful, and then chairman Brent Hudson asked police to clear the room.

Clawson and James refused to leave and were escorted out of the building in handcuffs, with Clawson chanting, Protect trans kids! according to a video captured by James.

A couple people were brave enough to stand their ground in support of the trans youth and community and were arrested, Newell said Monday. We wanted to be here specifically to support those that were arrested and to bring attention to it.

Im grateful for the media attention, not for myself, but for the kids, because whats happening at the Roanoke County schools is so harmful to them, Clawson said after Mondays court proceeding. I think thats really why all these people are here today is because they support the rights of trans children in the school district and they want to help protect trans kids.

Clawson said that their arrest and James arrest are a distraction from issues that matter.

I absolutely hope that these charges get dismissed. Obviously, I cannot speak to any of the court proceedings that are going on right now, but I think that we really need to be focusing on the issues here, they said. What we really need to be focusing on is the policies that are harming trans children and working to enact policies that are protecting them.

Clawson said the school board should listen to its constituents and to Roanoke County students.

The students came on that night and spoke, have been speaking to the school board, parents have been speaking to the school board, Clawson said. The vast majority of their constituents support the current policies that are in place that are very supportive for trans kids. We dont need to update our policies. Theyre fine just as they are, and wed really encourage them to take a step back from the more divisive forces in our country and really focus on the children and the families.

Clawson and James are expected back in Roanoke County General District Court on Oct. 25, when their cases are set for trial. Clawson has retained Roanoke-area defense attorney Chris Anderson, but James is still looking for a lawyer. Hes scheduled to return to court Aug. 21 to be appointed an attorney if he cant retain his own.

General District Judge Frederick King said the trespassing charges are serious matters and carry a maximum potential sentence of 12 months in jail. Clawson and James left the courthouse Monday after agreeing to return to for the scheduled hearings.
You might recall the brief fracas at the last Roanoke County School Board meeting, during which Chairman Brent Hudson pulled and flashed his sheriffs deputy badge. (Hudsons full-time job is chief deputy with the Roanoke County Sheriffs Office.)

It happened late July 27, following a warning Hudson delivered after shouts of bull! interrupted a briefing by Superintendent Ken Nicely. A few minutes later, after someone again shouted bull! Hudson ordered the room cleared.

At that point, some members of the crowd began loudly chanting Protect trans kids! As police arrested and dragged Roanoke resident Danny Clawson out the back entrance, Benjamin James was recording on his smartphone.

James, a Roanoke County resident, approached Hudson in the front of the room and asked, Why dont you want people in here?

Back up now! Hudson replies repeatedly. Then he pulled his deputys badge out of his pocket and shoved it toward James.

This is who I am, Im telling you to back up now! Hudson said.

This is who you are? James asked.

Ive identified myself as a law-enforcement officer and you need to leave, now! Hudson responds. Leave now!

Whats your name and badge number? James repeats multiple times.

Leave now! Hudson repeats. What is your name? Give me your ID!

Ultimately, James was also arrested, by Roanoke County police. He and Clawson were charged with trespassing.

In certain ways, the Hudson-James exchange resembles thousands of videos you can watch on YouTube by self-styled First Amendment auditors. Often, those folks bait law enforcement officers while recording their reactions. And sometimes, police overreact.

Frequently the exchanges devolve into police demanding ID from the auditor as the auditor demands the names and badge numbers of officers. Occasionally, an auditor winds up arrested.

The auditor then posts the video on YouTube. When/if that goes viral, the shared ad revenue can be worth up to $4,000 per 1 million views. In especially egregious cases, the auditors sue police and earn money that way, too. No kidding, there are entire YouTube channels dedicated to this stuff.

Anyway, the Hudson-James interaction left a bad taste in the mouth of Samantha Newell, a Roanoke County mom. She spoke at the July 27 meeting before the disorder.

Last week, Newell complained to Roanoke County Sheriff Eric Orange in an email. Her beefs were Hudsons failure to identify himself and the fact he pulled his day-job badge during the nighttime school board meeting.

It is troublesome to me as a citizen that the Chief Deputy of your department was either unable or unwilling to disclose his badge number when prompted by a Roanoke County citizen, Newell wrote Orange on July 31. As to my understanding, being provided this information is within our rights as citizens outlined in the Fourth Amendment.

She added: It is also concerning to me that while Hudson was understood to be present and acknowledged in this setting as the Chair of the Roanoke County School Board, he violated policies in place to ensure proper separation of his two career paths by revealing his badge and identifying himself as a law enforcement officer during a visibly calm interaction that was conveniently recorded by multiple sources.

I am requesting a thorough investigation of this matter and I urge you to take appropriate action to address these issues, Newell wrote.

Newell said Orange responded that day both by phone and email. He sounded apologetic on the phone, she told me. Newell shared his emailed response with me.

Thank you for reaching out to me and expressing your concerns, Oranges reply began.

To the first point, we do not utilize badge numbers, but unit numbers. As you know the Deputy in question is Brent Hudson and his unit number is 0765. I will remind Chief Deputy Hudson of the importance of sharing said information, when requested by any citizen, Orange wrote.

With respect to Newells other complaint, I understand that there may be some confusion regarding his two roles, so I will try my best to clarify, Orange replied.

I do not know what policies may apply in his role on the school board, which would be a question best directed to the superintendent, Orange wrote. However, from the perspective of the [Roanoke County Sheriffs Office], he is a law enforcement officer with a duty to respond.

It is my understanding that the individual who approached Mr. Hudson was charged with trespassing. In the event that any member of my staff witnesses a crime occurring (i.e. trespassing), there is an expectation to respond. That response may vary, based upon the circumstances, but in a situation such as this an act of identifying oneself and requesting that the act cease, is within reason, wrote Orange.

Monday I spoke with Orange. He said Newells complaint about Hudsons actions that night was the only one he had received.

Monday, Roanoke County schools issued new requirements for public speakers at school board meetings. Now, speaker must sign up in advance, by phone or online, no later than 8 a.m. the day of the meeting.

Previously, they could sign up in person, directly before a meeting.

The new policy also limits speakers to Roanoke County parents, teachers, students or citizens. It appears to bar speakers from outside the county  such as Clawson, who lives in Roanoke.

The early sign-up deadline is in order to allow time for verification that the speaker is eligible as a current parent, teacher, student, or citizen of Roanoke County, the school boards website states.

Both James and Clawson appeared in Roanoke County General District Court on Monday morning. Newell and roughly 20 people showed up outside the courthouse to demonstrate in support of them.

Newells also created a GoFundMe page to help defray legal expenses for Clawson and James. The title is Legal Aid to Trans Advocates. As of Monday afternoon, it had raised $2,319 toward a goal of $2,500.

The agenda for the Aug. 17 Roanoke County School Board meeting hasnt yet been published. Theres a good chance the board will take up the Virginia Board of Educations Model Policies on transgender students, which were issued in July.

Not coincidentally, it was during Nicelys briefing about those July 27 that foul language first erupted.
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Email Thomas Elias at tdelias@aol.com. His book, "The Burzynski Breakthrough, The Most Promising Cancer Treatment and the Governments Campaign to Squelch It" is now available in a soft cover fourth edition. For more Elias columns, visit www.californiafocus.net
For several school districts here in the Pee Dee area, schools began this week for elementary, middle, and high school students. In a few weeks, all public and private schools will have begun in South Carolina.

At the request of some school principals, several members of the clergy and members of their congregations visited the schools before this past Monday to pray on site for the blessings of a successful school year for 2023-2024.

For that we are grateful. Now it is up to parents, school administrators, teachers, support staff, students, and school board members to jointly create a learning environment in every school that has an orderly atmosphere, an attractive working environment, and a priority on teaching and learning that (1) maximizes learning time, (2) academic emphasis, and (3) achievement.

In Florence School District One, these expectations should be a reality from kindergarten through Alfred Rush Academy. Irrespective of the academic status of students or the socio-economic of parents and their surroundings, resources need to be provided appropriately for every school to maximize the success of all students. But first, let us start with the necessary parenting.

Schools had no control of the curriculum for the summer for their students, except for those enrolled. Part of the challenge these first days of school is to have students make a successful transition from what they did or did not do during May, June, and July to the learning expectations of our classrooms. Families must now set the attitude and character of their children to be compatible with the expectations of principals, teachers and their classroom support staff, clerical staff, cafeteria workers, nurses, bus drivers, maintenance staff, and other adult employees.

Parents, grandparents, and all other family members who have the responsibility of providing a continuous relationship with children that includes caring, teaching, leading, communicating, must do so in a positive manner. Guidance and discipline are requirements for setting boundaries for children before they come to school. This minimizes conflicts at schools and enhances academic achievement. High expectations of children are a major part of being a good parent.

One of the major characteristics of an effective school, in addition to exceptional teaching and learning, is having positive home-school relationships. This is not achievable without communication being initiated from both. Parental involvement in their childrens learning must not be exclusively in disciplinary matters.

All students need to feel welcomed in the school they attend. Students who have been classmates from elementary to middle to high school have less of an adjustment problem to a school environment than students who are transferred from another school district or move in from another city, state, or country.

A significant question to be asked is, Are we creating an inviting atmosphere for ALL students? As administrators, faculty, support staff, and students, are we being inviting, uninviting, or disinviting to students and adults who are new to our environment? This first week of school is critical because laying the foundation for implementing policies, procedures, discipline, and high expectations all around must be done in an atmosphere with dignity and respect for everyone. Students who are struggling academically because of instructional deficiencies that occurred during the pandemic of COVID-19 need to be in instructional intensive care units (IICUs). Parents need to assist classroom teachers in helping make up the loss or failure to acquire the basic skills during kindergarten, first, and second grades. These academic deficiencies have contributed to some students experiencing difficulties in Mathematics and English Language Arts.

As a school district, are we providing all of our school buildings, including the Alfred Rush Academy, with the needed resources that maximize an orderly atmosphere for learning? Students who do not follow rules should be disciplined in all buildings equitably, consistently, and with dignity. Are we proud of all of our schools in all attendance areas?

We can, whenever and wherever we choose, successfully teach ALL children whose schooling is of interest to us. We already know more than we need in order to do this. Whether we do it must finally depend on how we feel about the fact that we havent so far.

Dr. Ron Edmonds
 ABA resolution calls for adoption of prosecutor-initiated resentencing legislation | Main | ABA resolution adopts 14 principles set forth by ABA's Plea Bargain Task Force 

August 8, 2023

Reviewing latest data on Jan 6 riot prosecutions and sentencings

This Fox News piece, headlined "More than 1K people charged over Jan 6 riot, 366 received prison time: DOJ," summarizes some of the latest data from the US Justice Department about its prosecutions of persons involved in the storming of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. Here are details:

The Justice Department has charged more than 1,100 people in relation to the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot, and about a third of that number were sentenced to prison time, the Biden administration announced over the weekend. The DOJ released its latest statistics about Jan. 6 on Sunday, exactly 31 months after rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol to protest former President Trumps election loss. Of all the charges listed, the majority of defendants  967  were accused of trespassing on restricted federal grounds. Just over 100 of the people in that group face additional charges for illegally entering federal grounds with a weapon. The DOJ said 372 people were charged with "assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers or employees." Roughly a third of those were accused of using a deadly weapon against an officer or "causing serious bodily injury" to an officer. It said about 64 people have been charged with destruction of government property, and 51 were charged with theft of government property. The DOJ said 632 people have pleaded guilty to various charges  mostly misdemeanors, although 198 have pleaded guilty to felonies. The department said 597 people have received sentences for their activities on Jan. 6, and 366 of those were sentenced to incarceration.... "Under the continued leadership of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia and the FBIs Washington Field Office, the investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the attack continues to move forward at an unprecedented speed and scale. The Department of Justices resolve to hold accountable those who committed crimes on January 6, 2021, has not, and will not, wane," the department said.

August 8, 2023 at 01:39 PM | Permalink

Comments

Lock them all up.

Posted by: anon | Aug 8, 2023 5:40:53 PM

While the BLM rioters, the portland rioters, the DC rioters get to walk . . . . yeah anon, if some cop ever messes with you, don't come whining to me . . . .

Posted by: federalist | Aug 8, 2023 5:50:24 PM

As another example of Merrick Garland's corrupt DOJ, there's this:

https://nypost.com/2023/08/07/fbi-agent-lied-about-knowledge-of-hunter-biden-laptop-talks-with-facebook/

Every case against every Jan 6 defendant should be tossed . . . . (other than those who assaulted cops)

Posted by: federalist | Aug 8, 2023 5:56:33 PM

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/miacathell/2023/08/09/andy-ngo-antifa-trial-hacker-testimony-n2626762

This is a problem. Ngo was clearly assaulted.

Posted by: federalist | Aug 9, 2023 10:04:31 AM

And then there's this: https://hotair.com/david-strom/2023/08/09/january-6th-committee-didnt-turn-over-its-records-to-the-house-n569973

Doug?

Posted by: federalist | Aug 9, 2023 11:34:33 AM

Who the f is this judge in the Ngo case?

The defense attorney should be disbarred for threatening the jury. I hope he has appeal opportunities.

BTW, this is why every law abiding citizen should be able to carry.

Posted by: TarlsQtr | Aug 9, 2023 3:50:46 PM

There was another journalist in POrtland who was threatened, and he pulled out his gun--he was the one prosecuted. And don't forget Rittenhouse, who tried to retreat, was prosecuted.

Posted by: federalist | Aug 9, 2023 5:47:40 PM

Conservative Case Emerges to Disqualify Trump for Role on Jan. 6. Two law professors active in the Federalist Society wrote that the original meaning of the 14th Amendment makes Donald Trump ineligible to hold government office.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/10/us/trump-jan-6-insurrection-conservatives.html



Posted by: anon12 | Aug 10, 2023 5:42:53 PM

anon12, if he is elected, it doesn't matter what those profs say . . . .

Posted by: federalist | Aug 10, 2023 6:41:45 PM

Post a comment
SINGAPORE, Aug. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The GrowHub Innovations Company, a Singapore-based technological firm, proudly announces the official launch of its cutting-edge SaaS traceability platform across the Asia Pacific region. To mark this significant milestone, The GrowHub is embarking on a comprehensive roadshow, with Japan as its first stop, followed by key markets such as Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Vietnam, and North Asia in the upcoming months. The GrowHub recognises Japan as a crucial market with exceptional agricultural products and receptiveness to advanced technologies.

From Left to Right: GrowHub Japan Country Head: Daiki Nakaoka, Prof Masanori Nakatani, The GrowHub CEO: Lester Chan, Kyoto Prefecture Vice Governor: Akimasa Yamashita, The GrowHubs Adviser: Tan Wei

The GrowHub's traceability platform is set to revolutionize the way industries across the region manage and monitor their supply chains, ensuring transparency, efficiency, and sustainability. By leveraging state-of-the-art technology, The GrowHub aims to empower business with real-time insights into their supply chain processes, fostering trust among consumers and stakeholders.

Key objectives of The GrowHub's Asia Pacific Roadshow include:

Acquiring New Clients and Industry Partners: The GrowHub is eager to engage with businesses seeking innovative solutions to enhance traceability and sustainability in their operations. By fostering new partnerships, The GrowHub aims to drive transformative change within the various industries. Sourcing for Complementary Technologies: The GrowHub seeks to collaborate with hardware and software providers to integrate complementary technologies into its traceability platform. This integration will further enhance the platform's capabilities, providing clients with a comprehensive end-to-end solution. Promoting The GrowHub Innovation Centre: Situated within the esteemed Food Innovation Precinct Western Australia, The GrowHub Innovation Centre and Digital Hub serves as dynamic hubs for fostering collaboration and commercialization in the food technology space. Engaging with Key Stakeholders: The GrowHub recognises the importance of engaging with key stakeholders across different markets. The roadshow provides an opportunity to connect with industry leaders, government representatives, and academic institutions to facilitate knowledge exchange and explore collaborative opportunities. Collaboration for Technology Transfer and Kyoto Smart City Expo 2023: The GrowHub will engage in discussions about technology transfer opportunities through its Innovation Centre as well as participate in the Kyoto Smart City Expo 2023 to showcase its traceability platform's potential applications in smart city initiatives. Signing Contract with Koufuku Group: As part of the roadshow, The GrowHub is delighted to announce the signing of a strategic skincare contract with Kuofuku Group  Careness' CEO, solidifying a significant partnership that will accelerate The GrowHub's presence in the Japanese market.

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During this roadshow, The GrowHub's delegation had met with key dignitaries and industry leaders, including the Vice Governor of Kyoto Prefecture, Mr. Akimasa Yamashita, among others.

"We are thrilled to introduce our traceability SaaS platform to the dynamic markets of Asia Pacific," said Mr. Lester Chan, CEO of The GrowHub Innovations Company. "Our mission is to drive positive change by empowering businesses with data-driven insights that enhance supply chain transparency and sustainability. We look forward to collaborating with industry leaders and stakeholders across the region to build a more connected and resilient future."

The GrowHub's Asia Pacific Roadshow promises to be an exciting and transformative journey fueling the company's commitment to innovation and responsible technology solutions. For more information about The GrowHub and its traceability SaaS platform, please visit www.thegrowhub.co

About The GrowHub Innovations Company: The GrowHub Innovations Company is a Singapore-based technological firm focusing on cutting-edge solutions for transparent and sustainable supply chain management. As Asia Pacific's only Web 3-enabled plug-and-play ecosystem builder, we focus on traceability, data insights, and carbon credits. Our blockchain technology ensures full traceability, empowering businesses with data-driven insights for a more connected and responsible future.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/from-japan-to-asia-pacific-the-growhub-launches-revolutionary-saas-traceability-platform-301891278.html

SOURCE The GrowHub Innovation Company
The Detroit Police Department mistakenly arrested a mother of three based on a false match using facial recognition software, according to a lawsuit against the department.

The case, according to civil rights advocates, highlights the dangers of bias in using such technologies in police work, which studies have shown do a poor job of matching images of non-white people.

Early on the morning of 16 February, six Detroit police officers arrived outside the door of Porcha Woodruff, 32.

Porcha Woodruff (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Ms Woodruff, 32, was eight months pregnant at the time, and was helping her two children get ready for school.

Police informed the mother, who is Black, that she was under arrest for a January carjacking and robbery.

Are you kidding, carjacking? Do you see that I am eight months pregnant? she told officers, according to a federal lawsuit filed last week.

She later learned police identified her as a suspect after running security footage through the departments facial recognition software, then putting a 2015 mugshot from a past arrest into a photo lineup where the carjacking victim singled out Ms Woodruff as her assailant.

Though officials later dropped the case, Ms Woodruff argues in the suit the whole incident, which allegedly led her to suffer stress, dehydration, and stress-induced contractions, is an illustration of the dangers of biased facial-recognition software.

Despite its potential, law enforcements reliance on facial recognition has led to wrongful arrests, causing humiliation, embarrassment, and physical injury, as evident in this particular incident, the complaint alleges.

Detroit Police said they are investigation her claims.

We are taking this matter very seriously, but we cannot comment further at this time due to the need for additional investigation, Chief James White told CNN in a statement. We will provide further information once additional facts are obtained and we have a better understanding of the circumstances.

The mistaken arrest is believed to be at least the sixth such incident in the US, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.

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Three of those have occured at the DPD, which began using facial recognition technology in 2018, according to the organisation, and all six of those wrongly arrested around the US have been Black.

Its deeply concerning that the Detroit Police Department knows the devastating consequences of using flawed facial recognition technology as the basis for someones arrest and continues to rely on it anyway, Phil Mayor, senior staff attorney at ACLU of Michigan, wrote in a statement. As Ms. Woodruffs horrifying experience illustrates, the Departments use of this technology must end. Furthermore, the DPD continues to hide its abuses of this technology, forcing people whose rights have been violated to expose its wrongdoing case by case. DPD should not be permitted to avoid transparency and hide its own misconduct from public view at the same time it continues to subject Detroiters to dragnet surveillance.

In 2019, a 25-year-old Black man named Michael Oliver was wrongly accused of felony charges of stealing and breaking a teachers cell phone.

Facial recognition software convinced police to put his photo in a lineup, even though he had visible tattos, and a different body type, skin tone, and hair style than the individual involved in the alleged theft.

The following year, Robert Julian-Borchak was arrested in front of his family for an alleged theft from a high-end Detroit Shinola boutique.

His name was given to police after a security contractor sent surveillance video to the DPD, which forwarded the footage to the Michigan State Police, who matched Mr Borchaks name using a facial recognition tool.

The case was later dismissed.

This is not me, Robert Julian-Borchak Williams told police during his investigation, according to The New York Times. You think all Black men look alike?

Facial-recognition tools can suffer from whats known as algorithmic bias, certain preferences built into ostensibly neutral technologies because of their creation by biased human beings.

Facial ID tools, for example, are often trained on large data sets of images, and using a data set that isnt diverse can breed technologies that fail to accurately identify people of colour.
Malaysian rapper Namewee during his one-day trip to Singapore in January. (PHOTO: Instagram/nameweephoto)

The perennial food fight between Malaysia and Singapore has a victor (yet again) and it was crowned by Malaysian rapper Namewee.

In a YouTube video published on his channel on 30 July, the 40-year-old rapper was asked to rank popular holiday destinations in Asia based on five categories.

For each category, he had to assign a grade chosen from S, A, B, and C - with S being the best and C being the worst.

The six places chosen were Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong. The five categories were food, sightseeing, traffic, safety, and kindness.

To no ones surprise, Namewee felt that Malaysian food is better than Singapores.

However, before you accuse the rapper of being biased, the rank for both Malaysia and Singapore were the same - both scored A.

Namewee said, This is the one that Malaysians quarrel with the most. Which country does bak kut teh belong to? Which country does satay belong to? Who invented hainanese chicken rice? If Singapore compares itself to Malaysia, theyll definitely lose.

But, I feel that theyve made some things in their own flavour. Their bak kut teh is actually a pepper-based soup. If you ask me if the pepper-based soup is tasty, Ill say it is. But if you tell me its bak kut teh, well argue for almost two hours.

The food fight aside though, Namewee credited Singaporeans for being the ones who really made Malaysian and Singaporean cuisine famous globally.

Their promotion is really good. Malaysians cant do it. We only quarrel online with people everyday, he quipped.

Singapore is for 'working and earning money, not sightseeing'

Singapore may have barely scraped through in Namewee's food category - lets be real, the S grade is the real Asian A - but it definitely fell flat in his sightseeing department with a C grade.

Cue disappointed looks from Asian parents.

This place actually doesnt offer much for tourism, Namewee said.

He added, This is a place to work and earn money. If you tell me theyve worked hard to create tourist destinations, I think its okay to go once because you can take a lot of photos - especially the Marina Bay Sands hotel or the Merlion.

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You can take your photos in one day. Okay, two days; theres also Universal Studios and the zoo.

Namewee explained that he gave the rating because Singapore's tourist destinations are man-made, and while you can tell that a lot of work and effort were put into it, he doesnt feel the holiday mood when hes here.

Singaporean friends, dont be angry. If its really fun [over there], why would you come over to our side to have fun?

Are Singaporeans kind?

Despite having a national movement to be kind(er), it seems that Namewee isnt quite feeling it. He described the locals as being meticulous, and possibly rigid and inflexible.

When you talk to them, whether about business or communicating things, theyll always tell you, Can you email me whatever we just talked about? Theyre less about the social relationships, Namewee said, adding that Singaporeans tend to be more law-abiding and practical compared to Malaysians who subscribe to Confucianism.

He said, When you prioritise the law too much, your social relationships will be affected At least theyre not as fierce as people in Hong Kong.

Do you have a story tip? Email: sgnews.tips@yahooinc.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. Also check out our Southeast Asia, Food, and Gaming channels on YouTube.
SIOUX CITY -- The Court Appointed Special Advocate program, or CASA, is seeking volunteers for upcoming training to help children in the legal system in Woodbury County.

CASA volunteers look out for the best interests of abused and neglected children who are part of the child welfare system by meeting with the child, caseworkers, parents and others with knowledge of the child's circumstances and making recommendations to a judge.

Currently, the CASA program in Woodbury County serves 68 children and has nine more waiting for a volunteer advocate.

Training for people interested in CASA begins in October, but people need to apply now to complete the background check and begin the process.

For more information, contact CASA coordinator Amy Hennies at (712) 279-6602 or go to www.casaiowa.org.
SIOUX CITY -- A man accused of taking video of his female friend while she was naked and unconscious has pleaded not guilty.

Max Amyda, 34, who is listed in court documents as a transient, entered his written plea Monday in Woodbury County District Court to one count of third-degree sexual abuse.

According to court documents, the woman told police she had invited Amyda to her Sergeant Bluff home on May 5 to drink alcohol and watch movies. Later that evening, she became drunk and went into her bedroom to lie down and then passed out.

A week later, the woman told police, she became aware that Amyda was sending friends video of her naked from the waist down. In the video, the woman was shown with her eyes closed and Amyda could be seen touching her and then giving a thumbs up sign.

The woman said she tried to contact Amyda, but he blocked her from contacting his phone and refuses to talk to her.
SIOUX CITY -- The City of Sibley, Iowa, has agreed to pay $2.6 million to a construction worker who was injured after coming into contact with a city-owned power line and falling from a building nearly five years ago.

As a result, a negligence lawsuit filed by Victor Maldonado against the city in federal court has been dismissed.

The settlement is not an admission of the city's liability, according to its terms, and the city denies it did anything improper or illegal. The settlement was paid by the Iowa Communities Assurance Pool, of with the city is a member.

Maldonado was injured in September 2018 while working on a rain gutter renovation on a building at 839 Third Ave. in Sibley. As he was handling an aluminum downspout, a city-owned and operated electrical distribution line sent a high-voltage current through the downspout and his body, causing him to fall 20 feet off the roof to an alley below.

Maldonado, of Worthington, Minnesota, suffered electrical burns, facial and cranial fractures, a brain injury, loss of function in limbs and blindness in one eye. He sued the city in U.S. District Court in Sioux City in May 2020, saying the power line was too close to the building and did not comply with safety codes.

In August 2021, a federal judge dismissed the case after granting the city's motion for summary judgment, ruling the line in question was grandfathered in under regulations in place at the time of its installation, prohibiting Maldonado from suing the city under Iowa's public duty doctrine.

The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals in January overturned that ruling, and the lawsuit proceeded until its settlement and dismissal late last month.
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SIOUX CITY -- Many brides and grooms were shocked by the permanent closure of the Sioux City locations for Tip Top Tux and Dream Dress Express.

The store, located at 500 Floyd Blvd., closed with no notice on Monday.

A sign on the door read: "We apologize for any inconvenience. If you are a customer returning your tuxedo from the weekend, you will not be charged late fees, and may keep your tuxedo."

Mikayla Mitchell, of Moville, was slated to be married to Ben Dreessen on Aug. 19. She was alerted to the store's imminent closure when an employee called her on Aug. 5.

"Mikayla said the salesgirl told her to pick up our 17 tuxedos as soon as possible because she wasn't sure how much longer the store would be around," Mikayla's mom Kim Mitchell explained. "Mikayla then called me and everyone else that she knew to help pick up the tuxes."

tip top tux sign A sign was posted in the door at Tip Top Tux. The 500 Floyd Blvd. store closed suddenly on Monday.

Dapper and Dashing, the parent company of Tip Top Tux and Dream Dress Express, reportedly informed employees of the stores closures via email.

The doors of the 500 Floyd Blvd. store were locked on Tuesday and phones were left unanswered. Customers were encouraged to visit the parent company's website, dapperanddashing.com, for more information.

Tip Top Tux, which formerly did business as Randall's Tip Top Tux, once had two locations in Sioux City -- one at the Lakeport Commons shopping center and the Floyd Boulevard location, a towering brick structure built more than a century ago.

The Atlanta-based Dapper and Dashing lists seven regional brands as subsidiaries, with multiple suit and tuxedo rental facilities across 12 states.

While other Dapper and Dashing locations have reported closures, it is unclear just how many stores and which brands were closing.

A call placed to the corporate office transferred caller to a prerecorded message, and then to a busy signal.

According to Kim Mitchell, her daughter Mikayla was able to pick up all of the tuxedos for the groom's party without a hitch.

"We had one pair of pants that didn't fit and the salesgirl was able to exchange them for another size on Monday," Kim Mitchell said. "By that time, the salesgirl knew she was already losing her job. But she was so helpful and professional during what must have been a difficult time."

2023 prom dress trends Baylie Bass, manager at Dream Dress Express, shows a beaded dress with a geometric design in April 2023. Both Dream Dress Express and Tip Top 

Morgan O'Hern had a similar predicament.

The Sioux City woman was afraid she'd lose the dream dress she had already paid more than half for.

"By the grace of God ... I got my veil and my dress," she said. "I truly believe this dress was meant to be my dream dress when I walk down the aisle to say I do to my fiance Brent."

Like the Mitchells, O'Hern credited the Tip Top Tux/Dream Dress Express staff for their help.

"They made it so much easier for me," she said. "They went out of their way to make sure my day was saved."

However, other parties may not be so lucky.

That's why other area businesses said they'd be ready to help out.

"Due to the recent Tip Top Tux closure, we are here and ready to assist any wedding party with their tuxedo needs," Claussen's Menswear, of Le Mars, Iowa, said on its Facebook page. An employee at Claussen's Menswear said they've received more than a dozen inquiries from men wanting special occasion tuxes.

Tip Top Tux was the second bridal chain to close its Sioux City store this year. David's Bridal at Lakeport Commons went out of business earlier this summer.

2023 prom dress trends Baylie Bass, manager at Dream Dress Express, talks about trends in prom dresses at the Sioux City bridal and formal wear store. Bass said the 

"If worse came to worse, the guys could have worn suit jackets over jeans," Kim Mitchell said. "But I'm just happy that they'll be able to have tuxedos for Mikayla and Ben's wedding."
At a glance - The tricks employed by the flawed OISM Petition Project to cast doubt on the scientific consensus on climate change

Posted on 8 August 2023 by John Mason, BaerbelW

On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a "bump" for our ask. This week features "How the OISM Petition Project casts doubt on the scientific consensus on climate change". More will follow in the upcoming weeks. Please follow the Further Reading link at the bottom to read the full rebuttal and to join the discussion in the comment thread there.

At a glance

Do you think that, just like politics, the laws of physics can be overturned by polls and petitions? Quick answer: no they cannot. But didn't you, or someone you know, read about a petition signed by thousands of scientists who disagreed with manmade global warming? The petition actually exists, but it changes nothing about the physical reality of the world. Below we explain why this is a flawed exercise and a "good" example for the denial techniques of fake experts and magnified minorities.

The petition was organised by the self-styled "Oregon institute for Science and Medicine" (OISM). OISM is a non-profit organisation, based at a location in rural Oregon, USA. The petition had two launches, initially in 1998 and again in 2007. People were invited to sign by self-certification, meaning anyone who said they were qualified in the physical sciences at a USA institution could take part.

The initial release of the petition was done as a response to the Kyoto Protocol, signed the year before. Kyoto was explicitly mentioned in the petition text. The petition text also claims that there is, "no convincing scientific evidence that human release of carbon dioxide, methane, or other greenhouse gases is causing or will, in the foreseeable future, cause catastrophic heating of the Earth's atmosphere and disruption of the Earth's climate".

There are some fairly obvious problems with the petition. To begin with, what guarantee is there that a graduate in engineering or medicine will know anything about climatology? None. We need to pause here and consider for a moment the term 'scientist'. Science is a broad field. One scientist may work in immunology, another in engineering. Would you go to the engineer if your immune system started playing up? If the answer is 'no', then good for you and you can likely see this major problem with the petition. But there's worse to come.

The documents accompanying the petition included a 'research paper' dressed up to look convincingly like official material from the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). Normally, we say, "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery". Not in this case. It was flat-out deceit. So misleading was this document that the NAS issued a press-release in April 1998, stating the following:

"The petition was mailed with an op-ed article from The Wall Street Journal and a manuscript in a format that is nearly identical to that of scientific articles published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The NAS Council would like to make it clear that this petition has nothing to do with the National Academy of Sciences and that the manuscript was not published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences or in any other peer-reviewed journal.

Who signed? Some 31,487 people eventually - not necessarily all scientists as multiple enquiries have demonstrated - and even if they were that would still only represent 0.25% of all USA physical science graduates over the preceding 43 years. That's a prime example of the phenomenon of 'magnified minority', if there ever was one!

In the light of those figures, the key question would have to be, "so what do the other 99.75% of scientists think?"

Please use this form to provide feedback about this new "At a glance" section. Read a more technical version below or dig deeper via the tabs above

In case you'd like to explore more of our recently updated rebuttals, here are the links to all of them:

Note - Aug 12, 2023: Following up on helpful reader feedback, we updated the title as well as the first paragraph to better spell things out.
The following is an excerpt from the latest episode of Slates podcast Decoder Ring. Listen to the full episode using the audio player below, or via Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Stitcher, or Google Play.

In 2016, the worlds largest budget hotel chain, Super 8, underwent an art makeover. Whatever you imagine when you imagine quintessentially kitschy hotel arta deer by a babbling brook near a lamplit cottage, a Bob Ross paint-by-numbers special, powdery winterscapes of quaint villages, maybe even a velvet painting if youre luckythats the kind of stuff that had been hanging in Super 8 rooms since the chain was founded in 1974. But at two events, one hosted by Amy Sedaris at a gallery space in New York and another at Art Basel in Miami, Super 8 gave much of it away, a signal that the age of kitsch hotel art was, for Super 8s, officially over.

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When we decided to do an episode about hotel art, we thought we would be doing an episode about, well, hotel artexactly the sort of ugly, shoddy, cheap paintings that used to hang in Super 8s. But it turns out thats an outdated understanding. Sure, you still regularly come across ugly work in hotels, but Super 8s move away from kitsch is part of a decadeslong trend on the part of hotelshotels of all price pointsto reclaim hotel art. In recent years, hotel art has been transformed from something unconsidered and embarrassing into a selling pointa sign of sophistication and authenticity, an Instagram photo-op, a communication to customers about the kind of people they are and the kind of hotel theyre staying at, or, at the very least, evidence that the hotel isnt desperately behind the times. Hotel art, if you can believe it, has become a signifier of good taste.

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At the Bellagio in Las Vegas, which was opened by the art collector and hotelier Steve Wynn, a $10 million glass sculpture by Dale Chihuly blooms out of the lobbys ceiling. The W Hotel in South Beach, Florida, has a collection that includes work by Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Julian Schnabelwho himself redesigned the interiors of the Gramercy Park Hotel in 2006, just one of many hotels designed by artists. This month, a hotel is opening in Arles, France, that was entirely designed by the artist Jorge Pardo, and just last month another opened in lower Manhattan that turned its stairwell into the Museum of Street Art, inviting graffiti artists to spray-paint there. High-end hotels commission original work all the time, sometimes from blue-chip contemporary artists, and even nonluxury hotels boast about featuring site-specific pieces in their lobbies. And all of this is truly just scratching the surface.

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In order to understand how we got hereto a place where hotels are jockeying to distinguish themselves with their art programsyou need to understand how the modern hotel came to be.

The hotel, as we know it, first appeared in America in the 1790s. At the time, inns and taverns were the norm. Places that often housed travelers as a way to procure a liquor license, they were bars with beds, basically. By contrast, these new, modern hotels wanted to emphasize their elegance and luxury. Their architecture was imposing and they were decorated beautifully, from the plush carpets to the chandeliers to the sumptuous wall hangings. And this approach, at the high end of the market, has more or less continued through to the present day.

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But in the early 1900s, a man named E. M. Statler pioneered a different, more affordable version of the hotelone that was always the same. He was the most influential hotel man of the first half of the 20th century and he wanted people to have a reliable, predictable hotel experience, and that actually carried prestige, says A. K. Sandoval-Strausz, the author of the book Hotel: An American History. In 1908, the Statler Hotel opened in Buffalo, New York, the first of a number of standardized hotel locations that promised customers to provide, in Statlers words, a bed and a bath for a dollar and a half.

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Hotel art, if you can believe it, has become a signifier of good taste.

These hotels were economical, but they were also, in their way, luxurious. If you were traveling to a new, strange city, just knowing that the affordable hotel youd end up at would be of a basic level of quality, and not a bedbug-infested flophouse, was an innovation. Reliability was so desirable that nearly 70 years after the first Statler Hotel was founded, a hotel chain like Holiday Inn was still advertising itself as, above all else, predictablea place where the best surprise is no surprise.

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But then the backlash to all this sameness arrived: the boutique hotel. In the late 1980s, the hotelier Ian Schrager, one of the co-founders of Studio 54, opened a few hotels in New York that immediately became sensations. One was the Royalton, which was designed by the singular Frenchman Philippe Starck, whose witty, playful lobby included velvet armchairs that leaned back at precipitous angles, wall sconces in the shape of rhinoceros horns, and three-legged chairs that had a tendency to tip over.

These hotels in New York became the gathering spots for the beau monde, says Mayer Rus, the West Coast editor of Architectural Digest. Everybody wanted to have a drink, a power lunch at the Royalton, and it gave birth to this movement of hoteliers who wanted to signify cool, signify chic, and draw people into their properties by promising an experiencewhat would now be called a curated experience.

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These early boutique hotels had an elevated, even unexpected, style. They werent standardized because they wanted to set themselvesand by extension the person who stayed thereapart. These hotels could be funky, elegant, sexy, but they were intentionally designed, with a very strong sense of place, because the whole idea was that when you were there, you werent nowhereyou were somewhere. In the 30 years since, the idea that a hotel ought to be a designed experience has expanded beyond boutique hotels to most hotels. And if you need proof, look no further than the Super 8.

If you walk into a Super 8 today, instead of seeing, say, a kitschy, impressionistic sailboat, youll see two huge, chunkily framed, very polished black-and-white photographs above the bed, serving as both room art and headboard. These images are not just of anythingtheyre related to the specific location of that specific Super 8. At one Fort Worth, Texas, Super 8, for example, theres a photograph of a cowboy on a horse, in silhouette, getting ready to use his lasso. At another, a Los Angeles Super 8, theres a photograph of Manns Chinese Theater, lit up at night.

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One of the things that we recognized is that this next generation of traveler, theyre interested in things like farm-to-table, says Mike Mueller, the brand leader for Super 8s worldwide. They want to know where things are sourced. They want to know where things are coming from, where they can go for a truly local authentic experience.

Super 8s, which are scattered all over North America and even in China, can often be found near inauspicious interstate exits. Ive stayed at a few in my lifedriving away from college with a U-Haul full of stuff, between Chicago and New York; on a road trip, somewhere in the Texas Panhandleand I could not possibly be more specific about their locations, because thats what was so useful about Super 8s: Theyre just right there, when right there is the middle of nowhere. The idea of a Super 8 as a place thats anything other than a stopover, as a place that should be locally brandedit shows just how deeply ingrained this new idea of what a hotel should be has become.

To learn more about hotels and the rise of hotel-art programs, listen to Decoder Rings Hotel Art.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court sided against criminals who wish to purchase untraceable guns online for the purpose of committing crimes. The vote was 54. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the three liberals to preserve a new federal rule that restricts the sale of ghost guns to licensed firearm dealers. These guns can be purchased on the internet anonymously, without a background check, and assembled in less than an hour. They are heavily favored by violent offenders because they are virtually impossible to trace, and their use in the United States has spiked by more than 1,000 percent since 2017. Despite all this, Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh voted to block the new ghost gun regulations nationwide on the shadow docket. And it remains unclear whether Roberts and Barrett will ultimately uphold these regulations on the merits when the court takes up the case on its regular docket.

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Ghost guns pose an overwhelming threat to public safety because they carve a massive loophole into Americas (already feeble) federal gun laws. Typically, to purchase a firearm, you must be a legal adult, undergo a background check, have a clean criminal record, and not be under a restraining order for domestic violence. The gun must have a serial number, and it must be sold by a licensed dealer. When you purchase a ghost gun, however, you exempt yourself from all these rules. You need only find a seller online (which takes several seconds) and pay the fee (often less than $500). Dont want your bank to find out? You can use a prepaid debit card bought at a convenience store.

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The gun comes in a kit thats almost fully assembled. With the help of a YouTube tutorial, the buyer can easily put the pieces together in about 20 minutes. The resulting weapon operates like a regular semi-automatic firearm. Because the weapon has no serial number, though, law enforcement almost certainly cant trace it back to youwhich is the point. Of the 45,240 ghost guns recovered from 2016 to 2021, only 445 could be traced, a success rate well under 1 percent. These guns are driving a surge in violent crime and neutering the few federal laws on the books that restrict dangerous individuals access to firearms.

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Chief among those laws is the Gun Control Act of 1968, which regulates the sale of firearmsa definition that includes any weapon that is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive. (Emphasis added.) The law also covers the frame or receiver of any such weapon, two integral components of a firearm. As part of President Joe Bidens push against gun violence, ATF issued a rule in 2022 regulating ghost guns under this law, concluding that they fall under the definition of firearms because they may readily be converted into one. The rule did not outlaw the weapons sale or assembly; rather, it required sellers to comply with the federal laws that govern the sale of other firearms. Ghost gun dealers would therefore need to obtain licenses, run background checks, use serial numbers, and keep certain records for law enforcement.

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Related From Slate The Supreme Courts YOLO Approach to Guns Is About to Face a Major Test Read More

The rule prompted a flurry of litigation as conservative lawyers fanned out through the courts filing lawsuits before Republican-appointed judges most likely to rule in their favor. They hit the jackpot with U.S. District Judge Reed OConnor, a George W. Bush appointee notorious for handing down sweeping, poorly reasoned decisions that enshrine GOP policies into law. OConnor ruled that ghost gun kits contain mere weapon parts, which ATF has no general authority to regulate. And he purported to vacate the rule on a nationwide basis, a hotly contested remedy dubbed nationwide vacatur. Naturally, the far-right U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit refused to stay his ruling, so Bidens Department of Justice asked the Supreme Court for emergency relief.

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The justices took an unusually long amount of time to handle the DOJs request. (Briefing wrapped up on Thursday.) Then, on Tuesday, the court froze OConnors order, allowing the ghost gun rule to take effect. Although Roberts and Barrett joined the three liberalsan unprecedented coalitionthe majority did not explain its decision. Nor did any of the four ultraconservative dissenters write to defend their votes. That silence means we cannot know exactly why the majority chose to intervene on the shadow docket, or why Barrett, specifically, chose to cross over. But there are two probable explanations.

First, it may simply be that Barrett believes the text of the Gun Control Act covers ghost gun kits, and that OConnors decision to the contrary was egregiously, indefensibly wrong. If so, that view would be something of a surprise, since Barrett has presented herself as something of a Second Amendment hard-liner. The more obvious candidate for a swing vote in this case is Kavanaugh, who previously expressed some discomfort with a maximalist interpretation of the right to bear arms. (Roberts, too, appears more dovish on gun rights than his conservative colleagues.) Technically, this dispute hinges not on the Constitution, but on statutory text; still, the Second Amendment lurks just underneath the surface of any case about firearms. So perhaps Barrett has signaled a limit to her enthusiasm for Second Amendment maximalism, while Kavanaugh has reaffirmed his enthusiasm for it.

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Second, Barretts vote may be attributable to her distaste for nationwide vacatur. In a recent decision, the justice cast serious doubt on the legality of this tool, which allows a lone federal judge to block a federal policy in all 50 states. She is quite right to be skeptical that this power exists, or at least that it can be used as freely as OConnor and his fellow conservatives deploy it today. But Thomas and Gorsuch have also disclaimed nationwide vacatur in rather harsh terms, disputing the notion that Congress gave district courts the authority to bind the entire nation. As Voxs Ian Millhiser has pointed out, though, these two justices frequently uphold nationwide vacaturs when they are used to block Democratic policy. Barrett may be more principled than her colleagues on this matter.

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If thats true, and Barretts vote was purely procedural, then the ghost guns rule is not out of the woods yet. OConnors decision will remain on ice until the Supreme Court disposes of the case, no matter what monkey business the 5th Circuit pulls next. When it comes back to SCOTUS on the merits, though, Barrett could vote to strike down the rule, since the side debate over OConnors use of vacatur would no longer be relevant. Gun rights advocates will fight this one all the way to the bitter end. And the Biden administration should not assume it has Barrett on its side as it fights for the new rules long-term survival.
On Monday, the deputy general counsel of Floridas Orange County Public Schools system sent an email to principals announcing new policies for the upcoming academic year. To implement recently enacted state laws, the email announced, the school districtwhich encompasses Orlando and serves more than 200,000 studentswould be required to target transgender teachers, staff, and students for discriminatory treatment. Transgender teachers may no longer use their preferred pronouns or titles (such as Mr. or Ms.) in class; they must instead use the pronoun and title that corresponds to their biological sex, as assigned at birth. Transgender teachers, staff, and students may no longer use the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity at school. And transgender visitorsincluding parents, guardians, and students from other districts or stateswill face criminal prosecution if they use the bathroom that fits their gender identity on school premises.

The guidance arrives amid a severe teacher shortage in the school district, with hundreds of vacancies left unfilled. It flows directly from two laws passed by Floridas Republican-controlled Legislature, and signed by GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis, that mandate discrimination against transgender people throughout the state. Taken together, this slate of legislation appears designed to drive transgender teachers and staff out of the states public school system altogether, subjecting them to constant threat of discipline for simply existing as a trans person. It also singles out transgender students for disfavored treatment, isolating them from their classmates and limiting their ability to use the restroom on campus. These laws, as well as the guidance implementing them, are highly vulnerable to civil rights challengesparticularly those rooted in the defense of free expression and workplace equality. Slate spoke with lawyers for several different civil liberties groups on Monday who were considering legal action in the near future.

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Related From Slate Homophobic Business Owners Are Having a Field Day Since This Term's SCOTUS Ruling Read More

H.B. 1069 and H.B. 1521, the two laws in question, are part of DeSantis broader campaign against LGBTQ+ equality, which he equates with the wokeness that he seeks to eradicate from Florida. They build upon earlier legislation, including the notorious Dont Say Gay law, that censored discussion of LGBTQ issues, people, and families in the classroom, as well as book bans that disproportionately target LGBTQ-themed literature at public schools. H.B. 1069 states that it shall be the policy of every public K-12 educational institution that a persons sex is an immutable biological trait and that it is false to ascribe to a person a pronoun that does not correspond to such persons sex. The measure compels teachers and staff to identify with the sex that appeared on their original birth certificateso, for example, a transgender woman must use he/him pronouns and the title of Mr. It also gives all teachers, staff, and students the right to misgender trans employees, and forbids teachers from asking for students preferred pronouns.

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Orange County Public Schools will begin implementing these rules immediately. The district has also created a separate procedure for students who wish to use a name at school that is different from their legal name. From now on, parents must fill out a form granting teachers permission to use any such name in class. This policy applies to all students, not just transgender ones. So a student named Robert who wishes to go by Bob will now need a permission slip to do so. Teachers may never ask a student for their preferred pronouns; those who do may have their educators certificate revoked.

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H.B. 1521 imposes a separate set of restrictions on transgender peoples use of bathrooms on a public school campus. The law forbids transgender teachers, staff, and students from using the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity. Teachers and staff face professional discipline for violating this rule, while students face a penalty and a disciplinary referral. The act authorizes a broad range of punishments, apparently up to and including termination and expulsion. Any transgender visitor on campus who uses the bathroom that corresponds to their gender identity, and refuses to depart when asked, faces charges for criminal trespass. This alleged crime carries a sentence of one year in jail. A visitor can include parents of students, athletes from another school participating in a sporting event, or any other trans person who happens to be on campus. The Florida attorney general may also levy a $10,000 fine on any school district that fails to comply with these rules.

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The restrictions imposed on the Orange County Public Schools systemwhich, with minor variations, are now in effect at public schools across the statecontain a host of legal infirmities. To start, H.B. 1069 censors teachers free speech based on content and viewpoint, a cardinal sin under the First Amendment. The law explicitly seeks to enforce the states belief that it is false to ascribe to a person a pronoun that does not correspond to their sex assigned at birth. It does so by gagging transgender teachers who do not share this belief, forcing them instead to convey the states message that their gender identity is false. H.B. 1069 thus simultaneously silences speech (by banning the use of certain words because they express a forbidden viewpoint) and compels speech (by forcing the use of other words because they express an approved viewpoint). Meanwhile, cisgender teachers are expressly permitted to misgender their trans colleagues, because doing so promotes the orthodoxy that Florida wishes to enforce through a speech code.

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These rules also appear to conflict directly with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In Bostock v. Clayton County, decided just three years ago, the Supreme Court found that Title VII prohibits employers from discriminating on the basis of transgender status, because doing so inherently takes an employees sex into account. Floridas censorship law is in direct violation of Bostock. It treats transgender teachers differentlyand worsebecause their gender identity does not align with their sex as defined by the state. A school district cannot apply the gag order without taking a teachers sex into account, precisely the kind of consideration barred by Bostock. Cisgender teachers are free to use their preferred pronouns and titles, while transgender teachers are not. The relevant factor in this distinction is a persons sex. And Title VII does not permit such sex-based discrimination.

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For similar reasons, the bathroom regulations raise serious questions under both Title VII and Title IX, which bars sex discrimination against students. Some courts have found that these statutes, as well as the Constitutions equal protection clause, protect the rights of transgender teachers and students to use the school bathroom that aligns with their gender identity. In January, however, the conservative U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, which includes Florida, upheld an anti-transgender bathroom policy, distinguishing it (dubiously) from the discrimination at issue in Bostock. That decision created a circuit split that must eventually be settled by the Supreme Court. (A similar split over state bans on transgender health care is making its way to the Supreme Court right now.) So it is difficult to predict how these provisions of the law will fare in court.

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Last month, DeSantis presidential campaign reposted a video that boasted about his efforts to pass some of the harshest, most draconian laws that literally threaten trans existence. Orange County Public Schools new policies reflect the success of those laws, in the sense that they are obviously intended to banish transgender people from public education. But like DeSantis drag banwhich a federal court blocked under the First Amendmentthey do so by censoring free expression, shutting down speech that conflicts with the states viewpoint about gender. They also discriminate openly on the basis of sex out of a bare desire to harm transgender teachers, staff, and students. These are authoritarian tactics meant to shut down the free exchange of ideas and persecute vulnerable minorities, with no plausible connection to the states purported goals of increasing safety and improving public education. They are anathema to a liberal democracy. But Florida looks less and less like a democracy by the day.
Newly declassified documents reveal that Gen. Leslie Grovesdirector of the Manhattan Project, the top-secret operation that built the atomic bomb during World War IImisled Congress and the public about the effects of radiation. He did so initially out of ignorance, then denial, and finally, willful deception.

The documents also show that some scientists in the project, including J. Robert Oppenheimer, director of the Los Alamos lab where the bomb was first tested, kept mum about Groves lie rather than dispute him or confront the general directly.

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The cache of documentsthe latest in a series of once secret and top-secret material about the A-bomb obtained over the years by the National Security Archive, a private research organization at George Washington Universitywas released on Monday, within days of the 78th anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and in the wake of the release of Oppenheimer, the wildly (and deservedly) successful film that has grossed $500 million since its hit theaters just three weeks ago.

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One of the new documents the archive obtained is a memo by four scientists, titled Calculated Biological Effects of Atomic Explosion in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, dated Sept. 1, 1945. (The bombs were dropped on Aug. 6 and 9 of that year.) Until this memo was written, it had been assumed the A-bombs victims would be killed by its blast and its heat. But this memo concluded that at least some of the deaths had been caused by radioactive fallout, days or weeks after the explosions.

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And yet, the day before the memos date, at a press conference in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Groves said radiation had caused no deaths and that claims to the contrarysome published in Asian newspaperswere propaganda. In a memo to Oppenheimer, George Kistiakowsky, the Los Alamos scientist who coordinated the biological report, said that Groves had stuck his neck out by a mile, so he hesitated to pass the study along.

Even by then, enough was known about radiation poisoning to have made Groves stop short of dismissing the claims so strongly. The archives documents show that, back in April, three months before the first test of the bomb in New Mexico, medical experts with the Manhattan Project warned of a toxic cloud that could spew radioactive dust over a wide radius for hours after the detonation. Some urged Groves to evacuate the area around the test site, which he resisted, not wanting to attract media attention. One scientist remembered years later that Groves sniffed at the warning and said, Whats the matter with you, are you a Hearst propagandist? (Hearst was the leading newspaper chain of the day, often specializing in sensational reports.)

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On July 21, five days after the test, Stafford Warren, the Manhattan Projects chief medical officer, wrote to Groves that the dust outfall from the various portions of the cloud was potentially a very serious hazard over a band almost 30 miles wide extending almost 90 miles northeast of the site, adding that there was still a tremendous amount of radioactive dust floating in the air. (Recent studies, based on computer modeling, suggest that radioactivity from the first atomic test spread much farther, affecting 46 states and parts of Mexico and Canada.)

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Yet Groves ignored Warrens findings. On July 30, in a memo on the likely effects of an atom bomb dropped on Japan, he wrote Gen. George Marshall, the U.S. Army chief of staff: No damaging effects are anticipated on the ground from radioactive materials. (This was a deceptively written sentence: at the time, few thought much fallout would linger on the ground, but it was widely known that it could rain down from the sky and scatter across the air, which humans could breathe or soak in.)

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Groves awareness of this danger is clear in an Aug. 25 excerpt from his diary, in which he wants to know if its safe to invite the press to come survey the test site (this, more than two months after the first test). One of the scientists told him that it wouldnt be so safe if the journalists stood as close as 100 feet from where the bomb had gone off. Reporters did come on Sept. 11 and were given white booties to protect them from possible radiation.

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Its possible that, even at this point, Groves simply didnt believe the worst about radiation. On the same day as his diary entry about inviting reporters, he had a phone conversation with a fellow officer at Oak Ridge about Japanese radio broadcasts reporting cases of radiation sickness. Groves said this was all propaganda and that the sickness was more likely caused by good thermal burns.

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Still, Groves sent a team of inspectors to the two bombed cities to determine the impact of radioactivity. He wrote Gen. Marshall that casualties from radiation were unlikely, but the facts had to be established.

This makes sense. Before the bombs were dropped, most scientists assumed that blast and heat would be the dominant effects. Radiation would be a footnote; anyone who received a lethal dose of radiation would be close enough to the explosion to die from the blast or the heat.

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However, as was later discovered, the A-bombs secondary effectsradiation, smoke, fire in particularcould, under certain circumstances, spread even farther than the effects of blast and heat.

As early as the first inspectors reportthe one that Kistiakowsky at first withheld from Groves but eventually passed along to himthere was notation of freak survivors within the blast radius who later died of radiation sickness.

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On Nov. 27, months after the memo about the biological effects of the atomic explosions in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Stafford Warren, the projects chief medical officer, wrote Groves with even more definitive proof. Of the roughly 4,000 patients admitted to hospitals in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, he wrote, 1300 or 33% showed effects of radiation and, of this number, approximately one-half died.

Nonetheless, three days later, in testimony before the Senate Special Committee on Atomic Energy, Groves was asked if there was any radioactive residue at the two bombed Japanese cities. Groves replied, There is none. That is a very positive none. 

Groves further claimed that no one in the two cities suffered radiation injury excepting at the time that the bomb actually went off. He added that it really would take an accident for  the average person, within the range of the bomb, to be killed by radioactive effects.

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Finally, in a comment that sealed his reputation among his critics, Groves said that irradiated victims who died not right away, but after some time, would do so without undue suffering. In fact, he said, they say it is a very pleasant way to die.

Groves discounted, downplayed, then denied the reports about radiation sickness because, like many at the time, he thought that nuclear weapons would be the centerpiece of U.S. defense policy (as indeed they were for the next few decades) and that the American public would rebel against them if they were seen as something like poison gasand thus beyond a moral threshold.

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By this time, Oppenheimer had recently departed from Los Alamos, but he remained on government advisory boards. Like many scientists, he had underestimated the effects of radiation, but he was now well aware of the inspectors studies and of Groves false comments. Heralded as the father of the atom bomb, he felt blood on his hands, as he famously confessed to President Harry Truman. But he said nothing about Groves liesat least not in public.

Some were not so silent. On Dec. 6, 1945, one week after Groves testimony, Philip Morrison, a Manhattan Project scientist who was on the team that surveyed the bombs damage in Japan, testified before the same committee, citing the facts about radiation, directly contradicting Groves blithe assurances. Morrison went on to become a professor of physics at MIT and an activist in the community of scientistsmany of them veterans of the Manhattan Projectwho advocated nuclear arms control and disarmament.

Maybe someday someone will make a movie about him.
(Photo : Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' affordable housing director has been suspended amid an inspector general investigation over alleged discrimination.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' affordable housing director has been suspended amid an inspector general investigation, jeopardizing the agency's efforts to assign hundreds of millions of dollars.

The individual in question is the Florida Housing Finance Corp. executive director, Mike DiNapoli, who was placed on leave last month. The decision was made less than six months after the Republican governor chose him to lead the Florida organization because of a filing accusing him of discrimination.

Ron DeSantis Suspends Affordable Housing Director

A spokesperson for the corporation has not responded to requests for comments regarding the situation, including the reasons for suspending DiNapoli. Additionally, DiNapoli himself did not respond to text messages and calls that sought comments regarding the situation.

The Florida governor chose the 54-year-old to lead the organization in February as state lawmakers were preparing to assign $711 million to the Florida Housing Finance Corp. in an attempt to curb the state's affordable housing crisis.

DiNapoli came in after the abrupt resignation of the agency's previous director, Harold "Trey" Price, who was first appointed in 2017 when the state governor was Rick Scott, as per the Tampa Bay Times.

Florida lawmakers established the agency over four decades ago to manage hundreds of millions of dollars of state and federal housing funds. The corporation is responsible for providing low-interest loans to developers of affordable housing projects, issuing bonds, and supporting new homebuyers using down payment assistance and low-interest home loans.

A board of directors appointed by the state governor oversees the corporation's operations. Before DiNapoli's run as DeSantis' affordable housing director, he oversaw the state's emergency bridge loan program as part of the Department of Economic Opportunity.

Since DiNapoli took up the position, however, the agency has seen a wave of departures of officials. He previously fired two high-level officials, including the corporation's longtime general counsel, Hugh Brown, and the liaison to the board, Sheila Freaney.

The development is another blow to DeSantis as he faces various issues. The biggest individual donor to a group supporting the Florida governor's presidential campaign, hotel entrepreneur Robert Bigelow, said that he would not donate anymore unless the Republican can attract new major donors and takes on a more moderate approach, according to Reuters.

Read Also: Violence in Healthcare: Attacks at US Medical Centers on the Rise

Florida Governor's Struggles

Bigelow's current stance underscores donor concerns regarding DeSantis' struggling presidential campaign. This is because the Florida governor has been unable to challenge former United States President Donald Trump's massive lead in the 2024 GOP primary race.

The entrepreneur, who previously donated $20 million to the pro-DeSantis "Never Back Down" super PAC, said that the governor needs to shift to attract moderates. He argues that the Republicans would lose otherwise.

DeSantis also recently dismissed Trump's claims regarding the 2020 election being stolen as false. The Florida governor's comments went further than he typically answers when asked about the Republican businessman's political loss.

The governor has repeatedly tried to hedge and refused to acknowledge that the election was conducted fairly. However, in his recent remarks, without identifying Trump himself, DeSantis said that such theories were "unsubstantiated," said the New York Times.

Related Article: Biden-Harris Administration Launches New Efforts to Strengthen School Cybersecurity

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
In todays interconnected world, determining when to register your business in another state has become a pressing concern, given how geographical boundaries seem almost nonexistent in the digital landscape.

The surge of online platforms means small business owners are frequently collaborating with virtual teams, forming distant partnerships, and entering into agreements with clients theyve never met face-to-face.

Amidst this web of global interactions, discerning the boundaries of business operations becomes a challenge.

Could there be inadvertent breaches of state regulations due to a lack of proper registration? Allow us to dissect this intricate landscape, offering clarity on the nuances of out-of-state business registrations.

Foreign Qualification: Business in Another State

Doing Business in Another State

Consider this  if your enterprise forays into territories outside the state of its incorporation or where youve established an LLC, its essential to get it registered in these new jurisdictions.

A term youll frequently encounter in this context is foreign qualification. Pondering over the phrase conducting business, lets frame it with an example: suppose a client from Oklahoma acquires your product, but your operational base is in Nevada.

Does this single transaction translate to you conducting business in Oklahoma?

To shed light on such intricacies, in this situation, youre not technically operating within Oklahomas borders.

Questions to ask to see if you need to file a foreign qualification for a state:

Does your LLC or corporation have a physical presence in the state (i.e. office, restaurant, or retail store)?

Do you often conduct in-person meetings with clients in the state?

Does a significant portion of your companys revenue come from the state?

Do any of your employees work in the state? Do you pay state payroll taxes?

Did you apply for a business license in the state?

If you answered yes to any of these, your business may need to file a foreign qualification in that state.

Examples of Foreign Qualifications

Here are some examples of common situations when you need to foreign qualify and when you dont.

Lets say you operate a restaurant in North Carolina and want to expand into South Carolina. Youll need to file a foreign qualification in South Carolina.

You incorporated your business in Nevada, but you are physically located in California. You need to foreign qualify in California.

You live in Massachusetts and your business partner lives in California. The company is incorporated in Massachusetts, but lately your partner has been bringing in the bulk of your companys clients and meeting with them in California. You need to foreign qualify the business in California.

You are a freelancer who formed an LLC for your business in Florida. You perform the majority of your work online, and have clients all over the country. In this case, you dont need to file a foreign qualification, since youre not frequently physically meeting in another state. Just because you are bringing in revenue from customers in other states doesnt mean you are transacting business there according to the law.

If you have any questions about whether or not your business needs to foreign qualify, you should check with your attorney or accountant.

How to Foreign Qualify

When looking to extend your business activities beyond your home state, its imperative to be aware of the necessary procedures. This involves submitting an application, typically to the Secretary of States office in the state youre targeting.

The document might be termed a Certificate of Authority or, in some cases, the Statement & Designation by a Foreign Corporation.

If navigating this seems daunting, theres no need for concern. You have the option to liaise directly with the Secretary of States office or engage the expertise of the agency that assisted in your initial business setup. Theyre well-equipped to guide you through.

Engaging in inter-state business isnt just about paperwork; its about ensuring youre in good standing with every state involved.

Its crucial to recognize that, while the registration process might seem straightforward, there are nuances to consider.

Several states will ask you to provide a certificate of good standing from the state where your LLC or corporation was initially registered.

Essentially, this verifies that youve been diligent with your taxes and have complied with all required filings in your home state.

The Bottom Line

Being legally bound to foreign qualify isnt a light matter. Abiding by the regulations safeguards your business from potentially hefty fines, accrued interest, and the daunting task of settling back taxes for periods you operated unregistered.

Beyond the financial implications, theres a legal dimension to consider. If your business isnt registered, you cant legally initiate lawsuits in that statea right youd certainly want to retain.

Prioritizing this legal step is more than just compliance; its about fortifying your businesss future against unforeseen challenges and potential setbacks.

To help you quickly gauge whether you might need to foreign qualify in another state, refer to the comparison table below which summarizes the key criteria discussed in this article:



Criteria Description Do I Need to Foreign Qualify? Physical Presence Having an office, restaurant, retail store, or other physical establishment in another state. Yes In-Person Meetings Frequently conducting face-to-face meetings with clients or partners in another state. Yes Revenue A significant portion of the companys revenue comes from that state. Yes Employees If you have employees working in the state and you pay state payroll taxes. Yes Business License Applied for or have a business license in the state. Yes Online Business Conducting business primarily online with clients from various states, without frequent physical interactions. No Single Transaction An isolated transaction like a sale to a customer in another state without other physical business operations there. No

Map Photo via Shutterstock

CorpNet offers business formations, filings, state tax registrations, and corporate compliance services in all 50 states. Express and 24 hour rush filing services available upon request. Click here to learn more.
When considering things to do after forming an LLC, its vital to remember that while youve recently set up a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or incorporated, and thus laid a significant legal groundwork for your enterprise, this is only the beginning of your business journey.

Forming an LLC aims at both setting the legal foundation for your business and protecting your personal assets.

Things to do after forming an LLC may have been among the questions you had while you were contemplating this step, but now that the decision to form an LLC has been made, you probably have even more concerns about what to do next.

Is creating an LLC enough to let you legally open your doors for business? Not exactly. There are several nuances to consider before youre fully prepared to conduct business.

Here are 10 things to consider before youre ready to do business, which may include meeting regulatory requirements, obtaining necessary permits, and setting up financial management systems.

What You Need To Do After Forming An LLC

1. Obtain Any Necessary Business Licenses and Permits

Many new business owners think that forming an LLC or corporation is the same as getting a business license. Then unfortunately, some realize this isnt the case when they are fined for operating without a license.

Think of it this way: getting an LLC is the first step and creates a legal foundation for the business. A business license gives you the right to operate.

Depending on what kind of business you have and where you live, you may need to get business licenses from your state, county, or town.

Most licenses are relatively inexpensive and getting one upfront will save you money and keep your business legit. Check with your local board of equalization offices, or find a service to determine which permits your business needs to legally operate.

Understanding the difference between an LLC and a business license is crucial. To illustrate, consider these typical licenses and permits that various businesses might need:

Zoning permit

Permit from the health department

Professional licenses

General business operation license

Home occupation permits

2. Get a Sellers Permit

Across the country, different states impose various regulations on businesses. Many states require whats commonly referred to as a sellers permit (or a name akin to it).

This isnt exclusive to large corporations but extends to sole proprietors, LLCs, and partnerships that sell taxable goods and services.

For instance, in a state like California, this permit becomes crucial for any business that ventures into selling or leasing property thats brought under the states retail sales tax umbrella.

Its not merely a suggestion but a mandate. Before you immerse yourself in the commerce world, ensure that this permit is in your businesss arsenal.

3. Get an Employer Identification Number (EIN)

An EIN, or what many would recognize as a federal tax ID number, isnt just a random set of digits. Its a beacon for the IRS to pinpoint your business in a sea of enterprises and meticulously track its transactions.

Imagine an EIN as the corporate counterpart of a persons social security number. If you are considering hiring employees, an EIN becomes non-negotiable.

Yet, even if youre running a solo operation, procuring an EIN remains prudent. This is particularly advantageous when youd prefer to hand over your EIN, a more impersonal identifier, instead of your intimate social security number to associates like clients and vendors.

4. Apply for S Corporation S Treatment (If Applicable)

An LLC has pass-through tax treatment, meaning that the business profits and losses are passed along and reported on the business owners tax return.

As the owner of an LLC, you must report all profits (or losses) of the business on a Schedule C with your personal tax return.

LLC owners who are active in the business must also pay self-employment tax on the profits.

In some cases, it may benefit you to elect S Corporation status. This enables you to split your business profits into salary and distributions. Youll pay self-employment tax (or Medicare/social security tax) on the salary portion, but not on the distributions.

To elect S Corporation status, you need to file form 2553 with the IRS (its free) within 75 days since forming the LLC, or 75 days from the start of the current tax year.

For those weighing the advantages of an LLC versus an S Corporation, the table below offers a clear breakdown of their primary differences in terms of taxation and formalities:

Feature/Requirement LLC S Corporation Tax Treatment Pass-through, owners report all profits/losses on personal tax returns Enables splitting of profits into salary and distributions Self-Employment Tax Pay self-employment tax on all profits for active owners Pay only on the salary portion Form to File for Tax Treatment None (default treatment) Form 2553 Deadline for Tax Election Not applicable Within 75 days since forming or start of tax year

5. Open a Business Bank Account

Transitioning from a business idea to a tangible LLC is exhilarating. But what follows next? You should steer towards establishing a business bank account under the LLCs name.

Such an account isnt just for depositing checks made out to your entrepreneurial venture. Its a lighthouse, demarcating the waters between personal and professional.

Especially when you delve into the world of corporations and LLCs, the law firmly dictates a separation of personal and business finances. Thus, fortifying your business with its own bank account isnt a mere suggestion, but an unequivocal necessity.

6. Apply for a Business Credit Card

While ensuring your business has its own bank sanctuary, dont overlook the power of a business credit card.

Not only does this card let you channel all your business expenditures through one avenue, but it also records your financial journey throughout the year. Come tax season, and youll find this audit trail a godsend.

More so, wielding a business-exclusive credit card fortifies your corporate veil, a protective shield that stands between potential business mishaps and your personal assets.

7. Insure Your Business

While forming an LLC or incorporating does help protect your personal assets from any liability of the company, it doesnt protect the business itself from losses.

Thats why you should consider getting a general liability insurance or a Business Owners Policy (BOP). These policies will broadly cover your business against accidents, injuries, and negligence claims.

In addition, if youre selling a product, youll need product liability insurance. And, if you provide a professional service (i.e. lawyers, accountants, notaries, real estate agents, insurance agents, hair salons, consultants), youll need to take out a professional liability policy.

8. Foreign Qualify in Other States (If Applicable)

If your LLC will be doing business in a state other than the state where you formed the LLC, you will need to register in the new state(s).

Examples of doing business can include: Opening an office or store in another state, when a significant portion of your companys revenue comes from another state; when you have employees working in another state; and when you frequently conduct in-person meetings in a state.

To better understand what doing business in another state means, here are a few scenarios to consider:

Opening an office or store in another state

A significant portion of your companys revenue coming from another state

Having employees working in another state

Frequently conducting in-person meetings in a state

9. Get a Doing Business As (DBA)

If like most businesses you are going to be operating under any variation of your official company name (i.e. Company vs. Company.com vs. Company, Inc), you will need to file a Doing Business As (DBA) for each of the variations. You should have your LLC file the DBAs so they operate underneath the LLC.

10. Make a Plan to Keep Your LLC Compliant

Once you become a corporation or LLC, youve got to operate your business at a higher administrative level than youve been used to as a sole proprietor.

Both LLCs and corporations often need to file an annual report with their state, as well as keep up with their quarterly tax payments.

Mark these important dates on a calendar ahead of time, or sign up for a service that will automatically send you alerts ahead of key state and federal filing deadlines.

Working from Home Photo via Shutterstock

CorpNet offers business formations, filings, state tax registrations, and corporate compliance services in all 50 states. Express and 24 hour rush filing services available upon request. Click here to learn more.
Laboratories are one of the hospital departments able to generate a profit, says Beckman Coulter Czech Republic CEO Vojtech Drbohlav.

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No one wants to obtain results late, inaccurate or, in the worst case no results. However, this can happen in manual work, says Vojtech Drbohlav, Managing Director of Beckman Coulter Czech Republic.

Up to 75 percent of errors happen in just the pre-analytical phase of patient sample analysis. This can be avoided using automation. In an interview with The Slovak Spectator, Vojtech Drbohlav speaks about the current trend in laboratory automation, the challenges, the future, as well as the various solutions and innovations Beckman Coulter offers in this regard.

In general, what problems do laboratories face?

The low unemployment rate, which results in a lack of qualified personnel, although on the whole that is a problem not only in healthcare itself. There arises a problem related to managing a process, be it in the laboratory or production, where you want to standardise the process as much as possible.

What does that mean?

When a sample arrives to a laboratory, you want it to be processed exactly the same way every time. Historically, different people focused on different roles, becoming experts. However, since there is a turnover of people, or just daily and night shifts, at the moment patients arrive you want their samples to be processed in the same way every time. So if a sample needs diluting, we want a laboratory worker to always dilute it the same way in the same ratio. This is standardisation.

Vojtech Drbohlav. (Source: Courtesy of Beckman Coulter)

In this context, the fact that laboratories are under pressure to perform, to deliver the sample on time, naturally arises. When a patient arrives in a critical health condition and needs to have laboratory parameters quickly determined, the pressure is on to get the result within an hour, if not faster. It follows that the laboratory needs to have the sample under constant control, from collection, through transport to a lab, analysis and the processing of the result and we need a clear idea of where is each sample in the laboratory.

When you think about how the process usually works today  the sample comes in, you put it in the rack, but as they are processed in batches, you need to wait for more, resulting in delays, a sample can be forgotten on the table, etc. To process urgent samples, laboratories usually duplicate equipment to process them in

different workstreams. This increases costs, requirements for qualified staff and maintenance of equipment.

Where does automation come in?

The aim of automation is that when you receive a sample and you put it in the device one by one, it performs all the pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical steps  checks whether the sample is correctly labelled, whether it has been centrifuged or not, how much material it contains. Then the sample is sent

to analysers based on smart routing to avoid delays. After all the tests, auto-validation software tells you whether the sample meets the criteria you have set. Automation is important, it helps laboratories with the main issues  a lack of qualified personnel and standardisation. It also allows for total process control and consequently speeds up the process, because the samples are not processed in batches, but based on priority.

You mentioned that the lack of qualified personnel is a problem. With automation, is there not the risk that insufficiently trained people will enter the process?

I dont think so. We live in a highly regulated industry and we have clearly set standards for the qualification of healthcare professionals. On the contrary, automation helps optimise human resources, saving time for workers to focus either on problems that arise in the laboratory setting or on self-education. When you have someone who is highly skilled, you dont want them to spend time moving racks between devices, searching for tubes etc. You want them to focus on making sure that the results are properly evaluated, that if there are results that dont match the set criteria, they focus on these problems and implement countermeasures.

(Source: Courtesy of Beckman Coulter)

Are there different types of automation?

The process is divided into three parts: the pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical part. Historically, companies have been concerned with automating the analysis itself. In the 1970s and 1980s most tests were performed using a pipette, plates or test tubes. Then automation of the analysis and tests gradually began. Now our focus has switched to pre-analytical and post-analytical parts because we think this is the future. According to data, 60 percent of manual steps occur in the pre-analytical part. Currently, this is the stage in which the greatest number of errors occur.

Such as?

The sample may have a labelling error, damaged tube, insufficient volume, wrong storage, various clots may appear when the sample is poorly prepared. Up to 75 percent of errors occur in this part.

What about the post-analytical part?

You want samples to either be stored in cold storage or sorted for further minor tests. At this stage, when you need to verify a test, you are able to use automation to find the appropriate tube in a few seconds and send it back for analysis. Without post-analytical automation, after analysis samples are usually sorted

into racks according to days, their positions marked and stored in a refrigerator. This meant further manual steps, the lab staff could spend several minutes looking for the appropriate sample. From a patients point of view, they want the result to be on time, so post-analytical automation can help to reduce the searching time and avoid possible errors.

So the trend is to eliminate as many steps as possible?

Exactly. As the analysis itself has already been automated, we are now looking at the remaining two parts, as well as working with clinical data, auto-validation, remote access. Imagine you have two labs with the same management. With remote access, you are able to see the status of instruments, initiate calibration, troubleshoot or validate the results in one lab that were measured in another lab. Health care will, of course, follow the path of sharing results between laboratories and hospitals.

Are there processes that cannot be automated?

Good question. In the end, I think its possible to automate everything, its just a matter of cost. But if you want everything automated, the cost will be enormous and that makes no sense. In every process, you balance between cost and performance. It makes sense to automate 80 percent of steps, which brings the greatest benefit, and frees up resources to focus on special tasks representing the remaining 20 percent of tasks. Laboratories are one of the hospital departments able to generate a profit. Of course, that means pressure to maximize efficiency. But as a responsible manager not only in a laboratory, you think about what you want to automate and what you dont, so that the cost is optimal.

What are the requirements for automation in terms of healthcare?

I think the question is more the demands and expectations of laboratories. Not all are ready for automation, some are even afraid. Instead of making things easier, they think it will bring more work for them. During the implementation of automation, there is a great demand on the laboratory to set standards, processes, to change the way they function and work. But that may be difficult for people with established long-term habits. There are laboratories that prefer to work with individual analysers.

Does this not mean there is a risk they will be left behind?

It does. As a laboratory must be prepared in terms of IT and software skills, we also encounter age conservatism within the lab staff. Of course, software solutions are interesting, but if you have older lab staff, working with a computer may pose a problem for many. This may be one of the barriers that make these

laboratories afraid of automation.

That almost sounds like the fears accompanying artificial intelligence, that people will lose their jobs. But the counterargument is that yes, certain jobs will be replaced, but at the same time other jobs will open up, because people will have to learn completely different skills so that the technology can be used at all.

Thats right. We are not there yet in terms of artificial intelligence, but the software of some devices is already at the level that it can learn by itself, evaluate based on the collected data, and then give people information to make decisions. Here, according to the legislation, AI cannot make decisions for us. It just

gives us suggestions on how to proceed and thats the right way. This allows people to educate themselves, to gain qualification and make the right decisions, and not spend time with unnecessary manual work such as sorting and transferring samples between facilities.

The uninteresting steps.

Exactly, because you dont attract young people to laboratory work by telling them that they will be doing manual steps, when a young generation can use various tools with, for example, artificial intelligence.

(Source: Courtesy of Beckman Coulter)

Is AI the future of this field?

Both AI and machine learning. As I said, there are AI-like parameters in some of the software solutions already offered, whether its learning to evaluate blood cells or patient prioritisation in emergency department. But it should not make decisions for us, but offer solutions.

More than two years ago, you introduced the DxA 5000 system, which included as many as 24 innovations. What was that about?

The system allows a laboratory to automate the pre-analytical part. Our idea is that upon entering the device, eight parameters of the sample are detected  for example, the colour of the lid, the amount of material, its weight. Then, the most optimal path to the result is traced for the sample. The decision on whether the sample is an urgent one, also known as a stat and which has priority, or a routine one is made. Then the device sends samples for centrifugation, done in four minutes. The next step is sending samples to individual analysers on a conveyor with four tracks  two in each direction. Moreover, there is no queueing. The conveyor only sends as many samples as any given analyser is capable of processing. This allows prioritisation if more urgent samples come. After that, the analysis itself takes place, or the measurement of all parameters on the relevant devices. What follows after that is storage in a refrigerator. Its aimed at large laboratories.

What do you mean by large laboratories?

A large laboratory is based in a university hospital or big laboratory chains, a medium one in a district hospital in towns such as Znojmo, Czech Republic, or Ruzomberok, north Slovakia. A medium lab mostly had a standalone analyser and automation was difficult for them due to space constrains. For this reason, we introduced the DxA 5000 FIT line. The footprint is significantly smaller, but its suitable for medium or smaller laboratories that have been largely dependent on using individual analysers. There are three laboratories in Moravia where these smaller systems have been installed.

Are there any DxA 5000 or DxA 5000 FIT systems in Slovakia?

We are in contact with laboratories, and I trust that next year we will install at least one system in Slovakia.

What do the DxA 5000 innovations mean for workers?

In the past for example, workers manually transferred samples, carrying them into the centrifuge. With a manual centrifuge, it requires a certain number of tubes in it, which means you have to wait for them to accumulate. Thus, there is a delay. Our line is able to weigh and evaluate the volume of material,

automatically balance itself and rotate even a single sample.

This year you are presenting the DxI 9000 system, which contains a unique camera system within the device. Why is it unique?

The camera system offers total process control during analysis. For example, it allows the detection of the amount of material in a sample in order to perform a sufficient number of tests from a given tube, the detection of its quality, and more. On the one hand, it also increases the reliability of the process

and the results correctness; and on the other its also able to minimise the manual actions of the operator and reduce daily maintenance to zero. Its always ready for measurement next morning.

The DxI 9000 system. (Source: Courtesy of Beckman Coulter)

Before the camera system, what did you use?

Sensors. They used to check whether, for example, a test tube reached the place it should, the given place; but they could not tell us whether the contents of the test tube were correctly aspirated, for example. This is where cameras allow full control.

Do you think other companies in the field of automation are taking on the idea?

I hope that we are a leader and that other companies will follow suit. We have to keep in mind that we need a good competitive environment, and we want to deliver the best possible results to patients.

According to you, what would be the most fundamental innovation in automation?

An advanced software solution that allows to link results from samples so that a doctor has an overview of what stage the sample is in, without, for example, having to call the laboratory. Imagine you have a patient in the operating room and you can glance at a display regarding how long it will take to get the result. There are parameters determined only during the operation. You will have everything live. That would be a big deal in terms of health care.

Is this something that is possible in our lifetimes?

I think these solutions will develop at a great pace.
Slovak company develops holographic assistants, which can even teleport a person via a hologram.

Vesna, a holographic assistant, can help clients with straightforward tasks like opening a bank account or dealing with a lost bank card. (Source: Courtesy of Optio)

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Walk into the Slovenska Sporitelna bank branch in the new Nivy centre, in central Bratislava, and you will be welcomed by a woman in her thirties with dark brown hair, blue eyes and a smart blue dress. At first glance, she looks like a real person, but in fact this is a human-sized holographic assistant, named Vesna  the first of its kind in Slovakia. Vesna is actually a chatbot, albeit one that has been given a human appearance by the latest holographic technology.

A holographic assistant is actually materialised artificial intelligence, said Matej Sulgan, whose company Optio participated in Vesnas development. There is already a lot of artificial intelligence, but mostly working in the background for now. Holograms can make it more acceptable for people.

Fascination with holograms

Optio Launched in 2008 by Matej Sulgan

Since the very beginning it has dealt with video and imaging technologies, and providing services and technologies for live events

Today its activities are divided into two main categories  (1) providing services for live events and (2) fixed installations, i.e. equipping hotels, cinemas, galleries with imaging technologies

Sulgan admits that nobody has yet been able to create a perfect hologram as represented in films like Star Wars.

We cant stop a photon somewhere in the air, so we always create the hologram using some medium to display it on, said Sulgan, founder and CEO of Optio. Its our brain that creates the 3D image of the presented item in our heads.

Optio, a company focusing on imaging technologies, firstly used holographic pyramids, a technology based on one-way mirrors and extensively used in cinema, at events and presentations it organised for its clients. But the pyramids still had a barrier of plexiglass walls. This physical limit already spoiled the perception of reality concerning the hologram. Also, it was difficult to use the technology in over-lit spaces.
The Jan Kuciak case will be decided by the Supreme Court on appeal.

Marian Kocner as pictured on May 24, 2022. (Source: SME - Jozef Jakubco)

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One of the three judges on the panel who decided on the high-profile Kuciak murder case three months ago, Jozef Pikna, holds a different opinion on whether oligarch Marian Kocner masterminded the killing of the investigative journalist.

The Sme daily broke the news.

Jan Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kusnirova were murdered on February 21, 2018.

In May of this year, when the retrial ended, the Specialised Criminal Court acquitted Kocner in the case for the second time. In 2021, he was convicted in a promissory notes case and sent to prison. Unlike Kocner, the court - all three judges - found his associate Alena Zsuzsova guilty in the Kuciak case and sentenced her to 25 years in prison. Earlier on, in 2021, she was convicted in the Hurbanovo mayor murder case.

The Supreme Court will decide the Kuciak case on appeal; three other men have already heard their valid sentences in recent years.

New judge, different opinion
A far-right party owes an apology to a liberal politician, the court rules. Sliac wants to tax NATO soldiers. A firm behind holographic assistants.

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Good evening. Here is the Tuesday, August 8 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.

Far-right party has to apologise to a liberal

Progresivne Slovensko Deputy Chair Irena Bihariova. (Source: SME - Jozef Jakubco)

The far-right LSNS party has to apologise to Irena Bihariova, a deputy head of the Progresivne Slovensko party, for false information that the party published about the politician on its website and in its newspaper four years ago.

The Banska Bystrica Regional Court decided the case following an appeal made by the far-right party. The district court had also ruled in favour of Bihariova.

In 2019, LSNS wrote about the alleged subsidies of thousands of euros for Bihariova's non-governmental organisation from the Education Ministry.

"The article made the entire republic aware that I am a 'gypsy fanatic' who, for this money, goes to schools to 'brainwash children with a pervert agenda,'" the liberal politician wrote on Facebook.

The LSNS party has to refrain from similar actions, publish an apology on its website and in its newspaper, and pay the politician a 5,000 compensation.

More stories from The Slovak Spectator website

Justice: One of the three judges on the panel who decided on the high-profile Kuciak murder case three months ago, Jozef Pikna, holds a different opinion on whether oligarch Marian Kocner masterminded the killing of the investigative journalist.

One of the three judges on the panel who decided on the high-profile Kuciak murder case three months ago, Jozef Pikna, holds a different opinion on whether oligarch Marian Kocner masterminded the killing of the investigative journalist. Defence: Why a spa town's latest idea to tax NATO soldiers is absurd.

Why a spa town's latest idea to tax NATO soldiers is absurd. Travel: A new hiking trail is available to tourists visiting Muranska Planina, a small national park in central Slovakia. Take a picture along the way!

A new hiking trail is available to tourists visiting Muranska Planina, a small national park in central Slovakia. Take a picture along the way! Health care: Vojtech Drbohlav, Managing Director of Beckman Coulter Czech Republic, speaks about the current trend in laboratory automation, the challenges, the future, as well as the various solutions and innovations Beckman Coulter offers in this regard.

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 TUESDAY

A Slovak firm that develops holographic assistants

Vesna, a holographic assistant, can help clients with straightforward tasks like opening a bank account or dealing with a lost bank card. (Source: Courtesy of Optio)

The Slovak company Optio participates in development of a holographic bank assistant called Vesna for Slovenska Sporitelna, the biggest bank in Slovakia. But Vesna is just a start.

EVENT FOR LEGO FANS

Bricklandia

video //www.youtube.com/embed/GMwcP3AX3s4

A Slovak family exhibits its Lego country on Hviezdoslavova Street 1 in the city of Trnava, a stone's throw from Bratislava. The exhibition lasts until September 3.

In addition to the country, visitors can find pirates and Star Wars built from Lego here, among other things. But children can also play with Lego here.

You can find more information here.

In other news

The UK has sanctioned individuals and businesses in Turkey, Dubai, Slovakia and Switzerland who are supporting the war in Ukraine. As for Slovakia, it has been announced that recent sanctions also target Slovak national Ashot Mkrtychev for his involvement in an attempted arms deal between the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Russia.

Acting Agriculture Minister Jozef Bires has admitted that the ministry sent a letter to Brussels last week, in which it had to explain a police intervention in the Agricultural Paying Agency (PPA) from June 2023. During the intervention, five people were detained, including the head of the agency, Jozef Kiss. All the suspects were released. They continue to work for the PPA, while being investigated for the alleged misuse of European money. Brussels monitors Slovakia due to several past corruption scandals in agriculture. (Sme)

In the ski resort Jasna, central Slovakia, one of the largest hotels in central Europe has been opened. (Index)

According to preliminary data by the Agriculture Ministry, food manufacturers in Slovakia achieved a record profit of 294 million last year. Compared to 2021, this is a 57 percent increase in profitability. (SITA)

The General Prosecutor's Office rejects that Deputy General Prosecutor Jozef Sedlak would decide on the recent cancellation of the indictment of ex-interior minister Robert Kalinak without seeing the case file. The Supreme Court provided the Office with a complete certified photocopy of the file, claims the Office. The Special Prosecutor's Office remains critical of the decision.

Since the beginning of August, people insured with the state-owned VsZP health insurance company have at their disposal the full range of health care at Bory Hospital, a new Bratislava facility owned by the Penta financial group.

A via ferrata in the Martinske Hole area, central Slovakia, on August 8, 2023. (Source: TASR - Daniel Stehlik)

WEATHER FOR WEDNESDAY: A heavy cloud cover during the day, rain and showers are expected in several places around Slovakia. Cold weather and snow on the Tatras peaks. The highest daytime temperature will rise to 24C. (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).
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230807/china-to-philippines-remove-illegally-grounded-warship-from-disputed-reef-1112448711.html

China to Philippines: Remove Illegally Grounded Warship From Disputed Reef

China to Philippines: Remove Illegally Grounded Warship From Disputed Reef

Beijing has told Manila it needs to remove a rusting hulk from a disputed reef following a showdown with resupply ships over the weekend. The Philippines intentionally grounded the ship there more than 20 years ago.

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The Chinese government on Monday urged their Philippine counterparts to remove an illegally grounded warship from a submerged reef in the Spratly Islands, which is claimed by both China and the Philippines.The demands came after a showdown over the weekend - the second in as many months - in which Chinese Coast Guard ships using water cannons drove off a pair of Philippine resupply ships attempting to reach the grounded vessel. Chinese officials described the coast guards actions as professional and restrained after Philippine authorities protested.The Sierra Madre was intentionally grounded on Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 as part of an effort by Manila to lay claim to the totally-submerged reef. In the Philippines it is called Ayungin Shoal. The reef is about 121 miles west of the Philippine island of Palawan, and the Sierra Madre sits on a shallow reef on the northwestern side of its teardrop shape.The Philippine government maintains a small detachment of soldiers on the derelict in an attempt to safeguard its claims. It was they whom the resupply ships were attempting to reach over the weekend.Second Thomas Shoal is not the only seamount, reef, or island over which Beijing and Manila feud in the South China Sea. However, it is one of the closest to Palawan, a Philippine island home to one of four Philippine military installations to which US forces have been given access, as per a recent agreement with the government of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.The US on Monday reiterated its support for Manila, with a Pentagon spokesperson telling reporters that Washington condemns Chinas efforts to impede lawful operations at Second Thomas Shoal.However, at the same time, Marcos has pushed for the finalization of a Code of Conduct for the waterway, where China is not the only country with contested claims over land and sea: Malaysia, Brunei, and Vietnam have all claimed parts of the South China Sea for themselves, leading to regular encounters like that between the Chinese Coast Guard and Philippine Navy ships over the weekend. The code would normalize protocols for such encounters and hopefully avoid them escalating into diplomatic incidents.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230714/us-concerned-about-china-assertiveness-in-south-east-china-seas-taiwan-strait-1111873496.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230807/new-start-most-important-arms-control-treaty-that-us-russia-must-keep-1112449649.html

New START Most Important Arms Control Treaty That US, Russia Must Keep

New START Most Important Arms Control Treaty That US, Russia Must Keep

The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) is the most important arms control agreement that the United States and Russia must do all in their power to keep in effect, retired US Lt. Col. Nicholas Troyan told Sputnik.

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"I think this is the most important treaty, among all others, because when we speak about strategic missiles, that means the end of the entire world," Troyan said. In 1988, Troyan, a Chinese-born Russian emigre to the United States who served 33 years in the US military, became chief of one of 12 US teams that inspected Soviet nuclear sites under the terms of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. Troyan said the New START and any other similar initiative is very important in diminishing the threat of nuclear weapons. He called "idiotism" the complaints that another country has 6,000 nuclear warheads when the United States has 5,000 because "less than 1,000 is enough to destroy the whole world almost completely." Troyan further noted the United States and Russia should start talking about all open nuclear-related issues rather than engage in mutual insults. "We must try to communicate to understand each other and this is the most difficult thing, of course," he said. The retired official also emphasized the necessity of reaching agreements on both strategic and tactical nuclear weapons of any range, warning that the negative effects of using such arms impact not only the battlefield but the entire world. When the United States dropped the atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, Troyan was seven years old and living with his parents in China and was unaware of the war's developments. "Of course, the United States and Russia now have more accurate warheads than those used in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. But there can always be, as the Russians say, 'stray shells,'" he added. The atomic bombing of Hiroshima killed 140,000 people and 74,000 in Nagasaki and the vast majority of them were civilians.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230603/whats-behind-us-new-start-countermeasures-and-whos-poised-to-lose-the-most-1110875137.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230808/almost-80-of-nigerians-support-military-takeover-leaders---poll-1112461322.html

Almost 80% of Nigeriens Support Military Takeover Leaders - Poll

Almost 80% of Nigeriens Support Military Takeover Leaders - Poll

Eight in ten in Niger support the military who came to power in late July through a military takeover, a survey conducted by the Premise Data polling firm for media showed on Tuesday.

2023-08-08T13:04+0000

2023-08-08T13:04+0000

2023-08-08T13:11+0000

africa

niger

russia

economic community of west african states (ecowas)

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The poll found that 78% of respondents support the actions of military takeover leaders and 73% think that military takeover leaders should stay in power "for an extended period" or "until new elections are held." Also, 54% said they did not support interventions by regional or international organizations. Of those who do support a foreign intervention, 50% would like it to be by Russia. At the same time, the newspaper noted that these numbers were not representative of the opinion across the entire country since the poll was conducted in a quick manner and with a small sample, consisting mostly of relatively well-educated men, with 62% of them residing in the country's capital, Niamey. On July 26, Nigers presidential guard ousted and detained President Mohamed Bazoum. The guards commander, Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, proclaimed himself interim president. On Monday, the caretaker National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland appointed economist and finance minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine as prime minister. On July 31, ECOWAS condemned the military takeover, suspended financial aid to the country, and gave Nigers military takeover leaders one week to reinstate detained president, or the community would use "all measures," including military, to restore order in the African nation. France and several other countries, predominantly European, evacuated their nationals in the week that followed.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230808/niger-crisis-sparks-fears-in-france-that-paris-being-squeezed-out-of-africa-by-russia-china-us-1112457076.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230808/ankara-eyes-sabotage-as-cause-of-derince-port-blast-but-it-seems-unlikely---grain-board-1112453863.html

Ankara Eyes Sabotage as Cause of Derince Port Blast, But It Seems Unlikely - Grain Board

Ankara Eyes Sabotage as Cause of Derince Port Blast, But It Seems Unlikely - Grain Board

The Turkish authorities consider a sabotage version as the cause of an explosion near the Turkish major commercial port of Derince in the Kocaeli province, but it seems unlikely, Turkish Grain Board head Ahmet Guldal said on Tuesday.

2023-08-08T06:06+0000

2023-08-08T06:06+0000

2023-08-08T06:06+0000

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turkiye

ankara

explosion

sabotage

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"This is a port area, and no one who has not passed security checks can enter there. Whether it is a government employee, an employee or a business owner, they cannot enter. All possibilities, of course, will be evaluated, but this possibility [sabotage] is considered as a weaker one," Guldal said, as quoted by media.A blast hit the port city in western Turkiye on Monday, damaging elevators at the moment of loading a vessel with grain and injuring at least 12 people. A source in Turkiyes Coast Guard told Sputnik that the explosion did not damage any ships in the port.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230807/at-least-10-injured-as-blast-hits-major-turkish-commercial-port-of-derince-1112440356.html

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French police arrested German on suspicion of holding his wife captive for 12 years.

The authorities found the 53-year-old German woman naked and with her head shaved in the couple's apartment in Forbach, near the German border.

German Arrested for Allegedly Holding Wife Captive for 12 Years

As per a report by CBS News, French authorities arrested a 55-year-old German man for reportedly holding his wife captive in their flat for over a decade. The details of this harrowing case have stunned both the public and law enforcement officials, shedding light on the darkness that can often hide behind closed doors.

The woman says her husband assaulted and raped her multiple times while held captive for over a decade. She also disclosed that her partner had tortured her since 2011.

CBS News reports that the emergency services in Wiesbaden got a call on early August 7. The person on the other line was the woman, alleging her husband had held her captive for 12 years.

However, the German couple are staying in an apartment in France. And as such, the German authorities reached out to their French colleagues. From there, the police went to the address of the couple.

According to BBC News, a French police source notes that the local authorities found the woman semi-naked in their bathroom.

Meanwhile, South China Morning Post reports that the woman is grappling with leg and finger fractures. Her husband is now facing aggravated rape, torture, barbarism, and kidnapping accusations.

Read Also: German Far-Right AfD Party Wins First Election To Take Control of a District

Local Prosecutor Says No Signs of Violence

Local prosecutor Oliver Glady disclosed the result of her examination, stressing that her health is "not good." The prosecutor added that the couple's apartment housed roughly nine cats. Glady says that authorities found a metal wire in the flat, which was intended to prevent the felines from escaping.

On top of that, the German prosecutor notes that the police found the woman with no traces of blood or violence.

One of the neighbors of the German couple says that the woman never left the apartment. Alicia further narrated that she heard screams from the flat. However, she assumed it was due to an illness since the man was "very polite, nice."

Another witness, Erika, who lives within the vicinity, says it has been several years since she last saw the German woman. Given that she had been missing in action for "maybe ten years," the witness had the impression that she had passed away or moved out.

Related Article: 'Wounds' Singer Literally Wounded: German Pop Star Helene Fischer Cancels Hanover Concert After Cutting Her Face Open While in a Trapeze for Acrobatic Stunt

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230808/australia-to-spend-record-1bln-on-new-international-development-policy-1112462730.html

Australia to Spend Record $1Bln on New International Development Policy

Australia to Spend Record $1Bln on New International Development Policy

Australia will allocate 1.7 billion Australian dollars ($1.1 billion) on a new international development policy aimed at advancing the country's interests in the Indo-Pacific, the Australian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

2023-08-08T13:53+0000

2023-08-08T13:53+0000

2023-08-08T13:53+0000

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indo-pacific

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australian foreign ministry

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"The Albanese Government's new international development policy will advance Australia's interests in a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific and ensure we are a partner of choice for our region," the ministry said in a statement. The five-year plan will drive Canberra's investments and involvement in solving regional problems, such as poverty, economic growth, health care, infrastructure investment, climate change and gender equality, the statement read. To assist neighboring countries, Australia will establish Australian Development Investments, a fund which will support regional non-governmental organizations and provide up to 250 million Australian dollars for private investments in the Indo-Pacific, the ministry added. The vigorous development of Canberra's foreign policy is taking place amid China's strengthening positions in the region. In early July, China and the Solomon Islands signed nine agreements, including on cooperation in policing. Later that month, the leaders of Australia and New Zealand expressed in a joint statement their concern regarding the agreements between Beijing and Honiara.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230719/pentagons-indo-pacific-command-chief-north-korea-has-missiles-that-can-reach-us-1111979464.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230808/biden-signs-bill-officially-formalizing-us-taiwan-trade-agreement-1112450769.html

Biden Signs Bill Officially Formalizing US-Taiwan Trade Agreement

Biden Signs Bill Officially Formalizing US-Taiwan Trade Agreement

US President Joe Biden signed into law a House resolution implementing the US-Taiwan trade agreement signed on June 1, the White House announced.

2023-08-08T02:13+0000

2023-08-08T02:13+0000

2023-08-08T02:13+0000

asia

taiwan

beijing

china

joe biden

white house

agreement

trade deal

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"On Monday, August 7, 2023, the President signed into law: H.R. 4004, the 'United States-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade First Agreement Implementation Act,' which approves the June 1, 2023, trade agreement between the United States and Taiwan, under the auspices of the American Institute in Taiwan and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States," the White House said in a press release. The US House Ways and Means Committee also issued a release stating the agreement sets rules in five areas of bilateral trade: customs administration and trade facilitation, good regulatory practices, services regulation, anti-corruption and small and medium-sized businesses. At present, Taiwan is the United States ninth largest trading partner with $90.6 billion in total traded goods in 2020, according to US Trade Representative Office data.The measure fully cleared Congress a month after initially being introduced in June, and is considered to be the first of several deals expected to be processed under the trade initiative.The latest comes as the Biden White House cleared up to $345 million in defense aid to Taiwan in addition to the military equipment and sales previously approved, an agreement that earlier drew Beijing's ireThe US' continued ties with Taiwan has been repeatedly blasted by China, which has long considered the self-governing island as its province. Beijing has time and again urged the US to steer clear of taking any steps to involve itself in China's domestic matters.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230804/new-taiwan-arms-deal-us-dead-set-on-provoking-war-with-china-1112391222.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230808/china-says-eu-must-lift-export-restrictions-to-balance-bilateral-trade-1112461761.html

China Says EU Must Lift Export Restrictions to Balance Bilateral Trade

China Says EU Must Lift Export Restrictions to Balance Bilateral Trade

The European Union must lift its export restrictions against China in order to eliminate imbalance in trade with the country, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

2023-08-08T13:22+0000

2023-08-08T13:22+0000

2023-08-08T13:53+0000

china

beijing

european union (eu)

chinese foreign ministry

josep borrell

trade

economy

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On Monday, European Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis said in an interview with a British business newspaper that the EU will push China to reduce barriers for European exports as part of strategic dialogue in September. This comes as the EU's trade deficit neared 400 billion euros ($437 billion) last year. Dombrovskis added that EU and China have a very unbalanced trade relationship because despite the fact that "China is running a huge surplus," its level of openness in trade is far less than that of the EU. The ministry also said that China has never tried to achieve a surplus in trade. Its presence in EU-China trade is the result of different industrial structures, industrial specialization, trade practices and external factors, it added. On Sunday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in a phone call with the EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell welcomed his visit to China coming up this fall for a strategic dialogue and preparations for the China-EU leaders' summit. Borrell postponed his visit to China twice this year. The first postponement was in April, when the EU's top diplomat contracted COVID-19, and the second postponement was in July, unilaterally by Beijing without giving a reason, after EU leaders revised the blocs China policy in June.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230620/eu-plans-to-ban-outsourcing-of-artificial-intelligence-technologies-to-china-1111329493.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230808/cia-veteran-nulands-niger-trip-meant-to-intimidate-threaten-new-government-1112465911.html

CIA Veteran: Nulands Niger Trip Meant to Intimidate, Threaten New Government

CIA Veteran: Nulands Niger Trip Meant to Intimidate, Threaten New Government

Nigers government was overthrown by the military last month. On Monday, Victoria Nuland met with members of the new government for talks. What does the arch-neocons visit mean for the West African nations future? Sputnik spoke to CIA and State Department veteran Larry Johnson for answers.

2023-08-08T17:22+0000

2023-08-08T17:22+0000

2023-08-09T12:48+0000

larry johnson

victoria nuland

niger

france

russia

economic community of west african states (ecowas)

cia

africa

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Acting deputy secretary of state Victoria Nuland traveled to Niamey, Niger and met with acting Nigerien Defense Chief Moussa Salaou Barmou and his deputies on Monday for what she later described as extremely frank and at times quite difficult talks.The visit, coming one day after the deadline set forth by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to the new authorities to cede power back to President Mohamed Bazoum or face a military intervention, was unusual, in that previous military takeovers and takeover attempts in the landlocked West African nation in 2021, 2010, 1999 and 1996 did not see anywhere near the same level of attention from high-ranking Western officials.I hope they will keep the door open to diplomacy. We made that proposal, Nuland told media after the talks. Their ideas do not comport with the constitution. And that would be difficult in terms of our relationship if thats the path they take, but we gave them a number of options to keep talking and we hope they take us up on that, she added, referencing the demands by the ECOWAS, as well as France, the US and the European Union that the military government yields power back to the civilian president.Sending a MessageNuland holds the number two position at the US State Department, which means Washington is taking this situation very seriously, retired CIA intelligence officer, State Department official and Africa expert Larry Johnson told Sputnik.The fact that she comes out and says it was a difficult meeting, a tough meeting, means, I think that Nigerien coup leaders, the current government, refused to acquiesce to her demands, the observer added.The US, which has about 1,100 troops and at least four military bases in Niger, has been barred from using its $110 million drone-launching facility built in 2019 in the wake of the military takeover. In her comments Monday, Nuland said she and her Nigerien counterparts went into considerable detail about the risks to aspects of our cooperation that [Defense Chief Barmou] has historically cared about a lot.Characterizing the US military presence as a situation Niger finds itself as one where the camel already has its nose under the tent andvery well could fully insert itself, Johnson said that the possibility of US military action is high because Nigers military cannot be characterized as a peer adversary. Its not Russia, and so the United States prefers to beat up on the weaker countries, he said.Danger of Regional Conflict as Wests Influence FadesJohnson believes the current crisis is related to the growing frustration in the US and France that their positions in Africa are being threatened by rising powers, including Russia.If you go back over just the recent history of Niger, over the last 20 years, Niger appeared prominently in 2001 because of yellowcake uranium that it was allegedly smuggling to Saddam Hussein. That turned out to have been a lie. There have been multiple coups in Niger since then. And at no time did the United States feel compelled to try to intervene or threaten the coup leaders of those previous efforts to, you know, restore the original government that they overthrew. I think what we're seeing is a play out of Russia's growing influence in the region. The United States and France are doing all they can to try to retain the colonial control that has been in place for close to a 100 years. And Nigeriens and the people of Mali and Burkina Faso are both standing up and saying, okay, we've had enough. We're no longer going to be under the thumb of the West. Nuland is trying to stop that. But I don't think she can, he said.Johnson characterized the threat of intervention in the crisis by ECOWAS, which has slapped sanctions on Niger and threatened to intervene with a 25,000 troop-strong invasion force, as a very dangerous but simultaneously ridiculous development, since the regional bloc has no real justification to intervene.France, one of the few European nations which has not been completely swallowed up by recession thanks to an energy crisis following Europes short-sighted decision to restrict the purchase of Russian energy last year, relies heavily on a network of 56 nuclear reactors which generate nearly 70 percent of the countrys electricity. However, the nation imports 100 percent of the uranium fueling these reactors, with Niger providing 17 percent of Frances total uranium supplies. Following its takeover last month, Nigers new military government froze uranium and gold exports to France.I would not trust the United States for anything at this point, Johnson said,when asked about Nulands offer of US support in mediating the crisis.Nothing to Do With Democracy"Western governments, Washington in particular, are engaged in a systemic global geopolitical rivalry against Russia, and not only in Ukraine but in all other regional theaters like the Caucasus, the Balkans and Africa, they fear any empowerment of Moscow," geopolitics professor Dr. Pierre-Emmanuel Thomann told Sputnik."They try to prevent any cooperation between this so-called 'junta' [in Niger] and Russia. Their motive has nothing to do with democracy or the well-being of local populations," Thomann, who serves as the director of Eurocontinent, a Brussels-based geopolitical think tank, added."This is doomed to fail because African countries would like a more multipolar world, more balanced relationships with big powers, with big powers and recent Western military interventions...making this worse," Thomann said, pointing, for example, to the NATO-sponsored overthrow of the Gaddafi government in Libya in 2011, which turned the once-thriving North African nation into a failed state.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230808/almost-80-of-nigerians-support-military-takeover-leaders---poll-1112461322.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230808/west-africa-braces-for-conflict-as-ecowas-threatens-niger-intervention-1112448364.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230809/ecowas-au-un-mission-to-niger-aborted-over--unavailability-of-military-leaders--1112475162.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230808/entries-open-for-rts-annual-international-awards-for-war-correspondents-1112460282.html

Entries Open for RT's Annual International Awards for War Correspondents

Entries Open for RT's Annual International Awards for War Correspondents

Russian broadcaster RT is calling for entries for the 2023 Khaled Alkhateb International Memorial Awards, an annual competition that recognizes outstanding reporting from conflict zones.

2023-08-08T12:00+0000

2023-08-08T12:00+0000

2023-08-08T12:00+0000

world

russia

khaled alkhateb

award

rt

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The broadcaster established the awards in 2018 to honor Khaled Alkhateb, a 25-year-old RT Arabic stringer, who was killed on duty by shelling of the Syrian city of Homs by the Daesh* terrorist organization in 2017. This year's awards will be presented in two categories  Best Journalism from a Conflict Zone and Best Humanitarian Journalism  with entries accepted in video or written format. Journalists from traditional media, alternative and independent outlets as well as freelancers are invited to enter. Applications are accepted in any language from any country. The closing date for entries is October 30, 2023. Each winner, due to be announced in December, will receive a cash prize of 200,000 rubles (around $2,000). Earlier recipients of the awards include journalists from Iraq, Ireland, Singapore, Russia, the United States, Italy, India, Syria and Yemen, who shared firsthand accounts of multiple conflicts around the world and their aftermath.*Daesh (also known as ISIS/ISIL/IS) is a terrorist group banned in Russia

https://sputnikglobe.com/20220729/rt-opens-entries-for-2022-khaled-alkhateb-awards-recognizing-conflict-journalism-1097937390.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230808/fact-check-debunking-blinkens-fake-news-claims-about-grain-deal-1112462393.html

Fact Check: Debunking Blinkens Fake News Claims About Grain Deal

Fact Check: Debunking Blinkens Fake News Claims About Grain Deal

Russia suspended its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative last month, citing the Wests systematic efforts to block the export of Russian food and fertilizers, and the fact that just 3 percent of the Ukrainian grain exported under the grain deal actually went to nations in need.

2023-08-08T15:08+0000

2023-08-08T15:08+0000

2023-08-08T17:05+0000

antony blinken

vladimir putin

russia

ukraine

european union (eu)

rosselkhozbank

us

black sea grain deal

sputnik's fact check

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has given an interview to a French radio network targeting francophone Africans, making a series of provocative claims against Russia related to the grain deal, and complaining that Moscows donation of tens of thousands of tons of food to African countries was just a drop in the bucket compared to whats needed.How much of what Blinken said lines up with reality? Check out Sputnik's fact check of the secretary of states remarks to separate facts from falsehoods.Claim: Grain Deal Wouldnt Have Been Needed If Not for RussiaLeaving to one side the US direct responsibility for the Ukraine crisis going back to the 2014 Maidan coup and Washingtons rejection of Russias security guarantee proposals on the eve of the conflict in late 2021, Blinkens comments about why the grain deal became necessary are disingenuous at best, and an outright fib at worst.In the spring of 2022, shortly after the Donbass crisis escalated into a full-blown Russia-NATO proxy war in Ukraine, the Russian Black Sea Fleet reported a dramatic uptick in Ukraines mining of its own coastline, blocking grain carriers from entering or exiting ports in the countrys southwest. Moscow categorically rejected accusations made by the US and its allies that Russia was somehow responsible for grain shipments being blocked, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov pointing out that Western countries themselves had created obstacles to food exports, and were egging on a global food crisis by introducing restrictions on Russian food exports.In June 2022, world wheat market speculators had the wind knocked out of their sails after President Vladimir Putin announced Russias hypothetical readiness to see Ukrainian grain exports via the Black Sea resumed. Russias position hinged on the need to demine Ukraines coasts, an easing of restrictions against Russian food and fertilizer sales abroad, and implicit assurances that the vessels exporting Ukrainian grain wouldnt be used for weapons or contraband smuggling - assurances which, it turns out, were never kept.Formally signing onto the Black Sea Grain Initiative in July 2022, Moscow emphasized the humanitarian angle of its assent, accepting United Nations negotiators arguments that depriving the world of Ukrainian supplies might threaten food insecure nations with hunger. These arguments turned out to be a falsehood as well, but more on this below.Claim: Grain Deal Allowed Ukraine to Export 30 Million Tons of Grain to Hungry NationsThe secretary of states figures about the total amount of foodstuffs exported by Ukraine via the Black Sea under the grain deal are in the right ballpark. However, his failure to elaborate where these potential 18 billion loaves of bread actually went, and the claim that two-thirds of wheat exports went to developing countries cannot be characterized as anything other than deliberate obfuscation.Judge for yourselves, President Putin wrote in an article penned on the eve of last months Russia-Africa Summit, while explaining Moscows position on suspending its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative.The Russian Foreign Ministry presented similar calculations, based on United Nations statistics, revealing that an average of just two World Food Program vessels took part in shipping grain out of Ukraine every month during the period that the grain deal was active, compared with an average of 90 commercial grain carriers. Where Blinken got his 50 percent or two-thirds figures from is anyones guess.Worse yet, recent media reports have revealed that much of the grain exported to European countries under the grain deal was used not to make loaves of bread, but to feed livestock. In other words, the West not only failed to live up the grain deals commitment to provide the Global South with a food security lifeline, but literally spent the exported grain fattening up their pigs and cows, at the expense of both Kiev (which was made to export its food supplies at deep discounts) and the nations that actually needed it.As for Blinkens claims about prices spiking as a result of Russia pulling out of the grain deal, these too have proven disconnected from reality, with a spike in prices from $635 US per bushel in mid-July to $760/Bu at the end of the month, coming back down to about $645/Bu in this weeks trading, for a total price hike of about 1.5 percent over the past month. So much for Blinkens 10 to 15 percent claims.Claim: Russia Had No Reason to Exit Grain DealBlinkens record exports claims arent entirely accurate, either, with Russian grain exports actually falling during the 2021-2022 agricultural year (July 1, 2021-June 30, 2022, respectively), hitting 38.1 million tons, compared with 49 million tons in the 2020-2021 season, clearly indicating a slowdown connected in part to Western restrictions as Russian exporters were forced to adjust their business abroad.Russia did set records for grain exports during the 2022-2023 agricultural year, selling 60 million tons of grain worth over $41 billion out of a total harvest of 157.7 million tons, including 104.2 million tons of wheat. But it managed to do so using guerilla methods, including trade in local currencies, and not due to any easing of restrictions by Western countries.Russia, which accounts for up to 20 percent of the world wheat market, exports its wheat and other grain commodities mainly to Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, with major clients including Iran, Egypt, Turkiye, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan. President Putin announced last September that Moscow had delivered up to 30 million tons of grain to nations in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and was ready to increase deliveries to "50 million or more tons" in the following year.These include restrictions by the US and Europe on loans for the purchase of Russian grain, insurers refusing to provide insurance for shipments, and agricultural equipment producers halting sales to Russia and/or stopping the supply of spare parts. Russias agriculture-focused Rosselkhozbank remains disconnected from the SWIFT payment system, which means difficulties in international payments, while the freeze of the foreign assets of Russian companies linked to the transportation of food and fertilizers means additional problems.Although Russia and its partners have managed to reduce the impact of crushing Western restrictions, much more could be done to stabilize prices and assure supplies to the Global South if Moscow wasnt under the Damocles Sword of US and European sanctions. Mr. Blinkens assurances are well and good, but Moscow cant eat assurances  and nor can the countries that depend on Russian food exports not only for their economic welfare, but often for social and political stability as well.Claim: Russias Offer of Free Grain Cant Make Up for Grain DealAs mentioned above, the vast majority of the 20 million tons mentioned by Blinken (what happened to the 30 million tons figure, by the way?) was being exported under the grain deal to wealthy Western nations, with less than three percent going to countries in need.Secondly, the 50,000 ton figure, brought up by Putin during the Russia-Africa Summit and planned to be delivered in the coming three-four months, constitutes Russian targeted food aid to half a dozen African nations: Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, Eritrea, Mali, Somalia, and Zimbabwe, all of which are food insecure. Along with the direct food aid, Putin said Russia would provide certain agricultural technologies to enable Africa to ensure its own food security.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230718/military-experts-ukraine-used-black-sea-grain-corridor-for-weapons-smuggling-and-terror-attacks-1111972894.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230724/putin-pens-article-on-eve-of-russia-africa-summit-full-text--1112102579.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230215/ukrainian-wheat-under-grain-deal-was-used-to-feed-spanish-pigs-report-says-1107466231.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230727/african-leaders-grateful-to-putin-for-support-on-intl-platforms---african-union-1112177398.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230808/georgias-invasion-of-south-ossetia-was-testing-ground-for-nato-proxy-war-1112463934.html

Georgia's Invasion of South Ossetia Was Testing Ground for NATO Proxy War

Georgia's Invasion of South Ossetia Was Testing Ground for NATO Proxy War

Exactly 15 years ago, Georgia launched a full-fledged invasion of South Ossetia which claimed the lives of Russian peacekeepers in the region. Could the operation be considered NATO's first proxy conflict with Russia?

2023-08-08T16:36+0000

2023-08-08T16:36+0000

2023-08-08T17:28+0000

mikheil saakashvili

dmitry medvedev

george w. bush

georgia

russia

south ossetia

nato

un security council (unsc)

sputnik explains

ukraine

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On August 7, 2008, at approximately 11:35 pm (GMT+4), the sleeping city of Tskhinval, South Ossetia, was rocked by Georgian artillery shelling. After the bombardment, Georgian troops and tanks stormed the city. The invasion was authorized by then Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.When Did Georgian-South Ossetian Confrontation Start?The Georgian-South Ossetian confrontation began during the years of Soviet Perestroika. In 1989, the South Ossetian Autonomous Region proclaimed itself an autonomous republic, and a year later declared sovereignty. In response, the Supreme Council of Georgia abolished the Ossetian autonomy. Nonetheless, when on April 9, 1991 Georgia officially withdrew from the USSR, South Ossetia opted to remain. Tensions between Georgia and South Ossetia translated into a full-fledged conflict that started in January 1991. Meanwhile, on December 25, 1991 the USSR ceased to exist and South Ossetia decided to unify with Russia. On January 19, 1992, the breakaway republic held a referendum on independence and/or reunification with Russia, with the overall majority of its population voting "aye."To prevent clashes between the two conflicting sides, Russian peacekeepers were deployed right on the border separating Georgia and South Ossetia. A roughly 600-strong contingent of Russian troops served at checkpoints along the demarcation line.How Did the Five-Day Georgian War of 2008 Unfold?Having come to power in 2004, the government of Mikheil Saakashvili took a pro-Western and pro-NATO course. Saakashvili announced his intent to regain control over South Ossetia. This aggravated tensions in the zone of the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict, which had been considered frozen for many years. Tensions continued to escalate until 2008, when Tbilisi, apparently emboldened by its US and NATO partners, decided to return the breakaway republic by force.Georgia had reportedly amassed about 12,000 military servicemen and 75 tanks on the border with South Ossetia by August 8, 2008. Georgian peacekeepers used electronic warfare to deprive their Russian counterparts of cellular connection and the ability to coordinate actions between checkpoints. The Georgian military then launched an attack that claimed the lives of 20 Russian troops and left over 150 injured, according to some estimates.At the request of the Russian Federation, at 7:00 am (GMT+3) on August 8, an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council was convened "in connection with the threatening situation around South Ossetia." The actions of the Georgian side prompted Moscow to kick off an operation to enforce peace on Georgia under the Article 51 of the UN Charter, stipulating the right of self-defense.At 12:00 am on August 9, the first units of the 19th Motorized Rifle Division crossed the border between Russia and South Ossetia. The five-day conflict ended on August 12, while on August 15, Saakashvili signed a peace deal with then Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.Did the US Give a Nod to the Georgian Invasion of South Ossetia?Per the expert, Saakashvili made a serious mistake by kicking off military actions against the Ossetians, thus alienating them even further. Apkhaidze drew parallels between the actions of the Saakashvili government and the Kiev regime's war against Donbass.Some observers insisted that the Bush administration did not approve of Saakashvili's invasion of South Ossetia. They quoted, in particular, then-US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who reportedly tried to convince Saakashvili to refrain from any provocative action against the breakaway republic. Rices aides told the press that she had met with Saakashvili and warned him against getting into a military conflict with Russia that "Georgia could not win."Still, on August 12, 2008, in an article titled "After Mixed US Messages, a War Erupted in Georgia," The New York Times dropped a hint that Washington had taken "a series of steps that emboldened Georgia" to adopt an assertive foreign strategy. The newspaper drew attention to the fact that prior to the Georgian invasion, the US had sent advisors to build up the Georgian military, including a July 2008 joint exercise called "Immediate Response" with more than 1,000 American troops; pressed hard to bring Georgia into the NATO orbit; championed Georgia's "fledgling democracy along Russias southern border"; and openly supported Georgias "territorial integrity" in the battle with Russia over Georgia's breakaway republics.Speaking to the Russian press on August 7, 2018 then Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, who served as president of Russia between 2008 and 2012, suggested that Washington had given hope to Saakashvili that it would support the Georgian president. Medvedev cited the fact that prior to the invasion, Saakashvili held talks with then US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Daniel Fried, an expert on the Soviet Union. Earlier, Saakashvili had closely communicated with US Vice President Dick Cheney.On top of this, NATO and the US could have been interested in quickly resolving the Georgian-South Ossetian territorial dispute: under the transatlantic alliance's rules, a country with active border disputes cannot join NATO. Earlier, the Bush administration spearheaded the decision that Georgia and Ukraine would become members of NATO and announced it at the Bucharest Summit in April 2008.Was the Georgian Conflict a NATO Proxy War Against Russia?Even though the US and NATO did not consider Georgia a full-fledged military bulwark against Russia, Saakashvili's invasion served to "test waters" in the post-Soviet space, according to Apkhaidze.Apparently, NATO sought to get an understanding of Russia's defense capability: they wanted to figure out how Russia would react, whether Moscow had enough resources, how it would cope with the invasion, and in what time frame, per the expert.On the other hand, the Georgian conflict also became a testing ground for the collective West's information warfare, per Apkhaidze. In the aftermath of the August 8 war, American and European politicians and mainstream press shied away from holding the Saakashvili government responsible for the aggression and blamed the conflict largely on Russia.Everyone unanimously said that Russia was an occupier; newsfeeds and talking points were the same everywhere, the expert noted. They prepared very well, he added.Later, the fact that it was Georgia who launched the aggression was officially confirmed, including in the report of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Conflict in Georgia, which was established by decision of the Council of the EU.Why Did US and NATO Fail to Turn Georgia Into an 'Anti-Russia'?First and foremost, the people of Georgia never supported any conflict with Russia, Apkhaidze highlighted, adding that Georgia's pro-Western elites did not act in the interests of the nation and the people. The expert cast doubt on the results of the 2008 Georgian referendum concerning the nation's NATO membership, which indicated that over 77% Georgians supported joining the bloc. Apkhaidze believes that the plebiscite was falsified in the interest of the Georgian regime of Saakashvili and his Western backers.In contrast, the West obviously succeeded in driving a wedge between Russia and Ukraine following the 2014 coup d'etat in Kiev. The Kiev regime became an antagonist of Russia in terms of ideology, interpretations of history, and religion. In addition, the US and its NATO allies have invested in Ukraine's militarization since 2014, de facto making it their stronghold on Russia's doorstep. According to Apkhaidze, there were cultural and historical preconditions for this.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230808/us-whipping-up-tension-around-abkhazia-south-ossetia-1112453431.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20220802/rapid-and-reliable-moments-when-the-russian-airborne-forces-saved-the-day-1098045338.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20170808/russia-ready-protect-nationals-1056287620.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230520/what-is-hybrid-warfare-and-why-is-it-more-dangerous-than-missiles-and-bullets-1110481705.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230707/georgias-ambassador-who-left-ukraine-calls-his-departure-decline-in-diplomatic-relations-1111711165.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230808/2008-south-ossetia-crisis-first-prelude-to-nato-russia-proxy-war-1112464203.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230808/icrc-says-expects-shortfall-in-financing-from-intl-donors-over-next-2-years-1112455051.html

ICRC Says Expects Shortfall in Financing From Int'l Donors Over Next 2 Years

ICRC Says Expects Shortfall in Financing From Int'l Donors Over Next 2 Years

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) expects a decrease in humanitarian funding from its international donors over the next two years, which may hamper the organization's operations dealing with "neglected crises," Mutsa Mugangavari, the deputy head of the ICRC regional delegation in Southern Africa, told Sputnik.

2023-08-08T07:36+0000

2023-08-08T07:36+0000

2023-08-08T07:37+0000

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"It is too early to say how our funding situation will evolve in the coming months. However, we do expect humanitarian funding to decline over the next two years. It is also proving to be more challenging to raise unearmarked funds, which makes it harder to fund neglected crises. We will need to adjust to these realities and will further review our activities and priorities in the coming months at both field and headquarters," Mugangavari said. At the same time, she expressed hope that the ICRC would still be able to mobilize more funds for its critical humanitarian operations in 2023 with the support of donors. Many Sudanese have been fleeing their homeland to neighboring countries, including Egypt, Ethiopia, Chad and South Sudan, which face their own challenges. The ICRC fears that the crisis is taking regional proportions, forcing the organization to deal with the increased pressure on the healthcare systems of the affected African nations, Mugangavari stated. The ICRC is an international humanitarian organization established in 1863 and based in Geneva, Switzerland. The organization aims to help people affected by conflicts and armed violence across the globe. The ICRC is funded by voluntary contributions, with the majority coming from governments, Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, supranational organizations, as well as public and private sources.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230109/icrc-looking-at-facial-recognition-systems-for-identifying-missing-persons---spokesperson-1106151828.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230808/impeachment-for-what-is-the-new-democrat-phrase-1112449508.html

'Impeachment for What?' is the New Democrat Phrase

'Impeachment for What?' is the New Democrat Phrase

On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including US trucking firm Yellow filing for bankruptcy, and director William Friedkin dying at age 87.

2023-08-08T04:03+0000

2023-08-08T04:03+0000

2023-08-08T11:29+0000

the backstory

radio

impeachment

twitch

doj

january 6

ballot

ron desantis

kamala harris

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"Impeachment for What ?" is the New Democrat Phrase. On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including US trucking firm Yellow filing for bankruptcy, and director William Friedkin dying at age 87.

Caleb Maupin - Speaker, Writer, Political Analyst, and Author | Playstation Riot, Kamala Harris is Dangerous, and PsyopsJim Hoft - Founder of The Gateway Pundit | Vivek Ramaswamy is the Only One Treating Donald Trump Fairly, Ron DeSantis Has Ruined His Political Future, and Democrats Don't Seem Worried about the 2024 ElectionIn the first hour, Lee spoke with Caleb Maupin about the leadup to the 2024 election, Donald Trump may be arrested, and restrictions on protests in New York City. Caleb commented on the recent PlayStation giveaway riot and how social engineering works. Caleb spoke about his deep dive into Vice President Kamala Harris and how Joe Biden is just the face of the Kamala Harris Presidency.In the second hour, Lee spoke with Jim Hoft about Ron DeSantis's comments on the 2020 election, fraudulent voter registrations in Michigan, and the Jack Smith indictment. Jim discussed his report on voter registration fraud in Michigan and the popularity of Vivek Ramaswamy. Jim commented on Ron DeSantis and how DeSantis has ruined his future political career. 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.

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the backstory, vivek ramaswamy, 2024 election, protests in new york city, jack smith indictment
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230808/japan-reportedly-eyeing-arming-c-2-planes-with-long-range-missiles-1112452095.html

Japan Reportedly Eyeing Arming C-2 Planes With Long-Range Missiles

Japan Reportedly Eyeing Arming C-2 Planes With Long-Range Missiles

With a capacity for accommodating 110 individuals and the ability to traverse approximately 7,600 kms with a 20-ton cargo load, the C-2 stands as an candidate for missile integration.

2023-08-08T04:15+0000

2023-08-08T04:15+0000

2023-08-08T04:14+0000

military

japan

joint air-to-surface standoff missile-extended range (jassm)

missile

missile

kawasaki c-2

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Japan's Defense Ministry is reportedly exploring the integration of long-range missiles onto its C-2 transport planes as part of a strategic move to bolster the country's standoff defense capabilities. Citing government insiders with knowledge of the development, Japanese media reported on Sunday that the missiles could serve as a potent force for preemptive strikes against enemy installations, particularly missile launch sites, thus enhancing Japan's counterstrike capabilities.It's alleged the Defense Ministry is eyeing a missile variant designed to activate its engine mid-air after being released from the aircraft. The shift would effectively minimize the need for significant aircraft modifications; in fact, the US is presently developing such related technology.Notably, the plan does not involve the development or procurement of new missiles specifically for the C-2 planes. Instead, potential candidates for adoption include the US-manufactured Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) with an 900-kilometer range, earmarked for introduction to F-15 fighter jets.Additionally, progress is underway on an aircraft-launched iteration of the Type 12 surface-to-ship guided missile, boasting an extended range of 1,000 kilometers.The proposed strategy, rooted in standoff defense operations, capitalizes on the capability of the Ground Self-Defense Forces' ground launchers, Maritime Self-Defense Forces' destroyers, and Air Self-Defense Forces' fighter jets to target invaders from a safe distance. The C-2 aircraft holds the advantage of carrying more missiles than most fighters while boasting extended airborne endurance.The initiative aligns with Japan's recently unveiled Defense Buildup Program, which underscores the importance of diversifying launch platforms and entails an investigation into the feasibility of a missile system deployable on transport aircraft. Concurrently, the Defense Ministry has outlined plans for missile development tailored for launch from Maritime Self-Defense Force submarines.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230728/japans-white-paper-reveals-plan-to-multiply--defense-spending-across-7-areas-1112202603.html

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A Tesla electric vehicle (EV) spontaneously caught fire last week in a Sacramento California auto yard, prompting firefighters to tag Elon Musk in a social media post.

The Sacramento firefighters tagged the Tesla Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Musk in a recent post on X, formerly Twitter.

Tesla EV Spontaneously Catches on Fire

A Tesla EV transformed from an eco-friendly road warrior to a blazing inferno. As per a report by Fox News Online, the electric car ignited in flames last week while sitting in a high-end auto yard in Sacramento.

The local authorities disclosed that the vehicle was brought to the auto yard after it was salvaged due to the recent flooding in Florida. It was idly parked in the scrap yard when it started to burst into flames, the local officials say.

The Metro Fire of Sacramento took to X, formerly Twitter, which Musk owns, to report the incident. The recent post included videos and photos of the recent blazing incident.

The firefighters say that "crews responded for a vehicle fire at a high-end auto dismantler." They further narrated that their crew had difficulty moving the burning Tesla to a safe location to burn out. The firefighters noted that the burning EV was "surrounded by millions of dollars in salvaged vehicles, including Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Bentleys."

Crews responded for a vehicle fire at a high end auto dismantler. The vehicle was involved in an accident several months ago, and was sitting idle when it spontaneously caught fire in the yard. Crews are unable to move it to a safe location to burn out, the vehicle is blocked in pic.twitter.com/8ShkbMEQUN  Metro Fire of Sacramento (@metrofirepio) August 3, 2023

Read Also: 13-Year-Old California Girl Crashes Tesla; Drives EV Without Parents' Permission

Sacramento Firefighters Tag Elon Musk About the Tesla Burning Incident

Surprisingly, the courageous firefighters did not just battle the blaze. They alerted Tesla's head honcho, Musk himself, by tagging him in the post.

In an era where social media can ignite trends faster than a bolt of lightning, the firefighters' bold move generated a buzz that spread like wildfire. Online folks quickly joined the conversation.

According to KTVU's reports, an X user, who goes by Degenerate Teetoatler, replied to the post, questioning the move to mention the Tesla big boss. He ponders, "Why tag @elonmusk when none of your other vehicle fire posts tag the CEO of the vehicle manufacturer?" Another user, named Sam, responded, "Do you see other car brands spontaneously combusting?"

The Tesla titan, renowned for his active presence on the platform formerly known as Twitter, has yet to respond to the Metro Fire of Sacramento post.

As of writing, the post has already amassed roughly 18,500 views, according to the data from Musk's social media service.

As per Road and Track, Hurricane Ian flooded several Tesla EVs last October 2022. Some of these vehicles spontaneously ignited roughly a week after the storm unleashed its wrath. Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue says mixing salt water and electrical components is "a recipe for disaster."

Related Article: Tesla Accused of Misleading Customers About EV Range in Class Action Lawsuit

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230808/kiev-loses-210-military-in-donetsk-direction-over-past-day---mod-1112460015.html

Kiev Loses 210 Military in Donetsk Direction Over Past Day - MoD

Kiev Loses 210 Military in Donetsk Direction Over Past Day - MoD

Ukraine has lost up to 210 military in the Donetsk direction over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

2023-08-08T11:56+0000

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2023-08-08T18:21+0000

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Russian armed forces have repelled 18 attacks by Ukrainian troops in the Donetsk direction over the given period, the ministry said in a statement. In the Kupiansk direction, Russia has repelled nine counterattacks by Ukraine, the ministry said, adding that Kiev has lost up to 110 military, three vehicles, as well as two D-20 howitzers. Another three attacks by Kiev have been repulsed in the Krasny Liman direction, where Ukraine has lost 80 military. In the South Donetsk direction, Russia has repelled three attacks and Kiev has lost 125 military, eight armored vehicles and two howitzers, the ministry said. Russian military also defeated Ukrainian troops by preemptive actions in the Zaporozhye direction, where Kiev has lost up to 110 military, one tank, five armored vehicles, among other military equipment pieces.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230808/us-senator-ukraine-cant-win---theyre-a-junior-high-team-playing-a-college-team-1112455927.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230808/niger-crisis-sparks-fears-in-france-that-paris-being-squeezed-out-of-africa-by-russia-china-us-1112457076.html

Niger Crisis Sparks Fears in France of Being Squeezed Out of Africa by Russia, China, US

Niger Crisis Sparks Fears in France of Being Squeezed Out of Africa by Russia, China, US

Niger was rocked by a military takeover last month, with the new authorities freezing uranium and precious metals exports. France, which depends on the African nation for nearly a fifth of the uranium powering its nuclear power plants, has expressed its support for a possible military intervention by a regional political bloc known as the ECOWAS.

2023-08-08T12:02+0000

2023-08-08T12:02+0000

2023-08-08T18:12+0000

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A group of French lawmakers has sent an open letter to President Emmanuel Macron demanding a review of Frances Africa policy and warning that the Niger crisis shows that Paris is being squeezed out of Africa by other world powers including Russia, China and the United States.Citing the failure of Operation Barkhane, the 3,000 troop-strong French military intervention in the Sahel region, ostensibly against Islamist groups, between 2014 and 2022, the letter warned that the intervention of Russian military contractors ready to support African leaders looking to unit[e] their populations against the old colonial power have threatened Pariss position.This movement in sub-Saharan Africa is spreading with demonstrations and anti-French acts even in countries known to be close to us, such as Cote dIvoire or Senegal, the lawmakers appeal opined.In North Africa too, the French lawmakers cited a string of disappointments  from difficult relations with Algeria and its president, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who alternates between rapprochement and dubbing Paris as the Great Satan responsible for all the evils against the Algerian people. In Morocco, French procrastination over the Saharais pushing the Royal Palace to look elsewhere for military and economic partners.The same is the case in Tunisia, where the erratic President Kais Saied turns alternately to the United States, the European Union, the Arab World, and less and less to France, which no longer has a privileged role, the appeal said.The lawmakers expressed concerns about the fate of France's so-called sphere of influence in Africa, and the growing influence of Russia, China and the United States on the continent.Reminding Macron that the Senate had alerted him regarding this sorry state of affairs back in the spring, the lawmakers implied that it was time to review our vision of Africa and its link with France.It is probably time to do so, when France, a friendly continent, no longer seems to understand France, and is increasingly contesting its role and presence. For our part, we are not resigned to our gradual disappearance from the entire continent, the letter added.French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu blasted the lawmakers over their comments, claiming Operation Barkhane had been a success, not a failure, and criticizing them for their lack of "specific proposals."Niger CrisisThe landlocked West African nation of Niger was rocked by a military overthrow of its government in late July, sparking concerns in Paris that France, which continues to exert significant economic influence over Niger could lose 17 percent of the uranium powering its network of nuclear power plants, which provide the European nation with up to 70 percent of its electricity.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230802/niger-military-takover-guide-to-what-happened-1112338330.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230805/crisis-in-niger-how-frances-interests-in-west-africa-are-at-stake-1112410862.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230808/west-africa-braces-for-conflict-as-ecowas-threatens-niger-intervention-1112448364.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230808/nigerien-military-leadership-refuses-to-back-down-after-ultimatum-expires-1112444956.html

Nigerien Military Leadership Refuses to Back Down After Ultimatum Expires

Nigerien Military Leadership Refuses to Back Down After Ultimatum Expires

On this episode of Fault Lines, host Jammarl Thomas and Melik Abdul discussed a number of topics from around the globe, including Niger's junta bracing for a response from the West African regional bloc after refusing to back down and reinstate the ousted president.

2023-08-08T04:01+0000

2023-08-08T04:01+0000

2023-08-08T11:09+0000

fault lines

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january 6

joe biden

niger

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hunter biden

economic community of west african states (ecowas)

saudi arabia

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Nigerien Junta Refuses to Back Down After Ultimatum Expires On this episode of Fault Lines, host Jammarl Thomas and Melik Abdul discussed a number of topics from around the globe, including Niger's junta bracing for a response from the West African regional bloc after refusing to back down and reinstate the ousted president.

Koffi Kouakou: Africa Expert and Political Analyst | Niger Military TakeoverMark Sleboda: International Relations and Military Analyst | Battlefield Update from the Donbass/Jeddah ConferenceAngie Wong: Journalist and Political Analyst | Devon Archer Revelations/Trump IndictmentNiger's Presidential Guard overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum in late July, paving the way for a new government with anti-French sentiments to take hold of Niamey. West Africa analyst Koffi Kouakou breaks down the latest from Niger and neighboring nations, as a potential military intervention, led by the Western-backed ECOWAS Coalition, could lead to a large-scale conflict in the region.The Kiev regime's two-month-long offensive has been lackluster to say the least, as their forces have failed to make any substantial gains against the Russian Armed Forces, despite overhyping this military objective for months. Military analyst Mark Sleboda discusses the latest from the Donbass, along with the Jeddah "peace conference", which excluded the Russian Federation.Donald Trump is facing an unprecedented amount of criminal charges for an ex-head of state and it appears that this is far from over for the former president while prosecutors don't want him to be engaging with the public even though Trump is campaigning for the 2024 Presidential bid. Meanwhile, current President Joe Biden is facing heat from the recent revelations regarding his alleged participation in his son's foreign business dealings. Journalist Angie Wong speaks to Fault Lines about Trump's charges, while highlighting the hypocrisy in the media's coverage of Biden's dealings.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.

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fault lines, coup in niger, situation in niger, what is happening in west africa, who's winning in ukraine, ukrainian counteroffensive, criminal charges against donald trump
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230808/north-korea-modernizes-main-battle-tank-production-plant-1112454764.html

North Korea Modernizes Main Battle Tank Production Plant

North Korea Modernizes Main Battle Tank Production Plant

The Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) has been making major renovations to a factory for production of its main battle tank, according to Planet Labs satellite imagery analyzed by media reports.

2023-08-08T10:44+0000

2023-08-08T10:44+0000

2023-08-08T11:29+0000

north korea

kim jong-un

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sergei shoigu

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korean central news agency (kcna)

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The Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) has been making major renovations at a factory for the production of its main battle tank, as well as tracked launchers, according to Planet Labs satellite imagery analyzed by media reports.After several years of delays, overhauls purportedly took place at the Kusong tank plant complex, officially called the machine plant managed by Ho Chol Yong," located in the northwest of the country in North Pyongyang Province, between October 2022 and June 2023. A spacious new manufacturing hall - twice the size of the existing one - was completed, according to the analysis. The entire renovation and new construction project ostensibly incorporated more than a dozen production-related structures, spanning an area of 9.3 hectares (0.093 square kilometers).North Korean state television recently showed footage of the next generation battle tank being tested in combat exercises at a firing range and using an unspecified munition type from its main gun to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War. Media reports claimed to have geolocated the footage to the proving grounds in Kusong, south of the factory.The parade was timed to celebrate the armistice that ended the 1950-1953 Korean War, and featured North Korea's Hwasong-17 and solid-fuel Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missiles, as well as overflights of unmanned aerial vehicles, according to North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, while visiting Pyongyang to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to discuss issues of global and regional security, also attended the parade.The DPRK's new tank was previously unveiled in October 2020, at a military parade. The report about the upgrade to the Kusong tank plant comes as North Korea has been warning of an unprecedented military buildup in the Asia-Pacific region. Besides an ongoing military buildup in Japan, which has been multiplying its defense spending, the US has been beefing up its military presence in the Asia-Pacific zone along with the UK and Australia within the framework of the tripartite AUKUS alliance. The US Indo-Pacific Command earlier openly cited the goal of "deterring" China, Russia, and the DPRK.In June, the North Korean Foreign Ministrys Institute for American Studies warned that Pyongyang would continue to boost its self-defense capabilities if Washington persists with its hostile policy against North Korea.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230728/n-korean-kim-jong-un-russian-delegation-led-by-shoigu-attend-military-parade--1112204052.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230626/threat-of-nuclear-war-on-korean-peninsula-increasing-pyongyang-warns-1111465086.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230808/pakistani-election-commissions-bars-former-prime-minister-khan-from-politics-for-5-years-1112468671.html

Pakistani Election Commissions Bars Former Prime Minister Khan From Politics for 5 Years

Pakistani Election Commissions Bars Former Prime Minister Khan From Politics for 5 Years

The Election Commission of Pakistan on Tuesday disqualified former Prime Minister Imran Khan for five years, meaning he will be unable to engage in political activity.

2023-08-08T18:38+0000

2023-08-08T18:38+0000

2023-08-08T18:38+0000

asia

imran khan

pakistan

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Last week, an Islamabad court sentenced Khan to three years in prison after finding him guilty of corrupt practices in the Toshakhana case. Khan was later arrested at his residence in Lahore. According to Pakistan's constitution, Khan is formally barred from holding any public office for five years following the courts decision.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230808/goal-of-imran-khans-arrest-to-keep-ex-pakistani-pm-out-of-elections-1112461506.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230808/russia-china-trade-in-january-july-2023-up-365-to-1341-bln-1112452301.html

Russia-China Trade in January-July 2023 Up 36.5% to $134.1 Bln

Russia-China Trade in January-July 2023 Up 36.5% to $134.1 Bln

Russia-China trade in January-July 2023 grew by 36.5 percent to $134.104 billion, China's General Administration of Customs said.

2023-08-08T04:19+0000

2023-08-08T04:19+0000

2023-08-08T04:19+0000

economy

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trade

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During the reporting period, China imported goods to Russia worth $62.545 billion, an increase of 73.4 percent on the same period in 2022; deliveries from Russia to China increased by 15.1 percent to $71.559 billion. Separately, in July, trade between the two countries amounted to $19.488 billion: Russia supplied goods worth $9.208 billion to China; China supplied goods worth $10.280 billion to Russia.US-China trade in January-July 2023 decreased 15.4 percent to $381.514 billion, China's General Administration of Customs said.Chinese exports to the United States in the reporting period shrunk 18.6 percent year on year to $281.655 billion; deliveries from the US to China dropped 4.7 percent to $99.859 billion.Separately, in July, trade between the two countries amounted to $54.322 billion: the US supplied goods worth $12.009 billion to China; China supplied goods worth $42.313 billion to the US.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230627/russia-china-trade-expanding-despite-attempts-by-other-countries-to-interfere---lavrov-1111487003.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230808/senate-in-nigeria-says-no-to-war-chinese-and-russian-navy-patrol-near-alaska-2024-election-1112450015.html

Senate in Nigeria Says No to War; Chinese and Russian Navy Patrol Near Alaska; 2024 Election

Senate in Nigeria Says No to War; Chinese and Russian Navy Patrol Near Alaska; 2024 Election

The Senate in Nigeria has denied the President's request and thwarted the efforts of Western Imperial powers to foment a war in West Africa.

2023-08-08T04:05+0000

2023-08-08T04:05+0000

2023-08-08T11:45+0000

the critical hour

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imran khan

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Senate in Nigeria Says No to War; Chinese and Russian Navy Patrol Near Alaska; 2024 Election The Senate in Nigeria has denied the President's request and thwarted the efforts of Western Imperial powers to foment a war in West Africa.

Mark Sleboda, Moscow-based international relations security analyst, joins us to discuss Ukraine. A number of nations are meeting in Saudi Arabia to discuss the Ukraine conflict. Also, we discussed the issue of US drones being used to assist attacks on Russian interests, and the Russians expected reaction.Dr. Gerald Horne, Professor of History at the University of Houston, TX, author, historian, and researcher, joins us to discuss Africa. The military takeover in Niger ould have a significant economic impact on Europe. Also, the Nigerian legislature has rejected their President's move to intervene militarily, and we discussed the economic impact of the instability in West Africa.KJ Noh, peace activist, teacher, and writer, joins us to discuss China. A recent Washington Post article argued that the US is successfully decoupling from China. Also, various Filipino leaders are sparring over the US attempt to weaponize the Island nation against China.Regis Tremblay, an American citizen in Crimea, joins us to discuss foreign policy. A Ukrainian nationalist leader made racist remarks about Asians. Also, another Ukrainian leader has inflamed his nation's volatile relationship with Poland.Laith Marouf, broadcaster and journalist based in Beirut, Lebanon, joins us to discuss the Middle East. The border between Israel and Lebanon remains a hotspot as the IDF and Hezbollah threaten retaliation for perceived violations and aggression. Also, the spokesman for the IDF admits that Israeli settlers are involved in inflammatory terrorist acts against Palestinian civilians.Dr. Jack Rasmus, professor of Economics and Politics at St. Mary's College in California, joins us to discuss the economy. Government job numbers do not tell the entire story regarding the overall health of the US economy. Also, the demand for dollars is likely to decline due to the expanded use of alternate currencies, and the BRICS summit will likely facilitate a further push away from US economic hegemony.Ricardo Vaz, political analyst and editor at Venezuelanalysis, joins us to discuss Latin America. US sanctions make it difficult for Venezuela to export its natural gas to Trinidad. Also, the US sanctions set up Shell oil company to reap massive profits from Venezuelan energy sales. Also, we discussed the upcoming BRICS meeting.Dan Lazare, investigative journalist and author of "America's Undeclared War, joins us to discuss the media and the 2024 election. The latest Matt Taibbi article exposes the incredible political instability wrought by the Biden administration. Also, the US is going after the Uhuru African People's Socialist movement in another attack on the first amendment.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.

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the critical hour, ukraine conflict, coup in niger, instability in west africa, ukrainian nazis, us economy, us sanctions on venezuela
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230808/tech-giants-back-tiktoks-challenge-to-montanas-planned-ban-on-app-1112467080.html

Tech Giants Back TikTok's Challenge to Montanas Planned Ban on App

Tech Giants Back TikTok's Challenge to Montanas Planned Ban on App

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Two tech industry groups have filed an amicus brief with the US District Court for the District of Montana, supporting social media company TikToks challenge to a Montana state law set to ban the application starting next year.

2023-08-08T17:30+0000

2023-08-08T17:30+0000

2023-08-08T17:30+0000

americas

greg gianforte

montana

us district court

tiktok

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court filing

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The brief, filed Monday, was written by NetChoice and the Chamber of Progress  a pair of groups representing the tech industry and online businesses. Members of the groups include US tech giants Google, Amazon and Meta (banned in Russia). TikTok is affiliated with NetChoice, but not with the Chamber of Progress. The filing calls for the court to prevent the statewide TikTok ban from taking effect. Earlier this year, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signed a bill passed by the state legislature to ban companies from allowing TikTok to be downloaded off their application stories in Montana. The ban is set to take effect in January 2024. The measure comes amid a number of other federal and state-level efforts to address alleged privacy concerns related to TikTok and its China-based parent company. Allowing the ban to proceed would foster a patchwork of state-level internet regulations, violate core principles of federalism, harm local businesses, chill innovation and disconnect Montanans from the global community, the filing said.NetChoice is backing TikToks challenge to the ban as part of broader efforts to oppose government-imposed restrictions on online speech and commerce, the filing said. The Chamber of Progress is backing the lawsuit due to its implications for partner companies, according to the filing.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230707/frances-senators-propose-suspension-of-tiktok-asking-eu-commission-to-shut-it-down-in-eu-1111712940.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230615/rise-of-influencers-youth-look-to-social-media-figures-not-journalists-for-news-report-finds-1111167843.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230808/two-us-army-vets-killed-while-fighting-in-wests-proxy-war-in-ukraine-1112459773.html

Two US Army Vets Killed While Fighting in West's Proxy War in Ukraine

Two US Army Vets Killed While Fighting in West's Proxy War in Ukraine

Two US military veterans died while fighting in Ukraine as "volunteers" late last month, according to media reports.

2023-08-08T14:32+0000

2023-08-08T14:32+0000

2023-08-08T14:32+0000

ukraine

mercenaries

russia's special operation in ukraine

us

ukrainian crisis

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Two US military veterans were killed while fighting in Ukraine as "volunteers" late last month, according to media reports.Andrew Webber, a graduate of the US Military Academy who did tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Lance Lawrence, a former machine gunner in the US Marine Corps, were both reportedly killed on July 29, 2023, while serving in Ukraines 59th Motorized Brigade.Lawrence had been providing cover fire under heavy enemy fire for fellow Chosen Company soldiers when he was wounded, wrote Ryan OLeary, an American claiming to be serving as a company sergeant with Ukraine's forces, on X (formerly Twitter). OLeary added that Lawrence was enlisted in the Ukrainian Armed Forces and was ostensibly "not a mercenary out for blood or excited for combat. As for Andrew Webber, according to his LinkedIn profile, he joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces in May this year.According to another man using the handle @floridasoldat on X, who claimed to have been wounded in the operation that killed the two vets, they had been part of the so-called "Chosen Company." The person claimed this company was not part of the Foreign Legion unit within the Ukrainian military. Like OLeary, he insisted that the "Chosen Company" was incorporated into Ukraines 59th Motorized Brigade, formed as far back as in 2014, when Ukraine unleashed its war against Donbass civilians.While the US State Department confirmed the death of the two American citizens in a drone attack in Ukraine on July 29, 2023, it refrained from releasing their names on the day in question.'Cannon Fodder' for West's Proxy WarA growing number of Americans have been killed while fighting on the side of the Kiev regime. According to US media reports and public statements, many of these individuals had previously served in the US military. Ex-Green Beret Nicholas Maimer, Marine Corps veteran Ian Tortorici, and Daniel Swift, a one-time US Navy SEAL, are just some of those who chose to take on the role of "cannon fodder" for the Wests proxy war against Russia in Ukraine.It should be noted that the US government, while funneling huge batches of military aid to the Kiev regime, has publicly repeatedly advised Americans against traveling to Ukraine to fight within the ranks of its military. Apparently, such warnings have fallen on deaf ears.Since the launch of the Russian military operation on February 24, 2022, "a total of 11,675 foreign mercenaries from 84 countries have officially arrived in Ukraine to participate in hostilities on the side of the Ukraine Armed Forces," according to data provided by the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD). Some 4,990 foreign mercenaries employed by Kiev have been eliminated and another 4,910 fled the country. A total of 2,029 mercenaries continue to fight on the side of Ukraine military, the ministry said in July. The Russian Investigative Committee has launched criminal cases against 160 mercenaries from 33 countries fighting as part of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.Furthermore, the MoD said that Kiev has stepped up the recruitment of mercenaries in the US and Canada, facilitated by the CIA and private military companies controlled by it.Moscow earlier reiterated that all those foreigners who are fighting on the side of Ukraine in the special operation zone, whether they are "soldiers of fortune" or so-called "volunteers," remain legitimate targets of the Russian military, "who successfully obliterate them."

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230731/how-many-americans-were-killed-in-ukrainian-conflict-1112246583.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230712/watch-foreign-mercenaries-run-screaming-from-russian-tank-1111828399.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230808/uk-threatens-to-cut-govt-aid-to-migrants-refusing-to-board-bibby-stockholm---reports-1112460516.html

UK Threatens to Cut Gov't Aid to Migrants Refusing to Board Bibby Stockholm - Reports

UK Threatens to Cut Gov't Aid to Migrants Refusing to Board Bibby Stockholm - Reports

The United Kingdom has warned illegal immigrants who refuse to get housed at the Bibby Stockholm barge that it will cancel their government support if they do not comply, Sky News reported on Tuesday, citing a letter received by an asylum seeker from the Home Office.

2023-08-08T12:03+0000

2023-08-08T12:03+0000

2023-08-08T12:03+0000

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united kingdom (uk)

rwanda

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migrants

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The United Kingdom has warned illegal immigrants who refuse to get housed at the Bibby Stockholm barge that it will cancel their government support if they do not comply, media reported on Tuesday, citing a letter received by an asylum seeker from the Home Office.Meanwhile, the UK government has also announced a new task force to crack down on lawyers who help migrants to game the countrys immigration system. Illegal migration has been a pressing issue for the UK for years and only intensified after the country left the European Union in 2020. In April 2022, the UK and Rwanda signed a migration agreement, stipulating that people recognized by the UK government as illegal migrants or asylum seekers will be deported to Rwanda for the processing of their documents, obtaining asylum and relocation.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230806/uk-in-talks-with-germany-on-seizing-boats-used-to-smuggle-migrants-1112424629.html

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(Photo : SERGEI VENYAVSKY/AFP via Getty Images)

The computer networks of one of Russia's leading missile developers were hacked by an "elite group of North Korean hackers."



In a concerning turn of events, NPO Mashinostroyeniya, a major Russian weapons developer located on the outskirts of Moscow, has reportedly fallen victim to a cyber-espionage attack orchestrated by a group of North Korean hackers.

The breach, which lasted for over five months, occurred despite the two nations' growing alliance, adding to the complexity of international security concerns, according to FBC News.

Russian NPO Mashinostroyeniya Targeted in Cyber Attack

NPO Mashinostroyeniya is renowned for manufacturing cutting-edge hypersonic missiles, satellites, and ballistic armaments, making it a valuable target for North Korea's ambitions.

The cyber-espionage teams connected to the North Korean government allegedly managed to covertly breach the Russian company's systems using known malware and malicious infrastructure previously used in other cyberattacks.

Security analysts from cyber security firm SentinelOne and Reuters experts collaborated to review the technical evidence, drawing a confident conclusion that North Korea was behind the hack. The breach reportedly began in late 2021 and persisted until May 2022, when IT engineers at NPO Mashinostroyeniya finally detected suspicious activities.

However, it remains uncertain whether any sensitive data was exfiltrated as a result of the cyber intrusion.

The timing of the attack coincided with North Korea's announcement of new developments in its ballistic missile program, raising questions about a possible link between the breach and the advancements in the country's missile capabilities.

Notably, North Korea recently test-launched its formidable Hwasong-18 missile, a move that significantly increased threats to global security.

The increasing alignment between North Korea and Russia has not gone unnoticed by experts and analysts, as per Express.

Read Also: Philippine VP Sara Duterte Defends Roughly $2.6 Million in Confidential Funds

Russia and North Korea Alliance Raises Concerns

While Russia boasts the world's largest nuclear weapons stockpile and possesses powerful missiles such as the Sarmat-II and Zicron, North Korea's technological capabilities in the nuclear sphere still lag far behind.

Despite this disparity, the two nations appear to be forging an alliance that could have significant geopolitical ramifications.

John R. Bryson, a Professor of Enterprise and Economic Geography at Birmingham University, has characterized Russia's military cooperation with North Korea as a sign of President Putin's desperation.

However, he has also highlighted the potential risks for Russia in aligning too closely with North Korea, warning of the emergence of an alliance of rogue states.

The alliance could provide North Korea with the opportunity to learn valuable lessons from Russia's nuclear expertise, enhancing their capabilities and evading international sanctions.

The relaxed nature of modern geopolitical relations may not resemble the strict blocs seen during the Cold War, but the implications of this emerging alliance warrant close monitoring.

Last month, Russia's defence minister visited North Korea, where he observed banned ballistic missiles during a military expo in Pyongyang, alongside North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Following the meeting, Sergei Shoigu, in a statement released by Russia's defence ministry, expressed confidence that the talks would strengthen cooperation between the two countries' defence agencies.

As the alliance between Russia and North Korea continues to develop, concerns about cybersecurity, nuclear proliferation, and geopolitical shifts become increasingly pertinent.

The international community remains vigilant, closely monitoring the evolving dynamics between these two nations and their potential impact on global security and stability, Strait Times reported.

Related Article: Patriot Front Members Sue Activist Who Infiltrated Group, Exposed Their Plans

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230808/us-air-force-finds-hazardous-materials-at-two-icbm-facilities-1112462177.html

US Air Force Finds Hazardous Materials at Two ICBM Facilities

US Air Force Finds Hazardous Materials at Two ICBM Facilities

The US Air Force is taking immediate measures after finding hazardous, carcinogenic materials at an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) base in Montana, Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) said.

2023-08-08T13:38+0000

2023-08-08T13:38+0000

2023-08-08T13:55+0000

military

air force global strike command (afgsc)

us environmental protection agency (epa)

icbm

us

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Air Force Global Strike Command is taking immediate measures to clean up and mitigate polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at two locations following the release of initial results as part of the Missile Community Cancer Study, the statement said on Monday. All major operations remain unimpeded during the cleanup, it added. A team of bio-environmental experts on August 4 reported that they discovered the hazardous materials at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana after conducting testing for PCBs in late June. AFGSC commander Gen. Thomas Bussiere said he ordered immediate measures at Malmstrom Air Force Base to begin the cleanup process for the affected facilities. The experts continue analyzing tests from two other Air Force Bases, F.E. Warren AFB in Wyoming and Minot in North Dakota, the statement said. The US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) describes PCBs as a group of man-made organic chemicals that can cause cancer and other adverse health effects. The discovery of hazardous materials at Malmstrom Air Force Base comes amid reports that hundreds of cases of cancer are surfacing among workers at US nuclear missile bases. The non-governmental organization Torchlight Initiative has documented at least 268 cases of cancer among troops who have served at US nuclear missile sites.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230702/us-air-defense-forces-overstretched-understaffed-need-psychologists---reports-1111628639.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230808/us-claims-confidence-in-current-ukraine-aid-ahead-of-anticipated-new-package-reveal-1112470901.html

US Claims Confidence in Current Ukraine Aid Ahead of Anticipated New Package Reveal

US Claims Confidence in Current Ukraine Aid Ahead of Anticipated New Package Reveal

The US is confident in the military capabilities it provided Ukraine, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said on Tuesday, when asked where the administration stands on the delivery of Army Tactical Missile Systems.

2023-08-08T20:50+0000

2023-08-08T20:50+0000

2023-08-08T20:50+0000

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army tactical missile system (atacms)

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"Were providing artillery, were providing air defense, we continue to train Ukrainians at US bases and with our partners and allies around the world. So, I think we feel very confident in the equipment, the systems, the capabilities that weve been able to provide Ukraine," Singh said during a briefing when asked about the potential provision of ATACMS for Ukraine. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba urged US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to facilitate the delivery of ATACMS during a phone call on Monday. ATACMS are a long-range missile system capable of striking deep into Russian territory, prompting concerns about potential escalation upon their delivery. Singh's remarks come days after White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told Sputnik there were no updates within the Biden administration on the potential provision of ATACMS.However, the Pentagon spokesperson did further decline to offer remarks on reports the Biden White House was expected to request from Congress additional supplemental funding for Ukraine next year."In terms of any request for a supplemental, I'm just not gonna get ahead of any conversations that we're having right now," Singh told reporters, pointing out that the US has not yet run out of funding for Ukraine under the presidential drawdown authority.Biden Gave Green Light to Training Ukrainian Pilots on F-16sThe Pentagon officials went on to highlight that US President Joe Biden had approved a joint effort with European allies to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets.Last week, US media reported that the United States and Ukraine identified a total of 32 pilots to possibly participate in F-16 training, although fluency in English remains a barrier to starting.A group of NATO countries led by Denmark and the Netherlands are set to begin training Ukrainians on F-16s as soon as a final training plan is developed and approved.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230719/trump-claims-hell-ask-europe-to-reimburse-us-for-ukraine-military-aid-if-reelected-1111981591.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230805/report-just-eight-of-32-ukrainian-pilots-ready-for-f-16-training-amid-language-barrier-snag-1112401837.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230808/us-greenlights-transferring-first-batch-of-abrams-tanks-to-ukraine---reports-1112452945.html

US Greenlights Transferring First Batch of Abrams Tanks to Ukraine - Reports

US Greenlights Transferring First Batch of Abrams Tanks to Ukraine - Reports

Washington has approved the shipment of the first batch of Abrams tanks to Kiev, US media reports, citing US Army procurement chief Douglas Bush.

2023-08-08T06:08+0000

2023-08-08T06:08+0000

2023-08-08T06:20+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

us

sergey lavrov

ukraine

russia

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Washington has approved the shipment of the first batch of Abrams tanks to Kiev, US media reports, citing US Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology Douglas Bush. In late July, the media reported that the first batch of tanks that the Biden administration transferred to Ukraine would include no more than eight combat vehicles. In total, Washington intends to send Kiev 31 older Abrams tanks, namely M1A1 models. Russia has been carrying out its special military operation in Ukraine since February 2022. Washington and its allies have since provided more than $65 billion in security assistance to the Kiev regime, including Abrams and Leopard main battle tanks, artillery and armored vehicles, Storm Shadow long-range cruise and other missiles, air defense systems, and have also committed to providing F-16 fighter jets as well as pilot training to operate the aircraft.Moscow sent a note to NATO countries last year about these arms deliveries to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted that any cargoes containing weapons for Kiev would be a legitimate target for the Russian military. The Russian Foreign Ministry said NATO countries were "playing with fire" by supplying weapons to the Zelensky regime.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230728/stripped-down-abrams-tanks-wont-help-ukraine-as-theyre-too-advanced-to-use-1112229002.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230808/us-senator-ukraine-cant-win---theyre-a-junior-high-team-playing-a-college-team-1112455927.html

US Senator: Ukraine 'Can't Win' - They're 'a Junior High Team Playing a College Team'

US Senator: Ukraine 'Can't Win' - They're 'a Junior High Team Playing a College Team'

Ukraine cant win against Russia, despite the vast military aid being pumped to fight the Wests proxy war against Moscow there, US Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) stated.

2023-08-08T11:22+0000

2023-08-08T11:22+0000

2023-08-08T12:01+0000

ukraine

nato

us

ukrainian counteroffensive attempt

kevin mccarthy

joe biden

russia

congress

russia's special operation in ukraine

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Ukraine cant win against Russia, despite the vast military aid being pumped to fight the Wests proxy war against Moscow there, an American senator has told US media.According to the Republican senator, what Washington is doing is trying to get everybodys eye off the real problem, which is the Biden administration and the Democrats. Theyre a total disaster.Earlier in the program, the host mentioned a poll conducted by SSRS news agency from July 1-31 among 1,279 adults. It revealed that over half of Americans (55 percent) are against Congress authorizing more funds for Ukraine. Fifty-one percent say that Washington has done enough to help Kiev, while 48 percent disagree. The latter number is 14 percentage points down from the 62% of those who felt the US should have been doing more, according to a poll conducted in the early days of Russia's special military operation. When asked in the recent survey specifically about types of assistance the US could offer Kiev, only 17 percent say they would support sending American troops to the battlefield, and 43 percent prefer providing weapons. Furthermore, the poll found that 71 percent of Republicans would want Congress to stop sending more assistance for the authorities in Kiev.Growing Rift Over Kiev FundingOn Sunday, dozens of anti-war protesters rallied outside the United Nations headquarters in New York to demand a halt to military supplies for Ukraine. The gathering was held by Humanity for Peace, an international peace coalition, to mark the anniversary of the world's first use of an atomic bomb by the United States against the Japanese city of Hiroshima in 1945.However, US President Joe Biden appears to be adamant, insisting just days after the announcement of controversial cluster munitions shipments to Ukraine that, "We will not waver. Biden was speaking in Lithuania following a recent NATO summit, where the West touted a long-term program to prop up Ukraine.Meanwhile, an ever-growing number of Republicans in Congress have been railing at the billions of taxpayer dollars being funneled into the Ukraine conflict. House Speaker, Republican Kevin McCarthy, went on record as saying that Kiev should not receive a blank check. Ex-POTUS Donald Trump, a hopeful in the 2024 race to the White House, threatened to halt war funding, saying last month that the US should refuse to authorize a single additional shipment of our depleted weapons stockpiles. His rival for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, has also been open about his skepticism of the funding. Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has repeatedly slammed the US role in the proxy war against Russia. Congress should not authorize another penny for Ukraine... Ukraine is not the 51st state of the United States of America, said Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia. Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican who co-sponsored an amendment to block Democrat Biden from sending cluster munitions to Ukraine, earlier railed against the US acting like it was "the worlds piggy bank.Stuttering CounteroffensiveDespite the much-heralded, but consistently faltering counteroffensive, the West continues providing the Ukrainian Armed Forces with weaponry that they use against Russian troops and civilian infrastructure. Ukraine's counteroffensive kicked off on June 4 after months of delays over a lack of military supplies from Western donors. The Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a statement earlier that since the beginning of its counteroffensive, Ukraine has lost more than 43,000 soldiers and over 4,900 units of various weaponry, including 26 planes, nine helicopters, 1,831 tanks and other armored fighting vehicles, including 25 German-made Leopard tanks, seven French-made AMX wheeled tanks, and 21 US-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicles. Meanwhile, Western media reports citing unnamed Ukrainian and Western officials have acknowledged that Kiev's forces had lost approximately one-fifth of their Western military equipment over the last two months, while using up much of the stockpiles of munitions given them.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230804/majority-of-americans-oppose-additional-us-funding-for-ukraine---poll-1112392442.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230807/fact-check-ukraines-western-air-defenses-just-cant-make-the-grade-1112441057.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230806/kievs-western-allies-getting-tired-of-ukrainian-counteroffensive-1112417311.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230808/us-stirs-up-waters-of-persian-gulf-escalates-tensions-with-iran-1112468227.html

US Stirs Up Waters of Persian Gulf, Escalates Tensions With Iran

US Stirs Up Waters of Persian Gulf, Escalates Tensions With Iran

The US could put armed troops on commercial ships sailing through the Strait of Hormuz. The move could upset the region's security and create unnecessary risks for the US, DC scholars warn.

2023-08-08T18:45+0000

2023-08-08T18:45+0000

2023-08-08T18:45+0000

iran

strait of hormuz

persian gulf

pentagon

us navy

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us

world

middle east

china

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The US is beefing up its presence in the Middle East, despite earlier claims that it would scale down its involvement in the region.According to the US press, thousands of US Marines and sailors have been brought to the Persian Gulf by the USS Bataan and the USS Carter Hall. The buildup has been ongoing for several months. In March, A-10 Thunderbolt II warplanes arrived at the Al Dhafra Air Base. US F-16 and F-35 fighter jets have also been dispatched to the region as well as the USS Thomas Hudner destroyer. In May, the US, British, and French navies conducted patrols in the Strait of Hormuz, which links the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea and open ocean.On August 4, unnamed US officials told the press that the Pentagon was considering putting armed personnel on commercial ships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz.Why are the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf again in the focus of the US military? Washington is pointing the finger at the "resurgent" Iran, claiming that the measures are necessary to prevent the Islamic Republic from "seizing and harassing" civilian vessels. For its part, Iran resolutely denies employing such a practice.In early July, the Pentagon said that US forces had prevented an attempted seizure by the Iranian Navy of two commercial oil tankers, the Marshall Islands-flagged TRF Moss and Richmond Voyager, following through the Strait of Hormuz. Allegedly, Iranian forces opened fire at the Richmond Voyager, but had to change course after the US Navy sent the USS McFaul destroyer and MQ-9 combat drone to the scene, as per the Pentagon's story.However, the Iranian Foreign Ministry dismissed the US' reports about the Iranian Navy attempting to seize any oil tankers off the Omani shore.The Strait of Hormuz plays a crucial role for global trade. According to some estimates, roughly 88% of all oil going from the Persian Gulf passes through the strait. Tankers carry around 17 million barrels of oil daily through the strait. In other words, it's up to 30% of the world's total consumption of the commodity.The Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, a DC-based US think tank, voices skepticism over Washington's plans to ensure the Strait of Hormuz's security. According to DC scholars, it's the US who aggravated tensions in the region in the first place. With different US policies, this situation could have been avoided, the think tank argues.Given that the US policy of seizing foreign oil vessels is not grounded in international law, it's hardly surprising that Tehran qualified such actions as "piracy," the report said, citing the seizure of a tanker full of Iranian oil in April by the US. This crude was then brought to Houston.The US strategy of increasing its presence in the Gulf "perpetuates US vulnerabilities," argued the think tank. First, thousands of US Marines and sailors could become a target of hostile fire, just like their counterparts in Iraq and Syria. Second, it may draw the US into new armed conflicts. Third, it could stir up regional rivalries.The decision to put the US military on commercial ships may lead to a direct confrontation between the US and Iran, warned the report. If a clash occurs involving the commercial vessel of a third party, guarded by US troops, that could mean a broader international scandal.Besides the situation described in the think tank's report, the US may face humiliation akin to a January 12, 2016 incident, when two United States Navy riverine command boats were seized by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy.What's worse, the US initiative comes at a time when major regional players have taken a course on the de-escalation of tensions. The think tank referred to the fact that Iran and Saudi Arabia have recently started to mend fences with China's assistance. Relations between Iran and other Middle East powers, such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman, have also been either warming or expanding further, per the report.Under these circumstances, the US looks like a bull in a china shop, unlike Beijing, which has already received praise for its peace initiatives and positive influence on the situation in the region.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230807/ensuring-safety-of-arabian-gulf-being-gulf-countries-job---iranian-foreign-ministry-1112447219.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230802/iran-deploys-warships-with-600-km-range-missiles-onboard-during-snap-gulf-drills-1112339197.html

iran

strait of hormuz

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US Whipping Up Tension Around Abkhazia, South Ossetia - Russian Ambassador

US Whipping Up Tension Around Abkhazia, South Ossetia - Russian Ambassador

The United States is whipping up tension around Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and is not working on an agreement between Tbilisi, Sukhum and Tskhinval on the non-use of force, Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov said in a statement.

2023-08-08T05:43+0000

2023-08-08T05:43+0000

2023-08-08T05:44+0000

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"If the Biden Administration is truly committed to ensuring peace in the region, then it must drop the accusations and threats of sanctions against Russia. As well as not try to disrupt the establishing ties between our country and Georgia. It is important to focus on practical activities within the framework of the International Geneva Discussions on Security and Stability in the South Caucasus. First of all, work towards concluding a legally binding agreement of Tbilisi with Sukhum and Tskhinval on the non-use of force. It is not time to whip up tension, which is what the United States is doing now," Antonov said. He said the United States was deliberately turning the situation upside down, trying to put the blame on Russia, whereas the entire responsibility for the 2008 events lies with former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. "It is high time Washington admitted that this inhumane decision was also the result of a misguided policy conducted by the United States. After all, it was the West who brought to power, and then zealously supported the odious regime of Saakashvili. And still is continuing to lobby for the interests of this figure, as recently confirmed by the US Ministry of Justice," he said. Moscow on August 26, 2008, after Georgia's armed aggression against Tskhinval, recognized the sovereignty of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The leaders of Russia have repeatedly stated that the recognition of the independence of the two former Georgian autonomies reflects the existing realities and is not subject to revision. However, Tbilisi refuses to recognize the independence of the republics.

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Three Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots divisions were contested at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Monday (Aug. 7) evening as part of the third leg of the series for two-year-old trotting fillies.

Kinnder Hotblood swept the field from eighth to post an upset victory in the $22,600 division.

Matthew Bax and Kinnder Hotblood sat eighth, 12-1/2 lengths off of the leading Gaming Queen through the quarter in :28.2. Still sitting eighth at the half in :59.3, Kinnder Hotblood closed the distance between herself and the new leader Tea Lake to an 8-3/4-length gap. Abikadabra (Doug McNair) led the outer flow as they went into the three-quarters clocked in 1:29.2. Her efforts were followed by Cleveland Misska (Paul MacDonell) and Kinnder Hotblood, who moved into sixth from the outside. Bax and his trainee began chopping away at the distance between them and the chance for victory down the long stretch. With the pedal to the metal, Kinnder Hotblood achieved the feat with a three-quarter length victory in 1:59. Abikadabra took second and favoured Tea Lake was third.

Bax Stable, David Hudson, Gaelic Stable 2 and The Cavalier Stable co-own the Kadabra-Her Name Is Lola daughter as she won her first race in four starts. With the upset victory, Kinnder Hotblood paid $28.80 to win.

Two miles clocked in 1:57.2 by Rhythm Of Life in the $22,200 division and R Liza in the $22,600 division served as the leading mile times of the evening in the OSS Grassroots divisions.

Rhythm of Life (James MacDonald) got away fifth from post six in the field of eight, 9-3/4 lengths off of the leading Flirty Dancer (Tyler Jones) as she hit the quarter in :29.1. With Flirty Dancer as their commander, the top five remained unchanged as the half was timed in :59.4. Louis-Philippe Roy pulled his right line to move Sue Anne from the pocket and Rhythm Of Life followed suit. Flirty Dancer maintained her reign at the three-quarters in 1:29 while feeling the pressure of the outer charge to her right. Around the final turn, Rhythm Of Life crept up to take over the lead and then opened up on the field to win by three lengths in 1:57.2. Sue Anne took second and Flirty Dancer settled for third.

Shawn Steacy trains Rhythm Of Life (Muscle Mass-Royal Rhythm) for Landmark 16 Racing Stable, Glengate Farms, Carmen Chrysdale and Guy Haskell as she collected her first win in three starts, making her record 1-1-1.

In the final division, Jody Jamieson and R Liza had the rail in their field of nine freshman fillies. As the gate pulled away and the field entered the first turn, R Liza settled into third behind Birthday Money (Todd Ratchford) and a locked out Shetrotsalot (Trevor Henry). After the quarter in :29, Shetrotsalot cleared for the front, but only had the command for a brief split before West River Ivory (Paul MacDonell) assumed control. R Liza was pushed back to fourth as the timer read :59.2 at the half. Jamieson pulled his right line and soared to the lead with R Liza where she would fend off her challengers through the three-quarters in 1:28.3 and en route to a 1-1/4-length victory in 1:57.2. P L Rachel (Bob McClure) sped late in the stretch to take second while West River Ivory finished third.

Susie Kerwood trains R Liza for M And L of Delaware LLC and Alabama Harness Associate as she achieved her new career-best time. The daughter of Muscle Mass and the Yankee Glide mare Wishimaywishimight has $46,417 earned with a record of 2-1-0 in three starts.

To view Monday's harness racing results, click the following link: Monday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Royal Filly and Gigi Hanover easily defeated their contemporaries in the New York Sire Stakes event for three-year-old trotting fillies on Monday, Aug. 7 at Monticello Raceway.

The first New York Sire Stakes division, worth $60,300, had a full field of eight starters. Three of the fillies went off stride before the gate left. On The House (Sarah Svanstedt) left quickly and got the lead but driver Mark MacDonald pulled Gigi Hanover, the 2-5 favourite, out of the two-hole before the first panel to take over and control their own destiny. Gigi Hanover hit the opening panel in :30.1 and had nearly three lengths on the pack at the half in a soft :59.4. At the five-eighths marker, Jeff Gregory, driving Canterbury Hanover, was the first to pull from third and the tempo quickened to the third quarter mark in 1:29 as Gigi Hanover strolled home a 2-1/4-length winner in 1:57.3, paying $2.90 for a $2 win ticket. Canterbury Hanover was second and stablemate On The House came in third.

For Gigi Hanover, the win was her second on the year from eight starts after going winless in five starts as a rookie and boosted her career bankroll to $142,307. The daughter of Chapter Seven-Glad All Over is trained by Ake Svanstedt and owned by Mellby Gard Inc. of Delray Beach, Florida.

In the second division, one filly made a miscue going to the gate and two others broke stride when the gate left. Jeans Action (Jim Devaux) got away clean and made the front first with Royal Filly and driver Tyler Buter in the pocket, but only briefly as they took command before the first quarter in :29.2 and held control through a half in :59. Down the backside, Royal Filly began to open up on the field and was up by 4-1/2 lengths at the next stanza in 1:28.2. The easygoing 1-9 favourite threw down a :28.3 last panel to win by 10 lengths, returning $2.30 for a win ticket at the betting windows. Destinys Darling (Jordan Stratton) recovered from an early miscue to finish second with Midwind Success (Marcus Miller) third.

Royal Filly, a daughter of Chapter Seven out of Swinging Royalty, is owned by Crawford Farms Racing and is trained by Tony Alagna. Now four-for-10 this year after a winless freshman season consisting of seven starts, she is just shy of the $200,000 mark in career earnings. Her victories include three Sire Stakes.

Driver Mark MacDonald swept the $20,000 Excelsior Series divisions with winning fillies Five Fish Species in 1:58 for trainer Megan Scran and Seven Bridges Road in 1:59.4 for trainer Maureen Salino.

Sire Stakes action returns to Monticello next Monday, Aug. 14 at 12:10 p.m., when two-year-old trotting fillies take center stage.

(With files from Monticello Raceway; Photo of Royal Filly winning a NYSS division on July 28 at Saratoga)
Shenandoah National Park will celebrate its Annual Night Sky Festival this coming weekend, Aug. 11-13.

Featured speakers will include amateur astronomers, NASA Solar System Ambassadors and a veteran NASA astronaut. Topics for exploration will range from asteroid defense to the largest known impact crater in the United States.

Ranger-led programs will focus on animals that rely on dark skies, each planets role in the solar system and stories told by the constellations.

There will be opportunities for stargazing, constellation tours, Junior Ranger activities and more.

The goal is gaining a deeper, vaster appreciation for the beauty and purpose of dark skies.

Programs and presentations will take place at Dickey Ridge Visitor Center, Mathews Arm Campground Amphitheater, Skyland Amphitheater, Byrd Visitor Center and Big Meadows and Loft Mountain Amphitheater.

Veteran astronaut and space scientist Tom Jones returns this year with presentations in Byrd Visitor Center Auditorium. When Rocks Attack: Defending Earth from Asteroids and Beyond Earth: Humanitys Future in Space will be offered at 5 and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 12.

On Sunday, Jones will present Sky Walking: An Astronauts Journey at 11 a.m. and The Future of U.S. Human Spaceflight at 9 p.m. in Big Meadows Lodge Massanutten Room.

Also making a return this year is NASA Solar System Ambassador Greg Redfern. He will offer presentations in the Byrd Visitor Center Auditorium for The Chesapeake Bay Impact Crater at 5 p.m. on Friday and Sunday and Shenandoah Skies and the Perseids at 6 p.m. all three nights.

Join amateur astronomers for an evening Telescope Party at 10:30 p.m. Saturday to view stars and the Perseid meteor shower in two locations  Dickey Ridge Visitor Center with the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club or at Big Meadows with the Rappahannock Astronomy Club, Richmond Astronomical Society and the University of Virginia Department of Astronomy.

Artist-in-Residence Paul Atkinson will share his approach to night sky landscape photography during his program Making Art in the Dark at 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 11 in the Byrd Visitor Center Auditorium, with financial support from Shenandoah National Park Trust, the official philanthropic partner of the park.

This annual festival and featured speakers are sponsored by Delaware North, the parks concessioner and Shenandoah National Park Association. Visit nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/night-sky-festival.htm for more information.
Staff at Morrills Early Learning Center got the opportunity to receive special training from a nationally recognized expert on early child development on Monday, Aug. 7.

Anne Meeker Watson is a music therapist, early interventionist, and founder of the Sing.Play.Love. program, which uses a combination of books, music, videos and more to help children fall in love with learning while developing crucial social-emotional skills.

Social-emotional skills are the abilities to regulate ones thoughts, emotions and behavior, and are a cornerstone of early childhood education. Sunny Edwards, Morrills early childhood administrator, said that developing these skills is important enough that a large chunk of the school year is dedicated entirely to teaching them.

The first six weeks of our lesson plans are social-emotional lessons, she said. Thats all were teaching because its so important, and we teach it all day, every day.

Meeker Watson spoke highly of Edwards, who has been a collaborating partner in the Sing.Play.Love. program since the two women met over four years ago.

What she is embedding in the days with her kids are ways we can help them love learning and master the social-emotional skills they need to be ready and be successful in school, Meeker Watson said. We need ways for kids to manage big feelings and connect with other people socially.

Though she said those needs have always been present, Meeker Watson emphasized how much of an impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on their development due to limited social interaction and restricted access to things like facial expressions.

More than ever, its very important that we give them very intentional and deep learning opportunities for those skills so that when they head across the parking lot to the elementary school, they can be successful, she said.

Edwards said that although focus on social-emotional skills is not a new concept in the field of early childhood education, Sing.Play.Love. is a refreshed way of approaching the lessons utilizing music.

We know kids learn best through music, she said. So its turning it into something they love and enjoy, and it sticks with them. It actually helps teachers too because were not pulling a card to remember what were supposed to teach, its a song.

Meeker Watson explained that music is much more digestible and memorable for young children than other methods of presentation. This allows them to remember lessons long enough to get value out of what they learn.

They memorize the songs. One of the things we find with kids is that if they dont have the ability to remember something for long enough to use it in their behavior then the learning is lost, she said. When you memorize a song, its always there. You can pull that piece out of the file cabinet and use it when you have the opportunity.

In addition to being fun and designed for easy integration, Sing.Play.Love. is aligned with Nebraskas Step Up to Quality initiative that guarantees best practices in early childhood education.

Step Up to Quality is a commendation that means your early learning standards, the goals you have for the young children in your state, match what it is that were teaching with Sing.Play.Love. That curriculum is approved and utilized by a number of caregivers and early educators in Nebraska, Meeker Watson said.

According to both educators, Nebraska is helping to lead the United States forward in the field of early childhood education.

Nebraska is one of the leading early childhood states in the nation, Edwards said. The state has a motto, the best place to be a baby. Early learning is really following that. We want Nebraska to be the best place to be a child.

The Sing.Play.Love. curriculum will be used at all age levels at the Morrill Early Learning Center with the goal of developing 20 foundational skills for social-emotional learning, language, literacy and math before entering kindergarten.

The programs lessons will also be shared with families so that its songs and principles can be used in the home and beyond. This applicability helps to maintain consistency across all portions of students lives and solidify lessons in their minds.

Parents are the first and best teachers, Meeker Watson said. We want to partner so that were doing it all together.

The Sing.Play.Love. program is still growing with a 21st book in the works. The book features another song by Meeker Watson and an activity guide put together by Edwards, further solidifying Morrill as a great place to raise kids.
(Photo : ANATOLII STEPANOV/AFP via Getty Images)

Two Russian missiles hit residential buildings in Pokrovsk in the Donetsk area, killing five and injuring 31.



Tragedy struck the city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine as Russian forces launched two consecutive strikes, resulting in the death of at least five people and leaving more than 31 others injured.

The attacks occurred within a span of 40 minutes, causing significant damage to the city's center and leaving a trail of destruction in their wake, according to New York Times.

Deadly Strikes Rock Eastern Ukrainian City of Pokrovsk

The mining city of Pokrovsk, situated in the Donetsk region, experienced the brunt of the strikes. The first attack claimed the life of an emergency worker, Andrii Omelchenko, who was heroically responding to the initial assault.

As the city grappled with the aftermath of the first strike, a high-ranking emergency official of the Donetsk region also fell victim to the second attack.

Pavlo Kyrylenko, the head of the Donetsk regional military administration, reported that the Russian strikes severely damaged not only residential buildings but also commercial establishments such as shops, restaurants, and a hotel.

The extent of the destruction led rescuers to comb through the rubble in search of survivors, potentially raising the already devastating casualty count.

The attacks have raised concerns about the safety and security of the city's residents. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his concerns and shared videos depicting civilians assisting injured individuals and clearing debris from damaged buildings.

Kyrylenko emphasized the possibility of repeated attacks and urged residents to take shelter to ensure their safety. These strikes come amid broader geopolitical developments and discussions.

Just a day prior to the attacks, representatives from approximately 40 countries convened in Saudi Arabia to explore peaceful resolutions to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

However, the absence of Moscow from these talks has sparked criticism from Russia's Foreign Ministry, deeming the discussions as lacking any substantial value due to the exclusion of Russian participation, The Telegraph via MSN reported.

Read Also: Mid-Air Collision of 2 Helicopters in California Leaves 3 Dead

Ukraine-Russia War

As tensions persist between Ukraine and Russia, the conflict's complexity continues to evolve. The Kremlin has reiterated its willingness to engage in diplomatic solutions but has put forth demands that have been met with resistance.

These demands include Kyiv recognizing Russia's annexation of Ukrainian territories, including Crimea. In contrast, Ukraine stands firm in its call for the complete withdrawal of Russian forces from the occupied areas.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Security Service announced the detention of an alleged Russian informant who collected intelligence about President Zelensky's activities in the southern Mykolaiv region.

The detainee was suspected of gathering information for potential air strikes during Zelensky's visit. Furthermore, reports emerged of Russian shelling targeting a residential building in the city of Kherson, claiming the life of one person and injuring four others.

Regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin described the city's central area as being engulfed in fire due to the Russian attack. In the midst of these developments, the international community continues to monitor the situation and advocate for peaceful resolutions to the ongoing conflict, as per ABC.

Related Article: China's Latest Provocative Act in South China Sea Sparks International Outcry

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Riyadh has not appointed an ambassador to Damascus despite appointing new ambassadors to other countries worldwide, according to al-Modon.

Saudi Arabia has put a hold on the restoration of its embassy in Damascus, signalling a setback in the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and the Syrian regime. This development comes at a time when tensions are escalating between Riyadh and Tehran, particularly regarding disputes over natural resources along the eastern border of the submerged region, which is shared between Saudi Arabia, the State of Kuwait, and Iran. One of the key points of contention is the Durra gas field.

Sources from Damascus have confirmed that the restoration of the Saudi embassy in the Abu Rummaneh area, which commenced in March 2023, has been halted. However, it remains unclear whether this suspension is temporary or permanent.

Adding to the strain, Riyadh has not appointed an ambassador to Damascus despite appointing new ambassadors to other countries worldwide. This action does not go with the timeline proposed by sources close to the Syrian regime for exchanging the opening of embassies and appointing diplomats, which was expected to occur in early June 2023. The situation reflects an overlapping of issues in Saudi-Iranian relations, further complicating the regional dynamics.

According to political activist Talal Abdelhamid, the delay in the exchange of embassy openings and the suspension of the restoration of the Saudi embassy in Damascus point to the failure of Arab normalization with the Syrian regime, which was being led by Riyadh.

According to Abdelhamid, the demands from Arab countries towards the Syrian regime were specific, including assistance in halting drug shipments and progress in the political process. However, the regimes actions went in a different direction, focusing on receiving aid and funds.

Recent news from the newspaper Foreign Policy revealed that the head of the Syrian regime refused to engage with the Syrian Constitutional Committee and participate in the step-by-step initiative, confirming Abdel Hamids observations.

In March, the Saudi newspaper Okaz reported that the Syrian regime had committed to a package of reforms regarding its internal situation and relationship with the Syrian opposition, as well as pledging not to facilitate the export of Captagon to Jordan and Gulf states. In return, Saudi Arabia was expected to restore relations with Syria. However, it appears that the implementation of these promises has not progressed as anticipated, contributing to the current tension between Riyadh and Damascus.

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.
Syria expressed its condemnation of the persistent aggressive and terrorist policies of the Israeli occupation authorities, according to al-Baath.

On August 7th, 2023, Damascus experienced an Israeli act of aggression, during which missiles targeted several points in the vicinity of the city.

At 2:20am [Sunday] the Israeli enemy carried out an air attack from the direction of the occupied Syrian Golan, targeting areas in the vicinity of Damascus, a military source said.

Our air defences intercepted some of the missiles, but others struck the ground, killing four army personnel and injuring four others. The aggression also caused some material damage, the source added.

As a result of the attack, four army personnel were tragically martyred, and four others sustained injuries.

Syria calls UNSC to condemn the attack

The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement, Monday, calling on the United Nations and the Security Council to condemn the Israeli terrorist, urging immediate action to compel the occupying entity (Israel) to cease its aggressive policies, put an end to its crimes, and hold the perpetrators accountable for their actions.

The ministry expressed its condemnation of the persistent aggressive and terrorist policies of the Israeli occupation authorities. The attack coincided with the presence and operations of US forces illegally present on Syrian territory and the activity of terrorist groups supported by Israel. Syria believes that this aggression demonstrates Israels role as an agent of chaos in the region and a major contributor to the lack of security and stability.

Syria called on the UN and the Security Council to not only condemn this specific attack but also address the continuous Israeli attacks on Syrian territory. The ministry urged the Security Council to take immediate action to compel Israel to cease its aggressive policies and demand that Israels supporters enable the Council to fulfill its responsibilities in maintaining international peace and security under the provisions of the UN Charter.

Furthermore, Syria urged the Security Council to take necessary measures to end the Israeli occupation of Arab lands and hold the occupation authorities accountable for their crimes. The statement highlights the ongoing tension and complexity of the situation in the region, as well as Syrias call for international action to address the matter.

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.

On Monday, during an Israeli missile attack near the Syrian capital Damascus, four Syrian soldiers lost their lives, and four others were wounded. Concurrently, Turkish Intelligence, in coordination with the Military Police affiliated with Turkish-backed armed opposition factions, known as the Syrian National Army (SNA), apprehended eight individuals in the countryside of Hassakeh Governorate, northeast Syria.

Four Syrian soldiers killed in Israeli attack on Damascus

Four Syrian soldiers were killed and another four wounded in an Israeli missile attack near the Syrian capital Damascus early on Monday, Syrian state media reported, citing a military source.

State news agency SANA said the attack caused some material damage and that the missiles had targeted some points in the vicinity of the city of Damascus, but gave no specific details.

Syrian air defences intercepted the Israeli missiles and shot down some of them, the military source told SANA.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, said it had documented two additional fighters killed in the strikes that were members of non-Syrian militias aligned with Damascus.

Observatory head Rami Abdulrahman could not immediately confirm the nationalities of the two additional fatalities. He said the sites targeted included warehouses near the Damascus airport.

Erdogan and Putin to discuss Azerbaijani-Armenian relations

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin will discuss Azerbaijani-Armenian relations during the meeting, Azerbaijani Trend reports.

The sides will also discuss the Zangezur Corridor project, the situation in Syria, the grain deal and bilateral trade relations.

The exact date of Vladimir Putins visit to Turkiye has not yet been announced. However, it is expected that the visit will take place in August.

Illegal detention of British children must end, says former UK minister

A former UK cabinet minister has condemned his governments continued funding of what he described as the illegal detention of British minors in camps controlled by the Kurdish-run Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Syrias northeast, Middle easy Eye reported.

In a letter sent on Sunday to James Cleverly, the UKs foreign secretary, David Davis demanded that the government disclose the numbers of British nationals detained in the camps, described by one NGO as Britains Guantanamo in the desert.

Their detention, he wrote, was illegal and arbitrary, constituting a collective punishment funded by the British taxpayer.

The letter comes after the recent emergence of video footage showing Australian teenager Yusuf Zahan, who had been detained in northeast Syria since he was 14 and was presumed dead.

Zahan was believed to have been killed in a 2022 air strike by the Islamic State (IS). The recent video, dated September 2022, revealed the 19-year-old was still alive.

According to Human Rights Watch, an estimated 23,000 children, who are not originally from Iraq and Syria, are being held in indefinite detention based on their alleged links with the IS.

In his letter, Davis highlighted the dire conditions faced by minors held in detention, including the overcrowded and poorly ventilated cells, and the limited access to food and medical care.

Boys in these prisons are at risk of violence, sexual violence, trafficking, forced recruitment, and death. he wrote.

In 2021, a report by Rights and Security International (RSI) found that British children and women were being held in life-threatening conditions in the camps.

Turkish forces arrest 8 civilians in Syrias Sere Kaniye

North Press reports that Turkish Intelligence, in coordination with Military Police, affiliated with Turkish-backed armed opposition factions, aka Syrian National Army (SNA), arrested on Monday eight individuals in the countryside of Hassakeh Governorate, northeast Syria.

An exclusive source told North Press that a security unit of Turkish Intelligence supported by the Military Police raided five houses in the village of al-Mabrouka in the countryside of Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain), north of Hasakah, and arrested eight individuals who had arrived from areas held by Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) on charges of terrorism.

Those who were arrested headed to the SNA-held areas for the purpose of crossing to Turkey, the source added.

The detained individuals are reported to be from the governorates of Homs, Raqqa, and Deir-ez-Zor, the source noted.

The Turkish forces and the SNA occupied Sere Kaniye and Tel Abyad after the so-called Peace Spring military operation in October 2019.

Mekdad, AOAD discuss means to boost cooperation in the agricultural sector

In a meeting attended by various high-ranking officials, including Foreign and Expatriates Minister Fayssal Mekdad, Director General of AOAD Ibrahim al-Dukhairi, AOAD Executive Chairman, Lebanese Minister of Agriculture Abbas Hajj Hassan, Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform Mohammad Hassan Qatana, and Director-General of the Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Drylands (ACSAD) Nasr Edin Obaid, the necessity of fostering collaboration between governmental agencies and expert Arab agricultural organizations was emphasized. They also underscored the significance of strengthening joint Arab action.

According to SANA, Minister Mekdad highlighted the crucial need for closer cooperation in the agricultural sector between Syria and the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development. He stressed the importance of devising action plans to improve the agricultural landscape and elevate the performance of the agricultural sector in all Arab countries.

Director General al-Dukhairi explained that the organization is aligning its efforts with Uzbekistans Agriculture Development Strategy for 2020-2030, which concentrates on agricultural and food systems, safeguarding agricultural resources, and facilitating collaboration between the organization and its member states.

Moreover, al-Dukhairi pledged the organizations support to the Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform in Syria in protecting its integrated environmental assets from fires, using fire early warning systems.

Minister Qatana expressed that al-Dukhairis visit would aid in communicating Syrias challenges to other member states and the global community.

Minister Hajj Hassan conveyed his gratitude for Syrias efforts in strengthening agricultural and food cooperation between Syria and Lebanon, as well as fostering cooperation among Arab nations to achieve a shared vision of Arab food security.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
The presence of the Turkish army on Syrian soil stands as an unyielding boundary for the Turkish government, according to Syria TV.

The Turkish government is aiming to expedite the repatriation of Syrian refugees within the upcoming months of October and November. The objective is to eliminate the issue of illegal immigration from the concerns of Istanbuls residents before the local elections scheduled for the end of next March.

In an op-ed featured in Hurriyet newspaper, Abdulkadir Selvi, a Turkish journalist with close ties to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), has shed light on Turkeys resolute actions towards addressing irregular migration and the return of Syrian refugees.

Selvi highlights the commendable efforts of Istanbul Governor Davut Gul and Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya in combating irregular migration and achieving favourable outcomes. Davut Gul emphasized that the issue of irregular migration will soon be relegated from Istanbuls discourse, underscoring the citys improving situation.

Yerlikaya, too, emphasized that he will engage in discussions concerning various aspects of irregular migration during October and November, indicating a sustained commitment to anti-migration endeavours over the ensuing months.

An impending meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad holds significance, as it seeks to facilitate the secure return of Syrian refugees to their homeland. With a significant number of Syrians hailing from Aleppo, the primary focus is ensuring their repatriation to this region and overseeing the fulfillment of the guarantees extended to them.

There is a poignant concern about preventing returning Syrians from falling into the clutches of the Syrian regime and terrorist groups. The establishment of secure zones between the Turkish army and the Syrian regimes forces is emphasized as vital for ensuring their safe return.

In reference to the precondition mandating the withdrawal of the Turkish army from areas encompassing Euphrates Shield, Olive Branch, and Peace Spring, it is strongly asserted that this requirement is non-negotiable. The presence of the Turkish army on Syrian soil stands as an unyielding boundary for the Turkish government.

In a related context, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan conveyed the governments steadfast commitment to fully supporting the resolution of the Syrian conflict through political channels. Fidan underscored the intention to expedite and facilitate the secure and dignified return of Syrian refugees to their homeland.

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.
ISIS cells present in Idleb have not responded to campaigns by HTS, according to Athr Press.

The General Security Service of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham-al-Nusra (HTS) has issued a statement refuting ISIS claim that they were responsible for targeting their leader, Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurashi, in rural Idleb.

According to the Lebanese newspaper An-Nahar, in recent years, HTS has continuously conducted security campaigns against ISIS cells in the areas under its control. These campaigns have resulted in the death and arrest of numerous leaders and members of the organization, including high-ranking officials. HTS has been transparent in announcing the outcomes of these campaigns.

Conversely, ISIS cells present in Idleb have not responded to HTS campaigns with any counteraction. It seems that there was an implicit understanding between the two parties. This arrangement suggests that ISIS cells refrained from engaging HTS members and leadership, possibly in exchange for refuge in Idleb. This dynamic aims to prevent any security disruptions to HTS authority.

The newspaper posits that HTSs leader, Abu Muhammad al-Julani, did not permit ISIS cells to seek shelter in Idleb out of sympathy for them. Instead, it is believed that he strategically planned to exploit their presence. He aimed to forge closer ties with certain international intelligence agencies by positioning himself as an operative fighting against a globally recognized terrorist organization.

On August 3, ISIS released an undated recording through channels associated with it, claiming that the killing of their leader, Qurashi, was orchestrated by members of HTS in the Idleb countrryside. This announcement contradicts the account provided by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on April 30, wherein he asserted that Turkish intelligence had eliminated Qurashi in a Northern Syrian operation.

Why do ISIS leaders hide in HTS areas of influence?

Abbas Sharifa, a specialist researcher in Islamic group dynamics, disclosed to The New Arab that there are multifaceted reasons behind the concealment of the groups leaders in northwestern Syria. He highlighted the regions status as an area of displacement and refuge, affording the organizations leadership the opportunity to blend into the local populace.

Sharifa expounded on the groups clandestine initiatives, citing the establishment of covert factions and cells designed to operate within northern Syria against HTS and the National Army, even extending their operations into Turkey. He underscored the prevailing precarious security landscape in the region, which hampers security agencies from detecting their covert activities.

Northern Syria serves as a logistical hub for the group, exploiting remittance networks and unmonitored offices to receive financial support. Sharifa elaborated, noting that the northwest of Syria functions as an underground arms market, prompting the group to procure weaponry from this region.

Conversely, researcher Yassin Jamoul contended that ISIS leaders do not primarily inhabit northern Syria but rather are situated in areas controlled by HTS. He argued that these factions thrive exclusively in tumultuous and conflict-ridden environments, which provide an ideal backdrop for their expansion.

Jamoul emphasized that the regions under HTSs jurisdiction in northwestern Syria are the most secure zones for the organizations leadership. He added that ISIS and Al-Nusra were previously intertwined and originated from the same source, and now, ISIS leaders exploit the discontent within the jihadist milieu due to Abu Muhammad al-Julanis strategic shifts, even securing assistance from within HTSs ranks.

Jamoul voiced his belief that HTSs leadership is cognizant of the presence of ISIS leaders within their controlled areas and is capitalizing on this knowledge. He suggested that reports of an individuals demise within their ranks are often manipulated for personal gain, despite their whereabouts having already been exposed.

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.
HTS announced on Monday the casualties inflicted on regime forces and their supporting militias, according to Baladi News.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) announced on Monday the casualties inflicted on regime forces and their supporting militias as a result of a successful operation carried out by a unit of HTS fighters on Sunday in the northern countryside of Lattakia.

HTS conveyed through its Amjad media channel that the Red League Brigades executed a significant operation deep within areas controlled by the regime. The operation was aimed at the summit of Nabi Yunis in the northern countryside of Lattakia and targeted the central operations room of the Fourth Corps. This corps oversees the second and sixth divisions, which are responsible for coordinating actions along the coastal and al-Ghab plain axes up to Mount Shahshabo. The operation was launched in response to the recent massacre perpetrated by Assad militias in the vicinity of Idleb City.

The outcome of the operation resulted in the elimination of over 20 high-ranking officials responsible for managing and directing operations along the Sahel, al-Ghab Plain, and Shahshabo axes. The operation also destroyed all forms of communication, espionage equipment, drone management devices, and other relevant equipment that were present at the site. The unit members executed the operation meticulously before safely withdrawing from the location.

In contrast, social networking pages affiliated with regime forces reported that their ranks suffered casualties due to an infiltration attempt by opposition factions on the summit of Prophet Yunus in the northern countryside of Lattakia. The attack led to the demise of four of their members, including two officers. The first officer held the rank of colonel, while the second officer was a captain.

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.
KALAMA  The Kalama School District reports fake emails from the district were sent to staff members and a student last month, offering a phony job opportunity in an apparent phishing scam.

Kalama School District spokesperson Nicholas Shanmac said three staff email accounts were compromised in mid-July.

At least one student and a few staff members were sent an email with the subject line, PART TIME JOB OPPORTUNITY, offering $300 base pay for only two to three hours a day, plus the ability to work from home. Recipients were asked to click on a link in the email to apply to the phony job.

Shanmac said those who received the email were asked to delete it, and that this was the first time the Kalama School District sustained a phishing scam, which typically includes an email or website masquerading as a legitimate business or person to acquire sensitive information.

To our knowledge, there have been no victims of this apparent phishing scam, Shanmac said.

Kalama Police Chief Rafael Herrera said the department was notified at about 1:44 p.m. Aug. 2 of the emails and that a parent became aware of the scam and immediately prevented any further issues.

The Kalama Police Department is not currently investigating the incident, and the emails appeared to have originated from a Google site to hide the suspects identity, said Herrera.

Shanmac said the district added enhanced security like changing passwords related to emails and computer log-on access, plus a rule set that evaluates the risk of a persons logon attempt. He said once staff returns from summer break, the district will institute a multi-factor authentication.

Shanmac said the district typically receives junk or spam emails from an unrecognizable email address, the same sort of spam that anyone with an email account has to deal with from time to time.
Plans for the west Kelso affordable housing and community center will need to be finalized over the next few weeks to keep the project on schedule.

The housing project at Catlin Street and Main Street will no longer involve getting rid of the Sons of Norway building. However, the city will need to find some adjacent land to add to the existing property to meet their goal of housing units and parking.

The design has shifted from one four-story building to two separate three-story buildings. The larger building would have the Kelso Public Library on the ground floor and 28 units of housing above, while the smaller building would hold a downstairs community center and 12 units of housing.

The Cowlitz County commissioners agreed in June to provide $695,000 for the housing with document recording fees. The Kelso City Council gave the project $74,631 in federal HOME funds in July as a show of support.

It will add more housing, beautify the area, and add more services that we really need, councilor Kim LeFebvre said during a July workshop.

The vast majority of the projects roughly $18 million cost will need to be covered through state funding or tax credits for low-income housing. Sept. 18 is the deadline to apply for millions of dollars from the Washington Department of Commerces Housing Trust Fund, which has more than $290 million available for multifamily affordable rental housing.

A finalized design and land-use decision will need to be made by then to apply for this years round of funding.

The housing complex is being built in cooperation between the city of Kelso, Lower Columbia CAP and developers from Community Frameworks. Kelso provided the primary land for the building, Lower Columbia CAP will manage the affordable housing once it opens, and Community Frameworks is leading the design process and grant applications.

We can really demonstrate this is going to be an anchor for this part of town beyond the housing, Community Frameworks developer Adam Lee said. Heres a place right in town where people who live here can mix with the community.

Lee said the total project cost of between $17 million and $18 million changed little, even after the design shifted to two buildings. Lee said that while the split doubled the cost for things like elevators and stairwells, the overall square footage of the project has not changed.

Lee said the two-part design was chosen to better fit the available land and avoid having the new building loom over the nearby homes. At least 60 parking spots are expected to be part of the design, between parking lots for the buildings and curbside parking along Catlin Street.

The housing will be set aside for people earning 60% or less of the countys average median income. Around half the units would be for homeless residents while the other half would cover other at-risk groups including the elderly, people with disabilities or substance abuse issues, and recently incarcerated people.

Several members of the Kelso council remained skeptical about the proposed location. The city may need to buy out two of the neighboring homes in order to get the land required for the constructing and parking. The city was in negotiations with homeowners as of July but councilor Lisa Alexander was unhappy with the approach.

I dont want to see people looking for homes so that we can add parking, and its not even enough space, Alexander said.

Sons of Norway President Elmer Kurtti said the Sons of Norway supports the project and thinks the housing is needed in the community. After a large group of members appeared at a Kelso City Council meeting in February, the group was assured their building would be preserved.

The groups biggest concern now is figuring out the parking situation. The Sons of Norway uses the undeveloped land as overflow parking during large events. Kurtti said it wasnt clear how many of the parking spaces would be reserved for residents or what would happen if there were multiple events taking place on the block at the same time.

Every time I think we have the situation resolved, theres a change we are made aware of after the fact ... Not that we have a right to be in every discussion, but its a common courtesy, Kurtti said.

Kurtti and another Sons of Norway leader will meet with city officials the week of Aug. 7 to discuss the parking plans.
South Africa: Chiloane saddened by two learner suicides

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

Gauteng Education MEC, Matome Chiloane, has expressed sadness over two reported learner suicides in the province.

According to the Gauteng Department of Education, one of the incidents occurred at Soshanguve Secure Centre, where a Grade 10 boy learner was discovered hanging in a dormitory during lunch on Monday.

It is reported that the learner had been taken to the juvenile centre about two weeks ago and was awaiting trial.

In a separate incident, a Grade 9 boy learner from Kgetsi Ya Tsie Secondary School tragically took his own life at home on the same day.

The GDE said its Psycho-Social Support Unit will be dispatched to provide assistance in both instances.

These incidents serve as a grim reminder that the emotional well-being of learners is a shared responsibility that requires immediate attention from all of us. As we mourn the loss of young lives, there is a growing determination to prevent future tragedies and to foster a culture of support, compassion, and understanding within the educational community. We wish to extend our condolences to families and school communities, Chiloane said.

For immediate assistance and support, learners are encouraged to contact Childline by dialing 116. The Childline toll-free Helpline is available 24 hours a day (free from all networks) and what you talk about is confidential. However, if learners want to reveal their identity and see a counsellor they can request for such accordingly.  SAnews.gov.za



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This story has been published on: 2023-08-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Over 3,000 U.S. troops arrive in Mideast amid tensions with Iran

Xinhua) 14:15, August 08, 2023

WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Over 3,000 U.S. sailors and marines have entered the Red Sea in the Middle East aboard two U.S. warships, the U.S. Navy said Monday, weeks after the Department of Defense (DoD) deployed additional military assets to the Strait of Hormuz in response to what Washington claimed were threats posed by Iran.

The service members belong to the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (USNAVCENT) said in a statement. They arrived in the region Sunday on board the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan and the dock landing ship USS Carter Hall after transiting through the Suez Canal.

"Bataan ARG/26th MEU units bring to the region additional aviation and naval assets, as well as more U.S. Marines and Sailors, providing greater flexibility and maritime capability to U.S. 5th Fleet," the statement said.

Based in Bahrain, the Fifth Fleet is under the command of USNAVCENT and operates in an area that covers "the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea, parts of the Indian Ocean and three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, Suez Canal and Strait of Bab al-Mandeb," according to the statement.

The latest deployment, which the statement said was a pre-announced arrangement by DoD, followed the Pentagon's announcement on July 17 that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin had ordered the deployment of the destroyer USS Thomas Hudner as well as additional F-35 and F-16 fighter jets to the Strait of Hormuz "to defend U.S. interests and safeguard freedom of navigation in the region."

The chain of events unfolded against the backdrop of Washington accusing Iran of seizing or attempting to seize merchant vessels transiting in waterways around the Persian Gulf that are vital to the flow of international commerce, especially oil trade.

Multiple U.S. media reported over the last few days that the United States is considering what would be an unprecedented action of putting troops on commercial ships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz to deter alleged Iranian seizures, which the United States claimed have been happening for years. The potential action risks further escalating the already tense situation in the region.

The Pentagon refused to confirm the veracity of those reports. Pentagon Press Secretary Pat Ryder told reporters during a briefing Monday that he has "no announcement to make."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
(Photo : Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Arizona to Florida continue to be scorched by the blazing heat, and powerful storms are forecast for the Midwest and Northeast.



US government offices in the Washington DC area closed early on Monday due to looming severe weather threats, setting the stage for a turbulent day across the eastern United States.

Forecasters issued warnings for possible tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hailstones, as fast-moving thunderstorms swept through the region, according to Reuters.

Severe Storms Prompt Early Closure of US Government Offices

The impact of these powerful storms was swift and widespread, with trees uprooted and power knocked out for hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses in Maryland, Virginia, and beyond. As many as 800,000 customers were left without power in states spanning the southern and mid-Atlantic regions.

Tragically, the storms claimed lives as well. In Anderson, South Carolina, a 15-year-old boy lost his life when a falling tree struck him as he exited a car at his grandparents' house. In Florence, Alabama, a 28-year-old man was fatally struck by lightning, a grim reminder of the dangers posed by such extreme weather events.

The National Weather Service (NWS) sounded the alarm, issuing tornado watches and warnings across a sprawling area that encompassed 10 states from Tennessee to New York. The Washington-Baltimore region was particularly singled out as an area of grave concern. A tornado watch was in effect until 9 pm, accompanied by a flood warning that stretched into the following morning.

The scale of potential damage was underscored by the NWS's special statement, which cautioned about the significant threat posed by hurricane-force winds, large hail, and even strong tornadoes.

These threats prompted a swift response, with more than 2,600 US flights canceled and over 7,900 delayed, causing widespread travel disruptions. The toll of the storms was further evidenced by the extensive power outages that left over 1.1 million customers without electricity across multiple states.

Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and other areas along the storm's path bore the brunt of these outages. While the Eastern US grappled with these dire conditions, extreme heat continued to grip the southern part of the country, as per CNN.

Read Also: Indian Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi Reinstated to Parliament After Suspension of Defamation Conviction

Summer's Extreme Weather Highlights Climate Crisis

Meanwhile, heat advisories cast their shadow over major cities including Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, and Orlando, as temperatures surged to unprecedented triple-digit highs. Heat indexes soared to a scorching 115F, creating an oppressive and potentially dangerous environment for millions of residents.

Amidst this meteorological turmoil, experts are raising an urgent alarm regarding the interconnectedness of these extreme weather events and the ongoing climate crisis. The confluence of scorching heatwaves, devastating wildfires, intense storms, and tornadoes has become emblematic of the planet's shifting climate.

Climate scientists emphasize that these occurrences are not isolated incidents but rather symptoms of a planet undergoing significant climatic shifts, resulting in more frequent and intense weather patterns. As communities grapple with the aftermath of these extreme events and adapt to the challenges of an evolving climate, the call for heightened climate awareness and responsive measures becomes ever more pronounced.

Governments, industries, and individuals alike are compelled to acknowledge their roles in driving climate change and to take collective action to curb its impacts. The summer's turbulence should be seen as a catalyst for united efforts to address the climate crisis comprehensively.

While the extreme weather may be unsettling, it also serves as a potent reminder that humanity stands at a pivotal crossroads. Choices made today will determine the trajectory of our planet's future. It is incumbent upon society to heed the warnings embedded in the erratic weather patterns and to channel that awareness into meaningful action.

As communities grapple with the aftermath of destructive storms and the ongoing challenges of extreme weather, the call for heightened climate awareness and mitigation efforts becomes more pressing than ever, The Guardian reported.

Related Article: Japan Warns Russia Nuclear Attack During 78th Hiroshima Bombing Anniversary

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One of the newest residents of a Longview primate rescue is Tawney, a 16-year-old Capuchin, who struggles to walk.

Her fingers and toes are bent from malnutrition and lack of space. She had never been outside or given water until she was rescued.

Now she squeaks a little greeting from her perch to all who wander into the A Barn at OPR Coastal Primate Sanctuary.

Founders and owners Polly and Skip Schultz rescued their first primate  a Macaque  26 years ago. Macaques are often used in research labs because their biology is so similar to humans, Schultz said.

I have a soft spot for Macaques, said Polly Schultz.

Schultz has had a special place in her heart for any animal, based on her time as a veterinary technician and animal control officer.

Her passion of rescuing monkeys came by accident. She said she saw an advertisement for a baby monkey for sale and thought it would be similar to caring for a raccoon, later learning it was far more challenging.

Fast forward to today, when she owns the sanctuary which rescues primates from ill-informed owners, research labs and neglect situations. The nonprofit takes about $90,000 to run annually and houses 14 monkeys with two more on the way. They spend about $300 each week on fresh produce alone.

The organization was started in Dallas, Oregon, but once a donor donated 30 acres in Longview, the couple, along with their monkeys moved. A house and barn were already on the acreage and over time the Schlutzes built two more barns and play areas.

When they moved to Longview 16 years ago, they also changed their name from Oregon Primate Rescue to OPR Coastal Primate Sanctuary.

OPR Coastal Primate Sanctuary Phone: 360-575-9231 Email: info@oregonprimaterescue.com Volunteer skills needed: Yardwork, maintenance, attorneys, grant writing, plumbers. The rescue also depends on monetary donations and grants to stay open.

Sanctuary operations

Bonnie Gallegos has been volunteering for the rescue for about four months. She is one of 11 volunteers who cleans enclosures and provides enrichment to the monkeys.

The rescue consists of three barns with outdoor enclosures attached.

Most of the monkeys acquired by the rescue have never had enrichment or playtime from their previous owners. Because of this, novel enrichment is key, according to Schultz.

After 26 years, it is hard to come up with new things for the monkeys to do, she said.

The shelter uses donated dog toys, blankets, stuffed animals, PVC piping filled with peanut butter and other treats, playgrounds filled with slides, hammocks and mini pools, and other homemade toys made from common household items such as coffee creamer bottles.

The monkeys are rotated each week between the three barns so they dont get too bored in one place.

Keeping the monkeys engaged and entertained is the key to a physically, emotionally and mentally primate, Schultz said.

PHOTOS: OPR Coastal Primate Sanctuary Close Founder and owner Polly Schultz interacts with Tawney, the newest member of the primate sanctuary, on Tuesday, July 10, in Longview. Schultz, along with her husband, founded the sanctuary 26 years ago. Habib, a male pigtail macaque, peers through his playground fencing at OPR Coastal Primate Sanctuary in Longview. The primate sanctuary focuses on rescuing primates from research labs and abuse or neglect situations. Jala, a macaque, picks through volunteer Bonnie Gallegos' hair at the OPR Coastal Primate Sanctuary on Tuesday, July 10, in Longview. One way a primate socializes and shows affection is by picking and cleaning through hair. Through fencing, a primate's hands and feet are seen hugging a hammock in the outdoor playground at OPR Coastal Primate Sanctuary on Tuesday, July 10, in Longview. Monkeys tend to be picky eaters. Schultz cites that they only like fresh fruit that hasn't gotten mealy and mushy and says that they prefer to eat pink lady apples. Eve, a female Macaque, searches for treats in Bonnie Gallegos' hair and shirt at OPR Coastal Primate Sanctuary. Gallegos will often hide treats in the cuff of her sleeve for the monkey to search for. Polly Schultz shows off a storage room full of toys and puzzles for the monkeys at OPR Coastal Primate Sanctuary in Longview. The rescue focuses on interactive play and enrichment, which most residents have ever gotten before. Schultz spoons KeyKey his medication at OPR Coastal Primate Sanctuary on Tuesday, July 10. Pills are dissolved in water and then mixed with yogurt. Schultz has trained the monkeys to not steal the spoon when they are fed the mixture. A Macaque watches below from her high perch at OPR Coastal Primate Sanctuary on Tuesday, July 10, in Longview. "I've learned to respect them more as their own being rather than as a plaything or something to put on a show," said volunteer Bonnie Gallegos. A sign near the Schultz' home leading to the sanctuary on Tuesday, July 10, in Longview. Schultz mentions that despite being an animal, monkeys feel the same emotional and physical pain that humans do. Polly Schultz plays two residents at the OPR Coastal Primate Sanctuary on Tuesday, July 10, in Longview. +9 +9 +9 +9 +9 +9 +9 +9 +9 +9

When monkeys first come to the sanctuary from a lab, they are quarantined and acclimated to outdoor light. Schultz said it takes about a month for the primates to lose their fear of the outdoors and are acclimated by increasing the amount of light they see each day through a window. This prevents shock to the monkeys after being kept in dark, small cages their entire life.

After they have acclimated to the outdoors and treated by a veterinarian, monkeys are put in a separate space within in the barn. They can see and talk with other monkeys but cannot physically interact with them. After they become comfortable, Schultz will allow the new rescue to choose the group they want to co-exist in to ensure they are not bullied by their partner.

We try to pair every monkey because social contact is so important for their health, said Schultz.

But in the barn, and even within a pairs enclosure, each monkey belongs to a different hierarchy level. Gallegos said that in the shelter, just as it in the wild, they know who they can snatch food from and who to bow down to.

Monkeys can do serious damage if they start fighting. Its their innate desire to keep their rank and will fight to the death in the wild if they are threatened.

Personalities can change and range from Mother Teresa to Jeffery Dahmer, said Bonnie Gallegos.

To ensure safety, monkeys and humans dont interact much. Keepers may feed, or let monkeys pick at their hair, but never pull them out of their enclosure. Monkeys are known to bite and grab at just about anything.

The gates prevent fights between other monkeys and from attacks on humans, which Schultz said has never occurred.

Every nut and bolt are also spot welded down so the primates cant twist the bolts free. Monkeys can even unlock a padlock if they have access to a key.

Even though they are being sweet, you have to be careful. They are very intelligent, said Gallegos as Tawney tried to steal the glasses from Gallegoss hoodie pocket.
The Philippines is racing to defend its share of the nearly $300 billion global business process outsourcing market as it battles deteriorating talent, rising competition and rapidly evolving artificial intelligence.

The Southeast Asian nation, the world's second-largest provider of outsourcing services, is producing a low ratio of graduates with the required level of communication and technical skills, potentially losing out on opportunities to add 800,000 jobs in the next five years, according to industry group IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines.

The most common challenge I hear is comprehension, Jack Madrid, who heads the country's main BPO trade group, said in an interview, referring to failed job seekers. I think they fail at a more basic level, he said in his office in Manila on Aug. 2.

The skills gap is making it tougher for the Philippines to defend its turf in an industry that has helped expand its middle class since the 1990s  outsourcing accounts for around 8% of the nation's gross domestic product and is a major source of foreign exchange inflows. As AI-powered bots take away an increasing number of outsourcing jobs since the Covid-19 pandemic, the rise of English-speaking workers around the world is also diminishing the longstanding language advantage for natives of the former US colony.

Illustrative of the deterioration in the quality of education in the country, nine out of 10 Filipino children are unable to read a simple text with comprehension by age 10, according to World Bank data.

I think we were better English speakers before, Madrid said, urging the government to consider reverting to English as a mode of instruction in schools instead of the learner's mother tongue.

Job applicants in the Philippines are also falling short on basic information technology skills like programming and troubleshooting, which BPOs increasingly need, according to Madrid.

During the pandemic, the Philippines' outsourcing industry added 255,000 jobs, representing growth that's at least 1% below the global expansion, he said. That suggests that the country may be losing market share to India as well as newcomers such as South Africa, Egypt, Poland, Colombia, Costa Rica.

Part of the problem is poor employability. Only one is hired for every 10 outsourcing job applicants, according to industry leaders.

The skills mismatch is becoming a more urgent issue as artificial intelligence threatens to disrupt industries worldwide. AI and similar technologies are projected to displace almost a quarter of the people in the Philippine outsourcing industry by 2030, according to the Asian Development Bank.

AI's impact on the industry will be felt in a few years, and BPO workers should start learning how to use new technology to make their jobs more efficient, Madrid said. There is time to prepare and upskill, but the time is shortening.

Despite these challenges, the industry group head still projects an increase of 6%-7% this year in full-time BPO employees from 1.57 million in 2022 while revenues are seen to grow 7%-8% to about $35 billion.

The outsourcing industry has mapped out a plan to create 1.1 million new jobs and become a $59 billion industry with 2.5 million employees by 2028. It seeks to increase its contribution to economic output to nearly 9%, as it targets to boost its market share in Europe.

Currently, prospective investors continue to pour in and existing ones remain keen on expanding their presence in the country. There is continuing significant demand for our industry here in the Philippines. It doesn't seem to wane despite all the headwinds, he said.

The group has partnered with the Philippines' Commission on Higher Education on initiatives including a revamp of the IT education program to align with current trends and develop competencies in the sector.

There are some fundamental weaknesses in our educational system, Madrid said. It's an old problem but it's just become much more urgent now.
Russia said Monday it plans to launch a lunar lander this week after multiple delays, hoping to return to the Moon for the first time in nearly fifty years.

The launch, which is scheduled for the early hours of Friday, comes as Russia's Ukraine offensive stretches into a second year, sparking huge tensions with the West.

With the Luna-25 lander, Russia's first since 1976, Moscow is keen to restart and build upon a pioneering Soviet-era lunar program.

The Russian space agency said that a Soyuz rocket had been assembled at the Vostochny cosmodrome in the Russian Far East for the launch of the Luna-25.

"The launch is on August 11," Roscosmos said in a statement.

"The Luna-25 will have to practise soft landing, take and analyse soil samples and conduct long-term scientific research," the statement added.

The four-legged lander, which weighs around 800 kilograms, is expected to touch down in the region of the lunar south pole. By contrast, most Moon landings occur near the lunar equator.

The launch is the first mission of Moscow's new lunar program and comes as Russia looks to strengthen cooperation in space with China amid ruptured ties with the West.

After President Vladimir Putin sent troops to Ukraine last year, the European Space Agency (ESA) said it would not cooperate with Moscow on the upcoming Luna-25 launch as well as future 26 and 27 missions.

Despite the pullout, Moscow said at the time it would go ahead with its lunar plans and replace ESA equipment with Russian-made scientific instruments.

Speaking at the Vostochny cosmodrome last year, Putin said the Soviet Union put the first man into space in 1961 despite "total" sanctions. He insisted Moscow would develop its lunar programme despite current Western sanctions.

"We are guided by the ambition of our ancestors to move forward, despite any difficulties and any attempts to prevent us in this movement from the outside," Putin said at the time.
HDFC ERGO General Insurance announced one-of-its-kind Insurance led ecosystem  here app, a unique proposition which aims to address consumers anxiety towards health & mobility, and provide convenience and an access to save cost of their daily expenses on healthcare and motor vehicles. This interactive platform through its comprehensive array of features provide access to users with credible information and convenient solutions to enjoy a reduced stressful life.

Founded in the year 2002, HDFC ERGOs digital journey began in 2016 and the Company has been consistently bringing in innovative tech-enabled solutions to evolve as a leading digital insurer of India with a scale. Aligned with its motto of Customer First, the Company has been in the forefront to bring digital solutions across the customers journey and provide them convenience and ease. In FY23, HDFC ERGO has issued over 1Cr policies through digital mode which is 94% of the policies issued in the last financial year. Also, the Company settled 5.2 lakhs motor claims in paperless mode and ~66 lakhs customer interaction occurred through its easy DIY platform. In its pursuit to reach the last mile, the Company reaches out to ~16 lakhs farmers every year to pay claims directly to their bank accounts. Also, the company has launched a digital servicing platform for farmers  PIHU, which has a monthly average transaction volume of ~22,000.

The launch of here app marks the Companys journey into next era of digital innovation to provide superior customer experience not only for buying an insurance policy or settling a claim during their association with HDFC ERGO, but also by supporting their various daily needs of mobility, healthcare, travel and so on.

Todays customers have an access to a plethora of information across various digital platforms. However, the challenge lies in assessing credibility of the information available, requirement to access multiple platforms and availability at the time of need. here is a one-stop platform that hosts dedicated sections on healthcare and motor, curated content on trending topics, access to communities to have first hand information related to medical treatment, verified information on daily requirement of healthcare & mobility, and thus being Seriously Helpful for the customers during their times of need.

Commenting on the launch of here, Anuj Tyagi, Joint Managing Director, HDFC ERGO, said At HDFC ERGO, we have always believed that technology is the key enabler, to fulfil the evolving needs of todays customers, who want everything on their fingertips. While as part of the digital-first and customer-centric approach we have introduced several pioneering AI/ ML backed digital solutions for enhanced customer experience, we also felt a need to create an inclusive digital eco-system that can provide customers with accurate, credible and trusted information on a 24X7 basis. We believe that here will soon emerge as a preferred platform for the users across the country, which will empower them to make informed decisions, and thus be Seriously Helpful during their times of need. We expect that ecosystem platform like here will enable better and continuous engagement with our customers which in turn will deepen the trust of the citizens of our country towards insurance, and thereby aiding the regulators initiative of Insurance for All by 2047.

here can be availed by all android and IOS users at free of cost.

Features of here:

here.health (Health Ecosystem)

Healthcare Calculators for BMI, Diabetes, Heartbeat, etc. Expense Estimator  AI powered engine running on health claims settled by HDFC ERGO over the years to help customers get an estimated cost of a medical procedure in a particular hospital of city for different room categories. Patient Connect  Customers can connect with verified users who have undergone a medical procedure to get their first-hand experience to ease anxiety of customers. Care Guide  Personal health assistant of the customers who can help you find the right doctors & hospitals for their medical needs Wellness Corner  This corner is designed to provide savings on the medicines or lab tests, and allows assessment of health vitals through BMI calculator, pre-diabetes risk calculator and ease of mind with handy breathing exercises Health Content  Verified content across medical procedures and wellness, along with byte sized content around super foods, wellness myth busters and curated did you know series

here.auto (Motor Ecosystem)
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has been selected as a strategic partner by the Government of India to transform the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) into a state-of-the-art public procurement platform with enhanced transparency, efficiency, and inclusivity.

The GeM platform provides an end-to-end online marketplace for central and state government bodies, including public sector undertakings, for procurement of common use goods and services in a transparent and efficient manner. This e-marketplace currently handles a Gross Merchandize Value (GMV) of over `2 trillion purchased by over 70,000 buyer organizations from over 6.5 million sellers and service providers, including over 800,000 medium and small enterprises. The current platform, while successful, has architectural challenges in scaling up and in meeting the evolving needs of buyers and sellers.

The partnership will see TCS design and build a new modern solution leveraging new technologies, while maintaining the current platform. The new GeM platform will be based on e-commerce and e-marketplace principles with multi-tenancy, multi-rule, multilingual, open source, and open-API-based architecture. It will be highly scalable, designed to accommodate the anticipated six-fold growth in GMV over the next six years.

The new platform will be designed for interoperability and cloud neutrality, making it technology agnostic and vendor-independent. Its deep configurability will ease the onboarding of diverse buyer organizations having local rules, thus allowing them to transact on the national platform while maintaining their local flavor.

TCS will also design a better user experience for all stakeholders. The adaptable design will ease onboarding of new sellers, driving greater participation from a more diverse vendor base, especially SMEs /MSMEs, resulting in greater inclusivity and a more democratized access to the public sector market. The new platform will use data analytics to forecast projections and improve supply chain management, and advanced AI/ML technologies to help identify potential fraud, enabling more transparent operations.

P K Singh, CEO, GeM, said, In its next avatar, GeM is envisioned to be an all-inclusive platform for government procurement, offering improved ease of doing business and transparency. With TCS as our SI partner, we are assured of architecting the new GeM with unmatched experience, rigor, and passion to develop a world class solution with resilient design, enriched user experience and innovative services. We also look forward to TCS expertise of managing mission mode programs. We have a strong aspiration to scale up GeM to transcend geographies.

Tej Paul Bhatla, Business Head, Public Services  India, TCS, said, We are proud to partner with the Government of India for the GeM platforms digital transformation, adding to our long list of contributions to Digital India. Our extensive experience in delivering large-scale transformation projects, technology expertise, deep domain knowledge in public services, and world-class delivery governance will help GeM achieve its vision for the next decade. The new GeM platform will transform public procurement with enhanced user experience, improved transparency, and greater inclusivity.

TCS Public Services India business unit provides services to central and state governments, building innovative technology-led solutions that enhance transparency and efficiency, and contributing to the development of Digital India. In the last two decades, it has powered several national mission-mode programs, creating digital public infrastructure, transforming citizen services, and touching a billion lives. These include passport issuance, health insurance, financial inclusion, investor facilitation, and pensions administration. These digital lifelines have built ecosystems that enhance the last-mile delivery of government services to the citizens of India and strengthen e-governance. TCS leverages its deep contextual knowledge, unparalleled experience as a system integrator and IP-based offerings such as the DigiGOV suite, to drive digital transformation.
DigitalOcean, the cloud for small-to-medium businesses (SMBs) and startups, announced the launch of DigitalOcean Spaces in its Bangalore data center. With this latest offering, DigitalOcean strengthens its commitment to meeting the growing object storage needs of global small businesses and empowering them with highly performant and scalable data storage solutions.

Spaces Object Storage is ideal for a wide range of applications, including data analytics workflows, AI model training, log file storage, and video streaming.

Key benefits of DigitalOcean Spaces:

Excellent performance for read and write operations, with a remarkable rate of 800 requests per second (RPS)

S3 Compatibility, enabling users to leverage a large existing ecosystem of tools, utilities, plugins, extensions, and libraries to easily manage object storage.

Built-in content delivery network with 45+ PoP locations, reducing web page load times, improving bandwidth, and infrastructure costs

Secure transfers with automatically HTTPS-encrypted data

Spaces Object Storage may also help small-to-medium-sized businesses with regulatory compliance. Many laws and regulations govern how data is collected, shared, and stored. An essential aspect of some of these regulations is that they often prohibit storing certain data outside national boundaries. For instance, consider an application accessed by customers living in Cleveland, Ohio, and Toronto, Canada. In this situation, it might be necessary to host the application in two data center locationsCanada and The United States, even if the Toronto data center is closer to both locations. Using data centers in different geographies may be an important part of a companys overall regulatory compliance strategy.

Kirthi Devleker, Senior Product Marketing Manager at DigitalOcean, said, At DigitalOcean, we are committed to addressing the growing storage needs of businesses. We are constantly working on our storage offerings to address the ever-increasing needs of our customers. To further that commitment, we are happy to announce the availability of Spaces Object Storage in our Bangalore, India, data center.

Spaces pricing starts at just $5 per month, including 250 GB of storage and 1 TB of bandwidth. Additional storage is available at a competitive rate of 2 cents per GB. Transparent and industry-leading bandwidth pricing allows businesses to estimate monthly costs accurately.

The DigitalOcean Spaces announcement comes off the heels of the company announcing its acquisition of Paperspace, a leading provider of cloud infrastructure as a service for highly scalable applications leveraging graphics processing units (GPUs). The acquisition and integration of Paperspaces advanced technology into the DigitalOcean platform will extend DigitalOceans offerings, enabling customers to more easily test, develop and deploy artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) applications, augment and enhance existing AI/ML applications and utilize GPUs in ways that have predominantly been the domain of large enterprises.
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The potential of utilizing ammonia as a hydrogen carrier for on-site power generation via ammonia decomposition is systematically discussed. Credit: Zhonghua Xiang, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P. R. China

Due to the environmental and energy problems caused by fossil fuels, the search for alternative clean and renewable energy solutions has never been more urgent. Among these, hydrogen (H 2 ) is emerging as a leading contender in the energy sector for both stationary and mobile applications. However, the commercial utilization of hydrogen fuel cells is hindered by the challenges of handling and transporting hydrogen due to its low volumetric energy density.

Fortunately, ammonia (NH 3 ) is emerging as a promising hydrogen carrier due to its high hydrogen content (17.6 wt%) and potential economic benefits for energy production. When used as a fuel, it produces only nitrogen and water as byproducts, making it a carbon-free alternative to traditional fossil fuels.

It can liquefy at a low pressure of 0.86 MPa at 25 , providing a high volumetric energy density of 10.5 MJ L-1, which is twice that of compressed hydrogen at 70 MPa (5 MJ L-1). A team of scientists systematically discussed the potential of utilizing ammonia as a hydrogen carrier for on-site power generation via ammonia decomposition. Their work is published in Industrial Chemistry & Materials.

"There has been growing interest in the utilization of ammonia as an energy vector," said Zhonghua Xiang, a Professor at Beijing University of Chemical Technology.

"In this perspective, we addressed the chemical properties along with recent projects or worldwide chemical plants. Furthermore, we discussed the design strategies of catalysts and reactors, as well as their benefits and drawbacks. We hope this perspective could shed light on the potential of ammonia as a promising alternative to traditional hydrogen storage methods and highlights the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in this exciting field of research."

As mentioned, storing renewable energy in the form of chemical fuels is deemed a pragmatic approach for both short- and long-term storage, especially in the transportation sector. In this regard, NH 3 has been recommended as the more technically feasible option than CH 3 OH due to its advantageous chemical properties.

The gravimetric H 2 content of NH 3 is 40% higher than CH 3 OH, while maintaining a comparable volumetric energy density. Additionally, for carbon-based fuels, obtaining pure carbon dioxide streams from industrial emissions may not be a viable long-term solution, and the expense for directly capturing carbon dioxide from the air is high.

"One of the primary limitations of ammonia is its apparent toxicity, which is approximately three orders of magnitude greater than that of methanol or gasoline. To ensure safe use, recommended exposure limits for NH 3 are set below 100 ppm," Xiang said.

"However, it is possible to monitor potential NH 3 leaks and hazards in real-time using appropriate sensors. Furthermore, the human nose can detect ammonia at concentrations as low as 5 ppm in air, making it much more noticeable than odorless hydrogen. Therefore, it is practical to carry out appropriate hazard management to effectively mitigate the risk of ammonia exposure to both humans and the environment."

"The application of ammonia for power generation systems can be either stationary or portable, making it even more attractive," explained Dr. Lingling Zhai, a researcher in Xiang's group.

"In China, Jiang's team from Fuzhou University developed a demonstration project that utilizes ammonia for on-site hydrogen production at a hydrogen fueling station, aiming to create a zero-carbon-emission energy community. Currently, the American technology startup company, Amogy, is launching testing operations for a 200 kW tugboat for maritime applications in cooperation with the Sustainable Energy Catapult Center in Norway."

"International organizations such as the Ammonia Energy Association (AEA), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies (OIES) have also made significant efforts to promote the application of ammonia as a sustainable energy commodity," Zhai said.

To apply ammonia-based power generation systems, several aspects should be considered: 1. To avoid possible leakage of ammonia, the storage tank and all connected components should use anti-corrosion materials. 2. Low-temperature (< 450 ) ammonia decomposition catalysts, and reactors with high volumetric energy densities are highly required. 3. Relevant policies and regulations that incentivize the adoption of renewable energy sources can help accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy.

"With the context of the above discussions, we expect an "ammonia to hydrogen" economy may ease the scalable use of green hydrogen in the foreseeable future," Xiang said.

More information: Lingling Zhai et al, Ammonia as a carbon-free hydrogen carrier for fuel cells: a perspective, Industrial Chemistry & Materials (2023). DOI: 10.1039/D3IM00036B

Provided by Industrial Chemistry & Materials
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC agreed Tuesday on a multibillion-dollar deal to build a plant in Germany, part of a push to put Europe at the center of the global semiconductor industry.

The United States and China are embroiled in a fierce rivalry to dominate the chip industry, and Europe is investing billions to keep up.

Why the rush for chips?

Semiconductors are the tiny components found in every electronic device, from children's toys and smartphones to electric cars and sophisticated weapons.

The COVID pandemic and subsequent border shutdowns caused a shortage of chips and brought large parts of the tech industry to a standstill in 2020 and 2021.

The crisis jolted governments into action, with the United States and China taking increasingly stiff measures to secure supply chains.

What is Europe doing?

Europe is proposing a law to bolster investment in the industry.

The so-called Chips Act, which is winding its way through the EU's legislative processes, aims to unlock 43 billion euros ($49 billion) in investment from public and private entities.

The goal is for the EU to capture 20 percent of global chipmaking by 2030, which would involve quadrupling its current output.

Who is investing?

So far in Europe, Germany is way ahead.

The investment from TSMC came two months after Berlin brokered a deal with Intel to build a 32-billion-euro plant.

Germany also closed massive deals with the US firm Wolfspeed and the homegrown company Infineon earlier this year.

The Intel deal, though, sparked some controversy.

Estimated costs for the Intel plant almost doubled, and sources told AFP the government had promised 9.9 billion euros of public money in subsidies.

France also announced in June that it would invest 2.9 billion euros in a plant run by European multinational STMicroelectronics and the US company GlobalFoundries.

Is Europe taking sides?

The US has introduced a raft of measures aiming to halt cooperation between US and Chinese firms, and Beijing has hit back with export controls on key materials.

While the EU has called on both sides to relax measures that are ensnaring European companies, the bloc is yet to come up with an organized response.

Instead, individual countries have taken the initiative.

The Netherlands, which has a key position in the sector thanks to equipment maker ASML, said in February it would introduce export controls in September.

The move was widely seen as a way of blocking China, with the Netherlands under pressure from the US.

And Germany blocked the sale of two chip firms to China last year, citing national security concerns.

Who are the leaders?

From design to manufacture and end-use, the semiconductor industry is truly globalized.

Almost all of the raw materials needed to make the chipssilicon, germanium and galliumare produced in China.

Taiwan, home to the world's leading chip manufacturers, accounts for more than half the global output.

Top chip designers like NVIDIA, along with equipment makers like Apple, are US-based.

The Semiconductor Industry Association, a US-based trade body, said US firms accounted for 48 percent of the global industry last year.

South Korea, where Samsung is a world leader, was second with 14 percent, and Europe was in third place with nine percent of the market.

 2023 AFP
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Republican state Sen. Jason Anavitarte, of Dallas, speaks to a House subcommittee on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, at the Capitol in Atlanta. Anavitarte and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones said on Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, that they will seek to pass a law in 2024 requiring social media companies to obtain a parent's permission for children to sign up for accounts. Credit: AP Photo/Jeff Amy, File

Georgia could join other states requiring children to have their parents' explicit permission to create social media accounts.

Two top Republicans in the Georgia state SenateLt. Gov. Burt Jones and Sen. Jason Anavitarte of Dallassaid in a Monday news conference they will seek to pass such a law in 2024. The proposal could also restrict accounts on other online services.

"It's important that we empower parents," Anavitarte said. "A lot of parents don't know how to restrict content."

Anavitarte said Georgia's rules would be modeled on a law Louisiana passed this year. That measure, which takes effect in 2024, says social media services must verify an account holder's age and can't let someone younger than 18 join without parental consent.

Arkansas, Texas and Utah also passed laws this year requiring parental consent for children to use social media. Some in Congress are also proposing parental consent for minors.

California last year enacted a law requiring online services to do more to protect children's privacy and safety.

Anavitarte said he has briefly been in contact with Meta Platforms, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram. He and Jones said they would discuss plans with the social media giant.

The move comes after U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warned in May that social media hasn't been proven to be safe for young people. Murthy called on tech companies, parents and caregivers to take "immediate action to protect kids now." He asked tech companies to share data and increase transparency and for policymakers to regulate social media for safety the way they do car seats and baby formula.

Burt Jones, candidate for Georgia lieutenant governor, participates in a Republican primary debate, Tuesday, May 3, 2022, in Atlanta. Jones and state Sen. Jason Anavitarte, of Dallas, a fellow Republican, said on Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, that they will seek to pass a law in 2024 requiring social media companies to obtain a parent's permission for children to sign up for accounts. Credit: AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, Pool, File

To comply with federal regulation, social media companies already ban kids under 13 from signing up to their platforms, but children have been shown to easily evade the bans.

Up to 95% of teens aged 13 to 17 report using a social media platform, with more than a third saying they use them "almost constantly," the Pew Research Center found.

Anavitarte also said he wants to strengthen Georgia's law on cyberbullying. Existing law requires any student found to have engaged in bullying three times be sent to an alternative school. Anavitarte said he wants to revive his 2022 proposal requiring schools to warn students and parents that some acts of bullying could lead to criminal stalking penalties.

Meta announced last year that it was taking steps to verify someone's age, including letting people upload their ID or record a video selfie; and partnering with an age verification company. Meta says it provides "age-appropriate experiences" for teens 13-17 on Instagram, including preventing unwanted contact from unknown adults.

Anavitarte this year sponsored a new law that bans TikTok, Telegram, WeChat and other applications from being installed or used on state-owned computers.

Free speech advocates warn the measures could lead sites to wall off information and even make it harder for adults to reach it.

The new laws could also lead platforms to require people to use government ID to verify age.

That's already happening on some pornography sites targeted by laws in Louisiana, Utah and Virginia. The Free Speech Coalition sued Utah and Louisiana on behalf of adult entertainers, erotica authors, sex educators and casual porn viewers, saying those laws were unconstitutional because they discriminate against certain types of speech. A Utah judge dismissed the suit there last week, saying the challengers couldn't sue because of how the law is designed.

 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Travel to and from the airport by a fossil-fuelled car accounts for a surprisingly large proportion of emissions from the whole journey. Credit: Shutterstock

Our climate is changing, and airlines are under pressure to reduce emissions from air travel. For many of us, especially in Australia, flying is an essential form of transport, so how can we reduce its environmental impact? Getting to and from the airport is an overlooked aspect of air travel that offers an immediate way to cut total carbon emissions from the trip by a surprisingly large amount.

Our newly published research shows for an average economy passenger flying from Sydney to Melbourne, the carbon emissions from using a fossil-fueled car to get to and from the airports make up a staggering 13.5% of the total door-to-door emissions. At a global scale, this number reaches 12.1% for long-haul flights and up to 22.8% for short-haul air journeys.

For comparison, in the International Air Transport Association's 2050 net-zero emission roadmap, 13% of global airline decarbonization will come from electric and hydrogen propulsion. A further 65% is to come from mass adoption of sustainable aviation fuel. This is fuel produced from non-petroleum-based renewable sources such as some municipal solid waste, woody biomass, fats, greases and oils.

Each of these big lifters requires a mammoth level of investment and technological breakthroughs, and comes with limitations and risks. Some solutions might make air travel prohibitively expensive. Airlines are moving mountains to decarbonize, but there are increasing concerns their net-zero plans might not stack up.

In contrast, a 13.5% emission reduction on a Sydney-Melbourne door-to-door journey today may sound like a dream. Yet our research shows it's easily achievable if travelers can be persuaded to change how they get to and from the airport.

So how can travelers be convinced to switch?

Research has shown carbon "labeling" helps shift consumer behavior towards greener choices. It's a bit like how the nutrition label on the back of our cereal box helps us choose healthier options.

For instance, when searching for a flight on online travel platform Skyscanner, all flight options are displayed with carbon emissions, so consumers can make a more informed choice.

Two recent studies at the University of California, Davis, suggest showing consumers the emission outcomes of different gate-to-gate flight choices, such as aircraft types and transit stops, can prompt them to choose greener flights, reducing emissions by up to 3.8%.

But air journeys don't start or end at airports. They start at home and end at destinations, or vice versa. Our air-travel carbon emissions are divided into ground and air segments and counted as airport and airline emissions respectively. While airlines focus on gate-to-gate decarbonization through future technologies, the door-to-door emissions produced by travel to and from airports can be reduced immediately.

Let's look at an example of a Sydney-to-Melbourne trip. Say you travel from North Sydney to Sydney Airport by car, then fly to Melbourne Airport and catch a taxi to the city center. That trip emits 82 kilograms of CO door-to-door. But if you use a train, bus or electric vehicle (charged from a renewable source) to travel to and from the airport, the emissions from your trip drop to 71kg: a 13.5% fall door-to-door.

Travel aggregator search platforms are now labelling carbon emissions when offering flight options. Credit: Google Flights

Although travel platforms are increasingly communicating gate-to-gate emissions to consumers, we're not aware of any that are including door-to-door emissions. Helping climate-conscious consumers understand the door-to-door carbon impact of airport ground connections could drive them to choose greener options such as public transport and electric vehicles.

Give airlines an incentive to inform passengers

Governments and airports have long collaborated in driving consumers towards greener ground transit options. For instance, Transport for NSW has set a 50% emission-reduction target for 2030.

However, consumer adoption of these options has remained low. Most airport trips in Australia today are still made by conventional car.

As consumers, we have relationships with airlines that we don't have with airports. When it comes to flying, we choose our airline carefully. Yet we rarely think about how we get to the airport.

Airlines are experts in customer communication and engagement. They operate some of the largest frequent-flyer programs in the world. Last time we checked, Qantas had 15 million program members and Virgin had 11 million.

Through these channels, airlines learn about us and how we tick when it comes to making flying choices. This puts them in an ideal position to keep us informed about door-to-door travel and drive the transition towards greener airport ground-connection options. To give them an incentive to do so, their efforts should be recognized through emission accounting.

A cost-effective way to cut emissions

Travelers using the Sydney Airport train station must pay an access fee, which adds A$15.74 to the cost of the journey. As our paper highlights, the average customer using the airport train removes 2.7kg of CO. Achieving the same amount of decarbonization during the flight using more sustainable aviation fuelwhich is more expensivewould cost the customer about the same: between $10 and $16.

So there is an opportunity for airlines to highlight this decarbonization outcome as a way to persuade travelers to reconsider driving a car or catching a taxi, and instead take the airport train or bus. Airlines could also consider collaborating with airports to build airport charging facilities for electric vehicles as uptake in Australia approaches a double-digit share of new vehicle sales.

This overlooked opportunity to cut door-to-door emissions from air travel has a substantial upside. It deserves far more attention from airlines, airports and consumers.

More information: David Changxiong Li et al, "Door-to-door" carbon emission calculation for airlinesIts decarbonization potential and impact, Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.trd.2023.103849

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
(Photo : Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)

The husband of Imani Roberson, a Georgia mother-of-four who disappeared about three weeks ago, has been arrested for her disappearance and death.



Imani Roberson's disappearance on that fateful day in July sent shockwaves through the community and left her family in agonizing uncertainty.

The 30-year-old mother of four had been visiting her mother's house in Conyers, a quiet town located about 24 miles east of Atlanta. When little did anyone know that this would be the last time they would see her alive, as per New York Post.

The Mysterious Disappearance of Imani Roberson

The circumstances surrounding Roberson's last moments were shrouded in mystery, leaving her family and authorities grappling with questions that seemed to have no answers. She had left her mother's house, as she had done countless times before, with her two youngest children in tow.

Among them was a mere one-month-old baby, a vulnerable soul completely reliant on its mother's care. In the days that followed, as Roberson's absence became apparent, there was a growing sense of disquiet.

It was her mother, Clarine Andujar-White, who first sensed that something was wrong. The lack of response to calls and the absence of any trace of her daughter prompted Andujar-White to file a missing-person report, desperate for any information that could lead to her daughter's safe return.

In the days that followed, as Roberson's absence became apparent, there was a growing sense of disquiet. Her family's concern grew when her attempts to reach Roberson went unanswered, leading to a missing-person report filed by her mother, Clarine Andujar-White.

Disturbing evidence emerged quickly as blood was discovered at Roberson's home. This crucial discovery suggested wrongdoing and increased the urgency of the investigation. Surveillance footage from a neighbor's doorbell camera captured Roberson's vehicle hastily departing from her driveway after a loud noise echoed through the air.

The chilling speculation of that sound being a gunshot casts a haunting shadow over the unfolding tragedy. The sorrowful discovery came when cadaver dogs located Roberson's body not far from the scorched remains of her white Mazda SUV, concealed in a remote area roughly 24 miles from her home.

As the grim reality set in, Andujar-White voiced her devastation during a press conference, confirming the loss of her daughter and expressing the family's profound grief. In a turn that underscores the heart-wrenching nature of the situation, Roberson left behind four young children, ranging from 3 to 9 years old.

As authorities pieced together the puzzle of her disappearance, they apprehended her husband, Donell Roberson, at an Atlanta apartment, CNN reported.

Read Also: South Korea Pounded with Back-to-Back Stabbing Rampages Prompting Police To Tighten Security

Arrest and Calls Against Domestic Violence Echo After Imani Roberson's Case

Hours after the discovery of Imani Roberson's body, he was arrested and charged with felony murder, malice murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during commission to attempt a felony. Sheriff Eric Levett, leading the investigation, stressed the importance of addressing domestic violence and encouraging victims to seek help.

The public responded favorably to his passionate plea as he stressed the negative effects of remaining silent in the face of abusive relationships.

Four children were left without both of their parents as a result of such tragedies, as underlined by Levett's moving words. As the legal process unfolds, the haunting questions surrounding Imani Roberson's untimely death remain.

The ongoing investigation signifies a relentless pursuit of justice for the victim and her family. The collective call for vigilance and intervention resonates loudly, underscoring the critical role society plays in preventing future tragedies of this nature, according to Independent.

Related Article: 'Harry Potter' Publishing CEO Adrienne Vaughan Dies in 'Horror' Speed Boat Accident in Italy

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The China-Philippines dispute could turn into a superpower conflict. Experts warned about this alarming prediction of what recently happened on the Spratly Island.

China-Philippines Dispute Prediction

According to The Guardian's latest report, many countries are concerned about the naval activities of Beijing in the South China Sea and Taiwan.

Concerns about China's naval drills heightened after the incident in the Spratly Islands, where the Chinese coastguard directed a water cannon at a Philippine coastguard.

Since the Philippines is supported by the U.S., Australia, Japan, France, and the EU, experts think that the territorial dispute between China and the Philippines could escalate into a superpower conflict.

Blake Herzinger, a researcher at the University of Sydney's United States Studies Center, claims that there's a significant escalatory potential in the China-Philippines South China Sea dispute.

"Beijing's risky behavior in the region has the potential to draw the two powers into conflict even without intending to do so," he warned.

Read Also: China's 'Chasing Dreams' Documentary Shows Army's Preparations to Strike Taiwan

What Could Trigger Superpower Conflict?

As of writing, the U.S. government has a mutual defense treaty with the Philippines. Washington said that it is committed to the obligations under this treaty.

This means that if ever Philippine public vessels and forces experience armed attacks, the U.S. government will defend them.

If these attacks will come from China and the U.S. gets involved, that's when the superpower conflict will start.

However, Alessio Patalon, an Asia at King's College London war and strategy professor, said that the activity that could trigger this mutual defense treaty is still unclear.

PH Gov Summons Chinese Ambassador

After the water cannon incident on the Spratly Islands, the Philippine government decided to summon China's ambassador on Monday, Aug. 7.

The Associated Press reported that Huang Xilian, China's ambassador to Manila, was handed a diplomatic protest by the Philippine Undersecretary Theresa Lazaro.

In this protest, the Philippine government said that Beijing should stop its illegal actions in the South China Sea.

Officials added that China must stop interfering in the legitimate naval activities of the Philippines and abide by international law.

However, instead of apologizing, China defended its activity. You can click this link to learn more details.

Related Article: China's Latest Provocative Act in the South China Sea Sparks International Outcry

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Talbot Financial LLC cut its holdings in shares of Bank of America Co. (NYSE:BAC) by 23.8% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 190,728 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 59,593 shares during the quarter. Talbot Financial LLCs holdings in Bank of America were worth $5,455,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Red Door Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in Bank of America by 0.9% during the 1st quarter. Red Door Wealth Management LLC now owns 125,456 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,588,000 after buying an additional 1,112 shares in the last quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of Bank of America by 35.8% in the 1st quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC now owns 281,425 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $8,049,000 after purchasing an additional 74,128 shares in the last quarter. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp raised its holdings in shares of Bank of America by 16.6% in the 1st quarter. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp now owns 150,213 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $4,296,000 after purchasing an additional 21,383 shares in the last quarter. Global Wealth Management Investment Advisory Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Bank of America by 34.6% in the 1st quarter. Global Wealth Management Investment Advisory Inc. now owns 193,209 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $5,526,000 after purchasing an additional 49,660 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Empire Life Investments Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Bank of America by 1.6% in the 1st quarter. Empire Life Investments Inc. now owns 959,988 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $27,456,000 after purchasing an additional 14,697 shares in the last quarter. 67.34% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Bank of America Stock Performance

Shares of BAC stock traded up $0.58 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $31.88. The stock had a trading volume of 31,345,212 shares, compared to its average volume of 51,430,418. Bank of America Co. has a fifty-two week low of $26.32 and a fifty-two week high of $38.60. The firm has a market cap of $253.33 billion, a PE ratio of 9.16, a PEG ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 1.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.12, a current ratio of 0.83 and a quick ratio of 0.83. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $29.62 and its 200-day simple moving average is $30.45.

Bank of America Increases Dividend

Bank of America ( NYSE:BAC Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.88 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.84 by $0.04. Bank of America had a net margin of 19.97% and a return on equity of 12.01%. The firm had revenue of $25.20 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $24.98 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.73 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 11.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Bank of America Co. will post 3.41 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 29th. Investors of record on Friday, September 1st will be paid a $0.24 dividend. This is a boost from Bank of Americas previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 31st. This represents a $0.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.01%. Bank of Americas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 25.29%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on BAC. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Bank of America in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Citigroup dropped their target price on shares of Bank of America from $38.00 to $33.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Oppenheimer increased their target price on shares of Bank of America from $44.00 to $47.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. BMO Capital Markets dropped their target price on shares of Bank of America from $41.00 to $40.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 19th. Finally, UBS Group increased their target price on shares of Bank of America from $34.00 to $36.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $36.26.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on BAC

Insider Activity at Bank of America

In related news, insider James P. Demare sold 75,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $31.53, for a total value of $2,364,750.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 185,108 shares in the company, valued at $5,836,455.24. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Bank of America news, insider Dean C. Athanasia sold 77,806 shares of Bank of America stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $31.48, for a total transaction of $2,449,332.88. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 353,971 shares in the company, valued at $11,143,007.08. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider James P. Demare sold 75,000 shares of Bank of America stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $31.53, for a total transaction of $2,364,750.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 185,108 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,836,455.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.27% of the companys stock.

Bank of America Company Profile

(Free Report)

Bank of America Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial products and services for individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses, institutional investors, large corporations, and governments worldwide. Its Consumer Banking segment offers traditional and money market savings accounts, certificates of deposit and IRAs, noninterest-and interest-bearing checking accounts, and investment accounts and products; and credit and debit cards, residential mortgages, and home equity loans, as well as direct and indirect loans, such as automotive, recreational vehicle, and consumer personal loans.

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Vietnam agri-major Loc Troi prepares rice shipments to Indonesia, Malaysia

By Thuy Tuong Tue, August 8, 2023 | 10:07 pm GTM+7

Loc Troi JSC, a leading agricultural services and food corporation in Vietnam, will export rice to Indonesia and Malaysia in a new move amidst rising prices in key exporting countries.

Prices have jumped as a result of strong demand and India, the worlds leading rice exporter, curbing exports of the staple.

The firms board of directors has approved plans to purchase rice in Vietnam for making shipments to the two Southeast Asian markets this year, according to a Monday regulatory filing with the Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX).

Loc Troi is listed as LTG on the HNXs Unlisted Public Companies Market (UPCoM).

Each transaction, for either purchase or exports, will have a maximum value of $127 million, the filing said. It did not say if the company has signed contracts for rice shipments to Indonesia and Malaysia, nor did it mention shipment volumes.

Loc Troi brand rice is loaded onto a ship bound for Europe in 2022. Photo courtesy of the company.

Loc Troi CEO Nguyen Duy Thuan has been assigned to represent the company in signing purchase contracts with domestic suppliers and farmers.

He told The Investor Saturday that Loc Troi had secured new export contracts to fulfil until this November. Loc Troi always prepares for market fluctuations and has enough rice in stock to serve orders. At this point, we have 200,000 tons of rice in inventory and continue to buy the grain from farmers for our business, he said.

Despite current increases in the price of unmilled rice in Vietnams rice bowl, the Mekong Delta, Loc Troi is not affected because it had signed purchase contracts earlier with farmers, Thuan added.

Increasing prices in the world market and having enough rice in stock for export will help the firm earn good profits this year.

The Food and Agriculture Organizations (FAO) All Rice Price Index, which tracks prices in key exporting countries, averaged 129.7 points in July against 126.2 points for the previous month, the UN agency said on August 4.

This index rose 2.8% in July from a month earlier to its highest level in nearly 12 years as prices in key exporting countries jumped on strong demand and Indias move to curb rice exports, the FAO said, adding that the July score was almost 20% higher than last years 108.4 points and the highest since September 2011.

India, Thailand and Vietnam are the worlds three largest rice exporters, respectively. The export price of Vietnams 5% broken rice on Monday was $618 per ton, while those of Thailand and India were $631 and $493, respectively, according to the Vietnam Food Association.

Vietnam exported 7.1 million tons of rice last year, according to government data. The expected figure for this year is 7.5 million tons, trade minister Nguyen Hong Dien said at a national conference on rice in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho last Friday.
Safety Tech & Preparedness

New Report Reveals Parents' and Teachers' Critical Perspective on School Safety

A new report from Motorola Solutions reveals parents and teachers top concerns and how much they know about and are confident in their schools safety planning and emergency response preparation.

The 2023 K12 School Safety Report captured sentiments from 1,000 parents and 1,000 educators across the United States, asking them about their schools emergency preparedness plans, communication practices, school safety technologies, and training for teachers and students.

Data from their responses shows that 67% of both parents and teachers are much more concerned about school safety now than they were five years ago, even as 73% of parents and 80% of teachers are confident that their schools emergency response plans are effective.

School safety is top of mind for parents and educators alike, with both groups expressing concerns about mental health issues, bullying and active shooter situations, said Todd Piett, vice president of Rave Mobile Safety at Motorola Solutions. Ensuring that school personnel and families are aware of proactive planning practices, the notification methods employed by schools, technologies in place to thwart and report emergencies and school protocols for when incidents occur will not only help to alleviate worries, but ultimately improve safety outcomes.

Motorola Solutions survey was conducted in June by independent market research firm Researchscape, according to a news release.

Key Findings

Safety plan ning and awareness of safety preparedness can impact enrollment and staff retention : When considering which school to enroll their children or to accept a job as a teacher, respondents both ranked school safety as a critical factor (66% for parents, 72% for teachers).

Student mental health continues to be a top concern: Nearly two-thirds (64%) of parents and 68% of teachers are very or extremely concerned about students mental health.

Communication channels before a crisis and during a crisis : 48% of teachers said their school offers a method for submitting anonymous or confidential tips to either school leaders, law enforcement, or both, while just 43% of parents said the same.

Keeping parents engaged and informed about safety technology: 74% of teachers said their school has adopted new safety technology in the last two years, while 54% of parents reported that they havent seen new safety technologies implemented. This disparity presents an opportunity for schools to periodically communicate with parents about the safety solutions they're implementing to reduce risk or expedite response, Motorola Solutions report said. 46% of parents say panic button apps that allow teachers and school staff to quickly notify law enforcement would increase their confidence in school safety. 89% of parents say their child has participated in a school lockdown drill, with 96% of teachers reporting the same. 82% of parents say their child has participated in a drill specifically for active shooter preparedness, while 73% of teachers have participated in such drills with students and another 10% without students. 36% of teachers have not engaged in training with first responders but they want to.



Communication during a live emergency event: 84% of teachers report that they have been notified of emergency incidents unfolding at or near their school and instructed on the actions they need to take. In an emergency, 57% of teachers said they would typically use the classroom phone to call the main office  which Motorola Solutions said is a time-consuming approach that does not simultaneously loop in school district officials, 911 call handlers, or first responders who may need to act fast. 89% of parents say their childs school has an alerting system to immediately contact them via phone, text and/or email during an emergency. In an emergency evacuation, 32% of teachers said they would be notified in-person when it is safe to bring students back to school or if students should be taken to a reunification point; 21% said theyd be notified via SMS message from school safety personnel or administrators, and 20% would be notified via two-way radios.



Types of school safety technology commonly used: Parents asked what types of school safety technologies are used at their childs school answered: 59% visitor management protocols 57% video security equipment 58% alert notifications 45% two-way radios 41% public address systems Teachers asked what types of school safety technologies are in use at their schools answered: 83% video security equipment 83% visitor management protocols 74% access control equipment such as smart locks that require a key card or badge 74% emergency notifications sent via phone, text and/or email to parents (74%). When asked what technologies would most make them feel better about school safety, parents answered: 46% panic button apps 45% concealed weapons detection technology 39% metal detectors



Learn more and read the full 2023 K-12 School Safety Report at Motorolas website.
The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. To sign-up for EZ-Pay, call us at (903) 785-6901 or e-mail us at circulation@theparisnews.com. We will use the information you provide to change your current billing to EZ-PAY. Your current subscription delivery schedule will not be changed. No refunds for early cancellations. Remainder of early cancellation funds will be donated to Newspapers in Education.
COBDEN  The village of Cobden will celebrate its 85th Peach Festival this Friday and Saturday at the Cobden Community Park on Locust Street.

Festival Chairman Gene Dammerman said the event will be similar to past years, with a carnival, peaches and other food.

Its just a small town festival, Dammerman said.

Dammerman said a lot of people have questioned whether there would be enough peaches for the festival after the regions peach crop was affected by extremely cold weather.

We do have peaches, Dammerman assures.

There will be enough peaches for the popular Spin and Win game, as well as enough to serve to hungry visitors.

Festivities will begin at 5 p.m. on Friday night with the opening of the Lions Club Food Stand, Peaches and Cream and drinks. Carnival rides, Spin-and-Win, Bingo and other games will begin at 5 p.m. as well. The Brian Pender Trio will perform from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday. The queen contest will begin at 8 p.m. with the swimsuit contest followed by the evening gowns.

Obviously, the pageant is a big deal, Dammerman said.

The Cobden Runners/Walkers Club will kick off events on Saturday with its annual Cobden Peach Festival 5K Run/Walk and 1-Mile Fun Run starting at 7:30 a.m. at the Cobden Community Park on Locust Street. Registration will begin at 6:30 a.m. For information on the run call 618-713-4245.

The Big Muddy River Boys will play from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday in the downtown park shelter.

The Cobden High School English as a Second Language Dance Team will perform at 1 p.m. on Saturday in the downtown park.

The Union County Museum at 117 S. Appleknocker Drive will operate on special hours during the Peach Festival and will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The museum will conduct an exhibit featuring photos of railroad depots from the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad, items from the Foreman Drugstore in Cobden and other special exhibits. The museum features exhibits on Anna Pottery, Native American artifacts, and local history. The Shop for the Benefit of the Museum will be open offering collectibles, fall decorations, and other items.

An art exhibit featuring the works of Cobden native, Austin Dent, will be on display at the Union County Historical Society Resource Center, 103 N. Appleknocker Drive. Dent is a former art teacher. The exhibit will be open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

The Peach Festival parade will begin at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and will wind its way through downtown Cobden. Entries are still being accepted by the Village of Cobden at city hall. For more information, call 618-893-2425.

On Saturday the carnival, food and games will begin after the parade at 5 p.m. The Swamp Tigers will take the stage at 6 p.m.

A special event is planned for the Peach Festival pageant. At least 51 of previous Peach Festival Queens will take the stage at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, with the new Peach Festival Queen being crowned at 9 p.m.

Raffle drawings will be at 9 p.m. Winners do not have to be present.

With the construction taking place at Cobden High School this year, a few changes are necessary regarding traffic flow and parking for this years festival.

Traffic access to the festival grounds will be from Cobden School Drive, through the construction area, and then to the parking area behind the school and softball field. Traffic through this area will be one-way into the festival. Exit from this area will be on Cobden Park Alley and this will be one-way leaving the festival.

There will be no parking inside the fenced construction area.

With the exception of the handicapped parking area there will also be no parking on Cobden Park Alley. The area directly in front of the high school is reserved parking for those involved in the Peach Queen pageant.

With the loss of parking around the school area because of the construction, the Lions Club in cooperation with Wrightway Transportation will provide shuttle bus service each evening between 5:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. The bus will leave on each half hour from the First Baptist Church parking lot, proceed to a stop in front of the US Bank to pick up those who wish to park in the lot across from the bank and then proceed to the Peach Festival grounds.

When the bus drops off at the grounds, those who wish to return to their vehicles will board the bus back to their parking area. People who use this service are reminded that the last bus back to their vehicle will be at approximately 10:30 p.m.
The entirety of Glenn Poshards life which includes experiences in education, politics and not-for-profit advocacy is the subject of a new book recently published by the Southern Illinois University Press.

In the book, "Son of Southern Illinois," authored by Mattoon Public Library Director and former newspaper editor Carl Walworth following extensive research, interviews and experiences with Poshard, covers everything from the former Congressmans childhood in White County, his military service, time as an educator and efforts as a philanthropist and advocate for childrens causes. The pair shares stories of successes and challenges, including some Poshard has never discussed publicly before.

A series of book signing events with both authors is set for Wednesday, Aug. 9 throughout the region. Walworth and Poshard will be at the Harrisburg District Library from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.; noon to 1:30 p.m., they will be at the Herrin City Library; 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Stinson Memorial Library in Anna and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Varsity Theater in Carbondale. Copies of the book will be available at each signing for purchase for $30.

Poshard said the idea for the book first came about when former West Frankfort newspaper editor Bob Ellis said hed like to author a biography. Ellis project was unfinished when he died. Several years later, Poshard reached out to Walworth, who responded enthusiastically.

Walworth said he spent days and weeks touring White County with Poshard, conducting interviews with the former gubernatorial candidate and pouring over boxes of clippings, notes and mementoes one by one. They met at the Poshards home, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and John A. Logan College as well as other locations and Walworth interviewed others about Poshard.

Carl has been researching every inch of my life. Its been incredible, Poshard said.

Walworth said he first met Poshard when he was an editor at the Charleston and Mattoon newspapers and Poshard was serving in Congress. Still, he explained, writing the book has been a major undertaking.

It has been a very extensive process, Walworth said. I have really enjoyed working with Glenn. I got to know him when he was a congressman and he has said this book was very important to him, if for no other reason than to have something to give to his grandchildren for them to know about his life and why he did certain things.

The book explores the impact of poetry on Poshards life and challenges of his life ranging from poverty as a child to his loss of the 1998 race for Illinois governor and even the death of his sister and three close friends in a 1960 automobile accident, leading to depression.

Carl didnt pull any punches, Poshard said. He wanted to talk about how I had a mental health condition when I was younger and that resulted in a lot of trauma in my life. He wanted to explore that and I had never talked about that in my whole career.

I never dreamed that a kid form the hill country of White County would ever have a book written about him, Poshard admitted. Ive been very blessed and very fortunate to have some of these positions during that my life have been exciting for me and enabled me to do some problem solving. Its nice to share them.

Walworth said "Son of Southern Illinois" will appeal to a wide variety of readers.

If they are looking for politics, thats in there; if they are looking for a human story, theres that; if they are looking for the impact of higher education, thats in there, too, he explained. Depending on their life experiences, readers are going to find stories and information that they can relate to.
Next spring, the calves of Canadian dairy farmer Ben Loewith will be among the first in the world to be bred with a specific environmental purpose in mind: burping less methane.

In June, Loewith, a third-generation farmer in Lynden, Ontario, began artificially inseminating 107 cows and heifers. He used the first bull semen to hit the market that had a genetic feature that reduced methane emissions, according to Reuters.

According to scientists and professionals in the cattle industry, the development of commercially available genetics to produce dairy calves that exhale less methane could aid in reducing one of the main sources of the potent greenhouse gas.

The majority of methane emissions from cattle come from their burps. The adoption of the low-methane for cows, according to Semex, the genetics business that sold Loewith the semen, could cut methane emissions from Canada's dairy herd by up to 20 percent-30 percent by 2050.

This April, the company started selling methane-trait semen in 80 different nations. According to vice president Drew Sloan, early sales include a farm in Britain, dairies in the US, and farms in Slovakia.

Low-Methane Breeding of Cows

Low-methane breeding, which was not engaged in its development, may, if extensively used, have a "profound impact" on cattle emissions globally, according to Frank Mitloehner, a professor of animal science at the University of California Davis.

Low-methane breeding hasn't won over certain regulators in the dairy business; they claim it could cause digestive issues.

In an email, Canada's agriculture ministry stated that although it has not yet evaluated the product's methane evaluation mechanism, lowering emissions from cattle is "extremely important."

(Photo: by MARCO LONGARI/AFP via Getty Images) A cattle herder guides his cows as a stork flies by in Mokema, on October 07, 2022. - Voters in the southern African kingdom of Lesotho will cast their ballots in parliamentary elections on October 7, 2022, but hopes are low that the outcome will end the country's long-running political gridlock

14.5 percent of the global greenhouse gas emissions come from livestock. The second-largest greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide is methane.

While farmers can feed chemicals to cattle to lower methane output, Mitloehner noted that because they are not authorized for usage in the US, their effects disappear after the cattle stop eating them.

Based on studies by Canadian scientists, the low-methane breeding stock is the result of a collaboration between Semex and Lactanet, Canada's milk-recording organization.

In April, Lactanet announced the results of the first-ever national genetic study of methane from Holstein cows and heifers on 6,000 farms, or almost 60% of Canada's dairy farms.

Scientists from the Universities of Guelph and Alberta conducted methane measurements on dairy cattle for seven years, which were used in the registry.

Methane emissions from cattle were recorded by the scientists, who later correlated the results to genetic data and milk samples.

According to Christine Baes, professor of animal biosciences at the University of Guelph, who worked on the experiment, methane emissions from dairy cows in Canada range greatly, from 250 to 750 grams per day. According to her, selecting for the low methane characteristic could stabilize decreasing emissions over time.

According to Vice President of Research and Innovation Michael Lohuis, Semex is not initially charging more for the methane characteristic. He declined to give sales forecasts but believes that until there are financial incentives, sales will be slow.

Read also: Artificial Photosynthesis Closer To Reality Thanks To Bacteria That Convert Hydrogen Into Methane

No Available Incentives Yet in Canada

The Canadian government does not currently provide incentives for the breeding of low-methane cattle, but according to an email from the agricultural department, Ottawa is seeking to implement offset credits for lowering methane through improved waste management.

Farmers are being urged by several nations and food industries to switch to lower-emitting cattle.

Related article: New 'Mad Cow Disease' Emerges in the US: Found in a Beef Processing Plants

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Congressman James E. Clyburn presented Claflin University with a $17.4 million check on Monday for the construction of a Bioscience Research and Technology Center.

The development of the center is part of a holistic approach to advancing the university, President Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack said.

This is going to be game changing. Its going to allow us to be one of the top research hubs, Warmack said.

Funding for the facility came from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Institute of Standards and Technologies.

Clyburn congratulated Warmack for the visionary leadership you bring to this school.

Claflin has never lost its place, and when we came here, the president made it known, Clyburn said.

The center will allow more research into bioscience, environmental science, computer science and cybersecurity for faculty and students. The university also plans to conduct research into artificial intelligence.

We know biotech is an area of the future. We want to be the place that produces the most outstanding minority and African American women and men in STEM. This will propel us to be one of the top leaders in the nation around biotechnology and computer science, Warmack said.

Improvements to the programs are an excellent recruitment tool and will allow Claflins bioscience and computer science programs to appeal to the best and the brightest, he said.

Construction of the facility is set to begin in November.

Warmack thanked Dr. Verlie Tisdale, Dr. Karina Liles and Dr. Gloria McCutcheon, faculty from the School of Natural Science and Mathematics, for writing the proposal for the funds.

McCutcheon, chair of the department of biology, says the new facility will increase the yearning for learning.

We think that this will expand our opportunities to get more faculty from around the world. Its always good to be in a teaching or learning environment that looks good and feels good. We have some older buildings now and were looking forward to moving some of the courses to the new facility, McCutcheon said.

The department developed a new online program that focuses on climate change, she said.

We intend for it to be a global program with faculty and students from all over the world looking at the impact of climate change, McCutcheon said.

Warmack thanked Clyburn for believing in the outstanding work that happens in South Carolina and specifically here at Claflin University.

In the last 18 months, Clyburn has helped award over $100 million to South Carolina institutions, Warmack said.

This type of historic gift wouldnt have happened without his dynamic commitment and leadership to the great state of South Carolina. None of this would have happened without great support. I can have all the vision in the world, but without resources, it cant happen, he said.

Clyburn was essential in acquiring $23 million from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity grant for the rehabilitation of Railroad Corner. The grant will fund a pedestrian bridge to connect South Carolina State University and Claflin to downtown Orangeburg.

We are trying to make these two institutions a significant part of Orangeburg, Clyburn said.

Warmack also provided updates on the universitys new student center. He says the student center will be completed in November. It will include a movie theater, Starbucks, Papa Johns, QDOBA and a large ballroom space.

All of these things are open to the community. Everything we do is intentionally about what makes Orangeburg a better place to live, work and play, Warmack said.

Our goal is to educate them here and allow them to stay here in the great state of South Carolina.
A 48-year-old Denmark man was shot to death Monday, according to Bamberg County Coroner Wallace Hicks Jr.

The shooting victim was James McCreary, of 8 Old Town Road. An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday.

Bamberg County Sheriff Kenny Bamberg and two deputies discovered McCrearys body at 3:45 p.m. Monday as they responded to reports of a shooting incident at a Cardinal Road home in Denmark, according to a heavily redacted incident report.

McCrearys body was located on the ground in the yard, Bamberg said.

Medics from MedShore Ambulance service responded to the scene and attempted lifesaving measures, but werent successful, the report said.

Bamberg called for agents with the S.C. Law Enforcement Division to investigate the case. He also asked the agency to bring tracking dogs to the scene, according to the report.

SLED spokesperson Renee Wunderlich said, The investigation is active and ongoing. No further details are available at this time.

Bamberg believes the shooting was an isolated incident.

Other agencies that responded to the scene were the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, the Denmark Fire Department and first responders.
The Orangeburg Department of Public Utilities is projecting it will spend about $32.1 million on water system improvements in the 2023-24 fiscal year.

About $12.1 million will go toward upgrades at the utilitys water treatment plant and sludge lagoon, according to a 145-page Capital Improvement Projects report.

The spending plan for the utilitys water division represents 72 percent of the departments planned capital spending for the coming fiscal year. DPUs capital budget for the year is $43.9 million.

Our focus is always maintaining a good-quality, level service resiliency, reliability and ongoing investment in our system, DPU Manager Warren Harley said. That is how you stay viable.

A significant portion of the projects will be paid with money from grants and borrowed from the State Revolving Fund.

The fund provides low-interest loans for wastewater, drinking water and stormwater systems. The program is run by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control and the S.C. Rural Infrastructure Authority, Office of Local Government.

Harley said about $21 million of the money will be borrowed and be added to the utilitys debt issuance.

The capital improvements include newly funded projects and ongoing projects previously approved for funding. A number of DPU projects are done over a period of several years.

The utilitys fiscal year runs from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30.

Orangeburg City Council gave first reading approval to the plan at its Aug. 1 meeting.

Water projects

Sludge lagoon cleanout/water treatment plant upgrades:

Total estimated project cost: $12,145,000

Total project spending to date: $80,125

Total project cost remaining: $12,064,875.

Estimated fiscal year cost: $12,064,875

The costliest project is related to the enhancement of the utilitys sludge lagoon and its John F. Pearson Water Treatment Plant.

The purpose of the project is to improve the handling processes of the treatment plant.

Since 1990, the sludge lagoon has been used to store all solids generated from the removal of natural organic material during the water treatment process. The lagoon has now reached its maximum storage capacity and needs to be cleaned.

When operating properly, the lagoon allows for high volumes of water and solids to be transferred within several hours during the day to help facilitate the manual cleaning and restoration of the basin within a 24-hour period.

DPU officials say the current solid disposal process is not equipped to handle increased high volumes of water and solids except on a periodic basis.

Over the life of the lagoon, an estimated 3,300 tons of solids have been stored.

As part of the project, the lagoon will be emptied and solids disposed in a landfill. A new liner will be installed, which will maximize the usage and extend the storage capability of the lagoon. The last cleanout was in 2005.

The project will also split the solids waste process inside the water treatment plant.

This will allow mostly clean water to flow to the lagoon, with solids directed toward the wastewater treatment plant. This will allow the utility to handle additional demand on the water system in anticipation of economic and residential growth.

The project will provide additional storage for solids during periods of poor water quality in high rainfall events and extend the life of the lagoon.

The utility plans to borrow about $11.5 million through the State Revolving low-interest loan program to pay for the project over a period of 20 years to 30 years. The majority of the project will be done in the upcoming fiscal year.

Replacement of aging water pipes in the area bounded by Russell Street, Magnolia Street, Whitman Street, Gregg Street and Whittaker Parkway.

Total estimated project cost: $6 million

Total project spending to date: $193,519

Total project cost remaining: $5,806,481

Estimated fiscal year cost: $5,806,481

The existing water mains were installed in 1915. The new pipes will aim to improve water quality and improve fire flows.

The funding for the project will be offset with Community Development Block Grant funds.

The acquisition of the Bull Swamp Rural Water Company.

Total estimated project cost: $12,855,000

Total project spending to date: $4,325

Total project cost remaining: $12,850,675

Estimated fiscal year cost: $5 million

The BSRWC has received $10.5 million through the S.C. Rural Infrastructure Authoritys South Carolina Infrastructure Investment Program to allow DPU to take over and improve the Bull Swamp water system. DPU has also received an additional $4 million grant to help interconnect the system.

The utility will be acquiring about 100 miles of pipe and will be replacing about 15 miles through state funding.

DPU will also rehabilitate Bull Swamps elevated storage tanks.

Bull Swamp also has three wells, though DPU has yet to determine what will be done with two of the wells. One will be kept for an emergency supply source. The utility expects the addition of Bull Swamp will generate between $400,000 and $500,000 in revenue.

Doubling the capacity of its North Road pump station.

Total estimated project cost: $4,012,000

Total project spending to date: $69

Total project cost remaining: $4,011,931

Estimated fiscal year cost: $4,011,931

The project will entail doubling the capacity of the pump station by providing a new, 9,000 feet of 16-inch water main on North Road to serve it.

The pump, which was built in 1996, currently has a capacity of 500 gallons of water per minute. The proposed capacity is 1,000 gallons per minute.

The upgrade will provide additional capacity for the utilitys Bull Swamp Rural Water Company acquisition. The project will also improve water pressures along North Road around Hampton and Hodges streets.

The project is also benefiting from federal American Rescue Plan Act funding. The utility will be responsible for $600,000.

The replacement of 16,000 residential water meters with automated meters.

Total estimated project cost: $7,600,000

Total project spending to date: $3,410,036

Total project cost remaining: $4,189,964

Estimated fiscal year cost: $4,189,964

The project started Aug. 1 and will end June 2024.

The new meters will allow both DPU and customers to identify abnormal consumption.

The refurbishment of the elevated water storage tank at the utilitys water treatment plant.

Total estimated project cost: $500,000

Total project spending to date: $2,324

Total project cost remaining: $497,676

Estimated fiscal year cost: $497,676

The project will entail making structural improvements to the tank, and then repainting the tank.

The tank was last painted 15 years ago.

New water projects

The refurbishment of the elevated water storage tank at Dantzler Street

Total estimated project cost: $500,000

Total project spending to date: $6,644

Total project cost remaining: $493,356

Estimated fiscal year cost: $493,356

The refurbishment of the Dantzler Street water tank through structural improvements and painting. The last time the tank was painted was in 2007.
SANTEE  Santee native Gaill Jones, who now lives in Burlington, Vermont, said she is concerned that her mother who was experiencing mild stroke symptoms was not immediately seen at the urgent care center in her hometown.

MUSC Health-Orangeburg administers the MUSC Health Express Care-Santee facility at 111 John Lawson Ave., with an official stating that the center provides care for non-life-threatening conditions and advising that all patients who think they may be experiencing anything different immediately seek help at the hospitals emergency department.

My mom lost her sight while driving from Orangeburg home to Santee (on July 26). It was a temporary loss. She pulled over, had someone come to get her, and they drove her to Santee Urgent Care to see what was going on. When they got there, they told her that they couldnt serve here because they didnt have a doctor on site and clearly no nurse, as well. They told her to go to the fire department, Jones said.

She wasnt sure who her 75-year-old mother, Jeannette, saw at the urgent care center.

MUSC Health Express Care-Santee MUSC Health-Orangeburg administers the MUSC Health Express Care-Santee facility at 111 John Lawson Ave.

She met someone, she didnt say whether it was a nurse, LNA, or whoever, but she was not given any type of service. They said they couldnt help her and she needed to go to the fire department. The fire department checked her vitals and then called the ambulance, which is what (Santee) Urgent Care should have done, Jones said.

Jones said she wasnt sure if the urgent care officials arbitrarily assumed her mothers situation wasnt an emergency, but said they could have at least checked her mothers vital signs.

I dont know any of that, but if you go to urgent care, youre coming there for an emergency, she said.

Rachel T. Berry, marketing and communications manager at MUSC Health-Orangeburg, said in an email there is a difference between urgent care and emergency care.

MUSC Health Express Care-Santee provides care for conditions which are urgent but not potentially life-threatening. Some of the most common conditions treated at the facility are strains and sprains, COVID, flu, urinary tract infections, cuts needing stitches, nausea and vomiting, bronchitis, earaches and pink eye, Berry said.

She said the Express Care site is staffed by physician assistants and nurse practitioners.

Jones said her mother was on her way back home from Orangeburg  and away from the Orangeburg hospital facility, where the emergency room is, when she began to lose her sight.

She didnt lose her sight up there. She was closer to Santee, her home, where she started losing her sight. So, no, the definition of urgent care is if youre in a rural area and you cant get to an emergency room, you go to urgent care.

Theyll fix the situation, or at least hold it until they can get you to the emergency room. Check her vitals or something because she did have a mild stroke, which could have been a major stroke. She could have been dead, Jones said.

She continued, The fire department checked her vitals and then called the ambulance, which is what Urgent Cares job is, as well, because there was no doctor at the fire department, either. So dont make excuses as if someones supposed to receive that. No. Theres rules to medicine.

Berry said, Although we cannot speak to a specific patients experience, we advise that all patients who suspect they are experiencing a life-threatening condition immediately seek treatment at the emergency department, where appropriate diagnostic equipment, medications and specialists are located.

Jones is grateful her mother is still alive but said she was still less than pleased with her treatment.

At least have her come inside. Check her blood pressure, her sugar, eyes, ears, nose and throat, pulse. When she lost her vision, that was one of the signs of having a stroke. Youre supposed to get busy in five minutes after a stroke or youre going to be dead or really handicapped. If they dont know that, they need to be closed.

Berry said, Urgent care facilities such as MUSC Health Care Express Care-Santee provide valuable services to our communities by treating patients in need of immediate care for non-life threatening conditions and helping to control overcrowding in the emergency department.
Community health fair Aug. 12 at Voorhees

Motivated Woman, a nonprofit organization, is partnering with Voorhees University and South Carolina Institutes of Innovation and Information (SCIII) to host a community health fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 12 at Voorhees University in the Leonard E. Dawson Health and Human Resources Center. The health fair is for men, women and children and will offer free mammograms, rapid HIV testing, COVID vaccines and test kits and health screenings to monitor blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar.

OCSO holding a Town Hall event Aug. 29

The Orangeburg County Sheriff's office will be holding a Town Hall event, "Know Us Before You Need Us," from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 29, at the Santee Convention Center, 1737 Bass Drive, in Santee. The public, community in welcome to attend.

SCSU Alumni Membership Drive, Fish Fry Aug. 31

The SCSU National Alumni Association, Greater Orangeburg Chapter, will hold its annual Membership Drive and Fish Fry from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 31, at Staley Hall Field on the campus of SC State University. There will be music, prizes and fellowship. Bring your lawn chairs. For more information, call 803-535-9754.

B-E Class of 1974 members sought

The Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School Class of 1974 have begun planning for its 50th reunion. Any members of that class are asked to contact the reunion committee via email at beclassof1974@gmail.com.

Praise Out Cancer annual fashion show Sept. 23

The Praise Out Cancer Foundations Look Good  Feel Good Fashion Show will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23, at the Lovely Hill Baptist Association Conference Center, 5905 West Jim Bilton Blvd., in St. George. Local men and women, breast and prostate cancer survivors, will walk the runway dressed in their Sunday Best fashions. The event is the largest annual fundraiser for the Praise Out Cancer Foundation, a nonprofit that assists breast and prostate cancer patients with short-term financial support in our local communities. Tickets are available by calling Mary Charley at 843-563-6069 or Alfred Charley at 803-614-1195.

How to submit your events

Please submit Community Datebook column items in writing. Items must be received no later than noon Tuesday of each week. The T&D does not guarantee when items will run. Items may be submitted by: Email: news@timesanddemocrat.com; In person: 1010 Broughton St.
(TBTCO) - Tuan toi, Chu tich Cuc Du tru Lien bang My (FED) Jerome Powell se phat bieu ve trien vong kinh te tai hoi nghi chuyen e kinh te Jackson Hole hang nam cua FED tai thanh pho Kansas, voi su tham du cua lanh ao cac ngan hang trung uong hang au the gioi. Cac nha au tu se xem xet bai phat bieu rat uoc mong oi nay e tim manh moi ve trien vong lai suat, ma FED a nang len muc 5,25% en 5,5% vao thang truoc, muc cao nhat trong 22 nam. Ba Lagarde, Chu tich ECB cung phat bieu tai hoi nghi.
The Austin Police Department announced that it is banning the use of less lethal shotguns. This means that all APD officers will no longer be able to use this weapon. But, the restriction is only temporary.

Austin Police Suspends Less Lethal Shotgun Usage

According to USA Today's latest report, the less lethal shotgun restriction was implemented due to some concerns.

These concerns include the incidents where the use of less lethal shotguns injured some Black Lives Matter protesters in 2020.

Aside from this, prosecutors also raised new concerns about why the less lethal shotguns were used on a 15-year-old girl, who was suspected of no crime.

The latest weapons restriction followed a July 28 memo from Travis County District Atty. Jose Garza. The memo that the attorney sent to Austin Police Chief Joe Chacon included the case of the 15-year-old girl.

On Friday, Aug. 4, Henderson also released a memo to APD to confirm that the directive was immediately effective.

"Effective immediately, all sworn personnel will cease the use of less lethal shotguns. This cessation may be temporary as APD and the (District Attorney's office) complete their dialogue," explained the APD chief.

Read Also: Houston Police Fine Volunteers for Feeding Homeless; Food Not Bombs Now Disputing 44 Tickets

Are Less Lethal Shotguns That Dangerous?

The less lethal shotguns are just like the normal version of the weapon. But, the U.S. Department of Justice explained that the real bullets are replaced by less lethal shotgun rounds.

These rounds are made of a polymer material that is designed to flatten impact (pancake). Usually, shotguns can deliver less-lethal rounds a distance of up to 25 yards.

Although they are not deadly compared to live rounds, how they are used against people is still concerning.

Less Lethal Weapons Criticized

For the past few years, the use of less lethal weapons has been criticized by numerous people in the United States.

Critics said that the use of less lethal guns for crowd control should be banned, especially because it leads to serious injuries, such as head wounds, blindness, and traumatic brain injuries.

This was seen in the 2021 case involving a 15-year-old girl, who was shot as police officers looked for her brother who was a suspect in a shooting.

You can click this link to learn more about this less-lethal weapon incident.

Related Article: Missing Georgia Mom: Imani Roberson's Husband Arrested After Remains Found Burned with SUV Vehicle

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The jury will be instructed they are not to consider Vincent Hayes' mental illness while examining the elements of the alleged crime, as the state attempts to poke holes in Hayes' two alleged identities and his self-defense argument.

Hayes is accused of shooting his 70-year-old father, William Johnson, multiple times on Nov. 11, 2021, in their east Casper home after they got into an argument about social justice and race. On Tuesday, the state continued making their second-degree murder case against him in Natrona County District Court.

He alleges his alternate personality, "Reno," which is a symptom of his dissociative identity disorder, shot his father that night.

District Court Judge Catherine Wilking ruled to allow a witness doctor to testify to a "general discussion" of the disorder, however, the defense was barred from mentioning the doctor is employed at Wyoming State Hospital.

But prosecutor Kevin Taheri indirectly mentioned that detail in front of the jury, so Hayes' public defender, Kurt Infanger, will now be allowed to introduce it  which hints the witness doctor worked where Hayes' official mental health report was produced.

In that medical report, it was concluded that Hayes did "meet the criteria for dissociative identity disorder," Infanger said in court Tuesday. Although, the jury will not be allowed to consider his illness.

There is no "diminished capacity" defense in the state of Wyoming.

On Monday, Hayes' recorded interview with authorities was played to the courtroom. Hayes and "Reno" discussed cleaning up the alleged crime scene to shield his mother from the gore, acting in self-defense, waiting overnight to contact authorities and considering the possibility of an intruder.

Former Casper police detective Shannon Cole, who conducted the interview following the alleged murder, took the stand Tuesday. Taheri questioned Cole about the amount of times Hayes randomly spoke as the wrong personality during that interview, alluding to him breaking character.

"There were two occasions, I believe, he spoke out of character," Cole said.

On the evening of the alleged murder, Johnson allegedly threatened to murder his son and loaded a gun at some point. Prosecutors say that Hayes or "Reno" "didn't know whether his dad had the gun or not" when he fired his weapon first.

Hayes' fearing for him and his mother's life is the crux of his self-defense argument, but no weapon was found on or around Johnson's body, prosecutors say.

Throughout the investigation process, Hayes told officials his father had threatened him with a Glock pistol, prosecutors said.

A team of people searched their east Casper home for several "long" days, a Casper police officer said. Other guns were located, but there was no Glock pistol in the residence.

"He didn't think anyone would believe that he acted in self-defense, which is why the story about the intruder came up," said Infanger, Hayes' public defender.

When Thomas Bennett, a forensic pathologist, walked the jurors through Johnson's autopsy photographs. His head was covered in blood, and he had brown paper bags placed over his hands.

Johnson was shot twice  once in the upper right forehead and once in the upper left back of his head, Bennett said in court Tuesday.

The state rested its presentation of the case late Tuesday afternoon. It was still undetermined if Hayes' was planning to testify on his own behalf Wednesday.

Hayes is facing up to life in prison if convicted.

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.
On Tuesday, state prosecutors said the Drug Enforcement Administration is investigating the three California men accused of driving over 1,000 miles to Wyoming to rob a Casper Walgreens pharmacy.

During the course of this investigation, the federal agency contacted the state, Blaine Nelson said in Natrona County District Court. It is believed that the three men may be connected to a series of similar crimes in the Pacific-Northwest area.

Nelson brought the news to light, as he argued against Curtis Greens request for a lower bond Tuesday morning in front of Judge Kerri Johnson.

Its powerful opioids, Nelson said. ...[A]nd a conspiracy to use violence.

On Tuesday, Green pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and conspiracy to deliver hydrocodone, oxycodone and methadone. He is facing up to 30 years if found guilty on both charges.

His attorney said that because Green is 20 years old with no criminal history, the judge should consider lowering his bond from $150,000 to $75,000.

Although Johnson will not consider the potential DEA investigation, she declined to lower the bond due to a lack of ties to the community and the severity of the crime, she said.

The DEA was unable to comment Tuesday. Greens co-defendants, Joshua Slaughter, and Charles Jemison also pleaded not guilty in connection with the May 26 robbery.

They are believed to have driven to the Wyoming Boulevard Walgreens based on an Instagram post, which showed them how to steal hydros, the affidavit in their case states.

Jemison allegedly robbed 3,500 opioid pills, worth $4,715, while Slaughter stood as lookout. Green is suspected of being the getaway driver.

While this was happening, there were allegedly pharmacists confined in the store, the affidavit states. One of the employees believed Jemison had a gun, but there is no evidence that a gun was actually brought inside Walgreens.

They allegedly intended to sell the drugs back near their homes in Stockton, California.

During an interview with police, Green could not explain why the trio picked Wyoming and admitted he had never heard of the state before this trip, the affidavit states. He said he made a stupid decision because he needed the money.

Greens trial has not been scheduled yet.

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.
A group of anti-abortion lawmakers and advocates is asking the Wyoming Supreme Court to reconsider a judges decision that blocked them from joining a lawsuit challenging two abortion bans.

Reps. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams and Chip Neiman, as well as the anti-abortion group Right to Life Wyoming, filed the appeal Friday afternoon. Rodriguez-Williams, R-Cody, sponsored the Life is a Human Right Act  a sweeping abortion ban that supporters hoped would bring a quick end to abortions in Wyoming.

The group attempted to intervene in a lawsuit that seeks to strike down the Life is a Human Right Act as well as another law that would have banned medication abortions.

But Teton County Judge Melissa Owens denied their request last month. She argued that the proposed intervenors dont have a legally protectable interest in joining the lawsuit and that their interests are already adequately represented by the state defendants. Whats more, she said in court filings that their involvement in the lawsuit would unduly delay and prejudice the litigation.

Owens also temporarily halted enforcement of the two abortion bans while the lawsuit ensues. For now, abortions until viability are still legal in Wyoming.

Secretary of State Chuck Gray had also been a part of the group attempting to join the lawsuit  a move that political observers said was unusual. He wasnt, however, included in the recent appeal. Gov. Mark Gordon and State Attorney General Bridget Hill, who are defending the two abortion bans in the case, had opposed the state secretarys involvement.
GUARDIAN Holdings Ltd is not just sold as a rock, it is as solid as bedrock, its chief executive officer Ian Chinapoo has said, as he assured that the group, even in the face of recent concerns, remains both stable and reliable.

At the end of the day we know who we are, we know we are very, very, very strong, we know our investments are all over the world, we know that we are well diversified, we know that we have a business that has honoured every single claim, Chinapoo told the Express during a sit-down interview at his Westmoorings office.
Afraz and Dilly Ann Karmally have taken their shared love for rock music to fashion a literal Metal Maze.

The married couple, owners of the Inten Artist Consultants firm, have created the annual Metal Maze with the aim of redefining the Caribbean metal festival experience.
Several Government and Opposition MPs listed their lands and properties on Form B of their declaration forms to the Integrity Commission, a search by the Sunday Express has found.

There has been controversy over Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowleys non-declaration of his Inez Gate, Tobago, townhouse on Form B of his declaration filed for 2019 to the Integrity Commission.
According to authorities, a doctor from New York City was accused on Monday in connection with the alleged sexual abuse of at least six women, including many patients who were allegedly drugged, recorded, and attacked while in visits at a prominent nearby hospital.

Zhi Alan Cheng was charged with raping three more women inside his Queens, New York, apartment and sexually assaulting three of his patients at the New York-Presbyterian Queens hospital, according to CBS News. He was arraigned on these allegations on Monday. He entered a not-guilty plea to the accusations.

Following his arrest for allegedly raping a female acquaintance in his Queens home, the 33-year-old gastroenterologist lost his hospital employment in December.

The woman informed law enforcement at the time that she had seen footage of Cheng molesting several other women in addition to her.

New Video Evidence

According to the new charge, detectives found a wealth of video evidence depicting the doctor abusing women inside his home and business while searching his residence and electronic devices.

Three hospital patients, including a 19-year-old and a "seriously ill" 47-year-old, were shown being touched by Cheng in the video, according to the prosecution.

According to court records, all of the ladies looked to be unconscious while being abused, which suggests Cheng sedated them with an anesthetic.

Along with recreational drugs including cocaine and ecstasy, a variety of liquid anesthetics were found at his residence, according to court filings.

(Photo: by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images) ANN ARBOR, MI - OCTOBER 13: "Hail To The Victims" is shown scrawled on a sidewalk in front of the home of the outgoing University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel at a vigil for the survivors of sexual abuse and sexual assault October 13, 2021, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Melinda Katz, the district attorney for Queens, said in a statement that the evidence indicated "a serial rapist, someone willing to violate not only his sacred professional oath and patients' trust, but every standard of human decency."

The arrest comes after the conviction of Robert Hadden, a gynecologist who worked for New York-Presbyterian Hospital and was accused of abusing 245 women over a 20-year period. In June, he received a 20-year prison term.

A representative for New York-Presbyterian, Angela Karafazi, called Cheng's alleged behavior "a fundamental betrayal of our mission and our patients' trust."

According to her, the hospital plans to evaluate its patient safety procedures and give all staff members additional training.

Read also: Virginia Multimillionaire's Son Sentenced to 18 Years for Sexually Exploiting Multiple Minors

Sexual Assaults By Doctors in The US

Sexual assault by doctors is a serious problem in the United States. According to a 2018 study by the American Medical Association, one in five female patients has experienced sexual misconduct by a doctor. The study also found that only 13% of these patients reported the abuse to anyone.

There are many reasons patients may not report sexual assault by a doctor. Some patients may feel ashamed or embarrassed, or they may not believe that anyone will believe them. Others may fear retaliation from the doctor or from the medical system. Still, others may simply not know how to report the abuse.

The lack of reporting makes it difficult to know the true extent of the problem of sexual assault by doctors. However, the available data suggests that it is a widespread problem that is causing significant harm to patients.

The consequences of sexual assault by a doctor can be devastating for patients. They may experience physical and emotional pain, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. They may also have difficulty trusting doctors and other healthcare providers in the future.

Related article: Texas Man With HIV Accused Of Raping Baby And Teen Girl, Infecting Both

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
As was widely expected, the local government election (LGE) resulted in a repeat of the control of the 14 local government bodies being split 7-7 between the PNM and UNC. Crumbs of votes were sprinkled on the minor parties.

We have reconfirmed our propensity to condemn ourselves to continued political stagnation.
After weeks of anticipation, the Tucson run of Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience opens on Friday, Aug. 11, at the Oro Valley Marketplace.

But unless you reserved tickets early, you might miss out on the opening weekend.

Most of the time slots Friday through Sunday, Aug. 13, are sold out; Monday, Aug. 14, is a safer bet if you want to go in the afternoon.

The high-tech digital art exhibition features some 400 images, digital and canvas reproductions, from the seminal 19th century Franco-Dutch Post-impressionist artist, including his famous sunflower paintings. the iconic The Starry Night, The Siesta and his final work, Tree Roots.

The creator, Exhibition Hub, arranged the exhibit chronologically, allowing visitors to learn about van Goghs life beyond the ubiquitous story of the tortured artist who cut off his ear.

Van Gogh is a rock star, said John Zaller, Exhibition Hubs executive producer whose 25-year career creating immersive experiences has included being part of the creative team behind Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition; Jurassic World: The Exhibition; Bodies the Exhibition; and Star Trek: The Exhibition. Theres a big buzz around this but the buzz is created as much by the technology as the artist himself. Van Gogh is such a big name. Hes still the star of the show; hes just on a different stage.

Exhibition Hub, one of several companies touring immersive, high-tech van Gogh shows nationwide, creates a narrative of van Goghs short and troubled life and how that translated into works that transformed the art world in the late 19th century through today.

We meet his sisters, who were not fans until after his death, and his beloved brother Theodorus, who was his most ardent champion until his death and was so heartbroken by the loss that his health deteriorated and he died six months later.

The exhibit in the old World Market space includes two 3D stages where visitors can take photos: the 1888 Bedroom in Arles and the Vestibule in the Asylum from 1889.

One of the most anticipated highlights of Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience comes at the end, when visitors enter a large room that features a 360-degree digital show that brings 200 van Gogh masterpieces to life. Sixty projectors are used to animate the walls and floors with images. Sit on one of the benches or in the camping chairs set up around the space and you will feel like you are in the middle of van Goghs creative process. Images appear behind digital Japanese-style screens and the walls fill with brilliant almond blossoms and his trademark sunflowers.

At the end of the exhibit, visitors can take a virtual reality tour of a day in van Goghs life and visit the crayon table where they can color a van Gogh drawing or create their own.

Zaller said audience members often leave with a bigger appreciation for van Gogh and come out inspired to create their own art.

They come out feeling peaceful, he said, adding that a guest at a show in Los Angeles recently commented to him that if there was a heaven on Earth, this would be it.

Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience runs Thursdays-Mondays through Sept. 30. Zaller said the show could be extended based on community interest.

We would love to continue to bring content here, he said. Its a wonderful part of the country and its a community that supports the arts.

Photos: Step inside the Tucson run of "Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience." Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, 2023 Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, 2023 Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience
Two 19-year-olds, one from Tucson and the other from Rio Rico, have been sentenced for trying to take guns into Mexico, prosecutors say.

Joshua Francisco Mendez, 19, of Tucson was was sentenced July 26 to 12 months and one day in prison. Manuel De Jesus Guzman, 19, of Rio Rico, was sentenced June 21 to 18 months in prison, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Arizona said in a news release.

Both prison terms will be followed by three years of supervised release, the release said.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers found guns on the pair in June 2022 after they tried to enter Mexico through the pedestrian gate at the DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales, the release said.

Officers found four AK-47-style rifles on the teens. Guzman and Mendez had two Romarm WASR-10 rifles, one Century Arms VSKA rifle, and one Century Arms BFT rifle taped to their bodies, the release said.

Neither Guzman nor Mendez had a license to take guns across the border, the release said.
With Red Butte, deeply sacred to the Havsupai, behind him, President Joe Biden on Tuesday proclaimed nearly 1 million acres around the Grand Canyon as the Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni  Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument.

Its official, Biden said after signing the proclamation, flanked by tribal leaders, conservation groups and a gaggle of White House reporters, all surrounded by sagebrush and in the midst of the largest ponderosa pine forest in the world.

Americas natural wonders are central to our heritage and our identity as a nation. Conserving them not only protects the livelihoods of the people that depend on them, it preserves key pieces of our history for the full American story for generations to come. It unites us, Biden said.

Today marks a historic step for preserving the majesty of this place, first among American landmarks, sacred to tribal nations, revered by every American. It speaks to the soul of our nation.

The Presidents remarks came at the historic Grand Canyon Airport, and after decades of pressure on the part of tribes and conservation groups. Biden also tied the proclamation to his administrations larger goal of fighting climate change.

(Preserving lands) are also key to building resilience against drought and climate change. Creeks and streams flowing into the Colorado River supporting farms and ranches across the Southwest, bringing clean water to 40 million Americans, Biden said.

Folks, preserving these lands is good, not only for Arizona but for the planet. Its good for the economy. Its good for the soul of the nation and I believe its the right thing to do.

Bidens remarks and proclamation were preceded by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and several Arizona public officials, including Rep. Raul Grijalva, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, Gov. Katie Hobbs, and 2022-23 Miss Navajo Nation Valentina Clitso, who sang the national anthem in Navajo.

The proclamation was an act to right past history and one that had been long fought for, Clark Tenakhongva, former vice-chair of the Hopi Tribe, told the Arizona Daily Sun.

Its long overdue. Its finally a feeling of hope from the horizon from the east, meaning the White House, that this administration is finally looking at tribal issues rather than just talking about it, Tenakhongva said.

Havasupai council member Stewart Chavez also spoke to the long journey that led to Tuesdays proclamation, saying the last step happened so fast that it was almost like whiplash.

There are generations before me that are gone that are definitely rejoiceful in the spirit world at this point, Chavez said. I think the message that I have is thank you, from the bottom of my heart. For someone to have finally acknowledge Indigenous tribes.

And it took this long, but for someone to actually respond, understand the request that weve had for years, the importance of preserving not only our history, but also our culture and the land for future generations.

Tucson Democrat Grijalva thanked tribes for the persistence in efforts to fight for protections over the course of decades.

It has taken a struggle (to get here) and no one knows that better than the tribal people who have never forgotten that struggle, Grijalva said.

The new monument comes after years of work on the part of tribes and conservation groups to see areas around Grand Canyon National Park protected from uranium mining in particular.

The monument will largely eliminate the possibility of future mining within the designated area. Existing mines would still be able to operate.

In April, a coalition of 14 tribes began a renewed push for the administration to declare the area a new monument.

Earlier this year, Haaland made a visit to Supai Village to hear from tribal members pushing for the monument.

Haaland also heard from other tribes in the coalition and non-tribal leaders.

These special places are not a passthrough on the way to the Grand Canyon. They are sacred and significant unto their own right. They should not be open to new mining claims and developed beyond recognition, Haaland told reporters. We are in a new era, one in which we honor tribally led conservation, advanced code stewardship and care about the wellbeing of Native people.

The proclamation includes about 917,618 acres of public lands, split into three distinct chunks. South of the Canyon, the monument encompasses much of the Kaibab National Forest. Northeast of the Canyon, the monument includes much of the House Rock Valley from the edge of Marble Canyon to the Kaibab Plateau.

Finally to the northwest of the Canyon, the monument includes areas spanning from south of Fredonia and the Kaibab Indian Reservation, to the edge of the park.

Thats somewhat distinct from the proposed 1.1 million acres asked for by the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition.

The monument proclamation leaves out several thousand acres of land proposed in the northeastern section.

New mining claims are still not permitted in that area under a 2012 moratorium enacted by the Obama administration, a senior administration official said.

Tribes will have a role in developing and managing the monument, as will state and local agencies, officials also said.

It is not exactly clear what form co-management will take, but officials said tribes with connections to the monument areas will be included in a commission that is meant to inform and guide what co-stewardship means.

The proclamation also establishes an advisory committee between tribes, stakeholders, and state agencies such as Arizona Game and Fish, and land management agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service.

In this time of the climate crisis, Indigenous knowledge is becoming increasingly valuable for the management of our public lands and just want to state that its important that we have tribal input into how these lands are being managed, Haaland said.

The Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni  Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument becomes the nations 133rd national monument, and brings the number of national monuments in Arizona to 19.

Baaj Nwaavjo means where tribes roam, for the Havasupai people, while Itah Kukveni translates to our footprints, for the Hopi tribe.

The monument designation was applauded by many who have been working toward the protection of lands around the Canyon for years.

Grijalva has introduced countless bills to do so, and thanked the efforts of tribes and tribal members for getting the administration to act. [We] are witnessing the culmination of a monumental journey.

Designation of the (monument) is a remarkable triumph and a testament to the unwavering dedication of the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition, local communities, and other allies, Grijalva said in a statement.

Together with the Biden-Harris administration, were ensuring the protection of the regions vast and rich natural resources, safeguarding cultural heritage, and preserving the incredible beauty of this iconic landscape for generations to come.

Recent polls commissioned by conservation groups have shown the monument designation to be popular with Arizonans of all political stripes.

One poll showed that about 75% of Arizona voters supported a monument designation. But that doesnt mean the new monument wont ruffle any feathers.

At a public listening session in Flagstaff last month, several Mohave County officials spoke strongly in opposition to the monument designation, saying they had been left out of the process.

In Coconino County, residents of Fredonia and other Arizona Strip communities also expressed displeasure with the monument proposal.

Critics have argued it wont help combat a lingering drought and could prevent thinning of forests and stop hunters from keeping wildlife populations in check. Utah ranchers near the border with Arizona say the monument designation would strip them of privately owned land.

And the monument effort has been strongly opposed by mining companies that hope to extract uranium from the area.

Energy Fuels Inc. Vice President of Marketing and Development Curtis Moore called the monument designation a mistake and one that is counter to the administrations own goals on climate change.

Energy Fuels Inc. owns and operates the Pinyon Plain Mine, just south of the Grand Canyon and just north of Red Butte.

While that mine has yet to begin extracting uranium ore, its operations will be unaffected by the monument designation.

While our Pinyon Plain mine should not be affected by a national monument designation, we dont think permanently locking off Americas lowest environmental impact and most globally competitive uranium deposits makes sense, Moore said. Designating a national monument to stop uranium mining goes against the great weight of science and facts on the ground.

Energy Fuels has long held that modern uranium mining is much safer and less impactful than past efforts to mine uranium throughout the region, an assertion that tribes and conservation groups dispute.

On the other hand, Alicyn Gitlin with the Grand Canyon Chapter of the Sierra Club said she is still having a hard time believing that the monument designation is a reality.

Were thrilled and relieved to finally see this happen. It is the culmination of the efforts of tribal members, and conservation-minded people over decades. You know, these fights started in the 80s and its great to see it now (come to fruition), Gitlin said.

In 2017, President Barack Obama backed off a full-on monument designation.

The idea faced a hostile reception from Arizonas Republican governor and two senators. Then-Gov. Doug Ducey threatened legal action, saying Arizona already has enough national monuments.

The landscape of Arizonas political delegation has since changed considerably.

Gov. Katie Hobbs, Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, an independent, were all on board. Hobbs, a Democrat, has openly urged Biden to issue a designation.

In a letter sent to Biden in May, Hobbs said she heard from people across the political spectrum, including sporting groups and outdoor groups, in support of a monument.

President Bidens designation of this new national monument is a welcome decision that will protect cultural sites as well as the communities and recreation jobs that depend on this land. Its also the result of years of advocacy by Arizona community and tribal leaders who I was proud to support by leading this effort alongside Sen. Sinema in the United States Senate,

Kelly said in a statement Tuesday: Ive had the opportunity to see the Grand Canyons beauty from space and up close and there is just no other place like it. Now, generations of tribal residents, hikers, bikers, rafters, and others will continue to enjoy all the Grand Canyon region has to offer to the benefit of our state and our economy.
PHOENIX  With efforts by one set of foes already rebuffed, the states top Republican lawmakers are making their own bid to quash a new state law designed to shine a light on dark money.

In a new court filing, Senate President Warren Petersen and House Speaker Ben Toma contend that Proposition 211 infringes on the constitutional right of the Legislature to make laws. Now they want Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Frank Moskowitz to override what voters approved just last year.

The new litigation comes less than two months after a different Maricopa judge tossed out a challenge filed by the Arizona Free Enterprise Club and the Center for Arizona Policy. Scott McCoy rejected their claims that the requirements of the law to disclose the true identity of those who spend money to affect candidate races and ballot measures violates the rights of donors.

A separate challenge is pending in federal court where Americans for Prosperity, a conservative advocacy group founded by the Koch brothers, contends Proposition 211 results in government doxxing of those who contribute to political groups. No ruling has been made in that case.

This new effort advances a different legal argument: whether voters, in approving the measure, gave too much power to Secretary of State Adrian Fontes who is charged with gathering information on donors and the Citizens Clean Elections Commission which enforces the law.

Without court intervention, the defendants stand to violate under color of state law the rights and plenary lawmaking power of the Arizona Legislature under the Arizona Constitution, wrote attorney Brett Johnson for Petersen and Toma. And the Arizona Legislature will suffer ongoing, irreparable injury and loss of its constitutional rights.

Arizona law has long required public disclosure of those who give directly to candidates. In fact, the state constitution mandates such laws.

But the statutes were crafted in a way to allow donors to hide their identities by giving their fund to other groups.

Thats what happened in 2014 when several groups, including the Free Enterprise Club, put $10.7 million into successful efforts to elect Republicans Tom Forese and Doug Little to the Arizona Corporation Commission, the panel that regulates utility rates.

Three years later, the commission approved a 4.5% rate hike for Arizona Public Service, the states largest electric utility.

The company didnt disclose it was the actual original source of the funding until 2019.

Proposition 211, approved in November by a 3-1 margin, was designed to close that loophole.

It requires public disclosure of the identity of anyone who has given at least $5,000 to any front group. Potentially more significant, it requires any group making political expenditures to trace the cash back to its original source  no matter how many hands it has passed through  and disclose it in public records.

In seeking to have the law voided, Petersen and Toma do not seek to argue that disclosure, by itself is unconstitutional.

Instead, they focus on the fact that the Citizens Clean Elections Commission, originally created in 1998 as part of a voluntary system of public financing of statewide and legislative campaigns, is empowered to make its own rules for how some of the terms of Proposition 211 will be enforced.

For example, the initiative spells out that it applies to any organization that spends at least $50,000 in media spending on statewide campaigns or $25,000 on other races. Then it defines what that phrase means.

That is defined to include any activity or public communication that supports the election or defeat of candidates of an identified political party or the electoral prospects of an identified political party, including partisan voter registration, partisan get-out-the-vote activity or other partisan campaign activity. And it further includes things like research, polling and data analytics.

Whether an activity crosses the line, Johnson said, is defined by the Citizens Clean Elections Commission. At the same time, though, the commission has broad powers like issuing and enforcing subpoenas, initiating enforcement actions, conducting hearings and investigations and imposing steep penalties against potential violators.

Then theres Johnsons complaint that the commissions rules and enforcement actions are exempt from the states Administrative Procedure Act which governs and limits the activities of other state agencies. That, said Johnson, leaves the commission with virtually unfettered ability to adopt, interpret, and enforce any adopted regulations without any meaningful form of checks and balances.

Whats worse, he said, is that the measure is riddled throughout with  inconsistencies and contradictions.

But the Voter Protection Act bars lawmakers from altering anything approved at the ballot. That, said Johnson, precludes lawmakers from making necessary fixes  and pretty much leaves the commission to decide on its own how to interpret those inconsistencies.

The bottom line, he said, is that Proposition 211 gives the commission, whose members are appointed but not elected, executive, legislative and judicial functions all without any form of legislative or executive oversight. And that, said Johnson, is a violation of the separation of powers.
The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:

My wife and I completed a tour along Europes Danube-Main-Rhine river network. Millions of Americans have made this trip before to marvel at the cities, castles and cathedrals dating back to Roman times.

Yet, while these structures and their histories are wonderfully educational, I find the most interesting facts are those regarding the populations who ruled, fought and actually labored through centuries of floods, famine, pestilence and warfare to evolve as they have today. Its not so much about the dates and names as it is about the reasons and consequences that make factual histories important. For myself, it is the people who are still living  literally war babies  who share individually or institutionally unvarnished histories which evolved into the horrors of their 20th century.

Prague, in the Czech Republic, is a prime example. In Prague tour guides are not only well versed in their medieval history but are from families that endured the annexation of their homeland by the Nazis and the subsequent occupation by a repressive Soviet government. They tell it like it was and, hopefully, will never be again. Not surprisingly, you will find the Ukrainian flag displayed along with the Czech Republic flag on many government buildings.

Wertheim, a smaller medieval city, is famous for centuries of devastating floods. Prior to the Nazi rise to power, Wertheim had a vibrant Jewish community integrated into the public and economic life of the city. Wholesale discrimination against Jews in Wertheim began in 1934. By 1938 all Jewish owned businesses had been appropriated, synagogues destroyed, and deportations to Dachau had begun. During our visit, we were privileged to have a guide who remembered Kristallnacht  The Night of Broken Glass when Storm Troopers broke the windows of Jewish-owned establishments all over Germany. Wertheims story is a testament to history, not allowing the horror of the past to be swept away for political expediency. As part of a city-sponsored program, the guides presentation is available to anyone wishing to learn about the Holocaust experience in Wertheim and the subsequent reconciliation process.

We ended our time in Europe in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, a country with numerous occupiers over the centuries and scores of famous painters. In Amsterdam the Dutch preserve history as it happened through their memorials and museums. Almost all tourists are familiar with the Anne Frank House and its connection to the Holocaust. Not as many are familiar with the Homomonument, a memorial to the gay and lesbian community that, like the Jewish community, was also persecuted severely by the Nazis. Kudos to the Dutch for recognizing and honoring all Holocaust victims.

Memorializing the Holocaust is not the only attempt to preserve history as it happened. During the 1600s-1800s the Dutch were a great sea power. The Dutch West and East India Companies were heavily engaged in the African slave trade and expropriation of land and resources from Indonesia. Openly displayed in their museums and numerous galleries, the Dutch history of slavery and exploitation has been preserved to be studied as it existed and not minimized to make folks more comfortable.

Upon returning from Europe, we were re-exposed daily to the political contrivance of wokeness. What exactly does that mean? Is it a state of awareness of how things actually are? Does it require that all histories should be filtered for a particular political conformity because someone is uncomfortable? If so being aware or woke invites censorship as well as ignorance and intolerance.

What we observed on our trip was quite different. Czechs, Germans and Dutch have been through the consequences of ignoring history a lot longer than we have. They are aware or woke to the fact that rewriting history to conform to political ideology is dangerous. In a democracy it is at best a disingenuous pandering for votes.






Morals and common sense

Re: the July 26 letter Moral compass drives common sense.

The letter writer has definitely got it right! The only thing strange about the two lists is, in the face of such fact and behavior, why would ANYONE want anything to do with either Trump or todays Republican Party!

One thing is clear about the items on these lists  they are in no way useful to the daily freedom we all enjoy and take for granted under our democracy. They represent instead totally self-serving, terribly outdated, and just plain wrong prerogatives some people want to claim over others.

Democracy depends upon enlightenment that comes from knowledge built on exposure to ALL the facts, not just those conveniently selected by any one individual or group. Lying eliminates our trust in the facts required for the day-to-day learning, working, and living we have come to believe in and rely upon. Why would anyone want to trade this ability-to-trust for a person or group dealing from the list the letter writer provided us!

So much TRUTH! Thank you.

Frank Parsons

Northeast side

Who gets Secret Service protection?

Note to the letter writer who complained about Hunter Biden receiving Secret Service protection: Under law, all children (including those who are adult), their spouses and their children are entitled to 24/7 Secret Service protection while a president is in office. So all of Trumps children and their spouses got Secret Service protection, too. Of course, Trump being Trump, he extended that protection six months after he left office, costing us taxpayers a bundle.

In any case, I think Hunter Biden probably needs protection more than most presidents children do, because so many Republicans attack him so much.

Karen Schickedanz

SaddleBrooke

Electricity

Global consumption of coal passed 8 billion tons in 2022. China used a little over 4 billion tons, more than all other countries combined. Over 80% of the world is powered by fossil fuels. The largest impacts in cleaner air in the U.S. has been changing from coal to natural gas. China manufactures more solar panels than anywhere in the world.

We need a variety of energy sources to generate power in addition to wind and solar. We have solar panels on our home, and are happy we do. Supporting TEP that has energy rates less than the national average in Tucson, that provides dependable electricity is good. Coming from the midwest where we experienced numerous outages would not be acceptable here in the summertime. And California electricity rates that are twice Tucsons, would also be hard to accept!

Dave Locey

Foothills

We have met the enemy and he is us

Re: the Aug. 1 Editorial cartoon about Copper world.

I must remind everyone the high standard of living we all enjoy would not be possible without products derived from mining. If there was no demand for these products, there would be no need to develop new mining projects.

David Briggs, retired

geologist

Northwest side

Pass the Drug Act

Living a normal life with a severe form of alopecia can be quite difficult. In addition to the looks I get when Im out and about, I also have to worry about keeping up with rising out-of-pocket costs for the prescription medications I take to keep my immune system at bay.

Passing the DRUG Act would help reform some of the practices of Pharmacy Benefit Managers or PBMs use to maximize their profits while threatening access and affordability for patients. PBMs are the healthcare intermediaries that control 80% of the prescriptions on the market, and they have an inordinate amount of control over where and when patients can access the important medications they need.

As a nurse, in my professional life, it is even more incredibly frustrating to watch one segment of the healthcare industry profit off the backs of vulnerable patients. To improve patient access and reduce out-of-pocket costs, Arizonas congressional delegation should help support and pass the DRUG Act without delay.

Rachel Lembo

Foothills

Facts prevail

Re: the Aug. 3 letter Biden business.

I was glad to see letter writer joining Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman in calling for the release of Hunter Biden associate Devon Archers testimony transcripts. Unfortunately for the letter writer, the Daily Star can not print the transcript until the Republican committee majority agrees to release it.

Who is spinning the testimony? Rep. Goldman, the only member of the committee to listen to all five hours of the testimony, asserts it exonerates Biden. The letter writer maintains that the testimony condemns President Biden along with Republican Chairman, Rep. James Comer, who did not attend the Archer hearing. Let the facts prevail!

Bruce Hilpert

North side

Voucher insanity

Any family can get a $7K school voucher handout, per child, at the expense of our public schools and you, the taxpayer. Private schools are not accountable for any reporting  financial or educational  the way public schools are. Parents receiving these funds can use them any way they please, supposedly to be used for alternative educational needs. Republicans keep hammering on importance of school choice. (How ironic that concept of choice doesnt apply to womens reproductive rights.)

Financial need is not a requirement to receive the voucher funds. No wonder the projection is for 943 million to be spent on this ill-conceived Republican giveaway. The latest report shows 53% of K-12 spending will go to just 8% of Arizona students. And people are OK with this? The public schools must beg our communities to donate school supplies; this plea is repeated over and over on the local news every morning. Fully funding our public schools should come first. Something is very wrong here!

Deb Klumpp

Oro Valley

Pac-12 and Apple

Re: the Aug. 3 article Value, risks, missing pieces of Pac-12 Apple option.

This article asked: Should the Pac-12 prioritize a close relationship with Apple above all else, even revenue? The answer to this question is: Yes. As a lawyer working with clients on managing digital rights, I know that the challenge of crafting an effective, long-term digital rights strategy is often complex. For the Pac-12, today, the best approach is to develop as close a relationship with Apple as it can arrange.

In exchange for being accommodating on revenue, the Pac-12 should insist that it retain favored status with Apple, relative to other collegiate conferences, for the term of the agreement. If Apple, for example, develops a future arrangement with ESPN, the Pac-12 should benefit from that collaboration.

Close ties with Apple should create notable benefits for the Pac-12. NIL commercialization should blossom, and there is great potential to establish a Pac-12 presence in Apples virtual reality initiatives. Apple is the Pac-12s ticket to leadership in the digital future.

Jeffrey Matsuura

Downtown

Unanswered questions

With age supposedly comes wisdom and understanding, however, at age 95 many aspects of our political landscape appear to me difficult to rationalize. Examples: How can a veteran support a Vietnam era draft dodger who described those who served as losers? How can any woman support a serial sexual predator who has always regarded women as prey? How can any person of color support a known racist? How can a person of faith support a morally bankrupt charlatan for whom religious tenets are an alien concept? How can any law enforcement officer support someone who believes himself above the law? How can a lover of freedom and democracy support a would-be dictator who in office would weaponize government against detractors, pardon all Jan. 6 insurrectionists, gut NATO and abandon Ukraine to Putins barbarity? No mind was ever changed by a letter to the editor, but hopefully such questions may prove food for thought for some.

Joseph Stanley
Editor's note: This story was originally published in August 2020. We're resharing it in August 2023.

We are approaching peak prickly pear season.

Called "tunas" in Spanish, the deep, purple-red fruits are usually ripe in late August and early September, says Sonya Norman, public programs coordinator for the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.

Removed of spines and strained into juice, prickly pear fruit is often used to make syrups, jellies, candies and more. You can also eat them fresh, Norman adds.

Prickly pear fruit (and pads) is just one of many wild desert foods long used by Indigenous people. If you are harvesting prickly pear fruit this year, do so with respect, leaving fruit on the cactus for desert critters. Don't exhaust the supply. You should also only harvest in your own backyard or on private property with permission. We wrote a whole story about wild desert foods and what you need to know about them if you want more information.

"If it's private property, I'll go knock on the door and say, 'Are you going to be harvesting your fruit?'..." Norman says with a laugh. "Most people are like, 'Sure, go ahead.'"

We chatted with Norman and Carolyn Niethammer, the author of "The Prickly Pear Cookbook," about what to do if you find yourself with access to an abundance of prickly pear fruit.

1. Check for peak ripeness

Once you've determined that you have permission to harvest prickly pear fruit, take a small knife to slice one of the fruits or use tongs to squeeze one.

"They should be a deep purple color, and if you cut it, it should bleed a little," Norman says.

That's for the native Engelmann prickly pear. These tend to be thigh-to-chest height with distinct spines, Norman says.

2. Prepare for the spines

Harvesting cactus fruit is all about dealing with the spines. Norman recommends taking a paint brush or creosote branch and brushing the fruit to get rid of some of the fine spines that cover them  those are called glochids, by the way.

Also, take tweezers and expect to use them at some point.

"You're going to get a sticker," Niethammer says. "It's going to happen. Just get some tweezers and take it out. Don't make an issue of it."

She also suggests wearing pants and keeping your distance from the cactus while you're harvesting so that none of the spines find their way onto your legs.

You'll want to use tongs to harvest, and ripe fruit should come off with a gentle twist, Norman says. Take a clean bucket to catch them as they fall from the cactus.

If you wear gloves, be prepared to trash them when you're done, as they're likely to attract tons of tiny spines, Norman adds.

Niethammer says that about a dozen fruit will make about one cup of juice, blended and strained.

Also, side note, watch out for snakes.

3. Hose everything down

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After you've collected an adequate amount of fruit, Norman suggests using a hose to fill your bucket of fruit outside of your house. And then use the tongs to lift them from the water into a new bucket. Empty the water bucket and then maybe repeat the process, depending on how clean the fruit looks.

4. How to process the fruit

Norman walks through three different ways to prepare your prickly pear fruit for consumption.

Option one: Put the fruit in a bag, freeze them and then to defrost, let them sit in a colander. Norman then uses a potato masher to press the defrosted fruit and extract the juice. Then strain that juice through a screen mesh sieve. If you plan to use the juice fresh or refreeze it, run it through a cheesecloth. Also, if you're going to keep it fresh in the fridge, scald the juice to kill any bacteria.

Option two: Put the fruit in a big pot, fill it with water so about half of the fruit is covered and then simmer that. You can slice the fruit to help it break down better. After that, you put your fruit in a colander, use a potato masher and strain the juice.

Option three: Put a splash of water in a blender, add your prickly pear fruits, chopped in half, and then blend until everything is pulverized. Repeat as necessary, using the blended juice instead of water in future batches, and then strain everything.

This final option is Niethammer's favorite method for dealing with prickly pear fruit because of how easy it is  just note that you're also blending the skin into your juice mixture, so the flavor will be subtly different. Norman describes the texture as grittier than what the other methods produce.

As you can see, whatever method you choose, straining well is key. Desert Harvesters suggests using an old T-shirt or pillowcase to strain instead of cheesecloth.

You can also opt to eat the fruit fresh, Norman says. Just slice the top and bottom ends off and then peel the skin off.

Niethammer says she has heard prickly pear fruit compared to watermelon, honeydew and even cucumbers.

"It has an underlying flavor profile that is kind of a wild, dusky flavor," on top of a more fruity, melon flavor, she says.

For additional information about preparation methods, check out this article by the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension.

5. How to use it

At this point, a desert foods cookbook like Niethammer's might serve you well.

Niethammer says you can use prickly pear fruit for everything from barbecue sauce to baked goods.

"Once you've got your juice, your imagination is the limit," she says.

Add some to lemonade or make a fancy, fizzy juice of your own creation. Add some to a smoothie or make jelly.

Niethammer cautions against downing a huge quantity of prickly pear juice all at once. Take it slow. See how your body reacts.

"When you harvest, the volume of fruit that you harvest, probably 25% of that will end up being rendered into juice," Norman says. "About 75% is pulp and skin and spines and stuff you're going to throw out."

Pro tip: Instead of just tossing the prickly pear remains, Norman suggests putting it in your yard. You might even plant a new prickly pear or two.

"My mother grew up in the midwest in Illinois, and she used to say the smell of apples means fall," Niethammer says. "But to me, the smell of prickly pear is such a seasonal fragrance, and of course the color is wonderful too. And I just get such a thrill just going out and picking something ... It's such a part of where we live, and I just feel like it makes me part of the desert."
Over 11,000 Los Angeles local employees, including garbage collectors, lifeguards, and traffic cops, went on strike Tuesday, August 8. They missed 24 hours of work to protest what they saw as unjust working conditions.

According to AP News, an assembly was scheduled for later in the day at City Hall, and picket lines were set up at Los Angeles International Airport and other sites before sunrise. Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 721 identified airport caretakers, heavy-duty mechanics, and engineers among the thousands of striking LA municipal employees.

The union claimed that its members approved the walkout because the city did not negotiate in good faith and engaged in restrictive labor tactics against its employees and the union.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass explained in a statement on Monday, August 7, "City workers are vital to the function of services for millions of Angelenos every day and to our local economy. They deserve fair contracts and we have been bargaining in good faith with SEIU 721 since January. The city will always be available to make progress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week."

Attempting to 'Shut Down' the City

Bass strongly denied that a citywide shutdown was possible in Los Angeles. However, according to her office, parking enforcement and certain traffic operations would be among the services that would be interrupted. As of this week, garbage collection schedules around the city will be off by one day until Monday next week, when they will go back to normal.

Officials at Los Angeles International Airport reportedly advised passengers to plan additional time for flights to and from the city.

AP News added that union officials have predicted that as many as 300 lifeguards from municipal pools may go on protest. It was unclear Monday afternoon if pools would be closed, according to Rose Watson, a representative for the Department of Recreation and Parks.

Phillip Sanfield, a spokesman for the Port of Los Angeles, estimated that 300 workers would take part in the strike. "The Port of Los Angeles respects the fair bargaining rights of all employees... With an anticipated job action, Port of Los Angeles operations will continue."

In November 2022, the union and the city agreed to a one-year contract, with the understanding that they would resume negotiations in January 2023, said Gilda Valdez, chief of staff at SEIU Local 721. Once the one-year framework is in place, the city and the union would enter into negotiations on a variety of "specials," or more narrowly tailored ideas.

Also Read: Taylor Swift's LA Shows May Be Postponed as Politicians Urge Support for Striking Hotel Workers

More Protests in LA

Los Angeles, the nation's second-largest city, has been hit by yet another demonstration.

Since May, screenwriters in Hollywood have been on strike, and only last month, actors became part of it too. Hotel workers in Los Angeles have been on walkout intermittently during the summer, while earlier this year, teachers and other school employees in Southern California were involved in a strike over a contract dispute.

Also Read: Tom Cruise Supports Striking Actors Union, Criticizes AI Usage in Negotiating Session

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
TUSAYAN, Ariz. (AP)  President Joe Biden set out Monday on a Western swing aimed at showcasing his work on conservation, clean energy and veterans' benefits as he seeks to draw an implicit contrast between his administration's accomplishments and former President Donald Trump's legal troubles.

Biden's first stop will be the Grand Canyon area, where on Tuesday he will announce a new national monument to preserve about 1,562 square miles (4,046 square kilometers) around Grand Canyon National Park and limit uranium mining, White House officials said.

Climate adviser Ali Zaidi told reporters accompanying Biden aboard Air Force One on Monday that the president will designate his fifth national monument during the stop in northern Arizona. He said a dozen tribes had stepped up and asked for the monument.

After Arizona, Biden will travel to New Mexico and Utah.

The Democratic president will be in Albuquerque on Wednesday and will talk about how fighting climate change has created new jobs, and he'll visit Salt Lake City on Thursday to mark the first anniversary of the PACT Act, which provides new benefits to veterans who were exposed to toxic substances. He'll also hold a reelection fundraiser in each city.

Biden will use the three-night trip to continue to highlight the progress hes making across his agenda," particularly when it comes to climate change, said Natalie Quillian, the White House deputy chief of staff.

"You can expect to us to highlight more groundbreakings of projects, more ribbon cuttings and opportunities to show the American people how these investments and jobs are reaching their communities and their neighborhoods," she said.

Biden is fresh from more than a week of vacation at his homes in Rehoboth Beach and Wilmington, Delaware. On the day that Trump faced a new indictment for attempting to overturn his 2020 election loss, Biden went to a fish restaurant with first lady Jill Biden, saw the movie Oppenheimer and took a moonlit walk across the beach.

He hasn't commented about the charges against his Republican predecessor, maintaining the same strategic silence he did regarding the previous two indictments.

The criminal charges appear to have done little to dampen Republican voters' enthusiasm for Trump, who remains the leading candidate for his party's 2024 nomination for president. The situation has also provided a challenge and an opportunity for Biden.

The legal dramas have drawn attention away from the White House, making it harder for Biden to generate public attention for his accomplishments. But it's also created a suitable backdrop for Biden's promise to break with years of Trump-fueled chaos and focus on governing.

Democratic pollster Anna Greenberg said Trump's legal trouble sucks the oxygen out of everything else and limits the chances for Republicans to discuss other issues, such as the economy.

People like to say nothing matters anymore," she said. "But the conversation that youre not having actually does matter.

Biden's trip will traverse a varied political landscape.

Arizona is a key battleground state that Biden won narrowly in 2020, making him the first Democrat since Bill Clinton in 1996 to carry the state. Arizona also is one of a handful of genuinely competitive states heading into next year's election, making it critical to Biden's reelection bid.

New Mexico is considered safe for Democrats. Utah is a Republican stronghold whose governor, Spencer Cox, has stressed finding common ground across party lines.

It's also a critical region for conversations about climate change. Phoenix saw 31 days in a row of temperatures at least 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43.4 degrees Celsius).

Bidens senior adviser on clean energy, John Podesta, said the president would talk about the investments that we need to ensure that we are building a resilient society going forward in the face of what is becoming a challenging situation.

Trump has denied any wrongdoing and has claimed without evidence that he's being targeted by Democrats trying to keep him from reclaiming the White House.

Follow the AP's coverage of President Joe Biden at https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden.
SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP)  Crews across the eastern U.S. worked Tuesday to clear downed trees and power lines and restore electricity following severe storms that killed at least two people, cut power to more than a million customers at their peak, and forced thousands of flight delays and cancellations.

The storms that pounded a swath of the country stretching from Alabama and Tennessee to the Carolinas and New York on Monday continued to lash northern New England with wind and rain a day later.

The National Weather Service confirmed that a tornado touched down Tuesday in the Atlantic Coast town of Mattapoisett, Massachusetts, though a survey team was still determining its strength.

The twister damaged homes and vehicles, downed trees and power lines, and may have damaged the water treatment plant, which remained operational, according to a statement from the town's Select Board. There were no reports of injuries.

Rain also pounded Vermont, which experienced historic flooding last month that inundated its capital city and damaged thousands of homes, businesses and roads. Vermont Public Safety Commissioner Jennifer Morrison said swift rescue teams were ready if needed in the west of the state.

Flash flood warnings were issued in Maine, where storms dumped 4 to 5 inches (10 to 13 centimeters) in an area around New Gloucester and Lewiston-Auburn, in the southwest of the state, said weather service meteorologist Sarah Thunberg.

Mondays storms spawned tornado watches and warnings in 10 states, with around 30 million people under a tornado watch in the afternoon. Forecasters received more than 900 reports of wind damage, including nearly 300 from North Carolina and South Carolina, according to the Storm Prediction Center.

A preliminary assessment of damage in Knoxville, Tennessee, found that an EF-2 tornado touched down Monday, with winds up to 130 mph (209 kph) and a path as wide as 200 yards (183 meters), said the weather service's office in Morristown, Tennessee.

An EF-0 tornado with peak winds of 85 mph (137 kph) uprooted trees and damaged the outside of buildings near Lake Norman in North Carolina, the weather services office in Greenville-Spartanburg confirmed.

My rocking chairs flew off of my front porch and I had a couple of pots break and stuff," Jacob Jolly said at his home in Mooresville, a Charlotte suburb that sits along the lake. And then about 20 minutes later during the storm, I heard the transformer right here on this pole. It exploded and all the power went out immediately. And its about lunchtime today and still no power.

In Westminster, Maryland, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of Baltimore, dozens of vehicles were trapped by power lines that had fallen onto a highway. No injuries were reported, and utility workers turned off the electricity, allowing the 33 adults and 14 children in the vehicles to get out safely, Maryland State Police Superintendent Col. Roland Butler said at a news conference Tuesday.

Nick Alexopulos, a spokesperson for Marylands largest power utility, BGE, called the destruction catastrophic.

This is damage that if you worked in electric distribution at BGE for your entire career, you may see it once, Alexopulos said at a news conference.

First responders and others worked as a team and saved lives Monday night, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said.

There were people who were stuck and stranded in cars who were able to sleep in their own beds last night, the governor said.

More than 1.1 million customers were without power Monday evening across Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia and Virginia, according to poweroutage.us. But by mid-Tuesday afternoon, power had been restored to all but about about 200,000 customers in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Maryland, Georgia and Tennessee.

By Monday night, more than 2,600 U.S. flights had been canceled and nearly 7,900 had been delayed, according to flight tracking service FlightAware. The trouble continued Tuesday with hundreds of delays and dozens of cancellations. The Federal Aviation Administration, which rerouted planes around storms on Monday, warned Tuesday that low clouds and wind could affect airports in New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Las Vegas and San Francisco, and that thunderstorms could cause delays in Boston, Atlanta, Florida and Chicago.

At least two deaths have been blamed on the storms.

In Anderson, South Carolina, a large tree was uprooted and fell on a 15-year-old boy Monday, according to the Anderson County Office of the Coroner. The high school sophomores death was classified as resulting from a severe weather event, officials said.

In Florence, Alabama, a 28-year-old worker in the parking lot of an industrial park was struck by lightning Monday and died, police said in a social media post.

Associated Press writers Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, South Carolina; Erik Verduzco in Mooresville, North Carolina; Julie Walker in New York; Mark Pratt in Boston; Lisa Rathke in Montpelier, Vermont; and David Sharp in Portland, Maine, contributed to this report.
CARY, N.C. (AP)  A retired health care executive has entered next year's race for North Carolina governor, with Jesse Thomas describing himself Tuesday as a no-nonsense Republican who aims to attract voters within the wide middle ground between the two extremes.

Thomas, who led the Medicaid plan offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina to hundreds of thousands of consumers, announced his bid on a Greensboro-area podcast last week, when he also filed his candidate committee paperwork.

Recently involved in the North Carolina chapter of the Forward Party  founded by former presidential candidate Andrew Yang  Thomas joins an already crowded GOP gubernatorial field. Republican candidates include Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, State Treasurer Dale Folwell, former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker and ex-state legislator Andy Wells.

North Carolinians are ready for a Governor that will provide real results for our citizens, not one who opines to the Nonsense of the hour, Thomas said in a news release.

A Cary resident, Thomas said he would work to make North Carolina first in healthy if he became governor. His platform includes eliminating the state income tax, expanding alternatives to traditional public schools and managing successfully the soon-anticipated expansion of Medicaid to hundreds of thousands of adults.

Thomas was born in Mississippi and has had an over 30-year career in health care, including Medicaid managed care. His resume lists him as a former executive for health insurance plans in Michigan, Ohio and Illinois. In 2018 he joined Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, during which the company landed one of the state's Medicaid managed care contracts, creating what is now known at Healthy Blue.

Thomas said he's been a congressional candidate and a health care adviser to now former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder's campaign, and he was a trustee at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

Thomas' website describes him as a peacemaker who wants to attract more unaffiliated voters to the GOP. He said people are sick of career politicians and extremists" who espouse acrimony, bigotry and anger.

I come with a political savvy, and I do come with a perspective and a background of a tried, tested and true individual who has been there and done something, he said on The Common Ground Show podcast, which focuses on racial issues.

In a brief interview Tuesday, Thomas accused Robinson  the leading GOP fundraiser in the race  of failing to show leadership as the state Senate's presiding officer in helping get a state budget passed that would permit Medicaid expansion to begin this fall, giving health care to more residents. Robinson has taken criticism while lieutenant governor for his sharp comments about LGBTQ+ rights, abortion and the role of women.

He is focused on the culture war and the bedroom issues, instead of the kitchen-table issues, Thomas said. For years, the office of lieutenant governor has had little involvement in General Assembly budget negotiations. A Robinson campaign spokesperson did not immediately respond to an email Tuesday seeking a comment.

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein is the lone high-profile Democrat to date to announce a gubernatorial bid to succeed Democrat Roy Cooper, who is barred by law from seeking a third consecutive term. Primaries will be held in March.
CRANBROOK, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Eagle Plains Resources (TSX-V:EPL)(OTC PINK:EGPLF), ("EPL") has been notified by option partner Annacotty Resources Corp. (a private B.C. company) ("Annacotty"), that field crews are being mobilized to Eagle Plains' 100% owned Donna Property (the "Property"). EPL currently holds a 100% interest (less an underlying NSR) in the 11,494 ha Property located approximately 70 km east of Vernon, BC. Under terms of the amended option agreement, Annacotty can earn it's 60% interest by completing exploration expenditures of $4,080,000, making cash payments of $520,000 and issuing 1,300,000 common shares to EPL over a five-year period.

2023 fieldwork will be caried out by TerraLogic Exploration Services of Cranbrook BC and is planned to include:

prospecting, soil sampling and geological mapping on the Big Link Zone, along trend from the historic St. Paul following up on coincident soil and airborne geophysical targets generated from previous work

prospecting and mapping at the Yeo Link Zone where coincident airborne magnetic signature and historic silt sampling results suggest a buried, mineralized diorite intrusion

The Donna Property is road-accessible and located within rocks of the prolific Quesnellia Terrane, host to many major B.C. porphyry deposits such as Highland Valley, Gibraltar, Mount Polley, Mount Milligan, Copper Mountain and others. Despite the rich endowment of mineralization in these rocks, the Donna area has seen relatively little exploration activity by industry or government. Placer gold claims overlie many of the creeks draining the Donna Property. Management cautions that past results or discoveries on proximate land are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved on the Donna property.

See Donna Project Summary Map here

The core claims of the Donna property were acquired in 2016 by Eagle Plains with additional tenures subsequently added through staking. Certain claims comprising the property are subject to an underlying 2% royalty held by an arms-length third party. The project area is located in the Monashee Mountains within the source headwaters of the historic Kettle River and Yeoward Creek placer gold camps. The claims lie within one of the largest clusters of anomalous values in gold and typical associated pathfinder elements identified in the British Columbia Regional Geochemical Surveys stream-sediment program carried out in the joint Federal - Provincial programs from 1985-1990.

The Donna property is underlain by a sequence of marine sediments comprising carbonaceous black argillite, limestone, and volcanic rocks of Permian to Lower Triassic age. Locally these rocks were intruded by stocks and plugs of mafic-intermediate composition. The project area is considered to hold good potential to host intrusive-related gold mineralization.

Since acquiring the property, Eagle Plains has carried out annual systematic exploration including airborne radiometric and magnetic surveys, prospecting, geological mapping, soil and silt geochemical sampling and 1152m (3779") of diamond drilling in 12 holes. The property boasts a robust GIS database consisting of rock, soil, silt, till, trench and drill-hole results within and adjacent the property area. In July, 2020, EPL completed the purchase of historical crown grants covering workings documented at the St. Paul and Morgan mines (BCMINFILE 082LSE010), which include shafts, tunnels, winzes and an unknown number of open cuts and trenches, as well as a tramline and stamp mill that operated in the early 1900's.

Charles C. Downie, P.Geo., a "qualified person" for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and a director of Eagle Plains, has prepared, reviewed, and approved the scientific and technical disclosure in the news release.

About Eagle Plains Resources

Based in Cranbrook, B.C., Eagle Plains is a well-funded, prolific project generator that continues to conduct research, acquire and explore mineral projects throughout western Canada. The Company was formed in 1992 and is the ninth-oldest listed issuer on the TSX-V (and one of only three that has not seen a roll-back or restructuring of its shares). Eagle Plains has continued to deliver shareholder value over the years and through numerous spin outs has transferred over $100,000,000 in value directly to its shareholders, with Copper Canyon Resources and Taiga Gold Corp. being notable examples. Eagle Plains latest spinout, Eagle Royalties Ltd. (CSE:"ER") was listed on May 24, 2023, and holds a diverse portfolio of royalty assets throughout western Canada.

Eagle Plains' core business is acquiring grassroots critical- and precious-metal exploration properties. The Company is committed to steadily enhancing shareholder value by advancing our diverse portfolio of projects toward discovery through collaborative partnerships and development of a highly experienced technical team.

Expenditures from 2011-2022 on Eagle Plains-related projects exceed $30M, the majority of which was funded by third-party partners. This exploration work resulted in approximately 45,000m of diamond-drilling and extensive ground-based exploration work facilitating the advancement of numerous projects at various stages of development.

Throughout the exploration process, our mission is to help maintain prosperous communities by exploring for and discovering resource opportunities while building lasting relationships through honest and respectful business practices.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Tim J. Termuende"

President and CEO

For further information on EPL, please contact Mike Labach at

1 866 HUNT ORE (486 8673)

Email: mgl@eagleplains.com or visit our website at http://www.eagleplains.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.

SOURCE: Eagle Plains Resources Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. August 5, 2023.

Editorial: States new equity office lacks support among gubernatorial candidates

Former Indiana Attorney General and Republican gubernatorial candidate Curtis Hill said hed terminate the Office of Equity, Inclusion and Opportunity if elected, calling it pandering and a drain on state resources in a news release last month.

Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb, who is term-limited and cannot seek reelection, created the office and announced its formation in August 2020. Weeks earlier, a Minneapolis police officer killed George Floyd, fueling protests in communities across the state and country.

For my part, I commit to you that I will work to be a Barrier Buster and to bring greater equity and opportunity within your state government and the services you entrust us to provide so that every Hoosier can take full advantage of their gifts and potential, and together, well make E pluribus unum  out of many, one  not just a slogan in Indiana, but our North Star, Holcomb said.

Today, the 3-year-old Office of Equity, Inclusion and Opportunity risks dismantlement when a new governor is sworn in in January 2025. We asked each of the seven other gubernatorial campaigns whether their candidate supports the work of the state equity office, and former Republican Superintendent of Public Instruction and Democratic gubernatorial aspirant Jennifer McCormick offered the only affirmative response.

Diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility will be a priority for my administration, she told The Journal Gazette.

Fort Wayne Republican Eric Doden said he would oust the office and its Cabinet-level chief, Karrah Herring. Libertarian Donald Rainwater told The Journal Gazette he would review every state agency to determine whether it serves a necessary and appropriate function of state government. The campaigns of Democrat Bob Kern and Republicans Mike Braun and Jamie Reitenour didnt respond to our requests.

Robert Vane, a campaign spokesman for Republican Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, whos running to succeed her boss, said only, No comment.

Were disappointed by the lack of support for Holcombs efforts to improve equity and opportunity in Indiana, but not surprised. Woke, the word conservative Republicans have weaponized since the Black Lives Matter protests, has moved from decades-old lingo among Black communities, meaning to be aware, to a pejorative term for the nation and states overdue attention to diversity.

As governor, I will not support spending taxpayer dollars on the (diversity, equity and inclusion) agenda and programming, Doden, a former president of the Indiana Economic Development Corp., told The Journal Gazette. ... These programs are about virtue signaling instead of their stated goals of inclusion.

Thankfully for Hoosiers, Holcomb doesnt share Dodens cynicism.

1 Thessalonians 5:15 reminds us to Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else,  the governor said in August 2020. So, I say, if you want change, dont throw a brick, use a brick to lay a foundation for something better.

Since becoming the states chief inclusion officer in February 2021, Herring has visited at least 24 of Indianas 92 counties. On July 11, she delivered the keynote address during the 21st session of Fort Waynes United Front, the cultural awareness initiative that launched in 2020 and has had more than 10,000 participants.

Her office launched the internship program Pathways to Purpose, exposing diverse students, often from lower-income backgrounds, to state government. And it also established the states first Equity Data Portal  an online dashboard centered on health, public safety, social services, education and the workforce. The dashboard includes data such as infant mortality rates, which Herring believes can help guide strategy to improve outcomes.

Three years ago, Holcomb asked all Hoosiers to join him in a spirit of openness, thoughtfulness and progress to address the sometimes obvious, sometimes subtle racism that has plagued our country throughout our storied history.

If Indianas next governor jettisons efforts to improve opportunities for Hoosiers of all races, religions and ethnicities, how can we ever fulfill our nations founding goal: to form a more perfect union?

Tribune-Star. August 2, 2023.

Editorial: When bipartisanship rules, the people win

There was a time when constructive bipartisanship in the United States Congress was routine business practice. Not so today. Hyperpartisanship among lawmakers has produced a bitterness and intransigence that make even the most mundane of matters subject to political warfare.

Amid that backdrop, it is worthy of note that the U.S. House of Representatives last week passed an important and public spirited piece of legislation that will greatly improve and modernize the nations organ procurement and transplant system.

Not only was the bill passed in bipartisan fashion, the final vote was unanimous.

Indiana and Illinois residents should also be pleased that two of their representatives played a major role in introducing and advancing this key legislation. U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, a Democrat who serves Illinois District 2 that includes Danville and the northern portion of Vermilion County, partnered with Rep. Larry Bucshon, a Republican who serves west-central and southwestern Indianas 8th District that includes Vigo and surrounding counties, and Daviess County.

Kelly and Bucshon are far apart philosophically and ideologically on many major issues of the day. But it is refreshing to know that elected legislators from opposing political parties can set aside differences and join in an act of bipartisanship for the greater good. This proposal is exactly the kind of measure that needed this form of cooperation and collaboration.

Kelly and Bucshon applauded their colleagues for joining them in coming together in such fashion to pass this badly needed bill.

Approximately 6,000 Americans die each year while waiting for organ transplants, Kelly said in a press statement. The Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act will reform the organ procurement process and save hundreds, even thousands of lives.

Bucshon, who is a physician and surgeon, emphasized the importance of building a more effective system.

Seventeen Americans are dying every day waiting for an organ transplant. At the same time, thousands of organs are going to waste due to inefficient and ineffective procurement processes, Bucshon said in the same statement. As a physician in Congress, my focus is on ensuring that HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration) has the authority that it needs to act on behalf of patients and ensure that the best innovators are able to compete, and play their part in saving lives.

Advocates for reform and improvement of the U.S. organ transplant system are praising this important legislative progress. They now turn their attention to a companion bill currently in the U.S. Senate. They have reason to be optimistic. Bipartisanship appears to be winning the day, with both Democrats and Republicans, including Indianas two U.S. senators, signing on as co-sponsors.

This legislation deserves to become law with passage in the Senate and the presidents signature. And the bipartisanship on display is an example of what can be accomplished when elected lawmakers overcome their divisions and act in the best interests of the American people.

END
The Hidden Pearl is what they call it, Erica Marshall said about visitors to Rocky Meadow Farm.

They also tell us just how peaceful it is, and thats an environment we want to continue to cultivate here.

Erica and her husband, Ben, own the 5-acre venue  home to an event center and petting zoo  which lies on the eastern outskirts of Owasso off of Oklahoma 20.

The couple purchased the land about seven years ago, and has since transformed the property into a local haven where residents can enjoy a variety of special occasions, from weddings to corporate events to school field trips.

We both just love to love people, Erica said. We are a little too hands on sometimes because we just want everything to be so great. We just want everybody to enjoy themselves here.

Ben added: I love giving the community a unique place to host events. I like being a part of memories that happen out here and getting to make every person that rents from us feel special.

The Marshalls spend much of their time raising and caring for the farms livestock, which include rabbits, free-range chickens, goats and sheep, seramas, alpacas, micro cows, miniature pigs and horses, wallabies, fennec foxes, kinkajous, ferrets and more.

My husband and I have always loved animals, Erica said. Petting zoo birthday parties are one of the most popular events behind weddings here.

They also offer VIP farm tours, sell free-range eggs and provide various services such as rabbit nail trimmings and goat hoof clippings.

Add-ons for other events include an on-site attendant, a bar tender, DJ and emcee services and various decor packages.

Rocky Meadow Farm is located at 4900 E. 488 Rd. in between Owasso and Claremore. More information about the venue can be found at rockymeadowfarmok.com.
Sharon Bishop-Baldwin Sand Springs Leader Staff Writer Follow Sharon Bishop-Baldwin 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 newest dating service in Sand Springs offers easy hookups with some of the cutest guys and sweetest girls around, but theres a catch: A little slobber might be involved.

These tawdry trysts come courtesy of Sand Springs Animal Welfare, where, for the low, low price of free, consenting adults can check out a happy pooch as if it were a library book and return it after a few hours of fun with no strings attached.

Like virtually all other shelters and rescue groups in Oklahoma, the Sand Springs shelter is perpetually full  overfull and extra full, according to Sand Springs Animal Welfare Coordinator Tracy Arvidson.

And with a concurrent and chronic need for volunteers, the shelters furry residents often spend a lot of time just sitting in their kennels and waiting for an opportunity.

Thats where the idea for doggy dates comes from.

I think it really helps give them a break from all the noise and all the commotion out there, Arvidson said. They get to go out and do something, and when they come back, theyre ready to take a nap and its not so crazy.

It helps a lot just to get them socialized with other people, and then sometimes going in the car helps, too. Some of them have been really shy about getting in the car. (But now) something good happens in the car.

Something good was definitely happening in the car last week for Roxanne, a 4- to 5-year-old female pit bull terrier mix who got to go on a doggy date with mother and daughter Miranda and Libby Coatney of Kellyville.

As Miranda Coatney placed their drink order at Dutch Bros, adding, and I need a pup cup, too, Roxanne looked on expectantly from the back seat, where Libby Coatney, 16, had a firm grip on her leash.

When the pup finally got her cup  a small container of whipped cream with tiny dog biscuits sprinkled on the top  her dark brown eyes started to twinkle, and her whiplike tail began swishing back and forth.

The Coatneys have seen this before. Miranda, a hairstylist in Sapulpa, is off work on Mondays, and since about January, she and Libby have come to the Sand Springs shelter to take dogs on dates, having taken out 10 to 12 dogs so far.

Its really hard not to fall in love with the dogs, Libby Coatney said, but their work socializing the pups gives other people the opportunity to have really good pets.

Libby, who just started a new job this week washing dogs at Noahs Bed & Biscuit in Kiefer, said she volunteers at all kinds of shelters but has really been impressed with the care and compassion provided at Sand Springs Animal Welfare.

I really like the people who work there, she said. I think it makes a big difference.

One of the Coatneys two large rescue dogs died last September, leaving Moose, a 145-pound male Great Dane and mastiff mix, all alone.

So when one of the dogs they took on a date this year really pulled at their heartstrings, they took him home to see what Moose would think about a brother.

Moose let them know that he wanted to be an only dog, however.

So if we cant take another one home, well just come and play with them, Miranda Coatney said.

She acknowledged that it can be hard to walk away after each visit.

But they just have fun, she said. I just think of how if youre a person and youre confined how bad cabin fever gets. I just think getting them out kind of gives them a break from that.

How do you think about them sitting 24/7 in a kennel? she said. Taking dogs on dates is something. I cant take them all home. I cant. But its something you can do. And it breaks up their monotony.

Miranda Coatney firmly believes that such extra socialization can ultimately help reduce the numbers of animals in shelters.

When weve been in shelters to meet dogs, the ones who havent been out of the cage, theyre crazy  because theyve been penned up, she said. They show better to adopters if theyve had some socialization.

She said only once has a dog been reticent to return to the shelter after an outing.

The rest of them have been fine, she said. Theyre usually ready to go back in their space.

As word gets around about the doggy dates, some prominent Sandites are getting in on the act, too.

Mayor Jim Spoon and his family  including his wife, Teresa, and daughter-in-law, Alesha  took a small black-and-white dog home for an afternoon earlier this year.

We took him home and played with him all day, and it was just so hard to take him back. He was so lovable, Spoon said. He was just a different dog after being in a different environment for a while. Im sure he was much more adoptable after that.

Make a date For more information about arranging a doggy date, contact Sand Springs Animal Welfare by phone at 918-246-2543 or email at animalcontrol@sandspringsok.org. Participants must be at least 18 or be accompanied by an adult and must provide a copy of their driver's license.

The Spoons learned about the doggy dates early this year during a visit to the shelter with their grandchildren. The children have birthdays right after Christmas, so instead of asking for more presents for themselves, they receive pet supplies, which they turn around and donate to the shelter.

The great part (about doggy dates) is theres no long-term commitment  just a little bit of time, said Spoon, who added that his family has always been dog people, with all but one of their pets having been rescue dogs.

Arvidson said she was thrilled to see the mayor take part in something that could make such a difference at the overburdened shelter.

Although $3 million in funding for a new animal shelter was approved by Sand Springs voters last year as part of a four-part, $15.7 million general-obligation bond package, construction isnt expected to start until October, and it could take a year to complete.

In the meantime, the animals continue to arrive.

But with the mayors doggy date example, now maybe some council members will do it. I know we have some pet lovers on the council, Arvidson said.

Plus, when they come out here, theyll see our situation. They know that we need that new shelter, that we need more help and that were really working hard out here.
Sharon Bishop-Baldwin Sand Springs Leader Staff Writer Follow Sharon Bishop-Baldwin 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 Charles Page teacher wants students to see the world

Charles Page High School counselor Kendra Roulet led a student group on a tour of historic sites in the cradle of the nation this summer, walking well more than 100,000 steps over the course of the eight-day trip.

But its the handful of steps group members walked in one building in Philadelphia that might have been the most significant.

For Roulet, Independence Hall is a place of tears, a place where she becomes overwhelmed by the history of the birth of the nation.

I am literally breathing in the same building, walking in the same footsteps as Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Ben Franklin, John Adams, she said, noting that the group was there on July 3, one day after the 247th anniversary of the passage of the Declaration of Independence and one day before the anniversary of the ratification of the document that sealed the countrys founding.

Roulet said she tells the students, I want you to imagine (that) July 3, knowing we just wrote this breakup letter with England and made a country, and were done. Thats amazing.

If that sounds dramatic, youll have to forgive her. As a history teacher for 20 years before she became a counselor seven years ago, Roulet understands the magnitude of what the signers of the Declaration did  in signing the document, they signed their own death warrants, their love for a country in the making so great that any sacrifice was small by comparison.

Historians get goosebumps over such realizations, and Roulet is no different.

Her goal in leading this trip is to share that feeling with the young people who potentially will be leading the country someday.

History is so important, because weve got to know where weve been to know where were going, she said. Americas not perfect. Weve never said it was  but what a grand experiment.

The tour itself is also part of what started as a grand experiment, of sorts, Roulet said. It started eight years ago, with the school district working through an organization called EF Educational Tours, which handles all of the arrangements and provides a tour director from the moment the group lands at the airport.

Accounting for the COVID-19 pause, this was the fourth time for the trip, and Roulet said it likely was her last; shes hoping that the teachers more directly involved with the students will assume the coordination of the trip.

But one suspects she would go along as a chaperone in a heartbeat.

Roulet, who is about to start her 21st year at Charles Page, and her trip co-sponsor, math teacher Lisa Wright, led the Sandite group of 25 students and adults on the eight-day, seven night tour, which started in the Boston area and included excursions to Salem, Concord and Lexington, Massachusetts.

The tour continued in New York City and Philadelphia before wrapping up in Washington, D.C., where group members had another goosebumps moment  viewing the original Declaration of Independence in the National Archives on Independence Day.

Roulet posted on Facebook daily about the tour to update the folks at home, sharing dozens of photos, and her enthusiasm was infectious.

The absolute coolest thing from today was we saw THE Declaration of Independence on the day we celebrate its signing!!! she posted on July 4th. I mean, read that again!!! We saw the document that declared our independence on the day we celebrate our independence!!!! And we saw THE Constitution, THE Bill of Rights, and a copy of the Magna Carta!

But from beginning to end, the trip was full of highlights that would make any traveler envious  the Old North Church, the Salem Witch Museum, the House of the Seven Gables, Harvard University, Central Park, the Met, Times Square, Broadway, Ellis Island, Wall Street, the 9/11 Memorial, the Empire State Building, Arlington National Cemetery, the Capitol, the White House, the Supreme Court and all of the capitals biggest monuments and memorials.

This year, because of the timing, participants even got to view the Independence Day fireworks from the National Mall in Washington.

Roulet said the tours lesson plan typically follows along well with the curriculum of Advanced Placement U.S. History and English courses, but Sand Springs trip leaders have been able to work in some modifications to make the study more meaningful and unique to Sandites.

Our minuteman is that statue on the Concord Bridge  where the shot that was heard around the world was fired, she said of The Minuteman, an 1874 sculpture by Daniel Chester French that depicts a minuteman stepping away from his plow to join the patriot forces at the Battle of Concord to start the American Revolution.

The students also got to see an important name on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C.  that of Sgt. Billie A. Hall, a Sand Springs native who was killed in 1966 in South Vietnam while serving as the only medic with a Special Forces detachment that came under fire from the North Vietnamese.

Hall administered medical care to American troops as shells exploded all around him and even after he himself was mortally wounded. Sand Springs Public Safety Center and its American Legion Post 17 are both named in his memory.

Roulet said one student left a seashell for Hall at the base of the panel on which his name is inscribed.

And at Arlington National Cemetery, the group took part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, presenting a wreath with bright yellow flowers bearing a ribbon with Charles Page High School emblazoned across it.

Roulet acknowledges that the tour follows a very fast, crazy pace. But the point is to introduce these kids to everything, and then they can go back later on their own for more in-depth visits if they want, she said.

Its something our kids need. Its just this desire to show kids from Oklahoma  to walk where these amazing things happened.
Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton 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

Although Tulsa Public Schools Board of Education could not take any action about the districts accreditation status Monday night, the topic colored the boards four-hour meeting.

Monday marked the local boards first meeting since the Oklahoma State Board of Education acted on a recommendation from State Superintendent Ryan Walters and delayed taking action on TPS accreditation until Aug. 24. Walters' actions prompted multiple parents and teachers to take to the podium during citizens comments Monday to express their frustrations and fears.

If this was really about TPS kids, there wouldnt be a threat against our accreditation two weeks before school starts, TPS parent Rachel Simpson said. If this was really about TPS kids, there would have been an offer to help months ago rather than mudslinging.

Although the Oklahoma State Department of Educations accreditation office recommended that Tulsa Public Schools be accredited with two deficiencies, Walters has said all options are on the table regarding the accreditation status of the states largest public school district.

Among those options still on the table are not accrediting it or allowing for the Oklahoma State Department of Education to take over management of the district, similar to the situation almost 500 miles south with the Houston Independent School District.

It is 11:59 p.m. on the clock of destiny for TPS, board member Jennettie Marshall said during the boards 90-minute discussion of the districts accreditation status. We are under attack. If youre not keeping up with Houston,  if we continue the course were on, thats where were headed. That shouldnt be.

We cant afford to lose our educators, support groups and people who provide wraparound services. We cant afford for this district to lose its accreditation.

This is the largest district in the state of Oklahoma. We have children who depend on us.

Have we dropped the ball? Absolutely, in many ways. We are working to make the gains that it will take to get back on top of education.

I believe before anyone should threaten this district with the loss of accreditation, they need to come sit down at the table and ask how they can help implement a plan.

Monday nights meeting drew an overflow crowd more than 45 minutes before the posted start time and saw Superintendent Deborah Gist be greeted by a standing ovation prior to the meeting.

Both during the board meeting and speaking with reporters afterwards, Gist said she had not watched Walters press conference from earlier Monday, but she still pushed back on several of the claims he made, including that more than $1 million was missing in a self-reported embezzlement case involving a now-former district administrator. The matter is still under federal investigation.

We dont know how much is missing, and neither does the state superintendent, unless he has been collaborating with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, who has told us it is highly inappropriate for us to comment given theres an active investigation, Gist said.

However, none of what weve seen adds up to $1 million.

Also raised during Walters press conference was the districts performance on standardized tests and the most recent round of state report cards, which saw 24 TPS sites receive an F. Those objections were also raised by ELena Ashley, who questioned why they were not part of the accreditation process.

Im the only board member to offer any kind of pushback, she said. I see you people rubber stamp things week after week. What Im trying to bring to the forefront is that we are failing our children daily.

However, during the boards discussion of the districts accreditation situation, board President Stacey Woolley asked the capacity crowd if any had heard directly from Walters office about how to better support students or improve students academic outcomes.

No one raised a hand.

When the same question was posed to administration and board members, Gist acknowledged that she and Walters had a brief phone conversation after the Fathers Day storms that scattered more than 2,400 cubic yards of debris across the districts sites.

The only board member to raise a hand was Ashley, who said she initiated the contact. Another board member, Diamond Marshall, said later during the course of the discussion that she previously reached out but got no response.

If we want to talk about improving education, we have to look at the person in charge of education for the state, she said. He is not acting in the best interest of kids. I texted him and did not get any response. Instead, Im seeing headlines of him parading around with Ms. Ashley talking about the constitutionality of prayer in schools.

Meanwhile, the lone voting item to draw any discussion at Monday nights meeting was an agreement with the Aunt Flow Corp. to provide up to $150,000 worth of menstrual supplies for any TPS students or staff member who needs them. The supplies will be available for free in womens and gender-neutral restrooms across the district.

Along with objecting on the grounds that parents should be notified if their student has a menstrual issue at school, Ashley also took exception to free pads and tampons being accessible not only to male students but also to district employees.

Our employees are already getting paid, Ashley said. Do all employers do that? Do we have an extra $150,000 so that all staff and students can have their health issues taken care of?

Ashley previously voiced her objections to the proposal at a July 31 community meeting that she hosted.

However, after nearly 20 minutes of discussion, the item passed by a 5-1 vote. Along with acknowledging that the district already provides toilet paper, soap and other bathroom necessities at its sites, several board members noted that Ashleys suggestion of going to the school nurse instead of keeping pads and tampons in the restrooms is not always feasible, as not all campuses have a full-time nurse on staff.

The likelihood of always having a nurse in the building is nonexistent, Jennettie Marshall said. I dont know if any of us can just speak to our bodies and say: Dont do this right now.
Related content Tulsa World coverage of State Superintendent Ryan Walters

State Superintendent Ryan Walters staged a second press conference here Monday to criticize school district leadership amid a looming decision about whether state accreditation for Tulsa Public Schools will be renewed.

He said no decision has been made about whether he will recommend to Gov. Kevin Stitts appointees on the Oklahoma State Board of Education to greenlight a state takeover like the one newly underway in Houston. The boards next monthly meeting is set for Aug. 24.

Instead, he said he had come to Tulsa to push local school district leaders to reorient finances to serve students, adopt a new plan to increase reading proficiency scores on state-mandated tests to the state average by the end of the 2023-24 academic year, and dramatically reduce the number of Tulsa school sites with a failing grade on state school report cards.

Walters told reporters he had met with Tulsa Superintendent Deborah Gist on Friday, but he said he is not satisfied that local leaders have a bold enough plan to improve student outcomes urgently.

He cited TPS student reading proficiency rates that fell from 21% in 2017-18 to 12.9% in 2021-22.

He also said he issued Gist new demands for documents to produce for his state agencys fact-finding mission ahead of the next State Board of Education meeting.

Does he think Gist should resign?

Walters never used the r word in his response, but he made it clear that he would like to see Gist gone.

There should be a new superintendent of Tulsa Public Schools, he said. When you see this type of leadership and you see this type of performance, Tulsans deserve better. Shes been here seven years. The trajectory is not good. We dont see any serious plans to improve that.

The state superintendents press conference was held at the Tulsa County Republican Party Headquarters on 51st Street.

Meanwhile, three miles to the north, dozens of parents, students, teachers and community members carried signs in support of the district outside the Tulsa Public Schools Education Service Center before Monday nights regularly scheduled school board meeting.

Tulsa Public Schools is a system that has problems, Julia Karlak said, holding a sign reading I Am Yo Soy Tulsa Public Schools. However, my daughter went through here. She now works for the U.N. and speaks three languages, so thank God for TPS.

The public meeting room was at capacity more than 45 minutes before the meeting started, prompting district officials to open overflow rooms to accommodate the crowd.

A junior at East Central High School, Jocelyn Perez was also among the people lining the buildings northern sidewalk.

Ive seen changes, she said. I think we still have a lot to do, but weve come so far. This is a chance to step up and prove what we can do. Were literally here rallying.

Back at the press conference, Walters used charts to back up his claims.

One, that TPS spends 52% of its funding on administration and only 48% on classroom instruction, is not backed up by his state agencys own school spending transparency website.

The per-pupil spending amount at TPS matched up  $11,863.

But in addition to instruction, many of the other spending categories that Walters described in his press conference as administrative are for students. Those include instructional staff, student support services, student transportation and child nutrition.

Walters also hammered TPS for financial mismanagement, citing a self-reported embezzlement case involving a now-former TPS administrators handling of $364,000 in vendor contracts, which is still under investigation by federal law enforcement officials.

Walters claims there is far more money missing in the case  more than $1 million, he said Monday. When pressed for the source of that higher figure, Walters responded: auditors, as well as employees within the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

Im speaking to all Tulsans  parents, teachers, to all taxpayers, Walters said. This is what we want to see for Tulsa Public Schools. We want to see an increased academic performance for all kids. We want to see increased financial accountability in the district.  I wanted to be in Tulsa today to talk to Tulsans and tell them how serious we are.

A few weeks ago, Walters held a press conference on the front lawn of the Tulsa Public Schools Education Service Center to blast the school board president for writing an email that he believes violates the religious freedoms of another local school board member. That event quickly descended into chaos as protestors and supporters turned out in droves, drowning out speakers at the lectern by shouting at each other and at speakers.

At this second press conference, held not in a public place but at Walters political partys headquarters, access at the front door was restricted to individuals who could produce press credentials, even though the state of Oklahoma has no such official identification.

Multiple state employees from the Oklahoma State Department of Education were present inside, and Walters used large posters with the Oklahoma state logo at the bottom during his presentation to the media.

Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton contributed to this report.

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Wegovy is the first weight reduction medicine revealed to have such beneficial benefits as reducing the risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death by 20%. The data is based on a large clinical study of adults with cardiovascular disease.

'Safe and Well-Tolerated Profile'

In a clinical trial including 17,604 people with heart disease and obesity or overweight without diabetes, Novo Nordisk compared Wegovy to placebo in addition to the standard of treatment for the prevention of major adverse cardiac events. The trial period of five years was dubbed "Select."

A 20% decrease in cardiovascular risk is more than many specialists were expecting to see. Cardiovascular risk was reduced by 26% in a comparable study for the type 2 diabetes medicine Ozempic, which also contains semaglutide, but this effect had not been shown in those without diabetes.

"Select is a landmark trial and has demonstrated that semaglutide 2.4mg has the potential to change how obesity is regarded and treated," said Martin Holst Lange, executive vice president for development at Novo Nordisk.

In keeping with its prior trial results, Novo Nordisk concluded that Wegovy had a "safe and well-tolerated profile" in this research.

Also Read: FDA Approves First-Ever Oral Treatment for Postpartum Depression in Attempt To Raise Awareness, Recognition

For Better Insurance Coverage

Physicians who spoke to CNN said that the results, which have not yet been peer-reviewed or published in a medical journal, might lead to increased usage of the massively popular weight loss medicine and better insurance coverage.

Dr. Willa Hsueh, director of the Diabetes and Metabolism Research Center at Wexner Medical Center at The Ohio State University, also said prior to the results being released: "If the Select study is positive, it will add to the growing body of evidence that weight loss is not just cosmetic and will encourage insurers to pay for medications that reduce weight."

Reportedly, many US patients have had trouble obtaining insurance coverage for Wegovy, despite its high monthly cost of $1,349.

In order to increase insurance coverage, Novo Nordisk has announced that it would file applications with regulators to include the cardiovascular benefits in the drug's prescription guidelines. It has promised to provide the trial's full findings at a forthcoming scientific meeting.

Dr. Steven Nissen of the Cleveland Clinic told CNN prior to the research conclusions that more comprehensive data is needed to fully understand the results. He is also the trial's head investigator for Tirzepatide, an Eli Lilly medication for type 2 diabetes marketed under the brand name Mounjaro. Approval to use it for weight reduction is pending from the US Food and Drug Administration.

Also Read: New RSV Drug Approved for Babies and Toddlers Ahead of Cold Season

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During his town hall in Broken Arrow on Monday evening, First District Congressman Kevin Hern said theres a strange correlation between announcements of former President Donald Trumps indictments and news about President Joe Bidens son Hunter Biden.

Its too coincidental that every time something happens to Hunter Biden, Trump is charged, said Hern, a Tulsa Republican. We just need to know that when Hunters gonna have a problem, we know that therell be a filing the next day against Trump.

House Republicans decided to focus heavily on Hunter Biden following Trumps newest indictment last week. A plea deal prosecutors had reached with Hunter Biden fell apart on July 27, the day he was expected to plead guilty in a Delaware court to misdemeanor charges of failing to pay taxes.

On Aug. 2, Trump received his third criminal indictment this year, which included charges of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, which was the congressional certification of President Bidens victory over Trump in the 2020 election.

Hunter Bidens former business associate Devon Archer had testified before the U.S. House Oversight Committee on July 31 that over the span of their decade-long business relationship, Hunter Biden put his father, Joe Biden, on the phone around 20 times while in the company of associates but never once spoke about any business dealings. House Republicans released a transcript of the testimony on Aug. 3.

When Trump was previously charged in April, Hern said the 34 felonies with which the former president was charged at the time do not harm his chances of returning to the White House in 2024. Hern has long been a strong supporter of Trump.

Hern also discussed border security during the town hall meeting, saying it has continued to worsen over the years.

He said hed been visiting the border since 2019, and he said hes watched as the border crisis has turned for the worse.

I can tell you that the borders worse than what anybody says on TV, Hern said.

Oklahoma recently sent National Guard troops to the Texas-Mexico border to assist with border security.

Weve got to secure our southern border. Weve got to come up with an immigration policy that actually works, Hern said.

He also said fentanyl is a major concern of his, and he said securing the United States southern border is the No. 1 way to stop the drug from entering the U.S.

Hern also answered questions regarding term limits and age limits in Congress. The question came in response to concerns over the health of Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., 81, and Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., 53. Fetterman recently spent six weeks in in-patient treatment for clinical depression, and McConnell has had multiple health issues recently.

Hern said he does believe in term limits, mentioning that former Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe stepped down and was a proponent of term limits.

After Inhofe, also a Republican, retired at age 88 last year after a combined 36 years in the U.S. House and Senate, he told the Tulsa World he had long-term effects from COVID-19, and he attributed his decision to leave the Senate to that.

Hern explained that getting a bill on the floor focused on term limits is incredibly difficult, and he said that difficulty is why it hasnt been done.

He said, however, that he did not believe in age limits.

There are people that are 80 years old that are impressive. They can do their jobs every single day, Hern said. There are people that are 50 that shouldnt be in Congress.

One of the first questions Hern received at the town hall focused on Taiwans potential independence from China.

Hern said he and members of his staff recently traveled to Taiwan and spoke with their president. Hern said almost all Western countries support Taiwans independence.

Taiwan is an outstanding partner and will be, he said. All Western countries are going full supporting Taiwan.

Other notes

When asked about raising the federal minimum wage from $7.25 an hour, Hern said he didnt think that amount is a living wage. However, he said people dont make that any more and are likely to make more despite no minimum wage increase.

I cant think of anybody thats talking about a $7.25 an hour wage is getting anybody.  Ill guarantee you nobody is paying $7.25 an hour in this day and age, Hern said.

He also said Oklahoma, specifically Tulsa, is helping train people for more careers. He pointed out that Tulsa Tech, on whose Broken Arrow campus the town hall was held, offers job training and opportunities to help with workforce shortages, specifically in trucking.

Hern also discussed health care, saying universal or free health care is not the answer. However, he said he agreed that the price of health care is too high, and he said the U.S. should focus on solving the deeper problem and address why the costs are so high rather than offer universal health care.

After questions about the landmark 2020 Supreme Court ruling in McGirt v. Oklahoma, Hern said there isnt enough time or enough votes for Congress to address the ruling in any way.

There is nobody outside of eastern Oklahoma that gives two hoots about McGirt, Hern said.

He said the best thing for Oklahoma would be for the state government to come to an agreement with tribal governments on their own terms.

Hern expressed that hes very concerned with the rise in digital currency and certain artificial intelligence. He said he didnt want to invest in or put his faith in something with no backing or that is not understood.

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An Oklahoma City law firm has been chosen to lead any legal action by the state arising from natural gas price manipulation during the February 2021 Winter Storm Uri, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said Tuesday.

Drummond said Foshee & Yaffe was chosen over two other firms that responded to a request for proposals  Ballard Spahr of Philadelphia and Paul LLP of Kansas City, Missouri.

I was greatly impressed by the firms extensive experience and their demonstrated abilities to win favorable judgments on behalf of government clients, Drummond said.

He announced last month that he would be pursuing legal action against unnamed companies he believed manipulated the energy markets during the deep cold snap. That caused a sharp rise in heating costs, which were ultimately passed along to taxpayers in the form of state-sanctioned bond issues to reimburse utilities.

Kansas recently filed a lawsuit similar to the one contemplated by Drummond.

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Many Vietnamese parents are keen on letting their children join boarding schools in the U.S. so that they can enter universities there.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, Jerry Vo attended many international schools in Ho Chi Minh City.

In 2020, the pandemic began to hit Asia, so schools shifted to online teaching.

As Vo was not interested in online learning, his parents allowed him to enroll in the Cushing Academy, a boarding school in Massachusetts.

She has since then studied and lived at the school. Classes in the morning and afternoon feature sports, as well as outdoor and club activities.

In the evening, she studies by herself in the dorm. She has lived with other students, including those from the U.S. and other countries.

The biggest difference between boarding schools and others is students self-reliance. They proactively arrange their studying and life," Vo said.

It was hard on the first days. Moreover, communicating completely in English is not easy."

N.M.T., a former student of the University of Colorado, who was a student at a boarding school in Texas since he was in grade nine, said boarding schools in the U.S. pay a lot of attention to students achievements.

As a result, the study schedule is hectic, not to mention sporting, artistic, and outdoor activities, as well as projects.

One of the primary purposes of these schools is to ensure that their students can enter good universities. Boarding schools in Vietnam often build a reputation by training students for famed universities," T. said.

Parents sending their children to U.S. boarding schools also expect them to go to good universities."

Boarding schools are suitable for those who have no relatives in the U.S.. Parents in Vietnam can set their mind at rest when their children completely study and live on campus under the supervision of teachers.

However, the cost for attending boarding schools in the U.S. is high.

T. said it cost his family about US$65,000 per year.

The cost for an international student at boarding schools in the U.S. ranges between $60,000 and $90,000 per year, including tuition fees and subsistence expenses.

Asian students going to boarding schools tend to make friends with each other. Many are afraid of communicating with Western students as they find it hard to fall in line with them, besides obstacles in communication, said Quan Tran, a student of Concord Academy in Massachusetts.

Being aware of this issue, most boarding schools have formed organizations to connect international students with native peers.

I think students should participate in programs, activities, and clubs, or simply talk with other friends, said Quan.

Bill Hoang from Woodberry Forest School in Virginia said he is a member of the schools group to support new international students. The group welcomes, instructs, and helps students integrate into their new environment.

The group also helps new students with studying, keeping their rooms clean, and even personal issues.

Hoang said Woodberry Forest School is located in a forest and students have to integrate with each other and find it hard to experience an urban life.

It is necessary to consider the location of boarding schools, Hoang noted, adding that ebullient students will prefer schools in downtown cities, while those keen on quiet places can choose schools far from cities.

Many Vietnamese parents also prefer boarding schools in areas with many Vietnamese people.

According to Vo, her family had earlier contacted an overseas education counseling center to seek a boarding school in the U.S., but she found that these centers often connect to only a few schools, limiting Vietnamese students choices.

She advised parents and students to learn about boarding schools from many sources of information and refer to many people before making decisions.

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WASHINGTON -- U.S. government offices in the Washington D.C. area closed early on Monday because of threatening weather as forecasters warned people across the eastern U.S. of possible tornadoes, damaging winds and large hailstones.

Fast-moving thunderstorms and powerful winds toppled trees and knocked out power for nearly 200,000 homes and businesses in neighboring Maryland and Virginia, according to tracking website PowerOutage.us. As many as 800,000 customers had lost power in the southern and mid-Atlantic states.

Though drenched with rain and pelted with some hail, the nation's capital had escaped any twisters by the time a National Weather Service tornado watch expired at 9 pm EDT.

A coastal flood advisory remained in effect for Washington until 4 am.

The National Weather Service said more than 29.5 million people from Alabama to western New York state had been at risk of tornadoes on Monday, but none had been reported as of 9 pm.

The Federal Aviation Administration ordered departing flights grounded at airports in New York, Washington, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Baltimore because of thunderstorms. The FAA said it was rerouting aircraft around the storms as much as possible.

Libraries, museums, the National Zoo, pools and other municipal and federal services in the Washington area were also closing early. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management said federal employees had to depart no later than 3 pm.

FlightAware, a flight tracking site, said more than 2,600 U.S. flights had been canceled, including 102 at Washington Reagan National Airport and 35 at Washington Dulles. Another 7,700 U.S. flights had been delayed.
The Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense held a ceremony in Hanoi on Tuesday morning to send the countrys Engineering Unit Rotation 2 to the UN peacekeeping mission in the Abyei area, located in Africa.

Senior Lieutenant General Phung Si Tan, deputy chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam Peoples Army and deputy head of the defense ministrys steering committee for the participation in UN peacekeeping operations, chaired the send-off ceremony organized at Noi Bai International Airport.

According to Colonel Pham Manh Thang, head of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the Engineering Unit Rotation 2 members received specialized training in professional and operational skills, military tactics, foreign languages, and pre-deployment training following the UNs guidelines.

The unit is also fully equipped with knowledge regarding UN peacekeeping, international laws, especially the International Humanitarian Law and the Law of Armed Conflict, foreign relations, survival skills, detection and identification of explosive materials, standards of conduct in prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, and others.

Given the training and knowledge acquired, the entire members of the unit are fully able to fulfill their assigned duties and responsibilities, he said.

Besides, the defense ministry purchased an adequate amount of equipment and goods to make sure that the unit can complete their assigned duties during the time in the Abyei region.

Senior Lieutenant General Phung Si Tan demanded that all the members will stay united, overcome all obstacles, and accomplish their assigned tasks.

They were also told to uphold and promote the great traditions and image of the Vietnam People's Army to international friends, contribute to the effective implementation of the Vietnamese Party and states foreign policy, and enhance the position of Vietnam and its army in the global arena, Tan said.

They must strictly comply with the regulations of the UN and the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei, the law of the host country, as well as the law of Vietnam and its militarys disciplines.

The Ministry of National Defense on November 20 last year passed a decision to establish the Engineering Unit Rotation 2, composed of 203 officers with 19 being female.

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Two days after being battered by flash floods, Ho Bon Commune in Mu Cang Chai District, Yen Bai Province, northern Vietnam remained isolated, with many villages and the commune center covered in rocks and mud.

On Monday, a delegation including district-level officials and Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters visited the mountainous commune, which was hit by flash floods on Saturday night.

The National Highway 32 section running through the commune was covered with layers of mud and was damaged after being struck by a dozen landslides.

It took the delegation almost three hours to travel through muddy water on the highway in order to access the commune center.

Trong La was the hardest-hit village in the commune as it experienced multiple flash floods and landslides.

Part of the communes medical station and around a dozen nearby houses were swept away by floodwaters.

Flash floods devastated a dozen houses near the Ho Bon Commune medical station in Mu Cang Chai District, Yen Bai Province, northern Vietnam. Photo: Chi Tue / Tuoi Tre

When the delegation moved closer toward the heart of the commune, they discovered that fallen trees lay blocking the roadside, while rocks and mud spilled onto the floors of local households, the headquarters of the Ho Bon Peoples Committee, and local schools.

The center of Ho Bon Commune is in chaos after the extreme weather. Photo: Chi Tue / Tuoi Tre

Sung A Binh, chairman of the commune administration, said flash floods left one resident missing, destroyed 20 houses, and displaced many local residents.

He added that 94 of the affected people were arranged to temporarily stay in a local community house and in their relatives accommodations.

The extreme weather left 100 houses damaged by 50-80 percent. Floodwaters also swept away 20 cattle, 70 motorcycles, two cars, and a large amount of food stock in the commune, Binh said.

Competent forces and local residents have to go through muddy water puddles and landslide-hit areas to approach Ho Bon Commune in Mu Cang Chai District, Yen Bai Province, northern Vietnam. Photo: Chi Tue / Tuoi Tre

All of the medical station doors, functional rooms, and medical equipment were damaged, in addition to a lack of medicine for people in need, the local official said, expressing his concerns.

There is no power or phone signal in the entire isolated commune.

It could take three more days for local forces to begin cleanup operations.

Le Trong Khang, chairman of the Mu Cang Chai administration, said an emergency meeting was convened and three working teams were formed to visit three affected communes to cope with the aftermath of flash floods and heavy rains.

Aside from arranging temporary accommodations to affected residents, the authorities offered them financial aid and food.

The authorities are working to help affected households return to their normal life, Khang elaborated.

The remains of a local house in Trong La Village, Ho Bon Commune after flash floods. Photo: Chi Tue / Tuoi Tre

In related news, severe flash floods and landslides took a toll on the 110kV transmission line and public properties of the Ho Bon hydropower plant in the district, according to the state-run Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN).

Also, traffic disruptions were reported in the National Highway 32 section passing through the communes of Ho Bon and Khao Mang in the district.

The whole district encountered power outages, while landslides made some roads impassable to both vehicles and pedestrians.

Electricity is expected to be restored on Wednesday in the district, but this plan still depends on weather conditions, the EVN said.

Flash floods took a heavy toll on the Ho Bon Commune medical station in Mu Cang Chai District, Yen Bai Province, northern Vietnam. Photo: Chi Tue / Tuoi Tre

Most functional rooms and medical equipment at the medical station were damaged. Photo: Chi Tue / Tuoi Tre

A man sits on a fallen branch after his house was swept away by floodwaters. Photo: Chi Tue / Tuoi Tre

Local people search for their properties washed away by floodwaters. Photo: Chi Tue / Tuoi Tre

A motorbike and a plow after being damaged by flash floods. Photo: Chi Tue / Tuoi Tre

Flash floods also damaged the ground floor of the Ho Bon Commune Peoples Committee. Photo: Chi Tue / Tuoi Tre

Uprooted trees and fallen branches lie scattered at the headquarters of the Ho Bon Commune Peoples Committee. Photo: Chi Tue / Tuoi Tre

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The owner of a karaoke parlor in Hanoi was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Monday for flouting fire prevention and fighting regulations, resulting in the death of three firefighters who were on duty last year.

The Hanoi Peoples Court on Monday handed down the sentence to Pham Duy Hung, a 40-year-old resident of Cau Giay District, Hanoi and the owner of the ISIS karaoke parlor in the district, after a day of trial.

Hungs violations were serious, resulting in severe consequences, according to the court.

The court required Hung to compensate the family of each firefighter VND230 million (US$9,665).

He will also have to provide VND2 million ($84) per month as restitution to the mother of Dang Anh Quan, one of the deceased firefighters, and VND2 million ($84) per month to Quans two children until they are 18 years old.

Hung showed repentance for his violations and offered a heartfelt apology to the families of the three firefighters.

He acquired the ISIS karaoke parlor, consisting of six floors and an attic, on Quan Hoa Street, Cau Giay District in March 2018.

The Peoples Committee of Cau Giay District allowed the use of four rooms from the third to the sixth floors of the building for karaoke services.

However, Hung provided services in nine rooms from the second to the sixth floors.

In February 2022, Hung hired someone to upgrade and expand an additional two rooms on the seventh floor of the building, using a metal frame, fencing, roofing, gypsum ceilings, soundproofing layers, power and air conditioning systems, along with decorations, without notifying the local authorities.

He began using a room on the seventh floor for karaoke services and another for storage in May last year.

He was aware that his karaoke parlor would be eligible for operations after getting a fire safety certificate. However, while applying for the certificate, he ran his business as usual.

The establishment was open from 11:00 am to 2:00 am the next day.

At about 1:00 pm on August 1, 2022, a fire broke out on the seventh floor and spread across the entire karaoke parlor.

The Hanoi police later detached many fire trucks and firefighters to the scene to put out the fire.

During the firefighting and rescue, firefighters Dang Anh Quan, Do Duc Viet, and Nguyen Dinh Phuc lost their lives.

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Quang Trung waste treatment complex, the largest of its kind in Dong Nai Province in southern Vietnam, is now facing an overload.

The facility covering an area of 130 hectares was put into operation in 2009 and is currently receiving and treating garbage from eight cities and districts in Dong Nai, said Tran Thi Minh Hai, deputy head of the Natural Resources and Environment Division of Thong Nhat District, Dong Nai Province, where the facility is located.

The complex, costing VND650 billion (US$27.3 million), treats some 1,200 metric tons of trash per day.

It treats domestic and industrial waste using composting, ensuring the ratio of buried inert waste at below 15 percent.

The area for buried inert waste is lined and covered with canvas.

The largest waste treatment facility in Dong Nai Province, southern Vietnam faces an overload.

However, residents in the neighborhood have recently complained that the complex has been overwhelmed and gives off nauseating odor.

The complex initially had a capacity of 600 metric tons of garbage per day and assumed responsibility for treating waste of Thong Nhat District and Long Khanh City, according to the Natural Resources and Environment Division of the district.

The Dong Nai Peoples Council later required cities and districts in the province to ensure the ratio of buried inert waste at below 15 percent. However, many cities and districts failed to comply with the requirement.

As a result, the provincial Peoples Committee decided to move garbage from Bien Hoa City and Cam My, Long Thanh, Nhon Trach, Tan Phu, and Trang Bom Districts to the Quang Trung waste treatment complex.

The complex thus has to treat 1,200 metric tons of garbage per day.

The odor mainly comes from the composting process during the rainy season, the administration of Thong Nhat District explained.

An aerial view of a corner of the Quang Trung waste treatment complex in Thong Nhat District, Dong Nai Province, southern Vietnam. Photo: H.M. / Tuoi Tre

The district proposed reducing the volume of waste sent to the facility to improve its operation.

The volume of garbage treated at the complex is much higher than the approved capacity in 2009, according to Sonadezi Service JSC, the investor of the Quang Trung waste treatment complex.

Waste and leakage treatment systems at the complex have to operate at their maximum capacities. There is no time to maintain the area for buried inert waste either.

If the complexs capacity stays unchanged, the facility cannot receive garbage from all cities and districts in the province by the end of 2023, according to Sonadezi.

The company has proposed adjusting the planning of the complex but has yet to get the nod for the proposal.

Secretary of the Dong Nai Partys Committee Nguyen Hong Linh (R, 2nd) during a visit to the Quang Trung waste treatment complex in Dong Nai Province, southern Vietnam. Photo: Thanh Truc / Tuoi Tre

The Thong Nhat Peoples Committee has suggested the Dong Nai Department of Natural Resources and Environment request waste treatment companies of cities and districts in the province to invest in technology to ease the pressure on the Quang Trung waste treatment complex.

The district informed that Sonadezi has proposed developing two more areas for buried inert waste but it will take four months to complete paperwork.

A waste treatment line at the Quang Trung waste treatment complex in Dong Nai Province, southern Vietnam. Photo: Thanh Truc / Tuoi Tre

Workers of the Quang Trung waste treatment complex check and classify garbage. Photo: Thanh Truc / Tuoi Tre

Leakage from the area for buried inert waste at the Quang Trung waste treatment complex. Photo: H.M. / Tuoi Tre

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The coast guard force of Hai Phong City in northern Vietnam on Monday saved seven sailors from Hong Kong after their boat was pummeled by waves and went aground.

The Hai Phong Maritime Port Authority said on the same day that the authority had joined hands with coast guards to promptly rescue the victims in the waters off Hai Phong.

At 0:30, a Hong Kong-flagged ship called Glory was moored to the Lach Huyen port in Cat Hai District in the city, after the vessel with seven sailors on board was washed away by strong waves and winds, and ran aground in a nearby breakwater area.

After being notified of the incident, the Hai Phong Maritime Port Authority mobilized speedboats, ships, and coast guards to carry out rescue operations.

However, high waves and strong winds slowed down the rescue process.

Several hours after rescue efforts began, the seven sailors were brought to safety and given medical assistance.

The seven Hong Kong sailors were rescued after their boat was pummeled by strong waves off Hai Phong City, northern Vietnam. Photo: Hai Phong Maritime Port Authority

Their health conditions are stable.

In another incident, a fishing household in Quang Yen Town under Quang Ninh Province, northern Vietnam went missing in the Lach Huyen waters off Hai Phong last Friday.

Rescuers have found the body of Nguyen Van Xa, 53, eight kilometers from the scene of a shipwreck.

The rescuers are enhancing their efforts to search for the bodies of the remaining two victims, identified as Nguyen Thi Gia, 52, and her 18-year-old son, Nguyen Tuan Anh.

Their family set sail for the coastal area off Hai Phong and lost contact on Friday last week.

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According to authorities, a woman who was attacked by a shark off Rockaway Beach, one of the most well-known Atlantic coast attractions in New York City, was in critical condition.

The attack was reported at 5:49 p.m. in the water at 59th Street, according to the public information office of the New York Police Department.

According to spokesman Michael Hinck, she was still in critical condition late on Monday night at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, as reported by NBC News.

The victim was a swimmer who was 50 years old and was bitten on her left leg, according to the city's Department of Parks and Recreation.

According to a statement from the parks department, lifeguards were sent in to clear the beach after the attack while police in a helicopter looked in vain for the shark.

Tuesday's beach opening is postponed and will begin at 11 a.m. at the earliest, as authorities continue to keep an eye out for sharks in the area, according to the parks department.

Read also: Shark Attack: Two Tourist Women Killed By Sharks on Egypt's Red Sea Coast

More Shark Attacks?

A month ago, there were numerous shark attacks recorded in the seas off Fire Island, off Quogue, a Long Island village, and off Babylon, New York, all to the northeast of Rockaway.

(Photo: by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 07: Police gather along Rockaway Beach at 59th Street after a woman was attacked by a shark in the early evening on August 07, 2023, in New York City. The woman is reported in critical condition after the attack which comes as New York beaches are witnessing an increase in shark sightings and encounters with swimmers.

This summer, sand tiger sharks, which can reach a length of 10 feet, have been seen relatively frequently along the surf line off Long Island.

According to specialists at the International Shark Attack File at the Florida Museum, they are drawn to the Long Island coast's bays and baitfish.

According to records from the previous year, eight of the 20 shark attacks reported in New York State since 1837 occurred in 2022.

Shark Attacks in the US

Shark attacks are relatively rare in the United States. In 2021, there were only 73 unprovoked shark attacks in the world, and only 3 of those attacks occurred in the United States.

The vast majority of shark attacks happen in tropical and subtropical waters, and the United States has relatively few areas with these types of climates.

However, there are a few places in the United States where shark attacks are more common. Florida has the most shark attacks of any state in the US, with an average of 20 attacks per year. California and Hawaii also have a relatively high number of shark attacks, with an average of 10 attacks per year each.

There are a few things that can increase your risk of being attacked by a shark. Swimming in murky water or at dawn or dusk can make it harder for sharks to see you, which can increase your chances of being attacked.

Swimming near schools of fish or seals can also attract sharks, as these are their prey. And of course, swimming in areas where sharks are known to be present is always a risk.

Related article: Hammerhead Shark Attacks Kayaker Off Malibu Coast

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Ministry of Health has mandated the health departments of provinces and cities enhance measures aimed at limiting the usage of N2O, commonly referred to as laughing gas, exclusively to industrial settings at a time when the recreational use of the chemical among young people has become widespread in Vietnam.

As per Ministry of Health regulations, N2O can only be used as an industrial chemical and in food processing, and it is currently in the research phase for potential use in dental sedation and pain management.

However, many young people in Vietnam are inhaling N2O for recreational purposes as the colorless gas can create a feeling of intoxication.

Over the past few years, bars, clubs, and eateries throughout the country have sold N2O-filled balloons to partygoers at their venues.

In many cases, these partygoers suffered from N2O side effects, including transient dizziness, dissociation, disorientation, loss of balance, impaired memory and cognition, and weakness in the legs, while accidents like tripping and falling may occur, according to doctor Nguyen Trung Nguyen, director of the Poison Control Center at Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi.

Some fatal accidents have been reported due to asphyxia.

Fits

Recently, a 26-year-old woman was admitted to 7A Military Hospital in District 5, Ho Chi Minh City for treatment for signs of poisoning, which occurred after she continuously inhaled N2O stored in about seven laughing gas containers over two days.

According to her family, after inhaling the N2O from the laughing gas, the patient experienced a tingling sensation, difficulty walking, and gradually worsening symptoms, including sphincter dysfunction.

Despite these symptoms, the patient did not seek hospital treatment at first and instead bought and consumed over-the-counter medicines.

After 15 days, her condition worsened, leading the patient to finally seek medical evaluation at the hospital.

It was revealed that the patient had been regularly inhaling N2O-filled balloons for approximately five years and consuming them up to three times a week, with five to seven balloons used each time.

Doctors at 7A Military Hospital stated that the patients diagnosis confirmed a cervical spinal cord injury, resulting in paralysis and an inability to walk.

Lately, the Poison Control Center at Bach Mai Hospital has also admitted a significant number of patients due to the recreational use of laughing gas.

One young man who had been using laughing gas regularly for two years was recently hospitalized with quadriplegia, experiencing severe damage to his spinal cord and nervous system.

Doctors predict that the treatment for this patient may extend for several months, leading to various long-term effects and sequelae.

The inherent nature of N2O resembles that of a narcotic, as its usage tends to escalate in pursuit of pleasurable effects, said doctor Nguyen.

Notably, individuals who frequently use laughing gas are prone to developing an addiction and are more likely to seek out other synthetic drugs.

Many individuals initially use laughing gas for recreation, assuming it to be harmless since they quickly return to their normal state after it wears off, according to doctor Kieu Manh Ha, head of the neurology department at 7A Military Hospital.

Unfortunately, they fail to anticipate the potential consequences that may arise later on.

New form to avoid authorities management

Despite authorities prohibiting the non-industrial use of N2O, there is still an active market where individuals sell N2O gas cylinders of various sizes.

Buyers can easily siphon the gas off into balloons by attaching a valve to the cylinder, while sellers opt for this practice as a compact and convenient method which is less likely to be detected by authorities and enables easy delivery to the buyers' addresses.

Therefore, the Ministry of Health recently issued a dispatch to the health departments of provinces and cities, emphasizing the need to enhance the supervision and regulation of the production, trading, and usage of N2O, and take decisive actions against any misuse or improper practices.

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Cuc Phuong National Park, a popular tourist destination in Ninh Binh Province of northern Vietnam, has won the title of Asias Leading National Park in 2023 for the fifth time in a row, surpassing many major rivals in Japan, Nepal, and Indonesia.

Bui Van Manh, director of the provincial Department of Tourism, on Monday morning confirmed the win at the World Travel Awards (WTA).

Among the Cuc Phuong National Park rivals are Chitwan National Park in Nepal, Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park in Japan, Kinabalu National Park in Malaysia, Komodo National Park in Indonesia, Minneriya National Park in Sri Lanka, and Taman Negara National Park in Malaysia.

Situated 120 kilometers from Hanoi, Cuc Phuong National Park is a nature reserve that was founded on July 7, 1962.

The national park covers over 22,000 hectares of land in 14 communes of four districts under the three provinces of Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh, and Thanh Hoa.

Cuc Phuong National Park has an abundance of over 2,200 plants and is home to 122 types of reptiles and amphibians, 66 species of fish, 2,000 kinds of insects, and 135 other animals.

A butterfly forest at Cuc Phuong National Park in Ninh Binh Province, northern Vietnam. Photo: Nguyen Hien / Tuoi Tre

Delacour's langur, a rare and beautiful primate, is known as a symbol of Cuc Phuong National Park.

The national park enchants visitors with its natural beauty, peaceful landscape, poetic scenery, and fresh air.

In late April and early May, Cuc Phuong fascinates guests with colorful butterfly wings.

Cuc Phuong National Park has maintained its attractiveness of ecotourism, one of Vietnams key tourism segments, according to the organizer of the WTA.

The awards ceremony for Asias Leading National Park is set to take place in Ho Chi Minh City on September 6.

In 2022, the city hosted the 29th World Travel Awards Asia and Oceania Gala Ceremony.

The WTA was initiated in 1993 to acknowledge excellence in the global travel and tourism industry.

The annual event has been described as the Oscars of global tourism.

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Foreign Correspondents South Asia Correspondent Avani Dias is in India for a look at the Modi government, accused of using Bollywood for propaganda purposes.

In India the Modi government is being accused of waging a war on Bollywood, the countrys most powerful cultural force, effectively turning it into a propaganda tool. Filmmakers who dare to criticise the government or resist pressure to produce pro-Hindu content face a backlash.

This week on Foreign Correspondent, the ABCs South Asia Correspondent Avani Dias goes behind the scenes in Bollywood to meet industry insiders whove risked their careers to speak candidly on camera. In the words of one well-known actor: If you want to thrive in Bollywood you have to suck up or shut up.

Its left some asking whether free speech is at risk in the largest democracy in the world under Modis reign.

8pm Thursday on ABC.
During the pandemic a lot of us rediscovered the joys (or not) of walking, so it was probably inevitable that a television show on Australian walks would crop up somewhere in our schedules.

Where else but SBS, already drawing in viewers with a string of British treks? Indeed, Great Australian Walks with Julia Zemiro, actually feels long overdue.

TV walking shows, if such a genre exists, are as much about history and presenter personality as they are landscapes. They inform and entertain us, and hopefully motivate us to get up off the couch and explore neighbourhoods near and far. The always versatile Zemiro, is the perfect host for all of the above.

Produced by Mint Pictures, Episode 1 of this 10 part series takes place in Bunurong Country, or more specifically the 13.75km walk from Sorrento to Fort Nepean on the Mornington Peninsula. One one side is the roar of Bass Strait, on the other the more sedate Port Phillip Bay -one of which lost us a Prime Minister (more on that later).

Zemiro arrives via ferry from the Bellarine Peninsula (thats Geelong way) to Sorrento where -gobsmackingly- she has never been before, despite her years of residing in Melbourne. Say what? Yes, she knows the Tina Arena song and the Hannie Rayson play / movie, but concedes she didnt take enough time to experience its bayside delights.

I think I worked too much, she admits.

The history lessons begin quick smart with Sorrento explained as being Victorias first European settlement 1803, albeit temporarily.

As she strolls towards up a beach path to the town, with the soothing sounds of guitar strings, you really want to join her. Instead she is met by local walker and editor, Tamsin ONeill as she discovers Millionaires Walk.

Sorrentos about wealth isnt it?, Zemiro suggests. You bet.

Historic facts are gently nudged on screen as drone shots capture the serenity and a local neighbour John, tells the story of land given back to the crown. Ok even if he was worded up by producers, you still welcome the insight.

Theres also some clever use of CGI to recreate days of yore, not a term I am prone to dropping in casual reviews. Ok this series has me chilling out.

Zemiro and co. remind us that walking is important for mental health. And physical I am yelling at my TV.

At the site of an 1852 Quarantine Station another expert, Erik Lloga, reflects on the use of the site as recently as 1999 when Australia welcomed 4000 refugees from Kosovo under the Howard government. Its origins were even darker when up to 170 European ships, riddled with diseases including typhoid, cholera and yellow fever, saw passengers quarantined. Tragically those diseases also decimated the Bunurong people.

This brings us to actor Tasma Walton and Bunurong elder Aunty Gail Kunwara Dawson who welcome Zemiro with a smoking ceremony before retelling heartbreaking stories of local women abducted by whalers and sealers, many of whom were never returned to their home. WA born Tasma Walton also reflects on discovering her own heritage to the land and filming on country for her first big TV series, Blue Heelers.

Lastly historian Tom Griffiths at Fort Nepean expands on the 1967 disappearance of PM Harold Holt, not just in the dangers of the rip, but the conspiracy theories which surround the infamous incident.

If Im left with any questions its around how long it takes to walk (Im guessing around 3 hours), and whether production had access to private property (to be fair Zemiro is clear that Millionaires Walk is hard to find but public land). Also, what should I carry on my walk, and what challenges for people with disabilities? A postcard at episodes end might be good to list the basics, Getaway style.

Still as we are reminded, walking is free. The series works so well I wish it was on Tuesday nights instead of those blessed trains, but maybe it will get more oxygen (see what I did there?) later in the week.

Everything is in walking distance if you just find the time, Zemiro suggests.

Fab. Only now do we have to walk back?

Great Australian Walks with Julia Zemiro 7:30pm Thursday on SBS.
Home and Away spoilers follow for UK viewers.

Coming up on Home and Away, Mali has a brush with death when he pushes himself too hard.

Elsewhere, Xander falls into bed with Kate, Bree issues a warning to Mercedes, and Cash gets closer to discovering the identity of Felicity's attacker.

Here's a full collection of 11 big moments.

1. Rose and Kirby reunite

Channel 5

Kirby and Rose's friendship is on shaky ground after they clashed over the police's involvement in the Stunning Organics explosion.

Stubborn Kirby is given food for thought when Marilyn suggests their social media campaign against the corrupt company may have played a part in the events that followed. Reflecting on her involvement, Kirby goes to the station and apologises to Rose for being out of line.

The pair are reunited, and after being informed that the CEO of Stunning Organics has been sighted, Rose heads off to make an arrest.

Later, Kirby and Marilyn celebrate Rose's heroism, but reality bites when Alf returns from visiting Roo and reveals that she's on life support.

2. Marilyn receives terrifying news

Channel 5

With his daughter's life hanging in the balance, Alf wants answers. He presses Marilyn about the events leading up to the explosion and expresses disappointment that she didn't ask for help when Stunning Organics were terrorising her.

In the midst of Roo's suffering, there's a bit of positive news when Marilyn hears the CEO is pleading guilty.

But just as Marilyn dares to believe Stunning Organics are finished, a newspaper headline reveals they have appointed a new boss and it's business as usual.

3. Mali's in serious danger

Channel 5

Mali is still struggling with the side-effects of the injury he sustained in the blast. The surfer is experiencing unsteadiness and jolts of pain, but is determined to keep his ailments hidden.

After pushing himself hard at the board shop, Mali gears up and heads into the surf.

It's all too much too soon and it only takes one wipe before Mali is battling to keep his head above water.

Story continues

4. Mali rejects Alf's help

Jeremy Greive - Channel 5

Tane and Mackenzie rush to Mali's rescue, helping him out of the sea and onto dry land.

Shaken by the scary experience, Mali concedes that he needs to stay out of the water until he's recovered, but then panics how he'll make the rent without the income from his surf lessons.

Later, a grateful Alf comes by to thank Mali for his bravery in rescuing Roo and John and insists if there's anything he can do, just knock on his door.

Mac encourages Mali to take Alf up on his offer, but his pride won't allow him to ask for help.

5. Andrew's paranoia takes over

Channel 5

Over at the Morgan house, Andrew and Justin recruit Theo to set up security cameras around the perimeter of the property. Having the CCTV up is a huge relief for Andrew, who's terrified Vita Nova will return to kidnap him.

The teen absorbs himself in the live feed on his computer, but Leah worries the cameras are fuelling Andrew's paranoia. After spending 48 hours glued to his screen, Leah and Justin confront Andrew about his escalating obsession, assuring him they won't be turning the cameras off.

Clearly exhausted, Andrew agrees to shut down the computer and go to sleep. But as night falls, the lad is back watching the feed.

6. Xander sleeps with Kate

Channel 5

Xander comes clean to Mackenzie about his kiss with Kate. She insists he needs to let it go, pointing out that neither he or Kate are in a good place right now.

Taking the advice on board, Xander asks Kate to consider whether he's helping her grieving process or holding her back. She returns later to talk, but the pair give into their feelings and end up in bed.

After being caught out by Rose the following morning, Xander admits his complicated grief over Jamie's death is causing him to act out of character. Knowing he's not himself, Xander decides he and Kate need some time apart.

7. Felicity wants justice

Channel 5

Felicity has a burning desire to pursue justice against the man who attacked her, but the police are no further in discovering his identity.

Taking matters into her own hands, Felicity barges into Cash's office and demands to see the footage from the event where she was assaulted. He allows her access, but then calls in Tane to stop her, which only enrages Felicity further.

After getting nowhere with the CCTV, Felicity fears her nightmare will never end.

8. Cash gets a breakthrough

Channel 5

Struggling to contain his rage at what happened to Felicity, helpless Cash buries himself in work.

Eden can see what her boyfriend is doing and begs him to take a break and come home, but Cash won't stop until he has brought Felicity's attacker to justice.

When the DNA results return from Felicity's attacker, Cash hopes this could be the breakthrough he's looking for. But what will they reveal?

9. Bree threatens Mercedes

Channel 5

Bree and Remi's alone time is interrupted when Mercedes arrives with huge news  she has a direct number for powerhouse music producer Reuben Phillips.

Bree encourages Remi to go for it, but can't shake off the feeling that Mercedes is after her man.

As the band start brainstorming ways to impress Reuben, Eden fuels Bree's fears by warning that Mercedes can't be trusted. Consumed by insecurity and jealousy, Bree tells Mercedes in no uncertain terms to back off.

10. Bree is annoyed when Mercedes saves the day

Channel 5

Frustrated by Remi's inability to see Mercedes has feelings for him, Bree storms out of the house.

Mercedes challenges Remi on what matters more  comforting his girlfriend or pursuing a once-in-a-lifetime career making opportunity  and he decides to prioritise Bree.

Kirby covers for Remi at the meeting with Reuben Phillips, and Mercedes succeeds in securing Lyrik three free sessions of studio time, much to Bree's dismay.

11. John moves in with Irene

Channel 5

As John is discharged from hospital, Irene insists he comes to stay with her while he recuperates.

Despite his initial protestations, it's not long before John has his feet under the table and is driving Irene mad with his constant demands.

Irene decides to extend her shift at work in order to get a bit more time away from her needy friend. But when she returns home, grateful John has a surprise that he hopes will get him back into her good books.

Check out more of our Home and Away coverage:

- Home and Away's Alf Stewart to seek help over his hearing

- Home and Away's Felicity searches for her attacker in 15 new spoiler pictures

- Home and Away star Kyle Shilling reveals aftermath of Mali's explosion horror

- Home and Away to bring in two new characters in mystery story

- Home and Away releases trailer for two new characters

- Home and Away newcomers share teasers on Harper and Dana arrival

Home and Away airs weekdays at 1.45pm on Channel 5 and 6pm on 5STAR. First-look screenings air at 6.30pm on 5STAR and the show also streams on My5.

Selected classic episodes are available via Prime Video in the UK.

Read more Home and Away spoilers on our dedicated homepage

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Singapore Airlines (SIA) will ramp up flight frequencies to key destinations during the northern summer of 2024. (PHOTO: Getty)

SINGAPORE  Singapore Airlines (SIA) will increase the number of flights to several key destinations across its network during the northern summer of 2024 from 31 March to 26 October 2024 in support of strong air travel demand, according to a statement released on Monday (7 Aug).

The move will see the national carrier reach or exceed pre-pandemic levels of flight frequencies to several cities, including Shanghai, Beijing, Copenhagen, Dubai, Seattle, Tokyo and Melbourne.

SIA added that it would be deploying larger Airbus aircraft to increase passenger capacity to destinations such as Cairns in Australia and Male in Maldives.

As a result, the five-times weekly direct flight between Singapore and Cairns will now fly four times a week, while the seven-times weekly service between Singapore and Male will have its aircraft changed from the Boeing 737-8 narrowbody to the Airbus A350-900 medium-haul aircraft.

Changes to China flights

From 1 May 2024, SIA will be adding a third daily service between Singapore and Beijing, up from the current two times daily and bringing to pre-pandemic levels.

The airline will also add a fifth daily service between Singapore and Hong Kong from 29 October 2023 while a sixth daily service will be added from 1 August 2024, bringing flight frequencies back to pre-pandemic levels between the two cities.

Furthermore, SIA will add a fourth daily service between Singapore and Shanghai from 1 October 2023, while a fifth daily service will be added from 31 March 2024, thus bringing back frequency to pre-pandemic levels.

Increased flights to Japan

From 1 October 2023, SIA said it will be adding a third daily service between Singapore and Tokyo, while a fourth daily service will be added between the two cities from 1 September 2024 and restoring pre-pandemic frequencies.

Story continues

Changes to Europe flights

From 1 July 2024, SIA's services between Singapore and Copenhagen, Denmark with the A350-900 long-haul aircraft will go up to the pre-pandemic daily frequency from the current five times weekly.

The airlines will also be reinstating direct flights between Singapore and Barcelona in Spain. From 2 June 2024, direct flights between the two cities will resume with a twice-weekly service. SIA's direct services between Singapore and Milan, Italy will go up to four times weekly from twice weekly, while flights for the Singapore-Milan-Barcelona route will go down from five times weekly to thrice weekly.

SIA also announced the return of its flagship Airbus A380 to continental Europe, which will replace the A350-900 long-haul aircraft that currently operates the daily flights between Singapore and Frankfurt in Germany.

More flights to Malaysia

Flight services between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur will be progressively ramped up from 47 times weekly to 66 times per week during the period from 31 March to 26 October 2024. From 31 March 2024, SIA will add a daily flight service and will mount a five-times weekly service from 3 June 2024.

An additional daily flight service will be added on 1 August 2024. SIA said that the additional flights between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur will be operated with the Boeing 737-8 aircraft.

The full list of changes and adjustments to flight schedules can be viewed on SIA's website. The airline operator added that tickets will be available for sale progressively through its various distribution channels.

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On July 27, 22-year-old Liv (@ratiliciousxx) took to TikTok to discuss the reactions she receives when people find out that shes a non-Asian person dating an Asian person.

I dont know if anybody else has experienced this, but Ive experienced it one too many times where Im just like, Hmm,' she begins. So if youre a non-Asian person dating an Asian person, do people, like, find out and get all excited about it?

The types who fetishize their partner also thinks that everybody else dating an Asian person fetishizes them

Liv, who models, says that a lot of people shes met have made the point to talk about how her boyfriend is Asian.

White people, I mean it hasnt always been white people, but white people think that theres an alliance between us. Like the types who fetishize their partner also thinks that everybody else dating an Asian person fetishizes them, she adds.

One example of this, Liv explains, was early in her modeling career when a photographer asked to see some pictures of her and her boyfriend together.

And then he saw it and he was like, Hes Chinese too? Hes not Chinese and I mentioned that hes not Chinese, but he didnt really care so he just started talking about his Chinese wife and how Wasian babies are the cutest babies and the rest of them are ugly, Liv says, referencing the term Wasian, which is slang for white and Asian.

Another time, Liv notes, someone asked about her boyfriends ethnicity. Upon revealing that hes Korean, she was told, Oh, Im a Koreaboo, so so are you.

A Koreaboo, according to Urban Dictionary, is someone who is obsessed with Korean culture so much they denounce their own culture and call themselves Korean.

Im not dating him because of his ethnicity. I didnt even know it before we started dating, Liv says. And then they were like, Oh, whats his name? And I was like, Oh, its Elijah. And theyre just like, Oh. Like, literally disappointed.

Story continues

The person in question, according to Liv, declared that usually Koreans dont have names like that, to which Liv clarified that he also has a Korean name.

A different instance, per Liv, was when someone slid into her DMs and responded to a picture Liv had posted of Elijah.

Someone slid up on it and was like, Oh, is that your boyfriend? Is he Japanese? He looks exactly like my sensei that I had in Japan,' she says.

As an asian person this happens all the time and it slowly drives me more and more insane

Clement Goh, reporter for CBC News, wrote about his personal experience relating to the mainstream medias recent emphasis on Asian characters as romantic leads, and how that helped him see himself as sexy dating material. While Goh has noticed positive implications for his dating life thanks to the surge of hunky Asian heartthrobs on the screen, hes also noticed negative repercussions for Asian men when they dont live up to their famous and often fictional counterparts.

My best unmatch of 2022 came from not measuring up to someones expectations of a K-drama movie star, Goh explains. As my date laid out how I was uncharacteristic in every way  including being too accommodating and rehearsed while chatting  I started questioning what being authentic really meant. It made me realize the Netflix effect was a double-edged sword for my dating prospects.

Fetishization across gender lines

TikTok users, many of whom are Asian, have taken to Livs comments to corroborate the Asian fetishization she discusses in her video. Others have revealed that theyve also received offhanded comments for not being anime Asian.

This is the first time Ive seen someone talking about it online Im so relieved, @pomegranate_lov3r replied.

Opposite side here, my ex had off handedly told his friends that I was Asian & they were so dissatisfied that I was Filipino & not anime Asian,' @imaginative808 revealed.

As an asian person this happens all the time and it slowly drives me more and more insane, @teresaviolettt wrote.

Fetishization often gets misidentified as appreciation. The fact of the matter is that those who fetishize those of Asian descent behave in ways that are incongruent with genuine respect of a culture and its people.

Theyre either labeled as undesirable according to Eurocentric beauty standards or gaslit into believing that fetishization is flattery. But like racial violence and discrimination, the sexualization of Asian women can lead to dangerous  even deadly  consequences, USA Today reports of the fetishization of Asian women in particular.

The effects of increased representation of hunky Asian men in popular culture also appear to be twofold  on the one hand, its helped Asian men feel more attractive and accepted, in spite of research that claims they are the least desirable racial group to women, according to Time. On the other hand, however, increased interest in K-pop and K-dramas, for instance, can lead to the romanticization of Korean culture and the hypersexualization of Korean men.

For Liv, the fact that some people seem to have taken more interest in her boyfriends ethnicity above all else speaks to their desire to fetishize him, and, in doing so, both strips him of his individuality and reduces the unique value of their relationship.

In The Know by Yahoo is now available on Apple News  follow us here!

The post A white woman shares the reactions shes gotten when people learn shes dating a Korean man: Im a Koreaboo appeared first on In The Know.

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There is no known cure for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - Credit: Getty

In the wake of the news that Bryan Randall, the longtime partner of Hollywood megastar Sandra Bullock, had died aged 57 after a secret battle with ALS, people are desperately trying to find out more about the disease.

His passing was confirmed through a family statement on Monday (August 8) which reads: "It is with great sadness that we share that on Aug. 5, Bryan Randall passed away peacefully after a three-year battle with ALS. Bryan chose early to keep his journey with ALS private and those of us who cared for him did our best to honour his request.

"We are immensely grateful to the tireless doctors who navigated the landscape of this illness with us and to the astounding nurses who became our roommates, often sacrificing their own families to be with ours. At this time we ask for privacy to grieve and to come to terms with the impossibility of saying goodbye to Bryan."

Degradation of motor neurons, conceptual 3D illustration. Motor neuron diseases are a group of neurodegenerative disorders including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, progressive bulbar palsy and other

Bryan is survived by Sandra Bullock, two of her children they raised together - Louis, 13, and Laila, 10 - as well as Randall's older daughter. His friends and family have asked for any donations to be made to the ALS Association and the Massachusetts General Hospital in lieu of flowers.

ALS - which in full means Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and referred to in the UK as motor neurone disease - has hit the headlines coming off the tragedy. Here is everything you need to know about the illness.

What is ALS?

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, ALS, which is also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, is "a rare neurological disease that affects motor neuronsthose nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement. Voluntary muscles are those we choose to move to produce movements like chewing, walking, and talking."

The disease is progressive, which mean that the symptoms get worse and more severe over time. It is considered a type of motor neurone disease, which stops messages being sent to muscles leading them to weaken and waste away.

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It typically strikes those between the ages of 55 and 75, though you can be diagnosed with ALS at any age. Men are more often affected.

What are the symptoms of ALS?

Experts say early symptoms of ALS involve the following:

As a person suffering from the illness sees their condition worsen, you may develop further problems with the following:

While some uncommon symptoms of ALS include experiencing issues with language or decision making, as well as developing a form of dementia gradually over time.

Can ALS be treated and is there a cure?

There is no cure or treatment to alleviate the damage caused by ALS, but there are options out there to make living with the disease easier. This can be done through providing special equipment aimed to keep people as mobile, comfortable and independent as possible.

In terms of medication, doctors in the US often prescribe Riluzole (Rilutek) which is an oral medicine believed to reduce damage to motor neurons. It is proven by clinical trials to extend life by a few months.

While Edaravone (Radicava) has been shown to slow the decline in clinical assessment of daily functioning in people suffering from ALS.
People watch a wildfire in Aljezur, Portugal, on Monday. (Reuters)

More than 1,400 people have been evacuated after wildfires swept through an area of Portugal.

About 800 emergency personnel battled a fire near the town of Odemira in the south of the country on Monday.

At least nine firefighters have been injured while battling the blazes, and six planes have been dropping water on the flames.

Firefighters battle a wildfire in Carrascal, Portugal. (Getty Images)

A wildfire rages in Aljezur, Portugal, on Monday. (Reuters)

Temperatures in the region are expected to reach past 40C later this week.

The area is north of the Algarve region which is hugely popular with British tourists.

A temperature of 46.4C was recorded in Santarem in Portugal on Monday, the hottest of the year so far.

Watch: 1,400 people evacuated after wildfires spread in Portugal

The fire near Odemira has destroyed about 6,700 hectares of land and led to the evacuation of 19 villages, a campsite and four tourist accommodations.

Helder Guerreiro, the mayor of Odemira, said the situation was "critical, difficult and complex".

Read more: Hundreds evacuated in Italy's Sardinia as fires rage in Portugal and Cyprus

Portugal is just the latest European country forced to deal with wildfires this summer.

Last month, thousands of people, including many Britons, were evacuated from the Greek island of Rhodes after severe fires.

A number of countries have been fighting wildfires in the last few days.

Italy

About 600 people have been evacuated on the island of Sardinia after more than 50 wildfires raged there on Monday.

Residents in Posada were forced to leave their homes and tourists at campsites and resorts have also been moved.

Six teams of firefighters, including 30 personnel and 12 vehicles, have been deployed to the region.

Posada town councillor Giorgio Fresu said: "Despite the huge deployment of fire officers, the situation is truly dramatic.

"The wind is blowing so strongly that it's not a fair fight."

A Canadair aircraft attempts to extinguish a wildfire in Posada, Sardinia, Italy. (Getty Images)

A wildfire burns in Posada, Sardinia, Italy, on Monday. (Getty Images)

A firefighter tackles a wildfire in Posada, Sardinia, Italy, on Monday. (Getty Images)

An aircraft attempts to extinguish a wildfire in Posada, Italy. (Getty Images)

Cyprus

In Cyprus, firefighters have been tackled a blaze near the village of Apesia, near the city of Limassol.

Firefighting teams from Lebanon, Greece and Jordan have sent in aircraft to combat the wildfires, officials said on Monday.

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The blaze has destroyed more than three square miles of land.

Environment minister Petros Xenophontos said: "Fires are here, climate change exists and unfortunately it wont go away."

An aircraft drops water over a fire in Apesia, near Limassol, Cyprus, on Monday. (AP Photo)

Two helicopters operate over a fire in Apesia, a village near Limassol, south western Cyprus. (AP Photo)

Spain

In Spain, wildfires near the cities of Cadiz and Huelva on the south west coast destroyed more than 1,000 hectares of land on Saturday and Sunday.

A burnt forest after wildfire in Puerto Real, near Cadiz, Spain, on Sunday. (AFP via Getty Images)

Can British travellers get compensation?

Because the UK Foreign Office did not advise against travel to the Greek islands, and because many airlines continued their services to those destinations, British travellers are unlikely to receive compensation for their trips.

Travel insurance is unlikely to cover the costs if flights and accommodation have not been cancelled and if people decided not to travel.

If flights were cancelled, airlines must offer passengers a full refund or an alternative flight.

Last week, Greece's prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis offered a free week-long holiday in Rhodes to tourists whose trips were cut short by wildfires.

Watch: Firefighters in Sicily battle wildfires as temperatures reach 44C
The Georgia State Senate could soon pass a new law focusing on the use of social media platforms. This new regulation includes requiring minors to seek parental consent before they can create social media accounts.

Georgia Children Might Need Parental Consent Before Using Social Media

According to NBC News, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Sen. Jason Anavitarte of Dallas-two top Republican officials-want to pass a new law focusing on social media access.

They shared their plan on Monday, Aug. 7, during a news conference, saying that they are seeking to pass the law as soon as 2024.

"It's important that we empower parents. A lot of parents don't know how to restrict content," explained Anavitarte.

The Republican senator said the new law will not allow children younger than 18 years old to create social media accounts without their parent's approval.

Aside from this, the rule will also require social media platforms to verify the age of users creating new accounts.

Read Also: Elon Musk: X Users Who are Unfairly Treated to Receive Financial Help

Social Media Companies Already Contacted

Via Fox Business, Anavitarte claimed that he already contacted Meta Platforms. He added that, together with Jones, they will discuss their proposed plans with the social media service provider.

AP News reported that once the new law is passed, Georgia will join other U.S. states that require minors to have parental permission before creating social media accounts.

Utah, Texas, and Arkansas already passed similar laws this 2023. California also enacted a law in 2022 to require online service providers to implement better privacy and safety features to protect children.

Because of the worsening online harassment and other harmful content on Twitter (now called X), Facebook, Instagram, and other online platforms, some U.S. officials in Congress also proposed parental consent for minor users.

Warning for Unsafe Social Media

Recently, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued a warning. He claimed that social media today is no longer safe for young people.

He even called out tech companies, caregivers, and parents to make immediate actions to protect their children.

General Murthy also asked tech firms to provide more transparency and share their data.

Aside from this, he asked policymakers to regulate social media platforms for safety just like how they do car seats and baby formula.

Related Article: America's Declining Patriotism: Experts Now Blaming Individualism for Fewer Patriotic Americans

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
FILE PHOTO: Pressure gauges, pipes and valves are pictured at an "Dashava" underground gas storage facility near Striy

By Jan Lopatka and Marek Strzelecki

PRAGUE/WARSAW (Reuters) - European gas traders have begun storing natural gas in Ukraine to take advantage of lower prices and available capacity there, regardless of the risks from the ongoing war, three traders and company officials said.

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, begun in February last year, the European Union (EU) has sought high levels of gas storage to compensate for reduced Russian supply, especially during the peak demand winter months.

The bloc is expected to reach a target of filling its storage facilities to 90% full by Nov. 1.

Traders said there was commercial logic in storage in Ukraine, in addition to on EU soil, to take advantage of cheaper prices now versus for future delivery.

Gas for September delivery is priced at 30 euros ($32.96) per MWh compared with forward prices for first quarter of 2024 at 49 euros, according to prices from the TTF Dutch gas futures market.

Czech EPH group told Reuters its decision to use Ukrainian storage was also a sign of confidence in the country.

"EP Commodities transports natural gas to Ukraine and uses Ukrainian gas storage facilities," Miroslav Hasko, chairman at EPH's EP Commodities, said.

"We believe in the reliability of the Ukraines gas transport and storage systems, which proved themselves even in such an immensely difficult wartime situation."

He did not disclose volumes.

EU countries' gas storage facilities were 87% full on Aug. 7, according to transparency platform GIE.

"We see a positive trend in gas injection by foreign traders into our (storage) facilities," said Ukriane's state-owned Ukrtransgas, part of Naftogaz Group.

Naftotgaz said foreign customers could use more than 10 billion cubic metres (bcm) of storage of the country's around 30 bcm capacity, mostly in the country's west, which is far from the front lines.

Slovakia state-owned SPP, which supplies most of the Slovak market, in part with Russian gas, said it was looking at the possibility of using Ukrainian storage given Slovak storage was already 90% full.

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"We consider gas storage in Ukraine as one of the interesting business opportunities that we are currently considering," SPP told Reuters.

Other European traders said there are risks due to possible military strikes or questions over what happens to the network if Russia stops pumping the gas it still sends westward via Ukraine.

"Imagine a well-targeted missile hits a compressor station or some other infrastructure. You have to take that risk," said Martin Pich, head of trading at Czech firm MND.

He said volumes at current spreads may not be large but could pick up if spot prices drop. He did not comment on MND's trading.

The Bruegel think tank said last month Ukraine could increase Europe's storage capacity by about 10%.

"Utilising the extra 100 TWh capacity available in Ukraine will provide a nice boost to Europes winter outlook, and a welcome boost to Ukraines income," Bruegel said.

Gas for storage in Ukraine can be purchased anywhere and pumped using real or virtual flows in pipelines from Hungary, Poland and Slovakia.

Nominations have risen for the pipeline that transports Russian gas from Ukraine to Slovakia at the Velke Kapusany border for flows into Ukraine - virtual reverse flows. They have been up to 10 mcm per day since July.

Physical flows from Slovakia into Ukraine also started in August through the Budince point with daily volumes of around 17 mcm.

(This story has been refiled to correct a typo in paragraph 5)

(Reporting by Jan Lopatka and Marek Strzelelcki, additional reporting by Pavel Polityuk in Kyiv; editing by Barbara Lewis)
(This Aug 8 story has been corrected to clarify that the quote was from Anna Hogg, not Caroline Holmes, in paragraphs 3 and 4)

By David Stanway

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Sea ice in the Antarctic region has fallen to a record low this year as a result of rising global temperatures and there is no quick fix to reverse the damage done, scientists said on Tuesday in a new study of the impact of climate change on the continent.

The continent's minimum summer ice cover, which last year dipped below 2 million square kilometres (772,000 square miles) for the first time since satellite monitoring began in 1978, fell further to a new low in February, according to a study published in the journal Frontiers in Environmental Science.

"It's going to take decades if not centuries for these things to recover. There's no quick fix to replacing this ice," said Anna Hogg, a professor at the University of Leeds and one of the study's co-authors, referring to melting icebergs and shelves.

"It will certainly take a long time, even if it's possible," she told a briefing with journalists.

This year's sea ice minimum is 20% lower than the average over the last 40 years, equivalent to a sea ice loss nearly 10 times the area of New Zealand, said Tim Naish, director of the Antarctic Research Centre at New Zealand's Victoria University of Wellington, who was not a participant in the study.

"In some cases we are getting close to tipping points, which once crossed will lead to irreversible changes with unstoppable consequences for future generations," Naish said.

Global warming driven by the burning of fossil fuels has made Antarctica more vulnerable to extreme events and the impact is "virtually certain" to get worse, the study said.

Climate change will "lead to increases in the size and frequency" of heatwaves, ice shelf collapses and declines in sea ice, it said, drawing on recent evidence from scientific studies of the Antarctic ocean, atmosphere, cryosphere and biosphere.

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The precise impact of climate change on Antarctica and the surrounding ocean has been uncertain and scientists have struggled to measure how much global warming is affecting the thickness of Antarctic ice.

But from phenomena such as the rapid decline in sea ice, it is "scientifically reasonable" to assume that extreme events are going to intensify as global temperatures rise, said Martin Siegert, a glaciologist at the University of Exeter and another co-author.

Last year, an "atmospheric river" originating from Australia drove subtropical heat and moisture into the continent, causing unprecedented temperatures up to 38.5 Celsius (69.3 Fahrenheit) above normal, the largest variance from the norm the world has ever experienced.

Siegert described the temperature increase as "absolutely astonishing", adding that if it had occurred during the Antarctic summer, instead of winter, it would have triggered melting on the surface of the East Antarctic ice sheet, which has so far been spared from melting.

"Antarctica is fragile as an environment, but extreme events test that fragility," he said. "What we're deeply concerned about is the increase in intensity and frequency of extreme events and the cascading influences that they have in other areas."

(Reporting by David Stanway; Editing by Edmund Klamann)
SWNS

A young woman has proudly spoken of her amazing tattoo which covers her entire back and bum - but is completely invisible from the front. Alexandra Cornish, 24, opted to get a unique back tattoo - which spans her entire back, bum and the back of her thighs. A tattoo artist herself, Alexandra, from Hillarys, Perth, Australia, took inspiration from Japanese 'bodysuit' tattoos. She got the 3,000 ink done over NINE sessions in a year, taking more than 50 hours to complete in total. The tattoo centres around Princess Wakana and also features flowers, skulls and spiders on a spider web background. She loves seeing people's reactions when they see her from the front, with no visible ink - then she turns around. Alexandra, who is currently living with her partner in Singapore, said: "I never looked at myself originally with a big back piece. "But traditionally with Japanese back pieces, they're supposed to tell the story of the rest of your body and all images link to the back and I liked that. "When people say the back is quite painful, I didnt find it too bad. My waist and tailbone hurt though. "Tattoos like this are designed to be hidden under clothes - and it's good I can have it hidden. "I love having it on display though. I love the contrast of not looking tattooed from the front, but having a heavy back piece. "I do notice people staring when I'm out - but I take no offence. "I put 50 hours into it - I don't care who looks!" Alexandra had two tattoos but nothing on her back when she first reached out to tattoo artist Dan Molloy, based in Perth, Western Australia in January 2021. She already knew him from a previous tattoo he did for her and she feels he is "one of the best artists" in Australia. Initially unsure what she wanted, they came up with an idea around Princess Wakana, the beautiful daughter of Lord Otomo no Sorin, a Japanese feudal lord of the 1500s. She studied magic and had a special connection with spiders which taught her magic spells, according to Japanese art from the 1800s. Alexandra said: "I told Dan I wanted a woman that wasnt too feminine, but nothing too intense, and he suggested Wakana. "Originally I didn't like spiders and I wasn't inclined, but I have always liked magic and fantasy, so I went with it." She explained these back pieces normally only cover the back when done on men because they have broader shoulders. But due to her feminine proportions, it made more sense for the design to stretch lower, and cover her entire bum and the tops of her thighs. Alexandra's first session took place in September 2021. She had to fly to and from Dan's studio Kurikara Fudo Tattoo in Perth from where she was living in Surry Hills, Sydney at the time. The entire tattoo took nine sessions - with some as long as eight hours in one go - and the entire piece took 50 hours to complete. She said: "When people say the back is quite painful, I didnt find it too bad. "Certain parts were better than others. The shoulders, I found so easy. "But I didnt like my waist or ribs. The worst part was the very bottom, my tailbone. "People say the butt is sore but I found that and my thighs ok - I was expecting it to be worse. "The hardest thing was the bruising when travelling for the days after." By August 2022 her back was completed - delayed by travel restrictions in Sydney due to local Covid outbreaks. Since then, she has proudly showed off her unique ink and loves it. While her parents weren't originally big tattoo fans, now they see it as "art" - although not everyone agrees. Alexandra said: "A comment that irks me is 'I like it but I wouldnt get it' - I just dont really care. "It's not on their body! "The way mine is, and where it is a whole design, it looks like art. "Someone else commented that I'm beautiful but the tattoos ruined me. "Someone once asked if I'm worried that men won't be attracted to me - but then why would I be attracted to them? I'm a tattoo artist! "Ten out of ten times someone approaches me, it's about my tattoo - I get it in clubs, the gym, the shop, cafes, everywhere." She said she loves surprising people - who don't expect her to have ink on her back after seeing her from the front. She said: "Personality wise I am friendly and bubbly, I dont have a face where I look like I'll be heavily tattooed. "Its a good contrast. "I still like the look of being heavily tattooed, I love that look, as a tattooer myself. "But for me personally I am not at a point yet where I want that next step. "For now, I'm very content with the 'shock factor'".
Lerkendal Stadion, home of Rosenborg BK, who face Hearts on Thursday. Pic: SNS

Rosenborg have sold just over 6,000 tickets for Thursdays Europa Conference League qualifying tie against Hearts, meaning the Lerkendal Stadion is likely to be less than half full come kick-off.

The Trondheim venue holds just over 21,000 people at capacity and, with Hearts allocated an initial 800 tickets for the away section, a crowd of less than 10,000 is anticipated on the night. That may work in the Edinburgh clubs favour if they can avoid a noisy atmosphere whilst trying to garner a result to bring back to Tynecastle Park.

The third qualifying round first leg is expected to be a tight affair with Rosenborg sitting eighth in Norways Eliteserien after 18 matches. They have won five of their last six games in all competitions and seem to be finding form just in time to take on Hearts.

The visitors began their cinch Premiership campaign on Saturday at St Johnstone, recording a 2-0 victory courtesy of goals from Japanese winger Yutaro Oda and striker Lawrence Shankland. They fly out to Norway on a charter flight on Wednesday ahead of Thursday nights 7pm kick-off [6pm UK time].

Hearts completed their sixth signing of the summer on Tuesday evening when Kenneth Vargas arrived from the Costa Rican club CS Herediano. He has agreed an initial loan deal which carries the option of a permanent transfer to Scotland at a future date.

However, he is not expected to feature in the first leg against Rosenborg. He may be involved in the return leg at Tynecastle a week on Thursday.
A general view shows the water conditions of the Piraiba river before a summit of Amazon rainforest nations, in Belem, Para state, Brazil August 5, 2023.

A general view shows the water conditions of the Piraiba river before a summit of Amazon rainforest nations, in Belem, Para state, Brazil August 5, 2023.

A milestone meeting of South American delegates will gather in Brazil today to discuss deforestation, climate change and crime.

Its the first summit of its kind in 45 years, and was organised by the Brazilian president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

He pledged on the campaign trail last year to host the summit of Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation (ACTO) members.

It is pointedly being held in Belem, the capital of the Para state which has the highest deforestation rate across the country.

Presidents from Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, Peru and Venezuela will be there while Ecuador and Suriname will send other representatives.

The countries are expected to reach a regional pact to end deforestation by 2030, end illegal gold mining and cooperate on cross-border policing of environmental crimes.

The final deal, dubbed the Belem Declaration, is expected to be announced on Tuesday afternoon.

Reuters also reported that the agreement will probably include financing mechanisms for sustainable developments, provisions to include indigenous leaders in policymaking and shared strategies for tackling deforestation.

As the climate crisis becomes increasingly pressing, the impact on the global south is severe  but their input in the climate change battle can often be overlooked by the global north.

Thats why this is such a crucial moment in the battle against global warming.

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva

When he was elected into office, Da Silva vowed to reverse the high rates of deforestation which took place under former president Jair Bolsonaro.

However, its not clear if the rest of the region will agree to his goal of reaching zero deforestation by 2030.

Bolivia may push back against this agreement, because fires and farming have destroyed more of its forest land recently.

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But, the deal could see Brazil agree to a regional centre in Manaus for countries to coordinate policies.

Da Silva has already overseen a decline in deforestation by 66% across July compared to last year.

According to the BBC, the delegates will also be looking into the currently unregulated carbon market as the rainforest holds significant value in carbon credit.

One credit means a company is permitted to release a tonne of CO2.

The World Bank estimates the carbon credit market in the Amazon forest is worth 165 billion a year.

The Belem Declaration may also criticise the trade barriers other nations have implemented against South America in the name of environmental protection.

It comes after the EU passed a law stopping companies importing products linked to deforestation.

The Amazon countries will meet with the leaders of the Congo, the DRC and Indonesia  three major rainforests  on Wednesday.

Norway and Germany fund Amazon preservation, while France controls the Amazon territory of French Guiana, so they will be in attendance, too.

Related...
The 1975's Matty Healy feared prison stretch after same-sex stage kiss in Malaysia credit:Bang Showbiz

Matty Healy feared he would be sent to prison after he kissed his bandmate Ross MacDonald on stage in Malaysia and criticised the countrys anti-LGBTQ laws.

The 1975 were banned from the Southeast Asian country, where same-sex activity is illegal, last month after the 34-year-old frontman protested the laws by kissing his male bassist Ross during their show at the Good Vibes Festival in Kuala Lumpur on July 21st.

Matty has now revealed he and Ross nearly shaved their heads in preparation for a potential prison stint.

During a show in Hawaii on August 6th, Matty told the crowd: "All Ill say is that I dont give a f*** about any white saviour complex b*******.

"What Ill say is that doing the right thing often requires quite a lot of sacrifice and very little reward.

"And being seen to do the right thing requires very little sacrifice, and thats when you get all the rewards.

"And me and Ross nearly shaved our heads because we thought we were going to prison for being f***."

The 1975 were performing a headline set on the Friday at the Good Vibes Festival last month when Matty and Ross smooched on stage.

The event was scheduled to run the rest of the weekend, but it was abruptly axed by authorities following the controversial kiss.

Before kissing Ross, Matty told the crowd: "I made a mistake. When we were booking shows, I wasnt looking into it. I dont see the f****** point... of inviting The 1975 to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with.

"Im sorry if that offends you and youre religious but your government are a bunch of f****** r******.

"I dont care anymore. If you push, Im gonna push back. Im not in the f****** mood.

"Im sure a lot of you are gay and progressive and cool. I pulled this show yesterday, and we had a conversation.

"We said, You know what? We cant let the kids down because theyre not the government.

"If you want to invite me here to do a show, you can f*** off. Ill take your money, you can ban me, but Ive done this before, and it doesnt feel good."

Malaysias Ministry of Communications and Digital said about cancelling the festival in the wake of the pair's smooch: "The Ministry has underlined its unwavering stance against any parties that challenge, ridicule, or contravene Malaysian laws... we sincerely apologise to all our ticket holders, vendors, sponsors, and partners. We are aware of the time, energy and efforts you have put into making this festival a success, and we value your steadfast support."

The rest of The 1975s Asia Tour, which included stops at Jakarta, Indonesias We the Fest, and a show in Taipei, Taiwan, were also pulled.
Interview: Australian astronomer hopes to see Australia-China scientific links deepen via face-to-face collaborations

Xinhua) 14:28, August 08, 2023

SYDNEY, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Australian astronomer Lister Staveley-Smith told Xinhua in an interview that he hoped to see links between Australian and Chinese scholars deepen through face-to-face collaborations, which are very helpful in enabling new scientific projects.

A hybrid conference was held in Perth, Western Australia from July 31 to Aug. 2 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the China-Australia Astronomy Cooperation.

Hosted by Australia-China Consortium for Astrophysical Research (ACAMAR), the workshop brought together members of the Australian and Chinese astronomy communities to discuss all areas of astronomical collaboration.

As the chair of ACAMAR, Staveley-Smith introduced that this was the ninth edition of the workshop to have been held since 2016, which normally alternated between China and Australia.

An exciting theme this year was new discoveries about cosmic radio bursts made by researchers in the two countries, said Staveley-Smith.

"Massively powerful bursts of radio emission have been precisely located to compact objects in galaxies more than 7 billion light years away. One of the co-discoverers and Shaw Prize co-recipient, Professor Matthew Bailes, was able to attend ACAMAR 9 and give an account of the early discovery history," he added.

In the eyes of Staveley-Smith, much of the cooperation between Australian and Chinese experts is based on exchanges of ideas and techniques related to astrophysics and cosmology.

"Exchange of ideas between people and across disciplines has always resulted in progress in science. These exchanges have now been occurring without hindrance for 60 years," he said.

The ACAMAR chair noted that the signing of collaboration agreements between government departments, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Australian astronomy institutions in the period following the 2010 Shanghai Expo was very important in ushering in an era of cooperation.

That yielded solid results, including the deepening scientific cooperation relating to the giant FAST (Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope) in China's Guizhou Province, which was completed in 2016 and began important scientific observations in 2020.

Looking to the future, Staveley-Smith expected more exchanges to be achieved through specialized workshops, training sessions, visiting scholar programs and student exchanges.

"An undoubtedly strong trend is our mutual interest in the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) telescopes in Western Australia and South Africa and our joint desire to deliver high-quality scientific SKAO data products to our respective scientific communities," he said.

According to the expert, this will build on existing cooperation on projects associated with the FAST, MWA (Murchison Widefield Array), and ASKAP telescopes that are already operational.

"More cooperation in optical astronomy would be welcome as our two communities both seek better access to large optical telescopes to complement strengths in radio astronomy," said Staveley-Smith.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
China's components are no longer allowed in Indian-made military drones due to security concerns, according to Reuters.

This comes at a time of heightened tension between the two nuclear-armed nations and as New Delhi works toward a military modernization plan that calls for the use of unmanned quadcopters, long-endurance systems, and other autonomous platforms.

Prohibited Chinese Drone Components

Indian defense and industry officials have stated that local security agencies are concerned that intelligence gathering could be jeopardized if Chinese-made components were used in drones' communication functions, cameras, radio transmission, or operating software.

Reuters initially reported India's strategy, which is being conducted through military bids and includes progressive import limits on surveillance drones starting in 2020.

According to documents acquired by Reuters, Indian military officials informed prospective bidders at two meetings in February and March that equipment or subcomponents from "countries sharing land borders with India will not be acceptable for security reasons." Officials in the military were not named in the records.

Reportedly, suppliers must reveal the provenance of the components used in such subsystems because of "security loopholes" that might expose sensitive military information. A senior Indian defense source told Reuters that despite fears of cyberattacks, the country's industrial sector had grown more reliant on China. On the other hand, Beijing insists it had nothing to do with the attacks.

See Also: India, France Agree on Defense Ties, But Avoid Issues About Ukraine During Bastille Day Celebration

Struggle in the Manufacturing System

To counter what he sees as growing dangers, notably from China, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has worked to expand India's drone capacity.

India has budgeted 1.6 trillion rupees ($19.77 billion), of which 75% would go to local manufacturers, to modernize its armed forces from 2023 to 2024.

However, government and industry analysts say that the embargo on Chinese parts has increased the cost of building military drones in the country by requiring manufacturers to acquire components elsewhere.

Small drones for the Indian military are supplied by Bengaluru-based NewSpace Research and Technologies, whose creator, Sameer Joshi, claims that 70% of the supply chain's items are created in China.

He noted that some firms were still importing material from China but white-labeling it and keeping the costs within that frame instead of switching to a non-Chinese pipeline, significantly increasing expenses.

Due to a lack of expertise in drone production, India imports components and whole systems from other countries.

According to Y. Dilip, head of the state-run Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), the government-funded endeavor to create an indigenous Medium Altitude Long Endurance unmanned system has been pushed back by at least half a decade.

Dilip stated that although the Tapas platform has fulfilled most specifications, further work is required to make it the military's ideal drone, which can operate at 30,000 feet and stay in the air for 24 hours.

See Also: China Accused of Using Water Cannons to Push Away Philippine Supply Ships, US, Filipino Officials Say

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The University of North Georgia's (UNG) economic impact totaled almost $737 million on northeast Georgia during fiscal year 2022. The impact includes nearly $734 million in spending and jobs and an additional $3.3 million impact attributed to capital construction projects. The annual study of the University System of Georgia's (USG) economic impact measures direct and indirect spending that contributes to the university's service region.

"UNG is an economic engine for the region and our state. From creating leaders in high-demand careers and national service to creating jobs and economic growth for the communities we serve, we are proud to support the mission of the University System of Georgia," UNG President Michael Shannon said.

Included in UNG's economic impact is almost $108 million in spending by about 18,000 students, which alone created 3,068 jobs in the area. On average, for every dollar spent by the university, an additional 42 cents are generated for the region.

UNG has campuses in Blue Ridge, Cumming, Dahlonega, Gainesville, and Oconee County. The study area included those communities and the contiguous counties  Barrow, Clarke, Dawson, Fannin, Forsyth, Gilmer, Gwinnett, Hall, Jackson, Lumpkin, Madison, Oconee, Union, and White counties. Study areas for each school in the report were defined based on the Residence County to Workplace County Flows for Georgia, 2009-2013 from the U.S. Census Bureau.
HA NOI  Though the reduction of the ownership ratio for individual and institutional investors at credit institutions can help prevent market manipulation and cross-ownership, it might not be suitable at this time if ratified, according to the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).

This is one of the VCCIs comments on the draft of the revised Law on Credit Institutions after consulting firms and experts. The draft law was submitted to the National Assembly for consideration at last months meeting and is now awaiting approval.

According to the draft law, regarding the ownership rate limit at credit institutions, Article 54 of the draft proposes to reduce the maximum ownership rate at a credit institution compared to the current regulations. Accordingly, individual investors will be allowed to hold a maximum of 3 per cent of the shares of a credit institution, down from the current 5 per cent. Institutional investors will be limited to a maximum stake of 10 per cent, instead of the current 15 per cent. The maximum stake held by a group of shareholders will fall to 15 per cent from the current 20 per cent.

It is said that the proposal for lowering the bank ownership ratio is aimed at preventing market manipulation and cross-ownership, thereby improving transparency, reducing conflicts of interest, and increasing the safety of the banking system.

However, the VCCI believes it is not appropriate under the current market conditions.

The proposed changes in the ownership ratio have raised concerns in the banking system, as they fear they may hamper economic growth.

According to the VCCI, in fact, the current limits on bank ownership in Viet Nam are relatively low compared to other countries. However, banks frequently grant credit facilities to groups of related customers, posing high risks to the entire system.

The VCCI explained that the issue is not the high percentages of shares held by some shareholders, but rather the potential conflicts of interest. This may lead to credit being granted to customers having connections with major shareholders, rather than being based on standard principles, which could pose risks to the safety of the banking system.

Instead of reducing the percentages of share ownership at banks, the VCCI suggested implementing stricter regulations on conditions and procedures for granting credit to customers related to shareholders. VNS
BA RIA-VUNG TAU  PetroVietNam Technical Service Corporation (PTSC) and Ba Ria-Vung Tau Peoples Committee on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding on the supply chain of production material (steel) for offshore renewable energy projects.

Nguyen Van Tho, Chairman of the provincial People's Committee, underscored the province's steadfast commitment to the burgeoning realm of offshore wind energy, which aligns with the global transition towards sustainable energy sources.

As a prominent player in this field, the provincial leadership anticipates that PTSC will give precedence to local enterprises when selecting participants for the service supply chain in the execution of projects for both domestic and international clients. Notably, Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province houses several significant large-scale steel manufacturing establishments, including those specialising in the production of premium, specialised steel intended for global export.

In May, PTSC signed a major contract with rsted Taiwan Ltd to manufacture and supply foundations for their offshore wind farms in Taiwan (China), with estimated steel demand of up to 65,000 tonnes. This landmark deal showcased its capacity to drive production, facilitate exports and lay the groundwork for vital infrastructure within the offshore wind energy domain.

Le Manh Cuong, General Director of PTSC, outlined the steel requisites for the upcoming project phases, including 65,000 tonnes valued at approximately US$80 million for the 2023-25 and 137,000 tonnes worth an estimated $165 million for 2024-26. Additionally, PTSC is exploring projects that could potentially necessitate around two million tonnes of steel.

Presently, PTSC is considering the exportation of wind power to Singapore, encompassing an impressive capacity of 2.3GW. The projected steel demand for this endeavour hovers around 350,000 tonnes, translating to an estimated value of $450 million.

To realise this ambitious aspiration, a collaborative chain, in which PTSC plays a pivotal role alongside other provincial businesses, is imperative to transform Ba Ria-Vung Tau into a prominent hub for the execution of renewable energy projects, both regionally and globally.  VNS
Artificial Intelligence has gone from a science-fiction dream to a critical part of our everyday lives. Joel Garcia, Head of Technology, ASEAN, AMAZON Web Services (AWS), talks to Viet Nam News reporter Thu Van about the potential of the adoption of AI across industries in Viet Nam in the near future.

How has AI changed your work and your industry?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are the most transformational technologies of our time. Which is why, for more than 20 years, Amazon has invested heavily in the development of AI and ML, infusing these amazing capabilities into nearly every business unit, making it accessible to anyone who wants to use it, including more than 100,000 customers of all sizes and industries. AWS has the broadest and deepest portfolio of AI and machine learning services at all three layers of the stack. This is why customers like Intuit, Thomson Reuters, AstraZeneca, Ferrari, Bundesliga, 3M and BMW as well as thousands of start-ups and government agencies around the world, and customers in Viet Nam such as Katalon and Movi are transforming themselves, their industries, and their missions with ML.

We take the same democratising approach to generative AI: we work to take these technologies out of the realm of research and experiments and extend their availability far beyond a handful of start-ups and large, well-funded tech companies.

Can you give a general assessment of the potential and development opportunities of AI as well as the adoption of AI across industries in Viet Nam in the near future?

AI has been a buzzword across sectors for the last decade, leading to significant advancements in technology and operational efficiencies. Among the emerging trends, generative AI, a subset of AI, has shown immense potential in reshaping industries.

Generative AI is a type of AI that can create new content and ideas, including conversations, stories, images, videos, and music. Like all AI, generative AI is powered by ML modelsvery large models that are pre-trained on vast amounts of data and commonly referred to as Foundation Models (FMs). While ChatGPT has been the first broad generative AI experience to catch customers' attention, most people studying generative AI have quickly come to realise that several companies have been working on FMs for years, and there are several different FMs available - each with unique strengths and characteristics.

With Amazon Bedrock, our latest serverless experience, customers can easily find the right foundation model (FM) for what they're trying to get done, get started quickly, privately customise FMs with their own data, and easily integrate and deploy them into their applications using the AWS tools and capabilities they are familiar with, without having to manage any infrastructure.

Its exciting how customers will be able to apply generative AI across all lines of business including engineering, marketing, customer service, finance and sales, and for many use cases from text summarisation to image generation. A broad range of customers from healthcare like 3M and Philips to financial services like BBVA are already working on new applications. Customers can use generative AI to improve customer experience through capabilities such as chatbots, virtual assistants, intelligent contact centres, personalisation, and content moderation. Media companies like Omnicom are building the next generation of tools for many of these use cases in their industry with AWS. Customers can also boost employees productivity with generative AI-powered conversational search, content creation, text summarisation, and code generation among others.

In the 2021 Government Artificial Intelligence (AI) Readiness Index, Viet Nam ranked sixth in ASEAN, with an overall score of 51.82 out of 100. Recently the country approved the National Digital Transformation Programme by 2025, laying a solid strategy foundation for Viet Nam to become a powerful AI innovator in the years to come. These are all positive signs, but the real challenge for Viet Nam is the shortage of highly skilled professionals with the required expertise needed in the field of AI. Currently, there are around 50 universities and academies teaching AI-related majors in Viet Nam.

What are the advantages and challenges Viet Nam faces in promoting the adoption of AI across industries? How should these challenges be addressed?

ASEAN countries are undergoing rapid digital transformation. To support customers in Viet Nam, AWS launched two Edge locations in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, in 2022. Customers can expect up to a 30 per cent improvement for first byte latency for data delivered through by providing secure, reliable, high-performing connectivity. We also announced plans to launch a new AWS Local Zone in Ha Noi in the same year, allowing customers to use core AWS services locally while seamlessly connecting to the rest of their workloads running in AWS Regions with the same elasticity, pay-as-you-go model, application programming interfaces (APIs), and toolsets.

One of the top challenges that we are observing across the APAC region, including Viet Nam, is the shortage of digital skills. According to the 2023 Gallup & AWS APAC Digital Skill Study, 67 per cent of Asia Pacific organisations say it is highly likely that at least one emerging technology  such as 5G, AI, Robotics, and Edge Computing  will become part of their future operations, and more than half (56 per cent) believe they will adopt multiple emerging technologies including AI and ML. In the ASEAN region, nearly all tech workers (96 per cent) are extremely or very interested in training in at least one digital skill. When asked about the results of the digital skills training they received, about half of tech-workers (49 per cent) say increased opportunities for promotion were a result of their training, compared with 30 per cent of non-tech workers.

Therefore, AWS has been focused on training for a long time and is committed to working with governments, educators, and industry to help individuals build and deepen their digital skills, to nurture a workforce that can harness the power of cloud computing and advanced technologies to advance economies across ASEAN.

In Viet Nam, AWS has trained more than 50,000 people on cloud skills since 2017. We will continue to scale programmes such as AWS re/Start to nurture a workforce that can harness the power of cloud computing and new technologies in this digital age. Available in Viet Nam, AWS re/Start is our free, cohort-based workforce development training programme that prepares underemployed or unemployed individuals for new careers in cloud computing and connects them to potential employers.

For the younger generation, does learning AI require to have a good academic background beforehand? What advice do you have for young students in the field of AI?

AWS has training and certification programmes for all learners, regardless of where they are in their education, technical experience or career journey. My advice would be to go build, experiment and explore.

Programmes such as AWS Educate provide simple, barrier-free access for learners as young as 13, who can register with just an email address to gain access to free hands-on labs in the AWS console to learn, practise and evaluate cloud skills in real-time.

At the tertiary level, AWS Academy provides higher education institutions with a free, ready-to-teach cloud computing curriculum that prepares students to pursue industry-recognised certifications and in-demand cloud jobs. In Viet Nam, we have 23 AWS Academy accredited educators, including Viet Nam National University and Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology. More than 1,500 AWS Academy Accredited Educators have delivered AWS Academy courses to more than 200,000 students worldwide.

AWS Skill Builder is our online learning centre which enables professionals of all skill levels to advance their career goals with access to over 600 free courses, including 61 free programs in Vietnamese that are available online and on demand to help learners build cloud fluency. We offer more than 80 courses and learning resources on AI and ML through AWS Skill Builder and AWS Educate.

We also collaborated with USAID and Arizona State University to organise The Build-IT AWS DeepRacer League for hundreds of major university and college students in Ho Chi Minh City who are interested in machine learning.

Viet Nams opportunity to become a leader in the digital economy depends on having a robust workforce of skilled professionals to support the incredible pace of innovation. Through our training, education, and certification programs, AWS is committed to helping nurture a workforce that can harness the power of cloud computing and advanced technologies such as generate AI, to advance the countrys digital economy. VNS
HA NOI  An Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) flag-hoisting ceremony was held in Ha Noi on August 8 to mark the blocs 56th founding anniversary (August 8, 1967 - 2023) and 28 years of Viet Nams membership of the association.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son chaired the ceremony. Ambassadors, representatives of the embassies of ASEAN countries, its partner countries in Ha Noi, representatives of the ministries, and the Ha Noi People's Committee attended the ceremony.

Speaking at the ceremony, Son emphasised that since its establishment, ASEAN has constantly grown, gradually becoming a central force in all regional processes, demonstrating the vision of a community living in peace, stability, and prosperous development. The image of Southeast Asia as a region of solidarity, harmony, and flexibility has been spreading around the world.

As a result, ASEAN's relations with the rest of the world have become more open, richer, and more durable. ASEAN's relations with partners have not only increased in quantity but also changed in quality, helping ASEAN maintain high growth  reaching 5.5% in 2022, collectively becoming the fifth-largest economy in the world.

That is proof of the identity, values, vitality, and reputation of ASEAN, Son said.

According to the minister, the image of ASEAN can be found in the success of Viet Nam during its innovation and integration and vice versa.

In addition, the relationship between Viet Nam and other ASEAN members is a key "brick" to building up a strong and sustainable ASEAN Community today.

Son affirmed that, with the advantages of geo-strategic location, young and abundant human resources, and the desire to integrate more deeply and comprehensively, ASEAN still has great potential for development.

He said that the world is facing challenges, the recovery of the global economy is still uncertain, the geopolitical environment continues to change, and the competition among major powers continues to remain fierce, but the ASEAN Community has demonstrated its resilience, flexibility, and proactive adaptation to overcome challenges.

Son said he believes with a solid foundation that has been cultivated for half a century and its aspirations, ASEAN will become an inclusive sustainable development community and a focal point for the growth in the region and the world. VNS
On August 8, Viet Nam and the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) commemorated the 56th anniversary of the establishment of ASEAN.

In observance of this milestone, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son wrote an article reflecting upon recent developments and the forthcoming trajectory of the Association, as well as Viet Nam's substantial contributions to the advancement of the regional organisation.

The birth of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on August 8, 1967, marked the inception of regional cooperation and laid the groundwork for its evolution. Gradually and with purpose, ASEAN has been sowing seeds of unity, bridging divides, fostering trust, and paving a pathway toward peace, stability, cooperation, and development within Southeast Asia.

The seeds sown on that historic day have yielded remarkable outcomes; the ASEAN Community has emerged, grown robustly, and is poised to assume a central role in regional processes. ASEAN has progressively solidified its status as a bastion of peace, a focal point for growth, and a nucleus for dialogues and collaborative efforts within the region.

Advancing the ideals of dialogue and collaboration

Emerging amidst the transformation of Southeast Asia and confronting innumerable challenges and tempests from all quarters, ASEAN has come to deeply appreciate the significance of a tranquil, secure, and stable environment.

Indeed, this forms the crux of the call for prosperous development, with dialogue and cooperation emerging as the antidote. ASEAN member states are collectively addressing this imperative, with active engagement from the wider international community.

A concrete manifestation of this resolve is evident in the frameworks of conduct developed by ASEAN, which serve to shape and guide cooperative relationships towards the overarching goals of peace, stability, and shared prosperity. The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) stands as a resolute testament to ASEAN's endeavours.

At present, the TAC, embraced by 51 participating nations, has evolved into a foundational instrument that underpins interactions and behaviours among regional countries. A growing number of nations are expressing their keen interest to participate, underscoring the enduring relevance and potency of the Treaty, as well as showcasing ASEAN's success in disseminating and upholding codes of conduct.

Another noteworthy example of ASEAN's undertakings lies in the implementation of the Declaration of Conduct in the South China Sea (DOC) and the ongoing negotiations for the Code of Conduct (COC).

These initiatives underscore ASEAN's commitment to nurturing the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea) as a realm of harmony, collaboration, and sustainable advancement. Concurrently, they highlight ASEAN's dedication to fostering a culture of dialogue and consultation.

The world is in a constant state of motion, marked by numerous uncertainties. Peace transcends the mere absence of wars and conflicts; it is not an assurance that can be taken for granted.

Drawing from more than five decades of experience, ASEAN deeply comprehends that genuine peace can only be attained when there exists a shared resolve, unwavering solidarity, and a resolute determination to foster and nurture robust, stable relationships. This entails a willingness to bridge divides and assume responsibility for cooperative endeavours.

Inevitable disagreements may arise, yet the paramount principle is to exhibit sincerity and integrity, transcending self-serving calculations to unite in pursuit of the collective welfare.

A new dawn

From its inception, ASEAN has firmly anchored economy and trade as the bedrock and propellant of regional cooperation. The evolution of economic and trade interconnections was heralded by the establishment of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) in 1992 and the concerted drive to facilitate the unfettered movement of goods, services, and investments.

In tandem with fortifying intra-regional bonds, ASEAN has broadened its horizons to forge ties beyond its borders, positioning the ASEAN Economic Community as a nexus for intersecting multilateral cooperative accords.

The intricate web of Free Trade Agreements binding ASEAN to prominent global economies, alongside the commencement of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) on January 1, 2022, exemplifies tangible contributions made by ASEAN toward cultivating a multilateral, transparent, and open trading framework within the region and globally.

Endowed with an aggregate populace of nearly 700 million and a GDP of almost US$4 trillion, ASEAN stands as an expansive, dynamic, and auspicious economic sphere. In the face of prevailing headwinds within the global economy, ASEAN has ushered in a fresh breeze, galvanising momentum and infusing the regional economy with sanguine prospects.

Amidst the somber tones of the global economic canvas, ASEAN stands out as a radiant beacon of growth and an alluring haven for investment.

Projections indicate that regional expansion will maintain its positive trajectory, with an anticipated growth rate of 4.7 per cent in 2023, surging even further to 5 per cent in 2024, a notable divergence from the global average.

ASEAN's trade in goods is poised to escalate by a substantial 15 per cent, propelling it to a valuation of $380 billion. Concurrently, there is a notable surge in foreign direct investment inflows, expected to rise by 5.5 per cent, culminating at nearly $225 billion.

In the face of prevailing overarching trends, ASEAN has swiftly pivoted, displaying innovation and ingenuity in recalibrating its collaborative methods and content, steering them towards a green, clean, and sustainable trajectory. The quest to uncover and extend collaborations in promising new domains takes centre stage, encompassing and underscoring the dialogues between ASEAN and its partner nations.

A slew of resolute measures have been enacted, including high-impact negotiations aimed at enhancing the ASEAN Trade and Goods Agreement. These negotiations are complemented by the fortification of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) spanning ASEAN's partnerships with China, South Korea, Japan, and India.

Furthermore, a raft of fresh initiatives have been introduced, among them the formulation of the ASEAN Digital Economic Framework Agreement, the Circular Economy Framework, the Blue Sea Economic Framework, and the Carbon Neutral Strategy.

These strides represent the groundwork for an agile ASEAN, proactively adapting to opportunities and confronting challenges on its path toward sustainable, inclusive development and fortified regional self-sufficiency.

Proactive, positive, responsible, and effective

Since its initial integration into ASEAN during the early stages of renewal and integration, Viet Nam's steadfast journey of nearly three decades within the association consistently exemplifies the nation's policy. Viet Nam has continually exerted effort and made significant contributions toward a cohesive and robust ASEAN that is oriented toward development.

Aligned with the principles of the Party's foreign policy, Viet Nam's steadfast adherence to the objectives outlined in Resolution 22-NQ/TW of the Politburo on international integration, combined with the determined implementation of Directive 25-CT/TW of the Secretariat focused on advancing and elevating multilateral diplomacy until 2030, has enabled Viet Nam's progressive ascent in assuming a pivotal and leading role across various domains of ASEAN collaboration.

The unwavering sense of responsibility and tangible contributions emanating from various ministries, sectors, and localities have substantiated Viet Nam's identity as an engaged, dynamic, adaptable, and innovative nation, increasingly wielding influence and authority within both the regional and global contexts.

Viet Nam's visionary initiatives, particularly as manifested through its ASEAN Chairmanship terms in 1998, 2010, and 2020, have endowed ASEAN with invaluable assets. These initiatives have imparted momentum to the ongoing drive to fortify the Community, propelling it toward a more robust and resilient state.

As succinctly affirmed by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, "Viet Nam wholeheartedly commits to safeguarding the enduring prosperity of the shared ASEAN domicile. Cooperation and affiliation within ASEAN stand as the paramount priority and strategic choice for all ASEAN nations, including Viet Nam."

With the spirit of proactive engagement, resolute participation, diligent responsibility, and effective contribution, Viet Nam pledges to stand shoulder to shoulder with fellow member nations. Together, they are resolutely determined to transform and propel ASEAN toward an era characterised by substantive breakthroughs, ultimately rendering it the true nucleus of peace, cooperation, and development. VNS
In Haiti, thousands of protesters came to the streets of the nation's capital city, Port-au-Prince, on Monday, August 7, as they sought protection from the vicious gangs that have been ransacking communities there and elsewhere.

This happened amid people waiting for the United Nations Security Council to make a decision on the possible deployment of an international military force.

During the two-hour march from the troublesome neighborhood of Carrefour-Feuilles to the downtown area's Champ de Mars and on to the official house of the prime minister, crowds screamed, "We want security!" The police reportedly broke up the gathering with tear gas.

As gangs continue to overrun Haiti's understaffed and under-resourced police agency, protestors have promised to keep the movement alive despite the deaths of over 200 people since then.

A Call for Protection

According to analysts, gangs have taken over as much as 80% of Port-au-Prince after the death of President Jovenel Mose in 2021. They are killing, raping, and spreading fear in neighborhoods already wracked by extreme poverty.

More than 1,600 individuals were reported dead, wounded, or abducted from January to March, an increase of roughly 30% compared to the last three months of 2022.

In a report by AP News, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) stated Monday that there had been an "alarming spike" in kidnappings, with almost 300 verified incidents so far this year. This nearly corresponds to the amount recorded for all of last year and almost three times the figure for 2021.

The organization has seen a rise in kidnappings of women and children for economic or military gain. Alix Dorsainvil, a nurse from New Hampshire, and her young daughter were among those abducted at the end of July.

Dorsainvil is employed by El Roi Haiti, a Christian nonprofit that provides aid in the form of healthcare, education, and other programs. They still have her and her daughter hostage and have set the ransom at $1 million.

Younger children's parents worry the most about kidnapping on the way to and from school.

Also Read: Haiti: Aid Group Partners With Authorities to Rescue Kidnapped American Woman, Child

Closed US Embassy in Haiti

Meanwhile, the US Embassy announced on Tuesday, August 8, that it would be shutting down due to gunshots in the area, CBS News reported. It closed a day after thousands of Haitians marched through the city.

The Embassy issued a statement on its website and social media platforms: "The Embassy is closed today. All personnel are restricted to Embassy compounds until further notice due to gunfire in the vicinity of the Embassy. Travel between the compounds is prohibited." It added that some paths to the guarded complex may also be impacted due to continued rapid gunfire.

Embassy officials advised American citizens in Port-au-Prince to stay away from diplomatic property and any demonstrations and large gatherings of people.

Also Read: US Considering Placing Kenya in Charge of Thousands of Police Officers in Haiti

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TEHRAN  National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong inh Hue arrived in Tehran on Tuesday morning, beginning his official visit to Iran at an invitation of Speaker of the Iranian Parliament (Majlis) Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.

While there, Hue will hold talks with his host and meet with Iranian high-ranking officials, the Chairman of the Iran-Viet Nam Friendship Parliamentary Group and the President of the Iran-Viet Nam Friendship Association.

He will also attend and deliver a speech at a law and policy forum to boost economic, trade and investment cooperation between Viet Nam and Iran; make a presentation at the Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS) of Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs; participate in the opening ceremony of a Vietnamese culture week; and visit a number of production, economic, scientific and technological facilities in Tehran and Isfahan.

Hue's trip is taking place on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties, nearly 25 years after NA Chairman Nong uc Manhs Iran visit in 1999, and five years after Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Ali Ardeshir Larijanis official visit to Viet Nam in April 2018.

It is expected to provide a strong impetus to elevate the bilateral relations to a new height, better tapping the existing cooperation potential in various aspects such as politics, diplomacy, economy, trade, culture, and science and technology.  VNS
JAKARTA  Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Vuong inh Hue held separate meetings in Jakarta on Monday with Speaker of the Malaysian House of Representatives Tan Sri Dato Johari Bin Abdul and Vice President of the Cambodian Senate Kittisangkahabindit Tep Ngorn.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 44th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-44).

Hue spoke highly of Malaysias contributions to the AIPA-44, particularly the speakers speech, adding that the relationship between the two legislative bodies should be further promoted to match the Viet Nam-Malaysia strategic partnership, especially in the exchange of delegations at all levels and the sharing of experiences.

Affirming that Viet Nam highly values Malaysia's role and position in the region, the NA Chairman said the two countries still have a lot of room for potential and cooperation in many fields through various channels.

Hue invited Johari Bin Abdul to visit Viet Nam soon in order to discuss measures to strengthen parliamentary collaboration, share experiences in relevant activities and issues of mutual interest, and continue promoting the close coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums such as the AIPA, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), and supporting each other's position on regional and international issues of shared concern.

The Malaysian speaker said that Viet Nam and Malaysia have a lot of opportunities to promote bilateral cooperation, and his country will make the most of them to cooperate with Viet Nam in various fields.

Accepting Hues invitation, he affirmed that he will pay an official visit to Viet Nam at an appropriate time.

Earlier, at Hues meeting with the Cambodian legislator, the two sides expressed their delight at the development of the fine neighbourliness, time-tested friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, reflected through regular high-level contacts, all-level delegation exchanges, and good economic cooperation.

Kittisangkahabindit Tep Ngorn stressed that Cambodia always bears in mind Viet Nams support and help for it to get rid of the Pol Pot genocidal regime. He showed his belief that the traditional friendship between the two nations will develop further in the coming time.

As Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni on Monday signed a Royal Decree appointing Dr. Hun Manet as the Prime Minister in the new tenure, the Vietnamese top legislator said he believes a Cambodian cabinet will soon be consolidated.

He affirmed that the Vietnamese Party, State and people always attach great importance to strengthening and developing the good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability with Cambodia; and stand shoulder to shoulder with and support the nation building and development of Cambodia, for the prosperity of each country, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and in the world.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam and Iran on Tuesday agreed to further enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields, particularly in trade and investment, to facilitate the entry of each country's key products into the other's market.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong inh Hue held talks with Speaker of the Iranian Parliament (Majlis) Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf during his official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran at the invitation of the Speaker.

NA Chairman Hue expressed his pleasure in visiting Iran, a country with a rich cultural heritage and long history, especially given both nations are celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations this year.

He affirmed that Viet Nam highly valued the friendly relationship and multifaceted cooperation with Iran, a crucial partner in the Middle East region. Hue highlighted the positive developments in the bilateral cooperation between the two countries in recent years, particularly in political, diplomatic, cultural, and people-to-people exchanges.

For his part, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf welcomed Hue's visit, emphasising that Viet Nam is a significant partner for Iran in the Asia-Pacific region. He expressed confidence that the cooperation between Viet Nam and Iran, as well as between their parliaments, would witness remarkable growth in the coming period.

The two leaders exchanged views and reached a consensus on specific measures to enhance bilateral cooperation in the future.

These measures included strengthening exchanges at all levels, especially high-level delegations and leadership of economic sectors and localities from both countries; alongside boosting people-to-people exchanges, as well as cultural and artistic activities to deepen mutual understanding and enhancing collaboration between committees and bodies of the parliaments, parliamentary friendship groups, women and young parliamentarians' groups.

They also agreed to ensure effective monitoring and implementation of agreements and commitments between the two nations to enhance mutual support in international forums and prepare for the 10th meeting of the Viet Nam-Iran Intergovernmental Committee in Ha Noi.

Both sides also agreed to intensify meetings and connections between localities and businesses of both nations to explore investment opportunities.

NA Chairman Hue suggested that Iran increase imports of Vietnamese agricultural products such as rice, tea, pepper, coffee, and rubber while expressing Viet Nam's readiness to facilitate Iran's exports of fruits, including dried fruits, to Viet Nam.

Both sides concurred on cooperation in producing products according to Halal Food Standard.

The leaders also agreed to enhance customs cooperation and revive mechanisms of collaboration between the two nations, such as the Joint Working Group on banking cooperation and the Viet Nam-Iran Trade Task Force, to seek breakthroughs in economic and trade cooperation.

Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf noted that Iranian businesses were increasingly interested in the Vietnamese market due to its political stability and favourable investment-business environment, aiming to strengthen trade and agricultural cooperation with Viet Nam.

During the talks, both sides discussed various measures to enhance cooperation in potential areas such as science and technology, digital transformation, education and training, as well as promoting and attracting tourism from each country.

Hue took this occasion to invite the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament to visit Viet Nam, which he gladly accepted.

Hue also invited the Iranian Parliament to send a delegation to participate in the 9th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians, scheduled to be held in Ha Noi in September.

NA Chairman Hue and Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the two parliaments.  VNS
HA NOI  At the conference to summarise the school year 2022-2023 for primary education, the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) revealed that over 52,000 grade one students did not pass the first grade.

Some people argue that this was a positive signal because students were assessed correctly, but some others raised concerns that a new studying programme and textbooks are too difficult, putting much pressure on students.

The new assessment model has four levels: excellent, good, complete, and incomplete.

In the school year 2022-2023, a total of 105,734 primary school students across the country could not complete the curriculum, accounting for 1.14 per cent of the total of over 9.2 million.

Of which, as many as 52,456 first graders, accounting for 2.9 per cent of the country's 1,763,961 first graders, did not complete the curriculum.

In the Vietnamese subject alone, some 49,700 students were assessed as incomplete, followed by mathematics with 39,022 children being similarly graded.

These figures lead to peoples concerns about the quality of teaching and the abilities of grade one students to learn the new education programme approved in 2018.

Thai Van Tai, director of the Department of Primary Education under the MoET, said that the assessment was not very different from other years.

Students in grade one are ranked as "incomplete" more than in other grades, with the numbers decreasing in grades two, three, and so on.

First graders likely suffered the most as this was the first year of school with many requirements that are new to them.

It was also the year creating a solid foundation for students to learn new skills in the following years.

The MoETs view is to strictly manage the first grade, because if it is loose, it will create a gap leading to irreparable risks later, including the risk of illiteracy.

Before the last school year, survey results show that about two per cent of five-year-old children had not attended preschool, most of them were in remote areas and areas with special difficulties.

Without going to kindergarten, children will face more difficulties when entering grade one.

The school year of 2022-2023 was also the first one that students nationwide can go to school in person after the COVID-19 pandemic, more or less affecting the overall quality.

Tai said the assessment of students as "incomplete" was not due to the curriculum or textbooks.

When designing a new general education programme, experts and education managers paid attention to the students of grade one to make appropriate adjustments.

For example, the Vietnamese subject was adjusted from 350 lessons per school year to 420 lessons per school year, but the content of knowledge was not increased. That is, there is still the same content, but the practice time was increased so that students can more easily understand the content.

Schools must make plans for students who did not pass to make up for the knowledge gap. This is to ensure the rights of students.

Tai emphasised that localities needed to create conditions for all five-year-old students, especially those ones in remote areas, to access preschool programmes.

Currently, about two per cent of them are not able to attend preschool, making it very difficult for them to enter grade one.

The MoET is collecting comments on the draft circular on teaching the Vietnamese language to children of ethnic groups before entering grade one.

Under the circular, the preschool education programme will be connected with the primary one.

Associate professor Tran Thanh Nam, head of the Educational Sciences Faculty at the University of Education  Viet Nam National University, said that the education sector had an explanation for the situation, but still needed to clarify effective and long-term solutions.

They would assess whether there should be additional support for students in remote and difficult areas and have alternative assessments for students with learning disabilities.

Nam suggested a flexible educational model.

Students will still go to class with other students in all subjects that they met the standards in and only take extra lessons in "incomplete" subjects.

This model will also be effective for educating talented students.

Math prodigies can go to class with upper graders in Math but still go to class with their peers to learn age-appropriate life skills.  VNS
Representatives of C.P. Vietnam included senior vice president Chinoros Benjachavakul and other volunteers who received the award for their outstanding achievements contributing to Red Journey 2023.

The drive has ended after two months with 308 blood donation points, receiving over 120,000 blood units. Across the S-shaped strip of land, from Bac Lieu to Hanoi, each stop collected hundreds of litres of blood that will be used to save hundreds of patients. Over 11 years, 810,000 units of blood have been donated to the national blood bank.

As a sponsor that has accompanied Red Journey for many years, C.P. Vietnam has presented uniforms, communication materials, and gifts of the company's products. Numerous C.P. Vietnam volunteers have participated by giving blood and supporting the organisation in Bac Lieu, Hau Giang, Kien Giang, Binh Dinh, Lam Dong, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi.

With the slogan Connecting Vietnamese blood, Red Journey has saved hundreds of millions of lives over the last 11 years, making an important contribution to overcoming the nation's shortage of blood. C.P. Vietnam is proud to contribute and share the spirit of kindness and love to all provinces and cities.

With many staff members working across the country, the company's community activities receive warm support as the culture of C.P. Vietnam is spread to all areas.

The company has also established the C.P. Vietnam Charity Fund, a food bank project providing thousands of meals to the poor, the Joint Houses project that donated money or built houses for company employees and disadvantaged people, and a shelter building project for cancer patients at K Hospital, among others.

CPV expands 'Journey for a Green Vietnam' project For the 133rd birthday of President Ho Chi Minh, a representative of the Board of Directors of C.P. Vietnam Corporation (CPV) participated in the launching ceremonies of two tree planting campaigns.

C.P. Group ranks fourth among world's mega producers In a recent report released by Genesus Inc on June 6, the top 50 largest pig breeding and pork producing companies in the world have been revealed. C.P. Foods, under Thailand's Charoen Pokphand Group, ranks fourth with more than 1.1 million sows last year.
Two top brands in education and training from the city-state have made strong commitments to support Vietnam in developing high-quality human resources and building training programmes that are close to international standard.

Digital and professional skills at heart of collaborations, illustration photo/ Source: freepik.com

Last month, James Cook University Singapore (JCU) campus, a training environment for majors in IT, science, the environment, business administration, and accounting and finance, signed an agreement to cooperate with Ton Duc Thang University in Ho Chi Minh City to innovate teaching and improve human resources for Vietnam in the future.

JCU boasts three main campuses in Australia and Singapore, with the highest percentage of students successfully getting a job and top salary expectations after graduation in Australia, according to a survey by The Good Universities Guide.

Elsewhere, at the beginning of August, KinderWorld International Group proposed to build an international education complex as well as a Pegasus education-ecotourism complex in Haiphong.

According to the company, the international complex will include an inter-level education and training from preschool to high school and vocational education institutions such as colleges and universities. Meanwhile, the Pegasus ecotourism facility will be a combination of life skills school and international-standard ecotourism resort.

Educational cooperation has consistently been a bright spot in the relationship between Vietnam and Singapore, and is expected to blossom further as the pair mark 50 years since diplomatic relations were established.

Lai Chung Han, Singapores Permanent Secretary for Education, said that Singapore attaches great importance to educational cooperation with Vietnam in a meeting with Nguyen Van Phuc, Vietnams Deputy Minister of Education and Training, in early June.

Han pledged to double the number of scholarships for excellent Vietnamese high school students and create new advantages to support students and teachers in this country.

The two countries first signed an MoU on educational cooperation in 2007 in general education, higher education, English language refresher training, and English teaching methods for Vietnamese teachers.

Educational cooperation has opened up opportunities for Vietnam to learn from Singapores strengths such as STEM, English, and technology. Today, 16 general education institutions in Vietnam and Singapore have been connected for the purposes of cultural exchange for both students and teachers.

Singapore also actively supports Vietnam in vocational training and fostering high-quality workers.

At a meeting with Singaporean Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry Tan See Leng a month ago, Dao Ngoc Dung, Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs of Vietnam (MoLISA) said the results of human resource training cooperation programmes with Singapore in recent times have been very effective for Vietnam.

He hoped that Singapore would participate in investing in three National Training Centre projects and high-quality vocational practice in all regions, strengthening the connection between students of the two countries and creating opportunities for Vietnamese students to gain work experience abroad.

The MoLISA also wants Singapore to continue to provide training programmes, grant certificates of mutual recognition for vocational qualifications, and promote links between businesses of the two countries for tech transfer and training high-tech human resources for Vietnamese workers.

Singapore leads ASEAN and ranks second worldwide in investment in Vietnam, with over 3,310 projects and total registered capital of $72.9 billion. This accounts for 22.9 per cent of foreign investment as of July 20, according to the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Sustaining mutual growth through new networks Vietnam and Singapore are intensifying their bilateral ties in new fields with focus set on innovation, energy, and sustainability. Jaya Ratnam, Singaporean Ambassador to Vietnam, provides analysis on how this cooperation has been implemented and benefited the two countries.

Tremendous room for growth in investment ties Economic relations between Vietnam and Singapore are being strengthened, with major room for growth. Shanmuga Retnam, executive co-chairman of the Vietnam Smart Cities Consortium, discussed with VIRs Bich Thuy the Singaporean investment trends and new opportunities.
According to the Hanoi Department of Tourism, the total number of tourists that arrived in Hanoi over the two days of concerts by K-pop girl group BlackPink stood at over 170,000, among them more than 30,000 international tourists, bringing a total in tourism revenue of $26 million.

The average occupancy of hotels in July was estimated at 60.8 per cent, a surge of 19.2 per cent on-year.

Figures from the Agoda show that search volume for booking in Hanoi in the last week of July spiked tenfold compared to the previous week and increased by about 2.5 times compared to neighbouring countries and territories such as Cambodia, Philippines, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.

Hotels around My Dinh Stadium, where the concert took place, recorded a 20 per cent increase in occupancy compared to normal weekends.

Tourist attractions in Hanoi also have a slight growth of about 15-20 per cent compared to the same period last year. Specifically, a number of famous cultural tourist attractions, such as the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam and the Thang Long Imperial Citadel welcomed more than 9,600 and 8,000 visitors respectively.

The Hanoi tour by double-decker bus also recorded an increase of 15 per cent of visitors from July 29-31 compared to the previous days.

The success of the show has contributed to enhancing the position of Hanoi and Vietnam on the international tourist map.

According to Googles travel trend tracker, between March and June, Vietnam was the seventh most searched destination in the world and the only country in Southeast Asia to make the top 20.

Channel NewsAsia, a Singapore-based news channel, has listed Sapa in Lao Cai province, Ba Na in Danang, and Dalat in Lam Dong province as among the 10 coolest places in Asia to escape the intense heat.

Meanwhile, destinations such as Halong Bay, Hoi An and Phong Nha - Ke Bang are among three representatives of Vietnam selected by Wanderlust travel magazine in the UK as among the most impressive UNESCO world heritage sites in Southeast Asia.
Damian Bunce, chief customer officer at Exness

A younger generation of non-professional traders and technologists have defined a product, market structure, and a need for cryptocurrency, and it has caught the worlds attention.

Much like the evolution of equity market structures over the last 20 years, crypto needs to undergo a radical restructuring. That asset class can certainly teach crypto a lesson or two in how to navigate the choppy waters ahead, to become a mainstream investment product.

Crypto faces many hurdles on its journey to universal adoption, but two major criticisms faced today are its inherent lack of a genuine store of value and that the currency is used to circumvent regulation, to pay for illegal or immoral activities.

The store of value argument is very subjective: whilst a bitcoin is not backed by any physical collateral like gold or even a fiat currency, its inherent value is linked to the strength of its holders.

If the majority of holders are the young, technical generation that created it, many of whom have limited financial resources, then in a downturn there is a high probability those holders will sell the asset as soon as possible, causing the price to plummet further.

On the other hand, institutional asset managers and pension funds managing trillions of US dollars for clients whose managers hold a small percentage of bitcoin for diversification purposes (as they do with gold, private equity, and real estate) are not going to sell at the first sign of problems.

These holders can afford to hold the asset at the buying price, which in itself creates a store of value, a natural floor in the product that can weather a downturn. As more long-term institutional money enters the asset, its foundations strengthen along with its store of value. Institutional adoption of the product enables this. Bitcoin store of value is also enhanced by its finite nature, the lack of supply plays a major role in its valuation.

That crypto is used to conduct illegal activities is of course a real concern, and one that will remain while regulation continues to be weak, disjointed, and confused. New industries are often battle-tested by bad actors in ways that ultimately improve their offering, and help regulators and law enforcement define corrective measures.

Ease of trade

Crypto is at this stage of its evolution. Indeed, fiat currencies continue to see their fair share of illegal activities, but the safeguards are far higher, with strong regulation and cooperation across the global banking sector.

Unlike crypto, developed with the interests of retail traders and investors at its heart  and only recently gaining approval from institutional markets  equity markets were the opposite: built by institutions for institutions, and only made accessible to retail investors in later years.

In the early days of equity markets, trading was very much a closed shop of operators, first between open outcry market makers, later evolving to exchanges, then trading between institutions.

Further rapid evolution saw institutions establish phone-based stockbroking firms, where retail investors could now trade equities via an authorised broker. Then fast-forward through the late 90s, to electronic equity trading companies like Instinet (now owned by Nomura).

Through Microsoft Windows-based platforms, individuals could trade stocks from the comfort of a home computer, and by the turn of the century the process was made even simpler and much broader, with trading in equities and most asset classes possible from a phone or Apple Watch  anywhere in the world and often for free.

Foreign exchange trading followed a similar path to equities: once a phone-based, bank-to-bank business, it evolved into electronic trading solely between banks until eventually a version with much wider spreads was offered directly to retail traders.

Today, the global FX market trades around $7.5 trillion a day: retail trades make up roughly $1 trillion of this, and spreads are exceptionally tight.

The strength of FX tradings success and widespread adoption lies in its origins: born within institutions and then evolved out to retail. This meant that regulations were baked into the system from the start, and that most problems were ironed out between institutions, long before the market was let loose on retail traders.

Conversely, cryptos starting point being in retail is why it consistently faces questions around weak regulation. With no institutional scaffolding before being unleashed on the general public, it was simply anchored to the products and services it saw at the front-ends and trading screens of other asset classes. All with no grasp of the infrastructures critical needs.

Crypto is held by many equity funds for their investment portfolio diversification

Major catalyst

The labyrinth-like structure of the now bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX, where a single entity controlled all aspects of the client journey  the platform, custody, the coin currency, lending services and the liquidity  would have never been allowed to flourish in todays equities markets.

While seemingly an attractive end-to-end business proposition for the exchange, it was never a safe structure for clients, being unable to be monitored and deemed free of conflicts of interest.

FTXs collapse played out to great effect at the end of last year, and is no doubt linked to the US Securities and Equities Commissions current legal pursuit of Coinbase and Binance.

Crypto tradings market structure needs to start mimicking institutional market structures if it is to thrive. This will encourage the institutional community to enter the market and allocate tangible capital to its assets. EDX Markets, a brand new non-custodial digital exchange backed by some of the largest institutional market makers like Citadel and Virtu, is a major catalyst in the right direction.

Blackrocks application for a Bitcoin Spot exchange-traded fund is precisely the sort of news that can propel the asset: with an estimated 20 per cent of Americans holding crypto, such a move could help trigger mass adoption.

Laser Digital, Nomuras crypto investment arm, recently conducted a poll of 300 institutions representing $4.9 trillion worth of assets. An overwhelming 96 per cent believed crypto was a good diversification measure, and 82 per cent were optimistic about the asset over the next 12 months.

Today, regulators, particularly in the US, are on the back foot in dealing with cryptos structural fallout. Their focus would be better served by listening to and acting, quickly, on behalf of the institutional community. The impact would be immediate. With institutional backing, enjoyed by the likes of equities and FX, trust and interest in cryptocurrency would also soar.

We are already starting to see a few key crypto companies taking the institutional route. Such firms are generally led by executives with backgrounds in traditional finance who understand institutional market structure.

Crypto trading venues and infrastructure providers like finery markets and crossover markets understand that unbundling services like trading and matching, from services like custody of assets are key to institutional adoption.

Meanwhile, companies such as London-based Copper.co and Komainu focus on crypto storage and custody, avoiding trading services altogether. Domain-specific expertise is the path to strengthening the crypto industry and driving institutional adoption.

Bali bans foreign tourists from using crypto for payment The provincial government of Bali on May 28 warned tourists against paying for goods and services in cryptocurrencies on the popular resort island of Indonesia.

Hong Kong launches retail-friendly rules for crypto exchanges Hong Kong opened its arms to the virtual asset world on Thursday, launching new retail-friendly rules for the city's crypto exchanges.
Children beneficiaries of the CDP project in Dao Xa commune (Thanh Thuy district) receive eye check (Photo:baophutho.vn)

Phu Tho  The Union of Friendship Association of the northern midland province of Phu Tho has actively appealed for foreign aid and implemented many projects support local people and children funded by foreign organisations, helping improve living conditions for the disadvantaged people in Phu Tho.

An example of foreign donors operating in Phu Tho isKorea Food for the Hungry International (KFHI), a non-profit non-government organisation (NGO) of the Republic of Korea.

KFHI has been working in Vietnam since 2006. It is mostly involved in community development, hygiene and safe water, vocational training, support of children in disadvantaged circumstances and improvement of schools through short-term projects or grants in cash and kind.

The NGO made its presence in Phu Tho in 2016, with its first activity presenting scholarships to students from poor families.

In 2018, the Prime Minister requested the educational sector to upgrade toilet quality at schools. Prompted by this, KFHI started a project on improving educational environment and building toilets in Phu Tho.

Under the project, the NGO provided school equipment, including computer sets, installed water supply systems along with water filters, and built toilets at 12 elementary schools in Thanh Thuy, Thanh Son and Tam Nong districts with a total value of over 1.3 billion VND (nearly 55,000 USD).

Besides, KFHI brought Korean volunteers to the schools to paint the walls of the toilets at Dau Duong elementary school with child-friendly images in Tam Nong.

Under a cooperative deal signed with the Phu Tho Union of Friendship Associations, KFHI also launched a Children Development Project in 2018. The five-year project supports school children in Thanh Son and Thanh Thuy districts with an annual value of 90,000 USD. Accordingly, the organisation, in coordination with the districts Departments of Education and Training, selected 600 children from 6-11 years old in disadvantaged areas for the support. Each child was sponsored by a family in the RoK. The children received periodical health checks and textbooks and leaning equipment at the beginning of the school year. Gatherings were held for them on such occasions as festivals and the International Childrens Day.

Nguyen Tuan Anh, head of the Education-Training Bureau of Thanh Thuy district said KFHIs programmes and projects in health care and education in the district have contributed to promoting education development in disadvantaged areas in the locality.

At the time when the COVID-19 pandemic was spreading in Phu Tho in early 2020, KFHI promptly delivered presents comprising face masks, hand sanitizer and hand soap to poor families and students and teachers in Thanh Thuy and Thanh Son districts.

Over the past five years, the total value of funding for projects implemented by KFHI in Phu Tho amounted to over 403,000 USD. More importantly, the support has encouraged disadvantaged children in the province to overcome difficulties in their life and study.



KFHI has also connected the Korean International School in Hanoi with elementary schools in Phu Tho in a programme called Warm blankets in winter, under which the Korean school donates blankets to poor students in Cam Khe and Thanh Thuy district every year.

Furthermore, the director of the CDP project and staff members of KFHI held a Korean language course for provincial officials in charge of external affairs, aiming to help them understand more about the Korean culture and promote the friendship between the Korean community in Phu Tho and local people, as well as between the two countries.
In the heart of the Tay Ho in Hanoi, L7 West Lake Hanoi by Lotte is situated within Lotte Mall West Lake Hanoi, the largest mall complex in Vietnam, totalling 353,700 square metres in area.

Built as a complex of two 23-story towers, L7 West Lake Hanoi by Lotte features 264 hotel rooms and 192 serviced residence rooms overlooking West Lake and the Red River. All rooms at the hotel have a terrace, providing a tropical retreat in harmony with nature.

Given that West Lake area is an age-old and wealthy village and the region is a popular, bustling area for foreign residents and tourists, the hotel is branded as a full-service 5-star lifestyle hotel with various auxiliary amenities and services.

Lake Salon is an exclusive lounge for guests staying in premium rooms with access to the Club Lounge, providing various food and beverage services such as afternoon tea and happy hour.

The rooftop infinity pool on the 23rd floor overlooks West Lake with a circumference of 16 km, providing panoramic views for a wide-open feeling.

There are new several endeavours to be noted in the food and beverages (F&B) area. Lush Salon is a lounge where guests can enjoy speciality coffee menus, desserts, as well as light beers. With the high demand and popularity of co-working spaces among local millennials, its design is based on a communal lounge concept that can function as a shared office.

Additionally, there are various on-premise restaurants, such as Layered, a buffet restaurant where you can savour a variety of dishes at seven live cuisine stations, including sushi and sashimi, BBQ, and live carving corners; Tim Ho Wan, a Michelin-starred dim sum franchise from Hong Kong, and Hedonist, a cocktail bar with a lavish vibe overlooking the West Lake, where all generations can enjoy a variety of cocktails.

L7 West Lake Hanoi by Lotte is a complex that connects various cultural spaces such as the Lotte Aquarium, cinema, and KidZania among others, allowing convenient shopping at the Lotte Mall, the largest of its kind in Vietnam.

Lotte Scholarship Foundation builds support for talent After a four-year hiatus, Lotte Scholarship Foundation returned last week to grant scholarships to students from 11 universities in Ho Chi Minh City at Lotte Hotel Saigon.

Premium skincare staycation package at Lotte Hotel Saigon Lotte Hotel Saigon is offering a facial treatment with Korean premium ginseng cosmetic and traditional gems signature ginseng Treatment (80 minutes) worth $72 at Sulwhasoo Spa. It is available for the first 50 room bookings, applicable for the booking period July 21-31, and for a stay from August 1 to September 30, 2023.
The UK Electoral Commission revealed Tuesday (August 8) it has been the victim of a "complex cyber-attack," potentially affecting millions of voters in the process.

In a public notice, the British election watchdog added unspecified "hostile actors" had managed to gain access to copies of the electoral registers from August 2021, which it was holding for research purposes, as well as for conducting checks on political donors.

It further said the information it held at the time of the attack included the names and addresses of people in the UK who registered to vote between 2014 and 2022. This also included those who opted to keep their details off the open register, which could be purchased by clients such as credit reference agencies, as well as the names of overseas voters but not their addresses.

Hackers also broke into the Electoral Commission's emails and "control systems," but only discovered the attack in October last year, the BBC reported.

However, the data of people who qualified to register anonymously for safety or security reasons was not accessed, the watchdog added.

As a result, the commission told the public to watch out for unauthorized use of their data.

Read Also: North Korea Hacks Top Russian Missile Developer Despite Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin Alliance

Electoral Commission: Sorry For the Inconvenience

The commission admitted it is difficult to predict exactly how many people were affected by the cyberattack, but they estimated the register for each year contained the details of around 40 million people.

Meanwhile, Information about donations and loans to political parties and registered campaigners is held in a system that is not affected by this incident, the notice added.

Electoral Commission chief executive Shaun McNally said he understood the public concern and would like to apologize to those affected.

For its part, the Information Commissioner's Office, which is responsible for data protection in the UK, said it was urgently investigating.

Related Article: Digital Rights Group Claims UK Data Law Unfairly Benefits Large Corporations, Tech Firms

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How can innovation help Vietnams pharma and healthcare sector overcome challenges, and drive future sustainable development?

Bui Thi Viet Lam, Vietnam country representative of the US-ASEAN Business Council

As shown by KMPGs recent report, the Vietnamese pharmaceutical market is currently expanding quickly, rising from $5.4 billion in 2018 to an estimated $6.5 billion in 2021, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.5 per cent.

Within the total pharmaceutical industry, the innovative pharmaceutical is estimated to contribute $1.16 billion to total GDP in 2021 and likely grow at more than 10 per cent per annum going forward. These factors, combined with rising personal income, make Vietnam an attractive destination for global pharmaceutical companies looking to capitalise on emerging market growth.

However, as a share of the pharmaceutical product segments, Vietnam has one of the lowest percentages of originators across Asian markets at less than 4 per cent (compared to Thailand at 8 per cent and Singapore at 14 per cent).

According to the Pharma Group, it takes about eight years on average for a Vietnamese patient to access a new drug/vaccine after it is introduced to the global market.

As an emerging market, Vietnam has a unique opportunity to build a sustainable local pharmaceutical industry through the support of global pharmaceutical companies, which are also active members of the US-ASEAN Business Council.

With rigorous experience in innovative pharmaceuticals, we are willing to work closely with Vietnams policymakers and other stakeholders to facilitate the development of Vietnams pharmaceutical industry as a potential key sector in the future growth of the economy and wellbeing of its citizens.

How important is Resolution No.29-NQ/TW to the future development of the sector and what are your member companies expectations of it?

It plays as a major milestone in the roadmap towards a robust pharmaceutical industry, and has been prioritising the pharmaceutical industry in national development with a focus on joint-ventures and partnerships in training and technology transfer.

Lessons learned from other countries such as Singapore, South Korea, and Ireland, which successfully developed their domestic pharmaceutical industry based on the attraction of foreign investment, have shown that a clear and long-term national vision is foundational to convince foreign investors to consider expanding their operations.

Certainly, the most important factor is a clear, detailed action plan to realise such visionary ambition. We look forward to seeing a consistent legal and regulatory framework. The legal and regulatory framework needs to be more predictable to facilitate corporate decision-making that will unlock Vietnams future potential.

We hope the government will continue consultation with the business community during the process of drafting key laws and regulations for the sectors development, including the revised pharma law and revised Law on Health Insurance to ensure a predictable and consistent business climate.

What is moreover, more competitive incentives should be introduced to drive investment into the pharmaceutical industry. For instance, greater efficiency around the registration approval process for new innovative products that address unmet medical needs will draw more foreign investment into the sector.

The government can also consider providing incentives in the form of tax deductions or reimbursements for pharmaceutical companies. For example, Singapore provides incentives to pharmaceutical companies when they set up operations there, invest in research and development activities, or conduct research and clinical trials locally.

This significantly reduces companies operation and capital expenditures and hence encourages foreign investments into the industry. Vietnam could learn from this to boost foreign investment into the industry.

What are the investment trends among your member companies in Vietnam?

In recent years, our member companies have been setting up local drug manufacturing capabilities or partnering with local manufacturers, which helps drive technology transfer, process research, and development and capability enhancement of domestic manufacturers. International standards and best practices will also come through such partnerships, driving the domestic pharmaceutical industry to faster growth.

Our member companies trust in the future of Vietnam and its promising growth, and we would like to expand our operations here and are committed to the sustainable development of Vietnams pharmaceutical industry.

However, ambiguous policies and lack of stability in terms of regulatory framework, particularly regarding innovative pharma, are impediments for us when considering the establishment or expansion of a local manufacturing presence.

Vietnam's pharma sector shows potential Prof. Nguyen Hai Nam, rector of the Hanoi University of Pharmacy, recently asserted the potential strength of human resources in Vietnam's pharmaceutical sector, suggesting it could be the underpinning element for attracting global investment.

Opportunities abound for innovative pharma industry Countries around the world are hoping to entice investment for their innovative pharmaceutical industries in order to bring socioeconomic benefits towards sustainable development strategies. Emin Turan, chairman of Pharma Group, talked to VIRs Bich Thuy about the specific opportunities for Vietnam in this regard.

More effort needed to increase pharma readiness Amid existing challenges and new investment approaches towards innovation and science and technology, the pharma-healthcare sector is working to tap into these trends, while developing and enhancing regulations.


With this award, Liberty Insurance is honoured on the "regional map" of companies and organisations with the best culture and working environment in Asia.

Celine Rose, Liberty Insurance's chief talent and operations officer at Asia Market, said, Winning the award caps many years of hard work put in by the HR team. Theyve always stayed focused, especially with the many challenges and changes that have taken place at both the industry and company levels. Im especially proud of them because they know that their work  guided by our Identity and Values - contributes to the overall employee experience and makes Liberty a great place to work in.

At Liberty Insurance, we believe progress happens when people feel secure. Liberty Insurance aspires to be a company where our staff across the globe feel included and that they belong. We are a company that values diversity not just in our words, but also in our actions. We want to bring our values to life and in our long-term strategy.

HR Asia said, HR Asia Best Companies to Work for in Asia is an awards recognition programme for organisations that have been identified by their employees as Asias employers of choice and ascertain the best employers to work for. The award is targeted at companies across Asia and recognises companies with the best human resources practices and demonstrates high levels of employee engagement and excellent workplace cultures.

As part of the judging process, the judging panel included experts in the field who conducted a direct interview with leadership from the participating company to assess the companys human resources vision and strategies.

The survey results, along with Liberty Insurance's achievements based on a sound HR strategy, resulted in Liberty Insurance being named the "Best Companies to Work for in Asia," the first non-life insurer with this accolade.

As one of the first foreign non-life insurers present in Vietnam since 2003, Liberty Insurance identifies human resources as the core factor in the development and implementation of comprehensive protection products, helping customers to "embrace today, confidently pursue tomorrow."

Providing competitive remuneration and staff retention policies, and ensuring that all 10 offices and branches across Vietnam have a modern and standard working environment, Liberty Insurance aims to create a cohesive community for its more than 320 highly specialised employees, helping them feel secure and allowing them to seize opportunities for advancement and development.

Liberty Insurance was also one of the first companies in Vietnam to apply a flexible and hybrid working policy. This allows employees the ability to have a work-life balance while contributing to the companys objectives. As a result, Liberty's customers, partners, and intermediaries will enjoy the best protection products and receive dedicated service.

The unique experiences and strengths of every staff of Liberty are the key factors that have helped the company stand out in the industry. Some of Liberty Insurances recent achievements include being the first non-life insurance company in Vietnam that allows customers to buy insurance online, receive a comprehensive auto insurance quote from AutoCare in just one minute, and buy TravelCare international travel insurance after only four simple online steps.

The company has also continuously received high praise from prestigious organisations such as being the first non-life insurer to win 4 IDG Outstanding Financial Service Awards, and the only Vietnamese non-life insurer with four wins in a row at the Asia Insurance Awards.

Liberty Insurance Vietnam launches global healthcare coverage in partnership with APRIL International Liberty Insurance has partnered with APRIL International to launch MyHEALTH global healthcare insurance to expatriates and Vietnamese nationals residing in Vietnam through their local agency salesforce. After launching successfully with PTI four years ago, this makes MyHEALTH, APRILs leading individual product, available through a complementary distribution channel.

Liberty Insurance receives the fourth award from IDG for innovative initiatives Liberty Insurance Ltd., a subsidiary of the US-headquartered Liberty Mutual Insurance, has been honoured for the fourth time in three consecutive years (2021-2023) with an Outstanding Financial Services Award by IDG Vietnam.
KinderWorlds multi-level system will boost the life-long learning of students of all ages

KinderWorld International Group grew its roots in Singapore in 1986 with the establishment of Changi View Child Care Centre. In 2000, after 14 years of preschool operations experience, KinderWorld made inroads overseas and entered the Vietnamese market following the liberalisation of the countrys enterprise laws.

Riding on the strength of the renowned Singaporean education brand, Ricky Tan established KinderWorlds first preschool in Ho Chi Minh City, opened by current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. The opening ceremony demonstrated a positive step towards forging strong ties between Vietnam and Singapore through education.

Over the last 23 years, under the leadership of Tan, KinderWorld has established 15 KinderWorld International Kindergarten (KIK), Singapore International School (SIS), and Singapore Vietnam International School (SVIS) campuses across eight cities and provinces.

Guided by its philosophy of Eastern values and global education, KinderWorld has been able to take advantage of the worlds increasing internationalisation. With its headquarters in Singapore, a country with strong international ties, connections, and networking, KinderWorld has developed various educational partnerships across the globe.

KinderWorld International Kindergarten offers preschool education for children aged 18 months to 6 years old through the its International and Integrated Programmes. The kindergarten focuses on the well-rounded development of children and prepares them for success at primary schools, setting a strong foundation for lifelong learning.

SIS, meanwhile, offers primary to high school education, also through the International and Integrated programmes for foreign and Vietnamese students. It believes in a holistic approach and providing students with a learning environment to stimulate their minds and develop an inquiring mind. The Singapore curriculum adds rigour to the teaching and delivery of maths and science subjects in the schools.

SIS is committed to continuously ensure the quality of its education programmes through well-known accreditation agencies. Primary school students take the Singapore international Primary School Leaving Examination, while secondary students take the Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examinations at the of the primary and secondary school years, respectively. For university foundation, students take the Cambridge International A-Level exams, which prepares students for universities around the world.

Over the years, KinderWorld has consistently produced students for the Cambridge International Examinations at both the IGCSE and Cambridge AS/A Levels.

Strengthening soft skills

SIS ensures that students have the opportunity to develop character and a wide range of soft skills which includes perseverance, resilience, self-confidence, and teamwork by including outdoor experiential learning in the curriculum. These courses are professionally organised and delivered by Outward Bound Vietnam (OBV) in consultation with SIS to ensure students are well-prepared as future global citizens with a keen understanding of the environment.

In May, OBV was awarded with the Adventure Programme Accreditation by the Association for Experiential Education. The achievement highlights OBV as one of the few adventure initiative providers in Asia with the accreditation. The association is a non-profit professional membership association for experiential education with more than 1,700 members from more than 25 countries.

OBV is registered with the Department of Education and Training as an educational institution, offering life-skills programmes in Binh Dinh and Quang Ninh provinces.

Outward Bound was founded in 1941 in Wales and is an international, non-profit, independent outdoor education organisation with presence in more than 38 countries, serving more than 250,000 participants every year. As a member of Outward Bound International, OBV endeavours to inspire social, community, and environmental responsibilities in youths through holistic learning and development while adhering to the highest educational and safety standards of the Outward Bound School network.

As part of KinderWorlds through-train educational pathway, Pegasus International College was established to provide quality education beyond High School. It offers Vietnamese, ASEAN, and international pathways and qualifications in hospitality, culinary arts, business services, and beyond.

Pegasus offers 3-tiered qualifications which are aligned to national requirements  the Vietnam National Qualification Framework, the Common ASEAN Tourism Curriculum, and the transnational Australia Qualification Framework  which articulates to undergraduate programmes with internationally recognised universities.

Since 2011, Pegasus has enrolled over 22,500 students from various countries such as the US, Bangladesh, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, and Nepal for its Australian 2-year Advanced Diploma initiative and other occupational training courses. Pegasus position as a premium provider of quality hospitality training is also demonstrated through key strategic partnerships with various 4-star and 5-star hotels and resorts across Vietnam.

OBV continues to inspire social and environmental responsibility in young people

Homecoming strategy

Meanwhile, the acquisition of SDH Institute, a hotel management school for high-quality education in hospitality management diploma and degree courses in Singapore, creates new opportunities for KinderWorld to re-establish its presence in the education sector. This will take place via partnerships with Vatel Hotel and Tourism Business School in France, the University of West London, and Northern Arizona University.

The acquisition will provide synergy as Singapore continues as the groups business headquarters and key engine of growth, while positioning the group for expansion in the region.

The strategy of re-establishing the business in Singapore brings new prospects for the group, in particular to grow the post-secondary segment that include tertiary education and professional courses, to establish youth leadership networks and exchange platforms, and to develop strategic partnerships in ASEAN and beyond.

Together with Pegasus International College in Vietnam, SDH Institute will provide the highest quality programmes and academic pathways for hospitality and aviation students, with new courses to be developed. Academic programmes offer national, ASEAN, and international pathways with qualifications in hospitality, tourism, culinary arts, and business and commerce courses aligned to Pegasus UniCollege in Brisbane. This allows its associated colleges to conduct Australian Qualifications Framework programmes overseas.

Following the acquisition, a rebranding exercise has recently been completed to integrate SDH Institute with KinderWorld. With the approval from the Committee for Private Education, the new name of SISH Institute was born. This transformation was driven by the vision to broaden educational offerings and cater to a wider range of students.

In addition to the existing hospitality and aviation programmes, KinderWorld has also announced the inclusion of the Cambridge academic curriculum and subjects for students aged 13-18. This expansion reflects a commitment to fostering well-rounded individuals and equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to become leaders of tomorrow.

Over the next five years, KinderWorld also aims to establish three Smart EduHubs in the east, west, and central regions of Singapore.
Malaysia, Indonesia, EU agree to tackle concerns over deforestation rules, illustration photo/ Source: freepik.com

Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia and Indonesia, the world's largest palm oil producers, have agreed with the European Union (EU) to promote mutual understanding and tackle concerns over the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and benchmarking via an ad hoc joint task force (JTF) co-chaired by the three parties.

As reported by the Malaysian English-language newspaper New Straits Times, the JTF had its first meeting in Jakarta on August 5, with the three sides agreeing on the terms of reference for its work, which include such issues as traceability from producer to end-consumer, scientific data on deforestation and forest degradation, and protection of data.

The event also shared information on the implementation of Indonesias and Malaysias sustainable palm oil programmes as well as the available traceability tools. The next meeting is scheduled to take place at the end of November.

JTF, in a statement, said it will establish a dialogue and relevant workstreams, led by the respective governments, to build mutual understanding on the implementation of the regulation and its core aspects, including benchmarking.

JTF is a platform to serve as a consultative mechanism to support coordination and promotion of mutual understanding between Indonesia, Malaysia, and the European Union, said the statement. It will conclude its work by the end of 2024, with the possibility to be extended upon mutual agreement.

Indonesia surpasses Thailand, Malaysia in tourism index Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Pandjaitan has said Indonesia's Travel and Tourism Development Index score increased, from 4.2 to 4.4 and rose from the 44th ranking to 32nd.

Indonesia, Malaysia ink border trade agreement update Indonesian Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan and Malaysian Minister of International Trade and Industry Tengku Zafrul Aziz signed the Indonesia-Malaysia Border Trade Agreement (BTA) update in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on June 8.
Miss Universe Vietnam 2017 HHen Nie helps promote the MRC Flood and Drought TV Channel. (Photo: mrcmekong.org)

Vientiane - The Mekong River Commission (MRC) has launched a channel on Mekong flood and drought forecast to improve public awareness and understanding of the conditions in the Lower Mekong River Basin (LMB).

According to the commission, starting from July 2023, the channel provides regular updates on current water levels, flows, and forecasted flood and drought risks for people living along the Mekong River. Broadcast in English with subtitles in Mekong languages, it runs every Monday during this rainy season on the MRC Secretariat's social media channels of Facebook and YouTube.

The Mekong River experiences flooding every year, which can bring both positive and negative impacts to the LMB.

Dr. Anoulak Kittikhoun, CEO of the Mekong River Commission Secretariat, stated: "The MRC currently provides daily river monitoring, flood forecasting, flash flood guidance information, and drought forecasts to support member countries in managing risks. We are also working on drought adaption measures. The launch of the MRC TV Channel on Flood and Drought Forecasting is a part of our continued efforts to bring updated and useful information on flood and drought risks to people in the Basin in a more accessible way. We hope the channel, in addition to our website updates, can effectively reach millions more people living along the Mekong River."

HHen Nie, Miss Universe Vietnam 2017, who helped promote the MRC Flood and Drought TV Channel, highlighted the importance of timely updates on drought and flooding, saying: The Mekong Delta is known as the rice bowl of the region, so any drought or flooding in this area can have a direct impact on the lives of the people.

The MRC is an intergovernmental organisation established in 1995 to boost regional dialogue and cooperation in the LMB. Based on the Mekong Agreement among Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, it serves as both a regional platform for water diplomacy and a knowledge hub  to manage water resources and support sustainable development of the region.

Thailand forecast to face severe drought this year Thailand is expected to face the harsh impact of the El Nino phenomenon around the middle of June, although this years summer season is predicted to end by the middle of May. This will lead to severe drought conditions, according to the countrys Meteorological Department (MD).

Thousands of Cambodian households affected by flooding Around 4,000 households in the southern region of Cambodia have been affected by heavy flooding caused by prolonged rains over the past few days.
Director of the Ministry of Planning and Investments Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) Do Nhat Hoang. (Photo: MPI)

Hanoi  Vietnams foreign investment attraction will see a positive outlook in the coming time as efforts have been made to improve investors trust in the country, said director of the Ministry of Planning and Investments Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) Do Nhat Hoang.

Besides political and social macroeconomic stability, Vietnam is making great efforts to improve its investment environment and continue to perfect three strategic breakthroughs of institutions, infrastructure, and human resources, he said.

Vietnam has also held policy dialogues, supported investors to overcome difficulties, and prepared conditions to welcome investors including land, energy, high-quality human resources, and supporting industries.

Hoang said that the most necessary thing for foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprises is human resources, adding Vietnam is developing training programmes to improve technical skills and labour productivity of human resources. In particular, the country is paying more attention to training based on the actual needs of enterprises.

Many prestigious international organisations highly appreciate the results and prospects of Vietnams economic development, Hoang said.

According to a survey conducted by the Japan Trade Promotion Organisation (JETRO) in 2022 with Japanese enterprises in Vietnam, 60 per cent of the surveyed enterprises said they will expand their business in Vietnam in the next one or two years, the highest in ASEAN.

They also said Vietnam has the advantage of high growth potential, and businesses can increase revenue by expanding markets and increasing exports.

Meanwhile, according to a survey in January 2023 on the business environment of the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham), Vietnam is among the top five investment destinations globally.

Recently, in the World Happiness Report, Vietnam rose 12 places, ranking 65 out of the 137 countries.

These are obvious evidence for the support and trust of the business community in Vietnam in recent years, Hoang said.

Notably, after reducing for months, Vietnams FDI attraction increased in July thanks to the Governments timely flexible solutions to support businesses.

In the past seven months, some economic indicators got positive such as total newly registered capital, adjusted and contributed capital from foreign investors reached nearly 16.24 billion USD, up 4.5 per cent over the same period in 2022. There were 1,627 new projects, up 75.5 per cent over the same period, with the total registered capital reaching nearly 7.94 billion USD, up 38.6 per cent over the same period.

Hoang said that Vietnam is aiming to attract investment selectively, and improve investment promotion in selected fields relating to the digital economy, green economy, innovation, and renewable energy.

He added that his office will coordinate with international organisations to select potential corporations with competent financial capacity, and modern management.

Dong Thaps policies come to fruition Dong Thap province has recorded positive achievements in terms of socioeconomic development this year so far, thanks to efforts by provincial authorities to issue effective policies to support progress.

Danang ramps up tactics for influx of foreign investment Nations like Japan are making a mark in registered capital in the central city of Danang, with over $1 billion spent across more than 220 projects, and is the foundation for the city to lure in more effective funding in general.

Foreign investment attraction - silver lining in Hung Yen province Foreign investment attraction has been considered a bright spot in the northern mountainous province of Hung Yen, generating jobs, contributing to the State budget revenue while becoming a crucial driving force for the localitys socio-economic development.
Bae Seung Jun has been with the parent company Shinhan Life Corporation, Korea, since 2008, having almost 15 years of experience in developing marketing strategies for the Korean insurance market, as well as foreign business and international insurance market research and development.

Bae Seung Jun, chairman of Members Council cum general director

He was also directly involved in the process of building and laying the foundation for Shinhan Life Vietnam from the beginning.

On his inauguration speech, Bae Seung Jun said, In my new roles, I would like to emphasise three points. First, as a new insurer in the Vietnamese market, Shinhan Life must constantly change and innovate to adapt to the market and promote its existing strengths. Second, we keep on investigating and developing new business models to increase our market competitiveness. Third, Shinhan Life Vietnam will be a business that grows in tandem with the growth of each company employee. We will build a company that everyone can be proud of.

With his wealth of experience, dynamic spirit, and broad knowledge of the development of the international insurance market, Bae Seung Jun is expected to contribute to promoting Shinhan Life Vietnam to move forward with a new transformation.

With an initial charter capital of VND2.32 trillion ($100.8 million), Shinhan Life Vietnam is entirely invested by Shinhan Life Insurance Corporation. Officially operating insurance business in Vietnam market from January 2022, Shinhan Life provides life insurance, health insurance and financial investment services.

Shinhan Life Vietnam and BOM Finance sign insurance business partnership South Korean life insurer Shinhan Life Vietnam Co., Ltd. has just signed a strategic cooperation with BOM Finance Service Vietnam on the provision of professional consultancy and distribution of life insurance products.

PwC Vietnam appoints Mai Viet Hung Tran as general director PwC Vietnam today announced Mai Viet Hung Tran as its next general director, with effect from July 1. Tran succeeds Dinh Thi Quynh Van, who has served as in the position for 12 years.

A remarkable first-year journey for Shinhan Life in Vietnam During its one-year presence in Vietnam, Shinhan Life  a life insurance company from South Korea  has had an impressive journey to successfully surpass its set goals and begin operations.
Along with commercial real estate, Singapores developers are also delving into industrial complexes, Photo: Le Toan

Vietnam is one of the top five destinations chosen by Singapores ultra-high-net-worth individuals to invest in real estate, behind Australia, India, Hong Kong, and the Chinese mainland, according to the Foreign Investment Agency.

The agency, under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, said that as of June, the real estate sector has accumulated more than 1,100 foreign-invested projects with a total capital of $66.4 billion, accounting for 15 per cent of total overseas funding and ranked second in terms of investment attraction, after the manufacturing and processing industry.

Some 48 countries and territories have invested in the real estate business, led by Singapore and followed by South Korea, the British Virgin Islands, and Japan.

Knight Franks Wealth Report 2023, published in April, shows that one of the factors that make Vietnams real estate attractive to foreign investors is the suitable price of luxury apartments compared to other international cities. The report ranks Ho Chi Minh City third in terms of suitable prices for luxury apartments, after Sao Paulo and Cape Town.

Knight Frank Vietnam managing director Alex Crane said that the great interest from Singaporean investors in Vietnamese commercial real estate will continue in the near future, most of which comes from private capital.

This is because the private investors can also exploit and utilise opportunities from other developing economies, or in developed markets where there are advantages in safety and high profitability, Crane said.

Jeff Foo, past president, the Institute of Estate Agents Singapore, told VIR that the long-term prospects for Vietnams real estate market remain strong. High economic growth is driving robust demand for new housing by the countrys growing cohort of emerging middle-class consumers and investors confidence, Foo said.

With Vietnam driving its economic growth, the favourable business environment, economic growth, better infrastructure, and policy changes have contributed to its position as a top country for attracting foreign investment, he added.

A series of big names in the Singaporean real estate market are present in Vietnam such as CapitaLand, Keppel Land, Frasers Property, Kusto Home, Sembcorp, City Development, GuocoLand, Mapletree, Ascendas and many more.

Keppels Real Estate Division has been in Vietnam since the early 1990s. Today, Keppel is one of the largest foreign investors in urban development, with more than 20 projects and total registered investment capital of about $3.5 billion.

Another giant developer continuously expanding its portfolio in Vietnam is CapitaLand Development (CLD). For over 29 years in Vietnam, its portfolio comprises one retail malls, one SOHO development, three integrated developments and more than 13,000 quality homes across 17 residential developments.

Meanwhile, Frasers Property has been investing in Vietnam for more than 25 years. Its Melinh Point, a Grade A office in the central business district of Ho Chi Minh City, was its first investment in 1995. In 2018, it broke ground for the Q2 Thao Dien, a mixed-use residential development in District 2 of the city. Both projects are prime office and complex buildings that feature green building criteria.

Not only present in commercial real estate, Singapore developers are actively expanding their portfolios into industrial real estate.

An MoU was signed between Becamex IDC Industrial Development and Investment Corporation and Sembcorp Development in February to co-develop five green, smart, and sustainable Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP) in Vietnam within the next three years, costing roughly $1 billion.

Today, the VSIP system nationwide serves around 900 tenants from 30 countries and territories, with a total investment of more than $18.4 billion.

CLD is also processing procedures for implementing an MoU signed with Bac Giang Peoples Committee last year, valued at $1 billion, to develop its first industrial, logistics park, and township in Vietnam.

Meanwhile, industrial property is also the long-term target of Frasers Property Vietnam. In 2019, it started construction of Binh Duong IP. Its ready-built-factory phase 1 has seen more than 90 per cent of factories leased out, while phase 2 held its groundbreaking event in July.

It also boasts the Eco Logistics Centre, providing warehousing space to sustainability-minded tenants and honour to be the first LEED-certified ready-built warehouse in Vietnam.

Furthermore, more than 180 hectares of industrial land area, within strategic locations in both north and south Vietnam, has been acquired. The Singaporean company expects that over the next 3-5 years, close to a million square metres of international grade and green certified industrial facilities will be developed to support the countrys growing economy.

Truong An Duong - General manager North Vietnam & Residential Frasers Property Vietnam Frasers Property Vietnam capitalises on market optimism and has taken advantage of its robust business model that creates value through its core capabilities in real estate development. As we see industrial investors are looking for modern and sustainable developments, Vietnamese industrial parks (IPs) are establishing their own way towards modernity. In this instance, Frasers Property Vietnam is pioneering in developing high-quality industrial products with strong sustainability and technology features aimed at supporting workplace productivity as well as occupiers health and wellbeing. The developments will aim for international green building certifications in line with the groups sustainability targets. The demand is increasing for integrated industrial park development, investors prefer IPs with diversified products and provide wide-range facilities/amenities. We are setting up our product portfolio with diversified types targeting built-to-suit and ready-built factories with smart manufacturing to meet Industry 4.0. We aim to provide an abundance of convenient amenities that cover worker housing, retail, commercial, dining, health, and transport services, and aspire to build a business and community in our industrial and logistics projects. Joseph Low - President Real Estate Division Keppel Vietnam Singapore and Vietnam enjoy strong economic ties and bilateral trade continues to grow steadily. Since entering Vietnam more than three decades ago, Keppel has grown with Vietnam and is today one of the largest foreign real estate investors in the country. As Vietnam continues to undergo rapid urbanisation, future investment flows from Singapore to Vietnam are expected to remain positive, underpinned by economic growth and an expanding middle class, as well as the Vietnam governments efforts and investment into developing key sectors, infrastructure, and a conducive business environment. As a global asset manager and operator, Keppel is well placed to continue contributing towards Vietnams sustainable development. In particular, Keppel can bring in investors to fund the creation of high-quality projects through our quality investment platforms and asset portfolios. A good example is the Keppel Vietnam Fund, our private fund which combines capital from Keppel and global institutional investors to co-invest in residential developments and commercial properties as well as mixed-use projects in Vietnam. To date, the fund has invested in five high-quality residential projects in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. When fully leveraged and invested, the fund will potentially have assets under management of approximately $1 billion.

Sustaining mutual growth through new networks Vietnam and Singapore are intensifying their bilateral ties in new fields with focus set on innovation, energy, and sustainability. Jaya Ratnam, Singaporean Ambassador to Vietnam, provides analysis on how this cooperation has been implemented and benefited the two countries.

Tremendous room for growth in investment ties Economic relations between Vietnam and Singapore are being strengthened, with major room for growth. Shanmuga Retnam, executive co-chairman of the Vietnam Smart Cities Consortium, discussed with VIRs Bich Thuy the Singaporean investment trends and new opportunities.

Singaporeans exploring all avenues Singaporean investors are retaining interest in Vietnam in sectors from property, renewable energy and manufacturing to healthcare and technology.
In mid-July, Vietnams healthcare market saw a huge transaction worth $381.4 million between SGX Mainboard-listed healthcare group Thomson Medical Group (TMG) and FV Hospital.

The deal will enable TMG to expand its footprint as it acquires all of Far East Medical Vietnam Ltd., which operates a range of healthcare facilities in Vietnam, including FV Hospital and a network of primary and specialist clinics.

Kiat Lim, executive vice-chairman of Thomson Medical Group told VIR, Our investment into FV Hospital expands TMGs presence across Southeast Asia and unlocks the tremendous potential of Vietnams growing private healthcare market. Vietnam is one of the fastest growing economies in Southeast Asia, driven by strong inflows of foreign investment, a rising middle class, and its steady progression to becoming a high-income country by 2045.

Singaporeans exploring all avenues, illustration photo

Several Singaporean groups are targeting Vietnams burgeoning healthcare market, where the bigger demand is fuelled by a rising middle-class and ageing population, as well as an expanding expatriate population.

Also in July, SciGen, a biopharmaceutical company founded in Singapore in 1988, signed a strategic partnership with DKSH, a market expansion services provider for companies seeking to grow their business, to supply the cancer drug Zometa to the Vietnamese market.

Dr. Shazli Ahmed Khan, SciGens region commercial head for Asia Growth Markets, said, SciGen is actively exploring expansion opportunities across the Asia region with an objective to enhance access to its portfolio for the people who need it the most. Vietnam is a key market in SciGens Asian footprint, and the organisation is committed to partnering with local healthcare organisations to achieve this objective to benefit Vietnamese patients.

Doctor Anywhere Singapore, which entered Vietnam in 2019, has been striving to create a comprehensive healthcare ecosystem in the country by intensifying cooperating with businesses here such as Bao Minh Insurer, Post and Telecommunication Insurance, and MB Ageas Life Insurance, among others.

Doctor Anywhere is currently one of the largest telemedicine companies in ASEAN. Its mobile app  the core product of the company  has gained about three million users in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. It also aims to open a chain of clinics in Vietnam in the upcoming time.

According to the Singapore Business Federation (SBF), Singapore companies interest in expanding into Vietnam remains strong, attracted by the growing middle class domestic market and a strong manufacturing base to support exports. In the future, Vietnam will draw more and more interest from foreign investors, especially in areas such as property, renewable energy, manufacturing, infrastructure, healthcare, and technology.

As shown in the SBF National Business Survey 2022/2023, Vietnam is ranked as one of the top three countries for overseas expansion by Singapore companies in the short term. The key sectors of interest from Singapore companies include manufacturing, infrastructure, wholesale, and retail trade.

One example is the partnership between Singapores YCH Group and Vietnams T&T Group to develop a smart logistics connectivity infrastructure project in the northern province of Vinh Phuc. The super port, with a cargo capacity of 850,000 TEU, aims to transform cargo handling by air, sea, rail, and road and uplift the manufacturing supply chain in northern Vietnam.

Cindy Lim, CEO of Keppel Infrastructure Holdings Pte Ltd. said, This is the right time for investors to participate in the energy transformation in the country. We are ready to double our investment in renewable energy development in Vietnam going forward.

The Singapore Regional Business Forum in early July, with a number of MoUs signed between the two countries focusing on technology, banking and finance, and manufacturing, also reinforced the trend of Singaporean investment in Vietnam.

Kok Ping Soon, CEO of the SBF, said at the forum, Singapore and Vietnam are exploring partnerships in the digital and green economy. There is much in which Singapore and Vietnam can complement each other in these fields, to address our international and regional interests and commitments.

This is evidenced by MoUs signed between both countries in the last two years, including on energy cooperation, carbon credits, and the Green-Digital Economic Partnership.

According to the Foreign Investment Agency under Vietnams Ministry of Planning and Investment, in the first seven months of 2023, Vietnam attracted over $16 billion worth of foreign investment, up 4.5 per cent on-year. Singapore continued to top foreign investors during the period with nearly $3.64 billion.

Vietnam and Singapore are now entering a new development phase after enjoying a thriving partnership over the past 50 years. Together with potential cooperation in digital and green economy, strong partnership in free trade agreements are expected to enhance bilateral investment.

However, Singaporean companies still have concerns regarding the upcoming global minimum tax regime. Soon of the SBF said, The proposed implementation of the global corporate tax rate in Vietnam will have implications on both existing and future investments here. It is important that the Vietnamese government take a consultative approach with enterprises and international business chambers to find ways for the country to stay competitive in retaining and attracting foreign investments.

By improving its business environment and quality of workforce, Soon added, Vietnam will be able to sustain business interest as an investment destination.

Edwin Tan, deputy CEO at Frasers Property Vietnam, added, As long as the government continues to implement supportive policies and improve clarity, foreign investments will continue to thrive in Vietnam.

Ronald Tay - CEO, CapitaLand Development (Vietnam) The Vietnamese market has shown great potential and resilience in the real estate sector, attracting many foreign investors, especially from Singapore. However, to sustain and increase the capital flow in the future, investors need to have a level playing field where they can invest in a fair and transparent environment and enjoy the benefits of a growing and dynamic market. Therefore, we hope that the Vietnamese government will continue to implement more investor-friendly policies and enhance the clarity and consistency of its regulations, so that investors can stay positive and focused in Vietnam. We have a long-term commitment to Vietnam as one of CapitaLand Developments core markets. We will focus on the bigger scale projects, especially in the residential and township segments. Aside from deepening our presence in the two major cities of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, where we have established a strong foothold and reputation, we want to venture into the surrounding areas of these cities, such as Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Long An, Bac Ninh, and Haiphong, where we see great potential for growth and development. In line with our strategic direction, Sycamore, our first large-scale residential property located in Binh Duong New City, is expected to cover a total area of 18.9 hectares and comprise over 3,700 freehold units, providing quality homes for about 13,000 residents. In the medium to long term, we also plan to expand to new asset classes, such as industrial and business parks, to cater to the growing demand for these sectors in Vietnam. Yulanda Chung - Head of Sustainability, Institutional Banking Group, DBS Bank As the largest Singaporean bank with strong focus on sustainability, DBS takes a consistent approach for risk management across the bank, governed by our policies and frameworks for responsible financing. These are benchmarked against international industry best practices, such as the Green Loan Principles and sustainability-linked loan principles, and updated as these principles develop. The largest impact we have is through our lending and financing activities. Therefore, it is critical that we continually strengthen our capabilities to support our clients in their transition, while facilitating sustainable and inclusive growth and prosperity. Our measures of success align with our net-zero commitments and can be broadly categorised into two sets of targets. The first set comprises Scope 3 financed emissions reduction targets across seven sectors, while the second consists of data coverage targets across two sectors. Collectively, these nine sectors  power, oil and gas, automotives, aviation, shipping, steel, real estate, food and agribusiness, and chemicals  cover some of the most carbon-intensive sectors in the real economy, together accounting for the majority of global greenhouse gas emissions. These targets will guide us in assessing the climate risks of our existing and potential borrowers to facilitate engagement and partnership-building with clients on the transition journey.

Vietnam-Singapore trade and investment likely to flourish Is it feasible for Singaporean investors to invest all foreign capital in Vietnams market? How much time is required to open a bank account, the duration from preparing the application dossier to obtaining the licence? Is there a faster way to find local business partners?

12 agreements inked at inaugural overseas edition of SRBF 12 MoUs on sustainability, digitalisation, financial services, and human capital development were signed to deepen collaboration opportunities between Singapore, Vietnam, and the wider region at the Singapore Regional Business Forum on July 7.
On August 3, South Korean firm Dongwha Pharm announced the acquisition of a 51 per cent stake in Trung Son Pharma, a company that operates a chain of pharmacies in Vietnam, as reported by Business Korea.

In a filing with the Korean Stock Exchange, Dongwha Pharm disclosed that it spent nearly $30 million to acquire 51 per cent of Trung Son Pharma, equivalent to over 12.15 million shares. The deal is expected to be completed by October this year.

Established in 1997, Trung Son Pharma operates more than 140 pharmacies primarily in the southern region, with the highest concentration of 45 stores in Can Tho city. Last year, the company reported a revenue of $56.5 million, generated from the sale of prescription and non-prescription drugs, functional foods, cosmetics, and medical equipment.

The acquisition will provide Dongwha Pharm with an entry point into the Vietnamese market for over-the-counter drugs. The company also plans to sell cosmetics and functional foods beneficial to health.

According to its information, Dongwha Pharm, the first established pharmaceutical company in Korea founded in 1897, has been engaged in development, production, distribution and marketing of ethical drugs including solid dosage formulations and sterile injectables, over-the-counter drugs, food supplements, healthcare products, and cosmetics.

The South Korean conglomerate anticipates that following the acquisition, Trung Son Pharma may expand its network to 460 stores by 2026.

According to market research firm BMI, Vietnam's retail pharmaceutical market is highly fragmented, with over 50,000 pharmacies that are mostly small-scale businesses. The market is forecasted to grow from $7.7 billion in 2021 to $16.1billion by 2026. However, the actual figure could be significantly higher.

By 2030, the total value of Vietnam's pharmaceutical market is predicted to rise to around $13 billion. In 2022, the average per capita drug spending reached about $75.

In this market, there are three leading chains: Long Chau, Pharmacity, and An Khang, according to a report from ACB Securities. While Long Chau turned a profit in 2021, the other two chains have yet to do so.

More effort needed to increase pharma readiness Amid existing challenges and new investment approaches towards innovation and science and technology, the pharma-healthcare sector is working to tap into these trends, while developing and enhancing regulations.

Investment required for strong healthcare Vietnam has overcome many hardships and taken enormous strides forward in improving health and quality of life. There has been significant progress towards ending ongoing epidemics of infectious diseases.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is continuing an organizational shakeup about a month by naming his longstanding chief of staff, James Uthmeier, as his new presidential campaign manager.

DeSantis' campaign manager from 2022 and the first three months of his presidential campaign, Generra Peck, has been fired. Although DeSantis has already fired some of his original campaign staff in an effort to save expenses, he is still behind Donald Trump in most public polls.

"Gov. DeSantis has to change the dynamics. That much is clear," DeSantis donor Dan Eberhart said regarding the major shift, as reported by NBC News. "This is a realignment rather than a reset because both folks were already senior advisers."

Peck's dismissal is only the most recent in a series of changes to DeSantis' campaign staff and strategy over the last several weeks.

Also Read: Ron DeSantis Campaign Raised Over $8 Million in Fundraising 24 Hours Since Glitchy Twitter Launch

Latest Shakeup in DeSantis' Camp

Peck, whose departure was originally reported by The Messenger, will remain with the company as a senior consultant. After a less-than-stellar campaign start, NBC News reported that key DeSantis backers were calling for leadership changes.

DeSantis' chief of staff, Uthmeier, will take on the role of campaign manager at a pivotal time in the race. DeSantis's closest advisers regard the first debate, which will take place on August 23 in Milwaukee, as a golden opportunity for him to rebuild support and attempt to catch up to Trump.

Andrew Romeo, the campaign's communications director, stated, "James Uthmeier has been one of Governor DeSantis' top advisers for years and he is needed where it matters most: working hand in hand with Generra Peck and the rest of the team to put the governor in the best possible position to win this primary and defeat Joe Biden."

He announced that David Polyansky, a veteran of the Iowa Republican Party, would be taking on the role of deputy campaign manager. DeSantis' chances of becoming the Republican nominee are critically dependent on his performance in Iowa, which is the first nominating contest in the country.

Uthmeier first came on board as DeSantis' chief of staff in September 2021, and he has been seen as more politically aligned with DeSantis than his first two chiefs of staff.

He is a member of the Federalist Society and has strong ties to the conservative legal community, owing to his law degree from Georgetown University. One operative close to DeSantis even said it was a good idea to get go of Peck, but they were skeptical that Utheimer would be the ideal successor because of his background in policy rather than campaigning.

Also Read: Major Win for DeSantis: Disney's Bid to Drop Lawsuit That Might Remove Special District Denied by Court

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As we celebrate Singapores 58th National Day this month, we also commemorate two important milestones for our relations. August 1 marks 50 years since Singapore and Vietnam established diplomatic relations, and 10 years since we established our strategic partnership. Over the course of these decades, our bilateral relations have grown tremendously, and I have every confidence that they will continue to grow into the future.

Jaya Ratnam, Singaporean Ambassador to Vietnam

The foundations of the relationship were built on strong mutual trust between our leaders, beginning in 1991 when the late Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet asked Lee Kuan Yew to advise Vietnam on opening up its economy. This marked the beginning of close personal relationships between successive generations of our leaders.

Today, our leaders meet regularly and enjoy excellent rapport. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh made a successful official visit to Singapore in February this year, and we look forward to reciprocating with a visit by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to Vietnam very soon. We exchanged state visits in 2022, and Singaporean President Halimah Yacob also had an excellent introductory meeting with Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong recently in London.

Ties intensified

Deep economic cooperation has made our relationship mutually beneficial and will remain the cornerstone of our bilateral relations. The Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIPs) across Vietnam are emblematic symbols of this cooperation. There are now 14 VSIPs across 10 provinces, attracting $18.4 billion of capital and creating around 300,000 jobs. They have contributed substantially to Vietnams manufacturing and export sectors.

More broadly, we have developed longstanding and unique institutionalised frameworks for cooperation. The Singapore-Vietnam Connectivity Framework Agreement, which was launched in 2006, provides a platform where our economic ministries, and their associated agencies, coordinate positions, give direction and monitor progress on strengthening our cooperation further.

In keeping with our broadening bilateral agenda, the agreement has expanded to include discussions in new growth areas of innovation, energy, and digitalisation. Underpinning these developments is Vietnams consistent strong economic performance and rapid growth since the mid-1980s, which has made Singaporean businesses confident in Vietnams long-term economic prospects.

As a signal of this confidence in Vietnams future, Singapore has become Vietnams top source of foreign investment since 2020. As of December 2022, Singapore was Vietnams second-largest foreign investor, with cumulative investment of $70.8 billion. The seventh Singapore Regional Business Forum was held in Hanoi in July. This was the first time it had been held outside Singapore and reflects Vietnams immense economic potential and our long-term partnership.

The choice also reflects the sentiments of the Singapore Business Federations National Business Survey, where Vietnam was ranked one of the top three countries for overseas expansion by Singapore companies in the short term.

The forum was a tremendous success, attended by over 800 business leaders, senior government officials, and diplomats from more than 500 companies and organisations across over 30 countries and economies.

Wider prospects

There are many opportunities to work together, particularly in the digital economy, renewable energy, carbon credits, cybersecurity, and sustainable infrastructure. When PM Chinh visited Singapore in February, both countries agreed to embark on the Green-Digital Economic Partnership. This is an umbrella framework which upgrades our bilateral relationship to focus on energy, sustainability, infrastructure, digital economy, and innovation. This will not only support the green and digital aspirations of both our countries, but also allow our cooperation to serve as a pathfinder in ASEAN.

There are three areas where Singapore and Vietnam are looking to work together to seize the opportunities of the next decade and deepen our cooperation. The first area is innovation. Singapore and Vietnam are among the top three startup ecosystems in Southeast Asia. With our common goal of driving growth through tech and innovation, there is scope for Singapore and Vietnam to tap on each others innovation ecosystems for partnerships, funding, and talent.

Innovation has gained momentum through two areas. First is BLOCK71 Saigon, a collaboration between the National University of Singapore Enterprise and Vietnams Becamex IDC, which has nurtured more than 1,000 startups, incubators, and accelerators since 2011. The second is the Global Innovation Alliance node in Ho Chi Minh City, where Enterprise Singapore partnered with Saigon Innovation Hub and Quest Ventures to facilitate the exchange of startups between both countries.

In December 2022, Singapores Ministry of Trade and Industry and Vietnams National Innovation Centre (NIC) signed an MoU on the establishment of the Singapore-Vietnam Innovation Workgroup to connect innovation ecosystems between Singapore and Vietnam. The NIC has also signed MoUs with several Singapore Institutes of Higher Learning and corporates like UOB and Keppel to foster closer partnerships.

The second general aspect is energy connectivity. Singapore and Vietnam share a common vision of achieving net-zero by 2050. The scaling up of renewable energy and development of regional power grids will not only support our individual decarbonisation efforts, but also promote greater infrastructural connectivity to help advance the regions sustainable energy goals.

Together with a power integration project involving Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, collaborations with Vietnam will contribute to the greater ASEAN Power Grid vision. The energy cooperation MoU signed in October 2022 between Singapore and Vietnam has paved the way for both sides to explore closer collaboration in areas such as renewable energy development, cross-border electricity trading, liquefied natural gas and electricity markets, low-carbon as well as energy efficiency solutions. This will open up more platforms and opportunities for businesses to form partnerships.

The final area is sustainability. We urgently need to accelerate climate action to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. Carbon markets can play a critical role in supporting countries decarbonisation, particularly in hard-to-abate sectors. In October 2022, Singapore and Vietnam signed an MoU to collaborate on carbon credits, aligned with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. This puts both Singapore and Vietnam in an excellent position to capture the opportunities generated by carbon markets.

As we look forward, the future for Singapore-Vietnam relations is bright and full of promise. But, to ensure this, we will need to continue building strong people-to-people relations. It is for this reason that we will conclude our celebrations this year with an event called Spotlight Singapore in Vietnam. This will bring more than 200 artists and young entrepreneurs from Singapore to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to participate in a series of cultural, sports, and business events on October 19-25.

It is only through such networks of friendship that we will continue to sustain and grow our relations in the coming decades.

On July 5, 2023 in Hanoi, Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and Singaporean Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry Tan See Leng held bilateral talks. Minister Leng proposed some cooperation issues, including: - Supporting Singaporean enterprises in implementing wind power and offshore wind power projects in Vietnam. - Upgrading the Vietnam-Singapore Connectivity Framework Agreement signed in 2005. - Studying opportunities in cooperation in green finance. - Conducting a feasible study on building a submarine power transmission line between the two countries. - Boosting cooperation in agricultural trade, in particular for processed meat products as well as fruit and vegetables. - Fostering collaboration in digital economy, in which Singaporean companies can share development experience with Vietnam. - Developing energy supply chains to ensure energy security and sustainable development, including energy produced from natural gas, renewable energy, and new energies such as hydrogen and green ammonia. Minister Dien agreed on these proposals and assigned relevant agencies to study them. He also suggested that the Singapore side: - Foster collaboration with Vietnam in the sectors of quarantine and testing in order to gradually conform to standards between the two nations and reduce risks in exporting agro-forestry-aquatic products and seafood and processed food products. - Share experience in policy and human resource training in renewable energy, especially policies for renewable and clean energy export. - Enhance close coordination in implementing multilateral economic and trade cooperation institutions and taking advantages of two new-generation free trade agreements to which both nations are signatories. Minister Dien reaffirmed that Vietnam stands ready to create more favourable conditions and support Singaporean businesses to invest in the country, particularly in such sectors as new technologies, renewable energy, digital economy, and green economy, and support Vietnam in exploiting natural minerals and developing small- and medium-sized enterprises.

Vietnam and Singapore strengthen ties in digital economy development Vietnam and Singapore will strengthen cooperation in the development of their digital economies in the upcoming time following an MoU signed on February 25.

Singaporeans add to moves in Vietnam Vietnam and Singapore are further deepening their strategic partnership, with renewed focus placed on growing trade and investment cooperation.

Why Singapore and Vietnam together mean business At first glance, there may appear to be few similarities between the economies of Vietnam and Singapore. One is a leading exporter of consumer electronics, textiles, and footwear while the other is a global hub for shipping, technology, and financial services. Yet, like many successful partnerships, strong potential synergies exist.
This information was revealed by Nguyen Duc Chi, Deputy Minister of Finance, at a regular government press conference held on August 5.

Nguyen Duc Chi, Deputy Minister of Finance

The country's VAT refund system follows two modes  refund first, audit later and audit first, refund later, which are legally defined under the current Tax Administration Law. According to these provisions, the completion period for the refund first, audit later mode is set at six days, while the audit first, refund later process takes up to 40 days.

Reflecting on the VAT refund process, Chi disclosed that in 2022, tax authorities nationwide refunded over $6.25 billion based on nearly 20,800 refund decisions. The refund amount seen in the first seven months of 2023 stemmed from 9,800 decisions. In terms of the types of refunds, just over 20 per cent were post-audit refunds.

Responding to media queries regarding responsibilities in the case of delayed VAT refunds, Chi maintained that culpability would depend on specific circumstances, case-by-case evaluations, and an understanding of the reasons for the delay.

"Both the tax authorities and businesses need to examine and reassess each specific case. As government agencies, the tax authorities must review, scrutinise, and improve their operations to prevent future delays. We need to sift through our laws, procedures, and refund implementation methods to identify what can be improved and accelerated," he said.

In terms of solutions, the Ministry of Finance has proposed three measures to address the issue.

Firstly, tax authorities are employing IT, including AI, to build a comprehensive database of businesses. This will facilitate data analysis to identify and address high-risk companies proactively, reducing the number of firms that are subjected to the audit first, refund later process.

The second measure involves capacity building for tax administration personnel and businesses, aiming to enhance their understanding and compliance with tax laws. This is particularly relevant for VAT refund processes.

Lastly, the ministry stresses the importance of improving discipline and service conduct among tax officials.

"We have strictly stipulated adherence to legal processes and procedures, ensuring that businesses do not face unnecessary hurdles during VAT refunds. However, any enterprises found guilty of fraud during the VAT refund process will face severe penalties," concluded Chi.

European businesses face the storm of new tax regime The application of the global minimum tax is getting nearer, creating a new challenge for multinational corporations. Thomas McClelland, chairman of the Tax and Transfer Pricing Sector Committee under the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, talked to VIRs Tung Anh about their preparations for the tax overhaul.
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP)  Republican lawmakers and anti-abortion activists on Monday filed a court challenge against an initiative petition to legalize abortion.

In the lawsuit, Rep. Hannah Kelly, Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman and activist Kathy Forck argued that the cost estimate that will be provided to voters considering whether to adopt the constitutional amendment is too low.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs wrote in a court brief that the price tag should account for a potential loss of Medicaid funding, as well as the projected number of fewer people born because of abortions and subsequent lost tax revenue.

These future losses to Missouri from loss of population due to abortion are both absolutely certain (fewer citizens definitely means fewer future taxpayers and laborers) and potentially generational and infinite," the lawsuit argues.

The Missouri Supreme Court last month sided with the abortion-rights campaign in a lawsuit over a similar dispute about the petitions cost. ACLU of Missouri lawyers represented supporters of the initiative petition in the previous lawsuit.

This is another attempt by power-obsessed politicians to prevent Missourians from voting on reproductive rights, American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri spokesman Tom Bastian said in an email. The bogus lawsuit parrots the already court-rejected claims of the Attorney General.

The proposed amendment would enshrine in the constitution the individual right to make decisions about abortion, childbirth and birth control.

Abortion-rights supporters proposed the amendment after the state banned nearly all abortions when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision last summer. The state now allows exceptions for medical emergencies, but not for cases of rape or incest.
Donald Trumps legal team told a judge overseeing the election conspiracy case against him on Monday that prosecutors' proposed protective order aimed at preventing the public disclosure of evidence is too broad and would restrict his First Amendment rights.

Lawyers for the early 2024 Republican presidential primary front-runner said in court papers that the judge should impose a more limited order that would bar the public release only of materials deemed sensitive"  such as grand jury documents  rather than all evidence handed over by the government in the case accusing Trump of conspiring to overturn his 2020 election loss.

Prosecutors with special counsel Jack Smith's team quickly countered with their own filing accusing Trump of objecting to their proposal because he wants to be able to use the government's evidence to try the case in the media rather than in the courtroom.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan said later Monday that she would hold a hearing on the dueling proposals, and that Trump would not have to attend.

Prosecutors asked Friday for the protective order, which would impose rules on what Trump and his defense team can do with evidence shared by the government as they prepare for trial in the case unsealed last week.

Smith's prosecution team has said a protective order  not unusual in criminal cases  is particularly important in Trump's case because of his penchant for using social media. They have expressed concern that Trump could improperly share sensitive case information online that could have a harmful chilling effect on witnesses.

In their filing Friday seeking the order, prosecutors included a screenshot of a post from Trumps Truth Social platform that same day in which he wrote, in all capital letters, If you go after me, Im coming after you!

Trumps lawyers said citing that post to claim theres a danger that Trump might publish secret grand jury information was a provocative claim when searching for headlines, perhaps, but one that falters under minimal scrutiny.

The former presidents legal team said his post was generalized political speech and had nothing to do with the case. A Trump spokesperson said last week that the post was in response to dishonest special interest groups and Super PACs.

Trump's lawyers, who have characterized the case as an attack on his right to free speech, told the judge that the need to protect sensitive information about the case does not require a blanket gag order over all documents produced by the government.

In a trial about First Amendment rights, the government seeks to restrict First Amendment rights, Trump's lawyers wrote. Worse, it does so against its administrations primary political opponent, during an election season in which the administration, prominent party members and media allies have campaigned on the indictment and proliferated its false allegations.

Trump's lawyers accused President Joe Biden of trying to capitalize on the indictment in posting what they called a thinly veiled reference to Trump's prosecution just hours before Trump's court appearance last week. They included a screenshot in their court filing of a tweet from from Biden's campaign account, which included a video of the president drinking from a mug emblazoned with Dark Brandon  a meme featuring Biden with lasers for eyes. The caption said, "A cup of Joe never tasted better."

Trumps lawyers on Saturday had asked for an extra three days to respond to prosecutors request for the protective order, saying they needed more time for discussion. But Chutkan who was nominated to the bench by former President Barack Obama, swiftly denied that request.

Prosecutors said that they are ready to hand over a substantial amount of evidence to Trumps legal team and that much of it includes sensitive and confidential information.

The prosecutors proposed order seeks to prevent Trump and his lawyers from disclosing materials provided by the government to anyone other than people on his legal team, possible witnesses, the witnesses lawyers or others approved by the court. It would put stricter limits on sensitive materials, which prosecutors said would include grand jury witness testimony and materials obtained through sealed search warrants.

Prosecutors noted in court papers Monday that Trump has made several comments about the case on social media even since they filed their protective order request. They referenced one Trump post about former Vice President Mike Pence  a potential witness in the case  in which Trump called Pence delusional."

Prosecutors said Trump's proposal aims to allow for the release of transcripts and audio recordings of witness interviews conducted outside the grand jury process.

The Government has proposed a standard, reasonable order that will streamline the flow of discovery to the defendant while preserving the integrity of these proceedings. The defendant has proposed an unreasonable order to facilitate his plan to litigate this case in the media, to the detriment of litigating this case in the courtroom. Normal order should prevail," prosecutors wrote.

Trump has denied any wrongdoing in the case, as well as another prosecution brought by Smith that accuses him of illegally hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida.

He has has characterized all the cases against him as an effort to take down his 2024 campaign. His legal team has indicated that it will argue that he had relied on the advice of attorneys around him in 2020 and that Trump had a right to challenge an election that he believed had been stolen.

Trump pleaded not guilty last week to four felony counts, including conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and conspiracy to obstruct Congress certification of Bidens electoral victory. The charges could lead to a lengthy prison sentence in the event of a conviction, with the most serious counts calling for up to 20 years.

Its the third criminal case brought this year against Trump, but the first to try to hold him responsible for his efforts to remain in power during the chaotic weeks between his election loss and the attack by his supporters on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Smith also charged Trump in June with dozens of felony counts alleging the former president illegally kept classified records after he left the White House and obstructed government efforts to get them back. A new indictment recently unsealed in that case accuses Trump of scheming with Mar-a-Lago staffers to try to delete security footage sought by investigators.

Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart in that case imposed a similar protective order in June that prohibits Trump and his legal team from publicly disclosing evidence turned over to them by prosecutors without prior approval.

Richer reported from Boston.
KYIV, Ukraine  Two Russian missile strikes hit the city center of the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk in the eastern Donetsk region Monday evening, killing at least five people and wounding two dozen more, Ukrainian officials said.

The strikes, which targeted the Ukrainian portion of a region partially occupied by Russia, occurred within 40 minutes of each other, according to Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko. The attack damaged nine- and five-story buildings, residential houses, a hotel where foreign journalists used to stay, dining establishments, shops and administrative buildings, he said.

Ukraine's Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said five people, including a local official of Ukraines State Emergency Service, were killed and 31 more were wounded by the strikes. Nineteen policemen, five rescuers and one child were among the wounded, Klymenko said.

The Suspilne news site, however, cited head of the Pokrovsk City Military Administration Serhiy Dobriak as saying that seven people were killed and 27 were wounded. The conflicting reports could not be immediately reconciled.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an online statement accused Russia of trying to leave nothing but broken and scorched stones in eastern Ukraine. His remarks accompanied footage of a damaged, five-story residential building with one floor partially destroyed.

The deadly attack came just a day after officials from around 40 countries gathered in Saudi Arabia to find a peaceful settlement for the war in Ukraine. Russia's Foreign Ministry on Monday denounced the two-day talks in Jeddah as not having the slightest added value because Moscow  unlike Kyiv  wasnt invited.

A statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry repeated previous assurances that Moscow is open to a diplomatic solution on its terms that would end the 17-month-old war, and that it is ready to respond to serious proposals. The Kremlin's demands include Kyiv recognizing its annexation of four Ukrainian regions, which Russian forces at this point only partially control, and Crimea, which Moscow seized in 2014.

But Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Zelenskyy, ruled out Moscows previous demands that would give Russia time to dig in deeper in the parts of Ukraine it has occupied. He said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Russian forces must fully withdraw from the occupied areas and there would be no compromise by Kyiv on that.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Security Service announced Monday it had detained an alleged Russian informant who gathered intelligence about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys trip to the southern Mykolaiv region last month.

It claimed the woman was collecting data for an airstrike during Zelenskyys visit.

The woman attempted to establish Zelenskyys route, times and visits in the region. She was detained when she tried to pass the information to the Russians, the statement said, without providing evidence.

Zelenskyy has been a prime target for the Kremlin since Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022, when he refused to leave Kyiv as Moscows forces approached.

He has been one of Ukraines unexpected trump cards in the war, playing a key role in rallying public morale, including a nightly video address, and becoming a recognizable face across the world as he presses allies and others to help Ukraine.

Also on Monday, Russian shelling struck a nine-story residential building in the city of Kherson, killing one person and wounding four others, according to regional Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin. He said Kherson had endured a tough night as the Russians covered the central part of the city with fire.

A 57-year-old woman was killed and four people were wounded in the Russian shelling of a village in the northeastern Kharkiv province, Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said.

Also on Monday, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said the U.S. Justice Department is cooperating with the International Criminal Court and supporting Ukrainian prosecutors carrying out war crime investigation.

Congress recently allowed for new U.S. flexibility in assisting the court with investigations into foreign nationals related to Ukraine, and the Justice Department will be a key part of the United States cooperation, Garland said.

We are not waiting for the hostilities to end before pursuing justice and accountability. We are working closely with our international partners to gather evidence and build cases so that we are ready when the time comes to hold the perpetrators accountable, he said in a speech to the American Bar Association in Denver.
Two years ago during M. Katherine Banks first six months as the president of Texas A&M University, she announced a major academic reorganization of the flagship campus to help it become an internationally recognized top-tier institution. Her plans included dozens of structural changes meant to streamline and better organize the largest public university in the state.

But text messages released by the Texas A&M University System this week revealed another largely unspoken focus among system leaders that might have also been at play as the school reorganized.

Kathy [Banks] told us multiple times the reason we were going to combine [the colleges of] arts and sciences together was to control the liberal nature that those professors brought to campus, regent Jay Graham wrote to regent David Baggett in June as they were discussing the universitys plans to hire journalism professor and former New York Times editor Kathleen O. McElroy. [W]e were going to start a journalism department to get high-quality conservative Aggie students into the journalism world to help direct our message. This wont happen with this type of hire!

Those messages were released as part of an internal investigation conducted to review the failed attempt to hire McElroy, which has rattled the Aggie community in recent weeks amid concerns over how political considerations impact A&Ms operations and academic freedom.

The messages show that many board members, who are gubernatorial appointees, had concerns with McElroys perceived left-leaning credentials, including that she taught at the University of Texas at Austin and previously worked at The New York Times. At least some of them displayed a desire to promote conservative causes at the flagship campus and a blatant resistance to recruiting someone who they believed would work counter to those goals.

While it is wonderful for a successful Aggie to want to come back to Texas A&M to be a tenured professor and build something this important from scratch, we must look at her resume and her statements made an opinion pieces and public interviews, regent Mike Hernandez wrote to Banks and system Chancellor John Sharp, expressing disappointment that the board learned of the hire after it had been announced.

The New York Times is one of the leading main stream media sources in our country. It is common knowledge that they are biased and progressive leaning. The same exact thing can be said about the university of Texas, he continued.

Those perspectives are consistent with Texas conservatives recent attempts to counteract what they view as a liberal agenda within Texas public universities.

People on the right think that the left controls education, and theyve been trying to wrestle that control away, said Jennifer Mercieca, a communications professor at Texas A&M who focuses on the intersection of democracy and communication. Unfortunately, our journalism program got caught in the middle of that.

People have had it with the intolerance of any ideas but progressive, DEI, propaganda-ish kinds of ideas on campus, said Sherry Sylvester, a former aide for Patrick who now works as a public policy fellow at the conservative-leaning Texas Public Policy Foundation and was an ardent supporter of the legislation to eliminate DEI programs this past session. That is a big effort, a big movement.

The impact of that movement was on display in the records Texas A&M released this week surrounding the failed effort to recruit McElroy.

Soon after making an initial offer to McElroy, Banks communicated that she wanted to push the announcement until after this years regular legislative session ended. At the time, university leaders, including those at Texas A&M, were negotiating with lawmakers over the DEI legislation, as well as state funding for public universities.

Bottom line is that the NYT connection is poor optics during this particular legislative session, Jose Bermudez, interim dean of the college of arts and science, said to Hart Blanton, chair of the communications and journalism department, via text message on May 11.

Meanwhile, regents expressed disdain for media and academics they saw as liberal leaning. While regents approve tenure, it is unusual for them to get involved in university-level hires. The Texas A&M regents oversee 11 public universities and eight state agencies that employ more than 26,000 faculty members across the state.

Higher education experts say that education has long been characterized as political. Recent efforts in places like Texas, North Carolina and Florida have picked up partially because of how well the Republican base responds to the accusations.

The notion of woke ideology and how it supposedly has done all this damage to things has just risen as a political talking point, said Holden Thorp, former chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, now a professor at George Washington University. Its easy to say the universities are the places that you want to attack this, he said, noting that the argument has increasingly shown to poll well among conservatives.

According to the internal report A&M released Thursday, Banks received calls from six to seven regents after Texas Scorecard, a conservative website, wrote an article about McElroy that painted her as a DEI proponent for her prior research to improve diversity in newsrooms. Board member Sam Torn emailed a quote from the article to board Chair Bill Mahomes stating he wanted an explanation before he could approve McElroys tenure.

The internal report revealed that Banks was heavily involved in behind-the-scenes discussions to walk back the original offer given to McElroy, contradicting Banks public statements that she had no knowledge of changes to the offer. Banks resigned two weeks before her text messages were made public.

The internal report showed that regents also raised questions about whether they could approve tenure for McElroy even though she already had been selected through the universitys standard hiring process.

Granting tenure to somebody with this background is going to be a difficult sell for many on the [board of regents], Hernandez said in an email to Banks and Sharp. My sincere hope is that you both will figure out a way to completely put the brakes on this, so we all can discuss this further. If its truly too far down the road for you all to agree to that, the board majority can decide how to proceed and take the heat for the final call.

Thorp said the regents meddling in the universitys hiring process overstepped their role.

When they approve tenure, what theyre doing is saying that they have confidence in the administration to carry out the process that they said, Thorp said. The role of the board is to rule against it if for some reason they think the process wasnt followed. Well, in this case, the process wasnt followed, not because of the content or anything, but because [Banks] didnt put the case forward because of politics.

Some of the regents also took issue with what they perceived as McElroys bias regarding conservative viewpoints.

We cant just give people a set of facts anymore, McElroy said in an interview on the public radio program Here & Now in 2021. I think we know that and we have to tell our students that. This is not about getting two sides of a story or three sides of a story, if one side is illegitimate. I think now you cannot cover education, you cannot cover criminal justice, you cant cover all of these institutions without recognizing how all these institutions were built.

Sylvester with TPPF pointed to that quote as the reason she was against McElroys hiring for the journalism program. She declined to comment on the regents text messages but said her organization wants to see more free inquiry within higher education.

No one is looking for a conservative ideology to drive higher ed, she said. But taxpayers and conservative leaders no longer want to underwrite a left-wing, divisive ideology that permeates so much of the curriculum.

Thorp said that as the politicization of higher education increases and decisions are made based on politics over policy and procedure, universities become ungovernable.

Im certainly not defending Kathy Banks and her dishonest actions in this, but part of the reason why she resorted to that, probably, is that she didnt have many other choices, said Thorp, referring to her role in watering down McElroys job offer. Every time you have to do something, youre facing this intractable situation where youre either going to get the campus against you or get the board against you. And thats how not functional organizations work.

Mercieca at Texas A&M said the internal report revealed how McElroys hiring was a victim of intervention that creates distrust within what are supposed to be democratic processes within universities.

What we learned yesterday is that all of those institutional processes and procedures can be overruled by fiat, by powerful others, she said. Its not democratic.

Disclosure: Texas A&M University, the Texas A&M University System, the Texas Public Policy Foundation, The New York Times and the University of Texas at Austin have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribunes journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

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This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/04/texas-am-mcelroy-texts/.

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Poland will hold its general election on October 15, according to an announcement by President Andrzej Duda Tuesday (August 8).

Duda's announcement marked the official start of an electoral campaign that has been informally underway for months and was heavily influenced by Russia's war with Ukraine.

In his statement on social media, he said the elections would be for all 560 seats of both houses of the Sejm or the Polish parliament.

In Poland, parliamentary elections take place every four years but it is the president who would determine exactly when.

"Take part in the elections!" Duda said. "The future of Poland is everyone's matter! Use your rights!"

This year's elections would be influenced by rising anxieties in Poland over the presence of Russia-linked Wagner mercenaries across its northeastern border in Belarus. Tensions have also been growing between Warsaw and Kyiv over grain imports and historical memories of past ethnic conflicts, specifically during World War II.

Read Also: Poland Ramps Up Troops Deployment, Alerts NATO After Belarus Violates Airspace

Wez udzia w wyborach!!!

Kierujac sie trescia otrzymanej wasnie pozytywnej opinii Panstwowej Komisji Wyborczej, co do proponowanego terminu wyborow do Sejmu i Senatu, podjaem decyzje o zarzadzeniu tych wyborow na dzien 15 pazdziernika 2023 roku. Przyszosc Polski jest sprawa  Andrzej Duda (@AndrzejDuda) August 8, 2023

Law and Justice Seeks to Continue Supporting Ukraine

Law and Justice, the conservative ruling party in Poland, aims to stay in power and present itself as a military force to reckon with given the turmoil across its eastern borders. To this end, Polish troops have been called to reinforce its border with Belarus following the incursion of military helicopters. They are also planning to hold a large military parade on its August 15 Armed Forces Day holiday by showing off its newest tanks and other military equipment it has been purchasing.

August 15 is the anniversary of the Polish victory in the battle known as the "Miracle on the Vistula," when Polish troops repelled a Soviet invasion of Warsaw in 1920.

Law and Justice also seek to take a more confrontational stance in supporting Ukraine, with its leaders making multiple visits to Kyiv to support the Ukrainian war effort.

Polls show Law and Justice would be heading to win this year's elections, but would likely be falling short of an outright majority in parliament.

Meanwhile, Civic Coalition, a liberal-centrist bloc, would be the ruling party's main challenger. But while support for the party, led by former prime minister Donald Tusk, has grown in the past months, it has mostly done so at the expense of other opposition parties.

Other parties contending for seats in parliament include the far-right Confederation (Konfederacja), the Third Way (Trzecia Droga) alliance - which includes the center-right Poland 2050 (Polska 2050) and the agrarian Polish People's Party (PSL) - and The Left (Lewica).

According to VOA, Poland's geographical position and support for Ukraine, as well as the acceptance of large numbers of Ukrainian refugees have attracted two visits from US President Joe Biden since the war started. The praise it won for helping Ukraine has allowed the government to avoid some of the scrutiny it has faced in past years over concerns in the West that its approach to the judiciary, media, LGBTQ+ people, and other minorities amounted to democratic backsliding.

Related Article: Wagner Fighters Threaten New Firestorm Near Polish Border as 'Extremely Dangerous' Situation Ignites

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
By Adam Estes

As some readers may be aware, the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio has begun the process of transferring one of the most significant B-17s extant to the Smithsonians National Air and Space Museum (NASM). The historic, combat-veteran bomber will eventually go on display at NASMs Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. For those unaware of the historical significance of the subject of this article, it is certainly one of the most incredible stories of an individual B-17 Flying Fortress, one which certainly earns the term odyssey to describe its journey.

B-17 expert Scott Thompson in one of his recent updates wrote The B-17G previously displayed at the NMUSAF in Dayton, B-17G 42-32076, better known as Shoo Shoo Baby, has been slowly moving to the National Air and Space Museum as part of trade many years ago (the NMUSAF got the Swoose). It did see the fuselage and inner wing sections at the NMUSAF restoration packed up and ready for transport. Rumor at the museum is that the NASM is coming very soon to get it. Eventually, the B-17G will be reassembled and placed on display at the NASM, most likely at the Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles.

The story of the Shoo Shoo Baby begins like many other B-17s, at Boeing Plant No.2 in Seattle, Washington, where it was built as construction number 7190. Accepted into the US Army Air Force as serial 42-32076 on January 17, 1944, it was subsequently fitted with all necessary armaments and other combat-related equipment at the Continental Airlines Modification Center #13 at Denver Municipal Airport, which became Stapleton International airport following WWII (currently no longer existing as an airport), and the United Air Lines Modification Center #10 at Cheyenne Municipal Airport (currently Cheyenne Regional Airport). After being processed at Grand Island Army Airfield, Nebraska, its last stop in the US before going to England was Presque Isle Army Airfield, Maine. Arriving at RAF Burtonwood, Lancashire on March 2, it would ultimately be assigned to the 401st Bomb Squadron of the 91st Bomb Group, 8th Air Force at RAF Bassingbourn on March 23. The aircrafts allotted code was LL*E, and the crew named the aircraft Shoo Shoo Baby, after a popular song by the Andrews Sisters that was the favorite of crew chief T/Sgt Hank Cordes and his wife back home. The nose art, inspired by Alberto Vargas Hawaii pin up girl for Esquire, was applied by line mechanic Cpl. Tony Starcer, one of four nose artists in the 91st. Just one day after arriving, Shoo Shoo Baby flew on the first of what turned out to be 23 missions during its operational life with the 91st. Unlike other B-17s in the group, 42-32076 did not have a permanently-assigned crew, but Lt. Paul G. McDuffee, who ferried the aircraft from Burtonwood to Bassingbourn, would fly the ship on several occasions.

One of the most interesting anecdotes in the Shoo Shoo Babys history was when her crew flew her on a one-ship mission for the 91st Bomb Group. On April 9, 1944, the 91st flew up to bomb the port city of Gdynia in occupied Poland. However, the mission was soon called off, but the crew of the Shoo Shoo Baby, under the command of Lt. McDuffee, could not be reached due to a faulty radio. They climbed through heavy clouds to 30,000 feet, encountering a formation of B-24s. Realizing it was clearly the wrong group, they searched but found no sign of the 91st, though they found another formation of B-17s. They followed the formation to a Focke Wulf plant in Marienburg (now Malbork), Poland. They dropped their bombs when the others did, and followed them back to England, then diverted to return to Bassingbourn, where all four engines quit on the runway due to fuel exhaustion. Despite expecting to be chewed-out, they were instead congratulated for having single-handedly given the 91st Bomb Group a victory. When McDuffee completed his tour of duty and was rotated out, an extra Shoo was added to the aircraft on May 25. Just four days later, Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby would fly her last mission with the 401st.

Mission #23 was to be another long one. The 401st was to bomb a Focke-Wulf aircraft component factory in Poznan, Poland. On route to the target, while crossing the German border, the No.3 engine lost oil pressure and quit. The pilot in command, 2nd Lt. Robert Guenther, tried to feather the propeller on this engine, but it would not rotate. Instead, the No.3 propeller continued to windmill, and Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby began to lag behind the formation, but stayed on course. Releasing its deadly payload over Poznan, pilots Guenther and 2nd Lt. George Havrisik turned westward. What surprised them most, however, was that the German fighters that responded to the American bombers were focused on the distant formations, but no attention was paid to them despite the fact that they were straggling outside the formation. Though fortunate for the crew aboard Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby, it was uncharacteristic of German fighters that actively looked out for stragglers to make easier kills.

But before they even reached the Baltic coast, the No.2 engine also failed. Realizing they could not return to England, Guenther asked the navigator, 2nd Lt. John M. Lowdermilk, to plot a course for Sweden. The crew knew what this meant: internment by Swedish officials and the confiscation of the aircraft, but it was much more preferable to be interned in Sweden than become prisoners of war in Germany. All loose equipment was ordered to be thrown overboard to lighten the aircraft, including guns and ammo, radio equipment, and spare clothing not in use. The crew even attempted, after ball turret gunner S/Sgt. Nick Premenki exited the turret, to jettison the turret altogether, as was standard procedure in the event of a wheels-up landing, but the turret would not budge. Lowdermilk plotted a course for a coastal town on the southernmost tip of Sweden, Ystad. As they reached the Swedish coast, however, the crew of the Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby encountered flak fired on them from anti-aircraft batteries. It was clear to the crew that the Swedes were trying to warn them not to do anything foolish. Just before reaching land, a third engine went out. It was at this point when a Seversky J 9, an export version of the prewar P-35 design, flew up and escorted the stricken bomber to Malmo, about 58 kilometers northwest of Ystad. There, a B-24 Liberator had just landed ahead of them, and Guenther and Havrisik had to swing the Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby wide to avoid the Liberator on landing.

Upon landing, the crew and the plane were interned by the Swedish government. The Swedes treated Allied pilots fairly, but they were still far from home, and it was the intention of the US State Department to bring home the American airmen. Handling the negotiations in Sweden was American air attache, Colonel Felix M. Hardison, who had been stationed in Stockholm since February 1944. Hardison had previously served as a B-17 pilot with the 19th Bomb Group of the 5th Air Force, stationed in the South Pacific, flying the famed B-17E 41-2489, known as Suzy-Q, which had returned to the US after extensive combat in the early phases of the Pacific War. Hardison finally struck a deal with the Swedes. In exchange for 300 American airmen being returned to the United States on the guarantee that the airmen would be prohibited from further combat, the nine B-17s were transferred to the Swedish government on July 10. 1945. Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby was among the nine B-17s, and this would turn out to be a boon for the airlines in Sweden.

Before the war, they had been interested in acquiring Douglas DC-4 airliners, but when war broke out, the orders dried up as the DC-4 was adapted by the USAAF as the C-54 Skymaster. In addition to this, the Swedes had been flying airliners throughout Europe, usually filled with diplomats trying to negotiate during the war. Though the war was not over, by late 1944, it was clear that sooner or later, the Allies would win, and Sweden would still need long-range airliners for the immediate postwar years for routes that the venerable DC-3 simply didnt have the range to achieve. And so, after the American airmen were sent on their way home in October 1944, the Swedish government ordered Svenska Aeroplan AktieBolag (Swedish Aeroplane Company Limited (SAAB)), to convert seven of the bombers into airliners while the remaining two examples would be cannibalized for spare parts. All military equipment was removed, the nose section was lengthened by three feet, and interior settings in the former waist gunners and radio operator compartments would provide the aircraft with the ability to carry 14 passengers. In addition to this, the bomb bay was converted to carry cargo, with the left hand bay door sealed shut and reinforced to be part of the floor, while the right hand door would still open so that a lift could be lowered from the bomb bay to bring cargo and luggage up into the compartment. They were also referred to as Felixes in honor of the American air attache.

Registered on the Swedish civil registry as SE-BAP for flight testing with Swedish Intercontinental Airlines (Svensk Interkontinental Lufttrafik AB, SILA), which operated through the publicly-backed AB Aerotransport, Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby flew again on November 2, 1945, and was soon sold to Danish Air Lines (Det Danske Luftfartselskab, DDL) and registered as OY-DFA, and was given a new name; Stig (Wanderer) Viking. DDL received another converted B-17G that had landed in Sweden during the war, USAAF serial 42-107067, registered as OY-DFE, which was named Trym (a figure from Norse mythology) Viking. As an airliner, Stig Viking would travel the world, starting out with a Copenhagen-England route, but eventually flying as far as Khartoum, Sudan, Nairobi, Kenya, and Johannesburg, South Africa. With the introduction of the long-awaited DC-4 to the international market, the Swedish-operated Felixes were soon retired, and they were scrapped.

They were not without incident, however, as on November 28, 1945, when Stig Viking was on approach to Blackbushe Airport in Yateley, Hampshire, the left landing gear failed to extend, so the pilot made an emergency landing that resulted in no injuries to any occupants, and the aircraft was soon repaired and returned to service. However, Danish Air Lines other B-17 Felix was not so lucky. Trym Viking was written off on January 30, 1946, when it overshot the runway on arrival from England to Copenhagen Airport and collided with a parked RAF Douglas Dakota III, serial number KG427. Though no one was seriously hurt, both aircraft were beyond economic repair and were eventually scrapped. Meanwhile, Stig Viking, the former Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby, continued in service with DDL until March 31, 1948, when it was assigned to the Danish Army Air Corps. There, it was assigned the serial 67-672, and would carry yet another name, Store Bjrn (Great Bear). During its military use in Denmark, it was converted into an aerial survey aircraft for use in Greenland, with the addition of cameras, mapping radar, and a 1,400-liter fuel tank in the bomb bay. On December 1, 1949, it was transferred to the Royal Danish Navy but continued its work in Greenland, and when the Danish Army Air Corps and Naval Air Service were merged to become the Danish Air Force, Store Bjrn continued its survey work in Greenland, often working alongside US Air Force survey aircraft. It would continue its work in Greenland until October 1, 1953, when it was retired from flight duty and placed in storage.

On February 6, 1955, it was purchased by the Babb Company Inc. of New York, an aircraft brokerage firm. It did not return to the U.S. at that point, however, as the firm sold the old bomber off to the Institut Geographique National in France for continued use as a survey plane, this time over France and her overseas territories and colonies. Registered as F-BGSH, the bomber previously known as Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby would continue to fly for the IGN, being based out of Creil Airport near Paris, along with other B-17s modified for such purposes. One such aircraft was the B-17G 44-85718 (registered as F-BEEC), which later flew for the Lone Star Flight Museum as Thunderbird, and is now undergoing maintenance at the Erickson Aircraft Collection in Madras, Oregon on behalf of the Mid America Flight Museum in Mount Pleasant, Texas. Another aircraft flown with the former Shoo Shoo Shoo baby at this time was the B-17G 44-8846, which later flew in the movie Memphis Belle (1990) and is displayed at La Ferte Alais, France as The Pink Lady. F-BGSH surveyed the Middle East, Africa, and South America before being retired from flying for IGN on June 15, 1961. Its engines and other parts were removed, and it was kept on a corner of Creil, receiving damage to its nose section from an accident at one point, but otherwise quietly sitting on display at Creil. Were it not for a chance discovery, Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby was likely destined for the scrapyard.

This rediscovery of Shoo Shoo Shoo Babys combat record was made by Australian aviation historian Steve Birdsall, who had by this point recently left Vietnam after serving as a war correspondent. He tracked down the service record of 42-32076 and brought the attention of its existence to the 91st Bomb Group Memorial Association and the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. The museum already had a B-17 in its ranks, B-17G 44-83624, but this one had never seen combat, being accepted into the USAAF on April 26, 1945, and serving in the postwar years as a missile launcher (MB-17G) and a drone director (DB-17G) before being donated to the museum in 1957. Needless to say, the chance to snag a combat-veteran B-17 was too good to pass up. The museum appealed to the US and French governments, and on April 22, 1971, the Shoo Shoo Baby was transferred to the NMUSAF. But that was the easy part. There was still the problem of shipping it back to America. This was achieved by dismantling the old aircraft at Creil and trucking it in pieces to Rhein-Main Air Force Base near Frankfurt, West Germany, where it was loaded aboard a Lockheed C-5A Galaxy and flown to Wright-Patterson AFB on June 17, 1972 to be restored by volunteers on the base.

The years had not been kind to Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby. The museum, having only moved to its present-day location from the Patterson Field portion of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base just two years prior and with other aircraft in need of restoration, chose to store Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby for another six years. It was then that the 512th Military Airlift Wing at Dover AFB, Delaware agreed to take on the project in 1978. But rather than simply restoring it to static display condition, Shoo Shoo Baby would be restored to fully-flyable condition. The work lasted 10 years, and although the aircraft served in combat in bare aluminum, the sheer amount of work to bring the old Baby back to its wartime configuration would mean that leaving it in bare aluminum would show differences between the old panels of aluminum and the new. This combined with the need for long-term corrosion protection led to the decision, rather than apply a silver lacquer to the aircraft, to apply an olive-drab and neutral gray camouflage that was modeled off a unique variation developed for B-17s manufactured at Boeing plants in Seattle where the olive drab looped around the engine cowlings. The change to olive drab also resulted in the bomb row turning white rather than being a different color after every fifth bomb, the aircraft identification codes turning yellow from black, and where the original block numbers on the nose were all on olive-drab against the natural metal finish, a small portion incorporating the aircrafts serial and subvariant distinction was left unpainted. In 1981, all completed portions of the aircraft were painted, and since the nose section was among the completed portions, Tony Starcer was called out of retirement to recreate his nose art for the aircraft back in 1944. Unfortunately, Starcer would not live to see the aircraft completed, passing away in 1986, but his recreation of the nose art remains today.

On September 10, 1988, Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby rolled out of the restoration hangar at Dover Air Force Base to a public ceremony celebrating the completion of her restoration. She would return to Dayton, but this time she would fly under her own wings. After several shakedown flights, flying as a US government aircraft with her wartime serial number standing in for an N-number, Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby arrived at Dayton on October 12 for a final ceremony on October 15 with an escort of two P-51 Mustangs, with the landing at 11:00 being accompanied by two Beechcraft T-34 Mentors. Once the public ceremonies were over, Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby was brought into the museums hangars, while the museums previous B-17G, 44-83624, would go on to be displayed at the Air Mobility Command Museum at Dover AFB under the name Sleepy Time Gal. This is the point, until recent years, where the story ended, but as it so happens, it seems the Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby has somewhat of a restless spirit if one were to be poetic.

In 2005, after over 50 years of being on display in the city of Memphis, Tennessee, the B-17F 41-24485 known to history as the Memphis Belle was brought to Dayton for restoration and eventual display. Two years later, in 2007, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museums collections committee voted to transfer the oldest existent B-17, B-17D 40-3097 The Swoose to the National Museum of the USAF as well, and The Swoose would arrive the following year in 2008. The latter trade resulted in a deal between the National Museum of the USAF and the National Air and Space Museum that would see the Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby transferred to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum upon completion of either the Memphis Belle or The Swoose. In May 2018, the Belle was completed, and yet another ceremony followed, where a changing of the guard if it were commenced by placing the Memphis Belle and the Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby face to face before the former took the latters place and the latter was sent to the storage hangars to be disassembled for the journey to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles International Airport, Chantilly, Virginia. As of this article, the engines and some other components have already arrived at Udvar-Hazy, while the rest of the aircraft, especially the wings and fuselage remain, for the time being, at Dayton. The reason for this delay has been because of the ongoing renovations at the National Mall, which should take another two years to complete.

As we await the complete transfer of the Shoo Shoo Baby to the Smithsonian, we have a story of what it was like to fly overseas on the Shoo Shoo Baby as an airliner.
WATERLOO  Grin & Grow Child Care has changed its name to Growing Minds Early Learning Center as it celebrates 80 years of service to the community.

The center, located at 608 W. Fourth St., is a leading provider of affordable and quality child care services for low-income families in the Cedar Valley.

We are thrilled to announce our new name, Growing Minds Early Learning Center, which reflects our unwavering commitment to supporting low-income families in our community, Ed Gruenwald, director of operations and development, said in a news release. Our new name captures our vision of empowering families, breaking barriers, and providing the best care for all children. Through our programs and services, we strive to transform lives and provide equal opportunities for every child to succeed.

In addition to the name change, Growing Minds Early Learning Center has rolled out a fresh logo and visual identity that symbolize its dedication to promoting inclusivity and educational growth. The logo incorporates vibrant colors and represents the diversity and resilience of the families the center serves. As part of the rebranding process, the business is updating its website, social media platforms, and marketing materials to reflect the new name and visual identity.

The center will continue to provide affordable child care services that prioritize the well-being, safety, and educational development of each child. By offering comprehensive programs, nurturing environments, and supportive resources, Growing Minds aims to empower families and break the cycle of poverty.

For more information about Growing Minds Early Learning Center, visit the updated website at growingmindsearlylearning.org. People can follow the center online to stay connected and learn about upcoming initiatives and events.
AUSTIN, Texas  A lawsuit in Texas asserting that the states abortion ban imperils women by dissuading doctors from ending dangerous pregnancies could provide a template for similar challenges across the country.

Texas is one of 14 states that banned abortion after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade. The Texas ban includes an exception that allows physicians to end a pregnancy if it could result in the death of the woman or a substantial impairment of a major bodily function.

But the plaintiffs in the case, more than a dozen Texas women, argue that doctors and hospitals denied them necessary care because the providers were afraid to run afoul of the law. Those who violate the ban could face up to 99 years in prison, a $100,000 fine and loss of their medical license.

Even before the Texas case was filed in March, the same issues were surfacing in other abortion-ban states, generating national attention and intense interest among elected officials in Washington. Attorneys for the Texas plaintiffs predict that similar suits will be filed in other states.

Nicolas Kabat, an attorney with the Center for Reproductive Rights, the New York-based advocacy group that filed the Texas suit, said the problem is widespread across states that ban abortion.

Were being contacted by dozens of women telling us similar stories, Kabat told Stateline, saying were really only scratching the surface here.

Citing press accounts, the plaintiffs petition points to about two dozen women in 11 states outside Texas who have had experiences like those of the Texas women: Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Its an incredibly important lawsuit and it has implications not only in Texas but in other states that have denied people the right to safe abortion health care, said former Texas Democratic state Sen. Wendy Davis, a senior adviser to Planned Parenthood Texas Votes who gained national attention a decade ago for her filibuster against a polarizing anti-abortion rights bill.

Attorneys for the Center for Reproductive Rights are asking Travis County District Judge Jessica Mangrum to grant a temporary injunction and craft a new exception to Texas abortion ban that gives physicians and hospitals more latitude to provide pregnancy care and perform abortions.

But lawyers for the Texas attorney generals office, representing the state, depict the suit as a bald attempt to usurp state authority over abortion policy.

Mangrum, elected as a Democrat, presided over two days of arguments and testimony in mid-July. She told lawyers at the end of the hearing that it will likely be several weeks before she returns a ruling.

At last months hearing, the plaintiffs recounted their anguishing personal ordeals after they were refused abortions. Amanda Zurawski of Austin, the lead plaintiff, nearly died after she was refused an abortion after her water broke at 18 weeks of pregnancy.

Zurawski and her husband, Josh, had already picked the name for their unborn daughter  Willow  and were planning a baby shower when they received the devastating news that they would lose their first child before birth. Amanda, 36, was diagnosed with a weakening of cervical tissue and told that Willow would not survive. But doctors initially refused to perform an abortion, she said, because they could detect fetal cardiac activity.

Several days later, she developed sepsis, a life-threatening reaction to an infection, and spent three days in intensive care, struggling to survive.

Other plaintiffs told similarly harrowing stories at the hearing.

Studies conducted by abortion rights university research groups suggest that abortion bans are dissuading doctors in many states from providing care they would otherwise provide.

A total of 50 anonymous surveys from health care providers in states with abortion restrictions detailed cases of care that deviated from the usual standard due to new laws restricting abortion, according to a study jointly conducted by the Texas Policy Evaluation Project at the University of Texas at Austin and Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health at the University of California, San Francisco.

In several cases, patients experienced preventable complications  because clinicians reported their hands were tied, making it impossible for them to provide treatment sooner, according to the study.

The suit names the state of Texas, the Texas Medical Board and Board Executive Director Stephen Brint Carlton as defendants. Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, is also a defendant, though he is currently suspended pending a state Senate trial on impeachment charges alleging bribery and other wrongdoing.
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Monday, accusing the agency of illegally delaying a rulemaking process that would allow the sale of E15 fuel year-round.

The lawsuit, joined by Nebraska Attorney General Michael Hilgers, alleges the EPA repeatedly missed deadlines that were required by law after being petitioned by several states governors to adjust rules around the sale of ethanol-blended gasoline. The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa and names the EPA and Administrator Michael Regan as defendants.

In April 2022, Republican Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and six other state governors sent a letter to the EPA asking to remove a volatility waiver afforded to E10 gasoline, which would put it on the same footing as E15, gasoline with 15% ethanol blended in. The change would allow the sale of the higher blend during the summer months.

E15 generally cannot be sold in the summer months because of concerns that the fuel contributes to smog in hot weather. Some research has shown E10 gasoline, the vast majority of gasoline sold in the U.S., has largely the same effect on air quality.

The governors request was made under a section of the Clean Air Act, the first of its kind since the law was written. The lawsuit argues the Clean Air Act requires the EPA to create rules no more than 90 days after the governors make that request  a deadline the state says the EPA has missed by more than a year.

It is now more than 90 days after the end of the notice-and-comment period, and EPA has not issued a final rule a final rule that the Clean Air Act required take effect more than two months ago; a final rule the Clean Air Act required EPA to promulgate last July, the lawsuit says.

The agency put out a proposed rulemaking in March of this year and held a public hearing on March 21. The rulemaking proposed lifting the waiver on E10 gasoline in eight states that made requests, thereby allowing year-round E15 sales, starting in April of 2024.

At the time, Bird and other Iowa leaders said the proposed start date was too late. In its proposed rulemaking, the EPA cited the potential impact to the supply of gasoline in the affected states as its reasoning for delaying the implementation.

But, the EPA also granted a waiver to allow the sale of E15 in the 2023 summer months nationwide in April, citing the high cost of gasoline because of the war in Ukraine. E15 is generally about 10 cents cheaper than fuel with lower ethanol blends.

The lawsuit asks the court to require the EPA to create a final rule no later than six months before the 2024 summer driving season and award the cost of litigation and attorneys fees to the states.

A spokesperson for the EPA did not respond to a request for comment.

Reynolds, ethanol industry weigh in

Reynolds criticized the EPAs decision to delay the rule in a statement on Monday, and she applauded Bird for bringing the lawsuit.

The EPAs ongoing failure to act following our E15 notification more than two years ago is nothing more than a thinly veiled disguise of their disdain towards clean, renewable, American-produced ethanol. The EPA disfavors anything that doesnt have the word 'electric' in its name, Reynolds said. American energy independence, including Iowas renewable energies, should be the goal of any presidential administration - especially when it saves Americans money at the gas tank.

Reynolds signed a law last year, passed with bipartisan support from state lawmakers, to mandate the sale of E-15 at most Iowa gas stations.

Iowa is the leading producer in the nation of ethanol, and the corn used to manufacture it. Iowas 42 ethanol plants can produce more than 4.1 billion gallons a year.

Iowa Renewable Fuel Association Executive Director Monte Shaw said a final rule would provide certainty for consumers and fuel retailers going into 2024.

This is not a complex issue and its mindboggling it has taken this long, he said in a statement. Midwest consumers and fuel retailers deserve to know that E15 will be a year-round option in 2024. Every day of delay jeopardizes investments that can reduce fuel costs, clean our air, and make us more energy independent.
Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.

In Kupyansk direction, the Zapad Group of Forces assault detachments, in the course of conducting offensive operations on a wide front line, have improved the situation along the front line close to Olshana and Pershotravnyovoye (Kharkov region).

Within the last three days, the Russian troops advance towards Kupyansk direction has been 11 km along the front line and more than 3 km in depth of the enemy defence.

12 counter-attacks of the AFU 14th, 32th and 67th mechanised brigades have been successfully repelled near Sinkovka (Kharkov region), Novosyolovskoye, and Stelmakhovka (Lugansk Peoples Republic).

In addition, as a result of actions of Ground-Attack and Army aviation, and artillery, AFU manpower and hardware concentration areas have been hit close to Kupyansk, Kotlyarovka, and Berestovoye (Kharkov region).

The enemy losses were up to 110 Ukrainian servicemen, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, one U.S.-manufactured M777 artillery system, as well as one U.S.-manufactured AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar station.

The AFU continued unsuccessful attempts at offensive actions in Zaporozhye, Donetsk, South Donetsk, and Krasny Liman directions.

In Zaporozhye direction, as a result of effective actions, conducted by the Russian troops, aviation, and artillery, three enemy attacks have been repelled near Uspenovka

and Rabotino (Zaporozhye region).

In addition, the actions of one Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups have been disrupted close to Novosyolovka (Zaporozhye region).

In addition, the enemy units have been hit close to Yablonevoye and Novodanilovka (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy losses were up to 80 Ukrainian servicemen, three armoured fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer.

In Donetsk direction, the Yug Group of Forces units in close cooperation with artillery and aviation have successfully repelled the AFU 81st Aeromobile Brigade near Belogorovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

In addition, AFU manpower and hardware concentration areas have been hit near Bogdanovka, Vesyoloye, Kleshcheevka, Maryinka, and Krasnogorovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 135 servicemen, two tanks, six infantry fighting vehicle, three motor vehicles, one U.S.-manufactured M777 artillery system, as well as Msta-B and D-30 howitzers.

In South Donetsk direction, as a result of actions by aviation and artillery, as well as units of the Vostok Group of Forces, an enemy attack by an assault group has been repelled close to Urozhainoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

Army Aviation has launched attacks at five manpower and hardware concentration areas of the AFU 31st Mechanised Brigade close to Staromayorskoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 225Ukrainian servicemen, three tanks, four armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer.

In Krasny Liman direction, as a result of the Tsentr Group of Forces units, artillery, aviation, and heavy flamethrower systems coordinated actions, one attack of the AFU 42nd Mechanised Brigades assault groups has been successfully repelled near Serebryanskoye forestry.

In addition, a comprehensive fire attack has been carried out at enemy manpower and hardware concentration areas close to Raigorodok, Petrovskoye, Ploshchanka, and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk Peoples Republic).

More than 65 Ukrainian militants, two armoured fighting vehicles and one D-30 howitzer have been destroyed.

In Kherson direction, the enemy losses were up to 20 Ukrainian servicemen, three motor vehicles, as well as two D-30 howitzers.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised 107 artillery units at their firing positions, manpower and military hardware in 126 areas.

In addition, three ammunition depots of the AFU 117th Territorial Defence Brigade, and 14th and 43th mechanised brigades have been destroyed near Seredina-Buda, Sumy region, and Cherneshchina, Sinkovka (Kharkov region).

One command post of the 79th Airborne Assault Brigade of the AFU has been neutralised near Yampol (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

Air defense facilities have intercepted nine Storm Shadow long-range cruise missile and four HIMARS multiple-laucnh rocket system projectiles.

In addition, 14 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been destroyed close to Kremennaya (Lugansk Peoples Republic), Kirillovka, Staromlynovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic), and Pologi (Zaporozhye region).

In total, 458 airplanes, 245 helicopters, 5,548 unmanned aerial vehicles, 428 air defence missile systems, 11,165 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,143 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 5,787 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 12,116 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation.

WtR
Libraries have always aspired to be their communitys learning and social hub.

While they still offer books and periodicals, libraries have added movie, video game, and laptop rentals.

Increasingly, theyre also offering programs to the public, which is becoming an essential service for libraries, said Debbie Bird, director of the Portage Public Library.

The library offers hundreds of programs to the public. Last year alone, it increased the programs it offers by 284%. Attendance also rose by 150%, which officials partially attribute to the addition of multiple free adult programs.

New Portage librarian sets sights on community programming When Whitney Parrillo moved to rural Illinois with her husband, she didnt know anyone in the area. Yet, it was there that she would begin a c

A large number of our participants are considered seniors, said Patti Fichter, the events and programming coordinator for the Portage Public Library. So a lot of our adult programming is focused for them.

One of the newly introduced adult programs is Zumba Gold. Organizers say this low-impact version of the popular workout Zumba started this summer and has been such a hit that they will likely continue the class this fall.

Ever since we started, (Zumba Gold) sessions have been full every time, Fichter said of the classes that meet on Thursday mornings. Everybody seems to really love it.

Chair yoga and meditation are also new programs that the library offers. The classes meet on Tuesday mornings, and organizers say are also senior oriented, low-impact activities that focus on balance, coordination and relaxation.

Another event that the library holds is Bingo, which Bird said has always been extremely popular with community members.

Arts and crafts projects are also offered for adults. The adult project for August is mixed media art, which organizers say is going to use paint, scrapbook paper and frames. Organizers say spots for this project are limited and encourage those interested to sign up in advance.

For more information about the library and the programs it offers, visit portagelibrary.us.

Close Story time at Portage Library Story time at Portage Library Story time at Portage Library Story time at Portage Library Story time at Portage Library Story time at Portage Library Story time at Portage Library GALLERY: Story time at Portage Public Library Story time at Portage Library Story time at Portage Library Story time at Portage Library Story time at Portage Library Story time at Portage Library Story time at Portage Library Story time at Portage Library
Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul on Monday asked a Dane County judge to skip any future oral arguments and make a final decision in his lawsuit seeking to reinstate abortion rights in Wisconsin.

Kauls motion comes one week after the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which is expected to make a final ruling on the matter, shifted to a 4-3 liberal majority.

It also follows Dane County Circuit Judge Diane Schlippers July ruling that the 1849 law widely interpreted as a near-complete abortion ban doesnt apply to abortions at all.

There is no such thing as an 1849 Abortion Ban in Wisconsin, Schlipper said in a ruling that provided a huge but preliminary win for Wisconsin Democrats and abortion rights advocates. Schlipper said in her ruling the law applies only to feticide, the act of killing a fetus, usually by assaulting and battering the mother.

Given Schlippers ruling, Kaul has asked the judge to make a final decision on the matter without further oral argument.

Women should not be denied the freedom to make fundamental reproductive health-care decisions, Kaul said in a statement. Our filing today marks another important step in our fight to protect the freedom and safety of women in Wisconsin.

Schlippers final decision will be subject to a possible appeal to a higher court. Ultimately, the case is expected to reach the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Justice Janet Protasiewicz  who was sworn in last week, giving the court a 4-3 liberal majority  has been especially vocal about her support for abortion rights.

After the U.S. Supreme Court threw out the constitutional right to abortion in June 2022, abortion providers in Wisconsin immediately stopped providing the service given the 1849 statute, which most interpreted as banning abortions in every case with an exception only for saving the mothers life.

Kaul filed the lawsuit along with state agencies last year, alleging that the law bans feticides and conflicts with later, more permissive abortion bans. Doctors later joined the case late last year as intervenors for the plaintiffs, arguing a 1994 Wisconsin Supreme Court decision made clear that the 1849 law doesnt apply to abortions.

Kaul initially filed the case against Republican legislative leaders, but the defendants in the case are now prosecutors in counties that had abortion clinics before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade: Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne, Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm and Sheboygan County District Attorney Joel Urmanski.

Urmanski sought to dismiss the case earlier this year, but Schlipper rejected his request.

In her July ruling, Schlipper also said that the physicians who joined the lawsuit seeking to reinstate abortion rights in Wisconsin could request a declaration that Urmanski cant prosecute them under the 1849 law. An attorney for the physicians previously said they would seek such an order.

The Supreme Court fight over an abortion pill: What's next? Intro What is mifepristone? How did the case get started? How did the case get to the Supreme Court? What could happen next? A closer look
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers called a special session on Tuesday for the Legislature to spend $1 billion on child care services, an expanded paid family leave program and other measures aimed at addressing Wisconsins workforce  measures that GOP leaders said they would reject after first turning down those proposals weeks ago.

Evers requests to spend $365 million on child care, $240 million to fund an expanded paid family leave program, $263 million on the University of Wisconsin System and $100 million to continue a workforce grant program, and other proposals, reflect provisions Republicans already removed from Evers requested budget. Evers signed the states 2023-25 spending plan in July.

Evers said Tuesday that the special session was an opportunity for Republicans to finish their work on the budget.

While Evers has the power to call special sessions, the Legislature does not have to take action on any legislation during the session. In the past, legislative Republicans in a matter of seconds ended special sessions on gun control, abortion, distributing $150 checks to Wisconsinites and expanding Medicaid.

Unlike those sessions, which were mostly called to pass narrow measures, this requested session is particularly broad, with Evers calling for the Legislature to pass many of his top budget priorities that lawmakers already voted down.

I would bet there are some folks out there who will ask why this special session will be any different, Evers said. Well, heres why. Because at the end of the day, I know that Republicans do not want to be responsible for farmers, hospitals, schools and other businesses in their district not being able to find workers because parents cant find care for their kids.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, quickly called Evers request a stunt and said Republicans arent going to support reckless spending.

Vos said Republicans priority in September will be to pass a middle-class tax cut. In the states biennial budget Republicans proposed overhauling Wisconsins income tax rate and lowering taxes for every bracket. Evers vetoed a proposed tax cut to the top bracket as well as a bracket covering married filers who earn between $36,840 and $405,550 per year.

Republicans made the decision to return the budget surplus to the taxpayers through a middle-class tax cut, Vos said. Governor Evers vetoed it. Now hes rushing to spend billions of dollars again so it cant be given back.

Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, also criticized Evers requested session and called instead for lowering taxes.

The Senate remains committed to providing meaningful tax relief for Wisconsin families and addressing our workforce shortage without growing government entitlement programs, he said.

Child care funding

On Tuesday, Evers called for the Legislature to spend $340 million to maintain a child care assistance program that will run out of federal funding next year. Republicans rejected the same request in June.

Just more than 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.

If we dont provide some help to the child care industry  and Im convinced of this, that is not something thats made up because Ive spent a lot of time in child care and institutions for the last four years  they will close, Evers said.

Vos said Evers plan is unsustainable and does nothing to address the long-term problem faced by the childcare industry.

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 in excess of $378 million to more than 4,300 child care providers in the state, impacting more than 22,000 child care professionals, according to the state Department of Children and Families.

Evers requested an additional $22 million on a program that would allow employers to purchase child care spots for their employees at regulated facilities across Wisconsin.

Speaking in Madison late last month, Evers said he is open to negotiating with Republicans in order to get increased child care funding across the finish line.

Whatever we can do to bring Republicans back to the table on this issue, Evers said. We have millions of dollars, so resources arent hard to come by.

However, the governor acknowledged that he and Republicans are far apart on reaching consensus on the matter.

The problem is what they want to do to advantage the early childhood industry, Evers said. The only thing Ive seen so far is theyre willing to remove taxes from diapers. Not that thats unimportant, but that pales as compared to having high-quality child care for every child in Wisconsin.

Republicans last month introduced a bill to make child care products like strollers and diapers exempt from Wisconsins sales and use taxes. Republicans have estimated the change would save parents $37 million over the next two years.

Paid family leave

Similar to Evers proposed child care provisions, the proposed expanded family leave program mirrors the measure Republicans already rejected when they passed the budget earlier this year.

The proposed family leave program would allow workers to be eligible for 12 weeks of leave beginning in 2025. The proposal calls for spending $243 million to begin the program, which would be self-sustaining by 2026 and funded through payroll contributions shared by employees and employers, Evers office stated.

When Evers first proposed the measure earlier this year, LeMahieu said approving it was very doubtful at this point because, he said, Wisconsins family leave policy was already competitive.

Wisconsins current family leave law provides two weeks of unpaid leave for an employees serious health condition and two weeks for a serious health condition of a parent, child or spouse. It also offers six weeks of unpaid leave for the birth or adoption of a child. But employees are limited to taking off eight weeks total.

To become eligible for those benefits, employees must have worked at their company for at least 52 consecutive weeks and worked 1,000 hours in the previous year.

Eighteen states have enacted paid family leave laws, though not all of them are in effect yet, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center.

UW System funding

Evers on Tuesday proposed spending $197 million to build a new engineering building on UW-Madisons campus. He also proposed spending $66 million for the UW Systems general operations.

The GOP-led Legislature rejected funding the engineering building earlier this year and reduced the UW Systems overall budget despite Evers calls to spend hundreds of millions more.

Evers also called for the Legislature to approve the following proposals:

$100 million to continue a program providing grants to regional organizations seeking to address health care-related workforce challenges.

$10 million for a program providing incentives for nurses to provide education to other nurses.

$9.4 million to provide stipends to student teachers and interns.

$6 million for a program addressing the shortage of certified nursing assistants.

$17 million to provide students with need-based financial aid.

$40 million in general aid to the Wisconsin Technical College System.

State Journal reporter Mitchell Schmidt contributed to this report.

Here's how American families, from the poorest to the richest, spend their money Here's how American families, from the poorest to the richest, spend their money Debt threatens the lowest earners as they can't keep up with necessary expenses High earners save more for retirement Low earners must spend more of their income on housing Low earners spend a higher share on groceries, but people across income brackets spend roughly the same on dining out Middle-income earners spend more on transportation
FAA is not happy with the rising numbers of unruly airline passengers. The Federal Aviation Administration even referred 22 more cases involving disruptive travelers to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

FAA: Unruly Airline Passengers on the Rise

According to USA Today's latest report, the number of unruly passengers is on the rise. FAA said that numerous airlines reported over 1,100 incidents of disruptive travelers from January to July 2023 alone.

Although it is below the full-year record of 5,973 in 2021, the fact that 2023 still has four months to go, the unruly passenger record is alarming.

The International Air Transport Association also released its database, showing that one unruly incident was recorded in every 568 flights in 2022.

This is higher compared to the year 2021, which had 1 per 835 flights.

"It seems like behaving angry and belligerent has become more acceptable in the last five to seven years," said University of Texas psychology Prof. Jared Kenworthy.

He added that getting pissed off and angry all the time is now more acceptable to people across the globe.

"It may be because everybody's putting them on social media," explained the psychology professor.

Read Also: JetBlue Prioritizes Spirit Airlines Acquisition Over American Airlines Alliance

FAA Reports 22 New Unruly Passenger Cases

Yahoo Finance reported that FAA referred 22 more cases involving unruly passengers to the FBI.

The aviation agency said that these cases could possibly face criminal charges.

Allegations against the 22 unruly passengers include terror threats, sexually harassing female passengers, as well as assaulting flight attendants.

FAA said that some of these incidents happened way back in 2021 and as recently as April.

The aviation administration's officials said that they want to fine up to $37,000.

However, they can't implement these penalties for unruly travelers since FAA lacks the authority to do so.

This is why it refers these cases to the FBI. If you don't want to be included in the unruly cases that FAA sends to the FBI, here are the behaviors commonly considered disruptive:

Drinking alcohol you brought on board.

Failure to store luggage when requested or exceeding the carry-on limit.

Smoking in the restrooms or cabin. These include the use of vapes, e-cigarettes, and traditional cigarettes.

Not fastening seat belts as directed.

If you want to learn more details about the worsening number of unruly passengers that the FAA faces, you can click this link.

Related Article: 'Get Your Act Together': Passengers Frustrated With FAA's Twitter Jokes, United's Cancellations

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Weather Alert

...Widespread rains and cooler conditions with an increased risk of flooding for parts of western NV and the eastern Sierra through late Monday... * Hurricane Hilary in the eastern Pacific is forecast to make landfall today near the northwestern portion of Baja of California. While this system will rapidly weaken by the time it arrives in Nevada, significant amounts of moisture will bring periods of heavy rainfall to the region this afternoon through Monday. The greatest threat for flooding is across the Basin & Range and the eastern Sierra. However, isolated flooding cannot be ruled out elsewhere across western Nevada and northeast California. Have multiple ways to receive alerts in case flood warnings are issued, and never drive through flooded roadways. * Abundant cloud cover and rainfall will keep afternoon high temperatures 10 to 20 degrees below normal today through Tuesday, with Monday likely being the coolest day. * Stay tuned to the National Hurricane Center by visiting www.hurricanes.gov for the latest on Hilary.

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM NOON PDT TODAY THROUGH LATE MONDAY NIGHT... * WHAT...Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible. * WHERE...A portion of western Nevada, including the following area, Greater Reno-Carson City-Minden Area. * WHEN...From Noon PDT today through late Monday night. * IMPACTS...Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas. Storm drains and ditches may become clogged with debris. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - Hurricane Hilary will bring widespread impacts to much of the Southwest through Tuesday. The biggest concern remains flooding from excessive rainfall. While periods of rainfall are possible at anytime over the next 4 days, this afternoon through Monday will be the window where we will have the greatest flooding threat as the remnants of Hilary moves through central Nevada. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued. &&
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The 'Vanderpump Rules' star makes it clear that she's 'not friends' with Tom Sandoval's pal following her ex's affair with their mutual friend and co-star Raquel Leviss.

Aug 8, 2023

AceShowbiz - Ariana Madix is not getting along with Tom Schwartz. The 38-year-old beauty has been shooting scenes for season 11 of "Vanderpump Rules" alongside Tom - but Ariana insisted they're not friends, after a fan questioned whether they're now on good terms.

"Whole cast is missing Sandoval. And I thought Ariana said we can't be friends with Schwartz??? (sic)," the fan asked on Instagram in response to a photo of the show's cast.

However, Ariana quickly clarified that she's not friends with Tom, after his involvement with the Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss cheating scandal. The reality star replied, "I'm not friends with Tom Schwartz [shrug emoji] (sic)."

Ariana split from Tom after it emerged that he had a months-long affair with Raquel. And Schwartz was previously accused of helping his co-star to hide his affair. During an appearance on "Watch What Happens Live" with Andy Cohen in May, Ariana said, "That was the first time I cried in a long time because watching Tom Schwartz fully cosign and alley-oop the whole thing disgusted me to my core."

Meanwhile, Raquel took to social media to apologise after news of her affair emerged. The reality star wrote on Instagram at the time, "I want to apologize for my actions and my choices foremost to Ariana, and to my friends and the fans so invested in our relationships. There is no excuse, I am not a victim and I must own my actions and I deeply regret hurting Ariana (sic)."

Raquel also promised to reflect on her mistakes. She said, "I am reflecting on my choices, speaking to a counselor and I am learning things about myself such as my patterns of codependency and addiction to being and feeling loved."

"I have sought emotional validation through intimate connections that are not healthy without regard for my own well-being, sometimes negatively affecting others and often prioritizing the intimate connection over my friendships. I am taking steps to understand my behavior and make healthier choices (sic)."

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Since the deaths of two officers of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Florida, almost a hundred individuals have been detained in the United States and Australia as part of an investigation into a suspected worldwide pedophile network.

'Operation Bakis' Arrests 98 Individuals

On Tuesday, August 8, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) said that detectives had rescued 13 children from life-threatening situations and arrested 19 adults on accusations of distributing child abuse material online. According to NBC News, this takes the total number of arrests made as part of "Operation Bakis," a cooperative endeavor between the AFP and FBI, to 98.

According to the authorities, "Members used software to anonymously share files, chat on message boards, and access websites within the network."

AFP Commander Helen Schneider said some of the suspects may have been committing crimes for as long as ten years, as The Guardian reported. She also noted that the majority of Australian criminals had positions that required an extensive understanding of information and communications technology.

Suspects detained this week remain unidentified at this time. All of them are between the ages of 32 and 81. Two have been convicted thus far, the bureau said.

The suspected perpetrators of the heinous crime of viewing, sharing, and manufacturing child abuse material went to great measures to escape discovery, making them particularly dangerous. Schneider pointed out that the longer they remain undetected, the longer they may continue the cycle of abuse.

"The success of Operation Bakis demonstrates the importance of partnerships for law enforcement, at a national level here in Australia, but also at an international level," Schneider added.

See Also: NYC Doctor Charged With Sexually Assaulting Unconscious Patients

Death of Two FBI Agents Trigger Further Investigation

According to Daily News, the initial spark for the investigation was the shooting murders of FBI agents Daniel Alfin and Laura Schwartzenberger as they were about to execute a search warrant at the residence of computer programmer David Lee Huber, who was suspected of spreading child sexual abuse material in Florida. On February 2, 2021, he allegedly used a Ring camera to observe as agents encircled his Sunrise home, at which point he allegedly armed himself and fired shots.

The gunman, who eventually shot and killed himself, hit five agents. He eventually killed New York native Alfin, 36, and Colorado native Schwartzenberger, 43. Both men had been with the FBI since 2005 and had spent their careers in the Albany office.

The incident was the bloodiest day for the FBI since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It was also the first occasion since 1986 that numerous FBI agents have been shot and killed while on duty.

"The Federal Bureau of Investigation provided the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation with intelligence about Australian members of a peer-to-peer network allegedly sharing child abuse material on the dark web," police said, triggering an official investigation the following year.

See Also: Philippines: 16 Minors Rescued From Alleged Sexual Abuse Following Man's Arrest in Australia

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After being found guilty of all charges in the 2020 shooting case, the Canadian rapper was initially set to be sentenced on Monday, August 7, but it now will stretch to Tuesday.

Aug 8, 2023

AceShowbiz - While Megan Thee Stallion opted not to attend Tory Lanez's sentencing on Monday, August 7, the Hot Girl Summer issued a victim impact statement. Read by Deputy District Attorney Kathy Ta, the statement saw the "Savage" hitmaker claimed that she's still reeling from the horror of the night when the rapper shot her.

"Since I was viciously shot by the defendant, I have not experienced a single day of peace," Megan said in the statement, adding that she "simply could not bring myself to be in a room with Tory again." She continued, "Slowly but surely, I'm healing and coming back, but I will never be the same."

The 28-year-old femcee went on to accuse Tory of "making a mockery of my emotional trauma," "treating it like a joke" and "refusing to take accountability" by "blaming everyone but himself" with his half-cooked apologies and explanations. The Houston native added that she could have been able to heal her emotional wounds sooner if her ex-boyfriend "had ever shown contrition."

After being found guilty of all charges in the 2020 shooting case, Tory was initially set to be sentenced on Monday, but it now will stretch to Tuesday. Judge David Herriford had attorneys for the two sides argue each factor of his potential sentence and allowed seven witnesses to give statements on behalf of the Canadian rapper, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson.

Prosecutors are asking a judge to hand down a 13-year sentence to the 31-year-old MC, who was convicted of three felonies: assault with a semiautomatic firearm, having a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle and discharging a firearm with gross negligence. Meanwhile, Lawyers for the artist argued in a sentencing memo that he should get only probation and be released from jail to enter a residential substance abuse program. They are planning to appeal his conviction.

On the other hand, Tory's father Sonstar Peterson went emotional when talking about his wife, Luella, dying just a few days after showing the first symptoms of a rare blood disorder. "I don't think anybody ever gets over that," he said. "But his music became his outlet."

Dozen more wrote letters to Judge David Herriford, including rapper Iggy Azalea, who asked Herriford to hand down a sentence that was "transformative, not life-destroying." Tory's baby mama Raina Cassagne called him "the most supportive father, the funnest father." His son also sent in a handwritten letter, but the judge did not describe it further.

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Being accused of sexual assault by a number of women, the former 'Sex and the City' star calls the claims 'completely ridiculous' and discusses the reason behind him cheating on his wife.

Aug 8, 2023

AceShowbiz - Chris Noth has shut down sexual assault allegations levelled at him. Facing the wrongdoing accusations from a number of women, the "Sex and the City" actor claimed that the encounters were consensual while deeming his infidelity in his marriage of 11 years is not "a crime."

The 68-year-old Hollywood star denied the accusations in an interview published on Monday, August 7. Speaking to USA Today, he stated, "There's nothing I can say to change anyone's mind when you have that kind of a tidal wave. It sounds defensive. I'm not. There's no criminal court. There's no criminal trial. There's nothing for me to get on the stand about and get my story out, get witnesses."

About the sexual assault allegations themselves, Chris commented, "And there's even more absurd add-ons that are completely ridiculous, that have absolutely no basis in fact." On the reason why he does not "like talking about it," he said, "Because as soon as I do, you'll get the Daily Mail or someone grabbing a part of it and doing it, and I don't want my kids seeing that."

Elsewhere in the interview, Chris admitted that he cheated on his wife of 11 years, Tara Wilson. While insisting that his infidelity is not "a crime," he confessed, "I strayed on my wife, and it's devastating to her and not a very pretty picture." He further explained, "You give yourself the same excuses that many men do; it's just a little side dance, and it's fun."

"You're not hurting anybody," the former "Law & Order" star continued sharing his thoughts on the matter. "No one's going to know about this, you know, and sex is just enjoyable. And suddenly, a lot of people want to have sex with you. It's like, 'Well, I'm not going to get this chance again.' "

This was not the first time Chris denied sexual assault accusations against him. Back in December 2021, he released a statement about the matter. "The accusations against me made by individuals I met years, even decades, ago are categorically false. These stories 'been from 30 years ago or 30 days ago - no always means no - that is a line I did not cross. The encounters were consensual," he said.

Chris has been plagued with sexual assault accusations since 2021. Two of his accusers, who used the pseudonyms Zoe and Lily, made the claim in December 2021. Zoe claimed to have been raped in his West Hollywood apartment in 2004, whereas Lily stated that he sexually assaulted her in 2015 when he was married to his wife Tara.

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The Hollywood star's sister Gesine Bullock-Prado takes to Instagram to pen a heartfelt tribute to the late photographer, who died on August 5 from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Aug 8, 2023

AceShowbiz - Sandra Bullock's family is mourning the loss of the actress' longtime boyfriend Bryan Randall. The "Bird Box" star's sister Gesine Bullock-Prado took to Instagram to pen a heartfelt tribute to the late photographer, who died on Saturday, August 5 from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

In her Monday post, Gesine wrote, "I'm convinced that Bry has found the best fishing spot in heaven." She added, "and is already casting his lure into rushing rivers teaming with salmon."

"ALS is a cruel disease," the pastry chef continued, before detailing how Sandra had been taking care of Bryan before his passing. "But there is some comfort in knowing he had the best of caretakers in amazing sister and the band of nurses she assembled who helped her look after him in their home. Rest in peace, Bryan."

Bryan's family confirmed his passing over the weekend in a statement which read, "It is with great sadness that we share that on August 5, Bryan Randall passed away peacefully after a three-year battle with ALS. Bryan chose early to keep his journey with ALS private and those of us who cared for him did our best to honor his request."

The family continued, "We are immensely grateful to the tireless doctors who navigated the landscape of this illness with us and to the astounding nurses who became our roommates, often sacrificing their own families to be with ours. At this time we ask for privacy to grieve and to come to terms with the impossibility of saying goodbye to Bryan."

Randall and Sandra, 59, first met back in 2015 when he photographed her son Louis' birthday. While the Hollywood star, who has Louis and Laila, is known for being private when it comes to her personal life, she once opened up about their romance in 2012 when she appeared on an episode of "Red Table Talk".

"I found the love of my life. We share two beautiful children - three children, [Randall's] older daughter. It's the best thing ever," she said at the time. Despite this, Sandra also insisted that she wasn't in any rush to tie the knot, saying, "I don't wanna say do it like I do it, but I don't need a paper to be a devoted partner and devoted mother."

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Despite their shocking split after being married to each other for six years, the 'Zombie King' actor declares that he and his wife 'still have much love and respect for each other.'

Aug 8, 2023

AceShowbiz - Corey Feldman has opened up about how he felt over his separation from his wife. After he and Courtney Anne made up their mind to go separate ways amid her battle with chronic fatigue, the actor famous for his role in "The Goonies" admitted that he felt "great sadness" over their split.

The 52-year-old star unveiled the shocking news in an interview published on Monday, August 7. Speaking to Page Six, he stated, "It is with great sadness that Courtney and I have made the decision to separate after many wonderful years together. We have been through so much together and still have much love and respect for each other."

On the reason behind their breakup, the "Lost Boys" actor went on to stress, "There is no one to blame." He further elaborated, "This is a case of life becoming really hard, Courtney dealing with health issues, and two people who have grown apart and now find themselves at a crossroads."

"Due to Courtney's health concerns and the process of healing, we both feel it's not in her best interest to continue on [their current tour] 'Love Retours 23' at this time," Corey continued. "On behalf of myself and my band, we all love her and ask for your prayers in wishing her a speedy recovery. We don't know what the future will hold, but we know that the love we have for each other is not going anywhere."

In the wake of their split, Corey's wife Courtney also released a statement to the outlet. "It is with a deep and heavy sadness that I am announcing my separation from Corey," she said. "We've shared some amazing times together both private and public, and I will always cherish these moments we've shared together. I love him dearly and I always will."

During the chat, Courtney also discussed her health issues. "I've struggled for two years with health issues old and new; and this has taken a massive toll on me and my family," she shared. "I always try to keep positive and a light heart regardless of what I am going through physically, but sadly it has now crossed a threshold where I can no longer continue on with the tour."

"It's been a long journey of dealing with my own chronic fatigue syndrome which makes it difficult to keep up with the high energy of touring and traveling from place to place," she continued. "However, I do wish 'My Love, Husband, & Friend' and the bandmates a happy tour and the very best out there. I know they will be amazing as they put on a great show."

Corey first met Courtney during Playboy's Midsummer's Night Dream Party back in 2012. Four years later, in November 2016, the two announced their engagement. Less than one week after the proposal, the two tied the knot at the Caesars Palace Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

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In a new angry message amid his legal woes and presidential bid, the MAGA leader accuses the prosecutor of trying to 'take away' his First Amendment rights.

Aug 8, 2023

AceShowbiz - Donald Trump has, once again, slammed the District of Columbia judge who will preside over his new criminal trial. The 77-year-old former US president is fighting charges including conspiracy to defraud America, tampering with a witness and conspiracy against the rights of citizens, stemming from his actions in the wake of the 2020 election, after he was indicted for a record third time.

He targeted the prosecutor who brought the case against him for allegedly conspiring to disrupt the certification of electoral votes following his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden, in addition to hitting out at the judge on the case.

Trump said on his Truth Social platform Jack Smith, the Department of Justice special prosecutor who has obtained two federal indictments against him since June, is "going before his number one draft pick, the Judge of his 'dreams' (WHO MUST BE RECUSED!)" in an effort to "take away" the ex-president's First Amendment rights.

The twice-impeached, thrice-indicted former president was referring to a series of court filings in which Mr. Smith is seeking a standard protective order to prevent Trump from disclosing information that the government is set to turn over to him and his defence team as part of the pre-trial discovery process.

Prosecutors had asked Judge Tanya Chutkan to impose an order barring the former president from disclosing discovery materials "directly or indirectly to any person or entity other than persons employed to assist in the defense, persons who are interviewed as potential witnesses, counsel for potential witnesses, and other persons to whom the Court may authorise disclosure."

Trump has also said he has "very powerful grounds" for his demand to change judges in his latest case and claimed "there is no way I can get a fair trial" unless he has a different lawmaker.

Trump's call came after the prosecution requested a court order that would limit what he can publicly say about the case. He also said he would also request a venue change and for his case to be moved out of Washington D.C.

The judge on his case, Tanya Chutkan, was appointed by former President Barack Obama.

Trump said on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, August 6 morning he wanted her replaced and dismisses his case as based on "the ridiculous freedom of speech/fair elections." He has said there would be "no way I can get a fair trial, or even close to a fair trial, in Washington," which he describes as an "anti-Trump" area.

Trump's lawyer John Lauro said the former president believed in his "heart of hearts" he'd won the 2020 election and prosecutors will not be able to prove this wasn't his belief. He gave no other details of his grounds for asking the judge to step aside.

Judge Chutkan, appointed in 2014, previously ruled against Trump's efforts to shield evidence from the House January 6 Committee. She is the only federal judge in Washington to delivered sentences against defendants in cases related to the Capitol riot on January 6 that are longer than the sentences demanded by the Department of Justice.

Judge Chutkan is expected to call in attorneys from both sides on August 28 to discuss setting a trial date against the former president.

Trump now faces five upcoming trials. They include three criminal trials which include his alleged mishandling of classified documents, accounting fraud and these election charges. He also faces two civil trials over business practices and alleged defamation of a woman who has accused him of rape.

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OneNative Advertising, a leading integrated digital media advertising company, has announced the appointment of Anand Makhija as their Vice President of Operations and Strategy. With over 14 years of experience in the Adtech industry, Anand brings a wealth of knowledge in Programmatic, Partnerships, and Ad-Operations from both the client and publisher sides. His impressive track record includes notable stints at Sharechat, Outbrain, and Komli Media.

Before joining OneNative Advertising, Anand played a pivotal role in leading programmatic revenue and partnerships for Sharechat. Prior to that, he served as Outbrain's Director of Business Development for Engage in India, where he successfully forged and strengthened relationships with esteemed publishers in the region.

About the new role, Anand said, "I am thrilled and honored to take on this responsibility. India has always been a crucial market for Adtech platforms, and we are witnessing continuous growth and evolution each year. It's a great privilege to be part of this thriving ecosystem, and I am eager to leverage my experience and expertise in contributing to the growth of OneNative. I am looking forward to working together with the OneNative team to achieve new heights."

Anand began his career with Komli Media, where he spent nearly 6 years in publishing management and media planning, honing his skills and building a strong foundation in the industry.

Established six years ago, OneNative Advertising has grown to become a significant player in the digital media advertising landscape. Headquartered in Mumbai, the company has offices in Delhi, Bangalore, and Singapore.

The team at OneNative is delighted to welcome Anand Makhija onboard and believes Anands rich experience in the supply side, programmatic advertising as well as ability to work with teams across borders will add great value to OneNatives plans for the future.

Deepak Karnani, Co-Founder and Director, OneNative Advertising, said, "We're happy to have Anand on board. He comes with the right mix of experience on the supply side, platforms as well as programmatic channels. This will help us pursue the growth we are targeting as well as help us with new initiatives beyond native advertising. Anand will be working closely with the core team of OneNative in driving the new initiatives in India & South East Asia."

Primarily into native advertising and content marketing, OneNative is also rapidly moving into the emerging media space, which includes Connected TV and DOOH. This is over and above their partnership with WeTransfer Advertising in India and programmatic advertising solutions which OneNative Advertising currently provides across the digital media ecosystem.
The total fixed communication services revenue in the Philippines is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2% from $3.8 billion in 2023 to $4.9 billion in 2028, mainly driven by the strong growth in fixed broadband segment, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

GlobalDatas latest Philippines Fixed Communications Forecast (Q2 2023) reveals that the fixed voice revenue growth will remain stagnant and register a mere 0.8% CAGR over the forecast period 2023-2028. This is due to a steady decline in circuit switched subscriptions and drop in fixed voice average revenue per subscriber (ARPS) as a result of growing consumer preference for mobile/ internet-based communications and free voice minutes bundled as a part of operators fixed bundled plans.

Srikanth Vaidya, Telecom Analyst at GlobalData, commented, Fixed broadband services revenue, on the other hand, will increase at a healthy CAGR of 6.4% during 2023-2028, driven by the steady growth in broadband subscriptions, especially higher-ARPS yielding fiber broadband subscriptions.

Fiber lines accounted for a majority of 61% share in the total fixed broadband lines in 2023, which will increase to about 71% by 2028, supported by the government and operator investments on fiber network infrastructure and FTTH service expansions.

Vaidya added, PLDT will lead the fixed voice services segment in terms of subscriptions through 2028. The operator will also top the fixed broadband services market, by subscriptions, supported by its strong position in DSL and FTTH service lines. The operator plans to invest a CAPEX of around PHP80 to 85 billion ($1.5 to 1.6 billion) in 2023 and seeks to upgrade and expand its fiber broadband network and gain from wider coverage of its FTTH services.
Defaulting on payments by ad agencies has been a common grouse of the print media industry for long. The Indian Newspaper Society (INS) periodically issues Notices of Disaccreditation to ad agencies that have not cleared their outstanding dues to publications.

There are 14 INS zones that closely monitor ad agencies payments for the respective zone based ad agencies. While there is no specific zone that is seen as having the majority of the defaulter ad agencies, interestingly what has emerged after years of observation is that the Gujarat zone comes out as the only one that rarely features in payment default situations.

Gujarat is a very prominent ad zone with lots of brands based in that state that use print and other forms of media. It has been seen that Gujarat has always put high cost in advertising since the days of Vimal, Rasna, Amul, Vadilal, Sintex, etc.

To understand why Gujarat continues to have such a strong track record on the payments front as well as what keeps the print industry vibrant in that state, Adgully spoke to some senior executives in leading publications based in Gujarat.

One prime aspect that came to the fore in our conversations was that Gujarat is a market that puts high emphasis on long-term relationships, trust and loyalty.

As explained by Sanjay Mathwara, Senior Manager, Mid-Day, While other major markets are more data-based in their dealings, Gujarat is a relationship-based market. Thus, while the data may show that a certain publication is No. 1 in the market, advertisers prefer to go by the strong and long-term relationship that they have with certain publications even though they might be ranked No. 3 or No. 4.

Continuing further, Mathwara said that loyalty and trust factors are high in the Gujarat market and hence, there is no cheating or defaulting on payments, because people mean business and maintaining the good relationships is given high priority. Thus, even an amount written on plain paper  called Chitthi in local parlance  is honoured, he added.

In a similar vein, Rajan Rao, Chief Manager, Amar Ujala, said that Gujarat is a small and closely knit market. Here, relationships go much beyond mere business transactions and are based on trust and loyalty. In fact, some relationships go as far back as 90 years! he added. Clients are from across categories and still have a strong belief in print advertising.

Adding a further dimension to the conversation, Pankaj Thakkar, DGM, Divya Bsaskar, noted that Businesses in the Gujarat market are very careful about their reputation and would never want to besmirch their good payment record be defaulting. A lot of relationships are over 50 years old and run into the second and even the third generations. Agencies would not like to get their name in the NRV.

Speaking from his experience of 20 years with Divya Bsaskar, Thakkar said, In all these years, I have seen 90 per cent of the agencies make their payment on time.
In a constantly moving city such as Mumbai, millions of dreams & ambitions rely on a strong mobile network. With narrow crowded lanes, and open, wide expressways, local trains - Mumbai needs a network that is strong & constantly improving, to cater to the crucial connectivity requirement for the constantly moving Mumbaikars.

When Vi took this challenge, it realised that in this dynamic nature of Mumbai, monitoring and improving network for the city requires a lot more than just the latest technology. It requires a perspective - one that can only come from knowing Mumbai in and out. So, Vi partnered with Mumbais best human network, the Dabbawalas, to test and improve the network for offering a superior network experience to its users.

Dabbawalas have been an integral part of Mumbai city for over a century, and world famous for their flawless food delivery capabilities. This core strength makes them six sigma certified super heroes with unparalleled knowledge and understanding of every nook and corner of the city. They understand Mumbai from a humane perspective and depth that surpasses any AI or science-backed understanding.

Partnering with Dabbawalas, Vi got them to torture test Vi GIGAnet to understand where the network was seamless and where it needed strengthening on parameters such as data, voice calling, video streaming, gaming etc. The team traversed the length and breadth of Mumbai city, torture testing the network strength of Vi GIGAnet across 22 wards and over 550 locations. With the help of videos and voice notes, data & responses along with live location sharing, Dabbawalas reported their experience in different parts of the city. While they tested the network in areas with good experience, based on their feedback, a team of Vi network engineers continued to reinforce the network in locations from where they reported weaker experience.

With this campaign, Vi wants to showcase how a human network helped make its network stronger & how the improvement journey continues

Heres a video of how the citys two large network support systems collaborated to keep the Mumbaikars seamlessly connected:

Commenting on the network campaign, Avneesh Khosla, CMO, Vi said Mumbai is a key market for us and ensuring a seamless network is paramount. The human network of Dabbawalas gave us a better perspective on Mumbai & a more holistic feedback on the experience as they torture tested the network. Today, we are confident that Vi offers superior network connectivity in the nooks & corners of the city & the dabbawalas are testimony to it. We thank the dabbawalas for this & strive to continuously improve our network in the city.

Speaking about the work, Kainaz Karmakar & Harshad Rajadhyaksha, CCOs, Ogilvy India, say, What could possibly be the connection between a modern, cutting-edge network service provider like Vi, and the 134-year-old iconic Dabbawalas service! It is exactly this clash of contrasts that became the creative backbone of this disruptive idea. In a category saturated with technical data and jargon, we set up an unexpected, charming and much trusted human network, as our benchmark to live up to when it comes to covering the megapolis of Mumbai. The Dabbawalas have been such an integral part of the ethos and culture of Mumbai, and we are proud to make the efficiency of their network an inspiration for our Vi network.

Commenting on the association Ulhas Muke, President, Mumbai Dabbawala Association said, "We are delighted to be chosen by Vi to play a role in improving their network experience for Mumbaikars. Today, we take great pride in the fact that our dabbawala network knows and understands Mumbai and its nuances like no other. Our association with Vi for the torture test was to verify the network strength in Mumbai through the experience of video calls, streaming videos, online gaming, download experience, voice connectivity, and speed tests. We are glad to have been a testimony to Vi's strong network experience across Mumbai. This unique partnership with Vi has been a validating, satisfying, and an enjoyable experience."

Vi is consistently rated as one of the best network for voice and data by various independent third party agencies. The collaboration with the Mumbai Dabbawalas exemplifies brands determination to provide a seamless connectivity across Mumbai.
Samsonite, the innovation pioneer in the luggage sector is launching a new collection in partnership with New Balance that celebrates individual expression and versatility. Renowned Indian filmmaker and Bollywood personality, Karan Johar hosted the collection launch of NB | Samsonite partnership, which witnessed notable personalities from various realms of fashion and lifestyle, sports, travel and film fraternity. The collection of bags and luggage will be available across stores in India.

The collection features semi-transparent hard-shell materials for bags and can be used as a transparent case as well  ideal for short haul trips. Its sporty aesthetics, suited for all adventure seeking travellers and its distinct reversible pouches with leisure utility as well as high versatility, amps up your travel game. The NB | Samsonite collection encompasses the products detailed below:

Essentials for daily life - featuring a Small Crossbody Bag, available in monochrome colour, with a minimalistic design, each case is presented with two reversible coloured pouches that expresses vibrancy of the collection. The bag is designed for those who live a multifaceted life, and can be used both as a hand clutch and a cross body bag.

The NB | Samsonite partnership also features a semi-transparent hard side luggage and a rolling tote that comes in two colours: Black and White. Available in various colour combinations, the pouches are also versatile and reversible which enables travellers the freedom to customise the look to suit the occasion and mood. Every product purchased will come with a sticker pack that is exclusively designed for the collection.

Speaking about the collection, Anushree Tainwala, Executive Director, Marketing, Samsonite South Asia shared, Samsonite is committed to innovating for the future, while honouring its rich history. Through this collection, we seek to address the travel and lifestyle needs of todays consumer who celebrates their triumphs in life and who live undefined. Exuding vivacious energy and sporty aesthetic of New Balance, these bags are designed to suit every purpose.

The collection seeks to encourage individuals to live and pursue their dreams fearlessly, fuel their desire to stand out, and foster a love of exploration. Samsonite strives to reimagine their travel and lifestyle products with purposeful usage in an explorative and confident manner. Unabashedly eye-catching and youthful, this sporty versatile collection meets the lifestyle needs of todays traveller by delivering customisable utility and style while encouraging exploration and self-expression.

The collection will be available at all Samsonite retail stores, Samsonite.com, Departmental stores, official distributors, as well as selected New Balance stores.

Prices:
Catholic couple Mike and Catherine Burke are suing the Massachusetts state government for banning them from participating in the state foster care system due to their religious beliefs, including their reservations about same-sex marriage and LGBT+ ideology.

In a lawsuit filed by the couple with the help of religious liberty group Becket Law Tuesday (August 8), they specifically claimed the state restricted them from fostering children in the state due to their adherence to Catholic teachings on gender, sexuality, and marriage.

"After months of interviews and training, and after years of heartbreak, we were on the verge of finally becoming parents," the couple said in a statement. "We were absolutely devastated to learn that Massachusetts would rather children sleep in the hallways of hospitals than let us welcome children in need into our home."

The lawsuit further claimed the state listed only one reason for denying the Burkes' foster application, that they "would not be affirming to a child who identified as LGBTQIA." It said the couple, as "faithful Catholics," believed all children should be loved and supported, and that they would "never reject a child placed in their home." The couple also believed children "should not undergo procedures that attempt to change their God-given sex."

Read Also: Texas Church Catches Fire After Anti-LGBTQ YouTuber's Visit; Investigators Say It Could be Intentional

Burke vs. Walsh

The lawsuit specified Massachusetts Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh, and Massachusetts Department of Children & Families Commissioner Linda Spears as defendants. It also included a copy of the letter the Burkes received notifying them their application to become foster parents was denied.

The lawsuit sought to prohibit Massachusetts from using LGBT+ accommodations to decline to issue foster licenses to religious applicants. It further sought for the Burkes' application to be granted and that they receive "nominal and compensatory damages" from the defendants.

Fox News, who first reported on this matter, attempted to reach out to the Massachusetts Health and Human Services and Massachusetts Department of Children & Families for comment, but neither immediately responded to their queries.

Related Article: Georgia: Children Might Need Parental Consent Before Using Social Media

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Federal Laboratory for Materials Testing and Research

Dubendorf, St. Gallen und Thun, 08.08.2023 - At Empa, Dorina Opris is researching how to synthesize complex electroactive polymers for robotic components, sensors or batteries  a promising project that the European Research Council (ERC) is currently funding with one of its prestigious ERC Consolidator Grants. This is not the Empa chemists first success  but the road that led to it wasnt all that easy.

At first glance, the career of Dorina Opris, born in 1974, seems like a picture-book one: from studying chemistry at Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj, Romania, to the Free University of Berlin, to becoming a titular professor at ETH Zurich and head of the Functional Polymeric Materials research group at Empa  funded by an ERC Consolidator Grant worth around two million euros. All this with a family and the joys, worries, and duties of two children.

How does this work? With talent that was recognized and encouraged early on  even as a student in Transylvania. With a diverse education  not only in theory, but also in laboratory practice, which Opris misses in some of her students in Switzerland. And thanks to a field of research with huge potential: Novel dielectric polymers stretch under electrical voltage and can be used as ultra-thin layers in actuators or other components  for example, for artificial muscles, which have been investigated for years, for power generation and much more.

But the path to this exciting discipline was no walk in the park, but rather steep and with detours. Opris search for a job after her daughter was born took almost two years before she was able to start at Empa. And when she started out in materials science, the trained organic chemist first had to find her field, and in some cases, even invent it  with initial setbacks. Ideas failed, research funding was not approved. How does that make you feel? Sh, says Opris, laughing.

So, what do you do then?

Just go on. Support came from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and the Sciex program for three postdoctoral fellowships, all of which Opris filled with women. And finally, in 2020, the ERC Consolidator Grant for the TRANS project (see infobox), for which the researcher worked up a sweat: two weeks of meticulous preparation for a two-minute Zoom presentation and 18 minutes of Q&A with experts. I had to be able to answer a lot of questions very quickly, she says, but that suited me because Im a person who gets to the point quickly and doesnt make a lot of words.

The fact that she has mastered her field from A to Z is, as she points out, also thanks to knowhow built up by colleagues at Empa  such as engineer Gabor Kovac. He drove the manufacture of stack actuators with expandable silicone discs for many years and developed them to operational maturity with his partner Lukas During, until their spin-off CTsystems was recently acquired by the Daetwyler Group.

The devices for measuring how actuators stretch in different electric fields were developed by them, Opris says, We were early on this topic, and that helped me tremendously. Unlike her colleagues, however, the chemist is working not so much on the technology for printing such components, but one floor below  that is, on the synthesis of novel polymers suitable as non-conductive layers for stacked transistors, elastic films for power generation and other elements.

The desired profile: as thin as possible, with the long-term goal of many layers only ten micrometers thick; easily stretchable, sensitive to low current voltage, and at the same time robust. And above all: printable, meaning no solvents for the conductive layers between which the polymers lie. Solvents can damage the polymer layer. In addition, the material would have to dry for a long time to avoid emitting harmful vapors, explains Opris, so we try to go without  with the right chemistry.

Diverse requirements that researchers around the world are dealing with. Suitable compounds that raise hope are polysiloxanes, which the Empa specialist is also working on. One important advantage of these polymers is that they are relatively easy to synthesize; the chemical backbone of their strands is very mobile  and they can be specifically functionalized with polar groups, i.e. plus-minus charged molecules.

What is difficult for laypeople to understand, Dorina Opris explains with a vivid image: You can imagine these polysiloxanes like a pot full of snakes that constantly want to move. The polar groups have a twofold effect on them. First, they make the molecular snakes more sensitive to electric fields, so they respond to low voltages. Second, they act like a kind of glue between the molecules; this stiffens them, reducing their elasticity. It is necessary to fine-tune both effects to achieve maximum success. For a practical application, the transition from the solid to the elastic state at low temperatures is important so that the technology can later be used at room temperature.

In addition, such polymer structures still have to be chemically crosslinked so that they can become elastic layers  for example, by UV light and with the help of so-called end groups: quasi-molecular hats that the snakes carry at their ends. But in laboratory practice, it has so far proved tricky to reliably provide these polymers with defined end groups. That annoys me! admits Opris with a smile.

Healthy ambition is needed for the TRANS project, which the chemist herself calls very, very ambitious. The team is optimistic that earlier work has already produced encouraging results; such as a polysiloxane compound that reacted to a voltage of only 300 volts and deformed strongly  an extremely low value. Printing capacitor layers without solvents has also already been achieved. And a doctoral student recently developed a piezoelectric elastomer that, when stretched, exhibits a significantly higher electrical response than other compounds currently in use.

To achieve successes that prove valuable for practical applications, of course, many more steps are needed  and the qualities that brought Dorina Opris to Empa and ETH Zurich. Not only stamina and the ability to turn failed attempts into progress, but also creating an inspiring environment for employees that allows for open debate and even mistakes so that good ideas can emerge.

And above all: optimism. Young researchers, she thinks, should be given exciting and challenging projects and then allowed to work independently to keep them motivated. Her advice to talented women based on her own biography: Dont wait until someone pushes you to do research. You have to be self-motivated and strong and follow through! And take a risk sometimes, too.

Dorina Opris' career path

The researcher studied chemistry at Babes-Bolyai University in Romania and later completed her doctorate in inorganic chemistry there and at Freie Universitat Berlin. In 2006, she joined Empas Functional Polymers lab as a postdoc. Since 2014, she has headed the Functional Polymeric Materials research group; in 2023, she was appointed titular professor at ETH Zurich. In addition to diverse work on polymers such as polysiloxanes, she performs peer-reviewing activities with renowned publishers. Dorina Opris has also been a member of Empas Research Commission since 2016.

With the research project Synthesis of novel stimuli-responsive dielectric polymers and their use in powerful transducers (TRANS), Dorina Opris is building a multidisciplinary team to develop printable dielectric polymers. They can convert one form of energy into another  be it electrical voltage into strain or motion and temperature changes into electricity. Potential applications range from actuators and sensors to soft robotics to energy storage and solid-state cooling. The project is scheduled to run for five years until April 2026. The TRANS project was selected from more than 2,500 applications to receive an ERC Consolidator Grant.

Address for enquiries

Prof. Dr. Dorina Opris

Empa Department Functional Polymers

Phone +41 58 765 4304

dorina.opris@empa.ch

Publisher

Federal Laboratory for Materials Testing and Research

http://www.empa.ch




The Sessions Court has ordered the framing of charges, including those of rioting, looting, and arson, against former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain, saying he prima facie instigated mob violence during the 2020 northeast Delhi communal riots.

The court, which discharged three accused in the case, however, ordered the framing of charges against nine others for several offenses, saying a prima facie case existed against them.

The court was hearing a case against 13 people, who were accused of being part of a riotous mob that looted and torched three shops in Moonga Nagar locality in New Mustafabad on February 24, 2020.

Additional Sessions In an order passed on August 5, Judge Pulastya Pramachala said there was a prima facie case against the nine accused for offenses under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 148 (rioting, armed with a deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 188 (disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant), 380 (theft in a dwelling house), and 427 (punishment for committing mischief and thereby causing loss or damage to the amount of Rs 50 or upwards).

The nine accused are Shah Alam, Mohammed Shadab, Riyasat Ali, Gulfam, Rashid Saifi, Mohammed Rihan, Mohammed Abid, Arshad Qayyum, and Irshad Ahmed.

The accused were also liable to be tried for offenses under IPC sections 435 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage to an amount of 100 rupees or upwards), 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house, etc.), and 450 (house-trespass in order to commit any offense punishable with imprisonment for life), he said.

Noting the evidence before the court, ASJ Pramachala said, The mob was instigated by Tahir Hussain to indulge in vandalism, looting, and arson in the properties and shops situated in that area. That mob consequently attacked the nearby properties, including the three properties in question in this case. A prima facie case for the offenses under IPC sections 148, 380, 427, 435, 436, and 450 read with IPC section 109 (punishment of abetment) is made out against Tahir Hussain, he said.

The court, however, discharged three accused persons, Deepak Singh Saini, Mahak Singh, and Navneet, saying the prosecution was unable to bring on record any admissible evidence that could establish that the trio was part of the riotous mob.

Noting that one of the incidents of vandalism remained unsolved, the court directed the Station House Officer (SHO) concerned to look into the relevant aspects and act accordingly. An FIR was lodged at Dayalpur police station against the accused on the basis of a complaint. Later, two more complaints were clubbed together with it.
Image: PTI

The Supreme Court said on Tuesday it will hear arguments on August 9 on the locus standi of multiple people who have filed PILs in the Bilkis Bano gang-rape case and the murder of seven of her family members during the 2002 Gujarat riots.

Besides the petition filed by Bilkis Bano, several other PILs, including one by CPI(M) leader Subhashini Ali, independent journalist Revati Laul and former vice-chancellor of Lucknow University Roop Rekha Verma have challenged the remission. Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra has also filed a PIL against the remission.

Senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, appearing for one of the convicts, told a bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan that once the victim individual is in court, others may not have a locus standi (entitlement to bring a lawsuit in court) to intervene in the matter of this nature.

We have heard counsel for the parties. The other writ petitions are in nature of PILs. A preliminary objection has been raised with respect to the maintainability of the PILs. In order to hear the preliminary objection, list the matter tomorrow at 3 pm, the bench said.

Senior advocate Indira Jaising, appearing in one of the PILs, submitted she will not address the court on the facts of the case and argue purely on the proposition of law.

The convicts in the Bilkis Bano gang-rape case and murder of seven of her family members during the 2002 Gujarat riots chased her with a blood thirsty approach to hunt Muslims and kill them, the apex court was told on Monday, as it commenced the final hearing on a batch of pleas challenging the remission granted last year to all the 11 convicts in the case.

The top court had on April 18 questioned the Gujarat government over the remission granted to the 11 convicts, saying the gravity of the offence should have been considered before showing leniency, and wondered if there was any application of mind. All of them had walked free on August 15, 2022.

Asking for reasons for the premature release of the convicts, the top court had also questioned frequent parole granted to them during their incarceration.

It (remission) is a kind of grace, which should be proportional to the crime, it had said.

Terming Bilkis Banos gang-rape and the murder of her family members a horrendous act, the apex court had on March 27 asked the Gujarat government whether uniform standards, as followed in other murder cases, were applied while granting remission to the convicts.

Bilkis Bano was 21 years old and five months pregnant when she was gang-raped while fleeing the horror of the communal riots that broke out after the Godhra train-burning incident. Her three-year-old daughter was among the seven family members killed in the riots.
More than 70 employees at AT&T hubs in Birmingham, Huntsville and Mobile formally unionized, with a green light from their employer.

A majority of the companys in-home experts working in Alabama signed union authorization cards over the past two weeks to join the Communications Workers of America, the D.C.-based union representative announced Tuesday. On Monday afternoon, AT&T voluntarily recognized the union, which now counts 74 of the workers.

Spokespeople for AT&T did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

We deserve respect and dignity on the job, and a union contract protects the rights of all workers, Madison Bell, a Huntsville in home expert worker for AT&T, said in a statement released by the union. I am joining CWA to be part of a union that will not just fight for my benefit, but for everyones benefit. Together, we can make this a good job that supports our families and our communities.

Madison Bell of Huntsville is an AT&T in home expert who joined the new union.

Joining a union is a rare move in Alabama, where unionization consistently falls below the national average. Just 7.2% of Alabama workers are members of unions and 8.4% of workers roles are represented by unions, according to the U.S. Department of Labors Bureau of Labor Statistics most recent data, from 2022.

In-home experts sell AT&T services and products to customers who get set up with the companys Internet services in their homes.

Tim Johnson, a Hoover resident, said that he joined the union for a better work-life balance.

Without a union contract, we could start our day with a meeting at 6:45 a.m. and still find ourselves at appointments working until 7 or 8 p.m. at night, Johnson said in a statement released by the union.

This isnt AT&Ts first union deal  more than half of its workforce is unionized already, the company has said. Thousands of AT&T workers in other roles at the company throughout the United States, including in the Southeast district that counts Alabama, are represented by the Communication Works of America, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
James Spann wished his former colleague and fellow meteorologist Taylor Sarallo well after she announced last Friday marked her final day with ABC 33/40 after nearly four years with the Birmingham station.

I owe it to you all to let you know that Friday was my last day at ABC 33/40, Sarallo said this week in a statement posted on Twitter and Facebook.

No reason was given for her departure.

Spann took to Twitter Monday night to pay tribute to Sarallo, praising her weather acumen and professionalism.

Taylor is simply the best, Spann tweeted. Amazing knowledge of the science, a servants heart, incredible work ethic, and a love for the people she serves. We will miss her greatly here; it was my honor to work alongside her for four years.

Taylor is simply the best. Amazing knowledge of the science, a servants heart, incredible work ethic, and a love for the people she serves. We will miss her greatly here; it was my honor to work alongside her for four years. https://t.co/9xGzwHoVsx  James Spann (@spann) August 8, 2023

I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with such a talented group of people at ABC 33/40 and, of course, learn from one of the absolute best Meteorologists in the country, Sarallo said in her statement. I am honored to have served the people of central Alabama for the last 4 years. Thank you to all the viewers who have turned to us and trusted our coverage on tough days. You all are family and I care for you all deeply.

Born in Plano, Texas, Sarrallo was raised in Georgia where she ultimately attended the University of Georgia in Athens where she graduated second in her class and was the first woman to obtain a B.S. in Atmospheric Sciences from UGA.

Sarallos first on-air job was chief meteorologist at WDHN News in Dothan before she joined WKRG in Mobile where she covered multiple hurricanes including Hurricane Michael.

She joined ABC 33/40 in 2019. She would appear with James Spann during severe weather events when the station would break in for coverage.

Life is about learning, growing and change, she concluded in her statement. I am in a season of change, but all I can hope is that I learn and grow from it and come out on the other side a better person for it.

In a January 2023 interview with AL.com, Spann also said about Sarallo, Shes brilliant. Shes absolutely brilliant. Her academics from the University of Georgia were stunning.

Spann told AL.com he checked with some professor friends of his at UGA before hiring her while she was working in Mobile, and both of them said hire her immediately, and we did.

In addition to being a brilliant scientist with these incredible credentials, she has the heart of a servant, Spann continued. She loves people. Shes had a chance to go to big markets, but shes stayed here because she loves Birmingham.

Spann also said he would not want anybody else on set while coverage severe weather events. During that severe weather coverage, she becomes your soul mate, he said. She knows what I want before I call for it. Shes always over there, and shes an astute observer. Shes got my back.

He also said Sarallo was a great role model for young women and girls dreaming of careers in meteorology.

Shes absolutely brilliant, and a great, great, great role model for women who want to do science, he said, noting many students he encounters while speaking at schools in Alabama express they admire her and want to do what she does for a living.
Sandra Bullocks partner of eight years, Bryan Randall, died Saturday at 57 after battling ALS.

It is with great sadness that we share that on Aug. 5, Bryan Randall passed away peacefully after a three-year battle with ALS, his family said in a statement, per People. Bryan chose early to keep his journey with ALS private and those of us who cared for him did our best to honor his request.

We are immensely grateful to the tireless doctors who navigated the landscape of this illness with us and to the astounding nurses who became our roommates, often sacrificing their own families to be with ours, the statement said.

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrigs disease, is a neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. There is no cure.

Bullock, 59, who has ties to Alabama, first met the model and photographer in January 2015 after he photographed her son Louis birthday party.

In 2018, Bullock talked about surviving loss in her family, including the death of her father.

Bullocks father, John Wilson Bullock, died on Sept. 18 in Birmingham at 93. He grew up in Birmingham and attended Fairfield High School, before serving in World War II and becoming a civilian contractor to the military. During his retirement, he returned to Birmingham to be close to relatives and lived part of each year here, according to a previous report by AL.com.

Bullock visited her father in Birmingham in 2010, taking him to dinner at one of his favorite restaurants, the Bright Star in Bessemer, for Fathers Day.

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.
Authorities have released the names of two men killed less than 12 hours apart overnight in Birmingham.

The Jefferson County Coroners Office identified the victims as Darcy Jamere Joseph, 33, of Hueytown, and Frederick Douglas Berry Jr., 41, of Birmingham.

East Precinct officers were dispatched just after 8 p.m. Monday to the 5000 block of 41st Way North on a report of shots heard.

Police entered an alley and found a vehicle that had been struck by gunfire, said Officer Truman Fitzgerald. Officers then discovered Joseph wounded inside the vehicle.

He was pronounced dead on the scene at 8:41 p.m.

The alley where Joseph was found is an area where groups of people hang out. Its not uncommon for someone to be in that alleyway, Fitzgerald said.

Police are asking anyone who may have heard or seen anything to come forward.

A man was shot to death Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, while riding a bicycle in the 7000 block of First Avenue South in Birmingham. (BPD)

Berry was shot early Tuesday while riding his bicycle in the 7000 block of First Avenue South.

East Precinct officers were dispatched at 4:16 a.m. after Shot Spotter, the citys gunfire detection system, indicated multiple rounds fired in that area.

Once on the scene, officers found Berry unresponsive in the road. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service transported him to UAB Hospital where he was pronounced dead 4:57 a.m.

Investigators believe the victim was riding his bike when the gunman approached him and opened fire.

Right now, this incident does not appear to be random, Fitzgerald said.

So far this year, there have been 83 homicides in Birmingham. Of those, one was an officer-involved shooting by an outside law enforcement agency and seven others have been rule justifiable and therefore arent deemed criminal.

As of Aug. 8, 2022, there had been 85 homicides in the city.

In all of Jefferson County, there have been 115 homicides, including the 83 in Birmingham. Last year at this time, there had also been 115 homicides.

No arrests have been announced in either overnight slaying.

Anyone with information is asked to call homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
Three people have been charged in the kidnapping and assault of a north Alabama man who was bound and beaten with a metal pipe in Etowah County.

Timothy Baker, 49, and Brandy Click, 46, are charged with first-degree kidnapping and first-degree assault, said Sheriff Jonathon Horton. Amy Downing, 48, is charged with first-degree assault.

The victims name and age, who is from Guntersville, has not been released.

Horton said the incident happened in Etowah Countys Egypt community.

On July 29, the victim walked up to a residence asking for help. His hands were bound behind his back.

Charging documents state that the victims hands were bound and that he was struck multiple times with a metal pipe. The suspects then reportedly put him in the back of a truck and drove him to another location where he was let go, though his hands were still tied together.

Horton said the victim was first taken to a Gadsden hospital and then transferred to a Birmingham hospital where he underwent multiple surgeries for his injuries.

A motive has not been disclosed, but the sheriff said the suspects and the victim were acquaintances and that it was not a random attack.

Baker and Click are being held without bond in the Etowah County Detention Center.

Downing is being held in the Marshall County Jail pending extradition to Etowah County. Her bond will be set at $50,000.
Twitter's new name is inviting chaos through misunderstanding.

Several people were caught in unexplainable, awkward situations since Elon Musk rebranded Twitter into his dream "everything app," X.com, giving them the impression they're surfing somewhere they shouldn't be.

Musk rebranded Twitter to X.com in late July, which may have been a "risky move," according to analysts.

Honey, I Can Explain

X.com, for Elon Musk, means a lot. The dream he strives to create - a "digital town square" where users can start conversations about anything and everything, leave comments about them, and eventually make payments in crypto or fiat currency.

To do so, he has to buy a platform or create one of his own. Twitter happens to give him the means to turn his dream into a reality.

Once Musk acquires Twitter, he took it down as far as he could go and built it back up to rebrand it to X.com. He even changed the name of Twitter's verification-subscription service, Twitter Blue, to X Premium to solidify the rebranding.

While Chief Twit is mighty pleased with his decision, many are against the rebranding, and for a good reason - here are a few examples:

My wife just texted me this, I'm sleeping on the couch tonight pic.twitter.com/ORhswSwPaj  Alex Cohen (@anothercohen) August 6, 2023

X.com user Alex Cohen posted a screenshot of an iMessage conversation with his wife, who's asking him what's X Premium. The only thing he could only say at the time was, "How do I explain this[?]," jokingly adding that he would be sleeping on the couch due to the misunderstanding.

Read More: Instagram is Implementing New Limits to Prevent Direct Message Spam

the twitter x rebrand getting me in trouble already smh pic.twitter.com/WuDChTfen5   (@60404) August 6, 2023

Another X.com user going by the username @60404 also published a similar post as Cohen's. The only difference is that @60404's screenshot was about his mom admonishing him about his X Premium subscription and that he needs to talk to them about "appropriate purchases."

"The Twitter X rebrand getting me in trouble already smh," @60404 typed for his post's caption.

These are all porn except one. That one's Twitter. pic.twitter.com/VYUWOFsFTv  Jesse McLaren (@McJesse) July 24, 2023

If you haven't gotten the pattern yet, these people got into these situations with their loved ones because Musk's X.com sounds like an adult website. For those who are aware, many adult sites usually start with an "X" for their names, as X.com user Jesse McLaren proved in his post.

Real-Life Consequences

X.com users aren't the only ones getting into unexplainable, awkward decisions because of Twitter's new name. Indonesia's Ministry of Communication and Informatics previously banned X.com from its country for violating local pornography and gambling laws - because of its name, per Gizmodo and Business Insider.

The company has already explained the situation to the Indonesian government, allowing Indonesians to access the newly rebranded site.

While advertisers are on a "wait and see approach" about their prospects in advertising with X.com, as MSN reports, the site's name might frighten some advertisers due to its name being similar to adult sites. Regardless, Twitter's rebranding is "a risky decision," as the site's previous brand is more iconic and identifiable than X.

Whether Musk can win advertisers over with the threats he is lobbing at them after the rebranding is still up for debate.

Related Article: Twitter's Rebranding to X a 'Risky Move,' Analysts Say
Alabama requires a hospital license to run a birth center where women with uncomplicated pregnancies can deliver under the care of midwives, but Alabama hasnt given out any licenses to such centers. Thats a de facto ban, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday by the ACLU of Alabama.

This is unlawful and its unconstitutional, said ACLU staff attorney Whitney White. The care these centers provide does not meet the legal definition of a hospital under Alabama law. The department cannot impose a de facto ban on birth centers by making it impossible for them to obtain the license that the department says they need to operate.

In a press conference held in front of the Mothers of Gynecology monument in Montgomery, three obstetrical care providers described the obstacles that have closed or blocked three planned birth centers. Dr. Heather Skanes of Birmingham, Dr. Yashica Robinson of Huntsville and Stephanie Mitchell of Gainesville, Ala. have all opened or tried to open facilities where women with uncomplicated pregnancies can deliver under the care of midwives.

The March of Dimes has labeled more than a third of Alabama counties as maternity care deserts, which means they lack obstetricians or hospitals with labor and delivery units.

But the state has made it impossible to open birth centers, even as it battles high rates of infant and maternal mortality and decreasing access to prenatal and delivery care, Mitchell said. Some of the women she sees in rural Sumter County travel 75 or 100 miles for care.

People shouldnt be forced to go without pregnancy care, Mitchell said. They shouldnt be forced to go without adequate prenatal care or postpartum care or have to drive long distances to get the care they need. It should be available in their communities. Expanding access to midwifery and birth centers in places like Sumter County is a life-or-death situation for many families.

All three birth center founders said they have raised money or taken out loans to construct facilities for labor and delivery. Now they are stuck paying the bills for centers that patients want but cannot use, Robinson said.

I have been left in limbo for more than a year as to whether I will ever be able to open and operate my business, despite having made considerable personal and financial investments into Alabama Birth Center and despite receiving hundreds of inquiries from prospective patients interested in receiving care at the center, Robinson said. This has been devastating, despite my deep commitment to this project.

Skanes, a board-certified gynecologist and obstetrician, said she served about two dozen women at Oasis Family Birthing Center in Birmingham in 2022 who all delivered healthy babies. In early 2023, Alabama officials told her to stop accepting patients while they developed regulations.

I opened my center because there is a maternal and infant health crisis in Alabama, which is disproportionately affecting Black women and infants, Skanes said. Our hospital labor and delivery services are overrun, and many people are not getting access to adequate prenatal care.

A spokesperson from the Alabama Department of Public Health said the agency does not comment on active lawsuits.

The lawsuit said ADPH requires hospital licenses for freestanding birth centers but has not created a path so facilities can obtain those licenses. The lawsuit alleges that ADPH is infringing on the providers right to operate lawful businesses and violating rights of due process and procreation. No birth centers have been licensed to operate in the state, said White.

Birth centers do operate in many other states. Alabama has been slow to accept out-of-hospital births after outlawing midwife-led deliveries several decades ago, Mitchell said. The state began licensing certified professional midwives for home births just five years ago after a long legal fight.

Advocates for birth centers say they can provide a middle ground between hospital and home birth for women who want to deliver with fewer medical interventions. Certified nurse midwives receive advanced training in prenatal and delivery care in nursing programs and usually provide care in hospitals. Certified professional midwives who perform home births do not receive medical or nursing degrees but must attend school or complete internships as part of training programs.

The infant and maternal mortality rates are even higher in Black and rural communities, said JaTaune Bosby-Gilchrist, executive director of the ACLU of Alabama. And many of these deaths are preventable. Alabamas death rate is so high because state leaders have repeatedly proved that reproductive healthcare is not a priority in Alabama.
Alabamas new law prohibiting smoking and vaping while inside a vehicle with a child is now in effect.

The bill, passed by the Alabama Legislature in April, bans smoking or vaping in a vehicle that is carrying passengers 14 years old or younger. Violators of the law face a fine of up to $100 but it is considered a secondary violation, meaning police will only issue a citation if theyve stopped the vehicle for another reason, like speeding.

The prohibition on smoking applies even if the vehicles windows are rolled down and whether if its in motion, at rest or turned off.

Proponents of the law said it will protect children from the hazards of second-hand smoke. According to the Alabama Department of Public Health, second-hand smoke can contribute to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, respiratory and ear infections, and asthma attacks.

Children who are exposed to secondhand smoke are also at risk for pneumonia and bronchitis, wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath, middle ear disease, ear infections and slowed lung growth.

The bill officially went into effect Aug. 1.
An Auburn woman is facing a dozen criminal charges after authorities say she was tracking her estranged husband, and was in possession of a large amount of large-animal tranquilizer.

Shelby Claire Sipe, 33, is charged with one count of third-degree domestic violence-criminal surveillance, one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, and 10 counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

Lee County sheriffs deputies on Saturday received a report of four tracking devices found on two vehicles in the 1100 block of Lee Road 72 in the Camp Hill community, said sheriffs spokeswoman Amanda Ingram.

The victim told investigators his estranged wife may be involved.

Court records show the couple married in 2018 and began divorce proceedings earlier this year.

Sheriffs investigators carried out a search warrant at Sipes home in the 100 block of Blasted Rock Road in Auburn.

During the search, investigators located four tracking devices that appeared to be of the same type as those discovered on the victims vehicles, Ingram said.

They also found multiple types of prescription pills and three quart-size zip lock bags of what is believed to be ketamine, which is a large animal tranquilizer.

Sipe was booked into the Lee County Jail and since released on bonds totaling $17,000.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Lee County Sheriffs Office at 334-749-5651 or Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867).
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Sarah Collins Rudolph, one of the survivors of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing, said she wants young people to know they must continue to fight for freedom and equality by understanding the history of the civil rights movement.

2023 marks the 60th anniversary of Birminghams summer of change and a turning point in the civil rights movement. Throughout the year, the City of Birmingham and other groups are hosting events and tours of the Civil Rights District so people can learn and honor the areas legacy. Residents who remember the struggle firsthand say its important to continue to tell stories.

Collins Rudolph, known to many as the fifth little girl, shared her traumatic experience of losing her sister, and the sight in her right eye after the Ku Klux Klan bombed her church and killed four girls on Sept. 15, 1963.

I just wish young people would understand that these girls didnt die in vain, Collins said. Its time for them to realize and know that its time to stop killing each other because we had to march to get these rights we have today.

Sarah Collins Rudolph survived the Sept. 15, 1963 bombing at the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church that killed her sister and three other girls. (Photo by Greg Garrison/AL.com)

Tucked between a cafe and a barbershop sits the Civil Rights Activist Committee Headquarters, a space created to document the stories of foot soldiers and convene for activism projects.

Collins said she, her sister Addie Mae Collins and their two friends skipped and laughed all the way to church, excited for the youth day program. They all made their way to the ladies lounge where she remembers Denise McNair asking her sister to tie the sash on her dress.

Related: God had to do a work in me: Sarah Collins Rudolph on reclaiming her story

Tell AL.com: Help journalists tell the story of Alabama in 1963.

Smiling, Collins described her sister as quiet and sweet. Every time I would try to go places and try to get away from her she would be right behind me saying, Sarah, wait on me.

Collins said the next thing they knew, the bomb had gone off, killing Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley.

She laid under the debris of the explosion, shards of glass embedded in her body, until someone rescued her. She was rushed to the hospital where she asked where her sister was. She was the only survivor among the girls in the lounge.

All I could do was wonder, why did they kill those girls. They were sweet girls, never did any harm to anyone, Collins said.

In the aftermath of the bombing, Collins was constantly nervous and stopped playing with other children at school because she was so fearful. She said she never received counseling and remained angry for a long time.

It took me a while to really come out and talk about my story, Collins said. I was about 40 before I really talked about it. I know that God spared my life to tell the story because so many people was telling it but they werent telling nothing but lies.

Collins said years after the bombing, she went to a church where the pastor prayed for her. After that day, she knew she was healed, no longer having to rely on alcohol or marijuana.

Today, she and her husband both said they wish the city would compensate her for her loss. To this day, Collins still has to go to the eye doctor, paying out of pocket for her visits.

Collins is no longer a member of the 16th St. Baptist Church, which is still active after being restored. In the lower lever of the church is a wall dedicated to telling the story of the bombing. In the corner is a large photo of Collins, at age 12, in the hospital with patches covering both her eyes with captions detailing the horrific events.

Carolyn McKinstry discusses Birmingham's civil rights struggle at 16th Street Baptist Church Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, in Birmingham. Alaina Bookman/AL.com

In the upper level of the building sits red pews, gold adornments and warm stained-glass windows. The 16th St. Baptist Church is the picture of peace.

There, Carolyn McKinstry, who was also in the church the day of the bombing, also told visitors her story of being involved in the civil rights movement.

She said her parents joined the church when she was two years old where she had played and explored all over the building. She was also very involved as a child, working as a secretary for the Sunday school when she was only a preteen.

When she was in the seventh grade, she sat in on Martin Luther Kings first mass meeting in Birmingham with Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, whose home had been bombed three times, and other community activists. The reverends spoke about segregation, love, forgiveness and God.

McKinstry said she remembers the church was packed with young people, some sitting on the floor as they were encouraged to get involved in nonviolent action. Later that week, when the youth were called to action, McKinstry walked out of A.H. Parker High School to march.

Cynthia Wesley was one of her best friends. On the day of the bombing, she heard the explosion, ducking under a pew, hearing people screaming, parents looking for their children and the sound of footsteps as people ran.

For the next 20 years, I was 15. I was stuck there, McKinstry said. I think a lot of me was afraid because nothing had been done so theres no reason it wouldnt happen again.

She said over the years her pain manifested in rashes, sleeplessness, illness and weight loss.

I was disappointed no one was arrested. It was strange to me that this was okay that these four girls were gone, they were dead, McKinstry said. And it had to be okay because life had just gone on as usual. Nothing had stopped. Nothing had changed.

Decades after the bombing, she was subpoenaed by the attorney of Bobby Frank Cherry, one of the men who had bombed the church. McKinstry said she felt mocked, like Cherry was still able to make her life miserable years later. During the court case, she sat in the same room as Cherrys family and character witnesses. She said for weeks she felt sick, and it set her back emotionally.

Today, she is still a believer in God and forgiveness as she now travels the world telling her story. She has visited 43 states and nine countries. She said when she visited Palestine, citizens sang the songs of the American civil rights movement  showing how Birminghams events impacted the world.

Brenda Wright, 78, was born and raised in Birmingham, worked in politics and is currently an active member of her church. She said though she is retired, she has not retired from fighting for others because it will always be her job to make a difference.

Throughout a tour of Birminghams civil rights sites, Wright pointed out the buildings she remembered going to as a young girl and recalled conversations with people who had to experience the atrocities of Jim Crow.

Embedded in almost every building and every step you take in Birmingham is an integral piece of history.

When riding past Phillips High School, Wright pointed out where Shuttlesworth was beaten for advocating for school integration.

In the wall of A.G. Gaston Motel, home of Kings famous war room, are two markings from a bomb.

The historic Bethel Church, which served as headquarters for the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights, now is a historic landmark.

In Kelly Ingram Park, the site of civil rights rallies, demonstrations and confrontations, there are statues that remind residents and visitors of the horrors of the movement, the children who were involved, the police dogs that attacked people just for being Black and the faces of those who led the movement.

In the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, memorabilia depicts other reminders of racism and segregation. Here, Wright recalled having to sit at the back of the bus.

We want to tell the next generation not to forget what we have accomplished and are still accomplishing and realize what they can do, Wright said. We cannot be turned around or defeated. We have got to keep going.
The former clerk of a small Alabama town has pleaded guilty to ethics charges and ordered to pay more than $100,000 in restitution.

Diann Taylor, 46, entered her guilty plea to using her office or official position for her own personal gain and first-degree theft, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced Monday.

Taylor was the clerk of the Town of Akron, in Hale County, for more than two years, serving until November 2020. The towns population in 2019 was 328.

She was indicted last year.

At the plea hearing, Marshall said, Taylor admitted that between August of 2017 and November of 2020 she used her access to the Town of Akrons bank accounts to purchase over $30,000 in goods and services and withdraw over $77,000 in cash from an ATM.

Taylor admitted at least some of these purchases and withdrawals were not authorized by the town.

Taylor received a 35-month suspended sentence with five years of probation.

She was also ordered to pay $110,908.60 in restitution.

Public trust is lost when public officials exploit and abuse their access to critical funds and resources, Marshall said. No one is above the law; anyone who commits theft for personal gain will be prosecuted.
A former Alabama Walmart employee is facing dozens of criminal charges after authorities say she set multiple fires inside the Leeds store, causing more than $100,000 in damages.

Jayla Fain, 26, of Pell City is charged with two counts of first-degree arson, one count each of third-degree theft of property and first-degree criminal mischief and 32 counts of reckless endangerment, said Leeds Police Chief Paul Irwin.

Fain is believed to have set three fires to distract from her shoplifting, police said.

Officers responded to the store at 8551 Whitfield Avenue just before 8 p.m. Saturday.

One of the fires was set in ladies restroom and the other two were in the stores womens lingerie department.

This caused a dangerous scene inside of this opened business that was occupied by many employees and customers, Irwin said. This caused great alarm to the employees and customers.

Irwin said there was more than $100,000 in damage to the store and merchandise.

Leeds police and the Leeds Fire Department responded to the scene and immediately launched an investigation.

The store was forced to close, but reopened Sunday afternoon.

Fain was taken into custody o Sunday at Ziegler Road and Highway 119 in Leeds.

Detectives recovered more than $500 in stolen merchandise from Walmart.

Authorities said she had loaded up a store cart with stolen items and left the store while everyone was distracted by the fires.

Irwin said investigators also recovered other evidence related to the crimes.

The Alabama State Fire Marshals Office, Walmart Global Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Moody police assisted in the investigation.

Irwin said he is proud of the officers and investigators who worked the case.

They responded to the scene and collected evidence and followed up the next day, he said. They did an outstanding job in locating a suspect and her location.

This is further proof that you cannot get away with committing crime, Irwin said, when law enforcement utilizes the technology and resources together to remove dangerous people from our communities.
It has long been believed great white sharks arent friendly, even to each other, but new research suggests some actually have best friends.

Satellite tracking has revealed some have the suspicious habit of following each other around, according to OCEARCH researchers.

Examples include 9-foot Simon and 8-foot Jekyll, who have stayed together since being fitted with tags off Georgia in 2022.

This is potentially ground breaking, according to OCEARCH chief scientist Bob Hueter.

White sharks lead a very solitary existence. We dont really expect to see these white sharks staying together. But Simon and Jekyll, they seem to be buddies in the sense that theyre going in the same place at the same time.

Tracking shows the two sharks have practically moved together in tandem as they traveled more than 4,000 miles into Canadian waters, officials said.

Both are now together in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, data shows.

Weve never seen anything quite like this before, Hueter says.

OCEARCH takes fluid and tissue samples when it captures sharks for tagging, Hueter says, and geneticists are now re-examining blood samples from Simon and Jekyll to see if they may be brothers or half brothers.

OCEARCH satellite tags have been fitted on nearly 90 white sharks along the East Coast, leading to new data on the travel habits of white sharks. Among the discoveries is the apex predators make seasonal migrations from the North Atlantic to the tip of Florida and the Gulf of Mexico.

The reason is not completely understood, but researchers suspect it may involve mating, pursuit of prey and avoiding waters that are too warm or too cold.

OCEARCH believes white sharks may be using waters of North Carolinas Outer Banks as a mating spot.

2023 The Charlotte Observer. Visit charlotteobserver.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Gunfire erupted in an Inglenook alley Monday night, leaving one man dead.

Birminghams East Precinct officers were dispatched just after 8 p.m. to the 5000 block of 41st Way North on a report of shots heard.

Police entered an alley and found a vehicle that had been struck by gunfire, said Officer Truman Fitzgerald. Officers then discovered an adult male wounded inside the vehicle.

Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service pronounced the victim dead on the scene.

We received a few calls, Fitzgerald said, and were thankful for that because it led us right to the victim.

The alley where the victim was found is an area where groups of people hang out.

Its not uncommon for someone to be in that alleyway, Fitzgerald said.

So, were asking if anyone was in that area prior to the shots, or after the shots, and they left the scene, we encourage you to call Crime Stoppers, let us know what you saw or heard and you can remain anonymous and receive cash for your tip, he said.

No arrests have been made.

The homicide is Birminghams 82nd this year. Of those, one was an officer-involved shooting by an outside law enforcement agency, and seven others have been ruled justifiable and therefore arent deemed criminal.

In all of Jefferson County, there have been 114 homicides, including the 82 in Birmingham.

Anyone with information is asked to call homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
Mobile police have captured the suspect in the homicide of a 30-year-old woman, who was found dead in front of her apartment Monday night.

Police responded to a report of a shooting at Townhouse Square Apartments on Wagner Street about 8:23 p.m. Monday.

When they arrived, they found the lifeless body of Malinda Robertson in front of the apartment dead from an apparent gunshot wound.

By midday Tuesday, Mobile police 37-year-old Milton Farris had been taken into custody without incident, with the Gulf Coast Regional Task Force and K9 units assisting Mobile police.

Farris was still at the scene Monday night when police arrived, according to WALA, but despite the presence of dozens of officers, a SWAT team, K-9 officers and investigators, Farris was able to escape capture.

Farris has a lengthy criminal record, including arrests on weapons charges, drug possession, theft and menacing, as well as five arrests for domestic violence. He has served both time in jail and on probation, and in March was sentenced to one month in jail and placed on three years probation after pleading guilty to stealing a firearm from a Mobile pawn shop.

Farris has also been convicted of multiple felonies in Florida, court records show.

Court records also list a Melinda Robinson or, alternatively, Belinda Robinson as Farris girlfriend and emergency contact. Its unclear if thats the same person as Mondays victim.

Children were in the apartment at the time of the shooting, but were unharmed, Mobile police Cpl. Katrina Frazier confirmed Tuesday morning. The childrens ages range from 2 to 12, Frazier said.
What would have been an otherwise peaceful Saturday evening on Montgomerys riverfront took an ugly turn as a violent brawl erupted in Alabamas capital city.

Police said Tuesday afternoon that three people have been charged in connection to the large fight captured on viral videos..

The videos showed a Black riverboat co-captain attacked by a group of white people as other Black people rushed to his defense.

Montgomery police Chief Darryl Albert said 13 people were taken into custody Saturday for questioning and all released pending further investigation.

As of Tuesday, warrants have been issued against three men who were on the pontoon boat: Richard Roberts, 48, two counts of third-degree assault; Allen Todd, 23, one count of third-degree assault, and Zachery Chase Shipman, 25, one count of third-degree assault.

All charges are misdemeanors. The three charged were white men onboard a pontoon boat that prevented the riverboat from docking for nearly an hour, police said.

Roberts is in custody in Selma, said Selma Police Chief Kenta Fulford.

The other two are expected to turn themselves in sometime Tuesday, the chief said. They were in custody as of Wednesday night, police said.

At least some of the suspects have ties to Vassers Mini Mart in Selma. Owner Chase Shipman posted about the incident on Facebook over the weekend but the Facebook page has since been taken down.

Fulford said Vassers Mini Mart remains open and Selma officers are patrolling the store.

Fulford said law enforcement agencies monitoring social media have not found any direct threats to the store or its owner.

A fourth man - 42-year-old Reggie Ray - is sought for questioning.

Albert described Ray as the Black man seen on video wielding a folding chair and hitting a woman over the head with that chair.

How did this happen?

Albert said there were several events taking place on the riverfront Saturday evening.

The Harriott II provides two hours cruises along the river. At the time of Saturday nights incident, there were 227 passengers on board.

A 67-year-old man on Monday The Think Tank with Chris Coleman on V 99.5 in Birmingham he was onboard the riverboat as part of a class reunion from Robert C. Hatch High School in Uniontown.

The man, who did not give his name, said the incident he witnessed made me proud of Black people ... that privilege thing is over with.

As the riverboat was preparing to dock, they noticed the private pontoon boat blocking the area, Albert said.

The captain used a public address system to try to find the pontoons occupants and was met with obscene gestures and curse words, Albert said.

Christa Owen of Clanton was aboard the riverboat with her husband and their daughter for a dinner cruise to celebrate the daughters 12th birthday, according to The Associated Press.

Owen said the riverboat captain said on loudspeaker: Black pontoon boat, move your boat, and that passengers also yelled for the boat to move so they could dock.

They shrugged their shoulders, Owen said.

Co-captain Damien Pickett was taken by a smaller boat  driven by a 16-year-old white male - to the dock to try to address the situation.

Owen said the tension was obvious and mounting before punches were thrown.

Thats when a confrontation ensued between Pickett and some of the pontoon boat occupants as seen on multiple videos posted on social media. Both Pickett and the 16-year-old boy were struck during incident, and are the victims in the assault cases.

Owen, a stay-at-home mom, filmed the confrontation as it began on the dock. She said as a mother of many she knows the importance of being able to document how a conflict started. Once the boat was able to dock, she said her family had to figure out how to get off the boat safely with the fighting going on around them.

It didnt have to escalate to that, she said.

Pickett was treated at a hospital for injuries. No one else has reported being injured.

The co-captain was doing his job, Albert said.

Police said the 16-year-old boy was struck by Roberts. The boys mother sought and obtained the warrants against Roberts.

Albert said the Harriott II captain first called Montgomery police at 7 p.m., calmly reporting a disturbance.

Police then received additional calls about 7:15 p.m. and the first police units  four officers  arrived on the scene at 7:18 p.m., with three more officers arriving soon after.

Screengrab from Montgomery riverfront brawl.

Albert said the 13 people detained for questioning that night were all released pending further investigation. All were advised on how to obtain warrants through municipal court.

The chief said MPD consulted with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Montgomery County District Attorneys Office and the FBI during the investigation.

Albert said investigators consulted with the FBI and state prosecutors but said there was not enough evidence to pursue the matter as a hate crime.

The incident also did not meet the criteria for a charge of inciting a riot, he said.

Albert said the investigation is ongoing and more charges could be filed.

There was no stone unturned, not only that night but since that night, the chief said.

This is not indicative of who we are as a city, Albert said. The city of Montgomery is much better than that.

There was no need for this event to take the path it did, he said.

Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed agreed, describing the situations as being caused by reckless individuals who did not use good judgement and caused an event that was certainly avoidable.

The AP contributed to this report.

Updated Aug. 11, 2023 to correct the spelling of Reggie Rays name.
The age of the SMS is one step further to its conclusion.

Meta quietly announced in its Messenger app Help Center that SMS support will no longer be available on its Facebook messaging app on Android devices starting late September.

Meta, formerly known as Facebook Inc., previously launched Messenger in Aug. 2011; it has the ability to send and receive SMS messages to a user's phone number since 2012.

Goodbye, SMS

Meta mentioned on its Messenger Help Center page that its Facebook Messenger app for Android devices can no longer send or receive SMS messages as early as Sept. 28. As such, people using Android devices can longer use Messenger to send and receive SMS messages once they update the app after Sept. 28.

Unfortunately, Meta didn't provide a reason as to why it is removing SMS support for Messenger. However, the removal of Messenger's SMS support could be due to Google's push for Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging, per 9to5Google.

Meta isn't one for lack of trying, however. The company added SMS support on Messenger in 2012 and dropped it in 2013. It eventually revived SMS support again in 2016, per a Facebook Messenger post, with SMS kept separate from web-based communications - SMS conversations have a purple theme, while those made online were blue.

However, the popularity of SMS messaging steadily declined as secure messaging apps became the norm for communicating with people in an instant. This decline is primarily due to Google's push for RCS messaging in 2015 in the US, per AQL and SlickText.

Read More: Genshin Impact 4.0 Brings Fontaine, New Features on Aug. 16

You may recall that Google previously released a statement saying the time for the entire mobile phone industry to switch from SMS to RCS messaging has come. SMS messaging doesn't have the ability to send and receive high-quality photos and videos without switching to a different protocol, nor could it be encrypted to prevent bad actors from reading them.

The company also argued that RCS messaging has become the industry's modern standard, completely replacing SMS in the process. Aside from Apple, all of the major mobile carriers and manufacturers have adopted RCS messaging as their go-to messaging service.

Interestingly, Google previously announced in early June that AT&T would soon have its RCS platform as its default Android messaging system to grant its subscribers access to the latest RCS features instantly. Such a decision is proof that SMS' days are at an end.

How To Remove Messenger As Your Defaly SMS App

Android users using Messenger as their default SMS app would be wise to switch to another app to send and receive SMS messages as early as now. To do so, they must follow these simple steps:

Open the Settings App and select Apps Open Default Apps Select SMS app and pick an app to replace Messenger as their device's new default SMS app.

Android users can still send and receive SMS messages through their cellular network and access their SMS message history through their phone's new default messaging app. Those who wouldn't change their default SMS app from Messenger will have their SMS app automatically go to their phone's default messaging app, such as the Android Messages app.

Related Article: Messenger Now Allows Users to Play Multiplayer Games During Video Calls
Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley criticized Sen. Tommy Tubervilles months-long hold on military nominations Tuesday, calling it shameful.

Haley, who is seeking the Republican nomination for president, spoke on the Hugh Hewitt Show, according to The Hill.

It goes to the heart of, we dont treat our military men and women, servicemen and women well. We dont treat our veterans well, Haley said.

Attempts by AL.com to reach Tubervilles office for comment were not immediately successful. NBC News quoted Tuberville spokesman Steven Stafford, who said he didnt view Haleys comments as criticism.

She regrets that it is necessary but doesnt seem to dispute that it is indeed necessary.

President Biden last month, as well as a growing chorus of Democrats, have called on Alabamas senior senator to end his hold on military nominations. Tuberville initiated the stand in March, keeping more than 250 high-ranking military nominees in the Senate from receiving promotions.

The hold comes in response to a Defense Department policy to pay the travel expenses of service members traveling to other states for abortions. He says his tactic is within his rights as a senator, and that Defense policies can only be implemented through Congress.

Haley, whose husband is currently in a yearlong deployment in Africa with the South Carolina Army National Guard, said she agreed that the Pentagons policy is totally wrong. While she can appreciate what Tubervilles trying to do, she said theres got to be other ways to go about doing this.

There are currently two military services without a confirmed leader, after the head of the Marine Corps retired last month and the head of the Army retired last week without replacements.

Haley said the hold is doing damage to recruiting efforts.

They look at the fact that 33,000 veterans are homeless, she said. They look at the fact that theyre, you know, dangling these promotions out there and using them as fodder. I mean, theyre looking at the fact that people dont see these, you know, men and women who serve as heroes anymore.

Haley in July said the third in a series of Republican presidential debates will be held in Alabama in October. That has yet to be confirmed.
A Decatur man faces first degree charges of domestic violence, assault and arson after authorities say he set his wife and his apartment on fire early Tuesday morning.

Decatur police say Riley Herbert Willis III, 40, is being held in the Morgan County Jail without bond.

According to police, officers were called to Summer Courtyard Apartments, 2216 Acadia Drive S.W., at about 3:30 a.m. Decatur Fire and Rescue and Decatur-Morgan EMS also responded, in reference to a burn victim.

They found a woman with serious physical injuries, suffering from burns. Investigators determined Willis set his wife on fire, and then set fire to the apartment using an accelerant, before fleeing through a back window to avoid being seen.

Officers found Willis hiding in another apartment in the complex.

The female victim was transported to UAB Hospital, where she is in critical condition.
Republican lawmakers are calling on a sound strategy toward adding six lanes to Interstate 65 after the project was touted as a priority by former President Donald Trump on Friday.

But is the GOP falling for false bravado from a former president with a history of making lofty pledges, including major road projects in other parts of the U.S.?

At least one Alabama Democratic lawmaker thinks the GOP is being hoodwinked.

Sen. Bobby Singleton speaks about a ban on nearly all abortions during a debate in the senate chamber in the Alabama State House in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday, May 14, 2019. The legislation would make performing an abortion a felony at any stage of pregnancy with almost no exceptions. (Mickey Welsh/The Montgomery Advertiser via AP)AP

Who can believe what Trump says? said state Senator Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, who represents portions of West Alabama where state officials are planning to expand U.S. 43 from Thomasville to Tuscaloosa, despite calls from Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth and others that the money would be better spent on widening I-65.

Hes got them all mesmerized, Singleton said about Trumps comments before the Alabama GOP during its summer dinner in Montgomery. They are under the Trump spell, and he will tell them anything and they will believe it.

For now, Alabama lawmakers are committed toward a project they believe will have the most impact on the state. The 366 miles of I-65 from the Tennessee-Alabama state line south to Mobile is often congested, especially during summer weekends, as tourists flock south or return north following weekend visits to the beaches.

Gina Maiola, a spokeswoman for Ivey in response for a reaction to Trumps mentioning of I-65 during his speech, said Governor Ivey and Alabama always welcome any federal support of our important infrastructure projects.

Trump support

Alabama Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth presides over the Alabama State Senate on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at the State House in Montgomery, Ala. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com).

The project has been championed by Ainsworth, who has repeatedly snapped photos of I-65 traffic jams and posted them to social media calling for the interstates widening to be prioritized.

Catherine Fuller, deputy chief of staff to Ainsworth, said the lieutenant governor did discuss the widening of I-65 with Trump before the former president spoke during the Alabama GOPs summer dinner in Montgomery.

Trump, during his speech, vowed to make the project a priority during the first day of his presidency if hes elected in 2024. Trump is handily leading the GOP primary polls, and almost all of Alabamas Republican congressional delegation has already endorsed him for the nomination.

Considering President Trumps deep affection and loyalty for Alabama, we have every confidence he will immediately fulfill his commitment if given a second term in 2024, said Ainsworth, who is weighing a run for governor in 2026.

Ainsworth pointed to a joint House and Senate resolution, adopted in the spring, urging the current Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) leadership to study and prioritize widening I-65 so Alabamians may go about their business, tourists may travel throughout our state, and trucks may engage in commerce without sitting idle on what amounts to the worlds longest parking lot.

State Senator Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, said the resolution was adopted to begin the states strategy toward widening I-65. He was the resolutions sponsor in the Alabama Senate.

If we dont start planning for the future right now, then were never going to be where we need to be in 10 to 15 years from now, he said.

I-65 or U.S. 43?

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said during her 2021 "State of the State" address that the state will "turn the shovel" on a four-lane U.S. 43 from Thomasville to Tuscaloosa. The project includes small cities through Alabama's Black Belt region including Linden, Ala. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com).

Ainsworth and other lawmakers such as state Senator Chris Elliott, R-Josephine in Baldwin County, suggest the money earmarked toward U.S. 43 be slashed and reapplied to I-65. The U.S. 43 project was loosely estimated to cost around $760 million in late 2021.

The U.S. 43 project is a priority of the Ivey administration, and its use of Rebuild Alabama funds on a road project that can boost a regions economic development. Ivey has, in the recent past, criticized Ainsworths call for cutting U.S. 43 in favor of I-65 as seeking headlines.

Ainsworth said that additional federal funding would certainly allow existing state dollars to be spent on projects in cities, towns, and crossroads across Alabama. He did not specifically mention the U.S. 43 project in his comments to AL.com. Ainsworth is scheduled to meet in September with Thomasville Mayor Sheldon Day, who has long advocated for the U.S. 43 project and who participated in a transportation summit hosted by Trump in 2017. Day joined about 30 officials during a session in which he advocated for rural projects.

I support the funding needed for all transportation projects and hope the issue will not be used by others to divide and pit rural versus urban in our state, Day said. Our rural communities and counties need a piece of the pie and a seat at the table to make sure we are not left out.

Elliott said he is concerned about borrowing against future fuel tax revenues to complete the U.S. 43 project, currently under construction in Linden and is proposed to move further south toward Thomasville.

He said that committing too much of the Rebuild Alabama money for U.S. 43 will not leave enough funds available for I-65, especially if a state match is required on a federal appropriation.

My concern is that the DOT has not released its budget numbers on the West Alabama (corridor) yet, Elliott said. They claim its ($760 million), but the final costs could be double that. It will tie up Alabamas hands long into the future.

Elliott said that ALDOT needs to drive the projects priority through its planning processes, which are currently ongoing. He predicts that individual Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), which are charged with crafting transportation plans for various regions around the state, will sign off on it.

Its unclear how many MPOs will need to approve the inclusion of I-65 as a priority. Birmingham, Mobile, Montgomery, Huntsville, and Decatur have MPOs that would be required to include I-65 fixes within their regions into their respective short-term plans that are called Transportation Improvement Plans or TIPs.

Birminghams mayor, one of the states largest cities along I-65, said Monday he is not on board with the idea of prioritizing the project.

Instead of pouring millions into widening I-65  which studies show wont alleviate congestion  why not invest in high-speed rail? Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodifn tweeted Monday. We can connect communities, reduce traffic, & make AL a leader in sustainable infrastructure. A train to the beach is way better than driving!

Related content:

Elliott said no one is saying widening I-65 has to be one big project from Mobile to the Tennessee River. It has to be a bunch of projects. They need to be prioritized. Of course, there are sections of I-65 less traveled than others, no question about it. But lets not look at it and say that its too big of a problem, and lets not tie up the ability to provide a (state) match. That would be a horrible thing.

Singleton criticizes the idea of diverting U.S. 43 money to I-65, saying that U.S. 43 is purely state dollars and should not be used for a federal project.

He also questions the priority of a wholesale I-65 project based on social media photos of traffic jams.

The day the lieutenant governor saw that traffic (congestion) on I-65, there was an accident, Singleton said. It doesnt matter if its six lanes or not. If he and his friends are not patient enough to sit in traffic, so be it. They need to grow some patience.

Previous I-65 work

Gudger said he has been impressed with Alabama Gov. Kay Iveys office and ALDOT for the work they have done on I-65 since 2017. Ainsworth, however, criticized ALDOT last month for prioritizing the U.S. 43 project over I-65, and called on change of leadership within the state agency. John Cooper has been ALDOTs longtime director.

Tony Harris, spokesman for ALDOT, said projects have already been underway along I-65. They include:

Over $70 million was invested in the widening of I-65 for four to six lanes within the Alabaster area.

A new I-65 bridge was built at Calera, which also included an expansion of the I-65 interchange at the city. According to Harris, the completion of this project makes the future widening of I-65 possible.

This year, $30 million is being invested to improve I-65s bridges over the Tennessee River in North Alabama. The project, Harris said, will extend the life of the 50-year-old bridges.

More than $600 million has been invested in I-65 improvements, such as widening and maintenance, during Coopers tenure with ALDOT. He has been the agencys director since 2011.

Improving I-65 along with all our other states, U.S. highways and state roads is a top priority for ALDOT, Harris said in a statement to AL.com. Thanks to Rebuild Alabama and recent additional funds, (ALDOT) has been able to make much-needed improvements on I-65, other interstates, and our state highways, as well as assisting local governments. Were at a point where it will take continued assistance from the federal level to achieve all our future transportation goals.

Rebuild Alabama is a state program, adopted in 2019, to provide grants for infrastructure projects throughout the state. The program is financed through a gradual 10-cent-per-gallon increase in the states fuel tax.

Transportation planning

Harris said the state is finalizing priorities that are listed within the Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) for fiscal years 2024-2027. The proposed STIP should be publicly unveiled in October during a Joint Transportation Committee meeting in Montgomery.

This plan takes a balanced approach to addressing local projects, maintenance, safety, congestion relief and economic development roads across all 67 counties of Alabama, Harris said.

The STIP and more regionalized TIPs, which are adopted by MPOs, detail short-term transportation priorities. Each MPO in the state must produce a list of transportation projects that are included within the TIP covering at least a four-year period.

Federal regulations require STIPs and TIPs to be fiscally constrained, meaning that projects listed in those documents can be implemented through committed or available resources.

The joint resolution adopted by state lawmakers does not include any specific direction over how to pay for I-65.
Choo-choo!

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin is not all aboard the idea to widen I-65 from Huntsville to Mobile, saying Monday that he prefers investing in high-speed rail instead.

Instead of pouring millions into widening I-65  which studies show wont alleviate congestion  why not invest in high-speed rail? Woodifn tweeted Monday. We can connect communities, reduce traffic, & make AL a leader in sustainable infrastructure. A train to the beach is way better than driving!

The idea of making I-65 six lanes from Huntsville to Mobile picked up steam after Donald Trump promised to get to work on the project on the first day of his administration should he win the 2024 election.

Trump made the pledge while giving the keynote speech Friday night at the Alabama Republican Partys Summer Dinner on Friday at the Renaissance Hotel in Montgomery.

The project is also championed by Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth, a potential 2026 governors candidate. He has raised concerns before over what he said is a lack of prioritizing a widening of I-65 from the Tennessee state line to Mobile. The most recent example came in May, when he said widening I-65 must be a top priority for Alabama officials.
This is a guest opinion column

As we approach the August 14, 2023 federal court hearing on reapportionment, there has been heated debate concerning the fairness of maps relating specifically to a concept called communities of interest, a central component of drawing fair districts.

Community of interest and fairness are seemingly words that should be paired together. However, in the debate surrounding Alabamas redistricting map, as ordered by the SCOTUS, the words are distinctly hollow in the GOP drawn map which circumvented the varied connections between the Black Belt and the Gulf Coast.

I, like countless other Blacks in Mobile, the Black Belt is the air of our foundation, threading character, strength and pride. The qualities are our community of interest, much like the red clay dirt of the Black Belt seeds our neighborhoods in Mobile. Ironically, the value of voting was birthed by a mother from Dallas County who proudly recounted the virtues of growing up on the Alabama River.

Though I do not presume my legacy represents all Blacks in Mobile, I would be willing to bet the vast majority in Mobile have roots that identify with the Black Belt. From poverty to other ills that are plaguing Mobile Blacks, there are a multitude of factors that make it representative of the Black Belt. It has been a community of interest for countless generations.

In order to ensure fairness and that the one man, one vote principle is applied in practice, there are a multitude of criteria to consider in drawing fair districts. This is because for one man to truly have one vote, those votes must be of one value - the same value. This is the central purpose of the reapportionment process.

The process includes equal population requirements, ensuring that districts are contiguous so that all parts of the district are connected to each other, respecting natural geographic boundaries, and many other factors. The process also includes guidelines that communities of interest should be preserved within the same district or should be minimally split between districts.

The reason that communities of interest can be controversial in reapportionment is because the term is subjective. And, unlike an easily observable fact such as ensuring that all parts of a voting precinct are contiguous, the concept of a community of interest is more open to interpretation and perspective.

This is particularly true when it comes to understanding the city of Mobile and its dual roles as the watershed of the Black Belt and the crowning city of our Gulf Coast region. For background, the majority of the Alabama Legislature adopted Senate Bill 5, also known as Livingston Plan 3, on July 21, 2023.

This map was supposed to remedy our noncompliance with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, by creating a second majority-Black congressional district, or something quite close to it, in the words of the federal courts. However, the map adopted by the majority creates a second district that contains just below 40 percent Black voting-age adults - quite far from the courts requirement. The ma jority rested its argument largely on their understanding of the principle of communities of interest, a mistakenunderstanding that demanded that Mobile County and Baldwin County remain in the same district.

Simply put, the majority diminished the focus on people, and instead shifted that focus on economy and infrastructure and, most disappointingly, political gain. And, in those same redistricting guideline revisions, the majority moved the goalposts on communities of interest in a way that supports the twisted map that fails to satisfy the Voting Rights Act.

Having lived in Mobile for almost my entire life, and having family in the lower portions of the Black Belt, I know the deep connections we share with the Black Belt. Mobile is the watershed of the Black Belt; it is where the slaves came in and went up to labor, and where the cotton came down to be shipped out. It is the land of the Clotilda, it is the land of Africatown, it is the closest connection to the land of our forefathers. For those whose ancestral past was severed from them, Mobile may be the closest they ever come to finding home.

This connection is still alive today. When my relatives in Washington and Monroe Counties - both firmly in the Black Belt - moved to the City for work, they meant they were moving to Mobile. The contiguous, compact Black population identified by the federal courts extends into Mobile County unbroken, a living testimony of that human connection. Mobile has, more often than not, been included with lower Black Belt counties in congressional districts throughout our history.

And, in the current School Board districts, the Northern part of Mobile County is included with those counties in recognition of that connection.

This is the connection we are supposed to focus on when discussing communities of interest - the people. Voting is about the people, and this recent Supreme Court case was about the people.

The case for Mobile County to be wholly included with Baldwin County and other Gulf Coast counties is based not on the people, but on economic interests and political priorities. In the new redistricting guidelines adopted by the majority, only one sentence was spent on the description of the Black Belt, but four pages were dedicated to the economies of the Mobile and Baldwin areas. These guidelines echoed the testimony of Alabamas witnesses before the Supreme Court, testimony which Chief Justice Roberts described as partial, selectively informed, andpoorly supported, and asserted was simply to preserve political advantage. In fact, when asked during the House debate how Mobile and Baldwin counties constituted a community of interest, the response from Rep. Chris Pringle (R-Mobile) was dismissive when he said, They share the same roads.

Mobile and Baldwin Counties certainly have shared history throughout the colonial period and beyond, as relied upon by the majority. Indeed, Mobile and Baldwin have remained together throughout fluid changes in political boundaries of colonial nations. But, that shared history is no different and is no more worthy than the shared history among other areas of the state, such as areas that remained together throughout changes in tribal lands, county reorganizations, and population shifts. The Supreme Court echoed this when they declared that they do not find [Alabama]s argument persuasive enough to keep Mobile separated from the Black Belt.

By understanding that the importance of preserving communities of interest is far more than just shar ing roads, we hope that the federal court will reject the Livingston 3 map that clearly defies the Courts order. All we are asking for is fair maps and for Black voters to be able to elect the candidates of their choice.

That should be of interest to everyone in our Alabama community.

Barbara Drummond, a Democrat, represents District 103 in the Alabama House of Representatives
This is an opinion column.

Not today.

Not today, white people.

Not today, or any day.

Not in Montgomery. Not anywhere. Not anymore.

Most reasonable people, Im sure will agree that what was perpetrated on Saturday night on a dock in Alabamas capital city was unconscionable. Criminal, more than likely.

A Black man, as weve seen on copious videos, working at the docks was attacked by several whites after appearing to try to get the occupants of a private pontoon boat to move from a space reserved for The Harriott II, a riverboat that was trying to dock from an all-day cruise.

Witnesses attest the attackers emerged from aboard the pontoon boat.

Videos show at least four shirtless white men attacking the worker. Two white women later joined them. The Black man was tackled onto the wooden dock, pummeled by some, kicked by at least one.

What happened next was emphatic and undeniable: Not today.

Several Black men quickly disembarked the riverboat and came to the defense of the brother.

Not today.

They fought.

Not today.

They protected.

Not today.

They stood their ground.

Not today.

One young brother, a 16-year-old later identified only by his first nameAeren, as per a release from the familys publicistwho made Al Campanis (Google his name and buoyancy) turn over in his grave by swimming to the dock from a nearby vessel, pulling himself out of the water and joining the chaotic melee in defense of the Black worker.

In the face of adversity, wrote Makina Lashea, the publicist, Aaren selflessly came to the rescue of a fellow colleague, showcasing bravery beyond his years.

Not today.

As we inhaled, marveled, and, yes, cheered the protective Black wall in the ubiquitous videos that filled our social media timelines, DMs, and mailboxes, many of us, many African Americans, we were those Black men (well, not the brother wielding the chair.) who came to the aid of one of our own.

We were on that dock.

Not today, white folks.

We were on that dock not just rallying to the defense of a brother under attackbut to the defense of all of us. All of us under attack.

Not today, Ron Desantis and his ignorant minions. You may try to diminish and deny our history with your states weak-kneed new curriculum standards aimed not at teaching the truth but fretting over whether that truth makes white kids feel guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distresssomething nary a white soul was concerned about when I learned of this nations myriad atrocities.

Not today.

You may have the unmitigated audacity to not just believebut say out loud and require educators to teach the lie that slavery was somehow good for our ancestors. That slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit, Floridas curriculum vows to teach middle-schoolers. While not teaching them Africans possessed myriad skills before they were captured, chained, and claimed.

Not today.

Hes not going to rewrite and redefine Black history, swore Rev. R.B. Holmes Jr., pastor of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Tallahassee. Not while were still alive,

Not today.

Not today, U.S. Supreme Court, as you brazenly seek to whiten already-PWIs (Predominantly White Institutions) by stripping race as an admissions factor while privilege (a.k.a. legacy) remains a powerful box in the process.

Not today, Mississippi goon squad cops, the six who plead guilty to 16 varied felonies last week in federal court in connection with torturing two Black men for 90 minutes at a home in Braxton, which they breached without showing a warrant, the U.S. Justice Department charged. One of the officers put a gun into the mouth of one of the men and fired, almost killing him. The men were also punched, kicked, and waterboarded.

Not today, Alabama Republican lawmakers, who are all-but-daring SCOTUS to tell them again that their gerrymandered U.S. congressional district lines doused Black voting power.

Not today.

The attacking whites on that dock Saturday nightno arrests have yet been made in Montgomery, Mayor Stephen Reed said Mondaywere thwarted by all of us.

By our anger. By our frustration. By our resolve.

By our commitment to defend ourselves. In Montgomery. Anywhere.

Today. And tomorrow.

More columns by Roy S. Johnson

Money alone wont revive our long-failed communities; this plan must.

Listen to Birminghams foot soldiers, whose voices are strengthened by pain

Dear Black girls, they will believe you next time, despite what Carlee Russell did

Attorney who argued historic redistricting case says Alabama will be much richer politically

51 years ago today, the Supreme Court ruled the death penalty unconstitutional, really
County in E China's Jiangsu takes crystal commerce global via livestreaming

People's Daily Online) 14:43, August 08, 2023

"Hello everyone, welcome to my livestream." At 9 p.m. on July 25, Jiang Qiuyue started a livestreaming session at the Donghai Crystal Cross-border E-commerce Trading Center in Donghai county, Lianyungang city, east China's Jiangsu Province. Her livestreams are part of a broader push to boost the countys burgeoning crystal industry overseas.

Jiang, who majored in English at university, has gathered over 5,000 followers on the platform one year after her graduation. Her followers mainly hail from countries along the Belt and Road.

A total of 1,623 livestreaming hosts work at the Donghai Crystal Cross-border E-commerce Trading Center, speaking foreign languages during their shows. By promoting homemade crystal products, they help Donghai crystals reach foreign markets.

Jiang Qiuyue promotes crystal products during a livestreaming session at the Donghai Crystal Cross-border E-commerce Trading Center, Donghai county, Lianyungang city, east China's Jiangsu Province. (People's Daily Online/Fan Yao)

Donghai is the first county to the west of the eastern bridgehead of the New Eurasian Land Bridge and is also a major crystal-producing area in China. Thirty-seven kinds of mineral resources have been discovered in the area, including 300,000 tonnes of crystal reserves and 300 million tonnes of quartz reserves.

The county hosts more than 3,400 crystal manufacturing enterprises, annually producing 30 million pieces of crystal jewelry and 5 million crystal handicrafts. Over 300,000 people are employed in crystal manufacturing, sales, and related sectors in Donghai.

"Our products are sold to many countries in Asia and Europe, and the sales figures are good," said Song Feng from Xingxi village in Quyang town of Donghai. Song attributed the growth of the crystal industry in Donghai to thriving cross-border e-commerce enabled by the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

In 2020, Zhao Zhonggang, Party chief of Xingxi village, spearheaded the construction of a crystal e-commerce industry park and several cross-border e-commerce livestreaming training bases in the village. After receiving skills training, local villagers became livestreaming hosts.

"The annual output value of the crystal industry in the village has surpassed 1 billion yuan ($139 million), including more than 300 million yuan from cross-border e-commerce," said Zhao.

Zhong Haibing, deputy director of the E-commerce Association of Donghai, began hosting cross-border e-commerce livestreaming sessions in 2016. His team now generates an annual sales volume of between 70 and 80 million yuan.

A man works with crystal. (People's Daily Online/Fan Yao)

Since 2019, an increasing number of businesspeople, university graduates, and those who used to work overseas have returned to Donghai and become livestreaming hosts. Over the past few years, Donghai county has cultivated more than 6,000 livestreaming practitioners. In 2022, the sales volume of crystal products exceeded 34 billion yuan in Donghai, including 3.5 billion yuan via cross-border e-commerce.

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Liang Jun)
There are a lot of ways that hackers can gain your private data such as infected files, hacking into your router, sending phishing emails, and so on. Not a lot would think that they would be able to obtain your data through the sound of your typing, but it appears that it's possible now too.

Hackers Listening In

A couple of British researchers conducted a study that shows how a hacker can record an audio of a person typing in order to steal their data. The fact is, this is not an entirely new modus operandi. It is just made simpler with the help of artificial intelligence.

Through a deep-learning-based algorithm, the sound of keystroke noises can automatically decode what is being typed. The research shows that hackers can decode data through this method 95% of the time, as mentioned in Gizmodo.

The hackers will be able to hear the sound through your smartphone's microphone, or even through virtual calls on the conferencing app, Zoom. Then, the sounds can be analyzed and generated into coherent and readable text.

Also called an "acoustic side-channel attack," the hackers will decode the sounds easier with the help of AI. The researchers believe that it would be easy to conduct these cyberattacks, especially if the threat actors do it in the right conditions.

If the hackers decide to make an effort, they can even record you when you're in a public place. Reports say that there are devices such as high-quality parabolics and other listening devices that can let them listen through the walls of your home.

Sadly, there's not much you can do to avoid these circumstances apart from a few preventive measures. Although it's not likely that a threat actor will target you, the slim chance is still enough for you to try and avoid them.

Read Also: Dutch Hacker Attempted to Sell Personal Data of Almost 9 Million Austrian Citizens

What Can You Do?

For one, you can avoid logging in with your credentials when there are apps that are actively using the mic such as conferencing apps, or even messaging platforms that have virtual call features as they have permission to access your mic.

The researchers also suggested that users can type randomly generated keystrokes to throw off the recording when they're on a voice call. It could effectively mess with the data that threat actors are trying to obtain from the sound of typing.

You could also switch to biometric login mechanisms since not only will it eliminate the need to type that can be recorded, but it also makes it harder for hackers to get into your accounts since they will need whatever biometric you're using.

If you're really committed to keeping worded passwords, you could even go as far as buying keyboards that don't make much sound. For instance, you can switch to keyboards with rubber dome or scissor switches to have a quieter keyboard.

Randomize your passwords to make it harder for AI to decipher what you're typing. Mix in a few symbols and capitalize a few letters. Typing in full words will make it easier for the threat actor to steal your credentials.

Related: Hotels, Travel Companies are Targeted by Hacker Using Fake Reservations
Seems like every day, someone is finding new, fun types of election fraud. This is not accidental -- this is exactly how industrial, at-scale, organized fraud is uncovered. We call it spiraling to accuracy.

When our team was hired by State Farm, GEICO, USAA, and other top insurers to stop organized auto fraud rings, we found the easy stuff fast -- the equivalent of phantom voters.

Later, our analysis spiraled deeper into complex data relationships, identifying real-time, sophisticated, organized fraud. Think of doctor/lawyer/chiro rings, modifying names, organizing fender benders with Ethiopian and Nigerian victims ringing up thousands of claims.

When we cracked eBays on-line auction fraud -- we were dealing not with organized rings, but individual crime entrepreneurs who sold a computer, took the dough, never delivered, were kicked off eBay, changed every identifier, and rejoined eBay with the same scam. It never appeared before on-line auctions. It was invisible to all current technology.

This is how industrial-scale, organized fraud detection unfolds.

That is happening in the election fraud space with new variants -- SMURFS, algorithms, and shape shifters.

Exceptional individuals find this stuff -- often laboring for months. In Florida two gifted men, Chris and Kris, discovered contribution mules who made thousands of donations, often for a few dollars each, in a short period, mostly to leftist candidates.

Deeper analysis shows tens of millions of dollars in illegal, outside contributions coming in, then being carefully redistributed to leftist candidates all over the country. James OKeefe did a story on it.

Law enforcements term-of-art for this criminal endeavor is SMURF.

The Fractal team, working with the Florida boys, downloaded the entire FEC database from 2019 until current. That is a quarter of a billion records. It now runs at silicon speed -- for every state.

For several state legislatures and legislators, with one click, we demonstrate every contribution mule in their state. Individual legislators can show their pals during re-election time how much mule money is going against them. One would be amazed at the interest uptick.

We currently work with several state legislatures and legislators so they can get real-time visibility into their state rolls -- contributions, voter rolls compared with property tax records, Medicaid, WIC.

We are often asked to look for algorithms in state datasets.

We have a strict test for any election-related Fractal analysis: can it be explained to a 4th grader in fewer than three sentences?

Thus, we leave algorithms to others. We seek artifacts. Those are the deposits left behind if algorithms are present.

Algorithms, if they exist, may not be nefarious. An algorithm (which is just a formula) may produce the Christmas card list for a state agency. Or it might deliver something not-so-nice. Thus, artifacts count.

Recent algorithms, we are told, leave behind simultaneous registrations. Okay, that is certainly a questionable artifact -- is it nefarious?

Easy test. Did the registration vote more than once in any election?

Fractal can, with a single click, show every simultaneous registration in every data set, for any state, dating back to its first digital data. One more click tells if they voted twice. We apply this in any state. Results appear in three seconds!

We found, for instance, dupe registrations all over Michigan and Wisconsin. In Wisconsin, not only did we find 187,000 apparently duplicate registrations, we testified to their legislature about how their election commission inserted hidden codes into voter ID numbers.

The question is not whether algorithms are right or wrong or even if they exist. The question is whether they convince anyone other than those deeply invested in complex data science. We think not.

We are currently engaged by legislators to audit voter rolls and by defendants in complex trials where they need to convince skeptics 2020 election fraud was real.

Showing live government-created voter rolls, compared against live government-created property tax rolls, government-created FEC contribution rolls and with one click showing every registered voter, who voted, yet is registered at a 7-11 -- thats convincing!

It is unchallengeable!

With a second click showing every donor in Ohio who made more than 2,000 or 5,000 donations in one year -- that does get a legislators attention.

The 4th grader gets that! And so does the attorney general!

The election integrity space is toxic to most state legislators because of outlandish claims that were provable nonsense. Such toxicity creates a hurdle we must overcome working with curious legislators.

Thus, the need to use only government-created datasets, cross searched against other government-created datasets, to show they contradict each other -- instantly, from a phone or tablet.

Meet the shape shifters.

The excellent Wisconsin team, with whom we collaborate, found citizens who moved from all over the state to a single state rep district for a primary. They moved a couple of months before the election.

They all voted. Now the good part.

They moved back shortly after the election -- to their original homes! Now thats an artifact.

From that artifact, the Fractal team creates a query we can now run in any election in any county in America -- testing for people who left one address, moved to a district with a tight election, voted, then moved back to their same address in less than X months.

This is particularly powerful in stopping leftists from jacking with school board elections.

This organized fraud variant -- now called shape shifters -- likely existed for decades, but one diligent team found it, and now if it ever happens again, Fractal finds it, reports it, makes it public. That is how one spirals to accuracy.

All in three clicks or less.

Our team is currently engaged with multiple states, some with legislatures, others with individual legislators, several where Fractal is being used to help in a U.S. Senate campaign. In every case, we must demonstrate at-scale election fraud to unconvinced parties.

Only the use of real-time voter roll analysis, compared with property tax rolls, FEC rolls, and state contribution rolls, makes a dent.

Emerging novel fraud techniques have a commonality: they hide from current SQL/relational systems. The evidence is pretty clear -- these frauds hid in plain sight for decades.

National election integrity organizations missed them for 30 years -- because they never innovated their technology stack -- selling seminars while leftists captured voter rolls.

Seminars dont count -- real time analysis does. Real time voter roll analysis changes all the rules.

When election rolls can be cross-searched against property tax records, at 200 million transactions-per-second, which is pretty fast, and yield insights into ones voter rolls never seen before -- like time series analysis -- narratives change.

Our team is currently doing live demonstrations in 20 states, to state legislators, elected officials, one Secretary of State. Individuals and small groups are funding proofs-of-concept on their states rolls -- then showing the live results to recalcitrant elected officials.

Real time analysis, using the governments address database to contradict its own voter registration database, is convincing that 4th grader that yes, the 2020 election was a fraud.

Jay Valentine led the team that built the eBay fraud engine. Omega4America educates state officials on how to clean voter rolls with a non-intrusive, parallel system. His team runs the worlds largest election & FEC database with over 1.7 billion records and the Undeliverable Ballot Database. He can be reached at Omega4America.com and his X account is @AmericaOme17300

Image: Pexels, Markus Winkler
As a general rule, a prosecutor cant establish criminality unless he demonstrates criminal intent. For that reason, Special Counsel Jack Smith is trying to establish that President Trump knew for a fact that he had lost the election. I have a problem with Smiths reasoning because, to this day, I am certain that Trump did not lose the election. Here is some of the evidence.

Strange ballots in Fulton County

A review of Fulton Countys 147,000 mail-in paper ballots has been continuously blocked by the Georgia Secretary of State. However, a diligent nonprofit organization (VoterGA.org) managed to get some low-resolution ballot images of Fultons ballots. The findings are astonishing, and entirely verifiable:

In Georgia, every scanned ballot has to produce two files: an image file (.tif) and an authentication file (.sha). Those two files are produced simultaneously. Yet, for more than 16,000 ballots, the authentication files were made hours or even days after the image files. How is that possible? 17,724 final certified recount presidential votes have no image (.tif) files. They have no support whatever. This appears to be another impossibility because the image is needed to create a cast vote record, which is needed to tabulate the vote. It is possible that Fulton County discovered a ballot shortage in the recount. Rather than concede that Trump may have won, someone stuffed 17,000 paper ballots into cardboard boxes. However, the person didnt make a scanned image of each ballot because the dates on the scans would have revealed the hoax. 132,284 mail-in ballot images (.tif files) cannot be authenticated due to missing .sha files.

Those are just three of the 15 findings that were itemized by VoterGA. See its video presentation @27:00. For images of Georgia ballots and evidence of more irregularities and impossibilities, see GAballots.com .

More ballots than voters in Pennsylvania

In violation of PA law (25 PA. Stat. 3154), the election was certified with a massive excess of ballots over voters. To be clear, I am talking about the excess of ballots over registered voters who actually voted (not the excess over all registered voters).

The 202,000 voter deficit was a key reason many Republicans, including at least 16 members of the Pennsylvania Assembly, wanted Vice President Mike Pence to delay announcement of the electors for 10 days. They naively thought there is supposed to be just one ballot for every voter. Details, details.

Months after the election was certified, the excess remained. A fine organization, Verity Vote, attempted to shed light on the matter by preparing a detailed analysis based on information obtained from numerous Right to Know requests. Verity Vote estimated that, as of early 2021, the voter deficit was about 121,000. Later, I submitted my own Right to Know requests. Based on the updated information produced from those requests, and generously interpreting the information in the most favorable way for the Secretary of State, my estimate was 91,000. Either way, the deficit is substantially more than Bidens official winning margin.

Jesse Morgan and his tractor trailer of ballots

There is information that may corroborate the voter deficit we just discussed. Jesse Morgan was a subcontractor tractor trailer driver for the U.S. Postal Service. He has consistently stated that he transported up to 280,000 completed ballots from New York to Pennsylvania, shortly before the election.

The Post Office Inspector General (OIG) investigated, and in its highly-redacted Closing Memorandum, the OIG does not deny that Morgan was a subcontractor truck driver who took mail from Bethpage to Harrisburg, and then to Lancaster. In addition, the OIG acknowledges that a contractor in Rochester, New York printed 650,000 general election ballots that somehow went to the Philadelphia area before the election (450,000 ballots to Philadelphia County and 200,000 to Chester County).

Here is the fascinating part. In explaining how the printing company delivered those ballots to the Pennsylvania counties, the OIG states:

[Redacted name of printing company] explained, but could not confirm, the ballots for both PA BOEs [Pennsylvania Boards of Elections] were most likely delivered to those respective locations by their delivery trucks, or entered in the mail stream locally in Rochester, NY (emphasis added).

So, the printing company produced 650,000 general election ballots, which were probably sold for a great amount of money. Yet, that company didnt know -- a year and a half after later -- how it managed to get the ballots into Pennsylvania? Did it use its own trucks, or the postal service? See Closing Memorandum, page 12.

Even more amazing is the fact that the Post Office could not figure out whether or not it took the 650,000 ballots into Pennsylvania. Maybe it did, and maybe it didnt. I guess the Post Office doesnt use tracking.

Fact: Michigan had an illegal election

Prior to the 2020 election, the Michigan Secretary of State, Jocelyn Benson, said signature matching was the best way to authenticate ballots. After making that statement, however, Benson gutted the signature standard by telling election clerks to presume signatures were valid. So, there was absolutely no way to authenticate ballots in Michigan.

Trump sued to require signature verification, and he won -- four months after the election. That is when a judge ruled that Jocelyn Benson had broken the law. Due to her actions, the Michigan election is invalid, and should be decertified.

Arizona and the phony overseas military vote

Imagine this: In Maricopa County, where Trump received about 49 percent of the vote and Biden got about 51 percent, the overseas military and citizens vote split like this: Trump 5 percent and Biden 95 percent. In addition, there was almost no documentation to support those bizarre numbers, which accounted for 8,000 of Bidens 10,400 vote winning margin. See video @1:53.

Arizona evidence of 204,000 harvested ballots

In Maricopa County, a panel of six people, including three document examiners, determined that 12 percent of sampled mail-in ballots appeared to be phony. It was a six to zero decision that implies that 204,000 mail-in ballots were phony, countywide. That would be almost 20 times Bidens winning margin. No one has successfully challenged this state-of-the-art test, prepared by Dr. Shiva Ayyadurai.

Pima county and the allegation of ballot stuffing for Biden

Way back in 2020, this allegation went to the criminal division of the Department of Justice (DoJ) in Washington, but the DoJ isnt talking. An anonymous whistleblower said he was at a meeting of Democrats where a plan was hatched to add 35,000 votes to Bidens totals. I have repeatedly tried to get information from the DoJ, but have been ignored. Thanks to Dr. Shiva Ayyadurai and his unique and brilliant statistical analysis, we know that this allegation is highly credible.

Conclusion

Jack Smith would have zero chance of getting a conviction, if this trial were held in a neutral venue. However, it will be in Washington D.C., where about 95 percent of the citizens are Democrats. For this reason, Trump and the other defendants may have to win this one on appeal.

For more information concerning these matters, check out of Debunked? and How Elections are Stolen, a new book that outlines 23 problems that must be fixed before the 2024 elections.

Joe Fried is an Ohio-based CPA who performed and reviewed hundreds of certified financial audits in his 40-year career. More information can be found at https://joefriedcpa.substack.com/ and at https://josephfried.com.

Image: Gage Skidmore
Andrea Widburg reported recently that John Lauro, a lawyer defending Trump against the Jack Smith witch hunt, will request that cameras be allowed in the courtroom during the trial.

As Widburg notes, this argument looks like a long shot, because the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure specifically forbid cameras. Rule 53 says: "Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom."

But not so fast, because the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution says: "In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed." In addition, the First Amendment is implicated, because the public has a right to hear information, and media and other interested parties have a right to obtain and communicate it.

The logical question is whether these constitutional guarantees trump Rule 53, if the defendant either desires this or has no objection. Does the defendant's right to a "public" trial extend to a right to a "broadcast" trial, or only to a right to have the public admitted to the courtroom? The same is true for the First Amendment  does the right to attend a trial encompass a right to broadcast it?

Rule 53 is defended by two sets of arguments. The first is the fear that cameras would worsen a media circus that compromises the right of the accused to a fair trial, with famous examples being the Lindbergh kidnapping case and the Sam Sheppard murder trial. Indeed, the Supreme Court held in Estes v. Texas that a television circus of a trial despite a defendant's objections violated his right to due process of law.

The second fear is that broadcasting might unnerve witnesses and jurors, apprise future witnesses of earlier testimony, or otherwise have a negative impact on the trial itself and on the dignity of the proceedings.

If the defendant desires cameras, then the first of these has no weight. The second is worthy of concern, but not undue, and it must be interpreted with recognition of the fact that the ban on broadcasting is primarily to protect the defendant.

So the basic issue is whether a defendant who wants the proceedings broadcast has a Sixth Amendment right that negates Rule 53. As an ancillary question, does the media's/public's interest in effective access outweigh concerns about a negative impact?

So far, the courts have rejected both arguments, deciding that the Sixth and First Amendments require only that public have physical access to the courtroom during the trial. (See U.S. v Hastings, 1983.)

The reasoning underlying this conclusion is weak to nonexistent, relying mostly on the literal meaning of the term "public." But only an autistic originalist can argue that because the Founders did not specify camera access in 1787, it cannot be required now. For comparison, note that Fourth Amendment protections extend to electronic communications, which were equally unheard of in 1787. Adapting the terms of the Constitution to present-day technologies is how judges earn their pay.

A better guide is provided by the underlying principles of Richmond Newspapers v. Virginia, the 1980 case in which the Supreme Court established that the media have a First Amendment right of access to criminal trials. The case is full of exhortations concerning the importance of transparency in the administration of justice, such as the following:

In guaranteeing freedoms such as those of speech and press, the First Amendment can be read as protecting the right of everyone to attend trials so as to give meaning to those explicit guarantees [of freedom of speech and press]. "[T]he First Amendment goes beyond protection of the press and the self expression of individuals to prohibit government from limiting the stock of information from which members of the public may draw." Free speech carries with it some freedom to listen. "In a variety of contexts this Court has referred to a First Amendment right to 'receive information and ideas.'" "For the First Amendment does not speak equivocally. ... It must be taken as a command of the broadest scope that explicit language, read in the context of a liberty-loving society, will allow."

Extending the constitutional logic of Richmond Newspapers to require broadcast access in U.S. v. Trump is not just an easy step, but a necessary one.

But there is more. Trump himself, not just the media, should have a First Amendment right to have the proceedings broadcast as a part of his efforts to communicate politically.

As Widburg documents, a major contention in Trump is that the government is manipulating the system so as to try the case in a jurisdiction that is overwhelmingly hostile to him in front of judges whose impartiality is, to put it politely, open to question. The whole nation should be able to judge this, not just the few who can squeeze into a D.C. courtroom, especially when another important part of the overall context is strong allegations of government censorship of the media. "The knowledge that every criminal trial is subject to contemporaneous review in the forum of public opinion is an effective restraint on possible abuse of judicial power" (In re Oliver, Supreme Court, 1948).

Give the last word to Justices Brennan and Marshall in Richmond Newspapers:

[O]pen trials are bulwarks of our free and democratic government: public access to court proceedings is one of the numerous "checks and balances" of our system, because "contemporaneous review in the forum of public opinion is an effective restraint on possible abuse of judicial power," [Citation] Indeed, the Court focused with particularity upon the public trial guarantee "as a safeguard against any attempt to employ our courts as instruments of persecution," or "for the suppression of political and religious heresies." ... [O]pen trials are indispensable to First Amendment political and religious freedoms.

James V DeLong is a graduate of the Harvard Law School, where he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review.

Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.
When it comes to Joe Biden's knowledge of and possible complicity in Hunter Biden's dealings with foreign businesses and businesses connected to foreign governments during his father's vice presidency, the big questions are "Did Joe Biden know what was going on, did he participate in what was going on, did he profit from what was going on, and did he alter American foreign policy based upon that profit?"

The contents of Hunter Biden's laptop indicated that the answer to each question is yes. There's also emerging evidence that proves that the answer to each question is yes. It now turns out that one of Hunter's business associates had dozens of trips to the White House and Joe Biden's office and residence during the Obama presidency.

This time, the associate isn't Devon Archer or Tony Bobulinski, neither of whom claims to have met with Joe Biden very often. Instead, it's Eric Schwerin, who, along with Hunter Biden, founded the now defunct Rosemont Seneca Partners and also served as its managing partner. It was in that capacity that then-president Obama appointed (and, later reappointed) Schwerin to the Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad.



Image: Eric Schwerin. Facebook.

Just as a reminder, It was Rosemont Seneca Partners that was the vehicle through which Hunter conducted most of his deals with foreign corporations, especially those related to China's government. It's no coincidence that Wikipedia deleted Rosemont Seneca Partners. The partnership made it impossible to ignore the probable connection between Joe Biden and those same deals.

It's now emerged that Eric Schwerin, Hunter's business partner, made literally dozens of visits to the White House and to Joe Biden's residence during Obama's presidency, which is about 30% more than previously reported:

Hunter Biden's former friend and longtime business partner visited the Obama White House and then-Vice President Joe Biden's residence dozens of times between 2009 and 2016, likely to make him the next target of the House Oversight Committee's investigation into Hunter Biden's foreign business dealings. [snip] The number of Schwerin's White House visits could be much higher than 36 if any of his meetings fell under the White House voluntary disclosure policy exception of "purely personal guests," due to his handling of the Biden family's personal finances. [snip] One of Schwerin's visits - in November 2010 - was a sit-down with Joe Biden in the West Wing. Schwerin also visited Joe Biden's residence at least 15 times for various holiday receptions, including the Dec. 12 holiday reception in 2015 that came a couple of days after then-Vice President Biden's infamous trip to Ukraine, where he threatened to withhold $1 billion in U.S. aid if the country's leaders did not fire their top prosecutor.

The same article details all sorts of other visits Schwerin had to the White House and the vice president's office, including visits with Anne Marie Person, who started at Rosemont Seneca before joining Biden's staff.

Biden's spokespeople will say, of course, that Schwerin was at the White House because of the Commission, but I wonder if anyone believes that either Obama or Joe cared greatly about a Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad. They'll also say he was there because of Biden's personal finances, which is certainly a colorable argument.

But why would that see Schwerin meeting in 2016 "with Steve Ricchetti, who was Biden's chief of staff" on at least two occasions? Or attending receptions with other Rosemont Seneca partners? Or why he had at least three visits with staffers from Biden's office?

The net is closing. In answer to those four questions I posed above, the evidence is mounting that Joe Biden knew exactly what Hunter was doing, that he made sure that the foreign corporations and governments knew that he was on board, that he profited from these deals, and that he altered American policy in exchange for those profits.
Filmmaker Oliver Stone, known for masterly films such as JFK, Platoon, Natural Born Killers, and Wall Street, recently spoke at length on comedian Russell Brand's podcast regarding a range of issues.

Stone was promoting his latest documentary Ukraine on Fire, which details the U.S. using Ukraine as a proxy against Russia for many years. It also covers the ousting of Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych following a "coup d'etat" aided by the Obama administration in 2014.

Stone began by explaining the origins of the Ukraine war:

You have to look at the reasons for this war, and whenever you do, the Americans like to simplify and say its a question of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. That's very simplistic and very black-and-white.

Recounting the production of Ukraine on Fire, he argued that the film "explains the origins of this war in the coup d'etat of 2014 which was sponsored and supported thoroughly by the United States" and that "it was a very deep plan to penetrate the Russian Federation."

Stone slammed the "neoconservative movement who started the war in Iraq" and whose members remain "deep inside our government."

Stone excoriated Joe Biden, calling him "an old cold warrior" who "really hates the old Soviet Union which he confounds again with the Russian Federation, which is not communist."

Stone rightly warned that unless the United States changes its "suicidal" course, it faces a "potential World War III."

"If we don't stop this, what Biden is doing, this guy is  I voted for him  I made a mistake, I was thinking he was an old man now that he would calm down, that he would be more mellow and so forth, I didn't see that at all," he said.

Stone also conceded what most reasonable people would admit after seeing Biden struggle to make sense of words on a teleprompter or on finding he was on the White House lawn.

"I see a man who maybe is not in charge of his own administration. Who knows?"

Stone warned:

It seems that he's dragging us stupidly into a confrontation with a power that is not going to give. This is their borders. This is their world. This is NATO going into Ukraine. This is a whole other story.

Stone also denounced under secretary of state for political affairs Victoria Nuland, national security adviser Jake Sullivan, and secretary of state Antony Blinken.

He also argued that the conflict has the United States being "dragged" into a volatile conflict similar to that sparked in the Balkans in World War I.

Stone noted the ethnic complexity of this conflict in that U.S. "allies are rabid anti-Russian people" and have been fighting against ethnic Russians who live in eastern Ukraine, claiming that the media do not recognize that these ethnic Russians have been seeking autonomy, saying, "That's all they asked for in 2014."

Stone revealed that negotiations for ethnic Russian autonomy in eastern Ukraine had almost been reached toward the start of the war in 2022, until "America squelched it," suggesting, "They didn't want the deal, they didn't want the peace treaty. They don't want to give autonomy to Donetsk and Lugansk. Now look where we are. It's gotten worse, and it's going to get worse."

Stone also opined that Russia specializes in nuclear energy, which could be of great help to the U.S.

So what does one make of all this?

Before President Trump, D.C. had a convenient arrangement. Democrats and Republicans pretended to stand for different issues and "despised" each other.

The GOP pretended to be the war-mongers, while the Democrats claimed they were the peaceniks.

The Republicans would say "we're fighting them over there so we don't have to fight them here," while Democrats claimed to oppose American military interventions abroad.

But when it came to voting for wars, they all supported interventions, such as the Iraq War. Democrat mouthpieces such as The New York Times promoted the war in Iraq.

To keep the public busy, they focused on divisive social issues such as redefining marriage and abortion. As important as these issues were, they were meant as tools for distraction.

It caused people to vote out Republican George H. W. Bush in favor of Democrat Bill Clinton. People then elected Republican George W. Bush, followed by Democrat Barack Obama.

With every new president, the public believed they were beginning afresh, but instead, they were loyal to the military-industrial complex in either beginning or continuing optional foreign military interventions.

Hollywood too played this game; they all claimed to be liberals and hence peaceniks. Most pictures during the Bush era, such as the Jason Bourne and Jack Ryan films, depicted the U.S. government and its agencies as villains.

Michael Moore famously attacked Bush for the war in Iraq in an Oscars speech:

Predictably, Bush-supporters despised the move, while Democrats cheered him, and the charade continued.

If these people were really peaceniks, then they would have all supported President Trump because he is the only modern president not to begin a new foreign conflict.

But nothing of the kind occurred.

In D.C., funding for the Ukraine war has been one of the rare displays of unanimity.

How is Hollywood reacting?

Michael Moore is meekly critical of the war but hasn't blamed Biden.

The rest of Hollywood no longer condemns war because warring is the new groupthink.

They instead focus on worshiping Ukrainian president Zelensky. Hollywood stars such as Sean Penn, Ben Stiller, Jessica Chastain, and Angelina Jolie posed alongside Zelensky.

Zelensky was allowed to deliver speeches at the Grammys and the Golden Globe Awards:

The adulation that Zelensky received from Hollywood was enough to make Obama jealous.

In all this slobbering, Oliver Stone is a welcome change.

You may not have agreed with Stone in the past and perhaps not even now, but he was, is, and continues to be an antiwar crusader. He isnt changing his opinion based on the direction of the wind.

By slamming Biden and the Ukraine war, Stone will doubtless be blacklisted in Hollywood. It is unlikely he will ever work in the mainstream again, and he may never even make a new movie, documentary, or television series.

Unlike his peers, who have changed their tune on the command of the establishment to facilitate career and pecuniary prosperity, Stone seems to be standing by his convictions.

They say the true character of a man is revealed when he takes a stand on the moral ground that goes against his interests.

Stone deserves plaudits, much like the journalists such as Glenn Greenwald and Matt Taibi, who haven't changed their tune merely to remain in the mainstream, do.

How will Hollywood and D.C. react to Stone?

They will brand Stone a stooge of President Putin and dismiss him. They will claim he is pushing the Kremlin's narrative.

Oliver Stone should wear these attacks from Hollywood like medals of honor.

Image: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, unaltered.
In October 2020, during the heat of the presidential election, the mainstream media were defending and denying there was any wrongdoing by thenvice president Biden. USA Today published a column titled "Fact check: Biden leveraged $1B in aid to Ukraine to oust corrupt prosecutor, not to help his son."

The problem with this defense is that, while it claims there is no connection between Joe Biden and his son Hunter, that is a moot point where Joe Biden's guilt or innocence is concerned.

Congressman Daniel Goldman (D-N.Y.), representing Manhattan and Brooklyn, now claims that what Joe Biden did with his son's business partners was talk about the weather  all twenty times. This was reported in The New York Post.

Daniel Goldman was the lead prosecutor in the impeachment of President Trump. He even announced his candidacy for Congress during the impeachment. His claim that President Trump had committed an impeachable offense for looking into the corruption of Joe Biden's involvement in Ukraine is ironic and hypocritical  especially since there is a well known video of Joe Biden bragging that he got a foreign official to fire a prosecutor by leveraging one billion in taxpayer dollars.

Jonathan Turley calls Dan Goldman's account of Devon Archers testimony describing the relationship among Hunter Biden, Joe Biden, and Hunter Biden's business dealings an insult to the intelligence of voters. Goldman's description of what Joe Biden did, getting the prosecutor in Ukraine fired, is convoluted. His excuse for Joe Biden is not legitimate.

Goldman's claim that there is no evidence that links Joe Biden to Hunter's business dealings is an incomplete statement. I will complete the statement for Mr. Goldman  "that I, Dan Goldman, am capable of comprehending." Perhaps he is that incompetent as an attorney. Why should we question that?

He also points a finger at Donald Trump, claiming that President Trump used the government for his own personal gain. Jonathan Turley disputes all of Goldman's points in an interview on Fox News. He correctly states that what we are looking at, where President Biden and his family are concerned, is one of the most significant corruption scandals in our nation's history.

If Joe Biden, whether as the vice president or simply a United States citizen, had used his own billion dollars to bribe the foreign official, it would be a violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). The reason or motive is not required when violating of the FCPA. For him to have used federal dollars adds to the charges.

Here is the definition of the FCPA, as explained in its first paragraph:

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, 15 U.S.C.  78dd-1, et seq. ("FCPA"), was enacted for the purpose of making it unlawful for certain classes of persons and entities to make payments to foreign government officials to assist in obtaining or retaining business. Specifically, the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA prohibit the willful use of the mails or any means of instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of any offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment of money or anything of value to any person, while knowing that all or a portion of such money or thing of value will be offered, given or promised, directly or indirectly, to a foreign official to influence the foreign official in his or her official capacity, induce the foreign official to do or omit to do an act in violation of his or her lawful duty, or to secure any improper advantage in order to assist in obtaining or retaining business for or with, or directing business to, any person.

The fact is, President Trump had the right, even an obligation, to look into any corruption in Ukraine, even if it was by Joe Biden, who admitted to it in a video. He even bragged about it, and indirectly may have even implicated President Obama. He clearly says that President Obama would withhold "the billion dollars." President Trump, before he was going to authorize any more money to Ukraine, had reason to look into whether or not the money was going to be used for its intended purpose and not misappropriated.

As far as what we keep hearing, that there is no evidence that Biden's shakedown of the Ukraine president to fire the prosecutor, as he himself bragged about doing, is related in any way to Hunter Biden, that makes no difference. Bribing the official is by itself a violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Using federal funds makes it even more egregious. Why Biden did it makes no difference.

To give a legal analogy, saying they need a reason or motive, even if it was to get a corrupt prosecutor fired, which is the other defense pundits offer for Biden, is equivalent to saying, "The suspect committed murder, but we don't know the motive, so we aren't going to charge him with a crime."

I can understand that a prosecutor would want to tie the act to Hunter Biden, but it's not necessary to do that to indict President Biden. While they keep saying you can't indict a sitting president, these same people impeached a citizen who was a former president. They impeached a president for investigating what we now see is a crime committed by a former vice president and U.S. senator. We also see what the Biden Justice Department is doing to his leading political opponent.

We have always claimed the United States is a country of laws, but we are becoming a country of politicians who make up their own rules and laws. What do we call that kind of country? We need to make sure our elected officials remember that we are a republic and remind them of what that means.

President Biden, you've been accused of stealing speeches, plagiarizing, and lying. Let's hear you steal this from Richard Nixon: "The people need to know if their president is a crook. Well, I'm not a crook."

Come on, man!

David Ennocenti is a retired accountant and graduate of the State University of N.Y. at Buffalo, School of Management with a degree in accounting and finance. He passed the CPA Examination in 1983. His writing has appeared in The American Thinker, USA Today, The New York Times, and several other publications. His screenplay, Sniper Queen, was an official selection of The Artemis Women in Action Films Festival. He is a past winner of the Writer's Digest Annual Competition. His essay "1984 Arrived: Now What? How Progressive Policies Decimated a Once Vibrant Community" and his political TV pilot screenplay "Blood on the Hill" are available on Amazon.

Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.
Economist Thomas Sowell, one of America's finest thinkers, wrote an excellent book called Intellectuals and Society that I would encourage anyone to read. Its main argument is that "elitists" who have been inflated with academic ideas and theories think of themselves as morally superior, and entitled to advance their idealisms by any means possible, including breaking the law, out of a sense of "justice" and especially if their causes can be characterized as urgent or an emergency. Pretext is the fuel that powers the left's ideology.

This is a fascinating issue because the so-called intellectual class  embodied by the current political left and the "Biden" administration  are, in reality, living an illusion, both in their person and socially. Sowell distinguishes intellectuals by their life, "which begins and ends with ideas." This explains all the Biden administration's negative policy, from imaginary "green" energy systems to onerous carbon taxes, invasive biosecurity, illegal immigration, discriminatory affirmative action, hostile agricultural policy, deliberate war instigation, lack of U.S. military preparedness, and more.

This raises the "intellect versus intelligence" problem. As Sowell puts it, "[i]ntelligence minus judgment equals intellect." But this especially highlights the difference between the Biden and Trump administrations. Trump was a businessman, and his Cabinet was drawn almost exclusively from business and industry, from people with work experience. That filled the progressive left with irrational contempt and partly explains its obsession with silencing Trump (and its willingness to systematically violate election law and the Constitution). The Biden team by contrast is made up of college students, intellectuals, ideologues, and even extremists using methods described as terroristic (such as the DNC-financed Summer of 2020 riots).

This naturally raises an alternative way of thinking, which might be called "American pragmatism." Trump was clearly a pragmatist, and American pragmatism looms as a constant threat to the progressive left.

Pragmatism has a special history in American thought and culture. What does pragmatism mean? It generally holds out that meaning and truth come from practical outcomes and that foreign policy also reflects a "realpolitik" approach of realism. It is inherently American.

When a society is focused on tangible problems that require human ingenuity and physical skill, the demands of such problem-solving suddenly make theories and internal division less important  it elevates practicality and cooperation as the predominant manner of thinking and acting.

This is also why "intellectuals" as a group are generally attracted to government (as they perceive it): government is a top-down institutional opportunity to bypass practical work. Actual work comes from the ground up, in cooperation (and compromise) with others. Intellectuals, on the other hand, don't like that, because they don't like to actually work, or cooperate, compromise, or do; they prefer to talk, divide, take, and imagine. Conservatism defends the rule of law and consent. The radical left's social psychology is the rule of rule and executive decree. Trump instinctively knew this as a businessman, and this created an instant clash of cultures: one pragmatic, practical, and experienced, the other idealistic, theoretical, and naive.

Perhaps nowhere is this psychology incubated and grown so systematically more than within our nation's law schools. Unlike the other professional schools of business, engineering, and medicine, which have to focus on important, often inspiring challenges, the law school deals in ideas, so it generally attracts individuals who seek to work their ideas through the intellectual abstractions of legalism.

As an example, look only to the DoJ and its use of legal procedure to silence political opponents and harass a former U.S. president. No other body of knowledge can so smoothly accommodate and facilitate political corruption. Ironically, law is used to corrupt law itself. When law becomes institutionalized, then the institution becomes the law. In this way, all law is threatened by institutional force, which can be used to violate constitutional principles including due process, presumption, evidence, property, privacy, speech, religion, and affiliation.

Many conservatives are searching for an organizing concept to both understand and then competitively counter, the misguided and destructive impulses of the political left. American pragmatism may be that concept. It defends what the left hates most: Americanism, Americans, and America itself.

Matthew G. Andersson is the author of the upcoming book Legally Blind. A former CEO, he has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, the New York Times and by the National Academy of Sciences in law and economics. He has testified before the U.S. Senate and is a graduate of the University of Chicago. He studied with White House national security advisor W.W. Rostow at the LBJ School of Public Affairs.

Image: PxFuel.
Gunpowder, a volatile and explosive substance composed of saltpeter, charcoal, and sulfur, has played a significant role in shaping history. However, its storage and handling have often resulted in catastrophic accidents. One of the most devastating gunpowder related accidents occurred in Beijing in the early 17th century. The explosion that resulted has been ranked as one of the biggest in history.

The incident occurred at the Wanggongchang Armory, which was one of several arms depot situated within the capital. Administered by the Ministry of Works, these depots were responsible for both the production of gunpowder and the storage of armor, firearms, bows, and ammunition. These armories held great significance for Beijing's security and the preparedness of Ming China's defense forces. This is why they were strategically placed within the heart of the capital, shielded by its formidable and robust walls. Unfortunately, this was also the area where a majority of the population resided. It didn't take long for the tragic consequences of establishing an explosives manufacturing facility in a residential vicinity to become evident.

Photo credit: vecstock/Freepik

In the morning of May 30, 1626, residents of Beijing noticed a plume of smoke rising from the Wanggongchang Armory followed by a loud rumbling and shaking of houses. Then a bright flash of light was seen. Moments later a huge bang was heard that shattered the sky and crumbled the earth. An immense mushroom cloud was seen towering above the city.

The explosion flattened everything within an area of two square kilometers surrounding the site. Thousands of people who were nearby at the time perished and thousands of houses were left in ashes. Buildings and other structures were demolished by the explosive force and their fragments scattered on the street. The force of the explosion was so great that large trees were uprooted and thrown on the opposite side of the city. A 2.5 ton stone lion was thrown over the city wall.

The thundering explosion was heard in Tongzhou, which was 20 kilometers away to the southeast, in Changping, 40 kilometers to the northwest, and in Miyun about 100 kilometers to the northeast. Trembling was felt more than 150 kilometers away. In Jizhou, located more than 100 kilometers away from Beijing, contemporary sources reported that hundreds of houses suddenly collapsed at the time of the explosion.

The explosive force tore away peoples bodies, transforming them into bloody fragments. These body parts were carried over large distances where it rained down from the sky. The official Peking Gazette gave a shocking report:

In the area near Changan Boulevard, human heads flew down from the sky. Eyebrows and noses, sometimes even a forehead, descended one after another.... Outside Desheng Gate, even more human arms and legs dropped down.

In the book A Sketch of Sites and Objects in the Imperial Capital, published nine years after the incident, Beijing scholars Liu Tong and Yu Yizheng describe the extraordinary sight of the mushroom cloud and gives a summary of its horrifying aftermath:

The scene [resembled] entangled silk threads, the crest of a tidal wave, iridescent hues, a black lingzhi fungus, all rushing into the sky. This was the disaster that happened in the Imperial Gunpowder Workshop. From Fucheng Gate in the east to Ministry of Justice Street in the north, within an area of four li by thirteen li, houses collapsed and the ground caved in. Trees, stones, people, and birds poured down to earth from the sky like rainfall. Thousands of houses were razed; hundreds of people were killed. The smell of burning [was everywhere]; ashes blinded eyes; wailing could be heard around the city. The deceased were all naked. There were people who had lost hands, feet, heads, or eyes, and these parts were found outside the city. Objects were moved from their original locations and dropped elsewhere.

Emperor Tianqis own son and his only remaining heir, then a seven-month old baby, was killed from the shock of the explosion. Many government officials were killed, injured or went missing during the explosion, and some were reportedly buried alive in their own homes. The Minister of Works, Dong Kewei, broke both arms and subsequently had no choice but to withdraw entirely from political engagements.

The Wanggongchang Explosion, also referred to as the Great Tianqi Explosion, has been classified among the largest non-military detonations in history, along with incidents such as the explosions in Beirut (2020), Tianjin (2015), Port Chicago (1944), and Halifax (1917). While it's challenging to provide an exact measure of the released energy, indications suggest that the Wanggongchang explosion was somewhat less potent compared to some of these other events. Claims that the explosion's magnitude was on par with the atomic bomb impact on Hiroshima are undoubtedly an exaggeration. Nevertheless, the casualty count was notably higher due to the explosion occurring at the heart of what was then one of the most densely populated cities globally.

Portrait of the Tianqi emperor in court costume. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Determining the root cause behind the explosion presented a formidable challenge. The detonation had erased any remnants of the disaster site, leaving scant evidence for investigative efforts. Nevertheless, it was initially suggested that the incident was an act of sabotage carried out by spies of the state. But later, the official investigation concluded that the explosion was a "heavenly incident", symbolizing the disorder and misgovernance prevalent during Emperor Tianqi's reign.

This catastrophe unfolded amidst a period of turmoil for the Ming Dynasty, marked by pervasive corruption, internal strife, and a succession of natural catastrophes that incited uprisings among the peasantry. Yet, the magnitude of the Wanggongchang Explosion overshadowed all these challenges. Numerous factions of officials, including those aligned with the Donglin movement, a vocal critic of the court, contended that an occurrence of this magnitude signified Heaven's dissatisfaction with the ruling dynasty. It was seen as a celestial reprimand from above, underscoring the emperor's ineptitude.

The Wanggong Explosion played a pivotal role in hastening the downfall of the Ming dynasty. The obliteration of the Wanggong Armory, a vast repository and production center for firearms and ammunition, inflicted a significant blow from which the Ming military could not recover. The extensive relief and rescue operation placed an immense burden on the already strained Ming government budget. This financial strain was exacerbated by escalating military expenditures in Manchuria against the Jurchen rebellion led by Nurhaci, coupled with widespread tax resistance among the affluent upper middle class in the southern regions.

The perception that the incident was a celestial retribution for the personal shortcomings of Emperor Tianqi further corroded public respect and confidence in the Ming monarchy's authority. Moreover, the Wanggongchang Explosion tragically claimed the life of Emperor Tianqi's sole surviving son, leaving him without an heir. Emperor Tianqi himself would pass away the subsequent year. A mere 18 years after the calamity, the Ming dynasty crumbled, yielding to the Manchu-led Qing Dynasty as its successor.

References:

# Naixi Feng, Mushroom Cloud Over the Northern Capital, Johns Hopkins University Press

# A 17th-century mushroom cloud: The Wanggongchang explosion, The China Project
Technology has been for many things, maintaining security and upholding the law being among them. However, the innovations we have now are still far from perfect, especially when it comes to facial recognition, so much so that this particular technology led to an innocent pregnant woman being jailed.

Facial Recognition Gone Wrong

The Detroit police resorted to facial recognition technology to track down the perpetrator for a robbery and carjacking. This eventually led to the arrest of a 32-year-old woman who was eight months pregnant, Porcha Woodruff.

As it turns out, the arrested was actually innocent of the crime. Woodruff was held by the police for 11 hours, questioned, and had her phone confiscated to be scanned for evidence. She was charged in court with the crime and ended up being released on a $100,000 personal bond.

The police used DataWorks Plus to conduct the facial scan through the surveillance footage. It was then matched with Woodruff's previous mug shot from 2015 which was an unrelated crime. To make it worse, the victim of the robbery identified Woodruff as the thief in a photo lineup.

A month after the mistaken arrest, Porcha Woodruff filed a lawsuit for wrongful arrest against the city of Detroit. The city's police chief, James E. White, says that the allegations are concerning and that the matter is being taken seriously, as mentioned in Ars Technica.

Reports show that the incident is not the first to happen. Facial recognition has led to three other wrongful accusations in Detroit alone, out of six that have happened overall. Another concern is that all of the victims of false recognition were said to be black.

Woodruff is not the only one filing a lawsuit against the city for wrongful arrest. There are three other related lawsuits brought on by facial recognition. American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan is already calling for the city to end the practice due to false arrests.

These mistaken identifications alone should already be enough to convince the police to cease the use of the technology for the time being, at least until they develop one that's more accurate to avoid further unfortunate circumstances that may lead to more lawsuits.

Read Also: The Future of Facial Recognition: What You Need to Know

Why Facial Recognition Might Do More Harm

The case of Porcha Woodruff is just one factor that fuels the argument of facial recognition not being a good idea. Aside from it not being advanced enough to avoid wrongful arrests, it also poses a threat to people's privacy.

Some even argue that the technology is a stepping stone to an Orwellian future. These records will stay in the police databases, which could pose a threat if they got into the wrong hands. Threat actors could use this data to conduct fraudulent activities or track people.

A lot of security systems are also not of high enough quality to match the requirements that facial recognition requires, as pointed out by Tech Business Guide. Low light, image, or video quality will greatly affect how the system could identify a person accurately.

Related: Ministers Plan to Add Facial Recognition Technology on Police Body Cams
There are tons of ways to transfer data from the real world to your phone, and QR codes are one of them. This nearly 30-year-old technology comes in clutch today, and its pretty simple to use. However, according to techradar, Android will make scanning QR codes even easier.

If you use Android, and you dont know how to scan QR codes, there are a couple of ways to do so. Depending on who made your phone, you might be able to scan codes using your pre-installed camera app. If not, you can use Google Lens; tap on the camera icon on the Google Search bar.

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Phones running stock or near-stock Android 13 or newer will have a dedicated QR code reader in their quick settings. If you dont see it, you will need to edit your quick settings.

Android will make scanning QR codes easier

The act of scanning QR codes isnt all that hard; you just point and shoot. The reader will display the address for you to follow. Just tap on it and youll be taken to the page or app.

However, there are times when the QR code youre reading just isnt as accessible as youd like. Maybe its across a store or in some hard-to-reach location. Lining up your camera to scan the code can be a hassle. This is where Google comes in. The company is working on a new API that will allow the QR reader to automatically identify a code and zoom in to read it.

The QR code scanner in Android 13+ uses ML Kit's Barcode Scanning library, by the way, so it's possible that it could add support for auto-zoom in the future!https://t.co/9yVPzyC5DB  Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) August 3, 2023

So, if youre trying to scan a QR code from across the room, the QR scanner will lock onto the code and automatically zoom in. Were not sure if the camera will use some sort of image sharpening or enhancement to make the zoomed-in image easier to read, but that would be nice.

Its not available to the public. Its an API that Google is distributing to developers. So, chances are that youll see it pop up for third-party QR code scanners. Also, the feature could be available natively on Android 14 when it launches. Speaking of Android 14, it should be making it to the public in a few weeks.
Samsung has released the August 2023 security update for a couple more Galaxy devices. The Galaxy S20 FE 5G and Galaxy Note 20 series are the latest to get the new security patch. The company has already pushed the update to the Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy Z Fold 4, Galaxy Z Flip 4, and a few other models in some regions. The August SMR (Security Maintenance Release) contains fixes for more than 80 vulnerabilities.

The Galaxy S20 FE was the first Samsung device to pick up this months security update. The company began the rollout last week but only covered the 4G/LTE model initially. But now, it has expanded the rollout to the 5G model as well. As of this writing, the Galaxy S20 FE 5G is receiving the August SMR in Latin America, the same market where its 4G sibling got the update. A global release should follow in the coming days.

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The updated firmware build number for the 5G version of this Fan Edition (FE) phone is G781BXXS7HWG9. First reported by SamMobile, the update is already live in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay. Samsungs official changelog confirms that the device isnt receiving anything more than the latest security fixes, which we will discuss in more detail shortly.

Meanwhile, Samsung is pushing those fixes to the Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra as well. The same publication reports that the update is available in Southeast European countries with the build number N98*FXXS8HWH3 and in China with N98*0ZSS6HWG8. It seems we are talking about 4G models in the former region and 5G models in the latter. A wider rollout should be just around the corner.

Samsungs August 2023 update patches over 80 security issues in Galaxy devices

Samsung began rolling out the August SMR to Galaxy devices last week, but it hadnt published the content of the patch back then. We now have the details, and its a pretty big one. The latest security release fixes more than 80 vulnerabilities in Galaxy devices. 86, to be precise. 51 of those are Android flaws coming from Google and partners (including two critical issues), while the remaining 35 are Galaxy-specific patches coming directly from Samsung.

As usual, Samsung has fixed issues across various system apps, services, and components in Galaxy devices with the August SMR. These include at least one critical flaw that allowed remote code execution on affected units. If youre using a Galaxy smartphone, watch out for the latest security update in the coming days. You can manually check for new updates from the Settings app on your phone.
Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has always had a troubled history of regulating harmful content on its platforms. However, a new report from Internews has highlighted the companys operational failures within its Trusted Partner program, which is responsible for helping organisations report dangerous and harmful content on Meta.

As per the report, the Trusted Partner program, which includes over 456 global civil society and human rights groups, has been facing significant obstacles, including prolonged delays of several months in receiving responses from Meta. Additionally, to make matters worse, this sluggishness also extends to severe cases of harmful content, such as death threats, incitements to violence, and other time-critical matters.

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Two months plus. And in our emails, we tell them that the situation is urgent and people are dying. The political situation is very sensitive, and it needs to be dealt with very urgently. And then it is months without an answer, reads the report.

Disparities between responses based on the region

In addition to the widespread delay in responses, the report also highlights the regional discrepancies in Metas efforts to combat harmful content. For example, when compared to the Ukrainian partners who reported receiving responses within 72 hours, the Ethiopian partners, on the other hand, had to wait for several months just to hear the response related to the Tigray War. This delay also sadly contributed to the tragic passing of Tigrayan professor Meareg Amare, who suffered a racist assault on Facebook, where the platform allegedly failed to act promptly.

Moreover, this report echoes the disclosures from former Facebook employee Frances Haugen, whose internal documents uncovered a marked disregard for countries in South Asia and Africa, including Ethiopia.

Trusted flagger programs are vital to user safety, but Metas partners are deeply frustrated with how the program has been run, reads the report.
Earlier this year, Spotify unveiled its AI-generated DJ, and its a pretty neat idea. While its a couple of months old, its been in testing for the most part and limited to only a handful of countries. However, Spotifys DJ is making it to 50 more countries. However, theres a bit of a catch.

If you dont know what the DJ is, heres a quick rundown. Back in February, Spotify started testing a feature that would make it seem like you have your own private DJ. When you access it, youd hear an AI-generated voice introduce and give commentary on recommended songs. The voice will give introductions tailored to the user, so itll feel like you have your own personal DJ.

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If this is something that interests you, just know that you need a premium subscription to use it. Spotify Premium costs $10.99/month. This is after the recent price hike that the company went through.

Spotifys DJ is making it to 50 more countries

When DJ launched, it was for testing, so the launch was limited. It launched in the US and made its way to the UK and Ireland. Now, with this expansion, its now available in more countries. This includes countries in Asia, Europe, and Africa. The DJ is also landing in Australia and New Zealand.

There are countries like the Bahamas, Canada, Jamaica, the Philippines, Samoa, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. If you want a complete list, you can check the page here.

Now, whats the catch?

Spotifys DJ is great, and its great that its available in 50 more countries, but thats only if you can understand it. While its making its way into non-English-speaking countries, DJ is only available in English. So, people who dont speak it are out of luck.

At this point, we dont know if the company plans on bringing any other languages to the functionality. Hopefully, it does, because its a neat feature.
Microsoft has become a target for public criticism nowadays after some serious data breach incidents hit the company. Tenable CEO Amit Yoran has now put Microsoft on blast over its cybersecurity practices. He said the companys cybersecurity track record is even worse than you think.

Back in early July, a Chinese hacking group dubbed Storm-0558 targeted the Microsoft Azure platform. The company later confirmed that the data of around 25 different organizations were targeted. Additionally, hackers stole some sensitive emails from US government officials. Given the current tensions between the United States and China, the bad actors are more likely to be directly backed by the Chinese government.

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Tenable CEO says Microsoft is putting its customers at risk

The Azure data breach was a big blow to Microsofts reputation as it handed some sensitive government data to China. Senator Ron Wyden asked the US Department of Justice to keep Microsoft accountable for its negligent cybersecurity practices.

Tenable CEO has called out the Redmond tech giant for its grossly irresponsible if not blatantly negligent cybersecurity practices. According to Yoran, Microsofts repeated pattern of negligent cybersecurity practices allowed Chinese hackers to exploit Azure data and steal sensitive US government emails. He added that Microsoft is missing a moral compass regarding cyber practices.

Tenable CEO also revealed his company had found more cybersecurity flaws in Azure. One of those flaws was a serious one that could allow hackers to access the companys sensitive data, including a bank. Yoran stated that it took over 90 days for Microsoft to implement a partial fix, and the fix was only applied to new applications loaded in the service. This means the customers who launched the service prior to the fix were at risk.

Microsoft later released a fix for the issue after Yorans post went public. However, the Redmond company said no bad actor could ever exploit the flaw. What you hear from Microsoft is just trust us, but what you get back is very little transparency and a culture of toxic obfuscation, Yoran writes.

Recent data breaches have made the US government take action. According to the latest law passed by the Securities and Exchange Commission, every company should disclose a data breach incident within four days of its discovery.
(ANSA) - ROME, AUG 8 - The state of health of jailed Mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro has deteriorated significantly, sources said on Tuesday.

Messina Denaro has cancer and he has been having chemotherapy at a special room set up for this purpose at L'Aquila maximum security prison, where he is being held under the tough 41 bis jail regime.

A few week ago he had an operation for a urological problem, the sources said.

Messina Denaro was caught in mid-January at a Palermo cancer clinic after 30 years on the run.

The Cosa Nostra superboss Matteo Messina Denaro has been convicted for his involvement in dozens of murders, including the 1992 bombings that killed anti-Mafia magistrates Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino.

In addition to the Falcone and Borsellino assassinations, he has been condemned for the killing of Giuseppe Di Matteo, the 12-year-old son of a mobster-turned-State witness who was strangled and dissolved in acid in 1996, and bombings at art and religious sites in Milan, Florence and Rome that killed 10 people and hurt 40 more in 1993. (ANSA).


(ANSA) - ROME, AUG 8 - Italy on Tuesday marked the 67th anniversary of the Marcinelle mining disaster that claimed the lives of 262 people, including 136 Italian migrant workers, in Belgium on August 8, 1956.

"It is more necessary than ever to keep protection of workers steadfast," President Sergio Mattarella said in his message for the anniversary.

"(That goes) for all workers, wherever they are, whatever their nationality".

Premier Giorgia Meloni said that "today the Republic pays homage to the children of Italy who, at Marcinelle, became a symbol, a piece in the great mosaic of the history of Italian emigration".

Italian Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Tuesday attended a remembrance ceremony at Bois du Cazier in the square outside the mine. (ANSA).


(ANSA) - ROME, AUG 8 - Cabinet Secretary Alfredo Mantovano said Tuesday that Premier Giorgia Meloni will meet on Friday with the opposition parties that have presented a bill to introduce a minimum wage of nine euros an hour in Italy.

Mantovano said that talks were taking place in the "spirit of a constructive institutional relationship".

Last week the Lower House approved a motion presented by the coalition supporting Meloni's government to suspend for 60 days examination of the minimum-wage bill, sparking outrage from the opposition.

The ruling majority has put the bill's path through parliament on ice, having initially moved to quash it completely.

Democratic Party (PD) leader Elly Schlein accused the ruling coalition of "running away away when faced with a real problem" in relation to the bill being put on hold.

Ex-premier and 5-Star Movement (M5S) leader Giuseppe Conte warned the government against "turning up in October with crafty proposals that seek to create a rift between underpaid workers".

Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has said that Italy does not need an minimum wage, arguing that it is a Soviet-style measure. (ANSA).


British actor and TV presenter Adam Thomas is the latest celebrity contestant confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing 2023.

The 34-year-old, who played Adam Barton in soap Emmerdale and most recently reprised his role as Donte Charles in BBC Ones drama Waterloo Road, appeared in ITVs Im A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here in 2016 and went on to co-host the spin-off show Im A Celebrity: Extra Camp.

He is the eight contestant confirmed for the upcoming series of the dancing competition, after actress Amanda Abbington, Bad Education star Layton Williams, broadcaster Angela Rippon, journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy, comedian Eddie Kadi, Irish TV presenter Angela Scanlon and former Love Island star Zara McDermott.

Dance lessons are on the curriculum for Waterloo Road's Adam Thomas he's ready to be schooled in the world of #Strictly! https://t.co/XmoYvSHB5o @adamthomas21 pic.twitter.com/seh8gwYYI1  BBC Strictly  (@bbcstrictly) August 8, 2023

Appearing on Hits Radio Breakfast Show to reveal he will be hitting the Strictly dancefloor, Thomas said: I am so excited to be joining the cast of this years Strictly Come Dancing. Ive been such a big fan of the show for years, I cant believe Im actually doing it.

I cant dance to save my life but Im buzzing to learn and have a good laugh with my pro. Get me on that dance floor I cant wait!

In 2020, Thomas teamed up with his brothers Ryan and Scott for a six-part ITV travel series Absolutely India: Mancs In Mumbai where they took their father back to Mumbai to trace their heritage and long-lost relatives.

The brothers also host popular podcast series Mancs On The Mic.
Starting August 14, Meta will be fined $98, 500 a day due to privacy breaches made by the company in Norway.

The Norway data protection authority have finalized the decision after Meta failed to address the breaches that was identified by Norway's regulator. The company was given until August 4 to addressed the issue however it seemed that the tech giant refused to abide.

Read Also: Meta Blocks EU-based Users Who Access Threads via VPN

Meta Faces Legal Actions

This is not something new to Meta. Within this year, the company has been under investigations that lead to some feature limitations on some regions.

Meta has been gathering user data to create personalized ads across their platform, especially on Facebook. This company strategy is known as behavioral advertising, something that is a common practice to most of the social media platforms that is used today.

Last July, Facebook advertisement was limited in the European Union states, as the EU Court of Justice required Meta to acquire user permission before creating personalized advertisements. This has also impacted the release of Meta's Threads, as it the company had to block users from the EU.

What's Next for Meta?

According to the Reuters report, the fine will run from August 14 until November 3. The Datatilsynet has the power to make the decision permanent and widen the decision's scope to the rest of Europe.

Although Meta has promised to acquire user permission, the Datatilsynet stated that it is not enough and that Meta should stop processing personal data immediately until the final mechanism is in place.

"According to Meta, this will take several months, at the very earliest, for them to implement ... And we don't know what the consent mechanism will look like," head of Datatilsynet's internation section, Tobias Judin shared to Reuters.

Related Article: Meta Could Face $100,000 Daily Fine in Norway for Privacy Vioaltions
Antarctica is suffering because of burning fossil fuels which is causing extreme events that were unthinkable 30 years ago, scientists have said.

Sea ice around the frozen continent is currently at its lowest level since satellites began observing it in 1979, beating the previous minimum record set last year.

A winter heatwave in March 2022 saw temperatures soar nearly 40C above the norm in East Antarctica, from around -50C to -10C, and had it happened in summer it would have began melting the surface of the ice sheets which scientists said they have never seen before.

Because of Antarcticas harsh environment and remote location, there is less data available to unequivocally link events like these with human-induced climate change, but scientists say they are to be expected on a warming planet.

Professor Martin Siegert, a glaciologist at the University of Exeter, said: I think its reasonable to assume that with the Antarctic heat event that weve seen, that is the sort of thing that has been expected with global heating because of burning fossil fuels and it has happened.

Sea ice levels are at their lowest ever recorded in Antarctica, which is currently in winter (National Snow and Ice Data Centre/PA)

It could be, because weve done a lot of scientific evidence, that it was just one of those one-in-1,000 year events, but thats so unlikely, and I think its perfectly scientifically reasonable to make the assumption that it is linked to our heating planet.

Antarctica is suffering as a consequence of burning fossil fuels and there will be more to come.

Together with scientists from across the UK, Chile and South Africa, Prof Siegert has been examining evidence of extreme events in Antarctica and said it is virtually certain that their severity will increase unless greenhouse gas emissions are controlled.

Publishing their work in the journal Frontiers in Environmental Science, they identified nearly a dozen ways that human impacts are changing the Antarctic, from melting sea and land ice, collapse of ice shelves, warming oceans and atmosphere, near-extinction of marine animals and introduction of foreign species such as moss and grass.

Scientists are particularly concerned about what might happen over the next few years as the warming effects of El Nino take hold.

#DYK Antarctica holds about 30 million cubic kilometres of ice? It represents 70% of Earths freshwater and 90% of Earths ice. This means that changes to the Antarctic ice sheet can have significant implications on the global sea level and ocean currents. pic.twitter.com/5odDhJZmU9  ESA Earth Observation (@ESA_EO) August 5, 2023

Dr Anna Hogg of the University of Leeds said: As somebody who watches this happen on a day-to-day basis, Im finding it really surprising and staggering to see the changes occur at the scale that they are already.

She said it would take centuries for collapsed ice shelves to recover, if it was even possible.

These collapses do not directly add to sea level rise as the ice is already floating, but it means ice from the land pours into the sea much faster via glaciers, which is speeding up the rate of sea level rise.

If all the ice in Antarctica were to melt, although scientists do not believe this will happen anytime soon, it would push up the global sea level by 57 metres.

Extreme events such as ice shelf collapse or heatwaves combine in cascading, or multiplying effects that reach across the world but also threaten native species.

The team of scientists are calling for more environmental protection measures to be put in place to help conserve increasingly fragile ecosystems that are becoming more exposed.

Melting ice could result in better access for ships which bring more people for example, who therefore must take more care not to bring non-native seeds on their boots.

The UK Foreign Office is looking to give better protection to emperor penguins, who are a climate vulnerable species, said the departments head of polar regions Jane Rumble.

Prof Siegert said: I think the scientific community has been shocked by this seasons lack of sea ice, so much lower than has happened in previous years.

The enormous Antarctic heatwave that happened last time, the staggering loss of ice shelves, it just wasnt really relevant in 1990.

So things are changing and theyre changing because of burning fossil fuels. And that is going to continue.
Tom Daleys Oscar-winning husband Dustin Lance Black was punched in the head after he allegedly grabbed a womans wrist in a London nightclub, a court has heard.

Black, who married the Olympic champion diver, 29, in 2017, is charged with assaulting Teddy Edwardes by beating her in Soho on August 18 last year.

The American film-maker, 49, was due to stand trial at Westminster Magistrates Court in London on Tuesday but the case was adjourned and rescheduled to a later date because of missing evidence.

Prosecutor Adrita Ahmed said there was an altercation in a nightclub and that the Crowns case is Black grabbed Ms Edwardes wrist and twisted it, causing a drink to spill on her.

She said that as a result Ms Edwardes has retaliated, and was subsequently cautioned by police for going too far in self-defence.

Dustin Lance Black arrives at Westminster Magistrates Court (Aaron Chown/PA)

The defendant grabbed her wrist and twisted it, and that is what causes the drink to spill, the action, Ms Ahmed said.

Black pleaded not guilty to the single charge at a preliminary hearing at the same court in April.

Outlining the defence case, Helena Duong, for Black, said: Mr Black described Ms Edwardes effectively shouting at him and being aggressive.

What the defence would say is in fact what you can see on CCTV is immediately, at the very beginning, Mr Black trying to walk away, I think that much is clear.

She turns to him, appears to reach out in a way.

She seems to reach out, and then theres an exchange between them in which she continues to be aggressive and shouts at him, and he reacts to that and then she makes a movement, gesticulating, which is what causes Mr Black to reach for the glass.

She said Edwardes was later cautioned for punching him in the back of the head afterwards as he left the nightclub, the court heard.

CCTV footage played in court showed Mr Daley and Black mingling in the nightclub before the incident unfolded.

After watching the video, chief magistrate Paul Goldspring said Blacks alleged offence would fall in the lowest category of the sentencing guidelines if he is convicted, adding: The Crowns case is no more than he grabbed the wrist.

Wearing a navy suit, Black gave his address as Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles, and his lawyers said he had flown over for the trial.

Mr Goldspring was told the tape of Edwardes police interview had been lost and there is no transcript, and a statement has not yet been taken from the officer who conducted her interview.

The trial was adjourned and refixed for November 8 at the same court so the prosecution have more time to prepare.
Details of tens of millions of voters could have been accessed by hackers who targeted the elections watchdog.

The Electoral Commission said there was little risk of hostile actors being able to influence the outcome of a vote, but apologised for the breach in its systems.

The hack, which was publicly confirmed on Tuesday, allowed the attackers to access reference copies of electoral registers containing the names and addresses of people registered to vote between 2014 and 2022.

Hostile actors were active in our systems and had access to servers which held our email, control systems, and copies of the electoral registers. We have since worked with external security experts and the National Cyber Security Centre to investigate and secure our systems.  Electoral Commission (@ElectoralCommUK) August 8, 2023

The attack was identified in October 2022, but the hackers had first been able to access the commissions systems in August 2021.

Shaun McNally, the Electoral Commissions chief executive, said: The UKs democratic process is significantly dispersed and key aspects of it remain based on paper documentation and counting.

This means it would be very hard to use a cyber-attack to influence the process.

Nevertheless, the successful attack on the Electoral Commission highlights that organisations involved in elections remain a target, and need to remain vigilant to the risks to processes around our elections.

He said significant measures had been taken to improve security on the commissions IT systems.

We know which systems were accessible to the hostile actors, but are not able to know conclusively what files may or may not have been accessed, he said.

We regret that we could not prevent this cyber-attack and apologise to those affected. We have since made improvements to the security, resilience, and reliability of the Commissions IT systems.  Electoral Commission (@ElectoralCommUK) August 8, 2023

While the data contained in the electoral registers is limited, and much of it is already in the public domain, we understand the concern that may have been caused by the registers potentially being accessed and apologise to those affected.

The hackers were able to access reference copies of the electoral registers, held by the commission for research purposes and to enable permissibility checks on political donations.

The registers held at the time of the cyber-attack include the name and address of anyone in the UK who was registered to vote between 2014 and 2022, as well as the names of those registered as overseas voters.

But they did not include the details of those registered anonymously.

The register for each year holds the details of around 40 million individuals, which were accessible to the hostile actors, although this includes people on the open registers, whose information is already in the public domain.

The National Cyber Security Centre said it had provided the commission with expert advice and support.

A spokesman said: Defending the UKs democratic processes is a priority for the NCSC and we provide a range of guidance to help strengthen the cyber resilience of our electoral systems.

The Information Commissioners Office said it was looking into the incident.

We recognise this news may cause alarm to those who are worried they may be affected and we want to reassure the public that we are investigating as a matter of urgency, a spokesman said.

In the meantime, if anyone is concerned about how their data has been handled, they should get in touch with the ICO or check our website for advice and support.

Labours deputy leader Angela Rayner said: This deeply concerning attack serves as a reminder of the critical importance of Britains resilience to cyber-attacks.

Our democracy is a foundation of our society and every effort must be made to protect it.

This serious incident must be fully and thoroughly investigated so lessons can be learned.
The number of people to be offered the Covid-19 booster jab in the autumn has been scaled back, health officials have announced.

The vaccine will only be offered to those aged 65 and over along with health and care workers and people living with certain health conditions, following advice on the UK booster programmes from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

Last year, the autumn booster jab was offered to those age 50 and over, but this year the eligibility criteria has been tightened so only those age 65 and over will be offered the jab.

Health officials said that the larger group was offered the booster jab last year as part of the emergency response to the pandemic.

But the success of these programmes has enabled us to live with Covid and, this year, we are able to scale back the number of people who require an autumn booster, officials said.

 A Covid vaccine booster will be offered this autumn to people at greatest risk of getting seriously ill. This follows the latest advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). More: https://t.co/1MpoXoH1Cm pic.twitter.com/rAxiRy3eKt  Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) August 8, 2023

The Covid-19 jab is not available privately in the UK, so those who were offered the vaccine last year and are not eligible this year will not be able to purchase the jab themselves.

Those eligible for a vaccine on this years autumn booster programme include:

 Adults aged 65 and over

 Care home residents

 Those aged six months and older who are deemed to be clinically at risk with illnesses including severe asthma, diabetes and a number of chronic illnesses

 People who are immunosuppressed  either through illness or treatment for cancer  and their household contacts aged 12 and over

 Those aged over 16 who are carers

Meanwhile the JCVI said that adults who are yet to receive a Covid vaccine will be eligible to get a single jab during the booster campaign.

The committee also advised that the NHS should deliver the programme by early December to optimise protection over the winter months.

Professor Wei Shen Lim, chairman of Covid-19 immunisation on the JCVI, said: The autumn booster programme will continue to focus on those at greatest risk of getting seriously ill.

It is important that everyone who is eligible takes up a booster this autumn  helping to prevent them from hospitalisations and deaths arising from the virus over the winter months.

Dr Mary Ramsay, director of public health programmes at UKHSA, said: The Covid-19 virus has not gone away and we expect to see it circulating more widely over the winter months, with the numbers of people getting ill increasing.

The booster is being offered to those at higher risk of severe illness and by taking up the booster vaccine this autumn  you will increase your protection ahead of winter, when respiratory viruses are typically at their peak.

The JCVI sets out its recommendations on vaccinations for the whole of the UK, and then it is up to each of the devolved nations to decide on whether or not to take up the recommendations.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay said he had accepted the JCVI advice for the booster programme in England, adding: NHS England will confirm details on how and when eligible people can access the autumn booster vaccine shortly, and I would urge anyone invited  including those yet to have their first jab  to come forward as soon as possible.

Health officials previously announced they would be scaling back eligibility for the flu jab this year.

During the height of the pandemic, over-50s were offered the jab in a bid to reduce co-circulation of flu and Covid and relieve pressure on the NHS.

But now officials have reverted to the original offer to those aged 65 and over along with those who have certain health conditions.

A spokesman for the NHS in England said: The flu vaccination programme will begin with children in September and adults in October based on the latest clinical evidence  it will maximise protection for patients right across the winter months when it is typically colder and viruses are more likely to spread with people spending more time indoors.

The NHS is working to ensure a growing number of vaccine sites across England offer both flu and Covid-19 vaccines in the same visit, to make it as convenient as possible for people to get life-saving protection from both viruses ahead of winter.

It is understood that the Covid autumn booster programme will also begin in October.
Heartstopper star Joe Locke says that people need to learn their boundaries after revealing that a stranger once called his grandmother following the release of the Netflix show.

The British actor, 19, said he had a weird guilt that his friends and family were affected by his own success but acknowledged that most of the attention came from a really good place.

It comes after the recent release of Heartstoppers second series on Netflix, in which Locke stars alongside Kit Connor.

The pair play Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson, respectively, two boys who meet at high school and fall in love.

Joe Locke and Kit Connor (Netflix/PA)

In an interview with Teen Vogue, conducted before the Hollywood actors strike, which prohibits promotion for projects, the pair discussed navigating their increasingly public lives.

Theres an idea that its part of the job to lose your privacy, that you lose your right to having privacy, Locke said.

Thats something I hope the next generation of people in the public eye can change. I think people are understanding that privacy is a nonnegotiable.

Acknowledging the impact of his career on his family, he added: Its a weird guilt I sometimes feel that, by association, their lives are affected by choices in my life.

Locke revealed that his mother has made new social media accounts because strangers message her or try to find her location and that someone called his grandmother.

Its a mutual thing. I need to learn my boundaries and people need to learn their boundaries, he said.

Most attention comes from a really good place, and I hope I always appreciate that.

In November last year Connor announced online publicly that he was bi-sexual, but suggested that he had been forced to do so.

In a recent interview with British Vogue, Connor said he would still have preferred not to have made the announcement publicly, but he does not regret it and that it was in many ways really empowering.

Speaking to Teen Vogue, Locke said that the Heartstopper team were very proud of Connor for his decision to control the narrative.

The full interview with Locke and Connor can be read online on Teen Vogues website.
Labour has launched an expert commission tasked with drawing up reforms to help the party increase the number of crimes solved if it wins the next election.

The panel will devise recommendations for key areas, including improvements to digital forensics to help police crack more cases and cutting red tape in joint-working arrangements between forces and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

Chaired by former victims commissioner Dame Vera Baird, the so-called Charging Commission will aim to identify reasons for the woeful decline in successful law enforcement, Labour said.

Dame Vera Baird DBE would chair the commission, Labour has said (John Stillwell/PA)

The party pointed to recent Home Office figures showing that in the year to March 2023, there were evidential difficulties with 2,435,273 out of 5,480,135 recorded crimes.

Some 9.2% of crimes resulted in a charge or out-of-court action  down from 24.7% in the year ending March 2015  along with a further 0.6% being dealt with through diversionary activity, according to the data.

Labour said its commission includes former chief constable Stephen Otter, former chief crown prosecutor Drusilla Sharpling and West Yorkshire Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime Alison Lowe.

The panel is being set up to make proposals which the party will look to implementing as policy if it wins the next general election, with its first meeting in September.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: It should be unthinkable for so many more crimes to face no consequences whatsoever, but that is the shameful reality after 13 Conservative years.

This expert Commission will help us to deliver on our pledge to make Britain safer.

Shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry said it was time to replace the blame game between the police and the CPS over charge rates with cooperation to punish criminals and protect communities.

I am delighted that such experienced, dedicated public servants have agreed to join us in that work, and I look forward to seeing the contribution they will make to our long-term mission on crime, she said.

Dame Vera said: The woeful collapse in charging rates has exposed victims of crime to intolerable anguish and uncertainty, and we are now seeing record numbers of victims giving up on the criminal justice system altogether.

Investigations and prosecutions for serious crimes like rape are in a dismal state, the criminal justice system is in chaos, and things simply cannot stay as they are.

This Commission will bring together voices from across policing and prosecutions to forensically investigate the causes of this charging crisis, and set out robust recommendations for recovery.

The Home Office has been contacted for comment.

A Conservative Party spokesperson said: Labour are soft on crime and soft on criminals. Keir Starmer has consistently whipped his MPs to vote against stronger sentences for violent offenders and rapists.

Where Labour are in power, crime is over a third higher than Conservative-run areas, and as director of prosecutions Keir Starmer oversaw a huge drop in the number of sexual offences that were prosecuted.

Meanwhile, we have cut the re-offending rate to lower than when Labour left office, increased the conviction rate by 15%, doubled charge rates for rape, and introduced tougher sentences for the worst offenders.
The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has urged people not to go to Oxford Street to take part in nonsense spread on social media.

The Metropolitan Police has said there will be a heightened police presence in the central London area following speculation about an event advertised to be taking place on Wednesday afternoon.

A dispersal order has been put in place from 11am on Tuesday to 10am on Thursday, giving police officers the power to exclude people from the area for 48 hours.

Anyone who does not comply can be arrested.

Mr Khan told the PA news agency: I am worried about this nonsense we have seen on TikTok encouraging people to go to Oxford Street.

The police understand why some people may be tempted to go to that part of London because of the TikTok.

Id encourage anybody whos seen it not to go to Oxford Street. Do not allow yourself to be sucked into an area that could be high crime area.

It wont be (a high crime area) because the police work incredibly hard with the local community with the retailers in that part of London, and with those citizens who want to have a good day out on Oxford Street tomorrow rather than being worried about that sort of nonsense.

We are aware of online speculation about opportunities to commit crime around Oxford Street. There will be a significant number of our officers in the area over the next 24 hours. Anyone committing a crime can expect to be dealt with robustly. pic.twitter.com/0LXEFgNTp7  MPS Westminster (@MPSWestminster) August 8, 2023

The Met Police said on Twitter: We are aware of online speculation about opportunities to commit crime around Oxford Street.

There will be a significant number of our officers in the area over the next 24 hours. Anyone committing a crime can expect to be dealt with robustly.

A police spokesperson told PA: We are working very closely with our partners, including the New West End company, to ensure that any criminal behaviour is dealt with quickly.

If you see or hear anything suspicious in relation to this activity is asked to us on 999 in an emergency or 101 if it is a non-emergency.
The Justice Secretary has defended the Governments announcement of a task force targeting corrupt immigration lawyers as critics branded it a red herring to distract from the asylum backlog.

Alex Chalk said the Whitehall unit, for which there is no new funding, will aim to ensure that advocates who are found to be responsible for submitting fraudulent claims are convicted, punished and disgraced.

Touring broadcast studios on Tuesday, he said it is right to root out a tiny minority of lawyers damaging the reputation of others in the profession.

People arrive by coach to board the Bibby Stockholm accommodation barge at Portland Port in Dorset (Ben Birchall/PA)

It came as the public affairs director for the Law Society, which represents solicitors in England and Wales, accused the Government of lawyer-bashing with the announcement of work that is not new.

David McNeill said the task force  bringing together civil servants, regulatory bodies and law enforcement  has been in existence for months, despite its official launch by the Home Office on Tuesday.

The Justice Secretary acknowledged that the unit has been in operation for some time, but told BBC Breakfast: The Law Society is right that its a tiny minority of lawyers and the overwhelming majority of lawyers in this country do an extremely important job.

However, there is a small minority that are doing terrible damage, not just because theyre coming up with false claims which means that people are remaining here who ought not to remain here, but doing terrible damage to the reputation of lawyers. And it is absolutely right that we crack down on them.

The Law Society questioned what, if anything, the Government is announcing today and said the necessary powers are already in place to deal with immigration advisers engaged in misconduct.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) prohibits lawyers from deceiving courts, and any act of dishonesty or lack of integrity may result in them being struck off.

As part of the announcement, the Home Office said those ultimately found guilty of helping people remain in the country by fraudulent means could face life imprisonment, which is already the maximum sentence for assisting unlawful migration under the Immigration Act 1971.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4s Today programme, Mr McNeill accepted that improper practice sometimes occurs in the industry, but added: Its not in our interest to have any solicitor acting improperly or crookedly this announcement today is something of a red herring.

This task force which they tout with such aggressive language has been in existence for months now so really, from our perspective, it just looks like a bit of lawyer-bashing as a distraction from really bad news for the Government on the number of asylum seekers now accommodated in hotels  50,000.

Mr Chalk said the Professional Enablers Taskforce has been developing resources to ensure Home Office lawyers are better trained to identify evidence of fraud.

This has included the development of a new training package for frontline staff who work in the immigration system to help them identify and report suspect activity.

The Justice Secretary, a former barrister, said professionals should not be granted immunity from the law simply because they are lawyers, telling GB News he is absolutely comfortable with the crackdown.

But Bar Council chairman Nick Vineall KC warned the task force must not fall into the trap of identifying lawyers with the causes of their clients, nor should it assume that misbehaviour by clients amounts to misbehaviour by lawyers.

For Labour, shadow justice secretary Steve Reed said it is too little too late and the buck stops with the Conservatives, accusing them of having sat idly by for 13 years while illegal migration has spun out of control.

He said: Now, weak as ever, they are setting up a talking shop instead of cracking down on those who abuse our immigration system.

It comes as the Government kicks off a stop the boats week of linked announcements on immigration.

The number of people in the UK waiting for a decision on their asylum application stood at nearly 173,000 in March, according to the latest available data  the equivalent of around 345 Bibby Stockholm barges.

The first migrants boarded the giant vessel  moored off the Dorset coast in Portland  on Monday, while others were granted a last-minute reprieve after a series of legal challenges.

Mr Chalk admitted it is frustrating that just 15 have arrived on the 500-capacity vessel but insisted it doesnt diminish our resolve to solve this.

He defended Conservative Party deputy chairman Lee Anderson, who said asylum seekers complaining about the Bibby Stockholm barge should f*** off back to France.

Conservative MP Lee Anderson said asylum seekers complaining about the Bibby Stockholm barge should go back to France (UK Parliament/PA)

Lee Anderson expresses the righteous indignation of the British people. Yes, he does it in salty terms, thats his style, but his indignation is well placed, the minister told LBC.

Former shadow home secretary Diane Abbott, currently an Independent MP, wrote on Twitter: A new low even for the Tories.

Taxpayer money is being spent on housing migrants in some cases in four-star hotels, Mr Chalk confirmed, which he said is why the Government is looking at cheaper alternatives.

Around 20 asylum seekers did not board the barge as planned on Monday because their transfers were cancelled after lawyers challenged the decisions.

More men with luggage were pictured walking up a gangway to the barge on Tuesday.

The Home Office said the first asylum seekers are now being housed on the barge after it successfully completed all health, fire and safety checks, adding: The number of people on board will increase gradually with more arrivals later this week and in the coming months.

The number of migrants staying in hotels as temporary accommodation stood at more than 50,000 in June  up by about 10,000 since December, according to official figures.

Mr Chalk said the backlog of asylum claims has decreased by 17,000 over recent weeks.
August is the most popular month to move home, analysis of thousands of removal quotes suggests.

Analysis of more than 630,000 quotes collected by reallymoving indicated that August has been the most popular month to move home for the past 11 years.

Research was carried out jointly with property advice website the HomeOwners Alliance, with the findings indicating that Friday August 25 could be the most popular day to move in 2023, enabling people to settle into their new home over the bank holiday weekend.

Three in 10 (30%) households move on a Friday, and the last Friday in August tends to be the busiest day of the year to move, the findings indicate.

Paula Higgins, chief executive of the HomeOwners Alliance, said: With the long summer bank holiday weekend its no surprise Friday August 25 is set to be the busiest day to move.

A long weekend gives movers the opportunity to get settled and sorted before families return to school and work. But, in a cost-of-living crisis, we wanted to point out to homebuyers that there are savings to be had by avoiding the busiest day.

With the average two-bedroom house move costing over 500, it would be wise for households to consider moving at a less busy time so they can negotiate a discount on their removals quote.

For those fixed on moving over the bank holiday weekend, prepare for delays as removals firms are put under added strain.

The research also indicated that February is the least popular month for house moves, with Sunday being the least popular day of the week to move.

Rob Houghton, CEO of reallymoving, said: Moving on the busiest day of the year isnt for the faint-hearted, especially with the August bank holiday also happening that week, pushing more moves on to the remaining four days.

Ensure your conveyancer and everyone in the chain knows youre working towards that date and book your removals firm well in advance, so you only need to confirm as soon as you exchange.

Its best to ask them to come to your house to assess the volume of your belongings. This ensures you have the right-sized van and number of team members on the day of your move.

To avoid moving day delays, those behind the research suggested Friday home movers could insist on receiving the keys by 1pm, to avoid being stranded without keys until after the weekend.

They also suggested asking removal firms what would happen if there was a delay and whether they have emergency storage.
8 August 2023 at 6:50 am

Rishi Sunaks attempt to stop small boats and the first migrants to enter the Bibby Stockholm barge are at the forefront of the papers across Britain on Tuesday.

The Daily Express relays accusations from senior Tories saying that lawyers are profiteering after they blocked a key part of the Prime Ministers plans to stop small boats.

Tuesdays @Daily_Express front page: Tory fury as lawyers block migrants on barge #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/WMyjCgu76X  Express Politics (@ExpressPolitics) August 7, 2023

The Daily Mail follows suit, with Home Secretary Suella Braverman saying she will stop crooked migration lawyers while the Daily Mirror labels the Tories clueless.

The Metro reports lawyers from charity Care4Calais have stopped 20 people from being transferred onto the Bibby Stockholm barge.

Tomorrow's Paper Today  Rishi's migrant barge opens NOT ALL ABOARD  Just 15 asylum seekers arrive after legal challenges#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/AFeuTeYrS2  Metro (@MetroUK) August 7, 2023

Meanwhile, the Financial Times features a story on private equity firms offering discount fees with investors being deterred by a dealmaking drought.

Just published: front page of the Financial Times UK edition Tuesday August 8 https://t.co/OAZzAM5yAq pic.twitter.com/58E0RHMXqE  Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) August 7, 2023

The Independent says the Foreign Office has expressed fury over Russian allies breaking sanctions on Russia.

No students will get their results adjusted despite the teacher strikes in 2023, according to the i.

The Times leads with a story on the positive forecast on rising wages which will help ease the cost-of-living pain.

Here is Tuesdays front page from: #TheTimes Rising wages forecast to ease cost of living pain #newspapers #readallaboutit #buyanewspaper For more of #TomorrowsPapersToday and previous days newspapers and magazines visit https://t.co/IG1Cv1wdCy pic.twitter.com/l7BEYzyzos  The Press Room From TSC News (@channel_tsc) August 7, 2023

The Guardian reports that air pollution has been linked to a deadly resistance to antibiotics.

Guardian front page, Tuesday 8 August 2023: Air pollution linked to global rise in deadly resistance to antibiotics pic.twitter.com/vavW99qSVB  The Guardian (@guardian) August 7, 2023

The Daily Telegraph says ministers are urging Rishi Sunak to scrap a net zero plan on new oil boilers.

The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph: 'Tory MPs revolt over ban on oil boilers'#TomorrowsPapersToday Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4Oomry pic.twitter.com/Kdfoy4J3zJ  The Telegraph (@Telegraph) August 7, 2023

And the Daily Star takes on former prime minister Liz Truss who is giving out 14 awards in her PM resignation honours list.




Suga, a member of K-pop supergroup BTS, has canceled his request to delay enlistment in order to start his mandatory military service, his agency said Monday.







BigHit Music did not provide a specific time frame on when he will join the military, saying only it will make an announcement as soon as the notice of enlistment is available.







Suga will be the third BTS member to serve in the military, following Jin and J-hope. Jin started the mandatory service in December and J-hope in April.







In Korea, all able-bodied men are required to serve in the military for about two years. (Yonhap)


A Texas family has reunited with their dog, who has been missing for over three years, all thanks to the dog's microchip.

In July 2020, Rex and Britnee Smith realized their two pit bulls, Jack and Jill, were no longer in their fenced backyard in Little Rock Arkansas.

The couple did everything to find their beloved dogs. they went door to door in their neighborhood, including putting up posters, reaching out to animal shelters and vets' offices and posting on social media.

It was a sad time for the Smiths, especially for their daughter who was 5 years old at the time and had a special bond with the dogs.

Dog abandoned at airport: Traveler faces charges after abandoning dog at airport, boarding flight

The Smith's daughter with Jill as a puppy

Eventually, the Smiths and their two children had to relocate about 300 miles away to McKinney, Texas. They still occasionally received calls from shelters or got pictures of dogs that could be theirs, but Jack and Jill were never located.

The Smiths describe Jack and Jill as beautiful family dogs with great temperaments. While they'd heard stories about dogs being found and returned to their owners via microchips, they never expected that to happen to them.

"I didn't think our dogs would ever come back because they're such great dogs and I know no one would ever just turn them in or take them to the vet," said Britnee.

Rex said the family did lose hope of ever finding their dogs again, but they never forgot about them.

Then in late July, the Little Rock Animal Village called Rex to inform him Jill had been found. He immediately called Britnee, who cried tears of joy.

Dog gets wheelchair: Dog gifted wheelchair by Mercedes Benz after being ran over by a car

'It's like she never left us'

Britnee said she was a little nervous as they drove to pick up Jill, worried that she wouldn't remember them or had changed to be more aggressive. But that wasn't the case.

"It's like she never left us," Britnee said "We picked up right off when she left three years ago. She came right into our arms."

She said seeing her daughter's reaction to being reunited with Jill brought her indescribable joy.

The Smiths said they are unsure what happened to Jill in the three years away, although she had been found just a few blocks away from their old house.

The Smith Family reuniting with their dog, Jill.

"We wish she could talk," Rex said. "We have so many questions and we just want to ask her 'Take us from the beginning, what happened?'"

Jill was overall healthy but had suffered some scratches and scrapes. Her paws were raw, likely from the 100-degree heat in Arkansas.

Britnee immediately took her to the vet and dog spa, where Jill had her nails clipped, her teeth brushed and her fur groomed.

On day four of being home, Jill has a pep in her step and has reacclimated to being home, the family said. When their daughter lay down to take a nap, Jill slept right next to her.

"We found our family member," Rex said.

The family is still on the lookout for Jack and hopeful he may show up in the same neighborhood where Jill was found.

Jack, the Smiths' other dog is still missing

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas family reunited with missing dog after 3 years apart
U.S. regulators on Tuesday announced a combined $549 million in penalties against Wells Fargo and a raft of smaller or non-U.S. firms that failed to maintain electronic records of employee communications.

The Securities and Exchange Commission disclosed charges and $289 million in fines against 11 firms for widespread and longstanding failures in record-keeping, while the Commodity Futures Trading Commission also said it fined four banks a total of $260 million for failing to maintain records required by the agency.

It was regulators latest effort to stamp out the pervasive use of secure messaging apps like Signal, WhatsApp or Apples iMessage by Wall Street employees and managers. Starting in late 2021, the watchdogs secured settlements with bigger players including JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and Citigroup. Fines related to the issue total more than $2 billion, according to the SEC and CFTC.

Todays actions stem from our continuing sweep to ensure that regulated entities, including broker-dealers and investment advisers, comply with their recordkeeping requirements, which are essential for us to monitor and enforce compliance with the federal securities laws, Sanjay Wadhwa, deputy director of enforcement at the SEC, said in the release.

The firms admitted that from at least 2019, employees used side channels like WhatsApp to discuss company business, failing to preserve records in violation of federal securities laws, the SEC said Tuesday.

Wells Fargo, the fourth biggest U.S. bank by assets and a relatively small player on Wall Street, racked up the most fines on Tuesday, with $200 million in penalties.

We are pleased to resolve this matter, said Wells Fargo spokeswoman Laurie Kight.

French banks BNP Paribas and Societe Generale were fined $110 million each, while the Bank of Montreal was fined $60 million. The SEC also fined Japanese firms Mizuho Securities and SMBC Nikko Securities and boutique U.S. investment banks including Houlihan Lokey, Moelis and Wedbush Securities.

The other banks penalized on Tuesday declined to comment.

Apart from the fines, banks were ordered to cease and desist from future violations and hire consultants to review bank policies, the SEC said.

On Wall Street, company records of emails and other communications via official channels are often automatically generated to adhere to requirements that clients are treated fairly. But after some of the industrys biggest scandals of the past decade hinged on incriminating messages preserved in chatrooms, workers often leaned on side channels to conduct business.

Encrypted messages sent on third-party platforms like Signal make it impossible for banks to record and retain logs of interactions. At Wells Fargo and other banks, the practice was pervasive and happening at all levels; even the managers responsible for enforcing the rules were guilty of the practice, regulators said Tuesday.

An analysis of 13 Wells Fargo employees, for instance, found that all had violated the banks communications policies by using text messages to communicate with coworkers and market participants. They used the side channels to communicate with over 100 other employees, including senior supervisors, over thousands of messages, according to the CFTC complaint.

Employees use of unapproved communication methods was not hidden within the firm, the CFTC said. To the contrary, certain supervisorsthe very people responsible for supervising employees to prevent this misconductroutinely communicated using unapproved methods on their personal devices.
A federal court has blocked new Biden administration rules aimed at forgiving the debt of student borrowers who attended colleges that misled them or closed unexpectedly.

The move by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit on Monday, by a panel made up of Republican presidential appointees, came in response to a request from Career Colleges and Schools of Texas for a nationwide injunction on the new version of so-called borrower defense rules. The Biden administration's version of the rules eases and clarifies the process for securing that relief, including by allowing borrowers to submit claims if they believe they were misled by their institution.

CCST represents private career-oriented or trade schools in the Lone Star state, many of them for-profit colleges. People who attend for-profit schools are disproportionately likely to take and default on student loan debt, in large part because the schools promise lucrative outcomes but have a track record of seldom producing those results. Federal policies have been developed over the years in an effort to relieve such borrowers of that debt.

The U.S. Education Department under President Joe Biden has worked to add to that pile of policies, including its own borrower defense to repayment rule. Through borrower defense to repayment  or borrower defense for short  students who have been defrauded by their schools have their loans discharged.

When CCST filed its lawsuit earlier this year on behalf of more than 70 Texas institutions, it said the Education Department's rule was created "with a thumb on the scale to maximize the number of approved claims and, ultimately, further the administrations loan forgiveness agenda."

What's next for defrauded borrowers? Supreme Court greenlights some forgiveness

Loan forgiveness for defrauded borrowers has been hard to come by

Federal law has long allowed the discharge of loans for borrowers who have been misled or defrauded by their colleges. But getting loans canceled has been arduous and in many cases involved lawsuits against the federal government.

Biden has been applying this authority incrementally. In a settlement for a case that traces back to the Trump presidency known as Sweet v. Cardona, Biden agreed to forgive $6 billion in debt relief for nearly 300,000 borrowers, for example. That relief isn't affected by Monday's injunction. Still, the group behind that push for relief was frustrated by the block of Biden-era rules."It is necessary to protect students from being scammed and it ensures that predatory actions come to light and are stopped before they go on to harm even more students," Eileen Connor, president and director of the Project on Predatory Student Lending, said in a statement. "These organized, well-funded political attempts to weaponize the court system against the legal rights of borrowers underscore how stacked the system is against our clients."Also last month, the administration announced forgiveness for another 7,400 defrauded student borrowers in Colorado.

All in all, the administration has forgiven roughly $14.7 billion in loans for defrauded student borrowers. Nearly half a million borrowers had submitted borrower defense claims and had pending applications as of January.

Monday's ruling delays the start of Biden's regulations, which also include automatic relief for borrowers whose institutions were closed.

Advocates in favor of debt relief lamented the decision and stressed the importance of strong borrower defense policies. "We cannot afford a green light for dishonest schools to continue harming students," Aaron Ament, president of Student Defense, said in a statement. "Defrauded borrowers are legally entitled to relief and their institutions should be held accountable. Until these protections are restored, countless students are at risk of being taken advantage of by higher ed profiteers who are exploiting students with little accountability.

For-profit and career college advocates lauded the move, however. "Imposing these ... provisions would have been detrimental to career schools in Texas and across the country," Jason Altmire, president and CEO of Career Education Colleges and Universities, said in a statement. "We are confident that when the case is brought forward the facts will show the new rule to be an agency overreach."

In a statement late Monday, the Education Department said it was reviewing the court's order and remained committed to helping defrauded student borrowers.

"The Department issued a set of new and stronger regulations to ensure that borrowers have a path to relief when their colleges take advantage of them or leave them stranded by closures," the Education Department told USA TODAY. "The Department wont back down in our efforts to take on predatory colleges, provide relief to borrowers who have been cheated or had their school close, and hold institutions accountable for deceptive schemes."

The Justice Department and CCST declined to comment on the development.

Another $130M in student debt relief: Forgiveness awaits 7,400 students of shuttered for-profit college

Contributing: John Fritze, USA TODAY

Contact Alia Wong at (202) 507-2256 or awong@usatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter at @aliaemily.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden's debt relief for defrauded students blocked in federal court
Yuma, Arizona  The number of migrants crossing the southern border illegally, particularly across the inhospitable Arizona desert, has increased sharply after falling to a two-year low in June, despite record heat levels, government statistics obtained by CBS News show.

In recent days, Border Patrol agents in the Tucson sector, which covers most of Arizona's border with Mexico and parts of the Sonoran Desert, have seen the number of migrants arriving daily soar to as many as 1,900, an increase of 134% from an average of 812 in June, according to unpublished agency figures.

Migrants, including families with young children, have been traversing the Arizona desert in large groups  generally an indication of the involvement of smugglers  amid extreme and dangerous temperatures that surpass 110 degrees each day in most areas of the region.

The sharp increase in migrant arrivals has been particularly acute around Lukeville, a small Arizona town near Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. With limited holding space in that remote region, Border Patrol resources have been strained by the spike in crossings, with agents resorting to keeping migrant men outside in triple-digit heat to avoid overcrowding at an over-capacity station in Ajo, another desert town.

Reached for comment, Customs and Border Protection confirmed a "significant increase" in migrant crossings in the Arizona desert. It also acknowledged it has been holding some migrants outdoors near a station in Ajo since the facility "is not equipped to hold large numbers of migrants." The agency said the migrants have been held in shaded areas.

But CBP stressed it was working to expedite the transfer of migrants away from the desert and ensure they can receive water, food and medical screenings. It said there have not been any "major medical emergencies" or deaths related to the heat thus far near Ajo.

"The Border Patrol has surged personnel and transportation resources to respond to the increase in encounters in the area  some of the hottest, most isolated, and dangerous areas of the southwest border  where individuals have been callously sent by smuggling organizations to walk for miles, often with little or no water," the agency told CBS News.

"People perish seeking the American dream"

Families and adults from China, Colombia, Senegal and other countries wait to be transported by Border Patrol near Yuma, Arizona, after crossing into the U.S. before sunrise. / Credit: Camilo Montoya-Galvez/CBS News

In Yuma, the other Border Patrol sector in Arizona, migrant crossings have not returned to the record levels seen last year. But large groups of migrant families from all corners of the globe  from China, Senegal and Mauritania, to Colombia and Venezuela  continue crossing into the U.S. there, mostly in the middle of the night, when temperatures dip below 90 degrees.

But even then, the heat can be dangerous and in some cases deadly, especially for children and the elderly, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Water can be life-saving in these scorching temperatures, said Fernando Quiroz, who distributes water bottles, bananas and granola bars every morning in the busiest crossing sites near Yuma.

"A bottle of water, a snack, something to let them fight for another day, it's something that I'm blessed to be able to do," said Quiroz, who created the AZ-CA Humanitarian Coalition, a volunteer group. "It does make a difference."

Quiroz often reaches migrants before Border Patrol agents do. After giving them water and food, and storing additional supplies in coolers he has assembled, Quiroz tells migrants they should wait for Border Patrol to pick them up, so they can be processed and start the years-long asylum process.

Continuing to cross the desert alone, with little or no water, could be a fatal decision, he warns them.

"We're talking about 110, 120 degree weather that we're seeing every single day," Quiroz told CBS News. "People perish seeking the American dream."

"Our area here has already seen a number of deaths," he added. "We saw a mother that perished a couple weeks ago, not far from where I'm standing."

The woman was traveling with two children, Quiroz said, beforing stopping at the location where she collapsed. Her and her family's belongings were still there when CBS News visited the area. Lieutenant Marco Santana, a spokesperson for the San Luis Police Department, said his officers recovered the body of a migrant woman in the area in late July after being contacted by Border Patrol. The Yuma County Sheriff's Office is examining the death, but Santana said she appeared to have perished due to dehydration.

"The young lady apparently started feeling sick and ultimately just kind of waited there. And she was later found to be on the floor, pretty much collapsed," Santana told CBS News.

The extremely hot temperatures and other dangerous conditions have contributed to a record number of migrants dying while crossing into the U.S. in the past two years. Heat exposure has been the number one cause of migrant deaths along the U.S. southern border in recent years, followed by drownings.

In fiscal year 2022, Border Patrol recorded 853 migrant deaths, a record high that eclipsed the previous all-time high of 546 in 2021. The deadly pace has slowed slightly, but during the first nine months of current fiscal year 2023, Border Patrol reported over 330 migrant deaths, according to unpublished agency data obtained by CBS News. Federal fiscal years run from Oct. 1 to Sept 30.

Limits of U.S. policy

Migrant families and adults are processed by Border Patrol agents near San Luis, Arizona, after receiving water and food from local volunteers. / Credit: Camilo Montoya-Galvez/CBS News

The rise in migration has also come despite measures the Biden administration has taken to deter illegal crossings, including a rule that disqualifies migrants from asylum if they enter the U.S. unlawfully without first seeking legal refuge in another country. Last week, a federal appeals court allowed the administration to continue those asylum restrictions, which resemble a Trump administration policy.

The Biden administration had credited those limits on asylum eligibility, as well as programs it created to encourage tens of thousands of would-be migrants to enter the U.S. legally each month, for the two-year low in migrant apprehensions in June.

Adam Isacson, a migration analyst at the Washington Office on Latin America, a Washington think tank, said the growing number of crossings, despite the asylum restrictions and record heat levels, illustrates the limits of U.S. border policy and the desperation among many migrants.

"For at least 30 years, U.S. border policy has assumed that if the migration experience is dangerous and miserable at the border, with a high likelihood of deportation, then people won't come," Isacson said. "That keeps being proved wrong, as migration has been increasing steadily since the early 2010s  not just in the United States, but throughout the Americas."

Isacson said deteriorating conditions in migrant-sending countries often outweigh tough actions or rhetoric by officials in the U.S., such as Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott's controversial efforts to repel crossings by setting up razor wire and river barriers along the state's border with Mexico.

"Even the cruelest policies, like what Greg Abbott is attempting in Texas, are not as harsh as daily life right now in places like Haiti, the slums of Venezuela, or in Mexico's cartel combat zones," Isacson said. "No U.S. policy should try to emulate that level of human misery."

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BEIJING  First, temperatures soared for weeks on end, baking the Chinese capital in triple-digit temperatures. A month later, flooding from Beijing's worst storm in 140 years killed at least 20 people in and around the city.

Summer in China so far has been a season of extremes, with the country lurching between stifling, unrelenting heat and heavy, monsoonal rainfall.

The Chinese Ministry of Emergency Management said on Aug. 4 that 147 people were dead or missing because of natural disasters in July.

The bouts of extreme weather have taken a toll not just on Chinas 1.4 billion population but also on the size of harvests in the worlds biggest food-producing country.

As the world warms, extreme events like those unfolding in China  and in the United States and other countries around the world  are expected to become more common. With that prospect comes the worrying potential for widespread crop failures in major food-producing regions.

Most of Chinas farming regions are under the monsoon influence, making them susceptible to meteorological disasters such as floods and drought. Farmers say the situation is getting worse as extreme weather events occur more often.

Vehicles parked on the side of a road are stuck in flood waters in Chongqing, China (Huang Wei / Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images file )

Flooding in Chongqing, a metropolis in Chinas southwest almost 1,000 miles from Beijing, is not unprecedented in summer. But the intensity of the flooding in July prompted the nations highest emergency alert as it killed at least 15 people, affected more than 13,000 others, and damaged tens of thousands of acres of crops, including rice and corn.

Ran Chaoyin, a Chongqing farmer in his 30s, said that only about one-fifth of the 1.3 acres of corn he had planted survived the deluge.

Ive worked as a farmer all my life, and this is not the first time Ive had damage from floods, he said. But the damage this year is the worst.

Ran also experienced extreme weather last summer, as persistent heat and drought swept through a large swath of southern China, almost drying up the countrys largest freshwater lake and taking a huge toll on crop yields.

The drought here was very bad last year, he said. The crops almost reached harvest time and then they all dried up.

The central province of Henan, Chinas top wheat producer, was hit by unexpected torrential rainfall right before harvest time in May. The prolonged downpours flooded wheat fields, causing pre-harvest sprouting and blight.

Wang Guirong, director of the rural division of Chinas National Bureau of Statistics, said in July that summer grain yield had fallen 0.9% compared with last year, the first such decrease in years, though he said the 146 million tons were still a bumper harvest. He said continuous rainfall in the northern wheat region, including Henan province, was to blame.

The opposite is happening in some parts of northern China, which have been gripped by scorching heat this summer. The record-breaking temperatures and dry spell have compromised the quality and quantity of crops suitable for harvest and sowing in summer, which is an important season for agriculture in these areas.

Chen Shutao, a straw purchaser whose family plants corn in the northern province of Hebei, said the stalks were a foot shorter than usual and wont be fully grown.

The corn we grew in spring will have little or zero harvest this year, depending on if we have any rain in the upcoming two weeks, the 32-year-old said.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said on Aug. 2 that eight provinces, including Hebei, would receive 432 million yuan ($60 million) in flood relief funds to support agricultural output. It earlier said that drought conditions had been eased by recent rainfall and that China had enough wheat stock to last almost a year.

A slight reduction in production will not have a major impact on the grain market, Pan Wenbo, director general of the ministrys crop production department, said on July 21. The current market price of wheat is also basically stable.

The new normal

The extreme weather in China, the worlds top greenhouse gas emitter, was on display in July as U.S. climate envoy John Kerry arrived in Beijing the same day Chinas hottest-ever temperature  126 degrees Fahrenheit  was recorded in the western region of Xinjiang. Kerrys visit restarted U.S.-China climate talks that had been suspended since last year but did not produce any breakthroughs.

As the planet warms, Chinas droughts and floods will become more frequent and intense, said Liu Junyan, manager of the climate and energy program at Greenpeace East Asia.

A security guard wipes off sweat in Beijing in July. (Andy Wong / AP file )

Drought will dry up crops in their key growing period, Liu said. Flooding will not always cause 100% damage to the crops because it will recede, but the impact will last longer if its compounded by mudslides.

The extreme weather events lashing China this summer are in line with what scientists have predicted if global warming continues unchecked.

Prolonged heat waves, severe storms, intense flooding and widespread drought are all becoming part of the new normal of climate change, said Cascade Tuholske, an assistant professor of climate change, urbanization and food security at Montana State University.

As we warm our climate, what was once viewed as extreme happens more frequently, he said.

The impacts of climate change can also overlap as compounding hazards, making it even more challenging for countries to mitigate the consequences.

In China, for instance, parts of the country were being deluged while others suffered oppressively high heat and humidity. The two extremes, however, are related.

As we heat up the air, the atmosphere can hold more moisture, so storm systems are pulling more moisture off the ocean, Tuholske said. Its not surprising then that were getting heat waves at the same time with extreme precipitation events.

Extreme weather events around the world are expected to be exacerbated by the return this spring of El Nino, a naturally occurring climate pattern. El Nino conditions are characterized by changes in the strength or direction of trade winds that cause waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean to become warmer than usual. These shifts typically have significant and far-ranging effects on global temperatures, rainfall patterns and severe storm systems.

A woman shelters under a mask as she walks out of the Forbidden City during hot weather conditions in Beijing (Wang Zhao / AFP via Getty Images file )

Rising global temperatures could also change the agricultural landscape in China, as some crops grown mainly in southern China move northward, according to Liu.

But its not all good, because a warmer winter will bring more pest infestations, she said.

In addition to being the worlds biggest food producer, China is also the biggest food importer, with key imports including soybean, corn, wheat and sorghum. The country imported more than 140 million tons of grains last year, which was equal to 21% of its annual domestic grain production.

China has increasingly turned to countries such as Brazil and Argentina for food imports amid tensions with the U.S., which was its biggest agricultural supplier before a trade war began in 2018.

Faced with global uncertainties, China has in recent years been ramping up efforts to ensure food security, striving to increase crop yields and carrying out a high-profile campaign against food waste.

But extreme weather is a wild card for agriculture and a headache for farmers, who are very dependent on climate.

The drought in my area used to happen every eight to 10 years, Chen said. But it happened in 2021 and 2023, too close.

The future is hard to predict for us, he added. Many of us dont dare to contract land anymore.

Dawn Liu reported from Beijing, and Denise Chow reported from New York.
Crew members aboard Carnival Cruise Line's Port Canaveral, Florida-based Mardi Gras played an unexpected role this week. They rescued a couple stranded at sea.

Carnival said its Mardi Gras crew received a call from the U.S. Coast Guard to help rescue a man and a woman from a sailboat early Monday.

The couple was stranded about 20 miles from Castle Island, Bahamas, and Mardi Gras was less than 9 miles from them when the ships officers received a call from the Coast Guard.

As the Mardi Gras approached the sailboat, the crew lowered a lifeboat to make the rescue just after 1 a.m. Monday.

Crew members of Carnival Cruise Line's Port Canaveral-based Mardi Gras help a couple after they were rescued from a sailboat near Castle Island, Bahamas.

Once on board the Mardi Gras, the man was admitted to the ship's medical center, Carnival said, adding that both of them "are being assisted and supported by the ships team."

Carnival said it was unable to provide additional details about the couple's identity or the man's medical condition. A photo provided by Carnival showed the man coming aboard the ship in a wheelchair.

Carnival Venezia: New cruise ship offers Italian-style cruising

The Mardi Gras left Port Canaveral on Saturday on an eight-day Caribbean sailing. The ship is continuing its planned itinerary, with a stop Tuesday in Aruba. It is scheduled to return to Port Canaveral next Sunday.

Mardi Gras carries more than 6,000 passengers and more than 1,700 crew members. It is Carnival's second-largest ship, and one of three Carnival ships now based at Port Canaveral, along with the Freedom and the Liberty.

Dave Berman is business editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Berman at dberman@floridatoday.com, on Twitter at @bydaveberman and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dave.berman.54

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Couple in sailboat rescued by Carnival cruise ship
Cunard Lines Queen Mary 2 ship broke from its moorings due to strong winds in Italy on Friday.

The cruise line had anticipated adverse weather and was in the process of taking precautionary measures as we were hit by an unexpected gust of wind in Civitavecchia that caused the separation, a spokesperson said in an emailed statement. The incident caused a short delay in the ships departure, but there were no injuries.

Showers and thunderstorms moved through the area on Friday afternoon and evening, according to AccuWeather. Some weather stations in and around Civitavecchia reported wind gusts between 24 and 28 miles per hour.

The ship visited the port as part of a 28-day Mediterranean sailing, according to CruiseMapper. Queen Mary 2 departed from New York on July 21 and will return on Aug. 18.

The news comes just weeks after Norwegian Cruise Lines Norwegian Prima ship broke from its mooring ropes in Belgium due to unexpectedly powerful side winds.

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Stewart Chiron, a cruise industry expert known as The Cruise Guy, told USA TODAY in July that those kinds of incidents are very rare but have happened in extreme weather.

He added that weather conditions at each port are monitored for safety before arrival. The cruise lines are always assessing these matters and mitigating the risks, Chiron said in an email at the time. If it's (deemed) unsafe, they take appropriate action so passengers can focus on their vacations. Unfortunately, they don't control the weather.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cunard ship breaks from moorings due to wind gust
On the same day a former Minneapolis Police Department officer was sentenced in the death of George Floyd, Chief Brian O'Hara announced a new structure for the department intended to improve community trust.

Starting Monday, the department was split into two divisions: one for operations and the other for community trust.

Those divisions are led by two newly created assistant chief positions. Both were appointed from within the department: Christopher Gaiters, the new assistant chief of community trust, and Katie Blackwell, assistant chief of operations.

O'Hara said that since taking over as chief in November he realized "significant organizational structure changes were needed." He said the restructuring enables the department to have "greater accountability" over efforts to reduce crime and restore trust.

The chief said it became apparent the department had too many supervisors on the lower rungs of the department and needed more staff in executive positions to resemble more of a "logical staircase," O'Hara said.

"This increases the amount of people available on the executive level to provide accountability, and that's absolutely necessary," O'Hara said at the Monday news conference.

Asked about criticisms of the department's past internal investigations, Gaiters said he wants to put emphasis on listening to community voices and factoring those into decisions.

"I think it's extremely important that [within] the decisions and outcomes in internal affairs is the expectation of the community," Gaiters said, noting there have been many cases in the past where the department could have better included the input of the local community.

A U.S. Justice Department investigation prompted by Floyd's murder and released in June found that the department routinely engages in a pattern of racist and abusive behavior that deprives people of their constitutional rights.

The 89-page report outlined four core findings: The department uses excessive force, including unjustified deadly force; it unlawfully discriminates against Black and Native American people; it violates citizens' free speech rights; and officers discriminate against people with behavioral health disabilities when responding to calls, at times causing trauma or death.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland called the patterns and practices observed by the Justice Department "deeply disturbing."

"They erode the community's trust in law enforcement. And they made what happened to George Floyd possible," Garland said at a June 16 news conference in Minneapolis.

O'Hara said the new structure and how it can improve racial equity when it comes to treatment by police is "definitely something that's on my mind as I make all these decisions."

As assistant chief of community trust, Gaiters will also oversee two new bureaus announced last week: the Bureau of Internal Affairs and the Bureau of Constitutional Policing.

Those bureaus will be led by two newly appointed deputy chiefs: DeChristopher Granger, overseeing Internal Affairs, and Travis Glampe, overseeing the Constitutional Policing Bureau. Granger was previously a commander for Internal Affairs.

Blackwell said the department needs to be "strategic and deliberate" with its operations, noting that the department is "shorter staffed than we ever have been before." She echoed O'Hara's view that having more executive-level positions should help with department accountability.

"That help and that assistance of of making sure nothing is slipping through the cracks, that's a huge piece of that accountability piece," she said.

The news came the same day that former officer Tou Thao was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for aiding in George Floyd's killing in 2020.

O'Hara announced he was also reassigning several of the department's deputy chief positions. The investigations bureau will now be led by Jason Case, a former commander. It had been led by Kathy Waite.

The patrol division, which was overseen by Erick Fors, will now be led by Deputy Chief Jon Kingsbury, also a former commander.

And the deputy chief position for the Internal Affairs Division, which had been led by Troy Schoenberger, is now held by Mark Montgomery.

The new deputy chief positions will have an annual salary range of between $153,524 and $181,995. When benefits and other costs are factored in, city officials have estimated annual total costs this year for all five deputy chief positions at $1,154,700.

The unappointed deputy chiefs  Fors, Case and Schoenberger  will return to their civil-service ranks.

Amelia Huffman, former acting assistant chief, is now employed at the Minneapolis City Attorney's Office.

Other new leadership positions announced were Second Precinct Inspector Nick Torborg and Fifth Precinct Inspector Christie Nelson.

The city undertakes these changes while under federal court scrutiny.

The federal findings are separate from similar charges leveled in 2022 by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, which also found a pattern of discriminatory behavior by Minneapolis officers in the decade before Floyd's killing in 2020. The Minneapolis City Council approved changes this spring to settle the state's case, including limiting police use of chemical irritants and barring officers from searches based on the smell of marijuana.

Staff writers Stephen Montemayor and Liz Navratil contributed to this report.
The Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania, which feeds the hungry in an 11-county region, is adapting to a growing demand for services among refugees, immigrants and other non-English language speakers.

As of Aug. 4, Second Harvest is now using Google Translate on its website to make it easier for clients to apply for the agency's Emergency Food Assistance program, fill out self-declaration forms and other paperwork and read more about the programs and services the food bank provides.

Volunteers Dan Bortner, 71, back left, and Jerry Kardos, 73, help load food items into a car during Second Harvest Food Bank's Poverty Express food pick-up in Erie on Jan. 4, 2023.

The Second Harvest Food Bank website can be translated from English into nine different languages: Spanish, French, Ukrainian, Arabic, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Nepali, Russian and Urdu, which is the official language of Pakistan and used widely throughout India.

"We've seen an influx of more people of varying backgrounds and cultures in our Produce Express lines, a lot of people who are refugees, a lot of people who are first time Americans just getting here," Second Harvest Food Bank's Director of Development Breanna Watts said. "We had someone on staff last year who was an Afghan refugee, and I think that really shined a light on an area where we could do better and maybe hadn't realized it before."

The number of households served by the local Second Harvest Food Bank increased 39% from last fiscal year, Watts said. Many of the new clients are refugees and immigrants in Erie.

This is an important step in breaking down language barriers to create stable and sustainablesolutions to food insecurity among our immigrants," Second Harvest Food Bank CEO Karen Seggi said. Being able to access our website in this capacity is crucial in providing food for this growing population.

Matthew Rink can be reached at mrink@timesnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Second Harvest Food Bank adds translation tool to website
The headquarters of the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) in Seoul / Newsis



By Anna J. Park



The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) has sent a warning message to local private equity firms (PEF) operating trillions of won of funds entrusted to them by institutional investors. The move comes as the state-run financial watchdog cracks down on irregularities by employees as well as major shareholders of asset management companies.



According to the financial industry, an FSS bureau in charge of inspecting asset management firms recently sent an official document to the local association of private equity firms in the country. Titled "Guidelines for preventing actions that pursue illicit interests of major shareholders or employees," the document detailed the financial authorities' policy directions aiming to uncover unlawful deeds by private equity firm members.



"There have been continuous occurrences by major shareholders or employees of some financial investment firms pursuing private interests unlawfully and unfairly," the official letter stated. "To crack down on this, the FSS has placed a priority on conducting inspections focusing on detecting illicit self-interest-seeking behaviors," the letter added.



So far, large-sized private equity funds that specialize in leveraged buyouts in the corporate M&A market have typically been excluded from inspections and audits by the FSS, as such the PEFs were only available to institutional investors, such as state pension funds, cooperatives or financial companies.



Instead, the financial authorities had mainly focused investigative efforts on PEFs that heavily rely on funds financed by individual investors. Yet, the warning message to the PEF association is interpreted as heralding the FSS' shifted stance in expanding the scope of inspections with regard to PEFs. The PEF association is an organization of over 60 medium- and large-sized private equity firms, most of which operate their funds from institutional investors.



There are 415 institution-specific PEF management companies, operating an aggregated funding amount of 130.9 trillion won ($99.5 billion), as of the end of the first quarter. Thirty-five of them operate over one trillion won ($760 million) of committed funds, while 160 of them manage funding between 100 billion won and one trillion won. The total number of PEFs in the country stood at 1,098, as of the end of last year, which is a record-high level.



With the increase in the number of PEFs in the country, the FSS sees that there are a growing number of cases of irregularities by PEF employees or shareholders.


A former FBI agent accused by U.S. prosecutors of working for a sanctioned Russian oligarch may now plead guilty to evading U.S. sanctions and money laundering after initially entering a not guilty plea.

U.S. District Judge Jennifer Rearden in Manhattan wrote in a brief order filed Monday that a change of plea hearing has been scheduled for August 15 for 54-year-old Charles McGonigal, Reuters reported.

McGonigal, who retired in 2018, was the former special agent in charge of the FBIs Counterintelligence Division in New York and was involved in the probe into former President Trump's ties to Russia.

The former FBI official previously pleaded not guilty to conspiring to violate and evade U.S. sanctions, money laundering, conspiring to commit money laundering and conspiring to violate federal law against doing business with sanctioned individuals in connection with his work for sanctioned Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska.

RETIRED FBI COUNTERINTEL AGENT REPORTEDLY INVOLVED IN TRUMP-RUSSIA PROBE ARRESTED FOR TIES TO RUSSIA

A former FBI agent accused by U.S. prosecutors of working for a sanctioned Russian oligarch may change his plea to guilty on criminal charges including evading U.S. sanctions and money laundering.

Prosecutors arrested McGonigal in January for allegedly receiving concealed payments from Deripaska, the founder of Russian aluminum company Rusal, in exchange for investigating a rival oligarch and unsuccessfully pushing to lift U.S. sanctions on Deripaska in 2019. He has been free on a $500,000 bond since his arrest.

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McGonigal was legally required to report his contact with foreign officials to the agency, but allegedly hid the ties and instead pursued business and overseas travel conflicting with his work.

The charges against McGonigal came as U.S. prosecutors increased efforts to enforce sanctions on Russian officials and monitor their alleged enablers because of Moscow's war against Ukraine.

Deripaska was among two dozen Russian oligarchs and government officials blacklisted by the U.S. in 2018 over allegations Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election. Deripaska and the Kremlin have denied any meddling in the election.

FBI FINDS 200 VICTIMS OF SEX TRAFFICKING, 59 MISSING CHILDREN IN NATIONWIDE OPERATION

U.S. District Judge Jennifer Rearden in Manhattan wrote in a brief order filed Monday that a change of plea hearing has been scheduled for August 15.

McGonigal reportedly played a central role in the investigation into Trump's 2016 campaign's connection to Russia.

While serving as chief of the cybercrimes section at FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C., McGonigal was reportedly one of the first bureau officials to learn former Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos allegedly boasted that he knew Russians had information on then-presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, launching the Russian election interference probe.

Reuters and Fox News' Danielle Wallace contributed to this report.
When it comes to stock buybacks, Apple (AAPL) and Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A, BRK-B) are on the same page.

For more than a decade, Apple has made good on its history-making buyback plans, spending more than $573 billion on share repurchases since 2012. And in its most recent quarter, Apple spent another $18 billion on buybacks despite a third straight quarter in a row of declining revenues.

It's clear that Apple's buybacks have benefited Berkshire's bottom line. Buffett himself has said as much, telegraphing that he very clearly believes in Apple's consistent buyback program.

"At Apple and Amex, repurchases increased Berkshires ownership a bit without any cost to us," Buffett wrote in Berkshire's annual shareholders letter this year. "The math isnt complicated: When the share count goes down, your interest in our many businesses goes up. Every small bit helps if repurchases are made at value-accretive prices. Just as surely, when a company overpays for repurchases, the continuing shareholders lose."

A staggering 46% of Buffett's portfolio is concentrated in Apple stock, which Buffett's Berkshire first bought in 2016. Famously, Apple just last month became the first company in history to cross the $3 trillion-dollar mark.

Buffett has long been an advocate of stock buybacks, even as the practice faces pushback from critics in Washington, D.C., including President Biden, who proposed an increased tax on them as recently as this year.

Buffett even penned a fervent defense of buybacks in his annual letter.

"When you are told that all repurchases are harmful to shareholders or to the country, or particularly beneficial to CEOs, you are listening to either an economic illiterate or a silver-tongued demagogue (characters that are not mutually exclusive)," he wrote.

In this Aug. 1, 2016, file photo, Berkshire Hathaway Chairman and CEO Warren Buffett applauds at a presidential campaign rally in Omaha, Neb. (Andrew Harnik/AP Photo, File)

Stock buybacks 'have helped make Buffett richer'

In the three months leading up to July 1, Apple repurchased $18.14 billion in its own stock, according to SEC filings. In the past nine months overall, Apple spent a whopping $56 billion on buybacks.

Though that's an impressive number, it's still less than the $64 billion the company spent on share repurchases over the same period in 2022.

So how much have Apple's buybacks boosted the stock  and Warren Buffett's bottom line? After all, by spending on buybacks, Apple is spending less on other areas such as product development. (In the latest earnings report, Apple reported holding $28 billion in cash.)

"Investors commonly view stock buybacks as a benefit to Apple, and given Berkshires relatively large allocation to Apple, stock buybacks have helped make Buffett richer," VerityData senior analyst Ali Ragih told Yahoo Finance.

However, he added that "financial literature often views stock buybacks in a neutral action on a theoretical basis."

As buybacks have become an essential part of Apple's business model  and a necessary method of deploying capital  there's every reason to believe Apple's buyback train will continue full steam ahead, revenue woes or not.

In May, Apple said that it had authorized $90 billion in share repurchases, building on the 2022 announcement in which Apple also OK'd $90 billion in buybacks.

"On average, with buybacks we will see the stock price go up," said Michael Roberts, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. "In the tech space, the largest players have a lot of cash, and a question to answer  how do we return that money to investors? Repurchases are an artifact of their operating business. They're generating so much money and don't have enough new investments to use it on."

Furthermore, Apple's competitors are increasingly upping their buyback game too.

"Apple routinely buys back the most stock of any company every quarter with amounts that are around $20 billion per quarter," Ragih said. "Google is gradually catching up and bought back $15.0B last quarter. Buybacks market-wide are swayed by the largest companies and Apple plays an important role in that."

Still, for all of Washington, D.C.'s pushback on share repurchases, it's important to remember something even bigger than Buffett.

Huge swaths of both Berkshire and Apple aren't just owned by billionaires and large institutional investors, they're both tickers that have massive followings among retail investors.

"Berkshire's an investor in Apple just like you or me," Roberts said. "They just own a lot more stock than you and I do. When Apple buys back shares, remember, we have to consent to sell them. ... And, after all, who owns Berkshire Hathaway? A lot of retail investors."

Allie Garfinkle is a Senior Tech Reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter at @agarfinks and on LinkedIn.

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Hank the Tank

A massive and notoriously mischievous black bear has been captured after more than a year on the run following a string of break-ins in California.

The 500lbs (227kg) bear, known to fans as Hank the Tank, is believed to have broken into 21 homes in the Lake Tahoe area since 2022.

Hank - who is actually a female bear registered as 64F - will be moved to a sanctuary in Colorado.

Her three cubs may be transferred to a facility in California's Sonoma County.

In a statement released on Friday, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) said that biologists had "safely immobilised" the bear, who had been linked to 21 break-ins by DNA evidence.

Pending a successful health check, Hank will be taken to the Wild Animal Sanctuary near Springfield, Colorado.

While California authorities have noted that relocation is "not typically an option", Hank's fame has given her a reprieve.

"Given the widespread interest in this bear, and the significant risk of a serious incident involving the bear, CDFW is employing an alternative solution to safeguard the bear family as well as the people in the South Lake Tahoe community," the statement said.

Hank's three cubs will be taken to a different facility in Petaluma, California "in hopes they can discontinue the negative behaviours they learned from the sow and can be returned to the wild".

On the X social media platform, formerly known as Twitter, Colorado Governor Jared Polis welcomed Hank - and joked that she should have been named "Henrietta the Tank".

Hank was originally believed to have been responsible for over 40 break-ins, but DNA samples proved that the break-ins were also the work of at least two other large bears with a voracious appetite for human food.

The discovery that Hank was not alone in the crime spree prompted California officials to reassure the public that "no bears will be euthanised, harmed, relocated to some facility or placed in a zoo".

Biologists believe that Hank, who is considerably larger than most black bears, had grown unafraid of humans and had learned to use her strength to force her way into people's homes.

"When you have a bear forcibly crashing its way through a garage door or ripping open a front door with people inside, that's pretty brazen and unusual," CDFW spokesperson Peter Tira told the BBC in February 2022.

The whereabouts and potential fate of the other two bears involved in the spree of California break-ins is unclear.

The BBC has reached out to CDFW for comment.

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The first 75 or so arrivals stepped out of buses at Union Station clutching clear plastic bags that held few possessions. This was almost a year ago. Each had been to the United States-Mexico border with the hope of immigrating to this country. Once there, they were put on buses bound for the self-styled sanctuary city of Chicago. Many did not speak English. Some spoke English, but felt more comfortable speaking Spanish. Most came from Venezuela and Nicaragua and Cuba. They were mothers and children and fathers and single men and single women, and they shared two things in common: They had become participants in a political protest by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott against federal immigration policies and, after arriving in the Loop, they would be filing out lots of paperwork.

Paperwork primarily in English.

Katarina Ramos, managing attorney for the National Immigrant Justice Center, based in Chicago, thought immediately of Alejandra Oliva, who was in her late 20s yet preternaturally assured. Oliva had been promoted recently at NIJC and was working on policy, but Ramos required a pragmatic, efficient hand. The situation was fraught and chaotic. She had heard the buses were coming; then she had heard they werent coming. Then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot had asked advocacy groups to handle what Ramos calls the Legal Immigration 101 walk-through.

Plus Texas wouldnt even say when buses would be here, Ramos recalled, and whenever we tried to make a deal with the bus company to get a little notice, Abbotts office would push back.

Oliva, who is now 30 and lives on a quiet Sauganash neighborhood street in a classic Chicago bungalow, was among the first to greet the migrants. She is an essayist and immigration activist and author  her memoir, Rivermouth: A Chronicle of Language, Faith, and Migration, was published earlier this summer by Astra House  but Oliva has become particularly appreciated for her role as a translator.

Working overnight in the days before the first bus came, she put together a website for the new undocumented arrivals, all in Spanish. Before anyone reached the paperwork stage, she streamlined the greeting process. One by one, Oliva said, you would meet these couples, many with the same questions, which had not been answered yet. Questions as basic as What is asylum? And what did it say on this form (usually in English) about Immigration and Customs Enforcement? Sometimes it was a question of how to check in with ICE or simply how to change an address.

Eventually, inevitably, there is paperwork.

Applications, statements, histories.

Its such an obvious detail, yet, in our bottomless debates about immigration, we forget a frequent truism: Though the U.S. government does not have an official language, most of its applications and forms demand a degree of fluency in English for prospective citizens. Oliva, who writes in Rivermouth about working on the U.S.-Mexico border and helping migrants tell harrowing histories in the narrow boxes of government forms, has since become an outspoken advocate for language justice, a concept developed by educators Alice Johnson and Roberto Tijerina with a pretty straightforward premise: Everyone has a right to communicate  and to be understood  in their own languages, in ICE meetings, on applications, at town halls.

In a strictly practical sense, as a historian of immigration myself, that paperwork (being filed by migrants who enter the U.S.) is a transcript for any historians 100 years from now, said Rachel Buff, chair of the history department at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. Its almost our sacred responsibility to get their stories right. What a person had to do to get here, what it took to leave  all of that only enters the records through these very moments of translation. I have walked for five days and I am worried about gangs in my village  thats not going to cut it. What Alejandra is calling for, in a broad sense, is cultural bilingualism as a kind of responsibility.

What Oliva does  and she is quick to point out  is far from unique; she is one of many such translators across the country helping migrants complete paperwork to explain their life stories.

But Alejandra is particularly patient and able to step back and calm a situation, Ramos said. All without losing focus on who she is doing this for. In this work, you get people who want to save migrants. Alejandra works with, not helps, them. She takes a persons fear and every reason they may be afraid to return to their home, then she recognizes something that a lot of people tend to forget about all this: This person will get one chance to get this paperwork right.

As Oliva writes in Rivermouth: The U.S. government is not the Catholic Church, but it does require asylum-seekers to be saints. Translating a migrants story into government parameters takes many shapes, but without help, the result often drifts away from the messiness of real life and into the beats of a known and understood narrative.

By the time Johannes Favi worked with Oliva, he had left the small African nation of Benin and had been living in Indiana for nearly a decade. He already had two children and a wife and was going through the process to receive a green card, but ICE held Favi in 2019 and sent him to a Kankakee detention center for 10 months.

After he sued the government for violating his right to due process and not supplying proper protection during a pandemic, he was released and then asked to speak about his experience for a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee on immigration and citizenship. Alejandra has no legal power, he said in an interview. But the time she takes to help prepare your story  you always hope you know someone who can bring change to your life, you know? From a language standpoint, when youre telling your story as an immigrant, you can get confused. Youre probably still traumatized. I was still living here and adjusting to this life. Then you get arrested in front of your kids; you dont know when you will be released. On Fridays at 5 a.m., they call out names and you dont know where you are going next or even if you may be out of the country in 48 hours. People get desperate. I have seen people (in detention) use bedsheets and hang themselves.

Alejandra helped me focus my story, in a way so you are not unknowingly harming yourself. She will tell you the truth even if it hurts. I like that opinion. To have someone like Alejandra in front of you, it made me what I am today and inspired me to be more like her. Which is what I do. Favi lives in Chicago now and works as the deputy director of Illinois Community for Displaced Immigrants, a nonprofit that advocates for housing and human rights for asylum-seekers.

On a recent weekday morning, Oliva sat in her dining room with a hand below the table steadying her dog, Chico, and the other signing onto a Zoom talk that she was leading. It was about trauma and translation workers. About 100 participants were allowed and 150 signed up. Her long black swoop of hair streaked with blonde fell across her face, which stiffened in concentration yet somehow also exuded serenity. A water bottle and notebook sat off-camera. When the talk began, she offered advice for not looking judgmental during translations. She fielded questions about the ways translating emotionally draining stories can affect the mental health of a translator. Someone asked if its natural for translators to feel anger toward those in their personal lives who complain about petty things. (I have definitely known that feeling, she said.) She talked about when a translator, a neutral party, should convey emotions.

Then someone described a heated situation when they felt caught between lawyer and migrant.

Oliva said its important to remind everyone they are not talking to her but to each other. Still, its understandable if a translator working with migrants finds themselves in an uneasy place. She said, We are expected to walk this line between being an interpreter and being an advocate for whomever is talking. Its not unusual to find yourself saying: I am not the one saying these things. On the other hand, an interpreter should not expect to hold themselves to a robot calm.

An uneasy place, indeed.

When she arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border, during the so-called migrant caravan situation of 2018 and 2019, she immediately found advocates who wanted to do good but held romantic notions of humanitarian work. Paperwork is not romantic. At her dining room table the other day she explained in a single gesture, spreading her arms wide and saying with a beatific smile:

At last! Here I am everyone!

Except, bureaucracy is not romantic.

There are government immigration apps that presume a migrant owns a smartphone. Humanitarian volunteers who dont speak Spanish. Migrants quickly lose whatever hope they came with. Buff, who volunteered at the border during those caravan days, met Oliva there. She recalls sitting around with volunteers in San Diego after a long day on the border: This woman said the next time she does this she would stay in Tijuana because it was more of an authentic experience. Alejandra said something like, Oh, I dont know, I also like there to be toilet paper in a bathroom. You can get some very naive people who want to help, who virtue signal, and they are not necessarily the ones who stick with it. If you want to do this because you are a good person and thats it, you do not last. Alejandra comes at it from a deep spiritual and political motivation. She can be skeptical of things since there is no question shell be back tomorrow.

Oliva first went to the border while she was a graduate student at Harvard Divinity School, though she was more interested in becoming a writer than a preacher. She frames her work with migrants in near-religious tones. She does not take on their pain, but believes in honoring it, she says. Her relationship with organized religion itself is strained. She grew up evangelical but found her own moral foundation different from the morals the church wanted to install in me.

She moved to Chicago in 2019 to work with the NIJC, but grew up in Massachusetts and Texas. Her mother was born in Brownsville, Texas, at the border; her father is from outside Mexico City. He earned a doctorate in business and worked for Harvard Business School; the family was well-off, she said. So there was never difficulty with their paperwork. Money, of course, buys good lawyers.

She began volunteering as a translator while still enrolled as a student at Columbia University in New York. At first, she stumbled her way around I-589s, the government application for asylum.

An attorney can explain (a migrants story) more, which could lead to an appointment with a forensic specialist who can get into the specifics of how someone was harmed. But for a lot of people, its a much different process. You get these tiny boxes to explain what bad things happened. It has to fit in there. What do you fear? Have you been harmed? You have like 200 words, and so it gets boiled down to awful declarative sentences. So it can be comforting (for the asylum-seeker) to have someone there with eyes on them. At the border, there were not enough volunteer Spanish speakers, so you would end up accompanying people, doing this weird very specific direct service. Everything is uncertain, theyre scared; they just want to know if everything will be OK. But I can stand there and explain the process. Which is just nonstop.

And its not just that their story needs to be compelling, it needs to be consistent. If I asked you what you had for breakfast last week, your memory might change. But youre helping someone who probably has just gone through a lot of trauma and you are helping them fill out paperwork and prepare their narrative, which is not just a memory but the memory of what happened.

Oliva sits back and takes a breath.

Rivermouth, which is focused on her work with migrants, gnaws and gnaws at unsettled feelings of how much help is accomplished within a system so deeply arbitrary. She writes about the fallacy of believing you can cross a border the right way; the lines of people waiting to be processed when some days no one is called and others 600 are called; credible fear interviews conducted by law enforcement who dont require evidence yet scrutinize every inflection.

You realize you have to be open to messy feelings, she said in her dining room, not long after she quit NIJC to focus on writing. You have to realize none of what you do feels special. Its hard to figure out a way of doing it that doesnt feel self-serving. Im guilty of it myself. Its boring, but its also important to know this, that you cant go in and hand out sandwiches and fix things.

She pets her dog a moment.

Again, I am not the only one who does this, but these documents are important, at least to journalists. We forget that. We dont give someones story the right level of care. We think of a good story as one that fits a government box. Look, when I work on an asylum application, I care more about filing it out correctly and keeping you safe than doing a story justice, so to speak. When I help storytelling, its often because (the immigrant) needs a certain audience, like a politician, to care and empathize. But in general, you give your full attention and presence. You show the person going through all this, no, they might not have any control over (some things) right now, but lets at least make sure they have control over this part of this process, which is their story.

cborrelli@chicagotribune.com
Judge Aileen Cannon is asking the Justice Department and Donald Trump co-defendant Walt Nauta to weigh in on the legality of special counsel Jack Smiths ongoing grand jury activity in Washington, DC, which relates to the obstruction portion of the Mar-a-Lago documents case before her in Florida.

In an order Monday, Cannon said Nautas lawyers shall address the legal propriety of using an out-of-district grand jury proceeding to continue to investigate and/or to seek post-indictment hearings on matters pertinent to the instant indicted matter in this district by August 17. The special counsel must reply by August 22.

The special counsel previously told Cannon that the grand jury in this district [in Florida] and a grand jury in the District of Columbia continued to investigate further obstructive activity, which resulted in the latest group of criminal charges before her against Trump, Nauta and a third defendant, Mar-a-Lago employee Carlos De Oliveira.

Nautas attorneys have also been told to respond to questions the Justice Department has raised about their possible conflicts for representing multiple people in the probe in addition to Nauta. The Justice Department previously flagged to Cannon the possibility of a conflict of interest because Nautas lawyer Stanley Woodward has represented others who are likely to be witnesses against him and Trump at trial.

Cannons schedule indicates the possible conflict issue wont be resolved for at least two weeks.

Woodwards representation of Trump IT employee and witness Yuscil Taveras was moved to another lawyer after a recent proceeding before the chief federal judge in Washington, CNN has confirmed. Taveras had been represented by the same attorney as Nauta, but received a target letter after the June indictment of Trump and Nauta. Taveras, under a new lawyers representation, then spoke to investigators.

Woodward represents at least one additional possible trial witness in the Florida documents case, as well as several others in Trumps circles and related to the January 6 investigation, and his work for them is funded by Trumps Save America PAC.

Trump now faces 40 felony counts, alleging he illegally retained national defense information and that he concealed documents in violation of witness-tampering laws in the Justice Departments probe into the materials. Trump and Nauta have pleaded not guilty to all charges. De Oliveira is set to be arraigned on Thursday.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
By Jonathan Stempel

NEW YORK (Reuters) -A U.S. judge on Monday dismissed Donald Trump's defamation counterclaim against the writer E. Jean Carroll, handing a fresh legal defeat to the former president as he seeks another White House term.

U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan said Carroll's statements, made on CNN the day after she won a $5 million jury verdict against Trump for defamation and sexual abuse, were at least "substantially true," and Trump failed to show she made them with actual malice.

Alina Habba, a lawyer for Trump, said "We strongly disagree with the flawed decision and will be filing an appeal shortly."

Trump, 77, filed his counterclaim in a second defamation lawsuit by Carroll, 79, who is seeking at least $10 million.

A trial is scheduled for Jan. 15, 2024.

Trump is the front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

He has also pleaded not guilty to criminal charges in three separate indictments, including over his effort to reverse his 2020 election loss and his role in events leading to the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Trump sued Carroll after the former Elle magazine columnist said "oh yes, he did; oh yes, he did" when asked on CNN about the jury's finding that he had not raped her.

He also objected to Carroll recounting how she had told his lawyer "he did it and you know it" soon after the verdict was read.

Kaplan had previously found convincing proof that Trump "deliberately and forcibly" penetrated Carroll's vagina with his fingers, causing immediate pain and long-lasting emotional and psychological harm.

The verdict reflected that "Mr. Trump 'raped' her, albeit digitally rather than with his penis," Kaplan wrote on Monday. "Thus, it establishes against him the substantial truth of Ms. Carroll's 'rape' accusations."

Kaplan also struck some of Trump's affirmative defenses, including that he had "absolute presidential immunity" and that Carroll was ineligible for punitive damages.

Roberta Kaplan, who represents Carroll and is not related to the judge, said she was pleased with Monday's decision, which means the January trial "shouldn't take very long to complete."

Both lawsuits stemmed from Trump's denials that he forced himself upon and raped Carroll in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in Manhattan in the mid-1990s.

Carroll is suing over Trump's comments in June 2019 that he had not known her, that she was not his "type," and that she lied to boost sales of her memoir.

The $5 million verdict stemmed from a similar denial in an October 2022 social media post, where Trump branded the incident a "Hoax and a lie" and a "complete Scam."

Carroll amended her lawsuit after Trump disparaged her as a "whack job" in a CNN town hall following the verdict.

The lawsuit is Carroll v. Trump, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 20-07311.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; editing by Grant McCool and Howard Goller)
Abortion facility closures across the U.S. mean many women must drive long distances to access care, according to a new study. (Photo illustration: Aisha Yousaf for Yahoo News; photo: Getty Images)

It's been a little more than a year since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that guaranteed the right to abortion for women in the United States. Since then, abortion has been outlawed or tightly restricted in at least 13 states, making it that much more difficult for women to seek abortion care. Now, new research details a major obstacle many women seeking an abortion have to face: travel.

What the study says

The study, which was published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, found that nearly half of women who want to terminate a pregnancy need to travel long distances to reach an abortion care facility.

What are the key findings?

The study analyzed census data for women ages 15 to 49 and compared it to the locations of 750 abortion care facilities. Based on the numbers, the researchers found that 41.8% of women of reproductive age have to drive 30 minutes or more to reach an abortion care facility. Researchers also anticipate that number will rise to 53.5% if other state bills that are under consideration are passed.

But drives can be much longer for some women. The researchers found that 29.3% of women didn't have access to a facility that was within a 60-minute drive, and 23.6% couldn't even get to a facility within a 90-minute drive. In Wisconsin, for example, 61.7% of women would have to drive 90 minutes to reach an abortion care facility in a neighboring state.

"Two of every five American women do not have access to an abortion facility within a 30-minute drive, and one in four lack access within a 90-minute drive," the researchers wrote in the study. "These proportions could significantly increase if access is restricted further with state bans proposed in 2023."

What experts think

Unfortunately, this isn't the first study to find there are travel obstacles for women to access abortion. "This is consistent with previous research that we've done that show the Dobbs decision has significantly increased driving distances to get to an abortion provider," Ushma Upadhyay, PhD, an epidemiologist and researcher with Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health at the University of California, San Francisco, tells Yahoo Life. (Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization was the U.S. Supreme Court ruling issued in 2022 that overturned Roe v. Wade.)

Last year, Upadhyay's research found that a third of American women of reproductive age now face "excessive" travel times to obtain an abortion and twice as many women as before need to travel more than an hour to reach an abortion provider. Women in the South face the biggest obstacles, with those living in some parts of Texas and Louisiana going from having median travel times of about 15 minutes to more than six hours to receive abortion care.

Even in states that technically allow abortion, restrictive laws make it difficult for facilities to say open, Dr. Dawn Kopp, co-author of the latest study and an ob-gyn and vice chair of ob-gyn at Washington State Universitys Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, tells Yahoo Life. "The rapidly changing state legislation surrounding abortion has caused some abortion facilities to close in states with restrictive laws," she says.

"The findings are horrific, but also unsurprising," Heather Shumaker, director of state abortion access at National Women's Law Center, tells Yahoo Life. "They demonstrate the real-life implications of decimated abortion access that reproductive rights, health and justice advocates have long predicted."

This isn't just an issue for women in states with restrictive policies, Shumaker says. "Even in states without abortion bans, many providers cannot meet the growing need as patients come from out of state," she says.

Why it matters

The research shows that access to abortion care is now that much harder for women, Upadhyay says. "People have to take time off of work and have to put together funding to receive an abortion," she says. "But some people barely have the funding to pay for the abortion itself, let alone find time to take off from work. When you add in the cost of gas and lodging, it becomes a much more stressful situation."

A small portion of patients will need an additional procedure to complete the abortion, and that means even more travel costs, Upadhyay says.

As a result, "people have and will be forced to continue pregnancies, at the risk of their health and lives," Shumaker says.

These restrictions affect people who are Black and indigenous the most, Upadhyay says. "Abortion restrictions really do burden people of color and those who are low income the most," she says. "It disproportionately affects people who are already marginalized."

Upadhyay says it's important for states where abortion is legal to try to make the procedure as accessible as possible. "That might entail allowing telehealth for abortion or making funding available to make travel easier to facilitate that journey," she says.

Shumaker urges people to push for abortion access. "We deserve the freedom and opportunity to control our own bodies and our lifes path. Restricting abortion access is about who has power over you, who has the authority to make decisions for you and who is going to control how your future turns out. These findings demonstrate a loss of that freedom and opportunity."

Wellness, parenting, body image and more: Get to know the who behind the hoo with Yahoo Life's newsletter. Sign up here.
Nick Reynolds said he had a "unique bond" with his father

The son of the key planner behind the Great Train Robbery said he never realised his father was a criminal.

Nick Reynolds was a year old when his dad Bruce Reynolds was part of the gang that stole 2.6m from a mail train in Buckinghamshire on 8 August 1963.

"I assumed that he was a spy," he said on the 60th anniversary of the crime.

He said "the penny dropped" when his father was arrested in 1968, at a point the family had been on the run for five years.

The London gang's haul was estimated to be worth about 45m today and the 15 men convicted received lengthy sentences.

Bruce Reynolds was eventually arrested in Torquay in 1968 and jailed for 25 years, although he was released in 1978 and eventually wrote Autobiography Of A Thief. He died in 2013.

His son, a musician and sculptor, has memories of using five different aliases across that five-year period when his parents were on the run, but said he saw no signs of anxiety or stress in them.

He even recalled when the family returned to the UK from Mexico, they visited the bridge near Cheddington, close to where the crime took place.

"I suppose my mum wanted to see it," he said.

"It's an old cliche - they always say villains return to the scene of the crime."

Nick Reynolds was told later by his father that they had visited the scene of the crime - the Bridego Bridge between Cheddington and Leighton Buzzard - as a family while on the run

Reflecting on his childhood in Central America, he said: "My dad had managed to convince everyone he was an upper class English businessmen."

Comparing his father to James Bond, Mr Reynolds said his dad drove an Aston Martin and went scuba diving, leading him to think he was a spy.

Nick said his dad "dressed extremely smartly" in designer clothes and "he kind of modelled himself on the character Cary Grant played in To Catch a Thief".

At times his parents would fly from Mexico to Las Vegas just to eat a steak or watch Frank Sinatra perform.

"They looked like a young couple, very much in love, living the good life," said their son.

Nick Reynolds remembers opening the door to the police officers who arrested his father (pictured outside a magistrates court hearing) in 1968

Luke Evans played Bruce Reynolds in the 2013 BBC dramatisation of the Great Train Robbery

Mr Reynolds believes the story has remained popular for six decades because the sentencing for the train robbers "made them working class martyrs".

Thames Valley Police has described the theft as "the most unique and daring robbery Britain had ever seen", but highlighted that train driver Jack Mills was hit over the head during the raid and "his family insist that the blow to the head contributed to his ill health and later early death". His workmate David Whitby "had problems dealing with the trauma of the robbery".

'Fascinating story'

As well as being a sculptor, Nick Reynolds is also a member of British band Alabama 3, whose song Woke Up This Morning was used over the opening credits of TV mafia drama The Sopranos.

The Great Train Robbery has been dramatised several times - Phil Collins played gang member Bruce Edwards in the 1988 movie Buster, while the BBC adapted the tale in 2013 with a two-part drama told from the perspective of the robbers (with Luke Evans playing Reynolds) and the perspective of policeman in charge of catching them - Det Ch Supt Tommy Butler (played by Jim Broadbent).

Mr Reynolds believes the story could one day be adapted into a long-form television drama like the acclaimed American crime series.

"It's a fascinating story. You've got the robbery itself, the capture and the escapes," he said.

"Songs have been written about it, even the band I'm in have written a song about it, so I think it's a very interesting thing."

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STATESVILLE, N.C. (AP)  Mike Rockenfeller, a two-time Le Mans winner, has been chosen to replace suspended driver Noah Gragson in the next two NASCAR Cup Series races.

Legacy Motor Club CEO Cal Wells announced Tuesday that Rockenfeller will be in the No. 42 Chevrolet this week at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course and in the following race at Watkins Glen.

Gragson has not been released, according to Wells.

Noah is suspended indefinitely by NASCAR so we will have to identify drivers to compete in the No. 42 in the interim, Wells said. NASCAR will determine the timeline when Noah can return to the sport. We are working with Noah and his representation through this process.

Gragson was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR on Saturday after liking an insensitive meme with a photo of George Floyds face. Floyd, who was Black, died in 2020 after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for 9 1/2 minutes.

NASCAR said Gragson violated the member conduct of its rule book, without providing details.

The 25-year-old Gragson, a Cup series rookie from Las Vegas, is in his first full season in the Cup series and is No. 33 in points. Gragson posted on social media that he was disappointed in himself.

The 39-year-old Rockenfeller finished 29th and 30th in two Cup races last year. The German teamed with Legacy co-owner Jimmie Johnson and former F1 driver Jenson Button on the Garage 56 project that NASCAR took to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.

Rockenfeller did most of the car development for NASCAR and Hendrick Motorsports on the Garage 56 project.

Rockenfeller joins a long list of road racing experts entered into Sunday's event at Indianapolis, including Button, Brodie Kostecki, Andy Lally, Kamui Kobayashi, and Shane van Gisbergen, winner of NASCAR's inaugural street course race in downtown Chicago in July.

Josh Berry filled in for Gragson in the FireKeepers 400 at Michigan International Speedway and he was 34th in the 37-car field.

___

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
The federal judges' ruling, which may be appealed, has implications beyond Hawaii, including in California and other states that also ban or severely restrict butterfly knives. Above, a youth holds a butterfly knife in 2006. (Getty Images)

A conservative panel of federal judges ruled Monday that a 30-year ban on butterfly knives in Hawaii is unconstitutional under the U.S. Supreme Court's new "history and tradition" standard for reviewing the legitimacy of gun and other weapons laws nationwide.

"Hawaii has not demonstrated that its ban on butterfly knives is consistent with this Nations historical tradition of regulating arms," Judge Carlos Bea wrote for the unanimous three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

The ruling, which may be appealed, has implications beyond Hawaii, including in California and other states that also ban or severely restrict butterfly knives, which have been targeted by lawmakers because they can be easily concealed and flipped open.

California bans "switchblades"  which include butterfly knives  when they have blades 2 or more inches in length. A separate lawsuit challenging that ban is pending.

The decision reflects the growing reach of the Supreme Court's pro-gun rights decision last year in New York State Rifle & Pistol Assn. vs. Bruen, in which the nation's highest court ruled that restrictions on people's 2nd Amendment right to bear arms are constitutional only if they are deeply rooted in the nations history and tradition or analogous to some historical rule.

Since then, trial and appellate judges have found themselves sifting through century-old state statutes to determine the legality of hundreds of modern weapons restrictions in states all across the country  including on knives and billy clubs, assault weapons and ammunition magazines, and on the possession of guns by certain classes of people, including adults under 21 and people who are subject to restraining orders.

Bea wrote that Hawaii's 1993 ban on butterfly knives did not meet the criteria because nothing like it existed around the historical benchmarks chosen by the Supreme Court as relevant for such analyses: 1791, when the 2nd Amendment was passed, or 1868, when the 14th Amendment was passed. The latter amendment prohibits states from depriving people of property without due process of law.

Although the Bruen decision specifically addressed firearm regulations, Bea wrote that was only because the case in Bruen was about gun regulations in New York. The same "framework" applies to knives, which are also "arms" under the 2nd Amendment, he said.

Bea, an appointee of President George W. Bush, was joined in his opinion by judges Daniel Collins and Kenneth Lee, both appointees of President Trump.

Butterfly knives have split handles that swing back to form a single handle when the blade inside is revealed. They can be flipped open using just one hand by experienced users.

The knives have been associated with criminals, including in Hollywood films, since at least the 1950s. Some critics have said bans on them are racist, and serve as a pretext for harassing and arresting people of color  particularly Black and Latino men.

Hawaii banned such knives as "dangerous and unusual" weapons popular among gang members and increasingly common in acts of violence. The 9th Circuit panel found that the state had failed to prove they were either of those things, with Bea writing that they are "simply a pocketknife with an extra rotating handle."

The office of Hawaii Atty. Gen. Anne Lopez said it was still reviewing the decision Monday, but "may have further comment at a later time."

The case arose after plaintiffs Andrew Teter and James Grell sued the state over the ban, arguing that they are law-abiding citizens who wanted butterfly knives for multiple reasons, including for self-defense.

Grell, a 51-year-old who does accounting for a water utility company on the Big Island of Hawaii, praised the decision Monday.

"It seemed like a pretty obvious ruling to be made in light of all the recent Supreme Court decisions," he said. "It's good to see civil liberties prevail."

Grell said he had owned a butterfly knife  a "relic" from his childhood in Colorado  before moving to Hawaii and saw no reason why he shouldn't be able to keep it.

"It's a knife I had since I was a teenager and it just never made any sense that I couldn't bring it over here."

Alan Beck, an attorney for Grell and Teter, applauded the court's ruling as "well reasoned."

"Hawaii's complete ban on this type of knife just wasn't sustainable under the current 2nd Amendment jurisprudence," he said. "There just aren't any historical restrictions on pocket knives at all."

Adam Winkler, a UCLA law professor who focuses on 2nd Amendment law, said the 9th Circuit's decision "is emblematic of what's happening across the nation right now.

"Courts are striking down regulation of arms left and right."

Winkler said the Supreme Court "has put states in the impossible position of showing that any law that regulates weapons for public safety [has] clear analogues in the 1700s and 1800s," which he added "just leaves courts to draw analogies to laws that were designed for a different society."

"It really makes no sense," he said.

After the Bruen decision came down, Hawaii had argued that the knife case should be sent back to a lower trial court so that the parties could conduct additional research around the potential historical analogues for the law. Other cases, including on California gun laws, have been similarly remanded by the 9th Circuit.

However, Bea and his colleagues disagreed, determining they could rule on the case in light of Bruen  and decide on the relevance of any purported analogues  themselves.

Hawaii put forward several such laws, dating back to 1837, including laws that banned or regulated bigger blades such as Bowie knives and "Arkansas Toothpicks," daggers, brass knuckles, canes concealing swords and knotted ropes with metal weights at the end called "slung-shots."

An 1837 law in Georgia  which the court called Hawaii's "best historical analogue"  said no one shall "keep, or have about or on their person or elsewhere ... Bowie, or any other kind of knives."

Bea wrote that the Georgia law didn't clearly include "pocketknives"  which in his decision would include butterfly knives  so it wasn't necessarily relevant. And anyway, he wrote, "one solitary statute is not enough to demonstrate a tradition of an arms regulation."

Many of the other laws cited by Hawaii regulated not the possession of such weapons entirely, but their concealed carry, or their possession by certain people or in certain places, Bea said. Or, they exempted pocketknives, Bea said  meaning, in his estimation, that they would not justify a modern ban on a butterfly knife.

"The butterfly knife is clearly more analogous to an ordinary pocketknife than to an Arkansas Toothpick or a Bowie knife. And none of the statutes cited by Hawaii prohibited the carry of pocketknives, much less their possession outright," Bea wrote.

Winkler said different courts have approached such analyses in vastly different ways since the Bruen decision came down, and Monday's decision was just another example of how little clarity there is from Bruen on how the process should work and what sort of historical laws represent appropriate analogues for modern laws.

The conservative-leaning Supreme Court could provide more clarity in a case it has already said it will hear, over whether domestic abusers and others with restraining orders have a right to own guns under the new Bruen framework. But other cases, including the butterfly knife case, could land back before the high court as well, Winkler said.

"The court has to provide more clarity and direction for the lower courts," Winkler said, "because the Bruen test has proven absolutely unworkable and unpredictable."

Monday's decision may be reconsidered first in the 9th Circuit before a larger, 11-judge "en banc" panel. The judges of the circuit are closely divided between conservative and liberal judges.

An array of weapons laws are being relitigated in lower courts as a result of the Bruen decision, including California bans on assault weapons and on large-capacity ammunition magazines.

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 logo of Samsung Electronics in front of its office building in Seoul / Yonhap



By Lee Min-hyung



Retail investors have returned to a buying spree of Samsung Electronics shares amid the dwindling stock performance of secondary battery firms, data showed Tuesday.



According to the Korea Exchange, individual investors purchased Samsung shares worth 349 billion won ($265.86 million) between Aug. 1 and Aug. 8, shifting their position from a month earlier when few of them paid attention to semiconductor stocks due to then-soaring battery shares. Retail investors sold Samsung shares worth 549 billion won in July.



Other data also showed that more investors are moving to reduce battery portions in their stock portfolios. POSCO Holdings, which shared its ambitious vision to expand sales in the secondary battery materials business, was the most sought-after stock in the local stock market last month, with retail investors' net-buying of 4.5 trillion won worth of shares. However, the figure is sharply declining, at around 300 billion won so far this month.



Shares of the POSCO holding firm soared to a new high of 764,000 won per share late last month, but have since been on a downward trajectory to around 600,000 won as of Tuesday.



Even if Samsung Electronics shares have not yet regained momentum for a rally, securities firms are on track to revise the target price of Samsung Electronics and major semiconductor stocks here.



"Samsung's earnings are forecast to achieve recovery amid growing demand for high bandwidth memory chips," SK Securities analyst Han Dong-hee said. The brokerage house also revised the firm's target stock price to 100,000 won per share from an earlier outlook of 90,000 won. Samsung Electronics shares are hovering around 67,000 won per share as of Tuesday.



Other data from economic institutions also showed that semiconductor exports would bounce back soon.



According to the Korea Development Institute, chip exports are on schedule for a solid recovery experienced in recent months. Semiconductor exports rose by 8.1 percent in May from a year earlier, with the figure soaring by 21.6 percent the following month.



SK hynix, another large-cap chipmaker here, also topped the list as foreign investors' most favored stock this month. They purchased 132.4 billion won worth of the firm's shares over the past five trading days in August.



The move is seen as part of a growing preference for safer assets after investor concerns about the extreme price volatility of battery shares in recent weeks.


Xavier Bonner, the UNC Ph.D. candidate on Season 20 of The Bachelorette, took Georgia native Charity Lawson home to meet his family last week.

Things went well (read the full recap here) and at the end of the night, Xavier told Charity hes falling in love with her. And at the end of the episode, Charity picked Xavier  along with Dotun and Joey  to continue on the journey toward everlasting love. Or something like that.

This weeks episode is the infamous Fantasy Date episode, when all three men get another one-on-one date with Charity plus the option to spend the night together (and as Zach demonstrated earlier this year on The Bachelor, those dates can absolutely be sans-hanky-panky. Or they can be hanky-panky-filled).

So lets get to Fiji and see what happened with Xavier and Charity. Buckle up.

Dotun, Joey and Xavier Bonner on The Bachelorette on ABC.

Xaviers date with Charity

Daytime date: Xaviers date came up first on the show and the two were on a private island called Nanuku on Fiji. They were treated to a special song and dance performance by native Fijians, and then dressed in traditional Fijian garb. For Xavier, that meant being shirtless in a grass skirt, and Charity was carried back out to the beach like a queen. The two learned the Fijian traditions and dances connected to weddings there.

Xavier said it was all fun, but intense, and admitted to a bit of fear, because marriage is a huge responsibility. Xavier got poetic, calling Charity a delicate flower that he doesnt want to crush when he picks up. Charity recognizes there are two ways to take that.

Charity says shes falling in love with Xavier and wants a flat yes or no about his readiness to get married.

At dinner: Xavier tells Charity that his heart is with her but the logical part of his brain still has doubts and fears.

Then came the bombshell: He confesses to Charity that he was unfaithful with his ex, and says he knows thats very triggering for her, but says hes not that man now.

Charity is rightfully upset that Xavier waited till now, a couple weeks away from a potential proposal, to drop this bomb  shes been saying all season that infidelity is a deal-breaker  and she says he completely derailed the date.

She asks him for more details and it doesnt get better. He basically tells her that he will not cheat on her  but it will be hard to not cheat.

Then it gets worse. Xavier tells Charity that he still has doubts, and he needs more from her that night if hes going to get to a place where hes 100% in. In other words, he needs the overnight date. He needs to spend the night with her. He needs ... the hanky-panky??? He needs that to know if he would be able to not cheat on her?? Ummm.

Excuse me? did he just say it would be hard as hell to not cheat on your wife? Throw him away Charity..#TheBachelorette #bachelorette pic.twitter.com/kafWWtrDGC  meowdy (@Sandra49148121) August 8, 2023

Charity gives him a piece of her mind, and Xavier says he guesses he should have thought more before answering. Yeah.

So Charity doesnt offer him the overnight card  and she sends him home.

The next morning Charity gives us maybe the greatest quote in Bachelorette history. She said she sent Xavier home because he wasnt ready and she isnt here to build a man.

This isnt Build-A-Man Workshop, she said.

This new motto for the girls #TheBachelorette pic.twitter.com/yGt5T4ig6I  Reality Snob (@realitysnob) August 8, 2023

Joeys fantasy/overnight date

Joey and Charity had the patented Bachelor/Bachelorette ATV date, except the ATV broke down and it cut the date short.

At the night portion of the date, the two managed to get through the conversation without any confessions of cheating or deep ruminations about the possibility of cheating down the road. Joey didnt talk about having doubts and fears in his head.

So Charity did offer Joey the overnight date card and they retired to their fantasy suite.

Charity woke up blissful with Joey and says her love for him feels eternal. She confirms she is in love with Joey. Joey says this all feels right and he has zero doubts were on the same page. But he knows she still has other guys (or guy, singular) in the picture.

What does this mean for Dotun?

Dotuns fantasy/overnight date

Dotun and Charity got the patented Bachelor/Bachelorette jet-ski date in Fiji, which came with a picnic on a sandbar. Charity told Dotun how much she loved meeting his family.

Dotun tells Charity that he is unfamiliar with the show and didnt know until a few weeks ago that youre kinda sorta supposed to get engaged at the end. We hold our breath until Dotun says, Im fine with that.

At the evening portion of the ate, Dotun says hes smitten and in love and tells Charity he feels at peace and at home. Charity tells Dotun that she loves him, and says being in love with him feels good.

Charity gives Dotun the fantasy/overnight date card and Dotun is 100% on board  tonight and every night for the rest of our lives, he says.

The next morning, Charity says shes on cloud nine. Dotun says if he doesnt end up with Charity at the end of this, hell be heartbroken.

This man was knitting a literal red flag and I was too blind to see it #thebachelorette #bachelorette pic.twitter.com/HdYZaFc5Ro  Accept This Rose (@IWatchBachelor) August 8, 2023

Other drama

Aaron, who got eliminated last week, went back to Fiji to try to convince Charity to take him back.

People, please. Have some self-respect.

But you know what, shes not upset that hes there and she seems to be considering letting him back into the competition. And judging from the previews for the finale, hes back in it?

And with that, the episode ends! (And with Xavier out, so do our recaps.)

How to watch The Bachelorette

The Bachelorette airs at 8 p.m. Mondays on ABC. You can also stream on Hulu.

Next weeks episode is the Men Tell All episode, which is a reunion show. The finale  during which the men meet Charitys family  will happen the following week.

Charity Lawson and Xavier Bonner in the Week 4 episode of The Bachelorette, airing July 17, 2023.

Xavier Bonner receives a rose from Charity Lawson on the July 10, 2023, episode of The Bachelorette on ABC.

Xavier Bonner knitting on the July 17, 2023 episode of ABCs The Bachelorette.

Charity Lawson and UNC-Chapel Hill student Xavier Bonner on ABCs The Bachelorette in an episode that aired on July 3, 2023.CHARITY LAWSON, XAVIER

Charity Lawson and UNC-Chapel Hill student Xavier Bonner on ABCs The Bachelorette in an episode that aired on June 26, 2023.
A gun from a German Navy ship that was mounted on a residential street in Raleigh for decades has found a new home on the Outer Banks.

The World War I-era deck gun and its turret stood in front of Wakestone, the former home of Josephus Daniels, longtime owner and publisher of The News & Observer. Daniels was also U.S. secretary of the Navy from 1913 to 1921, which is how he came to acquire the gun.

Wakestone is now gone, the property divided into 11 house lots. But rather than send the gun to a scrap yard, the developer donated it to the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras. Late last month a crane carefully lowered the 1,500-pound cannon onto the museums front porch.

The gun spent most of the last two years at Clemson Universitys Warren Lasch Conservation Center in North Charleston, S.C., where layers of paint were carefully removed and the metal cleaned. Conservators identified what they considered the original paint color and had it replicated and applied to the restored gun, said Joseph Schwarzer II, director of the N.C. Maritime Museum System, which also includes museums in Beaufort and Southport.

Its what is called a German Navy gray. Its kind of a gray with a slight hint of blue in it, Schwarzer said. It looks lovely.

Its not certain where they gun came from. Its thought that it was taken from a German ship that the U.S. acquired just after World War I, possibly one of two vessels that U.S. Army Gen. Billy Mitchell and his pilots bombed to prove that airplanes could sink ships. Schwarzer said the gun may have came from either the German cruiser Frankfurt or the battleship Ostfriesland, both sunk by Mitchells pilots outside Chesapeake Bay in 1921.

We cant confirm that yet, he said. We do know its clearly German, and its clearly off either a battleship or a cruiser. But were not exactly sure which one. So were still working on that.

From National Historic Landmark to rubble

The museum hopes to learn something of the guns origin by searching state and federal archives for Daniels and his successor at the Navy, Edwin Denby. It was Denby who arranged for the weapon to be delivered to Raleigh, reportedly at Daniels request for a gun of some kind, according to a Saturday Evening Post article in 1947.

Hopefully somewhere in the correspondence someone will mention where its from, Schwarzer said.





Daniels had his gun placed outside the front door of Wakestone, pointing out toward Caswell Street on the edge of the Hayes Barton neighborhood. It remained there after he died in 1948 and after the Masons bought the gray stone mansion and turned it into a lodge with a large auditorium added to the back.

Wakestone was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976 and a Raleigh Historic Landmark in 1990.

The national landmark designation was more prestigious, but the local landmark came with rules that protected the home from demolition.

This German naval gun, shown in a file photo taken in 1998, stood for decades in front of Wakestone, the former Raleigh home of Josephus Daniels, who was U.S. Secretary of the Navy from 1913 to 1921.

But the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers in May 2020 focused the countrys attention on racism and prompted a reevaluation of Daniels and his legacy. An avowed white supremacist, Daniels had used his newspaper to vilify North Carolinas Black residents and stoke outrage among whites over political and economic gains by Blacks, most notably in the months leading up to the violent overthrow of the elected biracial government in Wilmington in 1898.

At the request of the Masons, who had been trying to sell the property for years, the Raleigh Historic Development Commission and the City Council voted to rescind the landmark status in early 2021. Seven months later, the new owners, Beacon Street Caswell LLC, began demolishing Wakestone to make way for new houses.

Beacon Street offered to donate the cannon to the N.C. Museum of History in downtown Raleigh. The director there said he didnt have anywhere to put it and contacted Schwarzer to see if he might want it. Because of the long ties of the Daniels family to the Outer Banks, and the German Navys threat to shipping off the coast during World War I, Schwarzer said yes.

The gun is also a rare specimen, he said. This particular German L/30 quick-firing 88-millimeter deck gun may be one of only three still in existence.

The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum is closed through the fall while the exhibits are rebuilt and reinstalled. For information, go to graveyardoftheatlantic.com/.
Former Georgia Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan (R) said Monday that he has received a subpoena to testify before the Fulton County grand jury this month.

In response to a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, by CNNs Kaitlan Collins, Duncan confirmed that he received the subpoena. According to Collins, Duncan received a subpoena this month to testify before the grand jury investigating efforts by former President Trump and his allies to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia.

I can confirm this is true, he posted on X. I will continue to share the facts as I know them around this investigation in hopes of figuring out what really happened.

Duncan, who served as the lieutenant governor of Georgia from 2019 to 2023, has been an outspoken critic of the former president. In a post Sunday, he said, History shows us that almost everyone associated with Trump ends up regretting it, listing Trumps business partners, investors and employees as examples.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D) signaled last week that her investigation into the efforts to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia was wrapping up. She previously said that any charging decisions would come from this grand jury session, which ends Sept. 1.

The investigation  which has lasted more than two years  focused heavily on a call Trump made to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) in January 2021, when the former president asked him to find 11,780 votes to overturn President Bidens victory in the election.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
By Satoshi Sugiyama and Kantaro Komiya

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan cancelled hundreds of flights and advised more than 60,000 households to evacuate some southern regions on Tuesday, as Typhoon Khanun, packing heavy rain and strong winds, slowly heads westwards days after raging through Okinawa.

The typhoon, which is projected to reach South Korea's southern coast on Thursday, is lingering in the Pacific Ocean, about 200 km (124 miles) south of Japan's third-largest island Kyushu, Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said.

Thunderstorms, with precipitation of up to 400 mm (16 inches), were expected to lash areas of Kyushu and neighbouring Shikoku island in the next 24 hours, JMA said. Areas as far north as Osaka and Nagoya are also likely to be affected.

"Due to the slow movement of the typhoon and its prolonged impact, total rainfall may greatly exceed the normal monthly rainfall for August," the JMA added. Khanun is moving at less than 10 km per hour (6 mph).

Trains, flights and ferries were cancelled for the next couple of days.

The city of Nagasaki also relocated a venue to commemorate the 78th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing on Wednesday to an indoor convention centre from a park.

In Kyushu's Kagoshima prefecture, about 950 km (590 miles) southwest of Tokyo, 60,000 households were advised to evacuate, Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency said. In the western part of the country's largest Honshu island, Mazda Motor said it would suspend production at its two plants in Hiroshima and Yamaguchi.

Khanun rolled into Japan's southernmost Okinawa last week, causing blackouts in more than 200,000 buildings. The storm has since gradually lost its strength but still packs winds of up to 144 kph (40 mph).

Airlines, including Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways, cancelled 222 flights on Tuesday, bringing the total number of flights disrupted by Khanun since last week to 2,715, according to a transportation ministry tally.

South Korea on Tuesday started evacuating thousands of participants at the World Scout Jamboree ahead of Khanun's approach.

Another typhoon has also emerged in the Pacific, the JMA said. Typhoon Lan, with winds of up to 180 kph is expected to reach central Japan on Sunday.

(This story has been refiled to add the dropped 's' in 'regions' in the headline)

(Reporting by Satoshi Sugiyama and Kantaro Komiya; Editing by Gerry Doyle and Miral Fahmy)
By Sakura Murakami and Satoshi Sugiyama

(Reuters) -Former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso said on Tuesday that a tougher security environment in the Taiwan Strait means Japan, the United States and others need to show strong resolve to come to Taiwan's defence if it were attacked.

"The most important thing now is to make sure that war doesn't break out in the Taiwan Strait," Aso, vice president of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said in a speech in Taipei during a three-day visit to Taiwan.

"I believe that now is the time for Japan, Taiwan, the United States and other like-minded countries to be prepared to put into action very strong deterrence," he said in remarks streamed online. "It's the resolve to fight."

He added that clearly showing the will to defend Taiwan was a form of deterrence. He did not specify China as the aggressor, but said it was crucial for Japan, as a neighbour of Taiwan, and other countries that are upholding international order, to send the message to China and the rest of the international community.

Aso is the most senior Japanese political official to visit Taiwan since 1972.

China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has never ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its control. Taiwan's government strongly rejects China's sovereignty claims.

Speaking before Aso at the same forum, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said her government was committed to improving its defences and did not take the backing of its security partners for granted.

"While we don't seek military confrontation and hope for a peaceful, stable and beneficial coexistence with our neighbours, Taiwan is always ready to defend our democracy and way of life," she said.

Tensions over Taiwan have contributed to a decision by close U.S. ally Japan to boost its defence spending.

In 2021, Aso, then deputy prime minister, called any invasion of Taiwan by China a "threat to Japan's survival" and said Japan and the U.S. would defend Taiwan together should such an incident happen.

Those comments angered China, which said the remarks "harmed the political foundation of China-Japan relations."

Aso meet Tsai on Tuesday afternoon at the presidential office, where he told her about the popularity of Taiwanese comic books in Japan.

Tsai thanked Aso for the "encouragement" in his morning speech.

(Reporting by Sakura Murakami, Satoshi Sugiyama, Kantaro Komiya in TOKYO; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim and Gerry Doyle)
Russia's Wagner mercenary group is "taking advantage" of instability in Niger, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has told the BBC.

The country has been ruled by a junta following the ousting of President Mohamed Bazoum nearly two weeks ago.

There have been suggestions the coup leaders have asked for help from Wagner, which is known to be present in neighbouring Mali.

Mr Blinken said he did not think Russia or Wagner instigated Niger's coup.

However the US was worried about the group "possibly manifesting itself" in parts of the Sahel region, he told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme

"I think what happened, and what continues to happen in Niger was not instigated by Russia or by Wagner, but... they tried to take advantage of it.

"Every single place that this Wagner group has gone, death, destruction and exploitation have followed," said Mr Blinken.

"Insecurity has gone up, not down".

He added that there was a "repeat of what's happened in other countries, where they brought nothing but bad things in their wake".

Both the US and France operate military bases in Niger as part of operations to disrupt jihadist groups operating in the wider region. Niger became the main base for French troops after they were told to leave Mali following a coup there.

Wagner is believed to have thousands of fighters in countries including the Central African Republic (CAR) and Mali, where it has lucrative business interests but also bolsters Russia's diplomatic and economic relations.

The group's fighters have been accused of widespread human rights abuses in several African countries.

Despite this, there has been speculation Niger's army has asked Wagner for assistance as the country faces the possibility of military intervention.

On Monday, US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland held what she described as "difficult and frank" talks with the coup leaders, whom she said understood the risks of working with the mercenaries.

Mr Bazoum, who is currently being detained, has also spoken of his concerns about Wagner's influence in Africa.

"With an open invitation from the coup plotters and their regional allies, the entire central Sahel region could fall to Russian influence via the Wagner Group, whose brutal terrorism has been on full display in Ukraine," he wrote in an opinion piece for the Washington Post published last week.

It is currently unclear if Wagner fighters have entered the country but the prominent Wagner-affiliated Telegram channel Grey Zone said on Monday that some 1,500 of its fighters had recently been sent to Africa.

It did not specify where on the continent they had allegedly been deployed.

Wagner's leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin has urged the junta to "give us a call" in a voice message uploaded to Telegram on Tuesday.

"We are always on the side of the good, on the side of justice, and on the side of those who fight for their sovereignty and for the rights of their people," he said.

Map

Niger is a former French colony and the coup has led to a wave of anti-France and pro-Russian sentiment in the country - similar to that experienced by neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso, which have both pivoted towards Moscow since their own coups.

The two countries, which are both suspended from West African regional bloc Ecowas, sent a delegation to Niamey to reassure the coup leaders they will come to their defence against the other West African nations and their Western allies if needed.

"I would like to remind you that Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have been dealing for over 10 years with the negative... consequences of Nato's hazardous adventure in Libya," Mali government spokesperson Abdoulaye Maiga said during the visit.

"One thing is certain, [Mali's] President Goita and [Burkina Faso's] President Traore have clearly said no, no and no. We will not accept military intervention in Niger. They are coming for our survival."

Meanwhile Niger's junta has refused to receive a delegation of representatives from West African regional bloc Ecowas, the African Union and UN, which was due to arrive in the capital Niamey on Tuesday.

In a letter seen by AFP on Tuesday, the coup leaders said the group's security could not be guaranteed because of "public anger and revolt" over sanctions imposed by Ecowas.

Ecowas had given Niger's coup leaders until Sunday to stand down and restore Mr Bazoum to the presidency and are now due to meet on Thursday to decide what to do next.

Niger's junta has appointed the country's former finance minister, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, as the country's new prime minister following the coup.

Mr Zeine replaces Mahamadou Ouhoumoudou, who was in Europe during the coup.
This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.

Dr. Krystal Cascetta, a prominent oncologist in New York City, killed her 4-month-old daughter and then herself in an apparent murder-suicide, police said.

As her patients, colleagues, family and friends mourn their deaths, a state trooper is speaking out to set the record straight about her husband.

The fatal shootings happened in Cascettas Somers, New York, home at around 7 a.m. on August 5, according to a news release.

Trooper Steven Nevel tells TODAY.com that Cascettas husband Tim Talty, 37, was away at the time, but Cascetta's parents were inside the residence.

An unidentified person in the home called 911 shortly after the first gunshot, Nevel says.

They heard a gunshot and thought something had fallen in the babys nursery, Nevel says. When they got to the babys nursery, they heard the second gunshot and realized nothing had fallen."

The caller then broke down the door and discovered the two bodies, Nevel says.

Cascetta, 40, was a hematology-oncology specialist in the Mount Sinai Health System, where she served as site chief of the Mount Sinai Queens Infusion Center. The Mount Sinai website describes Cascetta as an "active investigator of breast cancer clinical trials," and notes her "clinical focus includes the treatment of breast cancer, gynecologic cancer, sarcoma and gastrointestinal cancers."

Nevel says his heart goes out to Talty, as he grieves the death of his wife and their only child. Talty and Cascetta got married in 2019. He is the founder of a protein bar that his wife endorsed.

Received some heartbreaking news today that my oncologist Dr Krystal Cascetta of Mount Sinai Queens has died. A shocking... Posted by Kambri Crews on Saturday, August 5, 2023

The trolls on social media are dragging the husband through the mud, Nevel shares. But I can tell you 100% unequivocally, without a doubt, that he did not do this.

Its really easy for people to come up with conspiracy theories, he adds. "He's been nothing but cooperative. The family has been beyond cooperative."

Nevel says he does not have any information about whether Cascetta was struggling with postpartum depression, which affects a half million mothers every year.

A spokesperson for Mount Sinai Health System told TODAY.com in a statement, The Mount Sinai community is greatly saddened by the tragic loss of a Mount Sinai Health System doctor and her child. We extend our deepest sympathies to Dr. Cascettas family, friends, colleagues, and patients.

Nevel says that Cascetta and her daughter's autopsies were performed on Aug. 6.

Former patients, including author Kambri Crews, are sharing memories of Cascetta on social media.

Received some heartbreaking news today that my oncologist Dr Krystal Cascetta of Mount Sinai Queens has died. A shocking & terrible tragedy. She was a star in her field, dedicated and lovely, whip smart and a competitive athlete, Crews wrote, in part, on Facebook.

I dont know what what was happening in her life that she felt this was the best end to her story, but I know a large community of survivors, patients and colleagues are broken hearted, she continued. I will sorely miss her. She deeply cared for her patients and I am grateful that I was one.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Tou Thao, the former Minneapolis police officer who held back a crowd of bystanders during George Floyds fatal arrest in May 2020, was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison Monday for aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.

Thao gave a short comment on his role in Floyds death in a statement prior to his sentencing in a Minnesota courthouse.

Obviously, on that day, we didnt intend on  I didnt intend on doing any malice or anything like that, or try to hurt anyone. That was never my intent. I did the best I thought I could, he said. Obviously the outcome didnt come out the way I wanted it, so Ill leave it at that.

He then spoke for about 20 minutes about how he rediscovered Christianity after Floyds death and delivered a religious sermon to the court.

Tou Thao was sentenced on Monday in Hennepin County District Court to four years and nine months in prison for his role in the killing of George Floyd. - Leila Navidi/Star Tribune/AP

Hennepin County Judge Peter A. Cahill was unimpressed.

Mr. Thao, to be perfectly honest, after three years of reflection, I was hoping for a little more remorse, regret, acknowledgement of some responsibility and less preaching, he said.

Suffice it to say that I think your culpability is less than Mr. Chauvin, but well above Mr. Kueng and Mr. Lane, as an experienced senior officer who was in the best position to save George Floyd. Accordingly, its my belief that a sentence at the top of the (sentencing) range would be condign punishment.

Thao had no visible reaction to the sentence. When asked if he had any questions, he said, No, God bless you sir. He received credit for 340 days already served.

All four officers convicted of federal and state charges

Former Minneapolis police officers Derek Chauvin, Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng have all been sentenced to prison for their roles in George Floyd's death in May 2020.

The sentencing marks the end of a series of state and federal trials for the four former officers involved in Floyds death. All of the former officers have been convicted of crimes in the years since.

Thao and his then-colleagues Derek Chauvin, Thomas Lane, and J. Alexander Kueng were fired and arrested for their actions  or lack thereof  in May 2020 as Chauvin pressed his knee into the neck and back of Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man who was handcuffed and lying on his stomach, for more than nine minutes.

During the arrest, Lane held down Floyds legs, Kueng held down Floyds torso, and Thao stood nearby and kept back a crowd of upset bystanders, including an off-duty firefighter trying to render aid. Even as Floyd pleaded for air and for his mother, Thao made mocking references to Floyds assumed drug use and kept the group of bystanders from helping.

Thao was found guilty of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter in May at a trial by stipulated evidence decided by Judge Cahill. The guilty verdict meant that all four of the officers who took part in the fatal restraint have been convicted on both state and federal charges.

Thao is already serving a 3 1/2-year sentence for his February 2022 conviction on federal charges of violating Floyds civil rights during the arrest. He was sentenced last July in the federal case. He will serve his state sentence concurrently with his federal sentence.

Calls to Thaos attorney and lawyers representing the Floyd family were not immediately returned Monday morning.

Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in state court and was sentenced to 22 1/2 years in prison in June 2021. In federal court, he pleaded guilty to depriving Floyd of his rights and an unrelated civil rights violation and was sentenced to 21 years in prison. He is serving the sentences concurrently.

Lane, Kueng and Thao were found guilty in federal court of violating Floyds civil rights and of failing to intervene to stop Chauvin during the restraint.

In the state cases, Kueng and Lane pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter and were sentenced to 3 1/2 years and three years in prison, respectively.

Floyds death has led to significant change in Minneapolis and its police force. The city of Minneapolis agreed to pay Floyds estate $27 million to settle a lawsuit, and in March agreed to reorganize the police department to address race-based policing, the Minnesota Department of Human Rights said in a news release.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story included an incorrect date for an agreement by Minneapolis to reorganize its police department to address race-based policing. The agreement was announced in March.

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COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP)  Norwegian authorities warned Tuesday to prepare for extremely heavy rainfall after Storm Hans caused two deaths, ripped off roofs and upended summertime life in northern Europe.

Strong winds continued to batter the region along with rains, causing a lengthy list of disruptions in Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Lithuania, Finland, Estonia and Latvia. Ferries were canceled, flights were delays, roads and streets were flooded, trees were uprooted, people were injured by falling branches and thousands remained without electricity Tuesday.

In Oslo, officials urged people to work from home. On its website, the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate warned of extremely heavy rainfall in the country's south, adding unnecessary traffic should be avoided.

This is a very serious situation that can lead to extensive consequences and damages. There will be extensive flooding, erosion damage and flood damages to buildings and infrastructure, it said in English on its website.

In Finland, authorities urged people to rethink whether it it is necessary to go out to sea, Ville Hukka, a spokesperson for the Gulf of Finland Coast Guard District was quoted by the Hufvudstadsbladet newspaper.

SMHI, the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, on Tuesday issued a red warning for parts of central Sweden, signaling very large amounts of rain causing extremely high flows in streams and ditches in several places.

Floods and slides closed dozens of roads in southern Norway and neighboring Sweden and dozens of people have been evacuated. Norwegian police said at least 119 people had been evacuated by Tuesday midday. There were scattered reports of helicopters being used to fly people out of affected areas.

Denmark's Meteorological Institute, meanwhile, reported of waves of up to 8 meters (26 feet) and beach houses were seen washed into the North Sea.

On Monday, a 50-year old woman was killed in Lithuania by falling trees near the Latvian border. In central Sweden, a train was partly derailed because the embankment under the rails had been washed away. Three were people were slightly injured.

Also Monday in Latvia, near the Belarus border, a second person died on Monday when a tree fell on him, Latvian television said, adding he died of his injuries. The man was not further identified.

In Estonia, nearly 10,000 people were without power Tuesday morning, according to the Baltic News Service, the regions main news agency.

Norwegian authorities kept the extreme weather warning alert at its highest level in southern Norway due to heavy rain, mudslides and flash floods. They also sent out text messages in several foreign languages, including English, to holidaymakers warning of the foul weather.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre called it a very serious situation, said late Monday. We see floods and destruction. There is reason to expect that this will last another day, he said.

Meteorologists in Norway said rain can be expected over the country's south until Wednesday.

Plan for the fact that roads may be closed and that electricity, telephone and internet may be lost in parts of the county for periods, Norwegian police said in a statement.

In the Swedish town Are, a ski resort, roads and streets were flooded. The Susaback river that runs through Are, some 533 kilometers (331 miles) from Stockholm, went over its banks and flooded much of downtown.
This image shows Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu looking at North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during a military parade marking the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War in Pyongyang, North Korea, July 27. Yonhap



But allies expected to promote unity out of necessity



By Jung Min-ho



A team of North Korean hackers reportedly breached the computer networks of a major Russian weapons maker for at least five months last year, in an episode analysts said demonstrates deep-rooted distrust between the two countries.



According to Reuters, the hackers secretly installed stealthy digital back doors into systems at NPO Mashinostroyeniya, a leading manufacturer of missiles and military spacecraft based in Reutov, east of Moscow.



Speaking to The Korea Times, Tuesday, experts said the North Korean attempt to damage Russia's key national interest probably did not surprise Moscow, which knows its ally all too well. They also believe the two countries would nevertheless continue to promote unity as if nothing serious had happened, given that "they desperately need each other."



"The revelation shows mistrust between North Korea and Russia. Their common objective of countering the U.S.-led West has united them, but they have not been able to build enough trust for each other," Chung Eun-sook, an expert on Russia at the Sejong Institute, a think tank, said.



"Their ties are almost entirely based on geopolitical or economic interests rather than values. So the relationship has always been more vulnerable to external factors," Chung added.



Moscow in the 1990s, for example, improved its ties with the West and Seoul following the collapse of the Soviet Union, which deteriorated ties with Pyongyang. Their diplomatic relations have since gone through ups and downs, with Moscow joining the international criticism of Pyongyang's military provocations from time to time. But Russia's war in Ukraine and a new Cold War climate have brought them closer, Chung said.



News of the computer network breach comes shortly after Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu's visit to North Korea in July on the occasion of the anniversary marking the 1950-53 Korean War armistice. She thinks that Russia pushed for the trip despite knowing the breach and other such attempts.



"This demonstrates Russia's desperation. It needs weapons and support on the world stage. Since the beginning of the war, Russia has learned that North Korea could be useful for both purposes during and after the conflict. Moscow may have warned Pyongyang privately, but it would continue to promote unity as it cannot afford the other option," Chung said.



The targeted company has been among the key developers of hypersonic weapons. During the Cold War, it was responsible for several major projects including the development of the UR-100N intercontinental ballistic missile, a technology North Korea is eager to obtain.



In the months following the network breach, the North announced developments in its banned ballistic missile program, but it remains unclear if the progress was the direct result of information stolen from Russia.



Despite the network breach, North Korea and Russia's relations will likely continue to improve, said Kim Jung-sup, an expert on security and international relations at the Sejong Institute.



"North Korea has been worried that its dependence on China grows too much. This is why it has been proactive in improving relations with Russia and the U.S. in recent years. With the Washington side showing little sign of progress at this point, the North is expected to focus more on Russia in the coming years," he said.




The US Justice Department wrote a report in 2019, which found officers failed to provide adequate medical care at Harris County Jail

Family members of inmates at a jail in Harris County, Texas are suing the county over claims officers brutally beat their loved ones and denied them critical medical treatment.

Attorney Ben Crump has filed a suit on behalf of 22 families who say their relatives died or suffered injuries.

The families say the inmates were deprived of constitutional rights.

"Just because you are arrested does not mean you should be given the death sentence," Mr Crump said.

"The families have been crying out for the last two years saying that they need something to be done, and since, nothing has been done," he added at a news conference on Monday announcing the suit.

The BBC has reached out to Harris County for comment.

At least 27 people died in Harris County Jail custody last year, a number Mr Crump noted was higher than the number of people who were executed on death row in all of Texas.

In the suit, Mr Crump alleges that Harris County Jail, a facility meant for temporary confinement for those not yet convicted of a crime, has become a place of "torment and punishment".

The suit alleges numerous instances of officers assaulting inmates and delaying medical care, failing to intervene in attacks from other inmates and denying those being held at the jail their medications.

One inmate, Evan Lee, who had a history of mental health issues and diabetes, died in jail custody in March 2022 after he was beaten by another inmate and did not receive proper medical care from jail staff for weeks, according to the complaint.

"It has totally, totally torn our lives," Jacilet Griffin-Lee, the mother of Evan Lee, said at the news conference on Monday. "For our loved ones to be totally taken away from us is inhumane and unjustifiable."

In another instance, an officer "inexplicably" kicked Jeremiah Anglin, an inmate who suffered from schizophrenia, in the face, knocking six of his teeth out, the suit alleges.

The families are seeking an unspecified amount in damages for emotional distress and other harms resulting from the death of their loved ones.

"This has been going on for years," said Gabrielle Smith, the daughter of Gary Smith, who died in jail custody in January 2023 after he was denied medical observation and care for a kidney disorder, according to the lawsuit. "I just pray that we can all stand together to get some justice," Ms Smith added.

In 2009, the US Justice Department published a report from an investigation into the Harris County Jail, which found the jail deprived inmates of critical medical care and failed to protect them from physical harm and other life-threatening conditions.

In the suit, attorneys for the families allege officials have taken no drastic measures to improve safety conditions and medical care at the jail since the report.

The Texas Commission on Jail Standards has also found that the Harris County Jail did not meet minimum jail safety standards on several occasions, including in recent years. Texas officials have said the jail has been plagued by overcrowding and staffing shortages.
The 2024 election looks set to be a rematch between President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump.

Despite his mounting legal problems, Mr Trump is by far the most popular candidate in the Republican field.

Only Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has reached double digits but he remains miles behind Mr Trump.

Author Marianne Williamson and anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist Robert F Kennedy Jr are challenging Mr Biden for the Democratic nomination, but theyre not considered real threats to the president.

Mr Trump was indicted for the third time on 1 August for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. As Democrats coalesce behind Mr Biden, Mr Trumps mounting legal woes appear to only strengthen his support among his base.

The Republican primary is scheduled to begin with the Iowa caucuses on 15 January and the New Hampshire primary on 23 January. The primary season may go all the way into June, but who the nominee will be is expected to become clear well before that point.

Key Points

14 per cent of voters decline to support either Trump or Biden

Trump claims hes leading Biden by a lot even as poll finds them tied

Biden thought to be headed for close reelection fight

Democrats would prefer Kamala Harris over Joe Biden as 2024 nominee, new poll shows

Trump dominates GOP primary as general election looks set to be 2020 rematch

Bashing wokeism less effective with GOP primary voters than law and order, poll shows

12:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Slamming woke institutions and beliefs may be less effective to persuade Republican primary voters than previously believed, polling shows.

NYT/Siena College polls of national and Iowa GOP voters have revealed that candidates were unlikely to convince voters to support them by mostly focusing on battling wokeism.

Republicans are instead more enticed by more libertarian economic policies and strong messaging on law and order, specifically regarding cities and the border.

When Mr Trump was in Iowa in June, Mr Trump said: I dont like the term woke. Its just a term they use  half the people cant even define it, they dont know what it is.

While the line appeared to be intended as a criticism of Mr DeSantis, the polling indicates that Mr Trump me be on to something.

Choosing between two hypothetical GOP candidates, 24 per cent of national GOP voters supported a candidate who focuses on defeating radical woke ideology in our schools, media and culture instead of a candidate who focuses on restoring law and order in our streets and at the border.

Meanwhile, 65 per cent said they would support the law and order candidate.

In the group of voters aged over 65, a demographic with high voter turnout, only 17 per cent preferred the anti-woke option.

Poll: Half of all Americans believe Trump tried to stay in office illegally

08:00 , Gustaf Kilander

ICYMI: A new @CBSNewsPoll found half the country believes former President Trump tried to remain in office after the 2020 election through illegal and unconstitutional means. But 29% say he tried to stay in office through legal means. @SalvantoCBS has more. pic.twitter.com/zQFmCBQ0Z6  Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) August 7, 2023

Trump asks supporters heavily leading question about participating in GOP debate

03:00 , Kelly Rissman

Former president Donald Trumps 2024 campaign is asking supporters whether they think he should participate in the first Republican primary debate  in a not-so-subtle way.

On his campaign site, it provides a poll: Should President Trump show up to the GOP debate? The clickable choices are: Yes or No  let all of the many other candidates attack each other while President Trump unites the rest of our party to focus on the important battle of beating Biden.

Read more:

Trump asks supporters heavily leading question about participating in GOP debate

DeSantiss battle with Disney doesnt appear to be doing him any favours with GOP voters

Tuesday 8 August 2023 00:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Ron DeSantiss battle with Disney doesnt appear to be doing him any favours with the Republican electorate, according to a NYT/Siena College poll.

Thirty-eight per cent of GOP voters said they would back a candidate pledging to fight woke corporations, while 52 per cent would support a candidate who says that the government should stay out of deciding what corporations should support.

The poll found that 30 per cent of Republican voters think that transgender people should be accepted as the gender they identify with, while 58 per cent said those identities should be rejected.

Half of all GOP voters support gay marriage, while 41 per cent oppose it, the poll found.

More than half  51 per cent  said they would back a candidate who pledged to guarantee individual freedom instead of traditional values. Forty per cent said they would back the latter.

Bashing wokeism less effective with GOP primary voters than law and order, poll shows

Monday 7 August 2023 21:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Slamming woke institutions and beliefs may be less effective to persuade Republican primary voters than previously believed, polling shows.

NYT/Siena College polls of national and Iowa GOP voters have revealed that candidates were unlikely to convince voters to support them by mostly focusing on battling wokeism.

Republicans are instead more enticed by more libertarian economic policies and strong messaging on law and order, specifically regarding cities and the border.

When Mr Trump was in Iowa in June, Mr Trump said: I dont like the term woke. Its just a term they use  half the people cant even define it, they dont know what it is.

While the line appeared to be intended as a criticism of Mr DeSantis, the polling indicates that Mr Trump me be on to something.

Choosing between two hypothetical GOP candidates, 24 per cent of national GOP voters supported a candidate who focuses on defeating radical woke ideology in our schools, media and culture instead of a candidate who focuses on restoring law and order in our streets and at the border.

Meanwhile, 65 per cent said they would support the law and order candidate.

In the group of voters aged over 65, a demographic with high voter turnout, only 17 per cent preferred the anti-woke option.

Poll: Half of all Americans believe Trump tried to stay in office illegally

Monday 7 August 2023 18:00 , Gustaf Kilander

ICYMI: A new @CBSNewsPoll found half the country believes former President Trump tried to remain in office after the 2020 election through illegal and unconstitutional means. But 29% say he tried to stay in office through legal means. @SalvantoCBS has more. pic.twitter.com/zQFmCBQ0Z6  Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) August 7, 2023

97% of Iowa Trump-backers say their support is strong

Monday 7 August 2023 15:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Ninety-seven per cent of Trump-supporting Iowa Republicans taking part in the recent NYT/Siena poll said that they support the former president strongly.

That figure for Mr DeSantis is 76 per cent. For those backing other candidates, 54 per cent said they support them strongly.

Almost half of all Trump supporters in Iowa open to backing other candidates

Monday 7 August 2023 13:00 , Gustaf Kilander

The NYT/Siena poll of Iowa Republicans has revealed that around 47 per cent of those backing Mr Trump are open to supporting other candidates.

Among GOP voters in the state with a college degree, Mr Trump and Mr DeSantis are tied at 26 per cent support each.

But in a head-to-head poll in Iowa between Mr Trump and Mr DeSantis, the former president leads his rival, 55 to 39 per cent.

If the matchup is limited to college-educated voters, Mr DeSantis leads Mr Trump in Iowa 53 to 38 per cent.

Democratic challengers trail Biden by more than 50 points

Monday 7 August 2023 09:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Enthusiasm among primary voters is an important factor for candidates involved in especially close races  or, conversely, can be seen as the reason those races are close to begin with. Mr Biden is thought to be headed for a close reelection fight as voters sour on the idea of re-electing someone who was already the oldest individual to ever take the oath of office of president, even as his likely opponent is battered by escalating legal troubles.

Hillary Clintons inability to stoke enthusiasm for her campaign after her defeat of Bernie Sanders in the 2016 Democratic primary was viewed as a significant factor leading to her eventual loss to Mr Trump that year.

But as it stands, Mr Biden will almost certainly be his partys nominee, concerns about age aside. His two announced challengers for the Democratic nomination, Robert F Kennedy Jr and Marianne Williamson, trailed him by more than 50 points each.

The NYT/Siena poll was conducted between 23-27 July and included a subpopulation of 296 likely Democratic primary voters. Information about the polls methodology can be found here.

Democrats would prefer Kamala Harris over Joe Biden as 2024 nominee, poll shows

Monday 7 August 2023 04:00 , John Bowden

Another new poll is out suggesting that Democrats could have a stronger chance at winning in 2024 should President Joe Biden step aside for a younger successor.

The survey, published by The New York Times in partnership with Siena College, was released on Tuesday. It found low numbers of enthusiasm among Democrats for the re-nomination of either Mr Biden or a potential decision by the president against running for reelection in favour of endorsing his vice president, Kamala Harris, to run in his stead.

But the latter option was more popular among members of the presidents party by six percentage points, indicating that Democrats primary concern with the Biden brand is the stamina of the candidate himself. Theres a catch, however  the percentage of Democratic primary voters who were unsure about how they would feel about their partys nominee jumps slightly were Ms Harris to take the reins, and as a result the total percentage of primary voters who were at the very least satisfied with their partys pick was actually lower with Ms Harris at the top of the ticket.

It was a confounding poll result that reveals one fact clearly: Democratic voters are deeply unsure about who they want to be their partys standard-bearer should the incumbent president be sidelined for any reason. And separately, the poll found concerns about age outweighed any other complaint levied against Mr Biden by primary voters by an almost 2-to-1 margin.

Trump dominates GOP primary as general election looks set to be 2020 rematch

Monday 7 August 2023 01:00 , Gustaf Kilander

The 2024 election looks set to be a rematch between President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump.

Despite his mounting legal problems, Mr Trump is by far the most popular candidate in the Republican field.

A recent Times/Siena found that 54 per cent of likely GOP primary voters prefer Mr Trump as the nominee, compared to 17 per cent for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

All other candidates are in the low single digits.

That same poll, conducted last month, found that Mr Trump and Mr Biden are tied in a hypothetical 2024 rematch at 43 per cent each.

Among registered Republicans, 88 per cent supported Mr Trump, while 83 per cent of registered Democrats backed Mr Biden.

Independents supported Mr Biden, 42 to 37 per cent.

Most voters are not excited about their options  55 per cent said they see Mr Trump somewhat or very unfavourably, with that number being 54 per cent for Mr Biden.

The poll was conducted between 23 and 27 July and included 1,329 registered voters.

14 per cent of voters decline to support either Trump or Biden

Sunday 6 August 2023 22:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Mr Biden and Mr Trump are tied at 43 per cent according to a NYT/Siena College poll conducted last month, with 14 per cent of respondents declining to back either of them.

Some said they wouldnt vote, while others said they would vote for a third party candidate and a number didnt provide an answer at all.

But a number of these voters will likely vote for Mr Biden or Mr Trump in next years election. And while theyre far from excited about Mr Biden, they strongly dislike Mr Trump.

Of these voters, 27 per cent have a favourable view of Mr Biden, while only 15 per cent have a favourable view of Mr Trump, according to the poll.

49% of Americans say Trump should suspend campaign in light of Jan 6 charges

Sunday 6 August 2023 19:00 , Gustaf Kilander

"a plurality of Americans (49%) said Trump should suspend his presidential campaign, while 36% said he shouldn't." https://t.co/5pq28Ccr0x  Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) August 4, 2023

DeSantis seen as more moral but less likable, poll shows

Sunday 6 August 2023 16:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Mr DeSantis is seen as both more moral and likeable than Mr Trump among Iowa Republicans.

Among that group, 57 per cent said the word moral better described Mr DeSantis than Mr Trump while 52 per cent said the same for likeable in the NYT/Siena poll.

Forty per cent said Mr DeSantis would be able to beat Joe Biden and 31 per cent he was more of a strong leader.

When asked who was more fun, only 19 per cent said Mr DeSantis.

Among national GOP voters, 45 per cent said Mr DeSantis was the more moral of the top two contenders for the nomination, the same figure as for who was more likeable.

The national GOP had significantly less faith in Mr DeSantis ability to beat Joe Biden, with only 22 per cent saying the governor had a bigger chance in 2024.

In the national GOP, 16 per cent of voters said Mr DeSantis was more fun.

DeSantis more favourable than Trump among Iowa ROP

Sunday 6 August 2023 13:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Despite his lead in Iowa, Mr Trump is in second place in the state when it comes to favourable ratings.

South Carolina Senator Tim Scott comes in third place with 70 per cent of Iowa Republicans having a favourable view of him.

Mr Trump comes in at 72 per cent with Mr DeSantis in the lead with a favourable rating at 77 in the NYT/Siena poll.

Half of white evangelical Iowa Republicans back Trump

Sunday 6 August 2023 09:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Half of white evangelical members of Iowa GOP voters support Mr Trump, six per cent more than Mr Trumps support in the state as a whole.

Mr Trumps former Vice President Mike Pence has the same level of support among white evangelicals as he has among Iowa Republicans as a whole  three per cent.

Among white evangelicals, 48 per cent has a favourable view while 49 per cent has an unfavourable view, according to the NYT/Siena poll.

Trump lead in Iowa ten points smaller than nationwide

Sunday 6 August 2023 04:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Mr Trumps lead in Iowa is ten points smaller in Iowa than among GOP voters nationwide.

Mr DeSantis has 20 per cent support in Iowa to Mr Trumps 44 per cent, according to a Times/Siena poll.

Nationwide, Mr Trump leads the field with 54 per cent support to Mr DeSantiss 17 per cent.

In Iowa, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott is in third place with nine per cent, followed by entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy at five per cent, former UN ambassador Nikki Haley at four per cent, and former Vice President Mike Pence at three per cent.

97% of Iowa Trump-backers say their support is strong

Sunday 6 August 2023 01:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Ninety-seven per cent of Trump-supporting Iowa Republicans taking part in the recent NYT/Siena poll said that they support the former president strongly.

That figure for Mr DeSantis is 76 per cent. For those backing other candidates, 54 per cent said they support them strongly.

Almost half of all Trump supporters in Iowa open to backing other candidates

Saturday 5 August 2023 22:00 , Gustaf Kilander

The NYT/Siena poll of Iowa Republicans has revealed that around 47 per cent of those backing Mr Trump are open to supporting other candidates.

Among GOP voters in the state with a college degree, Mr Trump and Mr DeSantis are tied at 26 per cent support each.

But in a head-to-head poll in Iowa between Mr Trump and Mr DeSantis, the former president leads his rival, 55 to 39 per cent.

If the matchup is limited to college-educated voters, Mr DeSantis leads Mr Trump in Iowa 53 to 38 per cent.

Democratic challengers trail Biden by more than 50 points

Saturday 5 August 2023 19:00 , John Bowden

Enthusiasm among primary voters is an important factor for candidates involved in especially close races  or, conversely, can be seen as the reason those races are close to begin with. Mr Biden is thought to be headed for a close reelection fight as voters sour on the idea of re-electing someone who was already the oldest individual to ever take the oath of office of president, even as his likely opponent is battered by escalating legal troubles.

Hillary Clintons inability to stoke enthusiasm for her campaign after her defeat of Bernie Sanders in the 2016 Democratic primary was viewed as a significant factor leading to her eventual loss to Mr Trump that year.

But as it stands, Mr Biden will almost certainly be his partys nominee, concerns about age aside. His two announced challengers for the Democratic nomination, Robert F Kennedy Jr and Marianne Williamson, trailed him by more than 50 points each.

The NYT/Siena poll was conducted between 23-27 July and included a subpopulation of 296 likely Democratic primary voters. Information about the polls methodology can be found here.

Democrats would prefer Kamala Harris over Joe Biden as 2024 nominee, new poll shows

Saturday 5 August 2023 16:00 , John Bowden

Another new poll is out suggesting that Democrats could have a stronger chance at winning in 2024 should President Joe Biden step aside for a younger successor.

The survey, published by The New York Times in partnership with Siena College, was released on Tuesday. It found low numbers of enthusiasm among Democrats for the re-nomination of either Mr Biden or a potential decision by the president against running for reelection in favour of endorsing his vice president, Kamala Harris, to run in his stead.

But the latter option was more popular among members of the presidents party by six percentage points, indicating that Democrats primary concern with the Biden brand is the stamina of the candidate himself. Theres a catch, however  the percentage of Democratic primary voters who were unsure about how they would feel about their partys nominee jumps slightly were Ms Harris to take the reins, and as a result the total percentage of primary voters who were at the very least satisfied with their partys pick was actually lower with Ms Harris at the top of the ticket.

It was a confounding poll result that reveals one fact clearly: Democratic voters are deeply unsure about who they want to be their partys standard-bearer should the incumbent president be sidelined for any reason. And separately, the poll found concerns about age outweighed any other complaint levied against Mr Biden by primary voters by an almost 2-to-1 margin.

Trump dominates GOP primary as general election looks set to be 2020 rematch

Saturday 5 August 2023 13:00 , Gustaf Kilander

The 2024 election looks set to be a rematch between President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump.

Despite his mounting legal problems, Mr Trump is by far the most popular candidate in the Republican field.

A recent Times/Siena found that 54 per cent of likely GOP primary voters prefer Mr Trump as the nominee, compared to 17 per cent for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

All other candidates are in the low single digits.

That same poll, conducted last month, found that Mr Trump and Mr Biden are tied in a hypothetical 2024 rematch at 43 per cent each.

Among registered Republicans, 88 per cent supported Mr Trump, while 83 per cent of registered Democrats backed Mr Biden.

Independents supported Mr Biden, 42 to 37 per cent.

Most voters are not excited about their options  55 per cent said they see Mr Trump somewhat or very unfavourably, with that number being 54 per cent for Mr Biden.

The poll was conducted between 23 and 27 July and included 1,329 registered voters.

14 per cent of voters decline to support either Trump or Biden

Saturday 5 August 2023 10:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Mr Biden and Mr Trump are tied at 43 per cent according to a NYT/Siena College poll conducted last month, with 14 per cent of respondents declining to back either of them.

Some said they wouldnt vote, while others said they would vote for a third party candidate and a number didnt provide an answer at all.

But a number of these voters will likely vote for Mr Biden or Mr Trump in next years election. And while theyre far from excited about Mr Biden, they strongly dislike Mr Trump.

Of these voters, 27 per cent have a favourable view of Mr Biden, while only 15 per cent have a favourable view of Mr Trump, according to the poll.

49% of Americans say Trump should suspend campaign in light of Jan 6 charges

Saturday 5 August 2023 08:00 , Gustaf Kilander

"a plurality of Americans (49%) said Trump should suspend his presidential campaign, while 36% said he shouldn't." https://t.co/5pq28Ccr0x  Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) August 4, 2023

DeSantis seen as more moral but less likable, poll shows

Saturday 5 August 2023 05:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Mr DeSantis is seen as both more moral and likeable than Mr Trump among Iowa Republicans.

Among that group, 57 per cent said the word moral better described Mr DeSantis than Mr Trump while 52 per cent said the same for likeable in the NYT/Siena poll.

Forty per cent said Mr DeSantis would be able to beat Joe Biden and 31 per cent he was more of a strong leader.

When asked who was more fun, only 19 per cent said Mr DeSantis.

Among national GOP voters, 45 per cent said Mr DeSantis was the more moral of the top two contenders for the nomination, the same figure as for who was more likeable.

The national GOP had significantly less faith in Mr DeSantis ability to beat Joe Biden, with only 22 per cent saying the governor had a bigger chance in 2024.

In the national GOP, 16 per cent of voters said Mr DeSantis was more fun.

DeSantis more favourable than Trump among Iowa ROP

Saturday 5 August 2023 03:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Despite his lead in Iowa, Mr Trump is in second place in the state when it comes to favourable ratings.

South Carolina Senator Tim Scott comes in third place with 70 per cent of Iowa Republicans having a favourable view of him.

Mr Trump comes in at 72 per cent with Mr DeSantis in the lead with a favourable rating at 77 in the NYT/Siena poll.

Half of white evangelical Iowa Republicans back Trump

Saturday 5 August 2023 01:30 , Gustaf Kilander

Half of white evangelical members of Iowa GOP voters support Mr Trump, six per cent more than Mr Trumps support in the state as a whole.

Mr Trumps former Vice President Mike Pence has the same level of support among white evangelicals as he has among Iowa Republicans as a whole  three per cent.

Among white evangelicals, 48 per cent has a favourable view while 49 per cent has an unfavourable view, according to the NYT/Siena poll.

Trump lead in Iowa ten points smaller than nationwide

Saturday 5 August 2023 00:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Mr Trumps lead in Iowa is ten points smaller in Iowa than among GOP voters nationwide.

Mr DeSantis has 20 per cent support in Iowa to Mr Trumps 44 per cent, according to a Times/Siena poll.

Nationwide, Mr Trump leads the field with 54 per cent support to Mr DeSantiss 17 per cent.

In Iowa, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott is in third place with nine per cent, followed by entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy at five per cent, former UN ambassador Nikki Haley at four per cent, and former Vice President Mike Pence at three per cent.

97% of Iowa Trump-backers say their support is strong

Friday 4 August 2023 23:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Ninety-seven per cent of Trump-supporting Iowa Republicans taking part in the recent NYT/Siena poll said that they support the former president strongly.

That figure for Mr DeSantis is 76 per cent. For those backing other candidates, 54 per cent said they support them strongly.

Almost half of all Trump supporters in Iowa open to backing other candidates

Friday 4 August 2023 22:00 , Gustaf Kilander

The NYT/Siena poll of Iowa Republicans has revealed that around 47 per cent of those backing Mr Trump are open to supporting other candidates.

Among GOP voters in the state with a college degree, Mr Trump and Mr DeSantis are tied at 26 per cent support each.

But in a head-to-head poll in Iowa between Mr Trump and Mr DeSantis, the former president leads his rival, 55 to 39 per cent.

If the matchup is limited to college-educated voters, Mr DeSantis leads Mr Trump in Iowa 53 to 38 per cent.

14 per cent of voters decline to support either Trump or Biden

Friday 4 August 2023 20:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Mr Biden and Mr Trump are tied at 43 per cent according to a NYT/Siena College poll conducted last month, with 14 per cent of respondents declining to back either of them.

Some said they wouldnt vote, while others said they would vote for a third party candidate and a number didnt provide an answer at all.

But a number of these voters will likely vote for Mr Biden or Mr Trump in next years election. And while theyre far from excited about Mr Biden, they strongly dislike Mr Trump.

Of these voters, 27 per cent have a favourable view of Mr Biden, while only 15 per cent have a favourable view of Mr Trump, according to the poll.

Trump claims hes leading Biden by a lot even as poll finds them tied

Friday 4 August 2023 16:57 , Gustaf Kilander

After Trump was arraigned for the third time today, he claimed he was being politically persecuted for leading Biden by a lot.



However, a recent poll from NYT/Siena shows Biden and Trump tied in a hypothetical rematch: https://t.co/mOtOaqhNBK pic.twitter.com/CYpLLIJoY4  POLITICO (@politico) August 3, 2023

Biden thought to be headed for close reelection fight

Thursday 3 August 2023 03:00 , John Bowden

Enthusiasm among primary voters is an important factor for candidates involved in especially close races  or, conversely, can be seen as the reason those races are close to begin with. Mr Biden is thought to be headed for a close reelection fight as voters sour on the idea of re-electing someone who was already the oldest individual to ever take the oath of office of president, even as his likely opponent is battered by escalating legal troubles.

Hillary Clintons inability to stoke enthusiasm for her campaign after her defeat of Bernie Sanders in the 2016 Democratic primary was viewed as a significant factor leading to her eventual loss to Mr Trump that year.

But as it stands, Mr Biden will almost certainly be his partys nominee, concerns about age aside. His two announced challengers for the Democratic nomination, Robert F Kennedy Jr and Marianne Williamson, trailed him by more than 50 points each.

The NYT/Siena poll was conducted between 23-27 July and included a subpopulation of 296 likely Democratic primary voters.

Democrats would prefer Kamala Harris over Joe Biden as 2024 nominee, new poll shows

Wednesday 2 August 2023 22:00 , John Bowden

Another new poll is out suggesting that Democrats could have a stronger chance at winning in 2024 should President Joe Biden step aside for a younger successor.

The survey, published by The New York Times in partnership with Siena College, was released on Tuesday. It found low numbers of enthusiasm among Democrats for the re-nomination of either Mr Biden or a potential decision by the president against running for reelection in favour of endorsing his vice president, Kamala Harris, to run in his stead.

But the latter option was more popular among members of the presidents party by six percentage points, indicating that Democrats primary concern with the Biden brand is the stamina of the candidate himself. Theres a catch, however  the percentage of Democratic primary voters who were unsure about how they would feel about their partys nominee jumps slightly were Ms Harris to take the reins, and as a result the total percentage of primary voters who were at the very least satisfied with their partys pick was actually lower with Ms Harris at the top of the ticket.

It was a confounding poll result that reveals one fact clearly: Democratic voters are deeply unsure about who they want to be their partys standard-bearer should the incumbent president be sidelined for any reason. And separately, the poll found concerns about age outweighed any other complaint levied against Mr Biden by primary voters by an almost 2-to-1 margin.

Read more:

Democrats would prefer Kamala Harris over Joe Biden as 2024 nominee, new poll shows

Trump dominates GOP primary as general election looks set to be 2020 rematch

Wednesday 2 August 2023 16:55 , Gustaf Kilander

The 2024 election looks set to be a rematch between President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump.

Despite his mounting legal problems, Mr Trump is by far the most popular candidate in the Republican field.

A recent Times/Siena found that 54 per cent of likely GOP primary voters prefer Mr Trump as the nominee, compared to 17 per cent for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

All other candidates are in the low single digits.

That same poll, conducted last month, found that Mr Trump and Mr Biden are tied in a hypothetical 2024 rematch at 43 per cent each.

Among registered Republicans, 88 per cent supported Mr Trump, while 83 per cent of registered Democrats backed Mr Biden.

Independents supported Mr Biden, 42 to 37 per cent.

Most voters are not excited about their options  55 per cent said they see Mr Trump somewhat or very unfavourably, with that number being 54 per cent for Mr Biden.

The poll was conducted between 23 and 27 July and included 1,329 registered voters.
Former President Trump arrives to board his plane at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Aug. 3, 2023, in Arlington, Va., after pleading not guilty to federal conspiracy charges that allege he conspired to subvert the 2020 election. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press)

Special counsel Jack Smith's team Monday disputed rules proposed by former President Trump's legal team to define how evidence can be distributed during the trial over alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election, accusing Trump of trying to play out his trial in the media.

"The government proposed a reasonable protective order consistent with current practice in this District. The defendant instead proposed an order designed to allow him to try this case in the media rather than in the courtroom," Smith said.

Earlier Monday, Trump's legal team, led by lawyer John Lauro, suggested in a 29-page motion that the court should loosely define and expand whom Trump can share sensitive information with to prepare his defense to "volunteer attorneys," expert witnesses, investigators or others without "paid employment arrangements."

In an email exchange included in the filing, a prosecutor described the potential wording as "almost boundless."

Trump's team also wants to preclude the Justice Department from marking material from other government entities as sensitive. This would probably include records produced by the Secret Service, U.S. Capitol Police and Department of Homeland Security; those agencies have fought to keep many of those documents private because they relate to security planning.

Lauro also requests that "general mental impressions," even of sensitive documents, be exempted from the protective order.

The press and the American people in a campaign season have a right to know what the evidence is in this case provided that this evidence is not protected otherwise, Lauro told CNNs Dana Bash on State of the Union on Sunday.

Smith also responded in Monday's brief to Lauro's statements over the weekend about sharing evidence with the media, stating that "there is no right to publicly release discovery material, because the discovery process is designed to ensure a fair process before the Court, not to provide the defendant an opportunity to improperly press his case in the court of public opinion."

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan announced Monday that she will hold a hearing by Friday to settle the dispute.

Smith's office asked Chutkan on Friday to set limits on what Trump's team can do with evidence that was collected during the lengthy investigation and that will be shared with the defense as part of the discovery process. Smith asked that Trump and his lawyers be prohibited from disclosing materials provided by the government to anyone other than his legal team, possible witnesses, the witnesses lawyers or others approved by the court.

Prosecutors indicated during Trump's arraignment Thursday that they would ask for such a protective order, which is a normal part of a felony trial. Trump pleaded not guilty to four felony charges related to alleged attempts to overturn his 2020 election loss and block the peaceful transition of power.

The protections Smith is seeking for materials marked sensitive would be even more restrictive. In their initial request, prosecutors asked to prohibit Trump's attorneys from providing sensitive details from grand jury transcripts and other evidence to the former president because they feared he would publicly share them or take other actions that could obstruct the case. Trump would be allowed to view the evidence but not be allowed to write down personal identifying information from those documents.

Read more:The 'Johnny Appleseed of election fraud' wants to upend voting in America. Why he's focused on California

"Such a restriction is particularly important in this case because the defendant has previously issued public statements on social media regarding witnesses, judges, attorneys, and others associated with legal matters pending against him," prosecutors wrote in Friday's filing, adding that they are concerned the former president might share sensitive information online that could have a harmful chilling effect on witnesses.

Smith's filing pointed to a post Trump made on Truth Social that day that said "IF YOU GO AFTER ME, IM COMING AFTER YOU!" Monday's filing from Trump's legal team echoed a statement from his campaign that the message was not directed at those involved in the case.

On Saturday, Chutkan rejected Trumps request for a three-day extension to respond to the order. In a series of Truth Social posts, the former president demanded her recusal. In a post Monday, he called Chutkan the special counsel's draft pick and dream judge.

The posts undercut Lauro's efforts Sunday to publicly walk back Trumps calls for recusal, saying on a podcast hosted by Florida defense attorney David Markusthat Trump was speaking with a "laymans political sense."

Read more:Trump pleads not guilty to 4 felony charges in 2020 election case

Trump continued criticizing Smith and the request for a protective order, casting it as infringing on his right to free speech.

I shouldnt have a protective order placed on me because it would impinge upon my right to FREE SPEECH, Trump posted Monday morning. Deranged Jack Smith and the Department of Injustice should, however, because they are illegally leaking all over the place!

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Students and others walk through the UCLA campus. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

The University of California admitted a record number of California applicants for fall 2023  led by Latinos, who were part of the largest class of underrepresented students ever  as campuses received more funding to increase coveted seats, according to preliminary data released Tuesday.

Overall, UC admitted 88,285 Californian first-year applicants, an increase of 3.5% over last year, with gains posted at most of the nine undergraduate campuses. Admission rates inched up systemwide, to nearly 67%, and at nearly all campuses. UC Santa Cruz opened its doors most widely, accepting 10,000 more first-year students for this year over last year, a whopping 44.5% increase.

At several of the system's most sought-after campuses, the admission rate is much lower. UCLA admitted 9.5% of California first-year applicants and UC Berkeley, 15.1%, both slightly up compared to last year.

UC campuses also increased admission offers to transfer students  even as their applications last fall declined amid plunging community college enrollments in California and throughout the nation. UC San Diego led the way, admitting 11,200 California transfer applicants, an 11% increase over last year.

Latinos were the largest group of admitted California first-year students at 38%, followed by Asians at 34%, white applicants at 19% and Black applicants at 5%. American Indians made up 1% of admitted students but grew overall with significant gains at UCLA, UC Santa Cruz and UC Santa Barbara. The system launched a major effort last year offering free tuition and fees to California residents who are members of federally recognized Native American, American Indian and Alaska Native tribes.

Engkanchanith Tan, an electrical engineering student, relaxes in a hammock on the UCLA campus in June. The University of California admitted a record number of California first-year students for fall 2023. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

The Universitys latest admissions data reflects our commitment to expanding opportunity and to ensuring that students of all backgrounds have a chance to attend one of our excellent undergraduate campuses, UC President Michael V. Drake said in a statement. Were pleased to support thousands more Californians who wish to pursue a higher education, benefiting themselves and communities across the state.

The new data about the diversity of UC's admitted class comes as campuses throughout the nation are faced with a ban on using race as a factor in admissions following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June striking down affirmative action. Overall, 44% of UC's admitted class of first-year applicants and 37% of transfer students are members of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, a diversity reflecting the state's demographic shifts and more than 25 years of UC experimentation in how to create diverse classes without affirmative action.

Read more: 'We're really worried': What do colleges do now after affirmative action ruling?

About 45% of California admitted students are the first in their families to attend college and 47% are low-income.

The University of California continues to set an example for our peer private and public institutions as we strive to recruit talented and diverse students from around the state, said Han Mi Yoon-Wu, executive director of undergraduate admissions at the UC Office of the President.

Students and faculty walk across the UC Irvine campus in May. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

The number of admitted students from other states and countries rose over last year but was lower than 2021 levels. UC admitted 23,696 first-year students from other states, compared with 22,798 in 2022 and 28,157 in 2021. International students numbered 17,704 for fall 2023 compared with 17,531 in 2022 and 19,973 in 2021.

Following the Great Recession of 2008, several UC campuses had begun enrolling more nonresidents, who pay higher tuition, to offset major state funding cuts. UC Berkeley, for instance, increased its share of nonresident students from 9.3% in 2008 to 23.7% in 2022.

But that triggered a public outcry from Californians upset that they paid taxes to support the university system while their children were often rejected from their campuses of choice.

Drake has also unveiled a plan to increase enrollment of California students by more than 20,000 by 2030  and possibly as many as 33,000, the equivalent of a new campus, if resources are available.

Read more:UC could grow by 33,000 California students, equivalent of new campus, to meet surging demand

UC plans to expand enrollment of California undergraduates by 4,200 this fall under an agreement with Gov. Gavin Newsom. UCLA, UC Berkeley and UC San Diego, the three most selective campuses, also plan to swap out about 900 out-of-state and international students this fall and give those seats to Californians under a deal with Newsom and legislators who increased state funding to pay for losses in higher nonresident tuition.

That additional funding helped UC Santa Cruz, for instance, admit the largest class of California students ever.

Michelle Whittingham, UC Santa Cruz associate vice chancellor of enrollment management, said the campus plans to enroll 4,189 first-year students this fall and winter  an increase of 733 over last year  thanks to such factors as additional state funding and quicker completion of degree programs through more summer classes.

But, demonstrating the myriad factors that affect admission planning, UC Santa Cruz accepted 10,200 more students this year to hit that enrollment target. One reason, she said, was because the campus reduced by half the number of seats in the popular computer science major and increased offers in other majors where more students are likely to turn down their acceptance. Whittingham explained that officials reduced computer science slots this year after 300 more students than expected enrolled in the program last year; campus officials wanted to maintain the program quality.

Whittingham said the campus expects to honor its one-year housing guarantee to all new students  one reason it is offering winter admission to some of them.

"To see such a significant increase in access is beyond exciting," she said.

Read more:UCLA to expand in downtown L.A. with purchase of historic building for satellite classes

UCLA admitted 163 more California first-year students this year than last, with a slight rise in the admission rate to 9.5%, and fewer students from other states and countries. The share of admitted Californians from historically underrepresented groups climbed to 37% this year, the highest proportion in more than three decades.

The Westwood campus also admitted 5,665 transfer students from the community college system, a 9% increase. Overall, UCLA expects to enroll hundreds more California students this fall but does not need to appreciably increase admission offers because so many applicants accept them, officials have explained.

UC Berkeley admitted 10,994 California first-year students, an increase over last year's 10,518, which reflected a slight rise in the admission rate to 15.1%. The campus reduced offers to students from other states and countries. The number of Black students dropped slightly but the overall number of admitted applicants from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups increased, as did first-generation and low-income students.

Admitting more students who reflect the socioeconomic diversity of the state has been a priority for us, said Jocelyn De Jong, UC Berkeleys assistant vice chancellor and director of undergraduate enrollment. We know that academic talent can be found in all communities and settings and we value bringing together a diverse class of students with different experiences and perspectives.

UC Irvine admitted 24.6% more first-year students for fall 2023, including 2,160 more Californians, after cutting back admission offers last year, especially for out-of-state and international students. Dale Leaman, Irvine's executive director of undergraduate admissions, said the campus plans to enroll about 700 more Californians this year  500 first-year students and 200 transfers. Irvine also increased nonresident admissions by nearly 42% but they remain below 2021 levels.

"The real point of our efforts ... was to provide more access to Californians," he said. Increasing California enrollment was quite intentional; an effort to support and be responsive to systemwide and statewide interests.

UC Santa Barbara also increased admission offers to both California and nonresident first-year students by nearly 8%. Admission offers to Latinos increased the most, by 639.

UC San Diego's efforts in admitting more transfer students is grounded in close work with community colleges to help potential applicants clearly understand the courses required for their majors and structure their schedules to complete them on time to move to a four-year institution, campus officials said. UC San Diego is launching new efforts in the coming year with community colleges in San Diego and Imperial counties to expand that work, including adding staff and greater outreach efforts.

"We are excited that these collaborations with community colleges  especially those in the local San Diego area  are a positive addition to our relationships with these campuses and their applicants, and that we are consistently offering admission to the highest number of California Community College applicants of any UC campus," said Jim Rawlins, associate vice chancellor of enrollment management.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
By Sachin Ravikumar and Muvija M

LONDON (Reuters) -Britain on Tuesday imposed sanctions on an Iranian drone maker and a range of other foreign businesses, accusing them of supplying Russian forces with weapons and components for use against Ukraine.

Britain, the U.S. and the European Union have imposed a range of sanctions since last February to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a "special military operation".

The British government set out 25 new sanctions on individuals and businesses in Iran, Turkey, Belarus, Slovakia, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates, as well as Russia.

"Today's landmark sanctions will further diminish Russias arsenal and close the net on supply chains propping up (President) Putin's now struggling defence industry," British foreign minister James Cleverly said.

Iranian drone maker Paravar Pars and seven of its executives, already subject to U.S. sanctions announced in February, and two Turkey-based exporters of microelectronics, Azu International and Turkik Union, were among those targeted by Britain.

The sanctions prohibit British entities from providing trust services - the creation of a trust or similar arrangement - to those sanctioned and also impose asset freezes, which block their assets held in Britain.

ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS

Azu and Turkik Union had a role in exporting microelectronics to Russia that were essential for the country's military activity in Ukraine, Cleverly said.

In December, Reuters reported that Azu had exported at least $20 million worth of components to Russia, including chips made by U.S. manufacturers.

In April, the U.S. Treasury also accused Azu of shipping foreign-origin computer chips to Russia. Azu's owner could not be immediately contacted for comment.

The British government imposed sanctions on a number of individuals as well on Tuesday, including Swiss national Anselm Oskar Schmucki, who it says is the chief of the Moscow office of a Switzerland-based crypto asset manager, DuLac Capital Ltd.

It alleged Schmucki's involvement in "obtaining a benefit from, or supporting the Government of Russia, by carrying on business in a sector of strategic significance, namely the Russian Financial Services Sector," as the reason for targeting him.

DuLac did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for a comment on the sanctions on Schmucki, who was sanctioned by the U.S. in May.

The British government, which has sanctioned over 1,600 individuals and entities since the start of the Ukraine conflict, said the latest round of sanctions marked its biggest ever action on military suppliers in third countries.

The Slovak foreign ministry said it noted a Slovak citizen was among the 25 individuals and companies sanctioned and said the country was "cooperating with partners both in and out of the EU" on the sanctions regime imposed on Russia.

(Reporting by Sachin Ravikumar; Additional reporting by Elizabeth Howcroft in London, David Gauthier-Villars in Istanbul and Robert Muller in Prague; Writing by Muvija M; Editing by William James, Sharon Singleton and Alex Richardson)
By Melanie Burton

MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Western Australia will overturn its 2021 Aboriginal cultural heritage protection laws, introduced after the destruction of the ancient Juukan Gorge rock shelters, in response to opposition from landowners, the state's premier said on Tuesday.

The Indigenous group whose shelters were legally destroyed by mining giant Rio Tinto in 2020 said it was outraged by the decision to scrap the protection. The rock shelters had shown human habitation stretching back 46,000 years.

State Premier Roger Cook said the 2021 legislation would be dropped after widespread opposition from farmers and pastoralists. Instead, a 1972 law would be restored and amended to ensure the protection of important sites.

"The Juukan Gorge tragedy was a global embarrassment but our response was wrong, we took it too far, unintentionally causing stress, confusion and division in our community," Cook said.

The amendments to the 1972 law were "simple and effective" and would prevent another Juukan Gorge from happening, he said.

Landowners have been up in arms over what they said was onerous and costly regulation set down in the 2021 law.

But the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura Aboriginal Corporation (PKKP) condemned the decision, saying it had lost faith in the state government to protect Aboriginal cultural heritage and the return of sections of the old 1972 law was a disgrace.

"The PKKP are outraged that they, and Traditional Owners in Western Australia are back to square one, and the Cook government is reverting to laws that allowed the destruction of Juukan Gorge," the group said in a statement,

The change, which comes after the legislation had been in place for just five weeks, may temper rising angst in the state over Indigenous rights.

Support has been falling nationally for Federal government-backed plans to establish an Indigenous advisory body in parliament that Australians will vote on in a referendum later this year.

'UNWORKABLE'

The destruction of Western Australia's Juukan Gorge rock shelters for an iron ore mine caused deep distress to Indigenous groups and a global outcry that eventually cost Rio's chief executive, chair and senior executives their jobs.

It sparked a national inquiry, forced miners to overhaul their practices and brought stricter governance requirements from investors.

The PKKP said at the weekend that the 2021 law, while not perfect, was an improvement on the 1972 regulations.

Rio Tinto sent a letter to Aboriginal groups, including the PKKP, assuring them of its commitment to protecting cultural heritage, according to a copy seen by Reuters.

The miner said in a statement it would continue to engage with the state government to advocate for increased protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage.

The CEO of WAfarmers Trevor Whittington told Reuters the 2021 legislation was not fit for purpose and his group was waiting to see what the amendments entailed.

"Every new farming activity that we undertook would require a new heritage survey," he said of the 2021 legislation.

"It was unworkable."

Cook, however, dismissed those assertions saying the only obligations for farmers or other landowners to undertake a heritage survey under the 2021 legislation was if they planned activity that would impact a known cultural heritage site.

One of the key grievances that Aboriginal groups had with the new act was that they had no right of veto and the ultimate decision maker over heritage destruction was a government minister. In the 1972 legislation, which governed development until June, miners or landowners could appeal a minister's decision but Indigenous groups could not.

"We will make sure they have a right of appeal in the event a decision is made, Cook said.

(Reporting by Melanie Burton; Editing by Kim Coghill and Robert Birsel)
It is with the 2024 presidential election in mind that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis finally clarified his views on the 2020 contest, which most Republicans continue to falsely believe was won by Donald Trump.

Of course he lost, DeSantis said in a new interview with NBC News. He acknowledged that Joe Biden is president, while also peddling conspiracy theories about ballot harvesting and voting by mail.

It was a seemingly obvious confirmation of reality  but one that could have major consequences as DeSantis struggles to regain the early promise of his presidential campaign in the face of Trumps own third White House run.

Read more on Yahoo News: Why is the DeSantis campaign struggling?

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at a Trump rally in Opa-Locka, Fla., Nov. 2, 2020. (Carlos Barria/Reuters)

After winning reelection in a landslide last year, DeSantis emerged as a darling of the conservative establishment. If the midterm elections were mostly disappointing for them (with many Trump-endorsed candidates losing), the Florida governor was a bright spot that seemed bound to get brighter.

Aware of the challenge, Trump stepped up his attacks on DeSantis. The governor responded coyly at first. We must reject the culture of losing that has infected our party in recent years, he said in Iowa.

Left unsaid was whom DeSantis blamed for that losing culture. But now that he is facing a defeat of his own, he can no longer afford being coy.

A careful silence after Bidens win

Donald Trump is greeted by DeSantis prior to a campaign stop in Fort Myers, Fla., Oct. 16, 2020. (Carlos Barria/Reuters)

For three years, DeSantis tried to maintain a public ambiguity about how he viewed the results of the 2020 election. There was no widespread evidence of malfeasance or fraud, but the defeated Trump has continued to maintain the election was stolen  and so have many of his supporters whom DeSantis hopes to win over.

Just days after the election, DeSantis seemed to suggest that there could have been irregularities  without directly making the kinds of outlandish claims Trump and his close allies were making.

Read more on Yahoo News: DeSantis still won't say whether he thinks Trump lost in 2020, via Insider

I would exhaust every option to make sure we have a fair count, he said.

About a month after the election, DeSantis finally seemed to tepidly acknowledge that Biden had won. Were going to push ahead. Well work with whoever we need to be able to do right by the state of Florida, he said in mid-December.

Dubious claims about election integrity

DeSantis at a vaccine summit at the White House, Dec. 8, 2020. (Tom Brenner/Reuters)

Even after the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol, Trump stood by his thoroughly debunked claim that he had actually won the election. And even as many establishment Republicans wanted nothing to do with the conspiracy, the partys base was firmly behind him.

DeSantis, who was in the early stages of contemplating a presidential run, tried to split the difference by creating an election integrity unit last spring to combat election fraud. But there had been no evidence of fraud in Florida; one Democratic state legislator called the new unit unnecessary and a waste of taxpayer funds.

Read more on Yahoo News:DeSantis has yet to explain why just 20 ex-felons were singled out on voting charges, via Orlando Sentinel

Those concerns were validated when the unit managed only 20 arrests in a state where 11.1 million people were registered to vote. The arrested men had not attempted to perpetrate electoral fraud: They had served time for felony convictions and thought they could register to vote. Floridians voted to restore voting rights to felons in 2018, but DeSantis significantly weakened the measure.

Evasive on the campaign trail  until now

A man in Simi Valley, Calif., endorsing a Trump-DeSantis ticket, March 5. (Allison Dinner/Reuters)

We need the courage to lead and the strength to win, DeSantis said in a video that accompanied the launch of his presidential campaign earlier this year.

But as Trump opened up an ever-widening lead in both national and state-level polls, DeSantis had trouble convincing voters that they should switch allegiance from Trump simply out of electability concerns.

After all, most Republican primary voters continued to believe that Trump had won. And the electability argument had failed to persuade them in 2016, when they  and Trump  proved wrong those who made it.

Even when directly asked about the Jan. 6 attack, DeSantis ducked the issue.

I wasnt anywhere near Washington that day, he told voters in New Hampshire. I have nothing to do with what happened that day. Obviously, I didnt enjoy seeing what happened, but weve got to go forward on this stuff. We cannot be looking backwards and be mired in the past.

The response was widely mocked, including by former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a rival for the 2024 nomination.

With his campaign sputtering in the polls and burning through cash, DeSantis is trying to draw clearer distinctions between himself and Trump.

There will be costs to that shift. The former presidents campaign criticized DeSantis harshly for his latest comments.

Ron DeSantis will say whatever he can to keep his campaign afloat, even though he was one of America's leading election critics until his campaign needed a reset, campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said, referencing recent attempts by DeSantis to regain the confidence of Republican donors and grassroots. Ron will do whatever it takes to hoodwink a few more donors into giving to his failed campaign.

Read more on Yahoo News: Why has Ron DeSantis been such a flop?
(This Aug 8 story has been corrected to clarify that the quote was from Anna Hogg, not Caroline Holmes, in paragraphs 3 and 4)

By David Stanway

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Sea ice in the Antarctic region has fallen to a record low this year as a result of rising global temperatures and there is no quick fix to reverse the damage done, scientists said on Tuesday in a new study of the impact of climate change on the continent.

The continent's minimum summer ice cover, which last year dipped below 2 million square kilometres (772,000 square miles) for the first time since satellite monitoring began in 1978, fell further to a new low in February, according to a study published in the journal Frontiers in Environmental Science.

"It's going to take decades if not centuries for these things to recover. There's no quick fix to replacing this ice," said Anna Hogg, a professor at the University of Leeds and one of the study's co-authors, referring to melting icebergs and shelves.

"It will certainly take a long time, even if it's possible," she told a briefing with journalists.

This year's sea ice minimum is 20% lower than the average over the last 40 years, equivalent to a sea ice loss nearly 10 times the area of New Zealand, said Tim Naish, director of the Antarctic Research Centre at New Zealand's Victoria University of Wellington, who was not a participant in the study.

"In some cases we are getting close to tipping points, which once crossed will lead to irreversible changes with unstoppable consequences for future generations," Naish said.

Global warming driven by the burning of fossil fuels has made Antarctica more vulnerable to extreme events and the impact is "virtually certain" to get worse, the study said.

Climate change will "lead to increases in the size and frequency" of heatwaves, ice shelf collapses and declines in sea ice, it said, drawing on recent evidence from scientific studies of the Antarctic ocean, atmosphere, cryosphere and biosphere.

The precise impact of climate change on Antarctica and the surrounding ocean has been uncertain and scientists have struggled to measure how much global warming is affecting the thickness of Antarctic ice.

But from phenomena such as the rapid decline in sea ice, it is "scientifically reasonable" to assume that extreme events are going to intensify as global temperatures rise, said Martin Siegert, a glaciologist at the University of Exeter and another co-author.

Last year, an "atmospheric river" originating from Australia drove subtropical heat and moisture into the continent, causing unprecedented temperatures up to 38.5 Celsius (69.3 Fahrenheit) above normal, the largest variance from the norm the world has ever experienced.

Siegert described the temperature increase as "absolutely astonishing", adding that if it had occurred during the Antarctic summer, instead of winter, it would have triggered melting on the surface of the East Antarctic ice sheet, which has so far been spared from melting.

"Antarctica is fragile as an environment, but extreme events test that fragility," he said. "What we're deeply concerned about is the increase in intensity and frequency of extreme events and the cascading influences that they have in other areas."

(Reporting by David Stanway; Editing by Edmund Klamann)
Perseids to spark up to 100 meteors an hour during peak this weekend

Weekend stargazers are in for a treat as one of the best meteor showers of the year reaches its climax, featuring dozens of shooting stars per hour.

The Perseid meteor shower will peak on the night of Saturday, Aug. 12, into the early morning of Sunday, Aug. 13, and is expected to put on an even more impressive show than last year. In 2022, a nearly full moon washed out all but a few meteors, but significantly better conditions are anticipated this year, as only a thin crescent moon will rise near the end of the night.

Most stargazers should be able to count up to 40 to 60 shooting stars per hour, but from dark locations devoid of light pollution, that number could reach 100 visible meteors per hour.

"To view the Perseids successfully, it is suggested you watch from a safe rural area that is as dark as possible," the American Meteor Society (AMS) explained. "The more stars you can see, the more meteors will also be visible."

A few Perseid meteors one night before the 2018 Perseid Meteor Shower peak. Among the ruins at Bombay Beach on the east shore of the Salton Sea. (Getty/Kevin Key/Slworking)

Some meteors may streak across the sky shortly after nightfall, but the AMS said the best activity will not take place until the second half of the night as the shower's radiant point climbs higher in the northeastern sky.

The combination of warm August nights paired with the frenzy of meteors is why the Perseids are often touted as the best meteor shower of the year.

December's Geminid meteor shower typically boasts more shooting stars than the Perseids, but the weather is not as comfortable compared to the summertime event. Additionally, the prospects of clouds in North America are higher in December compared to August.

However, some stargazers will still encounter cloudy conditions for this weekend's celestial light show.

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AccuWeather forecasters say the western United States will have the best viewing conditions for the Perseids this weekend, as well as portions of the northern Plains and Midwest. Areas of Texas and Florida will also have favorable weather.

The weather will be more problematic for viewing the Perseids in the Northeast, central Plains and parts of the Rocky Mountains with partly to mostly cloudy conditions in the forecast.

Clouds will also be an issue in parts of the Canadian provinces of Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta. However, there should be enough breaks in the clouds to spot shooting stars from most of the Canadian Prairies and southern Ontario.

Meteors will continue to zip through the night sky through the middle of the month, but each night will offer onlookers views of fewer and fewer shooting stars.

The next meteor shower is the Orionids, which will peak on the night of Friday, Oct. 20, into the early morning of Saturday, Oct. 21

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Paramount (PARA) CEO Bob Bakish weighed in on the ongoing double strike in Hollywood, stressing the "critical" importance of the content pipeline while also noting the significance of protecting the audience experience.

Last month, actors joined writers on the picket line for the first time since 1960.

"We're saddened that as an industry, we couldn't come to an agreement that would have prevented this. Our partnership with the creative community is critical to the health of our industry, so we remain hopeful for a timely resolution, and we are committed to finding a path forward," the executive said during the company's second quarter earnings call on Monday.

"At the same time, we have a responsibility to minimize disruptions to our audiences and other constituents. To that end, we've adjusted our CBS fall slate by leaning into the full power of Paramount's content capabilities," he continued.

Paramount announced last month that CBS will air "Yellowstone" reruns to help fill in the fall TV schedule, which will heavily rely on unscripted reality TV and game shows. Sports will also be critical to CBS's lineup.

Other new additions will include the Paramount+ series "SEAL Team," in addition to the sitcom "Ghosts," which was adapted to American television for CBS from the British series of the same name.

"The slate illustrates the strength of our global multi-platform asset base and strategy and it's one of the ways we're staying nimble," Bakish said.

Strike concerns weigh on media giants

Last month,SAG-AFTRA  the union that represents approximately 160,000 actors, announcers, recording artists, and other media professionals around the world  announced the strike after failing to negotiate a deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which bargains on behalf of studios including Warner Bros., Disney (DIS), Netflix (NFLX), Amazon (AMZN), Apple (AAPL), and NBCUniversal (CMCSA).

The Writers Guild of America (WGA), which represents about 11,500 television and movie writers, had called for a strike in early May. WGA leaders met with studio representatives on Friday to discuss restarting negotiations; however, no new negotiations have been set at this point.

Uncertainties remain the longer the strikes drag on  particularly surrounding film release schedules.

Late last month, Sony reshuffled its 2023-2024 film schedule, citing the strikes.

"Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse"  the sequel to the widely successful "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse"  was quietly removed from the 2024 release calendar. It was expected to hit theaters on March 29, 2024.

Recent reports have said studios like Warner Bros. and Disney are also weighing changes to their respective slates as a direct result of the strikes.

Variety reported Warner Bros. is "strongly considering" pushing the highly anticipated "Dune" sequel to next year from its current Nov. 3 debut. Disney is reportedly weighing the same thing for films like "Wish" and "Poor Things," according to Bloomberg.

Picketers carry signs outside Paramount studios on Friday, July 21, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

"With respect to our film slate, the good news is we have a significant number of films, of which production is complete," Bakish said, calling out completed films like "Killers of the Flower Moon," Jack Black's "Dear Santa," and John Krasinski's "A Quiet Place: Day One."

"Strikes do present some marketing challenges [and it's] something we're working to assess with respect to our release strategy. But again, we're well stocked," he continued, explaining Paramount+ is also in good shape, although there will be certain streaming originals that will have to be moved to 2024 due to strike-related production delays.

Still, the executive warned problems will arise the longer the strike drags on. Paramount CFO Naveen Chopra added that it's still "too early" to estimate the full impact.

"It all comes down to duration," Bakish added. "I want to reiterate that we're hopeful that we can solve this as an industry sooner rather than later because we'd all like to get back in the content production business. But in the near term, we're working to mitigate the impact to our consumers and other constituents."

Paramount reported second quarter earnings that beat estimates as streaming losses narrowed.

Free cash flow came in at $210 million in the quarter, "which included modest impact from the strikes," Chopra said. The executive added the company anticipates continued delays in production for the duration of the strikes.

"As such, we estimate free cash flow in the back half of the year will be significantly higher than previously expected," he continued.

Alexandra Canal is a Senior Reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @allie_canal, LinkedIn, and email her at alexandra.canal@yahoofinance.com.

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President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, and Polish President Andrzej Duda attend a joint press conference following their summit talks at the presidential palace in Warsaw, July 13. Yonhap



Polish President Andrzej Duda has canceled plans to visit Korea for the 25th World Scout Jamboree due to the approach of a powerful typhoon, a presidential official said Tuesday.



Duda was planning to visit the jamboree site in Saemangeum, a reclaimed wetland on the southwest coast, as Poland is set to host the next edition in its port city of Gdansk in 2027.



The plan was canceled, however, as Typhoon Khanun has been forecast to make landfall on the country's southern coast Thursday.



"The typhoon is approaching, and it doesn't appear easy to hold the closing ceremony as planned," the presidential official told reporters, referring to the jamboree's closing event Friday.



"If the Polish president were to visit, he probably would have various events planned, but they could be affected by weather conditions, so I think there was a change of plan in consideration of various factors," the official added.



Duda's visit would have raised the possibility of another meeting with President Yoon Suk Yeol, less than a month after the two held a summit during Yoon's official visit to Poland in July. (Yonhap)


Security for the federal judge assigned to oversee the criminal case against former President Donald Trump over his attempts to overturn the 2020 election has been increased in the federal courthouse in Washington, DC.

CNN has observed more security detailed to Judge Tanya Chutkan, and deputy US Marshals discussed security plans for the judge on Monday. The US Marshals Service handles security at the DC District Court and a spokesman for the service said it take(s) that responsibility very seriously.

Ensuring that judges can rule independently and free from harm or intimidation is paramount to the rule of law, and a fundamental mission of the USMS, spokesperson Drew J. Wade told CNN. While we do not discuss our specific security measures, we continuously review the measures in place and take appropriate steps to ensure the integrity of the federal judicial process.

The uptick in security inside the courthouse comes after security measures, including fencing and yellow tape, were taken down following Trumps arraignment last week. That hearing, where Trump pleaded not guilty, was presided over by a magistrate judge. Chutkan takes the case from there.

Trump has already said he will be asking for Chutkan to recuse herself from the case, writing on social media in all caps: There is no way I can get a fair trial with the judge assigned to the ridiculous freedom of speech/fair elections case.

Federal prosecutors are asking for a protective order restricting what Trump and his team can do with evidence shared with them through discovery in the 2020 election case. Prosecutors point to Trumps public statements that they say could have a harmful chilling effect on witnesses or adversely affect the fair administration of justice in this case.

Prosecutors pointed to Trumps Truth Social post last week that read: IF YOU GO AFTER ME, IM COMING AFTER YOU!

Chutkan denied a deadline extension request from Trumps legal team to respond to the protective order request.

Trumps legal team proposed less restrictive rules than those sought by prosecutors regarding evidence in the case, leaning heavily into claims that special counsel prosecutors are on a politically motivated campaign to restrict his First Amendment rights.

The first hearing before Chutkan is set for August 28 when she is expected to determine a trial date in the case.

Security also has been increased at the Superior Court of Fulton County in Georgia, where a decision is expected soon on whether to charge Trump for efforts to overturn the election results in that state.

A road in front of the Fulton County courthouse has been closed, orange plastic barricades have been erected around the perimeter, and more law enforcement officers and K-9 units have been observed.

This story has been updated with additional details.

CNNs Jason Morris and Tierney Sneed contributed to this report.

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A rash of thunderstorms expected to form and roam the southwestern United States in the coming days that will bring lightning that could spark new wildfires, AccuWeather forecasters warn.

The storms that develop, especially in the mountains of Central and Southern California from late Wednesday through Friday, many will feature lightning but very little rainfall and are known as dry thunderstorms. This is a dangerous recipe as the region barrels into the annual wildfire season.

The threat of these dry thunderstorms will expand into parts of the Northwest by the weekend.

The impetus for thunderstorms in the Southwest on Friday will be lingering energy from former Tropical Storm Eugene, which dissipated earlier this week, according to AccuWeather forecasters.

Accompanying the lingering energy from Eugene will be some moisture, which can increase the humidity across much of California and help to trigger storms, mainly across higher terrain.

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"Moisture in the upper atmosphere can help to develop thunderstorms across the mountains of Southern California and the Sierra Nevada," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty. "The lack of moisture near ground level can lead to little rainfall with many of the storms."

These storms will also impact parts of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. They will tend to ignite over higher elevations and with the heating of the day before diminishing at night.

The combination of little rainfall and lightning could lead to the ignition of new wildfires as the region heads into the thick of wildfire season, which typically runs from July to October.

Flames rise from the York Fire on Ivanpah Rd. on Sunday, July 30, 2023, in the Mojave National Preserve, Calif. Crews battled fire whirls in Californias Mojave National Preserve this weekend as a massive wildfire crossed into Nevada amid dangerously high temperatures and raging winds. (AP Photo/Ty O'Neil)

According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, there were 9 active wildfires across California as of Wednesday morning. The No Name Fire is the largest blaze that started August 5th, 2023 and has already scorched over 1,120 acres in Riverside County to the southwest of Los Angeles.

Despite nearly half a dozen active fires, this is below the historical average for August, at least compared to recent seasons. This is largely due to the record amounts of rain and snow the state recorded late last year and earlier this year. However, AccuWeather experts warn that current conditions are ripe for the development of new fires.

"We are just now getting into the thick of the dry season in California," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Joe Bauer. "The longstanding blanket of snow that has remained since last winter has vanished at many reporting stations in the Sierra."

With the loss of the snowpack at all but the highest elevations, there will be plenty of dry vegetation, or fuels that can be ignited by lightning in the mountains and nearby foothills, added Bauer.

"Gusty winds associated with thunderstorms can also lead to rapid fire growth," warned Douty.

California and the Southwest will not be the only region at risk for dry storms, which can lead to new wildfires. AccuWeather forecasters warn that by this weekend, the energy and moisture associated with the threat late in the workweek will expand into more of the Northwest.

On Saturday and Sunday, thunderstorms with very little rain will also erupt in parts of the northern Sierra Nevada range in Northern California, and also over mountains as far north and east as southern Idaho and southwestern Wyoming.

High pressure returning to the West Monday will largely end the threat of thunderstorms for an extended period of time. It will also fuel a massive warmup from the Central Valley of California north to the interior Pacific Northwest.

Temperatures will be as much as 15 degrees above historical averages for the early and middle part of next week, AccuWeather forecasters say. Combined with little or no rainfall, and a preexisting drought in parts of the Northwest, the uptick in temperatures can also fuel a wildfire risk.

Just enough moisture will be pumped into the region to allow some of the storms to bring localized rain that can be beneficial and problematic.

"In some cases, enough rain will fall to dampen the landscape temporarily and ease the wildfire threat," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.

For example, in Riverside, California, occasional drizzle evolved into drenching downpours that delivered 0.20 of an inch of rain early Thursday morning. Riverside only averages about 0.03 of an inch of rain the entire month of August.

However, in a few locations, too much rain may fall too fast on the dry, hard-packed landscape or in urban areas and lead to flash flooding, Sosnowski said. These will tend to be very isolated in the pattern, but there is a risk that some dry stream beds, called arroyos, can briefly become raging rivers. Street flooding is possible in some neighborhoods where downpours linger for more than a few minutes.

Motorists and hikers should be aware that storms miles upstream can bring a torrent of water even when rain may not be falling in the immediate vicinity.

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NEW YORK  The teen accused of fatally stabbing a gay black man claimed to be Muslim during a standoff over voguing at a Brooklyn gas station, though his family says hes Christian.

A conflicting portrait of Dmitriy Popov emerged Monday as the 17-year-old, who surrendered Friday with his lawyer, was arraigned as an adult defendant on murder charges and ordered held without bail.

The Midwood teen tried to go on the lam for a week after the killing by shaving his head and shutting off his phone in a failed attempt to evade the law, Assistant District Attorney Sarah Jafari said in court.

But the alleged killers mother called him a good boy who goes to church and has two jobs.

Popov stabbed OShae Sibley the night of July 29, after hurling homophobic slurs and anti-Black epithets at his victim before plunging the knife deep into his side, piercing his heart, police said.

Stop dancing here, Popov said, according to court papers. We are Muslim.

Get that gay s--t out of here.

Popovs grandmother has countered that narrative, noting the teen is actually Christian, wears a cross and loves the Black woman married to his older brother.

But police said that during the confrontation, captured on surveillance video, Popov stabbed Sibley in the stomach after a minutes-long standoff at the Mobil station on Coney Island Ave. near Ave. P in Midwood.

Sibley and his friends returning from a trip to the Jersey Shore, pulled over to get gas. They spent the next few minutes blaring Beyonce songs and voguing near the gas pumps

Popov and his friends, who were inside the station convenience store, stepped out said to object, claiming the dancing offended their faith.

The teens demanded that they stop dancing, NYPD Chief Joseph Kenny said Saturday. You can see on video that the heated dispute quickly turned physical.

There were a lot of anti-gay statements and derogatory anti-Black statements, Kenny said. There were a lot of people from the community acting like peacemakers.

The dispute ended with Sibley getting stabbed after he followed Popov, who used his phone to record Sibley and his friends.

The defendant, the assistant district attorney said in court, pulled out a knife and stabbed the victim in the chest and punctured his heart causing his death a short while later.

Popov had a full head of hair in the video, but the prosecutor noted to the judge that the teen stands before you with a shaved head.

Popovs lawyer, Mark Pollard, argued in vain that the case be tried in Family Court and asked that bail be set, but Judge Craig Walker said given Popovs week on the lam theres a good chance hed try to flee.

Its all about choices, Walker said, and the choices that were made that night which have us over here in this particular moment.

Pollard outside court called the murder a tragedy all around. The suspects mother, Lana Popov, meanwhile, read tearfully from a statement.

My heart goes out to the family of Mr. Sibley, she said. I know they are in pain as we are as well. My son is a good boy. He was working at two jobs and goes to church and school.

He is not that whats being said about him.

_____


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Tom Rainey-Smith and family pose for a family portrait during the "doljanchi" (first birthday) of their youngest child. Before they move away to New Zealand, Rainey-Smith is throwing one last punk show to raise funds for Marriage for All Korea. Courtesy of Tom Rainey-Smith



By Jon Dunbar



The legendary Seoul punk venue Skunk, recently reopened in eastern Sindang-dong, and is hosting a benefit show this Saturday for the Marriage for All Korea cause. It will feature the bands Drinking Boys and Girls Choir , DeadButtons, Dead Chant and Smoking Goose, as well as solo performances by folk musician Seth Mountain and the venue owner Won Jong-hee, going by the stage name Jonny Ruckus.



It's a worthy cause and a fine lineup, but the show hides an extra meaningful impetus: it's a farewell party. Tom Rainey-Smith, who goes by the nickname Tom Raging Smith on social media, is moving with his family back to his homeland, New Zealand.



"We're leaving the week after the show!" Raging-Smith told The Korea Times. "In fact, we have to leave our house the morning after the show, so I'll have to try not to party too hard."



He emphasized his commitment to staying in the background for this show, rather than making it all about himself.



"A couple of friends put the idea in my head to put on a show. But instead of putting the emphasis on the farewell part, we decided to do it for a good cause," he said. "I haven't organized a show since 2013 or 2014 when I put on fundraisers for the anti-base community in Gangjeong and for Palestine Peace and Solidarity, so I'm rusty. But Jong-hee of Skunk has been really helpful."



Half of the door sales will go to the cause and the other half is for the bands.



It's worth noting that Rainey-Smith will not be performing at his own show.



"I've jammed a bit here with friends, but nothing serious. Most of my band work now is at home with my two children on plastic instruments," he said.



He added that he played guitar for a pop-punk band in high school, and was the vocalist of a hardcore band called Discenter into his university days, among various other experimental metal bands.



"In any case, underground music and punk, in particular, has been a big part of my life since I was 14 or 15 and started going to shows regularly," he said.



Rainey-Smith's time in Korea began in 2006. He had initially taken an interest in its political history in school. "I'd developed an interest in the democratization struggle while studying as an undergrad back home," he said. "Learning about the people's resistance movements and in particular the Gwangju Uprising really interested me."



While living here, he has participated in many causes, movements and struggles, including Palestine Peace and Solidarity (now BDS Korea), several anti-war groups and Amnesty International. He also joined the movement against the construction of a naval base in Jeju Island's Gangjeong Village.





Tom Rainey-Smith is carried away by police during a protest against the construction of a naval base at Gangjeong Village on Jeju Island in this 2015 photo. Courtesy of Tom Rainey-Smith



He even helped found the Association for Teachers of English in Korea (ATEK), a volunteer-based nonprofit organization intended to protect the interests of foreign English teachers here.



"I love South Korea. It's my second home, my partner's country, and also the country our children were born in. When you love somewhere, you want to make it better. I think it's as simple as that," Rainey-Smith said.



"This country has one of the most militant labor movements in the world. It has a thriving civil society where disparate groups often rally together for a common cause. I remember marching down the street with a million people in downtown Seoul during the candlelit demonstrations of 2016 and 2017. There was no violence. Everyone looked out for one another. People cleaned up afterwards. It was breathtaking. And that is the South Korea I came to find."





Tom Rainey-Smith monitors riot police at Seoul National University Hospital, Sept. 28, 2016, following the death of Baek Nam-ki, a farmer who had been put into a coma months earlier by police water cannons. Courtesy of Tom Rainey-Smith



Despite all his experiences, Rainey-Smith doesn't like to characterize his activities as political.



"I wouldn't characterize the majority of the work I've done in South Korea as political, professionally or in a personal capacity," he said. "It's been about trying to improve the situation by challenging social and economic inequities and oppression where you see it."



He also eschewed any labels for his political outlook, though hinted at anarchism.



"It's unhelpful to have a political identity in my line of work. But I can say that I try to live by what I would describe as anarchist tendencies," he said. "By that I mean I think it is important to challenge all unjust political, social and economic hierarchies and power structures whenever we can. It also means trying to create the future world we want in the present. To me, that is synonymous with the basic concept of human rights."



And that's why he chose to throw a charity show for his final punk show in Korea. He dedicated seven years to campaigning for LGBTI rights for Amnesty International Korea starting in 2017, but has been part of that struggle on his own for much longer.



"The LGBTI movement here has been fighting for two decades to improve their situation and has some of the most courageous and skilled activists out of any social movement here. It has been an absolute privilege to be able to fight alongside with them," he said.



"Marriage for All Korea, the organization we are raising money for, is doing really important work. They are a coalition of groups fighting for recognition of same-sex marriage as part of the larger struggle for LGBTI rights."



It is rare to see foreign nationals get involved in domestic Korean political activism. Many would question the legality of Rainey-Smith's contributions, but he sees it otherwise.



"There is no definition of what constitutes a 'political act' under the Immigration Act, so the supposed ban is very unclear," he explained. "As a permanent resident, I can vote in local elections. I've organized many protests and would usually notify the police as the main organizer and not had any real issues. The way the law is written has a real silencing effect, though. I've had many friends who were not citizens who were terrified to exercise their basic right to freedom of assembly."





Tom Rainey-Smith poses with his two children during IT'S A FEST! at Incheon's Hanagae Beach, June 18. Courtesy of Tom Rainey-Smith
YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, ARMENPRESS. As a result of Azerbaijan's ongoing blockage of the only road linking Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) and Armenia, the Lachin Corridor since 12 December 2022, there has been a severe shortage of medications and food, along with constant stress among the population, the Nagorno-Karabakh Ministry of Healthcare said Tuesday.

The consequences of the blockade have led to an increase in the rate of diseases and complications.

Among the total number of deaths over the seven months (January-July), there has been a recorded increase in mortality from cardiovascular diseases by more than 2 times. This includes a 66% increase in mortality from acute and chronic heart failure, a 20.8% increase in mortality from acute myocardial infarction, and an 8.8% increase in mortality from brain paralysis.

The mortality rate from cardiovascular diseases further increased in July, reaching a preliminary 2.6 times compared to July of the previous year. This includes 2.5 times increase in mortality from acute heart failure, 4 times increase in mortality from acute myocardial infarction, and 3 times increase in mortality from brain paralysis.

Over the course of seven months, the number of deaths caused by malignant neoplasms has increased by 15.9%. Among the reasons for the increased mortality, factors such as the shortage or absence of necessary medications, changes in quality of life, severe limitations on adequate medical assistance and reduced viability are highlighted.

During the same period, there has been an increase in new cases of acute cerebrovascular accidents (stroke) and acute myocardial infarctions among the population by 26% and 9.7% respectively.

From January to July, there has been a recorded increase of 24.3% in newly diagnosed cases of malignant neoplasms.

From January to July, compared to the same period of the previous year, the level of anemia among pregnant women under medical observation has reached around 90%. This is due to inadequate nutrition and the absence or insufficiency of appropriate medications.

Although there was no increase in the overall number of abortions during the first half of the year, there was a sharp fourfold increase in the number of medically indicated abortions in July. Stress, improper nutrition and the lack or absence of medications worsen the already distressing situation.

In July, there has been an increase in cases of fainting (collapses) reported by the Republican Emergency Situations Service. Compared to July of the previous year, cases of fainting have increased by 91%. Very often, there are cases where a person faints, but before the arrival of emergency medical assistance, the individual regains consciousness, and the incident is not actually documented.

In July, there was also a sharp 5.6-fold increase in emergency calls for cases of high blood pressure compared to the same period last year.

The increase in the mentioned and other indicators of mortality and morbidity is due to serious health problems caused by the blockade and subsequent complete siege of Artsakh. This includes the shortage or absence of medications and medical supplies, inadequate nutrition of the population, stress, suspension of scheduled surgeries and examinations, restricted access to medical care in Armenia and abroad, and so on.

The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Artsakh warns that in the event of the continued full siege of Artsakh by Azerbaijan, the mentioned and other indicators will further worsen, leading to the loss of many lives or a deterioration in their health.

The healthcare system is doing everything possible to mitigate the consequences of the serious problems it is facing. However, the complete blockade of movement of persons, vehicles and cargo through the Lachin Corridor makes it simply impossible to provide systemic and comprehensive healthcare solutions, the Nagorno-Karabakh Ministry of Healthcare said in a press release.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, ARMENPRESS. The United States has reiterated that a potential peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan remains within reach after Russia warned last week that a hastily prepared peace treaty could lead to new conflict.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller was asked during a press briefing to comment on the warnings from Moscow to Armenia and Azerbaijan against rushing into a peace agreement.

I dont want to speak with respect to Russia when it comes to Armenia and Azerbaijan, Miller said. I want to speak with respect to those two countries who are directly related  who are direct parties in this dispute. We have been engaged directly with those countries; Special Envoy Bono traveled to the region last week and engaged directly with them. And we believe, despite any comments from other countries who are not a party to this matter, that an agreement remains within reach, and we will continue to work with them to pursue it, he added.

Miller added that Turkiye has a productive role it can play in this process.
STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 8, ARMENPRESS. On August 8th, President of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh Republic) Arayik Harutyunyan sent an urgent appeal to the international community to take immediate measures to prevent the genocide of the Artsakh people and to lift the siege.

Below is the transcript of President Harutyunyans address, as published by the Nagorno-Karabakh presidential press service.

Esteemed members of the international community,

I, Arayik Harutyunyan, the President of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic), bring forth this urgent appeal to draw your attention to the fact that this very moment, the people of the Republic of Artsakh find themselves in the midst of a harrowing genocide, confronted with an imminent threat to their very existence and the homeland they hold dear.

For the purpose of controlling the only road connecting Artsakh with Armenia and the outside world, passing through the Lachin Corridor, the Azerbaijani authorities planned and initiated a show that started on December 12, 2022, under the guise of an environmental protest. In reality, this was just a prelude to the crime of genocide, which gained an official and systemic nature with the illegal establishment of an Azerbaijani checkpoint in the Lachin Corridor on April 23, 2023. On June 15, Azerbaijan completely sealed off the road passing through the Lachin Corridor, besieging the 120-thousand population of the Republic of Artsakh. For almost eight months now, the population of Artsakh has been deprived of the opportunity for unimpeded and two-way movement along the Lachin Corridor. For about two months now, there were no supplies of food, medicines and other essential goods, previously carried out by the Russian peacekeeping forces and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Azerbaijan's actions not only violate universal legal norms but also specific international legal acts regarding the Lachin Corridor, including paragraph 6 of the Trilateral Statement of November 9, 2020, legally binding decisions of the International Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights requiring the unblocking the Lachin Corridor.

The blockade of the Lachin Corridor is not an isolated incident; it should be regarded as part of a planned, large-scale and coordinated policy by Azerbaijan aimed at the destruction of the people of Artsakh as a whole. The blockade of Artsakh is a direct continuation of the military aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan in 2020, with the direct involvement of Turkey and terrorist organizations from the Middle East. Azerbaijan has consistently pursued a policy of forcibly suppressing the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination, accompanying its actions with the use of force and widespread violations of human rights. The ultimate goal of this policy is the expulsion of the people of Artsakh and closing the issue of the right to self-determination for the people of Artsakh.

It is in this context that Azerbaijan's encroachments on the sovereignty of Artsakh must be considered, since the presence of a sovereign state with international legal subjectivity is a crucial condition and means for preserving the people of Artsakh and their traditions, values, culture, as well as their natural development.

More than two years after the trilateral ceasefire statement, and having failed to achieve its criminal goal of ethnic cleansing of Artsakh through military means, Azerbaijan continues making consistent attempts to achieve its nefarious objectives mploying non-violent yet equally inhumane methods. The establishment of an illegal checkpoint in the Lachin Corridor, with its evident criminal intent to deliberately restrict and eventually halt humanitarian cargo shipments, which are crucial for sustaining the normal livelihood of the people of Artsakh, has become a new weapon in Azerbaijan's arsenal against the people of Artsakh. A direct victim of this illegally established checkpoint was Vagif Khachatryan, a citizen of the Republic of Artsakh, who was abducted by Azerbaijani military personnel in violation of international humanitarian law while traveling under the escort of the ICRC.

The Azerbaijani authorities, attempting to conceal their genocidal intentions, come up with false alternatives, supposedly aimed at mitigating the humanitarian catastrophe they have themselves created. The current critical situation, which Artsakh can overcome only with international humanitarian and political support, is a direct consequence of Azerbaijan's illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor and the factual siege of the people of Artsakh. Azerbaijan is thus trying to create the illusion that Artsakh is unsustainable and dependent on external assistance. The imposed offer of so-called assistance by the Azerbaijani authorities is an attempt to subjugate Artsakh and its people.

But make no mistake: the offer to deliver humanitarian cargo to Artsakh from Azerbaijan is yet another means of realizing Azerbaijan's criminal agenda, which will lead to imposing its own will, violating the human dignity and other criminal consequences of subjugating the people of Artsakh to Azerbaijan. Through these actions, Azerbaijan aims to hinder the normal development of Artsakh and the improvement of the people's living standards.

The Azerbaijani authorities do not conceal their goal of expelling the Armenian population of Artsakh from their homeland. Accordingly, by presenting a so-called concept of conflict resolution, along with a package of proposals, Azerbaijan is attempting to hide this new way of realizing their genocidal intention under the cover of negotiations.

The fabricated agenda of dialogue between Stepanakert and Baku promoted by the Azerbaijani authorities is, in fact, an attempt to legitimize Azerbaijan's criminal actions. Any calls encouraging Artsakh's participation in such dialogue without international mediators and effective guarantees is perceived as support for the implementation of Azerbaijan's genocidal policy. Artsakh's participation in any such talks under these conditions would be tantamount to recognizing and legitimizing Azerbaijan's veiled program of genocide.

For the effectiveness and legitimacy of negotiations, it is necessary to ensure at the very least that the parties adhere to the norms of international law. At the same time, both proposals aimed at resolving the conflict itself and the potential consequences of their implementation should align with the principles of international law and universal human values. However, all of this continues to be violated by Azerbaijan with persistence and impunity.Artsakh, in turn, has always advocated for the start of meaningful and substantive negotiations, based on universal principles of justice, dignity and equality.

Our unwavering stance is that for negotiations to take place, first of all, it is necessary to ensure favorable and equitable conditions. Subsequently, an international mechanism with a relevant international mandate should be established to define the criteria for the negotiation process. These criteria should be based on norms of international law and international practice. Otherwise, proposals to engage in negotiations with a party that remains committed to its criminal intention of destroying the other party by all means, be it military, economic or political, cannot be a subject of discussion.

Decisions of the International Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights, periodic appeals and statements from international institutions, individual states and organizations all universally acknowledge the fact of the illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor. They underline the necessity of restoring free movement through the corridor. However, no effective and concrete steps are being taken in this direction. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan's deliberate actions to create unbearable living conditions in Artsakh with the ultimate goal of physically destroying the people of Artsakh constitutes nothing less than a crime of genocide, composed of criminal intention and explicit actions. Leading international experts also concur with this assessment. For instance, the former Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Luis Moreno Ocampo, highlighted this in his recent comprehensive report. Preventing the crime of genocide is a universal obligation of states, and each state must actively and consistently exert efforts to prevent such a crime from occurring.

In the current circumstances, displaying inaction or indifference amounts to nothing less than condoning the crime of genocide. The international community is obligated to take effective individual and collective measures to prevent Azerbaijan's attempt to inscribe another page of genocide into the annals of history.

In line with the above, I earnestly call upon international actors, within the scope of their commitments, to take decisive and effective measures to prevent the crime of genocide against the people of Artsakh. Specifically, I address:

to the Republic of Armenia

In order to adopt a resolution involving urgent and specific actions, I urge for the immediate presentation of the humanitarian catastrophe resulting from Azerbaijan's blockage of the Lachin Corridor and the unlawful blockade of Artsakh, which has escalated into the crime of genocide, to the discussion of the United Nations Security Council;

In order to adopt a resolution involving urgent and specific actions, I urge for the immediate presentation of the humanitarian catastrophe resulting from Azerbaijan's blockage of the Lachin Corridor and the unlawful blockade of Artsakh, which has escalated into the crime of genocide, to the discussion of the United Nations Security Council; I call for intensified efforts to actively raise awareness of the issue of the unlawful blockade of the Lachin Corridor and Artsakh through information, advocacy and other platforms, as well as by informing the international community;

I call for intensified efforts to actively raise awareness of the issue of the unlawful blockade of the Lachin Corridor and Artsakh through information, advocacy and other platforms, as well as by informing the international community; I call to engage with international partners to discuss and impose sanctions against Azerbaijan in order to halt its international crimes.

I call to engage with international partners to discuss and impose sanctions against Azerbaijan in order to halt its international crimes. At the same time, I strongly urge the authorities of Armenia, public figures and political leaders to exercise caution in their public statements and assessments of the situation: no statement or action should cast doubt on the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination or contribute to further aggressive actions by Azerbaijan;

to the Armenian Diaspora

I urge you to consolidate efforts with the aim of drawing the attention of authorities and the public in the countries of your residence to the international crimes committed in Artsakh, and to demand immediate and effective measures to stop them;

I urge you to consolidate efforts with the aim of drawing the attention of authorities and the public in the countries of your residence to the international crimes committed in Artsakh, and to demand immediate and effective measures to stop them; from our compatriots in the Diaspora, we expect actions in the following directions: ensure that your governments strongly condemn and take specific measures to increase pressure on Azerbaijan to lift the blockade of Artsakh; ensure that your governments, human rights organizations, media outlets and other actors provide direct legal and political assessments of Azerbaijan's crimes against Artsakh; ensure that your governments consider and impose sanctions against Azerbaijan to halt its international crimes;

from our compatriots in the Diaspora, we expect actions in the following directions:

To the Russian Federation

Emphasizing the importance of the Russian peacekeeping mission in Artsakh, I strongly urge the intensification of efforts for the immediate lifting of the unlawful blockade of Artsakh by Azerbaijan and the restoration of the functioning of the Lachin Corridor, as established by the Trilateral Statement of November 9, 2020;

To OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs  the Russian Federation, the United States of America and the French Republic

I strongly urge you, both as counties directly involved in the conflict resolution process and as UN Security Council member states, to fulfill your primary obligation by taking effective measures for the immediate cessation of the illegal blockade of Artsakh by Azerbaijan and the restoration of uninterrupted functioning of the Lachin corridor;

I call upon the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs countries to exert individual and joint efforts to establish a robust negotiation format endowed with an appropriate international mandate, which would ensure that the negotiation process, its criteria and final outcomes are in line with international law and universal human values;

I hope that the co-chairing countries will demonstrate consistency in pursuing a peaceful and comprehensive settlement of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict and will actively work towards reactivating the negotiation mechanism empowered with an international mandate for the resolution of the conflict;

To UN Security Council members states

I urge an immediate convening of a UN Security Council meeting to discuss the genocide and humanitarian catastrophe caused by the blockade of Artsakh. Furthermore, I call for the adoption of a UNSC resolution obligating Azerbaijan to promptly unblock the Lachin Corridor and restore its functioning in accordance with the decision of the International Court of Justice dated February 22, 2023;

I also remind that preventing genocide is not only an erga omnes obligation but also a collective responsibility of the international community;

To the Secretary-General of the United Nations

I urge you to demonstrate moral and political responsibility and leadership by engaging the entire UN system to prevent further international crimes committed by Azerbaijan in Artsakh;

I urge the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide and other relevant entities to present factual and legal information to the United Nations Security Council regarding the international crimes committed against the Republic of Artsakh;

I propose making a meaningful contribution to the process of forming a conflict resolution mechanism between Artsakh and Azerbaijan by using your institution of good offices;

To the Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide

I urge you to activate the early warning mechanism within your mandate, thereby presenting the crisis situation that has emerged in the Republic of Artsakh to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and through him, to the Security Council;

I urge you to take effective measures to dispatch a fact-finding mission to the Republic of Artsakh to assess the consequences of international crimes committed by Azerbaijan through the illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor;

To the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and other UN structures responsible for the protection of human rights

I urge you, within the scope of your mandates, to provide a legal assessment of the crimes committed by Azerbaijan against the people of Artsakh, document the widespread violations of human rights and provide member states of the United Nations Security Council and other international entities with detailed factual and legal information about the escalating human rights crisis in Artsakh;

To the International Committee of the Red Cross, as the sole international organization present in the Republic of Artsakh and having the appropriate international mandate

I urge you to provide all actors of the international community and, in particular, the UN Security Council member states, with detailed factual and legal information about the situation in Artsakh and the actions of Azerbaijan, which grossly violate norms of international humanitarian law;

To the Council of Europe

I urge you to take effective and decisive measures to ensure the immediate implementation of the binding ruling issued by the European Court of Human Rights on December 21, 2022;

I strongly call for measures to be taken regarding the flagrant and severe violation by Azerbaijan of the three pillars of the Council of Europe, including a potential exclusion of this member state from the organization;

To the European Union

I urge the utilization of available resources and tools within the European Union, including the imposition of sanctions, to intensify pressure on Azerbaijan to lift the blockade of Artsakh and end its widespread human rights violations;

I urge you to remain faithful to the values and principles proclaimed by the European Union, refraining in particular from prioritizing energy partnership with Azerbaijan over human rights and freedoms;

To International Human Rights Organizations and Other International Actors

I urge you to actively engage in campaigns to raise awareness about the massive and systematic violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law committed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh, including by providing clear legal descriptions and demanding that governments and international organizations take appropriate preventive measures;

To Representatives of the Media

Acknowledging the indispensable role of independent media in increasing awareness about mass crimes and their prevention, I urge you to remain true to your mission and break the unacceptable silence by providing the international community with objective information about the mass crimes taking place in Artsakh, thereby breaking the vicious cycle of injustice and impunity.

Esteemed representatives of the international community,

As I conclude this message of alarm, I implore you not to forget that Artsakh is currently the only territory in the world under a complete siege, where even the international community lacks access. Do you not question Azerbaijan's intent to subject the peaceful population of Artsakh to total isolation? Does it not concern you that, from a human rights perspective, Artsakh has become not a gray zone but a black hole where all the crimes imaginable by human civilization can occur? Do you not realize that such international impunity and the allowance of another genocide will give rise to new crimes, possibly even against your own peoples?!

Therefore, I implore and demand from all of you to promptly take action and stop this ongoing genocide of the people of Artsakh before it becomes too late.
Lockheed Martin successfully validated designs for all elements of the nation's Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA). Through a series of successful and on-schedule Preliminary Design Reviews (PDRs) of all NGI major subsystems, the company demonstrated it has achieved design maturity and reduced risk for critical technologies. NGI is the future of the MDA's Ground-Based Missile Defense (GMD) system to protect the U.S. homeland against intercontinental ballistic missile threats from rogue nations.

Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link



Lockheed Martin successfully validated designs for all elements of the nation's Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) (Picture source: Lockheed Martin)

"Lockheed Martin is making rapid progress with our NGI solution, remaining on an accelerated schedule toward flight testing," said Sarah Reeves, vice president of NGI at Lockheed Martin. "During these reviews, we took a modern and transparent approach through the use of advanced digital engineering and model-based engineering tools. Our NGI team will continue on-plan to demonstrate our revolutionary NGI architecture, leveraging mature technologies for high mission confidence."

Lockheed Martin is demonstrating engineering work that has been performed in the integrated digital toolchain to drive faster decision-making, enhance security, and enable rapid delivery and agility. This approach emphasizes affordability across the program lifecycle. Lockheed Martin's NGI solution will increase warfighter capability, providing an improved defensive solution to address the complex battlespace now and in the future.

Lockheed Martin's NGI program is on track for its next major review, the All Up Round PDR. During this next major review, MDA will assess if the program is ready to move forward in the acquisition process through Knowledge Point number one and ultimately on to the Critical Design Review. The first Lockheed Martin NGI is forecast for delivery to the warfighter as early as FY2027.

Defense News August 2023
News of the day: A Myanmar general responsible for a civilian massacre is promoted. India bans the use of Chinese parts in Indian drones. Chinese propaganda appears on a wall in London's Brick Lane. Iran plans to open a free trade zone on its border with Afghanistan. Turkmenistan is cutoff from the Internet. Russia has launched more treason investigations this year than in the previous 20 years.

PHILIPPINES  CHINA

Manila summoned the Chinese ambassador after the Chinese Coast Guard fired water cannons at a Philippine Coast Guard ship that was escorting a supply convoy to a military base in the South China Sea. In response, China reiterated its demand that the Philippines remove the BRP Sierra Madre, a rusty warship dating back to World War II that Manila uses as a military outpost in the disputed waters.

MYANMAR

A general responsible for the massacre of 29 civilians last year in Ye-U, a township in Sagaing region, was promoted to the post of chief of Myanmars Southern Command in the Bago region. Calling themselves the Ogre column, some troops are among the most ruthless in the countrys civil war, massacring civilians and members of the resistance, as well as setting fire to hundreds of houses and raping women.

CHINA  UNITED KINGDOM

Some Chinese characters exalting the ideology of the Communist Party have appeared on a wall in Londons famous Brick Lane, a street known for its graffiti and street art. The 12, two-word red characters refer to fundamental values of socialism and the usual political slogans used under the government of President Xi Jinping. This has sparked a debate online on the boundaries between art, freedom of expression, and political propaganda. Some artists promptly added graffiti criticising the Chinese government. One of the authors who goes by the name of Yi Que said the writings "didn't have much political meaning.

INDIA

India has banned its domestic drone makers from using Chinese parts over security concerns and fear of intelligence gathering by China. In 2020 India gradually began to restrict imports of surveillance drones. Pursuing a military modernisation programme, it allocated almost US$ 20 billion for 2023-24.

IRAN  AFGHANISTAN

Irans parliament has approved a plan to establish a free industrial and trade zone in Dogharoon, a region located on the border with Afghanistan, to boost trade between the two countries. Last year, more than two million tonnes of goods passed through the border, including 460,000 tonnes were Iranian exports. This is also the main route for Iranian fuel going to Afghanistan.

RUSSIA

Russia is set on a record number of criminal cases for treason in 2023, more than in the previous 20 years combined. Through publicly available media reports, independent news website Kholod determined that some 82 inquiries were launched this year. The actual number of cases is likely larger since some investigations by Russias Federal Security Service (FSB) are not made public. This is moving towards levels not seen since Stalins times, and is far greater than during the 40 years that followed the death of the Georgian-born dictator.

TURKMENISTAN

Turkmenistan will be the first country in the world without social media, after IMO, an instant-messaging software service, was effectively blocked as Internet became unprecedentedly slow. All other messaging apps and social media available in other countries had already been blocked, completely cutting off the Central Asian country from the rest of the world.
by Vladimir Rozanskij

As of 1 August, Russia will let Myanmar nationals enter its territory with easily accessible electronic visas, while Myanmar plans to open consulates in Novosibirsk and St Petersburg. As the war in Ukraine continues, many Russians are relocating to the Southeast Asian country. Given the greater Russian presence, the Russian Orthodox Church announced the construction of a new Church of the Transfiguration in Yangon.

Moscow (AsiaNews)  As Russia turns east following its invasion of Ukraine and the imposition of sanctions by the West, it is moving closer and closer to Myanmar, another country hit by sanctions following a military coup in February 2021 that sparked a still ongoing civil war between the regular army and various resistance groups.

On 1 August, the citizens of Myanmar as well as Vietnam and Cambodia were authorised to enter Russia with easy-to-obtain electronic visas. For its part, Myanmar plans to consular offices in Novosibirsk and St Petersburg.

Since the war began, many Russians have sought refuge in the Southeast Asian country, thus avoiding the label of traitors. In a recent piece, RFE/RL's Siberia.Realities (in Russian) has tried to understand what draws Russians to a country where terrorist attacks and violent repression are daily occurrences.

One of them, Vladislav Kokorin, moved to Yangon in May 2022, shortly after the start of the invasion of Ukraine. I first visited Myanmar back in 2010 and in a few weeks I realised that this was an incredibly interesting country, with a rich history and an ancient culture. Like Russia, it has experienced and continues to experience many ups and downs.

For this reason, when the war broke out, he thought of moving to a place where people know well what bad is and how to live with it

Kokorin is into computers and can work remotely anywhere in the world. Myanmar is far from Russia, but its rulers have a rapport with the Kremlin, which allows Russians to maintain working relations with their home country, while those who moved to "unfriendly" places are increasingly excluded from relations with Russian companies and considered a relokant, "hostile" emigrants who must no longer have relations with the motherland.

Russia also sells weapons to Myanmar and trains its soldiers. and General Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmars military strongman, often visits Moscow, open in his show of support for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Myanmar has about 135 distinct ethnic groups and interethnic relations are not always easy; nevertheless, many have welcomed the Russians.

For his part, Kokorin now says he "feels really happy" in Myanmar. People here are honest, good-natured, and so open that sometimes it even becomes uncomfortable.

The persecution of some minorities, like the Rohingya Muslims, is certainly not a source of anguish for Russian emigres, imbued with the notion, like in their own country, that certain ethnic groups, like Myanmars mostly Buddhist Bamar, who live by and large in the central areas, are entitled to rule.

Recent arrivals believe that because the military ruled so long, except for a brief democratic interlude, and closed the borders to foreigners for most of that time, the people of Myanmar have maintained their uniqueness.

Locals are clearly identifiable by their national dress, with men wearing skirts, chewing betel (which gives the impression that they recently drank fresh blood), and used Thanakha, a paste applied to the face as a circular patch, a practice that goes back thousands of years.

Long before they converted to Buddhism, locals have been devoted to Nats (protective spirits), with an altar dedicated to them next to their homes.

Such forms of animism survive alongside the official religion, something both Russians and Burmese share. Buddhism too is also part of Russias religious traditions.

In Myanmar, each village has a pagoda, often paid for by residents, covered in gold leaf. Despite widespread poverty, people are not upset by the construction of such splendid temples.

With the growing Russian presence, the Russian Orthodox Church has announced the construction of a new Church of the Transfiguration in Yangon, on land donated by municipal authorities, Metropolitan Sergiy, Patriarchal Exarch of Singapore and All South-East Asia, announced.
by Fady Noun

Saudi Arabia has called on its citizens to leave Lebanon as soon as possible, followed by other Gulf states. Fighting between Palestinian factions in Ain al-Hilweh have renewed concerns in the Arab world, as fears of violence grow. This mirrors a cooling in Saudi-Iranian rapprochement.

Beirut (AsiaNews)  After months marked by a certain diplomatic flexibility, Saudi Arabia last Friday called on its citizens to leave Lebanon "as soon as possible" in what looks very much like a hardening in its position towards the country. Soon after, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and even Oman followed Saudi Arabia's lead.

Amid these ominous signs, fierce fighting is raging in the Ain al-Hilweh camp, raising fears that the violence might spread to other Palestinian camps.

The Lebanese fear the ripple effect of travel advisories by Gulf states on other countries. Although few tourists from the Gulf might be affected since many travel restrictions to Lebanon are still in place, they put at risk a particularly good season this year.

Chaired by Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi, Lebanons Central Security Council held an emergency meeting on Monday in which all members agreed that the action by Gulf states were unwarranted.

On Monday, Saudi ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bukhari confirmed what everyone thought, namely that the advisories were caused by events in the Ain al-Hilweh camp, near Saida (Sidon) where, Palestinian groups clashed for five days last week after a top Fatah official, Abu Ashraf Al-Armoushi, and four of his bodyguards, were murdered.

The fighting that ensued left 12 people dead and more than 60 wounded, forcing some of the residents of the overcrowded[i] camp to flee their homes.

The clashes have been contained thanks to urgent appeals from both the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, but also thanks too, it must be said, to the resolve of Lebanese troops, who sealed off the camp and secured the southern highway.

If the advisories from Gulf states took Lebanese leaders by surprise, it is because they were poorly timed, coming after calm had been restored in the camps. For some Lebanese leaders, it was just a misstep.

Yet, some observers still believe that stepping back is still justified. While fighting might have stopped in Ain al-Hilweh, the rivalry between the Palestinian Authority, Hamas and Salafi groups has not gone away. And no one involved in al-Armoushis murder has been apprehended.

Clashes in the Palestinian camp come at a time when the Chinese-brokered rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran is visibly losing steam, everywhere, in Yemen, in Syria where little progress has been made to stop captagon trafficking to the Gulf or promote reforms in exchange for the normalisation of its relations with Riyadh, and finally in Iran, which continues to aggressively export its Islamic revolution to the Arab world, especially in Yemen, Palestine and Lebanon.

Other bones of contention are the disputed al-Durra gas field, renewed US and Israeli activism in the region, the presence of a destroyer and additional F-16 and F-35 fighter jets in the Gulf, and more rumours about Saudi-Israeli normalisation.

In Lebanon some sources close to former Prime Minister Saad Hariri are talking about a US plan to stop the overland link between Iran and Lebanon at the Iraqi-Syrian border, thus breaking up the Shia Crescent.

It is against this background that we must view the situation in Lebanon, where the presidential election is still deadlocked and the government paralysed, especially because of Hezbollah's demands.

Despite reassuring words from the Interior Minister, all these destabilising factors and external players must be considered in order to understand what is in store for the country.

GATEWAY TO THE EAST IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO MIDDLE EAST. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE IT EVERY TUESDAY VIA E-MAIL? SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER HERE.

[i] About 120,000 people in a three-square kilometre area
by Arundathie Abeysinghe

Farmers call for the release of water from the Samanala dam. At least 66,000 families who rely on water from the Udawalawe reservoir for farming and personal use are at risk. Over the past few months, the government has hiked electricity tariffs to avoid power shortages, but prospects are not good.

Colombo (AsiaNews)  A group of Sri Lankan farmers staged a protest near the Samanala Dam, calling for the release of water from the Samanala hydroelectric dam[*] and the Udawalawe Reservoir in Ratnapura district (Sabaragamuwa province) to irrigate rice fields.

Faced with the protest, the authorities have deployed the Special Task Force (STF), a police tactical unit, to the heavily protected dam to prevent possible intrusions by protesters.

More than 66,000 families who rely on water from the Udawalawe reservoir for farming and personal use face extreme hardships.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, almost 26,300 hectares of rice fields that use water from the Udawalawe reservoir are at "risk of being destroyed" for the lack of irrigation. Releasing water from the Samanala reservoir could save part of the production.

If water is not released, total damage to paddy cultivation could be as high as 18 billion rupees (US$ 56 million) and impact supplementary crops, for a total of 30 billion rupees (US$ 93 million). This could lead to food shortages.

Meanwhile, sources in the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) warn of power cuts if water is released. Most government ministers want to keep the water back to maintain power supplies.

Even so, the CEB will be able to guarantee supplies only for the next 10 days; alternatively, it will turn to emergency power purchasing or impose power cuts to manage the situation

Currently, water levels at hydropower reservoirs have reached the levels they dipped to in 2019, the worst in recent times, said senior electrical engineer Samantha Kahawita, speaking to AsiaNews.

If there is no rain even towards the end of September, the power sector too could reach a crisis situation, which would affect the entire national grid, he added. Although, we had some rain in August 2019, the forecast this year is far less promising.

For senior engineering academic Sampath Malalasekera, in its reluctance to release water to farmers for agricultural purposes, the government is also weighed down by its own rhetoric from earlier this year.

Due to its long, drawn-out battle with the power sector regulator Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) over a 66 per cent electricity tariff hike, Power and Energy ministers, including Minister Kanchana Wijesekara, insisted that the government would be able to provide uninterrupted power once the tariff hike was approved.

The government justified the hike saying that it would end the power cuts that lasted months last year. At present, it seems to be moving in the other direction and heavy cuts are expected.

"Currently the water level in the Udawalawe reservoir has decreased to 1.7 per cent and the Samanala reservoir is at 11.7 per cent, Sampath said.

In response, the All Ceylon Farmers' Federation yesterday filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) to defend the rights of farmers affected by the problem.

[*] Part of the Samanala Reservoir Project (Samanalawewa Project).
State Department Press Secretary Matthew Miller is seen answering questions during a daily press briefing at the department in Washington, U.S., Aug. 7, in this captured image. Yonhap



The United States remains concerned about growing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, a state department spokesperson said Monday, adding the U.S. will continue to implement all existing sanctions on the two countries.



The department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, also called on Pyongyang to stop its pursuit of illegal weapons programs and engage in dialogue.



"Obviously, we have seen close cooperation between Russia and North Korea," the spokesperson told a daily press briefing when asked about military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow.



"We have made clear our concerns about cooperation between Russia and North Korea. We have made clear our concerns about North Korea seeking to assist Russia in its aggression in Ukraine, and we will continue to make those concerns clear and we will continue to enforce all of our sanctions," added Miller.



His remark comes after Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited Pyongyang late last month, which many North Korea watchers suggest will lead to an increase in military cooperation between the two countries.



John Kirby, National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, has said the North appears to be considering providing military support to Russia, including munitions to be used in Russia's war against Ukraine.



North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reportedly visited major weapons factories last week in a move that Seoul officials said was aimed at calling for efforts to boost the country's production and exports of weapons.



"I certainly wouldn't try to speak for him or explain his actions," Miller said when asked about Kim's recent visits to weapons factories.



"But I would say, as we have said before, that we would continue to condemn the missile launches that they have tested in recent weeks. We continue to condemn their pursuit of a nuclear weapon and would hope that they would engage in talks, which they have shown, so far, no inclination to do," he added. (Yonhap)


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Almost two weeks after the coup d'etat in Niger, the United States is stepping up its efforts to find a solution to the crisis in the country, which is spreading throughout the region. To this end, Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland travelled to Niamey to meet with Niger's new military leaders. According to Nuland, talks with members of the military junta were "extremely frank and at times quite difficult", so no immediate progress has been made that could bring stability to the situation in the country.

As Nuland pointed out, the US side tried to put pressure on the new Niger authorities to achieve "a negotiated solution", although the Niger delegation, led by Brigadier General Moussa Salaou Barmou, was "very firm" about how it wants to proceed.

During the meeting, Nuland presented a "series of options" on how to reverse the situation after the coup, making clear the consequences in the event that power is not returned to President Mohamed Bazoum and the authorities strengthen relations with the Wagner Group as other countries in the region, such as Mali, have done.

Traveled to Niamey to express grave concern at the undemocratic attempts to seize power and urged a return to constitutional order.  Under Secretary Victoria Nuland (@UnderSecStateP) August 7, 2023

Another objective of Nuland's visit to the Nigerian capital was to meet with President Bazoum, now detained by the coup plotters. Since the military uprising, the international community has pressured the junta to release Bazoum, who was democratically elected in the 2021 elections and is a close ally of the West. However, according to the deputy secretary of state, her request to meet with Bazoum was not granted. Her request to meet with the country's new strongman, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, was also denied.

Despite the fact that Nuland's trip to Niamey ended without progress, the State Department is optimistic, assuring that the "opportunity remains open" and stressing the importance of diplomacy. On the other hand, Washington continues to demand the reinstatement of Bazoum and to condemn the actions of the new military junta. In order to increase pressure on the new authorities, the US has suspended more than $100 million in aid to the country as well as anti-terrorism training programmes in Niger.

Military junta appoints a new prime minister and closes airspace

As the region and the international community press Niger's new military leaders to return power to Bazoum, the military junta continues to restructure the country's institutions. Coup leader Abdourahamane Tchiani has appointed economist and former finance minister Mahamane Lamine Zeine as Niger's new Prime Minister. Lieutenant Colonel Habibou Assoumane has also been appointed as the new commander of Niger's Presidential Guard, the body that started the uprising against Bazoum.

Another measure taken by the new authorities in the last hours has been to close the airspace in order to avoid a military intervention by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The ultimatum given by the African bloc to the coup leaders to return Bazoum to power expired on Sunday. ECOWAS even raised the possibility of military intervention in the country, a plan that not all ECOWAS and regional countries support.

PHOTO/FILE - ECOWAS

Mali and Burkina Faso, both led by pro-Russian military juntas that came to power after coups, have expressed their support for the new authorities in the country, saying that any intervention in Niger will be seen as a declaration of war against them. Guinea and neighbouring Algeria, which is not a member of ECOWAS, have also spoken out against the use of force, AP reports. On the other hand, the Nigerian Senate has rejected the invasion plan, urging President Bola Tinubu, the current leader of the bloc, to seek other options that do not involve the use of force. In contrast, countries such as Senegal and Cote d'Ivoire have expressed their support for ECOWAS in restoring order in Niger.

REUTERS/SOULEYMANE AG ANARA - ECOWAS even raised the possibility of military intervention in the country, a plan that not all ECOWAS and regional countries support

With the aim of seeking a solution to the current crisis in Niger, ECOWAS leaders will meet next Thursday in a new extraordinary summit to address the latest developments in the country.

Coordinator for the Americas: Jose Antonio Sierra.
In the world of cars and SUVs the Mazda CX-90 is the newest and hottest kid on the block. Launched at the beginning of this year, the model plays in the large SUV segment, where the competition is at its highest, so everything about it has to be perfect. Only it isn't.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

NHTSA

SUV

Recalls in the automotive industry are not uncommon, but it doesn't happen all that often for a brand-new vehicle to be subject to such drastic actions. Yet, in the span of just two months, the CX-90 has been the focus of not one, but two recall actions.The first one was announced back in June, and it is needed because certain suspension and steering bolts may have fallen off because of improper tightening. The number of cars affected was not that great, just 18, but the action probably made Mazda feel a bit uneasy.And now comes something that may have the same effect on the company, if not more. The carmaker's American branch announced this week it has filed a defect notice with the) concerning the brand-newThis time the recall has to do with the pedestrian alert system, more specifically that component of it that is responsible for activating the warning sound while the SUV is driving in reverse.You know, it's the sound you hear whenever a car is backing out of a parking spot, for instance, and it's there as a means to alert pedestrians to that fact. Such a sound coming on when a car is not actually moving in reverse may "affect perception of vehicle directional movement and may increase the risk of an accident or injury."Mazda has found that the warning sound may be activated regardless of the gear the SUV is in, especially when drivers go through gears fast. There is no preceding symptom to the alert sound kicking in, so the driver can't prevent it from occurring.Mazda believes the reason for this behavior of the system is caused by missing software in the amplifier that controls the warning sound for reverse.Now, we've told you the previous recall affected just 18 CX-90s, and that is no big deal. This one, however, is much, much larger, with the carmaker saying it impacts a total of 17,600 CX-90 SUVs in the U.S.The recall has not yet begun and Mazda says it will begin notifying owners via email. A date for the start of the recall was not announced, and no details on the fix have been provided  it's probably a matter of simply installing the missing software.At the time of writing Mazda says there have been no reports of accidents and injuries as a result of the fault.
At first glance, the K1000 UAV (uncrewed aerial vehicle) looks deceptively simple. Yet, it claims enough power to replace conventional satellites someday altogether. Developed by a Californian startup, this innovative aerial platform set a new endurance record during a recent Oregon flight.

Last year, the Stalker VXE developed by Lockheed Martin dazzled the world with a non-stop flight of 36h 17m. It officially set a new endurance record for uncrewed aircraft in the Group 2 fixed-wing category. According to Pentagon's classification system, this category includes all automated flying machines from 9.5 to 25 kg (21-55 lbs).However, that victory didn't last more than a year. Kraus Hamdani Aerospace (KHA), a relatively new kid on the block, recently took over the crown thanks to a record-breaking flight. It happened earlier this month when KHAs solar-electric UAV completed a 75h and 35m flight. It was significantly longer than the Stalker VXE's previous record. Most importantly, it ditched conventional fuel entirely.The KHA UAV, officially named the K1000ULE (Ultra-Long Endurance), showed what it could do at Oregon's Pendleton UAS test range. By staying in the air for more than 75 hours, it officially set a new world record for the Group 2 category. Coincidently, it was also the aircraft's 75th flight.The K1000 also broke its own record. Last year, it was reported that the new UAV claimed a 26-hour flight endurance and a 20,000-foot (6,096 meters) operational ceiling.The K1000's technology was directly inspired by birds capable of flying long distances. It combines autopilot capabilities with battery systems and onboard AI. It was specifically designed to stay in the air as much as possible and to reach as far as possible without relying on fuel.This isn't about fewer emissions but mostly about self-sufficiency. A solar-electric UAV isn't tied to infrastructure, meaning it can operate more effectively at significantly lower costs. Due to these advantages, the Californian startup believes that one day UAVs such as the K1000 could become a better alternative to satellites.These aircraft are known as pseudo-satellites with impressive surveillance and signal re-transmission capabilities. The K1000 was specifically designed for military applications, with a focus on highly-contested and GPS-denied environments. At the same time, it has great potential for civilian applications, from disaster relief and search-and-rescue missions to climate change research.Solar flying machines are becoming increasingly important for both army and commercial applications. Airbus developed a similar platform called Zephyr . Officially a High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS), Zephyr is a solar-electric UAS (unmanned aerial system) that also acts as a pseudo-satellite.Back in 2018, it broke the endurance record by flying for 25 days, 23 hours, and 57 minutes without any stops. Last summer, it set a new record for the longest non-stop flight of an uncrewed aircraft, landing after 64 days, 18 hours, and 26 minutes.
Back in 2018 the American space agency sent over to Mars a piece of technology it calls Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport. InSight for short, the lander had only one major task: look at the neighboring planet's interior using a variety of instruments in a bid not to find signs of life, but give us a better understanding of the planet's processes.

The lander was put out of service in December last year, but during its time in operation it sent back troves of data and images, many of them having to do with the marsquakes that take place on the planet.Because of the large amount of data received, it'll probably be a while until we stop hearing anything related to the InSight . This week, for instance, NASA informed the world of how a team of scientists uncovered in the lander's work signs of Mars accelerating its speed of rotation, and published their findings in Nature . That's the planet's spin around its own axis.The acceleration is not that great, just 4 milliarcseconds per year (a milliarcsecond is one-thousandth of an arcsecond), which translates into the Martian day becoming shorter by a fraction of a millisecond per year.The fact that it's there though has made scientists particularly curious as to why that's so. There is no clear answer to that yet, but, but several possibilities are being considered, including the accumulation of ice at the polar caps, or the rise of landmasses in the post-glacial rebound  ice melts, the land beneath rises, and the planet's mass shifts.Separately from this finding InSight also revealed for the first time the planet wobbles, probably due to the way its molten metal core is thrown around deep inside the crust by the spinning motion of the planet. It was also determined during the study that the core has a radius of about 1,140 miles (1,835 km). That's more than half the entire planet's radius, which stands at half that of Earth, 2,106 miles (3,390 km).The team running the InSight used the lander's Rotation and Interior Structure Experiment (RISE) instrument to detect the above changes. Although it's a sort of instrument that's been used before, including on the Viking landers and the Pathfinder, the InSight tool is five times more accurate.Even so, the team working on this had to wait for the instrument to gather 900 Martian days worth of data to find the variations.NASA says we should wait for a lot more data from InSight to be published alongside incredible findings over the coming years because as it so often in space exploration the demise of a piece of equipment doesn't mean it will stop yielding results.
Save the planet if you want, but you still have to keep up with the Joneses! The billionaire owner of the future biggest superyacht in the world, which also happens to be the largest and most advanced research vessel, is now the owner of the iconic Skat.

Photo: Lurssen

Photo: Lurssen

Few other superyachts out there are as instantly recognizable and as famous as Skat . Though by no means a new build, having been delivered to the original owner in 2002, this Lurssen leisure craft resembles a military vessel in both silhouette and paintjob but is packed with luxury amenities despite the utilitarian exterior  and matching interiors.Skat was done on commission for Microsoft billionaire Charles Simonyi on a brief that called for a utilitarian vessel that matched the styling of his home and private jet. Simonyi believed yachts were too much alike, like "carved out of soft cheese." He wanted the opposite of that: a steel vessel that looked like a steel vessel.The result was Skat, a superyacht that could proudly boast of having exactly zero curves since it's made entirely out of sharp angles and long, aggressive lines. Skat seems ripped out of a military catalog, and the interiors match the exterior styling, with exposed concrete walls and steel surfaces used as blank canvases for Simonyi's enviable collection of art.With an exterior by Espen Oino, and interiors by Marco Zanini and Flavia Alves De Souza, Skat was estimated at $60 million and marked several industry and Lurssen firsts when it was launched. These include the first helipad by Lurssen and the first case in the industry in which this much glazing was used on a yacht this size Offering accommodation for 12 guests and 19 crew, Skat is powered by twin MTU engines that take it to a top speed of 17 knots (19.5 mph / 31.5 kph). Range is 4,600 nautical miles (5,293 miles / 8.519 km) at cruising speed.Simonyi sold Skat in 2021 for an undisclosed amount to a mysterious buyer. For him, the superyacht had been home, but he'd realized the time had come to upgrade  and he did so with another Lurssen build, the equally-aggressively-styled but bigger and more expensive Norn Since news of the Skat sale emerged, not much was heard of the new owner, except for unconfirmed reports that he could be Swiss entrepreneur Eugenio Losa. In mid-July, Skat popped up in Mallorca and lingered there for weeks, so it was clearly on vacation. Later still, at the end of the same month, the name of another billionaire came up after he was photographed onboard: Kjell Inge Rkke.A local publication has since confirmed that Rkke is the new owner of Skat, having bought it sometime last year. The news comes just months after Rkke, the richest person in Norway, with a fortune estimated at $5 billion, moved to tax haven Switzerland and, perhaps more shocking of all, after passionate proclamations of wanting to save the planet by actively working towards stopping climate change. A superyacht is not exactly eco-friendly, to put it mildly.Rkke is not just another billionaire with a new toy, spectacular as it might be. Rkke is also the owner of REV Ocean, often dubbed the biggest and most expensive superyacht in the world. At 183 meters (600.4 feet) in length, it would be just that, except that it doesn't fit the superyacht or even the megayacht category: it's a research and expedition vessel, as evidenced by its "REV" moniker.That said, calling it the biggest superyacht in the world isn't incorrect, either. REV Ocean will double as charter once it's delivered, as the money raised this way will serve to fund future expeditions in a self-sustaining cycle that will ensure continuous operation. REV Ocean was initially scheduled for delivery in 2020 and then pushed back to 2022. As of right now, it has a probable 2024-2025 delivery date, following another string of delays prompted by worldwide supply shortages and the financial crisis. In the meantime, while he waits for delivery, Rkke went out and got himself another boat in the much smaller but still very impressive Skat.The irony of the situation is blatant for a casual observer. REV Ocean, which Rkke poured millions into and will reportedly cost over $500 million by the time it's complete, is the kind of vessel that will help save our planet. Or so it's been presented. Not only will it carry researchers and double as a floating laboratory packed with tech to study live undersea and even to gather data from the atmosphere, but it will collect and dispose of huge quantities of plastic "without a trace." REV Ocean is the ginormous lovechild of the fanciest, most luxurious cruise liner with the most badass research vessel. According to plan, at least, it will combine two very unlikely extremes, luxury and a noble purpose, luxury amenities like condos and three oversize pools with very advanced gear that will help us understand what we're doing to the ocean and how we can stop it.Rkke is a member of the Gates-Buffet Giving Pledge as of 2017, which means he promised to give away his fortune. He's also vocally passionate about environmental issues, and REV Ocean is meant as confirmation that on stuff like climate change, he likes to put his money where his mouth is. If the report that he's the new owner of Skat checks out, it's clear that Rkke is also striving to keep up with the Joneses.What good is a billionaire if they don't show off a new superyacht when billionaire summer season kicks off, right?
One of the most promising alternative fuels in the maritime industry, the Neste Marine 0.1, is making its debut in Sweden. The names behind it are Neste, which also happens to be the world's largest SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) producer, and ScanOcean, an energy and distribution company with a focus on delivering marine fuels.

Although maritime transportation is unanimously considered as difficult to decarbonize as aviation, we've seen a remarkable variety of potential solutions tested in this sector over the years. The methods of lowering emission levels associated with shipping range from different types of alternative fuels (LNG, ammonia) to hybrid or electric propulsion systems.Last year, Neste introduced Neste Marine 0.1 Co-Processed, a marine fuel with a bold claim. This fuel was able to reduce GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions by 80% throughout its lifecycle compared to standard fuels used in shipping. At the time of its global debut, the Neste Marine 0.1 was already ISO 8217-compliant and certified with ISCC PLUS (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification).It's also a drop-in fuel, which means it can easily substitute conventional fuels without the need for any modifications to the vessels. This is similar to SAF, which is also meant to work as a drop-in fuel without any changes to current aircraft and engines. Neste obtains this green alternative fuel by mixing fossil raw materials with renewable raw materials during the refining process (hence the "Co-Processed in the fuel's official name). Through this process, the new fuel can provide a composition that's similar to that of standard fuels and the same performance but with significantly fewer emissions across its lifecycle (up to 80%).The Finnish company launched its game-changing maritime fuel in Finland in partnership with Nordic Marine Oil. A year later, it's expanding to the Swedish market with the help of ScanOcean.Starting this week, ScanOcean will deliver the precious co-processed fuel to ports on the Swedish east coast. It will also supply it at the Sodertalje ex-pipe facility for ships transiting to Lake Malaren.Containers, tankers, cargo ships, and even passenger ships can benefit from this breakthrough fuel, confirming Neste Marine's huge potential to revolutionize shipping.At the same time, the Finnish oil company is doing great things for aviation. As the only one in the industry with refineries on three continents, and a growing production capacity, it claims to be the largest SAF producer worldwide.It plans to reach a 2.2-million-ton capacity by early 2026, in line with the growing global demand. It's also set to turn its Porvoo oil refinery in Finland into Europe's most sustainable refinery by the end of this decade. Porvoo is where Neste produced some of its SAF and all of its co-processed maritime fuel.
The yachting world is eagerly awaiting this year's edition of the Cannes Yachting Festival, the first major international event of the boating season, to see what the big names in the industry will have on display and what they have been working on lately.

There will be multiple world debuts at the event next month, one of which comes from Italian luxury superyacht builder Sanlorenzo, which promises to showcase the 100-foot (30.5-meter) Sanlorenzo SX100 motor yacht.The SX100 was initially introduced in Cannes last year, and since then, the company has been tight-lipped about the details of the new yacht , which has been highly customized based on the client's brief. At this year's edition of the boating show, the shipyard is expected to take the wraps off the new addition to its innovative and successful SX crossover range."Sanlorenzos low production numbers ensure unique builds and ample customization options  this strongly appeals to owners seeking to purchase a special yacht that reflects their own tastes and living philosophy. This new SX100 is no different and is sure to be another stunning bespoke Sanlorenzo build," said Nick Stratton, Sanlorenzo Sales Manager.The yacht is the fourth model to join the SX line, but it's not the largest, as the company already released a 112-footer in the past. The sleek exterior design for the new model was signed off by Zuccon International Project, while Sanlorenzo took care of naval architecture.Key features of the design include a generous lower deck beach club, along with the yard's signature fold-down terraces and a massive lounge and sunbathing area forward. What really makes it stand out, though, is the multi-functional transom at the stern, which can serve multiple purposes. It can be used as a sundeck, a beach club, and a tender garage. When used as a storage area, it can accommodate multiple water toys and a large tender of up to 18 feet (5.5 meters).The interior is also impressive, offering guests the opportunity to enjoy the yachting experience in generous living quarters centered around an expansive main salon with floor-to-ceiling windows that make the space light and airy and provide panoramic views of the seascape. According to Sanlorenzo, the use of extensive glazing helps to create a seamless connection between the interior and exterior spaces.Accommodation on board the SX 100 is offered for up to eight guests in four lavish staterooms, including the owner's master suite, a VIP, and two twins. They are all situated on the lower deck to provide increased privacy.Both the common areas and the guest cabins boast a contemporary interior design with a neutral color palette that makes it look luxurious and cozy at the same time. Here and there, accent pieces in bright and bold colors play nicely against the neutrals.As for the yacht's performance, grunt comes from four 800 hp Volvo Penta engines that will allow it to comfortably cruise at 20 knots (23 mph or 37 kph) and reach a top speed of 23 knots (26 mph or 43 kph).Besides the brand-new SX 100 motor yacht, Sanlorenzo will showcase an impressive variety of vessels from its SL, SX, SD, and SP ranges at the upcoming Cannes Yachting Festival.
China urges the Philippines to tow away military vessel "grounded" at Ren'ai Jiao

Xinhua) 15:18, August 08, 2023

BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- China is once again urging the Philippines to immediately tow away the military vessel "grounded" at Ren'ai Jiao and restore Ren'ai Jiao to its original state of having no personnel or facility on it, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday.

On Aug. 7, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying that on Aug. 5, in the waters adjacent to Ren'ai Jiao, China Coast Guard "took blocking and other aggressive maneuvers, including the use of a water cannon" against Philippine supply boats and Coast Guard vessels on a routine resupply mission to the military vessel grounded at Ren'ai Jiao. The Philippines says such actions violate the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 South China Sea arbitration award and infringe upon the Philippines' sovereign rights and jurisdiction.

When asked for comments, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that the spokesperson of China Coast Guard had given detailed information regarding the Philippines illegally sending construction materials to Ren'ai Jiao in China's Nansha Qundao and the situation this action caused at sea. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has lodged serious demarches with the Philippines.

The spokesperson stressed that Ren'ai Jiao is part of China's Nansha Qundao. The Philippines explicitly promised several times to tow away the military vessel deliberately and illegally "grounded" at Ren'ai Jiao. However, 24 years have passed and instead of towing it away, the Philippines has sought to repair and reinforce it on a large scale in order to permanently occupy Ren'ai Jiao.

The Philippines' action gravely violates international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) signed between China and ASEAN countries, the spokesperson said, once again urging the Philippines to immediately tow away the military vessel "grounded" at Ren'ai Jiao and restore Ren'ai Jiao to its original state of having no personnel or facility on it.

The spokesperson said that the so-called South China Sea arbitration award violates international law, including UNCLOS. "The award is illegal, null and void. China does not accept or recognize it, and will never accept any claim or action based on the award. This position is clear and firm, and is a legitimate step to uphold international rule of law."

For some time, China has repeatedly communicated with the Philippines through diplomatic channels concerning Ren'ai Jiao. "We made it clear to the Philippines that it must not send construction materials meant for repairing and reinforcing the grounded military vessel on a large scale, and we suggested that the two sides hold talks as soon as possible about ways to manage the situation at Ren'ai Jiao," the spokesperson said.

The Philippines, however, chose to ignore China's goodwill and sincerity and went ahead with sending construction materials for repairing and reinforcing the "grounded" military vessel on a large scale. This is the cause of what happened there this time. China Coast Guard responded in accordance with the law to safeguard China's sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. The maneuvers were professional, restrained and beyond reproach, the spokesperson said.

The Philippines is China's important maritime neighbor. Important common understandings exist between the two sides on managing maritime disputes. China stands ready to continue to work with the Philippines to properly handle maritime issues through dialogue and consultation and jointly uphold bilateral relations and maritime stability, the spokesperson said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during the second meeting of the presidential defense innovation committee at the presidential office building in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap



President Yoon Suk Yeol said Tuesday the military should prioritize building its deterrence capability against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.



Yoon made the remark while presiding over the second meeting of the presidential defense innovation committee at his office, saying the asymmetric threat posed by North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, and cyber and drone capabilities, is an "imminent" threat.



"Through a rational and effective distribution of financial resources, we must build our deterrence and response capabilities against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats with priority," he said. "We need to try to boldly adjust projects aimed at operating weapons systems that are not immediately urgent."



Yoon stressed the importance of a new drone operations command set to launch next month, saying it will need to lead defense operations in the event of North Korean drone incursions and demonstrate the military's firm response posture through an "offensive force employment."



The committee was established under the Yoon administration to support its goal of a stronger military built on cutting-edge technologies.



It is made up of 11 members, with the president as chair and eight civilians, including former Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin.



Yoon said he will lead committee meetings every quarter. (Yonhap)


Ever since the 1970s German carmaker BMW has been at the front of the pack in the executive car market with the 5 Series  some 10 million of them have been produced since introduction. It's a family of cars that have been specifically tailored to serve the needs of the more pretentious among us.

Over in China customer expectations are perhaps greater than anywhere else, so BMW , which sold roughly two million 5 Series there since the start of local production in 2003, has to go the extra mile to satisfy them. And that's exactly what it did this week, when it presented refreshed version of the 5 Series for the local market there.Two new models are included in the release, the 5 Series Sedan and the electric version called i5, and both are based on the eighth generation of the model (or the fourth generation of the China-made models). This is the first time the all-electric model has reached the Chinese market, with BMW diving head-on into a segment that's very lucrative over there.Like most other cars made with Chinese customers in mind by Western companies, both the 5 Series and i5 come with an extended wheelbase (exact dimensions were not disclosed) and will only be available in the Asian country.Not only the longer wheelbase helps make the Chinese 5 Series special, but some design elements as well. Provided you get a chance to see one firsthand, you'll probably be surprised at the differences that make this model stand out from the other members of the pack.First up, the front end of the car shows a different interpretation of the German brand's twin headlights, divided by a grille boasting contour lighting. Looked at from the side, the Bimmer's roofline drops differently toward the rear, while the back end view is dominated by the LED lights and chrome strip that separates them.Exclusively for the Chinese market BMW throws into the fight a cute little detail, in the form of a number 5 located on the C-pillar. This element lights up in white for internal combustion-powered vehicles, and pulsates blue on the i5 when the car is charging.Inside the China-spec 5 Series comes with a redesigned steering wheel. The dashboard is dominated by the carmaker's Curved Display which runs China-specific digital services. Because this is a premium car we're talking about, the BMW Theater Screen has been adapted from the 7 Series, allowing for 8K videos to be played, including via 5G connectivity. Sound is ensured by the Bowers & Wilkins Diamond surround gear.BMW did not detail the engine lineup for the new 5 Series, and it didn't say anything about pricing either. Production will start at an undisclosed time at the Dadong plant the carmaker is running together with Brilliance.
An August 7 statement published on the website of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights says that the blockade, obstructing the sole road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia for the past seven months, has left the population facing acute shortages of food staples, medication, and hygiene products, impacted the functioning of medical and educational institutions, and placed the lives of the residents  especially children, persons with disabilities, older persons, pregnant women, and the sick  at significant risk.

The blockade of the Lachin Corridor is a humanitarian emergency that has created severe shortages of essential food staples including sunflower oil, fish, chicken, dairy products, cereal, sugar and baby formula, the UN experts said.

They warned that the region was rapidly depleting its medical reserves, and hospitals were struggling to provide care as the operation of ambulances has been hampered due to declining fuel supplies.

The experts urged authorities in Azerbaijan to immediately restore the free and secure movement of persons, vehicles, and cargo moving along the Lachin corridor in both directions, in accordance with the ceasefire agreement of November 2020.

They also called on Russian peacekeeping forces deployed in the region to protect the corridor under the terms of the ceasefire agreement.

By lifting the blockade, the 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. It is essential to ensure the safety, dignity, and well-being of all individuals during this critical time, the experts said.

We urge the Government of Azerbaijan to uphold its international obligations to respect and protect human rights, including the right to food, health, education and life. We also emphasize the importance of cooperation and dialogue among all parties involved to find a peaceful and sustainable resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, they concluded.

Meanwhile, Baku described the statement of the UN special rapporteurs as biased.

It is worrisome that UN special rapporteurs and experts, who have for 30 years turned a blind eye to the occupation of Azerbaijans territories, to the violation of the human rights of one million refugees and forcibly displaced people, make biased statements having been deceived and subjected to Armenias manipulations, Azerbaijans Ministry of Foreign Affairs said as quoted by local media.

The Azerbaijani ministry also noted the use of the term Nagorno-Karabakh, which Baku does not accept. It claimed that the statement amounted to interference in the internal affairs of Azerbaijan and that dual approaches were permitted in it.
Matthew Miller, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of State, was asked during an August 7 press briefing to comment on statements from Russian officials that if Armenia and Azerbaijan rush into a peace agreement they should expect further conflict.

The statement is primarily attributable to Denis Gonchar, a senior Russian Foreign Ministry official, who told Russias TASS news agency on August 4 that a hastily prepared, raw [Armenian-Azerbaijani] peace treaty would not bring a sustainable peace to the region, but, on the contrary, would lay the foundation for new conflicts and tragedies in the future.

Gonchar stressed that it was Western powers that are trying to rush Armenian-Azerbaijani talks on the treaty even though the conflicting sides have yet to find solutions on a number of difficult topics.

In this regard Miller said: I dont want to speak with respect to Russia when it comes to Armenia and Azerbaijan. I want to speak with respect to those two countries who are directly related  who are direct parties in this dispute. We have been engaged directly with those countries; Special Envoy Bono traveled to the region last week and engaged directly with them. And we believe, despite any comments from other countries who are not a party to this matter, that an agreement remains within reach, and we will continue to work with them to pursue it.

In recent months, the United States and the European Union have stepped up their efforts to broker a settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers held two rounds of intensive U.S.-mediated negotiations outside Washington in May and June. Meanwhile, the EUs top official, Charles Michel, hosted a series of Armenian-Azerbaijani summits in Brussels.

The would-be peace treaty topped the agenda of those talks which fueled speculation that it could be signed by the end of this year. Moscow has been very critical of the Western peace efforts, saying that their main aim is to drive it out of the South Caucasus. U.S. and EU officials deny this.
Marutian will lead the list of candidates of the National Progress party, a hitherto little-known political party in Armenia, a spokesman for his campaign office told RFE/RLs Armenian Service on Tuesday.

In a video address published later today Marutian said he will engage in the campaign together with his political team.

He said that his campaign is short of money, relies on no oligarchs and has no media resources or administrative levers.

Our only wealth is you, the people of Yerevan, and we are convinced that the fate of our city cannot be decided by some incompetent and random people, said Marutian, who supported then opposition leader Nikol Pashinian during the 2018 Velvet Revolution and was elected mayor of Yerevan as part of already Prime Minister Pashinians political team with an 80-percent vote later that year.

Marutian, who is also a popular comedian in Armenia, went on to criticize the government for the current state of affairs. Are the processes in our country fair and transparent today? Is the management of the capital city effective and for the benefit of the people of Yerevan? Are the officials who once presented themselves as revolutionaries today have not started to act using old methods? Have we achieved what we stood up for as a nation in 2018? Of course not, so the struggle is not completed, he said.

In December 2021, the ruling My Step faction in Yerevans Municipal Assembly passed a vote of no confidence in then mayor Marutian, declaring that he had deviated from revolutionary values. The pro-government faction also accused Marutian of having failed to fulfill the blocs election promises and carry out the mission of eliminating systemic corruption. It also said that he quit the ruling party and broke his connection with the ruling faction of the Municipal Assembly and the government.

While leaving his post Marutian, too, made a number of accusations against the ruling political team.

The vote in the elections to Yerevans Municipal Assembly is due on September 17. It will proceed according to party lists, with campaigns of political parties and blocs and their candidates for mayor beginning on August 23.

The ruling Civil Contract party is to be led in the elections by current Deputy Mayor Tigran Avinian who formerly also served as deputy prime minister in the Pashinian government.

Several other political parties and groups, notably Aprelu Yerkir (Country for Living), Bright Armenia, the Mother Armenia movement and others have also announced their bids to participate in the elections.

Political parties and bloc will have until August 13 to register for the elections.
A convoy of 19 Armenian trucks carrying emergency food aid to Nagorno-Karabakh was stopped on July 26 near Kornidzor at the approaches to an Azerbaijani checkpoint at the entrance to the Lachin corridor, the only road connecting Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh. It now awaits approval to access the region that has seen severe shortages of basic foodstuffs and other essentials due to Azerbaijans effective blockade.

The United States, the European Union, Russia and other international actors have urged Azerbaijan to allow humanitarian supplies to Nagorno-Karabakh via the Lachin corridor. Azerbaijan says, however, that it can only allow supplies to Karabakh Armenians via a road from Agdam, an Azeri-controlled town in the east of the region. Ethnic Armenian authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh reject this offer, considering Azerbaijans blockade of the Lachin corridor as a violation of the Moscow-brokered 2020 ceasefire agreement that placed the five-kilometer-wide strip of land connecting Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia solely under the control of Russian peacekeepers.

Syunik Governor Robert Ghukasian today accompanied the visiting U.S. officials, who did not wish to talk to media.

It is not yet known how long the Armenian truck convoy carrying some 400 tons of humanitarian cargo will remain in Kornidzor.

Earlier, official Baku described the sending of an aid convoy to Nagorno-Karabakh by the Armenian government without its consent as a provocation and encroachment on its territorial integrity.

So far the stranded Armenian aid convoy in Kornidzor has been visited by representatives of diplomatic corps and ambassadors accredited to Armenia, representatives of the United Nations office, as well as representatives of international NGOs.

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. They urged Azerbaijan to lift the blockade.

By lifting the blockade, the 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. It is essential to ensure the safety, dignity, and well-being of all individuals during this critical time, the experts said, also calling on Russian peacekeeping forces deployed in the region to protect the corridor under the terms of the ceasefire agreement.

Azerbaijans Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized the UN experts for what it described as their biased statement that it claimed had been influenced by Armenias manipulations.

Meanwhile, health authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh reported a spike in the death rate and disease incidence related to lack of medicines and malnutrition.

The regions de facto Health Ministry said that in conditions of shortages brought on by the blockade of the Lachin corridor during the last eight months in the period from January to July the number of deaths from diseases of the circulatory system has increased more than twice among the total deaths, while the number of deaths from malignant neoplasms has increased by nearly 16 percent in seven months compared to the same period in 2022. According to the report, the level of anemia among pregnant women under the supervision of doctors has reached about 90 percent.
Members of the group called Crusaders staged a protest in front of the central government offices in Yerevan in the afternoon, setting a 6 pm deadline for the authorities to act. Otherwise, they threatened to take matters into their own hands.

When the protesters blocked traffic in Tigran Mets Avenue, which is adjacent to Yerevans central Republic Square, the police detained several protesters, while the health condition of two others deteriorated.

Later, the Interior Ministry told RFE/RLs Armenian Service that as many as 14 people were detained for failing to comply with police orders, but said they would be released soon.

After the police action, Sargis Poghosian, a member of the Crusaders group, said that they planned to head to Kornidzor in Armenias southern Syunik province, which borders on the Lachin corridor where an Azerbaijani checkpoint blocking free passage of people and goods to and from Nagorno-Karabakh is located.

The Armenian government sent about two dozen trucks with humanitarian aid to Nagorno-Karabakh in late July, but the convoy carrying nearly 400 tons of supplies still remains stranded in Kornidzor waiting for approval from Azerbaijan to access the region.

Citing the terms of the Moscow-brokered 2020 ceasefire agreement that places Russian peacekeepers in control of the Lachin corridor, Armenia considers the Azerbaijani roadblock to be illegal, but officials in Yerevan have rejected any scenarios of using force to unblock access to Nagorno-Karabakh.

Baku suggests that Karabakh Armenians use another road passing via the Azeri-controlled town of Agdam for the supply of food and other essentials, but authorities in Stepanakert reject this possibility, calling for the restoration of free and safe traffic along the Lachin corridor.

As the effective blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh continues, severe shortages of foodstuffs, medicines and other basic necessities have been reported in the region. Nagorno-Karabakhs health authorities on Tuesday reported an increase in the death rate and disease incidence related to lack of medicines and malnutrition during the past seven months.
8 August 2023 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Rena Murshud Read more

The separatist regime, which does not recognize international laws and calls itself the so-called 'republic of artsakh', is holding illegal elections for a new 'chairman' in Azerbaijan's Khankendi.

Unfortunately, instead of supporting the reintegration process, Armenia also gives a shoulder to its separatist segment to hold an illegal referendum in the sovereign territory of Azerbaijan, which Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has repeatedly stated he recognizes its territorial integrity within 86.6 thousand sq kilometers including Garabagh.

Despite some shallow efforts of Armenia's western patrons, plus Russia, which take interest in the South Caucasus, to establish peace, it ended in a deadlock again. In every attempt, it seems that some force prevents Armenia from making the right choice, and as a result, relations relapse.

"The problem with the Armenian minority in Azerbaijan's territory is their inability to grasp reality. And the reality is this, Azerbaijan has once again proved that it was not willing to let go of its Internationally recognized territories and it will in any way succeed in reintegration of communities."

This was told by Alexei Naumov, a Russian historian, and political analyst, while making a comment to Azernews, on normalization of Azerbaijan-Armenia relations. According to him, the only problem that needs to be resolved is to find the best way to implement the reintegration process in Azerbaijan's Garabagh as well as convincing Armenian diapora to support process to be streamlined so the rights of people who live there are respected and rightfully protected.

"However, what we see at the moment is completely opposite of what we expected in fact. Armenian separatist groups' holding elections in Azerbaijan's territory is totally against the law of the Azerbaijan Republic. Unfortunately, it causes some trouble, because it hinders the peace process and makes it more difficult for also international partners: Russia, the European Union, and the United States. The problem is with the separatists who currently live in Khankendi and nearby territories. They are the only parties that complicate the situation on the way to achieving pece," the Russian expert said.

Further, the expert said that negotiations with Azerbaijan are the only way for Armenia to really achieve something for their country's favour.

"Armenia lost the war in 2020 when Azerbaijan liberated its territories from occuption. It has no diplomatic leverage because it is the party currently unwilling to negotiate in good faith regarding the peace deal that Azerbaijan is proposing. And that is demonstrated by its reaction to these unlawful elections that are being held by separatists. Armenia could help Armenians, ethnic Armenians living in Garabagh, but to help them to reintegrate, making sure that all work in a peacefully manner. Armenia may also support some ethnic Armenians financially in the interim period. Because they will have to reintegrate into the Azerbaijan labor market, they will have to reintegrate into the Azerbaijani information market legal system, and so on," the expert opined.

At the same time, Naumov, commenting on the current political maneuvers of Armenia, said that Yerevan is resorting to various means in order to find a way out of the situation; to be more clear, sometimes it shows itself as a poor nation in the eyes of international organizations.

"At this moment Armenian is playing the victim card. Armenia is the country that had been occupying the territories of Azerbaijan for 30 years. Now saying that its a victim and Azerbaijan who liberated what rightfully belonged to it is somehow painted as an aggressor. As I've been saying Armenia at the moment has neither diplomatic power, nor economic and military powers to achieve its goal. It's trying to manipulate international intermediaries like Moscow, Washington, and Europe Union in Brussels," the Russian political analyst added.

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8 August 2023 15:11 (UTC+04:00)

Small and Medium Business Development Agency of Azerbaijan (KOBIA) and A-Z Czech Engineering company have today signed a protocol of intent, Azernews reports, citing Agency.

The protocol was signed by Orkhan Mammadov, the Chairman of the Board of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency, and Milan Pavlicek, founder of A-Z Czech Engineering.

The document provides for coordination between the sides interested in the use of alternative energy in Azerbaijan, training and promotional events in this field, the attraction of investments and modern technologies in alternative energy projects in the country, etc.

Orkhan Mammadov and Milan Pavlicek also met in private.

They discussed the implementation of the issues arising from the relevant document and prospects for cooperation.

The protocol of intent outlines the intention of both parties to cooperate in the areas of business development, innovation, access to markets, and financial resources. It also outlines the commitment of both parties to work together to promote the development of small and medium-sized businesses in Azerbaijan.

KOBIA is a public legal entity established by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated December 28, 2017, to support the development of micro, small, and medium-sized businesses and enhance the role of SMEs in economic development. KOBIA provides information, consultancy, legal assistance, protection of interests, training, coordination, and other support in areas such as improvement of public services provided to the private sector, protection of SMEs' interests, development of SMEs' access to knowledge, innovation, access to sales markets and financial resources.

A-Z Czech Engineering Company is a leading engineering company in the Czech Republic, providing engineering services in the areas of industrial automation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy. The company has been active in the Azerbaijani market since 2017 and has established a strong presence in the country.

The protocol of intent marks a new chapter in the cooperation between KOBIA and A-Z Czech Engineering Company and is expected to lead to further collaboration in the future.

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8 August 2023 19:00 (UTC+04:00)

The Culture Minister Adil Karimli has received People's Artist Sakit Mammadov.

The minister congratulated the artist, who recently turned 65, and wished him new creative success, Azernews reports.

Sakit Mammadov was presented with an Honorary Diploma. At the meeting, it was noted that Sakit Mammadov has made important contributions to the development and recognition of Azerbaijani art worldwide.

His art pieces are in major art galleries and private collections around the world.

The biography of the Azerbaijani artist is included into the Encyclopedia 'People of our millennium' which is released with the support of the Presidential Administration of Russia, Federation Council, State Duma, UN and UNESCO information center.

Sakit Mammadov expressed his gratitude for the attention paid to his work and creativity.

At the meeting, ideas were exchanged on the development and promotion of national art.

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8 August 2023 13:21 (UTC+04:00)

On August 7, representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross(ICRC) visited two Azerbaijani servicemen held by Armenia, Azernews reports with reference to Azerbaijani representation of the ICRC.

It was noted that Azerbaijani servicemen were given the opportunity to contact their families by phone and send them letters with the help of the ICRC.

In accordance with its mandate, the ICRC assesses the conditions of detention and treatment of individuals, creates an opportunity to restore or continue their links with their families. The results of observations during visits and recommendations on this matter are presented by the ICRC exclusively to the detaining party, the message says.

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A person looks at a website that updates the latest murder threats posted online in Daegu, Aug. 7. Yonhap



Police have apprehended 67 people on suspicions of uploading online posts threatening copycat crimes in the wake of the recent back-to-back fatal stabbing attacks, the Korean National Police Agency said Tuesday.



Two more people suspected of posting such threats were nabbed between Monday evening and Tuesday morning, bringing the total to 67 from Monday's 65, the police said.



Over half of the suspects apprehended as of 6 p.m. Monday, or 34, were teens, with many of them under the legally punishable age of 14, police officials said.



Korea has seen an upsurge of online murder threats after two shocking stabbing rampages that took place in and around Seoul recently.



In the most recent incident, a man in his 20s drove a car onto people outside a department store in the affluent neighborhood of Seongnam, south of Seoul last week and attacked others with a knife, leaving one person dead and 13 others wounded.



Authorities have been intensifying security, deploying more than 12,000 police officers to patrol densely populated areas across the country. (Yonhap)


8 August 2023 14:07 (UTC+04:00)

On a recent visit to Baku, Azerbaijan, a former NASA astronaut, and the first female to command the International Space Station (ISS), Peggy Whitson, shared her experience with students. Whitson, a biochemist, and accomplished astronaut, was selected as a NASA astronaut in 1996 and has completed three long-duration stays onboard the ISS, Azernews reports, citing Azercosmos.

Whitson's first space mission was in 2002: an extended stay aboard the ISS as a member of Expedition 5. On her second mission, Expedition 16 in 2007-2008, she became the first woman to command the ISS. She conducted five spacewalks for station assembly and maintenance and logged a total of 192 days in space for this long-duration flight.

In 2009, Whitson became the first woman to serve as NASA's Chief Astronaut, the most senior position in the NASA Astronaut Corps. In 2017, Whitson became the first woman to command the International Space Station twice. Her 289-day flight was the longest single space flight by a woman until Christina Koch's 328-day flight.

Whitson held the record for most spacewalks by a female astronaut and has logged 665 days in space, the most for any American astronaut, placing her in the eighth spot on the all-time space endurance list.

During her visit to Baku, Whitson shared her experience with students and discussed the importance of STEM education. She also spoke about her journey to becoming an astronaut and the challenges she faced along the way.

Whitson's visit to Baku was part of a larger effort to inspire the next generation of space explorers and to encourage more young people to pursue careers in STEM.

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8 August 2023 13:46 (UTC+04:00)

On 7 August, the State Committee for Refugees and IDPs held a drawing of lots between families to be resettled in the first stage to Zabukh village of Lachin district, Azernews reports, citing the State Committee.

The State Committee reported that the event was held with the participation of the staff of the Special Representation of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Lachin district, which is part of the East Zangazur economic region, and the executive authority of Lachin district.

20 families (88 persons) took part in the drawing of lots. According to the family composition, 4 of them were provided with two-room flats, 4 with three-room flats, 8 with four-room flats, and 4 with five-room flats. These families previously lived in places of temporary settlement in Baku and Sumgait cities, as well as in the Absheron district.

The drawing of lots is aimed at ensuring objectivity and transparency in the process of accommodation of former IDPs. Representatives of IDP families determine the exact address of the houses provided to them by drawing lots.

The former IDPs, who will soon return to Zabukh village for permanent residence, noted that they feel a great sense of joy. They expressed deep gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva for the conditions created in the liberated territories and care for IDPs.

The families participating in the draw will be sent to Zabukh village in the coming days.

The Social Development Fund for IDPs of the Republic of Azerbaijan is the customer for the design and construction of Zabukh village. In the first stage, 223 one-story individual houses with concrete basement-shelter are being built in Zabukh village. In addition, a kindergarten, an administrative building, a medical center, and other facilities are being built in the village.

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8 August 2023 10:46 (UTC+04:00)

On 3-5 August 2023, a delegation headed by Ulvi Mehdiyev, Chairman of the State Agency for Citizen Services and Social Innovation under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, visited the United Republic of Tanzania, Azernews reports, citing ASAN service.

Within the framework of the visit, meetings were held with the Minister of Information, Communication, and Information Technologies of Tanzania Nape Nnauye, as well as the Minister of State Services and Advanced Management of the President's Office George Simbachawene.

At the meeting with the Tanzanian Minister of Information, Communication and Information Technology, the chairman of the state agency gave details of the digital solutions used in ASAN Service's operations, the delivery of public services, support for start-ups and the work carried out in the field of social innovation.

The Tanzanian Minister stated that they are interested in applying modern technology and innovative solutions in the work of ASAN service as a unique model in their country. He also took the initiative to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the State Agency in the above areas and a preliminary agreement was reached.

At the meeting with the Minister of Public Services and Advanced Management of the Tanzanian President's Office, the other side noted with satisfaction the visit of Tanzanian Vice President Philip Isdor Mpango to Azerbaijan in March this year and his acquaintance with the "ASAN service". He also said that the visit of the delegation of the State Agency to Tanzania was of special significance.

Within the framework of the meeting, extensive presentations were made and discussions were held on other activities of "ASAN service" and the State Agency. In order to study the experience of our country in these directions, an agreement was reached to organize a visit of the Tanzanian delegation to Azerbaijan. Heads of different departments of the Presidential Office of the United Republic of Tanzania and other high-ranking officials also took part in the meeting.

Ruslan Nasibov, Charge d'Affaires of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, also took part in the meetings held in Tanzania.

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8 August 2023 10:00 (UTC+04:00)

A group of journalists from America continues their journey in the district of Guba, the north of Azerbaijan.

According to the press service of the State Committee for Diaspora Work, the guests were first acquainted with the Six Dome Synagogue and the World Historical and Ethnographic Museum of Mountain Jews in the settlement of Krasnaya Sloboda, where Mountain Jews live compactly, in accordance with the program of the trip, Azernews reports, citing Diaspora Work.

The guests were informed that numerous different national communities live in Guba, and Krasnaya Sloboda is a unique place with the most compact settlement of Jews in the world after Israel. It was noted that Jews living in the settlement, called "Jerusalem of Caucasus", have been preserving their customs and traditions for many years, living together with Azerbaijanis in peace and tranquillity. It was emphasized that mountain Jews actively participated in the First and Second Garabagh wars for the restoration of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. The heroism of the National Hero of Azerbaijan Albert Agarunov was cited as an illustrative example. It was noted that the Azerbaijani state immortalized the memory of Albert Agarunov, a monument was erected to him, and streets and schools were named after him.

Then during the visit to Guba Genocide Memorial Complex, the American guests were informed in detail about the genocide committed by Armenians against our people in March-April 1918. It was underlined that the burial place of the Guba genocide was discovered on 1 April 2007 during the earthworks in the territory. Employees of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan carried out large-scale research work in the mass grave. In the course of the research, it was established that the mass grave appeared in 1918 as a result of genocide committed by Armenians against the peaceful local population. The Guba Genocide Memorial Complex created with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation was opened on 18 September 2013. The American guests were deeply impressed by what they saw at the Complex. They emphasized that they were deeply depressed by the horrible tragedy committed against our people and wished that such a horror would not happen again.

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8 August 2023 17:06 (UTC+04:00)

The Azerbaijani government has invited Austrian company Grabher Group GmbH to invest in the country's industrial zones, Azernews reports, citing the Ministry.

This was reported with reference to the Agency for Development of Economic Zones under the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan.

According to the information, the Agency held a meeting with the delegation headed by the general director of the Austrian company Gunther Grabher. The guests were informed about the favorable investment opportunities created in the industrial zones for entrepreneurs, and tax and customs privileges applied.

In addition, the possibility of setting up production in the industrial zones for processing various products using polypropylene produced by SOCAR Polymer LLC, a resident of the Sumgayit Chemical Industrial Park, was discussed.

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8 August 2023 18:45 (UTC+04:00)

By Day.az

For some reason today turned out to be a boring day - our neighbors didnt amuse us with anything in the morning. We already thought that Tuesday would be wasted, but the Armenians did not allow it.

The neighbors gave Azerbaijan, and at the same time Nikol Pashinyan, another last Chinese warning. Just at these moments, the warning is in the process of being verbalized. A certain "veteran" gathered a crowd in Yerevan and threatened to open the Lachin road by force if the Armenian authorities do not do this themselves before 18.00 Tuesday. Armenian media reports that the commander of the "Khachakirner" (Crusaders) detachment Sargis Poghosyan demands weapons from the Armenian authorities to "unblock the Lachin corridor." Poghosyan assures that about 30,000 soldiers are ready to immediately begin a military operation in the Lachin Border Checkpoint... can you imagine? - precisely 30,000?!... Unbelievable!... Damn, how scary... Even in the 44-day Patriotic War there were not that many soldiers in the Armenian side. We even saw many of them fled from the battlefield.

Judging by the photo in the Armenian media, the supporters of the "brilliant" idea were rather in small number. Definitely there were not 30 thousand soldiers. On the other hand, the Armenia's "iron ashot" that fought against the dead in the Azerbaijani cemetery during the Second Karabakh War and destroyed Azerbaijani cemeteries was starred in the crowd. I think, our special services are waiting for this one with great interest.

In general, in two hours, trucks with "humanitarian aid" sunbathing at the border for about two weeks should start moving to Khankendi. And if Pashinyan fails, the hot guys from Yerevan will go to the border themselves and sweep away the Azerbaijani border checkpoint by force.

It is difficult to remember who, starting from April 23, would not threaten to sweep away the Lachin Border Checkpoint. We look forward to the fulfillment of the threat. It will be fun.

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8 August 2023 11:35 (UTC+04:00)

bp as operator of the Azeri-Chirag-Deepwater Gunashli (ACG) field development project announces that today the Azeri Central East (ACE) platform topsides unit sailed away from the Bayil fabrication yard where it was built, Azernews reports, citing bp.

Prior to its sail away the topsides unit was mostly commissioned and operationally tested onshore to minimise activities required for offshore installation and start-up.

On 4 April, the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev visited the topsides fabrication yard and toured the almost completed topsides unit before it had sailed away to its permanent location. Since then, the team have successfully completed the key commissioning activities planned to be performed onshore. These activities mainly included the successful completion of the rig access period, the integrated assurance test and the blowdown safety testing.

Following these completions, the topsides unit was safely jacked-up and lowered onto the load-out frame in preparation for skidding onto the transportation barge.

On 30 May, the transportation barge STB-1 arrived at the Bibi-Heybat yard and preparations for load out activities commenced. On 2 July, the topsides unit was transferred onto the STB-1 barge,sea-fastened and prepared for sail away to the ACG field.

The topsides transportation, float-over and installation activities have been carefully planned and are expected to take around four days to complete. The unit will be installed on top of the ACE platform jacket which has been at its offshore location since March installed in a water depth of 137 metres.

Gary Jones, bps regional president for Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkiye, said:

Today we sailed away the final section of the ACE platform which we believe is an amazing feat of innovative engineering with its state-of-the-art design that will make it possible to extensively use system and process automations and digital innovations. This platform will be controlled remotely from the Sangachal terminal and this is the first time in our experience in the Caspian that we will control an offshore platform from onshore.

As operator we are extremely pleased to have completed all onshore construction and commissioning activities of such a complex project safely. I would like to say a huge thank you to all people involved in the construction and commissioning works. My special thanks are to our fabrication contractors, construction, commissioning, operations, safety and engineering teams and all the workforce for their excellent performance and delivery.

We expect the topsides unit to be safely installed onto the jacket over the next week. We will then need a few months to complete offshore hook up and commissioning works to allow us tocommence drilling the first platform production well and deliver ACE first oil in early 2024.

The construction of the 19,600-tonne topsides unit started in 2019 and was completed with outstanding safety achievements of over 21 million hoursworked injury free.

The ACE topsides unit consists of oil and gas processing facilities, an integrated drilling rig, a gas compressor and living quarters.

The topsides unit was constructed by Azfen in the Bayil fabrication yard using local infrastructure and resources.

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8 August 2023 22:45 (UTC+04:00)

Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov has instructed the country's relevant agencies to simplify entry for foreigners whose professions are in demand in Kazakhstan, Azernews reports, citing Interfax.

"The Labor Ministry together with the Foreign Ministry will be required to ensure simplified entry to the country for foreign citizens whose professions are in demand in the country or who run successful business projects abroad, in order to enable them to further realize their potential in Kazakhstan," Smailov said at a government meeting on Tuesday.

The prime minister also ordered the country's agencies to take effective steps to encourage promising foreign businesspeople to work in Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan needs to attract highly skilled foreign specialists to areas experiencing a shortage of such professionals so that they can share their knowledge with their Kazakh colleagues in the future, he said.

"The Digital Development Ministry should make more effort to invite the best IT specialists to the country," Smailov said.

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8 August 2023 21:10 (UTC+04:00)

Turkiye's exports to the UAE reached $2.46 billion in the first seven months of this year, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

Relations between the two countries continue to gain momentum with new commercial and economic cooperation in the last two years.

The intensive diplomatic traffic initiated between the parties to strengthen relations in all areas, especially after the pandemic, also spurred trade ties.

During President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to the UAE last month, agreements worth $50.7 billion were signed.

Under these deals, it was decided to deepen existing cooperation with the UAE in areas such as energy, transportation, infrastructure, logistics, e-commerce, finance, health, food, tourism, real estate, construction, defense products, artificial intelligence, and advanced technologies.

According to Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM) data, Turkiye's exports to the UAE jumped 30.9% in the first seven months of this year on a yearly basis to $2.46 billion.

The jewelry sector made the highest exports to the UAE in this period, totaling $971.3 million, followed by the chemical substances and products with $156.9 million, electricity and electronics with $123.7 million, cereals, pulses, oil seeds and products with $107.5 million, and aquaculture and animal products with $100.6 million.

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8 August 2023 22:15 (UTC+04:00)

Greece on Tuesday said the continued detention of an ethnic Greek politician over alleged buying of votes for the local elections on May 14 will harm Albanias EU bid, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

Speaking to the public broadcaster ERT, Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis reiterated that Albanias accession to the EU cannot progress when there is such disregard for the rule of law.

I made this clear in my contacts with EU officials, he remarked, adding that the tension being created was not at all beneficial, especially for Albania and its EU prospects.

Fredi Beleri, an ethnic Greek minority candidate running for mayor in Himare, an Albanian coastal city primarily populated by Greeks, was detained on May 12 by police. He was charged with trying to buy votes ahead of local elections in Albania, which took place on May 14 and resulted in Beleris election as mayor.

His arrest strained the relationship between Tirana and Athens.

Calling Beleris pre-trial detention unlawful, Gerapetritis remarked that Albania was "shooting itself in the foot" by continuing to detain him on remand.

The Greek government also lodged a formal protest with the Albanian Foreign Ministry.

Greeces then-Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on May 15 threatened to block Albanias EU bid over Beleris detention, stressing that his country respects the rights of ethnic minorities.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama responded by accusing neighboring Greece of meddling in the countrys internal affairs.

In late May, NATO foreign ministers came together in an informal meeting in Oslo, where caretaker Greek Foreign Minister Vasilis Kaskarelis met with his Albanian counterpart Olta Xhacka on the sidelines to raise the issue and discuss ties between Tirana and Athens.

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A 50-something worker sustained a serious injury while on duty at a bakery factory in Seongnam, south of Seoul, on Tuesday.







The accident occurred at 12:41 p.m. at a bread-making factory operated by Shani. The worker became trapped in a dough machine after a colleague operated it without proper safety confirmation, according to police.







The injured worker was rushed to a hospital in a state of cardiac arrest, and later began breathing again and regained a heartbeat.







The police said they will investigate whether the factory adhered to safety rules.







Shani is affiliated with industry giant SPC, which was hit last year by a fatal industrial accident at another subsidiary.







On Oct. 15, 2022, a 23-year-old worker lost his life while operating a sauce mixing machine at a factory operated by SPC-affiliated SPL in Pyeongtaek, 60 kilometers south of Seoul.







The police have referred five SPL officials to the prosecution for potential charges of professional negligence leading to death.







The Shani factory has also experienced prior safety-related incidents.







On May 12, a worker fractured his finger after it got stuck in a machine. On Oct. 23, 2022, another worker had his finger severed by a machine in a similar accident. (Yonhap)


Bakersfield, CA (93308)

Today

Showery rains will be accompanied by very heavy downpours and strong gusty winds at times, especially this morning. Potential for flooding rains. High 76F. NW winds at 20 to 30 mph, decreasing to 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch..

Tonight

Showery rains will be accompanied by heavy downpours and strong gusty winds at times, especially early. Potential for flooding rains. Low 69F. Winds WNW at 20 to 30 mph, becoming SE and decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch.
Bakersfield, CA (93308)

Today

Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain for the afternoon. Potential for flooding rains. High 77F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Potential for flooding rains. Low 69F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall possibly over one inch.
By Peter White Aug 7, 2023

Floating barriers and razor wire now line the Rio Grande along the US-Mex border, one of many obstacles migrants face as they seek to enter the country.

Floating barriers line the Rio Grande separating Eagle Pass, Texas and Piedras Negras, Mexico. (Credit: Manuel Ortiz)

Espanol

The border at Eagle Pass, Texas, has razor wire and a 1000-foot line of big round buoys. The floating barriers are meant to deter migrants looking to cross from the city of Piedras Negras, on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande River.

For journalist Manuel Ortiz, they are part of what he says is a more militarized atmosphere along this stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border.

This is the first time that it seems to me like a war zone, says Ortiz, founder of Peninsula 360 Press, who has covered the border off and on for decades. Driving southwest from San Antonio, he describes helicopters overhead and military vehicles along the road.

Last week, state troopers found a body stuck to one of the border buoys.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott began Operation Lone Star in March 2021 in response to rising border crossings. In May of that same year, Abbott issued a disaster declaration, later sending National Guard troops to the border. Two state agencies, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Military Department are in charge of the operation. When 16,000 migrants suddenly arrived in Del Rio in November 2021, Abbott sent 10,000 guardsmen to the border in response. Del Rio is about 55 miles north of Eagle Pass.

The only winners from Abbotts actions seem to be the human traffickers, said Ortiz during an EMS media briefing. Speaking to migrants, he noted human smugglers, called coyotes, used to charge $500/per person to get across the border. The price has gone up to $1500, he says, after the floating barriers were installed.

On the other side of the border, Ortiz noted Mexican authorities appear to be doing nothing against the smugglers, adding there are unverified rumors that local officials there may in fact be involved in the trafficking.

Manuel Ortiz, founder of Peninsula 360 Press, reports that even those in Texas who are in favor of strong border security find Governor Abbots new policies too extreme.

A glitchy app

The Trump administration essentially stopped processing asylum claims along the US southern border during the pandemic by invoking Title 42, a public health order that allowed for the immediate expulsion of migrants.

That program ended in May. The Biden Administration subsequently announced that would-be asylum seekers would now be required to first schedule an appoint with Customs and Border Protection through a mobile app prior to their arrival at the border.

Gianna Borroto is the head litigator with the American Immigration Council (AIC). Its an impossible situation, she says, describing the CBP One app as a cruel measure designed to limit who can seek asylum in this country.

AIC and its partners filed a class action lawsuit July 27 in the district court for the Southern District of California over the CBP One app. The lawsuit challenges the Biden administrations policy of turning away asylum seekers at ports of entry who didnt make an appointment. The suit names ten plaintiffs who claim they couldnt.

Besides a smartphone you need internet access to use the app. Many migrants are living in encampments without electricity or water, much less internet service. Borroto says many migrants dont have money to buy minutes for their phones because they need what they have to buy food.

She also cited a number of problems with the CBP One app. One man couldnt get tech support, just lines of code; one woman tried every day for months but couldnt get an appointment; the app has just three languages but border migrants speak 20 or more, so unless they speak English, Spanish, or Creole, its useless; the app doesnt upgrade easily and freezes a lot.

Access to asylum simply cannot be restricted to a glitchy smart phone app lottery, Borroto says. A recent ruling in a similar 2017 case gives her hope. A previous version of a turn back policy that limited access to asylum at the border was declared unlawful and in violation of the U.S. Constitution.

Borroto says AIC filed suit to protect the fundamental right to seek asylum which is enshrined both in US and international law.

Gianna Borroto, Senior Litigation Attorney at the American Immigration Council, explains some of the many problems with the U.S. Custom and Border Protection agencys new CPB One app, which all asylum seekers are required to use to begin the asylum process.

A history of racism

Professor and author Cal Jillson is a recognized authority on Texas politics and the politics of the US southern border. The current situation at the border has been replayed many times over the course of American history, Jillson said.

America has always been racist, and that racism has long informed attitudes toward migration, he said.

Benjamin Franklin said terrible things about the German immigrants to Pennsylvania in the 1750s. The Irish were treated badly in the 1840s and 1850s. Asians were excluded completely from the 1880s well into the 1950s, Jillson said.

He noted that in the 19th Century, the thinking of the dominant white majority in the country was effectively If youre white, yall come.

But even in the early 20th Century, when the American economy was strong and labor was needed, there was a welcoming of people across the border from Mexico into the United States on the presumption that they would work cheap and go home when the work was completed.

Cal Jillson, Professor of Political Science at Southern Methodist University and author of several books including the upcoming Race, Ethnicity, and American Decline, gives his perspective on why Texas Governor Greg Abbott has implemented such punishing anti-immigration measure on the Texas southern border.

Beginning in the 1950s, migrant workers started staying year-round.

I see the current events at the border as part of an Americanparticularly white Americanambivalence about immigration, specifically of immigration of nonwhite people and it has ever been thus, he said.

When it comes to immigration as a political issue, Jillson believes Republicans have the advantage. Their message is simple: we oppose illegal immigration, and we are worried about legal immigration. Thats a kind of bumper sticker slogan, he said.

Democrats, meanwhile, are hoping immigration will not become the driving issue in the upcoming presidential race. They have a tougher sell, said Jillson, with a more complex coalition, some of who recognize that the Republican charge that Democrats stand for open borders is a political killer.

Its Republicans who are setting closed border policies, Jillson noted, and its likely to remain that way for some time.
Former President Moon Jae-in speaks during an event marking the third anniversary of a devastating flood in Yangjeong Village in Gurye, South Jeolla Province, Aug. 8. Yonhap



Former President Moon Jae-in emphasized the importance of prioritizing life and safety Tuesday during an event marking the third anniversary of a devastating flood in a southwestern town.



Moon, accompanied by his wife Kim Jung-sook, attended a memorial service in Yangjeong Village in Gurye, 261 kilometers south of Seoul. Yangjeong and neighboring towns suffered severe flooding on Aug. 8, 2020, caused by the collapse of a stream embankment due to heavy rain, which killed 22,824 livestock and inundated 711 homes.



"The beautiful mindset that values life above all, whether it's human or livestock, is what has kept the memorial service going until now," Moon said during the event.



"Together, we can create a world where life comes first and safety comes first," he added.



He also praised the local community for demonstrating the courage and hope for humanity to overcome natural disasters. (Yonhap)


The Little Fish Dude That Just Gave Birth on the Oregon Coast

Published 08/02/23 at 5:21 p.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff





(Seaside, Oregon)  You might want to send him a Mother's Day card after this. That's right: him. (Photo Allysa Casteel of Seaside Aquarium)

It's a case of some truly surprise science for the Oregon coast and Washington coast. One little fish from the Oregon coast just gave birth in a fish tank in Seaside, and it's a he, not a her.

Seaside Aquarium last week celebrated some new occupants after its male pipefish gave birth to a bunch of little ones.

The bay pipefish (Syngnathus leptorhychus) has a lot of interesting aspects, including the fact the males give birth and not the females. Related to the sea horse, the male pipefish gets eggs deposited into it by the female, set inside the stomach pouch.

Full info No Seahorses on Washington / Oregon Coast, Just the Unbelievable, Related Bay Pipefish

For 3 weeks you can observe the development as the egg sacks change color, and when its time for hatching the stomach just splits open, the Seaside Aquarium said on social. From a line down the center, each baby pipefish about 1 cm long squeezed out and immediately started to search for food.

You'll notice a difference in color between Casteel's shots and those of Tiffany Boothe: that's because there was distinctly different lighting involved.



Bay pipefish baby, courtesy Casteel

There's a lot more to the bay pipefish as well, such as they're the closest thing we have to sea horses here on the Oregon coast. Those don't exist here  it's too cold. While the bay pipefish doesn't have that really elegant curl in its shape that its warm-water cousins do, its head is not too dissimilar.

That's by far and away not the only cool thing about them.

Seaside Aquarium's Tiffany Boothe has talked about them in the past.

The bay pipefish may be hard to spot at first glance, hiding comfortably in the midst of their favorite plants, Boothe said. The thin, elongated, green bodies perfectly sway within the eelgrass where they are found in bays.



Photo Tiffany Boothe

In fact, if you find a big patch of green stuff in the surfline, especially eel grass, there may be pipefish hiding in there even when it's washed up on the beach. That happens anywhere on the Oregon coast or Washington coast.

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Pipefish don't have scales. Instead, they're surrounded by jointed, bony and circular plates. This makes them feel more like a shell, if you touch it, Boothe said.

Their long, tubular mouths are toothless and when they eat, they just get really close to their tiny prey and slurp, she said. As if they aren't already an interesting enough specimen, watching them swim is really comical. Using their heads to steer while they leisurely glide through the water, they really are a fun fish to observe.

Want to see these wee, tiny ones? Hit the Seaside Aquarium soon. 503-738-6211.







MORE PHOTOS BELOW















Bay pipefish baby, courtesy Casteel

Photo Seaside Aquarium's Boothe

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More Cougar Sightings Within North Oregon Coast Town, Police Urge Caution

Published 08/01/23 at 3:31 p.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff





(Cannon Beach, Oregon)  Just when you stopped hearing about them, they appear to be back. Or maybe it's all just one cougar. Photo above courtesy ODFW: cougar photographed in a central Oregon forest

More cougar sightings have happened on the north Oregon coast around Cannon Beach, a little less than two weeks after a big incident with a cougar on Haystack Rock caused a media stir and shut down the beaches around the landmark. Cougar Leaves Cannon Beach's Haystack Rock, This Part of Oregon Coast Back Open / Video

Meanwhile, down in Nehalem Bay State Park, all trails are back open after some cougar sightings had spooked park rangers there

Cannon Beach Police Department said on Monday they had received two reports of a cougar that day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

Although not positively identified, these indicate some worrisome behavior of the potential cougar: it was seen just west of Highway 101 and between 2nd and Sunset in Cannon Beach. This is in a brushy area just above the local neighborhoods. Some residents have expressed dismay that the cougar is lingering in the area when it is at its busiest.

There are also coyotes in the area and an injured elk. Please be very cautious in the area. State Police has been advised, said the police department on social late Monday.



Photo: a detail from a larger photo in the previous Cannon Beach incident, Andy Woo https://www.andywoophoto.com/

A bit further south on the Oregon coast, Nehalem Bay State Park was finally able to reopen the set of trails that had been closed due to cougar sightings. They opened back up on July 26, with Oregon State Parks and Recreation (OPRD) saying they still advised caution and awareness at the park.

Cougars are a natural part of this environment but you can minimize potential contact by keeping food and garbage secured in vehicles or campers, keeping pets contained in carriers or close to you on leashes and being aware of your surroundings, OPRD said in a bulletin.

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The issue has become a little more prominent after a child was attacked by a cougar this week in northern Washington.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) said there are hundreds of cougars in the state, and their population in the Oregon Coast Range has been growing. Though they lean towards preying on deer, they also go for small rodents, birds and rabbits.

Normally, cougars are wary of humans and stay clear of them. They will usually retreat if they have the opportunity.

If you do encounter a cougar, ODFW suggests:



Photo Khula Makhalira

- Remain calm and do not run. Running can trigger their hunt / chase response, which can make them attack.

- Back away slowly

- Do not turn your back to the cougar. Maintain eye contact

- Speak loudly

- Make yourself appear bigger by raising your arms, even clapping your hands

In the unlikely event of an attack, fight back with rocks, sticks, bear or pepper spray, tools or any items available, ODFW said. MORE PHOTOS BELOW







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Andy Woo https://www.andywoophoto.com/

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One of Biggest Meteor Showers Now Above Oregon / Washington Coast, Peaks Aug 9 - 13

Published 07/31/23 at 5:31 a.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Manzanita, Oregon)  Now playing in the skies above you: a truly amazing interstellar show. It's called the Persieds and it's among the brightest of meteor showers we get here on Earth  and it's already started. In fact, Oregon Coast Beach Connection has seen some amazing moments already, which included two bright shooting stars and a faint but unmistakable satellite in the space of 10 or so minutes. (Photos Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Above: Goonies Rock at Cannon Beach with star movement overhead)

Portland science museum OMSI is touting the big, sparkly show, with astronomy expert Jim Todd saying the Persieds will be peaking between August 9 and 13, but the meteor shower happens from July 14 through September 1.

If you're heading to the Oregon coastline or Washington coast, and the weather is clear, you're going to get an eyeful.

Washington Coast Weather - Oregon Coast Weather

For those who want some experts around to help you spot them, OMSI is hosting the OMSI Star Party: Perseid Meteor Shower Watch on Saturday, August 12. This time, it's happening only at Rooster Rock State Park in the Columbia Gorge, whereas traditionally these were also in the Oregon Coast Range. See www.omsi.edu

Made of tiny space debris from the comet Swift-Tuttle, the Perseids are named after the constellation Perseus, Todd said. The Perseids are widely sought after by astronomers and stargazers because most years at its peak, one can see 60 to 100 meteors in an hour from a dark place.

Todd said the evening of August 11  12 should give the best chance if conditions are clear. However, the meteor shower is broad enough that checking it out the day before or after will likely yield plenty of streaks. Helping out will be the moon  by its absence  which will be waning by then at about 10%.

Comet Neowise in Bandon - see Manuela Durson Fine Arts for more

For the next few days, until about August 6, the moon remains in the sky throughout the wee hours for the Pacific Northwest, and still fairly bright. However, for the Oregon coast and Washington coast  where there's no light pollution coming from major cities  you may still have some luck during that time.

After August 6, the moon begins to rise later and later and begins waning, which will provide better viewing for inland areas like just outside of Seattle or Portland.

Every year, Earth passes through debris paths left by comets as they hurtle past the Sun, Todd said. The results of these intersections are called meteor showers when tiny bits of debris burn up in Earths atmosphere. We see them as bright streaks across the night sky.

Sometimes they are intense. Even rarer still: you may catch sight of a fireball, which is a larger meteorite that explodes in the sky, leaving a jaw-dropping trail that can last for ten seconds or so and create all sorts of otherworldly colors. See Spectacular Green Fireball Lights Up Oregon Valley Through Washington Coast

These shooting stars associated with the Perseids are much smaller, however.

Caused by small bits of interplanetary rock and debris called meteoroids that crash and burn up high in Earth's upper atmosphere, they travel at thousands of miles per hour and quickly ignite in the atmospheres friction, 30 to 80 miles above the ground, Todd said. Most are destroyed during entry; the rare few that survive and hit the ground are known as meteorites.

Todd said the Perseids are the most well-known of the intersections between our orbit and the paths of dust and debris. It only happened because Swift-Tuttle made a close swing by the sun in December of '92, causing it to shed its ice and dust in a huge trail through space.

Getting out of the big city will help immensely, although some urban parks even in Portland are dark enough you'll get to see things you may not from even your own backyard. However, you'll still want to find a large, wide open area with as few obstructions in the sky as possible.

Oregon's coastline and Washington's beaches are often good for this as well. High vantage points such as near Humbug Mountain, Cape Arago, Cape Foulweather or Neahkahnie Mountain's overlooks will make excellent watching spots.

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Bandon - see Manuela Durson Fine Arts for more

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World's Oceans Changing Color, Study Says: Are Oregon / Washington Coast Next?

Published 08/04/23 at 5:21 a.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Newport, Oregon)  A recent study that included one researcher with connections to the Oregon coast is showing how the ocean's color has changed over the last 20 years, sometimes to quite a degree, and the likely culprit is human-induced climate change. (Photo NASA: A springtime plankton bloom is visible off the Frisian coast)

The shifts are subtle around the globe, not always visible to the human eye. Yet 56% of the planet's ocean waters have experienced a change that, while subtle, cannot be explained by natural means over two decades.

The study recently came out in the journal Nature, and was compiled by scientists from the National Oceanography Center in the U.K., MIT and the University of Maine  along with oceanographer Kelly Bisson from Oregon State University (OSU). The Hatfield Marine Science Center on the Oregon coast is run by OSU.

Most notably, Earth's tropical oceans have moved to more of a green over this time. When an ocean area shifts colors, it's a consequence of the ecosystems contained therein changing. The color is a direct reflection of the organisms and materials in those areas.

Lead author B. B. Cael, of the National Oceanography Center, said this is yet another way humans are affecting the biosphere. He and Bisson looked at satellite data from the last 21 years, particularly the Aqua satellite which has been monitoring the world's oceans during that time. Using means to break down images by various wavelengths, they discovered a trend of colors drifting over those years.

Those differences aren't something humans can see. In fact, we see blues and variations of it, although the actual color  as seen by the lens  can contain a variety of subtler wavelengths. There are often greens and reds mixed in that humans won't notice.

This comes about because of phytoplankton and other elements, which reside higher up in the ocean layers, closer to the surface. Being the base of food chain in the ocean, phytoplankton are a key species in the underwater world and scientists have found more reasons to monitor them with this study.

Is this a change that's occurring on the Oregon coast or Washington coast?

Bisson told Oregon Coast Beach Connection it's likely, but it's more difficult to tell with this Pacific Northwest region.

The Oregon Coastal ecosystem is likely experiencing climate change effects that adjust the ocean color, however the natural seasonal variation signal dominates (mathematically) over the climate change signal, so we cannot say for certain (yet) that the color is changing due to climate change in our 20 year analysis, she said. We do know that the climate change signal becomes statistically significant for complex coastal areas after a longer time, so in the next 5 or 10 it will likely be evident. Put another way, the climate changes impacts are there but we aren't able to statistically detect them until there's sufficient data relative to the natural conditions.

The world's tropical oceans are displaying the changes, and that is serving as a warning for the rest of the world  and the Pacific Northwest waters.

In a sense, our study's identification of largely tropical areas is akin to a 'canary in a coal mine' as these are places with low natural signal - so a robust climate change signal is detected sooner than in more complex regions. BELOW: SATELLITE PHOTOS OF THE OREGON / WASHINGTON COAST

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Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon, chairman of the ruling People Power Party, speaks during a meeting with lawmakers and police at the Korean National Police Agency's headquarters in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap



By Lee Hae-rin



Lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties seek to introduce life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for offenders of brutal crimes in response to a recent series of deadly random attacks.



"A series of random attacks with unknown motives targeting many random people have occurred and heightened public fear," Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon, chairman of the ruling People Power Party, said during a meeting with PPP lawmakers and members of the Korean National Police Agency's Major Crime Investigation Division at the agency's headquarters in Seoul, Monday.



Kim said the party plans to introduce life imprisonment without parole as a means to control serious criminals more effectively.



Korea's Criminal Act states that an inmate serving a life sentence is eligible to be released on parole after serving 20 years if they display model behavior.



A total of 105 people sentenced to life imprisonment were released on parole between 2012 and 2021, according to the Ministry of Justice's corrections statistics.



Opposition parties are calling for similar legislative moves to toughen sentences.



Rep. Seo Young-kyo of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) proposed an amendment to the Criminal Act last month, a week after the stabbing rampage at Sillim Station, to allow life imprisonment without parole. Rep. Cho Jung-hun of the minor opposition Transition Korea also plans to propose a similar amendment this week.



The DPK, however, views other preventative measures should also be implemented besides strengthening punishment.



"It's impossible to prevent (random attacks) 100 percent by punishment alone," DPK floor leader Rep. Park Kwang-on said, Sunday, stressing the need for welfare policies that reinforce the social safety net and resolve polarization.



The National Assembly already has pending legislation of similar purpose, including amendments to the criminal law by Cho Kyoung-tae of the PPP and Rep. Yoo Jung-ju of the DPK, proposed in November 2020 and May 2021, respectively, which impose additional punishments on those who commit attacks of terrorism targeting many random people.



As Korea has been categorized as an abolitionist in practice as it has not executed a prisoner since 1997, such legislative movement reflects the calls for alternative punishments for brutal crimes.



In previous rulings, Korean courts called for legislation for life imprisonment without parole while sentencing offenders of serious crimes to life-long terms, saying this will protect people in a country that no longer practices capital punishment.



However, some criminal law experts express concerns over introducing life sentences without parole before abolishing the death penalty.



Kim Dae-keun, a senior researcher at the Korean Institute of Criminology and Justice (KICJ), told The Korea Times, Tuesday, that introducing life imprisonment without parole to prevent brutal crimes like random attacks before abolishing the death penalty is irrational because studies show that the death penalty is ineffective or that its effectiveness as a crime deterrent cannot be proven.



"Life imprisonment without parole deprives the possibility of reforming a criminal by taking away the prospect of returning to society," Kim said, citing decisions by courts in European countries including Germany, Britain and Switzerland that ruled life imprisonment without parole deprives human dignity for such reasons.


TATOOINE A group of scientists on the outer rim planet of Tatooine have come to the realization that the planet's two suns might have something to do with its global warming issue.stated local scientist Tumar Sleezelag.The intense heat levels have already caused several issues amongst the inhabitants of this desert planet. Local Jawas and Tusken Raiders have reportedly begun wearing fewer garments to combat the extreme heat.explained a shaken Sleezelag.Others, like local climate activist Greva Turdberg, are skeptical of the scientists' conclusion.said Ms. Turdberg.At the time of publishing, Tatooine officials were reaching out to a former resident with experience blowing up stars to help them with their extra sun.
A new study published Wednesday shows that espresso could help prevent Alzheimer's disease.Researchers at the University of Verona in Italy found that compounds in espresso beverages, including caffeine, could slow or prevent the brain disorder.The researchers concluded,such as Alzheimer's disease.The researchers said thatshowing thatprompted them to perform the study on espresso because of its high concentration of coffee molecules.While experts are still uncovering the processes that cause the diseases to develop, most researchers have pointed to a protein in the brain called tau, which helps stabilize structures in that area of the human body.However, when tau clumps in the brain, it interrupts the communication between nerves, causing memory loss, poor judgment, wandering, and personality changes - all symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.The study used in-vitro and cell culture tests and found that four compounds found in espresso - caffeine, trigonelline, genistein, and theobromine - reduced the length of the tau fibers, preventing them from clumping. As the concentration of caffeine increased, tau proteins could not form larger sheets, indicating that the progress toward Alzheimer's might be slowed.Although more research is needed, the researchers said their preliminary findings wouldaccording to a press release.6.2 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, and the disorder is the fifth leading cause of death among the elderly, claiming 134,242 American lives in 2020.The study was funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research and follows several studies aimed at linking coffee consumption with reduced risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.A 2018 study by Canadian researchers showed that dark roast coffee is also beneficial for brain health and could work to prevent both Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.However, Howard Bauchner, editor-in-chief of the JAMA peer-reviewed medical magazine, told USA Today at the time that coffee studies should beHe said that most coffee studies are association studies, meaning they don't necessarily prove that coffee is the reason for the finding.Recent advances in drug therapies have given Alzheimer's patients and their families hope. A new medication, donanemab, reduced the risk of progressing from mild to moderate dementia by 40% in a recent study and is expected to be approved by the FDA this fall.If approved, donanemab would join Lequembi and Aduhelm as the third FDA-approved drug treatment for Alzheimer's disease.Dr. Gil Rabinovici, the director of the University of California San Francisco's Memory and Aging Center, praised the advancements, saying they were
A longtime trustee of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City has had nearly $70 million in looted artifacts seized in the past two years, though investigators haven't suggested she, or her late husband, knowingly acquired them with that information.Shelby White, an 84-year-old emeritus trustee of the Met, has had 71 looted artifacts seized from her Manhattan apartment over the past two years. An additional 17 artifacts she loaned to the museum have also been seized under the suspicion of them being stolen, according to a report from The New York Times.Met spokesman Ken Weine told the NYT.The investigation was being conducted by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office's Antiquities Trafficking Unit, which has reportedly seized 89 items in total from Shelby White's collection. One of the looted items is a bronze statuette of Roman emperor Lucius Verus - one of the most expensive artifacts in the collection at $15 million - which belongs to Turkey, according to the New York Post.Another item was a seventh-century Chinese funerary artifact that was still filled with dirt, a sign that it had previously been looted; it has since been returned to China. Additional artifacts include a mixing bowl and an amphora from the sixth century B.C., among many others.Matthew Bogdanos, head of the Antiquities Trafficking Unit, described White's apartment asDespite many of White's purchased artifacts being seized on suspicion of looting, it appears the Met is not trying to distance itself from the collector. White and her late husband, investor Leon Levy, had donated roughly $20 million to the organization. In 2007, after Levy passed away, the Met unveiled the Leon Levy and Shelby White Court, which the Times describes as theAdditionally, White is a member of numerous committees at the museum, including buildings, finance, and even acquisitions. According to the Times, she was recently placed on a task force focusing on issues relating to cultural property and practices for collection. She served as a trustee for 33 years, but now as emeritus trustee does not have voting power, offering advice instead.While investigators have not suggested White purposefully purchased the artifacts knowing they were stolen, some experts have expressed doubts.Colgate University director of museum studies Elizabeth Marlowe told the Times.Patty Gerstenblith, a professor at DePaul University, said,However, White's lawyer Peter A Chavkin says that any items in her collection deemed looted have been promptly andto itsHe also says White and Levy purchased all the antiquities infromdealers.Additionally, the Met appears to have defended her from attacks, with Met director Max Hollein saying she is awho has had anSince the 1970s, White and Levy have purchased over 700 artifacts from around the world, andare still included in the museum's collection, according to the Times. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office says it has concluded the investigation into White's collection, but that it will reexamine if new evidence comes forward.
Out of touch NC Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger (RINO-Rockingham) is one of the biggest boosters of allowing casinos to operate in North Carolina and he wants to put one in his home county. The people who live there take a different view and a massive crowd of five hundred of them turned out to a county commission meeting to oppose building a casino in Rockingham County. This is before the legislation has even passed the legislature. The grassroots wants Berger to stick his casino bill where the sun does not shine.

Those Rockingham County voters upset about the casinos are representative of much of the GOP grassroots across the state. So much so that gubenatorial candidate and former Congressman Mark Walker has come out in praise of those 500 standing up against the casinos. In doing so, he is taking a pot shot at increasingly unpopular Phil Berger.

https://dailyhaymaker.com/mark-walker-takes-aim-at-robinson-berger-on-casino-deal/

As he has on way too many issues, Mark Robinson is AWOL on the casino issue, and many now see him in Berger's orbit.

On the local level, Beaufort County's conservative state Representative Keith Kidwell has come out against the casinos, and its liberal Republican state Senator Jim Perry, for them. In fact, Perry, who is often a pay-for-play politician has been exposed as being heavily funded by casino interests.
The Special Investigator General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) is an office created to oversee aid to the previous pro-western government of Afghanistan but as federal agencies never seem to die, it is still around, and in this case that might be a good thing because they are still watched US funds go the Afghanistan. It they were not still working, we probably would not find out what was going on.

SIGAR has just issued a report on Biden admnistration financial aid to Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover and found that Biden has funneled $2.35 Billion to them, with another $1.7 Billion available to give to them. They reported that the Biden regime had been stonewalling them on providing information but they had ultimately ferreted it out.

Afghanistan under Taliban rule is not a friendly country like Ukraine. It is a rigid Islamic extremist dictatorship that is severely hostile to the US and to the west in general. Why in the world would any American government be sending them billions of dollars?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12386035/Biden-administration-given-2-35-BILLION-Taliban-withdrawal-Damning-report-reveals-huge-wastes-taxpayers-funds-20-years-Afghanistan.html

https://redstate.com/mike_miller/2023/08/08/shameless-biden-has-given-2-35-billion-to-ruthless-taliban-in-aftermath-of-disastrous-afghanistan-withdrawal-n789485

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/biden-has-handed-taliban-over-2-billion-2-years-sigar-report-finds
Staffing shortages nationwide are causing underlying financial problems for many ASCs and health systems, preventing efficient work and proper care, according to an Aug. 8 report from Medscape.

For Detroit-based Michigan Institute of Urology, its staffing shortages brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic seem to have become permanent, as its number of filled positions has fallen by 20 percent.

Physicians have been in short supply, as have administrators, front desk staff, schedulers and medical assistants. Shortages can harm practice growth and profit earnings.

Medscape recommends six key ways for practices to retain staff and stay profitable among shortages that have yet to recover.

First, create a great work culture for employees. While practices are struggling to afford raises, keep your employees happy with a strong culture and other perks, including time off, in-office events and small gifts of appreciation.

Second, remember that physicians play an important role in creating a positive work culture. Physicians should create strong relationships with staff members by getting to know them, making a habit of praising staff in front of patients, and avoiding yelling or sharp words.

Third, reward staff members who are doing a good job. Show that there are opportunities for professional growth within the organization.

Fourth, make sure to have a strong onboarding program. Poor onboarding can lead to poor morale among staff. Assign a mentor to new staff, and put together an onboarding guide that is used throughout the entire system.

Fifth, learn how to successfully run your practice with fewer staff members. Turn to automated services, including telemedicine, automatic appointment reminders, texting and emailing patients and directing them to web-based portals.

Sixth, cross-train your staff members. Teach staffers how to do a co-worker's job in case there are fewer filled positions within the organization or there is not enough work for a particular role.
In January, the Federal Trade Commission proposed a rule that would keep employees free from noncompete agreements nationwide. The rule would have an impact on physicians, around 37 percent of whom are bound by noncompete contracts.

States in the Midwest and on the East Coast have proposed their own noncompete changes this year.

In April, Indiana's House of Representatives voted in favor of a noncompete ban bill for primary care physicians, excluding specialty physicians. The ban would allow physicians the opportunity to change jobs without having to move out of a large radius from their current employer.

In July, the state law faced its first test when pediatric intensivist David Lankford, DO, sued his former employer, For Wayne, Ind.-based Lutheran Health Network, to get out of his noncompete agreement. The lawsuit alleges the agreement prohibits him from working in the Fort Wayne area for what could be years, although the details of his employment agreement are confidential.

In June, the New York Legislature also passed a bill aiming to stop employers from entering into noncompete agreements with their employees. The Connecticut Legislature passed a similar bill, amending the state's physician noncompete statute.

The Connecticut law amends noncompetes signed on or after July 2016 to last no longer than one year or extend beyond a 15-mile radius from their primary site of practice.
New York City-based gastroenterologist Zhi Alan Cheng, MD, has been charged with 50 new counts in criminal court for drugging and sexually assaulting several women, including a patient, The New York Times reported Aug. 7.

Dr. Cheng, who was employed by New York City-based NewYork-Presbyterian Queens from July 2020 to December 2022, was arrested in December after his girlfriend discovered videos of him allegedly drugging and assaulting her, according to the report. The police then found devices with other recordings at his home.

At least five other women were allegedly assaulted at hotel rooms, at homes or at the hospital by Dr. Cheng, according to the report.

On Dec. 30, Dr. Cheng was indicted by a grand jury and charged with rape, assault, unlawful surveillance and sexual abuse, among other charges.

"Prosecutors said the assaults were part of a brutal, methodical pattern in which Mr. Cheng drugged women with liquid anesthesia before attacking them," according to the Times. "Many later woke with no memory of what had happened."

Another civil suit, which names NewYork-Presbyterian, alleges Dr. Cheng assaulted a 19-year-old woman who was admitted to the emergency room with gallstone-induced abdominal pain. On June 21, 2021, two days after she was admitted, Dr. Cheng allegedly examined the victim without other staff present, performing an invasive and unnecessary rectal examination under the guise of medical treatment. He later returned to her room and allegedly gave her an injection that caused her to lose consciousness.

As caregivers, we are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of our patients - it is a sacred trust. The crimes committed by this individual are heinous, despicable, and a fundamental betrayal of our mission and our patients trust," NewYork-Presbyterian spokesperson Angela Smith Karafazli said in a statement to Becker's. "We are appalled and deeply saddened by what these victims and their families have endured. In December 2022, as soon as the District Attorney made us aware of allegations of sexual abuse against this individual, he was immediately placed off duty, banned from hospital property, and terminated. We have been fully cooperating with the Queens District Attorneys office, the NYPD, and the NYS Department of Health. We have numerous stringent patient safety policies and protocols in place and our exhaustive review of this matter included an analysis of compliance with those policies, as well as the immediate implementation of additional training for all employees. At the same time, we have been examining the full breadth of our protections to identify any opportunities for further strengthening, in line with our unwavering commitment to the highest standard of patient safety and care.
The Wisconsin Dentistry Examining Board recently voted on a change to speed up the licensing process for dentists, WISPOLITICS reported Aug. 8.

Applicants in the state must complete a written national exam and a practical examination administered by a third party. In its July meeting, the board authorized the Marquette University School of Dentistry in Milwaukee to administer the practical examination.

Marquette University is the only dental school in the state. The move allows students at the university to complete the examination before graduating.
Chicago-based Aspen Dental is continuing its expansion with the opening of its first Nevada office Aug. 10.

Aspen Dental now supports more than 1,000 offices in more than 40 states.

Whitney White, DDS, will lead the Las Vegas practice. She recently spoke with Becker's about her goals for the new office, her social media following and the trends she is following in the dental industry.

Editor's note: Responses were lightly edited for clarity and length.

Question: What's been most exciting about opening this practice?

Dr. Whitney White: We have been seeing so many patients walk in before we're even open [who are] looking forward to having Aspen near them. We get to serve a great patient base and there's a need. We're not even open yet and we're seeing the patients wanting to come see us. Since it's the first Aspen Dental in Nevada, it's going to have a lot of draw to it. I think we're going to be a pretty busy office and it looks like on our first day we're going to be pretty much full of new patients trying to get treatment started.

How has your staff been gearing up for the practice opening?

WW: My staff has been so great. We have been here since last Monday, we were able to come into the office and get it ready to start seeing patients, so that entailed opening boxes, putting everything away [and] team bonding. Knowing each other is really important so we can best serve our patients. This week we're just going through everyday practicing [and] what we do for our patients and how to best serve them.

Q: What goals do you have for your practice once it is open?

WW: My biggest goal is to increase access to care. Aspen Dental has a very specific patient base where a lot of patients haven't gone to the dentist in probably five or more years. We see patients who have been putting off going to the dentist for a long time and we're that access for them. They know they can come see us, we have that advertising out there where they know they're not going to be judged when they come in, so we get to help people who really need dental help. That's what I strive to do, just be able to give that care patients need in the Nevada market.

Q: How do you use social media to educate your patients?

WW: I kind of went against the grain and started a dental Instagram because I was starting to find that my patients were on social media. They liked seeing me outside of the office and realizing they're not alone. Dentures have a stigma. People don't like to talk about it and when a patient realizes other people have dentures or other people have dental issues [and] when we talk about it and make it a normal thing, people are more accepting of it. They feel more confident in themselves. That was my desire to start the Instagram page and I've gotten really good feedback from my patients and people I've never even met. I've kind of become their Instagram dentist, so it's been really fun.

Q: What advice do you have for other dentists who are interested in working with Aspen Dental or other DSOs?

WW: Reach out to a DSO, Aspen especially, and shadow an office. That's the first step to seeing if that's the right move for you. I've never looked back. I love working for Aspen. They're a great partner for me and I think taking that first step, reaching out to Aspen, all of their answers will be there and they'll be able to get any questions they have answered. It's a really good support system.

Q: What trends are you following in the dental industry?

WW: I love that we can offer our patients clear aligners. Aspen Dental has Motto clear aligners and it can really help patients' confidence just straightening one crooked tooth or fixing somebody's bite. It's a really simple way to make somebody feel confident again. I also love the fact that we now have implants. Both of those are my most exciting things about dental technology. Things just keep improving. Another dental technology that's really exciting is digital dentures. Digital dentures are going to be something that helps our patients get a denture that fits them perfectly, looks natural and helps them eat better. There are a lot of exciting things in the dental world. Clear aligners, implants and digital dentures are probably my most favorite right now.
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), speaks during a meeting with local businesspeople in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday. Yonhap



An email threatening to detonate an explosive in downtown Seoul if South Korea's opposition leader Lee Jae-myung is not killed has led police to search the National Assembly, officials said Tuesday.



According to the police and the secretariat of the National Assembly, the email threatened to bomb a library in the capital if Lee of the Democratic Party (DP) is not killed by 3:34 p.m. Wednesday.



The author wrote "the range of the bomb was 334 meters from" the library in downtown Seoul but did not specify the library.



They said the email was sent to a number of people, including officials in the Seoul metropolitan government, the previous day. Sent from a Japanese account, the email contained phone and fax numbers of a Japanese law firm, as well as some unclear English-written messages.



Police received the report around 4:45 p.m. and dispatched a bomb disposal team to conduct a search of the parliament for an explosive.



Investigators are also tracking the email's internet protocol address, while the National Assembly secretariat has provided security protection to Lee and strengthened patrols around the parliamentary building.



The DP confirmed it has received a Japanese terror threat against its leader but said he will go ahead with his schedule the next day. (Yonhap)


El Segundo, Calif.-based Pipeline Health is welcoming its first patients to a new inpatient behavioral health unit at its Coast Plaza Hospital in Norwalk in Los Angeles county.

The unit will also serve patients from other Los Angeles-area hospitals operated by Pipeline Health, which emerged from bankruptcy earlier this year.

The new unit at the Norwalk 117-bed acute care hospital will have an additional 37 inpatient beds, according to an Aug. 4 news release from Pipeline. The health system also wants to build a linked outpatient facility to also help serve underserved patients in the community.

CEO Robert Allen talked with Becker's in February to discuss how Pipeline has been able to emerge from bankruptcy.
Texas Children's opened a new $245 million medical tower as it converted a former Baylor College of Medicine clinic into a 190,000-square foot women's health tower, Houston Business Journal reported Aug. 7.

With the $245 million in financing, Texas Children's has invested $1 billion in women's health over the past 12 years. Through the expansion, Texas Children's expects to deliver more babies.

The new tower is connected to Texas Children's Main Tower through a sky bridge. The pavilion was created with the goal of reducing health inequities.

"I've said for years that one of the biggest problems in the world is gender inequality across the board, and that certainly applies in medicine and in health care," Texas Children's CEO Mark Wallace told the Houston Business Journal. "One of the reasons why access is as challenging as it is in the Greater Houston area [is that] we have such a large, uninsured population. And so that's something that Texas Children's Hospital has embraced, since our inception."
HVAC units at Hot Springs, Ark.-based National Park Medical Center are working overtime amid an ongoing heat wave, leading to uncomfortable temperatures in some areas of the facility. In response, the hospital has had to move some patients to cooler rooms.

"National Park Medical Center's top priority is providing safe, high-quality care to our community," the hospital said in a statement cited by NBC affiliate KARK in an Aug. 7 report. "As you know, our state has experienced extremely high temperatures in recent weeks. Like many other businesses in our area, our HVAC units have been running at maximum capacity to combat the historic, oppressive heat, and while they are not broken or malfunctioning, the comfort level of our facility has been impacted at some times," which has led the hospital to move some patients to cooler rooms and provide spot coolers and fans in patient care areas.

The sister of a patient who was admitted to National Park Medical Center's intensive care unit Aug. 4 told KARK temperatures reached 77 degrees in the patient's room over the weekend. Outside, temperatures were in the 90s.

"The comfort of our patients and staff is of the utmost importance to us and we have an ongoing relationship with county, state and federal regulatory agencies to ensure the safety of our patients," the hospital said in its statement.

During the week of July 31, excessive heat warnings were issued across most of the state as heat index values surpassed 100 degrees.
Hackers have thrown several hospitals around the country into chaos the past few days, as a healthcare ransomware attack has hit yet another big health system.

Culver City, Calif.-based Prospect Medical Holdings, a private equity-backed owner of 16 hospitals around the U.S., experienced a cyberattack Aug. 3, causing emergency departments to close, ambulances to be diverted, and other medical services to cease operations.

"Large health systems are big targets because they are quite complex companies that are well known for being a heterogeneous mix of new and old technologies, with layers of distributed support, and all in the context of critical digital service delivery," Jack Kufahl, chief information security officer of Ann Arbor-based Michigan Medicine, told Becker's. "That nature isn't going to change anytime soon. If anything, with the spate of sector mergers, the technological environment is going to be more complex as systems figure out how to integrate while continuing to provide ongoing healthcare delivery."

A recent University of Texas at Dallas study found that merging hospitals are particularly vulnerable to cyberattacks in the two-year window when the transaction is taking place.

With big health systems, "there are a lot of hands in the cookie jar" with all the internal and external IT access points, leaving more avenues for hackers to exploit, said Steven Ramirez, chief information security and technology officer of Reno, Nev.-based Renown Health.

He said many health systems also have legacy hardware and software systems, known in the industry as "technical debt," which only increases in the wake of mergers and acquisitions.

In 2022, Chicago-based CommonSpirit Health similarly fell victim to a ransomware attack  albeit on a larger scale  that disrupted operations at many of its more than 140 hospitals around the country.

"Hospitals are vulnerable because the medical systems used to treat patients aren't always given the priority for security updates from the medical device manufacturers nor the staff that support these medical systems," said Jeffrey Vinson, senior vice president and chief cyber and information security officer of Bellaire, Texas-based Harris Health System. "Healthcare systems and hospitals need to make cybersecurity a priority and understand that cybersecurity and patient care are uniquely intertwined, now and for the foreseeable future, in order to protect themselves."

Prospect Medical said in an Aug. 7 statement to Becker's that its IT teams "are working around the clock to securely restore access to our systems as quickly and as safely as possible, and in a manner that prioritizes our ability to provide patient care."

"While this incident has resulted in operational disruptions at our hospitals and affiliated providers, our clinical staff are trained to provide care in these types of situations," the health system said. "PMH physicians, nurses and staff are implementing workarounds to help mitigate any disruption and provide uninterrupted care to our patients."

Esmond Kane, information security chief of Dallas-based Steward Health Care, said it's a challenging time for CIOs, CFOs and CISOs to deal with cybersecurity, what with "stagnating budgets, an unprecedented talent marketplace, and increasingly industrialized cyber-crime."

"Big health systems solve for big problems  they're on a digital transformation journey to improve patient health and to remain competitive in these uncertain times," he said. "Ransomware actors contribute to that uncertainty. It's to their benefit to disrupt operations and spread confusion."

If health systems don't have centralized security programs or accurate inventory of vulnerable devices, their ability to stay secure is much more difficult than smaller organizations with fewer devices, said E'Jaaz Ali, CISO of Oakland, Calif.-based Alameda Health System.

Hackers also understand that health systems desperate to restore patient care and IT systems might be willing to pay ransom, said Anahi Santiago, CISO of Newark, Del.-based ChristianaCare.

"Unfortunately, many of the organizations that fall victim to ransomware could have avoided the attack by employing basic hygiene. Often the attacks leverage a vulnerability that could have been mitigated prior to the attack  that is not to say that this happens in every case," she said. "Patch and vulnerability management practices should be employed across the organization and serve as core components in any cybersecurity program."
Prospect Medical hospitals and outpatient clinics across the U.S. have transitioned to paper records or temporarily closed as their teams work to bring computer systems back online after an Aug. 3 ransomware attack.

Prospect Medical has 16 hospitals and 165 clinics and outpatient centers in five states, many of which were disrupted by the ransomware attack. Five updates:

1. Eastern Connecticut Health Network in Vernon, which has facilities for outpatient surgery and procedures, temporarily closed multiple locations due to IT complications related to the ransomware attack. Some locations and services remained closed on the morning of Aug. 7, according to the ECHN website.

2. Crozer Health based in Upland, Pa., also reported systemwide outages related to the ransomware attack. The three-hospital network diverted ambulances for stroke and trauma patients due to the attack, according to CNN. Crozer's 45-bed Delaware County Memorial Hospital in Drexel Hill remained temporarily closed as of Aug. 7, according to a note on the hospital's website.

3. The New York Times reported Waterbury (Conn.) Hospital, also part of the Prospect Medical network, reported service disruptions. The hospital transitioned to paper records after the ransomware attack and closed some outpatient and diagnostic services.

4. Waterbury HEALTH said in a Facebook update multiple locations including imaging and rehab centers would be closed on Aug. 7 due to the attack.

"Our computer systems are down due to a cybersecurity attack with the outage affecting all Waterbury HEALTH inpatient and outpatient operations. We will continue to evaluate our downtime capabilities and may reschedule some appointments. Waterbury Hospital is following downtime procedures, including the use of paper records, until this is resolved," the Facebook statement reads.

5. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the ransomware attack. Prospect Medical is working with law enforcement on the investigation and the National Security Council is "closely monitoring" the incident, according to CNN.
Tampa General Hospital is facing a lawsuit for a May 31 data breach that impacted 1.2 million patients, WFTS Tampa Bay reported Aug. 7.

Law firm Morgan & Morgan filed a lawsuit Aug. 7 on behalf of three individuals affected by the breach, alleging that the health system did not notify patients of the breach until two months after it occurred, therefore making those impacted more susceptible to identity theft.

Patient information stolen from Tampa General during the attack included Social Security numbers, names, addresses, phone numbers, health insurance information and some treatment information.

Tampa General said its security system prevented the criminal group from executing a ransomware attack because it was unable to encrypt the data.

The health system said it was also working with the FBI to further investigate the incident.
An Ohio health system is publicly fighting back about what it says is misinformation about it being posted on social media and reported in the news.

On the "Setting the Record Straight" page on its website, Chillicothe, Ohio-based Adena Health is refuting what it calls "false claims" about its employment practices, physician credentialing and land deals from "anonymous social media pages and tabloid websites posing as media outlets."

Adena Health has been sparring in court with three former orthopedic surgeons it sued for breach of contract and misusing confidential information. The surgeons then countersued, alleging retaliation, slander and antitrust violations. The physicians went on to work for a competing health system, Columbus-based OhioHealth. The case has "racked up more than 650 docket entries and an estimated $10 million in legal fees" over the past two years, the Scioto Valley Guardian reported.

"Adena looks forward to proving its allegations once the case returns from the court of appeals," health system CEO Jeff Graham wrote on the website. "In the meantime, please continue to reach out to Setting the Record Straight in order to get to the truth regarding what's happening. You are welcome to share the link for Setting the Record Straight with your friends and family. While some wish this would all just go away, know that I will continue to vigorously defend Adena against those who would do it harm."

The health system is also using the website to deny claims it let a physician perform transcatheter aortic valve replacements without the proper credentials. Another physician is suing Adena Health over allegations it fired him for reporting his concerns. The website posts a picture of the health system's Quality Seal of Approval from The Joint Commission.

The web page also pushes back against a news report that the health system purchased a 52-acre property for $3.5 million in 2021  purportedly to block OhioHealth from encroaching in its market  without the knowledge and approval of its board of trustees.
Cleveland-based University Hospitals tapped Harris Data Integrity Solutions to clean up Concord Township, Ohio-based Lake Health's patient index before transitioning to Epic.

The health system is working to eliminate crossover patient records and eliminate errors before it transitions to Epic. Lake Health joined University Hospitals in April 2021, according to an Aug. 8 Harris Data Integrity Solutions news release.

Harris Data Solutions is an Epic data remediation consultant.

"Duplicate and overlaid patient records can broadly impact patient care, safety, and outcomes, as well as increase costs and sap the productivity of clinicians and health information management professionals by diverting their focus away from core responsibilities. We're thrilled to be helping UH protect their patients and their EHR investment by ensuring the success of Lake Health's migration to Epic won't be hindered by a compromised master patient index," Lora Hefton, executive vice president of Harris Data Integrity Solutions, said in the release.
Ivelesse Mendez-Justiniano has been promoted to the position of vice president and chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer at NYC Health + Hospitals, according to an Aug. 7 news release sent to Becker's.

Ms. Mendez-Justiniano previously served as chief learning officer and interim chief of diversity and inclusion. She has held various leadership roles since joining the New York City-based health system in 1994, including in patient relations and quality management.

In her new role, she will oversee strategy development, language access, gender equity, health equity, workforce development and leadership development.
Salem (Mo.) Memorial District Hospital has called a special meeting for Aug. 9 to address the hospital budget and resignations of board members, according to a news release shared with The Salem News on Aug. 7.

A.J. Seay, a board member since 2007, and Willie Strader, a board member since 2019, resigned from the board Aug. 1.

The resignations came the same week as the hospital board announced the appointment of Jason Edwards as interim CEO of Salem Memorial, according to The Salem News.

"Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors would like to announce a change in administration," board member Ray Bruno said in an Aug. 3 news release, according to the publication. "Jason is a Salem native and has served the hospital and community in various roles for 20 years. Under Jason's leadership, SMH will continue to move forward and provide the highest quality patient-centered healthcare with compassion and professional excellence."

Mr. Edwards replaces Wayne Reid, who was appointed CEO in 2022. Rural Health Group, which was brought in to manage the hospital amid financial issues, hired Mr. Reid, according to The Salem News.

The publication reported that RHG, which on Aug. 1 announced it was ending its contract to run the hospital, effective Sept. 1, alleged breach of contract regarding the interim CEO appointment, and the hospital board.

RHG may terminate the contract with the hospital "immediately" but was willing to stay on for 30 days to help with the transition "under the assumption that the hospital would continue to honor the terms and provisions of the agreement," Dennis Davis, manager of RHG, told the hospital board, according to The Salem News.

RHG sent an amendment to the hospital Aug. 3 giving pay and supervision of the CEO over to Salem Memorial and releasing RHG from liability, the publication reported. The amendment was still under consideration as of Aug. 7.

Becker's reached out to the hospital and will update this article if more information becomes available.

Read the full report here.






Engineers test wave barriers set up along the coast at Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, Tuesday, as Typhoon Khanun is predicted to reach the country two days later. Yonhap



Government elevates crisis alert level to its highest



By Ko Dong-hwan



Typhoon Khanun has changed course. It is now heading toward the country's southern coast, a change from a forecast a few days ago that the northbound typhoon would hit southwestern Japan and pass over the sea between the two countries.



The latest forecast led to the early evacuation of tens of thousands of participants from the World Scout Jamboree venue on the reclaimed tidal flats of Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province. Most of the 37,000 evacuated Scouts are being relocated to Seoul and its surrounding areas.



The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said Tuesday Khanun's eye and core impact zone will scathe the west coast of Japan's Kyushu later the day and, keeping its northbound path, reach the middle of the southern coast of Korea on Thursday morning. The typhoon has been forecast to carry "strong" winds of 119 to 158 kilometers per hour once reaching the western waters of Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province.



Khanun will then lash the country and push north without changing course, reaching Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, on Thursday night and North Korea's Pyongyang the next morning, the KMA added. Throughout the on-land sweep, the entirety of South Korea and most parts of North Korea are expected to be under the typhoon's influence.



The latest projected course of Khanun runs closer to Seoul than what was expected the previous day when it was forecast to travel farther east from the country's capital. As a result, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters raised the crisis alert status to the highest level of "serious" from "alert" later in the day.



The KMA said they will start issuing typhoon warnings nationwide, starting with Jeju Island on Wednesday afternoon. The warnings will subsequently be issued to the mainland's southern coastal regions on Wednesday night, the central regions on Thursday morning and the capital region of Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province on Thursday afternoon.





This image from the Korean Meteorological Administration released on Tuesday shows Typhoon Khanun's expected path. Courtesy of Korean Meteorological Administration
The California Department of Public Health fined Inglewood, Calif.-based Centinela Hospital Medical Center $75,000 for "deficient practices" that led to a patient's death, the Los Angeles Times reported Aug. 7.

An investigation was launched in January after a Black woman admitted for labor and delivery died. Regulators found several patient safety concerns, which led to an immediate jeopardy status. That status was later removed when the hospital submitted a corrective plan.

The report found the hospital failed to ensure the patient was properly assessed and treated to prevent blood clots and did not follow up appropriately on her complaints. The hospital was also "faulted for nurses failing to tell a doctor when a patient in labor had concerning readings for their own vital signs or that of the fetus, as well as not following up when the patient complained of leg heaviness."

Centinela Hospital, part of the Prime Healthcare system, told the Times it is "in continual pursuit of ensuring the highest quality of care and forwarding health equity for all patients and our community" and cited recent accolades for the hospital.

The negative findings from public health officials come just after the hospital was given its 10th consecutive "A" safety grade designation from hospital watchdog organization The Leapfrog Group.
University of Iowa plans to acquire Mercy Iowa City, a 234-bed, financially troubled hospital that is resisting an investment firm's takeover, according to a news release shared with Becker's.

Mercy Iowa City has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the Northern District of Iowa. Included in that filing is a reference to a letter of intent between Mercy Iowa City and the State of Iowa that outlines the plan to transition Mercy Iowa City to become part of UI Health Care. The affiliation requires approval from the university board of regents, state of Iowa, and the bankruptcy court.

"We have always maintained great respect for Mercy Iowa City, knowing the vital role it has played in our community since 1873," University of Iowa President Barbara J. Wilson and College of Medicine Dean Denise J. Jamieson, MD, said in a joint statement. "As members of the same community, many of us know and care about people who work at Mercy Iowa City. We want you to know that leaders from the University of Iowa, UI Health Care, and Mercy Iowa City are working together to avoid significant disruption. Although many decisions will be in the hands of the bankruptcy court, we share a goal to preserve and enhance local and regional access to quality healthcare and jobs."

Mercy Iowa City has seen tumult in recent months. In late July, its biggest investor  Preston Hollow Community Capital  filed a petition for receivership of the hospital. The Texas-based investment firm argued that the hospital is "in financial freefall" and sought to take over operations.

"The recent actions of one of our largest creditors has significantly and negatively impacted the hospital and resulted in this bankruptcy filing," Mark E. Toney, chief restructuring officer of the hospital, said in a news release. "The Board and management moved rapidly to secure a partner to maintain health care in our community."

Before the actions of Preston Hollow Community Capital, in April, Mercy Iowa City announced the end of its management agreement with Des Moines, Iowa-based MercyOne, which had been in place since 2017. At the same time, Mercy Iowa City named Tom Clancy, PhD, RN, president and CEO and hired management and advisory firm ToneyKorf Partners to develop and implement an operational improvement plan.

The changes followed a downgrade from Moody's in March due to "severe cash flow deterioration" and headwinds with high management turnover and performance improvements.

UI Hospitals & Clinics is the "clinical nucleus" of UI Health Care and includes the main adult-care hospital, a specialized disabilities and development outpatient facility (serving pediatric and adult patients), and UI Stead Family Children's Hospital. As a system, it has 866 inpatient beds and more than 11,200 employees.
Healthcare workers have participated in labor strikes across the U.S., citing concerns about staffing, patient care, working conditions and employee retention.

Thirteen strikes reported by Becker's Hospital Review this year:

Note: This article was updated on Aug. 8 and will continue to be updated.

1. Members of SEIU Healthcare Illinois entered the second week of a strike Aug. 7 over what they allege are substandard wages and the urgent need for safe staffing at Chicago-based Loretto Hospital.

2. Members of United Steelworkers Local 4-200 went on strike Aug. 4 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, N.J. As of Aug. 8, the strike was ongoing.

3. Members of Service Employees International Union Healthcare Michigan went on strike Aug. 4 at Trinity Health Grand Haven (Mich.) Hospital.

4. Members of the Rochester Union of Nurses and Allied Professionals began a two-day strike Aug. 3 at Rochester (N.Y.) General Hospital.

5. Nurses who went on strike at Ascension Via Christi St. Joseph and Ascension Via Christi St. Francis hospitals in Wichita, Kan., and Ascension Seton Medical Center in Austin, Texas, returned to their scheduled shifts beginning the morning of July 1. The strike involved members of the National Nurses Organizing Committee, an affiliate of National Nurses United.

6. Nurses and clinicians began a five-day strike June 19 at Providence Portland Medical Center, Providence Seaside Hospital, and Providence Home Health and Hospice, all in Oregon. The strike involved members of the Oregon Nurses Association, a union that represents about 1,800 nurses and clinicians at the three organizations.

7. Members of the Committee of Interns and Residents and Mount Sinai in New York City reached a tentative agreement May 24, ending a three-day strike at NYC Health + Hospitals' Elmhurst Hospital Center.

8. Members of the National Union of Healthcare Workers went on strike April 19 at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland (Calif.).

9. Members of United Public Workers ended their nearly two-month strike in April at Maui Health hospitals by approving a new contract.

10. Members of UE Local 1004 held a strike March 20 at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital in Valencia, Calif.

11. In February, Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente reached a tentative agreement with members of the National Union of Healthcare Workers to end a mental health workers' strike in Hawaii, which was ongoing for about six months.

12. Thousands of New York City nurses ended their strike in January after reaching tentative contracts. Members of the New York State Nurses Association went on strike for three days at Mount Sinai Medical Center on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.

13. After a nine-day strike, members of the California Nurses Association returned to work Jan. 2 at Sutter Health's Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, which has three campuses in Oakland and Berkeley.
The Emergency Care Research Institute recently named 12 health systems as recipients of its supply chain award.

Here are the 12 leaders at the winning systems:

Lee Baldwin, vice president of supply chain management at Portland, Maine-based MaineHealth, has been in the role since April 2020. He has also worked at St. Cloud, Minn.-based CentraCare Health System; Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Avera Health; and Sioux Falls-based Sanford Health.

Rosa Costanzo, vice president of supply chain and strategic sourcing at Miami-based Jackson Health System, has worked in the supply chain industry for more than 25 years and has been in her current role for 12 years.

Justin Freed, vice president at Adventist Health System, previously served as vice president of resource engineering and hospitality group for Renton, Wash.-based Providence's California region prior to joining Adventist in 2019. Adventist's west division in Roseville, Calif., won the ECRI award. Mr. Freed has also served as assistant vice president of supply chain for Providence and as executive supply chain director at Loma Linda (Calif.) University Medical Center.

Jorge Hernandez has been vice president of supply chain and chief procurement officer of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Broward Health for nearly six years. Before joining Broward Health, Mr. Hernandez was the assistant vice president of Dallas-based Tenet's supply chain in its southern division.

Jennifer Krnavek, senior director of strategic sourcing and value analysis of supply chain purchasing, has worked at Dallas-based Children's Health for 17 years. Ms. Krnavek has occupied multiple supply chain roles at Children's Health, including value analysis specialist, purchasing manager and strategic sourcing director.

Phyllis McCready, vice president and chief procurement officer of New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health, has been at the system for nearly 30 years. She also serves as president and CEO of the North Shore-LIJ Alliance, which is Northwell's group purchasing organization.

Michael McCullough has been the senior vice president of supply chain at Wellstar Health System in Marietta, Ga., since December 2018. Mr. McCullough has previously served as the vice president of supply chain at Livonia, Mich.-based Trinity Health and held multiple supply chain positions at St. Louis-based Ascension.

Jason Moulding has been the chief supply chain officer of MultiCare Health System in Tacoma, Wash., since October 2021 after working as the system vice president of supply chain management for five years. He has also served in supply roles at Renton, Wash.-based Providence and Overlake Medical Center in Bellevue, Wash.

Keith Murphy began serving as University of Miami Health System's chief supply chain officer in 2018 after working at Yale New Haven (Conn.) Health for 14 years. At Yale New Haven Health, he was the system director of strategic sourcing and clinical value analysis for 10 years and executive director of corporate supply chain for four years.

Kevin Phelps is the executive director of supply chain management at Northeast Georgia Health System. Before joining the Gainesville, Ga.-based system in 2017, he served in multiple supply chain roles at Piedmont Athens Regional, a system based in Athens, Ga.

Bob Taylor has served as RWJBarnabas Health's senior vice president of supply chain for six years. Before joining the West Orange, N.J.-based system, he held hospital supply chain roles at Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare and Birmingham, Ala.-based UAB Medicine.

Tom Taylor is supply chain director of Honolulu-based Hawai'i Pacific Health. His career history is not publically available.
U.S. News & World Report has named its top 50 orthopedic hospitals in the U.S. for 2023 and 2024, including four hospitals in Pennsylvania.

Here are some of the top leaders at the four best orthopedic hospitals in Pennsylvania:

Michele Volpe previously spent 23 years as CEO of the Hospitals of the University of Pennsylvania-Penn Presbyterian hospital in Philadelphia, the 20th best orthopedic hospital in the U.S., according to the U.S. News & World Report rankings. Ms. Volpe was recently named chief operating officer of the entire Penn Medicine system, so the system is still looking to fill the Penn Presbyterian CEO position. Kevin Majoney serves as CEO of the entire Penn Medicine system, originally joining in 1996.

Brian Nester, DO, serves as CEO of the Lehigh Valley Health Network. Allentown-based Lehigh Valley Cedar Crest ranked 27th on the list of the best orthopedic hospitals in the U.S. Dr. Nester has served as president and CEO since 2014. He first joined Lehigh in 1998, and has held several leadership positions during his tenure. He is also trained in emergency medicine.

Alexander Vaccaro, MD, PhD, is the president of Rothman Orthopaedics at Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals in Philadelphia, the 34th best hospital for orthopedics in the U.S. He has served as president since 2014 and is also a professor and chairman in the department of orthopedic surgery at Thomas Jefferson University. He has served for other orthopedic specialty organizations, including the North American Spine Society, the Cervical Spine Research Society and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Don McKenna is the interim president of Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, the 50th best hospital for orthopedics in the U.S. He first joined the system in 2020 and was named interim president in July 2023. When a full-time president is selected, Mr. McKenna will return to his role as West Shore Regional president of Hampden and Holy Spirit medical centers. Previously, he served as president and CEO of two health systems, including Jupiter (Fla.) Health and St. Mary's Healthcare System in Athens, Ga.
Deepak Reddy, MD, of South Bend (Ind.) Orthopedics completed the first solo SynerFuse procedure.

SynerFuse combines spinal fusion with neuromodulation to eliminate the need for opioids after surgery. Dr. Reddy performed the milestone case July 28 at Unity Physicians Hospital in Mishawaka, Ind., according to an Aug. 8 news release shared with Becker's.

Dr. Reddy's case is the 12th completed and the first done outside of Minnesota. He and Rohan Lall, MD, are studying its safety for a clinical trial.
Nearly one-third of NI employers who offer hybrid working are now planning to do more to draw employees back into the office, a survey has found

Almost a third of employers here with a hybrid working policy are planning to ask staff to come into the office more, according to a survey by a recruitment firm.

Hays annual What Workers Want survey found that 69% of Northern Ireland-based employers surveyed offered hybrid working to staff.

But an employment lawyer has said that employees here are missing out on full legislative protections of a right to flexible working which are now available in the Republic and Great Britain.

Over half (54%) of Northern Ireland professionals told the survey by Hays that their preferred way of working is hybrid.

However, just over one-quarter (26%) said they prefer fully working in the office, and only one in five (20%) have a preference for full remote working.

According to the survey, 43% of Northern Ireland employers offer flexible working to all staff, whereas 53% assess each role individually.

Read more Greater flexible working could boost staff retention in Northern Ireland

Of the employers polled, 28% said they expect their hybrid offering to change this year, with 12% saying they are already offering incentives to encourage staff back to the office and a further 13% of employers said they are considering it.

John Moore, managing director of Hays in NI, said: While people working in many industries have to be in their workplace every day to do their job, for those whose roles are more office based and reliant only on having access to a computer and the internet, there has been a cultural shift towards remote and hybrid working patterns since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Many employers have adapted and accepted that hybrid will be their model for the long term. But others now feel they need more time when their people are together and are offering incentives to encourage people into the workplace.

Each employer will need to find what works for them but while the labour market is so tight, it is incumbent on them to work out what it is that prospective employees want in order to join or stay with their organisation.

John Moore, managing director, Hays NI

Read more Donal Laverty: The importance of employee visibility in a hybrid world

Half of all employers said they regarded the prospect of better hardware and software in the office as a draw for their staff. And half said bike storage and showers would be another pull factor.

However, one-third of employers in NI surveyed by Hays believed that free or subsidised gym facilities would help get people back in, while another one-third believed offering social events would do the trick.

But for employees themselves, the most attractive incentives were subsidised lunches, an on-site cafe, subsidised travel and access to a gym.

While some employers are keen to attract staff back to the workplace, 44% of those surveyed expected the proportion of employees based fully remotely to increase in the next 12 months.

However, around one in five think it will decrease, with around one third thinking it will stay the same.

At 82%, a strong majority of employers said that transparency about their approach to flexible working was very or quite important to attracting staff, while 94% of staff viewed it was very or quite important. Of the employees surveyed, 72% said the use of hybrid or remote working is included in their contract.

The UK-wide survey received 8,853 responses, including 382 from Northern Ireland.

Read more Why employers cant dismiss appeal of hybrid working

The survey also found that employers continue to introduce new measures to improve employee wellbeing, to help them attract and keep talent.

Hays found 16% of organisations have implemented a policy of not having meetings at lunchtime or during certain hours of the day.

And 15% said they have put in place a limit on the duration of meetings, while 9% have implemented meeting-free days.

Seamus McGranaghan, director at OReilly Stewart Solicitors in Belfast, said legislation which could bring new rights for workers in Northern Ireland has been on hold due to a lack of a functioning Executive. The situation simply cant continue, he said.

He said employees here were missing out on having more flexibility over where and when they work, compared to those in Great Britain and the Republic.

A Private Members Bill on Flexible Working had reached Royal Assent last month, becoming the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023. However, that applied only to England, Scotland and Wales.

Seamus McGranaghan, O'Reilly Stewart Solicitors

And in the Republic, the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 had become law in April, giving the statutory right to employees to make a request to work remotely.

Mr McGranaghan said flexible working brought clear benefits for businesses and employees alike.

The UK Act provided workers with the right to request flexible working from day one of a new job. However, in Northern Ireland you must have worked for your employer for 26 weeks continuously.

Mr McGranaghan said: Under the law your employer must seriously consider any application you make, and only reject it if there are good business reasons for doing so. You have the right to ask for flexible working - not the right to have it. Currently employers can reasonably decline your application where there is a legitimate business ground.

These circumstances set an unworkable precedent that will cause continuous friction between employers and employees. Staff retention is one of the biggest factors for employers today and without the correct legislation in place we are faced with disjointed working practices that will ultimately affect business output.
A six-storey office building in Belfast city centre has gone on the market with an asking price of 11.15m.

Forsyth House, on the corner of East Bridge Street and Cromac Street, was built in 2005.

Richard McCaig, selling agent at commercial property agency Osborne King, said the building had been put on sale by its UK-based private client owner as it would soon be fully let.

That meant that the building would have nearly 10 years of secure income for an investor, he said.

Its the most significant lot size available currently on the market, he said.

Mr McCaig said the buildings biggest tenant is flexible office company Regus, which extended their lease for another decade in summer last year, leaving them with 13 years unexpired.

And investor services group IQEQ had also fully refurbished their office, with around six years remaining on their lease.

Mr McCaig added: We have also had success letting the ground floor retail/leisure units to Hench Gym who have invested heavily in their space over the last 12 months and are in the process of expanding,

The final vacant unit has been agreed to a professional services business and the building will be fully let as of September 1.

The owner was also carrying out work to improve the buildings environmental credentials, he said.

Mr McCaig added: The tenants have all invested in their space recently showing that they are happy in occupation and intend to be there for the long term.

My clients model is to enhance and let high quality buildings and simply wish to sell as there is nothing more we can do to enhance the building.

According to Future Belfast, a website which tracks the city centres buildings, Forsyth House was first placed the market in January 2007 with an asking price of 11.75m.

It was sold again in 2015, along with nearby Floral Buildings, to a London property company for an undisclosed sum.
Conor Boyle, outgoing regional managing Director Lidl Northern Ireland (right) with JP Scally, chief executive of Lidl Ireland and Lidl Northern Ireland last year

Conor Boyle, who has served as Lidl Northern Ireland regional managing director since 2016, is leaving to take up a role as Lidl CEO in Finland

The managing director of discount supermarket Lidl in Northern Ireland is leaving to take up a role as company chief executive in Finland.

Lidl announced the departure of Conor Boyle following seven years as managing director here on Monday.

Mr Boyle will be succeeded as regional managing director for Lidl Northern Ireland by Ivan Ryan.

The company said: Ivan, who joined Lidl in 2007 and has worked across many areas of the business both locally and internationally, joins Northern Irelands fastest-growing supermarket retailer at an exciting time as it prepares to mark 25 years of growth and success in the region.

Prior to his appointment on August 1, Ivan held the position of senior director of IT and chief information officer at Lidl Ireland. He has also held senior positions in HR, operations and finance in the business.

New Lidl Northern Ireland managing director Ivan Ryan

According to his profile on LinkedIn, Mr Ryan holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in accounting from the Athlone Campus of the Technology University of the Shannon.

Writing on LinkedIn, Mr Boyle said: After an incredible seven years leading the team here in Lidl Northern Ireland, the time has come for me to move on to new pastures.

"To my colleagues  thank you so much for your hard work and dedication in helping us achieve unprecedented growth in Northern Ireland, now the fastest-growing supermarket in the region.

"The overwhelming sense of team spirit is so prevalent at Lidl Northern Ireland and you have made these past seven yeas the most enjoyable of my career to date  thank you.

Conor Boyle, outgoing regional managing Director Lidl Northern Ireland (right) with JP Scally, chief executive of Lidl Ireland and Lidl Northern Ireland last year

Mr Boyle has worked for the company since 2002 and was appointed chief executive of Lidl Sweden in August 2013.

He led the company in Sweden until his appointment as Northern Ireland managing director in 2016.
Faisal Ahmed Alexandre Lambert



By Faisal Ahmed and Alexandre Lambert



The most recent White House announcement of $345 million in military aid to Taiwan has infuriated China. China has accused the United States of turning Taiwan into a powder keg and ammunition depot. While the U.S. is all set to place a huge cost on China for any possible invasion of Taiwan, it is slowly losing its "position of strength" to China elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific region. In fact, in recent times, China seems to have adopted an aggressive posture in positioning itself as  what we call  a "guarantor of geostrategic security solutions (G2S2)" power in the Indo-Pacific. This has, increasingly, made a dent in the ability of the U.S. to remain a net security solutions provider in the region. And there are reasons to believe this is the case.



First, in March this year, China brokered a Saudi-Iran reconciliation, thus bringing the West Asian rivals diplomatically closer. In fact, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), now a trade bloc, was formed in 1981 out of fear of a possible Iranian attack. Saudi Arabia was the main force behind the establishment of the 6-member GCC congregation  formed after the 1979 Iranian revolution led by Ayatollah Khomeini.



Of late, the threat from Iran has guided the foreign policy pursuits of Saudi Arabia and a few other GCC countries. The contemporary issue of concern for them has been the Iranian nuclear program, and its support for Houthi rebels. However, as global geopolitics unfolded in the post-pandemic era, Saudi Arabia was adequately convinced that the U.S. could not be trusted in providing regional security solutions in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia now intends to secure its strategic vulnerabilities vis-a-vis Iran by leveraging Beijing's favorable relations with Tehran, which have been reinforced by Iran acceding to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization-SCO this year.



Second, in February this year, China called for a political settlement of the Ukraine Crisis and recommended a 12-point peace deal. Primarily, it called upon the U.S. to abandon its Cold War mentality, and asserted that expansion of military blocs cannot guarantee regional security in Europe. China also called for ensuring stability in supply chains, and putting an end to unilateral sanctions  albeit without naming the U.S. It also supported the Black Sea Grain Initiative for ensuring food security. This initiative, negotiated by Russia, Turkey and the United Nations in mid-2022 amid the war, sought to serve as a humanitarian corridor for allowing the exportation of Ukrainian grains and oilseeds. Russia, however, has recently pulled out of this initiative, suspecting Kyiv of being behind the attacks on the Crimean bridge. This withdrawal has inflicted a huge economic cost on Ukraine. The West is again looking forward to China  a major grain importer from Ukraine  to pressurize Russia to rejoin the initiative.



Third, China proposed a Global Security Initiative (GSI) in April 2022 aimed at upholding the principle of indivisible security. This year in February, it also presented a concept paper for its implementation that focused on both traditional and non-traditional security aspects. The paper also called for a United Nations-backed security governance that could potentially lead to post-war reconstruction efforts. Moreover, it succinctly called for a nuclear non-proliferation regime in Iran, Korean peninsula denuclearization and strengthening the Middle East security architecture  all of which have been witnessing a failure of American efforts.



Fourth, in 2022, China entered into a security agreement with the Solomon Islands  a small island in the South Pacific. This alarmed both the U.S. and Australia, as it called for strengthening the island nation's national security, and created possibilities for deploying Chinese security forces there. Also, recently a deal on police cooperation has been signed between China and the Solomon Islands. Most of the Pacific island countries including Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and others are signatories to the Belt and Road Initiative, and rely on Chinese investments, development aid and concessional loans.



Fifth, China is no stranger to the Indian Ocean islands. It has developed an overseas military base in Djibouti, and has been eyeing to establish such bases in the Seychelles, Madagascar and elsewhere. In the Western Indian Ocean, China is undertaking anti-piracy exercises too. Since 2008, the Indian Navy too has been undertaking anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden. India has also revived the Colombo Security Conclave formed in 2011 by India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The group now includes Mauritius as a new member, and Bangladesh and the Seychelles as Observers. Moreover, India's ambitious security initiative in the Indian Ocean i.e. Security and Growth for All in the Region-SAGAR was also unveiled in 2015. However, these frameworks have not received strong support from the U.S., which claims to work with its allies like India to strengthen Indo-Pacific security architecture, but seems to struggle to find a suitable regional role for itself.



Importantly, regional security initiatives like the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) have already been diluted by the U.S. to include several non-traditional security issues e.g. climate change etc. Also, the U.S. has shown an unsolicited urgency in co-opting the U.K. and Australia to form a new security alliance called AUKUS (Australia-U.K.-U.S.). In fact, in April this year, China already gave Mandarin names to almost a score of sea-bed features in the Indian Ocean, and a Chinese seismic survey ship Hai Yang Shi You 760 also conducted ocean bed mapping. As the Sino-U.S. rivalry takes its own course amid mutual counter-narratives, without doubt, many smaller economies in the Indo-Pacific may be compelled to rely on China as their new G2S2 power.





Faisal Ahmed is a professor in the field of international business teaching trade and geopolitics at the FORE School of Management, New Delhi, India. Alexandre Lambert is the academic director of the Geneva Institute of Geopolitical Studies, Geneva, Switzerland.


From left, new Northern Ireland Chamber chief executive Suzanne Wylie, BDO NI managing partner Brian Murphy and quarterly economic survey economist Maureen O'Reilly

Northern Ireland has a good package to offer visitors to the investment summit in Belfast next month regardless of Stormonts status, business leaders have said.

Reporting signs of improved confidence among companies in the Northern Ireland Chambers latest quarterly economic survey, new chief executive Suzanne Wylie said firms here were demonstrating competence, resilience and creating their own opportunities.

Its really encouraging businesses are saying, even without a functioning Assembly, that were just going to solve these problems ourselves, were going to get on with things and have a can-do attitude, said Ms Wylie.

I think that bodes really well for the investment conference. We need to capitalise on that opportunity.

The investment conference is due to take place on September 12 and 13.

Brian Murphy, managing partner of business advisory firm BDO NI, which conducted the survey of 188 members on behalf of NI Chamber, added: The economy has done remarkably well and opportunity is there to take that momentum and supercharge it.

We can sell the stability that actually exists in NI, because of the business success were seeing here.

Theres a bit of bring them, show them and I think theyll be impressed by what we actually have.

"Yes, it would be nice to have the full package, but we actually have a good package to offer even without that.

Ms Wylie started her position at the Chamber this month after a year in the role of chief executive of the Government of Jersey. Previously, she was chief executive of Belfast City Council for seven years.

BDOs survey of business sentiment for the second quarter of 2023 was largely positive, with signs of recovery emerging and the NI economy outperforming the UK overall.

Labour costs are overtaking pricing as the biggest concern for businesses, said economist Maureen OReilly, during a presentation of the survey results at BDOs Belfast office.

And interest rates are starting to kick in, with the corporation tax hike and competition offering further challenges. Theres more to deal with for business in different ways, said Ms OReilly.

Public spending cuts were identified as a concern for 74% of respondents, with water charges emerging as a strong contender for raising revenue.

Decision making feels quite siloed right now, said Ms OReilly, while NI Chamber policy and public affairs manager Phil Murray identified issues around the slow process of public procurement.

Business sentiment around the Windsor Framework was also sought in the survey, with only 2-3% of respondents believing it was either negative or very negative for both their own business and the NI economy.

Respondents with a positive expectation of its impact totalled 44% in relation to their own businesses and 56% for the NI economy.

And NI Chamber head of public affairs Stuart Anderson said many of the 20% laying claim as unsure were on the operational side of business and waiting to see how it would pan out.

Theres a recognition this is important, said Ms OReilly, as well as a weariness around we wont make enough of the opportunity offered to us.

Q2 saw growth in export sales and employment, and increased confidence around turnover, profits and investment intentions, said BDO.

Domestic sales represented the only weak spot, albeit an improved performance on the last quarter.

A total of 62% felt positive their turnover would grow over the next 12 months, with domestic sales up for 35% over the last three months and 33% reported improving export order books for the next quarter.

The labour market remains tight but there are signs of easing, said BDO, with members experiencing recruitment difficulties down from 87% to 79% over the last two quarters.

Inflation remains a concern, but members expecting to raise prices fell from 60% to 46% between Q1 and Q2. Weve seen that soften, said Ms OReilly.

Energy costs are still rising, with 61% seeing increases of up to 30% in Q2, but those reporting any increase dropped from 90% to 80% between Q1 and Q2.

In manufacturing, NI is outperforming UK averages across key indicators, with expectations for domestic orders over the next three months the only area tipping into negative territory. It has climbed into the top tier of regional rankings.

A confident service sector ranked highest across the UK regions, with 53% expecting turnover growth over the next 12 months.

Recovery in the manufacturing and service sector projected a sense of stability, said Ms OReilly, while the 20% of businesses just about covering costs or struggling rang no serious alarm bells.

Even that 20% isnt leading to insolvencies, said Mr Murphy. People are managing their positions.

Demand has slowed down for 53% of respondents, albeit down from 64% in Q2 2022, with Mr Anderson identifying the retail sector as facing the greatest danger.

Planning reform and investment in infrastructure is needed to propel the economy onward, said Mr Murphy.

The economy is in an incredibly positive place compared to where we have been after the major impact of Covid, he said. We have Invest NI, Tourism NI with a fantastic product to sell and we need to enable them to be able to go out and sell it.

People are keen to invest NI and see its potential with the same benefits the tech sector has taken advantage of in the Republic of Ireland.

We would love to get to the point where were sustainable in NI, he said.
British actor and TV presenter Adam Thomas is the latest celebrity contestant confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing 2023.

The 34-year-old, who played Adam Barton in soap Emmerdale and most recently reprised his role as Donte Charles in BBC Ones drama Waterloo Road, appeared in ITVs Im A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here in 2016 and went on to co-host the spin-off show Im A Celebrity: Extra Camp.

He is the eight contestant confirmed for the upcoming series of the dancing competition, after actress Amanda Abbington, Bad Education star Layton Williams, broadcaster Angela Rippon, journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy, comedian Eddie Kadi, Irish TV presenter Angela Scanlon and former Love Island star Zara McDermott.

Appearing on Hits Radio Breakfast Show to reveal he will be hitting the Strictly dancefloor, Thomas said: I am so excited to be joining the cast of this years Strictly Come Dancing. Ive been such a big fan of the show for years, I cant believe Im actually doing it.

I cant dance to save my life but Im buzzing to learn and have a good laugh with my pro. Get me on that dance floor I cant wait!

In 2020, Thomas teamed up with his brothers Ryan and Scott for a six-part ITV travel series Absolutely India: Mancs In Mumbai where they took their father back to Mumbai to trace their heritage and long-lost relatives.

The brothers also host popular podcast series Mancs On The Mic.
GAA

Shane McPartlan gets his timing right to thwart Crossmaglen and earn Clan na gael deserved draw
The application to release 42-year-old Darren Service was rejected at Belfast Crown Court.

The gym owner, from Ballysillan Road in the north of the city, has been in custody for 17 months on charges of preparation of terrorist acts, hijacking and placing an article causing a bomb hoax.

Its this passage of time, as well as health issues concerning his young daughter, that prompted the bid for bail.

On March 25, 2022 a workman was threatened and forced to transport a device placed in the back of his vehicle by two masked men to a peace-building event on the Crumlin Road.

Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney was attending the event at the Houben Centre in the Holy Cross Church, and after the van driver alerted police to the device in his van, the centre was evacuated in what was later described as a hoax bomb alert.

It's the Crown's case that the two masked men who hijacked the van were driven to the scene and dropped off by Service.

A prosecutor told Judge Mark Reel the bail application was opposed.

Read more Belfast businessman (41) denies alleged involvement in Simon Coveney bomb hoax

Revealing Service has already been refused bail on three previous occasions, she described last March's incident as terrorist offences "carried out by the UVF".

The prosecutor said that when Service's home was searched in the aftermath of the incident, officers seized 100,000 located in a safe as well as balaclavas, a replica firearm, UVF pins and luxury watches.

Telling Judge Reel "the risks of re-offending are embedded in this case", she also highlighted concerns of interfering with witnesses and said currently "no bail conditions will manage any risks involved".

Regarding the issue of passage of time, she said that whilst the Crown accepts "at some point in time, regardless of what the charges are, an applicant should be granted bail, the prosecution say that time has not been reached".

Branding the 17 months Service has now spend in custody as "disproportionate" and "excessive", defence barrister Joseph O'Keefe said that after the incident his client attended with police voluntarily and was "not sought out".

The defence barrister also raised issues concerning Service's daughter, who has been diagnosed with autism, and the difficulties now faced both by the child and her mother.

Mr O'Keefe said this diagnosis has caused "deep distress" to Service who wants to be with his daughter and assist his partner.

He added that due to his daughter's diagnosis and after spending the last 17 months on remand, it was "unthinkable" that Service would reoffendg or breach bail if released as "his focus will be on his daughter and partner, and not elsewhere".

After listening to submissions from the Crown and defence, Judge Reel concluded that the risks of re-offending and interfering with witnesses "continue to exist" and refused the application.

He did, however, note that a legal bid to dismiss the charges against Service is being held next month and "at that juncture it may well be appropriate to revisit the issues in this application".
A watchdog report has raised concerns over crowding at the emergency department of the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast (Paul Faith/PA)

A patient brandished a knife at hospital staff and tried to stab himself in the stomach, a court heard today.

Prosecutors said Dilara Rostami struck one of the female victims with the blade during an outburst of anger at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

The 52-year-old Iranian national, of Thorndale Avenue in the city, pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon in public and two counts of common assault.

Belfast Magistrates Court heard he brandished the blade in the Emergency Department on July 3 this year.

Rostami had just been discharged after attending the hospital for a mental health assessment.

Crown lawyer Mark Conlon said: At that point he allegedly became annoyed, produced a knife and swung it around, pointing it directly towards two staff members.

He also appeared to attempt to stab himself in the stomach.

One of the hospital employees was struck on the fingers by the knife, but she appeared to suffer no injuries.

Rostami was set to be sentenced today after admitting the offences.

But District Judge Francis Rafferty requested more information after hearing the circumstances.

Adjourning the case to next month, he said: I need a report on this, its far too serious.
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The PSNI has apologised after a data breach of monumental proportions meant the force mistakenly published the names, ranks, locations and other personal data of every serving police officer and civilian employee.

The data from the PSNIs ultra-confidential human resources system is a gold mine for terrorists, offering details of officers working in intelligence and other highly sensitive areas  including almost 40 PSNI staff based with MI5.

During a media briefing held at PSNI headquarters on the Knock Road, Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) Chris Todd apologised for the data breach and said the information had been online for around three hours.

The material was wrongly published on the internet today by the PSNI in what was a described as a human error involving spreadsheet fields.

PSNI press conference after massive data breach amid severe terrorism threat level

Mr Todd said it was unacceptable, but added the force did not feel the breach posed an immediate security risk to any staff.

The spreadsheet in question contained standard statistical information on the strength of the PSNI, with details of how many officers it has at each rank.

However, a second tab in the spreadsheet contained multiple entries in relation to more than 10,000 individuals. For each individual, there are 32 pieces of data meaning that in total, there are about 345,000 pieces of data in the file.

The spreadsheet, which has been seen by the Belfast Telegraph after we were alerted to it by a relative of a serving officer, includes each officers service number, their status, their gender, their contract type, their last name and initials, details of how much of the week they work, and their rank.

It also includes the location where they are based (but not their home address), their duty type (from chief constable to detective, intelligence officer and so on), details of their unit (such as the anti-corruption unit or the vetting department), their branch and department, and other technical information about their employment.

There are 10,799 entries in the database. There are 9,276 police officers and police staff. It is not clear if the additional entries relate to other employees or former employees.

The data has been removed from the internet.

There are details of staff who are suspended, on career breaks, or partly retired.

It reveals members of the organised crime unit, telecom liaison officers, intelligence officers stationed at ports and airports, PSNI pilots in its air support unit, officers in the surveillance unit and  of acute sensitivity  almost 40 PSNI staff based at MI5s headquarters in Holywood.

There are a tiny number of individuals whose unit is given as secret. But although that does not disclose precisely what they do, it marks them out as operating in an acutely sensitive area  and then gives their name.

There are details of the specialist firearms team, of riot police  the TSG unit  and the close protection unit which guards senior politicians and judges.

There is even a list of people responsible for information security.

It is a breathtaking exposure of PSNI secrets.

One former senior PSNI officer told the Belfast Telegraph that it was astonishing and a huge operational security breach.

This is the biggest data breach I can recall in the PSNI, he said.

Many officers from Catholic communities dont tell their families, friends and ex-school colleagues  I worked with many who never did even in recent times. That is a huge issue when that community is still underrepresented and the PSNI is trying to encourage applicants.

He said that the system on which such sensitive data is stored is highly regulated internally because of that fact, so even if this information is compromised only internally its still big.

He added: This is freely circulating on WhatApp groups, including retired officers. It is in essence out there and can never be retrieved; the operating assumption must be it will be outside of the police family.

PSNI staff and civilians affected in major data breach

The former officer said that a data breach so catastrophic cant be blamed on a single member of staff, its a systemic failure, it shouldnt be possible this can happen by a slip of a pen so to speak.

There has been no suggestion from police sources that this breach was deliberate rather than a disastrous human error.

Mr Todd clarified that every serving police officer and member of police staff has had data compromised.

"In terms of the security for individuals, there's nothing at the moment to suggest there's any immediate security concerns, but we have put actions in place to ensure that if anything does arise we will be aware of that, and then we can mitigate accordingly."

He added: "This is human error.

"We've looked into the circumstances, we'll continue with our investigation, but the very early considerations are that this is simple human error and the people who have been involved in the process have acted in good faith.

"We've identified some steps that we can take to ensure that it doesn't happen again.

"It is regrettable but it is simple human error."

Mr Todd, who is the senior information risk owner of the police service, said the responsibility for the information leak was internal.

"Regrettably, this evening, I've had to inform the Information Commissioner's office of a significant data breach that we're responsible for," he said.

"What's happened is we've received a Freedom of Information request, that's quite a routine inquiry, nothing untoward in that.

"We've responded to that request, which was seeking to understand the total numbers of officers and staff at all ranks and grade across the organisation, and in the response, unfortunately, one of our colleagues has embedded the source data, which informed that request.

"So, what was within that data was the surname, initial, the rank or grade, the location and the departments for each of our current employees across the police service.

Mr Todd said the information was taken down very quickly.

"Although it was made available as a result of our own error, anyone who did access the information before it was taken down is responsible for what they do with it next. It is important that data anyone has accessed is deleted immediately, he said.

This is an issue we take extremely seriously and as our investigation continues we will keep the Northern Ireland Policing Board and the Information Commissioners Office updated.

The DUPs lead Policing Board representative Trevor Clarke said: This is a deeply alarming development and follows hot on the heels of separate reports of theft and trespassing on the police estate. The public will be rightly seeking answers and they deserve to see a robust response from the PSNI senior command.

Any data breach is unacceptable but more so when it disclose personal information identifying rank and file officers. The scale of this breach seems unprecedented.

This not only jeopardises the safety of officers but will further undermine morale within the organisation at a time when staff are holding the line amid unprecedented budget cuts.

Those employed by the PSNI in any capacity deserve to have their rights and interests protected by the leadership of the police force they serve.

It is high time errors of this magnitude become a thing of the past in the delivery of policing in Northern Ireland. We will raising these concerns with the Chief Constable directly in the coming days.

UUP leader Doug Beattie said: This is a unbelievable breach of data and staff security. It cannot be any more serious than this and hard to fathom how such a breach could happen accidentally.

Read more How PSNI pursued innocent officer for three years while not disciplining those it admits broke the law

It is understood an email has been sent to PSNI staff advising them not to forward links to the data breach and to delete them immediately.

The email also confirmed a Gold Group has been convened by ACC Todd to respond to the incident.

A Gold Group is the highest level of internal emergency response available to the PSNI and is generally convened in cases of serious public disorder or a major incident requiring the oversight of the ACC.

The ACC reports directly to the Chief Constable and if required, the national emergency committee COBRA in Whitehall.

One officer who contacted the Belfast Telegraph said: As a serving police officer, my own family do not know what I do. I have had to move house and out of the town I lived as advised by senior officers for security reasons. I deleted social media accounts now my full name and initials are widely available. It's a complete disaster.

The officer added: At a time where morale is already at a record low and we feel completely unsupported by senior management, this happens.

Read more I was loyal to the PSNI but the force has destroyed me, claims officer

The Chair of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, Liam Kelly, expressed dismay and anger last night.

He is insisting an urgent inquiry is required and wants to hear from the Chief Constable and his senior colleagues the steps they intend taking to limit the damage to protect identities.

Mr Kelly said: This is a breach of monumental proportions. Even if it was done accidentally, it still represents a data and security breach that should never have happened.

Rigorous safeguards ought to have been in place to protect this valuable information which, if in the wrong hands, could do incalculable damage.

The men and women I represent are appalled by this breach. They are shocked, dismayed and justifiably angry. Like me, they are demanding action to address this unprecedented disclosure of sensitive information.

We have many colleagues who do everything possible to protect their police roles. Were fortunate that the PSNI spreadsheet didnt contain officer and staff home addresses, otherwise we would be facing a potentially calamitous situation.

Inadequate or poor oversight of FOI procedures must be addressed and addressed urgently. New safeguards are obviously required to prevent this from ever happening again.

Ulster Unionist Policing Board representative Mike Nesbitt MLA, who earlier called for an Emergency Meeting of the PSNI watchdog, said the Board would meet on Wednesday morning at 10.00am.

He said: I have requested the Board call an Emergency Meeting tomorrow when the Board can hear directly from the PSNIs Senior Executive Team.

"It is imperative that officers, staff and their families and friends understand how seriously this breach is being taken and that the Board is determined to fulfil its oversight and challenge functions appropriately.

There are several issues here. First, ensuring those who now feel themselves at risk are given a realistic assessment of the implications of the data breach.

"Second, why was there no fail safe mechanism to prevent this information being uploaded.

"Third, there is the question of whether it was a genuine mistake and here, the principle of innocent until proven guilty applies.

I view this like a serious incident when people are seriously physically injured. The priority is to assist the injured. Only after that do you turn to examine the other issues. In other words, my thoughts are with those whose names have been released into the public domain, who had a reasonable expectation this would never happen.

Alliance leader and former Justice Minister Naomi Long MLA said that the sheer scale of the data breach was serious worrying.

"This level of data breach is clearly of profound concern, not least to police officers, civilian staff, and their families, who will be feeling incredibly vulnerable and exposed tonight and in the days ahead," said Mrs Long.

"Immediate action must be taken to offer them proper information, support, guidance and necessary reassurances regarding their and their families' security.

"Whilst the personal data has now been removed, once such information has been published online, it leaves an indelible footprint.

"That such sensitive information could ever have been held in a manner open to such a breach is unconscionable and will require serious investigation; however, the most urgent issue is supporting those whose security has been compromised.

"Alliance representatives on the Policing Board are seeking an urgent meeting of the Board to be convened with PSNI Senior Management Team to address this unprecedented security breach."
Italian horseracing legend Frankie Dettori is set to make his Northern Ireland racing debut next month at Down Royal.

The 52-year-old, who won The Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June, is one of the most decorated sportsmen of all time, being named Longines Worlds Best Jockey four times and winning over 3,000 races in his 35-year career.

Ahead of his expected final race at the Longines Hong Kong Mile Stakes in December, Dettori will take to the saddle for the first time on Northern Ireland turf at the Grant Thornton Race Evening on Friday, September 8.

As well as entertaining the crowds on the racetrack, Dettori will also host an exclusive Evening with Frankie Dettori in Down Royals premium Shortcross Gin Suite.

Dettori will share remarkable stories from his illustrious racing career, including the Godolphin years - some of his proudest and record-breaking achievements  his MBE, the medal for being made a Commedatore in Italy, big wins including the magnificent seven at Ascot, the Breeders' Cup, St Leger and Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe wins  and of course his plans for retirement.

Emma Meehan, the chief executive of Down Royal Racecourse, said securing Dettori to host the Q&A session and race at the Lisburn track is quite the feather in our cap.

In a career spanning over 35 years, Frankie has never ridden in Northern Ireland so hosting him at the racetrack is such a coup for us, and one of the last opportunities for racing enthusiasts to see him compete professionally, she said.

Frankie fans will be hoping to catch a glimpse of him perform one of his trademark flying dismounts in the Down Royal winners enclosure, and those fans who purchase a ticket to the evening audience will also have the chance to put their questions to Frankie and get up close and personal in photographs with the Italian racing champion.

Speaking ahead of the event, Dettori said: Ive had a fantastic career that has seen me race across the globe but believe it or not Ive never ridden in Northern Ireland, so this is a first for me.

I want to extend a huge thank you to Emma and her team at Down Royal Racecourse for their kind invitation to not only compete on Irish turf, but to host an evening of great craic with my Irish fans.

Dettoris last race in the UK will be at Royal Ascots Champions Day on October 21.

Tickets for An Evening with Frankie Dettori at Down Royal are 55 per person and include admission, premier enclosure badge, access to the Shortcross Gin Suite from gates opening, race card, a pint and a 5 Matched Bet.

For more detail on the Grant Thornton Race Evening and to purchase tickets to An Evening with Frankie Dettori, visit www.downroyal.com/fixtures
A site in Holywood town centre earmarked for a new apartment block has become an antisocial behaviour hotspot while developers delay work two years after getting the green light.

In July 2021, Ards and North Down Councils Planning Committee approved an application by McGinnis Group for an apartment block at 10-20 Downshire Road, at the site of the old Downshire Road Gospel Hall on the corner of Downshire and Church View Roads, Holywood.

Elected representatives green lighted a three storey apartment block containing 21 apartments, associated landscaping, access, car and cycle parking areas, as well as the demolition of Downshire Road Church Hall and adjacent office buildings. The plan involves six one-bedroom and 15 two-bedroom apartments.

No works appear to have begun since the councils approval. The expiry date of the planning permission is July 22, 2026.

Meanwhile, the vacant site of Downshire Road Gospel Hall has recently been the scene of break-ins and antisocial behaviour. With no immediate evidence that work will commence anytime soon, concerns are this spot in the town centre will be left empty for years to come.

Commenting on the issue, local MLA Andrew Muir said: I first received reports of break-ins and antisocial behaviour in July this year, and despite raising this with the property management company and local neighbourhood police team, issues are still ongoing.

"There have been further break-ins and most recently an incident involving children getting stuck on the access gate at the side of the building.

I understand there are considerable reinforcements being undertaken to secure the property, which is welcome news, but its clear the site has become a bit of a magnet for trouble and needs further attention from local policing teams.

He added: With no immediate plans for demolition Im concerned the site will be left vacant for some time to come. Residents shouldnt have to put up with this constant disruption and Im concerned someone could get seriously injured if there isnt timely progress with plans here. Ill be monitoring the situation closely in the coming weeks and months.
According to jail sources hes been dropping names of known dissidents, including Carl Reilly who recently pleaded guilty to membership of the IRA.

Banged-up pervert Gavin Gillen is claiming dissident republicans are helping him fiddle the housing points system to get rehoused when hes released, a source has claimed.

The sleazy 43-year-old is due for release in the next couple of months after serving half of a ten-month jail sentence for sexual communication with a child.

As revealed by the Sunday World earlier this year Gillen, originally from west Belfast but with an address in Dunmurry, was jailed for repeatedly sending pictures of penises to a 13-year-old girl.

At Newry Crown Court in February it emerged the coked-up sex monster had asked the child if she has seen a penis and if she has looked for pictures of penises on the web.

A barrister told the court Gillen sent her the pics several times but warned her to delete them.

Now it has emerged that with his release just months away, he has been bragging to inmates at Maghaberry Prison how he has managed to fool the system.

Read more I was loyal to the PSNI but the force has destroyed me, claims officer

And hes also been bizarrely telling other inmates hes a trained barrister and offering legal advice.

According to jail sources hes been dropping names of known dissidents, including Carl Reilly who recently pleaded guilty to membership of the IRA.

Gavin has been running around the wing telling anyone who will listen that hes using contacts in dissident republican groups to manipulate the Housing Executive points system, said the source.

He loosely knows Carl Reilly who is having his own legal issues and is friends with another dissident [name removed].

Hes an old INLA man but I cant see Carl touching this  but Gavin has been openly discussing this on the wing.

I cant see either providing the codewords for Base 2 to get him housing but its all over the place that hes been asking.

Hes also been telling people he is a trained barrister and has been offering free legal advice.

The barrister thing is bizarre and nobody can understand why hes telling people this, though he is notorious for spoofing.

Gillen is indeed notorious for spoofing. When cops arrested him for sending pictures of his penis to the teenage girl he told them he couldnt be guilty because he was gay.

The court heard even though he knew full well he was almost 30 years older than the schoolgirl, Gillen still engaged the child in a series of flirtatious, sexually explicit messages, telling the teenager she was a total honey.

The Sunday World went to Gillens door to ask him about his sickening crime but the creepy coward refused to open the front door.

Sources told the Sunday World at the time that Gillen rarely answers the door as he owes so many people money, often related to his drugs habit.

And we have learned from sources who know Gillen that he has a habit of sending unwanted sexual explicit messages to women.

It was December 2020 when he started sending images to the 13-year-old. Police were alerted and were able to take screenshots of the messages but that was the extent of the co-operation of the teen and her family, the court heard.

Arrested and interviewed, Gillen accepted he knew the girl was just 13 when sending her sexualised messages and the explicit images.

Claiming he had been in a bar drinking and taking cocaine, Gillen further claimed he was trying to advise her to stay away from boys and said that he was a homosexual man.

However, the prosecution said they do not accept any suggestion that the defendant was in some way a gay man warning the injured party about boys.

The barrister revealed that searches of Gillens devices had uncovered other flirtatious chats with women and also that the creep had looked up heterosexual adult pornography.

He said the images he sent were not his own penis but did accept his behaviour was inappropriate.

Jailing Gillen, Judge Peter Irvine KC said legal guidelines made it clear that offences involving the sexual exploitation of children are serious and must be met with appropriate sentences.

In addition to a 10-month jail sentence, Judge Irvine ordered Gillen to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years and also imposed a sexual offences prevention order, which places prohibitions on where Gillen can live, who he can date, where he can work and what devices he is allowed.


Stop stabbing rampages, threats of copycat crimes



Korea has long been one of the safest countries worldwide when it comes to public security. It was one of the few countries where a woman could walk alone at night.



Reports on dozens of deaths due to terrorist attacks in the Middle East or daily gun violence in the U.S. were stories of faraway countries.



That is changing.



Two stabbing rampages in as many weeks, leaving two people dead and a few dozen wounded, might appear trivial to foreigners. However, Koreans are now in a state of collective panic as their long-held belief in safe public places, like plazas and subway stations, is shaken by the roots.



Many people think they could be murdered or injured by total strangers on their way out or to work. Adding to their fear and anxiety are hundreds of online threats hinting at copycat crimes, although many of the ominous messages have proven to be pranks posted by teenagers. Random attacks by "lone wolves," a common illness of modern society, have landed here.



In response, President Yoon Suk Yeol instructed two things  more vigorous enforcement by the police and national checks on the public's mental health. The combination of short- and long-term measures appears reasonable, although the second came only after the first invited some criticism. At any rate, at stake is how to carry them out without adverse effects. That shows why some of the announced steps require refining or supplementing.



Upon Yoon's instruction, his police chief placed all officers on special security alert for the first time in history, encouraging them to use guns and tasers "without hesitation." Yoon's justice minister also proposed greater immunity for officers using violence to pin down suspects. Considering the increasingly brutal crimes and officers' limited means to deal with them, these may be necessary. However, officials must be prudent in making detailed rules for using weapons.



As an old saying goes, too much could be as bad as too little. Nothing showed this better than the police putting down a teenage jogger the other day, causing injury. It was sparked by a mistaken report, saying a man in a black hoodie was running with a knife. Before attacking the boy, officers should have stopped him for inspection. In Korea, where firearms are banned, most suspects' weapons are knives or hammers. Armed officers can overwhelm them by acting more firmly  and calmly. Quicker responses are more effective than armored vehicles.



Yoon also told officials to regard them as "terrorists." The president may not be wrong, as perpetrators instill fear among the public.



However, in Korea, with little, if any, religious fanaticism or racial hatred, potential attackers are loners frustrated with personal failures and isolated from society. Many have mental disorders, including psychopathy and schizophrenia. Instead of testing the mental states of all Koreans, the government must manage existing patients better. According to reports, hundreds of thousands of these patients have stopped treatment for one reason or another. It is urgent to bring them back to institutional care.



A better cooperation system between medical institutions, police and the community, including families, should prevent them from running loose. However, before forcing people with problems into mental hospitals, Korea must also increase spending for their public management, which stands far below the OECD average.



Law enforcement authorities must tackle random attack issues more systematically. Japan, which experienced similar crimes a decade before, started by compiling data and analyzing types and causes. Emotional, knee-jerk responses cannot cure these social ills caused by cutthroat competition and a winner-take-all system that neglects losers.



There are things the government and society can and cannot do now. For instance, Korea, a notoriously competitive society, cannot immediately shift to a more compassionate one. But it's not too late to try to be one.



Likewise, law enforcement officers cannot prevent all attackers. But they can discourage as many potential ones as possible by temporarily shutting down anonymous online communities that thrive on these cowardly users.



What's coming is coming. Let's be more resolute but still composed.


Earlier bonfire material was removed by the Department for Infrastructure.

A car has been set on fire and burning barricades placed across roads in Londonderry after a republican bonfire was dismantled earlier.

Scores of people gathered in the Galliagh area of Derry on Monday evening after a controversial anti-internment bonfire was taken down.

Police said they were dealing with disorder.

The PSNI then confirmed in the early hours of Tuesday that crowds had dispersed.

District Commander, Superintendent William Calderwood, said: "We would like to thank members of the public for their patience and cooperation during the disruption.

"We will continue to monitor the situation."

It came after police said on Monday that they were aware of a social media message circulating in the city calling on people to assemble in the area in the wake of the Department for Infrastructure removing material from the bonfire site.

Police and other contractors were pictured at the site where material had been gathered for a number of weeks on a large green space close to the homes of residents in the area.

The land at Galliaghs Linear Park is owned by the Department for Communities which confirmed the material had been removed for public safety reasons.

Material including pallets and other wood had been building up ahead of the bonfire on August 15.

The PSNI confirmed it attended the scene alongside contractors from the department in order to prevent a breach of the peace and ensure the safety of everyone.

Burnt out car during disorder in the Galliagh area of Derry. Picture: Aodhan Roberts/Belfast Telegraph.

It is understood a forklift, tractor and lorry was used by the department to assist workers with removing the material.

Traditionally, a bonfire is lit on August 15 in Derry to mark a Catholic feast day celebrating the Assumption of the Virgin Mary into Heaven.

In recent times however the fire has become a source of contention and associated with anti-social behaviour in the city.

Last year, the Galliagh pyre was avoided after agencies intervened to remove material from the site.

In a statement, the Department for Communities said: We can confirm that bonfire material at the Galliagh Linear Park site has been removed this morning for public safety reasons.

This action is in line with the expressed wishes of the local community  in particular the residents directly affected by the bonfire, and the associated anti-social behaviour  and the advice of partner statutory agencies.

The Department has taken the decision with care, informed by extensive engagement with community groups, residents and partner organisations.
Belfast harbour is continuing to enjoy a summer of superyachts, and today saw the latest multi-million pound vessel cruise along the Lough.

The 20m ($25m) Reef Chief arrived just after noon, adding another touch of Monte Carlo to the citys waterfront scene.

Owned by Texan industrialist and art collector James Dicke, who is listed as having a personal wealth of $500 (393m) million, the yacht had previously spent a view days in Troon, Scotland.

James Dicke's superyacht at Belfast Harbour (Credit: Stephen Hamilton)

Sailing under the flag of the Cayman Islands, the 49 metre vessel can accommodate up to 10 passengers and a further crew of 10, ensuring that guests are attended to by a team of experienced and professional staff throughout their stay onboard.

Launched in 2008, its the second yacht of the same named to be owned by the US millionaire, his previous Reef Chief coming in at 39 metres in length.

A top speed of 20 knots and a cruising speed of 18 knots, the yacht also has an impressive range of more than 2,500 nautical miles, making it ideal for long-range cruising.

Valued at $25m, Reef Chief costs around $2 million (1.5m) to run every year.

Inside the 25m yacht owned by Texas millionaire James Dicke (Credit: YachtCharterFleet)

On board the yacht boasts five luxury suites for accommodation, a gym, a deck jacuzzi, a beach style bar area, a private outdoor dining area and sun deck, WiFi and air conditioning.

It also has five cabins and the main saloon has a custom-built organ bar.

Owner James Dicke is a well know figure in the US business world. Born in 1945 he is CEO of Crown Equipment Corporation and is married to Janet Dicke. They have a son named James Dicke III.

Inside the 25m yacht owned by Texas millionaire James Dicke (Credit: YachtCharterFleet)

His company, Crown Equipment, is a world leader in designing, manufacturing, distributing, servicing, and supporting material handling products.

Founded in 1940, Crown Equipment started as a small one-room company producing temperature controls for coal-burning furnaces before expanding into antenna rotators and later lift trucks.

Today, Crown is the fifth largest lift truck manufacturer in the world with worldwide sales coming in at a substantial 3.6bn ($4.69bn) in 2022.

Mr Dicke also owns a private jet.

In June this year visitors to Belfast will have caught sight of another superyacht moored along the dock alongside the SSE Arena.

The Scout, a 63 metre vessel worth a cool 68m and owned by the US millionaire James Berwind who is part of the family-owned Berwind Corporation, previously paid a visit.

Meanwhile, off the north Down coastline an even more luxurious superyacht was spotted in May.

Drone footage of US billionaires 241m superyacht off coast of Bangor in Northern Ireland

Owned by US Walmart heiress, Nancy Walton Laurie, that 241m (300m) vessel boasted various luxurious features, including 16 cabins, a gym, steam room, indoor beach club, cinema, sauna, spa, swimming pool and helipad.

It has space for 30 guests and 45 crew, and the top deck even has a jacuzzi for those on board to relax in. Named Kaos, the impressive boat was formerly known as Jubilee, and was launched in 2017, as the largest yacht ever built in the Netherlands.
Ballymena Alliance councillor John Hyland is to step down from his role as a result of a change in personal circumstances, the party has confirmed.

Mr Hyland said he plans to return to his native Liverpool and will leave his position following Septembers meeting of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.

The party said a replacement for Mr Hyland will be selected in the coming weeks.

It is with deep regret I made the decision to step down from the role of Ballymena councillor, Mr Hyland said.

It has been a privilege to serve the people of the local community and it was one of the greatest honours of my life to have constituents return me as councillor in the local election in May. It has meant so much to me to be welcomed to Mid and East Antrim since making it as my home a number of years ago.

However, there have been a series of unforeseen personal events which have left me to make the very difficult decision to move home and be closer to my family in Liverpool.

"This means I, unfortunately, can no longer continue in the role of Alliance councillor. I have made real connections with many local organisations and people, and hope to stay in contact to help in whichever way I can with the amazing community work going on in the Ballymena area.

I also hope Mid and East Antrim Borough Council can continue its trajectory to become a more openly progressive and diverse place to work and live, which Alliance is fully committed to achieving. I will do all I can to help my replacement work towards this goal as well.

Mr Hyland was co-opted on to the council by the Alliance Party following the election of Patricia OLynn to the Assembly last year.

He was re-elected to the Ballymena area during this years local elections.

Speaking last month, My Hyland revealed he was accused of being a paedophile after homophobic trolling during the election campaign.

Read more I nearly quit politics after social media paedophile slur: councillor John Hyland

In one incident, he was told a fake social media profile had been created pretending to be him which implied he was a paedophile.

He said the trolling was so bad, he considered quitting the campaign.

Alliance North Antrim MLA Sian Mulholland said she was disappointed to lose the 32-year-old from the local team but wished him well in his move.

I know John has taken his time to come to this difficult decision and while I am deeply disappointed to be losing him from the team of Alliance elected representatives in North Antrim, I know he is doing what is best for him and his family.

John has been an incredible source of energy throughout his time as councillor, playing a crucial role in growing the strong local Alliance team here. That was reflected in our recent great council election results, which came as the result of the hard work of John and others.

I wish him all the best in his move back to Liverpool and look forward to working with his successor to continue the Alliance successes in North Antrim.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that Londons reluctance to work with Dublin is hindering the prospect of getting Stormont back up and running.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Mr Varadkar said that if a solution to the political impasse is not found soon, it could be after the next Westminster elections before power-sharing is restored.

Former Stormont First Minister Paul Given resigned back in February of last year, with ministers remaining in place in shadow form until October 27.

The DUP have since refused to get back around the Executive table until the partys concerns over post-Brexit arrangements are addressed.

Earlier this year the Windsor Framework was agreed to replace the Northern Ireland Protocol, which essentially put a trade border down the Irish Sea.

Taking effect from October, the Windsor Framework will establish a green/red land system for managing the flow of goods at Northern Ireland ports.

Mr Varadkar called on Westminster to ensure the British and Irish Governments can work hand-in-glove and apply both pressure and support in a co-ordinated way, saying a closer partnership is crucial to restoring the Stormont institutions.

But there has been a reluctance, I suppose, in Downing Street, to go down that route, he said.

The Taoiseach is due to meet the Stormont parties in Belfast this week. He said his talks to date with the UK Government and NI parties have led him to hope the institutions could be restored this autumn, but conceded: It is more hope than expectation at this stage, to be frank.

If we dont seize this window of opportunity in the next couple of months, talk will turn both in Belfast and in London to the next Westminster elections and it might be after that before we can get things going again.

Mr Varadkar said both governments, as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, need to work together to restore Stormont power-sharing.

The Good Friday Agreement functions when Dublin and London have a common strategy and work hand-in-glove and apply both pressure and support to the five parties in a co-ordinated way. And thats been absent now for a long time, unfortunately, he said.

Last month a House of Lords subcommittee published a report which found that the Windsor Framework is an improvement on the Northern Ireland Protocol, but problems still remain.

Lord Dodds, the DUP leader in the House of Lords, has said the framework utterly fails the DUPs seven tests to restore power-sharing.

Lord Nigel Dodds

These tests include avoiding any diversion of trade and no checks on goods moving from NI to GB and vice-versa.

"The [Lords] report points out there are still many unresolved and outstanding problems that have not been settled by the Windsor Framework, Lord Dodds said.

It looks through the hype and spin around the government narrative on the Windsor Framework and objectively analyses the truth behind the propaganda.

It is clear that the Windsor Framework utterly fails the seven tests set by the DUP. It represents the embedding of the Irish Sea border to a greater extent than anything we have seen thus far.

A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Office said: "The UK and Irish Governments have long agreed to co-operation in line with the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, including through the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference.

"The UK Government firmly believes that the three stranded approach set out in the Agreement offers the best route to securing the timely restoration of the NI institutions, and our commitment to it remains unchanged."
Humza Yousaf has been advised to end the coalition deal with the Scottish Greens, which brough Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater into government. (Jane Barlow/PA)

First Minister Humza Yousaf has been advised to ditch the SNPs coalition with the Greens, with Alex Salmond accusing the junior members of the Scottish Government of making fundamentally stupid comments.

Mr Salmond criticised the Scottish Greens over their support for moves to fit more homes in Scotland with heat pumps instead of gas boilers, saying this would not be a great idea in Scotland.

And the former first minister claimed while the Greens have just two members of the Scottish Government  with co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater both having been made ministers  they created an awful lot more of the problems it faced.

Former first minister Alex Salmond said the SNPs deal with the Greens was causing difficulties (Jane Barlow/PA)

Speaking at Iain Dale All Talk at the Edinburgh Fringe, Mr Salmond said: Hopefully Humza Yousaf is going to sort out the governmental difficulties of the Scottish National Party.

If he were to take my advice, I would start by ending the coalition with the Green Party.

He said the power sharing deal, agreed in the wake of the Scottish Parliament elections in 2021, was causing difficulties.

Mr Salmond highlighted the controversy around the bottle scheme, which saw the Scottish Government forced to postpone plans to introduce a deposit return scheme for drinks cans and bottles, and criticised Mr Harvie for making everybody have a ground heat pump, which would not be a great idea in Scotland.

He insisted that the SNP could still govern coherently at Holyrood without a majority, saying the party had done this between 2007 and 2011 when he was first minister.

Mr Salmond, who now leads the rival pro-independence Alba Party, insisted: There is no reason on earth why the Scottish National Party with 64 members of the Scottish Parliament of 129 can not be governing coherently and co-operatively as a political party.

He added: Its not a matter for me, but I think if Humza Yousaf were to think about things, and think about recent difficulties in the administration, then given the Greens have only two ministers, which is only about 10% of the government, they supply an awful lot more than 10% of the problems.
Police are taking no further action following complaints about a political leaflet sent by the Wales Secretary of State to his constituents that raised concerns about Traveller and Gypsy sites.

The Conservative leaflet asked for peoples opinion on the proposal to establish sites in David TC Davies Monmouth constituency.

An advocacy group said the MPs actions intended to create a hostile environment for Gypsies and Travellers but Mr Davies insisted the location of sites was a legitimate matter for public debate.

Gwent Police previously said it was aware of the leaflet and was reviewing its content, as well as the impact on the Gypsy and Traveller communities in Monmouthshire.

David TC Davies says that the leaflet was criticism of the council and not Gypsy and Traveller communities (Victoria Jones/PA)

On Tuesday, the force issued a statement from Chief Superintendent Carl Williams that confirmed that it would not be taking any further action.

Ch Supt Williams said: We launched a review into the contents of a leaflet published and distributed in Monmouthshire regarding proposals for a development of a gypsy and traveller site.

Officers have spoken to several people from the Gypsy and Traveller and Settled communities before seeking advice from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on whether the leaflets contents constituted any offences.

Any allegation of discrimination is taken extremely seriously and following this review, we will not be taking any further action.

The leaflet, which displays pictures of Mr Davies and one of the potential sites, is headlined: Gypsy and Traveller site coming to your area soon!

It talks about a Monmouthshire County Council consultation and says Mr Davies believes that there will be insufficient consultation with the members of the public affected.

The council plans a short consultation during the summer holiday period when many residents will be unable to participate, it adds.

It then asks people to fill in the form overleaf with their views and send it back to the MPs constituency office in the area of Usk.

One of three questions asks: Would you like to see a Traveller site next to your house? Y/N.

Speaking following the criticism, Mr Davies said: The location of authorised and unauthorised Traveller sites is a legitimate matter for public debate and scrutiny.

It is entirely valid to criticise a lack of wide public consultation by a council.

I have been contacted by many upset residents at the shortness of the consultation and the proposed locations for the sites.

I have also been told that many from the Gypsy and Traveller community are also upset at the proposed locations for the sites. This is not a criticism of the Gypsy and Traveller community.

Following the statement from police on Tuesday, Mr Davies added: Criticising a lack of wide public consultation by a Labour council to an important issue and seeking views from my constituents is not a crime.

I am pleased that Gwent Police agree. I make no apologies for raising the issue of the location on traveller sites across Monmouthshire.

Travelling Ahead, which provides advocacy for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities in Wales, described the leaflet as dog whistle actions intended to create hostile environment for Gypsies and Travellers.

The group said it had reported the leaflet to the UKs Equality and Human Rights Commission, the Welsh Conservatives and to the House of Commons standards committee.
The Government has announced a new task force to identify unscrupulous lawyers after reports that false asylum claims are being submitted for a fee (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

The Government has said a task force has been launched to identify unscrupulous lawyers after reports that false asylum claims are being submitted for a fee.

The Home Office said the unit will bring together regulatory bodies, law enforcement teams and other Government departments to take action against advocates found to be deceiving the courts.

It comes after the Daily Mail reported that a number of solicitors agreed to help an undercover journalist posing as an economic migrant submit a false application in exchange for thousands of pounds.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) prohibits lawyers from deceiving courts, and any act of dishonesty or lack of integrity may result in them being struck off.

But the Law Society, which represents solicitors in England and Wales, said the necessary powers are already in place to deal with immigration advisers engaged in misconduct.

It said the Home Office is focusing on a tiny minority of lawyers rather than significant asylum claim backlogs and the unworkability of the Illegal Migration Act.

The Home Office said the Professional Enablers Taskforce, for which there is no new funding, has been carrying out preliminary work over the past few months.

This has included the development of a new training package for frontline staff who work in the immigration system to help them identify and report suspect activity, according to the department.

Police referrals have also been made where criminal activity is suspected, the Home Office said, with those ultimately found guilty of helping people remain in the country by fraudulent means facing life imprisonment.

The maximum sentence for assisting unlawful migration is already life imprisonment under the Immigration Act 1971.

Justice Secretary and former barrister Alex Chalk said professionals should not be granted immunity from the law simply because they are lawyers, telling GB News he is absolutely comfortable with the crackdown.

People arrive by coach to board the Bibby Stockholm accommodation barge at Portland Port in Dorset (Ben Birchall/PA)

The announcement came after the first 15 migrants boarded the Bibby Stockholm barge, amid others being granted a last-minute reprieve after a series of legal challenges.

Conservative Party deputy chairman Lee Anderson was reported to have said asylum seekers complaining about the barge, moored off the Dorset coast, should f*** off back to France.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman, speaking about the task force, said: Crooked immigration lawyers must be rooted out and brought to justice.

While the majority of lawyers act with integrity, we know that some are lying to help illegal migrants game the system. It is not right or fair on those who play by the rules.

The British people want us to put an end to illegal migration  I am determined to crack down on these immoral lawyers and stop the boats.

Mr Chalk said: The accuracy and honesty of legal advice underpins the integrity of our world-leading legal system, so those who undermine it by encouraging deception must be held to account.

This Government is committed to stopping the boats  that means breaking the business model of criminal gangs and holding to account unscrupulous lawyers who aid and abet them by abusing the legal system.

But Richard Atkinson, deputy vice president of the Law Society, said: This task force has been around for months now, so it is not clear what, if anything, the Government is announcing today.

He added: The Government, regulators and law enforcement agencies already have the powers they need to deal with immigration advisers engaged in misconduct.

The overwhelming majority of immigration lawyers continue to support the rule of law through their adherence to the law and professional standards set by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and provide an essential service to clients.

The focus of the Home Office on a tiny minority of lawyers to which they are apparently applying considerable resources should not deflect from the fact that there remains significant backlogs in asylum claims or the unworkability of the Illegal Migration Act.

Bar Council chairman Nick Vineall said lawyers must observe ethical and conduct rules which apply to them while advising and representing their clients, with appropriate sanctions if they breach them.

He said: The task force must not fall into the trap of identifying lawyers with the causes of their clients, nor should it assume that misbehaviour by clients amounts to misbehaviour by lawyers.

Shadow justice secretary Steve Reed said it is too little too late and the buck stops with the Conservatives, accusing them of having sat idly by for 13 years while illegal migration has spun out of control.

He said: Now, weak as ever, they are setting up a talking shop instead of cracking down on those who abuse our immigration system.

The first asylum seekers arrived at the Bibby Stockholm barge in Portland on Monday, with the Home Office saying people are expected to be housed there for between three and nine months.

Cheryl Avery, the Home Offices director for asylum accommodation, confirmed 15 people were moved on to the vessel as part of the Governments bid to cut the cost of hotel bills by finding other accommodation, which also includes former military bases.

Care4Calais said around 20 asylum seekers did not board the barge as planned because their transfers were cancelled after lawyers challenged the decisions.

A Home Office spokesperson said on Tuesday evening: The first asylum seekers are now being housed on the vessel in Portland after it successfully completed all health, fire and safety checks.

The number of people on board will increase gradually with more arrivals later this week and in the coming months, as part of a carefully structured phased approach.

This marks a further step forward in the Governments work to bring forward alternative accommodation options as part of its pledge to reduce the use of expensive hotels and move to a more orderly, sustainable system which is more manageable for local communities.

Conservative MP Lee Anderson said asylum seekers complaining about the Bibby Stockholm barge should go back to France (UK Parliament/PA)

Tory MP Mr Anderson, on those complaining about the accommodation, told Express.co.uk: If they dont like barges then they should f*** off back to France.

He added: I think people have just had enough.

These people come across the Channel in small boats if they dont like the conditions they are housed in here then they should go back to France, or better not come at all in the first place.

Former shadow home secretary Diane Abbott, currently an Independent MP, wrote on Twitter: A new low even for the Tories.
Mohamed Toumba, one of the soldiers who ousted Nigerian President Mohamed Bazoum (Sam Mednick/AP)

A senior US official says coup leaders in Niger refused to allow her to meet with the West African countrys democratically elected president, whom she described as under virtual house arrest.

Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland also described the mutinous officers as unreceptive to US calls to return the country to civilian rule.

She spoke to reporters after a two-hour meeting on the ground in Nigers capital, Niamey, with some leaders of the two-week military takeover in Niger, a vital counter-terrorism partner of the United States.
Luke Anderson, managing director of Generative AI and Machine Learning at AWS APJ, speaks during a press conference at AWS Korea's headquarters in Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeul



By Baek Byung-yeul



Amazon Web Services (AWS) will help Korean AI startups grow with its Generative AI Accelerator, a program that combines powerful AI tools with business, technical mentors and experts, the global-leading cloud computing service provider said Tuesday.



Luke Anderson, managing director of Generative AI and Machine Learning at AWS APJ, said AWS Korea will launch a six-week-long AI startup accelerator program in cooperation with local venture capitals  Saehan Venture Capital and KB Investment to help creative Korean companies grow with AWS' superior AI technology and accelerator programs.



Startups participating in the AWS Generative AI Accelerator program will receive up to $200,000 in AWS credit in addition to a variety of technical support.



AWS has been offering various support tools to better help customers in the field of generative AI, which has been recognized as a game changer in the IT industry. They are AWS Bedrock, a tool that allows customers to create generative AI services on the cloud computing service, and AWS SageMaker JumpStart, a tool that can be used for machine learning.



"We want to be the easiest place to build foundational models in the world," Anderson said. "Also, we want to be the most performance-focused one. As you are seeing from the rise in generative AI applications, performance is going to be key both in terms of training as well as inferencing the models. The third one is we want to build and help our customers build generative AI-powered applications. And finally, one of the biggest things we hear from our customers is flexibility and choice. There won't be one model to rule them all. It is going to be a combination of multiple foundation models to deliver the awesome outcomes."



Generative AI is powered by machine learning models, often referred to as foundational models (FM), which are very large models with massive amounts of data. According to global market research firm CB Insights, global generative AI investment in 2021 was about $1.15 billion, and capital investment in generative AI startups globally was over $2.65 billion in 2022, proving that this sector shows no signs of slowing.



"With its global-leading digital infrastructure, creative cultural genes, sophisticated user base and top-notch AI professionals, Korea is well positioned to become a key region for generative AI," Kim Yoon, a partner at Saehan Venture Capital said. "We will work with creative entrepreneurs to develop and nurture innovative applications and services that will transform both the digital and analog worlds."


NIs past has shown that it could be a price worth paying

Joe Biden should pardon Donald Trump. That isnt my idea. It was offered in a recent edition of the New Yorker as the best way to handle a grotesque prospect, that a convicted criminal might govern as president from a prison cell.
Northern Ireland has seen a short burst of warm weather on Tuesday and it is expected to last the rest of the week, according to the Met Office.

However, from the beginning of next week we will see more average temperatures for this time of year.

Temperatures are expected to reach 20 degrees on Wednesday and 23 degrees on Thursday  the highest temperature this week.

There will be a few bright spells in the north of the country at first [on Wednesday], said Craig Snell, a senior Meterologist at the Met Office. It will soon become cloudy with patchy light rain spreading north through the morning.

For those hoping to visit the beach, Thursday is probably the best day this week to go, according to Mr Snell.

On Thursday, Northern Ireland will remain largely cloudy but mainly dry with some sunny breaks developing come the afternoon, he said.

The good weather will continue into the weekend Mr Snell said  but there will be a risk of some showers.

Friday and Saturday will then feel fresher again with a mix of sunshine and showers, he said.

Read more Superyacht worth 20m owned by Texas industrialist latest vessel to arrive in Belfast

The Met Office warned that parts of Northern Ireland may experience harsher weather over the weekend.

Some of the showers will be heavy and possibly thundery but in between there will be some good spells of sunshine, especially on Friday, Mr Snell said.

However, the overall temperatures in Northern Ireland over the weekend remain high and it is forecast to reach between 20 and 22 degrees.

Unfortunately the warm weather spell will leave Northern Ireland at the beginning of next week as, like the rest of the UK, we are expected to see unsettled weather with showers - some of those being heavy and thundery.

The unsettled conditions are likely to continue through the middle of August, but we may see a reduction in showers.

For the rest of the month the Met Office expects temperatures across the country to remain around average for the time of year, perhaps slightly below if we see the predicted wet or windy conditions.
This boat sank and later resurfaced in the Bay of Bengal, near Sittwe city, Rakhine state, Myanmar, Aug. 8, 2023.

A boat carrying Rohingya apparently heading for Malaysia, sank in the Bay of Bengal near Myanmars Rakhine state capital city Sittwe, a village administrator told Radio Free Asia (RFA) on Tuesday, adding all but 10 of 55 people on board were missing.

Eight men were found alive along with the bodies of two women on a beach near the citys Basara village on Monday night, hours after the boat went down, said village administrator Soe Myint. He told RFA, a news service affiliated with BenarNews, that authorities were searching for the missing people.

The boat sank after taking on water due to heavy rains and high waves in the sea, he said.

The boat reappeared yesterday. Two dead bodies were found and eight people were recovered [alive].  Now we are looking for the bodies on the beach.

He said 10 women and 35 men were unaccounted for, adding that eight people survived by holding onto plastic containers when the boat sank.

Residents said the survivors are being cared for in Basara village.

The junta-run Rakhine Daily News reported on Monday that the Rohingya had left Rathedaung township heading to Malaysia by boat.

More than 740,000 Rohingya have fled from Rakhine state to refugee camps in and around Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh, following a military crackdown in August 2017. Of the more than 600,000 who remained in Rakhine, about 125,000 are living in displaced persons camps in the state.

Many Rohingya living in Rakhine state leave by boat across the Bay of Bengal to Malaysia because of economic hardships and discrimination.
Special forces commandos march during an Armed Forces Day parade commemorating the 77th anniversary of the Indonesian military in Jakarta, Oct. 5, 2022.

The Indonesian armed forces commander ordered an investigation after NGOs and activists criticized the military for what they described as its meddling in civilian criminal proceedings.

The critics cited two recent cases where, they alleged, military personnel interfered with law enforcement and police actions by taking control in one case and freeing a suspect from custody in the other.

In the first case, military officials allegedly intimidated the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), a government agency which had named an air marshal as a recipient of bribes, according to the Jakarta-based Setara Institute for Democracy and Peace.

In the second case, officials with the military command in North Sumatra allegedly entered a police station in the provincial capital of Medan and forced officers to free a civilian, who had been arrested on suspicion of counterfeiting land certificates, the institute said.

The Medan-based Legal Aid Institute (LBH) criticized the police decision to release the suspect from custody.

This has undermined the existing legal system, Irvan Saputra, LBHs director in Medan, told BenarNews.

Indonesias military chief, Adm. Yudo Margono, agreed with the activists and said the soldiers actions at the Medan police station were inappropriate.

I think its unethical for military members to do so, Yudo said Monday, adding he had ordered military police to investigate.

A military spokesman said headquarters could get involved in some cases.

Kodam Bukit Barisan [the Medan-based military command] has authority over the cases of subordinates, if proven guilty, Rear Adm. Julius Widjojono told BenarNews.

In the first case, the KPK named the head of national search and rescue agency (Basarnas), Associate Marshal Henri Alfiandi and another military official, as suspects in an alleged bribery case valued at 88.3 billion rupiah (U.S. $5.8 million).

The KPK later apologized, saying the designation of the two military officials as suspects was a mistake.

Setara Institute chairman Hendardi said the KPKs apology was the result of intervention from the military.

In the second case, Maj. Dedi Hasibuan along with several members of the North Sumatra military command, allegedly entered the Medan City Police office on Aug. 5 and forced officers to release a civilian suspect identified only by his initials: ARH. The suspect was detained for allegedly forging land certificate signatures.

A video showing Dedi allegedly arguing with Police Commissioner Fathir Mustafa has gone viral. Police then granted ARHs request for a suspension of detention.

Thats called institutional intimidation, Hendardi told BenarNews.

Usman Hamid, executive director of Amnesty International Indonesia, also criticized the militarys action.

The police still have problems. But that doesnt mean that the military can intervene, especially by intimidating security forces and all legal institutions, Usman told BenarNews.

In a statement, Dedi, who is a legal adviser with the legal unit of the military command in North Sumatra, said he had sent an official request for suspension of the detention to the Medan Police chief, but he received an answer via WhatsApp, which he considered unethical.

Col. Rico Julyanto Siagian, spokesman for the military command, said Dedi was related to the suspect.

Maj. Dedi and ARH are brothers, Rico said.

Rico expressed regret that Dedi brought soldiers to the Medan police station.

The Bukit Barisan Military Command and the North Sumatra Regional Police are solid and committed to entrusting all legal issues to police, he said.

Hendardi said Dedis response of sending in troops would encourage normalization of intimidation of law enforcement in many sectors.

Julius, the military spokesman, challenged Hendardis statement that the KPK arrest and the incident in Medan were institutional intimidation.

The two cases are very different.  Just go back to the existing rules of law, Julius told BenarNews on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (right) listens to his deputy, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, at an event in Selangor, Malaysia, July 7, 2023.

Malaysias six state elections set for Aug. 12 will show just how durable  or fragile  is the alliance of the prime ministers multiethnic coalition at the federal level with the Malay-centric UMNO party, analysts say.

With 245 seats being contested across a half-dozen states, close to 10 million Malaysians  nearly half of the countrys electorate  are eligible to vote in these state assembly polls, where federal coalitions will be contesting each other.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahims Pakatan Harapan, the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) and their allies will jointly go up against former PM Muhyiddin Yassins Perikatan Nasional coalition, which includes the hardline Islamic Party PAS and Bersatu, another Malay-centric party.

To make things more interesting, current control of the six states is split down the middle. The legislatures in three of them, Negeri Sembilan, Penang and Selangor, are controlled by Pakatan, while Perikatan controls those in Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.

A long-time watcher of Malaysian politics, Bridget Welsh, believes the status quo will be kept. She only foresees changes in margins of victory.

UMNO, a key strategic ally of Anwars government, faces the strongest electoral challenge, Welsh, of the University of Nottingham Malaysia, told BenarNews.

[A] poor performance by UMNO in the state elections may lead to calls for reconsidering the party alliance with the ruling coalition.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (right) sits with his deputies, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (center) and Fadillah Yusof, after the swearing-in ceremony of the countrys new cabinet at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur, Dec. 3, 2022. [Hasnoor Hussain/Pool/Reuters file photo]

Another analyst, though, sees Pakatan rethinking its alliance with UMNO, if the latter turns in a dismal performance.

[T]he parties within Pakatan would resist any effort to retain UMNO, Ku Hasnan Ku Halim, a senior lecturer at Tun Hussein Onn University, told BenarNews. Anwars Pakatan comprises three parties.

They will not want to carry dead weight.

Pakatan and UMNO were once fierce rivals, with the former a multi-religious, secular reform-minded group and the latter an ethnic Malay-centric, entrenched party of old political elites. Yet the two got together last November to form a government and keep out Perikatan and its hardline partner, PAS.

UMNO performing badly would mean the Malays who used to support UMNO [are] now looking up to Bersatu and PAS because they are championing Malay rights and seen as defenders of Islam, Ku Hasnan said.

UMNO, which anchors the Barisan Nasional (BN), has always portrayed itself as championing the interests of the countrys ethnic Malay majority, which constitutes 70% of the population.

Yet, UMNO fared poorly in the last two national elections, battling the perception that it is self-serving and corrupt. Its senior leader, former Prime Minister Najib Razak, was convicted of corruption and sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2020, and that conviction was upheld last year.

Upstart Perikatan is aiming to take over that mantle. Some say it has succeeded because it won the second-highest number of seats in the November 2022 general election.

With UMNO now in an alliance with Pakatan, a coalition that has always fended off accusations that it doesnt serve Malay interests, the state polls will reveal whether the so-called Malay belt feels even more alienated from Malaysias oldest party, analysts say.

The youth, we want change

Meanwhile, Pakatan hopes its alliance with UMNO will net it more Malay support.

The fact that the alliance has given BN-UMNO as many as 108 of the 245 seats to contest, will help it push a Malay agenda, according to political analyst Lau Zhe Wei.

It is a show of strength and [of] UMNO relevancy in the PH-BN dynamic, Lau, of the International Islamic University, told BenarNews.

Such a move, though, could backfire as well, said another analyst, Hafidzi Razali, of political risk consultancy BowerGroupAsia.

Anwars Pakatan is seeking to gain support from UMNO to strengthen Malay [voters] backing, but this approach carries the risk of potentially converting UMNO grassroots to support Perikatan Nasional, Hafidzi, an associate director at the consultancy, told BenarNews.

He was referring to how traditional UMNO supporters have a visceral dislike for Pakatans largely ethnic Chinese Democratic Action Party. They see DAP as a threat to Malays.

Despite this big push from UMNO, Hafidzi sees Perikatan performing well, because it appeals to voters through Malay ethnocentrism.

Perikatan Nasional will remain strong in Malay-majority areas, especially in sub-rural and rural demographics, Hafidzi said.

Workers build a giant kite with the moon logo and crescent tail of the Malaysian Islamic Party PAS, at Kedai Buluh Market in poll-bound Terengganu state, Malaysia, Aug. 1, 2023. [Budi Ahmad/BenarNews]

Another issue that could swing voters in Perikatans favor is the filing of sedition charges in mid-July against Muhammad Sanusi Md. Nor, polls-bound Kedahs chief minister.

This would have persuaded some people who earlier decided to sit out the polls, due to election fatigue, to now vote for Perikatan, said political analyst Syaza Shukri.

[T]he recent charging of Kedahs chief minister could rile up Perikatan supporters to come out strong, Syaza, of International Islamic University Malaysia, told BenarNews.

Many people on the left and the right of the political spectrum protested the use of the colonial-era sedition law against Sanusi, and some critics called out Anwar, saying the charges were politically motivated.

Ethnicity and inclusion, and the governments treatment of opposition leaders are the issues that will dwarf subjects like the economy or states development, analysts and some voters said.

For instance, PAS will continue to reign in Kelantan, like it has done for decades, despite serious developmental problems in the state, said Afiq Salleh, 29, who moved back there from Kuala Lumpur two years ago.

Afiq said that for the last 30 years, Kelantanese have been getting dirty water in their taps due to poor town planning.

In Kelantan, the old folks and the village people will continue to vote PAS. They do not care if they have to drink murky water from the pipe. What is important to them is that PAS is the only party that protects Islam and upholds the religion, he told BenarNews.

For us, the youth, we want change. But I think it will take time for the younger generation to make a difference.

Ili Shazwani in Kuala Lumpur contributed to this report.
Cambodias prime minister, Hun Sen, who is stepping down later this month after four decades in power, has often suggested he is the reincarnation of a 16th century king.

And he occasionally imbues his successor, Hun Manet, with similarly mythical powers. In public speeches and to his biographers, Hun Sen has insisted that blinding light shot out from a centuries-old Banyan tree upon his eldest sons birth.

Five hundred people saw the light. That was when Manet was born, he told the authors of Strongman: The Extraordinary Life of Hun Sen in December 1997.

The anecdote, with its mythic overtones, seems calculated to portray Hun Manet as destined for the same kingly greatness as his father. But, speaking just four months after he ousted his coalition partners in a bloody coup, Hun Sen went on to tell the biographers that not only did he not want his son to walk the same political tightrope as he had, he did not think then-20-year-old Hun Manet would be well suited to it.

I would like to be the last member of my family who was involved in politics, Hun Sen is quoted as saying in the book. I would rather see [Manet] working as an assistant to a politician, helping in national reconstruction, and not become a politician himself.  It seems he is interested in study, in research, in making recommendations rather than doing things himself.

Hun Manet was appointed prime minister by royal decree on Monday and is poised to be sworn in on Aug. 22, following last months one-sided election. With the 45-year-old now taking the helm, many Cambodians are wondering what the rare moment of change will mean for the country. He is a trained economist and an experienced general. But as a politician he remains a cipher; and only time will tell whether he has his fathers autocratic tendencies.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (left) stands with his son, Hun Manet, after graduation ceremonies at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in New York, in 1999. [Reuters]

An innocent guy

Those who knew Hun Manet as a young man offer accounts not dissimilar to Hun Sens. They recall a humble and conscientious youth, mild-mannered almost to the point of timidity and determined to carve out a career for himself in development economics.

Hun Manet enrolled at the West Point military academy in 1995, the first Cambodian ever to have done so, and one of fewer than 10 non-U.S. students in a class of more than 900. He struggled initially with communicating in English and was bewildered by cultural phenomena such as hazing, he told his fathers biographers in 2003.

Kevin James, who roomed with Hun Manet for two years, described him as a tolerant individual who, at the time anyway, didnt have any presumptions about any one person being different from any other.

They got on so well their first year that they elected to bunk together again in their second, James told RFA.

I had zero complaints about living with Manet. He was friendly, and a kind and considerate roommate. He didnt cause any issues, and he tolerated my smoking in the room, recalled James, who is now a lieutenant colonel in the 101st Airborne Division. He was an innocent guy with no airs, and this is coming from a guy from rural Pennsylvania  I was occasionally shocked at how innocent he was.

Having gained a bachelors degree in economics, Hun Manet continued his studies at New York University. There, he researched whether Cambodia would benefit from land reform for his 2001 masters thesis. Back home, meanwhile, his father was beginning to parcel out the country to cronies and foreign investors in the form of economic land concessions. By 2014, according to a lawsuit, such ELCs had displaced 6% of the Cambodian population.

As his fathers government continued to enrich its powerful tycoon class at the expense of the poorest, Hun Manet appeared increasingly interested in learning how the worlds worst off can be lifted out of poverty. He took an internship with the World Bank, during which time he was posted to the Congo, according to a Facebook post by Hun Sen. Afterward, he moved to the United Kingdom, where he undertook a doctorate at Bristol University.

He was an able student, always polite and respectful, and hard-working, his Ph.D. supervisor, Jonathan Temple, told Radio Free Asia last year, adding that he expressed a desire to work in development economics. I did not learn about his family background until his studies were well advanced.

Hun Sens family, including Hun Manet (back, fourth from right) and his wife, Pich Chanmony (back, fifth from right), pose during a visit by the ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and former Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat in November 2009. [Reuters]

Family values

If his studies brought Hun Manet geographically and perhaps intellectually far from his family, there was little sign that he left their orbit.

In his second year at N.Y.U., Hun Manet and his then-teenage siblings spent U.S. $550,000 on a four-bedroom house in New Yorks Long Island suburb, despite the fact that all were unemployed and their fathers official salary was just $12,000 a year. (In the year 2000 when the purchase took place, the house equaled 1,600 times the average annual Cambodian salary.)

In 2006 Hun Manet married Pich Chanmony, the well-connected daughter of a Labor Ministry secretary of state and minister attached to the prime minister. They would go on to have three children. As with his four siblings, whose spouses are the scions of powerful families, Hun Manets marriage reflected a growing dynasty intertwining business, politics and personal life.

In November 2011, Pich Chanmony and the son of tycoon Choeung Sopheap (whose husband is ruling-party senator Lau Ming Kan) incorporated Phnom Penh Toll Way Co. Ltd. Soon after, the company won the $10.5 million contract to renovate and then collect tolls on Veng Sreng Boulevard.

A month after toll collection started in November 2015, Hun Sen had announced that the government would buy the company out. Today, Pich Chanmony chairs four companies and is on the board of another six, according to the Commerce Ministry registry.

Pich Chanmony and her husband, Hun Manet, lead a campaign rally procession in Phnom Penh, July 1, 2023. [Heng Sinith/AP]

The battle for Preah Vihear

Any ivory tower dreams Hun Manet might have harbored dissipated shortly after he left Bristol in February 2008. A long-running border dispute with Thailand over the Preah Vihear temple complex boiled over into live fighting in June of the same year.

The clashes were well timed for Hun Sen, who used them to drum up nationalistic support ahead of the July elections. He also took the opportunity to put his sons West Point education to the test, placing him in charge of Cambodian forces around the temples, and sending him back when tensions flared again in 2011.

The world took notice. Robert Willard, the U.S. Navy admiral in charge of American forces in the Pacific at the time, told a U.S. congressional committee that by sending Hun Manet to Preah Vihear, Hun Sen appeared to be grooming him as his heir apparent.

This conflict builds Hun Manets credentials as a military leader and hero who defended national sovereignty against an external threat, Willard told the committee.

Cambodian soldiers stand guard at the Preah Vihear temple in Preah Vihear province, in 2008. [Chor Sokunthea/Reuters]

The boy who would be king

In the following years, Hun Sens sons and sons-in-law took on greater roles in the government and military while his daughters became business magnates, but it was increasingly clear that Hun Manet was indeed being positioned for the top job.

By 2015, the topic was the focus of a rare interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, with signs that the young then-lieutenant general was growing more excited by the prospect.

After spending most of the conversation quietly trotting out the Cambodian Peoples Party line about the dangers of upending the status quo, Hun Manets mask slipped toward the end. The interviewer first asked him how long his father planned to stick around. A smile broke across his face, and laughing, he chided the interviewer: Cambodia is a democracy; as long as the people want him to.

His smile grew larger when she asked, If the people want you to, you would be prime minister?

Not no, not yes, he said.

Tea Banh (left), minister of National Defense, places the insignia of a four-star general on the shoulder of Hun Manet, commander of the Royal Cambodian Army, during a promotion ceremony at the Ministry of Defense in Phnom Penh, April 20, 2023. [Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP]

As speculation around Hun Manets future role mounted, he received promotion after promotion, moving rapidly up the military ranks. He spoke rarely with reporters and closely guarded his public image. While other members of his family today have a robust social media presence, showing off expensive watches and private jets, Hun Manet maintains only professional accounts and keeps his children mostly hidden from view. (Requests to Hun Manet for an interview went unanswered.)

At times, he has shown little tolerance of criticism. In 2016, he complained to the press that he had been met with protests by the Cambodian diaspora wherever he went in Australia.

Why are they looking down on me, causing divisions and conflicts? he asked reporters.

Ou Virak, president of the Phnom Penh think tank Future Forum, said past conversations with Hun Manet left him with the impression that the future premier was sincerely interested in tackling corruption and encouraging development. But along with the premiership, Hun Sen has also bequeathed his son a country whose power structures were forged in violent struggle and are precariously interlocked. Given such an entrenched political system, anything that upsets them could be disastrous for Hun Manet personally.

At his stage, politics is still a zero-sum game to him, it could be dangerous for his family [to accept change], he noted.

This report was produced by Radio Free Asia (RFA), a news service affiliated with BenarNews.
Working parents get a helping hand in Zhejiang

16:13, August 08, 2023 By Ma Zhenhuan in Hangzhou ( China Daily

Stall holders at a bustling night market in Dongyang, Zhejiang province, now have one less thing to worry about after the local trade union federation helped to establish a child care center for their youngsters.

The center was launched in June on the city's Zhenxing Road to help alleviate the pressure on many of those running its 435 street stalls, many of whom are migrant workers from around the country and have no local relatives to help take care of their children.

During a visit earlier this year to the crowded and noisy market in the city's Wuning subdistrict, Mao Fenghua, head of the local trade union federation, found a child doing homework near a street stall. As a result, she decided to take action.

"The night market is noisy and crowded. It is hard for the children to keep their attention focused on their studies with all the noise, and the parents will never be able to concentrate on their business if they have to look after their children," she said.

Mao visited every stall along the road to learn about the difficulties faced by the parents.

One of these was Xia Qiongfang, from Hubei province, who sells screen protectors for mobile devices at the night market alongside her husband.

The couple have no locally based relatives to help care for their young son, so they had no other option but to take him to the market with them.

But sometimes they were too busy to keep an eye on the boy, and one night he vanished. They looked frantically for him, fearing the worst. Fortunately, he was soon found walking home, but Xia remembers the terror she felt.

Zhang Hao rents an apartment near the night market, and he used to have to leave his 6-year-old son alone at home during work. "I had to go back home frequently to check on him," Zhang said.

After collecting a list of problems, Mao, the local trade union federation head, set up a child care center to help the market traders.

She also won the backing of the local stall holders' federation, and its office was transformed into a 300-square-meter child care center equipped with teaching tools.

Child care services are free for the stall holders, who can leave children age 4 to 12 at the center from 4 pm to 8 pm. More than 70 children have been sent to the center.

Market trader Qian Xiaohui said: "I can see how my daughter is getting on in the videos posted in the center's WeChat group. I'm grateful to the staff for teaching her to read poems."

Cai Dongdong, another stall holder at the market, said, "Now I can focus on my business without worrying about my child."

Meanwhile, in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, the authorities in a local area have taken steps to alleviate the burden on working parents during the long school summer vacation.

A summer camp program has been established in the Shounan subdistrict of the city's Yinzhou district to help the around 23,000 employees in the area, most of whom are office workers in their 30s and 40s and in great need of child care services. The summer camp program was designed especially for their children, and its program includes various courses.

Xiang Qiqin, a white collar worker with a 9-year-old daughter, promptly applied for the program. "My husband and I were racking our brains thinking about how to take care of my daughter," Xiang said. "The summer camp program has helped us."

Yu Yinin Ningbo, Zhejiang province, contributed to this story.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Ryu Young-sang, right, CEO of SK Telecom, poses with Jonathan Abrahamson, left, head of product management for digital at Deutsche Telekom, Khalifa Al Shamsi, second from left, CEO of e& life, and Anna Yip, deputy CEO of Singtel during a Global Telco AI Alliance CEO Summit meeting at the Grand Walkerhill Seoul hotel, July 27. Courtesy of SK Telecom



By Baek Byung-yeul



SK Telecom is rapidly diversifying its business portfolio from telecommunications to AI, data centers and cloud computing as sales of its data center and cloud businesses have seen significant growth in the second quarter, the leading mobile carrier said Tuesday.



The company added it is also increasing its leadership in emerging businesses such as metaverse and urban air mobility (UAM) by increasing the number of service users and investing more in global leading aircraft maker Joby Aviation to improve its future capabilities.



In its second-quarter earnings announcement, SK Telecom said it generated 4.3064 trillion won ($3.27 billion) in sales and an operating profit of 463.4 billion won, up 0.4 percent and 0.8 percent from a year ago, respectively.



While the performance was not up significantly from the same period last year, the company said data center sales were up more than 30 percent year-on-year, and cloud business sales in particular were up more than 60 percent year-on-year.



One of SK Telecom's key diversification initiatives is to become an AI company. Kim Jin-won, chief financial officer of SK Telecom, said the company "will do its best to leap to becoming an AI company leading to maximizing corporate value."



On July 27, SK Telecom launched the Global Telcom AI Alliance with global mobile carriers including Deutsche Telekom, e& and Singtel. The alliance will combine the core AI capabilities of each company to jointly develop a telco AI platform that will play a pivotal role in planning new AI services.



SK Telecom already has its own AI assistant service, A.  pronounced as "A dot" , and in June, it added Chat T, which utilizes the ChatGPT model of the Microsoft Azure Open AI service, to A. to provide a service that enriches users with information as if they were having a conversation with experts with specialized knowledge.



"Based on our solid performance, SK Telecom will continue to build on our cooperation and self-development to secure leadership in the global AI business and become an AI company," the CFO said.


Tou Thao, the last former Minneapolis police officer convicted in state court for his role in the killing of George Floyd, didn't show any repentance or admit any wrongdoing as he was sentenced to nearly five years
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We recently received Caraflex cabbage  a small, conical-shaped cabbage  in our CSA share and I immediately knew what I was going to make with it  golabki.

If youre familiar with Caraflex cabbage, also known as European cabbage, you're probably thinking the best thing to make with it is something that calls for crispy, crunchy cabbage leaves. And, you'd be right according to the internet, which is full of recipes using Caraflex cabbage for sauerkraut, stir fry and charred cabbage dishes. But youll also see recipes that just use Caraflex in place of green cabbage, noting that it's less bitter and crunchier than traditional green/winter cabbage.

Upon seeing the Caraflex cabbage in our CSA share, I knew based on its conical shape that it would be perfect for making golabki. I thought it would be ideal for making nice, tight stuffed cabbage rolls and I will tell you I was not disappointed with the result.

Even though I have lived in Adams most of my life, I dont have a family recipe for making golabki. Im not of Polish descent, but, luckily, I grew up in a town with a large population of Polish descendants who arent afraid to share a recipe. I grew up eating golabki (stuffed cabbage), kapusta, kielbasa and sauerkraut, and pierogi at the Polka Picnics at the Polanka Picnic Grounds on Mill Street (this years picnic takes place noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 10) and at the annual holiday bazaar hosted at St. Stanislaus School. So the recipe shared here is authentic as they come in Adams, from Favorite Recipes Jubilee Cookbook: St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish Diamond Jubilee 1902-1977, re-released by Adams Specialty Printing and Co. in 2021.

While this recipe originally calls for a pound of ground beef or a mix of ground beef and pork, I prefer to use lamb, which overall gives the dish a lightness that doesn't come with ground beef or the mix. I also like to add the rice and water directly into the skillet with the sauteed onions, cooking them together. I feel it adds flavor to the rice. You, of course, can make the rice separate and choose to saute the onions/brown meat together before adding to the rice. I never worry if I have too much of the stuffing, as I take the left over stuffing and any left over cabbage (torn or too small leaves, chopped up) and fill in the spaces between the rows of cabbage rolls before covering everything with sauce.

GOLABKI (STUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS)

(Recipe courtesy "Favorite Recipes Jubilee Cookbook: St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, Adams")

INGREDIENTS

1 large head of cabbage, about 3 pounds

1 teaspoon of salt

2 jars of tomato sauce

For stuffing:

1 cup uncooked rice

1/4 cup and 2 tablespoons of butter

1 medium onion, chopped

salt and pepper

1 pound ground beef, ground beef and pork, or lamb

DIRECTIONS

Prepare cabbage by cutting out the core. Place cabbage and salt in a kettle with enough water to cover, bring to a boil, and let stand, covered, for at least 15 minutes in boiling water to make the leaves soft and pliable. Take off the leaves and trim the thick rib from all leaves.

Stuffing mix: Melt 1/4 cup butter in a skillet, add chopped onions, stirring with a wooden spoon until golden brown. Put one cup of rice in a pan with two cups of hot water, salt and butter. Cook over medium heat until all water is absorbed. Add in the onions, meat, salt and pepper. Mix with a wooden spoon until the meat turns brown.

Stuff the leaves: Place a tablespoon or more of filling, depending on the size of the leaf. Fold the sides of the leaf over the stuffing and roll up from the thick end of the leaf to make a neat roll. Put leaves on the bottom of a roaster pan or 9-inch-by-13-inch glass pan to prevent the golabki from sticking. Place each roll seam side down. Pour sauce over all, cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 F for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or longer depending on the cabbage leaves. Winter cabbage takes longer. Uncover the last 10 minutes to brown.
Ralph Burton illustrated how his Biltmore Pachymeter worked in this 1906 display in Forest Quarterly.
GS Retail's convenience store brand GS25 in Gangnam, Seoul / Courtesy of GS Retail



By Kim Jae-heun



A 33-year-old Thai tourist surnamed Sinchawla was surprised to see how much Korean convenience stores have changed since his last visit to Seoul in 2017.



"There are so many new products in Korean convenience stores, compared to when I first visited (a) few years ago," Sinchawla said. "Also, they run a lot of 'buy two, get one' promotions. I can see why people go to convenience stores to shop for daily necessities. They literally have everything at a reasonable price."



Another tourist surnamed Shinomiya from Japan, recently visited Seoul for the fifth time and picked a convenience store as her favorite place.



"Korea is my favorite country I visit often," Shinomiya said. "There is something new that I like about (it) every time I visit. This time, I went to a Korean convenience store after watching (on) YouTube that there (were) so many good-quality lunch boxes and desserts. I liked an egg-mayo sandwich with strawberry jam."



Convenience stores are emerging as a new must-visit tourism attraction for foreigners on the back of their frequent appearances in Korean dramas and movies. There are a number of YouTube videos introducing popular food items.



In the first half of this year, the best-selling product among foreigners at the three major convenience stores, CU, GS25 and 7-Eleven, was banana-flavored milk produced by Binggrae.



"Banana-flavored milk has always been popular. Nowadays, we see many tourists from Japan, China and Vietnam purchase public transportation cards with popular animation characters on them," a GS Retail official said. "Convenience stores have been popular among foreigners even before COVID-19. Though, if we had mainly Chinese and Japanese shopping at our store before, we see various nationalities nowadays."



The official added, "I think it's the Korean wave effect that is constantly bringing back foreigners to local convenience stores. And we find them more in Itaewon and Hongdae as younger tourists tend to visit these areas rather than Myeong-dong or Dongdaemun."



The country's largest convenience store brand CU, operated by BGF Retail, saw its sales from foreigners between January and June this year jump 66.4 percent year-on-year.


Have you ever been drawn in by a delightful scent? In 2 Corinthians 2:15 it says:

For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

To God, believers are a pleasing aroma of Christ. We bring the good news of Jesus, and we are His ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20). In the world, there are those who are being saved and those who are perishing. As Christians, we walk among both groups of people in life, but not everyone receives the aroma of Christ in the same way.

In verse 16, believers are described as either an odor of death and demise to those who are perishing or a fragrance that brings life to those who are being saved. Not everyone is going to think that we are a pleasing aroma of Christ, but Gods opinion is greater than mans. Followers of Jesus are a pleasing aroma to Him and have a purpose in spreading the knowledge of Him wherever they go.

Offerings to God in the Old Testament

Believers from a Jewish background would have been familiar with the Old Testament burnt offerings to God in the Tabernacle. These sacrificial offerings were often described as a pleasing aroma to the Lord (Exodus 29:25; Leviticus 1:17; Leviticus 3:5). Furthermore, as part of the grain offerings, incense such as frankincense are added (Leviticus 2:1, 16). The temple would be filled with a lot of pleasing smells as a result of the sacrifices and offerings being made.

Believers in the Corinthian church would have been familiar with the triumphal processions and military parades of the Romans, where incense would be offered up by the victors in the Roman army. If you were on the winning side, the incense would have left a pleasing aroma. However, prisoners of the defeated foes would often be put to death, therefore the incense offered would have been no comfort to them.

The Corinthian church would have been made up of believers from different backgrounds, yet they were part of something greater than anything Rome could boast about. They had the greatest news - the gospel of Jesus Christ - to offer a dying, defeated world. Likewise, we also offer this news amongst those who are presently perishing in their sin, and to encourage those who are being saved by this glorious gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus has won the ultimate victory; the battle was won at Calvary.

The Ultimate Sacrifice in the New Testament

The aroma of Christ is ultimately His sacrifice on the cross for sin. Christs offering pleased the Father (Isaiah 53:10) and His body was prepared to make this sacrifice (Hebrews 10:5). His atonement for our sin made a way for believers through His death to come before God. Ephesians 5:2 says, And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. The Lord Jesus provided a fragrant offering and sacrifice that was a once-for-all atonement for the sins of His people.

The burnt offerings of the Old Testament foreshadowed the coming of Jesus who would be the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Jesus is the pleasing aroma; He is the sacrifice that takes away sin and He goes before the Father on our behalf as an offering of atonement for us. Jesus is the spotless sacrificial lamb without blemish that the Mosaic law pointed to (Leviticus 4:32; 1 Peter 1:19). Without His blood sacrifice there would be no forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22), for the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Jesus is the one who washes away our sin completely, to the uttermost; it is the ultimate sacrifice for all time (1 Peter 3:18; Romans 6:10).

A Living Sacrifice

The ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made assures and amazes us. He has fulfilled the requirements of the Old Testament law to the full. The wages of sin is death and Jesus paid the penalty that our sin deserved. What is there left for us to do but to be in humble adoration and continual thankfulness for His tremendous sacrifice on our behalf?

The verse prior to Christians being called a pleasing aroma of Christ describes this thankfulness to the Lord. It says, But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere (2 Corinthians 2:14). Jesus leads the way in triumphal procession; we are triumphant and victorious in Him because He is triumphant and glorious! Jesus is the One who goes before us and has chosen us to spread the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere. It is only because of Jesus that we can please Him at all. It is His sacrifice which pleases the Father. We are instruments chosen by Him to bring the good news to others. Apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5).

How can we repay Him? Our debt is paid and there is nothing we can do to win His favor or secure our salvation. All we can do is come to the Father through Jesus the Son and trust in His sacrifice for all time.

However, we can choose to live for Him in a life of service and sacrifice. With the help of the Holy Spirit of God working through us and in us, we can daily offer our life as a sacrifice. As it is written in Romans 12:1, ...in view of Gods mercy offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God  this is your true and proper worship.

We can worship Jesus by offering our bodies and indeed our very lives as a living sacrifice to Him. We can take hold of Jesus as our sacrificial, sinless, spotless sacrifice; He died in our place and now we spread the knowledge of Him everywhere (2 Corinthians 2:14).

Spreading the Aroma of Christ Everywhere

As we live a life of worship to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we can share the good news of His death and resurrection everywhere. There are two outcomes upon hearing the gospel. One leads to life and the other leads to death. They are two very different paths. We will be a pleasing aroma to those who are being saved but a stench to those who are perishing.

Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). Eternal life is found in Him alone (1 John 5:11-12). We cannot save anyone - only Jesus saves.

God enables us to share the gospel; He is sufficient, and it is His strength that breaks through in our weakness. We are to be faithful to Jesus and to the gospel, just like the apostle Paul who wrote to the Corinthians. One day, we will be in the presence of God forever. He hears the prayers of believers throughout the centuries that are offered up like incense, pleasing to the Lord (Revelation 5:8).

The Lamb of God is worthy of all of our praise and worship. May our prayers and our lives be a fragrant offering and a pleasing aroma to the One who offered Himself to the uttermost for us.

Photo credit: Unsplash/Leohoho
 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

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When the apartheid government announced in 1952 that Black women would be subjected to the hated pass laws along with men, it provoked a backlash that echoes through our society even today.

On 9 August 1956, 20,000 women of all races marched on the Union Buildings in protest, with the rallying cry Wathint' Abafazi, Wathint' Imbokodo (you strike the women, you strike the rock).

It both broadened the scope of resistance and served as a reminder of womens power to influence history.

It is a bitter irony that, while the pass laws were scrapped long ago, women continue to suffer discrimination and violence despite their heroic contribution to the cause of freedom.

Appalling levels of violence against women and girls mean South African women cannot enjoy freedom as equals. They live in the ever-present shadow of danger, whether walking alone or waiting in dread for a violent partner to explode.

Research suggests up to 40% of South African women have experienced some form of interpersonal violence in their lifetime, just under half have experienced emotional or economic abuse at the hands of their intimate partners, while up to a quarter have been raped.

The emotional and psychological effects of this on all women  even those who mercifully escape the experience of actual violence  are a form of terror that destroys the sense of personal security we are all entitled to.

This has economic consequences too, by constraining the freedom of women to access education, develop their skills, and contribute to economic activity to their full potential.

Experts agree that the main drivers of this are a culture of violence with deep roots in our history, and unequal power relations between the sexes, including the economic dependency of many women on their male partners.

Breaking the cycle requires a multifaceted approach that addresses gendered economic inequality, cultural norms that give men and boys a sense of entitlement to the use of womens bodies and the collective trauma of pervasive, intergenerational violence affecting all South Africans.

Critically, just as women stood shoulder-to-shoulder with men in the struggle against apartheid, defeating gender-based violence and femicide today requires men to take a stand and help reshape the gender norms that give rise to attacks on women.

Recruiting as many men as possible to this cause is a herculean task that must reach into communities, households, hearts and minds if it is to be successful.

Using national crime statistics as a guide to identify hotspots for gender-based violence, Heineken Beverages supports a unique programme that speaks directly to men in priority communities, in an environment where they are comfortable and open to engaging on this sensitive topic.

Through a partnership with the National Liquor Traders and the SAPS, our Tavern Dialogues provide a platform facilitated by experts in this field for tavern patrons to reflect on attitudes to women, confront the demon of gender-based violence and commit to leading change in their homes and communities.

Sharing experiences and discovering a common desire for change can be a powerful motivation, and the response from the men who have participated has been incredibly positive.

At another level, women must be enabled to sustain themselves independently so that they are not forced to remain in abusive relationships and are able to pursue their ambitions.

Women must take their rightful place as equals in the economy, whether as employees or business owners.

For its part, Heineken Beverages will invest R400m in a supplier development fund for women-owned businesses and emerging farmers, helping to make economic emancipation a reality for more women.

These examples can only make a decisive impact if they combine with those of other corporates, government bodies and NGOs to drive change at every level of our society.

There is no silver bullet to eliminate the abuse of women and girls overnight. Rather, it will take a multitude of voices and painstaking work, piloting new approaches, compiling evidence to measure effectiveness and scaling up those that prove successful.

There is an important role for programmes that support women who have experienced violence, providing counselling and refuge, while assisting in the successful prosecution of the perpetrators.

Ultimately, we must address the interconnected drivers of GBV to prevent it from happening at all.

In doing so, we can draw inspiration from the women of 1956, knowing that if we stand together, we can create unstoppable momentum for change.
Howard Audio is very proud to see the campaign for PPS Insurance 'Finding the Forgotten Graduate' by agency Promise win a Pixel for Purpose, three gold awards in the craft category and gold in the campaign category (including four silvers and a bronze) at this years IAB South Africa Bookmark Awards - naming Promise the Best Digital Agency, and its client, PPS, the Best Digital Brand!

Finding the Forgotten Graduate: A revolutionary storytelling campaign

Howard Audio is proud to be a significant part of a project to track down and honour the very first South African of colour to get a degree. The project, an online interactive experience informed by nine months of intense historical research, shines a much-needed light on some of South Africas pioneering intellectuals whose contributions, either in full or in part, have never before featured in the countrys history books.

As a mutual company, PPS, a financial services provider catering exclusively to graduate professionals, is built on the ethos of success being better shared. In creating their most recent brand campaign, they remind us that our history is filled with graduates who were never able to share their success. Finding the Forgotten Graduate is a visceral journey back in time to find South Africas very first graduate of colour, and finally share his success over a century later via the worlds only Posthumous Life Policy.

Howard Audio composed, sound-designed and final-mixed the audio for the entire online experience which consists of two videos that top and tail a total of ten audio stories along a visually-striking interactive timeline. Featuring bespoke solo piano music for every single piece of storytelling, Adam Howard was in his element over this project.

"It was a brief like wed never had before," he says. "It was almost like composing a whole movie, made up of different scenes reflecting a series of graduates of colour who had deliberately been sidelined from the mainstream South African history narrative. Working hand in glove with the Promise team, and Tebza Malope of Star Films, we crafted the ten narrative tales that take place over a more than one-hundred-year period. I composed and arranged around forty minutes of music. Unconstrained by the usual 30-second or even 2-minute format, I could set my musical imagination free. When the story required, I included African percussive and vocal moments to highlight the narrative."

Once the story narration was crafted and the visuals laid, Adam played a thematic piano theme over each one to weave between the words.

The film pieces, shot by Tebza Malope of Star films, reflect the mood and tone of the stories. The musical landscape binds these elements of tone, voice and visual into an emotional gestalt where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

The full storytelling experience can be viewed at https://www.pps.co.za/fg/desktop/. A courageous strategy that allowed the budget to be invested into a storytelling campaign so moving, so telling, that the content is set to make a lasting contribution to the South African history books.




The ongoing taxi strike in the Cape Metropole, which has seen the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) members reach Day 6 of its negotiations with the City of Cape Town, has seen an escalation of violence as arsonists and vandals have attacked the Nolungile Community Health Centre in Khayelitsha, causing extensive damage to the property.

Source: Twitter/@i_likebrandon

The incident in Khayelitsha occurred on the night of Monday, 7 August following closure of the facility the previous due to safety concerns.

Western Cape Minister of Health and Wellness, Nomafrench Mbombo, added: Any form of violence or damage to property cannot be condoned. I am deeply disappointed by the incidents of vandalism and arson that have taken place at Nolungile Community Health Centre, which occurred even after it was closed.

It is beyond me that anyone would wish to damage a place that is meant to provide safety and health to residents. As minister, I reiterate my call to everyone to allow the safe passage of healthcare workers so that they can continue to render services to communities. Our system cannot function without our staff being on the frontlines taking care of patients.

Unrest in the region has intensified in certain rural areas, leading to further health-service reductions due to transport disruption and safety fears. In addition, more than 70 areas have been declared red zones which will result in delayed response times in emergency medical and forensic pathology services.

 The City of Cape Town has obtained an urgent court interdict against the #TaxiStrike.



No person, vehicle, taxi or driver may obstruct, interfere or block any vehicle on any public road, harm passengers, or delay the flow of traffic.



This is a victory for the rule of law.  pic.twitter.com/aL4XQRJZXN  Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) August 8, 2023

Saadiq Kariem, chief of operations of The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness said health facilities situated in areas that are not deemed safe, have been closed. The public are advised of the following service implications that the strike action and subsequent criminal activities will have on 8 August:

Central hospitals (Tygerberg, Red Cross and Groote Schuur Hospital)

Elective surgery remains postponed.

Only emergency surgery will be conducted.

District hospitals

Elective surgery is postponed at Mitchells Plain Hospital.

Karl Bremer and Helderberg Hospitals operating at reduced capacity.

Community health centres and clinics

Facilities in Gugulethu, Nyanga, Crossroads, Inzame Zabantu, Nolungile, Michael Mapongwana and the Du Noon Maternity Obstetrics Unit are closed.

Community-based care in these areas remain suspended as well as in Wallacedene and Bloekombos.

In addition, several City of Cape Town clinics have also been forced to close due the volatility of these areas.

Rural hospitals: Oudtshoorn, Knysna, George, Paarl and Worcester will operate at reduced capacity.

Community health centres and clinics: Empilisweni clinic (Worcester), Nduli clinic (Ceres) are closed while Mbekweni clinic (Paarl) is operating at reduced capacity.

The extent of the damages at Khayelishas Nolungile Community Health Centre is being assessed by The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness.

Kariem added, We appeal to everyone to work with us in ensuring our staff and health facilities are kept safe as they are there to provide medical care to everyone. Our deep appreciation is conveyed to health and other essential services staff, who have continued where possible to deliver services to those in need.

Santaco, which is striking primarily in response to a new City of Cape Town by-law that has seen large numbers of taxis being impounded, has confirmed the national taxi strike will continue until Wednesday, 9 August.
The headquarters of LG Uplus in Yongsan, Seoul / Courtesy of LG Uplus



LG Uplus, Korea's No. 3 mobile carrier, said Tuesday its second-quarter net profit rose nearly 32 percent from a year earlier, driven by its robust wireless business.



Its net income amounted to 214.8 billion won ($163.3 million) in the April-June period, up 31.7 percent from the year-ago period.



Operating profit was 288 billion won, up 15.9 percent from a year ago, the company said in a regulatory filing. Revenue rose 1.3 percent to 3.42 trillion won.



The earnings exceeded market expectations. The average estimate of net profit by analysts stood at 174.3 billion won, according to a survey by Yonhap Infomax, the financial data firm of Yonhap News Agency.



Sales from its wireless business rose 2.5 percent on-year to 1.57 trillion won in the second quarter, driven by a significant rise in mobile virtual network operators and the recovery of roaming sales.



The number of its mobile subscribers had increased by 14.3 percent on-year to 21 million as of end-June, with its 5G network users accounting for 57.2 percent of the total.



The company's smart home business also saw its sales rise 4 percent to 502.9 billion won for the three-month period ending in June from a year ago thanks to an increase in IPTV and high-speed internet subscriptions.



IPTV grew 2.8 percent year-over-year driven by the sustained growth of basic fee revenue. Broadband grew 5.6 percent on-year, thanks to the steady growth of subscribers to Giga, LG Uplus' high-speed internet service.



The company's business-to-business sector posted 1.1 percent on-year growth based on new business agreements and the launch of related products.



It said a contract for wireless communication circuits in all Hyundai and Kia models in 2023 is expected to have a positive impact on its smart mobility revenue. Also, U+Drive is set to be integrated into all Toyota car models to be released later this year.



In an earnings call, the company said it aimed to become one of the country's core providers of electric charging services.



Last month, LG Uplus signed a contract with Kakao Mobility, a mobility subsidiary of Korea's tech giant Kakao, to set up a joint venture for an electric charging business. Each company has invested 25 billion won in the joint venture.



"The joint venture aims to provide high-quality charging services based on LG Uplus' know-how of building and running infrastructure," LG Uplus Chief Financial Officer Yeo Myung-hee said during the call.



The company said it will first build standard charging stations in homes around the country, before expanding into the fast charging service.



LG Uplus launched the electric vehicle charging service, VoltUp, earlier this year and streamlined other services as part of its strategy to expand its business portfolio to the burgeoning business. (Yonhap)


Topco Media, a leading media company focused on empowering entrepreneurs, is thrilled to announce the successful conclusion of the Standard Bank Top Women EmpowHER Durban event. This milestone marks the second stop in the EmpowHER Development Series, with the final event set to take place in North West in August.

The Standard Bank Top Women EmpowHER series aims to create a vibrant community and provide networking opportunities for aspiring women entrepreneurs. The series equips women with the necessary skills and knowledge to build successful enterprises that drive economic development in South Africa. This year's event has been a resounding success, attracting passionate businesswomen from various industries.

Inspiring speakers and engaging discussions

In Durban, held at the prestigious Radisson Blu Hotel in Umhlanga on Thursday, 29 June 2023, attendees were captivated by inspiring speakers and engaged in thought-provoking discussions. The conference featured renowned personalities from the business world, including Cindy Norcott, motivational speaker, author, and entrepreneur; Nomusa-Dube Ncube, honourable premier of KwaZulu-Natal; Maria Ngcaweni, lead: specialist sectors at Standard Bank South Africa; Saskia Hill, co-founder and head of partnerships at Connect BPS Global; and Esayvanie Reddy, CEO of KZN Oils. The event was hosted by Vuyolwethu Dubese, an Innovation M&E consultant and host of ESG for SMEs.

A key highlight of the Durban event was the intense pitching den, where eleven pre-selected entrepreneurs showcased their promising business models. These talented individuals delivered compelling three-minute elevator pitches, followed by interactive five-minute Q&A sessions with a panel of esteemed judges.

The judges included Jenine Zachar, head of enterprise and direct banking propositions at Standard Bank South Africa; Fikile Kgobe, lead global markets at Standard Bank; Mabongi Khuzwayo, MICE coordinator at the KZN Convention Bureau; and Esayvanie Reddy, CEO of KZN Oils. The winners from all three regional events, including Cape Town and Durban, will attend the prestigious Standard Bank Top Women Awards in November 2023 in Johannesburg. The ultimate winner will receive the trophy and a generous cash prize of R50,000.

Winners

We are delighted to announce the winners of the Standard Bank Top Women EmpowHER Durban event. Ntokozo 'Melo' Ntleko from Takkie Wash SA emerged as the winner, impressing the judges with their innovative business model. Lebogang Ramonetha from Chemyx secured the first runner-up position, while Olwethu Nzuza from AmaShazi Animal Feed Suppliers claimed the second runner-up spot. Congratulations to all the winners and finalists for their remarkable achievements.

Final event: Join us in North West

Now, as we approach the final event in the EmpowHER Development Series, we invite all business and corporate women in South Africa to join us for an empowering experience in North West. The event will take place in Sun City, a renowned destination for business and leisure, and promises to be an incredible opportunity for networking, learning, and growth.

To secure your spot at the Standard Bank Top Women EmpowHER Regional Conference in North West, please sign up using the application form available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DV35PPY. Additionally, tickets can be purchased at https://qkt.io/AWYT87. We encourage all attendees to take advantage of the 20% discount exclusively available to Standard Bank customers using their BIN numbers as a promo code (first six numbers on your card).

Don't miss out on this chance to connect with successful entrepreneurs, gain valuable insights, and propel your business forward. Join us for the final event of the Standard Bank Top Women EmpowHER series and be part of the thriving community of empowered women driving South Africa's economic growth.

Sponsors, partners, and lifestyle partners

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors, partners, and lifestyle partners for their invaluable support in making the Standard Bank Top Women EmpowHER series a resounding success. Their commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs is commendable, says Fletcher.

Platinum Sponsor:

Standard Bank Partners:

KZN Oils

KZN Convention Bureau Lifestyle partners:

Softlips

Eskamel

Hado Labo Tokyo

Woolworths

Propel Photo Booths

MLT Car Rental

Amile Wines




We know that stokvels play a significant role in the financial lives of many South Africans, especially in low-income communities, as they provide a means of support and a way to manage expenses collectively. Stokvels are a considerable force of customer purchasing power for many people in various life stages in the calendar year. Burials and Christmas are the obvious annual events, but general grocery stokvels are becoming more formalised with groups sized between 12 and 20 people pooling resources for monthly grocery buying. MegaVision Media has compiled a list of this season's must-haves for brands wanting to make an impact and boost sales.

In-store activations Hosting in-store activations at wholesale partners for stokvel events can be a strategic and beneficial marketing approach for brands looking to tap into a niche market, increase sales and build a strong relationship with potential customers and wholesale partners. Sampling initiatives Hand in hand with activations are sampling initiatives. This allows brands to put their products directly into the mouths of potential consumers. This hands-on approach builds trust and familiarity with the brand, leading to increased conversions and brand loyalty. Branded materials and POS Stand out from the crowd with top-notch, supported branded materials. Eye-catching point of sale merchandise ensures that your brand remains front and centre during stokvel gatherings and events, maximising visibility and recall. MegaVision Media ensures your brand makes a lasting impression, reinforcing brand recall and recognition. OOH media Out-of-home indoor and outdoor media fixtures at various wholesale stores hosting the stokvel days ensure your brand takes a stand on shelf while shoppers are making their final purchasing decisions. Participating in formalised in-store media from companies like MegaVision Media, allows you to carry your overall campaign messaging to the very end. Attend Stokvelex 2023 Hosted at the JHB Expo Centre, Stokvelex is taking place from 24-26 November 2023 and is free to attend. (MegaVision Media has no association whatsoever with this event.)



Whether your brand is a seasoned stokvel participant or new to it, lets look at some of the major benefits of participating in stokvels.

The power brand building

Participating in advertising and activations at stokvels opens doors to a multitude of benefits for brands looking to strengthen their presence in the market.

Direct and targeted reach

stokvels are tightly-knit communities with shared interests, values, and purchasing habits. Engaging with them directly through advertising and activations allows brands to connect on a personal level, building trust and loyalty.

Amplified word-of-mouth

stokvels are built on trust and recommendations among their members. When a brand leaves a positive impression, it has the potential to spread like wildfire through word-of-mouth, creating organic and genuine brand advocates.

Heightened brand visibility

stokvels often hold events and gatherings, where brands can showcase their products and services. This presents an invaluable chance to increase brand visibility, ensuring it remains top-of-mind when members make purchasing decisions.

Culturally relevant marketing

By engaging with stokvels, brands demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of South African culture. This cultural relevance in marketing fosters a deeper connection with consumers and can lead to long-lasting brand loyalty.

Market expansion

For brands looking to expand into new market segments, stokvels offer a dynamic platform to tap into niche markets and reach a broader audience.

Don't miss the chance to supercharge your brand's growth through stokvel advertising and activations. Collaborate with MegaVision Media and let us help you unlock the full potential of this exceptional opportunity. Reach out to us at az.oc.aidemvm@ofni or call 011 803 8433 to take your brand to new heights in the heart of South African culture.
TopGear South Africa is set to take its motoring content to new heights with the launch of a new test track facility, a first for the magazine outside of its native UK. The 3.5-km track at Brakpan/Benoni Airfield allows the local publication to expand its media portfolio and deliver uniquely South African motoring content, produced in a controlled environment.

Avon Middleton, publisher, and explains Lerato Matebese, publishing editor at Clipping Point Publishing. Source: Quickpic

Part of the content expansion is a number of series that should be familiar to the TopGear audience. The first of these is the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car, an insert that will see South African celebrities attempting on-screen, their fastest lap around the circuit.

A long time coming, finally launching the TopGear SA test track, is another feather in the cap of our continuous growth strategy, explains Lerato Matebese, publishing editor at Clipping Point Publishing.

The facility allows us to put each car through the same, rigorous test to see how these would perform bone-stock from the dealer floor. While this will be great for car debates at the braai or carwash, it also puts into perspective each cars performance credentials in a controlled environment.

High quality content

The track allows the TopGear SA team to conduct its own performance testing in the safest environment possible with repeatability and uniformity for each car in mind.

From straight-line performance testing to actual timed laps, braking and weight transition parameters being put to the test, the track will produce results for the TopGear SA Fastest Lap board.

Of course, were thrilled to be able to have such an exclusive facility that allows us to do so much of what the TopGear brand has become known for, comments Avon Middleton, publisher at Clipping Point Publishing.

If one considers any memories of the TopGear brand  a track like this one must come to mind at some point. With this, we aim to deliver even more engaging and entertaining content and give South African audiences a little more.

Other announcements

Also announced at the event were a number of large-scale features and events on the horizon:

The first ever TopGear Awards here in South Africa, proudly powered by Wesbank. The TopGear Awards will take place at the end of the year announcing all of the best cars in a variety of categories.

- The annual TopGear Speed Week 2023 takes place at the end of October. Speed Week is the largest performance feature for the publication as they aim to find out the best performance car in South Africa.
Afda are delighted to announce that Afda Durban 2022 honours film "Winterslaap", directed by Leandros Brown and Daniel Howells won the Best South African Student Film award at the 2nd edition of the Isiphethu International Student Film Festival at the Durban International Film Festival 2023 and that Afda alumna Sandulela Asanda won the Best South African Short Film award for her film Mirror Mirror.

"The team of Winterslaap have done it again! This time they've won the most prestigious DurbanI International Film Festival Award for Best South African Student Film. I always knew they were an exceptional team and this has proved it again," says Dr Janet van Eeden.

"One of the most affirming comments I heard over the festival was from the director from the Centre for the Creative Arts, of UKZN, Dr Ismail Mohamed, who is in charge of DIFF itself, and who has a CV as long as our arms. He commented after watching Winterslaap that it was a beautiful film.

"I saw the film and attended the two talk sessions with the students. Afda certainly has the right approach with preparing student filmmakers for the industry.' This is the highest praise indeed, from Dr Mohamed who ran the Market Theatre as well as the National Arts Festival in Makhanda for many years before assuming his current role. I, of course, agree with him wholeheartedly."

"We, as a team, are incredibly proud to have won Best South African Student Film at DIFF. The journey has been long and tough, as filmmaking often is, but with the unwavering support of our families and the staff at Afda Durban, we have been able to achieve what we have so far. We are immensely thankful to them, and it's through Afda as an institution that this accomplishment has become possible." says co-director of Winterslaap, Daniel Howells.

"We feel extremely happy and humbled by the positive reception for our film. Thank you to our hard-working and talented crew, our lecturers and families for all they have contributed to this project that we can all be so proud of. We look forward to seeing what is further possible with the film going into the future." Says co-director of Winterslaap, Leandros Brown.

The Durban International Festival had this to say about Winterslaap and Mirror Mirror:

"Winterslaap" delves into the intriguing ways in which individuals navigate the uncharted territory of the unknown. In the story setup, the director creatively captures the enigmatic nature of the unknown through vibrant and evocative visual descriptions. He effectively portrays a strong colour palette, texture, and characters.

Every element of the story complements the central question, allowing the characters to convey the main message effectively. Their body language indicates they are experiencing fear or apprehension, so they may be hesitant to discuss the matter.

The film is highly engaging and effectively maintains suspense until the very end. The camera work and mise-en-scene are executed in a truly magical manner."

"Mirror Mirror is a sassy, rapturous and fun coming-of-age story, told from a black girl's perspective. We need to see more of these stories. Stories that celebrate female blackness without the heavy burden of trauma and the ever-looming male presence. Wonderful artistic choices. Assured direction, inventive editing that evokes teenage diary obsession, anchored by a charming lead with a bright future ahead of her. This is a step in the right direction for local cinema, with its visible changing landscape and widening representation. Looks to be a crowd-pleaser and will play well with local audiences and the potential to grow into a feature film is quite clear."

The Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), presented by the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of Kwazulu-Natal, is widely regarded as a leading film festival on the African continent and a vital event on the international film calendar.

The DIFF's Isiphethu Industry Development Programme promotes and highlights opportunities and possibilities for local film production, and it stimulates the growth of the local film industry.
The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding agreement in Toronto. The new agreement became effective 1 August 2023.

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding agreement in Toronto. The new agreement became effective 1 August 2023.

IMA members are now able to join a provincial/regional CPA body, subject to passing days two and three of the CPA Professions Common Final Examination. Canadian CPA members can join CIMA, subject to passing the CGMA Professional Qualification Strategic Case Study Exam. Candidates will also need to meet the other bodys practical experience requirements to demonstrate their competence and experience in the workplace.

The MOU allows Canadian businesses access to a deeper pool of management accounting talent, where CIMA members have the opportunity to add greater value to the organisations they serve. Equally, CPA Canada members will have enhanced career opportunities around the world as a result of being able to utilise their wider expertise in areas such as public accounting, performance management and finance.

In addition to joining CIMA, the benefits include access to the communities and resources of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, formed in 2017 by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and CIMA, with its 698,000 members, candidates and professionals based across 188 countries and territories.

Andrew Harding, FCMA, CGMA, chief executive  management accounting at The Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, representing AICPA & CIMA, said:

I am delighted that we have reached this agreement with the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, and it reflects our strong working relationship. CIMA has a large global membership base, with a strong cohort in Canada. The agreement will mean that CIMA and CPA Canada members will now have a bigger range of employment opportunities and will be able to use their skills even more widely.

Holding the CPA and CGMA designations shows a depth of accounting and finance knowledge that companies all over the world will be looking to acquire to enhance their competitive advantage.

CPA Canada President and CEO Pamela Steer added:

This agreement with CIMA is yet another example of the global recognition of the value of a Canadian CPA designation. Canadas accounting profession continues to demonstrate its commitment to increasing international labour mobility for our members. By establishing a clear pathway to achieving reciprocal membership, CIMA and CPA Canada will reduce challenges to accessing global career opportunities for our members, while addressing economic and market needs of domestic and international organisations.
Organisations running an older ERP are often pleasantly surprised when they see demos of the modern, easy-to-use, flexible, and powerful ERP systems being sold today. This often propels the 'we need a new ERP' conversation.

Paul Bouchier

Leading ERP vendors have invested in programmes to make moving to their new cloud-based ERP products easier than it has been in the past  and they tout this during the sales process. But easier does not mean easy. Switching ERP is not like changing your cell phone provider. It is still expensive and disruptive. Whether or not to switch, and how to switch needs to be considered carefully, advises Paul Bouchier, sales director at iOCO, within iOCO Software Distribution, an Infor Gold Partner.

When switching to a new ERP, it is important to: define the business five- to 10-year objectives; evaluate the ERP vendors roadmap and its investment in technology; evaluate the latest product from the existing vendor vs products from competitors; and prepare the organisation for the move to SaaS ERP.

Remember that the grass is not always greener. Switching one ERP vendor for another will not automatically provide the benefits you seek, adds Bouchier.

Five- to 10-year business objectives. To fully realise the benefits of an ERP solution, your companys ERP strategy must align with your business objectives. Define and document your business strategy before beginning an ERP replacement process. Common drivers for ERP replacement include that the existing system will not scale to support business growth, that the features and capabilities needed arent present in the existing product and are not included in the vendors near-term roadmap; and that the industry has experienced disruption. Old business models and systems are no longer adequate, and you need to undertake a digital transformation to stay competitive, says Bouchier.

ERP functionality and technology roadmap. In the past, ERP suites from most major vendors were delivered as huge one-size-fits-all deployments. Some vendors still take this approach. However, with the advent of SaaS, more ERP vendors are delivering suites tailored to specific vertical industries to minimise the need for customisations. Consider the following points when switching ERP.

Functionality and fit for your vertical industry. Since customisations to vendor-delivered code are no longer permitted, organisations need to determine how much of a fit the SaaS ERP suite is out of the box. Some vendors provide SaaS ERP tailored to vertical industries such as manufacturing, food and beverage, public sector, etc. Others rely on implementation partners to provide industry-specific configurations and extensions for vertical industry requirements. Each approach has pros and cons. Confirm the approach your selected vendor is proposing and check with references to see how well that approach has been executed for them.

Investment in EAP and technology. Functional capabilities are still important, but just as important today and in the future is the underlying enterprise application platform (EAP) and technology. There is significant overlap between this topic and support for composability. This point is related to how well the ERP vendor leverages its underlying technology to deploy things such as process analysis and automation as part of the normal upgrade cycle. What this means is the applications themselves get smarter and recommend automating repetitive processes as part of the ERP suites normal release schedule. Significant gains in productivity are delivered as a matter of course, adds Bouchier.

Support for composability. Composable ERP is the future. This demands a fundamentally reliable SaaS ERP suite built on a state-of-the-art EAP, permitting vendors to develop and deploy new capabilities rapidly. Itll offer an ecosystem of services to deliver experiences and capabilities fully integrated to the back-end ERP. This includes sophisticated API management for complex integrations, embedded AI/ML, low-code/no-code development and integration for deployment by power users, process intelligence and hyper-automation.

It is absolutely imperative that any ERP suite selected in 2023 and beyond has a leading EAP. Organisations need to consider these underlying platforms with the same level of importance as functional capabilities.

New products from the same vendor or a new vendor? Switching would imply moving to a new vendor and ERP suite. However, leading ERP vendors have invested so heavily in modernising their ERP suites that the newer products often have significant differences from their legacy ERPs. Even if you remain with the same vendor, the approach to take if moving to a newer SaaS ERP should be that of re-implementation  not upgrading.

Change management is usually easier if you stay with the same vendor. However, transformation can sometimes be easier when switching vendors. The adoption of new business models is sometimes easier when you leverage the fact that you are changing vendors  so processes have to change, confirms Bouchier.

Readiness for implementing SaaS ERP. Modern ERP is delivered as SaaS on multi-tenant cloud infrastructure, which enables leveraging advanced technology and the rapid deployment of new features and capabilities. Once you have decided to replace your ERP system there are organisational changes required to make sure you are successful.

New features and functions are deployed multiple times per year. New roles will be required to evaluate vendor-delivered functional enhancements and technical capabilities such as process automation, concludes Bouchier. Consuming new features and capabilities requires more frequent but light-weight change management and testing  especially of extensions and integrations.




A submarine landslide in the Congo Canyon, one of the world's largest submarine canyons, disrupted the West African Cable System (WACS) and South Atlantic 3/West Africa Submarine Cable (SAT-3) undersea cables on Sunday.

South African internet users could experience service disruption. Source: Lars Kienle/Unsplash

The Congo Canyon cuts through the continental shelf and slope of western equatorial Africa in the South Atlantic Ocean. WACS, which is one of the main connections between South Africa and Europe along the African west coast and ends in the United Kingdom, follows along this path.

The cable has four fibre pairs, 15 terminal stations, and a total length of 16,000 kilometres. It is owned by a consortium of 18 international telecom carriers. SAT-3 is an older cable system - operational since 2001 - with a capacity of 120Gbps.

MyBroadband reported that it might take more than a month for a cable repair ship to reach the WACS break location. However, Openserve, the wholesale and networks division of Telkom, said that its operations would not be significantly affected.

More capacity for Africa

In contrast, Angola had positive cable news last week when the 2Africa subsea cable landed in Luanda, the capital city. This landing is the first major part of the West African side of the 2Africa cable, which starts at MTN's Yzerfontein landing station in South Africa.

Meta and seven other partners announced the 2Africa cable in 2020. Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN) will manufacture and deploy the 45,000km, 16-fibre pair, 180Tbps cable.

2Africa will connect 33 countries with 46 landing points across Africa, Europe, and Asia when it is complete in 2024.
Chief counsel at Mondelez International Sub-Saharan Africa, Jo-Ann David heads up the all-women team responsible for the management of the organisation's legal, compliance and governance matters across the designated region.

Chief counsel at Mondelez International Sub-Saharan Africa, Jo-Ann David

Background

The offspring of two teachers, David and her brother, Michael, grew up in Verulam, north of Durban; later moving to Glencoe, a small town between Ladysmith and Newcastle in KZN, where they attended primary and high school.

"I went to the University at Natal, Pietermaritzburg, for both my undergrad and most especially my postgrad, as my mum had read that it was considered the academic seat of law in the country at the time. I suspect that her motivation was twofold, she also wanted me closer to home!" says David.

Armed with a Master's in Commercial Law from the University of Natal (now part of UKZN), David's career spans 25-years and three continents - having worked in both Beijing and Houston before returning to South Africa. During this time, she has earned extensive legal experience in commercial and corporate law.

"I served my articles and spent some time in private practice before I decided to answer what looked like a dream job advert in the Sunday Times Careers supplement (does that still exist?). That began my career as in-house legal counsel and here I am now at Mondelez, having joined in the middle of the pandemic almost three years ago," David explains.

Now married, the avid reader and runner describes herself as "proudly South African, evidenced by having returned as an expat twice."

This Women's Month, David reminds us to have faith in our abilities and that while we don't have to be perfect, be brave.

Why did you pursue a career in law?

A couple of reasons. My uncle, Paul, an anti-apartheid activist, made it seem like a worthy and virtuous occupation. It also so happened that my acceptance into law school came through well before my scholarship to do History honours and so practicality and expediency won the day.

What are the challenges that women in the legal industry deal with today?

Of course, women face challenges in the industry, be it pay parity, sexual harassment or discrimination when we decide to have children. But Id rather approach this question from a solution-orientated frame - how do women respond to the challenges in the industry?

I believe strongly in our agency as women, that we can influence our thoughts and behaviour and that having faith in our ability to navigate challenging circumstances and to succeed, best serves us in getting over difficult obstacles.

In my experience, working on cultivating a strong sense of self-awareness so that were not easily triggered by a male colleague who is talking over us or worse still mansplaining is strategically smart. As is building our confidence and our competence so that we can resiliently deal with the imposter syndrome that raises its ugly head now and then. And importantly too, we need to further our fellow women in the industry by looking out for women and supporting them in meaningful ways. Like connecting one another by facilitating an introduction, for example, or taking strategic bets on women who show promise and potential.

What do you think is the most important piece of legislation affecting women that has been passed - either locally or internationally - within the last 30 years?

South Africas Choice in Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1996, gives all women the right to a free termination at a government hospital or clinic during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Access to safe and legal abortions is not just an issue of womens bodily autonomy but also one of economic freedom. There are many studies which show that young teenage mothers are less likely to complete high school, which then adversely impacts their ability to set themselves up for success, financially speaking. And we know that when more women are educated and more women work, economies grow.

Over the course of your career, how have you seen the gender divide change within the industry?

I think that some of the stereotypes about women in law have shifted for the better. For example, I started my articles and some of my time in private practice doing litigation, both civil and criminal. There werent many women doing litigation for all the stereotypical reasons that you can imagine. The women were expected to be conveyancers, doing property law or drafting contracts, based in the office working on the paper. I exaggerate and generalise for effect here. Today though for example, I have a litigation matter headed by strong and effective women with a team of equally strong and effective women.

Who are you female legal icons and why?

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is not in the legal profession but her writing and her talks are so relevant to women wherever they find themselves, that I consider her a strong female and feminist icon. If you havent read or listened to We Should All Be Feminists or Dear Ijeawele, it eloquently reminds us that we women matter equally, and that we are not just objects to be liked or disliked but we are subjects who can like or dislike. I find her incredibly empowering and shes my go-to tonic whenever I need to lift my spirits.

What is your message to young women this Womens Month?

I like to refer to Reshma Saujanis words, "be brave, not perfect" as another of my favourite authors: "Tap into your innate sense of courage and speak up when you have something to say. Dont let thinking that you have not got the right words hold you back. Rather say it, even if youre not expressing yourself as articulately as youd like. My lightbulb moment has been that you can say something less than brilliant and nothing terrible is going to happen. The world is not going to come to an end."

So, be brave, ask that question, raise your hand for that job and take your seat at the table.
Over 100 domestic workers marched to the Union Buildings in Tshwane on Friday, 4 August 2023.

Domestic workers marched to the Union Buildings in Tshwane to demand workplace compensation for injuries or death and better working conditions. Photos: Kimberly Mutandiro | GroundUp

Over 100 domestic workers marched to the Union Buildings in Tshwane at the weekend.



Many of them complain of racism, abuse, assault and sexual harassment by employers.



Unions say such cases are underreported and seldom prosecuted as workers fear they will lose their jobs.



The march marked three years since the Constitutional Court ordered that domestic workers be included in workplace compensation legislation.

Nearly three years since the Constitutional Court ordered that domestic workers be included in legislation aimed at giving them better protection in the workplace, domestic workers say they still struggle to get compensation, and they suffer widespread abuse and unfair treatment by employers.

A hundred domestic workers gathered at the Union Buildings in Tshwane at the weekend to hand over a memorandum to the Presidency.

The rights of domestic workers are still being violated. They are suffering from sexual abuse by employers, they are being attacked by dogs, and are being exploited without any compensation. And nothing is being done about it, said Pinky Mashiane, a domestic worker and founder of United Domestic Workers of South Africa (UDWOSA).

The marchers on Friday honoured Maria Mahlangu, who drowned in her employers swimming pool in Pretoria in March 2012. It was alleged that Mahlangu, who was partially blind, was washing windows next to the unfenced pool when she slipped and fell. She could not swim and drowned. Her body was discovered hours later by her employer.

The compensation matter heard by the Constitutional Court was rooted in a case brought by Mahlangus daughter, Sylvia Mahlangu, who was her sole dependent at the time. She was left financially devastated after her mothers death. She approached the Department of Labour to claim compensation but was turned away.

In the landmark ruling in November 2020, the Constitutional Court ruled that domestic workers be covered by the provisions of the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA) and that damages can be claimed for work-related injuries, illnesses and death.

Despite this ruling, the domestic workers union says it is still inundated with calls for help from workers. Many of their complaints relate to being mauled by their employers dogs or experiences of racism, physical and sexual assault and harassment by employers. UDWOSA leaders say that many of these cases are almost never prosecuted or are not reported as the workers fear they will lose their jobs.

The union said it found that many domestic workers across South Africa are still not registered with the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) or for Compensation for Occupational Injuries and they earn well below the national minimum wage.

On 1 March 2023, South Africas new minimum hourly wage of R25.42 came into force.

The rights of domestic workers are still being violated  And nothing is being done about it, said Pinky Mashiane, domestic worker and founder of United Domestic Workers of South Africa. Photos: Kimberly Mutandiro | GroundUp

The rights of domestic workers are still being violated ... And nothing is being done about it, said Pinky Mashiane, domestic worker and founder of United Domestic Workers of South Africa.

Sonto Mhlangu, who works in Silver Lakes Estates, said while she welcomed earning a minimum wage, the money is still not enough to meet the current cost of living. Many of us are paid peanuts yet the work we do is equally important. The government needs to treat us like other white-collar employees, she said.

Siboniso Ndlovu said employers often refuse to help her with her immigration documentation. As a migrant domestic worker, my job is not secure. I can be fired anytime due to the documentation issue, Ndlovu said.

She earns R2,000 a month and says her employer refuses to increase her salary.

Other demands included that the government ban the breeding and ownership of pit bulls. They also want employers to face attempted murder charges if a domestic worker is attacked.

Eunice Dladla of the South African Domestic Service and Allied Workers Union said, Employers do not want to comply with labour laws. We have found that its only a few who give their domestic workers the stipulated minimum wage. They are ill-treated, undermined and discriminated against by employers.

We have cases where domestic workers are impregnated by employers who refuse to take responsibility. We will keep protesting until the government intervenes.

This article was originally published on GroundUp.
The 17th annual South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas 17) nominees have been announced.

In this years TV Telenovela and Soap nominations, The River and Legacy, from Tshedza Pictures, have each been nominated in 11 categories, respectively. Diepe Waters, a new Telenovela, received six nominations, while The Blackdoor, another new Telenovela, received five nominations.

In the TV Soap category, Uzalo and Generations: The Legacy have been nominated with Scandal for the Best Achievement in Scriptwriting category.

Best of the industry

The Saftas team is thrilled by the overwhelming positive response of the South African (SA) film and television industry to the call for Saftas 17 entries, which opened on 3 February 2023 and closed on 20 March 2023. Of the expected 250 to 350 entries, the team received 389 project entries.

To ensure fairness and variety in the judging process, the NFVF once again joined forces with 200 industry experts who served as jury members for this years Saftas. After over two months of deliberating and rounding off this list of nominees who represent the best of the SA film and television industry, the jury came up with a list of three to five nominees per category.

The Saftas 16 winner for the Best Structured Soapie Reality Show category, Dj Zinhle, has been nominated once again in the same category, competing with the likes of Young Famous and African S1 and Uthando Nesthembu, to mention just a few.

In the TV Comedy categories, How to Ruin Christmas S3 has been nominated for 12 of the 13 categories, including Best TV Comedy, Best Achievement in Scriptwriting and Directing.

The public will again get the opportunity to vote for the Best TV Presenter and The Most Popular Telenovela or Soap categories. Voting lines will be open from 10 August 2023 and the codes will be published on all Saftas social media platforms and the NFVF website.

Voting will close on 27 September 2023 at 23h59.

Diverse audience

After three years of the disruptive, life-altering impact of Covid-19 which required the Saftas ceremonies to be held virtually, this year, the two-night awards ceremony will be held in person in Johannesburg, with the theme Our stories flow together.

Nearly 30 years into democracy, this theme speaks to the role local content has played in effortlessly uniting diverse audiences. Both the Craft and Main Awards ceremonies will be held in Johannesburg on the 29 and 30 September 2023. The Craft Awards will be broadcast live on the Saftas YouTube channel on 29 September 2023, with a rebroadcast later on SABC channels, while the Main Awards will be broadcast live on 30 September 2023 as a simulcast on DSTV channel 161 (Mzansi Magic) and S3 (SABC 3) from 19h00.

The NFVF acting CEO, Thobela Mayinje, says, The NFVF is encouraged by the confidence the SA film and television industry is showing to the Saftas. The high number of entries speaks volumes about the growth of the SA film and television industry, with new productions making part of the nominees list as well. It is also exciting that this year, industry peers will again be able to interact and celebrate each other in person.


By Lee Kyung-min



Shares of Hyundai Motor Group's 12 affiliates remain wildly undervalued, as evidenced by their price-to-book (P/B) ratios averaging below 1, despite operating profits topping the list of the country's major conglomerates for two consecutive quarters as of June, market analysts said Tuesday.



The P/B ratio measures the market's valuation of a company relative to its book value. It is used by investors to identify potential investments and a low P/B ratio means a company's stock price is undervalued compared to the value of its assets.



The P/B ratio for the automotive giant's four peers  Samsung, SK, LG and POSCO  far exceeds 1, averaging between 1.7 and 6.56.



The highest ratio of 6.56 was registered by the six affiliates of POSCO, followed by 20 SK Group affiliates (2.36), 16 Samsung affiliates (1.85) and 10 affiliates of LG Group (1.7).



Ten out of 12, or 88 percent, of Hyundai affiliates displayed a P/B ratio of lower than 1. Such a ratio was logged by five out of 10 LG Group affiliates, nine out of 20 SK Group affiliates and six out of 16 Samsung Group affiliates. Only one POSCO affiliate's share had a P/B ratio below 1.



Some say Hyundai Motor Group's record-high earnings during the past six months fan concerns of the subsidiaries shares "peaking out," whereby their prices fall sharply after reaching a high point.



Hyundai Motor Group's operating profit surpassed 9.6 trillion won ($7.2 billion) in the April-June period of this year, twice the operating profit logged by Samsung Group over the same period.



The figures were in line with a revision made earlier by local brokerages of Hyundai Motor's annual earnings target to 33.69 trillion won this year, far greater than the estimates for Samsung Group at 24.99 trillion won and 12.30 trillion won for LG Group.



However, the changes in the stock price of Hyundai Motor's 12 affiliates were limited to an average of -5.01 percent over the past month.



Stock prices of Hyundai Motor, Kia and Hyundai Mobis  the big growth drivers of the group  registered drops of 8.96 percent, 2.81 percent and 2.79 percent, respectively.



More pronounced were drops in the share prices of Hyundai Rotem, Hyundai Glovis and Hyundai Wia, which registered respective falls of 20.84 percent, 5.42 percent and 12.83 percent.



But market analysts say concerns of a "peak out" for Hyundai shares are overblown.



"Hyundai Motor's profitability will not plummet to the level experienced during the beginning of the pandemic a few years ago," said Daishin Securities researcher Kim Kwi-yeon.



"The brand power and production capacities have since strengthened. This together with Hyundai Motor's price-earnings ratio, or P/E ratio, of 4.7 at a historical low will buffer any further downward pressure in the stock price's trajectory."



The P/E ratio measures a company's share price relative to its earnings per share and is used to decide whether the stock is overvalued or undervalued.



Kyobo Securities researcher Nam Joo-sin said there are lingering concerns over unionized workers of the automaker striking in the second half, but the collective action will not drag on.



"A summer strike could take place, but it will not continue for long. The firm's fixed cost will be lowered, as bolstered by a greater operation rate of manufacturing facilities and the launch of new vehicle models in the months to come," Nam said.



Shares of Hyundai Motor closed at 188,400 won, Tuesday, up 400 won, or 0.21 percent from the previous session.




Rezoning is emerging as a viable option for a diverse set of property owners to make the most of their assets. This involves changing the designated use of a property, as defined by local ordinances, from one category - such as residential in this case - to another.

Paul Stevens, CEO of Just Property. Source: Supplied

Paul Stevens, CEO of Just Property, delves into the reasons why owners might consider this move.

Diversification amidst market uncertainty

Like many across the globe, South Africa's property market is currently facing a period of uncertainty due to the ongoing impact of global geopolitical shifts and the aftermath of the pandemic. Although traditionally a stable investment, residential property can be subject to market fluctuations.

Rezoning can allow property owners to diversify their portfolio, mitigating risk, and potentially achieving a more stable return on investment, says Stevens.

With many areas in traditionally single-erf suburbs earmarked for higher density, the opportunity exists to improve a propertys value to developers, says Stevens. Similarly, getting a large property cleared for subdivision can also make it more attractive to buyers and developers. Generally, we find a seller in this position can stand their ground on pricing (should it be a market-related selling price)."

Capitalising on urbanisation and commercial growth

Urbanisation is driving demand for commercial and mixed-use properties in South Africa's major cities like Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban. If a property is in the structure plan to be rezoned for business purposes, generally this does add value, Stevens confirms.

Rezoning a residential property on the edge of or in a business node to commercial can present opportunities for business operations, rental income from businesses, or even selling the property at a higher price due to its increased utility and demand, he adds.

Answering the call for affordable housing and social services

In many of South Africa's urban and peri-urban areas, there is a pressing need for affordable housing and social services. Rezoning to multi-unit residential or community services could provide a socially conscious and economically viable solution to this problem. Property owners can potentially benefit from government incentives intended to encourage such developments.

The rise of remote work culture

The global shift towards remote work has led to an increased demand for coworking spaces and home offices. Rezoning a residential property to mixed-use could allow a portion of the property to be utilised for commercial purposes, thus meeting this new demand.

Agricultural revival and sustainable living

The push for sustainability and food security has led to a renewed interest in small-scale farming, particularly in peri-urban and rural areas. Rezoning a property for agricultural use could prove beneficial in this regard, tapping into a market that's likely to grow in the coming years.

Whats involved in rezoning your property?

"Changing your zoning classification can be a long, complex process which can take up to two years, or even more in some cases. The process incurs expenses, including advertising and documentation costs, professional service charges, application fees, and the transportation development levy to be paid to the municipality," warns Stevens.

It is possible to take on the rezoning process yourself but be prepared for a tedious process. Commercial brokers and residential property practitioners can provide advice and liaise with town-planning consultants and the council, but drawing on the expertise of seasoned lawyers, architects, or town planners is recommended. "

According to Stevens, the initial stage involves contacting the town-planning department of your local municipality to ascertain whether your property is situated in a zone designated for high-density development or falls into a business zone. If not, it will be necessary to file for a zoning deviation.

The property owner or their consulting professional should submit a proposal explaining the necessity for changing the property's zoning. It's advisable to highlight the positive impact this change could bring to the area (such as the benefits of the proposed new use) and its possible benefits for others.

"You'll need to engage with the public and announce your plans in local newspapers (and the provisional Gazette), giving sufficient time for potential objections to be made," Stevens notes.

If you receive approval from Town Planning, the application is then forwarded to the city council for consideration. Be aware that you may well receive objections from your neighbours and the broader community  it is also possible that council will not approve your application. So do not proceed with any development until youve ticked all your boxes, Stevens warns.

Is it worth it?

Buyers prefer to purchase property that is already rezoned. As you can see from the above, it is a lengthy, sometimes frustrating process. And for that reason, they are prepared to pay more for a property that has already been rezoned or had its application approved.

Property owners who are prepared to go through the pain themselves can make a significant profit on their original purchase price, says Stevens. Rezoning could present a strategic opportunity in the face of South Africa's evolving property market landscape.
The payment was documented in a contract between China-based Hikvision and the Hainan Province's Chengmai County, which was obtained by IPVM.

"While the People's Republic of China (PRC) has sharply restricted access to sensitive documents such as this one, this shows that persecution of Uyghur ethnic minorities is ongoing and that Hikvision, in what the authorities called its 'standard configuration,' can and does supply this human rights-abusing software," IPVM's researchers claimed last week.

Beijing regards the Uyghurs as a threat on grounds that their beliefs and affiliation with central Asian cultures represent a threat to Chinese sovereignty. Human rights groups assert that Uyghurs are surveilled, incarcerated, required to perform forced labor, re-educated to abandon their beliefs and cultural practices, and may even be subjected to sterilization campaigns.

Technology vendors are thought to know their wares assist in those efforts, and perhaps even to develop capabilities that enable Beijing's human rights abuses.

Hikvision earned itself a spot on the US blacklist in 2019 for allegedly being complicit in Beijing's suppression of the Uyghur population. Hikvision has denied being "knowingly" involved in human rights abuses.

Nvidia was also named in this latest contract, though the accelerator maker says it hasn't sold kit to Hikvision since 2019, and isn't involved in this contract.
Poongsan Group Chairman Ryu Jin, third from right, poses with the heads of Korea's leading conglomerates during their meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at Elysee Palace in Paris in this June 21 file photo. From left are Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun, LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong, Macron, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, Ryu, Hyosung Group Vice Chairman Cho Hyun-sang and Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Won-tae. Courtesy of Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry



Top 4 business groups likely rejoin business lobby



By Park Jae-hyuk



Korea's four largest business groups are likely to rejoin the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), which will come under the leadership of a new chairman after its general meeting on Aug. 22, according to industry officials, Tuesday.



The four  Samsung, SK Group, LG Group and Hyundai Motor Group  left the business lobby in 2016 due to its connection to a bribery scandal involving impeached former President Park Geun-hye.



A day after Poongsan Group Chairman Ryu Jin was recommended as the new FKI chairman on Monday, the Samsung Compliance Committee said that it decided to hold an extraordinary meeting before Aug. 22. The committee members will reportedly discuss whether the conglomerate should accept the FKI's request made last month for its return.



The committee was initially supposed to hold a regular meeting on Aug. 22, but Lee Chan-hee, a lawyer who leads the committee, told the press that the need emerged to host an extraordinary meeting.



Samsung Electronics and other affiliates are also reportedly planning to hold extraordinary board meetings before Aug. 22.



These decisions are being interpreted as showing Samsung's intention to take steps to rejoin the business lobby.



Last month, Lee did not rule out the possibility of rejoining the FKI, saying a "Copernican Revolution" in the business lobby is a prerequisite for Samsung to return.



If Samsung decides to rejoin the FKI, the other three groups are expected to follow suit.



SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, who leads the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), which replaced the FKI as the most influential business lobby during the Moon Jae-in administration, hinted last month that his company may rejoin the FKI.



"I hope for the success of the FKI under a good leader," he told reporters during a KCCI forum on Jeju Island. "I want the KCCI and the FKI to become partners to solve difficult problems."



Sources familiar with this matter said SK Group is more open-minded than the other three groups in terms of rejoining the FKI.



Against this backdrop, POSCO Group, which left the FKI in 2017, already decided to return.



"We are taking procedures to rejoin the FKI," a POSCO Group official said.



Since the FKI came under the leadership of Acting Chairman Kim Byong-joon, a politician who worked for President Yoon Suk Yeol's election campaign, the business lobby has expanded its presence again, hosting major international events.



The four business groups' moves to rejoin the FKI, however, have been attributed to the reputation of the incoming chairman, who has built personal networks in business and political circles in Korea and the U.S.



Given that Poongsan operates a defense business that produces various ammunition, he has maintained close ties with U.S. politicians, including the Bush family.



"Ryu has outstanding experience, knowledge and connections on the global stage. He is the right person to demonstrate his leadership in building a new FKI as a global think tank and a central economic organization in name and reality," the FKI said in a press release.








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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi poses as he meets Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Ankara, Turkey, July 26. Reuters-Yonhap



China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in a phone conversation on Monday that China would uphold an independent and impartial position on Ukraine as it strives to find a political settlement to the issue.



Wang's comments to Lavrov were announced in a Foreign Ministry statement on Monday that said China would be an "objective and rational voice" at any international multilateral forums and "actively promote peace talks". The statement came after the ministry said earlier on Monday that international talks in Saudi Arabia at the weekend on finding a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine crisis had helped "to consolidate international consensus".



More than 40 countries, including China, India, the United States and European countries, but not Russia, took part in the Jeddah talks that ended on Sunday.



China sent its Special Envoy for Eurasian Affairs and former ambassador to Russia, Li Hui, who in May toured six European capitals to try to find common ground for an eventual political settlement of the conflict, now in its 18th month.



Beijing has refused to condemn Moscow for the invasion of Ukraine it launched in February 2022. It has offered its own peace plan, which received a lukewarm response in both Russia and Ukraine, while the United States and NATO were skeptical. (Reuters)


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Former Love Island star Zara McDermott is the latest famous face to be announced for the Strictly Come Dancing 2023 line-up.

The 26-year-old, who has made a series of TV documentaries since appearing on the ITV dating show, was unveiled on BBC Radio 1 on Monday afternoon.

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McDermott is the seventh contestant to be confirmed for the upcoming series of the dancing competition after actress Amanda Abbington, Bad Education star Layton Williams, broadcaster Angela Rippon, journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy, comedian Eddie Kadi and Irish TV presenter Angela Scanlon were previously announced.

We've got a text! @bbcthree documentary maker and former Love Island contestant Zara McDermott is joining the cast of #Strictly 2023



 https://t.co/Tc4IgUx9I3 pic.twitter.com/QsryZdYpZ5  BBC Strictly  (@bbcstrictly) August 7, 2023 Advertisement

Appearing on BBC Radio 1, the TV presenter revealed that she has been rewatching previous episodes analysing everything.

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I am nervous, excited, every single emotion honestly  I cannot wait, she added.

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Since appearing on Love Island in 2018, McDermott has made documentaries about revenge porn, sexual assault and disordered eating for the BBC.

She noted that Strictly is such a far cry from her day job and feels this is the furthest she has ever pushed herself out of her own comfort zone.

Ive been making documentaries now for the past three years and its such a tiny team and if I say the wrong thing during an interview I can redo it  but this is live, you cannot make a mistake, she said.

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Zara McDermott (Doug Peters/PA)

Youve got one take and one take only. This is just so far out of my comfort zone.

Ive done this throughout my whole 20s, Ive just constantly thrown myself out of my comfort zone and this is just the pinnacle now.

I cannot dance. Honestly, I have zero dance experience, to the point where I dont even dance in a nightclub, Im that petrified of how my body moves so this is going to be like the ultimate test for me.

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Despite her lack of dance experience, she admitted she is excited for the theatrics of the show, adding: I feel like theres not many times in life we get to just go on stage and act and be a character.

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McDermott also previously featured in Made In Chelsea alongside her boyfriend Sam Thompson, who is a Hits Radio presenter and a panellist on Love Islands Aftersun programme.

BBC Radio 1 presenter Jamie Laing, who competed on the 18th series of the show and appeared in Made In Chelsea alongside McDermott, advised her during her reveal interview to leave all embarrassment or insecurities at the door.

Just really go this is what Im here to do and really believe in yourself. It sounds a bit cheesy but really believing in what you can do, thats the best thing  going for it, he added.

We can't wait to see Angela Scanlon hit the dance floor! She's our sixth celebrity for #Strictly 2023. https://t.co/cDA0pYywc5 @angelascanlon  pic.twitter.com/rPhu6uENwj  BBC Strictly  (@bbcstrictly) August 7, 2023

Earlier on Monday, TV presenter Scanlon was unveiled on BBC Radio 2s The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show where she admitted the prospect of taking to the dancefloor had been in the ether for a number of years.

She explained: Truthfully, we wanted to have another baby, we were trying to have a baby, I was then pregnant, then I had a very small child and now, it just felt right this year.

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I believe in feelings and timing and all of those sorts of things. Im not particularly fit. I have no idea how my pelvic floor is going to react to that level of jumping.

Ive never done any of these dances in my life bar a drunken jive at a family wedding, so it certainly feels like theres room to learn and really push myself.

Scanlon said she had spoken to Ted Lasso actress Ellie Taylor, who took part in the show last year, and BBC Radio 1 DJ Clara Amfo, who appeared in the 2020 series.

She said: Ellie has a little girl whos the same age as my eldest child and so I thought itd be good to know realistically when youre in the trenches with children, whats the reality of this because I think Ive had a kind of dreamy idea.

I travel a bit, I do a chat show in Ireland, I travel over and back to that so the idea of being in the same place for an extended period of time feels a bit luxurious.

Angela Scanlon is the sixth contestant announced for Strictly Come Dancing 2023 (Ian West/PA)

But I dont know if Im totally deluded about the level of work, but she has kind of said, its intense, hardest thing she has ever done, but was so thrilled that she did it.

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And then Clara did it in 2020 and a similar thing, she said its insane, she said lean heavily in which I intend to, I find it hard to lean out.

The TV presenter is the only woman in the UK and Ireland to have their own Saturday night chat show with Ask Me Anything on RTE One.

Scanlon, who married businessman Roy Horgan in 2014, with whom she shares two daughters, is also a published author and host of positivity podcast Thanks A Million.

In 2022, she published her part memoir, part self-help book Joyrider, which charts her own journey into the world of self-development  dipping into the anxiety and imposter syndrome she grappled with throughout her teens and 20s, and the bulimia she lived with for 15 years.

Strictly Come Dancing returns to screens this autumn and will be judged by Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse.

Last year, the competition was won by British wildlife presenter Hamza Yassin and professional dancer Jowita Przystal.
A member of the Irish Road Victims' Association has accused some TDs of promoting drinks and saying that it is OK to have one drink and then drive.

They say theres no harm in that and then if someone dies in their constituency, they offer sympathy. That's no good to us. We want action. We want prevention.

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Leo Leighio was speaking on Newstalk Breakfast after details emerged that a motorist was arrested on average every 30 minutes over the bank holiday weekend for suspected drink or drug driving  with 181 arrested for the offence.

Mr Leighio, whose daughter Marsia was killed in a hit-and-run road accident in 2005, said that more needed to be done to educate people on the dangers of drink driving. Instead of doubling fines, penalty points should be doubled and cars confiscated, he urged.

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Car manufacturers could also do more, he said. Why were cars being made that could be driven at very high speeds when the speed limit was 120 kilometres per hour? The technology existed where a car could not start if the driver did not pass a test similar to a breathalyser, it should be included in every car.

Mr Leighio said that the statistics from the weekend were not surprising because the enforcement is not there". The gardai simply did not have the numbers to monitor the roads more closely.

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Something has to be done between drink driving and speeding. The numbers are going sky high and the number of deaths have gone sky high, and that's the highest in over six years.

Mr Leighio said that in Ireland there was a lax attitude to drink driving. There is no question that when someone gets killed theres an uproar over it for a couple of days and then its all forgotten. The law is too lackadaisical. The driver gets a slap on the wrist but the families are the ones who suffer for years and years, forever.
Technicians finish to assemble a Soyuz 2.1b rocket carrying the Luna-25 lander ahead of its launch at the Vostochny cosmodrome, in this Aug. 7 photo released by the Russian Space Agency Roscosmos. AFP-Yonhap



Russia will launch its first lunar landing spacecraft in 47 years on Friday in a race with India to the south pole of the moon, a potential source of water to support a future human presence there.



The launch from the Vostochny cosmodrome, 3,450 miles (5,550 km) east of Moscow, will take place four weeks after



India sent up its Chandrayaan-3 lunar lander, due to touch down at the pole on Aug. 23.



Rough terrain makes a landing there difficult, but the south pole is a prized destination because scientists believe it may hold significant quantities of ice that could be used to extract fuel and oxygen, as well as for drinking water.



Russian space agency Roscosmos said in reply to questions from Reuters that its Luna-25 spacecraft would take five days to fly to the moon and then spend five to seven days in lunar orbit before descending on one of three possible landing sites near the pole - a timetable that implies it could match or narrowly beat its Indian rival to the moon's surface.





Technicians finish to assemble a Soyuz 2.1b rocket carrying the Luna-25 lander ahead of its launch at the Vostochny cosmodrome, in this Aug. 7 photo released by the Russian Space Agency Roscosmos. AFP-Yonhap
Three men suspected of being members of the Kinahan organised crime group have been charged with firearm offences, the British National Crime Agency has said

Thomas Kavanagh (55), from Tamworth, Staffordshire, as well as Shaun Kent (37), and Daniel McLoughlin (36), from Liverpool, are suspected of being members of the Kinahan organised crime group, the NCA said.

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They appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court in London on Tuesday where they were formally charged with firearm offences.

The firearm offences include conspiring to possess a firearm and ammunition for a firearm without certificates, and conspiring to possess a prohibited weapon and prohibited ammunition.

Kent was also charged with perverting the course of justice.

The three men will next appear in court at the Old Bailey in London September 5th.

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Two other men, Jack Kavanagh (23), from Tamworth, and Liam Byrne (42), from Dublin, have been arrested in Spain, and extradition proceedings are under way, the NCA added.

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NCA officers believe that Byrne, Jack Kavanagh and Kent conspired to pervert the course of justice by planning to reveal the location of weapons in an attempt to get Thomas Kavanagh, who is currently serving 21 years for drug trafficking, a reduced prison sentence.

NCA regional head of investigations Craig Turner said: These charges are a major milestone in what has been a long and complex international investigation.

We will continue to work with our partners to target criminals who we suspect are operating at the highest levels of organised crime impacting on the UK.
Campaigners have accused the British government of threatening to make asylum seekers without legal representation homeless if they do not move onto the Bibby Stockholm barge.

Care4Calais said it had serious concerns about the wording of notices issued by the British Home Office to migrants telling them they will be sent to live on the vessel.

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The charity said the language used suggests the move is mandatory, when they are entitled to say no and have a right to challenge the decision and seek legal representation.

It comes after asylum seekers who refused to move onto the barge on Monday were reportedly given 24 hours to change their mind and board or face having their government support cancelled.

A copy of a letter sent from the British Home Office to an asylum seeker being supported by Care4Calais earlier this month Photo: Care4Calais/PA.

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Steve Smith, chief executive of the refugee charity, said: Everyone has a right to access justice in the UK, and that includes the right to access legal advice. It is really clear that there are issues with Bibby Stockholm letters, which are being issued by the government, and this fundamental right.

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Every asylum seeker who receives a Bibby Stockholm letter has the right to challenge it, and there are multiple reasons for them to do so  from peoples mental and physical health, to some of the clients being disabled.

We have serious concerns that the letters, as they have been issued, portray a strong element of compulsion when in fact asylum seekers are entitled to say no.

It was becoming clear that the government is now trying to target those asylum seekers who have been unable to secure legal representation, by threatening to make them homeless if they dont move, Mr Smith said.

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As a refugee charity we take our own responsibilities seriously, and thats why we have been referring clients to solicitors in order to challenge their notices. None of those clients have received this latest Home Office threat, and we would encourage all asylum seekers who receive a Bibby Stockholm notice to seek legal advice.

But our responsibility to protect the rights of all asylum seekers means that we will be seeking our own legal advice on the governments process, and the targeting of those asylum seekers who do not currently have legal representation, he added.

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Letters seen by the PA news agency, which the charity said were sent earlier this month by the British home office to asylum seekers, said: Your accommodation is changing, and you will be moved to the Bibby Stockholm, Portland.

While it provides contact details to seek further advice and guidance on the asylum and support process, it does not mention legal rights or access to representation.

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Sky News reported a letter sent by the home office to an asylum seeker, who is in receipt of government support but refused to board the barge on Monday, said: Accommodation is offered on a no-choice basis.

Where asylum seekers fail to take up an offer of suitable accommodation without a reasonable explanation, there should be no expectation that alternative accommodation will be offered.

If you do not travel tomorrow, on August 8th, 2023, arrangements for ceasing the support that you are receiving from the Home Office may commence.

Officials confirmed asylum seekers are not given a choice on where they are housed and, if the accommodation is refused, their support could be withdrawn.

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However, it is understood decisions are made on an individual basis and changes could be made if valid reasons are provided as to why the accommodation may be unsuitable, for example, if it lacks facilities for disabled people.
More than 1,000 firefighters are battling a series of wildfires in Portugal as it and neighbouring Spain experience several days of extreme summer heat, with temperatures in many areas rising above 40 degrees.

Three major fires raged in Portugal on Tuesday, with the biggest in the southwest near the town of Odemira, where on Monday about 1,400 people were evacuated from villages and a campsite as a precaution.

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They were gradually returning home on Tuesday.

The National Civil Protection Service said about 1,000 firefighters, 320 vehicles and nine aircraft were deployed at that fire on Tuesday. It has so far scorched around 17,300 acres.

Fire advances forest in Alcabideche, outside Lisbon (Armando Franca/AP)

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The recent spate of wildfires came as temperatures have spiked. On Monday, the city of Santarem, about 50 miles northeast of Lisbon, set the years highest temperature at 46.4 degrees.

Temperatures are forecast to fall nationwide from Tuesday, though they will mostly remain above 30 degrees.

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Spain is faring better with its wildfires this week despite the high temperatures of the countrys third heatwave this summer.

Officials said three fires that started over the weekend have been brought under control or had been extinguished Tuesday.

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A helicopter discharges water on the flames outside Lisbon (Armando Franca/AP)

The biggest blaze, in the northeast, burned about 1,500 acres and required the evacuation of 150 people.

The only fire out of control in Spain is in the southwest near the Portuguese border. Some 20 people in two rural hostels were evacuated. Strong winds were reported to be complicating firefighting efforts.

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Spains AEMET weather agency said temperatures will continue to rise at least until Friday, with some areas of the southern Andalusia region hitting 44 degrees.

A drought in Spain for the past two years has led to water restrictions in several parts of the country.

Spains ecological transition ministry said on Tuesday that reservoirs nationally were at 41 per cent of their capacity owing to high temperatures and the severe lack of rain.
Buses have begun moving tens of thousands of Scouts to inland venues ahead of a tropical storm, bringing an effective end to a World Scout Jamboree that had already struggled with heat, hygiene and land use controversies.

Known for its insatiable desire to host international events, the South Korean government scrambled to keep the Jamboree going as thousands of British and American Scouts departed over the weekend because of an extreme heatwave that caused some Scouts to be treated in hospital.

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The father of a British scout who was evacuated said his daughter complained about disgusting conditions.

The 48-year-old, who asked to remain anonymous, told the PA news agency: The toilets deteriorated over the time she was there to the point they were unusable and pretty disgusting.



Buses carrying Scouts leave the campsite in Buan (Kim Yeol/Newsis via AP)

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But it was not until Monday afternoon that officials announced the decision to abandon the coastal campsite in the south-western town of Buan after forecasters raised alarms that Tropical Storm Khanun was heading toward the Korean Peninsula.

South Korean officials say the Jamboree will continue in the form of cultural events and activities, including a K-Pop concert in Seoul on Friday.

Critics have argued the decision to host the Jamboree at a site known as Saemangeum was part of an effort to justify further investment in a controversial swathe of reclaimed land.

More than 1,000 vehicles are being used to evacuate 37,000 Scouts from 156 countries, most of whom are teenagers. Most will be accommodated in Seoul and the surrounding area, where officials have secured university dormitories, government and corporate training centres and hotels.

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Tropical Storm Khanun has meandered around Japans south-western islands for more than a week, dumping heavy rain, knocking out power and damaging homes.

South Koreas weather agency, which measured the storm at typhoon strength of 78mph, expected it to gain strength slightly before making landfall on Thursday morning. It is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rains to South Korea from Wednesday to Friday.



Scouts have been packing up in Buan (Kim Myung-nyeon/Newsis via AP)

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South Koreas safety ministry instructed local officials to prepare to shut down coastal areas, hiking trails, river parks, underpass tunnels and other places vulnerable to flooding.

The Jamboree began last Wednesday at the campsite in Saemangeum, a huge area reclaimed from sea by a 19-year project that was completed in 2010.

Once seen as a major development project that would revamp a region that lacks modern industries, Saemanguem is now increasingly viewed as an ecological disaster that wiped out coastal wetlands and hurt fisheries production.

Concerns had been raised beforehand about having such large numbers of young people in a vast, treeless area lacking protection from heat. Hundreds of participants were treated for heat-related ailments after the Jamboree began, as South Korea grappled with one of its hottest summers in years.

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Critics have argued the push to host the Jamboree at Saemangeum was part of efforts to justify further investment in the site, where local officials continue to pursue plans for new highways, ports and an international airport. The airport was initially planned to be built for the Jamboree, but construction has not started yet.



A typhoon is forecast to hit the area (Na Bo-bae/Yonhap via AP)

Before Tuesdays pullout, government officials channelled national resources to keep the event going, adding medical staff, air-conditioned buses, military shade structures, and hundreds of workers to maintain bathrooms and showers, which some Scouts complained were filthy.

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Organisers said the campsite will not be used for any other events after the Scouts leave.

More than 270 police cars and four helicopters were deployed to escort the buses that began departing the site at 9am local time.

More than 13,500 scouts will be accommodated at 64 different venues in Gyeonggi province, South Koreas largest province surrounding Seoul.

About 3,100 scouts will stay in Seoul and another 3,200 will be sent to nearby Incheon. Nearly 9,000 scouts will be sent to 25 different venues in the North and South Chungcheong provinces in the countrys central region.
Niger was slapped with more sanctions on Tuesday, hours after its new military leaders rejected the latest diplomatic mission aimed at restoring constitutional order following a July 26th coup.

Nigeria's president Bola Tinubu ordered the new sanctions through the country's central bank, aimed at squeezing entities and individuals involved in the takeover, a presidential spokesperson said.

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It came after Niger's junta denied a joint delegation from West African states, the African Union (AU) and the United Nations permission to enter the country, resisting pressure from the United States and the UN to come to the negotiating table.

The denial raises the stakes in a search for a solution after the coup that western powers fear will destabilise the Sahel region of West Africa, one of the world's poorest that is already dealing with a string of coups and a deadly Islamist insurgency. It also threatens US and Western interests in its former ally.

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Heads of state from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are preparing for a summit on Thursday to discuss their standoff with the junta, which defied an August 6th deadline to reinstate the country's ousted president Mohamed Bazoum.

ECOWAS defence chiefs agreed on Friday on a possible military action plan, which heads of state are expected to consider at their summit in the Nigerian capital, Abuja.

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Still, Mr Tinubu's spokesperson said the leaders prefer a diplomatic solution.

'Far-reaching decisions'

"No options have been taken off the table," the spokesperson told reporters in Abuja, adding that "far-reaching decisions" would be taken at the summit concerning the bloc's next steps.

Explaining the decision to not allow the delegation in on Tuesday, Niger's junta said it could not guarantee their safety in the face of popular anger. It also denounced "a climate of threatened aggression against Niger".

An AU spokesperson confirmed that a mission had been denied access, while ECOWAS declined to comment.

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The junta had already snubbed meetings with a senior US envoy and another ECOWAS delegation.

Under Mr Bazoum, Niger was relatively successful in containing an Islamist insurgency devastating the Sahel region and was an important ally for the West after two of its neighbours rejected former colonial power France and turned towards Russia instead.

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Niger is the world's seventh-biggest producer of uranium, the most widely used fuel for nuclear energy, adding to its strategic importance.

The United Nations said secretary general Antonio Guterres strongly supported mediation efforts by ECOWAS, while US secretary of state Antony Blinken told French radio station RFI that diplomacy was the best way to resolve the situation.

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He declined to comment on the future of some 1,100 US troops in Niger, where French, German and Italian troops are also stationed.

Blinken later told the BBC he was worried that Russia's Wagner mercenaries could take advantage of the instability in Niger to strengthen their presence in the Sahel.

"I think what happened and what continues to happen in Niger was not instigated by Russia or by Wagner, but to the extent that they try to take advantage of it  and we see a repeat of what's happened in other countries, where they've brought nothing but bad things in their wake  that wouldn't be good."

Russian flags

US acting deputy secretary of state Victoria Nuland flew to Niamey on Monday but was denied permission to meet coup leader Abdourahamane Tiani or Mr Bazoum, who is in detention. She told reporters her talks with more junior officers were "frank and difficult".

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Last week, ECOWAS sent a mission to Niamey led by Abdulsalami Abubakar, a former military ruler of Nigeria, but Mr Tiani also refused to see him.

In contrast, Mr Tiani met a joint delegation from Mali and Burkina Faso on Monday, both of which are neighbouring countries where the military has seized power from civilians.

"We will not accept military intervention in Niger. Our survival depends on it," a spokesperson for Mali's junta Abdoulaye Maiga said, appearing on Niger state television.

Some pro-coup demonstrators in Niamey have held up Russian flags, which are in fashion according to residents and fabric vendors.

"I'm a fan of the Russian flag, which is why I've come today to buy fabrics for the tailor to make me a flag," Okacha Abdoul-Aziz said.

Western allies fear that Niger could go the way of Mali, which threw out French troops and UN peacekeepers and invited in mercenaries from Wagner group after a 2021 coup.

"Every single place that this Wagner group has gone, death, destruction and exploitation have followed," Mr Blinken told the BBC.

Alongside the Malian army, fighters presumed to be from Wagner have carried out a brutal military offensive, executing hundreds of civilians last year, witnesses and rights groups say, charges the army and Wagner deny.

In a new report seen by Reuters on Monday, UN sanctions monitors said they had also used a campaign of sexual violence and other grave human rights abuses to terrorise the population. -Reuters
Norwegians have been warned to prepare for extremely heavy rainfall after Storm Hans caused two deaths and extensive damage in northern Europe.

Strong winds continued to batter the region along with heavy rain, causing disruption in Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Lithuania, Finland, Estonia and Latvia.

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Ferries were cancelled, flights were delayed, roads and streets were flooded, trees were uprooted, people were injured by falling branches and thousands remained without electricity.



A van was pulled out of a flooded underpass in Oslo (Stian Lysberg Solum/NTB Scanpix via AP)

In Oslo, officials urged people to work from home on Tuesday. On its website, the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate warned of extremely heavy rainfall in southern Norway, adding unnecessary traffic should be avoided.

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This is a very serious situation that can lead to extensive consequences and damages. There will be extensive flooding, erosion damage and flood damages to buildings and infrastructure, it said.

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In Finland, authorities urged people to rethink whether it is necessary to go out to sea.

Floods and landslides closed dozens of roads in southern Norway and neighbouring Sweden and dozens of people have been evacuated following the storm.

There scattered reports of helicopters being used to fly people out of affected areas.

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Denmarks Meteorological Institute reported of waves of up to eight metres (26 feet) and beach houses were seen washed into the North Sea.



Beach cabins were washed away in Denmark (Henning Bagger/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

On Monday, a 50-year old woman was killed in Lithuania by falling trees near the Latvian border. In central Sweden, a train was partly derailed because the embankment under the rails had been washed away. Three were people were slightly injured.

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Also in Latvia, near the Belarus border, a second person died on Monday when a tree fell on him, Latvian television said.

Norwegian authorities kept the extreme weather warning alert at its highest level in southern Norway due to heavy rain, mudslides and flash floods. They also sent out text messages in several foreign languages, including English, to holidaymakers warning of the bad weather.

In the Swedish town of Are, a ski resort, roads and streets were flooded.

The Susaback river that runs through Are, 331 miles from Stockholm, went over its banks and flooded much of the centre. Authorities urged people to stay indoors.
Paramount has reached a deal to sell Simon & Schuster, one of the biggest and most prestigious publishing houses in the United States, to private equity firm KKR in a major changing of the guard in the book industry.

The deal, for $US1.62 billion ($2.46 billion), will put control of the cultural touchstone behind authors including horror writer Stephen King and Watergate journalist Bob Woodward in the hands of a financial buyer with an expanding presence in the publishing industry.

Simon & Schuster is the publishing home of the likes of best-selling author Stephen King. Credit: AP

Although private equity investors have had a significant footprint in the book business  different firms have owned literary agencies, publishing houses and book retailer Barnes & Noble  the acquisition of one of the largest publishers in the US vastly increases the hold of financial interests in the business.

Richard Sarnoff, who leads KKRs media, entertainment and technology group, is a familiar name to many in the publishing industry and his involvement is encouraging, several publishing executives said Monday. Sarnoff has held multiple positions at Bertelsmann, the company that owns Penguin Random House, and served as chair of the Association of American Publishers, a trade group.
A recent surge in oil prices and a narrowing of the discounts on Russian oil may force G7 countries to contemplate tinkering with the price caps on Russian crude or strengthening their enforcement.

From mid-July, the oil price has risen from around $US78 a barrel to more than $US85 a barrel even as evidence of some Russian oil being sold at prices above the $US60 a barrel price cap has emerged, albeit that those prices exclude transport costs being absorbed by Russia.

Vladimir Putins Russia has been greatly increasing its oil sales to China, India and other Asian countries, which are markets the Saudis traditionally extracted premium prices from. Credit: AP

The surge in oil prices in the past few weeks has been driven by the decisions of Saudi Arabia and Russia to voluntary cut their own production, beyond the 1.6 million barrels a day members of the OPEC+ cartel agreed to in April.

Last month the Saudis said they would extend the one-million-barrels-a-day cut they announced in June through to the end of August. Then, late last week, they said the lower production would be sustained through September and might be extended further and even reduced.
Smith and director Sarah Goodes wanted to capture the mystery and transcendence essential to Woods 2019 novel and both believe theatre is the best medium to do that rather than the screen. The screen inevitably imposes naturalism on material, says Smith, who is also a screenwriter. But The Weekend goes beyond naturalism. It strives towards the ineffable and the mysterious. Theatre can cross dimensions much more fluidly than the screen can. Author Charlotte Wood (right, with playwright Sue Smith) visited rehearsals for The Weekend. Credit: Brett Boardman This is the first time one of Woods novels has been adapted for stage. The author sat in on a few rehearsals and has found the process thrilling to observe. My approach was absolutely to let go, says Wood. I love the way that one art form can light the flame for another. It doesnt diminish the original  theres a whole lot of compression that absolutely has to take place, but that doesnt mean a reduction. Its creating a new thing.

Over the years, Sydney has seen some memorable theatre adaptations of much-loved and well-known Australian novels, among them Tim Wintons Cloudstreet, Ruth Parks The Harp in the South and Craig Silveys Jasper Jones. Loading The appeal for theatre companies is partly pragmatic. An adaptation will inevitably draw audiences who love the novel. And when companies are financially stretched this is less risky than staging a new, unknown work. But why do audiences flock to see adaptations? Playwright Verity Laughton, who is adapting The Dictionary of Lost Words for State Theatre Company South Australia and Sydney Theatre Company (STC), suggests that this may be driven by the reality that few of us revisit books any more. People used to re-read favourite books and lose themselves in that world again, she says. Now, theres so much to read, and much of it is so glorious with the mental universes that you can step into. But it means those that particularly speak to us, we dont spend the time with again.

Instead of revisiting a favourite novel, we might seek it out in a new form. An audiences demands from a stage adaptation of a popular novel differs from an adaptation of a classic or ancient Greek text. With the latter, the appeal is the adaptor or directors interpretation. What you connect with when you read a book is you love being in that world. The task for a playwright is to recreate the feeling of being in that world and with those characters, says Laughton. Verity Laughton has adapted Dictionary of Lost Words for STCSA and STC. Credit: Matt Byrne The Dictionary of Lost Words is a sweeping period epic that unfolds over several decades, from when a four-year-old girl, Esme, begins collecting words discarded by men compiling the first Oxford English Dictionary. Laughton needed to compress this time span into a two-hour play, while ensuring audiences know enough about the child to understand her world and the impact of events such as the suffrage movement and World War I.

You need to know that determined, charming, obsessive, sweet, odd little girl. You need to know her to have a feeling for what she is coping with in terms of her own psychology and the great big wider world, says Laughton. Loading She sees her role as facilitating the movement of the existing story to the stage. It is not her own story. I have a responsibility to that audience to bring, not a carbon copy of the book, but something that essentially has the tone of the book, says Laughton. Where to start with adapting a novel? Tommy Murphy begins with that most prosaic of forms: a spreadsheet. His detailed breakdown of the story, scenes and characters helps him make decisions about what will work on stage and what characters can be cut or combined.

Theres always a column for big, bold ideas  the inspiring column, which is the possibilities of it. Known for his adaptation of the memoir Holding the Man, Murphy recently adapted Nevil Shutes 1957 novel of atomic annihilation On the Beach for STC. What did the spreadsheet for that include? Dream, memory, access to a future, he says. Tommy Murphy (left) and director Kip Williams during rehearsal for On the Beach at Sydney Theatre Company. Credit: Daniel Boud What works on the page does not necessarily work on stage. Murphys pet stage hate is reliance on direct address  a character speaking straight to the audience or narrating the action  which can form the heart of a novel. I hate it when ...fidelity [to the book] is too strong, says Murphy. We have to reinvent.
Staffies are marking their territory in Brisbane, carrying the crown for the most popular dog breed in most postcodes.

The Staffordshire bull terrier dominates areas on both sides of the Brisbane River, from Ferny Grove, Everton Park and Chermside to Woolloongabba, Cannon Hill, Mansfield, Salisbury and beyond.

The exceptions are mostly clustered around the inner city  where a few postcodes prefer poodles or Maltese  and Brisbanes western suburbs, where labradors and border collies top the list.

You can search for the top dogs in your area using the interactive below.
An elderly woman has been found after police launched a massive search for her overnight in the Perth hills.

Eileen Hill, 85, disappeared after last being seen at her Roleystone home around 9pm on Tuesday.

Missing woman Eileen Hill. Credit: WA Police

A WA Police spokeswoman said efforts to locate her overnight had failed as temperatures dipped to 5 degrees.

Ms Hill may have become confused and disorientated and not know where she is, she said.
Former cabinet minister Stuart Robert met tech giant Infosys multiple times when the company was seeking lucrative contracts including a deal it won to build a government payment system later scrapped at a cost of $191 million.

The company revealed the 11 meetings in answers to a parliamentary inquiry that is examining the close ties between Robert and his consultant friend, David Milo, whose firm Synergy 360 asked companies for success fees to line up contracts in Canberra.

Former cabinet minister Stuart Robert met tech giant Infosys multiple times when the company was seeking lucrative contracts with the federal government. Credit: Rhett Wyman

The list of meetings shows that Robert first met Infosys when he was assistant treasurer in September 2018 and this led to a second meeting at Sydney restaurant Banksii in November that year, as well as talks with the companys global head of public affairs the same month.

Robert, who was promoted to cabinet as minister for government services after the May 2019 election, also held a meeting with Infosys regional head Andrew Groth and associate vice president Allen Koehn on June 26 at federal offices in Sydney, with Milo present.
Singapore: The Chinese government has been accused of deliberately flooding the northern city of Zhuozhou and other areas to save Beijings prized high-tech sector from record flooding in the past week.

The floods impacting an area that is home to 110 million people have trapped residents for days as authorities open flood zones in the country to protect urban areas near the capital.

Residents in Zhuozhou, China, are evacuated from the flood-hit city. Credit: David Zhang

Two years worth of rain fell in less than a week killing more than 30 people in northern China and forcing a million people to leave their homes. The floods have threatened food crops and fuelled growing public anger towards the government.

The government tried to protect a community in Beijing, so they sacrificed the city of Zhuozhou, said David Zhang, who graduated from university this year and has been photographing the devastation in Hebei province for the past week.
Kyiv: Ukrainian security officials say they have arrested a Ukrainian woman on suspicion of aiding Russias intelligence services, including involvement in an assassination attempt on President Volodymyr Zelensky last month.

The security service detained an informant of the special services of the Russian Federation, who, on the eve of the recent working trip of the president of Ukraine to the Mykolaiv region, was gathering intelligence about the planned visit, Ukraines State Security Service, the SBU, said in a statement posted on its website on Monday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (centre right) inspects damage of the Odesa Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa in July. Credit: AP

The perpetrator tried to establish the time and list of locations of the approximate route of the head of state, it said.

Zelensky has made semiregular, unannounced visits to formerly occupied territories or areas near the front line  visits that require extreme caution due to the possibility of targeted Russian attacks. He visited the southern Ukrainian regions of Odesa and Mykolaiv at the end of July.
While the conversations were fairly trivial  small talk about the weather, chit-chat about fishing  the obvious intent was to exert influence by having proximity to power. People would be intimidated to mess with them, he told the committee. [...] Burisma would have gone out of business if it didnt have the brand attached to it. As for whether Biden had any knowledge of his sons business activities? The president and the White House have long insisted that he has never spoken to Hunter about his overseas business dealings in Ukraine or China. However, Archer testified under oath that the president showed up at the upscale Georgetown restaurant Cafe Milano on April 16, 2015, and had dinner with several of Hunters business associates, including Burisma executive Vadym Pozharskyi, Russian billionaire Yelena Baturina and her husband, and former Moscow mayor Yury Luzhkov.

He also produced a letter from the then vice president saying how happy he was that Archer was in business with Hunter, which was written after a lunch theyd attended with then Chinese president Hu Jintao. And later, in an interview with axed Fox News host Tucker Carlson, Archer declared it was categorically false that Joe Biden had no knowledge of his sons business affairs. He was aware of Hunters business. He met with Hunters business partner, he said. Its worth noting that Archer isnt exactly a saint: in 2018, the 48-year-old Yale graduate was convicted of defrauding a Native American tribe and other clients by deceiving them into issuing faulty tribal bonds.

Nor did his testimony provide the smoking gun Republicans have long sought to prove their main theory: that Joe Biden engaged in bribery and corruption. Loading That theory is centred on the stunning suggestion that Burisma founder Mykola Zlochevsky had paid millions to the Bidens, supposedly to help protect the company from Ukraine prosecutor Viktor Shokin, who was investigating Burisma. Despite months of digging by House Republicans, the bribery claims remain unverified and Archer could not corroborate them during his five-hour deposition last week, in which he also said he was not aware of any wrongdoing by the president. Bidens son also suffered from now well-publicised drug and alcohol issues around the time of his dealings with foreign businesses, which included drug-fuelled episodes with sex workers.

But the danger is that ongoing ructions surrounding the Biden family will continue to be a headache for a president heading into an election with record-low approval ratings. Firstly, Archers testimony shows poor judgment on Bidens behalf for repeatedly allowing himself to be in the presence of Hunters business associates  whether on the phone or in person  as they sought power and influence across government in Washington. The House of Representatives votes on the second article of impeachment of US President Donald Trump in 2019. Credit: Getty Secondly, it undercuts Bidens many claims that he knew nothing about his sons business dealings. These dealings dont just extend to Burisma, but also Chinese energy firm CEFC which, over the course of 14 months, paid $US4.8 million ($7.3 million) to entities controlled by Biden Hunter and his uncle, James, the presidents older brother. And thirdly, it makes you wonder what else is likely to shake out as more details emerge about the Biden family mixing politics and business  particularly if Republicans make good on their threat to open up an impeachment inquiry in the autumn session of Congress.
ASIC has banned a Sydney mortgage and finance broker for six years from engaging in credit activities after allegedly making false disclosures and mishandling home loan applications among other offences.

The broker, Qingshan Yu, was also banned from controlling a credit business and performing any function in relation to carrying on a credit business while the regulator cancelled the Australian credit licence of Yus company, Actif Pty Ltd (Actif).

Actif held a credit licence from November 9, 2010, and provided mortgage and finance broking services including arranging home loans.

ASIC determined that Yu contravened credit legislation by making false disclosures to ASIC in two successive annual compliance certificates and was deficient in his handling of home loan applications, which made it possible for false documents to be submitted to lenders in his name.

The corporate regulator also found that Yu exhibited behaviour that was inconsistent with the attributes of diligence, honesty, integrity and good judgment and was likely to contravene credit legislation.

(Yu) is not a fit and proper person to participate in the credit industry, ASIC said.

Yus banning and Actifs licence cancellation took effect on June 28, 2023.

Actif and Yu have the right to appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for a review of ASICs decision.

Section 80 of the National Consumer Credit Protection Act allows ASIC to ban a person from participating in the credit industry if the person, among other things, has contravened any credit legislation, is not a fit and proper person to engage in credit activities, or is not adequately trained to engage in credit activities.

Section 55 of the same Act allows ASIC to suspend or cancel a credit licence if, among other things, ASIC believes that the licensee is likely to contravene its general conduct obligations, the fit and proper person requirement is not satisfied, or the application for the credit licence was materially false or misleading.

ASIC maintains a banned and disqualified persons register that provides information about people who have been disqualified from the involvement in the management of a corporation, auditing self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs), or practising in the financial services or credit industry.
Latest News Can physical advertising still generate leads for brokers? Broker shares his marketing wins

Prospa recognised as a great place to work It also got its 2023 certification as a Great Place to Work in Australia and New Zealand

SME lender Fifo Capital has strengthened its commercial broker channel by appointing a new senior business development manager amid increased demand for smarter financial solutions like cash flow finance.

Brandon Robins (pictured above) will lead Fifo Capitals corporate model expansion in NSW at a time when businesses are actively seeking efficient ways to power their operations and achieve sustainable growth.

I am thrilled to join the Fifo Capital team, who are deeply committed to partnering with SMEs to discover smarter and more sustainable finance solutions, Robins said.

Turning the spotlight on cash flow finance

Fifo Capital said Robins brought valuable expertise to the firm, with extensive experience in financial services and a proven track record of empowering businesses to effectively manage their working capital finance.

Emphasising the significance of adopting smarter financial strategies, Robins said that only 6% of Australian businesses utilised cash flow finance, compared to the UK's 60% adoption rate.

Recent research has shown that 43% of small-to-medium sized businesses anticipate growth in the year ahead, many of which are planning to access funding.

With more than 2.4 million SMEs in Australia, the market presents a significant opportunity for commercial brokers.

However, many small businesses lack the consistent funds and assets to meet the demands of traditional lenders.

Cash flow finance, also known as cash flow lending, is a form of financial arrangement that focuses on providing businesses with quick access to the cash they need to cover their day-to-day operating expenses or invest in growth opportunities.

It is primarily based on the expected cash flow of a company rather than traditional collateral, such as assets or property.

There is an urgent need to address the underusage and misunderstanding surrounding the power and flexibility of this finance type, especially for SMEs, Robins said.

Having contributed to the introduction of fintech lender Grapple into the Australian market in 2020, and with a background in various commercial finance roles at the major banks, Fifo Capital said Robins was poised to bring his solutions and strategic acumen to support aggressive market expansion plans.

"In today's economic climate, businesses require more than traditional debt offerings. We must embrace financial solutions that adapt to the unique needs of each business, empowering them to navigate challenges and seize growth opportunities, Robins said.

Fifo Capital also helps address some of these challenges through its AI-driven working capital management platform Fifopay.

With Fifopay, businesses gain greater control over their finances, leading to enhanced operational efficiency and a powerful driver for their success, the company said.

Introduction of local corporate office

Amid an environment where access to capital is pivotal for business survival and growth, Fifo Capital is poised to further its impact in the NSW commercial broker market by introducing a local corporate office.

The company said the move would enable Fifo Capital to enhance its capabilities and expand its funding offerings, providing even greater support to businesses in the region.

We are dedicated to empowering brokers and their SME clients with essential tools and knowledge to enhance their service offerings, Robins said.

By assisting businesses in securing vital financing, we aim to fuel their growth and pave the way for success. This commitment seeks to create a transformative impact, enabling businesses to thrive amidst the ever-changing economic landscape.

The move came after Fifo Capital expanded its presence in other states and boosted its broker market team late last year.

Will this change help your business? Comment below.
AVEVA, a global leader in industrial software, driving digital transformation and sustainability, has opened entries for its highly anticipated AVEVA Process Simulation Academic Competition. The competition serves as a platform for engineering students in North America and Europe to demonstrate their process simulation skills and offers the chance to secure an internship at AVEVA or take home a cash prize of $3000.

The contest is open to students residing in the US, Canada, UK, Switzerland, Norway, and EU.

The annual AVEVA Process Simulation Academic Competition is an exceptional opportunity for chemical engineering students to enrich their process simulation skills using the latest technology.

Participants are invited to tackle real-world sustainability problems using AVEVA Process Simulation, the new paradigm in process engineering. Even students with no prior experience can dive into this easy-to-learn software to unlock their potential.

Mihaela Hahne, Sr Director Sales Development  Academia at AVEVA, said, As an industrial software provider, AVEVA is committed to inspiring chemical engineers to help solve the world's sustainability challenges from the early stages of their careers. The 2023 AVEVA Academic Competition is designed to encourage students to develop professional skills and solve real-life engineering problems.

AVEVAs competition plays a significant role in developing a new generation of engineers, alongside achieving its goal of driving sustainable and inclusive industrial growth.

In 2021, the AVEVA Academic Competition attracted more than 100 entries. A total of 46 teams of four individuals each, and 32 individual students from 20 universities across North America entered the event that year. In the same year, 59 individual students and 53 teams of four entered the same contest from Europe.

Hahne added, We have witnessed some remarkable achievements in previous years. We believe that by partnering with the universities, we can help design and build a sustainable future together. Today's students will shape the future of our planet and tackle the challenges presented by a changing climate.

Lea Scharli, Simulation Support Engineer at AVEVA said, The AVEVA Process Simulation Academic Competition is a great opportunity for students to work on real problems and gain insight into the possibilities of process simulation. Having participated in the previous edition of the competition, I was challenged to put my theoretical knowledge from university into practice  which has now led to me working at AVEVA as an engineer! Through this program, AVEVA supports students professionally and personally, and opens several avenues for progression. The potential is endless with AVEVA Process Simulation. Engineers and users can implement their own models, which enables us to work freely and solve problems creatively.

This years challenge concerns the production and transportation of hydrogen in a clean and sustainable manner. Students will use the same tool currently deployed by the biggest chemical companies. Experience using the same software as potential employers puts participating students ahead of their peers and enhances their professional profile.

AVEVA Process Simulation is cloud-enabled software used to design and optimize equipment, processes and plants. Groundbreaking ease-of-use and simple data connections allow engineering teams to evaluate more ideas, faster. Greenhouse gas metrics built directly into models help put sustainability at the heart of process engineering.

-ENDS-

About AVEVA

AVEVA is a global leader in industrial software, sparking ingenuity to drive responsible use of the worlds resources. The companys secure industrial cloud platform and applications enable businesses to harness the power of their information and improve collaboration with customers, suppliers, and partners.

Named as one of the worlds most innovative companies, AVEVA supports customers with open solutions and the expertise of more than 6,400 employees, 5,000 partners and 5,700 certified developers. The company, which has operations around the globe, is headquartered in Cambridge, UK. Learn more at www.aveva.com.

Copyright  2023 AVEVA Solutions Limited. All rights reserved. AVEVA Solutions Limited is owned by AVEVA Group. AVEVA, the AVEVA logos and AVEVA product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of AVEVA Group or its subsidiaries in the United Kingdom and other countries. Other brands and product- names are the trademarks of their respective companies.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230807754255/en/
From the NY Fed: Total Household Debt Reaches $17.06 Trillion in Q2 2023; Credit Card Debt Exceeds $1 Trillion



The Federal Reserve Bank of New York's Center for Microeconomic Data today issued its Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit. The report shows a slight uptick in total household debt in the second quarter of 2023, increasing by $16 billion (0.1%) to $17.06 trillion. The report is based on data from the New York Feds nationally representative Consumer Credit Panel.



Credit card balances increased by $45 billion, from $986 billion in Q1 2023 to a series high of $1.03 trillion in the Q2 2023, marking a 4.6% quarterly increase. Credit card accounts expanded by 5.48 million to 578.35 million. Aggregate limits on credit card accounts increased by $9 billion and now stand at $4.6 trillion.



Mortgage balances were largely unchanged from the previous quarter and stood at $12.01 trillion at the end of June, in large part due to declining mortgage originations and slowing home prices. Mortgage originations, which include refinances, stood at $393 billion in the second quarter, representing a $70 billion increase from the first quarter. Other balances, which include retail cards and other consumer loans, increased by $15 billion.



Auto loan balances rose by $20 billion, consistent with the upward trajectory seen since 2011. The volume of newly originated auto loans, which includes leases, was $179 billion, largely reflecting high dollar values of originated loans even as the number of newly opened loans remains below pre-pandemic levels. Student loan balances fell by $35 billion and stood at $1.57 trillion.



Delinquency rates were roughly flat in the second quarter of 2023 and remained low, after declining sharply since the beginning of the pandemic. The share of debt newly transitioning into delinquency increased for credit cards and auto loans, with increases in transition rates of 0.7 and 0.4 percentage points respectively.

emphasis added

Click on graph for larger image.

Aggregate household debt balances increased by $16 billion in the second quarter of 2023, a 0.1% rise from 2023Q1. Balances now stand at $17.06 trillion and have increased by $2.9 trillion since the end of 2019, just before the pandemic recession.

Aggregate delinquency rates were roughly flat in the second quarter of 2023 and remained low, after declining sharply through the beginning of the pandemic. As of June, 2.7% of outstanding debt was in some stage of delinquency, 2 percentage points lower than the last quarter of 2019, just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States.

Mortgage originations, measured as appearances of new mortgages on consumer credit reports and including both refinance and purchase originations, were at $393 billion in 2023Q2, an uptick from the 9-year low observed in the previous quarter. ... The median credit score for newly originated mortgages increased by 4 points, to 769.

Here are three graphs from the report The first graph shows household debt increased slightly in Q2. Household debt previously peaked in 2008 and bottomed in Q3 2013. Unlike following the great recession, there wasn't a decline in debt during the pandemic.From the NY Fed: The second graph shows the percent of debt in delinquency.The overall delinquency rate "roughly flat" in Q2. From the NY Fed: The third graph shows Mortgage Originations by Credit Score.From the NY Fed:There is much more in the report
Overseas teenagers embark exciting journey in Beijing

Ecns.cn) 16:21, August 08, 2023

Overseas teenagers visit National Grand Theater in Beijing, Aug. 7, 2023. (Photo: China News Network/Li Jun)

Over 100 teenagers from more than 20 countries and regions arrived in Beijing on Sunday to participate in a summer camp, where they will have a deeper understanding of the charm of Chinese civilization.

Overseas teenagers visit National Grand Theater in Beijing, Aug. 7, 2023. (Photo: China News Network/Li Jun)

Overseas teenagers visit National Grand Theater in Beijing, Aug. 7, 2023. (Photo: China News Network/Li Jun)

Overseas teenagers visit the Baidu's Apollo Park to experience the cutting-edge technology of autonomous driving at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Aug 7, 2023. (Photo: China News Network/Li Jun)

Overseas teenagers visit the Baidu's Apollo Park to experience the cutting-edge technology of autonomous driving at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Aug 7, 2023. (Photo: China News Network/Li Jun)

Overseas teenagers visit the Baidu's Apollo Park to experience the cutting-edge technology of autonomous driving at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Aug 7, 2023. (Photo: China News Network/Li Jun)

An actress performs Peking Opera at Beihai Park during a night tour in Beijing, Aug. 7, 2023. Overseas teenagers took a night tour at Beihai Park to enjoy the charm of Chinese culture. (Photo: China News Network/Li Jun)

An actress performs Peking Opera at Beihai Park during a night tour in Beijing, Aug. 7, 2023. Overseas teenagers took a night tour at Beihai Park to enjoy the charm of Chinese culture. (Photo: China News Network/Li Jun)

An actor performs of face-changing of Sichuan opera at Beihai Park during a night tour in Beijing, Aug. 7, 2023. Overseas teenagers took a night tour at Beihai Park to enjoy the charm of Chinese culture. (Photo: China News Network/Li Jun)

An actor performs of face-changing of Sichuan opera at Beihai Park during a night tour in Beijing, Aug. 7, 2023. Overseas teenagers took a night tour at Beihai Park to enjoy the charm of Chinese culture. (Photo: China News Network/Li Jun)

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Women liberation fighters in India played an important role in the country's independence battle against British rule. Despite societal restraints and discrimination, these women defied patriarchal standards and joined the liberation struggle, inspiring future generations with their courage and drive.

Without acknowledging the contributions of women, the history of the Indian Freedom Struggle would be incomplete. The sacrifice made by Indian women will take centre stage. They fought with great zeal and unwavering courage, enduring numerous tortures, exploitations, and sufferings to secure our independence. When the majority of the men freedom fighters were imprisoned, the women stepped forward to lead the resistance. There is a lengthy list of remarkable women whose names have gone down in history for their dedication and unwavering devotion to the service of India.

Let's discuss the top 10 women freedom fighters in India

Top 10 Women Freedom Fighters

Rani Lakshmi Bai

Rani Lakshmi Bai Women Freedom Fighters Pin It She rose to prominence as one of the most famous leaders of the 1857 Indian RebellionRani Lakshmi refused to cede her realm and promised to defend it against the British. She rose to prominence as one of the most prominent female Indian independence fighters during the Indian Rebellion of 1857, fighting valiantly against British forces. She was defeated, though, and Jhansi fell to the British.

Even after the fall of Jhansi, Rani Lakshmi continued to battle the British. She was murdered in battle in 1858, but her valour encouraged many more Native Americans to fight for their freedom.

Kasturba Gandhi

Kasturba Gandhi, who was born into an affluent family in India in 1869, married Mohandas Gandhi at the age of 13 and had four children with him. Kasturba Gandhi moved to South Africa with Mohandas Gandhi and their children when he was arrested and imprisoned there in 1906. She became involved in the fight for Indian rights and was imprisoned multiple times.

Begum Hazrat Mahal

Begum Hazrat Mahal is another woman who comes to mind in this situation. She was the wife of Lucknow's deposed king, who actively participated in the 1857 insurrection against the Doctrine of Lapse, under which Dalhousie wanted her to relinquish Lucknow. She put up a strong fight.

Sarojini Naidu

Sarojini Naidu is one of India's most prominent female liberation activists. She was the one who woke up the ladies of India. In 1925, at the Kanpur Session, she became the first Indian woman president of the Indian National Congress. In 1928, she arrived in the United States with Gandhiji's message of nonviolence. When Gandhi was arrested for a protest in 1930, Sarojini took over his cause. She attended the Round Table Summit in 1931, along with Gandhiji and Pundit Malavyaji.

Aruna Asaf Ali

Aruna Asaf Ali is known as "The Grand Old Lady" of the Indian Independence Movement. She was an Indian independence activist and freedom fighter best remembered for waving the Indian National Congress flag during the Quit India Movement at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay (now Mumbai). Not only that, but she actively engaged in the Salt Satyagraha movement as well as other protest marches before being imprisoned.

Tara Rani Srivastava

Tara Rani Srivastava was born into a low-income family in Saran, Bihar, and married Phulendu Babu. In 1942, both joined Mahatma Gandhi's Quit India Movement and planned to fly the Indian flag on the roof of the Siwan Police Station. They gathered a mob and marched towards the Siwan Police Station, yelling 'Inquilab.' However, when they marched towards the police station, the officers opened fire, and her husband was shot.

Bina Das

Born in West Bengal Bina Das was a nationalist and revolutionary from India. She was born to parents who were involved in the Brahmo Samaj and the fight for independence, as well as social workers and educators. Das was a member of the Chhatri Sangha, a semi-revolutionary women's organisation in Kolkata. On February 6, 1932, she attempted to assassinate Bengal Governor Stanley Jackson in the University of Calcutta's Convocation Hall.

Kanaklata Barua

Birbala is another name for Kanaklata Barua. She was an Assam-born Indian liberation fighter. She was a key figure in the 1942 Quit India Movement at Barangabari when she led the women volunteers' queue while holding the National Flag. She attempted to hang the flag at the British-dominated Gohpur Police Station while yelling slogans such as "British imperialists should go back," but was stopped by the British.

Bhikaiji Cama

She was born on September 24, 1861, to a Parsi family in Bombay (now Mumbai) as Bhikaiji Rustom Cama, a renowned personality of the Indian Nationalist Movement. We are, of course, referring to Madam Cama, a well-known independence warrior. She was born into a prosperous family, and her father, Sorabji Framji Patel, was a prominent member of the Parsi community.

Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay

She was the first lady in India to run for office from the Madras Constituency, and while she lost, she paved the way for women in India. She was best recognised for her engagement in the Indian independence fight and for inspiring the renaissance of Indian handicrafts, handlooms, and theatre in independent India.
On August 6, 2023, at the IIT Madras Research Park, the "Digital India RISC-V Symposium," a one-day exhibition of the "future of Electronics in India through the RISC-V pathway," was held. The Symposium featured thought-provoking technical presentations by renowned academics and industry leaders, interactive booths exhibiting homegrown RISC-V processors, an exciting hackathon, and a special Investor meeting.

The Government of India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, IIT Madras, and IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation organised the symposium. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Indian government's minister of state for electronics and information technology, took part remotely in the activity. Along with academics, teachers, and students, Professor V Kamakoti, the director of IIT Madras, participated in the study.

Actions Taken By The India Government

The Digital India RISC-V Microprocessor (DIR-V) Programme was launched by the Government of India with the overall goal of developing Microprocessors for the future in India, for the world, and achieving industry-grade silicon and Design wins by December 2023. This is a significant step towards Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar, India's Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, addressed the symposium electronically. He remarked, "India was a consumer of technologies less than ten years ago. We were on the periphery of this core deep tech ecosystem of semiconductors, electronics, and high-performance computing, and India was a sizable market that absorbed technology and advances that were invented outside of this country.

The vision that India must move from being a consumer of technologies to a nation where our innovators and start-ups are architecting and designing platforms, solutions, systems, products, and devices as much as any other nation in the world was first presented by our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in 2015. We are now discussing the future of DIR-V (Digital India RISC-V) and how IIT Madras is quickly becoming a hub for innovation, creativity, and future systems around DIR-V, 15 months after the SEMICON program was introduced, he continued.

Professor V Kamakoti, the DIR-V program's chief architect, and Krishnakumar Rao, the senior director of CDAC Trivandrum, both received congratulations from Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

Between CDAC and IIT Madras, you are unquestionably emerging as a beacon for all those academic institutions throughout the world that are interested in joining this quickly galloping ecosystem of semiconductor and electronics innovation. They are being motivated by you to participate as well.

"The Government of India is very committed to making DIR-V the Indian ISA," Rajeev Chandrasekhar continued. The majority of our operations and programs are in the DIR-V programs, while we may still have some in the x86/ARM arena. Our objective is to ensure that DIR-V has a significant presence in all of the innovations, systems, technologies, and capabilities that we require in the automotive IoT sensor area, mobility space, and high-performance computing environment.

Other Announcements

During the event, the outcomes of the RISC-V "Capture The Bug" Hackathon, organised by Vyoma Systems Pvt. Ltd., were also disclosed.

IIT Madras Director Professor V Kamakoti gave a speech at the event and said that "today is a key event in the journey of semiconductors that our country has started. We began this voyage in 2013-2014 because we thought there would be a significant worldwide digital revolution and that numerous electronic devices would become more pervasive in our daily lives. Each of those gadgets would include a microprocessor, so a determined effort must be made to produce our own microprocessors for the national market. We must build our own domestic microprocessor and understand its components. We ought to be able to easily set up and modify the microprocessors to meet the requirements," he continued.
The study of the human mind and conduct is multidisciplinary in nature and is called psychology. The need for psychologists and psychiatrists has increased along with the popularity of degree programmes in psychology since mental health concerns, depression, and anxiety have become more common since the epidemic. In order to help people manage stress and make better decisions, psychology strives to understand how people behave. The study of human experiences, behaviours, actions, ideas, consciousness, interactions, language, and personality is the focus of all online psychology courses. Numerous free online psychology courses and certificates are also available to students from renowned online universities and learning platforms throughout the world.

After completing their 12th grade or graduating, candidates can apply for admission to any psychology courses. These are possible to complete using the online learning option. When it comes to learning new skills, online schooling has become extremely popular. There are a number of online psychology courses and clinical psychology courses with certificates in India that are best suited for aspirants and necessitate that they fully comprehend the specifics, length, requirements, and career potential of psychology courses and online psychology courses with certificates in India. Online psychology degree programmes, part-time psychology programmes, and diploma programmes are all available in India.

Why are Certificate Courses Important?

In many universities, the curriculum tends to focus more on theoretical aspects rather than practical applications. Even if you engage in projects or practicals, the emphasis is often on securing good grades rather than gaining hands-on experience.

Certificate courses, available in the market, bridge this gap by enhancing your skills across various dimensions. They expand your knowledge in areas aligned with market needs, equip you with the ability to handle real-life situations, and develop your personality to thrive in the industry.

For psychology students, there exists a plethora of certificate courses that perfectly complement their studies. These courses enhance knowledge and skills in specific domains, allowing students to gain a competitive edge in their chosen field.

Here are some certificate courses that are relevant to psychology students

1. Social Psychology

The online course "Social Psychology" is offered via the Swayam platform for free online education, an initiative of the Indian ministry. The English and Foreign Languages University created and provides this free online course for students who are interested in learning about the ideas, concepts, and research related to the elements of social psychology. This basic subject, which is a component of the humanities and social sciences division, has an eight-week schedule.

The focus of the course study will be on group performance, group decision-making, and group leadership. Students can gain a thorough understanding of the psychological concepts underlying social behaviour and group dynamics through this programme. The students will receive three credit points for this course of study.

Platform: By English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad via Swayam

Duration: 8 Weeks

Fees: Free

2. The Psychology of Language

The Swayam free online education portal, launched by the Indian ministry of education, offers the online course "The Psychology Of Language." For students who are interested in learning about the complexities of the cognitive concept of language, the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati offers this programme, a National Programme for Technology Enhanced Learning online certification course. After completing the course, students will receive two credit points. The training course 'The Psychology Of Language' is categorised under psychology, humanities, and social sciences.

Platform: By IIT Guwahati via Swayam

Duration: 8 Weeks

Fees: Free

3. Introduction to Advanced Cognitive Processes

The Swayam online education platform, a project of the Indian ministry of education, offers the online course "Introduction to Advanced Cognitive Processes." For students interested in studying more about cognitive processes in-depth, the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur offers this optional course as a free online course through the National Programme for Technology Enhanced studying.

Students who successfully complete this online training course will receive two credit points towards their undergraduate or graduate degree. Following the fulfilment of the necessary eligibility requirements, students may also sit for the certification exam to obtain a certificate of completion of the course. The programme "Introduction to Advanced Cognitive Processes" comprises psychology, humanities, and social science courses that assist applicants in learning about contemporary cognitive psychological procedures.

Platform: By IIT Kanpur via Swayam

Duration: 8 Weeks

Fees: Free

4. AP Psychology Course 3 How the Mind Works

The mind, in contrast to the brain, is not a physical organ; rather, it is a group of faculties that combines both cognitive and non-cognitive components. These characteristics include language, thinking, memory, intelligence, and consciousness. This makes studying the mind an intriguing subject. Concepts including classical and operant conditioning, as well as social learning, are covered in the AP Psychology-Course 3: How the Mind Works course from Edx.

A number of video lectures and demonstrations are also included in the Edx AP Psychology - Course 3: How the Mind Works certification course to aid in student learning. With a variety of practice questions, learners can also assess their understanding. For individuals studying for the AP Psychology exam, the training is superb.

The University of British Columbia offers the AP Psychology course series, which consists of six courses in total. Additionally, the Edx AP Psychology courses provide online self-paced learning.

Platform: By The University of British Columbia, Vancouver via Edx

Duration: 4 Weeks

Fees: Free

5. Guidance and Counselling

The National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research, Chennai, offers a certification programme in guidance and counselling. It makes sure that teachers have a considerably wider range of options when helping students make crucial educational and career decisions. It is a teacher education course that is supposed to last for four weeks.

All of the topics pertaining to guidance and counselling evaluation procedures are thoroughly covered in the guidance and counselling course curriculum. The curriculum has also received approval from AICTE. Moreover, because it enables the students' entire growth, this course is among the most crucial and essential components of our educational system.

Platform: By National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research, Chennai via Swayam

Duration: 4 Weeks

Fees: Free

Career Opportunities in Psychology

The most sought-after and highly lucrative job path is psychology. Numerous chances are accessible to you once you have finished your psychology online courses and certification courses. In addition to working in individual and family services, private and public healthcare, education, and government and non-profit organisations, you can begin your career as a psychologist and become a counsellor. A fantastic employment opportunity is provided by online psychology courses and online psychology degrees in India.

Some of the lucrative careers after psychology courses online with certificates and online clinical psychology courses in India are:

Clinical Psychologist

Career Counsellor

Physiotherapist

Industrial-Organisational Psychologist

Therapist

Child Psychologist

Expected Salary

The real pay of professionals in the field of psychology varies according to the sort of position they have. In addition, factors like location, industry, skill set, and experience affect salary. The annual compensation a candidate receives increases with experience. According to PayScale, a psychologist in India makes an average pay of Rs. 408,441.
Mitsubishi has named its new compact crossover the Xforce. Rolling out for the Indonesian market first, but confirmed for the Philippines as...
Keeping cement moving sustainably

ICR Research By

Published 08 August 2023

As supply chain sustainability becomes a key priority for organisations, CEMEX is committed to investing in innovative heavy-duty transport solutions. Dave Hart, supply chain director of CEMEX UK and France, explains how the company looks to maximise efficiency while minimising the environmental footprint of its modes of transportation with a multi-pronged approach across rail, road and river. By Dave Hart, CEMEX UK.

The global drive towards reducing the impact of the cement industry on the environment is, thankfully, rapidly gaining traction. None of us can look past the increasing temperatures and the more extreme weather conditions of the past year without considering our own responsibilities to protect the world for future generations. Im very proud to work for an organisation that recognises the carbon footprint of its operations and is passionately committed to improvement.

To continue reading this story and get access to all News, Articles and Video sections of the CemNet.com website, please Register for a subscription to International Cement Review or Login
Forex shortage leads to cement scarcity in Malawi

ICR Newsroom By 08 August 2023

Malawis Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Sosten Gwengwe, has attributed the scarcity of cement in the country to a shortage of foreign currency. He was responding to a question in parliament of Rumphi West Member Yona Adadawiza Mkandawire who suggested that the government should encourage cement imports.



He said that the ministry has engaged the Reserve Bank to support local producers of cement and other key products. It is these local producers who are generating forex, therefore they need to be supported to make sure stable supply markets and prices, Mr Gwengwe said.



It is true that prices of cement escalated as other traders are selling as higher as MWK20,000 (US$19.04)/50kg. During the meeting between concerned stakeholders was resolved that a bag of cement should not exceed MWK16,000.

Published under
CCC politician Tendai Biti has been hit with costs incurred by Augur Investments and its owner Mr Kenneth Sharpe over the US$1 million civil lawsuit against him for allegedly defaming the land developer.

He is being sued by Mr Sharpe, his company and the companys chief operations officer Ms Tatiana Aleshina.

Mr Biti has on four occasions, through his legal counsel, caused the postponement of the civil trial giving various excuses and the High Court now reckons that he needs to pay the extra expenses or compensate the extra losses incurred by the other party for three of those hearings.

The never ending delays to have the trial commence provoked Mr Sharpe to seek the courts intervention, arguing that the postponements have financially prejudiced him and the company.

Through his legal counsel, Advocate Thembinkosi Magwaliba, Mr Sharpe applied for costs against Mr Biti after his application in the Supreme Court had not only been struck off, but was also found to be incompetent at law, among other abortive hearings of the civil trial between January 10 and July 4 this year.

Mr Biti, represented by Professor Lovemore Madhuku, doggedly opposed the application for wasted costs asking the High Court to reserve costs until the final determination of the case.

Wasted costs are litigation costs which must be paid personally by a lawyer where a judge considers that lawyer has caused another party or the lawyers own client to suffer unnecessary extra costs.

The costs amount to a penalty imposed by the court to mark its disapproval of the unreasonable or negligent way that lawyer would have conducted a case and so caused at least one of the parties to incur serious additional costs or losses.

Justice Tawanda Chitapi presiding over the matter allowed the application by Mr Sharpe over three of the four abortive hearings between January and July this year, finding merit in the application.

Mr Biti now has to pay the costs incurred by Mr Sharpe for the abortive hearings on 10 January, 6 March and 29 May, said Justice Chitapi. But these extra costs for the abortive hearing on 4 July were reserved, meaning it will be decided later if they were wasted.

In June this year, the Supreme Court dismissed Mr Bitis application for leave to appeal against a High court decision that Mr Sharpe could proceed to sue him.

The application was struck off the roll, with costs. In granting Mr Sharpe the order for wasted costs, Justice Chitapi noted that Mr Bitis application was no longer before the Supreme Court since it had been struck off the roll.

He said Mr Sharpe and his co-applicants were all along made to wait for the Supreme Court decision but there was no outcome of substance.

Mr Sharpe and his co-applicants were put out of pocket by attending court only for the matter failing to proceed because of what turned out to be an invalid process.

In effect, the invalidity of the process which was struck off the roll means that the court was being sold a dummy in that there was no legally valid process before the Supreme Court, said the judge.

Augur and Mr Sharpe launched the defamation lawsuit against Mr Biti three years ago after the politician, in his twitter handle, named him as the most corrupt person looting Zimbabwes resources.

However, Mr Biti objected to the defamation lawsuit but lost the case at High Court by way of a default judgment entered against him.

Mr Biti then approached the Supreme Court seeking leave to appeal against the decision by the High Court to dismiss an attempt to reject the defamation summons. But the Supreme Court struck the appeal application off the roll with costs on the basis that the motion was improper before the court.

The judge noted that the order of the High Court, which Mr Biti sought to challenge, was a default judgment hence the politician had to purge his default in the High Court first, and so had jumped the gun by approaching the Supreme Court.

The application was also filed after the lapse of the mandatory 10-day period stipulated in the Supreme Court rules within which he had to approach the court after the High Court refused leave to appeal.

Augur Investments is seeking US$500 000 damages from Mr Biti, with Mr Sharpe another US$400 000, and chief operations officer Tatiana Aleshina another US$100 000.

Mr Sharpe also cited the opposition party for pursuing a malicious agenda based on Mr Bitis tweets.

Sometime in December 2020, Mr Biti is alleged to have further published two other defamatory statements concerning Mr Sharpe and Ms Aleshina and several other prominent business people that he named as amongst a coterie of elite looters that were allegedly bleeding Zimbabwe. Herald
River City Company in partnership with the Childrens Entrepreneur Market invite the community to shop from over 40 children entrepreneur vendors. It is the first time the organizations have paired together, combining the market with River City Companys Family Fun Day.

Family Fun Day Featuring Childrens Entrepreneur Market will be held Saturday from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at Chattanooga Green, 100 Chestnut St. Admission is free.

We are so excited to present a sell-out market in downtown Chattanooga," said Amanda Mollenhour with Childrens Entrepreneur Market. "The youth work incredibly hard preparing for the day, and this is an opportunity for anyone to support the budding business owners as they gain firsthand experience delivering their sales pitch, conducting transactions and polishing their customer service."

Along with the traditional Family Fun Day elements like kite building, oversized games and craft activities, the community will be able to shop from vendors selling a wide variety of items including crocheted animals, baked goods, jewelry, clothing, artwork, wooden toys, adventure journals, candles and clay sculptures.

Downtown Chattanooga is beloved for our locally owned businesses," said Emily Mack, president and CEO of River City Company. "We are overwhelmed by the response from so many youth eager to learn and start their own businesses. We hope to one day see them open their very own shops in downtown."

The Childrens Entrepreneur Market program creates a safe, fun and real-world environment for up and coming entrepreneurs to start and grow their own business. Launched in 2017, the initiative allows children to explore business and life skills where the power of hard work and innovation is organically and creatively realized. Children gain experience such as creating goods, packaging them for sale, marketing, customer experience and handling money. Many participants have developed sophisticated products and brands, some of which are now available in local stores or on the web. Nearly 10,000 kid entrepreneurs have used the markets and with growing demand, they have expanded their program into six new states for 2023 including Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas.

Family Fun Day is presented by River City Company and is sponsored by the Benwood Foundation, EPB, Elliott Davis and First Horizon Bank.
Entertainer/Actor Randall Franks, Officer Randy Goode from TVs In the Heat of the Night, is headed to the Grand Ole Opry House this October for the 9th Annual Josie Music Awards. He is nominated for Inspirational/Christian Vocalist of the Year."God sometimes uplifts you when you are not even looking for it," Mr. Franks said. "This recognition of my vocal stylings is such a surprise and honor. I congratulate all my fellow nominees. It's been nearly 30 years since I was a Country Vocalist of the Year nominee.It just tells me God has so much more in store."Mr. Franks scored a #1 song in February 2023 with his original song Gods Children with the Watkins Family in Cashbox Magazine. The song spent five months in the charts.The fiddle champion, of Ringgold, is appearing in concerts around the South this summer sharing his songs, while also sharing his prowess on guitar and Appalachian Dulcimer using his TikPik. He will appear with the 78th Anniversary Hollywood Hillbilly Jamboree on Oct. 14 at the Colonnade in Ringgold, before heading to the Josie Music Awards on Oct. 22 in Nashville at 7 p.m.He also saw his CD Americana Youth of Southern Appalachia, a fundraiser for the Share America Foundations Appalachian Scholarship program, rise to #1 in the AirPlay Direct Global Music Charts on July 15 and #7 in the Global Americana/Grassicana Albums Charts.An award-winning actor for his work in the 2020 film The Crickets Dance, he is currently enjoying success in the worldwide film festival circuit for his American Revolution short film The Americans Creed in which he stars and directs. Mr. Franks is a former NBC and CBS actor who starred and co-starred in three TV series and in numerous films for Hallmark, Lifetime, CBS and UpTV.He is the award-winning author of nine books, with his latest two Encouragers III: A Guiding Hand and a murder mystery A Badge or an Old Guitar, a journalist and a syndicated columnist, who inspires millions of readers in the South and Midwest each week.The International Bluegrass Hall of Fame Legend is a long-time Grand Ole Opry guest star. He is an Independent Country Music Hall of Fame member, Americas Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame member, Tri-State Gospel Music Hall of Fame member and Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame member with a long list of awards in multiple music genres.Through his Share America Foundation, he inspires youth to learn and share the music of Appalachia.Subscribe to Randall Franks TV on YouTube, like him on Facebook or other social media. More information may be found at www.RandallFranks.comRandall Franks with the Watkins FamilyGods Children: https://youtu.be/d5eeECNiriIRandall Franks and the Hollywood Hillbilly JamboreeBile Dem Cabbage Down: https://youtu.be/iBLtmMR4j5QDanny Boy https://youtu.be/O6iZzx2UChM
Arrests have been made in the killing of a 17-year-old in Alton Park on July 24.

Mafia M. Marshall, 20, of 249 Water St., was identified by Chattanooga Police as the driver of a vehicle that drove up to the victim, K'Angelo Alford.

Police said a 15-year-old in the vehicle, who was the shooter, is also being charged with murder.

The funeral is Thursday for K'Angelo Kai/Bolo Alford, who was described as "a beloved son, brother, and friend."

Born on Dec. 28, 2005, in Chattanooga, he was a student at The Howard School and a devoted member of the Westside Missionary Baptist Church.



His family said, "Kai's infectious happiness and unwavering love for life left an indelible mark on all who knew him. He possessed an extraordinary knack for finding joy in every situation, and his laughter was a beacon of light that brightened the lives of those around him. His positive and vibrant spirit was a source of inspiration and comfort to family and friends alike.



"A deeply cherished bond existed between Kai and his siblings, who were not just family, but his closest confidants and companions. The moments they shared together are a testament to the deep love and connection they held, creating memories that will forever be etched in their hearts.



"Kai's presence was a gift to all, and his absence will be keenly felt."



His survivors include five brothers and six sisters.

Public viewing will be held from 2-6 p.m. on Wednesday at the John P. Franklin Funeral Home, 1101 Dodds Ave. A celebration of his life will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday the the funeral home.



Police were dispatched at 10:52 p.m. to 3700 Highland Ave. on a report of a person shot.

When officers arrived, they located the victim suffering from at least one gunshot wound. He was unresponsive. He was taken by EMS to Erlanger Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

They said several witnesses gave specific information about the vehicle. A matching vehicle was observed on surveillance video driving past the victim at 10:50 p.m.

The vehicle was seen on video arriving and driving around the victim's location on Highland Avenue as if "casing" the area.

The vehicle then returned and drove up to the victim's location.

Surveillance video showed the victim approach the vehicle just prior to shots being fired.

Video also showed a passenger window go down just prior to the shots being fired.

Police said, "During this time there were a large number of innocent bystanders, including children, in close proximity to the victim."

One of those present picked Marshall from a photo lineup as the driver of the vehicle.

Investigators said from the video they were able to identify the youth who fired the shots.

Police said, "Based on surveillance footage and numerous witness statements, suspects intentionally targeted and carried out the shooting of K'Angelo Alford."

Police said neither Marshall or the 15-year-old may lawfully possess a firearm in the state of Tennessee.

Both are charged with first-degree murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and reckless endangerment.
Ive written many letters to the editor over the past four years. At first, it was a bored eighth grader with lots of time and even more opinions. After all, it was the middle of the pandemic, and I was stuck at home trying to make sense of life.

I wrote many letters defending the actions and policies of then-President Donald Trump. When he lost the election in 2020, I repeated what I was told by him and so many others - that the election was stolen and that there was outcome-determinative fraud.

Today, Im writing what amounts to a retraction.

Since those days, some three years ago, Ive woken up to the blatant and dangerous lies that President Trump spread in those days after the election and leading up to Jan. 6.

He repeated what he knew to be false, he defamed and shamed two Georgia poll workers whom he accused of stuffing ballots; as a result, they received death threats and feared for their safety. He engaged in a massive pressure campaign against state legislators and officials to overturn the results of a legitimate election - simply because he was unable to cope with the results. He consistently spread dangerous lies and conspiracy theories to his followers (myself included) that lead to the deadly Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. And finally and perhaps worst of all, he demanded that Vice President Pence put loyalty to him over the Constitution. Nobody who puts his own personal ambitions over the Constitution should ever hold office in the United States again. Nobody.

I welcome the latest indictments by Special Counsel Jack Smith. The actions of President Trump - willfully and intentionally retaining classified information, even after the FBI for months asked him quickly and professionally to hand them over, which resulted in a raid and the destruction of a server he didnt want to become public (sound familiar?), should be criminally prosecuted and he should be found guilty.

Second, his efforts to obstruct an official proceeding, namely the certification of an electoral victory, in the process conspiring to defraud the United States and the civil rights of over 80 million people, his fraudulent scheme to undermine the Constitution and present fraudulent slates of electors in the states he declared he had won. These egregious actions should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and Donald Trump should go to prison.

Of course, his loyalists will defend him no matter what. This should come as no surprise. Whataboutism is rampant among Trump supporters. When our justice system or the government function in a way that Trump or his supporters dont like, they simply denounce it as rigged or fraudulent. The argument that Trump shouldnt be prosecuted because oh-my-gosh-Hunter-Bidens-laptop is so silly that it does not even merit a response here.

I worry for the future of the GOP and the future of American democracy if Trump wins the 2024 race. I worry for the faith in our justice system. I worry for my generation.

Republicans, please do the right thing. Pick someone else, anyone else. Consider, for once, the needs of the Republic over your own personal political goals. It may do you some good.

William Reynolds

* * *

Trump has done his very best to destroy Democracy. Jack Smith will be seen as a champion of Democracy when this is all over. Trump tramples the Constitution daily. He believes hes above the law, along with the Republican appointed Judges on SCOTUS.

It appears the MAGA crowd wants an autocrat in the White House.

Keep Democracy alive and keep Trump away from the White House.

Dale Souders
John Gates Sterchi, 69, of Ten Mile, Tennessee, passed away due to a tragic accident at his home on August 5, 2023.

He was born in Knoxville on Feb. 24, 1954, and attended Chilhowee Elementary School, Holston High School (Class of 1972), and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, where he graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering in 1979. He worked many decades in the field of fire safety and protection and served as the Fire Marshal for TVAs Watts Bar Nuclear Plant for the last 17 years of his 37-year career at that facility. He was the recipient of numerous awards and accolades throughout his career. He proudly worked with the brave men and women serving as local volunteer firefighters in training exercises throughout his career with TVA and considered many of those heroes his friends and comrades. Ironically, those brave men and women were instrumental in coming to Johns recovery following his tragic accident. John was well-known among his family and friends for his superior intelligence, corny jokes, his amazing gift of knowledge in practically any area and for being the go-to person for projects involving electricity, plumbing, carpentry, auto repair, appliance repair, and any other project that needed fixing. His motto was never replace anything that he could fix. Once you were Johns friend, you were always Johns friend. He was always willing to lend a helping hand with any project and he served his family, friends and community with humility, love and, of course, a corny joke or two. He was a lifelong member of Church Street United Methodist Church.



John was preceded in death by parents Charles F. Sterchi, Jr. and Frances Gates Sterchi.



He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 37 years, Teresa Powell Sterchi; his brother and sister-in-law Charles and Karen Sterchi; his niece Emily Sterchi and her husband Vince Price; his nephew Charlie Sterchi and his girlfriend Alyssa Towns; his great-niece Anne Frances Price; and sister-in-law Cindy Powell Harmon and husband Brett, Traci Powell Wolfenbarger and husband Randy; nieces Heather Harmon, Hillary Harmon, Rachel Wolfenbarger Walling and husband Nathan; nephew Brandon Wolfenbarger; and a host of other relatives and friends.



Family will receive friends at Decatur Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 163 Arrants Ave., Decatur, Tn. on Thursday, Aug. 17, from 57 p.m. and will conclude with a memorial devotion.



A celebration of Johns extraordinary life will be held in Knoxville at a later date.



In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Johns memory and honor to either: Decatur Fire Department, Meigs County Emergency Services, or Rhea County Emergency Services and mailed to: PO Box 605, Decatur, TN 37322.



Decatur Funeral Home & Cremation Services is honored to serve the Sterchi family.


National Chiefs Council president Chief Fortune Charumbira says he is not seeking re-election to the helm of the national traditional chiefs body at polls that are scheduled for tomorrow.

His current deputy, Chief Mtshane Khumalo of Matabeleland North province, is understood to be one of the frontrunners to succeed Chief Charumbira who has served two terms.

The National Chiefs Council is meeting in Bulawayo ahead of elections on Thursday, to elect a new Chiefs Council president and the deputy who will automatically become Members of Parliament as Senators.

Thursdays election will be the culmination of a process that started last week with ZEC holding glitch-free elections to choose 36 chiefs into the National Chiefs Council in an exercise that officially kick-started the 2023 harmonised elections.

Chief Charumbira, the outgoing council president, was overwhelmingly voted back as one of the five Chiefs Council members from Masvingo province after defeating Chief Neromwe (Mr Clemence Madzingo) of Zaka by 27 votes to 7.

Chief Charumbira is also the president of the Pan African Parliament.

Chief Khumalo hailed Chief Charumbira for his impeccable leadership skills that saw him even getting the support of all African regions to become PAP leader.

He described Chief Charumbira as a repository and sanctuary of the countrys traditional leadership institution with his exemplary leadership depicting the ethos of the past, present and the future.It emerged also that the National Chiefs Council has unanimously resolved to deploy Chief Charumbira to an appropriate post where the organisation would continue tapping into his wisdom while he also continued to serve as PAP leader.

Chief Chundu (born Abel Mbasera) of Mashonaland West said they still required Chief Charumbiras wisdom to improve the traditional leadership institution in Zimbabwe.

There are still many issues that we feel Chief Charumbiras expertise and leadership will be required as we continue to strengthen the traditional leadership institution.

We are traditional leaders and we own the soil and we always agree on one position for the good of our institution and the people that we lead so we indeed still need Chief Charumbiras guidance and services, said Chief Chundu.

Chief Siansali born Mr Nkatazo Siatabwa of Matabeleland North who said: Chief Charumbira is behind the growth and transformation of the traditional leadership institution to where it is today and he has vast experience nationally and internationally and we feel it is not prudent to just relegate him to the periphery without tapping from his experience and direction. Herald
LaunchTN and Pinnacle Financial Partners are partnering on a new series of meetups, called Capital Conversations, which will be hosted in four different cities statewide.

Since our inception in 2000, Pinnacle has had an unwavering commitment to entrepreneurs who are building solutions and filling gaps, said Kevin Roddey, financial advisor for Pinnacle Financial Partners. Thats why we are excited about partnering with Launch Tennessee to support their invaluable efforts and provide financial services to the companies served by Launch Tennessee and its partners. These events will highlight our complementary partnership and the ways we hope to serve the entrepreneurs of Tennessee.

The first in the series will be at Railgarten in Memphis, along with LaunchTNs Network Partner, Epicenter, Aug. 22 from 5-7 p.m. Tickets are available online through Eventbrite.

The events are opportunities for entrepreneurs, startup companies, investors, and others in the states entrepreneurial community, to network and connect.



Capital Conversations will feature LaunchTNs entire Capital team, including chief investment officer Monique Villa, as well as financial sector experts from Pinnacle Financial Partners.

Each event will be kicked off by a representative from LaunchTNs Regional Entrepreneur Center Network Partner: Epicenter Memphis, Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, The Company Lab (CO.LAB) in Chattanooga, and Nashville Entrepreneur Center.

The Launch Tennessee team will be on hand to discuss InvestTN, a new $70-million fund for investments in startups and venture funds throughout the state. Pinnacle Financial Partners will offer up expert advice on financial services and support specific to startups.

When Pinnacle signed on as a Visionary-level supporter for 2023, we immediately put our heads together to figure out how to create events that will offer insight and valuable information for startups, LaunchTN Development Director Emily Masters said. Its exciting to see those brainstorm sessions come to fruition through the Capital Conversations series. I sincerely hope the partnership is one that continues well into the future.

Capital Conversations

Aug. 22  Memphis with Epicenter

Oct. 19  Knoxville with Knoxville Entrepreneur Center

Nov. 9  Chattanooga with The Company Lab (CO.LAB)

TBD  Nashville with Nashville Entrepreneur Center
A man who police say stabbed a woman and then himself at an apartment in Red Bank last Tuesday is now facing criminal charges.

Damon Blaine Pittman, 28, of Royal Crest Drive, is charged with attempted first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder of a fetus, and assault.

Red Bank Police, as well as members from the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office, responded to Royal Crest Drive at 2:29 a.m.

Officers were told that the woman who was stabbed was six months pregnant and that the man was still on scene and under the influence of drugs.

The man was lying on the living room floor with what appeared to be a stab wound to his lower abdomen.

The woman was sitting on the couch with a stab wound to the stomach.

Officers found blood on the floor near a bed and a six-inch knife with a fixed blade under a desk in the bedroom. The knife appeared to be covered in blood.

Another apartment resident said Pittman opened her bedroom door, mumbled something, fell to the floor, then crawled to the living room.

The neighbor said the woman who was stabbed came up the steps, sat on the couch, and said, "He stabbed me." She said the woman stated that Pittman then stabbed himself.

Asked if Pittman said anything before stabbing her, the woman said he said something about her cheating on him.

v0 ive regarding a stabbing call.



Upon arrival, a woman and man were located at the scene who had each sustained a stab wound. Both people were treated by EMS and transported for further medical treatment.

Red Bank Detectives were called to the scene to investigate further. The initial investigation revealed that the man, identified as Damon Pittman, allegedly stabbed the woman during a domestic dispute and then stabbed himself. The investigation will continue, and criminal charges are pending.
Rotaxanes are interlocked molecular structures with a linear axle molecule penetrating one or more cyclic wheel molecules. Bulky groups at the end of the axle prevent the wheels from coming off. Now, researchers at Hokkaido University have taken the previous achievements of this technology a step further, making macro-rotaxanes that have multicyclic wheels interlocked with several high-molecular-weight axles. They report their innovation in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition.

Structure of macro-rotaxane synthesized in this study: multicyclic wheels (red) interlocked with several high-molecular-weight axles (blue). Minami Ebe, et al.

Rotaxanes, initially regarded as intriguing chemical curiosities, are now being explored for a wide range of potential applications, ranging from next-generation polymers to ambitious possibilities in molecular computing, sensor technologies and drug delivery.

The Hokkaido University researchers, with collaborators elsewhere in Japan, are focusing their attention on making new network polymers, in which ring structures more complex than simple circles hold together different strands of long polymer chains.

We think the multicyclic structures in these macro-rotaxanes could be useful as non-leaching additives, permanently retained in a polymer network by the way they hold onto several neighboring polymer chains, says polymer chemist Professor Toshifumi Satoh of the Hokkaido team.

The 3D wheels act as a unique and highly flexible form of molecular crosslinks, allowing the wheels and the interlocked polymer strands much more freedom of movement than in conventionally cross-linked networks. Structural variations should allow fine control over the properties of soft materials to make them suitable for a variety of industrial and medical applications.

Other research groups have achieved some similar success with smaller molecular arrangements, but the advances at Hokkaido University move the field into the realm of larger molecules.

The researchers explored some of the possibilities of this significant new development in polymer chemistry using chemicals called polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMSs) to make the multicyclic rings. They were able to build different numbers of cyclic units with rings of different sizes. When combined with silicone polymer chains with short crosslinking agents, the multicyclic units became efficiently incorporated into a newly-forming extended, mixed and interlocked network.

We explored some of the potential for making modified soft materials by measuring the damping performance of the networks, which is essentially the ability of a material to absorb and reduce vibrations, says Satoh. This revealed that our macro-rotaxanes achieved significant improvements in damping efficiency relative to conventional polymer networks.
This photo provided by the Oneida Indian Nation shows a box of remains from one of the Nation members being repatriated, Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023, in Rochester, N.Y. In front of it are handmade medicine bags Nation members made to represent each of the ancestors being returned home. In Oneida culture medicine bags were used when going on a journey. The funerary objects are a mix of pottery and other items traditionally buried with Oneidas.
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We are in the final stretch of summer, and a lot of us are hitting the beach to take our last few dips in the ocean. However, we must always remember to be careful in the ocean, especially in certain areas.

As scary as it is to say, there have been a series of shark attacks along the Long Island shores in New York that have happened in record-breaking time.

Last year, there were a total of 8 recorded unprovoked shark bites that happened in the state of New York throughout the summer. But this year, there were already five recorded bites by mid-July.

Beginning just before the 4th of July, five swimmers had been bitten while swimming on South Shore beaches in Long Island by the third week of July. Thankfully, the victims were treated and had non-life-threatening injuries.

Regardless, its pretty scary to think about. But experts say we should have nothing to stress about. Many of these sharks are most likely following their prey into more shallow waters so theyre easier to find and eat.

Sharks are much more interested in eating fish than they are in human flesh, so many of these shark bites are accidents on their part.

Some scientists are looking on the bright side, stating that the abundance of sharks near the shore is an indicator of plenty of fish, which means theres healthy marine life in the oceans ecosystem.

But to be safe, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a program with $1 million in funding that will buy 42 drones to monitor sharks in the states waters. There are currently drones working at the Long Island beaches.

So does this mean you should stay out of the ocean for the rest of the summer? No way! Just be a bit more alert, especially if youre swimming in Long Island waters.

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Eleanor of Aquitaine was an interesting and prominent woman in England during the 12th century.

Her life has inspired plays, movies, and artwork. If you dont know her story, here it is.

Eleanor was born in France in 1122. Her father, William X, Duke of Aquitaine, educated her in various subjects. When her father died, she inherited his title at 15. This also made her one of the most eligible bachelorettes in Europe and one of the wealthiest women in all of Europe too. She was also known for her beauty, and a lot of documentation describes how beautiful she was.

Eleanor was placed under the guardianship of King Louis VI of France and quickly wed his son, Louis, in 1137 and lived in the Cite Palace in Paris. That same year, Louis and Eleanor became the king and queen of France.

Their marriage was conflicted, as not long into their rule, they had to deal with intense political conflict. Eleanor even joined Louis on a crusade in 1145, but their marriage was eventually annulled in 1152.

Then, only two months after her annulment, Eleanor married Henry, Count of Anjou and Duke of Normandy. Fast forward two years, and they were crowned the king and queen of England. Thats right, within years, Eleanor was the queen of two different countries.

Eleanor and Henry had eight children between 1152 and 1166, then split one year later. When they separated, Eleanor went to live on her own land in Poitiers, France.

There, Eleanor had a court known as the Court of Love, which influenced art, literature, and poetry. She attracted artists and writers, introducing the ideas of chivalry to the court, although some scholars believe the Court of Love did not exist.

Then, in 1173, Eleanor was imprisoned for treason after she was expected to be involved in her son Henrys plan to go against her estranged husband and take over the English throne. She was imprisoned in several locations in England for 16 years.

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On March 8, 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 took off into clear skies on a routine trip from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing and vanished somewhere over the South China Sea about forty minutes after being in the air.

The plane was carrying 227 passengers and a dozen or so crew members, none of whom were ever seen again. The disappearance of MH370 has been deemed the biggest aviation mystery of all time.

Countless theories about what couldve happened to the aircraft and all 239 people onboard have emerged over the years. Heres what we know for sure.

MH370 left Malaysian airspace shortly after one oclock in the morning. The plane was a Boeing 777, the worlds largest twin-engine jet. The last communication that Malaysian air traffic controllers heard from the pilot was when he said goodnight at 1:20.

But somewhere between Malaysia and Vietnam, the plane went electronically dark and disappeared from radar screens. When the plane still hadnt contacted air traffic controllers in Vietnam by 1:30, another pilot attempted to reach out to them. He claimed that when he did, only mumbling and static could be heard.

Authorities scrambled to figure out what had happened to the plane, but as time passed, it became less likely that they would receive any clear answers.

It was not until March 10 that officials came across the first clue regarding the flights disappearance. Military radar was able to pick up the planes trajectory an hour after they lost communication.

The plane had made a U-turn, flying hundreds of miles off course toward India. This meant that the search zone had widened, and efforts to locate the plane became increasingly complicated.

Fortunately, authorities narrowed the field a bit. MH370 had left radar coverage, but its satellite communications system turned back on. It emitted signals that investigators used to trace the planes possible location.

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The beginning of a new school year can bring relief or disappointment, or both. As a mom of three young children, Im looking forward to the return of familiar school-year routinesand Im also dreading the return of early morning tardy bells. My kids feel their own ambivalence: Its exciting to get a new lunchbox, but scary to walk into a new classroom full of people.

Almost all transitions create a subtle (or not so subtle) cocktail of emotions. But transition times are often so busy that we dont attend to our interior lives in the flurry of tasks and deadlines. The result is a kind of survival mode that runs on adrenaline and cultivates numbness. Last August, I Tweeted a summary of my familys first three days of school: Day 1Everything is awesome! Day 2Everything is terrible! Day 3 Where am I?

In the modern West, we value productivity and efficiency. A successful start to the school year looks like securing all the items on every supply list and making it to all the meet-the-teacher events on time and intact. Some of us thrive on these kinds of tasks. Others of us feel defeated and frazzled by them.

But for all of us, the busyness of transitions can mask the slower, deeper work of spiritual formation that new seasons call forth in us and in our relationships. In other words, survival mode can only serve us up to a point. It might help us cope (and get those supply lists taken care of) but it cannot steward our hearts.

As Christians, we have access to a different, more layered mindset to help us navigate the back-to-school rush. Instead of merely focusing on external routines and benchmarks, we can prepare for the intangible work of soul care that the stresses of transition will bring. We can embrace spiritual practices that cultivate grace, both for ourselves and for those in our care.

Managing change usually involves emphasizing the positives. Leaders of people and organizations cast a vision for what can be, and we invite others into an exciting new future. But change also involves loss. A family moving to a new house means saying goodbye to a familiar place. A church calling a new pastor means actualizing the departure of a previous leader. A child starting a new school year means the end of slower summer days.

It's tempting to suppress or minimize the losses that accompany change, especially if those losses dont seem very significant. We dont want to seem ungrateful for the good new things ahead or lose momentum when leading others toward the future. But ignoring grief is counter-intuitive because repressed sadness prevents us from entering freely into joy.

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It might feel safer to distract our children from their sorrow. But when we give them space to name and process their griefeven over small things like the end of summer or the absence of a favorite classmatewe honor their humanity and help them live more integrated lives.

Making room for grief doesnt necessarily need to be complex or serious. Sometimes it looks like simply validating a childs feelings when they express a complaint or lament, rather than immediately attempting to redirect it. Sometimes it looks like offering the same permission to ourselvesto name whats hard without qualification or a positive spin.

Other times, sadness can be drawn out through conversation. My oldest child was three when we moved from Virginia to South Carolina to be closer to my extended family. As we packed up our house, Id ask him, How do you feel about moving to a new home? He usually replied, A little bit happy and a little bit sad. That became an oft-repeated phrase for us over the next few months and gave us a framework for parsing out what felt happy and what felt sad about our big move.

Feelings aside, transitions like starting school (especially new ones) can also cause stress. When people living in close proximity are all stressed, we should expect friction. Fuses will be short. Offenses will happen. This might seem obvious, but its easy to forget in the moment when a child is melting down because he wanted triangle-shaped sandwich halves, not squares (even though he specifically requested squares).

Setting our expectations in advance prepares us to respond with grace toward others in our householdsor our carpool lines or our cubicleswho are processing significant changes in their daily routines.

But even with realistic expectations, we will still fail. So we must be prepared to practice repentance and reconciliation. We must be ready to say Im sorry and I forgive you a lot during stressful life transitions. In some ways, this practice is liberating. It frees us from any expectation to be perfect and evokes gratitude for the God of grace.

When James wrote, Confess your sins to one another that you may be healed (5:16), he was referring primarily to physical healing. But interpersonal healing also takes place when we are freed from the pressure to be flawless. This is particularly important in the era of mommy bloggers and other social media influencers modeling their seemingly perfect family lives.

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When we practice repentance and reconciliation in our homes, we create a culture of grace. This begins with modeling it ourselves. Apologizing to our children in humility demonstrates our shared need for a Savior. We lead the way in illustrating that when we confess our sins, [God] is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

My kids and I pray sorry prayers as part of our bedtime liturgy, and it has been formative for me to do this alongside them. Sometimes when I confess my sin, they want more details: What did you say in a mean voice to Daddy? Other times they are probably not even listening. But this simple practice has helped me to see myself as their equal, a co-heir of the grace God gives to all his children.

Often after an argument and its resolution, someone in my house realizes that they need a snack, or a hug, or a nap. Sometimes if we address those needs on the front end, the argument is avoided altogether. The summer-to-school season comes with times of heightened stress and transition, and attending to basic physical needs is especially important.

My college pastor used to advise us not to make any big decisions when we were tired, hungry, or cold. It became a kind of joke among my friends, but now as a parent, I understand this maxim on a new level. We are material beings: Our emotional, mental, and even physical health is integrally connected to bodily processes like nutrition and sleep. It might seem spiritual to deny or minimize this, but when God made us from the dust of the earth, he called it very good (Gen. 1:31).

Tish Harrison Warren writes,

We are not gnostics. We worship a God who was fully incarnate. He ate lunch, skinned his knees, and felt tired. Yet, its so easy to think that the really spiritual things are cognitive, not bodily. We need to believe the gospel in our brains, read Christian books, pray with words, feel worship in our hearts. But if we are to live lives of discipleship, we must do so first in our bodies.

And so, after a long day at school or work, sometimes the most spiritually mature thing to do is to sit down and eat a snack or go to bed early. This is part of how we care for others and for ourselves. In a world that valorizes overwork and burnout, embracing our limits is a subversive act. And in a world that promotes disembodiment, honoring the physical needs of our children is an act of discipleship.

When we attend to our feelings, our relationships, and our bodieswithout shame or condemnationwe steward the gifts God gave us. We remember what he said of our humanity: It is very good.

Hannah King is an Anglican priest and writer serving at Village Church in Greenville, SC.
Earlier this year, two contrasting news stories arrived within days of each other. In early June, the Christian and Missionary Alliance voted to ordain women and allow them to carry the title of pastor. Less than two weeks later, the Southern Baptist Convention voted to uphold its earlier decision to disfellowship Saddleback Church, the California mega-congregation founded by Rick Warren that defied SBC guidelines by ordaining and platforming female pastors. Two denominations. Two different positions on women in leadership.

Its no secret that evangelicals are deeply divided in their view of womens roles in society. Differing interpretations of the Bibles teaching on a womans status, especially as it relates to marriage and ministry, have sparked sharp disagreements among Christians who want to be faithful to biblical doctrine and denominational tenets while navigating modern expectations.

The debate has even inspired competing theological schools of thought: complementarianism versus egalitarianism. Both perspectives confess the essential equality of men and women as persons created in Gods image. However, complementarians believe the Bible sets clear limits on womens leadership roles, while egalitarians advocate for womens full equality in the church.

In our Christian battles over womens roles in the family, church, and marketplace, can our complementarian and egalitarian perspectives coexist? Can Christians of good faith support each other and serve God together in the midst of this tension?

Join CT on Wednesday, August 23, at 2 p.m. EDT, for a thoughtful online discussion featuring leaders from both sides of the complementarian/egalitarian divide.

The vision for this webinar is to encourage women and men with real examples of how friendship can help us bridge numerous divides, says webinar host Nicole Massie Martin, who joined CT this year as the ministrys chief impact officer.

Martin, an ordained minister, will share the virtual stage with author and CT board member Lauren McAfee for a conversation about their differences (McAfee holds to a complementarian view) and about where they find agreement (theyre both devoted wives, moms, and church volunteers).

There have always been theological differences about how women should serve in the church, adds Martin. But behind the scenes, women from various perspectives have been celebrating and supporting each other, overcoming the traditional divides. As we open up about these friendships, theres a chance we could discover the tools to help us deepen relationships across other divides for our good and Gods glory.

Joining Martin and McAfee is a diverse panel of teachers, preachers, and scholars including Trina Jenkins, Susie Owens, Lilly Park, and CT associate editor Kara Bettis Carvalho. The 75-minute program will include a segment for audience Q&A, as time permits.

To register and access more information about the panelists, click here.
After 22 years in standup comedy, Leanne Morgan is having a breakout year. She completed a 100-city comedy tour, her first Netflix special ranked in the platforms top 10, and she landed a part in her first movie (a forthcoming Amazon release starring Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell), fitting this interview into her Atlanta filming schedule.

But just a few years ago, the 57-year-old mother and grandmother was on the brink of quitting comedy altogether. I told my husband, Should I just bow out and start a mercantile business?

Morgan, with her trademark Tennessee drawl and shock of long blond hair (yesterdays set hair), had come close to several sitcom deals and was on the verge of a 50-city tour in 2020 when the pandemic shut everything down. But she felt called to persevere.

I prayed about it and God never shut the door, she told CT. He knew so much better than I did.

Instead, Morgan began offering porch talks on Facebook during the early months of COVID-19, wearing no makeup and relaying anecdotes about living in close quarters with her husband, running down the garbage man, and making Jell-O salads for her elderly parents.

She signed off each porch talk by saying, Dont worryeverythings going to be alright! Followers found comfort in her relatable pandemic struggles, zingy humor, and funny comedy clips.

Morgans mostly-PG material fits in with clean comedy circles and is featured in Dry Bar Comedy, the popular platform launched by Angel Studios (then VidAngel) in 2017. Andrew Stanley, son of Atlanta megachurch pastor Andy Stanley, often opens for her.

As a Christian, Morgan sees her comedy as a way to share joy and light with a world badly in need of it. Right before I walk on the stage I say, God, somebody needs to laugh today. Please let me be a blessing.

She often shares anecdotes about her family, like this bit about recovering from hernia surgery: God forbid I get sick with something bad, because my husband and children would let me die. I laid up in the bed for three days and nobody checked on me. I finally hobbled over to the top of the stairs and yelled down, Are we going to eat anything?  All I could hear is somebody rummaging through my purse.

Her tales of parenthood and church casserole meal-trains stick out compared to the darker stories in typical standup sets. But when touring in Los Angeles this year, some younger, edgier comedians sharing stories of drugs and addiction heard her show and asked for a hug afterward.

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People say Im like a warm blanket, said Morgan, a mother of three and grandmother of two. She is quick to laugh and touches your arm as she speaks. We [deal with] hard stuff all the time, and people just want to hear something familiar and safe. (Later, she urges this writer to do a beef stroganoff in a Crock-Pot to survive swim team season.)

The Washington Post wrote that Morgan and her opening act Karen Morgan dwell in intimate moments that create a quick rapport with the audience. Their humor tilts toward gentle. Its deeply bless her heart and the many nuanced deployments of that phrase. The person they mock most is themselves, with family a close second.

Morgan grew up in Adams, Tennessee, a 500-person city along the Kentucky state line that centered around church, crops, and family. Church was our community, she said, remembering Sunday-school outings and youth group adventures at Adams United Methodist Church.

But in college at the University of Tennessee, she was not living right and lost herself in the process. Jesus never left me, she said. I left him but he didnt leave me.

After marrying and having children, she was drawn back to faith. I would read them Max Lucados The Crippled Lamb and bawl my eyes out, and my little daughter would say, Mommy, are you okay?

When her husband was transferred to San Antonio, her family began attending Lucados Oak Hills Church, and the people there were on fire, she said. In addition to her spiritual journey in Texas, she honed her comedic skills through open mic nights in Austins bustling comedy clubsone more providential step on her career path that she would only see in retrospect.

Today, Morgans standup is a boon for comedy club owners, who appreciate her ability to attract a unique clientele. Her shows sometimes draw three generations attending together, or 80- and 90-year-olds attending a comedy show for the first time.

Though shes known for mostly clean comedy, she makes jokes about the reality of her difficult earlier years. Its like when Johnny Cash traveled with Billy Graham. He would talk about prison and real life, she said.

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She finds that some struggle to hold standup comedy and Christianity in tension. Some people said, She was a Christian, but now shes a comedian, said Morgan. It hurt my feelings.

But most of her fans, especially women, relate to her perspective and stories around motherhood, marriage, and the challenges of menopause. Her Netflix special, which released in April, is titled Im Every Woman. (It includes some lighthearted stories from the bedroom and is rated TV-14.)

I think its helping women feel seen and heard, she said. Your life is not over at 40, though were told to feel that way. Its never too late.

With that message in mind, Morgan named her new 100-city tour Just Getting Started.

Her online community, with more than three million social media followers, continues to grow, and thousands post to celebrate each career milestone with her. Morgan regularly pops in with recipes and videos with her family, sometimes asking for church recommendations when she travels.

Several months ago, she shared that she would begin filming a movieYoure Cordially Invitedwith Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon, a fellow Tennessee native she had met at a Country Music Awards (CMA) party years ago. Their production team called and asked me to do a table read, said Morgan. And I said, Whats a table read?

Its been an extraordinary chain of events for a small-town girl who dreamed of going to Hollywood as a teenager but has found herself rooted in motherhood and marriage in East Tennessee for the past few decades. She now believes those experiences are what help her connect with her audience.

That was Gods plan for me all along, she said. When I heard about the movie I thought, Is this not a blessing from heaven? In 2024 Morgan will release her first book, What in the World? a collection of funny essays about having children and breaking into comedy.

These opportunities are propelling Morgan into career success she never imagined, but shes finding that her perspective has shifted with age.

There was a time when I thought fame would be fun, said Morgan, who misses her family during long stints of touring. But now other things encourage me. People come up to me and tell me I helped them get through chemo, or the pandemic, or their husbands death. It wasnt about me, but they were able to escape life for a bit.

Shes convinced that comedy is good for the soul.

I think God wants us to laugh and to have a good time. He wants us to be hopeful.
My father traveled from Texas to Minnesota for my seminary graduation. At some pre-ceremony gathering, he was chatting with my adviser about the latters work in biblical hermeneutics. But, he asked, befuddled, dont you just sort of read the Bible and understand it? Doesnt it just mean what it says?

Seven years later, Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley kicked off her campaign with a speech prefaced by televangelist, author, and activist John Hagee. Opening with a prayer, he praised Haley, whos seeking to be commander-in-chief of the United States, as a defender of Israel.

And around the same time, I was working on an article about American evangelicals skepticism of human-caused climate change. The inevitable question I had to address: Do evangelicals think its okay to abuse the earth because were all just waiting around for the Rapture? As Fox News host Sean Hannity said in 2022, If [the world] really [is] gonna end in 12 years, to hell with it all! Lets have one big party for the last 10 years, and then well all go home and see Jesus.

The link between these three vignettes is the subject of Daniel G. Hummels astute new history, The Rise and Fall of Dispensationalism: How the Evangelical Battle over the End Times Shaped a Nation. Dispensationalism is commonly characterized as an eschatology, but as Hummel demonstrates in his two-century survey of its ecclesial, scholarly, political, and cultural development, the end times are just one dimension of the theology of dispensationalism and its wider legacy.

The plain meaning model of biblical interpretation my father invoked, Hagees assumption that support for the state of Israel is a key qualification for the American presidency, and the widespread perception that evangelicals dont care about a planet we expect to burnif anything like that is familiar, Hummel says, then youve seen patterns of thinking that have been deeply shaped by dispensationalism.

Rise and Falls claim is ambitious: Hummel contends that dispensationalism shaped not just American fundamentalism or evangelicalism but the United States as a whole. To this day, he writes, dispensationalism remains one of Americas most resilient and popular religious traditions, one that taught Christians to wait with anticipation for a coming kingdom of God that would wipe away the warring kingdoms of men, but not just yet.

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But it has also moved well outside church wallsso much so that Americans of many backgrounds have an essentially premillennial vision of the future, a secularized expectation of declining social cohesion and rising existential threats that [will] end in era-defining catastrophe. As a formal school of theology, dispensationalism has sharply declined in the last 50 years. But as a cultural and political force, its influence is stronger than ever. In that sense, were all dispensationalists now.

Five pieces

Rise and Fall is detailed but not difficult. Hummel writes in clear prose accessible to lay readers, and his interest in dispensationalism isnt merely academic. Raised in a family whose theology shelves were stocked with dispensationalist authors, he now works for a Christian academic organization at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has published here at CT.

Though not without authorial perspective, then, this is not a polemical work. Nor does it take the tone of the cultured anthropologist braving the fundamentalist hinterlands. Hummel is never contemptuous toward his subjects, but he makes no attempt to salvage ideas from ties to dispensationalism that their adherents might find embarrassing. Rise and Fall is a workmanlike book, and its great contribution, as Scandal of the Evangelical Mind author Mark A. Noll writes in a glowing foreword, is to take a story that everyone knows and show that what everyone knows has barely scratched the surface.

That story begins by delineating the scope of dispensationalism as a theology. In Hummels sketch, it includes five big pieces, with its distinct eschatological timelinerapture, tribulation, antichrist, divine preservation of a remnant of Israel, the Second Coming, Armageddon, the binding of Satan, Christs 1,000-year reign from Jerusalem, a second defeat of Satan, the final judgment, and a blessed eternity with Godonly the flashiest.

What are the other pieces? Dispensationalism takes its name from the piece that has proven least influential in American culture writ large: its theory of time, which divides human history into a series of dispensations that inevitably ended with the failure of humans to fulfill their obligations to God. (In most tellings, there are seven dispensations total, and were at the bottom of the sixth.) Closely linked to that is the systems theory of humanity, which is strictly divided into Gods two peoplesthe church and Israel, their respective heavenly and earthly purposes forever distinctand the nations, who are everyone else.

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Dispensationalism includes, too, a unique biblical hermeneutic. However, this evolved over time, from early investment in symbolical, allegorical, and typological readings of Scripture to an insistence on plain, commonsense, or literal readings of the 20th and 21st centuries that tend to equate nonliteral readings of prophetic passages with a rejection of inerrancy.

And dispensationalism has a distinct theory of salvation, the piece that alone may rival its eschatology in how it dominates popular conceptions of evangelicalism. This free grace model calls to mind praying a one-time sinners prayer or accepting Jesus into your heart at the revivalists feet. As Hummel explains, it lowered the bar of salvation to little more than a onetime mental assent to the proposition that Jesus is Savior, and it overwhelmed broader American understandings of being born again.

With this description in place, Hummel turns to his history proper. He traces the development of dispensationalism from Plymouth Brethren preachers like John Nelson Darby in rural Ireland through institutional churches like Chicagos Moody complex in the Reconstruction Era and the Gilded Age to fundamentalist-liberal controversies of the early-20th century and the mid-century rise of what we now call evangelicalism. (CT has a few cameos, and CT founder Billy Graham makes an extended appearance.)

The latter half of this timeline, from around 1920 onward, will likely be of greatest interest to most readers, or at least to those approaching the book as observers of evangelicalism today. Stocked with many characters still actively shaping the nation, its a devastating account of dispensationalisms commercialization. The popularized dispensationalism most Americans now know was fashioned, Hummel argues, not by theologians but by the theologically uninterested or illiterate, with deleterious effects for the evangelical movement and American society as a whole.

Dispensationalisms political consistency across decades is particularly striking. The very term conservative as a preferred political and theological label, long since part of the furniture, has dispensationalist roots. The concept of the world systeman older generation of dispensationalists term for the interlocking institutions, organizations, and structural powers helmed by elites that ran the worldhas gone a hundred years unchanged. Evangelist Billy Sundays 1918 insistence that no man can be true to his God without being true to his country would slide neatly into many Republican stump speeches in 2024. Pentecostal preacher Aimee Semple McPherson beat the Gods Not Dead franchise to the punch in 1923 with a sermon entitled Trial of the Modern Liberalist College Professor versus the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Even the latest vogue in right-wing conspiracismYoull own nothing. And youll be happy. You will eat the bugs. You will live in the pod.was prefigured by Left Behind author Tim LaHaye in 1983, who charged that the goal of the Illuminati, Bilderbergers, Council on Foreign Relations, and, more recently, the Trilateral Commission was to reduce the standard of living in our country so that someday the citizens of America will voluntarily merge with the Soviet Union. Pop dispensationalism gave cosmic meaning to the mobilization of Christian voters in prior generations, Hummel observes, and does the same today.

Three questions

Hummels concluding chapters bring his account into very recent memory, and they left me with three big questions: one he raised and two I wish hed at least briefly addressed.

First in the latter category is a matter of history. Hummel makes clear that the question of theological precedent has long been a point of contention around dispensationalism generally and the doctrine of the Rapture specifically. From the very beginning, Darby insisted [his innovations] were recoveries rather than novelties, and into the late-20th century, dispensationalists and their critics alike charged the other with lacking premodern precedents  with both sides claiming support in the early fathers.

As Hummel notes, the late Christian reconstructionist Gary North promoted research attempting to discredit the origins of the rapture by tracing them to a mentally unstable teenage girl, Margaret MacDonald, who saw visions in 1830, and from whom John Nelson Darby purportedly stole the idea of an imminent rapture. Hummel labels that origin story a conspiracy theory [that] nonpartial experts found  unlikely, but he doesnt clarify how Darby hit on the idea of the Rapture or to what extent claims of its long theological pedigree have merit.

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Second, Hummel documents how past political upheavals played a role in shifting the dominant American perspective on the end times. For example, the days of postmillennial consensus [among American Christians] ended in the 1860s, he writes, as many evangelicals who experienced the [Civil War] and its aftermath decided that correcting modern social ills [was] too difficult an endeavor and, in any case, a secondary task to evangelization. Conversely, some in the early Religious Right, believing political victory was within reach, rejected an imminent rapture and future kingdom as antithetical to urgent political organizing.

But Hummel doesnt explore whether some comparable shift may be looming as Christian nationalism and other illiberal mindsets gain currency. If you have new hope of establishing explicitly Christian governance, if you believe (as former President Donald Trump said in March) the next presidential election is the final battle for America, if you sincerely expect to take back your country, is there room for the Rapture in your 10-year plan? Sociologist Samuel Perry has speculated on Twitter that we could see an increase in post-millennialism in Christian Right circles as post-mil provides better rationale for Christian nationalist goals than the dominant pre-mil view. Hummels perspective would be a valuable contribution to that discussion. [Authors note: I was able to speak with both Perry and Hummel for a CT column on this subject after writing this review but before its publication.]

Finally, Rise and Fall ends with a challenging observation:

In the wake of [scholastic] dispensationalisms collapse, the eschatological sight of the American church has blurred. Good! skeptical readers might exclaimbetter a vague vision than a false one. And yet the story of dispensationalism does not allow for such an easy judgment. The theological void left by dispensationalismone of only a few sustained attempts to create a fundamentalist theological system in the twentieth centuryhas not remained empty. Evangelicals, and Americans more broadly, have only multiplied doomsday speculation since the collapse of dispensational theology in the 1990s. Its remnants in pop dispensationalism have been thrust into an ocean of raging American apocalypticisms that includes doomsayers of the Anthropocene, Replacement Theory extremists, QAnon trolls, techno pessimists, and neo-Malthusians. For all the problems that theological apocalypticism posed in the twentieth century, it is likely that irreligious apocalypticism in the twenty-first will prove to be even more disruptive.

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As one of those skeptical readers, this is the question Ill have to mull: Are American Christians better off after dispensationalisms fall than before it?

That is, have we moved on to a faithfully, productively vague vision of the end times, or did we plunge into a multiplicity of false visions instead? And do we sincerely look forward to Christs return, however the timeline may run? Whatever their faults, the dispensationalists never failed to say with fervor, Come, Lord Jesus.

Bonnie Kristian is editorial director of ideas and books at Christianity Today. She is the author of Untrustworthy: The Knowledge Crisis Breaking Our Brains, Polluting Our Politics, and Corrupting Christian Community.
'Finish this fight': Activists urge Ohioans to support Issue 1

Prominent activists are urging Ohio voters to support a measure that would require constitutional amendments to pass with support from 60% of eligible voters, warning that parental rights and the safety of minors hang in the balance as voters are also scheduled to weigh in on a ballot measure that would establish a right to abortion in the state.

The advocacy group Catholics for Catholics held a Prayer Rally to Save Ohios Children in Norwood, Ohio, Sunday. The event took place two days before Ohioans are scheduled to go to the polls to vote on the fate of Issue 1, a referendum that would require proposed constitutional amendments to secure 60% support from voters to take effect instead of a simple majority.

The purpose of the rally was to encourage Ohioans to Vote Yes on Issue 1.

As explained by Catholics for Catholics, Issue 1 is part of a fight culminating this November over a ballot measure that would enshrine abortion in the Ohio Constitution and limit parents legal right to consent to what procedures are done to their children.

The group, which exists to hold our elected leaders accountable to the Constitution and, in a special way, to those politicians who refer to themselves as Catholic, maintains that Voting YES will protect Ohios Constitution and save children from abortion up to birth and genital mutilation without parental consent.

A yes vote on Issue 1 would require constitutional amendments that appear on the ballot to receive the support of 60% of voters.

A separate abortion-related ballot measure slated to go before voters in November would amend the Ohio Constitution and states: Every individual has a right to make and carry out ones reproductive decisions, including but not limited to decisions on contraception, fertility treatment, continuing ones own pregnancy, miscarriage care, and abortion.

Additionally, the amendment would declare that the State shall not, directly or indirectly, burden, penalize, prohibit, interfere with, or discriminate against either an individuals voluntary exercise of this right or a person or entity that assists an individual exercising this right, unless the State demonstrates that it is using the least restrictive means to advance the individuals health in accordance with widely accepted and evidence-based standards of care.

While the text of the measure stresses that the state may prohibit abortion after fetal viability, it states that in no case may such an abortion be prohibited if in the professional judgment of the pregnant patients treating physician it is necessary to protect the patients life or health.

The event featured several notable speakers, including pro-life activist and edifi podcast host Abby Johnson and detransitioner Chloe Cole, who is suing the medical providers who prescribed her testosterone and performed an irreversible double mastectomy on her as a minor.

Johnson warned that whats happening in many states could come to Ohio if Issue 1 fails to pass and the abortion referendum in November is able to skim by a small margin.

Specifically, she talked about how, in other states, school officials will take young pregnant girls to abortion clinics during the school day without parental consent. Their parents have no idea the girls pregnant, she explained.

In a separate issue concerning consent, Cole added that several states have passed measures banning sex-change procedures for minors in state legislative sessions before warning that the failure to pass Issue 1 might result in the erosion of the victories that we have achieved. She called on attendees to let this state be an example for Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and the rest of the country that is so grappled by the pseudo-science behind the push to provide children with irreversible gender transitions.

Children are relying on us, as parents, older brothers and sisters, educators, doctors, as adults to guide them towards a healthy adulthood filled with opportunity, she added. I hear a lot of talk in this state about Issue 1 and reproductive freedom but that seems to end when we start talking about the fact that children are having their right to reproduce taken away from them with sterilizing drugs that are used to convert healthy girls and boys into just a mimicry of the opposite sex. Where are their reproductive rights?

Cole lamented that mine (reproductive rights) were lost when I was 13. She insisted that you and I are the only thing standing in between this attack on children, adding, You have a duty to finish this fight with me by supporting Issue 1.

Two public opinion polls conducted ahead of Tuesdays referendum have yielded conflicting results.

A poll of 500 likely voters conducted by USA Today and Suffolk University from July 9-12 showed that 57% of Ohioans opposed Issue 1, while 26% supported it. On the other hand, a poll of 675 likely voters conducted by Ohio Northern University from July 17-26 shows that 42% of Ohioans would vote in favor of Issue 1, while 41% would oppose it.

The USA Today/Suffolk poll measured support for the November ballot initiative at 59%, with 35% opposing it. When the Baldwin Wallace University Community Research Institute asked 586 registered Ohio voters between Sept. 30 and Oct. 3, 2022, if they would support a ballot measure to establish a right to abortion, 59.1% answered in the affirmative, while 26.7% indicated that they would oppose it. In both polls, support for establishing a right to abortion fell short of the 60% threshold it would need to pass if Issue 1 is approved.

Following the United States Supreme Courts June 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision determining that the U.S. Constitution did not contain a right to abortion, several states have taken action to enshrine a right to abortion into their state constitutions. Voters in the overwhelmingly Democratic states of California and Vermont approved constitutional amendments establishing a right to abortion by margins of nearly 34 and 54 percentage points, respectively.

Nearly 57% of voters in Michigan, a swing state where Democrats performed especially well in last years midterm elections, approved the establishment of a constitutional right to abortion, while 43.3% opposed it.

If passed, the ballot measure that will appear before voters in November would abolish pro-life protections for the unborn in Ohio. The state has passed a law banning abortion after six weeks gestation, which is on hold as it finds itself subject to litigation.
Pastor Jamal Bryant gets new flak for old message claiming Jesus was wrong 85% of His life

Leader of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Stonecrest, Georgia, Jamal Bryant, is getting some new flak for an old message in which he claims Jesus was wrong for 85% of His life despite being called, anointed, and chosen.

Jesus accepted His call to ministry at 30. He had been in carpentry since he was 13. He ran the family business since he was 17. At the risk of being heretical tonight, might I suggest to you, that 85% of Jesus's life, He was out of order, Bryant told congregants at The Chosen Vessel Cathedral in Fort Worth, Texas, at the installation service of Bishop Marvin Sapp as the churchs senior pastor on Nov. 17, 2019, according to a recording of the sermon posted on YouTube.

Eighty-five percent of His life He was doing what He was not called to do, Bryant declared.

God, y'all done got quiet. For 85 percent of his life, he was not flowing in his God-given function. Eighty-five percent of His life, He is doing what His natural father wanted. But it did not line up with His defined DNA. Eighty-five percent of His life He's anointed. He's called. He's chosen. And He's wrong, Bryant added.

He went on to prophesy to a few people in the congregation who would receive it that God was getting ready to give them, what eyes have not seen, what ears have not heard over the next three years.

I'm just supposed to give the homily tonight. But I just came to prophesy to 50 of y'all in here. I hope you ready for what's gonna happen in the next three years. God, I can't hear nobody. He's gonna give you what eyes have not seen, what ears have not heard, he said. I don't want you to shout for what happened in the past. But would you shout tonight for what God would do in 2020, 2021 in 2022? You've got to shout for the next three years.

By December 2019, however, COVID-19 was discovered in China. By March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization would declare the disease a global pandemic. The pandemic ended on May 5 after causing the deaths of nearly 7 million people to date.

Bryants 2019 message got some renewed attention from a Christian Tik Toker in June which generated hundreds of comments, most of which disagreed with the megachurch pastors position.

As a pastor for over 20 years, if He was wrong for 85% of his life, [t]hen salvation is voidbecause one who knew no sin became sin for the world, wrote Eric White5523.

Christian podcaster Nick Jones also called Bryants message full-on heretical in a recent video on YouTube.

Look, this sermon was from three years ago. Thats just an insane statement for so many reasons because if Jesus was wrong for 85% of his life and if Jesus was as Jamal Bryant is implying  was disobedient to God the father for 85% of his life, and was instead solely obedient to his earthly father, that would have major implications, Jones said.

So much so that all of us who believe in the blood of Jesus to be the perfect atonement for our sins, all of us are going to Hell, he argued. If Jesus wrong for 85% of His life, if He was not following the instruction from God the Father for the majority of His life, wouldnt that be some act of sin? Wouldnt that disqualify him from being the perfect sacrifice to atone for our sins?

Others reacting to Bryants message on TikTok, like Tajanel Chinyere, said if Bryant tried preaching that message at her church, her pastor would have taken his microphone away.

Ive seen my bishop take many guest speakers and pastors' mics with no hesitation, she said. This was the perfect time for him to be sat down!
Meet the Texas pastor running for president: 'God really spoke to my heart'

Texas pastor Ryan Binkley isn't only on a mission for God. The preacher and businessman has also decided to run for president, with his faith distinguishing him as a unique candidate.

The Christian Post's Ryan Foley sat down with "The Inside Story" to explain Binkley's motivation, God-given passion, and why he's running amid a crowded Republican field.

Among other things, the preacher is concerned about America's financial situation.

"Our country is really falling behind. You may know that Chinas loaning money to countries everywhere from Latin America to Europe [and] Africa, and were borrowing money," he told Foley. "So we have to make some significant changes in our country financially."

Foley joins The Inside Story to break it all down:

The Inside Story takes you behind the headlines of the biggest faith, culture, and political headlines of the week. In 15 minutes or less, Christian Post staff writers and editors will help you navigate and understand whats driving each story, the issues at play  and why it all matters.

Listen to more Christian podcasts today on the Edifi app  and be sure to subscribe to The Inside Story on your favorite platforms:
Michael Youssef warns biblical illiteracy is setting the stage for world's deception by the Antichrist (pt. 1)

Read part 2 of Pastor Micahel Youssef's interview with The Christian Post here

Prominent pastor and author Michael Youssef has warned that many churches today are failing to teach the whole Gospel or equip Christians with biblical knowledge, setting the stage for the world to be deceived by the Antichrist.

In an interview with The Christian Post, the 74-year-old pastor of the Church of the Apostles in Atlanta, Georgia, homed in on the increasing biblical illiteracy prevalent among professing Christians, something he sees as the great problem with the Church in America.

Biblical illiteracy is rampant, and people are going to fall for deception, for false teachings, for anything, because they're not grounded in the Word of God, he said.

The pastor highlighted some of the popular heresies he sees in both Evangelical and mainline churches today. In an effort to be seeker friendly, for example, many churches advocate distancing from the Old Testament or suggest that some of its teachings, such as views on homosexuality, are outdated.

This is what is preached from major pulpits: homosexuality was wrong in the Old Testament because it was associated with pagan worship, but not in the New Testament, he said.

That is not true, because the Bible says, He made them man and woman, and He made them to fit in every way and then made them to marry for life, and so forth. They throw the whole creation event out of the window. Or, they say, The God of the Old Testament is a God of vengeance, but the God of the New Testament  which is the old first-century heresy  is the God of love. That is absolutely false.

Yet, many young preachers are now saying, Lets get unhitched from the Old Testament. But the Old Testament is the very foundation upon which the New Testament builds. The Old Testament says Jesus is coming; the New Testament says He's here. The two are one; we cannot separate them.

These shifts in teachings, Youssef warned, are setting the stage for the world to be deceived by the Antichrist due to a lack of discernment.

The world is really being prepared for the Antichrist, he said. But when the Antichrist comes and deceives the world, we have no discernment because we do not know the words of Jesus.

He referenced Jesus teachings in Matthew 24 and 25 to identify signs of the End Times and the Antichrist. He described the Antichrist as a man of peace; a smart, slick politician who's going to make everybody feel good about him.

And then halfway through the seven years, of course, he's going to turn and begin to persecute believers, Youssef said.

Some signs of the End Times, like wars, earthquakes and apostasy, have "always been around, he added. But as the End Times draw near, these "labor pains" will intensify and occur more frequently.

Our Lord made it very clear that His disciples need to understand that, he said. For us, we're seeing these things are happening so fast as this baby is about to arrive. While some people panic and worry and dont know what to do, we say, Glory to God. Lift up your head, because the day of your redemption is drawing nigh. We know that the baby is getting close to being born now because that is the image that the Lord Jesus Himself gave us.

In light of this reality, the pastor, who is gearing up for the release of his next book,How to Read the Bible (as If Your Life Depends on It), emphasized the importance of Christians being in community. Churches, like his own in Atlanta, are focusing on building tight-knit groups that can withstand external pressures.

It's very, very important for the Church to be mobilized because it has to be in community, he said.

Families, too, play a vital role in establishing biblical literacy and preparing for the End Times. Youssef underscored the necessity for spouses to be united in their beliefs and teachings and for parents to educate their children about potential challenges they might face.

The husband and wife must be united, and if they're not, they need to fast and pray until they come to unity about how to teach their children, he said. The family must be united; the Church must be united. We cannot stand alone. We have to stand together in a community of faith, the family in the home, and then the gatherings of multiple families, which is the Church.

I want people to come to Christ, absolutely, but come to the right, real Christ, the Christ of the Bible, he said. And then, once you come to Him, feed on the Word of God, because that is our nourishment. Spend time daily in the Word of God, because biblical illiteracy is the greatest problem in the Church in America. That is really my biggest burden for us.

Youssef is among a growing number of Evangelical pastors sounding the alarm over the lack of biblical knowledge among believers and the devastating ramifications for the Church.

According to the State of the Bible 2022 report released by the Barna Group and the American Bible Society, only 39% of Americans say they read the Bible multiple times per year or more. Currently, only 10% of Americans report daily Bible reading, a 4% decrease since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Biblical scholar and pastor Voddie Baucham recently told CP that because many churches today lack a Gospel-centered foundation, they are ill-prepared for the challenges of the post-Christian era.

In this post-Christian era, where we're all being sort of painted with the same brush, people who have not relied on the Gospel to build solid foundations are seeing their sheep scattered. They're really not legitimate sheep in the first place, and they also don't really know how to respond, because the response in many instances has been, No, no, no, no, we're not like them. And them, of course, are conservative, Bible-believing Evangelicals, those people who have always been vilified by the culture at large.

But thats not working anymore, he said, because its not enough to just not hold firmly to the truths of the Gospel and to not hold firmly to those things that the culture finds offensive. Any identification now with Christianity, which is seen as the sort of ultimate hegemonic boogeyman in modern, Neo Marxist culture, is offensive. So, a lot of people are caught off guard because of compromises that they made a long time ago that looked like they were paying off.

Baucham stressed the need for churches to stand firm on biblical truths without compromise, even in the face of cultural pressure and vilification.

We need to prepare ourselves for the opposition, not only the opposition coming, but for the opposition that's already here, he said. We need to know what we believe and why we believe it. We need to be prepared to give an answer to those who ask us for the reason for the hope that is in us. We need to be prepared to speak to this post-Christian culture. Finally, we need to be prepared to accept the consequences of doing so, which are unpleasant."
Tennessee church votes to leave SBC over female pastor ban

A congregation in Tennessee has voted to leave the Southern Baptist Convention due to disagreements over theological issues, specifically the SBCs reaffirmation of its ban on women serving as pastors.

Monte Vista Baptist Church of Maryville, which has a regular weekly in-person attendance of about 150 churchgoers, voted last week to end its affiliation with the SBC and the Tennessee Baptist Convention.

The congregation had been affiliated with the SBC for nearly 70 years, while also holding an official partnership with the more progressive Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) since the 1990s.

Monte Vista Senior Pastor Jerry Mantooth told The Christian Post in an interview Tuesday that the decision to leave involved a unanimous voice vote from more than 120 members.

Mantooth explained that over the years, we have felt like that the SBC has gotten more narrow in its interpretation of Scripture, citing a vote at the SBC's Annual Meeting earlier this year to amend the SBC constitution to bar women from serving as a "pastor of any kind" in churches.

The proposed amendment passed in June with about 80% of the messenger vote but must be passed at next years SBC Annual Meeting to be permanently added to the Conventions bylaws.

This is a main value for us: equality in ministry, said Mantooth. We have ordained women for a number of years, and that is just a part of our DNA. And we felt like they were making a move to push us out.

So, we just made the decision. Lets just go ahead and make the decision ourselves.

Mantooth told CP that they had question-and-answer times with the church prior to the decision so that we could discuss it, noting that we have written letters explaining this to the Southern Baptist Convention and the Tennessee Baptist Convention.

Monte Vista intends to continue its affiliation with the CBF, with Mantooth explaining that we felt like they were more in-line with the historic Baptist principles that have guided us over the years.

CP reached out to the Tennessee Baptist Convention, with a spokesperson saying they had not yet received any official notice from the congregation about their disaffiliation vote.

Nevertheless, the TBC spokesperson explained that because Monte Vista is an autonomous local church, it is free to associate with whomever it wishes and to pull away from the [TBC and] SBC.

In June, messengers at the SBC's Annual Meeting upheld the removal of the California-based Saddleback Church due to the megachurchs allowing a woman to serve in the office of teaching pastor.

According to the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message, which the SBC subscribes to, while both men and women are called to spread the Gospel, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.
Justice must be impartial: Biden vs. Trump treatment

The mismatched treatment President Biden and former President Trump continue to receive from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) highlights a department that has lost its sense of justice. That should come as no surprise because the DOJ has also lost its fear of God. Not only is God the source of justice, but the American legal tradition imported many of its legal principles from the Bible.

One could reverse-engineer much of American courtrooms just using the first five books of the Bible. An incomplete list of similarities include: higher courts to tackle more difficult questions (Deuteronomy 1:17), a prohibition against bribery (Deuteronomy 16:19), impartial treatment across classes (Leviticus 19:15), equal legal treatment of non-citizens (Leviticus 24:22), and capital crimes (Genesis 9:6). Scripture even contains seed concepts for trial by jury, a multiplicity of witnesses, and due process rights of the accused (see Numbers 35).

Having thrown out the Bibles authority, U.S. officials now evince little regard for the principles derived from it.

Consider the prohibition against partiality, You shall not be partial in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not be intimidated by anyone, for the judgment is Gods (Deuteronomy 1:17). Here, the reason for impartiality is that the judges should not fear powerful people because they should fear God, who is more powerful. If someone doesnt fear God, the rationale for impartiality vanishes.

The prohibition is also connected to the second greatest commandment, You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18), when the Lord tells Moses just before, You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor (Leviticus 19:15). But the second greatest commandment flows naturally out of the first, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (Matthew 22:37). If someone doesnt love God, they lose their best incentive to love their neighbor, as well as to tangibly apply that love by showing impartial justice.

Jesus pulled out these principles when He characterized an unrighteous judge as one who neither feared God nor respected man (Luke 18:2). Without this fear of God and love of neighbor, justice grows scarce.

Next, consider the prohibition against bribery, You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous (Deuteronomy 16:19). This prohibition builds upon a foundation of impartiality. The reason given here presumes a wise  that is, God-fearing (Proverbs 1:7)  judge, and a concern to vindicate the just cause of the righteous. Essentially, even if the judge is not naturally inclined to partiality, a bribe reintroduces an incentive for partiality; therefore, bribery must also be prohibited.

This reasoning applies to more situations than a crude exchange of money for a favorable judgment. It applies to any situation where the actual or potential prospect of material gain improperly influences an official in his application of justice. This is important because America doesnt see much straightforward bribery anymore; its often much more subtle. So, a person who agrees to pay an extraordinary sum  more than he normally would  for, say, a real estate parcel or a painting, in exchange for a political favor is bribing the official. Even cleverer, the money could be transferred to a close relative or shell company to further disguise the corrupt element of the deal. The principle applies anytime an officials interest in carrying out justice is distorted by other considerations. If that officials boss tells him to do something unjust or hell be fired, that is still a distortion of justice that violates this principle (even if, technically, it evades the prohibition codified in law).

The reason behind both prohibitions is found in Gods own just character. For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe (Deuteronomy 10:17). In other words, this is what justice looks like because this is what God the Judge is like. Again, this reason for impartial justice is lost upon those who dont fear God.

An important distinction is that ancient Israels governmental structure differed from modern America. Ancient Israel had no legislature, as God had already given them a law. Nor were there executive officials, except when God called one for a specific purpose. Thus, ancient Israels government consisted primarily of judges  appointed by the people (Deuteronomy 16:18), raised up by God (Judges 2:16), or anointed as priest (Deuteronomy 19:17) or king (2 Samuel 8:15)  resolving disputes between private parties. In addition to judges, America has law enforcement officers and public prosecutors who are also charged with ensuring the law is justly enforced. So, while America is not under the Mosaic law, its basic principles of justice apply even more broadly in the American system.

The question is, what should the righteous do when justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away, when truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter (Isaiah 59:14)? We should pray. That is, we should appeal from human injustice to the divine Judge.

What should we pray for? Scripture authorizes at least three pleas (seek earnestly, and you may find others) to offer up as we lament the prevalence of injustice. First, we should pray that justice officials would be saved, or at least that they would not molest Christians. Paul exhorts Timothy to pray for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:2-4).

Relatedly, we should pray that God would make justice officials just in their dealings. Justice comes from God, after all, and they cannot be just without him. Solomon even offers up this prayer for himself, Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son! May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice! (Psalm 72:1-2).

Finally, we should pray that God would take justice into His own hands. Three psalms offer this prayer, Arise, O God, judge the earth (Psalm 82:8, see also Psalm 9:19, 94:2). On at least seven other occasions, characters appeal from human injustice  real or perceived  to the justice of God (Genesis 16:5, Genesis 31:53, Exodus 5:21, 1 Samuel 24:12,15, 2 Chronicles 6:23, Psalm 119:84, Lamentations 3:59).



Let Jesus be our model: When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, He did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly (1 Peter 2:23).

God will finally judge everyone, and his justice is impartial.

Originally published at The Washington Stand.
Revelation 15: The inexorable culmination of divine retribution approaches

Throughout various wars and conflicts, military figures have indicated that victory or a resolution is close at hand. When working on finding a solution to some long-standing problem, scientists and researchers have announced that they are near making some groundbreaking discoveries. When progress is being made toward achieving a specific social or political objective, activists will state that the end is in sight.

In Revelation chapter 15, the shortest chapter in the book, the apostle John declares that he sees the finish line. Seven angels are mentioned here as part of a series of coming events known as the seven bowls of wrath, or the seven last plagues. These plagues represent the final stage of Gods judgment to be poured out upon an unbelieving and disobedient world. The previous chapters of the book of Revelation have described a variety of catastrophic events, but the seven last plagues are presented as the culmination of Gods mighty hand of anger and fury. (These plagues will be taken up in chapter 16.)

Its hard for most people to comprehend God as angry. It is true that God is loving, just, and extends His offer of grace, mercy, forgiveness and salvation, but in numerous places in the Bible, God is depicted as incensed and outraged at humanitys rebellion against His rightful and benevolent sovereignty.

During the time of Noah, when evil prevailed, the fire of Gods anger became so hot that he cleansed the entire earth with a universal deluge. No one was spared except Noah, his family, and the creatures that were safe on the ark (Genesis 6). When the Hebrews defied God by making and worshiping a golden calf, God became so indignant with their actions that he told Moses he wanted to destroy them and start a new nation through him. But Moses pleaded with God not to destroy them, and God relented. Nevertheless, God was still so irate he punished the people by sending a plague among them (Deuteronomy 9:7-8).

The apostle Paul wrote that the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth (Romans 1:18).

Yes, God does become angry at willful belligerence. His anger builds with every dismissal of, every scoffing at, every persistent expression of incredulity with, and every insurrection of, his authority. It cannot and will not stand. As the Scriptures say, God will by no means clear the guilty (Exodus 34:6-7). He will not wink at, sweep under the rug, or write off sinful unrepentance.

Jonathan Edwards, the eminent 18th-century American revivalist, described Gods anger in this way:

The wrath of God is like great waters that are damned for the present; they increase more and more, and rise higher and higher, till an outlet is given, and the longer the stream is stopped, the more rapid and mighty is its course when once it is let loose. It is true that judgment against your evil works has not been executed hitherto; the floods of Gods vengeance have been withheld, but your guilt in the meantime is constantly increasing, and you are every day treasuring up more wrath The wrath of God burns against them; their damnation does not slumber; the pit is prepared; the fire is made ready; the furnace is now hot; ready to receive them; the flames do now rage and glow.

This is something of what John sees as seven angels are witnessed holding the last seven plagues. The full and final fury of Gods exasperation with humankind is about to spill over. Here is what the Bible says:

Then I saw in Heaven another marvelous event of great significance. Seven angels were holding the seven last plagues, which would bring Gods wrath to completion. I saw before me what seemed to be a glass sea mixed with fire. And on it stood all the people who had been victorious over the beast and his statue and the number representing his name. They were all holding harps that God had given them. And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: Great and marvelous are your works,

O Lord God, the Almighty.

Just and true are your ways,

O King of the nations.

Who will not fear you, Lord,

and glorify your name?

For you alone are holy.

All nations will come and worship before you,

for your righteous deeds have been revealed (Revelation 15:1-4).

Besides the seven angels with the seven last plagues, representing the imminent destruction of the roguish rebels on earth, John said he also set his eyes on a scene of serenity in Heaven.

He saw a glass sea mixed with fire. This must be the same sea of glass seen before the Throne of God in chapter 4. Its surface then was crystal clear and calm, but now its surface is mingled with fire, most likely a symbol of the fiery trials of the Tribulation Saints whom John said he saw standing by the glassy sea.

These people standing by the glassy sea with fire are those who experienced tremendous suffering and martyrdom under the tyrannical reign of that unholy trinity known as the Dragon, the Beast, and the False Prophet.

In his commentary, Exploring Revelation, John Phillips wrote about these folks who courageously faced off with the Beast. He describes something of what would have likely been their response to the Antichrists threats of menace and carnage:

Ill make you suffer! screams the Beast. Youll make us Saints! reply the overcomers. Ill persecute you to the grave, roars the Beast, Youll promote us to glory! reply the overcomers. Ill blast you! snarls the Beast. Youll bless us! reply the overcomers. The Beasts rage against these noble martyrs will all be in vain. He will utterly fail at last.

Observed in Heaven, having overcome every intense challenge with their faith intact and their allegiance to Christ unbroken, the Tribulation Saints play harps and sing in praise to God the Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb.

It seems most probable that the Song of Moses refers to the song that the children of Israel sang on the shore of the Red Sea, just after the sea miraculously parted, and they successfully escaped Pharaoh and his army. This song was seen as a celebration of their freedom and an expression of thanksgiving to God for their deliverance (Exodus 15:1-22).

The Song of the Lamb would, no doubt, be about their freedom and redemption by the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. These people in heaven sing both the Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb.

Henry Morris, in his commentary, The Revelation Record, says:

There is surely no conflict, as some have taught, between the dispensations of Moses and the Lamb. The written law was given by Moses, and grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17); both are integral components of Gods will for man.

This is so true. These believers who have come out of the Tribulation and sing the Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb, highlight the continuity between the Old Testament and the New Testament. The song they sang is a praise and an acknowledgment of Gods greatness, his marvelous works, his justice, and his righteousness. Both Jew and Gentile alike are saved in the same manner, by the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 12:11).

The Bicentennial Celebration in 1976, was an extraordinary event in American history where numerous heroes gathered together to celebrate their country. This occasion marked the 200th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence.

The Bicentennial commemoration brought together prominent figures such as military personnel, astronauts, cultural exemplars, and political leaders. It aimed to promote patriotism and commemorate the nations history and phenomenal achievements. Various festivities were organized throughout the country, but one of the most significant gatherings took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776.

On July 4th, 1976, a grand ceremony titled The United States of Americas Bicentennial Birthday Party was held in The City of Brotherly Love. It included the reenactment of the signing of the Declaration, a vast parade showcasing Americas diverse history, and a spectacular fireworks display. The celebration attracted approximately 20 million visitors, including many national heroes and icons who participated and expressed their patriotic fervor.

During the merriments, numerous songs that praised America, such as America the Beautiful, The Star-Spangled Banner, and Yankee Doodle Dandy, were sung to honor the nation. After having faced so many trials and tribulations together in wars and other crises, the Bicentennial served as a unique and triumphant moment for Americans. It proved to be a time for patriotic solidarity and a heartfelt tribute to our countrys founding ideals, and a season to praise the accomplishments of its notable figures in history.

Nevertheless, one may be certain that even a celebration as majestic as Americas Bicentennial in 1976, only pales in comparison to what John said he saw when the heroes of the Tribulation period gathered together on the banks of the glassy sea, and most, if not all of them, having been martyred, celebrate with exuberance their deliverance and freedom, and sing praises not about their own achievements, but to their glorious and Almighty God.

What an incredible scene!

Last, verses 5 through 8 say the apostle saw something else remarkably incredible. The verses read:

Then I looked and saw that the Temple in heaven, Gods Tabernacle, was thrown wide open. The seven angels who were holding the seven plagues came out of the Temple. They were clothed in spotless white linen with gold sashes across their chests. Then one of the four living beings handed each of the seven angels a gold bowl filled with the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. The Temple was filled with smoke from Gods glory and power. No one could enter the Temple until the seven angels had completed pouring out the seven plagues (Revelation 15:5-8).

This is the third time the heavenly temple is mentioned in the book of Revelation. There are glimpses of it in chapters 4 and 8, and now chapter 15. Seven angels emerge from the temple dressed in pure white linen, their chests wrapped with golden sashes and holding golden bowls. The fact that they come from the temple is indicative that they have orders direct from God.

One of the four amazing living creatures, which were first seen in chapter 4 near the throne of God, passed to each of the seven angels a bowl, though we dont know which one, whether the one with the face like a lion; the one who resembles an ox; the third who has a human face; or the fourth who is like an eagle in flight. These same creatures were also seen in Revelation chapter six active in signaling the seal judgments.

As the seven angels receive the bowls, smoke fills the temple. It is worth noting that when Moses completed the Tabernacle and Solomon finished constructing the temple, a cloud, also referenced as Shekinah Glory, was manifest, but smoke was not mentioned (Exodus 40:34-36). The cloud represents Gods leadership and presence among his people. Its understood as a sign of divine approval and a reminder of Gods covenant and faithfulness to his people.

Smoke, however, is associated with Gods judgment.

For instance, the Bible mentions the smoke of Gods judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah, where the people were extremely far from God and his ways. Genesis 19:24, 25, 27-28 states:

Then the LORD rained down fire and burning sulfur from the sky on Sodom and Gomorrah. He utterly destroyed them, along with the other cities and villages of the plain, wiping out all the people and every bit of vegetation  Abraham got up early that morning and hurried out to the place where he had stood in the LORDs presence. He looked out across the plain toward Sodom and Gomorrah and watched as columns of smoke rose from the cities like smoke from a furnace.

Only one chapter before this chapter in Revelation, smoke was connected with the final judgment. Revelation 14:11 said the wicked and those who worshipped the Beast will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever.

I have always thought that what happened to our great nation on September 11, 2001, constituted a judgment from God. Americans can rightly be described as overly materialistic people, placing a greater emphasis on the pursuit of wealth than spiritual or moral values. We are a consumer-driven nation where the accumulation of money and goods are seen as a primary measure of success. Consequently, although our money says that it is In God We Trust, we demonstrate that its affluence and prosperity that we actually depend on. Over the years, we have placed excessive importance on the so-called Almighty dollar.

Is it simply coincidental that on 9-11, the Twin Towers, also known as the World Trade Center  located in Manhattan, New York City  two buildings largely believed to be impregnable  two behemoth structures soaring upward  symbols to the whole world of our opulence and riches  like dual idols of commerce  suddenly were demolished with thousands of lives lost because a handful of men with box cutters overpowered two planes and made missiles of them?

The smoke from the devastation of the World Trade Center Towers that dreadful day reached extremely high altitudes. The impact of the airliners caused smoke and debris to rise thousands of feet into the air. According to reports, the smoke from the collapse of the towers reached heights of over 30,000 feet, as if it was drifting toward heaven. Was what happened on that frightful day Gods judgment for our turning away from Him and our preoccupation with the worship of things?

It is disheartening the way so many cannot discern the signs of the times. They are unable to see Gods providential hand in our circumstances. Truly, they are never so blind as they who will not see.

When the celestial temple is filled with smoke so that no one can enter the temple, it means Gods judgment has been decided. It is absolute and unamendable. No one can change it, and no one can go into the temple to persuade him not to do it.

Gods immutable hand of judgment is poised to strike. His angels are prepared to pour out the remaining vials of it with unwavering resolve.

Consider then these closing remarks taken from M.R. DeHaans book, Revelation:

Here, then, we have a description of two groups: the unbelievers who meet the wrath of God and eternal judgment and the saints before his throne who acknowledge his justice and truth forever. To which company do you belong? You are either a saint or a sinner. You are either saved or lost. You are either on the way to heaven or on the way to eternal perdition. You may still settle the question. Settle it now.

You must decide. Not deciding for Christ is the same as deciding against him.
ADF slams Biden admin. for 'hijacking' Pregnant Workers Fairness Act with 'abortion mandate'

A religious liberty law firm is condemning proposed federal regulations that would require employers to cover their employees abortions, contending that the mandate could force employers to violate their deeply held religious beliefs about abortion.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced Monday that it has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, outlining regulations to implement the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. Passed into law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, a massive omnibus bill passed at the end of last year, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act requires employers with 15 or more workers to accommodate the pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition of a qualified employee.

The law, as approved by Congress, authorized the EEOC to issue regulations that provide examples of reasonable accommodations addressing known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions within a year of its enactment. The legislation took effect on June 27. The EEOC has compiled the regulations, which are scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on Friday. From there, the public will have 60 days to comment on them.

The unpublished version of the proposed regulations states that the list in the proposed regulation for the definition of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions includes current pregnancy, past pregnancy, potential pregnancy, lactation (including breastfeeding and pumping), use of birth control, menstruation, infertility and fertility treatments, endometriosis, stillbirth, or having or choosing not to have an abortion, among other conditions.

According to the section of the regulations containing definitions, Related medical conditions are medical conditions which relate to, are affected by, or arise out of pregnancy or childbirth, as applied to the specific employee or applicant in question, including, but not limited to, termination of pregnancy, including via miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion.

The proposed regulations, specifically their provisions related to abortion, did not sit well with Julie Marie Blake, senior counsel at the religious freedom legal nonprofit Alliance Defending Freedom. Congress sought to help pregnant workers, not force employers to facilitate abortions, she said in a statement.

The Biden administration is attacking a bipartisan law that doesnt even mention abortion to forcibly require every employer in America to provide reasonable accommodations for their workers elective abortions, Blake added. The administrations unlawful proposal violates state laws protecting the unborn and employers pro-life and religious beliefs. The administration doesnt have the legal authority to smuggle an abortion mandate into a transformational pro-life, pro-woman law.

Characterizing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act as a step forward for workers, families, and the economy that promotes the economic security and health of pregnant and postpartum workers by providing them with access to support on the job to keep working, EEOC Chair Charlotte Burrows praised her agencys bipartisan proposed regulation for furthering the agencys leadership role in fulfilling the promise of the PWFAs protection.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, which contains the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, spans over 1,500 pages and contains multiple pieces of legislation. The U.S. Senate approved it in a 68-29 vote, with all Democrats and 18 Republicans voting in favor of the measure and 29 Republicans voting against it. In the U.S. House of Representatives, the bill passed in a 225-201 vote, with all but one Democrat supporting it and all but nine Republicans voting in opposition.
California company must face sex-trafficking allegations, court rules

A federal appeals court has sided with an alleged sex abuse victim and her mother by reviving a lawsuit accusing a California-based company of aiding one of its clients in a sex trafficking scheme.

The Seventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided Thursday that the cloud-based software company Salesforce should have known that one of its clients, Backpage.com, was involved in the trafficking of children. The plaintiffs at the center of the case are the purported victim, G.G., and her mother, Deanna Rose, while Salesforce is identified as the defendant.

Writing for the majority opinion, Judge David Hamilton said G.G. ran away from home in 2016 at age 13, and allegedly fell into the hands of sex traffickers. The traffickers reportedly used the girl in advertisements for escorts on the now-defunct Backpage.com, an advertisement that G.G.s mother eventually found.

According to the suit, Backpage did not remove the advertisements after referring G.Gs mom to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Hamilton cited Salesforces business relationship with Backpage, which consisted of providing the business with advice and custom-tailored software. The judge found that the software company knowingly benefited from Backpages sex-trafficking venture, arguing that Salesforce had to have known or should have at least been aware of it.

In the opinion, Hamilton rejected several of the defendants claims, including the argument that a participant must have knowledge of a specific sex-trafficking victim. The judge also dismissed the claim that participation in a venture requires direct participation in a common undertaking or enterprise involving risk and potential profit.

Salesforce did not respond to The Christian Posts request for comment.

All of these defense theories seek to impose restrictions on the civil remedy that are not consistent with the statute as we understand its language, the judge wrote. We also find that Salesforce is not entitled to dismissal under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

The act cited by the judge protects online platforms from civil liability based on third-party content. In May 2022, U.S. District Judge Andrea Wood of Chicago initially dismissed G.G.s suit due to Section 230; however, the recent appeals court decision has reversed that ruling.

Salesforce's job was, in part, to help Backpage reach more customers, both in the form of sex traffickers and purchasers of commercial sex, Hamilton wrote. In a sense, Salesforce helped Backpage find more sex-trafficking contractors.

Plaintiffs' allegations, therefore, do not treat Salesforce as a publisher or speaker even if Backpage's publishing played a critical role in causing G.G.'s ultimate injury, he continued.

According to the lawsuit, Backpages trafficking of G.G. was not an isolated incident. The plaintiffs allege that since 2008, Backpage had been publicly identified by law enforcement, United States Attorneys General, and every state Governor as the biggest and most notorious sex trafficking and pimping website in the United States.

The suit also noted that in 2010, the National Association of Attorneys General publicly described Backpage as a hub of human trafficking, especially the trafficking of minors. In October 2016, Backpage CEO Carl Ferrer was arrested for pimping minors, just a few months after G.G.s mother discovered the advertisement of her daughter.

Salesforce entered into a business relationship with Backpage in 2013 despite the reports about its practices. The company worked closely with Backpage to develop its marketing technology and software, which the plaintiffs allege helped it grow to become the dominant force in online sex trafficking.

Backpage experienced unprecedented growth in both its business and profits and was transformed from a small ... company with a handful of employees to an international powerhouse with over 250 employees spanning three continents, the suit stated.

From the beginning of 2008 through the end of 2010, Backpage's gross revenues totaled $46 million, the document continued. In 2012 alone, Backpage's gross revenue was $71 million. And from January 2013 through May 2015, Backpage's gross revenue climbed to approximately $346 million, nearly $340 million of which was generated from adult advertising.

The document went on to note that Salesforces profits also grew as Backpages business expanded. Salesforce reportedly did not stop doing business with Backpage until the federal government shut it down in April 2018. Two years later, G.G. and her mother filed their lawsuit in federal court.

The plaintiffs filed an amended complaint in October 2021, with a district court later granting Salesforces motion to dismiss in February 2022 after the pair voluntarily dismissed Backpage as a defendant. Following the district courts denial of a motion to alter or amend the judgment, the plaintiffs appealed the decision.
Authorities press charges against Christian dad for praying silently on street near abortion clinic

A father and British Army veteran in Bournemouth, England, is facing charges for silently praying within a designated buffer zone near an abortion clinic. The case hinges on the interpretation of restrictions within the zone.

Adam Smith-Connor, a trained physiotherapist from Birmingham University who serves as the Clinical Director at New Forest Physiotherapy Southampton, was issued a fixed penalty notice last December for allegedly breaching the terms of the buffer zone in November, according to the Catholic News Agency.

Smith-Connor, who is represented by the legal group Alliance Defending Freedom U.K., was praying silently for his deceased son, who was aborted over two decades ago. He now prays for those affected by abortion and those contemplating the procedure.

The buffer zone, enforced by the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, prohibits protesting, harassing, intimidating or photographing visitors or staff within 150 meters (roughly 164 yards) of the abortion clinic. The restrictions also cover prayer, counseling and offering information or help to women visiting the clinic.

The charges against Smith-Connor come as a surprise, as the BCP Council refrained from pursuing prosecution within the statutory time limit, ADF U.K. said in a statement. The police had also previously informed Smith-Connor that he was not breaking the law. His first hearing is scheduled for Wednesday at the Bournemouth Magistrates Court, where he is expected to plead not guilty.

In a statement, Smith-Connor expressed his dismay at the charges. Nobody should be prosecuted for silent prayer, he said. It is unfathomable that in an apparently free society, I am being criminally charged on the basis of what I expressed silently, in the privacy of my own mind.

His legal counsel, Jeremiah Igunnubole of ADF U.K., said the case has no place in a country with a historical and proud commitment to the rule of law. He warned that by permitting the prosecution of silent prayer, the U.K. is sailing into dangerous waters regarding human rights protections.

The BCP Council issued a charge against Smith-Connor on May 12 but did not inform him of the charge until July, ADF U.K. said. The councils actions have been criticized as a remarkable consolidation of power, making it the judge, jury and executioner.

Smith-Connors encounter with the officers was recorded on his phone. When asked about his actions, he replied, Praying for my son, who is deceased. The officer responded that they had to follow through on the regulations of the Public Space Protection Order, which is intended to stop antisocial behavior.

The protection order for the abortion clinic has been in force since Oct. 13, 2022, and will remain in place for three years. The order bars engaging in an act or an attempted act of approval or disapproval of abortion services.

Smith-Connor said he stood outside the clinic due to his personal experience with abortion. Twenty-two years ago, I drove my ex-girlfriend to a facility and paid for her to have an abortion. It was a pivotal moment in my life, he said. The consequences of my actions that day came back to grieve me years later when I realized I had lost my son Jacob to an abortion I had paid for.

Smith-Connor holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Rehabilitation Science from Southampton University, with a focus on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Extended Scope Practice in Spinal Pain, and Principles of Rehabilitation.

The case comes as legislators in the U.K. Parliament have introduced a proposal to create similar zones near abortion clinics across England and Wales.

This past February, Father Sean Gough and Isabel Vaughan-Spruce were acquitted of all charges against them after they were accused of breaking the law for praying in front of an abortion clinic in Birmingham.
HHS to withhold Medicaid funding from California over abortion coverage mandate

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar announced that his department was taking action against California and a hospital in Vermont that implemented policies violating the conscience rights of those opposed to abortion.

Azar was among many notable speakers at a White House event, called Life is Winning: Celebrating 4 Years of Pro-Life Accomplishments, hosted by Vice President Mike Pence Wednesday. During his speech, Azar highlighted how the Trump administration was protecting conscience rights more aggressively than any previous administration in history.

The HHS Office for Civil Rights, led by Roger Severino, established its first ever Conscience and Religious Freedom Division, tasked with making sure our nations conscience and religious freedom laws are never again treated like second-class rights, he said.



He went on to announce that $200 million in federal Medicaid funds would be withheld from California for the first quarter of 2021 due to the state's refusal to amend its policy "imposing universal abortion coverage mandates on health insurance."

Unless California amends its policies, we will seek to withhold an additional $200 million every quarter until it complies, he added as the crowd erupted into applause. As explained in an HHS press release, Californias actions violate the Weldon Amendment, which protects entities from being forced to provide, pay for, or provide coverage for abortions.

Its wrong that the Trump administration would threaten Californians health just to score cheap political points  and during a global pandemic. We will continue to stand up for reproductive health and push back against this extreme presidential overreach, vowed Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., in response to the news.

Should former vice president Joe Biden assume the presidency next month as projected, it is likely that his HHS Secretary would restore the $200 million in Medicaid funding. Biden has selected California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, an outspoken supporter of abortion, as his pick to lead the agency.

On a separate conscience violation issue, Claire Murray, principal deputy associate attorney general at the Department of Justice, announced at the event that its civil rights division "sued to stop a hospital in Vermont from violating the rights of healthcare providers who followed their consciences and refused to assist in performing abortions."



This suit is based on an investigation conducted by Roger Severino and the HHS Office of Civil Rights, which uncovered that the University of Vermont Medical Center had forced a Catholic nurse to participate in an elective abortion even though the doctor performing the abortion knew that the nurse had placed her name on the hospitals list of conscientious objectors and even though other nurses without conscientious objections were available to assist instead, Murray explained.

Our suit alleges that the hospital actually misled the nurse into believing that she was scheduled to assist in another  unobjectionable procedure. It was only when she arrived in the operating room that the physician performing the abortion turned to her and said, Please dont hate me for this.

According to Murray, the lawsuit also accuses the hospital of adopting discriminatory policies that authorize it to schedule conscientious objectors to assist with abortions even after they have submitted written objections and they ... repeatedly scheduled nurses whose names were on the objector list for abortion procedures.

The hospital maintains that it did nothing wrong. I want to be very clear that we are very sensitive to our employees religious and moral beliefs, and we  are very confident that we have a policy that protects our employers rights while being certain to offer all legal and safe procedures for parents that seek our care, said Dr. Stephen Leffler, president and CEO of the University of Vermont Medical Center.

Other speakers at the White House event included Pence, Brooke Rollins, the acting director of the White House Domestic Policy Council who also served as moderator for the event, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany, and the presidents of the pro-life organizations Susan B. Anthony List and March for Life Action.
Judge stops Biden admin. from enforcing 'emergency' abortion mandate in Texas

A judge has temporarily blocked federal guidance requiring emergency medical care to include abortion in Texas where abortion is illegal except in medical emergencies, miscarriages or the removal of ectopic pregnancies.

In July, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued guidance claiming that the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act requires hospitals to provide abortions for a host of reasons, even if they are in a state that bans the procedure.

However, U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix in Lubbock granted a motion on Tuesday for a preliminary injunction against the guidance, arguing that EMTALA does not apply to abortions.

That Guidance goes well beyond EMTALAs text, which protects both mothers and unborn children, is silent as to abortion, and preempts state law only when the two directly conflict, wrote Hendrix.

Since the statute is silent on the question, the Guidance cannot answer how doctors should weigh risks to both a mother and her unborn child. Nor can it, in doing so, create a conflict with state law where one does not exist. The Guidance was thus unauthorized.

Hendrix also pointed out that Texas law already overlaps with EMTALA to a significant degree, allowing abortions in life-threatening conditions and for the removal of an ectopic or miscarried pregnancy.

In any event, HHS issued it without the required opportunity for public comment. As a result, the Court will preliminarily enjoin the Guidances enforcement against the plaintiffs, he added.

Shortly after HHS issued the abortion guidance in July, the office of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed suit, claiming that the measure violated the states "sovereign interest in the power to create and enforce a legal code."

Other plaintiffs in the litigation against HHS over the guidance included the American Association of Pro-life Obstetricians and the Christian Medical & Dental Associations.

For his part, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra stated in July that he believed the guidance was justified to make sure women have the right to emergency care  including abortion care.

Today, in no uncertain terms, we are reinforcing that we expect providers to continue offering these services, and that federal law preempts state abortion bans when needed for emergency care, said Becerra at the time.

Health care must be between a patient and their doctor, not a politician. We will continue to leverage all available resources at HHS to make sure women can access the life-saving care they need.

Since the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June, the Biden administration has taken several efforts aimed at advancing access to abortion in states where it is banned.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Justice sued Idaho over its abortion ban, which allows for abortion in cases of rape, incest and life-threatening medical emergency for the mother, claiming that it violated EMTALA.
Married people consistently most likely to characterize themselves as 'very happy': report

A new study reveals that married people have consistently been more likely to characterize themselves as very happy than non-married people over the course of nearly a half-century, with marital status serving as the most significant determinant of an individuals level of happiness.

A report titled The Socio Political Demography of Happiness, authored by Sam Peltzman of the University of Chicagos Booth School of Business, examines the trends of the General Social Survey conducted by the NORC at the University of Chicago over the past half-century. The General Social Survey, which dates back to 1972 and has been conducted biennially since 1990, asks respondents, How would you say things are these days  would you say that you are very happy, pretty happy, or not too happy?

Peltzmans report, released July 21, reveals that marital status is and has been a very important marker for happiness. He analyzed the responses to the question about happiness in all the various General Social Surveys conducted since 1972, excluding the most recent research conducted in 2020-'21.

Peltzman rescaled the survey answers on a scale of -100 to 100, with -100 representing responses indicating people were not too happy, 0 representing responses of those who said they were pretty happy and 100 representing declarations that people are very happy. According to Peltzmans interpretation of the data, married people have consistently scored 30 points higher on the happiness scale than their non-married counterparts over time.

No subsequent population categorization will yield so large a difference in happiness across so many people, he wrote. Peltzman added that low happiness characterizes all types of non-married, referring to widowed, divorced, separated and never married respondents.

At the beginning of the report, Peltzman noted the existence of a happiness landslide, where the average share of the U.S. population identifying as very happy outnumbers the percentage of those who characterize themselves as not too happy by a roughly 70-30% margin. Reflecting on the differences in reported levels of happiness between married and non-married respondents over the years, Peltzman concluded that the happiness landslide comes entirely from the married.

Highlighting the slight downturn in overall happiness since 2000, Peltzman asserted that the connection between these trends comes from the recent decline in marriage. Specifically, overall happiness averaged 23.7 in the years prior to 2000, while dropping to 19.7 in the time period after 2000. He cited the drop in the share of the population identifying as very happy as consistent with a 9.9 percentage point decline in the marriage rate after 2000 compared to before the turn of the millennium.

An analysis of conditional differences over the years, namely differences [in happiness] within particular groups holding other differences constant, illustrates how the difference in reported levels of happiness based on marital status exceeds the differences in happiness measured between groups categorized based on other demographic factors. While married people were on average 23.82 points happier than the non-married from 1972-2018, whites were on average 10.79 points happier than blacks in the same time period.

Additionally, college graduates were happier than high school graduates by 5.87 points, females were happier than males by 4.04 points, high school graduates were 3.12 points happier than high school dropouts, Americans over the age of 45 were 2.86 points happier than their younger counterparts, respondents with some college were 1.87 points happier than college graduates, and those living in large cities were 2.87 points less happy than those living in other places.

In addition to marital status, Peltzmans report also revealed a relationship between an individuals political ideology and their level of happiness. While the General Social Survey asks respondents to rate themselves on a 7-point left-right scale, Peltzman placed respondents into the categories of conservative, moderate and liberal. Conservatives are around 9 points happier than liberals and 7 points happier than moderates, he explained.
Supreme Court vacates decision against religious groups fighting NY abortion coverage mandate

The U.S. Supreme Court has vacated a lower court ruling against multiple religious employers seeking an exemption to a 2017 New York regulation requiring employers to provide healthcare plans that include coverage of medically necessary abortions.

In an order released Monday morning, the nations high court vacated a lower court ruling in the case of Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, et al. v. Emani, Shiri, et al., remanding the case back to the New York Court of Appeals.

The Supreme Court cited its unanimous July decision in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia to justify the order. In that case, the high court ruled that Philadelphia officials could not exclude a Catholic charity from its foster program because the organization refused to place children with same-sex couples for religious reasons.

Conservative Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch voted to hear the charities appeal rather than send the case back to the lower courts.

Eric Baxter, vice president and senior counsel at Becket, a legal nonprofit that represents the diocese, said in a statement that he is thankful for the order.

New York clearly learned nothing from the federal governments own attempts to force nuns to pay for contraceptives and is now needlessly threatening charities because they believe in the dignity and humanity of every human person, stated Baxter.

We are thankful that the Supreme Court wont allow the New York Court of Appeals bad ruling to be the last word on the right of religious ministries to serve New Yorkers of all faiths.

A group of religious organizations and orders, including multiple Roman Catholic dioceses, Catholic Charities, an Anglican order of nuns and multiple Protestant churches filed lawsuits against New York over its abortion coverage mandate.

We believe that every person is made in the image of God, said Mother Miriam of the Sisterhood of Saint Mary, the oldest Anglican religious order founded in America. Thats why we believe in the sanctity of human life, and why we seek to serve those of all faiths  or no faith at all  in our community. Were grateful that the Supreme Court has taken action in our case and hopeful that, this time around, the New York Court of Appeals will preserve our ability to serve and encourage our neighbors.

The New York Codes, Rules and Regulations, Title 11, Section 52.16 (o) prohibits healthcare policies from limiting what it describes as medically necessary abortions.

No policy delivered or issued for delivery in this State that provides hospital, surgical, or medical expense coverage shall limit or exclude coverage for abortions that are medically necessary, the section reads.

Coverage for in-network abortions that are medically necessary shall not be subject to copayments, or coinsurance, or annual deductibles, unless the policy is a high deductible health plan  in which case coverage for medically necessary abortions may be subject to the plans annual deductible.

The New York mandate allows for a religious exemption, provided that the insurer for the religious employer obtains an annual certification confirming their status and that the insurer issues a rider for coverage of medically necessary abortions.

In section 52.2 of the New York Codes, a religious employer is defined as an entity that engages in the inculcation of religious values, primarily employs persons who share the religious tenets of the entity, serves primarily persons who share the religious tenets of the entity and is a nonprofit organization.

The plaintiffs contend that New York holds too narrow of a definition on what constitutes a religious employer and unlawfully restricts who can receive an exemption.

But religious organizations that have a broader purpose, such as serving the poor, or that employ or serve members of other faiths or no faith, must cover abortions in their health plans, stated the plaintiffs petition to the Supreme Court filed in April.

The U.S. Supreme Court has previously ruled in favor of Christian-owned businesses and religious groups that sued for an exemption to an Obamacare mandate that required employers to provide health plans that cover birth control.
Voters enshrine abortion rights in 3 state constitutions; pro-life proposals defeated in 2

After the U.S. Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade, referendums to enshrine abortion rights into state constitutions were passed on Tuesday, while voters in typically conservative states voted down pro-life proposals.

Several abortion referendums were on the ballot during the 2022 midterm elections. California, Michigan and Vermont all put forward measures to constitutionally codify abortion rights, while Montana and Kentucky sought to protect born-alive infants and deny a constitutional right to abortion.

California

California voted in favor of Proposition 1, also known as Prop 1, a ballot measure to change the California Constitution to guarantee a right to abortion and contraceptives. The measure prohibits the state from interfering with a "person's reproductive freedom."

According to unofficial results from early vote tallies as of Wednesday afternoon, over 65% of Californians voted for the measure, and 35% voted against it.

Public opinion polling indicated that a majority of residents were likely to approve Prop 1. An Oct. 12 poll of 1,216 likely California voters conducted by Rasmussen Reports showed that 59% of Californians planned to vote in favor of the constitutional amendment.

Another survey conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California from Sept. 2-11 of 1,060 likely California voters found that 69% of respondents supported Prop 1, while 25% opposed it.

Critics of the measure, including advocacy groups like the social conservative California Family Council and Pro-Life San Francisco, claim that Prop 1 removes all limitations on abortion by removing the state's viability restriction. California law previously restricted abortions after 24 weeks unless a physician deemed one to be medically necessary.

With the latest measure, pro-life advocacy groups fear that California will now allow "abortion until birth for any reason."

Michigan

Michigan voters approved Proposal 3, also called Prop 3, a ballot measure that amends the state constitution to establish a "fundamental right to reproductive freedom."

While the state may regulate abortion beyond fetal viability unless a physician determines an abortion is medically necessary, Prop 3 allows individuals to make all pregnancy-related decisions without interference.

According to unofficial results tallied as of Wednesday afternoon, 56.7% of voters approved the measure, and 43.3% disapproved.

According to a WDIV/Detroit News poll conducted between Oct. 26-28, 55% of state residents supported the proposal, 41% opposed it, and 3.8% were undecided.

The measure prohibits the state from prosecuting women for having an abortion or individuals who helped her procure one, in addition to eliminating state laws that conflict with this amendment.

Critics of Prop 3 claim the measure authorizes minors to obtain abortions without parental consent or notification and exempts abortionists from proper oversight. However, proponents of Prop 3 claim it does not immediately invalidate parental consent laws unless the issue goes to court.

Kentucky

Residents of Kentucky voted down Constitutional Amendment 2, a measure that would have amended the state's constitution to state that there is no right to abortion or any requirement to fund abortion.

With 98% of precincts reporting, about 52.4% voted of voted against the measure, and 47.6% voted in favor.

The pro-life campaign group Yes for Life supported the measure, urging Kentucky residents to "protect [their] tax dollars from funding late-term abortions." The abortion advocacy group Protect Kentucky Access campaigned against the amendment, encouraging residents to vote no and "keep abortion safe and legal in Kentucky."

After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June, Kentucky banned abortion in nearly all circumstances.

In July, a high court judge temporarily blocked the state's ban on abortions after six weeks gestation and the trigger law that went into effect due to Roe's reversal. Kentucky Court of Appeals Judge Larry E. Thompson reinstated the state's near-total ban on abortion in August.

Montana

Voters in Montana defeated Referendum 131, a measure that states infants born alive at any stage of development after a botched abortion or induced labor are legal persons.

The measure would have required medical care to be provided to born-alive infants, establishing a $50,000 fine and the possibility of as many as 20 years in prison for violating the law.

Of the over 414,000 reported votes as of Wednesday afternoon, 52.2% voted against it, and 47.8% voted in favor.

Vermont

Most Vermont voters voted in favor of Proposal 5, an amendment to the state's constitution that guarantees a "right" to "personal reproductive autonomy" to all individuals in the state.

Of the over 175,000 reported votes as of Wednesday afternoon, 77.2% voted for the measure, and 22.8% voted against it.

Wendy Wilton, a Vermont resident who supports abortion but opposed Proposal 5, expressed concerns about the bill's language in an Oct. 5 op-ed for VTDigger, calling it "vague" and "open-ended." Wilton noted that the bill's language is not restricted to women, questioning whether this means men's rights are "infringed" if his partner wants an abortion, and he doesn't, or vice versa.

"By virtue of the term 'individual,' this does not restrict the language to persons who have achieved legal age or age of consent," she wrote.

The abortion proponent also worries that the legislature has opened the door for late-term abortions beyond the point of viability and when most unborn children can survive outside the womb.

"I am left to think that the proponents are betting Vermont voters will look at this language, believe it to be essential for the preservation of Roe v. Wade and that it is harmless when neither rationale is true," she concluded.
As Christians, we can learn something from 'Barbie'

Warning: Spoiler alert, and mature content will be discussed

Some critics are saying, Dont watch Barbie, go see 'Sound of Freedom' instead. Ive actually seen both movies and I believe they share a similar underlying message.

In Barbie, the main character lives in a seemingly perfect Barbie World  a female-driven society in which the Barbies are all intelligent, strong, and celebrated super-achievers. The Kens in Barbie World are little more than complementary accessories, whose main purpose is to look good and cheer on the Barbies.

One day Barbie wakes up to find she is less than perfect, which is devastating to her. Barbie goes to the real world, in which she discovers that everything is upside down  she finds a patriarchy, where she is objectified and even hated. Ken, on the other hand, starts believing that patriarchy is where he can finally be valued. He takes this idea back to Barbie World and establishes a machismo hierarchy where the Kens are in charge and the Barbies cater to their egos.

The movie is a hilarious satire built on a reversed world of extreme gender stereotypes, but the writing is incredibly deep and full of beautiful moments if youre willing to peer beneath the surface. Both Barbie and Ken ultimately discover that each of them has equal worth, that nobody should be reduced to stereotypes or objectified, and that gendered power imbalances might feel good to those in power, but they actually exploit and harm everyone.

Sound of Freedom, by contrast, is a dark, gut-punch of a film. Two children are kidnapped in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, and sold to sex traffickers in Mexico and Colombia. The main character, Tim Ballard, embarks on a journey to find them and it yields the liberation of many more child sex slaves and the start of his nonprofit organization, Operation Underground Railroad.

Critics have pointed out that some of the rescue tactics depicted in the movie and the way in which child trafficking was portrayed, can wind up doing more harm than good. Those are valid points worth considering. Even so, this powerfully told story brings to light the horrific reality of human trafficking, calling on moviegoers to end this form of modern-day slavery. It also makes two crucial points  that sex trafficking is fueled by the supply and demand of pornography, and that the United States is one of the top destinations for human trafficking and one of the top consumers for child sex.



What connects the two films is that both showcase the ramifications of a world in which we dehumanize and objectify our fellow human beings.

Barbie uses humor and over-the-top satire to illustrate how harmful and demeaning it is for one sex to rule over another. The movie calls out patriarchy and abusive men specifically, and for good reason. When Will Ferrells character commands Barbie to Get back in the box, Jezebel, many women know exactly how that felt. Likewise, when America Ferreras character pours out her powerful speech at the end, many women felt every single syllable. Sound of Freedom employs blunt, heart-breaking imagery to illustrate the horrific abuse that happens when someone decides that another person is theirs to use. When the hero of the story resolutely declares, Gods children are not for sale, we felt it in the depths of our souls. Humans werent created to be owned, used, and dominated by other humans. We were made for freedom.

Another common thread is that pornography, sex trafficking, and what we know today as patriarchy all share the same core belief  that one person is entitled to exercise power over another person through control and domination and that one person is less human than another.

The loudest critics mocking Barbie insist that American women have nothing to whine about, that women are already regarded as equals, and that they should stop living with a victim mentality.

If true, why do varying studies reveal that 57% up to 91% of American men admit to regular pornography use? Why is the U.S. a top consumer of child sex and the top producer of pornography? Is that because American men view women and children as equals?

More troublingly, Barna research indicates that 68% of churchgoing men and over 50% of pastors consume porn regularly. Is that because they view women as equals?

Lets be honest. When we say that 68% of church-going men struggle with porn what we are really saying is that 68% of churchgoing men struggle to see women as fully human.

Can it be said that churchgoing women today are viewed as equals by churchgoing men when they are repeatedly dehumanized and objectified by their Christian brothers on a regular basis?

While there are many good men and many good churches, the statistics reveal a staggering reality: More men in the Church view women as sex objects than men who do not. Yes, good men and good churches find this appalling, but few seem to realize that a major driver of this objectification is a deeply rooted belief that God himself instituted a hierarchical power structure of men over women.

If you think Im exaggerating, are you aware that popular social media influencers now encourage Christian wives to take pole-dancing classes?

Or consider these words from pastor Doug Wilson of Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho: All Christian wives, in all Christian marriages, occupy a subordinate rank, and it is always bad for a subordinate to be insubordinate.

How about this from Jack Hyles, who once preached: For every single man in prison for rape, there ought to be right beside him a half-naked girl in the next cell.

Michael and Debi Pearls blog and books, Created to Be His Helpmeet, and The Bible on Divorce & Remarriage, instruct wives to stop defrauding your husband and start pumping him dry about every day or so. If he is younger than 25, make that every day and twice on Sunday  If you do not cheerfully, joyously make yourself a willing participant, you are the tool of Satan to bring your husband down.

Not to belabor this, but none other than pastor John MacArthur has said:

Man is the sun and woman is the moon. She shines not so much with the direct light of God, but that derived from man  woman was made to manifest mans authority and mans will as man was made to manifest Gods authority. The woman is the vice regent who carries out mans wish  She demonstrates her significance in the world in response to the direction of men who are given divine dominion.

Perhaps these critics have never been girls who had to change their clothes to protect grown mens minds, had to kneel down to have their skirt lengths measured, or had to endure a teen girls youth group session where they were compared to a chewed-up piece of gum, un-sticky tape, or a wilted rose [if they lost their virginity].

I laughed and cried through Barbie. I cried through Sound of Freedom. The latter calls attention to the horrors of a world in which people are dehumanized and objectified in the worst possible way. The former seeks to open our eyes to the entitled, power-hungry belief systems that can build such a world.

As long as there are churches in this country teaching women that they are more easily deceived than men, that men are entitled to unconditional respect, that husbands will be unfaithful if they arent given sex on demand, that marital rape does not exist, that wives dishonor God when they leave abusive marriages, then we cannot claim to say women and children are equal to men.

As long as there are churches in this country teaching women that female bodies of all ages are threats to mens fragile sexual integrity, that God calls women to martyr themselves to abusive husbands, and that women and children can provoke rape or assault with their clothing, that blames teenage victims of clergy sexual abuse, we cannot claim to believe that women and children have equal worth with men.

We cannot use, abuse, consume, or dominate another person without first lowering their humanity.

Followers of Christ are called to love as Christ loves. Christ-like love challenges and levels ungodly hierarchies, empowers the weak and vulnerable, protects children, and sets captives free. It is for freedom, after all, that He came.

What does that freedom sound like? It sounds like voices raised that were once silenced. Some may mock or belittle those voices, but the Church is called to a love that listens, honors, and spreads the Word. The shared messages in Barbie and Sound of Freedom call us to this if well listen.

Lead the way, dear Church.
Denouncing the dangerous (and pseudo-Christian) anti-Semitism of Nick Fuentes

Its the same old story repeated yet again, although this time the call for violence is open and overt. The evil, Christ-rejecting Jews control America, and they must be ousted from power. After all, this is a Christian nation, and we dont want those Christ haters ruling over us. To the contrary, we will crush them in a holy war, and it is they who will die, not us.

So says Nick Fuentes (born 1988), founder of the America First movement, which describes itself as the synthesis of traditional values, Trumpian populism, and American Nationalism. It also cloaks itself in Christian rhetoric, making it all the more insidious.

Few Americans were familiar with Fuentes before November 2022, when he dined with former President Trump at Mar-a-Lago as a guest of Kanye West, stirring a national controversy. How could Trump welcome and dine with a White Supremacist Neo-Nazi?

Trump, for his part, claimed to have no idea who Fuentes was, stating that the dinner was quick and uneventful. In contrast, West claimed that Trump was deeply impressed with the young man. Either way, the visit brought Fuentes into the national spotlight.

Last month, video footage surfaced of Fuentes speaking to his constituents with completely unhinged rhetoric, coupled with a bizarre light show in the background. The whole thing is so extreme that you would not be faulted for thinking it was satire. Sadly, it was not.

As the July 18, 2023 headline in the Jerusalem Post announced, White supremacist Nick Fuentes: We will make Jews die in the holy war.

Fuentes said, Do you think it might be a problem that the people that are running your banks, that are making the movies your children watch ... Do you think its a problem that they believe that all Christians must die? Its a big problem. Its a huge problem.

Yes, he said (to rousing applause), We need to eradicate [the] Jewish stranglehold over the United States of America.

And, while he said that we love everybody, he stated that ideas matter, religion matters, and we need Christians running America, not Jews.

He continued (to even more rousing applause and shouts of affirmation), Word is getting out that we got to rid of Jewish power in America, and despite them doing everything in their power to stop it  censoring and canceling and killing  we are here to say that America is not a Jewish nation. America is a Christian nation.

Youve got to see the video for yourself, but, to paint the picture here in words, at this point in the speech, on the screen behind him, giant angel wings flap on his right and left, as if he was some kind of angelic messenger. It really does seem like a sick attempt at satire. But I repeat, it is not.

In fact, in response to his proclamation that America is a Christian nation not a Jewish nation, the crowd begins to chant, Christ is King! Christ is King!

Fuentes then says that, yes, of course, this must be the case since Christ is King of the world and therefore must be King of America too.

And so, Fuentes knows that we will win, because unlike our opposition, we are willing to die for what we believe in ... Were in a holy war and I will tell you this. Because were willing to die in the holy war, we will make them die in the holy war. And they will go down.

Yet because God is on our side, we will win.

Indeed, he proclaimed, We have God on our side. They will go down with their Satanic master. They have no future in America. The enemies of Christ have no future in this world.

This is the very worst form of Christian nationalism that exists. It is not in the least bit American. And it is no more Christian than is Satan himself. To call this despicable is to be too soft.

But heres what is most disturbing.

I posted a short video on YouTube, playing these clips from Fuentes and then denouncing him and his rhetoric in the strongest possible terms, rebuking him plainly and openly. Yet within the first 5,000 views on YouTube, we had to remove scores of comments cheering him on. (Note also that, while most of my videos receive between 96 and 99 percent likes to dislikes, this one, at present, is at 81.9%.)

The comments ranged from people having no problem with what he said to alleged quotes from rabbinic writings, proving how evil the Jews really are, and from people claiming, Nick Fuentes is the most pro-Christ leader in America to others who claimed support for his vile antisemitism in the teaching of the Church Fathers and official statements from the Catholic Church. (One even cited the Catholic antisemite Dr. E. Michael Jones in support. For a Catholic rebuke to Jones, see here.)

Other, comments, all of which, we must remember, were posted in response to Fuentes calling for the death of Jewish people in a Christian holy war, included:

America is a Christian nation! I agree with Nick.

Nicks show brought me back to Christ and to His Church. Without Nick, I wouldve been lost in the fog of agnosticism. God bless Nick and America first!

I love everyone, but some beliefs are not to be tolerated [with specific reference to Jewish beliefs]. Tolerance is not a Christian virtue.

Wait, is being in a stranglehold to people who deny Jesus Christ's divinity a good thing for America?

Stop playing the victim Michael. He's talking about the fake Jews of Revelation [meaning, the book of Revelation 2:9; 3:9]. Snap out of the witchcraft. Peace.

Dr. Brown is a vicious anti-white Jewish supremacist! Jew deserve all they get for the war on whites they started!

We support Nick Fuentes against the synagogue of Satan.

This country should be governed by confessors of Christ, not by blasphemers!

Christ is King. America first.

For years I (and others) have been warning about this fresh, rising tide of Christian antisemitism, often intertwined with overt White supremacism.

Not surprisingly, it is paralleled by the overt Jewish hatred of black supremacist groups like the Black Hebrew Israelites. Both have in common their open hatred for American Jews, whom they call the synagogue of Satan and whose violent doom they predict  at their own hands, of course.

Every person of conscience should call out this vile, very dangerous antisemitism. Do not underestimate what demented people might do in the name of their twisted cause. And do not underestimate how deeply entrenched this very sick mindset is in the hearts of countless thousands, if not millions, of Americans.

We must not let this plague spread on our watch.
How to be reconciled to God

While it is natural to assume that every human being is a member of Gods family, such flawed thinking is not rooted in reality. The truth is that man is separated from God because of sin and is in desperate need of being reconciled to his Creator. Our sins have actually produced a huge chasm between us and God.

The prophet Isaiah wrote, Your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear (Isaiah 59:2).

When Gods people were persistently sinning against the Lord in Isaiahs day, God told them that He would not hear their prayers until they repented. Today, if a Christian is living in deliberate sin, there must be repentance before any true prayer and genuine fellowship with God can resume.

So, what is it that ultimately allows sinful man to approach a holy God? Scripture reveals that God accepted animal sacrifices in the Old Testament on account of the sacrificial Lamb of God who would enter the world years later in Bethlehem, and ultimately be slain for our sins on the cross (see Hebrews 10:1-18).

You see, the death of Christ on the cross is what brought reconciliation between God and man.

Once Jesus arrived on the scene and began His earthly ministry, it became necessary to go directly through the Son in order to get to the Father. Jesus said, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6).

The Messiah told the religious leaders of His day, If you knew me, you would know my Father also (John 8:19). Knowing Jesus is far better than being religious because it actually connects you to the Father in Heaven. Religion cannot reconcile you to God. The sacrifice of the sinless Savior was required to secure our reconciliation.

The Apostle Paul described how God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting mens sins against them (2 Corinthians 5:19). Think of Pauls description here as objective reconciliation. As with objective justification, Christ died for all. Everyone in the world has been reconciled and justified in an objective sense. Objective justification is expressed in the words of John the Baptist: Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).

But the benefits of Christs atoning sacrifice on the cross are not applied to your soul personally until you actually believe the good news of the Gospel. Subjective reconciliation and subjective justification take place in your life when you trust Christ to forgive you. You are then reconciled to God and justified before God on a personal level. Prior to the personal application of Christ's forgiveness, you remain lost in your sins and on the path to perdition.

The believers in Rome had been reconciled to God objectively when Christ died for sins once for all (1 Peter 3:18), but they were not reconciled to God subjectively and personally until they accepted Jesus as the Messiah. Paul wrote to them: For if, when we were Gods enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of His Son, (objective reconciliation) how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation (subjective reconciliation) (Romans 5:10-11).

It is important to realize that nothing you could ever do can wash away even one of your sins. And without forgiveness, there is no reconciliation. You cannot be reconciled to God based on sincerity, morality or noble deeds.

If mans efforts could bridge the gap between himself and God, then why did the Father send His only Son to suffer such an agonizing death on the cross as the payment for our sins? In other words, If righteousness could be gained through the Law, Christ died for nothing (Galatians 2:21).

Do you wrongly assume that Christ died for nothing, or do you correctly understand and believe that Jesus died for your sins because the Lord loves you and this was the only way you could be reconciled to God? Your answer to that question will reveal whether you are currently walking in spiritual darkness or in spiritual light.

In order to personally be reconciled to God, you will need to repent of your sins and trust Jesus to cleanse your soul. As you turn away from sin, simply pray: Wash me Jesus with your precious blood.

Paul wrote to believers: In Him (Christ) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of Gods grace (Ephesians 1:7).

Personal redemption and personal reconciliation occur the moment a sinner receives the free gift of salvation (See Ephesians 2:8-9). It is actually very easy to be reconciled to God on a personal level. And the reason it is so easy to be saved, redeemed, justified, born again and forgiven is because it cost God so much.

How will you respond to Jesus? In faith, or unbelief? One approach brings personal reconciliation and Paradise, while the other leaves you separated from God and headed toward eternal misery in Hell.

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for Gods wrath remains on him (John 3:36).

If you will humble yourself at the foot of the cross and receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, (see John 1:12) you can personally be reconciled to God today. Humble yourself before the Lord, and He will lift you up (James 4:10).
A chatbot willing to take on questions of all kinds is the latest representation of Jesus for the AI age

Jesus has been portrayed in many different ways: from a prophet who alerts his audience to the world's imminent end to a philosopher who reflects on the nature of life.

But no one has called Jesus an internet guru  that is, until now.

In his latest role as an "AI Jesus," Jesus stands, rather awkwardly, as a white man, dressed in a hooded brown-and-white robe, available 24/7 to answer any and all questions on his Twitch channel, "ask_jesus."

Questions posed to this chatbot Jesus can range from the serious  such as asking him about life's meaning  to requesting a good joke.

Reinterpreting Jesus

Numerous scholars have described how Jesus has been reinterpreted over the centuries.

For example, religion scholar Stephen Prothero has shown how, in 19th-century America, Jesus was depicted as brave and tough, reflecting white masculine expectations of the period. Prothero argues that a primarily peaceful Jesus was perceived to conflict with these gender norms, and so Jesus' physical prowess was emphasized.

By contrast, according to scholar R.S. Sugirtharajah, around the same time in India, Jesus was represented as a Hindu mystic or guru by Indian theologians like Ponnambalam Ramanathan in order to make Jesus more relatable for Indian Christians and to show how his spiritual teachings could be usefully adopted by faithful Hindus.

A third presentation of Jesus is reflected in theologian James Cone's work. Cone depicts Jesus as Black to highlight the oppression he endured as a victim of political violence. He also shows how the "Black Christ" offers hope for liberation, equality and justice to oppressed people today.

The point is not that one of these representations is necessarily more accurate than the others, but instead that Jesus has been consistently reinterpreted to fit the norms and needs of each new context.

The AI Jesus who engages individuals online in the form of a chatbot is the latest in this ongoing pattern of reinterpretation, geared to making Jesus suited to the current times. On AI Jesus' Twitch channel, users consistently treat this chatbot Jesus as an authority in both personal and spiritual matters. For example, one recent user asked AI Jesus for advice about how best to stay motivated while exercising, while another person wanted to know why God allows war.

AI Jesus at work

AI Jesus represents one of the newest examples in the growing field of AI spirituality. Researchers in AI spirituality study how human spirituality is being shaped by the rising influence of artificial intelligence, as well as how AI can help people understand how humans form beliefs in the first place.

For example, in a 2021 article on AI and religious belief, scholars Andrea Vestrucci, Sara Lumbreras and Lluis Oviedo explain how AI systems can be designed to generate statements of religious belief, such as  hypothetically  "it is highly likely that the Catholic God does not support the death penalty."

Over time, such systems can revise and recalibrate these statements based on new information. For example, if the AI system is exposed to new data challenging its beliefs, it will automatically nuance future statements in light of that fresh information.

AI Jesus functions very similarly to this kind of artificial intelligence system and answers religious questions, among others.

For example, in addition to fielding questions referring to war and suffering, AI Jesus has responded to questions about why sensing God's presence can be difficult, whether an action that causes harm yet was done with good intentions is considered a sin, and how to interpret difficult verses from the Bible.

This AI Jesus also adjusts his responses as the chatbot learns from user input over time. For instance, as part of the running stream of questions from some weeks ago, AI Jesus referenced past interactions with users and nuanced his responses accordingly, saying: "I have received this question about the Bible's meaning before. ... But in light of the question you have just posed, I want to add that ... ."

AI spirituality beyond AI Jesus

This chatbot guru is facing increasing competition from other sources of AI spirituality.

For example, a recent ChatGPT church service in Germany included a sermon preached by a chatbot represented as a bearded Black man, while other avatars led prayers and worship songs.

Other faith traditions are also providing spiritual lessons through AI. For example, in Thailand a Buddhist chatbot named Phra Maha AI has his own Facebook page on which he shares spiritual lessons, such as about the impermanence of life. Like AI Jesus, he is represented as a human being who freely shares his spiritual wisdom and can be messaged on Facebook anytime, anywhere  provided one has an internet connection.

In Japan, another Buddhist chatbot, known as "Buddhabot," is in the end stages of development. Created by researchers at Kyoto University, Buddhabot has learned Buddhist sutras from which it will be able to quote when asked religious questions, once it is made publicly available.

In this increasing array of easily accessible online options for seeking spiritual guidance or general advice, it is hard to tell which religious chatbot will prove to be most spiritually satisfying.

In any case, the millennia-old trend of refashioning spiritual leaders to meet contemporary needs is likely to continue well after AI Jesus has become a religious presence of the distant past.

Joseph L Kimmel is Part-Time Faculty Member (Theology Department) at Boston College. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.
Free Church takes concerns about contentious issues to Scottish government

The Free Church of Scotland is set to have more opportunities to be part of the conversation on contentious issues affecting faith and society in Scotland after being invited to become a member of the Scottish Government Faith and Belief Representatives Group.

Members of the group are able to meet with the Scottish Government's Faith and Belief Team, which is made up of civil servants tasked with the responsibility of increasing engagement between faith organisations and the government.

Members can also engage directly with other civil servants and government ministers regarding proposed legislation, often before formal consultations are launched.

Rev Stephen Allison, Public Engagement Coordinator, announced the news of the invitation as part of his report to the Church's General Assembly on the activities of its Public Engagement Group (PEG). Rev Allison also discussed the ongoing work of the group and the opportunities it has provided to work with other churches and organisations.

"The main work of the Public Engagement Group has been responding to consultations since the last General Assembly and we are grateful to the support received from many members of the Free Church of Scotland with specialist knowledge and expertise in a variety of areas," he said.

One of the Free Church's most pressing concerns is a proposed ban on 'conversion practices', with the minister writing a number of letters to newspapers. including one co-written with the Parliamentary Representative of the Bishops Conference of Scotland, and meeting with several MSPs to express the Church's concerns.

"Issues around a proposed ban on conversion practices represents one of the biggest threats to the spiritual independence of the Church that we have faced since the Disruption," Rev Allison said.

"The Scottish Government's Expert Group Report suggests that simply teaching on the goodness of marriage could amount to conversion practices and that the Government should have the right to remove the licence of ministers if they fall foul of the proposed legislation."

He made it clear that the church opposed abusive and coercive conversion practices, but pointed out that these were already prohibited under existing laws, and that the proposed ban risked having a disproportionate impact on the ordinary activity of churches and parents.

The PEG has provided a response to the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill consultation, saying that it is concerned that a move away from a medical approach to the issue has the potential to cause greater harm to those who were most vulnerable.

"Whilst we recognise the difficulties experienced by people with gender dysphoria, and seek to care for them within our Church, we made clear that we believe that gender is neither a choice nor a social construct.

"We are, therefore, not convinced that automatically affirming someone's understanding of themselves is the best way to care for them," said Rev Allison.

The group has also expressed its concerns over the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill.

"We do not advocate pro-life vigils as a wise or appropriate way to engage with this issue," said the minister.

"However, we oppose buffer zones as a disproportionate interference with freedom of expression, which sets a dangerous precedent of the state being able to ban both protests and efforts to persuade individuals to change their mind on controversial issues.

"A democratic society should allow free and open debate."
Living in Love and Faith discussions to continue ahead of next General Synod

A group drawing from different traditions across the Church of England is to meet ahead of the General Synod in November to discuss next steps in the Living in Love and Faith process.

They will meet in September to discuss pastoral guidance being newly drafted after the February Synod backed plans to introduce same-sex blessings.

The 'Prayers of Love and Faith' have divided opinion in the Church and fuelled tensions in the wider Anglican Communion.

The November General Synod will consider proposals around the implementation of the Prayers of Love and Faith.

The discussion group has been created by the Co-Chairs of the Living in Love and Faith Steering Group, Bishop Sarah Mullally and Bishop Philip Mounstephen.

Members of the group, who have not yet been made public, will receive an update on progress with the pastoral guidance, and have the opportunity to provide their insights and reflections.

The Church of England said that the discussions would feed into meetings of the College and House of Bishops to be held in the autumn.

"The House and the College of Bishops have a real desire to create a loving, generous, ecclesial and pastoral space, despite deeply held differences of opinion, in which we can share our ministry and implement the motion agreed by the Synod in February," said Bishop Mullally.

"There is a desire to joyfully offer a pastoral response to loving, faithful and long-term same sex relationships. There is at the same time no intention of changing the doctrine of marriage as expressed in the canons and the authorised liturgy of the Church of England.

"Holding these commitments together is at times painful and complex. As part of this we are seeking to listen to people's hopes and concerns and to ensure that they are satisfied that their views have been taken into consideration."
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Chinese researchers discover key gene for rice yield increase

Xinhua) 20:29, August 08, 2023

WUHAN, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- A team of Chinese researchers has found a key rice yield-increasing gene, which provides an important gene resource for the high-yield breeding of rice, according to Huazhong Agricultural University.

The GY3 gene can significantly increase the number of grains per panicle and increase the yield of rice varieties by about 10 percent by regulating the synthesis of cytokinin.

About 98 percent of japonica rice and 21 percent of indica rice carry the GY3 gene, said Xing Yongzhong of the university, who led the research.

Most of the currently popularized indica rice varieties do not have the GY3 gene, which indicates that GY3 has not been utilized by breeders in indica rice breeding, Xing added.

The findings of the study show that GY3 can be used as an important gene for the high-yield breeding of indica rice, and it is expected to greatly improve the yield of indica rice.

The research was recently published online in the journal Nature Genetics.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Wu Chaolan)
The Scouts has revealed that relocating the World Scout Jamboree (WSJ) in South Korea will cost more than 1m and affect its work for the coming years.

Last week, 4,500 young people and adult volunteers travelled from the UK to SaeManGeum to attend the 25th WSJ, an event by the World Organization of the Scout Movement that takes place every four years in a different country.

On Friday, the Scouts announced plans to transfer UK attendees from SaeManGeum to Seoul due to an extreme heat wave and the expected impact of Typhoon Khanun.

Chief executive Matt Hyde told the BBC that the relocation would cost the charity more than 1m from its reserves.

Hyde said that each British scout had spent about 3,500 on the trip, with many relying on fundraising.

We had commitments to those reserves that will of course mean that we can't now do things that we wanted to do over the next three to five years, he said and called for an independent review.

Were disappointed and feel let down

In a video posted on the charitys website, Hyde said: Weve just relocated 4,500 young people and adult volunteers away from the Jamboree site to here in Seoul over the past couple of days. Theyre all in hotel rooms and the Jamboree journey continues here in Seoul.

Hyde said that his charity took this decision because of concerns about young people and adult volunteer safety, citing poor sanitation and the cleanliness of toilets, the amount of food that was available, the unprecedented heat wave and medical services.

Were disappointed in the organisers and the organisation and we do feel let down but the Jamboree journey continues for us. At very short notice, weve pulled together an engaging programme of activities and thats happened largely thanks to the help of the British Embassy who welcomed back all our participants back over the last couple of days, he added.

This year, the WSJ takes place from 1 to 12 August 2023.

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,
Two months ago, I wrote in this newsletter about a tumultuous episode at Valeurs Actuelles, a hard-right magazine in France. The owners reportedly felt that the publication had drifted too far to the right under the leadership of Geoffroy Lejeune, its thirty-four-year-old top editorin particular in its closeness to Eric Zemmour, a far-right commentator who finished fourth in last years French presidential election. (Indeed, some years earlier, Lejeune had written a novel about a fictional Zemmour tilt at the presidency.) In 2021, Valeurs Actuelles was found liable under racism laws after running a cartoon depicting Daniele Obono, a left-wing lawmaker who was born in Gabon, as a slave with an iron chain around her neck. When I wrote in June, Lejeune was in the process of losing his job following a reported blowup with management.

The following week, in a major shock, Lejeune was named the new top editor at Le Journal du Dimanche, Frances sole Sunday newspaper, which has a reputation for political centrismif anything to a fault. (Picture Tucker Carlson taking over as moderator of Meet the Press.) The current owner of the JDD, a group led by the wealthy businessman Arnaud Lagardere, insisted that he alone decided on Lejeunes appointment. Staffers and outside observers, however, instantly suspected the hidden hand of Vincent Bollore, a billionaire whose Vivendi group is in the process of finalizing a takeover of Lagarderes titles, and whose existing media assets have been accused of lurching significantly to the right under Bollores controlmost significantly CNews, a network that has been likened to the French Fox, where Lejeune is a regular pundit. (If Bollore did indeed influence Lejeunes hiring, he may have gained an illicit jump start on his takeover of Lagardere. European Union regulators are investigating, and could levy a fine.)

Staffers at the JDD learned of Lejeunes impending appointment from an article in Le Monde. By the time the day was out, they had voted overwhelmingly to go on strike. The following Sunday, the paper failed to come out for the first time since 2016, when employees walked out in protest of cost-cutting measures. It would fail to appear the following Sunday, and then the Sunday after that as staffers kept voting, with near unanimity, to reauthorize the strike. Lagardere decried the walkout as unreasonable, insisting that there would be no far-right drift and that he had hired Lejeune for economic reasons, but staffers didnt buy this argument; sales at Valeurs Actuelles declined toward the end of Lejeunes tenure and the JDDs advertisers may not look kindly on his politics. The staffers insisted that they would stay on strike until Lejeunes hiring was canceled and they received assurances about their editorial independence. (The sight of Lejeune dancing with Champagne at a Lagardere Group party likely strengthened their resolve.)

The strike became the longest in the history of the JDD and at any French publication since staffers at a newspaper in Paris walked out for twenty-eight months in the seventies, amid a production dispute. Still, the JDD strike has had more recent antecedents. Earlier this year, staffers at Les Echos, a business daily, walked out in protest of perceived editorial meddling by Bernard Arnault, who owns the paper through his LVMH luxury conglomerate. And the JDD action echoed a lengthy walkout at CNews a few years ago, following its takeover by Bollore. (The network was then known as iTele.) In 2021, staffers at Europe 1, a radio station that has also been owned by Lagardere, went on strike amid growing influence on the part of Bollore. (Louis de Raguenel, another exile from Valeurs Actuelles, took a top post there in 2020.)

In the end, both CNews and Europe 1 saw mass departures. Last week, Lejeune finally took the reins at the JDD and staffers voted to end their strike after forty days. He will enter an empty newsroom, the association representing staffers wrote, adding that many of them would simply now quit. According to Le Monde, at least sixty employees had already set their exits in motion as of the weekend. To leave is to say goodbye to a title that, for many of us, became a second family, the staff association said, but to stay is to go back to work in a newsroom that has been denatured. Lejeune has already started to bring in former colleagues from Valeurs Actuelles.

The end of the strike was not the end of the staffers resistance. Their walkout has renewed a debate about media regulation in France. Other newsrooms expressed solidarity with the strikers cause, as did intellectuals and celebrities, four hundred of whom warned, in an open letter, that Lejeune would be the first far-right personality to lead a major national outlet since France was liberated from the Nazis. Reporters Without Borders organized a soiree in support of the JDD at a Paris theater, with Christophe Deloire, the groups director general, rallying the crowd against an ogre [Bollore] who is devouring journalism. In an editorial, Le Monde decried Lejeunes appointment and invoked the twin specters of Donald Trump and Fox News.

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Politicians, too, have rushed to the JDDs defense, particularly on the French left; various figures associated with President Emmanuel Macrons centrist government, including his culture minister, have also expressed concern, while insisting that it isnt their place to block a lawful appointment by a private company. A not insignificant tranche of lawmakers think that it should be their placesince Lejeunes appointment, several of them have proposed new laws that would boost journalists rights, including by conditioning state aid to news outlets on their staffers having a say in picking their editors. (Some French journalists already enjoy independence guarantees, including at Le Monde, as I wrote in 2019.) These proposals and others could soon be considered by a long-awaited independent commission on media and information in which Deloire is set to play a prominent role. (Maria Ressa will be a consultant.)

The staffers who went on strike at the JDD have vowed to continue to fight for regulatory reform. Any new laws, however, will clearly come too late to save them from Lejeune. On Sunday, the first edition of his tenure came out (with a reduced page count) after outside allies, including prominent figures from the Bollore extended universe, pitched in to help. It instantly proved controversial: the main storyabout a teenager who was recently stabbed to death, whose case the mainstream media has been accused of neglectingwas illustrated with a photo paying tribute to a different victim, with the same first name, who was killed in a road accident (the JDD called the photo choice symbolic); meanwhile, an open letter to Macron signed by the families of murder victims was reportedly first drafted by JDD editors. And left-wing critics panned Lejeunes first issue for pushing right-wing talking points. Alexis Levrier, a French media historian, told me that the issue confirmed that the JDD will be a paper version of CNews, pushing the same themes of immigration, violence, identity, and critiques of leftist media.

The issue also featured an interview with Sabrina Agresti-Roubache, a minister in Macrons government. Left-wing lawmakers blasted her for normalizing Lejeunes tenure, and her decision to talk reportedly sat poorly with some of her colleagues; one unnamed Macron ally told Le Monde that they were ashamed of the interview. And yet it fit with a broader pattern that I identified in my earlier newsletter on Lejeune and Valeurs Actuellesgovernment ministers have increasingly engaged with that publication, too, most notably Macron himself.

According to Le Monde, Macron may be amenable to some type of regulatory reform in response to the Bollore phenomenon. But its not yet clear what that might look like. And if it will come too late for the JDD, the same can be said of the broader normalization of far-right ideas in France. While voices on the left and in the center of the French political spectrum criticized the JDD for hiring Lejeune, many politicians on the right have praised the appointment. Zemmour has been particularly effusive. On Sunday, he tweeted a picture of himself reading Lejeunes first edition of the paper, with a broad smile on his face.



Other notable stories:

Earlier this year, a jury in New York found Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming the advice columnist E. Jean Carroll. After Carroll continued to accuse Trump of rapea finding that the jury did not reachTrump countersued her for defamation, but yesterday a judge dismissed that suit , ruling that Carrolls remarks were substantially true according to the common understanding of rape (if not the legal one).

Nicholas Fandos, of the New York Times , obtained a trove of messages showing that Madeline Cuomo, the sister of the disgraced former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, coordinated with grassroots pro-Cuomo activists to smear women who came forward to the media with claims of sexual misconduct against her brother. Madeline Cuomo and the activists eventually fell out, including over the terms of a documentary project.

Researchers at Media Matters for America, a watchdog group, examined cable-news coverage of recent labor strikes , finding that the Hollywood actors walkout got almost as much airtime in its first eight days as the twenty-one biggest strikes in the first half of the year combined. Media Matters found that MSNBC, CNN, and Fox News collectively covered only five of those strikes, and scarcely mentioned union-busting efforts.

In an analysis piece for Haaretz , Alon Pinkas assessed why Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, keeps giving interviews to US networks even as he barely talks to domestic ones . His image in America is far more important to him, Pinkas argues; additionally, he believes that whatever he says there will reverberate in Israel and feels he can comfortably manipulate American interviewers with immunity and impunity.

And for Popula , Kate Harloe asks whether libraries might represent the future of media . Across the country, a variety of newsroom-library partnerships and experiments have sprung up in recent years, Harloe writes. More broadly, libraries are evidence that when you make a public good truly publicwhen you make it owned, structurally, by everyonepeople actually like that, a lot. Why not build on whats already working?

ICYMI: The dualities of Trump coverage

Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop.
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP)  A multinational force is helping Cyprus fight stubborn wildfires in the summer heat, with Lebanon joining Greece and Jordan in sending aircraft to fight a blaze that has scorched miles of mountainous terrain, officials said Monday.

Cyprus Foreign Ministry spokesman Theodoros Gotsis told The Associated Press that neighboring Lebanon is expected to send a pair of choppers as the wildfire continues to reignite on several fronts.

Two Greek Canadair aircraft have been dispatched to help douse the fire in the mountains about 11 miles (17 kilometers) north of the coastal town of Limassol. Jordan has sent three aircraft of its own, including two Super Puma helicopters and a Russian-made Mi26 helicopter. The multinational effort is battling a blaze that according to Agriculture and Environment Minister Petros Xenophontos scorched around 3.2 square miles (8.5 square kilometers) of land.

Environment Ministry Secretary Andreas Gregoriou, who is coordinating firefighting efforts, told state-run Cyprus News Agency that talks are ongoing with Israel for additional air support if needed.

Greece`s Civil Protection Ministry said 20 tons of fire retardant is also on its way to Cyprus.

Xenophontos said the fire had been largely contained overnight but had rekindled along several areas early Monday, forcing air and ground crews to again mobilize. Because of strong winds, fire crews would remain at the scene for as long as needed to counter any flare-ups.

Fires are here, climate change exists and unfortunately it won`t go away, Xenophontos told reporters at a fire coordinating hub near the fire.

Fire Department spokesman Andreas Kettis had earlier posted on the platform known as X, formerly Twitter that ground crews were working to hem in the blaze by building firebreaks.

Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou tweeted on X that he has given instructions for an initial estimate of the damage to private and state-owned property.

Officials said the residents of three villages have returned to their homes after being instructed to evacuate as a precaution.

Gregoriou, who surveyed the area by helicopter along with the countrys fire chief, told state broadcaster CyBC that hundreds of fire fighters, including volunteers, managed to contain the fire overnight because winds had died down considerably.

The fire started Friday, but authorities said a day later it had been contained.

Xenophontos the fact that the fire reignited is something that concerns us and would be looked at by officials over the next few days. He dampened suggestions that it may have been the work of arsonists, saying that strong winds were lashing the spot where the fire is believed to have reignited.

Some fire fighters who have been on the front lines have been relieved to rest up for any possible fires elsewhere on the island, the minister said.

Associated Press writer Elena Becatoros in Athens, Greece contributed.

Top photo: An aircraft drops water over a fire in Apesia, a semi-mountainous village near Limassol, southwestern Cyprus, Monday, Aug. 7, 2023. Greece on Monday dispatched two Canadair fire-fighting aircraft after a call for assistance from fellow European Union member Cyprus to help fight a blaze that has scorched miles of mountainous terrain. (AP Photo/Philippos Christou)

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP)  Two women were killed and another woman and two men were hospitalized with burns after a pleasure boat caught fire and exploded at a marina in Long Beach, California, authorities said.

The blaze was reported around 5:15 p.m. Saturday on a 35-foot (11-meter) powerboat at a fuel dock in Alamitos Bay, the Long Beach Fire Department said.

Cory Valdes was on another boat nearby when he heard the explosion and then saw flames consume the vessel.

It was so loud, it shook us, he told the Long Beach Press-Telegram. It went up so fast  you are talking ten, fifteen seconds and it was fully engulfed.

One man was quickly able to get off the burning boat and onto the dock, Valdes recalled, while the other man and a woman jumped into the water.

Valdes and others grabbed a hose to help fight the flames until a a fire boat arrived with a water cannon. Firefighters initially struggled to find the two remaining women on the boat, Valdes said.

You know there are the other two on board, you are hearing yelling, you think you are hearing screaming  it was just a poor, sad situation, said Valdes, who`s retired from the U.S. Coast Guard and is a regular at the marina.

The fire sent up a black plume of smoke that could be seen and smelled from throughout the area that is about 30 miles (48 km) south of downtown Los Angeles.

All of those killed and injured were in their 60s, Fire Capt. Jake Heflin told the newspaper. Their identities were not immediately released.

The cause of the fire was under investigation Sunday.

The wreckage of the boat was towed to an isolation dock to prevent environmental damage from leaking fuel, Heflin said.

Top photo: Long Beach firefighters inspect a charred vessel at Alamitos Bay in Long Beach, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023. Two women were killed and another woman and two men were hospitalized with burns after a weekend fire on the pleasure boat in Long Beach, California, authorities said. (Long Beach Fire Department via AP)

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio -- An eight-months pregnant woman reported July 29 that the father of her child had dragged her by the hair and choked her before leaving her Marsol Road apartment with her cell phone and vehicle.

She did not want to press charges, but officers filed them for domestic violence, felonious assault and theft of a vehicle without consent.

The Cleveland man, 33, was arrested later that day when officers found him driving the womans vehicle on Gladwin Drive.
STRONGSVILLE, Ohio -- The city can now hire new police officers and firefighters up to six months before a position becomes open in the Police and/or Fire departments, under legislation recently approved by City Council.

By doing so, the roster of patrol officers and firefighters may occasionally and temporarily exceed the maximum number allowed by city code.

The ordinance will allow the city to train new officers and firefighters in advance of an expected job vacancy instead of afterward.

Thats important nowadays, city officials said, because the number of applicants to the Police and Fire departments has significantly dropped in recent years. It might become increasingly difficult to recruit replacement officers and firefighters, they said.

This (ordinance) is of great value to us, Charles Goss, Strongsvilles safety director, told cleveland.com in an email.

Police departments throughout Northeast Ohio and the United States have struggled to maintain a full complement of patrol officers due to a decreasing number of recruits.

In Cleveland, the number of police officers has fallen from 1,600 a few years ago to 1,242 today.

Ideastream Public Media reported in January that the Summit County Sheriffs Office was down 40 officers. One solution there was to pay recruits to attend the police academy.

Meanwhile, in Joplin, Mo., voters approved a tax specifically to hire more officers, the Joplin Globe reported in July. The police department there had been short more than 25 officers.

In July, Vallejo, Calif., declared a state of emergency due to a shortage of police officers, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. The police chief there hoped that the emergency proclamation would give him staffing flexibility, perhaps by seeking assistance from other law enforcement agencies.

The Detroit Free Press reported last week that the Ypsilanti, Mich., Police Department would rely on the Washtenaw County Sheriffs Office for help in handling major crimes, due to a shortage of officers and investigators.

Also earlier this month, KMGH-TV, an ABC affiliate in Denver, reported that officials in Aurora, Colo., are considering reinstating that citys reserve police force -- consisting of volunteers -- to address the lack of paid police officers.

A lengthy process

The ordinances allowing Strongsville to hire patrol officers and firefighters six months in advance -- approved by council July 3 -- arent the first measures the city has taken to address the personnel shortage.

Over the last three years or so, both Strongsville and North Royalton started accepting job applications from officers and firefighters already trained and employed in other communities. Theyre known as lateral transfers.

Goss said the Strongsville Police and Fire departments are now both fully staffed, with 55 patrol officers and 47 firefighters -- the maximum number allowed under city code. All supervisory positions are also filled.

However, Mayor Thomas Perciak told council July 3 that he was becoming increasingly concerned about attracting enough candidates to the police and fire services, according to meeting minutes.

Perciak said that in the past, more than 100 people applied every time an opening in the Police or Fire departments was advertised. However, at the last civil service test -- which all applicants must take -- only eight candidates passed and received certification.

Goss told cleveland.com that although the number of applicants has decreased, the city so far has managed to find enough quality candidates to fill vacancies.

In the Police Department, we have hired a blend of new and experienced officers, Goss said. Over the past few years, lateral hires have outnumbered untrained applicants. This has been due, in part, to the fact that basic (police training) academies were canceled during the (COVID-19) response.

Goss said the vast majority of vacancies in both departments occur when someone retires. In such cases, the city knows months in advance when they will need a replacement.

Thus, with the number of qualified applicants down, it would help the city to start the search for replacements quicker and bring them on board sooner, because the hiring and training process is lengthy.

Goss said that after an applicant for the Police Department passes a civil service test and is hired, they must attend an 18-week basic police academy. Upon graduation, they receive about 14 more weeks of field training under the guidance of a senior Strongsville officer. Then they are assigned a probationary solo beat.

If an officer with prior experience is hired, they go straight into a field training program that could last only a few weeks, Goss said.

Entry-level firefighters go though an orientation and field training for about a month before theyre ready to fill a position on a team, Goss said.

Read more from the Sun Star Courier.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  A Chester Township police officer was arrested and accused of having sex with a teenager while he was working.

Nicholas Iacampo of Painesville was charged Sunday with sexual battery. He is accused of meeting the teenager in the parking lot of the Church of the Blessed Hope on Wilson Mills Road in Chester Township, Chardon Municipal Court records show.

The Geauga County sheriffs office first received a report involving the allegations against Iacampo on Sunday evening, Craig Young, the chief of Chester Townships police force, said in a press release.

The Lake County sheriffs office was requested by the police department to investigate the incident, Young said.

Deputies from the sheriffs office arrested Iacampo on Sunday, police said. The 29-year-old appeared in court Monday, and his bond was set at $50,000. He posted 10% bond and will be due back in court for a preliminary hearing on Aug. 18.

Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz said a special prosecutor, Lake County Prosecutor Charles Coulson, has been appointed to handle the case. Iacampos mother is Chardon Municipal Court Judge Terri Stupica, the police chief confirmed.

Iacampo temporarily served as a school resource officer at West Geauga High School from January through June of the previous school year. This spring, he helped locate a student who had brought a gun into the school with plans of shooting his classmates.

Iacampo was placed under immediate administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer reached out to his attorney, Ian Friedman, for comment.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- WAY TO GO! To all those who have already gone to vote in todays special election and those who still intend too. The long lines of early voters across the state honors all those Americans who fought on the front, middle and back lines of wars to preserve the right to vote established by our Founding Fathers, Mothers, Abolitionists and Suffragettes for all of us.

On the ballot today is Issue 1. A Yes vote for Issue 1 would require a Super Majority of 60+ to amend the Ohio Constitution. A No vote would maintain the current Simple Majority of 50+1 to pass amendments to Ohios Constitution.

In this Novembers regular election, an amendment to enshrine Abortion rights/Reproductive rights will be on the ballot. Knowing polls have consistently shown a majority of Ohioans support legal abortions or are against abortion but for exceptions, as I am, the far-right Ohio legislature set up a special election in August expecting low voter turnout to increase the chances of Issue 1 passing.

Seeing those polls showing a majority of Ohioans still supporting at least minimum standard abortion rights, Issue 1 is an attempt to move the Buckeye goal posts before the November election. But many Ohio voters are throwing a penalty flag for that and going out to vote so another 10-yr-old Ohio rape victim doesnt have to go out of state for an abortion.

Speak and be heard with a vote today to not take voting rights for granted.
WESTLAKE, Ohio  Lego is celebrating the grand opening of a store at Crocker Park on August 12-13. The store, 276 Crocker Park Blvd, Westlake, will offer a wide selection of the latest Lego sets and in-store play experiences, activities and events.

During grand opening days, fans can participate in an interactive Mystery Mural build of the Cleveland Script. After the weekend, the mural will be viewable in the window at 172 Crocker Park Blvd. next to Sephora.
LOS ANGELES, California -- Taylor Swift will perform tonight -- Tuesday, Aug. 8 -- in the Los Angeles area as part of The Eras Tour. This is her second to last show of the U.S. tour and I cant even believe it.

Swift is set to perform Aug. 8 and Aug. 9 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Third-party ticket websites still have those tickets to get in and see Swift during the U.S. tour.

WHERE TO BUY TICKETS FOR TUESDAY, AUG. 8 CONCERT: Vivid Seats | StubHub | SeatGeek | TicketCity | MegaSeats

Here are the cheapest tickets I could find for tonights (Aug 8.) concert:

Vivid Seats: $698

StubHub: $701

SeetGeek: $706

WHERE TO BUY TICKETS FOR WEDNESDAY, AUG. 9 CONCERT (LAST U.S. TOUR DATE!): Vivid Seats | StubHub | SeatGeek | TicketCity

Swifts international tour in Latin America runs from Aug. 24 to Nov. 26. It doesnt end there. Swift will visit other countries and major cities like Mexico City, Argentina, Brazil, Australia, Singapore and Paris.

Swift then travels to North America at the end of all of the international tour for 15 additional concerts, including Toronto, Canada, she announced last week.

Listen to Swifts re-recorded Speak Now album if you havent already, or again if youre obsessed!

Kaylee Remington is the commerce reporter for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. Follow her for deals, trends and breaking news in the shopping and entertainment industries. Read her work here.
If youre seeking some good Midwestern eateries, there are plenty of options across the Buckeye State.

Thirteen Ohio restaurants made Yelps Top 100 Midwest Restaurants 2023 list, including four located in Greater Cleveland.

Hoyos Kitchen in Columbus, Ohio, was the top-ranking Ohio restaurant on the list, ranking No. 7 on Yelps Top 100 Midwest Restaurants.

Hoyos has two locations in Columbus  one at North Market and the other at North Market Bridge Park. Another location in Columbus Square is temporarily closed. The Somali restaurant has a 4.9 rating out of 147 Yelp reviews. The word Hoyo translates to mom in Somali, co-owner Mohamed Hassan told Yelp.

At this counter-service restaurant, customers choose a wrap made with Somali flatbread or a bowl filled with either salad or 3 different kinds of rice (including spicy rice with a fantastic kick), Yelp writes in its rankings. Filling choices include chickpeas, cabbage, spinach, and lentils as well as proteins such as Chicken Suqaar (a flavorful and aromatic dish of meat cooked with tomatoes, onion, peppers, and spices), goat, different kinds of chicken, and a vegetarian option with a little bit of everything.

RELATED: Two Ohio restaurants named Top 100 Burger Spots in the US

Grist in Dayton, Ohio, was the next best-ranked Ohio restaurant on Yelps list, placing 23rd. Kitchen Social in Columbus (27th), Mizu Japanese Sushi Restaurant in Parma (28th), and Scottys Cafe in Columbus (30th) rounded out the top 30 Midwest restaurants.

Below are all 13 ranking Ohio restaurants on Yelps Top 100 Midwest Restaurants 2023 list:

7. Hoyos Kitchen in Columbus

23. Grist in Dayton

27. Kitchen Social in Columbus

28. Mizu Japanese Sushi Restaurant in Parma

30. Scottys Cafe in Columbus

36. Brassica in Columbus

44. Warios Beef and Pork in Columbus

45. Phoenician Taverna in Mason

48. Half Moon Bakery in Cleveland

An assortment of open-faced empanadas from Bella Luna Bakery formerly known as Half Moon Bakery located at 3460 West 25th St., in Cleveland - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com

51. The Blue Door Cafe & Bakery in Cuyahoga Falls

71. Pickle and Bones Barbecue in Milford

75. Marble Room Steaks and Raw Bar in Cleveland

A Tomahawk steak from Marble Room Steaks and Raw Bar in Cleveland, Ohio.Judy Vegh, special to cleveland.com

86. Agape Mediterranean in Westerville

RELATED: Two Ohio doughnut bakeries named Top 100 US Donut Shops 2023

Yelps full rankings of Top 100 Midwest Restaurants 2023 can be found online.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  A Summit County Board of Elections official said ballot scanners were temporarily down Tuesday at a polling location in Cuyahoga Falls.

The issues are among the few reported at boards across Northeast Ohio during the special election for Issue 1, the proposed constitutional amendment.

One of the scanners at the Church in the Falls, 837 Chestnut Blvd., has been replaced, and others are being monitored by board staff after some voters reported issues with their ballots, said Lance Reed, director of Summit County Board of Elections.

Reed said a number of people had trouble with the ballots being properly fed into the machine. While waiting for the technical error to be fixed, voters placed their ballots into orange auxiliary bags, which will be checked multiple times and submitted before the end of the day.

Weve seen similar issues pop up at other locations, but voters can be confident that their vote will be counted, Reed said.

To help guide voters, Reed said precinct officials and trouble shooters will be placed at voting locations to assure assistance is available as quickly as possible.

Reed said he is expecting voter turnout for Election Day to exceed his expectations. Before noon, approximately 13% of Summit County voters had voted.

Im not putting an estimate on this one, he said. But people can be confident their votes will be counted.

Some voters experienced other issues. Voters in North Ridgeville said they had trouble getting to the polling location at St. Julie Billiart Church on Lear Nagle Road, as crews were paving the street Tuesday. Church officials told voters to enter through Opal Street.
Rotunda Rumblings

Decision Day: Today is Election Day, when Ohioans will vote on whether to approve State Issue 1, which would make it harder to change the state constitution and for the public to propose those changes. In his report detailing the yes and no campaigns final days, Andrew Tobias writes that both sides of the campaign believe the race will be close, and both sides continue to focus on mobilizing their core voters.

Vote vote vote: Planning on voting today? Still have an unreturned absentee ballot? Tobias has a quick explainer of what you need to know to make sure your vote is counted.

It all comes down to turnout: Turnout for the special election has been a key question since Ohio Republicans decided to hold a rare statewide August election to decide the constitutional amendment. Opponents warned of dismal turnout, and backers eventually acknowledged the likelihood as well. But the early voting period has produced unexpectedly high participation  nearly 700,000 voters had either cast an in-person early vote or returned an absentee ballot  though its hard to say whether that will erode Election Day turnout or boost it.

All eyes on us: As Ohioans take to the polls on State Issue 1, the nation is watching. The New York Times, Washington Post, Fox News, NBC, The Guardian and other national outlets all have stories.

Sip, sit and wait: Both sides of Issue 1 have watch parties on the book tonight. The vote-yes cohort will be at the Republican Senate Campaign Committee headquarters in Columbus, hosted by Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman. The vote-no side will be at Columbus Fire Fighters Local 67. Secretary of State Frank LaRose will be addressing reporters earlier in the day after he votes in Upper Arlington.

Delay tactic: Hundreds of military promotions around the country have been stalled for months by U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who objects to the Defense Departments policy of funding abortion-related travel and paid time off for service members. Sabrina Eaton reports that Tubervilles hold is delaying pay raises and job transfers for 301 officers around the country, including five at Daytons Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

Disaster request: U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown on Monday urged President Joe Biden and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to approve Ohio Gov. Mike DeWines request that the East Palestine train derailment be declared a federal disaster, Eaton writes. A letter Brown sent Biden and FEMA says the community needs extra federal help to ensure the community and its residents have the support necessary to address the ongoing challenges caused by the derailment.

Scary situation: A campaign airplane carrying Vivek Ramaswamy, the Ohio entrepreneur and Republican presidential candidate, and his campaign staff had to make an emergency landing on Monday after losing cabin pressure 15 minutes after taking off, reports Meg Kinnard for the Associated Press. A campaign spokesperson described everybody on board as safe, although the mishap caused Ramaswamy to convert a planned Michigan town hall from in-person to virtual.

Full Disclosure

Five things we learned from the May 15, 2023 financial disclosure statement of Ohio House Rep. D.J. Swearingen, a Huron Republican.

1. Alongside his legislative work, he earned a salary from the law firm of Wickens, Herzer, Panza

2. He reported earning more than $100,000 each on sales of property with Swearg Properties and Oak Bridge Holdings

3. He owed at least $1,000 at some point during the year to Ford Credit, Honda Credit, Roger Wasserman, Genoa Bank and Key Bank

4. He disclosed no debtors

5. He received gifts worth at least $75 from the Ohio Association for Justice, the Firelands Association of Realtors, Ohio Rep. Sara Carruthers, Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens, and the Ohio Campground Owners Association.

On the Move

Gov. Mike DeWine today announced hes nominating Kara Wente to serve as the director of the new Department of Children and Youth. She previously served as director of the Governors Childrens Initiative and the chief operating officer of Future Ready Columbus.

DeWine also named Giles Allen as his director of Legislative Affairs. Allen currently serves as the governors deputy director of Legislative Affairs and succeeds Aaron Crooks, who was recently named chief of staff for Lt. Gov. Jon Husted.

Birthdays

Alex Weingarth, government and external affairs director, Amerihealth Caritas;

State Sen. Shane Wilkin

Straight From The Source

One by one, the facts compiled in this article build a case that Ohio Republicans are transitioning out of the democracy business. (Tuesdays) vote on abortion breaks their own rule against elections in August.

Steve Inskeep, longtime host of NPRs Morning Edition and Up First, reacting to a New York Times article on Tuesdays vote on State Issue 1.

Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. Subscribe to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free.
Oil and natural gas producer Coterra Energy (CTRA) delivered mixed results after the closing bell Monday, with second-quarter sales missing expectations and profit outpacing estimates. However, what hit shares in after-hours trading was a guidance miss at the core of why we own the stock in the first place. Revenue for the three months ended June 30 fell 54% year-over-year to $1.19 billion, missing the consensus forecast of $1.27 billion, according to analyst estimates compiled by Refinitiv. Adjusted diluted earnings-per-share fell 71% versus the year prior to 39 cents, but EPS still managed to beat expectations of 34 cents per share, Refinitiv data showed. Bottom line Club holding Coterra's realized energy prices for the quarter, which reflect the impact of hedging activity, saw oil and natural gas ahead of expectations. However, natural gas liquid prices missed estimates. Despite strong production numbers and mostly favorable prices, both of which contributed to a beat for operating cash flow, higher-than-expected capital expenditures (CapEx) resulted in a miss on the free cash flow. That's problematic because as investors know, the investment thesis in the oil patch is predicated on lower CapEx in favor of cash returns to shareholders. We'll be looking for management to address this on the conference call Tuesday at 10 a.m. ET. Unfortunately, a similar dynamic was seen in forward guidance for the full year. While management did raise their outlook for total production along with their production targets for oil and natural gas, they left capital expenditure expectations alone. Given the pressure seen on commodity prices, particularly in natural gas, management was forced to lower their outlook for operating cash flow and free cash flow. Since cash returns to shareholders in the form of dividends and stock buyback rely heavily on free cash flow generation, this cut is likely the cause of the modest after-hours trading selloff, especially with shares up over 20% since the beginning of June as of Monday's close. CTRA YTD mountain Coterra Energy YTD performance Production increasing while capital expenditures hold firm is OK  but ideally, we would have liked to see CapEx come down and production up, similar to what we saw from fellow Club name Pioneer Natural Resources (PXD) they reported. We expect some questions on Tuesday's call about whether there's any wiggle room here to better protect free cash flow as production and capital expenditures are the two things management can control. Commodity prices are, of course, the other major factor in the cash flow equation but that's not really in the hands of any one company, no matter who they are due to global supply and demand dynamics. Our Coterra rating and price target are currently under review as we wait to see what management has to say about the operating environment and whether they provide more high-level commentary on what they're seeing for the rest of the year. We currently have Coterra as a 1-rated stock with a $30 per share price target. Capital allocation Coterra's buyback in the second quarter was disappointing. Due to the pressure on natural gas prices during the quarter and the impact that had on cash flows, management only repurchased $57 million worth of stock during the period, far below the $268 million purchased in the first quarter. Adding in the base dividends paid out (no variable dividend declared given the prior change in strategy), the team returned a total of $208 million to shareholders in the quarter. This brings the year-to-date total cash return to $628 million. The breakdown: $303 million via dividends and $325 million from repurchases. Management said, "Coterra is on track to return at least 75% of currently forecasted free cash flow." The company had $1.7 billion remaining under their previously authorized $2 billion authorization as of the end of June. Guidance Forward guidance for both the third quarter and full year 2023 was mixed  and unfortunately, the full-year misses were on management's cash flow forecasts. As we can see, despite raising full-year production targets to levels above what the Street was looking for across the board, the team was forced to lower its cash flow outlooks. The downward revision to cash flows appears to largely be the result of a downward revision to management's full-year price assumption for natural gas to $2.84 per million British thermal units (MMBtu), down from $2.89 MMBtu previously assumed. The company reiterated its expectation for West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude, the American oil benchmark, to average $76 a barrel for the full year. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long CTRA, PXD. 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.

In this photo illustration, a Coterra Energy Inc. logo is seen on a smartphone screen. Pavlo Gonchar | SOPA Images | LightRocket | Getty Images
With stocks struggling again on Tuesday , Bank of America's chart analyst said a "tactical correction" is underway and may continue for a bit longer because of seasonal weakness historically in the upcoming period. "After testing the target for the summer rally at 4580 and chart resistance at 4590-4637 in late July, the [S & P 500] has corrected, moving into a less robust period of seasonality," wrote Stephen Suttmeier, technical research strategist for Bank of America Securities, in a note Tuesday. "If the tactical resistances highlighted above contain interim rallies on the SPX, then a seasonal corrective phase should continue from the late July high." .SPX YTD mountain S & P 500 YTD With Tuesday's sell-off, the S & P 500 is off by about 3% from its 52-week high  falling as low as 4465 or so. The benchmark is still up 16% on the year. A correction on Wall Street is typically when a security retreats by 10%, but in this case Suttmeier is not necessarily calling for a drawdown of that amount. The analyst cites 4,450/4,325/4,200 as key support levels that could trigger more selling if violated. A pullback to 4,200 would represent an 8.8% decline from the top. A history of the benchmark in the context of presidential elections also shows there could be continued weakness. Year three of the cycle which we are in has shown solid returns through July but then lackluster performance until December, Suttmeier shows. The S & P 500 is typically flat in August and down 1.08% in September on average during the third year of the presidential cycle, Bank of America data showed. The report suggests investors may win by getting more defensive, rotating into utilities and staples for the time being.
President Joe Biden will announce a new national monument to preserve land around Grand Canyon National Park and limit it from mining, White House officials said Monday.

Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed during a press gaggle aboard Air Force One that Biden will call for the designation during his visit to northern Arizona on Tuesday, making it his fifth national monument.

A dozen tribes "stepped up" and asked for this monument, Jean-Pierre added.

Advocates for limiting mining around Grand Canyon National Park had expressed hope that this would be the reason behind the presidential visit.

Biden's new national monument designation would preserve about 1,562 square miles for future generations.

Representatives of various northern Arizona tribes have been invited to attend the president's remarks. Among them are Colorado River Indian Tribes Chairwoman Amelia Flores, Navajo President Buu Nygren and Havasupai Tribal Councilwoman Dianna Sue White Dove Uqualla. Uqualla is part of a group of tribal dancers who will perform a blessing.

"It's really the uranium we don't want coming out of the ground because it's going to affect everything around us  the trees, the land, the animals, the people," said Uqualla. "It's not going to stop."

Tribes in Arizona have been pushing Biden to use his authority under the Antiquities Act of 1906 to create a new national monument called Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni. "Baaj Nwaavjo" means "where tribes roam," for the Havasupai people, while "I'tah Kukveni" translates to "our footprints," for the Hopi tribe.

Tribes and environmentalists for decades have been trying to safeguard the land north and south of Grand Canyon National Park, while Republican lawmakers and the mining industry tout the economic benefits and raise mining as a matter of national security.

The Interior Department, reacting to concerns over the risk of contaminating water, enacted a 20-year moratorium on the filing of new mining claims around the national park in 2012. Democratic U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva repeatedly has introduced legislation to create a national monument.

A U.S. Geological Survey in 2021 found most springs and wells in a vast region of northern Arizona known for its high-grade uranium ore meet federal drinking water standards despite decades of uranium mining.

In 2017, Democratic President Barack Obama backed off a full-on monument designation. The idea faced a hostile reception from Arizona's Republican governor and two senators. Then-Gov. Doug Ducey threatened legal action, saying Arizona already has enough national monuments.

Opponents of establishing a monument have argued it won't help combat a lingering drought and could prevent thinning of forests and stop hunters from keeping wildlife populations in check. Ranchers in Utah near the Arizona border say the monument designation would strip them of privately owned land.
Boeing 787 Dreamliners are built at the aviation company's North Charleston, South Carolina, assembly plant on May 30, 2023.

Boeing delivered 43 aircraft to customers last month as it tries to ramp up output with airline customers clamoring for new jets.

The handovers were down from 60 in June but brought Boeing's total deliveries in the first seven months of the year to 309, an increase of nearly 28% from the same period in 2022.

Last month, Boeing said it was transitioning production of its bestselling 737 Max plane to a pace of 38 a month from 31. Despite production problems earlier this year and a brief strike at key supplier Spirit Aerosystems , Boeing's CFO, Brian West, last month reiterated the company still expects to deliver 400 to 450 Max jets this year.

Boeing's chief rival, Airbus, last week said it has handed over 381 planes in the first seven months of the year.

Boeing said it logged net orders for 52 aircraft in July, which included a firmed-up order from Saudi Arabian Airlines, or Saudia, for 39 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, a deal first announced in March.
More than 325 million bottles of champagne were shipped from Champagne in 2022, according to Comite Champagne. Dave Kotinsky | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images

Champagne has been a hallmark of celebrations and luxury living for centuries. But Europe's soaring temperatures and increasingly volatile weather are sparking fears that France's Champagne region could become unsuitable for its production. More than 325 million bottles of champagne were shipped from Champagne in 2022, surpassing 6 billion euros ($6.6 billion) in sales for the first time, according to champagne trade association Comite Champagne. The biggest markets are the United States, Britain and Japan. The committee suggested a "prudent outlook" for 2023, though it said growers and houses in Champagne "remain confident in the basic health of their business." The health of the climate, however, throws the beverage's future into doubt  champagne houses will have to adapt to survive and the flavor of champagne could change along the way.

Sunburned grapes, damaged flavors

The Champagne region's exposure to physical risk caused by drought is set to almost triple by the 2050s, according to the S&P Global Sustainable1 report, posing serious problems for vineyards. The report scores regions on a scale of 1-100, where a score of 100 represents maximum risk exposure. It said the risk of drought in Champagne will rise from the current level of 16 to 43 by the 2050s, then double to 88 by the 2090s  if no changes are made to current climate policies. Drought isn't the only factor that can hamper production. The weather is increasingly erratic, with fires, floods and frosts becoming more frequent in recent years.

More than ever, we are working to adapt. Sandrine Sommer Chief Sustainability Officer at Moet Hennessy

Even if grapes are still able to grow in a changing climate, the conditions can alter the fruit's development and cause damage. "[If the grapes] get exposed to too extreme UV rays, then they will get the equivalent of our sunburn and that will basically  damage the flavor," Matt Hodgson, founder of English wine retailer Grape Britannia, told CNBC.

Champagne vineyard are pictured near the village of Ville-Dommange a few kilometres from Reims, in northeastern France. Francois Nascimbeni | Afp | Getty Images

The additional heat can also change the grapes' acidity, which gives champagne its freshness and "intangible zip and zing," Hodgson said. International brands are aware of the huge impact climate change can have on their businesses. "We recognize the effects of climate change on all Moet Hennessy's terroirs, and to different degrees," Sandrine Sommer, chief sustainability officer at LVMH's wine and spirits division, Moet Hennessy, told CNBC via email. "More than ever, we are working to adapt," Sommer added.

The Champagne method

The best-known rule of champagne is that it must be produced in the Champagne region of France, but the long list of appellation rules that must be followed include specific vineyard practices; sourcing grapes from certain locations; particular grape-pressing methods; and the use of only select varieties of grape. The use of pesticides and additional acidifying are banned, and all stages of production must take place in Champagne, right up until the labeling of the bottle. But champagne houses are tweaking their processes to continue production within the strict confines of the rules.

Winegrowers load a traditional wine press with Chardonnay grapes during the harvest, in Montgueux, central France. Francois Nascimbeni | Afp | Getty Images

"20 years ago the harvest used to take place at the end of September, beginning of October," Champagne Taittinger spokesperson Claire Sarazin told CNBC. Now, the champagne house harvests grapes at the end of August and the beginning of September.

In terms of flavor, what you're noticing a lot is much riper characteristics. Tom Hewson Champagne critic

The changing temperatures also mean that champagne is becoming naturally sweeter. "We have so much sun and so much sugar basically in the juice that you don't need to add sugar anymore," Sarazin said. "It's not an issue so far, but it's something we have to take care of."

'Definite shift' in taste

According to critics, some champagnes already taste very different from the champagne that people had years ago. "In terms of flavor, what you're noticing a lot is much riper characteristics," champagne critic Tom Hewson told CNBC, adding that it brings bubbly closer to other white wines and makes it "a more transparent wine." Wine judge and critic Susy Atkins has also noticed that the taste of champagne has changed in recent decades. "I have noticed a subtle change in my 30-odd years and  other people who've got more like 50 years of wine tasting experience have pointed to a definite shift in style towards the more rich," Atkins said.

Future of champagne

Champagne houses are taking different approaches to preserving their futures in the industry, including eyeing locations with similar climates to Champagne. Taittinger became the first champagne house to invest in English sparkling wine back in 2015, closely followed by Pommery in 2016. But steps are being taken to maintain the distinction between English and French-made products.

A bar tender pours a bottle of Taittinger Champagne. Carlo Paloni | Bafta | Getty Images

Taittinger's English sparkling wine, for example, is exclusively for the British market to avoid "cannibalization" of its original product. When asked whether it's possible that champagne will no longer be produced in the Champagne region, Taittinger said the brand has "a more positive" outlook, and that the Comite Champagne is exploring avenues such as developing new grapes. So far, however, the organization has yet to find a grape that meets the high standards necessary for champagne-making.

"It would be suicide to not consider alternatives, wouldn't it?" Matt Hodson Founder of English wine retailer Grape Britannia
A container ship from China-owned Cosco Shipping sits in the Port of Oakland in California on Aug. 7, 2023.

BEIJING  China said Tuesday that exports fell by 14.5% in July from a year ago, while imports dropped by 12.4% in U.S. dollar terms.

That's worse than what analysts had expected.

A Reuters poll predicted a 12.5% decline in exports in July from a year ago, in U.S. dollar terms. Imports were expected to have dropped by 5% during that time, according to the poll.

China's exports to the U.S. plunged by 23.1% year-on-year in July, while those to the European Union fell by 20.6%, CNBC analysis of customs data showed. Exports to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations fell by 21.4%, according to the data.

China's imports from Russia fell by 8.1% in July from a year ago, the data showed.

A slowdown in U.S. and other major economies' growth has dragged down Chinese exports this year. Meanwhile, China's domestic demand has remained lackluster.
Global air and ocean temperatures soared to a record high in July, according to the EU's climate change service Copernicus, deepening concern among climate scientists at a time when a spate of heat records suggest the planet has entered uncharted territory.

The EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said Tuesday that the global average surface air temperature in July was confirmed to be the highest on record for any month.

July was found to be a whopping 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer than the average for the 1850-1900 period and 0.33 degrees Celsius warmer than the previous warmest month of July 2019.

Meanwhile, global average sea surface temperatures continued to rise in July, the EU's climate monitor said, after a long period of unusually high temperatures stretching back to April. For the month as a whole, the planet's average sea surface temperature was 0.51 degrees Celsius above the 1991 to 2020 average.

The data, which is collated from the measurement of satellites, ships, aircraft and weather stations around the world, follows a flurry of record-breaking heat waves across multiple regions.

Vast parts of Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Asia have suffered from scorching heat in recent weeks, while South American countries have been gripped by record-breaking temperatures in the middle of winter.

"These records have dire consequences for both people and the planet exposed to ever more frequent and intense extreme events," Samantha Burgess, deputy director of C3S, said in a statement.

"Even if this is only temporary, it shows the urgency for ambitious efforts to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, which are the main driver behind these records," she added.
Campaign finance charges against Sam Bankman-Fried are still on the table and will be included in an indictment next week against the founder of failed crypto exchange FTX, prosecutors said in a letter to a Manhattan federal judge Tuesday.

Bankman-Fried faces decades in prison if convicted on the original seven-count indictment, which centers around an alleged multibillion-dollar fraud against FTX investors. However, the government had been forced to drop additional allegations of campaign finance fraud in July because of the terms of the U.S. extradition treaty with the Bahamas, where Bankman-Fried and his company were based.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York now says that the forthcoming indictment "will make clear that Mr. Bankman-Fried remains charged with conducting an illegal campaign finance scheme." The government will incorporate it within two of the charges that are still standing: wire fraud and money laundering.

The treaty with Bahamas prevents prosecutors from adding further charges against someone who has been extradited without first getting permission from the other government. The U.S. government had asked the Bahamas to extradite Bankman-Fried on a seven-count indictment, but prosecutors didn't get clearance from the Bahamas to add further charges of campaign finance and bribery to Bankman-Fried's indictment.

Bankman-Fried is accused of conspiring to launder customer money to finance his lavish lifestyle influencing politicians. His trial is expected to begin in October, which would be 11 months after FTX filed for bankruptcy.

A spokesperson for Bankman-Fried declined to comment.

 CNBC's Dawn Giel contributed to this report.

WATCH: Judge imposes gag order on Sam Bankman-Fried
Indeed's new survey found that 71%  or more than 2 in 3  Indian working professionals chose flexibility as the top parameter while on the job hunt.

Workers in India are far from ready to return to the pre-pandemic days of working in an office, five days a week. That's according to a new survey by employment site Indeed, which found that 71%  or about two in three  Indian professionals chose flexibility as the top parameter while on a job hunt. "This includes the ability to work from home, set your own hours, and take breaks as needed," the job portal added.

Flexibility has been a growing priority for working professionals, who report better work-life balance and productivity when they can choose where and when they work. According to Indeed's survey, which drew data from more than 1,200 job seekers in India, "work modes" such as hybrid or remote arrangements were a close second (70%) for working professionals when evaluating a job opportunity. In contrast, fewer job seekers (67%) consider the compensation offered for the job. That includes salary, benefits, health insurance, family leave and other learning programs offered by a company.

Fewer companies advertising remote work

In an era of work where professionals want the choice to work where they're most productive, employers are less likely to offer that flexibility than before. "Employers' attitudes towards remote work remains at odds with the preferences of job seekers in India," Sashi Kumar, Indeed India's head of sales told CNBC Make It. "The latter remain keenly interested in remote work, whereas employers are far less likely to mention 'work from home' in the job ads they post." According to Indeed, 6.5% of job postings on the platform in June explicitly mention phrases such as "work from home" or "remote work" in their job descriptions.

While that figure has "drifted upwards" in 2023 thus far, it remains well below the levels observed in 2021, it added. In contrast, Indeed found that job searches for remote or hybrid work remain elevated at over 10%. The survey also revealed that 63% prefer to work in a hybrid setting in particular, where they can work from home some days and from the office on other days. Yet, only 51% of 561 surveyed employers stated they provide that option. According to Kumar, there are several factors that are contributing to companies' desire to have employees back in office. "Companies are eager to restore a sense of pre-Covid normalcy, and bringing employees back to the office is seen as a step towards achieving that," he explained.

The future of work is undoubtedly evolving, and it's essential for organizations to remain open-minded and adaptable in response to these changes. Sashi Kumar Indeed India, Head of sales

"The traditional office environment has long been a cornerstone of corporate culture, and for many, it represents a place of communication, collaboration, and innovation." Employees also see having employees physically present in the office as a way to "enhance productivity" and ensure better accountability. However, Kumar added, "the future of work is undoubtedly evolving, and it's essential for organizations to remain open-minded and adaptable in response to these changes."

Job seekers value clarity and communication

In the midst of economic uncertainty, job seekers have been facing longer job interview processes as companies become more cautious with hiring. According to a June report from HR advisory Josh Bersin Company, in collaboration with workforce solutions firm AMS, the amount of time it takes to hire a new employee reached "an all-time high" in 2023. The report showed that average time-to-hire rates for the first quarter of 2023 increased across all industries by one day  pushing the recruitment process to 44 days on average.

Prompt communication  reduces uncertainty for applicants, and helps employers focus on the best-fit candidates for their organization. Sashi Kumar Head of sales, Indeed India

This may be why Indeed's survey found that India's job seekers reflected the need for "more transparency and clarity" about jobs and interview processes. Its findings showed that only 15% of applicants hear back from companies after interviews within 10 to 15 business days, while 63% wait between 15 to 30 business days. In addition, almost half of job seekers, or 48% surveyed, want to know the salary range from employers before applying for a role, Indeed added. While the length of the recruitment process depends on the size of the company, industry and role, Kumar said that "clear communication" is crucial especially when attrition rates are high.
Two Russian missile strikes on Pokrovsk in Ukraine's Donetsk region on Monday night killed at least seven people, including five civilians, according to Ukrainian officials.

In his nightly address, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the hits were to residential buildings and that one of those killed was Andriy Omelchenko, deputy head of the State Emergency Service in Donetsk.

Zelenskyy also referenced the latest in a series of prisoner exchanges, which saw 22 Ukrainian soldiers return home. Separately on Monday, three women were arrested for allegedly attempting to pass information about the movement of military equipment on to Russia.
U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) speaks with reporters after a Republican conference meeting at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, July 18, 2023.

The super PAC aligned with Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy could spend at least $100 million in the 2024 election cycle to support GOP House candidates in states that were won by President Joe Biden in 2020, according to a strategy memo obtained by CNBC and committee executives.

"In 2024, the House will be won or lost in blue states," Congressional Leadership Fund president Dan Conston, wrote in the Aug, 7 memo addressed to "Interested Parties."

"Swing voters in blue states are different from swing voters in swing states," he added, and "Republican party infrastructure won't be present in the same way" in these states as it is in battleground states, where both parties have armies of volunteers and years of experience reaching voters.

Conston dubbed the CLF's plan the "Blue State Project." A senior executive later said the group could spend over $100 million on the project, but did not have a firm budget yet.

In states that are consistently competitive in presidential and Senate contests, like Michigan and Pennsylvania, both Democrats and Republicans maintain huge volunteer networks and voter outreach programs.

But in states where one party has long been dominant, like Democrats in California or Republicans in Wyoming, there is little motive for top super PACs to spend money building up voter outreach networks.

This is the challenge facing House Republicans, wrote Conston. "These blue states exist in a vacuum outside of the competitive presidential and senate races ... meaning we must create our own infrastructure."

This will include identifying key voters, building a voter contact plan and creating a turnout strategy for Election Day, he wrote, listing three notoriously expensive, and complex, elements of political campaign management.

Republicans currently have a slim majority in the House after the 2022 midterms, largely thanks to victories in blue states like New York, where the GOP flipped four House seats.

All of those flipped New York seats are 2024 targets of the campaign arm for House Democrats, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. The Democratic rival House Majority PAC has said they are investing $45 million in New York and $35 million in California.

There are currently six Republicans who represent Biden-won districts in New York, and another five in California. To hold these seats in deep blue states will require that groups like CLF buy airtime for ads in some of the most expensive media markets in the country, Conston notes.

The Cook Political Report's list of toss-up House seats -- the most competitive seats in the country -- currently includes 13 Republican seats, four of them in New York and three in California.

Democrats, by contrast, hold 10 toss up seats, but none of them are in traditional Republican strongholds.

The Congressional Leadership Fund spokeswoman explained that the PAC's planned efforts in blue states are going beyond New York and California, including targeting districts in New Jersey, Washington and Oregon.
Former Vice President Mike Pence gives remarks at the Calvin Coolidge Foundations conference at the Library of Congress on February 16, 2023 in Washington, DC.

Former Vice President Mike Pence has qualified for the first Republican presidential primary debate set for later this month, his White House campaign said Tuesday.

But it's unclear if Pence will get a chance to debate face to face against his former boss, Donald Trump, who has suggested he will skip the forum since he already holds a commanding lead in the polls. The first debate is set for Aug. 23 in Milwaukee.

Pence hit the Republican National Committee's 40,000-donor threshold, securing contributions from at least 200 unique donors in 40 states, according to his campaign. That exceeds the RNC's criteria for the debate  which requires candidates to net at least 200 donors from 20 or more states  putting Pence on track to qualify for the second debate, his campaign said.

Pence's campaign also said it is the first to submit its donor count verification to the RNC.

Pence joins at least half a dozen other candidates who have already clinched spots on the debate stage, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

The Pence campaign noted that the former vice president passed the RNC's threshold after nine weeks on the campaign trail  a shorter timeframe than Haley, who hit the donor mark in 21 weeks, or Scott, who did it in 13 weeks.

"Mike Pence made quick and easy work of the donor threshold and he's looking forward to a substantive debate about the issues important to the American people," Pence spokesman Devin O'Malley said in a statement.

"Hopefully, former President Trump has the courage to show up," O'Malley said.

Pence isn't the only one pushing Trump to participate in the debate. Christie, the former president's most aggressive Republican critic in the primary field, has put himself forward as the most capable candidate to rip Trump apart in a rhetorical knife fight.

"That's the only thing that's going to defeat Donald Trump," Christie said in March.

But Trump has repeatedly signaled he is leaning against it. "Why would you let somebody that's at zero, or one or two or three [in the polls] be popping you with questions?" Trump said in a recent interview.

Political strategists have said it makes little sense for Trump to expose himself to all manner of attacks from his challengers on his policy record, his myriad controversies and his numerous pending criminal matters.

The absence of Trump, a media magnet and ratings booster, could also undermine other candidates' efforts to make an impact on the Republican primary electorate.

For lower-polling candidates  a bucket that could include everyone except for Trump and DeSantis  a breakout debate performance could be critical. And some are pulling out all the stops to make sure they get their chance on the stage.

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum had promised $20 gift cards to up to 50,000 people who donated at least $1 to his White House bid. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez's campaign raffled off Lionel Messi tickets. Both men said they have hit the donor qualification.

Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said last week that his campaign is "close to halfway" toward the donor threshold.
Morgan Stanley named several stocks to play Europe's investment in renewable energy  and highlighted a "once-in-a lifetime" opportunity in the electricity sector in particular. Earlier this year, the European Union raised its renewable energy targets in the face of the energy crisis that followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The bank estimated the transition to green power sources will cost around 5 trillion euros ($5.5 trillion) between now and 2030. "1.6 trillion [euros] is already earmarked in EU programmes and budget. The remainder, 3.4 trillion [euros], needs to come from national governments and the private sector," Morgan Stanley's analysts led by economist Jens Eisenschmidt wrote in a July 30 research note. The bank said the stocks set to benefit are largely in utilities, including electricity companies, product manufacturers and firms involved in gas-fired power. "The electricity network required to connect new sources of clean energy to areas of demand as well as prepare [the] distribution system for widespread electrification creates a once-in-a-lifetime infrastructure growth opportunity,". When it comes to electricity, the bank is overweight on British firms SSE and National Grid . Growth opportunity "The EU and UK renewables targets imply significant growth investment opportunities for renewable developers," the bank said. It is overweight on stocks including German company RWE , Danish firm Orsted and French business Engie . The bank also likes suppliers to the electricity industry, such as Siemens Energy , which makes goods including wind turbines, and Prysmian , a cable manufacturer. While the transition to cleaner energy is underway, the EU will continue to rely on gas-fired power to an extent, the bank said. "We continue to see a demand for gas-fired power to balance a power system more dependent on weather-related intermittent sources of electricity: We therefore see a 'rising value of flexibility'," Morgan Stanley stated. British Gas owner Centrica is likely to benefit "for longer than the market currently envisages," it added. In March, the EU announced plans to source 42.5% of the bloc's energy from renewable sources by the end of the decade, up from a previous target of 32%. Though Morgan Stanley is positive on the opportunities for renewable energy companies, it said the EU's targets would be "hard to achieve."  CNBC's Michael Bloom and Sam Meredith contributed to this report.
Don't sleep on Laureate Education , Morgan Stanley said. The Wall Street bank upgraded the Baltimore-based small cap, which operates universities in Mexico and Peru, to overweight from equal weight. Morgan Stanley also raised its price target to $17 from $15, implying more than 20% upside over the next 12 months. One key catalyst cited by analyst Javier Martinez de Olcoz was "nearshoring." That is, companies moving their supply chain closer to home. Mexico has been tipped as a beneficiary of this trend as U.S. companies try to source goods away from Asia and avoid the worst of the supply chain issues that plagued them at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. "Education is a key part of the nearshoring story," Martinez said. "Mexico will require not only a larger workforce, but also significant upskilling/reskilling." "Mexico's post-secondary education has lower participation rates vs. Latam peers, and access to skilled labor is one of the country's main weaknesses, according to U.S corporates," he added. "The investments in new plants and the government's need to expand the infrastructure should require a large number of specialized workers, with the post-sec leader Laureate being one of the best positioned players to capture the opportunity, in our view." Shares of Laureate are up almost 46% year to date. The company also gained more than 5% last week after posting second-quarter revenue that exceeded analysts' expectations and raising its full-year sales and EBITDA guidance. LAUR YTD mountain LAUR in 2023 Laureate also said it expects enrollment in its universities to grow this year by 6% to 7% over 2022 levels. On top of all that, Morgan Stanley's Martinez noted Laureate's valuation is cheap relative to Brazilian rivals such as Vitru and Ser Educacional . Vitru and Ser Educacional are up 24% and 88%, respectively, over the past three months. Laureate has climbed 16% during that same time. "After the strong performance in the recent months, the multiple gap has opened and we see an attractive story building up for Laureate, favored by the nearshoring cycle," Martinez said.  CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed reporting.
Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk 's promising data on its obesity drug Wegovy should benefit Eli Lilly 's pipeline and its stock, according to Morgan Stanley. Shares of Novo Nordisk soared 15% in early trading Tuesday after late-stage trial data showed that Wegovy reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks or strokes, by 20%, compared with a placebo. "This is above our expectations and our prior analysis," Morgan Stanley analyst Terence Flynn said. The analyst said Eli Lilly's stock could rally at least 5% on this news as the positive data could pave the way for more insurance coverage of obesity treatments already in the Indianapolis drugmaker's pipeline. "We expect LLY shares to trade up > 5%, given this data should continue to build the case for broader insurance coverage of obesity drugs, such as LLY's Mounjaro, where a separate Ph3 outcomes trial is ongoing," Flynn said. Flynn has an overweight rating on Eli Lilly and a $560 12-month price target, which would translate into a 23% gain from Monday's close of $454.08. Eli Lilly raised its full-year guidance Tuesday as second-quarter profit jumped 85% from the same period a year ago on strong sales resulting from its drug pipeline. Shares were already up more than 8% in early trading Tuesday.  CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report.
Eli Lilly (LLY) on Tuesday easily topped Wall Street's second-quarter estimates for earnings and sales. The star of the show, once again, is Mounjaro, the diabetes treatment that could soon be cleared by regulators for weight loss as well. The promise of Mounjaro to combat obesity, and possibly other conditions, took the stock to an all-time high and added more than $60 billion of market value. Revenue for the three months ended June 30 rose 28% year-over-year to $8.31 billion, far outpacing the $7.58 billion expected by analysts, according to Refinitiv. (When excluding one-time divestment contributions and last year's Covid antibody revenue, Lilly's sales rose 22% on an annual basis.) Adjusted earnings per share of $2.11 beat the $1.98 consensus estimate and exceeded last year's second-quarter EPS by nearly 69%. Bottom line Club name Eli Lilly not only reported a stellar second quarter but got a lift to its long-term prospects in the form of new data on a diabetes and weight-loss drug from competitor Novo Nordisk (NVO). Lilly's multiyear outlook, led by Mounjaro, appears even brighter, and the company is making wise investments to support that growth. Novo Nordisk's trial results regarding a reduction of the risk of some cardiovascular problems  discussed in greater detail later in this story  are expected to strengthen the health-insurance reimbursement case for obesity drugs like its Wegovy and Lilly's Mounjaro . Getting broad reimbursement has long been seen as crucial for those drugs to reach their full commercial potential. As a reminder: Wegovy is already approved by U.S. regulators for obesity, while Mounjaro is expected to gain that additional approval by year-end. Mounjaro  which currently is only cleared as treating type-2 diabetes  showed impressive momentum in the second quarter, with sales reaching $980 million. That crushed Wall Street's estimates by more than $200 million and narrowly exceeded what analysts projected for the third quarter. Together, these developments further support Jim Cramer's contention that Mounjaro will become the best-selling drug of all time , assuming U.S. regulators expand its use to include obesity. "I reiterate that's exactly what's happening," Jim said Tuesday morning. Eli Lilly shares soared more than 16% to a new all-time high during Tuesday's session. We maintain our 2 rating , meaning we don't want to chase it up and would wait for a pullback before adding to our position. Our $460 price target is under review. LLY YTD mountain Eli Lilly's stock performance so far in 2023. Guidance For the second straight quarter, Eli Lilly raised its full-year sales and adjusted earnings outlook. The Indianapolis-based drugmaker now sees 2023 revenue between $33.4 billion to $33.9 billion, up from its prior guidance between $31.2 billion and $31.7 billion. The midpoint of the new forecast  $33.65 billion  is about 7% above Wall Street's full-year sales estimate, according to FactSet. Eli Lilly said roughly two-thirds of the $2.2 billion revenue guidance increase is tied to the previously announced sale of the commercial rights for antipsychotic Zyprexa , which were acquired by German firm Cheplapharm  and the divestment of Baqsimi , a nasal spray used to treat low blood sugar, to Amphastar Pharmaceuticals. The remaining $700 million increase to the revenue guidance reflects "strong underlying business performance," Lilly said. Eli Lilly now expects adjusted earnings per share between $9.70 and $9.90, up significantly from the old guidance between $8.65 and $8.85. Wall Street expected adjusted full-year EPS of $8.73, per FactSet. The company also raised its marketing, selling and administrative expense outlook, which now stands between $7.2 billion and $7.4 billion for 2023. That's up from between $7 billion and $7.2 billion. Lilly's finance chief Anat Ashkenazi said on the post-earnings call that the increase is tied to commercial product launches slated for later this year. Additionally, Lilly said research and development costs are expected to fall within the range of $8.9 billion and $9.1 billion, up from between $8.3 billion and $8.5 billion. The jump in R & D spending is related to additional clinical trials to support their next-generation products, Ashkenazi said. Overall, she said, Lilly sees a "tremendous opportunity for continued investment in a very successful pipeline." Second-quarter commentary Mounjaro's better-than-expected sales were the highlight of Eli Lilly's report. The call offered even more encouraging information  most notably, that manufacturing has begun at the company's North Carolina facility to increase the supply of Mounjaro. Over the next few months, "unprecedented demand" for the drug is likely to still cause sporadic shortages, acknowledged the president of Lilly Diabetes, Michael Mason. But as production in North Carolina ramps up, Mason said the expectation is that will help eliminate supply constraints. Management also expressed satisfaction with the growth of daily type-2 diabetes pill Jardiance and breast-cancer treatment Verzenio. Second-quarter sales of Jardiance rose 45% year over year to $668.3 million, topping the $627 million expected by analysts. Verzenio revenue increased by 57.5% to $926.8 million, compared with estimates of $911 million. The one key product to miss quarterly sales expectations was Trulicity, a type-2 diabetes treatment that some patients stop taking in favor of Mounjaro. Trulicity saw second-quarter sales of $1.81 billion, down 5% year over year and short of the $2.04 billion projected by analysts. Lilly attributed the weakness to lower realized prices both in the U.S. and internationally. Addressing concerns about cannibalization, Mason said about 13% to 14% of patients on Mounjaro switched from Trulicity, roughly the same since Mounjaro launched in June 2022. Impact of Novo study In a much-anticipated study , which we've previewed several times, Danish firm Novo Nordisk on Tuesday said its weight-loss therapy Wegovy cut the risk of a major cardiovascular event, such as strokes and heart attacks, by 20% in drug recipients compared with those who took the placebo. The late-stage trial, known as the Select study, involved about 17,600 people aged 45 and older with no history of diabetes who are overweight or obese and have cardiovascular disease. Investors in Novo and Eli Lilly had been awaiting the Select study's results, in hopes that favorable results could bolster the commercial future for the companies' expensive GLP-1 drugs, which include both Wegovy and Mounjaro. The thinking has been that if GLP-1 therapies can demonstrate an ability to not only cause patients to lose weight but improve other health outcomes, there's a better argument for insurance companies to more broadly cover the drugs for obesity indications. Indeed, that's what we got Tuesday. Mason, Lilly's head of diabetes, said health insurers are unlikely to immediately start covering GLP-1s for obesity in light of the Select results. That may take more time. But the results are "great for the anti-obesity medication class," and they should help draw greater emphasis to the overall health benefits that weight loss can provide, he added. For its part, Eli Lilly is also studying Mounjaro's impact on other health outcomes including cardiovascular events. The company has a late-stage trial involving patients with type-2 diabetes that's estimated to be completed in October 2024.  Programming note: Eli Lilly CEO David Ricks will be a guest on Tuesday evening's "Mad Money." (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long LLY. 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.

Eli Lilly and Company, Pharmaceutical company headquarters in Alcobendas, Madrid, Spain. Cristina Arias | Cover | Getty Images
"Ghost guns" seized in federal law enforcement actions are displayed at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) field office in Glendale, California on April 18, 2022.

WASHINGTON  A divided Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed the Biden administration to enforce regulations aimed at clamping down on so-called ghost guns  firearm-making kits available online that people can assemble at home.

The court in a brief order put on hold a July 5 ruling by a federal judge in Texas that blocked the regulations nationwide.

The vote was 5-4, with conservatives Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joining the three liberal justices in the majority.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, commonly known as ATF, issued the regulations last year to tackle what it claims has been an abrupt increase in the availability of ghost guns. The guns are difficult for law enforcement to trace, with the administration calling them a major threat to public safety.

The rule clarified that ghost guns fit within the definition of "firearm" under federal law, meaning that the government has the power to regulate them in the same way it regulates firearms manufactured and sold through the traditional process.

The regulations require manufacturers and sellers of the kits to obtain licenses, mark the products with serial numbers, conduct background checks and maintain records.

Gun control groups welcomed the decision from a court that frequently backs gun rights.

"Americans across the country will be safer thanks to the Supreme Court's decision today to keep ATF's life-saving ghost guns rule in effect while the appeals process plays out," said John Feinblatt, president of the group Everytown for Gun Safety.

Manufacturers and sellers have challenged the regulations in court, with two federal judges ruling in favor of the government.

But in Texas, Judge Reed O'Connor came to the opposite conclusion in a case brought by Jennifer VanDerStok and Michael Andren, people who own components that they want to use to build guns. Plaintiffs also include gun rights groups and makers and sellers of ghost guns.

David Thompson, a lawyer for some of the challengers, said he remained confident that "we will ultimately prevail on the merits" once the litigation concludes.

Tuesday's ruling was not a final decision and the Supreme Court could still hear the case and issue a detailed decision on the merits. The vote breakdown on Tuesday does not necessarily reflect how the justices would vote in that scenario.

An ATF spokesman said the agency does not comment on ongoing litigation.

Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, representing the Biden administration, wrote in court papers that O'Connor's ruling harmed the public by "reopening the floodgates to the tide of untraceable ghost guns flowing into our nation's communities."

Lawyers for the challengers wrote in response that the Gun Control Act of 1968 only regulates the commercial market for firearms, "leaving the law-abiding citizens of this country free to exercise their right to make firearms for their own use without overbearing federal regulation."

The administration quickly turned to the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which declined to block the majority of O'Connor's decision.

On July 28, Justice Samuel Alito temporarily put the Texas ruling on hold while the Supreme Court decided on what next steps to take.

The Supreme Court's conservative majority has backed gun rights in multiple cases, including the landmark 2022 ruling that for the first time recognized that the Constitution's Second Amendment includes a right to bear arms outside the home.

In the court's coming term, which starts in October, the court will weigh the scope of that decision in a case concerning whether people accused of domestic violence have a right to own firearms.

The ghost guns case, however, is on a separate legal question related to ATF's regulatory authority, not the right to bear arms.
Former president Donald Trump arrives at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, after appearing at the E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse, Aug. 3, 2023.

A federal judge on Tuesday scheduled a hearing for Friday morning on prosecutors' request for a protective order in the criminal election case against former President Donald Trump.

Judge Tanya Chutkan set the hearing after Trump's lawyers told her they wanted to push the session into early next week, despite Chutkan having asked both sides to offer her dates on or before Friday.

Prosecutors from the office of special counsel Jack Smith had told the judge they were available on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday for the hearing in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.

The session will deal with Smith's request that Chutkan bar Trump from publicly revealing some evidence collected during the criminal investigation.

The ex-president, who will not attend the hearing, is charged with four felonies related to his bid to reverse his loss in the 2020 election to President Joe Biden.

Shortly before Chutkan scheduled Friday's 10 a.m. hearing, Trump attacked her in a social media post, noting she was appointed to the judiciary by former President Barack Obama and claiming she had a conflict of interest in the case.

Earlier Tuesday, Trump's lawyers and Smith's prosecutors in a joint notice in court to the judge detailed their availability for the hearing.

The notice said that Trump wants both of his lawyers, John Lauro and Todd Blanche, to be present for the hearing.

"Todd Blanche is not available on Thursday, since he must appear for a court proceeding in the prosecution brought against the same defendant, President Trump, by the Special Counsel" in federal court for the Southern District of Florida, the filing said.

"Mr. Lauro is available on Thursday, with a preference for an afternoon setting," the filing said.

"However, since we lost Friday as an option, we would respectfully request a setting on Monday (after 12:00 p.m.) or Tuesday (all day) to allow for both Mr. Blanche and Mr. Lauro to be present."

It was not stated in the notice, or clear from other sources, why Friday was not "an option" for Trump's lawyers, or why they could not meet Wednesday.
Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson could see two of the wealthiest GOP business megadonors, Rebekah Mercer and Peter Thiel, invest in his new media company, according to people familiar with the matter.

Mercer has spoken with Carlson since his April departure from Fox News about possibly investing in his as yet unnamed media company, sources told CNBC. Thiel has hinted to allies that he could invest in the venture after hearing from Carlson's side, these people added.

It was unclear Monday whether Thiel or Mercer had officially moved ahead with a financing plan, and their spokespeople did not respond to multiple requests for comment over several weeks, including outreach on Monday. A spokesman for Carlson did not return a request for comment.

But both of them have privately expressed interest in helping Carlson, said numerous sources, who were granted anonymity to discuss private conversations.

The move by Carlson and his team to cultivate potential investors like Mercer and Thiel signals that the former Fox News host's new project could be on the brink of gaining financial support from some of the nation's most recognized conservative megadonors.

The news of Mercer's and Thiel's interest in Carlson comes as the TV host and his longtime business partner Neil Patel are reportedly looking to raise hundreds of millions of dollars to fund the company.

Any business between Carlson and Mercer could be part of a larger financing effort led by investment firm 1789 Capital, which is already planning an eight-figure investment into the former Fox News host's media venture.

Mercer is listed on the corporate database PitchBook as an "executive officer" at 1789 Capital and has already reportedly invested into a 1789 Capital fund worth $150 million.

Fox and Carlson officially parted ways in April, days after the network reached a more than $700 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems in its defamation lawsuit. Fox refused to say why Carlson was leaving, save for a statement in which Fox thanked him "for his service to the network."

Shortly after leaving Fox, Carlson began hosting an episodic show on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

The new media venture would create full-length versions of Carlson's X episodes, The Wall Street Journal reported, built around a subscription model for revenue.

A recent episode featured Carlson interviewing Devon Archer, a former business associate of President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden. Archer also testified before a House committee in late July, part of a Republican probe into Hunter Biden's business dealings.
The leader of the United Auto Workers on Tuesday adamantly defended lofty demands for the union's members who work for the Detroit automakers, while calling recent contract proposals from Stellantis "trash."

UAW President Shawn Fain during a Facebook Live webcast heavily criticized early-bargaining proposals from the Chrysler and Jeep parent company before throwing the packet of papers into a garbage can.

Fain laid out reported changes to the contract involving holiday and vacation days, absenteeism, 401(k) contributions, profit-sharing payments and other proposals that he described as "concessionary."

"Stellantis' proposals are a slap in the face. They're an insult to our members' hard work over the last four years," Fain said. "Rather than honoring the sacrifice made by the employees [during the Covid pandemic], management's chosen to spit in our faces."

Stellantis did not immediately respond for comment.

The theatrics are the latest and most elaborate by the union leader since negotiations began in earnest last month with Stellantis, Ford Motor and General Motors .

They come a week after the UAW publicly said it wants double-digit pay raises and defined-benefit pensions for all workers, citing 40% pay raises on average over the last four years for the CEOs of the companies.

Fain on Tuesday called proposed pay increases "well deserved." The union last week said it presented its economic demands that included "big wage increases," more paid time off and reestablishing retiree medical benefits as well as cost-of-living-adjustments.

The current contracts between the UAW and Detroit automakers expire on Sept. 14.

Contract talks between the union and automakers usually begin in earnest in July ahead of mid-September expirations of the previous four-year agreements. Typically, one of the three automakers is the lead, or target, company that the union selects to negotiate with first and the others extend their deadlines. However, Fain has said this year may be different, without going into specific details.

Fain reiterated Tuesday that Sept.14 "is a deadline, it's not a reference point."

"To the Big Three, the clock is ticking. It's time to get down to business," Fain said during the Facebook event.

Fain also criticized Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares for not meeting with union leaders to open the negotiations. Tavares, who is based in Europe, has publicly said that he did not plan to be involved in the day to day of the bargaining, instead relying on his regional leaders.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 6)  Authorities recovered 28,000 registered SIM (subscriber identity module) in the raid of a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Pasay City on Aug. 2, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Monday, noting that those involved could be the first to face cases under the SIM Registration Law.

"We're looking at the activation of the SIM Registration Law on how these SIM cards will be used and how the law will operate as to the telcos," Remulla told reporters.

"We will ask them [telcos] to help us in our case build-up as we examine the records and examine the equipment that we found and the evidence that we found," he added.

Remulla also said employees of the POGO, including names under the registered SIM, may face charges for crimes such as spoofing and misinterpretation.

Over 650 employees we reportedly apprehended by authorities in the POGO hub for allegedly engaging in love scam and cryptocurrency scam operations.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 7)  Officials of the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) have demanded that Beijing cease its unlawful actions in the Philippines exclusive economic zone (EEZ) after the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) fired a water cannon at Filipino vessels.

READ: Chinese coast guard fired water cannons at PH vessels en route to Ayungin Shoal  PCG

The Chinese militia vessels have no right whatsoever to place a blockade or impede or otherwise control the movement of the PCG [Philippine Coast Guard] and Philippine supply boats in Ayungin Shoal or anywhere in the West Philippine Sea, National Security Council (NSC) Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said Monday.

We demand that the government of the Peoples Republic of China immediately cease its pervasive and unlawful actions in the West Philippine Sea, Malaya added, a sentiment echoed by the military and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

The Armed Forces of the Philippines said it would fulfill its obligations in the region and continue resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre in the Ayungin Shoal.

The DFA on Monday summoned Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian and filed a diplomatic protest against Beijing over the incident.

READ: PH summons Chinese ambassador, files diplomatic protest after encounter near Ayungin Shoal

It said Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Theresa Lazaro asked China to stop committing illegal actions against Filipino vessels and interfering with activities of the Philippine government.

Beijing was also told to comply with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 arbitral ruling that negated its sweeping claims over the South China Sea, and to fulfill its commitments under the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

Beijing reiterates 'claim' over Ayungin Shoal

However, in a statement published on the same day, the CCG reiterated its claim that the RenAi Reef  known locally as the Ayungin Shoal and internationally as Second Thomas Shoal  has always been part of Chinas Nansha Island, or the Spratly islands.

It said that the Philippines illegally grounded the BRP Sierra Madre, a decommissioned US Navy warship, to serve as an outpost in the contested waters and urged Manila to tow away the base.

Moreover, the coast guard said it would continue to take necessary measures to firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty, justifying its blockade and firing of a water cannon at PCG vessels.

It [CCG] once again calls on the Philippines to accept China's proposal and discuss specific measures to control the situation on the Ren'ai Reef through negotiations, the statement said.

In 2016, an arbitral tribunal constituted under the UNCLOS declared the Ayungin Shoal as a low-tide elevation within the Philippines EEZ, and that there was no legal basis which entitled China to the area.

This ruling likewise nullified Beijings sweeping claim over the South China Sea, which included 80% of the Philippines EEZ.

READ: PH wins maritime arbitration case vs. China
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 8)  A Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) official said Tuesday she resigned under the leadership of then chief Gerald Bantag after she was asked to collect money from high-profile convicts Janet Napoles and Yu Yuk Lai.

After retiring from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Angelina Bautista said Bantag brought her to the BuCor in 2019. But she quit a year later due to conflicting principles. However, she returned to the burerau after Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. replaced Bantag.

Nag-resign po ako May 15, 2020... Unang una po sir, namatay po yung anak ko. Pangalawa po, magkakaiba na po kami ng prinsipyo, Bautista told the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

[Translation: I resigned on May 15, 2020... First of all, sir, my child died. Second, we had different principles.]

Pinangongolekta nila ako sa correctional eh... Pinangongolekta ako kay Janet Napoles at Yu Yuk Lai.

[Translation: They asked me to collect from the correctional...They told me to collect from Janet Napoles and Yu Yuk Lai.]

Napoles was identified as the mastermind behind the multibillion-peso Priority Development Assistance Fund mess, or pork barrel scam, in the late 2000s.

Meanwhile, Yu Yuk Lai was a Taiwanese drug dealer who died inside the New Bilibid Prison in 2021 due to COVID-19.

Bautista recently returned to BuCor as executive head assistant of the director general and officer-in-charge of the Office of the Deputy Director for Operations.

However, she was relieved on Aug. 5 pending an investigation on allegations against her, notably her reported ownership of a catering service at the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong City.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 8) -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday held a simulation for the first-ever automated barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections ahead of the October polls.

It held mock elections in three barangays in Dasmarinas, Cavite and Quezon City from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Comelec said the process generally went well except for some issues like paper jams. Most of the voters favored the faster automation over manual voting.

"Pagka ikaw ay automated, alas-tres ka natapos, alas kwatro may result ka na," said Comelec chairman George Garcia. "Ganun po kabilis kasi scanner lang naman 'yan, yung counting machine natin so ibig sabihin hindi na mahihirapan mga guro natin."

[Translation: If you are automated, if you finish at 3 o'clock, by 4 o'clock you'll already have results. That's how fast the scanner and the counting machine is, so teachers will not have a difficult time anymore.]

Garcia said 1,000 vote-counting machines will be used for the pilot testing, and while the Comelec chief cannot promise zero issues, he said back-up VCMs are adequate.

The poll body is also seeking additional funds to lease new machines for 2025.

"Dalawa pong eleksyon ang aming haharapin kung hindi magbabago ang desisyon ng Korte Suprema," Garcia said. "Kung manual po yun wala namang problema, kung automated malaki ang problema sapagkat malaki po ang nagagastos natin."

[Translation: If the Supreme Court's decision will not change, we're looking at two elections. There won't be any problems if it's manual, but that won't be the case if it's automated because the expenses will be big.]

The National Citizen's Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) said it's possible to fully automate the next local polls, but it will raise several recommendations to Comelec.

"So far we see it is doable but yung registration lang ng candidates that should be ironed out by Comelec," said Namfrel secretary general Eric Alvia. "'Yung QR code makikita niyo doon sa pinakahuli ng election results, must contain results of the machine, of the count. Para madali na lang bilangin ng interested parties or watchers."

[Translation: So far we see it is doable, but the registration of candidates should be ironed out by Comelec. The QR code seen at the very end of the election results must contain the results of the machine, of the count. So the interested parties or watchers will have an easier time in counting.]

The election period and gun ban will begin on Aug. 28, while the barangay and SK elections will take place on Oct. 30.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 8)  The Philippines could not reach China when it tried to contact Beijing through the hotline established between the two countries when Chinese vessels fired water cannon and blocked Philippine boats at Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea last week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Monday.

The DFA also expressed our disappointment that the Department was unable to reach its counterpart through the maritime communication mechanism for several hours while the incident was occurring, Foreign Affairs spokesperson Teresita Daza said.

The DFA urged Beijing officials to address the concerns of Philippine officials regarding the hotlines that were established to quickly resolve issues in the West Philippine Sea.

[The DFA] expressed our hope that the Chinese side would reciprocate, with the same sense of urgency, the communications initiated by the Philippines as has been demonstrated by the Philippines when receiving communications initiated by the Chinese side, it added.

During the state visit of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Beijing in January, Marcos and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to establish a hotline to prevent the escalation of tensions and avoid maritime mishaps in the West Philippine Sea.

These concerns were brought up when DFA Undersecretary Theresa Lazaro summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian on Monday to convey the strong protest of the Philippine government.

RELATED: PH summons Chinese ambassador, files diplomatic protest after incident near Ayungin Shoal

Apart from asserting that Ayungin Shoal is part of the Philippines exclusive economic zone (EEZ), Lazaro also told Huang that China has its obligations to ensure that maritime accidents will be prevented.

The DFA further called Chinas attention that its actions are likewise contrary to Chinas Flag State obligations under the 1972 International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, which requires states to take measures necessary to ensure safety at sea and prevent ship collisions. The China Coast Guard vessels dangerous maneuvers restricted the Philippine vessels navigational path, thereby increasing the risk of collision, the DFA added.

The DFA said that as of Aug. 7, 445 diplomatic protests have been filed against China since 2020, while 35 protests were lodged this year.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 8)  Senators have voiced their concerns over the Manila Bay reclamation project involving a Chinese company linked to building artificial islands in the South China Sea.

In a video posted on Facebook Tuesday, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said China is not a friend of the Philippines, saying no friend would hurt or abuse another.

"Isa sa mga dapat nating gawin ay ang i-ban na itong Chinese state-owned company na nagngangalang Chinese Communication Construction Co. o CCCC sa ating bansa," she said.

"May kasaysayan ito ng pakikisabwatan sa Chinese maritime militia para sirain ang mga coral reefs sa West Philippine Sea. Napag-alaman din natin na itong kumpanya ay kasama sa mga nagtayo ng artificial militarized islands sa ating karagatan," the senator added.

[Translation: One of the things that we should do is ban this Chinese state-owned company named Chinese Communication Construction Co. or CCCC from the country. This company has a history of working with the Chinese maritime militia to destroy coral reefs in the West Philippine Sea and in building artificial militarized islands in our ocean.]

The US Embassy earlier released a statement over the reclamation project, saying CCCC was added to the US Department of Commerce's Entity List for helping build the artificial islands.

"The company has also been cited by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank for engaging in fraudulent business practices," it added.

In a separate statement, Sen. JV Ejercito said the Philippine Coast Guard and the Navy should check the reclamation project.

"These are manned by Chinese, it is not farfetched that some PLA (People's Liberation Army) intel might be on board these vessels," he said.

Ejercito said being at Manila Bay, they were getting too close.

Environmental groups also voiced their concern, saying it was alarming that CCCC was operating in "plain sight."

"It is quite alarming that the very same company wrecking ecosystems in the West Philippine Sea is operating right here, legally, in plain sight in Manila Bay," said Jon Bonifacio, national coordinator of Kalikasan People's Network for the Environment. "This is an insult not only to our natural heritage, but also to our national sovereignty."

Kalikasan PNE called for the suspension of CCCC's operation and asked for a moratorium on all ongoing reclamation projects in Manila Bay as well as other parts of the country.

RELATED: DENR eyes possibly halting, minimizing Manila Bay reclamation projects

The China Coast Guard recently blocked and fired water cannons on Philippine vessels on a resupply mission to Ayungin -- an incident condemned by Manila and its allies.

The Philippines summoned China's ambassador and filed a diplomatic protest against Beijing over the water cannon incident. It was the 35th protest this year, and the 445th since 2020.

RELATED: PH tells China to stop illegal activities in WPS after water cannon incident

Despite the incident, the Philippines said it would continue with its resupply mission.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 8)  Estate tax amnesty may be availed of for another two years, or until June 2025, after the measure seeking such an extension lapsed into law following inaction from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The tax amnesty program already expired on June 14, but the newly approved Republic Act (RA) No. 11956 allows Filipinos to settle their estate tax obligations until June 14, 2025.

The Senate passed the bill that extends the tax amnesty on May 29, and this was adopted by the House of Representatives a day after.

According to the Constitution, the president must communicate his veto of any measure within 30 days after receipt, otherwise it shall become a law as if he had signed it. Since Marcos neither signed nor vetoed the bill, it lapsed into law on Aug. 5, a copy of the legislation released on Tuesday showed.

The new law amends RA 11569 signed by former President Rodrigo Duterte, which also extended the availment period for two years, or from June 2021 to June 2023.

Estate tax is defined as a tax on the right of deceased persons to transmit their estate to their lawful heirs and beneficiaries.

The extension covers the estate of decedents who died on or before May 31, 2022, whose estate taxes have remained unpaid or have accrued as of that date.

The law states that payment of the amnesty tax may be made either electronically or manually. Payment by installment shall also be allowed within two years from the statutory date, without civil penalty and interest.

Proponents of the extension have said it will provide needed relief to Filipinos affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and who have found it difficult to settle their tax liabilities due to economic challenges posed by the health crisis.

Based on estimates from Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, a principal author and sponsor of the measure, the law will benefit around 920,000 Filipino families..

Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno also earlier said the renewed extension will enable the government to collect additional revenues and strengthen tax compliance.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 8)  A security expert on Tuesday recognized the efforts of Philippine authorities in being more transparent when reporting the real situation in the disputed waters.

I think the administration, the government, and the military deserve great credit because what they have done this year is a new approach, security expert Raymond Powell told CNN Philippines The Source.

Citing the water cannon incident on Aug. 5, Powell said footage collected by authorities served as proof to show the aggressive actions done by the China Coast Guard (CCG) equipped with larger ships against the Philippines smaller resupply boats.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday confirmed that the Philippines summoned China's ambassador and filed a diplomatic protest against Beijing following the incident on Aug. 5 when the CCG fired a water cannon at Philippine ships headed to troops in BRP Sierra Madre to bring supplies.

The video released by the Philippine Coast Guard showed how close the aim of the cannon was.

DFA spokesperson Tess Daza said that as of Aug. 7, the Philippines has filed 445 diplomatic protests since 2020. Of this number, 35 were filed this year, including the latest one over the firing of a water cannon.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 8)  Casket of the voice actor JM Canlas, younger brother of actors Jerom and Elijah Canlas, who recently passed away was donated to a 17-year-old boy who was mistakenly killed by the police last Aug 2.

Ang galing mo talaga JM! [You're really great JM!]. Jm donated his casket to Jerhode Jemboy Baltazar, also 17 years oldan EJK (extrajudicial killings) victim, his older brother Jerom wrote in a Facebook post.

READ: Voice actor JM Canlas dies at 17

The post also called for justice for Baltazar.

The teenage boy was shot and killed by cops while he and his friend were cleaning the boat that they used for work. The incident happened during the police's search for a wanted suspect.

READ: 6 Navotas cops relieved from post, face reckless homicide complaints for fatal shooting of minor

The police officers failed to positively identify the target and immediately opened fire on the two youngsters on the boat, the post read.

When the shooting stopped, the police officers did not even bother to verify or retrieve the boy who fell into the water and kept onlookers at bay, it added.

After the incident, the police admitted that they mistakenly identified Baltazar as a murder suspect.

Speaking to CNN Philippines' Balitaan on Wednesday, Navotas City police chief Col. Allan Umipig said administrative complaints were also filed against the involved police officers, who are currently detained.

In a statement on Tuesday, Philippine National Police Internal Affairs Service Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo said he has directed the District Internal Affairs Service in the Northern Police District to investigate Baltazars death.

As of this press release, the District Internal Affairs Service is already at the pre-charge investigation phase. At this stage, the IAS studies the charges to prosecute, the statement read.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 8)  Transport regulators said they were more keen on granting a regular jeepney fare increase than the rush hour surge fee being pushed by transport groups.

Yung sinasabi ho nilang surge fee, mahihirapan po kami riyan kasi hindi mo naman matatantiya kung anong oras sumakay ang tao at anong oras siya bababa, said Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chief Teofilo Guadiz.

[Translation: The surge fee would be difficult to implement because it would be hard to determine the exact time people would board or disembark from the vehicle.]

What we're looking into is a one-time increase in the fare which is a more logical possibility rather than yung surge fee.

Transport groups earlier proposed a surge charge of 1 on top of base fares during rush hours, particularly between 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The LTFRB implemented last year the 1-increase equivalent to a 12 and 14 fare for traditional and modern public utility jeepneys, respectively.

Fuel companies raised this week the per-liter prices of diesel by 4, gasoline by 0.50, and kerosene by 2.75.

Although dismayed with the rise in fuel prices, jeepney driver Noel Digas said the burden should not be passed on to passengers through another round of fare hikes.

Kawawa ang commuter. Mahihirapan din sila. Ang suweldo nila, wala pang 600 e, he said.

[Translation: It would be bad for commuters. It will be hard for them. They only earn less than 600.]

Meanwhile, the LTFRB said that it would seek the opinion of the National Economic and Development Authority regarding any fare increase.

Yung kanila pong kahilingan na pagtaas ng pamasahe ay nasa LTFRB Board na po, masusi naming pinag-aaralan and we will be requesting the opinion of NEDA who will have the say kung magtataas ho kami at kung magtataas ho kami, kung ilan ho, said Guadiz.

[Translation: The request for a fare hike is already with the LTFRB Board and we are carefully looking into them. We will also be asking the opinion of NEDA if there is a need to implement a fare hike, and if yes, by how much.]

The LTFRB added that it is expecting the Department of Budget and Management to release within two weeks the nearly 3-billion fuel subsidy for public utility vehicle (PUV) operators and drivers to help cushion the impact of soaring fuel prices.

With reports from CNN Philippines senior correspondent Gerg Cahiles.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 9)The Jamboree Organizing Committee has assured the parents and relatives of Filipino scout representatives at the 25th World Scout Jamboree in South Korea that they are safe amid the onslaught of Typhoon Khanun.

World Scout Jamboree Philippine Contingent Head Dale Corvera on Tuesday said the group will consistently update the parents of the representatives of their status.

"As a precautionary measure, the Jamboree Organizing Committee convened the Heads of Contingent and has decided to evacuate all the jamboree participants to a safer area in Seoul away from the path of the typhoon," he said.

"We would like to assure the parents and relatives of the Scouts from the Philippines participating in this world jamboree that we are on top of the situation and measures are taken for the safety and well being of our Scouts," he added.

Corvera also noted that he is in contact with the Philippine Embassy in Korea.

South Korean authorities began a massive operation on Tuesday to relocate nearly 40,000 teenage scouts from around the world after they were forced to change venues for a 12-day gathering that had become plagued with problems.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 9) The Senate eyes reopening hearings on confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs) before the proposed 5.768-trillion budget for 2024 is approved, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said Tuesday.

The national government has earmarked 9.2 billion in confidential and intelligence funds (CIF).

According to Zubiri, an oversight committee was created to look into the use of the CIF of government agencies.

"Nagsagawa kami ng oversight committee on intelligence fund. Kausap ko si Sen. [Sonny] Angara, chair ng Committee on Finance. Bubuksan natin ang mga hearing sa oversight committee kung tama ba ang paggastos ng 2023 intelligence and tinatawag na confidential funds," he said.

[Translation: We are creating an oversight committee on intelligence fund. I was talking to Sen. Angara, chair of the Committee on Finance. We will open hearings of the oversight committee to know if the 2023 intelligence and confidential funds were used properly.]

"Ang gagawin namin sa Senado (What we will do in the Senate), we will activate a Special Committee on Review of Intelligence Funds. We will have hearings before actual discussion of the national budget," he added.

Zubiri said if there is misuse of the funds, the issue will be raised before the government agencies.

Therefore, we can make decisions kung dadagdag ba tayo dyan or babawasan natin sila or status quo ang mga pondo," he added.

[Translation: Therefore, we can make decisions if we will add or reduce their budget or maintain the status of the funds.]
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India, Thailand looking to bolster bilateral trade, hold talks during FOC meeting

India and Thailand on Monday agreed to strengthen their bilateral trade during a meeting at the 7th Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in Bangkok.

India and Thailand officials participating in 7th Foreign Office Consultations in Bangkok on Monday. Photo Courtesy: Arindam Bagchi Twitter page.

It will be done through regular Government-to-Government (G2G) and B2B (Business to Business) interactions and business collaborations.

The Indian side was represented by Saurabh Kumar, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs.

Sarun Charoensuwan, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Thailand, co-chaired the meeting

"The two sides undertook a comprehensive review of bilateral relations and agreed to further strengthen cooperation in a number of areas, including trade & investment, MSMEs, defence & security, connectivity, health, culture, and science & technology. Both sides welcomed regular meetings of their bilateral mechanisms," read a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.

"Both sides also exchanged views on regional and global developments and agreed to coordinate closely in multilateral and regional fora, including in UN, BIMSTEC, IORA, MGC, ACD and India-ASEAN," read the statement.

India will host the next FOC.
Singapore court puts Indian-origin repeat sexual offender back in jail for 18 years; angry uncle goes berserk

An Indian-origin man in Singapore has been sent back to prison for 18 years and sentenced to 12 strokes for sexually assaulting a maid. Mark Kalaivanan Tamilarasan, aged 44, committed this crime in July 2017, shortly after he was released from prison, having served 16 years for rape.

During his latest sentencing hearing yesterday, the convicts uncle launched a tirade in the courtroom, saying that the public prosecutors had no idea what it was like to spend time in jail.

Tamilarasan was convicted of four charges: aggravated sexual assault; house trespass to commit sexual assault; outrage of modesty; and impersonation of a public servant. Photo courtesy: Pixabay/QuinceCreative

The 18-year prison term for Tamilarasan was technically preventive detention (PD), a punishment imposed on repeat offenders who continue to pose a threat to the public. Despite earlier serving a lengthy jail term, he had evidently not been reformed in the slightest and showed no remorse; this was a good reason for locking him up for a long time again.

During this second trial, the public prosecutors had asked for a 20-year PD for this repeat offence, but the court gave an 18-year PD.

According to CNA, the convicts uncle shouted at one of the two prosecutors, saying that she treated his nephew Tamilarasan like a caged animal.

The uncle reportedly demanded to know what purpose would be served by keeping his nephew in prison for 20 years, as the prosecutors wanted. If he cant change now, can the prosecution tell me... can he change in 20 years time? That he will be so virtuous, so honest, and will not do anything that is wrong in 20 years time? If that is the argument?

Tamilarasan was convicted of four charges: aggravated sexual assault; house trespass to commit sexual assault; outrage of modesty; and impersonation of a public servant, reported CNA. He had, in an intoxicated state, broken into a flat in July 2017 and sexually assaulted the maid, who was doing some chores at the time.

Deputy Public Prosecutors Chew Xin Ying and Sheldon Lim had asked for the maximum PD sentence of 20 years, after a preventive detention suitability report found him suitable for such a punishment for his repeat offence.

 With inputs from the Press Trust of India
No professional position, aside from perhaps police officer and horny pizza delivery boy, is more frequently misrepresented in film than archaeologist. In movies, archaeologists are all dashing figures, risking life and limb in the pursuit of knowledge while arcane artifacts and ancient traps besiege their efforts. Or else they're perpetually opening sealed, cursed tombs and stumbling into the haunted caves of unspeakable evils in the name of science. But in reality, we all know archaeology is nothing like that. Obviously.

It's way more terrifying.

7 The Screaming Mummies Getty In 1886, Gaston Maspero, the head of the Egyptian Antiquities Service, was doing like he do -- just taking mummies out of their sarcophagi, unwrapping them, dictating all kinds of boring notes -- when he came across an unusually plain burial box. Unlike the kings and queens he'd been working with for most of his career, this particular box didn't give any information as to the identity of the stiff inside. Even stranger, the body was wrapped in sheepskin, which was considered unclean by ancient Egyptians. When he finally uncovered it, Gaston also found that the corpse's hands and feet had been bound for some unspeakable reason. And then, as he slowly panned his gaze upward -- presumably while violins screeched out a dramatic, building score -- he found this screaming, undead face looking back at him: anubis4_2000.tripod.com Advertisement Because of the strange coverings, the bound hands and the seemingly tortured expression, experts theorized that the body (creatively named Unknown Man E) had been poisoned, buried alive or otherwise tortured before his untimely death. Now that we've done extensive studies on mummification and seen quite a few more intact examples, however, we understand how silly that theory was. Not because the "screaming mummy" was just a fluke, but because they're all screaming all the time. Flickr

Or having the most horrific orgasms known to man. Advertisement If the jaw isn't strapped shut when a body is mummified, it naturally falls open during the process of decay, leaving a permanent "scream." Most modern burial practices account for this -- the ghost of Jacob Marley, Scrooge's business partner in A Christmas Carol, is always shown with that weird headband/chinstrap for precisely this reason. But not all cultures take closing the jaw into account, or sometimes the knots tying the mouth shut just slip. That's why, since Unknown Man E, there have been several more "screaming" mummies found in various digs all around the world. National Geographic Advertisement Advertisement Yep. Apparently the screaming torment of the undead just ain't a thing. But really, when you think about it, the rational explanation for the screaming mummies doesn't actually make the finds less impressive. If anything, we have more respect than ever for archaeologists, who we now realize are constantly stumbling into strange, sealed tombs to find stuff like this thing staring at them from the shadows: darkdissolution

"Not without my makeup!" And when they come face to face with the scariest props from Raiders of the Lost Ark, said archaeologists not only inexplicably refrain from exploding in a big salty ball of fear urine, but calmly stride over, grab the damn thing by the neck and drag the bastard out into the sun for science to take a good, long gander at. Advertisement And that's why we propose a new field of study that devotes all of its research hours just to figuring out how to measure balls that size.

6 The Mass Grave of the Headless Vikings Getty Advertisement Archaeologists were digging up the side of a boring old roadway in Dorset when suddenly, instead of "more cobblestones" and "maybe part of a plow," they unearthed something a bit more exciting: a mass grave containing the headless remains of 54 Viking mercenaries. Instead of rightfully interpreting the pit as some kind of ancient "Caution: Predator Hunting Grounds" warning sign and getting the hell out of there, the archaeologists set about carefully recording the positions of the bones. As they did so, the researchers began to notice something unusual about the placement. Namely, that the leg and arm bones, heads and torsos were all neatly arranged into their own separate piles. Advertisement So what happened? Our leading theory is that the Vikings found a Hellraiser-style puzzle box and accidentally unleashed a horde of Middle Ages cenobites.

You're welcome, Hollywood. The archaeologists' (substantially less plausible) initial theory was that, after being captured by the occupants of a local village that somehow survived the Viking attack, the assailants themselves were murdered, with their corpses then being stripped naked and dismembered by the villagers, who also took a few heads with them as, like, fun-time souvenirs or something. BBC

We're trying not to pass judgment here. Advertisement Advertisement But that doesn't explain why the unfortunate Vikings were beheaded by strange, precise sword blows delivered from the front, instead of the usual hack-jobs to the back of the neck that accompany normal beheadings. In fact, the archaeologists themselves later revised their theory, admitting that the Vikings were probably not torn apart by a brutally violent mob bent on revenge, but may have been sacrificed in a highly controlled and ritualistic manner not consistent with the surrounding culture of the time. As seems to be the case in this nightmare-inducing photo: dailymail Advertisement So yeah, in short: Viking Hellraiser. Cracked: 1 Archaeology: ... probably like a hundred million (but not this one, bitches).

5 The Mount Owen Moa Getty Advertisement In 1986, an expedition descended on Mount Owen in New Zealand with the intention of exploring the vast network of caves that dwell deep beneath the mountain. Advertisement Huh. Ominous setting, isolated expedition, vast network of unexplored caves. Yep, sounds like somebody's filming a sequel to The Descent, all right. And true to horror cliche form, the team was excavating a path between two caves when they found something ... disturbing: A pile of strange bones. Still connected to shredded fragments of skin, as though fresh. And attached to this thing: Wiki

Seen here, clearly giving Mother Nature ... ugh, the bird. Imagine peering through the darkness, with only the tiny, wavering beam of your flashlight picking out the world in front of you, when you're confronted by that: a very large, very claw-happy foot from some sort of hell-beast that looks like it probably died recently. And you're down there, trapped in an underground cave system, not knowing whether its bloodthirsty relatives are nearby. We mean, best case scenario, it's going to grant you four ironically cursed wishes that will ultimately kill you, right? Advertisement It turns out that the team had stumbled onto the 3,000-year-old remains of an upland moa, a flightless bird that somehow went extinct despite possessing claws that would make a velociraptor jealous. Here's the naturally mummified, 600-year-old head of a different moa: Te Papa Advertisement Gah! It's like The Dark Crystal come to terrible un-life! And just like the devil's claw above, the background story behind this discovery reads like a classic horror movie plot line: It was originally discovered in another New Zealand cave back in 1863, by James Campbell. And then, with no explanation, the specimen up and vanished for a number of years, until it resurfaced and was sold to the director of Wellington's Dominion Museum by Campbell's great-great-grandson for the suspiciously low price of 5 pounds. Not listed on the receipt were: peace of mind, the remainder of his soul and a promise from the corpse that it would stop tormenting every single generation of the family that disturbed its slumber. Advertisement

4 The Tomb of the Sunken Skulls Getty In 2009, archaeologists were excavating the bottom of a prehistoric dry lake bed in Motala, Sweden, when they stumbled upon the foundations of a mysterious stone structure ... sealed at the bottom of an ancient friggin' lake. Rather than turning tail and running away so fast their legs spun uselessly in the air for a few minutes like a Scooby-Doo cartoon, the stupidly brave scientists started digging. They eventually unearthed the exact kind of stuff one expects from primitive mystery structures: animal bones, stone tools and, oh yeah -- the 8,000-year-old skulls of 10 people, ranging in age from small children to the elderly. Advertisement Advertisement And then they found an 11th skull buried deep within the ancient mud of the lake bottom. And then they found fragments of one of the other skulls ... deliberately lodged inside the cranium of the 11th skull. History.com

Congratulations, all of you are now cursed. Let's recap: For reasons that are unclear to us, some ancient society probably butchered 11 people in a stone hut at the bottom of a lake bed, and then put the pieces of one dead person's skull inside the brain space of another person, like the world's most godawfully horrifying nesting doll. History.com Advertisement But the horror doesn't end there: Not only had somebody perhaps bashed one person's skull in with another person's skull, but, before being interred inside the tomb, several of the bodies had stakes driven through them and were then set alight. This didn't take careful deduction on the part of the excavators to discover: Two of the skulls were found with the stakes still embedded (and in one case, entirely melded with) them. academia.dk

If Satan designed unicorns, they'd look like this. Advertisement Advertisement The official theories are all over the map, from bizarre funeral practices to a group of warriors mounting the skulls of their defeated opponents as war trophies. But we think differently: Maybe the mysterious prehistoric men who put the bones there in the first place were the good guys, just trying to put down an ancient vampire infestation. By uh ... by beating the vampires to death with the skulls of their loved ones, we guess? That's one of their weaknesses, right? Garlic, sunlight, holy water, being walloped upside the head with their own brother's severed head. You know: usual canon stuff.

3 The Sewer of Babies Getty Advertisement A group of archaeologists excavating a sewer underneath a Roman/Byzantine bathhouse in Ashkelon, Israel, thought they'd drawn the short end of the science stick, what with having to dig through ancient poo and all. Until they started turning up hundreds of thousands of tiny little bones, and realized just how screwed they really were. Any hope that they'd just stumbled upon the remains of an old-timey Roman KFC and were not, in fact, about to be torn apart by itty bitty ghosts was shot when they then started finding skulls and realized, to their horror, that they were all standing waist-deep in a sewer specially designated for disposing of the corpses of newborn babies. Journal of Archaeological Science Advertisement Advertisement In all, the researchers found nearly 100 bodies, which, if you're keeping track, is roughly 100 more bodies than you want trapped inside an ancient, crumbling, pitch-black sewer with you. We wish we could tell you this was something slightly less disturbing than the implied charnel baby processing center of the ancient world that it seems to be, but the truth is: No one knows for sure why the bones are down there. Or why this scientist is measuring it without screaming, like it ain't no thang. Daily Mail via canadiancontent.net At first, it was thought that the sewer was used just to dispose of female infants, which is awful but at least makes some kind of sense, as parents of the time period treated the lives of women with roughly the same respect and sanctity as toilet paper (i.e., they both wound up in the sewer when you were done with 'em). However, analysis of the bones showed that many of them were males -- sweet, precious boys! The Roman's most suspiciously valued demographic -- which implied that the bathhouse above might have been more of a quotation-marks-style "bathhouse," and that the whores were only disposing of male babies so that the females could be groomed for an auspicious life of whorin' and baby dumpin' themselves. Advertisement Listen: We know this was a pretty downer entry, but hey, if God gives you lemons, you make lemonade; if God gives you a shit-ton of dead babies impossibly placed in an ancient sewer, you write some terrible, desperate jokes about it and then start looking for a new God at the bottom of a bottle. Getty

A really big bottle. Advertisement
Imagine for a moment that youre the CEO of a multi-billion dollar, industry-assassinating tech start-up.

Now imagine that youve agreed to sit down with a journalist who writes for a tech magazine. Are you going to bone up on some of the core facts and features of your product? Maybe assemble a team to run through some questions you may hypothetically be asked?

If youre Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber, youre just gonna friggin wing it. When lobbed a softball question  how much does a three-mile ride cost on Uber, the application that youre in charge of  Khosrowshahi whiffed so hard, he figuratively shattered both ankles and collapsed into an unconscious heap on top of home plate.

Want to know just how badly he miscalculated? Read on to find out!

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12 The First Vaccines Were Goop from Cow Sores Vaccine comes from the Latin word for cow, because theyd just take puss from cows infected by cowpox, and splurt it up under peoples skin. The worst part? It actually worked! It was highly effective in warding off smallpox in humans. (Source)

11 I Smell Like Beef Girl Is Making a Wholesome Comeback Katie Ryan has been going viral on TikTok for her charismatic storytelling, including the oddly inspirational origin of her famous catchphrase: It has the artistic value of Romeo and Juliet. (Source)

10 Fascists Love LoTR Giorgia Meloni, Italys far-right prime minister, came of age in a fascist youth group that spent a ton of time larping as Hobbits, and making fascist folk music. Shes even famously said, I think that Tolkien could say better than we can what conservatives believe in. (Source)

9 Mammoth Tusks Reek Youd be forgiven for thinking that all hints of organic material would be gone by now, but people who sell and restore them report a putrid, meaty smell. (Source) Advertisement Advertisement

8 Theres a Secret, Fully Topless Version of the Mona Lisa There are about 20 paintings and drawings that appear to be of the same model, and in the same position as the Mona Lisa. La Joconde nue is a charcoal sketch that was likely Da Vincis rough draft, before he put clothes on her and painted the real deal. (Source)

7 The Sims Almost Featured Archie Bunker When developer Don Hopkins revealed an early Sims prototype, he showed off a playable Archie Bunker character, but Hopkins explained, We had to take him out, he was a bad influence. (Source) Advertisement Advertisement

6 YouTube (Still) Profits Off of Climate Denial In 2021, Google promised to pull ads from content that rejects accepted science on climate change. But a climate activist coalition has identified 100 videos, with tens of millions of views, that are still monetized as of 2023. (Source)

5 Some Frogs Can Hold Their Urine for Months The Alaskan wood frog has a specialized gut biome that recycles its urea into nitrogen. That allows its stockpile of urine to aid in hibernation, instead of, you know, slowly poisoning it. (Source) Advertisement Advertisement

4 Ubers CEO Has No Idea How Much an Uber Ride Costs A Wired writer asked Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi how much a three-mile ride in NYC costs, and he was off by 250 percent: Khosrowshahi: Twenty bucks.

Wired: Fifty bucks.

Khosrowshahi: Oh my God. Wow. (Source)

3 Orville Wright Was Pretty Bummed About Fighter Jets He says he didnt regret inventing the airplane, per se, but he was not expecting them to become instruments of war: We underestimated mans capacity to hate and to corrupt good means for an evil end. (Source) Advertisement Advertisement

2 Tourist Breath Is Slowly Destroying The Valley of Kings King Tuts final-ish resting place is under attack from a destructive fungus, thanks to poor ventilation and mouth-breathing tourists. Its estimated the tombs could be destroyed within 150 years. (Source)
If my laundry hamper is any demonstration, one single life, and not a particularly hard one at that, is plenty enough for me to handle. I regularly cant find the time to make dinner, much less pursue an entire secondary career. God bless the grindset folks who wake up at 4:30 a.m. to take cold showers every day, but I also wonder if theyve ever experienced the joy of nine straight hours of sleep. Good luck with your weird vitamin gummy business, Ill be happily swaddled in bed like a cozy lil baby.

Some people, though, take burning the candle at both ends to an even more extreme level: living two honest-to-god lives. I have no idea how theyre able to keep track of which name they should be using on what I have to assume is less than a full nights sleep, but they manage. Its a testament to their ability to make effective use of their time, and maybe an indication that the whole Clark Kent alter-ego might be a little more feasible than wed like to admit.

Here are five people who led two lives, surprisingly effectively

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5 James Barry Public Domain Gorgeous and a DOCTOR? Dr. James Barry was a military doctor from Ireland who had a fairly incredible career. His rapid ascension through the ranks of the British military, eventually ending up as Inspector General, was no fluke. He was one of their most talented surgeons, and held the honor of performing the first Cesarean section in the British empire in which both the mother and child survived. He certainly made the many colleagues and instructors at his medical school, who were concerned he was a child lying about his age, eat their words. Advertisement It was only after Barry died at the age of 75 that his secret would be revealed. It turns out those colleagues were right to suspect something, but they were still wrong. Despite his last wish being to be buried in his clothes without the washing of his body (already a little weird), his body was prepared for burial, and when his clothes were stripped, they discovered Barry wasnt a he at all. James Barry was actually a woman named Margaret Ann Bulkley, who had taken on a male persona, and her dead uncles identity, in order to study medicine, which was prohibited for women at the time. Way to go, you little medical Mulan!

4 C.B. Cebulski Esby Akira Yoshida, this does not look like. Advertisement Becoming an editor at Marvel Comics is already a dream career for any comic-loving young nerd. One that C.B. Cebulski achieved. While living out that geekily blessed life, though, a second dream job opportunity surfaced  to write comics for Dark Horse, a comics publisher that, while maybe not on the level of D.C. or Marvel, is well-known and well-respected all the same. He couldnt pass it up, but decided to write under a pseudonym. A choice that, given his pseudonym, might be the only reason his tale is icky instead of a fun bit of comic-writing dominance. The name he chose was Akira Yoshida, a name that suggests a much different heritage from Cebulski. To make everything even more complicated, after a couple of comics, Marvel themselves reached out, unknowingly to one of their own editors, to write comics for them. A job Akira accepted. Rumors swirled, leading to Cebulski flat-out denying them, but when he was offered the editor-in-chief role at Marvel, he decided it was time to release the cat from the bag. Advertisement Advertisement

3 Matthew Kaye Mshake3 More argyle sweater vests in wrestling, honestly. A high school teacher taking a sick day isnt that unusual. Whether theyd caught some teenage stomach bug or simply couldnt face another day of being trapped in a room with two dozen 10th-graders, no one should be surprised when they miss a day here or there. Miss enough days, though, and like in any job, it becomes a problem. This was the situation that Matthew Kaye, a social studies teacher at Benjamin N. Cardozo High School in Queens, New York, found himself in. Hed called out sick 11 times in one year, which was more than the maximum of 10 days that was allowed. The school board informed him that he was facing disciplinary action, after which he resigned. Luckily, he had a second job to fall back on, the same one that had caused him to miss a bunch of days of school: professional wrestler. Thats right, Kaye had been playing hooky in order to wrestle for WWE as Matt Striker, a pro wrestler whose gimmick was also being a teacher. Somehow, despite no masks being involved, no one had ever noticed. Advertisement

2 Dennis Rader Kansas Department of Corrections As you might guess from this picture, not a fun one. Advertisement Comics and wrestling are fun, and nobodys going to have too much of a problem with a woman pursuing her dream career against the wishes of a backwards society. This entry, however, is not fun, and anybody who doesnt disapprove of it needs immediate and extensive mental help. Im talking about the double life led by Dennis Rader. On one hand, he was a church president, a Boy Scout leader, and by all reports, a good husband to his wife and a good father to his children. It was for pretty much every other human on earth that Dennis Rader was one of the most dangerous people to exist in human history. While living a normal family life, he was also active as the BTK Killer, so named for his modus operandi of bind, torture, kill. It wouldnt be until 2005, at 60 years of age, that Rader would finally be arrested and charged with the 10 murders he had committed over multiple decades. Advertisement
The bagel shop at the center of Kramers 12-year strike on Seinfeld is taking its business across state lines. H&H Bagels, the real-life bagel shop catapulted to fame by the 1997 Seinfeld episode The Strike, is set to open locations in Florida and Illinois, kick-starting another chapter in its storied, if sometimes checkered, history.

Back in 2011, the Upper West Side spot was shuttered following the indictment of co-founder Helmer Toro for tax fraud. He was sentenced to 50 weekends in prison for pocketing more than $500,000 in employee taxes, including withheld taxes for about 100 workers and unemployment insurance dues he failed to pay. So maybe Kramer wasnt too far off in his decision to picket H&H for unfair working conditions, poor wages and a refusal to allow him to celebrate Festivus.

Play

Now owned by chief executive Jay Rushin, H&H Bagels was revived in 2016 and is slated to open company-owned locations in West Palm Beach and Chicagos Fulton Market as well as its first franchised-location in Boca Raton by the third quarter of 2023. Deals are also in place for more company-owned and franchised locations in California, Virginia, Connecticut and Washington, D.C. Rushin described the franchise expansion as an opportunity to grow faster with people who know their local markets. In all, hes eyeing a total of 500 to 1,000 storefronts.

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While H&H will always be linked to Seinfeld, Rushin has made it clear that all of this expansion will not pave the way for a Seinfeld-themed experience. That said, he does note that Kramer has been AWOL from work ever since hes owned the business.
As security leaders strive to prevent cyber attacks of increasing sophistication, they face the concurrent challenge of ensuring they are complying with a complex regulatory landscape which fluctuates across regions.

Failing to achieve both these objectives can have serious brand and financial consequences - which means many IT leaders are turning toward external vendors for help.

For businesses, the challenge of managing cybersecurity regulations is so acute that the World Economic Forum has called for global harmonization of cybersecurity regulations.

Regulations help to keep businesses and consumers safe. But new requirements do mean businesses must find expertise to understand them and also improve IT systems if deemed necessary.

The NIS Directive revision - NIS2 - came into force in January 2023, imposing responsibility on management bodies to green light measures to deal with cybersecurity risks, and bringing stronger incident reporting obligations.

NIS2 will not apply directly in the UK. However, the government has announced that its NIS rules will be reinforced. The UK Cabinet Office also launched the GovAssure scheme for IT security audits in government departments which will have their 'cyber health' reviewed against 'robust criteria'.

In Europe, the EC's proposed Cyber Resilience Act would see the introduction of mandatory cybersecurity requirements for makers and sellers of products or software with a digital component, from baby monitors to IoT devices.

"The speed and stringency of having to conform with both existing and incoming regulation has created a kind of compliance vicious cycle," says Mike Pimlott, VP, Global Managed Security Services at NTT. "Companies are already hurting from regulatory information overload, so their capacity to keep compliant is stretched to the limit."

Pimlott adds: "We're close to a situation where the distractions of regulatory compliance are actually contributing to cyber risk exposure," he says, "leading to data breaches that consequently could prompt governments to bring in more regulation."

The situation becomes compounded when assessments of an organization's cyber posture reveal further vulnerabilities, both technological and procedural.

"Data security is a prime example of this," Pimlott explains. "As part of a regulation-driven audit a company might discover that it has data assets that it wasn't aware of, and that those assets have become retroactively subject to new protection laws."

Pimlott adds: "So now the company has to factor this extra data into their regulatory overhead - and work fast to ensure those assets are properly secure, otherwise they are noncompliant. Another task for overworked CISOs and their teams."

Pimlott suspects that the increasing regulatory burden will cause enterprises to rethink their strategy for managing cyber risk.

"Traditionally, organizations are aware that their infrastructures have known vulnerabilities of greater or lesser criticality," he explains. "They are also alerted to new vulnerabilities discovered by their solutions vendors, who supply patches for them. And so their security engineers - with their tech partners - work their way through those known vulnerabilities, fixing them ASAP."

This is an established way of addressing a long-standing problem. It means that companies don't have to rip-and-replace infrastructure just because it isn't absolutely secured. But that mitigation model may not be practicable in an era of increased cyber regulation, Pimlott suggests.

"One question organizations will ask is, should they continue to deal with security holes through patching?" says Pimlott. "At what point should they decide, 'this approach is draining our resources and expertise - and we're still not fully secure, and at risk of being penalized by a regulator!'"

Pimlott thinks an inflexion point is being reached where the argument is in favor of upgrading to new infrastructure - hardware and software - that comes pre-secured again latest known threats and has been ready-built for compliance with the latest regulation.

In the meantime, enterprises can leverage additional support resources through technology partners, such as NTT's managed detection and response (MDR) services.

"The advantage MDR brings is that, in addition to freeing up inhouse IT security experts to focus on more value-added projects, a customer can calibrate the extent of security support they need, so they only use what their infrastructure requires," Pimlott explains.

"Further, MDR services can be configured for the regulatory requirements of a given market or industry, bringing further compliance assurance."

Find out more about NTT's Managed Detection and Response solution.

[1] 'Why global harmonisation of cybersecurity would be music to everyone's ears' - https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/03/why-global-harmonisation-of-cybersecurity-regulations-would-be-like-music-to-our-ears/

[2] IDC Blog: 'NIS2 Directive Comes into Force to Drive Cybersecurity Across the EU' - https://blog-idceurope.com/nis2-directive-comes-into-force-to-drive-cybersecurity-across-the-eu/

[3] NTT Managed Detection & Response (MDR) platform - https://services.global.ntt/en-us/services-and-products/cloud/managed-cloud-security-services/managed-detection-and-response?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Sponsored-Content&utm_campaign=NTTGL_MDR&utm_content=CSO-SponCon-MDR-S-FOU-1-a
Three-quarters of global businesses are currently implementing or considering bans on ChatGPT and other generative AI applications within the workplace, with risks to data security, privacy, and corporate reputation driving decisions to act. That's according to new research from Blackberry which found that 61% of companies deploying/considering generative AI bans view the steps long term or permanent. Blackberry's findings draw from a survey of 2,000 IT decision makers across North America (USA and Canada), Europe (UK, France, Germany, and the Netherlands), Japan, and Australia.

The data come a week after the publication of the OWASP Top 10 for LLMs which details the key security and safety challenges associated with large language models (LLMs), which many generative AI chatbots are built on. It also comes as organizations are facing up to the reality of needing to implement specific generative AI security policies amid the skyrocketing growth and adoption of the technology within businesses. One key question on many people's minds is the extent to which generative AI is ushering in a new era of shadow IT.

Security concerns driving generative AI bans

Despite the majority of the IT decision makers surveyed recognizing the opportunity for generative AI applications in the workplace to increase efficiency (55%) and innovation (52%), and enhance creativity (51%), 83% voiced concerns that unsecured generative AI apps pose a cybersecurity threat to their corporate IT environment, driving inclination towards complete bans, according to Blackberry. What's more, while 81% of respondents are in favor of using generative AI tools for cybersecurity defense to avoid being caught flat-footed by cyber criminals, 80% believe organizations are within their rights to control the applications that employees use for business purposes.

Organizations should take a cautious, yet dynamic approach to generative AI applications in the workplace, said Shishir Singh, CTO cybersecurity at BlackBerry. "Banning generative AI applications in the workplace can mean a wealth of potential business benefits are quashed. As platforms mature and regulations take effect, flexibility could be introduced into organizational policies. The key will be in having the right tools in place for visibility, monitoring and management of applications used in the workplace."

CISOs must develop generative AI policies that tackle risk without stifling innovation

Appropriate, business-aligned security policies controlling the use of generative AI should be high on the CISO's agenda right now. The challenge for CISOs is to develop cybersecurity policies that not only embrace and support business adoption of this technology but effectively address risk without stifling innovation. Any who think they can put this off for a year or two to see how generative AI develops, hoping to retrofit a security policy appropriate for generative AI's pervasiveness later down the line, should carefully consider what happened with shadow IT. Businesses were slow off the mark from a security policy perspective to deal with personal technology when it began being used for corporate activities.
At last! The Government is finally waking up to the possibility that its plan to send illegal migrants to Rwanda may not work. It is considering sending them to a British overseas territory.

Ascension Island, which sits some 4,000 miles away in the middle of the South Atlantic, is a leading candidate. It is by all reports a pretty windswept place. But it has the advantage of being British, and therefore less prone to the kind of legal challenges that have dogged the Government's Rwanda scheme.

Perhaps some imaginative person in the Home Office has come across an old copy of the Mail. Almost a year ago, I wrote in these pages a sentence which I hope readers will forgive me for repeating.

'As the Rwandan scheme has seemingly failed, what is the objection to identifying a British-owned island, which need not be off our immediate coast, to which all asylum seekers would be sent and processed by British officials under British law?'

Only a month ago, I argued that the Government should come up with a 'Plan B' - an alternative to Rwanda - to address the problem of migrants crossing the Channel, which is now illegal. I suggested that a number of uninhabited islands off the British coast might be suitable for this purpose.

The Government is finally waking up to the possibility that its plan to send illegal migrants to Rwanda may not work. It is considering sending them to a British overseas territory

Ascension Island, which sits some 4,000 miles away in the middle of the South Atlantic, is a leading candidate

Now I certainly don't want to join that group of people who automatically criticise the Government whenever it comes up with an idea for reducing illegal immigration. I'm thinking of Labour politicians, hand-wringing bishops, human rights lawyers and activists, all of them given supporting fire by the BBC.

None of them ever comes up with specific or credible alternative plans. They simply assert that the Government is incompetent and cruel, and they go on saying it whatever new policies are proposed.

Yesterday, for example, the first asylum seekers arrived to be housed in the Bibby Stockholm barge, which is moored in Portland port, Dorset. The locals are unhappy, not wanting hundreds of young foreign men on their doorstep, while the activists apparently equate the barge with the Black Hole of Calcutta.

Shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock tries to claim the moral high ground by saying that he is 'personally deeply unhappy' about the Bibby Stockholm, while admitting that a future Labour government would have 'no choice' but to continue housing asylum seekers on barges and ex-military bases.

So long as the barge is clean, hygienic and safe, which I trust it is, there can be no reasonable objection to housing migrants there. The Government can't go on spending 6 million a day on providing hotel rooms for migrants who haven't been invited here.

Yesterday the first asylum seekers arrived to be housed in the Bibby Stockholm barge, which is moored in Portland port, Dorset

Shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock tries to claim the moral high ground by saying that he is 'personally deeply unhappy' about the Bibby Stockholm

The prospect of ending up on a barge with a weekly allowance of 9.10 (all meals are free), rather than being put up in a four-star hotel, may well discourage some migrants as they peer at the white cliffs of Dover from what is a safe sanctuary on the French coast.

Nonetheless - and here I'm going to put on the mantle of a constructive critic - it is surely clear that the Bibby Stockholm represents a very partial solution to a seemingly intractable problem.

It will only accommodate up to 500 migrants. Two further planned barges will presumably be of a similar size. Even if we factor in military bases, these substitutes for hotels won't go very far.

After all, early last month, 686 migrants crossed the Channel in a single day. The all-time high is 1,295 migrants on August 22, 2022. In that month alone, 8,641 were recorded as making the journey, though there seem to be slightly fewer so far this August.

In other words, there are unlikely to be enough barges and former military bases to accommodate numbers on this scale. A lot of hot air is being expended on the Bibby Stockholm. A more far-reaching solution is needed.

Before I come to that, let me mention that the official figures for migrants crossing the Channel don't include everyone. An estimated 21,000 people slipped undetected into Britain last year, in addition to the 45,756 recorded as coming in small boats, plus about 9,000 via ports and airports.

An estimated 21,000 people slipped undetected into Britain last year, in addition to the 45,756 recorded as coming in small boats, plus about 9,000 via ports and airport

READ MORE: What is The Bibby Stockholm and how much does the asylum seekers barge cost? Today, the first asylum seekers arrived at the The Bibby Stockholm barge in Dorset, following weeks of delays Advertisement

Anyway, back to the solution. The reported plan to send migrants to Ascension Island shows that the Government is at long last being realistic about the limitations of its Rwanda scheme.

It still hopes that this autumn the Supreme Court will give the plan its green light, reversing a recent judgment by the Appeal Court that Rwanda isn't a 'safe country'. Junior Home Office minister Sarah Dines expressed such optimism in radio interviews yesterday morning.

Maybe ministers' hopes are well-founded, though I don't see how they can look into the minds of Supreme Court judges. But even if they're right, and the Rwanda plan is finally allowed to go ahead, it's hard to see how it can more than scratch the surface.

The Rwandan government may be able to deal with no more than a couple of hundred migrants in the first instance. It is also charging a whopping 105,000 for hosting each asylum seeker. There will also be 22,000 paid per individual for the flight and escorting, and 18,000 for legal and other costs. That's a lot of money.

Conceivably, Rwanda may provide a small part of the solution, but I'd be astonished if it were more than that. Nor am I encouraged by reports that talks have taken place with five more African countries to see whether they might supply a similar service. One of them, Niger, is in the throes of a coup that could lead to war.

Why can't we tackle the problem ourselves? In fact, three years ago Boris Johnson's administration did consider Ascension Island as a possible processing centre for migrants. The idea was vetoed after a Foreign Office study pointed out that it has inadequate water and power supplies, and no hospital.

It's also the case that because Ascension is a very long way away, it would be expensive to send migrants there for processing. However, it has an airfield, where large RAF planes can land.

Ascension Island isn't ideal, and there may well be better options closer to home. There are dozens of uninhabited islands off the British coast, where facilities could be built. In 2006 the Army built Camp Bastion in the wilds of Afghanistan, a vast base accommodating 26,000 people.

Labour will, of course, oppose sending migrants to Ascension, as it did when the idea was first mooted. Nick Thomas-Symonds, then Shadow Home Secretary, said: 'This ludicrous idea is inhumane, completely impractical and wildly expensive.'

But Labour will always criticise the Government, even as it adopts its policies, as it has with the Bibby Stockholm. Whether Plan B focuses on Ascension or somewhere else, Labour is bound to bleat.

We needn't get fixated on Ascension. There may well be preferable islands. We must create an efficiently and humanely run processing centre - definitely not a holiday camp - whose existence will deter illegal immigration.

A place where our own officials can fairly and methodically process thousands of claims under British law. That won't happen in Rwanda. This is a British problem, which we should have the strength and imagination to solve ourselves.
Charles Moore wonders aloud if Sir Keir Starmer, 61 next month, is too old to be prime minister.

'If he defeats the Tories next year he will be the first prime minister aged over 60 to come in by a general election since Clement Attlee in 1945,' notes his lordship, adding that Keir would be the oldest PM who never held previous ministerial office.

'How fast will he be able to learn what he needs to know?' asks Charles.

'People in their early sixties do not usually experience a serious deterioration in their mental powers, but they definitely find it harder to process and retain new information.'

Is Charles, 67 in October, speaking from experience?

Charles Moore (pictured) wonders aloud if Sir Keir Starmer, 61 next month, is too old to be prime minister

Too early for any confirmation that Meghan's birthday last Friday unleashed the alleged mystical powers of 42.

Prince Andrew, a fan of Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, where 42 is the answer to life, the universe and everything, seems to believe in its significance.

His ill-fated Pitch at Palace enterprise scheme had spaces for 42 hopefuls each year. Alas Adams' formula didn't work for the disgraced prince.

Reflecting on reports Harry and Meghan have been 'snubbed' for the upcoming first anniversary of the late Queen's death at Balmoral  the Sussexes are in Europe the day after  royal commentator Petronella Wyatt concludes: 'I'm sure in the best of worlds they'd love to reunite. But how do you reunite with a pair of rattlesnakes?'

Surely Harry and Meghan speak more highly of you Petsy!

Joanna Lumley finally clears up any confusion about the sexuality of her champagne-swilling Ab Fab character Patsy Stone.

'We all knew Patsy took a whole lot of hormones,' says Joanna.

Confirming she had a sex-change operation in Morocco in the 1960s, Joanna adds: 'She was gender fluid and was one of the very first ones.'

Creator Jennifer Saunders was having a giraffe over Patsy's past. In the fifth season there was even a flashback of Patsy sporting a moustache.

Joanna Lumley finally clears up any confusion about the sexuality of her champagne-swilling Ab Fab character Patsy Stone (pictured)

'We all knew Patsy took a whole lot of hormones,' says Joanna

The Exorcist director William Friedkin, who has died aged 87, didn't pull any punches when making the ultimate horror movie, recalling: 'I actually slapped a real priest who appeared in the film after he failed to produce convincing tears.'

Delightfully daft Brian Blessed, 86, apologises to Sir Derek Jacobi, 84, for his long ago boorishness when they shared a dressing room at Birmingham Rep.

'I was rather naughty,' says Brian. '

The toilets were bloody miles away... I had to p*** in the sink! Sorry about that, but I always washed it with Harpic. I do promise in future not to p*** in your sink.'
One of the deadliest weapons in a lawyer's arsenal is understatement. Yesterday, on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Alex Chalk wielded it with skill.

The Justice Secretary was facing questions concerning the Government's plan to house asylum seekers on the Bibby Stockholm barge.

'In the last ten years,' he said, 'there's been a growing, and I think regrettable, trend for lawyers to actively parade their politics and identify more with their clients.'

The BBC's Nick Robinson, sounding more like a socialist student debater than an impartial journalist, asked him what he thought of Ashfield MP Lee Anderson's suggestion that migrants who did not wish to stay on a barge should 'f*** off back to France'.

The Secretary of State kept his cool. In best courtroom style, he quietly suggested that it would be 'much better in the main to keep their politics to themselves', rather than lawyers zealously 'parading their political opposition'.

One of the deadliest weapons in a lawyer's arsenal is understatement. Yesterday, on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Alex Chalk (pictured) wielded it with skill

He is right. And his remarks cut to the core of the country's problem of illegal immigration.

Last month, in a brilliant undercover investigation, the Daily Mail exposed rogue lawyers encouraging migrants to make up false tales to boost their asylum claims, inventing cover stories and charging thousands of pounds to do so. The Solicitors Regulation Authority immediately shut down three of the offending firms.

No one has any sympathy for these dishonest lawyers. Even the BBC, having at first ignored the story, finally covered it on Today yesterday.

Happily, only a small minority of legal firms are dishonest in their dealings with the Home Office.

However, the greater problem is that a large number of lawyers have become overtly politicised and are intent on imposing their beliefs on the country at large. Ask anyone other than an asylum lawyer or a pro-migrant activist about the Government's position and they will say that it is pretty reasonable.

The complainants, who came here illegally, are not being threatened with homelessness: they are simply being told they cannot pick and choose their accommodation.

Most people would agree there is something very odd about a person who chooses to cross the English Channel in a dinghy later claiming a fear of water should prevent them being put up in a floating hotel. These arguments, even if put forward in good faith, strike me as pretty desperate.

But this is not the way many of the legal profession see it, some of whom seem to revel in being the strikeforce for ultra-Left charities and NGOs such as Care4Calais.

The latter boasted just this week of helping to prevent the transfer of about 20 migrants on to the Bibby Stockholm, moored off Portland on the Dorset coast.

Similar legal tactics have been successful in preventing the relocation of asylum seekers to Rwanda, where it was hoped they could live while their applications were considered.

Just yesterday, The Law Society's Deputy Vice President Richard Atkinson released a statement emphasising that a majority of lawyers do not oppose the rule of law. That the Society felt the need to say so proves quite how far down the rabbit hole of unreality we have tumbled.

Illegal immigration, running at unprecedented levels, is one of the most urgent problems facing the UK.

Happily, only a small minority of legal firms are dishonest in their dealings with the Home Office [File image]

But the Government's attempts to bring it under control are being stymied by lawyers who have found that flaunting their Left-wing credentials overlaps conveniently with their ability to make a fortune from legal aid and fees from charity funds.

There's also something bitterly ironic about lawyers with London town houses and second homes in millionaire villages making a good deal of money from arguing that immigrants are entitled to better free accommodation than the Bibby Stockholm's bed and board, with wifi and access to free medical care including dental treatment.

Understandably, ordinary people struggling with the cost of living will look on with disbelief at the privileges handed out to people who have arrived illegally by boat and demanded preferential treatment.

Many of these migrants are unfairly jumping the queue, elbowing their way ahead of those who have applied for asylum legally. On every level, this is an offence against the British sense of fair play.

And it has not come about because of a few 'bad apple' lawyers. It is endemic in our legal system, which was once the pride of the world and is now an international laughing stock.

Half a century ago, when I began my training, the most active political body among lawyers was the Inns of Court Conservative and Unionist Society. But as the universities marched steadily leftwards, so the legal profession began to lean that way too.

During the Thatcher and Major administrations, it became normal to see young lawyers who prided themselves on showing-off their liberal values. This reached a tipping point with the arrival of Tony Blair in No 10.

By introducing the Human Rights Act in 1998, New Labour established itself as the party of the lawyers. This accelerated the process of making ever-increasing numbers of ministerial decisions subject to judicial review, which transferred power from MPs to the bench.

Those lawyers, who were fresh-faced juniors in 1998, are now senior barristers, partners in solicitors' firms and the stalwarts of the profession from which judges are drawn.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman is right to pledge that swingeing punishments will be imposed on corrupt lawyers

It never ceases to surprise me how openly Left-wing many lawyers are these days. They are scarcely aware of it themselves, so thoroughly are they steeped in its dogma.

One consequence is that, where once many lawyers naturally aspired to work in commercial law, their ambition now is to practise in the noble field of human rights.

Increasingly, as we have seen from Rwanda to boat migrants' asylum claims, this cabal manages to manipulate the law to stymie and bog down attempts at managing immigration.

In turn, this feeds a vast network of organised crime gangs, who get rich by rounding up migrants to send in boats, lorries and shipping containers.

A possible immediate solution is to crack down on interim injunctions, the kind currently used by lawyers in Bibby Stockholm and Rwanda cases.

There is a strong case for saying that where an order is sought against an elected public authority, strong arguments should be shown before any judge halts official policy.

This will make it more difficult for organisations such as Care4Calais to write letters demanding government action and threatening an immediate interim injunction if their wishes are not met.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman is right to pledge that swingeing punishments will be imposed on corrupt lawyers. They deserve long jail sentences.

But the larger problem of a Left-leaning legal profession, identified so succinctly by Alex Chalk yesterday morning, is less easily resolved. It has taken generations to evolve  and if we are not careful, I fear it will plague us for generations to come.
The UK-based man compared it to sending your food back at a restaurant

A dissatisfied customer neglected to pay his builder due to poor service, and now social media users are conflicted on who's in the right.

The video, which recently resurfaced on social media, showed a builder outside of a house demanding a 5,000 payment from a UK homeowner.

But, the man outright refused to pay because the service was not up to scratch, which led to an intense debate that was filmed so the builder could share it with his solicitor.

The men were unable to reach an agreement, and at one point, the builder even suggested calling the police because he had been 'robbed' of 5,000.

Now, social media users have shared their opinions on the quarrel, but they're just as divided as the two men in question.

The homeowner refused to pay the remaining 5,000 for the job as he was not satisfied with the service and complained that it was not working as it should

In the video, the homeowner explained that the work to his toilet had been done two months earlier, and he'd paid half the fee already .

Two weeks after that, he was due to pay the second half of what he owed, which was 5,000.

But, the customer encountered a problem with the bathroom, and when he called the builder for help, he claims he didn't come.

The customer said: 'This has been two months now, I called two weeks ago and explained, and now you're coming up and asking me for money.'

But the builder was not satisfied with this version of events. He replied: 'Look, as far as I'm concerned, we did the job, we left, you were happy with it, and we signed off.'

'So then, at that point, I just need my money paying, and as I say, I'm out of five grand now.'

He added: 'If you've had any problems that had arisen since, that's fine we can come and fix that, but only once you've paid us the money for what we've actually done.'

The builder said he was recording the quarrel so he could show it to his solicitor to resolve the issue

The pair went back and forth and the homeowner said: 'The problems I had arose two weeks after you've finished the job. But you didn't come and do anything with it.

The builder replied: 'But you hadn't paid us!'

Still, no resolution was found and the pair kept bickering.

The builder tried to illustrate his viewpoint by likening the situation to eating at a restaurant. He said: 'If you went to a restaurant and you eat, then you'd pay for it wouldn't you.'

The customer replied: 'Yes, providing the food was ok. If I go to a restaurant and they deliver the food onto the table and I look at the food and go "wow that's going to be a great meal", but as soon as I start eating it it's cold, [then I] send it back.'

The builder replied: 'Of course you would, you're up your own a**'

The customer said: 'What do you mean? I'm an a****** because I'm going to send it back?

'The food is cold so I'm going to send it back, and if they're not going to replace it, I don't pay for it, and I leave.'

At one point, the builder told the angry customer to call the police as he had been 'robbed' of 5,000

The builder replied; 'Yeah but mate they would replace it and that's what we're saying we'll do now. We'd come and sort it out for you.'

But still, the pair did not agree on a solution as the builder felt 'uncomfortable' entering the house.

The builder later added: 'We've got a contract, we've had an agreement, we've provided a service. You pay for that.'

'You're the only person not holding up your end of the bargain at the moment.'

The customer replied: 'I don't think it's that way.'

The builder said: 'Well I do mate, and I'm sure my solicitor will as well when he watches this.'

'You're behaving like we're in the playground, mate. I don't want to get into this kind of petty argument.

'What I'm trying to say is, you owe us five grand. You pay us the money, we'll come and sort everything out. It will be absolutely fine and everyone's happy. '

Users on social media were quick to share their thoughts on the situation, but people were divided

At the end of the video, the customer asked the builder to get off his property because he could see the situation getting 'out of hand'.

Despite the builder responding that he should call the police because he's been 'robbed' of five grand, the pair eventually call it quits, and the viewer does not see the problem solved.

Users on X have been quick to share their thoughts on the situation, but they too remain divided on which party is right.

One said: 'Theres no debate here. If the builder has delivered sub par work then he doesnt get the second half of his pay until he has fixed the issues. The guy said he has a toilet that doesnt work.

'If you took your car in to get a an oil change and a service, but during the garage damaged the engine to the point the car now wont start, they wouldnt say pay the service bill then we will fix the damage we have caused.'

But a second user disagreed. They said: 'He signed off on the work so he should have paid the full amount.

If any warranties etc. were made, that is not clear at the moment. So far it seems like contractor was not responsible for issues arising after the work had been accepted as satisfactory.'

A third person said: 'The builder is unprofessional. Rectify his mistakes and im sure the customer would have paid.'

A fourth added: 'Customer is in the right. Even though he may seem difficult but you always are going to have those types of customers. Your job is to fix his toilet. Fix the issue, get paid and move on. That simple.'

A firth person added: 'According to what they said, the homeowner didn't pay after the work was done.

'He only found out the work had problems 2 weeks after it was done; long after he should've already paid. Homeowner is in the wrong.'
A woman was walked down the aisle at her wedding by 'two dads' - her biological dad and the husband of the woman who kidnapped her at birth.

Miche Zephany Sheldon, 26, from Cape Town, was snatched by Lavona Solomon - who is coming to the end of a 10-year prison sentence for the crime.

She was arrested after a DNA test in 2015 revealed she and her husband, Michael, were not Miche's biological parents.

But Miche, previously dubbed 'South Africa's Madeleine McCann', grew to love the family who raised her - and wanted them to celebrate her wedding alongside her birth parents.

She asked both Michael and her biological dad, Morne Nurse, to walk her down the aisle.

Miche Zephany Sheldon, 26, from Cape Town, was walked down the aisle at her wedding by 'two dads' - her biological dad and the husband of the woman who kidnapped her at birth (Pictured groom Justin and bride Miche with their biological parents)

Miche, a financial bookkeeper said: 'Michael had been my dad my whole life - he fathered me. I'm so glad Morne opened his heart to walk alongside him down the aisle.

'It was such a beautiful day. We saw the unionship of my two families.'

Miche - who was originally named Zephany Nurse - was born on April 27, 1997, and taken from her cot in Groote Schur Hospital, Cape Town, three days later.

She was raised for 19 years by Lavona and Michael, with no idea she was the biological daughter of another family.

But when a new girl, Cassidy, joined Miche's school in 2015, she realised the pair looked exactly alike.

This prompted social workers at Miche's school to ask her to do a DNA test.

And she found out the pair weren't her real parents, and Cassidy was in fact her biological sister.

Lavona was arrested shortly afterwards and received a 10 year sentence for kidnapping Miche.

Michael, who is the husband of Lavona Solomon who snatched Miche as a baby, pictured with Miche as a teenager

Miche Zephany Sheldon, 26, from Cape Town, was walked down the aisle at her wedding by 'two dads' - her biological dad and the husband of the woman who kidnapped her at birth (Pictured groom Justin and bride Miche with their biological families)

Miche grew to love the family who raised her - and wanted them to celebrate her wedding alongside her birth parents

Miche - who was originally named Zephany Nurse - was born on April 27, 1997, and taken from her cot in Groote Schur Hospital, Cape Town, three days later

The couple got married on March 21, 2023 - and both Michael and Morne walked Miche down the aisle

She's due to be released from Worcester Female Prison on August 18 this year.

Miche was introduced to her birth parents on February 25, 2015, aged 17 - but didn't feel an instant connection to them.

'It was extremely difficult, because you've grown up thinking this is your family,' she said. 'Meeting my biological parents there wasn't that connection.

'I was looking for it - but it just wasn't there in the beginning. I'd been raised by Lavona and Michael my whole life.

'Both families were just so harsh with each other, as well. I really had to adjust to having two different dads in my life.

'But I knew I'd want them both walking me down the aisle whenever I got married.'

Lavona had been suffering from fertility issues around the time Miche was born.

She'd suffered a late miscarriage - and took Miche from her crib in the maternity ward, while dressed as a nurse.

Miche no longer has any contact with the woman who raised her - but she doesn't see her as a criminal.

She said: 'I don't see the mum who raised me as criminal and evil. Everyone just got hurt in the process. We all just needed to heal.'

Cassidy (left) joined Miche's (right) school in 2015, she realised the pair looked exactly alike. This prompted social workers at Miche's school to ask her to do a DNA test

She was raised for 19 years by Lavona and Michael, with no idea she was the biological daughter of another family

Miche met teacher Justin Sheldon, 32, at church in 2012. She has two children from a previous relationship - Sophia, six and Matteo, four

Miche met teacher Justin Sheldon, 32, at church in 2012. She has two children from a previous relationship - Sophia, six and Matteo, four.

Two years into knowing each other, in 2021, Miche told Justin about her past.

He was 'shocked but empathetic' - and has provided Miche, Sophia and Matteo with constant support ever since.

They got married on March 21, 2023 - and both Michael and Morne walked Miche down the aisle.

She said: 'My biological dad wasn't too happy at first. But this day was all about me and my relationship with my husband.

'But eventually, he said yes for me. It was a miracle!

'The relationship between my two families is improving. They do get along now - we've all matured, realised we're human and are finally coming to terms with what happened.

'We show mutual respect to one another, and we're all very understanding.'
A widow who gave birth to her late husband's baby three years after he died using frozen embryos says 'it's nice to have a piece of him here'.

Sian Goodsell, 34, and partner, Jason Goodsell, 30, were travelling around Australia in February 2017 when he was diagnosed with stage four bowel and liver cancer.

Jason had proposed just six days before the shock news.

He fought 'hard and well' for two years and they froze some of his sperm before he started treatment.

He died on May 3, 2019 - the day he got married - and eventually Sian went ahead with the first embryo transfer and fell pregnant immediately.

Sian Goodsell and her husband Jason Goodsell (both pictured) got engaged six days before he was given a cancer diagnosis

Thanks to freezing Jason's sperm, Sian was able to give birth to their daughter Matilda (both pictured) three years after his death

Daughter Matilda, now six months old, was born four months prematurely, weighing 1lbs 2oz and spent 17 weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit.

But she is now home and thriving.

Sian, a nurse, from Sydney, Australia, said: 'I would love to say she looks like me, but she's the female version of her father.

'I tell her stories about Jason and I everyday, and talk about what he was like.

'She'll pull a face and look just like her dad.

'I always keep his memory alive and have photos throughout the house.

'Tilly will always know her dad.

'It's tiring being a single mum, but it's the best thing I ever did, and I would do it over and over to have her here.'

Matilda (pictured at 100 days old) was born four months prematurely. She spent 17 weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit - but it now thriving

Tiny Matilda (pictured) weighed just 1lbs 2oz when she was born - and spent 17 weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit

Sian and Jason met on Tinder in 2014.

He proposed while they were walking down the beach at sunset in Bunbury, Western Australia, before he was diagnosed.

'He was so young,' she said.

'He had radiation, chemotherapy, then had surgery and was fitted with an ileostomy bag.

'None of that was working and he decided to stop it.'

The couple were legally married on May 3, 2019, and were due to celebrate with a wedding party at Pioneer Village, Wilberforce, Sydney, the following day.

But Jason died the night of his legal ceremony.

Sian later decided she was ready to go ahead and try IVF, using embryos made with Jason's sperm.

The couple (pictured) met on Tinder in 2014, before getting engaged in 2017, six days before Jason's shock cancer diagnosis. They wed in 2019

Jason (pictured) was diagnosed with stage four bowel and liver cancer in 2017. He died in May 2019

Falling pregnant on the first round, she was having a textbook pregnancy until she went into 'extremely early' labour.

After heading to Nepean Hospital, Sydney, Sian was informed she was in labour.

'I thought they were wrong,' she said.

'I knew how early she was an I didn't want it to be true, as a nurse I know how dangerous it can be.'

Despite having steroids and being put on a magnesium drip to slow her labour, Matilda was 'too impatient', and was born naturally at 4.56pm on December 26, 2022.

Sian shared this picture of her dog Rufus to announce her pregnancy with Matilda, who was born in December last year

'I didn't get to hold her,' Sian said.

'She was taken away but was breathing on her own for 15 minutes, and then was intubated to get taken to the NICU.

'I still couldn't believe she was here.'

After three weeks at Nepean Hospital, Matilda was transferred to The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, after developing necrotising enterocolitis (NEC).

NEC is a serious condition in which tissues in the intestine become inflamed and start to die.

This can lead to a perforation developing, which allows the contents of the intestine to leak into the abdomen.

Matilda (pictured with her surgeon) had to undergo a four-hour surgery in January to fix her perforated bowel

On January 18, 2023, doctors operated for four hours to fix Matilda's perforated bowel.

She was fitted with an ileostomy bag - which was later reversed - and spent the next 17 weeks and two days in the special Grace Centre NICU.

'I stayed at the hospital full-time,' Sian said.

'It was hard not having Jason there, to not have someone who was going through what I was.'

Finally, on May 17, 2023, Matilda was discharged from the NICU.

'It was exciting and overwhelming to be coming home,' Sian said.

According to Sian (pictured) she had a 'textbook' pregnancy - until Matilda (pictured) was born extremely prematurely

Sian (pictured with baby Matilda) says she is 'absolutely loving being a mum', and that people are shocked by how well her daughter is doing after being born so prematurely

'She's now officially 6lbs 8oz.

'She's nice and happy, and I'm absolutely loving being a mum.

'Everyone I speak with can't believe how well she's doing after being so premature.

'I believe Jason was with her every step of the way, looking out for her.

'I just know he's the reason she's doing so well.'
While searches for the name Ken increased 200 per cent

Searches for the name Barbie increased 300 per cent

The names Barbie and Ken have become more popular since the film's release

Barbiecore has been inescapable over the past few months amid Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling's hotly-anticipated movie release - and it seems that Barbie-mania has now extended down to expectant parents, who are flooding baby name website with searches for the dolls' monikers.

Barbie - which was released on July 21 and stars Margot and Ryan as Barbie and Ken - sent fans into a pink-splashed adventure and grossed an astounding $1 billion globally.

The film has had a major effect on doll-lovers, with one woman even dumping her boyfriend after he branded the film offensive.

And now it has filtered on down to a new generation, with one popular baby name website revealing it has seen a phenomenal increase in searches for the monikers 'Barbie' and 'Ken' in the wake of the movie's release.

After Barbie was met with huge success from fans, parents are now naming their children after the plastic dolls

BabyNames.com told TMZ that searches for the doll's name has skyrocketed since the film

The site has seen an increase of '300 per cent' for Barbie and '200 per cent' for Ken in the month of July alone

BabyNames.com told TMZ that searches for the names Barbie and Ken have skyrocketed since the film.

The site has seen an increase of '300 per cent' for Barbie and '200 per cent' for Ken in the month of July alone.

According to the site, Barbie means 'stranger.'

Ken means 'handsome.'

According to the Social Security Administration, after Barbie's release in 1959, the name's popularity spiked.

Between 70 to 100 babies per million were named Barbie throughout the early-to-mid 1960s.

Kenneth or Ken first gained popularity before the 1920s, when it was in the top 25 most popular boy names, according to the Social Security Administration.

The doll Ken joined Barbie in 1961, and shortly after searches for the name soared.

According to the Social Security Administration , after the Barbie's release in 1959, the name's popularity spiked

Kenneth or Ken first gained popularity before the 1920s, when it was in the top 25 most popular boy names, according to the Social Security Administration

Allan - played by Michael Cera - was a fan favorite character in the film, however, according to the site, there has been no increase in the name's popularity

The name Ken became most popular in 1963.

Barbie was named after the inventor of Barbie, Ruth Handlers daughter, Barbara, and Ken after her son, Kenneth.

Allan - played by Michael Cera - was a fan-favorite character in the film, however, according to the site, there has been no increase in the name's popularity.

But, similarly to other rare Barbie dolls whose prices have soared, the cost of the Allan doll on eBay has skyrocketed to around $300 a doll, with some of the toys even being priced at $700.
Jenna Bush Hager has revealed that her husband, Henry Hager, was so nervous to ask her father for her hand in marriage that he read the Bible for courage before getting his blessing.

The Today star opened up about the lead-up to their engagement on Monday's show, recalling how Henry sought divine inspiration in anticipation of his sit-down with then-President George W. Bush.

'[It was] not easy. He actually read the Bible,' Jenna, 41, told her guest host Justin Sylvester, who was filling in for Hoda Kotb.

Henry asked the commander-in-chief for permission to marry his daughter at Camp David  the presidential retreat in Maryland  over Fourth of July weekend in 2007.

Jenna Bush Hager, 41, revealed that her husband, Henry Hager, read the Bible for courage before asking her father, then-President George W. Bush, for her hand in marriage

Henry asked the commander-in-chief for permission to marry his daughter at Camp David - the presidential retreat in Maryland - over Fourth of July weekend in 2007

Jenna said Henry had a 'seven-point plan' of why he wanted to marry her, but her father gave him his blessing right away. They wed at her family's estate in Texas the following year

'I was like, "Come see the movie," or "Were going to go do this,"' Jenna recalled. 'We had friends there, and he was like, "No." He called my dad. Hes like, "Id like to come speak to you." Hes like, "Im taking a nap. Come in a couple hours." So he had to sit and stew.'

The former first daughter noted that Henry was more than prepared when it came time to share his intentions with his future father-in-law.

'He had like a seven-point plan of why he wanted to marry me and how he was going to take care of me,' she explained. 'My dad goes, "Henry, I said yes. You dont need to go through anything else  Laura, Henrys proposing," and that was that. Good thing he did it.'

Henry may have been nervous to propose, but Jenna had already popped the question years before their official engagement.

'I proposed to Henry after several cocktails,' she admitted. 'I was 22 years old, my sister was standing with us, we were dancing and Barbara just started shuffling backwards. She was like, "What is happening here?" Wed only been dating three months. He told me he loved me and Im like, "Me too! Lets get married!"'

'Asking a man to marry you after three months and three martinis is a lot,' Justin joked. 'But it worked out for you.'

Jenna admitted that Henry said no at the time, but they got married five years later.

'He didnt say no,' she clarified. 'He just was like [laughing].'

Jenna shared how her husband Henry turned to some divine inspiration to steel his nerves when he prepared to ask her father, former President George W. Bush, if he could marry his daughter. https://t.co/v2mNXIhXsD pic.twitter.com/MiY6ebqZjY  TODAY with Hoda & Jenna (@HodaAndJenna) August 7, 2023

Jenna also stunned her guest host Justin Sylvester when she admitted that she had proposed to Henry years before after just three months of dating

'I proposed to Henry after several cocktails,' she admitted. 'I was 22 years old... Wed only been dating three months. He told me he loved me and Im like, "Me too! Lets get married!"'

Jenna and Henry have three children together, Mila, ten, Poppy, seven, and Hal, who turned four last week

Jenna may have known early on that Henry was 'the one,' but she still felt some pressure after their engagement was announced.

'My parents put out a statement because my dad was president. We were sitting in the airport, and it came on CNN that we were engaged. I was like, Whoa, whoa, whoa,' she remembered.

'I'm happy I married him. I have three kids. I adore him,' she added. 'But I was like, "What? Like what happens if for some reason [it doesn't work out]? It felt like so much pressure for both of us.'

Jenna and Henry tied the knot at the Bush family's estate in Crawford, Texas, in May 2008, and they recently celebrated 15 years of marriage.

Earlier this year, she shared how her mother, former First Lady Laura Bush, mortified her and her twin sister, Barbara Bush, with her sexual innuendo the morning of her wedding.

'My sister and I spent the night the night before [my husband and I] got married, and my mom came in [singing], "Youre getting married! Lets go change the sheets!" And Barbara goes, "Eww gross, Mom! This isnt The Other Boleyn Girl!"' she recalled.

'I wont even say what she said after that,' she added, laughing.

Jenna and Henry have three children together, Mila, ten, Poppy, seven, and Hal, who turned four last week.
A woman has blasted an electrician for coming onto her with an creepy note asking if she'd like to 'have some fun' - even after learning she was married.

Maceon McCracken, 28, from North Carolina, went viral on TikTok earlier this week when she posted a TikTok about the awkward exchange.

The social media star - who boasts almost 65,000 followers - explained how the electrician was making her feel uncomfortable while she was helping out at her husband Colton's furniture store in Concord.

When the workman arrived to install ceiling fans in their showroom, Maceon asked him if he would help move some of the furniture out of the way.

In response, he told her: 'I'd rather take direction from you anyway.'

Maceon McCracken, 28, from North Carolina , went viral on TikTok after discussing her electrician's inappropriate note

Although she thought this comment was 'weird', Maceon decided to overlook it and returned to her husband's office.

Later, the workman walked through the office to wash his hands and felt compelled to tell Maceon that he thought she was 'gorgeous'.

She claims he told her: 'It broke my heart when they told me out there that you were married, but like, that doesn't bother me, and if you ever want to hang out sometime, like, let me know.'

After making this inappropriate comment, the electrician told Maceon that he had left a secret note for her in one of the couches they had moved.

Looking back on it, Maceon said she was 'caught so off guard' that she didn't know how to respond to him.

At the time, the electrician was roughly halfway through his work - so she initially didn't want to raise it as an issue.

But when her husband mentioned that he wanted to go out for lunch, Maceon told him she didn't feel comfortable being alone in the shop with the workman.

After telling him what had happened, the social media star waited for the electrician to leave before digging out the note.

The note Maceon found shoved in one of the sofas she had moved with the electrician

It read: 'Not trying to get you in trouble but you are absolutely beautiful even though you're married. If you ever want to just have some fun or anything, I'd love to.

'PS, if not, just regard this note. You are gorgeous and the perfect example of what I think is stunning.'

In a follow-up video, Maceon explained how her husband later confronted the electrician - who denied knowing that he was coming onto his boss' wife - about the note.

She said: 'Colton was like, "this is not an okay thing to do and he needs to know that."'

Maceon's husband handed the note back to the electrician and told him that 'he could keep it'.

The workman allegedly replied: 'That's your wife? I'm so sorry.'

The overwhelming majority of users were stunned by the electrician's behaviour - with many saying his spelling was a 'red flag' too

Colton told him: 'No more leaving notes for my wife in my couches.'

Since it was uploaded on Sunday, Maceon's video has amassed over 4.7m views - and the majority of viewers were appalled by his behaviour.

She captioned the post: 'I am consistently shocked at the nerve and audacity that some men have.'

One joked: 'You accidentally triggered his hero instinct by asking him to help you move furniture.'

Taking issue with the spelling, another added: '"Just regard" instead of "disregard!"'

'His spelling is a red flag on its own,' a third said.

'I bet his boss would like to know this behaviour,' a fourth wrote.

Meanwhile, a fifth joked: 'If were shocked by something he did, it means he's a bad electrician.'
An Australian four-year-old has been dubbed the 'mini Steve Irwin' after shooting to internet stardom by cuddling deadly pythons, chasing wild wombats and rescuing koalas.

Ashlee Neille, from Victoria, has earned tens of millions of TikTok views for her 'compassionate' interactions with wildlife at her parents' shelter in Gippsland.

Startling footage shows the young girl dragging one of their nine-foot-long pythons, Banjo, back into his cage while other adorable clips show her being chased by wombats.

Others show her cuddling and feeding her rescue wombat pals and even shouting 'be free' as she helps release a rescue koala back into the wild.

TikTokers have nicknamed her the 'wombat whisperer' while dad Josh Neille believes she's the 'mini Steve Irwin' and could be heading for TV stardom like 'The Crocodile Hunter'.

Ashlee Neille, from Victoria, Australia, has been dubbed the 'mini Steve Irwin' after shooting to internet stardom by cuddling deadly pythons, chasing wild wombats and rescuing koalas

The 34-year-old said his tot has fallen in love with all the animals she's already feeding them and cleaning their cages.

Josh said: 'Some people have dogs, but she has snakes, wombats, kangaroos and possums. She's like a mini Steve Irwin.

'She just talks to them and they seem to love her. She says ''he said he loves me'' and I think ''oh yeah, I'm sure that's what he says''.

'She's good with all the animals. A lot of kids come out and they're like ''oh my god, a snake'' but she's happy around them.

'Calling her the wombat whisperer is a pretty cute little analogy. She runs around with them, gives them exercise and gives them comfort. They enjoy it.

'She's always been pretty gentle with them. She doesn't have any siblings and we live pretty remotely, so during the day that's her thing - the wildlife.

'As soon as Ashlee rolled into the house she was introduced to the animals. We're around them so much it's just like having your dogs in the house.

'She was dragging the big snakes up the hallway and putting them back into the cage when she was still in a nappy. They're non-venomous though.

Startling footage shows the young girl dragging one of their nine-foot-long python snakes, Banjo, back into his cage

Ashlee has earned tens of millions of TikTok views for her 'compassionate' interactions with wildlife at her parents' shelter in Gippsland

The young girl has been dragging the big snakes up the hallway to put them back into their cages since she was in a nappy

The snakes are non-venomous so the tot isn't in any danger while holding them

Footage from before Ashlee could even walk shows her playing with snakes

Ashlee doesn't have any siblings and the family live remotely, so during the day she plays with the wildlife (pictured with her mother Amber Moyes)

'She's definitely not as rough as I was as a little boy. She's a very compassionate little girl. She has a lot of care in there.

'I hope she's always this close to the animals and that she'll do something related. Even as a vet or something in the media maybe.

'She's a pretty popular little country girl considering she comes from a town with probably only 500 people.

'We take in wildlife for rehabilitation then release them in the wild and Ashlee understands that these animals belong in the bush, even at her young age.'

Electrician Josh and girlfriend of ten years Amber Moyes introduced their daughter to their animals from the moment she arrived home from the maternity ward.

Footage from before Ashlee could even walk shows her playing with snakes.

Others show her cuddling and feeding her rescue wombat pals and even shouting 'be free' as she helps release a rescue koala back into the wild (pictured with mother Amber Moyes)

Ashlee helps to nurse adorable kangaroo's back to full health before they are released into the wild

Dad Josh Neille (left) believes she's the 'mini Steve Irwin' and could be heading for TV stardom like 'The Crocodile Hunter'

Josh said his tot has fallen in love with all the animals she's already feeding them and cleaning their cages

Little Ashlee was introduced to animals from a young age at her parents animal shelter in Gippsland

The family's TikTok account has almost 400,000 followers and has more than 15 million likes with many rushing to the comments to praise the compassionate little girl

The family's shelter has looked after more than 15 wombats since the shelter opened in 2013 and they care for them for 18 months until they're fit enough to be released back into the wild.

Josh says Ashlee even joins her when he rescues koalas and removes venomous snakes from people's homes.

The family's TikTok account has almost 400,000 followers and has more than 15 million likes.

One user commented: 'The wombat whisperer!'

A second said: 'I feel like it helps the animals to calm down so much seeing your daughter. Like they know they're safe now.'

A third added: 'What is it with this little lady and wombats? They all just adore her to pieces!! [crying emoji, heart emoji].'
A man has revealed how a stunning landscape photo he snapped contains an unlikely background detail.

According to the Mirror, Gavin Best was walking with friends on Cavehill in Belfast one New Year's Eve, when he shot the impressive image.

Despite his lack of prep and set up, the 43-year-old captured a perfect image, featuring impressive framing, lighting and composition.

But it was not until later, when he was examining the photo, that Gavin noticed an unlikely detail in the background.

While taking the image, and completely by chance, he had captured a person in the distance at an unexpected moment.

The stunning photograph taken by Gavin Best, of Cavehill in Belfast, contains an unexpected detail which he only noticed later

According to Gavin, it was 'only a few days later when [he] was looking through the photos on [his] laptop that [he] noticed something'

According to Gavin: 'When I looked at the photos afterwards on my mobile I didn't spot anything; it was only a few days later when I was looking through the photos on my laptop that I noticed something over there, so I zoomed in.'

Zooming into the image shows a person in the background, but what is most interesting is the person's pose.

In a total coincidence, Gavin snapped his shot at the exact moment the stranger was jumping into the air, presumably for another photo.

A close-up of that part of the image shows the unidentified figure mid jump, with their arms and legs splayed.

Writing on X (formerly Twitter) he said: 'Took this photo a few days ago. Just spotted something in the distance and zoomed in. How's that for coincidental timing?'

Another social media user said the image was 'such a good one', assuming it wasn't 'a set up'.

Gavin replied, confirmed that capturing the stranger in the photo was indeed total chance and not a set-up.

He explained that he 'couldn't even see anyone over there' at the time.

Zooming into the photo showed a mysterious figure in the background - coincidentally captured mid jump - presumably doing so for another shot

The mysterious character appears close to the edge of the hill, quite some distance from the camera.

This prompted one worried social media user to ask whether the person may have been attempting to 'jump off the cliff'.

However, Gavin reassured them, noting that 'the next couple of photos showed people up there'.

As well as taking his unlikely photo, the snapper also enjoyed the outing, he said in a separate Tweet.

Gavin wrote: 'That's on top of Cavehill in Belfast, by the way. It's quite a yomp up there, but amazing to get a walk like that so close to the city centre.'
The baker at the centre of Catherine Tyldesley 's cake gate scandal has said that small businesses are being inundated with crippling requests for freebies.

Rebecca Severs, from Keighley, West Yorkshire, made headlines last week after she refused to make the Coronation Street star 100 cakes for her birthday in exchange for social media and magazine plugs.

Now, she's written a message on her website arguing others to support local small businesses.

Rebecca said that asking for freebies is an 'insult to her' and that many people 'don't value her'.

'The small business community is overwhelmingly in agreement that this kind of request is detrimental to their businesses - even and especially when they have said yes to giving out freebies or work in exchange for "exposure",' she wrote.

Rebecca Severs, from Keighley, won praise for her response to a company asking for a free birthday cake for Catherine

'Most people - small business owners included, but not exclusively of course - are living in times when they are struggling to pay the rent, mortgage, food and energy bills, and any luxuries (such as birthday cakes) have to be scrimped and saved for if at all.'

She added that most people want to 'support their local businesses' and 'value them hugely'

'We've received hundreds of messages from small businesses this week, from the amusing to the devastating on this subject,' she added.

'There's the street food company who were asked to cater for 30 people for a TV production company for free - for a week - who told them they'd "best ask someone else".

Coronation Street star Catherine yesterday hit back at the bakery owner who refused to make her 100 cakes for her birthday in exchange for social media and magazine plugs

'A Cornish bakery told me they were given a one star review recently when a customer asked for, and didn't receive, a discount.

'Another guy emailed me to say his company were asked for a free swimming pool once!'

Rebecca added that 'disturbingly' there were 'stories of people whose business had been significantly impacted by making such agreements [free gifts for exposure], including one person whose business was forced to shut down due to the financial loss caused.

She added that one holiday accommodation company told her she was 'often approached by influences and very minor celebrities asking for freebies'.

The email claimed to be from the management company of a 'well-known celebrity' who was having a 40th birthday party

Rebecca emailed the company back, explaining that she would be declining the 'very generous offer'

The company said that they often deal with 'real' celebrities that never ask for a discount and 'leave a large tip'.

Rebecca added that the impact 'isn't just financial' and 'pricing for a small business is 'very difficult'.

'I know personally at least two sole traders who are afraid to work out their costs because they know they are undercharging,' she added.

'Many do not even pay themselves minimum wage, let alone a wage that reflects their skill level. People constantly complain about prices when you work for yourself - because there's an actual human who's there to hear it, as opposed to a faceless corporation.

'Every quote that's knocked back, every comment that's made, every time you press the delete button and write a lower number in there - that all adds up to a lot of emotional baggage.'

She added that many bakers 'aren't worth what they're charging'.

'People don't value us. I don't value me. And so the cycle continues. And actually, this deepens the financial impact even more, ultimately.'

'This short email exchange feels like a microcosm of what we are going through collectively. The rich getting richer, and ordinary people getting poorer.

'Why should anyone get a freebie when all my clients pay me their hard earned, hard fought for cash to buy our cakes for a special occasion? It's not only an insult to me and my staff, it's an insult to our loyal clients.

'And the #cakegate story plays out all over the UK, and the world by the looks of my inbox, all day every day. Well, I don't regret it for a second if maybe we've put some brakes on it, even if it's just for a while'.

Rebecca Severs has broken her silence after the Coronation Star Catherine Tyldesley accused her of 'seeking exposure'

A row broke out when Rebecca shared a Facebook post with a screenshot of an email exchange between her bakery and the PR company representing an unidentified 'well-known' celebrity, asking for a 40th birthday party cake, 100 cupcakes and a smaller birthday cake for the star's husband.

The founder of Three Little Birds Bakery wrote: 'This poor celebrity apparently can't afford to pay people for their products and services. Spare a thought! What happened to women supporting women.'

The Mail revealed that the party planners were in fact organising a 40th birthday bash for Catherine - and the actress didn't hold back when she accused the 'cake lady' of 'craving exposure' in a reply.
Savannah Guthrie has opened up about her 'lifelong' grief over the death of her father and how the sudden loss pushed her toward the career she has today.

The Today co-anchor reflected on the pivotal moment in her life during her appearance on Brooke Shields's Now What? podcast, recalling how she was 16 when her dad, Charles Guthrie, died of a heart attack.

Guthrie, 51, explained that she was 13 and a freshman in high school when he suffered his first heart attack, but she didn't realize the health implications at the time.

'I dont think we understood how serious that was,' she said. 'And then three years later he had another heart attack, and that one was fatal. It was so unexpected.'

Savannah Guthrie, 51, opened up about her grief over the death of her father, Charles Guthrie, during her appearance on Brooke Shields's Now What? podcast

The Today star explained that she was 13 and a freshman in high school when her dad suffered his first heart attack. He died of another heart attack three years later

The broadcast journalist shared how she still continues to grieve the loss of her father more than three decades later.

'I think it changes everything. I always think of it as on our calendars we have B.C. and A.D. Theres a before and after. Its just this stark dividing line,' she explained.

'Theres before my dad died and theres after, and its profound. Grief is a lifelong process. I really believe that. Theres acute grief.

'Theres different moments of grief, but I remember thinking even then when I was a late teenager, I always thought, I have a cup of grief now. Its like a cup of water and Im going to spend the rest of my life emptying this cup,' she continued.

'And sometimes its coming out in buckets. And sometimes its a little sprinkle and sometimes I can just hold it and nothing comes out. But every last drop of this cup will not be empty until I leave this world.

'I will always carry this grief. It doesnt mean that Im not happy, that Im not joyous, but its part of me.'

Guthrie, who grew up in Arizona with her brother Camron, and sister, Annie, explained that her father's death made her 'more serious internally.'

'When you lose a parent like that, so suddenly, its so shocking at 16, you just have some knowledge,' she said. 'You just know something about the world that hopefully others dont have to know.'

'Theres before my dad died and theres after, and its profound. Grief is a lifelong process. I really believe that. Theres acute grief,' she told Shields

Guthrie often pays tribute to her father on special occasions, and she remains close with her mother, Nancy Guthrie (pictured), who celebrated her 81st birthday in January

Guthrie and her husband, Mike Feldman, have two children together, eight-year-old Vale and six-year-old Charley, who is named after her late father

Guthrie now lives in New York City with her husband, Mike Feldman, and their children, eight-year-old Vale and six-year-old Charley, who is named after her late father.

The mother of two said she isn't sure if her father's death changed the way she looks at parenting or her health, but she believes it led her to a career in journalism.

'I know it changed me and probably changed the whole trajectory of my life,' she told Shields. 'I often think that I would have been totally different if my father had lived. I just dont know that I would have chosen this career. I dont know if I would have left home. I mightve stayed in my hometown.

'I dont know what I would have done, but I know fundamentally it changed everything. And some things it changed for the better, in the sense of, I know that my heart is more tender because of it.'

Guthrie often pays tribute to her father on special occasions, and she remains close with her mother, Nancy Guthrie, who celebrated her 81st birthday in January.

Last year, she shared how her mom selflessly encouraged her to move to Montana for her first newsroom job when she was 21.

Guthrie explained that she lived at home all throughout college and would have found another job closer to home if her mother had asked her to.

'We didn't have money to afford the dorm. And that was thing one, but the other was that my sister and I really felt like we should stick with my mom and not leave her alone,' she recalled. 'But when I moved to Butte, Montana, this was it. And it was really hard for me to leave her.'

Guthrie said it was her mother who pushed her to go, telling her: 'If you can't leave me, then I didn't do my job right, Savannah.'

'It's not because she didn't want me to stay. Of course she wanted me to stay,' she added. 'But she's like, "I'm not going to stand in the way of your dreams. I'm going to tell you, go go go go go."'
A 'sleep mask' is the talk of beauty circles this month thanks to its instant 'awakening' effect after just one night of use.

The Bright Nights Sleep Mask by Aussie brand Airyday is just $37 and claims to brighten and exfoliate the skin, leaving it super smooth and radiant almost instantly.

Used either overnight or as a rinse-off treatment before bed once or twice a week, the gel mask uses a combination of Hyaluronic acid and AHAs to encourage cell renewal and a glowing effect.

Described as 'pillow-proof' and a 'PM wonder woman', the bouncy mask also uses Glycolic, Lactic and Lactobionic Acid to help remove the buildup of dead skin cells and glycerin to keep skin hydrated for optimal function.

Glycolic acid is known to boost collagen production for softer, smoother skin while Lactobionic acid works to exfoliate and draw moisture to the skin.

The Bright Nights Sleep Mask by Aussie brand Airyday is just $37 and claims to brighten and exfoliate the skin, leaving it super smooth and radiant almost instantly

It's perfect for all skin types and treats dead skin build up, lacklustre tone and signs of ageing.

Alternatively, the brand's popular Night Rain Sleep Mask, $37, uses more moisture-loaded ingredients like Vitamin C and E and peptides to treat dehydrated, dry and sun-stressed skin.

'Love this night mask. Glides onto my face and I can feel my skin absorbing it up. In the morning my face is so smooth and soft. Skin does look brighter. Very happy,' one customer wrote.

'Fantastic product, dries on skin so doesn't rub off on pillow. Skin looks brighter a refreshed,' another added.

Alternatively, the brand's popular Night Rain Sleep Mask , $37, uses more moisture-loaded ingredients like Vitamin C and E and peptides to treat dehydrated, dry and sun-stressed skin

'I was looking for something easy to use and gentle on my temperamental skin and this product has been just that - thanks Airday! Would highly recommend.'

Airyday founder Frances van der Velden started the suncare brand after a skin cancer diagnosis when she was 36.

She was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in late August 2020 after a 'blind bump' appeared on her left temple along the hairline.

She attempted scratching off the 'annoying' bump several times, but it persisted and never healed. It wasn't until her hairdresser and mother-in-law urged her to get the spot checked that she visited her doctor.

It's perfect for all skin types and treats dead skin build up, lacklustre tone and signs of ageing

'As someone who thrives on predictability, rational thinking and doesn't tend to get emotional - I was left in shock. I was overwhelmed with anger, sadness and a million questions. Why me? I am still young, and I used sun protection, didn't I?' She said.

'But I had to be honest with myself; I rarely wore sunscreen as much as I thought and claimed I had. Wearing it only at the beach, pool or a day out 'enjoying' the sun, cliche sunny moments where we are encouraged to apply sun protection, I realised I hate sunscreen. I couldn't stand the smell, the stickiness, thickness and felt it did more harm to my skin than good.'

So, after an all-clear from her dermatologist and a new-found desire to create something she actually wanted to wear daily, Airyday was born - along with their hero product, Golden Glow Dreamscreen.

READ MORE: Confronting reality of skin cancer caused by too many days by the pool: Aussie mum reveals the terrifyingly subtle sign she had the deadly disease (and no, it's not a mole)

Mum, 37, reveals the devastating moment she was diagnosed with cancer after mistaking mystery lump for an 'annoying pimple' - and the bad habit she blames

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Aussies can nab a pair of Mark Wahlberg's favourite swim shorts this Father's Day - and they'll flatter dads of all shapes and sizes.

The Hollywood star, 52, has spent plenty of time Down Under while expanding his burger empire and was seen rocking a pair of mint, navy and white striped shorts from Australian brand Vacay Swimwear while shirtless on a boat recently.

The Capri Swim Shorts are one of the brand's best-sellers, and at $85 are an affordable way to rock A-list style on a budget.

The slim-fit shorts finish mid-thigh, are non-stretch and quick-drying.

They also feature an elasticated waistband with drawstring and twin hand pockets that are mesh-lined.

Aussies can nab a pair of Mark Wahlberg's favourite swim shorts this Father's Day - and they'll flatter dads of all shapes and sizes

'I bought these shorts for my adult sons and they just loved them,' one customer wrote. 'Although a tighter fit, they have a great European look to them.

Another added: 'These shorts are exceptional. Love the style and fit! Will be buying this brand again.'

Vacay was founded in 2016 by mates Jordy Kallios and Corey Decandia while they sunned themselves on a beach in Mykonos.

They observed a narrow window for guys to show their personality through holiday fashion so came up with a brand that meets what they claim to be 'the highest standards of style and comfort, through the creation of unique swim and resort wear'.

The Capri Swim Shorts are one of the brand's best-sellers, and at $89 are an affordable way to rock A-list style on a budget

The slim-fit shorts finish mid-thigh, are non-stretch and quick-drying

'Our collections take swim and resort wear fashion to a new dimension, with iconic prints that give you the confidence to go from the beach to the bar with your head held high,' the brand writes.

'Whether the Vacay customer is strolling the shores of Bondi or sailing the isles of Capri, Vacay Swimwear offers a contemporary twist on summers favourite styles.'

You can browse the range here.

READ MORE:

Mark Wahlberg says his family's move from LA to Las Vegas 'has been great'

Mark Wahlberg returns to grocery store where he worked as a teen for just $3.65 an hour before becoming one of Hollywood's highest-paid stars with a $400m fortune

Daily Mail Australia may earn commission from some of the links in this article.
An Australian man has 'slammed' universities Down Under, claiming that colleges in North America were the gold standard of a well-rounded higher education experience.

Jesse, from Melbourne, completed a five-year degree in his home state and spent a year abroad in New Jersey.

The 26-year-old claimed that his time at university was 'absolute sh*t' for a variety of reasons, including stretches of loneliness and difficulty working on group assignments.

The man sparked a heated debate about the issue, with many claiming the primary purpose of university was to get a degree, not to make friends.

'If I'm spending thousands of dollars on my HECS debt, I'm there to make friends and build connections for the rest of my life,' Jesse said.

Jesse shared his opinions in a series of short clips.

The first difference he pointed out was the way students in both countries approach making friends.

'In America, you live on campus,' he explained. 'Most people leave their state to go to college, so they have to make new friends.'

'But here in Australia, people walk to university of catch the local tram.

'They have all their old friends from school, so they come to class without wanting to make new friends.

'People don't even look up [from their computers or phones] - half the people in Australia don't speak English, they're from international countries.'

An Australian man recently 'slammed' universities Down Under, claiming that colleges in North America were the gold standard of a well-rounded higher education experience

He added, 'In America, there are free barbecues around campus and people are partying every night.'

Jesse claimed that he 'probably only spoke to six people' during his five-year tenure at university.

Another aspect the Australian man despised was group assignments.

'You always get partnered up with people you've never met before, and they're always very quiet and never respond to your Facebook messages,' he said.

'[After weeks of silence], you'll see them at the lecture the day before the assignment is due, and they tell you they're confused, and then you end up doing their work for them,' Jesse sighed.

Jesse, from Melbourne, completed a five-year degree in his home state and spent a year abroad in New Jersey

Many agreed with Jesse - claiming that they were 'ripped off' by studying in Australia.

'I haven't studied in America, but the culture at Australian universities is so bad, literally no one talks to each other,' a woman said.

'Uni is all stress and no fun, there's no such thing as leaving high school and starting over in Australia because you'll see everyone everywhere,' another wrote.

But others claimed it was up to the person to dictate their social life.

'If you spoke to six people over five years, it sounds like you're the problem,' a man said. 'It's my second week and I've already made 15 friends. It's not hard.'

'You're at uni to learn, not to party. Stop complaining,' another wrote.
A mum-to-be has shared her 'birth plan' filled with demands for when she goes into labour - including the desire to 'pull the baby out' herself and a request to not see the epidural needle.

Veruca Salt, from the Gold Coast, is expecting her first child and shared 15 non-negotiables on her Instagram Stories on Monday.

The 24-year-old OnlyFans star, whose real name is Kimberley Summer Hartley, doesn't want to be annoyed by anyone, will require 'an epidural or two' and 'the gas', snacks as well as her own clothes.

In addition to this, Veruca wants her hair to be braided and encourages midwives to do 'everything possible to avoid a C-section'.

Influencer Veruca Salt, 24, is expecting her first child and has revealed a list of 15 specific non-negotiables for when she goes into labour

The 24-year-old shared her 'birth plan' (pictured) with her 153,000 followers on her Instagram Stories. She says doesn't want to be annoyed, will require 'an epidural or two' and 'the gas', snacks as well as her own clothes

Following the birth she wants the baby to be cleaned 'within five minutes' because the after birth 'grosses her out'.

But she wants to delay cord clamping, which is believed to be beneficial for term and preterm infants.

According to Mayo Clinic, delayed cord clamping for 30-60 seconds after birth allows for 'higher distribution of blood to the infant rather than leaving this precious blood in the placenta.'

For premature babies it can help decreases 'serious complications'.

Veruca concluded the list by writing: 'I would like to leave the hospital still alive with a health and alive baby.'

Following the birth she wants the baby to be cleaned 'within five minutes' because the after birth 'grosses her out'

Veruca announced her pregnancy in June by sharing an image of herself enjoying a cake with blue in the centre

During childbirth she's open to have students watch but not helping with the delivery.

Veruca announced her pregnancy in June by sharing a photo of herself enjoying a cake with blue in the centre.

Earlier this month she also announced that she will continue making X-rated content while pregnant.

She replied to a fan on Instagram Stories who asked her is she would continue to star in videos on adult platform OnlyFans while pregnant.

'Yes, just because I'm pregnant, doesn't mean I'm ugly,' she replied.
Hadid was diagnosed with the disease in 2012, along with her mom and brother

Model Bella Hadid revealed she has been in Lyme disease treatment for 100 days

Model Bella Hadid revealed she has spent more than 100 days receiving intense treatment for Lyme disease after 'worsening with time.'

Hadid, 26, was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2012, which is spread by ticks carrying bacteria and affects one in 10 people in North America.

While it's unclear exactly what her treatment entailed, Dr Lenore Brancato, a rheumatologist at NYU Langone, told DailyMail.com that it could involve a combination of pain management, medications, and holistic remedies.

'Chronic [Lyme disease] often includes post-infectious musculoskeletal pain, cognitive difficulty and generalized debilitating fatigue,' Dr Brancato said.

'It can be treated with antidepressants, pain management and holistic adjuncts like acupuncture, yoga, physical therapy and strengthening exercises and cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness meditation.'

Hadid took to social media to address her taking time off from modeling earlier this week.

Model Bella Hadid, 26, was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2012. She revealed on Instagram this week that she has been undergoing 100 days of intense treatment

Hadid's brother and mother both also have the condition. Hadid and her brother, Anwar, were both diagnosed the same year

'The little me that suffered would be so proud of grown me for not giving up on myself,' Hadid wrote on Instagram.

'Living in this state, worsening with time and work while trying to make myself, my family and the people who support me, proud, had taken a toll on me in ways I can't really explain.'

'To be sad and sick with the most blessing/privilege/opportunity/love around me was quite possibly the most confusing thing ever.'

For many cases of Lyme disease, a short course of antibiotics is enough to cure it, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

However, chronic cases, like Hadid's, require more intensive treatment. Lyme disease symptoms that persist for at least six months after completing initial treatment results in Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS).

'Symptoms may persist for months or years after treatment of Lyme,' Dr Brancato said.

'The cause of persistent nonspecific symptoms after treatment for Lyme disease remains uncertain.'

Treatment for PTLDS depends on the patient's symptoms and any complications they may have received, including anemia, thyroid deficiencies, carpal tunnel syndrome, vitamin deficiencies, or autoimmune diseases.

Hadid posted an image on Instagram of results from a 2016 urine sample. The results listed eight microbes that were detected in the sample, suggesting she's had multiple infections at the same time.

Treating other infections can involve antibiotic therapy, though some microbes are resistant to these medications.

'The best way to prevent co-infections is [to] use tick repellants containing DEET or permethrin, wear white clothing so ticks can be seen, placing clothes in dryers after outdoor activities and shower shortly after coming indoors,' Dr Brancato said.

It's unclear exactly what Hadid's treatment entails, though it could involve managing symptoms, like pain, or treating other conditions. In this image, she appears to be getting an electrocardiogram, a test used to measure heart rhythm

In another image, she appears to be getting an electrocardiogram, a test used to measure heart rhythm. This suggests that she could have an irregular heart rhythm or other cardiac issues.

It's unclear what additional complications Hadid may have had or what symptoms she has experienced. Her treatment could have involved symptom management, including medications to help with pain and fatigue, or it could have been to treat other conditions.

In photos posted to her Instagram, she appears to have a port in her arm, which is used to make frequent blood draws and intravenous medications easier to administer. This suggests that she requires one or both of those interventions.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread to humans by infected ticks.

How do I remove a tick? Ticks should be removed using a tick removal tool, or a pair of very fine-tipped tweezers, making sure that all parts of the tick are removed. A tick remover should be an essential part of any first aid kit. There is no minimum time a tick needs to be attached to pass on an infection. However, it should be removed as soon as possible. Never pull off a tick with your fingers, normal tweezers, or any other unsuitable tool. It is also very important not to smother a tick in oil, Vaseline, or any other substance to try to remove it. This can stress the tick and cause it to respond by regurgitating the contents of its stomach into the host's bloodstream How to stay safe Take effective tick repellent on outdoor trips and a tick removal tool.

Permethrin-treated outdoor clothing should also be considered for high-risk activities and occupations.

Avoid walking through long grass and stick to pathways wherever possible.

Wear light-colored clothing, as this will make it easier to spot ticks and brush them off.

Wear long sleeves and tuck trousers into socks.

Shower and carry out a thorough tick check on yourself, children, and pets when you get home.

Remember that ticks can be as small as poppy seeds, so careful checking is key. Pay special attention to the hairline and behind the ears of young children.

Talk to your vet about tick prevention products for pets and check them daily for ticks. Source: Lyme Disease UK Advertisement

It's transmitted by black-legged ticks carrying either the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi or, more rarely, Borrelia mayonii.

Ticks carrying this bacteria live in most states within the US, but they are most common in the upper Midwest, northeastern, and mid-Atlantic states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

It's the most common vector-borne (a disease caused by blood-feeding organisms like ticks, mosquitos, and fleas) in the US. A study published earlier this year in the journal BMJ Global Health found that 14 percent of the world's population could have been infected with the disease.

There are 35,000 cases reported every year in the US, however the CDC estimates the actual number could be closer to 476,000.

A bullseye-shaped rash, also known as an erythema migrans (EM) rash, is one of the earliest and most obvious signs.

As it expands, the mark can reach up to 12 inches or more. It is rarely itchy or painful, but it may feel warm to the touch.

This rash can last anywhere from three to 30 days and occurs in 70 to 80 percent of Lyme disease patients.

Other early symptoms include fever, headache, extreme tiredness, joint stiffness, muscle aches and pains, and swollen lymph nodes, according to the Mayo Clinic.

If the condition progresses, it can cause rashes all over the body, neck pain or stiffness, muscle weakness, irregular heartbeats, pain or numbness in the hands or feet, swelling in tissues of the eye or eyelid, and vision loss.

About one in 10 people with the condition develop Lyme arthritis, which happens when the disease gets into connective tissue in the joints, leading to symptoms similar to arthritis, including swollen joints that are warm to the touch.

A recent survey of over 3,000 chronic Lyme patients found that patients have a worse quality of life than those with other chronic illnesses, including congestive heart failure, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and arthritis.

Additionally, more than 70 percent of patients with chronic Lyme disease reported fair or poor health.

Though Hadid is undergoing intense treatment, she remains optimistic.

'One thing I want to express to you all is that 1: I am okay and you do not have to worry, and 2: I wouldn't change anything for the world,' she said.

'If I had to go through all of this again, to get here, to this exact moment I'm in right now, with all of you, finally healthy, I would do it all again. It made me who I am today

"I have so much gratitude for and perspective on life, this 100+ days of Lyme, chronic disease, co-infection treatment, almost 15 years of invisible suffering, was all worth it if I'm able to, God willing, have a lifetime of spreading love from a full cup, and being able to truly be myself, for the first time ever.'

'I'll be back when I'm ready. I miss you all so much. I love you all so much.'
A study into heat-related deaths in the Northern Territory suggests air-conditioning is ruining our ability to handle high temperatures and that traditional Indigenous practices may be a better way to cope.

Research published in the top medical journal The Lancet examined temperature data from deaths in the Territory from 1980 to 2020, covering more than 15,800 Indigenous and almost 16,000 non-Indigenous deaths.

Australian National University experts found more time spent inside air-conditioned spaces is making people more vulnerable to heat stress.

The study found that Indigenous people were found to be no more susceptible to heat mortality than non-Indigenous despite typically having less access to air-conditioned spaces.

Research into heat-related deaths in the Northern Territory has found air conditioning is affecting individuals ability to adapt to rising temperatures and traditional ways to stay cool may be safer (stock image)

'The social and cultural practices developed by First Nations people over generations, such as reducing physical exertion in hotter parts of the day, are powerful mechanisms for protecting human health,' lead author Simon Quilty said.

Warumungu Elder and study co-author Norman Frank Jupurrurla said the results should inform housing policy in the NT.

'Today we still live like we used to live in humpies, our houses are poor and overcrowded ... these houses have been built for England or cold country. We need houses to be built for this hot climate here,' he said.

Many warm countries around the world have traditionally had a down-time in the hot afternoon, such as the Spanish siesta, which avoids putting stress on the body at dangerous times.

However in a globalised world, such traditional naps are being abandoned by many to stay contactable through the working day.

Australian National University experts found more time spent inside air-conditioned spaces is making people more vulnerable to heat-related deaths (stock image)

Study co-author Aparna Lal said such a move was counter-productive and instead we should embrace those healthier lifestyles.

'As extreme hot temperatures become more common in Australia and around the world, the most important tool we have to adapt to climate change may be cultural change,' Prof Quilty said.

'It's time to learn from First Nations people and other societies from the past that used culture as a tool to thrive in hot climates. Perhaps we should all be having an arvo nap when it's hot rather than turning up the AC.'

Prof. Lal said more thought also needs to be put into home design to allay heat rather than relying on increasingly expensive air conditioning.

'Housing in hot climates should be designed to ensure passive cooling where people live comfortably within the predominant climate and at the same time requiring minimal energy costs for cooling,' she said.
Drifting off to sleep while smelling lavender, eucalyptus or rosemary could help to boost your memory in later life.

Volunteers aged 60 to 85 who were exposed to fragrances at night for six months did far better in a memory test.

They improved their memory by 226 per cent compared to volunteers who did not get the same scent exposure.

The small study, of 43 people, suggests the act of smelling pleasant scents could stimulate the brain in a way which protects against memory loss.

The link between memory and sense of smell - known by scientists as the 'olfactory' sense - might help to explain why people in the early stages of dementia start to lose their ability to detect odours.

Professor Michael Yassa, a co-author of the scent study, from the University of California, Irvine, said: 'The olfactory sense has the special privilege of being directly connected to the brain's memory circuits.

(Stock Photo) Drifting off to sleep while smelling lavender, eucalyptus or rosemary could help to boost your memory in later life

'All the other senses are routed first through the thalamus.

He said: 'Everyone has experienced how powerful aromas are in evoking recollections, even from very long ago.

'However, unlike with vision changes that we treat with glasses and hearing aids for hearing impairment, there has been no intervention for the loss of smell.'

The volunteers in the study were given a diffuser for their bedroom, and 20 out of 43 of them received essential oils, which smelled of lavender, rose, orange, eucalyptus, lemon, peppermint and rosemary.

They turned on the diffuser when they went to bed, and one scent per night was released into the air for two hours as they fell asleep.

The other 23 people, who were the control group, also switched on the diffuser when they went to bed, but their diffusers only pumped out distilled water with a minimal, undetectable scent.

The participants, who had no cognitive impairment or dementia, were given a battery of tests, including the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, where people have to recall words from a list to gauge their verbal learning and memory.

The volunteers in the study were given a diffuser for their bedroom, and 20 out of 43 of them received essential oils, which smelled of lavender, rose, orange, eucalyptus, lemon, peppermint and rosemary

The 226 per cent better performance on this test was seen in the group exposed to the fragrances compared to the control group.

MRI scans revealed those who had fallen asleep with the seven scents over six months also had better functioning in the 'uncinate fasciculus' - a brain pathway which deteriorates with ageing and has been linked to memory.

The researchers of the study, published in the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience, say the finding transforms the long-known link between smell and memory into an easy technique for strengthening memory and potentially protecting against dementia.

It follows evidence that exposing people with moderate dementia to up to 40 different odours twice a day boosted their memories and language skills and eased depression.

Cynthia Woo, who led the new study from the University of California, Irvine, said: 'By making it possible for people to experience the odours while sleeping, we eliminated the need to set aside time for this during waking hours every day.'
Have YOU been hit by the bug? Email emily.stearn@mailonline.co.uk

Health chiefs are racing to find the source of an E. coli outbreak that has killed one Brit and hospitalised six.

Twenty-five people  the majority of whom are children  have been sickened by an extremely rare strain of the diarrhoea-causing bug since the end of May.

Officials are baffled as to how the bug, typically found in the gut of farm animals, has spread. Similar E. coli clusters have previously been traced back to salad, lettuce and fenugreek seeds, however.

Infectious disease experts told MailOnline the source of this outbreak is also likely to be a 'contaminated' food or drink.

They have urged Brits to wash fruit and veg before eating them, in case they are the source, and wash their hands before cooking to reduce the risk of getting sick.

Symptoms vary from mild to bloody diarrhoea, the UK Health Security Agency says. Vomiting, fever and stomach cramps are other tell-tale signs. But, in severe cases, the bug can cause haemolytic uremic syndrome, a life-threatening condition that can lead to kidney failure

Officials are baffled as to how the bug, typically found in the gut of farm animals, has spread. Similar E. coli clusters have previously been traced back to salad, lettuce and fenugreek seeds, however

The outbreak is caused by shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O183  a strain that causes gastroenteritis.

Symptoms vary from mild to bloody diarrhoea, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Vomiting, fever and stomach cramps are other tell-tale signs.

But in severe cases, the very infectious bug can cause haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening condition that can lead to kidney failure.

Most of those sickened with the bug will get better without NHS care within a week. They are advised to drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.

STEC can also be spread by touching infected animals or their faeces and coming into contact with other people who are sick.

The O183 strain is very rare. Before the current cluster, only 15 cases had ever been reported in Britain since 2016.

Everything you need to know about the E. coli outbreak What bug is causing the outbreak? Britain's ongoing outbreak is caused by shiga toxin-producing E. coli O183  a strain that causes gastroenteritis. The strain is very rare. Before the current cluster, only 15 cases had been reported in Britain since 2016. What are the symptoms? Symptoms vary from mild to bloody diarrhoea, the UK Health Security Agency says. Vomiting, fever and stomach cramps are other tell-tale signs. But in severe cases, the bug can cause haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening condition that can lead to kidney failure. Most of those affected by the bug will get better without NHS care within a week. They are advised to drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. Where have the cases been spotted? Of the 25 cases spotted in recent weeks, 19 were in England. Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales have logged a handful between them. Advertisement

Professor David Gally, chief scientific advisor at Food Standards Scotland and chair of microbial genetics at the University of Edinburgh, told MailOnline most strains of STEC are found in ruminants, such as cows, sheep and goats.

He said the likely source will either be food or drink that has been contaminated with the bacteria or direct contact with the environment.

The food or drink would have to be 'of a ruminant source' or contaminated with their faeces, such as crops grown nearby.

'This is why the list of possible sources is quite long and highlights the importance of traceback epidemiology studies to find out what people have eaten or where they have been. It can be very difficult to find the link,' he said.

Most of the cases are in England (19), while only a handful have been logged in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Professor Gally said: 'Unless they all visited the same place for a holiday in the last month (possible) then it would make it more likely to be a contaminated food/drink item that is more widely distributed in the UK.'

The UKHSA and Food Standards Agency are probing the cause of the outbreak.

Patients reported eating grated hard cheese before being sickened, it was claimed. Others mentioned having strawberries, cucumbers, peppers and watermelon.

But officials insist there is no proof any of the foods are responsible.

The ages of the patients sickened by the bug range from 'under one to 74' but the 'majority' are children, the UKHSA said.

The UKHSA did not reveal whether the patient who died did so because of, or with, the infection.

Officials are now reminding Brits to contact NHS 111 if they or their kids have bloody diarrhoea.

Amy Douglas, UKHSA incident director, said: 'The outbreaks source has not yet been identified. But we are working with partners to investigate.

'Washing hands thoroughly with soap and water and ensuring to help young children with handwashing is the best way to stop the bug spreading.

'Children under five shouldn't attend school/nursery/group childcare until they have been free of sickness or diarrhoea for two days.

'Visits to hospitals or care home settings should be avoided if you are feeling unwell.'

The outbreak is caused by shiga toxin-producing E. coli (pictured) O183  a strain that causes gastroenteritis

Dr Simon Clarke, a microbiologist at Reading University, told MailOnline: 'Like other versions of E. coli, infections are most likely to come from eating contaminated food, particularly uncooked meat products, or indeed anything else which might have become contaminated by such meat products during storage.

'It's very difficult to easily pin down the source of these infections.

'But there are other sources of contamination too, like contact with farm animals and swimming or paddling in ponds and streams which are contaminated with animal faeces.'

A previous E. coli outbreak in Germany in 2011, which sickened nearly 4,000 and killed more than 50, was found by the European Food Safety Authority to be most likely caused by fenugreek seeds imported from Egypt.

Last year, more than 250 Brits were sickened by E. coli (STEC) O157. Probes suggested that lettuce and salad leaves were carrying the bug.

Professor Willem van Schaik, director of the Institute of Microbiology and Infection at the University of Birmingham, told MailOnline that speculation about the source of previous E. coli outbreaks has hit the sales of some products.

He noted that the current outbreak 'appears to be considerably less serious than the one in 2011.

'But any outbreak of this scale needs careful tracking and source identification, which the FSA and UKHSA are currently undertaking,' Professor van Schaik said.

He urged Brits to wash fruit and vegetables before preparing or eating them, thoroughly clean chopping boards and knives and wash their hands before preparing or eating a meal.
Bowel cancer rates have decreased 15% since the screening kits were rolled out

The national bowel cancer screening programme has led to a 'critical' reduction in cases, a major study reveals.

Experts described the checks as 'life-saving' and urged people to participate when invited to do so by the NHS.

The tests identify abnormalities and help doctors find pre-cancerous polyps, which can often be removed before they develop into tumours.

The incidence of bowel cancer in the lowermost portion of the large bowel has decreased by 15 per cent following the introduction of the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (BCSP) in 2006.

The biggest reductions have been observed in men and in patients living in areas of greatest socioeconomic deprivation, according to the findings published in the journal Colorectal Disease.

More and more people in England have come forward for bowel cancer screening over the years. Official data recorded just over 6million people, about 70 per cent of the eligible population, returned a postal bowel cancer test it in 2021-22, a record figure

This chart shows the average number of bowel cancer cases per year in men and women (blue and pink line respectively) and across different age groups (blue and pink bars)

Screening was expanded in 2010 to cover all adults aged 60 to 74 registered with a GP in England and will be expanded again to cover adults aged over 50 by 2025.

Adults in this age group are automatically sent an NHS bowel cancer screening kit, known as a faecal immunohistochemical test (FIT), every two years.

Screening involves taking a small stool sample at home and posting it back to a laboratory, where it is checked for traces of blood, which may be a sign of cancer.

Those with abnormal results will be invited for further checks, such as a colonoscopy, during which pre-cancerous growths or cancer may be found.

Researchers from the University of Bristol and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust analysed data from the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service database.

They identified 541,515 adults diagnosed with bowel cancer of screening age (60-74 years) between 2001 and 2017.

Of these, 44 per cent of patients had tumours of the uppermost portion of the large bowel and 56 per cent had tumours of the lowermost portion.

While the incidence rate of bowel cancer initially peaked in the years following the introduction of the BCSP, it subsequently decreased with the greatest reduction in incidence being observed in tumours of the lowermost portion of the large bowel.

In 2001, the incidence of tumours of the lowermost portion of bowel was 11 per cent higher in patients from the most deprived compared to the least deprived areas, reducing to 4 per cent by 2017.

Furthermore, men were also noted to have experienced a greater reduction than women over time-period of the study for tumours of both the uppermost and lowermost portions of the large bowel.

Adam Chambers, one of the study's lead authors, said: 'Our results show that one of the benefits of screening people for bowel cancer is that there is a significant lowering of colorectal cancer incidence rates that is primarily driven by detecting and removing pre-cancerous polyps at colonoscopy.

Bowel cancer can cause you to have blood in your poo, a change in bowel habit, a lump inside your bowel which can cause obstructions. Some people also suffer with weight loss as a result of these symptoms

BBC newsreader George Alagiah recently died after a nine-year battle bowel cancer. The 67-year-old was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer which had spread to his liver and lymph nodes, in April 2014

Mr Alagiah presented a podcast, for Bowel Cancer UK, to raise awareness of the disease by interviewing sufferers and experts. And in May he shared a tweet urging people to access free screening kits. 'I wish I had access to one of these kits when I was first diagnosed nine years ago,' he wrote

'Future work should be focused on reducing the incidence of tumours of the uppermost portion of the large bowel by increasing screening uptake through use of the new faecal immunohistochemical test (FIT) and improving the quality of colonoscopy.

'We welcome the reduction in the screening age threshold, as our research group have previously demonstrated that bowel cancer incidence is rapidly increasing in young adults.'

There are almost 43,000 bowel cancer diagnoses and 16,800 deaths each year in the UK.

More than nine out of ten new cases (94 per cent) are diagnosed in people over the age of 50 but bowel cancer cancer affect anyone of any age.

Dr Lisa Wilde, director of research and external affairs at Bowel Cancer UK, says: 'Screening is one of the best ways to detect bowel cancer early, and in some cases prevent it from developing in the first place.

'This research reinforces the importance of screening for bowel cancer and shows the potential impact of future improvements to the screening programme to make it more effective.

'Sadly only one in ten patients are diagnosed with bowel cancer through the national bowel cancer screening programmes in England and Wales.

'Screening can detect bowel cancer or pre-cancer before symptoms appear, so if you're invited for screening, please do take part, as it could save your life.

'And if you've lost your kit or thrown it away you can request a new one by visiting the NHS bowel cancer screening website.'
Crumbling NHS hospitals are suffering chemical leaks and broken fire alarms as the cost of tackling the repair backlog passes 10billion, an investigation reveals.

Bosses reported 115 chemical incidents last year, including on children's wards, A&Es and maternity units.

Health leaders last night described the repair bill as 'eye-watering' and warned buildings and facilities are 'in a very bad way and getting worse'.

Manchester University Trust recorded 22 chemical leaks, which is more than any other trust that responded to a Freedom of Information request by the Liberal Democrats.

This included a spill in a childbirth delivery ward at St Mary's and in a Children's Theatre at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.

Manchester University Trust recorded 22 chemical leaks, which is more than any other trust that responded to a Freedom of Information request

Bosses reported 115 chemical incidents last year, including on children's wards, A&Es and maternity units. Pictured: Royal Liverpool Hospital flooded 10 times in 2018, causing delays to patient care and forcing staff to wear wellies

In Newcastle, an NHS hospital had six leaks including in catering facilities, whilst in London, Kingston Hospital had eight leaks, and Lewisham Hospital had a chemical leak in their A&E ward.

A separate FoI request by the Party asked hospital trusts about the number of fires in the past year, as well as the number of broken fire alarms.

Some 83 trusts supplied data, reporting a total of 297 fires but NHS statistics show there were 1,159 blazes across the NHS in 2022.

Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, which had 17 fires in its hospitals last year also had 17 broken fire alarms.

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust had two fires and 17 broken alarms.

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And the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, which reported one fire in its building last year, also had 17 broken fire alarms.

The cost of eradicating the repair backlog for NHS hospitals and equipment passed 10billion for the first time last year, official figures show.

Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents NHS trusts, said: 'Keeping patients and staff safe is vital. High-quality care depends on having reliable buildings and equipment.

'Too many NHS buildings and facilities are in a very bad way and getting worse.

'Trust leaders have warned long and loud about the eye-watering cost of trying to patch up creaking infrastructure and out-of-date facilities.

'The multi-billion pound repairs bill is growing at an alarming rate.

'Many trusts in the government's New Hospital Programme were deeply disappointed to learn that their building plans won't be delivered before 2030.

'It was even more frustrating for those that missed the 'cut' and weren't given any funding at all despite expectations.

'Hospitals and mental health, ambulance and community NHS services need investment for essential projects to overhaul ageing facilities, improving care, supporting staff and giving a lift to their communities.'

An ITV investigation in February 2023 revealed the grim condition of St Helier Hospital in south London, which is said to be 'literally crumbling'

Some wards at the hospital have become so unsafe they have been shut (pictured) and what was once an intensive care unit is being used a store room due to a broken ventilation system

Clips released as part of an ITV investigation show 'leaks so severe they flood and close corridors', maternity staff working under sheets full of water, and broken doors being propped open by waste bins (pictured)

Another FoI request by the Liberal Democrats last year discovered hundreds of sewage leaks in hospitals around the country.

Daisy Cooper, the Liberal Democrat health and social care spokesperson, said: 'This is shocking.

'Hospitals are falling apart, with chemical leaks in critical wards and a frightening number of faulty fire alarms.

'The repair budget for crumbling hospitals is mounting up yet Ministers are nowhere to be found.

'We already know the government is on track to break its promise on delivering its so-called 'new hospitals' by 2030, so the very least they could do is fix the ones we have.

'Patients deserve the dignity of being treated in safe, modern and clean hospitals.

'Instead we have heard stories of sewage spills and chemical leaks leading to evacuations.

'The British public pay their fair share and deserve better than this.

'The Conservative government needs to step up and fix our hospitals.'
Savannah White, 30, now has a life expectancy of just five to 10 years

A Tennessee woman claims reduction surgery on her size H breasts saved her life after surgeons discovered a 'fist-sized' lump that turned out to be stage 4 cancer.

Savannah White, 30, suffered from agonizing back and shoulder pain and friction sores in her right breast from a lump she said doctors dismissed as a harmless cyst.

'I had what I thought was a cyst on the bottom of my breast, and it would rub up against the underwire of my bra. It was truly, truly uncomfortable,' Mrs White said.

The social worker opted for breast reduction surgery last February but was shocked when doctors found a cancerous lump. Tests revealed that she has stage 4 breast cancer, leaving her with a life expectancy of just five to 10 years.

Savannah White opted for breast reduction surgery last February to bring her breasts down from size H. She thought she had a cyst under her breast, but doctors dismissed it as harmless

Mrs White was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, which has a survival rate of five to 10 years. She credits the surgery for ultimately saving her life

'[The doctor] said that he could tell by looking at it that it was cancer. It didn't hit me until later. I just remember bawling [on the way home],' Mrs White said.

'It was a complete shock. Nowhere in my brain did I think this could happen to me, especially at the age of 29.'

'It felt like the wind got knocked out of me. Stage 4 is synonymous with death, or at least it was in my mind. I thought I was going to die.'

'The breast reduction surgery saved my life.'

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in American women and is the second leading cause of death among women after lung cancer.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) estimates that in 2023 alone, nearly 300,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and 43,000 will die.

Localized breast cancer, meaning cancer confined to just one area, has nearly a 100 percent survival rate after five years. However, once it spreads to other areas, such as during stage 4, five-year survival drops to just 31 percent.

Mrs White's diagnosis at age 29 is especially rare, as the average age women are typically diagnosed is 63.

Mrs White (pictured with her husband, Phillip) underwent 12 rounds of chemotherapy. She will be on chemo and hormone blockers, which have left her unable to have children, for the rest of her life

Mrs White believes that if she was sent for a mammogram instead of being misdiagnosed with cysts, her cancer may have never reached stage four. 'Advocate yourself as far as talking to doctors, because they definitely want to dismiss younger patients,' she said

She underwent 12 rounds of chemotherapy and is now in remission. However, she now has to take oral chemo medication and hormone blockers for the rest of her life. The hormone blockers have put her in menopause at age 30, which means she can no longer have children.

She's also only expected to live another five to 10 years.

'Usually, a lot of people think that remission means cured, but it doesn't really mean that, and it definitely doesn't when you're at stage 4,' Mrs White said.

'For now, I'm on oral chemo and I will be on oral chemo for the rest of my life.'

'Once a month I go in and get hormone blocker injections. They put me in menopause, so I'm in menopause at the age 30. I'll never be able to have children.'

'It's a day-to-day thing. I will never live a normal life, and I'm trying to come to terms with it.'

Mrs White has vowed to start her own non-profit or provide therapy to other cancer patients and is currently writing a book about her experience.

She believes that if she was sent for a mammogram instead of being misdiagnosed with cysts, her cancer may have never reached stage four.

'Anyone who isn't feeling right should trust their body. Your body will tell you what to do,' Mrs White said.

'Advocate yourself as far as talking to doctors, because they definitely want to dismiss younger patients.'

'Speak for yourself and push for what you need, whether that's a mammogram or an ultrasound.'

'Cancer is [more] curable if you can find it early enough. If my doctor who said I had cysts had sent me for a mammogram, I might not be stage four right now.'
Londoners with cars that fail to meet Sadiq Khan's Ultra Low Emission Zone standards are typically more than 3,200 better off selling these older vehicles online than using the mayor's scrappage scheme.

That's according online car marketplace, carwow, which revealed that Londoners who flogged non-compliant motors on its platform in July received an average of 5,200 - more than double the paltry 2,000 offer to scrap an older car using Khan's scheme.

It says it has recently seen a flood of capital-based older vehicles listed by motorists looking to replace their cars before the ULEZ expansion later this month, but dealers outside of London are desperate to snap up quality examples.

Why you might want to think twice about using the ULEZ scrappage scheme: Carwow says Londoners got an average of 5,212 for their non-compliant cars sold using its platform last month - that's 3,212 more than they would have got using the mayor's scheme

Last week, the under-fire mayor announced he is opening eligibility for his scrappage scheme to all Londoners ahead of the zone's expansion on 29 August.

With the zone set to cover all 32 boroughs and Khan coming under increased pressure to delay the widening of its boundary, he hopes the offer of 2,000 to go towards the cost of a replacement vehicle that meets the ULEZ requirements will appease angry locals.

But carwow says drivers with cars that fail to meet the ULEZ requirements are better off selling their vehicles than using the mayor's grant.

It's own platform data shows that individuals living in the capital who in July sold cars that are not compliant with ULEZ made 5,212 on average - a huge 3,212 more than what is on offer from the scrappage scheme.

And it says the volume of non-compliant cars being uploaded to its 'Sell My Car' platform is surging in the run-up to the 29 August expansion.

The ULEZ expansion scheme is set to start on August 29. Sadiq Khan has pumped another 50million into the scrappage scheme, setting its cost at an eye watering 160million

Sadiq Khan has expanded the scrappage scheme to include all Londoners who live within the 32 boroughs. Those eligible could receive up to 2,000 for scrapping their vehicle

The number of advertised vehicles in London represented one in four (26 per cent) of all listings across the UK in the months of April through to June, up from one in five (21 per cent) in the opening three months of the year.

Is says this shows the 'steady rise' in people trying to sell their vehicles amid the launch of the new rules.

This trend is even more clear when split regionally, with non-compliant cars accounting for three in ten (30 per cent) of all used cars being listed for sale by capital-based drivers.

Londoners are able to get higher prices by using online sales platforms, including carwow's and rivals including Motorway.co.uk.

These platforms allow owners to present their unwanted motors to used car dealers across the country who then compete against each other to make the best offer.

And because their cars are more appealing to businesses outside of London that are not impacted by ULEZ or similar emissions charging zones, they are likely to get a better deal.

Sally Foote, carwows UK managing director, said: 'While people in London may be selling their cars to avoid paying emissions charges, there are still plenty of buyers for these vehicles outside the big metropolitan areas who are less likely to be impacted by schemes like ULEZ, or Clean Air Zones.'

Sadiq Khan initially drew 110m from City Hall reserves to fund the ULEZ scrappage scheme, which had originally only been offered to those on benefits. But to widen the pool to allow all Londoners with non-compliant cars to apply, he is set to spend another 50m on the scheme

Many of the non-compliant cars that are being sold by Londoners are affordable, well-cared-for, good-working vehicles with plenty of life left in them, which is a major criticism of scrappage schemes in general and the waste culture they promote.

Car dealers outside of the ULEZ are aware of the value left in these non-compliant motors, and Foote says they are snapping up quality examples in its online dealer auctions.

'We know theres still strong demand for these cars in other parts of the UK,' she said.

While Khan's scrappage scheme will be open to applications from all Londoners from 21 August, it is exclusively on a first-come first-served basis and unlikely to help everyone impacted by ULEZ.

Estimates are that the should help 40,000 people, but that there are at least 300,000 owners of non-compliant cars in outer London.

Foote added: 'While a cars emission status cant be changed, there are plenty of other things buyers can do to make their non-compliant car as attractive to buyers as possible - without going to bank-breaking lengths.

'Wed advise anyone looking to sell a non-compliant car, to get it valued - it might be worth more than you think - and to maximise the value of their old vehicle - for example, include service history photographs in your sales listing.

'Listings with more detailed car information, especially photo evidence, tend to get more bids from dealers and achieve a higher price, compared to listings that dont.'

Alex Buttle, co-founder of car-selling website Motorway, warns owners of non-compliant models to sell sooner rather than later as the value of the vehicles is destined to fall once the zone is extended across all 32 boroughs later this month.

'In the lead up to the expansion, car values are changing, with the price of some compliant models going up due to demand,' he explains.

'On the flip side, non-compliant cars could see a drop in value in the run up to, and once the expansion comes into effect.

'Car owners needing to sell should consider doing so sooner rather than later, to get their best price.'

Can you buy a ULEZ-compliant car for the same value as the scrappage scheme amount?

According to used car sales platform AutoTrader, on 3 August it found nearly 5,000 ULEZ compliant cars for sale for under 2,000.

However, these are not necessarily vehicles based in London, meaning potential buyers might need to travel to get their hands on one.

And it went on to warn that drivers will likely have to pay a 'ULEZ premium' of more than 3,000 in some cases to buy the most poplar models.

The research, which focuses on 2015 diesel models set to be caught by Mayor Sadiq Khans extension of the ULEZ to outer London boroughs, reveals the price premium being paid for models registered only a year later but  crucially - following the rules.

For example, a used Volkswagen Golf 2016 model costs 3,601 more than a 2015 non-compliant model - an increase of 28 per cent from 9,445 to 13,046.

Similarly, a used Ford Focus 2016 model costs 2,828 more than a 2015 non-compliant model; an increase of 27 per cent from 10,336 from 7,508.

Other popular sellers in June displaying a large ULEZ premium include a 23 per cent - or 2,220 - mark-up between a 2015 and 2016 Nissan Qashqai, a 16 per cent - or 2,594 - jump between a 2015 and 2016 Land Rover Evoque, and a 13 per cent - or 1645 - difference between a 2015 and 2016 BMW 3 Series.

Ian Plummer, commercial director of Auto Trader, said: 'This is hard evidence of the distortions in the market caused by the ULEZ extension.

'While the overall used car market is in good health nationally, drivers are having to pay a price penalty to follow the rules in London.

'This doesnt need to be a case of pocket over planet, it is possible to achieve both - but its vital we get the balance right between the carrots and the sticks or well lose people along the way.'

ULEZ scrappage scheme eligibility widened to all Londoners

Sadiq Khan initially drew 110million from City Hall reserves to fund the ULEZ scrappage scheme, which had originally only been offered to those on benefits.

But to widen the pool to allow all Londoners with non-compliant cars to apply for the grant from 21 August, he is set to spend another 50million on the scheme.

ULEZ Scrappage Scheme grant payment options Scrap a car - 2,000

Scrap a car - 1,600 plus one adult-rate Annual Bus & Tram Pass

Scrap a car - 1,200 plus two adult-rate Annual Bus & Tram Passes

Scrap a motorcycle - 1,000

Scrap a motorcycle - 600 plus one adult-rate Annual Bus & Tram Pass

Scrap a motorcycle - 200 plus two adult-rate Annual Bus & Tram Passes

Scrap a wheelchair accessible vehicle (car or van) - 10,000

Retrofit a wheelchair accessible vehicle - 6,000 Source: Transport for London

The Mayor of London said: 'I'm not prepared to step back, delay or water down green policies like ULEZ, which will not only save lives and protect children's lungs by cleaning up polluted air but help us to fight the climate crisis.

'I have continued to listen to the concerns of Londoners over recent months, and today [Friday 4 August] I can announce a huge expansion to the scrappage scheme that means that all Londoners with non ULEZ-compliant cars will now be able to get financial support to switch to greener, less polluting vehicles.

'As we continue to build a greener and healthier London for everyone, I'm determined that no Londoner and no London business is left behind.

'We need to take people with us on the path to a sustainable future. We are ensuring that help is now available for everyone  and I urge Londoners to come and get it.'

In order to receive the grant, your vehicle must have been registered with the DVLA since 30 January 2022 or prior.

The vehicle must also be registered in your name or to another individual who resides in your place of residence.

MOT, insurance and valid road tax are tick boxes that must be fulfilled if Londoners want to receive the four-figure grant.
I had almost given up on a holiday abroad this summer as theyre now so eye-wateringly expensive. Flights alone cost over a quarter more than last year.

But then I saw an advert by discount website Wowcher that brought a holiday for me and my wife back into my miserly grasp.

The deal offers flights and two-nights accommodation for two somewhere abroad for just 99 per person.

The only catch? The trip is labelled The Ultimate Mystery Holiday  in other words, we would not know before paying for it where we would be going.

The advertisement showed tantalising images of New York, Las Vegas and Mexico, along with sun-kissed beach scenes that looked as if they could be Barbados or the Maldives. So, I decided to gamble.

Promise: Wowcher's mystery deal offers flights and two-nights accommodation for two somewhere abroad for just 99 per person

The original advertisement showed tantalising images of New York, Las Vegas and Mexico, along with sun-kissed beach scenes that looked as if they could be Barbados or the Maldives

These are the list of the best long-haul deals that were offered up which included New York, Dubai, Las Vegas

The chance to jet away for a romantic weekend with my wife for under 200 seemed too good an offer to pass up.

Have you ever been on an Ultimate Mystery holiday? Please let us know what your experience was like by emailing toby.walne@dailymail.co.uk

The deal promised we would be given four-star accommodation  and 1,386 such breaks had already been snapped up in June and July.

Not wanting to miss out, I fumbled for my wallet to pay for our mystery trip.

However, I quickly learned that the 99 price was only from the autumn  as we want to go before the summer is out, the price was actually 129.

And then there was a 9.99 administration charge, bringing the total to 267.99.

Trip to a place that does not exist

Still, I was feeling hopeful when, within hours of paying, I received an email asking for some date options for when we would be available to jet off. I excitedly broke the news to my wife.

Then we waited patiently, passports at the ready as the first weekend that we had asked for came and went. Eventually, a week later, I finally received that expected call.

Ashish was courteous and friendly, ringing from a call centre in India. There was a rehearsed sense of theatre to the proceedings  as if he were opening a golden envelope.

Congratulations . . . you have two tickets to Sofia in Germany, he announced. I have been to Sofia in the past and Im pretty sure its in Bulgaria. Is he sure?

Ah yes. Sorry. It is Bulgaria, admitted Ashish. Although I have nothing against this lovely country, it was not what I had in mind for our summer break and I asked if I could have another go at the lucky dip. This time he came back with Gdansk in Poland.

Again, nonplussed. I told him I was willing to sulk on the line until he found a weekend break more to my liking.

Originally they were going to put me off the main island at Hotel San Giuliano. It was a basic three-star some five miles out of Venice itself. I looked it up and could have got it for 170 for two nights if Id booked directly. So, if I had booked the break myself I would have paid 10 less than with the mystery offer

Lista Di Spagna: I was upgraded to a four-star hotel (as initially promised in the promotion) in Venice. This accommodation costs 300 to book directly  so by using the Mystery Holiday deal I was now 120 up

Special deal doubles in price

My intransigence paid off and after ten minutes Ashish came back  with an offer of Milan in Italy at the end of July.

We went through the itinerary and when Ashish said we would be flying from my local airport Stansted, just 12 miles away, I was delighted.

There was a slight hiccup in that the break was for three nights not the two as requested  but as I was hopeful I could arrange the extra time off work, I still eagerly agreed to the offer.

Because you are booking for an extra day there is a supplementary charge of 129 per person, Ashish then calmly added. I argued that I should not have to pay the supplement since it was the decision of the tour operator  not me  to extend the trip.

But my argument failed to impress. Suddenly the price of the holiday had doubled and an initial expectation of 198 had risen to a total of 525.99. Not quite the money-saving trip I had in mind.

Ashish explained that because June and July are so popular there is much less choice.

As a compromise I was willing to forget the summer break and go any time he had available.

Other European destinations included two-night breaks in Dubrovnik, Genoa and Santander

Bargain bucket: Wowcher's Ultimate Mystery Holiday deal offers two nights for just 99 per person - but you don't know where you'll end up

Summer stay  in winter

Ashish then went away for a further 20 minutes to find what else might be in the tour operators mystery locker. I was feeling grateful for finding someone so helpful.

He could all too easily have told me there were no more choices on the table or done what so many firms do these days when they dont want to help  and just hung up.

It also helped that I remained courteous, understanding all too well the unnecessary abuse call centre staff often suffer when just trying to do their job.

Eventually Ashish came back on the line: Okay. Venice in November. That is the best I can do.

The negotiating was over and I felt this was a fair result as it cost the original 267.99 I had paid for. Yet it was still not for when I actually wanted to travel and would involve going from Gatwick airport  considerably less convenient than Stansted.

The itinerary was emailed through moments later from a company called Weekender Breaks. Apparently, we would be travelling via Wizz Air (it holds the dubious honour of being the worst short-haul airline, according to consumer group Which?).

Had I bought two return flight tickets separately for these journeys, it would have cost just 88. Naturally, the tickets only included a hand baggage allowance. If we had taken suitcases they would have cost more than the flights.

But the hotel was the biggest disappointment  as it was a basic three-star some five miles out of Venice itself. I looked it up and could have got it for 170 for two nights if Id booked directly. So, if I had booked the break myself I would have paid 10 less than with the mystery offer.

Great expectations not quite met

This mystery holiday had turned into a bit of a damp squib and I called the next day to explain my disappointment.

In preparation, I was armed with the knowledge that when booking a holiday under package travel regulations there is protection if the holiday does not turn out to be as expected.

And it would be fair to assume that when booking an advertised break in Venice, this is where I might expect to stay.

Politely I put forward this case. To my surprise, it worked, and I was upgraded to a four-star hotel (as initially promised in the promotion) in Venice.

This accommodation costs 300 to book directly  so by using the Mystery Holiday deal I was now 120 up.

The deal promised four-star accommodation - and claimed that 1,386 such breaks had already been snapped up in June and July

Odds of winning the perfect break

Weekender Breaks is the trading name of Viva Holidays, which is an agent for Hays Travel.

Delve into the small-print terms and conditions  tucked in a link under the fine print  and you will find holidays are sold in batches of 1,000 to a wide variety of destinations.

Only one in 1,000 bought are to Barbados. And you get the same odds for hitting the jackpot with locations such as New York and Dubai.

There are more than 50 other winning destinations, with many offering dozens of breaks  almost all of which are in Europe.

A tip for anyone tempted to buy a Mystery Holiday  print off the full list of available destinations and have it to hand when you are told where you are being sent, so you are better prepared to fight for where you really want to go.

A spokesman for Hays Travel says: We advise people to always read the small print on deals offering holidays costing well below the market value. It helps keep expectations realistic.

But is the mystery holiday worth a punt? Well, after quite a bit of haggling and several phone calls, I ended up making some savings.

But  as with so many things in life  I discovered you get what you pay for.

toby.walne@dailymail.co.uk

Have you ever been on an Ultimate Mystery holiday? Please email your experience to toby.walne@dailymail.co.uk
Tim Ballard is a former DHS special agent, founder of Operation Underground Railroad, and now Senior Advisor at The SPEAR Fund. His story inspired the movie Sound of Freedom.

I didn't choose to spend my life in hell chasing child sex traffickers, but hell is where you find them.

In 2014, I stood outside an unassuming concrete compound in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

There was no way to be prepared for the human misery that I witnessed inside.

I was on a mission to find a kidnapped two-year-old Haitian American boy named Gardy Mardy.

He had been snatched in broad daylight from the parking lot of a church and sold to sex traffickers.

A few back alley turns in the bustling city center had led me to the front door of a dilapidated building with 13-foot cement walls.

Inside, the conditions were heinous. Newborn babies lay in urine and feces. The fetid air reeked of excrement. Kids sustained on meager bowls of mush displayed bloated bellies.

There was an outhouse in the yard and a menacing guard, who carried a whip on his shoulder.

The children called him 'teacher.'

A woman lined up the kids like animals at a livestock auction.

'Take your pick,' she said. 'They're $15,000-a-piece.'

Tim Ballard (above) is a former DHS special agent, founder of Operation Underground Railroad, and now Senior Advisor at The SPEAR Fund. His story inspired the movie Sound of Freedom, which details his mission to rescue children that have been sex trafficked abroad

Ballard felt compelled to leave his job as a federal agent when he learned the story of a kidnapped two-year-old Haitian American boy named Gardy Mardy (above). By then, Gardy had already been missing for three and a half years, with no new leads in the case, he was snatched in broad daylight in December 2009, and sold into sex trafficking by a disgruntled member of his father's church

You may ask how a Mormon guy from La Canada, California with nine kids ended up chasing some of the world's most sadistic criminals.

I've often ask myself the same thing.

I always wanted to serve my country. After receiving an advanced degree in the study of Terrorism and International Politics, I joined the CIA, but quickly became bored with an analyst's desk job.

In the shadow of 9/11, I jumped to the newly minted Department of Homeland Security where I trained as a special agent to work the U.S. Mexico border.

For six months, I crawled through tunnels pursing narco-traffickers, arms-smugglers, money-launders, and terrorists, until a higher up at the Department asked me to help establish a new unit to fight child trafficking.

I didn't even really know what that was.

It seemed too creepy, too dark.

I asked my supervisor why I was selected.

'You're a person of faith,' he said, 'and that's almost a requirement to deal with what you're going to see and experience.'

He was right. My first case was a baptism by fire.

An overstuffed folder landed on my desk. It contained graphic images and videos of prepubescent children being brutally raped and tortured.

The victims were about the same age as my own kids.

I freaked out and threw up in my trashcan at work.

It was a turning point.

Would I turn my back on this world of evil and depravity? No. I couldn't.

Ballard arranged to meet with the kidnapped boy's father, Guesno Mardy (pictured above) who felt hopeless in the search for his missing son. Two weeks after little Gardy was abducted, a massive earthquake ravaged Haiti in 2010, which zapped all resources in the impoverished country

Ballard says he was haunted by this picture of Mardy Gardy. 'While my kids were safe at home, Guesno was living every parent's nightmare and I promised that I would do everything I could to bring his son home.' But doing so meant that Ballard had to leave his job at the DHS and fund the rescue operation independently

My job was to track down the criminals responsible for distributing child rape videos and the deviants who bought them.

But we could seldom rescue the children. They were often overseas  out of my jurisdiction, out of our reach.

Then everything changed in 2006.

President Bush signed the Adam Walsh Child Protect Act, which allowed usfor the first timeto prosecute Americans, who engaged in sex with minors overseas.

The DHS gave me the license to go undercover and hunt predators abroad; typically, with a $10,000 budget for the operation and one week deadline to finish the job.

The sickening reality of child sex trafficking was happening right before my eyes.

Children were being sold on beaches, in brothels and in bars.

I saw printed catalogs showcasing the trafficker's 'roster of options' that featured children's photos, ages and sickeningly, their past sexual experiences.

But the US government was still not fully committed to rescuing foreign children in foreign lands.

The focus was on going after the bad guys.

I began to feel disillusioned by a job tied up in bureaucratic red tape.

In 2013, I finally saw an opportunity to use my resources as a federal agent to help one child victim.

I came across a newspaper story about Guesno Mardy, a Mormon bishop in Haiti.

His two-year-old son Gardy was kidnapped in December 2009 and sex trafficked by a disgruntled employee of his congregation - a man he knew.

I couldn't believe what I was reading.

We belonged to the same church.

Guesno's story shook me to my core.

Two weeks after Gardy's abduction, a magnitude seven earthquake devastated Haiti, an already impoverished country.

More than 250,000 people were killed, and thousands of children were orphaned.

I was struck by a photo of Guesno desperately pulling bodies out of the rubble. He lost his mother, sister, brother-in-law, and some of his best friends in the disaster.

He was burying his own, while his son was still missing.

With resources already strapped, Haitian authorities were unable to continue investigating Gardy's kidnapping and the case went cold.

I had to do something. So, I borrowed money from a friend and paid to fly Guesno to Utah to speak to him about his son's case.

He told me how he spent countless, sleepless nights roaming the quake-ravaged, crime-ridden streets of Port-au-Prince, calling out for his missing son, hoping to hear his cry.

'Do you have children?' he asked me during our initial meeting. 'Yes, I do,' I replied.

'Can you imagine going to bed at night knowing that one of your children's beds is empty? And not knowing where that child is?' he asked me.

Guesno was living every parent's worst nightmare.

I made a promise to him in that moment. I would do everything in my power to bring his son home.

Only later would I realize that the U.S. government couldn't help.

Gardy was born in the United States and an American citizen. But pursuing his case was a jurisdictional nightmare.

The kidnapping was committed in Haiti by Haitian nationals and, therefore, a matter for Haitian authorities.

Despite my impassioned appeals to the Department of Homeland Security, I was instructed not to work on finding Gardy.

Weeks went by his story haunted me.

I couldn't get the image of his innocent face out of my head. His twinkly eyes and toothy smile showed boundless potential.

I had the know-how and the experience to find him, but I needed the resources. I would need to leave my government job and jeopardize the security of my own family.

I had six children of my own to feed and very little savings in the bank.

But after a decade as a Fed, I took a leap of faith at the urging of my wife and decided to privately raise money to fund these rescue missions.

In February 2014, Ballard and a team of operatives raided the false orphanage in Port-au-Prince, Haiti that was believed to have kidnapped Gardy Mardy. They saved 28 children but Gardy was not one of them. Ballard said delivering the news to Guesno was 'one of the most horrible, heart-wrenching things I have ever done.' (The moment pictured above)

Even though Guesno Mardy's son was not found; his family adopted eight of the rescued children from the false orphanage. (Above, Guesno Mardy and his family with Ballard)

Conservative commentator Glenn Beck, against the advice of his lawyers, stepped in to raise $1million.

Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.) was born at the end of 2013; inspired by the abolitionist hero Harriet Tubman.

O.U.R. is a nonprofit organization that focuses on rescuing sex-trafficked children from slavery in underdeveloped nations.

Little Gardy Mardy, who had been missing for three and a half years, was our raison d'etre.

To Haiti, we went.

Guesno had intel that his son was being held in a phony orphanage stood up in the aftermath of the earthquake to lure in desperate children.

It was a front to sell children into sexual bondage and slave labor, and possibly even for trafficking of organs.

We would have to work closely with Haitian police and provide them hard evidence of wrongdoing at the orphanage.

We called our mission, 'Operation Voodoo.'

In January 2014, I and my team of eight operatives landed in Port-au-Prince posing as wealthy sex tourists.

We entered the orphanage with a simple knock on the door and the traffickers welcomed us inside without asking any questions.

The children were dressed in rags, ravaged by starvation and living in squalid conditions.

I was told to come back the next day because the traffickers' ringleader, a woman named Yvrose Pressoir, wasn't there.

Ballard went undercover and posed as a wealthy sex tourist during the sting operation on the Haitian orphanage. Almost at random, he selected a set of siblings and paid $30,000 cash. (Above, he is pictured with the boy he 'purchased' named Colin)

Ballard and his wife Katherine eventually adopted the two siblings that he 'purchased' and saved from the Haitian sex trafficking ring. Their names are Colin and Coline

When we returned the kids had been cleaned up and dressed in matching school uniforms.

We were told to 'take our pick.'

'They're $15,000-a-piece,' said Pressoir, like she was selling a used car.

I scanned every face searching for Gardy, but I couldn't identify him.

I was about to choose a child, when a small boy turned on his heels and walked toward me with his arms extended upwards. His sister protectively followed him closely behind.

I picked him up. I chose them.

We completed the negotiation at a nearby hotel room where we handed over $30,000 in cash and walked out of the hotel with the siblings and video evidence of the deal.

Our proof allowed the Haitian police to raid the illicit orphanage and recover the money.

After about an hour, I was alerted by authorities that they had rescued 28 children.

Guesno waited nervously at a nearby hotel, praying to hear the news that his son had been saved.

But we were too late. Gardy was not among them. He was already gone.

Delivering that news to Guesno is still one of the most horrible, heart-wrenching things I have ever done.

I drove to the hotel with dread in my heart. I could hardly speak. I couldn't look him in the eye.

'Gardy wasn't there,' I told him.

Tears streamed down our faces.

Then, Guesno turned to me and said something incredible.

'If I have to give up my son so that these 28 kids can be rescued,' he said, 'that is a burden I'm willing to bear the rest of my life.'

The movie 'Sound of Freedom' follows a federal agent, who quit his job and journeys into the Colombian jungle to save a child from sex traffickers. (Above, scene from Sound of Freedom)

Ballard started his career in the CIA before jumping to the Department of Homeland Security in the wake of 9/11. For six months he worked in narcotics cases, arms smuggling, money laundering and terrorism before he was asked to help launch a new unit dedicated to fighting child sex trafficking

The next day, he went to the police station and formally adopted eight of the rescued kids.

My wife, Katherine and I adopted Colin and Coline, the brother and sister that I 'purchased' during our operation.

They have adjusted beautifully to our new lives together. It feels like we've always been a family. But, of course, I know otherwise.

Both bear a scar in the very same place just above their right eyes. A wound, I presume, left by that vile orphanage 'teacher'.

And to this day, a decade later, I continue to search for Gardy.

I promised Guesno that I would.
Peter Dutton has been accused of rolling out the same excuses he used against the apology to the Stolen Generations 15 years ago to oppose the Voice to Parliament.

The fierce opponent of the Voice has been leading the charge in questioning whether it will deliver practical outcomes for First Nations people and the cost to the public at a time when families are struggling to buy groceries and pay rent.

But the Opposition leader's concerns are virtually the same or similar to those which prompted his decision to boycott Kevin Rudd's landmark apology to the Stolen Generations in 2008 - a decision Mr Dutton later admitted he regretted.

Speaking of the apology during an interview on March 15, 2010, Mr Dutton said: 'I regarded it as something which was not going to deliver tangible outcomes to kids who are being raped and tortured in communities in the 21st century.

'If I thought for a moment that it was going to deliver positive outcomes to those kids, to their families, to those communities, then I would support it in a heartbeat.

'But I thought it distracted us from that.'

Mr Albanese was sat directly behind Kevin Rudd when he made the landmark speech in 2008

Peter Dutton refused to witness the speech, but later apologised for not recognising the 'symbolic significance' of the apology

These comments echo concerns Mr Dutton has expressed about the Voice to Parliament.

On April 12, 2023, he said: 'I don't believe that a Canberra voice of 24 people who predominantly come from capital cities is going to be the solution to the problems here on the ground.

'If it did, I'd embrace it straight away.'

And on April 5, he said: 'We have been clear we don't support his Canberra voice. It is divisive and won't deliver the outcomes to people on the ground.'

In May 2022, Mr Dutton admitted he'd made a mistake in boycotting the national apology.

He said his experience on the frontlines as a police officer in Townsville made him believe an apology 'should be given when the problems were resolved' and not before.

Pictured: Moments after Kevin Rudd's landmark apology to the Stolen Generations in 2008

Mr Albanese has addressed Mr Dutton's refusal to join in on the national apology during heated Voice debates

At the time, he vowed to work with the newly elected Labor government to improve conditions on the ground in disadvantaged Aboriginal communities, but has since lost faith in the Voice being the correct mechanism to do so.

On August 3 this year, Mr Dutton expressed concerns that the height of a cost of living crisis was the wrong time for the government to be campaigning so intently on constitutional reform.

He said: 'Australian families at the moment are paying more for their electricity bills; they're paying more at the grocery checkout; they're paying more for their insurance; they're paying more for their mortgages because of this incompetent government.

'The incompetency is not just demonstrated in terms of the Prime Minister's management around the voice, it is every aspect of government delivery at the moment. That's what the Australian public is experiencing.'

One of the most repeated criticisms of the Voice - not from Mr Dutton directly but from his party and on the No side generally - is that the Voice will lead to a treaty, which could in turn lead to reparations.

This sitting fortnight, the Opposition has honed in on treaty, and the functions of a Makarrata Commission, during Question Time

READ MORE: DUTTON CALLS ON PM TO CALL OFF REFERENDUM AMID DECLINING SUPPORT Advertisement

This sitting fortnight, the Opposition has honed in on treaty, and the functions of a Makarrata Commission, during Question Time in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

There have been reports that a treaty - or multiple treaties, if that were the route the federal and state governments ventured down - could cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

Treaties take decades to finalise and Yes advocates have repeatedly insisted a Voice to Parliament remains the priority.

The Opposition's concerns about the potential cost to taxpayers which could come as a result of the Voice are also similar to concerns Mr Dutton held in 2008 ahead of the apology.

On January 8, 2008, he said: 'It would beggar belief that they would be contemplating an apology that could open the government up to serious damages claims without knowing what those claims would be.'

Mr Dutton suggested at the time the government could face an enormous compensation bill 'at a time when there are stresses on the economy'.

In June of this year, Mr Dutton told Ray Hadley: 'The Canberra Voice, ultimately, is a bureaucracy and its going to be literally thousands of additional public servants at the cost of billions of dollars to provide the advice and information on every area of government policy.'

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has repeatedly drawn similarities between Mr Dutton's decision in 2008 and his current opposition to the Voice

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has repeatedly drawn similarities between Mr Dutton's decision in 2008 and his current opposition to the Voice.

Just last week, the PM told parliament the Opposition had 'decided to stick with division' in their line of questioning over the Voice.

'The Leader of the Opposition not only opposed it (the national apology), threatened to resign from the frontbench over it, and walked out. Walked out on that event.

'So terrible was it that in that moment of national unity, there were only a few people who were so determined to sew division that they just couldn't cop the concept of saying sorry for the wrong thing being done, for children being stolen from mothers, fathers and grandparents, families and communities. Could not stomach it.'

And on June 21, in parliament, Mr Albanese said: 'Earlier this year, the Leader of the Opposition apologised for boycotting the National Apology to the Stolen Generations. Yet, what we have is a return to the same playbook.'

The PM was referencing a speech Mr Dutton made earler in 2023, in response to criticism about his handling of the apology.

He said: 'I failed to grasp at the time the symbolic significance to the stolen generation of the apology.'
Leaders of a military junta that overthrew Niger's president and took power in late July have refused to let a top US diplomat meet the captured leader.

Acting deputy secretary of state Victoria Nuland said that the US was deeply concerned over the safety of ousted president Mohamed Bazoum, adding that he and his family are under 'virtual house arrest' in an unknown location.

Nuland, 62, said that the military leaders of the junta were unreceptive to the US's request to transfer power back to the democratically elected leader.

"They were quite firm about how they want to proceed, and it is not in support of the constitution of Niger,' she gravely said.

The accomplished diplomat, who in the past served as assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs and as the US's permanent representative to NATO, said the two-hour meeting with top military officials was 'extremely frank and at times quite difficult.'

The sudden coup took place at the end of July, with Mohamed Bazoum's own presidential guard taking him hostage

Tensions in the region have flared dramatically in the days since the coup, the seventh seen in west and central Africa since 2020

Victoria Nuland said that the top brass of Niger's military were 'at times quite difficult'

The meeting was with General Moussa Salaou Barmou, a US-trained officer, and three of the colonels involved in the surprise coup, the seventh that west and central Africa has seen since 2020.

The coups top leader, former presidential guard head Abdourahamane Tchiani, who security analysts believe is merely a puppet for the rest of the military, did not meet with the Americans.

Nuland said she made 'absolutely clear the kinds of support that we will legally have to cut off if democracy is not restored.'

Federal law states that if the US determines that a democratically elected country was toppled by unconstitutional means, it has to cut off nearly all assistance, especially military aid.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the US has already spent an eyewatering $500 million to train and build up Niger's army.

The failed talks come as Niger closed its airspace off indefinitely in response to a threat of military intervention by a bloc of neighboring countries if Niger did not restore Bazoum to power.

Niger's airspace has now been shut off indefinitely, following threats of military intervention by a neighboring bloc of countries

The military has been at the helm of Niger since July 26, when it overthrew democratically elected president Mohamed Bazoum

Colonel Major Amadou Abdramane, said any attempt to fly over the country will be met with 'an energetic and immediate response'

A spokesman for the coup leaders, Colonel Major Amadou Abdramane, said any attempt to fly over the country will be met with 'an energetic and immediate response.'

Niger joins Sudan and Libya, which have both effectively or actually closed off their airspace to the rest of the world.

Sudan extended the length of time it will close its airspace for until August 15, after military conflict erupted between the country's army and paramilitary forces in April.

Meanwhile, countries across the world, including the US and UK, have banned their airline operators from flying over Libya.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said it was willing to roll tanks across Niger's borders if the coup's leaders did not reinstate the ousted president by 11pm on Sunday.

After the deadline passed, ECOWAS said on Monday that representatives would be meeting this Thursday to discuss how to deal with the junta's defiance.

But ECOWAS is already divided on how to deal with the coup.

ECOWAS member Nigeria's senate previously urged its president, the bloc's current chair, to explore options other than the use of force.

The bloc has already imposed trade and financial sanctions on the military-led country.

Meanwhile Niger's state electricity company claims that Nigeria, which supplied 90% of the power in Niger, has cut power supplies, leading to widespread blackouts, though this has not yet been confirmed by Nigeria.

Complicating matters further, both Algeria and Chad, two non-ECOWAS neighbors with strong militaries, said that they opposed the bloc's use of force.

Meanwhile Mali and Burkina Faso, two nearby junta-run states, said that a military intervention would be a 'declaration of war' against them.
According to the book, Murdaugh organized a birthday party for his dead son Paul and insisted surviving son Buster put flowers on Maggie's grave from him

Alex Murdaugh organized a sick birthday party for his dead son Paul ten months after he gunned him down on the family hunting estate in South Carolina.

Murdaugh was convicted of the brutal double murder of his younger son Paul, 22, and wife Maggie, 52, in March after a six-week trial in Colleton County Courthouse, Walterboro.

Their bodies were found by the dog kennels on his sprawling Hampton estate Moselle on June 7, 2021.

Maggie was taken down with an assault rifle while she ran for her life. Paul was dispatched with two shotgun shells to the chest and head as he stepped out of the kennels where he was tending to a family friend's dog.

Now a new book Tangled Vines: Power, Privilege and the Murdaugh Family Murders, published by St Martin's Press, August 8, has exposed the twisted lengths to which Murdaugh, 55, went to conceal his guilt.

Alex Murdaugh was convicted in March of the brutal double murders of younger son Paul and wife Maggie in 2021

According to a new book, Alex Murdaugh organized a sick birthday party for his dead son Paul and brazenly pressed his surviving son Buster to invite a host of friends to celebrate Paul's 23rd birthday

Most jarringly it has revealed how he brazenly pressed his surviving son Richard 'Buster' Murdaugh Jr to invite a host of friends to celebrate the 23rd birthday that Paul did not live to see because of his actions.

At the time Murdaugh had not been charged with the murders but was behind bars having been denied bond on a host of alleged financial crimes and insurance fraud for which he is still awaiting trial.

A new book Tangled Vines: Power, Privilege and the Murdaugh Family Murders, exposes the twisted lengths to which Murdaugh went to conceal his guilt

The disgraced former Low Country lawyer stands accused of stealing millions of dollars in settlements from clients, as well as in connection to a bizarre 'suicide for hire' plot that saw him ask his 'cousin' Curtis Eddie Smith to shoot him dead as suspicion settled on him following Maggie and Paul's deaths so that Buster could claim the $10million life insurance on his head.

Author John Glatt writes that Murdaugh organized the 'birthday party' for his dead son through a third party.

It was to be held at Shem Creek Bar in Charleston Harbor and Murdaugh gave his son Buster a list of Paul's friends to invite.

In a jailhouse call placed on April 14, 2022, Paul's birthday, and recorded while Murdaugh sat in the Alvin S Glen Detention Center in Richland County, South Carolina, Buster can be heard telling his father, 'I think you'll be happy to know that a bunch of those boys down in Charleston are all going tonight. It's kind of like a commemorative thing.'

Murdaugh replied, 'I appreciate you doing that very much. Did you get all of them that were on that list?'

'Not in its entirety,' Buster replied. 'That ones that I didn't get on the phone I texted, and people have been posting stuff on social media all day. So, everybody knows.'

The following month, on Sunday May 8, Mother's Day, Murdaugh called his sister Lynn, to wish her a happy Mother's Day and see how their sick and frail mother was doing.

Murdaugh was 'obsessed' with Buster placing Mother's Day flowers on Maggie's grave in Hampton Cemetery, the author writes. Buster is seen visiting his mother's and brother's graves in February

Murdaugh reminded Buster to put flowers on his mother's grave and added, 'And I want you to put some for me too. She'd like that'

'Her memory is shot,' Lynn told him. 'She doesn't know where she is or who she is or anything else. It's tough.'

Murdaugh's mother and his visit to her on the night of the murders was to prove a key part in his ultimately futile bid to build a 'cast iron alibi' for himself.

Glatt's book also reveals how, with a breathtaking absence of remorse, Murdaugh was 'obsessed' with Buster placing Mother's Day flowers on Maggie's grave in Hampton Cemetery.

The day before Mother's Day Sunday he asked his sister-in-law Liz to prod him. 'Buster's going to Hampton tomorrow to the cemetery,' he told her. 'Make sure he takes flowers.'

In one transcript of a call placed Saturday May 7, 2022, Murdaugh told Buster, 'I'm trying to call tomorrow and get a three-way with Grandma so I can tell her happy Mother's Day.'

Murdaugh was sentenced to two life terms with no hope of parole and is currently serving his time in South Carolina's maximum security McCormick Correctional Institution in McCormick

Murdaugh told his son that if he hadn't called by 8pm because the jail was so short-staffed Buster should also text Maggie's mother, Kennedy Branstetter, and sister, Marian Proctor, to wish them a happy Mother's Day on his behalf.

Chillingly he reminded Buster to put flowers on his mother's grave and added, 'And I want you to put some for me too. She'd like that.'

The South Carolina jury deliberated for less than three hours before convicting Murdaugh of the murders of his wife and son.

He was sentenced to two life terms with no hope of parole and is currently serving his time in South Carolina's maximum security McCormick Correctional Institution in McCormick.

Tangled Vines: Power, Privilege and the Murdaugh Murders by John Glatt is published by St Martin's Press, August 8.
Rudy Giuliani is selling his luxury New York City apartment for $6.5million - two years after the FBI raided the property during a probe into his activities in Ukraine.

The former NYC mayor, 79, put his three-bedroom Upper East Side home on the market with Sotheby's Realty last month.

The apartment is in a landmark building built in 1906 near the iconic Central Park.

It features a wood-burning fire-place as well as a 'semi-private elevator landing,' according to its listing.

The home also includes a 'massive Primary Bedroom' made of two combined bedrooms.

Rudy Giuliani is selling his luxury New York City apartment for $6.5million - two years after the FBI raided the property during a probe into his activities in Ukraine

The former mayor's apartment building, built in 1906, is just steps away from Manhattan's Central Park

While the listing's photos have been purged of most signs of Giuliani, Insider points out you can see a replica of Joe DiMaggio's Yankees jersey given to Giuliani in 2002.

The listing states: 'This splendid residence boasts bright, high-floor outlooks and an abundance of sunshine, high ceilings, and beautiful hardwood floors.

'The thoughtful and inviting layout of the apartment is complemented by copious original detail, such as wood paneling, and leaded-glass and 12-over-12 paned double-hung windows.'

However, the listing does not mention the property's current owner or the fact it made news in 2021 when the FBI raided it in a probe into Giuliani's dealing with Ukrainian oligarchs while working for then-President Donald Trump.

Agents seized both cell phones and computers during the April 28 early morning raid as part of an investigation into whether Giuliani's interactions with Ukraine violated US laws on lobbying for foreign powers.

Giuliani's own actions may, it is thought, have fallen foul of lobbying and registration rules. He insists that he has acted properly at all times.

The disgraced lawyer and his third ex-wife Judith finalized their divorce in 2019, which exposed their luxurious lifestyle that included six houses and 11 country club memberships.

With his divorce and legal feels mounting, by 2021 Giuliani was reportedly having money issues, with Insider reporting he was forced to fire at least five members of his entourage

Giuliani reportedly pays as much as $42,000 per month in alimony.

The listing does not mention the property's current owner or the fact it made news in 2021 when the FBI raided it in a probe into Giuliani's dealing with Ukrainian oligarchs

His troubles have only continued since then; Giuliani is now being sued by his ex-assistant who claims he sexually harassed her and did not pay her millions in wages.

Noelle Dunphy, 44, claims he coerced her into a sexual relationship while she worked for him between 2019 and 2021.

Giuliani's sexual assault accuser has filed in court graphic transcripts allegedly describing recordings of his unwanted advances, including the vulgar remark 'Your t*ts belong to me.'

Trump's onetime fixer has denied the claims, saying the suit is filled with exaggerations and salacious details 'to create a media frenzy.'

Another transcript dated simply in the year 2019 describes Giuliani speculating about 'natural selection' and the impact on male genitalia size.

'Jewish men have small c**ks because they can't use them after they get married. Whereas the Italian men use them all their lives so they get bigger,' he allegedly said.

Giuliani previously said in court papers that he had a consensual relationship with Dunphy 'for a few months' in 2019, during his time as Trump's personal lawyer, but denied she ever worked for him or that he pressured her into sex.

Dunphy's suit also claims Giuliani 'drank morning, noon and night', and 'took Viagra constantly.'
An attorney acting for Alexee Trevizo, the New Mexico teenager accused of murdering her baby, says hospital staff are to blame for the infant's death and not her.

Trevizo, 19, gave birth in the bathroom of the Artesia General Hospital on January 27 after showing up complaining of back pain.

After delivering her baby boy alone, she put his body in a trash can for cleaners to find. She claims he was a still born.

Prosecutors say she killed him by strangling him, hinging their theory on the fact the baby had air in his lungs when he died.

Alexee has not spoken publicly since she was charged, but her attorney Gary Mitchell told DailyMail.com that she has been unfairly vilified.

Trevizo, 19, gave birth in the bathroom of the Artesia General Hospital on January 27 after showing up complaining of back pain. She is shown with her mother and a nurse. Alexee's lawyer says she was pumped full of drugs that led to her baby's death

The 19-year-old has been charged with murder and is awaiting trial in New Mexico

They are fighting to not only have the charges against her dismissed - but to prove the boy died before she gave birth to him.

In legal filings obtained by DailyMail.com, Mitchell says hospital staff and city workers violated HIPPA laws by sharing her medical records and discussing the case.

He also claims that by the time the case goes to trial, it will become clear that she didn't strangle the infant.

'The fact is, she did not kill her baby. The testing [that was done] to determine that she did is so antiquated that it is medieval.

'There was no strangulation. This is not a murder case,' he said.

Mitchell says he will show how Alexee was given a cocktail of drugs that are inappropriate for pregnant women much less those in labor.

'This certainly was the primary cause of death of the baby. Guess what does cause major breathing issues in fetuses? Morphine,' he said.

Videos taken on January 6 - three weeks before she gave birth - show Alexee Trevizo, 19, cheerleading with an enormous baby bump. Her attorney says she thought she had just gained weight from eating McDonald's every day with her boyfriend

Alexee and her boyfriend Devin Fierro at prom just a few months after she gave birth in secret and put the baby in the trash

Mitchell says a toxicology report shows the baby had 0.19 nanograms of morphine in his system when he was born, and that he also tested positive for COVID-19, influenza A&B and SARS.

He maintains that Alexee did not know she was pregnant despite gaining weight and developing a bump that was clearly visible through her cheerleading clothes.

'You know, women will say to me she gained 10 or 15lbs so she must have known but she was on her period when she went into the hospital.

'Scientifically, 1 in 2500 women do not know they are pregnant when they deliver  especially teenagers.

'She went to McDonalds every day with her boyfriend. She thinks putting on the weight is normal. She was taking birth control and had a period. She didn't feel kicking, she didn't feel sick.

Alexee's attorney Gary Mitchell says she has been convicted on social media and by the press

'Why would she think she was pregnant?'

Mitchell says staff unintentionally continued giving Alexee drugs that would harm the baby's breathing for too long.

'On January 26, she goes to the hospital and arrives at 12.03am. By 12.05am she is admitted. At 12.18am, they start giving her muscle relaxants.

'At 12.28am, they give her morphine, and they also give her more pain medication. That continues for 111 minutes.

'They give her ketorolac, which you are not meant to give to pregnant women, and ondansetron for nausea.

'They give her Cyclobenzaprine, a muscle relaxer, acetaminophen, and morphine, which you are definitely not meant to give during labor.

'At 12.28am, she is given morphine and blood tests. By 12.51am they knew she was pregnant.

'At 1.39AM, she enters the bathroom. They had removed the IV so she could go to the bathroom.'

Prosecutors say Alexee knew she was pregnant but was desperate to hide it from everyone.

After giving birth in the bathroom, she placed the baby in a trash can and covered him in a bin liner.

The infant was discovered by a hospital cleaner who was left traumatized by what she found.
A grieving teenager who ended up in state care tragically took her own life after losing her dad and brother the same way within months of each other.

Rhianna Whittington, 16, was found dead in a public park not far from the government-run home where she lived in Whyalla, South Australia, on June 21, 2022.

Originally from Perth, Rhianna's final two years of life were filled with tragedy and heartbreak.

Her father took his own life in May 2020, just two days after his 42nd birthday. Five months later, Rhianna's older brother, 18, would also take his own life.

Rhianna's death was not made public by authorities who say they did not want to cause further distress to the young people she was living with.

Rhianna Whittington, 16, was found dead in a public park not far from the government-run home where she lived in Whyalla, South Australia in June, 2022

The teenager had the dates of her brother and father's deaths on her Facebook profile, writing: 'r.i.p dad 18/5/78-20/5/20' and 'r.i.p bro 15/12/01-30/10/20'.

Rhianna had been under the care of the Department for Child Protection in South Australia for about six months before she died.

She was frequently reported missing by case workers who say she threatened self-harm.

The 16-year-old attended Southern River Public School, southwest of Perth, and Dianella Secondary School in the city's northern suburbs.

Rhianna was remembered by friends on Facebook as 'beautiful' and 'always loved'.

'This post breaks my heart my first best friend the person that claimed me at the beginning and now I have to say good bye Rest In Peace beautiful I will always love you endlessly,' one friend wrote.

South Australia's Child Protection Minister Katrine Hildyard told The Advertiser she was 'immediately notified' of Rhianna's death.

She said her death wasn't made public 'based on strong advice about the harm it would cause to children and young people around her'.

Ms Hildyard said before Rhianna died she was provided with regular updates about the efforts the department was making to support the teenager.

'DCP staff formed strong relationships with her and were committed to doing all they could to protect her from further harm,' she said.

'Despite all of the supports in place and the dedicated efforts to keep her safe, regrettably, this young person decided to end her life.

'This shows the unpredictable nature of suicide and the devastating impact on those left behind.'

Rhianna's death was not made public by authorities who say they did not want to cause further distress to the young people she was living with

Ms Hildyard said she would 'weigh up' the implications of releasing more data about the deaths of children known to the Department for Child Protection, but would ultimately be bound by police requirements and family privacy.

Department for Child Protection chief executive Jackie Bray said Rhianna had experienced 'significant trauma' before she entered state care.

Multiple agencies including health, police, education and the DCP had been involved in 'intensive' support efforts, Ms Bray said.

'Children and young people in care, who have suffered significant trauma, are especially vulnerable when they have a history of harm and neglect,' she said.

'Sadly, suicide can be unpredictable and despite supports being in place, tragically, it is not known exactly what may have been in a person's mind at a particular moment in time.'

SA Police have confirmed Rhianna's death is the subject of a coronial investigation.

Her funeral was held in Ceduna, a town on the shores of South Australia's Murat Bay.

In 2021, there were 3,000 deaths by suicide in Australia, an average of nine per day.

Suicide is the leading cause of suicide in young Australians. Over one third of deaths in Australia aged 15-24 were due to suicide in 2021.

If you or someone you know is in need of assistance contact Lifeline 13 11 14, Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800, or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.
Britain's Wonkiest Pub was demolished yesterday afternoon just two days after it was devastated by a fire.

Bulldozers flattened The Crooked House in Himley, West Midlands, at 2pm on Monday.

The 18th century boozer was extensively damaged by the blaze on Saturday evening.

The fire came just two weeks after the building was sold by brewer Marston's to a private buyer.

It had been trading for 192 years. Now all that remains of the beloved watering hole is a large heap of rubble.

Britain's Wonkiest Pub was demolished this afternoon just two days after it was devastated by a fire

The building was constructed in 1765 as a farmhouse but became a pub in the 1830s with people flocking to see how one side is 4ft (1.2m) lower than the other

A fire ripped through the famous pub just two days after it was sold to a private buyer

 Slide me  Only a shell of the pub that traded for 192 years remained after the blaze on Saturday evening

Bulldozers tore down the beloved structure, leaving a massive pile of rubble in its place

The police has said they are 'reviewing all of the available evidence' on the cause of the fire, which needed 30 firefighters to extinguish.

Staffordshire Police said on Monday that investigations into the cause of the fire at the pub were ongoing and a cordon remained in place around the site.

Detective Inspector Richard Dancey, from the Criminal Investigation Division, said: 'This incident has caused a great deal of speculation locally and we understand the significance of the building within the local community.

'We would like to remind the public that our investigation is ongoing and we are reviewing all of the available evidence alongside fire investigators to determine the cause of the incident.

Staffordshire Police said on Monday that investigations into the cause of the fire at the pub were ongoing and a cordon remained in place around the site

Aerial shots after the fire showed just how badly the 18th century boozer was damaged

'Due to the excess damage caused to the structure of the building, the cordon remains in place [on Monday] and we're asking people to avoid the area.

'Those who may have any useful information are urged to get in touch with us whilst we continue to complete our lines of enquiry alongside the fire service.'

The pub became a popular local landmark due to one side being significantly lower than the other, caused by the effects of nearby mining.

Police say nobody was injured and no one was found inside the building when they arrived on the scene at 10.45pm on Saturday

Locals started a petition calling for the pub to be saved after a sale was announced to a private buyer who intended to pursue an 'alternative purpose' for the site. They have since doubled down on calling for The Crooked House to be restored

Six fire crews from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) and the West Midlands Fire Service needed a high-volume pump and several jets to extinguish the flames

An extension built to the rear contained a restaurant space. It was also completely destroyed in the fire, with just traces of the roof remaining

It was put on the market by Marston's in January this year, a company spokesperson said.

The building was constructed in 1765 as a farmhouse but became a pub in the 1830s with people flocking to see how one side is 4ft (1.2m) lower than the other.

However, earlier this year the unlikely tourist attraction was put up for sale with a guide price of 675,000, leaving punters fearing for its future.

Fire crews assessing the remains of The Crooked House on Sunday. Police are appealing for information on the fire and are believed to be treating it as 'suspicious'

After the blaze started, fire crews rushed to The Crooked House pub in the West Midlands village of Himley

A police forensics investigation van was seen at the scene of the blaze alongside a fire engine

The quirky building had attracted visitors from across the world due to its unique leaning effect which causes several illusions.

It was famed for being the place where coins and marbles seemingly rolled uphill along the bar.

Six fire crews from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) and the West Midlands Fire Service needed a high-volume pump and several jets to extinguish the flames after emergency services were called at 9.58pm on Saturday.

The quirky entrance to the Crooked House, which brewers Marston's sold off before the fire

The Crooked House pub in Himley, near Dudley in the West Midlands, operated as one of Britain's more unconventional watering holes for nearly 200 years. This photo from 1907 shows how popular it was even back then

Even in the modern era, before it closed, the pub retained its unique character. The floor, sofas and tables were perfectly upright  but the walls, ceilings and even the windows sat at an angle

The leaning boozer of Himley was built in 1765

Inside, its windows and walls all appeared crooked due to a bizarre effect through subsidence caused by mining in the 1800s

The crooked nature of the pub attracted punters for decades, with walls, doorways and windows all appearing slanted

No one was inside the building at the time of the fire or injured in the blaze.

Station Manager Liam Hickey, of SFRS, who was at the scene, said: 'Crews have worked diligently to safely extinguish the fire and make sure damage was minimised as much as possible.

'We know the significance that the building has within the local community and we are working alongside our colleagues in the police to investigate what happened.

'The building has since been assessed as unsafe and the cordon remains in the area to ensure the safety of the public whilst we continue to carry out our investigation.'

Anyone with information that may help the investigation is urged to contact Staffordshire Police quoting incident 761 of August 5.
A little girl was shot dead while playing outside her apartment in Chicago by a man who lived on her block on Saturday.

Sarabi Medina, eight, was playing on her scooter with her father outside her apartment in Portage Park, Chicago, when she was approached by a gunman and shot in the head at 8.40pm.

She was preparing to start fourth grade at Reinberg Elementary School when she was gunned down in the 'completely unprovoked' attack. Her mother was also killed by gun violence in 2018.

The child was rushed to the hospital from her home on 3500 block of North Long Avenue, where she was pronounced dead.

Sarabi Medina, eight, was playing on her scooter with her father outside her apartment in Portage Park, Chicago, when she was approached by a gunman and shot in the head at 8.40pm

The child was rushed to the hospital from her home on 3500 block of North Long Avenue, where she was pronounced dead

Witnesses said the little girl had just got ice cream from a truck moments before she was shot.

Michael Goodman was arrested moments after the ordeal. He lives on the same block where the shots were fired. He is due in bond court Monday and is charged with first-degree murder.

Destiny Hill, the family's neighbor, told Fox 32: 'She was sweet, she would just ride her scooter up and down the sidewalk smiling. An innocent, innocent girl who did not deserve that.

Rene Aquino, a friend of the victim's father Michael Medina, said: 'She was his world.'

After they heard a gunshot, he recalled: 'He tells his daughter, matter of fact, grab your scooter, come on, you're going to go upstairs, go upstairs.

'He wasn't even like halfway toward the doorway, when Ben says, 'watch out, this guy just came out the building, he's got a gun in his hand.'

They then saw the gunman come within range of the little girl.

The girl's mother also died from gun violence

A memorial set up outside the girl's home in Chicago

Michael Goodman was arrested moments after the ordeal. He lives on the same block where the shots were fired. He is due in bond court on Monday

He said: 'When he raised the gun up, Mike seen him and said, "that's my daughter!"

'Mike starts moving towards him, he walks up to her and shoots her right in the head.'

Mike, Sarabi's father, then tackled the suspect.

The weapon went off again - shooting the suspect in the face.

Sue Kyser, who lives nearby, told ABC 7: 'You killed an innocent child, an innocent baby girl for what reason?

'Now these parents have to mourn their baby and everything else, and every time they turn around and look, they'll know it was across the street.

'Nobody's going to let their kids come around here and play.

'People aren't going to take their kids to this park because they are terrified. We just wanted to pay our respects to her and to her family. But it's just crazy.'
The viral brawl between black cruise staff and white pleasure craft owners on an Alabama dock has sparked ridicule online.

Shocking scenes saw the two groups fly into a frenzy on the Montgomery riverfront - with one man even hitting a woman over the head with a chair.

But while millions have been stunned by the ugly scenes, some have seen the funny side and have used it to create an avalanche of memes on social media.

One of the most viewed was a hilarious take on the melee in the style of a comic fight, where the main players were satirized as characters - including a security guard who appeared to throw the first punch and a man who swam across the river to join the action.

While some made light of the apparent racial divides in the skirmish, others opted to recreate the scuffle with their pals - with one group visiting the site themselves to catch a glimpse of the now-iconic chair used in the fight.

The hilarious take on the brawl saw the key players satirized, including a man who hit someone with a chair dubbed 'Chairmageddon'

An avalanche of memes were spawned by the viral footage, with the man who swam across the river gaining online glory and being dubbed 'Aquaman's incarnate'

Racking up almost 250,000 views in less than a day, the comedy clip of the brawl as a cartoon fight quickly gained traction after it was posted on Twitter.

The video opens with the black security guard squaring off with one of the white party boat owners, stopping at the moment he takes off his hat to avoid losing it in the scrum to brand him 'Hat Man: Attacks at the drop of...'

As the fighting escalated, one of the cruise staffers hurled himself into the water and swam across the river to throw himself into the clash.

His heroics have seen him widely praised online, with the compilation naming him as 'Aquaman's incarnate' and 'Barnacle Boy'.

Soon after the wild scenes spread on social media, many commented on the man hitting a fellow boater over the head with a white folding chair.

The as-yet-unidentified assailant was dubbed 'Chairmageddon' in the clip, while three shirtless men who stormed down the dock to join the lengthy brawl were branded 'The Tugboat Triad'.

One group also claimed they had gone back to the dock the next day to take a picture with the chair, leading one person to joke that the image should hang 'in a Black History Museum now.'

These folks went back the next day and found the dang chair. Gotta put it in a Black History Museum now.  #MontgomeryAlabama #riverboatbrawl pic.twitter.com/NefhqFxuV7  Captain James T. Jerk (@Libra_King73) August 7, 2023

One viral video saw a group hilariously recreate the riverside brawl by a swimming pool

Social media has been flooded with comedic takes on the brawl, with another group recreating the fight by the dock next to a swimming pool.

The men even depicted the drunken staggering evident among the dozens of people who became embroiled in the melee.

Just as the original fight went viral, the clip of the men racked up millions of views as numerous accounts circulated it online.

And while many joked that they 'can't be serious' for the skit, they drew praise for mimicking the brawl to a hilarious degree. At one stage, someone dives across the pool to join in the faked fracas.

Many of the memes also took aim at the apparent racial divides in the clash.

While no evidence for racial motivation behind the fighting has been found, many on the internet were quick to note how the two sides seemed to separate between white and black.

One person noted that the inventor of the folding chair, Nathaniel Alexander, was a black man.

They joked that he was 'clearly a visionary who could see into the future', as his invention helped one of the black fighters in the brawl 112 years later.

Also among the abundance of memes was a snippet of the man who swam across the river to join the brawl.

They dubbed the clip to Marvin Gaye's classic hit 'Ain't no mountain high enough', saying that the swimmer was 'if ain't no river wide enough was a person'.

One person joked that the inventor of the folding chair, a black man named Nathaniel Alexander, could 'see into the future' as his invention helped one of the black fighters 112 years later

Another meme saw someone take a clip of the man who swam across the river to join the brawl, which they dubbed to Marvin Gaye's classic hit 'Ain't no mountain high enough'

An avalanche of memes were created as a reaction to the viral brawl

The wild brawl erupted in Montgomery, Alabama on Saturday evening, with new footage capturing the moment a black man smacked a white boater as the frenzied scenes continued around them.

The newly emerged angle taken from inside the cruise shows an unidentified black man repeatedly hitting a white man with a white chair.

Despite the shocking violence, the Montgomery Police Department told DailyMail.com they have not made any arrests and are not releasing names as of Monday.

'There are four active warrants at this time and there's a possibility more will follow after the review of additional video,' police said.

Reports indicate the fight may have kicked off over an argument about mooring, and another angle of the brawl saw a man heard on a megaphone shouting 'don't f**k with the riverboat crew.'

The large group of people had been returning to the dock after spending time on the Harriott II Riverboat, but after making it back, the space reserved for them had been taken over by a boat owner who parked his vessel and left it.

The riverboat sent a staff member to the dock to untie the smaller vessel so those onboard could return to land, when the fight ensues.
The family of a mother whose partner and five sons were killed in a house fire have been 'completely broken' by the tragedy.

Samantha Stephenson, 28, and Wanye Godinet's rental home on Russell Island, south-east of Brisbane, went up in flames at about 6.20am on Sunday.

Neighbours said the mother, who escaped the flames with her 21-year-old sister, ran outside screaming 'my children, my children' because she knew the boys were still upstairs.

Ms Stephenson tried to run back inside but Mr Godinet, 34, stopped her and sprinted back into the burning building himself.

He became trapped with his twins Kyza and Koa, aged four, his three-year-old son Nicky, and stepsons, Zack, 11 and Harry, 10, as the second storey collapsed.

Detectives on Monday could not yet confirm whether the blaze was suspicious, but said the family were 'known to police' and were planning to review previous call-outs to the house.

Ms Stephenson's relative Angela Stephenson wrote a post on social media on Monday night saying Mr Godinet was her 'hero'.

Samantha Stephenson (pictured with one of her five sons) could only watch as her house burnt down with her partner and kids inside

The blaze was so intense firefighters were only able to pick through the remains of the house in the late afternoon after battling it from 6:18am

Ms Stephenson's family have been silent since the tragedy, until Monday night when relative Angela Stephenson wrote a post on social media

'Firstly, the Godinet's and Stephenson's want to say thank you for the condolences, love and prayers at this time,' she wrote.

'We are completely broken.

'They are all so loved and will forever be loved, forever my boys and to my hero, Wayne.'

She also included a link to a Go Fund Me campaign, set up by Ms Stephenson's friend Lilly Slater to with assist with living expenses, and to help fund six funerals.

On Monday, Ms Slater told Daily Mail Australia: 'Samantha just wants the world to know - check your smoke alarms and hold your babies.

Later on Monday, Mr Godinet's mother Angelita uploaded a photo of a poem to pay tribute to her son and grandchildren.

'As I sit in heaven and watch you everyday, I try to let you know with signs I never went away,' it read.

Mr Godinet worked for an asbestos removal company, and was remembered by his colleagues as a 'driving force in the A-Team' who 'built a reputation for himself built on hard work and integrity'.

Father Wayne Godinet, 34, and his five sons (pictured) perished after they were trapped in a deadly fire on Queensland's Russell Island

Emergency services were called to the burning home at about 6am (scene pictured)

'We are totally devastated to have lost Wayne over the weekend, along with his five sons,' the Facebook post read.

'Everybody loved being around him and his huge smile lit up the room.

'We will miss you, mate, the A-Team will never be the same without you.'

Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham said at a press conference on Monday that police planned to speak with Ms Stephenson and her sister.

'The establishment of that investigation centre is because there are some elements of this incident yesterday that do require closer scrutiny,' Supt Massingham said.

'No determination has been made at this stage as to whether this fire is suspicious or not.

'It's important that I tell you that we are keeping an open mind with respect to this matter.'

He also confirmed police had been called out to the property in the past, but said the 'nature and frequency of our attendance there is subject to internal review and will be part of the investigation'.

Det Supt Massingham would not say whether Mr Godinet was supposed to be at the house or not.

Detectives swarmed the area on Sunday and Monday. There is an investigation into the cause of the blaze

Neighbours said the mother-of-five had been sleeping upstairs with the children, while Mr Godinet slept downstairs.

Ms Stephenson was released from hospital on Monday morning and is cooperating with investigators, as they try to determine the cause of the fire.

Peter MacLoughlin, a close family friend, told media that he heard about the blaze from Ms Stephenson's mother's partner and immediately jumped in the car.

'Sam came running out of the house. She was just screaming 'my children, my children,' I can never forgot that,' he said on Monday.

The blaze began at about 6am on Sunday and spread to two other houses, sending plumes of thick smoke billowing into the sky.

One home collapsed while firefighters worked to douse the flames on another.

About 20 firefighters were able to extinguish the flames on a third home.

Nine people were treated by paramedics.
Australia has been slammed as a 'heartless nation' by migrants because of the length of time it takes for their parents to be granted a visa.

Skilled migrants who want to apply for a visa so their ageing parents can come and join them in Australia face wait times of up to 30 years.

The situation has left many migrants regretting their decision to move Down Under, with some saying they wish they had instead gone to Canada, where parent visas are processed much more quickly.

Australia has been slammed as a 'heartless nation' as migrants complain about the lengthy wait times for their parents to be granted a visa

One skilled migrant who moved to Australia from the U.S. said the lengthy wait in visa processing times was making it harder for his parents to visit him.

Engineer Nitin Parwal, who lives in Adelaide, told SBS Hindi he wished he had known about the visa options elsewhere before he moved to Australia.

'Now it's not possible for me to relocate to the U.S. or Canada as I have already worked hard here and established myself in Australia,' Mr Parwal said.

'By making the parent visa process harder, Australia is demonstrating that it is once again a heartless nation, just as it was during the Covid lockdown'.

The situation has left many migrants regretting their decision to move Down Under, with some saying they wish they had gone to Canada, where parent visas are processed more quickly

According to the Department of Home Affairs website, a Contributory Parent Visa will take at least 12 years to process.

The visa grants parents of migrants who are Australian citizens or permanent residents the right to freely visit their children.

Those who are applying for a Parent Visa (subclass 103) may have to wait 29 years for their visas to get processed.

Mr Parwal urged fellow migrants who are the primary carers for their parents to move to Canada instead.

Canada's processing time for temporary visas for parents and grandparents can be as short as eight weeks under its Super Visa scheme.

The program also allows for visiting parents to stay in the country for two years.

Engineer Nitin Parwal, who lives in Adelaide, told SBS Hindi he wished he had known about the visa options elsewhere, before he moved to Australia

A spokesperson from the Department of Home Affairs told Daily Mail Australia that the department processes a certain number visas annually.

'Parent visas are capped under the Migration Program each year. The demand for these visas is strong and has consistently exceeded the available places, resulting in an upward trend in processing timeframes in recent years,' the spokesperson said.

'It has been the long-standing practice of successive governments to manage the orderly delivery of Migration Program outcomes against planning levels'.

According to the department's website, wait times for parent visas take a significant amount of time to be processed.

'The demand for Parent Visas is greater than the number of places available each year. As a result, processing times for these applications can be lengthy,' the website states.

There are more than 137,000 parent visa applications that are yet to yet to be processed.

That figure has tripled in the last decade.
Neighbours of the six people who died in a tragic fire have shared new details about the incident - revealing how they fled for their lives as the blaze spread to their home.

A huge fire engulfed several properties on Todman Street on Russell Island, off the coast south-east from Brisbane, at about 6am on Sunday.

One property was completely destroyed, with the blaze killing Wayne Godinet, 34, his twin Kyza and Koa, aged four, his three-year-old son Nicky, and stepsons, Zack, 11 and Harry, 10.

Neighbours of the family Lucia Teague and Sei Sinclair were able to get away safely from their own blazing home, which was severely damaged.

Police are treating the fire as potentially suspicious, with 25 investigators are assigned to figure out the cause of the deadly blaze.

Speaking to the Today show on Tuesday morning, Ms Teague and Mr Sinclair both recalled the moment they were woken up and had to escape from their home.

They were woken up by Ms Teague's uncle in a panic, with all three then attempting to extinguish the 'wall of flames' that had reached their home's balcony, to no avail.

Once they realised their efforts were futile, the family grabbed their pets and whatever items they could and escaped from the house.

Mr Sinclair was the first to escape the home, remembering the panic he felt as he looked down the hall towards the fire that was at 'eye-level'.

'The adrenaline kicks in, you just go "get the family, get the pets and get out as quickly as you can",' he said.

'The heat even from the other end of the house you can feel on your face. It was just terrible.'

He recalled the fire completely engulfing the home of Mr Godinet and Ms Stephenson as it started to spread to their home.

Ms Teague was later transported to hospital as she fell down the stairs during the chaotic escape.

'I was in denial most of the first day [after the blaze] because the front end of the house, everything looks normal,' she said.

'It's only until you look at the back you realise the house has been pretty much destroyed.

'I just remember thinking the entire time I was in hospital I just want to go home and realised I can't.'

Neighbours of the six people who died in a tragic fire on Russell Island, Lucia Teague (left) and Sei Sinclair (right), have recounted fleeing for their lives as the blaze spread to their home

Their home wasn't completely destroyed as neighbours from the 'whole street' battled the flames with hoses alongside the Russell Island Rural Fire Brigade.

'Luckily all (of) our neighbours rushed to our aid, one man even jumped the fence to help fight back the flames,' Ms Teague said.

'(The neighbours' help) was so heart-warming in a really heartbreaking situation,' Mr Sinclair said.

The outside of half of their home has been left severely damaged by the blaze, while the inside has been left black, covered in soot.

The family are still trying to make a plan on their future, Ms Teague saying they're taking it 'step by step and day by day'.

'We don't really know what's going on, we honestly have no clue,' she said.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services arrived at the scene some time after, having travelled on a barge to the island from the mainland.

The state's parliament member for Redlands, Kim Richards said the local community was 'still coming to terms with the tragedy that has occurred'.

'It doesn't matter who you speak to, everybody is still grappling with what's happened,' she told the Today show.

'You can't really imagine how (relatives to the deceased) are feeling today, if the community feeling is anything, then you can only imagine their feelings are ten fold, a million fold.'

The fire started at the rental home at about 6am on Sunday morning (pictured: the aftermath)

Mr Godinet was killed alongside his twin sons, aged four, and his third son, aged three, as well as two stepsons Zach, 11 and Harry, 10 (all pictured) when he heroically ran inside to save them

Ms Stephenson, who five children were killed in the fire, could only watch on as the blaze continued to take hold of the home.

She had escaped the blaze alongside a 21-year-old, who is believed to be a family member, and Mr Godinet who heroically ran back into the home to try and save the boys.

He became trapped upstairs with twins Kyza and Koa, aged four, his three-year-old son Nicky, and stepsons Zack, 11 and Harry, 10, before the second storey collapsed.

A GoFundMe has been set up by Lilly Slater, a friend to Ms Stephenson, to help the mother with expenses including the six upcoming funerals.

Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia, Ms Slater said: 'Samantha just wants the world to know - check your smoke alarms and hold your babies.'

Anyone with information or relevant footage of the incident are being urged to come forward as an investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.

Andrew Massingham, Queensland Police Regional Crime Coordinator Superintendent, revealed on Monday that police were not ruling out foul play.
Australian police have warned bikies have 'nowhere to run' or hide after a nationwide week-long crackdown on outlaw motorcycle gangs resulting in 159 arrests.

About 2,100 officers across the country were involved in Taskforce Morpheus - a joint operation targeting criminal assets, 'unexplained wealth' of bikies, disrupting drug operations and ensuring compliance among outlawed motorcycle gangs (OMCGs).

The five-day operation, which ran from July 31 to August 4, resulted in 159 arrests and 693 charges.

Officers also seized varying quantities of illicit drugs, $200,000 in cash, 11 vehicles, 43 firearms and 22 other weapons.

Police carried out 71 search warrants and 252 firearms prohibition orders across Australia zeroing in on drugs, firearms, weapons and explosives offences.

Police arrested 159 people and laid 693 charges following a five-day national operation targeting outlaw motorcycle gangs

A 38-year-old man from Shepparton, northern Victoria, was arrested after police found two rifles, a shotgun, a gel blaster, a silencer and a traffickable quantity of drugs at his home.

He was charged with a series of serious offences including possessing a prohibited weapon without exemption, possess cartridge ammunition, silencer, imitation firearm and commit indictable offence while on bail.

A 56-year-old bikie gang member in Tasmania was charged with close to two dozen offences after his home was searched.

Police found a traffickable quantity of drugs, two illegal replica firearms, cash, two stolen vehicles and a 'significant' amount of stolen property.

In South Australia, an alleged Commanchero bikie was charged with state drugs and weapons offences.

A 'sophisticated' cannabis grow house was found on the man's Para Hills home including 30kg of dried cannabis, 20 plants, $6,000 cash and prohibited weapons.

In NSW, police searched the home of an alleged Hells Angels bikie chapter president and an associate.

A 35-year-old man from Parramatta was also arrested and charged with offences, while his associate, a Liverpool man, 27, was charged when officers allegedly found a gun and live ammunition at his property.

Police seized 43 firearms as part of Taskforce Morpheus (pictured, some of the guns seized)

Police also discovered a 'sophisticated' cannabis grow house in an alleged Commanchero bikie's home (pictured, cannabis plants seized as part of the operation)

Police also seized 1.1kg of cocaine, a hydraulic press, $4,000 cash, tracking devices, a $50,000 luxury watch and items consistent with the supply of prohibited drugs from a home in Jannali in Sydney's south.

A 49-year-old man from Bulahdelah in NSW was also arrested after police searched his home and found three firearms, two replica firearms, ammunition, a crossbow, knives and Comancheros paraphernalia.

Three 'grow tents' were also found on his property, with police seizing 32 cannabis plants, 5kg of dried cannabis leaves, cannabis seeds and oil.

In Western Australia a man and a woman were charged and arrested for alleged criminal activities linked to the Hells Angels.

Police allege the syndicate attempted to import 850kg of cocaine into Perth in June this year.

Officers searched the man's Dianella home and seized $900,000 of cash hidden in the bathroom cupboard.

In Queensland 68 people were charged with a total of 144 offences following the five-day crackdown.

A Caboolture home north of Brisbane belonging to a 32-year-old man was searched, resulting in the discovery of 14 firearms and ammunition, with police charging him with 11 weapons offences.

Large amounts of cash and drugs were taken after police executed 71 search warrants and 252 firearms prohibition orders

A range of weapons found after police searched a home

Anthony Conway, Chair of National Taskforce Morpheus and Australian Federal Police Crime Command Detective, said the week-long action from police was a warning to bikie gangs and members they were watching closely.

'There is no mistaking that OMCGs are violent, organised criminal networks obsessed with obtaining illicit wealth and power at any cost,' Supt Conway said.

'We are dedicated to causing maximum disruption to the transnational serious and organised criminal operations of OMCGs.

'The success of this Week of Action should serve as a fresh warning to OMCG members in Australia and those seeking to hideout offshore.

'There is nowhere to run, and there is nowhere to hide.'

Raptor Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Andrew Koutsoufis said the taskforce is committed to the 'unrelenting pursuit' of bikie gangs.

He added the collaboration between Australian law enforcement across the country proves the squad has the power to target bikies.

'By coordinating cross-border and cross jurisdictional operations, we enhance our capabilities to disrupt OMCG networks, who we know are not confined to one particular city or state,' Det Supt Koutsoufis said.

'Raptor Squad remain committed to the unrelenting pursuit of OMCGs and will continue to use the suite of powers available to us to protect the community from these criminals and their activities,' Det Supt Koutsoufis said.

'Our message to OMCGs and their supporters is clear  we are stronger together, and you are in our sights.'

Hells Angels (pictured) and Comancheros paraphernalia was also seized

Operation Morpheus includes officers from all Australian states and territories, New Zealand police, Australian Federal Police member and officials from the Australian Border Force.

Officers from the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, Australian Defence Force, Australian Taxation Office, Services Australia, Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Center were also involved.

The operation aimed to target criminal assets and the 'unexplained wealth' of key bikie members to protect the community, vulnerable people and to deter recruitment to reduce bikie gang membership.

Morpheus' other objectives are cutting recidivism - repeated criminal activity - and working on members who enable organised crime activities.
Two FBI agents involved in the Hunter Biden laptop saga lied about the computer, the Republican chair of the House Judiciary Committee has claimed.

Jim Jordan on Monday published excerpts of the testimony given by Elvis Chan, who served as one of the FBI's liaisons with tech companies, and Laura Dehmlow, the current FBI section chief of the Foreign Influence Task Force.

Chan testified in November 2022 as part of Missouri and Louisiana's lawsuit against the federal government and the Biden Administration for colluding with social media companies to censor speech.

Jordan said that Chan held a repeat meeting with Facebook about the laptop, but testified he had only had one session. He also testified that he was not aware of internal debate about the laptop, but told a colleague he was 'up to speed'.

Dehmlow spoke to Jordan's committee last month.

Jordan said that Dehmlow revealed how the FBI knew the laptop was not a forgery or plant, but refused to confirm its authenticity to social media companies.

The FBI knew that the laptop obtained by The New York Post had belonged to Hunter Biden, and photos (above) of him in a drug-addled state were real, yet refused to confirm its authenticity to Facebook and Twitter, Jim Jordan has claimed

Laura Dehmlow, the current FBI section chief of the Foreign Influence Task Force (left), and Elvis Chan, a liaison between the FBI and big tech companies, met with Twitter and Facebook on the day the New York Post published its Hunter Biden laptop story, and discussed the authenticity of the laptop

Jordan on Monday tweeted that new internal Facebook documents have resulted in bombshell revelations about Hunter Biden's laptop, arguing that it illustrated the FBI knew the laptop was authentic and belonged to him - but refused to confirm the fact to Facebook and Twitter.

That decision led to the New York Post's report about the laptop being blocked by the social media companies, who labelled it as disinformation.

'Internal FB docs reveal that an FBI Special Agent made false statements in testimony about the FBI's role in the suppression of the Hunter Biden laptop story,' tweeted Jordan.

Jordan explained in a Twitter thread how, on October 14, 2020, The New York Post published its first story about the laptop, which Biden had left behind in a Delaware repair shop.

The laptop contained a trove of the businessman's financial information, plus reams of messages between him and his father - at that point, preparing for the November election. The laptop also contained a large number of deeply embarrassing photos of the troubled lawyer cavorting with prostitutes and taking drugs, at the height of his addiction.

On the day the Post published its story, Chan and Dehmlow met with representatives of Twitter and then Facebook.

Twitter's team asked whether the FBI thought Hunter Biden's laptop was real: one FBI representative replied yes, and then another quickly said: 'No comment.'

Dehmlow told Jordan's committee that there was then internal deliberations, and it was decided that the answer would be 'no comment' from then on.

At the next meeting, with Facebook, Dehmlow herself told Facebook 'no comment' when asked if the laptop was real.

'It was an ongoing investigation, and we generally don't comment on ongoing investigative matters when asked,' she told Jordan's committee.

Jordan on Monday declared: 'Did Dehmlow know that the FBI had the laptop and it was real? Yes.

'Did other key members of the FBI's Foreign Influence Task Force know? Yes.

'The FBI knew the laptop was real and yet decided it would say 'no comment.'

'We know what happened next.

'Twitter and Facebook censored the @nypost story.

'The Biden campaign secretly set in motion the events that led to the 51 former intel officials discrediting the story as Russian disinformation.'

Jordan and his allies are convinced that the FBI was working to discredit the story, in a bid to downplay it and help Joe Biden's electoral chances.

Jordan then singled out extracts from Chan's testimony at the end of last year.

Chan was asked by the Missouri and Louisiana officials whether he had been involved in any meetings after October 14 with Facebook, where the Hunter Biden laptop was discussed.

Chan replies that he does not believe so.

'I was confident that I was not a party to any meeting with social media companies where Hunter Biden was discussed outside of the one incident that I told you about,' said Chan.

Jordan, however, said on Monday that his committee has 'recently obtained an internal Facebook document PROVING that Agent Chan had a secret 'follow up' call with Facebook about the Hunter Biden laptop story on October 15, just one day after the @nypost story and the first Facebook meeting!'

Jordan noted that Chan also claimed in the deposition that he had 'no internal knowledge of [the FBI's] investigation' involving Hunter Biden's laptop, but according to internal Facebook documents told a colleague he was 'up to speed on the current state of the matter within the FBI.'

Jordan added: 'Is there any wonder why the Biden DOJ has so far stonewalled the Committee's efforts to interview Agent Chan?'
As much as two million tonnes of plastic is floating on the surface of our oceans  eight times more than was previously thought, according to new research.

The findings are the result of a five-year research project and dwarf earlier estimates that the figure was around 250,000 tonnes.

Writing in the scientific journal Nature Geoscience, researchers said their calculations are based on a computer model of the world's oceans and estimates of plastic rubbish falling in the sea.

The new model estimates that, in 2020, there were 3.2 million tonnes of plastic junk in the sea overall, and the amount entering it is increasing by around 4 per cent each year.

So unless it is halted, the total amount of plastic in our oceans will double within 20 years to around 6.4 million tonnes.

(Stock Photo) As much as two million tonnes of plastic is floating on the surface of our oceans

A look at some of the plastic pollution on Kuta beach in Bali in 2017

While still a staggering number, the amount of plastic is far less than a previous estimate, made in 2014, of 150 million tonnes.

The research also determined that less plastic is falling into seas than previously thought; half a million tonnes each year, compared with previous estimates of 4 million to 12 million.

READ MORE: Here's what tourist spots may look like due to climate change Advertisement

A report by the Ellen MacArthur foundation, based on research in 2015, suggested that by 2050, there will be more plastic in the world's sea than fish, by weight.

The MacArthur report calculated there will be 850-950 million tonnes of ocean plastic, compared to total fish stocks of 812-899 million tonnes.

However, Dr Erik van Sebille, associate professor at the University of Utrecht, in the Netherlands and co-author of the new study, told the Daily Mail: 'Quotes that there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050, that's not going to happen.

'But there will still be a huge amount of plastic in the ocean, 3.2 million tonnes is a ridiculously high amount. It's not something we should be proud of.'

The Daily Mail has long highlighted the threats of plastic pollution with its Turn the Tide on Plastic campaign.

In addition to the 3.2million tonnes of plastic floating in the sea, there is an additional 6 million tonnes resting on the ocean floor, the study said.

Dr Kandoorp told the Daily Mail: 'I would indeed say it is unlikely there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean, at least when the fish stocks don't keep decreasing drastically.

'With a business as usual scenario we might indeed have approximately 6 million tonnes of plastic in the seawater.

'I don't know if the statement includes plastics on the sea floor? We estimate this to be roughly 6 million tonnes in 2020.

'I'm not sure about the amount on the sea floor in 2040. I would say it is very unlikely both numbers together would exceed 20 million tonnes.

'This would be roughly 2.5 per cent of the fish stock, which is still way too much plastic of course, but hopefully not more than the amount of fish!'
The director of a plumbing company that went into liquidation owing over $12million had been paying himself a six-figure salary in the months before the collapse.

C & S Plumbing Pty Ltd, in Benalla in Victoria's northeast, collapsed on March 27 with $0.0 in its bank account and owing $12.2million to over 100 creditors.

Simon Nelson from BPS Recovery and Reconstruction has been appointed as liquidator of the business, which also has an office in Melbourne.

C & S Plumbing still offers services for commercial and residential projects on their website, which as of this week is still live.

Of the $12.2million the company owes, $1.9million belongs to 76 former employees for unpaid wages, superannuation and retrenchment while $3.7million is owed to Australia's Taxation Office, news.com.au reports.

Documents filed with ASIC by the liquidator includes allegations that the sole director of C & S Plumbing, Shane Arnold, was paying himself a six-figure salary in the months leading up to the company's collapse.

The report states that from November, Mr Arnold 'began to receive significantly increased wages' before the company went into liquidation in March.

The report states that from November, Mr Arnold 'began to receive significantly increased wages' before the company went into liquidation in March

Documents filed with ASIC by the liquidator includes allegations that the sole director of C & S Plumbing, Shane Arnold, (pictured) was paying himself a six-figure salary in the months leading up to the company's collapse

C & S Plumbing still offers services for commercial and residential projects on their website, which as of this week is still live

'This was by way of cashing out outstanding annual leave and RDO balance,' it said.

'A review of the pay slips of Mr Arnold  indicate (s) that Mr Arnold received the gross amount of approximately $101,000' in that period of time.'

The report also includes allegations the director sold his company's assets to another business one of his family members is involved with.

C & S Plumbing employees were engaged by Arnold Land Development, a company whose director is a relative of Mr Arnold.

Workers spent 261 hours completing $456,665 worth of work at the block of land, however the significant sum was never paid to C & S Plumbing.

Liquidators have since requested the amount be paid back to the company.

Plant and equipment were sold to Arnold Land Development, in a 'voidable transaction' which can now be seized by the liquidator.

When creditors took the company to court over unpaid debts, Mr Arnold was unable to pay any of them and has indicated he will declare bankruptcy according to documents lodged with the corporate watchdog.

In giving reasons for the collapse of his business, Mr Arnold said he was owed $1million from a builder who reportedly refused to pay for work.

He added that rising costs and the pandemic had also impacted on business.

In giving reasons for the collapse of his business, Mr Arnold (pictured) said he was owed $1million from a builder who reportedly refused to pay for work

C & S Plumbing Pty Ltd, in Benalla in Victoria's northeast, collapsed on March 27 with $0.00 in its bank account and owing $12.2million to over 100 creditors

When the liquidator intervened there were $0.00 left the company's bank accounts.

'I have not recovered any funds from the company's bank accounts,' Mr Nelson wrote in documents submitted to ASIC.

Daily Mail Australia contacted C & S Plumbing Pty Ltd and Mr Arnold for comment.

It comes just weeks after it was announced plumbing company Richstone Group Pty Ltd went into liquidation in June after a failed restructuring attempt.

The company had just $61 in its bank account at the time it went under, and owes a whopping $22million to creditors, according to documents lodged with the corporate watchdog.

Administrator David Coyne from insolvency firm BRI Ferrier, said in a document filed with ASIC and seen by Daily Mail Australia, the failure of the business 'appeared to be the debtors not paying their debts in full'.

Staff are believed to be owed up to $816,000 including unpaid wages and superannuation, while $14million is understood to be owed to the ATO.

Richstone Group blamed worsening market conditions and the pandemic for their revenue plummeting from $65million to just $25million in the past financial year.
A horror 'shark attack' occurred at Rockaway Beach in New York on Monday

A 50-year-old woman suffered a grisly leg injury after she was bitten by a shark at a popular New York beach.

Police rushed to Rockaway Beach, in the Queens neighborhood of New York City, Monday evening following reports the woman had been attacked by a shark.

The FDNY confirmed to DailyMail.com officers had responded to a call at Beach 59th Street and Rockaway Beach Boulevard at 5:52pm.

The victim was described as being in a stable but serious condition, with a 'major injury' that is non-life threatening.

Police rushed to the scene at Rockaway Beach, in the Queens neighborhood of New York City, shortly before 6pm Monday

The woman was reportedly hauled from the water by lifeguards with part of her leg missing, before she was taken to nearby Jamaica Hospital by first responders

The victim was described as suffering a 'major injury' that was non-life threatening

Beachgoers cleared the coastline after the horror attack, and images shortly after the incident saw it empty as a helicopter roamed above.

The victim was rushed to Jamaica Hospital, and law enforcement were at the scene as an investigation into the attack continues.

According to the crime reporting app Citizen, police applied a tourniquet to the victim before she was rushed to hospital.

She was reportedly rescued from the water by lifeguards and had a large part of her leg missing when she was taken away.

According to New York Daily News, the attack is the first on a New York City beach in 50 years.

Footage captured the moment a helicopter flew into the beach, which was almost completely deserted after the horror incident

A drone flies overhead after a woman suffered grisly injuries when she was bitten by a shark on Rockaway Beach

In a statement to DailyMail.com, the New York City Parks and Recreation Department, which oversees the city's beaches, said: 'We hope for a full recovery for this swimmer.

'Though this was a frightening event, we want to remind New Yorkers that shark bites in Rockaway are extremely rare.

'We remain vigilant in monitoring the beach and always clear the water when a shark is spotted,' adding that the beach's opening would be delayed until 11am Tuesday.

The authority added that it was the first shark attack at Rockaway Beach in recent memory, and helicopter canvassing of the water where the woman was bitten failed to locate any sharks.

A member of the NYPD's Technical Assistance Response Unit (TARU) was seen flying a drone over the beach as part of the investigation.

Sources told the New York Post the department and the FDNY planned to deploy the gadgets on the coastline Tuesday to continue the search.

Law enforcement continued scouring

The attack is the latest of a string of incidents involving the predators in recent weeks, as it was found that America is the 'shark attack capital of the world'.

Last year, the country saw 41 of 57 confirmed cases worldwide, which is a shocking 72 percent of the world's total for 2022, according to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF).

On the East Coast, a teenager was savaged by a shark over the Fourth of July holiday weekend during a trip to New York's Fire Island.

The party hotspot was also the site of six attacks in a three week span last year, while nearby Nantucket has been forced to ban swimming in some areas after two sharks were spotted just off the shore last month.

But while eastern coastlines have seen a surge in attacks, Florida remains the shark capital of the world, and registered 16 unprovoked, nonlethal shark bites last year.
Donald Trump's legal team has argued that a proposed protective order to prevent him from disclosing evidence in his election conspiracy case is 'overbroad' and should be amended.

In a court filing on Monday, lawyers for the former president argued that the restrictions proposed by Special Counsel Jack Smith would violate Trump's free speech rights under the First Amendment to the Constitution.

'In a trial about First Amendment rights, the government seeks to restrict First Amendment rights,' Trump's attorney John Lauro wrote in the filing, previewing a line of argument that defense lawyers are expected to make at trial.

Prosecutors had asked US District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan, who will preside over the case in DC, for a protective order on Friday after Trump posted 'If you go after me, I'm coming after you!' on Truth Social.

Trump's motion argued that even while the proposed order would prohibit him from publicizing government evidence turned over in the discovery process, his political opponents including President Joe Biden had 'capitalized' on the indictment.

Donald Trump's legal team has argued that a proposed protective order to prevent him from disclosing evidence in his election conspiracy case is 'overbroad'

Trump's lawyers called this Biden tweet a 'thinly veiled reference to his administration's prosecution of President Trump just hours before arraignment'

Trump's lawyers called an August 3 tweet from Biden, showing the Democrat sipping a mug of coffee, a 'thinly veiled reference to his administration's prosecution of President Trump just hours before arraignment.'

The tweet showed Biden saying 'I like my coffee dark' as he sipped from a mug printed with the 'Dark Brandon' meme, an ironic depiction of Biden as a ruthless despot with lasers shooting from his eyes.

Trump's filing cited an Insider article speculating that Biden had 'appeared to throw major shade' at Trump with coffee-sipping video. Biden has repeatedly declined to comment when asked about the charges Trump faces.

In a post on his Truth Social site, Trump also lashed out over the proposed restrictions, writing: 'I shouldn't have a protective order placed on me because it would impinge upon my right to FREE SPEECH.'

'Deranged Jack Smith and the Department of Injustice should, however, because they are illegally 'leaking' all over the place!' he added in a reference to the special counsel who filed the case against him.

The debate came in the federal criminal case in which Trump is charged with attempting to overturn his loss in the 2020 presidential election, one of three criminal indictments the former president now faces.

Prosecutors have said a protective order - not unusual in criminal cases - is particularly important in Trump's case because of his penchant for using social media.

They have expressed concern that Trump could improperly share sensitive case information online that could have a 'harmful chilling effect on witnesses.'

In a court filing on Monday, lawyers for the former president argued that the restrictions proposed by Special Counsel Jack Smith (above) would violate Trump's free speech rights

In their filing Friday seeking the order, prosecutors included a screenshot of this post

In a post on his Truth Social site, Trump also lashed out over the proposed restrictions

Trump's lawyers argued the judge should impose a more limited order that would bar the public release only of materials deemed 'sensitive' - such as grand jury documents - rather than all evidence handed over by the government in the case,

In their filing Friday seeking the order, prosecutors included a screenshot of a post from Trump's Truth Social platform that same day in which he wrote, in all capital letters, 'If you go after me, I'm coming after you!'

Trumps lawyers said that citing that post to claim theres a danger Trump might publish grand jury information was 'a provocative claim when searching for headlines, perhaps, but one that falters under minimal scrutiny.'

The former president's legal team said his post was 'generalized political speech' and had nothing to do with the case.

A Trump spokesperson said last week that the 'coming after you' post was in response to 'dishonest special interest groups and Super PACs.'

Trump's lawyers said in Monday's filing that the need to protect sensitive information about the case 'does not require a blanket gag order over all documents produced by the government.'

The defense filing was in response to the request Friday from Smith's team for the protective order , which would impose rules on what Trump and his defense team can do with evidence handed over by the government as they prepare for trial in the case unsealed last week.

Trump's lawyers on Saturday had asked for an extra three days to respond to prosecutors request for the protective order, saying they needed more time for discussion. But Judge Tanya Chutkan swiftly denied that request.

The prosecutors proposed order seeks to prevent Trump and his lawyers from disclosing materials provided by the government to anyone other than people on his legal team, possible witnesses, the witnesses lawyers or others approved by the court.

It would put stricter limits on 'sensitive materials,' which prosecutors said would include grand jury witness testimony and materials obtained through sealed search warrants.

Prosecutors said that they are ready to hand over a substantial amount of evidence to Trumps legal team and that much of it includes sensitive and confidential information.

Trump has denied any wrongdoing in the case as well as another federal case brought by Smith that accuses him of illegally hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida.

He has has characterized all the cases against him as an effort to take down his 2024 campaign.

His legal team has indicated that it will argue that he had relied on the advice of attorneys around him in 2020 and that Trump had a right to challenge an election that he believed had been stolen.

Trump pleaded not guilty last week to four felony counts, including conspiracy to defraud the US and conspiracy to obstruct Congress' certification of Biden's electoral victory.

The charges could lead to a lengthy prison sentence in the event of a conviction, with the most serious counts calling for up to 20 years.

It's the third criminal case brought this year against the the early front-runner in the 2024 Republican presidential primary.

But it's the first case to try to hold him responsible for his efforts to remain in power during the chaotic weeks between his election loss and the attack by his supporters on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Smith also charged Trump in June with dozens of felony counts alleging the former president illegally kept classified records after he left the White House and obstructed government efforts to get them back.

A new indictment recently unsealed in that case accuses Trump of scheming with Mar-a-Lago staffers to try to delete security footage sought by investigators.

Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart imposed a similar protective order in June that prohibits Trump and his legal team from publicly disclosing evidence turned over to them by prosecutors without prior approval.

Prosecutors are seeking another protective order in that case with more rules about the defense teams handling of classified evidence.
Child killer Ian Huntley and Blood Diamond civil war beast Charles Taylor have reportedly started an unlikely friendship in prison and discuss world affairs.

Huntley, 49, who committed a double murder of two young girls in 2002, has apparently become close pals in prison with Taylor, the ex-president of Liberia who is serving 50 years in the UK.

The pair are in cells close to each other in Frankland Prison, County Durham, and are believed to share a close bond, according to The Sun.

Taylor used child soldiers to mutilate enemies and was convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court in 2012.

Huntley murdered Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, both 10, in Soham, Cambridgeshire, in 2002. He lured the girls to his house and killed them before dumping their bodies in a remote ditch.

Ian Huntley, 49, (pictured in 2002) murdered two ten-year-old girls in Soham, Cambridgeshire, after luring them back to his house

Huntley has formed a close prison friendship with Charles Taylor (pictured), an African dictator who is serving 50 years in the UK

Huntley was a caretaker at the local Soham Village College and was arrested after the girls' bodies were discovered 13 days later.

Speaking of the new friendship, a source told The Sun: 'They make a pretty grim couple but they have become very close  Huntley looks up to Taylor and thinks he is really intelligent.

'He often seeks Taylor's advice about the prison regime and world affairs.'

After Huntley murdered his two young victims, he gave TV interviews and joined in searches while his then-girlfriend Maxine Carr gave him a false alibi.

Huntley murdered Holly Wells (left) and Jessica Chapman (right), both 10, in Soham, Cambridgeshire, in 2002

Huntley was a caretaker at the local Soham Village College and was arrested after the girls' bodies were discovered 13 days later

Taylor used child soldiers to mutilate enemies and was convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court in 2012

After Huntley murdered his two young victims, he gave TV interviews and joined in searches while his then-girlfriend Maxine Carr gave him a false alibi

Speaking of the new friendship, a source told The Sun: 'They make a pretty grim couple but they have become very close'

He was jailed for life in 2005. Carr was jailed for perverting the course of justice and was released in 2004 with a new identity.

Huntley sparked outrage in 2021 after receiving his Covid vaccination in prison ahead of millions of law-abiding people his age and older.

His vaccination came as millions of others, including prison staff around him, waited to fit the criteria for the jab while priority was given to over-55s, healthcare workers and people at high risk from coronavirus.
The wife of a Russian oligarch who hid her 1million handbag collection during the couple's divorce battle worth tens of millions has been accused of leading the court 'on a merry dance' by the judge.

Elsina Khayrova, 36, who is a former model and the daughter of a Russian MP, and her husband Dmitry Tsetkov, 42, have been involved in a bitter fight over their assets, the Telegraph reports.

The pair split last year after more than a decade of marriage when Ms Khayrova asked her husband for a divorce.

They have assets including a plethora of properties, among which are a 22million mansion on the Wentworth estate in Surrey as well as houses in London worth 18million.

They also hold properties in both Dubai and Cyprus alongside their car, jewellery and art collections worth millions of pounds.

Elsina Khayrova (pictured), 36, who is a former model and the daughter of a Russian MP, and her husband Dmitry Tsetkov, 42, have been involved in a bitter fight over the assets worth millions of pounds

The court was also told how Mr Tsvetkov (pictured), an entrepreneur who first came to the UK in 2004 and was granted a British passport and indefinite leave to remain five years later, hasn't been able to make 'meaningful sums of money' since June 2022

As part of their assets, Ms Khayrova failed to include her large handbag collection of more than 150 bags worth nearly 1 million.

During a hearing in February this year, she lied and said she only owned about 20 handbags and reiterated that lie to the court in May 2023.

According to the judge, she also 'downplayed the bags', saying it would be disproportionate to even have them valued.

Mr Justice Peel said in his judgement handed down at the High Court that the case had been 'infected by [Ms Khayrova's] dishonesty from start to finish'.

He added that she 'led the court on a merry dance about handbags' by lying about the assets.

Ms Khayrova is the daughter of Rinat Khayrov, a Russian politician who worked in the country's ministry of defence before being elected to parliament in 2011, where he served until 2021.

When she separated from her husband in 2020, Ms Khayrova quickly prevented Mr Tsvetkov's access to their family bank accounts and credits cards, the court heard.

She also transferred some of their properties in Cyprus into her mother's name, which the judge said was an 'obvious attempt' to take assets from her husband's reach.

Mr Justice Peel ruled that the 'greater responsibility for this expensive litigation' fell to Ms Khayrova (pictured left), who was ordered to pay half of her husband's 1,761,488 legal bill

As part of their valuable jewellery collection, the pair owner investment grade diamons and a Patek Phillipe watch, which were kept in a Safe Deposit box at Harrods.

The key to the box had Mr Tsvetkov, but Ms Khayrova convinced staff at the store that the keys were lost and got a set for herself without telling her husband and later omitting the items from evidence, the High Court was told.

The court was also told how Mr Tsvetkov, an entrepreneur who first came to the UK in 2004 and was granted a British passport and indefinite leave to remain five years later, hasn't been able to make 'meaningful sums of money' since June 2022.

This is due to Ms Khayrova blocking his access to the family bank accounts, the court heard.

But Mr Justice Peel said he was optimistic that 'clever, resourceful and well-connected' Mr Tsvetkov would soon be able to start trading again.

Ms Khayrova, on the other hand, did not work during the marriage and tried setting up a coffee business during the divorce proceedings which had failed.

'There is no real indication that her next business proposition, a private members' beauty club, is likely to be financially fruitful,' the judge said.

Mr Justice Peel ruled that the 'greater responsibility for this expensive litigation' fell to Ms Khayrova, who was ordered to pay half of her husband's 1,761,488 legal bill.
A Spanish lottery ticket seller faces being jailed for six years after being accused of defrauding the owner of a ticket worth 4.05million.

Manuel Reija Gonzalez was widely praised when he publicly tried to find the person who bought the winning ticket from him 11 years ago in the north-western city of A Coruna.

However, police now claim that the ticket vendor and his brother, who worked for the national lottery, of trying to cash in on the ticket for themselves, the Guardian reports.

It is claimed that Reija tried to collect the winnings on five separate occasions but was refused every single time by the lottery authorities.

Reija has since been charged with fraud, while his brother has been charged with money laundering - which also carries a six-year sentence. Both brothers deny the charges.

Manuel Reija Gonzalez, pictured here in 2012 after claiming to have found the winning ticket, has now been charged with defrauding the person who bought it

While the defendant was being portrayed as a Good Samaritan in the press at the time in June 2012, lottery organisers became suspicious and launched an investigation to find the owner.

A total of 317 people from across Spain came forward to say they bought the ticket, but one by one, all of their claims were found to be false.

A judge then ordered police to investigate, with officers eventually finding the winner after tracking them through tickets bought using the same numbers in holiday destinations such as Mallorca and Costa del Sol, El Pais reports.

With the help of Imserso, a branch of the Spanish government that organises holidays for elderly people they found the winner, only to learn through his wife that he had died in 2014.

Prosecutors allege that the ticket seller tricked the man by giving him a smaller prize than he was entitled to when he went to check his numbers.

They have said the money should be given to the widow and daughter of the man who bought the ticket.
Gilgo Beach serial killer suspect's two adult children are living in a 'waking horror show' following his triple murder charge, according to their attorney.

Rex Heuermann is charged with killing Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Lynn Costello, who disappeared in 2009 and 2010 and is the main suspect in the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, who vanished in 2007.

He has two children - a daughter Victoria Heuermann, 26, who worked at her father's Manhattan architecture firm, and a son Christopher Sheridan, 33, who has special needs.

His children have been described as 'bystanders' who are caught up in this 'developing legal case of the century' - while they live in a 'walking horror show.'

Christopher (left) and Victoria (right) reportedly 'cry themselves to sleep' since their father's arrest as cops pull apart their Long Island home

Rex Heuermann, 59, appears in court on three murder charges. He said nothing but stared at the judge and at his handcuffed wrists

Their attorney Vess Mitev, of Mitev Law Firm, told Fox News Digital: 'They're constantly having to reevaluate what is happening to them, almost in real-time.

'Obviously, the deplorable conditions that their house was left in  torn apart from the floorboards to the shingles, basically, is their paramount concern.

'[They're] trying to regain some basic sense of normalcy, which is completely impossible at this point. They're living in a surreal, waking horror show.'

He added: 'Their rights and liberties have to be protected.

'And that investigation is now heating up with the DA handing over troves of documents last week, and the leads the DA may be pursuing, whatever they may be, at some point may intertwine with the rights and remedies that my clients have and enjoy under the Constitution and under the laws of New York.'

This comes after wife of Gilgo Beach serial killer suspect Heuermann admitted her neighbors want the house she shared with the alleged murderer to be razed to the ground.

Heuermann, the architect accused of murdering at least three women and leaving their bodies along a remote stretch of coastline near Long Islands Gilgo Beach, appeared in court Tuesday for the first time since his arraignment.

The children's lawyer Vess Mitev, of Mitev Law Firm, said: 'They're constantly having to reevaluate what is happening to them, almost in real-time'

Wife Asa Ellerup, 59, told DailyMail.com she doesn't 'want to walk down the street' and hears what those who live nearby say about their home.

The neighbors want the house gone,' she said on Wednesday. 'They want it bulldozed.

She became emotional discussing how she's tried to cope with the intense media scrutiny and neighborhood gossip.

Look I dont want to walk down the street. I heard what people said about us. I heard it, Ellerup said as she began to cry.

I heard the other people on the neighborhood. They want the house bulldozed. Do you understand? Please I cant talk anymore.

Ellerup filed for divorce to 'protect herself' from any future lawsuits and has spoken with her husband in jail, her attorney revealed Monday.

She said that some neighbors had been charitable, as a GoFundMe started by Melissa Moore, the daughter of the Happy Face Serial Killer Keith Hunter Jesperson, which has raised over $20,000.

She was asked point blank about whether or not she deserved the money by one reporter.

I dont know what to say to that, if people dont want to fund me. What is she going to say, I dont deserve this? I am alone.

Asa Ellerup, the wife of Gilgo Beach serial killer suspect Rex Heuermann has admitted her neighbors want the house she shared with the alleged murderer to be razed to the ground

She noted that people have also given them everything from pizza to pots and pans, but said she doesn't 'have room for a lot of stuff' when asked what she needed.

Ellerup said both she and her dog are crying and that she can tell even her dog is stressed.

Heuermann was disheveled and appeared as though he had lost weight as he stood before the judge in Riverhead, Long Island, last Tuesday.

The courtroom was packed with media and the families of some of the women he is accused of killing.

He was dressed smartly in a black blazer, blue shirt and cream khakis, and looked down at his hands for most of the hearing.

The judge banned the release of four, two terabyte hard drives of evidence which have been handed to attorneys and investigators, but which will not become public.

Heuermann is set to return to court in September.

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

Speaking outside the court afterwards, his attorney, Michael Brown, sparred with the media and insisted on his innocence.

'He told me he didn't do this,' he said, before bemoaning the size of the evidence file and how long it will take to go through it.

'The DA has a whole office... I'm just one guy.

'Just to pore through the discovery is an enormous task but we're going to do it, we're prepared to do it.

'Whether it's one year or a year and a half, whenever that day comes we're looking forward to defending this case,' he said, adding that he would try to have the trial moved out of Suffolk County.

'This case is one we are going to try in the courtroom.

The press has convicted my client without a shred of evidence, he doesn't stand a chance,' he said.
The 7-year-old's heartbroken family warned about the dangers of the powder

A haunting picture captured the final moments of a seven-year-old boy who died after he climbed into a mound of limestone powder, a common material used in construction that was left on the side of the road.

Arthur Emanuel Bitencourt was seen giving a double thumbs-up as he played in the heap, which poisoned him minutes later after he accidentally inhaled particles of the powder.

The young boy was rushed to hospital on August 3 after breathing the toxic dust, but was tragically pronounced dead on arrival.

His heartbroken family shared the picture of the boy in the limestone powder which was taken minutes before he died, as a warning to others about its dangers.

Romaldo Bitencourt, Arthur's uncle, shared the tragic photo on Facebook and wrote: 'The memories I will have of you, my dear child, will always be the best.'

This image was taken just moments before Arthur died from inhaling the poisonous powder

Arthur's family reportedly said they had no idea about the dangers of the toxic dust. Pictured: The seven-year-old with his mother Marlene

The boy's heartbroken uncle shared the picture as a warning to others about the dangers of limestone powder

Arthur jumped into the poisonous material near his family's property in Ipiranga, Parana, in the south of Brazil, according to Brazilian outlet Jornal Razao.

After the boy was pronounced dead as he was rushed to hospital, medics reportedly determined the cause of death to be breathing in the powder.

Arthur's family claimed they were unaware of the dangers posed by the powder.

'This photo was taken a few minutes before his tragic death caused by limestone inhalation while he played,' Arthur's uncle Romaldo said.

'Our gratitude to GOD for putting Arthur in our life a treasure, who stayed with us for seven years, one month and ten days,' he said in a separate post.

'Life is like a moving train, but our dear and beloved son, brother, nephew, cousin, grandson, wend down (landed) still in the beginning of the journey.'

Tributes poured in for the boy after his sad passing, with a woman who appeared to be a friend of Arthur's mother saying: 'May God comfort the heart of the whole family right now, you will forever be in our hearts Arthur!

'Yesterday was a day of great joy, which will be forever marked in Luiz's heart, and today God wanted you close to him!' she said, alongside an image of the child enjoying a birthday party.

Arthur pictured with his uncle Romaldo, who said after the seven-year-old's death 'the memories of you, my dear, will always be the best'

His uncle shared in another post that despite the tragedy, he felt gratitude for the seven years the boy had and described him as a 'treasure'

Limestone Powder is often used in construction, and safety standards require workers wear face masks, protective clothing, gloves and goggles when handling it

The substance is often used in construction in the manufacture of materials including bricks, cement and concrete.

Workers wear face masks around the substance as it is used in construction, and safety standards require it be handled with gloves, goggles and protective clothing.

Authorities warn that inhaling it can cause severe lung problems, and it can also cause cancer, skin irritation and eye damage.

Symptoms of harmful exposure to the powder include decreased lung function, dyspnea, and persistent coughing.

It can also be used by farmers to treat their soil and increase crop yields, and a large tractor could be seen in the background of the photograph of Arthur playing in the dust.

Police launched an investigation into the boy's death, and he was buried the day after he launched himself into the heap of the powder.
After more than 5,000 complaints, the Environment Protection Authority is taking a tip operator to court over smells called 'disgusting' and 'like rotten eggs' by locals.

SBI Landfill, a construction and demolition waste tip in the south-east Melbourne suburb of Cranbourne, and its directors are facing allegations of 'serious non-compliance' with environment protection laws.

The EPA, which is taking the case to Victoria's Supreme Court, claims the company did not comply with the requirements of its operating licence due to the impact the smell from its landfill is having on residents.

The authority is seeking penalties and injunctions against SBI, which could be fined more than $1.8million, while each director could be fined $360,000.

Viv Paine, of the Lynbrook Residents Association, said the smell was affecting the entire area and 'the EPA are the only hope of saving our community from this'.

After more than 5,000 complaints, the Environment Protection Authority is taking a tip operator to court over smells called 'disgusting' and ;like rotten eggs' by locals. A local woman is pictured holding her nose due to the smell

SBI Landfill (pictured), a construction and demolition waste tip in the south-east Melbourne suburb of Cranbourne, and its directors are facing allegations of 'serious non-compliance' with environment protection laws

'It is appalling for the residents that live around here because the successive owners of the tip cannot control the huge volumes of leachate that seep out of the tip,' he told The Age.

Mr Paine said the smell is most prominent in the early morning and late evenings.

READ MORE: Vile smell takes over a Sydney suburb AGAIN - leaving locals battling a 'putrid' stench in their homes and backyards A 'rotten egg gas' smell has returned with a vengeance, wafting through windows and door cracks of homes with disgusted locals having no choice but to put up with it. It's been a year-long saga with the hideous smell making itself known in the western Sydney area, with people unable to hang their washing on the line. Advertisement

The EPA wants the court to bar SBI Landfill from accepting waste until it improves what it described as the 'unacceptable impacts on human health and the environment'.

The agency's claim outlines 'offensive odours' its officers described as having 'slight rotten egg characteristics with landfill gas undertones' and 'a strong landfill odour with slight burnt undertones'.

Local woman Alex said her baby was five weeks old when she first noticed the landfill odours.

She moved to her parents' house in Geelong for a while to escape the smell, which she said she could taste in her mouth.

'It made you feel nauseous and have a headache  it was disgusting, like rotten eggs. It smelt so bad that I thought it has to have some impact on your health,' Alex said.

The site was previously a quarry but in 2015 it was granted a permit to dispose of solid, chemically inactive waste and construction waste.

A year later, residents from suburbs including Lynbrook, Hampton Park, Narre Warren South, North Cranbourne and Lyndhurst began complaining about foul smells from the site.

In the two years from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2023, the EPA received 5,080 community pollution reports about the site from 800 people.

The EPA claims SBI Landfill failed to maintain an appropriate landfill gas flare  a system for extracting and processing gas  to manage the odour.

'SBI, in operating the landfill, knew or ought to have reasonably known, that there was a risk of harm to human health or the environment from pollution or waste from the landfill,' the EPA said in its statement of claim.

Offensive odours could be smelt at more than 200 different locations outside the landfill, the authority said in its claim.

Viv Paine, of the Lynbrook Residents Association (pictured), said the smell was affecting the entire area and 'the EPA are the only hope of saving our community from this'

Foul smells from huge landfills near some of Australia's most populated suburbs were ruining life for disgusted locals who cannot hang their washing outside

A similar case happened in Sydney last year, with foul smells from huge landfills near some of Australia's most populated suburbs.

Disgusted locals were unable to hang their washing outside due to western Sydney dumps piled with rotting organic waste leading to a stench polluting the air around Minchinbury, Erskine Park and Blacktown.

'We are concerned that our clothes will be contaminated,' local woman Maria Duran said at the time.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted SBI Landfill and the Lynbrook Residents Association for comment.
Only a third of voters support plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030, according to a new poll.

In a sign that consumers are turning against costly green policies, YouGov found that just 36 per cent of voters back the ban - down from 51 per cent two years ago.

The poll, commissioned by The Times, showed the lack of support was particularly acute among potential Conservative voters - down from 41 per cent in 2019 to 19 per cent.

(Stock Photo) In a sign that consumers are turning against costly green policies, YouGov found that just 36 per cent of voters back the ban - down from 51 per cent two years ago

Rishi Sunak has insisted he is committed to the 2030 deadline, despite mounting concerns from drivers and car manufacturers that the infrastructure is not in place to cope with the influx of green vehicles on UK roads.

But he has stressed that action to reach net-zero needed to be done in a 'proportionate and pragmatic way' amid the cost-of-living crisis.

Last month 40 Tory MPs and peers wrote to the Prime Minister warning that sticking to the controversial timetable would cause 'grave harm to the economy' and leave motorists 'worse off'.

The group, which includes six former Cabinet ministers, said the UK 'now stands virtually alone' in pursuing the rush to phase out petrol cars, with the EU watering down its own proposals for a ban that will not start until five years later.

They also question whether 'new electricity generation and charging point roll-out is anywhere close to being on track to match the 2030 ambition, just seven years away'.

Rishi Sunak has insisted he is committed to the 2030 deadline, despite mounting concerns from drivers and car manufacturers that the infrastructure is not in place to cope with the influx of green vehicles on UK roads

Repeated polls have shown that the policy is unpopular with the public.

At the weekend, a survey by the ConservativeHome website found that more than eight in 10 of the Tories' grassroots don't support the measure.

The poll also found four in 10 of Conservative Party members were opposed to the Government's aim of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Nearly half (49 per cent) said they believed global warming was happening and being driven by human activity.
A 33-year-old New York City gastroenterologist appeared in court in Queens on Monday charged with 50 counts of drugging and raping women around the world - including in the hospital where he worked.

Authorities said Zhi Alan Cheng filmed the attacks on his phone, and in December a former girlfriend accused him of rape after reportedly finding video of herself and other women being attacked.

The ex-girlfriend accused Cheng of using a K-N95 mask filled with cotton balls soaked in liquid to knock her out.

Police began investigating her allegation, and Cheng was arrested and fired from the hospital where he worked, NewYork-Presbyterian Queens.

On Monday, prosecutors alleged he attacked multiple women aged between 19 and 47 at his home in Astoria; at the hospital where he worked; and across New York, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Thailand.

Six women are said to appear in the videos, but prosecutors believe there may be more.

Zhi Alan Cheng, a 33-year-old gastroenterologist, is accused of drugging and raping women at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens, where he worked, as well as at his home

Cheng attended Albany Medical College in the 2010s before completing his residency at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. He obtained his New York medical license in June 2020

Melinda Katz, the Queens district attorney, urged anyone with potential leads about other victims to come forward, saying the evidence indicated 'a sexual predator of the absolute worst kind, a serial rapist.'

She said he was prepared to break 'every standard of human decency.'

Following the alleged December 2022 attack, Cheng's home was raided and police found drugs including fentanyl, ketamine, LSD and several anesthetics typically used in surgeries, plus devices with dozens of other recordings at his home.

The attacks are believed to date back to 2021.

In one case, Cheng is accused of filming himself groping a 37-year-old patient as she lay unconscious at the Queens hospital in 2021.

A short time later, prosecutors said, he raped a woman whom he met on a dating app and filmed the attack.

In the video, a small brown bottle was visible on his bed, according to the authorities, who said they had recovered a similar bottle from his apartment that contained a powerful anesthetic.

That same year, he is accused of raping a 19-year-old girl who went to the hospital the day before she was scheduled to have her gall bladder removed.

She said Cheng unexpectedly injected her with a substance that made her fall asleep and 'when she woke up [the] doctor was no longer in [the] room'.

She she was experiencing 'extreme pain to [her] lower abdomen.'

She and her mother both feared she could have been sexually assaulted, but she told social workers specializing in sexual assault she did not know what had happened while she was unconscious.

She told hospital authorities, and did not accuse him of rape, but medical staff took the allegation seriously: checking surveillance camera footage and key card access, and staged a line-up in the hospital where she identified Cheng.

Nicholas Liakas, the teenager's attorney, said the investigation into the incident ground to a halt, and he has since filed a civil suit against the hospital.

Nicholas Liakas, representing the 19-year-old accuser, is suing the hospital for failing to report the June 2021 attack to the police

'That investigation, if you want to call it, hit a dead end,' he told NBC 4 News.

He told the channel the hospital 'conspired to cover up her assault by failing to tell her what had happened, failing to test or treat her for the illegal and dangerous injection of drugs she had been given, and refusing to call the police.'

New York-Presbyterian would not comment on the 19-year-old's allegations, but expressed outrage at his alleged behavior.

'The crimes committed by this individual are heinous, despicable, and a fundamental betrayal of our mission and our patients' trust. We are appalled and deeply saddened by what these victims and their families have endured,' the statement read.

The hospital said Cheng was fired six months ago, after New York-Presbyterian learned of the criminal rape indictment.

'In December 2022, as soon as the District Attorney made us aware of allegations of sexual abuse against this individual, he was immediately placed off duty, banned from hospital property, and terminated,' the hospital said.

'We have been fully cooperating with the Queens District Attorney's office, the NYPD, and the NYS Department of Health.'

Cheng's attorney, Jeffrey Einhorn, said on Monday it was 'too early' to comment on the case.

Cheng pleaded not guilty, and is being held on Rikers Island.
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's sister has been accused of acting as the secret ringleader of an 'activist' group that slammed her brother's sexual harassment accusers online.

Madeline Cuomo, an attorney and Andrew Cuomo's younger sister, 'steered' the activist group We Decide New York (WDNY) 'to prop up her brother and hound his accusers ever more aggressively' according to a New York Times report on Monday.

In September 2022, when Andrew Cuomo's former aide Charlotte Bennett sued him over sexual harassment allegations, Madeline Cuomo fired off text messages to leaders of the group, the Times reported, citing interviews with current WDNY leaders and a trove of thousands of messages provided to the outlet.

'Good Morning Just spoke and he thinks a distraction could be helpful today,' she wrote, appearing to allude to her brother, who denies any involvement with the activist group.

Madeline Cuomo encouraged the activists to post 'bimbo photos' of Bennett from her Instagram, showing 'Charlotte In her sex kitten straddle' and possibly contrasting them with more 'austere, professional' snaps of loyal Cuomo aides.

Madeline Cuomo (left), an attorney and sister of Andrew Cuomo (right), 'steered' the activist group We Decide New York (WDNY) 'to prop up her brother and hound his accusers'

One of WDNY's leaders Anna Vavare shared this sultry photo on Twitter showing Bennett dancing in lingerie, after she filed a lawsuit accusing Andrew Cuomo of harassment

Vavare added the menacing note 'Your life will be dissected like a frog in a HS science class'

'No respectable woman would EVER pose like that,' wrote Madeline Cuomo, adding: 'Bimbo photos.' 'Really despicable.' 'Unsophisticated girls.'

Hours later, one of WDNY's leaders Anna Vavare shared a sultry photo on Twitter showing Bennett dancing in lingerie, adding the menacing note 'Your life will be dissected like a frog in a HS science class.'

In a statement to DailyMail.com on Monday night, Madeline Cuomo acknowledged her contacts with WDNY, but insisted that her brother Andrew Cuomo had no role in her actions.

'I was in contact with several of these people informally who wanted to disseminate the truth that wasnt being pursued by the mainstream media. I supported and encouraged their efforts to get to the truth,' said Madeline Cuomo.

'To be clear: I acted on my own with the people of WDNY and without my brother's involvement in any way,' she said.

'To the extent I invoked his name, it was so that the group felt their efforts were appreciated, but it was not at my brother's direction or with his knowledge,' added Madeline Cuomo.

Andrew Cuomo's spokesman Rich Azzopardi told DailyMail.com: 'There are many New Yorkers who support Governor Cuomo, believe he was railroaded, that the justice system was fundamentally corrupted, and that the credibility of the witnesses was ignored.

'The governor does not personally have nor does he follow social media accounts, and he was not directly or indirectly involved in these online efforts  when he's had something to say, he has not held back from doing so publicly.

'He does appreciate his supporters and does believe when the facts are fully revealed, the injustice will be undeniable.'

According to the Times report, the incident with Bennett was far from an isolated incident, and Madeline Cuomo had extensive contact with Vavare and Sandy Behan, the founding president of WDNY.

In February 2021, Charlotte Bennett became the second woman to come forward with accusations against Andrew Cuomo, playing a critical role in his downfall

Made up almost entirely of women who were inspired by Andrew Cuomo's COVID-19 response, the group was founded in the spring of 2021 as the governor faced mounting criticism over New York's nursing home deaths in the pandemic, as well as a growing number of sexual harassment allegations.

WDNY members, who were mostly in their 50s, 60s, and 70s, took to social media to defend the elected Democrat from the growing criticism and investigations.

According to the Times, Madeline Cuomo connected with the group within weeks of its creation, and began to urge members into ever-harsher attacks on the governor's critics.

Behan told the Times that Madeline Cuomo insisted that her role be kept secret, urging WDNY members to delete her messages and falsely claim to reporters that they had no contact with the Cuomo family.

''Madeline was demanding. She wanted to make sure we toed the line, and we did,' said Behan.

'This was a means for her to get information out to benefit her brother. She didn't want to be my girlfriend  she was using us.'

The Cuomo family is seen together in 1982 as Mario M. Cuomo is sworn in as governor. Andrew Cuomo is seen second from right

Madeline Cuomo's relationship with the WDNY group disintegrated by late last year, following tension over her increasing demands and a proposed documentary project, according to the Times.

Vavare unexpectedly resigned from the group's leadership team, citing exhaustion and a dispute over social media account passwords.

Behan said Madeline Cuomo blamed her for Vavare's departure, and the group fell apart over recriminations over the failed documentary project.

'We were victims in this thing. We were derailed by Madeline,' Behan told the Times.

In February 2021, Charlotte Bennett became the second woman to come forward with accusations against Andrew Cuomo, playing a critical role in his political downfall.

Cuomo resigned that August after New York Attorney General Letitia James released the results of her investigation concluding Cuomo had sexually harassed at least 11 women, including Bennett.

Cuomo has denied those allegations, and criticized the attorney general's report as a politically motivated hatchet job.

'I never touched anyone inappropriately,' he insisted at the time.

He has hinted at a political comeback, and speculation has swirled that he could seek high office in the future, though his plans remain closely guarded.
An 'extremely cruel' driver has copped a hefty fine after he was caught crushing a nest of native baby birds under his ute.

The man behind the wheel of a large grey ute was filmed reversing over a nest of several masked lapwing plover chicks at a Brisbane worksite in November.

He is seen twisting the wheel back and forth as the parents of the chicks squawk loudly in attempts to stop the unwarranted attack.

'Oh that's disgusting,' the woman who captured the footage is heard saying.

Wildlife authorities fined the man $718 for his 'sickening' actions.

An 'extremely cruel' driver has copped a hefty fine after he was caught crushing a nest of native baby birds under his ute on a Brisbane worksite

He told investigators he wanted to 'move the birds on' for 'development reasons'.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service's Warren Christensen described the man's actions as 'disturbing' and 'extremely cruel'.

'As he is driving over the nest, the parents of the chicks were squawking and flapping their wings in a futile attempt to prevent it,' he said.

'That is not the way our native wildlife should be treated, and it is believed the plovers would have moved on from the area in a matter of weeks.'

Wildlife officer Rachel Baker said an investigation was launched after a member of the public provided footage of a vehicle driving over a nest of chicks.

'During the investigation, we received troubling video from a member of the public that allegedly showed the man in his vehicle deliberately targeting the nest,' Ms Baker said.

'Under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, it is an offence to take, or kill a protected animal unless the person is authorised under the act.

'The maximum court-imposed penalty for breaching the act is $14,375.'

Emma Lagoon, from the RSPCA, said the man's actions were 'callous' and 'completely unacceptable'.

'With spring just around the corner, more birds and their young will be out and about so it's important to be respectful of their breeding cycle. There is also a legal requirement by developers under the Act that a fauna spotter/catcher is present when land clearing is undertaken as part of planned works,' she said.

'We would like to see an increase in education and awareness for developers to ensure they understand their obligations under legislation and the potential consequences for killing wildlife.

'This case is simply disgusting and heartbreaking. You can clearly see in the footage how distressed the parent birds are as their young are crushed by this developer. This kind of behaviour will not be tolerated by the community.'

The man is seen twisting his wheel back and forth over the nest as the parents of the chicks squawk loudly in attempts to stop the attack (pictured, a masked lapwing plover chick)

Wildlife officer Rachel Baker said an investigation was launched after a member of the public provided footage of a vehicle driving over a nest of chicks

It comes as a rise in animal cruelty cases is blamed on the cost of living crisis, with some owners found to be depriving their pets of basic needs.

New data from the RSPCA in Western Australia has revealed an 11 per cent increase in animal cruelty reports in the past year.

The animal rights body received 7,126 animal cruelty reports in the 2022-23 financial year, an average of more than 19 a day.

There were 1507 reports involving animals who had not been given enough food or water reported in the past 12 months, a 22 per cent increase.

There was also a 32 per cent spike in abandonments, with 1173 reports of an abandoned animal.
The woman who hosted a poisonous lunch where four people fell ill - three of whom have since died - was reportedly heard 'wailing' after cops visited the home at the weekend.

Erin Patterson, 48, invited her former in-laws, Gail and Don Patterson, along with Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, and her husband Ian over for lunch at her Leongatha home, in Victoria's Gippsland region, on July 29.

All four guests fell ill after eating the meal and went to hospital the next day. The Pattersons, both 70, and Ms Wilkinson, 66, have since died, while Mr Wilkinson, 68, is fighting for life in hospital.

Ms Patteron, who cooked the meal, has been identified as a person of interest in the investigation. Seven News reported that she was heard 'wailing' after police visited the property last night.

She has denied any wrongdoing and no charges are expected to be laid at this stage of the investigation.

Meanwhile, Daily Mail Australia can reveal chilling real estate ad photos from Ms Patterson's Leongatha home when it last sold, which show wild mushrooms growing on the rural property.

Erin Patterson (pictured), who is at the centre of the suspected poisoning of four people, broke down in tears and denied any wrongdoing when she was confronted by the media on Monday

The property where the deadly lunch occurred at Leongatha, in Victoria's Gippsland region

Pictures taken when the previous owner listed the 2.5 acre property on the market four years ago show a cluster of yellowish fungi sprouting around the base of a large tree. It's not suggested these were the mushrooms that were eaten.

In the advertisement, the real estate described the property and its surrounds as a 'nature wonderland'.

'It is a private, no-through setting, with lots of stately Eucalypts, Black Wattles, beautiful Blackwoods and more, including abundant bird life,' the ad reads.

'A permanent small creek meanders through the block. There's also spring water on the property.

'So if your dream is to build in a private, beautiful natural setting and to be at one with mother nature, here is the chance.'

Daily Mail Australia understands that Ms Patterson's estranged husband, Simon, is living at a different address.

Police said the former couple's relationship was 'amicable' before his parents death.

Homicide detectives searched the property on Saturday as part of their investigation, seizing a number of items, including a dehydrator believed to have been used to prepare the mushrooms.

Four police officers were seen returning to Ms Patterson's home on Sunday night to question her.

Real estate photos show mushrooms growing at the base of a tree at Ms Patterson's Leongatha property

The 48-year-old could be heard wailing loudly inside the house before the police left, according to 7News.

After being questioned, Ms Patterson was released pending further inquiries.

The following day, Victoria Police Detective Inspector for the Homicide Squad, Dean Thomas, confirmed Ms Patterson was being treated as a person of interest.

'She hasn't presented with any symptoms but we have to keep an open mind in relation to this, that it could be very innocent but again we just don't know at this point,' he said.

Mr Thomas said while the homicide squad was investigating the trio's deaths, it did not mean they were being treated as suspicious at this stage - only 'unexplained'.

Speaking to reporters outside her home on Monday, an emotional Ms Patterson said she was devastated by what had happened and denied any wrongdoing.

'I didn't do anything,' she said, wiping away tears.

'I loved them and I'm devastated that they're gone.'

She then mistakenly confused Don with Ian by expressing her 'hope' that 'Don pulls through'.

Ms Patterson said all four guests were wonderful people and had always treated her with kindness.

'Gail was like the mum I didn't have because my mum passed away four years ago and Gail had never been anything but good and kind to me,' she continued.

'Ian and Heather were some of the best people I'd ever met. They never did anything wrong to me.'

Gail and Don Patterson died after eating the mushrooms. It's understood that Erin was previously married to their son, Simon

Ian Wilkinson and Heather Wilkinson (both pictured) became severely ill after they ate wild mushrooms. Mrs Wilkinson died on Friday while her husband remains in a critical condition in hospital

However, when asked where the mushrooms came from, who picked them or what meal she made for her guests, Ms Patterson did not answer.

Detectives believe death cap mushrooms are the variety responsible for the poisonings and are investigating how they came to be in the meal.

Ms Patterson's two children were also present at the lunch but Mr Thomas said they ate different meals to the adults and did not experience any illness.

When the others fell sick, Ms Patterson and the children went to hospital as a precaution.

Meanwhile, Mr Wilkinson's four children are gathered by his bedside hoping he makes a full recovery as he awaits a liver transplant while tributes flow for their three deceased loved ones.

In a joint-statement, the Wilkinson and Patterson families said the trio were longstanding members of the local community and they were still coming to terms with their loss.

'The past week has been a time of shock and grief for us all,' they told the South Gippsland Sentinel-Times on Sunday.

Police officers were seen going into Ms Patterson's home (pictured) on Sunday night

The property, which was purchased in 2019, sits on around 2.5 acres of land, described as a 'nature wonderland'

Flowers have been left at the gate of the property as the community comes to terms with the tragedy

'They were parents, grandparents, siblings, children, and pillars of faith within our community.'

'Their love, steadfast faith, and selfless service have left an indelible mark on our families, the Korumburra Baptist Church, the local community, and indeed, people around the globe.'

'Our families will assist appropriate authorities in any way we can and respect any necessary processes amidst this tragedy.'

Deadly mushrooms are common in both metropolitan and regional Victoria, with the state known to have two potentially fatal species - Death Cap and Yellow-staining.

In April, the Victorian Department of Health issued a warning to residents to be wary of wild mushrooms.

'Death Cap mushrooms and Yellow-staining mushrooms grow in Victoria during autumn,' the department wrote on social media.

'Consuming a Death Cap mushroom may result in death. There is no home test available to tell safe, edible mushrooms from poisonous ones.

'To avoid poisoning, only eat mushrooms purchased from a supermarket, greengrocer or other reputable source.'
The Australian sisters behind luxury fashion brand Zimmermann have reportedly sold the company for more than $1billion.

Nicky and Simone Zimmermann sold their business to US equity firm Advent International on Tuesday for an undisclosed amount.

Advent International had last month reportedly put forward an offer of $1.75billion for the company which has been worn by A-listers such as Beyonce, Taylor Swift and Kendall Jenner.

Nicky (right) and Simone Zimmermann (left) sold their business to US equity firm Advent International on Tuesday for an undisclosed amount believed to be upwards of $1billion

Advent International had last month reportedly put forward an offer of $1.75billion for the company which has been worn by A-listers such as Beyonce, Taylor Swift and Kendall Jenner (pictured Beyonce wearing Zimmermann)

Zimmermann has 58 stores around the world after launching in 1991 in Sydney.

Nicky began her career by designing dresses in her parent's garage and selling them at Paddington markets.

'While working the markets, I had two pages of editorial in Australian Vogue. That was a significant moment because I suddenly started to receive orders from boutiques around Australia and I could feel some real momentum,' she said.

'Soon after I opened a small store in Darlinghurst.'

Her sister joined the business in 1991 which is now sold in stores in the UK, Europe, US and China.

Zimmermann recently opened a second design studio in Paris.

Dresses by the high-end brand range from $495 to $3,500.

A 70 per cent stake in the business had already been snapped up by Milan-based investment fund, Style Capital, in 2020 for $408million.

Tuesday's sale leaves the Zimmermann duo and Style Capital with significant minority shareholdings.

The founders and the Zimmermann management team will continue to drive the brand's future growth.

The Zimmermann sisters launched their designer brand in 1991

'There are so many exciting opportunities for Zimmermann ahead and Simone and I feel extremely fortunate to be going on this journey with our team, one that started nearly 30 years ago at Paddington Markets in Sydney,' Nicky said.

Advent revealed plans to build on the brand in the Middle East and Asia.

'Zimmermann presents a rare and exciting opportunity to acquire a fast-growing iconic luxury fashion brand with significant potential for further expansion,' Advent. managing partner Ranjan Sen said.

'The Zimmermann team have successfully created a distinctive and desirable global luxury brand, which has built a loyal customer base around the world.'
A 'self-governed' citizen has clashed with a police officer after he was asked to produce his licence and undergo a random breath test on the side of the road.

NSW man Glen Short filmed his tense interaction with a Wollongong Highway Patrol Officer on the side of a busy highway on Monday.

'Interesting morning armed foreign agent trying to establish contract with a self governed man,' he captioned the video which was later uploaded to Facebook.

The officer is seen holding a breathalyzer device as he informs Mr Short he is being recorded on his bodycam footage, which the driver complies with.

However, the conversation takes a dramatic turn when the 'self-governed' citizen accuses the cop of accessing his personal details without his consent.

NSW man Glen Short (pictured) filmed his tense interaction with a Wollongong Highway Patrol Officer while parked on the side of a busy highway on Monday

'Do you agree that I've said to you that is a commercial contract with roads and maritime services, and that is a separate corporation to NSW Police force, which is a different ABN  so you didn't have consent by me, who I am the beneficiary and the executor of that legal fiction name,' Mr Short tells the officer.

'You didn't have the consent to even look up the details of that commercial contract to the RMS because you're a separate corporation. I do study law.'

The officer tells Mr Short that as he is driving a motor vehicle in NSW, he is required to undergo random breath tests and hand over his licence.

'I'm not driving a motor vehicle, I'm travelling,' Mr Short fires back.

'That would be if you were conducting commerce, I'm actually travelling.'

The officer warns Mr Short that if he didn't comply, he would be arrested.

In turn, Mr Short argues he couldn't be arrested as 'the state of New South Wales is registered to Washington DC on the security exchange commission' and required an ASIC form 'to be able to conduct business lawfully in this country'.

'Yeah, no, I mentioned to you before. I don't know what you're talking about,' the increasingly exasperated highway officer replies.

He then tells Mr Short he is under arrest and moves to open the driver-side door.

'You are trespassing on my private property,' the driver tells the officer.

'You do not have consent to enter my private property.'

Mr Short quickly winds his window up as the officer grabs hold of the glass.

'I'm now placing you under penalty of perjury. You must provide the material evidence that you are not a business,' he repeats at the officer.

'I know the law very well. I study contract law.'

Mr Short (pictured) argued he couldn't be arrested as 'the state of New South Wales is registered to Washington DC on the security exchange commission' and required an ASIC form 'to be able to conduct business lawfully in this country'

The highway patrol officer tells Mr Short that because he is driving a motor vehicle in NSW, he is required to undergo random breath tests and hand over his licence

Mr Short claims he is under the 'global federal postal courts' jurisdiction and accuses the officer of identifying him by a 'legal fiction name'.

He says he is a student of Mark-Kishon Christopher, the self-proclaimed chief global postal court plenipotentiary judge.

The officer enters information on a device as Mr Short continued to rant before bizarrely claiming he had 'beaten' the chief magistrate in Sydney.

'You'll be next on the litigation. You'll be held liable,' he tells the officer, before the footage suddenly cuts out.

'Here is the thing... I wouldn't have posted this video if he had not of tried to break the window of my private property,' Mr Short later wrote on Facebook.

'Who gives anyone the right to think they are above anyone else unless they are found guilty in a court of lawful jurisdiction of a serious crime?

'It's very lucky it didn't shatter. Absolutely not on.'

A NSW Police spokesperson has confirmed that no charges have been issued, but the traffic stop was still under investigation.
A popular beachside bar that refused entry to a mother of two because of her back tattoos has admitted it made a mistake.

Katie Hally was at Burleigh Pavilion on the Gold Coast to celebrate a friend's 45th birthday on Saturday when she was stopped by security.

Ms Hally said she was making her way inside the venue when the doorman told her she was not allowed in due to the bar's tattoo policy.

In a statement, the Burleigh Pavilion said it had contacted Ms Hally to 'apologise for [her] being refused entry to the venue over the weekend'.

'Management became aware of the incident after media reports,' the statement read.

'[We] acknowledge that in accordance with policy, Katie should have been welcomed into the venue.

'Burleigh Pavilion's house policy is in place to create a comfortable and enjoyable environment for our guests.'

The Burleigh Pavilion (pictured), a beachfront bar on the Gold Coast, has apologised to a mother of two for denying her entry because of tattoos on the back of her neck

The Queensland mum took to social media on Sunday to vent her frustration at the situation, labelling it 'a joke'.

'I got denied entry to the Burleigh Pavilion yesterday afternoon,' Ms Hally wrote.

'Apparently my "neck" tattoos from 2010 that mean family, love and happiness are too offensive or intimidating in 2023.'

The Burleigh Pavilion's tattoo policy states patrons with tattoos are allowed to enter unless if they are 'intimidating, aggressive, or offensive'.

Ms Hally told the Gold Coast Bulletin she disagreed with that description, claiming instead that the tattoos honoured milestones in her life.

'I got the first one - happiness - almost thirteen years ago after I got divorced,' she said.

Katie Hally said the three tattoos in Chinese lettering on her upper back (pictured) translated to 'family, love, and happiness' and relate to different times in her life

Katie Hally (pictured) said the experience was humiliating and insulting

'The second one, "family", I got done with my sister, and the third one I did last, "love", in the hopes I could find love again.

'I understand why the policy exists, but the manager could have used her discretion.

'She could have been more caring and assess people on a case-by-case basis but they didn't.'

Ms Hally did return after changing into the one collared shirt she owned, but described the experience was 'insulting'.

'I would have loved to have not returned,' Ms Hally said. 'It was just so disappointing and insulting. I'm a law-abiding citizen.

The refusal by the popular venue is not the first to make headlines this year after Rachel Ubaldino was denied entry in January.

Ms Ubaldino said she was left 'shocked and embarrassed' after she was denied entry to the Burleigh Pavilions because of a neck tattoo.

British bodybuilder and actor Martyn 'The Nightmare' Ford was denied entry to the same bar in June while in the country filming.

The Mortal Kombat 2 star said he was turned away by the venue because of sleeve tattoos on both of the 41-year-old's arms.

Last year, local Maori woman Jadene Kini was told her moko kauae was against the dress code, despite her trying to explain its cultural significance.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Burleigh Pavilion for comment.
Two people have been killed and 900,000 left without power after storms hit a swathe of the Eastern Seaboard.

In Westminster, just outside Baltimore, 33 adults and 14 children were trapped by power cables which were downed in fierce winds. Rescue personnel were shutting the live cables off on Monday night and freeing the entangled 34 cars caught up in the web of wires.

Footage shared on social media showed scenes of devastation from Atlanta, Georgia up to New York.

Over 900,000 people were without power on Monday evening, with Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania the hardest-hit states.

Flights across the entire eastern United States were delayed or cancelled, with some of the busiest airports in the country affected - among them Atlanta, Philadelphia, Charlotte, JFK and Newark.

By the end of Monday, almost 8,500 flights within, into or out of the United States had been delayed, and 1,735 canceled.

A 15-year-old boy was killed in Anderson, South Carolina, when a tree fell onto the garage at his grandparents' house.

Sheriffs said that 34 vehicles were trapped by the downed cables, and electricians were working to turn the power off so people could be freed

A 15-year-old boy was killed on Monday when a tree crashed down on top of him in Anderson, South Carolina

Emergency services in the parking lot of Florence Industrial Park in Alabama where a 28-year-old man was fatally struck by lightning

Harford County, Maryland emergency management posts photos of storm damage on August 7, 2023

Evan Kinley, a student at TL Hanna High School, was at the entrance to the garage at 5pm on Monday when a large tree uprooted, fell and landed on him.

A second person was killed on Monday when he was struck by lightning, in Alabama.

The victim, a 28-year-old man, was killed in the parking lot of Florence Industrial Park, where he worked.

Near Baltimore, rescue workers on Monday night were trying to free those caught up in the freak accident.

More than 30 poles were knocked over, trapping the cars. There are no fatalities reported.

Those trapped in their vehicles included John Hockman and his wife, who told CBS Baltimore they narrowly missed being struck by a fallen power pole.

'We saw it coming down, so I asked my wife to back up, and as it was coming down, two little pylons almost came down on us,' he said.

Powerlines were wrapped around their car and they were waiting for crews to safely evacuate them.

'We're trapped between these lines right here,' Hockman said.

'That one goes right here all the way up this window.'

James DeWees, Carroll County sheriff, said emergency crews were working to free those trapped.

'They were stuck there because the power lines came down and they couldn't get out of their vehicles,' he said.

'We have remained in constant communication with those in the vehicles and they are safe.'

A Baltimore electric spokesman said the incident was a freak accident

More than 30 power cables were downed in Westminster, near Baltimore, on Monday night - trapping cars

Power lines came crashing down in Westminster, outside Baltimore, Maryland

Drivers were trapped in their cars in Westminster, near Baltimore, as power cables were downed in strong winds

THE STORM HAS

ARRIVED 



Maryland shows live cam of Tornado Storm that has moved through#WeatherForecast #TornadoWarning pic.twitter.com/4i2ZikmFBO  CBKNEWS (@CBKNEWS121) August 8, 2023

Those stuck inside their cars were being provided with water, and were bussed to a local school after they were freed.

Their vehicles will be removed from the wires in daylight.

'It will remain closed for tomorrow's morning traffic and then state highway will update us, as well as BGE, as they start working at that location,' said DeWees.

An ominous black cloud looms over New York during the storm on Monday

'That is the absolute route to get people in and out of this county to get people up north to Pennsylvania and into Westminster.'

Tornado warnings were in place for some areas, but DeWees said he was unable to confirm if a tornado had downed the poles.

'One thing people will ask, was that a tornado that came through?' We aren't experts. We can't tell you that.

'But it sure looks like one went through. That's for someone else to determine.'

He said they had increased police patrols in areas where there was no power.

'I will warn you, don't come here and do anything stupid,' DeWees said.

'We will have an awful lot of police officers out and this is no place to play. This is no place to come out and act foolish.'

A spokesman for Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) said the company will be assessing the damage to make repairs.

'This is catastrophic damage,' said Nick Alexopulos.

'This is damage that if you worked in electric distribution at BGE for your entire career, you may see it once.'

Shrewsbury Volunteer Fire Company posts photos of storm damage in Shrewsbury, Pennsylvania on August 7, 2023

Uprooted trees are pictured in South Carolina on Monday

Here is a short video of a tornado that hit the West Leyden and Turin, NY area this evening. You can see the debris being thrown in the air. No official NWS survey has been done yet on this storm, but one will likely happen tomorrow.



Video from Erica Sawyer. #NYwx #NNYwx pic.twitter.com/U03CdONbIv  Kris Hudson (@KrisHudson_WX) August 8, 2023

North Carolina and Pennsylvania were the worst affected by power outages on Monday

Earlier on Monday, at 3.30pm EST, the National Weather Service announced five Tornado Watches and two Severe Thunderstorm Watches.

The storm system moved east after walloping the Ohio River Valley on Sunday, bringing high winds and large hail, in addition to downpours.

An area stretching from northern Alabama to southern New York, which includes Atlanta, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Binghamton, New York City, was placed under an enhanced risk for severe storming.

'In the areas of thunderstorms, severe weather and flash flooding will be a threat,' said the National Weather Service.

Atlanta declared a ground stop at 5:04pm, and said it expects the order to remain in place until 7pm.

Baltimore, Charlotte, DC, Newark, JFK, LaGuardia, and Philadelphia all followed suit.

By 6:50pm, the storm was above Philadelphia.

Most of the restrictions were lifted around 7:30 or 8pm.

Passengers were being advised to check with their airlines.

Storm prediction map for the US on Monday, August 8. Severe weather is expected along the eastern seaboard

Over the weekend, there were about 280 severe storm reports from across the country, including eight tornadoes.

Across the central plains and Mississippi River Valley, there were another nearly 100 reports of strong winds, as well as reports of large hail.

As the east of the country braces for summer storms, southern states from Florida to California continue to contend with dangerous heat this week.

'Numerous record high temperatures and record high morning minimum temperatures are likely over the next few days with no end in sight going into the later part of this week,' said the National Weather Service.

Heat warnings and advisories have been in effect across the southern parts of the US for several weeks, and will likely remain in effect 'for the foreseeable future as there is no relief in sight to the heat for the remainder of the week across these areas,' the weather service said.

Record-breaking heatwaves have descended on states ranging from Louisiana and Mississippi to Nevada, Texas and California this summer.

Austin, Texas, hit 105 degrees on Sunday, marking the 30th consecutive day with a high temperature of over 100 degrees.

Albuquerque, New Mexico, hit a high of 102 on Saturday - the hottest August day ever in the city.

In New Orleans, Louisiana, city officials have warned that extremely high humidity levels will mean temperatures will 'feel like' 115 degrees or higher.

Cooling centers were open for residents without adequate means to keep out of the heat.

'The forecasted excessive heat warning for Monday, August 7 will mark the 17th excessive heat warning issued for 2023 so far, beating the previous record of five warnings in 2021,' city officials said.

Phoenix, Arizona, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, have seen some of their hottest ever days on record in the last week, with the heat wave expected to continue through the next few days

Residents of Texas, Louisiana, Arizona, New Mexico and California have been finding ways to cool down amid record high temperatures this summer

In the Dallas-Forth Worth area of Texas, the scalding heatwave is expected to last another week, at least.

Like Austin, Dallas has experienced temperatures of 100 degrees of hotter every day since July 24.

The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning across all of Northern Texas through 8pm on Monday. Heat index values are expected to peak around 114 degrees.

A warm front is then expected to roll in on Tuesday, increasing temperatures again into midweek.

The electrical grid operator for most of the state, ERCOT, issued a 'weather watch' for Sunday and Monday 'due to forecasted higher temps, higher electrical demand and the potential for lower reserves.'

According to grid data, power demand has hit all-time highs multiple days during this heatwave - peaking last Tuesday at 83,593 megawatts.
A monster German Shepherd dog named Syko has been mauling other smaller pups outside his owner's quaint bookstore on the Upper East Side - including one that had to be put down.

Syko is a two-year-old 98-pound dog owned by Lynda Hudson, 58, who opened La Librairie des Enfants, a French bookstore, in New York in 2016.

But the vicious dog has been causing havoc and terrorizing passing pups on the sidewalk near the shop on Manhattan's East 92nd Street - leaving owners with immense vet bills and seriously injured pets.

A poodle named Baby was at least the fourth dog attacked by Syko and its German Shepherd siblings at La Librairie des Enfants in recent months, reports NYTimes.

Personal trainer Akiba Tripp was walking her seven-pound toy poodle Baby on Friday near the bookstore when the owner suddenly opened the door.

Lynda Hudson, 58, opened La Librairie des Enfants in 2016. She owns the vicious German Shepherd dog that has been mauling other animals

Baby, the two-year-old toy poodle that had her spine mauled by the dog. She was euthanized following the attack

Hudson walked out, and so did Syko. He grabbed the poodle 'within his mouth,' sank his teeth into Baby, and broke her spine.

People from neighboring bars ran over and tried to drag the dogs away on the blood-splattered sidewalk. But Baby couldn't move because she was paralyzed from the attack.

Baby was euthanized that evening after being told by vets she was in immense pain. Tripp now wants to file a lawsuit against Hudson, who allegedly offered to adopt and rehabilitate the small dog.

Syko's owner Lynda Hudson told the New York Times: 'There is really something wrong with Syko, and I don't know what to do.

'I tried everything with this dog, sir. I tried behaviorists, and training. He's great with people but he does not like other dogs.'

The attack on Baby was not the only one in recent months.

Psychologist Julia Schafer, another Upper East Side local, said she was walking out of her building with her small collie mix, Tarsila, on May 3 when disaster struck.

A note on the door of the store said that they would be closed on Monday following the incident

Personal trainer Akiba Tripp was walking her seven-pound toy poodle Baby on Friday near the bookstore when the owner suddenly opened the door

Syko is a two-year-old 98-pound dog owned by Lynda Hudson, 58, who opened La Librairie des Enfants, a French bookstore, in New York in 2016

Her pup was grabbed and mauled by Syko, whose owner agreed to pay the $850 vet bill. Schafer said: 'The white one bit her and held onto her.'

Just four days before that attack, Syko and another of Hudson's dogs attacked two puppies - Chloe and Muppet.

Chloe is a Cavachon and Muppet is a Maltipoo.

Chloe's owner, Laurie Davis, told the Times: 'Next thing I know this big white dog had my dog in her mouth. I'm screaming at the top of my lungs.'

Another dog bit Muppet's face, while Chloe needed surgery for the injuries.

Lynda Hudson promised to keep Syko and her other four German shepherds permanently at her house in Westchester County

Psychologist Julia Schafer, another Upper East Side local, said that one day she was walking out of her building with her small collie mix Tarsila on May 3 when disaster struck

Her vet bill came out to $6,000, which Hudson said she would pay. Davis has since sued Hudson small claims court.

Lynda Hudson promised to keep Syko and her other four German shepherds permanently at her house in Westchester County.

The dogs will no longer be at the store, she said.
A Qantas flight from Adelaide to Canberra was forced to turn back after a 'concerning smell' was detected onboard.

Flight QF1974 departing from Adelaide at 11.20am on Monday and scheduled to land in Canberra at 1.25pm never made it to its destination after turning back mid-air.

Cabin staff on board the aircraft smelt fumes about 10 minutes into the flight and alerted the cockpit with the pilot then contacting the flight tower to request an immediate landing back in Adelaide.

Flight QF1974 left Adelaide and was in the air for 10 minutes before detecting fumes in the cabin and circling back to land at Adelaide Airport (pictured)

A Qantas flight from Adelaide to Canberra turned around after fumes spread through the cabin (stock image)

The aircraft landed safely back at Adelaide Airport and there were no reported injuries despite fire crews being on hand as a safety precaution.

The aircraft is now undergoing thorough checks.

Some passengers also reported smelling the fumes.

A Qantas spokesperson said all passengers were accommodated on the next available flight to Canberra and engineers were assessing the plane.
A new poll on the referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament has continued the run of bad news for the Yes side, with only one state forecast to back the proposal.

The Essential poll followed the Resolve, Newspoll and Redbridge polls in showing the No side headed for a decisive victory and handing Anthony Albanese a major loss.

The one glimmer of hope in the poll for Guardian Australia, is that the Yes side is leading 47 per cent to 46 in Victoria, with 7 per cent unsure which way they will vote.

For the referendum to succeed it not only must get the majority of the vote nationally but also in at least four of the six states.

Nationally, the No side is leading with 47 per cent, with the Yes side on 43 per cent, while 10 per cent of people have still not made up their mind.

A new poll on the referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament shows only one state still backing the proposal. Anthony Albanese, a major backer of the change, is pictured beside his partner Jodie Haydon at last weekend's Garma Festival in the Northern Territory

In the other mainland states No leads in Queensland by 51 to 40, in Western Australia by 48 to 39, by 47 to 41 in NSW and by 48 to 45 in South Australia.

The survey was the first time Essential Poll showed the No side ahead of Yes for the Voice referendum.

READ MORE: RedBridge survey shows Yes campaign is almost 'unsalvageable' as Anthony Albanese warns referendum is last chance to recognise Aboriginal Australians The hope for a Yes victory in the upcoming referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament has been been dealt a massive blow in the latest polling figures. A new RedBridge survey found the No campaign with a huge 56-44 lead over the Yes side, a 12-point lead that makes the Yes case 'almost unsalvageable'. Advertisement

It also dug down deeper by asking people how rusted on they were to how they planned to vote, leading to even more bad news for proponents of the Voice.

While 38 per cent described themselves as being 'hard No', far fewer, 31 per cent, said they were 'hard Yes'.

On the other end of the scale, 12 per cent described themselves at being a 'soft Yes', meaning they were open to changing their mind, but just 9 per cent said they were a 'soft No'.

Demographic analysis showed women and adults under 35 both had a majority in favour of the Voice proposal.

The poll found that 47 per cent of women are in favour of the Voice, with 40 per cent opposed, while among those aged 18 to 34 the lead for Yes is 62 to 26.

Among men 55 per cent plan to vote No, and of those over 55, 65 per cent said they will vote No.

The No vote is also high among Coalition, minor party and independent voters.

The 1,150 people polled were also asked to give reasons they have for opposing the referendum, with 58 per cent of No voters saying 'It won't make a real difference to the lives of ordinary Indigenous Australians.'

The second most popular reason was 'It will give Indigenous Australians rights and privileges that other Australians don't have', which was cited by 42 per cent.

The Essential Poll also carried out more in-depth research with focus groups to find out the core beliefs behind their views.

Voice supporters said it was vital to listen to Indigenous people, said it would be the right thing to do and saw it as a step towards reconciliation.

Those planning to vote No said it would lead to racial division and that it would either make no difference or the Voice would have too much power.

A Greens voter in a regional area said the referendum 'isn't just recognition of Aboriginal people in the constitution, the government is asking us to vote Yes to a taxpayer-funded lobby group for Aboriginal people on every issue'.

Others complained that there was too little information on what exact powers the Voice would have.

The Essential poll followed the Resolve, Newspoll and Redbridge polls in showing the No side headed for a decisive victory and handing Anthony Albanese a major loss. Members of the Yolngu people are pictured performing the Bunggul traditional dance at the Garma Festival

Nationally, the No side is leading with 47 per cent, with the Yes side on 43 per cent, while 10 per cent of people have still not made up their mind on how they'll vote. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (in white shirt) is pictured at the Garma Festival last weekend

Another person planning to vote No said he thought a win for the Yes side would eventually mean 'we will have to pay to go to the beach (and) national parks' although that was not proposed.

In further bad news for the federal government, just 17 per cent of people thought it was doing a good job on the Voice and just 13 per cent approved of how the government was handling climate change.

Even worse, just 9 per cent supported its efforts on the cost of living, while a mere 8 per cent back the government's handling of housing affordability.

Just over half of those polled (52 per cent) said they were 'financially struggling' or in 'serious difficulty', while 48 per cent said they were 'comfortable' or 'secure' financially.
It looks like Harry Potter's room under the stairs

It only costs $45 per week, or $180 per month

Desperate renters had the option of living like Harry Potter after a landlord tried renting out a closet which resembled the room under Uncle Vernon's stairs.

A Gold Coast rental popped up online for the low price of $180 per month, or $45 per week, with one string attached: it's a converted closet.

The audacity of the listing was met with mixed responses, with some renters deeming it opportunistic and others saying it was an acceptable last resort.

Many were quick to point out that it shared some key attributes with Harry Potter's cramped room from the first two movies from J.K. Rowling's titular film franchise.

But whereas Potter's uncle had no trouble cramming his wizarding nephew in a room under the stairs, Australia's National Construction Code may deem it unfit for habitation.

Renters looking to like out a wizarding fantasy had the chance to when a Gold Coast landlord tried renting out their converted walk-in closet (pictured) for $45 per week

The room drew quick comparisons to the malnourished room that Harry Potter lived in during the first two of J.K. Rowling's blockbuster film franchise (pictured)

Photos of the listing showed the small walk-in wardrobe had a single bed, no windows, a clothes rack and plastic set of drawers.

The 'fully furnished' room didn't last long before it was removed from the rental site, but while it remained the owner did their best to make it sound like a steal.

'5G internet and bills are included. Unit is modern clean and tidy, with pool, gym. You will share your bathroom. Off-street parking,' the listing read.

Despite the gym access and speedy internet, the room was torn to pieces by those looking to rent.

'When did Harry Potter move out?,' one asked.

'Is that a prison cell,' another asked.

'It's sad that it has come to this. Vultures feeding on the down and out,' a third added.

The landlord behind the listing tried to combat the criticism, saying that it was 'better than sleeping in the car'.

Others agreed, noting that people can't be too picky with the current state of the rental market.

'It's a dry place for someone with no money,' someone said.

'This would be a refuge for some people and in today's market the rent is very reasonable, although I do believe by law a bedroom has to have a window,' another said.

Shortly after comments started focusing on the rooms suitability to house someone, it was quickly deleted from the website it had been listed on.

According to the National Construction Code, walk-in wardrobes, corridors and hallways are never suitable for housing a tenant for extended periods.

Potter (centre) was a 10-year-old child at the time, before he went to Hogwarts with Hermione Granger (left) and Ron Weasley (right), and the room was barely liveable for him

Australia's National Construction Code requires natural light for a room to be liveable, which the Gold Coast closet did not have (pictured: a suitable rental in Pimpama, Queenland)

The rental crisis is rife across Australia, and Queensland is no exception to the trend.

Vacancy rates on the Gold Coast only just ticked above 1 per cent after a three-year slump across the city.

From December 2020 through to June 2023 the vacancy rate sat at a consistent 1 per cent until just recently relaxing to 1.2 per cent.

A 'healthy' indicator of housing availability is a vacancy rate between 2.6 and 3.5 per cent.

Real Estate Institute of Queensland CEO Antonia Mercorella told Realestate.com that she was 'acutely aware of Queensland's rental crisis'.

Ms Mercorella said educating landlords about what it technically liveable is a top priority of hers.

'We have been calling for greater education around how people can free up rooms in their homes or granny flats and rent them out in a way that is legally compliant,' Ms Mercorella told the website.

'To do so, people need the relevant tools, resources and information to alleviate any fears of breaching laws, impacting insurance or copping capital gains tax.

'While people may be trying to be helpful in rental crisis, it's important to understand that there are certain legal and statutory obligations that must be met in order for a room to be fit for habitation and legally classified as a bedroom including ceiling height, room size and the availability of natural light and ventilation,' she said.
Email to an independent journalist is also revealed

The former judge who led the inquiry into Bruce Lehrmann's criminal trial planned to break his silence on the case at a $189-per-person speech - only to suddenly cancel.

Walter Sofronoff was chairman of a Board of Inquiry which was held to examine the conduct of police and the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold before and after the criminal trial in October last year.

He was due to speak at the Queensland Press Club in Brisbane CBD on August 25 in an address called 'politics, journalism and social media vs the presumption of innocence'.

Tickets were on sale until about 2.30pm on Tuesday, before the Eventbrite page suddenly changed to say the talk was 'cancelled' - with no explanation.

Peter Kelly - the executive director of Three Plus, which ran the event - confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that the ex-judge decided to pull out.

Walter Sofronoff (pictured) led the Board of Inquiry into Mr Lehrmann's trial

Walter Sofronoff's talk was scheduled for August 25, but on Tuesday it was suddenly cancelled

'Mr Sofronoff said, given the circumstances, it wasn't possible for him to participate,' Mr Kelly explained.

He also said the event had been planned since April, not long after Mr Sofronoff was appointed to lead the inquiry.

Daily Mail Australia understands alternative arrangements are being made to give the former judge another opportunity to speak about the fallout from Mr Lehrmann's trial.

The 'circumstances' he referred to likely related to a press conference the ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr delivered on Monday - during which he slammed Mr Sofronoff for leaking his 863-page inquiry report to journalists.

Mr Barr was handed the report on July 31, but pledged not to release it for weeks.

However, the contents of the report was published two days later in multiple media outlets which ultimately forced Mr Barr to release it on Monday.

Mr Barr said on Monday the inquiry's chairman sent the report to two journalists - one of whom had a copy before the government did.

Brittany Higgins (pictured centre) alleged Bruce Lehrmann raped her in 2019. He denies the allegations

'He breached his good faith to me by releasing that report ahead of getting it to who he was meant to under the legislation,' Mr Barr said.

When asked if he would like to see Mr Sofronoff charged, Mr Barr said: 'We are considering our options, as I've outlined'.

Mr Barr said he had not received an apology from the retired judge.

'He has sought to provide an explanation,' he added.

The Board of Inquiry was launched after ACT DPP Shane Drumgold (pictured) claimed there was political interference in the investigation into Mr Lehrmann

Brittany Higgins alleged Mr Lehrmann raped her in Parliament House in March 2019.

Mr Lehrmann strenuously denies the allegations, and was tried in the ACT Supreme Court in October last year.

A mistrial was declared when a a member of the jury brought banned research material into the court, before Mr Drumgold dropped the case in December citing concerns for Ms Higgins' mental health.

In November, Mr Drumgold sent a furious letter to Chief Police Office Neil Gaughan, calling for an inquiry into the way the trial was handled - citing political interference and corruption by investigators.

Mr Sofronoff did not find evidence of corruption or political interference, according to his lengthy report.

Instead, he found Mr Drumgold had no evidence in which to call for a public inquiry in the first place.

He also found Mr Drumgold 'knowingly lied' to the ACT Chief Justice, and treated criminal justice like a 'poker game' in which the prosecutor could hide the cards.
Locals queried why she could not take the ferry

Annastacia Palaszczuk has sparked a fierce debate after hitching a ride on a special police boat to visit an island where a father and his five sons were killed in a fire.

The Queensland leader, dubbed the 'part-time Premier' by her critics, was pictured disembarking a police patrol boat on to the jetty at Russell Island at lunchtime on Tuesday.

Ms Palaszczuk and her entourage were paying their respects at the scene of Sunday morning's tragedy, where Wayne Bobinet, 34, and his boys, aged between four and 11, lived.

But locals on the island questioned why she hitched a ride with the police when she could have taken the public passenger ferry, which runs approximately every half hour.

Queensland leader Annastacia Palaszczuk, dubbed the 'part-time Premier' by her critics, was pictured disembarking a police patrol boat on to the jetty at Russell Island at lunchtime on Tuesday (pictured)

Ms Palaszczuk was paying her respects at the scene of a tragedy which took the lives of a father and his five sons on Sunday morning (pictured)

A furious local commented on Facebook that Ms Palaszczuk 'can't even brush arms with the public and get the ferry across'.

Another asked: 'Did it cost taxpayers' dollars to get her on the police boat?'

One person alleged that the Premier's 'SUV arrived on the police barge 20 minutes before she came across on two police boats'.

But some defended the Premier's actions.

'People wouldn't have left her alone (on the ferry),' wrote one.

'You can guarantee there would be some idiot yelling and carrying on.'

A spokesperson for the Premier defended her travel arrangements as 'appropriate'.

'The Police Commissioner accompanied the Premier to Russell Island and made appropriate travel arrangements,' said the spokesperson.

'The Commissioner accompanied the Premier as she laid a floral tribute and paid her respects on behalf of all Queenslanders following the tragic death of five young children and their father.

'The Commissioner also accompanied the Premier while she visited the local school, met with first responders and met with locals to make it clear the community has the full support of Queensland.'

On Tuesday afternoon, Ms Palaszczuk shared pictures from her visit where she is seen laying a bouquet of flowers at the scene and signing a book of condolence.

Ms Palaszczuk said she would 'be there to support this community in whatever way they need' (pictured signing a book of condolence)

Father Wayne Godinet, 34, and his five sons (pictured) perished after they were trapped in a deadly fire on Queensland's Russell Island

'The lives lost in the Russell Island house fire are a devastating tragedy,' she wrote on Twitter.

'It has deeply affected this tight-knit community. All Queenslanders feel their grief.

'Today on Russell Island we paid our respects to the people who lost their lives.'

Ms Palaszczuk said she would 'be there to support this community in whatever way they need'.

Queensland opposition leader David Crisafulli visited the island the day before on Monday.

'Amongst the pain, Queenslanders are already proving how big our hearts can be,' he wrote on Facebook.

The blaze was so intense firefighters were only able to pick through the remains of the house in the late afternoon after battling it from 6:18am

'Volunteers told me they just want to be here in case people need someone to listen to them.

'When faced with immeasurable tragedy, the small things can make a big difference and the big hearts of Queenslanders are already shining through these dark days.'

It is understood Mr Crisafulli and his team took the ferry and were then offered a lift to the scene of the tragedy.

The fire claimed the lives of Wayne Godinet, 34, his twins Kyza and Koa, aged four, his three-year-old son Nicky, and his stepsons, Zack, 11 and Harry, 10.

The children's mother Samantha Stephenson, 28, and her 21-year-old sister, managed to escape the burning rental property and were released from hospital on Monday.

Ms Stephenson's friend, who set-up a Go Fund Me campaign to help pay for the six funerals, told Daily Mail Australia: 'Samantha just wants the world to know - check your smoke alarms and hold your babies.'

The police boat Ms Palaszczuk travelled over on was called the Sondra Lena.

It was named after officer Sondra Lena who died in the line of duty in April 1992 when she was hit by a car while operating a road block to locate a prisoner who had escaped from the Capricornia Correctional Centre.
Australians will be slugged up to $800 a year on their weekly medicines bill as a result of Labor's new 60-day dispensing policy.

The policy will see patients get PBS prescriptions given out for 60 days for the same price as their current 30-day scripts, a move pharmacists fear will force them to let staff go and even shut up shop.

The government's own report revealed that pharmacies across Australia will lose almost $160,000 a year each under the program.

According to findings from the latest analysis by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, the move will also see people in aged care fork out $806 every year for their medicine to be delivered.

This is because under current rules, aged care prescriptions are packed and delivered to homes free of charge by pharmacies, but this may have to change due to the impact of the new dispensing policy on their bank balances.

Peak medicines body the Pharmacy Guild of Australia says Australia will be forced to pay more for their medicines, with new modelling showing people in aged care will likely fork out over $800 on their annual medicines bill

The government's 60-day dispensing scheme has been blamed for the price hike according to an analysis from the Pharmacy Guild of Australia who say community pharmacies won't be able to deliver medicines for free much longer

'The Albanese government is unfairly forcing a huge new cost on aged-care residents because they haven't consulted and they don't understand what they are doing,' Pharmacy Guild president Trent Twomey told The Australian.

Currently, 188,000 aged care residents get their medicines for free from community pharmacies.

Pharmacies are expected to take a big hit according to officials in the sector who fear community pharmacies will be shut down.

According to findings from the government's Office of Impact Analysis, pharmacies are set to lose close to $158,000 from the dispensing scheme.

The report states that pharmacies will see a decrease in the amount they receive for delivering medicines, which is currently funded by the government.

'Pharmacy owners will receive significantly less PBS income due to the decrease in the volume of dispensing-related remuneration resulting from the proposed PBS changes,' the report states.

Health Minister Mark Butler hit back at the findings by the pharmacy guild, labelling it as an unfounded campaign to stop Australians accessing more medicines.

'In addition to the $1.2bn reinvestment into community pharmacy as part of the government's cheaper medicines policy, we are also investing $350m for community pharmacies to provide pharmacists to work on-site in residential aged-care homes...,' Mr Butler said.

The federal government's 60-day dispensing scheme which will double medicine from prescriptions at half the price, is expected to benefit more than six million Australians who live with chronic medical conditions

The 60-day dispensing scheme, which was announced in June, is expected to benefit six million Australians living with chronic health conditions.

Mr Butler said the program would deliver much needed cost relief for people to get the care they need.

'People with a Medicare card buying just one of these medicines will save up to $180 every year. Concession card holders will save $43.80 a year for each eligible medicine,' he said.

The Pharmacy Guild has consistently opposed the dispensing framework, claiming that it will force local pharmacies in regional areas to close down.

They said patients won't be able to get their medicines at their local pharmacy.
Divers in Florida have uncovered a total of 32 cars submerged in a lake that are expected to be linked to criminal cold cases.

Ken Fleming and Doug Bishop said that they stumbled upon the vehicles, which were most likely dumped during criminal activities, in their bid to help solve missing person cases in Doral, near Miami International Airport.

The volunteer divers are now working with Miami-Dade County to remove all the vehicles from the murky water near Northwest 87th Avenue and 13th Terrace - before they start to look into any potential cold cases connections.

Videos captured underwater show the divers looking inside the abandoned vehicles during their excavations on Sunday.

Divers Ken Fleming and Doug Bishop said they stumbled upon the vehicles which were most likely dumped during criminal activities in their bid to help solve missing persons cases in Doral, near Miami International Airport

Videos captured underwater show the divers looking inside the abandoned vehicles during their excavations

Collectively, the volunteer team have found 60 submerged vehicles across the US that are possibly linked to crimes

Fleming told 7News: 'When we discover a spot like this with multiple vehicles, it pretty much indicates that a crime where they're disposing the vehicles and hiding them from law enforcement.'

The volunteers use sonar technology after doing their research on where clues on missing people cases might located.

He added: 'We have a giant database of our own that we extract.

'We have 40 that we're targeting right now of folks that disappeared, anywhere from two or three months ago to 30, 40 years ago.'

Doug Bishop said: 'It's about providing answers for families where they don't have them'

An image from their underwater search in Florida

Parts of old vehicles can be seen underwater

Diver Ken Fleming added: 'We have a case where someone drove from Pinellas County down to pick up their relatives at the airport, and then they disappeared.

'So, in this spot, we're near the airport, it's a large body of water, it has easy access to get into, so we would target that as a potential foul play spot.'

Collectively, the volunteer team have found 60 submerged vehicles across the US that are possibly linked to crimes.

Doug Bishop said: 'It's about providing answers for families where they don't have them.

'Departments, respectfully, have to justify their use of resources, and when a case goes cold, we have the ability to step in.

The divers during their missing in Doral this Sunday

'We don't have to justify our use of resources, and we can help eliminate the drag on personnel locally.

'We can do this, we specialize in it, we can do it on a high level and do so as volunteers.'

A Doral Police spokesperson said: 'We have been informed that a private search company possibly located multiple sunken vehicles in the area of 9064 NW 13th Terr.

'Although we cannot confirm at this time, we will continue to gather further information in the coming days and work with multiple entities to investigate this matter.'
Indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Burney has suddenly thrown her support behind a Makarrata Commission, ending weeks of back-and-forth over Labor's position on the proposal.

The government has been at pains to separate the commission - which would oversee a process of treaty-making and truth-telling as called for in the Uluru Statement from the Heart - from the Voice to Parliament, which will be voted on in a referendum later this year.

But the Opposition has been tireless in asking questions about the functions of the commission and a commitment during the election campaign to allocate $27.7million to fund Makarrata.

For the first time on Tuesday since intense questioning ramped up, Ms Burney laid out Labor's support for Makarrata in a way she said would be 'difficult to misinterpret' during a fiery Question Time where both sides of politics traded barbs over the referendum.

'We support the Uluru Statement from the Heart,' she said. 'We support constitutional recognition for a Voice. We support Makarrata. And funding has been allocated for that.

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'We need a Voice because there is a life expectancy gap of eight years between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. We need a Voice because the suicide rate for our people is twice as high.'

The answer came in response to a question asked by Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley about past comments Ms Burney had made, where she described Makarrata as 'code for treaty'.

Ms Ley interjected with a point of order, arguing her question made no reference to the Voice and was strictly focused on Makarrata.

She also noted Ms Burney appeared to be 'reading directly from documents' and called on the government to table the speech. The request was refused.

Answering a separate question on Makarrata, Ms Burney doubled down on the $5.8million allocated for the commission in the initial Labor mini-Budget of October 2022. About $900,000 was initially spent before the government paused all work on the Makarrata Commission to focus on the referendum.

She said: 'Funding was set aside for funding the Makarrata in line with the policy we took to the election, you might of noticed that.

'But our priority is constitutional recognition.'

Linda Burney laid out Labor's support for Makarrata in a way she said would be 'difficult to misinterpret' during a fiery Question Time in which both sides of politics traded barbs over the referendum

Anthony Albanese tears apart question from new MP: 'Conspiracy in search of a theory'

Earlier during Question Time, Mr Albanese delivered a scathing assessment of the Coalition for dispatching a 'relatively new MP' to ask a question about the Voice 'based on conspiracy theories'.

Colin Boyce asked the PM about a Sky News report claiming the Uluru Statement from the Heart was actually 26 pages, rather than the single A4 page the PM has long touted.

Mr Albanese dismissed the question as a blatant conspiracy, expressing sympathy toward Mr Boyce, the Nationals member for Flynn in Queensland first elected in 2022, for being the one who asked the question.

'As a new member, he should be wary if no one up the front will ask a question,' he said.

'That is a conspiracy in search of a theory, something that has been out there, like a whole lot of QAnon theories, there is all sorts of conspiracy stuff out there but that is a ripper.'

Holding up a single A4 piece of paper, Mr Albanese said: 'This is the Uluru Statement from the Heart on a piece of paper. That's it.

'Nothing exposes the falseness of the arguments put forward by the No campaign than these conspiracy theories.'

Mr Albanese delivered a scathing assessment of the Coalition for dispatching a 'relatively new MP' to ask a question about the Voice 'based on conspiracy theories'

Mr Boyce was sledged by Labor as he attempted to ask the wordy question, where he mispronounced the word 'Makaratta' and exceeded the allocated time.

Mr Albanese gave leave for Mr Boyce to ask a question without time constraints, and invited him to repeat the question three times.

The House Speaker, Milton Dick, called for quiet as he reminded Labor: 'The Member for Flynn is a relatively new member. I will remind all members, questions have to be in before the 30 second mark.'

Toward the end of Question Time, the member for Page, Kevin Hogan, sought leave to table the 'full, 26-page' Uluru Statement from the Heart.

The Makaratta Commission and the Voice once again dominated Question Time, prompting Mr Albanese to accuse the Opposition of feigning their interest in the cost-of-living crisis.

'No economic questions in here, Mr Speaker, we know who is obsessed.'

Mr Boyce was sledged by Labor as he attempted to ask the wordy question, where he mispronounced the word 'Makaratta' and exceeded the allocated time

The remainder of Question Time continued with several more questions about the Voice, and criticisms from Mr Dutton directed toward the Prime Minister for not directly answering questions.

'When will the Australian public get a straight answer from their Prime Minister?' he asked.

'Can you answer the question honestly?'

Mr Dick referenced the official code of conduct in the House of Representatives, which states that a minister must be 'directly relevant to the question' they're asked, but not necessarily provide a 'direct answer'.

'The Prime Minister is talking about the subject matter,' he said.

After the decision, Mr Dutton made several comments under his breath, reportedly criticising Mr Albanese's integrity.

Mr Albanese was asked if he remained committed to a national treaty, 'as called for in the Uluru Statement from the Heart'.

He said: 'The scare campaign is running out of steam. It's like a deflated whoopie cushion. It makes a loud noise, it's a bit uncomfortable, but they've just moved on and on and on from one thing to another.'

'We are in a post-truth world over there, Mr Speaker.'
Shocking images reveal how a driver 'intentionally' crashed his car into the second story of a Pennsylvania home after flying off the road.

Firefighters admitted they had to 'think outside the box' to bring the vehicle down, while the driver was transported to a hospital after the Sunday crash.

The Junction Fire Company said it arrived on the scene within minutes of the crash, which occurred in Decatur Township in Mifflin County.

It is still unclear how exactly the eyebrow-raising collision happened, but Junction Fire reportedly noted that there is a culvert - a large tunnel under the road - beside the house.

Pennsylvania State Police found during their investigation that the crash was 'an intentional act,' and 'charges are pending' against the driver, according to ABC27.

A spokesperson said the crash was the result 'of the driver attempting to inflict self-harm due to a mental health episode.'

Stunning images showed the car almost fully embedded in the house, which took several hours to haul down

After emergency services brought the car down, a huge gaping hole was left in the home

Firefighters said they were on the scene within minutes of the bewildering crash

After racing to the scene after reports of a 'vehicle accident,' firefighters astonishingly found the driver already out of the suspended car.

Junction Fire said they found only one vehicle involved in the wreck, and they quickly worked to stabilize the house to prevent any further damage.

Crews also covered the huge hole with tarpaulin due to fears of an incoming storm.

'The crew had to think outside the box in order to temporarily stabilize the vehicle until it was time to remove it,' a spokesperson told FOX Television Stations.

The service shared the stunning photographs of the rescue on Facebook, which spread rapidly as people couldn't believe how the car landed in the home.

Among the images was the room where the car finished, which appeared to be a home gym as a treadmill sat in the center of the room covered in dust from the wreck.

The homeowners were also reportedly evaluated after the crash, however it is not known how many people were in the property when the car flew into the home. None were taken to the hospital.

The driver of the car was astonishingly already out of the car by the time firefighters arrived

It is unclear how the crash occurred, with images showing the car landed in what appeared to be a home gym as a treadmill sat among dust from the wreckage

Fire crews stayed at the scene for several hours to stabilize the house and cover it with tarpaulin to protect it from incoming storms

'Rescue Company took in a vehicle into a structure in Decatur Township this evening,' the department said in the post detailing the crash.

'Chief 17 arrived on scene within minutes to find one vehicle into the second floor with the patient out of the vehicle.

'The Rescues crew stabilized the house and helped the homeowners put a tarp on the hole due to upcoming storms.'

Junction Fire added the efforts took several squads and fire engines, as well as help from other departments including the police, to eventually bring the car down.

The driver was transported to Geising Lewistown Hospital.
A mother-of-two who was found guilty of importing party drugs in a beauty product has broken her silence claiming she did not know what she was buying was illegal.

The mother from Cobbity in south-west Sydney, Toni Millevoi, was ordered to serve a two year suspended sentence in 2021 after being found to have 'acted recklessy' when importing an eye lash glue remover containing gamma butyrolactone (GBL) from South Korea.

GBL is a derivative of Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), which is a party drug nicknamed liquid ecstasy, grievous bodily harm or simply G.

Millevoi recently completed her sentence and now says she is not a drug dealer as did not know GBL was either a precursor drug or a banned substance.

Her business had exploded selling the eyelash remover for a small mark up of about $2.95 per bottle, which was then unknowingly sold on for $150 a bottle by those using it illicitly.

She had to sell her successful business to pay for ongoing legal fees after her assets were frozen by the Crime Commission for drug-related charges.

A mother-of-two found guilty of importing a party drug from Korea through beauty products, Toni Millevoi (pictured), has broken her silence on her 'unique' court situation

Speaking to the Kyle and Jackie O show on Tuesday morning, Ms Millevoi said the Crime Commission had frozen all of her assets that accounted for more than $20,000.

'They (the Crime Commission) took everything, they gave me $10,000 of my own money to live off of and that was to pay my rent,' she said.

'I wonder where my next money is coming from to pay my rent. I haven't got a rental history, I'm grateful that I can rent my sister's house.

'(I) got put in that box of "she's a drug dealer", therefore we assume she's got hidden assets so we're taking everything from her.

'I'm just a single old mum.'

She revealed she is now forced to live with her sister, with her daughter having to share a room with her cousin until she can try and get back on her feet.

She says the worst part of the experience was being locked in prison for 22 days in 2019 until being granted bail, separated from her daughter when she was just nine-years-old.

'My daughter is getting teased that her mother is a drug dealer,' she told A Current Affair.

'I would love all that to go away because it's not the truth.'

Ms Millevoi claims she contacted police twice in the years leading up to her arrest, asking if her imports were illegal and not receiving an answer.

She became suspicious of the import when one of her packages was stopped at the border and confiscated by the Australian Border Force in 2019.

She would then be stung by an undercover operation after being followed and recorded by police for over a year, later to be labelled a drug dealer by the court.

Ms Millevoi was sentenced to a two-year suspended sentence for importing GBL in 2021, claiming she never knew what the drug was nor that it was in the product

She claims her assets were frozen by the Crime Commission due to suspected hidden funds, which have placed her in a 'hole' that she is finding it hard to escape from

Although her presiding judge, Robert Montgomery, was bound by the law to find Ms Millevoi guilty of imported illicit substances, he was 'sympathetic' to her 'unique' situation.

'She did not take part in concealing the act, nor did she act with a significant reward or incentive as with a courier in a typical drug trade,' Judge Montgomery said during sentencing in 2021.

'I felt that (Judge Montgomery and the prosecution) were very sympathetic,' Ms Millevoi told the Kyle and Jackie O show.

'Everyone was saying, "I've never seen anything like this... We don't know what to do, there's no (case law) to refer to".'

Ms Millevoi has now returned to selling beauty products, this time without illegal substances.

She has started distributing products through Australia as a gap in the market became available after her arrest and other products were taken off the shelves.
A diabetic woman who allegedly murdered both her parents with her own insulin has been freed on home detention bail after a court found she would be at risk of hardship if she remained in custody.

On Tuesday, South Australian Supreme Court Justice Julie McIntyre granted Raelene Polymiadis' bid for bail, on the grounds that the treatment of her diabetes while in custody could cause her potential hardships.

The 62-year-old diabetic woman has been charged with two counts of murder over the deaths of her parents Brenda and Lynton Anderson, both 94, in 2022 and 2023.

On Tuesday, South Australian Supreme Court Justice Julie McIntyre granted Raelene Polymiadis' bid for bail, on the grounds that the treatment of her diabetes while in custody could cause her potential hardships

The 62-year-old diabetic woman has been charged with two counts of murder over the deaths of her parents Brenda and Lynton Anderson, both 94, in 2022 and 2023

Mrs Anderson died in hospital after being administered with insulin resulting in fatally low blood sugar, the court previously heard.

The court heard a year later, Mr Anderson was found unconscious on the floor of his home, with autopsy results revealing he too had been dosed with insulin, as well as a second tranquilliser-like substance later found in his home.

He died in hospital shortly after.

Ms Polymiadis was the last person to have seen her father alive, prosecutor Karen Ingleton previously told the court.

Ms Polymiadis will return to court in December.
The board of North Carolina's flagship public university has voted to strictly ban the use of 'race, sex, color or ethnicity' in admissions and hiring decisions, including through the use of essays.

The Board of Trustees at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill approved the resolution after the US Supreme Court struck down their school's race-conscious admissions plan as violating the Constitution.

In a pair of decisions announced June 29, the court struck down affirmative action in college admissions, ruling against the measure at both UNC and Harvard University, respectively the nation's oldest public and private colleges.

'I'm confident that we're taking all the necessary steps to fully comply' with the court decisions, UNC Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz said at the board's recent meting to pass the resolution, according to the News and Observer.

But while other schools are seeking out loopholes to boost student body diversity, UNC's new policy strictly bars certain measures, including the use of essays related to a prospective student's racial background or struggles with discrimination.

UNC Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz is seen center. The school's board has voted to strictly ban the use of 'race, sex, color or ethnicity' in admissions and hiring decisions

In a pair of decisions announced June 29, the court struck down affirmative action in college admissions, ruling against the measure at both UNC (above) and Harvard University

The board resolution at UNC promises not to grant 'preferential treatment' to any individual or group on the basis of race.

The school also must not establish 'through essays or other means' any process premised upon 'race-based preferences' in hiring and admissions, according to the resolution.

UNC's approach goes beyond that other schools, some of which seem to be seeking out ways to factor race in admissions decisions without technically violating the ruling.

In New York, Sarah Lawrence College now has an essay prompt asking applicants how they were personally impacted by the Supreme Court decision, according to Inside Higher Ed.

Harvard has also hinted that it may use essays about race to weigh applicants, in keeping with the court decision that schools can consider 'an applicant's discussion of how race affected his or her life, be it through discrimination, inspiration, or otherwise.'

At UNC, board member Ralph Meekins urged, without success, for members to postpone the vote, saying the resolution 'goes well beyond the Supreme Court ruling.'

The justices decided in a 6-3 vote that the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)'s race-based affirmative action admissions policy is unconstitutional

Meanwhile, trustee John Preyer criticized how UNC handled the litigation brought in 2014 by a conservative group that accused the school's undergraduate admissions policies of discriminating against white and Asian students.

A trial judge in 2021 upheld the school's affirmative action policy, leading to appeals that eventually reached the Supreme Court.

'This is a moment of humility,' Preyer said. 'For nine years, we've spent in the neighborhood of $35 million to lose a high-profile case. Why did we do that? Was that the right thing to do?'

The trustees also discussed other ways to comply with the June court ruling, which found the school's consideration of race in admissions violated the Constitution's equal protection clause.

'What were trying to do is be proactive with this and make sure that we're in compliance and that were providing equal protection,' trustee Marty Kotis said. O

ne school administrator mentioned having an internal diversity, equity and inclusion audit but didnt provide details.

Guskiewicz announced several weeks ago that the school would offer free tuition to students whose families make less than $80,000 annually.

The program, which could help expand diversity efforts, is being paid for with private funds.
NSW One Nation leader Mark Latham has said a graphic tweet about Alex Greenwich that was widely condemned had improved rather than harmed the MP's reputation.

Mr Latham is being sued for defamation in the Federal Court over the tweet sent on March 22 which described explicit sexual acts he claimed were engaged in by Mr Greenwich.

The tweet targeted the independent politician as an openly gay politician and was in response to statements calling Mr Latham a 'disgusting human being' after LGBTQI+ protesters were attacked outside a Sydney church hall where he made a speech before the NSW election.

In a defence filed on Monday, Mr Latham denied the tweet caused serious harm to Mr Greenwich's reputation.

Figures such as federal One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, Sky News host Erin Molan, NSW Labor Minister Penny Sharpe and NSW Labor Premier Chris Minns all condemned Latham for the statement and supported Mr Greenwich.

NSW One Nation leader Mark Latham (pictured in white shirt) has said a graphic tweet about Alex Greenwich that was widely condemned had improved rather than harmed the MP's reputation

These responses 'enhanced the reputation of Greenwich' and were proof that the tweet and Mr Latham's later comments to a News Corp journalist 'had enhanced and not damaged' his reputation.

READ MORE: Mark Latham breaks silence on homophobic tweet row as he REFUSES to apologise despite growing fury An unrepentant Mark Latham has said he will 'never apologise, never explain' as his political future hangs in the balance after he caused outrage this week by sending a homophobic message to a gay MP. Advertisement

Mr Latham swiftly deleted the tweet but made comments afterwards to journalist Linda Silmalis which were published in The Daily Telegraph.

'When he calls someone a disgusting human being for attending a meeting in a church hall, maybe attention will turn to some of his habits,' he told her.

Mr Greenwich alleges the tweet and statements to The Daily Telegraph were defamatory because they implied he engaged in 'disgusting sexual acts' and was not a fit and proper person to be a member of NSW parliament because of this.

He claims he has been exposed to hatred, contempt and ridicule as a result of the comments, and his personal and professional reputation has been 'gravely injured'.

In his defence, Mr Latham denies the tweet conveyed these imputations but says that even if they did, he cannot be hit with damages for defamation.

Claiming qualified privilege, Mr Latham said he had a right to comment after being attacked repeatedly by Mr Greenwich and others about the clash between LGBTQI+ protesters and Christian 'activists'.

'The primary tweet and the Latham attacks resulted in significant public media coverage directed towards the fitness of Latham, as a re-elected MLC to serve in public life,' the One Nation NSW leader wrote.

Mr Latham is being sued for defamation in the Federal Court over the tweet sent on March 22 which described explicit sexual acts he claimed were engaged in by Mr Greenwich (pictured)

He has also argued his comments were in the public interest, concerning the fitness and conduct of a member of NSW parliament, and that they were his 'honest opinion' at the time.

Mr Latham has denied that Mr Greenwich is entitled to any sort of damages over the comments.

However, if the court did rule in favour of the independent MP, any damages paid would be reduced due to comments he made after the 'homophobic attacks,' he said.

The matter will next come before the Federal Court on September 25.
The woman who hosted a poisonous lunch where four people fell ill - three of whom have since died - has fled her home after refusing to reveal what she served in their final fatal meal.

Erin Patterson, 48, invited her former in-laws, Gail and Don Patterson, along with Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, and her husband Ian over for lunch at her Leongatha home, in Victoria's Gippsland region, on July 29.

She served them a dish which included poisonous mushrooms and the Pattersons and Ms Wilkinson died days later. Mr Wilkinson is fighting for life in hospital. Erin was apparently unharmed by the food, if she ate any at all.

On Tuesday, Ms Patterson returned to her property where she was confronted by a media contingent keen for answers.

Erin Patterson arrived home to a waiting media pack on Tuesday

Erin Patterson refused to answer questions about what she had cooked her guests

The property where the deadly lunch occurred at Leongatha, in Victoria's Gippsland region

But the stay-at-home mum provided few, telling reporters to get off her property.

'What happened is devastating and I'm grieving too and you guys don't have any respect for that,' she said.

Ms Patterson was forced to navigate around a media scrum to enter her front door.

'Can I just get to my door, stop standing in front of me,' she said.

Ms Patterson refused to answer what dish she served her tragic guests, who are believed to have ingested poisonous mushrooms.

A black dog rushed out of Ms Patterson's home as she opened the front door, infuriating her further.

'You don't have any permission to be on my private property or harass me,' she said.

'This kind of behaviour will send someone right off a bridge.'

Asked 'How she was going' by a reporter, Ms Patterson stated the obvious.

'I'm going ***house. Thanks for asking. You guys aren't helping,' she responded.

Reporters were forced to jump Ms Patterson's fence to leave the property after becoming stuck behind her large automated security gate.

Moments later, Ms Patterson was seen loading a suitcase into the boot of her red MG and leaving.

Erin Patterson hauls a suitcase into her red MG before driving off

She drove off after being asked questions by reporters outside the home

All four guests fell ill after eating the meal served by Ms Patterson and went to hospital the next day.

The Pattersons, both 70, and Ms Wilkinson, 66, have since died, while Mr Wilkinson, 68, is fighting for life in hospital.

Ms Patterson had been identified as a person of interest in the investigation. Seven News reported that she was heard 'wailing' after police visited the property last night.

She has denied any wrongdoing and no charges are expected to be laid at this stage of the investigation.

High profile criminal lawyer George Balot, of Balot Reilly Criminal Lawyers, told Daily Mail Australia a host or a cook owed her guest 'or victim' a duty of care to ensure the food served did not cause serious injury or death.

'The prosecution need to establish that she breached that duty by serving up deadly poisonous mushrooms by being criminally negligent,' he said.

'A court would need to determine whether her act of serving her dish fell so far short of the standard of care a reasonable person would have exercised, and involved such a high risk of death or really serious injury, that it deserves criminal punishment.'

Mr Balot said the prosecution would need to establish that the breach of that duty caused the victims death.

'Finally, that the act which breaches that duty of care was committed consciously, voluntarily and deliberately,' he said.

'If it was a mere tragic accident where she thought that the mushrooms were edible mushrooms without malice or criminal negligence, she is unlikely to be charged.'

Mr Balot said the prosecution did not need to establish that Ms Patterson intended to cause death or really serious injury or that she realised that her conduct was negligent.

'The test is objective and it is what would a reasonable person in her situation would have known and done. For this element to be met, a jury would have to be satisfied that the reasonable person in her situation would have realised that her conduct created a high risk of death or really serious injury,' he said.

'It is axiomatic that even the most careful person can occasionally have moments of inattention, or make minor mistakes. While minor breaches of the expected standard of care are insufficient to found criminal charges, they can form the foundation of civil liability for damages for death and or pain and suffering.'

'In the absence of further evidence disclosed by investigating police, this matter could be safely defended were she charged.'

Real estate photos show mushrooms growing at the base of a tree at Ms Patterson's Leongatha property

Daily Mail Australia understands that Ms Patterson's estranged husband, Simon, is living at a different address.

Police said the former couple's relationship was 'amicable' before his parents death.

Homicide detectives searched the property on Saturday as part of their investigation, seizing a number of items, including a dehydrator believed to have been used to prepare the mushrooms.

Four police officers were seen returning to Ms Patterson's home on Sunday night to question her.

The 48-year-old could be heard wailing loudly inside the house before the police left, according to 7News.

After being questioned, Ms Patterson was released pending further inquiries.

The following day, Victoria Police Detective Inspector for the Homicide Squad, Dean Thomas, confirmed Ms Patterson was being treated as a person of interest.

'She hasn't presented with any symptoms but we have to keep an open mind in relation to this, that it could be very innocent but again we just don't know at this point,' he said.

Mr Thomas said while the homicide squad was investigating the trio's deaths, it did not mean they were being treated as suspicious at this stage - only 'unexplained'.

Gail and Don Patterson died after eating the mushrooms. It's understood that Erin was previously married to their son, Simon

Ian Wilkinson and Heather Wilkinson (both pictured) became severely ill after they ate wild mushrooms. Mrs Wilkinson died on Friday while her husband remains in a critical condition in hospital

Flowers have been left at the gate of the property as the community comes to terms with the tragedy

Speaking to reporters outside her home on Monday, an emotional Ms Patterson said she was devastated by what had happened and denied any wrongdoing.

'I didn't do anything,' she said, wiping away tears.

'I loved them and I'm devastated that they're gone.'

Ms Patterson said all four guests were wonderful people and had always treated her with kindness.

'Gail was like the mum I didn't have because my mum passed away four years ago and Gail had never been anything but good and kind to me,' she continued.

'Ian and Heather were some of the best people I'd ever met. They never did anything wrong to me.'

Detectives believe death cap mushrooms are the variety responsible for the poisonings and are investigating how they came to be in the meal.

Ms Patterson's two children were also present at the lunch but Mr Thomas said they ate different meals to the adults and did not experience any illness.

When the others fell sick, Ms Patterson and the children went to hospital as a precaution. The kids have since been removed from their mother's care while the investigation is underway.
A woman whose poisonous mushroom lunch killed three of her family members - including her former parents-in-law - in Australia has denied any wrongdoing.

Erin Patterson, 48, hosted a lunch with her former in-laws, Gail and Don Patterson, along with Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, and her husband Ian at her home in Leongatha, in Victoria's Gippsland region, on July 29.

All four guests became ill after they ate their meal, which included hand-picked mushrooms. They went to hospital the next day as their condition worsened, with the two sisters, aged 70 and 66, dying on Friday. Don, 70, died on Saturday night.

Ian, 68, remains in a critical condition in hospital and is believed to be waiting on a liver transplant.

On Monday, an emotional Erin - who was reportedly heard 'wailing' after cops visited the home over the weekend - spoke publicly for the first time outside the house where the fatal lunch took place.

Erin Patterson (pictured), who is at the centre of the suspected poisoning of four people, broke down in tears and denied any wrongdoing when she was confronted by the media

Erin Patterson, 48, hosted a lunch with her former in-laws, Gail and Don Patterson, along with Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, and her husband Ian at her home in Leongatha, in Victoria's Gippsland region, on July 29. Pictured: The home in Leongatha

'I didn't do anything,' she told the media.

'I loved them and I'm devastated that they're gone.'

She then mistakenly confused Don with Ian by expressing her 'hope' that 'Don pulls through'.

READ MORE: 'Wailing' heard inside the property where daughter-in-law cooked poisonous meal Fact-box text Advertisement

Erin spoke for a couple of minutes but did not answer questions about where the mushrooms came from, who picked them or what meal she made for her guests.

'I'm so devastated by what's happened,' she said as she wiped away a tear.

She described the two couples as 'some of the best people I've ever met'.

Erin broke down as she explained that Gail was like a mother to her after her own mother had died.

'Gail was like the mum I didn't have because my mum passed away four years ago and Gail had never been anything but good and kind to me,' she said.

'Ian and Heather were some of the best people I'd ever met. They never did anything wrong to me.

'I'm so devastated about what's happened and the loss to the community and to the families and to my own children, they've lost their grandmother.'

Erin repeatedly said she was 'devastated' and couldn't 'fathom what has happened'.

Ian Wilkinson and Heather Wilkinson (both pictured) became severely ill after they ate wild mushrooms. Ms Wilkinson died on Friday while her husband remains in a critical condition in hospital and is understood to be waiting for a liver transplant

Gail and Don Patterson died after eating the mushrooms. It's understood that Erin was previously married to their son, Simon

'I'm devastated, I loved them and I can't believe this has happened and I'm so sorry that they have lost their lives,' she added.

Erin was previously married to Don and Gail's son, Simon, and had been living at the Leongatha property for the past 12 months.

Detectives from the homicide squad questioned Erin when they searched the property on Saturday, and she was reportedly heard 'wailing' after cops visited the home at the weekend - according to Seven News.

She was released pending further enquiries.

Victoria Police Detective Inspector for the Homicide Squad, Dean Thomas, confirmed Erin was a person of interest as she had cooked the meal.

'She hasn't presented with any symptoms but we have to keep an open mind in relation to this, that it could be very innocent but again we just don't know at this point,' he said on Monday.

Charges are not expected to be laid at this stage of the investigation.

Erin has not answered questions about where the mushrooms came from, who picked them or what meal she made for her four guests (pictured, foraged mushroom)

Mr Thomas added that while investigations into the trio's deaths did not mean they were necessarily being treated as suspicious, they are 'unexplained'.

Erin's two children were also present at the lunch but Mr Thomas said they ate different meals to the adults and did not experience any illnesses.

Those two children were taken to hospital as a precaution and have been removed from their mother's care.

Mr Thomas said police were 'presuming' the deaths were from mushrooms, adding the symptoms presented are linked to death cap mushrooms.

'We've seized a number of exhibits in relation to the matter, a lot of the items we have seized will be forensically tested in the hope that they can shed some light on what's occurred,' he said.

Mr Thomas earlier told local radio that officers were working to determine if any 'nefarious activity' had occurred.

He added: 'We will be working closely with medical experts, toxicologists ... in the hope we can understand exactly what has gone on and provide some answers to the family.

'We're trying to understand who ate what at the lunch, whether that person that did not become ill did or did not eat the mushrooms ... And of course, we're trying to ascertain what it is that has actually caused the poisoning ... to the four people that attended.'

Earlier this year Victoria Health also warned people not to pick dangerous mushrooms after weeks of wet weather.

On Sunday the Wilkinson and Patterson families released a statement on the tragedy.

The property where the deadly lunch occurred at Leongatha, in Victoria's Gippsland region

Real estate photos show mushrooms growing at the base of a tree at Ms Patterson's Leongatha property

'The past week has been a time of shock and grief for us all,' it read, as reported in the local paper, the South Gippsland Sentinel-Times.

'They were parents, grandparents, siblings, children, and pillars of faith within our community.'

'Their love, steadfast faith, and selfless service have left an indelible mark on our families, the Korumburra Baptist Church, the local community, and indeed, people around the globe.'

'Our families will assist appropriate authorities in any way we can and respect any necessary processes amidst this tragedy.'
The black box belonging to a downed army helicopter has been recovered weeks after the military chopper crashed off Queensland's coast, killing four people.

The MRH-90 Taipan went down off Hamilton Island while taking part in a joint Australia-US military exercise on July 28.

On Monday a navy dive squad recovered its black box - a voice and flight data recorder.

The black box was released by the Queensland Coroner to the Defence Force to assist in its investigation into the crash.

Captain Daniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class Two Joseph Laycock and Corporal Alexander Naggs were killed in the incident.

The black box belonging to the military helicopter that ditched in the Whitsundays, killing four, has been found (pictured, recovered debris)

The MRH-90 Taipan went down off Hamilton Island while taking part in a joint Australia-US military exercise on July 28 (pictured, debris being recovered)

They were all from the 6th Aviation Richmond Unit based at the Holsworthy Army barracks in Sydney.

The search for their bodies continues however, a remotely-operated vehicle discovered unidentified human remains 40m underwater among cockpit debris at the crash site last Thursday.

'The debris field is consistent with a catastrophic, high impact,' Australian Defence Force Chief of Joint Operations Lieutenant General Greg Bilton said.

'Sadly I can confirm unidentified human remains have also been observed in this location by the remote-operated underwater vehicle.

'Due to the nature of the debris field positive identification of the remains is unlikely to occur until we recover more of the wreckage.'

The army is providing ongoing support to the victims' families.

Troop Commander Captain Dan Lyon (pictured) was one of the members of the MRH-90 Taipan crew

Corporal Alex Naggs, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent and Warrant Officer Joseph Laycock (pictured left to right)

Lt. Bilton added the tragedy has had a 'significant impact' on their unit.

'I'm confident their commanders are working hard to work through the challenges that they confront in losing their mates,' he said.

'We're just making sure that we provide the sort of psychological support and the support for their wellbeing that's necessary.'

On July 28, the MRH-90 Taipan helicopter ditched into the ocean at about 10.30pm during a two-helicopter operation.

Witnesses reported a 'big flash, a big bang and a bit of fire on top of the chopper' before the aircraft hit the water.

The entire Taipan fleet was grounded following the tragic crash on July 28 (pictured, a Taipan helicopter)

It was part of Exercise Talisman Sabre, a large-scale training operation involving several allied nations including the United States.

The entire Taipan fleet was grounded as investigations continue into the crash.

The troubled aircraft has gained a reputation for being 'unreliable' in recent years due to a series of incidents - including a crash into waters off the NSW south coast in March.
Hundreds of tourists were forced to flee holiday resorts in Portugal as firefighters scrambled to put out a massive wildfire raging in the south of the country on Tuesday.

Around 1,400 people so far have been evacuated from the region where the blaze has scorched thousands of acres of land.

The wildfire, currently being tackled by over 800 firefighters, started on Saturday in the municipality of Odemira, in the Alentejo region, but has since spread south towards the Algarve, one of Portugal's top tourist destinations.

Firefighting teams were aided by 14 water-bombing planes which attempted to extinguish the flames from the air.

Nine firefighters have been injured, while more than a hundred tourists have been evacuated out of hotels to safety as the blaze continues to spread.

Firefighters work to put out the flames in the municipality of Odemira, August 7, 2023

Trees burn in a forest fire, as pictured from the A1 highway in the locality of Cardosos, caused the motorway to be cut off this afternoon, Leiria, Portugal, August 7, 2023

A man throws water on a fire, in the municipality of Odemira, August 7, 2023

The fires near Odemira are seen from space in this satellite image

A man watches the fire in the municipality of Odemira, August 7, 2023

Smoke billows in the sky in a forest fire as pictured from the A1 highway in the locality of Cardosos caused the motorway to be cut off this afternoon, Leiria, Portugal, August 7, 2023

High temperatures and strong winds are complicating efforts to combat the flames, which have destroyed around 4,000 acres of land.

Fears are growing that the flames could spread into nearby regions with water supplies to tackle the blaze dwindling.

Officials are soon expected to declare a state of emergency in the region.

Shortly before sunset on Monday, the sky in Odemira turned dark as a huge smoke cloud filled the air.

Odemira's mayor, Helder Guerreiro, called the situation 'critical, difficult and complex' while Civil Protection commander Jose Ribeiro said there was a 'lot of work' ahead to bring the wildfire under control.

A total of 19 tiny villages, four tourist accommodations and a camping site have been evacuated out of precaution. Several roads have been blocked off, authorities said.

Southern European countries such as Portugal have been grappling with record-breaking temperatures during the peak summer tourist season, prompting authorities to warn of health risks.

Scientists say heat waves are becoming more frequent, intense and spread out across seasons due to climate change.

Portuguese weather agency IPMA on Monday put six districts in the country, including the capital, Lisbon, on red alert for extreme heat until midnight.

Authorities have declared more than 120 municipalities across Portugal at maximum risk of wildfires, with Lisbon - home to 500,000 - placed under 'red alert'.

'The weather conditions we are going to experience in the coming days means any small occurrence (fire) could become a big one,' Civil Protection secretary of state Patricia Gaspar told a news conference.

A man throws water on a fire in the municipality of Odemira

Smoke billows in the sky in a forest fire as pictured near the A1 highway in the locality of Cardosos caused the motorway to be cut off this afternoon, Leiria, Portugal, August 7, 2023

A helicopter fights a fire in the municipality of Odemira, August 7, 2023

Firefighters battle a wildfire in Carrascal, Proenca a Nova on August 6, 2023. More than 1,000 firefighters are tackling a wildfire in central Portugal

Firefighters work to put out the flames in the municipality of Odemira, August 7, 2023

Three districts in Portugal's north were placed under red alert on Tuesday as temperatures were expected to reach 41 Celsius in the northern city of Castelo Branco.

Another fire was reported to have broken out in Portugal's Ourem on Sunday morning, around 140 miles to the north of Odemira.

More than 300 firefighters and five water bombers are understood to be on the scene, stretching Portugal's fire services even further.

Ruben del Campo of Spain's weather agency said this week's weather will be more 'intense, widespread and a little longer lasting' than what was seen in July, when wildfires ravaged parts of Greece and Italy.

More than 20,000 locals and holidaymakers were forced to flee as fires spread across Greece, with a particularly fierce blaze tearing across the island of Rhodes.

Greek officials described it as the country's biggest ever evacuation effort.

The wildfire burned for nearly a week before they were finally brought under control as a period of extreme heat made it difficult to contain.
An insurance employee who worked from home was sacked after her boss tracked her keystrokes and realised she was hardly doing any work.

Suzie Cheikho was fired from her role as communications disclosure consultant at Insurance Australia Group (IAG), where she had worked for 18 years.

Her duties included creating insurance documents, ensuring documents abided by legal standards, meeting regulatory timeframes and mailbox management.

Her employment was terminated after she missed numerous deadlines and meetings, was absent and uncontactable, and had failed to lodge a product disclosure statement that resulted in the regulator fining IAG, according to findings from the Fair Work Commission.

Ms Cheikho argued she was unfairly dismissed, but her claim was dismissed last month after the Commission found she was sacked for a 'valid reason of misconduct'.

Suzie Cheikho (pictured) had her unfair dismissal application dismissed by the Fair Work Commission after it was found her former employer fired her for a 'valid reason of misconduct'

Ms Cheikho's boss asked IAG's 'cyber team' to conduct a review of her laptop activity from October to December by checking how much she was typing on her laptop while she was working.

It was discovered through the review that Ms Cheikho did not work her rostered hours - 7:30am to 4:00pm - for 44 days in that period of time.

She started work late on seven days and left early on 29 days. She also recorded zero work hours on four days.

When Ms Cheikho did work, the findings showed she had 'very low keystroke activity on her laptop' averaging 54 strokes per hour throughout the three months.

Poll Is it fair for bosses to monitor staff with keystroke technology? Yes - if they are working from home No - it's an invasion of privacy Is it fair for bosses to monitor staff with keystroke technology? Yes - if they are working from home 2867 votes

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She did not type a single letter for 117 hours in October, 143 hours in November and 60 hours in December.

When the cyber review was brought to her attention, Ms Cheikho vehemently rejected the accuracy of the data.

She told her managers during a formal meeting before her dismissal that she 'doubted the data' and did 'not believe for a minute' the findings were correct.

'I cannot believe this data,' she said.

'Sometimes the workload is a bit slow, but I have never not worked. I mean, I may go to the shops from time to time, but that is not for the entire day.'

In a written response, Ms Cheikho explained that she had looked over the data and couldn't 'recall why or how' the missing hours and times were low.

'I have tried to go through emails and messages to see if I can explain it,' she said.

'I have been going through a lot of personal issues which has caused a decline to my mental health and unfortunately I believe it has affected my performance and my work...'

She later added that she was 'confused and shocked' by the data, doubted its accuracy again and stated the she used other devices to log in and work when she was having 'system issues'.

Almost a month after she was sacked, Ms Cheikho filed an unfair dismissal application to the Fair Work Commission (pictured, Fair Work Commission office)

Almost a month after she was sacked, Ms Cheikho filed an unfair dismissal application to the Fair Work Commission.

She claimed in her application that there was no valid reason for her dismissal and IAG had a 'premeditated plan to remove her from the business and that she was targeted due to her mental health issues'.

Fair Work Commission Deputy President Thomas Roberts found Ms Cheikho 'was not working as she was required to do during her designated working hours'.

In the findings, she also couldn't provide a credible explanation for 'the allegation relating to the non-performance of her duties' and put little evidence forward to assist her argument that the data from the cyber review was inaccurate.

Mr Roberts said that there was a 'valid reason for dismissal' as Ms Cheikho 'was not working as she was required to do in the October to December 2022 period'.

He didn't doubt there were 'serious and real' factors that were behind Ms Cheikho's 'disconnection' from her work and that it was 'regrettable' her employment had come to an end after a 'long period of satisfactory service'.

'NonethelessI am satisfied that the dismissal of the applicant was not harsh, unjust or unreasonable,' Mr Roberts concluded the report.
A rural community in Co. Kerry is in a state of 'deep shock' after a five-year-old boy was killed in an accident involving a quad-bike.

The incident - described as a 'freak accident' in local media - occurred on a private farm at Cloghane near Castlegregory in west Kerry on Sunday afternoon.

It's understood the child and his parents were living in the UK but were visiting their family members during the Bank Holiday weekend.

Their relatives are said to be 'very well known and respected locally'.

When the alarm was raised, Gardai and emergency services rushed to the scene. The boy received emergency first aid at the site before being transported to hospital.

Sadly, the boy died from his injuries a short time later.

A rural community in Co. Kerry is in a state of 'deep shock' after a five-year-old boy was killed in an accident involving a quad-bike (file photo)

Local Cllr Michael O'Shea told the Irish Daily Mail that the Castlegregory community and environs is 'deeply shocked and saddened' by the Bank Holiday tragedy.

'The community is in total shock over this, particularly since the boy's family would be very well known and respected here,' he said.

'There's not a lot you can say when something like this happens; it's just one of these unforeseen accidents.

'All I can say is that my deepest sympathies go to everyone affected.

'Castlegregory is a very touristy area on the peninsula and quite popular around this time of year.

'I'm just very sorry that something this tragic has happened here,' he said.

Local Fianna Fail councillor Breandan Fitzgerald also extended his condolences.

'My thoughts and prayers are with this boy's family and friends,' he said.

'It's such a tragic thing to have happened and my heart goes out to the family.

'This is a small community where everyone knows everyone, and we're all shocked.'

According to the Irish Independent, the boy suffered fatal injuries in the 'freak accident' at around 3pm on Sunday. Desperate efforts were made to save him, but he was pronounced dead a short time later.

An autopsy is expected to be carried out on the boy this week.

A Garda spokesman said that a family liaison officer has been appointed to support the family, with Garda sources confirming to the Irish Independent that the incident was being treated as a tragic accident, the publication reported.

'Gardai and emergency services attended the scene of an incident on private property, in near Castlegregory, Co. Kerry on Sunday afternoon, August 5, 2023.

'A child (boy) later passed away from his injuries.'

The spokesman added: 'An Garda Siochana ask that the media give the family privacy at this time and report on this incident sensitively.

'No further information is being made available at this time.'

This is the second incident this year where a young person has lost their life in a quad-bike-related accident.

In April, David Brown, 15, was killed when he and another youth hit a tree in a woodland in Ballyshaneduff, Ballybrittas, Co. Laois.

A second teenager was brought to Midlands Regional Hospital in Tullamore following the incident. However, his injuries were not life-threatening.

And in 2021, Jokubas Sliosoras, 9, died from injuries sustained in an accident on a quad-bike, also in Co. Laois.

His inquest heard that the boy had taken the vehicle without his father's permission.
A British man has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting another UK tourist at a hotel in Magaluf.

The 48-year-old man is said to have approached the female holidaymaker from behind and put his hands down the 20-year-old woman's trousers before touching her private parts.

The alleged victim, who was staying at the same unnamed hotel as the male holidaymaker, told police he was a stranger she had never met before.

A hotel receptionist alerted police who arrested the suspect shortly after arriving at the hotel.

The local town hall-employed police who were the first to respond have now passed the case over to the Civil Guard.

Magaluf Beach (Stock image). The alleged victim told cops he was a stranger she had never met before. A hotel receptionist alerted police who arrested the suspect shortly after arriving at the hotel

It was not immediately clear today if the suspect has already appeared in court and whether he has been released on bail by an investigating judge or remanded in custody.

Last month two male Irish holidaymakers were arrested on suspicion of raping a British woman in a hotel in Magaluf.

The pair were held at Palma Airport on July 19 as they were preparing to board a flight to Dublin.

They were remanded in prison pending an ongoing investigation.

On July 9 a British holidaymaker was arrested at Palma Airport after allegedly raping his girlfriend at their hotel on the island.

The 38-year-old was held as he tried to fly home after his 24-year-old partner went to police to say he had forced himself on her in the bathroom of their hotel room.

The couple are said to have been staying at a three-star hotel near the resort of Magaluf.

In May a British tourist was arrested and thrown in jail on suspicion of raping a female friend of his son's at a hotel in Magaluf.

The holidaymaker was also held at Palma Airport after allegedly packing his bags and trying to leave the island in a hurry hours later.

The woman, also believed to be British, told detectives she was forced to have sex after falling asleep in her friend's room which had an internal door leading into his dad's room.
A mother who fatally smothered her three daughters had sunk in a severe depression and was plagued by two nagging questions the girls were asking, a court heard.

Lauren Anne Dickason, 42, is charged with murdering her two-year-old twins Maya and Karla and their six-year-old sister Liane in September 2021 at their house in Timaru on New Zealand's South Island, about a month after the family migrated from South Africa.

She is being tried in Christchurch High Court, where she has admitted to the killings but pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

Forensic psychiatrist Justin Barry-Walsh told the court on Tuesday that he believed Dickason's actions were motivated by her 'severe' and increasing depression, noting that on the day of the tragedy she felt like she was 'in a dream'.

'She spoke about how unsettled their lives had been, she felt like they had 'been putting (the girls) through torture with the shift to New Zealand',' Dr Barry-Walsh said.

'They were asking when they could see their grandparents and their friends... asking why they had moved somewhere so cold.

Lauren Anne Dickason, 42, is charged with murdering her two-year-old twins and their six-year-old sister in September 2021 at their house in Timaru on New Zealand's South Island

'She could not see a way out of it... killing the children felt right... she was concerned about the future.... she thought the children were better off dead.'

Dickason said she felt 'no emotions' as she killed the girls and in what felt like 'an out-of-body experience'.

The mother then tried to kill herself and explained her plan was to climb into bed so that when she was found it would look like she was sleeping.

'When she woke she could not believe she was still alive,' Dr Barry-Walsh told the court.

'She saw a police officer... she had not thought through the consequences... she did not intend to wake up.'

At that stage she 'didn't change her mind about the children dying' and still 'felt she was right' and that 'the biggest mistake she made' was coming to a country she had never seen before.

'She said she wished she had stayed in South Africa.'

'I was not prepared to leave the kids didn't want them to not have a mother, didn't want to leave Graham with the burden,' Dickason told Dr Barry-Walsh, according to the New Zealand Herald.

'I wanted it to be quiet, I did not want to leave them behind, I felt like I would be abandoning them.

Dickason with husband Graham and their children Liane, 6, and two-year-old twins Maya and Karla

'It seemed like the logical thing to do... it felt like it was right.'

When he arrived home from a work dinner Dickason's husband, Graham Dickason, found Liane, Maya and Karla children dead and his wife in a serious condition.

Dr Barry-Walsh argued that Dickason did not act out of rage, as other psychiatric experts stated.

She described how leading up to the deaths everything had looked 'black and negative' and she 'felt she was on auto-pilot'.

Dickason 'considered herself a winner if she achieved changing the nappies or feeding the children'.

On the day the girls died Dickson had been asked for more information from the family's immigration advisor including about her mental health.

'It was the straw that broke the camel's back,' Dr Barry-Walsh said.

'She knew she would not pass the psychiatric assessment due to her mental state she just cracked.

'She said 'it came to me... I cannot go through any more, I cannot do another day of this, I had nothing left in my tank.'

She felt 'so overwhelmed', felt 'the world was such a mess' and 'wanted to die so badly'.

Dr Barry-Walsh said when he first saw Dickson in October 2021 she was unable to talk about the incident.

Lauren Dickason, who is standing trial for killing her three daughters, poses with her family

She said when told her children were dead her first thought was 'at least they are free of all the frustrations in the world'.

However, her feelings gradually changed.

'She wished she could go back 12 weeks... but she still thought they were better off dead, she felt guilty for what she'd done... that she was probably going to hell,' Dr Barry-Walsh said

'She did not care about what happened.'

Dickason later told Barry-Walsh that she 'prayed every night she would not wake up in the morning.

'She said she just wanted to go home and die... she said it would be easier on her family and she could be 'with my girls' whose remains are in South Africa,' Dr Barry-Walsh said.

More recently she Dr Barry-Walsh she was 'missing the kids a lot' and waking every morning was 'like a kick in the guts' and she 'just wanted to die'.

She cried a lot, admitted struggling and said her mood was 'lower than it had ever been'.

The trial continues.

For confidential 24-hour support in Australia call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Hundreds of barmy Brits are tuning in to watch the latest internet phenomenon - a live-streamed video of people caught red-handed fly-tipping.

Internet sleuths are glued to watching litterbugs as they dump their unwanted rubbish into a battered yellow skip in central London, which is being secretly filmed.

'Skip Watch TV' was launched this week after a poll of 250 British builders revealed fly-tippers using their skips was one of their biggest pet peeves.

At least 70 per cent of builders claimed to have fallen victim to having their skip filled with other people's rubbish - forcing them to fork out cash to clear other people's waste.

In just 24 hours, culprits dumped cardboard, a mirror and even a freezer in the skip - which is intended for the use of builders working nearby - but were unaware they were caught by hidden cameras set up outside Terry's Cafe in Southwark.

Hundreds of people are tuning in to watch a live stream - showing people dumping rubbish into a skip (pictured are men dumping a fridge in the skip)

Internet sleuths are watching litterbugs as they dump their unwanted rubbish into a battered yellow skip in central London, which is being secretly filmed

In just 24 hours, culprits dumped cardboard, a mirror and even a freezer in the skip - but were unaware they were caught by hidden cameras set up outside Terry's Cafe in Southwark

While other people have been filmed dumping a suitcase and black sacks full of junk.

The stream is on Fix Radio, which carried out the survey with builders. In a statement on its website, the broadcaster said: 'Our listeners are sick and tired of the public dumping any old rubbish in their skips while working on site.

'We recently surveyed 250 builders from across the UK and a whopping 70% of you told us that random people had thrown their litter into your skip, costing precious time and money!

'So we've decided to catch the fly-tippers red handed!

'Our Fix Radio Skip is situated in a central London location and we're keeping an eye on it 24 hours a day to see what ends up in it.

'Be sure to check back and see what shows up.'

Clive Holland, the host of The Clive Holland Show on Fix Radio, said: 'Fly-tipping has serious consequences for Britain's builders.

Others on the caught dumping their rubbish on camera including this woman who threw in two black sacks

This is the sort of image viewers tuning into Skip Watch TV are greeted to when they log onto the live-stream

Tagged as Skip Watch TV, the surreal live-stream was kick-started following a poll of 250 of Britain's builders

'They work all hours to help get the nation moving and the last thing they need is added disruption and having to empty a tip when they're on site.

'Builders are the nation's backbone  they support us, and we should support them.'

The live-stream started on Monday and is running every day until Friday, August 11.

It's not the first time Brits have been hooked by a bizarre live-stream.

In 2016 more than 20,000 tuned into a live feed of a people trying to negotiate their way past a giant puddle in Newcastle.

The broadcast was set up and posted to the live video streaming app Periscope.

Internet users spent two hours watching the feed, with others taking to Twitter to share how 'surprisingly addictive' it was.

And as darkness fell, pranksters were on hand to join in on the fun as the puddle dwindled. They were seen splashing around, posing and even doing push-ups in the remaining inches of water.

Odd: As darkness fell people were even stripping down to their underwear to do press ups in the puddle

Photographs taken this evening show two men in underwear attempting to do push-ups in the centre of the puddle, where a 'caution' warning sign had been put in place.

Another image shows a man spreading his arms and legs in a starfish shape.

Some locals were even captured attempting to cross the puddle on an inflatable lilo.

The bizarre footage was hailed as the 'most English thing ever' and was a smash hit on social media.

One person tweeted: '#DrummondPuddleWatch has ruined productivity today', while another wrote: 'This is bizarrely compelling'.

Another user, Nicola Heath, added: 'High drama. Addictive and the Most English thing EVER. #DrummondPuddleWatch.'

And in April, Britons tuned in to watch a live stream of pilots as they battled to land their planes as Storm Noa battered the nation.

Gusts of up to 96mph were recorded as storm brought down trees across swathes of Britain, causing power cuts and blocking railway lines.
A five-year-old boy has drowned while swimming in a lake in a Pennsylvania state park.

Several agencies were called to Pleasant Valley Beach in Moraine State Park just before 2pm on Monday following reports the child was unresponsive.

While first responders performed life-saving measures on the as-yet-unnamed boy for around half an hour, he was pronounced dead at the scene on the banks of the man-made Lake Arthur.

Officials said he was swimming in the authorized swimming section, which has a maximum depth of five feet.

He was found in a part of the lake that was around two to three feet deep. It is not currently known whether his family were in the water as their son drowned.

The young boy was pronounced dead at the scene after first responders spent around 30 minutes trying to revive him (Stock)

He was found in a part of the man-made lake that was just two to three feet deep

Park rangers, who are investigating the tragic incident, have said they do not suspect foul play

Officials said that it is rare for someone to drown at the lake, claiming that the last drowning happened around five years ago

Officials said that while people are allowed to swim in the area, they do so at their own risk as there are no lifeguards.

Park rangers are currently handling the investigation, who added that no foul play is suspected.

Park manager Drew Dustin said that drownings at the lake are very rare, with the last one taking place around five years ago.

The tragic news has hit the local area hard.

'I can't imagine what the parents are going through. It's horrific,' Bobby Morrow of nearby Portersville told WPXI.

He said that he and his young son, 9, swim at the same spot nearly every weekend.

'My heart dropped. Having a little one similar in age and being in this water, it's gut-wrenching and it's hard. I can't even begin to fathom,' he said.

'All I can think about is the heartbreak. The heartbreak,' Morrow added.
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A stealthy snow leopard has been caught on camera proving that it is the ultimate master of disguise.

The master predator can be seen perfectly camouflaged in settings including a grassy plain, a craggy rock face, and a dark brown stretch of land in China's Sichuan Province.

If you find the leopard hard to spot, then you can only imagine the chances that its prey had.

The magnificent creature can also be seen tucking into a feast on the rocky surface.

Italian travel photographer Fabio Nodari, 38, said the images and video were taken in 'a remote area that is home to many endangered species, such as white-lipped deer and snow leopards'.

Mr Nodari, who currently lives in Yunnan, China, explained that people who've seen the photographs have been shocked that he managed to spot a snow leopard in the first place.

Can you spot the snow leopards in the pictures below?

The photographs were taken in China's Sichuan Province. There is a snow leopard perfectly blended in to this rocky surface. Can you spot it?

The leopard is lurking close to its prey as it perfectly blends in to its surroundings

The leopard is among the rocks on this grassy plain. Can you see it?

Revealed: Did you find the creatures circled below?

The master of disguise can be seen on the craggy rock surface in this photograph taken in China's Sichuan Province

The predator close to its prey on the hillside. Snow leopards have thick grey and yellow-tinged fur, with solid spots on their head, neck and lower limbs, which provide the perfect camouflage
Paranoid Vladimir Putin's security forces have massively increased the number of suspected 'traitors' they have arrested for treason.

This has led to a record 82 treason cases so far in 2023, according to independent Russian outlet Kholod.

The actual number is likely to be 'many times higher', because the FSB security service keeps some cases totally secret, according to independent Russian outlet Kholod.

Between 1997 and 2017 there were a total of 101 treason cases.

The figures confirm the suspicion that Putin is now seeing enemies everywhere on a scale not seen since the repressive Stalin era.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is pictured at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Aug. 6, 2023

Jailed Russian-British oppositionist Vladimir Kara-Murza, left. Tamara Parshina, 23, the youngest to be arrested for state treason, right

Professor Anatoly Maslov arrested for state treason, left. Eminent Russian scientist Valery Golubkin, 71, was sentenced by a Moscow court to 12 years in a strict regime colony for 'state treason', right

'If previously the group of risk included employees of defence enterprises, military personnel and scientists who had access to state secrets, now literally everyone can be accused of treason,' said the report.

'Even likes on Instagram and subscriptions on Telegram [messenger service] can lead to a criminal case.'

Lawyer Yevgeny Smirnov, from human rights project Department One, said: 'Do not forget that the very content of the state secret is a state secret.

'That is, not a single person in Russia knows what exactly is a state secret and what is not.

'Each [government] department has its own secret lists of information that they do not show to anyone.'

He said: 'The FSB has picked up its pace [in 2023]  we get 20 criminal cases a month on average.

'At this rate, there will be about 250 [treason cases] by the end of December, one for every work day per year.'

Among those jailed for treason is Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza, 41, who holds Russian and British citizenship. He was imprisoned for 25 years for criticising Putin's war and opposing his regime.

He was also twice poisoned.

Eminent Russian hypersonic scientist Valery Golubkin, 71, was in June sentenced by a Moscow court to 12 years in a strict regime colony for 'state treason'.

Female IT specialist Tamara Parshina, 23, is one of the youngest to be accused of treason by Putin's ruthless security forces.

She was then flown for eight hours to be held in Moscow's top security Lerfortovo detention jail.

Lenie Umerova, 25, (second left ) a Ukrainian citizen from annexed Crimea, is arrested in Moscow in a case of treason

Lenie Umerova, 25, from annexed Crimea, was sent to notorious Lefortovo jail in Moscow on a treason charge that could see her jailed for 20 years - despite being a Ukrainian citizen.

Another hypersonic scientist Alexander Shiplyuk, 56, was held in a swoop by the FSB counterintelligence agency in Novosibirsk, Siberia, where he heads the Khristianovich Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics.

Professor Anatoly Maslov, 75, a pioneer of hypersonic technologies, was also held on suspicion of treason.

Acclaimed laser scientist Dr Dmitry Kolker, 54, died last year two days after he was seized from his cancer hospital bed and shut away in one of Russia's most notorious jails as a 'spy'.

Ilya Sachkov, 37, founder of pioneering Group-IB, once awarded by Putin, was last month jailed for 14 years for 'passing secrets to foreign spies'.

And last week, former Russian defence reporter Ivan Safronov lost his latest appeal against a 22-year jail sentence on charges of treason.

Safronov, a former reporter for the Kommersant and Vedomosti newspapers who later worked as an adviser to the head of Russia's space agency, was arrested in 2020 and accused of disclosing classified information.

He was sentenced in September last year, in what his supporters called a draconian ruling that showed the absence of media freedom in Russia.

He was accused of handing military secrets to the Czech Republic, a NATO member, but his defence team said the case was revenge for his journalistic reporting on Russian plans to sell fighter jets to Egypt.

Safronov was transferred in February to a high-security prison in the Krasnoyarsk region of Siberia, and was not present for Wednesday's Supreme Court decision in Moscow.
The controversial asylum seeker barge is the first of its kind, with the three-level vessel having the capacity to house 500 people.

The Bibby Stockholm, which sits in Portland Port in Dorset, has been among the UK governments solutions to the cost of accommodating asylum seekers.

The Prime Minister hopes the vessel, which was previously home to oil and gas workers, will put an end to the 6m-a-day bill it costs to house asylum seekers.

But with the first 15 migrants now on the vessel and concerns circulating that it could become a 'floating Grenfell', how safe is Bibby Stockholm?

There were reports of serious fire safety concerns with the Bibby Stockholm (pictured) and fears it could become a 'floating Grenfell'

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hopes the vessel will put a stop to the 6mil-a-day bill to house asylum seekers in hotels

Why was the Bibby Stockholm delayed?

Migrants were due to first set foot on the barge on August 4, but due to concerns raised by a health and safety watchdog regarding the wellbeing of dock workers plans were delayed.

It has been reported that delays occurred because the local council in Portland advised the Home Office that it would be too complex to get residents onto the vessel on a Thursday or Friday as those days are closer to the weekend.

A government source said the local council did not 'want new services beginning on a Thursday or Friday,' Sky News reports.

The same source alleged that the delay was not due fire concerns, but rather health and safety needing to be approved for the 'working practices' of dock workers.

Why did the FBU brand the vessel a 'death trap'?

However, a source from the Home Office confirmed that fire safety was the cause of initial setbacks, Sky News reports.

They said it was because a door had been fitted incorrectly, and was installed the wrong way round.

The door has now been fixed, however the plans still face scrutiny due to the amount of people expected to be on the vessel.

Originally the barge was designed to accommodate around 220 migrants, but is set to now home up to 500.

The Fire Brigade Union said they believed the vessel was a 'death trap' and 'an accident waiting to happen', expressing concern regarding the Home Office's intention to house 500 residents.

Ben Selby, the assistant general of the FBU told Sky News: 'That then raises significant fire safety concerns for us, and also concerns that, if a fire was to break out on the Bibby, could firefighters make the adequate rescues and access where necessary.'

'By increasing that occupancy, then we would expect certain measures and assessments to be made to ensure that those that were being accommodated there were safe, and that firefighters - if and when they were needed to make access to the Bibby - they were also safe, or as safe as they could be in doing so when attempting to rescue people.'

The FBU have spoke out against the barrage. They branded it as a 'death trap' and 'an accident waiting to happen'

Mr Selby referenced the Grenfell tragedy and said: 'We don't want to be in the case right now. We feel like we're looking down the barrel of another possible disaster.

'We believe it to be a death trap, and we believe it's another accident waiting to happen.'

Steve Smith, the CEO of Care4Calais has also warned against vessel, marking the Bibby Stockholm as a 'floating prison' that would retraumatize those who have fled the horrors of war.

He echoed Mr Selby's concerns and said the barge is an 'accident waiting to happen' alleging the government was putting money as a 'higher priority than people's lives', due to insufficient fire safety on the vessel.

He continued: 'The obvious fire hazard of moving a large number of people across to the Bibby is clearly causing a delay.'

The Conservative MP for South Dorset, Richard Drax, told The Telegraph if the vessel cannot meet the safety requirement for all 500 migrants on the Bibby Stockholm then the number of residents would need to be lowered.

How safe is the barrage?

However, not everyone is in agreement with the FBU and their concerns. One government source went as far as to claim the union were opposing the barge because of their own political agenda.

They branded the FBU's defiance as a 'betrayal of our country and the British people, according to Sky News.

Energy Secretary, Grant Shapps spoke out backing the Bibby Stockholm plans and assuring its safety.

A view of inside one of the bedrooms onboard the Bibby Stockholm accommodation barge. Ministers assure that the vessel is safe and will safe money

The canteen area on board the barge, which will house up to 500 asylum seekers. Energy Secretary, Grant Shapps told Good Morning Britain that 'there's no reason why (the barge) wouldn't be absolutely safe'

He told ITV's Good Morning Britain: 'This actual ship was previously used by Germany to house migrants, there's no reason why it wouldn't be absolutely safe.

'Ships are used to transport people all the time and there's no inherent reason why that (not being safe) would be the case.

'That's actually why these final safety checks are being carried out.'

The Home Office has confirmed Bibby Stockholm successfully completed health, fire, and safety checks last week

A Home Office spokesperson said: 'The first asylum seekers are now being housed on the vessel in Portland after it successfully completed all health, fire and safety checks.

'The number of people on board will increase gradually with more arrivals later this week and in the coming months, as part of a carefully structured phased approach.

'This marks a further step forward in the government's work to bring forward alternative accommodation options as part of its pledge to reduce the use of expensive hotels and move to a more orderly, sustainable system which is more manageable for local communities.

'This is a tried and tested approach that mirrors that taken by our European neighbours, the Scottish Government and offers better value for the British taxpayer.'

15 people are now on the Bibby Stockholm, 12 refused to get on the barge as of August 8, 2023.
The deadline for a military junta that overthrew Niger's president to secede power has passed, leaving neighbouring countries and Western allies of Niger in a perilous position.

The country's military was told by neighbouring bloc Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) it had until Sunday to stand down and reinstate ousted president Mohamed Bazoum.

The attempted coup indicates a possible shift away from the pro-Western tendencies of Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum, and may only increase current Western tensions with Russia amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

But how exactly does the coup in Niger affect countries in the West? What have Western countries said about the coup? Read on below to find out more.

A supporter of the military is seen with the flags of Niger and Russia painted on his body during a rally in Niamey, Niger, on August 6 2023

How does the Niger coup affect the West?

While the now-overthrown President Mohamed Bazoum was being held captive by his soldiers at the presidential palace in the country's capital city of Niamey, some citizens supporting the coup could be seen waving Russian flags.

In a moment emblematic of the wider struggle in Africa between the West and Russia, those supporters could be heard shouting 'long live Russia' and 'long live Putin', as well as 'down with France.'

The coup is seen in the West as disastrous, as Niger was one of the last countries that supported counterterrorism efforts in the Sahel region, a politically volatile belt that stretches across North Africa.

Western countries like the US and France have poured hundreds of millions of dollars of military assistance into Niger.

In the days since the coup, the fate of France's 1,500 soldiers and the US' 1,100 soldiers has been called into question.

The coup is of wider concern to Western countries because of the actions of the Wagner Group elsewhere in Africa.

The mercenary group is estimated to operate in around 30 countries worldwide, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and faces several human rights violations.

The coup is of wider concern to Western countries because of the actions of the Wagner Group elsewhere in Africa. Pictured: The founder of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin

Its fighters are most influential in African countries where armed conflicts have forced leaders to turn to Moscow for help, such as Libya, Mali, Sudan, Mozambique and Burkina Faso.

It also has a notable presence in the Central African Republic, as well as its rumoured operations in Niger.

Experts have warned that the Wagner Group's involvement in the revolt against the Kremlin will force African countries that are reliant on the group to be more wary of how they engage with Russia moving forward.

Following the coup, the founder of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said on social media: 'What happened in Niger has been brewing for years.'

'The former colonizers are trying to keep the people of African countries in check. In order to keep them in check, the former colonizers are filling these countries with terrorists and various bandit formations. Thus creating a colossal security crisis.'

Western countries like the US and France have poured hundreds of millions of dollars of military assistance into Niger. Pictured: French President Emmanuel Macron speaking to the press at APEC Haus in Port Moresby on July 28 2023

How have Western leaders responded to the coup in Niger?

The coup serves as a blow to French President Emmanuel Macron, who criticised his chief spy over his failure to predict the Niger coup.

He said that Bernard Emie, 64, director of France's foreign intelligence agency, should have foreseen the overthrowing of President Bazoum.

In response, the director of the Directorate-General for External Security (DGSE) said that he had issued a warning earlier this year and that it was ignored by the government.

In a written statement commemorating Niger's Independence Day, US President Joe Biden called for the immediate release of Bazoum, saying Washington 'stands with the people of Niger' as the country is presented with a 'grave challenge to its democracy.'
A 'beloved' mother-of-four who went missing on a hike in Phoenix has been found dead - as cops say her death was likely heat-related amid soaring temperatures.

Jessica Christine Lindstrom, 34, went hiking in the Deem Hills Recreation Area around 8.30am Friday and was declared missing around nine hours later.

A major operation involving drones, technical rescue teams and volunteers was launched, before Jessica's body was discovered on a remote trail on the north side of the recreation area after five hours of searching.

Tragically, the nurse from Oregon lost her life in the same area her husband Daniel proposed to her 11 years ago.

Her husband made a heartbreaking tribute to his wife and mother of his four young sons, describing Jessica as 'by far the best thing that has ever happened to me.'

Jessica Christine Lindstrom, 34, died while hiking in the Deem Hills Recreation Area on Friday

Daniel made a heartbreaking tribute to his wife and mother of his four young sons

Jessica's body was discovered on a remote trail on the north side of the recreation area after five hours of searching. Pictured: An area of Deem Hills

He shared a statement on Facebook thanking people for their support following his devastating loss.

'I am so deeply touched by all the outpouring of love and support for me and my family under these difficult circumstances.

'All those who knew Jessica can attest that she was devoted to anything she put her mind to. She was a very loyal friend and kind to everyone she came in contact with.'

The heartbroken husband continued in his post, which he shared alongside photos from the couple's wedding: 'I was head over heels when we started dating and knew right away she was the one.

'Coincidentally, I proposed to her at Deem Hills, where she ultimately succumbed to death.

'So eternally grateful that she said "YES" and gave me a chance. I married my best friend and into the most amazing family!

'Me and my boys are deeply saddened but we feel the love from everyone so abundantly. I know the pain will eventually pass as we navigate through our new normal.'

Authorities said Jessica, who previously lived in the Phoenix suburb of Peoria, was a registered nurse in Oregon and had been visiting family.

Her mother, Angela Adams, also shared a tribute saying: 'It is with very heavy and broken hearts that we announce the passing our beloved wife, mother, daughter, and sister, Jessica (Adams) Lindstrom.'

Tragically, Jessica, a nurse from Oregon, lost her life in the same area her husband Daniel proposed to her eleven years ago

On a GoFundMe page set up to support Jessica's sons, she expressed her family's thanks to well wishers and emergency responders who worked to find her daughter.

'Our family has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support from our family, friends, strangers, and hundreds throughout our community who showed up to help us in every way.

'To those first responders who answered the call, spending the entire day organizing the search efforts, we can't thank you enough.

'To the hundreds who dropped everything to brave the heat and help us search for Jessica, we cannot thank you enough.

'We have been so overcome with the selfless service, the love, and the prayers that you have shown.

'We wish that we could thank each of your personally as you continue to reach out to our family, but please know that right now that is just not possible.

'We do feel all the love and prayers, and they continue to sustain us as we travel this new path.

'Oh how we will miss our Jessica, but we are buoyed in our faith in Christ's Atonement that makes it possible for us to live together as a family again.'

As of Tuesday, the page has raised over $35,000.

Jessica's death comes during what has been a deadly summer for hikers in the southwest, with at least seven heat-related deaths reported, according to the New York Times.

Phoenix Fire Department Captain Kimberly Ragsdale told KTVK/KPHO: 'We just want to remind everybody right now during this heat just be very mindful of the times you're hiking and to take every safety precaution you can while hiking.'

The temperature high in the Phoenix area was around 115 Fahrenheit (45.5 Celsius) on Friday.

Maricopa County, Arizona's most populous, reported Wednesday that 39 heat-associated deaths have been confirmed this year as of July 29 with another 312 deaths under investigation.

A major operation involving drones, technical rescue teams and volunteers was launched, before Jessica's body was discovered after five hours

At the same time last year, there were 42 confirmed heat-related deaths in the county with another 282 under investigation.

Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix, reported 425 heat-associated deaths in all of 2022 with more than half of them in July.

The National Weather Service said July was the hottest month in Phoenix on record, with an average temperature of 102.7 Fahrenheit (39.28 Celsius). That topped the previous record of 99.1 F (37.28 C) set in August 2020.

Phoenix and its suburbs sweltered more and longer than most cities during the recent heat spell, with several records including 31 consecutive days over 110 F (43.33 C). The previous record was 18 straight days, set in 1974.

The National Weather Service said metro Phoenix was under an excessive heat warning through Monday night with near-record high temperatures expected to reach between 110 degrees F (43.3 C) and 114 F (45.5) Sunday and Monday.

Saturday's high of 116 F (46.6) broke the previous record of 115 (46.11) set on that date in 2019.
French prosecutors have raised questions over accusations levelled against a German man who allegedly held his wife captive for more than a decade and tortured her in a French border town.

Police on Monday said they had arrested the 55-year-old German - named publicly as Thorsten S - after his wife was discovered naked in a poor state following what she said was 12 years in captivity at the couple's home in Forbach.

But her husband denied this and added that his wife - named as Alicia W by local media - was suffering from cancer and that he was caring for her.

A police source said initially that the woman, also German, was found with her head shaved in a bedroom of the apartment, had multiple injuries and was undernourished. She had probably been tortured, the source said.

The state of her health was 'not good', local prosecutor Olivier Glady told AFP news agency after her examination by the local forensic medicine service.

French prosecutors have raised questions over accusations levelled against a German man who allegedly held his wife captive for more than a decade and tortured her in their home (pictured, August 7) in the French border town of Forbach

View of a house near the German-French border of the Saar region where a German national has been arrested on suspicion of having tortured, raped and imprisoned his wife at their home in Forbach, Eastern France, August 8

Police on Monday said they had arrested the 55-year-old German - named publicly as Thorsten S - after his wife was discovered naked in a poor state following what she said was 12 years in captivity at the couple's home in Forbach

But he later told a news conference that initial examinations had not found fractures or bruises, contrary to the initial media reports.

Blood tests showed that Alicia W was not significantly dehydrated, he said, adding that there were 'inconsistencies' in her accounts to investigators.

'The cursor is probably moving away from a scenario of horror, towards unsatisfactory conditions of the care of a sick person,' Glady said.

He said the 53-year-old's bald head and her skinny frame could be due to cancer and her semi-nude state could be explained by the fact that the police went to their flat in the morning to detain her husband.

'The current state of investigation appears us to move away from the spectre of a Bluebeard of the Moselle region,' the prosecutor added, a reference to 'Bluebeard', a French folk tale about a wealthy man who murders his wives.

Police said the bedroom and other rooms in the apartment were closed off with metal wire at the flat in Forbach in eastern France, that sits near the German border.

That setup may have been meant to keep the household's 10 cats in, Glady said, rather than to keep the woman inside the apartment.

A police source said Alicia W got access to a phone and called police in Wiesbaden, western Germany, who in turn alerted their French colleagues. A day later, on Monday, French police conducted a search of the building and arrested the man.

A neighbour of the couple addresses media in Forbach, eastern France, on August 7. Neighbours have described the man as being friendly and polite, although some have also said they heard screams coming from the apartment which they put down to cancer treatment

Police said the bedroom and other rooms in the apartment were closed off with metal wire at the flat in Forbach in eastern France, near the German border. That setup may have been meant to keep the household's ten cats in, prosecutor Glady said

Over the years, Thorsten S had told everyone in the building that his wife had cancer, said Alissia, a neighbour.

'I never saw the lady, I don't think she ever left the house,' she said.

'Sometimes I heard screams,' Alicia said, but added that she thought they were caused by the illness. Descibing the man, she said: 'Very polite, nice.'

Erika, another witness who lives in an adjacent street, said she last saw the woman 'maybe ten years ago', and thought that 'maybe she had died, or moved out'.

Speaking to Bild, brothers Dany (23) and Kevin (20) who visit their father living in the same building, also said the 55-year-old was friendly and polite.

'We've seen the man more than once. He was very friendly and polite. We never saw the woman,' they told the German publication.

They added that on rare occasions they heard screams coming from the apartment.

'He told us that she had cancer and that she was screaming because of her illness, because of the pain,' said the 23-year-old.

Bild reported a neighbour called the police in 2019, likely due to the screams. When an officer investigated, the couple are understood to have said everything was fine.

A police vehicle is parked in front of the entrance door of the building where lived a couple in Forbach, eastern France, on August 7

Forbach is found in eastern France, and sits near the German border

'The police officers found nothing out of the ordinary,' Prosecutor Glady said.

Police are investigating Thorsten S for kidnapping, aggravated rape, and acts of torture and barbarism, French broadcaster BFMTV said.

Broadcaster RMC said police found a diary-type notebook in which it was believed the man kept a record of his actions and of the times he gave his wife food but the prosecutor did not confirm this.

The man is jobless and believed to have worked in German industry previously, Glady said. Police have extended his custody by 24 hours, the prosecutor said.
Battersea Cats & Dogs home paid a visit to the Prime Minister's 'Chief Mouser' Larry the cat, today.

Larry is a tabby cat who's lived at 10 Downing Street since 2011 - he is cared for by Downing Street staff and is not the personal property of the Prime Minister.

However, he's reached almost the same level of fame - someone even set up a Twitter account for him that's racked up almost 835k followers.

In the video that's been shared to Twitter for International Cat Day by the Department for Environmental Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), we see two members of the Battersea team knock on the door of number 10 and ask to see Larry.

In the video we see two members of the Battersea team knock on the door of number 10 and ask to see Larry

A microchip is a tiny device inserted under the skin of your pet which contains a unique code that links your pet to you through an online database

Larry is a tabby cat who's lived at 10 Downing Street since 2011 - he is cared for by Downing Street staff and is not the personal property of the Prime Minister

The video has been shared to Twitter for International Cat Day by the Department for Environmental Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)

A voice then says 'excellent, come inside' and we see the much-loved cat getting some fuss from the team.

'Hi Larry, we've just come to check your details - are you up to date with your chip?' they ask.

After checking that he's microchipped and even giving him a cheeky treat, the team explain that the law is changing and from June 2024, all cats will need a microchip.

So cat owners, this is a reminder to take your furry friend to the vet before the law comes into place.

This is to help reunite more stray's with their owners - Battersea successfully reunites hundreds of lost pets with their owners each year and it's microchipping that makes it possible.

Rishi Sunak and his office's official Twitter account @10DowningStreet, also shared the video, captioning it 'An important reminder from Chief Mouser Larry on #InternationalCatDat @Battersea_

'There are over 9 million pet cats in England, with as many as 2.3 million unchipped.

'We've introduced new laws meaning all owners must have their cats microchipped from June 2024.

'Make sure your cat is chipped, like Larry.'

Rishi Sunak and his office's official Twitter account @10DowningStreet, also shared the video

The video was posted at 8am today and already has over 70k views, with Twitter users sharing their thoughts below

A microchip is a tiny device inserted under the skin of your pet which contains a unique code that links your pet to you through an online database.

It can be inserted by a vet, in a quick, painless procedure.

Then, if your cat gets lost and someone takes them to a rescue center or vet, they will simply scan your cat and identify you as it's owner.

All cat owners will have until 10 June 2024 to get their cats chipped.

Cats must be implanted with a microchip before they reach the age of 20 weeks and their contact details stored and kept up to date in a pet microchip database.

Owners found not to have microchipped their cat will have 21 days to have one implanted, or could face a fine of up to 500.

On Twitter, one person said 'Great pictures and extremely good news' while another wrote 'Meeting Larry was one of the highlights of my life @Number10cat'

CEO of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Peter Laurie, said:

'Last year nearly two thirds of the cats that arrived at our centres werent microchipped.

'Many of these cats were likely not strays, but much-loved pets that had simply wandered too far from home.

'Thats why were so pleased to see the Government introducing this important legislation that, coupled with Larrys valuable endorsement, will help ensure many more worried owners are reunited with their lost cats in future.'

The video was posted at 8am today and already has over 70k views, with Twitter users sharing their thoughts below.

One person said 'Great pictures and extremely good news' while another wrote 'Meeting Larry was one of the highlights of my life @Number10cat.'

Someone else joked 'The only capable worker in No10.'

Larry is thought to be 15 years old and has seen five Prime Ministers pass through the doors since his arrival in 2011.

Larry has reached almost the same level of fame of the Prime Minister - someone even set up a Twitter account for him that's racked up almost 835k followers

As well as his internet personality, Larry is also known for his tussles with other animals

He was rescued from Battersea Cats & Dogs Home and was originally intended to be a pet for David and Samantha Cameron's children.

According to the Downing Street website, Larry's duties include: 'greeting guests to the house, inspecting security defences and testing antique furniture for napping quality.

'His day-to-day responsibilities also include contemplating a solution to the mouse occupancy of the house. Larry says this is still in tactical planning stage.

A parody Twitter account for Larry called @Number10Cat has amassed almost 835k followers - the account tweets satirical comments on the UK politics scene.

Today, the account tweeted 'Today is International Cat Day. Expect all cats to strut around like we own the place, so the same as every day really.'

It has over 3000 likes and almost 4,000 retweets - more than the Prime Minister's own tweet for International Cat Day.

As well as his internet personality, Larry is also known for his tussles with other animals.

In November last year he got into a scrap with a fox in front of the famous black Number 10 door.

The Chief Mouser fought the urban fox off until it retreated from Larry's Downing Street territory.
The devastated grandmother of five boys who were killed alongside their father in a horror house fire has shared a heartwrenching new detail about how they died.

Maternal grandmother Rebecca Stephenson said their father Wayne Godinet, 34, was found with his arms around his children as the fire overtook their home on Russell Island on Sunday.

The bodies of Mr Godinet and his twins Kyza and Koa, aged four, three-year-old son Nicky, and stepsons, Zack, 11 and Harry, 10, were all found in the rubble later.

Mr Godinet had run upstairs to rescue his children after the southeast Queensland house erupted in flames about 6am.

Grandmother Rebecca Stephenson described the tragedy as 'every mothers worst nightmare and more'.

Wayne Godinet was found with his 'arms around' his children (pictured together above) after they were killed in a house fire

Mr Godinet (pictured with partner Samantha Stephenson) ran upstairs in the burning Russell Island home to try and rescue his children

'He really was everything to [Samantha] and the boys,' she told the Courier Mail on Tuesday.

'He died with his arms around all of the boys.'

The children's mother and Mr Godinet's 28-year-old partner, Samantha Stephenson, managed to escape the burning home alongside her sister, 21.

She'd been asleep upstairs with the young children while Mr Godinet slept downstairs.

It's understood both parents initially made it out of the home but Mr Godinet stopped Ms Stephenson from going back inside to get the kids, instead going himself.

However, once upstairs he was trapped by the fire before the second storey collapsed.

As of Tuesday night, Mr Godinet's and the five children's bodies remain inside the destroyed home.

Neighbours from the entire street worked to battle the flames alongside the Rural Fire Service while waiting for firefighters from the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services to arrive from the mainland.

The massive fire (above) destroyed the family's home and two other properties - neighbours and the Rural Fire Service tried to extinguish the fire before help arrived from the mainland

The children's mother and Mr Godinet's 28-year-old partner, Samantha Stephenson, managed to escape the burning home alongside her sister, 21 (pictured, investigators at the scene)

Queensland Police have assigned 25 investigators to find the cause of the fire - they have not ruled out foul play.

A GoFundMe has been set up by Lilly Slater, a friend of Ms Stephenson, to help the mother with expenses including the six upcoming funerals.

Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia, Ms Slater said Ms Stephenson had just one message for Aussie families.

'Samantha just wants the world to know - check your smoke alarms and hold your babies,' she said.

Anyone with information or relevant footage of the incident are being urged to come forward as an investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.

Andrew Massingham, Queensland Police Regional Crime Coordinator Superintendent, revealed on Monday that police were not ruling out foul play.

Lucia Teague and Sei Sinclair's property was one of three homes damaged in the blaze.

They recalled Ms Teague's uncle waking them in a panic.

The trio tried to extinguish the 'wall of flames' that had reached their balcony before fleeing with their pets.

Mr Sinclair was the first to escape the home, remembering the panic he felt as he looked down the hall towards the fire that was at 'eye-level'.

Queensland Police have assigned 25 investigators to find the cause of the fire - they have not ruled out foul play (pictured, an investigator at the scene)

Twins Kyza and Koa, aged four, three-year-old son Nicky, and stepsons, Zack, 11 and Harry, 10, all died (pictured, tributes left at the scene)

'The adrenaline kicks in, you just go "get the family, get the pets and get out as quickly as you can",' he said.

'The heat even from the other end of the house you can feel on your face. It was just terrible.'

He recalled the fire completely engulfing the home of Mr Godinet and Ms Stephenson as it started to spread to their home.

Ms Teague was later transported to hospital as she fell down the stairs during the chaotic escape.

'I was in denial most of the first day [after the blaze] because the front end of the house, everything looks normal,' she said.

'It's only until you look at the back you realise the house has been pretty much destroyed.

'I just remember thinking the entire time I was in hospital I just want to go home and realised I can't.'

The outside of half of their home has been left severely damaged by the blaze while the inside has been left black, covered in soot.

The family are still trying to make a plan for their future with Ms Teague saying they're taking it 'step by step and day by day'.

'We don't really know what's going on, we honestly have no clue,' she said.

Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham said Mr Godinet (above) was known to police

Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham said the father was known to police and that officers had been called to the residence on several occasions before the blaze.

He was asked if the male victim was allowed to be at the house.

'In terms of that aspect of it, were still investigating that but I can confirm that police happen to the residents in the past but the nature and frequency of our attendance there is subject to internal review,' Massingham said.
CNN, December 25, 2022

The Taliban administration on Saturday ordered all local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to stop their female employees from coming to work, according to a letter by the Ministry of Economy sent to all licensed NGOs. Non-compliance will result in the licenses of said NGOs being revoked, the ministry said.

Non-compliance will result in revoking the licenses of said NGOs, the ministry said.

In the letter, the ministry cites the nonobservance of Islamic dress rules and other laws and regulations as reasons for the decision.

Lately there have been serious complaints regarding not observing the Islamic hijab and other Islamic Emirates laws and regulations, the letter said, adding that as a result guidance is given to suspend work of all female employees of national and international non-governmental organizations.Earlier this week, the Taliban government suspended university education for all female students in Afghanistan.A spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Higher Education confirmed the university suspension to CNN on Tuesday. A letter published by the education ministry said the decision was made in a cabinet meeting and the order would go into effect immediately.

In a televised news conference on Thursday, the Talibans higher education minister said they had banned women from universities for not observing Islamic dress rules and other Islamic values, citing female students traveling without a male guardian. The move sparked outrage among women in Afghanistan.The new restrictions mark yet another step in the Talibans brutal crackdown on the freedoms of Afghan women, following the hardline Islamist groups takeover of the country in August 2021.

The United Nations on Saturday condemned the Talibans NGO announcement and said it would try to obtain a meeting with Taliban leadership to seek clarity.

Women must be enabled to play a critical role in all aspects of life, including the humanitarian response. Banning women from work would violate the most fundamental rights of women, as well as be a clear breach of humanitarian principles, the UN statement read. This latest decision will only further hurt those most vulnerable, especially women and girls.

This latest decision will only further hurt those most vulnerable, especially women and girls.

It also added that it would try to obtain a meeting with Taliban leadership to seek clarity.

UNICEF said the order was an egregious rollback of rights for girls and women (that) will have sweeping consequences on the provision of health, nutrition and education services for children.

UNICEF stands with every girl and woman in Afghanistan and demands that the Taliban immediately allow all women humanitarians to resume their lifesaving work for vulnerable families and communities, UNICEF South Asias regional director George Laryea-Adjei tweeted.

Amnesty International called for the ban to be reversed immediately and for the Taliban to stop misusing their power.

Women and girls should not be punished for demanding and defending their fundamental rights, it said in a statement. The right to work for all people, especially women in Afghanistan, must be fully realized in accordance with international human rights law.US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also condemned the move Saturday. Deeply concerned that the Talibans ban on women delivering humanitarian aid in Afghanistan will disrupt vital and life-saving assistance to millions, he wrote on Twitter. Women are central to humanitarian operations around the world. This decision could be devastating for the Afghan people.

Women are central to humanitarian operations around the world. This decision could be devastating for the Afghan people.

The United States Special Representative to Afghanistan, Thomas West, tweeted on Saturday the Talibans latest order is profoundly irresponsible.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said US officials should not interfere in the internal issues of Afghanistan.

Though the Taliban has repeatedly claimed it would protect the rights of girls and women, it has in fact done the opposite, stripping away the hard-won freedoms they have fought tirelessly for over the past two decades.

Some of its most striking restrictions have been around education, with girls barred from returning to secondary schools in March. The move devastated many students and their families, who described to CNN their dashed dreams of becoming doctors, teachers or engineers.
The three crew members of a helicopter crew who were tragically killed in a mid-air crash while battling wildfires in California have been named.

California's state firefighting agency, CalFire, revealed two firefighters and a contracted helicopter pilot were killed in the freak accident that happened in Riverside County on Sunday night.

It wrote online: 'It is with great sadness that CalFire shares the tragic loss of our employees who perished in a midair collision yesterday evening while fighting the Broadway Fire in Riverside County.

'Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Assistant Chief Josh Bischof, Fire Captain Tim Rodriguez, and Exclusive Use Helicopter Pilot Tony Sousa.'

Fire Captain Tim Rodriguez was one of the three men who died in the tragic crash over Riverside County, southern California

Assistant Chief Josh Bischof also perished while battling the blaze, one of several that have been battering California this summer

The crash itself caused a separate fire that was thankfully put out by other firefighters

California's governor Gavin Newsom weighed in on the tragedy, writing in a statement: 'On behalf of all Californians, our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies are with the loved ones, friends and CAL FIRE colleagues mourning the loss of Assistant Chief Bischof, Fire Captain Rodriguez, and Pilot Sousa.

This terrible tragedy is a reminder of the dangers our courageous firefighters face daily while working to keep our communities safe. We owe them our deepest respect and gratitude and will always honor their bravery and sacrifices.'

His office added that the flags at California's State Capitol and Capitol Annex Swing Space will be flown at half-staff in honor of the fallen firefighters.

CalFire's southern region chief David Fulcher previously said during a news conference: 'I would like to express our deepest sympathies and sorrow to the families and coworkers of the personnel.

'This was a tragic loss for the community, the fire service community and CalFire and Riverside County Fire Department.

'We have lost three great individuals. Three fathers, three husbands, three friends, three sons,' he said.

'Daughters have lost their fathers, sons have lost their fathers'.

The two helicopters that crashed into each other were reportedly part of a team of six choppers that were working to fight a three-acre blaze that began as a structure fire that then started spreading to vegetation.

One of helicopters was able to land safely.

The crash ended up causing an additional fire in the area, which was later extinguished. It is being investigated by the US National Transportation Safety Board.

It comes as California suffers from a deadly wildfire season that has burned more than 112,964 since the beginning of the year, according to CalFire's own data.

The agency has already dealt with 14 reported fires this month alone.
A drink driver was caught on CCTV downing 11 whiskies and Jagerbombs minutes before he sped away from a pub and killed a loving father who was on his way home to his wife and three children.

Footage shows Arron Dunlop, 30, making numerous trips to the bar and sitting at a table throwing back drink after drink in the course of a three-hour session.

He then leapt into his Audi A5 and drove away at 'grossly excessive speed' before mowing down family man Paul Greenfield as he went home from his shift at a crisp factory on his 125cc motorbike.

Dunlop and a passenger did not stop to help or call the emergency services - instead they fled the crash scene in Stockton on Tees and were caught at Newcastle Airport 50 miles away, waiting to board a flight to Alicante.

Dunlop was jailed for 12 years by a judge at Teesside Crown Court who said Mr Greenfield's death was the 'utterly tragic and senseless consequence' of his actions.

Dunlop drank over the course of a three-hour session before getting behind the wheel

Loving family man Paul Greenfield as he went home from his shift at a crisp factory on his 125cc motorbike

Dunlop was jailed for 12 years by a judge at Teesside Crown Court

Paul Greenfield was a father to three children - Tom, 21, Jacob, ten, and Heidi, nine. 'He was a true family man,' his wife said

The killer driver, who admitted causing death by dangerous driving, was seen drinking double Southern Comforts with lemonade along with five Jagerbombs before he got behind the wheel on June 8 this year.

A barmaid who served Dunlop at the George and Dragon pub in Stockton said she would have 'rugby tackled him' if she had known he was about to drive.

Shaun Dodds, prosecuting, said Dunlop crashed into the back of Mr Greenfield's Honda motorbike and he was 'carried on the bonnet before coming to rest on a grass verge'.

Dunlop, he said, made no effort to ring emergency services or help Mr Greenfield who was 'clearly badly injured'.

Police caught up with him at Newcastle Airport, where he refused to give a breath sample as he'd 'had four pints at the airport'.

CCTV cameras were checked and between 6.30pm and 7.30pm Dunlop was seen drinking three double Southern Comforts and lemonade and three Jagerbombs.

He drove away and came back, colliding with a car as he parked outside the pub. He was then seen drinking three more Southern Comfort and lemonades and two Jagerbombs.

A barmaid confirmed that she had served Dunlop six double shots of spirits. She added that she would have 'rugby tackled' him for his keys if she had known he was driving.

Footage shows Arron Dunlop, 30, making numerous trips to the bar and sitting at a table throwing back drink after drink

Dunlop going to the pub where he was seen drinking

He was caught on CCTV downing 11 whiskies and Jagerbombs

He leapt into his Audi A5 and drove away at 'grossly excessive speed'

He left the pub at 9.21pm and was described by a witness as 'flying' along the A1027 road before ploughing into the back of Mr Greenfield's bike.

In a statement to the court Mr Greenfield's wife told how the pair had met at work at K P Foods and later moved in together before starting a family.

Paul Greenfield was a father to three children - Tom, 21, Jacob, ten, and Heidi, nine. 'He was a true family man,' his wife said.

The court heard how Dunlop has previous convictions for aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving and driving without insurance or a licence.

Tom Bennett, mitigating, stated that Dunlop suffers from 'psychological issues' as a result of a historical assault and turned to alcohol as a 'coping mechanism'.

Mr Bennett said: 'He should not have been drinking and driving.'

He told the court that Dunlop left the scene in a 'state of shock' but he had 'genuine remorse'.

Dunlop made no attempt to help and instead immediately abandoned the car and made off

The Recorder of Middlesbrough Paul Watson QC described the death of Paul Greenfield as a 'utterly tragic and senseless consequence' of Dunlop's actions. He stated that Dunlop was driving at 'grossly excessive speed'.

Dunlop, of Eaglescliffe, Stockton, was jailed for 12 years and disqualified from driving for 16 years.

Senior Investigating Officer, Temporary Detective Superintendent Chris Motson, said: 'I am pleased with the sentence handed to Arron Dunlop today. Paul was travelling home to his family after his shift at work and unfortunately he never arrived. Whilst nothing will ever bring back Paul, I hope that today's outcome will bring his family some form of comfort.

'Arron Dunlop had previously been convicted of traffic offences and on the night that he fatally injured Paul Greenfield, he had consumed alcohol whilst drinking in the pub for hours beforehand.

'He then got into his car and was travelling at excessive speed when Paul was tragically killed.

'Afterwards Dunlop made no attempt to help Paul and instead immediately abandoned the car and made off. He travelled to the airport where he attempted to leave the country to evade justice.

'The instant actions carried out by officers meant that he was tracked down and arrested before he could get on a flight.

'Dunlop will now spend time behind bars to consider his actions that night, which stole a loving father and husband from his family. This case is sadly one which highlights the dangers of driving whilst under the influence and driving dangerously at excess speed.'
This is the eye-wincing moment a British tourist backflips into the ocean, smashing his face on the side of a boat and breaking his nose and jaw.

Macaulay Burke, 28, had jetted off to Altinkum on the south west coast of Turkey with nine others for a week-long holiday at a five-star all-inclusive resort.

After spending time relaxing at the pool, the group booked a beach-hopping boat excursion around the coast of Didim.

Macaulay decided to jump from the middle deck into the turquoise waters as his family watched from the top of the boat.

In the horrifying footage, Macaulay performs a backflip but clips his face on the side of the vessel on the way down before he hits the water.

In the horrifying footage, Macaulay performs a backflip but clips his face on the side of the vessel on the way down before he hits the water

Shocking images show the injuries sustained, including a broken nose and dislocated jaw

The dazed diver tentatively swam back towards the boat with the help of another passenger, without realising the extent of the damage.

Shocking photographs show the injuries sustained, including a broken nose and dislocated jaw.

He also ripped part of his right nostril off and tore his bottom lip clean from his gum line, exposing his jaw bone.

After being rushed to hospital straight after the July 19 incident Macaulay underwent a two-hour reconstructive operation to have his face stitched back together.

Macaulay, a butcher from Warwick, said doctors noted that if his upper body wasn't as 'strong' he could have snapped his neck and died on impact.

He said: 'I had been excited to go away and had been buzzing for months and months on the lead up to it.

'It wasn't a mad party holiday, it was meant to be a relaxing one with family.

'I did the backflip at the first stop [on the excursion], which was about 25 minutes into the journey.

'We had been messing about all holiday doing backflips in the pool and that was all perfectly fine.

'As I did the backflip, I could see the boat.'

He added: 'As soon as I took off I knew it was going to end badly, there was not much reaction time. The boat hit me straight in the face.

'I'm lucky I didn't knock myself out. I was in the water and I was very dazed and I knew something bad had happened.

'I smashed my face and instantly broke my nose and tore my lip away from the gum.

'I dislocated my jaw and managed to tear my gums apart so you could seethe jaw bone.'

Macaulay can be seen in agony after he smacks his head on the side of the boat while doing a backflip

Macaulay showing his injuries. He ripped part of his right nostril off and tore his bottom lip clean from his gum line, exposing his jaw bone

Macaulay being treated in hospital. Macaulay said doctors noted that if he didn't have a 'strong' upper body he could have snapped his neck and died on impact

Another passenger dived into the sea and helped Macaulay back to safety.

He was then taken on a speedboat back to shore with his brother-in-law Ainsley Carpenter, 32, where an ambulance was waiting to drive him to hospital.

Macaulay said: 'At first I thought I'd be okay and I was just going to stay on the boat.

'I played rugby for years so I have a good pain threshold and have broken my nose multiple times.

'But when I looked in the mirror all I could see was blood. I was just swallowing so much blood.

'I knew my nose was broken as it was just really wide and I had torn my right nostril.

'It pulled my nose piercing out and I had a flap of skin on my right nostril that was torn and I managed to smash a hole into my upper lip.'

Speaking of the two days spent in hospital, where he had 50 stitches, Macaulay said: 'They did a brilliant job in Turkey. My nose hasn't been this straight since before playing rugby.

'People go out to Turkey to get a nose job. I had mine done but in a very different situation.'

He was given his fit-to-fly pass and was able to travel back to the UK on July 22.

Although on the mend, Macaulay says he has been back and forth to hospital after returning home to see facial reconstruction specialists.

He also claims UK doctors told him he was lucky to be alive.

Macaulay with his sister Chelsea on holiday in Turkey. Macaulay said: 'It wasn't a mad party holiday, it was meant to be a relaxing one with family'

Macaulay said he is grateful to have taken out 'last-minute' 10.80 travel insurance the morning of his flight to Turkey, noting that he could have been lumped with an eye-watering 50,000 bill.

He's now urging everyone to take out insurance before they go on holiday.

Macaulay said: 'I'm not entirely sure how much everything cost me.

'I've heard a few different sums but I mean you can gather the price from just the ambulance trip alone, which was 750.

'I had facial reconstruction which is going to be a hell of a lot of money. I estimate it'll be well over 50,000.

'You need to get insurance, even if you think you're not going to hurt yourself.

'I was on a family holiday and it just goes to show that anything can happen unexpectedly and for 10 it can save your life.

'I am very thankful to the surgeons and the insurance company for helping me out. It could have been a very different story.'
Russian forces launched yet another round of missile strikes on Monday night, killing eight people and wounding dozens in an attack on a popular hotel and an apartment block in the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk.

Images showed wounded women covered in blood being carried to ambulances following the strike on a civilian area by Putin's forces.

Two missiles hit the centre of Pokrovsk within 40 minutes of each other, witnesses said. Pictures posted by officials showed that the Druzhba (Friendship) hotel, in the centre of the city, suffered a direct hit, with several floors missing.

Some 67 people were injured in the blasts.

Residents said the hotel was popular with journalists, aid workers and the military. It was one of the few still operating in the eastern Donetsk region, close to the frontline.

Horrifying images from the scene showed desperate civilians carrying their injured countrymen from the rubble, blood spattered across their exposed skin.

'We are resuming clearing the rubble. At night, we were forced to suspend work due to the high threat of repeated shelling,' Klymenko said on the Telegram messaging app.

A man carries an injured Ukrainian woman after an explosion of a second rocket in the city of Pokrovsk, Donetsk area, Ukraine, 07 August 2023

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, people carry a wounded person from a damaged building after Russian missile strikes in Pokrovsk

A view shows residential buildings damaged by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, Ukraine August 8, 2023

Rescuers work at the site of a building destroyed during a Russian missile strike

A view shows a building destroyed during a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, Ukraine August 7, 2023

A wounded local resident stands near her destroyed flat in an apartment building destroyed during a Russian missile strike

Rescuers are at work near a damaged residential building following Russian missiles strikes in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, amid Russian invasion of Ukraine

In his evening address, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia used Iskander ballistic missiles to attack 'usual residential buildings' in Pokrovsk, accusing Putin of trying to leave nothing but 'broken and scorched stones' in eastern Ukraine.

Meanwhile, an overnight attack on the town of Kruhliakivka, in the Kharkiv region, killed two people and injured nine others, governor Oleh Synehubov said.

Kateryna, a 58-year-old resident of Pokrovsk, was at home when she heard the first blast. She told a relative who called to check on her that she was all right but then the block was hit in a second blast.

'That's it - bang - and that's all. A flame filled up my eyes. I fell down on the floor, on the ground. My eyes (hurt) a lot,' Kateryna told a Reuters journalist, pointing at multiple scratches around her eyes. She had bandages on her forehead.

Video footage showed rescuers sifting through rubble, wreckage of a car and an apartment building with balconies torn away from the wall.

Another resident, 75-year-old Lidia, said she was on the phone when the second blast hit. She had just picked up a torn white curtain covered with broken glass from the first blast.

'Suddenly this flew out and wrapped me up. Then the window fell on me,' she said from her sofa.

'My back has cuts. I just got back from the hospital... My knee and my thigh have cuts.' Pointing at her head, she said: 'I had glass here.'

A local resident sleeps in his flat in an apartment building damaged during a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, Ukraine August 8, 2023

Rescuers work at a site of a building destroyed during a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, Ukraine August 8, 2023

Rescuers work with heavy machinery, at the site of a building destroyed during a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, Ukraine August 8, 2023

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, rescuers work on the scene of a building damaged after Russian missile strikes in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023

Medics carry a wounded local resident after a Russian missile strike in an apartment building, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, Ukraine August 8, 2023

A wounded local resident is seen in her destroyed flat in an apartment building destroyed during a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, Ukraine August 8, 2023

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a 'special military operation'. Today marks the 531st day of the full-scale war.

Russian missiles, drones and artillery have repeatedly struck civilian areas in the conflict.

The Kremlin says its forces target only military assets and claim other damage is caused by debris from Ukrainian air defence weapons.

The deadly attack in Pokrovsk last night came just a day after officials from around 40 countries gathered in Saudi Arabia to find a peaceful settlement for the war in Ukraine.

Russia's Foreign Ministry on Monday denounced the two-day talks in Jeddah as not having 'the slightest added value' because Moscow - unlike Kyiv - wasn't invited.
Terrified villagers in a rural Peruvian district have claimed they have come under attack by 7ft-tall aliens they have dubbed Los Pelacaras, or The Face Peelers.

Members of the Ikitu tribe from the San Antonio native community have reported mysterious figures in dark-coloured hoods attacking the villagers, who live in the rural district of Alto Nanay, north east of Lima, Peru.

After one such 'attack', a 15-year-old girl had to be taken to hospital.

According to the community leader, Jairo Reategui Davila, the teenager narrowly escaped but 'as a result of the struggle they cut part of her neck.'

Now, according to local media, members of the community are conducting night patrols to protect women, children and the more vulnerable villagers, and have called on the authorities to send in the military.

Terrified villagers in a rural Peruvian district have claimed they have come under attack by 7ft-tall aliens they have dubbed Los Pelacaras (The Face Peelers). Pictured: A man with bandages around his head who was supposedly attacked is helped by two other villages

Pictured: Armed Peruvian officials arrive at the rural community to investigate the attacks

Some community members said they can't sleep because they are in fear.

Locals described the 'extraterrestrials' as having large heads and yellowish eyes, and said the mysterious figures are immune to their hunting weapons.

They claim they have attacked them every night for nearly a month since July 11.

Latina Noticias, a Peruvian news outlet, quoted Davila as saying he had come face-to-face with one of the so-called aliens.

'We have met almost face to face. His face is hardly visible. I have seen his whole body floating at a height of one meter,' he said, suggesting the being was hovering.

The group have now requested a military presence from the authorities, however it reportedly takes a 10-hour river trip to reach the community from Iquitos City.

'We need support for our community. The children do not sleep and the mothers stay up all night,' Davila said. 'They appear to be armoured. I shot one of them twice and he wasn't injured, he rose and disappeared.

'We're very frightened about what's happening here in our community.'

He added: 'Their shoes are round-shaped, which they use to float... Their heads are long, they wear a mask and their eyes are yellowish. They are experts at escaping.'

After one such 'alien attack', a 15-year-old girl (pictured) had to be taken to hospital. Local reports said she sustained neck injuries in a struggle with one of the mysterious beings

Now, according to local media, members of the community are conducting night patrols to protect women, children and the more vulnerable villagers. Pictured: Armed locals guard the area after the reported alien attacks

Some villagers described the aliens as being like 'pelacaras', strange beings from folklore that feast on human faces, fat and organs.

According to reports, the police reached the remote area on board a speeder vessel and toured the village perimeter, including the area where the teenager was allegedly attacked.

It is unclear if the authorities found anything to corroborate the villagers' claims and if the government intends to deploy military personnel to the area for a sustained period of time to protect the villagers from the mysterious threat.

According to a 2017 national census, there are around 1,350 people who identify as being a member of the Ikitu community.
A British Army veteran is starving himself for a week in protest against Sadiq Khan's unpopular 12.50-a-day Ulez expansion.

Prabhdeep Singh, 40, who served in the Royal Army Dental Corp, said Ulez would be 'another burden' on those fighting against poverty during the cost-of-living crisis.

'It's being imposed on us, so that's what I'm here for and what I'm fighting against,' he added.

Mr Singh is on hunger strike and will spend the next seven days in a tent outside Uxbridge Tube station, in North West London.

Last month, Uxbridge voters rejected the clean-air tax plan in the form of a by-election which saw the Conservatives retain the seat.

British Army veteran Prabhdeep Singh, 40 (pictured) is on hunger strike against Ulez

Mr Singh has said he is to spend the next seven days sleeping in a tent outside Uxbridge tube station not eating

The London Mayor has continued to champion Ulez and yesterday said it was in the interest of tradespeople to scrap their old vans.

The Labour politician argued Ulez will mean tradespeople are 'less likely' to develop health conditions such as asthma and they would have to take less time off work 'being unwell because of air pollution'.

Mr Sing, who now works as a driver for a private car hire firm, said the by-election was a 'clear indication' that Ulez is something do not want.

On Saturday, thousands of motorists gathered gathered in Trafalgar Square in central London to protest against Ulez.

Mr Khan has previously told LBC: 'I am unwilling to delay, water down or step back from these really important measures that are going to save lives and protect lungs.'
The ex-husband of the woman who cooked a poisonous mushroom lunch that killed three family members 'almost died' from a mystery stomach illness last year.

Erin Patterson, 48, invited her former in-laws, Gail and Don Patterson, and Gail's sister and her husband, Heather and Ian Wilkinson, for lunch at her Leongatha home, in Victoria's Gippsland region, on July 29.

However, the next day the four guests were taken to hospital.

The Pattersons, both 70, and Ms Wilkinson, 66, have since died while Mr Wilkinson, 68, is fighting for life in hospital.

It has now emerged that Ms Patterson's former partner Simon spent 21 days in intensive care after collapsing at his home in May 2022.

Erin Patterson (above) cooked a meal that poisoned her ex-husband's parents, aunt and uncle

Simon Patterson (above) said he spent 21 days in intensive care after 'collapsing' from stomach issues last year

Ms Patterson's ex-husband Simon shared a post (above) last year detailing how he almost died from a mystery stomach illness

'I collapsed at home then was in an induced coma for 16 days through which I had three emergency operations mainly on my small intestine, plus an additional planned operation,' he wrote.

'My family were asked to come and say goodbye to me twice as I was not expected to live.

'I was in intensive care for 21 days, after which I was in the general ward for a week, and now I'm at a rehab place.'

Simon continued, writing the treatment 'seemed to have fixed the serious gut problems'.

'I have a big scar on my tummy which is healing itself slowly, and I have ICU acquired weakness which is a common condition of people who lie in intensive care for a long time as I did,' he said.

'I can walk and do all the normal daily functions myself, however my left shoulder in particular is very weak.'

Homicide detectives searched Ms Patterson's Leongatha home (above) on Saturday and seized several items

Ms Patterson has been identified as a person of interest in the investigation surrounding the deadly mushroom lunch.

But it's understood she and Mr Patterson were 'amicable' before the death of his family members.

She has denied any wrongdoing and no charges are expected to be laid at this stage of the investigation.

Daily Mail Australia does not suggest Ms Patterson was responsible for Simon's illness or the three deaths.

Homicide detectives searched the property on Saturday as part of their investigation, seizing a number of items, including a food dehydrator believed to have been used to prepare the mushrooms.

A police source close to the investigation told The Age on Tuesday police are conducting forensic tests on the dehydrator - which was found at a nearby tip.

Four police officers were seen returning to Ms Patterson's home on Sunday night to question her.

The 48-year-old could be heard wailing loudly inside the house before the police left, according to 7News.

After being questioned, Ms Patterson was released pending further inquiries.

Photos obtained by Daily Mail Australia show there were wild mushrooms growing on the property when it was last sold.

The following day, Victoria Police Detective Inspector for the Homicide Squad, Dean Thomas, confirmed Ms Patterson was being treated as a person of interest.

Heather Wilkinson (left) died after the lunch, which is believed to have contained the lethal mushroom death cap, while her husband Ian Wilkinson (above) is awaiting a liver transplant

Don (left) and Gail Patterson (right) died after eating lunch at Erin Patterson's home on July 29

'She hasn't presented with any symptoms but we have to keep an open mind in relation to this, that it could be very innocent but again we just don't know at this point,' he said.

Mr Thomas said while the homicide squad was investigating the trio's deaths, it did not mean they were being treated as suspicious at this stage - only 'unexplained'.

On Tuesday, Ms Patterson returned to her property where she was confronted by a media contingent keen for answers.

But the stay-at-home mum provided few, telling reporters to get off her property.

'What happened is devastating and I'm grieving too and you guys don't have any respect for that,' she said.

Ms Patterson was forced to navigate around a media scrum to enter her front door.

'Can I just get to my door, stop standing in front of me,' she said.

Ms Patterson refused to answer what dish she served her tragic guests, who are believed to have ingested poisonous mushrooms.

A black dog rushed out of Ms Patterson's home as she opened the front door, infuriating her further.

'You don't have any permission to be on my private property or harass me,' she said.

'This kind of behaviour will send someone right off a bridge.'

Asked 'How she was going' by a reporter, Ms Patterson stated the obvious.

'I'm going ***house. Thanks for asking. You guys aren't helping,' she responded.

Moments later, Ms Patterson was seen loading a suitcase into the boot of her red MG and leaving.

She drove off after being asked questions by reporters outside the home

Erin Patterson hauls a suitcase into her red MG before driving off

Speaking to reporters outside her home on Monday, an emotional Ms Patterson said she was devastated by what happened and denied any wrongdoing.

'I didn't do anything,' she said, wiping away tears.

'I loved them and I'm devastated that they're gone.'

Ms Patterson said all four guests were wonderful people and had always treated her with kindness.

'Gail was like the mum I didn't have because my mum passed away four years ago and Gail had never been anything but good and kind to me,' she continued.

'Ian and Heather were some of the best people I'd ever met. They never did anything wrong to me.'

However, when asked where the mushrooms came from, who picked them or what meal she made for her guests, Ms Patterson did not answer.

Detectives believe death cap mushrooms are the variety responsible for the poisonings and are investigating how they came to be in the meal.

The death cap mushroom causes abdominal pains, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea usually within six to 24 hours of ingestion.

They are known to cause serious liver damage.

Photos obtained by Daily Mail Australia show there were wild mushrooms (above) growing on the property when it was last sold

Ms Patterson (above) has denied any wrongdoing and no charges are expected to be laid at this stage of the investigation

Mr Wilkinson remains hospitalised, his four children have gathered by his bedside as he awaits a liver transplant.

Ms Patterson's two children were also present at the lunch but Mr Thomas said they ate different meals to the adults and did not experience any illness.

When the others fell sick, Ms Patterson and the children went to hospital as a precaution.

Deadly mushrooms are common in both metropolitan and regional Victoria, with the state known to have two potentially fatal species - Death Cap and Yellow-staining.
Tom Daley's husband twisted the wrist of a BBC presenter Teddy Edwardes after she 'punched' him in the back of his head, a court heard today.

Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, 49, is accused of assaulting Miss Edwardes, 32, in the West End club Freedom last summer. Black, who married the Olympic champion diver in 2017, denies one charge of assault by beating Miss Edwardes on August 18 last year.

CCTV footage played to the court showed Black grappling with Miss Edwardes in Soho's Freedom Bar whilst former Love Island winner Amber Gill and Olympic diver Daley looked on in shock.

Miss Edwardes, who stars in the BBC Three show The Big Proud Party Agency, claimed the altercation occurred after she asked someone to leave her table and she then gave him 'a little tap on the back of the head' in response.

When he grabbed her wrist, it caused a drink to spill over her, the court was told. But this morning Black's representatives alleged that Miss Edwardes had been 'shouting at him and being aggressive' during the night out.

Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, 49, is accused of assaulting Miss Edwardes, 32, in the West End club Freedom last summer

BBC Three presenter Teddy Edwardes arrives at the City of Westminster Magistrates Court this morning

Black, who is Tom Daley's husband, was seen arriving at Westminster Magistrates Court this morning where he is accused of assaulting a woman

The pair had been at Freedom (pictured), a gay bar in Soho, when the alleged dispute happened

The pair were both pictured arriving outside of the court room this morning.

Adrita Ahmed, prosecuting, told the court today: 'This is essentially about an altercation in a nightclub.

'The Crown's case is that he grabbed Ms Edwardes' wrist, twisted it.'

The prosecution alleged this is what caused the drink to spill over the BBC presenter, to which 'as a result Ms Edwardes retaliated', the court heard.

But Black's lawyers argue the grabbing of the wrist is not visible in the short CCTV clip, and say the charges should be 'stayed' due to failures in disclosure from prosecutors.

Helena Duong, defending, said: 'Mr Black describes Ms Edwardes as shouting at him and being aggressive.'

Ms Duong claimed that the TV star had then gestured towards Black with her arms.

She referred to CCTV footage shown in court that apparently shows Miss Edwardes reaching out to Black as he walks away, however, the video did not make clear if there had been any contact.

Black then called the police to claim Miss Edwardes had punched him, the court heard.

Miss Edwardes stars in the BBC Three show The Big Proud Party Agency

Black married Olympic diver Tom Daley in 2017 and they have two children together

In an Instagram post following the incident the model praised Daley, 29, for trying to defuse the situation

The trial has now been adjourned until November 8 after the chief magistrate said it was 'not the most evidentially strong case'.

The screenwriter, who wore a dark suit in the dock, wiped away tears as he heard the news.

Paul Goldspring said that time was needed for the prosecution to obtain a statement from the police officer who interviewed Miss Edwards but her defence argued against this.

Ms Duong argued against the delay adding: 'I question whether it is a fair outcome for the prosecution, for it to go off to another day, and take up another day of court time significantly at the expense of the public purse.'

Black had flown in to London from his and 29-year-old Olympic gold medal-winning husband Daley's home in Los Angeles for today's hearing.

He will have to return in November when his trial will be heard in full.Ms Edwardes hosts BBC Three reality show Big Proud Party Agency in which LGBTQ+ party planners compete in planning parties, and has also appeared previously on BBC One dating show Unbreakable with a former girlfriend.

Mr Goldspring told Black, who had travelled from LA to London for his trial: 'I know it is very frustrating that you came here expecting your trial to take place.'

The chief magistrate went on to ask: 'Is he of good character?'

Ms Duong said: 'He is and we have a number of character references.'

Black smiled as he arrived at the assault hearing at the city of Westminster Magistrates Court earlier today

Mr Goldspring added: 'The Crown's case is just that he grabbed the wrist and not that he threw the drink.

'It is not the most evidentially strong case.'

The Met Police had said at the time that both parties had made allegations of common assault.

They said: 'At 00:19hrs on Thursday, 18 August police were called to a licensed premises in Wardour Street following reports of an altercation between two customers.

'Officers attended and spoke to those involved.

'Both parties, a 48-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman, made allegations of common assault.

'There were no reports of any injuries and no arrests. Enquiries are ongoing.'

During Black's appearance in court earlier this year, he gave his address as Los Angeles and was bailed unconditionally until today.

Miss Edwardes looked at her phone as she arrived at court this morning, clutching a Gucci handbag

Black and his husband Mr Daley attending the Universal Music BRIT Awards after party in February

In April a spokesman for Black said the film director, who won an the Oscar for best original screenplay with 2008's Milk, was 'surprised and saddened' to be facing the charge.

'Mr Black was surprised and saddened to learn that after the other person involved in this unfortunate incident took responsibility and expressed remorse for a punch to the back of Mr Black's head - which left him with a life-altering concussion - a decision was made to now examine the matter of a spilled drink in a court of law'.

He added: 'Of course Mr Black will respect the process, and in the meantime will continue to focus on being a loving father and husband.'

Judge Goldspring asked for the prosecution's view of the public interest in pursuing the legal case against Black, adding: 'Judges are reluctant to say what they think about the public interest. Probably my silence speaks volumes.'

He said he considered the offence to be the lowest level of seriousness, leading to a punishment between a conditional discharge and a low-level community order.

Black and Mr Daly announced the birth of their second son earlier this month.

Black denies one charge of assault by beating.
Horrific new footage from the frontlines of Ukraine appears to show the moment Russian soldiers forced a testimony from a Ukrainian PoW after threatening him with an axe and pushing the barrel of an assault rifle into his ear.

At least three Russian soldiers or mercenaries are seen demanding that the captive reveal positions of his Kyiv troop comrades at the frontline.

Russian pro-war channels published the sickening video which, if confirmed as authentic, would constitute evidence of war crimes, flouting the Geneva Convention on the Treatment of Prisoners of War.

One claimed: 'This is how [Ukrainian] POWs are broken.'

Russian soldiers forced a testimony from a Ukrainian PoW after threatening him with an axe

A Russian soldier holds the rifle to the captive's head

The appalling incident is believed to have happened on Sunday, possibly near the village of Novoselivka, Luhansk region, north of Svatovo.

The PoW was said to be a member of a sabotage and reconnaissance group seeking to attack Russian positions.

The supposed Ukrainian in military fatigues was ordered by his captors to give the rank of his commander - a senior lieutenant, which he said was now in hospital - and the positions of other troops.

An angry interrogator, pushing a rifle to his head, barks: 'Stop feeding me bull****.'

'I am not, honestly,' says the cowering captured soldier. 'And the deputy company commander is Melnik.'

The inquisitor asks: 'And where is he.? I'll shoot you now.'

The terrified PoW replies: 'Next to this place, where we are '

He is asked: 'Was it the one who was with you? Behind the railway, in the woods, where you are running?

The bearded Ukrainian, his hands bound, protests: 'I don't know who is on those positions I don't know who precisely stays at these positions.'

Another Russian soldier is then seen tapping the head of a long-handled axe on the man's shoulder.

He told the PoW: 'If you don't show us their positions, I'll break your spine, and will send you home disabled, understood? You'll go home disabled, got me?'

Another voice says: 'This is the best scenario.'

The Ukrainian is threatened: 'You'll spend your entire life in a wheelchair, did you hear that?'

The captive replies: 'Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!' He is then threatened again with the rifle, which is thrust at his ear.

'If you don't give us your positions, this [bullet] will come out of your other ear. Will you show us the positions?

'If you make a mistake, it'll f*** this right down your ear, *****.'

Russian pro-war channels published the sickening video which, if confirmed as authentic, would constitute evidence of war crimes

The supposed Ukrainian in military fatigues was ordered by his captors to give the rank of his commander and the positions of other troops

One Russian captor told the PoW: 'If you don't show us their positions, I'll break your spine, and will send you home disabled, understood? You'll go home disabled, got me?'

The video was first seen on pro-war hardline Russian Pozdnyakov 3.0 Telegram channel, run by ultranationalist Vladislav Pozdnyakov, 32.

At least eight killed and dozens wounded in Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk as Russian missile strikes target popular hotel and apartment blocks Advertisement

Independent Russian media outlet Agentstvo said it could not yet confirm the authenticity of the video.

Its report added: 'If the video really shows Russian servicemen torturing a Ukrainian prisoner, then what is happening can be regarded as a war crime.

'Article 17 of the Geneva Convention on the Treatment of Prisoners of War prohibits any physical or mental torture or other coercive measures against prisoners of war in order to obtain information about them.'

The video was first seen on pro-war hardline Russian Pozdnyakov 3.0 Telegram channel, run by ultranationalist Vladislav Pozdnyakov, 32.

The caption read: 'This is how POWs are broken.

'An AFU [Ukrainian] soldier who, as part of a diversion and reconnaissance group, had been trying to kill our men an hour ago, opened up on camera at the sight of an axe.

'In the end, tears and hysteria.'

Ukrainian publication Focus said the footage shows a man who is 'likely a Ukrainian prisoner of war'.

'The video of psychological abuse of a Ukrainian soldier was published by Russian Z-blogger Vladislav Pozdnyakov in his Telegram channel.'

As yet there is no official confirmation of the video's authenticity.
Another political staffer accused of rape has hit out at chief prosecutor Shane Drumgold as he, as well as Bruce Lehrmann, consider suing the ACT government.

Alex Matters, 23, was found not guilty of two counts of raping a fellow Australian National University student he was having a casual relationship with in April.

Voice and text messages that were presented in court showed the woman was questioning whether she had been assaulted, saying in one: 'I'm not OK, I slept with him multiple timesI don't know if I got raped.'

Mr Matters' accuser had only came forward after he was charged with sexually assaulting another woman in September 2021.

Although the initial case was discontinued and all charges dropped, Mr Matters lost his job working for the office of federal Labor MP David Smith and now faced a new ordeal.

The judge presiding over the case of the second accuser told the prosecution to refer to the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Drumgold, in determining whether or not to drop the second charge of rape for the case.

Former Labor staffer Alex Matters (pictured) has hit out at the chief prosecutor in the Bruce Lehrmann trial, Shane Drumgold

'After the complainant had under cross-examination stated that she provided consent for the second count, the judge spoke to the prosecutor and asked her about speaking to Drumgold,' Mr Matters told Sky News Australia journalist Sharri Markson in an interview.

'We don't know what conversation was had, if there was any. However, what we do know is the prosecution ultimately decided that they weren't going to be dropping the charge and they were going to be asking the jury to find me guilty.'

Following the presentation of the text and voice messages to the court, which had been sent to Mr Matters and friends of the second complainant, the judge criticised the prosecution over their arguments.

Mr Matters was found not guilty after half-a-day of deliberations. He has vehemently denied the allegations made by the two women and maintains his innocence.

He has since called for transparency regarding Mr Drumgold's involvement in his trial.

'You want to know what decisions are being made in terms of the charges they face and how many times are prosecutors just putting charges through to the jury when it shouldn't actually be up to the jury at this stage,' he said.

'I think the question has got to be asked of what Drumgold had in the decision-making process there and also the decision to take it to trial.'

It comes as an inquiry into the Lehrmann trial contained a raft of damning findings against Mr Drumgold including that he knowingly mislead the ACT Supreme Court and 'lost objectivity' during the prosecution of Mr Lehrmann.

An inquiry into the Lehrmann trial contained a raft of damning findings against Mr Drumgold (pictured) including that he knowingly mislead the ACT Supreme Court and 'lost objectivity' during the prosecution of Mr Lehrmann

Mr Lehrmann (pictured), who has been highly critical of Mr Drumgold, has confirmed he will sue the ACT government following the release of the Sofronoff inquiry's findings

Mr Matters was asked about his thoughts on the Lehrmann trial, which he described as a 'travesty of justice' as no verdict was reached.

Brittany Higgins alleged Mr Lehrmann raped her in Parliament House when they were colleagues in 2019 - which he strongly denies.

The first trial was called off due to a rogue juror, before the charge was dropped entirely due to Ms Higgins' mental health.

Both Mr Matters and Mr Lehrmann have been highly critical of Mr Drumgold.

In a 7News Spotlight TV interview that aired in June, Mr Lehrmann described him as the 'guy who ruined my life'.

'He took my opportunity for a not guilty verdict away from me, but he then told Australia, 'I still could have won it.' What the f***?' he said.

While Mr Matters is considering suing the ACT government over his trial, Mr Lehrmann confirmed he would be taking legal action following the release of the Sofronoff inquiry's findings.

Mr Lehrmann is already suing the ABC and Channel 10 for defamation.
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A middle-aged man stabbed while queuing to enter the British Museum was 'screaming' and 'dripping blood everywhere' as he tried to escape his attacker, witnesses have said.

Officers rushed to the scene after the knife attack unfolded near the attraction at around 10am on Tuesday, August 8.

As the middle-aged man attempted to escape his attacker he was 'dripping blood everywhere' along the busy street which was packed with tourists.

The male attacker fled the scene but was quickly captured by police a short distance away and was arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm, the Metropolitan Police said.

Police said it is not thought to be terror-related and the scene may be in place for much of today.

Paramedics from The London Ambulance Service treated the man before taking him to a major trauma centre as a priority.

The museum has heightened security today as a precaution as well as increasing its search operation.

The manager of a nearby souvenir shop, who wished to remain anonymous, said he saw a middle-aged man stabbed while he waited in the queue for the museum on Great Russell Street not far from the Museum Tavern pub.

A blue tent can be seen outside the museum with cordon tape wrapped around the trees

The museum was locked down and one eyewitness from America said a police officer told her she would need to leave and that the 'crime scene was large'

He attempted to escape and was 'dripping blood everywhere', the witness claimed.

The male attacker was arrested by police a short distance away on Coptic Street, he said.

A local businesswoman heard the victim 'screaming' and saw a trail of blood along the street in the aftermath of the attack.

A police tent was erected on the pavement on the museum side of Great Russell Street, just metres from the entrance.

Video footage taken by one bystander in Great Russell Street showed the museum in lockdown with a cordon in place and a crowd of people waiting outside sheltering under umbrellas.

One visitor claimed there was 'a man with a knife in the queue' and they had been 'kicked out within ten minutes' of entering the museum.

They wrote: 'Within ten minutes of entering, they are kicking us out. The @britishmuseum is closing due to a police alert?? A man with a knife in the queue.'

A 27-year-old American woman said she was about to enter the queue at the British Museum when she was told to leave by police because someone had been stabbed.

The visitor from New York was leaving a Starbucks directly across from the museum on Great Russell Street when police approached her.

She told the PA news agency: 'I was standing across the street at the Starbucks walking out to get into the line.

'We decided it was a good time to go, then we walked out and a cop directly in front of us told us we needed to leave and that the crime scene was large.

'I heard that someone was stabbed and the ambulance was parked inside near the grass area and then rushed down the street, right by me, with police following behind.'

Large crowds gather outside the British Museum following a stabbing nearby. The museum was evacuated and in lockdown for some two hours

A spokesman for the British Museum said it had heightened security as a precaution as well as increasing its search operation

People shelter under umbrellas outside the museum. One visitor said they had been 'kicked out' within ten minutes of entering the museum

The museum reopened to the public around two hours later, just after midday, and police cordons were lifted.

George Osborne, former chancellor and chairman of the British Museum, has thanked the museum's security team and other staff who reacted promptly to the incident and wished the victim the 'best recovery'.

The 52-year-old tweeted: 'Disturbing news of a knife attack near the gates of the British Museum this am.

'Much thanks to our security team and other BM staff, who reacted quickly, with the police.

'Museum has now reopened; everyone's thoughts at the BM are with the victim and we wish him the best recovery.'

In a statement posted on social media, the Metropolitan Police said: 'A man has been arrested on suspicion of GBH following an isolated incident at the junction of Russell Street /Museum St approx 10am - a man was taken to hospital with a stab wound.

'No outstanding risk to the public.'

The force added: 'A man was treated for a stab wound to the arm at the scene and taken by London Ambulance Service to hospital.

'His condition is being assessed.

'This was an isolated incident and there is no outstanding risk to the public. It is not being treated as terror-related.

'The scene may be in place for much of today.

'Anyone with information or footage which could assist the police investigation is asked to contact police on 101, quoting CADF 2184/08AUG, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.'

A spokesman for the London ambulance service said: 'We were called at 10.19am today (Tuesday, August 8) to reports of a stabbing on Great Russell Street, WC1B.

'We sent an ambulance crew and an incident response officer to the scene.

'We treated a man at the scene for an arm injury before taking him to a major trauma centre as a priority.'

Many people on social media reported the museum had been evacuated. Many people can be seen gathering outside the museum in Great Russell Street

Police said there is no threat to the wider public. A man has been arrested on suspicion of GBH, Scotland Yard said

The British Museum sent a tweet to its two million followers to inform them it was currently closed and would 'update visitors as soon as we are able to reopen'

One visitor took to Twitter to say they had been kicked out within ten minutes with a 'man with a knife in the queue'

The junction of Great Russell Street and Museum Street is close to the entrance of the famous museum in central London.

A spokesman for the museum said: 'The museum was closed this morning due to an incident following a member of the public being attacked nearby.

'The museum's security team supported at the scene until the emergency services arrived.

'Visitors were evacuated from the museum as a precaution and we wish the victim a full and swift recovery.'

All visitors of the world-famous attraction are told they 'must pass through a security check which involves a bag search'.

The museum's visitor regulations document states: 'If asked, you must allow our security officers to search your bags when you enter the museum or when you enter one of our special exhibitions.

'A list of items that we do not allow you to bring into the museum is displayed in the search areas at the entrances to the museum.

'If, on searching your bag, our security officers find any of these items (or any similar item that may be a risk to the collection, building, staff or other visitors) they will remove it, and return it to you when you leave the museum.

'If our security officers find an illegal item in your bag they will confiscate it, and hand it to the police.'
The Campbell Soup Company is purchasing Sovos Brands, the parent company of Rao's, a popular brand of pasta sauces.

At $23 per share, the acquisition is totalled at approximately $2.7 billion, the companies announced in a joint press release on Monday.

The purchase comes after Rao's impressive performances in the market, with the brand being responsible for nearly 70 per cent of Sovos sales in 2022.

Campbell's said the deal is expected to be closed by the end of December this year.

Rao's first hit shelves in 1992 to bring home cooks a signature taste of the 10-table restaurant, which is one of the most exclusive dining spots in New York City.

The Campbell Soup Company is purchasing Sovos Brands, the parent company of Rao's, a popular brand of pasta sauces in the US

Rao's was responsible for nearly 70 per cent of Sovos sales in 2022. The deal is expected to be closed by the end of this year

Situated in the city's East Harlem district, its clientele has hosted a number of famous names including Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump.

The Campbell Soup Company was founded in 1869 and was a huge commercial success before Andy Warhol's 1962 illustration of 32 cans of the brand's soup cemented it as a cultural icon.

The Campbell's meals and beverages division made the 'strategic decision' to add a 'high-growth, market-leading premium portfolio' to include more soups, dry pasta, frozen products and yogurts from brands such as Rao's, Michael Angelo's and noosa.

'We're thrilled to add the most compelling growth story in the food industry and welcome the talented employees who have built a nearly $1 billion portfolio,' Campbell's President and CEO Mark Clouse said in a statement.

'This acquisition fits perfectly with and accelerates our strategy of focusing on one geography, two divisions and select key categories that we know well', continued Mr Clouse.

As well as boosting the meals and beverages division of the company, Clouse said it would add to Campbell's 'faster-growing and differentiated snacks division.'

Todd Lachman, Founder, President and CEO of Sovos Brands, Inc. called it a 'momentous occasion' for the company.
Scottish taxpayers forked out almost 10,000 on VIP treatment for Nicola Sturgeon when she flew on official business when she was First Minister, new documents have revealed.

The former leader used 'meet and greet services' from a company that boasted that it treated its customers 'like royalty' repeatedly between 2022 and 2022.

The data obtained by Scottish Labour detailing spending on the SNP government's credit cards between 2019 and last year.

It shows that Ms Sturgeon's team paid Ace Handling for services during visits including to England, Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands, as well as when leaving and returning through Edinburgh Airport.

Ace's website says it relieves the 'stress' of going through airport procedures, 'whether you're a VIP or just want to feel like one'.

The total spent on the cards amounted to 14.2 million in the three-year period, across the whole government.

The former leader used 'meet and greet services' from a company that boasted that it treated its customers 'like royalty' repeatedly between 2022 and 2022.

It shows that Ms Sturgeon's team paid Ace Handling for services during visits including to England, Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands, as well as when leaving and returning through Edinburgh Airport.

Ace's website says it relieves the 'stress' of going through airport procedures, 'whether you're a VIP or just want to feel like one'.

For departures it meets clients from their car and then whisks them through check-in and security 'to the VIP lounge, and then to the awaiting flight'. When arriving, clients are met from their flight and escorted through immigration, luggage reclaim 'and taken to your waiting car'.

Senior government staff are issued with credit-style cards to purchase goods and services with a value of 5,000 per transaction.

The full breakdown of spending covers all purchases between September 2019 and August 2022 and included 58,751 individual spending entries.

Purchases by senior staff also included yoga classes, nail polish and 4,182 for hospitality and hotel accommodation at the five-star Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire in September 2019 for a women in sports event.

But the procurement cards also purchased a staff member's driving theory test, China crockery for a meeting room, a 27 'homedisco' from eBay and 272 on 'wellington boots for inspections'.

A variety of books were also purchased, including six copies of book of speeches by Ms Sturgeon and 21 copies of How To Run A Government So That Citizens Benefit And Taxpayers Don't Go Crazy.

The SNP have been among some of the loudest critics of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's use of VIP air travel. In January MP Tommy Sheppard tweeted that his use of a jet made 'a mockery of his climate pledges'.

Scottish Labour finance spokesman Michael Marra told the Daily Record: 'These are the spending habits of an arrogant and entitled government with no regard for taxpayers.

'The SNP government is frittering away public money on frivolous purchases and VIP treatment while services are stretched to breaking point.'

The most expensive use of the meet-and-green services was 1,605 spent at Dublin Airport on October 13, 2021.

Ms Sturgeon was in Ireland in transit to Reykjavik to speak about climate change as a keynote speaker to the Arctic Circle Assembly.

It came two weeks before Glasgow hosted the Cop26 climate conference and she told delegates Scotland planned to 'lead by example'.

The government credit card was also used to spend 1,271.21 at Amsterdam Schiphol in February 2020, as she was en route to Brussels, having spent 946.67 there the previous September on a trip to Germany.

The Scottish government said: 'The Scottish government is committed to delivering the best value for money for taxpayers and proactively publishes information about spending to improve openness and transparency.

'Spending through electronic purchasing cards is used to support government officials during their usual course of work such as on training, catering, room hire and one-off supplies.

'The cards are not for personal expenditure and there are robust authorisation and regular auditing arrangements are in place to monitor their use.

'For security reasons we cannot comment on the first minister's travel arrangements.'
Exposure to deadly mould infestations plaguing damp homes can be 'lethal' and 'life-threatening', experts have warned.

It comes after a string of deaths which have been linked to fungal outbreaks at homes across the UK.

Toddler Awaab Ishak died in 2020 shortly after his second birthday as a result of a severe respiratory conditions caused by prolonged exposure to mould in his Rochdale home.

Are you trapped living in a mouldy home? Please tell your story by emailing tom.cotterill@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement

While an inquest into the death of Luke Brooks this week heard how the 27-year-old died from pneumonia, which his family believe was a result of their mould-riddled rented home in Oldham, Greater Manchester.

Meanwhile, the cost-of-living crisis has made Britain's 'mould epidemic' worse, with 4.7million private renters having battled fungal growth after choosing to turn off the heat to save cash, figures claimed.

The shocking statistics, combined with the death of Awaab, prompted demands from the social housing ombudsman for landlords to tackle the growing problem.

But in the two years since the toddler lost his life, mould complaints have continued to balloon, rising from 3.350 in 2022 to about 5,300 this year.

The housing ombudsman lambasted the London Borough of Haringey as recently as last month for the landlord's 'culture of apathy' at dealing with mould complaints from tenants.

Now MailOnline is looking at just how deadly mould outbreaks in people's homes can be - and what you can do to prevent an infestation.

Awaab Ishak, two, died just days before Christmas 2020 due to the mould in his familys rented flat, a coroner said

While an inquest into the death of Luke Brooks (pictured) this week heard how the 27-year-old died from pneumonia, which his family believe was a result of their mould-riddled rented home

Mould infestations can be potentially life-threatening, leading to a range of health complications, experts have warned

What is mould?

Mould is a microscopic fungus like mildew or toadstools, that needs permanently damp conditions to grow and multiply.

It is found in a variety of colours, from black and white to green, pink or yellow and reproduces by making spores.

But mould is also an allergen and, if allowed to spread, can become highly toxic and cause severe respiratory infections. Spores can grow on plaster, wood, carpet and even dust.

If left unchecked, mould infestations can prove deadly.

How can mould affect your health?

Those living in homes riddled with mould are more likely to suffer from respiratory illnesses, allergies or asthma.

Mould can release spores which, when inhaled, can lead to allergic reactions, such as sneezing, a runny nose, red eyes and skin rash.

Symptoms of a mould problem include coughing, constant tiredness, eye and throat irritation, headaches, skin irritation or nausea.

Moulds can also trigger asthma attacks and cause coughing and wheezing. Some of these fungi also produce toxic substances.

Other symptoms can include constant tiredness, eye and throat irritation, headaches, skin irritation or nausea.

Dr Andy Whittamore, a GP who works with the charity Asthma and Lung UK said: 'In some cases, mould can be breathed in and can be found growing in the lungs - it can be life-threatening.'

Mould can thrive in damp conditions and can lead to asthma attacks, allergies and other health complications

Malcolm Richardson, professor of medical mycology (the study of mould) at the University of Manchester, added: 'Mould is an opportunistic fungus, and grows aggressively in the body, stopping the organs working properly - so it can be lethal.'

Dr Simon Clarke, associate professor in cellular microbiology, University of Reading, said mould growing inside people's homes was 'nothing new'.

But he warned the cost-of-living crisis had seen some people choosing to switch off their heating to try and save cash - which in turn was creating the perfect conditions for mould to grow.

'As people struggle with high fuel bills, they may be tempted to try to eliminate all possible sources of heat loss, but this could cause other problems,' he said.

'The elderly and very young are at increased risk of respiratory problems from indoor mould, as are some people with respiratory problems, such as asthma.

'And the weakened immune systems of chemotherapy patients place them in particular danger.'

The elderly and very young are at increased risk of respiratory problems from indoor mould, with black mould like this being particularly concerning

Has anyone died from living in a mouldy home?

Yes. Toddler Awaab Ishak died shortly after his second birthday - with an inquest concluding his death was caused by 'extensive' mould in his family's flat.

Little Awaab died in December 2020 from a respiratory condition caused by mould in the one-bedroom housing association flat where he lived with his parents, Faisal Abdullah and Aisha Amin, in Rochdale, Greater Manchester.

Joanne Kearsley, the coroner, found that he 'died as a result of a severe respiratory condition caused due to prolonged exposure to mould in his home environment' and 'action to treat and prevent the mould was not taken'.

Concluding the hearing at Rochdale Coroners Court in November 2022, she asked 'How does this happen? How in the UK in 2020 does a two-year-old child die due to exposure to mould?

'This issue is not simply a Rochdale problem, nor is damp and mould simply a social housing problem, it is a significant issue in private sector too.

Awaab Ishak, two, died just days before Christmas 2020 due to the mould in his familys rented flat, a coroner said

Awaab had severe swelling of his airway and throat. Tests also found fungus in his blood

This was the mould-ridden bathroom at the two-year-old's family home in Rochdale

'There is little doubt that the tragic death of Awaab Ishak will and should be a defining moment for the housing sector.'

And in 2013, mould was linked to the deaths of actress Brittany Murphy and her screenwriter husband Simon Monjack.

Murphy, who starred in such films as Clueless and Sin Sity, was only 32 when she was found dead on the bathroom floor of her LA home.

At the time there was speculation her death was linked to drug abuse or an eating disorder. She had previously complained about abdominal pain and flu-like symptoms and woke up on the fateful morning gasping for breath.

When Monjack died in May 2012 at the age of 40, his death was blamed on heart failure.

However, the cause of death for both cases was recorded as pneumonia and anaemia, with experts suggesting that mould in the couple's LA mansion could be to blame, damaging their respiratory systems.

Mould was linked to the deaths of actress Brittany Murphy, who was found dead in her LA home in 2012

Mould was also linked to the earlier death of her screenwriter husband Simon Monjack (pictured, right, with Murphy)

More recently, the family of Luke Brooks say mould plaguing his home in Oldham, Greater Manchester, was responsible for his death.

The 27-year-old, who had no prior health conditions, began suffering regular colds, his mother Patricia said.

Friends said Mr Brooks bedroom  in which he spent most of the day playing video games  and the bathroom had black spots on the walls and ceilings.

In October last year he came down with flu symptoms and began suffering from a rash, an inquest was told on Monday.

Three days later his condition seemed to be improving, but then he unexpectedly suffered a seizure, and although an ambulance was called he was later pronounced dead.

A post-mortem examination later made a preliminary finding that Mr Brooks had been suffering from pneumonia leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome brought on by living in heavily-mould infested accommodation.

Luke Brooks, 27, had no health issues, the hearing was told, but after he and his mother Patricia moved into the rented property in Oldham, Greater Manchester, he began suffering regular colds

Mrs Brooks told how a bathroom at the two-bedroom property  which was shared by six adults, three dogs and a cat - was covered in mould, while rain came in through holes in the roof

Steps to combat mould infestations in your home:

Open windows: The NAPB advises it is best to ventilate as much of your home as possible.

Kitchens and bathrooms are the most likely to develop mould, so the firm suggests opening a window while cooking or taking a shower. This allows moisture to flow out of the home, instead of building up.

Householders concerned about letting heat out are also advised to have air vents retro-fitted into the windows.

Keep doors shut: Householders should try to confine excess moisture into mould-prone rooms, such as kitchens or bathrooms, while in use.

The NAPB says to avoid leaving the bathroom door open during a shower or bath as this causes steam to travel through the home more freely.

Over time, condensation may build up on the walls, leading to mould growth in hallways or landings.

Clean carpets: Regular carpet cleaning is one of the best ways to prevent mould growth.

Householders should hoover carpets regularly and get them professionally cleaned once a year to ensure they remain mould free.

The NAPB also recommends investing in a high-quality carpet padding with anti-microbial properties as this can help prevent a mould breakout.

Kitchens and bathrooms are the most likely to develop mould, so the NAPB suggests opening a window while cooking or taking a shower. This allows moisture to flow out of the home, instead of building up

Check for leaks: While the use of household appliances such as kettles and showers can cause moisture build-up, it's worth checking your house thoroughly for any leaks or cracks that could be bringing excess moisture into the home.

Common spots that should be checked include under sinks, behind toilets, around your washing machine and dishwasher and under radiators. If you find a leak, call a plumber. Mould in ceilings can also be caused by blocked drainpipes.

Clear the clutter: Just like most do in the spring, householders should have a 'clean out' as the colder weather creeps in.

Householders should sort through particularly stuffed cupboards and wardrobes and dispose of items they no longer needed.

The NAPB warns the more cluttered a residence is, the less space air has to circulate. The organisation says air circulation is 'vital' for controlling mould growth.'

Don't dry clothes indoors: Householders should not lay clothing to dry on a clothes horse or radiator indoors.

The NAPB warns that without proper ventilation, moisture will evaporate from the clothes and settle on the ceiling and walls.

Residents should instead consider investing in a tumble dryer or opening windows when air-drying their clothes.

Clean extractor fans: Extractor fans used in the kitchen or bathroom are essential for filtering humidity and bad odours outdoor, but can become clogged overtime.

Householders can keep their fans running smoothly by having them regularly cleaned and serviced.

Are you trapped living in a mouldy home? Please Email tom.cotterill@mailonline.co.uk to tell your story
Many families are being encouraged to keep one eye firmly on their letterbox, just in case they receive a letter outlining how to get 450 for free.

With the grey looming cloud that is the cost of living crisis, most of us have been forced to be cautious with our pennies.

It can feel like a never-ending battle, but help is available for those who need it via the Household Support Fund (HSF).

The HSF scheme was launched in October 2022, and is worth an eye-watering 842 million.

But it is not up for grabs for everyone - it is a pot to help those on lower incomes as the pressure of the cost of living continues to grow.

Households eligible for the Household Support Fund in Oxfordshire could receive up to 450 for free

The Household Support Fund is set up to help various households that are low income. The help available is dependent on area, how many people live there and how in need you are

The intention of the scheme is to help a wide range of low income households that are in need, including families with children of all ages, unpaid carers, pensioners, care leavers and disabled people.

The funding received by every council across the country varies and it is entirely based on the population, necessity and the area.

If you wondering what support you may be entitled to, you should check with your council.

If you receive any of the following support, you will not be eligible to receive the Household Support Fund:

Universal Credit

Income-based Jobseekers Allowance

Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

Income Support

Working Tax Credit

Child Tax Credit

Pension credit

If you are eligible for HSF you will receive a letter this summer, regarding information on how to get the grant.

Eligible residents in Oxfordshire County Council could get up to 450, depending on their situation.

Oxfordshire council stated the HSF is being granted to homes that did not receive the cost of living payment, which was a sum of 900, from the Department for Works and Pensions (DWP).

How you receive HSF will vary depending on the county you live in. Most areas receive the grant via vouchers or bank transfer

You may receive fuel vouchers, supermarket vouchers or a one off payment

What am I entitled to?

As previously mentioned, support available to you is entirely dependent on where you live.

Every council is dishing out their portion of the Household Support Fund separately and in varying ways.

In some areas, some habitants will get their grant via bank transfer, while others may receive theirs in the form of a voucher.

For instance, those who are eligible and live in West Devon will receive two direct payments worth 400.

One-off payments and fuel or supermarket vouchers are the usual types of help provided with the HSF.

Some councils are yet to begin the application process for funding. Therefore, if you are unsure about what you are entitled to in your area you should check with your local council.

You can use this website to find out which local council you belong to.

Can I get the cost of living payment?

If you are not entitled to the HSF grant there is no need to fear as there are other forms of help available.

Individuals in receipt of certain benefits are entitled to a cost of living payment, worth 900.

The 900 is set to be dished out during the year and if you get any of the following you will be eligible:

Pension Credit

Tax Credits (Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit)

Universal Credit

Income-based Jobseekers Allowance

Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

Income Support

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has yet to provide concrete dates, however the money will come in three separate payouts.

The first instalment of 301 was set to land between April and May.

A second sum of 300 will arrive for those eligible in Autumn, with the third and final payment of 299 to be made around Spring 2024, according to The Sun.

If you are not entitled to the HSF, there are other forms of help available including the cost of living payment, council tax reductions, hardship grants and more

Is there any other help available?

A cost of living payment and the HSF aren't the only types of help on offer during these precarious times.

There are various hardship and grants to help if you are really feeling under financial pressure.

Greggs offer a hardship grant, available to households in Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, Durham and Teesside.

With this grant you can receive washing machines, cookers, or a small kitchen appliance voucher, depending on your needs. Items received do not come with installations.

Energy companies also offer grants - Scottish Power hands over up to 750 to homes who are struggling.

The majority of hardships funds are open throughout the year.

Many people may also be entitled to a council tax cut but are totally unaware.

If you live in a household of only students you could be exempt from paying council tax altogether.

If you live on your own, or you are the only adult cohabiting with a student or an adult that is categorised as severely mentally impaired then you could be eligible for 25 per cent off of your council tax bill.

Those receiving a pension are also entitled to have their council billed lowered. If they also get the Guarantee Credit then they may not have to pay council tax at all.

There are a range of support schemes available including help with childcare costs and fueling your house this winter.

For more information on eligibility and support with living costs visit the UK government website here.
Greenpeace has been warned their trust risks losing its charitable status after eco-protesters scaled Rishi Sunak's roof.

A group of activists were last week arrested after they clambered onto the top of the Prime Minister's grade 11-listed mansion in his North Yorkshire constituency.

Amid widespread outrage at the group's actions, Greenpeace have been banned from meetings with civil servants until further notice.

They have also now been warned their funding model could be threatened by the 'intimidatory' behaviour of its activists.

Lord Carlile of Berriew, a crossbench peer and a former independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, called on trustees of Greenpeace to 'reflect on what occurred'.

He pointed to how Greenpeace Environmental Trust, a UK-registered charity, funded Greenpeace Limited with 2.4million last year.

Greenpeace campaigners draped Rishi Sunak's home with an oil-black fabric to protest against his plans to grant more than 100 new licences for North Sea oil and gas extraction

The group of activists were arrested after they clambered onto the top of the Prime Minister's grade 11-listed mansion in his North Yorkshire constituency

Lord Carlile of Berriew, a crossbench peer and a former independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, called on trustees of Greenpeace to 'reflect on what occurred'

The former Liberal Democrat MP claimed the Trust should have considered it 'ethically unsound' for Greenpeace activists to 'invade' Mr Sunak's constituency home.

'I have long respected Greenpeace and counterterrorism policing,' the former Lord Carlile wrote in a letter to The Times.

'Now I find myself disappointed with both and anxious about their directions of travel.

'Concerning policing, as a former independent reviewer of terrorism legislation I am astonished that protesters were able to trespass at length on the prime minister's private home.

'This demonstrates a failure of surveillance and a serious lapse of attention.

'Concerning the Greenpeace Environmental Trust, as a UK-registered charity it should have regarded it ethically unsound for Greenpeace Limited, which it funded to the extent of 2.4 million last year, to invade the home of an elected representative.

'Targeting a politician's private residence is an intimidatory act by those who have not troubled to achieve their policies through the electoral process.

'Greenpeace's trustees should reflect on what occurred, not least because I assume that they do not wish to imperil the organisation's charitable status.'

A group of Greenpeace protesters were arrested and later bailed on Thursday amid an ongoing investigation by North Yorkshire Police.

The campaigners draped Mr Sunak's home with an oil-black fabric to protest against the PM's plans to grant more than 100 new licences for oil and gas extraction in the North Sea.

Mr Sunak was out of the country as he enjoyed a family holiday in California with his wife and two daughters.

Environment Secretary Therese Coffey has since ordered civil servants at her Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to end meetings and engagement with the group until further notice.

In response to the intervention, Greenpeace defended the protest as 'entirely peaceful' and diligently planned to avoid safety risks.

The group's UK co-executive director, Will McCallum, said: 'This isn't about the Government engaging with Greenpeace, it's about them engaging with the world around them.

'The planet is on fire and Rishi Sunak is acting like nothing's happening.'
Its founder says transatlantic passengers are 'sick and tired' of their treatment

The founder of a new UK airline aiming to fly between London and New York within a year has claimed transatlantic passengers are 'sick and tired' of their treatment.

Global Airlines is aiming to begin operating between Gatwick Airport and JFK by the middle of next year, before launching flights between Gatwick and Los Angeles.

British founder and chief executive James Asquith, who also created travel company Holiday Swap, said he has received 'thousands of emails and messages' from people keen to fly on his airline - and pledged to make customers 'feel like a million dollars'.

In an interview with the PA news agency, Mr Asquith said: 'People are sick and tired of the service they get on current airlines. We will be better. People have had enough with how they are treated. Consistently there are devaluations in loyalty platforms.

'There are people in management and shareholders that will over-reward themselves. I want to primarily build a legacy. I'd rather walk away with zero (money) and have something that people genuinely love.'

Global Airlines founder and chief executive James Asquith wants to launch flights next year

James Asquith with his fiancee, influencer and former flight attendant Robyn Ferguson

James Asquith and Robyn Ferguson, pictured at the luxurious Athens hotel King George

The 34-year-old said the quality of food and drinks on Global Airlines aircraft will be 'the best' across all transatlantic services.

How James Asquith became the youngest person to visit every country in the world James Asquith is a prominent social media personality and was an early travel influencer who became notable in 2013 as the youngest person to travel to every country in the world, aged 24. The globetrotter is no stranger to first-class travel himself, regularly sharing snaps of himself and his fiancee, Scottish influencer and former flight attendant Robyn Ferguson, on luxurious holidays around the world. Born in Cuckfield, West Sussex, and the son of a pilot and PA, Asquith was washing cars on his road aged 12 and saved up the money he made before working three jobs as a teenager. He went on to study at the London School of Economics and invested his savings during his studies to buy a house, which he said later fell through after his shares went down. After graduating, he worked at HSBC and managed to get enough leave to pursue his dream of visiting every country in the world. In 2013, Asquith became in the youngest person to travel to all 196 sovereign countries in the world, breaking the record in Micronesia aged 24 years and 192 days old. He visited his first country outside of the UK, Lithuania, in May 2001, and then every other country between 4 July 2008 and 8 July 2013. He said his travels cost him around 125,000. His time travelling inspired him to found Holiday Swap, an app which allows users to swap accommodation by matching up with anyone around the world, in 2018. Advertisement

The airline, which will be based at Gatwick, will serve Laurent-Perrier champagne on its flights, and hopes to even offer passengers in economy cabins a free glass, depending on costs.

First class ticket holders will benefit from being chauffeur driven to airports and having a 'proper social space' onboard planes, Mr Asquith revealed.

'Having a strong product in first class should filter down to economy, and make people in economy feel like a million dollars,' he claimed.

Mr Asquith said Global Airlines will be able to offer fares which are 'in line with, if not cheaper' than those set by other carriers because of how it is obtaining its aircraft.

Agreeing to acquire four previously-used Airbus A380s at reduced prices means the company does not have lease agreements and bonds 'hanging over our heads', he said.

Mr Asquith, who previously spent more than eight years working in investment banking, said too many new airlines quickly take on large debts which are often their 'first nail in the coffin'.

Carriers which have failed to make a success of transatlantic flights include Norwegian, Wow Air and Primera Air.

Mr Asquith said Global Airlines is being funded by a combination of Holiday Swap Group and external investors, who he did not name.

The airline plans to have 15 to 20 planes over the next two years and 'expand pretty aggressively from there', he explained.

'There are a lot more destinations and routes that we want to serve.'

Mr Asquith insisted he is not concerned by having to compete with a number of other airlines operating flights between London and New York, such as British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and several US-based carriers.

'I don't think more flights and more carriers equals more competition,' he said. 'I actually just see that as more demand and supply on the route, which makes it easier to stand out if you have a better product.'

Mr Asquith is a prominent social media personality and in 2013 became the youngest person to travel to every country in the world, aged 24.

Launching an airline has been his 'ultimate dream' since he was eight years old, he said. 'If it takes me until the last day of my life, we'll get there.

James Asquith became the youngest person to travel to every country in the world, in 2013

James Asquith is a prominent social media personality who is behind the new Global Airlines

'I got told by everyone, including my parents, that going to every country in the world was madness, it would never happen.

'I've been told that throughout my entire life, for everything I've done. There is not a single part of me that thinks Global Airlines won't get off the ground.

'It would be letting down the tens of thousands of people that have reached out and are desperate to fly with us.'

Aviation consultant John Strickland warned that Global Airlines faces significant challenges. He said: 'I wish the team luck but I'd counsel caution.

Global Airlines founder James Asquith wants to begin operating between Gatwick and JFK

Global Airlines has four jumbo jets and hopes to take on airlines on the transatlantic route

'In my 40 years in the industry I've worked on planning North Atlantic routes for a number of airlines, and the reality is that the market has the potential to be a goldmine or a graveyard.

'Relying primarily on price sensitive traffic inevitably means high risk. Not only will people move for a better price but the market is structurally seasonal, making winter months particularly challenging.'

He said that the decision to use A380s - which is the world's largest airliner - raises 'a number of questions'.

The planes have 'a lot of capacity to fill' and high operating costs, and there is 'uncertainty' over the availability of spare parts and maintenance support due to the model being out of production, Mr Strickland added.
Police officers were given medical treatment at the scene as some 80 people were evacuated from their homes when 'potentially hazardous material' was found in a flat.

Seven police officers and a Scottish Police Authority forensic service staff member took unwell and were treated on site in the east end of Glasgow. Their symptoms are unknown.

A bomb disposal team was called to the incident on Monday night as police cordoned off several streets.

Police arrived at the flat on Altyre Street, Shettleston shortly after 5pm on Monday evening and remained onsite well on Tuesday.

Residents, whose homes were evacuated as a precaution were allowed to return home by Tuesday morning.

Homes in Glasgow were evacuated and a bomb team were called after a 'hazardous substance' was found in a block of flats

Numerous emergency service vehicles, including a bomb disposal team, were at the scene dealing with the incident

It is claimed that electrical equipment, ethanol and white powder in bags was found shortly after 6pm on Monday evening

About 80 residents left their homes, with roughly 60 spending the night at an emergency rest centre at Tollcross International Swimming Centre.

Locals spoke of having to leave house in their pyjamas, with one being able to leave without collecting medication for her autistic son.

The police have established that the materials pose no risk to the wider public, deeming it safe for residents to return and for roads to open.

Residents have told of fleeing the street in their pyjamas, with one woman saying it was like a scene from a film

Residents were allowed to return home on Tuesday morning after the dispatch of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit (EOD) who investigated the nature of the material

Chief superintendent Alan Waddell said: 'Our inquiries into the incident are ongoing, and there will be a continued police presence in the area. We are working closely with our partners.

'I would like to thank residents and motorists for their patience whilst we dealt with this incident. There was no danger to the wider public.'

A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: 'We were alerted at 5.39pm on Monday, 7 August to reports of an incident involving suspected hazardous materials at a property on Altyre Street, Glasgow.

'Operations Control mobilised a number of resources to the scene, including specialist Hazmat units.'
A Texas influencer has spoken of her relief at escaping from Dubai, three months after she was barred from leaving the country.

Tierra Young Allen previously had her passport confiscated after she screamed at a rental car agency employee - and was thought to be facing two years in prison.

Allen, who goes by the name Sassy Trucker, paid a $1,360 fee to police to lift the travel ban so she could leave, according to NGO Detained in Dubai.

But her joy turned to horror when she was pulled aside by immigration officials at the Gulf state airport, just moments before her flight was due to leave.

I was so scared. I thought they were sending me to jail, she told the NGOs chief executive Radha Stirling.

Tierra Young Allen, 29, was arrested in Dubai in May after an altercation at a rental agency

Tierra is from California but lives in Texas. She remained in Dubai for three months before her release

Tierra bills herself as one of the only female trucking influencers in the world. She has visited Dubai multiple times in the past and always documents her trip on social media. She is shown during a previous trip

The 29-year-old was arrested in Dubai in May after she was involved in a fender bender which saw a rental vehicle impounded along with her phone and credit cards, she said.

Once back at the rental agency, she claims she was told she could only have them back if she paid an undisclosed sum.

She fought back, arguing with the employee who made the apparent demand, and the police were called.

Tierra bills herself as one of the only female trucking influencers in the world. She has visited Dubai multiple times in the past and always documents her trip on social media.

Allen was assisted by Detained in Dubai - a non-profit that assists US citizens and other foreign nationals who find themselves incarcerated there.

'The police changed their story regarding the charges against her as soon as her case hit the headlines; falsely claiming that Tierra had been verbally abusive, when initially they only stated that she had raised her voice,' said Stirling.

'Eventually a civil case was filed against her in what appeared to be a doubling-down by police officials.

'Tierra's case is a reminder that foreign nationals in the UAE are still routinely targeted.

The influencer has previously visited Dubai but told Stirling she feared her detention would continue after a last run-in with airport security

Allen's mother Tina Baxter fought to keep her daughter's case in the spotlight

Allen is a pioneering female trucker who has documented her journeys to the Middle East

Previous trips to Dubai have passed without trouble and Allen had hailed the country in previous social media posts

The Texas influencer has attracted hundreds of thousands of followers on social media

'The legal system is used against them maliciously by locals to extort and intimidate them precisely because they are vulnerable and enjoy no substantial legal protections.'

Police eventually returned her passport, but a Dubai Court was still messaging demands for payment just an hour before her flight took off.

Airport officials told her she was banned from returning to the Gulf kingdom as they finally allowed her to board the plane.

'I was never thinking twice about coming back,' Allen said.

'I was so stressed every day.'

Allen's mother Tina Baxter fought to keep her daughter's case in the spotlight, Stirling thanked Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee for their help in securing Allen's freedom.

But she said the international attention to Allen's plight was crucial in swaying Emerati officials.

'This case highlights, once again, the crucial role played by the media, and by the public, in demanding accountability and justice in the UAE,' she added.

'Tierra was living a nightmare and facing fines and lengthy imprisonment, until her case was brought into the spotlight of international media scrutiny.

'Without that attention, all too often, Emirati authorities pay little heed to due process, fairness, and human rights.

Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai helped secure Allen's release and says scams like having to pay for your documents and phone back are common in the Gulf kingdom

'Just recently, two Americans agreed to pay an extortion fee to a rental car agency, just to recover their passports and go home.

'If they didnt pay, they would still be there, possibly in prison.'

A spokesman for Sen. Cruz said previously: 'We have spoken to the family of Tierra Young Allen and have contacted the Department of State about the case.

'Sen. Cruz will continue to gather details and engage on this case until Ms. Allen is returned home to her family.'
A posh bar at Italy's exclusive Lake Como has sparked outrage after it was revealed it charges customers an extra 2 just to cut their sandwiches in half.

One disgruntled customer shared a photograph of a receipt online as proof of the baffling charge.

The printout from June 18 clearly shows that Bar Pace had charged them 2 (1.70) for the privilege of cutting their fancy sarnie in two.

Listed as 'diviso da meta' it translates into English as 'divided in half'.

The total pushed the already pricy 7.50 (6.46) 'toast vegetariano e patatine' - or veggie toast and crisps - up to 9.50.

The printout clearly shows that Bar Pace had charged them 2 (1.70) for the privilege of cutting their fancy sarnie in two. Listed as 'diviso da meta' (the fourth item on the bill) it translates into English as 'divided in half'

The owner of the bar (pictured), who has not been named, hit back in Italian media, saying that 'additional requests have a cost'

Lake Como is known as one of the most exclusive destinations in the world, with Hollywood star George Clooney owning a mansion overlooking the shore.

The owner of the bar, who has not been named, hit back in Italian media, saying that 'additional requests have a cost'.

They explained: 'If a customer asks me to make two portions of toast, I have to use two saucers, two napkins and go to the table using two hands.

'It is true that the customer is always right, but it is equally true that additional requests have a cost.'

The customer, also unnamed, was reportedly at the bar in Gera Lario, a small town located on the northern shore of Lake Como, with his partner.

They ordered a fizzy drink, the sandwich to share, a water and a coffee, for a total cost of 15.70 (13.52).

The TripAdvisor user said: 'This has never happened to me in any of the places I have visited in the world.'

Since international travel returned to normality at the end of the global pandemic, several disgruntled holidaymakers have taken to the internet to express their shock at being presented with exorbitant bills in bars and restaurants in a number of European holiday destinations.

Several customers have slammed a cafe near Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome for being a 'tourist trap,' with one customer saying they were charged 53 for 'two triangular toast bread sandwiches and a ham and mozzarella ciabatta'.

In June, one tourist took to Reddit to express their shock after being left with a bill of 360.80 (310) for a a light lunch on Greece's island of Mykonos, at a beach-side restaurant called Eclipse.

The customer explained that their family had been looking for a good spot to sit and enjoy the sun when a waiter at beach-side restaurant Eclipse told them they could 'use their cabanas or loungers provided we bought two drinks'.

The customer said they had asked for the prices and a menu, but that the waiter cleverly avoided their questions, telling them it was 'cheap'.

The two parents ordered a beer and mojito each but were also pressured into ordering milkshakes for their children.

In June, one tourist took to Reddit to express their shock after being left with a bill of 360.80 (310) for a a light lunch on Greece's island of Mykonos , at a beach-side restaurant called Eclipse (pictured)

They also had a Greek salad and Calamari.

To the customer's shock, they said they were then handed a bill costing their four drinks at 78 (67) and the calamari at 75 (65). Being pestered for payment, they eventually gave the waiter their card.

But to even further dismay, the customer said they were charged even more.

'When the bill came back I was appalled as the Calamari was 148 (127), the milkshakes which we never wanted but were forced to order for our kids were 38 (33) each and the salad and bread which we were told were free were 28 (24) and 14.50 (12) respectively,' they said.

After telling the staff of his shock and anger at the payment, they said the staff started 'grouping up and getting mad'.

They said the cashier then tore off the top part of the receipt containing the transaction details and the restaurant's name and address.

British tourists have also complained about a separate establishment on the Greek island, DK Oyster.

One pair of honeymooners in May said they were charged 25 per oyster, while another couple said they paid almost 700 for drinks, appetisers and a salad.

At the same bar, an American couple were slapped with an eye-watering $860 bill for two mojitos, four crab legs and a Greek salad.
An experienced mountain guide and two clients were 'roped together' when they fell to their deaths in Glen Coe, it was revealed today.

The bodies of two men and a woman were found after they tried to navigate what is widely known as the UK's most treacherous hillwalking ridge during a spell of heavy rain over the weekend.

Sources close to the search said this morning that the male guide was experienced and that it was 'pretty normal' to rope people together on sections of the Aonach Eagach Ridge.

But the trio, who were traversing the ridge east to west, are believed to have encountered unusually wet weather for August before suffering a 'significant' fall.

Police Scotland confirmed the alarm was raised shortly after 9.05pm on Saturday.

An experienced mountain guide and two clients were 'roped together' when they fell to their deaths in Glen Coe, it was revealed today

An experienced mountain guide and two clients were 'roped together' when they fell to their deaths in Glen Coe, it was revealed today (pictured, a rescue helicopter at Glencoe in 2019)

An initial search involving Inverness coastguard helicopter was made in mist and fog in difficult terrain, before the bodies were found in the early hours on Sunday.

Police said Glencoe and RAF mountain rescue teams also assisted with the search and recovery operation.

The spokesman added: 'There do not appear to be any suspicious circumstances. A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.'

The force has declined to comment further.

Angus MacDonald, a local Highland councillor who grew up in the Clachaig Inn below the ridge, said: 'This is a tragedy for those who died and their families.

'I know everyone in the area will feel for them.'

David Whalley, a veteran mountaineer and former mountain rescue team leader, said Aonach Eagach was one of the best mountaineering ridges in Scotland.

He said traversing - crossing the ridge - did not involve hillwalking, but mountaineering and there were some tricky spots to negotiate along the route.

Mr Whalley told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: 'We mustn't forget we are talking about people and grief going on in (families') lives.'

'Mountaineering is wonderful but it is a risk sport and we all live with that when we are out in the mountains.'

Mr Whalley also paid tribute to Glencoe's volunteer mountain rescuers.

The narrow, exposed ridge running almost the length of Glen Coe involves scrambling - a mountaineering term meaning hillwalkers using their hands to help keep their balance on steep, difficult terrain.

Its entire length runs for about six miles (9km) and the ridge has two Munros, Scottish summits higher than 914.4m (3,000ft).

Dozens of walkers and climbers traverse Aonach Eagach safely every year but seven people have died on the ridge since 2014.

Previous deaths in the area have included a 63-year-old woman in September 2014 and a 44-year-old man in July 2016.

Last September, the body of Alan Taylor, from Dundee, was found in a gully near the ridge. The 57-year-old had been missing since September 2021.

Aonach Eagach is said to be one of the narrowest ridges on the British mainland. Pictured, Glencoe on the map

It is one of the worst multiple fatalities involving hillwalkers from one incident in Scottish mountains

Walking website Walkhighlands describes Aonach Eagach ridge as the 'narrowest ridge on the British Mainland'.

It is one of the worst multiple fatalities involving hillwalkers from one incident in Scottish mountains.

It is usually avalanches that have the potential to claim several lives at once - but that is in the winter.

The first avalanche deaths in three years were recorded on the country's mountains in the 2018/19 season, when three climbers died on Ben Nevis.

Raphael Aymon, Cedric Ravimet and Adrien Robez-Masson, from France and Switzerland all died in the deadly snow slide in Number 5 Gully on Ben Nevis on March 12, 2019.

The only survivor of the accident was Swiss citizen Mathieu Biselx.

Mr Biselx described how the party of four experienced climbers were flung down the gully by a torrent of heavy snow which fell 1500 feet on to them.

The latest deaths come only days after an 80-year-old man died in an accident in Skye's Cuillin mountains.

John Meechan, from Glenrothes, Fife, died after he fell on 3,064ft (933m) Coire a' Bhasteir on July 26.

Skye Mountain Rescue Team and a coastguard helicopter were involved in the rescue operation.

Mr Meechan's family said he had climbed all over the world and was passionate about the sport.

Pictured, Aonach Eagach Ridge which is is said to be one of the narrowest ridges on the British mainland

In January 2013 four people were killed in an avalanche in the Scottish Highlands.

A party of six climbers, three men and three women, were caught in the snowfall on Bidean Nam Bian in Glencoe.

Police and mountain rescue teams launched a rescue operation after the alarm was raised by two climbers, who were not part of the group, after they discovered one of the casualties lying in the snow.

The climbers were close to Church Door Buttress when the snow slope broke away.

Britain's worst mountaineering disaster happened on November 20, 1971.

Five teenage school pupils and their 18-year-old guide froze to death on the Cairngorm plateau, one of the highest and most inhospitable places in Britain.

In total 14 Edinburgh students and their three leaders set off on a school climbing expedition in the Cairngorms.

But it was to be a trip steeped in tragedy. It came to be known as the 'Cairngorm Plateau disaster', Britain's worst mountaineering accident, which left six dead, two fighting for their lives, and many more scared, scarred and heartbroken.

The group of 14 teenagers set off from Ainslie Park School in East Pilton with the school's outdoor instructor Ben Beattie, who at just 23 was the oldest of the group, and his 21-year-old girlfriend Catherine Davidson in sole charge.

The fatal accident inquiry was held in Banff in February 1972.

It was revealed that the consent forms issued to parents did not say there would be winter mountaineering.

It concluded parents should in future get more information about expeditions, called for the establishment of a better training and certification regime for instructors, and recommended that experts should advise on whether high-level shelters should be removed to stop people relying on them in emergencies.
Britain's wonkiest pub was demolished without permission, the local council confirmed today as it threatened enforcement action over the 'unacceptable' move.

The historic Crooked House in Himley, West Midlands - famed for being the place where coins seemingly rolled uphill along the bar - was gutted by a fire on Saturday night.

Only the exterior of the 18th century boozer remained standing, but there was much hope locally that it could be preserved and restored as a watering hole once again.

But barely 36 hours after it went up in flames, footage emerged on social media of what remained of the building being demolished by a mechanical digger - and by Monday afternoon it was completely flattened.

The blaze, which was tackled by 30 firefighters, came just two weeks after the building was sold by pub company Marston's to a private buyer for 'alternative use'.

South Staffordshire Council declined to reveal the identity of the buyer due to the ongoing police investigation. Marston's has also been approached for comment.

But the local authority released a statement today condemning the demolition, and revealing that a series of works was agreed with the landowner's representative on a site visit yesterday to stop the weak parts of the structure from falling.

Leader of the council, Roger Lees, said: 'At no point did the council agree the demolition of the whole structure nor was this deemed necessary.

Footage of Britain's Wonkiest Pub being razed to the ground at speed has sparked fury among locals

The historic Crooked House in Himley, West Midlands - famed for being the place where coins seemingly rolled uphill along the bar - was gutted by a fire on Saturday night

Only the exterior of the 18th century boozer remained standing, but there was much hope locally that it could be preserved and restored as a watering hole once again

But barely 36 hours after it went up in flames, footage emerged on social media of what remained of the building being demolished by a mechanical digger - and by Monday afternoon it was completely flattened

'This council finds the manner in which the situation was managed following the fire completely unacceptable and contrary to instructions provided by our officers.

'As such, we are currently investigating potential breaches of both the Town and Country Planning Act and the Buildings Act.'

Cllr Lees added that the matter has since been referred to the council's legal team with a view to taking legal action as steps required by legislation were not carried out. The Health and Safety Executive has also been notified.

'We are also liaising with many other relevant statutory bodies, including Historic England, the police and fire services, amongst others,' the leader said.

'These bodies will take the lead on investigating the issues surrounding the fire, safety of the unauthorised demolition and securing the ongoing safety of the site.

'Our own investigation is in its early stages and whilst it continues at pace, we as ask for time to consider the facts thoroughly to ensure any future actions are meaningful and proportionate.'

Staffordshire Police says they are reviewing 'all of the available evidence' into the cause of the fire.

But there have been multiple reports that mounds of dirt were blocking access roads to the pub after the fire started, something Mayor Andy Street and night-time economy adviser Alex Claridge confirmed in a letter to the police and fire services.

Furniture from the Crooked House pub is seen in the rubble after it was demolished on Monday

An aerial shot shows the extent of the devastation after the Crooked House was demolished

Bulldozers tore down the beloved structure, leaving a massive pile of rubble in its place

Even in the modern era, before it closed, the pub retained its unique character. The floor, sofas and tables were perfectly upright  but the walls, ceilings and even the windows sat at an angle

Inside, its windows and walls all appeared crooked due to a bizarre effect through subsidence caused by mining in the 1800s

The remains of The Crooked House pub near Dudley which has been demolished after it was gutted by fire

The community at large have been left shocked and saddened at the demise of the Crooked House pub

The pair said they 'make it clear we are not inferring' that The Crooked House was deliberately set alight, but that there are 'major questions' over the timing of the blaze.

Mr Street and Mr Claridge letter was addressed to Staffordshire Police Chief Constable Chris Noble and and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Chief Fire Officer Rob Barber.

It said: 'Whilst we will avoid any speculation as to what has occurred, clearly there are major questions to be answered given how swiftly this fire happened following the sale of the pub to an unknown private developer.

'We are also intrigued by the fact that your officers faced blocked access when trying to get to the scene.'

Mr Street also said in another letter to South Staffordshire Council that the pub should be rebuilt 'brick by brick'.

As video of the demolition circulated on Facebook, many of the pub's regular punters were left devastated by the sight.

One person wrote: 'No way?!!! They have demolished the place THAT quickly?!!! Really???'

Another added: 'Standing since the 18th century, been through war, mining, subsidence...the walls were still standing and a hope of saving something of a landmark, even if just the signage but these disgraceful individuals couldn't even honour that.'

It comes as it emerged today that heritage body Historic England received a submission from experts just a week before the fire requesting that the pub be given protection as a listed building.

Such measures mean property owners must first get local council permission before all works of demolition, alteration or extension on the building.

The crooked nature of the pub attracted punters for decades, with walls, doorways and windows all appearing slanted

Locals started a petition calling for the pub to be saved after a sale was announced to a private buyer who intended to pursue an 'alternative purpose' for the site. They have since doubled down on calling for The Crooked House to be restored

Bricks and furniture left after the demolition of the popular pub in the West Midlands

Two chairs are seen outside the Crooked House pub following its demolition this week

Staffordshire Police says they are reviewing 'all of the available evidence' into the cause of the fire

The scene of devastation following the demolition of the Crooked House pub yesterday

An aerial shot shows how little is left of the pub following Monday's controversial demolition

Campaigners, the Georgian Group, are also looking into whether The Crooked House can be protected now after the fire, and if there are other options available than it being 'left as a ruin', the Telegraph reports.

Cllr Lees added: 'The council is incredibly saddened by the loss of the building which, whilst not listed, was a heritage asset and important landmark to the local area and community.

'Over recent months, the council had been in conversation with the relevant national bodies regarding how best to protect and preserve this important heritage asset.'

Detective Inspector Richard Dancey, from the Criminal Investigation Division, said: 'This incident has caused a great deal of speculation locally and we understand the significance of the building within the local community.

'We would like to remind the public that our investigation is ongoing and we are reviewing all of the available evidence alongside fire investigators to determine the cause of the incident.

'Due to the excess damage caused to the structure of the building, the cordon remains in place [on Monday] and we're asking people to avoid the area.

'Those who may have any useful information are urged to get in touch with us whilst we continue to complete our lines of enquiry alongside the fire service.'

Anyone with information that may help the investigation is urged to contact Staffordshire Police quoting incident 761 of August 5.

The 192-year-old 'wonkiest pub' where coins rolled UP the bar before being destroyed by fire: How Dudley bar The Crooked Pub sunk 4ft into the ground due to mine subsidence before being rescued from demolition and attracting admirers the world over

A wonky historic 18th century pub that burned down last week was famed the world over for its baffling appearance and optical illusions that saw coins and marbles appear to roll up the bar.

An investigation has been launched after The Crooked House in Himley, near Dudley in the West Midlands, caught fire on Saturday August 5 at around 10pm.

Staffordshire Police are treating the blaze as 'suspicious' following reports that individuals were seen inside the pub in the hours before it went up in flames.

The fire has completely gutted the unique watering hole, which attracted tourists from every corner of the globe and was a popular wedding venue  and brings a sorry end to its nearly 200-year-old history.

Prior to its destruction this month, The Crooked House was often described as Britain's wonkiest pub, sitting four feet lower on one side than the other.

The Crooked House pub in Himley, near Dudley in the West Midlands, operated as one of Britain's more unconventional watering holes for nearly 200 years. This photo from 1907 shows how popular it was even back then

 Slide me  The pub had attracted visitors from all over the world who marvelled at its extraordinary appearance, caused by mining subsidence. However, it was destroyed by fire on August 5

The mind-bending taproom was first built as a farmhouse in 1765, but gradually sank into the ground on one side due to subsidence from mining works carried out in the 1800s.

It was converted into a pub in around 1830 and was first known as The Siden House  'siden' being Black Country dialect for 'crooked'.

It was later renamed the Glynne Arms after Sir Stephen Glynne, a brother-in-law of Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone, who owned the land on which the tavern stood.

While the Glynne Arms name remained above the door into the 1970s, the pub had acquired a more affectionate nickname among locals by then: The Crooked House, which was later adopted as the formal moniker.

Inside, drinkers might have been convinced they had one too many before they'd even sipped their first pint  because while the floors and fixtures such as the bars and seats were level, the ceilings, walls and windows were not.

A mind-boggling optical illusion known as a 'gravity hill' meant that coins and marbles appear to roll uphill when placed on slightly downhill surfaces that were sitting at a less jaunty angle than the rest of the pub.

Picture postcards of the era  a popular way for visitors to show families back home where they were visiting in the years before photography was commonplace  made much of the pub's quirks.

Many are captioned 'The Crooked House', while one even features a table of well-dressed country gentlemen marvelling at a marble appearing to roll up their table.

Picture postcards from the early 1900s made much of the pub's awkward appearance both inside and out. The card on the left shows two gentlemen appearing to stand at an angle inside, while that on the right is captioned: 'Doorway, 'Crooked House', Himley'

Another postcard of the era shows a table of gentlemen at the Crooked House making the most of the topsy-turvy setting. The caption reads: 'The Crooked House: Watching the Marble roll up the table'

Punters enjoyed The Crooked House's original character for almost two centuries. A photograph from 1926 (left) shows two gentlemen standing at a seemingly jaunty angle in the doorway of the pub  a tradition that continued with punters in the modern era (right)

In an interview with regional broadcaster ATV in 1974, operators the Love family described the pub as a place where people 'go in drunk and come out sober'.

Landlord Arthur Love said: '[This place is full of] all sorts of tricks. [People come from] China, Russia, Japan, Canada, America, all over the world.

'They come to see the bottle run up the table.'

Mr Love's wife said: 'I used to get violent headaches, but of course we've got used to the building now.

'It all went [sunk] in the one go and there isn't a crack to be seen.

'You come in drunk and you go out sober. [Our regulars] are very few but they are good customers. We get quite a few strangers in quite a lot.

'You've got to see it to believe. You tell people things are straight and they still don't believe it.'

The Loves revealed that the pub was an interior decorator's nightmare  because tradespeople couldn't figure out if they were hanging the wallpaper straight.

Mrs Love added: 'The first one who came here and did it said he couldn't hang the damn stuff on straight  had to pull it all off.'

The boozer had been threatened with closure in the 1940s after it was deemed unsafe. By this time, one side of the building had sunk a full four feet into the ground, despite the owners installing buttresses to stop it from slipping any further.

Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries then purchased the building, reinforcing the supports with girders, and it remained open until earlier this year when the same brewer  now known as Marston's  announced that it was closing it as part of a cost-cutting regime.

The brewing giant said it was selling off 61 locations to 'maximise returns from our core estate'.

The Crooked House went on the market in January with a guide price of 675,000 and sold last month to a private buyer for an undisclosed sum. Staff later said the pub was 'unlikely to open its doors again'.

Any hope of bringing the pub back into use went up in smoke on Saturday night after fire crews were called to Himley amid reports that The Crooked House was alight.

Locals have claimed that the lane up to the pub off of Himley Road had been blocked when fire engines arrived, hampering their ability to tackle the blaze and save the building.

Lee Goodchild, who had taken over the pub last year, has shared his exasperation at the decision to sell following an expensive makeover at Marston's' expense earlier this year.

It was first built as a farmhouse and later converted into a public house in around 1830. Pub giant Marston's had completed a sale of the property last month as part of a cost-cutting exercise that saw it put 60 other venues on the market

Fire crews assessing the remains of The Crooked House on Sunday. Police are appealing for information on the fire and are believed to be treating it as 'suspicious'

He said of the sale: 'I feel very much let down by Marston's, and I'm sure the local community also feel devastated.

'They've sold off one of the oldest pubs around. It's massively known in the area and worldwide in fact, but it's their pub to sell, and it was an expensive place to run - but obviously, does the unique heritage of the site outweigh the cost?

'It's disappointing that the place has gone up in flames. It's a shame, especially given the time and money that has gone into it. The roof has been replaced at Marston's' cost, and the kitchen too, but it all seems a little bit worthless now.'

Staffordshire Police said in a statement on Sunday: 'We are now working with fire investigators to establish the cause of the fire. Fire investigators are inspecting the scene this morning and officers are making local enquiries to secure any information that might help the investigation.

'Anyone who may have any information that could help with the investigation are asked to get in touch.'

Tipsters can contact the force using Staffordshire Police's Live Chat system or by calling 101 and quoting incident number 761 of 5 August. Anonymous reports can also be made via Crimestoppers.
This is the horror moment a bouncer performs a martial arts chokehold on a customer in a Costa holiday resort before throwing him unconscious on the ground like a rag doll.

The doorman was filmed squeezing his right arm tight round his victim's throat after surprising him from behind as he spoke to another bouncer.

The rear-naked choke, also dubbed a 'blood choke' because it restricts blood flow to the brain via the carotid arteries, left him unconcious in seconds.

The attacker then went on to show his disdain for the man he had rendered unconscious, and his lack of concern for his wellbeing, by dumping him on the pavement and walking away.

A group of youngsters were just inches away and witnessed the assault but appeared to do nothing to intervene.

The doorman was filmed squeezing his right arm tight round his victim's throat after surprising him from behind as he spoke to another bouncer. The attacker then dumped him on the pavement and walked away

The sickening scene occurred in the early hours of last Friday at a nightclub in Almunecar south of the southern Spanish city of Granada on the so-called Costa Calida, which translates into English as the Warm Coast and lies east of the more internationally well-known Costa del Sol.

Unconfirmed local reports said the man who was put in a choke-hold was a 'problem' customer who had previously thrown stones at the unnamed nightspot.

He remained on the ground for several seconds before coming round and getting up. He is not thought to have suffered any lasting damage.

Police have identified all those involved in the incident but have not yet made any arrests and have instead drafted and sent a full report to a local court so an investigating judge can decide what action to take.

The bouncer can be seen walking up to the customer at a nightclub on the so-called Costa Calida in Spain. He then suddenly grips his neck and puts him in the 'rear-naked choke'

The man who was left unconscious had not filed a formal complaint as of late Monday. His nationality has not been made public.

In November last year a tourist was strangled unconscious in Malaga in a violent mugging by an attacker who used the same choke technique.

The German victim tried to use her hands to free herself from the attacker but blacked out after a few seconds.

Footage taken at the time showed the man rummaging through her belongings with a female accomplice as she lay on the ground before they fled the scene after realising they had been spotted.
The Electoral Commission apologised today after revealing it was targeted by a cyber attack which allowed 'hostile actors' to access electoral registers.

The UK elections watchdog said it was first hacked two years ago but it has not been able to 'know conclusively' what information had been accessed.

The major security breach allowed the attackers to access reference copies of electoral registers containing the names and addresses of people registered to vote between 2014 and 2022, potentially millions of people.

The London-based body added that the largely paper-based process of elections meant it would be 'very hard' for hackers to influence the outcome of a vote.

The incident was announced today, nearly a year after it was identified in October last year and two years since the attackers first accessed its systems in August 2021.

The watchdog - an independent body overseeing elections and regulating political finance - has apologised to people whose information was accessible to the hackers.

But the Information Commissioner's Office said it was looking into the incident.

Mariano delli Santi, legal and policy officer for the Open Rights Group, told MailOnline: 'According to UK data protection law, a data breach of such an extraordinary scale and risk should have been notified immediately, yet we've been informed about it seven months after it was identified and two years after it happened.

Electoral Commission chief executive Shaun McNally, pictured visiting polling stations with his dogs on voting day on May 5 last year, in a photograph issued by the commission

'In the meantime, emails, identifying information and home addresses of everyone on the electoral register have been at the mercy of cybercriminals, exposing everyone to risk of fraud, identity theft, and even of being targeted in their own homes.

'If the Information Commissioner was aware of this breach and also chose to remain silent then it speaks volume about the weaknesses of the ICO, and its failure to be perceived as a meaningful regulator. And if they weren't aware, the Information Commissioner needs to release a statement about why the Electoral Commission did not feel obliged to notify them of something this big.'

The attackers were able to access reference copies of the electoral registers, held by the body for research purposes and for permissibility checks on political donations.

The commission said the registers held at the time of the cyber attack include the name and address of anyone in the UK who was registered to vote between 2014 and 2022, as well as the names of those registered as overseas voters.

Electoral Commission chief executive Shaun McNally said: 'The UK's democratic process is significantly dispersed and key aspects of it remain based on paper documentation and counting.

'This means it would be very hard to use a cyber attack to influence the process.

The Electoral Commission has its headquarters located at 3 Bunhill Row in the City of London

'Nevertheless, the successful attack on the Electoral Commission highlights that organisations involved in elections remain a target, and need to remain vigilant to the risks to processes around our elections.'

The registers did not include the details of those registered anonymously. The commission's email system was also accessible during the attack.

The commission said it had worked with the National Cyber Security Centre and external experts to investigate the incident and had since made improvements to the security of its IT systems.

Laura Lazaro Cabrera, senior legal officer for the Privacy International group, told MailOnline today: 'It is essential that personal data is effectively protected from non-authorised access, especially when individuals have a higher expectation of privacy owing to the fact that their data is not in the public domain, for example if the data accessed was held in the full register.

'As the Electoral Commission recognises, even if the data accessed does not present a high risk to individuals on its own, it could be combined with other data in the public domain and allow inferences to be made or profiling to take place.

'It is encouraging to see the Electoral Commission issue a public notification of the data categories accessed, as well as an assessment of the impact on individuals and future mitigations; and the involvement of the ICO and the NCSC is welcomed to ensure incidents such as these do not happen again, and are identified and addressed as early as possible.'

Mr McNally added: 'We regret that sufficient protections were not in place to prevent this cyber attack.

The Electoral Commission revealed this afternoon that it had been targeted by a cyber attack

'Since identifying it we have taken significant steps, with the support of specialists, to improve the security, resilience, and reliability of our IT systems.'

He added: 'We know which systems were accessible to the hostile actors, but are not able to know conclusively what files may or may not have been accessed.

'While the data contained in the electoral registers is limited, and much of it is already in the public domain, we understand the concern that may have been caused by the registers potentially being accessed and apologise to those affected.'

The National Cyber Security Centre said it had provided the commission with expert advice and support.

A spokesman said: 'Defending the UK's democratic processes is a priority for the NCSC and we provide a range of guidance to help strengthen the cyber resilience of our electoral systems.'
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Poignant images showing the devastating aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake have been unearthed and are set to go on sale.

The photos capture the devastation wrought on the city and its inhabitants by the quake - among the deadliest in US history - and subsequent fires.

The 7.9 magnitude quake struck the California coast on April 18, before blazes erupted over several days, destroying 80 per cent of the city and killing 3,000 people.

Haunting images show mounds of rubble where impressive buildings once stood, with residential blocks, a cathedral, and newspaper offices all left as shells or completely decimated.

Others capture the human tragedy of the disaster, showing refugee tent communities which sprung up among the ruins after locals lost their homes, with tens of thousands forced to leave the city or live on the streets.

View of Montgomery Street looking north from Market Street. Passersby walk past piles of rubble pushed back from the roads

A view of Market Street in downtown San Francisco now. Its busy roads are a far cry from the destruction it has seen historically

Devastation caused to the US Post Office building. Construction had been completed shortly before the quake, in 1905

The Post Office building/James R. Browning United States Court of Appeals Building now

The ruins of St Mary's Catholic Church and surrounding Chinese restaurants, joss houses and bazaars

View of Old St Mary's Cathedral on Grant Avenue in Chinatown, with the church and restaurants rebuilt

The early 20th century photographs contrast sharply with pictures of a rebuilt San Francisco today, with towering modern skyscrapers now replacing the ruins.

In pictures showing the aftermath of the disaster, ladies in dresses and bonnets and men in suits can be seen wandering through mounds of rubble as they process the horrors.

The images were captured all over the city, including in Chinatown where St Mary's Catholic Church and the surrounding Chinese restaurants, joss houses and bazaars were razed.

Another snap shows the devastation caused to the US Post Office building, which stands gutted surrounded by razed structures.

California Street looking West from Drumm Street. Fires destroyed an estimated 25,000 buildings on 490 city blocks

A view of California Street now, complete with its famous trams and lined with modern buildings

Construction of the building had been completed shortly before the quake, in 1905 at an estimated cost of $2.3million.

The set of 20 photos has emerged for sale for an estimated $2,000 to $3,000 at PBA Galleries Auctions, of Berkeley, California, US.

The 117-year-old images were unearthed by a Californian photo and ephemera dealer.

One image shows a view of 'Davis' near Merchant Street, looking towards Market Street with a razed building in the foreground

Kearny Street looking south from Sutter Street. The Call building in the background was badly burned and damaged by the earthquake, but did not collapse

Newspaper Row from the corner of Grant Avenue and Post Street. The five-point intersection of Market Street, Kearny Street, Third Street and Geary Street was home to San Francisco's largest daily papers: The San Francisco Call, The San Francisco Examiner and the San Francisco Chronicle

A view along Oregon Street towards Ferry Tower. The well-built reinforced tower, which replaced a wooden structure in 1898, survived the 1906 quake with little damage

Refugees gather on the corner of Drumm and Clay Streets. The quake left a homeless population of an estimated 300,000

Refugee tents on East Street near Market Street. The government estimates that around 75,000 citizens left the city after the quake

Skyscrapers now line Market street and Montgomery street, including the Hobart Building which was erected in 1914

Bruce MacMakin, of PBA Galleries Auctions, said: 'Though many photographs were taken of the earthquake and its aftermath, by both commercial and amateur photographers, most found their way into privately assembled photography albums, or bundled together in drawers or boxed in an attic.

'The present group is unusual in that they were published as a distinct series by Putnam Studios in Los Angeles, each apparently available for sale individually, the photographs printed directly on stiff paper leaves.

'The paucity of examples in institutional collections is an indication of the rarity of the photographs.'

View of Lotta Fountain and Kearny Street looking north from Geary. The fountain was commissioned by actress Lotta Crabtree in 1875 as a gift to the city

The Lotta Fountain in the modern day. In 2016, more than 200 participants gathered here to commemorate victims of the earthquake

Modern buildings have replaced the ruins of over 100 years ago. Lotta fountain became an important meeting point in the aftermath of the quake

Poignant images showing the devastating aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake are going on sale on August 10

Over 300,000 people were made homeless with 30 fires destroying 25,000 buildings on 490 city blocks.

Rebuilding San Francisco cost $350million - the equivalent of $8billion in today's money.

The pictures are set to go on sale on August 10.
Anne and Nick have been in 'constant contact' since her diagnosis in December

Anne Diamond says it was a 'terrible shock' when her BBC co-star Nick Owen told her that he was battling cancer, just months after she revealed her own diagnosis.

Ms Diamond, 68, and Mr Owen have been in 'constant contact' since she was first diagnosed with breast cancer last December, MailOnline can reveal.

She shared today how they went from being 'TVs golden couple' to supporting each other as they battle the 'biggest male and female cancers' simultaneously.

Mr Owen, 75, announced the devastating news that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer yesterday - just weeks after his co-star revealed she is battling breast cancer and has undergone a mastectomy.

Ms Diamond told MailOnline that she believes there is a 'life lesson' to be learned from their diagnoses and hopes their journeys can serve as a 'warning' to others to undergo regular health screenings.

Anne Diamond says it was a 'terrible shock' when her BBC co-star Nick Owen told her that he was battling cancer, just months after she revealed her own diagnosis. The pair are pictured together in January 2018

Ms Diamond, 68, and Mr Owen have been in 'constant contact' since she was first diagnosed with breast cancer last December, MailOnline can reveal. She shared today how they went from being 'TVs golden couple' to supporting each other as they battle the 'biggest male and female cancers' simultaneously. Ms Diamond and Mr Owen are pictured together in 1985

'Nick and I have been in constant touch since I was first diagnosed with breast cancer last December - and so it came as a terrible shock when he told me in April that hed been diagnosed too,' she told MailOnline.

'Theres a life lesson in our predicament somewhere - that he and I used to be known as TVs golden couple and now in our later years we each have the biggest male and female cancers - and at the same time!

'Thankfully were both doing well, and hope our news is at least a warning to others to get their health regularly checked!'

Her optimistic outlook on the situation comes after Mr Owen today revealed that Ms Diamond was supporting him during his battle with cancer.

Speaking on BBC Breakfast this morning the former TV-am star said: 'We have been cajoling each other.'

'It is fantastic [to have one another at this time] but it's just so ironic that she and I, who are forever associated as a partnership professionally, both have the quintessentially male and female cancer.'

The broadcaster described the shock of finding out he has 'aggressive' prostate cancer as the 'worst day of his life' - but vowed to return to TV in the autumn.

Breakfast TV legend Nick Owen has revealed he's being supported by his BBC co-star Anne Diamond as they both battle cancer

Devastating: BBC Television presenter Nick Owen, 75, (pictured) has been diagnosed with prostate cancer

Speaking on BBC Breakfast this morning he said he is now feeling 'very bright and encouraged and blessed'

A cheery Mr Owen and his wife Vicki Beevers leaving BBC Breakfast Studio's in Manchester this morning

Mr Owen said he had no symptoms and it 'came out of the blue' when a specialist told him he had the disease 'full-on'. He said hearing the prognosis had been 'probably the worst day of my life'.

He told the morning show: 'I went to a specialist and he wasn't that worried but it came back from an MRI scan and he said you better have a biopsy.

'That came back and it was pretty gruesome - April 13th was the D-day when I was told it was aggressive and that we need to do something quickly.

'That was a bit of a shock to the system and a very, very grim day I have to say.'

The TV star revealed his diagnosis less than two months after his former co-star revealed she had breast cancer.

At the time Ms Diamond fought back the tears as she recalled on GB News how she had been given the news by doctors the same day she was awarded an OBE, adding it had been 'a hell of a journey'.

The TV presenter, who works on the channel, had been off air for six months after undergoing a double mastectomy in her 'fight against breast cancer' and was still undergoing 'tough' treatment for the illness, including radiotherapy.

Heartbreaking: The news comes just weeks after his former Good Morning with Anne and Nick co-host Anne Diamond, 68, (pictured in 1992) revealed she had been battling breast cancer

Support: Owen is being supported by wife Vicki Beevers, who he married in July 2020

Ms Diamond fought back tears as she confirmed she was battling the disease in an interview on GB News

Mother-of-five Ms Diamond revealed she is still undergoing 'tough' treatment after taking months off work to focus on fighting cancer

Nick's beloved Luton Town have sent their support

Speaking about both of the presenter's illness today, Mr Owen spoke of his long-term co-presenter.

He added: 'She heard in the morning she had an OBE and in the afternoon she heard she had breast cancer.

'What a day, she won't forget that one. She's had pretty major surgery - which I won't go into detail about - but we have both had major surgery and we have both been talking to each other, calling or texting.

'It's a tough old time. Even though she is sort-of better and I am sort-of better you're not quite yourself for a while, it takes it out of you.'

The co-presenters are best known for working on TV-AM in the 1980s before going on to run their own current affairs morning programme on the BBC between 1992 and 1996 Good Morning With Anne And Nick.

As well as being supported by his former colleague, Mr Owens said his wife Vicki Beevers had by his side 'all the time through this'.

Mr Owen said his wife, who is a reflexologist working in what is known as zone therapy applying pressure to specific points on the feet, ears and hands, had played a major role in his recovery.

He told BBC One's Midlands Today: 'She had to do a lot of things medically when I came home, to look after me, including having to give me an injection once a day for about a month - and she's got no experience of that, I've certainly got no experience of doing [it] myself or having it done by a non medical professional.'

The couple married in 2020 at St Mary the Virgin church in Enville, south Staffordshire, after postponing their nuptials twice, including because of the pandemic.

The pair had been together for 11 years, following the separation from his first wife Jill Lavery in 2009.

Following the wedding, he told Birmingham Live: 'It was lovely - it really was. We've been together 11 years now and have talked about getting married and now it's happened. It's a wonderful feeling.

'We're both thrilled to bits. It was a very quiet day and we didn't go to the church until a quarter to 3 and it was all over by half past!

'We'd been planning to get married a year ago, but twice for various reasons, including coronavirus, we've had to put it off.'

Mr Owen married Vicki having previously been married to Jill Lavery, with whom he has four children

Along with their stint on TV-am, Anne and Nick had their own current affairs morning programme on the BBC in the 1990s, Good Morning With Anne And Nick

Yesterday Mr Owen revealed his diagnosis and spoke about the debilitating impact the condition has had on his life following his recent absence from BBC One's Midlands Today, which has been a lead presenter on since 1997.

The journalist was chairman of Luton Town between 2008 and 2017. The club, which enjoyed a sensational promotion to the Premier League in May, tweeted: 'Best wishes for your recovery from all of your fellow Hatters, Nick. We are with you every step of the way and look forward to seeing you back at Kenilworth Road very soon'.

There has been an outpouring of support for the veteran presenter, who took to Twitter today to thank people individually.

Mr Owen urged all men over the age of 50 and those with symptoms to get tested for the disease.

He told the BBC: 'For goodness sake speak to a doctor about it and get it checked because if it's caught early you've got a chance.'

'I feel quite fragile at the moment but my goodness I am postive. I am so much brighter than I was a week, two weeks, three weeks ago, so I feel very lucky.

'I urge people to get checked because I had no symptoms and people might think well I have no symptoms why bother but it is important to get in the system and check it - especially if it runs in the family.

'The key is to get in the system, get it checked and catch it early. Mine was caught early-ish but if it had been six months later it could have been very different.'

Diagnosis: Owen said his doctor told him the disease 'was extensive, really, and aggressive, and I had prostate cancer full-on, and something needed to be done pretty fast' (pictured in 2018)

Unwell: Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK. One in eight men will get prostate cancer at some point in their lives

Speaking yesterday when revealing his diagnosis he said: 'I went to a specialist, he wasn't too worried because my figures weren't that high.

'But he decided I ought to have a scan, and then the scan said there's something dodgy going on, and then he sent me for a biopsy, which he did.

'And the results of that were the killer - on April the 13th, a date (which) will forever be imprinted on my mind.

'He told us that it was extensive, really, and aggressive, and I had prostate cancer full-on, and something needed to be done pretty fast.

'And that was probably the worst day of my life, or certainly one of them.'

He added: 'It was a very grim moment... driving home after that sort of news and ringing people, texting people, my phone went crazy for hours on end.

'And it was a very, very difficult time for me, and indeed for my wife Vicki, who was by my side all the time through this, you know.'

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK. One in eight men will get prostate cancer at some point in their lives and more than 52,000 new cases are diagnosed every year.

A BBC spokesman said: 'Nick has been one of the faces of Midlands Today for more than 25 years. Our viewers and his colleagues have missed him dearly in recent weeks.

'We can't wait to welcome him back to the studio as soon as he's ready. We all wish him a speedy recovery.'

Talking about his diagnosis, Mr Owen said: 'It was a very, very difficult time for me, and indeed for my wife Vicki, who was by my side all the time through this, you know'

Mr Owen and Ms Diamond pictured together in 1992

Mr Owen married Vicki Beevers in July 2020, having previously been married to Jill Lavery, with whom he has four children.

In June Ms Diamond said her diagnosis had been a 'fight' and after five months 'I'm still not at the end of the journey, but I'm through it enough to come back to work'.

She said: 'It was a wonderful moment [being told about the OBE] and that was [at] 9.30 in the morning.

'But I knew then, because I'd already seen my GP, that I had to go to a breast cancer screening thing later in the morning. I thought I would just go for a mammogram, and a couple of tests and I'd be free in an hour.

'I spent the entire morning at my local hospital where they did everything, biopsies, X-rays, CT scans, a couple of mammograms, everything, and by lunchtime I was still there.

'And a lovely lady came with a lanyard around her neck that said MacMillan Cancer Care and I knew then it was serious.'

The mother-of-five revealed she is still undergoing 'tough' treatment after taking months off work to focus on fighting cancer.

She added: 'I don't have any advice for people because I'm still going through it. But I'm well enough to return to work. I had the full works, the full mastectomy.

'God, this is the first time I've talked about it, so it's quite difficult but I've had the full works. The first operation I had was nine hours long.

'I don't remember it. I was in and out like that, but nine hours of removal and rebuild, that took a lot of getting over and then I had an operation later where they took out lymph nodes as well, just to make sure they can trace the travel, if the cancer has travelled at all to the rest of the body. Luckily I don't think it did.

'I've had a load of radiotherapy, which I found very hard too.

'So it's been a journey, but I'm not pretending for a minute that I am extraordinary, because I am fully aware that a quarter of women in this country are going through what I've just gone through and I don't have any advice to give. I only have empathy.'

According to the NHS, prostate cancer mainly affects men over 50 and the risk increases with age. It is more common in black men or men with with a family history of prostate cancer.
Police have launched a hunt for a knifeman after an 18-year-old man was stabbed to death outside a Sainsbury's in a leafy London suburb.

The man managed to stagger his way outside the supermarket in Finchley where he collapsed after being knifed yesterday at around 9.40pm nearby in Regents Park Road.

Video footage shows ambulances parked up nearby with blue lights flashing, while paramedics can be seen kneeling on the pavement as they desperately try to save the man's life.

A police officer also kneels nearby while another paramedic is giving CPR.

Two Met Police officers can be seen unwrapping police tape as they put a cordon in place.

Despite the efforts of paramedics, the man was pronounced dead at the scene, reported the Evening Standard.

His next of kin has been informed and no arrests have been made.

Photos on Tuesday show a cordon in place outside the supermarket with a blue tent where the man died.

A blue tent can be seen outside the supermarket in Finchley. Paramedics desperately tried to save the man's life but he was pronounced dead at the scene

Police are still hunting for a knifeman following the fatal attack in nearby Dollis Park. The man managed to stagger to outside the Sainsbury's where he collapsed

Officers can be seen standing guard outside the cordon. Cones have been placed around the blue tent

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Rawlinson, investigating, said: 'We believe the man suffered his injuries on Regents Park Road, near the junction with Lichfield Grove and has then run over the road to the supermarket.

'Anyone who was in the area between 9pm and 10pm on August 7, who may have seen something that could help our investigation is asked to contact police.

'Another young man has died as a result of violence and we need the public's help to identify the individual or people responsible.'

Acting Commander Will Lexton-Jones, responsible for policing in Barnet has been 'deeply saddened by the death of this young man in Barnet' and said his 'thoughts are with his family and friends at this time'.

'The public in the Regents Park Road area will see an increased police presence in the area as investigations are carried out to help solve this crime,' he added.

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: 'We were called on Monday (August 7) at 9.35pm to reports of a stabbing on Dollis Park, Finchley.

'We sent a number of resources to the scene, including an advanced paramedic, a medic in a fast-response car, an incident response officer and an ambulance crew.

'We also dispatched a team from London's Air Ambulance.

'We treated a man at the scene, but sadly, despite our team's best efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.'

Finchley, in the borough of Barnet, is home to Georgian and Victorian properties.

Estate agent Squires describes the 'increasingly desirable area' as a 'pleasant suburb' with a 'peaceful atmosphere'.

Homes sell for an average of 507,000 in Regents Park Road, according to Rightmove.
A woman found dead in a Perth suburban home has been identified as 35-year-old Tiffany Woodley.

Western Australian Police were called to a home along Birkett St, Bedford, in Perth's inner-northeastern suburbs, about 5pm on Monday evening.

They found the mother-of-three 'severely injured' and unresponsive.

Paramedics were unable to revive Ms Woodley and she died at the scene.

Her aunt Rosalie Miller-Kickett paid tribute to her niece on Facebook on Tuesday morning.

'It feels like it's all a bad dream,' Ms Miller-Kickett wrote.

Mother-of-three Tiffany Woodley was found dead in her Perth suburban house on Monday evening

'My deepest condolences and sympathy to ... all my family at this difficult time of traumatic grief and loss of our beautiful Tiffany Anne Woodley (RIP) who was a daughter, sister, Mum, granddaughter, niece, cousin, aunty and friend to many, who all Loved her so much.

'We are all devastated and in disbelief that this happened to our beautiful Tiffany ... Gone too soon my beautiful baby girl.'

Ms Miller-Kickett told Nine News that Ms Woodley 'was a beautiful mother, a beautiful sister, niece, she was everything to everyone'.

'I just feel at a loss, just numbness all about,' Ms Miller Kickett said.

She was found in the house with her ex-partner, who family members say she was trying to get an AVO against.

A neighbour said the man was crying out: 'Is she still alive? Is she still alive'.

Police say Ms Woodley died from 'extreme violence' and a 37-year-old man faces charges over the incident

The man, 37, faces four charges including criminal damage and assault to which he has pleaded not guilty.

Family members were also present at the Birkett St address on Monday afternoon, where forensic police officers had spent the night combing over the property.

Ms Woodley's cousin Patrice told The West Australian newspaper she would keep the 'precious memories' she had in her heart.

'Our sister was a good woman, she had three beautiful children, she had a heart of gold,' she said.

'I will remember Tiffany as a young beautiful woman, very smart, she shared whatever she had. She's going to be sadly missed by our family.'

The West also reports a women's refuge in Perth lit a candle and held a minute's silence for Ms Woodley on Tuesday morning, while the woman's family are planning a candlelight vigil to honour her.

Forensic police officers had spent the night combing over the property in Perth's inner north

WA Police inspector Geoff Desanges said violence of any nature is unacceptable.

'WA Police have a zero tolerance towards violence, especially when perpetrated in the home,' Inspector Desanges said.

'If you call WA Police, we will come. We will make the situation safe. Victim safety is our priority.'

The charged man will face court this week.
Mike Pence is the eighth Republican candidate to make the August debate stage after reaching the 40,000 donor threshold on Monday.

For weeks, the former vice president has met the Republican National Committee's polling criteria, but has been holding out to receive enough donors across enough states and territories to debate other qualifiers.

It's still unlikely, however, that Pence and the other candidates on the debate stage will face-off with frontrunner Donald Trump  who has obviously qualified but has not committed to participating.

Pence's campaign wants his former boss to man-up and debate.

Mike Pence qualified this week for the first GOP presidential primary debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 23

Pence's campaign told Trump to have the 'courage' to show up for the debate as the ex-President refuses to commit to showing up

'Mike Pence made quick and easy work of the donor threshold, and he's looking forward to a substantive debate about the issues important to the American people. Hopefully, former President Trump has the courage to show up,' Pence spokesman Devin O'Malley said in a statement to Fox News.

Along with Trump and Pence, the other candidates who met the mandated polling and donor threshold are Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramawamy, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.

With just two weeks until the first GOP debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Pence may be potentially the last candidate to qualify.

Much of the talk surrounding the first debate centers on whether Trump will participate.

The ex-President said on Truth Social that he would watch the debate to gauge if there was a potential vice presidential candidate on stage.

RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel made a new rule this year requiring all who want to participate in the debate to sign a pledge vowing to support whoever becomes the GOP nominee.

Some candidates, like Christie and yet-to-qualify former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, have taken issue with this requirement. They claim that it caters to Trump since he is the most likely to earn the nomination.

There are 15 candidates vying for the GOP nomination in 2024 and eight have met the polling and donor threshold to participate. Trump and DeSantis are far ahead of the rest of the pack, with no others earning double-digits in national polls

The RNC also requires that candidates poll above 1 percent in three national polls  or in two national polls and one from two of the four early primary contest states of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina.

Additionally, candidates must garner donations from 40,000 individuals with at least 200 from 20 different states or territories.

In polls, Trump is the far frontrunner with DeSantis in a distant second place  usually around 20-30 percent behind. Pence falls with the rest of the field. He is manytimes tied for fourth with other longshot candidates.

Besides Trump and DeSantis, none of the other 15 candidates in the running have earned double-digit support in national polls.
Residents of a London street divided in half by an ultra-low emission zone have slammed mayor Sadiq Khan over his 'unfair' scrappage scheme that will see their neighbours get up to 7,000 for their old motor while they get nothing.

Some residents of Maiden Lane in south-east London will benefit from an expansion to Mr Khan's scrappage scheme from later this month  but only if they live in the half of the street within the London borough of Bexley.

Those who live on the other side of the divide are considered to live in the borough of Dartford in Kent, which sits outside the boundary of the capital  therefore they aren't eligible to claim any cash for their old cars.

Mr Khan has announced that the ULEZ scrappage scheme  designed to encourage owners of older, more polluting cars and vans to ditch their vehicles for newer ones  would be expanded to cover anyone in the capital with an appropriately old motor.

But those living on the wrong side of the boundary in Maiden Lane, yards away from the impending expansion of the zone, cannot put themselves forward for the cash towards a new car  and will have to pay 12.50 a day to get to work or school.

Residents of the London borough of Bexley (in red) can claim thousands of pounds for their old car or van under the ULEZ scrappage scheme. Those on the other side of the boundary in Kent cannot claim anything  even if they live on the same street as their London neighbours

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has defended the expansion of the ultra-low emission zone to all boroughs of London. He said the decision to expand it was 'not something I took lightly'

Thousands of ULEZ cameras like this are being rolled out across the capital as part of the expansion. It is estimated that the expansion will cost around 140 million

Local resident Helen Holland told BBC London that Mr Khan was being 'unfair' on those who have to drive into the capital but cannot afford to replace their vehicle, The Sun reports.

She added: 'If your child goes to school there [within the ULEZ] and your car doesn't comply, it's going to cost you a fortune to take them to school.'

Diesel van owner and anti-Ulez campaigner Ian Balm, 47, said: 'It's not on.

'Even if you got the 7,000 scrappage scheme, it's at least, at minimum, 15,000 for a new van.

'I can't afford that. I'm self-employed.'

Maiden Lane is not the first street to be impacted by expansions of the ultra-low emission zone across Britain's capital.

We previously told how residents of streets in Greenwich and Dulwich were set to be divided by an emissions boundary when the expansion arrives.

Those living on the existing ULEZ boundary claim the zone has pushed traffic onto busier roads outside of the existing zone, such as the North Circular, sparking fears that other roads will be similarly affected come the end of August.

The expansion of the ULEZ zone, which comes into effect on August 29, has been slammed by motorists who say the policy is discriminating against people who cannot afford newer vehicles that comply with modern emission standards.

It has prompted one British Army veteran, Prabhdeep Singh, to embark on a week-long hunger strike in protest at the move, calling the scheme 'another burden' borne by people on low incomes during the cost-of-living crisis.

The Conservatives have also credited their win in the Uxbridge by-election, brought about by the resignation of Boris Johnson, to the unpopularity of Mr Khan's ULEZ scheme.

Are YOU living on a ULEZ divide? Get in touch at jon.brady@mailonline.co.uk

Protesters gathered in Trafalgar Square at the weekend to call for an end to the ULEZ expansion. Some branded Sadiq Khan's reasons for the rollout a 'toxic air lie'

Five London borough councils  including Bexley, home to Maiden Lane  brought a last-ditch challenge to the High Court in a bid to halt the expansion of the ULEZ scheme. But a judge ruled in favour of mayor Sadiq Khan at the end of July

Hundreds gathered in Trafalgar Square at the weekend to protest the enlarged penalty zone, bearing signs calling on the mayor to 'stop the toxic air lie'.

However, the Labour mayor  who cites studies linking air pollution to health problems such as heart disease and dementia as the reason he is pushing the expansion so aggressively  has pressed on with the expansion plans.

Up to 140 million is being spent installing thousands of cameras across the capital to penalise anyone caught in an unexempt car that has not paid the 12.50 daily charge. The scheme operates every day of the year except for Christmas Day.

Mr Khan says that those who will be worst affected by the expansion, such as tradespeople living in outer London boroughs previously outside the ULEZ zone, should want to replace their ageing vehicles for their own health.

Further, the Greater London Authority claims that nine out of 10 vehicles 'seen driving regularly in outer London on an average day' are already ULEZ-compliant.

In a bid to ease motorists' suffering, Transport for London has announced that the eligibility of its ULEZ scrappage scheme is being expanded to anyone who owns a vehicle that does not meet ULEZ engine standards  Euro 3 for motorbikes, Euro 4 for petrol vehicles and Euro 6 for diesel vehicles.

Car owners can claim up to 2,000  or offset some of the cash against annual bus and tram passes  while van owners can claim up to 7,000, or 9,500 if they agree to replace their van with an electric one.

Residents in areas that will soon fall under the ultra-low emission zone say they are being penalised for being unable to afford a newer car. Driving into the ULEZ with a rule-breaking vehicle will cost 12.50 per day, every day, except Christmas Day

Mr Khan has remained resolute in the face of criticism at the expansion of the ULEZ scheme, calling the clean-up of London's air a 'difficult but vital task'

But some Londoners have taken the law into their own hands, vandalising ULEZ cameras by cutting their cables  or removing them from lampposts altogether

The scheme was originally only available to those on benefits, but has been expanded after the mayor said he was 'listening to Londoners'. However, some Londoners have taken the law into their own hands, vandalising and stealing ULEZ cameras in a bid to dodge fines.

Last month, Mr Khan won a court battle against five Conservative-run councils  including Bexley, where half of Maiden Lane sits  that sought to bring the scheme to a halt.

Following the victory at the High Court, the Mayor said: 'The decision to expand the ULEZ was very difficult and not something I took lightly and I continue to do everything possible to address any concerns Londoners may have.

'Air pollution is an urgent public health crisis - our children are growing up with stunted lungs and it is linked to a host of serious conditions, from heart disease to cancer and dementia.

'This unambiguous decision today in the High Court allows us to press on with the difficult but vital task of cleaning up London's air and tackling the climate crisis.'

But Tory London Mayoral candidate Susan Hall has said the move is 'too little, too late' for residents already dealing with spiralling living costs.

She said: 'Thousands of families, small businesses and charities face financial ruin because of Sadiq Khan's Ulez expansion, which will do next to nothing to improve air quality.'


Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said the whole of India was his home after sources said that he was being re-allotted his official bungalow, a day after his membership was restored by the Lok Sabha Secretariat. Speaking to the media, when asked about the re-allotment of his bungalow,12 Tughlak Lane, he said, "Mera ghar pura Hindustan hai (my house is whole of India)."



Although official intimation about the re-allotment was yet to be received, sources said that the 12 Tughlaq lane house has been allotted to him.



Rahul Gandhi had to vacate his official residence following his disqualification as the MP after a Surat court convicted him in 'Modi surname' remarks defamation case.



Rahul Gandhi vacated his residence on April 22, a month after he was disqualified on March 24.




A social media star chef has been arrested in Thailand on suspicion of murdering and dismembering a Colombian surgeon who kept him 'hostage' on a tourist island, police said.

Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, 29, who is also the son of a pair of Spanish film stars, has been charged with premeditated murder - which carries a possible death penalty - and with concealment of a body to cover up the death, Saranyu said.

Details of the killing emerged last week when Thai media reported that plastic bags containing body parts of a man, later identified by police as Edwin Arrieta Arteaga, were found at a landfill on Koh Pha Ngan, an island famous for its monthly 'full moon parties.'

Thai media have cited police as saying that Sancho, who came to Thailand for a holiday, told the authorities that the two had a romantic relationship and that he tried to break up with the 'obsessed' victim, but that he refused.

Police said Sancho came in to report a missing person after the body parts were found and was subsequently detained.

He later confessed to killing and dismembering Arrieta, 44, and then dumping the body parts in the landfill and the sea, although he denied that it was premeditated, police said.

A Thai police officer escorts Spanish Daniel Sancho Bronchalo on suspicion of murdering and dismembering a Colombian surgeon from Koh Phagnan island to Koh Samui Island court, southern Thailand, Monday, Aug. 7, 2023

A handout photo made available by Royal Thai Police shows Spanish chef Daniel Jeronimo Sancho Bronchalo, 29, sitting next to evidence and a police officer, after he was arrested for murder and dismembering the body of a Colombian man

Thai police forensic officers investigate a garbage dump site as they search for parts of the body of a Colombian surgeon in Koh Phagnan island

Police say the body of Edwin Arrieta Arteaga (pictured) was found dismembered in a rubbish tip on the island of Koh Pha Ngnan on Thursday

Sancho's arrest warrant was issued by the Koh Samui Provincial Court on Saturday.

Saranyu declined to elaborate when asked about the motive, but said it was likely due to a personal relationship between the suspect and the victim.

Sancho meanwhile told Spanish news agency EFE Arrieta was obsessed with him and had kept him 'hostage'.

CCTV footage showed by local broadcaster Thai PBS showed Sancho and Arrieta on a motorcycle together days before the remains were discovered.

Regional police chief Surapong Thanomchit told the public broadcaster that Sancho was seen buying a knife, garbage bags and cleaning solutions before Arrieta's death.

Sancho is the son of Rodolfo Sancho and Silvia Bronchalo, famous Spanish actors.

Sancho's uncle, Felix Sancho, told journalists in Spain: 'A little respect for the family is all we ask for, because this is so painful.'

And a family spokesperson asked for 'maximum respect, both for Daniel Sancho himself and for the whole family, in these delicate moments of maximum confusion'.

Spanish chef Daniel Sancho Bronchalo (C), is escorted by Thai police officers to the court from Koh Phangan police station on Monday

A handout photo made available by Royal Thai Police shows a Spanish chef, a murder suspect Daniel Jeronimo Sancho Bronchalo, (C) is escorted by Thai police officers during a crime reenactment at a scene in Koh Phangan island, southern Thailand, 06 August 2023

A handout photo made available by Royal Thai Police shows a Spanish chef, a murder suspect Daniel Jeronimo Sancho Bronchalo, (R) is escorted by Thai police officers during a crime reenactment

Police officers stand behind a cordon at a rubbish tip where Mr Arrieta's body was found

The Spanish Embassy in Bangkok said it was aware of a crime involving a Spanish man but declined to give further information because of data protection legislation.

Colombia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted a statement on its website Sunday thanking the Thai police for their investigation and said it is providing assistance to the family of the victim.

Koh Pha Ngan is famed for white sandy beaches and draws thousands of backpackers to its notoriously wild parties.

In 2014, another tourist island Koh Tao was rocked by the double murder of two young British backpackers.

Two Burmese nationals are serving sentences of life imprisonment for the murders, but rights groups have accused Thai authorities of using the men as scapegoats.
A husband and wife have been kept in the dark as their council-rented farmland is earmarked for a caravan site for travellers without them being told.

Farmer Denis Waters, 30, and wife Shauna, 26, rent three fields to keep their 26 cows and a bull called Rory.

But their beloved home is under threat after the shock discovery on Facebook that the land is being considered as a site for 13 permanent traveller pitches.

The couple, of Magor, Monmouthshire, say they would be forced to sell their cattle if the council's plans go ahead.

Shauna said: 'We only found out a few days before there was a council meeting, we didn't find out from the council.

Farmer Denis Waters, 30, and wife Shauna, 26, now fear daughter Winnie will not have the opportunity of following her parents, grandparents and great grandparents into farming

.Farmer Denis Waters, 30, and wife Shauna, 26, rent three fields to keep their 26 cows and a bull called Rory

The couple have rented just over five acres from Monmouthshire County Council for the past two years

'We were told by a friend who had seen it on Facebook and said: "You need to have a look at this." It has been really stressful with all the not knowing what will happen.'

The couple have rented just over five acres from Monmouthshire County Council for the past two years.

They live with their 11-month-old daughter Winnie and also farm on land around Chepstow which is owned in partnership with Denis' family.

They say they could no longer keep cattle if the council decides to end the tenancy instead of renewing it.

Shauna said: 'We wouldn't have anywhere to put them as we need a designated field for the cows over the winter.'

The couple supply a major supermarket while they also have some 400 sheep which they take to market.

A husband and wife were stunned when their farmland was earmarked for a caravan site for travellers - without them being told.

The couple, of Magor, Monmouthshire, say they would be forced to sell their cattle if the council's plans go ahead

Denis said: 'If we sold the cattle we would still have the sheep but one of us would probably have to get another job.'

They now fear daughter Winnie will not have the opportunity of following her parents, grandparents and great grandparents into farming.

Shauna said: 'If we can't continue she won't have the option as farming is not easy and farms are very hard to get. This is about her future more than us.'

The council has assessed a need for 13 permanent Gypsy Traveller pitches and in July published a shortlist of five sites that could be suitable.

It has since ruled out three but is currently considering whether it should hold a consultation on the remaining two sites.

The couple say they could no longer keep cattle if the council decides to end the tenancy instead of renewing it

The council has assessed a need for 13 permanent Gypsy Traveller pitches and in July published a shortlist of five sites that could be suitable

A decision on the site's use - farmland or traveller site - is pending

Magor independent councillor Frances Taylor told a council scrutiny committee that the couple had not been directly informed the land was being considered.

Cllr Sara Burch, the Labour cabinet member responsible for housing, said: 'I would like to express my apologies to tenants if the first they were informed is when the proposals were in the public domain.

'We should have anticipated when the report went out it would be news in the communities and we should have written to them.'

A decision is set to be made on the future of the site.
Actor Marlon Wayans has been slammed for sharing an Instagram post about the Alabama brawl where he misquoted Jason Aldean's new song and called on the fighters to 'be love not war.'

The White Chicks star, 51, shared a clip of part of the viral brawl at Montgomery's Riverfront Park on Saturday between white pleasure craft boaters and black staff from a riverboat.

He captioned it: 'How 'bout we NOT 'try that in a small town'. Sh*t silly bro let's all just be love NOT war.'

Wayans' followers took issue with the use of Aldean's anti-woke song 'Try That in a Small Town,' which has been called racist by critics.

They also accused the actor of failing to provide context because the clip did not include the beginning of the fight, which saw the black guard and white man talking before another white man attacks the black man, sparking the massive brawl.

Wayans' followers took issue with the use of Aldean's anti-woke song 'Try That in a Small Town' and the fact the clip did not include the beginning of the fight

Actor Marlon Wayans has been slammed for sharing an Instagram post about the Alabama brawl where he misquoted Jason Aldean's controversial new song

One commenter wrote: 'HOW ABOUT you show the entire video from the beginning of a group of white man who jumped a hard working Black man that led to people intervening and protecting him. Stop it Marlon.'

Another added: 'Bro, I'm all about peace but this video you put only shows half the situation... these people threw down cause they couldn't just stand there and watch a brother get jumped by several white men. There's more to this whole story, and it's going to come out.'

Wayans later posted the beginning of the fight on his Instagram, writing: 'Y'all must got me fu***d up here! Now stfu.'

The brawl has captured the nation's attention, as details continue to emerge of what led to the violence, with one witness saying the brawl 'made them proud of black people.'

The 67-year-old man who did not give his name claimed on Alabama radio he was onboard the riverboat for his high school reunion added: that privilege thing is over with.'

'There's no greater love than a man who gives his life for another man,' he said, according to AL.com.

'Everybody out there was willing to give their life for that man. It was no joke.'

Despite the shocking violence, the Montgomery Police Department has not made any arrests as of Tuesday.

'There are 4 active warrants at this time and there's a possibility more will follow after the review of additional video,' police told DailyMail.com on Monday.

A witness claimed the fight started with an argument over a pontoon boat that was blocking the dock where a riverboat was trying to moor.

A witness claimed the fight started with an argument over a pontoon boat that was blocking the dock where a riverboat was trying to moor

One of the men involved in the brawl has been identified by the public and local media as Chase Shipman, owner of the Vasser's Mini Mart in Selma.

Shipman received backlash after posting video of the brawl online, claiming he tried getting away from it, as reported by the Selma Times-Journal.

He wrote: 'I am sure most of you have seen the news about the riverboat incident. Yes, I was there but I was the first to try to get away.

'You can see in the video I attached, and I do not condone what happened. I tried to stop it and realized that I could not, so I tried to get away. There is a video of me being the first to run away because what was happening was wrong and I did not want to be a part of it.

'I realize I have a business to run and represent and no charges were filed against me because I was not involved.'

But commenters said the footage showed Shipman was more involved than he was admitting to, and have started flooding his business page with bad reviews.

DailyMail.com made several attempts to contact Vasser's Mini Mart but the phone appears to have been disconnected.

Footage of the incident shows Shipman was one of the people detained at the scene.

The video opens with the black security guard squaring off with one of the white party boat owners, stopping at the moment he takes off his hat to avoid losing it in the scrum to brand him 'Hat Man: Attacks at the drop of...'

As the fighting escalated, one of the cruise staffers hurled himself into the water and swam across the river to throw himself into the clash.

One of the men involved in the brawl has been identified by the public and local media as Chase Shipman, owner of the Vasser's Mini Mart in Selma (far left)

Soon after the wild scenes spread on social media, many commented on the man hitting a fellow boater over the head with a white folding chair

His heroics have seen him widely praised online, with the compilation naming him as 'Aquaman's incarnate' and 'Barnacle Boy'.

Soon after the wild scenes spread on social media, many commented on the man hitting a fellow boater over the head with a white folding chair.

The as-yet-unidentified assailant was dubbed 'Chairmageddon' in the clip, while three shirtless men who stormed down the dock to join the lengthy brawl were branded 'The Tugboat Triad'.

One group also claimed they had gone back to the dock the next day to take a picture with the chair, leading one person to joke that the image should hang 'in a Black History Museum now.'

While no evidence for racial motivation behind the fighting has been found, many on the internet were quick to note how the two sides seemed to separate between white and black.

Reports indicate the fight may have kicked off over an argument about mooring, and another angle of the brawl saw a man heard on a megaphone shouting 'don't f**k with the riverboat crew.'

The large group of people had been returning to the dock after spending time on the Harriott II Riverboat, but after making it back, the space reserved for them had been taken over by a boat owner who parked his vessel and left it.

The riverboat sent a staff member to the dock to untie the smaller vessel so those onboard could return to land, when the fight ensues.
Wildfires have spread rapidly across Portugal, hitting the Algarve and numerous other regions around the country.

Blazes first occurred on Saturday in the municipality of Odemira, in the central Alentejo region, but have since spread south towards the tourist hotspot of the Algarve.

While there have been no reports of blazes in Faro, the graphic below shows one wildfire near Sagres, which sits on the western tip of the Algarve.

Temperatures are expected to reach highs of 38C in the north-east of the country on Wednesday, but the Algarve is expected to be slightly cooler.

Highs of 33C and 26C are expected in Faro and Sagres respectively on Wednesday. This will then rise to peaks of 27C in Sagres and 39C in Faro on Thursday, according to Portugal's national weather agency.

Where are the wildfires in Portugal?

Firefighters work to put out the flames in the municipality of Odemira, August 7, 2023

Trees burn in a forest fire, as pictured from the A1 highway in the locality of Cardosos, caused the motorway to be cut off this afternoon, Leiria, Portugal, August 7, 2023

A man throws water on a fire, in the municipality of Odemira, August 7, 2023

The fires near Odemira are seen from space in this satellite image

A man watches the fire in the municipality of Odemira, August 7, 2023

Smoke billows in the sky in a forest fire as pictured from the A1 highway in the locality of Cardosos caused the motorway to be cut off this afternoon, Leiria, Portugal, August 7, 2023

Firefighting teams tackling the blaze were aided by 14 water-bombing planes which attempted to extinguish the flames from the air.

Nine firefighters have been injured in the fires, with 19 villages also evacuated due to the spreading flames.

It comes as high temperatures and strong winds are complicating efforts to combat the flames, which have destroyed around 4,000 acres of land.

Fears are growing that the flames could spread into nearby regions with water supplies to tackle the blaze dwindling.

Officials are soon expected to declare a state of emergency in the region.

Shortly before sunset on Monday, the sky in Odemira turned dark as a huge smoke cloud filled the air.

Odemira's mayor, Helder Guerreiro, called the situation 'critical, difficult and complex' while Civil Protection commander Jose Ribeiro said there was a 'lot of work' ahead to bring the wildfire under control.

A total of 19 tiny villages, four tourist accommodations and a camping site have been evacuated out of precaution. Several roads have been blocked off, authorities said.

Southern European countries such as Portugal have been grappling with record-breaking temperatures during the peak summer tourist season, prompting authorities to warn of health risks.

Scientists say heat waves are becoming more frequent, intense and spread out across seasons due to climate change.

Portuguese weather agency IPMA on Monday put six districts in the country, including the capital, Lisbon, on red alert for extreme heat until midnight.

Authorities have declared more than 120 municipalities across Portugal at maximum risk of wildfires, with Lisbon - home to 500,000 - placed under 'red alert'.

'The weather conditions we are going to experience in the coming days means any small occurrence (fire) could become a big one,' Civil Protection secretary of state Patricia Gaspar told a news conference.

A man throws water on a fire in the municipality of Odemira

Smoke billows in the sky in a forest fire as pictured near the A1 highway in the locality of Cardosos caused the motorway to be cut off this afternoon, Leiria, Portugal, August 7, 2023

A helicopter fights a fire in the municipality of Odemira, August 7, 2023

Firefighters battle a wildfire in Carrascal, Proenca a Nova on August 6, 2023. More than 1,000 firefighters are tackling a wildfire in central Portugal

Firefighters work to put out the flames in the municipality of Odemira, August 7, 2023

Three districts in Portugal's north were placed under red alert on Tuesday as temperatures were expected to reach 41 Celsius in the northern city of Castelo Branco.

Another fire was reported to have broken out in Portugal's Ourem on Sunday morning, around 140 miles to the north of Odemira.

More than 300 firefighters and five water bombers are understood to be on the scene, stretching Portugal's fire services even further.

Ruben del Campo of Spain's weather agency said this week's weather will be more 'intense, widespread and a little longer lasting' than what was seen in July, when wildfires ravaged parts of Greece and Italy.

More than 20,000 locals and holidaymakers were forced to flee as fires spread across Greece, with a particularly fierce blaze tearing across the island of Rhodes.

Greek officials described it as the country's biggest ever evacuation effort.

The wildfire burned for nearly a week before they were finally brought under control as a period of extreme heat made it difficult to contain.
A carefree plunge into the sea has turned a European 'trip of a lifetime' into a nightmare for a young Australian woman.

Jordan Robinson, who has been travelling with her best friend Tiana Sluka, jumped into the pristine blue water off Dubrovnik in Croatia on July 21 but the 20-year-old from Victoria said she knew 'in a heartbeat; something had gone 'terribly wrong'.

After rescuers pulled her from the water she was rushed to hospital where doctors found she had fractured a lower lumbar in her spine, with bone fragments dangerously compressing her spinal cord.

Because of the potentially catastrophic severity of the injury, Ms Robinson was immediately transfered from Dubrovnik to a hospital in Croatia's second largest city Split for emergency surgery, leaving a devastated Ms Sluka in Dubrovnik.

Jordan Robinson, a 20-year-old from Victoria, suffered potentially catastrophic spinal injuries when she jumped into the sea off Croatia

The surgery to secure the fragments of bone to her spine was successful and Ms Robinson took her first steps since the accident on July 24.

Ms Sluka's mother flew out from Australia to be with her daughter but Ms Robinson's mother has been unable to make the journey because of 'passport issues and financial constraints'.

A GoFundMe page has been set up by the families of the two women to fly Ms Robinson's mother, Marg, over to be by her side and to cover medical expenses and the potential cost of flying home plus other ongoing costs.

'We are waiting to hear of the next steps and are liaising between surgeons and insurance to embark on the next journey- getting her (Jordan) home,' the fundraiser says.

'The medical expenses continue to mount (and it) remains uncertain how much will be covered by their travel insurance.'

'Your donation will help alleviate the financial burden, ensuring that Jordan receives the best possible care.'

The page states that if Ms Robinson is able to fly home before her mother can travel to Croatia that intended airfare money will be used for 'rehabilitation, modifications to her home to accommodate her (Ms Robinson's) recovery, and to support her during her time off work'.

Travel buddies Tiana Sluka (pictured left) and Ms Robinson had their 'trip of a lifetime' shattered in a devastating manner

If Jordan cannot fly home in the immediate future the funds 'will continue to be used for all of her medical and rehabilitation costs while she remains in Europe, and for the eventual journey back home once she is ready to travel'.

By Tuesday night the total raised was only $1,300 shy of the page's stated goal of $50,000.

In an update the page says that: 'Jordan is extremely grateful and overwhelmed at the support she has received thus far.

'Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. We will keep you updated as soon as we know more,' it reads.
Recorded outside the Coronado Center in Albuquerque, the clip has gone viral

A woman was filmed berating a group of Mexicans outside an Albuquerque shopping center - hurling racist insults and telling them to go back to their country following a disagreement in the facility's parking lot.

Recorded outside the Coronado Center in Bernalillo County, the clip has since gone viral - after the encounter devolved to the point where police were nearly called, and several other cars were stopped by the woman's misconduct.

It shows how the argument starts when the woman fails to stop for the cameraperson's group as they were cross into the parking lot - where there's a sign explicitly instructing motorists to yield for pedestrians.

As the Spanish-speaking group kept walking, they were almost hit - before the unnamed woman's four-door Volkswagen stops and ultimately lets them pass through.

At this point, a conflict ensues - beginning with the unnamed woman following the group menacingly with her car, and culminating with her leaving the vehicle to lay into them with racial abuse. The disturbing footage, posted to TikTok, shows the rest.

Scroll down for video:

A woman was filmed berating a group of Mexicans outside the Coronado shopping center in Albuquerque - hurling racist insults after a disagreement in the facility's parking lot, causing a scene and traffic jam that led to others getting involved

Recorded sometime last week, the clip has since gone viral - after the encounter devolved to the point where police were nearly called. The woman, who grew increasingly defiant despite others rushing to the poster's aid, has not yet been identified

'Get your ass out of my fucking country,' the woman, who as of Tuesday remains unidentified, is heard exclaiming in the clip, which has garnered more than a million views since it was posted Sunday by Guadalajara-born TikToker @los_jona.

'I put my life on the line for this country!' the sandal-clad, sunglass-wearing agitator continues, with her car still parked in the middle of the road, driver door open.

'Not your country,' she adds - before branding New Mexico' similarly named neighbor to the south a 'Sh*thole.'

At this point - as the woman's abandoned Jetta causes a backup in the shopping center's parking area - several others notice the budding conflict, during which the poster and his companions somehow managed to keep their cool despite the circumstances.

A Good Samaritan then tries to defuse things, as a procession of cars line up and are forced to lay witness to the troubling scene.

The woman, continuing to spew a series of conservative talking points, immediately assumes he's liberal.

'Stop being rude!' the man onlooker is heard saying - seemingly speaking up for the several others now surrounding the two parties.

'Dont even start with me you liberal,' the woman responds, causing the man to calmly quip: 'Im not liberal.'

Taken aback, the woman responds with a quick 'That's cool', before diverting her attention back to members of the group, whom at this point were threatening to call the police.

'I put my life on the line for this country!' the sandal-clad, sunglass-wearing agitator continues, with her car still parked in the middle of the road, driver door open

'Not your country,' she adds - before branding New Mexico' similarly named neighbor to the south a 'Sh*thole'

At this point - as the woman's abandoned Jetta causes a backup in the shopping center's parking area - several others notice the budding conflict, during which the poster and his companions somehow managed to keep their cool despite the circumstances

A Good Samaritan then tries to defuse things, as a procession of cars line up and are forced to lay witness to the troubling scene. He failed while being slammed as a 'liberal' by the as of now unnamed woman

The woman is then heard telling the poster's group - several of whom are heard only speaking Spanish - to 'go back to Mexico.'

This causes one of them, a young woman who speaks English, to threaten to call the cops.

The woman, in turn, is heard responding: 'What are you, going to call the cartel?'

'The police in Albuquerque - I'm so scared', she sarcastically adds.

As the holdup continues, several others begin to get involved - with one-fed up onlooker heard shouting: 'Karen in white- shut up!'

This and other outbursts from others, however, failed to sway the woman, who grew increasingly defiant despite the procession of others rushing to the poster's group's aid.

'F**k you!' she shouts, raising her middle fingers and honking cars and witnesses left horrified by her actions. 'Mind your own f**king business!'

As the conflict continues to devolve, the person behind the camera - a Spanish-speaking man - goes to explain how he and the other members of the group had been crossing the street when the woman didnt stop at the crosswalk.

He describes how after the close call, they kept walking into the parking lot towards their car and that the woman followed them, honking her horn and getting close to them with her car in the process.

As the holdup continues, several others begin to get involved - with one-fed up onlooker heard shouting: 'Karen in white- shut up!'

It remains unclear if police were called at some point during the encounter, though a message offered at the final TikTok's end seems to suggest the poster let it slide. DailyMail.com has reached out to the Albuquerque PD for comment

At a point in his explanation, the unnamed woman says, 'estaba pitando y aventando el caro' suggesting she had been honking and even threatening to hit them by driving increasingly close, before she left the car.

That's when the series of videos start, and they are already causing uproar online.

It remains unclear if police were called at some point during the encounter, though a message offered at the final video's end seems to suggest the poster let it slide.

'There are no borders in the eyes of God' the caption read.

DailyMail.com has reached out to the Albuquerque Police Department to see if they have any record of such an incident this past week. Staff at the Coronado Center did not immediately responds to a Tuesday morning request for comment.
A retired Florida man who suffers from dementia has confessed to the cold case murder of his girlfriend after nearly 50 years because he 'had to come clean', court documents revealed.

Wheelchair-bound Rodney Mervyn Nichols was arrested by deputy US marshals at his retirement home in Hollywood in July and charged with murder.

Canadian police linked him to the murder of Jewell Langford who was found floating face down in the Nation River in eastern Ontario on May 3, 1975.

She was not identified until 2021 when the DNA sample of her exhumed body matched up with a relative of hers.

Nichols remains in custody at the Federal Detention Center in Miami and an extradition hearing is scheduled for September.

A retired Florida man who suffers from dementia has confessed to the cold case murder of his girlfriend after nearly 50 years because he 'had to come clean', court documents revealed

Wheelchair-bound Rodney Mervyn Nichols was arrested by deputy US marshals at his retirement home in Hollywood in July and charged with the murder of Jewell Langford

Langford was found floating face down in the Nation River in eastern Ontario on May 3, 1975

Langford, 48, was from Jackson, Tennessee and traveled to Montreal in April 1975 to move in with Nichols, then 32, but never returned home.

Her friend reported her missing to the Montreal Police Service later that June after no one was able to make contact with her since April 22.

Langford was discovered with her hands and ankles strapped with neckties, her neck bound with a black coaxial cable wire and her head covered with a hand cloth, a towel and a tablecloth, which were knotted around her neck.

An autopsy report in 1975 showed Langford died from strangulation by the neck.

'Further, the absence of water in the victims lungs suggested to Canadian authorities that she was deceased before entering the water,' an extradition complaint states.

Her body was exhumed by Canadian authorities in 2018 and a year later the Centre of Forensic Sciences matched her DNA with two people in her family tree.

Langford, who had been known as 'Nation River Lady', was then identified as the victim with assistance from the DNA Doe Project and the FBI.

'This is believed to be the first case in Canada of this nature to identify human remains through Forensic Genealogy,' Ontario Provincial Police said.

Nichols was interviewed by police on June 7, 1975 and he told them he came home one night when Langford was intoxicated and they got into an argument.

He claimed she told him she had plans to travel across Canada and, despite attempts to get her to stay, she was gone the next morning.

Langford was discovered with her hands and ankles strapped with neckties, her neck bound with a black coaxial cable wire and her head covered with cloths knotted around her neck

Some items that were found with Langford when she was pulled out of the river

A bust of the Nation River Lady was created in the 2010s as police were trying to identify the victim

He then told authorities he had received a call from Langford in early June to say she would be coming back to Montreal for his birthday.

Investigators then followed up with him but he said he did not hear anything from her since and he was not considered to be a suspect.

Once Langford was identified to be the woman found in the river, authorities determined that his story did not add up.

In February 2022, Ontario Provincial Police traveled to the North-Lake Retirement Home he was living in to interview him.

He initially denied any involvement in her death and changed his story multiple times, saying she drowned after their boat capsized before claiming she tried to drown herself.

But he then admitted to murdering her at his Montreal home before dumping her body in the river, according to the court document.

He 'identified the neckties as belonging to him' the day before he was arrested.

'Canadian authorities then advised Nichols that he had admitted to the murder of Langford and that he could be charged,' the extradition complaint states.

Langford's niece Denise Chung provided DNA samples to help identify her

Her grave marker was changed to say 'finally home and at peace' following the identification of her body

When asked why he confessed, he said he 'had to come clean' and felt terrible for what he had done.

But Nichols' attorney has questioned the validity of the confession and pointed to how the defendant suffers from dementia, needs medication and must use a wheelchair.

Assistant Federal Public Defender Bernardo Lopez filed a motion for the court to set a reasonable bond for his release pending the extradition proceedings.

He said Nichols is not a danger to the community or a flight risk, despite the serious charge, and he should be allowed to return to his assisted-living facility in Hollywood.

'The Federal Detention Center is no place for someone with Mr. Nichols frailties and vulnerabilities,' Lopez wrote.
Royal Marines have been pictured during a training exercise likened to a scene from the post-apocalyptic Mad Max films.

British troops took part in the five-day mock exercise in the surroundings of a quiet airfield at Merryfield in Somerset.

They were tasked with protecting an Oshkosh tanker carrying precious oil supplies.

The exercise has been likened to the Mad Max movies first made famous in the 1980s with Mel Gibson's portrayal of Max Rockatansky.

Tom Hardy took on the lead role in 2015's Mad Max: Fury Road when the franchise was rebooted.

A Royal Navy spokesperson said: 'Imagine heavily-armed armoured vehicles attempting to form a ring of steel around an Oshkosh tanker filled with fuel, roaring down a wide highway.

'Not a scene from post-apocalyptic Mad Max movies, but Royal Marines testing their ability to support helicopters in the field.

'For five days the relatively quiet airfield at Merryfield in Somerset was dominated by the rattle of gunfire, the clatter and rumble of heavy vehicles, and the smell of burned aviation fuel as personnel in a small, highly-specialised unit demonstrated their collective abilities.'

Royal Marines carried out the five-day training exercise within the quiet grounds of Merryfield airfield in Somerset

British troops were tasked with protecting an Oshkosh tanker carrying precious fuel. The exercise was likened to the post-apocalyptic world of Mad Max

The squadron formed a column or convoy of vehicles with a pair of Jackal armoured vehicles equipped with heavy machine-guns as escorts

The Aviation Combat Service Support Squadron is unique in the UK Armed Forces, expected to meet most of the needs of Merlin and Wildcat helicopters when operating in the field by providing fuel, food, spare parts, ammunition, medical care, ground transportation.

Its ability to deploy rapidly is integral to the success of the Commando Helicopter Force - as is its ability to fend off foes.

The five days of training rolled into Exercise Junglie Defender tested both experienced and new members of the squadron in their ability to move, blend in and hide in rural and urban environments.

Although it's high summer, it's got eyes firmly fixed on the force's winter deployment to Norway which culminates with the major NATO Arctic exercise, Nordic Response - previously known as Cold Response.

Personnel are expected to plan routes, carry out reconnaissance and, when they reach their destination, give the helicopters what they need.

In this instance forward refuelling in the field, far from any base.

With Merlins and Wildcats awaiting fuel, the squadron formed a column or convoy of vehicles with a pair of Jackal armoured vehicles equipped with heavy machine-guns as escorts.

The Jackals - officially Mobility Weapon-Mounted Installation Kit, or MWMIK - are crewed by operators, who've undergone a three-week course from zero knowledge of the vehicle to mastery of day and night ground manoeuvres over challenging terrain tactically to gain a tactical advantage.

A Royal Navy spokesperson said the airfield 'was dominated by the rattle of gunfire, the clatter and rumble of heavy vehicles, and the smell of burned aviation fuel'

The training rolled into Exercise Junglie Defender tested both experienced and new members of the squadron in their ability to move, blend in and hide in rural and urban environments

Assessors are looking for a combination of skills - imagination, safety, diligence and professionalism - and were impressed by the combination of experience

The Aviation Combat Service Support Squadron is expected to meet most of the needs of Merlin and Wildcat helicopters when operating in the field by providing fuel, food, spare parts, ammunition, medical care, ground transportation

With Merlins and Wildcats awaiting fuel, the squadron formed a column or convoy of vehicles with a pair of Jackal armoured vehicles equipped with heavy machine-guns as escorts

They're guided by commanders - skilled Jackal operators who've undergone two weeks bespoke instruction to fully exploit both the abilities of their vehicle's operator and the Jackal itself, with the goal of out-manoeuvring any adversary.

And then there's the gunner, who's received two week's training on the heavy-machine gun.

Junglie Defender proved to be something of an eye-opener for marines new to the unit.

'The contribution the squadron makes has to Commando Helicopter Force's operational output is something I was unaware of while serving within the rest of the Royal Marines,' one green beret said.

'We deploy persistently - in warm weather climates such as with the Littoral Response Group (South) to the Middle East this autumn; and in support of our NATO allies in the High North and Arctic Circle region.

'This blend of training really reinforces why we work so hard to maintain the high standards of our skills.'

Assessors are looking for a combination of skills - imagination, safety, diligence and professionalism - and were impressed by the combination of experience.

Captain Alan Hunter RM says the support squadron has grown into 'a product unparalleled within Joint Helicopter Command'.

He continued: 'The Forward Refuelling Point capability is constantly evolving to current and novel threats, through innovative solutions and deep knowledge of the tactical employment of the kit and equipment we use.'
This is the moment a local Houston legend dubbed 'Macaroni Tony' is beaten to a pulp by a father who accused him of inappropriately touching his daughters.

Footage shows the 73-year-old brawling with the dad in the city's Galleria Mall following claims he tried to touch the girls with a feather.

The sisters, aged 18 and 13, alleged he tried to 'spank' their bottom and face with the prop during the bizarre exchange on Saturday night.

It is believed to have caused the dramatic reaction from their father, who left the street performer with a bloodied and bruised face after the beating.

'Macaroni Tony', who is known for walking around in over-the-top suits at the mall, has since denied the allegations against him and argued they were a 'damn lie'.

This is the moment a local Houston legend dubbed 'Macaroni Tony' is beaten to a pulp by a father who accused him of inappropriately touching his daughters

18-year-old Karinesha Jackson accused Macaroni Tony of attempting to 'spank' her with a feather, before sticking his tongue out and putting the same feather in her 13-year-old little sister's face.

Karinesha Jackson, 18, claimed when she walked past him with her father and sister he tried to touch her bottom with the feather and then stuck his tongue out.

She told Fox26 that he then put the same prop in her 13-year-old sister's face before messaging their father who leapt into action.

Jackson recounted her experience in an interview with Isiah Carey, The Isiah Factor Uncensored host.

She claimed Macaroni Tony tried to touch her behind with a feather before she jumped out his way in the food court.

Then she alleged Tony tried to touch her 13-year-old sister with the feather. She told him not to touch her. She claimed Tony walked away at first, but kept staring at them.

That is when Jackson said she texted her father, who was also in the Galleria shopping with her 10-year-old brother.

Karinesha Jackson, 18, claimed when she walked past him with her father and sister he tried to touch her bottom with the feather then stuck his tongue out

She claimed he then put the same prop in her 13-year-old sister's face before their father leapt into action

Jackson recounted her experience in an interview with Isiah Carey, The Isiah Factor Uncensored host

'My daddy like pointed at his head and he was like don't you touch my kids, don't you touch my kids,' she said.

Jackson said that although the beginning of the incident was not caught on camera, many people witnessed the events that led to the fight.

According to Jackson, Tony threw the first punch and put her father in a headlock, where he was unable to defend himself.

'And I guess he's got like rings on his fingers. I don't know what made that cut on my daddy's eye,' she said.

'I started seeing blood. I just started punching the man because he was choking my daddy from behind.' That is when she interfered and started punching him.

But Tony said the family initiated the fight and has denied touching anyone with the feather.

According to Jackson, Tony threw the first punch and put her father in a headlock, where he was unable to defend himself

There are videos on social media of Tony using the feather to touch women in the past

Jackson, who said her parents are overprotective, admitted that Tony did not actually touch her but had tried to.

'He did not touch me. He did not. He tried to, and I said uh uh. and moved like he had the feather like he was trying to spank me,' Jackson said.

Photos show Macaroni Tony's face now battered and bruised in a response he shared on social media.

It is not clear what type of injuries Tony sustained from the assault, but the photo shows a swollen, bruised face and black eye.

Macaroni Tony shot back at the claims, arguing they are a 'damn lie'. He said: 'A big girl and little girl walk by, and I just wave, I'm waving.

'I'm feathering myself and they walk on by. They 15 feet away. When they looked back like this right here and that's it.

'This whole thing has been blown out of proportion. Me touching somebody with that feather is a damn lie.'

Macaroni Tony, who was sporting a flashy yellow fit in the video, has filed a complaint with the Houston Police Department. The incident is under investigation.
Ohio voters joined massive lines Tuesday to vote on a measure that would make it substantially harder to change the constitution to turn back a legislative push and enshrine abortion rights.

Many of the longest lines were in urban areas that tend to be Democratic strongholds, but due to a series of factors it was difficult to tell which side in the caustic debate the turnout could favor.

The issue that has activists seething and ordinary voters brushing off scorching temperatures is an effort to raise the bar for changes to the state constitution  from a simple majority to a 60 per cent supermajority.

The vote isn't taking place in a vacuum. There is already a referendum set up for November on inserting abortion rights protections into the state Constitution, after the Republican-controlled legislature passed an abortion ban beginning about six weeks after conception.

Voters surged to polling places to cast ballots in a highly charged special election. The measure on the ballot would make it harder to pass changes to the state's Constitution  in advance of an effort to enshrine abortion rights set for November

That effort came after the U.S. Supreme Court last year overturned Roe v. Wade, setting off a flurry of legislative activity in the states  with pronounced impacts on national politics.

If Issue 1 passes on Tuesday, the amendment would need to get a 60 per cent supermajority to pass. If it goes down, the changes could pass on a simple majority.

The number of advance ballots cast - a combination of mail and early in-person ballots - hit nearly 700,000, more than double the early vote during the state's two previous midterm primary elections in 2022 and 2018.

As of Friday, 578,000 people had cast ballots, substantially more than that 288,700 people who voted early in last May's Senate and governor primary, the Columbus Dispatch reported. Last August, 143,000 people had voted early in primaries.

The measure would also make it harder to put future initiatives on the ballot. Advocates would need to get signatures from voters in all 88 of Ohio's counties, instead of 44 as it stands now.

Driving the massive interest is the knowledge that the contest that could determine the fate of abortion rights in the state and fuel political playbooks nationally heading into 2024.

Voters lined up early last week to vote on Issue 1. The is set to be decided at the polls Tuesday

If passed, the measure would make it harder to enshrine abortion rights in the state's Constitution

A crowd cheers as Jim Caviezel speaks during a "rosary rally" on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023, in Norwood, Ohio. A national religious organization, Catholics for Catholics, gathered a lineup of anti-abortion influencers

Rev. Dr. Mark Rich of Trinity Lutheran Church Downtown holds a "No on Issue 1" sign during a gathering of Columbus faith leaders speaking out against Issue 1 in a "Faith Votes No" rally at Washington Gladden Social Justice Park downtown

On the ballot is Issue 1, a proposal to raise the threshold for passing future changes to the state's constitution from a simple majority to 60%. But more passionately in the sights of the proposal's backers - including Republican officeholders - is a proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot that calls for enshrining access to reproductive care in the state's foundational document.

The measure was clearly resonating with voters, who turned out in huge numbers during the early voting period, which ended Sunday.

Republicans pushing the measure say it would protect the state from 'radical' changes in abortion laws. Abortion rights supporters call it an effort to remove political power from the hands of voters.

Ohio's August elections have historically focused on local issues and been plagued with chronically low turnout.

The Republican lawmakers who backed Issue 1 maintained that the measure was not about thwarting the fall abortion amendment, despite reinstating an August special election just like the ones they had only recently voted to eliminate.

Raising the bar for passing citizen-led constitutional amendments could make it difficult, if not impossible, for the fall proposal to succeed, based on polling figures. Voters in several states, even deeply conservative ones, have affirmed abortion rights since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year, though usually with less than 60% of the vote.

AP VoteCast polling last year found that 59% of Ohio voters say abortion should generally be legal.

Out-of-state money has poured into both sides of the contest over the 60% threshold, even as both supporters and opponents say one of their main goals is to keep special interests from having more influence over state policy than average Ohioans.

The campaign in favor of Issue 1, Protect Our Constitution, has told voters that raising the threshold will keep deep-pocketed interest groups from pushing redistricting, gun control and minimum wage policies on Ohio. One Person One Vote, the opposition campaign, argues that raising the threshold for passing future amendments would prioritize the interests of Ohio's increasingly conservative GOP supermajority at the statehouse over those of everyday voters.

But abortion rights are at the epicenter of the fight, as Ohio and other states have been given control of their own abortion policies following the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade last summer. Ohio's ban on most abortions had been placed on hold under Roe and then allowed to take effect briefly after the court overturned it. Since then, it has been frozen again while a challenge alleging it violates the state constitution plays out.

The abortion amendment would give individuals the right to make their own reproductive health care decisions, including on contraception, fertility treatment, abortion and miscarriage care, until a fetus is viable outside the womb.

At the same time, a broad bipartisan coalition opposes Issue 1 for other reasons. Former Ohio governors and attorneys general of both parties have come out against the constitutional change, calling it poor public policy. If passed it would reverse 111 years of direct democracy that has the potential to affect future citizen-led ballot efforts.

Protect Women Ohio, the campaign against the fall abortion question, has spent millions on the August election - airing ads suggesting the measure not only codifies abortion, but could pressure children into receiving gender-affirming care and undercut parental rights.

Several legal experts have said there is no language in the amendment supporting the ads' claims, but it follows a pattern through this election cycle of misinformation and fear-mongering being used to sway voters.

Issue 1 opponents have aired ads and mobilized a large coalition, including voting rights, labor, faith and community groups, as well as the state Democratic Party.

It was because of chronically low turnout that lawmakers voted just last year to scrap summer elections, prompting an unsuccessful lawsuit alleging this year's August special election violated the new law and calling further into question if it was brought back solely to thwart abortion rights for Ohioans.


Chief Minister Nitish Kumar The Bihar government on Tuesday approved various developmental projects during the cabinet meeting which was chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The cabinet approved the subway connectivity between Bihar and Patna museums. The cabinet has also passed a revised estimate for this purpose in tune of Rs 542 crore. The Patna museum is located on Budh Marg while the Bihar museum is located at Bailey road.



The cabinet has also approved two ITIs one at Garkha in Saran district and the second at Raghopur in Vaishali district. A total of 86 posts have also been approved at these two places while Rs 468 crore has been allocated for the financial year 2023-24.



The cabinet also approved the amendment in the Migrant Labourer Accident Bill 2008. The government will provide Rs 2 lakh cash in case of death taking place during an accident. Earlier, only Rs 1 Lakh was given as compensation to the victims family.



In case of an injured person, he or she will get Rs 50 thousand while a person who gets handicap permanently, will be given Rs 1 Lakh as compensation.



The cabinet has approved amendments related to environment, forest and climate change, industry, urban local body etc.




Winter storms combined with summer rain have contributed to the surge

In stunning video, water can be seen rushing down the rocks into the reservoir

Recent storms have created an unbelievable sight at Lake Powell's Iceberg Canyon in Utah, as waterfalls formed over the cliffs on Wednesday, August 2.

The natural phenomenon comes as the reservoir levels continue to rise to record levels, reversing a devastating drought.

Authorities issued a warning for severe storms on Wednesday. The storms brought thunder, lightning, hail, and winds up to 70mph.

Following the storm, massive amounts of water crashed down the rocks, as seen in videos captured by Adrianne Cooper and Eric Wells, ABC4 reported.

Waterfalls formed following severe storms on August 2 at Lake Powell, creating a spectacle for onlookers

Water crashed down the rocks and into the reservoir, which had been experiencing drought conditions up until months ago

Winter storms combined with summer rains have contributed to the rise in water levels

Over the past few months, Lake Powell's water levels have risen by 44 feet as a result of repeated winter storms.

During the winter, snow levels reached 160 percent of what is considered normal in Utah.

The stark contrast was so notable that it could be seen in satellite images, captured by The European Space Agency's Copernicus SENTINEL-2.

Snow levels shattered 40-year-old records in the state, with a snow water equivalent of 30 inches, which began just before the satellite began recording the time lapse images.

The rise in the water levels at Lake Powell can be attributed to the historic 2022/23 winter season

Earlier this year, experts said it was unlikely to refill for another 50 years after hitting its lowest level in decades due to droughts

A bathtub ring seen above the waterline around Lake Powell was created during drought that reduced the flow of the Colorado River on April 15, 2023 in Lake Powell

The amount of snow allowed the United States Bureau of Reclamation to release water through the Glen Canyon Dam at Lake Powell, which aided the downriver Lake Mead.

The stunning surge in the reservoir's elevation is an encouraging development for this critical water supply. It comes just months after experts said it was unlikely to refill for another 50 years amid severe drought conditions.

Based on the depleted levels of Lake Mead and Lake Powell, Brad Udall, a water and climate scientist at Colorado State University told The Los Angeles Times he would estimate that replenishing the reservoirs would take roughly six consecutive extremely wet years, with water flows similar to those in 2011.

'We'd need six years like that to refill this system, in a row, based on current operating rules,' Udall said. 'And I just don't see that even being remotely possible.'

Udall has co-authored research demonstrating how warming is depleting the river's flows, telling The Los Angeles Times 'to think that these things would ever refill requires some kind of leap of faith that I, for one, don't have.'

'The last 23 years are the best lessons we have right now, and they should scare the pants off of people,' he shared.

Lake Powell, located in northern Arizona and stretching up into Southern Utah, has depleted to just 23 percent of full capacity and is approaching a point where Glen Canyon Dam would no longer be able to generate power, the news outlet reported.

This satellite image from May 17 shows the impact of winter storms on Lake Powell

Incredible satellite images show how Lake Mead, which was considered headed for disastrously low levels of water, has risen by 44 feet in recent months due to historic winter storms. Here, the difference is shown between imaging taken on March 18 (pictured left) and July 16 (pictured right)

Despite the recent surge in water levels, experts say that the basin may still experience drought conditions going forward.

Although this winter has already seen the Rocky Mountains hit with an above-average snowpack, scientists and water officials believe that those in the Colorado River Basin need to prepare for low reservoir levels for years to come.

Others believe that the river's major reservoirs will not refill in 'our lifetimes,' the news outlet reported.

Scientists therefore urge residents to curtail their water usage.

According to experts, California uses the largest portion of the river. Arizona started in the late 1990s, and Nevada in the early 2000s - and now experts say 'the water use is maxed out,' the SFGate reported.

'Every state is taking too much, and we have to cut back. And so there's just not enough,' said Bill Hasencamp, manager of Colorado River resources for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

He predicted that even if you get 'wet year' after 'wet year' the demand is so high, it still wouldn't fill.'

The river's flow has declined about 20 percent in the last 23 years, due in part, scientists say to rising temperatures and climate change.
Horrifying new footage has revealed the interior of a dungeon where a 'sex slave' was allegedly held and raped for 14 years in Russia.

Vladimir Cheskidov, 51, has been held in custody by a judge after he was accused of raping Ekaterina Belyankina, now 33, thousands of times after kidnapping her when she was just 19, and keeping her in his home in the tiny village of Smolino, in the central Chelyabinsk region of Russia.

He is currently being held while Russian police investigate what happened at the remote house.

Whenever Cheskidov went out, Ekaterina was allegedly kept tied up in a crucifix position using a homemade wooden head and neck noose, which employed metal brackets to keep her arms and legs affixed to two pieces of chipboard.

Her mouth was also said to have been taped shut so she could not scream for help.

Ekaterina Belyankina, now 33, would be strapped to this torturous contraption for hours on end while Vladimir Cheskidov went out, with her hands and ankles bound in the metal brackets

Vladimir Cheskidov forced the allegedly kidnapped woman to live in squalor for 14 years

Vladimir Cheskidov (pictured) is currently being held in custody as Russian police figure out exactly what happened in the house of horror

His 72-year-old mother, Valentina Cheskidova, is alleged to have been complicit in the twisted scheme

Ekaterina was allegedly kept in Cheskidov's home in rural Russia for 14 years after being kidnapped at the age of 19

Tacky pornography was found plastered across the walls

The depraved man was only caught last week, after Ekaterina reportedly managed to escape after he got drunk.

She reportedly managed to find her sister after running into the village, and promptly told her everything.

Ekaterina (pictured) only escaped after Cheskidov got drunk

Investigators found tacky pornographic images plastered to the walls, as well as children's dolls in the room, when they went into the house of horror.

They also took away multiple sex toys that were allegedly used to torture her.

Cheskidov is also suspected of murdering another woman, called Oksana, at his house in either 2010 or 2011, after her dismembered bones were allegedly found on his property.

Beneath Ekaterina's room in a low-ceilinged cellar, the remains of the other woman, who was around 30 when she was killed, were found 'in a saucepan', it is alleged.

Ekaterina said she witnessed the other woman, who Cheskidov reportedly described as 'his wife', being killed in a barn he owned, and was threatened with the same fate if she disobeyed him.

Human remains were allegedly found in a 'saucepan' in a cellar underneath the room Ekaterina was kept

Since her escape, the twisted 51-year-old and his 72-year-old mother, Valentina Cheskidova, have since been charged with murder, rape and kidnapping.

Valentina is being charged with being complicit in Ekaterina's alleged kidnapping, and was heard screaming in court that the 33-year-old 'lived like a queen'.

'She joined my son and lived like a queen. No-one kept her. She lived [with us] at her own free will.

'We have all the doors open [in the house] - come in, run away. Every day it was like this,' she was heard saying.

The depraved man was only caught last week, after Ekaterina reportedly managed to escape after he got drunk

The family lived in filth in a house in the tiny village of Smolino, in the central Chelyabinsk region of Russia

Valentina, 72, said of her son: 'All the women are drawn to him. He is a non-drinker, non-smoker, and positive'

He would repeatedly rape her over the 14 years that he allegedly held her prisoner

The twisted man faces life in a grim Russian penal colony if convicted of the murder, rape and kidnapping charges

Valentina said of Ekaterina: 'She joined my son and lived like a queen. No-one kept her. She lived [with us] at her own free will'

The sick mother, who lived in the same house as her son and his alleged victim, bizarrely told a Russian court: 'All the women are drawn to him.

'He is a non-drinker, non-smoker, and positive.

'Everyone needs such men. A workaholic.'

The twisted man faces life in a grim Russian penal colony if convicted.
Oberlin College has sued four of its insurance providers to make them cover the multimillion-dollar judgment that Gibson's Bakery won against the school in 2019 over false claims of racism.

The wealthy liberal arts college in northern Ohio filed a suit in April against four insurance companies, saying they wrongfully refused 'to honor promises they made in their respective policies to protect' the school.

Oberlin seeks the money to cover the $36.6 million it paid out last year to Gibson's Bakery.

In that case, jurors ruled the school had defamed the small business by describing it as racist, after the store owner chased down three black students who stole from the business in November 2016.

The wealthy liberal arts college in northern Ohio now wants its insurance companies to cover its legal costs

Oberlin College has now paid out the full $36.6 million it owes to the owners of Gibson's Bakery after it lost a defamation case

The incident sparked large student protests and a boycott that nearly tanked the business.

Oberlin's new suit is against Lexington Insurance Company of New York; United Educators Insurance of Bethesda, Maryland; Mount Hawley Insurance Company of Peoria, Illinois; and StarStone Specialty Insurance Company of Cincinnati.

It was filed at Lorain County Common Pleas Court and was assigned to Judge Chris Cook.

In its lawsuit, Oberlin says it had 'at least $75 million in total insurance coverage' at the time of the bakery incident.

That was 'more than enough to pay the underlying judgment and substantial unpaid defense costs' from its six-year legal battle with Gibson's.

This included $25 million in commercial umbrella liability coverage from Lexington; $10 million from Mount Hawley; $5 million from StarStone; and $25 million in overlapping educators legal liability coverage from United Educators, court papers show.

The college received $1 million from one of the insurers, but 'also incurred millions of dollars in defense costs pursuing its appeals,' says the lawsuit.

'The defendant insurers have failed to pay a penny toward the $36,590,572.48 sum that Oberlin paid the Gibson's plaintiffs,' the lawsuit says.

'They also have failed to pay for the full cost of Oberlin's appeals, which were pursued at the behest of the insurers in order to reduce their collective exposure.'

The insurers had told the college that 'some, if not all, of the damages' would be covered, the lawsuit claims.

Instead, Lexington and United Educators 'engaged in a systematic, multi-year effort to avoid their coverage obligations' by passing the buck to the other insurers, the suit claims.

They could have settled for less than $10 million before going to trial, it adds.

Allyn Gibson (right) and David Gibson (left) fought for their family's legacy until their deaths. David Gibson died in November 2019 at age 65 and Allyn, 93, died in February 2022

Mediation between the college and United Educators failed in early 2021, and their relationship broke down.

Oberlin settled with the Gibson family in the defamation case last year after all of its appeals had been exhausted.

The damages stemmed from student protests over the arrest of Oberlin student Jonathan Aladin in November 2016, for stealing wine from the bakery and then, after a chase, assaulting clerk Allyn Gibson  the son and grandson of its owners.

Two black female students who were with him then intervened, and all three were arrested and later pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges.

The arrests sparked protests outside Gibson's Bakery where flyers were handed out, some by Oberlin officials, accusing the Gibsons of a long track record of racial profiling and discrimination.

Former Dean of Students and Vice President Meredith Raimondo stoked protests against the bakery after the shoplifting incident, rousing the crowd while toting a bullhorn, even though the claims were found to be totally false.

A Student Senate resolution condemning the Gibson family was then emailed to all students and was posted in a display case at a school student center, where it remained for a year.

Soon, the woke college  located in the small town of Oberlin southwest of Cleveland  ordered its campus food provider to stop buying cookies, bagels and other items from Gibson's, hurting the bakery's profits.

Even after the storeowners complained about the way they were being portrayed by college officials, they refused to retract their claims, protests continued, and the store was forced to lay off half its staff and cut opening hours.

Former Dean of Students and Vice President Meredith Raimondo stoked protests against Gibson's Bakery following the shoplifting incident, even though the claims were found to be totally false. She has since been blamed for much of the behavior that has seen Oberlin ordered to pay $35 million for defamation, with Raimondo since moving to a college in Atlanta

Jonathan Aladin, Endia Lawrence (center) and Cecilia Whettstone (right) were all convicted of shoplifting from Oberlin - but the woke college still accused the family-run business they stole from of racism, and boycotted them

Store owners Allyn Gibson and his son, David Gibson, both now deceased, sued Oberlin College in November 2017 claiming they had been libeled by the school and that their business had been harmed.

In June 2019, after a five-week trial, jurors awarded the Gibsons $44 million in compensatory and punitive damages.

The award was later reduced to $25 million and $6 million in legal fees, but rose again in this week's state supreme court decision after a series of appeals.

In an opinion article last year, Lorna Gibson, widow of the former bakery owner, described how the massive protests in the days after Donald Trump's election affected the family's business.

'Our world was turned upside down and has never been set right,' Lorna Gibson wrote in the article, in which she strenuously rejected claims her family were 'white supremacists' who racially profiled customers.

'Calling us racists wasn't just wrong, it was deeply painful to our core.'

The boycott effectively continued and freshmen were 'brainwashed to hate us' she added.

By November 2018, David Gibson died at the age of 65 after battling pancreatic cancer. His bereaved wife said she wanted to do everything she could 'to honor his final wish' and 'keep the doors open, no matter what'.

Allyn Gibson then died in February, aged 93. He spent much of his eighties sitting in front of the bakery, a 'fixture in the community' who chatted with locals, wrote Lorna Gibson.

After the protests, 'no one would talk to him. It broke his heart', she added.

The court and the various insurance companies did not immediately answer DailyMail.com's requests for comment or further details about the case.


As America heads into a contentious election year, pollsters have revealed how Democrats and Republicans are drifting ever further apart on everything from immigration to climate change and guns.

An analysis by polling group Gallup looked at two dozen frontline issues in politics and society and found that the partisan gaps in many of them had grown wider these past two decades.

On hot button political issues  such as abortion, climate change, education, and government power  the gap between supporters of the two main parties has been the greatest, researchers found.

'Political polarization remains an enormously important part of the US political landscape,' Gallup said in its report.

Democrats have grown increasingly tolerant of abortion, Republicans have not, demonstrated by heated protests outside the Supreme Court

Gallup mapped the shifting attitudes of Republicans and Democrats since 2003

'There are significant  and in some instances, huge  partisan differences today in views on all 24 issues included in this analysis.'

The study showcases the stark reality of polarization ahead of an election that could be a rerun of the testy 2020 face-off between then-president Donald Trump, a Republican, and the Democratic challenger who beat him, current President Joe Biden.

Gallup canvassed Americans' views over 20 years and the growing divide between the share of how many Republicans and Democrats supported policies on a range of issues.

On immigration, in 2003, there was an 11-point difference in the percentage of Republicans and Democrats who said immigration should be decreased.

By 2023, that gap had widened to 40 points.

When it comes to climate change, Republicans have become less worried about it these past two decades, while Democrats have become significantly more alarmed.

The gap between the two groups has widened to 55 points.

Republicans were slightly less likely than Democrats to say that the federal government had too much power in 2003, in the wake of the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington.

But now, nearly three-quarters of Republicans agree with that statement, compared to just 31 percent of Democrats.

Meanwhile, the share of Republicans who say abortion should be legal under any circumstance has stayed roughly level since 2003.

The number of Democrats who hold that view has climbed from 32 percent to 59 percent.

Police sometimes have to get in the middle of political rivals, including this clash between supporters and opponents of former President Donald Trump in Florida

Gallup tracked the issues on which Republicans and Democrats shifted the most

Back in 2003, Democrats and Republicans were held comparable views on immigration  about half in each party said it should be reduced.

Today, barely a fifth of Democrats want immigration cut, and Republicans have grown less welcoming to newcomers.

That's resulted in a 40-point gap between them.

Analysts have proposed many explanations for the deepening divisions in US society, including the rise of cable news and social media platforms that create 'echo chambers' that starve people of opposing views.

Others point to everything from feisty rhetoric from political leaders to economic inequality, declining trust in institutions, the divide between rural and urban America, and the gerrymandering of political districts.

Gallup researchers say voters have sorted themselves into supporting two main parties that have 'staked out widely differing positions' on the main issues in contemporary politics.

'Once a person has established their partisan leanings, the party's platform can in turn be a factor in reinforcing the individual's position on social and political issues,' the group said.
She had been travelling with family when her behavior became erratic

A marketing executive who was revealed as the woman who went viral for an American Airlines meltdown lives a life of luxury, DailyMail.com can reveal.

Tiffany Gomas, 38, was filmed screaming on a flight from Florida to Dallas in July, saying 'that mother***er back there is not real' and behaving erratically.

Gomas, who was clutching a $1,900 Goyard tote bag in the clip, heads up her own marketing firm, and is living in a $1.6million luxury four-bedroom property that boasts a swimming pool.

She bought the home in the affluent neighborhood in January 2022 for $572,530, before renovating the entire space.

Her firm, UpperCut Marketing, claims to work with large clients such as Xbox, Microsoft and others, but has since locked down its public profiles.

Gomas, who was clutching a $1,900 Goyard tote bag in the clip, heads up her own marketing firm, and is living in a $1.6million luxury four-bedroom property which boasts a pool

The executive has also wiped her presence from the internet following the footage, telling police she was arguing with family members prior to her outburst.

Police reports show she had accused a relative of stealing her AirPods, before screeching that the plane was not safe and would not make it to its destination.

Documents, obtained by Bree A. Dail on Substack, say that she was unwilling to leave the plane and was removed by American staff following her outburst.

They state: 'The female then started claiming the aircraft was not safe and did not want the aircraft to leave due to her believing it would not make it to its destination.

'Due to the statements the flight attendants felt the aircraft needed to be rescreened. [The airline manager] explained that the passenger was denied boarding and they wanted her escorted to the public side.'

It is unclear how many family members were with Gomas at the time of her meltdown, and if they were on vacation.

Footage shared on TikTok showed her in distress aboard the plane as she screamed about someone who 'wasn't real.'

Gomas yelled: 'I'm telling you, I'm getting the f*** off and there's a reason why I'm getting the f*** off and everyone can either believe it or they can not believe it,'

Police reports show that she had accused a relative of stealing her AirPods, before screeching that the plane was not safe and would not make it to its destination

Tiffany Gomas's meltdown was caught on video as she frantically demanded to get off a plane and claimed someone in the back of the aircraft was not real

Passengers turned their head as she seemed to point to the back of the plane while speaking about a guy who 'was not real'

'I don't give two f****, but I am telling you right now - that m*****f***** back there is NOT real,' she adds, pointing towards the back of the plane.

'And you can sit on this plane and you can die with them or not. I'm not going to.'

Passengers were forced to deplane and be screened through security again as a precaution.

'TSA personnel arrived at the scene to conduct a full rescreening of the aircraft,' the police report states.

Gomas was eventually escorted to the non-secure area of the airport - but then attempted to get back in through TSA screening several times.

When officers with the Dallas-Fort Worth Department of Public Safety arrived, an 'extremely distraught' Gomas refused to speak, and tried to get back on the plane.

She then vanished before police tracked her down to a terminal curb where she was waiting for an Uber.

Gomas was issued a ticket for criminal trespass notice but refused to sign it, and was never arrested over the incident.

The marketing executive was deemed a 'rising star' in 2017, when she served as Vice President of Client Services at Elevate Brand Marketing.

She is a graduate of Oklahoma State University, and called her mother her 'inspiration' when interviewed for the award.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Elevate Marketing and Uppercut Marketing for comment.
Nick Owen says his wife has played a crucial role in his cancer recovery and remains his biggest supporter through this 'very, very difficult time'.

The former TV-am star, 75, yesterday announced the devastating news that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, revealing that his wife Vicki Beevers had been by his side 'all the time through this'.

Ms Beevers, who is a reflexologist working in what is known as zone therapy applying pressure to specific points on the feet, ears and hands, has also played a major role in his recovery, he revealed today.

Mr Owen said that his wife has done a 'lot of things medically' for him as he battles the illness - which upwards of 52,300 men are diagnosed with each year.

The pair had been together for 11 years, following the separation from his first wife Jill Lavery in 2009. Mr Owen and Ms Beevers wed in 2020 after postponing their nuptials twice, including because of the pandemic.

Nick Owen says his wife Vicki Beevers has played a crucial role in his cancer recovery and remains his biggest supporter through this 'very, very difficult time'. The pair are pictured leaving BBC Breakfast Studio's in Manchester this morning

Mr Owen revealed today that his wife has done a 'lot of things medically' for him as he battles the illness including 'having to give me an injection once a day for about a month'. The couple are pictured on their wedding day in July 2020

Mr Owen revealed that his wife's reflexology played a significant part in his recovery as she supported him through his cancer battle which involved his prostate being removed.

'She had to do a lot of things medically when I came home, to look after me, including having to give me an injection once a day for about a month - and she's got no experience of that,' he told BBC One's Midlands Today.

'I've certainly got no experience of doing [it] myself or having it done by a non medical professional.'

Speaking when revealing his diagnosis, Mr Owen revealed it was 'probably the worst day of my life'.

He told the programme: 'I went to a specialist, he wasn't too worried because my figures weren't that high.

'But he decided I ought to have a scan, and then the scan said there's something dodgy going on, and then he sent me for a biopsy, which he did.

'And the results of that were the killer - on April the 13th, a date (which) will forever be imprinted on my mind.

'He told us that it was extensive, really, and aggressive, and I had prostate cancer full-on, and something needed to be done pretty fast.

'And that was probably the worst day of my life, or certainly one of them.'

He added: 'It was a very grim moment... driving home after that sort of news and ringing people, texting people, my phone went crazy for hours on end.

'And it was a very, very difficult time for me, and indeed for my wife Vicki, who was by my side all the time through this, you know.'

'By my side': Nick revealed that his wife, Vicki Beevers, was a huge help in his recovery

Second marriage: Owen married Vicki having previously been married to Jill Lavery, with whom he has four children

Who is Nick Owen's wife, Vicki Beevers?: READ MORE HERE Advertisement

Mr Owen and Ms Beevers became a couple after the celebrity split from Ms Lavery in 2009.

He and Ms Lavery, who had four children in their 32-year marriage, reportedly left things on good terms.

Ms Lavery, a nurse, and Mr Owen are said to have simply 'drifted apart'.

His ex-wife said at the time: 'We have split. It was an amicable split. We're on good terms. We are still friends.'

The pair had lived together in Birmingham, where Mr Owen anchored the regional news programme Midlands Today.

He and Ms Beevers finally became Mr and Mrs Owen in St Mary the Virgin Church, in Enville, Staffordshire, on July 4, 2020.

The couple had planned to wed twice beforehand, with the Covid lockdown thwarting previous plans.

When they did finally get married, Mr Owen was 72 and Ms Beevers 59.

The former TV presenter told Birmingham Live at the time that they were 'thrilled to bits.

'It was lovely - it really was. We've been together 11 years now and have talked about getting married and now it's happened. It's a wonderful feeling,' he said.

'We're both thrilled to bits. It was a very quiet day and we didn't go to the church until a quarter to 3 and it was all over by half past!

'We'd been planning to get married a year ago, but twice for various reasons, including coronavirus, we've had to put it off.'

A long time coming: Nick (pictured in 2017) married Vicki in 2020, after they had been together for 11 years

Mr Owen yesterday announced he is suffering from 'extensive' and 'aggressive' prostate cancer.

Mr Owen said he had no symptoms and it 'came out of the blue' when a specialist told him he had the disease 'full-on'. He said hearing the prognosis had been 'probably the worst day of my life'.

The news comes just weeks after his co-presenter Anne Diamond, 68, revealed she is battling breast cancer and has undergone a mastectomy.

Along with their stint on TV-am, the pair had their own current affairs morning programme on the BBC in the 1990s, Good Morning With Anne And Nick.

Ms Diamond, 68, today told MailOnline it was a 'terrible shock' when Mr Owen told her that he was battling the disease.

She revealed the pair have been in 'constant contact' since she was first diagnosed with breast cancer last December, and shared how they went from being 'TVs golden couple' to supporting each other as they battle the 'biggest male and female cancers' simultaneously.

Breakfast TV legend Nick Owen has revealed he's being supported by his BBC co-star Anne Diamond as they both battle cancer

Ms Diamond said that she believes there is a 'life lesson' to be learned from their diagnoses and hopes their journeys can serve as a 'warning' to others to undergo regular health screenings.

'Nick and I have been in constant touch since I was first diagnosed with breast cancer last December - and so it came as a terrible shock when he told me in April that hed been diagnosed too,' she told MailOnline.

'Theres a life lesson in our predicament somewhere - that he and I used to be known as TVs golden couple and now in our later years we each have the biggest male and female cancers - and at the same time!

'Thankfully were both doing well, and hope our news is at least a warning to others to get their health regularly checked!'

Her optimistic outlook on the situation comes after Mr Owen today revealed that Ms Diamond was supporting him during his battle with cancer.

Anne Diamond says it was a 'terrible shock' when her BBC co-star Nick Owen told her that he was battling cancer, just months after she revealed her own diagnosis. The pair are pictured together in January 2018

Ms Diamond, 68, and Mr Owen have been in 'constant contact' since she was first diagnosed with breast cancer last December, MailOnline can reveal. She shared today how they went from being 'TVs golden couple' to supporting each other as they battle the 'biggest male and female cancers' simultaneously. Ms Diamond and Mr Owen are pictured together in 1985

Speaking on BBC Breakfast this morning the former TV-am star said: 'We have been cajoling each other.'

'It is fantastic [to have one another at this time] but it's just so ironic that she and I, who are forever associated as a partnership professionally, both have the quintessentially male and female cancer.'

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK. One in eight men will get prostate cancer at some point in their lives and more than 52,000 new cases are diagnosed every year.

A BBC spokesman said: 'Nick has been one of the faces of Midlands Today for more than 25 years. Our viewers and his colleagues have missed him dearly in recent weeks.'
Mothers of Marines killed in a suicide blast in Kabul during the final chaotic days of the Afghan withdrawal say they have been lied to by the Pentagon and that officers kept some items belonging to their sons.

The mother of Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez said her sons comrades who were wounded in the attack were even told not to discuss what had happened.

It comes as the Biden administration faced fresh calls on Monday for an explanation of what went wrong in August 2021, when a suicide bomber was able to detonate his deadly payload at Kabul airport, killing 13 Americans and at least 170 Afghans.

'When we got the Department of Defense report through the investigation, they told us that they did not have the three minutes where the bomb went off, that they didn't have that recorded, that the drone had failed to record that,' Alicia Lopez told News Nation.

'Some parents were told that ... we shouldn't even see that footage anyways. That it was too much for us to handle it and that in itself is a lie because that video does exist.'

Alicia Lopez, the mother of Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez, and Coral Briseno, mother of Cpl Humberto Sanchez are demanding answers about their sons' deaths in Afghanistan in 2021

Marine Cpl Humberto Sanchez and Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez (right)

Her son was 22 when he died trying to maintain security and order at the Abbey Gate of Kabul's international airport amid the dangerous crush of people trying to leave.

The Taliban had seized control of the country as local forces simply melted away without the support of U.S. and international troops and air cover.

Lopez's mother said she would have understood if she had simply been told the three minutes of footage was classified.

'However, they completely told us that that video was not existent,' she said.

'They have taken SIM cards out of our kids cell phones. Some cell phones weren't returned,' she said standing beside Coral Briseno, whose son Humberto Sanchez also died in the blast.

'Both Coral and I did not receive cell phones from our kids.

'The Marines that came home, the wounded, the ones that actually came home, they were told not to talk about it.

'They had their account of what happened and they were told that that was that they didn't have a proper memory of the incident because of the explosion.'

The Americans killed in the blast were: (left to right, starting with top row) Cpl. Daegan W. Page - Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo - Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover - Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza - Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum - Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui - Cpl. Hunter Lopez - Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz - Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss - Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez - Navy Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak - Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola - Sgt. Nicole L. Gee

The withdrawal will be remembered for the chaotic scenes of desperate Afghans trying to escape the Taliban at Hamid Karzai International Airport

Other Gold Star families spoke out on Monday at a Congressional forum on the Afghanistan withdrawal.

They described their fury at hearing politicians describe the withdrawal as a success and demanded a full accounting of what went wrong.

'We were told lies, given incomplete reports, incorrect reports, total disrespect,' said Kelly Barnett, mother of Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover. 'I was told to my face he died on impact.

'That's not true. The only reason that I know this is because witnesses told me the truth. I was lied to and basically told to shut up.'

And Christina Shamblin, mother of Sgt. Nicole Gee, said how much it hurt to hear politicians crow about the success of the evacuation.

'When our leaders, including our secretary of defense and our commander in chief call this evacuation a success as if there should be celebration, it is like a knife in the heart for our families and for the people who came back,' she said.

A Defense Department official later told News Nations: "The Department of Defense expresses our deepest condolences to the Gold Star Families who lost loved ones during the tragic bombing at Abbey Gate.

'We are forever grateful for their service, sacrifice, and committed efforts during the evacuation operations.'
Rockaway Beach is closed to swimmers and surfers on Tuesday after a woman was attacked by a shark - in the first shark blitz on the popular NYC beach in 70 years.

Tatyana Koltunyuk, 65, was bitten by the shark just before 6pm Monday while swimming off the Queens beach. According to witnesses she lost a 20-pound 'chunk' of flesh from her left leg, above the knee.

A spokesman for the New York City Police Department told The New York Times on Tuesday morning that the woman was in 'serious but stable' condition after being taken to Jamaica Hospital.

The last shark attack along the Rockway beach was in 1953 when a 15-year-old boy was bitten by a shark that was hooked in his fishing line. Prior to that, the last Rockaway Beach shark attack was in 1909, according to the New York Daily News.

The coast of Long Island is no stranger to attacks, however, with six already reported this summer.

Tatyana Koltunyuk, 65, was bitten by the shark just before 6pm Monday while swimming off Rockaway Beach

The woman was bitten a few inches above the left knee (pictured) and rushed to Jamaica Hospital

The shark's gruesome bite took 20 pounds of flesh from the victim, according to The New York Post.

According to the crime reporting app Citizen, police applied a tourniquet to the victim before she was rushed to hospital in critical condition.

The FDNY confirmed to DailyMail.com officers had responded to a call at Beach 59th Street and Rockaway Beach Boulevard at 5.52pm. Swimmers were ordered out of the water moments after the incident.

After the attack, police flew a drone and a helicopter over the beach to locate the shark, but were unsuccessful. Parks department officials said the FDNY and NYPD would continue with aerial surveillance of the beach to monitor for sharks.

'As a safety precaution, Rockaway Beach will be closed to swimming and surfing today, August 8, due to recent shark activity,' wrote Gregg McQueen, a spokesperson for the parks department in a statement.

Rockaway Beach was closed Tuesday after a woman was attacked by a shark, leaving her in serious condition. Police are seen gathering by the beach at 59th Street on Monday evening

Workers with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation plant a red flag warning visitors swimming is prohibited on Rockaway beach on Tuesday, August 8

Police gather along Rockaway Beach at 59th Street after a woman was attacked by a shark in the early evening on August 7. It was the first shark attack off Rockaway Beach since 1953

Parks department officials said the FDNY and NYPD would continue with aerial surveillance of the beach to monitor for sharks. Pictured is a surveillance drone on the beach on Monday evening

It was the first attack by a shark on a person on Rockaway Beach 'in recent memory', according to the parks department

The incident follows shark sightings off Rockaway Beach last year, which similarly caused the city to close the beach to swimmers last July.

The attack is the latest of a string of incidents in recent weeks. Although attacks as far west as the Rockaways are rare, swimmers further east along Long Island are at a greater risk.

One Long Island shark expert told the Daily News it was likely the the attack on Monday was the result of poor visibility in the water.

'Today it was really windy, the water was churned up. The water is probably a little more murky. That all adds to the potential of these bites happening,' said Christopher Paparo, manager of the marine lab at Stony Brook University.

A teenager was attacked by a shark over the Fourth of July holiday weekend during a trip to New York's Fire Island. That attack was one of six along Long Island this year.

In the July 4 holiday incident, Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau officers were called to the Fire Island coast and they rushed to the aid of the 15-year-old bitten off Kismet Beach at around 5.20pm.

The teen was subsequently taken to the Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip for medical assistance.

Six shark attacks took place last year within the course of just six weeks

Prior to 2022, New York had only recorded a dozen unprovoked bites. Over the last decade, there were just four people bitten by sharks, according to data compiled by the International Shark Attack File, which tracks shark attacks around the world.

Last year, eight people reported being bitten by sharks swimming in the shallows off Long Island's beaches.

'We are now more vigilant than ever,' said George Gorman, the Long Island Regional Director for New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

Even if the injuries have not been serious, he and others are concerned by the rise in shark sightings and encounters.

Last year, the US saw 41 of 57 confirmed cases worldwide, which is a shocking 72 percent of the world's total for 2022, according to the International Shark Attack File.

More specifically, Florida is by far the shark capital of the world, registering 16 unprovoked nonlethal bites last year - the most attacks of any other state or any single place, for that matter.

The state's Volusia County, known as a shark hot spot, saw 44 percent of the total attacks.

New York saw the next most attacks last year, with eight total. Hawaii was next, with five total bites, one of which was fatal.
The owner of a German Shephard which brutally attacked a smaller dog and broke its spine has been slammed after posting several cryptic messages online.

Lynda Hudson, 58, has attempted to defend herself after her white 98lb dog called 'Syko' mauled several smaller pups outside the quaint French bookstore La Librairie des Enfants on the Upper East Side.

The dog has attacked at least four puppies in recent months, with a Toy Poodle called Baby being put down after Skyo broke it was viciously attacked.

But Hudson has now taken aim at Baby's owner in now-deleted comments on the La Librairie des Enfants social media, saying 'she was very quick to put her to sleep! Just wondering!'.

The bookshop owner has been hit with a barrage of abuse from dog-lovers and owners across Manhattan, with some telling her to 'leave our neighborhood'.

Personal trainer Akiba Tripp was walking her seven-pound Toy Poodle Baby on Friday near the bookstore when Syko sank his teeth into the pup and broke her spine

'Syko' - second from left and pictured with his parents and siblings -mauled several smaller pups outside the quaint French bookstore La Librairie des Enfants on the Upper East Side

Lynda Hudson, 58, opened La Librairie des Enfants in 2016. She owns the vicious German Shepherd dog that has been mauling other animals

Posting online, she said: Where there is charity and wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance. The only good is knowledge, and the only evil is ignorance. This is for all the SMALL MINDED PEOPLE!!!!!'

In another post just minutes later she added: 'Stand up to hypocrisy. If you don't, the hypocrites will teach.

'Stand up to ignorance, because if you don't, the ignorant will run free to spread ignorance like a disease. Stand up for truth. Mr Mark Twain!!!'

Commenters were furious at the dog owner, and told her she was 'careless' for allowing the big dog, and its siblings to have free roam in the small shop.

One said: 'How dare you blame Baby's mom. Take some accountability and actually show remorse.

'After the attack the only thing you cared about was all the bad reviews coming in and not that your dogs had just killed an innocent dog just walking by your store.

'You know your dogs are aggressive and you still are VERY careless when opening that door or when walking them you let them lunge and do whatever because you can't control them. They need to be taken away from you.'

Another commented that she should rename the store to the 'library from hell', after she made the cryptic post.

Baby, the two-year-old toy poodle that had her spine mauled by the dog. She was euthanized following the attack

A note on the door of the store said that they would be closed on Monday following the incident

Psychologist Julia Schafer, another Upper East Side local, said that one day she was walking out of her building with her small collie mix Tarsila on May 3 when disaster struck

Syko has been accused of terrorizing passing pups on the sidewalk near the shop on Manhattan's East 92nd Street - leaving owners with immense vet bills and seriously injured pets.

Personal trainer Akiba Tripp was walking her seven-pound toy poodle Baby on Friday near the bookstore when the owner suddenly opened the door.

Hudson walked out with Syko, who then grabbed the poodle 'within his mouth,' sank his teeth into Baby, and broke her spine.

People from neighboring bars ran over and tried to drag the dogs away on the blood-splattered sidewalk. But Baby couldn't move because she was paralyzed from the attack.

The poodle was euthanized that evening, with Hudson offering to pay for medical treatment and allegedly asking to adopt and rehabilitate the small dog.

Syko's owner Lynda Hudson told the New York Times: 'There is really something wrong with Syko, and I don't know what to do.

Syko is a two-year-old 98-pound dog owned by Lynda Hudson, 58, who opened La Librairie des Enfants, a French bookstore, in New York in 2016

Personal trainer Akiba Tripp was walking her seven-pound toy poodle Baby on Friday near the bookstore when the owner suddenly opened the door

Lynda Hudson promised to keep Syko and her other four German shepherds permanently at her house in Westchester County

'I tried everything with this dog, sir. I tried behaviorists, and training. He's great with people but he does not like other dogs.'

Baby is not the first casualty of the aggressive pooch, with Skyo attacking Tarsila, a small collie mix, on May 3.

Psychologist Julia Schafer, said she was walking out of her building when her pup was grabbed and mauled by Syko, whose owner agreed to pay the $850 vet bill.

Just four days before that attack, Syko and another of Hudson's dogs attacked two puppies  Cavachon Chloe and Maltipoo Muppet.

Chloe's owner, Laurie Davis, told the Times: 'Next thing I know this big white dog had my dog in her mouth. I'm screaming at the top of my lungs.'

Another dog bit Muppet's face, while Chloe needed surgery for the injuries, with vet's bills costing $6,000.

Hudson agreed to pay for the damage, with Davis suing Hudson in a small claims court. The bookstore owner has promised to keep Syko and her four other dogs away from the store.

She claims that they will instead be permanently housed at her home in Westchester after the incidents.
The U.S. currently faces a reported $10.8 billion in rent debt

Officials want to use funds from the American Rescue Plan to demolish them

Vacant homes in Pennsylvania have been turned into drug dens by squatters who have even set indoor campfires to cook their meals.

State officials are ringing the alarm as they hope to demolish 10 empty homes that have been overtaken in the town of Jeanette, about 30 miles from Pittsburgh.

The 10 homes were declared public nuisances earlier this month; they all have had years of code violations property maintenance issues.

In one home on Fifth Street, squatters built a fire to cook cans of ravioli, according to fire chief Bill Frye.

Frye told Trib Live the home, which is boarded up, has served as a 'prime spot' for illegal activity.

Squatters built a fire to cook cans of ravioli inside the above home in Jeannette, PA, according to fire chief Bill Frye

State officials are ringing the alarm as they hope to demolish 10 empty homes that have been overtaken by squatters and drug users. One of the homes, at 412 Allison St, which has a hole in the roof, is pictured above

The 10 homes were declared public nuisances earlier this month; they all have had years of code violations property maintenance issues. Two of them are pictured above

'They actually were cooking with fire in the building,' Frye told the outlet. 'They had a fire inside the floor and were cooking Chef Boyardee raviolis.'

At a home on Third Street, playing kids left mounting trash behind that made the home inhospitable.

The officials want to use $10.4million from funds from the American Rescue Plan to demolish the homes; they are also considering dozens of other homes for dilapidation.

The 10 homeowners have been notified of the state's plans , and two of them received reprieves and are expected to figure out a plan for renovations.

Frye said he had difficulty even getting to the mail boxes of some of the homes to post the notices because they were in such poor condition.

One home has a hole in the roof, another property is in danger of collapsing unto itself, he added.

The country at large has been dealing with issues keeping squatters from destroying homes.

The United States currently faces a reported $10.8 billion in rent debt, with 5.1 million households behind on their rent payments, according to data from the National Equity Atlas.

Frye said he had difficulty even getting to the mail boxes of some of the homes to post the notices because they were in such poor condition. 616 Highland Ave pictured above

The officials want to use $10.4million from funds from the American Rescue Plan to demolish the homes. 302-304 Chestnut Street pictured. Fry said its 'at risk of collapsing or something falling off of it'

In one Philly home, where the homeowner finally managed to wrestle control of their own property, the landlord entered to find walls daubed in graffiti, makeshift beds covering the floors and trash strewn about the place.

'This is how we found the place once the tenants were locked out by the sheriff,' Anchor Realty co-owner Walter Lapidus told Fox Business.

The tenant had signed an eighteen month lease but managed to get away with paying for only two months' rent and landlord with a huge mess to clean up together with legal fees.

Cities like New York City, Philadelphia and Los Angeles have been struggling with squatters taking over vacant homes and trashing them.

Squatters in these cities have the law on their side as they automatically gain legal rights after just 30 days on the properties, meaning it becomes a real challenge to evict them.

In Los Angeles, landlords often have to pay to remove non-paying tenants while in Philadelphia, even if a court orders someone to vacate a property, the sheriff's department may choose to do nothing at all if it means avoiding a confrontation.

Squatters who move into homes trashing the place are leaving homeowners with massive bills

Meanwhile, last month 10 squatters were removed after illegally taking over a $1million home in Florida, leaving it damaged and infested with bugs.

Broward County Sheriff's Office removed seven men, two women and a child from the stolen home. The locks were changed to stop them returning.

The home on Seabreeze Boulevard had its walls, windows, and flooring completely damaged by the squatters - who allegedly 'know the system' and understood how to stay at the home before courts got involved.'

It's assumed they were there for more than a year.

The squatters even terrorized neighbors on Seabreeze Boulevard, with one man who lived next door saying that they broke into his home in the middle of the night on February 27, 2022.
Auckland, 8 August 2023: As previously advised, Fletcher Building Limited will release its FY23 results prior to the market opening on Wednesday, 16 August 2023.

Fletcher Building management will host a briefing that day for all investors and analysts at 11:00am NZT / 9:00am AEST to discuss the results.

Participants can access the briefing by webcast or teleconference (details below):

Webcast  watch the webcast live at the following link:

https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/ue6pk72v

Teleconference  register for the briefing by navigating to the following link: https://s1.c-conf.com/diamondpass/10031888-uy8145.html

Upon registration to the teleconference, you will be provided with the dial in number, passcode, and your unique access PIN. To join the briefing, simply dial the number and enter the passcode followed by your PIN.

After 3.00pm NZT an archived replay of the webcast will be available.

#ENDS

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Sir Keir Starmer was today challenged to ban 'members of the eco-mob' from standing as parliamentary candidates for Labour.

Cabinet minister Grant Shapps accused the Labour leader of 'plotting to put eco-fanatics in Parliament' as he dared Sir Keir to 'stand up for Britain'.

It came after Labour's by-election candidate Alistair Strathern was unmasked as an activist who posed as a zombie during a Greenpeace protest in November.

The 33-year-old, who is set to stand for Labour in a by-election in Mid Bedfordshire, wore face paint and pretended to be a ghoul in a demonstration outside the Home Office last year.

The Government recently cut engagement with Greenpeace after the environmental group staged a protest at Rishi Sunak's house in his North Yorkshire constituency last week.

Labour candidate Alistair Strathern, 33, (third from right) pretended to be a zombie in an eco stunt for Greenpeace last year

The eco-zealot (centre) was pictured smiling alongside Sir Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner in July this year

On Monday the eco-zealot was canvassing in Bedfordshire as he tried to win votes ahead of the by-election

The eco-zealot is running for Labour to replace Nadine Dorries once she leaves Parliament (pictured, his by-election campaign advert)

Sir Keir Starmer was told to get rid of eco zealot Mr Strathern (pictured) by Cabinet minister Grant Shapps

Mr Shapps said that 'one minute [Greenpeace eco activists] are climbing the PM's house, next they've got a Labour rosette on'

The Labour candidate posed outside Parliament last year, where he hopes to win a seat

Mr Shapps, the Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary, accused the Labour leader of 'plotting to put eco-fanatics in Parliament' as he dared Sir Keir to 'stand up for Britain'

Mr Shapps, the Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary, posted on Twitter this morning: 'Labour have gone too far this time - plotting to put eco-fanatics in Parliament.

'@Keir_Starmer Im challenging you to today ban members of the eco-mob from Labours candidate list.

'Will you stand up for Britain or like a zombie will you mindlessly follow the mobs every whim?'

Mr Shapps has urged Sir Keir to ditch Mr Strathern as a Labour candidate.

'One minute they are climbing the PMs house, next theyve got a Labour rosette on,' he told The Sun.

'Sir Keir Starmer must show he practises what he preaches for once, and block the eco-mob from his candidates list.'

Meanwhile, Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: 'A vote for Labour is literally a vote for the eco-zealots.'

Mr Strathern is Labour's candidate to contest the Mid Bedfordshire seat set for a by-election once Nadine Dorries stops being an MP.

His partner Megan Corton-Scott is a political campaigner for Greenpeace.

Mr Strathern also protested outside Parliament against laws aimed at preventing disruption caused by Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion.

After the protest on the Prime Minister's roof, a Government spokesman said: 'Greenpeace's criminal activity last week demonstrates that they are not a serious organisation, therefore, we do not think it's appropriate to engage with them.'

Greenpeace activists moving fabric on the roof of Rishi Sunaks house in Richmond, North Yorkshire (Danny Lawson/PA)

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's constituency home in Richmond is targeted by Greenpeace

A group of demonstrators had scaled Mr Sunak's Grade II-listed constituency manor house to protest against plans to grant more than 100 new licences for oil and gas extraction in the North Sea.

The activists draped an oil-black fabric from the roof, staying there from about 8am to 1.15pm, when they were arrested and later bailed amid an ongoing investigation by North Yorkshire Police.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'We obviously don't think that people who are accused of breaking the law should have a seat at the table in discussions with Government.

'My understanding is that Defra aren't engaging with Greenpeace because of those actions.

'I don't think it's unusual for Defra or other agencies to engage with climate action groups  that's taken place for a number of years.

Greenpeace activists on the roof of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's house in Richmond, North Yorkshire, last week

Greenpeace activists on the roof of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's house in Richmond

Greenpeace activists on the roof of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's house in Richmond

The protesters carry out the stunt on the Prime Minister's mansion in Yorkshire

'But clearly, given their actions and the arrests last week, we don't think it's appropriate to engage with them.'

Greenpeace defended the protest amid a backlash as 'carefully and meticulously' planned for when the Prime Minister, his wife and children were on holiday in California, amid a backlash over security concerns.

The group said ending engagement with its representatives 'isn't going to work' as it accused ministers of espousing a 'bunker mentality' about climate issues.

Will McCallum, UK co-executive director of Greenpeace, said: 'Burying your head in the sand isn't going to make the climate crisis go away.

'It's precisely because the Government has effectively shut the door to civil society groups, like Greenpeace, as well as ignoring warnings from the UN, its own advisers and the International Energy Agency, that we need to protest in the way that we do.

'The bunker mentality on display from this current Government is deeply damaging  cutting ties with Greenpeace isn't going to help. We represent the views of millions of our supporters and have a mandate to hold the Government to account.'

MailOnline has contacted Labour, Greenpeace and Mr Strathern for comment.
Six contestants of a Miss Universe Indonesia pageant have filed complaints with police accusing organisers of sexual harassment after they were allegedly ordered to strip topless for 'body checks'.

Police confirmed contestants had filed a report that would be investigated.

The contestants of the Indonesian beauty pageant, held in the capital Jakarta from July 29 to August 3, said the organisers asked five of them to strip to their underwear for physical examinations in a room with more than 20 people, including men.

Five contestants were then photographed topless, said their lawyer, Mellisa Anggraeni, adding there was no need for such checks. Six contestants had filed complaints, she said.

One of the complainants told a press conference, broadcast by news channel Kompas TV, that she had been asked to pose inappropriately, including by opening her legs.

Miss Universe Indonesia contest held in Jakarta. There is no suggestion the women pictured were among those claiming to have been photographed topless

'I felt like I was being peeked on, I was very confused and uncomfortable,' said the unidentified woman. The broadcaster blurred her face.

Reuters tried to contact the company that runs the Miss Universe Indonesia pageant, PT Capella Swastika Karya, and the company's founder, Poppy Capella, through their social media accounts but they did not respond. The Miss Universe Organization did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

Jakarta police spokesperson Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko said a report from contestants had been received on Monday and it would be investigated.

Religious groups in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, have in the past objected to beauty pageants.

The contest in Jakarta was held to select Indonesia's entry for the annual Miss Universe competition to be held in El Salvador late this year.

The contest is run by the Miss Universe Organization and was co-owned by Donald Trump between 1996 and 2002.

Thai celebrity media tycoon and transgender rights advocate Jakapong 'Anne' Jakrajutatip bought the Miss Universe Organization for $20 million last year.

The change in ownership was announced just days after Miss Universe suspended the organisers of Miss USA amid claims that its bosses crowned a winner unfairly, among other ongoing drama, including a cheating scandal and claims of sexual harassment.

Jakrajutatip's purchase of the organisation marked the first time the beauty pageant has been owned by a woman.
Jurors deliberating in the trial of Lucy Letby were today told by the judge he will accept majority verdicts.

Mr Justice Goss gave the instruction of the jury of seven women and four men shortly after 3pm today, by which time they had spent 76 hours and four minutes considering their verdicts.

The trial began on October 10 last year, with the neonatal nurse accused of embarking on a year-long killing spree.

Last week, the jury was reduced to 11 when a female juror was discharged for personal reasons.

The trial judge's direction came on the 15th day of the jury's deliberations.

The trial began on October 10 last year, with Lucy Letby accused of embarking on a year-long killing spree

Addressing the jury at Manchester Crown Court, Mr Justice Goss said: 'I am going to ask you to return to your deliberating room and continue with your deliberations and strive to reach unanimous verdicts.

'However, the time has now come when it is possible for me to accept verdicts upon which you are not all agreed, commonly referred to as majority verdicts.

'It must be by a majority of at least 10 of you, either 11-0 or 10-1. Nothing else will do.'

Letby, 33, from Hereford, denies murdering seven babies and trying to murder 10 others during the course of her work on the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

She has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of murder and 15 counts of attempted murder between June 2015 and June 2016.
A Texas woman was left with brutal injuries after she was viciously attacked by both a snake and a hawk while mowing her lawn.

Peggy Jones told click2Houston she'd been on a tractor mower when the snake fell out of the sky and landed on her at her home in Silsbee.

As it began to tighten around her arm, a hawk then swooped down, and began clawing at a defenseless Jones in an effort to grab its prey.

'The snake was squeezing so hard, and I was waving my arms in the air,' she told the outlet.

'Then, this hawk was swooping down clawing at my arm over and over. I just kept saying, "Help me, Jesus, Help me, Jesus."'

Peggy Jones was first attacked by a snake while she was mowing the lawn, only to be attacked by a hungry hawk moments later as it tried to grab the serpent

Eventually ripping the snake from her arm, the hawk - successful in its scavenge - flew away, leaving Jones with a bloodied arm covered in deep lacerations and bruises.

'I was yelling and screaming. [My husband] didn't know what I was saying. I thought I was bit by a snake,' Jones explained.

Running out to the commotion, Jones's husband took his wife to the emergency room, where she was treated for her injuries.

Jones said she knew how close she could have been to getting bitten by the snake as she 'slung her arms from side to side' in a bid to remove the slithering intruder.

'He kept striking in my face, he was striking my glasses,' she said.

'I discovered the lens on my glasses was broken and there was snake venom on my glasses.'

The unexpected attack left Jones with a sense of relief, given it could have had a worse outcome.

Eventually ripping the snake from her arm, the hawk - successful in its scavenge - flew away with the serpent, leaving Jones with a bloodied arm covered in deep lacerations and bruises

Running out to the commotion, Jones's husband took his wife to the emergency room, where she was treated for her injuries. Jones is seen here with her arm wrapped

The unexpected attack left Jones with a sense of relief, given it could have had a worse outcome and said: 'I feel like the luckiest person alive to have survived this!'

'I feel like the luckiest person alive to have survived this!' she said.

Jones said this wasn't even her first snake attack, detailing to click2Houston that she'd survived a venomous bite a few years back.

Texas is one of the largest states in the United States and encompasses a diverse range of habitats and is positioned along the flight path of many migratory species.

An impressive 670 species of bird can be found in the region including at least 19 hawk species, 15 of which roam the region regularly.

While it remains unclear what type of hawk and snake were part of the attack, it is common for them to be spotted at this time of year, according to avibirds.
The state of New Hampshire has been sued after officials removed a historical marker commemorating the birthplace of a communist and labor leader - just weeks after it was installed.

The state's Department of Natural and Cultural Resources unveiled a green aluminum sign, bearing the New Hampshire state seal, on May 1 recognizing former Community Party USA head Elizabeth Gurley Flynn as a 'nationally-known labor leader, civil libertarian and feminist organizer.'

But the sign was removed just two weeks later at the direction of Republican Gov. Chris Sununu, who has said the 'anti-American sign' will not be put back on his watch, according to the Concord Monitor.

Retired history professor Mary Lee Sargent and longtime progressive activist Arnold Alpert are now suing the state officials who oversaw its removal, and are asking a court to order the state to reinstall the sign.

They are being represented pro bono by Adru H. Volinsky, a Democrat who ran for governor in 2020.

Elizabeth Gurley Flynn was a leader of the Communist Party USA who became known for her labor and feminist efforts

A sign commemorating her birthplace was put up in Concord, New Hampshire on May 1, but was taken down on May 15

A lawsuit was brought by retired history professor Mary Lee Sargent and longtime progressive activist Arnold Alpert seeking to get officials to reinstall the sign

According to the lawsuit, which was filed Monday in Merrimack County Superior Court, New Hampshire state officials violated the Administrative Procedures Act when they updated the policy and guidelines that govern the state's historical highway marker program.

The policy was revised on May 12, and the marker was removed just three days later.

Under the updated policy, the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources commissioner has final approval of new historical markers and whether an existing marker should be retired.

Sununu has claimed that the policy was updated to clarify the process, telling reporters in May: 'I went through the guidelines and policies myself, and I totally understand why there was a lot of confusion.'

The lawsuit claims Department of Natural & Cultural Resources Commissioner Sarah C. Stewart violated state policy by removing the sign without consulting with the State Historical Resources Council

But, the lawsuit argues the updated policy is invalid  and Commissioner Sarah C. Stewart violated the new policy anyway because she did not consult with the State Historical Resources Council before having Flynn's marker removed.

She was allegedly told to do so by the governor himself. DailyMail.com has reached out to Stewart for comment.

'It's like the state [is] going against themselves in a way,' Sargent told the Monitor. 'They should return it because it's the right thing to do.

'But unfortunately, once politicians do things, they have to save face and not admit that they were wrong. But hopefully the court can rule in our favor and get it reinstalled.'

Sununu, however, has said he does not plan on ever reinstalling the sign.

'America is a free country, and we appreciate their ability to sue the government for a decision they might disagree with  a privilege not afforded to citizens in communist countries,' he said in a statement Monday.

'An avowed communist who benefitted from a state funeral in Moscow's Red Square should not be celebrated in New Hampshire,' he added.

Flynn (pictured) was born August 7, 1890, to parents who lived on Montgomery Street in Concord, New Hampshire

Flynn, left, became the leader of the Communist Party USA in 1961. She is pictured with fellow Communist Party members Marion Bachrach, Claudia Jones and Betty Gannett in the back of a police van after they were convicted of conspiring to advocate for the overthrow of the government

Flynn was born August 7, 1890, to parents who lived on Montgomery Street in Concord. The marker that was installed on the street and noted she joined the Industrial Workers of the World  a labor union  at the age of 17 and earned her nickname 'The Rebel Girl' because she delivered 'fiery speeches.'

The $2,120 sign, which is now being held in storage, also acknowledges she was a founding member of the American Civil Liberties Union and joined the Communist Party USA in 1936.

Four years later, she was expelled from the ACLU for her membership in the Communist Party (though the group later reversed its decision after she died).

During World War II, Flynn became known for traveling around the country in a campaign for equal economic opportunity, equal pay for women and the establishment of day care centers for working mothers as she rallied support in the fight against fascism.

But in 1953, Flynn was convicted under the Alien Registration Act on charges she had conspired to advocate the forcible overthrow of the US government  which she denied.

She served two years in federal prison, after which she continued to be an active member of the Communist Party USA  even becoming its president in 1961.

Flynn died while visiting the USSR in 1964 and received a state funeral in Moscow's Red Square.

Gov. Chris Sununu has said the 'anti-American sign' will not be put back on his watch. The governor is pictured in February

Still, Lara Vapnek, a history professor at St. John's University, described Flynn as a leftist who knew her ideas were controversial, but saw her work as an expression of support for American ideals.

'She saw herself as a patriot, honestly,' Vapnek told the Boston Globe.

Even if state officials do see her as an enemy of the country, Alpert argued, the historical markers program is designed to acknowledge people, places, events, organizations or innovations that had a significant impact on history.

'There is no doubt that Elizabeth Gurley Flynn was a significant historical figure,' he said.

His and Sargent's lawsuit comes after they tried to prevent state officials from taking down the sign.

They had previously written a letter to Commissioner Stewart, urging her to safeguard the marker against calls from Republican lawmakers.

Sununu, meanwhile, has said his administration does not plan to review other existing markers to assess whether they should also be removed.

'This was a clearly controversial marker from the day it went up,' he said in May. 'It was a very unique situation.'

The governor, who was once considered a potential Republican presidential candidate, has previously told FOX News he believes woke culture is 'taking us to a place where we don't want to be as Americans.'

But he has also warned that he disagrees with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' actions going after corporations he disagrees with.
A serving prisoner has been accused of organising firearms to be dumped and their location leaked to the police in a dodgy trade for a reduced sentence.

Irish national Thomas Kavanagh, 55, is said to have orchestrated the drop while awaiting trial at the Old Bailey, and allegedly attempted to use weapons' location as a bartering chip to bargain with the National Crime Agency.

The drop allegedly included modified guns and bullets, and was planned while he was remanded in custody awaiting another trial.

His alleged co-conspirator, Shaun Alexander Kent, 38, stands accused of aiding encrypted online chat EncroChat from his cell to organise the firearms drop, the usernames 'Marco Scafu' and 'Firm Cleaner.'

Both appeared via videolink from jail.

Kavanagh and Kent are charged with conspiring to possess a firearm without a certificate, conspiring to possess ammunition for a firearm without a certificate.

Both are also accused of conspiring to possess prohibited ammunition, noted as 'dum dum bullets' by Magistrate Michael Snow, design to expand on impact.

They are also accused of conspiring to possess a prohibited weapon that Mr Snow noted had been adapted to allow continuous shots to be fired with one press on the trigger.

Thomas Kavanagh, 55, is accused of orchestrating a drop while awaiting trial at the Old Bailey, and allegedly attempted to use weapons' location to bargain with the National Crime Agency for a reduced sentence

Kavanagh has been charged with conspiring to possess a firearm without a certificate, conspiring to possess ammunition for a firearm without a certificate. He is currently awaiting trial at the Old Bailey

The duo are further charged with conspiring to pervert the course of justice, referring to the alleged to reduce Kavanagh's sentence.

Westminster Magistrates' Court was told that between January 9 and June 3, 2021, while awaiting trial at the Central Criminal Court they conspired together with other persons unknown to do a series of acts namely to possess the firearms and seek to hide them in order to receive a reduced sentence.

Kavanagh's lawyer, Rosa Bennathan, attempted to have a reporting restriction passed banning mention of the conspiring to pervert the course of justice charge.

The request, initially made under Section 11 of the Contempt of Court Act, was later rescinded after Magistrate Michael Snow warned it was unusual to block a charge being read into the public record.

Two further charges are that he was in possession of a firearm and ammunition without a certificate.

Kent appeared on video link and spoke only to confirm that he could hear the proceedings. Kavanagh did not speak.

They are next due to appear at at the Old Bailey on September 5.

Kent is expected to plead not guilty, arguing that the EncroChat names have not been proven to be attributed to him.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville said Monday he did not think Ukraine could ever win the war against Russia.

'At the end of the day, it's a junior high team playing a college team,' the Alabama Republican told Fox News' Laura Ingraham Monday night.

'They can't win. We can throw all the money we want to, but unless we send NATO and our troops over, which we're not going to do, if I have got anything to do with it, then there's no chance.'

It's why Tuberville said he hasn't supported a single dollar going to the eastern European nation.

'I haven't voted for a dime to send Ukraine,' Tuberville told Ingraham. 'I'm for Ukraine. Russia should have never done this. I was in Ukraine three months with President [Volodymyr] Zelensky before this started. They were already fighting to that point.'

Sen. Tommy Tuberville said Monday he did not think Ukraine could ever win the war against Russia

The senator's comments come as a funding battle is brewing between Congress and President Biden as the White House prepares to request billions more to send to Ukraine.

It also comes as Tuberville has remained stalwart in preventing Pentagon promotions from moving forward over the Department of Defense's policy that assists service members financially if they need to leave the state to obtain an abortion.

So far the senator has stood in the way of some 300 promotions that need Senate confirmation.

The White House is expected to formally ask Congress for potentially more than $10 billion in supplemental military and humanitarian aid fo the country amid Ukraine's lackluster counter-offensive and Russia's continued bombings of the nation.

Ukrainian emergency workers clear rubble from an empty building that once housed a headquarters of the Security Services of Ukraine (SBU), after it was struck overnight by a Russian missile in Dnipro, eastern Ukraine, on July 29, 202

n this photo taken from video released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, a Russian howitzer fires toward Ukrainian positions at an undisclosed location

A final number has not been finalized and moving additional funding will be an uphill battle in the divided Congress. The U.S. has already provided more than $60 billion for the war.

Last month some 70 House Republicans voted to strip Ukraine funding from the annual Defense spending bill - the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has said he has no plans to take up supplemental defense spending that breach the $886 billion defense cap agreed to in the debt limit deal he negotiated with Biden.

Tuberville's comments came in response to a CNN poll that found 55 percent of Americans do not think Congress should authorize more money for Ukraine. A whopping 8 in 10 Americans said they worry the war will continue without a resolution for a long time.

More than 62,000 have lost their lives since the war's inception in February 2021 and some 17 million have been displaced from their homes.
The number of officers employed by the Los Angeles Police Department has fallen to a three-decade low, as the academy continues to struggle with recruitment.

Currently, there are 8,995 officers employed by the department, down from a record high of 9,895 officers in 2009, when then-Police Chief Bill Bratton claimed there were still too few officers relative to the size and population of the city.

At the time, the city's crime rate was the lowest it had been since 1956 and the number of homicides had fallen to a near four-decade low.

At the end of July, there were a mere 8,967 officers employed by the department. That number has since risen by 28 following the graduation of the last police academy class.

It will be several months, however, before that academy class has completed field training.

LA Police Chief Michel Moore said last month that the department is struggling to recruit new members to the academy, as their numbers fall below 9,000 for the first time since the 90s

The number of LAPD officers peaked in 2009 with 9,895, and is currently at a near-30 year low

A new academy class began last week with just 29 enrollees - less than half of the number the department was hoping to recruit.

'Our effort is to hire 60 every four weeks,' Chief Michel Moore told the Board of Police Commissioners last month.

In 2009, when the department had some 1,000 more officers than it does now, the academy was graduating classes of 65 recruits.

And for every new recruit to the force, there were between 12 and 15 applicants who didn't make the cut.

At the time, Bratton bragged that the high rejection rate led to officers and force of superior quality.

'The quality of officers has always been high in this organization. One of the reasons this city has been able to police with so few police officers over the years and continues to ... is the quality of the personnel,' he said.

Mayor Karen Bass says she would like to see the department employing 9,500 officers. The department's current budget was for roughly 9,300 officers - a number the LAPD has been struggling to hit.

This week, officers are voting on whether or not to accept a four-year employment contract that ensures 20 percent raises for most officers and a higher starting salary for recruits.

The union that represents most city officers - the Los Angeles Police Protective League - said the hope is that the significant pay increase will help attract more candidates.

In the 1990s, during the tenure of Mayor Richard Riordan, the police force grew significant in part due to the funds the federal government was providing to local law enforcement agencies to expand their departments.

In October, LA's nearly-zero cash bail policy will go into effect, despite the LAPD's shortage of officers on the street

This week, officers will decide whether or not to accept a 20 percent salary increase over the next four years. The union hopes the higher pay will entice more potential officers to join the force

The Academy is having significant trouble filling its classes. This month, just 29 officers will graduate, the department was hoping for 60

In July, Los Angeles opted to resurrect its near-zero cash bail policy, which stipulates that those who cannot afford cash bail are having their constitutional rights violated.

On October 1, virtually all defendants accused of misdemeanors or nonviolent felonies in LA County will be allowed to walk away after being cited.

The move led hip-hop rapper 50 Cent to remark on social media that Los Angeles is 'finished'.

At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Los Angeles County removed cash bail to aid overcrowding issues. But critics said crime had spiked as a result.

In the downtown area there was a 25 percent increase in violent crime - such as rape and murder - in 2022 compared to 2019, according to USA Today.

In the Rancho Park neighborhood there was a 114 percent increase in violent crime between 2019 and 2022, according to the data.

Presiding Judge Samantha Jessner said: 'A persons ability to pay a large sum of money should not be the determining factor in deciding whether that person, who is presumed innocent, stays in jail before trial or is released.'

She says she hopes the policy will encourage defendants to return to court without the need to place them in jail.
Police have erected a cordon at the home of a witness who gave evidence in defence of the gunman who killed Liverpool youngster Olivia Pratt-Korbel after a savage knife attack.

Forensic officers have been spotted on Snowberry Road in Liverpool, reported to be the home of trial witness Nicholas McHale, 32, following the 'terrifying and violent' assault on Monday night.

Merseyside Police have confirmed that a door was 'forced open' at the address shortly after 9pm, and a man was left with 'lacerations' after being struck 'several times'.

He was taken to hospital for treatment and has since been discharged.

Officers are now conducting door-to-door enquiries in the area in order to identify the offender; so far, no arrests have been made.

Olivia Pratt-Korbel, nine, was shot dead by gunman Thomas Cashman as he pursued a different target. He was convicted of murder earlier this year and jailed for life, serving a minimum of 42 years

Detective Inspector Michael Fletcher of Merseyside Police said: 'This was a terrifying and violent attack on a man who has suffered significant cuts and wounds to his head.

'The investigation is in its very early stages and I would like to reassure residents that our officers remain at the scene to investigate the attack.

'At this point we believe that the offender was armed with a sharp object and we are determined to find this and whoever was responsible for this frightening assault.

'The incident happened late last night when people would have been inside their homes therefore I would urge residents to think about what they may have seen, or heard, as it could be vital.

'Similarly, if you have any doorbell footage that could have captured the incident please check your systems and contact police if you have any evidence.

'Information from our community is vital if we are to stop people carrying any dangerous weapons in Merseyside that causes such violence and fear on our streets.'

Evil Thomas Cashman (pictured) called Nicholas McHale as a defence witness during the trial. McHale claimed to have been speaking to Cashman at the time of the shooting and reportedly told the court: 'I believe and know Thomas Cashman is innocent'

The Liverpool Echo reports that Mr McHale was called as a defence witness by lawyers acting for Thomas Cashman, who had denied shooting nine-year-old Olivia dead on August 22 last year.

Cashman, 34, was ultimately convicted of murdering Olivia, attempting to murder his intended target Joseph Nee and wounding Olivia's mum, Cheryl Korbel, with intent, and jailed for life with a minimum of 42 years.

During the trial, Cashman had sought to claim he was at the home of a man called Craig Byrne, who lived directly opposite Mr McHale, at the time of the shooting.

Mr McHale said in court that he had seen and spoken to the gunman at the time in question.

He is reported to have told the court: 'I believe and know Thomas Cashman is innocent.'

Anyone with information is asked to contact Merseyside Police or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting reference 23000724100.
A mom who has refused to cooperate with cops into the disappearance of her five year-old daughter has been jailed for identity theft.

Jordan Bowers, the mother of missing five-year-old Oakley Carlson, was jailed for 43 months Monday in Montesano, Washington.

The sentencing comes as authorities struggle to locate the little girl, last seen in February 2021.

Her disappearance wasn't reported until her house burned down in December 2021, with Bowers allegedly telling her other daughter that Oakley had been 'eaten by wolves.'

Jordan Bowers has been sentenced to forty-three months in prison after pleading guilty to four counts of identity theft

Oakley Carlson was reported missing in December 2021, but has not been seen since ten months prior to that

Bowers was sentenced to forty-three months in prison after pleading guilty to four counts of identity theft. She had originally pleaded not guilty but reached a plea bargain on July 24.

According to authorities, Bowers created four credit card accounts after stealing the personal information of friends and family members, NBC King5 reported.

She then used the credit cards to rack up more than $40,000 in charges at Walmart, on eBay -- even withdrawing cash to gamble at a casino.

Three of the fraudulent credit cards were discovered clogging a toilet when authorities conducted a search of her hotel room while looking for her missing daughter.

While Bowers had reached a plea deal for 36 months, Judge Katherine Svoboda used her discretion to give the top of sentencing guidelines, handing down forty-three months followed by twelve months of community custody.

Jordan Bowers had reached a plea bargain for 36 months in prison. But the judge in her case used judicial discretion to increase the sentence to 43 months on charges unrelated to her daughter's disappearance

The mom did not agree to pay restitution in the amount of $26,850.58 to the victims, and a future hearing will be held to address that matter, Fox13 reported.

'I just don't buy this that Ms. Bowers maintains that she was helping these people. You can't have it both ways, that she was so drug addicted and so were the victims that their credibility is questionable but yet, she's the person that they would turn to for help. It just doesn't make any sense,' Judge Svoboda said.

'She targeted vulnerable victims. She took advantage. She really has not in any meaningful way taken responsibility, so it merits a sentence at the top of the standard range. It's all the court can do. 43 months followed by community custody of 12 months.'

Bowers had been arrested on the identity theft charges just minutes after she was released from prison for endangering the welfare of her other children with meth -- a crime for which her husband, and Oakley's father Andrew Carlson was also convicted.

The mother and father continue to be the prime suspects in the disappearance of the little girl, no trace of whom has ever been found.

Oakley was barely five years old when she went missing. She has not been seen since February 2021, and detectives say that they have not been cooperative, Komo News reported.

Oakley had previously been placed in foster care with a couple who hoped to adopt her, but was returned to her biological parents in 2019.

The child's foster parents remain deeply concerned about the child's welfare. Jamie Jo Hiles, Oakley's foster mother, spoke to Fox13, saying, 'I don't feel good about knowing that Andrew is free.'

While Bowers will serve out her sentence for identity theft, Andrew has been released following his child endangerment sentence. 'He's out there in Wenatchee living a good life, and Jordan is going to serve some time and then she's free,' Hiles said. 'Where does that put Oakley? Where does that put her siblings?'

Oakley's sister described disturbing incidents involving the missing girl, who was allegedly locked in a cell under the stairs. She claims that Oakley was beaten after using her mother's torch to start a house fire.

The missing girl's sister later told investigators that her mother had instructed her not to talk about Oakley, and that she had 'gone out into the woods and had been eaten by wolves.'

When asked about Oakley's whereabouts, her parents told investigators that they had 'lost track' of Oakley in late November 2021. However, they did not file a police report until December 2021, which was 10 months after anyone had reported seeing the child alive.
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The USAF has detected dangerous levels of carcinogens at multiple missile launch sites in Montana, following an investigation prompted by hundreds of cancer cases.

A large cluster appear to be connected to underground launch control centers at Malmstrom Air Force Base, where hazardous, carcinogenic materials were found.

The discovery came after an extensive sampling of active intercontinental ballistic missile bases after a non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases were diagnosed among troops.

The Air Force said it is taking immediate actions to clean up and mitigate the hazardous materials, while maintaining normal operations.

General Thomas Bussiere, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, has directed the cleanup process to protect personnel. He promised transparency throughout the process.

'Air Force Global Strike Command is taking immediate measures to clean up and mitigate polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at two locations following the release of initial results as part of the Missile Community Cancer Study,' the statement said on Monday.

The USAF has detected dangerous levels of carcinogens at multiple missile launch sites in Montana, following an investigation prompted by hundreds of cancer cases

Jeff Fawcett Sr. (pictured) served with 564th missile squadron at Malmstrom, from 1988 to 1992

Jeff Fawcett Sr. (pictured) passed away in 2016 of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, both types of blood cancers at age 56

Dean Shockley was a young man also enlisted at Malmstrom serving in the base's 341st maintenance group, where he worked on the missile silos from 1987 to 1989 at the same time as Fawcett Sr

In 2022, Shockley was diagnosed with an inoperable glioblastoma, a brain tumor at 56-years-old, according to Krem2 News

Air Force Capt. Jason Jenness was a senior missile launch officer in the 1990s with a missile squadron at Malmstrom, who died from non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2001 at the age of 31

Initially, a May report found 'no factors identified that would be considered immediate concerns for acute cancer risks.' But on Monday, the Air Force Global Strike Command announced the new finding.

The new discovery is the 'first from an extensive sampling of active US intercontinental ballistic missile bases to address specific cancer concerns raised by missile community members,' Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) said.

The hazardous substances, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), were found in higher levels than recommended by the EPA.

The Air Force discovery of PCBs was part of an ongoing, larger investigation conducted by a bioenvironmental team that visited the sites from June 22 to June 29.

During the site visits, the team collected water, soil, air and surface samples from each of the missile launch facilities.

The team of bio-environmental experts reported the discovery of hazardous materials at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana on August 4 following the series of tests.

Of the 300 surface swipe samples at Malmstron, 21 detected PCBs. And of those, two were above levels set by the EPA requiring mitigation, according to the report.

No PCBs were detected in any of the 30 air samples. PCBs are oily or waxy substances the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified as a likely carcinogen.

In response to the findings, General Bussiere has directed 'immediate measures to begin the cleanup process for the affected facilities and mitigate exposure by our airmen and Guardians to potentially hazardous conditions', the Associated Press (AP) reported.

A large cluster appear to be connected to underground launch control centers at Malmstrom Air Force Base, where hazardous, carcinogenic materials were found. Malmstrom Air Force Base in central Montana is home to a vast field of 150 Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile silos.

At least 268 soldiers who served at nuclear missile sites have self-reported being diagnosed with cancer, blood diseases or other illnesses over the past several decades, Jeff Fawcett Sr. (pictured)

'Based on the initial results from the survey team, which discovered PCB levels above the cleanup threshold designated by law in two of our facilities, I directed Twentieth Air Force to take immediate measures to begin the cleanup process for the affected facilities and mitigate exposure by our Airmen and Guardians to potentially hazardous conditions,' Bussiere said in a statement.

'These measures will stay in place until I am satisfied that we are providing our missile community with a safe and clean work environment,' he added.

The study was prompted following a military briefing obtained by the Associated Press that showed at least nine current or former missile staff at Malmstrom who were diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a rare blood cancer.

The officers, known as missileers, were assigned as many as 25 years ago to Malmstrom Air Force Base, home to a vast field of 150 Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile silos.

The officers, known as missilers, were assigned as many as 25 years ago to Malmstrom Air Force Base, home to a vast field of 150 Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile silos

They were diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, according to a briefing in January by US Space Force Lt. Col. Daniel Sebeck.

Missileers ride caged elevators deep underground into a small operations bunker encased in a thick wall of concrete and steel. They remain there, sometimes for days, ready to turn the launch keys if ordered to by the president.

'There are indications of a possible association between cancer and missile combat crew service at Malmstrom AFB,' Sebeck said in slides presented to his Space Force unit at the time.

The 'disproportionate number of missileers presenting with cancer, specifically lymphoma' was concerning, he said.

In the slides, Sebeck said the issue was important to the Space Force because as many as 455 former missileers are now serving as Space Force officers, including at least four of the nine identified in the slides.

In a statement, Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said 'senior leaders are aware of the concerns raised about the possible association of cancer related to missile combat crew members at Malmstrom AFB.'

The Montana cancer scare joins a series of damaging military health scandals, as rising numbers of veterans report toxic exposures in everything from contaminated water in California to burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which according to the American Cancer Society affects an estimated 19 out of every 100,000 people in the US annually, is a blood cancer that uses the body's infection-fighting lymph system to spread.

According to the Torchlight Initiative, a specific organization examining cancers and disease within the intercontinental ballistic missile community, at least 268 soldiers who served at nuclear missile sites have self-reported being diagnosed with cancer, blood diseases or other illnesses over the past several decades.

At least 217 of those reported cases are cancers and 33 of them are specifically, non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

An inert Minuteman III missile is seen in a training launch tube at Minot Air Force, ND. Missileers ride caged elevators deep underground into a small operations bunker encased in a thick wall of concrete and steel, where they can remain sometimes for days

Missileers have repeatedly reported health concerns over the years regarding ventilation, water quality and potential toxins they cannot avoid as they often spend 24 to 48 hours on duty underground with outdated infrastructure.

Air Force Capt. Jason Jenness was a senior missile launch officer in the 1990s with a missile squadron at Malmstrom, who died from non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2001 at the age of 31.

Jeff Fawcett Sr. also served with 564th missile squadron at Malmstrom, from 1988 to 1992, and ending up passing away in 2016 of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, both types of blood cancers at age 56.

Dean Shockley was a young man also enlisted at Malmstrom serving in the base's 341st maintenance group, where he worked on the missile silos from 1987 to 1989 at the same time as Fawcett Sr.

In 2022, Shockley was diagnosed with an inoperable glioblastoma, a brain tumor at 56-years-old, according to Krem2 News.

In 2013, a report by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed a link between tainted tap water at a US Marine Corps base in North Carolina and increased risk of serious birth defects and childhood cancers.

The study released by the CDC's Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry surveyed the parents of 12,598 children born at Camp Lejeune between 1968 and 1985, the year drinking-water wells contaminated with chemicals from a leaky fuel depot and a dry cleaner were closed.

In the early 1980s it was discovered that two of the base's water supplies were contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE), a metal degreaser, and perchloroetheylene (PCE), a dry cleaning agent.
An easyJet plane was surrounded by police at Liverpool's John Lennon Airport after it made an emergency landing, according to reports.

EasyJet flight EZY3360 was flying from Palma de Mallorca and first had trouble while over North Wales at midday today, when it began squawking 7700 for an emergency.

The plane landed at its intended destination of Liverpool John Lennon Airport but was surrounded by police and firefighters.

The airline said the emergency landing happened owing to a 'technical issue'.

A spokesperson for airline said: 'EasyJet can confirm that flight EZY3360 from Palma to Liverpool on August 8 was met by emergency services on arrival at Liverpool as a precaution only, due to a technical issue.

EasyJet flight EZY3360 came from Palma de Mallorca and landed at its intended destination but was surrounded by police and firefighters (File photo of an easyJet plane at Liverpool John Lennon Airport)

A spokesperson for the airport (pictured) said: 'As per normal procedures in such situations, our emergency services were in attendance on standby, however the flight landed safely and it has been business as usual here' (File photo)

'The captain performed a routine landing in line with procedures and passengers disembarked normally.

'The safety of its passengers and crew is easyJet's highest priority and easyJet operates its fleet of aircraft in strict compliance with all manufacturers' guidelines.'

A spokesperson for the airport said: 'As per normal procedures in such situations, our emergency services were in attendance on standby, however the flight landed safely and it has been business as usual here.'
The witness who filmed a viral video of 7-Eleven workers beating a would-be tobacco thief has praised the store staff for their 'courage' in defending the crime-plagued business.

Louis Benton spoke in defense of the workers after police in Stockton, California, said they are under investigation for 'assaulting' the suspect.

'That store has been probably robbed dozens of times, [they're] dealing with a lot of issues and problems,' Benton, a local business owner, said.

'[Thieves] gather there at night, and they walk in and take things. That's not the first time I seen something in that store,' he added.

'I believe [the workers] were frustrated, emotions was high, but I believe they did was courageous and did the right thing. Instead of taking a gun or taking something that could really harm him.'

Witness Louis Benton, who filmed the viral footage, said: 'I believe [the workers] were frustrated, emotions was high, but I believe they did was courageous and did the right thing'

Benton said his nearby boutique store, StayWinning, has been open for a month and was hit by burglars in its first week. 'Someone broke the window, went in and took items. So we are affected, too, from what's been going on,' he told Fox.

He said he witnesses similar thefts 'all the time' and added: 'Some people come in with a backpack, start putting things into a backpack, walk out.

'And then the security can't touch them, you know, by law. So only thing you do is call the authorities. But authorities are so busy with other things that's more important. So they choose what's important and what's not important.'

In Benton's video, the workers are seen smacking the suspect with a stick after he entered the store with a garbage can and began filling it with tobacco products from behind the counter.

The attempted theft on July 29 was allegedly the third time in two days the man had targeted the store. On a previous occasion, he tried to intimidate staff by claiming he had a handgun.

Despite widespread praise for the workers for defending the business, Stockton Police Department launched an assault probe into them. A robbery probe is also underway.

'It has been brought to our attention that a video of two 7-Eleven employees assaulting a robbery suspect has been circulating. We are aware of the incident and the investigation is ongoing,' a statement on Saturday said.

A pair of 7-Eleven workers in California who took action to stop a brazen burglar now face a police investigation for assault

The suspect, who'd wrapped a blue t-shirt around his head, screamed in pain as store staff pounded him repeatedly with a stick

The witness who recorded the fracas has since praised the 'courageous' response of the workers. Police said the incident followed several thefts at the store by the same suspect.

On July 28 at 3.41am, staff at the 7-Eleven reported a man entered the store, 'went behind the counter, and threatened to shoot the victim if he intervened,' police said.

'The suspect then took several packs of cigarettes and other items and placed them in a large garbage bag before fleeing.'

The following day, at 12.27am, the same man returned and 'demanded money while simulating having a handgun'.

'The employee did not comply; therefore, the suspect grabbed several food items and placed them in a garbage bag before fleeing,' police said.

The thief then returned several hours later with the trashcan and tried to fill it with cigarettes, before the staff were filmed beating him up.

He left the shop and later sought medical help for his injuries.

'On July 29, 2023, at 3:05 a.m, officers responded to the area of Center St/Market St, to meet with Stockton Fire Dept who was with a male [the suspect] requesting medical aid and complained of pain to his leg and shoulder,' police said.

'The male did not know if he had been assaulted. The male was then transported to an area hospital to be treated for a complaint of pain.

'At the time this was reported, Officers could not confirm if the male was a victim of an assault, or a suspect related to the series of robberies at the 7-Eleven.'

Police added: 'On Thursday August 3, 2023, thanks to the diligence of a witness recording the July 29 robbery and assault, the Stockton Police Department was able to combine the investigations of the suspected robberies and suspected assault.

'The case has been assigned to our Investigations Bureau for follow up interviews and evidence review. Once the investigations are complete the findings will be forwarded to the San Joaquin County District Attorney for review.'

The suspect had targeted the store several times in the days before the dramatic incident

The second 7-Eleven staff member arrived and hit the thief with a large wooden stick

Benton also told abc10: 'I was shocked, so that's why I really didn't say anything in the video.

'I really just posted it on my (Instagram) stories and then from there someone took it off my stories and it just went viral.

'It came to a point where it got a little excessive so I was kind of like, 'Yo, you know, we got to chill, we got to relax.

'Those two workers who protected their store, they did a courageous act. I believe that if I wasn't there that guy would probably be more hurt than he was.

'The police station is right across the street. Why is there no presence over there?

'The community needs to take care of each other and we need to make sure that we are morally doing the right things. We've got to change.'

The suspect, who wrapped a blue sheet across his face, screamed in agony as the store workers beat him. Stockton Police Department's HQ is directly across the street from the store.
A US Army veteran has been struck and killed by a mortar shell explosion while fighting Russian forces in Ukraine.

Jeffrey Judd Jones, 48, died on July 31 in Bakhmut, an eastern part of Ukraine, mostly occupied by Russians last week, his father Howard Jones announced in a moving Facebook post.

The heartbroken dad, of Bowdoinham in Maine, had received a text from his son earlier that day saying they weren't able to rest as other soldiers were too 'afraid'.

'We were supposed to have a couple days rest, but another company is to afraid to go so we are heading back out tonight in their place. Will be another 3-5 days,' the text stated, according to Howard.

Jeffrey Judd Jones (pictured middle) died in Ukraine after being killed by a mortar shell explosion. He is pictured fourth from right in black boots

The US Army veteran has been struck from Maine died on July 31 in Bakhmut

His father Howard Jones (pictured) announced his son's death in a moving Facebook post

On August 4, Howard later took a call from the US Embassy in Kiev who advised Jeff was believed to have died. Within 24 hours, Howard was sent conformation via an email.

'On behalf of the United States government and the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, please accept our deepest condolences for the death of Jeffrey Judd Jones,' it stated.

'Jeffrey was killed in action by a mortar shell explosion on July 31 fighting in Ukraine.

'While we have official notification from Ukraines Ministry of Defense, we will provide more details of what happened if and when they become available.'

Howard said his son died 'supporting the cause he deeply believed in'.

'I suspect that Jeff's squad not only volunteered for a mission other squads were too afraid to do, but Jeff's was in the lead of the squad taking the most risk.

'Others have survived as a result of Jeff's sacrifice. God bless Jeff. May he rest in peace. We will all miss him.'

Jeff travelled to Europe in support of Ukraine's fight against Russia last year.

An image shared by Howard Jones of Jeff's graduation day

Jeff's body will be returned to Bangor this month

In March 2022, Howard launched a fundraiser for his son's trip to Poland and Ukraine to provide humanitarian services to refugees as a fire team member protecting medics and the wounded from enemy fire during rescue.

'Jeff is proud of the Ukrainian soldiers he's trained and fear for their safety on the front. Some have already been lost but he doesn't know which ones,' he wrote.

'I'm proud of him and concerned for his safety. Please pray for his safety and the end of this war.'

At that stage, Jeff was only considering joining the Foreign Legion for Territorial Defence.

The funding page was calling for support for items like food, supplies, rent, transport and cellphone credit.

Jeff spent 10 weeks abroad doing what he could to help local communities and served in a Medic Group praised for recusing about 50 troops.

He then travelled back to Perry in Georgia before revisiting Ukraine again this year in May.

Jeff regularly shared updates to his Facebook page of pictures in varying uniforms and different weapons.

'Ukraine will take back its country and its freedom and I will be there to help,' he said in one update.

He also called for support, acknowledging some people were worried about him.

'I know that many of my friends, and most of my family do not want me to go back,' he said.

'I understand their concerns even if they do not understand my NEED to return.'

A series of pictures of soldiers with animals feature across Jeff's social media in an album titled 'the furry Ukrainians'.

Howard praised his son's efforts and said he will be remembered for his sacrifice.

'Jeff was very protective of the Foreign Fighters in his group, particularly the younger, inexperienced fighters,' Howard said.

'Jeffs family and friends are proud of Jeffs contributions and sacrifice for the Ukrainian people.'

His body will be returned to Bangor this month.
Fifteen Republican state finance chiefs are probing whether directors of BlackRock mutual funds are sufficiently independent of the giant asset manager, questioning their investment moves on China, coal, and climate change.

The group has raised concerns in a letter about the governance of mutual funds as part of a broader push against the growing clout of environmental, social and governance (ESG) values in business.

Their letter, dated August 2 and obtained by DailyMail.com this week, was addressed to ten members of BlackRock's Fixed-Income Board of Directors, which oversees the group's closed-end mutual funds.

BlackRock says board members act in the best interests of all fund shareholders.

'We are concerned about whether your board is sufficiently independent to supervise BlackRock's performance as an investment adviser,' says the letter.

Board members 'act in full accordance with their fiduciary obligations and in the best interests of all fund shareholders,' a spokesman told DailyMail.com

BlackRock CEO and chairman Larry Fink says ESG investing has been 'misused by the far left and the far right'

'Most of you are either employed by BlackRock or hold additional positions as board members of publicly traded companies in which BlackRock owns a sizeable share.'

The GOP letter says 'these personal entanglements' could 'easily impair a director's ability to exercise independent judgment when reviewing possible misconduct by BlackRock.'

Derek Kreifels, CEO of the State Financial Officers Foundation, warns of 'political agenda'

The financial officers raise concerns about investment choices 'in response to outside pressure from large institutional clients' that help fight climate change but don't make investors richer.

Fund managers pulled out of coal, which causes more carbon pollution than other energy sources, meaning investors missed out on an 'enormous rise in share prices within the coal industry,' the letter says.

Meanwhile, BlackRock has 'poured billions of dollars into China' as the first foreign firm allowed to operate there, even though this created 'potential financial risks to its clients,' the letter said.

This also hurt the 'national security interests of the US and other democracies,' says the letter.

Critics have raised similar issues in the past about whether well-paid mutual fund directors are positioned to speak up.

The GOP finance chiefs apply that concern in the context of stances BlackRock has taken on ESG issues, such as a request for portfolio companies to account for climate change.

They ask for responses to guide their states on whether to invest in BlackRock funds.

The document follows up on last month's letter from 15 Republican state attorneys general to the same directors, asking about financial relationships that could undermine their independence.

BlackRock's chief spokesman Chris Van Es confirmed the letter had been sent to the directors.

Board members 'act in full accordance with their fiduciary obligations and in the best interests of all fund shareholders,' he told DailyMail.com.

Derek Kreifels, CEO of the State Financial Officers Foundation, said the letter highlights 'troubling conflicts' between BlackRock and its 'supposedly independent' board.

'There is no way of knowing if BlackRock is acting in the best interest of the shareholders or pushing a political agenda,' Kreifels said in a statement.

Will Hild, director of Consumers' Research, a non-profit, said the 'ESG scam' was out of control.

'The fact that BlackRock isn't even following their own rules shows you how corrupt these ESG extremists really are,' said Hild.

ESG refers to a set of standards for a firm's behavior that guide investors on where to put their money  for example, by funding wind farms to combat climate change, while pulling out of damage-causing oil and tobacco giants.

'ESG is a grift and a fad,' says Will Hild, director of Consumers' Research, a policy nonprofit

Does investing in green technology help investors by mitigating the long-term risks of global warming? The debate rages

The strategy gets especially controversial when it guides funding to firms promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) schemes, which irk conservatives, who say they help women and minorities by sidelining white men.

This has spawned a fractious debate about whether efforts to make society fairer and cut carbon emissions benefit investors by mitigating the risks of climate chaos and social disorder.

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, an early trailblazer of ESG investing, in June announced that he would no longer use the term, saying it has been 'misused by the far left and the far right.'

House Republicans held a series of hearings last month, in which they called for quashing the Securities and Exchange Commission's efforts to enforce more transparent corporate-disclosure rules of ESG-related factors.

As well as taking on the SEC, GOP politicians seek stricter oversight of proxy-advisory firms and also favor limiting  or even excluding  ESG-focused investments from some pension funds.
Hundreds of Shia Muslims chanted and beat their chests as they marched through the streets of Blackburn in an annual event to mark Ashura.

Ashura is an Islamic holy day to commemorate the death of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of Muhammad, who was beheaded at the Battle of Karbala in AD680.

Many of the Shia Muslims in Blackburn were barefoot as they held banners and followed a coffin draped with black cloth.

They paused to beat their chest in unison as they chanted mournful melodies to show their grief.

The Battle of Karbala took place in modern-day central Iraq, around 60 miles southwest of Baghdad.

Hundreds of Shia Muslims chanted and beat their chests (pictured) as they marched through the streets of Blackburn in an annual event to mark Ashura

Ashura is an Islamic holy day to commemorate the death of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of Muhammad, who was beheaded at the Battle of Karbala in AD680

Many of the Shia Muslims in Blackburn were barefoot as they held banners and followed a coffin draped with black cloth

It became a key event in Shia theology and Husayn's death and those of his children turned into a symbol of sacrifice and the struggle against wrongdoing and injustice.

Ashura occurs on the tenth day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar.

The procession in Blackburn was organised by volunteers, who spoke to passersby about the meaning and history behind the event.

Many of the men's chests were noticeably red after they beat them during the procession.

They paused to beat their chest in unison as they chanted mournful melodies to show their grief

The procession in Blackburn was organised by volunteers, who spoke to passersby about the meaning and history behind the event

People living in the houses on the streets watched from the windows as the procession took place

Shia Muslims of all ages took part in the historic annual event marking the death of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of Muhammad, who was beheaded at the Battle of Karbala in AD680

Two horses later joined the march, which barely disrupted traffic and no police officers were reportedly needed.

Around the world, Shia Muslims also mark the day with plays about the battle as well as sermons and prayers.

Others set out on pilgrimages to Husayn's shrine in Karbala.

Around the world, Shia Muslims also mark the day with plays about the battle as well as sermons and prayers

Other Shia Muslims set out on pilgrimages to Husayn's shrine in Karbala, in central Iraq

The men's chests were noticeably red after they beat them while on the procession in Blackburn

Ashura occurs on the tenth day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar

Many devout Shia Muslims in the Middle East often flagellate themselves with chains and swords, leaving the streets soaked in blood as part of the holy day.

The ritual bloodletting carried out by men and boys is said to wash away sins and act as a symbol of mourning for Hussein.

Across India, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Afghanistan and other countries with Shia populations, devotees see their pristine white robes turn red as blood pours from their heads after cutting themselves with ceremonial knives.
Two bikini-clad women who spat and bit bus passengers in Maryland at the weekend are being hunted by cops.

Photographs of the unidentified beachgoers were shared by Ocean City Police Department in an appeal for more information.

The duo allegedly assaulted at least four bus passengers on Saturday, and they were last seen that day at around 6pm on the 10 block of 131st street in the scenic seaside town.

Police images show the two scantily-clad suspects appearing aggressive on the bus as other passengers look shocked.

A brunette woman in a white bikini with colorful tattoos on her right arm is accused of spitting on four people.

Two bikini-clad women who spat and bit bus passengers in Maryland at the weekend are being hunted by cops. Ocean City Police Department released photograph of the scantily-dressed suspects in an appeal for members of the public to help identify them

A woman in a fluorescent green halter-neck bikini top with high-waisted black knickers beneath sheer black pants sunk her teeth into one victim, officers believe

A brunette woman in a white bikini with colorful tattoos on her right arm is accused of spitting on four people, police said as they try to track her down

Meanwhile, her friend in a fluorescent green halter-neck bikini top with high-waisted black knickers beneath sheer black pants sunk her teeth into one victim, police said.

The woman accused of spitting is being held back by another passenger in one image, as she appears to lunge at the person taking the photograph.

She holds her phone aloft at the passenger and gestures aggressively towards them, while wearing white-framed heart-shaped sunglasses.

The suspect appears to have lost her sunglasses amid the commotion in the next photograph, where she is being restrained by the same person as she fixes her gaze on another passenger.

Her friend, accused of biting, is shown holding a bottle, wearing blue-tinted aviator sunglasses and a rucksack with her phone tucked into her knickers while marching barefoot down the bus aisle.

She has her mouth slightly open and her eyebrows are raised as she appears to be engaging with someone outside the frame.

The biting woman has tattoos across her chest and right forearm, and both women are wearing their scraped back in ponytails.

Anyone who can identify the suspects is asked to contact Officer Wieber at JWieber@oceancitymd.gov, or by calling the Ocean City police at 410-723-6610.
A black musician is suing white nationalist group Patriot Front after he was attacked by masked members armed with shields in Boston last summer.

Charles M. Murrell III, 36, claims he suffered substantial injuries on July 2, 2022, when members of the group smashed him with riot shields as they pinned him against a light post before knocking him to the ground where they hit and kicked him.

Photos of the attack showed Murrell up against the light pole and members of the group pressing a riot shield into his head.

He alleges in the lawsuit, filed Tuesday in the US District Court in Massachusetts, his injuries have impacted his ability to play saxophone and he has 'lost the ability to feel safe.'

The suit accuses Patriot Front of conspiracy to violate Murrell's civil rights, civil assault and battery.

It seeks to pursue accountability for what Murrell has described as a 'violent white supremacist attack,' with his lawyers saying they want to expose the group to the same financial penalties imposed on the organizers of the 2017 Unite the Right rally.

Photos from the Patriot Front march in Boston, Massachusetts on July 2, 2022, show Charles M. Murrell III surrounded by masked members of the white supremacist group

They shoved him up against a light pole as they pressed a riot shield into his head

According to the lawsuit, Murrell  an educator and classically-trained musician  was walking from the Back Bay train station to Copley Square, where he planned to perform Bach on saxophone outside the Boston Public Library.

He did not know about the gathering in advance, the suit claims, which saw nearly 100 people marching through Boston's historic Freedom Trail.

They handed out flyers reading, 'The party system murdered the American Republic and replaced it with a fake democracy ruled by lobbyists, bankers and unelected bureaucrats. The true rulers of the State never receive any votes. Elections are now only mass illusions of popular sovereignty,' according to the Boston Herald.

When Murrell saw masked marchers walking toward him with riot shields and flags, he allegedly decided to reach for his phone to record the sight.

But before he could, Murrell heard one of the men say what he believes was the word 'tar,' and understood it to be a reference to his race.

'The masked and shield-wielding mob then yelled together "DO NOT BREAK OUR RANKS" and quickly surrounded Murrell,' the suit says.

The group's leader, Thomas R. Rousseau, of Grapevine, Texas, then allegedly yelled 'RIGHT SCREEN,' which the complaint described as an order for members to use their shields in a 'violent manner.'

The group then allegedly pressed Murrell up against a light post and knocked him to the ground, where they hit him until police arrived on the scene.

An ambulance transported Murrell to Tufts Medical Center, where he received stitches and treatment for lacerations to the head, hand and face.

Following the march, the demonstrators loaded their equipment into a U-Haul truck that was driven out of the city.

Eventually, Massachusetts State Police stopped the vehicle and issued a criminal citation to its driver, Colton M. Brown, 24, for allegedly attaching an unregistered Arizona license plate to the track.

Brown remains the only one to face prosecution for the demonstration. But his case was dismissed in April, after he paid $150 in court fees.

Police told the Boston Globe the attack on Murrell remains under investigation.

Nearly 100 Patriot Front members walked through Boston on July 2, 2022

The group is pictured standing in front of the Boston Public Library carrying flags, near where Murrell was attacked

Murrell's lawsuit names Thomas Rousseau, the founder and leader of Patriot Front, as a defendant. Rousseau is pictured here being held by police officers in Idaho one month before the march in Boston

The suit argues the attack was planned, pointing to videos posted online showing Patriot Front members marching with riot shields as they responded to different commands from Rousseau.

'For years, Patriot Front  an organization designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center  has publicly and privately advocated for the use of violence against those who disagree with its express goals of creating an entirely "white" United States,' the suit reads.

'And for years, under the leadership of Thomas Rousseau, Patriot Front has trained its members to commit acts of violence against its perceived opponents.'

What is the Patriot Front? Patriot Front is a white supremacist group founded by 23-year-old Dallas man Thomas Ryan Rousseau. The group maintains a white nationalist ideology, firm in its belief that since its white members' ancestors conquered America, the country should be left to them, and no one else. Patriot Front is a white supremacist group founded by 23-year-old Dallas man Thomas Ryan Rousseau The group, which sees black Americans, Jews and LGBTQ people as enemies, argues, argues that through processions and riots against these groups, it is preserving the ethnic and cultural origins of its members white, European ancestors. The Patriot Front spreads its message predominantly through the internet, via social media with materials such as banners, fliers, and posters. In 2020, the group shifted its materials' message from being more anti-Semitic and white supremacist to a form of 'patriotism' that justifies its bigotry, based in white supremacist, xenophobic, anti-Semitic, and fascist ideals. The group is responsible for the majority of white supremacist propaganda in the US, representing 80 percent of all propaganda incidents nationally in 2020. They currently participate in localized 'flash demonstrations' across the country. Advertisement

It also claims that, in the aftermath of the attack, 'Mr. Murrell has been plagued by severe anxiety, mental anguish, invasive thoughts and emotional distress, including, but not limited to persistent concern for his physical safety and loss of sleep.'

Murrell is now unable to complete musical composition contracts and 'has generally lost the will to write or perform music.'

He has also allegedly suffered nightmares and flashbacks to the assault, with the suit noting even the music composition book he had on him at the time carries a 'gruesome reminder' with 'residue of his own blood splattered on the cover.'

The suit claims Patriot Front used footage of the assault 'in multiple videos published online to promote their group and advocate for similar in-person activity in the future.'

Among the claims in the suit, Murrell's lawyers claim Patriot Front violated his rights 'to be free of the badges and incidents of slavery pursuant to the Thirteenth Amendment, as well as Mr. Murrell's rights to travel protected by the Fourteenth Amendment.'

It names the organization, Rousseau and the masked men who attacked him  but who have not been identified  as defendants.

Murrell will seek their identities during litigation, and amend the complaint 'should one or more responsible individuals be identified.'

He and his lawyers are seeking unspecified damages for the attack, modeled after similar civil litigation against the organizers of the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

In that case, a federal jury ordered a dozen organizers in 2021 to pay nearly $25million in damages.

Most of the jury award was slashed in January, under a Virginia law capping punitive damages at $350,000, but the defendants still remain on the hook for about $7.5million in legal fees and penalties.

Richard Spencer, who has gained notoriety headlining neo-Nazi rallies, has called it 'financially crippling.'

Licha M. Nyiendo, chief legal officer at Human Rights First  a nonprofit that is advising Murrell's lawyers  said that suit provides precedence for using litigation to 'bankrupt and decimate these neo-Nazi groups.'

Amy Spitalnick, who served as executive director of Integrity First for America, also said such civil litigation can target the 'finances and operations of these extremist groups.

'When it comes to what happened in Boston a year ago, it's so crucial that we make clear there will be consequences for this sort of violent hate,' she told the Globe.

Meanwhile, Murrell just says he wants to see accountability.

'White supremacist organizations like this that are planning and organizing around violence should be taken seriously and need to be held accountable,' he said.

'I don't feel like black and brown young people should be walking around cities with hate organizations being able to attack them for no reason.'
Former Vice President Mike Pence's ex-National Security Advisor Keith Kellogg said Monday that the 2024 hopeful is 'unworthy' of the presidency and threw his support behind Donald Trump.

Kellogg issued a blistering statement on Trump's Truth Social network, explaining that he was disappointed in some of Pence's recent actions.

Pence has become more critical of Trump since the ex-president was indicted on federal charges related to his attempt to overturn the 2020 election and his role in the January 6 Capitol riot.

Kellogg said that Trump 'stands apart as a figure of unwavering determination, a deep vision for America, and the courage to take a stand where others wilt.'

Of Pence he said, 'It is not the decisive leadership we have seen from President Trump.'

Former Vice President Mike Pence's ex-National Security Advisor Keith Kellogg said Monday that the 2024 hopeful is 'unworthy' of the presidency and threw his support behind Donald Trump

On Truth Social Monday, Keith Kellogg explained why he was supporting Donald Trump, despite having served as former Vice President Mike Pence's national security adviser

'Where President Trump is bold and unafraid to challenge the status quo, Pence has often chosen the passive route, avoiding confrontation,' Kellogg said.

'This lack of assertiveness, combined with an overreliance on failed political consultants like Marc Short, has demonstrated a laisse-faire leadership style unworthy of the Presidency,' he added.

Kellogg argued that Trump put America first, while 'Pence's actions have often seemed more focused on political maneuvering and maintaining his image.'

The former Pence aide then said that he believed 'bold and decisive leadership' was needed to push the country forward, adding 'something we have seen in President Trump but not from the former Vice President.'

On his own Truth page, Trump applauded Kellogg's message.

'What a Great Honor it is for me to receive a powerful Endorsement from very highly respected General Keith Kellogg, a true WARRIOR who was in the Trump Administration from the beginning,' the former president wrote.

'Keith worked directly with V.P. Pence, so Endorsing me could not have been an easy decision to make, but for true warriors, not tough!' Trump added.

Former Vice President Mike Pence (left) has been more critical of Donald Trump (right) on the heels of him being indicted for crimes related to his attempt to overturn the 2020 election and role in the January 6 Capitol riot

Former President Donald Trump applauded Kellogg's post in a Truth post of his own, thanking the ex-Pence aide for a 'powerful Endorsement'

He then plugged Kellogg's book.

Additionally on Monday, the former vice president said that he had met the polling and donor requirements necessary to participate in the first Republican debate, which is scheduled for August 23 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Trump is expected to skip the first GOP debate, having joked that he'll use it to pick a running mate.

'Let them debate so I can see who I MIGHT consider for Vice President!' he posted to Truth Social last week.

Currently Trump holds 53.7 percent nationally of Republican primary voters, according to the Real Clear Politics polling average.

Pence is sitting at 5.1 percent support.
A new mother has slammed TUI for 'discrimination' after she claims she was told not to breastfeed her six-week-old baby during take-off as she might 'make other people feel uncomfortable'.

Chelsea Williams, 28, had boarded a flight with airline TUI headed for a holiday in La Marina, Alicante, Spain, with her family on July 26, when the incident happened.

The mum-of-two decided to breastfeed her newborn during take-off and landing to alleviate any potential ear pain the baby might feel. But, she claims she was later approached by a member of the cabin crew who told her she 'wasn't permitted' to feed during take-off and landing.

She says she stopped feeding her baby to avoid 'making a scene' but was left feeling anxious about the family's return trip home as a result.

Her husband Thomas, 28, decided to ask the airline if his wife was allowed to feed their newborn during flight take off via the company's app the day before they were due to return home.

But they were shocked at the response, which suggested Mrs Williams avoid breastfeeding on the plane as it may 'make other people feel uncomfortable', despite there being no official restrictions in place.

Chelsea Williams, 28, had boarded a flight with airline TUI headed for a holiday in La Marina, Alicante, Spain, with her family on July 26, when the incident happened

Mrs Williams claims she was approached by a member of the cabin crew who told her she 'wasn't permitted' to feed during take-off and landing

Mrs Williams, from near Conwy in North Wales, said: 'We were trying to make the [travel] experience as non-stressful as we could. Before going, I did some research and it said to feed for take-off and landing.

'They came to do the belt checks, and saw that the baby was buckled in and feeding and I was told it wasn't permitted to feed during take-off and landing.

'I didn't know what to do, because obviously I'd done research and was planning on feeding my baby - she needed to be settled.

'I didn't want to cause a scene by not cooperating, so I stopped feeding. I didn't feed while we were taking off, and the cries were getting worse. She was obviously in pain.

'I was embarrassed, because the baby was crying and all eyes were on me. I waited until the seatbelt lights went off, and when it did, I started to feed the baby.

'The night before we returned home, I was getting anxious about travelling again and feeding my baby. My husband told me to message the TUI customer service on the app. We went on the app, and he asked if it was okay for me to breastfeed during taking or landing.

'Their response was absolutely shocking. I didn't expect that response at all; I expected a policy maybe, or a safety regulation. That's why I didn't feed [during the take-off] because I thought maybe I'd missed something.

'I didn't reply, I was honestly gobsmacked.

The mum-of-two decided to breastfeed her newborn during take-off and landing to alleviate any potential ear pain the baby might feel

'I went into the travel day home really anxious that someone was going to say something to me again or not let me feed my baby. I didn't ask [if I was allowed to feed her] on the flight home at all. I just fed my baby, and thankfully nobody said anything about this flight.'

She added she has been put off from flying with TUI until reforms are made.

'I had been on aeroplanes before with my toddler [when she was a baby], and I've been able to breastfeed with no issue, but we haven't flown as a family with TUI before', she said.

'This experience has made me less likely to fly with TUI in future unless they make changes. Change some policies, train some more people, and obviously improve their attitude towards breastfeeding mums and breastfed babies.'

She shared a screenshot of her conversation with TUI customer support online where she slammed the airline for 'complete discrimination' against breastfeeding mothers.

The full response from TUI reads: 'Thank you for contacting TUI.

'There are no official restrictions, however we would not recommend it because it could make other people feel uncomfortable. Let us know if you have any further questions.'

Mrs Williams said TUI has since apologised via Facebook messenger, and have said they are looking into the matter with a 'further investigation'.

A spokesperson for TUI said: 'We are really sorry for the distress caused to Ms Williams and her infant. As a family friendly travel company, we support breastfeeding on our flights at any time.

'We are currently conducting an urgent internal investigation and will be making sure that all colleagues are retrained on our breastfeeding friendly policy'.
by Ashok K. Mehta

India is being hailed as Sri Lankas saviour following its economic meltdown last year by providing a lifeline of USD 4 billion. It turned out to be a great opportunity to restore trust with the Sinhalese after decades of civil war. The Sri Lankan Army won a magnificent victory against the Tamil Tigers in 2009, significantly aided by India, ironically by the latter not intervening and providing valuable intelligence about LTTE replenishment and logistic ships at sea. Not even grudgingly did Sri Lanka formally acknowledge the intelligence provided, so peeved was Colombo with New Delhi for propping up Prabhakaran and his deadly LTTE. The level of distrust built up over three decades of ethnic conflict and Indias involvement in it, including the 30-month intervention by IPKF, was staggering but necessary for national security. The defeat of the LTTE on 18 May 2009 was a turning point in Sri Lankan history. Sometime later, Sri Lankas top leaders said, For our security, we look to India, a relative; for economic assistance, we turn to China, a friend. Just the opposite happened last year.





Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (right) welcomes Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe in New Delhi, India, Friday, July 21, 2023. [AP Photo/Manish Swarup]





Fast forward to 2022. The green shoots of economic collapse were visible when President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was elected on a security plank following the Easter bombing. His brother, President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was defeated in elections in 2015 and was later Prime Minister, had spent beyond the countrys means on development after winning the war. He thought that development could replace the devolution of power (13A) for the Tamils in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, though the extravagance of projects was mainly in his constituency in Sinhala South. The Chinese (Exim Bank of China) were his buddies in the white elephant ventures that provided no returns like the Hambantota International Port and Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport. These are examples of debt trap diplomacy and predatory lending by China, Sri Lankas largest creditor.





Sri Lankas economic crisis started in 2019 following the decline in tourism due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The compounding factors were tax cuts, money creation, a policy to shift to organic farming, a fall in foreign exchange reserves, and a decline in remittances. Murphys Law came into play. Sri Lanka faced its first-ever sovereign default in April 2022. Economic hardships led to peoples uprising, Aragalaya, the ouster of the Rajapaksas, and the appointment of Ranil Wickremesinghe, the sole UNP Proportional Representation nominee in Parliament, as President with the support of 135 of Rajapaksas SLPP in a House of 225.





Sri Lankas total debt is USD 83 billion, 128 per cent of GDP. Local debt is USD 42 billion, which is more than the external debt of USD 41.5 billion. The economy has declined by 7 per cent and will reduce a further 3 per cent in 2023. Foreign Minister Ali Sabry said China will not join the debt restructuring plan but will support it bilaterally. In the 17-creditor official committee, China attended as an observer. The IMF package of USD 2.9 billion is expected to grow to USD 4 billion with additional support from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. The World Bank has approved USD 700 million as budgetary support.





Indias economic lifeline was welcomed by ministers and, more importantly, Sri Lankans. The disbursed USD 4.5 billion includes LOCs on fuel for USD 500 million and food and medicine worth USD 1 billion. India was the first country to reassure the IMF in debt restructuring. It used its G20 presidency, QUAD partners, and the Paris Club to lobby for Sri Lankas case. It has provided 12 years for loan repayment and extended the LOC of USD 1 billion for one more year. International and Sri Lankan economists, including Ahilan Kadrigamar, have called the IMF relief package with tough conditionalities a prescription worse than the malady. In September 2022, a UN report said, The economic crisis is a result of officials impunity for human rights abuses and economic crimes. According to WA Wijeyawardena, the former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the economic crisis was brewing up in 2015 after warnings by the Institute of Policy Studies, Sri Lanka, but the coalition government could not act to try and counter it. People are calling for action against those who brought about the economic collapse and distress.





Wickeremesinghes visit to New Delhi one year after he replaced President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa was designed to stimulate Sri Lankas economic recovery, though it will take a long time to repair. The joint document was titled Promoting Connectivity: Catalyzing Prosperity. Besides the land bridge, connectivity is set to increase in all dimensions of movement. In addition, talks have begun on the modalities of laying a petroleum pipeline to Trincomalee, the new energy hub for the region. A new framework, the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm Agreement, is based on the existing agreement of January 2022. The strategic importance of Trincomalee Harbour, the fourth-largest in the world, was recognized alongside the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord in the exchange of letters between President J R Jayewardene and Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The understanding was that no Sri Lankan port would be given out to any foreign power for military use. The Hambantota Port, on which China has a 99-year lease, was first offered to India in 2007, but it was not taken up.





India hopes that its economic assistance package and the work-in-progress CEPA will remove some of the distrust built over time, and that it has been able to push back China, which was not directly involved in the economic rescue mission.





Ashok K. Mehta is a radio and television commentator, and a columnist on defence and security issues. He is a former Major General of Indian Army. After joining the Indian Army in 1957, he was commissioned in the 5th Gorkha Rifles infantry regiment in the same year. He had fought in all major wars India went into, except the Sino-Indian War of 1962. And he was also on a peacekeeping mission in Zaire in the year 1962 and in the Indian Peace Keeping Force, Sri Lanka (1988-90) and it was his last assignment in the Indian Army. He is also a writer of several books and a founder-member of the Defense Planning Staff in the Ministry of Defence, India.
Since the fall of Afghanistan, the U.S. has forked over funds to groups under the brutal Taliban regime to the tune of $2.35 billion.

That's according to a new report from the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), released to the public on Tuesday.

Another $1.7 billion 'remained available for possible disbursement' at the time of the report, dated July 30.

The report was made public as the U.S. approaches the two-year anniversary of the frenzied withdrawal.

The total amount of money appropriated for 'reconstruction and related activities' since 2002 dwarfs the figure from fiscal year 2022 and 2023. Over the past two decades, $147.06 billion in US funding has been appropriated to the war-torn Middle Eastern nation.

A Taliban fighter, foreground, watches over laborers building a road in a remote region of Afghanistan

Taliban's security patrol in Kabul, Afghanistan, 30 July 2023

The funds that have been appropriated since the Taliban takeover in 2021 flow through non-governmental organizations and other groups working on reconstruction projects. But with the Taliban wielding control over nearly every sector of the economy, it's more than likely a portion of those coffers have ended up in their hands.

In April SIGAR head John Sopko told the House Foreign Affairs Committee he 'cannot assure this committee or the American taxpayer we are not currently funding the Taliban.'

Sopko also said the Biden administration had stonewalled his probe and refused to hand over documents to track the flow of cash under the Taliban.

The report cited another analysis from the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) that found the Taliban views aid, particularly that from the United Nations (UN), as a 'revenue stream.'

The Taliban are 'pushing for ever-increasing degrees of credit and control over the delivery of aid from the UN,' the report found.

'According to multiple UN officials across different agencies, the Taliban have effectively infiltrated and influenced most UN-managed assistance programming,' it said.

People walk through a market with old Taliban flags flown above in a town in a remote region of Afghanistan

The Taliban is increasingly intolerant of criticism and dissent, crushing it through violence and intimidation. The group is operating under the assumption 'the threat of force and raw power can compel any desirable outcome,' which the report says is exemplified by the group's approach to foreign NGOs in Afghanistan.

The Taliban will 'accept foreign funded and provided goods and services as long as they are delivered in a suitably low-profile, apolitical fashion, and with immediate tangible benefit.'

USAID told the watchdog 'Taliban interference in humanitarian assistance is the main barrier to beneficiaries accessing aid in 2023.'

After briefly ceasing operations in April when the Taliban banned women from working there, the UN reopened its Afghanistan operation in May.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres cited some 28 million Afghans in need of assistance, including 6 million facing famine, as reasoning for remaining open.

'To achieve our objectives, we cannot disengage the UN will continue to use its convening power to advance a forward leaning approach, which puts the Afghan people first, and in a manner that is complementary to existing regional platforms and initiatives,' he told press at the time.

UN experts say 20 years of progress for women and girls were undone with the takeover of the Taliban in 2021. Women have now largely been banned from attending high school and driving or working outside the home.

Sopko noted in April that in addition to the $2.35 billion, another $3.5 billion is slated to come in to Afghanistan through an international fund.

'I don't trust the Taliban as far as you can throw them,' Sopko told the committee. 'The information we're getting -- again, not from the State Department who isn't talking to us or USAID ... is that the Taliban are already diverting funds.'

'I haven't seen a starving Taliban fighter on TV, they seem to be fat dumb and happy. I see starving Afghan children on TV.'

'If the purpose is to help the Afghan people we have to have effective oversight,' Sopko said, blaming an 'over-reliance' on international agencies he said have been 'horrible' about providing his agency with information.
A babysitter who spent 17 years in jail after being convicted of killing a toddler discovered she had become a grandmother within minutes of clearing her name.

Rosa Jimenez, 40, from Austin, Texas, was sentenced to 99 years in jail in 2005 after 21-month-old Bryan Gutierrez choked to death on paper towels while in her care.

Prosecutors said it would have been physically impossible for the toddler choke himself, but that claim was dismissed in an appeal at Travis County Trial Court on Monday after a series of experts challenged the original 'false medical testimony'.

Sitting with her attorneys she revealed her daughter Brenda, who was just one year old when she went to jail, had just given birth.

'I know a chapter of my life is over today, and I have my whole life ahead of me,' she said.

Rosa Jimenez tells counsel she has become a grandmother minutes after being cleared of murder

Jimenez with her daughter Brenda, 20, who was just a year old when her mother was jailed

Jimenez was seven months pregnant with her son Emmanuel, and gave birth to him in jail after she was charged with the murder in 2003.

Prosecutors argued that Jimenez must have forced paper towels into the child's mouth, but were unable to offer a motive.

She was released from jail in 2021 after State District Judge Karen Sage agreed with a series of experts who challenged the original evidence.

The release came just days before her daughter's wedding which she was able to attend.

'She looked like a little princess,' Jimenez told campaigners at the Innocence Project who worked for her release.

'I was so excited to be there for the biggest day of her life.'

She also got the chance to bond with her by then 17-year-old son.

'That gave me hope that one day were going to be okay,' she said.

'Were going to get to know each other now.'

Prosecutors insisted that the child could not have killed himself, claiming Jimenez stuffed paper towels down his throat

Jimenez after her release in 2021 with her son Emmanuel who was born while she was in jail

Granddaughter Alexa was delivered as Jimenez discovered her murder conviction was being thrown out

In May, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ruled that Jimenez had been the victim of 'false testimony' during her original trial and Judge Sage ordered all charges dismissed on Monday.

'Years, decades, of your life were taken away, needlessly,' the judge told her.

'When we fail to seek justice and we fail to find the truth, we focus a lot on the instances on what it does to the accused,' she told the hearing.

'And you have suffered, but when we fail to make sure justice is done, it's not just the accused that suffers it's our whole system that suffers, including victims of tragedies and criminal acts.

'In this case the family of a child who has died very tragically has been told for almost two decades that he passed in a way we now know is physically impossible given the science we know.'

But the former babysitter contracted stage four kidney disease during her years in jail and now urgently requires a donor.

'Now that I am fully free and about to be a grandmother, I only want to be healthy so I can be part of my grandchild's life and begin to rebuild my own life,' she said.

Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza admitted the cases against Jimenez should never have gone to trial.

It is clear that false medical testimony was used to obtain her conviction, he said.

Without that testimony, Ms Jimenez would not have been convicted.

Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza admitted Jimenez should never have faced trial

State District Judge Karen Sage (top left) apologized to Jimenez for the 'years, decades' taken needlessly from her

Appeals attorney Vanesa Potkin was among campaigners who fought to clear Jimenez's name.

'For the past 20 years, she has fought for this day, her freedom, and to be reunited with her children,' she said.

'Her wrongful conviction was not grounded in medical science, but faulty medical assumptions that turned a tragedy into a crime  with her own attorney doing virtually nothing to defend her.'
Joe Biden is sitting for an interview with The Weather Channel on Tuesday  sending critics into a tizzy with jokes about Democratic claims that the President only discussed the 'weather' during calls with his son's business associates.

Hunter Biden's former business partner Devon Archer told Congress during a closed-door testimony earlier this month that the elder Biden, 80, would often join in business calls with his son. He insisted, however, that it was mostly casual conversation about things like the weather.

Now President Biden has agreed to the rare sit-down interview, conducted in Arizona to discuss extreme weather events across the country and how to address climate change. The interview will air in full on Wednesday.

Of the outlet choice for his first time facing a reporter since mid-July, White House Communications Director Ben LaBolt tweeted that Biden is just 'meeting viewers where they are,' because some voters don't tune into political news.

President Joe Biden is sitting down with The Weather Channel while visiting the Grand Canyon on Tuesday to discuss climate change and extreme weather events. The rare sit-down interview with air on Wednesday

Republicans jumped on the outlet choice by referencing Democratic claims that President Joe Biden only discussed the 'weather' when on speakerphone calls with his son Hunter Biden and his associates

Democrats hopped on Archer's testimony as a reasonable explanation for why Biden was on the calls with his son's foreign business associates.

Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) told MSNBC that it's not a crime to 'exchange pleasantries.'

'Is there problematic questions about Hunter Biden? And I said something that shouldn't be controversial, which is that if you committed a crime, you should be held accountable,' Himes told MSNBC after Archer's testimony. 'But have they pointed to anything to suggest that Joe Biden engaged in corrupt behavior? No.'

He added: 'And on the contrary, Hunter Biden's business partner said, "Yeah, he was on some phone calls. Talking about the weather. Exchanging pleasantries."'

Additionally, Rep. Daniel Goldman (D-N.Y.) had the same odd 'weather' response when asked by reporters at the Capitol why he wasn't concerned with the conversations Joe Biden had with Hunter while on speakerphone with foreign business associates.

'It was clear that it was part of the daily conversations that Hunter had with his father,' Himes said of the calls. 'And it was  sounded like  most of the time, now President Biden didn't even know who the people he was at dinner.

'He was just asked to say, "hello." He would, you know, talk about the  he described it several times, they asked over and over and over,' he added. 'He described what the weather was, "what's going on on your end?" The witness was very, very consistent that none of those conversations ever had to do with any business dealings or transactions.

'They were purely what he called casual conversations.'

Of the upcoming interview on The Weather Channel, Chad Gilmartin, a spokesman for House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, tweeted: 'Well this makes sense since Joe Biden called Hunter's business partners over 20 times to discuss the weather'

Democratic Reps. Jim Himes (left) and Daniel Goldman (right) both told press that Hunter Biden's former business associate Devon Archer said that President Joe Biden only discussed weather during speakerphone calls with foreign businesspeople

Devon Archer appeared for closed-door testimony with the House Oversight Committee last month and told the panel that there were at least 20 instances when Hunter put his father on speakerphone during meetings with foreign associates

Biden's White House maintains that he was not involved in his son's shady foreign business deals

'Will he put Hunter Biden and his entire board of business partners on speakerphone as well to "talk about the weather?" Seems fitting,' conservative internet personality Danny De Urbina tweeted.

The interview is conducted by Stephanie Abrams and will air starting on Wednesday morning.

'Today at the Grand Canyon - the President will tape an interview on his plan to combat climate change, addressing the threat posed by extreme weather and to promote resilience,' Communications Director LaBolt wrote.

'Meeting viewers where they are - including those who don't tune into political news on a regular basis.'
The owner of a 98-pound German Shepherd named Syko is planning to 'put the dog to sleep' after it viciously attacked several smaller pups outside her Upper East Side bookstore.

Lynda Hudson, 58, claims she had been 'harassed' after Syko attacked at least four dogs outside the La Librairie des Enfants in recent months, including one toy poodle called Baby, who had to be euthanized after its spine was broken during the attack.

Hudson has told the neighbors that she is planning to have Syko euthanized in the next few days, after one vet allegedly refused to put down the 'healthy' dog.

In an email provided to DailyMail.com, Hudson apologized to locals for her dog's behavior scaring people in the neighborhood - and said she had tried everything to tame its wild behavior.

'Syko' - second from left and pictured with his parents and siblings - mauled several smaller pups outside the quaint French bookstore La Librairie des Enfants on the Upper East Side

Lynda Hudson, 58, opened La Librairie des Enfants in 2016. She owns the vicious German Shepherd dog that has been mauling other animals

'I thought you should know the whole story and maybe you should have come and see me! I would have explained to you [sic],' she wrote in an email to neighborhood resident and dog owner Fred Gross.

'It's very unfortunate that this poor little dog was put to sleep and I'm so sick!'

She explained that she'd put the aggressive dog through 'different programs (training, behaviorist, medication..) It just doesn't work.'

The email added: 'I've been here for almost 9 years and my adult dogs never attacked but this white German shepherd is something.

'I called my vet yesterday to ask him to put the dog to sleep and my vet refused to do it.'

The vet reportedly referred her to a clinic in Brewster, where Hudson said she had an appointment Monday.

After being asked if she would return to the shop, Hudson said she planned to close the bookstore until September - and would be travelling to France next week.

She added: 'My dogs won't be in the shop anymore but the hatred, insults name calling has to stop.'

Laurie Davis, a local tech engineer and the owner of a small white Cavachon named Chloe, is one of the unlucky owners whose furry friend was attacked by Syko.

Davis is now taking Hudson to small claims court for the $6,000 it cost to treat Chloe's severe injury, claiming she promised to pay for everything.

She had been walking with a friend and their Muppet, when Syko lunged at them - and two other dogs allegedly bit the Maltipoo's face.

'My friend and I were coming back from Central Park with our dogs ... next thing I know, this white dog has Chloe in its mouth,' she told Dailymail.com about the May 7 incident.

Chloe and her owner Laurie Davis following Syko's brutal attack on the small Cavachon in early May. Davis is taking Hudson to small claims court over the $6,000 vet bill that came as the result of lifesaving measures for Chloe

Syko (center) the German Shepherd has attacked at least four dogs in the last several months, and his owner now says he will be put down

The aftermath of Chloe's injury from being attacked by Syko. She required emergency surgery and was in critical care for nearly three days

Davis recounted 'screaming at the top of her lungs' while trying to save her dog, who received assistance in the effort from several of the people who live in her building and on the block.

One man from her building, she said, 'got a wet towel and put pressure on her wound which is probably what saved her life.'

Chloe survived but required emergency surgery and was in critical care for nearly three days, according to Davis.

Hudson later attempted to speak to Davis, saying the attack had been her husband's fault, because 'he's a drunk.'

She also said she would pay for Chloe's veterinary bills, though Davis said she has yet to receive a check.

Another neighbor told Dailymail.com that she has had several unpleasant encounters with Hudson in the wake of Syko's attacks.

She said that when she began crossing the street with her dog to avoid walking next to the bookshop, Hudson screamed at her, arguing that the attacks weren't her fault.

The woman added that Hudson seemed convinced that because the attacks had happened on the sidewalk in front of her store, as opposed to inside the store, they should not impact her business.

'It's just like lie after lie after lie' with Hudson, said the woman.

Gross confirmed that Hudson made empty promises about the way she would handle her brood of dogs.

He added: 'Last time she said that the dogs would be muzzled and there would only be one at a time in the store and that wasn't true.

'It's crazy. I only emailed her to try to protect the neighborhood. It's just gotten so out of hand that this has had to happen. She's told us that she's closing the store for the summer and going to France but who knows.'

According to an email sent on Tuesday, Hudson said she is closing the bookstore until 'at least' September.

Hudson had been told to 'leave the neighborhood' by angry locals, after she blamed the owner of the toy poodle for Syko's attack.

Personal trainer Akiba Tripp was walking her seven-pound Toy Poodle Baby on Friday near the bookstore when Syko sank his teeth into the pup and broke her spine

Personal trainer Akiba Tripp was walking her seven-pound toy poodle Baby near the bookstore when the owner suddenly opened the door

Psychologist Julia Schafer, another Upper East Side local, said that she was walking out of her building with her small collie mix Tarsila on May 3 when disaster struck

DailyMail.com revealed that Hudson had posted several cryptic messages on the bookstore's social media pages, before writing that the owner was 'very quick to put her to sleep! Just wondering!'.

Personal trainer Akiba Tripp was walking her seven-pound toy poodle Baby last Friday near the bookstore when the owner suddenly opened the door.

Hudson walked out with Syko, who then grabbed the poodle 'within his mouth,' sank his teeth into Baby, and broke her spine.

People from neighboring bars ran over and tried to drag the dogs apart on the blood-splattered sidewalk. But Baby couldn't move because she was paralyzed from the attack.

The poodle was euthanized that evening. But not before Hudson offered to pay for medical treatment and allegedly asked to adopt and rehabilitate the small dog.

Baby is not the first casualty of the aggressive pooch. Skyo attacked Tarsila, a small collie mix, on May 3.

Psychologist Julia Schafer, said she was walking out of her building when her pup was grabbed and mauled by Syko. Hudson agreed to pay the $850 vet bill.
Police and the FBI closed in after two American agents were killed when they executed a search warrant at a member's home in Florida

Officials announced on Tuesday that 79 men in the US were arrested and 43 have been convicted in connection with the global dark web network

A global pedophile ring has been busted by Australian police two years after a member of the network murdered two FBI agents in a shootout in 2021

Australian police have shut down an international pedophile ring two years after a member of the network murdered two FBI agents during a shootout in Florida.

Officials announced on Tuesday that 79 men in the US were arrested and 43 have been convicted in connection with the global dark web group that shared sick abuse videos.

Police in Australia have also charged a further 19 men there with 138 offenses and 13 children have been 'removed from harm', including some who were 'directly abused'.

The international investigation was launched after FBI Special Agents Daniel Alfin, 36, and Laura Schwartzenberger, 43, were killed in February 2021 as they executed a search warrant on the home of suspected pedophile David Lee Huber, 55.

Huber, a divorced father-of-two, shot the agents with a rifle then turned the gun on himself.

The international investigation was launched after FBI Special Agents Daniel Alfin, 36, and Laura Schwartzenberger, 43, were killed in February 2021 as they executed a search warrant on the home of suspected pedophile David Lee Huber, 55

Huber, a divorced father-of-two, shot the agents with a rifle then turned the gun on himself. He was a member of a pedophile network which the FBI traced back to Australia

The pedophile network was traced back to Australia and officials there worked closely with the FBI to shut it down. Most of the 19 Australian suspects - men aged between 32 and 81 - 'were employed in occupations that required a high degree of ICT knowledge', police said.

'Members used software to anonymously share files, chat on message boards and access websites within the network,' the Australian Federal Police said.

'Network members were able to search for and distribute images and videos of child abuse material and allegedly used encryption and other methods to avoid law enforcement detection.'

FBI Legal Attache Nitiana Mann said: 'We are proud of our longstanding relationship with the Australian Federal Police resulting in 19 Australian men facing criminal prosecution as a result of our collaborative investigation.

'The complexity and anonymity of these platforms means that no agency or country can fight these threats alone.

One of 19 Australian men charged in connection with a global pedophile ring is pictured

Two of the phones seized by the AFP in connection with the pedophile ring, which so far has seen two men sentenced

Computer equipment was seized by police with the AFP saying most of the Australian men charged had hi-tech jobs in communications or IT

'As we continue to build bridges through collaboration and teamwork, we can ensure the good guys win and the bad guys lose.'

Australian Detective Superintendent Linda Howlett said: 'If you choose to offend against children, it is only a matter of time before police come knocking on your door.

'Together with our law enforcement counterparts, we will continue to use every power available to us to put those targeting children behind bars.'

Police behind the huge investigation, dubbed Operation Bakis, found videos of one suspect abusing a toddler. He was raided exactly one year after the FBI agents were murdered.

Police said his hard drives included 16,000 files involving 800 child victims. He also had a 'pedophile handbook' with instructions on how to deal with police if caught.
Rep. Mike Waltz added: 'The heartbreak and anger over the lack of answers from the Biden Administration is palpable'

'We can never get these men and women back, and that blood is on President Biden's hands,' Sen. Joni Ernst told DailyMail.com

Top Republican lawmakers are slamming the Biden administration for failing to provide closure for the Gold Star family members of the U.S. troops killed during the botched Afghanistan withdrawal - who are still seeking accountability nearly two years later.

The families of the 13 U.S. service members killed in Kabul, Afghanistan, shared their heartbreaking stories during a public forum in Escondido, California, organized by Rep. Darrell Issa. They said they have been lied to by the Biden administration, which has not taken accountability for the deaths of their children.

'We can never get these men and women back, and that blood is on President Biden's hands,' Sen. Joni Ernst told DailyMail.com.

'These Gold Star families' voices will continue to be heard as we honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice and demand accountability for their deaths,' continued Ernst, R-Iowa, the first female combat veteran elected to the Senate.

'I've met with some of these families and heard their stories. The heartbreak and anger over the lack of answers from the Biden Administration is palpable,' Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., told DailyMail.com Tuesday.

Waltz is a former Green Beret who served in Afghanistan during multiple combat tours.

A suicide bomber detonated his deadly payload outside of the Abbey Gate at Kabul's international airport on August 26, 2021, killing 13 American service members and at least 170 Afghans amid the chaos of the exit.

Christy Shamblin, the mother-in-law of Marine Sgt. Nicole Gee, said that the Biden administration's labeling of the withdrawal as a 'success' is like a 'knife in the heart'

'To this day, not one Administration official has been fired or resigned for the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal despite the damning after-action report and accounts from those who were the ground during the Abbey Gate attack,' continued Waltz.

'These families deserve answers and Republicans in Congress are committed to delivering for them,' he added.

Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Calif., also pledged to pressure the administration to provide accountability.

'Gold Star families of the 13 American heroes killed during President Bidens disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal deserve answers and accountability,' the lawmaker tweeted.

'Last month I met with the mother of Cpl. Humberto Sanchez, a Marine from Indiana who lost his life at the Abbey Gate explosion,' Rep. Jim Banks told DailyMail.com.

'How Joe Biden and Lloyd Austin could look those Gold Star families in the eyes and still say they have no regrets about their mishandling of the deadly Afghanistan withdrawal I will never understand.'

Kelly Barnett, Gold Star mother of Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin Hoover who was killed in the bombing called Biden and his military leadership 'incompetent, cowards, evil.'

'I want justice. I want accountability,' she added during her tearful testimony on Monday.

Not a single Biden administration official has taken the blame for the horrors that unfolded during the withdrawal.

'Our nation paid a price for President Biden's decision to haphazardly pull troops from Afghanistan,' continued Ernst.

'Not only did he create the most reckless foreign policy disaster in my lifetime, his retreat cost lives, destroyed families, and sent a message of weakness to our adversaries.'

Darin Hoover, the father of Sgt. Hoover, called out President Biden and his military leaders including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, and demanded they resign 'immediately.'

'Do what our son did. Be a grown a** man and admit your mistakes, so that this never ever ever ever happens again.

'You all need to resign immediately,' he added.

'Our sons and daughters have more integrity in their little toes than every one of them combined. You owe it to our families here today.'

Christy Shamblin, the mother-in-law of Marine Sgt. Nicole Gee, said that the Biden administration's labeling of the withdrawal as a 'success' is like a 'knife in the heart.'

'We want to make sure that while we can't bring our children back, the next ones will be treated with more respect. The respect that they earned by dying for our country.'

'When our leaders - including Secretary of Defense and our commander in chief - called this evacuation a sucess, as if there should be celebration, it is like a knife in the heart for our families and for the people who came back. And for every service member who served over this 20-year war.

'These deaths were preventable, my daughter could be with us today,' she said.

It was 'many decisions' that led to her death, Shamblin added.

'Calling it a success is an ultimate disrespect for the very people who deserve every ounce of respect we can give them.'

Cheryl Rex, mother of Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola said during her testimony: 'When [Biden] approached me, his words to me were, 'My wife, Jill and I, know how you feel. We lost our son as well and brought him home in a flag draped coffin.''

'My heart started beating faster and I started shaking, knowing that their son died from cancer and they were able to be by his side. How could someone be so heartless to say he knew how I felt,' she continued.

The seven survivors of the blast at Abbey Gate have since committed suicide and were never honored by the Biden administration, added Coral Briseno - mother of Cpl. Humberto Sanchez.

'The testimony we heard today from Gold Star Families is just the beginning,' Issa said after the hearing.

'To the families who came so far to share their stories: thank you. As a witness to your testimony, I will retell your stories and continue to work until every question you have is answered.'

The congressman added that many of the families have yet to receive personal belongings from their deceased loved ones.

Last month, during a congressional hearing into what went wrong during the withdrawal, the family members were asked whether the Biden administration had taken ownership of the botched exit.

They shook their heads in unison during a powerful moment.

The Americans killed in the blast were: (left to right, starting with top row) Cpl. Daegan W. Page - Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo - Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover - Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza - Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum - Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui - Cpl. Hunter Lopez - Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz - Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss - Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez - Navy Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak - Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola - Sgt. Nicole L. Gee

The gold star families of the 13 U.S. service members killed in Kabul, Afghanistan, participated in a public forum Tuesday in Escondido, California, organized by Rep. Darrell Issa

Gold Star families of the 13 American heroes killed during President Bidens disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal deserve answers and accountability.

pic.twitter.com/sBVVt1HuZU  Ken Calvert (@KenCalvert) August 7, 2023

'To the families sitting behind you, that are still clearly morning, by nodding your head, yes or no,' Rep. Brian Mast asked: 'Do you feel like this administration has taken ownership and accountability?'

They shook their heads.

'I didn't think so,' he said.

Biden has previously been criticized for appearing to look at his watch just seconds after a salute honoring the return of the 13 US service members killed in Kabul.

He had made the unannounced trip to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware ss the caskets of the 13 service members killed in the attack were brought back to the United States.

He stood in silence, his right hand to his chest, as a succession of flag draped transfer coffins were carried past him from a C-17 Globemaster plane.

But during the ceremony, Biden appears to jerk his left arm up and look down at his watch.

'Looks like he was being inconvenienced by having to show some respect for these American Heroes [sic],' wrote Desert Storm Army veteran Samuel Williams at the time.

The State Department releases a scathing 87-page report on Afghanistan withdrawal failures in early July, immediately before the long July Fourth holiday weekend.

President Biden appeared to check his watch during an event honoring the 13 service members killed in Afghanistan

The investigation found serious pitfalls in leadership and questions about who was in charge before and during the mayhem, which resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and hundreds of Afghan civilians.

'It's no coincidence that President Biden's State Department waited until Friday evening, before a long weekend, to drop its assessment of the United States' disastrous and embarrassing withdrawal from Afghanistan,' Rep. Greg Murphy told DailyMail.com.

'That type of behavior conveys guilt and acceptance that the Biden Administration is culpable,' Murphy, R-N.C., added.

'Of course, they don't want you to know that, so they attempted to bury it in plain sight while Americans were gearing up to celebrate Independence Day with family and friends.'

And Biden has stood. by his decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan and shrugged off the report.

'Remember what I said? I said al-Qaeda wouldn't be there. I said we'd get help from the Taliban. What's happening now? What's going on? Read your press. I was right,' Biden said during a press event.

However, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, took issue with Biden's statement that al-Qaeda is no longer operating in Afghanistan - calling it 'divorced from reality.'

'It is completely divorced from reality for President Biden to claim that al Qaeda is no longer operating in Afghanistan or that the Taliban has somehow become our national security partner in the region,' McCaul said in a statement Thursday.

The chairman noted that Al Zawahiri, the leader of al-Qaeda, was discovered living in the capital city of Kabul in a home owned by a senior Taliban official.

The U.S. took out the leader last year in a drone strike.

He continued to say that al-Qaeda's capabilities are growing rapidly and are 'aided by the Taliban' through funding and 'security cooperation.'

'President Biden's words can only be interpreted as an attempt to whitewash the Taliban and al Qaeda's longstanding ties, and may even ben an attempt to get America on the path of recognizing the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan,' warned McCaul.

Murphy added that House Republicans back McCaul and Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala., of the House Armed Services Committee's commitment to stand up to the administration and the Taliban's growing influence.

'President Biden and Secretary Blinken can keep running interference, but we will do everything in our power to expose their abject failure in leadership that cost the lives of 13 service members, stranded Americans and Afghans that served alongside us, and left behind $85 billion of U. S. military equipment for the Taliban,' Murphy told DailyMail.com.

The Biden administration failed to plan properly and didn't foresee the rapid collapse of Kabul during the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal, a damning State Department report has concluded.

The US Marine Corps posted a photo to Twitter of the flag-draped caskets of their fallen brethren killed in the suicide bomb attack in Kabul, after the coffins arrived back on home soil on August 29, 2021

The State Department report repeatedly blamed the administrations of both former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden for their efforts before and after the August 2021 departure of U.S. forces from Kabul.

'The decisions of both President Trump and President Biden to end the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan had serious consequences for the viability of the Afghan government and its security,' the report says.

'Those decisions are beyond the scope of this review, but the (review) team found that during both administrations there was insufficient senior-level consideration of worst-case scenarios and how quickly those might follow.'

It also outlined several strategic failures as the Taliban overran cities - saying there wasn't enough consideration given to 'worst-case scenarios.'

As a result, thousands of allies who helped the U.S. in the war were left behind, and there was chaos at Hamid Karzai International Airport as men, women and children tried desperately to flee.

Even though planning for the evacuation of Kabul began 'some time' beforehand, the State Department was 'hindered by the fact that it was unclear who in the Department had the lead.'
A man who spent 17 years in prison after being wrongly convicted of rape says he won't accept an 'PR exercise' apology from the police force that investigated him and slammed them for 'fighting me every inch of the way' in the battle to clear his name.

Andrew Malkinson says he as been left 'haunted' by his experience of the British justice system after being imprisoned in 2003 for the rape of a woman in Salford, Greater Manchester.

The 57-year-old has since had his conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal and was released in July this year, after judges found Greater Manchester Police had withheld crucial information from jurors during his trial.

At the time of Mr Malkinson's trial, there was no DNA evidence linking him to the crime and the prosecution case against him was based only on identification evidence.

The former security guard is now fighting for compensation after saying the 1million offered by the Government was 'not enough' to make up for the years spent behind bars.

Mr Malkinson, pictured with his mother Tricia outside the Royal Courts of Justice after being cleared last month, says he won't accept the police's apology

Sarah Jackson (pictured), assistant chief constable at Greater Manchester Police, apologised to Mr Malkinson on behalf of the force

Speaking to The News Agents podcast, Mr Malkinson said he felt an apology he had received from Greater Manchester Police after his conviction was overturned was not genuine.

He said: 'I think it's a PR exercise from a corporate entity. They're not sorry. They've fought us every inch of the way.

'We invited them to join the CCRC application and they point blank refused, I don't even think they responded.

'They fought disclosure of the vital evidence that they knew was important. Of course, they must have known its significance.

'And they fought us all away. So, because it's been overturned, to say, "Oh, we're really sorry now." No.'

He added that he felt police shouldn't have control of evidence and disclosure.

'They should concentrate on investigating cases, doing police work,' he said.

'There should be a separate body that holds the evidence, so they can't... deliberately destroy pivotal evidence.

'I mean, the victim's clothing, that's obviously vital to preserve... I think they deliberately did that because they knew by then I was strenuously continuing to maintain my innocence after 10 years and onwards.'

In a ruling three Court of Appeal judges said Mr Malkinson's conviction was unsafe because of failures to disclose evidence.

Edward Henry KC, for Mr Malkinson, previously described these as 'deplorable disclosure failures, which mostly lay at the door of the Greater Manchester Police'.

Mr Malkinson was found guilty of the 2003 attack on a woman in Greater Manchester, but has since had his conviction quashed

Mr Malkinson stayed in prison for an additional 10 years because he maintained he was innocent. Pictured: An E-fit of the suspect in the rape case (left) and a mugshot of Malkinson shortly after he was arrested (right)

They include police photographs of the victim's 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.

None of this was available to Mr Malkinson's 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'.

Overturning Mr Malkinson's 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'.

Following the decision GMP's assistant chief constable Sarah Jackson apologised to Mr Malkinson, saying: '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.'

On the podcast Mr Malkinson added that the only way the authorities could make up for his time in prison would be to 'give me a bunch of money'.

The Government has offered him 1million, but the newly-freed man says this is not enough.

He said: 'Obviously, I want compensating because they can't give me back what they've stolen and it's not just the time taken. It's what it represents.

'It's constant fear, pain, anxiety, misery, longing, yearning for freedom and hoping that something will come along to prove it.

'So, it's a very joyless void. No joy, no happiness, no love. And it's a horrific existence. Yeah, I want compensating for that.

He added: 'I want my freedom back fully. I want my economic freedom back. I want my compensation... There's still fights to be fought, so I'm not free of it...

'The door hasn't shut yet. I'm still fighting, I'm haunted by it. I think I need therapy, to be honest

'I want to resume traveling while I'm still able bodied. I'm getting on a bit. I'm 57. I want to travel to lots of places in the world I've never seen before. India, for example.

'I want to go to Australia to see my sisters. I haven't seen them for 33 years. I just want to travel and feel that sense of freedom again where you've got no worries.'
Hundreds of mourners gathered to pay tribute to OShae Sibley, the beloved New York City dancer who was fatally stabbed by a 17-year-old in what has been described as a 'hate motivated murder.'

The 28-year-old Sibley was 'vogueing' and dancing shirtless to a Beyonce song as he was filling his car at a gas station in Midwood, Brooklyn before he was killed.

More than 200 people attended Sibley's funeral on Tuesday in his hometown of Philadelphia at the historic opera house. Sibley had moved to New York to pursue his career as a dancer. He performed with the dance company Philadanco and danced to celebrate his LGBTQ+ identity.

Otis Pena, a close friend of Sibley's who was at the gas station shared his grief hours later in a Facebook video. 'OShae had the power to touch everyones heart whoever met him.'

He added: 'He was 'a beacon of light for a lot of us in our community.'

OShae Sibley , the beloved New York City dancer who was fatally stabbed by a 17-year-old teen was described by friends and family members as someone who had the 'power to touch everyone's heart'

Sibley's somber parents, Jake Kelly and mother Onetha Sibley, walk down the aisle during their son, O'Shea Sibley's celebration of life ceremony held at The Met in Philadelphia on Tuesday

Sibley's parents stand over their son's casket as he says his final goodbyes during he viewing at The Met Philadelphia in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Tuesday

A celebration of life service followed at the Met in Philadelphia. Sibley's father, Jake Kelly, is captured resting his eyes on his son in his casket as he says his final goodbyes.

Sidley was laid to rest at Fernwood Cemetary in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania. Sibley's grief-stricken mother, Onetha Sibley is seen placing her hand on her son's royal blue casket, surrounded by loved ones.

After his senseless death tributes poured in far and wide including from filmmaker Spike Lee and musical artist, Beyonce. Spike Lee posted the Instagram message, 'Rest in Power.'

The Queen Bee posted the same message on her website after she learned that Sibley and his friends were listening to her music before the deadly attack.

Surveillance footage captured a group of teens reportedly yelling homophobic slurs and anti-black statements to Sibley and his friends, according to surveillance footage ABC News Chicago reported.

Security camera video showed the argument had broken up and both groups had walked away when Sibley and his friends abruptly returned and crossed a parking lot to confront the white 17-year-old, who was recording with his phone, the Associated Press reported.

In the video, Sibley could be seen following the teen and then lunging at him. The stabbing happened out of a clear view of the cameras.

Officials said after words were exchanged the teen took out a knife and stabbed Sibley to death.

The suspect, whose identity was not disclosed because he is a minor, turned himself into police. Brooklyn prosecutors charged him with murder, hate crime murder, and criminal possession of a weapon.

Onederful Ancrum, a dancer with Philadanco performs during the celebration of life ceremony to honor her friend's shock death

Sibley's father raised his arm to the sky remebering his son during the celebration of life ceremony as he was surrounded by family and friends

Heartbroken family members hold blue and white floral reefs as they mourn the loss of their loved on during Tuesday's celebration of life ceremony

Sibley's grief-stricken father carries his son's casket

The Rev. Bernard Brown of the United Church of the First Born told mourners at the Met Philadelphia that Sibley 'lived his life doing what he so passionately loved - and senselessly lost his life doing what he loved.'

Karen Pendergrass, a teacher at the Philadelphia School of Dance Arts remembered Sibley as a shy 14-year-old who kept popping his head in the door of her classroom.

'Youve got one more time to come past my door and then youre coming through my door,' she said she had told him. 'He took that class, he got a scholarship and from there he just flourished.'

A dance scholarship will be set up in Sibley's name, Pendergrass said.

At least one witness told reporters some of the teens who clashed with Sibley and his friends had objected to the dancers' behavior because they were Muslim.

Friends of Sibley gather alongside his casket to share their final farewell

A friend of Sibley places a bouquet of flowers during the vigil to memorialize the young dancer

A vigil was held on Friday as many performed their own repertoire to pay tribute to the beloved talented dancer who was killed in a hate crime

The mother and lawyer of the 17-year-old boy charged in the stabbing, though, said he is actually a Christian who wears a cross and goes to church.

The teen's grandmother told the Daily News he was just defending himself.

Last Wednesday, a tribute was held for Sidley at Club Cumming in the East Village, a gay bar named for actor Alan Cuming, ABC News reported.

Kemar Jewel, a longtime friend of Sibley's, told the news outlet that 'O'Shae was the 'type of person you could never be sad around.'

'O'Shae is funny. He's goofy. He goes out of the way to make you smile, to go above and beyond just to make people happy,' he said.
The historic Black Country pub was devastated by a fire and then demolished

Carly Taylor, 34, and her husband Adam, 44, have owned the pub since July

A married couple are facing questions after an 18th Century ale house was destroyed by fire and then demolished days after they bought it.

The Crooked House - dubbed 'Britain's wonkiest pub' - was severely damaged in the blaze over the weekend before being reduced to a pile of rubble on Monday.

Video shows diggers moved in to knock down what was left of the historic Black Country pub within hours of Staffordshire police and firefighters leaving the site.

The force is investigating the cause of the blaze while South Staffordshire Council has said its lawyers are looking into potential breaches of the Town and Planning Act after the Crooked House was demolished.

Police said in a statement that they were investigating 'all of the available evidence into the cause' of the fire in tandem with Stafford Fire and Rescue and that as of yet no cause of the fire had been established.

A married couple are facing questions after an 18th Century ale house was destroyed by fire and then demolished days after they bought it. Pictured: The remains of the pub today

The Crooked House - dubbed 'Britain's wonkiest pub' - was severely damaged in the blaze over the weekend before being reduced to a pile of rubble on Monday

The authority said officers had visited the site in Himley, near Dudley, on Monday but had not agreed to 'the demolition of the whole structure' or deemed that it was necessary.

Police said detectives would be speaking to the new owners of the pub, which was sold by Marston's Brewery in July to ATE Farms Limited, a company controlled by Carly Taylor, 34. It had been listed for sale for 675,000.

Mrs Taylor is married to Adam, 44, who is shareholder and former director of Himley Environmental Ltd which runs a land fill site next to the pub.

A source told the Daily Mail the purchase was 'all about access' and followed disagreements between the firm and Marston's over an access road to the pub which they shared.

Himley Environmental's director Richard Longley could not be reached for comment. Mr Taylor declined to comment when approached at his home in Lutterworth, Leicestershire, yesterday.

A blaze at the Black Country's most iconic pub, the Crooked House, engulfed the building
Schools in Hillsborough County in Florida are slashing the amount of Shakespeare students will study next year, citing Ron DeSantis' new Parental Rights in Education Act that tells schools to avoid sexual content.

Instead of enjoying the full texts of classics such as Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet and Macbeth students will be assigned individual excerpts from the plays to study.

'It was also in consideration of the law,' said Tanya Arja, a spokesperson for the school district told the Tampa Bay Times, referring to the controversial bill promoted and signed by Governor Ron DeSantis.

By using excerpts the schools will be able to include Shakespeare on the syllabus but avoid anything considered inappropriately sexual under the new act.

Teachers are required to stay within the guidelines laid out by district officials and if they fail to do so may, in extreme circumstances, have to defend themselves against a parent complaint or a disciplinary case at their school, The Tampa Bay Times reported.

Schools in Hillsborough County in Florida are slashing the amount of Shakespeare students will study next year, citing Ron DeSantis' new Parental Rights in Education Act

Parts of Shakespeare are considered too sexual to be taught in schools under DeSantis' new reforms, the school district said

Joseph Cool, a reading teacher at Gaither High School told the Tampa Bay Times the changes are 'absurd'.

'I think the rest of the nation  no, the world, is laughing at us,' he told the publication.

'Taking Shakespeare in its entirety out because the relationship between Romeo and Juliet is somehow exploiting minors is just absurd' he said.

He added that students will 'absolutely not' receive the same educational experience from being taught excerpts compared to studying the plays as a whole.

School board member Jessica Vaughn was also critical of the move.

Writing on Facebook Vaughn said 'it feels that much of this is intentional, in order to cause as much chaos in public education as possible, so that the collapse of public education is swift and the agenda of education privatization can move forward with less obstacles'.

The school district, the nation's seventh-largest, is currently run by interim superintendent Van Ayres who took over in July, just weeks before students must return for the start of the new school year.

The move is also intended to aid students in passing a new set of state exams that cover a vast array of books and writing styles.

'Taking Shakespeare in its entirety out because the relationship between Romeo and Juliet is somehow exploiting minors is just absurd' one local teacher argued

Interim superintendent Van Ayres will oversee the curriculum changes as children go back to school in the coming weeks

Arja explained that the new Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking include lists of books that might be included on the state competency exam and therefore more texts need to be covered.

'We need to make sure our students are prepared with enough material during the year so they will be prepared for their assessments,' Arja said.

DeSantis was also at the center of a recent education row over whether Advanced Placement (AP) Psychology classes would be banned in Florida high schools following his prohibition of teaching LGBT topics.

The nonprofit College Board advised the state's school districts the course, which included a link on gender and sexual orientation would be 'illegal' after DeSantis recently signed into law an expanded prohibition on teaching those subjects through Grade 12.

But late last Friday, statements from both sides suggested high school students in Florida would be able to take the full course after all.

Controversy was also stirred up after it emerged last month that middle school students in Florida are set to be taught that slavery gave black people 'skills' which could be 'used for their personal benefit', in a new curriculum.

Florida's Board of Education approved new rules for teaching Black history in the state during a public meeting in Orlando.

A 216-page document posted on the Florida Department of Education website includes new instructions for middle school teachers.

This includes how students should be taught 'how slaves developed skills, which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit'.

Other instruction will include notable massacres against African Americans that will change to note that they had also played a part in the violence.

The curriculum changes comes after DeSantis has received considerable backlash to his Parental Bill of Rights  dubbed by critics as the 'Don't Say Gay' law.

Following a series of reforms brought in by the governor the Education Department has said it will now ban public school districts from taking their students on field trips or other 'school-sponsored activities' that include 'adult live performances.'

This is in response to a law blocking children from attending drag shows in Florida with the rise in popularity of 'drag story time.'

Part of DeSantis' presidential platform includes a promise to return schools to the mission of 'education not indoctrination.'

He claims this so-called indoctrination comes down to districts, teachers and other educators pushing a 'woke' agenda that introduces children at a young age to mature conversations about sexual orientation and gender identity.
Chinese ship builders and the military cooperate in deciding what features in new ship designs can be of use to the military as well as commercial firms buying and operating cruise ships. Foreign cruise ship builders often adopt the same features, at least the ones that confer a commercial advantage. Cruise ship design and equipment is always evolving. One of these developments is obvious; modern cruise ships are huge. Many cruise chips have displacements (250,000 tons) more than twice that of the largest aircraft carriers (100,000 tons). Ships that size are difficult to sink. Part of that is due to size, but the interior design is optimized to keep a sinking cruise ship afloat so that there is time for the thousands of passengers and crew to reach the lifeboats and get away from the sinking ship. Unlike the infamous Titanic over a century ago, modern cruise ships have enough lifeboats for everyone on board. These lifeboats are of a new design which means a larger capacity (over 200 people) are enclosed (for protection from the elements or rough seas) and have engines that can propel these large boats at speeds of up to 20 kilometers an hour.

These large, enclosed and relatively fast lifeboats are often a necessity for the ultra large (over, 200,000 ton) cruise whips. Size matters when it comes to finding a port where a ship can find a deep-water dock that can accommodate these behemoths, many ports dont make the cut. Passengers can come ashore and return to ship via the lifeboats, which also resupply the cruise ships. The lifeboats may be enclosed but they have windows and comfortable seating to make it more attractive to passengers. The largest cruise ships have 30 or more of these large lifeboats.

China noted that these large lifeboats could also rapidly move over 6,000 soldiers armed with assault rifles and some anti-tank (or small ship) missiles. Such a force could secure an undefended coast so landing ships or ferries could bring in vehicles and heavy weapons like artillery and mobile rocket launchers.

For over a decade China has been planning to use a growing number of large civilian ferries, especially the RoRo (Roll On, Roll Off) models, for a major amphibious operation to seize Taiwan or other islands. Chinese military planners have run some simulations from the defenders point-of-view and included the many anti-ship weapons Taiwan and its allies would have available, even after a port had been seized and reinforcements were needed to hold it. This is where the ferries and RoRos were essential, but staff exercises found that the civilian vessels were very vulnerable to attack and unexpected bad weather. These problems would, at the very least, render the civilian vessels unable to complete their missions and in some cases be lost. Arming the civilian ships with missile-defense systems, along with sailors to operate them, would help, but not solve the problem. The new, very large cruise ships are less vulnerable to anti-ship weapons and can carry enormous numbers of troops and support personnel as well as large quantities of supplies and munitions.

The staff exercises also found that there were now so many ferries and RoRos available, and part of the invasion operation, that there were not sufficient nearby Chinese ports to load all the civilian vessels at once. This was found to be a problem when the Germans were planning an amphibious invasion of Britain in 1940. With that in mind, China is now reconsidering its invasion plans.

As part of those plans, many Chinese RoRos have been modified for amphibious operations. Back in 2020 China was observed using a 20-year-old passenger RoRo ferry modified for amphibious operations in an amphibious training exercise. Built in 1995 as a vehicle/passenger ferry, the Bang Chui Dao was modified in 2019 to give it a sturdier and longer rear ramp that could load and unload the 26-ton ZTD-5 amphibious tank as well as the lighter ZBD-5 amphibious IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicles). Other modifications revamped the passenger area to accommodate about a thousand troops. Originally built to carry 1,200 passengers and about a hundred cars and small trucks, with the modifications the ferry can now carry fifty armored vehicles and nearly as many military trucks. In effect the militarized ferry can carry and land an amphibious mechanized infantry battalion on any dock, jetty or coastal area that the ferry can get close enough for its ramp to reach. RoRo ferries like this cannot handle rough weather, especially away from coastal areas. The ferries are not equipped for long voyages and these militarized ferries are intended for use against Taiwan or other nearby land masses. That means they must be loaded at ports close to the landing areas in Taiwan and there are not enough Chinese ports for that, plus such mass loading is observable from orbit and makes surprise attacks more difficult.

China has been modifying ferry designs for military use since 2012 when China launched Bohai Emerald Bead, the first of four passenger ferries designed for military use when called up for military service. These four ferries, each displacing 30,000 tons, can each carry 2,000 passengers (or troops) and up to 300 vehicles and do so for long voyages on the open ocean. This was but the first of many dual use (civilian-military) RoRo ships built in China. The government pays for the military modifications and assists in obtaining the financing for these ships. Owners are compensated when these RoRos are occasionally used for short periods of military service.

Militarized RoRos was an interesting development since it wasnt until 2009 that the first RoRo ship designed and built in China entered service. This ship was designed for military use, as it can carry up to 5,000 vehicles (cars and light trucks), or over a thousand armored vehicles. It has nine fixed and three adjustable decks for vehicles. A RoRo ship moves next to a dock and then deploys ramps so that its cargo of vehicles can quickly drive right off. If, for example, China invaded Taiwan, a RoRo ship could move into a recently captured port and unload an armored brigade in a few hours. Chinese planners became aware that the Taiwanese knew some intact docks in the right places were essential for the RoRos to succeed, so those ports are now more difficult to take quickly and Taiwan has plans to cripple key ports before the RoRos can get to them.

The owner of most of these RoRo ferries is COSCO (China Ocean Shipping Co.), which operates a fleet of over 700 cargo, tanker, and RoRo ships. COSCO is owned by the Chinese government and its ships are available for use by the military. COSCO is a $20 billion a year business that also owns ship repair facilities and port operations around the world.

COSCO has been scrambling to buy or build more RoRo ships, mainly because Chinese automobile manufacturers are exporting more cars to developing countries where Chinese vehicles are very popular, some selling for half what Western cars sell for. Back in 2005 COSCO had only three small RoRo ships, all leased from Japanese owners, and realized it would be cheaper to build Chinese RoRos to move most or all its exported cars. At the time, most of the RoRo ships in the world were owned by Japanese shippers. Noting the military usefulness of RoRo ships, COSCO was ordered to not only build these ships in China, but to optimize them for military use. Now China is exporting most of its vehicles using Chinese-built RoRo ships and many are part of the wartime reserve fleet. This concept of a wartime reserve fleet had long been used in the West.

China has also been building conventional military amphibious assault ships like those used by the United States since the 1960s. In early 2021 China launched the third (of eight) 40,000-ton Type 075 LHDs. This type of amphibious assault ship uses helicopters to get most of its troops ashore. That makes three LHDs put into service or launched within 16 months. The first two were launched in September 2019 and April 2020. The first one entered service April 2021 and another is undergoing sea trials. As more are built the basic design is modified based on the experience of earlier ships and the availability of new technology.

There is a well dock in the rear for loading Type 726 air-cushioned landing craft as well as conventional landing craft. The vehicle deck carries up to a hundred vehicles, usually a mix of trucks and amphibious ZBD-5 IFVs and ZTD-5 light tanks. Vehicles can also be driven on or off the LHDs via ramps, like RoRo vehicle transports and ferries. It will take a few years of experience before determining the optimal mix of combat vehicles and landing craft for this class of LHDs.

For the moment China depends on militarized, but more vulnerable, RoRo ships to deliver most of the troops and vehicles during an amphibious operation and that plan is in trouble because the enemy has the means to damage or sink the RoRos as well as destroy the Taiwanese docks needed to unload the RoRo. There are not enough ports available to load all the RoRos and Taiwan has been practicing airstrikes on some of these ports, using new air-to-surface missiles. Taiwan is following Chinese efforts in this area with great interest and responding with their own disruptive ideas.

The primary problem is that China must cope with a near-peer opponent that is also Chinese. This bothers Chinese military planners because the situation is like what Russia faced in Ukraine. There the Russians were shocked by the unexpected steadfast and effective resistance by the Ukrainians. China, like Russia, has become a police state run by men (Putin and Xi) who expect to rule indefinitely. Putin ignored the poor state of his military and the Chinese have long openly complained of the same thing. China considers itself more pragmatic than Russia and that is good news for Taiwan, which is continuing to prepare to do a Ukraine against any Chinese attack.
The man's wife was found naked in a poor state following what she said was captivity at the couple's home in Forbach since 2011

A German man, arrested in France after his wife claimed he held her captive for 12 years, will be released without charges, the lead prosecutor in the case has said.

Police arrested the 55-year old - named publicly as Thorsten S - on Monday after his wife was found naked in a poor state following what she said was captivity at the couple's home in Forbach since 2011.

But her husband denied this and added that his wife - named as Alicia W by local media - was suffering from cancer and that he was caring for her.

Prosecutor Olivier Glady said Tuesday there was 'no evidence' that would justify a continued investigation into the man. He will now be released.

'The kidnap scenario never happened,' Glady added.

Police arrested the 55-year old - named publicly as Thorsten S - on Monday after his wife was found naked in a poor state following what she said was captivity at the couple's home (pictured) in Forbach since 2011

View of a house near the German-French border of the Saar region where a German national has been arrested on suspicion of having tortured, raped and imprisoned his wife at their home in Forbach, Eastern France, August 8

Forensic medicine examination of the man's wife, a 53-year-old Spanish-German national, had also failed to produce any signs of rape or injuries, the prosecutor said.

Doubts about the wife's narrative had emerged already on Monday, when doctors found no broken bones or bruises as they examined her.

Her accounts to investigators meanwhile contained 'inconsistencies', police said.

Prosecutor Glady had predicted on Monday that 'the cursor is probably moving away from a scenario of horror, towards unsatisfactory conditions of the care of a sick person'.

The man would be released by Tuesday evening, he said.

Initially a police source said the woman was found with her head shaved in a bedroom of the apartment, had multiple injuries and was undernourished. She had probably been tortured, the source added prior to the news of the man's imminent release.

The state of her health was 'not good', Glady had earlier told AFP news agency after her examination by the local forensic medicine service.

He also said earlier that the 53-year-old's bald head and her skinny frame could be due to cancer and her semi-nude state could be explained by the fact that the police went to their flat in the morning to detain her husband.

Prosecutor Olivier Glady said Tuesday there was 'no evidence' that would justify a continued investigation into the man. The couple's home in Forbach is pictured where the woman was discovered naked in a poor state by police

A neighbour of the couple addresses media in Forbach, eastern France, on August 7. Neighbours have described the man as being friendly and polite, although some have also said they heard screams coming from the apartment which they put down to cancer treatment

Police said the bedroom and other rooms in the apartment were closed off with metal wire at the flat in Forbach in eastern France, near the German border. That setup may have been meant to keep the household's ten cats in, prosecutor Glady said

'The current state of investigation appears us to move away from the spectre of a Bluebeard of the Moselle region,' the prosecutor said, a reference to 'Bluebeard', a French folk tale about a wealthy man who murders his wives.

After their search of the property, police said the bedroom and other rooms in the apartment were closed off with metal wire at the flat in Forbach in eastern France, that sits near the German border.

That setup may have been meant to keep the household's 10 cats in, Glady said, rather than to keep the woman inside the apartment.

A police source said Alicia W got access to a phone and called police in Wiesbaden, western Germany, who in turn alerted their French colleagues. A day later, on Monday, French police conducted a search of the building and arrested the husband.

Over the years, Thorsten S had told everyone in the building that his wife had cancer, said Alissia, a neighbour, prior to the prosecutors announcement that the 55-year-old would be released.

A police vehicle is parked in front of the entrance door of the building where lived a couple in Forbach, eastern France, on August 7

Forbach is found in eastern France, and sits near the German border

'I never saw the lady, I don't think she ever left the house,' she added.

'Sometimes I heard screams,' Alicia said, but added that she thought they were caused by the illness. Describing the man, she said: 'Very polite, nice.'

Erika, another witness who lives in an adjacent street, said she last saw the woman 'maybe ten years ago', and thought that 'maybe she had died, or moved out'.

Speaking to Bild, brothers Dany (23) and Kevin (20) who visit their father living in the same building, also said the 55-year-old was friendly and polite.

'We've seen the man more than once. He was very friendly and polite. We never saw the woman,' they told the German publication.

They added that on rare occasions they heard screams coming from the apartment.

'He told us that she had cancer and that she was screaming because of her illness, because of the pain,' said the 23-year-old.
A New York man who stabbed a pitbull to death with a butcher's knife has been arrested after lying to cops about the animal attacking him beforehand.

Thomas Hemmingway, 31, was arrested and charged with animal cruelty on Monday after fatally stabbing the dog last month, according to Syracuse Police.

Hemmingway previously told officers that he had stabbed the black and white female pitbull in self-defense, claiming that the dog had bitten him on his right leg.

But the Animal Cruelty Division investigated the attack further - and unearthed new surveillance footage that proved the dog had not attacked Hemmingway.

He also had no injuries on his leg where he claimed to have been bitten.

A New York man who stabbed a pitbull to death with a butcher's knife has been arrested after lying to cops about the animal attacking him beforehand

Thomas Hemmingway, 31, (pictured) was arrested and charged with animal cruelty on Monday after fatally stabbing the dog last month, according to Syracuse Police

Hemmingway previously told officers that he had stabbed the black and white female pitbull in self-defense, claiming that the dog had bitten him on his right leg

Syracuse Police Department posted images of Hemmingway carrying out the violent attack on the innocent animal on Facebook, causing outrage among the community.

The Facebook post described how Hemmingway walked along the sidewalk towards the dog and its owner, who has not been identified, and who was walking it on a leash.

At some point, the owner let go of the leash and Hemmingway is seen approaching the dog with a large butcher's knife in his hand.

He is pictured sporting a black shirt, jeans and sneakers, carrying a backpack while holding the sharp weapon in his hand.

In a second image, Hemmingway is seen with the large butcher's knife raised over his head and aimed at the pitbull.

Hemmingway is currently being held in the Onondaga County Justice Center.

The attack occurred on July 26, around 8:25 in the evening, according to a statement by police on Monday.

Officers responded to the 900 block of South Geddes Street for an injured animal complaint. When they arrived, police found the black and white pitbull with a stab wound to its neck.

The officers then placed the dog in the back of the patrol car and transported it to the local vet, where it died of its injuries.

Other officers remained on scene to speak with witnesses and attempt to find the owner of the dog.

That was when a man approached police and identified himself as Thomas Hemmingway, claiming he had to stab the dog in self defense.

The Animal Cruelty Division investigated the attack further - and unearthed new surveillance footage that proved the dog had not attacked Hemmingway

'Hemmingway claimed the dog bit him on his right leg, so he had stabbed the dog once and ran off,' according to police.

But following the investigation, police found the footage of the incident to contradict with Hemmingway's account of the event.

'Hemmingway pulled up his pant leg to show where the dog "bit" him, but there were no injuries,' police said.

'Hemmingway had what appeared to be a large butcher knife in his right hand as he approached the dog,' according to the report.

'He attempted to grab the dog by the neck or collar, when the dog reacted. Hemmingway then stabbed the dog once in the neck.'

After Hemmingway released the dog, he reportedly continued to taunt him by raising the knife above his head, before calmly walking away from the scene.

After being stabbed, the dog wandered into a corner store until Police arrive.

After it was determined by the Animal Cruelty Division that Hemmingway did not stab the dog in self defense, police arrested him for Aggravated Animal Cruelty, an unclassified felony.

'I hope his cell mate is a dog lover who follows the local news,' one user commented online.

'How despicable! The owner of the dog did not react? Or ask for help?' another wrote.

'Cruel human should go on animal abuse registry. Animal abuse goes hand in hand with domestic violence,' a third user expressed.

In june, a couple's dog was stabbed to death by a man with a knife in a dispute as they walked their pet in New York City's Central Park

Owner Brian Robert Cornwell, 52, can be seen walking away in disbelief on cellphone footage following the attack while his dog lay dying nearby

This isn't the first violent attack against a dog in New York in the space of a year.

In June, a couple's dog was stabbed to death by a man with a knife in a dispute as they walked their pet in New York City's Central Park.

Brian Robert Cornwell, 52, together with his wife Melanie, were walking their two dogs when a heated dispute broke out between the couple and the suspect, who was also walking three dogs of his own.

The suspect's unleashed dogs attacked the couple's pit bull. But the dog fight suddenly turned into a dispute between the owners.

As the pair tried to separate the dogs, the suspect pulled out a switchblade and began mercilessly stabbing Eli, the female pit bull mix belonging to the couple.

'You killed my dog you piece of sh*t,' Cornwell told the suspect as video caught him leaving the area.
He was charged with murder, kidnapping, sexual assault and related crimes

Troy Driver was found dead in his jail cell in Lyon County, Nevada, on Sunday

Troy Driver was found dead in his jail cell in Lyon County, Nevada, on Sunday night

A murder suspect accused of abducting an 18-year-old girl outside a Walmart and killing her at a rural mine site has died in jail by suspected suicide.

Troy Driver, 43, was found unresponsive in his cell on Sunday evening as officers made a routine check around the maximum-security facility in Lyon County, Nevada, where he was being held.

'Deputies immediately entered the cell and started lifesaving measures to include CPR,' Lyon County Sheriff Brad Pope.

Pope said Driver had 'no contact with other inmates' and believes the death was self-inflicted.

Police believe Driver is seen lurking outside Walmart on the night she disappeared

Irion's stepbrother, Casey Valley, raised the alarm when she didn't come home

Irion is seen walking before a man got into her car and drove off with her. It is unclear if she knew Driver

The body of Naomi Irion, 18, was found in a makeshift grave at a rural mine site

Driver had been arrested in connection with the disappearance and death of Naomi Irion.

He was charged by the Lyon County district attorney with murder, kidnapping, sexual assault and related crimes.

A man was spotted by Fernley Walmart's security cameras grazing through the parking lot wearing a hooded sweatshirt and jeans in the early hours of March 12 after her stepbrother, Casey Valley, raised the alarm.

He had gone to the Walmart and pleaded for the video to be reviewed the next night after growing concerns over her disappearance.

The grainy footage showed a person entering Irions car at 5:24 am before her car left the parking lot.

'We saw the guy force his way into her car,' Valley said.

Cops believed the man was Driver who lived in Fallon, about 30 minutes from the Walmart.

Irion's remains were found in Churchill County 17 days after she was kidnapped from a Walmart in Fernley

Police announced they were searching for a black pickup truck in relation to the case

A makeshift memorial was created in the teenager's honor along the main street in Fernley

On March 16, police announced they were seeking a black pickup truck in relation to the case - a model similar to Driver's.

He was arrested on March 25 and his vehicle was impounded.

The remains of the missing teenager were discovered in a remote area of Nevada, 17 days after she was abducted, on March 29.

Investigators found her body at a gravesite in an undisclosed area of Churchill County, just hours after her accused kidnapper appeared in court via Zoom.

Officials said they found the body Tuesday night at around 9 pm after receiving a tip that led them to the rugged mountains located about 150 miles from where she was taken.

Irion moved to America last year after growing up in sheltered communities in Russia, Germany and South Africa, because of her father's State Department job

Investigators were acting on a tip about her disappearance when they found the gravesite

Irion's family is pictured at Driver's arraignment on Wednesday at the Canal Township Justice Court in Fernley

A court date was set for July 9, 2024. The ex-con faced life in prison without parole if he was to be convicted.

He stood accused of raping Irion. She was also fatally shot, with her body left in a makeshift grave.

Irions heartbroken stepbrother said the death didn't give the family the closure they need.

'I feel like his suicide is an admission of guilt,' he told the Las Vegas Review Journal. 'But I wish the justice system had the chance to give a verdict.'

A formal inquiry into Driver's death is expected to be launched by the Nevada State Police Division of Investigations.
The former head of the US Coast Guard has been accused of covering up an explosive, historic investigation into rape and sexual abuse within the Coast Guard academy in Connecticut that dates back to the 1980s.

CNN reports that Commandant Karl K. Schultz was due to raise the results of the investigation with Congress and include them in teachings.

The report was concluded in 2018 - around the same time he took over.

Schultz however did not bring the damaging report to officials, as he was meant to, according to sources cited by CNN.

C NN reports that Commandant Karl K. Schultz was due to raise the results of the investigation with Congress and include them in teachings but failed to

Now, Democrats are demanding to know why.

Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal said it was 'probably the most shameful, disgraceful incident of cover-up of sexual assault that I have seen in the United States military ever.'

Neither Commandant Schultz nor the academy has commented.

The report - titled Operation Fouled Anchor - is said to have examined complaints of sexual assault and rape within the Academy from 1980s to 2006.

The findings were so damaging that leaders thought they should become 'required reading for current and future Academy leadership teams.'

Admiral Paul Zukunft, Schultz' predecessor, said he also planned to issue an apology to the victims who were identified as a result of the investigation.

CNN says Schultz and his number two however failed to make any of it public and even shrouded it in secrecy.

One source said the pair hid it intentionally.

'They knew. They read it. They signed off on it. It seems like the most logical reason is that they didnt want to have controversy under their leadership,' they said.

Schultz retired last year and was succeeded by Linda Fagan.

At a congressional subcommittee meeting last month, she said: 'Just like on a ship when you have rust, weve got pockets of rust that need to be eliminated from the organization.'
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy isn't ruling out a House impeachment of President Joe Biden, and is demanding Biden family members come forward to prove their innocence.

Appearing on Fox News opinion host Sean Hannity's program Monday night, McCarthy called on Biden to 'give us his bank statements,' days after former Hunter Biden business partner Devon Archer testified about their international business dealings.

'I think there's enough proof out there that this Biden family needs to come forward and show there wasn't a pay to play,' McCarthy said, echoing corruption charges being leveled by House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.).

Hinting at impeachment, at a time rank-and-file Republicans are filing resolutions and plotting probes, he said, 'We will take it wherever it [goes], and if it rises to the level, we will do our constitutional duties.'

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., didn't rule out impeachment of President Biden, and called for the president to hand over bank records

'And this is the part I want America to know: America has a right to know if there was pay to play. America has a right to know if Garland is lying to them,' he said, of Attorney General Merrick Garland, who appointed special counsel Jack Smith to probe former President Donald Trump, and kept on a U.S. attorney from Delaware to probe Hunter Biden.

'This isnt about Hunter Biden,' McCarthy said of the president's son, who is the subject of House Republican panel chairmen even while he tries to salvage a guilty plea in federal court over tax and gun issues.

'This is about paying to play for the Biden family because the money goes to nine different members through shell companies, much like the [IRS] informant said. So we will continue to follow the information wherever it takes us and provide it to the American public. The difference here is, we dont do it for political purposes. We follow the Constitution,' he said.

White House oversight spokesman Ian Sams teed off on McCarthy for saying 'we haven't seen anything like this since the Nixon Administration, using their government to shut down any time we had a question.'

His comments came amid near daily revelations in the Hunter Biden saga

Republicans continue to hammer President Joe Biden over his son's business dealings, with McCarthy picking up accusations leveled by his colleagues

'Even beyond the bizarre comparison of President Biden to Richard Nixon, this is demonstrably false  by House Republicans' own statements. The Treasury Department provided the House Oversight Committee access to records. Oversight Committee Chairman Jamie Comer boasted about getting this access  and even stood outside of the Treasury Department to record a Twitter video talking about how he and other members had just reviewed the materials,' he wrote.

Even as McCarthy appeared to entertain impeachment calls by Trump loyalists within his caucus, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell appeared to pour cold water on the idea in an interview with the New York Times.

That came in an article about the rise in calls for impeachment, censure, and other punishments inside Congress. McConnell voted against both Trump's impeachments, and the former president now finds himself facing indictment following a January 6 probe in federal court in Washington, D.C.

'I said two years ago, when we had not one but two impeachments, that once we go down this path it incentivizes the other side to do the same thing,' McConnell said.

'Impeachment ought to be rare,' he is quoted as saying. 'This is not good for the country.'

McCarthy continues to rally to Donald Trump's defense, even after being featured in a line in the latest indictment he faces.

'At 3 p.m., Trump had a call with then-Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., where he told McCarthy that "the crowd was more upset about the election than the Minority Leader was,"' according to the indictment.
The family of a 14-year-old girl found at a California Marine Corps Base claims she was questioned by military police without a guardian after being 'raped' and that the military is trying to cover up the incident.

Casaundra Perez, the girl's aunt, alleged her niece was raped by an unnamed Marine at Camp Pendleton barracks north of San Diego and claims investigators have tried to lay blame on the minor and get the incident 'swept under the rug.'

'[Investigators] were accusing [my niece] of communicating with the Marine, and saying that he was her boyfriend, but she doesn't even know the Marine's name,' Perez told the Los Angeles Times.

Perez has been posting updates of the investigation on TikTok and working with CommunityX, who organize petitions, calls to action and fundraisers through 'digital activism' to raise more awareness of the case.

The teen was found at the barracks, and officials continue to investigate. No charges have been filed to date.

Casaundra Perez, the girl's aunt, alleged her niece was raped by a Marine at Camp Pendleton barracks north of San Diego and claims investigators have tried to lay blame on the minor and get the incident 'swept under the rug'

The 14-year-old girl, who is said to have a learning disability, was found at the base on June 28

As part of her efforts, Perez is demanding the unidentified Marine's name is released to the family and that an impartial investigation into the matter is conducted.

'Eighty-five days since this happened, and the identity of the accused is still not being released, either privately to the family, to the victim, or to the public,' Chloe Cheyenne, founder of CommunityX, told the outlet.

Naval Criminal Investigative Service confirmed an investigation is still active, the LA Times reported.

'As always, NCIS is committed to fully investigating any allegation of criminal behavior that threatens the Department of the Navy's readiness and the safety of children in the communities where our family live and work,' spokesperson Jeff Houston said in a statement.

Pictures of the moment a Marine from the Combat Logistics Battalion 5 was taken into questioning on the day the girl was found emerged swiftly after the incident with NCIS confirming the fact.

Perez has voiced her disappointment in the slow pace of the investigation noting that its been close to 90 days since she was discovered.

The family revealed to the outlet that they are 'concerned' that the Navy has not issued a military protective order.

The order would prevent military personnel under investigation from contacting alleged victims and would also reveal the name of the Marine to the family.

An unidentified Marine, pictured here, has been taken into custody in connection with the girl's disappearance, but has not yet been charged criminally

A leaked photo online shows what appears to be a handwritten logbook from Camp Pendleton that states that an 'underage female' was found in room 343

The girl went missing from her home in Spring Valley, about 45 minutes south of the base, June 10 with Perez claiming that her niece had spent June 28 and June 29 there before being discovered.

Perez claimed that investigators had also accused her niece of communicating with the Marine and said that he was her boyfriend, despite her not knowing his name.

She had also previously claimed that her niece, who has learning difficulties, was sold to the Marine for sex.

After the child's discovery at the base, a picture of the Marine surfaced of him being led out in handcuffs for questioning.

In an earlier interview with NBC 7 Perez said: 'Something is not right regardless. This is extremely frustrating, especially since NCIS seems to be not sharing any information with us.'

'Right now it's sounding more that they're trying to control the narrative - that nothing was done wrong.'

Speaking to NBC San Diego, Perez called on fellow service members to step up and call out what had happened at the base

A leaked photo posted online shows what appears to be a handwritten logbook from the San Diego-area base that states that an 'underage female' was found in room 343. It mentions, however, that the girl was 13.

In an earlier TikTok, Perez said: 'The security looked her in the face and allowed this man to bring a minor on to base where he then proceeded to have sex with her.

'Due to her age, she could not have given this consent.'

The unidentified Marine is with the Combat Logistics Battalion 5, 1st Marine Logistics Group. It remains unclear if he's still in custody or has returned to duty.

San Diego's human-trafficking task force and the San Diego County Sheriff's Office are also investigating the incident.

Relatives claimed the girl had run away from her grandmother's house with the victim's grandmother telling authorities that she'd done that several times before but always returned.

Perez previously claimed that her niece was sold to a Marine as a sex slave and officials on the base tried to cover it up

After she was found, detectives with the San Diego sheriff's office interviewed her and offered her family support services.

The girl was not hospitalized, officials said, but it is unclear if she sustained any injuries.

She has since been returned to her grandmother's care, deputies said, but Perez fears military officials may retaliate against her family.

'If I go missing or end up murdered the people potentially responsible could possibly be located here at Camp Pendleton,' she said in a video uploaded to TikTok.
The family of a prominent New York City restaurant owner who was allegedly attacked in the middle of the street by the son of a former Israeli official are slamming a judge for letting him out on a $25k bond.

'I don't know why this guy who attacked me was just let go without any responsibility,' Maor Vanunu, 42, told DailyMail.com. 'I think that's a joke.'

Vanunu, who owns Hummus Kitchen and Zizi restaurants, was randomly attacked in February, when officials said Jounathan Maimon, 24, repeatedly hit him over the head with a 1.75 liter jug.

Vanunu suffered a brain bleed and lacerations to the back of his head, and says he continues to suffer memory and hearing loss seven months later.

Maimon, whose father previously served as the Israeli Cabinet Secretary, has since been charged with attempted murder but was back on the streets shortly after paying his bond. He was then allowed to travel back to his home country to visit his mother.

Maimon is due back in court Friday.

Jounathan Maimon, 24, is pictured on February 26 outside the Gospel night club in New York City, which police say he used to attack a prominent restaurant owner

Video from the scene shows a man who police have identified as Maimon coming up behind Maor Vanunu and hitting him across the head with the jug

Vanunu suffered a brain bleed and lacerations to the back of his head, and says he continues to suffer memory and hearing loss seven months later

Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com Tuesday, Vanunu claimed the New York City judge overseeing the criminal case 'helped [the suspect] out a lot.'

He noted Maimon's father, Israel Maimon, Israel's former cabinet secretary and the former head of Israel Bonds, is 'well-connected' and Maimon was able to hire 'really high-quality lawyers.'

Maimon is now claiming that he was drugged and does not remember what he did, though there were no drugs found in his body when he turned himself into police, according to Israeli outlet YNet News.

A woman who saw Maimon standing outside the Gospel nightclub in SoHo shortly before the attack also allegedly told Vanunu that Maimon seemed pretty determined.

Maimon's father is Israel Maimon, Israel's former cabinet secretary and the former head of Israel Bonds

The two parties are due back in court this week, but Vanunu said that when he got the call from the Manhattan District Attorney's Office about the hearing two weeks ago, 'it felt like he's getting ready for a deal.'

He suggested woke District Attorney Alvin Bragg wants to 'close the case as soon as possible; he doesn't care about the case anymore.'

Maimon's lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, has previously said he is working to get the charges against the consulate worker downgraded to aggravated assault, telling the New York Post: 'There was never any attempt to murder anyone here.'

He also denied to DailyMail.com that Maimon is receiving any preferential treatment due to his family, arguing the victim's family is making the claims because 'they want money.

'It's ludicrous to suggest that his family has had any involvement in this,' Lichtman said. 'It is offensive to the family and it is offensive to the defense.'

A spokesperson for the Manhattan District Attorney's Office said: 'We treat all acts of violence incredibly seriously and are continuing to conduct a rigorous and thorough investigation into this matter.'

Vanunu and his family have claimed Maimon has gotten preferential treatment due to his family's connections

Maimon's attorney, Jeffrey Lichtman, has previously said he is working to get the charges against the consulate worker downgraded to aggravated assault

Maimon has claimed he was drugged and had no recollection of what he allegedly did

Video obtained by DailyMail.com showed the brutal attack on the restaurant owner.

It shows Vanunu standing at the intersection of Lafayette and Jersey streets on February 26, when a man police have identified as Maimon came up from behind him and hitting him over the head with the glass jug.

Vanunu immediately fell to the ground as Maimon allegedly continued to strike him. He was hit twice more on the head and four more times between the shoulder as Vanunu lay in the intersection, before fleeing the scene.

The victim says he was randomly targeted in the attack, which occurred after Maimon was kicked out of the Gospel nightclub following an argument with a woman.

Out of revenge, Vanunu said, Maimon came back with a glass bottle.

When the restaurant owner and his friends walked out of the club between 3.15am and 3.30am as Maimon was 'trying to get back to the woman,' he claimed.

As he passed by, Vanunu said he saw Maimon turn toward him, but he continued to walk to the intersection where the suspect hit him.

'Literally I fell down from the first hit,' he said, noting he was hit twice more on the head and four more times between his shoulder 'after I was down.'

Police have previously said Maimon only stopped when the glass bottle shattered after landing the seventh blow.

Vanunu also noted there were eight other people in the area, saying 'he could have attacked any of those people.

'If this isn't attempted murder, I don't know what is attempted murder.'

He is also accused of using the same jug to smash the window of a passing Uber moments before the orgy of violence began.

Maimon faces between five and 25 years behind bars if convicted on the attempted murder charge.

Israel Maimon is pictured with actor Jason Alexander in 2017. He asked Israel's former Consul General in New York, Asaf Zamir, to write a character witness for his son in a civil case

He is also being sued by Vanunu in a civil case, in which Israel's former Consul General in New York, Asaf Zamir, wrote a character witness for Maimon, Y-Net News reports.

Zamir did not serve as Maimon's supervisor, and acted against Foreign Ministry guidelines, which stipulate that an Israeli representative must not interfere in a foreign country's legal process.

But Zamir and Maimon's father have a close working relationship, and he responded to Israel's request to submit the letter to the court, according to Y-Net News.

Upon learning of the letter, Vanunu told the outlet: 'When a serving consul supports a person who tried to murder, it's a badge of shame on the State of Israel and a disgrace for us all.'

Maimon has been placed on leave from his position at the consulate 'until the legal situation is clarified.'
A row has broken out after a museum adopted objects found in a sunken Tudor warship as being 'queer' in an attempt to interpret them as representing LGBTQ+ stories.

The Mary Rose Museum, which is dedicated to the famous ship that was raised from the depths of the Solent in 1982 after more than 400 years on the seabed, has raised eyebrows after claiming some items found in the wreckage can be viewed through a queer lens.

This includes a nit comb which represents how hair is a 'central pillar' of queer identity, a gold ring that shows the 'long history of queer people marrying or viewing themselves as married' and a mirror that 'can bring up lots of emotions for both straight and LGBTQ+ people'.

The claims have drawn scorn from historians and the wider public, with the museum itself admitting it would be 'impossible' to determine the sexuality or gender identity of the crew members.

The blog, titled 'Queering The Mary Rose's Collection', says it attempts to use 'Queerness as an interpretive tool to represent LGBTQ+ stories'.

The museum says a total of 82 nit combs were found on the ship. It claims that nit combs represent how hair is a 'central pillar' of queer identity

A wood engraving of the Mary Rose is pictured. The warship served the Tudor navy of Henry VIII and fought in several wars against France between 1511 and 1543

'Queering the collection' has become a popular approached use by museums around the world to interpret LGBTQ+ experiences through the artworks on display.

Among the items it casts under this lens is an Octagonal mirror, which the author says would be a 'luxury item' on the warship.

However, it goes onto say: 'Looking at your own reflection in a mirror can bring up lots of emotions for both straight and LGBTQ+ people.

'For Queer people, we may experience a strong feeling of when we look into a mirror, a feeling of distress caused by our reflection conflicting with our own gender identities.'

The museum in Portsmouth admits the 82 combs, which were the most common personal items found on the ship, would have been used by the men to remove nits, not style their hair.

But it goes onto say: 'For many Queer people today, how we wear our hair is a central pillar of our identity. Today, hairstyles are often heavily gendered, following the gender norm that men have short hair, and women have long hair.

'By 'subverting' and playing with gender norms, Queer people can find hairstyles that they feel comfortable wearing.'

Looking at a gold ring found on the lowest deck of the ship, the blog says that while same-sex marriages have only been legal across the UK since 2020, 'there is a long history of Queer people marrying or viewing themselves as married'.

When referring to paternosters - which is a type of rosary bead - that were found on the ship, the blog states it showed many of the sailors were Christians, before talking about how the English Reformation lead to introduction of the Buggary Act.

An octagonal mirror is pictured - a reflective surface would have sat within the frame. The museum claims 'looking at your own reflection in a mirror can bring up lots of emotions for both straight and LGBTQ+ people'

The museum also claims a gold ring - found on the lowest deck of the Mary Rose - represents the 'long history of queer people marrying or viewing themselves as married'

The publication of the blog has drawn ire from historians and the general public.

Professor David Abulafia, of Cambridge University, said: 'With all due respect to its authors, the highly speculative comments about Queering the Mary Rose have as much connection to the shipwreck as a tin of Heinz baked beans.'

Historian and author James Heartfield added: 'I'm afraid people will just laugh at these captions. I don't think it makes them very serious historians and I don't think it makes them very good gay rights activists either.'

Broadcaster Stig Abell wrote on Twitter: 'We talked a bit about this on the show today. Who really benefits from this exhausting attempt to politicise stuff in an on-trend way? Nobody. The Mary Rose sank, it's a piece of history, it doesn't need "queering".'

One social media user wrote: 'If youre interested I strongly recommend Jonathan Goldbergs seminal Queering the Renaissance (still available on Amazon). I anti-recommend this which is quite possibly one of the worst things I have ever read on a museum website.'

Another added: 'This reads like an absolute parody of itself. I can't understand why such a prestigious institution would allow an intern to make them look so foolish.'

However, a spokesman for the Mary Rose Museum defended the blog, saying: 'As one of the UK's most historically significant attractions, we actively encourage people from around the globe to visit, experience and interpret the Mary Rose for themselves.

'"Queering the collection" is an approach used by museums around the world.

'We are proud to support all of our dedicated employees, volunteers and interns as they offer their own personal reflections through our blog.'

The wooden wreck of the Mary Rose warship is pictured as it undergoes conservation in the ship hall, Portsmouth, July 1987

An exhibit of the Mary Rose Museum, Portsmouth, is pictured. The ship, commissioned by Henry VIII, lay on the bed of the Solent outside Portsmouth Harbour for 437 years

The Mary Rose Museum is pictured in Portsmouth. It displays artefacts from the ship after it was raised from the seabed in 1982 after an 11-year operation

The wreck of the Mary Rose, a King Henry VIII warship, is raised from the seabed in a giant 500 ton cradle after 437 years at the bottom of the sea in 1982

The warship was one of two immediately commissioned by Henry VIII with his own money upon becoming king in 1509.

It had lain for 437 years on the bed of the Solent outside Portsmouth Harbour after it sank in 1545 while the king watched from Southsea Castle.

But it was raised from the seabed on October 11, 1982 after an 11-year salvage operation.

More than 19,000 items were recovered from the site in what was the world's largest underwater archaeological excavation at that time.

The items are now displayed in the Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth.
A Marine who lost his arm and leg in the August 2021 Kabul airport bombing said that President Joe Biden tried to shake his hand that wasn't there during a Walter Reed visit weeks later.

Sgt. Tyler Vargas-Andrews appeared on the Shawn Ryan Show in late July and recounted how the president and first lady Jill Biden visited his bedside after he was severely injured by the suicide bomb that exploded at the Hamid Karzai International Airport's Abbey Gate amid the frantic U.S. pull-out from Afghanistan.

Vargas-Andrews said both his greeting with Biden was awkward and was miffed when the president whispered to him, 'what do you want?'

In a profanity-laced interivew, Vargas-Andrews recalled how in the aftermath of the Kabul bombing 'they started bringing in generals and like all these f***ing people to do f***ing photo ops and s***.'

Vargas-Andrews remembered being 'very high' on painkillers as the parade of officials would come through his room, but when presented with the idea that he could meet the president, he said he wanted to be more sober.

Sgt. Tyler Vargas-Andrews (left) shared a photo of himself with President Joe Biden (right) during the president's 2021 visit to Walter Reed in which Vargas-Andrews said the Democrat tried to shake his hand that wasn't there - and asked him, 'what do you want?'

Marine Sgt. Tyler Vargas-Andrews gave an extensive interview to the Shawn Ryan Show last last month and recounted President Joe Biden visiting him at Walter Reed after he lost his arm and leg outside the Kabul, Afghanistan airport during the suicide bombing

'And so I told him,' he said of his doctor. 'Hold all of my opioids, like hold all of my narcotics and stuff I want to be coherent when I meet him,' Vargas-Andrews said.

Vargas-Andrews initially was told the president would arrive in an hour - but Biden was late.

'Well, one hour goes by. Nothing. Two hours go by. Three hours go by, and it's like four hours at this point,' he recalled. 'And my mom's furious. She's like, "What the f***? Where is this guy?"'

'She finally - she like kind of sits up and I see her get a little anxious and she's like OK Secret Service are coming into the floor, he's probably going to be here in a few minutes,' Vargas-Andrews said.

Vargas-Andrews soon realized that after the trauma he had experienced he had no recollection of who the current president was.

'I was like oh my God, who's the f***ing president? And just so much had happened, I had so much trauma on me, I had no idea who the president was,' he told interviewer Shawn Ryan. 'I didn't think it was Trump. I didn't think it was Biden. My brain couldn't make the connection.'

When he was told that it was Biden he said he uttered, 'Oh my God.'

'Two minutes later, he walks in with him and Jill Biden and their little entourage of people and like a photographer,' Vargas-Andrews said.

'And right away, I remember him coming up to me trying to shake my hand, shake my right hand, and I look at him, and I'm like, "I don't have an arm,"' Vargas-Andrews recalled. 'My left arm is in this big a** cast with this giant orange f***ing foam block around it. I'm completely immobile. All I can do is move my head. My arm's gone. I don't have an arm.'

Biden tried to make hand contact with the Marine anyway.

'And he says, "Oh," and kind of stands up and goes to reach for my fingers, because about an inch of my fingers are showing and like grabs my fingers. Doesn't greet me or anything, that's what happened, just grabbed my fingers,' Vargas-Andrews continued.

'And like OK that's weird,' Vargas-Andrews commented.

The Marine said the Bidens almost immediately started talking about how the late Beau Biden served in the military.

He said that conversation infuriated his mother, who he said told the president and first lady: 'I don't care what you guys f***ing do, you guys better take care of him for the rest of his fucking life.'

'He leans over me. I have a picture of this to prove it, I'll show you this picture that I have, it's a pretty funny picture. He leans over me and he's like this close to my face and he's like, "What do you want?"' Vargas-Andrews recalled.

'I said, "What?" He said, "What do you want?"' the Marine said. 'I'm just like confused. I just got blown up, I just saw my f***ing friends die next to me, I just want to be myself. And he's like, "Huh?" and my mom's furious.'

Vargas-Andrews' mother then told the president, 'He just wants to be him.'

'And he goes, "Oh, OK," and they just continued to talk about everything but what just happened and then they just ushered him out of the room,' he said. 'He didn't know what to say.'

'And that was that,' Vargas-Andrews said.
Police in Northern Ireland have been involved in a data breach 'of monumental proportions' affecting thousands of officers and civilian staff.

The major breach reportedly involves names, ranks and other personal data from employees of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), but does not involve the officers' and civilians' private addresses, it is understood.

Containing the surnames of more than 10,000 staff, the data was mistakenly divulged in response to a Freedom of Information request and appears to cover everyone within the service, from chief constable Simon Byrne down.

The request for information had asked for a breakdown of all staff rank and grades in the PSNI.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said he was 'deeply concerned' by the data breach, while the Police Federation for Northern Ireland (PFNI) said its members were 'appalled'.

Addressing the media in Belfast on Tuesday, Assistant Chief Constable Chris Todd apologised to officers for the 'unacceptable' breach.

At a press conference in Belfast, PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Chris Todd (pictured) said the surnames, initials, the rank or grade, the location and the departments of all current officers had been accidentally published in response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request

He said that once it was brought to the PSNI's attention it was taken down 'quickly', and that early indications were that this was a 'simple human error'.

Mr Todd also said there were no immediate security concerns, but they were monitoring the situation.

'I understand that that will be of considerable concern to many of my colleagues and their families indeed, at the moment,' he said.

'We operate in an environment at the moment where there's a severe threat to our colleagues from Northern Ireland-related terrorism and this is the last thing that anybody in the organisation wants to be hearing this evening.

'So, I owe it to all my colleagues to make sure that this is investigated thoroughly, and we've initiated that and will keep them informed, keep all the staff associations informed of that investigation, and we've been engaging with them throughout the afternoon.

'The information was taken down very quickly but, nevertheless, I do appreciate the concern, of course we will seek to find the extent to which that has been viewed.

'What I would say is that although the error was our own, once that information was out there if anybody did have access to it, I would ask them to delete it straight away.'

Mr Todd said: 'In terms of the security for individuals, there's nothing at the moment to suggest there's any immediate security concerns, but we have put actions in place to ensure that if anything does arise we will be aware of that, and then we can mitigate accordingly'

He added: 'We've identified some steps that we can take to ensure that it doesn't happen again. It is regrettable but it is simple human error'

The incident was first reported by the Belfast Telegraph, which reported that it viewed the uploaded material after it was contacted by a relative of a serving officer.

Apart from the person who released the information, the PSNI was unaware the information had been released until they saw it on a website, Mr Todd confirmed.

He said that despite the data only including surnames and initials, the breach will still be 'of significant concern to many of my colleagues'.

'We will ensure we do anything we can to mitigate any security risks that are identified.'

He added: 'We've looked into the circumstances, we'll continue with our investigation, but the very early considerations are that this is simple human error and the people who have been involved in the process have acted in good faith.

'We've identified some steps that we can take to ensure that it doesn't happen again.

'It is regrettable but it is simple human error.'

Liam Kelly, chair of the PFNI, said: 'This is a breach of monumental proportions. Even if it was done accidentally, it still represents a data and security breach that should never have happened.

'Rigorous safeguards ought to have been in place to protect this valuable information which, if in the wrong hands, could do incalculable damage.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris (pictured) said he was 'deeply concerned' by the data breach, while the Police Federation for Northern Ireland said its members were 'appalled'

Politicians have reacted with shock - the SDLP's policing spokesman Mark H Durkan called on PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne (pictured) to make a statement

'The men and women I represent are appalled by this breach. They are shocked, dismayed and justifiably angry. Like me, they are demanding action to address this unprecedented disclosure of sensitive information.'

A spreadsheet was published publicly online relating to how many officers the service has of each rank, but it had a second tab that contained more detailed information about thousands of staff members and their employment, the Belfast Telegraph reported.

The UUP representative on the Policing Board of Northern Ireland MLA Mike Nesbitt on Tuesday night called for an emergency meeting of the Policing Board.

He said: 'It is imperative that officers, staff and their families and friends understand how seriously this breach is being taken, and that the board is determined to fulfil its oversight and challenge functions appropriately.'

He added: 'I view this like a serious incident when people are seriously physically injured. The priority is to assist the injured. Only after that do you turn to examine the other issues.

'In other words, my thoughts are with those whose names have been released into the public domain, who had a reasonable expectation this would never happen.'

Senior police were last night meeting to discuss the breach which is being attributed to human error ahead, while Stormont politicians were calling for an emergency meeting.

Alliance leader Naomi Long MLA said: 'This level of data breach is clearly of profound concern, not least to police officers, civilian staff and their families, who will be feeling incredibly vulnerable and exposed tonight, and in the days ahead.

'Immediate action must be taken to offer them proper information, support, guidance and necessary reassurances regarding their and their families' security.'

Other politicians have reacted with shock - the SDLP's policing spokesman Mark H Durkan called on PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne to make a statement.

DUP MLA for South Antrim, Trevor Clarke, a member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, said they would look for answers when it meets on Thursday, and pinned some blame on Mr Heaton-Harris.

'The Secretary of State has presided over a budget, which is the worst that the police have ever had - they've looked to reduce numbers at a time they should've been increasing numbers,' he told BBC Radio 4's World Tonight.

Mr Todd said Mr Byrne is aware of the issue, but would not comment on whether he would return from his summer break to respond.

'I'm the duty officer and I'm the senior information risk owner, so I take responsibility for this,' he said.

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has been notified about the incident.

An ICO spokesman said: 'The Police Service of Northern Ireland has made us aware of an incident and we are assessing the information provided.'

The PSNI was contacted for comment.

It came as it was revealed that more than 40 million voters may have had their data stolen in the biggest data breach in UK history.

The Electoral Commission has its headquarters located at 3 Bunhill Row in the City of London

The Electoral Commission revealed yesterday that 'hostile actors' had access to its systems for 14 months without being detected. It meant the hackers may have obtained the name and address of nearly every voter in the country.

The commission admitted it still did not 'know conclusively what files may or may not have been accessed' and what data was downloaded or copied. The criminals were able to view electoral registers with the names and addresses of at least 40 million people registered to vote between 2014 and 2022.

The attack on the Electoral Commission also compromised its file sharing and email system, allowing access to the online addresses and data of anyone who messaged its staff. The National Cyber Security Centre, which is probing the incident, did not rule out the possibility of a foreign state attack.

David Omand, a former GCHQ director, said Moscow was the prime suspect.

'Russians, and I point to them in particular, have been interfering with democratic elections for some years now  think of the 2016 US election, and then the French election, and then the German election, even our own 2019 election,' he said.

'They have been trying to interfere with the democratic process. It is not at all surprising that hostile agencies would try and hack into the Electoral Commission.'

Sir David told BBC Radio 4 he cited Russia because of the record of its military intelligence and civilian agents in interfering with Western elections.'

Yesterday the commission stressed the data accessed would not allow anyone to meddle in parliamentary or council elections by impersonating voters. It also said it was confident the hackers did not edit or change the electoral registers.

But MPs called for the National Cyber Security Centre and Parliament's intelligence and security committee to investigate how the data was being used.

READ MORE: TWO data breaches that defy belief: Details of more than 40 MILLION voters are exposed in a cyber attack on the electoral roll while the name of EVERY police officer in Northern Ireland is published in error Advertisement

Tory MP Simon Fell, chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on cyber security, said: 'Frankly this attack has put us all at risk. What is so deeply concerning is the volume and scale of this data breach.

'A lot of this information may be in the public domain elsewhere, but where it has real value to the people who may want to cause us harm is it is all in one place.

'It must be the biggest single data set breach in the UK. Given the scale and complexity of this, there are very few groups capable of such an attack, the usual suspects would be Russia, China, Iran and North Korea.

'But it is Russia that has a history of interference in elections.'

The attackers were able to access reference copies of the registers held for research purposes and for permissibility checks on political donations.

The registers included the name and address of anyone in the UK who was registered to vote between 2014 and 2022, as well as registered overseas voters.

The watchdog apologised yesterday, saying that although 'much of the data' was already in the public domain, it is possible 'this data could be combined with other data in the public domain ... to infer patterns of behaviour or to identify and profile individuals'.

Hackers infiltrated the commission's systems in August 2021 but the security breach was not discovered until October 2022. The commission said the attack had 'used a sophisticated infiltration method, intended to evade our checks', which was why it had taken so long to detect.

Officials decided to delay informing the public while they removed the hackers and put additional security in place.

But Anthony Young, of cyber security firm Bridewell, said: 'If the attackers had access to the commission's email systems and controls for over 14 months, during this time they could have contacted other individuals, companies and government departments claiming to be part of the electoral commission. This could lead to further loss of data or finances.'

Shaun McNally, the chief executive of the Electoral Commission, apologised, saying: 'The UK's democratic process is significantly dispersed and key aspects of it remain based on paper documentation and counting.

'This means it would be very hard to use a cyber-attack to influence the process. We know which systems were accessible to the hostile actors, but are not able to know conclusively what files may or may not have been accessed.'

Q&A: What data was accessed? Is my name and address online? Your questions answered after electoral roll cyber attack sees the details of more than 40 million people leaked

BY REBECCA CAMBER, CRIME AND SECURITY EDITOR FOR THE DAILY MAIL

In what is the biggest data breach in UK history, more than 40 million voters may have had their data stolen as hackers had access to the Electoral Commission's systems for 14 months without being detected.

'Hostile actors' could possibly have obtained the name and address of nearly every voter in the country.

The National Cyber Security Centre, which is probing the incident, has not ruled out the possibility of a foreign state attack.

To answer any questions that you may have regarding the attack, read below:

More than 40 million voters may have had their data stolen in the biggest data breach in UK history (File image)

What data was accessed?

The hackers were able to see the names and addresses of anyone who was registered to vote in the UK between 2014 and 2022, as well as those registered as overseas voters, including those who opted to keep their details off the open register.

The details of anonymous voters - who are not identified for security or safety reasons - were not accessible.

Any details provided to the Electoral Commission via email or through forms on its website, such as the 'contact us online' form may also have been compromised.

READ MORE: The name of EVERY police officer in Northern Ireland is published in error Advertisement

Investigators have been unable to ascertain whether the attackers read or copied personal data.

Who was behind it?

No groups or individuals have claimed responsibility for the attack, which the Electoral Commission has described as the work of 'hostile actors'.

MI5 considers 'hostile actors' to include foreign state attacks, criminals, 'hacktivist' groups and terrorists.

Foreign states are generally equipped to conduct the most damaging cyber espionage and computer network attacks, according to MI5.

How serious is this breach?

The data contained in the electoral registers is limited and much of it is already in the public domain.

According to the risk assessment used by the Information Commissioner's Office to assess the harm of data breaches, the personal data held on electoral registers, typically name and address, does not in itself present a high risk to individuals.

It is possible however that this data could be combined with other data in the public domain to infer patterns of behaviour or to identify and profile individuals.

Electoral Commission chief executive Shaun McNally, pictured visiting polling stations with his dogs on voting day on May 5, last year, in a photograph issued by the commission

Is my name and address online?

There is no indication that information accessed during this cyber-attack has been published online, but there remains the possibility that some information has found its way into the public domain.

There are a number of steps that can be taken to check whether your personal information is publicly available.

If you want to check if your email address has been compromised, you can search https://haveibeenpwned.com/ to see if it has been released through reported data breaches.

To see what information the Electoral Commission holds on you, you can submit a subject access request by filing in a form, or apply via email or phone.

If you think you have supplied financial data to the Electoral Commission via email, there are free online credit check tools by reputable companies like Experian, which include online identity theft protection and monitoring.

The National Cyber Security Centre also provides advice about securing your data.

Why are the public only finding out now?

The Electoral Commission was alerted to the attack by a suspicious pattern of log-in requests to its systems in October 2022.

It then emerged that the 'hostile actors' had first accessed servers in August 2021.

Officials delayed informing the public because security experts needed to remove the hackers and their access to our system.

The Commission had to assess the extent of the incident to understand who might be impacted and put additional security measures in place to prevent any future attacks.
One of the most frequently used Russian helicopters used in Ukraine is the Ka-52 and the upgraded Ka-52M. What makes these helicopters so effective is their Lemur laser-guided anti-tank missile. With a range of 15 kilometers, the Lemur can be fired while beyond the range of Ukrainian anti-aircraft weapons. Despite that, about 40 Ka-52s have been lost in Ukraine since early 2022. The Ka-52 often flies low enough to be shot down with American or Ukrainian anti-tank missiles. Russia has produced about 200 Ka-52s, with 48 exported to Egypt and North Macedonia.

Russia has also sent about half a dozen of their new Mi-28NM combat helicopters to Ukraine, where they expect to thrive and survive using new weapons and countermeasures. Not many Russian helicopters have been seen in Russian occupied Ukraine since so many were destroyed during the first months of fighting. At the time of the invasion the Russian air force had about 1,500 helicopters. Most (74 percent) were older transport helicopters though many were recent versions of the Cold War era Mi-8 transports and Mi-24 gunships. This helicopter force seemed formidable but the Russians had a shortage of pilots and maintainers. Most of the available pilots and maintainers were assigned to operate the 400 more recent models that had been introduced since 2006. These were the ones sent to Ukraine where they received their first real combat test against modern anti-aircraft weapons and aircraft. The new Russian helicopters did not do well. The KA-52 gunship (introduced in 2011) was thought to be well equipped to handle modern portable anti-aircraft missiles like the American Stinger. The Americans had updated the Stinger more than the anti-missile defenses of the Ka-52 could handle. Transport helicopters were even more vulnerable. After eight months of combat Russia had lost nearly a hundred helicopters, mainly to ground fire. There were also losses due to accidents and mechanical failures. It was obvious that the most modern Russian designs were not up to the demands of combat against well-equipped opponents. Losses continued to the present. The Ukraine fighting was the first time Russian helicopters had to face a near-peer adversary and losses were much higher than when used against irregular forces in Syria and other areas.

Among the ambitious building plans that were derailed was the 2007 decision to replace the 250 Mi-24 helicopter gunships with 300 of the more recent Mi-28s. The Mi-24 is a twelve-ton aircraft based on the Cold War era Mi-8/17 transport. The U.S. did the same thing with the AH-1, developing it from the UH-1 "Huey." But rather than adopt the two-seater (one pilot behind the other) approach of the AH-1 and AH-64 Apache, the Mi-24 could still carry troops or cargo in the back, and was not as nimble as the AH-1. The 11-ton Mi-28 looks more like the AH-64. That's because, by the end of the 1960s, the Russians realized that the AH-1 design was superior.

For several years, there was intense competition to decide which of its two new helicopter gunship designs (the Ka-50/52 and Mi-28N) to standardize on. The 2007 decision settled the matter. About 50 Mi-28s were purchased by 2014 but plans to have 300 in service by 2019 were canceled because of the sanctions. Meanwhile over a hundred of the cheaper Ka-52s were built.

Russia has used two new helicopter gunships in Syria. The widely known one, the replacement for the 1960s Mi-24, is the Mi-28. Then some of the Ka-52s showed up in doing the same job as the Mi-28. Ka-52 is an all-weather helicopter that is a two-seat version of the Ka-50, which was originally designed as a scout helicopter for the army and a navalized version for warships. Yet the Ka-52 weighs 11 tons, twice what a Western scout helicopter usually weighs. Ka-52 has a top speed of 350 kilometers an hour and can carry up to two tons of weapons or additional fuel. Normal operating range is 260 kilometers, but with additional fuel tanks, it can stay in the air for up to four hours. Weapons carried include 30mm or 23mm automatic cannon, plus bombs, missiles and rockets. Missiles used in Syria included 9M120 (AT-9) which is similar to the U.S. Hellfire and entered service in the mid-1980s. Also used were unguided 80mm rockets. The Ka-52 also comes equipped with electronic countermeasures systems for protection from the Russian shoulder fired surface-to-air missiles some rebel groups have.

The Ka-52 is similar to the U.S. AH64 Apache, which weighs ten tons and can carry about the same number of weapons. However, the AH-64 has a lower max speed (300 kilometers an hour) and has a lot more combat experience. Developed a decade before the Ka-50, there are over a thousand AH-64s in service. To deal with this, the Ka-52 sells for 30 percent less than a comparable model of the AH-64. Once the Ka-52 had some successful combat experience it seemed to be a more attractive alternative to the AH-64.

In 2010 Russia began equipping Ka-52 helicopters with an improved (Arbalet) radar. This gave the Ka-52 an all-weather targeting system. The Ka-52 is an upgrade from the original Ka-50 variant. The Russian army bought over 40 Ka-50 helicopter gunships. Some saw action in Chechnya. The Ka-50 is not considered a replacement for the Mi-24 gunship, but rather as a scout helicopter. The Ka-50 weighs 11 tons, has a top speed of 350 kilometers an hour and can carry up to two tons of weapons or additional fuel. Normal operating range is 260 kilometers, but with additional fuel tanks, it can stay in the air for up to four hours.

The Ka-52 variant initially had two seats, so that a commander could be carried. Normally, the Ka-50/52 operates with one pilot. Weapons carried include 30mm or 23mm automatic cannon, plus bombs, missiles and rockets.

Despite its designation as a scout helicopter, the Ka-50 is similar to the U.S. AH64 Apache, which weighs ten tons and can carry about the same number of weapons. However, the AH-64 has a lower max speed (300 kilometers an hour) and has a two-man crew. Developed a decade before the Ka-50, there are over a thousand AH-64s in service. To deal with this, the Ka-52 sells for a third or more less than a comparable model AH-64. U.S. scout helicopters weigh less than three tons, but the Russians expect their attack helicopters to operate as scouts as well as combat helicopters.
Donald Trump claimed the Fulton County district attorney who is expected to slap him with a fourth indictment soon is having an affair with a gang member in a wild tirade in New Hampshire on Tuesday.

'They say there's a young woman, a young racist, in Atlanta, and they say, I guess, they say she was after a certain gang, she ended up having an affair with the head of the gang or a gang member,' Trump claimed, referring to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.

'This is a person who wants to indict me. She's got a lot of problems but she wants to indict me to try and run for some other office,' the former president went on at a campaign event in New Hampshire, 'wants to indict me for a perfect phone call. This is even better than my perfect phone call with Ukraine,' he added, referring to his call with Sec. of State Brad Raffensperger.

Donald Trump claimed the Fulton County district attorney who is expected to slap him with a fourth indictment soon is having an affair with a gang member in a wild tirade in New Hampshire on Tuesday

On January 2, 2021 Trump called Raffensperger and asked him to 'find' the votes he needed to win the election. Willis is probing whether Trump improperly pressured Georgia officials to overturn the results in the 2020 election.

Trump attorney Alina Habba said on Sunday she expects the fourth indictment of Trump to land within weeks.

'The barricades, the fact that she's got her P.R. team doing fresh pictures for her, it's a good indicator that Fani wants her moment, and she will  she will get on the bandwagon with the rest of the corrupt DAs and A.G.s that we have seen out of this country,' Habba told Fox News on Sunday.

'We're ready,' Willis told Fox 5 Atlanta last week when asked about a possible Trump indictment.

It's not clear where Trump got the idea Willis had an affair with a gang member. The Atlanta DA vowed to get tough on gangs - which she blamed for '75 to 80 percent of all the violent crime' in the area.

She expanded the office's gang unit and pushed police to seek more gang warrants and lobbied for an anti-gang law in the state legislature.

Willis has made national headlines both for her work on the Trump case and for previous charges that swept up famed rappers Young Thug and Gunna, in addition to 26 others, who were supposed members Drug Rich Gang - a group involved in murders and robberies throughout Atlanta.

'They say there's a young woman, a young racist, in Atlanta, and they say, i guess, they say she was after a certain gang, she ended up having an affair with the head of the gang or a gang member,' Trump claimed, referring to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis

'This is a person who wants to indict me. She's got a lot of problems but she wants to indict me to try and run for some other office,' the former president went on

Young Thug co-founded Young Stoner Life (YSL) music label with rapper YSL Mondo - who said that Willis had previously defended him in court during a 2019 aggravated assault case.

Mondo told Rolling Stone the Fani Willis who was prosecuting Young Thug was not the Fani Willis he had known.

'This is not her character, this is not who she is,' he told the magazine. 'I done had auntie-to-nephew, mother-to-son type of talks with her. I know this not her character. This is what made me start looking at [the YSL case] like I know it's bigger than just her. It's politics behind this s**t. It's other people that's behind her pulling strings.'

On Friday Trump posted a video to Truth Social calling Willis, Biden and the other prosecutors who are going after him the 'Fraud Squad.'

'So corrupt, Willis got caught hiding a relationship with a gang member she was prosecuting,' the video stated, citing the Rolling Stone article.

There's no indication Willis hid her representation of Mondo or had any sexual relationship with him.

But far-right online commentator Laura Loomer accused Willis of having an affair with her client on Twitter last week.

'Atlanta DA, Fani Willis, who is targeting Donald Trump in Georgia is a straight up THOT,' Loomer wrote along with the video in a Twitter post last week. 'Turns out she failed to disclose a previous relationship she had with a gang banger she was supposed to be prosecuting. Baby girl belongs in a Trap House. Not a court house.'
A New York state trooper has refuted online rumors that a husband was involved in the murder-suicide of his wife and their infant daughter - after he was 'dragged through the mud' on social media.

Dr. Krystal Cascetta, 40, entered the baby's room around 7am on Saturday in the town of Somers, which is in Westchester County, New York, and shot the child before turning the gun on herself.

Cascetta's husband, Timothy Talty, 37, was away at the time  but Cascetta's parents were inside the $1million house during the fatal shootings.

Despite the fact he was not there, rumors circulated online that Talty was somehow involved - which have now been quashed by officials.

NY State Trooper Steven Nevel told Today.com: 'The trolls on social media are dragging the husband through the mud.

Cascetta was a hematology-oncology specialist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City

Dr. Krystal Cascetta married Talty in 2019 at a celebration in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Their daughter was their only child. Police and ambulances had been called to their home previously, neighbors claimed

'But I can tell you 100% unequivocally, without a doubt, that he did not do this.

'It's really easy for people to come up with conspiracy theories.

'He's been nothing but cooperative. The family has been beyond cooperative.'

The people who were in the house at the time initially thought that the gunshot was something falling to the ground in the child's nursery. They soon realized that was not the case.

Police and ambulances had been previously called to the 'very private' family's $1million home at least twice before the fatal ordeal, her neighbors revealed.

Bob Stuart, 71, who lived near the couple's home, told the New York Post: 'They had ambulances and police come to their house two, maybe three times this summer. At least twice.

'I saw the police and ambulances arrive.'

Stuart's wife, Betsy, added that the family were 'very private people, kept to themselves,' to the point that they hadn't heard from them in nearly two years.

NY State Trooper Steven Nevel said: 'The trolls on social media are dragging the husband through the mud. I can tell you 100% unequivocally, without a doubt, that he did not do this'

Cascetta, 40, entered the baby's room around 7am on Saturday in the town of Somers, which is in Westchester County, New York, and shot the child before turning the gun on herself. The family's $1million home is pictured

The Stuarts said they did not even know the doctor was pregnant.

It has not been revealed why police and ambulances were previously called to the home.

Authorities also have not released the child's age and sex, but an online registry suggests the infant was just four and a half months old.

Law enforcement officials later told the Rockland/Westchester Journal News the baby was a girl and the only child of Cascetta and energy bar tycoon Talty.

A motive for the murder-suicide has not yet been released, as friends and former patients of the New York City oncology doctor rally around her.

Dr. Cascetta, a hematology-oncology specialist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, had lived with Talty in the Granite Springs area of Somers in a home worth $1million.

On his Instagram page, Talty had shared images of the two in Austin, Texas, when he said Cascetta had visited him when they first started dating.

The two had married in 2019 in a celebration in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, which Talty described on social media as 'so special.'

At the time, he said: 'My Wife! It took us a year to plan and a lifetime to gather all of the wonderful people to make our wedding so special!'

He now runs his own energy bar company, called the Talty Bar, and has previously shared online how his wife used her medical and scientific knowledge to help advise on how to create the best product.

When contacted by DailyMail.com about his wife's alleged crime, he only said: 'Can you give us some time?'

Cascetta was a board-certified hematologist and medical oncologist in New York City, specializing in breast cancer.

The couple were 'very private' and neighbors hadn't heard from them in two years

As a resident in internal medicine at the Hofstra North Shore LIJ School of Medicine at North Shore University Hospital she received the Intern of the Year award.

She had also served as Chief Fellow at Mount Sinai Hospital after completing a fellowship program in Hematology and Medical Oncology.

Cascetta was a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Society of Hematology.

She received her medical degree from Albany Medical College, where she was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society for demonstrating excellence in humanistic clinical care, leadership, compassion, and dedication to service.

In a bio about Cascetta, the doctor was described as an avid runner and fitness enthusiast.

It also says that being a doctor 'was in her DNA,' noting she was often found as a child wrapping her dolls in gauze.

When she was in eighth grade, her mother's best friend passed away from breast cancer, which is said to have spurred her on to pursue a career in medicine.

Cascetta had lived in the Granite Springs area of Somers in New York inside a $1 million home with her husband Tim Talty, pictured here. He was not home at the time of the murder/suicide

She later became an active investigator in breast cancer clinical trials.

Her friends and patients remembered her Saturday night for her compassion, with Eri Barr posting on Facebook that she was 'absolutely devastated' by the news.

'She was my friend at Albany Med and residency,' Barr wrote. 'I always looked up to her.'

Maureen Daly also remembered Cascetta as being 'true to your profession.

'You were caring and very compassionate to your patients,' she posted of the doctor, adding: 'I will miss our talks.'

Writer Kambri Crews wrote that Cascetta 'was a star in her field, dedicated and lovely, whip smart and competitive athlete.'

'Years after my cancer surgery, she and I hosted a breast cancer presentation, and she included me on some cutting-dg research and trials,' Crews recounted. 'Because of her, I opted to skip chemo as part of one study.

'I don't know what was happening in her life that she felt this was the best end to her story,' the writer continued, 'but I know a large community of survivors, patients and colleagues are broken-hearted.

'She deeply cared for her patients, and I am grateful that I was one.'
Republican Sen. Rand Paul is recommending the top prosecutor in Washington, D.C., pursue an investigation and possible criminal charges against Dr. Anthony Fauci for allegedly lying under oath about COVID-19 origins.

Paul sent a letter to D.C. U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves Tuesday, demanding an investigation into Fauci for allegedly committing perjury during a congressional hearing in 2021 when he said that COVID did not come from a Chinese lab.

'Dr. Fauci testified that 'the NIH has not ever and does not now fund gain-of function research in the Wuhan Institute of Virology.' In a subsequent hearing, I warned Dr. Fauci of the criminal implications of lying to Congress and offered him an opportunity to recant his previous statements,' writes Paul in the letter exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com.

'In response, Dr. Fauci stated that he had 'never lied before the Congress' and 'd[id] not retract that statement.' Dr. Fauci's testimony is inconsistent with facts that have since come to light,' the senator continues.

The move comes just weeks after he submitted an 'official criminal referral' to the Department of Justice. An aide to Paul confirmed to DailyMail.com that the DOJ never responded.

The referral relates to Fauci's previous testimony on the coronavirus and its potential origins from a Chinese lab with Paul suggesting Fauci lied under oath. He is pictured in November '22

Perjury is a federal offense that carries up to five years in prison.

'Before Congress, Dr. Fauci denied funding gain-of-function research, to the press he claims to have a dispassionate view on the lab leak hypothesis, and in private he acknowledges gain-of-function research at WIV to his colleagues His own colleagues have acknowledged Dr. Fauci's inconsistency,' continues Paul in the letter to Graves.

'A congressional hearing, however, is not the place for a public servant to play political games  especially when the health and well-being of American citizens is on the line.'

The D.C. U.S. Attorney's office confirmed receipt of the letter and declined to comment further.

Paul previously wrote to Attorney General Merrick Garland on July 14 and July 23 calling for an investigation into whether Fauci lied under oath over his knowledge of dangerous virus research that was taking place at the Wuhan lab, in China.

In July 2021, Dr Fauci testified how his former department 'has not ever and does not now fund gain-of-function research in the Wuhan Institute of Virology.'

Gain-of-function research refers to a type of scientific investigation conducted on viruses, with the purpose of enhancing their transmissibility or virulence.

The aim is to understand how viruses evolve and potentially predict and prepare for future disease outbreaks, but also raises concerns regarding biosafety and biosecurity.

Fauci was the former Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) until the end of 2022 and was responsible for signing off on such research grants.

On July 13, 2023 the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic released emails sent by Fauci about a conference call regarding the origins of COVID attended by Dr. Francis Collins, former director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, and other researchers.

In one email, Fauci admits the scientists had concerns that Covid might have been genetically engineered and that these were worsened by the fact that gain-of-function research was taking place in Wuhan before the pandemic.

Emails dated February 1, 2020 show Fauci acknowledged that 'scientists in Wuhan University are known to have been working on gain-of-function experiments to determine that molecular mechanisms associated with bat viruses adapting to human infection, and the outbreak originated in Wuhan'

Emails dated February 1, 2020 show Fauci acknowledged that 'scientists in Wuhan University are known to have been working on gain-of-function experiments to determine that molecular mechanisms associated with bat viruses adapting to human infection, and the outbreak originated in Wuhan.'

While the emails show that Fauci was aware of gain-of-function going on in the lab, he never admitted that the NIH funded it.

But the Government Accountability Office (GAO) determined last month that the Wuhan Institute of Virology and Wuhan University did in fact receive NIH funding, Paul said in his letter to AG Garland.

Paul drew attention to the February 2020 email in which Fauci details a call between British medical researcher Jeremy Farrar, who was director of the Wellcome Trust at the time.

On the call, Fauci, along with Francis Collins, former director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, and other 'highly credible' scientists shared concerns about the 'fact upon viewing the sequences of several isolates of the nCoV, there were mutations in the virus that would be most unusual to have evolved naturally in the bats and that there was a suspicion that this mutation was intentionally inserted.'

'The suspicion was heightened by the fact that scientists in Wuhan University are known to have been working on gain-of-function experiments to determine the molecular mechanisms associated with bat viruses adapting to human infection, and the outbreak originated in Wuhan,' Fauci wrote in the un-redacted email..

'This directly contradicts everything he said in committee hearing to me, denying absolutely that they funded any gain of function, and it's absolutely a lie. That's why I sent an official criminal referral to the DOJ,' Paul wrote on Twitter.

In July, Paul told Fauci that lying to Congress was a federal crime and suggested he had lied about the COVID-19 gain-of-function research conducted at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China.

Paul gave Fauci the opportunity to retract his May 11 statement claiming the U.S. did not fund gain of function research with its $600,000 grant, saying 'Dr. Fauci, knowing that it is a crime to lie to Congress, do you wish to retract your statement?'

Fauci became animated during the exchange, as he pointed his fingers at Paul for being a 'liar'

Fauci went on to insist he 'never lied before Congress' during previous testimony in May.

'You don't know what you're talking about,' Fauci told Paul.

Paul, who studied at the Duke University School of Medicine said that a paper that credited the NIH saw the author take two bat coronavirus spike proteins to combine them creating a new virus, not naturally found in nature but would spread in humans, Paul said in a July congressional hearing.

'Viruses that in nature only infect animals were manipulated in the Wuhan lab to gain the function of infecting humans,' he said.

'They took animal viruses that only occur in animals, and they increased their transmissibility to humans. How you can say that's not gain of function  it's a dance, and you're dancing around this because you're trying to obscure responsibility for 4 million people dying around the world from a pandemic.'

Fauci said the paper that Paul has been referring to 'was judged by qualified staff up and down the chain as not being gain of function.'

But the newly released emails show Fauci referring to the research by scientists at Wuhan University as 'gain-of-function experiments'.

FBI Director Christopher Wray confirmed that a leak from a laboratory in the central Chinese city of Wuhan likely caused the COVID pandemic.

'The FBI has for quite some time now assessed that the origins of the pandemic are most likely a potential lab incident in Wuhan,' Wray said in February.

In June, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) determined that the Wuhan Institute of Virology and Wuhan University received NIH funding, Paul also noted in his letter to Garland.

It said: 'The report noted that NIH funded the WIV's project 'Understanding the Risk of Bat Coronavirus Emergence' and included 'genetic experiments to combine naturally occurring bat coronaviruses with SARS and MERS viruses, resulting in hybridized coronavirus strains.'

'GAO also found that NIH funded the Wuhan University's collaboration with WIV on viral detection in the Yunnan province.'

As the former head of the NIH, Fauci presided over the allocation of taxpayer-funded grants for virus-enhancing research at the WIV years before the pandemic began.

A federal watchdog found the NIH 'did not effectively monitor' those experiments or check whether they involved pathogens with pandemic risk.

The Energy Department, FBI and several government committees believe the virus leaked from a lab, pointing to a number of coincidences and indirect evidence.
With its big bay window, real wood floors and pristine cream interiors, the house seemed like my dream home.

After ten years living in a tiny, noisy London flat, I couldn't wait to move into the terrace house in Norwich I'd rented as I embarked on an exciting new chapter in my life as a mature university student. I imagined a healthier, happier life outside the capital in a cosy and comfortable home.

But that was far from what I found. For behind the newly-painted walls and ceilings lurked mould, damp and decay - invisible to the human eye, but a major health threat that would leave me seriously ill and doubting my own sanity.

This week, we learned just how lethal unhealthy houses can be.

The inquest into 27-year-old Luke Brooks's death was told that the post-mortem examination had made a preliminary finding that Luke, who had no previous health issues, had been suffering from pneumonia, leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome brought on by living in 'heavily mould-infested accommodation'.

Laura Topham became sick after moving into rented accommodation in Norwich

Luke Brooks (pictured) died after moving into a mould-infested property in Oldham with his mother

His mother Patricia said she had begged the council to move them out of their home in Oldham, Greater Manchester, 'before somebody dies'.

The inquest is being heard by the same coroner, Joanne Kearsley, who ruled last year that two-year-old Awaab Ishak died in Rochdale from a respiratory condition caused by exposure to mould in his home.

Both cases throw into stark relief the problem of Britain's sick buildings.

Recognised by the World Health Organisation as causing an array of neuro-toxic effects, problems with breathing, irritations to the skin, eyes, nose and mouth, and other nasty reactions, mould and damp are especially prevalent here because of the UK's old housing stock and our cold, wet weather.

The statistics are nevertheless shocking: the housing charity Shelter estimates that 42 per cent of private renters  that's nearly 4.7 million people  have experienced issues with mould in the last year.

Particularly dangerous to asthmatics and those with a lowered immune system  but with the potential to make healthy adults acutely ill, too  mould releases millions of microscopic spores into the air that are then inhaled and can germinate silently in the lungs, damaging them.

Little Awaab's father, Faisal Abdullah, complained about the uninhabitable state of the family's flat three times to Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, only to be ignored by officials.

Yet for tens of thousands of people plagued by persistent, inexplicable illness or fatigue, their home is the last thing they think could be causing their symptoms.

Before I moved into the house in Norwich in September 2015, I'd have been sceptical myself.

There was certainly nothing to suggest the house I viewed  one of around 4.4 milllion private lets in the UK  was in anything other than perfect condition.

The walls and ceilings were flawless, the bathroom and kitchen were modern and everything appeared in good repair.

It was my first time renting in a decade - I own my London flat - but I was convinced I'd got lucky early in my search, and eagerly handed over my 1,025 deposit.

The first sign of a problem came as the removals men were still unloading my furniture.

The next door neighbour came round and said: 'You do know the chimney is about to fall through your roof? I keep telling your landlord there's a damp problem, but she does nothing.'

When I told the woman at the letting agency about the chimney, she laughed it off, so I did, too.

She told me the house was owned by 'a woman abroad' and had been rented by a male tenant for the previous seven years, who'd left it 'in a bit of a state'. Still, I didn't suspect anything was amiss.

It was on the second day there that I noticed a very strong smell in the living room, a deep, musty, earthy smell  it reminded me of old tents unpacked after a winter in storage.

I assumed it was just that 'old house' smell, and would dissipate once I'd lived there a while.

When I tried to open the windows, however, I discovered the downstairs ones had been sealed shut. I reported this to the letting agency and left the front and back doors open as much as possible.

During the first week in the house I began my new university course and started meeting new people.

So when I started to feel ill - headachy and under the weather in a vague, flu-like way - I assumed it was just the stress of a new environment.

But I didn't feel at all stressed - only excited and happy. Also, I noticed I felt much better if I was out of the house for prolonged periods.

Studying at home all day would fell me, but a day on campus made me feel almost like my old self.

I suspected something in the house was to blame, but it seemed ridiculous, and other people scoffed when I mentioned my suspicion. How could a house make me ill?

Laura told the letting agency she was worried there was something wrong with the property, but they did nothing

In October, I told the letting agency that I was worried there was something wrong with the property, but they did nothing. The windows remained sealed and my headaches were worsening.

It was around then that I noticed a pungent smell in the upstairs bathroom. The first whiff was like cat urine, so distinct that I assumed a stray had got upstairs  because I kept the doors open as much as possible and had seen a cat prowling around near my house.

Yet the smell only grew stronger - a wet, damp, mouldy smell quite different from downstairs. Because the bathroom was accessed through my bedroom, that soon stank, too.

As the stench grew, so too did my headaches and nausea. I would wake up at 5am with a splitting headache and too nauseous to move.

I began missing social events and couldn't study - especially as another symptom was constant mental fog through which I could barely think straight.

I would try to get myself out of the house, knowing I'd feel better for it, but often I couldn't even get out of bed. I started leaving the bedroom window open when I was home, even as the temperature dropped.

When my then-boyfriend said he always developed a bad stomach after visiting, I was convinced mould was to blame.

I bought an expensive dehumidifier in case that helped; it didn't. I went to the doctor, who was adamant it was carbon monoxide poisoning - although I knew it wasn't as I had two monitors (and a blood test proved it, too).

She refused my request for a mould test. 'If there was mould, you'd be able to see it,' she said.

One morning in late October, as I lay in bed so dizzy and sick I couldn't even roll over, I knew I had to escape the house. I took a taxi to the local Travelodge and when I woke the next day I felt semi-normal for the first time in weeks.

Despite this, I still could not believe it really was my house, so after two days I returned home, telling myself not to be silly. Within 72 hours I was laid up again.

A friend going on holiday let me move into her room for respite. Again, the symptoms disappeared. And again, when I returned to the house, so too did the sickness.

By mid-November I was desperate and depressed. I was missing lectures, behind on my work, barely socialising and saw no way out of leaving the property as I had signed a 12-month contract.

The letting agency, who had at last had the windows drilled open, kept saying to give it some time.

A second visit to the doctor resulted in anti-nausea tablets and a potential diagnosis of Crohn's disease (an inflammatory bowel disorder - fatigue is one of the symptoms), but still a refusal to consider mould as the cause of my symptoms.

At the end of my tether, I went to see the university's housing team and sobbed.

They advised me to call the local council's environmental health department, but warned they were overloaded - all I was able to do was leave voicemails.

My complaint came to nothing in any case, save a standard letter instructing me to resolve the situation with the letting agency.

I was stuck. The only solution I could see was giving the letting agency proof of the problem through an air test. But after calling dozens of air-testing companies around the UK, I found no service available for domestic use.

By the end of November, I'd had enough. I couldn't live like this. So I dug deep into my savings and moved to a nearby hotel. Within a few days I was feeling well enough to think straight again.

I emailed the head of the letting agency and told her I would never sleep in the house again and wanted to break my contract.

Two days later she came with me to see the house, though I hated returning even to meet her. When I got there I found a pile of red brick rubble on the pavement - the chimney had fallen off the roof.

As soon as I opened the door to the letting agent, as she stood on the doorstep before even entering the house, her face fell as the smell hit her. 'Oh my God,' she said. 'That's damp.'

As we toured the house she began apologising profusely and insisting I move out right away - she would even refund my expenses. I was too relieved to argue for a rent rebate. It was when we were in the kitchen that the truth finally came out.

An inquest heard fungus was found in Luke Brook's lungs by a pathologist conducting a post-mortem

Conditions inside of the house where Luke Brooks lived with his parents in Oldham, Greater Manchester

The room was directly below the bathroom, the epicentre of the wet mould smell upstairs. 'Laura,' she said.

'I have to tell you... I read the notes today, and before you moved in this ceiling collapsed as there was a leak. They put up a new ceiling, that's why it looks perfect, but the leak must still be there.'

To save money, she explained, they had literally just boarded up the ceiling and then painted over the problem.

But when they patched it up, that left mould to fester unseen between the floor and ceiling - the very worst place it can be.

When there is a leak hidden from view, between floors, this is where toxic black mould often grows - out of sight and unchecked.

The letting agent had been hoodwinked too. Whether the landlady knew about the botched work is anyone's guess, and I wonder how many other hapless tenants are lured into renting dangerous housing by a quick paint job.

Though horrified, I was mainly overwhelmed with relief, not just at the contract ending, but that what I had been saying and feeling was finally vindicated.

However, I still wanted answers - for my own sanity I needed concrete data proving my suspicions.

After phoning more air-testing companies, I eventually found one, Safe Air Quality, who would do an 'air survey', though it would cost me 420 and I had to beg them to drive to Norfolk.

The test found that the amount of fungal spores (mould) and 'organic matter' in the air in the living room was ten times the acceptable safe level and 15 times higher than that outside in my street.

In other words, something nasty was indeed coming up through the floorboards - and lots of it. In fact, the house was riddled with it.

Though black mould was presumably trapped in the kitchen ceiling, incredibly high levels of fungal spores were found in the bathroom, too.

The test concluded this environment was 'doubtlessly capable of provoking poor health' and 'has given rise to a maelstrom of potentially mycotoxic particulates and gases'.

The house was put up for sale almost immediately - I don't think the owner wanted to deal with the huge cost of properly fixing the decay. Shortly after its sale I found out that new tenants had moved in.

I didn't sue, despite the hit to my health and lost study time, and that the whole experience left me 5,000 out of pocket due to wasted rent, moving and storage costs, hotels and throwing away furniture and mattresses as they stank so badly.

Although the symptoms subsided after I left the house, and I could live normally again, I do still have migraines and fatigue, and wonder whether the mould exposure caused any long-term effects.

I am now living in a rental property again - but very happily this time, and I feel immensely lucky to have a responsible landlord and a responsive letting agency.

I learned one invaluable lesson, though - always trust your instinct, and if you think your house is making you ill, get out of there. Immediately.
Migrants who have refused to move to the Home Office's new accommodation barge will discover today if they will be stripped of taxpayer-funded support.

Fifteen asylum seekers brought legal challenges against attempts to relocate them from hotels to the Bibby Stockholm barge.

Seven claimed they had a phobia of water, it is understood.

All 15 were issued with legal notices by the Home Office warning them that free accommodation could be withdrawn if they declined to relocate to the barge berthed at Portland, Dorset. Those 24-hour legal warnings were due to expire last night.

A decision is due to be made on the cases by Home Office officials later today.

The Bibby Stockholm barge docked in Portland Port, Dorset, is pictured where it received its first 15 residents on Monday

If taxpayer-funded support is withdrawn the migrants are likely to be declared homeless, meaning responsibility for their care passes from central government to the local authority where they are currently living.

The Bibby Stockholm finally received its first 15 residents on Monday, with further arrivals yesterday.

A letter sent by the Home Office to an asylum seeker who refused to board the barge said 'accommodation is offered on a no-choice basis', Sky News reported. 'Where asylum seekers fail to take up an offer of suitable accommodation without a reasonable explanation, there should be no expectation that alternative accommodation will be offered,' the document went on.

'If you do not travel tomorrow, on August 8, 2023, arrangements for ceasing the support that you are receiving from the Home Office may commence.'

Migrant charity Care4Calais claimed on Monday it had 'cancelled' the transfer of 20 asylum seekers.

People board the Bibby Stockholm immigration barge on Monday. The Bibby Stockholm is moored at Portland in Dorset, as part of the Home Office's plan to accommodate up to 500 people on the vessel

The Justice Secretary conceded that Care4Calais' legal challenges were 'not improper of themselves'. Alex Chalk told the BBC yesterday: 'But we will be challenging them because we take the view that they are misguided, they are last-minute, they are... completely misconceived.'

He added withdrawing accommodation for asylum seekers refusing to board the barge was 'unlikely' to be illegal.

Mr Chalk said: 'That is something that the courts would have to consider but I think it's unlikely, bluntly, that it would be illegal to do so but all cases are considered on their facts.'

Care4Calais said asylum seekers were 'entitled to say no' if asked to move, and had a right to legal representation.
More than 40million voters may have had their data stolen in the biggest data breach in UK history.

The Electoral Commission revealed yesterday that 'hostile actors' had access to its systems for 14 months without being detected. It meant the hackers may have obtained the name and address of nearly every voter in the country.

The commission admitted it still did not 'know conclusively what files may or may not have been accessed' and what data was downloaded or copied. The criminals were able to view electoral registers with the names and addresses of at least 40million people registered to vote between 2014 and 2022.

It came as police in Northern Ireland revealed they were also at the heart of a data breach 'of monumental proportions', in this case affecting thousands of officers and civilian staff. The data was mistakenly divulged in response to a freedom of information request.

The attack on the Electoral Commission also compromised its file sharing and email system, allowing access to the online addresses and data of anyone who messaged its staff. The National Cyber Security Centre, which is probing the incident, did not rule out the possibility of a foreign state attack.

The Electoral Commission has its headquarters located at 3 Bunhill Row in the City of London

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Assistant Chief Constable Chris Todd speaks to media about a data breach involving officers and civilian staff

David Omand, a former GCHQ director, said Moscow was the prime suspect.

'Russians, and I point to them in particular, have been interfering with democratic elections for some years now  think of the 2016 US election, and then the French election, and then the German election, even our own 2019 election,' he said.

'They have been trying to interfere with the democratic process. It is not at all surprising that hostile agencies would try and hack into the Electoral Commission.'

Sir David told BBC Radio 4 he cited Russia because of the record of its military intelligence and civilian agents in interfering with Western elections.'

Yesterday the commission stressed the data accessed would not allow anyone to meddle in parliamentary or council elections by impersonating voters. It also said it was confident the hackers did not edit or change the electoral registers.

But MPs called for the National Cyber Security Centre and Parliament's intelligence and security committee to investigate how the data was being used.

Tory MP Simon Fell, chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on cyber security, said: 'Frankly this attack has put us all at risk. What is so deeply concerning is the volume and scale of this data breach. A lot of this information may be in the public domain elsewhere, but where it has real value to the people who may want to cause us harm is it is all in one place. It must be the biggest single data set breach in the UK. Given the scale and complexity of this, there are very few groups capable of such an attack, the usual suspects would be Russia, China, Iran and North Korea.

'But it is Russia that has a history of interference in elections.'

The attackers were able to access reference copies of the registers held for research purposes and for permissibility checks on political donations.

The registers included the name and address of anyone in the UK who was registered to vote between 2014 and 2022, as well as registered overseas voters.

Electoral Commission chief executive Shaun McNally, pictured visiting polling stations with his dogs on voting day on May 5 last year, in a photograph issued by the commission

The watchdog apologised yesterday, saying that although 'much of the data' was already in the public domain, it is possible 'this data could be combined with other data in the public domain ... to infer patterns of behaviour or to identify and profile individuals'.

Hackers infiltrated the commission's systems in August 2021 but the security breach was not discovered until October 2022. The commission said the attack had 'used a sophisticated infiltration method, intended to evade our checks', which was why it had taken so long to detect.

Officials decided to delay informing the public while they removed the hackers and put additional security in place.

But Anthony Young, of cyber security firm Bridewell, said: 'If the attackers had access to the commission's email systems and controls for over 14 months, during this time they could have contacted other individuals, companies and government departments claiming to be part of the electoral commission. This could lead to further loss of data or finances.'

Shaun McNally, the chief executive of the Electoral Commission, apologised, saying: 'The UK's democratic process is significantly dispersed and key aspects of it remain based on paper documentation and counting.

'This means it would be very hard to use a cyber-attack to influence the process. We know which systems were accessible to the hostile actors, but are not able to know conclusively what files may or may not have been accessed.'
Asia's richest man has sold his $9 million ritzy downtown New York City condo where his neighbors have included Hilary Swank and Marc Jacobs.

Mukesh Ambani, an Indian national and billionaire businessman, is among one of the wealthiest in the world. He is a strategic partner to India's prime minister Narendra Modi  known for his outrageous 27-story residence in Mumbai.

The fourth-floor residence measures a sprawling 2,406 square feet, features two bedrooms (converted from three), three-and-a-half baths, a chef's kitchen, 10-foot-high ceilings, herringbone hardwood floors, and noise-proof windows.

Outside are stunning views of the Manhattan skyline and Hudson River.

The 17-story Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified building is located in Manhattan's trendy West Village at 400 West 12th Street. The eco-friendly tower was formerly the Superior Ink Factory which dates to 1919.

Mukesh Ambani, is an Indian national and billionaire businessman, is among one of the wealthiest in the world

The eco-friendly tower that is located in Manhattan's West Village at 400 West 12th Street, also known as Superior Ink,

The downtown building was created in 2009 and designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects

The building that was created in 2009 includes a gym with a yoga and pilates room, bike room, children's playroom, resident's lounge, concierge and valet parking.

Robert A.M. Stern Architects designed the structure with interiors by Yabu Pushelberg.

Famous residents over the years have included award-winning actress Hilary Swank, designer Marc Jacobs, Nascar's Jimmie Johnson and billionaire Leslie Alexander.

Alexander paid a staggering $25.46 million for his raw-space penthouse and sold it for $31.5 million to 'space tourist' Mark Shuttleworth in 2010, The New York Post reported.

Ambani is the head of Reliance Industries, which owns the Jamnagar Refinery, the largest oil refinery in the world.

India's neutral stance regarding the war between Russia and Ukraine has been profitable for Reliance, according to reports.

The company has been purchasing crude oil from Russia for a low price, due in part to wartime Western sanctions  and then selling it processed to Europe, Southeast Asia, the United States and other countries.

Ambani helped his father with Reliance Industries in the early 1980s. The company had already been in the telecommunication, retail, petrochemical and refinement service sectors, fincash reported.

By 2007, RIL became the first Indian company to cross the mark of $100 billion in terms of market capitalization. Reliance Industries thrived under his leadership, and Ambani's wealth grew exponentially.
The toy of the Caped Crusader sold for ten times more than what was predicted

A rare 1960s Batmobile toy has sold for a world record price of 117,000 following an unlikely bidding war.

The open-top red tin toy was made by manufacturer Yonezawa in 1966 for the Japanese market. It has a little model of the Caped Crusader in his Batsuit driving the vehicle.

The toy came with its original packaging which displays artwork of Batman and Robin.

It was given an estimated value of 12,000 but interest and bidding for it took off dramatically, culminating in a final price of 117,000 - ten times what the auctioneers predicted.

The staggering fee means the car is now the most valuable Batman toy ever sold at auction.

The open top red tin toy was made by manufacturers Yonezawa in 1966 for the Japanese market. It has a little model of the Caped Crusader in his Batsuit driving the vehicle

It was given an estimate of 12,000 but interest and bidding in it took off dramatically, culminating in a finial price of 117,000 - ten times what the auctioneers predicted

A spokesperson for Heritage Auctions, who conducted the bidding war in Dallas, Texas, said: 'The 1960s Yonezawa convertible Batmobile proved to be a grail for multiple collectors who felt they had to have it.

'The original box is so hard to find that they couldn't pass up the opportunity.

'It was amazing to see this record-breaking sale and it shows how popular Batman continues to be in popular culture.

'This red open-top Batmobile is a very rare tin toy produced in 1966 by Yonezawa for the Japanese market.

'It features a friction-powered motor and a painted plastic Batman at the wheel.

'It comes with the original Japanese writing box with artwork of Batman and Robin on the front.

'The car is in excellent condition.'

The staggering fee means the car is now the most valuable Batman toy ever sold at auction

The toy came with its original packaging which displays artwork of Batman and Robin

Justin Caravoulias, consignment director of toys at Heritage, said: 'The last known sale of the 1960s Yonezawa Batmobile was seven years ago, when the car sold for $14,000.

'Of all the Japanese tin Batman cars, this red convertible is considered by many collectors to be the rarest and most elusive.

'It proved to be a grail for multiple collectors who felt they had to have it.

'The original box is so hard to find that they couldn't pass up the opportunity. It was amazing to see this record-breaking sale and it shows how popular Batman continues to be in popular culture.'
A police commander has refused to rule out further arrests after 13 Australian children were saved from a global paedophile ring.

An extraordinary cross-border investigation, involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States, led to 19 Australian men being charged with 138 offences.

Two have already been convicted, while 17 are facing court.

But the Australian Federal Police are not ruling out further arrests.

'While we have charged 19 people, the AFP and our partners do not rule out further arrests in relation to this matter,' Commander Helen Schneider told a press conference on Tuesday.

AFP Commander Helen Schneider (pictured) has refused to rule out further arrests after 19 Australian men were charged and 13 children saved following a bust of a global paedophile ring

One of 19 Australian men charged in connection with a global paedophile ring is pictured

She added: 'The longer people like this avoid detection, the longer the cycle of abuse continues.'

'This was a sophisticated network.'

Commander Schneider said that some of the child victims were known to the alleged offenders and they had been carrying out the offences for over ten years.

'We will allege that some of the children were known to the men who were arrested but I will not comment any further in relation to the victims,' she said.

AFP Commander Schneider said most of the individuals arrested were experienced in information and communications technology (ICT) with a 'high level of technical competency', making their them harder to track down.

Nitiana Mann, legal attache for the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States (pictured), said: 'Today, we celebrate the rescue of 13 children'

'Members of this network were using encryption and other methods to avoid law enforcement detection whilst they were sharing videos and files of child abuse material,' she said.

She added: 'Viewing distributing and producing child abuse material is a horrific crime.

'The lengths this network went to avoid detection is an indication of just how dangerous they were.'

Nitiana Mann, legal attache for the FBI who also appeared at the press conference, said the investigation was only possible through the close partnership between the FBI and the Australian law enforcement community.

'Today, we celebrate the rescue of 13 children,' she said.

Ms Mann shared some figures demonstrating the complexity and magnitude' of the global investigation.

350 domestic leads were sent by the FBI, 211 international leads were assigned to our partner countries, 303 FBI investigations were open, 79 arrests, 65 indictments and 43 convictions as a result of this operation,' she said.

The extraordinary cross-border investigation was set in motion when two FBI agents were shot dead on the doorstep of a Florida apartment in February 2021.

Daniel Alfin and Laura Schwartzenberger were preparing to execute a search warrant for child abuse material at the home of reclusive IT worker David Lee Huber, 55, when he opened fire, wounding three other agents before turning the gun on himself.

Subsequent inquiries uncovered that Huber was part of a sick network of child predators with links to Australia - with many members found to have professional IT or specialist computing skills to avoid detection.

After being tipped off, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) partnered with the American law agency to close down the ring under the codename Operation Bakis.

'Two Australian offenders have been sentenced with others remaining before the courts,' the AFP said in a statement on Monday.

'A public servant living in the ACT was sentenced in June 2023 to 14 years and six months jail after pleading guilty to 24 charges in the ACT Supreme Court.'

FBI agent Laura Schwartzenberger was gunned down by Florida computer programmer David Lee Huber as she attempted to search his property in connection with the paedophile ring

FBI agent Daniel Alfin was also killed by Lee Huber in a tragic loss of life that moved US President Joe Biden to send his condolences to the families

The offender in NSW received a five-year sentence.

Two other men face 54 charges in the ACT where five children were removed from harm.

In NSW, two children were saved and five alleged offenders will face 13 charges.

Four children were removed from harm in Queensland with five offenders facing 45 charges.

In South Australia, two children were rescued and five alleged offenders face 16 charges.

One alleged offender is facing five charges in Tasmania as is one in Western Australia.

It will be alleged some Australian children had been directly abused and others relocated as a precautionary measure.

The AFP said most of the Australian men arrested were employed in IT or communications occupations and the ages of the 16 ranged from 32 to 81.

'Members used software to anonymously share files, chat on message boards and access websites within the network,' the AFP statement said.

Computer equipment was seized by police with the AFP saying most of the Australian men charged had hi-tech jobs in communications or IT

Two of the phones seized by the AFP in connection with the paedophile ring, which so far has seen two men sentenced

Queensland Acting Detective Superintendent Glen Donaldson had a warning for others thinking they could hide child sex abuse behind high-tech walls.

'Everything you do online leaves a trace,' he said.

'To those predators who seek to exploit children online, remember the next person you engage with online could be a police officer.'

Det Supt Donaldson said Task Force Argos and its international law enforcement partners would relentlessly target predators using technology to commit crimes against children.

'These arrests are a testament to the commitment of QPS and law enforcement agencies globally, to work together to put alleged perpetrators before court and rescue any children in harm's way,' he said.

FBI legal attache Nitiana Mann said the FBI and the AFP's close working relationship was key to uncovering the heinous crimes.

'The complexity and anonymity of these platforms means that no agency or country can fight these threats alone,' she said.

AFP Commander Helen Schneider said such cases were cracked only by the tireless efforts of personnel 'who never give up working to identify children who are being sexually assaulted or living with someone who is sharing child abuse material'.

'Criminals using encryption and the dark web are a challenge for law enforcement, but Operation Bakis shows that when we work together we can bring alleged offenders before the courts,'' Commander Schneider said.

Senior police in the ACT, Queensland, NSW, South Australia and Tasmania worked in cooperation on the case.

If you or someone you know needs support, contact 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800.

For confidential 24-hour support in Australia call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Apple is gearing up to launch its new iOS 17 this September, which will be chock-full of new features to the iPhone  but the update will be leaving some iPhone owners behind if they have older devices.

The iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and even 2017's iPhone X will not support the upcoming operating system, and tech experts have warned users that their models' resale values are likely to be cut in half by the news.

Owners of these devices will have to prepare to face rapidly declining compatibility with newer versions of their favorite third-party apps.

But there's no immediate cause for alarm, if you can't afford to upgrade to a newer iPhone or simply are still quite happy with the one you've got.

Apple will continue to offer security updates and patches for all iPhones running operating systems back to iOS 12 or newer - for at least two years.

Back when they were new, these were the shiny latest iPhone models in 2017: the iPhone X (center), the iPhone 8 (right) and iPhone 8 Plus (left)

One new iOS 17 feature that aims to make life easier is 'NameDrop' which lets users easily share contact information by tapping their device with someone else's. But as with many iOS 17 features, the perk is only available for devices that have the A12 Bionic chip or newer hardware

Today, the trade-in value for a mint condition iPhone X (pictured) is around $190. Above, much more cash is counted at an Apple store in Hong Kong as a customer buys two iPhone Xs back in November 3, 2017 when the brand new phone had a starting price of a whopping $999

This past January, in fact, Apple issued a security update for iOS 12 that helped protect the decade-old iPhone 5s and the 6th generation iPod touch, which debuted in 2015.

But that doesn't mean life with an older iPhone will be a cakewalk or perfectly safe.

Here's what else to be mindful of, if you plan to frugally stretch the life of your Apple device well into its golden years.

Members of the Reddit community devoted to the iPhone X advise that users are likely to get at least one to two more years of mileage out of their devices, before app upgrades start to lose them functionality and security.

'iPhone X owners will get apps support mostly until 2025/6, and thats when some things wont work,' one user notes. 'Still a few more years of being frugal.'

The issue is that, as Apple moves from iOS 17 to the inevitable iOS 18 and later, many app makers will plan to roll out software updates of their own designed benefit from the latest iPhone models' hardware capabilities.

And there are a handful of features that simply wont work unless you have an iPhone 12 or newer, including 3D FaceTime reactions, improved autocorrect, and text predictions.

READ MORE: Your iPhone will soon alert you if you're holding your device too close to your face The tool, called Screen Distance, will monitor where your iPhone is in relation to your face and alert you if it's too close. Advertisement

For these many of these new features to work, the iPhone needs to have an A12 Bionic chip or later, which is the iPhone XS and up.

Even some Accessibility features, like the new dictation feature that punctuates as you speak  or Live Captions, which adds captions to live content like video calls  require the A12 or later.

Another big feature that Apple has promised for iOS 16 is the ability to easily lift an object or a person from an image in your photo roll and paste them elsewhere, essentially turning them into stickers.

In time, many social media apps will want to better integrate these features into their own user experience  benefits that will only accrue to owners of the latest Apple devices.

WhatsApp users will want to pluck their friends faces for stickers, for example. Or Instagram users may want to add captions to their video Stories.

Relying on older and older versions of third-party apps could, in time, lead to some security vulnerabilities for iPhone X and iPhone 8 users, but for the truly security-obsessed there are plenty of more reasons to upgrade.

The new updates with iOS 17 promise a raft of new security features, including improvements to Safari Private Browsing and Apple's child safety protections.

And, as Apple announced at its WWDC 2023 conference in June, the new iOS 17 will help automate messages to friends and loved ones that you have arrived home or at your chosen destination safely.

The feature will sit within the Messages app, according to an Apple representative.

'After a user initiates a Check In, their friend or family member will automatically be notified as soon as the user arrives.'

'If they are not making progress toward their destination, useful information will be temporarily shared with the selected contact, such as the device's location, battery level, and cell service status,' the company said.

For even more security, Apple confirmed that any information shared by Check In is end-to-end encrypted, so only you and your trusted contacts can see when you've reached your destination.

With all these security benefits, someone concerned with personal safety over price may want to consider upgrading well before their old iPhone starts have compatibility and upgrade issues.

If you want to split the difference and upgrade to something slightly cheaper, here's the full rundown of iOS 17 supported devices from oldest to newest:
Saudi Arabia has donated $1.2 billion to the Yemen PLC (Presidential Leadership Council). The PLC represents the last (2014) legally elected government of Yemen. The PLC is largely Sunni, as is the population of Yemen. The Shia dont trust the Sunnis and vice versa. Religious differences have long divided Yemen which is why the Shia rebels are backed by Shia Iran.

Much of the Yemeni agricultural crisis is caused by the fact that Yemen's economic situation has been rapidly deteriorating since the late 20th century. This is largely because the government has done nothing to address the problems of overpopulation, water shortages and Khat. The last item is a narcotic plant that is chewed fresh, requires a lot of water to grow and is worth a lot of money in Saudi Arabia where it is illegal and has to be smuggled in. While Yemen contains most of the only arable land in the Arabian Peninsula, only one percent of Yemen is suitable for agriculture. Rather than produce food, most of the agriculture production is Khat and nearly all of that is smuggled into Saudi Arabia. In the last year Saudi Arabia has increased its efforts to halt the smuggling and that has had some success in disrupting the smuggling. During the first half of 2023, 26 tons of Khat and a ton of the more potent, as a narcotic, Hashish. The Hashish is a concentrated form of cannabis, produced by removing the sticky resin, which is the most narcotic portion of the cannabis plant. Put simply, Khat is for relaxing while Hashish will get you high and largely unable to function. Saudi Arabia bans both Khat and Hashish as harmful to the welfare of the population. Most of the Khat and Hashish is consumed by young (adolescent and early 20s) Saudi males and expatriate workers. Alcoholic beverages are specifically banned by Islamic scripture while Khat and Hashish are not. Alcoholic beverages are bulkier and leave a scent of alcohol on your breath while Khat and Hashish do not. Khat and Hashish do have harmful side effects as they reduce inhibitions and the ability to safely operate vehicles or machinery of any kind. While the Saudi border guards are seizing more Khat and Hashish from Yemen, some always get through and most of the customers in Saudi Arabia can afford to pay more when supplies are short.

There is also an escalating dispute among Shia rebel factions over accusations of corruption in the management of about $200 million in cash the rebels have looted or extorted over the years. With peace returning to Yemen that cash can be diverted to personal use by corrupt rebel officials who are supposed to manage the use of these funds.

August 7, 2023: In the south (Abyan province) the STC (South Transitional Council) and many government troops spent the ceasefire period going after Islamic terrorist groups AQAP (Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula) and ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) in the south and east. The STC is composed of southern tribes that want autonomy but are willing to fight and defeat the Islamic terrorists and Shia rebels first.

August 6, 2023: In the south (Abyan province) Yemeni troops captured Abu Al-Qaqaa, a known and wanted AQAP (Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula) leader.

August 5, 2023: In the south (Abyan province) a roadside bomb killed two STC members and wounded five.

August 2, 2023: In the south (Abyan province) AQAP carried out two attacks against local forces, killing seven and wounding nine.

August 1, 2023: In the south (Abyan province) al Qaeda Islamic terrorists killed five soldiers and wounded four more. The troops belonged to the Southern Transitional Council, or SCT, which represents the Sunni tribes in the south who have long backed dividing Yemen into the Sunni south and largely Shia north. For a long time, the northern Shia have fought to maintain some autonomy. In 2015 that escalated into a civil war as the Iranian-supported Shia captured the capital Sanaa and much territory south of the capital. Within a year this brought in an Arab coalition (Saudi Arabia and the UAE) that supported the Yemeni government and national unity. That halted the rebel advance but did little to end the civil war. The Saudis and UAE had different goals in Yemen. The Saudis wanted to keep their southwestern border with Yemen peaceful while the UAE was more interested in new economic opportunities in the more prosperous south. The UAE provides financial and other aid to the southern separatists while the Saudis are more concerned about Shia violence against southwestern Saudi Arabia.

July 31, 2023: In the capital (Sanaa) a faction of the Shia rebels decided to enforce bans on the public playing of record music or music performed live.

July 29, 2023: In the capital Sanaa, some Shia rebels have shut down stores that sell videos or music and bribes to allow them to reopen. The threat to shut down the video and music outlets was very unpopular among most Yemenis and the rebels did not shut down these outlets because of the risk of popular unrest. Equally unpopular were rebel efforts to ban the playing of popular music in cafes and other public spaces. The rebels demanded that music supporting their brand of conservative Islam be played. This was another form of bribery because the rebels had recordings of the mandatory music for sale at inflated prices.

July 27, 2023: A 47 year old Yemeni oil tanker abandoned off the Red Sea coast since 2015 has finally had the 1.2 million barrels unloaded onto another tanker. This eliminates the pollution along the Yemeni Red Sea coast as well as portions of the Saudi Red Sea coast. That could disrupt Saudi desalination operations. In early 2022 the Shia rebels agreed to not interfere with UN inspection of the tanker and repairs being made to the tanker so the oil on board could be removed to eliminate the coastal pollution threat. The rebel homeland is in northwest Yemen, including portions of the coast. The UN agreed to cover the $143 million cost of making repairs on the tanker so that it was safe to transfer the oil on board to another tanker for sale or disposal. The oil on the Safer tanker is nearly a decade old and unrefined petroleum degrades after about five years in a tanker. The expired oil is not worth refining and has no sale value. The expired oil is still capable of polluting water or coastal areas.

The abandoned tanker is called Safer because that is the acronym of the Yemeni State oil company that owns the retired tanker, which is permanently moored offshore 50 kilometers northwest of Hodeida to store oil from the small Yemen oil fields. Until seized by the Shia rebels in 2015, the Safer tanker was a key element for exporting Yemeni oil. At the time of its capture the Safer had over a million barrels of oil on board that was awaiting transfer to a seagoing tanker that would take the oil to whoever bought it. The rebels never allowed anyone from the UN or inspect Safer since then, despite warnings that without maintenance explosive gasses build up in the storage tanks and that creates the risk of large explosions and a massive oil spill into the Red Sea.

For years the rebels demanded that the oil on the Safer tanker be sold and they receive most of the proceeds. The government refused to allow this. The rebels also demand that sanctions on Iran be lifted as well. That was not going to happen. The rebels also offered to relinquish control of the tanker for a large payment (ransom) of, say $50 million or so. This was also ignored. Finally, the rebels realized that the tanker was a threat to themselves and many others along the Red Sea coast as small leaks from the tanker began putting oil into the water. This was obvious because some of the leaked oil remains on the surface and quite visible. The Shia rebels did not interfere as maintenance personnel boarded the tanker to deal with dangerous leaks so that the UN oil removal effort could proceed.

July 25, 2023: In central Yemen (Marib Province) eight people from the same family died when a local arms dealer tried to disarm an unexploded artillery shell. Further south seven soldiers were killed by two roadside bombs.

July 23, 2023: Shia rebel peace talks with Saudi Arabia stalled over disagreements over money and rebel suspicions that the Saudis wanted to take control of the miniscule (compared to Saudi Arabia) Yemen oil resources. The Saudis see this as another paranoid, self-destructive reaction from the rebels.

June 27, 2023: Iranian influence on the Shia rebels is fading and many rebel factions call for some kind of peace deal and an end to a civil war that the rebels were losing. The war continues in part because this factionalism among the rebels is something that the government and Saudis are unable to address.
Many experts believed it was space junk

Also spotted in Mount Buller, Ballarat and Bendigo

Hundreds of stunned Aussies have captured the incredible moment a bright fireball lit up the night sky.

A mysterious light was spotted flashing through the sky across Melbourne shortly after midnight on Tuesday.

The light display was spotted as far as Mount Buller, Ballarat, Bendigo and even across the border in Adelaide.

Speculation ran wild as to whether it was a meteor shower or 'space junk'.

Dozens of Melburnians also claimed they felt the ground shake and feared they were being rocked by yet another earthquake.

Others rushed outside with their phones to capture the glowing object lighting up the dark skies.

A bright fireball lit up the night sky across Melbourne early Tuesday morning (pictured) which sent social media into meltdown

Ricardo spent two minutes filming the spectacular light show from Cowes Jetty on Phillip Island, 143km from Melbourne.

'I was a little scared for a moment there! Seagulls went nuts too! Series of very loud sonic booms a couple minutes after!' he captioned the footage.

One Melbourne woman added: 'Just witnessed a meteorite shower over Melbourne! Unbelievable scenes.'

Another TikTok user shared a view of the fireball from Melbourne's CBD.

The extraordinary moment divided the internet as to what had just happened.

'Pretty sure we just had another aftershock in Melbourne #earthquake,' wrote Steve Forbes.

'There was 100 per cent an earthquake in Melbourne about 3 minutes ago,' another person said.

Others claimed they saw a 'possible' meteor.

One man filmed the incredible light display from Cowes Jetty on Phillip Island

'Anyone in Victoria/Melbourne just see some kind of shooting star/comet/space debris over the south!?' asked Shannon.

Another stargazer added: 'Eyewitness reports now on radio saying there was a loud explosion in the sky over Melbourne just after midnight. Possible meteor or space junk.'

RMIT University science expert Dr Gail Isles said it was possible it could have been a meteor with the next meteor shower Perseid currently active and expected to reach its peak expected this weekend.

She believed it was most likely a piece of rocket from a navigation satellite launched from Russia's Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

"It's come back in somewhere between the northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere and then it started to appear quite large to our eyes from Melbourne,' Dr Isles told 3AW presenter Neil Mitchell.

'We've seen it as this big burning fireball.'

The bright fireball was spotted as far as Bendigo, Ballarat and even Adelaide

Swinburne University astronomer Professor Alan Duffy agreed it was most likely burning space junk.

'What we're seeing is a large flash of light extended and it burns up, you can see in the videos it is really quite extraordinary,' Prof Duffy told 3AW.

'You can see it's breaking up  all of that is telling me it is space junk, it is not a small piece of naturally occurring rock in space.

'The fact that you can see something as bright for as long, that breaks up and even the pieces that are breaking up are themselves burning up brightly  all of that means that it is something very large, probably a couple of tonnes.'

Professor Duffy hailed the display as the 'biggest light show' he'd ever seen.

'What we're seeing is a large flash of light extended and it burns up for 30, 40 seconds,' he said.

Shortly after midnight, residents took to Twitter to say they had felt the Earth move - while others posted pictures of something glowing in the night's sky.
The Antarctic is turning from a fridge for the world - keeping temperatures down - to 'a radiator', scientists warned yesterday.

Ice on land and sea in the Antarctic would normally reflect the sun's rays back into space, but as water forms ponds and lakes on Antarctica, this absorbs heat.

Professor Martin Siegert said the South Pole continent 'is an enormous, vast white surface...it does an enormous job for the planet in terms of a lot of solar radiation bounced back into space'.

The same process - where ice has melted exposing the ocean - is already happening in the Arctic, he said.

Professor Siegert, a glaciologist at the University of Exeter, said sea ice around the frozen continent is currently at its lowest level since satellites began observing it in 1979, beating the previous minimum record set last year.

The Antarctic is turning from a fridge for the world - keeping temperatures down - to 'a radiator', scientists warned yesterday

A winter heatwave in March 2022 saw temperatures soar nearly 40C above the norm in East Antarctica, from around -50C to -10C, and had it happened in summer it would have began melting the surface of the ice sheets which scientists said they have never seen before.

Professor Siegert said: 'I think the scientific community has been shocked by this season's lack of sea ice, so much lower than has happened in previous years'.

Because of Antarctica's harsh environment and remote location, there is less data available to unequivocally link events like these with human-induced climate change, but scientists say they are to be expected on a warming planet.

Professor Siegert added: 'I think it's reasonable to assume that with the Antarctic heat event that we've seen, that is the sort of thing that has been expected with global heating because of burning fossil fuels and it has happened.

'It could be, because we've done a lot of scientific evidence, that it was just one of those one-in-1,000 year events, but that's so unlikely, and I think it's perfectly scientifically reasonable to make the assumption that it is linked to our heating planet.'

Together with scientists from across the UK, Chile and South Africa, Professor Siegert has been examining evidence of extreme events in Antarctica and said it is 'virtually certain' that their severity will increase unless greenhouse gas emissions are controlled.

Publishing their work in the journal Frontiers in Environmental Science, they identified nearly a dozen ways that human impacts are changing the Antarctic, from melting sea and land ice, collapse of ice shelves, warming oceans and atmosphere, near-extinction of marine animals and introduction of foreign species such as moss and grass.

Scientists are particularly concerned about what might happen over the next few years as the warming effects of El Nino take hold.

Dr Anna Hogg of the University of Leeds said: 'As somebody who watches this happen on a day-to-day basis, I'm finding it really surprising and staggering to see the changes occur at the scale that they are already.' She said it would take centuries for collapsed ice shelves to recover, if it was even possible.

Extreme events such as ice shelf collapse or heatwaves combine in cascading, or multiplying effects that reach across the world but also threaten native species

These collapses do not directly add to sea level rise as the ice is already floating, but it means ice from the land pours into the sea much faster via glaciers, which is speeding up the rate of sea level rise.

If all the ice in Antarctica were to melt, although scientists do not believe this will happen anytime soon, it would push up the global sea level by 57 metres.

Extreme events such as ice shelf collapse or heatwaves combine in cascading, or multiplying effects that reach across the world but also threaten native species.

The team of scientists are calling for more environmental protection measures to be put in place to help conserve increasingly fragile ecosystems that are becoming more exposed.

Melting ice could result in better access for ships which bring more people for example, who therefore must take more care not to bring non-native seeds on their boots.

The UK Foreign Office is looking to give better protection to emperor penguins, who are a 'climate vulnerable' species, said the department's head of polar regions Jane Rumble.
Antibiotic resistance  one of the biggest threats to global health  could be on the rise in part because of increased air pollution, a new study has warned.

Researchers in China have found a global correlation between the a pollutant called PM2.5 in the air and cases of bacteria becoming immune to antibiotic drugs.

Although they're not certain what's causing the link, they speculate that antibiotic resistant bacteria are being transported on PM2.5 carried by the air.

PM2.5 are tiny particles or droplets less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, which are invisible to the naked eye and get inhaled with us even realising.

In their study, the scientists warn that antibiotic resistance (ABR) is a 'severe global issue', causing millions of deaths worldwide every year.

Researchers in China say air pollution and antibiotic resistance are linked but they can't say exactly why. Illustration shows the potential pathways of the bacteria that have evolved to become 'superbugs'

READ MORE Antibiotic-resistant superbugs killed 1.2MILLION people in one year Antibiotic resistant bacteria killed 1.2million people in 2019, a study found Advertisement

ABR is when bacteria adapt and evolve in response to modern antibacterial medicines and chemicals designed to kill them, becoming ultra-strong 'superbugs'.

For the first time, the study  led by researchers at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou  suggests premature deaths due to ABR are partly fueled by PM2.5 pollution.

'This analysis is the first to describe the association between PM2.5 and clinical antibiotic resistance globally,' they say in the study, published in the journal Lancet Planetary Health.

'We showed that correlations between PM2.5 and antibiotic resistance are consistent across the world in most antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and that the correlations have strengthened over time.'

Mark Holmes, a professor of microbial genomics at University of Cambridge, who co-authored the study, said 'there is no evidence of causation' between the two factors.

In other words, the research team don't know for sure if air pollution is causing antibiotic resistance although it appears likely, DNA samples suggest.

'We have found antibiotic resistance genes in DNA sequenced from air samples which may provide some indication of a possible mechanism,' Professor Holmes told MailOnline.

The team looked at data on antibiotic use and resistance from 2000 to 2018 for 116 countries, including the UK, the US, China, India and Australia.

This was compared with PM2.5 pollution data from the same countries and time period.

Graphs show the contribution of particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter (PM2.5) to antibiotic resistance around the world. High levels of antibiotic resistance were found in north Africa, the Middle East, and south Asia, whereas Europe and North America had low antibiotic-resistance levels

WHO has declared antimicrobial resistance as one of the top 10 global public health threats against humanity, while one expert has called the threat of AMR as severe as terrorism (file photo)

READ MORE Antibiotic-resistant infections could soon cause more than 50,000 deaths a year in Britain alone Bacteria are evolving to become resistant to drugs that have long been used to kill them Advertisement

'Significant correlations' between PM2.5 and antibiotic resistance were consistent globally in eight of nine antibiotic-resistant bacteria species looked at, including E. coli.

According to the results, every 10 per cent rise in PM2.5 was linked with increases in antibiotic resistance of 1.1 per cent.

Interestingly, high levels of antibiotic resistance were found in north Africa, the Middle East and south Asia, whereas Europe and North America had low antibiotic-resistance levels  likely due to the latter's higher use of antibiotics.

The team warn that if no policies are applied to stop air pollution, antibiotic resistance will increase by 17 per cent and annual deaths attributable to antibiotic resistance will increase by 56.4 per cent by 2050 globally.

'North Africa and west Asia are the regions with the most severe PM2.5 pollution,' they say.

'Policies in PM2.5 control in these regions might lead to substantial changes in antibiotic resistance.'

It's already well known that causes of air pollution include the burning of fossil fuels, industrial and agricultural activities, and emissions from vehicle exhausts  which is why the UK government wants to roll out electric cars as soon as feasibly possible.

But the study shows that curbing air pollution is now two-fold  as it will both improve the quality of the air we breathe and combat the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria.

Inhaling PM2.5 is already thought to cause asthma, lung and heart diseases and even depressive symptoms, but the study suggests it also infects us with 'superbugs' that can kill us.

Despite the findings, the main cause of antibiotic resistance is still overuse of antibiotics, which is why many health professionals now avoid prescribing antibiotics for minor infections if possible.

Pathogens such as bacteria and fungi can evolve to become super resistant to our chemical treatments. WHO estimates that superbugs will kill 10 million people each year by 2050, with patients dying because of once harmless infections (file photo)

When we use antibiotics, some bacteria die but resistant bacteria can survive and develop resistance against the drugs thanks to mutations in their genes.

Antibiotic resistance is part of a wider problem known as antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a broader term that includes other organisms like viruses and fungi as well as bacteria.

An entire scientific industry is now dedicated to targeting the serious problem of antimicrobial resistance and the resulting superbugs that drugs are no longer a match for.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that these superbugs will kill 10 million people each year by 2050  with patients dying because of once harmless infections  and impose a cumulative $100 trillion burden on the global economy.

WHO has declared antimicrobial resistance as one of the top 10 global public health threats against humanity, while one expert has called the threat of AMR as severe as terrorism.

Scientists said last year that around 1.3 million people died due to antimicrobial resistance in 2019 worldwide  than malaria or AIDS.
It's official  July 2023 was the hottest month ever, scientists have confirmed.

Last month smashed a heat record set four years ago, the experts from the EU's Copernicus climate change programme said.

The global average temperature for the month was 62.51F (16.95C), the highest since records began in 1940 and well above the previous record of 61.93F (16.63C) set in July 2019.

Worryingly, 62.51F is 1.29F (0.72C) warmer than the 1991-2020 global average for July  and the experts point to greenhouse gas emissions as the cause.

The data follows the UK's hottest June on record and extreme weather events such as heatwaves in Europe, North America and Asia and wildfires in Canada and Greece.

In July 2023, the average temperature was 62.51F (16.95C), well above the previous record of 61.93F (16.63C) set in July 2019. Pictured, global air surface temperatures for all months of July from 1940 to 2023

READ MORE: Why IS the weather so bad in Britain? Daring motorists braved the floodwaters in Levenshulme, Manchester after heavy rain on Monday Advertisement

The Copernicus figure refers to the global average temperature for the month  so lower than a single typically 'hot' temperature reading  but as an average it is unusually high.

The EU service's temperature readings are based on a variety of platforms and instruments, from weather stations to weather balloons and satellites.

'We just witnessed global air temperatures and global ocean surface temperatures set new all-time records in July,' said Samantha Burgess, deputy director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S).

'These records have dire consequences for both people and the planet exposed to ever more frequent and intense extreme events.'

The cause of the new record temperature is 'anthropogenic' (human-made) greenhouse gas emissions, which trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere.

'Record-breaking temperatures are part of the trend of drastic increases in global temperatures,' said Carlo Buontempo, director of the Copernicus climate change service.

The data follows extreme weather events including heatwaves in Europe, North America and Asia and wildfires in Canada and Greece. Pictured, flames engulf a hillside on July 27, 2023 in Apollana, Rhodes, Greece. Studies have found that climate change has already led to an increase in wildfire season length, wildfire frequency and burned area

READ MORE World's oceans hit their hottest EVER temperatures Coral bleaching (seen here in the Great Barrier Reef) is an effect of water temperatures getting higher Advertisement

'Anthropogenic emissions are ultimately the main driver of these rising temperatures'.

Last month started with the daily global mean surface air temperature record being broken four days in a row, from July 3-6.

July 6 was the hottest single day of the month, with the global average temperature reaching 62.74F (17.08C), although the values recorded on July 5 and 7 were within 0.01C of this.

During the first and third weeks of the month, temperatures also temporarily exceeded the 2.7F (1.5C) threshold above pre-industrial level  a limit set by the Paris Agreement.

Higher air temperatures are a huge concern for scientists as they can melt glaciers, leading to sea level rises and lethal floods, but can also worsen wildfires, disrupt ecosystems and threaten crop growth.

But Copernicus data shows it's not just air surface temperatures that have set records in July.

It has already revealed that the global average temperatures for the world's oceans hit their highest ever on July 31.

Data from the EU's Copernicus programme shows that the average sea temperatures hit 69.72F (20.96C) on July 31, beating a record of 69.71F (20.95C) set in March 2016

Oceans also become more acidic when they're warmer, which threatens marine life such as corals and clams as it can dissolve their calcium carbonate shells and skeletons

READ MORE: Scientists reveal what's causing Europe's heatwave Pictured, sunbathers in Barcelona, Spain, July 13 Advertisement

Average sea temperatures, which have been climbing steadily since the 1970s, hit 69.72F (20.96C), beating a record of 69.71F (20.95C) set in March 2016.

The warmer oceans become, the less adept they are at absorbing CO2, which leads to more of the gas in the atmosphere instead.

Air surface temperatures are usually the main metric looked at when considering temperature rises, but ocean temperatures are key indicators too.

Brits may find the new heat records hard to believe as the country has been battered by cold air and downpours in the last month, despite heatwaves around mainland Europe.

July 2023 has been the sixth wettest British July on record, Met Office figures recently revealed, despite June being a hot one.

It contrasts with July last year, which saw the UK's first red extreme heat warning to be issued in the country, indicating 'a risk to life'.

In 2022, UK temperatures broke the 104F (40C) mark for the first time, hitting a new record of 104.5F (40.3C) on July 19 at Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

Brits may find the new data hard to believe as the country has been battered by cold air and downpours in the last month. Pictured, holidaymakers on the beach in Weymouth, Dorset on July 31, 2023

Pac-a-macs came in handy during the drizzle in central London on July 31, 2023 - a stark contrast to what it was like a year ago

Experts have told MailOnline that the UK's drab summer for 2023 has been due to a band of low pressure at beginning of July brought with it cooler temperatures.

What's more, the rain and chilly weather is likely here to stay for most of August, dashing hopes of a warm end to the summer holidays.

However, Brits who don't like the heat can consider this good fortune, as another summer of sweltering temperatures could be on the cards next year and beyond.

Summers that hit 104F (40C) could become the norm by 2070, the Met Office has said, while a recent study suggested we may have to alter our working habits to cope with future heat.
Artemis was the twin sister of Apollo and goddess of the moon in Greek mythology.

NASA has chosen her to personify its path back to the moon, which will see astronauts return to the lunar surface by 2025 - including the first woman and the next man.

Artemis 1, formerly Exploration Mission-1, is the first in a series of increasingly complex missions that will enable human exploration to the moon and Mars.

Artemis 1 will be the first integrated flight test of NASAs deep space exploration system: the Orion spacecraft, Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the ground systems at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Artemis 1 will be an uncrewed flight that will provide a foundation for human deep space exploration, and demonstrate our commitment and capability to extend human existence to the moon and beyond.

During this flight, the spacecraft will launch on the most powerful rocket in the world and fly farther than any spacecraft built for humans has ever flown.

It will travel 280,000 miles (450,600 km) from Earth, thousands of miles beyond the moon over the course of about a three-week mission.

Artemis 1, formerly Exploration Mission-1, is the first in a series of increasingly complex missions that will enable human exploration to the moon and Mars. This graphic explains the various stages of the mission

Orion will stay in space longer than any ship for astronauts has done without docking to a space station and return home faster and hotter than ever before.

With this first exploration mission, NASA is leading the next steps of human exploration into deep space where astronauts will build and begin testing the systems near the moon needed for lunar surface missions and exploration to other destinations farther from Earth, including Mars.

The will take crew on a different trajectory and test Orions critical systems with humans aboard.

Together, Orion, SLS and the ground systems at Kennedy will be able to meet the most challenging crew and cargo mission needs in deep space.

Eventually NASA seeks to establish a sustainable human presence on the moon by 2028 as a result of the Artemis mission.

The space agency hopes this colony will uncover new scientific discoveries, demonstrate new technological advancements and lay the foundation for private companies to build a lunar economy.

Who is Victor Glover? The man set to become NASA's first black astronaut to orbit the moon

Victor Glover (pictured) was selected as an astronaut in 2013 and became the first African American ISS expedition crewmember to live on the ISS seven years later

NASA is set to send the first-ever black astronaut to the moon.

Victor Glover, 46, was selected to take part in the space agency's Artemis II mission  the US' first lunar mission in a half-century.

The Pomona, California, native will be the first person of color to travel into deep space, hundreds of thousands of miles beyond the low-Earth orbiting International Space Station (ISS).

NASA officials say the diverse crew assignments signify the cultural shifts that have taken place since the original Apollo missions, which ended in 1972, at a time when white men dominated space exploration.

Glover was also the first black man to ever live on the International Space Station (ISS) in 2020 and is among 15 African Americans to be selected as an astronaut.

In his esteemed career since being selected as an astronaut in 2013, Mr Glover has logged over 3,000 flight hours in 40 different aircraft.

Artemis II - which will launch in November 2024 - will see the four-man crew orbit the moon in the Orion spacecraft but not land.

Their goal is to test new technology, including heat shields that protects Orion as it travels 24,500 mph in 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit on its way back.

If successful, NASA plans to launch an expedition to land on the moon titled Artemis III. Another success would spell out a trip to Mars for NASA.

I wanna thank God for this Amazing opportunity, Mr Glover said during a new conference Monday.

This is a big day. We have a lot to celebrate. Its so much more than the four names that have been announced. We need to celebrate this moment in human history.

'Artermis II is more than a mission to the Moon and back. Its more than a mission that has to happen before we send people to the surface of the moon. It is the next step on the journey that gets humanity to Mars.

This crew will never forget that.

Mr Glover was born in 1976 in Pomona, around 30 miles east of Los Angeles.

The city is far from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, known for its high poverty rate and relatively high crime.

Mr Glover grew up in Ponoma, CA, 30 miles east of Los Angeles

He said his parents and teachers served as mentors as him growing up.

'Early on in life it had to be my parents; they encouraged me and challenged me and held me to high standards. Outside of home, I had teachers that did the same,' he told USA Today in 2017.

'They all challenged me, and they encouraged me.'

Mr Glover continued that his teachers and parents urged him to go the engineering school and eventually become a test pilot  leading to him becoming an astronaut.

He graduated from Southern California's Ontario High School in 1994, and went on to attend California Polytechnic State University, before completing his graduate education at Air University and the US Naval Academy.

'Im the first person in my family to graduate from college, and being at graduation with my mom and my dad and my stepdad and my little brothers and my grandparents,' he said to USA Today.

'That was unreal, that was cool and it was special for me.'

In 1999 he was commissioned as part of the US Navy. After completing flight training in Corpus Christy, Texas, he was 'given his wings' and awarded the title of pilot in 2001.

He then moved to San Diego to learn to fly the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet, known as one of the Navy's more versatile aircraft.

After spending the next two years training in Florida and Virginia, he was deployed to Iraq in 2004 for six months.

Mr Glover was working in the office of the late Sen John McCain as a legislative fellow when he was selected by NASA to become an astronaut in 2013.

NASA only selects a handful of the thousands of people that apply to be a member of the nation's astronaut corps each year. Only 15 black astronauts have ever been selected out of 348.

A vast majority of the 41 current astronauts have a military background, like Mr Glover.

He completed his astronaut training in 2015. Three years later, he was selected to be a part of the first ever operational flight of SpaceX's Crew Dragon, a reusable aircraft designed by the firm Elon Musk found in 2002.

As part of that mission, he would live on the ISS from November 17, 2020 to May 2, 2021.

The nearly six-month-long stay on the station makes him the first black astronaut to inhabit it.

Jeanette Epps, 52, who was selected to be an astronaut in 2009 is set to become the second African American, and first black woman, to live on the ISS after the launch of Boeing Starliner-1 in 2024 or later.

In 2020, Mr Glover said it was an honor to be the first black person selected to the ISS.

'It is something to be celebrated once we accomplish it, and I am honored to be in this position and to be a part of this great and experienced crew,' he said during a news conference.

'I look forward to getting up there and doing my best to make sure, you know, we are worthy of all the work that's been put into setting us up for this mission.'

In an interview with The Christian Chronicle later that year, he said there were qualified black astronauts that should have earned the honor before him.

'I've had some amazing colleagues before me that really could have done it, and there are some amazing folks that will go behind me,' he said.

'I wish it would have already been done, but I try not to draw too much attention to it.'

Who is Christina Koch? The first female NASA astronaut set to orbit the moon

Christina Koch is set to become the first woman to go around the moon when NASA's Artemis II mission takes off next year.

Christina Koch, 44, from Grand Rapids, Michigan, is set to become the first woman to go around the moon

The Grand Rapids, Michigan native, 44, is already the record-holder for the longest amount of time a woman has spent in space, 328 days, and for taking part in the first all-female spacewalk in 2019.

Selected to become an astronaut in 2013, Ms Koch said she has not followed a 'checklist' in order to become an astronaut  but instead chased her passions whether this be rock climbing, sailing or even learning to surf in her 40s.

She said in 2020: 'I really don't remember a time when I didn't want to be an astronaut.

'For me, I learned that if I was going to be an astronaut, it was because my passions had turned me into someone that could contribute the most as someone contributing to human space flight.'

While she's exploring space, her husband Robert will be left taking care of housework and the couple's puppy, LBD. It is not believed that they have children.

'Am I excited? Absolutely!' she said at a news conference at the crew's announcement Monday.

The one thing I'm most excited about is that we will carry your excitement,your aspirations, your dreams, on this mission.

She also said: We are going to launch from Kennedy space center, we are going to here the words go for launch on top of the most powerful rocket NASAs ever made.

NASA has sent a total of 355 people to space so far, of which some 55 have been women  or 15 percent. It has also sent 24 people to orbit the moon and 12 to walk on the lunar surface who were all men.

Russian Valentina Tereshkova was the first woman to ever leave the earth's atmosphere  setting off in 1937. American women did not get sent to space until 1983.

Ms Koch, however, will make history on the Artemis II mission when she completes her long-awaited trip around the moon.

She revealed her love of space in a video when she was announced as a member of the Artemis I team in 2020.

The astronaut said: 'I am someone who has loved exploration on the frontier since I was little.

'I used to be inspired by the night sky and throughout my career, it's been this balance between engineering for space science missions and doing science in really remote places all over the world.

'I loved things that made me feel small, things that made me ponder the size of the universe, my place in it and everything that was out there to explore.'

She added: 'I didn't necessarily live my life following check boxes of how you could become an astronaut.

'But I followed those passions and one day I looked at what I had become and the skills I had gathered and I asked "could I sit across from a table and present myself as someone who could do this well?". And I thought, I'm going to give this a shot.'

She went to North Carolina State University in Raleigh to get a bachelor's and a master's in Electrical Engineering.

She then became an Electrical Engineer at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, before becoming a research associate for the United States Antarctic Program  living an entire year in the Arctic.

Ms Koch was one of eight selected as part of NASA's 21st class of astronauts in 2013. After two years of training, she became a full-fledged astronaut.

Her first space flight came in 2019 when she was sent to the International Space Station (ISS) to work as a flight engineer.

She stayed up there for 328 days, taking the record for the longest spaceflight by a woman. The previous record holder, Peggy Whitson, was in space for 288 days.

While in space she also took the record for the first all-women space walk  when an astronaut gets out of a vehicle while in space  with Jessica Meir.

The pair spent seven hours and 17 minutes on the side of the ISS as they worked to replace a power controller. The walk also included a brief call with President Trump.

Upon her return to Earth in 2020, Ms Koch said she felt 'like a baby' who was two weeks old and working hard to hold up its head.

Back on Earth, she lives in Galveston, Texas, just outside of the Houston area.

Among her interests are backpacking, running, yoga, photography and travel.

Now she will be a part of a groundbreaking mission in NASA's goal towards putting a man on Mars.

The Artemis II mission marks NASA's first trip to the moon in half a century. It says it will be performed to help test kit in preparation for getting humans onto Mars.

The agency sent an empty Orion capsule around the moon last year before it returned to Earth in a long-awaited dress rehearsal.

If this latest mission goes well, then another flight to land people on the moon will be sent in 2025  as part of tests ahead of getting people onto Mars.
Rival Boeing, meanwhile, is still having teething trouble with its Starliner vessel

Now nearly a decade later SpaceX is about to perform its seventh mission

NASA gave Boeing and SpaceX contracts to send crew to the ISS back in 2014

It turns out Boeing's multi-million Starliner spacecraft won't be flying humans into orbit this year after all.

Astronauts were supposed to travel on the cone-shaped capsule to the International Space Station (ISS) on July 21 as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program.

But the date came and went without any launch and now the US firm has confirmed a crewed launch won't be happening until March 2024 at the very earliest.

Essential repairs are needed for Starliner's parachute, Boeing has said, but these won't be completed until later this year meaning the launch has to be pushed back.

It means Boeing is falling far behind rival SpaceX, which has been sending crew to the ISS as part of NASA's program since 2020.

It's the latest setback in the problem-plagued history of the reusable spacecraft, which was originally hoping to start crewed launches to ISS in 2017

READ MORE SpaceX launches its first female-led crewed mission to the ISS SpaceX Crew-5 took place in October Advertisement

According to reports, Boeing has had to take nearly $900 million (700 million) from its earnings to cover the cost of Starliner including $410 million in 2020 but the project's total amount now allegedly stands at $1.4 billion (1.1 billion).

Starliner's most recent uncrewed mission to the ISS was successfully completed in May last year, but a crewed launch is yet to occur.

Boeing and NASA announced the new delay and detailed work that still needs to be done on Starliner during a joint online press conference on Monday, August 7.

'Right now, based on the current plans, we're anticipating that we're going to be ready with the spacecraft in early March,' said Mark Nappi, Boeing vice president and program manager of the Starliner program.

He added that the actual launch date would depend on constraints in the space calendar and would be decided together with NASA and the United Launch Alliance, which provides the Atlas V launch rocket for Starliner.

During recent testing, Boeing engineers identified new issues relating to a faulty parachute system and wire harness tape used extensively through the capsule that was found to be flammable under some conditions.

Nappi explained that a component of the parachute system called the 'soft links' had been reinforced with fibre and improvements were made to its stitching.

Substantial amounts of the electrical tape have been removed, while in other areas they have been protectively covered, he added.

Boeing should be done removing the tape in the coming weeks, but the redesigned parachute system won't be ready until December.

Only if a parachute drop test goes well late this year, the spacecraft should be ready to carry two NASA astronauts to the ISS as early as March.

Despite it being more than 10 years since Boeing first presented its design for Starliner (pictured), the vehicle is still not yet ready for a flight to the space station

Pictured, the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket that would carry Boeing's first Starliner spacecraft on an unpiloted orbital flight, December 19, 2019. The uncrewed mission was not a success as it didn't reach the ISS as planned

Boeing and NASA teams work around Boeing's Starliner after it landed on May 25, 2022 at White Sands Missile Range's Space Harbor in New Mexico. This launch was uncrewed and effectively a practice run, so a crewed mission is the next step for the company

The actual launch date next March will be decided together with NASA and the United Launch Alliance, which provides the Atlas V launch rocket for Starliner (pictured)

Boeing's Starliner launches December 2019 First uncrewed flight. Reached orbit but failed to dock with ISS May 2022 Second uncrewed flight. Successfully docked with ISS March 2024? Tentative date for first crewed flight to ISS Advertisement

Steve Stich, NASA's Commercial Crew program manager, defended the fresh delay as being in the interest of safety for those aboard.

He reiterated the space agency's commitment to Boeing in the face of increasing criticism from observers.

'We will go fly this mission when we're ready,' said Stich.

Boeing is one of three companies participating in NASA's Commercial Crew Program  an initiative to fly teams of astronauts to the ISS on behalf of the space agency.

Established it 2011, the program was intended for NASA to outsource the development of vessels that can perform the journey, rather than NASA engineers doing it themselves.

NASA awarded fixed-price contracts of $4.2 billion to Boeing and $2.6 billion to SpaceX in 2014, shortly after the end of the space shuttle program, during a time when the US had to rely on Russian Soyuz rockets for rides to the ISS.

Elon Musk's SpaceX, so far the most successful member of the program, performed its first crewed launch to the ISS back in May 2020, using its Crew Dragon spacecraft.

Pictured, SpaceX boss Elon Musk with the firm's Crew Dragon spacecraft. NASA hopes to certify Boeing's Starliner as a second 'taxi' service for its astronauts to the ISS - a role that SpaceX has provided since 2020

NASA astronauts Bob Behnken (left) and Doug Hurley (right) give a thumbs up inside the Dragon capsule as a flight physician checks their vitals. The team returned to Earth following a two-month mission inside the International Space Station

SpaceX is due to perform its seventh crewed launch to the ISS for NASA later this month  and will perform several more after this as part of the program.

Boeing, on the other hand, has long experienced teething trouble with its Starliner vessel, which was originally supposed to be doing crewed flights by 2017.

Boeing launched its first uncrewed flight to ISS in December 2019, although it didn't go to plan as it didn't manage to reach the space station.

A second uncrewed mission in May 2022 was more of a success and performed a successful ISS docking procedure two days after launch before returning safely.

However last year's launch was uncrewed and effectively a practice run, so a crewed mission is the next step for the company.

But even now there's no guarantee Starliner will be ready when March comes around and the vessel is eating up precious time, not to mention money.

Even though the ISS is due to be commissioned at the start of next decade, NASA said it still wants two competing crew launchers.

The goal is to fly one Boeing and one SpaceX crew flight each year.

The third member, Sierra Nevada, is still in the development phase of its Dream Chaser spacecraft, but it's not expected to be certified for crewed missions until later this decade.
READ MORE: Meet the Americans who helped NASA shoot an asteroid off orbit

The goal was to move the moonlet off its orbit, which was a success

A boulder swarm 'as deadly as Hiroshima' was accidentally unleashed by NASA during its first planetary defense mission last year.

Scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles, identified 37 boulders up to 22 feet wide that scattered off the surface of the moonlet Dimorphos after a spacecraft smashed into it.

The mission, known as the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), aimed to push the moonlet off its orbit in the event of an asteroid barreling toward Earth.

While the test was a success, it came with unintended consequences: 'Smaller rocks flying off into space could create their own problems,' the team shared in a press release.

Even a 15-foot boulder hitting Earth would deliver as much energy as the atomic bomb dropped on the Japanese city during World World II.

Scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles, identified 37 boulders up to 22 feet wide that scattered off the surface of the moonlet Dimorphos after a spacecraft smashed into it.

The team likened the swarm of space rocks to a 'cloud of shrapnel expanding from a hand grenade' soaring through space at 13,000 miles per hour.

While none of the rubble is on a collision course with Earth, scientists are worried that a boulder storm from a future asteroid deflection could impact our planet at the same speed the asteroid was traveling  fast enough to cause tremendous damage.

NASA launched its DART in 2022 to move Dimorphos off its orbit, circling its parent asteroid Didymos.

On September 26, the world watched as DART soared 15,000 miles per hour toward Dimorphos - and its orbit went from 11 hours and 55 minutes to 11 hours and 23 minutes following impact.

Ultimately deemed a success, DART is now touted as a way to protect our planet from a catastrophic asteroid impact.

A new study led by UCLA astronomer David Jewitt said: 'Because those big boulders basically share the speed of the targeted asteroid, they're capable of doing their own damage.'

DART spacecraft collided with the 560-foot asteroid, around 6.7 million miles away from Earth

NASA launched its Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) in 2022 to move Dimorphos off its orbit, circling its parent asteroid Didymos

Jewitt said that given the high speed of a typical impact, a 15-foot boulder hitting Earth would deliver as much energy as the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima.

Dimorphos was never a threat to Earth but was chosen by NASA as the test target because it is six million miles from our planet.

This makes the moonlet close enough to be of interest but far enough not to have implications in case of the kind of unintended consequences UCLA found.

The team analyzed images taken by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope in December 2022, finding 37 boulders were released from the surface of Dimorphos.

The research, published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, found that the rocks were likely knocked off the surface by the shock of the impact.

A close-up photograph DART took just two seconds before the collision shows a similar number of boulders sitting on the asteroid's surface  of similar sizes and shapes  to those imaged by the Hubble telescope.

Dimorphos was never a threat to Earth but was chosen by NASA as the test target because it is six million miles from our planet

Dimorphos was littered with boulders (Atabaque) before being pushed off its orbit. These rocks measure up to 22 feet wide

The boulders the scientists studied, among the faintest objects ever seen within the solar system, are observable in detail thanks to the powerful Hubble telescope.

'If we follow the boulders in future Hubble observations, we may have enough data to pin down the boulders' precise trajectories,' Jewitt said.

'And then we'll see in which directions they were launched from the surface and figure out exactly how they were ejected.'

The team believes the boulders were ejected from the impact site or launched from the surface by seismic shaking.
Restaurant insider Danilo Mangano (above) has revealed his eight simple hacks to having the 'best' meal out

There's nothing worse than forking out a small fortune for a disappointing dinner out.

But subpar dining experiences can be avoided if you follow the advice of restaurant insider Danilo Mangano reveals.

Mangano, who is the managing director of SevenRooms, the reservation platform behind restaurants including Nobu and Michelin-starred Gymkhana, has revealed his eight simple hacks to having the 'best' meal out, which he assures will 'make a world of difference' to your experience as a diner.

From choosing the right arrival time to successfully bagging a table at the hottest restaurant in town, here are his top tips. Bon appetit!

BOOKING DIRECT

Mangano says that 'restaurants will reward you for booking directly on their website'

Mangano recommends booking directly with your restaurant of choice. 'By booking through marketplaces like OpenTable, you risk missing out on the best availability and experiences,' the insider says.

He explains: 'Restaurants will reward you for booking directly on their website with better availability and you may find out about unique experiences that you might have otherwise missed.'

LOYALTY IS KEY

'Booking a table at a great restaurant feels more competitive than ever,' says Mangano, highlighting that this is especially true 'at well-known favourites like Dishoom [a Bombay-inspired restaurant group in the UK]'.

He adds: 'An insider secret is that many hard-to-book restaurants save a few tables for their most loyal guests.

'As in any relationship, loyalty is an essential ingredient of success. Regularly visiting a restaurant and getting to know the staff is a great way to build your customer profile and guarantee yourself a spot in the future.'

DON'T BE SHY IF IT'S A SPECIAL EVENT

Let the staff know you're celebrating a special occasion and you could bag 'anything from a discount on your meal, a free drink or dessert, to a special bottle of Champagne'

Mangano advises letting the restaurant know when you are looking to celebrate a special event 'whether it be to celebrate a new promotion, a birthday or even to pop the big question'.

He says: 'Many restaurants have a little something extra to offer to make your memory of the night just that bit more special.

'You could gain anything from a discount on your meal, a free drink or dessert, to a special bottle of Champagne.'

CHOOSE YOUR ARRIVAL TIME WISELY

'If youve booked a table for 8pm, its likely that at least three or four other parties will be booked in for that slot too,' Mangano says.

He continues: 'Instead of arriving at 8pm on the dot, aim to get to the restaurant at least five minutes early.

'Youll get in ahead of everyone who arranged to arrive on the hour and get seated much sooner  and likely at a better table.'

The restaurant insider adds: 'Youll also be able to place your order before others, which means your food is far less likely to be delayed if theres a rush.'

DON'T BE A NUISANCE

Generally, if you're polite and easygoing, staff will want to help improve your experience where they can, according to Mangano

'Servers are human too, and can apply their own discretion when choosing which tables to prioritise for good service  and who to ignore, if they want to,' Mangano points out.

He continues: 'With this in mind, make yourself a pleasure to be around. Generally, staff will want to help to improve your experience where they can if youre easy and polite  it doesnt hurt to ask how their evening is going.'

But the expert warns against making 'When Harry Met Sally-style menu substitutions'.

In the 1989 romcom, the character Sally Albright, played by Meg Ryan, makes ultra-picky requests at restaurants. For instance, when she's ordering apple pie, she says: 'I'd like the pie heated, and I don't want the ice cream on top, I want it on the side, and I'd like strawberry instead of vanilla if you have it.'

Such pernickety requests are 'generally frowned upon', he says, 'as is being glued to your phone while ordering [and] interrupting or even tapping them while theyre speaking to another table'.

GHOSTING IS A NO-NO

No longer able to make your dinner reservation? The worst thing you can do, Mangano reveals, is to fail to show up without cancelling your reservation. 'Just as restaurants track their loyal customers, they also know who their frequent no-showers are,' he points out.

'Not only will you be less likely to get a great experience  or even a reservation  next time, but with many restaurants now requiring booking deposits or putting no-show fees in place, you could take a financial hit.'

The expert suggests 'simply amending your booking ahead of the cancellation window' rather than missing out on the experience and losing money in the process.

SPILL THE BEANS

Mangano recommends sharing details such as 'your likes, dislikes, allergies and seating preferences' with a restaurant

Mangano recommends giving the restaurant all the information it needs to help give you the most tailored experience, whether that's by including it in your online booking notes or by telling your server directly.

'If they dont know it, they cant use it,' he says. 'All sorts of details can be taken into account  your likes, dislikes, allergies and seating preferences are just the tip of the iceberg. The more you share, the more personalised your experience can become.'

This can be particularly useful if you dine often at a particular restaurant, he adds.

Mangano says: 'Instead of getting generic and irrelevant marketing emails, the restaurant will be better armed to only contact you with information on the deals, dishes and special events that youll really love.'

MAKE USE OF HOTEL CONCIERGES

Mangano says: 'You can infinitely increase your chances to get a table or seat at the hottest restaurant while on holiday by asking for help from a hotel concierge.

'Many concierges have close relationships with the best local restaurants in each city and can help recommend the top spots and even get you those "impossible" tables  you just have to ask.'
Thomas Skinner has revealed he and his wife Sinead are already planning a fourth child two months after welcoming twin daughters, Roma and Darla.

The Apprentice star missed the birth of his two babies due to work commitments in the U.S. and previously revealed Sinead shockingly 'nearly died' in labour and was forced to undergo an emergency caesarean section.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, the 32-year-old entrepreneur revealed that despite the traumatic ordeal it hasn't deterred the couple - who also share son Henry, two - from planning another child.

He explained: 'We want to go for four! We're practising for it. I'd never leave her again when she's pregnant after I missed the twins' birth. They were a month early.'

The reality star went on to explain that he doesn't think much as changed since welcoming two more to his brood, revealing: 'Two more isn't that strange, it's just changing more nappies!'

Baby daddy: Thomas Skinner has revealed he and his wife Sinead are already planning a fourth child two months after welcoming twin daughters, Roma and Darla

Heartbreaking: The Apprentice star missed the birth of his two babies due to work commitments in the U.S. and previously revealed Sinead shockingly 'nearly died' in labour

Thomas - who currently features in a campaign for pushchair brand iCandy - previously recalled how he received a panicked call from his wife informing her she would need to have a C-section in the next 24 hours.

After being warned that the lives of his wife and their unborn children were at risk he made the 5,000 mile journey back to the UK to be with them.

He said: '[The doctor] told me "there's a significant risk to your wife's life and twins' life if we don't get them out immediately. We need to get these babies out within the next 24 hours - latest - but I want to do it now".

'The doctor said to me they noticed in a routine scan that Twin B had not gained any weight and hasn't grown at all, and her heartbeat is really slow.

'He told me "there's a significant risk to your wife's life and twins' life if we don't get them out immediately."

Thankfully the babies arrived safety.

Thomas, who has become known for his social media videos and 'Bosh' catchphrase, was managing a West Ham Legends team in a tournament in North Carolina when he received the news about Sinead and the babies.

He explained how the first flight back to the UK wasn't for another five hours so he went back to watch the team play their first match before heading home.

During this time, he received the worrying news that the twins' heartrates had dropped and they were in 'real danger', according to his wife's sister Siobhan.

The C-Section was brought forward meaning that Thomas would definitely miss the birth as the Essex native revealed he 'broke down' in the airport.

Doting daddy: The 32-year-old entrepreneur revealed that despite the traumatic ordeal it hasn't deterred the couple - who also share son Henry, two - from planning another child

Practical: Thomas has been working with pushchair brand iCandy. He is seen using the iCandy Cerium Twin Pram for his newborns

Shortly before taking off he learned the babies were born but he had heard no news on his wife's condition until discovering she was fine when the plane landed.

For now, he's being kept busy with not only his three children under three but his many entrepreneurial efforts, having just filmed a show while also running his market stall, gym and various businesses.

Thomas told MailOnline: 'I'm just going to take every opportunity I can. The only thing I try to do is spend more time with my family, I always try and have at least one or two days a week with Henry.'

The star has also just finished working on a new book which features autobiographical moments of his life as well as lessons on how to graft.

Elsewhere in the chat, Thomas spoke about his role as matchmaker for pal Rylan Clark.

The presenter, 34, split from husband Dan Neal in 2021 and is back on the dating market, but Thomas revealed that his superstar status has made dating harder.

Thomas decided to act as matchmaker and after revealing Rylan was looking for love he said he had 'thousands of messages' from fans putting themselves forwards for dates.

He revealed: 'I didn't actually realise it would go as mad. I had thousands of messages! But, yeah I try and help him out, find him a date, he's a lovely bloke.

'Because he's the most famous person in the country people are going to take liberties with him, but he's a good guy. He's a friendly loving guy and I hope he finds someone.'

Offering a stern threat to anyone who would take advantage of his pal, he continued: 'I f someone is horrible to him I'll lock them in the back of the van!'

Thomas has been working with pushchair brand iCandy www.icandyworld.com
Coronation Street fans are set to enjoy another week of action-packed drama, with the cobbles set to be rocked by a surprising new fling.

Recent weeks have seen Sarah Platt devastated to learn that the villainous Damon is the father of her unborn baby, leaving her marriage to her husband Adam in tatters.

And this week, viewers will see the surprise return of Claire Sweeney as Tyrone Dobbs' long-lost mother Cassie, as she continues to overcome her battle with drug addiction.

Ryan Connor also continues to battle with steroid addiction after his horrific acid attack earlier this year, with his unpredication behaviour beginning to draw the attention of loved ones.

Here's everything you need to know about next week's action in Weatherfield...

Will Lauren sleep with ROY?

SPOILERS: After trying to kiss her ex Max, an embarrassed Lauren resigns from the cafe. When Roy kindly offers her a bed for the night, she makes a pass at him!

After landing herself a job at Roy's cafe, teen Lauren gets a pep talk from Shona on how to deal with awkward customers.

When Beth accuses Lauren of short-changing her, Lauren remains calm but proves her wrong. Shona congratulates Lauren on the way she handled a difficult customer.

Lauren tells Max about her successful day in the cafe, but she misreads his pride and tries to kiss him he pulls away.

Embarrassed, she storms out of the house and heads to the cafe where she tells Roy she has made a fool of herself and wants to resign.

Roy offers her food and a bed for the night before she makes any rash decision but is horrified when she offers to sleep with him to show her gratitude!

Later in the cafe, Roy leaves a message for Shona, hoping she might have heard from Lauren.

When Shona reveals that neither she nor Max has seen Lauren since yesterday, Roy becomes increasingly worried.

Lauren calls at No.8 for her things and inadvertently lets slip to Max and Shona that she made a pass at Roy as that is what men expect. What will she do now?

Stephen's lies leave him cornered

Drama! Stephen comes dangerously close to behing caught after stealing a tie pin to cover up his crimes - will he be found out?

Lou arrives for her meeting and tells Carla and Stephen the police have agreed to look into the missing watch and the strange tie pin.

Stephen steals her hotel key from her bag, and later learns that Peter has pawned the watch, and it has since been sold.

Stephen lets himself into Lou's hotel room whilst she is at the factory and rifles through her belongings, quickly finding the tie pin to put in his pocket.

But as he makes to leave, he's horrified to hear someone at the bedroom door. Will he get caught?

Ryan's behaviour sparks concern

Tension: Ryan's battle with steroid addiction sparks concern among loved ones, as he collapses while on a run

Ryan pulls out a box of steroids from under his bed, but despairs when he discovers the vials have leaked.

Pointing out that he barely leaves his bedroom these days, Carla urges him to go out and meet Alya for lunch.

Alya confides in Carla that Ryan seemed restless and preoccupied over lunch.

Later, Ryan enters his bedroom clutching a needle to find Carla making his bed, and quickly hides it in his hand while struggling to keep a lid on his temper.

Once Carla is gone he punches the wardrobe in anger, the steroids clearly taking effect.

As Ryan returns from a run, he suffers heart palpitations and as his legs give way Gary rushes to his aid and urges him to take deep breaths.

Clocking Ryan's energy drink, Gary asks him if he's taken anything else in addition to it - will his addiction be discovered?

Tyrone's mother returns!

Oh dear! After getting clean of drugs, Cassie stuns Tyrone by confessing that she's his long-lost mother - how will he react?

Tyrone leave a message for Evelyn letting her know it is the girls' show today at the Bistro and they would love her support.

Over at the precinct Evelyn and Cassi move into a rented flat when Evelyn gets the message but she tells Cassie she won't be going as she can't leave her on her own.

But Cassie has other ideas and convinces Evelyn to let her go out to grab a coffee as she has been clean for weeks and is bored.

When Evelyn spots her purse is missing she fears the worst, while Cassie has arrived at the Bistro where Tyrone recognises her as Cath, the friend of James and wonders if she's heard anything from Evelyn.

A breathless Evelyn hurries into the bistro, just in time to hear Cassie reveal to Tyrone that she's his Mum!

Over breakfast, Hope and Ruby excitedly quiz Tyrone about their new Grandma, wondering when they can meet her.

In the flat, Evelyn lambasts Cassie for the terrible mess she's created, and assures Tyrone she was only trying to protect him and her plan was to tell him the truth once she could be sure Cassie was clean.

Tyrone pours his heart out to Kevin and Abi, and she advises him to think long and hard before introducing a recovering drug addict into the girls' lives.

Tyrone calls at the flat in the precinct - what will his decision be?

Glenda's big problem

When Gerry the Tai-Chi instructor reveals that hes booked the community centre all day tomorrow, Glendas horrified to realise it clashes with the Little Big Shotz Summer Spectacular.

When a stressed Glenda confides in Tyrone that she needs to find another venue for the show, Hope suggests she speaks to Maria as shes on the council.

When Maria suggests they hold the show in the bistro, Glenda reckons its a great idea - will it go off without a hitch?

Gemma's new job

New role! As Gemma starts her new job at Newton & Ridley, Phillip makes his disapproval obvious - will she win over her new bosses?

At No.5, Chesney presents Gemma with a furry notebook and matching pen for her first day in the new job.

Gemma arrives for the Newton & Ridley board meeting. Henry does his best to put her at her ease whilst Philip makes his disapproval obvious.

Gemma calls at the Rovers and admits to Jenny and Daisy that its been a tough day - has she won over her new boss?

Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
               
Next week is set to be as action-packed as ever in the Hollyoaks village, with a heartbreaking drug struggle, a bitter head-to-head and a new romance set to leave viewers gripped.

Recent episodes have left fans on the brink of tears as Donna-Marie's relapse shook the family to its core, and next week, things show no signs of improving as Leela and Peri struggle to get through to her.

Meanwhile, as Sienna ploughs on with her plan to swindle Rafe, she faces stiff opposition from his sister Dilly - but who will come out on top?

Elsewhere, things appear to be looking up for Jack as he grows closer to Pearl.

Here's everything you need to know about next week's action in Chester...

Donna-Marie struggles to fight her demons

Tough time: Amid her drug struggles following the loss of daughter Juliet, Leela promises not to give up on Donna-Marie, but the grieving mum isnt sure whether she can get better

Amid her drug struggles following the loss of daughter Juliet, Leela promises not to give up on Donna-Marie, but the grieving mum isnt sure whether she can get better.

Leela tries tough love with Donna-Marie, but when that doesnt work, she tells her to leave the village.

Later, Donna-Marie confides in Leela and opens up about losing Juliet. Leela is hopeful after their conversation - but later makes a heartbreaking discovery.

Concerned about her mums bruises, Peri discovers that Donna-Marie is staying at the gym.

Struggle: Later, Donna-Marie confides in Leela and opens up about losing Juliet. Leela is hopeful after their conversation - but later makes a heartbreaking discovery

Later, Joel is curious as to why Leela is upping the security at the gym, unaware its so she can keep tabs on her struggling friend.

At a double date with Sharon and Warren, Leela is hooked to her phone watching the new security cameras.

Leela is confused as to why Joel is so upset with them looking after Donna-Marie, but her and Peri stick by their decision - but does Joel have his own secret he's keeping from Leela?

Meanwhile, as her mum struggles with Donna-Marie, Romeo tells Peri he cant look after his mum again, leaving her shocked by the lack of support.

Peri thinks shes getting through to Donna-Marie, but thats proven false when she swipes Peris phone when shes not looking.

Will anyone be able to get through to Donna-Marie?

Sienna goes head-to-head with Dilly

Rival: Sienna tries to help with design ideas for Rafes new place, but Dilly is quick to shut her down

Trouble: Rafe treats Sienna to a bouquet of flowers and an invite to go through plans for the new office with him later but Dilly continues to air her concerns for their relationship

Sienna tries to help with design ideas for Rafes new place, but Dilly is quick to shut her down.

Rafe treats Sienna to a bouquet of flowers and an invite to go through plans for the new office with him later but Dilly continues to air her concerns for their relationship.

An opportunity for Dilly to find out more about her rival presents itself when listening-in Diane starts delving into Siennas past.

Sienna asks Ethan to diffuse the problem child, Dilly whilst she keeps Rafe sweet - but Dilly has plans of her own.

Schemer: An opportunity for Dilly to find out more about her rival presents itself when listening-in Diane starts delving into Siennas past

Problem: Sienna asks Ethan to diffuse the problem child, Dilly whilst she keeps Rafe sweet - but Dilly has plans of her own

At home, Sienna and Ethan lock horns over recent events

Sienna goes over to Rafes house to check hes okay. Meanwhile, following their row, Sienna assures Ethan she didnt want to tear that family apart and shes told Rafe everything.

A new romance for Jack?

Romance: A fridge overfilled with milk encourages a conversation at the Osbornes about Jacks crush on Price Slice cashier Pearl

Kiss kiss: Later at The Dog's relaunch, Pearl makes her feelings clear to Jack, and the pair kiss. Everyone has a dance

A fridge overfilled with milk encourages a conversation at the Osbornes about Jacks crush on Price Slice cashier Pearl.

Before Jack can come up with a plan to woo Pearl, his crush turns up on his doorstep. The date is off to a rocky start but when they bond over a love for Sinatra and they head back for a cuppa.

Later at The Dog's relaunch, Pearl makes her feelings clear to Jack, and the pair kiss. Everyone has a dance.

Struggles for John Paul?

Hard time: Following his attack, Ste tries to get through to John Paul in touching scenes. Later John Paul turns to a dating app

Following his attack, Ste tries to get through to John Paul in touching scenes. Later John Paul turns to a dating app.

John Paul tells Scott he wants to go to the gay club night at the Loft, but is he ready?

Sally fears John Paul might not be ready to go to another gay night at The Loft.

John Paul doesnt want to hide away anymore, but admits to Scott he doesnt want to go to the club night, so his friend advises him to do something that makes him feel good.

At the McQueens BBQ, John Paul arrives to spend time with his family, and he opens up to Carter. Later its revealed that the mystery new man is Freyas dad

Hollyoaks airs weekdays at 6:30pm on Channel 4. First look episodes air at 7pm on E4.
Love Island stars Zach Noble and Mitch Taylor threatened to call out Kady McDermott for having a 'secret boyfriend' during the live reunion show but were shut down by ITV producers.

The cast from the latest series reunited on Sunday night with host Maya Jama, 28, to address the offscreen drama that has ensued since Jess Harding and Sammy Root won the 50,000 prize.

After being dumped, Kady accused Molly Marsh of making unkind comments towards her and not being a girl's girl, which prompted a defensive reaction from her former love interest.

Zach lashed out at Kady for having 'our name in your mouth' after she expressed her opinion about the couple on multiple podcast interviews, with the 2016 Islander snapping, 'enjoy your five minutes of fame!'

And Zach, who was previously coupled up with Kady when she stole him from Molly, leaving her dumped, wanted to up the ante by accusing her of having a boyfriend the entire time she was in the villa this season.

Love Island stars Zach Noble and Mitch Taylor threatened to call out Kady McDermott for having a 'secret boyfriend' during the live reunion show but were shut down by ITV producers

After being dumped, Kady accused Molly Marsh of making unkind comments towards her and not being a girl's girl, which prompted a defensive reaction from her former love interest

After earning himself the nickname 'messy Mitch', the gas salesman was also keen to ask Kady on camera the truth behind continued speculation that she had a boyfriend while in the villa

A source told MailOnline: 'The Islanders all know about Kady's boyfriend and were desperate to call her out on it during the live reunion, so she had no choice but to face the accusation.

'But Love Island producers warned Zach and Mitch against it, telling them to keep the show as "friendly" as possible.

'They're embarrassed that Kady's comeback was their big reveal this season and are let down that she didn't admit to having a long-term boyfriend when she was approached to return.

'But the Islanders can't be controlled forever, especially as Kady is so opinionated herself they will be calling her out on the dishonesty.'

After earning himself the nickname 'messy Mitch' this season, the gas salesman was also keen to ask Kady on camera the truth behind continued speculation that she had a boyfriend while looking for love on the show.

And Mitch has finally had his say now he's no longer under the control of producers and living in the TV villa.

In an interview, he said: 'You're calling me and Ella B fake, but you came in with a boyfriend. You have a boyfriend to this day.

'And I've been told by the other girls I'm not going to name names because I'll just take all of this you had your boyfriend's bracelet that he gave you on, your boyfriend was at your house whilst you were there and you're calling me fake. I got called fake by Kady when Kady was doing the most.'

A source told MailOnline that the Islanders are all aware of Kady's boyfriend with Mitch claiming in an interview on Monday that the Islander 'has a boyfriend to this day'

Tensions ran high at the reunion after Kady said she was 'upset' watching a clip where Molly admitted to feeling relieved she had been dumped because she disliked seeing Kady and Zach together

Jess Harding and Sammy Root won the summer series, which was a shock to viewers who predicted that Whitney Adebayo and Lochan Nowack would win

It has been claimed that Kady's 'secret boyfriend' is Liam Greer, who this year admitted to money laundering and is due to be sentenced on August 18.

On September 9, 2022, Liam was charged with the offence just six months after he returned from an idyllic holiday in the Maldives with Kady.

In exclusive photos published by MailOnline, Kady can be seen sunbathing together with Liam in March 2022 despite the father-of-three being under investigation by police.

The Love Island star's renovated Hertfordshire home, where Mitchell alleges Liam was living while Kady appeared on Love Island this summer, was searched as part of the investigation.

Kady has been out of the Love Island villa for a number of weeks but is yet to address the claims she had a boyfriend during her appearance on the show.

She is now dating Ouzy See who she met this season, telling Maya during the reunion that they have plans to meet Kady's mum and dog.
Married At First Sight star Jonethen Musulin has proposed to his longtime girlfriend Lilli Newman.

The couple shared the exciting news to Instagram on Monday, with Jonethen posting some stunning photos from the moment he proposed.

The 31-year-old, who appeared on the Channel Nine dating show in 2020, popped the question after decking a room out with rose petals and candles in a heart shape.

In the video, a nervous Jonethen can be seen standing at the end of the room before an emotional Lilli walks in.

Overwhelmed by the romantic spectacle, she jumps for joy, before agreeing to marry him.

Married At First Sight's Jonethen Musulin has proposed to his longtime girlfriend Lilli Newman

The couple shared the exciting news to Instagram on Monday, with Jonethen posting some stunning photos from the moment he proposed

Their post was quickly inundated with sweet comments from their co-stars and friends.

Former MAFS bride Cathy Evans wrote: 'Oh my god the way I'm sobbing  so happy for your both xxxx'.

'I am dead! This is adorable!!!!!' wrote a second.

The 31-year-old, who appeared on the Channel Nine dating show in 2020, popped the question after decking a room out with rose petals and candles in a heart shape

In the video a nervous Jonethen can be seen standing at the end of the room, before an emotional Lilli walks in

Overwhelmed by the spectacle, she jumps for joy, before agreeing to marry him

Jonethen previously told Daily Mail Australia that he was grateful to have found his 'perfect match' - this time without the help of MAFS' resident relationship 'experts'.

'She's beautiful, funny, what more could I want? She's the perfect match for me,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

The Queensland-based FIFO worker explained that his romance with Lilli had been almost a decade in the making.

Their post was quickly inundated with sweet comments from their co-stars and friends. Former MAFS groom Steve Burley shared a photo of the couple and wrote: 'Congratulations to you both. I'm super happy to hear to you have got engaged'

Lilli also shared a close up of her emerald green diamond ring

'Weve known each other for about eight years, but Lilli has always worked away,' he said of his professional dancer girlfriend.

However, Jonethen said she returned home amid the pandemic, which gave him the opportunity to court her.

'It gave me the chance to finally take her on a date, eight years in the making. The date went amazing, and since then weve been basically inseparable,' he said.

Jonethen was 'married' to Connie Crayden on MAFS, but the couple chose to leave the social experiment single when they filmed their final vows last December.

Jonethen previously told Daily Mail Australia that he was grateful to have found his 'perfect match' - this time without the help of MAFS' resident relationship 'experts'
Karl Stefanovic was left outraged after a mother-of-two was denied entry into the Gold Coast's Burleigh Pavilion on Saturday over three small tattoos.

The Today Show anchor, 48, who himself has a number of tattoos, was left flabbergasted as he spoke to Katie Hally on Tuesday.

Despite being out with a group of friends to celebrate a 45th birthday, Katie was called back down the stairs after the bouncer spotted her 'inappropriate' ink.

'Do you think they were just having a bad day because I think Burleigh Pavilion is one of the best venues on the Goldie?' Karl said, trying to make sense of the blunder.

Karl went on to say he has been to the venue a 'bazillion' times and seen 'plenty of ink' on patrons.

Karl offered the light-hearted explanation it might have been due to how good Katie looked on the night.

'Do you reckon it was just they didn't like how good you looked or something?' he said, joking with his guest.

A mild-mannered Katie joked she would have 'accepted that' but she herself was still puzzled why she was denied entry.

'That would be nice. He could have just said that ''you look too hot, you're not allowed in today'' but yeah I'm not sure,' she said.

Ms Hally explained she even offered to put a jacket on to cover her small tattoos, but was told that would still be unacceptable.

Today star Karl Stefanovic, 48, has let rip over Gold Coast woman Katie Hally being barred from Burleigh Pavilion due to three small tattoos on the breakfast show on Tuesday. Pictured

Karl attempted to put the refusal of entry down to a possible security guard having a bad day. Katie was denied entry over three small neck tattoos of Chinese symbols. Pictured: Karl, Sarah Abo, and Katie

'I had a jacket over my arm which I offered to put on and yeah. I wasn't allowed to do that either, so I don't know,' she said, confused.

Karl went on to call that 'crazy' saying it was 'probably just one security guard having a bad day' on the night.

He went on to ask Katie if she planned on going back to the venue.

'I did actually did go back that day. I went home, got changed, and went back again with my only collared shirt that I own,' she said.

Katie explained the security guard barely gave her a second look when she returned to the beach-side location.

Katie made headlines after she was forced to go home on Saturday to change into a collared shirt after she was refused entry into Burleigh Pavilion over its tattoo policy. Pictured

Ms Hally offered to put her jacket on but she claims the bouncer she refused her request. Katie was forced to change before returning to the venue to celebrate her friend's birthday

'I was allowed in. The security guard didn't give me a second look. I was like ''hey, take two'' and he just looked at me like ''what are you on about?'''

Karl joked his own questionable tattoos haven't been a problem for him in the past.

'If you're going to get denied for rubbish ink work on your body, I'm not going to be allowed anywhere, ever again,' he said.

Karl said he planned to get in contact with the Burleigh Pavilion to see what can be done to allow Katie back into the venue.

'We'll have a chat to the Burleigh Pavilion and see if we can get you back in there as it's a great location. I love it there,' he said.

Katie, however, said she just considered the entire experience a bit crazy.

'I do just think it's a bit crazy. They're not rough tattoos. Even people with rough tattoos are still beautiful people. Bit of a shame.'
Ronnie Ortiz-Magro's daughter Ariana, five, is about to get another half-sibling.

The Jersey Shore star, 37, shares Ariana with his ex-girlfriend Jenn Harley, 35, who also starred on the MTV reality show.

She confirmed on Instagram that she's expecting her third child.

The mom-to-be (again) posed in a black bikini with her very prominent baby bump on display while standing in the ocean with her current partner Joe Ambr.

The two were soaking wet but the former reality television star's makeup was perfect. She captioned the post: 'J + J + J,' adding a white heart emoji.

Ronnie was awarded full primary custody of the daughter he shares with Jenn last fall.

Jenn and Ronnie had a tumultuous relationship during the two years they dated.

The MTV stars began dating in 2017 but things soon got dramatic between the two when Ronnie appeared to cheat on Jenn during the filming of Jersey Shore: Family Vacation.

They were on and off throughout 2018 as they tried to co-parent Ariana amicably and in June 2018 got into a physical altercation in public.

Two weeks later, Harley was arrested for getting into a fight with Ortiz-Magro.

Then, in October, he shared a photo of himself with a black eye and insinuated that Harley had punched him.

The couple were on and off throughout most of 2019 until October, when Ortiz-Magro was arrested and charged with seven misdemeanors, including domestic violence.

He pleaded not guilty to all charges in November 2019.

In addition to Ariana and her upcoming new addition, Harley is mom to son Mason, 15, with ex-husband Joshua Rogers.

Co-parenting: Ronnie Ortiz-Magro's daughter Ariana, five, is about to get another half-sibling. The Jersey Shore star, 37, shares Ariana with his ex-girlfriend Jenn Harley, 35, who also starred on the MTV reality show. She confirmed on Instagram that she's expecting her third child

Dad: Ronnie was awarded full primary custody of the daughter he shares with Jenn last fall. Jenn and Ronnie had a tumultuous relationship during the two years they dated

Expecting: In addition to Ariana and her upcoming new addition, Harley is mom to son Mason, 15, with ex-husband Joshua Rogers

Trouble in paradise: Ronnie and Jenn's relationship hit several rough patches when he began filming Jersey Shore: Family Reunion in 2018

Family: The MTV stars began dating in 2017 but things soon got dramatic between the two when Ronnie appeared to cheat on Jenn during the filming of Jersey Shore: Family Vacation

Fans were not exactly celebrating the news and Hartley shut down comments not long after she put the post up.

One said: 'She forgets about her firstborn but she gets pregnant.'

'Does she take care of any of her kids? Does she really need to have more?,' another fan wrote.

'Sorry but not happy about this news. god bless this baby, hope you are mature enough to not be violent again this time,' someone else commented.
ITV Racing pundit Francesca Cumani has revealed she's expecting her second child with boyfriend Max Johnson.

The presenter, 40, shared a stunning snap to Instagram showing off her growing baby bump in a chic blue dress.

She couldn't stop smiling as she cradled her bump while posing for the picture at Glorious Goodwood.

Fans were shocked to learn Francesca is pregnant, with one penning: 'You're like a baby making-machine'

Another wrote: 'Are you trying to tell us something Francesca??'

Congratulations! ITV Racing pundit Francesca Cumani has revealed she's expecting her second child with boyfriend Max Johnson

Couple: The beauty welcomed her second child Teddy George in June 2022 - her first child with boyfriend Max

The beauty welcomed her second child Teddy George in June 2022 - her first child with boyfriend Max.

She is already mother to five-year-old son Harry from a previous marriage.

Francesca, a trackside commentator for ITV Racing in Britain and Australia's Channel 10, announced the news on Instagram.

She shared a photo of herself cradling her newborn in his nursery, and wrote: 'One week to the hour of you, Teddy George Johnson. Utterly delicious in every way.'

Francesca had announced she was expecting a child with Max, 38, a businessman and Ironman triathlete, back in December last year.

'We're thrilled,' she told The Mail on Sunday at the time.

The thoroughbred expert was previously married to Australian polo player Rob Archibald, the father of her son Harry, from 2014 to 2018.

During their marriage, the couple attempted to juggle their lives on either side of the planet - a challenge that intensified after Francesca was hired by Britain's ITV.

That meant her spending eight months in Britain during the racing season and four months in Australia, where she was a commentator for Channel Seven.

At the time of their split, a friend said that despite the break-up relations between Francesca and Rob were 'perfectly amicable'.

At the time, Francesca, a trackside commentator for ITV Racing in Britain and Australia's Channel 10, shared a photo on Instagram of herself cradling her newborn in his nursery

The thoroughbred expert was previously married to Australian polo player Rob Archibald (left), the father of her son Harry, from 2014 to 2018. (Pictured in January 2018)

Following their separation, Francesca moved on with fellow ITV racing commentary team member Oli Bell.

However, the pair called it quits after two years of dating.

Her relationship with Max became public knowledge last year in September, and news of her pregnancy emerged just three months later.

Francesca, who is the daughter of Italian horse trainer and breeder Luca Cumani, signed a five-year deal worth $1 million with Channel 10 in 2019, after the network took over the Spring Carnival broadcast rights from Seven.
Emily Ratajkowski took to Instagram on Monday to share new content with her 30 million followers.

The bombshell High/Low With Emrata podcaster, 32, was joined by her 2-year-old son Sly as she posted scenes from a rural location filled with lush grass and cows.

Included in the slideshow of images were stunning selfies, sweet moments with Sly, and a close look at her red manicure.

Ratajkowski wrote in the caption, 'blackberries cows serpent nails and sly.'

The My Body author did not geotag the area but in the photos her tot wore a green hat that read 'Ireland,' giving a hint at her possible location.

New post: Emily Ratajkowski took to Instagram on Monday to share new content with her 30 million followers

Mom and son: The bombshell High/Low With Emrata podcaster, 32, was joined by her 2-year-old son Sly as she posted scenes from a rural location filled with lush grass and cows

Roundup: Included in the slideshow of images were stunning selfies, sweet moments with Sly, and a close look at her red manicure

The solo snapshots of the distinguished supermodel showed her rocking her newly tinted ginger locks.

While relaxing on a couch in a denim jacket, she held her hands up near her face to show off her manicure.

The stylish display featured a red base along with ornate black designs to take them up a notch.

Ratajkowski, who filed for divorce from ex-husband Sebastian Bear-McClard nearly one year ago, looked effortlessly beautiful as she showed off a patch of freckles across her nose and cheeks.

Her dark eyebrows framed her doe eyes, her cheeks were rosy with blush, and she wore a nude matte shade on her famously plump pout.

The outdoor captures showed the fashionista in a pair of jeans that matched her jacket.

In addition to the co-ord, the iNAMORATA swimwear designer rocked a pair of purple and black Salomon sneakers.

For his part, her son Sylvester - who she mostly refers to by his abbreviated nickname - enjoyed quality time with his mom in navy blue sweatpants.

Note: Ratajkowski wrote in the caption, 'blackberries cows serpent nails and sly'

Precious: The little boy showed no fear while frolicking with multiple cows

Stunner: The supermodel also took to her Instagram Stories to share a pair of striking selfies

Nature: Emily included a snapshot of a handful berries

Scenic: Ratajkowski showed her appreciation for nature as she shared a snap of a field of cows

Earlier in the day the runway regular also took to her Instagram Stories to share a pair of striking selfies.

In them she wore a cow print jacket buttoned all the way up as she flirtily posed for the camera.

Ratajkowski often discusses single motherhood on her popular podcast series, and sometimes dishes about her dating life.

Since ending her marriage after rumors of infidelity on her ex-husband's part, she's been linked to a host of celebrities including Eric Andre, Pete Davidson, and Harry Styles.
Helen Flanagan put on a casual display in a black jumper as she enjoyed a birthday lunch at Menagerie in Manchester with her daughter Matilda.

The former Coronation Street star, 33, headed out in green gym leggings and wrapped up in an oversized jumper for a mother-daughter lunch.

It comes after she put on a jaw-dropping display in a racy leather dress celebrating her birthday with a glamorous night out over the weekend.

However on Monday, the actress embraced her natural beauty as she strolled around the streets trying to keep up with Matilda, eight, on her scooter.

The blonde beauty upped up the ante with a 2,400 blue Dior bag and appeared to be in great spirits on her birthday.

Gorgeous: Helen Flanagan put on a casual display in a black jumper as she enjoyed a birthday lunch at Menagerie in Manchester with her daughter Matilda on Monday

Birthday celebs: The former Coronation Street star, 33, headed out in green gym leggings and wrapped up in an oversized jumper for a mother-daughter lunch

She paired her trendy ensemble with white socks pulled high and a pair of grey trainers.

Her daughter looked cute in camouflage trousers, an edgy pink and black top and bright pink trainers.

The pair appeared to be larking around as they were pictured giggling before heading into the restaurant.

Earlier on Monday, Helen teased fans with a sizzling video as she sat on a directors chair in front of a lavish pink heart shaped cake.

The mother-of-three flashed a huge diamond ring as she placed a birthday candle into her mouth and lit the end with a lighter.

She was then seen placing the candle into the cake which had the words 'thirty three and thriving' written across the top.

The former I'm A Celebrity star showed off her plump pout as she blew out the candle and beamed at the camera.

The actress completed her glamorous sexy birthday ensemble by accessorising with a pair of dazzling silver hoop earrings.

Casual: The blonde beauty upped up the ante with a 2,400 blue Dior bag and appeared to be in great spirits on her birthday

Larking around: The actress embraced her natural beauty as she strolled around the streets trying to keep up with Matilda, eight, on her scooter

Pretty: Her daughter looked cute in camouflage trousers, an edgy pink and black top and bright pink trainers

Having fun: The pair appeared to be larking around as they were pictured giggling before heading into the restaurant

She penned: '33 and thriving'.

It comes after Helen opened up about being up all night with her son after he was left in pain due to a health complaint last Thursday night.

Taking to Instagram she shared a picture of the two-year-old son Charlie's nasty rash as she said he'd been 'up all night crying'.

The star shared a close up of her child's knee which looked incredibly painful as she said 'Charlie's skin is really, really bad.'

The TV personality stroked her son's head as she said the plan for the day was just lots of cuddles after she applied Cetraben cream from the dermatologist.

'He's been so upset bless him so we're watching Paddington Bear and having lots of cuddles today.'

The worried mum was clearly feeling down after the traumatic night watching her youngest in pain as she captioned her story 'My poor baby's skin'.

'It's really sore bless him,' she added.

Birthday: It comes after she put on a mouth-watering display in a racy leather dress celebrating her 33rd birthday

The snaps come after Helen returned from her holiday in Barbados with her brood, including Matilda, Delilah, five and Charlie two who she shares with her ex-fiance Scott Sinclair.

Back from paradise the star was back to reality as she shared a video of her son looking upset as he cuddled up to his mum.
Remarkable Places to Eat (More4)

Rating:

Earth (BBC2)

Rating:

Unable to stomach the relentless sadism of ripper thriller Wolf on BBC1, I flipped channels and discovered something even more gruesome.

Dermot O'Leary was teaching Fred Sirieix, on Remarkable Places To Eat (More4), how to suck out the contents of a prawn's head. 'Mm,' Dermot slurped, 'brainy!'

The foodie friends were exploring Puglia, the heel of Italy, where This Morning presenter Dermot claims to be a 'part-time resident'. What this actually means is that he has a holiday home there, though he doesn't appear to visit often enough to pick up the language: Fred had to do the translating.

They were both in raptures over the cucina povera or 'kitchen of the poor' - the veg, pasta and seafood eaten for centuries by locals in the poverty-stricken villages. 'Authentically rustic, honouring their ancestors,' purred Fred.

It's magnificently pretentious, of course. You won't catch Dermot and Fred dining at the 'kitchens of the poor' back in Britain, queuing for a cheeseburger and 1.19 of fries at a fast-food franchise in Asda.

But their mouths were watering as they made orecchiette, little thimbles of pasta, by shaping dough over the tips of their thumbs.

Dermot O'Leary was teaching Fred Sirieix, on Remarkable Places To Eat, how to suck out the contents of a prawn's head. 'Mm,' Dermot slurped, 'brainy!

And they drooled as a fisherman with a Poirot-esque moustache demonstrated how to prise open a sea urchin with the tip of his knife, cut out its mouth, scraped away the half-digested algae of the shellfish's last meal, and scooped out the orange flesh to eat it raw, using a mussel shell for a teaspoon.

Both our galloping gourmets declared this looked delicious. Back on BBC1, Wolf's psychopathic kidnappers had just gutted a deer and festooned a tree with its entrails. I wonder whether Fred and Dermot are watching and licking their lips. One man's horror movie is another man's recipe book.

Raw molluscs are not my idea of fine dining, but the scenery was irresistible. The boys arrived at Gallipoli, a pre-Roman fishing town crammed on to a promontory, by speedboat under a brilliant blue sky.

The olive groves, the hillside farmhouses, the rocky bays and sun-baked sea walls were all impossibly picturesque. Not that Dermot and Fred took much notice - they were too busy competing with their exuberant tasting notes.

Fred wept for joy over a sheep's milk cheese called pecorino, eaten with capocollo cured meat and orange jam: 'I am not a fan of marmalade but actually, it goes perfectly with the fattiness as well as the slight smokiness of the pork.'

Dermot trumped him by inhaling the perfume of an oregano sprig. It grew, he claimed, beside the very beach where he took his morning swim, at Porto Selvaggio. 'The smell, half pine and half oregano,' he crooned. 'It's so beautiful.' Fred forced a smile. 'Is it?' he asked shortly. He'd been out-foodied.

Chris Packham was embarking on his own poetic raptures as he recounted how our planet acquired its life-giving atmosphere, in Earth (BBC2).

Chris Packham was embarking on his own poetic raptures as he recounted how our planet acquired its life-giving atmosphere, in Earth

'The great bowl of the heavens,' he chuntered, 'just so beautiful. I love the fact that I can stare into a sky that the dinosaurs stared into, that Neanderthals stared into.'

Framed against dawns and sunsets in a succession of romantic shots, Chris made a series of complex scientific developments seem easy to understand, with his blend of enthusiasm and pithy phrases.

Pointing to a line of red in a rock, he called it a 'geological tattoo' from an era when the oceans were cloudy with rust.

The only mystery he didn't explain was why this story, charting the first billion-and-a-half years of Earth's existence, wasn't the first in the series. Next week, in the final part, it's the extinction of dinosaurs and the arrival of humans, so this episode seemed out of chronological order.

Non-non of the week

Drinks boss Tom quoted Napoleon's remark, 'Perry is the English champagne,' as he sang the praises of pear cider, on A Cotswold Farmshop (Ch4).

'I mustn't do the French accent,' he added.

Why not? Is 'Allo 'Allo a hate crime now?
Melanie Griffith was glowing as she departed a hair salon in Beverly Hills on Sunday.

The Working Girl actress, 65, was dressed casually in a beige, long-sleeved t-shirt and cropped black leggings.

The Body Double star had her glasses tucked into the neckline of her t-shirt and wore tan slip-on Gucci sneakers on her feet. Her footwear retails for $690.

Melanie had a small black handbag over one shoulder and carried a canister of hair product in her hands.

Her collarbone-length blonde hair was wavy and fresh from a blowout as she made her way to her car.

Working Girl: Melanie Griffith was glowing as she departed a hair salon in Beverly Hills on Sunday. The Working Girl actress, 65, was dressed casually in a beige, long-sleeved t-shirt and cropped black leggings

Last month, Melanie completed the process of the removal of her infamous tattoo tribute to her ex-husband Antonio Banderas, 62.

She began the tattoo removal process back in 2014 after the couple split following 18 years of marriage.

The tattoo was on her bicep and featured Antonio's first name in a big heart with curly-cue designs around it.

The Lolita actress got the tattoo in the late 90s after she married the Spanish actor.

Melanie replaced the tribute to Antonio with the names of her kids, Alexander Bauer, 37, Dakota Johnson, 33, and Stella Banderas, 26, as well as her stepson, Jesse Johnson, 40.

Antonio was Melanie's third husband and fourth marriage. They were married in 1996 and divorced in 2015.

She was also married to Scarface actor Steven Bauer, 66, from 1981 to 1989.

Melanie married - and divorced Miami Vice actor Don Johnson, 73, twice.

Fresh faced: The Body Double star had her glasses tucked into the neckline of her t-shirt and wore tan slip-on Gucci sneakers on her feet. Her footwear retails for $690

Slim: The silver screen star looked slim and trim in black leggings and a black turtleneck in October 2022

New chapter: The Night Moves star recently completed the nearly decade long tattoo removal process for her Antonio tattoo that was formerly on her bicep

They married for the first time in 1976 and split the same year. They married again in 1989 and divorced for the second and final time in 1996.

And despite her divorce from Banderas, the former spouses have remained close friends.

'Even if we are divorced, she is my family and I will love her until the day I die,' The Mask of Zorro actor told People in 2018. 'We have been in contact all these years and we managed to do a separation that is very elegant.

'Our kids are enjoying that and that is very important for both of us. Our kids are priority number one.'
MBABANE  The call by civil servants to increase the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (CoLA) above three percent threshold ceiling by the Government of Eswatini could be justifiable in the spectrum of high cost of living.

This was mentioned by Southern African Research Foundation for Economic Development (SARFED) regional coordinator and Economist Dr George Choongwa in a statement issued yesterday. Dr Choongwa stated that the high cost of living was induced by both indo and exogenous factors the economy of Eswatini has been subjected in the past decade. The economist said, however, the deadlock between two bodies in reaching a strategic conscious within an ideal time frame could have a double-sided ripple effect causing fiscal disparities at the expense of the entire socioeconomic spectrum of the country, as the economy would slide into a stagflation mode. He said in spite of the fact that Eswatini public sector has had a record of having a largest wage bill in the sub-Sahara Africa for the past two decades, government has had achieved to reduce it to considerable levels.

Bill

He noted that according to the Ministry of Public Service Annual Performance Report for the financial year 2021/22, governments wage bill decreased to considerable levels by E47.4 million in a space of three months, causing a boast in the countrys fiscal space. Dr Choongwa said, however, austerity measures were taken at the expense of high unemployment rate as hiring free was introduced as well as other re-current public sector performance activities caused by reduction in the Government Computer Services (GCS). He said amid the increase in the cost of living, the countrys income per capita has been sluggish with a growth rate of about 1.8 per cent per year on average since 2012. Dr Choongwa added that the reactive increase in disposable income as a measure to curb inflationary effect on aggregate spending by the civil servants as demanded by the trade union through the CoLA would not have a sustainable effect on economic stability and growth unless government and the trade unions establish smart partnership pathways that would bring about collective benefits using a transitory economic growth modalities for both monetary and fiscal policy stability as measures to avoid stagflation.
Kevin Costner's estranged wife Christine Baumgartner has found a new home.

Dailymail.com has obtained photos of the Santa Barbara house Baumgartner, 49, is slated to move into after a court ordered her to vacate the $145 million Carpinteria, California compound she formerly shared with the 68-year-old Yellowstone actor.

Baumgartner's new rental home - which is within 10 miles of her former dwelling - is renting at a rate of $35,000 monthly, sources said.

The home has four bedrooms and four bathrooms and includes amenities such as a swimming pool, fire pit and BBQ area. The luxury home is surrounded by green shrubbery in the upscale California community.

Following her July 28 move from the main home, an insider revealed to People that the mother-of-three had been staying 'at a smaller house' on the property that had been used for staffers.

The latest: Kevin Costner's estranged wife Christine Baumgartner, 49, has found a new home in Santa Barbara, California following her split from the actor, 68

Dailymail.com has obtained photos of the house Baumgartner is slated to move into after a court ordered her to vacate the $145 million Carpinteria, California compound she formerly shared with the Yellowstone actor

The insider said that Baumgartner had been 'staying in the area to not disrupt' her her and Costner's three children - Cayden 16, Hayes, 14, and Grace, 13 - who 'will be back at school in the fall with their friends' in the coming months.

Baumgartner, a handbag designer, has been 'trying to keep everything as normal as possible' amid the tumultuous time for the family, the source told the outlet.

Baumgartner, who filed for divorce from the Yellowstone star in May, has complained of struggling to find an appropriate rental abode in the area.

Since proceedings began, the divorce has been far from amicable, from Costner claiming that his ex refused to leave the mansion despite giving her $1.45 million for a new residence; to Christine alleging the actor was trying to make her and their children 'homeless.'

Baumgartner had insisted in court docs that she had no plans to 'strip' their mansion in Santa Barbara of items before leaving the grounds.

Costner - who was spotted with the pair's three kids July 28 in Aspen, Colorado - and Baumgartner have been locked in a very contentious split over the past few months.

The drama goes back weeks when Costner asked her to exit the home, then the focus had been on what she planned to take with her when she left.

Last month, sources told DailyMail.com that Baumgartner fears the performer is 'out for revenge' against her after she filed for divorce, and will have police escort her out of their Santa Barbara home.

Baumgartner's new rental home - which is within 10 miles of her former dwelling - is renting at a rate of $35,000 monthly, sources said

The home has four bedrooms and four bathrooms and includes amenities such as a swimming pool, fire pit and BBQ area

The luxury home is surrounded by green shrubbery in the upscale California community

The relocation following a contentious split for the Bull Durham actor and his estranged spouse

Baumgartner wanted to stay in the area to keep things normal for their three teens

'He wants to humiliate her,' a close friend of Christine said. 'This isn't about the house, it's about making Christine's life a living hell for actually going through with the divorce.

'Christine said she wouldn't be surprised if Kevin had her escorted off the property by police,' the friend says. 'It was Christine who wanted to make this transition as peaceful as possible for the sake of the children.

'Kevin has done the complete opposite. He's not thinking about the kids, about how traumatizing this is.'

Baumgartner shared in new legal documents that she will be showing photos in a PDF to Kevin's attorneys of what she plans to remove from the mansion, according to a report from ET.

And that means there should be no 'emergency hearing' over what belongings will be taken out. Christine said a hearing was 'uncalled for.'

Also in the filing, it was revealed that Baumgartner rented an 'off-site' storage unit to house some silverware, some pots and pans, a Peloton bike, family heirlooms, clothing and personal items from friends. There was also a 'mother/daughter horse picture' she wanted to keep.

And it was added that Costner would 'not be harmed' by Baumgartner during the removal of her items.

Last month, a judge ruled she must confer with Kevin before taking any property from the estate. She has been barred from taking art, furniture, furnishings or appliances with her, without his explicit consent.

Last month, Baumgartner was court-ordered to vacate the former couple's $145M lavish California mansion

Following her move, an insider revealed the mother-of-three had been staying 'at a smaller house on the property that's been used as a staff quarter' and is owned by Costner

It was also stated that she will be barred from removing any property, apart from her clothing, toiletries, handbags and jewelry from the mansion.

This comes after he accused her of ransacking the home that they had previously shared.

Through his attorney, the Yellowstone star accused his ex of taking his belongings 'without his knowledge or consent,' which he claims has increased significantly.

Baumgartner previously wrote in court filings that she was hesitant to leave her home without having a plan and funding in place, if only for the sake of her children, whom she doesn't want to have to move multiple times.

She claimed that 'Kevin wants me to rent [a] place without [a] financial plan in place. However, [I] have our three children to think about. It is contrary to their best interests to commit to rental that [I] may not be able to afford, particularly as that would ultimately lead to multiple relocations.

'My goal has been and continues to be maintaining as much stability for our children as possible, which includes having the proper resources and plan in place so that [I] can establish [a] stable home for them, rather than making temporary and inconsistent housing arrangements,' she continued.

The Let Him Go actor was on the hook to help his estranged wife relocate per their prenuptial agreement, but it was a relatively paltry sum for their lifestyle.

Costner would have paid her a reported $1.5million to find a new home, but with California's elevated home prices  particularly if she tried to stay near Costner  she may have had difficulty finding something similar to the luxury she and her children are accustomed to.

Costner has deposited $1.5 million in Baumgartner's bank account to get her to move out of his mansion, and he said he had given her $200,000 earlier in their marriage in line with their prenuptial agreement.

However, Baumgartner hasn't touched the money, as she says doing so would rob her of her ability to contest the prenup's validity.

The former couple initially tied the knot in 2004, with Christine filing for divorce on May 1 after 18 years of marriage.

She noted that their date of separation was on April 11, and cited the reason for the split was due to 'irreconcilable differences.'

The divorce filing had left Kevin 'blindsided' and the star actually had plans to file for divorce first, sources told The Sun last month in June. He had assumed that the two were going to split amicably and follow steps in their prenuptial agreement.

Costner also claimed Baumgartner had made payments to her own divorce attorney via a credit card that belongs to one of Costner's employees, according to documents obtained by TMZ.

The latest bickering between the former couple comes just days after a judge determined that Costner must pay $129,000 per month in child support, which was a little over half of what Baumgartner had been requesting, but more than double what the actor and director said he should pay.

In documents, Costner's legal team wrote that Baumgartner 'has shown a disturbing propensity in the last several months, both before and after separation, to take [Kevin's] property without his knowledge or consent, especially since this case was filed.'

One of the more puzzling claims in the documents is that Baumgartner allegedly paid a criminal defense attorney $25,000 that came from a property fund that Costner had set up.

He claimed that he was unaware of the payment, and the money should only have been used for real estate transactions regardless.

More puzzling, though, is why Baumgartner would want or need a criminal defense attorney in the first place, and the filing doesn't appear to clear up that question.

The documents allege another inappropriate payment, this time a sum paid to Baumgartner's divorce attorney Susan Wiesner, which Costner's team claims was charged to 'the credit card of an employee which is traditionally used for Costner family house charges and paid by [Kevin].'

Over: Baumgartner filed for divorce from the Hollywood star in May, after 18 years of marriage; The pair seen in 2022

They also accuse the designer of getting cash advances on multiple credit cards paid by her ex but issued to household staff members.

The arrangement with the employee credit cards appears to allow Costner's employees to buy necessary supplies for the family immediately, without having to come to him or his estranged wife for funds.

Although several of the claims in the filing appear to have allegedly taken place after Baumgartner filed for divorce from the Dances With Wolves star, Costner's lawyers also appeared to accuse her of having planned out her split in advance with large purchases.

The filing claimed that Baumgartner had purchased a luxury car months before separating or filing for divorce, which might not be out of the ordinary for the wife of an ultra-wealthy star like Costner, but the documents claim that the couple normally leased all of their cars.

However, the former couple's prenuptial agreement allegedly allows Baumgartner to keep her current car, and the new filing suggests that she may have upgraded it in order to have a better car after the divorce.

The attorney's allege that the pricy purchase indicates that Baumgartner 'had been planning her exit long before she told [Kevin] in April 2023.'

Costner's lawyers state in the filing that he tried to address these alleged purchases by asking Baumgartner to sign a document stating that she would not 'loot the residence' before departing, though she refused to sign it.

They further claim that the Waterworld actor is find with her taking all of her property, and he is supposedly open to her taking other things as long as she tells him before hand and they agree on it.

The details of the couples prenuptial agreement reportedly required her to move out within 30 days of either party filing for a divorce, a deadline she had missed after she was the first to file.

She previously said in court filings that she would leave the estate on August 31, following the results of a court date originally scheduled for July 12.

Ugly divorce: The couple tied the knot after four years of dating in September 2004. Baumgartner filed for divorce in May after 18 years of marriage; seen together in 2008

Parents of four: The former couple share three children: sons Cayden, 16; and Hayes, 14; along with their younger daughter Grace, 13

In the documents, Baumgartner agreed to vacate the premises at the end of August as long as Costner complied 'with whatever support and fee orders that the court makes on July 12,' according to TMZ.

The latest decision stipulates that both Costner and his ex will split their children's healthcare costs 5050.

Baumgartner previously claimed in court docs that Costner informed their children about their split over a 10-minute Zoom call without her.

In court papers obtained by PEOPLE in June, Baumgartner claimed that Costner blindsided their children with the divorce over Zoom despite her wishes to deliver the news together.

'After a 24-year relationship, from his hotel room in Las Vegas, Kevin told our three children that we were getting divorced over a 10-minute Zoom call without me present,' she alleged.

'I am still confused by his motivation to do this via a very short Zoom session, especially since he was planning on being home five days later.

'He also could have easily come home from Las Vegas to have the conversation in person.'

Christine had wanted to tell their children about the divorce with Kevin.
Pia Miller has become part of the LA jet set after marrying her Tinseltown super agent husband, Patrick Whitesell.

And as the star, 39, posed at her oceanside Malibu mansion on Monday, she might as well have been on holidays.

Pia looked nothing short of sensational as she slipped into a skimpy cream bikini while sipping a cocktail on her balcony.

The star showcased her enviable figure including her long, toned legs and flat stomach as she posed on an outdoor couch.

Pia wore her brunette tresses out, allowing them to cascade past her shoulders. She also went makeup free for the shoot.

Actress Pia Whitesell, 39, flaunted her toned figure as she slipped into a skimpy beige bikini at her Malibu home in photos she shared to Instagram on Monday

'Feliz,' Pia captioned the photos, which means 'happy' in Spanish.

Other photos showed her playing a board game, watching surfers and holding her dog while soaking up the sun.

Pia recently returned from holidays in Europe with Patrick and her two sons, Isaiah and Lennox.

The star showcased her enviable figure including her long, toned legs and flat stomach as she posed on an outdoor lounge

Other photos showed her playing a board game, watching surfers and holding her dog while soaking-up the sun

Pia was seen dressed in tailored white pants along with a slinky silver top, pairing the outfit with a bamboo handbag and white framed sunglasses.

She was later seen dressed in a black bralette and workout skirt along with a mesh Prada tote bag, which she carried over her shoulder.

The Chilean-born actress' transformation from soap star to international jet-setter is complete after she tied-the-knot with Hollywood heavyweight, Patrick Whitesell.

The star was seen playing a board game while lazing in the sunshine

The star also shared a photo of a surfer while sitting on her balcony

The model also gave a sneak peek inside the couple's ultra-luxurious European getaway over the weekend.

Pia shared a number of photos of herself at celebrity hot spot Le Club 55 in Saint Tropez.

Patrick is the Executive Chairman of William Morris Endeavor, who is believed to have a net worth of around $600 million.

Pia showcased her enviable style in tailored white pants along with a slinky silver top just a few weeks back while on holidays in Europe

Elsewhere, Pia flaunted her flat stomach and slender pins in one of her outfits

He is the ex husband of journalist Lauren Sanchez, who is now engaged to the world's richest man, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

Pia is regularly seen at high-profile LA events, including the Oscars Party in March this year.

The mother-of-two tied the knot in secret with Patrick just months after they announced their engagement in November 2020.

She relocated from Australia to LA to live with her beau in September 2021.

Pia emigrated with her sons Isaiah, 18, whose father's identity has been kept a secret, and Lennox, 13, who she shares with her ex-husband Brad Miller.
Whitney Port was spotted for the first time with her husband, Tim Rosenman, during an outing in L.A. on Monday - after he admitted he was 'worried' about her drastic weight loss.

The Hills alum, 38, who recently revealed that she will begin prioritizing her health, opted for stylish comfort to stay cool in the hot California weather.

The mother of one slipped into a pair of loose-fitting, tan-colored trousers along with a cropped, white tank top that gave a glimpse of her slim waistline.

For a fashionable flare, the TV personality draped a cream-colored sweater over her shoulders and tied the arms together into a loose knot on her chest.

She wore a pair of black, open-toed sandals to stay comfortable during the daytime stroll and threw on a pair of black shades to protect her eyes from the bright sunshine.

Quality time: Whitney Port, 38, was spotted for the first time with her husband, Tim Rosenman, during an outing in L.A. on Monday - after he admitted he was 'worried' about her drastic weight loss

Staying cool: The mother of one slipped into a pair of loose-fitting, tan-colored trousers along with a cropped, white tank top that gave a glimpse of her slim waistline

Whitney accessorized her look by adding a pair of dainty earrings as well as a gold-chained necklace.

Her locks were pulled back and styled into a simple up do, preventing any loose strands from falling onto her face.

Port's husband - whom she tied the knot with in 2015 - also dressed down for the weekday outing, and was seen sporting a pair of off-white shorts as well as a light blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up.

The television producer slipped into a pair of white crew socks and sneakers and completed his ensemble by throwing on a blue cap on top of his head.

The couple, who share son Sonny, six, were seen enjoying a bit of fresh air as they were later joined by a close pal. The trio were spotted crossing a busy street and also spent some time near a park.

Whitney and Tim's outing together comes shortly after Port's drastic weight loss came to light last month in July. Social media users had initially sparked concern over the star's slim figure after she uploaded a post of herself posing in a bikini.

The star soon addressed the comments on her Instagram stories, and admitted that after her husband's concern and 'stepping on a scale,' Port realized that she needed to prioritize her health.

Over a snap of herself with her son, she typed out in a lengthy statement, 'I also want to address my weight real quick. I've gotten a lot of comments about looking too thin. At first, it didn't bother me.'

Stylish: For a fashionable flare, the TV personality draped a cream-colored sweater over her shoulders and tied the arms together into a loose knot on her chest

Relaxing stroll: She wore a pair of black, open-toed sandals to stay comfortable during the daytime stroll and threw on a pair of black shades

Keeping it casual: Port's husband - whom she tied the knot with in 2015 - also dressed down for the weekday outing, and was seen sporting a pair of off-white shorts as well as a light blue shirt

Hand-in-hand: The couple were joined by a close pal and Tim was seen holding his wife's hand as they quickly crossed a busy street in the city

Drastic weight loss: Whitney and Tim's outing together comes shortly after Port's drastic weight loss came to light last month in July

She added, 'But Timmy brought it to my attention, as a good husband should, and said it's not just something strangers are spewing. He has been worried about me.'

'I had to think about it and try to figure out what has been happening because it's not something I'm consciously thinking about! I eat to live, not the other way around. But after stepping on the scale, it hit me.'

Whitney later expressed that she doesn't 'want to set an unhealthy example so I promised Timmy and I'll promise you that my health will be a priority.'

Earlier this month, she also opened up about the subject on her With Whit podcast where she promised to 'eat thoughtfully and build muscle.'

'When I think about what I look like, I think about just being attractive and I think that I need to define what attractive means to me and then if those things are actually healthy,' she explained.

The star added, 'So the moral of the story is that there's a lot of self-reflection going on and I am aware of it, and that's the first step.'

'I've been eating like s**t here, you know, just trying to get in calories like pizza, ice-cream, French fries, but when I get home I don't want to do it in that way. I want to eat thoughtfully.'

Whitney then revealed, 'I want to put the right things in my body, and I also want to work out in a way that will build muscle. So, I'm on it, guys.'

Healthy path: The star soon addressed the comments on the post on her Instagram stories, and admitted that after her husband's concern and 'stepping on a scale,' Port realized that she needed to prioritize her health

'Worried': She added, 'But Timmy brought it to my attention, as a good husband should, and said it's not just something strangers are spewing. He has been worried about me'

Opening up: 'I had to think about it and try to figure out what has been happening because it's not something I'm consciously thinking about! I eat to live, not the other way around,' Port explained to her followers

Quick chat: The couple were seen stopping to quickly chat with an individual who had pulled over on the side of the road

A promise: Earlier this month, she also opened up about the subject on her With Whit podcast where she promised to 'eat thoughtfully and build muscle'

'Reflection': The star added, 'So the moral of the story is that there's a lot of self-reflection going on and I am aware of it, and that's the first step'

New goals: Whitney then revealed, 'I want to put the right things in my body, and I also want to work out in a way that will build muscle. So, I'm on it, guys'

Whitney then admitted to her listeners, 'I'm clearly not eating enough and that how I look right now does not look healthy. It's not how I want to look.'

'And I think that I complain a lot on here about my lack of energy. And I think that part of that stems from not giving myself what it actually needs.'

She has continued to update fans on her journey to develop a better relationship with food and took to her Instagram stories once again as she grabbed ice cream from Baskin Robbins.

'Came back to LA just to go another strip small for my favorite delicacies. I'm obviously working on understanding my relationship with food so I can be the healthiest version of myself...'

'I want to build muscle and be strong for my bones and I fully commit to focusing on my personal healthy, but having more ice cream than usual doesn't suck either.'

Whitney first began dating Tim back in 2012, and the two lovebirds became engaged the following year. In 2015, the couple said 'I do' and welcomed their son, Sonny, in July 2017.

'Not eating enough': Whitney then admitted to her listeners, 'I'm clearly not eating enough and that how I look right now does not look healthy. It's not how I want to look'

No energy: 'And I think that I complain a lot on here about my lack of energy. And I think that part of that stems from not giving myself what it actually needs,' she explained

Relationship with food: She has continued to update fans on her journey to develop a better relationship with food and took to her Instagram stories once again as she grabbed ice cream from Baskin Robbins

The beginning: Social media users brought awareness to Port's weight loss in a bikini post she shared to her Instagram last month in July

Exploring surrogacy: Last month in July, Whitney revealed to Us Weekly that both she and her husband are possibly exploring the option of surrogacy after suffering three miscarriages

Road trip: Later on Monday, Whitney was spotted arriving to Palm Springs after a short road trip from Los Angeles with Tim

Since welcoming their first child, The Hills star has suffered three miscarriages in 2019, 2020, and also 2021.

Last month in July, Whitney revealed to Us Weekly that both she and her husband are possibly exploring the option of surrogacy.

'I'm still figuring things out and nothing is, like, 100 percent yet and so it's one of those things where you're scared to put it out into the universe until you know whats happening,' she explained.

'But for me, like, I suffered from secondary infertility, and it has just been such a process both physically and mentally to get to that second baby,' Port emotionally admitted.

The star added, 'And so, were right now, going through the motions of surrogacy, like, really thinking seriously about that and we have embryos [stored]' but expressed, 'It's just a process.'

A relaxing getaway: She was seen stepping out of sleek, black vehicle while balancing a few items in her arm

Family visit: Port, who changed her hairstyle into pigtails, was also joined by the television producer who also donned the same outfit

Staying comfortable: The couple had arrived at Whitney's sister's house for a relaxing getaway out of the bustling city

Unloading: The Hills alum was seen grabbing a few items from the backseat of a vehicle after arriving at their destination

Growing their family: 'And so, were right now, going through the motions of surrogacy, like, really thinking seriously about that and we have embryos [stored],' Port had told Us Weekly in July

Later on Monday, Whitney was spotted arriving to Palm Springs after a short road trip from Los Angeles with Tim.

The reality star was seen sporting the same ensemble from her excursion earlier in the day, except she chose to layer her look with a blue and white-striped button up.

She was seen stepping out of sleek, black vehicle while balancing a few items in her arm. Port, who changed her hairstyle into pigtails, was also joined by the television producer who also donned the same outfit.

The couple had arrived at Whitney's sister's house for a relaxing getaway out of the bustling city.
Emma Stone has switched up her look.

The 34-year-old actress  whose film Poor Things is slated for a December release  has gone blonde, trading in her brunette locks for a brighter hue.

Her new hairstyle was revealed on hairstylist Mara Roszak's Instagram profile on Monday.

The singular photo, which is now pinned to Mara's page, shows the La La Land star closeup, with her frosty bob haircut styled in an off-center part with one side playfully tucked behind her ear.

Emma's hair artist wrote in the caption, 'Cool Girlie summer Bob chop chop. & were so into it!'

Transformation: Emma Stone has switched up her look, going blonde after rocking dark hair for sometime

Stunning: Mara showed off her immaculate work with a second post shared in her Instagram Stories

Roszak shared details about the hair transformation, adding in her caption that she used '@rozhair Milk serum for definition + heatless styling.'

The photo was uploaded as a joint post between her and the hair care brand.

She also used the company's 'foundation duo for daily cleansing & hydrating,' as well as a product called Santa Lucia for 'finishing shine plus smoothing ends.'

In the picture, taken at Mare Salon in Los Angeles, Emma smirked while wearing a short-sleeved, crew neck black shirt.

She layered two necklaces around her neck  a short, gold, chain link variety in addition to a longer, more delicate piece.

The Oscar-winning movie star wore very light makeup, highlighting her blue-green eyes with a touch of mascara.

Her pout was coated in a matte pink shade of lipstick as she stared into the camera.

Mara also recently gave actress Zoe Saldana a bold new look, chopping her long, curly hair into a sleek bob.

Then and now: Emma her in her brunette locks for a brighter hue

Throughout the years, the Cruella actress has switched up her hair color plenty of times.

She's been seen flaunting auburn locks, deep brunette, and varying shades of blonde.

According to PopSugar, Stone's natural hair tone is a dark blonde shade.

Hollywood hair professional Tracey Cunningham initially went red in 2006 for a film role.

Recent work: Emma stars in the upcoming movie Poort Things, which is slated to come out in December

Flashback: Stone has switched up her hair color multiple times throughout her years in the spotlight; pictured in 2015

In 2021 Cunningham told the publication, 'One of my other favorite memories was when Emma Stone came to me for Superbad and we made her a redhead. It was so beautiful. I loved it.'

The silver screen fixture has also experimented with multiple lengths throughout her colorful career.

She can next be seen appearing in Poor Thing, in which she wears a waist-length brunette wig to embody the character Belle Baxter.

Emma married husband Dave McCary in 2020, according to a report from Page Six.

Natural beauty: It comes after Emma showcased her radiant skin after undergoing a LYMA facial

Great: The LYMA Laser together with the Oxygen Mist & Glide empowers the skin to behave like its not ageing and is beloved by the likes of Emma, Lily Collins and Suki Waterhouse

The couple shared news of their engagement with a social media post that showed Stone flashing her diamond and pearl ring back in 2019.

The duo was set to wed in March 2020, but had to postpone the nuptials due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2021 they welcomed a baby girl named Louise Jean McCary.

Emma met the former Saturday Night Live segment director in 2016 when she hosted the late-night sketch show.
Gisele Bundchen attended Arezzo's summer campaign launch, which took place at a mall in Sao Paulo on Monday.

The 43-year-old supermodel donned a form-revealing outfit while promoting the footwear brand's new products.

The fashion industry personality, who recently spoke about a trip to her native country, was also featured in a video that was shared on the shoe company's Instagram account.

Bundchen wore a gorgeous black dress that showed off her impeccably chiseled arms and exposed much of her upper chest during her time at the launch.

The former Victoria's Secret Angel's outfit also featured a scarf-like attachment that covered much of her neck at the event.

Featured guest: Gisele Bundchen attended Arezzo's summer campaign launch, which took place at a mall in Sao Paulo on Monday

Making an impression: The 43-year-old supermodel donned a form-revealing outfit while promoting the footwear brand's new products

Multiple projects: The supermodel was also featured in a video that was shared on the shoe company's Instagram account

The entrepreneur paired her outfit with a matching set of high-heeled shoes that added a bit of extra glam to her look.

She also carried a fashionable purse as she posed for pictures at the campaign launch.

Bundchen added elements of shine to her look with a pair of silver earrings and several bracelets.

Her gorgeous blonde hair cascaded onto her back and contrasted perfectly with the dark tone of her outfit.

The supermodel switched through several different outfits in the video shared on Arezzo's Instagram account.

The fashion industry personality donned a black bodysuit with numerous cut-out portions during several portions of the video.

She also changed into a dress that featured a partially transparent top, which served to show off her toned midsection.

The model was previously featured in Arezzo's winter campaign, and she was featured in numerous promotional photos for the brand that were released in March.

Dressed up: Bundchen wore a gorgeous black dress that showed off her impeccably chiseled arms and exposed much of her upper chest during her time at the launch

Fashion statement: The former Victoria's Secret Angel's outfit also featured a scarf-like attachment that covered much of her neck at the event

Footwear: The entrepreneur paired her outfit with a matching set of high-heeled shoes that added a bit of extra glam to her look

Accessorizing well: She also carried a fashionable purse as she posed for pictures at the campaign launch

Accessorizing well: Bundchen added elements of shine to her look with a pair of silver earrings and several bracelets

Beautiful: Her gorgeous blonde hair cascaded onto her back and contrasted perfectly with the dark tone of her outfit

Changing around: The supermodel switched through several different outfits in the video shared on Arezzo's Instagram account

The model was previously featured in Arezzo's winter campaign, and she was featured in numerous promotional photos for the brand that were released in March

Speaking out: Bundchen previously spoke about taking chances in the fashion world during an interview with Vanity Fair, where she discussed her unorthodox ways of expressing herself during photoshoots.

Bundchen previously spoke about taking chances in the fashion world during an interview with Vanity Fair, where she discussed her unorthodox ways of expressing herself during photoshoots.

'In fashion, people used to joke with me that I was Sporty Spice because I was always the one hanging from things, doing jumping pictures,' she said.

The supermodel went on to express that she often showed her older and more non-traditional photos to her children.

The fashion industry personality stated: 'I really want my daughter to think I'm cool, to be honest.'
Andrew Guthrie and Jess Nathan are living their happily ever after.

Two years after meeting on Farmer Wants a Wife, the couple have announced their engagement.

In photos shared to Instagram on Monday, Andrew got down on one knee and presented Jess with a ring.

The couple, who had been enjoying a picnic and Champagne, looked smitten as Jess buried her face in her hands in shock before trying on her ring.

In the caption alongside the images, Andrew paid tribute to the show, writing, 'Farmer Wants A Wife' and adding ring and heart emojis.

Andrew Guthrie and Jess Nathan are living their happily ever after. Both pictured

The engagement came less than a month after the pair announced that they had purchased a home together.

Posing alongside a 'sold' sign, Andrew told his fans on Instagram: 'We bought a beach shack!

'At one of our favourite places in the world, weve been working on this for what feels like forever and were so excited to open the doors to our little abode for what will soon be an Airbnb for us to share. Watch this space!'

In 2021, the pair revealed during a reunion special that they were moving in together on Andrew's farm in Delegate, NSW.

The smitten couple had also already spoken about marriage and were considering one day tying the knot on his rural property.

Two years after meeting on Farmer Wants a Wife, the couple have announced their engagement

In photos shared to Instagram on Monday, Andrew got down on one knee and presented Jess with a ring

In the caption alongside the images, Andrew paid tribute to the show, writing, 'Farmer Wants A Wife' and adding ring and heart emojis

The engagement came less than a month after the pair announced that they had purchased a home together

'Our relationship has gone from strength to strength in the last seven or eight months and in the not to distant future we've moving in together, it's happening,' a smitten Andrew with Jess by his side.

Andrew then declared his love for for the blonde beauty and said marriage is very much on the cards.

'We were talking about when we get married in the future, we'll have it on the farm,' he said.

'I'd love to get married. All signs are pointing that way. And if we continue along this path, there's no reason we can't get married or have kids in the future.

He added: 'I really do love Jess.'
Sandra Bullock's longtime partner Bryan Randall died aged 57 on August 5 2023, following a private three-year battle with ALS.

His family confirmed that 'it is with great sadness that we share that on August 5, Bryan Randall passed away peacefully after a three-year battle with ALS.'

They added, in their statement to People: 'Bryan chose early to keep his journey with ALS private and those of us who cared for him did our best to honor his request.'

Bryan - a model-turned-photographer - and Sandra first met in 2015, after he photographed her son Louis' birthday, by which point Bryan already had a daughter from a previous relationship.

So, who is Bryan Randall's daughter Skylar Staten?

Heartbreaking: Sandra Bullock's boyfriend of eight years Bryan Randall (pictured) died on August 5 following a three-year battle with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)

'A saint': Sandra described her boyfriend as the 'love of my life' in a 2021 interview

Who was Bryan Randall?

Bryan Randall died peacefully on August 5 aged 57.

He had been in a relationship with Hollywood star Sandra Bullock since 2015, the final three of which were marred by a battle with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).

ALS is a neurogenerative disorder which impacts the nerve cells in the spinal cord and the brain, which gets progressively worse and causes significant muscle control loss in people who have it.

Bryan met Sandra while working as a photographer for her son's birthday, and she later described him as 'the love of my life,' and 'a saint' in a 2021 Red Table Talk interview.

Prior to his career behind the camera, he worked the other side of it as a model.

He featured in campaigns for labels such as Yves Saint Laurent and Hugo Boss, and appeared on the pages of high-end fashion magazines including Vogue Paris and Harpers Bazaar Singapore.

Also in his younger years, Bryan had a daughter with his former fiancee, but it is unclear if the pair ever married.

Rare outing: The couple, who kept their relationship out of the spotlight, pictured at the world premiere of Oceans 8 in 2018

Father: Bryan had a daughter, Skylar Staten in 1993, with his former fiancee Janine Staten

Who is Bryan Randall's daughter Skylar Staten?

Skylar Staten was born in September 1993 in Los Angeles to Bryan and Janine Staten.

Skylar had a difficult childhood, with both her parents suffering from addiction.

Whereas Bryan was able to go to rehab and get clean, Janine tragically died on January 4 2004, having been admitted to hospital after her body turned septic as a result of her heroin addiction.

After Janine's death, Skylar was raised by her maternal grandmother Pierrette for a few years before Bryan got custody having won his battle with addiction.

Despite the setbacks, Skylar graduated from high school in LA before moving to Arizona for college, as an aspiring model.

Despite her father's fame and profession, Skylar managed to stay out of the limelight, and has never been publicly pictured.
Adam Thomas and Nikita Kanda are is the eighth and ninth celebrity contestants confirmed for the brand new series of Strictly Come Dancing.

Adam is best known for playing Adam Barton in ITV soap Emmerdale as well as his recent return to BBC series Waterloo Road.

Nikita the current host of the BBC Asian Network's Breakfast show.

After the news of Adam's signing was revealed on The Hits Radio Breakfast Show with Fleur East, James & Matt on Tuesday morning, he gushed: 'I am so excited to be joining the cast of this years' Strictly Come Dancing. I've been such a big fan of the show for years, I can't believe I'm actually doing it!'

'I can't dance to save my life but I'm buzzing to learn and have a good laugh with my pro. Get me on that dance floor...I can't wait!'

Speaking to previous contestant Fleur East on her radio show, Adam admitted 'Everybody says I can dance but the only time anyone has seen me dance is when I'm drunk and sober dancing and drunk dancing, completely two different things.'

Ballroom-bound: Adam Thomas is the eighth celebrity contestant confirmed for the brand new series of Strictly Come Dancing

Radio star: Nikita Kanda was also confirmed on Tuesday morning. She is the current host of the BBC Asian Network's Breakfast show

Alongside Emmerdale, Adam is also known for reprising his role as Donte Charles in BBC One's Waterloo Road after being an original cast member in the original series.

He appeared in ITV's I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here in 2016, and went on to co-host the spin-offI'm a Celebrity: Extra Camp.

In 2020 Adam teamed up with his brothers Ryan and Scott for six-part ITV travel series Absolutely India: Mancs in Mumbai where they took their late father back to Mumbai to trace their heritage and long lost relatives.

He also co-hosts popular podcast series Mancs on the Mic, alongside his brothers.

Adam's brothers are also known for their reality show stints. His twin brother Scott was a Love Island finalist in 2016 while older brother Ryan won the final series of Celebrity Big Brother.

Adam has been married to his wife Caroline since 2017 and the couple share two children - a son called Teddy and a daughter called Elsie-Rose.

Nikita is best known for being the current host of the BBC Asian Network's Breakfast show, previously having presented the Saturday afternoon show.

She has interviewed everyone from Killing Eve star Sandra Oh, Bridgerton actors Kate Sharma and Charithra Chandran, to Marvel actress Awkwafina and global pop star Nick Jonas.

TV star: Adam is best known for playing Adam Barton in ITV soap Emmerdale as well as his recent return to BBC series Waterloo Road (pictured in Emmerdale in 2017)

Family: Adam has been married to his wife Caroline since 2017 and the couple share two children - a son called Teddy and a daughter called Elsie-Rose

Recently nominated for Presenter of the Year at the Asian Media Awards, Nikita has also fronted regular reports on BBC One's The One Show.

Nikita said: 'I can't believe I'm going to be on Strictly. This is a dream come true. I'm still pinching myself. I don't think it will properly sink in until I step onto the dancefloor. I can't wait to get glammed up and get out there. Throw the glitter on me!'

The news was revealed on Tuesday morning on BBC Asian Network Breakfast with Nikita Kanda.

On Monday Love Island star Zara McDermott was the seventh celeb contestant confirmed.

Following the announcement Zara said: 'I am so excited to be joining the world of Strictly! I grew up watching it every year with my nan and she was the biggest Strictly fan'.

On the airways: Nikita is best known for being the current host of the BBC Asian Network's Breakfast show, previously having presented the Saturday afternoon show

TV stints: Recently nominated for Presenter of the Year at the Asian Media Awards, Nikita has also fronted regular reports on BBC One's The One Show

'We would dance around the house and I have such fond memories of that time in my life. I even remember the first ever series, and being mesmerised by all the beautiful dresses!'

Before adding: 'I can't wait to throw myself into this experience and start training. It's going to be incredible'.

In July MailOnline exclusively revealed that documentary maker Zara would become the first ever Love Island contestant to appear on the BBC show.

Adam and Zara join already announced stars Angela Rippon, Amanda Abbington, Layton Williams, Krishnan Guru-Murphy Eddie Kadi and Angela Scanlon.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire enjoyed a night out with Love Island's Arabella Chi and her beau Richie Akiva in Ibiza on Monday night.

The Titanic actor, 48, and the Spider-Man star, also 48, joined the reality star, 32, and Richie, 45, who is known as the 'king of nightclubs'.

Arabella and Richie - who is close friends with Leonardo - were seen having a passionate kiss last week on board a yacht in Ibiza.

The group headed for a night out on the Spanish island at D10 nightclub with a wider group of friends

Arabella showed off her figure in a skimpy black bralet and leather skirt which she wore with long boots.

Crew: Leonardo DiCaprio (far left) and Tobey Maguire (right at front) enjoyed a night out with Love Island's Arabella Chi and her beau Richie Akiva in Ibiza on Monday night

Night out: The Titanic actor, 48, and the Spider-Man star, also 48, joined the reality star, 32, (centre) and Richie, 45, (right forward) who is known as the 'king of nightclubs'

Meanwhile Leo opted for a dark jacket and light denim jeans while attempting to go incognito in a black cap.

The group were seen walking down the pavement together at night time as they made the most of all the famous party island has to offer.

Last week close friends Tobey and Leo were seen having lunch with Dutch fashion model Imaan Hammam during their European break.

Leo has been enjoying an extended holiday in Ibiza, Sardinia, the Amalfi Coast, Saint Tropez and Tuscany.

The lengthy break has seen DiCaprio reunite with close friend Tobey, while rubbing shoulders with more than one unknown and highly unexpected quantity - among them British model Neelam Gill and the former Love Island contestant Arabella.

Australian businessman James Packer, Russian catwalk legend Irina Shayk and American model Megan Roche have also joined the party over recent weeks

It's not known how long Arabella has been seeing New York native Richie or where they first met.

Richie has been a regular on the New York club scene since his teen years and opened the legendary 10ak nightclub in 2007.

Smooch: Arabella and Richie - who is close friends with Leonardo - were seen having a passionate kiss last week on board a yacht in Ibiza

Businessman: Richie has been a regular on the New York club scene since his teen years and opened the legendary 10ak nightclub in 2007 (pictured in May 2023)

Jet-setter: Leo has been enjoying an extended holiday in Ibiza, Sardinia, the Amalfi Coast, Saint Tropez and Tuscany over the past few months

He is the CEO of the Butter Group which owns other popular venues in the city including Up & Down and Butter.

Richie regularly rubs shoulders with celebrities and has previously hosted birthday parties for the likes of Rihanna and Naomi Campbell.

The businessman has also hosted one of the Met Gala's most raucous afterparties and has fronted parties for the jet-setting class in the likes of Monaco and the Maldives.

Richie previously told The New York Times he doesn't use his celebrity connections for publicity, saying: 'I don't use them to better my business, they're my friends. I try to protect them as much as I can.'

Previously romantically linked to Rihanna and Heidi Klum, Richie has never commented publicly on his love life.

'I take a page from friends of mine who are celebrities,' he said. 'Let people believe whatever they want to believe.'

Arabella's romance with Richie comes after she was reported to be dating French rugby ace Yoann Huget in June.

The pair were seen at the French Open together and put on a cosy display as Yoann wrapped an arm around Arabella's shoulder.

A source told The Sun: 'They've been dating for a while and it's now turned more serious so they were happy to make it official at the French Open.'

Back in December 2022, Arabella was spotted leaving restaurant IT Mayfair holding hands with personal trainer Rickel White.

Rickel was the star's personal trainer at the time, although it is not known for how long they dated for.

The outing came after Arabella signed up for the show Celebrity Ex In The City - an MTV spin-off of Ex On The Beach - which aims to aid stars in finding love again through blind dates after heartache.

Previously: It all began in May, when DiCaprio flew into the south-of-France for an official screening of his latest movie, the Martin Scorsese directed Killers Of The Flower Moon, at the annual Cannes Film Festival

Fling: Arabella's romance with Richie comes after she was reported to be dating French rugby ace Yoann Huget in June

Claims: Arabella previously denied she was dating DJ Tom Zanetti after they were spotted looking cosy on a boat trip together in July 2021

Fame: Arabella enjoyed a brief fling with Danny Williams during her stint in the Love Island villa

Arabella was faced with her ex Kori Sampson on the series and many were shocked to find out they were dating because they never went public with their relationship.

Kori revealed on the television show that Arabella has continued to e-mail him even after their split.

Arabella previously denied she was dating DJ Tom Zanetti after they were spotted looking cosy on a boat trip together in July 2021.

She told OK!: 'We did a shoot together, but were just good friends! People have assumed more than it is. Im 100 percent single.'
Sam Frost has offloaded her Sydney home and made a profit in the process.

The former Home and Away star splashed out $1.2 million on a townhouse in Sydney's Alexandria in in 2016.

She has now sold it for $1.59 million through BresicWhitney's Michael White, earning about $300,000 in the process.

The radio star has not lived in the property for some time, renting it out for $1250 a week for the past year after her move to Melbourne.

The three-level townhouse was built in 2002 and has three bedrooms, three bathrooms and a one car garage.

Sam Frost has offloaded her Sydney home and made a profit in the process. Pictured with fiance Jordan Hansen

The pad features timber floors, white walls and high ceilings and sold for $570,000 when first built.

It comes in at 240sqm and includes a lock-up garage, with the ground level featuring a terrace.

There's also a large Patio for outdoor entertaining and the bedrooms feature balconies, as well as an ensuite attached to the master bedroom.

Realestate.com reports that Sam is raising funds for her upcoming wedding to fiance Jordan Hansen.

The couple, who welcomed their first child in March, revealed on The Morning Show in July that they haven't had the funds to wed.

The former Home and Away star splashed out $1.2 million on a townhouse in Sydney's Alexandria in in 2016

She has now sold it for $1.59 million through BresicWhitney's Michael White, earning about $300,000 in the process

The radio star has not lived in the property for some time, renting it out for $1250 a week for the past year after her move to Melbourne

The three-level townhouse was built in 2002 and has three bedrooms, three bathrooms and a one car garage

'To be honest, I'm the one putting the brakes on it,' Sam told the show's hosts.

'It is just so expensive! It's hard to justify spending so much money because we want to buy a house, and now we've got a baby.'

The actress and Jordie welcomed their son Ted on March 7 this year.

Sam and her Australian Survivor star partner got engaged in July after dating for five months, and announced in September they were expecting a child.
Recently I watched a video clip of King Sobhuza II talking about our land claim from South Africa (SA).

Yes, we have had a long-standing land claim for years. In fact, we even have an entity called the Border Restoration Committee (BRC). The land was lost to emaSwati as a result of concessions to the white settlers around the 1840s. No Swati King had, in fact, signed the land away. EmaSwati were never defeated in war to warrant the nation to relinquish any of its land. There are reports that the BRC signed a draft agreement between Eswatini and SA to solve the land dispute amicably, but nothing has been communicated publicly. The case for Eswatini is very strong, with all the documented support required. The fact that the culture and language within these areas are the same as in Eswatini is reason enough to support the claim. No wonder King Sobhuza II said we are not in any dispute with anyone. All we want is what is ours and if anyone disputes that then they must show how they got the land.

Kosi Bay compensation

Given the complexity of the land issue, I would put forward a compromise that brings this matter to an amicable end. I would propose that emaSwati should settle for the northern Ingwavuma strip to the sea, taking Kosi Bay and giving Eswatini excess to the sea. The rest of the Mpumalanga land would be officially given over to SA with one condition. That His Majesty the King can build royal residences so he can visit emaSwati in SA for traditional ceremonies annually or periodically. This would strengthen our African culture and keep our traditions alive, until emaSwati wish to return home themselves. The main advantage is development for the residents of the kwaNgwanase, also known as Kosi Bay Town. Presently, this is a small underdeveloped town in the far northern Umkhanyakude District Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of SA.

The closest small town is Manguzi, some 13 kilometres away from Kosi Bay and two kilometres from the Mozambique border. It is possible to walk from the Kosi Bay estuary to Ponta do Ouro in only an hour or so. It is one of the quietest beaches in SA. The Kosi River Mouth is known as the aquarium because of the clarity of the water and the abundance of fish species. There is no meaningful development in this area. Eswatini would be able to develop the area as its main and only coastal city. SA has many coastal cities and Kosi Bay is very marginal to them, beautiful as it is. Our relationship with the Zulu monarchy and the African National Congress (ANC) can broker this deal even if it means giving the residents dual citizenship for a while to allow them to continue to benefit during their lifetime. After all, most have earned their benefits.

Tourism benefits

Eswatini can benefit greatly from the Kosi Bay area. This areas three-lake system is part of the Greater St Lucia, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is home to a large variety of birds, including a number of rare species. The lakes and clear beaches of Kosi Bay are nothing short of magnificent. There is so much going on here in terms of natural attractions. The birdlife is incredible, and the scenery is just unmatched.

Land issue in SA

The land issue is a very thorny issue in SA. The South African political parties, particularly the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), AZAPO and, to a large extent, the ANC have realised that without land, economic empowerment is not feasible. However, their western political indoctrination makes it very difficult for them to realise that their answer lies in land restoration, not land nationalisation. Land restoration would require that they recognise the original custodian of the land, which are the traditional leaders (kings and chiefs), who held the land in trust for the African people. The general narrative throughout the world is land restoration, particularly to indigenous people, not the communist/socialist style nationalisation. They despise their African traditional leaders whom the western legal system, they so admire, recognises as the true custodians of the land. Note that when white settlers arrived in Africa, individual Africans did not hold title deeds as we do today. The land was held by chiefs, kings or clan leaders for the people.

Our Eswatini land claim has been laughed at because they claim we want too much, even Pretoria. The development that has taken place throughout Mpumalanga makes it very difficult to successfully win back this land. We can only use our claim to strengthen a position of compensation rather than restoration. Our compensation would be northern Ingwavuma as development there has been very minimum. The population in northern Ingwavuma is poor and very small in number, hardly 20 000. One notes two or three schools and clinics; and very few towns and settlements of note. Private lodges and motels are dotted everywhere along the seafront but nothing really big. Manguzi town is 13km from Kosi Bay and is the largest community there. This rural town is equipped with two schools and a hospital, which provide the locals with their basic needs. It occupies only 5.6 square kilometees and is home to about 5 600 people.

Traditional governance

The political indoctrination of South Africans is such that it would be very difficult for the traditional structures of the kingdom to function within the greater part of Mpumalanga, should the land be restored back to Eswatini. The political party system has been fully entrenched into South African society such that our Tinkhundla System would simply not function. This would cause a great deal of conflict such that the compromise of Kosi Bay would be a better solution. We can build a great country once we have excess to the sea. The Kosi Bay district would join Hhohho, Manzini, Shiselweni and Lubombo districts. Great hotels, casinos, shopping malls, and infrastructure will be built to receive international shipping lines, private yachts and cruise ships. A railway line can support the manufacturing industry from Big Bend directly to Kosi Bay cutting many kilometres to Richards Bay. There would be a lot of work to do but it would be ours to develop. Presently this area is totally neglected by the South African government. Comment septembereswatini@gmail.com
Natalie Portman was seen in Sydney without her wedding ring shortly before reports that she had split from her husband Benjamin Millepied.

The rumours were fuelled by claims that Natalie's 11-year husband had cheated on the Star Wars actress.

A source close to the couple told Us Weekly that they were 'on the outs' despite 'trying to work on their marriage' after the initial reports of cheating.

They added that 'Natalie believes Benjamin's affair was a brief and stupid liaison that means nothing to him,' and that she was 'willing to see if she's capable of rebuilding her trust' in him for the benefit of their children.

Who is Natalie Portman's husband Benjamin Millepied, and how many children do they share?

Split: Natalie Portman and her husband Benjamin Millepied (pictured) are reportedly separating after 11 years of marriage

Star Wars: The reported split comes after claims that the professional dancer cheated on Natalie with 25-year-old climate activist Camille Etienne

Who is Benjamin Millepied?

Benjamin Millepied is a French professional dancer and choreographer who has lived in the United States since 1993.

He is the youngest of three sons, born on June 10 1977 in Bordeaux.

Benjamin was first taught ballet at eight years old by his mother, a former dancer herself, before studying in Lyon from 13 to 16.

However, he crossed the Atlantic aged just 16 to attend the School of American Ballet in New York with a 'Bourse Lavoisier' (scholarship from the French Ministry).

After two years, he joined the New York City Ballet, where his career progressed into being a soloist in 1998, and a principal in 2002.

Alongside that promotion, he became a choreographer, before retiring from New York City Ballet in 2011, by which point he had met his to-be wife, Natalie Portman.

Dancing shoes: Benjamin first learned to perform ballet aged eight, and became a professional dancer and choreographer in the US

How did Natalie Portman meet Benjamin Millepied?

Natalie and Benjamin met on the set of her film Black Swan in 2009, for which Benjamin was a choreographer.

The Frenchman left his then-girlfriend Isabella Boylston - a ballerina at the American Ballet Theatre - to begin a relationship with Natalie.

The movie earned the actress an Academy Award as Best Actress in February 2011, by which point she had engaged her former colleague, and was expecting their first child.

They married on August 4 2012 in California, where Benjamin had set up the L.A. Dance Project the previous year.

The pair moved to Paris while he was Paris Opera Ballet's Director of Dance between 2014 and 2016, but returned to LA upon his resignation.

More than colleagues: Natalie and Benjamin met when working on the actress' 2010 film Black Swan (pictured), which was choreographed by Benjamin

Trouble: The couple (pictured in 2013) were married for 11 years, having wedded in August 2012, before their reported split

How many children do Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied have?

The couple's first child, a son named Aleph, was born in June 2011 while Natalie and Benjamin were still engaged.

Aleph moved with his parents to and from Paris, before his sister was born once they returned to LA.

Natalie and Benjamin welcomed Amalia in February 2017.

When news of her husband's reported affair broke, Natalie is said to have tried to smooth things over for the sake of their children.

Benjamin supposedly had an affair with a 25-year-old woman - climate activist Camille Etienne.

Not-so-happy families: Natalie and Benjamin (pictured in 2022) are said to be separating despite the actress' reported efforts to keep things together for the benefit of their two children
Zara McDermott was confirmed as the seventh celebrity taking part in the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing on Monday.

The blonde beauty, 26, became the first Love Islander to appear on the glitzy BBC competition and will be supported from the side lines by boyfriend and former MIC star Sam Thompson, 31.

After landing her big break on the ITV2 dating show back in 2018 she has gone on to carve out a successful career as a documentary film maker.

Zara and Sam, who have been together since 2019, move in famous circles and have even been known to rub shoulders with royalty when not off on one of their many tropical getaways.

Here MailOnline takes a look at the couple's VERY lavish lifestyle.....

Inside Strictly star Zara McDermott and boyfriend Sam Thompson move in very famous circles and have even been known to rub shoulders with royalty when not off on one of their many tropical getaways

Smooch: Here MailOnline takes a look at the couple's VERY lavish lifestyle.....

Exotic holidays

The couple often take to social media to share with fans an insight into their trips which has seen them jet off to the Caribbean as well as enjoying a South African safari.

Zara and Sam have hit the beach everywhere from Barbados to Marbella as they showcased their enviable physiques in skimpy swimwear.

The couple appear to love nothing more than frolicking together in the sea and have shared numerous snaps as they enjoy a spot of snorkelling.

In March the pair stayed at South Africa's Chitwa Chitwa private game lodge with Zara revealing they had booked the once in a lifetime trip around three years ago.

Between safaris early in the morning and late at night, Zara showed off her incredible figure as she lounged by the pool.

The couple documented the exotic trip with multiple snaps with elephants and revealed they saw lions being fed.

Meanwhile during their December holiday in Barbados Sam came down with an illness after Zara explained he ate a 'dodgy Nandos at the airport'.

Lucky: The couple often take to social media to share with fans an insight into their trips which has seen them jet off to the Caribbean as well as enjoying a South African safari

Hot stuff: Zara and Sam have hit the beach everywhere from Barbados to Marbella as they showcased their enviable physiques in skimpy swimwear

Fun in the sun: The couple appear to love nothing more than frolicking together in the sea and have share numerous snaps as they enjoy a spot of snorkelling

The former Celebs Go Dating star was left needing an injection in his behind to help with the illness, with his girlfriend there to snap the moment.

Red carpet appearances

Zara is known for her sizzling red carpet appearances as she regularly showcases her jaw-dropping figure and chic sense of style at the swankiest of events.

The stunner went solo to the BAFTA Awards back in February and even found herself on the star-studded Cannes red carpet in May for the premiere of Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny.

Zara made sure to turn heads as she made her debut at the event, wearing a voluminous ruffled number with a structured corset bodice.

Loved-up: In March the couple stayed at South Africa's Chitwa Chitwa private game lodge with Zara revealing they had booked the once in a lifetime trip around three years ago

Relaxing: Between the safari trips early in the morning and late at night, Zara showed off her incredible figure in a selection of skimpy swimwear

Under the weather: Meanwhile during their December trip to Barbados Sam came down with an illness after Zara explained he ate a 'dodgy Nandos at the airport'

She looked sensational as her gown's long train trailed behind her on the red carpet while smiling for photos.

Zara pulled her long blonde hair back into a classy high ponytail that tumbled down her back in loose waves.

The TV personality topped off her glamorous look with a dusting of bronze eyeshadow and accessorised with star-shaped earrings.

They also attended the BRIT Awards together earlier this year but failed to pose together for a snap.

Show stopper: Zara is known for her sizzling red carpet appearances as she regularly showcases her jaw-dropping figure and chic sense of style at the swankiest of events (Pictured at 2023 BAFTAs)

Cute couple: The pair also walked the red carpet at the 2023 BRIT Awards

Lady in red: She even found herself on the star-studded Cannes red carpet in May for the premiere of Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny

Events: The couple are regulars on the London party scene and attend premieres

Royal connections

In 2021 Zara shook off the Love Island label when she fronted a documentary on revenge porn for BBC3.

In the film she revealed how revenge porn had made her consider suicide after a boy shared naked pictures of her around their school when she was just 14.

Following it's release she was inundated with opportunities to work with royals coming thick and fast.

Royal connections: Following the release of her 2021 documentary on revenge porn she has been inundated with opportunities to work with royals coming thick and fast

Princess pal: In January Zara made a surprise appearance at The Princess of Wales' Shaping Us event as well as joining the Princess at a Bath community centre being supported by Dame Kelly Holme's charity in May (L-R) Zara, Kelly Holmes, Princess of Wales

Honour: The reality star previously met with Queen Consort Camilla at Buckingham Palace for a reception to raise awareness of violence against women

In January Zara made a surprise appearance at The Princess of Wales' Shaping Us event as well as joining the Princess at a Bath community centre being supported by Dame Kelly Holme's charity in May.

Zara is signed up as one of the Shaping Us campaign champions - Kate's initiative to promote the importance of early years development.

The reality star previously met with Queen Consort Camilla at Buckingham Palace for a reception to raise awareness of violence against women.

In November, she was welcomed to Buckingham Palace for a reception to raise awareness of violence against women and girls, as part of the United Nations' 16 days of activism against gender-based violence.
G Flip is madly in love with their new wife, Chrishell Stause.

The Australian pop star, who uses they/them pronouns, shared a dedication to the Selling Sunset star during a party for G Flip's new album, Drummer, which was held in Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon.

During a speech giving thanks to Chrishell, G Flip, whose real name is Georgia Claire Flipo, professed their love for the actress.

'I love you darling. You're the love of my life. You're the best human In the world,' they said.

Chrishell, who recently celebrated her 42nd birthday, was also joined by several of her castmates from Selling Sunset during the party.

G Flip is madly in love with their new wife, Chrishell Stause. Both pictured

G Flip, 29, opted for a sleeveless black t-shirt and matching leather pants during the shindig for their new album.

Stause and G Flip initially met in October of 2021, although they did not make their friendship known to the public until the following March.

The actress was previously married to Justin Hartley, and their marriage lasted from 2017 until 2021.

She was subsequently linked to her Selling Sunset co-star Jason Oppenheim for several months.

The Australian pop star, who uses they/them pronouns, shared a dedication to the Selling Sunset star during a party for G Flip 's new album, Drummer, which was held in Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon

During a speech giving thanks to Chrishell, G Flip, whose real name is Georgia Claire Flipo, professed their love for the actress

She eventually moved on with the musician, and the two were spotted while packing on the PDA in West Hollywood last May.

Stause went on to confirm that she was dating G Flip during the Selling Sunset reunion special, which was released that same month.

The couple surprised many when they tied the knot in Las Vegas this past May with an Elvis Presley impersonator singing for them.
An actress looked unrecognisable in a throwback picture shared of herself aged 18 on Monday.

The star wrote that the picture was taken when she moved into a new property as she prepared to embark in drama school.

Sitting on a mattress on the floor, it's fair to say all her efforts paid off as she went on to become a very successful TV star.

It's Lucy Davis, 50, who famously starred as Dawn Tinsley in the iconic BBC comedy, The Office.

Captioning the photo, Lucy wrote: 'Me at 18 just moved into my new London digs to go to drama school.

Who is she? An actress looked unrecognisable in a throwback picture taken before she embarked on drama school aged 18 and posted on Instagram on Monday

'Soooo many good memories in that place. I lived there for 13 years (with slightly more furniture eventually..) #flashback #likeanotherlifetimeago.'

The star has also gone on to appear in The Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina as one of the lead's aunts Hilda Spellman.

She also played Etta Candy in the 2017 Wonder Woman movie, appeared in Ugly Betty and Garfield, and filmed US comedy series Amy from Amarillo.

Lucy is the daughter of comedian Robert Davis, known as Jasper Carrott, and Hazel Jackson.

The actress has previously battled health problems and has diabetes and in 1997 had a kidney transplant, using an organ donated by her mother.

In 2005 she was admitted back to hospital with kidney failure but made a full recovery.

She previously told Diabetes UK: 'When you are first diagnosed with diabetes it can seem overwhelming and frightening. It could seem easier to bury your head in the sand and hope it will go away.

'But I think the most important thing to remember is that must be in control of your diabetes and not the other way around.

It's much-loved Lucy Davis! The actress made a name for herself as Dawn Tinsley in Ricky Gervais' The Office, (pictured)

Fame: The beautiful actress has had multiple successful acting roles since appearing on the BBC comedy

'I've known people who allow their difficulties in life to define them. They say "Why me?". But I have to say to myself "Why not me?".

'Many people deal with difficult challenges every day of their lives, and we are lucky that we have medicines and technology available to us that others didn't many years ago.

'One adjustment that I found hard at first was always having to plan ahead  where was I going to be that day? What food would be available? Did I have all the insulin I needed?

'Did I have spare glucose tablets with me? But after a very short time, this became second nature, like remembering to take my purse out with me or my keys.

'Many things come along in everyone's lives to test us. What makes us stand out from the crowd is how we deal with them.

'Diabetes can be as easy or as difficult as we make it. And by controlling it and keeping ourselves healthy, we can help prevent the side-effects of diabetes later in life.

'Be vigilant about your health and your medications. Don't let yourself view it as a chore. Then go out and live your life, and grasp your dreams with both hands.'
Instagram Influencer Suzan Mutesi has been 'uncancelled' by Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson on their KIIS FM radio show.

Suzan, who has been accused of being a 'fake influencer', appeared on the show on Tuesday and the radio duo asked callers to weigh in.

They asked listeners to call in and state if they felt Suzan should be 'cancelled' or 'un-cancelled'.

After several calls, it was declared that 85 per cent of listeners believed Suzan, 37, should be uncancelled.

'What a fabulous result,' Kyle said as the radio show's crew burst into applause.

Instagram Influencer Suzan Mutesi has been 'uncancelled' by Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson on their KIIS FM radio show. All pictured

Suzan also spoke to multiple claims against her, including that she edits her images on Instagram.

'I'm a digital artist. There's nothing wrong with Photoshop. People Photoshop their d***s,' she said.

She likewise addressed the Logies controversy after she was accused of crashing the red carpet at the awards show.

'The Logies should thank me. They've gotten so much press,' she argued, to which Kyle laughed heartily.

It comes after Suzan defended herself after causing a stir at the Logie Awards in Sydney last Sunday.

Suzan, who has been accused of being a 'fake influencer', appeared on the show on Tuesday and the radio duo asked callers to weigh in. After several calls, it was declared that 85 per cent of listeners believed Suzan should be uncancelled

She left onlookers baffled when she showed up at the awards show and strolled 'the wrong way down the red carpet' to allegedly to grab the attention of photographers and get photos with the celebrity attendees.

'She had no interest in interviews - all she wanted was her photograph taken,' a source told Daily Mail Australia.

It has been widely reported Suzan wasn't actually invited to the event and purchased her own tickets to the awards.

On last Wednesday's Kyle and Jackie O show, Suzan insisted she had 'passes' and was 'friends' with some of the stars at the event.

'I didn't scam my way on (to the red carpet), they gave us passes to go to the Logies,' Suzan told the radio hosts.

Suzan defended herself after causing a stir at the Logie Awards in Sydney last Sunday

'I'm acquainted with a few actors who was there and wanted to support my friends... people are blowing it out of proportion.'

After the chat, shock jock Kyle, 52, said he wanted to help boost her profile after she was accused of being a 'pest' on red carpet.

'I'm going to make that black chick famous. I'm going to bring her into the fold,' Kyle insisted.

He spoke to Nasser Sultan and Jessica Rowe on air after the former Studio 10 host was seen posing with Suzan on red carpet.

On last Wednesday's Kyle and Jackie O show, Suzan insisted she had 'passes' and was 'friends' with some of the stars at the event

Jess called her a 'sweetheart' and said Suzan was 'gorgeous,' but Nasser slammed her as a 'nobody' and a 'disgrace'.

'You're a disgrace, a nobody and she should not be attending any events or PR,' Nasser said.

'I'm a black girl being given an opportunity - it's not a race card but who else are they picking on lets be honest,' Suzan hit back.

'How do you sneak on the red carpet, it's meant to be a secure event?' Kyle asked.

Jessica Rowe called her a 'sweetheart' and said Suzan was 'gorgeous' after it was claimed that the influencer was desperately trying to get photos with celebrities on the red carpet at the awards. She is pictured here with Jess on Sunday night

Intern Pete told listeners he had confirmation from event organisers that Suzan was not invited to the event, but purchased general public tickets and snuck onto the red carpet.

The Daily Telegraph reported a spokesperson for the event said she was 'not invited' but still walked the red carpet.

Suzan later told Hughesy, Ed and Erin she wasn't 'embarrassed' about the scandal.

She said a security guard didn't ask her for a pass to get on the red carpet and denied being a 'gate crasher'.

A source told Daily Mail Australia on Monday that Suzan caused chaos on the red carpet by trying to get photographs with celebrities.

'She continued this trend throughout the night, getting snaps with people she barely knew,' they said.

Puzzled attendees started questioning her presence at the prestigious event.

'People were asking why she was even there,' one onlooker stated.

Suzan, 37, left onlookers baffled when she showed up at the awards show and strolled 'the wrong way down the red carpet' to allegedly to grab the attention of photographers and get photos with the celebrity attendees

In response to the claims, Suzan strongly denied being a red carpet bother.

She justified her lack of interviews with journalists on the grounds of ill health.

'I wasn't feeling well. I left the ceremony early,' she told Daily Mail Australia on Monday.

'Even now, my stomach still hurts. I think I have caught a bug or something.'

'I only took photos with Jessica Rowe, because we are friends,' she added.

Earlier this month Mutesi made headlines after enjoyed an intimate exchange with Tom Cruise at the Sydney premiere of Mission Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One, and said the A-list actor kissed her on the hand and called her 'beautiful'.
Jess Wright paid tribute to younger sister Natalya with a series of throwback snaps on Monday to mark her sibling's 23rd birthday.

The former TOWIE star, 37, took to Instagram to upload a series of photos including one of them flaunting their figures in skimpy bikinis as they posed up a storm by the pool.

And another of them sharing a kiss on the morning of Jess' wedding as she wished Natalya a happy birthday.

Other snaps featured in the post included a teenage Jess, who is 14 years older than her sibling, cradling a baby Natalya as she chatted on the phone.

Further images see the sisters throughout various moments over the years, including being dressed up for a glam night out or having fun on holiday.

Flaunt: Jess Wright paid tribute to younger sister Natalya with a series of throwback snaps, including one of them in skimpy bikinis, on Monday to mark her sibling's 23rd birthday

Pucker up: The former TOWIE star, 37, took to Instagram to upload a series of photos including one of them sharing a kiss on the morning of Jess' wedding as she wished Natalya a happy birthday

The TV personality also uploaded a video of the pair larking around while dressed as Alice in Wonderland and the Queen of Hearts, with Jess remarking that Natalya 'hated' dressing up in such a way.

Captioning her sweet post, she penned: 'Happy birthday to my sister & my world @natalyawright_xsince you were born you have been my best friend & Ive loved you so much since.

'Today is all about you & I cant wait to celebrate with you. Happy 23rd my girl (the last video just kills me as I know how much you hated dressing like that).

Commenting on the post, Natalya responded: 'Love you to the end of the earth, best friends forever x.'

It comes after Jess was praised by fans last month for showing 'her real skin' as she gave an update on her 'frustrating' battle with skin condition psoriasis.

Taking to Instagram, the mum-of-one shared a close-up shot of her face, which showed a frame of marks around her face as a result of psoriasis.

She penned an accompanying caption revealing that she had a spell of calm with the condition after she was put on medication, yet soon struggled with side effects leading her to lower her dose - and thus suffer a flare-up.

The star, who shot to fame on TOWIE's inaugural series in 2010, wrote: 'Jess wrote: 'Here goes. Psoriasis update. Apologies for my absence on discussing my ongoing battle with psoriasis, however here it is.

Throwback: Other snaps featured in the post included a teenage Jess, who is 14 years older than her sibling, cradling a baby Natalya as she chatted on the phone

Looking good: Further images see the sisters throughout various moments over the years, including being dressed up for a glam night

Fun times: Jess shared several moments over the years as she marked her sister's 23rd birthday

'In November I went to a specialist & I was put on a form of medication in the hope that it would stop it in its tracks, calm it down & then when I come off of the meds after around a year, it wouldnt be as aggressive.

'This medication cleared nearly all of my psoriasis which was wonderful for a little while however side effects of the meds started to creep in & become more evident which didnt make me feel great...

'Then when I tried lowering the dose, the psoriasis started to come back with a vengeance. Its actually Id say on par with how it was before, if not worse...

'And its actually really sore. So frustrating. Im posting this because so many of you have messaged me asking how its going & Ive not been updating you so here it is...

Cute: The TV personality also uploaded a video of the pair larking around while dressed as Alice in Wonderland and the Queen of Hearts, with Jess remarking that Natalya 'hated' dressing up in such a way

Message: Captioning her sweet post, she penned: 'Happy birthday to my sister & my world @natalyawright_xsince you were born you have been my best friend & Ive loved you so much since'

Lovely: Commenting on the post, Natalya responded: 'Love you to the end of the earth, best friends forever x'

Pained: It comes after Jess was praised by fans last month for showing 'her real skin' as she gave an update on her 'frustrating' battle with skin condition psoriasis

'Sorry I dont have any better news & a miracle cure for you all, I feel your frustration guys. Repeat after me F*** you psoriasis;

A post from Psoriasis Association, the UK national charity for sufferers, lauded the star for her candour, writing: 'Thank you for being so open and honest Jess'.

Other followers meanwhile penned: 'I have psoriasis too and I'm in full flare all over at the moment. Nothing I do or use on them is helping  It's so hard and frustrating, I feel for you Jessica  Sending love...

'Im mid flare up after years of a partial respite. Keep sharing & raising awareness when you feel like it. Its the most torturous condition ever... Ive had it now for 5 years. Thanks for being honest about it! So many struggle with psoriasis.'
Kirsten King is known as the 'It girl' of Pilates.

The found of Fluidform Pilates helps train A-list clientele at her studios around Australia.

Most recently, she worked with British pop star and The Voice Australia mentor Rita Ora during her time in Australia.

The pair have been working together 5-6 times a week and Ora has described King as an 'angel'.

'It was about balancing her [Rita's] body out, showing her that she doesn't need to flog herself to get a great workout and to really achieve the body she wants,' King told The Daily Telegraph.

Kirsten King is known as the 'It girl' of Pilates. The found of Fluidform Pilates helps train A-list clientele at her studios around Australia including Rita Ora. Both pictured

Most recently, she worked with British pop star and The Voice Australia mentor Rita during her time in Australia

'We always work the total body  on one day, it might be more focused on the arms, the next it might be more hips and legs,' she continued.

'The beauty of private sessions, or the small group, we'll adjust the program to suit you.'

Kirsten recently shared a video to Instagram showing Rita getting a sweat on during a Fluidform workout.

'RITA. Fluidform has the ability to rebalance not just the body, but our minds. It releases our feel-good hormones, developing a sense of motivation, confidence and empowerment,' Kirsten wrote in the caption.

The pair have been working together 5-6 times a week and Ora has described King as an 'angel'

'It was about balancing her [Rita's] body out, showing her that she doesn't need to flog herself to get a great workout and to really achieve the body she wants,' King said

'We always work the total body  on one day, it might be more focused on the arms, the next it might be more hips and legs,' she continued

'Movement has gone beyond the prism of exercise  it's a form of medicine! YOU are the definition of commitment to the cause.

'Thank you for trusting me and the power of Fluidform! Until next time Rita! Love ya,' she added.

Another celebrity fan of Fluidform is P.E Nation designer Pip Edwards, who frequently shared glimpses at her workouts to Instagram.

'Getting back to base, back into my body, building core strength, energising myself with controlled considered movement,' she captioned one post.
Corrie star Sam Aston's wife Briony broke down talking about her miscarriage heartbreak on Thursday's Loose Women.

The mother-of-two, 27, appeared on the show along with her actor husband, 30, after telling in early July how she suffered two miscarriages within just four months of each other.

Speaking on the chat show she bravely told how neither pregnancy reached 12 weeks and that while it has been tough, other women sharing their stories helped her heal.

She said of why she decided to share the news of her loses: 'It would have been so much harder for me without listening to other peoples stories.'

'I had hundred and hundred of messages to share their similar experiences. I felt very pleased that I had done it. There is support there and it helped me known that I wasn't alone.'

Upset: Corrie star Sam Aston's wife Briony broke down talking about her miscarriage heartbreak on Thursday's Loose Women

Tough: The mother-of-two, 27, appeared on the show along with her actor husband, 30, after telling in early July how she suffered two miscarriages within just four months of each other

Emotion: Speaking on the chat show she bravely told how neither pregnancy reached 12 weeks and that while it has been tough, other women sharing their stories helped her heal

The heartbreaking news came just over a year after the pair confirmed that they had welcomed their second child together.

The couple - who were already parents to their son Sonny, two - confirmed that Briony had given birth to a baby girl in May 2022.

Sam then added of how he felt after the miscarriages: 'I can't understand in a way because it's not my body but being there was tough.

'I am proud that she was able to put it out there. I felt a bit naive because I didn't release that it was so common.'

Bryony then added: 'For some people they feel like they don't want to admit that it is happening. Sometime people ask when the next one is coming along.

'I've had a lady ask me that before. Unless people know what you've been through then it is a sensitive topic and they know not to bring it up'

'We never reached 12 weeks with either of them. I told family and close friends, then with the next one I thought I might not tell them to save myself the heartbreak in case, but we did tell them.'

On July 1 she revealed that she had suffered two miscarriages within just four months of each other.

Devastating: On July 1 she revealed that she had suffered two miscarriages within just four months of each other

Parents: The couple share a son Sonny, two, (pictured) and a daughter Daisy Josephine, who was born in May 2022

Open: She said of why she decided to share the news of her loses: 'It would have been so much harder for me without listening to other peoples stories'

Difficult news: Sam then added of how he felt after the miscarriages: 'I can't understand in a way because it's not my body but being there was tough'

Devastated Briony took to Instagram to confirm the heartbreaking news, admitting it was a very 'difficult' thing to share.

In her lengthy post, she shared a photograph of her original pregnancy test and opened up about how 'heartbreaking and unfair' the devastating news was.

She penned: 'This is a difficult thing to share, but in the interest of breaking the taboo, I'm miscarrying again, the second time in four months...'.

'It's heartbreaking and it's unfair, BUT I'm not seeking sympathy, I feel well supported and want others to feel supported too.'

The mother told how she had told close friends and family about both her pregnancies and said she decided to share her miscarriage news online after hearing from other women about the loss they have struggled with.

'And that's why I wanted to post this today, because having people you can talk to and receiving comfort from those who have been through something similar makes the world of difference,' she went on.

'We'd told close friends and family about both pregnancies, because I knew that, for me, I would want support from those people if it wasn't meant to last.

'But I wouldn't have been so open had I not heard from other women about the babies they lost and their stories.'

Towards the end of the post, Briony went on to thank all the women before her who have shared their miscarriage stories.

'So thank you to all the women before me who have shared their stories and talked about their babies, it makes processing this a lot easier, and I don't feel alone at all,' she added.

'In fact I feel the opposite of alone, I feel held and heard and I hope that by continuing these difficult conversations about miscarriage and pregnancy loss we open the door for others who will sadly experience loss too #1in4'.

The couple - who were already parents to their son Sonny, two - confirmed that Briony had given birth to a baby girl in May 2022.

Speaking to OK! Magazine, they said: 'Our beautiful girl has arrived.'

Daisy was born on 10 May, 2022, nine days late, following a three-hour labour at their home in Lancashire.

They later confirmed that their daughter was called Daisy Josephine and shared the sweet meaning behind her name.

She told OK!: 'Josephine is a nod to Sam's brother Jo and my grandad Joe. Daisy is also the French name for Marguerite and my mum's mum is called Margaret, so it was a way to have both grandparent's in there.'

In December 2021, the couple revealed their 'nice surprise' that they were expecting a younger sister for Sonny.

Sam told OK! magazine at the time: 'I could see us having another boy, so it was a really nice surprise. I was quite shocked.

Experience: Bryony then added: 'For some people they feel like they don't want to admit that it is happening. Sometime people ask when the next one is coming along'

Chat show: She added: 'We never reached 12 weeks with either of them. I told family and close friends, then with the next one I thought I might not tell them to save myself the heartbreak in case, but we did tell them'

He detailed: 'There are twins in Briony's family, so when we went in I was a bit nervous and said, "There's definitely only one in there, right?'" He said, "There's only one!" and then told us it was a girl!'

The couple at the time weren't planning on having another child so soon but claimed they were happy to be having kids that will be close in age.

Taking to Instagram at the time, they shared a photo of Sonny holding a blackboard that read: 'We're adding another pumpkin to our patch! Spring 2022.'

Briony previously said the couple were trying 'not' to get pregnant because Sonny was born premature and she worried there could be a risk of another premature birth so soon after having him.
Shirley Ballas rode the world's fastest zip line in North Wales on Tuesday to help raise money for suicide prevention charity CALM in honour of her late brother David.

David, from Wallasey, Merseyside, died aged 44 in 2003 after suffering from depression, leaving the Strictly judge and her family heartbroken.

Shirley, 62, donned a helmet and safety equipment for the stunt despite previously revealing she was 'terrified of heights'.

The journey saw the ballroom dancer, who also recently lost a friend to suicide, fly 13,000ft over the Penrhyn Quarry reaching speeds of up to 100MPH.

Shirley will also undertake a wing walk and a skydive as part of her skyathon in order to help Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) help those struggling with life and stop more being lost to suicide.

Impressive: Shirley Ballas, 62, rode the world's fastest zip line in North Wales on Tuesday to help raise money for suicide prevention charity CALM in honour of her late brother David

Scary stuff: Shirley donned a helmet and safety equipment for the stunt despite previously revealing she was 'terrified of heights'

She said: 'I am absolutely terrified of heights, but having lost my brother to suicide and a close friend very recently, I want to use my platform for positive change and raise awareness of the live saving services CALM offers to those struggling'.

'Im not just doing it for me, Im doing it for everyone who has lost someone to suicide and anyone who is currently suffering that may need support'.

Before adding: 'Please join me on my challenge and donate whatever you can. It all makes a huge difference'.

The charitys helpline staff receive 25% more calls during the summer months and speak to someone who is struggling every 59 seconds.

Every day 18 people in the UK tragically take their own lives. CALM exists to change this - by offering life-saving support, creating culture changing campaigns, and bringing people together across the country to reject living miserably.

Last year Shirley fought back tears as she discussed her late brother's tragic suicide, with the star saying how he was 'everything to me'.

Almost 20 years from his death she became emotional during an interview on This Morning as she reflected on the warning signs of her sibling's internal struggle.

She was seen wiping away tears as she touched on David's photo being among many which features in an exhibition CALM at London's Southbank, which shows the smiling faces of 50 people shortly before they took their own lives.

Filming: She also wore a camera attached to her helmet to capture the moment

Heights: The journey saw the ballroom dancer, who also recently lost a friend to suicide, fly 13,000ft over the Penrhyn Quarry reaching speeds of up to 100MPH

Tragic: David, from Wallasey, Merseyside, took his own life aged 44 in 2003 after suffering from depression, leaving Shirley and her family heartbroken (pictured last year)

Speaking to hosts Phillip Schofield, Shirley said: 'Seeing my brother there in display in Southbank brought everything back, if I knew now what I knew then I couldve helped.

'Everybody loved him. He was a big brother. He was like a father. He was everything to me.

'We talked every day at four o'clock. He was really the last person that I would ever think would take his own life.'

The Latin dancer then recalled the little signs that David gave he was struggling, but at the time she didn't realise how serious things were.

She said: 'When I look back now, there were warning signs. There was little things that he would say or comments that he would make and I would be like youll be fine, youll be fine".'

Brave Ballas: Shirley will also undertake a wing walk and a skydive as part of her skyathon in order to help Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) help those struggling with life and stop more being lost to suicide

Zoom! Shirley said: 'I am absolutely terrified of heights, but having lost my brother to suicide and a close friend very recently, I want to use my platform for positive change and raise awareness of the live saving services CALM offers to those struggling'

Now, almost 20 years after her losing her beloved brother, Shirley urged others to be more 'astute' when they notice a change in someone's behaviour.

She explained: 'We have to be astute. Our lives are so packed as mine was back then with people saying youll be fine".

'Ive had people say that to me in some of the darkest times in my life, they dont know whats going on inside. And even when my brother past people said "Itll be fine" and if you havent been through this it wont be fine.

'You learn to live with it, but it never goes away. Its hard to ever let go.'

As Phillip emphasised how important it is to 'talk to people' after sharing his own dark times, Shirley went on: 'There are many organisations where you can reach out to communicate on a small level.

'Were in a moving world with social media, life goes so fast, and if you just take a step back, a breath, a moment, and listen and really try to see your family or friend'

Since her brother's death, Shirley has become an ardent campaigner for mental health awareness, even setting up charity The Ballas Foundation with her son Mark.

Shirley was said to have felt 'overwhelming grief' when her brother David took his own life in 2003.

Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) stands united against suicide with everyone in the UK.

The campaign is led through vital, life-saving support, impactful conversations and collective action. If youre struggling, talk to CALM on 0800 58 58 58 (UK) or through our webchat.

Our trained support workers are available from 5 pm to midnight every day to provide practical support and advice, whatever youre going through. To find out more about CALM , our services or for support or advice visit www.thecalmzone.net.
Love Island star Ekin Su Culculoglu has hinted she is in talks to star on the new series of Strictly Come Dancing.

Ekin-Su, 28, competed on the 2023 series of Dancing On Ice, six months after winning the summer 2022 series of Love Island, but she has claimed she could be back for another reality show stint later this year.

Speaking on 98FM's Big Breakfast with Rebecca and Brendan on Tuesday she teased some big news about her next career move.

'I would love to do Strictly. Actually, maybe something might come up this year I can't say. We are in talks for something, possibly. Keep your eyes peeled.'

Heading to the dancefloor? Love Island star Ekin Su Culculoglu has hinted she is in talks to star on the new series of Strictly Come Dancing

Glitterball: Speaking on 98FM's Big Breakfast with Rebecca and Brendan on Tuesday she teased some big news about her next career move

'But yeah, I'm very excited, can't say but yeah why wouldn't you see me on there?'

On Monday it was revealed that 2018 Love Island star Zara McDermott would be competing on this year's Strictly, which kicks off in September.

In July MailOnline exclusively revealed that documentary maker Zara would become the first ever Love Island contestant to appear on the BBC show.

Ekin-Su, who recently split from her Love Island beau Davide, has been busy carving out an acting career.

In June she revealed her plans to return to Turkey to restart her acting career.

Ekin, who is of Turkish origin and lived in Istanbul for two years, used to star in a soap there called Kuzey Yldz Ilk Ask.

She played character London-based photographer Isil in the show - which has now been cancelled.

But keen for another big role in the country she recently told The Sun: 'I would actually love to go back to Turkey at some point and reconnect with some old agencies out there, who I was in a soap with.

Reality show queen: Ekin-Su competed on the 2023 series of Dancing On Ice, six months after winning the 2022 series of Love Island (pictured with her DOI partner Brendyn Hatfield)

Confirmed: On Monday it was revealed that 2018 Love Island star Zara McDermott would be competing on this year's Strictly, which kicks off in September

Split: Ekin-Su, who recently split from her Love Island beau Davide , has been busy carving out an acting career

'I speak both English and Turkish so why can't I have a career in both countries?

She has also had meetings in Los Angeles, and told 98FM's Big Breakfast that she 'would love to play someone completely opposite to my personality. I would love to play someone who is a mafia wife, a crazy neighbour who has psychological problems, maybe potential serial killer because I do have that strange dark side'.

98FM's Big Breakfast with Rebecca and Brendan, weekdays from 7am.
MBABANE  Almost two weeks after protesting over drug shortages and long waiting lists at the orthopaedic theatre, prayers of patients at the Mbabane Government Hospital have been answered.

This is because the Ministry of Health has delivered on its promise, which is to improve the health of emaSwati, as yesterday some patients admitted to the hospital were treated and had surgeries performed for their various ailments.

Hired

The patients surgeries were done by orthopaedic specialists from private hospitals yesterday, who were recently hired by the Ministry of Health to counter a backlog of patients in need of surgery. This was after a group of about 15 patients protested at the hospitals main gate and demanded to be treated while complaining of shortages of medication, as they said this put their lives at risk. Most of the patients said they were happy that the Minister of Health, Lizzie Nkosi, together with the ministrys management and medical personnel on the ground, had made arrangements to assist them, given that most of them had been admitted for months to the hospital. One of the first to be in line for theatre, Mazwi Masuku, could not be reached for comment, as he was in theatre for the better part of yesterday, but his caretaker said she was happy that their prayers had finally been answered.

Interviewed after he was operated on, Mncedisi Hloph,e who has been admitted for two months to the hospital with a fractured ankle, said: I am happy that we finally got the rightful assistance as the situation is far better than before. I am in pain right now but I know its temporary as doctors assured me I will soon be discharged if I respond well to treatment. Another patient who preferred anonymity added that he could not wait until his surgery was complete, given that he was far down the list of patients waiting in line. If I am not mistaken, I think I would have gone to theatre by Thursday and I cannot wait for this to happen so that I go back home, narrated the patient.

Backlog

When asked on the number of patients waiting in line to undergo surgeries, Director of Health Services Dr Velephi Okello said the backlog of patients had accumulated to 80. At the moment, the management is focusing on 80 patients, she said. Dr Okello went on to state that the team at Mbabane Government Hospital had worked hard in organising the orthopaedic specialists amid the supply chain challenges. We continue to request for patience as they may not be able to attend to everyone in the next six days. More resources will be mobilised to cover all the cases in due course, said Dr Okello. At the time of going for print, a total of six patients had successfully been operated on by the newly-hired orthopaedic surgeons and this will continue until the backlog is reduced.
Coleen Rooney looked busy as she stepped out to run some errands in Wilmslow, Cheshire on Tuesday.

The WAG, 37, carried five mobile phones as she departed a repair shop and quickly strutted off down the street.

She put on a stylish display for her outing, wearing a pair of stylish bell bottom jeans and a black T-shirt.

Coleen - who is set to tell all about her recent court battle in an explosive cover interview for the October issue of British Vogue - didn't break her stride as she powered on in stiletto heels.

To complete her look, she styled her brunette hair into soft waves and opted for a subtle makeup look.

Busy: Coleen Rooney looked busy as she stepped out to run some errands in Wilmslow, Cheshire on Tuesday

Busy day: The WAG carried five mobile phones as she departed a repair shop and quickly strutted off down the street

It comes after Coleen reignited the Wagatha Christie case to deny criticism aired by Rebekah over court costs - revealing calling in bailiffs had been one option.

Rebekah, 41, blasted an 'inflated' 1.8million legal bill from Coleen's side that was alleged to include expenses for luxury hotel stays and pricey meals.

With her own court costs fees adding up to around 4 million, Ms Vardy is now facing up to 6 million in legal fees.

Lawyers acting for Coleen said an original, much lower, sum mooted at the start of proceedings was always going to be higher.

They also disclosed an interim payment of 800,000 ordered to be paid by November 15 last year by Becky did not arrive on time. Because she lost the case, she was ordered to pay legal costs accrued.

In a direct contradiction to claims made she was 'forced' to pay up last year, they said she had actually asked for more time, which Coleen agreed to allow.

The mother-of-four - married to England legend Wayne Rooney - could have chosen to instruct bailiffs or even pursued bankruptcy proceedings against her.

Chic: She put on a stylish display for her outing, wearing a pair of stylish bell bottom jeans and a black T-shirt

Strut: Coleen - who is set to tell all about her recent court battle in a cover interview for the October issue of British Vogue - didn't break her stride as she powered on in stiletto heels

Drama: It comes after Coleen reignited the Wagatha Christie case to deny criticism aired by Rebekah over court costs - revealing calling in bailiffs had been one option

Rebekah, 41, blasted an 'inflated' 1.8million legal bill from Coleen's side that was alleged to include expenses for luxury hotel stays and pricey meals

It had appeared that the ongoing war between the two WAGs could be headed back to court as sources close to Rebekah said she had not heard from Coleen about the legal costs

Paul Lunt, the solicitor who acted for Coleen, said 'Costs budgets are produced at the very start of cases, almost two years before the final hearing in this case. They are merely "best guesses" of the costs that are likely to be incurred if the case proceeds as expected.

'Where a case develops in an extraordinary or unexpected manner, the costs will often increase substantially from what was originally envisaged.

'That goes for both parties and it would not surprise me if Mrs Vardy's own costs ended up approaching something in the order of 4m.'

It had appeared that the ongoing war between the two WAGs could be headed back to court as sources close to Rebekah said she had not heard from Coleen about the legal costs.
Chad Michael Murray sheepishly remembered waking up some sleeping suburbanites during a night shoot for Freaky Friday.

The fan favorite movie, which came out 20 years ago Sunday, stars Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan as a mother and daughter who magically switch bodies.

In a new Vulture interview marking the 20th anniversary, Chad, 41, looked back on one of his memorable moments as Lindsay's love interest.

Appearing outside Lindsay's window late at night, he tries to woo her with a comically lousy rendition of ...Baby One More Time by Britney Spears.

'We shot it in a neighborhood where everyone was already asleep,' the heartthrob recalled. 'I felt so bad for them.'

Remember when: Chad Michael Murray sheepishly remembered waking up some sleeping suburbanites during a night shoot for Freaky Friday (pictured)

'I felt so bad for them': 'We shot it in a neighborhood where everyone was already asleep,' the heartthrob recalled; pictured in 2019

The moment: Appearing outside Lindsay's window late at night, he tries to woo her with a comically lousy rendition of ...Baby One More Time by Britney Spears

The One Tree Hill alum shared: 'They were none too pleased with our lights and me terribly belting Britney Spears at all hours of the night.'

Chad revealed during his recent interview that the singing scene 'wasn't originally in the script' but was sent to him 'the night before filming.'

Apparently the scene was an homage to the boombox moment in Say Anything, in which John Cusack plays Peter Gabriel's In Your Eyes to charm Ione Skye.

When Freaky Friday director Mark Waters sent over the Britney Spears scene, Chad argued that singing was not his forte, to which Mark replied: 'Even better!'

Freaky Friday was based on a 1972 novel of the same name by Mary Rodgers, daughter of The Sound Of Music composer Richard Rodgers.

Lindsay and Jamie lead the cast as a daughter and mother who fall under a fortune cookie enchantment that causes them to swap bodies.

The book was previously adapted into a 1976 movie with a young Jodie Foster as the daughter and Broadway star Barbara Harris as the mother.

In 1995 the novel was made into a Disney Channel movie, this time with Shelley Long as the mother and Gaby Hoffman as the daughter.

Iconic: The fan favorite movie, which came out 20 years ago Sunday, stars Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan as a mother and daughter who magically switch bodies

Resemblance: The book was previously adapted into a 1976 movie with a young Jodie Foster as the daughter and Broadway star Barbara Harris as the mother

Back at it: This May, it emerged via The Hollywood Reporter that Disney is developing a sequel to the 2003 film, with Jamie Lee and Lindsay reprising their roles

Then in 2003 came the best-remembered adaptation, the Lindsay Lohan-Jamie Lee Curtis vehicle with a cast that included Sex And The City's Willie Garson.

This May, it emerged via The Hollywood Reporter that Disney is developing a sequel to the 2003 film, with Jamie Lee and Lindsay reprising their roles.

During an earlier New York Times interview for the 20th anniversary of the first film, both actresses chatted about the potential for a follow-up picture.

Jamie in particular said that she was repeatedly asked about a possible Freaky Friday 2 while she was doing the publicity rounds for Halloween Ends last year.

'Something really touched a chord,' she said. 'When I came back, I called my friends at Disney and said: "It feels like theres a movie to be made."'

Lindsay meanwhile said: 'Jamie and I are both open to that, so were leaving it in the hands that be. We would only make something that people would absolutely adore.'
NYPD Blue child star Austin Majors died from an accidental fentanyl overdose, autopsy results have revealed.

The findings, released by the Los Angeles Medical Examiner's Office on Tuesday, revealed Majors' cause of death was fentanyl toxicity, TMZ reported.

The manner has been categorized as accidental, and the place of his death was listed as 'residence.'

Majors died at age 27 while staying at a homeless facility in Los Angeles in February.

At the time of his death, TMZ reported Majors 'may have ingested a fatal amount of fentanyl.'

NYPD Blue child star Austin Majors died from an accidental fentanyl overdose, it has been revealed; pictured 2005

The family released a statement to TMZ at the time of his death: '[Austin] was a loving, artistic, brilliant, and kind human being. Austin took great joy and pride in his acting career. He was an active Eagle Scout and graduated Salutatorian in High School. He went on to graduate from USCs School of Cinematic Arts with a passion of directing and music producing.'

'Austin's younger sister Kali says her fondest memories with Austin were growing up on set with him, volunteering at events with "Kids With A Cause," and backpacking together,' the statement continued.

Kali is also an actress; she is an aspiring film writer, producer and director.

'Austin was the kid of son, brother, grandson, and nephew that made us proud and we will miss him deeply forever,' it said.

On September 20, 2020, Austin shared on his Instagram a picture of his SAG-AFTRA card, which said he was a member since 2000.

He captioned it: 'Woah! Just paid dues & realized I've been a member of SAG for 2 decades (now @sagaftra). What a beautiful ride it has been. I never dreamed I'd still be alive this many years later... let alone what this would effect. My first union job was a commercial for @bountypapertowels , the quicker picker upper! haha) I'm proud/shocked by this seeming time-warp & somehow it still feels like the trip is just begining :) Keep it 100 fam.'

Austin starred as Theo Sipowicz in NYPD Blue for seven seasons; he played the son of Detective Andy Sipowicz, who was played by Dennis Franz.

Austin won the Young Artists Award for Best Performance in a Television Series for his work in NYPD Blue in 2002.

Austin starred as Theo Sipowicz in NYPD Blue for seven seasons; he played the son of Detective Andy Sipowicz, who was played by Dennis Franz; pictured 1999

Majors pictured with Franz on NYPD Blue

Austin pictured in 2002

The actor was also nominated for Best Performance in a Voice Over Role for Treasure Planet.

He was born on November 23 in California as Austin Setmajer.

Austin graduated second in his class in high school in 2013, going on to attend school at the University of Southern California, at the School of Cinematic Arts - majoring in Film and Television production with a minor in music production.

Austin was also part of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity at USC.

He was part of Kids With A Cause since 2005.

Austin won the Young Artists Award for Best Performance in a Television Series for his work in NYPD Blue in 2002

Austin's first role was in 1997 in the film Nevada, playing a young boy.

He went on to star in The Price of Air in 2000, Providence in 2001, Treasure Planet in 2002, Bananas in 2004 - before landing the role of Theo in NYPD Blue.

He starred as Theo in 48 episodes from 1999 until 2004.

From there, Austin went on to star in Volare in 2004, ER for one episode in 2005, Hercules for two episodes in 2005 as well as Little Manhattan in 2005.

He had small roles in Bye Bye Benjamin, Threshold, According to Jim, NCIS, The Ant Bully, American Dad!, Dead Silence, The Gray Man and Desperate Housewives between 2005 through 2007.

Austin starred as Will Wright in the TV movie An Accidental Christmas in 2007, Hank in Night Writer in 2007 and How I Met Your Mother for one episode in 2009 - for his final roles.
Helen Skelton is said to be feeling 'guilty' about dating again, one year after her 'trust was broken' by ex-husband Richie Myler.

The television presenter, 39, announced her split from England and Leeds Rhinos rugby league star Richie, 33, in April last year.

Helen, who shares sons Ernie, eight, Louis, five, and 16-month-old daughter Elsie with Richie, is now 'reluctantly dipping her toe back into the dating pool'.

Helen has recently launched herself back into the dating scene

A source told Closer Magazine: 'Helen's family and friends encouraged her to get back out there and she was happy to dip her toe back into the dating scene, but she has had some wobbles and found herself feeling guilty. She's concerned about who to let into her life and worried about being judged for any decisions she makes.

Love life: Helen Skelton is said to be feeling 'guilty' about dating again, one year after her 'trust was broken' by ex-husband Richie Myler

Ex: The television presenter, 39, announced her split from England and Leeds Rhinos rugby league star Richie, 33, in April last year

'There have also been some people who have made comments about her not trying hard enough to make it work with Richie, and it's made her think about her marriage and what went wrong.

'Ultimately, she knows she tried everything she could, and once the trust was broken there was just no going back. But dating again has brought up some unexpected feelings that she's been struggling with.'

It comes after source told OK! magazine: 'After her trust was broken, she's nowhere near ready for an all-in long-term romance.

'But she's not closing herself off to anything anymore. She's open to new adventures in all respects and is making it her aim to say 'yes' to more things that excite her.'

MailOnline has contacted Helen's representative for comment.

Helen is also moving on from Richie by putting the marital home they once shared on the market.

A source told The Mirror : 'Helen has moved on with her life and feels it's time to start with a clean slate.

'She's 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 appeared on Celebrity Yorkshire Auction House and said she'd 'sold a load of stuff' as she cleared her life out.

It comes after Helen enjoyed a break with her girlfriends, sharing photos of her island hopping trip on Tuesday as she celebrates her upcoming 40th birthday.

The Strictly star flaunted her tanned figure in a skimpy pink bikini as she enjoyed a spot of paddle boarding in the waters of Formentera.

Family: Helen, who shares sons Ernie, eight, Louis, five, and 16-month-old daughter Elsie with Richie, is now 'reluctantly dipping her toe back into the dating pool'

A source said : 'After her trust was broken, she's nowhere near ready for an all-in long-term romance'

Moved on: 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

The day before the group were on neighbouring island Ibiza as Helen shared another snap of herself, this time in a leopard print bikini as she headed to the beach.

'Girl time is a good time. So glad I had that chance meeting with someone on an away day from @onthebeachholidays a couple of years ago. Thank you @trsibizahotel for having me and some pals. Stunning hotel. Amazing staff. Top food. Brilliant drinks,' she captioned the snap.

She added the hashtags '#grateful #holiday #ibiza #girltime #prstay #onthebeach #trs #gifted #beach #baleares #balearics #sand #sea #hotels #island.'

Helen also reposted a photo from her pal as the group got glammed up for a night on the town.

The trip appeared to be an early 40th birthday celebration for Helen as her friend captioned the snaps 'Birthday Queen'. Helen's big day is on July 19.

Helen recently revealed her hilarious response to being asked whether she has a boyfriend , proudly sharing her choice of comeback in an interview with Grazia .

She complained that, during her time hosting Blue Peter between 2008 and 2013, her love life was always brought up by pals rather than her personal accomplishments.

Helen said: 'I was travelling all around the world, and seeing and doing incredible things. And whenever I came home and caught up with people, all they would ask is, 'Have you got a boyfriend?' I was like, 'No, but I've got a few world records!''

Fun in the sun: It comes after Helen enjoyed a break with her girlfriends, sharing photos of her island hopping trip on social media

In the same interview, she detailed why she doesn't need any sympathy in the wake of her split from Richie.

The TV personality was asked about her tricky time raising three children on her parents' farm after moving from Leeds to Cumbria following the separation.

Choosing not to discuss her split from Leeds Rhinos star Richie in any length, she simply said: 'My life's no different to millions of other people's lives.

'Lots of people have the same sorts of things to look after and sort out. I think life is fun, and short, and wonderful, and you just take each chapter as it comes along. There's no point overthinking stuff, you just get on with it.'
Pregnant Paris Fury showed off her daughter Athena's lavish 2nd birthday celebrations on Tuesday.

The mother-of-six, 33, who is expecting her seventh child with husband Tyson Fury, 34, pulls out all the stops when it comes to her families birthdays.

But her latest mission was for her youngest daughter, as she showed off an impressive display for her special day.

She decorated her living room with a balloon arch, a buffet of presents and Cocomelon cake.

Tyson Fury could be seen sitting in the background watching Athena blow out her candles on the cake.

Extra: Pregnant Paris Fury showed off her daughter Athena's lavish 2nd birthday celebrations on Tuesday

Family: The mother-of-six, 33, who is expecting her seventh child with husband Tyson Fury, 34, pulls out all the stops when it comes to her families birthdays

Cute: But her latest mission was for her youngest daughter as she showed off an impressive display for her special day

She captioned her post: 'Happy birthday to our beautiful girl Athena.'

Athena and her older sister Valencia was dressed in adorable pink and white dress as Paris put them in matching ensembles.

Paris and Tyson are already proud parents to three sons (all named Prince): Prince John James, ten, Prince Tyson Fury II, six, and Prince Adonis Amaziah, four, and three daughters; Venezuela, 13, Valencia Amber, five, and Athena, two.

It comes after Paris put on a swanky Las Vegas themed birthday party for her eldest daughter Venezuela turning 13.

Guests were greeted at the bash with a welcome sign reading: 'Welcome to Fabulous Venezuela's 13th birthday party'.

The teenager donned a gold off the shouder mini dress with a shimmering sequinned floral detail.

The garment also featured a red tasselled embellishment while Venezuela also sported a gold tiara with red jewels.

Paris is married to WBC heavyweight champion Tyson who she met when she was 15 and he was 17.

Wow: She decorated her living room with a balloon arch, a buffet of presents and Cocomelon cake

Sweet: She captioned her post: 'Happy birthday to our beautiful girl Athena'

Memories: Tyson Fury (behind) could be seen sitting in the background watching Athena blow out her candles on the cake

Adorable! Athena (left) and her older sister Valencia (right) was dressed in adorable pink and white dress as Paris put them in matching ensembles

Extravagant: Paris also pulled out all the stops for her daughter Venezuela's 13th birthday as she gave her a Las Vegas themed 13th birthday party

Festive: The Fury family brought Vegas to the UK for their eldest daughter

Whilst he has become a multimillionaire, it has been speculated that he prefers to lead a modest lifestyle and be savvy with his money.

Last year reportedly saw him take just 70,000 from his huge 40million fortune.

A source told The Sun at the time: 'He's extremely careful with money and knows the value of it.

'He's not extravagant or flamboyant like some boxers are and lives a very modest lifestyle.'
Jenni 'JWoww' Farley has opened up about her true feelings regarding realty show king Andy Cohen.

'He scares me,' said the Jersey Shore star, 37, who was celebrating the return of pal Sammi 'Sweetheart' Giancola to the Family Vacation, on the Barstool Sports' Out and About podcast Friday.

The former graphic designer said she was 'petrified' the last time she appeared on Watch What Happens Live.

When asked why, she answered, 'He's intimidating because you never know whats gonna come out of his mouth.'

The reality star continued, 'As a woman, you can become very insecure very quickly.'

Scared: Jenni 'JWoww' Farley has opened about her feelings regarding talk show host Andy Cohen. 'He scares me,' said the Jersey Shore star, 37, 'Hes intimidating because you never know whats gonna come out of his mouth'

The divorced mother of two, who has admitted having breast augmentation and reduction, said she has been particularly unnerved by queries into her appearance.

'Every single time Im on his show, he asks me like, "What plastic surgery have you gotten done?" and Im just like, "Its 2023, bro. Like, who gives a s**?"'

Out and About co-host Pat McAuliffe, who was fired from his production assistant job on WWHL in 2010, agreed with Farley's assertion, 'He is scary, right?'

When the cast appeared on WWHL August 3, Cohen did not question anyone about having cosmetic surgery.

He has not commented on Farley's claims.

Instead, the host asked for dirt on celebrities the cast members regarded as 'rude' from their various interactions.

Farley kept quiet on the topic, but her pal Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzo offered up The View host Joy Behar's name quickly.

'Joy was so mean to me. She cornered me in the bathroom and said, "Youre not Italian!'

Insecure: JWoww was on the Out and About podcast with fellow Jersey Shore star Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzo. She told her pal and the hosts that Cohen's questions made her feel 'insecure'

Cosmetic surgery: JWoww claimed, 'Every single time Im on his show, he asks me like, "What plastic surgery have you gotten done?" and Im just like, "its 2023, bro. Like, who gives a s**?"'

'I said, "Okay, maam."'

Deena Cortese and Giancola said meeting Ryan Reynolds and his wife Blake Lively was disappointing.

'Me and Sam had our separate thing,' Cortese said. 'I love him. I truly love him. I love his wife.

'Ryan Reynolds was not great to us. I love Ryan Reynolds, still. And I love Blake Lively,' she said. 'He, like, didnt want to be by us. So I was like, "Oh, my God.'

Giancola suggested the Deadpool star 'maybe he had a bad day,' as all agreed they would enjoy the opportunity to meet him again.
They amassed great wealth from iron and coal, enabling them to build a Gothic pile, Renishaw Hall, in Derbyshire, and later to acquire a castle, the magnificent Montegufoni, in Tuscany. But in recent years the fortune of the Sitwell family has been diminished, prompting the sale both of Montegufoni and, more recently, 11-bedroom Weston Hall, Northamptonshire, a secondary property which had been in the family for 300 years.

Now I can disclose that a handy stream of cash  with the potential to replenish the family coffers  remains tantalisingly out of the Sitwells' reach, as they were painfully reminded last Friday when Belshazzar's Feast was performed at the Proms.

Composed by William Walton, the piece has words by poet and writer Osbert Sitwell, who declared 'listening to the sound of his own voice' to be one of his recreations and who, with his sister Edith and brother Sacheverell, astounded London society in the 1920s and 1930s by championing the avant-garde  and by their shameless self-promotion.

'Every time Belshazzar's Feast is performed, it generates royalties for Osbert's literary estate  and it's been performed five times at the Proms alone in the past 11 years,' a family friend tells me.

But, though the royalties are duly paid, not a penny reaches the Sitwells, neither Osbert's great-niece Alexandra, who lives at Renishaw, or her cousins, Sir George Sitwell and his younger brother, food writer William  or indeed to anyone else, whether a member of the family or not.

A handy stream of cash  with the potential to replenish the family coffers  remains tantalisingly out of the Sitwells' reach, as they were painfully reminded last Friday when Belshazzar's Feast was performed at the Proms (File image)

This, I can disclose, is a consequence of the impenetrability of Italian law  and the unforeseen consequences of Osbert's will. In it, he bequeathed his literary estate to Maltese-born Frank Magro, whom he had initially hired as his nurse but who subsequently became his lover.

'The family were horrified that Osbert, who died in 1969, had made Frank his beneficiary and literary executor,' explains the family friend.

Magro lived on for more than 40 years. But since his death  'about a decade ago'  matters have deteriorated dramatically. 'Frank didn't leave a will and left no family,' adds the friend, explaining that the 'complexities of the Italian legal system' mean that it is effectively impossible for the family  or anyone else  to reclaim Osbert's royalties.

The agents handling Osbert's literary estate, David Higham Associates, declines to comment. 'It doesn't really matter to them. They can deduct their percentage and dump the rest in a bank account where it rots away, earning no interest and out of reach to everyone.'

Oppenheimer star Florence is a Barbie girl at heart!

She has become one of Hollywood's most coveted actresses, but Florence Pugh preferred to go incognito as she headed back to her old stomping ground of Oxfordshire for the Wilderness Festival.

The Oxford restaurateur's daughter, 27, who stars in acclaimed film Oppenheimer, hid beneath a pink fluffy hat and blue heart-shaped glasses.

She wore a neon-lime green sheer jumpsuit with a bikini that appeared to be inspired by rival box-office hit Barbie as she posed with a pal.

Known as 'Poshstock', Wilderness is held on Lord Rotherwick's Cornbury Park estate and is a favourite of David and Samantha Cameron.

This year, Boris Johnson's wife, Carrie, was among the revellers.

She has become one of Hollywood's most coveted actresses, but Florence Pugh (pictured) preferred to go incognito as she headed back to her old stomping ground of Oxfordshire for the Wilderness Festival

The Oxford restaurateur's daughter, 27, who stars in acclaimed film Oppenheimer, hid beneath a pink fluffy hat and blue heart-shaped glasses

She wore a neon-lime green sheer jumpsuit with a bikini that appeared to be inspired by rival box-office hit Barbie as she posed with a pal

Husky broadcaster Mariella Frostrup and her family enjoy such a quintessentially middle-class lifestyle that one of her two children sent her a handmade Mothering Sunday card which read: 'Mummy I love you more than avocados.'

But Frostrup says she grew up in Ireland 'knowing the smell of poverty'. Recalling an 'awful memory' of 'when we really had run out of food', she tells Ruthie's Table 4 podcast: 'My brother, the kindest man you'll meet, was trying to make light of the fact there was nothing in the cupboard.

'He was, like, 'Look, look, I've got spaghetti, and I've got golden syrup. It'll be delicious'.

'He made it for us with the golden syrup  it was one of the most disgusting combinations I've ever come across.'

Angela Rippon's entering Strictly Come Dancing, at the age of 78, appears to have left her fellow former BBC newsreader Jan Leeming feeling wistful.

Asked if she would ever consider going on the Saturday night hit show, Leeming, 81, says: 'Not now. Some years ago I met on the beach a Strictly producer who said I was ''the one who got away''. I don't know how, as I was never asked and would have accepted.'

Angela Rippon (left) and Amanda Abbington (right) were announced as members of Strictly Come Dancing 2023 on the same episode of The One Show

His talent for mimicry has earned him adoration, but Rory Bremner draws the line at one impersonation  by someone trying to pass off an Instagram account as his own.

Denouncing it as 'a scam', Bremner points out that a dot appears in the title of the bogus account, whereas his own doesn't have one. He also jokes that he has 'much better tattoos' than those displayed in photos which appear on the fake account.

But that's the limit of his humour. 'Please report and block,' he asks his followers.
Leonardo DiCaprio and his pal Tobey Maguire continued to make the most of their summer break as they left their yacht during their lavish getaway in Ibiza.

The Oscar winner, 48, and Spiderman star, 48, were seen heading to shore for the evening alongside Love Island star Arabella Chi, 32, after enjoying a day of sunbathing on their luxurious liner.

Arabella, who has been spotted kissing nightclub mogul Richie Akiva, flaunted her incredible figure in a skimpy tiger print bikini top and a matching satin skirt.

The Love Island star set pulses racing in her skimpy holiday look, after sharing a sizzling Instagram post clad in sky blue lingerie.

The group were joined by Dutch model Imaan Hammam, who slipped into a revealing cream crochet mini dress as she headed out with the A-List group.

Off they go! Leonardo DiCaprio and his pal Tobey Maguire continued to make the most of their summer break as they left their yacht during their lavish getaway in Ibiza

Living it up! The Oscar winner and Spiderman star were seen heading to shore for the evening alongside Love Island star Arabella Chi (pictured)

Revealing! Arabella, who has been spotted kissing nightclub mogul Richie Akiva, flaunted her incredible figure in a skimpy tiger print bikini top and a matching satin skirt

It comes after Arabella put on a steamy display with 'the king of nightclubs' Richie Akiva, 45, as the pair shared a kiss on board a yacht in Ibiza on Sunday.

Last week close friends Tobey and Leo were seen having lunch with Dutch fashion model Imaan Hammam during their European break.

Leo has been enjoying an extended holiday in Ibiza, Sardinia, the Amalfi Coast, Saint Tropez and Tuscany.

The lengthy break has seen DiCaprio reunite with close friend Tobey, while rubbing shoulders with more than one unknown and highly unexpected quantity - among them British model Neelam Gill and the former Love Island contestant Arabella.

Australian businessman James Packer, Russian catwalk legend Irina Shayk and American model Megan Roche have also joined the party over recent weeks

It's not known how long Arabella has been seeing New York native Richie or where they first met.

Richie has been a regular on the New York club scene since his teen years and opened the legendary 10ak nightclub in 2007.

He is the CEO of the Butter Group which owns other popular venues in the city including Up & Down and Butter.

Off they go! After a day of relaxation on the yacht, the group were seen heading to the shore on a boat for the evening

Revealing! Arabella set pulses racing in her sexy holiday look, which she accessorised with a gold snakeskin handbag

Flawless! The reality star previously shared a glimpse of her yacht break by posting a snap clad in sky blue lingerie

Having fun? It comes after Arabella put on a steamy display with 'the king of nightclubs' Richie Akiva, 45, as the pair shared a kiss on board a yacht in Ibiza on Sunday

Flawless! The group were joined by Dutch model Imaan Hammam, who slipped into a revealing cream crochet mini dress as she headed out with the A-List group

Relaxed: Tobey cut a casual figure as he and longtime pal Leo continued their summer trip

Don't fall! The group slowly navigated the rocky terrain after arriving on the beach

Flawless! Iman wowed in her summer look as she and Arabella headed into the island

Need a hand? The stars needed some help exiting the boat while soaking up the sunshine

Friendly: Last week close friends Tobey and Leo were seen having lunch with Dutch fashion model Imaan during their European break

Living it up! Leo has been enjoying an extended holiday in Ibiza, Sardinia, the Amalfi Coast, Saint Tropez and Tuscany

So many big names! The lengthy break has seen DiCaprio reunite with close friend Tobey, while rubbing shoulders with more than one unknown - among them British model Neelam Gill

Richie regularly rubs shoulders with celebrities and has previously hosted birthday parties for the likes of Rihanna and Naomi Campbell.

The businessman has also hosted one of the Met Gala's most raucous afterparties and has fronted parties for the jet-setting class in the likes of Monaco and the Maldives.

Richie previously told The New York Times he doesn't use his celebrity connections for publicity, saying: 'I don't use them to better my business, they're my friends. I try to protect them as much as I can.'

Previously romantically linked to Rihanna and Heidi Klum, Richie has never commented publicly on his love life.

'I take a page from friends of mine who are celebrities,' he said. 'Let people believe whatever they want to believe.'

Back in February, Leonardo partied with both Maya Jama and Neelam, with two nights of living it up with the former.

They were together at the venue for Leo's pre-BAFTAs party where they rubbed shoulders with the likes of Jamie Foxx , Neelam and Taron Egerton .

Then the next night they both attended the same BAFTA afterparty at Annabel's members' club, sponsored by British Vogue And Tiffany & Co.

They were subsequently spotted in both New York and Paris the following month, yet Maya remained defiant - and Leo silent - about any claims.

Neelam meanwhile, as well as her yacht trip, was seen leaving the Hotel Costes in the Paris's 1st arrondissement before heading to a late night dinner at Loulou on the Rue de Rivoli in the French capital with his pal Tobey last month.

Great time! A slew of stars have been joining Leonardo and Tobey on their lengthy summer trip, which has seen them hit multiple hotspots

Huge stars! Australian businessman James Packer, Russian catwalk legend Irina Shayk and American model Megan Roche have also joined the party over recent weeks

New love: It's not known how long Arabella has been seeing New York native Richie or where they first met

Rumoured flames: Back in February, Leonardo partied with both Maya Jama and Neelam, with two nights of living it up with the former

Claims: They were subsequently spotted in both New York and Paris the following month, yet Maya remained defiant - and Leo silent - about any claims

Speculation: As ever, the romance rumours surrounding Leo fizz as much as his acting career with another recent link coming in the form of Gigi Hadid, 28

New love? The pair's romance reportedly fizzled out in February but despite the apparent end to their brief relationship, the two were spotted together multiple times in May

While both ladies are 28 - 20 years Leo's junior - they would still be deemed 'too old' to fit his dating pattern, as it was noted earlier this year that he appears to have a '25 rule' - something that came to light when he was linked to Eden Polani, 19.

As ever, the romance rumours surrounding Leo fizz as much as his acting career with another recent link coming in the form of Gigi Hadid, 28.

Last month, Gigi and Leo were seen arriving at the Chiltern Firehouse in London.

It marked their second night out in a row in the capital, after they went for dinner with Leo's parents at China Tang the night prior.

The pair's romance reportedly fizzled out in February but despite the apparent end to their brief relationship, the two were spotted together multiple times in May and have allegedly been hanging out again recently.
Two members of the crew from Bravo's Below Deck Down Under season 2 were fired, following an allegation of sexual misconduct.

On the show's latest episode, which aired on Monday night, bosun Luke Jones was terminated after climbing into the bed of Margot Sisson, who was naked and asleep, 'without consent.'

Second stew Laura Bileskalne's reaction to the incident also led to her getting let go by Captain Jason Chambers after she insisted to Sisson that Jones wasn't to blame.

She was ultimately fired for showing 'little respect and empathy' toward Sisson as well as crossing boundaries with Adam Kodra.

Jones' inappropriate behavior came after the crew went out in Cairns, Australia.

At dinner, Sisson stated that she was 'really drunk' and chief stew Aesha Scott even told deckhand Culver Bradbury that she was going to keep an eye out for her.

Terminated: Two members of the crew from Bravo's Below Deck Down Under season 2 were fired, following an allegation of sexual misconduct (Luke Jones seen above)

'I just want to chaperone her a bit,' Scott explained.

Despite Sisson's intoxicated state, Jones repeatedly attempted to flirt with her and asked her to 'cuddle' with him as they sat in the back of a car together.

'No, let's go,' she responded, before making it clear that she just wanted 'to go to bed' by herself.

As Scott took her back to her cabin, she assured Sisson that she wouldn't let 'any drunkenness' lead her to get 'taken advantage of.'

'I'd just like to see you get into bed safely. I'll get you water,' she told Sisson.

Later, Jones proceeded to enter Sisson's room in just his boxers as he asked her to join in the hot tub.

'I just saw the way that Luke was looking at you, and I'm feeling very protective,' Scott told Sisson.

Sisson replied: 'I am glad that you're here. I don't want to go in the jacuzzi, I want to go bed. All I want is water and bed, no Luke.'

Fired: Second stew Laura Bileskalne (seen above)'s reaction to the incident also led to her getting let go by Captain Jason Chambers after she insisted to Sisson that Jones wasn't to blame

Upon returning from the jacuzzi, Jones made a beeline for Sisson's cabin, where she was alone and sleeping.

After he got into her bed, producers stepped in and told Jones to leave her alone.

'Can you f**k off for a second?' he told the cameramen.

'We can't do that, she said no, she said no,' the producers told him.

Once Scott returned to the cabin, she tells her friend that Luke had been in her cabin and ran out 'naked.'

Scary: On the show's latest episode, which aired on Monday night, bosun Luke Jones was terminated after climbing into the bed of Margot Sisson (pictured above), who was naked and asleep, 'without consent'

'Oh my God. Ew, he was naked?' Sisson responded, to which Scott asked: 'Did you consent to him being in here?'

'No, I was asleep,' said Margot. 'I did not invite that at all.'

Scott then informed Captain Jason, who wanted to know if Sisson was 'safe.'

'So she's safe? She's safe yeah?' said Captain Jason.

'She's safe,' said Aesha.
Elsa Hosk uploaded a series of beautiful images on her Instagram account on Monday.

The former Victoria's Secret Angel, 34, posted seven images and a video of herself and her partner, British businessman Tom Daly, sailing on a yacht while in Ibiza, Spain.

'Ibiza has the most beautiful sunset ,' Hosk wrote in the caption of her Instagram post.

Throughout the post, the Swedish model showed off her incredible figure in an all-black outfit comprised of a black 'Marnie Top' crop top from the New Zealand fashion label Paris Georgia, a black cotton mini skirt from ALAIA, and a pair of black 'Ballerina Strap Flats' from ALAIA.

Hosk completed her look with a black wrapped, choker necklace with a black cross pendant by Silpada Jewelry and a yellow colored 'Kelly Mini Bag' from Hermes.

Yachting in Ibiza: On Monday, model Elsa Hosk (right), posted seven images and a video of herself and her partner, British businessman Tom Daly (left), sailing on a yacht and enjoying the sunset while in Ibiza, Spain

Sunset: All of the content from the Swedish model's post showed off the beautiful sunset as she and Daly sailed on a yacht in Ibiza

All-Black Outfit: Hosk showed off her incredible figure in an all-black outfit comprised of a black 'Marnie Top' crop top from the New Zealand fashion label Paris Georgia, a black cotton mini skirt from ALAIA, and a pair of black 'Ballerina Strap Flats' from ALAIA

The 34-year-old had her short blonde hair slightly styled.

The first piece of content from Hosk's Instagram post was a close-up shot of the model, who looked straight into the camera with a closed-mouth smile as she rested an elbow against a white shaded area. The beautiful yellow sunset could be in seen in the background of the first image.

The second image was taken from afar as it showed the model descending down a set of stairs while outside on the deck of the yacht, displaying Hosk's incredible legs.

Up next was a photo that showed Hosk sitting outside on the front deck area of the yacht, looking away from the camera as the sunset shined on her.

The fourth image was taken from afar, featuring the Swedish model standing on the deck and gripping her mini Hermes purse with both of her hands as the sun set behind her face.

Meanwhile, the fifth picture showed Hosk posing outside and holding onto the boat's silver railings with both hands as she looked away from the camera. Just like with the third image, the red glare from the sunset shined on her as well in this picture.

Up next was an image of Hosk leaning on Daly, who wrapped his arms around her. The British business man donned a striped long sleeve collar shirt, a pair of white shorts, and a pair of black sandals.

The next image was of the Swedish model standing on a step of the stairs looking down with the beautiful yellow, orange sunset behind her.

The last piece of content from her post showed her posing and walking back and flaunting another model pose to the camera while on the side deck of the boat.

Sunset Glare: Hosk included two images in her Instagram post where the red glare from the sunset shined on her

Lunch outing: Hosk's August 7 Instagram post comes just a few days after she and Daly were spotted on the beach after having lunch at the Casa Jondal restaurant in Ibiza on Friday

Hosk's August 7 Instagram post comes just a few days after she and Daly were spotted on the beach after having lunch at the Casa Jondal restaurant in Ibiza on Friday.

For the August 4 outing, Hosk showed off her slim figure in a tiny floral print bikini top and a pair of Daisy Duke denim shorts. She was seen carrying a pair of sandals and also wore a pair of sunglasses.

As for Daly, he wore a white t-shirt and a pair of orange shorts with a black stripe down the side. He tucked his shirt into his shorts.

He completed his look with a pair of sunglasses and a pair of flip flops.

Hosk and Daly have been together since 2015 and their daughter Tuulikki Daly, was born in February 2021
MBABANE  The Deputy Prime Ministers Office has instituted an investigation following the participation of children in a celebration by proscribed entity, the Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO), and wants the law to take its course.

SWAYOCO is a youth league of the Peoples United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO). In a press conference held at his offices, the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), Themba Nhlanganiso Masuku, called for the political formation to make a public apology. Masuku stated that his office, particularly, was appalled at the use of children as messengers and participants by certain political formations to perpetuate their personal agenda as reported by the Times of Eswatini SUNDAY, dated August 6, 2023, on page eight. He mentioned that more troubling was the absurd justification of the leadership of the particular political formation; the abuse of children and extreme violation of their rights at this rally.

Of note is that the President of SWAYOCO, Sakhile Awuviva Nxumalo, when questioned by our sister publication on the childrens participation, said they groomed young people to end up being their members. Nxumalo said they specifically groomed children starting from the age of 14 years as they believed that they would shape and guide them in their thinking. According to the DPM, the act of the political formation was also, among other reasons, why the delivery of petitions in May/June 2021 was banned.

Violence

During these petition deliveries, Masuku stated that children were used to carry placards, starting violence in schools and in the process neglecting their education, which was not only their fundamental right but also an important foundation for their bright future. The use of children in such activities is seen as contrary to the fundamental principles and right of the Best Interest of the Child which is stipulated by the United Nations Convention on the Right of the Child and the CPWA 2012.

Grave

Masuku said his office was disheartened to see grave violations of childrens rights, as stipulated by the countrys Constitution (2005) and the Childrens Protection and Welfare Act (CPWA) (2012) and other international treaties, which the country had ratified. He said just last month, the country was visited by a delegation from the African Union (AU) to assess the implementation of the Childrens Charter. It is disturbing that few days after the AUs Committee on childrens rights visit, we are witnessing such violations of childrens rights, when the committee was actually impressed by the countrys progress, he said. Masuku said children should be allowed to enjoy their childhood without being drawn into matters which were above their scope of understanding, analysis and age.

The DPM further mentioned that children must be protected by all and not put in harms way, where they could be hurt through stampedes and foul language by irresponsible participants.

He added that the school curriculum was designed in such a way that children would grow cognitively and later have the ability to synthesis, abstract concepts and activities which characterised political and other life agendas. Meanwhile, he said the countrys Constitution (2005) and the CPWA (2012) obligated parents and duty bearers, such as schools, religious and community leaders, to ensure that children were protected from any practice which may affect their growth and development.

Stipulated

Furthermore, he said the CPWA stipulated that parents had a responsibility to protect the child from violence, abuse, exploitation, exposure to physical and moral hazards. Masuku added that parents had a responsibility to provide good guidance and care to ensure the development of the child. He said it was sad to note that they were not seeing this critical responsibility.

In most instances, particularly on abstract issues, Masuku said children only repeated that which they had been told and this may cause serious damage if misleading.

Opinion

He said while the CPWA 2012 (12) gave children the right to opinion, however, it was also important to consider the age of the child and the manner in which the minor was engaged in order to protect the childs psychological development. He said: According to the Constitution 2005 (29) and the CPWA 2012 (20:a,b, c and d), they have responsibilities which include respecting elders, preserving national unity, and upholding positive values of the community. Masuku reminded all emaSwati that every child had the right to grow up in a safe environment, with access to education and all opportunities to secure the future. He said all those responsible for the violation and abuse against children must understand that they were destroying the future of these children and the country.

Bite

The culture of violence, disobedience and arrogance that these interest groups are instilling to these pre-adolescents learners will come back to bite our society, he added. He appealed to all emaSwati, including civil society organisations, faith-based organisations and parents, to speak in one voice and strongly condemn the recruitment and use of children by those with selfish intentions. Masuku said it was the fundamental duty of society to do everything in their power to protect children, who were the future, from any chaos that had nothing to do with nurturing them.
Vanderpump Rules veteran Stassi Schroeder celebrated her baby shower on Monday evening.

The 35-year-old pregnant star was wearing all white as she held onto gifts while exiting celebrity hot spot Olivetta in West Hollywood.

And she had some of her costars from her old show Vanderpump Rules with her. Also seen leaving the venue were Lala Kent and Katie Maloney.

The ladies even posed outside the venue as they showed off their matching party looks.

Stassi also took to Instagram to give her followers a look at the fabulous fete. 'A little baby sprinkle. Basically an excuse to have a fancy dinner with my friends,' she shared.

This will be Stassi's second child with husband of three years, Beau Clark.

Baby shower: Stassi Shroeder, who used to star on Vanderpump Rules, was seen exiting her baby shower in West Hollywood on Monday

Guest of Honor: She is expecting her second child with her husband Beau Clark

Kent, 32, showed off her slender figure in a white, long sleeve bodysuit and a black mini skirt. She completed her look with a pair of black shoes and a white mini purse.

Lala, who shares a two-year-old daughter with ex-fiance Randall Emmett, had her hair up in a bun.

As for Maloney, 36, she donned a white top, a cropped black jacket that featured shiny silver buttons, and a black mini skirt.

Maloney completed her outfit with a pair of black studded ballet flat that had two buckled straps, a white purse, a set of hopped earrings, and a silver pendant necklace.

Meanwhile, the guest of honor Schroeder showed off her growing baby bump in a floor-length white dress and a matching long white coat.

The soon-to-be mother of two completed her look with a pair of gold-colored, wrapped, open-toed sandals, her wedding ring, a gold bracelet, and a gold watch.

The looker wore her highlighted hair, which was slightly styled down as she opted for a minimal makeup look.

Cheers: Here she was seen holding a pink drink as she stood by the dinner table

So many pals: Lala Kent and Katie Maloney could be seen on the left with Stassi center

Her longtime pals: There was a bit of a Vanderpump Rules reunion

Before she went out for her big night: The star took a mirror selfie at home

Back at her home base: And here she was seen with two pals

Vanderpump Rules Cast Night Out: Cast members of the Bravo Reality TV series Vanderpump Rules, including current stars Lala (left) and Katie (right) were spotted departing from Schroeder's baby shower

She was also seen departing Olivetta carrying a few brown bags full of gifts she received from her baby shower.

Olivetta is a restaurant situated along West Hollywood's restaurant row and specializes in Italian, Greek, and Spanish cuisine.

Since it opened in January 2020, Olivetta has become a favorite among celebrities for restaurants to dine at while in Los Angeles.

In addition to the Vanderpump Rules cast, the likes of Sofia Richie and her husband Elliot Grainge, Cher, Rihanna, and Adele, to name a few, are among the well-known names who have been spotted grabbing dinner at Olivetta.

In March Schroeder and her husband Clark announced that they were expecting their second child.

Bumpy babe: She recently shared this photo where she was in a top and undies

Baby Number Two: Schroeder's (left) baby shower comes after she and her husband Beau Clark (right) announced that they were expecting their second child (a boy) this part March. The couple are already parents to a two-year-old daughter named Hartford

Nine days later, the couple who are parents to two-year-old daughter Hartford, revealed they were expecting a baby boy.

Although the pair have not publicly revealed the due date of their son, they did state on their podcast The Good, The Bad, The Baby, that their second child was conceived during a trip to Las Vegas in December 2022, which would put the little one's arrival sometime in September or October.

Schroeder was part of Vanderpump Rules's main cast for the show's first eight seasons until she and fellow co-star Kristen Doute (who was also part of the show's main cast for its first eight seasons) were fired on June 9, 2020, after they reported former co-star Faith Stowers to the police for a crime that she did not commit.

Schroeder's baby shower also comes a month after she and Clark rushed their two-year-old daughter to the emergency room due to 'breathing issues'.

Once Hartford was released from the hospital, Schroeder shared an update of her daughter's condition on her Instagram stories, where she posted a video of Clark taking care of Hartford, who she called a 'little solider' for handling the entire situation at the hospital, and utilizing a breathing device.
Even in Antarctica - one of the most remote and desolate places on Earth - scientists say they are finding shattered temperature records and an increase in the size and number of wacky weather events.

The southernmost continent is not isolated from the extreme weather associated with human-caused climate change, according to a new paper in Frontiers in Environmental Science that tries to make a coherent picture of a place that has been a climate change oddball. Its western end and especially its peninsula have seen dramatic ice sheet melt that threatens massive sea level rises over the next few centuries, while the eastern side has at times gained ice. One western glacier is melting so fast that scientists have nicknamed it the Doomsday Glacier and theres an international effort trying to figure out whats happening to it. And Antarctic sea ice veered from record high to shocking amounts far lower than ever seen.

What follows if the trend continues, a likely result if humans fail to curb emissions, will be a cascade of consequences from disappearing coastlines to increased global warming hastened by dramatic losses of a major source of sunlight-reflecting ice. That's something scientists have long been watching and are even more concerned about now.

"A changing Antarctica is bad news for our planet," said Martin Siegert, a glaciologist, professor of geosciences at University of Exeter and lead author on the paper.

Siegert said he and his team wanted to understand more about the causes of extreme events, and whether more of those events would happen as a result of burning fossil fuels, so the team synthesized research on a wide range of topics including atmosphere and weather patterns, sea ice, land ice and ice shelves and marine and land biology. The study found climate change extremes are getting worse in a place that once seemed slightly shielded from global warmings wildness. The continent "is not a static giant frozen in time," they said, but instead feels climate changes wrath and extremes "sporadically and unpredictably."

Anna Hogg, a co-author on the paper and professor at the University of Leeds, said that their work illustrates complex and connected changes between the ice, ocean and air. "Once youve made a big change, it can then be really hard to sort of turn that around," she said.

FILE - Penguins walk on the shore of Bahia Almirantazgo in Antarctica on Jan. 27, 2015. A new study released Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, concludes that Antarctica is already being and will continue to be affected by more frequent and severe extreme weather events, a known byproduct of human-caused climate change. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File)

And it's a change with links to human activity. "This is indeed a strong signature of climate change," Helen Fricker, a professor of geophysics with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego who was not involved with the study, said in an email. "Its not good."

Siegert and Hogg's team looked at several factors including heat waves, loss of sea ice, collapse of ice shelves and impacts on biodiversity. Siegert described last year's heat wave in Antarctica, which brought research station thermometers to a whopping 38 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit) above normal temperatures. Hogg said that sea ice is at an all time low, a major cause for concern: In the Antarctic, the July average for sea ice extent fell below previous low set in 2022. And ice shelves, which can be the size of several large buildings, are also under threat as they melt and eventually collapse.

Sea ice and ice shelves work like a cork in a bottle, holding back glaciers that would otherwise rush into the ocean. When they disappear, glaciers flow many times faster. What's more, the disappearance of large swaths of ice accelerates warming like swapping a white T-shirt for a black one on a hot summer day - replace ice with land or water, and suddenly the earth is absorbing the sun's rays rather than reflecting them.

The topic of extremes "is with us more frequently and will be with us even more frequently in the future," said Peter Schlosser, vice president and vice provost of the Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University not involved with the research. Systems like Antarctica are extreme by nature, but that doesn't mean they're not vulnerable, he added - they're highly susceptible to small changes.

"I'm not an alarmist, but what we see is alarming," said Waleed Abdalati, an environmental researcher at the University of Colorado not involved with the study. He said that extreme events are one thing, but when superimposed on a trend - a trend of global warming that heightens those extreme events - that's a cause for concern. "We can handle events," he added, "but we can't handle a steady increase of those destructive events."

That's something climate scientists say we'll need to prepare for, by continuing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while introducing adaptation measures for sea level rise and extreme weather around the world.

"We've been saying this for 30 years," said Ted Scambos, an ice scientist at the University of Colorado whose paper from 2000 was cited in Siegert and Hogg's article. "I'm not surprised, I'm disappointed. I wish we were taking action faster."

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Seth Borenstein contributed from Washington, D.C.

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Follow Melina Walling on Twitter @MelinaWalling.

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Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about APs climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

FILE - An iceberg floats in the Bahia Almirantazgo near Livingston Island, part of the South Shetland Island archipelago in Antarctica on Jan. 27, 2015. Antarctica conjures up images of quiet mountains and white plateaus, but the coldest, driest and remotest continent is far from dormant. The majority of it is covered by ice, and that ice is constantly moving. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File)

FILE - Chilean Navy officers transport scientists to Chile's Station Bernardo O'Higgins in Antarctica on Jan. 22, 2015. A new study released Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, concludes that Antarctica is already being and will continue to be affected by more frequent and severe extreme weather events, a known byproduct of human-caused climate change. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File)
Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp purchased a new position in Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. (NYSE:BAM  Free Report) (TSE:BAM.A) in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund purchased 16,211 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $530,000.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of BAM. Signaturefd LLC raised its position in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 288.8% in the 1st quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 762 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 566 shares during the last quarter. CWM LLC raised its position in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 107.9% in the 1st quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,021 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 530 shares during the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. purchased a new position in shares of Brookfield Asset Management in the 1st quarter worth about $35,000. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA raised its position in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 35.5% in the 2nd quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA now owns 1,057 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 277 shares during the last quarter. Finally, RE Dickinson Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Brookfield Asset Management in the 4th quarter worth about $48,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 57.29% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Scotiabank assumed coverage on Brookfield Asset Management in a research report on Thursday, July 13th. They issued an outperform rating for the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered Brookfield Asset Management to an underperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on Brookfield Asset Management in a research report on Tuesday, May 30th. They issued a hold rating for the company. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Brookfield Asset Management in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, TD Securities decreased their target price on Brookfield Asset Management from $48.00 to $47.00 and set an action list buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $39.86.

Brookfield Asset Management Trading Up 0.4 %

Shares of Brookfield Asset Management stock traded up $0.14 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $33.04. 669,600 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,487,572. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $32.53 and a 200 day moving average price of $32.58. Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. has a one year low of $26.76 and a one year high of $36.50.

Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE:BAM  Get Free Report) (TSE:BAM.A) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 10th. The financial services provider reported $0.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.33 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $966.00 million during the quarter. Analysts predict that Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. will post 1.34 EPS for the current year.

Brookfield Asset Management Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 30th. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 31st were paid a dividend of $0.32 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, May 30th. This represents a $1.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.87%.

Brookfield Asset Management Profile

(Free Report)

Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. provides alternative asset management services. Its renewable power and transition business includes the ownership, operation, and development of hydroelectric, wind, solar, and energy transition power generating assets. The company's infrastructure business engages in the ownership, operation, and development of utilities, transport, midstream, data and sustainable resource assets.

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Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp lessened its position in shares of Tekla Life Sciences Investors (NYSE:HQL  Free Report) by 9.1% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 49,322 shares of the companys stock after selling 4,925 shares during the period. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corps holdings in Tekla Life Sciences Investors were worth $687,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of HQL. Raymond James Trust N.A. increased its holdings in shares of Tekla Life Sciences Investors by 6.2% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 12,907 shares of the companys stock worth $180,000 after buying an additional 750 shares during the last quarter. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Tekla Life Sciences Investors by 2.8% in the 3rd quarter. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC now owns 37,158 shares of the companys stock valued at $508,000 after purchasing an additional 1,008 shares in the last quarter. Live Oak Private Wealth LLC boosted its stake in shares of Tekla Life Sciences Investors by 7.7% in the 4th quarter. Live Oak Private Wealth LLC now owns 14,244 shares of the companys stock valued at $202,000 after purchasing an additional 1,021 shares in the last quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC boosted its stake in shares of Tekla Life Sciences Investors by 2.3% in the 4th quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 61,031 shares of the companys stock valued at $867,000 after purchasing an additional 1,354 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Tekla Life Sciences Investors by 4.7% in the 2nd quarter. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. now owns 41,890 shares of the companys stock valued at $596,000 after purchasing an additional 1,865 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 19.70% of the companys stock.

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Tekla Life Sciences Investors Price Performance

Shares of Tekla Life Sciences Investors stock traded down $0.06 during trading on Monday, reaching $13.27. The companys stock had a trading volume of 110,874 shares, compared to its average volume of 82,818. Tekla Life Sciences Investors has a 52-week low of $13.07 and a 52-week high of $16.33. The firms 50-day moving average is $13.53 and its two-hundred day moving average is $13.88.

Tekla Life Sciences Investors Cuts Dividend

About Tekla Life Sciences Investors

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 25th were paid a $0.32 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, May 24th. This represents a $1.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 9.65%.

(Free Report)

Tekla Life Sciences Investors is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Tekla Capital Management LLC. The fund invests in public equity markets across the globe. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating in the life sciences sector, including the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, diagnostics, managed healthcare, medical equipment, hospitals, healthcare information technology and services, devices and supplies industries, and in agriculture and environmental management industries.

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Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores S.A. (NYSE:AVAL  Get Free Report) shares saw unusually-high trading volume on Monday . Approximately 118,353 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 23% from the previous sessions volume of 96,138 shares.The stock last traded at $2.58 and had previously closed at $2.54.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, TheStreet upgraded Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores from a d+ rating to a c- rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 20th.

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Read Our Latest Report on AVAL

Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores Stock Up 4.3 %

The company has a quick ratio of 1.01, a current ratio of 1.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90. The company has a market capitalization of $3.15 billion, a PE ratio of 10.16 and a beta of 1.22. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $2.42 and a 200 day moving average of $2.39.

Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores (NYSE:AVAL  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, May 17th. The bank reported $0.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.09 by ($0.01). Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores had a return on equity of 6.99% and a net margin of 4.63%. The firm had revenue of $662.21 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $826.54 million. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores S.A. will post 0.31 EPS for the current year.

Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 12th. Investors of record on Monday, July 3rd were paid a dividend of $0.0145 per share. This represents a yield of 7.48%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 30th. Grupo Aval Acciones y Valoress dividend payout ratio is 68.00%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Financial Partners Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores during the 4th quarter valued at about $61,000. Malaga Cove Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores during the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. HBK Sorce Advisory LLC grew its holdings in shares of Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores by 100.0% during the 4th quarter. HBK Sorce Advisory LLC now owns 30,000 shares of the banks stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 15,000 shares during the period. Cidel Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores during the 4th quarter worth approximately $108,000. Finally, Signaturefd LLC grew its holdings in shares of Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores by 34.9% during the 4th quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 16,616 shares of the banks stock worth $42,000 after acquiring an additional 4,303 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 0.25% of the companys stock.

About Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores

(Get Free Report)

Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores SA provides a range of financial services and products to public and private sector customers in Colombia and Central America. It offers traditional deposit services and products, including checking accounts, savings accounts, time deposits, and other deposits. The company also provides commercial loans comprising general purpose loans, working capital loans, leases, loans funded by development banks, corporate credit cards, and overdraft loans; consumer loans, such as payroll loans, personal loans, automobile and other vehicle loans, credit cards, overdrafts, leases, and general purpose loans; and microcredit and mortgage loans.

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Spirit Realty Capital (NYSE:SRC  Get Free Report) issued an update on its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Monday morning. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of $3.56-$3.62 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.65. The company issued revenue guidance of -. Spirit Realty Capital also updated its FY23 guidance to $3.56-3.62 EPS.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Truist Financial lowered their target price on shares of Spirit Realty Capital from $50.00 to $46.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 15th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price target on shares of Spirit Realty Capital from $48.00 to $45.50 in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Spirit Realty Capital in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Finally, BNP Paribas assumed coverage on shares of Spirit Realty Capital in a report on Wednesday, June 14th. They set an underperform rating and a $42.00 price objective for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and two have given 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 $43.06.

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Spirit Realty Capital Price Performance

Insider Transactions at Spirit Realty Capital

SRC stock traded up $0.29 during trading on Monday, hitting $39.82. 529,534 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 749,164. Spirit Realty Capital has a one year low of $34.31 and a one year high of $44.93. The stock has a market cap of $5.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.46, a P/E/G ratio of 6.02 and a beta of 1.24. The company has a current ratio of 0.31, a quick ratio of 0.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $39.92 and a 200 day simple moving average of $40.08.

In other news, Director Michelle M. Frymire sold 4,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $39.75, for a total value of $159,000.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 10,009 shares of the companys stock, valued at $397,857.75. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.54% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Spirit Realty Capital

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of SRC. Raymond James & Associates grew its stake in shares of Spirit Realty Capital by 12.4% in the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 8,081 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $372,000 after acquiring an additional 893 shares in the last quarter. US Bancorp DE grew its stake in shares of Spirit Realty Capital by 22.8% in the first quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 11,549 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $530,000 after acquiring an additional 2,143 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. grew its stake in Spirit Realty Capital by 6.8% during the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 19,492 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $897,000 after buying an additional 1,234 shares in the last quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund acquired a new stake in Spirit Realty Capital during the first quarter worth about $1,002,000. Finally, Rhumbline Advisers grew its stake in Spirit Realty Capital by 0.4% during the first quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 346,622 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $15,952,000 after buying an additional 1,256 shares in the last quarter. 95.68% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Spirit Realty Capital Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Spirit Realty Capital, Inc (NYSE: SRC) is a premier net-lease REIT that primarily invests in single-tenant, operationally essential real estate assets, subject to long-term leases. As of March 31, 2023, our diverse portfolio consisted of 2,083 retail, industrial and other properties across 49 states, which were leased to 347 tenants operating in 37 industries.

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Cumberland Partners Ltd reduced its position in shares of Alamos Gold Inc. (NYSE:AGI  Free Report) (TSE:AGI) by 7.5% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 387,320 shares of the basic materials companys stock after selling 31,550 shares during the period. Cumberland Partners Ltds holdings in Alamos Gold were worth $4,722,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of AGI. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. increased its position in Alamos Gold by 5.1% during the first quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 29,621 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $239,000 after purchasing an additional 1,432 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its position in shares of Alamos Gold by 56.4% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 535,028 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $4,505,000 after acquiring an additional 192,939 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James & Associates increased its position in shares of Alamos Gold by 24.1% during the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 300,000 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $2,526,000 after acquiring an additional 58,298 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Alamos Gold during the first quarter valued at about $101,000. Finally, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of Alamos Gold by 9.7% during the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 61,429 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $517,000 after acquiring an additional 5,434 shares during the last quarter. 63.16% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

AGI has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Laurentian cut shares of Alamos Gold from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, April 27th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Alamos Gold from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, June 3rd. Scotiabank initiated coverage on shares of Alamos Gold in a research report on Monday, April 24th. They set an outperform rating and a $14.50 price target for the company. TD Securities upgraded shares of Alamos Gold from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, July 28th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reissued a sector perform rating and issued a $10.00 price objective on shares of Alamos Gold in a research note on Tuesday. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $15.25.

Alamos Gold Stock Up 0.4 %

Alamos Gold stock traded up $0.05 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $11.67. The stock had a trading volume of 1,023,198 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,074,649. Alamos Gold Inc. has a 52-week low of $6.35 and a 52-week high of $14.12. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $12.15 and a 200 day moving average price of $11.93. The stock has a market cap of $4.62 billion, a PE ratio of 28.27, a P/E/G ratio of 1.35 and a beta of 1.07.

Alamos Gold (NYSE:AGI  Get Free Report) (TSE:AGI) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The basic materials company reported $0.15 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.12 by $0.03. Alamos Gold had a net margin of 16.98% and a return on equity of 6.00%. The company had revenue of $261.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $251.17 million. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.07 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 36.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts predict that Alamos Gold Inc. will post 0.43 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Alamos Gold Announces 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 $0.025 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a $0.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.86%. Alamos Golds payout ratio is currently 24.39%.

Alamos Gold Company Profile

(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.

Further Reading

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Americana Partners LLC lifted its position in Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS  Free Report) by 0.7% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 14,826 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the period. Americana Partners LLCs holdings in Novartis were worth $1,364,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of NVS. BlackRock Inc. raised its position in Novartis by 18.3% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 1,556,539 shares of the companys stock worth $136,587,000 after acquiring an additional 240,710 shares during the period. Dakota Wealth Management lifted its holdings in Novartis by 3.9% in the 1st quarter. Dakota Wealth Management now owns 4,869 shares of the companys stock valued at $427,000 after purchasing an additional 185 shares in the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Novartis by 42.4% during the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 10,996 shares of the companys stock worth $965,000 after buying an additional 3,272 shares in the last quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Novartis by 4.5% in the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 95,477 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,379,000 after buying an additional 4,122 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Zions Bancorporation N.A. lifted its stake in shares of Novartis by 22.8% in the first quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 3,528 shares of the companys stock worth $309,000 after buying an additional 655 shares in the last quarter. 8.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have commented on NVS. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Novartis from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. HSBC initiated coverage on shares of Novartis in a research report on Friday, July 14th. They set a buy rating on the stock. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Novartis in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a strong-buy rating for the company. Finally, BTIG Research increased their price target on shares of Novartis from $75.00 to $85.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Novartis has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $82.25.

Novartis Trading Up 0.6 %

NYSE:NVS traded up $0.57 on Tuesday, reaching $103.37. 181,945 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,035,088. The firm has a market capitalization of $219.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 0.54. Novartis AG has a 52-week low of $74.09 and a 52-week high of $105.61. The company has a quick ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The business has a fifty day moving average of $100.39 and a 200-day moving average of $95.24.

Novartis (NYSE:NVS  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 19th. The company reported $1.83 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.68 by $0.15. The business had revenue of $13.62 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.32 million. Novartis had a return on equity of 25.12% and a net margin of 14.76%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 6.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.56 earnings per share. As a group, analysts expect that Novartis AG will post 6.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Novartis Profile

(Free Report)

Novartis AG researches, develops, manufactures, and markets healthcare products in Switzerland and internationally. The company operates through two segments: Innovative Medicines and Sandoz. The Innovative Medicines segment offers prescription medicines for patients and physicians. It also provides cardiovascular, ophthalmology, neuroscience, immunology, hematology, and solid tumor products.

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Shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG  Get Free Report) have been given an average rating of Moderate Buy by the ten research firms that are covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, six have given a buy recommendation and one has issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average 12 month price target among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $229.08.

A number of research analysts recently commented on the company. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Piper Sandler upped their target price on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $215.00 to $220.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Evercore ISI upped their target price on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $231.00 to $233.00 in a research note on Friday, June 16th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $233.00 to $237.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, July 28th. Finally, VNET Group reiterated a maintains rating on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in a research report on Tuesday, May 23rd.

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Read Our Latest Analysis on AJG

Insider Activity at Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

In related news, Director David S. Johnson sold 1,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $216.40, for a total value of $216,400.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 46,538 shares in the company, valued at $10,070,823.20. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink . In other Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. news, CAO Richard C. Cary sold 3,204 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $217.62, for a total transaction of $697,254.48. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 37,285 shares in the company, valued at $8,113,961.70. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link . Also, Director David S. Johnson sold 1,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $216.40, for a total value of $216,400.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 46,538 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,070,823.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold a total of 6,954 shares of company stock worth $1,475,287 over the last 90 days. Insiders own 1.40% of the companys stock.

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 1.6% during the 2nd quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp now owns 44,477 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $9,766,000 after purchasing an additional 702 shares in the last quarter. Modera Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. during the 2nd quarter valued at about $240,000. TrinityPoint Wealth LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 18.7% during the 2nd quarter. TrinityPoint Wealth LLC now owns 4,174 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $917,000 after purchasing an additional 657 shares in the last quarter. WBI Investments Inc. bought a new position in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. during the 2nd quarter valued at about $1,800,000. Finally, Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc lifted its holdings in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 4.9% during the 2nd quarter. Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc now owns 1,519 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $334,000 after purchasing an additional 71 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 85.55% of the companys stock.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Stock Up 1.5 %

Shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. stock opened at $224.06 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $48.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 43.70, a PEG ratio of 2.04 and a beta of 0.70. The company has a quick ratio of 1.06, a current ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $213.11 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $202.68. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has a 12-month low of $167.93 and a 12-month high of $226.30.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The financial services provider reported $1.90 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.86 by $0.04. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. had a return on equity of 18.65% and a net margin of 12.11%. The company had revenue of $2.44 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.36 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.70 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 19.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts expect that Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. will post 8.74 earnings per share for the current year.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 15th. Investors of record on Friday, September 1st will be issued a $0.55 dividend. This represents a $2.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.98%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 31st. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.s dividend payout ratio is 42.88%.

About Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

(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.

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Brookdale Senior Living Inc. (NYSE:BKD  Get Free Report)s stock price rose 13.2% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $4.29 and last traded at $4.29. Approximately 499,118 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 75% from the average daily volume of 1,980,190 shares. The stock had previously closed at $3.79.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, StockNews.com began coverage on Brookdale Senior Living in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company.

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Brookdale Senior Living Stock Performance

The stock has a market cap of $826.24 million, a PE ratio of -4.72 and a beta of 1.31. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $3.87 and a 200 day moving average price of $3.50. The company has a quick ratio of 0.94, a current ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 7.38.

Brookdale Senior Living (NYSE:BKD  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 8th. The company reported ($0.20) EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.22) by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $753.26 million for the quarter. Brookdale Senior Living had a negative return on equity of 34.26% and a negative net margin of 6.31%. Analysts expect that Brookdale Senior Living Inc. will post -0.78 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of BKD. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its holdings in Brookdale Senior Living by 17.9% during the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 145,228 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,024,000 after purchasing an additional 22,056 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its holdings in shares of Brookdale Senior Living by 1.7% during the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 842,347 shares of the companys stock worth $5,940,000 after acquiring an additional 14,393 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Brookdale Senior Living by 6.2% during the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 88,498 shares of the companys stock worth $624,000 after acquiring an additional 5,203 shares during the period. MetLife Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Brookdale Senior Living by 70.6% during the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 101,140 shares of the companys stock worth $713,000 after acquiring an additional 41,847 shares during the period. Finally, BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Brookdale Senior Living by 25.7% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 30,796,560 shares of the companys stock worth $217,115,000 after acquiring an additional 6,299,168 shares during the period.

About Brookdale Senior Living

(Get Free Report)

Brookdale Senior Living Inc owns, manages, and operates senior living communities in the United States. It operates in three segments: Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care, and Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs). The Independent Living segment owns or leases communities comprising independent and assisted living units in a single community that are primarily designed for middle to upper income seniors.

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MBABANE  A total 27 Member of Parliament (MP) and indvuna yenkhundla aspirants are out of the elections race.

Following the nomination of aspiring candidates for the position of MP, indvuna yenkhundla and bucopho, the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) engaged in a vetting process which sought to establish the status of their compliance with the tax laws of the country, among other issues. The vetting also sought to establish whether the nominees had pending criminal records, or were convicted and sentenced to more than six months imprisonment. Section 13 (1) (c) of the Elections Act also provides that a person shall spend five years (60 months) after completing his/her sentence, if convicted of offences falling under the fourth and fifth schedule.

Concluded

EBC Communication Officer Mbonisi Bhembe shared that they had concluded the vetting exercise and 27 aspiring MPs and tindvuna tetinkhundla did not make the list, as they did not tick all the boxes against the different variations they were checked on in the vetting process. This means that the aspirants were not declared duly nominated, as depicted in Section 31 of the Elections Act. Declaration of candidate duly nominated for election, as stipulated in the section, is when the presiding officer delivers to the returning officer a (a) nomination paper; (b) declaration on oath; (c) police clearance certificate, (d) proof of payment of tax or arrangement thereof, and(e) subject to Subsection (6), consent letter from employer, in the case of a public officer. The returning officer shall, after examining the documents and finding them satisfactory, declare the candidate duly nominated, unless proof is given to the satisfaction of the returning officer of the candidates death, withdrawal or disqualification, reads the Act.

The analysis of the commission on nominated persons across the country showed that out of the 5 700 nominees, 1 350 were nominated to contest for 59 MP posts, as per the number of tinkhundla centres. The report also shows that out of the 5 700, 1 420 nominees who were nominated for the position of indvuna yenkhundla will also be competing for 59 posts. It also points out that 2 950 candidates nominated for the position of bucopho will be contesting for about 330 posts, as per the royal kraals (imiphakatsi) in the country. However, Bhembe explained that for now, they prioritised the two positions and were yet to conclude on the bucopho position. This means that out of the 2 770 who were nominated for MP and indvuna yenkhundla, 2 743 made the list and would be competing for the 59 available posts in each position.

The commission did not have immediate information on how many of the 27 nominated persons were under the MP or indvuna yenkhundla position, nor how many were out of the race because of tax, fingerprints or inadequacy in supporting their nomination. We are currently working on the logistics of mounting the pictures and the names of the nominated persons at each of the nominating centres and we have already done so in some of the areas, said Bhembe. He said a good percentage of the persons who did not make the list had tax issues, while others had challenges getting support of 10 people after their nomination; hence it could not stand. Section 31 (34) of the Elections Act, 2013 depicts that the nomination of candidates for the respective elections shall be endorsed with the consent of the candidate for nomination and supported by at least 10 registered voters. Bhembe also clarified that there would be no activity regarding the bucopho position in the primary elections, slated for August 26, 2023, as they would be elected in the secondary elections.

On another note, Bhembe warned the nominees against campaigning before the allotted time. He also warned the electorate against tempting the aspiring candidates. Directing to those who accused others of campaigning, Bhembe advised them to collect evidence that could assist the court. He said a tribunal had been set up to deal with elections-related cases. Worth mentioning is that this publication ran an article on some residents of Enyonyane community in Ezulwini, who were left dejected after police officers allegedly forced them to abort their meeting, which had been convened by a nominee for the MP position.

The officers later left with the nominee and his campaign manager (galajane) and the purpose of the meeting could not be immediately ascertained but there were talks that it had to do with the ongoing general elections. In what would sound as good news to those with nicknames, Bhembe previously mentioned that the commission had considered including the nicknames in the posters. This, Bhembe said, was because the candidates were known by their nicknames to the electorate.
Cannell & Co. trimmed its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Free Report) by 0.8% during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 329,739 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after selling 2,677 shares during the quarter. Abbott Laboratories makes up 1.2% of Cannell & Co.s holdings, making the stock its 24th biggest holding. Cannell & Co.s holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $33,389,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. MCF Advisors LLC raised its position 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 last quarter. Investment Advisory Services Inc. TX ADV raised its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 0.4% during the 1st quarter. Investment Advisory Services Inc. TX ADV now owns 22,785 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $2,307,000 after purchasing an additional 93 shares during the last quarter. Patriot Investment Management Group Inc. raised its position 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 purchasing an additional 96 shares during the last quarter. Delta Financial Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 1.5% during the 1st quarter. Delta Financial Group Inc. now owns 6,475 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $656,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Capital City Trust Co. FL raised its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 2.1% during the 1st quarter. Capital City Trust Co. FL now owns 4,638 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $470,000 after purchasing an additional 97 shares during the last quarter. 73.08% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Abbott Laboratories Stock Down 3.7 %

Shares of Abbott Laboratories stock traded down $4.02 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $104.43. The company had a trading volume of 3,606,466 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,026,044. The company has a market cap of $181.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.81 and a beta of 0.67. The firms fifty day moving average is $107.01 and its 200-day moving average is $106.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a quick ratio of 1.16 and a current ratio of 1.64. Abbott Laboratories has a fifty-two week low of $93.25 and a fifty-two week high of $115.83.

Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement

Abbott Laboratories ( NYSE:ABT Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 20th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.08 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.05 by $0.03. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 12.83% and a return on equity of 20.50%. The business had revenue of $9.98 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.71 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.43 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 11.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts anticipate that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.4 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 14th will be given a $0.51 dividend. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.95%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 13th. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 69.62%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

ABT has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $118.00 to $122.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Morgan Stanley reissued an equal weight rating and set a $112.00 price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research note on Friday, July 21st. Sanford C. Bernstein boosted their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $132.00 to $133.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $127.00 to $132.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, July 24th. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $120.82.

View Our Latest Stock Report on ABT

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Daniel J. Starks sold 50,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $113.76, for a total value of $5,688,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 6,775,316 shares in the company, valued at $770,759,948.16. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 1.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

About Abbott Laboratories

(Free Report)

Abbott Laboratories, together with its subsidiaries, discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The Established Pharmaceutical Products segment provides generic pharmaceuticals for the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome or biliary spasm, intrahepatic cholestasis or depressive symptoms, gynecological disorder, hormone replacement therapy, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hypothyroidism, Meniere's disease and vestibular vertigo, pain, fever, inflammation, and migraine, as well as provides anti-infective clarithromycin, influenza vaccine, and products to regulate physiological rhythm of the colon.

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Metis Global Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG  Free Report) by 35.0% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,096 shares of the restaurant operators stock after purchasing an additional 284 shares during the quarter. Metis Global Partners LLCs holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill were worth $1,872,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Versant Capital Management Inc bought a new stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill during the 1st quarter worth $26,000. Benjamin Edwards Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 90.0% during the first quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. now owns 19 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 9 shares during the last quarter. Elequin Securities LLC acquired a new position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. Heritage Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 100.0% in the 4th quarter. Heritage Wealth Management LLC now owns 20 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 10 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Core Alternative Capital raised its holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 56.3% during the 1st quarter. Core Alternative Capital now owns 25 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $43,000 after buying an additional 9 shares during the period. 91.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Robin S. Hickenlooper sold 105 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $2,073.08, for a total value of $217,673.40. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 853 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,768,337.24. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, Director Robin S. Hickenlooper sold 105 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $2,073.08, for a total value of $217,673.40. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 853 shares in the company, valued at $1,768,337.24. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 1,063 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,949.84, for a total value of $2,072,679.92. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 23,347 shares in the company, valued at $45,522,914.48. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 3,332 shares of company stock valued at $6,830,885 in the last three months. Company insiders own 0.96% of the companys stock.

Chipotle Mexican Grill Trading Down 0.0 %

NYSE:CMG opened at $1,890.01 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $52.15 billion, a PE ratio of 47.20, a PEG ratio of 1.63 and a beta of 1.31. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. has a 1 year low of $1,344.05 and a 1 year high of $2,175.01. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $2,055.38 and its 200 day simple moving average is $1,849.71.

Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The restaurant operator reported $12.65 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $12.25 by $0.40. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a return on equity of 45.85% and a net margin of 12.00%. The company had revenue of $2.51 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.53 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $9.30 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 13.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts anticipate that Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. will post 43.12 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,050.00 to $2,250.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. BTIG Research boosted their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,825.00 to $2,175.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their target price on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,300.00 to $2,250.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 27th. StockNews.com downgraded Chipotle Mexican Grill from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, July 27th. Finally, Piper Sandler reduced their price objective on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,075.00 to $1,981.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 27th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $2,139.72.

Get Our Latest Research Report on Chipotle Mexican Grill

About Chipotle Mexican Grill

(Free Report)

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc engages in the development and operation of classically-cooked, real food with wholesome ingredients without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. It offers a focused menu of burritos, tacos, burrito bowls, and salads prepared using classic cooking methods. The company was founded by Steve Ells in 1993 and is headquartered in Newport Beach, CA.

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Edwards Lifesciences Co. (NYSE:EW  Get Free Report) has been given a consensus rating of Hold by the eighteen research firms that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $92.68.

Several research firms have recently commented on EW. Mizuho lifted their price target on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $95.00 to $102.00 in a report on Monday, July 17th. Robert W. Baird began coverage on Edwards Lifesciences in a research note on Tuesday, July 18th. They issued an outperform rating and a $107.00 target price for the company. Barclays increased their price target on Edwards Lifesciences from $94.00 to $102.00 in a research report on Friday, April 28th. Truist Financial boosted their price objective on Edwards Lifesciences from $101.00 to $105.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 19th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on Edwards Lifesciences from $78.00 to $90.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 27th.

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Edwards Lifesciences Stock Up 0.4 %

Shares of Edwards Lifesciences stock opened at $79.84 on Thursday. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $88.51 and a 200 day moving average price of $84.34. Edwards Lifesciences has a fifty-two week low of $67.13 and a fifty-two week high of $107.18. The firm has a market cap of $48.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.33, a P/E/G ratio of 4.29 and a beta of 1.02. The company has a quick ratio of 2.30, a current ratio of 3.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09.

Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE:EW  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The medical research company reported $0.66 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.65 by $0.01. Edwards Lifesciences had a return on equity of 25.43% and a net margin of 24.56%. The business had revenue of $1.53 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.51 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.63 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 11.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Edwards Lifesciences will post 2.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CFO Scott B. Ullem sold 7,255 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $93.27, for a total transaction of $676,673.85. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 19,248 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,795,260.96. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, CFO Scott B. Ullem sold 7,255 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, June 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $93.27, for a total transaction of $676,673.85. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 19,248 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,795,260.96. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Michael A. Mussallem sold 29,350 shares of Edwards Lifesciences stock in a transaction on Monday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $79.87, for a total value of $2,344,184.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 54,252 shares in the company, valued at $4,333,107.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 240,376 shares of company stock valued at $21,013,369 over the last three months. Company insiders own 1.29% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Edwards Lifesciences

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Castleview Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Edwards Lifesciences in the 1st quarter worth about $25,000. Altshuler Shaham Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Edwards Lifesciences during the second quarter worth approximately $31,000. Core Alternative Capital grew its position in Edwards Lifesciences by 96.1% during the first quarter. Core Alternative Capital now owns 353 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 173 shares in the last quarter. Northwest Capital Management Inc acquired a new position in Edwards Lifesciences in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Finally, Jones Financial Companies Lllp purchased a new stake in Edwards Lifesciences in the 1st quarter worth approximately $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.78% of the companys stock.

About Edwards Lifesciences

(Get Free Report

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation provides products and technologies for structural heart disease, and critical care and surgical monitoring in the United States, Europe, Japan, and internationally. It offers transcatheter heart valve replacement products for the minimally invasive replacement of heart valves; and transcatheter heart valve repair and replacement products to treat mitral and tricuspid valve diseases.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of FedEx (NYSE:FDX  Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note issued to investors on Friday morning.

Several other research analysts also recently commented on FDX. Argus boosted their target price on FedEx from $240.00 to $260.00 in a report on Monday, June 26th. Bank of America cut their price target on FedEx from $295.00 to $290.00 in a research note on Wednesday, June 21st. Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on FedEx from $250.00 to $275.00 in a report on Thursday, April 6th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their target price on FedEx from $259.00 to $288.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 26th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on FedEx from $180.00 to $186.00 in a research note on Wednesday, June 21st. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $246.14.

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FedEx Stock Up 0.5 %

FDX stock opened at $264.41 on Friday. FedEx has a 52-week low of $141.92 and a 52-week high of $270.95. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $244.79 and its 200-day simple moving average is $226.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78, a current ratio of 1.37 and a quick ratio of 1.33. The firm has a market capitalization of $66.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.02, a P/E/G ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 1.35.

FedEx (NYSE:FDX  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, June 20th. The shipping service provider reported $4.94 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.85 by $0.09. FedEx had a net margin of 4.41% and a return on equity of 15.32%. The firm had revenue of $21.93 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $22.55 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $6.87 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that FedEx will post 17.3 EPS for the current year.

Insider Transactions at FedEx

In related news, EVP Michael C. Lenz sold 5,745 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $261.88, for a total value of $1,504,500.60. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 22,478 shares in the company, valued at $5,886,538.64. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other news, EVP Michael C. Lenz sold 5,745 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $261.88, for a total transaction of $1,504,500.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 22,478 shares in the company, valued at $5,886,538.64. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Robert B. Carter sold 19,270 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $246.00, for a total value of $4,740,420.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 58,875 shares of the companys stock, valued at $14,483,250. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 35,816 shares of company stock worth $8,822,147 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 8.62% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On FedEx

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Cascade Investment Advisors Inc. lifted its position in FedEx by 0.6% in the 2nd quarter. Cascade Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 6,904 shares of the shipping service providers stock valued at $1,712,000 after acquiring an additional 40 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Wealth Management boosted its holdings in FedEx by 2.9% in the 2nd quarter. Massachusetts Wealth Management now owns 1,405 shares of the shipping service providers stock worth $348,000 after buying an additional 40 shares during the period. Zullo Investment Group Inc. boosted its holdings in FedEx by 0.8% in the 2nd quarter. Zullo Investment Group Inc. now owns 5,497 shares of the shipping service providers stock worth $1,363,000 after buying an additional 41 shares during the period. Allworth Financial LP boosted its holdings in FedEx by 0.9% in the 1st quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 5,236 shares of the shipping service providers stock worth $1,196,000 after buying an additional 45 shares during the period. Finally, Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in FedEx by 1.1% in the 1st quarter. Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc. now owns 4,098 shares of the shipping service providers stock worth $936,000 after buying an additional 46 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 73.39% of the companys stock.

FedEx Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

FedEx Corporation provides transportation, e-commerce, and business services in the United States and internationally. It operates through FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight, and FedEx Services segments. The FedEx Express segment offers express transportation, small-package ground delivery, and freight transportation services; and time-critical transportation services.

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Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE:HPE  Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $17.99 and last traded at $17.97, with a volume of 11028434 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $17.55.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have recently commented on HPE. Bank of America boosted their price objective on shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $17.00 to $18.00 in a research report on Wednesday, June 21st. Citigroup initiated coverage on shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise in a report on Thursday, June 29th. They set a neutral rating and a $18.00 target price on the stock. Barclays dropped their target price on shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $18.00 to $16.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 31st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price target on shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $16.00 to $15.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 31st. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 1st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $16.73.

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Hewlett Packard Enterprise Stock Up 2.5 %

The company has a quick ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41. The company has a market cap of $23.22 billion, a PE ratio of 22.08, a PEG ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 1.26. The companys fifty day moving average is $16.68 and its 200-day moving average is $15.73.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE:HPE  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, May 30th. The technology company reported $0.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.49 by $0.03. Hewlett Packard Enterprise had a net margin of 3.46% and a return on equity of 5.05%. The company had revenue of $6.97 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.30 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.19 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 3.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts predict that Hewlett Packard Enterprise will post 1.36 EPS for the current year.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 14th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 15th were paid a dividend of $0.12 per share. This represents a $0.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.67%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, June 14th. Hewlett Packard Enterprises dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 61.54%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, SVP Jeremy Cox sold 9,161 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $17.00, for a total transaction of $155,737.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 615 shares in the company, valued at $10,455. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, SVP Jeremy Cox sold 9,161 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $17.00, for a total transaction of $155,737.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 615 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,455. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Neil B. Macdonald sold 5,668 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $17.00, for a total transaction of $96,356.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 67,744 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,151,648. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 454,635 shares of company stock worth $7,327,919. Corporate insiders own 0.53% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. IFP Advisors Inc grew its stake in Hewlett Packard Enterprise by 16.0% in the second quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 4,241 shares of the technology companys stock worth $66,000 after purchasing an additional 584 shares in the last quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. grew its position in shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise by 9.8% in the 2nd quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 6,636 shares of the technology companys stock worth $111,000 after buying an additional 590 shares during the last quarter. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in Hewlett Packard Enterprise by 7.4% in the second quarter. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC now owns 8,957 shares of the technology companys stock worth $151,000 after purchasing an additional 616 shares during the last quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp boosted its position in shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise by 2.4% in the 4th quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 27,874 shares of the technology companys stock worth $445,000 after purchasing an additional 645 shares in the last quarter. Finally, ETF Managers Group LLC grew its stake in Hewlett Packard Enterprise by 1.5% during the 1st quarter. ETF Managers Group LLC now owns 43,917 shares of the technology companys stock worth $700,000 after buying an additional 655 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.69% of the companys stock.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company Profile

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Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company provides solutions that allow customers to capture, analyze, and act upon data seamlessly in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Japan. It operates in six segments: Compute, HPC & AI, Storage, Intelligent Edge, Financial Services, and Corporate Investments and Other.

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Live Oak Private Wealth LLC decreased its holdings in shares of iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF (BATS:FLOT  Free Report) by 93.4% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,020 shares of the companys stock after selling 56,466 shares during the quarter. Live Oak Private Wealth LLCs holdings in iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF were worth $203,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its holdings in iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF by 122.7% during the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 112,302 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,674,000 after buying an additional 61,884 shares in the last quarter. Roundview Capital LLC boosted its position in iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF by 19.2% during the first quarter. Roundview Capital LLC now owns 121,500 shares of the companys stock worth $6,138,000 after purchasing an additional 19,580 shares during the period. Citigroup Inc. grew its position in shares of iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF by 976.0% in the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 3,228 shares of the companys stock valued at $163,000 after purchasing an additional 2,928 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can increased its position in iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF by 9.0% during the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 118,015 shares of the companys stock worth $5,983,000 after acquiring an additional 9,772 shares during the period. Finally, Cibc World Market Inc. increased its holdings in shares of iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF by 126.2% during the 1st quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 81,715 shares of the companys stock worth $4,128,000 after purchasing an additional 45,589 shares during the period.

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iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF Trading Up 0.1 %

FLOT traded up $0.04 on Tuesday, hitting $50.64. 911,230 shares of the stock traded hands. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $50.68 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $50.54. iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF has a 52 week low of $50.76 and a 52 week high of $51.10.

iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF Dividend Announcement

iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF Company Profile

The firm also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 10th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, July 5th were paid a dividend of $0.2341 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, July 3rd.

(Free Report)

The iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF (FLOT) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund tracks a market value-weighted index of USD-denominated, investment-grade floating rate notes with maturities of 0-5 years. FLOT was launched on Jun 14, 2011 and is managed by BlackRock.

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Shares of Lloyds Banking Group plc (LON:LLOY  Get Free Report) have been given a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy by the nine research firms that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, one has issued a hold recommendation, six have given a buy recommendation and one has assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month target price among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is GBX 66.25 ($0.85).

A number of equities analysts recently commented on LLOY shares. Shore Capital reiterated a buy rating on shares of Lloyds Banking Group in a research note on Wednesday, May 3rd. Berenberg Bank reissued a hold rating and set a GBX 58 ($0.74) target price on shares of Lloyds Banking Group in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a GBX 70 ($0.89) price target on shares of Lloyds Banking Group in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. Barclays reissued an overweight rating and set a GBX 70 ($0.89) price objective on shares of Lloyds Banking Group in a report on Monday, July 3rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut shares of Lloyds Banking Group to an underweight rating and lowered their target price for the company from GBX 56 ($0.72) to GBX 42 ($0.54) in a report on Monday, June 26th.

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Lloyds Banking Group Stock Performance

Lloyds Banking Group Cuts Dividend

LLOY stock opened at GBX 42.45 ($0.54) on Thursday. Lloyds Banking Group has a fifty-two week low of GBX 38.51 ($0.49) and a fifty-two week high of GBX 54.33 ($0.69). The companys 50 day moving average price is GBX 44.46 and its 200 day moving average price is GBX 47.56. The firm has a market capitalization of 27.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 539.63, a PEG ratio of 0.69 and a beta of 1.22.

The firm also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 12th. Investors of record on Thursday, August 3rd will be paid a dividend of GBX 0.92 ($0.01) per share. This represents a yield of 2%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 3rd. Lloyds Banking Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 2,500.00%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Lloyds Banking Group

In other Lloyds Banking Group news, insider William Chalmers bought 151,274 shares of Lloyds Banking Group stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 21st. The stock was acquired at an average cost of GBX 44 ($0.56) per share, with a total value of 66,560.56 ($85,061.42). 0.31% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

About Lloyds Banking Group

(Get Free Report

Lloyds Banking Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides a range of banking and financial services in the United Kingdom. It operates through three segments: Retail; Commercial Banking; and Insurance, Pensions, and Investments. The Retail segment offers a range of financial service products, including current accounts, savings, mortgages, motor finance, unsecured loans, leasing solutions, and credit cards to personal and small business customers.

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Medical Properties Trust (NYSE:MPW  Get Free Report) updated its FY23 earnings guidance on Tuesday. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of $1.53-1.57 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.55. Medical Properties Trust also updated its FY 2023 guidance to $1.53-$1.57 EPS.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on MPW shares. StockNews.com began coverage on Medical Properties Trust in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their target price on Medical Properties Trust from $14.00 to $12.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company started coverage on shares of Medical Properties Trust in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. They issued an equal weight rating and a $9.00 target price on the stock. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Medical Properties Trust has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $13.08.

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Medical Properties Trust Trading Down 13.6 %

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Medical Properties Trust

Shares of Medical Properties Trust stock traded down $1.37 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $8.73. The companys stock had a trading volume of 25,953,381 shares, compared to its average volume of 13,764,769. The stock has a market cap of $5.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.07 and a beta of 0.99. Medical Properties Trust has a 52 week low of $7.10 and a 52 week high of $16.81. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $9.41 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $9.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a current ratio of 2.15 and a quick ratio of 2.15.

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. HighTower Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Medical Properties Trust by 8.2% in the first quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 83,236 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,755,000 after acquiring an additional 6,318 shares during the last quarter. AlphaCrest Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Medical Properties Trust by 147.1% in the 1st quarter. AlphaCrest Capital Management LLC now owns 21,434 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $453,000 after purchasing an additional 12,761 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. increased its position in shares of Medical Properties Trust by 15.4% during the first quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 37,749 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $798,000 after buying an additional 5,046 shares during the period. Cibc World Market Inc. raised its stake in Medical Properties Trust by 11.3% during the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 38,588 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $816,000 after buying an additional 3,922 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sei Investments Co. lifted its holdings in Medical Properties Trust by 43.9% in the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 807,982 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $17,067,000 after buying an additional 246,411 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.26% of the companys stock.

Medical Properties Trust Company Profile

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Medical Properties Trust, Inc is a self-advised real estate investment trust formed in 2003 to acquire and develop net-leased hospital facilities. From its inception in Birmingham, Alabama, the Company has grown to become one of the world's largest owners of hospital real estate with 444 facilities and approximately 45,000 licensed beds in ten countries and across four continents.

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Medical Properties Trust (NYSE:MPW  Get Free Report) updated its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Tuesday. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of $1.53-$1.57 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.55. The company issued revenue guidance of -. Medical Properties Trust also updated its FY23 guidance to $1.53-1.57 EPS.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms recently commented on MPW. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price objective on shares of Medical Properties Trust from $14.00 to $12.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Wells Fargo & Company started coverage on shares of Medical Properties Trust in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. They set an equal weight rating and a $9.00 target price for the company. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Medical Properties Trust in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Medical Properties Trust presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $13.08.

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Medical Properties Trust Stock Down 12.7 %

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Shares of Medical Properties Trust stock traded down $1.28 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $8.82. 14,868,258 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 13,695,293. The company has a market cap of $5.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.07 and a beta of 0.99. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $9.41 and its 200 day simple moving average is $9.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a quick ratio of 2.15 and a current ratio of 2.15. Medical Properties Trust has a 52 week low of $7.10 and a 52 week high of $16.81.

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Arete Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Medical Properties Trust during the 1st quarter valued at about $85,000. Advisory Services Network LLC boosted its position in Medical Properties Trust by 101.8% in the first quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 123,399 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,014,000 after buying an additional 62,236 shares in the last quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. boosted its position in Medical Properties Trust by 25.4% in the first quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. now owns 67,752 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $545,000 after buying an additional 13,709 shares in the last quarter. Anson Capital Inc. acquired a new position in Medical Properties Trust in the first quarter valued at about $283,000. Finally, Colony Group LLC boosted its position in Medical Properties Trust by 64.7% in the first quarter. Colony Group LLC now owns 26,724 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $220,000 after buying an additional 10,502 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 74.26% of the companys stock.

Medical Properties Trust Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Medical Properties Trust, Inc is a self-advised real estate investment trust formed in 2003 to acquire and develop net-leased hospital facilities. From its inception in Birmingham, Alabama, the Company has grown to become one of the world's largest owners of hospital real estate with 444 facilities and approximately 45,000 licensed beds in ten countries and across four continents.

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Private Management Group Inc. trimmed its stake in Molson Coors Beverage (NYSE:TAP  Free Report) by 2.2% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 828,000 shares of the companys stock after selling 18,323 shares during the period. Molson Coors Beverage accounts for about 1.9% of Private Management Group Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 9th biggest holding. Private Management Group Inc. owned about 0.38% of Molson Coors Beverage worth $42,791,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Molson Coors Beverage by 6.1% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 21,329,879 shares of the companys stock worth $1,138,589,000 after purchasing an additional 1,235,013 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its position in Molson Coors Beverage by 1.7% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 8,727,747 shares of the companys stock valued at $465,887,000 after purchasing an additional 143,757 shares during the period. Capital International Investors grew its stake in Molson Coors Beverage by 1.0% in the first quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 4,721,084 shares of the companys stock valued at $252,011,000 after purchasing an additional 49,044 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Molson Coors Beverage by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 3,820,518 shares of the companys stock worth $196,475,000 after buying an additional 12,889 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in shares of Molson Coors Beverage by 10.8% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 3,216,836 shares of the companys stock valued at $171,722,000 after purchasing an additional 312,326 shares during the last quarter. 77.73% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Activity at Molson Coors Beverage

In related news, insider Geoffrey E. Molson sold 1,840 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.62, for a total value of $111,540.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 25,904 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,570,300.48. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 2.41% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on TAP shares. Morgan Stanley restated an equal weight rating and issued a $63.00 price target on shares of Molson Coors Beverage in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. Barclays cut their price objective on Molson Coors Beverage from $70.00 to $67.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, August 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on shares of Molson Coors Beverage from $61.00 to $69.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, July 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on Molson Coors Beverage from $72.00 to $69.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Finally, Citigroup reiterated a positive rating on shares of Molson Coors Beverage in a research note on Wednesday, June 21st. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Molson Coors Beverage has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $61.59.

Check Out Our Latest Report on Molson Coors Beverage

Molson Coors Beverage Stock Performance

TAP stock traded down $0.17 on Tuesday, reaching $64.85. The companys stock had a trading volume of 773,507 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,044,769. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $66.58 and a two-hundred day moving average of $59.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a current ratio of 0.87 and a quick ratio of 0.64. The company has a market capitalization of $14.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 406.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.77 and a beta of 0.86. Molson Coors Beverage has a 52 week low of $46.69 and a 52 week high of $70.90.

Molson Coors Beverage Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 15th. Investors of record on Friday, September 1st will be given a $0.41 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 31st. This represents a $1.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.53%. Molson Coors Beverages dividend payout ratio is presently 1,025.00%.

Molson Coors Beverage Profile

(Free Report)

Molson Coors Beverage Company manufactures, markets, and sells beer and other malt beverage products under various brands in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company offers flavored malt beverages including hard seltzers, craft, and ready to drink beverages. It provides its products under Aspall Cider, Blue Moon, Coors Original, Hop Valley brands, Leinenkugel's, Miller Genuine Draft, Molson Ultra, Sharp's, Staropramen, and Vizzy Hard Seltzer above premier brands; Bergenbier, Borsodi, Carling, Coors Banquet, Coors Light, Jelen, Kamenitza, Miller Lite, Molson Canadian Lager, Molson Dry, Molson Export, and Niksicko, Ozujsko under the premium brands; and Branik, Icehouse, Keystone, Miller High Life, Milwaukee's Best, and Steel Reserve under the economy brands.

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South Africa: dtic to host 8th the SA-China Joint Economic and Trade Committee

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) will host the 8th session of the South Africa - China Joint Economic and Trade Committee on Wednesday and Thursday.

The two-day meeting will be led by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Ebrahim Patel and Chinas Minister of Commerce, Wang Wentao.

Issues to be discussed include investments on both ends, market access in the two countries, cooperation on new energy projects and cooperation in multilateral platforms.

The first day is a closed meeting between senior government officials from both South Africa and China.

On the second day, both Ministers will make remarks and hold a signing ceremony of purchasing agreements.

The signing ceremony will be preceded by business-to-business and match-making between Chinese buyers and South African exporters.  SAnews.gov.za

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This story has been published on: 2023-08-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
LUSAKA, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese companies in Zambia on Friday held a job expo on the sidelines of the 95th Agricultural and Commercial Show aimed at attracting prospective job seekers.

A total of 16 Chinese companies attended the event, organized by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Zambia (CCCZ). On the first day, hundreds of prospective job seekers thronged the Chinese pavilion, where the companies were exhibiting to try their luck for employment.

Li Tie, president of the CCCZ, said the job expo represents a landmark initiative aimed at bridging the gap between employers and job seekers in Zambia.

"This platform provides unique opportunities for our esteemed local and multinational companies to search for talent in an exclusive manner without discrimination, while at the same time inspiring economic transformation through increased productivity by the talented workforce that will be recruited," he said.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Schneider Electric, a global leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, has appointed Ahmed Fateen as the Channel Commercial Vice President serving the UAE, Oman and Bahrain markets.

In this new role, Fateen will be responsible for driving business growth across the three Gulf markets, overseeing Channel commercial strategy, business development, and stronger customer integration, said a statement from Schneider Electric.

He was previously Vice President of Power Systems covering the Gulf region for Schneider Electric for three and a half years. He is also an expert on sustainable designs for utilities, where he served across different geographies such as Egypt, West Africa, East Africa and the Middle East.

Fateen will play a crucial role in enabling Schneider Electric's customers on their path towards a greener and more connected future, many of whom are seeking ways to optimize energy usage, said the statement.

This comes at a time when Oman and the UAE are pursuing ambitions to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, while Bahrain has set its target for 2060, it added.

On his new role, Fateen said: "I am excited to extend my near two-decade journey with Schneider Electric, which has already taken me from Cairo to Lagos, Nairobi to Dubai."

Fateen joined Schneider Electric in 2006 where he held different roles in the Channel Partners Business. Ahmed then moved to Nigeria to take the role of Marketing & Business Development for West Africa, then to Kenya to lead the Transactional Business for East Africa.

"As the Gulf continues to support global energy security and investing in new low-carbon industries, we are ready to enable companies to embrace technologies that are powering a new electric world. We have an exciting opportunity to work in partnership with Bahrain, Oman and the UAE on their journey towards net zero emissions," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL  Free Report) had its price target lifted by Morgan Stanley from $70.00 to $100.00 in a report published on Friday, Marketbeat.com reports. Morgan Stanley currently has an equal weight rating on the stock.

Several other brokerages have also commented on RCL. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises from $100.00 to $120.00 in a research note on Friday, June 23rd. Tigress Financial lifted their price target on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises from $80.00 to $102.00 in a research note on Friday, May 26th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price target on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises from $65.00 to $71.00 in a research note on Friday, May 5th. Bank of America lifted their price target on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises from $82.00 to $95.00 in a research note on Monday, June 12th. Finally, Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises from $113.00 to $132.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, July 28th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $107.08.

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Royal Caribbean Cruises Stock Down 2.4 %

RCL stock traded down $2.60 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $105.46. The companys stock had a trading volume of 770,526 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,727,203. Royal Caribbean Cruises has a 52-week low of $36.92 and a 52-week high of $112.95. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $97.93 and a 200-day simple moving average of $78.81. The firm has a market capitalization of $27.02 billion, a P/E ratio of -337.68 and a beta of 2.47. The company has a quick ratio of 0.18, a current ratio of 0.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.28.

Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The company reported $1.82 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.58 by $0.24. Royal Caribbean Cruises had a negative net margin of 0.47% and a positive return on equity of 6.76%. The business had revenue of $3.52 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.41 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned ($2.08) EPS. The companys revenue was up 61.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Royal Caribbean Cruises will post 6.23 EPS for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Royal Caribbean Cruises

In other news, CFO Naftali Holtz sold 5,949 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $110.62, for a total transaction of $658,078.38. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 30,967 shares in the company, valued at $3,425,569.54. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, CFO Naftali Holtz sold 5,949 shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $110.62, for a total value of $658,078.38. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 30,967 shares in the company, valued at $3,425,569.54. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CAO Henry L. Pujol sold 18,908 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $106.74, for a total transaction of $2,018,239.92. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 23,521 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,510,631.54. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 754,718 shares of company stock valued at $60,696,499. Corporate insiders own 8.70% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Royal Caribbean Cruises

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in RCL. Prospera Financial Services Inc bought a new stake in Royal Caribbean Cruises during the second quarter worth approximately $304,000. Ieq Capital LLC grew its position in Royal Caribbean Cruises by 11.3% in the second quarter. Ieq Capital LLC now owns 8,421 shares of the companys stock worth $874,000 after buying an additional 854 shares during the last quarter. Earnest Partners LLC grew its position in Royal Caribbean Cruises by 3.0% in the second quarter. Earnest Partners LLC now owns 196,810 shares of the companys stock worth $20,417,000 after buying an additional 5,765 shares during the last quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp grew its position in Royal Caribbean Cruises by 0.7% in the second quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp now owns 45,955 shares of the companys stock worth $4,767,000 after buying an additional 298 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Second Half Financial Partners LLC acquired a new position in Royal Caribbean Cruises in the second quarter worth approximately $216,000. Institutional investors own 71.08% of the companys stock.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. operates as a cruise company worldwide. The company operates cruises under the Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises brands, which comprise a range of itineraries. As of February 13, 2023, it operated 64 ships. The company was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in Miami, Florida.

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NewEdge Wealth LLC boosted its holdings in shares of The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW  Free Report) by 10,260.4% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 307,599 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 304,630 shares during the period. NewEdge Wealth LLCs holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $16,112,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Toronto Dominion Bank increased its stake in Charles Schwab by 32,224.4% in the 4th quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 225,994,826 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $18,816,289,000 after acquiring an additional 225,295,680 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Charles Schwab during the 4th quarter valued at $1,325,555,000. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC boosted its holdings in Charles Schwab by 107.1% during the 4th quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 16,784,516 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,399,817,000 after acquiring an additional 8,680,289 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley lifted its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 62.5% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 22,255,649 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,853,005,000 after buying an additional 8,563,389 shares during the period. Finally, Flossbach Von Storch AG lifted its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 48.7% in the 1st quarter. Flossbach Von Storch AG now owns 16,619,849 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $870,548,000 after buying an additional 5,445,011 shares during the period. 82.77% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Charles Schwab Stock Down 1.0 %

SCHW traded down $0.69 on Tuesday, hitting $65.28. The company had a trading volume of 3,669,503 shares, compared to its average volume of 18,198,029. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.38 and a quick ratio of 0.38. The Charles Schwab Co. has a 52-week low of $45.00 and a 52-week high of $86.63. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $58.45 and a 200-day simple moving average of $61.04. The firm has a market capitalization of $115.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.23, a P/E/G ratio of 3.74 and a beta of 0.91.

Charles Schwab Dividend Announcement

Charles Schwab ( NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, July 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.71 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $4.66 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.61 billion. Charles Schwab had a net margin of 33.15% and a return on equity of 27.81%. The businesss revenue was down 8.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.97 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.27 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 25th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 11th will be issued a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 10th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.53%. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio is currently 29.15%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on SCHW shares. Wolfe Research decreased their price objective on Charles Schwab from $62.00 to $60.00 in a research note on Monday, June 26th. UBS Group raised their target price on Charles Schwab from $67.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, July 24th. StockNews.com downgraded Charles Schwab from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Friday. Piper Sandler raised their target price on Charles Schwab from $77.00 to $86.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, July 24th. Finally, Argus increased their price target on Charles Schwab from $70.00 to $81.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 19th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Charles Schwab presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $72.09.

Read Our Latest Report on Charles Schwab

Insider Transactions at Charles Schwab

In other news, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 77,640 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.76, for a total value of $4,018,646.40. Following the transaction, the chairman now directly owns 59,771,278 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,093,761,349.28. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In related news, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 77,640 shares of Charles Schwab stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.76, for a total value of $4,018,646.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman now owns 59,771,278 shares in the company, valued at $3,093,761,349.28. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 75,760 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.60, for a total transaction of $5,045,616.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now owns 59,672,778 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,974,207,014.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 225,447 shares of company stock worth $13,866,915 over the last 90 days. 6.60% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

About Charles Schwab

(Free Report)

The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services.

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Picton Mahoney Asset Management boosted its position in shares of iShares MSCI Brazil ETF (NYSEARCA:EWZ  Free Report) by 100.8% in the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 52,280 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 26,240 shares during the quarter. Picton Mahoney Asset Managements holdings in iShares MSCI Brazil ETF were worth $1,432,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of EWZ. Raymond James & Associates lifted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Brazil ETF by 6.2% during the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 15,662 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $592,000 after buying an additional 915 shares during the period. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. raised its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Brazil ETF by 33.8% in the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 20,189 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $763,000 after purchasing an additional 5,105 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC lifted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Brazil ETF by 29.3% during the first quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 11,064 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $418,000 after purchasing an additional 2,507 shares during the period. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its position in iShares MSCI Brazil ETF by 124.4% during the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 902 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 500 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BlackRock Inc. lifted its stake in iShares MSCI Brazil ETF by 6.9% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 1,534,998 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $58,039,000 after acquiring an additional 99,673 shares during the period.

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iShares MSCI Brazil ETF Price Performance

Shares of iShares MSCI Brazil ETF stock opened at $32.02 on Tuesday. iShares MSCI Brazil ETF has a 1 year low of $25.00 and a 1 year high of $34.59. The stock has a market cap of $5.27 billion, a PE ratio of 5.86 and a beta of 0.97. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $32.15 and a 200 day moving average price of $29.63.

iShares MSCI Brazil ETF Profile

iShares MSCI Brazil Capped Index Fund (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund, seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of publicly traded securities in the Brazilian market, as measured by the MSCI Brazil Index (the Index).

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Roberts Glore & Co. Inc. IL increased its stake in The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE:SAM  Free Report) by 6.0% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 849 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 48 shares during the quarter. Roberts Glore & Co. Inc. ILs holdings in Boston Beer were worth $279,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of SAM. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank grew its position in Boston Beer by 20.8% in the 1st quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 1,322 shares of the companys stock valued at $435,000 after purchasing an additional 228 shares during the period. Assetmark Inc. boosted its holdings in Boston Beer by 31.7% during the 1st quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 1,904 shares of the companys stock worth $626,000 after acquiring an additional 458 shares during the last quarter. Versor Investments LP grew its stake in shares of Boston Beer by 18.5% in the 1st quarter. Versor Investments LP now owns 1,501 shares of the companys stock worth $493,000 after acquiring an additional 234 shares in the last quarter. AlphaMark Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Boston Beer by 55.3% in the first quarter. AlphaMark Advisors LLC now owns 1,095 shares of the companys stock valued at $360,000 after purchasing an additional 390 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Symphony Financial Ltd. Co. lifted its position in shares of Boston Beer by 63.2% during the first quarter. Symphony Financial Ltd. Co. now owns 1,550 shares of the companys stock valued at $507,000 after purchasing an additional 600 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 65.46% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Boston Beer

In related news, CEO David A. Burwick sold 1,644 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $326.38, for a total transaction of $536,568.72. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 47,910 shares in the company, valued at $15,636,865.80. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other news, CEO David A. Burwick sold 1,644 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $326.38, for a total value of $536,568.72. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 47,910 shares of the companys stock, valued at $15,636,865.80. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider John C. Geist sold 3,524 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $353.00, for a total value of $1,243,972.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 5,573 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,967,269. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 15,168 shares of company stock valued at $5,194,041. 23.50% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Boston Beer Stock Down 1.1 %

Shares of SAM traded down $3.96 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $355.75. 1,939 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 140,743. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $324.38 and a two-hundred day moving average of $329.92. The stock has a market cap of $4.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 68.26, a P/E/G ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 1.07. The Boston Beer Company, Inc. has a twelve month low of $296.27 and a twelve month high of $422.75.

Boston Beer (NYSE:SAM  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The company reported $4.72 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.45 by $1.27. The firm had revenue of $603.30 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $590.03 million. Boston Beer had a net margin of 3.06% and a return on equity of 7.94%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 2.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $4.31 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that The Boston Beer Company, Inc. will post 7.77 earnings per share for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have commented on SAM shares. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Boston Beer in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Roth Mkm raised Boston Beer from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their target price for the company from $274.00 to $386.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 30th. TD Cowen upped their price target on Boston Beer from $300.00 to $350.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Monday, July 31st. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on Boston Beer from $270.00 to $260.00 in a research report on Friday, April 28th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their target price on Boston Beer from $297.00 to $276.00 in a research report on Monday, July 17th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Boston Beer has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $318.21.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on SAM

About Boston Beer

(Free Report)

The Boston Beer Company, Inc engages in the production and sale of alcohol beverages primarily in the United States. The company's flagship beer is Samuel Adams Boston Lager. It offers various beers, hard ciders, flavored malt beverages, and hard seltzers under the Samuel Adams, Twisted Tea, Truly Hard Seltzer, Angry Orchard, Dogfish Head, Angel City, Coney Island, and Havana Lager brand names.

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Triumph Capital Management increased its stake in shares of Amcor plc (NYSE:AMCR  Free Report) by 29.0% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 18,970 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 4,259 shares during the quarter. Triumph Capital Managements holdings in Amcor were worth $216,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Raymond James & Associates grew its holdings in Amcor by 13.9% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 222,899 shares of the companys stock worth $2,525,000 after acquiring an additional 27,213 shares during the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC raised its position in Amcor by 33.0% during the 1st quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 26,878 shares of the companys stock valued at $304,000 after purchasing an additional 6,664 shares during the last quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. raised its position in Amcor by 23.3% during the 1st quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 121,261 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,374,000 after purchasing an additional 22,888 shares during the last quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS lifted its holdings in Amcor by 5.2% in the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 202,541 shares of the companys stock worth $2,295,000 after buying an additional 10,101 shares during the period. Finally, Vontobel Holding Ltd. grew its position in shares of Amcor by 58.5% in the 1st quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 45,244 shares of the companys stock worth $522,000 after buying an additional 16,707 shares during the last quarter. 49.37% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently commented on AMCR shares. Jefferies Financial Group raised Amcor from an underperform rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Amcor from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $11.60 to $10.80 in a report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Finally, Bank of America cut shares of Amcor from a buy rating to an underperform rating in a research report on Monday, July 10th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Amcor presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $10.80.

Amcor Price Performance

Shares of AMCR stock opened at $9.91 on Tuesday. The businesss fifty day moving average is $10.00 and its 200 day moving average is $10.67. The company has a quick ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 1.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.58. The stock has a market cap of $14.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.01 and a beta of 0.80. Amcor plc has a twelve month low of $9.40 and a twelve month high of $13.37.

Amcor Company Profile

(Free Report)

Amcor plc develops, produces, and sells packaging products in Europe, North America, Latin America, Africa, and the Asia Pacific regions. The company operates through two segments, Flexibles and Rigid Packaging. The Flexibles segment provides flexible and film packaging products in the food and beverage, medical and pharmaceutical, fresh produce, snack food, personal care, and other industries.

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WealthPlan Investment Management LLC lowered its position in shares of FedEx Co. (NYSE:FDX  Free Report) by 16.3% in the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 2,581 shares of the shipping service providers stock after selling 503 shares during the quarter. WealthPlan Investment Management LLCs holdings in FedEx were worth $590,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Martin & Co. Inc. TN grew its position in FedEx by 2.2% during the 4th quarter. Martin & Co. Inc. TN now owns 5,080 shares of the shipping service providers stock worth $880,000 after acquiring an additional 110 shares during the last quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of FedEx in the first quarter worth approximately $405,000. Kovack Advisors Inc. increased its stake in shares of FedEx by 5.8% in the first quarter. Kovack Advisors Inc. now owns 3,619 shares of the shipping service providers stock worth $827,000 after buying an additional 197 shares during the period. McGinn Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in FedEx by 25.6% during the 4th quarter. McGinn Investment Management Inc. now owns 23,864 shares of the shipping service providers stock valued at $4,133,000 after buying an additional 4,860 shares during the last quarter. Finally, HB Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in FedEx by 36.0% during the 1st quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC now owns 21,752 shares of the shipping service providers stock valued at $4,970,000 after buying an additional 5,761 shares during the period. 73.39% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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FedEx Stock Performance

NYSE:FDX traded up $2.09 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $266.45. The companys stock had a trading volume of 229,111 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,021,464. The company has a current ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 1.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78. The stock has a market cap of $66.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.06, a PEG ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 1.35. The firms fifty day moving average price is $244.79 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $226.09. FedEx Co. has a 12-month low of $141.92 and a 12-month high of $270.95.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

FedEx ( NYSE:FDX Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, June 20th. The shipping service provider reported $4.94 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.85 by $0.09. FedEx had a net margin of 4.41% and a return on equity of 15.32%. The firm had revenue of $21.93 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $22.55 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $6.87 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was down 10.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that FedEx Co. will post 17.3 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Several brokerages have recently commented on FDX. Sanford C. Bernstein upped their price objective on shares of FedEx from $261.00 to $284.00 in a research note on Wednesday, June 21st. Bank of America dropped their price objective on FedEx from $295.00 to $290.00 in a report on Wednesday, June 21st. Raymond James reduced their target price on FedEx from $285.00 to $280.00 in a research note on Friday, June 16th. UBS Group raised their price target on FedEx from $260.00 to $272.00 in a research note on Wednesday, June 21st. Finally, Loop Capital lowered their price objective on shares of FedEx from $263.00 to $255.00 in a report on Thursday, June 22nd. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, FedEx presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $246.14.

View Our Latest Analysis on FedEx

Insider Transactions at FedEx

In other FedEx news, EVP Michael C. Lenz sold 5,745 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $261.88, for a total transaction of $1,504,500.60. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 22,478 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,886,538.64. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, EVP Michael C. Lenz sold 5,745 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $261.88, for a total transaction of $1,504,500.60. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 22,478 shares in the company, valued at $5,886,538.64. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Robert B. Carter sold 19,270 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $246.00, for a total transaction of $4,740,420.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 58,875 shares in the company, valued at $14,483,250. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 35,816 shares of company stock worth $8,822,147 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 8.62% of the companys stock.

FedEx Profile

(Free Report)

FedEx Corporation provides transportation, e-commerce, and business services in the United States and internationally. It operates through FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight, and FedEx Services segments. The FedEx Express segment offers express transportation, small-package ground delivery, and freight transportation services; and time-critical transportation services.

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Turkish Airlines, flag carrier of Turkiye, and Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) have signed an MoU to move towards a joint venture agreement between the two airlines.

Under the MoU, THAI will introduce daily service to Istanbul from its hub of Bangkok in December, where it will strengthen the position of THAI as the gateway carrier to Thailand, Asia Pacific region and Australia. Furthermore, this partnership will promote tourism between Turkiye and Thailand.

Turkish Airlines and THAI will work towards a joint venture to maximise the synergies that this strategic partnership offers to both airlines. The executive teams together with the CEOs of both companies committed to this enhanced partnership in a meeting held in Istanbul on August 2, said the statement.

The collaboration will provide an unrivalled choice of destinations in Europe and Asia for passengers of Turkish Airlines and THAI, it said.

Istanbul is situated strategically to act as a hub between Asia, Europe and Africa as Turkish Airlines offers unrivalled connectivity to all over the world from its home base of Istanbul Airport.

Turkish Airlines CEO Bilal Eksi stated: This agreement represents an important milestone for the cooperation between Turkish Airlines and THAI as it brings together the rich cultural heritage of Turkiye and Thailand. This collaboration will enhance connectivity between the two regions, provide seamless travel experiences, and offer passengers a wider range of destinations and services through both airlines networks.

Chai Eamsiri, THAI CEO said: This cooperation would enhance the efficiencies of THAI and Turkish Airlines in terms of connectivity and route network. Our customers will be able to conveniently travel between Thailand and Turkiye as well as on to Europe and other points in Asia, making full use of the extensive networks offered by THAI and Turkish Airlines.  TradeArabia News Service
In a shocking and tragic incident, a vibrant young bolt driver, Thomas Kwame Henodzi, was found dead in Nsawam under mysterious circumstances.

The incident has left his friends and family devastated, demanding justice for his untimely demise.

Thomas, a resident of Marina in the Greater Accra region of Ghana, was a hardworking BOLT driver who was well-known for his dedication to his work.

On the fateful Wednesday of July 12th, 2023, he left his Madina home for his usual work routine, not knowing that it would be his last.

His final trip brought him to Ridge, around NTHC in Accra, after which he contacted a friend, mentioning that he was en route to Nsawam.

Unfortunately, the reasons for his journey to Nsawam remain unclear, as security authorities are still piecing together the events leading up to his tragic end.

The lifeless body of Thomas Kwame Henodzi was discovered in a remote bush area near Bowkrom, close to the Ponposu river in Nsawam, Eastern region.

The circumstances surrounding his death have sparked fear and outrage among the community, as residents struggle to comprehend the violence that befell the young driver.

Distressed friends of the deceased have highlighted concerns regarding the responsiveness of the Nsawam Ghana Police Service in handling the case.

They express frustration that vital information about the investigation has not been shared transparently, causing a lack of confidence in the ongoing efforts.

In light of this, Thomas Henodzi's friends have rallied together and are initiating a campaign to demand justice from the Ghana Police Service.

The call to action invites the populace to join their cause, pressuring the authorities to swiftly apprehend those responsible for this heinous act.
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The ministry said the frequency and spread of droughts over India too increased significantly during 1951-2015. (Representational image)

Hyderabad: Climate change may be far from an immediate or even long-term concern for many, but the impact of greenhouse gas emissions across the globe is being felt in India too, the Government of India has told the Parliament.

The impact of a rise in global temperatures  that led to an increase in the average temperature over India  has also led to a rise in the level of the Indian Ocean that has been gnawing away at the Indian land mass by an imperceptible 3.3 mm a year. Between 1993 and 2017, the total rise in the sea level was a 7.92 centimetres around India, as per the data tabled in the Parliament by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

The MoEF&CC, in a reply to a question from Hyderabad Lok Sabha member Asaduddin Owaisi, said that in just a little over a century, the average temperature in India rose by 0.7 degrees Celsius (C), and the number of intense spells of rainfall has increased, along with a rise in frequency of severe cyclonic storms, over the Arabian Sea in the past 65 years.

"Climate change impacts cannot be seen or perceived over short periods of time, just as sea level rise cannot be perceived over a short period of time. Mapping changes over long periods makes these evident," said G.P.S. Murthy, a former chief scientist with the National Institute of Oceanography.

The MoEF&CC, quoting the ministry of earth sciences 2020 report, Assessment of Climate Change over the Indian Region, stated that Indias average temperature increased by around 0.7C during 1901-2018.

The report also pointed out that by the end of the 21st century, the average temperature over India is projected to rise by approximately 4.4C relative to the recent past (19762005 average).

In its reply to Owaisis question, the ministry said that the frequency of daily rainfall, of over 150 mm a day, increased by about 75 per cent during 1950-2015. The ministry said the frequency and spread of droughts over India too increased significantly during 1951-2015.

It stated that the sea level rose in the North Indian Ocean at a rate of 3.3 mm per year between 1993 and 2017, while the frequency of severe cyclonic storms over the Arabian Sea increased during the post-monsoon seasons of 1998-2018.
Chief Minister Y.S.Jagan Mohan Reddy interacts with people during his visit to flood-affected areas in Mummidivaram mandal of Konaseema district on Tuesday. - BY ARRANGEMENT

Vijayawada: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has announced that financial relief to the Godavari flood-hit farmers would be released by the end of this month. The Chief Minister sanctioned construction of a revetment to Godavari river bund in island villages over a stretch of 3.5 km at a cost of Rs 150-200 crore to check soil erosion in those habitations.

Jagan Mohan Reddy visited the flood-affected people in Kunalanka village in Mummidivaram mandal and Thotharamudivaripeta and Kondukuduru villages in Ainavilli mandal in the BR Ambedkar Konaseema district on Tuesday. This was the last leg of his two-day tour of the flood-hit villages in Alluri Sitarama Raju, Eluru and Ambedkar Konaseema districts.

Addressing the flood-affected, the CM said Godavari river witnessed floods with a discharge of nearly 16 lakh cusecs of water from Sir Arthur Cotton barrage at Dowleswaram. Several villages located along the river course were affected. Unlike the earlier practice of visiting the flood-affected areas immediately, he avoided such a photo opportunity for publicity.

"Our government concentrated its full attention on providing immediate relief to the affected people," he asserted.

He said, "I geared up the entire administration to see that the flood-hit people get proper rescue and relief. I asked district collectors to visit the affected areas and provide all help to the people as a matter of first priority. I told them I would visit these areas after a week and enquire with the people whether there was any deficiency in providing relief. I told officials not a single individual should feel helpless. I appreciate the work of the collectors and the entire team of personnel involved in providing rescue and relief. No one has complained to me about any deficiency in delivery of relief to them."

The CM added, "I want the people to notice the change in the style of governance by our government in the last four years, and of the previous governments. We are not after publicity."

The CM directed the officials to start enumeration of damage or loss to the crops in two days and prepare the list of beneficiaries and display it at RBKs in a transparent manner for social audit. "In case any affected person fails to get his or her name enrolled in the list, he or she can approach the authorities concerned to include the name. The government is for all."

The CM announced sanction of a revetment to Godavari bund to a stretch of 3.5 km and promised to include a few more island villages if need be and extend the distance, He sanctioned Rs 150-200 crore for its construction.

Jagan Mohan Reddy asked the officials to call for tenders, fix the agency and start the construction works in two months time. District collector and MLAs must take photos of the ongoing works of revetment and send them to him, he said.
AAP MP Raghav Chadha talks to the media as he arrives at the Parliament House complex during ongoing Monsoon session (PTI)

New Delhi: As many as five Rajya Sabha MPs on Monday demanded to move a Privilege Motion against Raghav Chadha after alleging that their "forged signatures" were added in the proposed select committee on Delhi Services Bill without their consent by the AAP MP.

Five MPs, who have raised objections are S Phangnon Konyak, Narhari Amin and Sudhanshu Trivedi of BJP, AIADMK MP M Thambidurai and BJD's Sasmit Patra. They have alleged that their names were included in the proposed select committee on Delhi Services Bill without their consent.

Meanwhile, Chadha said that he will give an answer to Privileges Committee when they send a notice.

AIADMK MP M Thambidurai has already given a letter to the Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar for the same.

"I have given a letter to the Rajya Sabha Chairman referring to the Privilege Committee as to how my name is included in the motion, as I had not signed any document. Therefore, someone may have forged my signature," he said.

While speaking to ANI, Bharatiya Janata Party MP Narhari Amin said, "Raghav Chadha included my name in Select Committee. He did not talk to me, I did not give consent for this. He has done wrong. I have not given my signature..."

Apart from it, BJD's Sasmit Patra levelled similar allegations that his name was added without his consent.

"At the time when resolutions were being moved in the House (during the discussion on the Delhi Services bill), I heard that my name was mentioned in a resolution that was moved by Raghav Chadha. Without taking my prior consent my name can't be put in the resolution. I hope the Chairman of the House will take action. I have given a complaint. Obviously, this is a matter of privilege. All of us have filed our respective complaints," the Biju Janata Dal MP said.

Meanwhile, the bill to replace ordinance for control of services in Delhi was passed in Upper House after a division in which 131 MPs voted in favour of the legislation and 102 against it.

Union Minister Amit Shah said that two members (BJD MP Sasmit Patra and BJP MP Dr Sudhanshu Trivedi) are saying that they have not signed the motion (to be part of select committee) moved by AAP MP Raghav Chadha.

"Now it is a matter of investigation how the motion was signed," Amit Shah said in Rajya Sabha on Delhi Services Bill.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023 in the Rajya Sabha said, "AAP was born after opposing Congress. They (AAP) used almost three tons of offensive words against Congress and came into existence. And today they are seeking support from Congress to oppose this bill. The moment this bill will be passed, Arvind Kejriwal ji palat jayenge, thenga dikhayenge aur kuch nahi hone wala."

The National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, has been already passed in Lok Sabha, last week.
DCP (South-Zone), Ananda Reddy, said Kapil received a video and some messages from the woman PIO, but he had deleted all of these from his phone. The mobile needs to be sent to the cyber forensic lab for a thorough investigation, he said. (Representational DC Image)

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Steel Plant police are interrogating a CISF constable from the steel plant, as a suspected honeytrap case was exposed on Monday. The constable might have exchanged some posts with the woman and this is being investigated, police said.

The constable, Kapil Kumar Jagdish Bhai Devumurari, works at the CISF (fire wing) of VSP in Vizag city for the past year. Kapil was earlier serving at Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL), Bhanur in Hyderabad.

CISF inspector S. Saravanan got information that the constable was in contact with a woman. Investigations showed she was a Pakistani.

The constable was summoned for questioning and his mobile phone was examined. The PIO's phone number was found saved in the constable's mobile against the name, Tamisha.

The inspector suspects that Kapil passed on information about security and the steel plant to the said phone number and then deleted these from the device.

Saravanan alerted the Vizag city police. The police registered a case against Kapil under sections 4,9 r/w 3 of the official secrets act.

DCP (South-Zone), Ananda Reddy, said Kapil received a video and some messages from the woman PIO, but he had deleted all of these from his phone. The mobile needs to be sent to the cyber forensic lab for a thorough investigation, he said.

Kapil told the police that he did not send any information to the woman other than routine greetings. The constable claimed that he had only two mobile phones. However, one more Android mobile phone was recovered when his physical belongings were searched by a team on August 4. This led to suspicion the constable was hiding many aspects of his transactions with the PIO.

"Kapil has no access to the steel plant as he was mostly confined to the fire station. Unlike other PSUs, the steel plant has nothing sensitive to keep it a secret, the DCP told Deccan Chronicle.
The rising number of visitors to RGIA to see off or receive their friends or relatives is coming across as a major security concern besides causing inconvenience to other passengers leading to congestion. (DC)

HYDERABAD: The rising number of visitors to RGIA to see off or receive their friends or relatives is coming across as a major security concern besides causing inconvenience to other passengers leading to congestion.

While CISF is sensitising crowds on the security situation, airport officials have been urging flyers to restrict their visitors. Meanwhile, ahead of the Independence Day, and the situation in other parts of the country, a high alert has been sounded at RIGA.

Another concern is with regard to carrying a restricted number of items in the check in baggage. Many passengers get into arguments with the security and airport staff when asked to remove the excess luggage. This is leading to delays in the check in process.

Now that elections are round the corner, many politicians are frequently taking flights. The nuisance comes in the form of their followers coming in large numbers and in a convoy. As checking each and every one of them is not possible, the threat perception looms large and if uncontrolled, it could lead to a stampede.

The airports advisory has stated that due to the annual rush of students going abroad for studies, a corresponding increase in visitors and vehicles is leading to congestion on the access road and ramps.

"We solicit the cooperation of passengers to self-restrict the number of visitors and vehicles, as the airport is on a high security alert for Independence Day," said the airport.

Meanwhile, responding to a query chief airport security officer D. Shyamala told Deccan Chronicle that they have been sensitising people to avoid coming to the airport with big crowds.

"As the airport is a vital installation in terms of security, we appeal to the people and politicians, in particular, to avoid crowding at the airport," she said.
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. (AFP)

Islamabad: In a fresh setback to jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, Pakistan's top election body on Tuesday disqualified him for five years following his conviction in a corruption case.,

In a notification issued on Tuesday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said that the Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was disqualified after being found guilty of corrupt practices under Section 167 of the Elections Act, 2017 and his sentencing for three years.

The ECP declared Khan, 70, disqualified under Article 63(1)(h) of the Constitution read with Section 232 of the Elections Act, 2017.

"Therefore, Mr Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi is disqualified for a period of five years and is also de-notified as a returned candidate from constituency NA-45 Kurram-I, said the notification, a copy of which is available with PTI.

An Islamabad trial court on Saturday sentenced Khan to three years in prison in the Toshakhana corruption case in which the embattled former prime minister is accused of profiting from selling expensive state gifts when he was in power. Khan was subsequently arrested by Punjab police from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore.

Earlier on Tuesday, Khan challenged his conviction in the Toshakhana corruption case in the Islamabad High Court, saying the verdict by a "biased" judge was a "slap in the face due process and fair trial" and "a gross travesty of justice".

Khan, who is currently lodged in the Attock Jail, appealed his conviction and the three-year prison sentence in the case by filing a plea through his lawyers at the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

The petition will be taken up on Wednesday by a two-member bench.

In his petition, Khan said that the trial judge made the conclusions on the basis of a "predisposed mind" instead of merit of the case because the petitioner's lawyer was not given the right of presenting arguments.

Khan's plea stated that the judgment passed by the trial court judge was "tainted with bias, is a nullity in the eye of the law and is liable to be set aside.

It said the order was issued without providing the petitioner with a chance to fight his case and alleged that Additional District and Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar had refused to hear the arguments of Haris, Imran's counsel in the Toshakhana case, on the pretext that he was late - which the plea claimed was because he was filing other applications with the Supreme Court and Islamabad High Court.

Thus, the petition said, the verdict of the trial court was a slap in the face due process and fair trial and a gross travesty of justice.

He also accused that the judgment given at the conclusion of hearing had already been prepared and written, which is why a 35-page verdict was issued within 30 minutes of the announcement of the decision through a short order.

The plea named the district election commissioner of Islamabad as the respondent in the case.

Separately, the IHC granted permission to Khan's lawyers to meet him in jail as the court took up a petition filed by the party seeking A-Class facilities for the ex-premier.

Khan was convicted in the case filed by the ECP last year after it had disqualified him for not showing the money he received after selling the gifts he purchased at a discounted price from Toshakhana.

The Toshakhana case says that Khan 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).

This is the second time in three months that Khan has been arrested.

Khan was arrested on May 9 in Islamabad from the high court's premises in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case, sparking violent protests by his supporters.

Khan faces more than 140 cases across the country and charges like terrorism, violence, blasphemy, corruption and murder.
California Republic Bancorp (OTCMKTS:CRPB  Get Free Report)s stock price traded up 0% during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $37.17 and last traded at $37.17. 12,900 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 3% from the average session volume of 12,521 shares. The stock had previously closed at $37.16.

California Republic Bancorp Price Performance

California Republic Bancorp Company Profile

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California Republic Bancorp is the bank holding company of California Republic Bank (CRB or the Bank). CRB is a full-service private commercial bank providing loans, deposit and cash management services to high net-worth investors. The Bank has around four full-service branches serving Southern California located in Newport Beach, Beverly Hills, Irvine and Westlake Village.

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Scissortail Wealth Management LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM  Free Report) by 55.7% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 27,343 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 34,347 shares during the period. Scissortail Wealth Management LLCs holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. were worth $3,563,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of JPM. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 105,652.2% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 98,000,567 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $13,141,876,000 after acquiring an additional 97,907,897 shares during the period. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in the 4th quarter worth $3,894,646,000. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its position in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 71.0% in the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 30,484,094 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,087,917,000 after buying an additional 12,654,947 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley increased its holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 15.9% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 59,049,256 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $7,918,506,000 after purchasing an additional 8,088,433 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board acquired a new stake in JPMorgan Chase & Co. in the 4th quarter valued at $556,791,000. 70.10% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other JPMorgan Chase & Co. news, insider Ashley Bacon sold 16,766 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $135.00, for a total transaction of $2,263,410.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 195,356 shares in the company, valued at approximately $26,373,060. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other JPMorgan Chase & Co. news, Vice Chairman Peter Scher sold 1,240 shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $135.02, for a total transaction of $167,424.80. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 45,056 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,083,461.12. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Ashley Bacon sold 16,766 shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $135.00, for a total value of $2,263,410.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 195,356 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $26,373,060. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 145,861 shares of company stock valued at $19,858,275. Insiders own 0.79% of the companys stock.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Price Performance

NYSE JPM opened at $156.76 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $458.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.09, a PEG ratio of 2.05 and a beta of 1.10. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has a 12 month low of $101.28 and a 12 month high of $159.38. The companys 50 day moving average is $146.36 and its two-hundred day moving average is $139.84. The company has a current ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.28.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 14th. The financial services provider reported $4.37 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.62 by $0.75. JPMorgan Chase & Co. had a net margin of 23.45% and a return on equity of 17.29%. The business had revenue of $42.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $38.66 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.76 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 34.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that JPMorgan Chase & Co. will post 15.23 earnings per share for the current year.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 31st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, July 6th were paid a $1.00 dividend. This represents a $4.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.55%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, July 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s payout ratio is 25.74%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on JPM. Bank of America raised their target price on JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $152.00 to $158.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, April 17th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $160.00 to $172.00 in a research note on Friday, April 14th. Wolfe Research upgraded shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from a peer perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $170.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Friday, July 7th. Citigroup lowered shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $160.00 target price for the company. in a research note on Wednesday, July 12th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group lifted their price objective on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $160.00 to $170.00 in a research note on Monday, July 17th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, JPMorgan Chase & Co. currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $164.39.

View Our Latest Report on JPMorgan Chase & Co.

About JPMorgan Chase & Co.

(Free Report)

JPMorgan Chase & Co operates as a financial services company worldwide. It operates through four segments: Consumer & Community Banking (CCB), Corporate & Investment Bank (CIB), Commercial Banking (CB), and Asset & Wealth Management (AWM). The CCB segment offers deposit, investment and lending products, cash management, and payments and services to consumers and small businesses; mortgage origination and servicing activities; residential mortgages and home equity loans; and credit cards, auto loans, leases, and travel services.

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Enovis Co. (NYSE:ENOV  Free Report)  KeyCorp decreased their Q3 2023 earnings per share estimates for Enovis in a report released on Thursday, August 3rd. KeyCorp analyst M. Mishan now expects that the company will post earnings of $0.50 per share for the quarter, down from their previous estimate of $0.52. The consensus estimate for Enovis current full-year earnings is $2.30 per share. KeyCorp also issued estimates for Enovis Q4 2023 earnings at $0.75 EPS, FY2023 earnings at $2.30 EPS, FY2024 earnings at $2.83 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $3.35 EPS.

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Enovis (NYSE:ENOV  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The company reported $0.61 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.53 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $428.50 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $420.06 million. Enovis had a negative net margin of 8.52% and a positive return on equity of 3.74%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 8.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.59 EPS.

ENOV has been the subject of a number of other research reports. 888 reiterated an initiates rating on shares of Enovis in a research note on Monday, June 26th. Wells Fargo & Company raised Enovis from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and raised their price target for the stock from $55.00 to $67.00 in a report on Friday, May 12th. Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $70.00 price objective on shares of Enovis in a research note on Friday. Finally, Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on Enovis from $67.00 to $70.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Enovis presently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of $65.29.

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Enovis Stock Down 0.3 %

Shares of NYSE ENOV opened at $59.04 on Monday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $61.20 and a two-hundred day moving average of $58.53. The company has a market capitalization of $3.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -23.15 and a beta of 2.04. Enovis has a 1 year low of $43.88 and a 1 year high of $66.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a current ratio of 2.51 and a quick ratio of 1.23.

Insider Buying and Selling at Enovis

In related news, CFO Phillip Benjamin (Ben) Berry sold 645 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $54.17, for a total value of $34,939.65. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 20,223 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,095,479.91. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In the last three months, insiders sold 886 shares of company stock worth $49,613. Insiders own 5.10% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Enovis

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in ENOV. New Mexico Educational Retirement Board grew its position in Enovis by 16.1% in the first quarter. New Mexico Educational Retirement Board now owns 8,633 shares of the companys stock valued at $462,000 after acquiring an additional 1,200 shares in the last quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp grew its holdings in Enovis by 33.6% during the 1st quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp now owns 42,733 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,286,000 after purchasing an additional 10,746 shares in the last quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL grew its holdings in Enovis by 3.2% during the 4th quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL now owns 8,523 shares of the companys stock valued at $456,000 after purchasing an additional 266 shares in the last quarter. SummerHaven Investment Management LLC increased its stake in Enovis by 2.1% during the 1st quarter. SummerHaven Investment Management LLC now owns 14,680 shares of the companys stock worth $785,000 after buying an additional 308 shares during the period. Finally, MQS Management LLC acquired a new position in Enovis in the 1st quarter worth $236,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.77% of the companys stock.

About Enovis

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Enovis Corporation operates as a medical technology company focus on developing clinically differentiated solutions worldwide. It also manufacture and distributes medical devices which are used for reconstructive surgery, rehabilitation, pain management, and physical therapy. The company operates through Prevention and Recovery, and Reconstructive segments.

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Did you know, when the Battle of the Boyne (1690) was won by William of Orange, Pope Alexander III, ordered celebrations in Rome? He also asked all Catholics in Ireland to light bonfires on hilltops to celebrate the victory.

In fact, Pope Alexander gave William and his wife, Mary II, 200 ducats, the equivalent of 34 million in todays money, to come to Ireland.

These are just a couple of the, perhaps, surprising nuggets of information, contained in Peter Mullans fascinating new book: Struggle: A Walk Through Irish History and Rebellion.

Speaking to Derry Now, Peter, who is originally from Derry but now lives in Inishowen via Dublin, made some pertinent points about how Irish history has been revised to suit contemporary narratives.

He said: We are now in the middle of the marching season and the whole commemoration of 1689 / 1690. But actually, what happened in Ireland had more to do with the European war, the War of the Grand Alliance, against the expansion of France. It had very little to do with religion and religion is what is highlighted today.

The truth of history is not being told. In reality, Catholics and Protestants fought on both sides. James II had a great connection to France because his father and grandfather had been protected by France after Cromwell.

It is clear Peter is fascinated by history, however, he sees it as something which could enhance the tourist offering in the North West, in Derry and Inishowen.

I would like to partner with others, including accommodation and transport providers, to boost tourism here, he said.

I was in Donegal Town recently and I was impressed by the number of visitors there, in contrast to what we see in the likes of Derry and Inishowen.

Peter was motivated to write Struggle because he felt strongly, Irish history was not being taught or told from an Irish perspective.

Take, for example, the Martello Towers, he said. We are all told the Martello Towers were there to protect us from the French.

They were built to protect the Irish from the French, they were built to protect the British from the French. The French were the friends of the Irish. They were our allies.

We are told the Spanish Armada of 1588 came to invade us. This is wrong. The Spanish came to help the Irish. We should tell Irish history from the Irish perspective.

Peters passion for history took off following a serious car accident in 2009 which left him severely injured and unable to continue working in his retail business.

That is when I decided to go back to college, he said. I went to Killybegs and studied History and Tourism.

Although I gained my qualification, I found it ironic, when we went into the history class, we were fed this history that was not our history, it was English history. In addition, the history only went up to the 1940s and we were not allowed to talk about anything past that, it didnt exist.

I am a firm believer in the idea that if you want to do something, make a change, you have to do it yourself, so I started investigating and looking at our history. I read up and informed myself and I came up with the idea of writing a book and complementing it with a tour.

I felt there are so many of our diaspora out there worldwide and this was an opportunity to bring them to the North West. That is where I want to focus.

I wrote Struggle because no-one else had done it. It was something I felt I had to do. I had to tell the story. I had to put it right. Now that I have completed it, it is a weight off my shoulders. If it goes anywhere else thats fine and if it doesnt thats fine too.

Struggle: A Walk Through Irish History and Rebellion tells the story of Ireland from the first English king of Ireland, Henry VIII, up to today.

Peter pointed out, there were other English kings but Henry VIII was the first one anointed King of Ireland, by the Pope.

The Pope of the day sent the first English king, Henry II, here. He was here under licence. The pope claimed Ireland and all the English kings were granted licences. The Pope wanted the Irish church brought into line because they were rebels. They were operating on their own, doing their own thing, said Peter.

The Pope was not getting to appoint bishops and he wasnt getting any coin, so he sent Henry in, although Strongbow had been here before that.

However, Henrys licence was revoked and he effectively had no legitimacy when he broke from the Catholic Church. Henry then had to go to the Irish Parliament and request it anoint him king. He was the first anointed English king of Ireland.

I take it from there and I try to tell the story simply, said Peter. There is nothing complicated. I have tried to make Struggle readable. It is a book designed to get people to enquire and ask more and go and look about it themselves. I am really trying to point people in the right direction.

I think we get tunnel vision when we look at this story. We need to open our eyes and ask, What was happening in the rest of Europe?

The Spanish were our friends. The French were our friends. The treaty of Dingle made all Irish people Spanish Citizens. It was in effect right up until the Twentieth Century.

As a people, the Irish have got to stop looking down. We need to raise our eyes, look up and see ourselves, see what has made us. It is not by accident Ireland is a European nation, as opposed to Britain, which is not. It is not just something that has happened within the last 50 years. Ireland has always been more connected to Europe than England.

What I would like to do initially is to work with partners in the US. I would like to facilitate midweek tours, where I would interpret historical sites within Derry and Inishowen, using Struggle.

The book tells the story from an Irish perspective, so whenever I look at the Martello Towers, the Cooley Cross, Cloncha, Straid other historical sites, I will be telling what happened there. In popular Irish history, you would think nothing existed here before the Plantation. For example, the Derry Walls were built from 1613 to 1618, to protect the English from us. They were built because Cahir O Dochartaigh raided Derry.

I dont think we should look back in anger at history. History is ours. Everybody has their history but I feel the Irish havent settled on their version, they are embarrassed.
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To mark the 10 year anniversary of Seamus Heaneys death in August 2013, the Seamus Heaney HomePlace in Bellaghy are hosting a special programme of events this summer, reflecting on the poets life and legacy.

Seamus Heaney was always a keen supporter and champion of new and emerging poets on Saturday, July 22, Arts Council of Northern Ireland joint Head of Literature Damian Smyth welcomed three of the brightest new poetic voices based in Ireland and Northern Ireland to read from their work: Dean Browne, Matthew Rice and Dawn Watson.

Dean Browne is from Co. Tipperary and lives in Cork. He was a recipient of the Geoffrey Dearmer Prize in 2021 and his pamphlet, Kitchens at Night, was a winner of the Poetry Business International Pamphlet Competition in 2022. His poems have appeared widely in journals such as Poetry Magazine, Poetry Ireland Review, Stinging Fly, and elsewhere.

Matthew Rice was born in Belfast. He was runner-up in the Seamus Heaney Award for New Writing 2017 and selected for the Poetry Ireland Introductions Series the same year. His debut collection, The Last Weather Observer (Summer Palace Press), was published in 2021 to critical acclaim and Highly Commended for the Forward Prize for the Best First Collection.

Dawn Watson is a writer from Belfast. Her debut poetry collection We Play Here is published by Granta Books in August 2023, and she is the author of pamphlet The Stack of Owls is Getting Higher (The Emma Press). Dawns work has appeared on BBC Radio 4 and in Granta magazine, The Manchester Review, and Blackbox Manifold. Dawn is a lecturer in creative writing at Queens University.

A special programme of events to commemorate Seamus Heaney will be held from Friday 25th- Sunday 27th August. Paul Muldoon, Ireland Chair of Poetry will open what promises to be an unforgettable weekend. On Saturday evening musician Colm Mac Con Iomaire will perform at The Helicon and across Saturday and Sunday afternoon, ten poets from across Ireland and the UK will read from their work and talk about the influence Heaney had on their work and poetry in general. The weekend will close with a screening of the acclaimed Arena documentary Seamus Heaney and the music of what happens, followed by a Q & A with the films producer Martin Rosenbaum and Director Adam Low.

Damian Smyth, Joint Head of Literature and Drama, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, said: Seamus Heaneys life and work continues to resonate across the world and its languages. It is wonderful that the HomePlace, built in his native village, can assemble a line-up of superb artists to mark the tenth anniversary of the great poets death. The weekend promises to be an outstanding and memorable one.

Brian McCormick, Manager of the Seamus Heaney HomePlace commented: SHHP is honoured to be hosting a weekend of events to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the death of Seamus Heaney. This important occasion will be marked by poets, musicians and an acclaimed director and producer from the work of television and film. Everyone at HomePlace is looking forward to the very special programme.

For more information on events and tickets visit seamusheaneyhome.com
Samsung secures 3nm GAA new orders amid persisting foundry revenue challenges

According to Business Korea, there are rumors suggesting that Samsung foundry, including its System LSI division, may experience losses of up to 1 trillion KRW (approximately $780 million USD) in the first half of 2023. Despite these rumors, during the 2Q23 earnings conference, the top executives of Samsung Electronics did not directly address this issue.

In an unusual move, Samsung openly acknowledged that they are currently facing significant challenges with their gross profit margin. Nevertheless, the company started to produce its third 3nm chip design applying gate-all-around (GAA) transistor architecture.

Samsung's foundry profit plunges

Gibong Jeong, executive vice president of Samsung Foundry, has highlighted that the division is currently grappling with a profitability crisis. This is mainly attributed to the decrease in capacity utilization resulting from ongoing factory expansions and the heightened uncertainty surrounding short-term demand. To tackle this challenging situation, Samsung Foundry has placed significant emphasis on cost improvement and overall profitability management throughout the year 2023.

While Samsung has not publicly disclosed specific revenue and profit figures for the foundry business independently, this division's performance is combined within Samsung's Device Solutions (DS) Division, along with other memory businesses like DRAM and 3D NAND. However, examining the DS Division consistent losses of 4.58 trillion and 4.36 trillion KRW in the past two quarters, which roughly translates to an operating deficit of about 3 billion USD per quarter, it becomes evident that the foundry division is facing substantial challenges in avoiding losses.

The global economic downturn and ongoing customer inventory adjustments have resulted in sluggish demand for mobile, PC and other end-user devices, leading to reduced capacity utilization at Samsung foundry. This situation has become a critical factor contributing to the division's current profitability crisis. While Samsung might not have secured AI orders during this economic downturn, unlike what TSMC claims, the company's top executives remain confident that the long-term capacity will be filled by emerging trends such as High-Performance Computing (HPC) and 5G. Moreover, Samsung is to focus attention on the current growth in demand for AI-related technologies, and this has prompted them to observe an increasing interest and active participation from customers in HPC and 5G applications that utilize their GAA process.

Certainly, it has been one year since Samsung started mass production of the 3nm GAA process. While Samsung has not disclosed the specific customers using this process, a research institution recently revealed that Chinese crypto-mining equipment manufacturers are utilizing the 3nm GAA process through reverse engineering. Despite facing financial challenges, Samsung's top executives expressed their satisfaction with achieving mass production of the third 3nm GAA product. Samsung has taken a leading position in the industry by venturing into the demanding path of GAA process yield improvement, which has shown significant improvements in yield rates compared to previous FinFET generations. This is crucial for Samsung's 2nm technology to compete with TSMC and Intel's 2nm GAA processes in the 2024 to 2025 timeframe.

Samsung looks to challenge TSMC

In contrast to TSMC, which has secured nearly all high-end GPU and data processing unit (DPU) orders for AI accelerators, what is Samsung's strategy for AI-related foundry and advanced packaging? According to Samsung foundry's top executives, the key to these AI chips lies in achieving high performance and high energy efficiency. This is precisely what Samsung's GAA process, which has been in mass production since June 2022, aims to achieve for AI chips at an advanced node. The executives further pointed out that current AI chips are often integrated with high-bandwidth memory (HBM) in a single package.

Samsung's strategic layout currently involves having both GAA process technology and HBM memory, and they are rapidly expanding their advanced packaging capacity.

Various South Korean media outlets have previously reported that Samsung foundry is expected to share a portion of the orders for high-end AI GPUs, including those from Nvidia and AMD, which are traditionally handled by TSMC. NVIDIA was even mentioned to be adopting Samsung's HBM3 memory. AMD has been collaborating with Samsung since late 2022, using their Programmable In-Memory Computing (PIM) solution called HBM-PIM, which optimizes AI engines through DRAM within the memory, achieving parallel processing and minimizing data movement. As for the collaboration between Samsung and AMD, whether it will lead to gaining a share of TSMC's orders remains to be seen and is still subject to observation.
Samsung to supply China-based SemiDrive automotive memory solutions

Samsung Electronics will start offering China-based SemiDrive automotive memory chips. As China has partly banned US-based Micron's products sold in China, whether South Korean-based companies will gain more opportunities accordingly has attracted the industry's attention.

According to South Korean The Elec and Newswave, SemiDrive and Samsung recently signed a strategic cooperation agreement. The pair will further collaborate for automotive semiconductors to support the chip demand stemming from cars becoming more intelligent and the development of automotive electronics.

An internal combustion engine vehicle requires about 200 to 300 chips, while a self-driving car or an EV needs over 2,000.

SemiDriving is an emerging automotive chip company in China that has built a reputation for its smart cockpit technology. It also develops autonomous driving technology, central gateways and high-performance MCUs.

The company has seen its chips enter mass production and supply over 260 customers. SemiDrive's solutions support more than 80% of the carmakers in China. Foreign automakers like Nissan, Honda and Volkswagen also use the company's chips.

With the tension between China and the US, China implemented a security check on Micron in March 2023. It said the US technology did not pass the inspection and has banned some key companies from buying Micron's products since May. At that time, the US government and Congress requested South Korean companies not to fill the vacancy left by Micron. Therefore, the timing of Samsung and SemiDrive becoming strategic partners drew South Korean companies' notice.
Accusations from Iowa farmers: China allegedly stealing American seeds

By Aniket Gupta

Farmers in Iowa are making accusations against the Chinese state, alleging the theft of invaluable seed samples from America. These seeds have undergone genetic modification to enhance crop productivity, and it is believed that China intends to replicate them domestically. This situation arises during a period of increased tension between the US and China, fueled by events such as the appearance of a spy balloon earlier in the year and an ongoing trade war, further adding to the sensitivity surrounding the issue.

On Thursday, a panel discussion on the United States' relationship with China was held at the Cedar Rapids Country Club by the Bastion Institute. The discussion featured three prominent Republicans: US Sen. Joni Ernst and US Rep. Ashley Hinson, both from Iowa, and US Rep. Mike Gallagher from Wisconsin.

Ernst and Gallagher have jointly sponsored legislation aimed at establishing "rings-of-fire" in the Indo-Pacific region to discourage Chinese aggression. The proposed bill mandates the Pentagon to devise a strategy to counter China's ballistic and cruise missiles capable of targeting US interests throughout the Indo-Pacific area.

A delegation of three House Select Committee members travelled to the rural area to hold talks with stakeholders in the local agricultural industry. Gallagher and Hinson, along with House Select China Committee ranking member Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi organized a roundtable event in Dysart, located in Tama County. The discussion centered on the issue of the Chinese Communist Party's agricultural technology theft.

The panel discussion highlighted a notable incident from 2011, when a Dysart farmer witnessed Mo Hailong, dressed in business attire, unlawfully excavating valuable hybrid seeds, which were later shipped to China. Subsequently, the FBI apprehended Mo Hailong and six accomplices for their involvement in stealing US agricultural technology worth $30 million.

Mike Gallagher, the chairman of the select committee and a Republican representative from Wisconsin, expressed his view, stating, In my opinion, its part of a much larger, country-wide, slow-motion heist of American intellectual property. He said his company had a duty to protect its technology assets, in Iowa just as firms in Silicon Valley protect their technology.

Raja Krishnamoorthi, a ranking Democratic member, expressed his concerns, stating, We can't sustain this anymore. He emphasized that the USA should not find itself in a situation where every secret developed through research is continuously stolen from it.

The farmers assert that they are required to pay a tech fee for using genetically modified seeds. Consequently, they believe that the Chinese stealing these seeds amounts to stealing from all of America.

Iowas local farmers and stakeholders have urged the members of Congress to take strategic action to address this situation.

Earlier this year, national security concerns were raised regarding the acquisition of a plot of land located just 12 miles from the Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota by the Binzhou-headquartered Fufeng Group. The company had intentions of constructing a wet corn milling plant on the site. On January 27, Andrew Hunter, an assistant secretary of the Department of the Air Force, wrote a letter expressing the departments perspective that the project represented "a significant threat to national security.

According to the FBI, Chinese intellectual property theft inflicts a substantial economic toll on the U.S. economy, ranging from $225 billion to $600 billion annually. The agency characterizes China as the primary global infringer of proprietary knowledge.
Gardai investigating a serious assault that occurred in the Rampart Lane area of Dundalk town centre on the evening of Sunday 6th August 2023 have arrested and charged a male as part of this investigation.

The male, a juvenile in his teens, is expected to appear before Trim District Court at 10:30am this morning, Tuesday 8th August 2023.

During the incident a man in his 20s received serious injuries and was removed from the scene to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.

The scene was preserved and a technical examination was conducted.

Gardai are continuing to appeal for any witnesses to this incident to come forward.

Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the area of Rampart Lane, Dundalk between 6pm and 7pm on Sunday 6th August 2023 are asked to make this footage available to Gardai.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Dundalk Garda station on 042 938 8400, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
Domhnall Gleeson is urging people across Louth to host coffee mornings next month to help raise 2million for extraordinary hospice services.

The Hollywood star is supporting Bewleys Big Coffee Morning Social for Hospice, a fundraising drive which has generated 43.2million since 1992.

He joined Hospice hosts and volunteers at the iconic Bewleys cafe on Grafton Street on August 2, and asked everyone in Ireland to host or support this years event on September 21.

Both of Gleesons grandparents  his father Brendans parents - spent their final days in St Francis Hospice in Dublin.

My grandma (Pat) was only there for a few weeks and that was my first experience of being around a Hospice, said the Harry Potter and Star Wars actor, 40.

I was incredibly close to her and I was struck by the atmosphere of care and kindness. She had a rough journey before she got there - and all of a sudden, that difficult road seemed less punishing to travel.

He recalled thinking she seemed as safe and cared for as possible.

It was such a relief, he said.

In terms of my granddad (Francis), we had been looking after him for a long time, probably about a year, and didnt think he was going to last that long in Hospice, but he was there for months.

The care was extraordinary, but he had a new lease of life, it (Hospice care) gives their body the care it needs, and makes them feel special.

He told how Francis constantly joked with staff who, he said, see beyond the illness or life-limiting condition.

Theres a focus on creating a connection and patients are not just a problem to be solved on the way to the next problem along the corridor. Each persons journey is different, and each one matters to the people working there.

I dont know how they do it; there is an incredible giving of oneself.

So I am asking everyone in Louth on September 21, or whenever suits them, to organise, support or donate to a coffee morning, wherever it might be held.

Now in its 31st year, organisers hope to raise 2million in 2023, returning the countrywide fundraiser to pre-Covid levels and bringing the total raised since its inception beyond the 45million mark.

Together for Hospice, The National Hospice Movement, represents 26 Hospice and specialist palliative home care providers supporting patients and their families.

Funds raised locally stay local and go back into each Hospice service, helping to pay for medical and general staff, palliative care beds, home care visits, specialist equipment and new hospice builds.

Communities right across Louth are urged to simply gather a group on September 21 to help raise much needed funds to support the work of North Louth Hospice Homecare, Louth.

Anne Newell, of North Louth Hospice Homecare, said: We are delighted Bewleys Big Coffee Morning Social for Hospice, which is one of Irelands longest and most loved fundraisers, is now entering its fourth decade of raising funds in support of Hospice in-patient and community services around Ireland.

It is a chance to celebrate our many coffee morning hosts across the county, who are an incredible testament to the dedication and committed nature of Hospice supporters in local communities. This ongoing support is invaluable and funds vital services and quality initiatives enhancing care for patients living with a life limiting illness.

Jason Doyle, Managing Director at Bewleys Ireland & UK, said the company has stood side by side with Hospice since 1992.

Our business was founded on the principle of caring for people and communities, so we urge everyone to host a coffee morning social to help support the incredible work Hospice carries out every day.

The organisation helps patients to live life as fully as possible with dignity, respect and comfort.

We are asking people to register to host a coffee morning on September 21, or on a date that suits them, to support their local Hospice, at hospicecoffeemorning.ie or call 0818 995 996.

If you cannot host or attend one, you can make a donation at hospicecoffeemorning.ie/ donate.
An advocate for the elderly in Cork has encouraged people to check in on their former colleagues or those who they know who have taken early retirement.

Paddy OBrien said that many of those who decide to take early retirement miss their routines and find themselves in situations where they feel lonely.

People who retire and leave working in the office or in a factory, their daily routine was 9am to 6pm meeting the same people every working day and building up a great relationship over a number of years, and sadly when all this is taken away from them theres a great void, he said.

Recently retired people have told me about the great retirement parties held for them and all the promises of phone calls that they would get from former colleagues but this does not always happen.

Mr OBrien also advised those currently considering early retirement to give it plenty of thought before making a decision.

Get as much information and advice as you possibly can and speak to people who have taken their retirement and think about this big move, he said.

Of the people I have spoken to over the past few months, many of them regret having retired and not giving it adequate thought.

He said that there are some people struggling to fill the empty hours they are now experiencing following early retirement and advised people to have something simple to do every day.

I think that is vital. Its not good for a person to wake up every morning and say they have nothing to do. Have something simple to do, he said.

I know that psychologically commencing retirement is a major problem for most people.

No daily routine, no colleagues to speak to and you find that difficult to accept and some people may feel lonely and lost, Mr OBrien said.

He said that the recipe for happiness is to always have something to look forward to.

He suggested that people get involved in local organisations, enrol in a course, join a walking club, do some voluntary work with local charities or organisations, visit an elderly person or neighbour who may be housebound or who is now a resident of a nursing home or offer to bring an elderly person to a doctor or hospital appointment.
Domhnall Gleeson is urging people across Cork to host coffee mornings next month to help raise 2 million for extraordinary hospice services.

The Hollywood star is supporting Bewleys Big Coffee Morning Social for Hospice, a fundraising drive which has generated 43.2m since 1992.

Both of Gleesons grandparents  his father Brendans parents  spent their final days at St Francis Hospice in Dublin.

My grandma (Pat) was only there for a few weeks, said the Harry Potter and Star Wars actor, 40.

He recalled thinking she seemed as safe and cared for as possible.

In terms of my granddad (Francis), he was there for months. The care was extraordinary, but he had a new lease of life.

Communities right across Cork are urged to simply gather a group for a coffee morning on September 21 to help raise much-needed funds to support the work of Marymount University Hospital & Hospice, Cork.

Click here for full details or to donate.
SAINT Fin Barres Cathedral in Cork is among the beneficiaries of the almost 175,000 been made available under the Regional Museum Exhibitions Scheme 2023.

Projects funded under this scheme seek to enhance the cultural offering of museums to encourage greater access to museums and to promote the use of museums as tourism resources in their locality or region.

Sixteen projects are benefitting this year, including Limerick Museum for the Postcards from Limerick exhibition and the Little Museum of Dublin for Bridges of Dublin exhibition.

Saint Fin Barres Cathedral has been awarded 11,000. It will be used for a William Burges Archive Cataloguing Scoping Study aimed at assessing the archive of William Burges, architect of the cathedral.

The project aims to record the archive with a view to storage, consolidation and eventual display to the public.

Cork Butter Museum has also been awarded 3,000 for Butter Museum exhibition cases to display a butter related work by German artist Joseph Beuys and the museums existing bog butter.

The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin announced funding of 174,434 in total.

Our local and regional museums are an extremely important resource for accessing culture and heritage in towns and villages across the country, and I am very pleased to be able to support their renewal and development through the Regional Museum Exhibition Scheme, Ms Martin said.

Funding under this scheme allows local and regional bodies to continue to enhance their exhibitions, improving the cultural offering to their communities and visitors.

The funds provided under this scheme over the years has allowed these cultural bodies to continue to enhance the presentation of their exhibitions, she added.
Local election candidates in Cork North West have expressed their support for firefighters protesting for better working conditions.

John OSullivan and Evelyn OKeefe, who are both standing for election for Sinn Fein in next years local elections, met last week with firefighters from Macroom and Millstreet.

The two candidates said after their meeting that the firefighters deserved a lot better than what they described as their current treatment by Cork County Council.

John OSullivan, who is Sinn Feins candidate for the Macroom local electoral area (LEA), said he had spoken with Macroom and Millstreet firefighters and was utterly dismayed by the proposed wage increase on offer to firefighters, which he described as a paltry 20 cent an hour.

Considering the huge sacrifice these firefighters take in regards to their families, and travel restrictions is huge, without a decent financial package, they cannot recruit the staff that would relieve the firefighters and give them a fair work-life balance, Mr OSullivan said.

It is also a disgrace that Cork County Council refuse to allow their own staff to become firefighters, yet they expect private enterprise to take the burden.

"The frustration in both fire stations was evident.

Evelyn OKeefe, who is a Sinn Fein local election candidate for the Kanturk LEA said that being a retained firefighter was a professional role that deserved decent pay and conditions, offering a fair salary for an extremely difficult job.

These men and women sacrifice a lot in their personal lives due to the commitment it takes to be a retained firefighter, she said.

The current pay rate for a retained firefighter equates to just 99 cents per hour, this does that reflect their commitment to the communities they serve.

Ms OKeefe said Sinn Fein Cork North West was asking Cork County Council to reconsider its current policy of not hiring retained fire fighters.

This would be a start and show leadership and respect at local council level, she said.

The feeling on the ground is that neither the local or national government is listening.
A local election candidate in Cork city has said universal school transport would have a dramatic effect on climate change and would alleviate traffic pressure in Leeside suburbs.

Peter Horgan, who is currently the Labour Party local area representative in the Cork City South-East ward, has said the continuous challenge for parents awaiting school transport tickets is simply not good enough, and he laid the blame at the feet of the Fianna Fail-led Department of Education.

Bus Eireann can only operate the system they are instructed to operate by Government, said Mr Horgan.

They end up in the firing line of parents unaware of where they stand with school transport tickets, a matter of days before the school year resumes.

It is the same every August and Ministers need to account for their failure to prep the system better, once more.

Missed Opportunity

Mr Horgan, who will be a candidate for Cork South-East in next years local elections, said the Department of Education had missed an opportunity to help families in the grip of the cost of living crisis, and a chance to address traffic congestion.

There was a real chance for the Government to really show they are listening to hard-pressed families facing down the barrel of a return to school cost increase, he said.

It would have made a difference to traffic congestion in the likes of Douglas at peak school times.

If we are serious about climate action and reducing car demand we have to be innovative at offering alternative choices like universal school transport. Imagine the amount of cars off the road if school bus tickets were universal. Imagine the climate impact of that, Mr Horgan said.

We are still in a situation where the reform review is still underway.

There is no movement on establishing universal transport and removing the distance barrier, but we have additional applications and no extra capacity for the concessionary, or lottery, seat model, he added.

School Transport Scheme

The School Transport Scheme is managed by Bus Eireann on behalf of the Department of Education.

Nationally, in the 2022/23 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.

There has been an increase of 21% in tickets issued to eligible students and 38% in tickets issued on a concessionary basis in the 2022/23 school year compared to the 2021/22 school year.

In addition, school transport scheme services are being provided in the current school year for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.

According to the Department of Education, the total cost of the scheme in 2022 was 338.9m.
TWO Cork publicans have called on the Government to retain the current 9% Vat rate for the tourism and hospitality sector, stating that an increased rate would have a detrimental impact on the industry.

The reduced 9% Vat rate is due to end on August 31 and revert to 13.5%, after the lower rate was temporarily introduced in November 2020 to help the sector in the aftermath of covid.

Michael ODonovan, chair of the Cork city and county Vintners Federation of Ireland, said the return of the increased rate will have a huge impact.

Food business is a low margin, high volume business so another 4.5% increase on top of what you are making will put a lot of businesses under severe pressure for the next number of months, he explained.

We think the 9% Vat rate is the right rate.

"When we are competing for tourists to come here, we will be looked at like an expensive destination. We are hoping the Government will reconsider this decision and reinstate the 9% rate in the next budget.

Ernest Cantillon, owner of Sober Lane and Electric, added: I am very worried about the potential increase for Vat. We are trying to remain competitive but we would have no choice but to pass on the increase. There is no possibility of us absorbing that increase.

My concern is that people will go out less often, he said. There are a lot of costs associated with a night out, such as paying a babysitter and a taxi.

The minimum wage going up means you will have to pay the babysitter more.

"I am not looking forward to putting up my prices again but I cant see a way where I wont unless they maintain the current rate.

Mr ODonovan, who is the owner of the Castle Inn on South Main St, said the summer has seen steady business in the sector.

August bank holiday weekend traditionally in the city is a quieter weekend. We had the Pride festival on which did bring people in. A lot of people use the weekend to go on a final break away from the city before the winter comes in.

I think the summer so far has been steady. There has been a good influx of tourists. It is very noticeable seeing them in the streets and coming in and out of the bars. There has been a lot of American and continental-European visitors.

Staffing Issues

Staffing is still a big issue, added the Cork publican. People are having to get more staff to do the same job because there is no experienced staff out there. Trying to get the staff and the quantity of staff is still a huge issue for many.

Ernest Cantillon said they reduced their opening hours to combat the problem of having the right number of employees. We havent found it hard to recruit staff members over the summer. We reduced our opening hours. We dont do lunches, so we dont need as many staff members. We have our core staff members. We look after them and we have good staff retention.

Mr ODonovan is looking forward to third level students returning to the city when the new academic year begins in September. Life in the college begins again on September 11 so the students will be moving in that week.

"That brings a great buzz around the city.

"You will have 30,000 students coming back into the city which is great for business, he added.
THE 2023 Cork Heritage Open Day is taking place on Saturday, August 12. For one day only, more than 40 buildings open their doors free of charge for this special event.

The team behind the Open Day - Cork City Council and building owners - have grouped the buildings into general themes, Steps and Steeples, Customs and Commerce, Medieval to Modern, Saints and Scholars, and Life and Learning - one can walk the five trails to discover a number of buildings within these general themes, or pick and choose buildings you want to explore.

Cork Heritage Open Day is organised by Cork City Council as part of Heritage Week, in partnership with the Heritage Council, and with media sponsorship from The Echo and Corks 96FM. This event is organised almost entirely on a voluntary basis, with building owners, local historians and communities giving their time free of charge.

Its success lies with the people behind the buildings, who open their doors willingly every year to allow the public a glimpse of the amazing and unique built heritage of Cork city. Without the generosity of the building owners, this event would not happen.

I have often marvelled about how this city is built on a swamp - a fantastic piece of engineering in itself. I marvel at the citys human built fabric - its higgledy-piggledy architecture - and how the buildings sit on timber foundations, almost sitting in a basin, crawling out as though to grab its hilly suburbs, to make sure it doesnt completely sink.

Walking around the city, researching, and photographing, I am often taken by a number of things, which have come to mind in participating in Heritage Open Day over the years.

Cork citys evolution can be told as an unfolding succession of stories - various people coming and going down the ages, leaving their own mark through architecture on the city and region.

Every few metres, Corks landscape changes. It always surprises, offering ever new vistas and new stories. The curvature in the cityscape - its colours and shapes - constantly seem to frustrate the eye anxious for symmetry or linear simplicity.

The citys architectural components combine to create a strong sense of place, emotional attachment and identity. That place-making can be sometimes located in physical space, and at other times in the mind.

Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Kieran McCarthy

Corks urban landscape is pulsing with messages about the past, present and future. This throbbing or energy - with all its tensions, flows, complexities, even down to the look of the citys public realm, cogwheels of traffic and people movement - all create the momentum to drive the city on.

I also like to stop on St Patricks bridge to admire how the houses in Gurranabraher are set into the steep hillside of Corks northside, but this urban landscape, since the first social housing unit opened in 1934, has been re-interpreted by each generation of viewers - from originally being a statement on Free State Ireland to being a proud and resilient place.

I am a big fan of the citys 34 bridges - from the elegant Georgian stonework of Parliament Bridge to the Victorian ironwork on bridges such as St Vincents Bridge - all evoke a sense of time and are illustrated histories of a moment in history - many of which we know the basic history about, and sometimes thats all that has survived.

I also enjoy the view of the brick work when an old building has to be taken down. The multiple bricks and limestone and sandstone used, laying neatly but almost randomly on top of each other, give one access to the imagination and efforts of the people who drew up their design, the people who had sleepless nights thinking about their work, and the people, the actual workers, who strived hard and long to bring and weave the jigsaw pieces of an architects imagination together.

And with all my strong wishes for someone to invent a time machine so I can travel back to meet the architects and builders of the past about the above ideas, I cannot. So I cant walk the medieval town walls of Cork with the first Mayor of Cork Richard Wine, or walk around Corks 18th century canals with map maker John Rocque, or speak to someone like William Burges, architect of St Finbarrs Cathedral. But we are lucky that a large suite of historical documents have survived to tell the story of some of our most beautiful buildings.

There is a strong importance in minding our rich built heritage. Cork Heritage Open Day helps us, yes, in understanding and celebrating our Cork identity and sense of place, but also continues the dialogue around the importance of broadening the thinking on Irish architecture - its history and its future - and the importance of creating a new interested audience on not just the past but also future architecture.

Organised by Cork City Council, Cork Heritage Open Day takes place on Saturday, August 12, and more than 30 historic and heritage buildings will open their doors to the public for free.

Guided walking historic tours, exhibitions on the history of Cork, and a series of talks celebrating the built heritage and people of Cork will also take place.

See www.corkheritageopenday.ie
High Court reporters

The operator of Dulbin Airport, the Daa, has secured a temporary High Court stay on a decision it claims will force it to significantly reduce the number of nighttime flights going to and from the airport.

Late on Tuesday evening, Mr Justice Conor Dignam granted the Daa permission to bring a challenge against last month's decision by Fingal County Council to issue an enforcement notice against the Daa for allegedly breaching the terms of planning permission obtained in respect of the airport's new north runway.

The Daa claims the enforcement notice is flawed, unreasoned, vague, is of no legal effect and should be set aside by the court.

The judge, after a lengthy and detailed hearing, also granted the Daa a stay on the notice coming into effect, however, the judge said the council can come to court on 48 hours' notice to the Daa and seek to have the stay either removed or varied.

The Daa claimed that if the stay, pending the outcome of the full action, was not granted by the court, the airport operator faced the prospect of possibly having to cancel thousands of flights, causing disruption to over 700,000 passengers.

The enforcement notice, which gave the Daa six weeks to reduce the number of nighttime flights, was issued in late July arising out of complaints about excessive noise from residents living near the runway.

The council issued the notice on the grounds that the number of flights scheduled by the airport exceeds the terms of a planning condition that no more than an average of 65 flights per day over a given period can operate from the runway between 11pm and 7am.

The Daa is legally obliged to comply with the terms of the enforcement notice. Any failure to do so would result in the Daa facing criminal sanctions.

The Daa disputes the council's decision and denies the planning breach as alleged.

It has launched High Court proceedings where it claims that the notice has been issued "in breach of fair procedures".

Judicial review

In its judicial review proceedings, the Daa seeks various orders and declarations against the council, including an order quashing the enforcement notice.

The Daa's core arguments against the legality of the notice include that the council has failed to provide the airport operator with a copy of the planning report, of July 18th, 2023, which contains the reasons why the council opted to issue the enforcement notice.

The Daa's counsel, Fintan Valentine, told the court that the refusal to provide this report, so the Daa can fully understand the basis for the notice, is a clear breach of fair procedures and constitutional justice.

It also seeks an order requiring the council to provide the Daa with a copy of the council's Planning Report of July 18th, 2023, and a stay on the enforcement notice coming into effect.

Following the conclusion of submissions by the Daa's legal team, Mr Justice Dignam said he was satisfied that the legal threshold to allow the court grant permission to bring the challenge had been met.

The judge also said that he was satisfied, with some reservations to grant the Daa, on an ex-parte basis with only one side represented in court, an interim stay on the enforcement notice coming into effect.

The stay is to remain in place pending the outcome of the full hearing of the dispute, The matter was made returnable to a date in November.

The Irish Aviation Authority is a notice party to the proceedings.

Disruptions

Mr Valentine SC, appearing with Aoife Carroll Bl instructed by Mathesons Solicitors, said that the notice has been invalidated on several grounds, as well as the council's failure to provide his client with the planning report.

Counsel said the council has failed to enter the reasons for the notice on the official planning register, which he said it is obliged to do.

Counsel said that the notice is also vague and unclear in its terms.

The Daa does not fully know what steps it needs to take in order to comply with it.

Counsel said on one reading it may have to cancel approximately 300 flights nighttime flights, which would disrupt up to 45,000 passengers.

Another interpretation of the notice, counsel said, would require the Daa to cancel some 4,000 flights over the coming weeks and months that would disrupt over 700,000 passengers.

This would have an adverse economic impact, counsel added.

Other grounds raised by the Daa include that the notice was issued without the council having any proper regard to submissions the airport operator had made to it in May 2023.

The notice also fails to take into consideration the role of the Irish Aviation Authority, which is the body that co-ordinates landing and take-off slots for aircraft at the airport.

It is further argued that the notice places a restriction in relation to the operation of an airport within the EU that is contrary to EU regulations and has no regard for the obligations of the 2007 Air Traffic Agreement entered into between the EU and the US.
Retailers of all sizes need to be creative when it comes to keeping students attention for their back-to-school purchases. The Container Store (TCS) hopes to renew last years success with mobile engagement to help boost sales to college kids during its College 2023 campaign.

A key to keeping TCS at the head of the class for even younger students is using Vibes to tailor SMS, MMS, and in-app push messages. TCS also uses Mobile Wallet marketing to further incentivize college shoppers with money-saving discounts on back-to-school collegiate purchases.

Success from the retailers 2021 and 2022 college campaigns drove the decision to continue prioritizing mobile marketing during returning school season. Subscription selling also earned a high A in strengthening sales.

For instance, last year, The Container Store enrolled more than 121,000 subscribers, 61% higher than its 2021 college subscriber list, and in 2022, its mobile-attributed revenue was three times greater compared to 2021.

The specialty retailer is well-known for its inventory of organizing solutions, custom spaces, and in-home services. It opened for business with a unique concept in 1978, selling storage, organization products, and other solutions such as custom closets.

The stores innovative marketing strategy is getting results. More than half of the subscribers acquired for their college 2022 campaign remain on their main SMS marketing list, where The Container Store continues to interact with them via promotional text messaging.

The back-to-school season is a pivotal time for us. To stay ahead of the competition in this space, we focused on amplifying a digital-first strategy and updating our loyalty program to target college-aged students and parents, Sydney Hamilton, senior director of digital marketing at The Container Store, told the E-Commerce Times.

She added that TCS decided to create an app to attract and retain more of these customers through push messaging and Mobile Wallet.

Mobile Marketing to Omnichannel Shoppers

Today, with locations nationwide, the retailer offers more than 10,000 products it says are designed to transform lives through the power of organization.

The marketing team wanted to enable mobile messaging to ensure customers would use the app and promotional offers during the three-month back-to-school campaign. Specifically, it looked to guarantee that the new app would be a channel for purchases and communication.

In addition, the popular retailer hoped to attract and retain omnichannel shoppers. The messaging strategy followed subscribers and app users from the device to the channel for in-store purchases.

Overall, we wanted to elevate the mobile experience for college-aged students by expanding mobile channels and increasing mobile attributed revenue for its program, Hamilton offered.

The nationwide marketing efforts seem resilient to morphing consumer attitudes and shopping trends in todays difficult economy.

Personalization and the ability to tailor marketing communication are driving brands like TCS today, according to Hamilton.

Mobile marketing is built to take into account personalization and targeting, helping brands create a better consumer experience, she suggested.

Vibes Partnership

Aligning the brands mobile messaging and omnichannel communications in the summer of 2021 was critical for the push and subscription plans to work effectively.

Partnering with Tier 1 messaging aggregator Vibes met TCSs needs to mobilize its customer loyalty revenue-producing goals. Its approach got results in effectively targeting and engaging college-aged students and their parents during the back-to-school season, said Hamilton.

Vibes intelligent mobile engagement platform enables marketers to seamlessly connect with their customers using an automated, data-rich platform that beautifully optimizes and unifies their SMS, MMS, and Mobile Wallet campaigns, she explained.

The platforms combination of physical and digital worlds helped TCS unify its marketing program under one comprehensive, real-time mobile marketing program all in one place. That approach scored high marks. TCS primarily targets parents shopping for their kids, and older college students, added Hamilton.

Instead of sending out generalized mass messages, we could now tailor messages to be relevant to a college audience. With the help of Vibes, The Container Store put together a strategy to send relevant offers to the right people at the right time through SMS and MMS. SMS also makes it easy for customers to download its app and sign up to join its loyalty program, she said about the impact on the customer experience (CX).

Balancing Privacy and Personalization

Vibes, founded in 1998, helps marketers across various retail and service industries. The firms software solution addresses both consumers concerns and marketers management needs in mobile advertising, according to Alex Campbell, co-founder and chief innovation officer of Vibes.

First and foremost, consumers care about privacy, their data, and what marketers do with that data. This trend has only increased over the last few years and will be a constant focus for years to come, he offered.

The major challenge in delivering mobile customer experiences for SMBs is ensuring you connect with customers when and how they want to be reached.

To do this, the communication channel, like an SMS or push notification, must be fueled by data to make sure the marketing messages are personalized to the individual consumers, Campbell suggested.
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.

Aerial view of the city of Santiago, Chile, with smog and high temperatures on Aug. 2, 2023. MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP via Getty Images

Its winter in South America, but the temperatures dont feel like it.

In northern Argentina and Chile, it has felt more like summer, with towns in the Andes mountains heating up to more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, reported The Conversation.

South America is living one of the [most] extreme events the world has ever seen, tweeted weather historian Maximiliano Herrera. Unbelievable temperatures up to 38.9C in the Chilean Andine areas in mid winter! Much more than what Southern Europe just had in mid summer at the same elevation: This event is rewriting all climatic books.

The heat wave in the Chilean Andes has been causing snow melt below 9,840 feet, which will be felt in the spring and summer by valley residents downstream, The Guardian reported.

The main problem is how the high temperatures exacerbate droughts (in eastern Argentina and Uruguay) and accelerate snow melting, said Raul Cordero, a climatologist at the Netherlands University of Groningen, as reported by The Guardian.

Local climate scientists have said the combination of El Nino and human-caused climate change could bring more hot temperatures and extreme weather.

The period from January to July of this year has been one of the warmest ever recorded in South America.

Tuesday was likely the warmest winter day in northern Chile in 72 years, Cordero told CNN.

According to Marcos Andrade, director of atmospheric physics at Universidad Mayor de San Andres, Peru and Bolivias Andean plateau has been having unusual weather since the beginning of 2023, The Guardian reported.

Cities in Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil have broken heat records.

With the arrival of the El Nino phenomenon, it is expected that in the coming years this region will suffer an increase in the already high temperatures, making it necessary to take adaptation measures to avoid deaths and greater disasters, said Karla Beltran, an environmental consultant, as reported by The Guardian.

Beltran said the most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report indicated that the southern portion of South America was especially susceptible to heat waves. Periods of abnormally high temperatures are expected to occur more often in the Amazon and other northern parts of the continent, according to some studies.

Without a doubt, the maximum temperature records in winter in Chile and, to a certain extent, in South America are atypical. High pressure systems are more intense and persistent anomalies in the southern hemisphere, inducing hot air advection and/or directly generating temperature extremes. This high pressure will tend to remain and intensify in the coming decades with climate change, said Chico Geleira, deputy director of Brazils Polar and Climatic Center and a professor of climatology and oceanography at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, as The Guardian reported.

Africa, Australia and some archipelagos have also been experiencing unseasonably warm temperatures, reported The Washington Post. Overall, this heatwave is a startling reminder of how humans are changing Earths climate. We will continue to see such unprecedented extremes until we stop burning fossil fuels and emitting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, Matthew Patterson, postdoctoral research assistant in atmospheric physics at the University of Oxford, wrote in The Conversation.
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

The International Whaling Commission (IWC) has issued its first ever Extinction Alert statement for the endangered vaquita porpoise, whose population is estimated to have shrunk to 10 individuals.

The IWC says that a 100 percent ban on gillnets is immediately necessary to stop the extinction of the worlds smallest marine mammal.

Recent studies show there are now only about 10 surviving animals, but they are not yet doomed to extinction, the IWC statement said. The Scientific Committee of the IWC is making this statement because it believes that 100% enforcement of a ban on gillnets in their core habitat is needed to give the vaquita a chance of recovery.

The vaquita porpoise is only found in the northern part of Mexicos Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez. In 1997, the first survey of population numbers estimated that there were fewer than 567 vaquita. Another survey in 2015 estimated the population had decreased to 59 individuals, and by 2018, just nine or 10 were left. Thats an 83 percent decline in three years.

The only real threat to the shy, endangered porpoise with the dark rings around its eyes are gillnets. The nets are not set to target vaquita, but they can become entangled in them.

Vaquita become entangled in all types of gillnets. Shrimp gillnets are a significant problem, but the overwhelming impact in the last 10 years is from nets set for totoaba. The totoaba is a fish similar in size to the vaquita. Its value has skyrocketed due to the black market demand for totoaba swim bladders in Hong Kong and continental China. The involvement of organised crime in the totoaba fishery makes it particularly difficult and dangerous to address, the IWC statement said.

Fishing for totoaba  also an endangered species due to overfishing and the degradation of the habitat they share with the vaquita  in the Sea of Cortez has been illegal since 1975. Designation of protected areas for parts of the vaquitas habitat has been attempted, but factors like inadequate enforcement have meant the continuation of illegal fishing practices in the area.

The decline of the vaquita has continued despite a very clear understanding of both the cause (bycatch in gillnets) and the solution (replacement of gillnets with safe alternatives in the vaquita habitat), the statement said. Conservation strategies must consider the interests of the threatened species, the interests of the people who live alongside it, and their economic and social circumstances. Only when all three are maximised, so that human livelihoods too are maintained, can sustainable species conservation be achieved.

The top priority right now, however, is that all gillnet fishing in vaquita habitat stops immediately.

The IWCs Scientific Committee, a group of about 200 scientists, is leading the initiative after concluding that a new mechanism is needed to voice extinction concerns for an increasing range of cetacean species and populations, a press release from the IWC said.

We wanted, with the extinction alert, to send the message to a wider audience and for everyone to understand how serious this is, said Dr. Lindsay Porter, the vice-chair of the IWCs scientific committee, as The Guardian reported.

Vaquita numbers have remained fairly consistent for the past five years, likely because of the removal of gillnets. A program to retrieve fishing nets from core vaquita habitat began in 2016, and by 2019, more than 1,000 had been removed, according to the IWC statement.

Last year, the Mexican Navy, along with other government agencies, installed 193 structures on the seabed to deter gillnets, and since then it seems gillnet fishers have been steering clear of the zero tolerance zone and its surrounding buffer zone.

But this effort needs to be 100% effective to start reversing the decline and bringing the vaquita back from the brink of extinction, the statement said.

A ray of hope, Porter pointed out, is that the vaquita are still breeding.

There is at least one brand new baby vaquita, Porter said, as reported by The Guardian. If we can take away this one pressure, the population may recover. We cant stop now.

The IWC Extinction Alert statement added that, while the gillnet deterrence structures seem to be promising, long-term results need to be monitored and shared with public media and scientific journals.

The vaquitas plight exemplifies the challenges facing other dolphin and porpoise species living in coastal waters and struggling to survive alongside human activities, particularly fishing. Bycatch in fishing nets and entanglement in lines and other gear is estimated to kill more than 300,000 whales, dolphins and porpoises every year, the IWC statement said. This statement is issued today to encourage wider recognition of the warning signs of impending extinctions, and to generate support and encouragement at every level for the actions needed now to save the vaquita.




Vietnam-Israel FTA holds promises for Vietnam's seafood exports

The Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA), which was signed on July 25, could provide a push for Vietnam's seafood exports.

The general secretary of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Truong Dinh Hoe, said although the Israeli market accounts for a small proportion of Vietnam's seafood exports, it is a very high-potential market due to its high purchasing power and solvency.

Furthermore, Israel has limited natural resources and domestic labour resources; although it is a small country, its consumption demand is quite significant, meaning the market still has much room for Vietnamese seafood enterprises to operate effectively.

The agreement will scale down duties on at least 86% of Vietnamese products sent to Israel, including seafood, eventually zeroing them out. Tariffs will also be eliminated on 93% of Israeli products exported to Vietnam, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade.

"[The deal will] facilitate Vietnam's exports of its products not only to Israel but also pave the way for Vietnamese products to access other Middle East, North African and Southern European markets," the ministry said in a statement.

- SeafoodSource
Former Lieutenant Governor Sir Timothy Daunt has passed away

Government House released the statement below this afternoon:

Government House regrets to announce the death of former Lieutenant Governor Sir Timothy Daunt KCMG, who died peacefully on Saturday at his home in London, surrounded by his family.

Sir Timothy was Ambassador to Turkey in the late 1980s and 1990s and later Deputy Undersecretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Following his retirement, he was appointed as the Islands 26th Lieutenant Governor, holding the role from 27 October 1995 until 1 September 2000.

He leaves his wife, Patricia and son, James.
Under the scorching sun, Anhui is thriving.

Anhui is actively seeking talents for a prosperous future. The city of Hefei invites you with 200,000 job vacancies waiting to be filled. The gathering of talent in the city of science and innovation will contribute to the new development of the beautiful lakeside city.

At the cultural and trade fair, the Anhui Pavilion showcases a fresh perspective by emphasizing new development to traditional culture, integrating technology, and exploring new forms of cultural tourism. Anhui is becoming a hub of innovation and beauty.

The region of Jianghuai is thriving and vibrant. Media outlets from Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui have come together to witness the new developments and changes at the grassroots level. From Dawan Village to the Zhengpugang New District, from rural revitalization to industrial revitalization, Anhui is forging ahead on the path of high-quality development in the new era.

In this summer, by irrigating hope with sweat, Anhui Province will eventually bear bountiful and fruitful results!

On the morning of June 1st, in the grand auditorium of Daoxiang Village Elementary School in Hefei City, children celebrated their own festival.

On June 16th, our reporter captured aerial footage of three new landmarks in Hefei.

On June 18th, the 6th "Rainbow City Cup" Dragon Boat Race took place on the picturesque Chonghe River in Bengbu City, with a total of 27 teams competing.

On June 21st, the lotus flowers in the 6,000-square-meter Feicui Lake bloomed splendidly, and citizens enjoyed walking along the boardwalk and admiring the lotus.

On the afternoon of July 10th, at the Dawan Village Shili Drifting Project Terminal in Jinzhai County, visitors from both inside and outside the province embarked on a fantastic journey.

On July 16th, which happened to be a weekend, many parents brought their children to visit the Geological Museum of Anhui Province.

On July 27th, as the summer heat intensified, summer was in full swing. Visiting the Anhui Art Museum became a new choice for people to beat the heat! Schoolchildren on summer vacation became frequent visitors to the art museum.

On July 29th, aerial footage captured the completed 500-meter enclosed sound barrier project on the elevated section of the south extension of Hefei Metro Line 4.





Produced by HuiJing Imaging Studio

Planning/Editing: Fu Xiuyun

Text: Tan Meiling

Photography: Liu Yucai, Fu Xiuyun, Xu Mengyu, Duan Yu

Poster: Li Jingjing

Edited and translated by Zheng Chen
The UK's Electoral Commission has revealed that some personal information of around 40 million voters was left exposed for over a year. The agency  which regulates party and election finance and elections in the country  said it was the target of a complex cyberattack. It first detected suspicious activity on its network in October 2022, but said the intruders first gained access to its systems in August 2021.

The perpetrators found a way onto to the Electoral Commission's servers, which hosted the agency's email and control systems, as well as copies of the electoral registers. Details of donations and loans to registered political parties and non-party campaigners were not affected as those are stored on a separate system. The agency doesn't hold the details of anonymous voters or the addresses of overseas electors registered outside of the UK.

The data that was exposed included the names and addresses of UK residents who registered to vote between 2014 and 2022, along with those who are registered as overseas voters. Information provided to the commission through email and web forms was exposed too.

"We know that this data was accessible, but we have been unable to ascertain whether the attackers read or copied personal data held on our systems," the commission said. The agency confirmed to TechCrunch that the attack could have affected around 40 million voters. According to UK census data , there were 46.6 million parliamentary electoral registrations and 48.8 million local government electoral registrations in December 2021.

The Electoral Commission says it had to adopt several measures before disclosing the hack. It had to lock out the "hostile actors," analyze the possible extent of the breach and put more security measures in place to stop a similar situation from happening in the future.

Data in the electoral registers is limited and much of it is in the public domain already, the agency said. As such, officials don't believe the data by itself represents a major risk to individuals. However, the agency warned, it's possible that the information "could be combined with other data in the public domain, such as that which individuals choose to share themselves, to infer patterns of behavior or to identify and profile individuals."

The Electoral Commission also noted that there was no impact on UK election security as a result of the attack. "The data accessed does not impact how people register, vote, or participate in democratic processes," it said. "It has no impact on the management of the electoral registers or on the running of elections. The UKs democratic process is significantly dispersed and key aspects of it remain based on paper documentation and counting. This means it would be very hard to use a cyber-attack to influence the process."
Marvel's visual effects employees have voted in favor of joining a union in their fight for better pay, overtime compensation, more benefits and better treatment. According to Vulture, a supermajority of the company's 50 on-set VFX employees have filed a petition for an election with the National Labor Relations Board. They're hoping to join the Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), which also represents hair and makeup artists, wardrobe, lighting and prop personnel, among other workers. Because apparently, despite Marvel's reliance on visual effects to make its universe(s), superheroes and supervillains look real on the big screen, its VFX artists aren't represented by a union. IATSE has also been campaigning broadly to expand its membership into VFX and animation workers in recent months.

Several current and former VFX employees for the company previously spoke out about grueling schedules and breaking down under pressure while working on shows and movies for the studio. Sources told IGN that people were being given tasks that were impossible to finish within the timeframe allowed to complete them. Some VFX artists told Vulture that the hectic production schedule for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, for instance, led to rushed work and an end product that many reviewers had described as "bland."

VFX coordinator Bella Huffman said: "Turnaround times don't apply to us, protected hours dont apply to us, and pay equity doesnt apply to us. Visual effects must become a sustainable and safe department for everyone who's suffered far too long and for all newcomers who need to know they wont be exploited."

Vulture says a strike by Marvel's VFX artists is not out of the question. It is a common tactic employed by workers seeking to organize, after all  plus, both the Writers Guild and the Screen Actors Guild are currently on strike to demand better pay, streaming residuals from successful shows and regulation of AI use in Hollywood.
Amazon.com warehouse workers in Alabama voted against forming a union by a more than 2-to-1 margin in a major win for the retailer, but the union hoping to reignite the U.S. labor movement said on Friday it would challenge the results, citing election interference.
Some days it is hard to remember what is good and what is bad when you look out the window. If you are a farmer, you have to be happy that you have gotten significant rain the last two weeks after a spring and early summer that left the ground parched. There was a time when farmers in some areas wondered just how bad a crop they were raising.

Then it rained, and I hope you can be glad looking at the crops. I know its not fun looking at market reports. I write this in the middle of Aug. 7, when I just got a posting on my phone that said November soybean futures were down 38 1/2 cents and December corn futures were off almost five cents. Blame the rain, but be glad for it. The Chicago December wheat futures are up almost 12 cents, so I hope you have some in the bin.

According to scripture, the farmer must plant in hope. I know how it feels to do a preplant budget that says you will lose money, and then plant anyway and hope things change. I have said it before; however, it is better to grow a good crop in a cheap year than a poor crop in a high-priced year. It is just hard to take the fact that the rest of the world gains when you are selling too cheaply.

Corn

Corn feels cheap right now. We were down 33 cents last week, and in one day, were are now down 38 cents more. This is as much fun as a drunk has staggering out of the bar at 2 a.m. It felt good for a little bit, then it was uncomfortable, and now he is wondering if he can sneak into the house without waking the wife.

I feel that way about the grain market. It felt good for a while when we were making good planting progress without the rain, then it was uncomfortable wondering if we would get rain, and now we are just wondering if we can sell some cash grain off the combine without waking the banker into realizing that we need to pay the operating loan back.

A corn price that starts with a 4 is not going to go nearly far enough. We are trading at $4.96 December futures right now, so maybe we can squint a little and think it is almost $5.

Soybeans

November soybeans have been very volatile, and looking back to our high July 24 shows us just how volatile. That day, we put in the recent high, at $14.35. We are now trading $12.98, $1.37 lower.

The soybean market can always find things to talk about, be it exports, or the Ukraine mess, which has little directly to do with soybeans, but news there tends to bleed over from the other markets. The truth is that the market is focused on the weather, with the idea that beans were not looking great after growing in the dry for so long but that the critical time was August.

Well, we are now in August, and the weather is great. We have had long spells of high temperatures that were not too high, and most areas have recharged the water needs.

This morning, I listened to reporters all over the Midwest on our weekly conference call. Everyone had rain to talk about, from two inches in South Dakota to over five inches in parts of Iowa. Part of northwest Iowa had 12 inches! I assume they think that was something to complain about, but most farmers that had several inches said the ground soaked it up. Imagine a dry sponge thats about four feet thick.

Wheat

So, now we have farmers saying they are looking good for August, and the market is reflecting the optimism that has returned to the crop by taking it out on the prices. The exception is the wheat, where the winter crop is mostly harvested, and the spring crop harvest is started.

I am told that the spring wheat is not as good as the crop last year, but maybe a little better than normal. Add that to the huge cookie wheat crop in the East, and you have only the Ukraine war to give us a reason to have prices higher for wheat at least for today. We actually lost $1.42 off the $7.96 1/4 that we traded July 25, before the war news took us higher. We are now trading December Chicago wheat futures at $6.86, now up almost 26 cents for the day.

And, there is news from the war. Over the weekend, Ukraine attacked Russian Black Sea ports, probably as an escalation for keeping them from exporting grain out of the Black Sea. They also used a drone to attack a Russian oil tanker that was taking oil to meet Russian needs in Syria. Its no wonder why 40 nations got together last week to talk about how the war needed to end. Mostly, they want it to end before a new policy here might require Europeans to pay for this European war themselves.

It remains to be seen how much this market can recover. We are a long way from seeing new yield estimates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. We have to assume a good crop at this point, but it does still remain to be seen if we have as many acres of corn as USDA said after they raised their guess by three million.

The corn and wheat are down hard on improved weather. The market probably has overreacted, and prices will rebound just as we stop trading the new round of emotions.

The size of the rebound is the question. I have to assume we have missed the best prices, but that news will be a relief to those concentrating on filling bins at harvest. There were 240-bpa farmers looking at 100 bpa just a few days ago. Thank God for small green apples.
The global beef and pork markets continue to experience fluctuations, according to the latest market commentary from Quality Meat Scotland (QMS).

In July, the USDA updated its global beef and pork market forecasts, which pointed to slightly tighter market balances in both sectors.

However, the domestic beef market is no longer signalling as tight a balance as it once did, with market prices coming under significant pressure since May.

By contrast, in the pork sector, farmgate prices have continued to follow a slight upwards seasonal trend.

In the beef sector, cattle slaughter numbers rose in the first half of the year at UK level, while significant falls in average import and export prices, point to considerable competitive pressures in segments of the market where price is more important than origin.

Explaining more, Iain Macdonald, marketing intelligence manager at QMS, said: The EU beef market has softened in 2023 despite production continuing to decline, signalling demand-side weakness, likely driven by squeezed household budgets.

"As a result, some of the significant cattle price increases of 2021 and 2022 have unwound. Despite the recent fall in prime cattle prices in Scotland, R4L steer prices have continued to show a significant margin over the EU R3 grade young bull price of around 17-18% through June and July.

"Meanwhile, the price lead for Scottish R4L steers over Irish R3 steers averaged around 15% in July 2023 compared to 8.5% in July 2022 and was marginally higher than in July 2021.

Looking globally, the USDA are now forecasting a 0.4% rise in global beef production this year, having previously expected a slight fall of 0.3%.

This largely reflects revisions to output expectations in Brazil and Argentina, with the latter driven by drought conditions encouraging extra cow slaughter.

Mr Macdonald said: While analysts expect world beef consumption to rise slightly faster than production in 2023, it appears that sharply increased exports from the major producing nations of Australia, Argentina and Brazil are having an out-sized downwards impact on global pricing.

"In late-July, farmgate prices for steers in these three countries were converting to around 2.50-2.60/kg, down from around 3.20-30/kg in Argentina and Brazil a year ago, and from around 4.20/kg in Australia.

Meanwhile, in China, which imports considerable volumes from South America and Australia each year, wholesale beef prices have fallen 8% since May, with indications that consumer demand has been weaker than anticipated, leading to a build-up of product and heavily discounted import prices.

However, one market where cattle prices have held firm despite external pressures has been the USA, where steer prices converted to roughly 5/kg dwt in late July and averaged around 4% higher than Scottish prices during the month.

Tight supply following drought-induced herd liquidations in 2021 and 2022 combined with economic expansion and strong demand has limited any downwards pressure from importing much cheaper manufacturing grade beef from Australia and New Zealand.

Iain added: Unfortunately, challenging US market access requirements for Scottish processors and a limited Tariff Rate Quota, which has been filled by spring in 2022 and 2023, make a seemingly attractive export market look unappealing in practice.

In the pork sector, USDA analysts are now expecting marginal growth of 0.3% in global production in 2023, but consumption is forecast to rise slightly faster than output.

Expansion this year in Brazil, China and the USA is now larger than previously forecast, although the continued decline in the EU is now expected to be deeper than before.

Mr Macdonald adds: In Brazil, pork production is now expected to rise by 2.6% and, with domestic demand weak, its exports are expected to surge by 110,000t and 14%.

"Despite an expansion in its domestic production, Chinas pork imports are forecast to grow enough to absorb this additional Brazilian product, as consumption is expected to remain higher than can be supplied by its producers.

While still importing significant volumes of pork, the rebound in domestic production beyond pre-African swine fever levels has ensured that pork prices in China remain subdued, with wholesale pork trading at around 2/kg, a less appealing market than in previous years when prices were at multiples of GB levels.

Meanwhile, in the US, unlike beef, pork production is rising this year but consumption levels have been forecast to weaken. Farmgate prices have been trailing 2022 levels and exports to the world market are set to rise.

Mr Macdonald says: In the EU, in contrast to the beef sector, tight supply has maintained upwards pressure on farmgate pig prices.

"It is possible that some of this divergence reflects trading down by consumers into cheaper pork from beef, with the scale of production declines relatively similar, projected at around 2% for beef and 3% for pork by the USDA.

"EU pork prices have been closely matching GB levels this year, with the GB Standard Pig Price trading only around 4-6% higher than the EU average for grade E carcases since the spring.

"In turn, this has maintained upwards pressure on the price of pork imports to the UK, underpinning the competitiveness of domestic product, which has also been in short supply.

GB pig slaughter fell by 12% year-on-year in the first half of 2023 and a sharp reduction in UK exports to the EU and non-EU markets has not prevented market prices from continuing to trend seasonally higher, with the SPP reaching 2.25/kg in July.

He concluded: It seems likely that the current divergence between beef and pork markets is more reflective of significantly tighter domestic supply and a narrow price differential with EU levels in the pork sector than of overall global market conditions.
Beet growers are being encouraged to learn more about the inner workings of the UK sugar industry as part of an NFU-led programme.

The Sugar Industry Programme (SIP), open now for applications, includes a wide range of visits covering the entirety of the UK sugar supply chain.

Jointly funded by NFU Sugar and British Sugar, the programme represents an opportunity for growers to learn more about the industry.

According to both organisations, taking part would help sugar beet growers build valuable lasting connections while developing their professional skills.

Participants will also have the opportunity to take part in a number of training and development sessions, including media training, presentation skills training, and ask the expert workshops.

This years programme will include a series of one-day and two-day events between October 2023 and March 2024.

Ed Dale, farm manager at Stetchworth Estate in East Anglia, participated in the programme in 2019/20, saying it offered "fresh insights at all levels".

He said: A particular highlight was our visit to Belgium. There we visited the SESVanderHave Research Facility and Raffinerie Tirlemontoise, a sugar beet refinery on the outskirts of Tienen.

"It was interesting to learn about how sugar beet was thought of in Belgium. The challenges and concerns they had and how they were planning to tackle them.

Another benefit of the SIP is it puts you in contact with other people who work within different sectors of the industry.

"The SIP is open to delegates from across the industry, whether that be growers, agronomists, land agents, British Sugar employees or seed processors, all are welcome to apply and in turn that provides a great networking opportunity.

Marcus Cox, who works at British Sugar, said the programme offered a great opportunity to gain a deeper knowledge about everything that happens outside the factory.

"It gave a great insight into all the work that goes in to provide what we see on the supermarket shelf and makes me proud to be part of the industry.

Growers interested in taking part should email NFUSugar@nfu.org.uk with a copy of their CV and a cover letter.

Applications, which close on 25 September, are open to both NFU and non-NFU members.
King Charles has been urged to pressure the UK government to reveal the truth about aliens.

King Charles has been encouraged to get alien secrets released

UFO filmmaker Mark Christopher Lee claims that the monarch is interested in the extraterrestrial and wants the King to encourage Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to let the public know if there is any evidence of alien life.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) used to record UFO sightings but stopped doing so in 2009, claiming that the practice had no value.

Lee, who has made the documentary 'God Versus Aliens', said: "King Charles has an interest in UFOs handed down to him by his father the late Prince Philip. I'm calling on our King to put pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to release the truth about what the UK knows about UFOs to the public.

"They also need to put pressure on the US government and other governments worldwide. This is not just something that affects the US but a worldwide phenomena. The people of the world deserve to know the truth."
Donald Trump has launched another attack on the District of Columbia judge who will preside over his new criminal trial.

Donald Trump has launched another attack on the District of Columbia judge who will preside over his new criminal trial

The 77-year-old former US president is facing charges including conspiracy to defraud America, tampering with a witness and conspiracy against the rights of citizens, stemming from his actions in the wake of the 2020 election, after he was indicted for a record third time.

Along with hitting out at the judge on the case, he also targeted the prosecutor who brought the case against him for allegedly conspiring to disrupt the certification of electoral votes following his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden.

Trump said on his Truth Social platform Jack Smith, the Department of Justice special prosecutor who has obtained two federal indictments against him since June, is going before his number one draft pick, the Judge of his dreams (WHO MUST BE RECUSED!) in an effort to take away the ex-presidents First Amendment rights.

The twice-impeached, thrice-indicted former president was referring to a series of court filings in which Mr Smith is seeking a standard protective order to prevent Trump from disclosing information that the government is set to turn over to him and his defence team as part of the pre-trial discovery process.

Prosecutors had asked Judge Tanya Chutkan to impose an order barring the former president from disclosing discovery materials directly or indirectly to any person or entity other than persons employed to assist in the defense, persons who are interviewed as potential witnesses, counsel for potential witnesses, and other persons to whom the Court may authorise disclosure.

Trump has also said he has very powerful grounds for his demand to change judges in his latest case and claimed there is no way I can get a fair trial unless he has a different lawmaker.

Trumps call came after the prosecution requested a court order that would limit what he can publicly say about the case.

He also said he would also request a venue change and for his case to be moved out of Washington D.C..

The judge on his case, Tanya Chutkan, was appointed by former President Barack Obama.

Trump said on his Truth Social platform on Sunday (06.08.23) morning he wanted her replaced and dismisses his case as based on "the ridiculous freedom of speech/fair elections.

He has said there would be no way I can get a fair trial, or even close to a fair trial, in Washington, which he describes as an anti-Trump area.

Trumps lawyer John Lauro said the former president believed in his heart of hearts hed won the 2020 election and prosecutors will not be able to prove this wasnt his belief.

He gave no other details of his grounds for asking the judge to step aside.

Judge Chutkan, appointed in 2014, previously ruled against Trump's efforts to shield evidence from the House January 6 Committee.

She is the only federal judge in Washington to delivered sentences against defendants in cases related to the Capitol riot on 6 January that are longer than the sentences demanded by the Department of Justice.

Judge Chutkan is expected to call in attorneys from both sides on 28 August to discuss setting a trial date against the former president.

Trump now faces five upcoming trials.

They include three criminal trials which include his alleged mishandling of classified documents, accounting fraud and these election charges.

He also faces two civil trials over business practices and alleged defamation of a woman who has accused him of rape.
Russell Brand's relationship with Katy Perry was "a little bit chaotic".

Russell Brand was previously married to Katy Perry

The 48-year-old comedian was married to the chart-topping pop star between 2010 and 2012, but Russell has now confessed that their romance was quite turbulent.

During an appearance on 'Running Wild With Bear Grylls: The Challenge', Russell shared: "Aside from my, like, sort of feelings of affection for Katy, its a time that I remember as being a little bit chaotic and a bit, for me, Ill speak for myself, a little disconnected."

Russell observed that their marriage coincided with the peak of his movie career, when he starred in films such as 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' and 'Get Him to the Greek'.

He added: "Some aspects of it were, like, amazing. Shes an amazing person, and it was kind of incredible to live for a moment in that eye of the cyclone-type aspect of fame."

Katy previously described their romance as the "first breaking of [her] idealistic mind".

The 'Dark Horse' hitmaker - who is now engaged to actor Orlando Bloom - likened their relationship to a "tornado".

Speaking to '60 Minutes Australia', Katy explained: "I was having great success at 23, 24 and 25 and then I met someone that was interesting and stimulating. It was just like a tornado, it was everything happening at once."

What's more, Katy previously claimed that Russell informed her via text that he was seeking a divorce on New Year's Eve.

The pop star told Vogue in 2013: "He's a very smart man, and I was in love with him when I married him. Let's just say I haven't heard from him since he texted me saying he was divorcing me December 31, 2011."
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China witnessed a 10 per cent year-on-year (YoY) growth in total cargo throughput for the second quarter (Q2) of 2023, an increase from the 8 per cent seen in Q1 2023, according to Fitch Ratings. This can be attributed to the lower base in Q2 2022, caused by the Shanghai lockdown.

In terms of container throughput, there was a 6 per cent YoY growth as opposed to the 3 per cent in Q1 2023. This surge is linked to several factors, including an increase in trade activity with the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a previous low base at the Shanghai ports, new foreign trade routes inaugurated at the Dalian port in the first half (H1) of 2023, and a boost in trade with countries along the Belt and Road initiative, as per Fitch Ratings.

China's cargo throughput increased 10 per cent YoY in the second quarter of 2023, up from 8 per cent in Q1 2023, according to Fitch Ratings. Container throughput saw 6 per cent YoY increase, attributed to factors including RCEP trade and Belt and Road. Despite this, the country's exports declined 5 per cent YoY with notable drops to the US and EU.

While China saw promising throughput growth, its export value painted a different picture, declining 5 per cent YoY. Exports to major players like Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the US, and the European Union (EU) witnessed drops of 10 per cent, 17 per cent, and 7 per cent, respectively. Contrarily, there was an explosive increase of 117 per cent in exports to Russia. ASEAN remained China's top export recipient, surpassing both the US and the EU.

The Shanghai Containerised Freight Index (SCFI) and the China Containerised Freight Index (CCFI) were down 77 per cent and 70 per cent YoY in Q2 2023. Routes from Shanghai to Western regions like the US and Europe were the primary reasons for this decline due to persistently weak demand. The Baltic Dry Index (BDI) mirrored this trend with a 48 per cent decrease, while the Baltic Dirty Tanker Index (BDTI) saw a contrasting 9 per cent drop after experiencing 51 per cent growth in Q2 2023.

Given these patterns, Fitch Ratings anticipates continuous pressure on throughput growth, especially in the container sector, as it's largely dependent on external demand.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP)
President Joe Biden yesterday signed legislation implementing the United States-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade First Agreement Implementation Act, which would, among other things, impose requirements on the negotiations of certain further trade agreements between both the countries.

Certain sections of the law raise constitutional concerns, Biden said in a statement.

President Joe Biden yesterday signed legislation implementing the United States-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade First Agreement Implementation Act, which would impose requirements on the negotiations of certain further trade agreements between both sides. Certain sections of the law 'raise constitutional concerns', Biden said in a statement.

Section 7(b) of the Act would require the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to provide negotiating texts to congressional committees in the midst of negotiations with a foreign partner, and section 7(c) of the Act would preclude the USTR from transmitting United States-proposed texts to Taiwan while the Congress is reviewing them, the President said.

Section 7(c) of the Act would further, in violation of INS v Chadha, afford 2 members of the Congress the power to increase the required waiting period before the USTR may provide texts to Taiwan. Section 7(d) of the Act would require the inclusion of members of the Congress as accredited members of the United States delegation who would be entitled to daily briefings, including of tentative agreements, he said.

Biden said he would treat those sections, which require transmission of trade deal drafts to Congress, as non-binding if they "impermissibly infringe upon my constitutional authority to negotiate with a foreign partner."

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Akshay Kumar is preparing for the release of his much-anticipated film, Oh My God 2. While fans await the film with bated breath, a special screening was held in Mumbai on Monday night. Akshay Kumar was seen posing for the paparazzi with his co-star Pankaj Tripathi at the screening. He looked effortlessly cool in a black t-shirt and cargo pants. He, on the other hand, appeared uncomplicated in a kurta pyjama. Both celebrities posed for photographers and greeted them with folded hands.



Arun Govil and other OMG 2 team members joined Akshay Kumar and Pankaj Tripathi. Yami Gautam, who will play a lawyer in OMG 2, also attended the event. Take a look at the pics:

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Balaji Motion Pictures, headed by Ektaa R. Kapoor, is preparing for the release of Dream Girl 2, starring the multifaceted Ayushmann Khurrana in the compelling characters of Pooja and Karam.

Right from the beginning the makers have pulled off an interesting campaign for the film to introduce the rejuvenated charm of Pooja, while they recently unveiled a fascinating and entertaining trailer. Continuing the spree, the makers are now on a hunt for a call center while we all assume what is it going to be for.

According to a source close to the project, "The makers are looking for a call center in Delhi or Gurugram where the lead Ayushmann Khurrana might visit. However, it's not confirmed which call center they will be visiting and more details on the same will be disclosed soon."

Dream Girl 2, a much-awaited film directed by Raaj Shandilya, features a stellar cast led by Ayushmann Khurrana and Ananya Panday in the lead roles. Joining them are renowned actors like Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Vijay Raaz, and Manjot Singh, along with the talented Abhishek Banerjee, Manoj Joshi, and Annu Kapoor, who play prominent characters in the movie. Fans are eagerly anticipating the film's release, scheduled to hit cinemas on August 25, 2023.
Mouni Roy In Sizzling Red Dress: Bollywood diva Mouni Roy turned heads and set social media ablaze with her sizzling appearance in a red, deep plunging strappy dress. Known for her impeccable fashion choices and acting prowess, her bold ensemble accentuated her elegant curves.

MOUNI ROY DAZZLES IN SEXY RED DRESS; VIDEO GOES VIRAL

The starlet who is currently in Bangalore took the internet by storm with her latest fashion appearance. The deep plunging strappy dress in red radiated an air of elegance and poise. Mouni's ravishing ensemble boasts intricate design details and a daring plunging neckline that added a touch of allure.

The gown's exquisite fishtail design gracefully cascaded down to the floor, adding a hint of drama to the ensemble. What set this look apart is Mouni's minimalistic approach to styling. She opted for a no-accessory look, letting the gown take center stage. She completed the look with soft wavy hair and dewy makeup.

Sharing the video on Instagram, she wrote, "How ya fixed for moonlight how ya fixed for stars how ya fixed for kissing while we listen to soft guitars..."

NETIZENS REACT TO MOUNI ROY'S VIDEO

Mouni Roy's sizzling appearance in the red dress has left netizens gushing over her curvaceous figure and impeccable style. Social media platforms are abuzz with praise for the Bollywood diva, as fans and fashion enthusiasts can't stop showering her with compliments.

A user wrote, "You look like an angel." Several others dropped red hearts, fire emojis, and called her hottie.

MOUNI ROY'S WORK-FRONT

On the professiona front, Mouni Roy was last seen as the main antagonist, Junoon, in the movie Brahmastra. The film starred Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor in lead roles. She is set to appear in the film, The Virgin Tree, where she will be starring alongside Sunny Singh and Palak Tiwari. The movie is directed by Sidhaant Sachdev and produced by Sanjay Dutt.
OMG 2 Early Review: Bollywood's Khiladi, aka Akshay Kumar, is gearing up for his next release, Oh My God 2. Ahead of its release, the actor organised a special screening of the film for Jaggi Vasudev, who is popularly known as Sadhguru, at his Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.

Later, the actor was seen exchanging words of gratitude with the spiritual guru on social media. Sadguru lauded the film and called it important to "educate young people on how to handle their bodily needs."

Further, he also thanked Akshay for showing him the movie and offered his thoughts on it. They also uploaded a video that showed them both engaged in some frisbee play in addition to watching OMG 2.

Spiritual leader Sadguru watches Akshay Kumar's OMG 2

Sharing his views on X, formerly known as Twitter, Sadguru emphasised the importance of teaching young children about their physical requirements, adding that it will help cultivate a safer society for women.

On X, he wrote, He wrote on X, "Namaskaram @akshaykumar. Wonderful having you here at the Isha Yoga Center & learning about 'Oh My God -2'. Educating young people on how to handle their bodily needs is most essential if we want to cultivate a society that is sensitive to the safety & dignity of its women. It is time our education system focuses on equipping our youth to handle their body, mind & emotions rather than being purely information oriented. -Sg #OMG2."

Namaskaram @akshaykumar. Wonderful having you here at the Isha Yoga Center & learning about Oh My God -2. Educating young people on how to handle their bodily needs is most essential if we want to cultivate a society that is sensitive to the safety & dignity of its women. It is pic.twitter.com/pnYkDp9jqP  Sadhguru (@SadhguruJV) August 7, 2023

" title="Ent LIVE Blog: Akshay, Pankaj, Yami Attend OMG 2 Screening In Style, Nawazuddin Siddiqui Haddi First Look" />Ent LIVE Blog: Akshay, Pankaj, Yami Attend OMG 2 Screening In Style, Nawazuddin Siddiqui Haddi First Look

Akshay Kumar responds to Sadguru's tweet on OMG 2

Expressing how honoured he was to visit the Isha Yoga Centre, Akshay Kumar thanked Sadguru for appreciating the film and sharing his insightful feedback. Highlighting what the positive response meant to him and his team, the Sefliee actor wrote, "Namaskaram @SadhguruJV Was an absolute honour to visit the Isha Yoga Center."

He added, "I had one of the best experiences ever. Thank you for watching OMG 2 and for your insightful, kind feedback. Means so much to me and my entire team that you liked and blessed our effort."

About OMG 2

Directed by Amit Rai, OMG 2 is a satirical comedy-drama featuring Akshay Kumar in the role of Lord Shiva messenger. The other star cast includes Yami Gautam, Pankaj Tripathi, and Arun Govil, known for his role of Rama in Ramayan.

The sequel to the 2012 hit film of the same name, OMg 2, is scheduled for release on August 11.

" title="OMG 2 Trailer Review: Akshay Kumar Turns Shivas Messenger To Guide Pankaj Tripathi As He Fights For Justice " />OMG 2 Trailer Review: Akshay Kumar Turns Shivas Messenger To Guide Pankaj Tripathi As He Fights For Justice
Shraddha Kapoor, the most loved and socially followed actor never leaves a chance to engage with her fans and followers. Taking to her social media today, the actress gave a shoutout to the Nirbhaya squad and hailed them for their 'Stree Power'.

She recently took to her Instagram and posted a story lauding the Stree power of the Nirbhaya squad. While re-sharing Mumbai Police's post, Shraddha wrote, "Stree Power " with Beyonce's 'Who runs the world' playing in the background. The post consists of a a popular dialogue from her next film "Oh stree Raksha Karna" with women police officers of the Nirbhaya Squad saluting.

Launched on 26th January, 2022, Nirbhaya Squad is a squad comprising of trained women police officials, formed to put a stop to various crimes perpetuated against women. This is not the first time when Mumbai Police has taken inspiration from Shraddha's Stree movie. During the peak time of Covid, Mumbai Police posted a picture saying "Oh Corona Kabhi Mat Aana" for their social media post which also got a shoutout from the actress.

Portraying the gritty and edgy role in Stree, Shraddha redefined versatility and raised the bar of her own talent. The mysterious character that she portrayed is still etched in the hearts of the audiences, and fans are eagerly waiting to see her in the next installment of the much anticipated franchise.
Spandana Vijay Raghavendra Cremation: If the legal process is completed by noon, Spandana's dead body will be brought from Bangkok to Bangalore by Indigo flight at 2 PM.

Legal Process To Travel From Bangkok To Bangalore

Actor Vijay Raghavendra's wife Spandana died of a heart attack in Bangkok. Her sudden death at a young age has shocked many people. Currently, Vijay Raghavendra and his family are in Bangkok. Spandana's postmortem has already been completed there. Spandana's dead body will be brought from Bangkok to Bangalore today (August 8) evening or night. There is a possibility of making arrangements for the creamation by tomorrow.

Spandana suffered a heart attack on August 6. She was taken to the hospital and found dead by the doctors. A post-mortem was conducted on Monday (August 7). There are some legal procedures to bring her dead body from Bangkok to Indisa. The family is expected to complete it today.

If the legal process is completed by noon, Spandana's dead body will be brought by Bangkok to Bangalore by Indigo flight at 2 PM. Then the family will reach Bangalore at 6 PM. Although there is a delay, a Thai Airlines flight is available fpr them to travel from Bangkok to Bangalore at 9:30 PM. Then the dead body will be brought at midnight.

Cremation By Tomorrow

It is said that arrangements are being made for the final rituals of Spandana's body. However, many hours have already passed since Spandana died. Thus, it is not yet clear whether the arrangements are made for the rituals. Reports say that it has been decided to arrange for the last rites at the Malleswar Maidan or the ground opposite the BJP office.

The last rites will be done according to their community. The place for the funeral is yet to be decided. The cremation is likely to take place in Bangalore or Belthangadi. A decision on this will be taken only after the body arrives.
Siddique Death: Malayalam celebrities including Dulquer Salmaan, Manju Warrier and Tovino Thomas took to social media to express their grief over Siddique. The tinsel town celebrities paid respect to the talented director, who helmed some of the biggest films in the Malayalam film industry.

DULQUER SALMAAN REACTS TO SIDDIQUE DEMISE

Dulquer Salmaan penned a post to share his pain as Siddique left for his heavenly abode. He called the late filmmaker a 'gifted writer and director'. Remembering his contribution to Indian cinema, he said that Siddique's death was a major loss to the industry.

The Sita Ramam actor offered his condolences to the late director's family and hoped that they get the strength to deal with the loss.

"The gentlest soul. The kindest human. A gifted writer/director. The most incredible humor hiding behind his soft demeanour. He gave us some of the most iconic films. Part of our pop culture and referred to in our everyday conversations. This is an immeasurable loss. Prayers and strength to Siddique Sirs' family and loved ones," Dulquer wrote on Instagram.

Manju Warrier wrote, "The moments of laughter you've gifted us will always remain. Adieu to one of my favourites! #RIP." She said that Siddique was one of her favourite directors, with whom she worked in films.

Tovino Thomas paid his homage on Instagram by writing, "Rest in peace sir."

The prominent director died in Kochi. The filmmaker was admitted to a hospital in the city last month after he suffered from a liver ailment. Siddique was placed on ECMO support after he suffered a heart attack on August 7.

The mortal remains will be kept at a stadium in Kochi for his fans to pay their last respect. The funeral will be conducted on Wednesday (August 9) in the evening.

On the professional front, Siddique last directed Big Brother, which released in 2020. The action flick starring Mohanlal and Arbaaz Khan couldn't set the box office on fire as it received negative reviews from the critics and audience.
Did Vijay Enquired About Rajinikanth's Health Condition? Art director and actor DRK Kiran, who got famous after participating in the recently concluded Cooku With Comali show, shared many interesting facts about actor Vijay in a recent interview.

Rajinikanth's Hukum To Kutty Story At The Jailer Audio Launch

After the release of Hukum song from Jailer, controversy erupted as the song was made against actor Vijay. Also, another huge controversy arose on social media as Rajinikanth's Kaka-Vulture kutty story which he spoke at the Jailer audio launch was targeting actor Vijay.

Eventhough Superstar immediately said that he did not mention anyone in particular, people started saying that he is attacking Vijay. It was Thalapathy Vijay who gave Nelson an opportunity to direct Beast. Also, Nelson himself said in the audio launch that actor Vijay gave him the confidence to meet Superstar Rajinikanth and narrate the story of Jailer.

In this case, Jailer art director DRK Kiran, who recently gave an interview to a leading YouTube channel said, "Vijay will never say Rajini sir. He calls him only as Thalaivar always. I went for a Telugu film shoot. Varisu shooting also took place in the same location.

Fans Make The Situation Worse?

When he came to know about my arrival, Vijay ran to hug me and inquired about Thalaivar Rajinikanth's health. He asked if there Thalaivar was good and active. He also asked how the film was coming. When I said that Nelson is having a good time making the film, he said 'Yes, Nelson will keep everyone happy.'

Even though the actors have expressed their solidarity with each other whenever they get a chance, the fans are constantly throwing ugly fights and makes the situation worse. Superstar also mentioned at Jailer audio launch event that only if the fans are united, just like Telugu cinema and Kannada cinema have progressed to the biggest place in the collection, Kollywood can also progress."
Bigg Boss OTT 2 update: Was Shafaq Naaz's Avinash Sachdev's ex-girlfriend? Did Avinash date Falaq Naaz's sister Shafaq Naaz? These were a few questions that were constantly discussed on social media after gossip mills suggested that the two celebrities were in a relationship.

WAS SHAFAQ NAAZ AVINASH SACHDEV'S EX-GIRLFRIEND?

Last month, speculations about Avinash Sachdev dating Shafaq Naaz in 2012 became the talk of the town. It was rumoured that the duo liked each other a decade ago and were in a relationship for six months. A report in a portal had suggested that it was Avinash who backed out of the relationship and decided to end it.

The conjecture spread like wildfire on the internet, setting several tongues wagging. While Falaq Naaz said that she was not aware about their 'relationship, Avinash broke his silence after his eviction from Bigg Boss OTT 2 house. The Choti Bahu star, who got eliminated along with Jad Hadid, made a big remark about the rumour.

AVINASH SACHDEV REACTS TO DATING RUMOUR WITH SHAFAQ NAAZ

Did he ever date Shafaq Naaz, with whom he worked in Teri Meri Love Stories? Avinash has an answer for the gossip mongers. He made it clear that he was never in a relationship with Falaq's younger sister. As he developed a liking for Falaq, the rumours about him dating her younger sister several years ago grabbed several eyeballs.

Breaking his silence on the rumour, the Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon- Ek Baar Phir actor told a portal that nothing is hidden in the industry and such rumour would have surfaced years ago if it were true. He stated that if he dated Shafaq, the news would have been out.

WHAT AVINASH SAID ABOUT HIS BREAKUP?

Mentioning his breakup with Rubina Dilaik, the Balika Vadhu star said that the news would have made headlines if he was dating Shafaq back then. "I had just wrapped up Choti Bahut and was going through a breakup with Rubina Dilaik. Agar aisi koi cheez hoti hamare beech mein, toh ye news bachti bahar aane se?," he told ETimes.

Avinash reunited with Falaq Naaz after getting eliminated from BB OTT 2. The duo spent quality time with her family members and Jad Hadid as they celebrated their successful stint in the reality show. A video from their celebrations is going viral on the internet.

Avinash Sachdev and Falaq Naaz will attend the Bigg Boss OTT 2 grand finale, which will take place on August 14, 2023.

Watch this space for more updates.
Tallinn, Estonia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 7, 2023) - Simple Traffic, a leading-edge targeted traffic generation platform, ushers in a new era of visitor forwarding with its groundbreaking software that seamlessly redirects quality traffic to websites in seconds.

Real visitors drive real results.





Unlock the Power of Targeted Traffic with Simple Traffic, the Revolutionary Visitor-Forwarding Platform that Redirects Quality Traffic to Client Websites

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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As reliance on the digital landscape grows, Simple Traffic offers a simple, straightforward, and reliable solution for businesses and individuals seeking to amplify their online presence and generate high-quality leads from real, targeted website visitors. Through a revolutionary approach that streamlines the process of driving traffic to online platforms, Simple Traffic, unlike traditional traffic generation, doesn't rely on bots and complicated campaigns. Instead, the platform leverages its high amount of real traffic on its domain network to deliver genuine human traffic to client websites.

Understanding that driving traffic is only one step in a long journey to lead generation and conversion, Simple Traffic offers comprehensive services, including precision targeting, enhanced analytics, round-the-clock support, and scalable plans, to ensure clients receive website visitors that have an interest in their products, services or content. From its extensive network of websites and domains, Simple Traffic matches the visitors with the client's targeting, and if they qualify, they are instantly forwarded to the website. Customizable targeting on the platform allows clients to specify their demographic preferences. "We only forward you visitors from the countries, devices, and internet browsers you choose."

Most importantly, Simple Traffic helps businesses optimize website speeds by offering helpful insights and tracking. Clients can see where their web visitors are coming from on the dashboard, which helps understand visitor behavior, track bounce rates, and more for informed growth strategies.

Real visitors' subscriptions

Starting with a complimentary trial that grants clients 2500 website visitors, Simple Traffic has designed scalable subscription plans to help businesses and individuals achieve their traffic goals. With the complimentary trial, clients get 500 visitors on any subscription plan for the first five days. After the trial period, Simple Traffic offers various monthly subscription plans tailored to the needs of businesses of all sizes.

The Simple Traffic difference

Simple Traffic is designed to provide an effective and hassle-free way to generate real, qualified website traffic for businesses in the digital space. By delivering relevant traffic through targeting, the platform propels businesses to success with increased leads and conversions. This approach has established Simple Traffic as a game-changer in targeted traffic generation and visitor forwarding.

With its trailblazing software, Simple Traffic has become a powerful platform recognized as an industry leader. Visit https://learn.simpletraffic.co/ to learn more.

Contact Info:

Name: Trevor Johnson

Email: hello@simpletraffic.co

Organization: Simple Traffic

Website: https://www.simpletraffic.co/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/176335
LIAOCHENG, China, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- This is a report from the Shandong office of Hong Kong Business Daily. "Wow, the sunflowers on this wall are beautifully painted! " And this plow cow, it's painted exactly like the real thing. At dusk on July 13th, in Suhai Village, Dabu Township, Yanggu County, Shandong Province, a group of children who returned from summer vacation were standing around the wall painting and admiring.

Night has arrived, and on the brightly lit square in Suhai Village, the team members are tracing the rural scenery while three elementary school students are watching intently. Villages become colorful due to wall paintings, and culture becomes vivid due to wall paintings. Starting from July 1st, Dabu Township took the opportunity of the "Dream Building Village" initiative to invite the "Dandelion" rural summer social practice team from the School of Fine Arts of Shandong Normal University to carry out the "Writing for a New Era, Colorful New Countryside" wall painting work in Suhai Village, Dabu Township. In order to provide children in the village with a greater sense of participation and experience in village construction, and to learn simple painting techniques and color matching during summer vacation, after discussing with 12 team members, it was decided to take the children to paint the walls together.

The team members utilized their professional advantages, carried forward the spirit of "not afraid of hardship, able to endure hardship", overcame various difficulties such as hot weather and rainwater invasion, from designing drawings to tracing and drawing lines, from mixing pigments to writing on walls, and completed more than 30 walls in 7 days. The pictures and texts were combined to promote the cultural characteristics of the village and promote the practice of new era civilization.

In recent years, Yanggu County has always made cultural revitalization a key focus of village development. Through wall painting, agricultural culture has become more vivid and colorful. It also uses the opportunity of wall painting to gather greater joint forces for the development of the village, adding color to the countryside with childlike innocence, and building dreams for the future with unity.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/yanggu-china-small-wall-painting-leading-rural-great-civilization-301895224.html
Odessa, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2023) - Reyna Law Firm has brought forward new upgrades to its damage claim legal assistance, aiming to help injured oil field workers in and around Odessa, Texas.

The news comes as a matter of urgency, with Reyna Law Firm pointing to the unsafe conditions many pipeline and oilfield workers are subjected to on a daily basis. As such, it offers legal guidance for those hurt while under employment alongside potential lawsuit representation and injury claim management, as needed.

For more information see https://www.reynainjurylaw.com/odessa.

Oilfield Injury Lawyer Services For Odessa Workers Announced By Reyna Law Firm

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With a prominent number of oil and gas extraction sites, the Permian Basin region hosts workers involved in drilling, construction, and other high-risk tasks from West Texas to New Mexico. Reyna Law Firm provides its new services in direct support of such personnel in the event that they have sustained harm due to insufficient safety standards or employer negligence.

Operating from its local Odessa offices, Reyna Law Firm notes that its team has observed the plight of oilfield workers - intending its new legal options to provide relief. Its attorneys are now able to navigate injury claims in line with the latest regulatory amendments in injury law, offering accident victims aid in their steps toward recovery.

Reyna Law Firm stresses that the injuries involved in the oil and gas extraction industries are often severe, deriving from electrical shocks and chemical exposure. Since the effects of such injuries can be long-lasting, victims need to seek suitable compensation to account for their long-term wellbeing. The firm's new services are specifically built to target such figures.

Owing to its firm's experience working oilfield injury cases, Reyna Law Firm designs its new services with an understanding of accepted safety protocols. Protective gear, heat exhaustion, and careful practice are facets that workers need to be aware of - and in case of accidents, a failure by employers to train or advise in such areas could put injury liability on their shoulders.

With its new services, then, Reyna Law Firm aims to prosecute liable parties to the full extent of the law - its lawyers point to the usage of incriminating evidence in proving that hurt workers deserve ample recompense for their suffering. In many cases, legal parties can agree on settlement figures over the course of negotiations, but Reyna Law Firm also offers courtroom representation.

By providing these new services, Reyna Law Firm works to cover all eventualities in each injury claim case. The firm cites prior awards of multi-million-dollar settlements to drive home the point that compensation in oilfield damage cases can reach significant figures.

Interested parties in and around Odessa can find further details about Reyna Law Firm's new legal guidance at https://www.reynainjurylaw.com/odessa.

Contact Info:

Name: James Lewis

Email: james@jreynalawfirm.com

Phone: 432-232-5183

Organization: Reyna Law Firm Odessa

Address: 301 North Muskingum Avenue STE. A, Odessa, Texas 79761, United States

Website: https://www.reynainjurylaw.com/odessa

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/176452
Geneva, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Investor group NewGAMe and Bruellanrequests date change for GAM EGM to allow shareholders to vote with full knowledge of the outcome of Liontrust's offer for GAM

Investor group - which controls 9.6% of GAM shares -requests EGM takes place after the end of the tender period for Liontrust's offerfor GAM

Latest extension of Liontrust offer period - to 23 August - means GAM shareholders cannot make an informed choice about the future of the company at the EGM on 18 August

If date change is denied by GAM, investor group will withdraw the proposals it submitted for the EGM and ask for a new EGM to be held once results of Liontrust's offer are known

Letter also asksGAM board to complete inadequate responses to questions submitted in June and outlines nine additional questions

Geneva, 08August 2023 - The investor group comprised of NewGAMe SA and Bruellan SA (the "Group"), which controls approximately 9.6% of the issued share capital of GAM Holding AG [GAM:SWX] ("GAM"), has requested that GAM changes the date of the EGM to allow shareholders to vote with the full knowledge of the outcome of Liontrust's [LIO:LON] offer. This would likely be on or around 31 August to reflect the extension of Liontrust's offer period, which was originally due to end on 25 July and has since been extended to 28 July, then 4 August, then 23 August. Should GAM not announce publicly the re-scheduling of the EGM by 10 August, the Group will withdraw the proposals it submitted for the EGM and request a new EGM to be held once the results of the Liontrust's offer are known.

In a letter addressed to GAM's board, the Group states that the board's decision to bring forward the EGM date from 25 August to 18 August and Liontrust's decision to extend the offer period until 23 August prevents GAM's shareholders from drawing on the consequences of the expected failure of Liontrust's offer to make an informed choice about the future of the company.

The letter also addresses the "unsatisfactory" answers provided by GAM on 2 August to the questions that the Group submitted on 7 and 15 June 2023. The Group has asked GAM to complete the inadequate responses it provided on 2 August and raised nine additional questions.

Antoine Spillmann, CEO and Partner at Bruellan and the Group's proposed candidate for chairman of GAM's board, said:

"It is clear that Liontrust does not have the support it needs to proceed with its acquisition of GAM and the latest extension ofthe offer period to until 23August is intended to force shareholders to vote on NewGAMe's proposals before the result of Liontrust'soffer is known. We want GAM shareholders to be able to make an informed choice about the future of the company. Rather than acting in the best interests of the company, GAM's board of directors are playing with dates and deadlines to avoid being held to account by shareholders in case of a failure of the Liontrust offer."

A copy of the letter to GAM's board can be found here:

https://newgam.ch/assets/downloads/Letter_to_GAM_7_August.pdf

Media contacts

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/
PUNE, India, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- New Reports 'India HRC coil Market and India CRC Coil Market,' Statistics, Growth Trend Analysis and Forecast Report, 2023 - 2033' by Market Decipher forecast a CAGR of 8.2% in Revenue and 8.4% in Volume by 2033. India's domestic steel demand is estimated to grow annually by 8% to reach 138.85 million tonnes (mt) in 2023.

Get research insights in detail: https://www.marketdecipher.com/report/india-crc-steel-market-report

Get research insights in detail: https://www.marketdecipher.com/report/india-hot-rolled-coil-steel-market-report

"In fiscal year 2022-23, the demand for domestic steel amounted to 132.74 million metric tons. It is anticipated that this demand will experience a 7.2% increase, reaching a total of 163.85 million metric tons in the subsequent financial year, 2024-25. The India HR and CR coils market is driven by several key trends and growth factors. Rapid urbanization, infrastructure development, and a growing automotive sector have led to increased demand for steel products, including HR and CR coils." - Chandradeep Singh (Lead Analyst, Market Decipher)

"India: A Producer as well as a Consumer of Steel - Most Lucrative Country in Steel"

During the year 2022, India stood as the sole top-ranking nation to achieve an upsurge in production. Conversely, China, Japan, Russia, and the US experienced declines in their production levels. Notably, China, the largest steel producer, witnessed a reduction in output, from 1.03 billion tonnes in 2021 to 1.01 billion tonnes in 2022. Similarly, Japan, occupying the third position, observed a decrease in production, with its output falling to 89.2 million metric tons in 2022 compared to the previous year's 96.3 million metric tons.

"Domestic Demand: India Stands Out in Consumption as well"

"In a challenging global economic landscape, India stands out as a beacon of optimism, bucking the prevailing international trends. The steel industry has reaped the benefits of robust economic growth, as the relationship between steel demand and GDP growth remains notably strong. This connection is particularly evident when the economy achieves a growth rate of approximately 6 percent or higher, with a multiplier effect greater than one, as highlighted by Ranjan Singh (Research Head, Market Decipher) in a recent communication.

"INDIA: A Hub for Steel - Crude Steel to Finished Steel, Everything in the Industry"

Fueled by dynamic momentum in infrastructure investment and sustained urban consumption growth, India's steel demand is poised to maintain a steady expansion of 8-9 million metric tons annually over the next two fiscal years. This trajectory is anticipated to lead to a growth rate of 8.2 percent in the fiscal year 2023-24, followed by a 6.9 percent growth in 2024-25."

Key Market Developments

Scrap-steel based production plants are being planned by top manufacturers

The Union Budget 2023-24 allotted Rs. 70.15 crore (US$ 8.6 million) to the Ministry of Steel.

In January 2023, Indian mills raised their hot rolled coil export prices due to robust demand in Europe and anticipated price increases from Chinese mills.

Hot-rolled coil constitutes 35% of imported steel from April to February 2023.

Steel giants ArcelorMittal and JSW Steel are competing to acquire the steel plant of National Mineral, a major mining company.

The policy permitting 100% FDI in the steel industry via the automatic route has spurred increased investments.

Government is supporting local manufacturers by taxation on export/import of steel products.

India Steel Rods & Bars Market: Indian steel bar manufacturers are actively adopting cutting-edge technology to optimize operations, elevate efficiency, and promote sustainability within the sector.

India Flat Steel Bar Market: Flat steel products find predominant utilization in the expansive automotive sector, a substantial industry valued at USD 100 billion.

India Long Steel Market: In recent years, there has been a noticeable surge in demand for bright bars, fasteners, electrodes, and wire mesh across diverse sectors in India.

India Stainless-Steel Fasteners Market: Within India, over 65% of the high-tensile fasteners market is dominated by the organized sector, while the unorganized sector contributes to around 25% to 30% of the market share, primarily attributed to mild steel fasteners.

India Flat Steel Products Market: Hot Rolled Coils (HRC) and Cold Rolled Coils (CRC) stand as the pivotal offerings within the flat steel products market, with HRC steel commanding the larger portion of market share.

Electrical Steel Market: In 2023, the global electrical steel market reached an estimated valuation of USD 45.34 billion. A significant expansion is foreseen, with an anticipated market value of around USD 81.52 billion by 2032, reflecting a robust Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.1% during the forecast period spanning from 2023 to 2032.

Top India HR and CR coil Market Players:

TATA Steel

Steel Authority of India Ltd

RINL

Essar Steel

JSW Ltd

JSPL

Electrosteel Steel Ltd

India CR coil Market Segments

By Product Type (Revenue, INR Crores, 2022 - 2032)

Sheet

Coils

By Process (Revenue, INR Crores, 2022 - 2032)

Annealing

Tempering

Galvanizing

By Carbon Content (Revenue, INR Crores, 2022 - 2032)

High Carbon Content

Medium Carbon Content

Low Carbon Content

By Application (Revenue, INR Crores, 2022 - 2032)

Automotive

Construction

Steel Pipe

Shipping

White Goods

Machinery & Equipment

Industrial

General Engineering & Fabrication

Others



India HR coil Market Segments

Application Analysis (Revenue, INR Crores/Thousand Tons, 2023 - 2033)

Tube & Pipe Making

For Cold Rolling Purpose

General Structural and Engineering Application

Manufacturing of Corrosion Resistant Engineering Products

Drawing, forming & General Engineering Purposes

For Manufacturing of LPG Cylinders

Export Quality LPG Cylinders

Lighter Cylinders

Auto Components and Pre-Engineered

Fabrication of Long and Cross Members for LCV, MCV and HCV

Flanging and Forming Purpose

Chains, Hair Clip, sprocket, Clutch Plate, Hacksaw Blade etc.

Manufacturing of Wheel Disk and Cold Formed Products

Manufacturing of Propeller Shaft

Manufacturing of Fork and Spokes for Two Wheelers

Manufacturing of Cycle Rimes

Manufacturing of Pipes mostly for Oil and Gas sector

Get Sample Report:

HRC Report: https://www.marketdecipher.com/report/india-hot-rolled-coil-steel-market-report

CRC Report: https://www.marketdecipher.com/report/india-crc-steel-market-report

Any other requirement: Mention your requirements while requesting sample on our website.

About Market Decipher

Market Decipher is a market research and consultancy wing of Decipher Market Insights, involved in provision of market reports to organisations of varied sizes; small, large and medium. At Market Decipher, we concentrate on articulating relevant business policies conditional to the specific market domain for a sustainable growth. The services provided by us include syndicated research and custom research.

For more information, please visit: https://www.marketdecipher.com/.

Follow us on:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/market-decipher/

https://www.facebook.com/marketdecipher1

Contact:

David Correa

Decipher Market Insights Pvt. Ltd.

Zen Business Center,

Wakad,

Mumbai- Bangalore Highway,

Pune - 411057, Maharashtra

Email: sales@marketdecipher.com

Website: www.marketdecipher.com

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Tectonic Gold Plc - Year End Corporate Update

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, August 08

8 August 2023

TECTONIC GOLD PLC

("Tectonic" or the "Company")

Year end corporate update

Tectonic Gold plc (TDIM: TTAU, is pleased to provide an update on key corporate and operational developments including funding from the Australian Government, partnering with a leading Australian mining group on the ongoing development of the Specimen Hill gold project and an engagement to lead commercialisation of a major gold portfolio in Ghana.

Highlights:

Receipt of R&D funds from Australian Government Farm-out of Specimen Hill copper/gold project Commercialisation of privately held gold portfolio in the Ashanti Gold Belt Rare earths outcome in Heavy Mineral Sands("HMS") joint venture

Tectonics' strategy is to build participation in projects through a transfer of its IP, technology and expertise without having to internally fund project development. Farming out Specimen Hill at the completion of the research program, coupled with an expert advisory engagement to earn an interest in the Ghanaian portfolio is the most efficient way to crystalise value without having to raise additional capital. We are constantly evaluating additional opportunities to build project level interests and over time, a diversified revenue from those interests.

R&D update

In July Tectonic received a further $157,000 from the Australian Government under its research and development funding program. Over $3 million has been received from this program to date which has substantially funded the development of exploration technology improving the efficiency of gold resource identification and delineation.

The technology expertise and exploration methodology created through years of rigorous in-field testing at Specimen Hill has generated two significant opportunities.

The data package generated over multiple seasons of field testing at Specimen Hill has attracted a farm-in partner to undertake the continued development of the project. This is discussed in more detail below.

The advanced technical expertise developed over the program attracted the interest of an international gold investor and has resulted in Tectonic being appointed to lead the commercialisation of a large privately held gold portfolio in the world class Ashanti Gold Belt in Ghana. Details of this are provided below.

Expenses in Australia have been significantly reduced and all foreseeable costs will be covered by cash in hand and expected future funding from the Australian Government.

Specimen Hill project farm-out

In August Tectonic finalised terms with Fiddlers Creek Mining Company Pty Ltd (Fiddlers Creek) on an option for Fiddlers Creek to farm-in to a majority position in the Specimen Hill project. Fiddlers Creek is the exploration division of ASX listed White Energy Limited, a corporate vehicle being developed by a highly successful Queensland resources investment group. The terms are as follows:

Stage 1 - an option to acquire 51% at the project level for a cash spend of AU$1 million within 3 years

Stage 2 - an option to acquire a further 25% (76% in total) by spending a further AU$2 million

Stage 3 - Tectonic has the choice of co-funding further development or selling a further 15% to Fiddlers Creek for AU$2 million in cash

The remaining interest may then be converted into a non-diluting 3% royalty.

White Energy has a similar technology approach to Tectonic and has a proprietary ionic geochemistry technique that they will be deploying on Specimen Hill in the second half of August. This advanced testing is highly effective in identifying copper targets at depth and will complement the extensive work Tectonic has already completed on testing the gold in the Specimen Hill system. This will enable a comprehensive understanding of the copper/gold prospectivity of Specimen Hill.

This arrangement brings advanced technology and a successful Queensland based team into the project to complement the work done to date. In addition, it enables Tectonic to retain a significant economic exposure to Specimen Hill without incurring development cost as the project is further de-risked.

Ashanti Gold portfolio development lead

Tectonic has been working closely with the principals of Optimus Resources Ltd ("Optimus") over the last six months reviewing a 1,500km2 tenement portfolio surrounding the lucrative Obuasi and Tarkwa operations within the Ashanti Gold belt in Ghana. Independently verified historic exploration on this portfolio reports immediate resources of over 1 million ounces of gold.

The portfolio has been privately held for over twenty years by a leading Ghanian family office. Their interests span media, insurance, packaging and real estate and the family wishes to now commercialise the gold portfolio, building a vertically integrated gold mining business. Their objective is to have it listed on a major international stock exchange. Tectonic has been engaged to provide technical expertise and a corporate development strategy for the portfolio.

The Company has begun to evaluate, rank and prioritise assets within the portfolio and construct a project development pipeline, commercialisation strategy, identify suitable merger and acquisition opportunities and define a pathway to listing the group on a major exchange.

This program is being fully funded by the owners.

This is an exceptional opportunity for Tectonic to gain access to a tenement package of this scale in one of the most productive geological settings in the world. The Ashanti Gold Belt has been a major source of global gold production for over a century and hosts a number of the largest international mining companies. Tectonics' key management has experience on the ground in Ghana and companies affiliated with Tectonics' founding team are already operating in country, servicing these major gold mines. Tectonic is bringing its deep technical research capability, developed with support from the Australian Federal Government and leading Australian exploration and mining research institutions, to contribute to the discovery and development of the next generation of Ghanaian gold mines.

Rare earths in heavy mineral sands joint venture

Tectonic holds a 40% economic interest in Whale Head Pty Ltd, a heavy mineral sands mining ("HMS") project being developed by joint venture partner, AIM quoted Kazera Global Plc ("Kazera"). In July, Kazera announced elevated radioactivity readings in ores beneficiated from alluvial mining of HMS in the Walviskop project in South Africa and as a result the need to engage South Africa's National Nuclear Regulator. This is worth understanding in more technical detail as the source of the radiation is weakly radioactive thorium, a Rare Earth Element (REE) found in monazite.

The HMS ores at Walviskop include economic concentrations of rutile, zircon, and monazite. Rutile and zircon are widely used with a range of industrial applications. Monazites are less well known, but are rare earth minerals typically comprising thorium, lanthanum and cerium. Lanthanum and its neighbour on the periodic table, cerium, are used in high end lighting applications, think flat screen TVs and iPhones. Thorium is used in heat resistant ceramics and platinum catalytic converters in diesel engines on cars, trucks, ships and trains. The elevated radiation readings in the Kazera testing should be understood as evidence that the ores contain valuable monazites. With China's recent restrictions on the export of certain REEs, this is a positive outcome for Tectonic.

Mr. Brett Boynton, Managing Director - Tectonic Gold Plc

"The team is really encouraged by the recognition for what we have achieved in our research in Australia over the last five years. The Fiddlers Creek endorsement is validation of Tectonics' courage to pioneer new ideas in exploration and winning the role with Optimus is a Company changing opportunity to take all of that experience into one of the premier gold belts in the world.

Tectonic is still deeply entrenched in research in Australia and is now exporting that expertise to Ghana, with a strong in-country partner who has a genuine desire, and the means, to see a new major gold play created. Ghana, like Australia, has a long and storied gold mining history. Tectonic is bringing expertise directly from the crucible of research and development in Australia, to be a part of the next generation of Ashanti mining stories.

Tectonic is actively reviewing opportunities where we can build a portfolio of holdings in high quality global gold projects."

The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement.

Investors can sign up to Tectonic's mailing list at the following link:

http://www.tectonicgold.com/contact

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BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - German property company Deutsche Wohnen SE (DWHHF.PK), affiliated to Vonovia SE (VONOY, VNNVF), reported Tuesday that its first-half Group funds from operations or FFO edged up 0.7 percent to 297.4 million euros from last year's 295.4 million euros. On a per-share basis, the Group FFO came to 0.75 euro, up from 0.74 euro a year ago. The company recorded a loss for the period of 1.39 billion euros, compared to last year's profit of 927.3 million euros. Adjusted EBITDA was 349.4 million euros, up 0.7 percent from 347.0 million euros a year ago. Adjusted EBITDA Rental was 313.9 million euros, up 8.4%. The net asset value or NAV, formerly EPRA NTA, declined 9.2% since year-end 2022 to 18.48 billion euros or 46.56 euros per share. The decline was largely driven by the result from the fair value measurement of investment properties of negative 2.18 billion euros. Deutsche Wohnen said it is examining, whether and when a potential sale of individual portfolios of the nursing segment might make economic sense. As announced earlier, the company considers that the nursing segment no longer fits to the core business as a residential real estate company. 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.
SINGAPORE, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TerraPay, a leading global payments infrastructure company, has secured an In-Principle Approval for a Major Payment Institution (MPI) license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), marking a significant step towards being a payments company with the most regulatory approvals.

With this coveted approval from MAS, a key financial services regulator, TerraPay's customers and leading global enterprises will be able to access its expansive network, across 120 receive countries and 208 send countries while enabling fully compliant, affordable, and seamless cross-border money movement. TerraPay, with regulatory approvals in 28 countries, facilitates fully compliant international money transfers, frictionless business pay-outs, and alternative payment methods.

Singapore has always been a strategic region for TerraPay as it derives almost 50% of its revenues from Asia. With Singapore's position as a gateway to high-growth markets of Southeast Asia, TerraPay will capitalize on this license to tap into the immense potential of the region and bolster its existing local presence and partnerships across Singapore, South Korea, Vietnam and Philippines.

On securing the approval, Ambar Sur, Founder and CEO, TerraPay said "I am incredibly proud of the comprehensive network of partners, employees, countries, and licenses we have established worldwide, enabling us to offer simplified payment services for everyone. Obtaining the approval in Singapore is a game-changer, solidifying our position as a leading cross-border payments powerhouse in one of the most significant financial markets globally.

At TerraPay, our core values revolve around inclusion and innovation. We are inspired by Singapore's fintech journey, which aligns perfectly with our mission to improve lives and contribute to a dynamic, inclusive economy. The approval from MAS reinforces our commitment to excellence as we aim to become the most regulatory-approved payments company in the world."

Backed by Prime, IFC, Partech Africa & Visa, TerraPay is enabling secure real-time global payment corridors across Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and the USA, and expanding rapidly in Latin America. In May 2023, TerraPay announced its Series B equity financing round, where it successfully raised more than $100 million for global expansion plans, enabling the company to strengthen its existing pay-out network, and expand its regulatory and compliance capabilities and infrastructure globally.

About TerraPay

Headquartered in the United Kingdom, TerraPay believes that the smallest payment deserves a borderless journey as safe as the largest. The group has been building an ever-expanding payments highway that empowers businesses to create transparent customer experiences with an uninterrupted, secure, and real-time global passage for every payment, however small or large. Registered and regulated across 28 global markets, TerraPay is one of the leading global partners to banks, mobile wallets, money transfer operators, merchants, and financial institutions, creating a more expansive and inclusive international financial ecosystem. With its vast network of 7.5Bn+ bank accounts, 2.1Bn+ mobile wallets, across 120 receive countries and 208 send countries, TerraPay enables its partners to drive global financial inclusion at scale.

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DELFT, Netherlands, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Meatable, the industry-leading food tech company, announced today it has raised $35 million in new funding to bring the company's total funding so far to $95 million. Led by Agronomics, the successful close saw Invest-NL, a Dutch impact fund, coming on board as a new investor. The round also drew significant renewed support from existing investors, including BlueYard, Bridford, MilkyWay, DSM Venturing and Taavet Hinrikus.

The funding will be used to further scale its processes and accelerate commercial launch of its cultivated meat products. The scale up and process optimization reduce the production costs to become cost competitive with traditional meat and reach production to commercial volumes. Starting in Singapore, Meatable is launching in selected restaurants and retailers from 2024. The company is also making solid progress on expanding to the United States and beyond, boosted by recent regulatory developments.

Krijn de Nood, co-founder and CEO of Meatable, said: "We're thrilled to welcome Invest-NL on board and to have renewed support from our existing investors. Both the regulatory landscape and the continued investments are aligning to show demonstrated momentum. This is a huge sign of confidence in the incredible quality, taste, and proven scalability of our product, especially in the current investment climate. We look forward to working closely with our investors as we enter our next growth phase and cement our position as global leaders in the cultivated meat industry."

To make its cultivated pork, Meatable takes one sample of cells from an animal without harming it and replicates the natural growth process of the cells using patented opti-ox technology combined with pluripotent stem cells. This technology makes it possible for Meatable to produce real muscle and fat cells in only eight days. This efficiency will enable the company to scale cultivated meat production quickly and affordably.

Contact:

Antonella Scimemi: antonella@burlington.cc / +44 (0)7530815018

Jennifer Reid: jennifer@yourstorypr.com / +1 778-772-0754

About Meatable:

Meatable is an innovative, Dutch food company, aiming to deliver, at scale, cultivated meat that looks like, tastes like, and has the nutritional profile of traditional meat. The proprietary opti-ox technology enables Meatable to produce meat rapidly, sustainably, and without harming animals.

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The company's London team grew by 138% in the last 12 months as Provenir sees strong demand for its AI-powered risk decisioning software in the British market

Provenir, a global leader in AI-powered risk decisioning software, today announced the relocation of its London office to a larger facility at 76 Charlotte St. Fitzrovia W1T 4QS to accommodate its expanding team. Over the past 12 months, Provenir has experienced a remarkable 138% growth in its London team, owing to the continuous acquisition of new customers in the UK and throughout Europe.

Provenir saw strong growth in 2022 globally, achieving 35% growth in revenue and expanding its customer base by 24%, adding new customers worldwide, including AMU Leasing, AutoChek, Davivienda, DeltaPay, Investree, Provu, Quick Finans, Topi and Varo. The company also expanded into France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey, the Balkans and Benelux; Colombia, Brazil and Mexico; and Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam to meet customer demand.

"We have seen a real surge in demand for our credit risk decisioning solutions in recent years," said Frode Berg, Managing Director of Europe at Provenir. "In times of uncertainty such as these, where consumers face a heightened need for credit and financial institutions adopt a more cautious lending approach, advanced AI-powered decisioning tools play a crucial role in navigating uncertainties and facilitating informed lending decisions. As I reflect on our exciting milestones and sustained growth in the UK, I am incredibly proud of our exceptionally talented workforce. The relocation of our office will allow us to accommodate our growing team and better support our rapidly growing customer base."

An 83.5 billion opportunity

The UK has one of the strongest AI markets in the world, behind only the United States and China, with significant government funding and research activity in the field. Earlier this year, the British government pledged 1 billion of government funding for the next generation of supercomputing and AI research to establish the UK as a science and technology superpower.

Already, 15.1% of all British businesses have adopted at least one AI technology, with the adoption rate expected to increase to 22.7% by 2025 and 34.8% by 2040, according to the UK government. Expenditure on AI technologies is expected to increase from 16.7 billion in 2020 to 83.5 billion in 2040 at a compound annual growth rate of 8.4%, presenting Provenir with an immense growth opportunity as a leading provider in the market.

About Provenir

Provenir helps fintechs and financial services providers unlock the secret to smarter credit risk decisioning.

The company brings together the power of decisioning, data and AI to drive instant decisions. This unique offering gives organisations the ability to power decisioning innovation across the full customer lifecycle, driving improvements in the customer experience, access to financial services, business agility, and more.

Provenir works with disruptive financial services organisations in more than 50 countries and processes more than 4 billion transactions annually.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230807919353/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact:

Viali Munteanu

Cognito Media (for Provenir)

Provenir@cognitomedia.com

+44 (0) 7547 819 438
Xceedance, a global provider of technology and digital solutions, claims services, and data and analytical insights to the insurance industry, announces the promotion of Amit Tiwari to the new role of president, EMEA APAC.

In his new role, Tiwari will focus on growing awareness of the Xceedance brand in the London, continental Europe, and Australia insurance markets and work to connect with industry professionals across those locations. Tiwari relocated to London as part of this new role and will work out of the Xceedance office in the City of London, located at 8 Lloyd's Avenue. This new position expands on Tiwari's previous responsibilities as EVP, chief operating officer India and Poland for Xceedance.

"Amit is a co-founder of Xceedance and one of the company's original 13 team members, which gives him a unique perspective on the company and how we want to advance as an organization," said Arun Balakrishnan, chairman and chief executive officer at Xceedance. "I can't imagine a better person to fill this new strategic leadership role, and I can't wait to see Amit expand and grow Xceedance across Europe and Australia."

"I'm thrilled to assume the role of president, EMEA and APAC for Xceedance and to relocate to London, an international insurance hub," said Amit Tiwari. "From my initial role as chief technology officer to this new role leading the company's growth efforts in critical global insurance markets, I have always known that Xceedance occupies a unique space in our industry. I can now share that story directly with insurance professionals in the United Kingdom, across Europe, and Australia to see the impact of the work we do firsthand. I cannot wait to begin."

To learn more about Amit Tiwari and other Xceedance corporate leaders, visit xceedance.com/who-we-are/our-team.

About Xceedance

Xceedance provides strategic operations support, technology, and data services to drive efficiencies for insurance organizations worldwide. The company helps insurers launch products, implement intelligent technology, deploy advanced analytics, and achieve business process optimization. For more information, visit www.xceedance.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808883728/en/

Contacts:

MEDIA CONTACT:

Stephen Breen

For Xceedance

+44 (0) 203-131-2474

stephen.breen@rein4ce.co.uk
LONDON, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A new report concludes that, based on International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) environmental, social and economic definitions, moorland managed for grouse shooting provides greater overall benefits than any alternative use.

Written by Professor Simon Denny, formerly of the University of Northampton, and reviewed by Professor James Crabbe from the University of Oxford, the new report titled 'Sustainable driven grouse shooting?' highlights that grouse shooting is not an isolated activity. Instead, it is part of a complex mix of activities that result in more positive outcomes for people and nature than any alternative uses.

"If the UK government is to meet its legally binding target of protecting 30% of land for nature by 2030 it must value the environmental benefits brought by grouse moors accordingly," says Professor Simon Denny. "Any attempt to change that risks leaving the UK at a significantly further depleted level of biodiversity"

The review into sustainable driven grouse shooting, which was peer reviewed by academics from four UK universities, was designed to look both at the sustainability of grouse shooting, and the various alternative uses of moorland that others suggest.

Professor James Crabbe added: "The report looks at all the evidence that exists and is truly objective. Professor Denny has produced a comprehensive account of driven grouse shooting that encompasses the full meaning of 'sustainability'. This report makes clear that integrated moorland management is a really complex issue with so many strands. If you take one piece of the jigsaw away, such as driven grouse shooting, there will be massive implications environmentally, socially and economically."

The majority of upland areas where driven grouse shooting takes place have developed a sustainable model of operation. These areas can boast of many biodiversity success stories, for example threatened ground-nesting bird species such as lapwing, golden plover, curlew, red grouse and meadow pipit breed successfully and in great numbers in the uplands. Furthermore, raptors such as merlin, buzzards and hen harriers are at the highest level in decades.

The report found that the range of benefits that grouse moor management brings to some of the most remote parts of the UK are vast, affecting the agriculture sector, tourism, human and animal health, and carbon sequestration and flood control through moorland management and restoration practices.

Notes to Editor:

To see the full report please visit: https://www.regionalmoorlandgroups.com/research

To watch a documentary on the report please click here

This report is an update to a previous report published in 2021 and brings new evidence identified over the last two years.

Prof. Simon Denny is available for further comment and interviews.

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COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The presentation of Gran Canaria Swim Week by Moda Calida took place in the context of Copenhagen Fashion Week. With this alliance between the Canarian and Danish catwalks, Gran Canaria Swim Week consolidates its commitment to the internationalisation of this unique event in Europe in its category. A global benchmark for swimwear fashion that is expanding its international presence year after year. Cross-border cooperation at all levels, joint projects and openness to foreign markets are essential aspects in today's fashion world, and in this context the alliance with Copenhagen Fashion Week is an important step forward in the international positioning of Gran Canaria Swim Week by Moda Calida. This international expansion, the result of the strategy of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, is supported by the Chamber of Commerce of Gran Canaria.

The presentation took place in a luxurious setting, the iconic Villa Copenhagen hotel, with the participation of five leading Gran Canarian designers and firms and one international designer. The selection of national designers and firms was made up ofElena Morales, Palmas, Aurelia Gil, Chela Clo and Carlos San Juan. They have been joined by the Israeli Gottex. Through an innovative format that has managed to redefine the limits of the classic fashion show, a group of models and dancers have worn the swimwear proposals for the upcoming Spring-Summer 2024 season.

"Our presence in Copenhagen is an important step towards the internationalisation of Gran Canaria Swim Week, which we started a few years ago. Our commitment is to turn Gran Canaria Swim Week into a benchmark for swimwear fashion at a European level by betting on the richness of an incomparable location in Europe," Minerva Alonso, Councillor for Economic Development, Industry, Trade and Crafts of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, said.

Cecilie Thorsmark, CEO of Copenhagen Fashion Week, underlined the importance of the partnership between the two catwalks: "The partnership between Copenhagen Fashion Week and Gran Canaria Swim Week is proof of the power of collaboration in the fashion industry. While Copenhagen Fashion Week showcases the cutting-edge designs and innovative ideas of the ready-to-wear industry, Gran Canaria Swim Week celebrates the art and creativity of the swimwear industry."

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NEW DELHI, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vedanta Limited today announced the appointment of former Alcoa COO, John Slaven, as the Chief Executive Officer for its Aluminium Business, effective October 3, 2023. Vedanta Limited is the largest producer of aluminium in India.

John Slaven is a reputed global leader who has also worked in key executive roles in the Australian mining and metals major BHP and with The Boston Consulting Group (BCG). He brings over 34 years of experience and expertise in metal & mining sector across different geographies. He has worked across the entire aluminium value chain in exploration, projects, operations, sales and marketing. John joins us from Alcoa Corporation where he served as a member of Alcoa's Executive team as Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer responsible for the daily operations of Aloca's global bauxite, alumina and aluminium assets.

Announcing the appointment, Anil Agarwal, Chairman, Vedanta Group said, "We welcome John as the CEO for Vedanta's Aluminium business and look forward to him driving the company's growth. Aluminium is a 'Metal of the Future' and integral to the energy transition. John joins at an exciting time as the world looks at India as the plus one to China in manufacturing. I believe that his global experience and formidable track record in the aluminium sector will be a real asset for the company."

John will be leading all aspects of the strategy of the aluminium business, including development of strategic alliances with global partners to fast-track business delivery. He will drive adoption and deployment of best-in-class technologies and processes, with focus on innovation and digitalization, for business transformation.

Speaking on his appointment, John Slaven said, "Vedanta's commitment to operational excellence, product diversification and sustainability presents a tremendous opportunity for growth in the Aluminium sector. I am excited to join Vedanta and look forward to contributing to the company's success."

For more information, please visit www.vedantalimited.com.

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BEIJING (dpa-AFX) - China's exports logged another sharper-than-expected double digit decline in July as monetary policy tightening damped demand from major trading partners, official data showed on Tuesday. Shipments declined 14.5 percent in July from a year ago, following June's 12.4 percent fall, the General Administration of Customs reported. The pace of decrease also exceeded economists' forecast of 12.5 percent drop. Moreover, this was the biggest decline since the onset of the pandemic. At the same time, imports slid 12.4 percent annually, much bigger than both the 6.8 percent drop in June and the expected decrease of 5.0 percent. As a result, the trade surplus rose to $80.6 billion from $70.6 billion in the previous month. The surplus was forecast to remain broadly unchanged at $70.6 billion in July. Exports to the EU decreased 20.6 percent and that to the US plunged 23.1 percent in July. Further, shipments to Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, were 21.4 percent lower than in July 2022. Economists at Capital Economics said the fall in exports largely reflect lower prices rather than volumes in July. However, the strength in exports is unlikely to be sustained given wider evidence of falling global demand as pandemic distortions unwind and monetary tightening weighs on consumer spending, they said. Although domestic demand softened recently, economists said the policy support would help to reverse some of this weakness in the coming months. 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.


BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Shares of Fraport Group were gaining around 8 percent in the morning trading in Germany after the airport operator reported Tuesday a profit in its first half, compared to last year's loss, with strong passenger demand. The company further said it now expects to meet the upper half of its earnings projection range for fiscal 2023.



Stefan Schulte, CEO of Fraport AG, said, 'In the second quarter of 2023, the positive performance continued from the start of the year. We are seeing sustained recovery in passenger demand across our portfolio of global airports. At our home base in Frankfurt, passenger numbers recovered to 80 percent of pre-crisis levels in the first half of 2023. We expect passenger traffic to further grow at Frankfurt Airport during the full year - including a rise in the share of business travelers.'



Schulte further said the company's leisure-dominated Group airports worldwide, mainly the Greek airports, have benefited most from the ongoing strong demand for holiday travel.



Looking ahead for fiscal 2023, Group result is now expected in the upper half of the projected range of between some 300 million euros and 420 million euros.



For the Group EBITDA, Fraport now expects to reach the upper half of the previously projected range of between about 1.04 billion and 1.20 billion.



Passenger numbers in Frankfurt are now expected to reach the middle range of the previously given projection of between at least 80 percent and up to 90 percent of traffic levels seen in 2019, when some 70.6 million passengers traveled through Germany's largest aviation hub.



For the first half, Group net profit was 85.0 million euros, compared to last year's loss of 53.1 million euros that was due to a one-off effect.



Earnings per share were 0.87 euro, compared to loss of 0.53 euro a year ago.



Operating profit or EBIT increased 35.2 percent year-on-year to 245.9 million euros. The operating result or EBITDA reached 481.4 million euros, up 17.9 percent.



Group revenue rose 33.8 percent year-on-year to 1.80 billion euros driven by higher passenger volumes. Applying the IFRIC 12 adjustment, Group revenue increased 27.8 percent year-on-year to 1.55 billion euros.



Passenger numbers at Frankfurt Airport or FRA surged 29.1 percent year-on-year to 26.9 million in the first six months.



In the first half, European traffic benefited from strong demand for leisure travel to warm-weather destinations. There was also gradual improvement in business travel within Europe, particularly to and from West Europe's financial hubs.



Intercontinental traffic as well as traffic to and from North America also recorded strong passenger volumes. Meanwhile, traffic to and from China continued to lag behind the general trend, reaching only about a third of the 2019 level.



Fraport recorded double-digit growth rates at many Group airports worldwide.



Among Fraport's international portfolio of airports, the 14 Greek regional airports' accumulated passenger numbers surpassed the pre-crisis levels from 2019 by as much as 7.8 percent. Antalya Airport on the Turkish Mediterranean coast recorded a 96.2 percent recovery rate, followed by Peru's Lima Airport achieving a recovery rate of 85.4 percent.



In Germany, Fraport shares were trading at 49.12 euros, up 7.86 percent.



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

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PHOENIX, Mauritius, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2021, FDI flows to Africa reached a record-breaking $83 billion - more than double the previous year.



Despite challenges such as poor infrastructure, limited transparency and complex legal frameworks, multinational companies recognise Africa as fertile ground for business growth.

Although administrative barriers and legislative complexities may result in excessive costs, it is important to appropriately address these factors.

Cost of compliance

African governments demand absolute compliance from organisations, which comes at a significant cost when implementing frameworks across multiple jurisdictions.

While it may be tempting to 'skip a few steps', the cost of non-compliance in African countries far outweighs those of compliance.

In 2017, Ponemon Institute and Globalscape studied 53 multinational organisations to determine compliance costs for privacy and data protection regulations. Compliance averaged $5.47 million, while non-compliance reached $14.82 million - almost triple the value. Non-compliance costs extend beyond financial losses and can also include:

Employee malpractice: Uninformed employees unknowingly committing compliance-related infringements.

Loss of investment: Degradation of stakeholder trust leads to reputational damage.

Loss of productivity: Focused on tackling non-compliance issues instead of business development and strategic growth.

Capitalising on compliance

Investors should embrace compliance as the foundation for business success in Africa. To generate sustainable growth, organisations should design appropriate compliance strategies for their people, often regarded as the most important resource, including the following:

Navigating the complexity of payroll compliance. Establishing compliance processes relating to onboarding employees. Being mindful of well-established customary norms. Keeping up to date with changes in legislation.

How can Africa HR Solutions help?

"Organisations operating in Africa are continuously faced with the challenge of adapting to compliant best practice in-country in relation to payroll taxes and social security contributions," explains Mark du Preez, Head of Legal & Compliance at Africa HR Solutions.

"Increasingly, we see new legislation across the African continent that requires more from organisations and their employees to remain compliant. At Africa HR Solutions, we have the in-depth knowledge and expertise to guide our clients through this process and ensure unwavering compliance."

Over the past 13 years, AHR has been a trusted service provider and advisor to 400+ organisations operating across 20 different industries in Africa. We provide employer of record and payroll outsourcing services in 46 African countries to listed multinationals, PE & VC-backed start-ups, global NGOs, international non-profits and leading universities.

Media contact: Grant Geraghty, Head of Client Relationships, info@africa-hr.com, +2304653100

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/africa-hr-solutions-highlights-the-importance-of-compliance-across-africa-301894421.html
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2023) - Blue Sky Uranium (TSXV: BSK) is pleased to announce that the company is presenting a live virtual corporate update hosted by Red Cloud Financial Services on August 9th, 2023 at 2:00pm ET.

We invite our shareholders, and all interested parties to register for the webinar and participate in the live Q&A session at the end of the presentation moderated by Red Cloud.

The replay will be emailed out to all webinar registrants proceeding the event and will also be available on the Red Cloud website.

For more information and to register: https://redcloudfs.com/rcwebinar-mal2/.

Leading Uranium Discovery In Argentina.The Company's flagship Amarillo Grande Project was an in-house discovery of a new district that hosts the largest NI 43-101 uranium resource in the country with an initial Preliminary Economic Assessment.

Commodities to be covered: Uranium/Vanadium

About Blue Sky Uranium

As a leader in uranium discovery in Argentina, the Company's objective is to deliver exceptional returns to shareholders by rapidly advancing a portfolio of uranium-vanadium projects to the pre-feasibility study stage, while respecting the environment, the communities, and the cultures in all the areas in which we work. The Company's flagship Amarillo Grande Project was an in-house discovery of a new district that hosts the largest NI 43-101 uranium resource in the country with an initial Preliminary Economic Assessment.

About Red Cloud Securities Inc.

Red Cloud Securities Inc. is an IIROC-regulated investment dealer focused on providing a full range of brokerage services to all investor types focused in the junior resource sector. Our services include Investment Banking, Research, Institutional and Retail Trading, Institutional Sales, and Retail Investment Advisory services.

About Red Cloud Financial Services Inc.

Red Cloud Financial Services Inc. is a globally focused capital markets advisory firm that provides a full range of executive strategy, media, marketing, and corporate access services. Our breadth of services combines with our significant knowledge of the junior mining industry combine for unique product offering. The company was founded by capital markets professionals with extensive experience in the junior mining industry.

For further information:

Blue Sky Uranium

CEO Niko Cacos

VP Guillermo Pensado

7786860135

perger@grossogroup.com

For additional information contact marketing@redcloudfs.com or visit:

www.redcloudfs.com

www.facebook.com/RedCloudFinancialServices

www.twitter.com/RedCloudFS

www.linkedin.com/company/red-cloud-financial-services-inc

www.youtube.com/c/RedCloudFinancialServicesInc

www.instagram.com/redcloudfs
Limited-Edition Kizik Shoe Fuses Proprietary Hands-Free Technology With the Look and Feel of a JET-PUFFED Roasted Marshmallow

CHICAGO, IL / PITTSBURGH, PA /SALT LAKE CITY, UT / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / JET-PUFFED, the leading marshmallow brand known for its puffy and fluffy marshmallows, has partnered with Kizik, the industry leader in hands-free footwear, to launch the first-ever S'mores Shoe ahead of National S'mores Day on Aug. 10.

This ultra-cushy Kizik shoe highlights the hue of a perfectly toasted JET-PUFFED marshmallow, transitioning from a white sole to a golden-brown top. Comfortable and durable, the S'mores Shoe features a puffy, quilted upper with foam padding throughout to create a soft, marshmallowy texture, capturing the essence of this beloved campfire treat.

"At JET-PUFFED, we take s'mores season very seriously as we aim to bring light and fluffy enjoyment to family and friends around the campfire," said Christina Brown, Associate Brand Manager at JET-PUFFED. "With nearly 40 million bags of our marshmallows sold over the summer season, the S'mores Shoe is a sweet treat for your feet - reminding you that JET-PUFFED marshmallows are the perfect ingredient for your summer s'mores."

The hands-free innovation built into the S'mores Shoe is one of more than 180 patents held by Kizik's parent company HandsFree Labs. This unmatched shoe-entry technology allows you to step right in without using your hands - just what you need when your fingers are covered in gooey marshmallow goodness.

"While comfort and hands-free are the top priorities at Kizik, we're constantly looking for ways to create unique, limited-edition footwear," said Blake Brown, Kizik VP of Brand and Creative. "Working with JET-PUFFED has been a tremendous partnership. We share a commitment to enhancing everyday experiences and making life's little moments more enjoyable. We can't wait to see the new S'mores Shoe around the campfire this summer."

Starting today, the JET-PUFFED x Kizik S'mores Shoe is available exclusively on kizik.com/jetpuffed for $119 in women's sizes 6-14.5 and men's 4.5-13, while supplies last.

For more information, visit @KraftJetPuffed and @wearkizik on Instagram and Facebook, or head to kizik.com.

ABOUT KRAFT HEINZ

We are driving transformation at The Kraft Heinz Company, inspired by our Purpose, Let's Make Life Delicious. Consumers are at the center of everything we do. With 2022 net sales of approximately $26 billion, we are committed to growing our iconic and emerging food and beverage brands on a global scale. We leverage our scale and agility to unleash the full power of Kraft Heinz across a portfolio of six consumer-driven product platforms. As global citizens, we're dedicated to making a sustainable, ethical impact while helping feed the world in healthy, responsible ways. Learn more about our journey by visiting kraftheinzcompany.com or following us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

ABOUT KIZIK

Based in Lindon, Utah, Kizik is the industry's leading hands-free footwear brand, boasting more than 180 pending and granted patents. Powered by the cutting-edge technology and relentless innovation of its parent company HandsFree Labs, Kizik's fashionable, hands-free footwear fuses modern design with next-level comfort and go-anywhere versatility. With a mission to inspire greater joy by making the everyday easier, Kizik is committed to empowering customers through convenience. Offering stylish silhouettes for men, women, and kids, Kizik's hands-free footwear truly is for everyone. To learn more, visit kizik.com and follow @wearkizik.

MEDIA CONTACTS

Alison Brod Marketing Communications

KraftHeinz@abmc-us.com

KRAFT HEINZ

Kate.Mitchell@kraftheinz.com

AZIONE PR

kizik@azionepr.com

Kizik

press@kizik.com

Contact Information

Brooke Scher Mogan

Alison Brod Marketing Communications

kraftheinz@abmc-us.com

Alexis Wulf

AZIONE PR

kizik@azionepr.com

SOURCE: Kizik

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/772835/Kizik-and-JET-PUFFED-Launch-New-Smores-Shoe-to-Celebrate-National-Smores-Day
ANN ARBOR, MI / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Zomedica Corp. (NYSE American:ZOM) ("Zomedica" or "Company"), a veterinary health company offering point-of-care diagnostics and therapeutic products for companion animals, announced Larry Heaton, CEO, will present and host one-on-one meetings with investors at the Sidoti August Virtual Investor Conference, taking place on August 16-17, 2023.

The presentation will begin at 9:15 ET on Wednesday, August 16, 2023 and can be accessed live here: https://sidoti.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Mqr9yUzCQkW9cixbRcQLww

Zomedica will also host virtual one-on-ones with investors on Wednesday and Thursday, August 16-17, 2023. To register for the presentation or one-on-ones, visit www.sidoti.com/events.

Registration is free and you don't need to be a Sidoti client.

About Sidoti Events, LLC ("Events") and Sidoti & Company, LLC ("Sidoti")

In 2023, Sidoti & Company, LLC ,Sidoti & Company, LLC (www.sidoti.com) formed a sister company, Sidoti Events, LLC in order to focus exclusively on its rapidly growing conference business and to more directly serve the needs of presenters and attendees. The relationship allows Events to draw on the nearly 25 years of experience Sidoti has as a premier provider of independent securities research focused specifically on small and microcap companies and the institutions that invest in their securities, with most of its coverage in the $200 million-$5 billion market cap range. Sidoti's coverage universe comprises approximately 160 equities, of which 40 percent participate in the firm's rapidly growing Company Sponsored Research ("CSR") program. Events is a leading provider of corporate access through the eight investor conferences it hosts each year. By virtue of its direct ties to Sidoti, Events benefits from Sidoti's small- and microcap-focused nationwide sales force, which has connections with approximately 1,500 institutional relationships in North America. This enables Events to provide multiple forums for meaningful interaction for small and microcap issuers and investors specifically interested in companies in the sector.

About Zomedica

Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Zomedica (NYSE American: ZOM) is a veterinary health company creating products for equine and companion animals by focusing on the unmet needs of clinical veterinarians. Zomedica's product portfolio includes innovative diagnostic and medical devices that emphasize patient health and practice health. It is Zomedica's mission to provide veterinarians the opportunity to increase productivity and grow revenue while better serving the animals in their care. For more information, visit www.ZOMEDICA.com.

Follow Zomedica

Email Alerts: http://investors.zomedica.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zomedica

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/zomedica

Twitter: https://twitter.com/zomedica

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zomedica_inc

Contact:

Dave Gentry

RedChip Companies Inc.

1-800-RED-CHIP (733-2447)

Or 407-491-4498

ZOM@redchip.com

SOURCE: Zomedica Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/772750/Zomedica-to-Present-at-Sidoti-Virtual-Investor-Conference-August-16-17
Further exploration update on multiple high-priority hydrothermal centres within the Cabacal VMS belt

LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Meridian Mining UK S (TSX:MNO)(OTCQX:MRRDF)(Frankfurt/Tradegate:2MM) ("Meridian" or the "Company") is pleased to advise of the arrival of the fourth rig and the expansion of the Company's exploration programs into new targets. Drilling has now commenced at Santa Helena, targeting confirmation and expansion of the historic high-grade VMS resources and the previously untested high-grade gold overprint.

Meridian has also received an environmental licence ("LOPM") to enable additional exploration of multiple high-priority hydrothermal centres across the Cabacal VMS belt, including an initial 2km of Alamo, in addition to the Chiquito and Cigarra targets (previously "C2-A", & "C6" respectively. See Figure 1).

The geological team has been further strengthened with the appointment of a Chief Geologist, Mr Erich Marques, adding extra resources to the geological management team in realizing the Cabacal Project's exploration and development potential.

Highlights Reported Today

Drilling has commenced in the Santa Helena Zone; Vertical drill program to confirm historical high-grade results and VMS host geology; Angled drill program to test high-grade gold over-print; Drill program to test near mine exploration upside defined by geophysics; New bore-hole probe arriving to optimize targeting for Cu-Zn-Au-Ag mineralization.

Meridian receives additional permits and access agreements for expanded exploration across the VMS belt; Environmental licence covers ten additional farms on three exploration licences; Opens up further exploration programs at the initial 2km of Alamo target, in addition to the Cigarra, & Chiquito targets; Geological and geophysical programs to be expanded to define drill targets; and

Meridian strengthens geological management team with appointment of Chief Geologist, Erich Marques.

Dr. Adrian McArthur, CEO, comments : "The Company is very pleased to have now added the fourth rig to its 2023 drilling program, which enables testing of new areas and targets while maintaining the high rate of drilling at Cabacal. Work is commencing at Santa Helena where we will conduct verification and extensional drilling, testing the shallow high-grade resource potential and immediate extensional geophysical targets. With the expansion of these programs targeting multiple hydrothermal centres in the belt, the Company is pleased to welcome Mr Erich Marques as Chief Geologist, allowing the team to focus on both the execution of ongoing resource development programs at Cabacal and the expansion of the belt's potential."

Figure 1: Multiple hydrothermal centres within the Cabacal VMS belt

Santa Helena Drill Program

Drilling has now commenced at Santa Helena (Figure 2), a Cu-Zn-Au-Ag deposit located ~9km to the southeast of the Cabacal Mine area, forming one of a series of exploration targets along the Mine Corridor. The various targets are considered to represent hydrothermal centres in a clustered VMS field. The Company has been progressively working to expand access to new sites as licences are granted. Work programs to assist 3-D targeting through regional geochemical and geophysical programs will be expanded.

The Santa Helena drill program has a twofold objective: 1) to complete a series of holes as part of a verification program, to validate the historical data in line with 43-101 standards; 2) to initiate scout drilling to test satellite geophysical targets, to test resource extension potential.

The compiled Santa Helena database indicates that many historical holes were not completely sampled (at surface or at depth). Extensions of near-surface mineralization to the east were also not integrated into the last historical resource estimation1, and dominantly vertical drilling may not have coupled well with steeper structural sets related to the high-grade gold overprint event.

The Company's digitization of additional BP drill records in the area suggests that mineralization may occupy more than the one stratigraphic level previously modelled. Modelling of grade shells in Leapfrog software highlights a lower mineralization horizon that has been poorly drilled.

A new down-hole probe has been purchased by the Company and is currently clearing customs. It is optimized to test for Cu-Zn sulphide assemblages of lower conductivity, complimenting the Company's existing EMIT probe. The geophysical program will screen for multiple potential sulphide mound systems which characterise VMS fields.

Figure 2: Sonda Service low-impact portable drill rig setting up at Santa Helena.

Targeting the Cabacal Belt's Multiple Hydrothermal Centres

The belt scale exploration and permitting program continues engagement with landholders and statutory agencies to expand its footprint for regional exploration programs. The Brazilian management team has established exploration access agreements with local landholders and submitted them for environmental licencing with the state agency, SEMA. The Company has already established agreements with twelve local landholders from the Cigarra target. Some of these properties will require the landholders to register a land-use document ("CAR"; Cadastro Ambiental Rural) before the environmental agency can issue exploration permits. SEMA has already issued a new environmental licence (Licenca de operacao para pesquisa mineral; "LOPM" n 330101/2023) relating to properties where both formal agreements and CARs are in place.

1 Meridian Mining News Release of March 29, 2022.

The newly issued LOPM also covers properties in the Company's Alamo licence, 867407/2008, to the east of Santa Helena. Amongst the areas approved for exploration is the immediate adjoining farm to Santa Helena, which extends the strike extension of the Santa Helena VMS system now available for exploration over 2km to the east. This and a number of other smaller farms will provide access to open soil anomalies and Cabacal Threshold VTEM anomalies2. Meridian will execute geochemical and ground geophysical programs to define follow-up drill targets. The community engagement program remains in progress to expand land access agreements on the Alamo and Cigarra licences.

The new LOPM adds to the existing permit for the Chiquito target region, where the Company has already defined an emerging area of Au-Ag mineralization3, and where further drilling will be conducted on the Chiquito Cu-Au target area an untested geochemical-geophysical target position.

The ANM has recently approved two licences for a second term of exploration - 866002/2016 and 866455/2016, spanning 3,746 Ha across a 7km extension of the northern extension of the Cabacal Belt. This area covers an historical BP Minerals Target area, referred to as Cigarra (Figure 1). Historical records describe a geological / geochemical environment similar to that of the chloritic outcrops of the Cabacal deposit setting, with gold and base metal anomalies present.

The Company will continue to liaise with landholders and statutory agencies for access to other interpreted hydrothermal centres, which include Sucuri (geochemical / geophysical target), Sao Jose (geochemical target), Santa Rita (formerly "C4B"; geochemical - geophysical target), and multiple other targets. Access agreements are in place for some areas, but await regularisation of title documents. Access agreements and/or written contracts are required on other areas with the management continuing with community liaison. As these agreements, and subsequent LOPM's, are granted the Company will seek to commence exploration activities in these areas.

The Company's licences in the Araputanga and Jauru Belts, along with the northern and southern extensions of the Cabacal Belt, remain under in application stage.

Expanding Geological Team

The Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Erich Marques as Chief Geologist of the Company. Erich is a geologist with 15 years of experience, and holds a Bachelor in Geology from the Federal University of Mato Grosso, Brazil. He is a Qualified Person, being a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (MAIG). He is also registered with the Brazilian Resources and Reserves Commission (PQR. CBRR). He has held positions with ECI Exploration & Mining, Yamana Gold, Meridian Mining and Cerrado Gold on Gold, Copper, Tin and industrial mineral projects. Erich will assume responsibilities as Qualified Person. He joins existing senior staff members, Frederic Vanderoost, and Antonio Jose de Almeida to strengthen the Company's capacity in the execution of resource definition, and near mine and regional exploration.

2 Meridian Mining News Release of January 10, 2023

3 Meridian Mining News Releases of June 21, 2022 and July 12, 2022

About Meridian

Meridian Mining UK S is focused on:

The development and exploration of the advanced stage Cabacal VMS gold-copper project;

Regional scale exploration of the Cabacal VMS belt;

Exploration in the Jauru & Araputanga Greenstone belts (the above all located in the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil); and

Exploring the Espigao polymetallic project in the State of Rondonia, Brazil.

Cabacal is a gold-copper-silver rich VMS deposit with the potential to be a standalone mine within the 50km VMS belt. Cabacal's base and precious metal-rich mineralization is hosted by volcanogenic type, massive, semi-massive, stringer, and disseminated sulphides within deformed metavolcanic-sedimentary rocks. A later-stage sub-vertical gold overprint event has emplaced high-grade gold mineralization cross-cutting the dipping VMS layers.

The Cabacal Mineral Resource estimate consists of Indicated resources of 52.9 million tonnes at 0.6g/t gold, 0.3% copper and 1.4g/t silver and Inferred resources of 10.3 million tonnes at 0.7g/t gold, 0.2% copper & 1.1g/t silver (at a 0.3 g/t gold equivalent cut-off grade), including a higher-grade near-surface zone supporting a starter pit. Gold equivalents are calculated as: AuEq(g/t) = (Au(g/t) * %Recovery) + (1.492*(Cu% * %Recovery)) + (0.013*(Ag(g/t) * %Recovery)), where Au_recovery_ppm = 5.4368 ln (Au_Grade_ppm) + 88.856; Cu_recovery_pct = 2.0006 ln (Cu_Grade_pct) + 94.686; Ag_recovery_ppm = 13.342 ln (Ag_Grade_ppm) + 71.037. Recoveries are based on metallurgical testwork on core submitted to SGS Lakefield in 2022.

The Preliminary Economic Assessment technical report (the "PEA Technical Report") dated March 30, 2023, entitled: "Cabacal Gold-Copper Project NI 43-101 Technical Report and Preliminary Economic Assessment, Mato Grosso, Brazil" outlines a base case after-tax NPV5 of USD 573 million and 58.4% IRR from a pre-production capital cost of USD 180 million, leading to capital repayment in 10.6 months (assuming metals price scenario of USD 1,650 per ounces of gold, USD 3.59 per pound of copper, and USD 21.35 per ounce of silver). Cabacal has a low All-in-Sustaining-Cost of USD 671 per ounce gold equivalent for the first five years, driven by high metallurgical recovery, a low life-of-mine strip ratio of 2.1:1, and the low operating cost environment of Brazil (see press release dated March 6, 2023).

Readers are encouraged to read the PEA Technical Report in its entirety. The PEA Technical Report may be found on the Company's website at www.meridianminig.co and under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

The qualified persons for the PEA Technical Report are: Robert Raponi (P. Eng), Principal Metallurgist with Ausenco Engineering), Scott Elfen (P. E.), Global Lead Geotechnical and Civil Services with Ausenco Engineering), Simon Tear (PGeo, EurGeol), Principal Geological Consultant of H&SC, Marcelo Batelochi, (MAusIMM, CP Geo), Geological Consultant of MB Geologia Ltda, Joseph Keane (Mineral Processing Engineer; P.E), of SGS, and Guilherme Gomides Ferreira (Mine Engineer MAIG) of GE21 Consultoria Mineral.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Meridian Mining UK S

Dr. Adrian McArthur

CEO and Director

Meridian Mining UK S

Email: info@meridianmining.net.br

Ph: +1 (778) 715-6410 (PST)

Qualified Person

Mr Erich Marques, B.Sc., MAIG, Chief Geologist of Meridian Mining and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and verified the technical information in this news release.

Stay up to date by subscribing for news alerts here: https://meridianmining.co/contact/

Follow Meridian on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MeridianMining

Further information can be found at: www.meridianmining.co

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information or forward-looking statements for the purposes of applicable securities laws. These statements address future events and conditions and so involve inherent risks and uncertainties, as disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in under the heading "Risk Factors" in Meridian's most recent Annual Information Form filed on www.sedar.com. While these factors and assumptions are considered reasonable by Meridian, in light of management's experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, Meridian can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Meridian disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or results or otherwise.

SOURCE: Meridian Mining UK S

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/772727/Meridian-Reports-Commencement-of-Drilling-at-Santa-Helena-with-Fourth-Rig
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2023) - EMX Royalty Corporation (TSXV: EMX) (NYSE American: EMX) (the "Company" or "EMX") is pleased to announce the execution of an agreement (the "Agreement") to add its Mjovattnet and Njuggtraskliden nickel-copper-PGE-cobalt projects in Sweden (the "Swedish Projects") to an existing arrangement with Kendrick Resources PLC ("Kendrick"), a current EMX partner. Mjovattnet and Njuggtraskliden battery metals projects will follow the same schedule of work commitments, advance royalty payments and milestone payments as the Espedalen battery metals project in Norway, another EMX royalty property being advanced by Kendrick. EMX will retain a 3% NSR royalty on the Swedish Projects along with other considerations summarized below. Kendrick is a Scandinavian focused energy metal exploration and development company currently listed on the London Stock Exchange ("LSE") under the trading symbol "KEN". See Figure 1 for project locations.

Each of the Swedish Projects contain nickel-copper-cobalt-PGE (Ni-Cu-Co-PGE) sulfide deposits associated with mafic-ultramafic intrusive complexes in the Skelleftea region of north-central Sweden, and both contain historical mineral resources. The Skelleftea area is known for its mining culture and heritage and is home to multiple actives mines, processing facilities and Boliden AB's Ronnskar smelting complex.

The addition of the Swedish Projects follows Kendrick's recent announcement of compelling drill results from the Espedalen battery metals project in Norway, a key EMX royalty property. Kendrick recently announced drill reported but Espedalen, including 11.60 meters averaging 2.85% nickel, 1.04% copper and 0.08% cobalt from 52.4 meters depth in drill hole ESP23-08, drilled at the Stormyra prospect on the Espedalen license (true width not reported, but can be estimated at 70-80% according to published cross sections)1. Please see www.EMXroyalty.com for more information on these and other battery metal projects in EMX's portfolio.

Commercial Terms Overview. In accordance with the Agreement, Kendrick will issue to EMX 15,000,000 options exercisable at a strike price of 1.3 pence (GBX) for 60 months. EMX currently holds an 8.8% equity stake in Kendrick, and the options will allow EMX to maintain its equity position for the foreseeable future. Additional provisions include:

A 3% NSR royalty in favor of EMX, 1% of which can be bought down by Kendrick by paying EMX $1,000,000 by the fifth anniversary of the agreement (leaving EMX with a minimum 2% NSR royalty).

Annual work commitments of 1,000 meters of drilling on each of the Swedish Projects.

Annual Advance Royalty Payments ("AAR's") on each of the Swedish Projects beginning at $30,000 in 2024 and escalating by $5,000 per year.

Overview of the Swedish Projects. Regional nickel exploration became a focus of the Swedish Geological Survey ("SGU") and other state-run mining concerns in the 1970's and early 1980's, leading to the discoveries of the Mjovattnet and Njuggtraskliden nickel-copper-cobalt-PGE deposits along what became known as the "Nickel Line" in north central Sweden. The Nickel Line is broadly coincident with a belt of similar aged volcanogenic massive sulfide ("VMS") type deposits and orogenic gold deposits that comprise the greater Skelleftea Mining Region.

Mjovattnet Project. The translation of Mjovattnet is "mead water" in English, which was one of the first nickel sulfide discoveries made along the Nickel Line. Discovered in 1971, the Mjovattnet nickel sulfide deposit occurs along a structural corridor of similar mineralized bodies, including the Lappvattnet Brannorna, and Lappbacken zones to the southwest, each of which have drill defined zones of mineralization, with the latter two also lying within the EMX license (See Figure 2; note that Lappvattnet is currently held by a third party). Notes from the Swedish Geological Company ("NSG") in 1987 state that Mjovattnet has only been partly explored and its depth potential remains unknown2. Likewise, several clusters of nickel sulfide bearing boulders lie to the northeast and southeast (the Frangsmyran, Holmsvattnet, Langbacken and Vallen occurrences), the bedrock sources of which have yet to be identified.

This combination of known, drilled defined nickel sulfide mineralization which remains open in multiple directions, and the upside potential in the vicinities of the clusters of mineralized boulders makes the Mjovattnet project particularly attractive for further exploration.

Njuggtraskliden Project. This deposit was discovered in the early 1970's via boulder tracing, which led to the identification of several mineralized outcrops. Multiple drill defined zones of nickel sulfide mineralization were delineated in the early 1980's, many of which were recognized as being enriched in PGE's, but only some of the collected drill core samples were analyzed for PGE's.

The drill defined zones of mineralization at Njuggtraskliden remain open at depth, and the NSG noted in their summary report that a 10 kilometer corridor of similar boulder clusters with nickel sulfide mineralization remains to be explored at Njuggtraskliden (see Figure 3)3. These occurrences all lie within the EMX license and represent considerable upside exploration potential. Since being drilled by the NSG, a few smaller companies have conducted limited exploration in the area, including twinning of some of the historic holes and reanalyzing the historic drill core for PGE's. However, little to no systematic exploration has taken place.

Recent exploration programs conducted by EMX have identified numerous new copper and nickel soil anomalies on the Njuggtraskliden project. Some of these newly recognized anomalies coincide with clusters of mineralized glacially transported boulders, the source(s) of which have not yet been discovered.

Exploration Plans for 2023. Permitting for drill testing has already begun, and Kendrick expects to commence a maiden drill program at Mjovattnet in later 2023 or early 2024.

Comments on Nearby and Adjacent Properties. The mines and deposits discussed in this news release provide context for EMX's Projects, which occur in a similar geologic setting, but this is not necessarily indicative that the Projects host similar quantities, grades or styles of mineralization.

Dr. Eric P. Jensen, CPG, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and employee of the Company, has reviewed, verified and approved the disclosure of the technical information contained in this news release.

About EMX. EMX is a precious, base and battery metals royalty company. EMX's investors are provided with discovery, development, and commodity price optionality, while limiting exposure to risks inherent to operating companies. The Company's common shares are listed on the NYSE American Exchange and the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "EMX", and also trade on the Frankfurt Exchange under the symbol "6E9". Please see www.EMXroyalty.com for more information.

For further information contact:

David M. Cole

President and Chief Executive Officer

Phone: (303) 973-8585

Dave@emxroyalty.com

Scott Close

Director of Investor Relations

Phone: (303) 973-8585

SClose@emxroyalty.com

Isabel Belger

Investor Relations (Europe)

Phone: +49 178 4909039

IBelger@EMXroyalty.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain "forward-looking statements" that reflect the Company's current expectations and projections about its future results. These forward-looking statements may include statements regarding perceived merit of properties, exploration results and budgets, mineral reserve and resource estimates, work programs, capital expenditures, timelines, strategic plans, market prices for precious and base metal, or other statements that are not statements of fact. When used in this news release, words such as "estimate," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "will", "believe", "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which, by their very nature, are not guarantees of the Company's future operational or financial performance, and are subject to risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and factors may include, but are not limited to: unavailability of financing, failure to identify commercially viable mineral reserves, fluctuations in the market valuation for commodities, difficulties in obtaining required approvals for the development of a mineral project, increased regulatory compliance costs, expectations of project funding by joint venture partners and other factors.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release or as of the date otherwise specifically indicated herein. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified in this news release, and other risk factors and forward-looking statements listed in the Company's MD&A for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 (the "MD&A"), and the most recently filed Annual Information Form ("AIF") for the year ended December 31, 2022, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. More information about the Company, including the MD&A, the AIF and financial statements of the Company, is available on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca and on the SEC's EDGAR website at www.sec.gov.





Figure 1: Location map of the Swedish Projects.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1508/176252_c1e423f684f889d1_002full.jpg





Figure 2: Mineralized trends, occurrences and geophysical map of the Mjovattnet project.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1508/176252_c1e423f684f889d1_003full.jpg





Figure 3: Mineralized trends, occurrences and geophysical map of the Njuggtraskliden project.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1508/176252_c1e423f684f889d1_004full.jpg

1 See Kendrick Resources PLC News Release dated May 4, 2023: "Stormyra Second Batch Assay Results Maiden Diamond Drill Programme". EMX has not performed sufficient work to verify the published assay results, and these data cannot be verified as being compliant with NI43-101 standards. However, EMX believes these results to be reliable and relevant.

2 Information from the Geological Survey of Sweden archives in Mala., Sweden.

3 Information from the Geological Survey of Sweden archives in Mala., Sweden., including report BRAP 81007, 1981, Nickelmineraliseringarna i Njuggtraskliden.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/176252
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2023) - Cabral Gold Inc. (TSXV: CBR) (OTC PINK: CBGZF) ("Cabral" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Jon Gilligan, Ian Gendall and Larry Lepard to its Board of Directors, effective immediately.

Alan Carter, Cabral's President and CEO commented, "I am very pleased to welcome Jon, Ian and Larry to the Board of Directors. Our ongoing Prefeasibility Study on the near surface gold-in-oxide material at the Cuiu Cuiu district, and the recent transaction with Osisko Gold Royalties, means that additional skills and expertise will be required at the Board level. The fact that experienced and successful industry participants in the form of Jon, Ian and Larry have agreed to join our Board is another significant endorsement of the Cuiu Cuiu gold district."

Jon Gilligan has 35 years experience and a PhD in Geology (gold). He is currently the COO of Liberty Gold and previously held senior positions with Torex Gold, SSR Mining Inc., and BHP. Jon has extensive experience in advancing and building mines around the world including the Marigold open-pit heap leach operation, Nevada, USA; Chinchillas open pit mine, Argentina; Olympic Dam Expansion Project, South Australia and the Escondida and Escondida Norte mines in Chile. He was previously Manager Mine Operations at the giant Escondida copper mine in Chile. Jon has a proven track record of building high-performance exploration, development and operational mining teams in challenging environments.

Ian Gendall is the President & CEO of DLP Resources and was previously with Gencor, Billiton, Anglo American, Antofagasta and more recently OceanaGold. Whilst working with Billiton, Ian led the team that was responsible for the discovery of an entirely new porphyry copper district in southern Ecuador. One of the companies that acquired part of the district was subsequently sold to CRCC-Tongguan Investment Co., Ltd. for $679M. He has extensive knowledge of operating in Brazil and in particular the Tapajos region and was previously COO of Magellan Minerals.

Larry Lepard is Managing Partner at Equity Management Associates, an investment fund focused on the precious metals sector and which has over US$60M under management. Larry previously spent 25 years as a professional investor and venture capitalist with Geocapital and Summit Partners, and has an MBA with Academic Distinction from Harvard Business School and a BA in Economics from Colgate University.

The appointments of Jon, Ian and Larry to the Board brings the total number of Board members to six. They join the existing Board members of Mark Smith, Alan Carter and Sami Arap.

About Cabral Gold Inc.

The Company is a junior resource company engaged in the identification, exploration and development of mineral properties, with a primary focus on gold properties located in Brazil. The Company has a 100% interest in the Cuiu Cuiu gold district located in the Tapajos Region, within the state of Para in northern Brazil. Two main gold deposits have so far been defined at the Cuiu Cuiu project which contains National Instrument 43-101 compliant Indicated resources of 21.6Mt @ 0.87 g/t gold (604,000 oz) and Inferred resources of 19.8Mt @ 0.84 g/t gold (534,500 oz) as per the 43-101 technical report dated October 12, 2022.

The Tapajos Gold Province is the site of the largest gold rush in Brazil's history which according to the ANM (Agencia Nacional de Mineracao or National Mining Agency of Brazil) produced an estimated 30 to 50 million ounces of placer gold between 1978 and 1995. Cuiu Cuiu was the largest area of placer workings in the Tapajos and produced an estimated 2Moz of placer gold historically.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

"Alan Carter"

President and Chief Executive Officer

Cabral Gold Inc.

Tel: 604.676.5660

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Guillermo Hughes, MAusIMM and FAIG., a consultant to the Company as well as a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release.

Forward-looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively "forward-looking statements"). The use of the words "will", "expected" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon. The Company believes the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/176463
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.
COEUR D'ALENE, ID / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Idaho Strategic Resources, Inc. (NYSE American:IDR) ("IDR", "Idaho Strategic" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Carolyn Turner, CPA, MBA has joined the Company as an independent board member.

Mrs. Turner is currently the owner and principal of Graham Peak Consulting, LLC in Kingston, ID where she specializes in accounting and finance consulting in the mining and heavy construction industries. Prior to her time at Graham Peak Consulting, Mrs. Turner spent over 30 years in the mining industry with companies such as Silver Valley Resources (ASARCO), Coeur Mining, and Hecla Mining Corp. Mrs. Turner's experience includes mine operations, metals marketing, project development and financing. She previously served as the Treasurer for both Hecla Mining and Coeur Mining where her roles were centered around quarterly and annual budgeting, rolling monthly forecasting, economic modeling, mergers and acquisitions, as well as numerous treasury and audit functions.

Mrs. Turner's educational background consists of a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration Accounting from Montana State University - Billings, followed by a Master of Business Administration from Regis University, Denver. Mrs. Turner is a licensed CPA and has served numerous years as an elected trustee on the Kellogg Idaho Joint School District Board.

Idaho Strategic's President and CEO, John Swallow stated, "We are excited to have Carolyn join the team. She came highly recommended from a number of our employees and current directors. While her industry knowledge and career experience largely speaks for itself, Carolyn will also be a great fit with IDR culturally. She grew up in a small, rural community in Montana and has chosen to stay in the area where we operate and appreciates the challenges and nuances that naturally come along with operating a small and growing business in this industry - and within smaller communities such as ours. Our team will lean on her experience and utilize her expertise to help IDR take the next step as we continue to execute on our business plan."

Carolyn Turner added, "I have always appreciated Idaho Strategic's business model as a great fit for our local economy and an example of integrity for the mining industry in general. It is an exciting time and true honor to join the team as they further develop and expand the Golden Chest mine and facilities, as well as look toward the future of clean energy with domestic sourced critical minerals."

With the addition of Mrs. Turner, the Company's Board of Directors now consists of five total directors made up of three independent directors and two non-independent directors. Mrs. Turner will serve on the Company's Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.

About Idaho Strategic Resources, Inc.

Domiciled in Idaho and headquartered in the Panhandle of northern Idaho, Idaho Strategic Resources (IDR) is one of the few resource-based companies (public or private) possessing the combination of officially recognized U.S. domestic rare earth elements properties (in Idaho), the largest known concentration of thorium resources in the U.S., and Idaho-based gold production located in an established mining community.

Idaho Strategic Resources produces gold at the Golden Chest Mine located in the Murray Gold Belt (MGB) area of the world-class Coeur d'Alene Mining District, north of the prolific Silver Valley. With over 7,300 acres of patented and unpatented land, the Company has the largest private land position in the area following its consolidation of the Murray Gold Belt for the first time in over 100-years.

In addition to gold and gold production, the Company maintains an important strategic presence in the U.S. Critical Minerals sector, specifically focused on the more "at-risk" Rare Earth Elements (REEs) with an overall land position of approximately 18,030 acres in Idaho's REE-Th Belt. The Company's Lemhi Pass, Diamond Creek, and Mineral Hill REE properties are included the U.S. national REE inventory as listed in USGS, IGS and DOE publications. IDR's Lemhi Pass REE-Thorium Project is also recognized by the USGS and IGS as containing the largest concentration of thorium resources in the country. All three projects are located in central Idaho and participating in the USGS Earth MRI program.

With an impressive mix of experience and dedication, the folks at IDR maintain a long-standing "We Live Here" approach to corporate culture, land management, and historic preservation. Furthermore, it is our belief that successful operations begin with the heightened responsibility that only local oversight and a community mindset can provide. Its "everyone goes home at night" policy would not be possible without the multi-generational base of local exploration, drilling, mining, milling, and business professionals that reside in and near the communities of the Silver Valley and North Idaho.

For more information on Idaho Strategic Resources click here for our corporate presentation, go to www.idahostrategic.com or call:

Travis Swallow, Investor Relations & Corporate Development

Email: tswallow@idahostrategic.com

Phone: (208) 625-9001

Forward Looking Statements

This release 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 that are intended to be covered by the safe harbor created by such sections. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by forward-looking words such as "intends, "potential", "believe", "plans", "expects", "may", "goal", "assume", "estimate", "anticipate", and "will" or similar words suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, assumptions, intentions, or statements about future events or performance. The forward-looking statement information above, and those following are applicable to both this press release, as well as the links contained within this press release. With respect to the business of Idaho Strategic Resources, these risks and uncertainties include risks relating to widespread epidemics or pandemic outbreaks, if they occur, including our ability to access goods and supplies, the ability to transport our products and impacts on employee productivity, the risks in connection with the operations, cash flow and results of the Company relating to the unknown duration and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; interpretations or reinterpretations of geologic information; the accuracy of historic estimates; unfavorable exploration results; inability to obtain permits required for future exploration, development or production; general economic conditions and conditions affecting the industries in which the Company operates; the uncertainty of regulatory requirements and approvals; fluctuating mineral and commodity prices; the ability to obtain necessary future financing on acceptable terms; the ability to operate the Company's projects; and risks associated with the mining industry such as economic factors (including future commodity prices, and energy prices), ground conditions, failure of plant, equipment, processes and transportation services to operate as anticipated, environmental risks, government regulation, actual results of current exploration and production activities, possible variations in ore grade or recovery rates, permitting timelines, capital and construction expenditures, reclamation activities. 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. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such information. Additional information regarding the factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from this forward-looking information is available in Idaho Strategic Resources filings with the SEC on EDGAR. IDR does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or other such factors which affect this information, except as required by law.

SOURCE: Idaho Strategic Resources, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/772792/Idaho-Strategic-Announces-the-Addition-of-Carolyn-Turner-to-the-Companys-Board-of-Directors
2Q 2023 ZYNLONTA1 net sales increased 11% year-over-year; Implemented new go-to-market strategy during the quarter to support growth



Operating expenses decreased 20%2 year-over-yeardue to portfolio prioritization and organizational efficiencies

Pipeline advancing with initial data readouts from the clinical trials of LOTIS-7, ADCT-601 targeting AXL and ADCT-901 targeting KAAG1 expected in 2024

Company to host conference call today at 8:30 a.m. EDT

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ADC Therapeutics SA (NYSE: ADCT) today reported financial results for the second quarter 2023 and provided business updates.

"We continue to focus on unlocking potential value from multiple ongoing initiatives over the next 12 months," said Ameet Mallik, Chief Executive Officer of ADC Therapeutics. "During the second quarter, we executed on our corporate and capital allocation strategy that streamlined our processes and prioritized our nearer-term clinical catalysts. We implemented the new commercial go-to-market model, enhanced investment in key pipeline programs, delivered organizational efficiencies and strengthened our capital resources. Our ongoing clinical trials of ZYNLONTA in earlier lines and combinations, as well as our earlier-stage pipeline programs, are expected to deliver key milestones in 2024. We look forward to keeping you updated on our progress."

Recent Highlights and Developments

ZYNLONTA (loncastuximab tesirine-lpyl)

ZYNLONTA generated net sales of $19.2 million in the second quarter of 2023, representing an 11% increase over the second quarter of 2022. The growth was partially offset by higher gross-to-net sales deductions due to the new Medicare Part B discarded drug policy effective January 1, 2023 and Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) contracting. Compared to the prior quarter, net sales increased 1.3% and volume increased 3.4%.

The Company's partner Sobi completed the first European commercial sale of ZYNLONTA with the launch in Germany in the second quarter of 2023. The first commercial sale in the European Union triggered a $75 million milestone payment to the Company from HealthCare Royalty Partners under the royalty purchase agreement.

The Biologics License Application (BLA) for ZYNLONTA submitted by Overland ADCT BioPharma was accepted for filing by the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) seeking an indication for relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) after two or more lines of systemic therapy. The BLA has been granted priority review by the NMPA.

During the second quarter, the Company's partner Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (MTPC) initiated the Phase 1/2 bridging study for ZYNLONTA in Japan.

The Company announced its plan to discontinue the Phase 2 LOTIS-9 trial studying ZYNLONTA in combination with rituximab in unfit or frail patients with previously untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) placed a partial clinical hold on the trial for new patient enrollment but will allow patients already on therapy who are deriving clinical benefit to remain on therapy after being reconsented. Following completion of treatment of any reconsenting patients, the Company will conduct the necessary steps to terminate the trial.

The LOTIS-5 Independent Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC) reviewed unblinded data at a regularly scheduled meeting in late July and noted that the study should proceed as planned. They also recognized that the LOTIS-9 and LOTIS-5 trials target very different patient populations.

Pipeline

ADCT-601 (targeting AXL) : Dose escalation is progressing in the Phase 1b trial, and the maximum tolerated dose has not yet been reached. The trial has been amended to focus on patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and patients with sarcoma. The immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay is under final validation.

: Dose escalation is progressing in the Phase 1b trial, and the maximum tolerated dose has not yet been reached. The trial has been amended to focus on patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and patients with sarcoma. The immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay is under final validation. ADCT-901 (targeting KAAG1) : The Phase 1 study protocol amendment to explore different dosing schedules has been finalized and submitted to the FDA and will be submitted shortly to the regulatory authorities in Europe. Once approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB), the Company plans to advance to the next dosing level. The IHC assay is under final validation.

: The Phase 1 study protocol amendment to explore different dosing schedules has been finalized and submitted to the FDA and will be submitted shortly to the regulatory authorities in Europe. Once approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB), the Company plans to advance to the next dosing level. The IHC assay is under final validation. ADCT-602 (targeting CD22): Dose expansion in the Phase 1 trial in collaboration with MD Anderson Cancer Center is progressing and additional clinical trial sites have been selected.



Guidance

The Company maintains the following guidance based on its current business plan:

ZYNLONTA FY 2023 net product sales expected to grow by a double-digit percentage year-over-year. This includes a gross-to-net increase as compared to 2022 of: Approximately 2 to 3 percentage points related to Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) contracting Mid to high single-digit percentage points resulting from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act's requirement for manufacturers of certain single-source drugs separately paid for under Medicare Part B and marketed in single-dose containers to provide annual refunds for discarded drug, effective January 1, 2023

Continued decrease in total operating expenses expected in 2023 and 2024 as compared to 2022 as a result of the implementation of the new corporate strategy

Expected cash runway to the middle of 2025



Upcoming Expected Milestones

ZYNLONTA

Grow ZYNLONTA net sales by a double-digit percentage year-over-year and achieve commercial brand profitability in 2023

Updated data from safety lead-in portion of Phase 3 LOTIS-5 study in 2H 2023

Complete enrollment of the LOTIS-5 study in 2024

Initial safety and efficacy data from the LOTIS-7 study in 2024

Pipeline

ADCT-901 (targeting KAAG1)

Initial data from Phase 1 study in 1H 2024



ADCT-601 (targeting AXL)

Initial data from Phase 1 study in 1H 2024



ADCT-602 (targeting CD22)

Additional data from Phase 1 study in 1H 2024



Second Quarter 2023 Financial Results

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents were $347.5 million as of June 30, 2023, compared to $326.4 million as of December 31, 2022. In June 2023, the Company received a $75.0 million milestone payment from Healthcare Royalty Partners, triggered by the first EU commercial sale. The Company expects its cash runway to extend into the middle of 2025.

Product Revenues

Net product revenues were $19.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, compared to $17.3 million for the same quarter in 2022. Net product revenues are for U.S. sales of ZYNLONTA. The increase of $1.9 million for the quarter was primarily due to higher sales volume, partially offset by higher gross-to-net deductions.

Research and Development (R&D) Expenses

R&D expenses were $31.9 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, compared to $48.5 million for the same quarter in 2022. R&D expenses decreased due to less investment in Cami (camidanlumab tesirine) due to the completion of the Phase 2 study in 2022 and the Company's decision to seek a partner to progress the program, as well as less investment in other development programs. R&D expenses in the second quarter of 2023 also decreased due to lower share-based compensation expense as a result of fluctuations in the share price, voluntary terminations and the reduction in workforce implemented in May 2023 creating organizational efficiencies. These efficiencies allowed the Company to enhance investments in prioritized portfolio programs.



Selling and Marketing (S&M) Expenses

S&M expenses were $14.5 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, compared to $17.7 million for the same quarter in 2022. The decrease in S&M expenses for the quarter was primarily due to lower share-based compensation expense resulting from fluctuations in the share price and award forfeitures in connection with voluntary terminations and the commercial realignment implemented in the second quarter.

General & Administrative Expenses

G&A expenses were $11.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, compared to $18.2 million for the same quarter in 2022. G&A expenses decreased during the second quarter of 2023 primarily due to lower share-based compensation expense due to fluctuations in the share price, transition of a board member, voluntary terminations and the workforce reduction implemented in May 2023.

Net Loss and Adjusted Net Loss

Net loss was $47.1 million, or a net loss of $0.58 per basic and diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2023. This compares to a net loss of $64.4 million, or a net loss of $0.84 per basic and diluted share, for the same quarter in 2022.

Adjusted net loss was $30.3 million, or an adjusted net loss of $0.37 per basic and diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2023. This compares to an adjusted net loss of $56.3 million, or an adjusted net loss of $0.73 per basic and diluted share, for the same quarter in 2022.

The decrease in net loss and adjusted net loss for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, as compared to the same quarter in 2022, was attributable to lower R&D expenses and higher product revenues during the second quarter of 2023. The decrease in net loss was also attributable to lower share-based compensation expense, partially offset by other financial expense arising from a cumulative catch-up adjustment associated with the valuation of the deferred royalty obligation with Healthcare Royalty Partners recognized in the second quarter of 2023 and from changes in the fair value of our convertible loan derivatives, which was recognized in the second quarter of 2022.

Conference Call Details

ADC Therapeutics management will host a conference call and live audio webcast to discuss second quarter 2023 financial results and provide a company update today at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. To access the conference call, please register here. Registrants will receive the dial-in number and unique PIN. It is recommended that you join 10 minutes before the event, though you may pre-register at any time. A live webcast of the call will be available under "Events & Presentations" in the Investors section of the ADC Therapeutics website at ir.adctherapeutics.com. The archived webcast will be available for 30 days following the call.

About ZYNLONTA (loncastuximab tesirine-lpyl)

ZYNLONTA is a CD19-directed antibody drug conjugate (ADC). Once bound to a CD19-expressing cell, ZYNLONTA is internalized by the cell, where enzymes release a pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) payload. The potent payload binds to DNA minor groove with little distortion, remaining less visible to DNA repair mechanisms. This ultimately results in cell cycle arrest and tumor cell death.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) have approved ZYNLONTA (loncastuximab tesirine-lpyl) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory (r/r) large B-cell lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not otherwise specified (NOS), DLBCL arising from low-grade lymphoma and also high-grade B-cell lymphoma. The trial included a broad spectrum of heavily pre-treated patients (median three prior lines of therapy) with difficult-to-treat disease, including patients who did not respond to first-line therapy, patients refractory to all prior lines of therapy, patients with double/triple hit genetics and patients who had stem cell transplant and CAR-T therapy prior to their treatment with ZYNLONTA. This indication is approved by the FDA under accelerated approval and in the European Union under conditional approval based on overall response rate and continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial.

ZYNLONTA is also being evaluated as a therapeutic option in combination studies in other B-cell malignancies and earlier lines of therapy.

About ADC Therapeutics

ADC Therapeutics (NYSE: ADCT) is a commercial-stage biotechnology company improving the lives of those affected by cancer with its next-generation, targeted antibody drug conjugates (ADCs). The Company is advancing its proprietary PBD-based ADC technology to transform the treatment paradigm for patients with hematologic malignancies and solid tumors.

ADC Therapeutics' CD19-directed ADC ZYNLONTA (loncastuximab tesirine-lpyl) is approved by the FDA for the treatment of relapsed or refractory diffuse large b-cell lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy. ZYNLONTA is also in development in combination with other agents. In addition to ZYNLONTA, ADC Therapeutics has multiple ADCs in ongoing clinical and preclinical development.

ADC Therapeutics is based in Lausanneand follow the Company on Twitterand LinkedIn.

ZYNLONTA is a registered trademark of ADC Therapeutics SA.

Use of Non-IFRS Financial Measures

In addition to financial information prepared in accordance with IFRS, this document also contains certain non-IFRS financial measures based on management's view of performance including:

Adjusted net loss

Adjusted net loss per share

Management uses such measures internally when monitoring and evaluating our operational performance, generating future operating plans and making strategic decisions regarding the allocation of capital. We believe that these adjusted financial measures provide useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our operating results in the same manner as our management and facilitate operating performance comparability across both past and future reporting periods. These non-IFRS measures have limitations as financial measures and should be considered in addition to, and not in isolation or as a substitute for, the information prepared in accordance with IFRS. When preparing these supplemental non-IFRS measures, management typically excludes certain IFRS items that management does not believe are indicative of our ongoing operating performance. Furthermore, management does not consider these IFRS items to be normal, recurring cash operating expenses; however, these items may not meet the IFRS definition of unusual or non-recurring items. Since non-IFRS financial measures do not have standardized definitions and meanings, they may differ from the non-IFRS financial measures used by other companies, which reduces their usefulness as comparative financial measures. Because of these limitations, you should consider these adjusted financial measures alongside other IFRS financial measures.

The following items are excluded from adjusted net loss and adjusted net loss per share:

Shared-Based Compensation Expense: We exclude share-based compensation expense from our adjusted financial measures because share-based compensation expense, which is non-cash, fluctuates from period to period based on factors that are not within our control, such as our stock price on the dates share-based grants are issued. Share-based compensation expense has been, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future, a recurring expense in our business and an important part of our compensation strategy.

Certain Other Items: We exclude certain other significant items that we believe do not represent the performance of our business, from our adjusted financial measures. Such items are evaluated by management on an individual basis based on both quantitative and qualitative aspects of their nature. While not all-inclusive, examples of certain other significant items excluded from our adjusted financial measures would be: changes in the fair value of derivatives and warrant obligations and the effective interest expense associated with the Facility Agreement with Deerfield and the senior secured term loan facility and the effective interest expense and a cumulative catch-up adjustment associated with the deferred royalty obligation under the royalty purchase agreement with HealthCare Royalty Partners.

See the attached Reconciliation of IFRS Measures to Non-IFRS Measures for explanations of the amounts excluded and included to arrive at the non-IFRS financial measures.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "would", "expect", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict", "potential", "seem", "seek", "future", "continue", or "appear" or the negative of these terms or similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that can cause actual results to differ materially from those described. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: the success of the Company's updated corporate strategy including operating efficiencies, capital deployment and portfolio prioritization; the Company's ability to achieve the 2023 net product sales guidance for ZYNLONTA and the decrease in total operating expenses for 2023 and 2024, the expected cash runway into the middle of 2025, the effectiveness of the new commercial go-to-market strategy, competition from new technologies, the Company's ability to continue to commercialize ZYNLONTA in the United States and future revenue from the same; Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (Sobi) ability to successfully commercialize ZYNLONTA in the European Economic Area and market acceptance, adequate reimbursement coverage, and future revenue from the same; approval by the NMPA of the BLA for ZYNLONTA in China submitted by Overland ADCT BioPharma and future revenue from the same, our strategic partners', including Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, ability to obtain regulatory approval for ZYNLONTA in foreign jurisdictions, and the timing and amount of future revenue and payments to us from such partnerships; the Company's ability to market its products in compliance with applicable laws and regulations; the Company's expectations regarding the impact of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act; the timing and results of the Company's or its partners' research projects or clinical trials including LOTIS 5 and 7, ADCT 901, 601 and 602, the impact, if any, from discontinuation of the LOTIS-9 study, actions by the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities with respect to the Company's products or product candidates, the timing and outcome of regulatory submissions for the Company's products or product candidates; the ability to complete clinical trials on expected timelines, if at all; projected revenue and expenses; the Company's indebtedness, including Healthcare Royalty Management and Blue Owl and Oaktree facilities, and the restrictions imposed on the Company's activities by such indebtedness, the ability to repay such indebtedness and the significant cash required to service such indebtedness; and the Company's ability to obtain financial and other resources for its research, development, clinical, and commercial activities. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements is contained in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F and in the Company's other periodic reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, achievements or prospects to be materially different from any future results, performance, achievements or prospects expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company cautions investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this document. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release, except as required by law.

ADC Therapeutics SA

Condensed Consolidated Interim Statement of Operations (Unaudited)

(in KUSD except for per share data)

For the Three Months Ended

June 30, For the Six Months Ended

June 30, 2023 2022 2023 2022 Product revenues, net 19,197 17,291 38,150 33,789 License revenues and royalties 86 - 125 30,000 Total revenue 19,283 17,291 38,275 63,789 Operating expense Cost of product sales (1,319) (2,266) (1,909) (2,795) Research and development expenses (31,944) (48,537) (71,424) (97,489) Selling and marketing expenses (14,456) (17,659) (29,807) (36,029) General and administrative expenses (11,353) (18,240) (26,496) (37,251) Total operating expense (59,072) (86,702) (129,636) (173,564) Loss from operations (39,789) (69,411) (91,361) (109,775) Other income (expense) Financial income 2,372 16 4,547 18,324 Financial expense (15,857) (8,801) (26,145) (18,018) Non-operating (expense) income (453) 12,875 (456) 26,317 Total other (expense) income (13,938) 4,090 (22,054) 26,623 Loss before taxes (53,727) (65,321) (113,415) (83,152) Income tax benefit 6,610 947 6,872 2,117 Net loss (47,117) (64,374) (106,543) (81,035) Net loss attributable to: Owners of the parent (47,117) (64,374) (106,543) (81,035) Net loss per share, basic and diluted (0.58) (0.84) (1.31) (1.05)

ADC Therapeutics SA

Condensed Consolidated Interim Balance Sheet (Unaudited)

(in KUSD)

June 30,

2023 December 31,

2022 ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents 347,510 326,441 Accounts receivable, net 23,866 72,971 Inventory 19,428 18,564 Other current assets 22,004 28,039 Total current assets 412,808 446,015 Non-current assets Property, plant and equipment 5,400 3,261 Right-of-use assets 10,971 6,720 Intangible assets 13,536 14,360 Interest in joint venture 28,322 31,152 Deferred tax asset 34,822 26,757 Other long-term assets 1,443 903 Total non-current assets 94,494 83,153 Total assets 507,302 529,168 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities Accounts payable 11,691 12,351 Other current liabilities 53,397 73,035 Lease liabilities, short-term 1,632 1,097 Senior secured term loans, short-term 13,861 12,474 Total current liabilities 80,581 98,957 Non-current liabilities Senior secured term loans, long-term 97,356 97,240 Warrant obligations 535 1,788 Deferred royalty obligation, long-term 299,279 212,353 Deferred gain of joint venture 23,539 23,539 Lease liabilities, long-term 10,762 6,564 Other long-term liabilities 3,839 - Total non-current liabilities 435,310 341,484 Total liabilities 515,891 440,441 Equity attributable to owners of the parent Share capital 7,312 7,312 Share premium 1,007,755 1,007,452 Treasury shares (557) (679) Other reserves 164,175 155,683 Cumulative translation adjustments (46) (356) Accumulated losses (1,187,228) (1,080,685) Total equity attributable to owners of the parent (8,589) 88,727 Total liabilities and equity 507,302 529,168

ADC Therapeutics SA

Reconciliation of IFRS Measures to Non-IFRS Measures (Unaudited)

(in KUSD except for share and per share data)

Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, in KUSD 2023 2022 Change % Change 2023 2022 Change % Change Total operating expense (59,072) (86,702) 27,630 (32) % (129,636) (173,564) 43,928 (25) % Adjustments: Share-based compensation expense (i) 1,118 13,818 (12,700) (92) % 9,192 27,728 (18,536) (67) % Adjusted total operating expenses (57,954) (72,884) 14,930 (20) % (120,444) (145,836) 25,392 (17) %

Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, in KUSD (except for share and per share data) 2023 2022 2023 2022 Net loss (47,117) (64,374) (106,543) (81,035) Adjustments: Share-based compensation expense (i) 1,118 13,818 9,192 27,728 Convertible loans, derivatives, change in fair value income (ii) - (14,455) - (30,310) Senior secured term loans, warrants, change in fair value expense (income) (ii) 39 - (617) - Effective interest expense on convertible loans (iii) - 3,126 - 6,148 Deerfield warrants obligation, change in fair value income (ii) (20) - (636) - Effective interest expense on senior secured term loan facility (iii) 4,480 - 9,020 - Deferred royalty obligation interest expense (iv) 5,829 5,545 11,575 11,687 Deferred royalty obligation cumulative catch-up adjustment expense (income) (iv) 5,417 - 5,288 (18,288) Adjusted net loss (30,254) (56,340) (72,721) (84,070) Net loss per share, basic and diluted (0.58) (0.84) (1.31) (1.05) Adjustment to net loss per share, basic and diluted 0.21 0.11 0.41 (0.04) Adjusted net loss per share, basic and diluted (0.37) (0.73) (0.90) (1.09) Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted 81,471,127 76,911,713 81,140,287 76,866,968

(i) Share-based compensation expense represents the cost of equity awards issued to our directors, management and employees. The fair value of awards is computed at the time the award is granted, including any market and other performance conditions, and is recognized over the vesting period of the award by a charge to the income statement and a corresponding increase in other reserves within equity. These accounting entries have no cash impact. (ii) Change in the fair value of the convertible loan derivatives, senior secured term loan facility warrants and the Deerfield warrant obligation results from the valuation at the end of each accounting period. There are several inputs to these valuations, but those most likely to result in significant changes to the valuations are changes in the value of the underlying instrument (i.e., changes in the price of our common shares) and changes in expected volatility in that price. These accounting entries have no cash impact. (iii) Effective interest expense on convertible loans and senior secured term loans relates to the increase in the value of our loans in accordance with the amortized cost method. (iv) Deferred royalty obligation interest expense relates to the accretion expense on our deferred royalty obligation pursuant to the royalty purchase agreement with HCR and cumulative catch-up adjustment expense (income) relates to changes in the expected payments to HCR based on a periodic assessment of our underlying revenue projections.

CONTACTS:



Investors

Eugenia Litz

ADC Therapeutics

Eugenia.Litz@adctherapeutics.com

+44 7879 627205

+1 908-723-2350

Media

Nicole Riley

ADC Therapeutics

Nicole.Riley@adctherapeutics.com

+1 862-926-9040

________________

(1) loncastuximab tesirine-lpyl; (2) on a non-IFRS basis or 32% on an IFRS basis including stock-based compensation expense. See reconciliation of IFRS measures to non-IFRS measures in accompanying financial tables.
SARNIA, Ontario, Aug. 08, 2023("Aduro" or the "Company") (CSE: ACT) (OTCQB: ACTHF) (FSE: 9D50), a Canadian technology company using the power of chemistry to transform lower value feedstocks, like waste plastics, heavy bitumen, and renewable oils, into higher value resources for the 21st century, is pleased to announce the advancement of Phase 1 of the collaboration with Prospera Energy Inc. ("Prospera") with the purpose of developing, building, and supplying a pre-commercial pilot plant to convert low API bitumen to higher value products using Aduro's Hydrochemolytic technology ("HCT").

Prospera (TSX.V: PEI, OTC: GXRFF, FRA: OF6B) is a prominent operator in Canada's energy industry, specializing in the exploration, development, and production of crude oil and natural gas. As a publicly traded company, Prospera is dedicated to acquiring, developing, and producing resources primarily in Western Canada. Leveraging its expertise and extensive knowledge, Prospera focuses on conventional oil and gas reservoirs, aiming for both primary and secondary recovery opportunities.

On September 12, 2022, Aduro and Prospera entered into a Letter of Intentthat outlined a three-phase project engagement plan to investigate, develop and evaluate the partial upgrading of bitumen with a pilot plant using the Aduro Hydrochemolytic Bitumen Upgrading ("HBU") technology. Phase 1 involves a combined working plan of laboratory and continuous flow work using Prospera bitumen and Aduro's HCT process. Phase 2 includes preliminary engineering, identification of the pilot plant site, and reviewing of licenses and permits, as well as detailed budgeting and agreement to proceed with construction. Phase three includes the procurement, fabrication, construction, commissioning, and operation of a 50 barrel per day pilot plant. With the commissioning of the pilot-scale continuous flow reactor for HBU in Q3 2023, the parties can now advance Phase 1 of the collaboration.

In line with the Aduro and Prospera shared goals, Phase 1 is planned to be completed by December 2023. This five-month engagement aligns with the Company's customer engagement plans, focusing on evaluating, testing, and reporting on the application of HBU technology to various customer feedstocks. During Phase 1, Prospera will provide Aduro with an analysis of diluent blending and transportation costs, site operation economics, and details of the crude properties to be upgraded. Additionally, Prospera will supply 6 barrels of low API crude sourced from its heavy oil properties for comprehensive testing. Aduro will execute a set of design experiments, utilizing the Aduro laboratory and the continuous flow Bitumen Reactor ("R2 Bitumen") and Flash Drum. In consideration for the services to be provided in Phase 1, Prospera will pay Aduro a monthly fee of $25,000 CAD plus applicable taxes, with the total fees for the completion and delivery of Phase 1 scope capped at $125,000 plus applicable taxes.

This collaboration will foster transparency, knowledge exchange, and in-depth examination of crude properties, site operations, and economic factors. Phase 1 will also define a future business model, establishing a robust relationship framework, and evaluating the technical, economic, and environmental viability of the pilot plant project. Thorough budget forecasting and planning will ensure effective resource allocation. As Phase 1 concludes, a comprehensive summary of results and expert recommendations will provide a solid foundation for subsequent phases, setting the stage for further progress and success.

"Prospera Energy is excited to embark on Phase 1 of our collaboration with Aduro," stated Samuel David, President & CEO of Prospera. "As a company dedicated to optimizing hydrocarbon recovery while prioritizing environmental sustainability, we believe that this partnership will drive innovation and enhance our product specifications, unit economics, and carbon footprint. The potential impact of this technology on our operations is truly inspiring, and we are committed to leveraging this opportunity to the fullest."

"The initiation of Phase 1 of the collaboration with Prospera for the pilot plant project of our Hydrochemolytic Bitumen Upgrading technology marks a significant milestone", commented Ofer Vicus, CEO of Aduro. "The progress we have made in constructing our R2 Bitumen continuous flow reactor, coupled with the launch of the commissioning process, positions us for success. By achieving full operational status in Q3 2023, we solidify our position as a leading destination for partners seeking to understand how the HCT partial upgrading can enhance their operations, while fostering meaningful connections with potential customers and stakeholders. This collaboration propels us closer to commercializing our innovative solution and driving a transformative era in the energy industry."

About Aduro Clean Technologies

Aduro Clean Technologies is a developer of patented water-based technologies to chemically recycle waste plastics; convert heavy crude and bitumen into lighter, more valuable oil; and transform renewable oils into higher-value fuels or renewable chemicals. The Company's Hydrochemolytic technology relies on water as a critical agent in a chemistry platform that operates at relatively low temperatures and cost, a game-changing approach that converts low-value feedstocks into resources for the 21st century.

For further information, please contact:

Ofer Vicus, CEO

ovicus@adurocleantech.com

Abe Dyck, Investor Relations

ir@adurocleantech.com

+1 604 362 7011

Prospera Energy Inc.

Shawn Mehler, Corporate Communications

shawn@prosperaenergy.com

+1 403 454 9010

Arrowhead

Thomas Renaud, Managing Director

enquire@arrowheadbid.com

+1 212 619 6889

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact that address activities, events, or developments that the Company believes, expects, or anticipates will or may occur in the future, are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements reflect management's current expectations based on information currently available and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and, accordingly, undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to their inherent uncertainty. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include adverse market conditions and other factors beyond the control of the parties. The Company 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, except as required by applicable law.

The CSE has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the content of this news release.





A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/04b2b161-cffd-497c-ad05-d6cc0a9614c8
Insurance Product Experts From Sun Life, Combined Insurance, Canada Life and IoT Insurance Observatory Share their Insights on the Future of Product Strategy.

London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2023) - In light of carriers expanding their product portfolios to keep pace with evolving customer demands, Reuters Events sat down with Brady Aarssen (VP Group Retirement & Innovation, Canada Life), Matteo Carbone (Founder & Director, IoT Insurance Observatory), Gourami Kakhadze (VP, Chief Compliance Officer, Combined Insurance) and Anna Foat (Design literacy & Education Strategy - Global Marketing, Sun Life) to discuss how carrier can incorporate innovation and ensure security within their rapidly expanding product suites. Checkout their insights in our quick 10 minute read.

Download the full whitepaper here for free - 'Insurance Product Strategy: Powering Human Touch & Profitability'

The report provides a clearer direction of travel for carriers looking to balance ROI for industry stakeholders with ever changing customer preferences. A snapshot of what the whitepaper covers can be found below:

More meaningful partnerships: Build relationships with partners who share a vision of the industry's future to provide a clear roadmap of product development

Build relationships with partners who share a vision of the industry's future to provide a clear roadmap of product development Refine data analytics: Perfectly predict preferences in real-time by deploying enriched AI/ML algorithms to continuously update customer profiles

Perfectly predict preferences in real-time by deploying enriched AI/ML algorithms to continuously update customer profiles Adopt a customer-centred approach: Start and end with the customer to deliver an effortless online experience

Below is a snippet of the insight our insurance executives provide in the paper:

"It's also about being there for customer in typically their most challenging situations" - Brady Aarssen, VP Group Retirement & Innovation, Canada Life

"Bring intermediaries and policyholders along by communicating the value proposition and sharing in the spoils" - Matteo Carbone, Founder & Director, IoT Insurance Observatory

"we must challenge ourselves to innovate risk management practices in accordance with the new market realities." - Gourami Kakhadze, VP, Chief Compliance Officer, Combined Insurance

Download the full report here

This whitepaper is in conjunction with Reuters Events: The Future of Insurance Canada 2023. For full event details, download the official event brochure here.

Kind regards,

Tom

Tom Robinson

Project Director

Reuters Events

tom.robinson2@thomsonreuters.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/176467


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Two U.S. ships have been deployed to the Middle East to help international partners in the region keep open important shipping lanes such as at the Strait of Hormuz and ensure safe passage of commercial vessels.



Sailors and Marines with the Navy's Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived in the Middle East as part of a pre-announced deployment to support deterrence efforts in the Strait of Hormuz and elsewhere, said Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder.



'As we have been for a very long time, we're coordinating with our partners in the region when it comes to U.S. military presence because, again, it's not just the U.S. military that's out there patrolling commercial shipping lanes. We're working as part of a broader coalition ... on that effort,' Ryder told reporters.



Sailors and Marines arrived in the region aboard the USS Bataan, an amphibious assault ship, and dock landing ship USS Carter Hall.



The strengthening of U.S. military prowess in the Strait of Hormuz comes in the wake of the Iranian navy's attempt to seize two merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman last month.



According to a report from U.S. Central Command, on July 5, U.S. forces prevented two commercial tanker ships from being seized by the Iranian military in international waters near the coast of Oman.



One of those ships, the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker TRF Moss, was approached by an Iranian naval vessel, but it departed after the arrival of U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul.



Later the same day, an Iranian naval vessel fired at the Bahamian-flagged oil tanker Richmond Voyager using small arms and crew-served weapons. The attack was thwarted by McFaul.



According to Centcom, Iran has attacked or seized about 20 merchant vessels since 2021.



Ryder said the increased U.S. presence in the Middle East is meant to help partners there keep open important shipping lanes such as at the Strait of Hormuz, which is a choke point between the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf. It also contributes further to a long-standing goal of preserving security and stability in the region.



The world depends on the strategic waterway for more than one fifth of the global oil supply.



An amphibious assault ship such as the USS Bataan can carry more than two dozen rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft. That could include MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft and AV-8B Harrier attack jets, in addition to several amphibious landing craft. A dock landing ship such as the USS Carter Hall also supports operations for various rotary-wing aircraft, tactical vehicles, and amphibious landing craft.



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Announcing a strategic partnership to save security analysts' time and increase efficiency by leveraging no-code automation technology when managing Incydr

Black Hat Code42 Software, Inc., the Insider Risk Management (IRM) leader, today announced that it has partnered with Tines the no-code automation platform for security teams to release Incydr Flows, powered by Tines. With the powerful automation capabilities of Tines, the integration enables security teams to simplify manual, error-prone, and cross-functional workflows by automating actions between the Code42 Incydr solution and other corporate systems such as IAM, PAM, EDR, HCM, and ITSM.

"Under today's economic pressures, security teams are short on time and resources. Now more than ever, they need solutions that help them efficiently tackle the costly problem of data loss, leak, and theft," said Joe Payne, CEO of Code42. "The integration with Tines will benefit under-resourced teams by helping them integrate Code42 with all of their existing security technology, without having to build automation themselves or having to buy additional technology. This is a huge win for Code42 customers."

Incydr Flows, powered by Tines, is embedded into the Incydr solution and does not require a separate purchase of Tines. It enables organizations to:

Accelerate response times to remediate critical events. This prevents further data exposure, while security teams investigate insider threat events.

Reduce manual, repetitive, or error-prone tasks. It streamlines watchlist management, investigations, and follow-up actions required of security, management, legal, or human resources team members.

Simplify processes that rely on multiple teams, such as alert triage.

"Security architects and analysts need their existing tech stack to work together, rather than in siloed workflows," said Eoin Hinchy, CEO Founder of Tines. "No-code automation is integral to their ability to effectively address security issues. This integration helps elevate data protection programs and improve organizations' security postures by saving analysts' time and resources."

Availability

Incydr Flows will be available to all customers this Fall.

About Incydr

Code42 Incydr data protection allows security teams to easily adjust their response to alerts by training users, containing threats, or blocking unacceptable user activity. With Incydr data protection, customers can automatically send tailored micro-trainings to correct employee mistakes in real-time, contain insider threats, and speed investigations via integrated controls with EDR and IAM products, case management, and access to file contents. This helps organizations drive down data loss, leak, and theft while also protecting their intellectual property and customer data.

Additional Resources

Visit the Incydr Flows page

Learn more about the Incydr Tines technology integration

Join the conversation with Code42 on our blog, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube

Read Code42's 2023 Annual Data Exposure Report

Stop by Code42's booth #2340 at Black Hat 2023

About Code42

Code42 is the leader in Insider Risk Management (IRM), offering endpoint and cloud data loss detection and response solutions. Code42 Incydr data protection is native to the cloud and rapidly detects data exposure, loss, leak, and theft as well as speeds incident response all without lengthy deployments, complex policy management, or disrupting employee productivity. The solution offers a complete range of response solutions, including automated microlearning modules for accidental non-malicious risk, case management for efficient collaboration on investigations, and automated blocking for the highest-risk use cases. Code42's IRM Program Launchpad helps organizations get up and running quickly to ensure success and return on investment.

With Code42, security professionals can protect corporate data and reduce data loss from insiders while fostering an open and collaborative culture for employees. Innovative organizations, including the fastest-growing security companies, rely on Code42 to safeguard their ideas. Code42's data protection solution is FEDRAMP authorized and can be configured for GDPR, HIPAA, PCI, and other compliance frameworks. Founded in 2001, the company is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and backed by Accel Partners, JMI Equity, NewView Capital, and Split Rock Partners. Code42 has played a defining role in developing a vision and requirements for the IRM category and is a founding member of the annual Insider Risk Summit and Insider Risk Community.

The Company has several offices across the United States, and its clients include the most recognizable security, technology, manufacturing, and life sciences organizations, such as CrowdStrike, Okta, Lyft, BAYADA Home Health Care, Rakuten, Sumo Logic, MacDonald-Miller, MACOM, Ping Identity, Shape Technologies, and Snowflake.

About Tines

Tines is no-code automation for security teams. It's the only platform that bypasses the need for programming skills, delivering powerful automation straight into the hands of front-line analysts and operators. Tines brings an impact-first approach to all teams, securely automating thousands of mission-critical workflows per day across a diverse range of customers, including Coinbase, Kayak, Databricks, McKesson, and Canva. The company was co-founded in 2018 in Dublin, Ireland, by former security practitioners Eoin Hinchy (CEO) and Thomas Kinsella (CCO), and has raised $96.2M in funding to date from investors, including Felicis, Addition, Accel, Blossom Capital, and Lux Capital.

2023 Code42 Software, Inc. All rights reserved. Code42, Incydr, and Instructor are trademarks or registered trademarks of Code42 Software, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other marks are properties of their respective owners.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808055111/en/

Contacts:

Offleash PR for Code42

Code42@offleashpr.com

Bateman Agency for Tines

Tines@batemanagency.com
NEW YORK, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LifeSci Consulting, a boutique strategy consulting and advisory firm focused solely on Life Science and Healthcare companies, and a member company of the LifeSci Partners platform, today announced the establishment of a London office and a global operations consulting capability, both to be headed by Nick Muir. Mr. Muir has been appointed Partner and brings with him a team of experienced consultants who form the nucleus of this new offering which will include cost transformation, enterprise operating model design, and organizational improvement services.



"Nick and his team have shown a consistent ability throughout their careers to advise senior life science leaders in developing strategies and orchestrating diverse capabilities to implement tangible change - be that transforming enterprise cost bases, restructuring organizations, or implementing complex outsourcing solutions," said Jason Laffin, Managing Partner of LifeSci Consulting. "This is a significant investment in the growth of our consulting business - both establishing a presence in London to better serve clients across Europe and adding a new operations capability to our existing portfolio of services. We believe this combined offering is unique and significantly differentiates us from other boutique life science consulting firms."

Mr. Muir commented, "I was attracted to LifeSci Consulting by the opportunity to be part of a fast-growing firm with deep expertise in the life sciences and a shared set of values in the provision of high quality and high impact advisory services. In an ever-dynamic environment, having a strong operational foundation and a rigorous focus on costs is a key determinant for translating innovation into impact for investors and ultimately, for patients. LifeSci Consulting is now uniquely placed to drive client performance and maximize their return on investment in medicine and device development through the application of our strategy, commercial, and operations capabilities globally."

Mr. Muir has more than 15 years of experience in management consulting, with 12 years in the Life Sciences industry. He was previously Global Head of Operations Consulting - Life Sciences and EMEA Head of Procurement Consulting at Deloitte. In these roles, he was responsible for leading Deloitte's largest cost reduction, operational transformation, and performance improvement initiatives in the sector. He has worked with clients ranging from major multinational pharmaceutical companies to mid-sized and speciality biotech companies, as well as clinical research organizations. He brings to LifeSci Consulting a team that contains several former Deloitte colleagues. These include Lowri McIntosh, who is appointed Senior Principal and who, in addition to her consulting experience, was Chief of Staff at Huma, and Ash Blythen, Senior Manager, who has held various corporate strategy roles in addition to his time at Deloitte.

About LifeSci Consulting

LifeSci Consulting is a boutique strategy consulting and advisory firm that provides R&D and commercial strategy, partnering/M&A, and operations excellence advisory to leading life sciences companies. Our team of consultants has decades of experience in both Big 4 and boutique management consulting, industry leadership roles, and research.

About LifeSci Partners

LifeSci Partners ' mission is to solve the most significant challenges faced by Life Science companies at each stage of their life cycle, from inception to maturity. The nine business verticals within the LifeSci platform collectively provide companies with the resources and experience they need to realize the full potential of their scientific innovation, driving long-term value for shareholders and patients. We believe that by combining cross-disciplinary subject matter expertise under one roof and leveraging relationships across all influential industry stakeholders, we can harness the power of our platform to provide greater value for our clients. Our global presence includes New York, Boston, San Francisco / Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, San Diego, Chicago, Charlotte, London, Zurich, Paris, and Tel-Aviv.

Contacts

Jason Laffin

Managing Partner, LifeSci Consulting

jlaffin@lifesciconsulting.com

Nick Muir

Partner, LifeSci Consulting

nmuir@lifesciconsulting.com
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Ceres - A new report unveiled today finds that the U.S. insurance sector held $536 billion in fossil-fuel related assets in 2019, despite some insurers citing climate-related risk and natural disasters as factors in raising premiums and/or dropping coverage within certain high-risk regions.

The report, Changing Climate for the Insurance Sector, conducted by Ceres, ERM, and Persefoni, reveals that the top 16 U.S. insurers alone held more than 50 percent of the half trillion dollars in fossil fuel-related assets owned by the sector. The quantitative analysis was undertaken using U.S. Insurers' 2019 assets compiled by the California Department of Insurance, the most complete and recent dataset currently available.

Some insurers are currently moving to curtail climate-related risk, with a growing number ceasing to offer certain policies in some locations. This includes State Farm's May 2023 decision to stop offering new home insurance policies in California due to wildfire risk, Farmers' July 2023 announcement that they will stop renewing almost a third of the policies the company has written in Florida, and close to 20 home insurers in hurricane-prone Louisiana either pulling out of the state or declaring insolvency.

Tom Reichert, Group CEO of ERM, said: "As the climate crisis intensifies, the insurance industry is finding itself uniquely exposed to climate-related challenges. Now is the time for insurers to take action to address these risks and opportunities related to their investments and underwriting. This will help to ensure their business models remain resilient and that they can continue to serve their customers effectively, while ultimately accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy." Kentaro Kawamori, CEO and Co-founder of Persefoni, said: "This research once again emphasizes that climate risk is financial risk. Insurance companies must continue to evaluate their financed emissions and measure the impact they have through their fossil fuel-related assets. The technology to do this exists and will help the transition to a global decarbonized economy without penalizing businesses and consumers." Mindy Lubber, CEO and president of the sustainability nonprofit Ceres said: "Insurance companies are facing increasing climate change risks as the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires escalate. This report reveals the urgent need for insurers to address the financial risks of climate change posed by their fossil fuel holdings and take advantage of opportunities to accelerate the transition of their investment portfolios to a clean energy future."

The report also revealed that the top two U.S. property and casualty companies, Berkshire Hathaway and State Farm Insurance, owned 44 percent of total fossil fuel-related assets owned by the entire sector. Asset ownership among life insurance companies was more broadly distributed, with the top two life insurance companies, TIAA Family Group and New York Life, owning 14 percent of assets owned by companies in that sector.

Notes to editors

This research is based on quantitative analysis of US insurance sector investments in fossil fuel and green bonds and the ways that insurers' approaches to fossil fuel exposure in investments and underwriting has evolved over the past five years. It was undertaken using data captured in a California Department of Insurance (CDI) database of US insurance companies operating in California, which covers the most recent years of data available (2018/19) and was released in 2022. As insurers reporting to the CDI database comprise 77% of all insurers operating in the US, the dataset is broadly representative of the overall US insurance sector.

The analysis of fossil fuel-related investment patterns in the insurance industry includes the specific types of fossil fuel-related assets (tar sands, coal, oil & gas, and corporate utilities) held. Along with quantitative analysis, the report builds on insight from insurance company investment teams, insurance regulators, and other senior subject matter experts gathered via in-depth interviews and focus groups. Please refer to the full Changing Climate for the Insurance Sector report for further detail on methodology.

About ERM?

ERM?is the business of sustainability.?

As the largest global pure play sustainability consultancy, ERM partners with the world's leading organizations, creating innovative solutions to sustainability challenges and unlocking commercial opportunities that meet the needs of today while preserving opportunity for future generations.?

ERM's diverse team of 8,000+ world-class experts in over 150 offices in 40 countries and territories supports clients across the breadth of their organizations to operationalize sustainability. Through ERM's deep technical expertise, clients are well positioned to address their environmental, health, safety, risk, and social issues. ERM calls this capability its "boots to boardroom" approach - a comprehensive service model that allows ERM to develop strategic and technical solutions that advance objectives on the ground or at the executive level. Learn more?

About Ceres?

Ceres is a nonprofit organization working with the most influential capital market leaders to solve the world's greatest sustainability challenges. Through our powerful networks and global collaborations of investors, companies and nonprofits, we drive action and inspire equitable market-based and policy solutions throughout the economy to build a just and sustainable future. For more information, visit ceres.org and follow @CeresNews.?

About Persefoni

Persefoni's Climate Management & Accounting Platform (CMAP) provides businesses, financial institutions, and governmental agencies the software fabric for managing their organization's climate-related data, disclosures, and performance with the same level of rigor and confidence as their financial reporting systems. The company's software enables users to simplify the calculation of their carbon footprint, identify decarbonization strategies and perform climate trajectory modelling aligned to temperature rise scenarios set forth by the Paris agreement, and benchmark their impact by region, sector, and/or peer groups.

Media Contact: dmay@ceres.org

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Ceres on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Ceres

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/ceres

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Ceres

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/772864/New-Research-Shows-Insurance-Sector-Has-Significant-Exposure-to-Fossil-Fuel-Assets-Despite-Vulnerability-to-Climate-Change
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / VMware



Summary

Companies and their executives give importance to sustainability for several reasons. Sustainability initiatives help increase energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and reduce OpEx. Sustainability initiatives also provide a competitive advantage, add brand value, increase sales and create new opportunities. Companywide business units started with physical server consolidation using virtualization technologies from VMware to reduce their carbon emissions significantly. But to achieve zero carbon emissions, customers need insights into the carbon footprint of their virtual IT infrastructure objects.

As of today, the out of the box VMware Aria Operations sustainability dashboards do not have the following visual representation:

Carbon emissions of virtual infrastructure objects with drill-down capability from vCenter all the way down to an individual virtual machine.

This blog post details a new carbon emissions explorer dashboard for VMware Aria Operations that allows customers to:

Explore carbon emissions at various virtual infrastructure object levels in one page with drill-down capability from vCenter all the way down to an individual virtual machine. Quickly identify and take actions on outliers to reduce carbon footprint. Gain insights into opportunities for right-sizing over-provisioned clusters and over-sized VMs based on their carbon emissions.

Armed with this information, customers can take actions to reduce their IT infrastructure's carbon footprint.

Carbon Emissions Explorer Dashboard

The carbon emissions explorer dashboard described in this blog uses out of the box metrics, Super Metrics and new widgets/views. This dashboard provides the following insights about the customer's IT infrastructure:

Trend of their overall carbon emission and their journey in reducing carbon footprint. Near real-time carbon emissions by their IT datacenters. Aggregated weekly carbon emissions by vCenter, datacenter, cluster, host and individual VMs. Top 10 clusters by highest and lowest power consumption. Identification of oversized clusters from which physical hosts can be removed to reduce carbon footprint. Identification of oversized VMs which can be resized to reduce carbon footprint.

Conclusion

The new carbon emissions explorer dashboard in VMware Aria Operations is a significant step towards achieving zero carbon emissions in IT infrastructure. By providing customers with detailed insights into their carbon footprint at various levels, from vCenter down to individual virtual machines, the dashboard empowers companies to make informed decisions and take targeted actions to reduce their environmental impact. The dashboard offers a range of valuable features, including real-time trend analysis of carbon emissions, visibility into datacenters' carbon footprint, identification of top-performing and underperforming clusters based on power consumption, and the ability to quickly identify and right-size oversized virtual machines and clusters. These features are made possible through the integration of out-of-the-box metrics, custom Super Metrics, and customizable widgets/views.

With VMware Aria Operations and its powerful dashboarding capabilities, customers can track their progress in reducing their carbon footprint and continuously refine their sustainability efforts. By enabling transparency, actionable insights, and the ability to make data-driven decisions, this dashboard supports companies in their journey towards a greener future.

Free Trial!

Sign up for a free trial of VMware Aria Operations and deploy this dashboard in your environment to gain helpful insights and possible cost savings through power reduction while simultaneously reducing carbon emissions.

Additional Resources

This dashboard can be downloaded from the developer exchange. All included assets are bundled in and can be installed in the customer environment. The developer exchange page also provides detailed installation instructions. There is also a short video that goes over the carbon emissions explorer dashboard - the video can be accessed at the following link

To find out more about the Carbon Emissions Explorer Dashboard check out the walkthrough here.

Click here to view the original content

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from VMware on 3blmedia.com.

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SOURCE: VMware

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WILMINGTON, DE / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / The Chemours Company ("Chemours") (NYSE:CC), a global chemistry company with leading market positions in Titanium Technologies, Thermal & Specialized Solutions, and Advanced Performance Materials, is proud to be Certified as a Great Place to Work in the United States and 14 additional regions where the company operates for the 2023-2024 year.

"Building the greatest place to work for all employees is vital to achieving our vision of creating a better world through the power of our chemistry," said Susan Kelliher, Chief People Officer at Chemours. "In this year's survey, safety, community, opportunity, flexibility, and support were just some of the words employees used to describe what makes Chemours a great workplace. This kind of feedback is proof that empowering every employee to be their best self at work and in life makes a meaningful difference. I am incredibly proud that 92% of our global workforce operates in areas with Great Place to Work Certification, and I want to thank our employees for their feedback. Your voice is essential to ensuring Chemours becomes even more successful and is a place where you are proud to work."

The Great Place to Work Certification is based entirely on what current employees say about their experience working at Chemours. This is the fourth time Chemours has achieved this milestone in the U.S., scoring above the benchmark for companies as a great place to work. The company's U.S. scores are summarized on Chemours' Great Places to Work profile, with key highlights including:

78% reported that when they look at what the company accomplishes, they feel a sense of pride

83% of employees said that when you join the company, you are made to feel welcome

86% shared that they are able to take time off from work when they think it's necessary

78% said that they want to work for the company for a long time

In addition to the U.S., which represents approximately 4,400 of Chemours 6,600 employees, Chemours has received Great Place to Work Certification in Belgium, Brazil, Greater China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, and Thailand. Chemours is continually looking for talented people to join our team and help us contribute to enabling modern living and more sustainable innovations through Chemours' chemistry. Visit the careers page to find your next opportunity, https://www.chemours.com/en/careers.

About The Chemours Company

The Chemours Company (NYSE: CC) is a global leader in Titanium Technologies, Thermal & Specialized Solutions, and Advanced Performance Materials providing its customers with solutions in a wide range of industries with market-defining products, application expertise and chemistry-based innovations. We deliver customized solutions with a wide range of industrial and specialty chemicals products for markets, including coatings, plastics, refrigeration and air conditioning, transportation, semiconductor and consumer electronics, general industrial, and oil and gas. Our flagship products are sold under prominent brands such as Ti-Pure, Opteon, Freon, Teflon, Viton, Nafion, and Krytox. The company has approximately 6,600 employees and 29 manufacturing sites serving approximately 2,900 customers in approximately 120 countries. Chemours is headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware and is listed on the NYSE under the symbol CC.

For more information, we invite you to visit chemours.com or follow us on Twitter @Chemours or LinkedIn.

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

Great Place to Work is the global authority on workplace culture. Since 1992, they have surveyed more than 100 million employees worldwide and used those deep insights to define what makes a great workplace: trust. Their employee survey platform empowers leaders with the feedback, real-time reporting and insights they need to make data-driven people decisions. Everything they do is driven by the mission to build a better world by helping every organization become a great place to work For All.

Learn more at greatplacetowork.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

INVESTORS

Brandon Ontjes

VP, Financial Planning & Analysis and Investor Relations

investor@chemours.com

Kurt Bonner,

Manager, Investor Relations

investor@chemours.com

NEWS MEDIA

Cassie Olszewski

Manager, Media Relations & Financial Communications

media@chemours.com

Source: The Chemours Company

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View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/772879/Chemours-Earns-Great-Place-to-Work-CertificationTM-in-15-Global-Regions-Including-the-US
Recruitment of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) initiated at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago

Chronic SCI cohort results expected in mid-2024 and subacute SCI cohort results in late 2024/early 2025

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2023) - NervGen Pharma Corp. (TSXV: NGEN) (OTCQX: NGENF), a clinical stage biotech company dedicated to developing innovative solutions for the treatment of nervous system damage, has received Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval for its landmark Phase 1b/2a proof-of-concept clinical trial protocol of its proprietary lead compound, NVG-291, in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). NervGen is now actively recruiting potential subjects. As previously announced, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) completed its review of the clinical trial protocol and determined that the study may proceed. This first-in-kind trial is sponsored in part by a grant of up to US$3.18 million from Wings for Life, a not-for-profit spinal cord injury research foundation. Preclinical studies of NVG-291 demonstrated unprecedented functional improvement in both acute and chronic spinal cord injury models as well as in five other models of nervous system damage.

"We are very excited to advance this unique and important clinical study in individuals with spinal cord injury and to soon administer our lead drug candidate, NVG-291, which we believe has the potential to repair nervous system damage," said Mike Kelly, NervGen's President & CEO. "This study is essentially two studies in one as it will inform about NVG-291's efficacy in individuals with both subacute and chronic SCI. We are optimistic that the results of this study may be a key enabling step in advancing NVG-291 through the clinical development process toward approval. Most importantly, we are thrilled that we can offer hope to individuals with spinal cord injury as well as to their families and caregivers as there are no FDA approved drugs to promote sustained functional recovery."

Recruitment of the chronic cohort (1-10 years post-injury) is now open. Given the significant number of individuals suffering with chronic SCI and the tremendous anticipation of the trial within the SCI community, recruitment is anticipated to happen relatively quickly with results expected by mid-2024. Results from the subacute cohort (10-49 days post-injury) are expected in late 2024/early 2025. The trial is being conducted at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago, a global leader in physical medicine and rehabilitation for adults and children with the most severe and complex conditions.

"Our team at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is ready and excited to start this state-of-the-art clinical trial after extensive planning," stated Monica A. Perez, PT, PhD, Scientific Chair of the Arms + Hands Lab at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab; Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Northwestern University; Research Scientist at the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital; and the principal investigator of this trial. "This trial uses an innovative design that incorporates electrophysiology, not only as part of the outcome measures to monitor motor recovery, but also as part of the inclusion criteria of participants. Together, results from electrophyisiological measures, combined with clinical measures, will help us to enhance our knowledge about the efficacy of NVG-291 and could result in a paradigm shift in the treatment of spinal cord injury."

About the NVG-291 Phase 1b/2a Trial

The placebo-controlled proof-of-concept trial (NCT05965700) will evaluate the efficacy of NVG-291 in two separate cohorts of individuals with cervical spinal cord injury: chronic (1-10 years post-injury) and subacute (10-49 days post-injury), given demonstrated efficacy in preclinical models of both chronic and acute spinal cord injury. The trial is designed to evaluate efficacy of a fixed dose of NVG-291 using multiple clinical outcome measures as well as objective electrophysiological and MRI imaging measures and blood biomarkers that together will provide comprehensive information about the extent of recovery of function, with a focus on improvements in motor function. Specifically, the primary objective is to assess the change in corticospinal connectivity of defined upper and lower extremity muscle groups following treatment based on changes in motor evoked potential amplitudes. Secondary objectives are to evaluate changes in a number of clinical outcome assessments focusing on motor function, upper extremity dexterity and grasping and mobility, as well as changes in additional electrophysiological measurements. Each cohort will be evaluated independently as the data becomes available. The grant funding from Wings for Life, which is to be provided in several milestone-based payments, will offset a portion of the direct costs of this clinical trial.

About Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, formerly the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC), is the global leader in physical medicine and rehabilitation for adults and children with the most severe, complex conditions - from traumatic brain and spinal cord injury to stroke, amputation and cancer-related impairment. The organization expands and accelerates leadership in the field that began at RIC in 1953. The quality of its care has led to the designation of "No. 1 Rehabilitation Hospital in America" by U.S. News & World Report every year since 1991. Upon opening in 2017, the $550 million, 1.2-million-square-foot Shirley Ryan AbilityLab became the first-ever "translational" research hospital in which clinicians, scientists, innovators and technologists work together in the same space, surrounding patients, discovering new approaches and applying (or "translating") research real time. This unique model enables patients to have 24/7 access to the brightest minds, the latest research and the best opportunity for recovery. Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. For more information, go to www.sralab.org.

About Wings for Life Accelerated Translational Program

Even with very promising discoveries, the translation from scientific discovery to applied therapeutics is a long and difficult road due to regulatory burdens, complexities of clinical trial design, patient recruitment and retention barriers, and the high cost of cutting-edge research. The Wings for Life Accelerated Translational Program (ATP) has been specifically designed to be able to accommodate obstacles to efficient clinical translation.

The ATP strives to assist applicants to find the best way forward in clinical translation of high caliber, promising therapies. The ATP is supported by a network of clinicians, scientists, and other professionals with expertise in all aspects of clinical trials. Select members of the ATP Support Network will be called upon, as required, to assist in ensuring that treatments with auspicious potential are translated in the most scientifically rigorous and efficient way possible.

About NVG-291

NervGen holds exclusive worldwide rights to NVG-291, a first-in-class therapeutic peptide targeting mechanisms that interfere with nervous system repair. NVG-291 is derived from the intracellular wedge domain of the receptor type protein tyrosine phosphatase sigma (protein tyrosine phosphatase sigma). NVG-291-R, a rodent analog of NVG-291, has been shown to promote nervous system repair and functional recovery in animal models of spinal cord injury (acute and chronic intervention), peripheral nerve injury, multiple sclerosis and stroke, through enhanced plasticity, axonal regeneration, and remyelination.

About NervGen

NervGen (TSXV: NGEN) (OTCQX: NGENF) is a clinical stage biotech company dedicated to developing innovative treatments that enable the nervous system to repair itself following damage, whether due to injury or disease. NervGen's lead drug candidate, NVG-291, is to be evaluated in a Phase 1b/2a clinical trial. The Company's initial target indication is spinal cord injury. For more information, go to www.nervgen.com and follow NervGen on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook for the latest news on the Company.

Contacts

Huitt Tracey, Corporate Communications

htracey@nervgen.com

604.537.2094

Nancy Thompson, Vorticom Public Relations

nancyt@vorticom.com

212.532.2208

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements and information herein include, but are not limited to, the Company's current and future plans, expectations and intentions, results, levels of activity, performance, goals or achievements, or any other future events or developments constitute forward-looking statements, and the words "may", "will", "would", "should", "could", "expect", "plan", "intend", "trend", "indication", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict", "likely" or "potential", or the negative or other variations of these words or other comparable words or phrases, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements relating to: the objectives, timing, rate of subject recruitment and study design of the clinical development of NVG-291 including the planned single site Phase 1b/2a clinical trial in SCI with Shirley Ryan AbilityLab; our belief that the results of the Phase 1b/2a clinical trial will enable us to advance our clinical pathway to approval; the innovative aspect of the trial increasing the probability of demonstrating efficacy of NVG-291; the possibility that NVG-291 could result in a paradigm shift in the treatment of SCI; the receipt of the milestone-based grant payments; the belief that targeting mechanisms that interfere with nervous system repair is a promising target for reducing the clinical effects of nervous system damage through multiple mechanisms; and the creation of innovative treatments of nervous system damage due to trauma or disease.

Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by the Company in light of management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that we believe are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances. In making forward-looking statements, the Company has relied on various assumptions, including, but not limited to: the Company's ability to manage the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; the accuracy of the Company's financial projections; the Company obtaining positive results in its clinical and other trials; the Company obtaining necessary regulatory approvals; and general business, market and economic conditions.

Many factors could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements or future events or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including without limitation, a lack of revenue, insufficient funding, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, reliance upon key personnel, the uncertainty of the clinical development process, competition, and other factors set forth in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Information Form, Short Form Base Shelf Prospectus, financial statements and Management Discussion and Analysis which can be found on SEDAR.com. All clinical development plans are subject to additional funding.

Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements made in this news release. Furthermore, unless otherwise stated, the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and we have no intention and undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/176345
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Brigadier Gold Limited (the "Company") (TSXV:BRG)(FSE:B7LM)(OTC PINK:BGADF) is pleased to announce that field crews have completed a first phase of surface reconnaissance mapping, prospecting and sampling on its Nemaska2 Property, James Bay, Quebec. The program successfully confirmed pegmatite occurrences mapped in historical government exploration and discovered new zones of previously undocumented shallow pegmatite mineralization. Approximately 2/3's of the Company's Nemaska2 property remains unexplored and will be the subject of near-term follow-on mapping and sampling.

Highlights:

The three pegmatite swarms mapped and sampled during Phase-1 exploration at Nemaska2 include:

The NNW swarm is ~1,000 hectares (10,000,000 square metres) at 4kms wide (E-W) and 3kms long (N-S);

The central swarm is ~90 hectares (900,000 square metres) at 1km x 1km.

The SW swarm is ~100 hectares (1,000,000 square metres) at 1.2km wide and 2kms long (N-S).

The 2023 Phase-1 exploration program is designed to identify targets for a Q3/Q4 2023 drill program. Sampling results will be made public when available. Brigadier's goal for this and future exploration at Nemaska2 is to prove the existence of bulk tonnage, near-surface, lithium-bearing mineralization.

The Phase-1 program at Nemaska2 is being carried out by the Company's technical partner Geologica Groupe-Conseil ("Geologica") of Val D'or Quebec.

Phase-1 Summer 2023 Exploration Program

A total of 163 kms of tracked traverses were completed between July 10th and 28th. One hundred and twenty-four (124) pegmatite samples were collected in areas hosting pegmatite swarms in the north, northwest, central and southwest parts of the property (Figure 1). In addition, over 343 geo-observations, photos and descriptions were taken during this field program. The pegmatite dykes are generally hosted within dark pink medium grain size massive granites, vary in size from 30 cm to 4 metres, and have been observed over several tens of metres.

The samples were sent to ALS Global Laboratories of Val-d'Or and assay results will be revealed as soon as available.

FIGURE 1

Management Commentary

"We are encouraged to have successfully completed our first phase of work, which focused on systematic sampling of historically mapped pegmatite mineralization and identification of previously undocumented pegmatite occurrences", stated Robert Birmingham, President of Brigadier. "The known and newly identified pegmatite swarms comprise only a fraction of the overall property area, leaving the majority of Nemaska2 to be explored in future work programs."

The James Bay region has seen a heightened level of activity favorable to further development of a lithium supply chain within Quebec. In May, Ford Motor Company signed an 11-year lithium hydroxide purchase agreement with Nemaska Lithium. More recently Rio Tinto has moved into the district, signing option agreements with two company's, allowing for an investment of up to $175 million in exploration of early-stage lithium targets.

Nemaska2 may be one of the most conveniently located properties in the region for access, logistics and infrastructure, which will allow Brigadier to conduct its exploration programs and publish results in an efficient and timely manner.

Historical Exploration

The Quebec government has previously carried out a large sampling program and also an airborne magnetometric survey over Nemaska2 which shows the presence of several low magnetic anomalies likely corresponding with fractures or shear zones within the granitic Valiquette Pluton. These structures are generally favourable to the formation of pegmatites and other metals. The presence of pegmatites recognized during the regional reconnaissance mapping, anomalous values of Li and Cs in regional till sampling, and the presence of a major lithium deposit (Whabouchi Deposit) in the area, are all elements favourable to the existence of mineralization sought by the Company.

About Nemaska2 Lithium Project

The Nemaska2 project consists of 162 map-designated mining titles (Nemaska2 and Nemaska2 extension) covering a total area of 8,300 hectares and is located in Northern Quebec, approximately 160 kilometres east of James Bay, near the community of Nemaska. Neighbouring Brigadier's Nemaska2 project are claims held by Li-Ft Power, Brunswick Exploration, Dios Exploration, Critical Elements Lithium and about 23 kilometres to the east lies Nemaska Lithium's Whabouchi project.

Nemaska2 hosts easily accessible on-site infrastructure, including a powerline, aerodrome, railway and an accommodations camp. The property is bisected by the region's primary east-west road and is approximately five kilometres by road from additional accommodations, fuel and supplies. A large portion of the property is also accessible by all-season logging roads, eliminating the need for any use of helicopters in reconnaissance, mapping, sampling or drilling.

Qualified Person

Mr. Alain-Jean Beauregard, P. Geo., a "Qualified Person" under NI 43-101, has reviewed the technical contents of this news release and has approved the disclosure of the technical information contained herein.

For further information, please contact:

Brigadier Gold Limited

www.brigadiergold.ca

Robert Birmingham, Chief Executive Officer

rob@brigadiergold.ca

(604) 424-8131

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information Cautionary Statement

This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". Forward-looking statements include those relating to the focus of the Phase-1 exploration program, the discovery of additional pegmatites, and target generation for and the timing of future drill programs. 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 ability to complete all payments and expenditures required under its mineral property option agreements; and other risks and uncertainties relating to the actual results of current exploration activities; the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with adjacent properties and the Company's expectations; operational risks and hazards inherent with the business of mining (including environmental accidents and hazards, industrial accidents, equipment breakdown, unusual or unexpected geological or structural formations, cave-ins, flooding and severe weather); environmental and regulatory requirements; availability of permits, possibility of equipment breakdowns and delays, exploration cost overruns, availability of capital and financing, general economic, political risks, market or business conditions, regulatory changes, timeliness of government or regulatory approvals and other risks involved in the mineral exploration industry, and those risks set out in the filings on SEDAR made by the Company with securities regulators. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company 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, other than as required by applicable securities legislation.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

SOURCE: Brigadier Gold Limited

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/772691/Brigadier-Identifies-Three-Distinct-Pegmatite-Swarms-during-Phase-1-Exploration-at-Nemaska2-Lithium-Project-James-Bay-Quebec
Donovan, whose 25-year career includes roles as CTO of EY Comply and Vice President of Market Development and Strategy at Lavastorm Analytics, will work closely with leadership to strategically bring enterprise technology solutions to market.

LONDON and SANTA MONICA, Calif., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Mesmerise Group , the trusted guide to immersive technology, AI, and sustainability for the enterprise, today announced the appointment of Dan Donovan as its Chief Technology Officer (CTO). In this strategic role, Donovan will accelerate technological innovation across the Mesmerise Group's five companies to bring enterprise technology solutions to market and spearhead its continued growth in the rapidly evolving immersive technology space.

With over 25 years of experience in the technology sector, Donovan, who previously served as the CTO of EY Comply, and Vice President of Market Development and Strategy at Lavastorm Analytics, will work closely with Mesmerise Group leadership to build effective product road maps, and bring on new team members to help with his vision.

"We are thrilled to welcome Dan Donovan as our new chief technology officer," said Daglar Cizmeci, Group CEO and Co-Founder of the Mesmerise Group. "With his impressive track record of leading innovation and driving technological advancements, we are confident that Dan will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the Mesmerise Group, accelerating our mission to be the trusted guide for enterprises worldwide to unlock the potential of spatial computing and artificial intelligence."

"I'm genuinely thrilled about this opportunity, more so than any other in my career," said Donovan. "The combination of experienced leadership, exceptionally talented teams, cutting-edge technology, and an extensive professional network that exists within the Mesmerise Group is unique in my experience. All this converging at the right time as AI and spatial computing technologies are poised to lead a revolution in the way that we work is singularly exciting."

As CTO, Dan Donovan will play a pivotal role in charting the Mesmerise Group's technology strategies, firmly positioning the organization at the forefront of innovation in spatial computing, sustainability, and artificial intelligence. Dan's leadership and deep understanding of technological trends will be instrumental in delivering transformative solutions to clients, empowering them to thrive in the next frontier of web 4.0 technology.

About The Mesmerise Group

Since 2016, The Mesmerise Group has partnered with Fortune Global 500 companies to deliver transformative brand experiences, training sessions, and events designed to empower the enterprise. Daglar Cizmeci and Andrew Hawken founded the company with a mission to unlock the potential of immersive technologies and sustainability and manage the opportunity and mitigate the risks of artificial intelligence (AI) - here and now - and for the future. As the trusted guide to immersive technology, AI, and sustainability for the enterprise, the company provides enterprise-grade security and solutions through risk mitigation strategies. The Mesmerise Group is based in London, with U.S. headquarters in Santa Monica, California. To learn more about The Mesmerise Group, visit www.mesmerisegroup.com .

Media Contact:

Catie@haymaker.co

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/mesmerise-group-strengthens-technology-leadership-with-the-appointment-of-dan-donovan-as-chief-technology-officer-301895191.html
ROANOKE, Va., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- "Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver," an empowering and heartfelt podcast, is partnering with UK Health Radio, the world's no.1 'Talk Health' radio station. This collaboration aims to provide essential resources and support for caregivers while fostering a global health conversation.

UK Health Radio (www.ukhealthradio.com) boasts an impressive reach of 1.3 million listeners tuning in every month across 54 countries. The station's mission revolves around delivering reliable health information to help listeners make informed decisions concerning their well-being and that of their loved ones. Through positive and engaging content, UK Health Radio inspires individuals to take an active role in achieving and maintaining their health freedom.

"Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver" offers a candid and unfiltered platform where caregivers can openly discuss the challenges and triumphs they experience in their roles. Spearheaded by JJ, Natalie, and Emilie, three compassionate sisters, the podcast combines the power of storytelling, guest interviews, and information sharing to relate, educate, and inspire caregivers of all ages and in all situations.

The show's creators and their guests share their personal experiences, creating a supportive community for caregivers. Listeners will find reassurance in their own reluctance, gain the confidence to express their needs, and feel connected to the sisterhood of care. The show covers a wide range of emotions, from moments of laughter to moments of vulnerability, leaving participants feeling uplifted and understood.

"Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver" will premiere on UK Health Radio on August 15th. This partnership aligns with UK Health Radio's commitment to enhancing the lives of its audience by addressing essential health-related topics that resonate with their listeners.

The show's hosts and UK Health Radio are eager to reach out to caregivers worldwide, providing them with valuable insights, expert advice, and a supportive community. By sharing experiences, listeners and caregivers alike will find solace, strength, and guidance throughout their caregiving journey.

Be sure to mark your calendars for the launch of "Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver" on August 15th, available for streaming on UK Health Radio's platform, Listen on Demand section, and various podcast platforms.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/confessions-of-a-reluctant-caregiver-joins-forces-with-uk-health-radio-301894813.html
AgNovos Bioscience, a medical technology company working to transform the treatment of bone disease by addressing persistent unmet needs in the care of patients, announced today that it has enrolled the 150th patient in the clinical study titled "Randomized Controlled Study of a Local Osteo-Enhancement Procedure (LOEP) to Prevent Secondary Hip Fractures in Osteoporotic Women Undergoing Treatment of Index Hip Fractures" (RESTORE). RESTORE is a randomized, controlled, prospective, single-blinded, global study designed to evaluate whether women undergoing surgical repair of a fragility hip fracture, and treated contralaterally with the AGN1 LOEP kit, are at reduced risk of a second hip fracture. The Company has activated more than 30 study sites across Japan, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, the UK, the Netherlands and Austria. RESTORE is expected to include more than 50 study sites and enroll at least 650 patients.

"The initiation of RESTORE and the enrollment of the 150th patient is a major milestone for the Company," explained James Pilachowski, Senior Vice President of Hip Program. "RESTORE will be one of the largest prospective orthopaedic trauma studies ever conducted. The data generated will be critical to our efforts to gain access to new markets, including the U.S. and Japan."

To ensure strategic study oversight and guidance, AgNovos Bioscience, Inc. has chartered a global steering committee comprised of experts in orthopaedics, trauma, metabolic bone health, internal medicine and medical ethics. The committee is co-chaired by Dr. Serge Ferrari, head of the Clinical Service and Research Laboratory of Bone Diseases at the Geneva University Hospital (Switzerland) and Dr. Paul Tornetta, director of the Orthopaedic Trauma department at Boston Medical Center (USA).

Dr. Tornetta shared his perspective on the importance of the study: "We all know that fragility hip fractures will be one of the biggest challenges facing orthopaedic surgeons over the next 10-20 years. Addressing contralateral hip fracture risk will be key to meeting that challenge. The science and research supporting this treatment is positive. I am glad the study is underway; I think that it could make a real difference."

Dr. Ferrari noted that "pharmacological approaches to treatment of osteoporosis are very important but are not sufficient by themselves to solve the challenge of secondary fracture risk, especially in patients with recent fractures. The incremental risk of fracture for these patients is highest during the first year following the index fracture. If this study is successful, orthopaedic surgeons will have an important new role to play in our efforts to reduce secondary hip fracture risk."

More than two million hip fragility fractures occur globally every year. Hip fragility fractures result from low-energy trauma such as a fall from standing height or less. These fractures are associated with significant morbidity and mortality, and often create significant burden for affected individuals, families and healthcare systems. Although multiple factors contribute to hip fracture risk, a key factor is osteoporosis and related bone loss and fragility.

"One of the reasons hip fragility fractures are so devastating is that individuals suffering one fracture are at increased risk for a second," explained Dr. James Howe, the Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of AgNovos Bioscience, Inc. "The outcomes of second fractures are often even worse than those of the first. I saw this pattern during my decades of clinical practice in orthopaedics. I look forward to reviewing the data generated by RESTORE with other clinicians and organizations committed to addressing secondary hip fracture risk."

About the AGN1 LOEP Kit

The AGN1 LOEP Kit contains the instruments and materials to perform a minimally invasive procedure to implant AGN1, a proprietary, calcium-based, osteoconductive, and tri-phasic implant material. AGN1 is uniquely formulated with a cell-friendly surface architecture and a resorption profile that enables the rapid formation of new bone. Clinical research has shown that AGN1 LOEP treatment delivers rapid, substantial and durable increase in the strength of osteoporotic femurs. The kit is available in Europe under the brand name OSSURE LOEP kit.

About AgNovos Bioscience, Inc.

AgNovos Bioscience, Inc. is a medical technology company developing new therapies that leverage proprietary, bone-building technology and regenerative medicine to address unmet needs in the treatment of bone disease. AgNovos Bioscience, Inc. is privately held and has its corporate headquarters in New York City with manufacturing, research development, and corporate support services located in Rockville, MD. www.agnovos.com

CAUTION The OSSURE (LOEP) kit is not cleared for use in the United States.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808554123/en/

Contacts:

Jason Foley

Associate Vice President, Spine Program and Marketing

+1 332-910-7332

jfoley@agnovos.com
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / CMC Metals Ltd. (TSX-V:CMB)(Frankfurt:ZM5P)(OTCQB:CMCXF) ("CMC" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that an extensive gravity anomalies have been identified over the Silverknife Prospect within its Silverknife Property in northern British Columbia. The gravity survey was recently completed by Mineral Exploration Services Ltd. who are a specialist in in-field gravity survey data collection and the preliminary interpretation of the data has been completed by Dr. Chris Hale and Mr. John Gilliatt of Intelligent Exploration who are the Company's geophysical contractor.

Two gravity peaks extend from the eastern boundary of the property southwestwards and are also coincident with SkyTEM conductivity anomalies, geochemical anomalies, and mineralization in historic drilling (see Figure 1). The northernmost and southernmost gravity peaks extend for strike lengths of approximately 225 meters and 525 meters, respectively. The survey also identified smaller gravity peaks in the central portion of the property southwest of the Silverknife Prospect and in the northeastern most corner (see Figure 2). The previously identified gravity peak north of the Tootsee River in the northernmost portion of the property is yet to be drill-explored as the Company is currently constructing road access into that area. Plans are underway to drill investigate that area in 2024.

Mr. John Bossio, Chairman noted, "The increasing level of prospectivity at the Silverknife property is very exciting. Our systematic exploration approach on all of our properties in the Rancheria Silver District utilizes a combination of geological, geochemical and geophysical information combined with some of the best expertise and knowledge of carbonate replacement deposits ("CRD's"). All of this culminates to maximize the probability for exploration success."

Mr. Kevin Brewer, President and CEO noted, "Current drilling is now focused on exploring these gravity anomalies so we better understand their significance. Preliminary indications are that the anomalies are associated with CRD style mineralization, and we are establishing how the data can be best utilized to pinpoint future drill targets."

Figure 1: Gravity Peaks in the Silverknife Prospect Area, Rancheria Silver District. (Note: Historical drill holes are denoted with red dots).

Coverage by the gravity survey included:

The historic Silverknife Prospect which was subjected to drilling in the mid 1980's that identified significant mineralization that was reported to remain open in several directions and at depth. In addition, 3D Geosoft Modelling by CMC's geophysical contractor Intelligent Exploration, appears to indicate that previous drilling on the Silverknife Prospect was conducted on the edge of the conductors (see Figures 3 and 4);

A series of conductors that extend through the central portion of the property from east to west; and,

The northeastern most portion of the property adjacent to previously identified discoveries identified through the combination of the previous gravity and SkyTEM airborne surveys.

Figure 2: Gravity anomalies in the northern, northeastern, Silverknife Prospect area and central portions of the Silverknife Property, Rancheria Silver District, Northern BC.

The Silverknife property is located immediately west of the Silvertip Mine property owned by Coeur Mining ("Coeur"). The Silvertip Mine is one of the highest-grade underground silver-lead-zinc deposits in the world. Recent announcements by Coeur relating to several new discoveries in the SilverTip area along with a new mineralization model have added to the prospectivity of the Silverknife property, and in particular the area being covered by the current gravity survey.

Gravity surveys are known to work well in the Rancheria Silver District to aid in pinpointing drill targets. Generally speaking, gravity surveys can show where areas of greater density exist. These areas of higher density are potentially targets for silver-lead-zinc mineralization exists as they would typically have a higher density than surrounding geological strata (lead and zinc are very dense minerals so gravity surveys identify areas where that style of mineralization may exist).

Qualified Person

Qualified Person Kevin Brewer, a registered professional geoscientist, is the Company's President and CEO, and Qualified Person (as defined by National Instrument 43-101). He has given his approval of the technical information pertaining reported herein. The Company is committed to meeting the highest standards of integrity, transparency and consistency in reporting technical content, including geological reporting, geophysical investigations, environmental and baseline studies, engineering studies, metallurgical testing, assaying and all other technical data.

About CMC Metals Ltd.

CMC Metals Ltd. is a growth stage exploration company focused on opportunities for high grade polymetallic deposits in Yukon, British Columbia and Newfoundland. Our polymetallic silver-lead-zinc CRD prospects include the Silver Hart Deposit and Blue Heaven claims (the "Silver Hart Project") and Amy and Silverknife claims in north-central British Columbia. Our polymetallic projects with potential for copper-silver-gold and other metals, include Terra Nova and Rodney Pond (central Newfoundland) and Terra Nova which has been option to Highbank Mining.

On behalf of the Board:

"John Bossio"

John Bossio, Chairman

CMC METALS LTD.

For Further Information and Investor Inquiries:

Kevin Brewer, P. Geo., MBA, B.Sc.(Hons), Dip. Mine Eng.

President, CEO and Director

Tel: (709) 327 8013

kbrewer80@hotmail.com

Suite 1000-409 Granville St.

Vancouver, BC, V6C 1T2

To be added to CMC's news distribution list, please send an email to info@cmcmetals.ca or contact Mr. Kevin Brewer directly.

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 statements that constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law, including without limitation, statements that address the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles and exploitation activities and developments. In this release disclosure regarding the potential to undertake future exploration work comprise forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions. While such estimates and assumptions are considered reasonable by the management of the Company, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory uncertainties and risks, including the ability of the Company to raise the funds necessary to fund its projects, to carry out the work and, accordingly, may not occur as described herein or at all. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, the timing and receipt of government and regulatory approvals, the impact of the constantly evolving COVID-19 pandemic crisis and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. Readers are referred to the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators for information on these and other risk factors, available at www.sedar.com. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and, accordingly are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty of such statements. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities legislation."

SOURCE: CMC Metals Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/772867/CMC-Metals-Ltd-Identifies-Gravity-Anomalies-at-the-Silverknife-Prospect-Area-within-its-Silverknife-Property-Northern-British-Columbia
Breezer Ventures Inc., along with its wholly owned subsidiary, Magnum Finest Spirits Inc., discusses how industry trends affects Magnum's opportunity and development.

LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Breezer Ventures Inc. (the company or Breezer) (OTC::BRZV) is reporting on the state of the $1.6 Trillion Global Alcohol Drinks Industry with respect to how it affects Magnum's products. (estimate for 2023, was $1.45 Trillion in 2021, $1 Trillion = 12 zeros)

Breezer and Magnum's goal is to capture a significant piece of the market using centuries old distilling techniques, and effective marketing, to create a long term relationship between the consumer and the Magnum 1770 brand.

Liquor companies that have achieved this level of success were rewarded handsomely by buyouts from Global Alcohol Distribution Conglomerates like Diageo.

"Actor Ryan Reynolds Sells Aviation Gin Brand For A Reported $610 Million"

"Jay-Z cashes-in as Armand de Brignac champagne deal valued at $630 Million".

"George Clooney Sells Casamigos Tequila for $1 Billion!"

"Bethenny Frankel sold her Skinny Girl line for $120 million."

What these numbers show are that the value in a successful liquor company is measured internationally, as these brands translate globally. Unfortunately, many of these companies are private corporations, with no opportunity for investment from the general population.

Breezer and Magnum's management are looking forward to see what kind of a deal Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's Teremana tequila receives, potentially another 9 figure deal!

In Spirits, the expected growth rate through 2026 is a strong 5.9%. In the alcohol drinks industry, population growth is the main driver of the market. Global population growth is expected to reach 10 billion by 2050.

Is the Spirits Industry Recession Proof? During the pandemic and recession that followed, the spirits industry showed consumption was consistent, if not growing.

That certainly cannot be said about most of the housing, tech, automotive or airline industries. According to analysis by Goldman Sachs, spirits and beer volumes have shown little correlation to economic growth. Even during economic downturns, consumers choose to drink at home, at less expense than going out to bars and restaurants. They also commonly pick more affordable brands when they need to. Price to quality, or perceived value is a key factor in the selection process, not just in a downturn, but to the younger demographic's overall.

Spirits and beer are considered affordable luxuries, or even a staple product in the US.

Innovation Drives the Industry. According to Zacks Investment Research, product innovation in the alcohol industry will play a crucial role in market penetration.

With this insight, the Magnum 1770 branded products were purposely designed using BiB technology, to be a disrupter, innovative, functional, using bold billboard style labeling, and adding a critical element of eco consciousness.

The industry has been stuck on glass, and plastic for decades, neither are effectively recycled, contrary to popular opinion. Magnum's goal using BiB packaging is to pioneer change in the consumer's perception of boxed alcohol.

The main focus is the quality of the spirits inside the box, which is derived from centuries of experience, handed down from generation to generation.

The box is a statement. It delivers that high quality product in eco-friendly packaging, with cardboard being easily recyclable, biodegradable, and even compostable. It is cheaper to produce and has a lower carbon footprint than glass. It is also lighter, safer, and more cost effective to everyone along the way, easier and cheaper to transport or ship, from the distiller to the distributor/wholesaler, to the retailer and consumer.

Breezer and Magnum management consider themselves very fortunate to have world class spirits made by their partners with 300 year's experience. They also believe in making responsible decisions on the packaging being used, without sacrificing the delivery of their spirits in recognizable, appealing and memorable branding.

Magnum expects to announce further news regarding exciting additions to its management team, and additional new trending products launches in the months ahead, in efforts to bolster the company's asset base.

About Breezer Ventures Inc. / Magnum Finest Spirits Inc.

Magnum is a distilled spirits and marketing company offering products with a century's long history of outstanding quality.

What separates Magnum from industry peers is their functionally innovative and environmentally conscious Bag in a Box (BiB) packaging, and distinctive billboard style labeling.

Never to be associated with Discount or Bulk, top shelf Magnum 1770 branded products include an exceptional Bourbon, premium Vodka, an esteemed Gin, as well as trending Flavored Spirits.

Magnum 1770 "300 YEARS OF FAMILY DISTILLING FINE SPIRITS, LEGALLY since 2015"

The company plans to expand on it's relationships with the big box wine and liquor stores, warehouse liquor emporiums, traditional liquor stores, VIP and trending restaurants, bars, and nightclubs.

Magnum has offices in Las Vegas NV, and Murrieta, CA .

Precautionary and Forward-Looking Statements

This release 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, and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. "Forward-looking statements"describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may," "future," "plan" or "planned," "will" or "should," "expected," "anticipates," "draft," "eventually" or "projected." You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude or risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in the Company's disclosures or filings with OTC Markets, Inc. You are further cautioned that stocks of smaller companies are inherently volatile and risky, and that no investor should buy this stock unless they can afford the loss of their entire investment.

Contact:

310-770-8168

MagnumFinestSpirits.com

info@magnumfinestspirits.com

SOURCE: Breezer Ventures, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/772890/Breezer-Ventures-and-Magnum-Finest-Spirits-Discuss-the-Alcohol-Drinks-Industry-as-it-Relates-to-its-Exclusive-Magnum-1770-Branded-Spirits-in-its-Innovative-BiB-Bag-in-Box-Packaging
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Henkel

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are an important part of company culture. They help build community and engage different perspectives with the goal of encouraging positive change within and outside of the company.

In our Spotlight series, learn about ERGs across Henkel North America, that include over 2,000 employees, and are helping to build an inclusive environment and spirit of belonging. Together we are advancing our DEI priorities.

Learn more below about our ERG: Emerging Entrepreneurs Rising through Growth and Education (EmERGE).

The Emerging Entrepreneurs Rising through Growth and Education (EmERGE) ERG at Henkel North America seeks to drive positive change and foster an inclusive culture through networking, personal growth, and educational opportunities. The ERG focuses on inspiring emerging talent to tap into their entrepreneurial spirit and engage as pioneers for good, while creating new opportunities for Henkel. EmERGE embraces all types of diversity and abilities to create an engaging environment where individuals can flourish.

Creating that environment starts with establishing a sense of community and connections through activities they organize inside and outside the workplace. One of the ways EmERGE achieves this is by hosting an annual spring picnic for employees and their families to spend quality time with each other. Another is coming up this summer, when the ERG is organizing a fourth anniversary celebration to recognize achievements to date, encourage more people to join, and collaborate on a fun learning event. Since education is core to their mission, as part of their fourth anniversary this year, the ERG is partnering with the R&D team to organize a Kids Science Day where employees and their children will be invited to Henkel's Madison Heights, MI facility to learn about science and Henkel innovation.

Engaging with individuals from various backgrounds and experiences through EmERGE has allowed me to collaborate effectively and find genuine fulfillment in contributing to Henkel's employee resource group as an integral team member. I enjoy all of the people I work with and want to create more opportunities for us to connect and be a Henkel family across the world. Matthew Quast, Senior Sales Engineer and EmERGE president

EmERGE members also spend time collaborating with local community organizations and volunteering their time and skills. During American Heart Month, EmERGE partnered with local hospital systems to host a blood drive and raise awareness on the importance of having heart-healthy lifestyles. Additionally, EmERGE partners with Detroit Goodfellows every holiday season to host a toy drive that celebrates the spirit of giving back by providing children with essential winter clothing, toys, books, games, and more.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Henkel on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Henkel

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/henkel

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Henkel

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/772900/Spotlight-on-Henkels-ERGs-Empowering-Emerging-Talent-EmERGE
GIMME Beauty's Aug. 7-11 sale, with a promotion for a free hair band, offers a wide variety of hair bands and brushes to fit every need.

SALT LAKE CITY, UT / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Just in time for the new school year, Gimme Beauty, makers of innovative hair care solutions that have become a social media sensation, announces an irresistible offer: a Back-to-School sale from Aug. 7-11 on its most popular products, including hair bands, brushes and more. During the sale, shoppers can select a free pack of hair bands with any purchase made exclusively on the GIMME website.









GIMME Beauty has everything to start the school year on the right foot, from hair ties and brushes to elastic stacks and claw clips. With the school year just around the corner, GIMME invites everyone to partake in the BOGO sale and enjoy its innovative range of product offerings making hair care one less thing to worry about.

The company's new campaign, GIMME Beauty Science Fair, demonstrates how to use its luxurious detangling brush with velvet grip finish and ergonomic notches for any hair type. The video incorporates school themes, engaging students to learn more about hair care and the features that work against tears, damage, frizz, or static. It underlines GIMME's commitment to making hair care simple, straightforward, and stress-free for customers.

GIMME detangling brushes are designed for thick, medium, and fine hair, and recently, the company has released a smaller version of the popular brush, the Mini Travel Detangling Brush, that fits perfectly in a backpack, purse or cosmetic case for a quick hair refresh at school.

GIMME's popular hair bands, which will come free with any purchase Aug. 7-11, come in many shades to match any hair color and can manage thick, fine, medium, long, curly, or extra fine hair. The innovative brand has reinvented hair bands with features customers have been asking for, with ties that provide a firm yet gentle hold, preventing headaches, dents, and damage.

You can shop the collection of GIMME's back-to-school essentials at GIMME Back-2-School on Aug. 7-11 with the promo code for a pack of free hair bands available on the site.

GIMME products can also be found at more than 23,00 popular retail stores, including Walmart, Target, Walgreens, ULTA, CVS, and Amazon, proving its monumental growth and acceptance in the market since its establishment in 2006.

To apply to join GIMME Beauty's community of affiliates and business partners, visit https://gimmebeauty.com/pages/community.

About GIMME Beauty

GIMME Beauty's vision is to design innovative hair solutions that disrupt the status quo of the health and beauty hair care category. The company's products rank among the industry's fastest-growth hair accessories, according to Nielsen Market Data. Since it launched in 2006, GIMME has become a national brand available at more than 20,000 stores across the United States. Follow GIMME on Instagram or Facebook to learn about its latest collections.

Contact Information

Madeleine Moench

madeleine@newswire.com

SOURCE: GIMME Beauty

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/772925/GIMME-Beauty-Announces-Back-to-School-BOGO-Sale-Encouraging-Customers-to-Stock-Up-on-Brushes-and-Hair-Care-Ahead-of-the-New-School-Year
Otis facility in San Sebastian becomes first factory in Spain to obtain LEED Platinum Certification.

All three Otis manufacturing centers in Spain, located in Madrid, San Sebastian and Vigo, have received 'Zero Waste' certification.

The Otis factory in Vigo completed installation of its photovoltaic plant, expected to result in a reduction of ~44 Mtons of CO2 per year.

MADRID, SPAIN / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / In line with Otis' global objective of reducing the environmental impacts of our products, services and operations, its manufacturing centers in Spain have implemented important energy, water and waste initiatives. Otis (NYSE:OTIS) is the world's leading company for elevator and escalator manufacturing, installation and service.

"At Otis, we understand that it is our responsibility to be stewards of our natural resources and to do the right thing for our planet and future generations. These certifications are recognition of our efforts to do well while doing good," said Rosa Querejeta, Otis Executive Director of Manufacturing for Europe, Middle East & Africa.

Spain's 1st LEED Platinum factory

The Otis factory in San Sebastian, inaugurated a year ago, maximizes energy and water savings while minimizing environmental impact. Features such as its thermal insulation, the use of natural sunlight in addition to the installation of solar panels, and its waste control system have earned it LEED Platinum certification, the highest category in the LEED green building program, becoming the first factory in the country to obtain it.

San Sebastian's factory occupies a total area of 17,000 square meters. It is built with sustainable materials and runs on 100% renewable energy. Thanks to the installation of several systems designed to reduce the flow of water inside the building, water consumption has been reduced by 45%, compared to the factory that it replaced.

Energy efficiency

A cornerstone of Otis' program to reduce emissions is the use of renewable energy. The Vigo factory has just completed the installation of 432 solar photovoltaic panels on its roof. This is expected to reduce annual electricity consumption by 30%, eliminating 44 metric tons of CO2 emitted annually.

All Otis factories in Spain now have solar photovoltaic installations, and all the remaining energy that is purchased for these factories is 100% green energy coming from renewable sources.

'Zero Waste' certifications

All three manufacturing centers in Spain also recently obtained 'Zero Waste' distinction from AENOR, a training, accreditation and certification organization. This seal certifies that more than 90% of the waste produced has been diverted from landfills (returned to the production chain).

"I'm proud of the commitment and progress of our Spain operations and their contributions toward helping achieve our worldwide ESG targets," said Kevin Dix, Vice President, Environment, Health & Safety.

Otis' commitment to sustainability is reflected in its 13 Environmental, Social & Governance goals, including Environment & Impact goals:

Achieve 50% reduction of Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2030.

Reach carbon neutrality for factory electricity by 2030.

Complete ISO 14001 certification for all factories by 2025. (Complete.)

Achieve 100% factory eligibility for zero-waste-to-landfill certification by 2025.

About Otis

Otis gives people freedom to connect and thrive in a taller, faster, smarter world. The global leader in the manufacture, installation and servicing of elevators and escalators, we move 2 billion people a day and maintain approximately 2.2 million customer units worldwide - the industry's largest Service portfolio. You'll find us in the world's most iconic structures, as well as residential and commercial buildings, transportation hubs and everywhere people are on the move. Headquartered in Connecticut, USA, Otis is 69,000 people strong, including 41,000 field professionals, all committed to meeting the diverse needs of our customers and passengers in more than 200 countries and territories. To learn more, visit www.otis.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @OtisElevatorCo.

Our facility in San Sebastian (image above) has become the first factory in Spain to obtain LEED Platinum Certification.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Otis Worldwide on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Otis Worldwide

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/otis-worldwide

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Otis Worldwide

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/772912/Otis-Factories-in-Spain-Leaders-in-Sustainability
BANGALORE, India, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Power Electronics market is segmented by Type - Power IC, Power Module, Power Discrete, by Application - Consumer Electronics, Energy & Power, Industrial System, Inverter & UPS, Automotive. Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast 2023-2029. It is published in Valuates Reports under the Electronics & Electrical Category.

The global Power Electronics market is projected to reach USD 43460 million in 2029, increasing from USD 34010 million in 2022, with a CAGR of 3.1% during the period of 2023 to 2029.

Major Factors Driving The Growth Of Power Electronics Market are

Increasing usage of and emphasis on the production of renewable energy in semiconductor devices is expected to drive the growth of the Power Electronics Market

Rising transportation industries and the automobile sector along with the growing industries involved in electricity production and rising demand in developing nations will further fuel the Power Electronics Market.

Browse The Table of Contents And List of Figures At https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Othe-3F463/power-electronics

TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF POWER ELECTRONICS MARKET

Currently, a number of nations are switching from the use of fossil fuels like coal and gas to generate power to renewable energy sources. As a result, new installations of renewable energy sources have been growing steadily while non-renewable energy sources have been declining at the same time. Power electronics are crucial in the transition of electrical energy patterns to more energy-efficient renewable energy sources. AC and DC electrical power is converted and controlled by power electronics. As wind and solar energy systems are the most potential renewable energy sources for generating electricity, power electronics-based power converters are also frequently used in these renewable energy systems. Solar panels, wind turbines, fuel cells, batteries, capacitors, and other power equipment are examples of these renewable systems.

In hybrid and plug-in Electric Vehicles (EVs), vehicle power electronic components process and regulate the flow of electrical energy. They also regulate the torque and speed of an engine. Inverters, DC/DC converters, and chargers (for plug-in electric vehicles) are a few of these parts. These electronics are frequently employed in EVs since the electric motors in these vehicles need high-power electric energy to rotate them. In powertrain systems, power components like MOSFETs and IGBT are employed as power electronic switches, which helps to reduce the overall size. Due to these benefits, the market is anticipated to expand at a noteworthy rate throughout the forecast period.

Wide bandgap semiconductor semiconductors like GaN and SiC have altered the Power Electronics Market's topography. Wide bandgap semiconductor materials enable the construction of power electronic components that are more efficient, faster, more reliable, and smaller than silicon-based counterparts. Higher efficiency not only reduces power losses but also makes it possible to use smaller systems, which lowers costs with faster switching speeds compared to silicon-based solutions. With the use of these characteristics, a variety of power applications can minimize weight, volume, and life cycle costs. Additionally, the usage of SiC and GaN has improved the performance of already-developed semiconductor technologies like MOSFETs and isolated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs).

Because of their benefits like streamlined circuits, backward and forwards backing capabilities, compact designs, and the capacity to withstand high voltage and current, power electronics are in high demand across a variety of industries, including consumer electronics, automotive & transportation, industrial, and others. Numerous products and gadgets, including battery chargers, AC adapters, fans, fluorescent lamp ballasts, audio amplifiers, and others, are increasingly using these circuits.

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POWER ELECTRONICS MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS

Due to the growing acceptance of power electronic devices in renewable energy systems, such as solar power plants and wind turbines, the energy sector is predicted to gain a sizeable industry share throughout the projection period. To handle low, high, and variable power requirements, such systems can integrate power electronics.

Due to the rising need for such electronics in EVs, rapid charging stations, and battery systems, the automotive sector will also experience considerable growth throughout the forecast period. In order to decrease the total size, silicon-based components are also employed as power electronic switches in automobile powertrain, electrical, and electronic systems, such as power MOSFETs and IGBTs. Power electrical devices will be a popular product in the automotive industry as a result of these qualities.

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Market By Region

North America

Europe

Asia-Pacific

Latin America

Middle East & Africa

Inquire For Regional Report: https://reports.valuates.com/request/regional/QYRE-Othe-3F463/Power_Electronics_Market

Key players

Infineon Technologies

Mitsubishi Electric Corp

Toshiba Corporation

STMicroelectronics

Fuji Electric

Rockwell Automation

Microchip Technology Corporation

Texas Instruments

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is projected to grow from USD 744.7 million in 2023 to USD 1509.6 million by 2029, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12.5% during the forecast period. The global RF Energy Transistors market was valued at USD 1098 million in 2022 and is anticipated to reach USD 1761.3 million by 2029, witnessing a CAGR of 6.9% during the forecast period 2023-2029.

was valued at USD 1098 million in 2022 and is anticipated to reach USD 1761.3 million by 2029, witnessing a CAGR of 6.9% during the forecast period 2023-2029. Global Pure Water Cooling System for Power Electronics Market

Global Space Power Electronics Market Insights, Forecast to 2029

Global SiC Based Power Electronics and Inverter Market Research Report 2023

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Submittable



We're living in an era of intense inequality. While billionaires can't give their money away fast enough, 1 in 10 US households regularly struggle to put food on the table. This disparity has made many people reexamine the systemic forces that uphold inequity. Capitalism included.

Along with individuals, businesses large and small are rethinking their role in society. More and more companies are balancing the drive for innovation and profits with a need to advance social good. In turn, they are embracing stakeholder capitalism.

What is stakeholder capitalism?

In stakeholder capitalism, corporations serve the interests of all stakeholders, including their employees and their local community, not just shareholders. It's built upon the belief that businesses have a responsibility beyond just their bottom line.

The goal of stakeholder capitalism is to reframe business decisions and priorities to create long-term value for employees, customers, suppliers, local communities, investors, and other stakeholders. Compared to a more traditional way of doing business, stakeholder capitalism operates with a longer, wider, more holistic view. It incorporates the company's impact beyond its investors and defines success as more than just profit.

This economic philosophy views businesses as part of an ecosystem. The success of the business is dependent upon the economic, social, and physical health of all stakeholders. Every part of this ecosystem must remain healthy for stakeholders to thrive.

Within this framework, social responsibility guides decisions in the C-suite and boardroom. As corporate leaders set priorities, they weigh their organization's impact on the environment and every person along the supply chain.

When actor and philanthropist Paul Newman made a $300,000 profit the first year he sold salad dressing, he said, "Let's give it all away to those who need it!" This is an extreme example, but Newman's altruistic impulse helped redefine what role businesses could play in society. In 1999, Newman co-founded Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose (CECP) whose motto captures the essence of stakeholder capitalism: "creating a better world through business." CECP carries on Newman's legacy today by advising companies of all sizes how to incorporate social impact into their business mission.

Clothing and gear company Patagonia has a long-standing reputation for its environmental activism. In 2002, its founder Yvon Chouinard started the 1% for the Planet initiative, which asks businesses to commit 1% of their annual sales to environmental causes.

Last year, Chouinard transferred ownership of Patagonia to a trust to ensure its profits are used to address the climate crisis. "Earth is now our only shareholder," he wrote on the Patagonia website. "Instead of extracting value from nature and transforming it into wealth for investors, we'll use the wealth Patagonia creates to protect the source of all wealth."

These are just two examples of corporate leaders reorienting their companies to serve all stakeholders. If you're looking for more inspiration, there are countless brands getting serious about social impact.

If stakeholder capitalism seems reminiscent of kinder times of old, you're right. Most businesses operated according to its principles until it was abandoned in the 1970s, (no) thanks to Milton Friedman.

The arguments against stakeholder capitalism

Economist Milton Friedman argued corporate leaders should not get distracted by social and environmental issues. Their job is to make profits and keep shareholders happy. He got his way for a while, but the negative impacts of this strategy became too much to bear for businesses and society as a whole. Ultimately, the C-suite had to recalibrate their priorities.

At the 2019 Business Roundtable, CEOs resolved to lead their companies for the benefit of all stakeholders. Keeping those commitments has been challenging.

Two arguments are frequently used against stakeholder capitalism. Some say the required trade-offs are impossible to make, but that is taking a short-term view.

The first argument is that the costs of adopting social impact into a business mission may seem high. But that's only if you don't consider the costs of not acting. Look at the recent train derailment in Ohio as an example. Norfolk Southern Railway cut labor and operations costs, and though this cost savings might have looked good in the short-term, these conditions contributed to an incredibly costly disaster that was devastating for the company, the community, and the environment. Considering these possible negative impacts is actually good business. And business leaders are familiar with making complex trade-offs like these.

The second argument claims it's impossible to balance the competing interests of stakeholders. But this is also familiar ground for executives. CEOs are constantly balancing interests of existing customers, potential customers, employees, shareholders, suppliers, board members, and others. Plus, this argument assumes that these parties' interests will be perpetually competing. Stakeholder capitalism actually helps leaders find where stakeholder interests overlap with one another.

Why a sole focus on profit isn't sustainable

There's nothing wrong with profit, but it's only one measure of a company's success. Short-term profit doesn't always indicate long-term success. Imagine a seafood restaurant chain with a glowing quarterly report showing increased profits and managerial bonuses. But what's going on behind the numbers?

Their low food costs are made possible by low wages for employees and illegally caught shrimp from ships that are not adhering to local conservation regulations meant to protect wildlife and keep the fishing industry sustainable for the long term.

Over time, the shrimp population that the restaurant depends on gets depleted. Costs go up. Plus, the local community that has depended on the fishing industry for centuries is now left struggling and destabilized.

On top of that, low wages at the restaurant have created an environment where employees aren't invested in their work. Turnover is high, customer service poor, and managers spend a good portion of their time recruiting and training new staff.

So yes, for the short term, there were high quarterly profits. But the very decisions which made that possible have undercut the potential for long-term success and had a negative impact on the environment and the community. It turns out, decisions made solely with profit in mind have worrisome long-term implications for everyone. And in the end, they can have a negative impact on profit, too.

Why stakeholder capitalism is a necessity for companies and people to thrive

The long-term implications of a business practicing stakeholder capitalism are much rosier.

Employers : Companies with strong values find it easier to recruit, engage, and retain employees. A recent survey by Qualtrics found that 56% of employees wouldn't even consider a job from a company whose values didn't align with theirs. In particular, younger generations are quick to judge prospective employers' commitment to social good. They wonder what drives your work, besides making your stockholders richer.

: Companies with strong values find it easier to recruit, engage, and retain employees. A found that 56% of employees wouldn't even consider a job from a company whose values didn't align with theirs. In particular, younger generations are quick to judge prospective employers' commitment to social good. They wonder what drives your work, besides making your stockholders richer. Consumers : People, especially Gen Z and Millennials, make purchasing decisions based on a company's social and environmental record and image. In fact, a recent consumer culture report found that 83% of millennials prefer brands that align with their values. Corporate leaders practicing stakeholder capitalism don't have to worry about how their company values will resonate with consumers.

: People, especially Gen Z and Millennials, make purchasing decisions based on a company's social and environmental record and image. In fact, a recent found that 83% of millennials prefer brands that align with their values. Corporate leaders practicing stakeholder capitalism don't have to worry about how their company values will resonate with consumers. Investors: ESG ratings influence investment decisions. According to Garter, 85% of investors consider ESG factors in their investment decisions. This more sophisticated and holistic way to assess a company's record helps investors understand what's behind a stock price, including factors that could lead to stock trouble in the future.

Stakeholder capitalism is slowly becoming more dominant as companies and investors realize that being a force for good in the world is actually a business imperative. Since the 2019 Roundtable, more and more corporate leaders are making decisions that set their companies up for a sustainable and profitable future for all stakeholders. Many of them are using social impact software like Submittable to make it easier to do more good.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Submittable on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Submittable

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/submittable

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Submittable

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/772945/Stakeholder-Capitalism-A-New-Business-Imperative
SINGAPORE, Aug 8, 2023 - (ACN Newswire) - The World AI Show, World Blockchain Summit and World CX Summit (TresconABC), concluded on 3rd August 2023 with thought-provoking discussions, futuristic innovations, and actionable insights at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore.

With over 1500+ C-level attendees, 100+ speakers, 200+ investors, and 75 exhibitors spread across three dedicate expo zones, the event provided a spectrum of innovations that are pushing Singapore and the APAC region towards a decentralised digital future.

Naveen Bharadwaj, CEO of Trescon expressed delight on how Trescon ABC is becoming a key platform for innovators and tech titans to accelerate the adoption of net-gen emerging tech solutions. He said, "As the dynamic world of technology continues to evolve, it is our responsibility to empower businesses to navigate the waves of transformation with confidence."

With agendas cantered around on exploring key topics, including the future of AI-powered technologies, blockchain-backed solutions and CX technologies, to create a seamless digital transformation journey in the present dynamic digital landscape.

Mithun Shetty, Vice Chairman, Trescon, said," Trescon ABC serves as a key catalyst that fosters a spirit of collaboration and innovation while driving the world closer to a decentralised and digital future."

Day 2 of Trescon ABC events was packed with engaging keynote presentations and captivating panel discussion with a purpose of pushing the conversation further towards the adoption of these new-age emerging tech solutions.

One of such session was the fireside chat from the World AI Show on 'Building Trustworthy and Ethical AI: Addressing Privacy and Security Challenges'. The chat moderated by Dr. James Ong, Founder & Managing Director, Artificial Intelligence International Institute (AIII), explored the role of AI in detecting and mitigating cyber threats and data breaches. The panellists, Jeffrey Lim, Director, Joyce A Tan & Partners LLC, Mark G. KOH, Secretary General, Central and Eastern European Chamber of Commerce in Singapore and Jenny Tan, President, ISACA SG Chapter, shared some key insights on how to strengthen trust and transparency among all stakeholders and customers.

Another noteworthy session was the fireside chat on 'Women in Blockchain: Pioneering the Future of Decentralized Technologies'. The engaging conversation between Fiona Murry, Head of APAC Sales, Ripple and Sonny Mohanty, VP APAC, Nordek, explored the growing contribution by women in the blockchain industry and the future opportunities for women in the industry.

At the World CX Summit, it was great to witness an engaging session on 'Embracing the Future of CX: Designing a new era of Innovation '. The panel moderated by Babul Balakrishnan, Global Head of Customer Care, Thunes, elaborated on how a customer-first strategy can be utilized to drive loyalty, retention and advocacy. The panellists, Sachin Sharma, Chief Product & Commercial Officer, Standard Chartered Bank nexus; Gabriel Lazaro, Head of Digital, Overseas General Insurance, Chubb; Adil Antia, Vice President, Technology & Solutions, FPT Asia Pacific; Joey Tan, Head of Customer Experience (CX), GXS; Sushil Katdare, CX Director, Greater China & Intercontinental Region, GSK, presented their invaluable insights on leveraging customer data insights for personalization.

Expressing his experience on being a part of the World AI Show, Andy Ta Wee An, Chief Data Officer & Director, Data Analytics & AI (DNA), Synapxe, said, "It was a privilege to be part as a panellist and share my experience at WorldAIShow. During the session, I shared my views on how AIOPS can be applied to systems, business as well as individual tasks." He further added," It is important to understand the considerations for each setting and experiment tools, data and practices to make them "quiet norms" to improve workflow processes for better patient outcomes."

Sharing his experience on being a part of the World Blockchain Summit, Chin Tah Ang, General Manager, Singapore, Crypto.com, said" The experience at the summit was wonderful. I had the opportunity to meet great people, and the panel discussion was very interesting."

Attending the World CX Summit, Thiam Kee (Scott) Tan, Product Owner, Core Experience, ShopBack, spoke at length on the impact of the platform that Trescon ABC provides. He said, "It is an interesting combination of events, adding diversity to the topics It was wonderful to learn and interact with industry practitioners and solution provider, to understand how they work, and insights on how they address the challenges."

As Day 2 came to a close, the World AI Show, World Blockchain Summit and World CX Summit (TresconABC), preparations are underway to bring another exciting edition that will empower businesses with next-gen tech solutions and give them a sneak peek of the future.

Building on the successes of bringing cross industry technology leaders together, Trescon is excited to announce the inaugural edition of the Digital Acceleration and Transformation Expo (DATE) at Delhi in November this year. The event underscores India's innovative temper while establishing a platform that will foster collaboration, knowledge-sharing, key insights that will have a key impact on India's innovation ecosystem. The event will feature a diverse range of sessions, panel discussions, and interactive workshops, covering topics such as AI, ML, blockchain, cybersecurity, cloud, fintech, greentech, and more. For more information on how to be involved with DATE, visit: https://datewithtech.com/

The Trescon ABC events were supported by:

Supporting Partner - EDBI and She Loves Data

Community Partner - Cyberverse Foundation, APAC DAO, Binance Viet Nam, She Loves Data

Innovation Partner - Karnataka Digital Economy Mission

Platinum sponsor - Dataiku , Tech Mahindra | Altair , Medallia

Gold Sponsor - Singlestore , PHOENIX, TELESIGN, Contentsquare, Braze, Locobuzz, Kore.ai

Silver Sponsor - Aidetic, HUMBL, MILLIONERO, GPTCoin, FUTURECX, Metapark , Servicenow, Acquia, Sitecore | FPT, Survey2Connect

Bronze Sponsor - WNS - Vuram , Squirro , neo4j , MIMO, ZOKSH, Zegocloud, InMoment

Lead Sponsor: FIRDAOS

Presenting Partner: NORDEK

After Party Sponsor: U2U FOUNDATION

Pitch Partner: U2U FOUNDATION, FLOIN

Exhibitors: SINGAPORE BLOCKCHAIN INNOVATION PROGRAMME, MRMINT, ESPSOFTTECH, KoinBX, Collectors, Corsight AI

Official Content Distribution Partner: Zex PR Wire

Official Event App Partner: Crowdcomms

Association Partner: WOMEN IN BLOCKCHAIN ASIA

Executive Roundtable Sponsor - Insider

About Trescon

Trescon is a pioneering force in the global business events and services sector, driving the adoption of emerging technologies while promoting sustainability and inclusive leadership.

Our summits, expos, and conferences create real economic impact by connecting and empowering the key ecosystem of government organisations, regulators, enterprises, corporates and more. With the help of our 250+ employees across offices in 6 countries, several of our clients have quadrupled their leads, shortened sales cycles by half or less, entered markets three times faster, closed deals within unimaginable timelines and grown their businesses ultimately. For more information about Trescon visit: www.tresconglobal.com.

For further details about the announcement, please contact:

Nupur Aswani

Head - Media, PR and Corporate Communications, Trescon

+91 95559 15156 | media@tresconglobal.com

Source: tresconCopyright 2023 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
CLOVIS, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / The California Olive Oil Council (COOC), the leading organization dedicated to promoting high-quality, authentic California-grown extra virgin olive oil, is proud to announce its continued commitment to the highest standards of excellence and the promotion of the state's vibrant olive oil industry.





The COOC has served as the voice of the California olive oil community for over three decades and remains steadfast in its mission to educate consumers, support local producers, and uphold the highest standards of olive oil production.

A Seal of Excellence and Quality

By adhering to the council's rigorous certification program, California olive oil producers can proudly display the COOC Seal, a symbol of excellence and authenticity, on their products. The COOC seal serves as a beacon of trust and integrity for olive oil enthusiasts, chefs, and producers alike, ensuring that every bottle of California olive oil meets the strictest quality standards.

With an unwavering focus on consumer education, the COOC continues to raise awareness about the health benefits and superior taste of California olive oil. Through its educational programs, including tastings, workshops, and online resources, the COOC empowers consumers to make informed choices and appreciate the unique characteristics of California olive oil.

Supporting Local Producers, Educating Consumers

The COOC also plays a vital role in supporting California olive oil producers, both large and small, by providing resources, technical assistance, and a platform for collaboration. By fostering a sense of community and shared knowledge, the COOC promotes sustainable practices, innovation, and the continued growth of the state's olive oil industry.

"As the demand for high-quality olive oil continues to rise, the COOC remains committed to ensuring that consumers can trust the products they purchase," said Todd Sanders, COOC Executive Director. "We are proud to support our local producers, who work tirelessly to craft exceptional olive oil that reflects the unique terroir and dedication to craftsmanship found in California."

The COOC's efforts have garnered recognition both nationally and internationally, positioning California as a leading olive oil-producing region. With its Mediterranean climate and diverse microclimates, California offers an ideal environment for growing a variety of olive cultivars, resulting in oils with distinct flavors and characteristics.

Support California-grown Extra Virgin Olive Oil

The COOC invites consumers, industry professionals, and olive oil enthusiasts to join them in celebrating the excellence of California olive oil. By choosing COOC-certified olive oils, consumers can experience the unparalleled taste, quality, and authenticity that the state has to offer.

For more information about the California Olive Oil Council and its initiatives, please visit www.cooc.com.

Interact with the California Olive Oil Council:

Visit our website for a list of our members: https://cooc.com

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaOliveOilCouncil

Explore with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/californiaevoo

Contact Information

Savanna Meinert

PR Manager

savanna@premprsocial.com

(559) 512-6551

SOURCE: California Olive Oil Council

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/772187/California-Olive-Oil-Council-Promotes-Excellence-and-Authenticity-in-Olive-Oil-Production
Annual Gathering of the New England Data Community to be Hosted by Boston University's Questrom School of Business and the New Center for Computing & Data Sciences

BOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Cleartelligence is proud to announce that the eighth annual Chart Champ event, the hotly anticipated gathering of data professionals, will take place at Boston University's Metcalf Trustee Center and the new Center for Computing & Data Sciences. Over the years, the event has grown in popularity and in scope, drawing thousands of data analysts, data engineers, and senior executives. This year, with an emphasis on market implications and business strategy, Chart Champ aims to provide informative and engaging insights to prominent businesses from throughout New England.

Chart Champ 2023

Chart Champ - Oct. 4, 2023, at Boston University's Metcalf Trustee Center



"This event will serve as a vital platform that bridges the gap between academia and the business world, fostering meaningful connections between our talented students, faculty, and industry professionals. The prospect of facilitating engaging discussions, showcasing cutting-edge research, and inspiring collaboration is very exciting," said Ashley Leah Mahanama, Associate Director (Industry Relations) for the MS in Business Analytics program at BU's Questrom School.

The competition's premise is simple: Who can create the most captivating story with data? 2022 Champion Joshua Marsh took home the top prize with his dashboard investigating some of the disparities faced by marginalized groups when it comes to generational wealth. Past champions also include Tableau Visionaries Brian Moore and Jacqui Moore.

In addition to the dashboard competition, the event offers presentations from prominent data strategists who are transforming their organization's data culture and driving business outcomes.

Charles Holm, Senior IT Manager, Boston Scientific, is one of several featured presenters on this year's agenda. "I'm excited by the opportunity to present my team's data and analytics journey at Chart Champ 2023. Boston Scientific has been involved with Chart Champ for many years as attendees, judges and competitors. It is an honor to be invited to join the event this year as a keynote speaker, sharing our story about deploying analytics at scale," Holm said.

In addition to Holm, attendees will hear from Jordan Johnsen, Director of Data & Analytics, Barrett Distribution Centers. Johnsen will share his experience leading digital transformation initiatives at the prominent third-party logistics company. Additional industry spotlights are to be announced in the coming weeks.

Whether you're a data analyst, a data engineer or a forward-thinking business leader, Chart Champ invites you to enjoy a networking event with everything you love about a good dashboard - a spark of genius, an artistic flare, and a heck of a story. Be a part of our eighth annual story this October at Boston University.

Contact Information

Pete DeOlympio

Marketing Director

pete.deolympio@cleartelligence.com

(617) 340-7740

SOURCE: Cleartelligence

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/772809/Boston-University-to-Host-8th-Annual-Data-Community-Gathering
NIAGARA FALLS, NY / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Harris Data Integrity Solutions, the leading provider of best-in-class patient data integrity services and software, has been engaged by University Hospitals (UH) to undertake a comprehensive cleanup of UH Lake Health's Master Patient Index (MPI) in preparation for the facility's migration to Epic. In addition to eliminating duplicate and crossover patient records, Harris Data Integrity Solutions will support UH in clearing the hospital's Roster Management Engine (RME) error queue.

Lake Health, which joined the Cleveland-based University Hospitals health system in April 2021, consists of UH Lake West Medical Center, UH Beachwood Medical Center, and UH TriPoint Medical Center. It is currently migrating to UH's Epic electronic health record (EHR) system. However, prior to its patient information being integrated into the EHR, Lake Health's MPI must be analyzed for and subsequently cleaned of any duplicate and potential crossover patient records that may exist across the UH system.

UH's transition to Epic represents its single largest transformation investment. UH has embarked on a multi-year initiative to implement a new and fully integrated Epic-based EHR. This new system will improve the point of care experience for patients and caregivers, better enable patients to access their personal health information, advance its population health analytics, drive quantifiable clinical and revenue cycle benefits, and enable research and academic excellence.

Harris Data Integrity Solutions, an authorized Epic data remediation consultant, will leverage the EHR system's possible duplicate/crossover report to perform a cleanup of UH Lake Health's MPI and provide batch files back to UH for processing within the system. Its team of credentialled and highly experienced patient identity experts will also manage remediation using Harris Data Integrity Solutions' proprietary automated duplicate resolution technology and third-party data sources, as well as manually when necessary.

The Harris Data Integrity Solutions team will also assist UH with resolving patient record discrepancies that cause them to be placed in the EHR system's RME error queue. This occurs when data such as order results, documents, etc. cannot be filed automatically into the EHR due to a mismatch or fuzzy match on demographic, medical record number (MRN), or other patient-level data points. Without manual review and remediation, the interface does not know where the information should "live" in the patient chart.

"Duplicate and overlaid patient records can broadly impact patient care, safety, and outcomes, as well as increase costs and sap the productivity of clinicians and HIM professionals by diverting their focus away from core responsibilities. We're thrilled to be helping UH protect their patients and their EHR investment by ensuring the success of Lake Health's migration to Epic won't be hindered by a compromised MPI," said Lora Hefton, executive vice president of Harris Data Integrity Solutions.

###

About University Hospitals / Cleveland, Ohio

Founded in 1866, University Hospitals serves the needs of patients through an integrated network of 21 hospitals (including five joint ventures), more than 50 health centers and outpatient facilities, and over 200 physician offices in 16 counties throughout northern Ohio. The system's flagship quaternary care, academic medical center, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, is affiliated with Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Oxford University, the Technion Israel Institute of Technology, and National Taiwan University College of Medicine. The main campus also includes the UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, ranked among the top children's hospitals in the nation; UH MacDonald Women's Hospital, Ohio's only hospital for women; and UH Seidman Cancer Center, part of the NCI-designated Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. UH is home to some of the most prestigious clinical and research programs in the nation, with more than 3,000 active clinical trials and research studies underway. UH Cleveland Medical Center is perennially among the highest performers in national ranking surveys, including "America's Best Hospitals" from U.S. News & World Report. UH is also home to 19 Clinical Care Delivery and Research Institutes. UH is one of the largest employers in Northeast Ohio with more than 30,000 employees. Follow UH on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. For more information, visit UHhospitals.org.

About Harris Data Integrity Solutions

Harris Data Integrity Solutionsdelivers industry-leading data integrity services and software to reduce duplicate medical records and minimize the ongoing cost of maintaining quality patient data. Created by the integration of two data integrity powerhouses, Just Associates, Inc. and QuadraMed Corporation, Harris Data Integrity Solutions offers the unparalleled depth and breadth of industry expertise and the commitment to ongoing innovation necessary to meet the changing needs of patients and healthcare organizations. Designed to address the broad spectrum of challenges associated with patient matching and data integrity, its suite of advanced technology solutions and services includes CuraMatchautomated duplicate resolution, SmartIXEnterprise Master Patient Index (EMPI) andMPI Clean-up Services. For more information, visit www.harrisdataintegritysolutions.com.

Media Contact:

Liz Goar

NPC Creative Services

liz@npccs.com

SOURCE: Harris Data Integrity Solutions

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/772899/University-Hospitals-Selects-Harris-Data-Integrity-Solutions-for-UH-Lake-Health-MPI-Data-Conversion
ST. PETERSBURG, FL / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Legacy Protection Lawyers is proud to announce Nicole Bell Cleland as the newest partner in the law firm as the trust and estate planning firm celebrates its 10th anniversary in the Tampa Bay community. Since joining the firm in 2016, Nicole has provided excellent counsel helping her clients plan their legacies. She also has taken active leadership roles within the firm and the greater Tampa Bay community.

Nicole Bell Cleland

Cleland's professional accomplishments include the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the Florida Bar 2020-2022 Fellowship, recognizing only a few individuals who have a demonstrated interest in wills, trusts, and estates and service to the community. Additionally, Nicole has been named to Florida Super Lawyers Rising Star for four years, 2019-2022, and a Leader in the Law by the Florida Association of Women Lawyers in 2020.

"Nicole has been an integral part of our firm, contributing to our growth and success over the seven years she's been with us. Her service to our clients and the greater community exemplifies the leadership of the Legacy Protection Lawyers brand," said Partner William "Bill" Battle McQueen.

Cleland has demonstrated constant commitment to the community through her board service with Pinellas County Chapter Florida Association for Women Lawyers (Past Chairperson, 2020- 2021), Suncoast Estate Planning Council (Board Member & Treasurer, 2023), and Inspire Equine Therapy Program, Inc. (Board Member), and Brookwood Florida, Inc. (Past Chairperson). She is a graduate of Leadership St. Pete Class of 2019. Cleland earned her JD from Stetson University College of Law in 2016 after completing her BA in English from Florida State University in 2013.

To learn more about Nicole, visit https://www.legacyprotectionlawyers.com/our-team/nicole-bell-cleland/

---

Legacy Protection Lawyers, LLP is a boutique Florida law firm specialized in trust and estate law. Founded in St. Petersburg, FL, in 2013 by two seasoned estate attorneys, Legacy Protection Lawyers, LLP takes a holistic approach to the idea of a legacy through careful planning, meticulous probate and trust administration, and honest estate and trust litigation services.

To learn more about Legacy Protection Lawyers, LLP visit www.legacyprotectionlawyers.com or follow their social media channels:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/legacyprotectionlawyers

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/legacy-protection-lawyers/

Contact Information

Bill McQueen

Partner

bill@legacyprotectionlawyers.com

727.471.5868

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SOURCE: Legacy Protection Lawyers

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/772957/Legacy-Protection-Lawyers-Promotes-Nicole-Bell-Cleland-to-Partner
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Antea Group



You're not imagining it: Heat waves are becoming more severe, putting the safety and well-being of workers at risk. Addressing heat safety has become an essential part of EHS practices around the world.

In this post, we'll explore the impact of climate change on EHS heat safety practices, review the signs and symptoms of heat illness, and offer ways to mitigate the risks associated with heat waves.

Understanding the Escalating Impact of Heat Waves on EHS

The 2023 summer has shown a concerning surge in emergency room visits and fatalities due to heat. With some of these taking place on the job, it is crucial for EHS professionals to take proactive steps to safeguard their workforces in times of extreme heat. This is especially true for countries where governments have yet to establish regulations that set maximum safe heat limits for workers. The United States does not have national standards in place, and only five states- California, Colorado, Minnesota, Oregon and Washington -have enacted heat-related illness prevention requirements. California and Washington's regulations cover only outdoor workers, Minnesota's covers only indoor workers, Oregon's covers both indoor and outdoor workers, and Colorado's covers only agricultural workers.

Learn more about all the EHS concerns summer weather brings in our post Bring on the Heat: Get Ahead of Summer EHS Hazards

Are heat waves really occurring more frequently?

Heat waves are indeed occurring more frequently, and there are several reasons for this trend.

Climate change is a significant factor driving the increased frequency of heat waves. Rising global temperatures result in more intense and prolonged periods of extreme heat. Urbanization and the heat island effect exacerbate heat wave conditions in cities, as concrete and asphalt retain heat and limit cooling.

The Role of EHS Professionals in Heat Wave Safety

Heat illness can have serious consequences, ranging from mild discomfort to life-threatening conditions like heat stroke. As an EHS professional, you play a significant role in ensuring your organization has the correct heat wave safety protocols in place to avoid heat illness incidents.

The rise in heat-related illnesses and fatalities is a global issue. In Texas, where heat waves have become more frequent and intense, there has been a noticeable rise in heat-related illnesses and deaths. Similarly, India has also encountered severe heat waves that put a strain on healthcare systems and highlighted the importance of preventive measures.

Implementing a heat wave safety program within your organization requires both recognizing and preventing heat illness.

Recognizing Types of Heat Illness

Heat illness refers to a range of conditions that occur when the body's core temperature rises to dangerous levels due to exposure to high temperatures and excessive heat. These conditions can range from mild to life-threatening and are often associated with working in hot environments or engaging in strenuous physical activities in the heat.

There are four main types of heat illness your workforce should be trained to recognize in themselves and others.

Heat rash

Heat rash occurs when sweat is trapped in the skin's pores, leading to skin irritation. It is the most common heat-related problem in hot work environments.

Symptoms:

Clusters of red bumps on the skin.

Often appears on the neck, upper chest, and folds of the skin.

First Aid:

Work in a cooler, less humid environment when possible.

Keep the affected area dry.

Heat cramps

Heat cramps are caused by the loss of body salts and fluids through sweating, resulting in low salt levels in muscles and painful cramps. These usually affect tired muscles, especially those used for performing the work.

Symptoms:

Muscle spasms and pain.

First Aid:

Have the worker rest in a shady and cool area.

Provide the worker with water or other cool beverages.

Wait for a few hours before allowing the worker to return to strenuous work.

Seek medical attention if cramps persist.

Heat exhaustion

Heat exhaustion occurs when the body loses water and salt through heavy sweating, leading to an imbalance in the body's electrolytes and fluid levels.

Symptoms:

Cool, moist skin.

Heavy sweating.

Headache, nausea, and vomiting.

Dizziness and lightheadedness.

Weakness and irritability.

Fast heartbeat and excessive thirst.

First Aid:

Have the worker sit or lie down in a cool, shady area.

Provide plenty of water or other cool beverages to drink.

Apply cold compresses or use ice packs.

Seek immediate medical attention if symptoms worsen or do not improve within 60 minutes.

Do not allow the worker to return to work that day.

Heat stroke

Heat stroke is the most severe and life-threatening heat-related illness. It occurs when the body's temperature regulation fails, and the body becomes unable to cool itself down through sweating.

Symptoms:

Confusion and irrational behavior.

Loss of consciousness and seizures.

Lack of sweating (usually).

Red, hot, and dry skin.

Very high body temperature (typically above 41C or 106F).

First Aid:

Call 911 immediately for emergency medical assistance.

Move the worker to a shady and cool area.

Loosen their clothing and remove outer layers.

Cool the worker with fans, cold packs, or wet towels.

Offer fluids (preferably water) as soon as possible.

Stay with the worker until help arrives.

Heat stroke is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention, as it can lead to severe complications and even death if not treated promptly.

Preventative Measures for Heat Wave Safety

Prevention is the best way to ensure your workers remain safe during a heat wave. The following measures should be part of your overall heat safety plan.

Develop heat illness prevention policy: Establish a clear and comprehensive policy that outlines heat safety protocols and guidelines. This policy should include recommendations on staying hydrated, taking breaks in cooler areas, and recognizing early signs of heat-related illnesses.

Provide training and education: Conduct regular heat safety training sessions for employees, supervisors, and managers. Educate them on the risks of heat-related illnesses, how to identify symptoms, and the appropriate actions to take in case of emergencies.

Conduct heat stress assessments: Regularly assess the workplace for potential heat stress hazards. Measure temperature, humidity, and radiant heat in different areas to identify hotspots where workers may be at higher risk.

Implement engineering controls: Install ventilation systems, reflective surfaces, and cooling fans to reduce heat buildup in work areas. Providing shaded rest areas and proper ventilation can significantly lower the risk of heat-related illnesses.

Monitor weather and heat index: Keep a close eye on weather forecasts and heat index levels. Implement an early warning system to alert workers and supervisors when extreme heat events are anticipated, allowing for timely adjustments to work schedules or temporary suspension of outdoor work.

Encourage acclimatization: Encourage workers to gradually adapt to working in hot conditions, especially at the beginning of the hot season. Avoid assigning heavy or physically demanding tasks during peak heat hours.

Promote hydration: Ensure workers have easy access to cool, potable water at all times. Encourage frequent water breaks to prevent dehydration and heat stress.

Offer personal protective equipment (PPE): Provide lightweight, breathable, and heat-resistant clothing that helps reduce heat stress while offering adequate protection for specific work tasks.

Establish an emergency response plan: Develop a clear and effective heat emergency response plan that includes procedures for recognizing and responding to heat-related emergencies promptly.

Collaborate with stakeholders: Engage with local health departments, emergency services, and community organizations to build partnerships and coordinate efforts in addressing heat wave challenges collectively.

By implementing these actions, you can significantly reduce the risk of heat-related health emergencies and create a safer working environment for your employees during heat waves.

Discover how Antea Group can help optimize your EHS program through our Health & Safety (EHS) Consulting

About Antea Group

AnteaGroup is an environment, health, safety, and sustainability consulting firm. By combining strategic thinking with technical expertise, we do more than effectively solve client challenges; we deliver sustainable results for a better future. We work in partnership with and advise many of the world's most sustainable companies to address ESG-business challenges in a way that fits their pace and unique objectives. Our consultants equip organizations to better understand threats, capture opportunities and find their position of strength. Lastly, we maintain a global perspective on ESG issues through not only our work with multinational clients, but also through our sister organizations in Europe, Asia, and Latin America and as a founding member of the Inogen Alliance. Learn more at us.anteagroup.com.?

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Antea Group on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Antea Group

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/antea-group

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Antea Group

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/772955/Navigating-Climate-Change-Heat-Wave-Safety-Tips-for-EHS-Professionals
Rightmove Plc - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, August 08

8 August 2023

Rightmove plc

Share buy-back programme

Rightmove plc - transactions in own shares

Rightmove plc ('Rightmove'), announces that today it purchased 118,000 of its 0.1p ordinary shares at a volume weighted average price paid per share of 574.894. The highest price paid per share was 577.200p and the lowest price paid per share was 570.800p. Rightmove purchased these shares through Numis Securities Limited.

The number of shares purchased represented 0.0145% of the voting rights attributable to the total ordinary shares in issue prior to such purchase. The purchased shares will be cancelled.

Since announcing a share buy-back programme on 28 December 2007, Rightmove has purchased in aggregate 492,400,568 ordinary shares.

The total number of ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury shares) following this announcement is 814,647,259. Rightmove holds 12,006,253 shares in treasury.

In accordance with Article 5(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (the Market Abuse Regulation) as amended by The Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (the "UK MAR"), the schedule below contains detailed information about the purchases made by Numis Securities Limited on behalf of the Company as part of the buyback programme.

Contact: Carolyn Pollard, Company Secretary

CompanySecretary@rightmove.co.uk

Schedule of Purchases - Individual Transactions
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Trans Astronautica Corporation, the pioneering space technology company and Y Combinator graduate, is pleased to announce it has been awarded a Phase 2 SBIR contract from the United States Space Force. This contract will fund the development of an operational prototype for the Sutter Turn Key Observatory (Sutter TKO), a cutting-edge, self-contained observatory capable of housing up to 18 integrated telescopes. The contract will also fund certain enhancements of TransAstra's capabilities, including improving detections of objects at low angular offset from the Moon and advancing tipping and cueing across TransAstra's telescope network to enable rapid follow-up to observations of moving objects in space.

Sutter TKO, a remotely operable observatory, is a game-changing blend of TransAstra's suite of space domain awareness capabilities. Constructed to be functional in any remote location with electrical power, it eliminates the need for an existing observatory. Harnessing the power of TransAstra's Sutter technologies, the Sutter TKO system will deliver unparalleled object detection at a fraction of the cost of legacy systems.

TransAstra eagerly anticipates unveiling further details about Sutter TKO at the Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies (AMOS) Conference in Maui, Hawaii, this September. Attendees will be offered a unique insight into this transformative technology, with a scaled model of the Sutter TKO on display. With its broad appeal, the Sutter TKO is poised to be a highly attractive option for the scienti?c and astronomy communities, as well as those invested in space domain awareness solutions. TransAstra envisions customers to include U.S. allies seeking an SDA solution, the international science community seeking cost-effective all-sky coverage solutions for ?nding and tracking NEOs for planetary defense and scienti?c purposes, and private companies desirous of their own organic SDA solution for monitoring traffic throughout cislunar space. TransAstra is projected to begin accepting commercial and government orders for Sutter TKO systems this Fall.

"National security and scienti?c discovery are mutually reinforcing," stated Dr. Joel Sercel, CEO of TransAstra. "Our collaboration with the Space Force re?ects our unwavering commitment to fortifying the security of our nation's space missions. Our Sutter TKO system presents a cost-effective gateway to crucial scienti?c research missions, democratizing the realm of space exploration and discovery. TransAstra remains steadfast in its mission to deliver cutting-edge, pragmatic solutions that address our national security needs while also propelling scienti?c advancements."

About TransAstra

TransAstra is a Los Angeles-based company committed to pioneering technology solutions for space exploration and development. We work at the cutting edge of technology to build a future where resources in space are available for the bene?t of humanity. For more information about TransAstra, visit www.transastra.com.

Contact Information

Stanley Chen

Media Contact

stan@transastra.com

SOURCE: Trans Astronautica Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/772983/TransAstra-Wins-Space-Force-Phase-2-Contract-for-Development-of-Groundbreaking-Turn-Key-Telescope-Observatory-System
WEST PALM BEACH, FL / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Mining Global, Inc. (OTC:MNGG) is pleased to announce that Mining Global has accepted the agreement to merge with an African mining mine. The merger is set to be completed within the next thirty days.

The mine is in Namibia, Africa. A supplemental disclosure was filed with OTC Markets providing a Birdseye view of the merger and a full detailed 85 page mining report, including an overview of the lithium mine exploration project (https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/MNGG/disclosure ).

The license area covers several commercial farms. The geology of the region, particularly the Nama Group and Namaqua Metamorphic Complex, indicates strong potential for pegmatite-associated Sn and rare metal mineralization, including Lithium, tantalum, niobium, tin, tungsten, and more. The pegmatites in the area have historically been rich in valuable minerals, and further exploration is likely to reveal promising results.

The transaction will be closed in escrow so not to disturb the current share structure. MNGG will need to perform an audited financial statement and return to being an SEC reporting company together with other FINRA type compliance and corporate matters. The Namibia mining co will also be required to perform and meet certain pre agreed mining thresholds. Both companies expect to reac h their targeted goals by the fiscal ed 2023.

In other company news and events addressing some of our followers FAQ the Company continues to operate its VAR mining & trading division and the mezzanine corporate business services. The company reports its revenues on a consolidated basis.

We are excited about the potential this project holds and believe it presents a remarkable opportunity for investors and shareholders. The strategic location, combined with the untapped mineral wealth, makes this Lithium exploration project an attractive venture for those seeking high growth potential and long-term benefits.

If you wish to obtain more detailed information about the project, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Together, we can be at the forefront of a groundbreaking exploration journey in Namibia's mineral-rich lands.

More details will follow on a timely basis.

About Mining Global Inc.

Considering current and future mining market outlook, management operates a business model that is linked to mining and as well involved into commodity investing in general as a business VAR aggregator Our main focus is in mining projects such as Limestone, Lithium, Copper, Silver, and others. Apart from exploration and mining investing, MNGG invests in operating and already listed, but undervalued companies that are mining or metal business oriented. Some of these companies are well known in the mining industry. Our detailed business model can be found here https://mnggotc.com/mngg-business-synopsis/

Forward-looking statements:

Statements in this press release relating to plans, strategies, economic performance and trends, projections of results of specific activities or investments, and other statements that are not descriptions of historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information is inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, which include but are not limited to, risk factors inherent in doing business. Forward-looking statements may be identified by terms such as "may," "will," "should," "could," "expects," "plans," "intends," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "forecasts," "potential," or "continue," or similar terms or the negative of these terms. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. The company has no obligation to update these forward-looking statements

Contact Us:

Telephone: 954 837 6833

Email corporate@mnggotc.com

Address 500 S Australian Ave #600, West Palm Beach FL 33401

Web address: www.mnggotc.com

SOURCE: Mining Global, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/772993/Mining-Global-OTCMNGG-to-Merge-with-Namibia-African-Lithium-Mine
Wistar scientists propose more equitable, collaborative standard to advance HIV cure-directed research

PHILADELPHIA, PA, Aug. 08, 2023are sharing how a more inclusive model for community engagement can lead to deeper insights and greater community participation in HIV research. The community engagement group, or CEG model, is composed of a three-part structure with a Community Advisory Board (CAB), Community nonprofit organization, and researchers.

"The more inclusive community engagement group model is a valuable resource for scientists because of the broader reach, deeper trust and credibility we can maintain with persons living with HIV in our community," said Luis Montaner, D.V.M., D.Phil., vice president for scientific operations, Herbert Kean, M.D., Family Professor, director, HIV-1 Immunopathogenesis Laboratory, and leader, HIV Research Program, Vaccine & Immunotherapy Centerat The Wistar Institute. "Unlike isolated advisory board models, in which researchers propose ideas and the board provides advice, the CEG model is a collaborative working unit at every stage of the research process."

As a clinic and service provider, Philadelphia FIGHT is constantly interacting with HIV patients and providers, as well as advocating for policy changes, giving it a role in the CEG that provides "a much broader footprint" than a traditional CAB, Montaner said. By combining Philadelphia FIGHT with the CAB, it also established greater access and trust within the target community.

"This a unique, dynamic model because we all work together," said William B. Carter, chairman of the BEAT-HIV Community Advisory Board (CAB). "We (the community) work in unison with researchers and Philadelphia FIGHT and it's a brilliant thing. In my eyes, the scientists with collaborators dream up the roadmap to implement cure research. And then the community makes the dream our own. Scientists' dreams don't come to light because they can't take that injection, they can't take that pill. You need health clinics and services to help organizations. Then you need us. I don't see how we can fail."

"Projects are developed in partnership," Montaner said. "As a larger working group with community nonprofit groups serving patient communities, together with community advocates sharing life experiences, the result of our joint work goes beyond just asking community members to be only advisors."

The Montaner Team's case study about their experience combining scientists, Philadelphia FIGHT and a CAB under a CEG model, entitled "Community engagement group model in basic and biomedical research: lessons learned from the BEAT-HIV Delaney Collaboratory towards an HIV-1 cure,"published June 8, 2023 in the journal Research Involvement and Engagement.

Montaner, who was senior author of the paper, said the Team published the report after hearing questions from other researchers about how to replicate the Wistar CEG model. "Over time we've been asked, 'How do you do it?" he said. "Overall, we're proposing a new model for community engagement."

The paper details the decades-long relationship between HIV researchers at Wistar and Philadelphia FIGHT, a nonprofit AIDS services organization, clinic, and advocacy group. The collaboration eventually led to the establishment of the BEAT-HIV Community Engagement Group or CEG when a CAB was added as the third component.

Along with a history of the collaboration, the report also documents examples of specific projects, and lessons learned, with potential strengths and challenges faced with the CEG since its start.

"We're proposing a new, improved and more intentional model for community engagement with greater equity and roles than our previous practices," Montaner said. "We are hopeful that other research programs, not just HIV cure-directed research, can adapt our experience to increase community partnerships into ongoing research efforts."

Co-authors: Karine Dube of the University of California San Diego; Beth Peterson of The Wistar Institute; Nora L. Jones, William B. Carter, Christine Dannaway, Steven Johnson, Roy Hayes, Marcus Hill, and Rease Maddox of the BEAT-HIV Delaney Collaboratory Community Advisory Board; Amy Onorato, David Metzger, and James L. Riley of the University of Pennsylvania; Jane Shull of Philadelphia FIGHT Community Health Centers.

Work supported by: the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases, the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and The Robert I. Jacobs Fund of the Philadelphia Foundation.

Publication information: "Community engagement group model in basic and biomedical research: lessons learned from the BEAT-HIV Delaney Collaboratory towards an HIV-1 cure," Research Involvement and Engagement (DATE).

###

The Wistar Institute, the first independent, nonprofit biomedical research institute in the United States, marshals the talents of an international team of outstanding scientists through a culture of biomedical collaboration and innovation. Wistar scientists are focused on solving some of the world's most challenging and important problems in the field of cancer, infectious disease, and immunology. Wistar has been producing groundbreaking advances in world health for more than a century. Consistent with its legacy of leadership in biomedical research and a track record of life-saving contributions in immunology and cell biology, Wistar scientists' early-stage discoveries shorten the path from bench to bedside.wistar.org



CONTACT: Darien Sutton

C: 215.870.2048

dsutton@wistar.org
NEO: SHWZ

OTCQX: SHWZ

DENVER, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Schwazze, (OTCQX: SHWZ) (NEO: SHWZ) ("Schwazze" or the "Company"), a multi-state operating cannabis company with assets in Colorado and New Mexico, announces the grand opening of its medical and recreational dispensary, R.Greenleaf Hobbs, which opened on Saturday, August 5, 2023. The new store is located at 1901 Joe Harvey Blvd #130 in Hobbs, NM 88240. Store operating hours are 8a to 11p Monday through Saturday; 8a to 8p on Sunday.

The R.Greenleaf Hobbs store opening continues the Company's expansion throughout New Mexico and comes on the heels of eight additional R.Greenleaf store openings since Schwazze's acquisition of the retail banner in February 2022. This opening along with the recent acquisition of Everest brings Schwazze's total number of New Mexico retail dispensaries to 33. All locations serve the needs of medical patients as well as recreational adult-use consumers.

"We are excited to be a part of the growing cannabis community in New Mexico and to open an additional R.Greenleaf dispensary in the state. The team has been hard at work preparing to serve our customers in and around the city of Hobbs offering a wide variety of quality products serviced by dedicated, knowledgeable staff," said Ken Bair, Senior Vice President of New Mexico Retail.

Since April 2020, Schwazze has acquired, opened, or announced the planned acquisition of 62 cannabis retail dispensaries (bannered as Star Buds, Emerald Fields, R. Greenleaf, Standing Akimbo, and Everest) as well as eight cultivation facilities and three manufacturing plants across Colorado and New Mexico. In May 2021, Schwazze launched its Biosciences division, and in August 2021 it commenced home delivery services in Colorado.

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.

This press release contains "forward-looking statements." Such statements may be preceded by the words "plan," "will," "may," "continue," "predicts," or similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future events or performance, are based on certain assumptions, and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control and cannot be predicted or quantified. Consequently, actual events and results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with (i) our inability to manufacture our products and product candidates on a commercial scale on our own or in collaboration with third parties; (ii) difficulties in obtaining financing on commercially reasonable terms; (iii) changes in the size and nature of our competition; (iv) loss of one or more key executives or scientists; (v) difficulties in securing regulatory approval to market our products and product candidates; (vi) our ability to successfully execute our growth strategy in Colorado and outside the state, (vii) our ability to consummate the acquisition described in this press release or to identify and consummate future acquisitions that meet our criteria, (viii) our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses, including the acquisition described in this press release, and realize synergies therefrom, (ix) the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, * the timing and extent of governmental stimulus programs, and (xi) the uncertainty in the application of federal, state and local laws to our business, and any changes in such laws. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as required by law.

Investor Relations Contact: Sean Mansouri, CFA or Aaron D'Souza, Elevate IR, (720) 330-2829, ir@schwazze.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/multi-state-cannabis-operator-schwazze-continues-expansion-in-new-mexico-with-new-rgreenleaf-store-opening-in-hobbs-nm-301896205.html
From the desk of Myntfund

REYKJAVIK, Iceland., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the fundamental benefits of blockchain technology is its ability to record transactions transparently in a tamper-proof ledger.

This level of openness is unprecedented in a financial sector where obscurity, complicated acronyms, and manipulation benefit only the most powerful players. Specifically, blockchain technology can shine a light on unethical tactics like the use of dark pools-private exchanges where large trades happen, hidden from the public eye. In short, these pools allow hedge funds to influence prices undetected by dumping stocks en masse.

But only a few at the top of the securities hierarchy benefit from "taking a dip" into these pools.

In 2016, Barclays and Credit Suisse were fined more than $150 million by the SEC for operating dark pools.

In the words of the famous David Fincher film "The Social Network" about Facebook's meteoric rise:

"In the grand scheme of things, that's a speeding ticket."

In other words, those fines mean nothing to these firms, and the SEC is nothing but a highway patrolman catching them in the act every once in a while.

To level the investing playing field, larger technological changes are necessary.

Blockchain's transparency permits regulators to monitor markets continually instead of relying on sporadic inspections. While the SEC changed laws recently to inspect hedge funds unannounced, their oversight remains limited. Blockchain provides constant surveillance of all network activity and assets.

This visibility deters foul play and benefits retail investors.

Outdated Processes and High Costs

The inefficiencies and obfuscation of legacy financial systems ultimately stem from high costs and outdated processes. For example, the systemic practice of "beautifying" balance sheets uses significant resources to polish company images before listing publicly.

There's another word for this process:

Fraud.

But hey, we're not the SEC-what do we know?

Then there's the substantial administrative overhead of managing securities through decades-old infrastructure.

For example, simply listing a stock on an exchange requires tens of millions of dollars (depending on the number of stocks issued) and over a year of jumping through hoops. The costs and complexities of issuance and trading continue to plague processes long after the initial hurdles.

This bureaucratic bottleneck contradicts the swift pace of modern business.

Let's face it: despite the many (valid) complaints about cryptocurrencies, blockchain technology could bring securities into the 21st century.

Benefits of Blockchain for Securities

Blockchain technology allows assets like stocks to be issued and traded in a direct peer-to-peer manner, sans middlemen. Intermediaries and gatekeepers have traditionally cream-skimmed value while saddling processes with exorbitant costs.

Not so on-chain.

Blockchain also enables fractional ownership, letting retail investors participate in opportunities otherwise accessible only to the wealthy, such as real estate or investment funds. By opening doors to diverse investors, blockchain also promotes financial inclusion in capital markets.

For issuers and companies, listing securities on the blockchain dramatically cuts down costs compared to traditional routes. Startups in particular can benefit from this affordability and lower their barriers to entry. Ongoing costs are also slashed through process automation and reduced paperwork.

Beyond listing, blockchain tech also reduces the overhead of compliance, tracking ownership, and shareholder communications.\ These activities typically take tremendous manual effort and expense in legacy frameworks.

Blockchain's ability to embed rules and automate workflows via smart contracts also smooths operations throughout the security's lifecycle.

Specialized blockchain exchanges have already emerged to solve some of these endemic industry problems. For example, MyntExchange implements an innovative fee model where transactions incur a small charge in company stock instead of cash.

Moreover, it uses smart contract technology to protect users from so-called "pump and dumps" where company leaders dump all of their stock at the highest point, leaving their investors "holding the bag" of now-worthless company stocks. (Unfortunately, this happens a lot in the crypto world.)

In a blockchain-enabled investing environment like the one we're describing-with a unique "pay in shares" fee model-holding shares aligns the exchange's incentives with listed firms, as well as the investors, thus avoiding conflicts of interest.

Don't forget:

In the traditional, legacy financial system, "conflict of interest" is a synonym for "business as usual."

Let's say we change that, eh?

Ongoing Risks and Challenges

Of course, while blockchain technology improves security through encryption and resilience, risks like hacking remain. Exchanges must utilize impenetrable infrastructure and smart contract code to thwart exploits.

Users also need to manage their private keys responsibly to prevent theft. Ultimately, like all things cybersecurity, blockchain technology is only as secure as its underlying implementation.

For securities in particular, blockchain must be layered with protections against fraud. MyntExchange, for example, achieves this by isolating its ecosystem to render stolen assets worthless. In other words, the exchange also uses its native currency MintPay to enable trading between assets. This liquidity pool acts as a protective moat by only allowing whitelisted tokens.

BROADER POTENTIAL OF BLOCKCHAIN

Beyond trading, blockchain technology opens doors the doors to all kinds of other benefits for retail investors, including:

Embedded governance

Secure voting

Compliance

Automated regulatory filings

In short, shareholders can participate in transparent decision-making while companies save costs and effort.

Overall, blockchain technology presents a monumental opportunity to fix foundational flaws in the securities industry plaguing both issuers and traders. By enhancing transparency, promoting fair access, reducing costs, and enabling innovation, blockchain can propel securities into the 21st century.

The next generation of securities rests on a foundation of openness, efficiency, and equal opportunity.

To get your asset on-chain, listing@myntexchange.io

CONTACT:

www.myntexchange.io

info

Linkedin

The following files are available for download:

https://news.cision.com/myntfund-ehf-/i/why-myntexchange-is-born-out-of-necessity,c3204270 - Why MyntExchange is born out of necessity

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/myntexchange-why-securities-need-to-be-on-the-blockchain-301896289.html
BEIJING (dpa-AFX) - New Zealand will on Wednesday release July figures for electronic card retail sales, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. Sales are expected to be flat on month and climb 9.8 percent on year after gaining 1.0 percent on month and 4.2 percent on year in June. Japan will see July numbers for money stock, with M2 expected to rise 2.5 percent on year, easing from 2.6 percent in June. South Korea will provide July data for unemployment; the jobless rate is expected to ease to 2.5 percent from 2.6 percent in June. Taiwan will release July numbers for consumer prices, with forecasts suggesting an increase of 1.9 percent on year, up from 1.75 percent in June. China will see July figures for consumer and producer prices. Consumer prices are tipped to rise 0.1 percent on month and fall 0.4 percent on year after easing 0.2 percent on month and being flat on year in June. Producer prices are expected to decline an annual 4.1 percent after shedding 5.4 percent in the previous month. Finally, the markets in Singapore are closed on Wednesday for the National Day holiday and will re-open on Thursday. 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.
WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Over sixty retired generals, admirals, ambassadors and senior national security executives have signed a letter, released on POLITICO Broadsides, calling on Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) to release his hold on hundreds of military promotions due to its adverse impact on national security. The list includes four-star luminaries such as General Michael Hayden, USAF (Retired), who was former Director of the CIA and Director of the National Security Agency, General Johnnie Wilson, U.S. Army (Retired), who served as Chief of Ordnance, Admiral John Nathman, USN (Retired), who served as Vice Chief of Naval Operations and later as the Commander of Fleet Forces Command, and General Larry Spencer, USAF (Retired), a former Vice Chief of the Air Force.

The letter states, in part: "These vacancies will deprive our Armed Forces of leadership, adversely affecting readiness and morale. At a time when we face urgent and increasing threats from foreign adversaries, we cannot afford to undercut our military's ability to protect our security interests."

Major General Steve Lepper, U.S. Air Force (Retired) spoke on behalf of the American College of National Security Leaders. "Seventy-five years ago, President Truman had the political courage to desegregate our Armed Forces. We call upon Senator Tuberville, and the U.S. Senate, to have that same courage now. They have to recognize the damage this is doing to our Armed Forces and its impact on national security." Many of the signers of the letter are member of the American College of National Security Leaders, though not all.

*****

For more information, contact:

Jamie Barnett, Rear Admiral, USN (Retired)

President, American College of the National Security Leaders

Jamie.Barnett@acnsl.net

(202) 997-1940

About the American College of National Security Leaders

ACNSL is a non-partisan voice of experience on national security issues. Our Fellows are retired Admirals, Generals, Ambassadors and Senior Government Executives with decades of experience in national security, diplomacy, and defense. Together, we are committed to strengthening the security of the United States by informing the debate and educating the public. www.acnsl.net

SOURCE: American College of National Security Leaders

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/773173/Open-Letter-to-the-US-Senate-to-Release-the-Hold-on-Military-Promotions-as-Adverse-to-National-Security
Beond, a Dubai, UAE-based premier leisure airline, closed an over US$17M Seed funding round.

Participants included family offices, angel investors, and strategic partners.

The company intends to use the funds to:

Strengthen the core team with talent to accelerate product development and innovation, hiring pilots and cabin crew to build the network. Scale marketing and sales efforts, Increasing brand visibility and market reach to capture a broader customer base. Secure more capacity, investing in aircraft and latest technologies in full lie-flat premium seats to deliver a unforgettable customer experience.

Led by Chairman and CEO Tero Taskila, Beond premium leisure airline offering tailored experiences for todays modern travellers. The company will initiate flights from a variety of destinations with the latest aviation and luxury travel innovations.

Beond will begin operations in the fall of 2023, with Maldives as its first hub, pending regulatory approval. The airline intends to fly a fleet of state-of-the-art Airbus A320-family aircraft in a luxury, lay-flat configuration, bringing passengers to Maldives from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.

FinSMEs

08/08/2023
Daybreak Health, a San Francisco, CA-based provider of school-based mental health services, raised $13m in Series B funding.

The round, which brought total capital raised to date to $25m, was led by Union Square Ventures and joined by new investor Lux Capital and existing investors Lightspeed Venture Partners, Maven Ventures and Y Combinator.

The company intends to use the funds to propel its geographic expansion.

Led by CEO and Co-Founder, Alex Alvarado Daybreak Health is a teletherapy provider, which partners with school districts to provide personalized mental health support for students. The evidence-based model treats students to a place of concrete improvement to drive academic outcomes like better grades, higher attendance, and behavioral improvements. The clinicians are personally matched to each studentbased on presenting needs, cultural background, language, personal preferencesand specialize across different mental health conditions and modalities of care.

With over 50 district partners across the U.S., Additionally, Daybreak offers other services like mental health classes for school staff and families as well as tools for early identification of students that could benefit from mental health support.

FinSMEs

08/08/2023
Verdagy is nearing completion of its 2MW electrolyzer at its pilot plant in Moss Landing, California.

Verdagy, a Moss Landing, CA-based developer of scaling electrolyzer technologies for industrial markets, closed a $73m Series B funding round.

Temasek and Shell Ventures co-led the Series B round, with participation from new global investors Bidra Innovation Ventures, BlueScope, Galp, Samsung Venture Investment, Toppan Ventures, Tupras Ventures, Yara Growth Ventures and Zeon Ventures.

The company intends to use the funds to accelerate the launch and commercialization of its eDynamic 20 megawatt (MW) electrolyzer module, which will serve as a fundamental unit to future systems at the 200MW scale and beyond.

Following initial commercial unit deployments with existing partners, Verdagy will expand deployment of its novel eDynamic electrolyzer technology to additional customers in heavy industries such as oil and gas, ammonia, steel and e-fuels to support global industrial decarbonization.

The companys team is led by industry veterans in the hydrogen, solar and battery sectors including:

CEO Marty Neese, who brings decades of executive experience across companies like SunPower and Ballard;

COO Peter Cousins, who draws on his past work scaling Teslas gigafactories; and

Founder, Board Member Dr. Ryan Gilliam, a serial entrepreneur, and founder of industrial decarbonization companies Fortera, and Chemetry.

FinSMEs

08/08/2023
As tensions continue to simmer in Manipur between the majority Meiteis and the tribal Kuki-Zo community, Assam Rifles has been replaced with civil police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) at a vital check post at Moirang Lamkhai in the Bishnupur district. Without elaborating on the cause for its removal, the additional DGP (law and order) said in an order on Monday (7 August), In partial modification of this offices order dated August 3, 2023, the naka/check point at Moirang Lamkhai on the Bishnupur to Kangvai road shall be manned by civil police and CRPF in place of 9 Assam Rifles with immediate effect and until further orders, reported Hindustan Times (HT).

Meitei-dominated Bishnupur district borders the Churachandpur district, which is dominated by the Kuki-Zomi people. The area has seen frequent violent clashes between both communities.

The development comes after hundreds of Meira Paibis (Meitei women torchbearers) held demonstrations on Monday in Imphal East and West districts seeking the removal of Assam Rifles from Manipur. The group, also known as Mothers of Manipur, alleged the Assam Rifles unleashed atrocities on Meitei protesters, especially at Torbung in Bishnupur district on 3 August, as per reports. Assam Rifles has rejected the allegations.

Some Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmakers and organisations have also been demanding the withdrawal of the force from the violence-hit state.

According to Times of India (TOI), public resentment against the force grew after a purported video of a heated exchange between police personnel and members of the Assam Rifles went viral recently over the style of operation.

Besides Assam Rifles, CRPF, Indian Army, Border Security Force (BSF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) troops are currently posted in Manipur, which has been riven by ethnic conflict since 3 May.

What is Assam Rifles? Why are Meiteis and Kukis divided on the deployment of the paramilitary force in Manipur? We explain.

Brief history of Assam Rifles

Its origin can be traced back to 1835 when it was a militia called the Cachar Levy tasked with protecting British tea estates and their settlements against tribal raids in the North East, as per Frontline magazine.

It later became the Assam Frontier Force carrying out punitive expeditions beyond the borders of Assam.

As per an Indian Express report, the force came to be known as the right arm of the civil and left arm of the military for its role in opening the region to administration and commerce.

In 1870, existing elements were integrated into three Assam Military Police Battalions, named Lushai Hills, Lakhimpur and Naga Hills, the report added.

This force sent more than 3000 personnel as part of the British Army to Europe and the Middle East. It was renamed Assam Rifles in 1917. After Independence, the force progressed from conducting combat roles during the Sino-India War in 1962 to operating as part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka in 1987.

In 1960, Rifles had 17 battalions, which have expanded to 46 battalions today, reported Frontline. Its troops have fought both World Wars and continue to be deployed for counterinsurgency operations against militant groups in the North East, noted Indian Express.

Assam Rifles now

Assam Rifles is one of the six central armed police forces (CAPFs) under the Ministry of Home Affairs. While its administrative control is with the MHA, its operational control is with the Indian Army which comes under the Ministry of Defence (MoD), making Rifles the only paramilitary force with a dual control structure, as per Indian Express.

This has created a rift within Assam Rifles as well as between defence ministry and MHA with both demanding full control of the force.

Contrary to all other central paramilitary forces, the headquarters of the Director-General of Assam Rifles (DGAR) is not in Delhi but in Meghalayas Shillong.

Citing the forces website, Frontline reported that in times of peace and proxy war, Rifles has to maintain the security of the India-China and Indo-Myanmar borders.

When it comes to internal security, Rifles troops are deployed when the situation goes beyond the control of paramilitary forces, the magazine added.

ALSO READ: Why refugee influx from Myanmar is a growing concern in Manipur, Mizoram

Why are views divided over Assam Rifles in Manipur?

Meitei people in Manipur have accused Assam Rifles of being biased and siding with the Kukis in the current conflict.

In June, women from the majority community blocked trucks of the Assam Rifles carrying ration, leading to seven battalions of the force not getting fresh supply for several days, reported Indian Express.

They accuse the force of siding with the Kukis and say we will not allow your trucks to pass through. Much of our ration has rotted in the trucks. The times we have been able to break through these barricades, it has required massive coordination at various levels, an Assam Rifles officer told the newspaper at the time.

As per a Rediff.com report in July, many BJP MLAs from the Meitei community had written to Union home minister Amit Shah calling for the replacement of the 9th, 22nd and 37th units of the Assam Rifles.

We have requested the home minister to remove Assam Rifles from Manipur. On Monday (10 July) evening a meeting was organised at the honourable chief ministers (office after which it was decided to ask the home minister to remove the Assam Rifles from Manipur, a Meitei MLA told the web portal.

An MLA from the majority community also accused Assam Rifles of supporting Kuki-narco terrorists.

However, a Kuki MLA denied these allegations and objected to the removal of the force from the state. Some of the radicals from groups like the Meitei Leepun, Arambai Tengol and some women groups like the Meira Paibis (Meitei women activists) are in the forefront of this demand, the Kuki MLA told Rediff.com.

We shouldnt replace the Assam Rifles because they protect and safeguard the lives of people from both sides (the Kukis and the Meiteis). Common people from both sides trust the Assam Rifles and dont want these forces to leave Manipur, he added.

Last week, hundreds of Kuki-Zo women in the Kangpokpi district hit the streets urging Assam Rifles troops not to leave a village bordering Imphal West, an area dominated by Meiteis. According to The Telegraph, the women staged a 12-hour protest to stop Assam Rifles personnel deployed in the peripheral area from being shifted to Churachandpur by the Manipur government.

Lamminlun Singsit, secretary of the Kangpokpi-based Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), told The Telegraph that an Assam Rifles officer later told the women that the order shifting the troops to Churachandpur has been cancelled.

Distrust remains high between both the majority and tribal communities. While Kuki-Zo organisations have accused Manipur police of siding with extremist Meitei groups in the conflict, Meiteis have blamed infiltrators from Myanmar and radical Kuki groups for the violence.

With inputs from agencies
The ayes outvoted the nays on Monday night in the Rajya Sabha as the contentious Delhi services bill, formally known as the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, was put to vote. Amid the Oppositions din, 131 MPs voted in favour of it and 102 opposed it after Home Minister Amit Shah introduced the bill in the Upper House.

Interestingly, the discussion on the Bill even saw former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh being brought in on a wheelchair to the Rajya Sabha.

The bill, which was passed by the Lok Sabha last week, replaces an ordinance promulgated by the Centre for handling the transfers and postings of officials in the Delhi government. Home Minister Amit Shah, defending the bill, even said in the Upper House that the legislation was introduced to safeguard the rights of the people and not to usurp power, as charged by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

During the debate, he also asserted that it did not violate any judgment passed by the Supreme Court of India. The Delhi services Bill in no way violates the Supreme Court judgment. It is aimed at effective, corruption-free governance in the national capital, Shah said.

The AAP, on the other hand, termed the bill as misuse of power and the party chief, Arvind Kejriwal called Monday a black day of democracy after the bill was passed. This law is similar to the Government of India Act brought by the British in 1935. The people of Delhi will elect their government, but government will have no powers to function, he said.

The bill enslaves the people of Delhi, it is a black day for Indian democracy, he added.

What exactly does the bill entail? Now passed, how will it change how Delhi functions? Lets take a closer look.

The genesis of the bill

To understand what exactly is the bill and how it will change Delhis administration, one must first go back and see why such legislation was required.

Always fighting with the Lieutenant Governor (L-G), who is nominated by the Centre, the AAP went to court on the matter and in May 2023, a five-judge constitution bench, headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, ruled that the legislature has control over bureaucrats in administration of services, except in areas outside the legislative powers of the National Capital Territory (NCT). There are three areas outside the control of Delhi government: public order, police and land.

The CJI had said, The legislative and executive power of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) over entry 41 shall not extend over to services related to public order, police and land. However, legislative and executive power over services such as IAS or joint cadre services, which are relevant for the for the implementation for the policies and the vision of NCTD in terms of day to day administration of the region shall lie with the NCTD.

However, on 19 May, the Centre introduced an ordinance to override the top courts order, giving more authority to the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) in matters of appointments and transfers of bureaucrats.

When introducing the bill, its statement of reasons states that it is being brought because as the capital, Delhi has a unique status. Delhi being the capital of India has a unique status and certain distinguished features and there is need to promote the national interests without compromising the aspirations of the residents of Delhi. Article 1 of the Constitution defines the territory of India, comprising of States and Union territories and article 1 read with article 239 provides that the Union territories are to be governed solely by the President.

The fine print of the Bill

The Delhi services Bill states that the inquiries and suspensions of the officials of the national capital will be under the Centres control. The Lieutenant Governor will be empowered to exercise his sole discretion on various matters, which will include the National Capital Civil Services Authoritys recommendations and the prorogation, summoning, and dissolution of the Delhi Legislative Assembly.

It is important to note here that the Delhi services Bill is different from the ordinance that was passed earlier by the Centre. There are three significant changes:

 Removal of Section 3A

The bill removes a provision in the ordinance that previously prevented the Delhi Assembly from making laws concerning State Public Services and State Public Service Commission. Section 3A, which was added through an ordinance, said that the Delhi Assembly wont have the power to make laws related to services. This has now been taken out of the bill. Instead, the bill now concentrates on Article 239AA, which empowers the Centre to establish the National Capital Civil Service Authority (NCCSA).

 No Annual Report needed by NCCSA

The bill establishes the National Capital Civil Services Authority (NCCSA) which will make recommendations to the L-G, who is appointed by the Union government. The NCCSA will include the chief minister who will serve as the chairperson, the principal home secretary of Delhi, who will serve as the member secretary and the chief secretary of Delhi, who will serve as member.

However, the bill has added that the NCCSA will no longer be required to submit an annual report to Parliament and the Delhi Assembly, removing the obligation to present the report before these legislative bodies.

 Modifications in appointments

The now-approved legislation states that the power to appoint authorities, boards, commissions, statutory bodies, or office bearers will be with the President for any law of Parliament, and with the L-G for any law of Delhi legislature. Earlier, the ordinance had stated that the power to appoint authorities, boards, commissions, statutory bodies, or office bearers will lie with the President under any law.

Changing power dynamics

With the L-G being granted more power, the dynamics of the administration in the Capital is bound to shift. With the passage of the bill, the LG now possesses greater authority over the bureaucracy, including the ability to appoint, transfer, and post officers without requiring the consent or input of the Delhi government.

This could perhaps hinder the smooth implementation of policies by the AAP government in the present and other governments in the future. This is because the government will need the L-Gs approval for important bureaucratic decisions. Furthermore, it paves the way for more tenuous relations between the L-G and the Delhi government, as both will fight for more power in controlling the administration.

Opposition and support

The AAP, who has been in power in Delhi, has vehemently opposed the Bill from the beginning and claimed that the passage of the Bill was a black day for democracy.

Following the bill being passed, AAP minister Atishi said her party and the people in the national capital will continue its fight against the BJP. She was quoted by ANI as saying, There are many in the country who talk about the absence of democracy in Pakistan, wondering how Bills are passed by their Parliament without any debate or consent.

Today Prime Minister Modi has made the situation in India worse than in Pakistan. This is very unfortunate. We, along with the people of Delhi, will continue our fight against the BJP.

The Congress, who has expressed its support with the AAP on the matter, also has termed the legislation as unconstitutional. Former Home Minister P Chidambaram said on Monday that Delhi has 3.17 crore people who elect a government to govern them and take decisions on their behalf. We are breaking the Constitutional machinery by passing this bill. We are breaking the Constitutional machinery envisaged.

The BJP, on the other hand, hailed the passage of the Delhi services Bill in Parliament and said it will end the anarchist aadmi partys heinous misuse of power to intimidate government servants for their corrupt objectives.

With inputs from agencies
The Centre, on Monday, has told the Karnataka High Court that it will look into the matter of Havana Syndrome in India. The move came after a Bengaluru resident had approached the court, seeking a probe on the mysterious illness and the prevention of high-frequency microwave transmission in India.

According to a Live Law report, a single-judge bench of Justice Krishna Dixit disposed of the petition after the Centre agreed to look into the matter. The administration has now been given three months to investigate and submit its response.

What exactly is Havana Syndrome?

Havana Syndrome is a collection of illnesses such as nausea, dizziness, nosebleeds, and short-term memory lossand, in one case, blindness in one eye. These unexplained medical symptoms were first experienced by US State Department personnel in Cubas Havana in late 2016 and hence, the name Havana Syndrome.

At the time, those diplomats were in Cuba as part of the reconciliation between the two countries  USA and Cuba  under President Barack Obama. However, the emergence of the ailments strained those developing ties.

Since then, cases of Havana Syndrome popped up across the world  there have been at least 1,000 cases recorded  with most of officials complaining of dizziness, headache, fatigue, nausea, anxiety, cognitive difficulties and memory loss of varying severity. In extreme cases, diplomats and intelligence officers left service owing to complications from the condition.

In August 2021, the emergence of a possible Havana Syndrome case also delayed US vice president Kamala Harris arrival in Vietnam by almost three hours from Singapore.

As of today, cases of Havana Syndrome have been reported from Cuba, China, Russia, Poland, Georgia, Serbia, India, Colombia, France, Switzerland and Taiwan. A number of US officials stationed in Washington also claim to have been affected, including one who was reportedly struck while near the White House.

What causes Havana Syndrome?

Now, heres the tricky part and the short answer to this question is that no one knows for sure. In the Cuban instance, it was first believed to be a sonic attack. The Wall Street Journal had reported: 19 American officials at the US Embassy in Havana have been affected by sonic harassment attacks with the union representing the diplomats saying symptoms include mild traumatic brain injury, hearing loss and other symptoms.

However, later studies suggested that victims may have been subjected to high-powered microwaves that either damaged or interfered with the nervous system. In fact, University of Illinois professor James Lin told the BBC then that he believed that the syndrome originated from microwaves, as he had experienced hearing similar sounds while conducting his research in the 1970s, during the Cold War.

However, the fear that a foreign adversary was attacking their personnel led US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to investigate further and in March 2023, they released a report that said that they found no credible evidence that any foreign adversary was using anything that was causing the injuries reported. It stated that a combination of factors such as pre-existing medical conditions as well as environmental factors were behind the mysterious illnesses.

Prior to the DNI report, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had in its 2022 investigation also concluded that it was unlikely that any foreign power was at play, and that medical conditions, stress or other factors were the cause of most cases.

However, the CIA report was met with dismay from some corners. A support group for Havana Syndrome sufferers had issued a statement, saying the findings were repudiation and that they cannot and must not be the final word on the matter.

A National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine assessment, however, pointed that pulsed radio frequency energy could be the possible culprit, saying that the signs and symptoms experienced by US government personnel were unlike any disorder in the neurological or general medical literature.

CIA Director William Burns said in a March 2023 statement: I want to be absolutely clear: these findings do not call into question the experiences and real health issues that US Government personnel and their family members  including CIAs own officers  have reported while serving our country.

Its important to note here that in October 2021, President Biden signed the Helping American Victims Afflicted by Neurological Attacks (HAVANA) Act, which authorises additional medical and financial support for intelligence officers and diplomats affected by the syndrome.

What we know about the India case?

As of today, theres only been one instance of Havana Syndrome and that was recorded in 2021. CNN and the New York Times had reported that a CIA officer who was travelling with agency director William Burns to India in July had reported symptoms consistent with Havana Syndrome. The affected member in Burns team had to receive medical attention.

CNN had then reported, The situation in India could have dramatic implications: the CIA directors schedule is tightly held and there are deep concerns among US officials about how the perpetrator would have known about the visit and been able to plan for such an aggression.

The New York Times also reported that the CIA was investigating the incident, with officials struggling to determine the cause.

A Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) official had then said, according to an Indian Express report, If a foreign power is doing it, why will they target the US alone. Why arent other countries reporting the same? Barring the Canadian embassy in Havana, there have been no such reports from officials of any other country anywhere in the world. This is not to say that the US assertions may not be true. But its a curious case.

With inputs from agencies
In the fight between the Centre and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the former has got the upper hand now. The Narendra Modi-led government has now got control of Delhi as the Parliament has approved the contentious Delhi services bill. It gives sweeping powers to the Lt Governor, appointed by the Centre. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has opposed the bill and now Raghav Chadha could be in trouble over it.

What are the allegations against Raghav Chadha?

The AAP leader is embroiled in a controversy after five Rajya Sabha MPs on Monday demanded to move a Privilege Motion against him alleging that their forged signatures were added to the proposed select committee on the Delhi services bill, formally called Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, without their consent. The Select Committee was proposed by Chadha in the Upper House to examine the bill.

While the bill got approved in Parliament on Monday night when it cleared in Rajya Sabha, four days after its passage in Lok Sabha, it has now put the AAP MP in a spot.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also alleged fraud in a motion moved by AAP. Before the bill was voted on, he responded to the debate in Rajya Sabha, on Monday saying that the motion has names of five MPs that were included fraudulently and that the matter needs to be investigated by Parliaments Privilege Committee.

AAP had on Monday moved the motion to send the controversial bill to a Select Committee. It was, however, negated by a voice vote.

Two MPs are now claiming that they did not second it. Sasmit Patra of the BJD said he never gave consent for inclusion in the motion. How could his name be taken, Shah alleged, leading to an uproar in the House.

The five MPs in question are Narhari Amin, Sudhanshu Trivedi, and S Phangnon Konyak of the BJP, BJDs Sasmit Patra, and M Thambidurai of the AIADMK. They have all given individual notices of breach of privilege against Chadha, reports NDTV.

Patra told News18, Consent has to be taken of the respective person [to add their name to a motion]. Without having taken consent from that person you cannot move it. So thats a very clear violation

He said that it was not only his name but there were a few other names from the BJP and other parties like Sudhanshu Trivedi, Narhari Amin and Konyak. All of them found their name listed. It is all very shocking I didnt put my name You have to ask him [Chadha] how did that come about? All that I heard was my name being announced for a subject for which I had never given a consent, he added.

Also read: How Delhi services bill will change the power dynamics in the Capital

What is Raghav Chadha and AAP saying?

Responding to the allegations, Chadha said that he would respond if the Privilege Committee sends him a notice. Let a Privilege Committee send me a notice. I will give my answer to the committee.

Defending Chadha, the Arvind Kejriwal-led party claimed that the rules of proceedings state there is no written consent or signature of the member whose name has been proposed required when proposing a Select Committee. Hence there is no question of forged signature.

According to a News18 report, sources in the AAP said, The Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States, which has been quoted by Members moving privilege against Raghav Chadha nowhere provides that there is a requirement of a written consent or signature of the member whose name has been proposed to be included to the Select Committee.

The names of complainant MPs were given in good faith with a view that they have been participating on the discussion concerning the bill, inside and out the parliament, and that they would be keen to become members of a select committee to discuss this bill even further, they added. The Select Committee reflects the diversity of opinion of the members of the house and is non-partisan in nature since it includes members from all the parties in the Rajya Sabha.

The AAP sources went on to say that the rules clearly state that the names of members can be withdrawn if they have no intention to be part of a select committee. Only presumption of consent or inclination of a member to be part of the select committee is required. No written contest or signature is required anywhere. There was no intention on the part of Raghav Chadha to corner any member, the party maintained.

Taking on Amit Shah, AAPs Sanjay Singh said, Dont you know the rules of Parliament proceedings? Any member can propose his/her colleagues name for the select committee and you dont need signatures. Stop spreading lies. Your partys job is to spread falsehood but why lie on every issue?

What is the Congress saying?

Congress has come in support of the AAP over the controversy. MP Shakti Singh Gohil said that if a member does not want to be on the committee, his/her name will be removed automatically. There is no provision to take the signature of any member whose name has been mentioned in the proposal, the lawmaker told news agency ANI.

#WATCH | Delhi: Congress MP Shakti Singh Gohil says There is a law that if I am moving (the proposal to send Delhi NCT Amendment Bill to Select Committee), there is no compulsion to take consent of the member who has to be in the Committee. If the member does not want to be pic.twitter.com/6BvvNOEqBQ  ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2023

What happens next?

After Shah demanded that the matter be looked into, Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh announced a probe into the complaints on Monday. Four members have sent a complaint to me. It will be inquired into, said Harivansh.

With inputs from agencies
Has Derek OBrien been suspended from Parliament or not?

Thats the question many are now asking.

Earlier in the day, it was reported that the Trinamool Congress MP OBrien was suspended for unruly behaviour for the rest of the Monsoon Session after a motion from Leader of the House Piyush Goyal.

So, what happened? And what is OBriens status?

Lets take a closer look:

What happened?

According to Scroll, Opposition MPs submitted multiple motions to suspend business on Tuesday.

However, Rajya Sabha chair Jagdeep Dhankhar rejected all such notices.

OBrien then stood, and raising a point of order, claimed that the Opposition was willing to participate in the ethnic violence in Manipur  just not the way the Centre asked for it.

Dhankhar then chided OBrien.

Dhankhar said the leader ought to specify the rule under which he was making the point of order, rather than just make a speech.

OBrien and Dhankhar then got into a verbal spat during which he told OBrien to sit down.

Now, the vice-president and chair said he was naming OBrien.

Under the rules of parliamentary procedure, a member thus named is to leave the Lok Sabha proceedings for the entire day, as per Scroll.

As per Hindustan Times, Goyal, the Leader of the House, then sought to move a motion to suspend OBrien from the rest of the Monsoon Session.

He further accused OBrien of violating the Chairs orders and raising slogans near the podium.

Goyal said this is not the first instance of such behaviour by OBrien and said he resorts to thumping of desks and speaking loudly to the chair.

Goyal added the Chairman had shown magnanimity.

Let us agree to maintain decorum. I think the least that can be expected of Derek OBrien is that he expresses regret to the chair, the ANI report quoted the minister as saying.

Hindustan Times Goyal said he was moving a motion for OBriens suspension for continuously disturbing the proceedings of the House, disobeying the Chair and continuously creating disturbance in the House.

Meanwhile, the TMC MPs protested by rushing to the well of the House.

Dhankhar, meanwhile, said the repeated disturbances in the House does not induce the respect of the public.

He added that he was receiving inputs regarding alarming concern over the state in the House from all over.

What happened next?

According to Scroll, the House did not take up the vote after the Rajya Sabha resumed.

Meanwhile, OBrien had returned and taken his place.

This is too serious a matter for me to be overruled. After deep, immediate deliberation, I did not take the sense of the House earlier. If I had really fructified the process, Derek OBrien would have been out of the House. In my wisdom, I thought I must not take it to that conclusion at that point of time, Dhankhar was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

I am yet to conclude on Derek OBrien, Dhankhar added.

In the end, OBrien was not suspended from the House.

OBrien on Tuesday claimed it has taken the rules of a no-confidence motion moved by the Opposition to drag Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Lok Sabha.

The TMCs Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha also urged the prime minister to come to the Upper House.

Its taken the rules of a no-confidence motion to finally drag the PM to the Lok Sabha, OBrien posted on social media platform X.

OBrien posted:

19 days PM @narendramodi has been MISSING IN #Parliament Its taken the rules of a No Confidence Motion to FINALLY DRAG PM to Lok Sabha. And in #RajyaSabha whats stopping this heartless government from starting the discussion on #Manipur TODAY AUG 8 at 11 am. Lets begin  Derek OBrien |   (@derekobrienmp) August 8, 2023



Modi is slated to reply to the debate on Thursday.

Opposition moves privilege notice against Goyal

Meanwhile, several leaders of the Opposition alliance INDIA have given a privilege notice Goyal over his remarks in the House.

Among the parties whose leaders gave the notice are the Congress, TMC, AAP, RJD, DMK, RJD, JDU, NCP and the Left parties.

Congress and its arrogant coalition parties are supporting Chinese media and hatching conspiracy. This is a serious issue. This issue needs be discussed in the House, Goyal was quoted as saying by NDTV.

He added, Arrogant coalition parties are helping each other. They are funding the propaganda against the country. What relation Rahul Gandhi has with Communist party and China. The country should know whether they are with India or China

Goyal made the remark after BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi brought up The New York Times piece on Newsclick.

Dhankhar told the House Jairam Ramesh, during a mee in his private chamber, accused Goyal of uttering an inappropriate word.

Let me examine. It will not be in the record of the House, Dhankhar added.

Congress leader Digvijay Singh said, Please examine his (Goyals) statement. Charges which he levelled against us calling traitor and charge of money.Sir, what is all that?

Goyal, meanwhile, called on Dhankhar to remove any unparliamentary remarks, if any, made in the House by him, as per NDTV.

Sources said leaders of INDIA parties gave the notice to the Rajya Sabha chairman complaining against Goyals certain remarks made while he was speaking on the issue of media portal NewsClick receiving funding from China-linked firms allegedly to spread Chinese propaganda.

Engage in theatrics

This isnt the first time Dhankhar and OBrien have clashed.

On Monday, Dhankhar accused OBrien of indulging in theatrics in the House in an attempt to gain publicity during a heated debate on the Delhi services bill.

Dhankhars outburst came after the TMC member refused to confine his speech to the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and unleashed a litany of allegations against the central government.

I stand here to strongly oppose this bill. Narendra Modi is a child of federalism. He was a chief minister before coming to Delhi. He asked why would a child of democracy mutilate democracy, OBrien alleged.

Why would a child of federalism come to Parliament and ensure that about one-third of the bills passed here are anti-federal, he asked.

Why would a child of federalism sanction Rs 40,000 crore as a special budget for higher education and give only Rs 700 crore to state universities, he said.

He claimed that the Centre was following transactional federalism.

We will oppose the bill whether you give us Rs 12,000 crore which you owe us. Transactional federalism will not work. We will hold a big rally on 12 October to press for our Rs 12,000 crore, he said.

He said, You are sending 160 delegations in 30 months. What do you do in BJP stateshow many delegations you have sent to Uttar Pradesh, having the highest number of murders in the country, to Assam with the highest crime against women and to Madhya Pradesh with the highest crime against children.

Dhankhar then asked the MP to stick to the bill in his speech but a combative OBrien retorted, This is a political house, we will make political points.

Pointing towards the treasury benches, he said that they cannot be allowed a free run.

The Chair then asked him to sit down and said this kind of behaviour will not be good for anybody.

When the MP refused to relent, the Chair said, I will not allow this theatrics. On the BJPs charge of dynastic politics, OBrien dared the government to bring a bill to ensure that only one member from a family can be a member of the House.

After his remark, the treasury benches started protesting and the TMC MP could not speak further.

This has become your habit. You are doing this as part of a strategy. You think you will enjoy publicity outside. You ravaged this House. Sit down, the chairman told OBrien.

Are you here for dramatics, theatrics, is it your oath such outsmarting never paysHere is a member who is here for personal publicity. I take strong note of this, a visibly upset Dhankhar said.

The Chair also expunged certain remarks from the TMC members speech.

With inputs from agencies
Women Power. We often talk about it today  where women stand, their role in society and their significance to the world. But women have always done their bit at home and beyond. Take for instance, Indias freedom struggle.

Today, pages of history are filled with the names of eminent male freedom fighters. But, in the struggle for independence from the British raj, there are numerous women who stood tall and resolute and shoulder to shoulder with the men. The truth is without the help of women movements and women freedom fighters an independent India would have remained but a dream.

As we mark another year of freedom  it is the 76th year of independence  from the yoke of the British, lets take a closer look at how women contributed to the struggle, becoming heroes in the process.

Leading from the front

Womens participation the freedom struggle can be dated back to 1817 when women like Bhima Bai Holkar, Rani Chennamma of Kittur, and Rani Begum Hazrat Mahal of Awadh fought against the East India Company even before the First War of Independence in 1857.

For the uninitiated, in 1817, Bhima Bai Holkar fought bravely against the British colonel Malcolm and defeated him in guerrilla warfare. Fast forward to 1857, and the tale of Rani Laxmibai is known to all. The Queen of Jhansi refused to cede her territory and she decided to join the uprising in 1857. Cornered by the British, she escaped from Jhansi fort. She was wounded in combat near Gwaliors Phool Bagh, where she later died. Sir Hugh Rose, who was commanding the British army, had described her as one of the most dangerous Indian leaders.

Rani Chennamma is another example of women leading from the front in the countrys freedom struggle. The queen of Kittur, she fought back against the attempt to control her dominion in 1824 after the death of her young son. Such was her valour that she led the victory against the British in her first revolt. However, she was later captured and imprisoned by the East India Company.

Theres also Rani Begum Hazrat Mahal of Awadh, who along with her supporters, took on the British and wrested control of Lucknow after her husband  Nawab of Awadh Wajid Ali Shah  was exiled after the 1857 revolt.

But even before these tales of heroism emerged, there was the only and only Velu Nachiyar. Many years before the 1857 revolt, Nachiyar, who had married the king of Sivagangai  fought bravely and victoriously against the British. According to the Indian governments Amrit Mahotsav website, she was the one to produce the first human bomb as well as establish the first army of trained women soldiers. It is reported that her army commander Kuyili set herself ablaze and walked into a British ammunition dump.

Besides their strength and courage at battles with the British armies, notable Indian women also paved way for social change and have contributed to the making of Indian society.

Amid the swing of the freedom struggle

In the late 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, the freedom struggle began to take full swing and women from across all castes and class took the baton of being equally responsible and dedicated to the national cause. Where men of stature such as Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose and Chandrasekhar Azad emerged as leaders in their own right, women stalwarts too matched them step to step. Today, we are aware of some of them  Sarojini Naidu, Annie Besant, Madam Cama, Kamala Nehru, Vijay Lakshmi Pandit, Aruna Asaf Ali, Kasturba Gandhi.

But there are countless others who fought for Indias freedom. One of them was Rani Gaidinliu. Born in 1915 in present-day Manipur, this Naga spiritual and political leader rebelled against the Empire, and refused to pay taxes, asking people to do the same. The British launched a manhunt, but she evaded arrest, moving from village to village.

Gaidinliu was finally arrested in 1932 when she was just 16, and later sentenced for life. She was released in 1947. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru described Gaidinliu as the daughter of the hills, and gave her the title of Rani for her courage.

In 1921, after the arrest of her husband, Chittaranjan Das, Basanti Devi too joined the freedom struggle and participated in agitations such as the civil disobedience movement. She also was a participant in the Nagpur session of the Indian National Congress in 1920. She even briefly went to prison for selling Khadi in Kolkata.

Another significant name that is missing from the annals of history is Ramadevi Choudhary. Influenced by Mahatma Gandhi, she joined the movement in 1921 and went door to door to convince people to join the non-cooperation movement. She actively took part in the salt satyagraha and was imprisoned several times during the struggle for freedom. Post-independence, she dedicated her life to social causes and set up training centres for tribals, worked for famine relief, and even actively protested against the Emergency.

In the Kakori conspiracy of 1925, the role of Raj Kumari Gupta is rarely mentioned. But if it wasnt for this brave woman from Banda Zilla of Kanpur, the operation may not have even taken place. It was Gupta who was given the charge of supplying revolvers to those involved in the operation. She hid the firearms in her undergarment and set out in khadi clothes to deliver them, with her three-year-old son in tow. On being arrested, she was disowned by her husbands family and thrown out of her house. But Gupta had no regrets and was once quoted as saying, Humko jo karna tha, kiya (What I had to do, I did).

In 1938, came along Accamma Cherian, a freedom fighter from the southern state of Kerala. Dubbed as Jhansi Ki Rani (Queen) of Travancore by none other than Mahatma Gandhi, Cherian is one of the unsung heroes of Indias freedom struggle. In 1938, the British declared the Travancore State Congress. To protest this, she led thousands of people to the royal palace in Travancore (now called Kerala). When the British police chief ordered his men to fire on the rally, she cried, I am the leader; shoot me first before you kill others. Her courageous words forced the police authorities to withdraw their orders.

Many, many years later, Kandathil Sebastian, a social scientist based in Delhi wrote about Cherian: For more than 15 years she was probably the toughest woman in public politics in Travancore and was at the forefront of the momentous peoples struggle in Travancore in the pre-independence era.

During the Quit India Movement of 1942, several women played a significant role. One of them was Matangini Hazra. She was shot dead by the British Indian police in front of the Tamluk Police Station (of erstwhile Midnapore District) on 29 September 1942.

Theres also the unforgettable contribution of Tara Rani Srivastava. Born in Bihars Saran, she had married Phulendu Babu. She joined the Quit India Movement of Mahatma Gandhi in 1942, regulated protests and planned to raise the Indian flag on the roof of the Siwan Police Station. She managed to gather a crowd and began her march towards the Siwan Police Station, shouting Inquilab. When they were marching towards the police station, the police opened fire. Phulendu was hit and fell to the ground. Undeterred, Tara bandaged him with the help of her sari and continued to lead the crowd towards the station shouting Inquilab while holding the Indian flag. Her husband died, but Tara continued her unflinching support for the freedom struggle.

Lakshmi Sahgal, who served in Subhas Chandra Boses Indian National Army, is another example of womens participation in the freedom struggle. Growing up, she was training to be a medical student but was drawn to the freedom struggle. She joined the Indian Independence League formed by veteran freedom fighter Rashbehari Bose in 1941. She played an active role in the formation of the all-women infantry regiment of the INA and then became Captain Lakshmi.

Captain Lakshmi was arrested by the British army in May 1945. She remained under house arrest in the jungles of Burma until March 1946, when she was sent to India  at a time when the INA trials in Delhi were intensifying the popular hatred of colonial rule.

Indirect participants of Indias freedom struggle

Apart from these names, countless of women participated in the battle for Indias independence, indirectly. Not only did they shoulder financial responsibilities when the men of the houses were arrested, but they also encouraged their family members to actively participate in the various movements against the oppression of the British rule.

The Swadeshi movement was largely successful because women opted to forego western goods. Thousands of other women participated in rallies, raids and stone picketing during the Civil Disobedience Movement and the Dandi Salt March of 1930. Many women, such as Usha Mehta also spread the information of such marches, which was crucial to national activism.

Womens participation became so overwhelming by the 1940s that they came to be known as the disciplined soldiers of Indian freedom.

On this Independence Day, it is therefore, time that we acknowledge the grit and determination, the courage to look death in the eye and their intense love for the motherland displayed by women during the freedom struggle. As we celebrate this momentous occasion, we should rethink and reframe the narrative of the Indian freedom struggle and give women their due.

With inputs from agencies
The Parliament is going the see a whole lot of action. The debate on the no-confidence motion is up for discussion in Lok Sabha on Tuesday, 8 August, and Wednesday, 9 August, before being put to vote. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to reply on Thursday, 10 August.

The Congress, as part of the newly formed opposition alliance, INDIA, and Telanganas Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) filed two separate no-confidence motions against the Modi-led government. It was accepted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on 26 July. The move comes amid a parliamentary impasse over ethnic clashes which have gripped Manipur since 3 May, leaving over 160 dead and rendering thousands homeless.

What is a no-confidence motion?

In a parliamentary democracy, a government can function only if it has majority support in Lok Sabha.

A no-confidence motion is used as a tool by the Opposition to express its lack of confidence in the government. It can be moved by any member of the House but only in the Lok Sabha and not the Rajya Sabha.

If any member of the House feels that the government does not have the majority, they can turn to the no-trust motion. Rule 198 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Lok Sabha specifies the procedure. The member has to give a written notice of the motion before 10 am which will be read out by the speaker in the House.

A minimum of 50 members have to support the motion and the speaker will accordingly announce the date for discussion for the motion. The allotted date has to be within 10 days from the day the motion is accepted. If not, the motion fails and the member who moved the motion has to be informed about it.

If accepted, the party in power has to prove its majority in the House. If the government fails to do so, it has to resign.

Does the Modi government have the numbers?

Yes, the Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has the numbers. The majority mark in 543-member Lok Sabha is 272. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alone has 303; the strength of the ruling NDA is 331.

The opposition INDIA alliance has 144 members and K Chandrashekar Raos BRS, YS Jagan Reddys YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and Naveen Patnaiks Biju Janata Dal (BJD) have combined strength of 70.

The government has got the support of YSRCPs 22 MPs and BJDs 12.

With no numbers, what is the Oppositions motive?

The no-confidence motion has been used as a strategic tool to question the ruling government, highlight its failures and debate them in the House.

The numbers are stacked heavily in favour of the NDA, but the Opposition will use it as an opportunity expose the fallacy of the Modi governments double-engine government argument, ahead of key state elections and 2024 Lok Sabha polls, according to a report in The Indian Express.

The Opposition is not expecting to get the motion passed. Its main aim is to get the PM to speak on the Manipur issue.

INDIA alliance is aware of its numbers in the Lok Sabha but this is not just about numbers. This is about Manipurs fight for justice, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, who brought the motion to the House said earlier. 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, he added.

Has the Modi government faced a no-trust vote before?

Yes, it has. The last no-confidence motion was faced by the NDA government in 2018. It defeated the motion brought on by Andhra Pradeshs Telugu Desam Party, which claimed that the Centre had failed to provide Andhra Pradesh with sufficient funding, by 199 votes. While 126 members supported the motion, 325 MPs rejected it.

There was a raging 12-hour debate in the Lok Sabha. But the highlight was when Rahul Gandhi, after a speech, walked over to the PM and embraced him. He then returned to his seat and winked at his Congress colleagues.

Have governments failed the no-trust vote?

The VP Singh government lost a no-confidence motion after the BJP withdrew support over the Ram Temple issue in November 1990. He immediately handed over his resignation to then-President R Venkataraman.

Deve Gowda was picked to lead the United Front coalition government with the support of Congress in June 1996. However, 10 months later, the Sitaram Kesri-led Congress withdrew its support. In a no-confidence motion on 11 April 1997, Gowdas 13-party coalition bagged 158 of the 545 seats in the Lok Sabha.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee faced two no-trust motions during his tenure as PM. His government lost the first one by a single vote on 17 April 1999 after the Jayalalitha-led AIADMK withdrew support. However, he led the BJP back to power and won the second no-confidence motion against his government in 2003.

What can we expect today?

The no-confidence motion will be moved by the member who submitted it and in the case of Congress that will be Gaurav Gogoi. The Opposition parties will then speak on it.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is expected to lead the debate as Lok Sabha restored his membership on Monday following a Supreme Court verdict that stayed his conviction in the Modi surname case.

The BJP has issued a three-line whip to its Lok Sabha MPs, asking them to be present in the house from 7 August to 11 August.

With inputs from agencies
A debate on the no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi-led Central government is underway in Lok Sabha. The motion was moved by the Opposition INDIA grouping to press the prime minister to speak about the Manipur issue in Parliament. The no-trust motion debate is expected to continue till Thursday when Modi is likely to give his reply.

Amid the debate today (8 August), a huge uproar broke out in Lok Sabha over tickers on the government-run Sansad TV, disrupting the proceedings. Lets take a closer look at this row and whats going on in Parliament.

Whats the ticker row?

The Opposition took objection to Sansad TV apparently running tickers on the development works of the Central government during the no-confidence motion debate.

As per NDTV, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MP Danish Ali said that the ticker on Sansad TV was exhibiting updates on the governments achievements rather than the proceedings of the ongoing debate. This led to a huge ruckus by the Opposition MPs, who questioned these tickers.

Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury reportedly alleged it was a pre-decided move. They [government] thought Rahul Gandhi would move the motion on no confidence. This is why they scheduled such a ticker. This was only to belittle him. Gaurav Gogois speech was a googly for them, ABP News quoted the Congress leader as saying.

As per multiple reports, Rahul Gandhi was expected to open the no-confidence motion debate in Lok Sabha. However, it was initiated by Congresss deputy leader in the Lower House, Gaurav Gogoi.

Taking note of the Oppositions complaint, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, as per ABP News, said: Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha together comprise the Sansad TV. Earlier, they would be shown separately. But since you have brought the matter [of the tickers] to my notice, I shall look into it I have asked the relevant team to take the necessary action. It will be stopped in a few moments.

As the chaos ensued, Birla remarked, Mere paas button nahi hai (I dont have the button).

Parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi asked why the Opposition was afraid. As per the news agency PTI, he said, Whenever Parliament is in session, such scrolling (of the tickers) goes on. Their speeches are already going live. What are they afraid of? Why there is so much intolerance?

VIDEO | Their speeches are already going live. What are they afraid of? Why there is so much intolerance? says Union minister @JoshiPralhad as opposition interrupts BJP MP Nishikant Dubeys speech in Lok Sabha.#NoConfidenceMotion (Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/cWyDvPifpT  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 8, 2023

According to ABP News, the tickers were then halted and Parliaments proceedings soon resumed after the brief disruption.

ALSO READ: No-trust motion in Parliament: Whats Oppositions motive if it doesnt have the numbers?

Whats happening in Lok Sabha?

The debate around the no-trust motion started around 12 noon in Lok Sabha. As Birla called on Gogoi as the first speaker, Pralhad Joshi attacked Rahul Gandhi, asking why was he not opening the debate.

Addressing the Lower House, Congress MP Gogoi said, as per PTI: The INDIA alliance has moved this no-confidence motion for Manipur because Manipur demands justice. The incidents are not merely happening in a corner of Northeast, but are happening in India. If Manipur is burning, the entire India is burning.

#WATCH | Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi says, PM took a maun vrat to not speak in the Parliament. So, we had to bring the No Confidence Motion to break his silence. We have three questions for him  1) Why did he not visit Manipur to date? 2) Why did it take almost 80 days to pic.twitter.com/rfAVe77sNY  ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2023

Hitting out at Modi, the leader said the prime minister has taken a maun vrat, so the Opposition had to bring the no-trust motion to break his silence. We have three questions for him: Why did he not visit Manipur to date? Why did it take almost 80 days to finally speak on Manipur and when he did speak it was just for 30 seconds? Why has the PM not sacked the Manipur CM so far? Gogoi asked, as per PTI.

During the debate, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Supriya Sule called for the resignation of Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh.

No Confidence Motion discussion | NCP MP Supriya Sule says, I demand that the (Manipur) CM must resign immediately10,000 cases of rioting, murder and rape. Have we become so insensitive? This is the problem with this Govt pic.twitter.com/9UCFXjtWad  ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2023

Speaking for the government, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey took a dig at the Opposition and said, The PM says that this is not a no-trust-vote, it is a trust in Opposition vote. They want to see who supports them.

Targeting Sonia Gandhi, Dubey said the former Congress chief is following the traditional Indian womans way of Bete ko set karna hai, damaad ko bhent karna hai (Has to set up her son, and gift to her son-in-law), reported Indian Express.

#WATCH | BJP MP Nishikant Dubey says, This No Confidence Motion has been brought. Why has this been brought? Sonia ji (Gandhi) is sitting hereI think she has to do two things  Bete ko set karna hai aur Damad ko bhent karna haiThat is the base of this Motion. pic.twitter.com/Gb40E2gfzu  ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2023

Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Pinaki Misra said his party cannot support the no-confidence motion. What has happened in Manipur today is heart-rending. What this Parliament cant afford is a no-confidence motion against the Central government, because every political party must give their constructive suggestions, rather than blaming the Central government for a legacy issue thats been running back for several decades, he was quoted as saying by Indian Express.

Addressing the Lok Sabha, Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav called the ongoing Manipur conflict a state-sponsored ethnic violence. If the (state) government wanted, this violence could have been controlled within two days but the governments intention was not right. Even today, it continues to be in deception mode.

Minister of Earth Sciences Kiren Rijiju said the Congress brought the no-trust motion at a very wrong time, adding the party will regret it later, reported PTI.

The no-confidence debate is likely to last for 16 hours, with 15 speakers participating in the debate. As per NDTV, besides 10 BJP MPs, five ministers, including Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, Smriti Irani, Jyotiraditya Scindia and Rijiju, will also speak during the debate.

With inputs from agencies
A new Netflix documentary is once again shining the spotlight on the life of Veerappan.

The notorious brigand ruled over forest areas in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala for more than two decades. He was killed in an encounter with the Tamil Nadu Polices Special Task Force in 2004.

But who was Veerappan who the documentary describes as a wild animal in human form? And how did he meet his end?

Lets take a closer look:

The early years

Veerappan hailed from Gopinatham village in Karnatakas Kollegal taluk.

As per Indian Express, Veerappan belonged to an influential OBC community.

He rose to fame at the tender age of 18 thanks to his sharp-shooting abilities. He kicked off his criminal career by joining a poaching gang.

Veerappan initially made a fortune by killing elephants for ivory smuggling.

According to India Today, he killed over 200 elephants for their ivory tusks during his criminal career.

But it wasnt enough.

Veerappan quickly extended his activities to sandalwood smuggling  cutting down trees that belonged to the state. Though he minted money, the government only realised the extent of his involvement in sandalwood smuggling in the mid-80s.

This, after his gang kidnapped a Tamil Nadu forest officer and axed him to death.

Six months after the incident, the gang kidnapped and butchered some members of a rival gang. Soon, Veerappans 40-member gang was indulging in killings and kidnappings at will.

In August 1989, the gang kidnapped three forest personnel from the Begur forest range in Tamil Nadu. Their mutilated bodies were recovered from the forests a fortnight later. The following year, both the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu police launched their first offensive against Veerappan and were able to gun down two of his gang members.

Veerappan retaliated by killing a sub-inspector and a constable.

The Karnataka and Tamil Nadu police re-energised their hunt for the brigand. In a combing operation, the police recovered over 100 tonnes of food stock from a hideout of Veerappan in Siluyikal forest. But still there was no trace of the brigand.

By 1990, Veerappan had married his wife Muthulakshmi.

She was fifteen years old at the time.

Veerappan brandishes Robinhood image, steps up attacks on police

Veerappan had a bit of a Robinhood-like image among villagers in the area.

He had an information network the police could not hope to match.

Vidhya Veerapan, his 32-year-old elder daughter, speaking about his image, told Indian Express, He was genuinely concerned about the Sri Lankan Tamils. Even in the interviews he gave to the media, he always cared about the welfare of the public.

He had only one motto  to do good for the people, Vidhya, who is the state vice-president of the OBC wing of the BJP and runs a school in Krishnagiri, added.

Vidhya, however, cautioned the youth from following in her fathers footsteps.

I would like to advise the youngsters that picking up arms is not the right way to fight against the system, she added.

The villagers acted as a cover to the brigands actives. They also supplied his gang with necessary ration and clothes.

When the police allegedly set afire a few huts owned by villagers they suspected were helping Veerappan, the brigand looted a panchayat office and a cooperative society and also set ablaze two state transport buses.

In his first direct attack on the police, the poacher in April 1990 killed three sub-inspectors and a constable from Karnataka.

The then Karnataka chief minister Veerendra Patil, under tremendous pressure from the opposition, created a Special Task Force to nab Veerappan.

The STF, headed by Superintendent of Police Harikrishna, arrested many of Veerappans supporters, forcing the brigands sympathisers to flee the forest.

In May 1992, Veerappan attacked a police station in Ramapura, killing five policemen and fled with arms and ammunition.

A fortnight later, the STF shot dead four Veerappan gang members in Nellur village.

Perhaps his most brutal strike was when the bandit murdered Harikrishna, Shakil Ahmed and four constables in August 1992. They were enticed into entering the forest near Malai Madeshwara Hills through an informer.

The then chief minister Bangarappa announced the deployment of para-military forces to nab Veerappan.

At least 22 people in a bus from Tamil Nadu, including some police personnel, were killed in a landmine blast engineered by Veerappan in April 1993.

The Tamil Nadu government, which had resisted the deployment of Border Security Force to hunt for the brigand, finally requisitioned the force.

The BSF, with the assistance of STF, managed to arrest about 20 members of Veerappans gang.

But the brigand himself remained elusive.

With no concrete results emerging, the BSF was finally withdrawn and in a surprise move, Veerappan made known through a cassette his desire to stop his activities.

When the Karnataka government did not respond, Veerappan kidnapped the then deputy superintendent of police Chidambaranathan and his two relatives and demanded Rs 1000 crore in cash as ransom.

The brigand initiated talks with the then Tamil Nadu STF chief Sanjay Arora for his surrender. The hostage episode ended when the DSP and his relatives escaped in the midst of a joint STF operation by Tamil Nadu andKarnataka police.

But there was no stopping Veerappan.

He took three forest department personnel hostage in Anthiyur. They were all released unconditionally after 20 days in captivity.

After a lull, Veerappan struck again by killing a police informer in April 1996.

Three months later, he butchered 10 tribals in the area to show his disapproval of the arrest of his sympathisers under TADA.

Among the most high-profile cases against Veerappan was abducting Kannada film actor Rajakumar in July 2000.

The dreaded bandit kept him Rajakumar captivity for 100 days.

Another was the abduction of former Karnataka minister H Nagappa whose body was later found in the Chengadi forest near his ancestral house in Karnataka close to the border with Tamil Nadu.

How did he meet his end?

Both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu governments had set up Special Task Forces to nab Veerappan.

The brigand met his at the hands of the Special Task Force of the Tamil Nadu Police on 19 October, 2004.

Three of his Veerappans aides  Sethukuli Govindan, Chandra Gowda and Govindan  were also killed in the encounter.

According to India Today, it was at the time the longest and most expensive manhunt by Indian police forces in the history of India.

By then Veerappan was no longer the man he once was.

Still, by then the STF had come to terms with the futility of attempting to nab Veerappan in the forests, as per GQ India.

The credit for taking Veerappan down goes to police officer K Vijay Kumar  the head of the Tamil Nadu STF  and a 1975-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer.

Ironically, this was the second such tussle between Kumar and Veerappan.

According to India Today, Kumar, when Veerappan was at the height of his power and influence, spent months attempting to nab the brigand.

Kumar in the aftermath of the encounter explained how he pulled second time around.

The only way Veerappan was able to have his free writ running then was because of human intelligence and that is exactly what we applied to net the criminal, Kumar told India Today.

As per GQIndia, the task force sent Veerappans wife Muthulakshmi  then in police custody for eight years  to Coimbatore.

Muthulaskhmi by then had been charged with aiding and abetting her husband and his gang multiple times, as per The Statesman.

various crimes and murders committed by her husband Veerappans gang.

One of the two other women living in the home was an undercover agent who urged Muthulakshmi to get in touch with her husband.

When she finally did, the authorities had planned to kill Veerappan on sight.

But Muthulakshmi became suspicious as Veerappan began drawing closer to the spot and called the meet off.

As per India Today, Kumar then directed a secret operation codenamed Cocoon to nab the brigand.

Kumars deputy Senthamarai Kannan, then SP Intelligence, headed up a team that would get into the hamlets and villages where Veerappan operated.

Members of the secret operation, pretending to be bus conductors, handymen and traders, freely mingled with locals.

Some even managed to get in touch with members of Veerappans gang and his family.

As per GQIndia, Senthamarai posed as a weapons smuggler named Muligan and managed to build a business relationship with Veerappan over the phone.

Senthamarai, over a few months, gave Veerappan weapons  that he claimed were from the LTTE  and even promise a meeting with LTTE chief Prabhakaran.

Veerappan then chose 18th October for his extraction date.

The police painted a police van like an ambulance and even installed secret cameras installed inside.

A lorry halted in front of the ambulance Veerappan and his men were in  which is when he realised he was done for.

The four were asked to surrender through a mike.

However, one of the gang members started firing on the STF, which retaliated.

In the encounter that lasted about 20 minutes, Veerappan was killed on the spot.

Kannan told GQIndia the first shot was fired into Veerappans head.

He died without fighting, Senthamarai added.

Veerappan was 52-years-old at the time of his death.

The three others were declared brought dead at the government hospital.

Though Veerappans name continues to echo in infamy, his daughter Vidhya has claimed a full picture of his life has not been presented.

Vidhya told Indian Express, Not many were ready to fully research and present numbers along with data. People claim he killed 2,000 elephants and murdered over a hundred people but where is the evidence?

She pushed back against some of the claims made by various people including the government.

They needed to also showcase the atrocities committed by the police, informers against women and the other public. Will they speak about how people were randomly picked and shot with their hands tied inside the forests and how officials erased the records of their existence? Or will they speak about how the police destroyed the properties of the temple built by my father? Vidhya queried.

His widow Muthulakshmi in turn has has claimed her husband is not a monster.

With inputs from agencies
Bella Hadid has shared a new update about her life.

In an emotional Instagram post, the 26-year-old top model has opened up about her battle with Lyme disease.

She said that it is possible that her absence from significant fashion shows this year would continue and that she will make a comeback to the catwalk when she is ready, following treatment for continuing health issues.

Sharing a series of snaps showing herself receiving medical treatments, Hadid wrote, Living in this state, worsening with time and work while trying to make myself, my family and the people who support me, proud, had taken a toll on me in ways I cant really explain.

Hadid, who was diagnosed with the illness in 2013, added that she was okay, finally healthy and wouldnt change anything for the world it made who I am today.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bella  (@bellahadid)

Also read: Can new drug donanemab really slow the growth of Alzheimers disease?

What is Lyme disease?

According to the UK-based National Health Service (NHS), Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that can be spread to humans by infected ticks, particularly by ticks of the Ixodes genus.

Tick bites are similar to mosquito bites and form tiny, itchy bumps on the skin.

This disease has a range of symptoms and varying degrees of severity and demands attention and understanding.

In the month of April, Hadid said on TikTok that she had a tooth infection that led to health complications, and in her most recent post, she described 15 years of invisible suffering.

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says if the disease is left untreated, the infection can spread to the joints, heart and nervous system.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bella  (@bellahadid)

What are the symptoms?

According to NHS, a circular or oval-shaped rash around a tick bite can be an early symptom of Lyme disease in some people. It can appear up to three months after being bitten by an infected tick and can last for several weeks.

The rash appears to be darker or lighter in the centre and might gradually spread. It is not usually hot or itchy.

Some people also get flu-like symptoms a few days or weeks after they were bitten by an infected tick, such as:

a high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery

headache

muscle and joint pain

tiredness and loss of energy

shortness of breath

fatigue

Also read: Plant Pandemic is Real: How a disease is threatening wheat, the worlds most important food crop

How is it treated?

According to CDC, early diagnosis and proper antibiotic treatment of Lyme disease are important and can help prevent late Lyme disease.

The state of the science relating to persistent symptoms associated with Lyme disease is limited, emerging, and unsettled, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In August 2022, a Lyme disease vaccine entered late-stage clinical trials, indicating that a vaccine could be approved in the coming years.

Speaking about the potential vaccine, Dr John Torres, NBC News senior medical correspondent, said on TODAY at the time that after the initial shots, people may need an annual dose of the vaccine.

So its a bit more complicated than most vaccines, but certainly will protect against something that can be fairly dangerous, he said.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bella  (@bellahadid)

Also read: Rare tick-borne virus detected in UK, health agency warns

How common is it?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the illness is the most prevalent tick-borne disease in the country.

In June 2022, BMJ Global Health published research on the condition and found that, given the rise in Lyme disease rates over the previous 20 years, it was possible that 14 per cent of the worlds population had been afflicted.

Senior research scientist at the Yale School of Public Health, Dr Peter Krause, told NBC News that he was not surprised by the proportion.

He explained after the study was published, This is not like, Oh my gosh, theres so much more disease than we thought there was. These numbers are a bit higher than I would have thought, but this isnt a revolutionary finding.

The CDC estimates that it receives about 30,000 reported cases of Lyme disease each year.

Since this number does not include every case, the actual number of people who develop Lyme disease could be as high as 476,000, the CDC added.

Who else in the Hadid family has this disease?

According to Today.com, Bella Hadid, Anwar Hadid, 24, and Yolanda Hadid, 59, all claim to have contracted the illness spread by ticks.

Yolanda Hadid often discussed having Lyme disease while she was a cast member of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

Additionally, she stated in a blog post on BravoTV.com that Bella Hadid and Anwar Hadid have been in extensive holistic treatment ever since they were diagnosed in 2013.

The reality TV personality wrote at the time, I spent the majority of our time outside in nature with the kids and we lived on a horse ranch in Santa Barbara for ten years.

With inputs from agencies
The Aam Aadmi Party has announced a major cabinet reshuffle, stripping Saurabh Bharadwaj of the post of Service and Vigilance and handing it over to Delhi PWD Minister Atishi.

Atishi will now handle the portfolios of both Finance, Service and Vigilance.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has sent has forwarded the proposal of rejig to Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena.

The reshuffle comes just a day after the Delhi Ordinance Bill was passed in both houses of Parliament.

Both Atishi and Bharadwaj were inducted into Delhis cabinet following the resignation of Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain.

Currently, Atishi, the sole woman in the seven-member Delhi Cabinet, has the most number of portfolios allotted to her. In March, she was pushed up to higher ranks in the cabinet where she bagged the finance portfolio.

The minister is also responsible for the Public Works, Education and Power departments of the Delhi government.
In a big development, cases of crimes against Kashmiri Pandits are set to be reopened and will be investigated by the J&K State Investigation Agency (SIA) almost after 33 years.

According to an India Today report, the agency will begin the probe with the murder of Justice Neelkanth Ganjoo, the first to be killed in broad daylight in 1989 by Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) terrorists of which Yasin Malik was the leading active member.

Ganjoo had sentenced JKLF founder Mohammad Maqbool Bhat to death in the 1960s in a case related to the murder of police officer Amar Chand. He was shot dead by militants in November 1989 and was among the prominent Kashmiri Pandits to be targeted.

The State Investigation Agency in Jammu and Kashmir has issued a statement urging people to share information on the murder of Justice Ganjoo so that the agency can build a strong case against the JKLF terrorists.

The identity of all such persons shall be kept secret and protected, besides all useful and relevant information shall be suitably rewarded, added the statement.

The public has been asked to contact on 8899004976 or on email sspsia-kmr@jkpolice.gov.in for having any information related to this murder case.

Reacting to the development, former J&K deputy CM Kavinder Gupta said that he appreciates the move.

It is good that he (Neelkanth Ganjoo) will get justiceThe BJP govt had already said that such things should be investigatedThis was a conspiracyThe people should cooperate in this so that the conspiracy can be exposedI appreciate the move, said Gupta

#WATCH | After the State Investigation Agency (SIA) in Jammu and Kashmir sought a fresh probe into the 1989 murder of retired judge Neelkanth Ganjoo, former J&K deputy CM Kavinder Gupta says, "It is good that he (Neelkanth Ganjoo) will get justiceThe BJP govt had already said pic.twitter.com/vpH89ovNf8  ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2023

Kashmiri Pandits have been seeking probe into the murders since the early 90s.

With inputs from agencies
Prime Minster Narendra Modi chaired BJPs Parliamentary Party meeting ahead of the no-confidence discussion slated for the Lower House of Parliament later in the day.

BJP national president and party MP JP Nadda were among those who attended the meeting.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Mansukh Mandaviya including other ministers arrived for the meeting.

The NDA Government, under the leadership of Narendra Modi, is set to undergo a no-confidence vote in Parliament. The motion of no-confidence has been initiated by the opposition parties within the I.N.D.I.A bloc and has been approved by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, whose parliamentary membership was reinstated on Monday, will initiate the debate on the no-confidence motion

A time period of 12 hours has been fixed for the discussion.

YSRCP, Shiv Sena, JDU, BJD, BSP, BRS and LJP have been given a total of two hours, which has been divided according to the number of partys MPs in the House.

A time limit of one hour 10 minutes has been allotted for other parties and independent MPs.

On August 10, Modi will reply to the debate on the no-confidence motion against the BJP-led NDA government presented by Gogoi over the Oppositions demand for a detailed discussion on violence in Manipur and a statement from the prime minister.

With inputs from ANI
In view of the upcoming Assembly elections in five states  Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Mizoram  Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge will start the campaign next week after the culmination of the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament, sources in the party said.

Kharge will be addressing rallies in the poll-bound states which are going to the poll at the end of this year, sources added.

The Congress leader will kick start the campaign from Chhattisgarhs Raipur, where he will address the rally on August 13 just two days after the conclusion of the 23-day-long Parliaments Monsoon session, according to top sources of the Congress party.

The Congress chiefs other rallies planned are as follows: August 18 in Telangana, August 22 in Madhya Pradeshs Bhopal and August 23 in Rajasthans Jaipur.

It is pertinent to note that as part of the Congress partys election efforts, Kharge, the reinstated MP Rahul Gandhi, and the partys general secretary KC Venugopal are meeting leaders from states at the partys national headquarters in Delhi to discuss the preparations, campaign and strategy for the upcoming Assembly polls and next years Lok Sabha polls.

Till now the Central leaders have met leaders from more than 20 states, including from the poll-bound states, to convey a message of seriousness and timely intervention of Central leadership for the better and smooth planning of elections, a senior Congress leader said.

The source further added that along with Kharge, Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will also be doing an aggressive campaign in these states.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has accorded sanction for the prosecution of two persons accused of drawing anti-national slogans like Khalistan Zindabad allegedly at the behest of banned outfit  Sikhs for Justice (SFJ)  early this year, Raj Niwas officials said on Tuesday.

Accused Vikram Singh and Balram Singh were arrested by Delhi Police for drawing multiple pro-Khalistani graffiti in areas of Vikaspuri, Janakpuri, Paschim Vihar, Peeragarhi, Meera Bagh and other adjoining parts of Western Delhi on January 19, they said.

During the investigation, the accused disclosed that they indulged in such activities on the instruction of fugitive secessionist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the founder of the SFJ, the officials said.

The Lieutenant Governor has granted the sanction for prosecution under Section 196 (1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973, they said.

The case was registered by the Special Cell of Delhi Police for the commission of an offence under sections 153B and 120B (punishment of criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.

Section 153B of IPC deals with imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integrity and social and religious harmony.

The officials said during investigations, the Delhi Police seized USB pen drives containing CCTV footage, proof of payments and the location of mobile phones of the accused in the area where graffiti was drawn.

Investigations also revealed that a video was circulated on social media platforms wherein Pannu was advocating and encouraging secession through such graffiti and conspiring to disrupt the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India, they said.
Days after communal clashes erupted in Haryanas Nuh during a Vishwa Hindu Parishad rally killing six people, the authorities on Tuesday denied permission to Congress delegation to visit the violence-hit area to prevent any kind of disruption.

Nuh SP Narendra Bijarniya informed that the permission has been denied as Section 144 is still in place in the district.

#WATCH | Haryana: After the Congress delegation decided to visit Nuh district, SP Nuh, Narendra Bijarniya says, The permission has been denied because section 144 has been imposed in the district. The administration is making all efforts to help the victimsThe work of the https://t.co/yq1wpqvWwk pic.twitter.com/tqESstkgXO  ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2023

The administration is making all efforts to help the victimsThe work of the administration will be increased if a political visit takes placeThe situation is heading towards complete normalcy. To prevent any kind of disruption, we are requesting them to arrange their visit after the situation turns completely normal, said Bijarniya.

Senior Haryana Congress leaders led by partys state unit chief Udai Bhan were to visit Nuh district on Tuesday.

Six people, including two home guards and a cleric, were killed after communal clashes broke out in Nuh when some people allegedly pelted stones on a Vishva Hindu Parishad procession on 31 July . The violence also spread to neighbouring Gurugram.

A delegation of senior party leaders led by Haryana Congress president Chaudhary Udai Bhan will visit Nuh on Tuesday where it will meet the violence-affected victims and the people of the of the area a statement issued by the partys state unit said on Monday.

Former Haryana chief minister and Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Bhupinder Singh Hooda will be part of the delegation, it said.

The purpose of this visit is to re-establish peace and brotherhood in the area and find out the truth, it said.

The Congress has demanded a judicial inquiry into the Nuh violence under the supervision of a high court judge.

Targeting the BJP-JJP government, Hooda said if it had taken proper steps on time and the sensitivity of the situation seriously, the violence would not have happened.

He alleged that the government has proved to be a complete failure in fulfilling its responsibility.

A judicial inquiry is necessary to ensure that the guilty in the case are not spared and no innocent person faces any trouble, Hooda said.

Haryana Congress chief Bhan claimed that there is a lack of coordination between the chief minister and the home Minister on the Nuh issue.

The chief minister says the police cannot provide security to all and the home minister says he cannot respond to questions on the violenceIn such a situation, the question before the people of the state is, who is responsible for the law and order, he said.

Bhan said the Congress will not allow the BJP-JJP government to play with the lives and the property of the people as well as the brotherhood and harmony of the state.

With inputs from agencies
India will commemorate its 77th Independence Day on 15 August 2023. The day marks the countrys independence from the British Raj 76 years ago. As the country reaches another milestone, lets take a walk down memory lane through events that served as watershed moments for the subcontinent. From winning freedom from colonial rule to establishing a constitution and declaring the country to be a democratic republic, India has come a long way.

The agony brought about by the Partition split the region based on religious lines into two countries. The assassination of its tallest leaders dealt another blow to India. However, amidst all of this, the country held its first general elections and gave citizens power. This is how a scattered nation stood firm on its feet.

As India, the land of diversity, celebrates Independence Day 2023, lets look at the moments that define us together, we the people of India.

India gains independence (1947)

On 15 August 1947, at midnight, India emerged free from British rule after almost 200 years of bloodshed and sacrifice. The land was rich in diversity, culture, languages and resources before being plundered by the British. However, with the help of the countrys distinctive leaders, the country gained independence and began its tryst with destiny, as first Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru said on the eve of independence.

Partition rocks the newly formed nation (1947)

Indias independence on 15 August 1947 came alongside the brutal partition of the country based on religious lines. It is for this reason that the year is known as the year of triumph and tragedy. It took British judge Cyril Radcliffe only 40 days to draw over 6000 km of distinct boundaries to Indias west and east, and the country was divided into a secular India and Muslim-dominated Pakistan. The division resulted in millions of people getting displaced as entire communities migrated from one place to another.

Kashmirs accession to India (1947)

The same year saw Maharaja Hari Singh of Jammu and Kashmir sign the Instrument of Accession to India. This ended the intense hither and thither for the then-princely state by rival neighbours India and Pakistan. On 26 October 1947, amidst waves of indecision, bureaucratic jostling, the princely state of J&K remained independent for 73 days before the Maharaja chose to join Kashmir with India after facing threats from invaders.

Mahatma Gandhi assassinated (1948)

On 30 January 1948, India lost its father and the world at large, its tallest leader when a Hindu fanatic named Nathuram Godse shot Mahatma Gandhi on the lawn of Birla House, New Delhi. In that very instant, the man who led Indias freedom movement upfront with the Dandi March and Quit India Movement and reiterated the importance of non-violence in attaining independence, was no more. People around the world were profoundly affected by Gandhis death, with prominent personalities sending sympathy messages. Mahatma Gandhi was 78 when assassinated.

India gets a Constitution (1950)

Republic Day is celebrated on 26 January in India. It was on this day in 1950 that India established itself as a democratic republic, following its own constitution. With 395 articles in 22 parts and 8 schedules at its enactment, the Indian constitution was the worlds longest for a sovereign nation.

Dr BR Ambedkar played a key role in the drafting of the Indian Constitution and is often referred to as the Father of the Indian Constitution. It took the Constituent Assembly, led by Ambedkar, precisely 2 years, 11 months, 17 days to create the Constitution of India. It was completed on 26 November 1949, and so, it is celebrated as the Day of the Constitution.

First Asian Games (1951)

India hosted its first international event with Asian Games in 1951. For India, the occasion declared the countrys presence as the largest democracy in the world, an emerging power-centre in Asia and a leader in its own right. India finished second in the medals tally after Japan, with 51 overall, and 15 gold medals.

The first IIT was established in Kharagpur (1951)

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) was founded in Kharagpur in July 1951. A world-class engineering school aimed to create technicians to build the nation. A move towards modernity and technological self-reliance, the Indian government believed that the institution would serve as the source of skilled manpower and technical expertise in building large infrastructures.

The Bharatiya Jana Sangh formed (1951)

Bharatiya Jana Sangh, founded in October 1951, was one of the first parties to contest the first general election. The party stayed on the periphery of politics for the first decade, winning three and four seats in 1952 and 1957. One of the key representatives was Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

India votes for the first time (1951)

Independent India held its first general elections in 1951-52. Under Indias first election commissioner Sukumar Sen, the elections lasted for five months and covered 68 phases. The elections began on 25 October 1951 and continued till 27 March 1952. The first vote was cast in Kalpi by Shyam Sundar Negi. The results declared the Congress Partys victory, making Jawaharlal Nehru Indias first undisputed elected Prime Minister.

Pather Panchali is released (1955)

Satyajit Rays Pather Panchali left a never-ending impact of Indian cinema on the world. The 1955 film showcased the country, especially Rays state West Bengal grappling with poverty. It also showed the change in Indias migratory setting with people moving to the urban land from rural areas, to avail new opportunities.

The movie won innumerable awards and was restored and re-released at the Museum of Modern Art in 2015, 60 years after its global premiere at the same venue.
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Earlier, Rahul Gandhi was supposed to initiate the no-confidence debate in the Lok Sabha in place of Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi.

Dubey slammed the Opposition and said: We expected that Rahul Gandhi and other Congress MPs will speak.

We expected Rahul Gandhi to speak, BJPs Nishikant Dubey said on Tuesday as he initiated the no-confidence motion debate from the BJPs side in Lok Sabha.

Speaker Om Birla said no directions had been given and the member of the Speakers panel, when they preside over the House, are empowered to take all decisions.

Soon after the House reconvened for the day, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury attempted to bring up the subject.

On Tuesday, Congress MPs protested in Lok Sabha against statements made by BJP member Adhir Ranjan Chowdury in the House about party leader Rahul Gandhi, demanding that they be removed.

He added, I cannot support a no-confidence motion against the Central govt even though BJD is against the BJP politically but I am grateful for many things that Central government has done for Odisha.

According to BJD MP Pinaki Misra, the party rejects the no-confidence resolution in Lok Sabha since the Congress party initiated it.

Today at 1300 hrs, the floor leaders of INDIA parties in the Rajya Sabha submitted a privilege motion against Leader of the House Piyush Goyal for addressing the Opposition as all of them "traitors". Nothing less than an apology from him on the floor of the House, when it is in

Congress leader Jairam tweeted "Today at 1300 hrs, the floor leaders of INDIA parties in the Rajya Sabha submitted a privilege motion against Leader of the House Piyush Goyal for addressing the Opposition as all of them "traitors". Nothing less than an apology from him on the floor of the House, when it is in order, will do."

Some members of the Treasury benches, including ministers, were observed criticising the Opposition for its reluctance to accept the changes brought about by the administration.

Several opposition members, including the Congress, TMC, and DMK, objected shortly after BJP member Nishikant Dubey began arguing against the resolution.

The Lok Sabha was momentarily disturbed on Tuesday during a discussion on the no-confidence vote, following a loud protest by opposition members over tickers airing on Sansad TV that emphasised the government's development activities during the live broadcast of the debate in the House.

Dubey slammed the opposition parties, saying they were fighting amongst themselves while claiming to represent INDIA.

Beginning the argument on the government's side, Dubey remarked that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasised that this is not a no-confidence motion against the government, but rather a test of the opposition's coalition members' trust in each other.

On Tuesday, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey lambasted the opposition parties for initiating a no-confidence resolution against the government, calling it a vote of no-confidence against a "poor person's son" who has fought for the people's welfare.

The group, which included the state unit president of the party and party MP Deepender Hooda, was halted near Rewasan Village.

A nine-member delegation of senior Haryana Congress leaders was halted by police on Tuesday while visiting Nuh district, where violence erupted a few days earlier.

After an 8-hour discussion, the Rajya Sabha passed the Delhi Services Bill on Monday evening, granting the Centre power over municipal officials, Minister minister and Aam Admi Party leader Atishi stated the ruling party and the people of the national capital will continue their struggle against the BJP.

Lashing out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the AAP leader told ANI, There are many in the country who talk about the absence of democracy in Pakistan, wondering how Bills are passed by their Parliament without any debate or consent.

Today Prime Minister Modi has made the situation in India worse than in Pakistan. This is very unfortunate. We, along with the people of Delhi, will continue our fight against the BJP, she added.

She claimed that with the passage of the Bill in both Houses of the Parliament, PM Modi has taken away the rights of the people of Delhi.

Today with the pasasge of his draft-legislation by the Parliament, PM Modi has taken away the rights of the people of Delhi. We used to look at Pakistan not too long ago, wondering what kind of country passes Bills without discussions and debates, Atishi said.

The National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, approved by the Lok Sabha last week, replaces the previous Ordinance published by the Centre for managing transfers and postings of Delhi government workers.
India will launch a BRICS startup forum this year to facilitate collaboration and share best practices among investors, incubators and aspiring entrepreneurs, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said.

BRICS is a grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. He announced this during the seventh BRICS Industry Ministers meeting hosted virtually with South Africa.

Goyal said that the Startup India initiative of the central government has led to the creation of nearly 100,000 startups in the country and on account of this New Delhi can offer its support to other BRICS members in this segment.

The industry ministers of other BRICS countries also attended the meeting and a joint declaration was adopted. The ministers emphasised on the need for digitalisation, industrialisation, innovation, inclusiveness, and investment among BRICS countries.

They recognised the increasing importance of Industry 4.0 and other emerging technologies in promoting digital transformation of all economic sectors.

Through the declaration, the BRICS members acknowledged the need for human resource development and exploring opportunities for cooperation on upskilling and reskilling programmes, the commerce and industry ministry said in a statement.

They also underlined the need for creating market opportunities for inclusive growth of projects owned/managed by women, youth and disadvantaged groups.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday moved a resolution against the Uniform Civil Code (UCC).

After the resolution was moved by the Chief Minister, several amendments and modifications were suggested by the Congress-led opposition UDF that welcomed the Left governments move.

Pinarayi said that the BJP-ruled central governments decision to impose UCC is concerning, terming the action unilateral and hasty.

The Kerala governments decision comes after both the ruling Left and the opposition UDF launched a campaign against UCC.

Both fronts had organised seminars separately in Kozhikode recently against the UCC, in which the representatives of various religious outfits took part.

The Law Commission of India had last month received submissions from the public regarding suggestions for implementing the UCC in the country.
The nexus of Congress, China, NewsClick and CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat has come to fore via a chain of email. The email exchanges between Neville Roy Singham, an American millionaire, with editor of Prabir Purkayastha, various journalists and CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat have surface online.

The mails focused on Defending Chinas position on COVID, supporting farmers protests in India, collaborating with Indian communists, promoting Chinese propaganda and defending border clashes with India.

Sharing the email conversation, BJP leader Vishnu Vardhan Reddy, said, This evidence tells Chinas involvement in crafting Covid-related propaganda articles for publication on #Newsclick, as revealed in Neville Roys email correspondence with Prabir, journalists and CPIM leader Prakash Karat.

The dirty Nexus of Congress, China and communist, he added.

The subject of email from Singham read, Research for three articles series on China and its handling of the virus (and new request)

We are working together on a three-part series of articles on China and the handling of the corona virus. They will be originally syndicated by Globetrotter. Then all three will be assembled into a TriContinental publication, the email read.

The second article is going to discuss how China learned quickly when handling the crisis, the email further stated.

Through the mail Roy asked Prabir, Can we also have a timeline of number of tests and number of people who tested positive. This will give us a sense China identified the virus genetic sequence, developed the kits, and ramped their production and the testing.

A contrast to countries like US and India, who with so much lead time are still unable to ramp up kit production or production, Roy asked Prabir.

It even asked the recipients to not to circulate any of these materials outside this group.

On Monday, the BJP alleged that the Congress, news portal NewsClick and China were linked to an anti-India umbilical cord with Union Minister Anurag Thakur citing a report by The New York Times to claim that companies linked to China were funding the news website.

The name of Neville Roy Singham also emerged in NYT report which claimed that NewsClick was part of a global network that received funding from Singham, to allegedly spread Chinese propaganda in India.

BJP slams Congress, CPI(M) for supporting anti-India campaigns run by NewsClick

BJPs Nishikant Dubey on Tuesday reiterated his partys allegations against Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Congress for supporting anti-India campaigns run by NewsClick.

Dubey also alleged the involvement of Karat in supporting the Chinese-funded agenda and said he has proof of the former CPI(M) chiefs involvement in the NewsClick scandal.

Dubey stated that Karat had exchanged several emails with Singham, who funded the Indian media portal NewsClick to propagate left ideology across the country.

The BJP leader also hinted towards the involvement of Karat in the recent scandal that was unearthed by the New York Times.

If NewsClicks name has been restored (in yesterdays speech), what is your problem? Former CPI(M) chief Prakash Karat had exchanged several emails with Singham. I can put them on record. CPI(M) is an anti-national party, said Dubey while addressing the Lok Sabha during the no-confidence motion on Tuesday.

With inputs from agencies
Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday lashed out at the Enforcement Directorate claiming that the national agency has an unparalleled talent for disseminating concocted tales to the media on a bi-weekly basis.

Banerjee, who is also the nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, elaborated that the agency has a paltry conviction rate of 0.5 per cent.

Abhishek Banerjee, who is the National General Secretary of Trinamool Congress, is being investigated by the central probe agency as part of the alleged coal smuggling probe.

It is truly disheartening to behold the presence of inept and incompetent individuals within the ranks of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), who possess an unparalleled talent for disseminating concocted tales to the media on a bi-weekly basis, all in service of their political benefactors. Regrettably, despite investing years and spending taxpayers money into their investigative endeavours they consistently fail to present substantive evidence before the court, thereby clearly neglecting their responsibility to serve the nation, Banerjee posted on X (formerly Twitter).

It is worth noting that neither the ED nor the media publications much like the BJP leaders in West Bengal, possess the confidence, courage or conviction to explicitly accuse me in the allegations they espouse. One cannot help but feel empathetic towards these unfortunate and frustrated souls. This leaves us no room for surprise as to why the EDs conviction rate languishes at a mere 0.5%, the senior Trinamool leader added.

The BJP was quick to denounce Banerjees comments as lecture, adding theres an effort to stop investigations against institutional corruption.

There is an effort to stop the probes against institutional corruption. The people of West Bengal have no faith in any lecture by any Trinamool Congress leader. The people have rejected the Trinamool Congress. Trinamool and Corruption has become synonymous and in the coming elections the people will send them home, said BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya responding to the Trinamool leaders post.

The Trinamool has been critical of the BJP alleging that the party has been using state machinery, especially central investigation agencies, to target political opponents in Opposition-ruled states.

Abhishek Banerjee has been questioned by both the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Both Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee have hit back saying the agencies are acting at the behest of the BJP.

The BJP has maintained that the agencies have only been doing their jobs and investigating corruption.
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, during the fiery debate on the no-confidence motion, said that the Opposition had to bring about the motion to break the prime ministers silence.

PM took a maun vrat to not speak in the Parliament. So, we had to bring the No Confidence Motion to break his silence, Gogoi said as he initiated the debate on the no-confidence motion against the centre in Lok Sabha.

#WATCH | Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi says, PM took a maun vrat to not speak in the Parliament. So, we had to bring the No Confidence Motion to break his silence. We have three questions for him  1) Why did he not visit Manipur to date? 2) Why did it take almost 80 days to pic.twitter.com/rfAVe77sNY  ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2023

During the debate, Gogoi posed three questions to the central government, 1) Why did he not visit Manipur to date? 2) Why did it take almost 80 days to finally speak in Manipur and when he did speak it was just for 30 seconds? 3) Why has the PM not sacked the Manipur CM so far?

Manipur wants justice

Gaurav Gogoi, the Congress leader who moved the no-confidence motion against the BJP-ruled central government, said that I.N.D.I.A brought the motion for Manipur.

I move the Motion that this House expresses No Confidence in the Government. I.N.D.I.A. has brought this Motion for Manipur. Manipur wants justice, he said.

VIDEO | The INDIA alliance has moved this no-confidence motion for Manipur because Manipur demands justice. The incidents are not merely happening in a corner of Northeast, but are happening in India. If Manipur is burning, the entire India is burning, says Congress MP pic.twitter.com/4IMM8VPpdv  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 8, 2023

PM will have to accept that his double-engine govt, his govt in Manipur has failed. That is why, 150 people died in Manipur around 5000 houses were torched, around 60,000 people are in relief camps and around 6500 FIRs have been registered, he added.
We all have learned about the Quit Indian Movement in school but did you know that 8 August of every year is marked as the Quit India Movement Day? It was a civil disobedience movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Congress back in August 1942 in an attempt to end British colonial rule in India. The Quit India Movement Day is used to remember our freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for our countrys independence. Today, let us take this opportunity to learn about the history and significance of the Quit India Movement.

The History of the Quit India Movement

The Quit India Movement was launched on 8 August 1942 by the Indian National Congress (INC) at Gowalia Tank Maidan under the guidance of Mahatma Gandhi. The slogan of the movement was Do or Die. The father of the nation asked the British to Quit India, and leave the countrys governance to the people. Although, the movement gained a lot of support from the locals, the British colonial government retaliated by starting Operation Zero Hour and arrested the leaders of the Quit India Movement. If the reports are to be believed, around 1,00,000 people were imprisoned, and around 1,000 people were killed during the movement.

When one tries to understand the outcome of the Quit India Movement it had both short and long-term impact. While the British authorities quickly suppressed the movement, it played a significant role in improving a sense of unity and determination among Indians, massively fuelling the countrys freedom struggle.

Significance of the Quit India Movement

While the Quit India Movement did not achieve its immediate goal of forcing the British to leave India, it helped show the British that the Indians were determined to get their freedom. Additionally, it also had a deep impact on the countrys politics and society in the long run.

The movement also focused on the role of education and culture in shaping Indias identity. In order to promote Indian heritage and values, many educational institutions and cultural centers were established during this time. Along with men, women also played a crucial role in the Quit India Movement. As the movement emphasised on nonviolence, it allowed women to participate it in actively, leading to a more equitable society.
Rajya Sabha on Tuesday approved the National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill, 2023, and the National Dental Commission Bill, 2023, which are aimed at further improving the quality of education in the healthcare sector.

The Lok Sabha had already passed these bills during the ongoing monsoon session of the Parliament. The two bills piloted by Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya were passed by voice vote after a brief discussion.

These bills hold significant importance as they will repeal the Dentists Act 1948, and the Indian Nursing Council Act 1947 and will enhance transparency and quality in the fields of nursing, midwifery and dentistry.

The passage of these bills comes after recommendations from the Parliamentary Standing Committee to the health ministry, urging to explore the possibility of restructuring and revamping the Dental Council of India and the Indian Nursing Council to regulate education and professional practice.

The National Dental Commission Bill seeks to repeal the Dentists Act, 1948, and proposes to set up the National Dental Commission (NMC) to regulate dental education and the profession. It also aims at making dental education affordable and quality oral healthcare accessible.

The National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill, 2023, aims at setting up the National Nursing and Midwifery Commission (NNMC) and repealing the Indian Nursing Council Act, 1947.

The Bill provides for regulation and maintenance of standards of education and services by nursing and midwifery professionals, assessment of institutions, maintenance of a national register as well as state registers.

Replying to the discussion, the health minister said these legislations are aimed at meeting the present and future domestic as well as global requirements in the health sector.

These Bills are part of the governments effort to improve the quality of education in the healthcare sector, which includes nursing and dentistry, Mandaviya said.

The minister also announced that the government would be soon coming out with a pharmacy commission.

He also highlighted the steps taken by the Narendra Modi government in the last nine years for the holistic growth of the health sector. Mandaviya said the number of MBBS seats have increased from 54,000 to 1.07 lakh in the last nine years. Number of MBBS colleges too have significantly increased, he said.

The minister said this year, 54 medical colleges in the private and public sectors have been approved.

He also informed that the government has decided to establish a nursing college along with each medical college. For this, the government would provide Rs 10 crore, Mandaviya said.

With the growing demand for Indian nurses in foreign countries, he said nursing students will also be taught a foreign language as a second language so that their employability prospects improve.

Earlier in the day, Rajya Sabha passed a bill which seeks to provide the commander-in-chief and officer-in-command of inter-services organisations disciplinary and administrative powers over personnel from other forces serving in such establishments.

The Interservices Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Bill, 2023, was cleared by Lok Sabha on August 4.

The Upper House of Parliament also passed the Indian Institutes of Management (Amendment) Bill, 2023. This Bill was passed by Lok Sabha on August 4.

With inputs from PTI.
The Disunited States of America just got sucked further into the whirlwind vortex of rage and polarisation with the 2024 presidential election set to be more acrimonious and toxic.

Former president Donald Trumps third indictment by a Washington DC grand jury as part of a criminal investigation into his outrageous bid to deny the presidency to Joe Biden will reverberate forever in American politics.

In a 45-page indictment unveiled by special counsel Jack Smith on 1 August, the 45th President was charged with (1) conspiring to defraud the US; (2) conspiracy to wilfully deprive citizens of the right to vote; (3) conspiring to obstruct an official proceeding; and (4) obstructing the congressional certification of Bidens election.

Trump reacted by regurgitating from his typical playbook of accusations, false claims and liesthe charges were fake, an attempt by Biden to bar him from the 2024 White House race, and reminiscent of Nazi Germany in the 1930s, the former Soviet Union, and other authoritarian and dictatorial regimes.

The August indictment is the most aggressive and powerful of the threeTrump was indicted (34 felony counts) in March for falsifying business documents regarding the hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels and in June for mishandling classified documents (40 felony counts) at his Mar-a-Lago estate, in Florida.

The charges are extremely serious and could jeopardise Trumps image and chances during the Primaries and impact the 2024 result.

Obstruction of an official proceeding and conspiracy to obstruct are punishable by 20 years in prison each, conspiracy against rights by 10 years and conspiracy to defraud the government by five years.

Definitely, the indictment is a sudden thunderclap in Trumps orbit of allies, supporters and voters and momentous in US politics.

However, the indictment missed the most important charge that could have permanently barred Trump from holding public office in the futureprovided the US Constitution is amended.

No insurrection charge in indictment

Though federal law doesnt explicitly define insurrection, courts interpret it as a violent uprising or organised resistance against the government or its laws in which government property is destroyed or federal law officers are attackedas on 6 January, 2021.

Under Title 18 of USC 2383, Whoever incites, sets on foot, assists or engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States or the laws thereof or gives aid or comfort thereto shall be fined ($250,000) under this title or imprisoned not more than 10 years.

Trumps supporters broke windows, destroyed the property of the Capitol building and assaulted federal law enforcement officers. Five people, including a police officer, died, more than 140 cops were injured and property worth millions of dollars was damageda clear case of insurrection.

Importantly, inciting an insurrection is also punishable. Though Trump was neither present at the Capitol nor participated in the riot, his inflammatory words were enough to incite the rioters.

Three significant lines from Trumps incendiary speech on the Ellipse while inciting his supporters to march down Pennsylvania Avenue towards the Capitol are blatant examples of instigation.

We will not let them silence your voices. Were not going to let it happen; Im not going to let it happen.

WE FIGHT LIKE HELL. AND IF YOU DONT FIGHT LIKE HELL, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE A COUNTRY ANYMORE.

So, were going to, were going to walk down Pennsylvania Avenue. I love Pennsylvania Avenue. And were going to the Capitol, and were going to try and give.

After Trumps speech, a tsunami rocked the foundation of American democracy and the Constitution with the US resembling a banana republic.

As a wave of rioters swept the Capitol, assaulted the police and threatened to hang then-vice-president Mike Pence, Trump watched the flagrant violation of law on TV in the dining room of the Oval Office.

After several hours, he released a video asking his supporters to go back home but still falsely claimed that the election was stolen from us and that he won it in a landslide.

Later, he tweeted: These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away

Trump not only incited the mob but also watched the horror unfold.

In December 2022, the US House of Representatives panel probing the Capitol riot had asked the Department of Justice (DoJ) to charge Trump with four crimes, including insurrection.

Criminal defence attorney and legal analyst Jonathan Turley tweeted on August 2: The press conference held by Smith only deepened the unease for some of us. Smith railed against the January 6th riot and made it sound like he was indicting Trump on incitement. He didnt. The disconnect was glaring and concerning.

The press conference held by Smith only deepened the unease for some of us. Smith railed against the January 6th riot and made it sound like he was indicting Trump on incitement. He didn't. The disconnect was glaring and concerning.  Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) August 1, 2023

Surely, Smith had his reasons for not charging Trump with insurrection. If he did, his lawyers would have argued, like before, that his speech didnt egg the crowd to attack the Capitol as he asked them to march over to the Capitol building peacefully and patriotically make their voices heard.

Besides, the First Amendment guarantees free speech: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

In a tweet about the First Amendment, Turley posted: Special Counsel Jack Smith just issued the first criminal indictment of alleged disinformation in my view. If you take a red pen to all of the material presumptively protected by the First Amendment, you can reduce much of the indictment to haiku.

Special Counsel Jack Smith just issued the first criminal indictment of alleged disinformation in my view. If you take a red pen to all of the material presumptively protected by the First Amendment, you can reduce much of the indictment to haiku  Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) August 1, 2023

But does free speech include inciting a mob to disrupt the certification of a democratic election or entering into a conspiracy? Obviously, no.

Trumps attorney general (AG) Bill Barr blasted the First Amendment cover used by Trumps lawyers to defend his false and misleading claims of a stolen election on Wednesday.

The indictment is not attacking his First Amendment right. He can say whatever he wants; he can even lie. He can even tell people that the election was stolen when he knew better. But that does not protect you from entering into a conspiracy? he told CNN.

The most significant part of 18 USC 2383 is that whoever incites, assists or engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States or the laws thereof cant hold any office under the United States.

Similarly, Section 3 of the 14th Amendment states: No person shall be a senator or representative in Congress or elector of President and vice-president or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States or under any State if he/she engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same.

US Constitution needs urgent amendment

Had Smith included the insurrection charge and Trump got convicted of the same, could he be barred from the presidency?

Sadly, no.

This highlights the most critical issue of amending the Constitution to ensure that an indicted person, a convicted felon or an insurrectionist is barred from contesting the presidency.

Article II mentions only three requirements to become president: the person must be a natural-born citizen of the US, 35 years or older and a resident of the US for, at least, 14 years. There is no other criterion.

Even a convicted or jailed person can run for president.

Lyndon LaRouche, a fringe candidate, was convicted of tax and mail fraud in 1988 but contested for the White House from jail in 1992. The Socialist Party nominated Eugene Debs in 1920 while he was incarcerated for violating the Espionage Actone of charges under which Trump was indicted in the classified documents case.

The Constitution is a contradiction that allows Trump to contest even if convicted and jailed before the election. He will face a jury for the first time in the hush money payment case on March 25, 2024, and the trial in the classified documents case will begin in Maystate Primaries would have started by then. The trial date for the third case hasnt even been fixed yet.

The best the trials could do is to throw Trumps campaign into disarray as, unlike civil cases, criminal defendants must be present during hearings. Sensing the impact of the trials on his campaign, his defence lawyers requested Judge Aileen M Cannon in the classified documents case to put off the trial after the election.

If Trump is convicted after winning the presidency, it will be a different ball game.

First, there will be the possibility of an impeachment trial. But the chances of him being impeached will be very low considering his acquittal in the two impeachments during his presidency.

Second, he could pardon himselfthough it would be unprecedented considering the DoJs formal legal opinion in 1974 when Richard Nixon considered pardoning himself that one cant be the Judge in his case. He could also order the DoJ to drop the cases if re-elected.

Article II, Section 2, Clause 1 states: The President  shall have the power to grant reprieves and pardons for offences against the United States except in cases of impeachment.

It means that state criminal offences and federal or state civil claims are not coveredfor example, New York AG Letitia James suit against Trump for alleged fraud and the E. Jean Carroll case.

Therefore, he cant pardon himself if convicted in the civil suits. But Trump can do that in the criminal cases considering his proclivity for demolishing established norms and conventions.

The only possibility of Trump being jailed if convicted in the indictment(s) is losing the nomination or election.

Therefore, amending the Constitution is the only way to prevent candidates like Trump from contesting. But it will be a herculean task considering that the Constitution is literally frozen and has been amended only 27 times out of 12,000 amendments proposed since being drafted in 1787.

An amendment requires a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate and should be approved in, at least, three-quarters of the states. These requirements make amending the Constitution a formidable task. The supermajority of approvals and the coordination required between the federal and state governments and Democrats and Republicans is honestly unthinkable.

Two urgent amendments are required. First, a clause should be added to Article II barring an indicted, convicted or jailed person from contesting any election. Second, an amendment should bar a President from pardoning himself/herself even in offences committed against the United States.

The writer is a freelance journalist with two decades of experience and comments primarily on foreign affairs. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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We expected Rahul Gandhi to speak, BJPs Nishikant Dubey said on Tuesday as he initiated the no-confidence motion debate from the BJPs side in Lok Sabha.

Dubey slammed the Opposition and said: We expected that Rahul Gandhi and other Congress MPs will speak.

Earlier, Rahul Gandhi was supposed to initiate the no-confidence debate in the Lok Sabha in place of Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi.

I have heard you out patiently, you should hear me too. After this Rahul Gandhi wont be able to speak. A lot was said about Manipur. I stand to oppose this motion, Dubey said.

Rahul Gandhi ji probably woke up late thats why he didnt speak today. Gaurav Gogoi spoke instead, but thats fine; He says Im not Savarkar. You can never be Savarkar: BJP MP Nishikant Dubey fiery speech in Lok Sabha #NoConfidenceMotion #Parliament pic.twitter.com/9ZdmgwVvt2  News18 (@CNNnews18) August 8, 2023

'Maybe Rahul Gandhi woke up late today'

Taking a jibe on Congress speakers' list on no-trust debate in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Dubey said, "Maybe Rahul Gandhi wasnt ready today or maybe he woke up late."

"Gaurav Gogoi spoke well. I am a victim of turbulent times of Manipur. My uncle suffered there and was injured," Dubey added.

Sloganeering began in the Lok Sabha soon after Gogoi put out his points on the no-trust motion, disrupting BJP's reply.

'Insecurities among I.N.D.I.A parties'

Hitting out at the Opposition unity, Dubey said the name of alliance is 'I.N.D.I.A' but they are fighting with each other always.

"There is insecurities among I.N.D.I.A parties," alleged Dubey.

'Base of motion'

Intensifying his attack on Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, Dubey said the no-confidence motion has been brought because Sonia wants to "set" her son (Rahul) and give "bhent" (gift) to her son-in-law (Robert Vadra).

"This no confidence motion has been brought. Why has this been brought? Sonia (Gandhi) is sitting here... I think she has to do two things - Bete ko set karna hai aur Damad ko bhent karna hai... That is the base of this motion," Dubey said.

#WATCH | BJP MP Nishikant Dubey says, "This No Confidence Motion has been brought. Why has this been brought? Sonia ji (Gandhi) is sitting here...I think she has to do two things - Bete ko set karna hai aur Damad ko bhent karna hai...That is the base of this Motion." pic.twitter.com/Gb40E2gfzu  ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2023

'Rahul Gandhi can never be Savarkar'

Raising the issue of the Supreme Court staying Rahul's conviction in the 'Modi surname' remark case, Dubey said, "The Supreme Court has not given a judgement. It has given a stay order...He is saying that he will not apologise... Secondly, he says "I am not Savarkar" - You can never be Savakar..."

#WATCH | BJP MP Nishikant Dubey raises the issue of the Supreme Court staying Rahul Gandhi's conviction in the Modi surname remark case following which his membership was restored. He says, "The Supreme Court has not given a judgement. It has given a stay order...He is saying pic.twitter.com/7Q6UZ5Fxd9  ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2023

During the no-trust motion debate, Dubey also said the Opposition MPs does not know the full form of I.N.D.I.A.

"Ask MPs here randomly what the full form of I.N.D.I.A," the BJP leader said.

The Narendra Modi-led NDA Government is facing a no-confidence motion moved by the Opposition parties of I.N.D.I.A bloc which was accepted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

A report by ANI quoted sources saying that a time of 12 hours has been fixed for the discussion. The BJP will get around seven hours to partake in the discussion and around one hour 15 minutes has been allotted for the Congress.

The debate on the no-confidence motion against the BJP-led government will take place on 8 and 9 August in the Lok Sabha and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to give a reply on 10 August.

With inputs from agencies
A 75-year-old Italian man lost his life under the weight of numerous hefty wheels of a parmesan-style hard cheese, each tipping the scales at approximately 40kg.

Giacomo Chiapparini, the victim of this unfortunate incident, met an untimely death as a towering 10-metre-high rack buckled in his storage facility located in the Lombardy region on the evening of Sunday.

This harrowing event set off a chain reaction, leading to a of thousands of Grana Padano cheese wheels plummeting down, as reported by local fire brigade personnel.

In an arduous 12-hour operation, the rescue team, led by firefighter Antonio Dusi, painstakingly relocated the cheese wheels and shelves manually.

Situated in the township of Romano di Lombardia to the south of Bergamo, the warehouse housed a staggering collection of 25,000 wheels of Grana Padano cheese.

Primary investigation suggested that a machine responsible for rotating the cheese wheels  a process essential for maturing the dairy delight  might have inadvertently shifted, leading to the deadly collapse.

Chiapparini had been engaged in the inspection of these aging wheels when tragedy struck. His enterprise has been dedicated to the production of Grana Padano since the year 2006.
Londons renowned Brick Lane, celebrated for its vibrant street art scene, has become a talking point, as a wall along its path was covered with slogans championing the ideology of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Online videos captured a group of individuals spray painting the wall with prominent red Chinese characters.

People are fighting back CCPs slogan. It may turn into a mirror of revealing the evil and and a wall of truth. #bricklane #graffiti #

pic.twitter.com/0Yb7oxaSor  Michael Guo (@Michaelzsguo) August 6, 2023

These red characters spell out the core socialist values, a collection of 12 two-character phrases, which stand as prevalent political slogans during the tenure of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Such politically charged red and white inscriptions are a familiar sight in China, often embodying political propaganda.

The emergence of these Chinese slogans on Brick Lane has ignited an online debate, delving into questions of whether they qualify as genuine street art and the intricate interplay between freedom of expression and political messaging.

The wall has now transformed into a battleground of contrasting narratives, as others swiftly countered the initial slogans with new graffiti denouncing the Chinese government.

In response, some inscriptions prefixed no, while others presented alternative messages or visuals challenging the spray-painted statements. One image even showcased an 800 fine issued for graffiti & flyposting violations on Saturday.

Criticism also arose from those dismayed by the covering of pre-existing artworks, including a tribute to a prominent deceased street artist.

Despite the negative sentiments expressed toward these slogans, it remains uncertain whether the individuals responsible for their creation intended them earnestly or ironically.

With inputs from agencies
A Ukrainian priest found himself embroiled in a controversy after making a call for peace between Russians and Ukrainians during Sunday prayers.

Roman Kurach, a member of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, issued a public apology after his words prompted a reaction from Ukrainian journalists, sparking what local media terms a significant controversy.

During a Sunday worship session, the priest implored for divine intervention, requesting God to perform a miracle by uniting the great nations of Ukraine and Russia.

He beseeched the Almighty to cease the mutual destruction and violence between Russians and Ukrainians, and to aid in the establishment of a harmonious realm on Earth, leading to a shared destiny in the heavens.

Darya Sipigina, a local journalist, took issue with Kurachs message. She was the first to circulate videos from the sermon, accompanied by a critical Facebook post in which she denounced Kurachs statements as astonishing.

Sipigina questioned the feasibility of such a plea a year and a half into the conflict, while accusing the Uzhhorod Greek-Catholic Church of displaying insufficient esteem for those safeguarding Ukrainian soil and sacrificing their lives for it.

Sipigina acknowledged that she did not listen to the entire sermon but overheard the peace-related remarks through the cathedrals loudspeakers while passing by.

She claimed to have confronted Kurach after the sermon, who reportedly expressed his commitment to blessing Russians even in the event of his brothers death on the frontlines.

Sipigina also expressed her dismay that numerous individuals listened silently to the sermon, without any apparent reaction to the words spoken.

However, a considerable number of respondents to her Facebook post sided with the priest, asserting that advocating for peace was not amiss. Some accused Sipigina of attempting to sensationalize the issue.

Despite the controversy, the Ukrainian media extensively covered the priests sermon, deeming the situation a scandal.

Kurach subsequently clarified his wording and expressed remorse during an interview with a local media outlet.

He cautioned against making such statements during times of war, acknowledging his error. He characterized his call for peace as an impromptu expression.

Kurach elaborated that his call for peace was inspired by the European example.

During my time studying in Europe, I observed nations such as England, France, and Germany, who had waged wars for centuries, yet were eventually blessed with unity, love, and forgiveness, he explained.

He posited that divine intervention could similarly bring together any two peoples.
In an effort to help victims of the Odisha train tragedy, an Indian American girl named Tanishka Dhariwal, and 16 others have raised over $10,000. The amount will be transferred to PM CARES Fund.

Tanishka, a youth member of the Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA), handed over the funds to the Consul General of India in New York, Randhir Jaiswal. Tanishkas friends hailing from different backgrounds have contributed to collecting the amount.

I was able to start a GoFundMe page. I contacted schools, districts, friends and family and raised over USD 10,000. Hopefully, this money will be able to go and help the people who have been affected deeply by this. I believe a little goes a long way and hopefully, this is a good start to it, Dhariwal told ANI.

The donation ceremony was attended by Haridas Kotewala, patron member of RANA; Ashok Sancheti, advisor at Jaipur Foot USA; Ravi Jargarh, joint secretary of RANA; and Chandra Sukhwal, a senior member of RANA.

Prem Bhandari, president of RANA and founding chair of Jaipur Foot USA, underscored the exceptional efforts undertaken by young Indian Americans like Tanishka.

In Tanishkas heartfelt gesture, its not about the amount. Its about the emotion behind it. This also highlights stronger ties that are still alive among U.S.-born Indian youth and their homeland. These connections take on greater significance against the backdrop of Indias ongoing pursuit of self-reliance under PM Modi, Prem Bhandari told ANI.

Bhandari commended Indias self-reliance and its substantial role in international humanitarian assistance.

Interestingly, former RANA president KK Mehta was among the first NRI to contribute Rs 1 crore on the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the PM CARES Fund.

After PM CARES Fund was launched in Delhi on March 28, 2020, it garnered attention globally, and especially among members of the Indian diaspora across the world.

A remarkable moment unfolded as RANA members KK and Chandra Mehta stepped forward as trailblazers.

On March 30, they made a contribution of INR 1,00,00,000 to the cause. This act of compassion and generosity echoed their commitment to making a significant impact.

Prem Bhandari applauded 16-year-old Tanishkas efforts in the face of the Odisha tragedy.

Tanishka says she will continue to raise funds for victims of the tragedy in Odisha where at least 288 people lost their lives after a collision involving three trains.

With inputs from ANI
A senior US diplomat said coup leaders in Niger refused to allow her to meet Monday with the West African countrys democratically elected president, whom she described as under virtual house arrest.

Acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland also described the mutinous officers as unreceptive to US pressure to return the country to civilian rule.

They were quite firm about how they want to proceed, and it is not in support of the constitution of Niger, Nuland told reporters. She characterized the conversations as extremely frank and at times quite difficult.

She spoke after a two-hour meeting in Nigers capital, Niamey, with some leaders of the military takeover of a country that has been a vital counterterrorism partner of the United States.

In speaking to junta leaders, Nuland said, she made absolutely clear the kinds of support that we will legally have to cut off if democracy is not restored.

If the U.S. determines that a democratically elected government has been toppled by unconstitutional means, federal law requires a cutoff of most American assistance, particularly military aid.

She said she also stressed US concern for the welfare of President Mohamed Bazoum, who she said was being detained with his wife and son.

The meeting was with Gen. Moussa Salaou Barmou, a US-trained officer, and three of the colonels involved in the takeover. The coups top leader, former presidential guard head Abdourahamane Tchiani, did not meet with the Americans.

In other developments Monday, leaders of West Africas regional bloc said they would meet later this week to discuss next steps after the junta defied a deadline to reinstate the president. The meeting was scheduled for Thursday in Abuja, the capital of neighboring Nigeria, according to a spokesman for the ECOWAS bloc.

Meanwhile, the juntas mutinous soldiers closed the countrys airspace and accused foreign powers of preparing an attack.

State television reported the juntas latest actions Sunday night, hours before the deadline set by ECOWAS, which has warned of using military force if Bazoum is not returned to power.

A spokesman for the coup leaders, Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane, noted the threat of intervention being prepared in a neighboring country, and said Nigers airspace will be closed until further notice. Any attempt to fly over the country will be met with an energetic and immediate response.

The junta also claimed that two central African countries were preparing for an invasion, but did not name them. It called on Nigers population to defend the nation.

The coup toppled Bazoum, whose ascendency was Nigers first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since independence from France in 1960. The coup also raised questions about the future of the fight against extremism in Africas Sahel region, where Russia and Western countries have vied for influence.

Niger had been seen by the United States and others as the last major counterterrorism partner in the Sahel, south of the Sahara Desert, where groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group are expanding their influence.

Also Monday, Mali said it and Burkina Faso, both neighbors of Niger run by military juntas, were sending delegations to Niger to show support. Both countries have said they would consider any intervention in Niger as a declaration of war against them.

Regional tensions have mounted since the coup nearly two weeks ago, when mutinous soldiers detained Bazoum and installed Tchiani as head of state. Analysts believe the coup was triggered by a power struggle between Tchiani and the president, who was about to fire him.

It was not immediately clear what ECOWAS leaders will do now. The region is divided on a course of action. There was no sign of military forces gathering at Nigers border with Nigeria, the likely entry point by land.

Nigerias Senate has pushed back on the plan to invade, urging Nigerias president, the blocs current chair, to explore options other than the use of force. ECOWAS can still move ahead, as final decisions are made by consensus by member states.

Guinea and neighboring Algeria, which is not an ECOWAS member, have come out against the use of force. Senegals government has said it would participate in a military operation if it went ahead, and Ivory Coast has expressed support for the blocs efforts to restore constitutional order.

The junta has asked for help from the Russian mercenary group Wagner, according to Wassim Nasr, a journalist and senior research fellow at the Soufan Center.

However, Nuland indicated that coup leaders did not seem receptive to welcoming Wagner mercenaries into the country, as has happened with several surrounding unstable West African countries.

I will say that I got the sense from my meetings today that the people who have taken the action here understand very well the risks to their sovereignty when Wagner is invited, Nuland said.

The junta is exploiting anti-French sentiments to shore up its support base and has severed security ties with France, which still has 1,500 military personnel in Niger for counterterrorism efforts.

On Monday, Frances Ministry of Foreign Affairs formally discouraged any travel to Niger, Burkina Faso or Mali, and called on French nationals to be extremely vigilant. France has suspended almost 500 million euros ($550 million) in aid to Burkina Faso.

Its not clear what will happen to the French military presence, or to the 1,100 U.S. military personnel also in Niger.

Many people, largely youth, have rallied around the junta, taking to the streets at night to patrol after being urged to guard against foreign intervention.

While they (jihadists) kill our brothers and sisters  ECOWAS didnt intervene. Is it now that they will intervene? said Amadou Boukari, a coup supporter at Sundays rally. Shame on ECOWAS.
Facebook owner Meta Platforms will face daily fines of 1 million crowns ($98,500) starting from 14 August due to privacy breaches, as disclosed by Norways data protection authority.

This enforcement, which could potentially carry broader implications across Europe, follows a decision by the Norwegian regulator, Datatilsynet, on 17 July, warning of fines if privacy issues were not rectified.

Datatilsynet mandated that Meta is prohibited from collecting user data within Norway, including physical locations, for the purpose of targeted advertising known as behavioral advertising, a common practice among major tech companies.

The deadline for Meta Platforms to address these concerns was set for 4 August.

Tobias Judin, who leads Datatilsynets international section, told Reuters that the 1 million crown daily fine will be in effect until 3 November.

Meta last week said it intends to ask users in the European Union for their consent before allowing businesses to target advertising based on what they view on its services such as Facebook and Instagram.

Judin said that step was not enough. Meta had to stop the processing of personal data immediately, and until that consent mechanism was up and running.

According to Meta, this will take several months, at the very earliest, for them to implement  And we dont know what the consent mechanism will look like, Judin to Reuters.

And in the (meantime), peoples rights are being violated, every single day.

Meta said the change was made to address regulatory requirements in the region and stems from an order in January by Irelands Data Protection Commissioner, Metas lead EU regulator, to reassess the legal basis on how it targets ads.

Norway is not a member of the European Union but is part of the European single market.

With inputs from agencies
According to a Tuesday statement from the finance ministry, Pakistan would purchase more power from its neighbour Iran.

Ishaq Dar, the finance minister, served as the chairman of the Economic Coordination Committee where the decision was made.

Energy-starved Pakistan has agreements in place with Tehran to purchase power for its border regions, particularly for Chinese-funded construction projects at the port of Gwadar.

A week following the Iranian foreign ministers visit to Islamabad, a new proposition was made.

The size and terms and circumstances of the new acquisition were not disclosed by the finance ministry.

(With agency inputs)
Led by Indian-American Congressman Shri Thanedar, a group of US lawmakers have introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives to declare Indias Independence Day as a National Day of Celebration of the worlds two largest democracies.

The resolution expresses the belief that the strong partnership between the United States and India, rooted in shared democratic values, will continue to advance global democracy and foster peace, stability, and prosperity for all nations.

The resolution was introduced by Thanedar and co-sponsored by Congressman Buddy Carter and Brad Sharman.

Prime Minister Narendra Modis Official State Visit to the United States on 22 June, anchored the United States and India in a new level of trust and mutual understanding based on common interests and shared commitments to freedom, democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, and respect for human rights, it says.

Americans with Indian heritage enhance public life in the United States as government officials, military personnel, and law enforcement officers who diligently uphold the principles of the US Constitution and contribute to the enriching diversity of the Nation, the resolution says.

It is proper and desirable to celebrate with the Indian people, and to reaffirm the democratic principles on which the two nations were born, it said.
Russias Foreign Ministry on Monday chided efforts by international officials meeting in Saudi Arabia to find a peaceful settlement for the war in Ukraine, saying the talks dont have the slightest added value because Moscow  unlike Kyiv  wasnt invited.

Senior officials from around 40 countries gathered Sunday in Jeddah for a two-day meeting that aims to agree on key principles about how to end the conflict that has raged for more than 17 months.

But without Russias participation and without taking into account Moscows interests, the meeting was pointless, a Russian Foreign Ministry statement said. It repeated previous assurances that Russia is open to a diplomatic solution on its terms that ends the war and that it is ready to respond to serious proposals.

But Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Zelenskyy, ruled out Moscows previous demands that would give Russia time to dig in deeper in the parts of Ukraine it has occupied.

He said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Russian forces must fully withdraw from the occupied areas and there would be no Kyiv compromise on that.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Security Service announced on Monday it had detained an alleged Russian informant who gathered intelligence about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys trip to the southern Mykolaiv region last month.

It claimed the woman was collecting data for an airstrike during Zelenskyys visit.

The woman attempted to establish Zelenskyys route, times and visits in the region. She was detained when she tried to pass the information to the Russians, the statement said, without providing evidence.

Zelenskyy has been a prime target for the Kremlin since Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022, when he refused to leave Kyiv as Moscows forces approached.

He has been one of Ukraines unexpected trump cards in the war, playing a key role in rallying public morale, including a nightly video address, and becoming a recognizable face across the world as he presses allies and others to help Ukraine.

Also Monday, two Russian missiles hit the centre of Pokrovsk, a city in the Ukrainian-controlled part of the partially occupied Donetsk region in the east of the country. Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said the strike killed one civilian and wounded seven more, damaging two residential buildings and other civilian structures.

Commenting on the attack, Zelenskyy charged that Russia is trying to leave only broken and scorched stones in eastern Ukraine. We have to stop the Russian terror. Everyone who fights for the freedom of Ukraine saves lives, Ukraines president said in a statement.

Earlier in the day, Russian shelling struck a nine-story residential building in the city of Kherson, killing one person and wounding four others, according to regional Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin. He said Kherson had endured a tough night as the Russians covered the central part of the city with fire.

A 57-year-old woman was killed and four people were wounded in the Russian shelling of a village in the northeastern Kharkiv province, Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said.
An Indian-origin male repeat sex offender was sentenced to 18 years of preventive detention and 12 strokes for the sexual assault of a maid in Singapore, a media report said on Tuesday.

Preventive detention is imposed on recalcitrant offenders in order to protect the public from them.

Mark Kalaivanan Tamilarasan, 44, had contested and was convicted of four charges of aggravated sexual assault, house trespass to commit sexual assault, outrage of modesty and impersonation of a public servant, reported Channel News Asia.

Called a repeat sex offender, he had broken into a flat in July 2017 while intoxicated and attacked a maid who was ironing clothes, before sexually assaulting her.

This was shortly after being released from 16 years of jail for rape charges.

Deputy Public Prosecutors Chew Xin Ying and Sheldon Lim had pushed for the maximum of 20 years preventive detention for Kalaivanan, after a report found him suitable for such a punishment.

However, at the last sentencing hearing in February, Kalaivanans uncle had asked to address the court, before pleading in emotive language for the court to impose a gag order on his nephews identity.

He also claimed that he had seen his nephew in prison and that he had shown remorse.

On account of this, Justice Pang Khang Chau ordered for another preventive detention suitability report to be prepared before giving his sentence.

The second report had the same conclusions, and the prosecution maintained their position in asking for 20 years preventive detention for Kalaivanan.

They objected to the defences request for the sentence to be backdated to take into account Kalaivanans six years in remand, saying that preventive detention was different from remand.

On Monday, Kalaivanans uncle again asked to speak.

Defence lawyer Foo Ho Chew said his client is represented and anything should be said through legal counsel.
The Russian education ministry has unveiled new history textbooks that hail Moscows invasion of Ukraine.

Ever since Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine, authorities have taken considerable control over historical narratives in schools.

The education ministry ensures that the war is not portrayed in a bad light and tries to present it as Russias historical mission.

The Russian Education Minister Sergei Kravtsov said, while presenting the book intended for 11th graders, that the content will convey the aims [of the Ukraine offensive] to schoolchildren.

The tasks of demilitarisation and denazification, so that schoolchildren are convinced that this is really the case, he added.

The book will be available to schoolchildren from September 1 and was reportedly written in just under five months.

After the end of the special military operation [in Ukraine], after our victory, we will further supplement this book, Kravtsov said.

Praising the speedy production of the book, Presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky said, No textbook has ever been created in our country in such a short time.

The authors wrote it practically with their own hand, he added.

He said that the new books represent the states point of view. The book features the history from 1945 to the 21st century.

The book features sections on Russian soldiers saving peace in 2014 when Moscow annexed the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine. It also denounces Western sanctions, describing them as worse than Napoleon, who marched on Russia in 1812.
The United Kingdom on Tuesday announced it has targeted individuals and businesses in Iran, Turkey, Dubai, Slovakia and Switzerland in its latest round of sanctions intended to hit Russias defence systems by cutting off access to foreign military equipment.

Todays landmark sanctions will further diminish Russias arsenal and close the net on supply chains propping up Putins now struggling defence industry, foreign secretary James Cleverly said in a statement.

The Foreign Secretary announced 22 new sanctions on individuals and businesses outside Russia supporting Putins illegal invasion of Ukraine, as well as three Russian companies importing electronics vital to Russias military equipment used on the battlefield.

These measures will significantly damage Russias defence systems by cutting off Putins access to foreign military equipment. Among those sanctioned are: two Turkey based businesses, Turkik Union and Azu International, for their role in exporting microelectronics to Russia that are essential for Russias military activity in Ukraine.

Dubai based Aeromotus Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Trading LLC has also been included in the list, for its role in supplying drones and drone components to Russia.

Slovakian national Ashot Mkrtychev, for his involvement in an attempted arms deal between the DPRK and Russia. Swiss national Anselm Oskar Schmucki, for his role in Russias financial services sector, including through working as Chief of the Moscow office of DuLac Capital Ltd.

The British government will also impose sanctions to tackle Iran and Belarus support for Russias military. The UK has previously imposed sanctions on Belarus for continuing to actively facilitate Russias invasion of Ukraine and has called out Irans destabilising role in global security, including through sanctions against Iranian suppliers of the UAVs used by Russia to target Ukrainian civilians. Tuesdays sanctions include a few Iranian individuals and entities involved in the research, development and production of UAVs for the IRGC.

The UK is also sanctioning three Russian companies operating in the electronics sector for their role in procuring UK-sanctioned western microelectronics that are essential for sustaining Russias conflict in Ukraine.

Britains latest sanctions package is part of a series of wider action targeting those critical to supplying and funding Putins war machine  and it is the biggest ever UK action on military suppliers in third countries.

The new round of sanctions is intended to cripple the Russian defence industry which is already severely stretched and focused entirely on sustaining the war. Unable to access Western components, the Russian military is struggling to produce sufficient top-end equipment and is now desperately searching for foreign armaments.

Hit hard by Western sanctions, Russia is already on the verge of mobilising Soviet-era tanks and harvest kitchen freezers for low-grade chips.
A young woman from the United Kingdom has shared her ingenious method of employing artificial intelligence (AI) to uncover her boyfriends alleged infidelity.

With a motive to assist others in confirming their partners faithfulness, Mia Dio, 22, of Miami, Florida, has shared her remarkable AI-based technique that managed to replicate her boyfriends voice.

The method enabled her to discern the truth about his actions when she became suspicious of his recent behavior.

In a viral TikTok video that has amassed over 2.7 million views, Mia Dio earned admiration for her inventive use of technology.

The video, now widely circulated, presents her explaining how she harnessed AI to recreate her boyfriends voice, which led her to dial his closest friend.

The friend unwittingly divulged that Mias boyfriend had indeed engaged in a kiss with someone else on a night out.

Starting the video by announcing her intentions, Mia Dio confidently shares, I am going to clone my boyfriends voice using AI, call his best friend, and uncover if he has been truthful to me about last nights events.

In the video, she elaborates on her method, disclosing that she inputted voicemails recorded by her boyfriend into voice cloning software.

She meticulously composed a script for the AI-generated voice to deliver during the call.

Mia Dios boyfriends iPad served as the medium to initiate the conversation with his friend, leading to a surprising revelation.

The AIs reconstructed rendition of her boyfriends voice was astonishingly persuasive.

Consequently, the friend unsuspectingly engaged in a dialogue with the AI-generated voice, recounting a night in which he was inebriated and engaged in a kiss with a random girl.

The video concludes with Mia Dio on the brink of tears, teasing a subsequent installment wherein she confronts her boyfriend about the incident.

TikTok users inundated the comments section with messages of empathy and admiration for her ingenious approach in addressing a potentially dishonest partner.

Numerous comments commended her intelligence, with some users even coining her a sad genius.

Notwithstanding the wave of sympathy and accolades, Mia Dio has since disclosed that the entire affair was an elaborate prank, which both her boyfriend and his friend were privy to from the outset.

Clarifying the situation, Mia Dio admitted, It is vital to note that this video was entirely a prank orchestrated for my followers, and both my boyfriend and friend were collaborators in this scheme.

Despite the pranks nature, Mia Dio asserts that her intention was to share her inventive technique for those who harbor suspicions regarding their partners behavior.

She contends that the videos reception demonstrates the efficacy of the method in exposing dishonesty.

Mia Dio disclosed the software she employed, ElevenLabs, which cost around 4.

To replicate her boyfriends voice convincingly, she gathered voice recordings, such as voice memos and voicemails, as raw material.

Subsequently, she crafted a natural-sounding script for the AI-generated voice to articulate.

Although the video portrayed the exchange as somewhat robotic, the in-person interaction was impressively convincing, even to the creator herself.

Despite the initially widespread belief in the pranks authenticity, Mia Dio has shared her relief that her relationship remained intact.

Expressing gratitude for her followers support, she emphasizes that the video aimed to showcase the potential of AI in unearthing deception, even if in this case, it was an orchestrated spectacle.

In the aftermath, she revealed receiving messages from other women who resonated with her concerns and situation.
Infinix Zero 30 5G Specs, Features Leaked: Dimensity 1100 SoC, 8GB RAM, Full HD+ Screen Revealed News oi -Alap Naik Desai

The 5G-enabled successor to the Infinix Zero 20 has leaked online. The Infinix Zero 30 5G Google Play Console listing has indicated it's a feature-packed and powerful Android smartphone.

After surfacing on Geekbench benchmarking platform and Bluetooth SIG certification website, the Infinix Zero 30 5G has now appeared on the Google Play Console website. Let's look at the specifications, features, expected price, and availability of the Infinix Zero 30 5G, which should launch in India soon.

Infinix Zero 30 5G Google Play Listing Confirms Key Specs, Features

The Infinix Zero 30 5G appears to be a budget-friendly 5G smartphone. It recently appeared on the Geekbench certification website and Bluetooth SIG certification website with the model number X6731.

This week, the Zero 30 5G surfaced on Google Play Console, confirming additional information. As per the listing, this smartphone will be powered by an octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 1100, which is paired with a 9x ARM Mali G77 GPU.

The Infinix Zero 30 5G should have an AMOLED screen with a 1080 x 2400 pixels resolution. The smartphone reportedly has a 480 PPI screen density, which seems quite high for a budget-friendly smartphone and a Full HD+ display.

The mid-range Dimensity SoC embedded inside the Infinix Zero 30 will reportedly be supported by 8GB of RAM. The smartphone should run Android 13, but Infinix should slap its own XOS 13.0 on top.

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) certification website confirmed the Infinix Zero 30 will support Bluetooth 5.3, which should ensure a low-latency audio and even gaming experience.

Infinix Zero 30 5G Expected Specifications

Infinix hasn't even acknowledged the existence of the Infinix Zero 30 5G. Hence, most of the specifications and features of the Infinix smartphone have been based on rumors and speculations.

The Infinix Zero 20, the predecessor of the Infinix Zero 30 is limited to 4G networks. The Infinix Zero 30 is a 5G-enabled smartphone.

Infinix has been trying to move up the ladder. The brand recently launched the Infinix GT 10 Pro, a powerful Android smartphone with Dimensity 8050. It features a glass back panel and LED light strips. Despite the innovative design and capable hardware, the GT 10 Pro is priced below 20,000.

The Infinix Zero 30 5G might be priced near the 20,000 mark. This is because the Dimensity 8050 and Dimensity 1100 are pretty close in performance.

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Demonstrating agility and capability, Germany conducts swift fighter deployment to Iceland

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

Aug 2 2023

RAMSTEIN, Germany -- The German Air Force has started the deployment of a fighter capability to Iceland to conduct an Agile Combat Employment (ACE). From August 1 to 10, Eurofighters are conducting training in the High North and work with the Icelandic Coast Guard and other regional Allies.

From July 26 to 28, six Eurofighter jets and two A400M transport planes arrived a Keflavik Air Base, Iceland, and the German detachment is getting ready to commence exercise Rapid Viking 2023 in Iceland.

"The deployment of a 30-strong contingent with six Eurofighters to the High North demonstrates Germany's readiness and ability to swiftly employ an air power capability with lean structures to any location we are needed," said the commander of the German Eurofighter detachment, Lieutenant Colonel Marco Brunhofer. "We are in Iceland for two weeks and intend to fly up to eight training sorties each day to familiarize with the Icelandic airspace and the staff of the NATO Control and Reporting Centre Keflavik who will tactically control our flying activities," he added.

"The changed global security situation has had impacts on the High North, and against this background, the German Air Force makes a valuable contribution to Icelandic security and sovereignty and Alliance Deterrence and Defence," Lieutenant Colonel Brunhofer. said. "Air Forces are first responders and need to be able to swiftly and efficiently project air power. With the deployment under Rapid Viking, we generate a maximum operational footprint with minimum personal and material resources," he added.

"We welcome the deployment of the German Air Force to Iceland as it provides an important opportunity for deepening our bilateral cooperation while underlining commitment to this strategic region," said Captain Jon B. Gudnason, Commander of Keflavik Air Base.

The German deployment is a bilateral stand-alone training project. It is complementary to NATO's enduring mission of providing Airborne Surveillance and Interception Capabilities to meet Iceland's Peacetime Preparedness Needs (ASIC IPPN). This enduring peacetime mission is specific and unique to Iceland ensuring that Allies maintain a periodic presence of NATO fighter aircraft at Keflavik to help keep Icelandic airspace secure.

Story by Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office based on information provided by the German Air Force.

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15th anniversary of armed conflict between Georgia and Russia

Council of Europe

Statement by Secretary General Marija Pejcinovic Buric

Secretary General

Strasbourg

6 August 2023

"On the 15th anniversary of the August 2008 armed conflict between Georgia and Russia, the Council of Europe reaffirms its unequivocal support for the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders. It firmly rejects Russia's recognition of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, as well as its military presence in the region, in blatant violation of fundamental principles and norms of international law.

"I remain deeply concerned about the human rights and humanitarian plight of the conflict-affected population, which continues to suffer from the detrimental consequences of the conflict, especially in the areas under the effective control of the Russian Federation. Their basic rights and freedoms, guaranteed by the European Convention for Human Rights, continue to be gravely violated not least due to the so-called "borderisation" process that I witnessed up-close during my recent visit to the area on 3 July. As the State exercising effective control, the Russian Federation must comply with its international obligations and fully implement all relevant European Court of Human Rights' judgments and remedy all human rights violations. This includes creating conditions for the voluntary, safe, and dignified return of displaced persons.

"The Council of Europe is strongly committed to comprehensive and lasting peace and security and expresses its full support for the process of the Geneva International Discussions. In this regard, we will spare no effort in supporting our member State Georgia to address the consequences of the conflict, while promoting reconciliation, dialogue and human rights through the confidence-building measures (CBMs) programme. I will continue to regularly inform our 46 member States through my consolidated report on the conflict in Georgia as a basis for further engagement."

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Tradewinds 23 exercise highlights multinational partnerships

Published Aug. 6, 2023

By Maj. Jeremy Idleman

70th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AFNS) -- Tradewinds 23, a two-week multinational exercise supporting the security of the Caribbean and Central America, wrapped up with a closing ceremony July 27.

Tradewinds 23 involved 21 nations and more than 1,500 people from all branches of the U.S. military, civilians and law enforcement across the partner nations.

U.S. military organizations that supported Tradewinds included Army and Air National Guard units from Alabama, Florida, Missouri, Oklahoma and the Virgin Islands; U.S. Southern Command; U.S. Army South; U.S. Marine Corps Forces South; Marine Forces Reserve, and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Events conducted during the exercise included jungle certification, airborne wing exchange, oil spill and flood simulation, and human rights and Women, Peace and Security training.

"Tradewinds 23 demonstrated that when nations unite for a common purpose, we become a better sum of our parts," said Maj. Jaime Castillo, Guyana's lead planner for the exercise. "This exercise has highlighted the importance of international cooperation, interoperability and shared responsibility we bear in securing a peaceful and stable world."

The 38th iteration of the exercise focused on foreign military interaction, maritime interdiction, ground security, and field training supporting U.S. Southern Command's priorities of building and maintaining security throughout the Caribbean and Central America. The annual exercise is designed to expand each nation's ability to plan and execute multinational operations, counter transnational organized crime, and provide better regional security.

"For 38 years, we have gathered to build partner nation capacity, strengthen partnerships, improve interoperability, and promote human rights," Gen. Laura Richardson, commander of U.S. Southern Command, said during the closing ceremony. "Tradewinds is a multidomain, multidimensional exercise, and it's no small task to put this exercise together.

"I'd also like to note that this year's exercise was the most complex in the 38-year history of Tradewinds. Transnational criminal organizations, malign state actors, cybercrime, environmental climate change, and irregular migration continue to grow in scope and intensity, posing a significant challenge to the national security of all of us and the Western Hemisphere."

Tradewinds 23 training focus areas included human rights awareness, anti-trafficking operations, marksmanship, jungle warfare, military support to law enforcement, small unit and confined area security tactics, airborne operations, cybersecurity, humanitarian aid and disaster relief, and maritime skills.

Participants trained across Guyana, in Georgetown, Camp Ayanganna, Camp Stephenson, Camp Seweyo, Air Base London, the Guyana Police Academy, and the Jungle Amphibious Training School in Makouria.

Sarah-Ann Lynch, U.S. ambassador to Guyana, said Women, Peace and Security training "was also integrated into several of the training tracks this year, from cyber defense to public order. Highlighting again the importance of gender considerations in military and police operations."

Lynch commended the Guyana Defence Force for its commitment to human rights after it signed onto the U.S. Southern Command Human Rights Initiative.

Nations participating in the exercise included Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Dominica, Dominican Republic, France, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

"Exercise Tradewinds 2023 was truly a wonderful experience," said Army Chief Brigadier Omar Khan, Guyana Defence Force. "And I congratulate all of you here today for your commitment and your service. We are grateful for this opportunity to train, learn new skills, and make new friends."

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3,000 Sailors and Marines Arrive in Middle East aboard USS Bataan, USS Carter Hall

U.S. Central Command

Aug. 7, 2023

By U.S. Naval Forces Central Command

MANAMA, Bahrain -- More than 3,000 U.S. Sailors and Marines of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) arrived in the Middle East, Aug. 6, as part of a pre-announced Department of Defense deployment.

Amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 50) and dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) entered the Red Sea after transiting from the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal. Bataan ARG/26th MEU units bring to the region additional aviation and naval assets, as well as more U.S. Marines and Sailors, providing greater flexibility and maritime capability to U.S. 5th Fleet.

An amphibious assault ship can carry more than two dozen rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft, including MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft and AV-8B Harrier attack jets in addition to several amphibious landing craft. A dock landing ship also supports operations for various rotary-wing aircraft, tactical vehicles and amphibious landing craft.

The Bataan ARG departed Norfolk, Virginia on July 10 with Amphibious Squadron 8, Fleet Surgical Team 8, Tactical Air Control Squadron 21, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 26, Assault Craft Unit 4, Beach Master Unit 2 and the 26th MEU.

The 26th MEU, based in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, is capable of conducting amphibious missions, crisis response and limited contingency operations to include enabling the introduction of follow-on forces and designated special operations.

The U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations encompasses approximately 2.5 million square miles of water space and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea, parts of the Indian Ocean and three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, Suez Canal and Strait of Bab al-Mandeb.

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August 7, 2023

Transcript

Press Gaggle With Air Force Brigadier General Pat Ryder, Pentagon Press Secretary

Brigadier General Pat Ryder, Pentagon Press Secretary

BRIGADIER GENERAL PAT RYDER: So first of all, Secretary Austin is going to host the Iraqi minister of defense, Thabet Mohammad Al-Abbasi, here in the Pentagon today for bilateral discussions on U.S.-Iraq security cooperation and we do look forward to hosting the minister and his delegation, and we'll have a readout posted later today.

We're still continuing to monitor the situation in Niger. At this time, there's been no change to U.S. military force posture in the country, and has been the case, we remain focused right now on a diplomatic solution.

And then finally, several of you have asked previously about the status of U.S. forces deploying into the Middle East region to support deterrence efforts in the Strait of Hormuz and elsewhere. As you may be aware, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command issued a statement confirming that the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit have arrived in the Middle East Area of Responsibility. They got there August 6th, and this is part of a preannounced DOD deployment. That statement is available on their website, so I would encourage you to take a look.

And with that, we'll go around and start with Idrees.

Q: Just on Niger, have you received  the French military received a request for them to leave the country. Have you received any similar request? And yesterday, the Italians put out a statement saying they had evacuated 10 American troops. What was that for?

GEN. RYDER: So right now, I'm not tracking any request for the U.S. military to depart the country. As I mentioned, there's been no change in our force posture. Again, we remain focused on force protection and on cooperating with Nigerian military on the bases there to keep those bases functioning. And right now, in terms of any U.S. military departure, we'll have to get back to you on that. As you know, we did have some forces previously leave for minor medical, unrelated to the situation there on the ground, but I'm not tracking any large-scale U.S. forces departing. State Department, of course, is overseeing the order departure aspects. Of course, they'd be in a better situation to talk about any U.S. citizens. Okay?

GEN. RYDER: We'll go to Tara, and then I'll come to you.

Q: So on Niger, how many U.S. aircraft have come in and out of Niger since the hostilities started? And then also, we're hearing that aircraft are having difficulty getting fuel. Can you speak to that at all?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, so we don't have numbers available in terms of incoming/outgoing aircraft. As you've probably seen in press reports, they have closed their airspace, so any U.S. military flights coming in or out are on a case-by-case basis, and so we'll continue working through that process. But I'm confident that any aircraft we have coming in will be able to go out, as well.

Q: Have any U.S. military aircraft gone into Niger since the start?

GEN. RYDER: I'll have to get back to you on that. I can tell you broadly, again, it'll be on a case-by-case basis. Well, yes, there have. We do know, for example, that there was a flight last week, but I'm not going to get into the specific numbers of incoming and outgoing other than to say they're on a case-by-case basis. I'll just leave it at that.

Q: And are there any concerns about fuel?

GEN. RYDER: Not that I'm aware of right now.

Q: Thank you. So my question is on what's happening in the Gulf. Why we are witnessing (inaudible)? It seems like we are seeing and we are witnessing a new rapprochement between the GCC leaders and the Iranian regime to a point that the UAE head of state is planning to visit Tehran and so on. My question is first, are you coordinating all your moves with the GCC countries? Second, are you and the GCC countries on the same page in describing the Iranian threats?

GEN. RYDER: Well, I think the Iranians are the best communicator in terms of the threat posing by their actions when it comes to seizing commercial vessels in the region, and in one case, as you know, firing on a commercial vessel. So as we have been for a very long time, we're coordinating with our partners in the region when it comes to U.S. military presence because again, it's not just the U.S. military that's out there controlling commercial shipping lanes. We're working as part of a broader coalition on that effort.

And so to answer your question in terms of why we're sending additional assets, I mean, we put out a press release that highlighted why we're doing that to again, work with partners in the region to deter potential aggression to keep those shipping lanes open, and again, to a long-standing goal of preserving security and stability in the region. And so that's why we've deployed these additional assets to give us additional options, to speed up timelines, and again, broadly, to ensure stability.

Now all that said, I mean, we do absolutely support any type of discussion in the region that's going to prevent the kinds of actions that have created instability in the first place.

Q: Just a quick follow-up: Then how do you explain that the UAE military, the medical forces in the UAE is not part any more of the CENTCOM Fifth Fleet's naval operations?

GEN. RYDER: I'd have to refer you to UAE to talk about their decisions. I know that CENTCOM stays actively engaged in terms of communicating with the UAE, and will continue to do so. They're an important partner in the region, and will continue to be so.

So let me go to Lara.

Q: Thank you. On Friday, the State Department announced that the government's pausing certain foreign assistance programs benefiting the government of Niger. It says that some operations are continuing, including security operations, but I was wondering if you could lay out, what are we still doing? What response in terms of security assistance?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, Lara, I'm not going to be able to go into the specifics on particular programs other than to say, as we've highlighted earlier, that when it comes to things like training, you know, we're not doing that right now for obvious reasons while, you know, the situation continues to remain fluid and evolving. And so when and if we have any updates on that front, we'll certainly let you know.

Q: So flights out of Agadez, military flights...are those still paused?

GEN. RYDER: So for opsec reasons, I'm not going to get into discussing potential operations in the region.

Q: Thank you. On the weekend, Chinese forces on ship interdicted a Philippine resupply mission in the South China Sea. Is the Pentagon willing to persist in (inaudible) the supply mission to Second Thomas Shoal by sending ships or (inaudible) on the Chinese maritime activities?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, so I don't have anything to announce right now in terms of sending any type of additional assistance. To my knowledge, the Philippines have not asked for additional assistance. Certainly, you saw our comments over the weekend in terms of highlighting this type of behavior by the PRC, and that we stand with our Philippine allies in terms of their right to be able to supply/resupply the ship on the Second Thomas Shoal, and that will continue to be our position. Okay?

Yes, ma'am?

Q: I'm wondering if you can talk a little bit more about the meetings with the Iraqi delegation taking place today and tomorrow, and also if we should expect any announcement regarding the future of the U.S. presence in Iraq?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, I'm going to beg your indulgence to wait until those meetings conclude and again, we'll have a readout but certainly we're looking forward to those discussions, as it relates to the U.S.-Iraq security cooperation, in particular U.S. force presence in Iraq, which of course we're there at the invitation of the Iraqi government, in support of their counter-ISIS effort. So we'll have much more to provide later today.

Liz?

Q: Going back to the Middle East, is the U.S. still considering putting U.S. service members on commercial vessels? Is that something that's still being explored?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, so I've seen the press reports. I don't have anything new to provide beyond what I read out on Thursday, which is that I have no announcement to make. And so if and when we do, certainly we'll let you know.

Q: Is DOD talking to the State Department about that or other countries?

GEN. RYDER: Again, I don't have any further details to provide.

Eric?

Q: Ukraine last week struck a couple of Russian vessels with sea drones. I wanted to get the Pentagon's take on how concerned are you about escalatory implications of these kind of strikes and also just in terms of Ukraine's threat  is this kind of operations endangering commercial shipping within the region, similar to the Russian threats?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, so again, I've seen that reported in the press. I'm not going to get into talking about Ukrainian operations or alleged Ukrainian operations. I'll let them talk about it. I will say again we recognize Ukraine is in the middle of a fight right now against an occupying force.

We continue to remain focused on giving them the security assistance they need, Eric, to be able to conduct their counter-offensive and defend their territory, but as it relates to press reports about drones beyond the frontline, I'm just not going to have anything.

Okay. Yes, ma'am?

Q: Now that we're getting closer to the M1 Abrams' early fall delivery timetable, are we any closer to getting a decision on the depleted uranium rounds? Is that going to be made before the tanks are sent?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, I don't have anything to provide, no announcements to make regarding any type of tank ammunition at this point.

Yep  did you have a follow-on?

Q: I was just going to say, if you (inaudible)?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, I don't want to speculate, so.

Yes, ma'am?

Q: Could you kind of talk through this issue of Travis King possibly being designated a POW? I mean, where would that designation come from? Is it possible for him to get that designation, even though he, you know, apparently, from what you all have said, gone over in his own, you know, free will and in civilian clothing?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, thanks, Hailey . I think the key aspect of the article highlighted that that's all still under discussion right now and that that's just one possibility. There are others. And so those discussions continue right now, in terms of how best to address this. As you know, there continues to be a look at what exactly happened. So as we gather more facts, we'll be in a better position to let you know going forward.

I would say though, you know, from a DOD standpoint, from a U.S. government standpoint, the primary goal right now is just ensuring that Private King is Okay and he's being taken care of. And so that continues to be the top priority.

Q: And separately, is there any plan for the Secretary to speak with Senator Tuberville again any time soon?

GEN. RYDER: I'm not aware of any scheduled calls. Of course, the Secretary and the department will continue to remain in close contact. Again, we think that it's very important that these holds be lifted for all of the reasons that we've talked about. But I know, broadly speaking, our office here in the OSD will continue to communicate with the Senator's staff. Thank you.

Q: Pat, how many times has he spoken with the Senator?

GEN. RYDER: There has been, since March, three phone calls. So the last one was on the afternoon of July 18th.

Q: Any other officials, the DepSecDef or the Chairman?

GEN. RYDER: We can look into that.

Okay, time for a few more. Yes, sir?

Q: Sorry, following up on the Tuberville questions, I know there was a memo last week, I believe, from the Secretary regarding some steps that can be taken to mitigate, you know, the impact of this hold. Can you share any more details on that and kind of what the conversation, like, with the Senator may be going forward, given that these steps might 

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, we can share a copy of the memo with you guys. I mean, again, I think we've been very clear about the potential impact of these holds on military readiness. And so that continues to be the Secretary's position and we'll continue to do what we can to provide any information that the Senator  Senator's office requests, as it relates to why we would hope that these holds could be lifted.

Tara?

Q: Just to follow-up on that, are you able to move any of these officers that are holding and their families right now or is everybody frozen in place? Like, can you do any PCS moves for these guys?

GEN. RYDER: It's really situation-dependent, depending on the position, where they're at. Largely speaking, if it's a Senate-confirmed position for example, three to four star there would be a lot of situations where you would hold in place until you're confirmed, unless there's permission to act in an acting capacity.

Q: And one and two stars?

GEN. RYDER: Again, situation-dependent on where they're at and what it would entail, in terms of changes of command, hiring of staffs, whether or not the person that's the incumbent is in a retirement position or staying on. So again, the bigger issue here is the uncertainty that it creates in a system that requires constant rotation of officers and leadership.

Okay, ma'am?

Q: Thanks, Pat. I know last week and I think over the weekend, the head of the I&S for OSD Ronald Moultrie and the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency was in Israel. You guys put out a readout, it's pretty short. You all discussed security challenges in the region. Can we get anything more about that trip, why it happened, and any sort of new things that are coming out of it and major takeaways for Moultrie while he was there?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah. I appreciate the question. Given the fact that we're talking about intelligence and intelligence sharing, that's about as specific as we're going to be able to get.

Q: Not even a little bit on technology or why right now?

GEN. RYDER: That's about as specific as we can get. So thank you.

Yes, sir?

Q: On the Russian and Chinese flotilla around the Aleutians recently, I wanted to ask firstly was that an extension of the joint exercise they kicked off in the East China Sea last month? And secondly, given that they've done this at least three times over the past eight years or so, do you view their presence there, jointly or separately, as becoming kind of a new normal that you have to deal with?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, so I'll let the Chinese and the Russians characterize their activities. And what I would say is that NORAD and NORTHCOM monitored their presence. They were in international waters. At no point in time were they deemed to pose a threat. And so like any country, they are free to conduct exercises in international airspace, international waters.

We will continue to monitor but, you know, I think that it's no surprise to anyone that China and Russia continue to look at ways to cooperate and we'll continue to monitor this situation and act appropriately, Okay?

We've got time for one more. Yes, sir?

Q: Hi, just a follow-up on that. Has that prompted any change in status, deployment of units?

GEN. RYDER: No, not that I'm aware of at this time.

GEN. RYDER: Yep, last question. Yes, sir?

Q: Sorry, just a follow-up  does the Secretary support the proposals to potentially offer regional states the potential to have (inaudible) embark on commercial ships?

GEN. RYDER: You may have come in a little bit late, but again, I don't have anything right now. Again, I'm aware of the press reports speculating that that's something we may be looking at doing. Again, I don't have anything to announce, and when and if we do, we'll be sure to let you know.

Okay, thanks. All right, thanks very much, everybody.

Q: A quick question.

GEN. RYDER: Quick question.

Q: On the Syrian-Iraqi border, could you confirm some local reports saying that the U.S. military has closed the two entrances to main entrances between Iraq and Syria?

GEN. RYDER: The U.S. military has closed?

Q: Yeah.

GEN. RYDER: I mean, we'll look into it. Generally, to my knowledge, we're not into border control, but we'll take that question.

Q: Okay.

GEN. RYDER: You know, our focus there, as you know, is on the defeat ISIS mission.

Q: I know.

GEN. RYDER: So that's what our force posture is there for, but we'll look into that.

Q: All right, thank you very much.

GEN. RYDER: Thanks.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3485747/

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August 7, 2023

By C. Todd Lopez , DOD News

U.S. Forces Arrive to Support Deterrence Efforts at Strait of Hormuz

Sailors and Marines with the Navy's Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived in the Middle East yesterday as part of a pre-announced deployment to support deterrence efforts in the Strait of Hormuz and elsewhere, said Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder.

"As we have been for a very long time, we're coordinating with our partners in the region when it comes to U.S. military presence because, again, it's not just the U.S. military that's out there patrolling commercial shipping lanes. We're working as part of a broader coalition ... on that effort," Ryder said told reporters.

Sailors and Marines arrived in the region aboard the USS Bataan, an amphibious assault ship, and dock landing ship USS Carter Hall.

Last month, the Iranian navy attempted to illegally seize two merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman.

According to a news report from U.S. Central Command, on July 5, U.S. forces already in Centcom's area of responsibility participated in preventing two commercial tanker ships from being seized by the Iranian military in international waters near the coast of Oman.

One of those ships, the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker TRF Moss, was approached by an Iranian naval vessel, but the naval vessel departed after the U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul arrived.

Later the same day, the Bahamian-flagged oil tanker Richmond Voyager was also approached by an Iranian naval vessel. That Iranian naval vessel got within one mile of the tanker and fired on it using small arms and crew-served weapons. As happened with the TRF Moss, the Iranian vessel left when the USS McFaul arrived on the scene.

According to Centcom, Iran has attacked or seized about 20 merchant vessels since 2021.

Ryder said the increased U.S. presence in the Middle East is meant to help partners there keep open important shipping lanes such as at the Strait of Hormuz, which is a choke point between the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf. It also contributes further to a long-standing goal of preserving security and stability in the region.

"That's why we've deployed these additional assets, to give us additional options, to speed up timelines and, again, broadly, to ensure stability," Ryder said.

According to a news release from U.S. Central Command, an amphibious assault ship, such as the USS Bataan, can carry more than two dozen rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft. That could include MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft and AV-8B Harrier attack jets, in addition to several amphibious landing craft. A dock landing ship, such as the USS Carter Hall, also supports operations for various rotary-wing aircraft, tactical vehicles, and amphibious landing craft.

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Georgia/Russia: Statement by the High Representative on the 15th anniversary of the conflict between Russia and Georgia

European External Action Service (EEAS)

07.08.2023

EEAS Press Team

Today marks 15 years since the 2008 war between Russia and Georgia. The European Union's commitment to peaceful resolution of the conflict in Georgia is as strong as ever.

We condemn Russia's continued military presence in Abkhazia and South Ossetia in violation of international law and commitments undertaken by Russia under the 12 August 2008 agreement, mediated by the European Union. Local communities continue to suffer from humanitarian challenges and human rights violations, including through restrictions to the freedom of movement and illegal detentions. Obstacles for internally displaced persons and refugees to return to their place of origin, are persisting.

The European Union has been fully engaged in conflict resolution efforts, including as co-chair in the Geneva International Discussions and the efforts of the EU Special Representative. We call on all participants to engage constructively in the discussions to achieve the full implementation of the 12 August 2008 six-point agreement. We also underline the right of refugees and internally displaced persons to choose a sustainable solution, including a voluntary, safe and dignified return.

The continued presence of the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM Georgia) with over 200 civilian monitors has also contributed to the stabilisation of the security situation. With a mandate renewed for again until December 2024, the EUMM remains the only international mission on the ground to facilitate a safe and normal life for the local communities living on both sides of the Administrative Boundary Lines with Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

The European Union reconfirms its commitment to staying engaged in stabilisation and conflict resolution efforts in Georgia and reiterates its firm support to the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders.



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US hype of China-Russia joint naval patrol near Alaska is overreaction, exposes double standards

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun and Guo Yuandan Published: Aug 07, 2023 09:44 PM

China and Russia's third joint naval patrol that allegedly reached international waters near Alaska last week has touched the nerves of US media, which hyped the voyage as "highly provocative," ignoring the fact that the US constantly sends warships and warplanes to China's doorsteps for close-in reconnaissance and military exercises under the so-called freedom of navigation.

11 Chinese and Russian vessels approached the Aleutian Islands and have since left without entering US territorial waters, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Sunday, citing US officials.

Four US destroyers and a P-8 maritime patrol aircraft shadowed the combined Chinese and Russian naval force, the report said.

While the WSJ report quoted a US Northern Command spokesperson who said the patrol remained in international waters and was not considered a threat, it also quoted US experts as saying the voyage "is a historical first" and "highly provocative."

The US media reports came after China's Ministry of National Defense announced on July 26 that China and Russia would soon launch their third joint naval patrol, which would see both sides' warships sail into West and North Pacific waters following the Northern/Interaction-2023 joint exercises in the Sea of Japan.

The operation is not targeted against any third party and is not related to any international or regional situation, the Chinese Defense Ministry said in a press release at the time.Two Type 052D guided missile destroyers, two Type 054A guided missile frigates and a Type 903 comprehensive replenishment ship of the Chinese Navy are included in the flotilla, while the Russian Navy is represented by vessels including large anti-submarine ships and corvettes, according to media reports.

The Northern/Interaction-2023 joint exercises and the subsequent joint naval patrol fully reflect the level of the strategic mutual trust between the two countries and further enhanced the traditional friendship between the Chinese and Russian militaries, said Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, a spokesperson at China's Defense Ministry, at a regular press conference on July 27.

China is willing to continue to boost pragmatic communication and cooperation with all parties and contribute positive forces in safeguarding regional peace and stability as well as deal with all kinds of security threats, Tan said.

Despite that China and Russia announced the joint patrol, US media are attempting to hype the "China and Russia threat" theory, Zhuo Hua, an international affairs expert at the School of International Relations and Diplomacy of Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times on Monday.

The China-Russia joint patrol in international waters in the North and West Pacific marks a positive force that helps safeguard regional stability and security of strategic routes in the Asia-Pacific region at a time when the US is enhancing combat readiness, rallying allies and partners in the region to change defense policies and expand militaries, which escalated regional tensions, Zhuo said.

'Not first, not last'

This is not the "historical first" that a China-Russia joint naval patrol flotilla has reached waters off Alaska as US media has claimed, as a similar case took place during the second joint naval patrol between the two countries in September 2022.

At that time, only a lone US Coast Guard cutter was on the scene, compared to the USS John S. McCain, the USS Benfold, the USS John Finn and the USS Chung-Hoon destroyers and a P-8 maritime patrol aircraft deployed this time, the WSJ said.

The US media linked such an escalation in US reaction to the Ukraine crisis and the Taiwan question, but such speculation is purely groundless and is aimed at throwing mud at the normal military cooperation between China and Russia, analysts said, noting US' hegemonic mindset and its double standard are the true reasons behind its anxiety.

The international waters in the North Pacific including the Bering Sea are important because from here ships can access the Arctic, Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times on Monday.

With the global warming, the Arctic shipping routes could become key passages for civilian ships to carry out commercial activities, Fu said.

While the joint patrols by China and Russia aim to safeguard the security of key strategic routes, the US wants to control the passages out of its hegemonic mindset, experts said.

The US is nervous because the Bering Sea is close to Alaska, but the US should not forget that it frequently sends warships and warplanes to other countries' doorsteps for so-called freedom of navigation operations, including to the South China Sea and the Taiwan Straits, sometimes alone and sometimes together with other countries' forces, Fu said.

While the China-Russia joint flotilla did not enter US territorial waters, US warships have in many occasions trespassed into Chinese territorial waters in the South China Sea.

It is ironic that all US forces involved in shadowing the China-Russia joint flotilla have provoked China on Chinese doorsteps, observers said. The USS John S. McCain, the USS Benfold, the USS John Finn and the USS Chung-Hoon destroyers and a P-8 maritime patrol aircraft have all made transits in the Taiwan Straits in the past, while the USS John S. McCain, the USS Benfold and the USS Chung-Hoon have records of being expelled after trespassing into Chinese territorial waters in the South China Sea.

It exposes the US' double standard that only allows its military presence near other countries and not accepts other countries' military presence near it, observers said, urging the US to reflect on itself.

From a military perspective, the four US destroyers and a US patrol aircraft could only monitor the China-Russia joint flotilla of 11 warships, and were not capable of doing anything more than that, analysts said.

"In the future, the Chinese Navy could conduct more far sea patrols like this, either alone or together with other countries. The Americans should get use to it," Fu said.

Before the China-Russia joint naval patrols, Chinese naval warships had already reached international waters near Alaska.

Once such case was in August 2021, in which a four-ship Chinese naval flotilla led by a Type 055 10,000 ton-class large destroyer was reportedly spotted by the US Coast Guard in the US Exclusive Economic Zone, off the coast of the Aleutian Islands in Alaska.

In 2015, five PLA Navy ships transited expeditiously and continuously through the Aleutian Island chain in a manner consistent with international law, the US Naval Institute News reported at the time. It was an "innocent passage" within 12 nautical miles of the Aleutian Islands, the report said.

Chinese experts said this kind of far sea exercise serves as a countermeasure and a signal against the US hegemonic actions of frequently making provocations near China in the name of freedom of navigation.

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China urges Philippines to remove grounded warship from Ren'ai Reef

Global Times

FM slams US for meddling and sowing discord, confusion

By Liu Caiyu and Zhang Yuying Published: Aug 07, 2023 10:35 PM

China on Monday criticized the Philippines for disregarding China's repeated negotiations and requests to stop bringing construction materials to its "grounded" warship and stop intruding into the waters around Ren'ai Reef . China also urged the Philippines to remove the warship and demanded the US to stop meddling and sowing discord.

China has acted with restraint by using only water cannons in order to defend its own rights and avoid a direct collision, Chinese analysts said. They warned the Philippines that consolidating the wreck into a permanent base is not an option and said Manila should keep clear-headed and avoid following the US to take more proactive actions to escalate the tension.

On August 5, despite repeated Chinese dissuasion and warnings, the Philippines dispatched two vessels into the Ren'ai Jiaowaters in violation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, attempting to deliver building materials for repair and reinforcement to the illegal warship, a spokesperson from the China Coast Guard (CCG) said on Monday in a second response to the Philippines' move around China's Nansha Islands.

The CCG lawfully intercepted them and took warning law measures. When repeated verbal warnings did not have any effect, water cannons were used to avoid direct collision. The onsite operation was professional, restrained and beyond reproach, the CCG spokesperson said on Monday.

As per usual, the US has joined the Philippines to stir up the event. "We stand with our Philippine allies in condemning the PRC's efforts to impede lawful operations at Second Thomas Shoal," US Defense Department spokesperson Patrick Ryder said on Sunday on X (formerly Twitter). Earlier on Saturday, the US Department of State in an apparent gesture of backing the Philippines, criticized China for being inconsistent with international law through referring to the arbitral decision in July 2016. And it even threatened to invoke Mutual Defense Treaty between the US and the Philippines.

On Monday, a spokesperson from the Chinese Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the US' endorsement of the Philippines' illegal provocative actions. What the US does is to blatantly support the Philippines' violation of China's sovereignty, and its plot is doomed to fail, the spokesperson from the foreign ministry said.

The South China Sea arbitration case is a political farce manipulated behind the scenes by the US under the guise of law. The US justifying this illegal arbitration will not in any way affect China's firm determination and will safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, the spokesperson said, urging the US to stop using the South China Sea to sow discord.

The spokesperson from the CCG summarized the entire process of the conflict in Monday's statement, saying that the Ren'ai Jiao has always been a part of China's Nansha Islands. In 1999, the Philippines sent a military vessel and deliberately ran it aground at Ren'ai Jiao, prompting immediate and serious representations from China. The Philippines repeatedly promised to remove the grounded warship, but 24 years later, not only has the ship not been removed, but there have been attempts to repair and reinforce it, aiming for permanent occupation of the Ren'ai Jiao.

The Chinese side has lodged negotiations with the Philippines at various levels and through multiple channels, demanding that the Philippines refrain from unauthorized entry of vessels into Ren'ai Jiao and from transporting construction materials for large-scale maintenance and reinforcement to the "grounded" warship. China suggested, through diplomatic channels, that both sides engage in discussions on how to manage the situation at Ren'ai Jiao. However, the Philippines has refused to respond to these suggestions.

Delivering building materials for repair and reinforcement to the illegal warship means a longer period of illegal encroachment. Using water cannons to avoid a direct collision demonstrates China's restraint, unlike some countries in a similar situation that would open fire with artillery and send the warship to the bottom of sea, Zhang Junshe, a senior research fellow at the Naval Research Academy of the PLA, told the Global Times.

The Philippine government summoned the Chinese ambassador on Monday and lodged a strong diplomatic protest over the conflict around the South China Sea waters, AP said.

After President Ferdinand Marcos Jr came to power, although there were no major setbacks in China-Philippines relations, conflicts surrounding South China Seas have been constantly hyped, said Chen Xiangmiao, director of the world navy research center at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies.

"The US gesture of backing the Philippines and intervening into the regional affair is equivalent to egg the latter on to take more proactive actions toward the issue. However, the Philippines should remain clear-headed and see wisely that more actions would serve no good to solve the issue and only result in escalating the regional tension," Chen noted.

The Chinese expert warned the Philippines to avoid being pulled by the wrong signal from the US onto a wrong path otherwise it would fulfill the US intention of sowing discordant relations between China and the Philippines and other ASEAN countries.

For the grounded warship, Chinese experts reached by the Global Times said it cannot be ruled out that China would leave it to disintegrate on its own, and consolidating it into a permanent base of the Philippines is not an option.

China's position on the Ren'ai Jiao issue is clear and firm. China will continue to take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard its territorial sovereignty, the CCG spokesperson said, again calling on the Philippines to accept China's suggestion to manage the situation through dialogue.

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Friendship and trust between China and Cambodia is expected to further solidify under new PM Hun Manet: experts

Global Times

By GT staff reporters Published: Aug 07, 2023 09:55 PM

Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni on Monday appointed Hun Manet as the new prime minister, succeeding his father, who is stepping down after a long term rule. Chinese experts said friendship and trust between China and Cambodia is expected to further solidify under the leadership of the new Cambodian government in the coming period.

The monarch signed a royal decree to designate Hun Manet, 45, as the new prime minister for a five-year-term following a request from former leader Hun Sen. "The designated prime minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia has duties to prepare the members of the government in order to ask for the adoption of confidence from the National Assembly," Sihamoni said in the royal decree.

Hun Manet, along with his new cabinet members, will need to win a vote of confidence in the National Assembly slated for August 22 in order to officially become the new prime minister, and he is expected to be sworn in on the same day, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

The Hun Manet government is expected to be consistent in its friendly attitude toward China and further deepen Cambodian ties with China, based on the Belt and Road Initiative and a diamond cooperation framework with six priority areas, Gu Jiayun, director of Center for Cambodia Studies of Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times on Monday.

The stability of bilateral relations lies in the profound friendship and political foundation established over the years between the leaders of the two countries, which will not be easily altered because of the leadership change, Gu noted.

Not only do the two governments support each other's core concerns and have always been fully willing to build a China-Cambodia community of a shared future, China-Cambodia economic and trade cooperation has been on the rise, with its depth and breadth to rapidly expand and deepen following the implementation of the China-Cambodia Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), Gu said.

With the completion and commencement of several Chinese aid projects in Cambodia, China-Cambodia relations will grow on a brighter path, Gu added.

Other Chinese analysts pointed out that the close ties between China and Cambodia are rooted in their highly aligned national interests, where maintaining a friendly relationship serves both sides' common interests.

China has made substantial investments in Cambodia, playing a significant role in the country's infrastructure development, industries and exports and in developing the national economy and improving the livelihoods of the Cambodian people, Xu Liping, director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at the Beijing-based Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Monday.

The appointment came after the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) of Hun Sen won a landslide victory in the July 23 general election, gaining 120 out of 125 seats in the National Assembly. Hun Sen, 71, said he will remain the CPP's president and will take the position of President of the Senate in a Senate Election on February 25 next year, according to Xinhua.

Some have speculated whether Hun Manet - who attended US military academy West Point and received higher education in the West - might adopt subtle innovation in the country's foreign policy in order to maximize its national interests.

The policy direction of Cambodia's new leadership will not undergo major adjustments but is expected to see subtle innovation along its policy continuity, Gu noted.

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NATO Allies support Slovenia following deadly flooding

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

07 Aug. 2023

NATO Allies are providing support to Slovenia after record rainfall starting last Friday triggered severe flooding affecting two-thirds of the country. Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg spoke by phone with Prime Minister Robert Golob on Monday (7 August 2023), expressing his condolences and NATO's strong solidarity with Slovenia.

Mr Stoltenberg said: "I express my deepest condolences to the people of Slovenia for the loss of life and widespread devastation caused by this weekend's floods. Upon Slovenia's request for assistance, NATO's disaster response coordination centre immediately notified all 31 Allies and 35 partners of your needs. I welcome that NATO Allies stepped up with immediate offers of support including helicopters, modular bridges, excavators, and engineering expertise. This is NATO solidarity in action. We will continue to work closely with you in the days and weeks ahead. The increasing frequency of extreme weather highlights the profound impact of climate change. NATO is committed to addressing climate change and its impact on our security."



Following Slovenia's request for assistance via NATO's Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC), Spain offered one heavy CH-47 helicopter with up to 25 personnel, including crew and supporting staff. Allies are also providing support through the EU and bilaterally. Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany and France have offered support including helicopters, excavators, prefabricated bridges and engineering teams. The United States has also deployed staff to Ljubljana to assess the situation and determine urgent humanitarian needs.



The EADRCC is the Alliance's principal civil emergency response mechanism in the Euro-Atlantic area. The Centre functions as a clearing-house system for coordinating both requests for and offers of assistance mainly in case of natural and man-made disasters.

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Cambodian king appoints Hun Manet as new PM

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 13:14, August 07, 2023

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni on Monday appointed Hun Manet as the new prime minister after incumbent Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen announced he was stepping down.

The monarch signed a royal decree to designate Hun Manet, 45, as the new prime minister for a five-year-term government following a request from Hun Sen.

"The designated prime minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia has duties to prepare the members of the government in order to ask for the adoption of confidence from the National Assembly," Sihamoni said in the royal decree.

"This royal decree takes effect from the day of signature," he added.

Hun Manet, along with his new cabinet members, will need to win a vote of confidence in the National Assembly slated for Aug. 22 in order to officially become the new prime minister, and he is expected to be sworn in on the same day.

The appointment came after the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) of Hun Sen won a landslide victory in the July 23 general election, gaining 120 out of 125 seats in the National Assembly.

Hun Manet is currently a member of the CPP's Standing Committee and a deputy commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.

Hun Sen announced on July 26 that he would step down as the prime minister after having held the position for more than 38 years, handing the reins of power to his eldest son Hun Manet.

However, the 71-year-old leader said he will remain the CPP's president and will take the position of President of the Senate in a Senate Election on Feb. 25 next year.

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Israel says kills 3 Palestinians en route to carrying out attack

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:03, August 07, 2023

JERUSALEM/JENIN, West Bank, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Israel said its troops killed three armed Palestinians in the occupied West Bank on Sunday while they were on their way to carry out an attack against Israelis.

According to a statement released by the Israeli army, soldiers and agents with the Shin Bet internal security agency "thwarted a terror cell" near Jenin in the northern West Bank. An M16 rifle was found in the car.

The head of the group, identified as 26-year-old Naif Abu Tsuik from the Jenin refugee camp, was "a leading military operative" and involved in "military actions against Israeli security forces and advancing military activities directed by terrorists in the Gaza Strip," said the statement.

Palestinian eyewitnesses in Jenin said the militants were targetted by intensive gunfire from a special Israeli armed force while they were driving south of the city.

They accused the Israeli soldiers of preventing ambulances from reaching the militants, resulting in their deaths at the scene, and of taking their bodies away.

The killing comes about a month after Israel carried out its largest-scale military operation in the Jenin refugee camp in more than 20 years, killing at least 12 Palestinians, wrecking damage across the camp and forcing thousands of residents to temporarily flee from their homes.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson's Remarks on the Statement of the US State Department Concerning Ren'ai Jiao

People's Republic of China Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2023-08-07 21:02

Q: The US State Department issued a statement criticizing China for obstructing Philippine vessels that sought to deliver new troops and supplies to a grounded military vessel at Ren'ai Jiao and firing water cannons. The statement says such actions are "inconsistent with international law" and "threatening regional peace and stability" and calls upon China to abide by the South China Sea arbitration award issued in 2016. The statement indicates US support for "the Philippines' lawful maritime operations" and says an armed attack on the Philippines' Coast Guard would "invoke US mutual defense commitments under the US Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty". Do you have any comment?

A: Ren'ai Jiao has always been part of China's Nansha Qundao. The historical context of the issue of Ren'ai Jiao is very clear. In 1999, the Philippines sent a military vessel and deliberately ran it aground at Ren'ai Jiao, attempting to change the status quo of Ren'ai Jiao illegally. China immediately made serious demarches to the Philippines, demanding the removal of the vessel. The Philippines promised several times to tow it away, but has yet to act. Not only that, the Philippines sought to overhaul and reinforce the military vessel in order to permanently occupy Ren'ai Jiao. On August 5, in disregard of China's repeated dissuasion and warning, the Philippines sent two vessels that intruded into the adjacent waters of Ren'ai Jiao and tried to deliver the construction materials for overhauling and reinforcing the grounded military vessel. Such actions violated China's sovereignty and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). The China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels stopped them in accordance with law and warned them off through appropriate law enforcement measures. Their maneuvers were professional, restrained and beyond reproach.

The State Department's statement, in disregard of the facts, attacked China's legitimate and lawful actions at sea aimed at safeguarding its rights and enforcing the law. The statement also voiced support for the Philippines' unlawful, provocative behavior. China firmly opposes the statement. For some time, the US has been inciting and supporting the Philippines attempts to overhaul and reinforce its military vessel that was deliberately grounded on Ren'ai Jiao. The US even sent over military aircraft and vessels to assist and support the Philippines, and repeatedly sought to threaten China by citing the US Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty. The US has been brazenly bolstering Philippines as it infringes upon China's sovereignty, but those moves will not succeed.

The South China Sea arbitration was a pure political drama staged in the name of the law with the US pulling strings behind the scenes. The so-called award contravenes international laws, including UNCLOS, and is illegal, null and void. The US's attempt to make an issue of the illegal award will not affect China's firm resolve to safeguard its territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interests in accordance with the law. We urge the US to stop utilizing the South China Sea issue to sow confusion and discord, and we urge it to respect China's territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, and respect regional countries' efforts to uphold peace and stability in this region.



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Niger military rulers want dialogue with West Africa bloc: Ousted prime minister

Iran Press TV

Monday, 07 August 2023 10:04 PM

Niger's ousted prime minister says the country's military rulers, who overthrew civilian authorities in a recent coup, seek dialogue with a West African bloc that has threatened military intervention to restore the ousted president to power.

Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou told French broadcaster TV5 Monde on Monday that "the junta have asked the ECOWAS delegation to return," and the bloc's members "will be in Niamey probably today (Monday) or tomorrow."

"Negotiation is still possible," Mahamadou added.

A delegation from the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) arrived in the Nigerien capital city of Niamey last Thursday. However, it did not stay overnight as scheduled, failing to meet with either the toppled president, Mohamed Bazoum, or coup leader, Abdourahamane Tiani.

Niger's military has been holding Bazoum since last month in the seventh coup to hit Africa's Sahel region in recent years, with Tiani, head of the powerful presidential guard, declaring himself leader.

On July 30, the ECOWAS gave the coup leaders a week to return the ousted president to power or face consequences, including the use of force. Sunday was the last day of the deadline.

In its first official reaction following the expiry of the deadline, the bloc said it had agreed to hold a summit meeting next week to discuss how to proceed.

The ECOWAS bloc "leaders will be considering and discussing the political situation and recent developments in Niger during the summit," it added.

"We are not disappointed... because our objective is not military intervention. Our objective is the restoration of democracy and the end of the sequestration of president Bazoum," Mahamadou said in another part of his interview.

"ECOWAS intervention to restore Niger's president could be catastrophic"

Also on Monday, neighboring Mali sounded a strong alarm against the prospect of ECOWAS' military intervention in Niger, saying it would lead to nothing but "catastrophe."

"The military force that has been used in other... countries, we see the results -- it's a disaster," said Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop.

He cited the cases of Iraq and Libya -- which were invaded in the name of democracy by foreign forces led by the United States respectively in 2003 and 2011 -- to prove the futility of a military solution.

Diop said he "could not understand" why ECOWAS would send a military force to restore "fallen authorities," but would not provide arms to help the Sahel countries in their fight against militants.

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US deploys over 3,000 sailors, Marines to West Asia under pretext of maritime security

Iran Press TV

Monday, 07 August 2023 4:37 PM

The US Navy has deployed more than 3,000 sailors and Marine forces to West Asia under the pretext of protecting ships and vessels crossing the main waterways in the strategic region.

The US Naval Forces Central Command (CENTCOM) made the announcement on Monday, saying the forces from the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) had arrived in West Asia.

"Amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 50) and dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) entered the Red Sea after transiting from the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal," CENTCOM said in a statement.

"Bataan ARG/26th MEU units bring to the region additional aviation and naval assets, as well as more US Marines and Sailors, providing greater flexibility and maritime capability to US 5th Fleet."

The statement said the amphibious assault ship can carry more than two dozen rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft, in addition to several amphibious landing craft.

The US Navy claimed the deployment was made following a call by the Department of Defense for additional troops after "recent attempts by Iran to seize commercial ships in the CENTCOM area of operations."

The US Navy accused Iran of "attacking, seizing or attempting to seize" nearly 20 internationally flagged merchant vessels in the region over the past two years.

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy has over the past years foiled several attacks on both Iranian and foreign tankers in the strategic Persian Gulf region and other high seas.

The IRGC's Navy confiscated more than 50 million liters of smuggled fuel, mainly diesel, in various missions last year.

Back in April, Iranian forces seized two tankers in the span of a week in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, one of them over a judicial complaint by a private plaintiff and the other over a maritime accident with an Iranian fishing craft.

In recent years, the US navy has several times seized Iranian-controlled tankers and shipments of oil en route to other countries, citing its own sanctions on Iran's oil exports.

Iran says it views US military vessels lurking in the waters of the Persian Gulf as a threat to its security and a source of tension and instability in the region.

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Niger coup leaders brace for ECOWAS response as deadline passes

Iran Press TV

Monday, 07 August 2023 2:04 PM

Niger's coup leaders are bracing for a response from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as a one-week ultimatum to restore the ousted government expired.

Following the ouster of President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, ECOWAS issued the ultimatum, demanding the generals relinquish power by August 6 or face military action.

There has been no sign yet of a military response and no statement from the bloc of 15 African countries.

Niger's junta closed the country's airspace, saying it had information that "a foreign power" was preparing to attack the country.

ECOWAS has said it will issue a statement on its next steps in response to the rejection of the deadline. The leaders will meet on August 10.

Italy and Germany have both urged ECOWAS to extend the deadline to reinstate Bazoum so that a diplomatic solution can be found.

"The only path is a diplomatic one," said Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.

"I hope that the ultimatum of ECOWAS, which expired last night at midnight, will be extended today."

"A solution must be found. It's not set that there is no way other than war," the minister said.

Germany's Foreign Ministry also echoed the calls for a diplomatic solution, saying it supports "ECOWAS in its mediation efforts."

A ministry spokesman told a news briefing that the expiry of the deadline did not mean there would automatically be military action.

"We hope that these (mediation) efforts will ultimately lead to success and that constitutional order will be restored in Niger."

Algeria, which shares a long land border with Niger, has also cautioned against a military solution.

Meanwhile, France warned citizens against any travel to Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, and Air France suspended all flights.

Italy also said it had reduced its troop numbers in Niger to make room in its military base for Italian civilians who may need protection if security deteriorates.

Hundreds of foreigners have been evacuated from Niger since the coup.

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Philippines summons Chinese envoy over water-cannon incident in disputed waters

Beijing, meanwhile, calls on Manila to stop using a rusted out WWII era ship as a military outpost.

By BenarNews staff 2023.08.07 -- A war of words heated up Monday as Manila summoned Beijing's ambassador to complain about the China Coast Guard firing water cannon at a Philippine Coast Guard ship while it escorted a civilian convoy in the South China Sea.

In response, the Chinese government reiterated its demand that the Philippines remove the BRP Sierra Madre, a rusty World War II-era naval ship that Manila deliberately ran aground in the Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) in 1999 to serve as a military outpost in those contested waters.

A convoy of Philippine ships was on a mission Saturday to deliver food, water, fuel and other supplies to troops stationed aboard the BRP Sierra Madre when the incident occurred near the shoal.

While meeting with the Chinese envoy on Monday morning, Manila conveyed "the strong protest of the Philippine government to the blocking and water cannon operation by the Chinese Coast Guard and Chinese maritime militia vessels against Philippine indigenous boats," Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Ma. Teresa Daza told reporters.

The Philippine convoy was "conducting [a] regular rotation and resupply" mission to Ayungin Shoal, she said.

The Philippine government also expressed disappointment that it was not able to reach China's foreign ministry through a hotline established between the countries earlier this year to improve communication during incidents related to the South China Sea, she said.

The incident, which lasted more than an hour, was the latest in a growing number of perceived aggressive actions by China in the South China Sea, an important maritime trade route subject to overlapping territorial claims from China, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Taiwan.

China asserts sovereignty over most of the sea and has for years militarized artificial islands while deploying coast guard boats, navy ships and a state-backed maritime militia around disputed areas.

Daza said Ayungin Shoal was well within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, as recognized in a 2016 ruling by an international arbitration court.

China's dangerous maneuvers breached international maritime law by restricting the Philippine ships' navigational path, thereby increasing the risk of collision, she said.

The foreign ministry "firmly asked" China to "direct its vessels to stop their illegal actions against Philippine vessels, and to stop interfering in legitimate Philippine government activities while complying with relevant international laws," according to Daza.

In Beijing, the foreign ministry claimed the shoal, which it calls Ren'ai Jiao, had always belonged to China.

"In 1999, the Philippines sent a military vessel and deliberately ran it aground at Ren'ai Jiao, attempting to change the status quo of Ren'ai Jiao illegally. China immediately made serious demarches to the Philippines, demanding the removal of the vessel," a ministry spokesman said Monday.

"The Philippines promised several times to tow it away, but has yet to act. Not only that, the Philippines sought to overhaul and reinforce the military vessel in order to permanently occupy Ren'ai Jiao."

As for Saturday's confrontation at sea, "such actions violated China's sovereignty and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," the spokesman said. "The China Coast Guard vessels stopped them in accordance with law and warned them off through appropriate law enforcement measures. Their maneuvers were professional, restrained and beyond reproach."

'Dangerous and unlawful'

Meanwhile, the Philippines' ambassador to China delivered a diplomatic protest in Beijing on Monday morning.

The Philippines since 2020 has sent 445 diplomatic protests to China relating to occupation or harassment in the South China Sea, Daza said. A total of 35 have been sent since Jan. 1.

On Monday, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called a command meeting with the coast guard and military to discuss the fresh incident.

"We continue to assert our sovereignty, we continue to assert our territorial rights in the face of all these challenges," Marcos told reporters on the sidelines of a Philippine Army event.

Jonathan Malaya, spokesman for a Philippine task force on the South China Sea, characterized the Chinese action on Saturday near Ayungin Shoal as "aggressive, dangerous and unlawful."

At one point, he said, one of the six China Coast Guard ships came within 20 yards (18.3 meters) as it blocked the path of a Philippine boat, officials said.

"The Chinese Coast Guard and Chinese militia vessels have no right whatsoever to place a blockade or impede, or otherwise control, the movement of the Philippine Coast Guard in Ayungin Shoal or anywhere else in the West Philippine Sea, especially when they are undertaking a mission to resupply our troops stationed there," Malaya told a press briefing.

While one Philippine supply boat was blocked, another was able to break through and successfully delivered some of the supplies, Malaya said.

Only weeks earlier, the Philippine Coast Guard had accused its Chinese counterpart of dangerous maneuvers that, the Filipino side alleged, could have caused a collision during a similar resupply mission.

Two China Coast Guard ships intercepted Philippine patrol boats and "exhibited aggressive tactics" and at one point, the Chinese ship came to just 50 yards of a Philippine ship.

Camille Elemia in Manila contributed to this report by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated news service.

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 August not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Lawsuit in Palau seeks to suspend work on US military radar site

Angaur state government says land was cleared without an environmental impact assessment, permits.

By L.N. Reklai for BenarNews 2023.08.07 -- Palau's Angaur state, home to about 140 people, is suing the United States and Palau governments and American military contractors for allegedly damaging the environment when clearing land for a U.S. over-the-horizon radar facility in the Pacific island country.

The lawsuit from Angaur, one of 16 states in Palau, also alleges that the compact of free association that governs the close relations between Palau and the United States was violated by work on the radar.

It's unclear whether the suit will delay the defense project, which the U.S. aims to complete by 2026, adding to its early-warning capabilities for the western Pacific as China's military strength increases. Some Angaur people oppose the lawsuit and want economic benefits from the U.S. military project to continue.

"This was not an easy decision to make," said Angaur Gov. Steven Salii of the decision to file the lawsuit. He said he tried unsuccessfully for six months to find out information about the project and how it would affect the people of Angaur and Palau.

A Palau court on Aug. 2 denied Angaur state a temporary restraining order that would have halted work on the site until an environmental impact statement was prepared.

The decision was on procedural grounds because Angaur state didn't provide evidence of attempts to notify other parties in the case, the court said. Angaur state is seeking a reconsideration of that decision.

The Department of Defense awarded a U.S.$120 million contract in late 2022 for construction of reinforced foundations and pads in Palau for "Tactical Mobile Over-the-Horizon Radar," or TACMOR equipment, which provides greater range than line-of-sight radar.

The radar project has two sites - for a transmitter and receiver - one in Angaur island in the south of Palau and the other in Ngaraard in the north of the archipelago.

Palau, home to about 20,000 people and located between the Philippines and Guam - a base for U.S. bombers - is one of three Pacific island countries including the Marshall Islands and Federated States of Micronesia that give the U.S. exclusive military access to their territories in exchange for economic assistance and other benefits under compacts of free association.

The lawsuit claims that the Palau government, the U.S. government, the companies hired to clear the site - Cape Environmental and Pacific Unlimited - along with Palau Environmental Quality Protection Board, allowed for the clearance of some 271,807 square meters (2.9 million square feet) of land in Angaur without an environmental impact assessment and required permits.

It says conditions on U.S. activities in its defense sites in Palau, under the compact of free association, were violated by the land clearance. Military activities, for example, are required to avoid interference with commercial activities, fishermen's access to shoreline areas and adverse effects on the well being of Palau's people.

Land clearance is "interfering with the access and travels of the residents of Angaur," the suit said, while associated erosion is "damaging their reef areas and waters because of inadequate mitigation measures in places."

The suit also claims that 1,869 tons of lead-contaminated soil and 125 drums containing 92 tons of bitumen at the site are exposing Angaur residents and the environment to harmful poisons.

"The people usually come here to collect land crabs or fish around the reefs here, but now they can't," said former Angaur governor, Marvin Ngirutang, during a visit to the site late last month.

Aside from halting work, Angaur state is seeking fines of $10,000 for every day land clearance that was carried out without a permit and damages from military contractors.

The land for the radar in Angaur is privately owned by the Ochedaruchei clan.

Clan representatives have previously said a leading figure in the clan only signed a lease agreement with Palau's government because she needed money for medical treatment in the U.S. and didn't know until the last moment how much land was needed.

Not everyone in Angaur agrees with the lawsuit.

The traditional chiefs of Ngermasech hamlet next to the land clearance works, the Ngaraeriud, signed a resolution opposing the case. They said it was organized without the knowledge of the people of Angaur.

Their resolution points to many economic benefits from the project such as jobs that paid higher than Palau's minimum wage and a $1 million fee for Angaur state.

"All available houses in Angaur are rented out, so homeowners enjoy a steady income," it said. "Foreign workers are patronizing the two retail stores on the island, so storekeepers are seeing a boost in their revenues."

Adelbai Jackson Henry, former Speaker of the Angaur state legislature, said there is "absolutely zero damage" from the radar project.

"If the lawsuit results in freezing the project, unemployment will result, and a negative impact on the state economy will be realized," he said.

BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated online news organization.

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 August not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Cambodia's king signs royal decree to nominate Hun Manet as PM

Hun Sen's son will take over for his father on Aug. 22.

By RFA Khmer 2023.08.07 -- Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni on Monday issued a royal decree to appoint Hun Sen's eldest son Hun Manet as the country's prime minister, ensuring that the transfer of power from father to son will occur later this month.

According to the decree, Hun Manet will assume the office on Aug. 22, when the newly elected National Assembly adopts the new cabinet. It will be the completion of years of preparation for a transfer of power from father to son, as the 71-year-old Hun Sen, who has ruled the country since 1985, prepares to step aside.

Hun Sen did however say that he would continue to have a role in government for the next 10 years.

Hun Manet's royal appointment comes after the country's electoral body on Saturday announced last month's election results, which gave Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party, or CPP, 120 of the assembly's 125 seats.

The election has been criticized by the international community for being neither free nor fair, as the main opposition party was disqualified from participating.

Analysts and opposition party officials have criticized Hun Manet's appointment as prime minister, saying that dynastic rule has no place in a democracy.

Finland-based political analyst Kim Sok told RFA's Khmer Service that Hun Manet lacks the acumen to solve Cambodia's national problems.

"Hun Manet has only one policy: to follow his father. And his father, although the CPP has written hundreds of good policies, has implemented only one point: to persecute the people," said Kim Sok.

"[Hun Sen] has destroyed the nation, selling the nation to maintain power. Therefore the chaos that is the burden of the social crisis left by Hun Sen as a father will continue under Hun Manet and will be even more serious."

Cambodian legal scholar Vorn Chanlouth told RFA that under the current legal process, there are no obstacles standing in Hun Manet's way because the CPP has effectively prepared for the transfer of power. But there is still reason to doubt the legitimacy of it.

"The problem we have here is the transparency of PM candidate," he said. "In this 7th legislative mandate election process, many political parties lack transparency, as they did not present their prime ministerial candidates to the public. For example, in the CPP, Hun Sen said he was the candidate, but when his party won, he passed the post to his son. This is not transparent."

Chanlouth said that prime ministerial candidate should have come forward to explain to the public his party's policies, but Hun Manet said nothing other than that he would follow in his father's footsteps.

"We don't know specifically or exactly what they are going to do to solve the national problems we face today," he said.

'Not over yet'

Hun Sen, meanwhile, has assured the public that "It is not over yet" in an announcement on his Telegram social media channel.

He said that in addition to being the father of the prime minister, he will continue in other positions until 2033.

Hun Sen is currently the president of the CPP, and he repeated his intention to become the president of the senate, a position currently held by CPP vice president Say Chhum.

Oum Sam An, a former lawmaker for the former main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, said that Hun Sen's intention to assume future positions in government shows that he is "afraid of his own shadow," meaning that he is afraid to face the law after he resigns as the leader of the country.

"The leadership has not changed," he said. "Most of them are the children of members of the senior government, so the new bloods are the old blood taking on the jobs [of their parents]."

Kim Sok said that Hun Sen's rule would be remembered for its destruction of natural resources, arrest of dissenting citizens, and other rights violations.

"Because the Cambodian people, the international community, and the International Court of Justice, cannot forget the story that the general public cannot forget about Mr. Hun Sen as the leader of a coup that robbed power and led a society through state terrorism," said Kim Sok. "He used the name of the state to abuse the people and destroy them."

CPP spokesman Sok Ey San, however, denied that Hun Sen was responsible for killings or injustices on the Cambodian people in the past. He said those who dare to criticize without evidence will be held accountable before the law.

Translated by Sok Ry Sum. Edited by Eugene Whong.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content August not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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The making of Hun Manet

Is the son with a Ph.D. in economics ready to take over for his strongman father?

Jack Adamovic Davies for RFA Investigative 2023.08.07 -- Cambodia's prime minister, Hun Sen, who is stepping down later this month after four decades in power, has often suggested he is the reincarnation of a 16th century king.

And he occasionally imbues his successor, Hun Manet, with similarly mythical powers. In public speeches and to his biographers, Hun Sen has insisted that blinding light shot out from a centuries-old Banyan tree upon his eldest son's birth.

"Five hundred people saw the light. That was when Manet was born," he told the authors of Strongman: The Extraordinary Life of Hun Sen in December 1997.

The anecdote, with its mythic overtones, seems calculated to portray Hun Manet as destined for the same kingly greatness as his father. But, speaking just four months after he ousted his coalition partners in a bloody coup, Hun Sen went on to tell the biographers that not only did he not want his son to walk the same political tightrope as he had, he did not think then-20-year-old Hun Manet would be well suited to it.

"I would like to be the last member of my family who was involved in politics," Hun Sen is quoted as saying in Strongman. "I would rather see [Manet] working as an assistant to a politician, helping in national reconstruction, and not become a politician himself. ... It seems he is interested in study, in research, in making recommendations rather than doing things himself."

Hun Manet was appointed prime minister by royal decree on Monday and is poised to be sworn in on Aug. 22, following last month's one-sided election. With the 45-year-old now taking the helm, many Cambodians are wondering what the rare moment of change will mean for the country. He is a trained economist and an experienced general. But as a politician he remains a cipher; and only time will tell whether he has his father's autocratic tendencies.

'An innocent guy'

Those who knew Hun Manet as a young man offer accounts not dissimilar to Hun Sen's. They recall a humble and conscientious youth, mild-mannered almost to the point of timidity and determined to carve out a career for himself in development economics.

Hun Manet enrolled at West Point military academy in 1995, the first Cambodian ever to have done so, and one of fewer than 10 non-U.S. students in a class of more than 900. He struggled initially with communicating in English and was bewildered by cultural phenomena such as hazing, he told his father's biographers in 2003.

Kevin James, who roomed with Hun Manet for two years, described him as a "tolerant individual who, at the time anyway, didn't have any presumptions about any one person being different from any other."

They got on so well their first year that they elected to bunk together again in their second, James told RFA.

"I had zero complaints about living with Manet. He was friendly, and a kind and considerate roommate. He didn't cause any issues, and he tolerated my smoking in the room," recalled James, who is now a lieutenant colonel in the 101st Airborne Division. "He was an innocent guy with no airs, and this is coming from a guy from rural Pennsylvania - I was occasionally shocked at how innocent he was."

Having gained a bachelor's degree in economics, Hun Manet continued his studies at New York University. There, he researched whether Cambodia would benefit from land reform for his 2001 master's thesis. Back home, meanwhile, his father was beginning to parcel out the country to cronies and foreign investors in the form of economic land concessions. By 2014, according to a lawsuit, such ELCs had displaced 6% of the Cambodian population.

As his father's government continued to enrich its powerful tycoon class at the expense of the poorest, Hun Manet appeared increasingly interested in learning how the world's worst off can be lifted out of poverty. He took an internship with the World Bank, during which time he was posted to the Congo, according to a Facebook post by Hun Sen. Afterwards, he moved to the United Kingdom, where he undertook a doctorate at Bristol University.

"He was an able student, always polite and respectful, and hard-working," his Ph.D. supervisor, Jonathan Temple, told RFA last year, adding that he expressed a desire to work in development economics. "I did not learn about his family background until his studies were well advanced."

Family values

If his studies brought Hun Manet geographically and perhaps intellectually far from his family, there was little sign that he left their orbit.

In his second year at N.Y.U., Hun Manet and his then-teenage siblings spent $550,000 on a four-bedroom house in New York's Long Island suburb, despite the fact that all were unemployed and their father's official salary was just $12,000 a year. (In the year 2000 when the purchase took place, the house equaled 1,600 times the average annual Cambodian salary.)

In 2006 Hun Manet married Pich Chanmony, the well-connected daughter of a Labor Ministry secretary of state and minister attached to the prime minister. They would go on to have three children. As with his four siblings, whose spouses are the scions of powerful families, Hun Manet's marriage reflected a growing dynasty intertwining business, politics and personal life.

In November 2011, Pich Chanmony and the son of tycoon Choeung Sopheap (whose husband is ruling-party senator Lau Ming Kan) incorporated Phnom Penh Toll Way Co. Ltd. Soon after, the company won the $10.5 million contract to renovate and then collect tolls on Veng Sreng Boulevard.

A month after toll collection started in November 2015, Hun Sen had announced that the government would buy the company out. Today, Pich Chanmony chairs four companies and is on the board of another six, according to the Commerce Ministry registry.

The battle for Preah Vihear

Any ivory tower dreams Hun Manet might have harbored dissipated shortly after he left Bristol in February 2008. A long-running border dispute with Thailand over the Preah Vihear temple complex boiled over into live fighting in June of the same year.

The clashes were well timed for Hun Sen, who used them to drum up nationalistic support ahead of the July elections. He also took the opportunity to put his son's West Point education to the test, placing him in charge of Cambodian forces around the temples, and sending him back when tensions flared again in 2011.

The world took notice. Robert Willard, the U.S. Navy admiral in charge of American forces in the Pacific at the time, told a U.S. congressional committee that by sending Hun Manet to Preah Vihear, Hun Sen appeared to be grooming him as his "heir apparent."

"This conflict builds Hun Manet's credentials as a military leader and hero who defended national sovereignty against an external threat," Willard told the committee.

The boy who would be 'king'

In the following years, Hun Sen's sons and sons-in-law took on greater roles in the government and military while his daughters became business magnates, but it was increasingly clear that Hun Manet was indeed being positioned for the top job.

By 2015, the topic was the focus of a rare interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, with signs that the young then-lieutenant general was growing more excited by the prospect.

After spending most of the conversation quietly trotting out the Cambodian People's Party line about the dangers of upending the status quo, Hun Manet's mask slipped toward the end. The interviewer first asked him how long his father planned to stick around. A smile broke across his face, and laughing, he chided the interviewer: "Cambodia is a democracy; as long as the people want him to."

His smile grew larger when she asked, "If the people want you to, you would be prime minister?"

"Not no, not yes," he said.

As speculation around Hun Manet's future role mounted, he received promotion after promotion, moving rapidly up the military ranks. He spoke rarely with reporters and closely guarded his public image. While other members of his family today have a robust social media presence, showing off expensive watches and private jets, Hun Manet maintains only professional accounts and keeps his children mostly hidden from view. (Requests to Hun Manet for an interview went unanswered.)

At times, he has shown little tolerance of criticism. In 2016, he complained to the press that he had been met with protests by the Cambodian diaspora wherever he went in Australia.

"Why are they looking down on me, causing divisions and conflicts?" he asked reporters.

Ou Virak, president of the Phnom Penh think tank Future Forum, said past conversations with Hun Manet left him with the impression that the future premier was sincerely interested in tackling corruption and encouraging development. But along with the premiership, Hun Sen has also bequeathed his son a country whose power structures were forged in violent struggle and are precariously interlocked. Given such an entrenched political system, anything that upsets them could be disastrous for Hun Manet personally.

"At his stage, politics is still a zero-sum game to him, it could be dangerous for his family [to accept change]," he noted.

Additional reporting by RFA Khmer's Keo Sovannarith. Edited by Abby Seiff

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 August not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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August 7 Or 8? Why The Date Georgia Marks Its 2008 War With Russia Is So Controversial

By Joshua Kucera August 07, 2023

TBILISI -- Fifteen years after Georgia's 2008 war with Russia over the breakaway region of South Ossetia, there is little Georgians can agree on about how to remember it -- including on which day it started.

Many, including the Georgian government, will commemorate the anniversary of the outbreak of war on August 8. Opposition figures and much of the international community, meanwhile, are marking it a day earlier, on August 7.

The increasingly rigid schism about the anniversary is a corollary of the single question that has come to dominate Georgia's discourse about the 2008 war: Who started it?

The question does not lend itself to a short answer. The full-scale war erupted after days of escalating skirmishes in the region and months of heightened tensions over the Russian-backed breakaway territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. It emerged from years of political estrangement between the Georgians and Ossetians and historical grievances that date back centuries.

The short war, which lasted for around five days, killed more than 200 soldiers and more than 300 civilians and displaced thousands. Following the war, Russia formally recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states and substantially expanded its military footprint in both territories.

Who you believe "started" the war depends to a large degree on how far back in history you choose to go.

It was in the early hours of August 8, 2008, when Georgian forces heavily shelled the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinvali. Russia, which was the security guarantor for the separatist South Ossetian state -- which had broken away from Georgia in another war in the early 1990s -- responded with overwhelming force, and in the next few days not only pushed Georgian forces out of South Ossetia but struck and invaded Georgia proper.

This, according to many accounts, is how the war started. A European Union report produced a year later declared that the shelling of Tskhinvali "marked the beginning of the large-scale armed conflict in Georgia," though it blamed Russia as well for its provocative actions in the run-up to the war.

Some Georgians, however, point to what they say was the real start of the conflict: an alleged large-scale movement of Russian forces into South Ossetia via the Roki Tunnel, which they argue was the precursor to a long-planned invasion of Georgia.

The supposed Russian troop movement has never been proved, and the writers of the EU report cautiously said that they were "not in a position to consider as sufficiently substantiated" the reports of a significant August 7 Russian advance.

Despite that assessment, the August 7 narrative was an ex post facto justification by then-President Mikheil Saakashvili, argues Paata Zakareishvili, a longtime peace activist and a former state minister for reconciliation and civic equality.

"For a year [after the war], absolutely no one was talking about August 7," Zakareishvili told RFE/RL. But in anticipation of the EU report's release in 2009, Zakareishvili said that Saakashvili developed the "myth, this legend" of a large-scale Russian invasion before Georgia's attack. "The idea that the war started on the 7th is absurd. It was invented by Saakashvili for his political agenda," he said.

When the Georgian Dream party, led by billionaire businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili, began its quest in 2011 to topple Saakashvili and his United National Movement (ENM) party, part of its campaign narrative was that Saakashvili had recklessly started the war and brought on the devastating Russian invasion.

In a 2011 press conference ahead of parliamentary elections, Ivanishvili said that "Georgia started" the war, citing the EU report as evidence.

The dueling anniversaries began soon after. When Georgian Dream won the elections in 2012, ending the rule of Saakashvili's ENM, and Ivanishvili became prime minister, he marked the 2012 anniversary of the war on August 8. Saakashvili, who was then still president, commemorated it a day earlier.

By November 2013, Saakashvili had also lost the presidency, and the dominance of Georgian Dream -- and August 8 -- began. A pillar of Georgian Dream's political narrative is that the previous leadership had brought war to the country, and they would not.

But among anti-Georgian Dream circles, who tend to be political allies of Saakashvili, resistance to the later date began to mount.

"There is some confusion about the date of the start of the August war of 2008," wrote David Batashvili, an analyst at the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, in a 2018 article. "People tend to name August 7 and August 8 interchangeably, as if there were no difference between the two dates." In fact, Batashvili wrote, the August 8 date was based on a "Russian lie" that Moscow only attacked in response to Georgia's shelling of Tskhinvali. "For some Georgians to follow Moscow in mentioning August 8 as the day the war started is an unbelievably foolish carelessness."

The August 7 narrative blaming Russia for the start of the war began to take root. In 2020, then-Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia broke with Georgian Dream's tradition and marked the anniversary on August 7. In President Salome Zurabishvili's first year in office, in 2019, she marked the anniversary on August 8. But the next year she switched after drawing controversy during her 2018 election campaign for supporting the idea that Georgia had started the fighting.

The United States switched, as well. While earlier commemoration statements had been issued on August 8, since 2020, Washington has marked the anniversary on August 7. Asked to explain the shift, a spokesperson at the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi offered a statement: "The embassy, the people of Georgia, and the international community recognize August 7 as the beginning of Russia's full-scale military aggression against Georgia." (The European Union, for its part, has for years marked the August 7 date.)

Controversy over the dates has only continued to grow, as Georgia's political divisions have intensified. During last year's commemoration, Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili was asked why he marked the anniversary on the 8th rather than the 7th. "The date August 8 has never been a subject for discussion," he responded. "In general, it's embarrassing that the family members of our hero soldiers are standing here and we're talking about dates." He added that Saakashvili's "foolish policy, his uncalculated, provocatory steps" resulted in the former leadership "not being able to avert this tragic war."

The spats over who started it mean there is less room for real discussions about what happened in the war and how to think about the breakaway territories now, says Anna Dziapshipa, a Tbilisi-based filmmaker and peace activist. "This shallow topic of the dates really changes how we talk about the problem and what we talk about in the 2008 war," she told RFE/RL. "It doesn't allow any space to reflect and understand the framework and reasons" for Georgia's conflicts. As a result, the memory of the war "has become very flat," she said.

Politics in Georgia is incredibly polarized, so much so that the European Union has said the country's leaders must address the issue with more cross-party cooperation for Georgia to become a candidate for EU membership. "The [2008] war has become one of the main pillars of this polarization blame game," said Vano Abramashvili, an analyst and head of the Peace Program at the Tbilisi-based NGO Caucasian House.

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has further polarized the legacy of 2008. The opposition and other anti-Georgian Dream organizations have sought to portray Georgia's conflict as a part of a larger phenomenon of Russian aggression that includes its war against Ukraine.

The Shame Movement, a pro-Western youth-oriented activist group, has been buying ads on Instagram promoting August 7 as the real war anniversary. "Even after 15 years since the August war, Russian propaganda continues to push the narrative that the war began on August 8, intending to shift blame onto Georgia," the group wrote in one such post. "However, the reality is that Russia had been preparing for this war for years.... The official start of the war occurred on August 7, when the Russian Army invaded the territory controlled by the central government of Georgia. It is essential not to spread Russian propaganda and instead seek accurate information on the events."

"The Russia-Ukraine war is so black and white, and people have this urge to transfer this black and whiteness to our conflict here," Dziapshipa said. That means that, increasingly, Georgia's conflicts are seen solely in Georgian-Russian terms with the voices and agency of Abkhazians and Ossetians rarely heard or considered, activists like Dziapshipa and Zakareishvili say.

Rhetoric from ruling Georgian Dream leaders, too, has sharpened. They have recently begun to give voice to complaints -- once taboo among mainstream Georgians -- that the West did not sufficiently support Georgia in 2008.

"We had a war in 2008, you remember that well, but do you remember anyone who imposed sanctions against Russia? No one in the world had a correct, adequate reaction. So, my question is: Where is the logic? Our war was not a war, but the war in Ukraine is a war?" Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili said during a May appearance in Qatar.

"Western countries imposed a de facto arms embargo on Georgia immediately after the 2008 war and soon declared the ill-fated 'reset' [in relations] with Russia," wrote parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili in a recent opinion piece for the Civil.ge website. "In subsequent years, many of these countries increased foreign trade with Moscow to unprecedented levels and wrapped some major economies into a Russian energy straitjacket."

The Ukraine war has also given Georgian Dream leaders new ammunition for their argument that they are better than the ENM -- which remains Georgia's largest opposition party -- at keeping Georgia out of a war. "If Saakashvili were in power today, they would make a second Mariupol happen here, that was the intention," Gharibashvili said in April 2022, referring to the Ukrainian city that has been devastated by Russia's invasion.

To many Georgians, government rhetoric has occasionally veered into victim-blaming when it contrasts its success in not getting invaded by Russia to Kyiv's failure to prevent an attack.

"The Georgian Dream government is missing the opportunity to take advantage of the war in Ukraine, while the whole world sees that Russia is the aggressor," Zakareishvili said. "Instead, they are constantly blaming the ENM for being the cause of the start of the war."

The discussion of dates and blame means that more important questions are not being asked, Zakareishvili says. "It's not important who started the war," he said. "It's important that the war happened and how was it possible to avoid it. And this is what we need to talk about with the Abkhazians and the Ossetians, as soon as the war in Ukraine is over."

Abramishvili, the analyst, agrees. "To me, who shot first is not the important question," he said. "My question is: 'What did my government do?'"

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/georgia-war-russia- start-controversy/32537938.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Interview: With The 2008 Georgia War, 'We Knew What Was Coming, But We Were Slow To Believe It'

By Vazha Tavberidze August 07, 2023

RFE/RL's Georgian Service spoke to Daniel Fried, a former U.S. diplomat with over 40 years of experience serving in senior posts under several U.S. presidents. Colleagues describe him as a pragmatist who led efforts to work with Russia as a White House aide under Bill Clinton after the fall of the Berlin Wall, and later when serving under George W. Bush.

Fried was serving as the assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasia affairs in August 2008 when Russia launched its invasion of Georgia. In candid remarks, Fried says what he thinks the Obama administration got wrong -- namely its attempt in 2009 and 2010 to "reset" relations with Russia -- and what it got right -- providing diplomatic and other support to Georgia that was crucial for the survival of its statehood.

RFE/RL: What is the latest impact of the 2008 war, both for Georgia and the larger world?

Daniel Fried: Russia attempted to intimidate Georgia through a war and give itself the ability to continue to intimidate Georgia by manipulating the situation at the borders. But Georgia, because it fought so well during those five days, maintained its independence. [Former Georgian President Mikheil] Saakashvili didn't fall, he lost an election later and left power peacefully. With U.S. help, Georgia maintained its independence. Right after the war we helped organize an international donors conference which gave over $4 billion to the Georgian economy, which was enough to keep them afloat. So, Georgia maintained its independence, but it lost territory.

But Georgia's geography is not great, and Russia has the ability to continue to intimidate Georgia. But the problem, of course, is that the current Georgian government does seem frightened or pretends to be frightened of what the Russians can do. But I don't want to be harsh, because Russia is an aggressive power and Georgia is in a vulnerable position.

But internationally, [then-Russian Prime Minister Vladimir] Putin got away with it. And I say that without pride or pleasure. The Bush administration after the war understood that its policy of reaching out to Putin had failed.... But it meant that Putin got away with it. And then six years later, in 2014, he attacks Ukraine, thinking he can get away with it.

RFE/RL: What did the 2008 war mean for you? How did it impact you both professionally and personally?

Fried: All of us who were involved in U.S. policy toward Georgia and Russia remember every hour of every day of that war. I remember speaking on the phone to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister [Grigory] Karasin. I remember speaking to [former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza] Rice. I remember the trip she took in July 2008 to Tbilisi and what she said to Saakashvili. I remember the discussions I had with Eka Tkeshelashvili, Georgian foreign minister, on Thursday afternoon (August 7, the day the war started).

I remember, you know, the images of the Russian tanks rolling through. I remember the trip to Tbilisi, but first [I went] to southern France, to work with the French on improving their not terribly good six-point peace plan. I remember being on the phone with the French national-security adviser while I was in the room with Rice and Saakashvili talking about the same thing.

So, I remember it very well. It meant in a larger sense that Putin was willing to go to war to defend his version of the Russian Empire. It's a lesson we have all learned with respect to Ukraine, but we learned it first with Georgia.

RFE/RL: When you look back now, do you have any regrets? What, if anything, could have been handled differently?

Fried: Sure. I think we were right in the run-up to the war to be worried, but we weren't worried enough. I'll give you a specific example of exactly what I mean.

So, I was the assistant secretary for Europe. The next person up the chain was Undersecretary [of State for Political Affairs] Bill Burns. He's now head of the CIA. Condi Rice told me that she wanted Bill Burns to go to Berlin and confer with the Germans and talk to the Russians to head off the war.

In retrospect, she was late. We should have escalated sooner than we did. We knew what was coming. But we were a little bit slow to quite believe it. I'll give you another example. We didn't think the war would actually happen. People were going on summer vacations.

RFE/RL: Would it be harsh to say that Washington didn't take the threat of a Russian invasion seriously enough?

Fried: Georgia has suffered. I'm not going to criticize the way [Georgians] criticize us. You have every right to be critical. And the United States was right, but we were too slow. We were at a five or a six; we should have been at a nine, you know, on an urgency scale. Part of the problem was that the U.S. analytic community didn't think Russia would attack; they kept saying they would not attack.

RFE/RL: Why was that?

Fried: Because they just lacked imagination. They couldn't quite understand that Putin really was an aggressor. So basically, I remember on Monday (August 4), at the senior staff meeting, I say to Condi Rice: "I have a very bad feeling about this week, things are not going well. Putin could attack." She didn't disbelieve me.... So, if you're Condi Rice, you've got Dan Fried, who says it, but you know, do you believe that?

RFE/RL: It was your gut feeling, so to speak?

Fried: It was my gut feeling. But even I didn't take it seriously enough to stay home. Because we thought there'd been crises before, there had been a lot of them. And we thought this was another crisis, where the Russians were trying to intimidate Georgia, but they wouldn't attack.

Now, I don't want to be too hard on us. After all, President Bush, in the end, probably convinced Putin to pull back. You remember, we sent planes to fly the Georgian 1st Brigade back from Iraq, and ships. I remember we informed the Russians that we were flying them because we didn't want them surprised. We wanted them to know what we were doing. And they said they couldn't guarantee the safety of our aircraft, which was a veiled threat. And we basically said to them, "We're going in anyway." And they backed off.

You remember, the war starts Thursday night (August 7), and on Monday (August 11), the Russian tanks are rolling. And the Georgian lines had broken and the Georgian Army is in retreat, and it looked like they (the Russians) would move on to Tbilisi.

In fact, [U.S. Ambassador to Georgia John] Tefft, we were having multiple calls a day, and Tefft said, "Dan, you realize, don't you, where the embassy is?" Of course, they're on the main road north of Tbilisi. And he said, "The Russian Army could be here tonight." And he was absolutely calm. He was absolutely focused and understood what was happening.

Matthew Bryza, my deputy who had flown out to Tbilisi, he was in the presidential palace with [then-Swedish Foreign Minister] Carl Bildt. They thought it could be attacked, but they weren't going to leave, they were just going to stay there. They had to show personal solidarity, which actually took some courage because that would have been an early target and they didn't care.

RFE/RL: Some analysts have claimed that President Saakashvili was "provoked" by Russia in 2008. Do you think that's a fair assessment, especially given Russia's full invasion now of Ukraine?

Fried: Putin wanted his war against Ukraine. And even though the U.S. successfully exposed all of Putin's provocations, he went in anyway. And you're probably thinking, well, the same is true in Georgia, Putin would have gone in anyway and you're right. So, to blame Saakashvili and say, well, he fell for the provocations, therefore the war is his fault is nonsense. Putin would have gone in anyway.

The Russian proxy forces were shelling Georgian villages. But we did warn Saakashvili in advance not to move. Condi Rice did it when we were in Tbilisi in July [2008]. I did it that very day. But I understand that they were sort of provoked, and let's just stipulate that Putin would have attacked anyway.

But the problem is that you had the Germans and the French able to blame Saakashvili and half-excuse Putin. And their reaction to the Russo-Georgian war was much weaker than to the Russo-Ukrainian war.... But let's be clear where responsibility lies for this war -- it is Vladimir Putin. Let's be clear about that.

RFE/RL: In an interview exactly one year ago, you said that the West was not united enough back then, so it opted for economic assistance, as opposed to imposing sanctions on Russia. In hindsight, was that the right decision, or the only realistic one?

Fried: It would have been better to impose sanctions. But two problems: one, we weren't as smart about sanctions, not yet. We learned how to do sanctions against Iran, after 2008. We got a lot smarter. And then we applied them against Russia.

So, one, we weren't as smart. And two, we would never have had consensus. The Germans and French would not have supported [it] and had we tried, we would have lost. It would have been like the [2008] Bucharest [NATO] summit (where the military alliance did not invite Ukraine and Georgia to progress to Membership Action Plans (MAPs.)) Losing the fight on a MAP -- and we would have lost again twice in one year. That would have been bad.

So, do I regret we didn't do sanctions? Sure. In retrospect, should we have done them? Sure. But there were hurdles that we couldn't get over.

RFE/RL: Speaking of the French, how wise was it for Paris to be in a leading negotiating role in 2008, especially in light of recent efforts of French President Emmanuel Macron to engage Putin over Ukraine?

Fried: Well, look, I remember when we were in the south of France and taking a look at the six-point cease-fire that Sarkozy had negotiated in the presidency of the EU. You probably know the details of the problem with the map and that the line of Russian control bisected Georgia. It was a mess. So, Condi [Rice] turns to me and says: "The French invented cartography. Didn't anybody read a map?" Which is her version of being really angry.

Sarkozy's six-point plan needed to be fixed. But we can't blame him or the French, because had the plan been better, it might not have made a difference. The Minsk accords (the international agreements that attempted to end the fighting in eastern Ukraine) had their faults, but they were much better actually than the six- point plan. But you'll notice that Putin did not respect the Minsk accords. He twisted them, he projected onto them the meaning that they didn't have and waited for people to accept his nonsense interpretation.... The flaws were not critical because Putin would have ignored a better document anyway. The document stopped the fighting, which is what Putin wanted to do.

RFE/RL: The U.S. "reset" policy with Russia was initiated in 2009, months after the conflict between Russia and Georgia. Was that a naive decision or wishful thinking on the part of the Obama administration?

Fried: Look, Mike McFaul (at the time a senior White House adviser) was the architect of the reset. And we had a conversation. I know him and I respect him. And by the way, just in case, to understand where Mike's coming from, take a look at his testimony from the fall of 2008 that we both gave. He was working for Obama; the election hadn't happened. And a lot of the Obama people were very critical of Bush's handling of Georgia, and half of them sort of believed the war was [Vice President] Dick Cheney's fault and he had egged on Saakashvili and some nonsense. Mike McFaul was the foreign policy person. And his testimony to the Senate, about the Georgian war, was identical to mine. He blamed Putin, he didn't hold back.

So, he tried, he comes up with the reset. And we had a conversation about this when I was still in my old job. And I said, "Look, Mike, I know why you're trying to do it." And politically, the Obama people are going to say, they think that Bush was clumsy and aggressive, and so we can do it better. We can do it better.

And I said to him: "I know why you're doing it. And I'm not going to trash you for it. I'm not going to attack you because you're doing it for the same reasons we did it. But let me tell you something, you'll fail for the same reasons we fail. Because Putin's terms for a better relationship you won't be able to accept any more than for a week."

And he didn't argue with me. He understood my point and later, he admitted that I had been right. So, he tries for the reset. And [former Secretary of State] Hillary Clinton was willing to give it a try. It was sort of a prophetic moment when the word for "reset" was misspelled.

This is an abridged version of the interview and has been edited for length and clarity.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/georgia- russia-war-fried/31987472.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Three Uzbek Police Officers Handed Prison Terms Over 2022 Unrest In Karakalpakstan

By RFE/RL's Uzbek Service August 07, 2023

TASHKENT -- An Uzbek court has sentenced three police officers in a case linked to mass anti-government protests in the country's Karakalpak Autonomous Republic last year.

The Central Asian nation's Supreme Court said over the weekend that two police officers were sentenced to seven years in prison each on torture charges. They were also barred from working in law enforcement structures for two years after serving the sentences.

A third police officer was sentenced to three years in prison after a court in the southwestern town of Kogon found him guilty of perjury and failing to come to the rescue. He was banned to work as a law enforcement officer for one year after serving the term.

All three pleaded not guilty and plan to appeal the sentences. The police officers' identities were not disclosed.

In late January, an Uzbek court sentenced 22 Karakalpak activists to prison terms on charges including undermining the constitutional order for taking part in the mass protests in Karakalpakstan in July last year.

In March, another 39 Karakalpak activists accused of taking part in the protests in Nukus were convicted and 28 of them were sentenced to prison terms of between five and 11 years, while 11 defendants were handed parole-like sentences.

Uzbek authorities say 21 people died in Karakalpakstan during the protests, which were sparked by the announcement of a planned change to the constitution that would have undermined the region's right to self-determination.

Meanwhile, the Austria-based Freedom for Eurasia human rights group said last month that at least 70 people were killed during the unrest.

The violence forced President Shavkat Mirziyoev to make a rare about-face and scrap the proposal.

Mirziyoev accused "foreign forces" of being behind the unrest, without further explanation, before backing away from the proposed changes.

Karakalpaks are a Central Asian Turkic-speaking people. Their region used to be an autonomous area within Kazakhstan before becoming autonomous within the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic in 1930 and then part of Uzbekistan in 1936.

The European Union has called for an independent investigation into the violence.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/uzbekistan-karakalpakstan- police-protests/32537700.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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China to Philippines: Remove 'Illegally' Grounded Warship From Disputed Reef

Sputnik News

20230807

Fantien Gardinier

Beijing has told Manila it needs to remove a rusting hulk from a disputed reef in the South China Sea following a showdown with resupply ships over the weekend. The Philippines intentionally grounded the ship there more than 20 years ago to lay claim to the submerged reef.

The Chinese government on Monday urged their Philippine counterparts to remove an "illegally" grounded warship from a submerged reef in the Spratly Islands, which is claimed by both China and the Philippines.

"The Chinese side urges the Philippines to tow away the grounded warship from the Renai Reef and restore the Renai Reef to its original state," the Chinese spokesperson said, using China's name for the underwater feature which is known in English as Second Thomas Shoal.

The demands came after a showdown over the weekend - the second in as many months - in which Chinese Coast Guard ships using water cannons drove off a pair of Philippine resupply ships attempting to reach the grounded vessel. Chinese officials described the coast guard's actions as "professional and restrained" after Philippine authorities protested.

The ship in question is the BRP Sierra Madre, formerly the USS Harnett County, a World War II-era tank landing ship used for amphibious assaults. Following a stint in South Vietnamese service during the Vietnam War, the US gave the ship to Manila, which used it through the 1990s.

The Sierra Madre was intentionally grounded on Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 as part of an effort by Manila to lay claim to the totally-submerged reef. In the Philippines it is called Ayungin Shoal. The reef is about 121 miles west of the Philippine island of Palawan, and the Sierra Madre sits on a shallow reef on the northwestern side of its teardrop shape.

The Philippine government maintains a small detachment of soldiers on the derelict in an attempt to safeguard its claims. It was they whom the resupply ships were attempting to reach over the weekend.

Second Thomas Shoal is not the only seamount, reef, or island over which Beijing and Manila feud in the South China Sea. However, it is one of the closest to Palawan, a Philippine island home to one of four Philippine military installations to which US forces have been given access, as per a recent agreement with the government of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

"We continue to assert our sovereignty. We continue to assert our territorial rights in the face of all of these challenges," Marcos said. His national security chief echoed his comments, saying the Philippines would never leave the shoal.

The US on Monday reiterated its support for Manila, with a Pentagon spokesperson telling reporters that Washington condemns China's "efforts to impede lawful operations at Second Thomas Shoal."

However, at the same time, Marcos has pushed for the finalization of a Code of Conduct for the waterway, where China is not the only country with contested claims over land and sea: Malaysia, Brunei, and Vietnam have all claimed parts of the South China Sea for themselves, leading to regular encounters like that between the Chinese Coast Guard and Philippine Navy ships over the weekend. The code would normalize protocols for such encounters and hopefully avoid them escalating into diplomatic incidents.

 Sputnik

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Pentagon Backs Philippines Over Escalation Near Disputed Islands With China

Sputnik News

20230807

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Defense Department of the United States has joined the Philippines in condemning the use of water cannons against Philippine vessels by China's coast guard near disputed islands in the South China Sea, Defense Department spokesperson Patrick Ryder said on Sunday.

"We stand with our Philippine allies in condemning the PRC's [the People's Republic of China] efforts to impede lawful operations at Second Thomas Shoal," Ryder said on X (formerly known as Twitter).

The spokesperson added that Washington remains committed to the "ironclad" alliance of the US and the Philippines.

Earlier on Sunday, the coast guard of the Philippines (PSG) "strongly condemned" the Chinese coast guard's "dangerous maneuvers and illegal use of water cannons against the PCG vessels" near Ayungin Shoal, also known as Second Thomas Shoal.

China Coast Guard fired back, saying that two cargo ships and two PSG vessels entered the territorial waters of the Nansha (Spratly) Islands without Chinese permission, adding that China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and its adjacent waters.

In July, PSG accused Chinese coast guard ships of preventing its vessels from approaching the reef.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry rejected the Philippines' accusation, saying that "the Chinese maritime police ships enforced the law in line with regulations" and "acted professionally and proportionately to safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime order."

The reef, known as Ren'ai Jiao in China and Ayungin Shoal in the Philippines, is part of the disputed Spratly Islands, a major archipelago that China and several other Asian nations lay rival claims to. The Philippines grounded a navy transport ship, BRP Sierra Madre, on the reef in 1999 to house a contingent of marines.

 Sputnik

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Marking Fifteen Years Since Russia's Invasion and Occupation of Georgia

US Department of State

Press Statement

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

August 7, 2023

Fifteen years ago, Russia invaded the sovereign nation of Georgia and occupied 20 percent of its territory. The United States remains steadfast in our support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. The lives of the conflict-affected populations have forever been altered by Russia's actions. With deepest respect and heartfelt sympathy, we remember those killed, injured, and displaced by Russia's forces.

Russia's actions during its occupation, including the Kremlin's malign disinformation campaigns, so-called "borderization," and mass displacement still cause untold hardships. As in Ukraine, the people of Georgia have suffered the consequences of Russia's contempt for international law and desire to dominate its neighbors.

The United States remains determined to hold Russia accountable for its obligation under the 2008 six-point ceasefire agreement to withdraw its forces to pre-conflict positions and allow unimpeded access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Russia must also reverse its recognition of the so-called independence of Georgia's Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions. These actions are essential for hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people to be able to return to their homes safely and live with dignity.

After fifteen years, the United States remains unwavering in our support for the people of Georgia and for their overwhelming desire for Euro-Atlantic integration, as they defend their sovereignty and territorial integrity, and seek a peaceful solution to the conflict.

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USS Roosevelt Arrives In Riga, Latvia

US Navy

07 August 2023

From Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Elexia Morelos

RIGA, Latvia -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) arrived in Riga, Latvia, for a scheduled port visit, Aug. 6, 2023. Roosevelt, forward-deployed to Naval Station Rota, Spain, is on her fifth Forward Deployed Naval Forces-Europe (FDNF-E) patrol.

While in port Riga, the ship is replenishing stores and fuels and hosting distinguished visitors, demonstrating the strength of the U.S.-Latvian partnership. In addition, the crew is enjoying the opportunity to experience Riga's rich cultural heritage.

"Over our last several patrols, Roosevelt has visited nearly every one of our NATO allies in the Baltic, but we have yet to see Latvia," said Lt.j.g. Maryrose Stone. "This is a huge win for the crew, and we're so excited for the opportunity to experience the Latvian culture ashore as we've worked with the Latvian Navy at sea in the past."

While in Riga, Roosevelt expects to host high-ranking officials with the Government of Latvia and the United States Ambassador to Latvia for a luncheon.

Roosevelt has operated in the Baltic Sea since early July, and has participated in numerous allied exercises during that time, to include Neptune Strike 23-2, Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG-1) operations, and a Naval Surface Fire Support live fire exercise off the coast of Latvia.

"Latvia hosted Roosevelt several weeks ago for a live fire gunnery exercise, where we shot our 5-inch gun onto the Latvian range while in [their] territorial waters. This proved yet another critical capability between two NATO partners, while strengthening our alliance," said Cmdr. Jeffrey Chewning, Roosevelt's commanding officer. "Roosevelt has been on patrol for two months, with the majority of our time operating in the Baltic Sea. Without the support of our allies in the Baltic, we would not be as effective or successful in conducing maritime operations that provide security to the region."

Roosevelt, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, began its fifth Forward Deployed Naval Forces-Europe (FDNF-E) patrol June 27 in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied and partner interests.

Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.



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SECNAV Names Future Navajo-Class Towing, Salvage, and Rescue Ship Solomon Atkinson

US Navy - Press Release

07 August 2023

Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Carlos Del Toro announced today that a future Navajo-class Towing, Salvage, and Rescue (T-ATS) ship will be named in honor of Solomon Atkinson, a pioneering Navy SEAL and an Alaskan Native of the Metlakatla Indian Community, Annette Islands Reserve. Del Toro made the announcement on the Metlakatla's Founders Day, Aug. 7.

The name selection of USNS Solomon Atkinson (T-ATS 12) follows the tradition of naming towing, salvage, and rescue ships after prominent Native Americans or Native American tribes.

"I am honored to name the next T-ATS after Solomon Atkinson, a man who achieved many firsts, even in the face of adversity, and continued to lead," said Del Toro. "Atkinson's achievements as a SEAL have left behind an enduring legacy, not just in the Special Warfare Community, but with our nation's astronauts as well. I am pleased to ensure that his name will extend globally to all who views this great ship."



Born in 1930 in Metlakatla, Alaska, Solomon Atkinson was raised by his parents on the sole Indian Reserve in Alaska. Atkinson worked as a commercial fisherman before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1952. A year later, Atkinson volunteered for the underwater demolition teams and became a frogman, the precursor to present day SEALs. In 1962, Atkinson became one of the first Navy SEALs and was a plank owner for SEAL Team 1. As a SEAL, he deployed to Korea and completed three combat tours in Vietnam. His Vietnam service-related awards include a Bronze Star, a Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V," and a Purple Heart. Atkinson also had the distinction of training numerous astronauts, including Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, in underwater weightless simulations at the Underwater Swimmers School in Key West, Florida. Atkinson retired from active naval service in 1973 as a Chief Warrant Officer 4 and returned to Metlakatla, where he continued to serve his people and state on the Indian Community Council and Board of Education, as founder and president of the first veterans' organization on Annette Island, and as mayor of Metlakatla. Upon his passing in 2019, an honor guard from SEAL Team 1 served as pallbearers at his funeral.

"Chief Warrant Officer 4 Solomon "Sol" Atkinson embodied the spirit of dedication to family, community, and country," said Rear Adm. Keith Davids, commander, Naval Special Warfare Command. "His pioneering role as one of the first U.S. Navy SEALs, and his unwavering commitment to service both in and out of uniform, serves as an inspiration for the entire Naval Special Warfare community. Naming the USNS Solomon Atkinson in his honor is a testament to his remarkable legacy and the enduring impact he has left on NSW, the Navy, and the nation."



Along with the ship's name, Del Toro announced the sponsors for the future USNS Solomon Atkinson as his widow, Joann Atkinson and their two daughters, Michele Gunyah and Maria Hayward, who, in their role, will represent a lifelong relationship with the ship and crew.

"There exists a long-held Tsimshian tradition, 'akadi lip a'algyaga sm'ooygit,' loosely translated 'a chief never speaks for himself'," said sponsor, Maria Hayward. "Through all of his time as a U.S. Navy UDT and SEAL, as well as a leader of veterans and Native Alaskans, Sol lived this ethos. And, here today, in the shadow of Sol's death, he holds to it still. Thank you to the U.S. Navy for speaking to Solomon's honor and helping his family and fellow Frogmen shout his legacy to the seven seas!"

Navajo-class ships will provide ocean-going tug, salvage, and rescue capabilities to support Fleet operations. The current capabilities are provided by Powhatan-class T-ATF Fleet Tugs and Safeguard-class T-ARS Rescue and Salvage vessels, which began reaching the end of their expected service lives in 2020. Navajo-class ships will be capable of towing U.S. Navy ships and will have 6,000 square feet of deck space for embarked systems.

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Cameroon Military: Mass Grave Found With Bodies of 2021 Kidnap Victims

By Moki Edwin Kindzeka August 07, 2023

Military officials in Cameroon say they have found a mass grave near the border with Nigeria containing the bodies of nine civilians, including five government officials, who were abducted by rebels in June 2021. Government troops were led to the mass grave by a separatist fighter who participated in the killing, but surrendered and joined a disarmament and demobilization center.

Cameroon's military says government troops exhumed the bodies from the mass grave, located about 20 kilometers from Ekondo Titi, a town in Ndian, an administrative unit on the border with Nigeria.

Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Nguele said he led several dozen Cameroon government troops to the mass grave Saturday. He said they exhumed the bodies after a reconnaissance mission to the area, which is prone to regular separatist attacks. He said Cameroon's government has asked the military to transport the human remains to Buea, capital of the English-speaking Southwest Region for families to identify and collect for reburial. Nguele said Cameroon can now confirm the individuals as dead and no longer missing.

Nguele said the victims were abducted in Ndian by a self-proclaimed separatist general known as 10 Kobo on June 15, 2021.

At the time, separatists claimed responsibility on social media and said the officials were abducted for collaborating with Cameroon's central government in Yaounde.

One of the officials, Mabia Johnson Mudika, was killed three days later, while the other five were considered missing until the mass grave was found over the weekend.

Last month, Tamaya Clinton, a 24-year-old separatist fighter who disarmed and surrendered to authorities in Cameroon's Southwest Region, said the officials were killed by separatist fighters. He promised to take government troops to the grave where the officials were buried.

The military did not say if Tamaya took them to the mass grave or not.

Bernard Okalia Bilai, governor of Cameroon's Southwest Region, said the discovery of the mass grave once more indicates how brutal and insensitive separatist fighters are to civilians. He said the English-speaking elite should go to their towns and villages and ask fighters who are still hiding with weapons in the bush to surrender and be forgiven or otherwise be killed by government troops. He said the military will track fighters who have killed civilians and government officials since the separatist crisis erupted.

Bilai spoke on Cameroon state broadcaster CRTV.

Cameroon's separatist crisis conflict began in 2017, after teachers and lawyers in the Northwest and Southwest Regions, where English is the predominant language, protested alleged discrimination from the country's French-speaking majority.

The military responded with a crackdown and fighters took up weapons claiming to defend English-speaking civilians from what separatists described as extreme military brutality.

The conflict has killed an estimated 6,000 people and displaced more than three quarters of a million, according to the International Crisis Group.

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West African Leaders to Meet on Niger After Junta Defies Deadline

By VOA News August 07, 2023

West African leaders say they will meet on Thursday to discuss the crisis in Niger after the country's military rulers defied a deadline to reinstate the ousted president or face a possible military intervention.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said it would hold an extraordinary summit Thursday in Abuja, the capital of neighboring Nigeria, according to spokesperson Emos Lungu.

After the ECOWAS deadline passed Sunday for Niger's military to stand down and restore President Mohammed Bazoum, military leaders there issued a pledge to defend the country and closed Niger's airspace.

"Niger's armed forces and all our defense and security forces, backed by the unfailing support of our people, are ready to defend the integrity of our territory," a junta representative said in a statement on national television.

The spokesman said any attempt to fly over the country will be met with "an energetic and immediate response."

International airlines have begun to divert flights around Niger's airspace. The United Nations said its humanitarian flights have also been grounded because of the closed airspace.

Also Monday, neighboring Mali said it and Burkina Faso would send a delegation of officials to Niger to show support for the military rulers.

Both countries - which have fallen to military coups in recent years - have said military intervention in Niger would be tantamount to a declaration of war.

Alex Vines, the head of the Africa program at think tank Chatham House, told VOA that he is not surprised Mali and Burkina Faso have supported Niger.

"They're afraid of a regional economic community intervening and restoring democracy. And that's not what they stand for," he said.

Another nation led by coup leaders, Guinea, has also expressed support for Niger's military takeover.

Vines said he was surprised by Guinea's support because the junta there has been trying to distance itself from the other juntas.

"I guess it shows how fearful they are that a values-based intervention that is about preserving and supporting democratic processes and accountable government is something that they don't welcome," he said.

On Friday, West African defense chiefs drew up a plan for a possible military intervention in Niger if the country's military leaders did not release and reinstall President Bazoum.

"All the elements that will go into any eventual intervention have been worked out here, including the resources needed, the how and when we are going to deploy the force," Abdel-Fatau Musah, Economic Community of West African States commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, said Friday.

The 15-nation bloc has sent military forces into member states in the past. However, it is not clear if ECOWAS members will support military action in Niger to resolve the current crisis.

Nigeria's Senate urged the bloc to focus on political and diplomatic options instead of the use of force.

Italy urged ECOWAS to extend the deadline for the Niger's military leaders back down and called for a diplomatic solution.

"A solution must be found. It's not set that there is no way other than war," Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told La Stampa newspaper.

Niger's military rulers have not shown much interest in negotiating.

An ECOWAS diplomatic delegation that arrived in Niger's capital, Niamey, on Thursday ended up leaving without meeting junta chief General Abdourahamane Tchiani or Bazoum.

Residents in Niamey have been stockpiling food and supplies in anticipation of a tense week ahead. Some have expressed support for the coup and used the situation to express anti-French sentiment. Protesters in Niamey on Sunday slaughtered a rooster -- a national symbol of France -- painted with the country's tricolor

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reiterated Monday his "full support to ECOWAS' ongoing mediation efforts," and expressed concern over the continued detention of Bazoum and the failure so far to restore constitutional order in Niger, according to a U.N. spokesperson.

Besides the United Nations' reaction, the coup has been widely condemned by the African Union, Western governments and the United Nations. U.S. President Joe Biden called Thursday for Bazoum's immediate release, adding that Niger is "facing a grave challenge to its democracy."

The U.S. paused some aid programs that benefited the government of Niger, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement on Friday. But he said humanitarian and food aid would continue.

The State Department said Monday the paused aid is valued at more than $100 million and includes development assistance, security assistance and law enforcement assistance.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said the suspended aid could be reversed if Niger's military leaders reinstate the elected government.

"If the junta leaders would step aside and restore constitutional order tomorrow, that pause would ... go away and security systems would be reinstated," he said.

Miller said U.S. officials are still able to communicate with Bazoum and that their most recent contact was Monday. Miller also said there has also been direct U.S. contact with Niger military leaders, urging them to step aside.

Niger, one of the world's poorest countries, has the highest fertility rate in Africa and depends heavily on foreign aid.

Bazoum, who has been under house arrest with his family since July 26, described himself in a Washington Post column Thursday as a "hostage," and warned that if the mutiny proved successful, "it will have devastating consequences for our country, our region and the entire world."

He called on "the U.S. government and the entire international community to help us restore our constitutional order."

On July 26, Tchiani, the former head of Niger's presidential guard, declared himself the country's new leader, saying the power grab was necessary because of ongoing insecurity in the country caused by an Islamist insurgency.

Niger has been a partner in the fight against counterterrorism in the Sahel, where militants linked to al-Qaida and Islamic State are operating. Both the United States and France have troops in Niger focused on counterterror operations.

Last week, Niger's military leaders read a decision on national television ending bilateral military agreements with France, Niger's former colonial ruler.

It is not clear what will happen to the French military presence consisting of 1,500 troops or the 1,000 U.S. military personnel in the country.

Pentagon officials said Monday there was "no change" to the force posture of the of U.S. troops in Niger and no plans to evacuate them.

VOA correspondents Anita Powell at the White House and Margaret Besheer at the United Nations contributed to this report. Some information for this article came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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DHS Announces Additional $374.9 Million in Funding to Boost State, Local Cybersecurity

Release Date: August 7, 2023

First-of-Its-Kind Cybersecurity Grant Program Enters Second Year

WASHINGTON -- Today, the Department of Homeland Security announced the availability of $374.9 million in grant funding for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP). State and local governments face increasingly sophisticated cyber threats to their critical infrastructure and public safety. Now in its second year, the SLCGP is a first-of-its-kind cybersecurity grant program specifically for state, local, and territorial (SLT) governments across the country to help them strengthen their cyber resilience. Established by the State and Local Cybersecurity Improvement Act, and part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the SLCGP provides $1 billion in funding over four years to support SLT governments as they develop capabilities to detect, protect against, and respond to cyber threats. This year's funding allotment represents a significant increase from the $185 million allotted in FY22, demonstrating the Administration and Congress's commitment to help improve the cybersecurity of communities across the nation.

"In today's threat environment, any locality is vulnerable to a devastating cyber attack targeted at a hospital, school, water, or other system," said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. "The Department of Homeland Security is helping to ensure that every community, regardless of size, funding, or resources, can meet these threats and keep their residents and their critical infrastructure safe and secure. These cybersecurity grants will help state, local, and territorial governments do just that, and I strongly urge communities across the country to submit an application."

SLCGP is jointly administered by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). CISA provides expertise and guidance on cybersecurity issues while FEMA manages the grant award and allocation process. Award recipients may use funding for a wide range of cybersecurity improvements and capabilities, including cybersecurity planning and exercising, hiring cyber personnel, and improving the services that citizens rely on daily.

"State and local governments are facing increasingly sophisticated cyber threats to their critical infrastructure and public safety," said CISA Director Jen Easterly. "As the Nation's Cyber Defense Agency, CISA is pleased to make available yet another tool to that will help strengthen cyber defenses for communities across the nation and bolster our collective cybersecurity."

"Building resilience requires more than mitigating against natural hazards," said FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. "As our threat landscape continues to evolve, the funding provided through the state, local, and territorial cybersecurity grant program will increase capability to help communities better prepare and reduce cyber risks."

State and local governments have until October 6 to apply for this FY23 grant opportunity. For more information and helpful resources on the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program, visit CISA's webpage: cisa.gov/cybergrants.

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Australia Hopeful China Will End Trade Sanctions

By Phil Mercer August 07, 2023

Australia is hoping its trade dispute with China, which has affected billions of dollars in commodity exports, could be coming to an end after Beijing lifted tariffs on barley.

Trade restrictions imposed by China on a range of Australian goods, including coal, wine and beef, have been part of broader disputes between the two nations.

There has been diplomatic friction in recent years over democracy in Hong Kong, human rights, and Beijing's ambitions in the South China Sea and the Pacific.

Last week, China's commerce ministry said it would scrap its 80.5% tariffs on Australian barley.

Australia has insisted the restrictions were punitive and were "economic coercion," although Chinese officials stressed there were sound technical reasons for the duties.

Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell is hoping that Beijing will soon lift similar sanctions on Australian wine exports to China.

"Our whole process over the last 15 months has been to try and stabilize our relationship with the Chinese government to get them to remove the trade impediments that have been a blockage in our relationship over period of time,"Farrell told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Monday. "Bit by bit, that process has been working."

The Canberra government is challenging China's tariffs of up to 212% on Australian wine at the World Trade Organization, which tries to regulate global commerce.

Chinese restrictions also remain on exports of Australian beef, cotton and seafood.

Farrell said China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao agreed to visit Australia, although no details have yet been released.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to visit China later this year.

The trade of goods and services with China accounts for about a third of Australia's global trade.

The China Australia Free Trade Agreement came into force in December 2015.

Australia is among China's largest suppliers of commodities, including iron ore, a key ingredient in steelmaking.

The Canberra government has been seeking to diversify Australia's international trade away from its heavy reliance on China to include other countries, such as India and Indonesia.



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Iran to keep up work to secure release of assets blocked abroad: Spox

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 7, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman has said that the country will continue works on securing the release of frozen assets in different countries including in Japan.

Nasser Kanaani made the remarks at his weekly press conference in Tehran on Monday.

As the spokesman underlined, the issue of the financial claims was also reviewed by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio on the sidelines of the October 2022 United Nations General Assembly session in New York.

He went on to stress that the Japanese government has repeatedly expressed its readiness to settle its debts and is making an effort to this end.

The Iranian foreign minister arrived in the Japanese capital Tokyo late on Sunday to hold talks with top officials of the country and to discuss international, regional, and bilateral issues.

In a press conference in Japan on Monday, Amirabdollahian said Iran expects Japan to support policies to ensure regional security through the capabilities and potentials of countries in the region.

Iran-BRICS meeting in presence of Russia

The Foreign Ministry spokesman said that Amirabdollahian took part in two meetings of foreign ministers of BRICS and BRICS Plus in South Africa and they had bilateral meetings in June 2023.

Kanaani went on to say that the issue of Iran's membership in BRICS was discussed and the Iranian FM announced in the same trip that Tehran plans to hold a conference to examine the cooperation between the Islamic Republic and BRICS.

The spokesman also said that a meeting under the theme of perspectives of cooperation between Iran and BRICS is scheduled to be held on Tuesday (August 8) at the Institute for Political and International Studies of Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to the Iranian official, the deputy foreign minister of Russia is in Tehran to take part in the meeting and the participants will participate in different panels of the meeting.

Fortunately, there are diplomatic exchanges at different levels between Iran and Russia, he said, adding that the mutual cooperation has been shaped based on the willingness of the high-ranking officials of both countries.

Kanaani also stipulated that given the good relationship between the two sides, the upcoming meeting seems to be a good opportunity to enhance dialogue with Russia and that Iran will make use of any diplomatic opportunity with the aim of paving the ground for returning the signatories of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to the internationally recognized deal in a responsible manner.

US presence in region not to provide security

"Our position is quite clear and, in our opinion, the Persian Gulf countries are fully capable of guaranteeing their security and there is no need for the presence of foreign forces in the region," he said.

He also said the security of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman is one of the priorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran, stressing that regional security should be provided within the framework of joint cooperation between the coastal countries of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.

West uses Ukraine to test its weapons: Kanaani

Elsewhere in his remarks, Kanaani said Tehran hopes that the international community will also pay attention to the importance of the crisis in Ukraine.

"The countries that recklessly arm one side of the war and see the Ukraine crisis as an opportunity to test their various weapons must pay attention to a political solution so that we can see an end to this crisis," he argued.

According to the spokesman, the Islamic Republic has from the very beginning underlined the need to choose the path of dialogue as the best way to end the crisis and has made great efforts at different levels to end this war.

Elaboration of Iran-Pakistan agreement

In his remarks, the spokesman elaborated on the recent visit of Amirabdollahian to Pakistan that took place to follow up on the implementation of the agreements between Tehran and Islamabad.

In Pakistan, the two neighboring countries also agreed to develop border transportation and remove obstacles to expand relations in various fields, particularly in the areas of agriculture and economy.

UK, supporter of terrorists in the region

Elsewhere, the spokesman termed the UK as a supporter of the terrorists in the region while pointing to London's renewed call for blacklisting Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).

Because of the black record of its acts in West Asia, which has led to long-lasting instability in the region, and also due to its role to support terrorism directly and indirectly, the UK is not in a position to accuse IRGC, he noted.

"IRGC has offered considerable services not only to the regional countries but also to the European states."

He added that the IRGC is the Islamic Republic's official body that plays a leading role in guarding national interests and security.

Latest developments of Iran ties with Egypt, Saudi Arabia

The spokesman for Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also pointed to the relations between Tehran and Cairo, saying that there are not any new developments concerning the relationship between the two sides to be announced now.

He went on to say that Iran does not consider any limitation in developing a relationship with any Arab nation in West Asia and North Africa, so the Islamic Republic is ready to respond to any measure to this end with open arms.

Kanaani also underscored that in the relationship between Iran and Saudi Arabia, a positive trend is obvious and when it comes to reopening the Saudi embassy in Tehran, there is not any exact answer in this regard; however, the Saudi government is trying to reopen its diplomatic mission at a proper time.

Deputy FM Ali Bagheri Kani's trip to Oman

Touching upon the prisoner swap with other states as well as the issue of Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Ali Bagheri Kani's visit to Oman, Kanaani mentioned that Bagheri visited the Arab country to hold talks on bilateral, regional, and international issues. The Iranian authorities pursue important topics, including political, economic, and consular fields, with the help of Oman, the spokesman said, adding that Iran is following up on those issues, which require consultations.

Bagheri Kani has made the trip in line with the same framework of promoting diplomatic dynamism between the two friendly countries, Kanaani noted, saying that in respect of prisoner swap, the Islamic Republic follows up the subject based on consideration related to humanitarian issues.

Iran's complaint to ICJ against Canada

Issues pertaining to Iran's legal issues and its assets have a special legal characteristic and we are pursuing the issue, Kanaani said.

With regard to Iran's assets and properties in Canada, we have taken the necessary action against Canada's illegal actions in this regard, he noted.

We have recently filed a complaint against Canada in the International Court of Justice in order to protect national interests, he stated.

Transferring part of Iran's debts from Iraq to a third country

A part of Iran's debt has been transferred to a third country upon the order of the prime minister of Iraq, he said.

Naturally, we will wait for the Iraqi government to take necessary action, Kanaani added.

Negotiations are underway and Iran will not hesitate to make necessary efforts to obtain its own financial resources, he said.

He hailed talks with the Iraqi government, saying that these problems are caused by the US administration's cruel acts that are aimed at damaging relations between the two countries.

The Iraqi government has also shown its interest in paying its debts to Iran in the best way, Kanaani said.

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JCPOA revival needs full return of all sides to commitments: FM

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 7, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has announced that a favorable outcome of the talks aimed at reviving Iran's nuclear deal with world powers, technically known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), will be achieved only after all parties to the deal fully commit to their obligations.

Amirabdollahian made the announcement at a press conference held in Japan on Monday.

Speaking about indirect talks between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States, the foreign minister said exchange of prisoners between Iran and the US is a humane issue about which the two sides have held negotiations several times in the past months.

In May 2018, the US under the presidency of Donald Trump did unilaterally leave the JCPOA which had been signed in July 2015 between Iran and world powers and imposed the sanctions on the Islamic Republic. Tehran has repeatedly announced that the US should first lift its anti-Iran sanctions if it wants to return to the deal.

About his visit to Japan, Amirabdollahian said it is in line with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's policy of expanding relations with friendly Asian countries including Japan.

Cultural ties between Iran and Japan go back to over a millennium ago and diplomatic cooperation between the two has more than nine decades of history, he said, adding that Tehran sees such record as a strong base for expansion of bilateral relations.

On the issue of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the Iranian foreign minister said the Islamic Republic has a firm policy on the issue and believes that war is not a solution to disputes.

From the outset of the war in Ukraine, top Iranian officials stressed the importance of putting an stop to the conflict while Tehran also made efforts to help the two sides return to the dialogue, Amirabdollahian underlined.

Meanwhile, as he noted, Iran views the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and its provocative measures as the main root of crisis and war.

Elsewhere, he highlighted Iran's defense capabilities have provided the country and the region with with better security.

On the accusations about the use of Iranian drones by Russia in the war in Ukraine, the foreign minister said although Tehran and Moscow have had defense cooperation in recent years, the country has never delivered its weapons or drones to Russia for use in Ukraine.

He added that a report released in Japan has confirmed that the main part of weapons being used in Ukraine has been supplied by the US and some Western countries.

"Iran has never given any kind of drone to any sides to be used in Ukraine," said the top Iranian diplomat.

During the several meetings held between Iranian and Ukrainian officials in third countries, no acceptable documents have been presented to substantiate the accusations against Iran, Amirabdollahian stressed.

In his remarks, the foreign minister said the US and Western allies should stop making baseless accusations against the Islamic Republic.

"I think the common stance of Iran and Japan on the Ukrainian conflict is (to seek) an end of war and to focus on peace," he said.

Replying to a question about Japan's role in the Middle East region and the future of Iran-Japan ties, the foreign minister said the Islamic Republic has always remained positive about Japan's constructive role in regional developments.

As Amirabdollahian underlined, Iran expects Japan to support policies to ensure regional security through capabilities and potentials of countries in the region.

The Iranian foreign minister arrived in the Japanese capital Tokyo late on Sunday to hold talks with top officials of the country and to discuss international, regional and bilateral issues.

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Iran FM on Tokyo visit: Japan PM throws weight behind JCPOA, ready to help its revival

Iran Press TV

Monday, 07 August 2023 3:17 PM

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida says Tokyo supports the talks aimed at reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and is ready to help the sides in this regard.

Kishida made the remark in a meeting with Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who arrived in Tokyo on Sunday night in the first Japan visit by a top Iranian diplomat since 2019.

He said Japan supports the continuation of positive interaction between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Meanwhile, Japan's Foreign Ministry announced that the prime minister called on Iran to take constructive measures, including the full and unconditional cooperation under a joint statement issued by Iran and the IAEA in March.

At the end of a two-day visit to Tehran in March by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, Iran and the UN nuclear agency issued a joint statement in which both sides recognized that bilateral positive engagements can pave the way for wider agreements among state parties.

Both sides agreed that bilateral interactions will be carried out in a spirit of collaboration, and in full conformity with the competencies of the IAEA and the rights and obligations of Iran based on the comprehensive safeguards agreement.

Elsewhere in the meeting, the Japanese prime minister stressed the importance of expanding mutual relations.

Kishida hailed the positive developments in the Persian Gulf and said Tokyo supports regional cooperation aimed at promoting sustainable security.

The Iranian foreign minister, for his part, reiterated the two countries' determination to improve relations and said Tehran welcomes a roadmap for bilateral long-term cooperation.

Amir-Abdollahian said Iran plays a leading role in promoting energy security in the Persian Gulf.

He added that the new developments in the region herald the deepening of regional cooperation aimed at boosting stability, security, development and welfare, emphasizing that Japan plays an important role in supporting this process.

Regarding the conflict in Ukraine, the top Iranian diplomat informed the Japanese premier that Tehran's principled stance was based on a political resolution of the crisis.

According to Japan's Foreign Ministry, during his approximately 25-minute talks with the Japanese premier, Amir-Abdollahian reiterated Tehran's efforts to restore the JCPOA through negotiations.

He expressed his appreciation for Japan's diplomatic bids to restore the US-abandoned nuclear deal and said Iran would like to continue communication with Japan on the issue.

The JCPOA was derailed in 2018 by former US president Donald Trump, who unilaterally walked out of the accord and launched a campaign of maximum pressure against Iran.

US President Joe Biden vowed to return to the JCPOA after taking office but failed to take any practical steps.

Talks were held over the JCPOA revival between Iran and the remaining parties to the accord but they have been stalled since last August, with Iran blaming the US for failing to guarantee that it will not leave the deal again.

Iranian, Japanese FMs discuss bilateral issues, regional, global developments

Amir-Abdollahian also met with his Japanese counterpart Yoshimasa Hayashi in Tokyo on Monday and discussed mutual issues and the latest regional and international developments.

The Iranian foreign minister said Tehran and Tokyo should review policies on mutual relations and draw up a roadmap for long-term cooperation.

He added that the two countries have great capacities to improve relations and expressed Iran's readiness to hold more consultations with Japan.

Pointing to the ongoing war in Ukraine, Amir-Abdollahian reiterated that Iran's principled policy is based on a peaceful settlement of the crisis, urging the international community to support it.

Speaking at a press conference in Tokyo on Monday, the top Iranian diplomat highlighted Tehran's efforts towards reaching a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, blaming the conflict on the US-led NATO military alliance and its provocations.

"We consider NATO and its provocations among the root causes of the war and crisis. We continue our efforts to stop the war and make the parties focus on a political solution," he said.

Japan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Amir-Abdollahian and Hayashi discussed Japan's ongoing cooperation in areas such as health care and disaster prevention.

The Japanese foreign minister also threw his country's weight behind the Iran nuclear deal.

The top Iranian and Japanese diplomats also exchanged views about the JCPOA revival talks and Iran's cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.

The duo further discussed regional issues, including the Ukrainian crisis and stability and security in West Asia.

Iran FM calls for cooperation with Japan in pharmaceutical, medical equipment fields

In a meeting with Japanese Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Katsunobu Kato on Monday, Amir-Abdollahian denounced the illegal and unilateral sanctions the US has imposed on Iran.

The Iranian foreign minister called for the promotion of cooperation between Tehran and Tokyo, especially the formation of a mechanism for the participation of Japanese companies in Iran's pharmaceutical industry and medical equipment sector.

He pointed to the significance of political relations and mutual cultural respect and hailed Japan's donation of vaccines to Iran during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Iranian foreign minister briefed the Japanese health minister on Tehran's achievements in new technologies.

Katsunobu said the Iranian foreign minister's visit is taking place on the 78th anniversary of the 1945 US nuclear attacks on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki days before the end of World War II and added that the Japanese people oppose the weapons of mass destruction.

He stressed the importance of promoting bilateral cooperation, particularly in the medical sector, and lauded Iran's progress in modern medical technologies.

The Japanese minister expressed hope that Tehran and Tokyo would boost cooperation given their age-old and historical relations.

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FM Amir-Abdollahian pursuing case of blocked funds in Japan: Spokesman

Iran Press TV

Monday, 07 August 2023 11:21 AM

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman says the Islamic Republic is pursuing the release of Iranian funds frozen in Japan due to US sanctions, adding that Tokyo has repeatedly announced its readiness to repatriate them.

Nasser Kan'ani made the remarks in his weekly press conference on Monday, hours after Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian arrived in the Japanese capital, Tokyo.

"We will continue to follow up on the issue of unfreezing Iranian funds held in various countries, as we did before," Kan'ani said.

With regard to Japan, he added, the issue has been raised at different levels, and last year, during a meeting on the sidelines of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida discussed the matter.

The Iranian diplomat went on to say that the Japanese government has repeatedly announced its readiness to repatriate the frozen assets and is making efforts to make this happen.

Iran has tens of billions of dollar worth of funds in foreign banks that it cannot access because of US sanctions.

The funds are mostly kept in banks in South Korea, Iraq, China, Japan and India where Iran is owed for shipments of crude and other energy products that took place before the United States imposed its sanctions on Tehran in 2018.

Kan'ani also said that forging ties with Japan, among other countries, is on the Iranian government's agenda, adding that both sides seek to enhance cooperation.

According to Kan'ani, Amir-Abdollahian has held a meeting with his Japanese counterpart Yoshimasa Hayashi as well as Japan's Health Minister Katsunobu Kato to talk on major regional and international issues.

'Political solution only way to end Ukraine crisis'

Regarding Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, the Foreign Ministry spokesman said that since the beginning of the conflict in February 2022, Iran has emphasized the need for reaching a political solution as the most effective way to end the ongoing crisis.

Kan'ani added Tehran believes that only a political solution can safely end this crisis and has made efforts to help the two sides return to the negotiation table to end the war.

"What is important for Iran is that the Ukraine crisis must not threaten and challenge international peace and security," he said.

'We will not wait for JCPOA'

Elsewhere in his remarks, Kan'ani said Iran will not wait for the revival of Iran's nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and keeps on adopting measures to neutralize the sanctions.

"Iran has a strategic policy for lifting the sanctions, ... we will not wait for the JCPOA, and at the same time, we have not left the negotiation table and will continue the path of neutralizing the sanctions," he said.

The spokesman further said that it is not true that the negotiations have come to a standstill, adding that the path of diplomacy is always promising and Iran will follow JCPOA-related issues in this direction.

Iran proved the peaceful nature of its nuclear program to the world by signing the JCPOA with six world powers in 2015. However, Washington's exit in May 2018 and its subsequent re-imposition of sanctions against Tehran left the future of the deal in limbo.

Multilateral diplomatic efforts to revive the JCPOA have been stalled since last August, with Iran blaming the United States for failing to guarantee that it will not leave the deal again.

Iran has repeatedly announced that the JCPOA revival is possible if the US and the European signatories to the agreement have the will to reach that aim, warning that the opportunity will not last forever.

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August 7, 2023

Release

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Meeting in Washington With Defense Minister Thabet al-Abbasi of Iraq

Pentagon Press Secretary Brig Gen Pat Ryder provided the following readout:

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III met with Iraqi Defense Minister Thabet al-Abbasi at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. today during the inaugural U.S.-Iraq Joint Security Cooperation Dialogue (JSCD). Secretary Austin lauded the JSCD for its importance in advancing an enduring U.S.-Iraq security partnership. The JSCD builds upon the July 2021 U.S.-Iraq Strategic Dialogue, which reaffirmed commitment to the 2008 Strategic Framework Agreement, resulted in the departure from Iraq of U.S. forces with a combat role by December 2021, and led to a full transition of the military mission to training, advising, assisting, and sharing intelligence with the Iraqi Security Forces.

Secretary Austin reaffirmed the U.S.-Iraq strategic partnership and underscored U.S. commitment to a secure, stable, and sovereign Iraq. He praised the tremendous progress made by the Iraqi Security Forces in the campaign to achieve the enduring defeat of ISIS and underscored his view that the terrorist group remains a threat. Secretary Austin affirmed the United States' commitment to continue training, advising, assisting, and sharing intelligence with the Iraqi Security Forces at the invitation of the Iraqi government.

Secretary Austin expressed his appreciation for Iraq's commitment to reducing the number of detained ISIS fighters and displaced persons in northeast Syria, and encouraged the Iraqi delegation to continue repatriating, rehabilitating, reintegrating, and, where appropriate, prosecuting Iraqi nationals residing in northeast Syria.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3486265/

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US, Iraq Talking Long-Term Defense Cooperation

By Jeff Seldin August 07, 2023

The United States and Iraq are hoping to take critical steps to expand their partnership from one focused almost entirely on countering the Islamic State (IS) militant group to one some U.S. officials describe as a 360-degree whole-of-government alliance.

Defense officials and diplomats from both countries met at the Pentagon Monday for the start of two days of talks that include a meeting between U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Iraqi Minister of Defense Thabit Muhammad al-Abbasi.

"We recognize ... our military mission will change as your forces build up their capabilities," Austin told Abbasi, describing the talks as part of the "next step in our strategic defense partnership."

Speaking through a translator, Abbasi said that while it was crucial to "maintain the victories" Iraqi and U.S. forces had already secured, "[it is] most important now to enhance the relationships and the cooperation between us and the United States moving forward."

"We are very encouraged we are not going to leave Washington without success," he added.

The U.S. has about 2,500 troops in Iraq tasked with advising and assisting Iraqi security forces as they pursue the remnants of the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS or Daesh.

Getting results

U.S. officials say the arrangement, with Iraqi forces in the lead since December 2021, has proven successful. U.S. estimates show IS ranks have been cut to fewer than 1,000 fighters in Iraq while the group's leadership in Iraq has likewise been continually degraded by Iraqi forces.

The payoff has been a 64% reduction in IS attacks in Iraq so far this year, U.S. officials say. And the attacks that have taken place have been less deadly.

"I think it's fair to say decades into the future, U.S. forces will not be present in Iraq in the current formation that we are today," said Dana Stroul, deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, speaking to reporters prior to Monday's talks.

Exactly what the U.S. presence in Iraq might look like has yet to be determined. But the sustained success against IS is paving the way for discussions that could see Washington's relationship with Iraq begin to look more like other U.S. partnerships in the region.

"We are interested in an enduring defense relationship within a strategic partnership ... not just a military, not just defense relationship," Stroul said. "We see a whole-of-government strategic partnership for many, many years to come."

U.S. State Department officials say that includes focusing more on the Iraqi economy, noting that some U.S. businesses such as Cinnabon and Burger King have already opened stores in Baghdad.

"That is [a] very strong symbol and signal that they [the Iraqis] want American products and they want American businesses, even if they are franchises," said a State Department official, briefing reporters on the condition of anonymity.

"We would like to continue to expand our engagement on energy, particularly on helping the Iraqis build their greater self-sufficiency in their energy sector," the official added, emphasizing there is a focus on finding ways "to keep young Iraqis employed."

U.S. officials say they have also been encouraged by Iraq's progress in fighting corruption, noting improvements especially in the banking sector, though Washington's decision to blacklist 14 Iraqi banks for alleged money laundering on behalf of Iran sparked protests last month.

Still, the heavy focus is likely to remain on defense cooperation given the ongoing, if somewhat minimized, threat from IS.

"I still believe the reemergence of ISIS is a, is a considerable risk," said Combined Joint Task Force a Operation Inherent Resolve Commander Major General Matthew McFarlane ahead of the U.S.-Iraq talks.

"Their ideology remains unconstrained and is still a threat as they seek to rebuild some capacity and capability to conduct attacks and to regain or reemerge as a, as a significant threat to the population," he said.

And while Iraqi forces have managed to maintain a consistent tempo of anti-IS operations, U.S. military officials still see areas that need to be strengthened, such as using drones and surveillance aircraft to find and eliminate IS targets.

"We are certainly working with them now to optimize the platforms that they have and integrate them into operations," McFarlane said.

A U.S. Defense Department Inspector General report released earlier this month also raised concerns about Iraq's elite Counterterrorism Service, noting it "has not recruited any new soldiers since November 2018."

U.S. officials say work also needs to be done to prepare Iraqi forces to take on security concerns outside the scope of IS and counterterrorism.

And U.S. officials are additionally aware there is competition from other countries that would like to increase security cooperation with Iraq, such as China, Russia and Turkey.

"That's why this dialogue ... is so critical," said Stroul. "We have to work with the Iraqis on a holistic picture for bringing all of those [defense and security] resources to bear, plus their vision of their capabilities."

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Myanmar military steps up fighting in 8 states and regions

One analyst warns that pro-democracy forces will hit back and civilians will suffer.

By RFA Burmese 2023.08.07 -- Fighting has intensified in eight of Myanmar's states and regions as the military renews attempts to seize control of territory from ethnic armies and People's Defense Force (PDF) paramilitaries, anti-junta groups told RFA.

They reported an upswing in fighting in Shan, Kachin, Kayin and Mon states, and Sagaing, Bago, Magway and Tanintharyi regions.

One political analyst told RFA the military is trying to assert itself after extending a state of emergency for a fourth time, citing ongoing unrest.

But Than Soe Naing said the move will encourage pro-democracy groups to step up efforts to overthrow the junta and civilians will be caught in the crossfire.

"The movement of establishing a federal democratic state and abolishing the military dictatorship has reached its final stage," he said.

"The final stage means fighting decisive battles to overthrow the [junta] forces. Now that we are in this situation, it can be said that the fire of war in the country is burning and the entire population will have to go through a period of many troubles."

In Shan state, around 70 junta troops bombarded a Shan State Progressive Party camp in Laihka township on Friday and Saturday.

On Sunday, the two sides clashed in the township.

Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) spokesperson Maj. Sai Phone Han told RFA that the fighting lasted until noon on Monday and the situation remained very tense as the junta had ordered ethnic Shan forces to withdraw from 10 camps but the SSPP/SSA refused.

"We have thousands of troops. There are also [many] junta troops," he said. "The situation will get worse the longer the battle rages."

In Sagaing region, a PDF information officer who declined to be named for security reasons told RFA that fighting between junta troops and the armed resistance in Kalewala township had intensified on Saturday.

"We are still in a tense battle right now," he said, adding that both sides had suffered casualties but the exact figures aren't yet known.

The information officer said more than 300 residents of villages in Kalewa had fled the fighting.

Karen National Union (KNU) officials say there is currently fierce fighting between its troops and junta forces in Kayin and Mon states and Bago and Tanintharyi regions.

Group spokesperson Padoh Saw Kler Say said thousands of junta troops are attacking seven KNU-controlled areas.

"There are about 109 battalions. We estimate the manpower to be 10,000 a maybe more," he said.

Fighting intensifies in Kachin's jade mining region

In Kachin state, fighting between the junta and the Kachin Independence Army saw an uptick in June.

Locals told RFA fighting was particularly fierce in the jade mining region around Hpakant township, with the junta carrying out airstrikes.

Kachin Independence Army spokesperson Col. Naw Bu, said troops have sent in around 1,000 soldiers in two columns in an attempt to seize control of the area around the KIA headquarters in Lai Zar.

In northern Shan state, there has been fighting in the past few days between junta troops and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army.

Clashes between the junta army and Karenni Army joint forces with Karenni National Defense Force has intensified in Loikaw and Mese in Kayah state and Bawlakhe, Pinlaung and Pekon townships in southern Shan state.

RFA called the junta's deputy information officer Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun to ask about the increase in fighting but nobody answered.

At a meeting of the National Defense and Security Council on July 31 junta leader Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing said Sagaing, Magway, Bago and Tanintharyi regions and Kayin, Kayah, Chin and Mon states have been particularly hard hit by fighting, mine attacks and arson.

The junta extended emergency rule for another six months for "security measures" to address the widespread conflict.

More than 1.6 million civilians have fled their homes due to fighting since the February 2021 coup, according to figures released by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) at the end of last month.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn and Taejun Kang

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 August not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Kremlin Spokesman Claims Putin Will Easily Win Reelection Next Year

By RFE/RL's Russian Service August 07, 2023

A year ahead of Russia's presidential election, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has told The New York Times that President Vladimir Putin "will be reelected next year with more than 90 percent of the vote."

Putin, who has been in power either as prime minister or president since the end of 1999, has largely dismantled the elements of democracy and freedom that took root following the collapse of the Soviet Union three decades ago and has dragged Russia into the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine -- Europe's largest conflict since World War II.

In an interview on August 6, Peskov also made the apparently surprising remark that the Russian presidential poll "is not really democracy, it is costly bureaucracy."

Putin, who has employed the most severe repression of Russia's political opposition since Soviet times, is expected to easily win reelection.

He has jailed opponents, subjugated the judicial system, and crushed freedom of the press, turning elections largely into farces with ballot-stuffing and voting result manipulation common features.

However, the Kremlin has continued to insist that Russian elections are fair and free. Following the publication of The New York Times article on August 6, Peskov claimed he was misquoted by the U.S. news outlet.

In an interview with the RBK news agency later in the day, Peskov tried to reframe his comments, saying that Russia "theoretically" didn't need to hold presidential elections because "it's obvious that Putin will be reelected."

It is unclear who will seek to challenge Putin in an environment where almost any criticism of the Russian leader leads to harassment and investigations.

Russia last week extended the jail sentence of Russia's most popular opposition leader, Aleksei Navalny, to 19 years, meaning his prison term would end in 2040.

Navalny, who investigated corruption in the highest echelons of the Russian government, was convicted of extremism charges that he calls nonsense.

He is just one of several opposition leaders who have been sentenced to lengthy jail terms on trumped-up charges since Putin launched an invasion of Ukraine 17 months ago.

Asked whether Russia will seek more Ukrainian territory beyond the four partially occupied provinces Russia illegally annexed in September, Peskov said, "No," adding, "We just want to control all the land we have now written into our constitution as ours."

But he said no peace deal was possible now. "There are currently no grounds for an agreement," Peskov said.

"We will continue the operation for the foreseeable future," he said, using the same term as Putin, who called the invasion of Ukraine "a special military operation," avoiding the word "war."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-peskov-interview- democracy/32536544.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's telephone conversation with CPC CC Political Bureau member and Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi

7 August 2023 15:14

1563-07-08-2023



On August 7, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov talked by telephone with member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi.

Sergey Lavrov congratulated his Chinese colleague on his recent appointment to the position of PRC Foreign Minister and wished him new successes in his position. The parties praised the progressive development of Russian-Chinese relations that show stability and positive dynamics amid general geopolitical instability in the world. They focused on the bilateral agenda including implementation of agreements reached at the highest political level.

The ministers discussed a number of current international issues, noting the general unacceptability of the Western bloc's confrontational policy towards Russia and China and its attempts to contain their development through sanctions and other illegitimate methods. They positively assessed the constructive dialogue between Moscow and Beijing and the high level of collaboration at the UN, BRICS, SCO, G20, and other international organisations.

They discussed a number of current regional issues, including the Ukraine crisis.

The meeting between the ministers once again confirmed that Moscow and Beijing have identical or largely concurring approaches towards international affairs. They reaffirmed their commitment to maintain close foreign policy coordination.

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Putin Praises Russia's Drone Power, Urges Rostec to Ramp Up Production

Sputnik News

20230807

MOSCOW, (Sputnik) - Russia's Lancet and Cube drones have demonstrated exceptional results and more of them need to be manufactured, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday at a meeting with Sergey Chemezov, who heads Russia's state-owned defense corporation Rostec.

"Both the Cube and the Lancet [drones] have shown very effective results: first and foremost, [it delivers] a powerful impact, so any equipment, including foreign-made models, not only goes up into flames, but it also detonates their accompanying munitions. The manufacturers promised me that they would beef up production. They are keeping this promise, but we need to ramp it up even further," Putin emphasized.

In turn, Chemezov noted that Russia had doubled the production of fighter jets in 2022.

"As for the aircraft industry, besides military and combat aircraft, the production of which we doubled last year, we focus a lot of attention on civil aviation," Chemezov noted, at a meeting with Vladimir Putin.

Rostec also doubled the production of military helicopters in 2022, the official added.

"As for the helicopter industry, in 2022, our holding Russian Helicopters produced 296 helicopters... the year before there were only 134. This is a significant increase. But this, of course, is primarily due to the increase of the state defense order. For the state defense order, we have doubled the production of military helicopters," Chemezov said.

Russian manufacturers have a chance to fill the niche of the foreign companies that have left Russia before they return, Putin concluded.

A Sputnik

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Syria urges UN action after Israel's 'terrorist' attack kills 4 soldiers

Iran Press TV

Monday, 07 August 2023 11:54 PM

Syria has urged the United Nations to take immediate action on Israel's recurrent missile strikes against the Arab country after the regime's latest act of aggression claimed the lives of four Syrian soldiers.

The attack took place in early Monday from the direction of the occupied Golan Heights, targeting the vicinity of the country's capital Damascus. It also wounded four other Syrian soldiers and caused some material damage.

In a statement released later in the day, Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates called on the United Nations and its Security Council to condemn Israel's incursions. It also urged the world body to take "immediate action to compel the occupying entity to stop its aggressive policies," the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported.

'Israel US tool to spread chaos in region'

The statement noted that Israel continues its "aggressive and terrorist policies" at the same time that the United States maintains its illegal presence on Syrian soil.

The statement said the coincidence of the Israeli attacks and the US' military moves "prove once again that Israel is a tool [at the hands of the US] to spread chaos in the region, and the main reason behind the lack of [regional] security and stability."

Syrian foreign ministry also called on the world body "to strongly condemn Israel's terrorist attacks ... [and to] demand Israel's backers allow the Security Council to fulfill its responsibilities under the provisions of the UN Charter in maintaining international peace and security."

The United States continuously blocks the United Nations' anti-Israeli measures by vetoing them, thus preventing the world body from performing its duties concerning the occupying regime.

The US and its allies invaded Syrian in 2014 under the pretext of fighting the Takfiri terrorist group of Daesh. Washington still maintains its military presence in the Arab country, although Damascus and its allies defeated the terror outfit in late 2017.

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Fresh Israeli aggression against Syrian capital kills 4 soldiers, injures 4 others

Iran Press TV

Monday, 07 August 2023 1:13 AM

Israel has launched a new airstrike against Syria targeting the vicinity of the capital city of Damascus, causing casualties and material damage.

Syria's official SANA news agency quoted an unnamed military source as saying that the new Israeli act of aggression took place early Monday from the direction of the occupied Golan Heights.

The source added that Syria's air defenses intercepted Israeli missiles and shot down some of them.

The attack, however, left four Syrian soldiers dead and four others injured, while causing some material damage.

The new strike followed a July missile attack by the regime, which also targeted the Syrian capital, wounding two soldiers and causing some material damage.

The Golan Heights have been under Israeli occupation since 1967, when the regime launched a large-scale war against the regional Arab states, including Syria.

Tel Aviv has been using the territory as a launchpad for its acts of military aggression against the Arab nation ever since.

The regime has been also using the occupied territory to provide safe passage and medical treatment for the anti-Syria Takfiri terrorists, who would flee there from the Syrian military's counter-terrorism operations.

Israel has carried out more than 20 airstrikes against Syria since the beginning of the current year.

The regime has frequently attacked the positions of Syria's military and its allies since 2011, when the Arab country found itself in the grip of rampant foreign-backed violence and terrorism.

The regime's attacks mostly target the positions of Syria's allies that have been aiding the country in its battle against foreign-sponsored terror groups.

Damascus has repeatedly complained to the United Nations over the Israeli assaults, urging the world body's Security Council to take action against Tel Aviv's crimes. Its demands, however, have fallen on deaf ears.

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New military police battalion to be garrisoned in south Taipei: Source

ROC Central News Agency

08/07/2023 02:43 PM

Taipei, Aug. 7 (CNA) Taiwan's armed forces plan to garrison a newly raised military police battalion in south Taipei, as part of efforts to bolster protection for the president and other top government leaders, a military source told CNA Monday.

The unit will be the sixth military police battalion under the 202nd Military Police Command stationed in Taipei but the specific location of the garrison has not yet been decided, the source said.

Unlike many other countries, Taiwan's military police are a separate branch of the armed forces tasked with protecting government leaders from assassination or capture, guarding strategic facilities, and conducting counterintelligence against enemy infiltrators, spies, and saboteurs.

The arrangement comes after a military source told CNA in April that Taiwan may double the number of its military police in the coming years for the same purpose as China intensifies its threat to the regional stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Currently, around 5,000 of the 210,000 troops in Taiwan's armed forces are military police, a number that the source said is set to double to 10,000 pending central government approval.

Five military police battalions are currently garrisoned in Taipei, including the 211th and the 332nd, responsible for protecting the president and the vice president, respectively, as well as armored and artillery units stationed in the northern part of the city.

(By Matt Yu, Joseph Yeh and Chao Yen-hsiang)

Enditem/ASG

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Int'l community makes fresh efforts to resolve Ukraine crisis in Jeddah

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 15:30, August 07, 2023

RIYADH, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Security advisors and representatives from 43 countries on Sunday concluded a two-day meeting in Jeddah, a coastal city in western Saudi Arabia, where they discussed solutions to the Ukraine crisis that has dragged on for more than a year.

The closed-door meeting was attended by quite a number of developing countries, many of which have primarily stayed neutral in the crisis. Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Eurasian Affairs Li Hui also attended the meeting.

Analysts said that China's participation reflects its role as a responsible major country in promoting peace, and the meeting represents the latest efforts by the international community in solving the crisis.

Li Xinggang, a researcher at the Institute for Studies on the Mediterranean Rim at Zhejiang International Studies University, believes that the Jeddah meeting will push for a greater international peace force to resolve the crisis, and allow more international actors to participate in it, so as to find fair, just and lasting solutions to the crisis.

Abdullah Otaibi, an expert on international issues in Saudi Arabia, pointed out that although the Ukraine crisis is unlikely to end soon, the convening of the Jeddah meeting is an important step in the right direction toward resolving the crisis and an important opportunity to enhance consensus among all parties and seek a practical and feasible solution.

Wang Guangyuan, an associate professor at the Middle East College of Beijing Language and Culture University, said that the Jeddah meeting, a transitional event linking the past and the future, paves the way for the next peace conference that can include Russia.

Andriy Yermak, chief of staff of Ukraine's presidential office, said in a statement that the meeting's participants had conducted "very productive consultations on the key principles on which a just and lasting peace should be built."

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy secretary of Russia's Security Council, said that a peace proposal can have a chance of success only if both sides of the conflict participate, the historical context is considered, and the current realities are taken into account.

The participation of the Chinese delegation in the meeting has attracted a lot of attention.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said prior to the meeting that China stands ready to work with the international community to continue to play a constructive role in seeking a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

Otaibi pointed out that China's position on resolving the Ukrainian crisis has always been valued by the international community and will play a positive role in formulating agreements and principles to end the conflict.

Ahmed Ibrahim, a Saudi political analyst, said that China is an important force to promote world peace and development.

China has been in contact with all relevant parties on the Ukraine crisis, actively promoting peace talks, and has been calling on relevant parties to respond to the call of the international community, gradually accumulating and creating conditions for the final resolution of the crisis, which attests to China's role as a responsible major country, he said.

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Facts about Ukraine crisis: Meeting on Ukraine crisis concludes, highlighting continued peace efforts

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 11:27, August 07, 2023

MOSCOW/WASHINGTON/RIYADH, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- The following are the latest developments related to the Ukraine crisis:

The talks on the Ukraine crisis concluded on Sunday in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah, where participants called for continuing international efforts to build a common ground for peace, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The participants also emphasized the importance of benefiting from views and positive suggestions presented during the two-day meeting.

The meeting, chaired by Saudi Minister of State and National Security Adviser Musaad bin Mohammed Al-Aiban, was attended by security advisers and representatives from more than 40 countries and international organizations, including China and the United Nations.

- - - -

The air defense system in the Moscow region has destroyed a Ukrainian drone, the Russian Defense Ministry said Sunday.

At 11:27 a.m. (0827 GMT), an attempt by the Ukrainian side to carry out an attack using an unmanned aerial vehicle against facilities in the Moscow region was foiled, the ministry said.

There have been no reports of casualties or damage.

- - - -

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday held a phone call with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on issues including the now collapsed Black Sea Grain Initiative, the U.S. State Department said.

According to a U.S. statement, Blinken "thanked TArkiye for its leadership in the Black Sea Grain Initiative."

The initiative, which allowed Ukraine to export its grain and other agricultural products from its Black Sea ports, was brokered by TArkiye and the United Nations in July 2022 and expired last month after Russia suspended its participation in the agreement.

- - - -

A woman has died and two men have been injured following a Ukrainian attack on Donetsk's Kuibyshev district, Donetsk Mayor Alexey Kulemzin said Sunday.

As a result of Ukraine's evening shelling of the Kuibyshev district, a woman had died in the backyard of her house, and two men have been injured as a result of the shelling of the Azotny settlement, Kulemzin said in a Telegram post.

The mayor also said that a private house and two cars had been damaged due to Ukraine's attack, as well as the building of a cultural center, two shops and a trade pavilion.

Kulemzin said Saturday that Ukrainian forces had attacked the Donetsk University of Economics and Trade, which caught on fire. According to preliminary information, he said that Ukraine had used cluster munitions in the attack.

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Moscow says Jeddah talks on Ukraine war 'pointless' without Russia

Iran Press TV

Monday, 07 August 2023 5:48 PM

Russia says without Moscow's participation, a two-day meeting hosted by Saudi Arabia to find a peaceful settlement of the war in Ukraine had no "slightest added value."

Senior officials from over 40 countries gathered in Jeddah on Sunday to agree on key principles as to how to end the war.

Unlike Kiev, Moscow received no invitation to the gathering.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday that without Russia's participation and without taking into account Moscow's interests, the meeting was "pointless."

It also reiterated that Moscow is open to diplomacy and ready to respond to serious proposals with respect to the settlement of the conflict.

In a separate statement, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said a resolution was possible if Kiev "stopped the hostilities and terrorist attacks" and if Western countries stopped arms supplies to Ukraine.

She also called on Ukraine to cede occupied territories to Russia.

"The original foundations of Ukraine's sovereignty, its neutral, non-aligned and non-nuclear status, must be confirmed."

But Mykhailo Podolyak, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's adviser, said Kiev would not compromise on its demands for a full withdrawal of Russian forces.

Zelenskyy's head of staff Andriy Yermak also described the Jeddah talks as "very productive."

Nevertheless, the Brazilian delegation leader and foreign policy adviser Celso Amorim said Russia must be involved in the process of any "real negotiation."

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NATO provocations among root causes of Ukraine war: Iran FM

Iran Press TV

Monday, 07 August 2023 9:01 AM

Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has highlighted Iran's efforts towards a political settlement to the Ukraine crisis, blaming the conflict on the US-led NATO military alliance and its provocations.

"We consider NATO and its provocations among the root causes of the war and crisis. We continue our efforts to stop the war and make the parties focus on a political solution," he said on Monday at a press conference in the Japanese capital, Tokyo.

Amir-Abdollahian also emphasized that the Islamic Republic has always maintained its principled position against the war as a solution.

"Since the beginning of the war, we have put on agenda ... an end to the war as well as the parties' return to dialog and a political solution, and taken active measures in this framework," he added.

In February 2022, Russia launched what it called a special military operation in Ukraine partly to prevent NATO's eastward expansion after warning that the military alliance was following an "aggressive line" against Moscow.

The Western countries have been fueling the flames of the war with their unchecked delivery of weapons to Ukraine.

They, however, accuse Iran of providing Russia with military equipment, including drones, for use in Ukraine, an allegation categorically rejected by Tehran.

'Ukraine has no evidence on Iran drones claim'

Also in his remarks, the top Iranian diplomat rejected as "completely wrong and incorrect" the accusations regarding the use of Iranian drones in the Ukraine war.

He said that Tehran's defense cooperation with Moscow has never involved the use of Iranian drones or weapons in the Ukraine war as Russia itself is one of the world's biggest arms producers and exporters.

"We have provided no parties [to the war] with drones for use in Ukraine," he asserted.

Amir-Abdollahian further said that last year he had himself asked Ukraine to submit its alleged anti-Iran evidence to Iranian military officials.

The Ukrainian side shunned a meeting with an Iranian military delegation in Warsaw, Poland, and it provided no acceptable documents in a later meeting in Oman, he added.

"It was agreed that the Ukrainian side will once again review its documents for examination in another meeting with the Iranian side. We repeatedly called for such a meeting, but the Ukrainian side did not attend a new round of talks."

"In a phone call with the Ukrainian foreign minister, I said I am sure that you do not have the alleged document and that the accusations regarding the use of Iranian drones in the Ukraine war are completely wrong and incorrect."

The Iranian foreign minister also expressed Iran's objection to the arming of any party to the Ukraine war, saying the flow of American and Western weapons to the former Soviet country will stoke insecurity and instability there and cause further deaths and destruction.

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France supplies long-range missiles to Ukraine amid attacks on Russian civilian structures

Iran Press TV

Monday, 07 August 2023 8:16 AM

France has reportedly made good its vow of supplying long-range missiles to Ukraine that can hit targets deep into Russia, with Kiev publishing footage of an undated video showing the Ukrainian president putting his signature on one of the missiles mounted on a bomber.

The SCALP-EG, which is the French variant of the UK's Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missile, is now officially in service with Ukrainian armed forces, Kiev's defense ministry announced in social media posts as cited by media outlets on Sunday.

Reports cited Ukraine's military as showing off footage of French-made SCALP-EGs being mounted on a Russia-made Sukhoi-24 bomber for a bombing mission.

Ukraine's Western-supplied missiles and drones have so far been used by Kiev to attack Russia's mostly civilian and some military targets.

Images circulated by Ukraine's Ministry of Defense (MoD) on X (formerly Twitter) from a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to a Sukhoi-24 Fencer unit that fires the missiles have confirmed the operational status of SCALP-EG, according to press reports.

Zelensky was shown signing the French-made missile that was brightly adorned with its designation in French flag colors and a Ukrainian coat of arms with the Eiffel Tower set in it as it was attached under the bomber aircraft.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's MoD claimed the missiles had been used in its attacks on Russian targets in Chongar and Henichesk, which reportedly serve as key arteries for transporting supplies and personnel from Crimea to Russian troops along the frontlines to the north.

Media outlets also reported that the missile's BROACH two-stage warhead is capable of penetrating fortified targets, and its fusing can be set to a desired effect.

According to some press reports, the weapons' infrared seeker that uses image matching (DSMAC a Digital Scene Matching Area Correlator) is impossible to jam in the RF spectrum and its passive nature, combined with the missile's stealthy features, makes it a challenge to detect and especially engage/shoot down, though a number of them have been shot down or crashed through malfunction.

Nonetheless, the missiles have been advertised as being Ukraine's most far-reaching, hard-hitting weapon as Kiev increases its strikes against Russia, especially as it looks for ways to distract its Western backers -- which have appropriated tens of billions of dollars of tax-payers' money for weapons and munitions for Ukraine -- from its long-anticipated but failed counteroffensives.

Russia, meanwhile, has launched retaliatory measures in efforts to strike Ukrainian targets -- military sites where weapons, missiles and their launch platforms are kept -- with its various cruise and Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, and drones.

Ukraine has been stepping up on missile and drone attacks against Russia as Zelensky last week hinted at a change in Kiev's tactics.

This is while Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has pointed out that Zelensky is compromising the United States by conducting terrorist attacks against civilian buildings, trying to blackmail the White House, and its allies, into sending Kiev more money, weapons and munitions.

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Zelenskiy's Chief Of Staff Says Ukraine's Peace Proposal Only One Discussed At Saudi Talks

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service August 07, 2023

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's chief of staff said on August 7 that talks over the weekend in Saudi Arabia discussed no other peace initiative than the one put forth by Ukraine and that the participants agreed to hold another meeting within about six weeks.

"We will hold another meeting within a month, month-and-a-half and we will move toward [holding] a summit," Andriy Yermak told reporters at a briefing in Kyiv.

Officials from around 40 countries, including China, the United States, and European countries, took part in the talks.

Yermak, who headed the Ukrainian delegation, said all delegates at the talks had fully supported Ukrainian independence and territorial integrity.

Yermak promoted the Ukrainian peace formula at the talks. Zelenskiy himself has touted the set of 10 principles that Kyiv wants to serve as the basis for peace during recent visits to European and NATO-member countries.

Observers have said the most important points of the peace plan are those that demand respect for the UN Charter and the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.

Russia's Foreign Ministry said the talks in Saudi Arabia didn't have "the slightest added value," because Moscow wasn't invited. Without Russia's participation and without taking into account Moscow's interests, the meeting was pointless, a ministry statement said.

It repeated previous assurances that Russia was open to a diplomatic solution on its terms that ends the war and is ready to respond to serious proposals.

Mykhaylo Podolyak, an adviser to Zelenskiy, once again ruled out Moscow's previous demands, saying they would give Russia time to dig in deeper in the parts of Ukraine it has occupied.

"Any scenario of a cease-fire and freezing of the war in Ukraine in the current disposition will mean only one thing -- Russia's actual victory and Putin's personal triumph," Podolyak said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

He said earlier in an interview with RFE/RL that Russian forces must fully withdraw from the occupied areas and there would be no compromise on that.

"The most difficult thing is always the discussion of the issue that Russia should leave the territory of Ukraine," he said.

Hanna Hopko, who previously headed the committee on foreign policy in the Ukrainian parliament, said the talks in Saudi Arabia pointed to the "deepening of the isolation" of Russia. She said Ukraine needed this along with "tougher measures to counter Russian aggression," including more weapons, financial aid, and more pressure on Russia.

"Ukraine wants more support, and not only transatlantic support or in the Ramstein format, but at the level of the whole world," she said, referring to the contact group formed to coordinate Western military support for Ukraine.

Hopko told RFE/RL in an interview that China's participation at the talks was important.

"The longer the war lasts, the more China sees that Russia has no chance of winning," she said, adding that Russia was getting more and more isolated, and "China understands that Russia is losing."

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on August 7 issued a statement saying China would be an "objective and rational voice" at any international multilateral forums and "actively promote peace talks."

The statement came after the ministry said earlier that the international talks in Saudi Arabia had helped "to consolidate international consensus."

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also spoke by phone with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, telling him that China would uphold an independent and impartial position on Ukraine as it strives to find a political settlement to the issue.

Beijing and Moscow have maintained a close bilateral relationship in recent years as both countries' relations with the West have worsened.

With reporting by Reuters and AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-peace- saudi-forum/32538001.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Ukraine Again Asks U.S. For Long-Range Missiles After Russian Attacks Kill Civilians

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service August 07, 2023

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said he requested long-range missiles from the United States during a phone call on August 7 with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The request came as five people were killed in a Russian missile attack on the city of Pokrovsk in Ukraine's Donetsk region and after Ukrainian officials said that at least three people had been killed in the latest Russian assaults that targeted the Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, and Kherson regions.

Ukraine has previously requested Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) from the United States and other Western partners. Washington thus far has refrained from providing the weapons for fear Kyiv may use them to target military objects inside Russia.

The ATACMs could strike Russian arms depots and other equipment up to 300 kilometers away, weakening Moscow's ability to supply its troops at the front lines. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said the missiles would be used to reduce Russia's ability to target cities.

"I thanked the U.S. for all the assistance provided and stressed the need to enhance Ukraine's long-range capabilities by providing ATACMS," Kuleba said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

A State Department spokesman issued a statement after the call that made no mention of Ukraine's request for ATACMS. The statement from spokesman Matthew Miller's office said Blinken "reiterated the United States' staunch and ongoing support of Ukraine's defense against Russia's aggression and reaffirmed continued support of a strong Ukrainian military and accountable defense institutions."

It also said Blinken and Kuleba discussed developments in Ukraine's counteroffensive and the talks held over the weekend in Saudi Arabia about reaching a "durable peace in Ukraine."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the attack on Pokrovsk involved two missiles that hit a residential building. "Unfortunately, there are victims. Rescuers and all necessary services are at the scene. Rescue operations continue," he said.

Pavlo Kyrylenko, the governor of Donetsk, said one person was killed and seven wounded.

Kyiv earlier described the situation over the past week as "extremely difficult and tense" both in the east and south of the country.

Kherson Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said on Telegram that a woman was killed and a man sustained head injuries when Russian shelling hit a residential area in the central part of the city. The shelling began around the midnight, officials said.

At least two rescue workers suffered heatstroke as they tried to evacuate residents and put out a fire at a nine-story building that was hit by the latest Russian strikes. (See video below.)

Ukrainian forces recaptured Kherson and parts of Kherson Province in the country's south in November, several months after they were occupied by Russia.

But Russian troops continue to shell the city and surrounding areas from across the Dnieper River. A doctor was killed and a nurse was wounded in Russian shelling of a Kherson hospital earlier this month.

Two people were reported killed when Russian troops hit the border areas of the northeastern Kharkiv region on August 7, officials said. No further details were immediately available.

Russian forces targeted the Dnipropetrovsk region overnight, using rockets and heavy artillery, regional officials said. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

Emergency workers put out a fire that broke out in the aftermath of a missile strike in the Synelnyk district, said Serhiy Lysak, the head of the regional military administration.

Russian assaults continued in the morning, with the Myryvsk area coming under heavy artillery shelling, Lysak added.

New air-raid alerts went off around noon on August 7 in at least nine provinces, including Sumy, Poltava, and Zaporizhzhya, alerting residents to the danger of new Russian strikes.

According to Ukraine's General Staff, about 50 combat clashes took place across the country over the past day. Kyiv described the situation over the past week as "extremely difficult and tense" both in the east and the south of the country.

"The enemy has chosen the east as its main direction. The offensive there has been going on since January in several directions," Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said on August 7. She said that "the east was the epicenter of hostilities all last week."

Malyar also said that Russian forces "want to regain the territories they lost in the Kharkiv region."

In Russia, officials claimed that a Ukrainian drone was shot down southwest of Moscow overnight, amid a surge in drone attacks targeting the capital.

The drone was shot down by the anti-defense system in the Ferzikovsky district of the Kaluga region, less than 200 kilometers southwest of Moscow, regional Governor Vladislav Shapsha said.

The incident "affected neither people nor infrastructure," he wrote on Telegram on August 7.

Ukrainian drone attacks have increased in recent weeks, mostly targeting Moscow as well as the illegally annexed Crimean Peninsula.

Meanwhile, the head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andriy Yermak, wrote on Telegram that 22 prisoners of war were returned to Ukraine from Russian captivity on August 7.

Some 2,600 Ukrainian solders have been released from captivity in prisoner exchanges that have taken place periodically between Russia and Ukraine since the conflict began in February 2022.

There was no immediate comment from Russia about the latest prisoner exchange. In most cases, the warring parties hand over about the same number of prisoners as the other side.

In other developments, a conference hosted by Saudi Arabia to discuss a peace plan for Ukraine was successful because it showed the willingness of the international community to work toward ending the war, a German government spokesperson said on August 7.

"Germany will also continue to engage actively including in this process," the spokesperson said in Berlin.

With reporting by Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-kherson-dnipropetrovsk- shelling-russia-combat/32537159.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's answer to a media question about the meeting on Ukraine in Jeddah

7 August 2023 12:15

1562-07-08-2023

Question: What is your comment on the recent meeting on the Ukrainian crisis in Jeddah?

Maria Zakharova: The Foreign Ministry of Russia took note of the news about the consultations concerning the Ukraine crisis, held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on August 5 and 6, at the initiative of the Kiev regime and the G7. The consultations were attended by our BRICS allies and other partners. We hope they will share their assessments with us in keeping with the existing agreements, and we reiterate our stance on Zelensky's so-called "peace formula," which the Kiev regime and the West try to promote at such meetings. None of its 10 points is aimed at finding a negotiated and diplomatic solution to the crisis, while in their totality they constitute a senseless ultimatum to Russia, directed at dragging out the hostilities. No peaceful settlement is possible on this basis.

By promoting Zelensky's "formula," the Kiev regime and the West are attempting to belittle the great importance of peace initiatives proposed by other countries and to monopolise the right to their advancement. In effect, as we said, they are fighting dissent at the international level and making attempts to smuggle in unviable ideas on the settlement by dishonest manipulations.

We greatly appreciate the mediating and humanitarian initiatives advanced by our friends from countries of the Global South, initiatives aimed at reaching peace. Unlike the Kiev regime, which broke off and banned negotiations with Russia, we have always been open to a diplomatic solution to the crisis and are ready to respond to serious proposals. No meetings on the Ukraine crisis add any value without Russia's participation or regard for its interests.

We are confident that a truly comprehensive, stable and just settlement is only possible if the Kiev regime stops its combat operations and terrorist attacks and if its Western sponsors stop inundating the Armed Forces of Ukraine with weapons. They should confirm the original foundations of Ukraine's sovereignty, that is, its neutral, non-bloc and nuclear-free status. They should recognise the new territorial realities that took shape after the residents in the new Russian regions exercised their right to self-determination enshrined in the UN Charter. The next step is to ensure Ukraine's demilitarisation and de-Nazification as well as the rights of its Russian speakers and ethnic minorities under its domestic laws and international law. We are certain that implementing these elements fully conforms to international peace and security, which are the goals that Russia is working to reach.

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Turkiye Continues Dialogue With Western Countries on Grain Deal Resumption - Source

Sputnik News

20230807

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ankara continues its dialogue with Western partners on the resumption of the Black Sea Grain Initiative and continues an interdepartmental dialogue with Russia as well, a source in Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's administration has told Sputnik.

"Of course, [the dialogue] is underway. In parallel, we are also in dialog with Russia, with specific agencies. Mr. President [Erdogan] has repeatedly emphasized the importance of this initiative for countries in need," the source said when asked whether Ankara was in talks with Western partners to remove obstacles to the export of Russian food products and ammonia.

Later in the day, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that Ankara intends to make efforts to facilitate the resumption of the grain deal, adding that the primary goal for the Turkish diplomacy will be to achieve deescalation in various conflict zones in the region.

"We will continue to work hard and steadily to end the conflict in Ukraine and achieve an equitable peace ... As a Montreux Convention member state, our fundamental priority will be to ensure peace, especially in the Black Sea, and to counter any attempts to threaten it," Fidan said at the Turkish Ambassadors Conference in Ankara.

Turkiye will continue to maintain contact with all parties to the grain deal in order to facilitate its resumption, the minister said, adding that during the weekend, he discussed it with his US and Ukrainian colleagues.

Meanwhile, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani believes that Turkiye is the only country that can achieve an agreement with Russia and Ukraine on food supplies via the Black Sea while the grain prices are soaring.

"The poorest countries who do not get the grain are paying the highest price," he said in an interview with a Italian newspaper. "I don't know how much the Africans bought. Egypt definitely [bought] a lot. But the prices for wheat and grain are growing, that is the main problem. A deal needs to be struck by Russia and Ukraine, brokered by Turkiye, the only country right know that can do it. [Russian President Vladimir] Putin will go to Turkiye in August, and I hope an agreement will be made," Tajani said.

The Turkiye- and UN-mediated Black Sea Grain Initiative, which provided for a humanitarian corridor to allow exports of Ukrainian grain over the past year, expired on July 18, as Russia did not renew its participation in the deal. Moscow said that the deal's component on facilitating Russian grain and fertilizer exports had not been fulfilled.

The Montreux Convention Regarding the Regime of the Straits of 1936 ensures the freedom of passage through Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits for merchant ships both in times of peace and war. The document limits the period of stay in the Black Sea of warships of non-Black Sea states to three weeks. In emergency situations, Turkiye has the right to prohibit or restrict the passage of military ships through the straits.

A Sputnik

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Moscow Expects BRICS States to Inform Russia About Course of Jeddah Talks on Ukraine

Sputnik News

20230807

MOSCOW, (Sputnik) - Russia expects that BRICS countries that took part in the meeting on Ukraine in Saudi Arabia's Jeddah over the weekend to inform Moscow about the course of the consultations, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Monday.

"We expect that, in accordance with the agreements, they [BRICS countries] will share their assessments with us and reaffirm our position on the so-called peace formula of [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelensky, which the Kiev regime and the West are trying to promote during such meetings. None of its 10 points is aimed at finding a negotiated and diplomatic solution to the crisis," Zakharova said in a statement.

The peace plan proposed by Zelensky is "a senseless ultimatum to Russia, which is aimed at protracting hostilities," the diplomat said, adding that in this case, a peaceful settlement is impossible.

"By promoting Zelensky's 'formula,' the Kiev regime and the West are trying to downplay the high value of other countries' peace proposals and monopolize the very right to propose them. In essence, as we said, there is a fight against dissent at the international level, attempts to push through unviable settlement ideas through unscrupulous manipulations," the statement read.

Russia has always been and remains open to a diplomatic solution to the crisis and is ready to respond to really serious proposals, the spokeswoman said, adding that without the participation of Russia and taking into account its interests, no meetings on the Ukrainian crisis have any value.

"We are convinced that a truly comprehensive, sustainable and fair settlement is possible only if the Kiev regime stops hostilities and terrorist attacks, and its Western sponsors stop pumping weapons into the armed forces of Ukraine," she added.

A Sputnik

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Everyone who captures the occupiers at the front speeds up freedom for Ukrainians - address by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

President of Ukraine

7 August 2023 - 22:31

Dear Ukrainians!

A rescue operation is underway in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region. After Russian missile strikes. Iskander missiles against ordinary residential buildings. All our services are working on the scene.

Unfortunately, there are victims. There are wounded, there are casualties. My condolences to the families and friends... Unfortunately, the second missile strike resulted in the death of an employee of the State Emergency Service. Colonel Andriy Omelchenko, Deputy Head of the State Emergency Service Main Department in Donetsk region. May he always be remembered...

I would like to recognize the rescuers today. Our employees of the State Emergency Service. Those who work in different cities of Ukraine for the sake of life. To make the Russian terror lose, because lives are saved.

Employees of the State Emergency Service of Kherson region: civil protection service Sergeant Vitaliy Murzenko and civil protection service Lieutenant Volodymyr Yavtushenko. Employees of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine of Kharkiv region: civil protection service Master Sergeant Serhiy Hladkyi and civil protection service Colonel Andriy Solianikov. Employees of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine of Dnipropetrovsk region: civil protection service Sergeant Kostiantyn Poturaiko and civil protection service Captain Vitaliy Denysenko.

All of them have repeatedly participated - directly participated - in eliminating the consequences of terrorist attacks, in saving the lives of our people. And, of course, all the employees of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, Zaporizhzhia and Odesa regions. I thank the entire staff of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine!

Today we have an important result for our team that deals with exchanges. 22 more men are back home in Ukraine. 20 of them are soldiers and sergeants, two are officers. They are servicemen of the Armed Forces. There are wounded among them. They were captured in different areas of the front. But now they are home. And we will do everything to bring back to Ukraine all our people who are now in Russian captivity. We remember everyone and are looking for everyone on the list of missing persons.

Fortunately, we manage to bring our people back. And it is important that this is a common task. It is a task for those who organize the exchanges: Yermak, Budanov, Malyuk, Klymenko. Thank you, guys! And the task of those who replenish the exchange fund for our country. Everyone who captures the occupiers at the front, who is active on the frontline. Each such warrior of ours speeds up freedom for Ukrainians. It is important to remember this.

The day began with a conference call. First of all, the military. A report on the situation at the front - our offensive actions, the capabilities of our movement and the dynamics of the movement. The Commander-in-Chief delivered the report.

Of course, there were reports on the supply of munitions and equipment, on our weapons production. The Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Strategic Industries. We are constantly increasing volumes! Both in supply and production. And we are constantly removing bureaucracy and making regulations more flexible. Our defense industry will reach the level that the state needs. Ukraine has this power. And I thank everyone who is working on Ukrainian production for this power!

Frontline. I would like to mention the Bakhmut direction. The 3rd and 5th separate assault brigades, "Fury" assault brigade of the National Police, the 92nd separate mechanized brigade. There are successes in destroying the occupiers, important successes. I thank you, warriors!

One more thing.

August 7. Every year on this day, the world remembers Russia's aggression against Georgia. 15 years have passed. The Russian occupation remains - this wound on the body of the Georgian state remains. Many words have already been said that if the world had been decisive back in 2008, many things would have been different. Back then already Russia should have realized that the aggressor pays the highest price for aggression. It must definitely realize this now.

When Ukraine wins this war, it will not only stop the expansion of Russia's aggressive appetites, it will not only save other nations from what we are going through - Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova. Our victory will return normalcy to everyone - it will end the Russian occupation.

Ukrainians stand in solidarity with the people of Georgia, and I thank all Georgian citizens who are defending freedom with us! And especially those who are fighting as part of the defense and security forces of Ukraine!

Freedom will win, Georgia will win, Ukraine will win!

Glory to Ukraine!

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Latest in Ukraine: Russian Strikes in Residential Areas Kill at Least 7, Injure Dozens

By VOA News August 07, 2023

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

Russian shelling in Kherson and Kharkiv killed at least three people and wounded three others.

The Ukrainian Security Service said Monday that it had detained a Russian informant aiming to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelenskyy while he was visiting the Mykolaiv region in July.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba requested ATACMS long-range missiles in a phone call Monday with his U.S. counterpart Antony Blinken.

At least seven people died and 31 were injured after Russian missiles hit residential areas in the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region and in Kupiansk district.

Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said on Monday that four civilians died in the first attack while a Donetsk emergency official was killed during a second attack.

Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine's presidential administration, later reported two more victims of Russian strikes in Kruhliakivka village in Kupiansk district.

Videos and pictures released by Ukrainian officials showed people sifting through the rubble including a badly damaged five-story apartment building while an ambulance emergency team was on the scene treating the wounded.

Jeddah summit

The United States characterized as productive China's participation at the Jeddah peace summit on Ukraine in Saudi Arabia this past weekend.

Neutral China agreed to participate in the two-day meeting aimed at finding a peaceful resolution of Russia's war in Ukraine.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters that U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland held a brief sideline meeting in Jeddah with China's Special Envoy for Eurasian Affairs and former ambassador to Russia, Li Hui.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov that Beijing would uphold an independent and impartial position on a peace settlement.

Wang said China would serve as an "objective and rational voice" at any international forums and "actively promote peace talks."

Western officials and analysts say Saudi diplomacy was important to securing China's presence at the talks.

Under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom has kept ties with both sides, presenting itself as a mediator and seeking a bigger role on the world stage.

Yermak, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's chief of staff, said Monday that the talks dealt a "huge blow" to Russia as the participants agreed to a follow-up meeting.

"We will hold another meeting within a month [to a] month-and-a-half and we will move towards [holding] a summit," Yermak said at a news briefing.

Senior officials from 42 countries participated in the two-day Jeddah peace summit. Russia was not invited to the high-level talks.

Yermak said all the countries present at the talks fully supported Ukrainian independence and territorial integrity, and that only peace initiatives put forward by Ukraine were discussed at the meeting.

He acknowledged that participants had not come to an agreement on parts of Zelenskyy's 10-point peace formula, which calls for the withdrawal of all Russian troops and return of all Ukrainian territory to Kyiv's control.

With the exception of Russia the high-level talks included delegates from all other BRICS bloc nations: Brazil, India, China and South Africa.

Moscow chided efforts by international officials meeting in Saudi Arabia to find a peaceful resolution for the Ukraine war without including Russia in the talks, which it described as lacking "the slightest added value."

During the two-day summit, the head of Brazil's delegation, foreign policy adviser Celso Amorim, stressed that "any real negotiation must include all parties," including Russia, according to a copy of his statement shared with Agence France Presse.

Moscow dismissed the talks as a doomed Western attempt to align the Global South behind Kyiv.

Russia grain attacks

U.N. Spokesperson Farhan Haq said in a news briefing Monday that Humanitarian Coordinator Denise Brown visited the Danube port of Izmail on Saturday, three days after it was hit in an attack on a grain storage facility that damaged thousands of tons of grain that would have been enough to feed approximately 66 million people for a day.

This attack, which is not an isolated incident, follows Russia's decision to exit the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a move that is already impacting global food prices and is affecting the most vulnerable people.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned Russia's intensification of attacks on Ukrainian ports, calling for the immediate cessation of all attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs continues to sound the alarm about the plight of civilians already facing a dire situation in Ukraine, as the intensification of attacks affecting critical civilian infrastructure in the country will likely worsen humanitarian needs.

Ukrainian counteroffensive

Ukrainian commander-in-chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi on Monday said Kyiv's counteroffensive is progressing at a steady pace, and that its defensive lines are stable as troops repel Russian attempts to counterattack and distract Ukrainian forces from other parts of the front.

"Heavy fighting is underway, and step-by-step, Ukrainian troops are continuing to create the conditions to advance," Zaluzhnyi said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app after a telephone call with U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Mark Milley. "The initiative is on our side."

Ukraine has so far recaptured several villages in the south and regained some territory around the ravaged city of Bakhmut in the east but has not achieved a breakthrough yet against heavily entrenched Russian lines.

Ukraine's deputy defense minister Hanna Maliar said Russia was using all its resources to stop Kyiv's advance, but that Ukrainian troops were advancing steadily toward the southern cities of Melitopol and Berdyansk on the Sea of Azov.

Ukrainian officials have responded to criticism that the counteroffensive is going slowly, saying they are trying to avoid high casualties as they attack well-fortified Russian lines that are strewn with landmines.

In its latest assessment on the war in Ukraine, Britain's defense ministry said Monday that Russia's air force continues to deploy "considerable resources" in support of ground operations in Ukraine, "but without operational effect."

The ministry says Russian tactical combat aircraft have typically carried out over 100 missions a day, but they are almost always restricted to Russian-controlled territory "due to the threat from Ukrainian air defenses."

The assessment also said that while Russian attack helicopters had proved effective at the start of Ukraine's southern counteroffensive that began in June, it appears to be less able "to generate effective tactical airpower in the south."

Some information is from VOA's U.N. Correspondent Margaret Besheer, The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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Public Opinion on US Policy towards Ukraine-Russia War

Key Takeaways

A large bipartisan majority supports the US providing military assistance to help Ukraine, including military equipment, ammunition, training and intelligence.

When US support to Ukraine is framed only in terms of financial assistance support drops to a modest majority or a plurality, with Republicans at most divided.

Bipartisan majorities or pluralities support sending both light and advanced weapons, and defense systems.

A very large bipartisan majority supports the US sending humanitarian aid.

Majorities prefer that the US support Ukraine's position of not entering peace negotiations until Russia has first committed to withdraw its forces or until Ukraine has reclaimed its territory, even if this stance results in a prolonged conflict. A While a clear majority of Democrats favor this position, Republicans views are more mixed.

Dig into the data below to learn more about the public's views.

A

Whether US Should Provide Military Equipment, Training, Intelligence

A

A bipartisan seven-in-ten supports the US providing military assistance to Ukraine, including military equipment, ammunition, training and intelligence.A Republican support is lower, but still a majority.A A

When provided with background information and pro and con arguments:

69% favored "the US continuing to provide military assistance to Ukraine, including military equipment, ammunition, training and intelligence" (Republicans 55%, Democrats 87%, independents 58%) (Program for Public Consultation, July 2023)

Standard Polls:

65% said the US should, "provide weapons to Ukraine" (Democrats 81%, Republicans 56%, independents 57%). (Reuters/Ipsos, June 2023)

58% said the US should, in response to the same question in February 2023 (Democrats 73%, Republicans 52%). (Reuters/Ipsos, February 2023)

66% said the US should, in response to the same question in October 2022 (Reuters/Ipsos, October 2022)

75% said the US should, "Supply Ukraine with military equipment" (Democrats 88%, Republicans 63%, independents 64%) (UMD Critical Issues, June 2022)

Whether the US Should Provide Funding

Standard Polls:

When US support to help Ukraine fight against Russia is framed only in terms of financial assistance, without specifying how the funding would be used, small majority or plurality are in support, but less than half of Republicans.

54% said the US should, "send financial aid to Ukraine, in addition to sending weapons," including 72% of Democrats, but just 39% of Republicans. (Reuters/Ipsos, June 2023)

In a question in which "not sure" was offered, a clear plurality of 48% said the US should "continue to give money to Ukraine to help it defend itself from the Russian invasion," with 31% opposed and 22% saying "not sure."A Republicans were divided with 39% in favor and 42% opposed, while 68% of Democrats were in favor. (Economist/YouGov, December 2022) (See note below on providing the "not sure" option.)

In a question that asked whether Congress should "authorize additional funding to support Ukraine" 45% were in favor with 55% opposed.A This number may be lower than the Reuters/Ipsos poll because some respondents may have interpreted "additional funding" to mean over and above the present level. Just 28% of Republicans were in favor, with 71% opposed. Among Democrats, 62% were in favor.A (CNN, August 2023)

A

What Types of Military Equipment Should the US Send

Bipartisan majorities or pluralities support sending both light and advanced weapons, and defense systems.

When provided with background information and pro and con arguments:

73% approved of the US allowing NATO allies to send US-made fighter jets to Ukraine, and the US training Ukrainian pilots to operate them (Democrats 86%, Republicans 63%, independents 64%) (Program for Public Consultation, July 2023)

Standard Polls:

A plurality of 45% supported the US sending "Advanced weapon systems (for example, helicopters, cannons, armored vehicles)" with 29% opposed and 26% "not sure". Among Democrats, 59% are in favor. Among Republicans, 45% are in favor and 36% opposed. (Economist/YouGov, December 2022)

A plurality of 46% supported "Long-range missiles" with 31% opposed and 23% "not sure". Among Democrats, 67% are in favor. Among Republicans, 40% are in favor and 35% opposed. (Economist/YouGov, March 2023)

53% supported "Tanks," including 67% of Democrats and 48% of Republicans (with 35% opposed). (Economist/YouGov, March 2023)

54% supported "Light weapon systems (for example anti-tank weapons, rifles, ammunition)" (Democrats 67%, Republicans 53%), with 34% opposed and 22% "not sure". (Economist/YouGov, December 2022)

A plurality of 47% supported "the Patriot missile defense system, a surface-to-air guided missile system, in order to help Ukraine defend itself from the Russian invasion," with 29% opposed and 26% "not sure". Among Democrats, 61% were in support. Among Republicans 45% are in support and 37% opposed. (Economist/YouGov, December 2022)

61% supported the US sending "Non-lethal military assistance (for example trucks, repair parts, computers, radars)" (Democrats 74%, Republicans 60%), with 20% opposed and 19% "not sure". (Economist/YouGov, December 2022)

Note: When polls offer a "not sure" option, a substantial percent will choose that option, lowering the total percent in support or opposition. Research shows that this is not because those people lack any view on the policy or are undecided, but that they are expressing their lack of certainty about whether their view is correct.A When the "not sure" option is not offered, most will choose an option that expresses a view.

Whether the US Should Provide Humanitarian Aid

A very large bipartisan majority supports the US sending humanitarian aid, such as food and shelter, and aid for infrastructure repair.

A

When provided with background information and pro and con arguments:

80% favored, "the US continuing to give humanitarian assistance to Ukraine," including 92% of Democrats, 72% of Republicans and 73% of independents. (Program for Public Consultation, July 2023)

Standard Polls:

77% supported the US sending "food and medical assistance" (Democrats 84%, Republicans 79%). (Economist/YouGov, March 2023)

74% supported the US sending "Humanitarian assistance (for example food, civilian supplies)" (Democrats 79%, Republicans 79%). (Economist/YouGov, December 2022)

A

Whether Ukraine Should be Encouraged to Enter Negotiations

Majorities prefer that the US support Ukraine's position of not entering peace negotiations until Russia has first committed to withdraw its forces or until Ukraine has reclaimed its territory, even if this stance results in a prolonged conflict.A While a clear majority of Democrats favor this position, Republicans views are more mixed.A

When provided with background information and pro and con arguments:

56% opposed the US "encourag[ing] Ukraine to enter into negotiations, whether or not Russia first commits to withdraw from all of Ukraine." Majorities of Democrats and independents were opposed (68% and 53%, respectively). Among Republicans, less than half were opposed (47%, should encourage negotiations now 53%). (Program for Public Consultation, July 2023)

Standard Polls:

In June 2023, 62% said the US should "support Ukraine in reclaiming territory Russia has captured, even if it results in a more prolonged conflict between the two nations," with 36% saying the US should instead, "try to end the conflict as quickly as possible, even if it means allowing Russia to keep territory it has captured from Ukraine." Among Democrats, 79% said the US should support Ukraine reclaiming territory. Republicans are divided (47% to 49%).A (Gallup, June 2023)

When the poll included non-committal options, the total percentage in support dropped to a plurality:

A bipartisan plurality of 46% preferred that the US "support Ukraine in its efforts against Russia until such a time that Russia withdraws from the country, even if this means the war and its effects last longer," with 24% saying the US should instead "encourage a negotiated peace to end the fighting, even if this means Russia still has control over some parts of Ukraine," with 13% saying "neither" and 17% "don't know".A Among Democrats, 61% said the US should support Ukraine until Russia withdraws, as did a plurality of Republicans (41% to 30%). (YouGov, February 2023)

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Russia welcomes China's constructive role in resolving Ukraine crisis

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Aug 08, 2023 07:40 AM

Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday, during which Wang said that China and Russia are good friends who can trust and rely on each other.

Since Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Russia in March, there has been new progress in the strategic and pragmatic cooperation between the two countries, Wang said, noting that bilateral trade has reached a new high, energy cooperation has been steadily carried out, and people-to-people exchanges have rapidly recovered. Facts have proved that China and Russia are trustworthy and reliable good friends and partners and the most important task for both sides is to continue to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, and promote the high-level development of the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation in the new era between China and Russia, Wang said.

During the call, Wang also said that on the international and multilateral stage, China and Russia continue to cooperate strategically, promote the multipolarization of the world and the democratization of international relations, while maintaining the basic norms of international relations. This is the international responsibility that China and Russia should undertake, and it is also the meaning of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Russia, he said.

China is willing to support South Africa to host the upcoming BRICS leaders' summit with the BRICS partners including Russia, and promote the healthy and vigorous development of the BRICS mechanism.

Lavrov said that Russia is willing to continue to strengthen communication and cooperation with China under multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations, BRICS, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, as well as to oppose hegemony, resist unilaterality, promote the democratization of international relations, and maintain international fairness and justice.

The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern such as the Ukraine crisis. Wang emphasized that on the issue of the Ukraine crisis, China will uphold an independent and fair position in any international multilateral venue, make objective and rational observations, actively promote peace and encourage talks, and seek political solutions.

Lavrov said that Russia highly appreciates China's position on the political resolution of the crisis and appreciates and welcomes China's constructive role in this regard.

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Ukraine asks US for ATACMS long-range missiles despite warnings from Russia

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 08 August 2023 12:14 AM

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has made an urgent call on the United States to provide his country with

long-range missiles to be used in the war with Russia.

The Ukrainian foreign minister made the request in a phone conversation with his American counterpart, Antony Blinken, during which he demanded ATACMS long-range missiles despite Moscow's repeated warnings about the consequences of Western arms supplies to Kiev.

"I thanked the US for all the assistance provided and stressed the need to enhance Ukraine's long-range capabilities by providing ATACMS [long-range missiles]," he said in a post on X messaging platform, formerly known as Twitter.

Kiev has repeatedly urged its Western allies to provide it with ATACMS missiles, which have a range of about 300 kilometers, roughly four times the range of the missiles used by the mobile HIMARS systems that the US began sending to Ukraine last year.

Ukraine says the ATACMS missiles will help its forces strike Russian positions far behind the front lines.

The US has been leading a coalition of Western states arming Ukraine since the war with Russia began in February last year.

Washington has already provided Kiev with HIMARS launchers, which are capable of firing ATACMS missiles and has also provided it with tens of billions of dollars in military assistance.

The US Defense Department in late June dismissed American media reports about its decision to provide Ukraine with ATACMS long-range missiles.

Speaking at a press briefing, Pentagon spokesperson Brigadier General Patrick Ryder ruled out any imminent decisions for supplying Kiev with long-range missiles.

Russian officials have repeatedly announced that flooding Ukraine with Western weapons will only serve to prolong the war and add to the suffering of Ukrainian people.

Back in June, Russia warned that any supply of long-range missiles to Kiev by its Western backers would lead to a further round of "spiraling tension" in the ongoing conflict.

The Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made the remarks following reports that Germany and France were planning to provide Ukraine with long-range missiles.

"We are already starting to see discussions about deliveries from France and Germany of missiles with a range of 500 km or more," Peskov said.

"This is a completely different weapon, which will lead to, let's say, another round of spiraling tension," he added.

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MELBOURNE, Australia, Aug. 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ceridian (NYSE: CDAY; TSX: CDAY), a global leader in human capital management (HCM) technology, today announced the appointment of Brian Donn to Head of Revenue, Asia-Pacific Japan (APJ) effective immediately, and Managing Director, Asia-Pacific & Japan (APJ), effective October 1, 2023. In his expanded role, Donn will continue to strengthen relationships with customers, prospective customers, and partners, while accelerating business growth and strategy in the region. Donn will continue reporting into Sam Alkharrat, EVP and Chief Revenue Officer at Ceridian.



Donn is a seasoned leader with more than 15 years of experience leading enterprise software businesses across APJ, including roles at Oracle, Verint Systems, KANA, and Sword Group. He joined Ceridian in January 2022 as Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), overseeing a team of 650 employees. Donn has been integral to Ceridians growth and success in the ANZ market, responsible for managing the successful post-acquisition integration of Ascender into Ceridian, and driving a world class experience for Ceridian employees and customers.

Stephen Moore, who currently serves as APJs Managing Director, will move into an Executive Advisory role starting October 1, 2023 to his retirement in March 2024. Since joining Ceridian in 2019, Moore has been instrumental in leading Ceridians APJ operations, including driving market momentum for Dayforce, Ceridians market leading HCM platform. Under Moores direction, hundreds of APJ customers have made Dayforce their platform of choice.

Building on the strong foundation that Stephen has created in APJ, Brian will focus his efforts on driving quantifiable business value for organisations and solidifying Dayforce as a market leader in the region, said Sam Alkharrat, EVP and Chief Revenue Officer, Ceridian. We have experienced tremendous momentum in Australia and New Zealand since Brian joined Ceridian, and he has demonstrated that he is a highly effective, trusted leader who is well-equipped to guide our next stage of growth in the critical APJ region.

In APJ and beyond, our customers increasingly rely on Ceridian to deliver transformational business outcomes, fueled by rapidly changing workforce dynamics and a challenging compliance landscape, said Brian Donn, Head of Revenue, APJ, at Ceridian. Working with our talented APJ team, Im excited to bring more organisations into the Ceridian community and help them elevate their business operations with our industry-leading cloud platform.

Todays announcement follows the opening of four new Ceridian office spaces across APJ: Bangalore, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Shanghai. Thoughtfully designed with employee wellness in mind, these new state-of-the-art facilities provide the opportunity for enhanced collaboration, innovation, and teamwork. Catering to teams from across the business  including customer success, sales, finance, product and technology, HR, and implementation  these office openings represent a major milestone in Ceridians growth strategy across the region.

About Ceridian

Ceridian. Makes Work Life Better.

Ceridian HCM Holding Inc. (Ceridian) is a global human capital management software company. Dayforce, our flagship cloud HCM platform, provides human resources, payroll, benefits, workforce management, and talent management functionality. Our platform is used to optimize management of the entire employee lifecycle, including attracting, engaging, paying, deploying, and developing people. Ceridian has solutions for organizations of all sizes. Visit Ceridian.com or follow us @Ceridian.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements regarding our expectations, hopes, intentions or strategies regarding the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on management's beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. Because such statements are based on expectations as to future financial and operating results and are not statements of fact, actual results may differ materially from those projected. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

This press release should be read in conjunction with the risks detailed in the Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information, Forward-Looking Statement, Risk Factors and other sections of Ceridians Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Annual Reports on Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Media Contact:

Leslie Whitelaw

+1 437-224-6993

Leslie.Whitelaw@Ceridian.com
St. Louis, Aug. 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- St. Louis, Missouri -

Brinton Vision, a trailblazer in the vision correction industry, is once again leading the way with the pioneering implementation of Light Adjustable Lenses (LALs). This revolutionary technology holds tremendous potential for personalized vision correction, redefining the landscape of refractive procedures.

For centuries, vision correction methodologies have undergone transformative advancements. From the earliest spectacles in the 13th century to the modern marvels of LASIK and now LALs, each leap forward represents an unwavering commitment to enhancing the lives of patients through improved sight. Brinton Visions incorporation of LALs is the latest testament to this dedication.

"Brinton Vision is proud to be at the forefront of vision correction evolution," said Dr. Jason Brinton, the renowned ophthalmologist who founded Brinton Vision. Dr. Brinton, whose credentials include fellowship training and board certification, is a recognized authority in vision correction procedures. "We are continuously striving to provide our patients with the latest, most innovative vision correction solutions," he added.

At the heart of LAL technology is a unique photosensitive material that alters shape when exposed to UV light. This groundbreaking feature allows for the fine-tuning of vision correction post-operatively, an advancement that was previously unachievable with traditional intraocular lenses (IOLs). The capacity to refine and adjust vision post-surgery enhances the precision of the vision correction, thereby improving visual outcomes for patients.

These adjustable lenses not only improve visual acuity but also allow surgeons to address common vision issues such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism with an unprecedented level of accuracy. The potential for post-operative adjustments means that we can refine the results to best suit the patient's unique needs and lifestyle.

The creation of LALs is a result of extensive research, rigorous trials, and persistent efforts aimed at enhancing the quality of vision correction procedures. The development of the photosensitive material, a silicon-based polymer embedded with special photoreactive macromers, was the outcome of numerous years of research in polymer chemistry.

This innovative technology required the development of a system that delivers UV light in a controlled and precise manner, which led to the creation of the Light Delivery Device (LDD). The LDD emits controlled amounts of UV light to the lens, altering its shape and thereby changing the refractive power of the lens.

The non-invasive adjustment process is carried out as an outpatient procedure and typically involves 2-3 sessions of targeted UV light application. This is comfortably carried out at the Brinton Vision clinic. A short and painless procedure using an in-office LDD customizes the IOL using UV light. The precision of this process enables the lens refractive power to be fine-tuned post-surgery, opening up new possibilities in vision correction.

Brinton Vision remains committed to ensuring patient safety and delivering the highest quality of care. With any surgical procedure, potential risks exist, and Brinton Vision takes every precaution to minimize these risks. A rigorous screening process is used to recommend LAL surgery only to candidates who are most likely to benefit from the procedure, thus reducing the risk of complications.

"Light Adjustable Lenses are not just a revolutionary technology in vision correction but a life-changing solution," said Dr. Brinton. "At Brinton Vision, we're proud to offer LALs, giving our patients the best possible outcome, tailored specifically to their needs. This flexibility and personalization offer impressive visual outcomes that were previously unimaginable in vision correction."

As vision correction technology advances, so does Brinton Vision's commitment to its mission: changing lives through the priceless gift of sight. With the integration of LALs, Brinton Vision continues to demonstrate its dedication to providing innovative, patient-centric solutions for vision correction.

For more information on Light Adjustable Lenses and the remarkable vision correction solutions offered by Brinton Vision, visit https://brintonvision.com/lasik-questions/understanding-light-adjustable-lenses-lal-st-louis/.

About Brinton Vision

Brinton Vision is at the forefront of LASIK and laser-assisted vision correction in St. Louis, Missouri. Their mission is to change lives through the priceless gift of sight, employing the most advanced technology available. Their patient-first approach ensures every individual receives personalized, comprehensive care tailored to their unique needs. For more information, or to schedule a consultation, please visit their website or call them at 314-375-2020.

###

For more information about Brinton Vision, contact the company here:



Brinton Vision

Jason Brinton

314-375-2020

info@brintonvision.com

Brinton Vision

555 N New Ballas Rd Ste 310

St. Louis, MO 63141
Selbyville, Delaware,, Aug. 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --



The compressed air energy storage market valuation is expected to cross USD 3.5 billion by 2032, as reported in a research study by Global Market Insights Inc . This is attributed to a remarkable surge in demand and innovation, driven by the pressing need for sustainable energy solutions and the growing integration of renewable energy sources.



CAES, a cutting-edge technology that stores excess energy in compressed air form, has emerged as a frontrunner in the energy storage landscape. Increasing investment in renewable energy projects worldwide is generating strong demand for compressed air energy storage solutions. In June 2023 IRENA signed an MoU with Global Renewables Alliance to work collaboratively towards a fast, sustainable, and economical energy transition, as part of the formers target to achieve 1 TW annual new renewable capacity in 2030.

The collaboration will be focused on facilitating worldwide delivery of renewable energy and enable policymakers to eliminate barriers to the development of renewables. With its ability to store large amounts of energy for long durations and provide rapid response times, CAES offers a reliable and flexible solution for grid stabilization and peak demand management.

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Compressed air energy storage market share from the diabatic technology segment will register commendable growth over 2023 to 2032. Diabatic CAES technology improves the overall efficiency and performance of the energy storage system. Diabatic CAES utilizes waste heat for heating the compressed air, reducing energy losses and enhancing the overall energy utilization. The technology is gaining popularity due to its higher efficiency and lower carbon emissions, which will further impact industry trends.





Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) is finding significant application in on-site power systems, offering a reliable and sustainable energy storage solution for industrial facilities, commercial buildings, and off-grid areas. With CAES, excess energy generated during off-peak hours can be compressed and stored, ready to be converted back to electricity during peak demand periods.

This ensures a constant and uninterrupted power supply, reduces reliance on the grid, and enables more efficient energy management. CAES in on-site power applications provides businesses with greater control over their energy consumption and contributes to overall energy cost savings while promoting a greener and more sustainable future.

Asia Pacific compressed air energy storage market size will expand at a remarkable rate through 2032. Countries like China, Japan, and India are heavily investing in renewable energy projects and developing efficient energy storage solutions to support their growing energy demands. In May 2023, London-based Octopus Energy announced an investment of over USD 1.8 billion in the Asia Pacific energy sector by 2027, in an effort to expedite the clean energy transition. Close to USD 1.4 billion is earmarked for solar and wind generation, while half of the funds will be invested in renewable energy projects in Japan. The increasing adoption of CAES technology is thus driving overall market growth in the region.

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Hydrostor Inc., Siemens, APEX CAES, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, ALACAES, Storelectric LTD, Cheesecake Energy Ltd, AUGWIND ENERGY, TerraStor Energy Corporation, ENERGY DOME S.p.A., Sherwood Power, Corre Energy, Green-Y Energy AG are among the major entities operating in the compressed air energy storage market. Companies are launching new products and services, such as advanced control systems and optimized energy storage solutions to establish a strong presence in the industry.

Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) Industry News:

June 2023 - Solvay announced the signing of an Option Agreement with Corre Energy to provide 4 salt caverns for the development of a compressed air energy storage facility. The CAES site is designed to store up to 80 GWh of clean energy in compressed air form, with an installed generation capacity of 640 MW.

Partial chapters of report table of contents (TOC):

Chapter 4 Competitive Benchmarking

4.1 Innovation & sustainability landscape

4.2 Competitive landscape, 2022

4.2.1 Strategy dashboard

Chapter 5 Compressed Air Energy Storage Market, By Technology

5.1 Key technology trends

5.2 Adiabatic

5.3 Diabatic

5.4 Isothermal

Chapter 6 Compressed Air Energy Storage Market, By Application

6.1 Key application trends

6.2 On site power

6.3 Black start

6.4 Electric supply capacity

6.5 Others

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About Global Market Insights Inc.

Global Market Insights Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider, offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy, and biotechnology.
SAN DIEGO, Aug. 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robbins LLP informs investors that a shareholder filed a class action on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE: BHC) securities between August 6, 2020 and May 3, 2023. Bausch, the successor entity of Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc., is a pharmaceutical company known for its majority ownership of Bausch + Lomb Corporation (B+L).

For more information, submit a form, email Aaron Dumas, Jr., or give us a call at (800) 350-6003.

What is this Case About: Bausch Health Companies Inc. (BHC) Misled Investors Regarding the Benefits of its Spin Off of B+L to Avoid Paying Damages for Previous Fraudulent Activity

According to the complaint, in 2016, Bausch replaced its senior management and attempted to rebuild its reputation after it engaged in one of the most egregious cases of securities fraud in U.S. history, which resulted in a class action settlement of more than $1.1. billion to investors and $4.2 billion in individual opt-out claims.

On August 6, 2020, Bausch announced plans to spin-off B+L into its own publicly tradeable entity. Defendants at the time said that the benefits of the spinoff included improved strategic focus and enhanced financial transparency.

Defendants made similar statements about the spin-off throughout the class period. These statements were false and/or materially misleading. In truth, the spin-off was executed as part of a strategy to subvert the opt-out claims and leave the plaintiffs in those suits without any viable means to a potential recovery. Without B+L, Bausch was worth considerably less and, according to some analysts, potentially insolvent. Defendants actions with respect to B+L left Bausch shareholders with shares worth considerably less due in part to the fact that the Company no longer possesses one of its most valuable business segments, i.e., B+L.

What Now: Similarly situated shareholders may be eligible to participate in the class action against Bausch Health Companies Inc. Shareholders who want to act as lead plaintiff for the class must file their motion with the court by September 25, 2023. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. You do not have to participate in the case to be eligible for a recovery. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. For more information, click here .

All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders pay no fees or expenses.

About Robbins LLP: Some law firms issuing releases about this matter do not actually litigate securities class actions; Robbins LLP does. A recognized leader in shareholder rights litigation, the attorneys and staff of Robbins LLP have been dedicated to helping shareholders recover losses, improve corporate governance structures, and hold company executives accountable for their wrongdoing since 2002. Since our inception, we have obtained over $1 billion for shareholders.

To be notified if a class action against Bausch Health Companies Inc. settles or to receive free alerts when corporate executives engage in wrongdoing, sign up for Stock Watch today.

Attorney Advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Selbyville, Delaware, Aug. 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --



Cloning And Mutagenesis Market size is expected to be worth USD 14.6 billion by 2032. The industry expansion is backed by a wide range of applications and techniques. There is a surge in demand for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in various fields, including agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and research. Cloning and mutagenesis techniques offer researchers the ability to manipulate and engineer genes to create desired traits or characteristics in organisms.

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Moreover, the supportive government policies and funding initiatives that aim to accelerate scientific research and promote the commercialization of biotechnological products will shape the industry outlook in coming years.

Advanced technology incorporation to increase adoption of mutagenesis kits

The cloning and mutagenesis market is divided into mutagenesis kits, cloning kits, and others. The mutagenesis segment is expected to grow through 2032 attributed to the availability of user-friendly and cost-effective kits. This has greatly simplified the process of generating genetic mutations, making it more accessible to a wider range of researchers. Mutagenesis kits provide researchers with the necessary tools and reagents to induce targeted genetic mutations in organisms, enabling them to study gene function, create disease models, and develop novel biotechnological products. The incorporation of advanced technologies, such as CRISPR-Cas9 or other site-directed techniques, the allow precise & efficient editing of DNA sequences.

Benefits of site-directed mutagenesis to promote market expansion

The cloning and mutagenesis market is bifurcated into seamless cloning, TOPO PCR cloning, site-directed mutagenesis, blunt-end cloning, and others. The site-directed mutagenesis segment is anticipated to grow at rapid pace from 2023 to 2032. The technique allows researchers to precisely modify genes, create point mutations, insert or delete specific DNA fragments, and study the functional implications of these changes. Site-directed mutagenesis technique has revolutionized the field of molecular biology by enabling researchers to investigate the role of specific amino acids, study protein structure-function relationships, and explore gene regulation mechanisms. The technology applications in various areas, including drug development, protein engineering, and understanding genetic diseases is adding to segment share.

Growing research efforts in APAC region to spike product demand

Asia Pacific cloning and mutagenesis market size is predicted to witness significant progression through 2032. The region's large population and rising healthcare expenditure, coupled with a growing focus on personalized medicine are encouraging the numerous medical researchers. The supportive government initiatives, collaborations between academic institutions and industry players, and the availability of skilled researchers are creating a conducive environment for R&D in the field of cloning & mutation. Rising prevalence of genetic disorders, along with increasing investments in biotech as well as biopharma are supporting the development of APAC industry.

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Global cloning & mutagenesis market players



The key players profiled in the cloning and mutagenesis market report are Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Agilent Technologies, Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., TransGen Biotech Co., Ltd., Merck KGaA, Danaher, Jena Bioscience GmbH, Takara Bio Inc., New England Biolabs, Promega Corporation, Genomax Technologies Pte Ltd., Assay Genie, Genes2Me, and GenScript, among others.

Partial Table of Contents (ToC) of the report:

Chapter 3 Cloning and Mutagenesis Industry Insights

3.1 Industry ecosystem analysis

3.2 Industry impact forces

3.2.1 Growth drivers

3.2.1.1 Growing demand for precision medicine

3.2.1.2 Rising demand for genetically modified products

3.2.1.3 Advancements in genetic engineering techniques

3.2.2 Industry pitfalls & challenges

3.2.2.1 High maintanance cost of cloning and mutagenesis tools & instruments

3.2.2.2 Limited availability of qualified researchers

3.3 Growth potential analysis

3.3.1 By product

3.3.2 By technology

3.3.3 By end-use

3.4 COVID- 19 impact analysis

3.5 Regulatory landscape

3.5.1 U.S.

3.5.2 Europe

3.6 Technology lndscape

3.7 Porter's analysis

3.8 PESTEL analysis

Chapter 4 Competitive Landscape, 2022

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Company matrix analysis, 2022

4.3 Competitive analysis of major market players

4.4 Competitive positioning matrix

4.5 Strategy dashboard, 2022

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Global Market Insights Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider, offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy, and biotechnology.
Westford, USA, Aug. 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to SkyQuest, industrial coatings market are pivotal as protective shields, meticulously applied onto diverse substrates, including metal, concrete, and wood. Their fundamental purpose lies in bestowing resolute resistance against various adversities, encompassing corrosion, abrasion, and chemical agents.

Browse in-depth TOC on the "Industrial Coatings Market"

Pages - 221

Tables - 59

Figures  75

These alternatives are characterized by their minimal volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). They offer a stark departure from the conventional solvent-based coatings notorious for their adverse effects on air quality and environmental well-being in the industrial coatings market.

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Prominent Players in the Industrial Coatings Market

AkzoNobel N.V.

PPG Industries Inc.

The Sherwin-Williams Company

BASF SE

Axalta Coating Systems Ltd.

Jotun A/S

RPM International Inc.

Hempel A/S

Nippon Paint Holdings Co. Ltd.

Kansai Paint Co. Ltd.

Asian Paints Ltd.

Beckers Group

KCC Corporation

Valspar Corporation

Berger Paints India Ltd.

Teknos Group Oy

Tikkurila Oyj

Noroo Paint & Coatings Co. Ltd.

Diamond Vogel Paints

The Magni Group, Inc.

Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC):

https://www.skyquestt.com/report/industrial-coatings-market

Polyurethane Coatings Segment is Expected to Grow the Market Due to Owing to a Remarkable Array of Superior Properties

Polyurethane coatings stand as the reigning force in the industrial coatings market, firmly establishing their dominance owing to a remarkable array of superior properties. These coatings boast exceptional adhesion, robust abrasion resistance, unparalleled durability, and notable flexibility. This combination of attributes makes them a prime choice for various applications.

The markets in North America stand as the leader in the industrial coatings market, propelled by a combination of influential factors. The region's robust industrial sector, characterized by advanced manufacturing and technological capabilities, positions it as a leader in the application of industrial coatings.

Epoxy Coatings Segment is Expected to Dominate the Market Due to its Exceptional Capacity to Confer Top-Tier Corrosion

Epoxy coatings segment emerged as the most rapidly advancing segment within the industrial coatings market, propelled by their exceptional capacity to confer top-tier corrosion and chemical resistance. Widely embraced across diverse sectors such as industrial machinery, appliances, and the oil and gas industry, epoxy coatings have gained prominence for their outstanding protective qualities.

Regional markets in the Asia-Pacific emerge as the vanguard of growth in the industrial coatings market, characterized by a dynamic interplay of compelling factors. The region's rapid industrial expansion is a powerful catalyst, propelling it to the forefront of growth within the market.

A comprehensive analysis of the major players in the industrial coatings 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 endeavors to develop innovative solutions to cater to the growing demand.

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Key Developments in the Industrial Coatings Market

In February 2023, Asian Paints Limited unveiled its strategic intentions to invest in a novel production facility dedicated to water-based coatings in the Indian state of Gujarat. This moves underscores Asian Paints' commitment to expansion and innovation as the company seeks to enhance its manufacturing capabilities and cater to the growing demand for eco-friendly and sustainable coatings solutions within the region.

RPM International Inc. made a significant acquisition by successfully taking over Schaffner Manufacturing Company, a prominent manufacturer renowned for its specialized coatings and finishes catering to diverse industries in 2022. This acquisition represents RPM International's strategic pursuit of expanding its product portfolio and leveraging Schaffner Manufacturing's expertise to strengthen its position within the competitive coatings market.

Key Questions Answered in Industrial Coatings 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 Aircraft Cargo Loading Area Lighting Market

Global Aircraft Galley Lighting Market

Global Aircraft Formation Beacon Lights Market

Global Aircraft Anti-Collision Lights Market

Global Aircraft Generators Market

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Safe Orthopaedics announces the publication of a biomechanical study on Sycamore









Publication in the Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics of the results of the Sycamore biomechanical study

Over 160 patients treated with Sycamore

Eragny-sur-Oise, Fleurieux sur lArbresle, France, le 07 aout 2023 a 17h30 CET  Safe (FR001400F1V2  ALSAF), french group specialized in the design, manufacturing and distribution of ready-to-use medical devices for Spine surgeries, especially safe for vertebral fracture treated in emergency, announces the publication of a biomechanical study of Sycamore and over 160 patients treated with Sycamore.

Publication of the results of the Sycamore biomechanical study in the Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics (https://jeo-esska.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40634-023-00635-7)

Leaded by Professor Jean-Charles Le Huec, the study compares the biomechanical behavior of vertebrae treated by Dowelplasty, a new surgical technique using a pedicle anchored device Sycamore (commercial name by Safe Orthopedics) with a traditional kyphoplasty system. The study is published in the Journal of Experimental Orthopedics.

Sycamore consists of (a) a cannulated titanium nail and (b) a titanium dowel directly anchored in the pedicle; (c) the cannulated nail is inserted and locked into the dowel, and the cement is injected through the nail.

Results:

In comparison with the Kyphoplasty, Sycamore shows a significant increase of the compression strength (373 N ; IC a 95% ;  331 N versus  1076 N for Sycamore).

Conclusions:

1- The treatment of a compression fracture with Sycamore allows a very significant increase in the resistance to load of the fractures compared to the pre-treatment state.

2 - Sycamore provides a greater improvement in load resistance and fracture displacement energy than balloon kyphoplasty, suggesting that Sycamore may be a good alternative for the treatment of vertebral compression fractures.

Sycamore provides greater improvement of the load resistance and fracture displacement energy compared to traditional kyphoplasty, suggesting that Sycamore is a good alternative for the treatment of vertebrae compression fractures.

Professor Jean-Charles Le Huec, user of the system confirms in clinical practice the good results obtained in the laboratory. With a follow-up of 2 years, the losses of corrections do not exceed 2.1 compared to the immediate postoperative results. This is truly remarkable compared to kyphoplasty and other systems on the market without pedicle anchorage where the cement can sink into the vertebral body, especially in cases of osteoporosis.

Pierre Dumouchel, Chairman and CEO de Safe Group comments  First of all, we would like to thank Professor Jean-Charles Le Huec and all the surgeons who contributed to the development and clinical follow-up of Sycamore, a unique and patented Safe Orthopedics technology for better management of patients with vertebral fractures. We have treated over 160 patients with our Sycamore technologies and are seeing very promising clinical results. Through recent listings in many French centers and international deployment, we are delighted to be able to benefit a large number of patients from the clinical benefits already observed and aim to accelerate the Safe Orthopaedics sales.

About Safe Group

Safe Group is a French medical technology group that brings together Safe Orthopaedics, a pioneer in ready-to-use technologies for spine pathologies, and Safe Medical (formerly LCI Medical), a medical device subcontractor for orthopedic surgeries. The group employs approximately 125 people.

Safe Orthopaedics develops and manufactures kits combining sterile implants and ready-to-use instruments, available at any time to the surgeon. These technologies are part of a minimally invasive approach aimed at reducing the risks of contamination and infection, in the interest of the patient and with a positive impact on hospitalization times and costs. Protected by 15 patent families, SteriSpineTM kits are CE marked and FDA approved. Safe Orthopaedics is headquartered in the Paris region (95610 Eragny-sur-Oise) and has subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, and the Lyon region (Fleurieux-sur-l'Arbresle).

For more information: http://www.safeorthopaedics.com/

Safe Medical produces implantable medical devices and ready-to-use instruments. It has an innovation center and two production sites in France (Fleurieux-sur-l'Arbresle, 69210) and in Tunisia, offering numerous industrial services: industrialization, machining, finishing and sterile packaging.

For more information: http://www.safemedical.fr/

Contacts

Safe Group

Francois-Henri Reynaud

Chief Financial and Administrative Officer

Tel. : +33 (0)1 34 21 50 00

investors@safeorthopaedics.com

Attachment
ICG Enterprise Trust plc (the Company)

8 August 2023

Transaction in Own Shares

The Company announces that on 7 August 2023 it bought back 10,000 of its own shares, to be held as treasury shares, at an average price of 1160 pence per share.

Further details are set out below:

Number of shares held as treasury shares following this purchase: 5,220,777

Total shares in issue excluding treasury shares following this purchase: 67,692,223

The Company has bought back these shares under the authority granted by shareholders at its Annual General Meeting in June 2023, which permits the Company to repurchase a maximum of 14.99% of its ordinary shares. The actual number of shares repurchased by the Company will depend on market conditions. This authority lasts until the next shareholder authority granted (expected to be at the Annual General Meeting in 2024), or until expressly revoked by shareholders.

The above figure 67,692,223 may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the Company under the FCA's Disclosure and Transparency Rules.

No maximum consideration payable has been determined by the Company, but the Company is unable to pay a price for any shares pursuant to the buyback which would equate to a premium to the net asset value. It is the Companys current intention to hold any shares bought back in treasury.

The Company has instructed Numis Securities Limited as its broker in respect of its buyback transactions. This arrangement is in accordance with the UKLA Listing Rules and the Companys general authority to repurchase shares.

Analyst / Investor enquiries:

Chris Hunt

Shareholder Relations, ICG

+44 (0) 20 3545 2020

Andrew Lewis

Company Secretary, ICG

+44 (0) 20 3545 1344

Media:



Clare Glynn

Corporate Communications, ICG

+44 (0) 20 3545 1395
Pune, India, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global phenolic resin market growth is influenced by factors such as industrialization, urbanization, advancements in manufacturing processes, and increasing demand for high-performance materials. However, environmental concerns and regulations related to formaldehyde emissions have led to the development of low-formaldehyde or formaldehyde-free phenolic resin formulations.

Fortune Business Insights provides this information in its research report, titled Phenolic Resin Market Size, Trends and Industry Report Forecast 2023-2030.

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Phenolic resin is synthesized from phenol and formaldehyde. It offers excellent mechanical properties, flame retardancy, flexibility, low cost, high thermal stability, and water & chemical resistance. These compelling qualities have positioned it as the preferred material across diverse industries including automotive, aerospace, construction, electronics, industrial tools, as well as paints and coatings. Phenolic resins are used in the manufacturing of laminates, insulation panels, laminated paper, and waterproof adhesives and paints.

The phenolic resin market refers to the global industry that produces and supplies phenolic resins, which are synthetic polymers derived from phenol and formaldehyde. Phenolic resins are widely used in industries such as automotive, construction, electronics, and consumer goods, contributing to the overall market size.

List of Companies Profiled in the Phenolic Resin Market Report:

Akrochem Corporation

Allnex GMBH

Ashland Global Holdings Inc

ASK Chemicals GmbH

Bakelite Synthetics

BASF SE

Georgia-Pacific Chemicals

Hexcel Corporation

Kraton Corporation

Prefere Resins Holding GmbH

Report Coverage:

The phenolic resin 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 the COVID-19 pandemic on industry expansion.

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Drivers and Restraints:

The versatility and desirable properties of phenolic resins have fueled their adoption across multiple industries. With a foundation in the synthesis of phenol and formaldehyde, these resins showcase remarkable mechanical attributes, flame retardancy, thermal stability, and resistance to water and chemicals. As such, they have become the material of choice in sectors spanning automotive, aerospace, construction, electronics, industrial tools, paints, and coatings. This broad applicability is propelled by factors such as:

The burgeoning automotive and aerospace industries, where phenolic resins are utilized in manufacturing essential components like brake pads, clutch facings, and interior parts. The upsurge in construction activities necessitates the use of phenolic resins in insulation panels, laminates, and adhesives for enhanced structural integrity. The electronics sector's demand for these resins is due to their excellent dielectric properties, facilitating applications in electrical insulation, circuit boards, and electronic components.

Continuous research and development efforts lead to improved phenolic resin formulations with reduced formaldehyde emissions, heightened performance, and increased sustainability. The innate flame-retardant properties of phenolic resins meet the rising need for fire-safe materials in construction and transportation.

Restraints:

Environmental regulations aim to limit formaldehyde emissions and promote eco-friendly practices, which can impact production processes and the overall market. Competition from alternative materials like epoxy and polyurethane resins, presents a challenge to the traditional dominance of phenolic resins. The volatility of raw material prices, particularly phenol, can affect production costs due to fluctuations driven by factors such as feedstock availability and global market dynamics. Health and safety concerns surrounding the use of phenolic resins, particularly during their production processes that involve formaldehyde.

Economic factors such as downturns or uncertainties can affect industries like automotive, construction, and electronics, consequently influencing the demand for phenolic resins. The limited suitability of phenolic resins for certain high-performance applications demands more specialized materials with tailored attributes. In summary, the phenolic resin market's trajectory is shaped by a delicate balance between these driving and restraining factors. As the industry evolves, these dynamics can change, necessitating continuous monitoring and adaptation.

Segmentation:

The industry can be segmented based on application, function, and geography.

By Type

Novolac Resin

Resol Resin

Application

Friction

Adhesives and Binding

Coatings

Felt Bonding

Foam

Abrasives

Substrate Saturation

Foundry

Others

By End-use Industry

Electrical and Electronics

Automotive

Lumber

Building and Construction

Others

By Region

North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico)

Europe (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, UK,)

Asia-Pacific (China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia)

Middle East & Africa (Brazil, Saudi Arabia, South Africa)

Regional Insights:

The phenolic resin market exhibits distinctive regional trends that shape its dynamics across various parts of the world.

North America is a prominent consumer and producer of phenolic resins, driven by industries like automotive, aerospace, electronics, and construction. Stringent environmental regulations have prompted a focus on eco-friendly formulations.

Europe boasts a robust industrial base, spurring demand for phenolic resins. The region's emphasis on sustainability has led to the development of environmentally friendly production processes. Sectors like construction and automotive are key users, particularly in applications requiring flame retardancy.

Asia-Pacific stands as a major growth engine, with rapid industrialization and infrastructure development propelling demand. Countries such as China, India, and Japan play pivotal roles in consumption and production. The expanding electronics industry and growing automotive sector contribute significantly to the market's expansion.

Latin America experiences rising demand, primarily driven by the construction and automotive industries. Infrastructure projects, especially in countries like Brazil and Mexico, drive the utilization of phenolic resins across various applications.

Middle East and Africa, phenolic resins find application in construction, oil and gas, and automotive sectors. The region's industrial growth and urbanization underpin the demand for these materials in diverse applications.

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Read Related Insights:

Natural Resin Market to Reach USD 11.95 Billion by 2030

Resin Market to Grow USD 752.26 Billion by 2029

Epoxy Resins Market Poised for Growth with Advancements in Adhesives, Coatings, and Composites by 2028

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Pune, India, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global hand sanitizer market size was valued at USD 2.85 billion in 2022 and is expected to be worth USD 3.01 billion in 2023. The market is projected to reach USD 3.80 billion by 2030, recording a CAGR of 3.8% during the forecast period.

Hand sanitizers refer to anti-infection skincare products that protect the hands from disease-causing bacteria and viruses. As more people are becoming aware of the benefits of maintaining a good personal hygiene routine, the demand for hand sanitizers is projected to grow across the world. This will positively impact the hand sanitizer market growth.

Fortune Business Insights displays this information in a report titled, "Hand Sanitizer Market, 2023-2030."

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List of Key Players Profiled in the Hand Sanitizer Market Report:

Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc (U.K.)

Gojo Industry Inc. (U.S.)

Henkel AG & Company (Germany)

Himalaya Global Holdings Ltd. (India)

Unilever Plc. (U.K.)

Bacardi Limited (Bermuda)

CVS Health (U.S.)

Best Sanitizer Inc. (U.S.)

Proctor & Gamble (U.S.)

SC Johnson & Son, Inc. (U.S.)

Report Scope & Segmentation:

Report Attributes Details Forecast Period 2023-2030 Forecast CAGR 3.8% 2030 Value Projection USD 3.80 Billion Market Size in 2022 USD 2.85 Billion Historical Data 2019-2021 No. of Pages 175 Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Company Profiles, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors and Latest Trends Segments Covered By Product Form

By Type

By Distribution Channel

By End-User

By Region Regions Covered North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East and Africa Hand Sanitizer Market Growth Drivers Rising Government Support in the Promotion of Hygiene Products to Augment Market Progress Product Innovations by Incorporating Unique Ingredients to Drive Market Growth

Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report with TOC:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/hand-sanitizer-market-102710

Report Coverage:

The report analyzes the market in detail and highlights crucial areas such as prominent companies, product types, forms, leading end-users, and distribution channels. The report also delivers insights into the latest market trends and covers top industry developments. Besides the factors mentioned above, the report informs readers on the industrys competitive landscape and the factors that have contributed to the markets growth in recent years.

Drivers and Restraints:

Rising Government Support to Promote Hygiene Products will Augment Market Progress

Governments across the world are launching various initiatives and programs to promote the significance of personal hygiene and cleanliness, thereby generating robust demand for personal care items. Moreover, doctors and healthcare professionals are increasingly recommending various tips to maintain a good hygiene routine, which will further propel the market growth.

However, rising availability of alternative products may hinder the markets development.

COVID-19 Impact:

Growing Significance of Hygiene Solutions Boosted Product Demand During COVID-19 Pandemic

Hand sanitizers are widely known to protect people from a wide range of disease-causing bacteria and viruses. COVID-19 was a fast-spreading infection that affected millions of people across the globe. This factor helped these products gain tremendous traction among customers as they were effective in mitigating the human-to-human transmission of this virus. These advantages drove the hand sanitizer market share during the pandemic period.

Segments:

Gel Segment to Dominate due to based Wide Demand for Gel-based Sanitizing Solutions

Based on product form, the market is segmented into foam, gel, and liquid. The gel segment is expected to hold a considerable market share as gel-based sanitizers are more effective for germ protection than its counterparts.

Alcohol-based Sanitizers to Gain Traction due to their Robust Disease-Fighting Capabilities

Based on type, the market is segmented into alcohol-based and alcohol-free. The alcohol-based segment is predicted to dominate the market as these products are more effective in fighting off disease-causing bacteria and germs and can prevent infections.

Customers to Prefer Supermarkets/Hypermarkets for their Wider Product Choice and Heavy Discounts

Based on distribution channel, the market is segmented into pharmacy stores, supermarkets/hypermarkets, online retail channels, and others such as department stores, drug stores, and grocery stores. The hypermarket & supermarket segment holds a dominant position in the global market as these stores house a wider range of hand sanitizing solutions from different brands and offer heavy discounts on bulk purchases.

Hand Sanitizing Products to Gain Popularity Across Hospitals Due to Rising Patient Admissions

Based on end-user, the market is segmented into schools, restaurants, hospitals, household purpose, and others such as shopping plazas, the military, the corporate sector, and hotels.

The hospital segment dominates the market as the average patient footfall across hospitals is rising every year, which may boost the demand for hand sanitizing solutions.

With respect to region, the market covers North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and the Middle East & Africa.

Get a Quote Now:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/get-a-quote/hand-sanitizer-market-102710

Regional Insights:

North America to Lead Market Growth with Growing Presence of Reputed Product Manufacturers

North America is set to dominate the global market as the region has a vast presence of leading product manufacturers such as Nice Pak, Gojo Industries Inc., Vi Jon Inc., Edgewell Personal Care, and many others.

Europe is also anticipated to hold a sizeable market share due to the governments support to create a strong medical infrastructure.

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 Overview of the Parent Market Industry SWOT Analysis Recent Industry Developments Supply Chain & Regulatory Analysis Qualitative Analysis (In Relation to COVID-19) Impact of COVID-19 on the Market Supply Chain Challenges Potential Opportunities due to COVID-19 Pandemic

Global Hand Sanitizer Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2030 Key Findings / Summary Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Product Form Foam Gel Liquid Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Distribution Channel Pharmacy Store Supermarket/Hypermarket Online Retail Channels Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Type Alcohol Based Sanitizer Alcohol Free Sanitizer Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By End-user Schools Restaurants Hospitals Household Purpose Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa



TOC Continued...!

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https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/hand-sanitizer-market-102710

Competitive Landscape:

Effective Distribution Channels and Product Innovations by Leading Companies to Accelerate Market Growth

Some of the key companies operating in the market are focusing on innovating their disinfectant solutions to attract more customers. They are also trying to create and expand a strong product distribution network to seal their market positions and increase their global presence.

Key Industry Development:

November 2022: Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc. partnered with Essity AB to introduce a wide range of personal care products, such as antimicrobial foam soaps, multipurpose cleanser sprays, and hand sanitizing gels in Ireland, the U.K., Austria, and Germany.

Read Related Insights:

Soap Market Size to Reach USD 55.29 Billion by 2027 | CAGR of 5.0%

Liquid Soap Market Size to Worth USD 35.70 Billion by 2030 | At a 6.84% of CAGR

Hand Wash Market to Hit USD 4.29 Billion by 2028 | Industry to Generate 6.6% CAGR During (2021-2028)

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.

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VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NextGen Food Robotics Corp. (the Company or NextGen) (NEO: NGRB; OTC Pink: NGRBF; Frankfurt: O83) is pleased to announce, further to its news release dated June 1, 2023, that it has entered into an agreement (the Lease Agreement) to lease a facility (the New Facility) on West 3rd Avenue, in the heart of Kitsilano, Vancouver, BC. From the New Facility, NextGen intends to operate ghost and commissary kitchens, which the Company intends to retrofit with automated food manufacturing equipment. The Company also plans to sell products produced by members at the commissary directly to consumers at the New Facility. The Company expects to complete buildout of the New Facility by the end of October.



The Lease Agreement is for an initial term of ten years, commencing November 1, 2023, with an option to renew for two separate terms of five years each.

About NextGen Food Robotics

Nextgen Food Robotics is an automated robotic food co-packer and manufacturer that uses technology to modernize its food manufacturing processes. Additionally, Nextgen is developing the Lily app, which is an AI-powered food application.

For investor inquiries or further information, please contact:

Paul Rivas, Chief Executive Officer

1 (236) 471-1357

info@nextgenai.ca

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws with respect to the Company. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by words such as believe, project, expect, anticipate, estimate, intend, strategy, future, opportunity, plan, may, should, will, would, and similar expressions and in this news release include statements respecting the terms of the Lease Agreement, the Companys intended uses for the New Facility and the potential exercise of the renewals thereof and the timeline for buildout of the New Facility. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable laws.

Neither the Neo Exchange nor IIROC accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
Dublin, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Allergic Rhinitis Drugs Market (2023-2028) by Class of Drugs, Route of Administration, Application, and Geography, Competitive Analysis, Impact of Economic Slowdown & Impending Recession with Ansoff Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Global Allergic Rhinitis Drugs Market is estimated to be USD 12.06 Bn in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 15.41 Bn by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 5.03%.

This comprehensive report presents a detailed analysis of the competitors in the market, shedding light on their financial performance and recent developments. It offers valuable insights into prominent companies such as SKG Internationals, Adamis Pharmaceuticals Corp., Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Merck KGaA, Sanofi S.A., AstraZeneca PLC, and more.

The report introduces a proprietary tool, the Competitive Quadrant, designed to evaluate companies based on their Industry Position score and Market Performance score, using factors like financial performance, growth strategies, innovation score, new product launches, investments, and market share growth.

With its in-depth analysis, this report equips industry players with essential insights to make informed decisions and navigate the competitive landscape successfully.

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 216 Forecast Period 2023 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $12.06 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $15.41 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 5.0% Regions Covered Global

Why buy this report?

The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the Global Allergic Rhinitis Drugs 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 Segmentations

By Class of Drugs, the market is classified into Antihistamines, Immunotherapies, and Intranasal Corticosteroids.

By Route of Administration, the market is classified into Intranasal, Intraocular, Oral, and Parenteral.

By Application, the market is classified into Hospital Pharmacy, Online Pharmacy, and Retail Pharmacy.

By Geography, the market is classified into Americas, Europe, Middle-East & Africa and Asia-Pacific.

Market Dynamics

Drivers

Rising Prevalence of Allergic Rhinitis

Growing Use of Tobacco Promote Allergic Rhinitis

Availability of Different Modes of Administration

Restraints

Side Effects of Treatment for Allergic Rhinitis

Opportunities

Growing Development and Commercialization of Allergic Rhinitis Drugs

Increasing Government and Organization Initiatives for Awareness of Allergic Rhinitis

Challenges

No Standard Cure for Allergic Rhinitis

Market Analysis

Regulatory Scenario

Porter's Five Forces Analysis

PESTLE Analysis

SWOT Analysis

Impact of COVID-19

Impact of Economic Slowdown & Impending Recession

Ansoff Matrix Analysis

Company Profiles

Adamis Pharmaceuticals Corp.

ALK-Abello A/S

Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Apotex Inc.

AstraZeneca PLC

Boehringer Sohn AG & Co. KG

Cigna

Dr. Reddy's Laboratories

FAES Farma SA

Fosun Pharma USA Inc.

GlaxoSmithKline PLC

Himalaya Wellness Co.

Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co., Inc.

Merck KGaA

Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, Corp.

Novartis Ag

Sanofi S.A.

SKG Internationals

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/j7wcis

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
Dublin, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Anti Acne Mask Market (2023-2028) by Type, Gender, Packaging Type, Distribution Channel, and Geography, Competitive Analysis, Impact of Covid-19 with Ansoff Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Global Anti Acne Mask Market is estimated to be USD 3.43 Bn in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 4.83 Bn by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 7.10%.

Competitive Quadrant



The report includes a Competitive Quadrant, a proprietary tool to analyse 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 Anti Acne Mask 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 Anti Acne Mask 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 Anti Acne Mask Market. The report includes in-depth qualitative analysis, verifiable data from authentic sources, and projections about market size. The projections are calculated using proven research methodologies.

The report has been compiled through extensive primary and secondary research. The primary research is done through interviews, surveys, and observation of renowned personnel in the industry.

The report includes an in-depth Market analysis using Porter's 5 forces model, PESTLE Analysis, and the Ansoff Matrix. In addition, the impact of COVID-19 and the impact of economic slowdown & impending recession on the Market are also featured in the Report

The report also includes the regulatory scenario in the industry, which will help you make a well-informed decision. The report discusses major regulatory bodies and major rules and regulations imposed on this sector across various geographies.

The report also contains a competitive analysis using Positioning Quadrants, the analyst's competitive positioning tool.

Report Highlights:

A complete analysis of the market, including the parent industry

Important market dynamics and trends

Market segmentation

Historical, current, and projected size of the market based on value and volume

Market shares and strategies of key players

Recommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the market

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 210 Forecast Period 2023 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $3.43 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $4.83 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 7.1% Regions Covered Global







Market Dynamics

Drivers

Rising Consumption of Cosmetics by Both Men and Women

Rising Incidences of Acne Due to Unhealthy Lifestyle

Increasing Number of E-commerce Platforms

Restraints

Lack of Adoption of Anti Acne Masks

Chances of Skin Irritation, Redness, and Rashes

Opportunities

Rising Advancements in Cosmetic Manufacturing

Challenges

Easy Availability of Substitutes for Anti Acne Masks Type







Companies Mentioned

Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay

Beauty Bay Ltd.

Burt's Bees (The Clorox Company)

CFEB Sisley

Cult Beauty

Himalaya Wellness Company

Innisfree Corp.

Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc.

Kate Somerville Skincare, LLC

Kiehl's LLC

Lush Retail Ltd.

Mary Kay, Inc.

Olay (Procter and Gamble Espana SA)

Origins Natural Resources, Inc.

Peter Thomas Roth, LLC

Reviera Overseas

Sephora USA, Inc.

Shiseido Co., Ltd.

SkinCeuticals International (L'Oreal)

The Clarins Group

TWASA Cosmetics

Unilever PLC

Market Segmentation



The Global Anti Acne Mask Market is segmented based on Type, Gender, Packaging Type, Distribution Channel, and Geography.

By Type, the market is classified into Cleanser & Toner, Creams & Lotions, Mask, Oil, and Soap.

By Gender, the market is classified into Men and Women.

By Packaging Type, the market is classified into Container/Jars, Sachets, and Tubes.

By Distribution Channel, the market is classified into Offline Mode and Online Mode.

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/rqspa8

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.

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Psychedelic Practitioners Association (APPA), the leading organization focused on safely integrating psychedelics into the US healthcare system, and BrainFutures, a national nonprofit dedicated to advancing the practical applications of brain research, announced today the first-ever set of professional practice guidelines for psychedelic-assisted therapy. These guidelines aim to set a benchmark for practitioners in this emerging clinical field as informed by existing clinical research and expert consensus.



Recognizing the need for guidelines to set high standards and further legitimize the burgeoning psychedelic-assisted therapy space, a working group of experts from multiple disciplines within the field came together to write the professional practice guidelines. More than two dozen members of APPA also contributed valuable perspectives on justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion; the real-world practice of psychedelic-assisted therapy; and psychedelic use in indigenous and other settings. The guidelines can be found here.

"As the field of psychedelic-assisted therapy continues to gain momentum, the release of the Professional Practice Guidelines marks a crucial turning point. These guidelines provide the beginnings of a framework for stakeholders to consider when evaluating minimum standards of care for these emerging treatments, said Natalie Gukasyan, M.D. a member of the working group to develop the professional practice guidelines and a psychiatrist and Assistant Professor at Columbia University.

Andrew Penn, MS, PMHNP, Clinical Professor, UC San Francisco School of Nursing and a member of the working group added, The Professional Practice Guidelines are an important next step in the evolution and professionalization of psychedelic therapy. By seeking to clarify and define concepts such as consent, appropriate screening of patients, professionalism and ethics, safety, patient preparation, coordination with other providers, and integration of psychedelic therapy experiences, these guidelines will help to protect patients and advance the safe use of psychedelic medicines in professional settings.

With more than 1 in 5 US adults living with a mental illness according to the CDC and young adults aged 18-25 years having the highest prevalence of mental illness according to the National Institute of Mental Health , the demonstrated need for new and improved mental health treatment has never been greater. Psychedelic-assisted therapy has shown promising results in the treatment of a variety of difficult-to-treat mental health disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), treatment-resistant depression, and major depressive disorderespecially in recent years with a resurgence in psychedelic research.

The therapy model practiced by these psychedelic research programs, which combines the administration of a psychedelic medication and therapy within the same treatment session, is distinct from other forms of psychotherapy and necessitates new processes and competencies for practitioners to administer the treatment. As likely FDA approval of one or more psychedelic-assisted therapies draws closer, BrainFutures and APPA agreed that a consensus-based guideline development process is necessary to speed the adoption of psychedelic treatments into the US healthcare system and ensure access for all who could benefit.

With the anticipated approval of MDMA to treat PTSD next year and the rollout of other psychedelic therapies to treat a variety of mental health disorders in the next few years, there is a growing need and desire on the behalf of the practitioners to be properly trained and prepared to deliver such life-changing treatment, said Brigadier General (Ret.) Stephen N. Xenakis, MD, Executive Director of APPA. Patient care, safety and experiential efficacy are of the utmost importance, especially when patients can be in such a vulnerable state during their experience, and these guidelines are the first step toward an approach for practitioners to get the support they need to effectively and safely administer this treatment.

Guidelines included in the report focus on a number of key topics in psychedelic-assisted therapy such as preparation before and integration after medication sessions to facilitate the best possible experience, the importance of informed consent as an ongoing process, building trust and rapport between practitioners and patients, and more. Each guideline includes both rationale for its inclusion as well as application guidance to provide practitioners with deeper context.

As is typical in the development of professional practice guidelines and especially true for an industry such as psychedelic-assisted therapy, the co-authors agreed that these guidelines will be subject to change in the coming years as more research and real-world data becomes available. These guidelines will expire two years from the date of publication with updated guidelines to follow.

Even though FDA approval for the first psychedelic-assisted therapy is still months away, researchers can use these guidelines today to design cutting-edge studies that will lead to new therapies tomorrow. We are proud to be leading the way as the medical field prepares for psychedelic-assisted therapy to become a crucial new tool in clinicians toolboxes, added David Esselman, Executive Director of BrainFutures.

About APPA

The American Psychedelic Practitioners Association (APPA) exists to integrate psychedelics into the US healthcare system and ensure safe access for all who can benefit from these treatments. APPA brings together and celebrates the diverse voices of our community, while building consensus around the infrastructure needed for the psychedelic ecosystem to thrive. This includes establishing, as a community, the range of standards of care that will ensure quality care and allow for broad, equitable access. The APPA community will also develop core competencies for an accreditation program; a supervisor matching program; and a system of accountability to establish PAT as a reliable therapy. This will ensure its safe adoption and application throughout the country. Through ongoing events, connectivity and training and up-to-date resources, were establishing APPA as an inclusive community to share knowledge, clarify, and foster pivotal conversations. Learn more at appa-us.org .

About BrainFutures

BrainFutures is a national nonprofit that advances the practical applications of promising brain health interventions and expands access to treatments and technologies. We overcome barriers to access and inspire institutional action by working with subject matter experts to conduct research, engage in advocacy, and execute high-leverage projects. More information about BrainFutures work is available at brainfutures.org.



Contact:

APPA

Nick Opich

APPA@kcsa.com

BrainFutures

David Esselman

desselman@brainfutures.org

626-497-4570
New York, NY, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This summer, students from Italy, Bulgaria, and the United States joined for an incredible 1-Week Teen Screenwriting Camp at the prestigious LUISS University in Rome, Italy. The course was conducted by the New York Film Academy (NYFA) and taught by Colette Freedman, a NYFA Screenwriting faculty member at the Los Angeles campus.

In this intensive 1-Week Screenwriting Teen camp, students engaged in classroom lectures about film theory and the practical application of film storytelling techniques. The instructor incorporated visual examples to support the discussion and provide examples of techniques presented. Students spent their afternoons in a supervised writing lab, building their ideas into a short movie screenplay using professional screenwriting software and screenwriting format.

Over five days, students completed the camp with a basic understanding of a story's three-act structure, story and character arcs, dynamic character development, subtext, authentic dialogue, world-building, and the fundamentals of Hollywood filmmaking practices.

The camp instructor, Colette Freedman, is an internationally-produced playwright, screenwriter, and novelist. Considered one of Hollywood's top script doctors and ghostwriters, Freedman has instructed both screenwriting and playwriting at NYFA for the last six years. Her film about pilot and aviator Amelia Earhart, 7,000 Miles, starring Wendie Malick, will premiere on the film festival circuit in August 2023.

According to Freedman, "At the beginning of our NYFA 1-Week Teen Screenwriting Camp, these students had no idea how to write a screenplay, and by the end of the week, each one of the students completed a short film script. As a working Hollywood screenwriter, I was inspired by the students as I watched them absorb my instruction on the elements of screenwriting and consequently gain the confidence to tell their stories in a cinematic fashion." The instructor continues, "This was one of the highlights of my academic career. The students were sensational, and to have taught in the gorgeous and historic city of Rome was unbelievable."

LUISS University (full name "Libera Universita Internazionale degli Studi Sociali Guido Carli") hosted the NYFA 1-Week Teen Screenwriting Camp and offers top-ranked undergraduate and graduate programs in the disciplines of finance, business, management, law, and political science.

Ranked #1 in the best Italian universities among medium-sized, non-state universities in 2022 by Censis Ranking, the University does not offer film, media, or performing arts disciplines. For this reason, the University partnered with NYFA to offer a screenwriting opportunity for students enrolled in the LUISS summer school and students enrolled in the program through NYFA.

According to Roberto Costantini, a member of the LUISS University Board of Directors and the University's Summer School Director, "Through the 1-Week Teen Screenwriting Camp, both LUISS and NYFA provide students with a combination of an international education along with an ideal location to study."

The partnership, headed by Diana Santi, Director of NYFA's Florence campus and programs, says, "NYFA Florence is proud to partner with such an excellent institution as LUISS University, creating an inspiring, cutting edge, and hands-on screenwriting camp for Italian and International students. The camp helped students find their inner voice and taught them how to convey it into a story. We look forward to extending this collaboration with LUISS University in the many years to come."

Offered each year, the next 1-Week Teen Screenwriting Camp will occur between July 21 - 27, 2024. If interested, you can learn more by reviewing the camp page on NYFA's website or requesting information to speak with a NYFA Admissions staff member.

About NYFA

New York Film Academy (NYFA) is a leading film, media, and performing arts college that offers intensive undergraduate and graduate degree programs, certificates, and workshops across a multitude of areas of study in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, Gold Coast (Australia), Florence (Italy), Beijing (China), and more. NYFA also offers online programs to provide unparalleled "Hands-Online" education experiences that allow aspiring storytellers across the world to access valuable industry knowledge from anywhere.

For more information, visit nyfa.edu.

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Pune, India, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to our latest study on "UV Disinfection Equipment Market Size Report, Forecast to 2030  COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis  by Component, Power Rating, Application, and End User," the market is expected to grow from US$ 5.08 billion in 2022 to US$ 14.18 billion by 2030; it is estimated to register a CAGR of 13.7% from 2023 to 2030. The rising awareness of the benefits of the adoption of UV technology over chemical treatment as a disinfection method for drinking water and wastewater treatment is driving market growth.





Download Sample PDF Brochure: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPRE00015724/







Disinfection is an inevitable process in hospitals, as it contributes to the safety and security of patients. Hospital facilities are highly exposed to harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi that can harm the well-being of patients and healthcare workers, visitors, newborns, etc. These healthcare-associated infections (HAI) are commonly transmitted through hospitals, end-stage renal disease facilities, ambulatory surgical centers, and long-term care facilities. As per the US Department of Health and Human Services, ~1 in 31 inpatients have an infection related to hospital care. The World Health Organization (WHO) in its report released in May 2022, stated that 7 out of 100 patients and 15 out of 100 patients in acute-care hospitals in high-income countries and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), respectively, can acquire at least one HAI during their hospital stay. In addition, on average, 1 in every 10 affected patients would die from the acquired HAI. The report also stated that 70% of these diseases can be prevented by adopting good hand hygiene and other cost-effective practices. Thus, the need for disinfection equipment to kill the live germ in the air, water, or surfaces for preventing disease transmission and bolstering human safety triggers the adoption of UV disinfectant equipment in the healthcare sector, further fueling the UV disinfection equipment market growth.

UV light has powerful germicidal properties, specifically at 254 nm wavelength. The UV light emitted by UV disinfection equipment penetrates microbial cells, making them nonviable and barring their reproducibility or virulence. This equipment is widely used for water and surface sterilization, and air purification in healthcare facilities, enabling supplementary protection against infection and transmission of diseases. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic fueled the UV disinfectant equipment demand in 2020 and 2021. Companies in the UV disinfection equipment market are introducing various solutions to cater to the burgeoning demand for UV disinfectant equipment in healthcare facilities. For example, in July 2020, Ibis Medical Equipment & Systems Pvt Ltd, Kochi (India), unveiled an advanced UV-C Disinfection System for quick, chemical-free sterilization of high infection-prone areas. Thus, the rising use of UV disinfection solutions in the healthcare sector fuels UV disinfection equipment market.

The UV disinfection equipment market size in North America is segmented into the US, Canada, and Mexico. Since the early 1970s, clean water has been a national preoccupation. The Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) was passed by the US Congress in 1972 to safeguard the country's waters. Due to this statute, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and comparable state agencies are authorized to regulate activities that endanger the nation's water resources. The Federal Water Pollution Control Act established a comprehensive national water strategy and a national goal to eliminate pollution discharge into navigable waters. As a result, government attempts to adopt technologically advanced, chemical-free, and environment-friendly disinfection equipment contribute to the UV disinfection equipment market growth in North America. In addition, governments of North American countries are investing in efforts to boost their manufacturing industries. In January 2021, the US President announced the Made in America initiative focused on having a technologically advanced and automated manufacturing sector. With this initiative, the federal government is investing and providing incentives to businesses in the manufacturing sector, which would propel the demand for UV disinfection equipment to enhance the safety of the facilities.

Companies in the UV disinfection equipment market in North America are engaged in several strategic initiatives to fulfill the growing demand from the industrial, residential, commercial, and municipal sectors and boost their revenue. In March 2023, Xylem acquired Evoqua Water Technologies, a UV disinfection equipment and service provider. This acquisition helps Xylem to address critical water challenges faced by customers and communities with the growing awareness of clean water in the region. Thus, organic and inorganic strategic initiatives help the UV disinfectant equipment market players in North America boost their revenues.





UV Disinfection Equipment Market Report: Component Overview

Based on component, the UV disinfection equipment market size is categorized into UV lamps, reactor chambers, quartz sleeves, control units, and others. The UV lamps segment dominated the market in 2022 and is expected to continue its dominance until 2030. UV lamps are used in air purifiers to kill airborne microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, mold spores, and dust mites. These lamps emit ultraviolet (UV) light, which has a wavelength that damages the DNA of microorganisms, making them unable to reproduce. UV lamps are typically used in air purifiers with other filtration methods, such as HEPA filters. Moreover, they operate without the production of ozone or any other harmful gas. Various manufacturers and vendors are launching air purifiers with UV lamps for removing dust, pollen, and other particulate matter, which contributes to UV disinfection equipment market growth.





Purchase Premium Copy of UV Disinfection Equipment Market Growth Report (2023-2030) at: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/buy/TIPRE00015724/





UV Disinfection Equipment Market Research Report: Competitive Landscape and Key Developments

Xylem Inc, Trojan Technologies Group ULC, Halma Plc, Kuraray Co Ltd, Atlantic Ultraviolet Corp, Advanced UV Inc, American Ultraviolet Inc, Atlantium Technologies Ltd, Dr. Honle AG, and Evergreen UV LLC are among the key UV disinfection equipment market players profiled in the report. Several other essential market players were also analyzed for a holistic view of the market and its ecosystem. The report provides detailed market insights, which can help major UV disinfection equipment market players to strategize their growth.

In 2023, AquiSense Technologies, a provider of UV-C LED water disinfection systems, announced the launch of PearlAqua Deca 30C. PearlAqua Deca 30C offers treatment for both larger and smaller point-of-use applications. The solution is suitable for commercial and industrial water treatment, food and beverage processing, and residential use; it can also be incorporated into soda machines, among other uses.

In 2021, Xylem expanded its regional footprint by acquiring Turkeys pumping and water treatment systems company, Anadolu Flygt. The acquisition will allow Xylem to serve a broader range of countries across the Middle East and further accelerate its growth in the region with an enhanced suite of digital water solutions.





Go through further research published by The Insight Partners: (Purchase with 10% Instant Discount):

Water Disinfection Equipment Market Forecast to 2028 - Covid-19 Impact and Global Analysis.



Ultrasound Probe Disinfection Market Forecast to 2028 - Covid-19 Impact and Global Analysis.



UV Disinfection Market Forecast to 2028 - Covid-19 Impact and Global Analysis.



Ballast Water Treatment System Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis.



Water Treatment Systems Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis.





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Delivering New Computing Paradigm Using Photonics

Improving Workload Performance with Low-Latency, Energy-Efficient Connectivity Between xPUs and Memory

Demonstrating Photowave Capabilities at Flash Memory Summit 2023



BOSTON, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lightelligence , the global leader in photonic computing and connectivity systems, today announced Photowave, the first optical communications hardware designed for PCIe and Compute Express Link (CXL) connectivity, unleashing next-generation workload efficiency.

Photowave, an Optical Networking (oNET) transceiver leveraging the significant latency and energy efficiency of photonics technology, empowers data center managers to scale resources within or across server racks. The first public demonstration of Photowave will be at Flash Memory Summit today through Thursday, August 10, in Santa Clara, Calif.

With the unveiling of Photowave, Lightelligence delivers on its promise of a new computing paradigm using photonics. Todays product release follows Lightelligences introduction of Hummingbird, an Optical Network-on-Chip (oNOC) processor for domain-specific artificial intelligence (AI) workloads in June, and PACE, the worlds first integrated photonic computing system for Optical Multiply Accumulate (oMAC) in late 2021.

We are more than excited to unveil the next piece of our product portfolio, comments Yichen Shen, CEO of Lightelligence. Photowave will soon set the standard for workload efficiency. It makes it possible to build scalable computing and accelerator pods with just the right amount of resources.

Introducing Photowave

As compute and memory stranding becomes an increasingly costly issue for data center workloads, the industry-backed CXL standard enables the disaggregation of compute, accelerator, and memory resources to reduce stranding of resources while improving infrastructure efficiency. The current Ethernet-based infrastructure carries too much latency overhead to enable this disaggregation.

Photowave provides a solution by interconnecting remote devices together using CXL over lower-latency fiber optic cable, extending reach to enable memory pooling at pod scales and beyond. This facilitates scalable CXL fabrics in the composable data center.

The Photowave product line includes various form factors, including a standard PCIe card, OCP 3.0 SFF card, and an active optical cable to achieve successful deployment of CXL-based infrastructure enhancements. They can be used in server platforms, CXL switches, memory appliances, and xPUs.

Photowave enables CXL 2.0/PCIe Gen 5 connectivity over optics with support for x16, x8, x4 and x2 bifurcation modes of operation, allowing for a wide variety of deployment scenarios. In addition to high-speed electrical-to-optical conversion for the data signals, Photowave also supports sideband signals over optics making it possible to implement more efficient and reliable disaggregation architectures.

Availability and Pricing

Photowave is now available for customer trials and deployments. Contact Lightelligence at info@lightelligence.ai for inquiries on pricing and availability.

Lightelligence at Flash Memory Summit and Hot Chips

Lightelligence will demonstrate Photowave in collaboration with AMD, MemVerge and Samsung at Flash Memory Summit in Booth #915 from today through Thursday, August 10, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, Calif. The demo will showcase the benefits of memory expansion using CXL for superior performance of a large language model (LLM) inference workload running on AMD Genoa server platforms with optical connectivity to Samsung memory expansion modules over Photowave PCIe cards. MemVerges memory machine software will be utilized for enhanced memory performance.

As the insatiable demand for memory both in capacity and bandwidth continues, optical connectivity will play a critical role in making it easier for compute to have scalable access to memory, says Charles Fan, CEO and co-founder of MemVerge. Lightelligences Photowave CXL over optics technology and products, together with our Memory Machine software, will enable highly efficient usage of memory for next-generation AI/ML workloads.

Ron Swartzentruber, Director of Engineering at Lightelligence, will present Advantages of optical CXL for disaggregated compute architectures August 9 at 3:30 p.m. P.D.T. in Ballroom G.

Lightelligence will demonstrate Hummingbird at Hot Chips 2023 at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif., August 27-29. Maurice Steinman, Lightelligences Vice President of Engineering, will present Hummingbird Low-Latency Computing Engine August 29 at 11:30 a.m. P.D.T.

About Lightelligence

Lightelligence is transforming cutting-edge photonic technology into groundbreaking solutions that offer exponential improvements in computing power and dramatically reduce energy consumption. As the global leader in the photonic computing industry, Lightelligence is to date the only company that has publicly demonstrated integrated silicon photonic computing systems working at speed. Founded in 2017, Lightelligence has approximately 200 employees worldwide and has raised more than $220 million in funding.

Engage with Lightelligence:

Website: www.lightelligence.ai/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightelligence-ai/

Twitter: @lightelligence

For more information, contact:

Nanette Collins

Public Relations for Lightelligence

nanette@nvc.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/84ae7399-f876-41d5-97fa-e5797a41fd49
Toronto, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pizza Nova has launched a limited-edition collection of exclusive merchandise to celebrate the brands 60th anniversary. Inspired by retro logos and symbols used by Pizza Nova over the decades, the new merchandise features everything from the iconic 439-0000 phone number and the companys renowned Colosseum and Leaning Tower of Pisa logo.

The Pizza Nova merch is available online only as of August 8, 2023. It includes t-shirts, crewnecks, hoodies, trucker hats, beanies, bucket hats, and a red and white checkered apron.

Since day 1, Pizza Nova has been so much more than just a pizza or food retailer, says Domenic Primucci, president of Pizza Nova. Beyond the quality food and service, Pizza Nova is part of a way of life. As we approached our 60th anniversary, many of us felt inspired to create a lineup of merchandise as a way to demonstrate, in fashion and fun designs, that were part of a fun and uplifting way of life. I could not be more excited about our retro merchandise. Im sure our customers will appreciate it.

Below are a few of the featured items at launch.

Pizza Nova retro t-shirt including a Peace, Love & Pizza message. The T-shirt is loose-fitting and made from 100% cotton, $29.99. (www.pizzanovamerch.com)

Pizza Nova retro crewneck is a soft crewneck featuring Pizza Novas instantly recognizable phone number 439-0000, created in honour of its 60th anniversary made from 100% cotton, $54.99. (www.pizzanovamerch.com)

Pizza Nova retro bucket hat is a lightweight, off-white hat featuring iconic Italian landmarks, made from 100% cotton, $42.99. (www.pizzanovamerch.com)

The Pizza Nova branded merchandise is available for a limited time until quantities last at www.pizzanovamerch.com. Customers can also scan the below QR code to shop the entire collection.

-30-

About Pizza Nova

Founded in 1963, Pizza Nova is a family-operated business that is committed to sharing the rich taste of Italy with Canadians. Pizza Nova has more than 150 stores and concession locations in Southern Ontario and is inspired by family values such as trust, integrity, and authenticity. They are known for fresh toppings, high-quality ingredients and a wide range of authentic Italian menu items including lasagna, panzerotti, Italian sandwiches, chicken wings, arancini and FOCACCIA BARESE. They also have a line of Primucci branded products featuring Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Homestyle Tomato Sauce, Italian Hot Peppers, Spicy Green Olives, and Sundried Black Olives. Taste the Difference or Learn more at pizzanova.com.

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DALLAS, TX, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Spark Biomedical Launches Telehealth Services for Sparrow Ascent, Improving Patient Access to Opioid Withdrawal Treatment

August 8, 2023, Dallas, TX (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Spark Biomedical Inc., a U.S. leader in wearable neurostimulation solutions, is proud to announce the launch of telehealth services for their recently FDA-cleared product, Sparrow Ascent. Through partnership with existing telehealth networks, Sparrow Ascent can now be prescribed and e-prescriptions administered all via remote patient access. Sparrow Ascent a safe, drug-free opioid withdrawal treatment  provides a much-needed treatment option to patients seeking to decrease or eliminate their reliance on opioids and who can or won't access facility-directed care. Pairing Sparrow Ascent and the telehealth home-based treatment option, the journey to recovery can now be more comfortable, more flexible, and more accessible, empowering patients to take the first critical step toward recovery.

In 2020, roughly 40.3 million individuals experienced substance use issues, and only 4.8 million sought treatment, leaving an estimated 35 million without treatment.1 Patients facing opioid withdrawal, whether from opioid use or tapering from opioid-based MAT treatments, often encounter numerous obstacles when seeking treatment, including:

Limited facilities and limited bed space to treat opioid withdrawal patients

A lack of comfortable, drug-free treatment options for those who prefer that recovery path

Lack of therapy flexibility that aligns with the patient's living situation and work requirements

Recognizing these challenges, Spark Biomedical has partnered with regional and national telehealth providers to introduce game-changing opioid withdrawal treatment access, eliminating barriers to care and providing safe, comfortable, drug-free opioid withdrawal therapy.

Building upon the success of their FDA-cleared Sparrow Therapy System  initially designed for in-patient clinical settings  Spark Biomedical has reimagined and enhanced its product to cater to a broader range of patients. The Sparrow Ascent, which gained FDA clearance in July of 2023, was designed to be user-friendly, flexible and safe enough to be utilized in various settings, including facility-directed, out-patient, or even in the comfort of patients' homes, through telehealth.

These Sparrow Ascent advancements paired with telehealth prescribing access, empower patients, granting them greater control over their opioid withdrawal therapy and opening the door to receive treatment on their own terms. Utilizing the Sparrow Ascent and a patient-centric model is only possible because Sparrow Ascent provides physicians, patients and care-givers:

Safety: Sparrow Ascent is a non-addictive, non-abusable, diversion-free treatment option. There are also no known drug interactions or systemic side effects.

Comfort: Unlike other opioid withdrawal treatment options, there is no need to experience withdrawal before starting therapy. Patients also maintain control of therapy strength throughout treatment whether facility-directed, out-patient, at home or on the go.

Drug-Free: Sparrow Ascent uses mild electric pulses instead of pills, eliminating the need for X-waiver restrictions like induction management and daily clinic visits. As a drug-free option, it empowers the patient with control over their sobriety date and gives family and caregivers peace of mind.

"We are thrilled to introduce Sparrow Ascent, to the vibrant telehealth services channel for patients, achieving a significant milestone in our all-paths mission to provide accessible and patient-centric solutions, said Daniel Wagner, Chief Commercial Officer of Spark Biomedical. "With the addition of telehealth, we are removing the friction that patients may face when seeking treatment, ensuring the opportunity to receive the care they need, when and where they need it."

Chief Executive Officer of Spark Biomedical, Daniel Powell, said "As we mark our five-year anniversary, we reflect on the profound impact of the opioid epidemic on individuals and communities. At Spark Biomedical, we remain steadfast in our mission to combat this crisis. The launch of telehealth paired with Sparrow Ascent will expand access to safe, comfortable, drug-free treatment for those struggling to get off opioids. This milestone represents our unwavering commitment to innovation, improving patient outcomes, and making a meaningful impact on the opioid epidemic.

Spark Biomedical has taken strides to make the telehealth process and access to Sparrow Ascent as seamless as possible. Patients will begin the journey with a simple quiz on SparrowRx.com. Once completed, patients are connected with a licensed telehealth provider who will assess suitability for the Sparrow Ascent treatment. If deemed appropriate, the provider issues an e-prescription that is dispensed via a partner mail-order pharmacy, and Sparrow Ascent will automatically arrive at the patient's home within two business days. At that point, the power to overcome opioid withdrawal is truly in the patients hands.

Sparrow Ascent is currently available via facility-directed care in approximately 30 facilities across the U.S. Visit sparkbiomedical.com/sparrow-therapy/find-a-provider for specific locations. During the initial launch phase for telehealth, services are only available in California and Texas. Additional states will be added to both the telehealth and facility-directed offerings throughout the coming months.

With the launch of telehealth services for Sparrow Ascent, Spark Biomedical is transforming the landscape of opioid withdrawal treatment, offering hope and empowerment to patients across the nation.

About Spark Biomedical

Spark Biomedical, Inc. is a leading U.S.-based wearable neurostimulation solutions developer devoted to the life-saving work of helping 36.3 million people worldwide overcome withdrawal, heal from addiction, and achieve the better quality of life they deserve. With opioid-related misuse and overdose deaths on the rise, the companys mission is to eliminate opioid use disorder by working to address the full lifecycle, including withdrawal management, opioid-sparing, relapse prevention, and PTSD/trauma abatement.

Spark Biomedical is helping patients take the first step of overcoming acute opioid withdrawal with its FDA-cleared wearable technology, the Sparrow Ascent Transcutaneous Auricular Neurostimulation (tAN) for Opioid Withdrawal Relief. Sparrow Ascent provides an easy, safe, and effective drug-free treatment option supported by clinical evidence. Next steps are underway with the launch of two NIDA-funded clinical trials to improve adult relapse rates and help infants suffering from Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS).

Learn more at getsparrowrx.com, sparkbiomedical.com or on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Citations

(n.d.). Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Retrieved July 21, 2023, from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt35325/NSDUHFFRPDFWHTMLFiles2020/2020NSDUHFFR1PDFW102121.pdf

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LONDON, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Terrapinn Holdings Ltd has announced that the MOVE America conference and exhibition will be returning to Austin, Texas this September 26th to 27th at the larger Austin Convention Center venue.



The event offers a dynamic selection of keynote talks, interactive panel discussions, workshops, booths, and stages dedicated to all-things mobility.

With a unique focus on promoting a more sustainable future in mobility, the event will open its doors to 3,800 attendees, 150+ exhibitors, 300 start-ups, and 500 speakers over its two-day course.

James Whitlock, Project Director of MOVE America 2023, said:

This is going to be the biggest and best MOVE America event yet, with the event growing 100% year-on-year as well as re-locating to a new larger event venue in the heart of Austin.

MOVE America is where the entire mobility ecosystem attends to discuss collaborations, regulations, procurement and where the latest disruptive technology is showcased. It is the premier event for networking and business opportunities that are unparalleled within the mobility space.

The C-suite and VP-level speaker line-up includes talks from Mercedes-Benz, General Motors, Ford, Hyundai, Navistar, City of Austin, Uber, Lime, Lyft, Amtrak, LA Metro, Getaround, Zipcar, FedEx, Penske, StoreDot, US Department of Energy, Bloomberg, Archer Aviation, and many more.

Top sponsors of the event include AON, Arity, BlackBerry QNX, Bosch RideCare, Endava, Porsche Consulting, Merchants Fleet, EY, Worldpay, FLO, NXP, SAP, Deloitte, WiTricity, TuSimple, Fermata Energy, and many more.

Here are some of the news releases, announcements, and unveilings that are expected at the event:

Kempower  unveiling a new National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI)-compliant DC charging solution as well as their modular and scalable Kempower Satellite charging system.

 unveiling a new National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI)-compliant DC charging solution as well as their modular and scalable Kempower Satellite charging system. Ways2H, Inc. - announcing an agreement for a first commercial waste-to-hydrogen plant using proprietary process.

announcing an agreement for a first commercial waste-to-hydrogen plant using proprietary process. Electric Cab North America  announcing the deployment of 1,000 eCabs along the Texas SH130 Corridor in partnership with the Autonomy Institute.

 announcing the deployment of 1,000 eCabs along the Texas SH130 Corridor in partnership with the Autonomy Institute. Fermata Energy - announcing a new partnership with a leading charger manufacturer to scale V2G for fleets utilizing zero-emission buses and heavy- and medium-duty electric vehicles.

- announcing a new partnership with a leading charger manufacturer to scale V2G for fleets utilizing zero-emission buses and heavy- and medium-duty electric vehicles. Adiona Tech - releasing new research on Americas electrification priorities and the urgent need to electrify commercial fleets and trucks sooner than passenger vehicles in order to eliminate more road emissions.

- releasing new research on Americas electrification priorities and the urgent need to electrify commercial fleets and trucks sooner than passenger vehicles in order to eliminate more road emissions. Adopt a Charger  announcing a series of grants they have received to help boost their company.

 announcing a series of grants they have received to help boost their company. XCharge - showcasing its core EV charging solutions, particularly the Net Zero Series, a 233kwH battery with integrated high powered DC Fast charger capable of 194kW output and bidirectional ability to provide power to the grid in times of need.

- showcasing its core EV charging solutions, particularly the Net Zero Series, a 233kwH battery with integrated high powered DC Fast charger capable of 194kW output and bidirectional ability to provide power to the grid in times of need. Edrv.io - releasing a seamless Plug and Charge experience for residential and multi-family buildings in the US.

To learn more about the event, buy a ticket, see the agenda, or to inquire about speaking at or sponsoring the event, visit: https://www.terrapinn.com/exhibition/move-america/

PR Contact Person:

Grace Dawes - MOVE America

grace.dawes@terrapinn.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f770f04e-5cf2-4fba-ad5f-c595e70d0d8c
Hong Kong Island, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong -

In a bid to address concerns about the safety, sustainability and future viability of the personalised fitness industry, Palace Studios, a personalised fitness company in Central, Hong Kong, has come up with innovative technology and design solutions. These solutions promote the development of a community of personal trainers and customers who desire a better fitness experience in Hong Kong. Palace Studios now offers advanced fitness studio facilities for rental by the hour to personal trainers and their clients. For more information visit: https://palace-studios.com/our-story

The company also has an app, which is the sole channel, to secure bookings. It can be downloaded from Google Play or the App Store. Using this app, personal trainers can look for available spaces to book and rent by the hour. A spokesperson for Palace Studios said: We make it easy for personal trainers and other wellness professionals who require facilities for their fitness training sessions with clients. Our system provides trainers the flexibility to train their clients on a one-on-one or two-on-one basis.

Each of Palace Studios Hong Kong facilities has a sleek and minimal design that includes bright and well-ventilated interiors that are perfect for strength and weight training exercises. With a streamlined booking system and convenient locations, the personal trainers can focus on what is essential, which is nurturing their relationship with their clients.

As previously announced, the studios are fitted with an air circulation system fitted with HEPA and carbon filters that prevent the entry of air pollutants as small as 0.1 micron in diameter, including viruses. This ensures the safety of the indoor air. The air purifiers can also detect the presence of formaldehyde in the air and, if detected, it breaks down this harmful compound into harmless chemicals. Palace Studios also assures trainers and their clients that the paint products used are sustainable and dont contain heavy metals and harmful chemicals like formaldehyde, MI, APEO, CIT, NFEO and lead.

Palace Studios was founded with the mission of developing creative ways of making modern wellness and fitness spaces and equipment more accessible to personal trainers and their clients. They have been developing partnerships with landlords who dont want their properties to be idle or underused and have them converted into world-class fitness training studios that are fitted with the latest fitness equipment.

The Palace Studios spokesperson explains: Through technology, we aim to redefine the way fitness and wellness spaces operate. We make personalised sessions in Hong Kong simple, flexible and sustainable for personal trainers and clients alike. We collaborate with landlords to transform underutilised spaces, turning them into fully equipped, best-in-class studios with premium, state-of-the-art equipment and a modern set-up. If you need more details, reach out to us at any time.

People who would like to know more about the advanced fitness studios available for rental by the hour, or landlords who want their properties to generate more income, can check out the Palace Studios website at https://palace-studios.com/ or contact them via telephone or email.

###

For more information about Palace Studios, contact the company here:



Palace Studios

Information

+852 9878 5785

hello@palace-studios.com

46 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, Hong Kong
Golar LNG Limited (the Company) advises that the 2023 Annual General Meeting of the Company was held on August 8, 2023 at 10:00 ADT at 2nd Floor, The S.E. Pearman Building, 9 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda. The audited consolidated financial statements for the Company for the year ended December 31, 2022 were presented at the Meeting.

The following resolutions were passed:

To set the maximum number of Directors to be not more than Seven. To resolve that vacancies in the number of Directors be designated as casual vacancies and that the Board of Directors be authorized to fill such vacancies as and when it deems fit. To re-elect Tor Olav Trim as a Director of the Company. To re-elect Daniel Rabun as a Director of the Company. To re-elect Thorleif Egeli as a Director of the Company. To re-elect Carl Steen as a Director of the Company. To re-elect Niels G. Stolt-Nielsen as a Director of the Company. To re-elect Lori Wheeler Naess as a Director of the Company. To re-elect Georgina Sousa as a Director of the Company. To re-appoint Ernst & Young LLP of London, England as auditors and to authorise the Directors to determine their remuneration. To approve remuneration of the Companys Board of Directors of a total amount of fees not to exceed US$2,050,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Hamilton, Bermuda

August 8, 2023

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act


MONTREAL, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stingray (TSX: RAY.A; RAY.B), a leading music, media, and technology company, today announced its decision to immediately suspend all advertising of its products on Facebook and Instagram in Canada. This decision comes in response to Meta's recent actions regarding Canadian journalistic content on its platforms, in light of the Online News Act (Bill C-18) and in support of Canadian news media publishers.

Eric Boyko, CEO and Co-founder of Stingray, commented, "We believe in the importance of a diverse and vibrant media landscape that supports a healthy democracy. We cannot tolerate Meta's recent decision to block news from Canadian news media publishers and their potential implications for Canadian news content. As a result, we have decided to pause our advertising on Facebook and Instagram."

Stingray also calls on businesses, governments, and institutions to express their disagreement with Meta's affront to public policy and the news media through their advertising placement choices.



Stingray will continue to monitor the situation closely and will reassess its position as necessary in response to the evolving landscape.



About Stingray

Stingray (TSX: RAY.A; RAY.B), a global music, media, and technology company, is an industry leader in TV broadcasting, streaming, radio, business services, and advertising. Stingray provides an array of music, digital, and advertising services to enterprise brands worldwide, including audio and video channels, over 100 radio stations, subscription video-on-demand content, FAST channels, karaoke products and music apps, and in-car and on-board infotainment content. Stingray Business, a division of Stingray, provides commercial solutions in music, in-store advertising solutions, digital signage, and AI-driven consumer insights and feedback. Stingray Advertising is North America's largest retail audio advertising network, delivering digital audio messaging to more than 20,000 major retail locations. Stingray has close to 1000 employees worldwide and reaches 540 million consumers in 160 countries. For more information, visit www.stingray.com.


Portland, Oregon, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Black Rock Coffee Bar, founded in Oregon and known for its premium roasted coffees, teas, smoothies and flavorful Fuel Energy drinks, is expanding its footprint in Texas with the opening of a new store in the Austin metro area of Cedar Park, Texas.

Set to open its doors on Friday, August 11, 2023, this exciting addition brings the total number of Black Rock stores to 25 in the Lonestar state, with four locations and growing within the vibrant Austin area.

Located at 1909 East Whitestone Boulevard in Cedar Park, the new Black Rock store will celebrate its grand opening by offering all customers free 16oz drinks all day at this location as well as other specials throughout the following week.

There is no place like Austin. We are very drawn to the people, values and energy of the Austin community and are thrilled to be opening another location to serve them, said Jeff Hernandez, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Black Rock Coffee Bar. Cedar Park is a perfect area for us to open a new Black Rock Coffee Bar. Its an up-and-coming active community, and our baristas cant wait to connect with our customers on Friday.

The new 2000-square-foot Black Rock Coffee Bar store incorporates Black Rocks signature industrial modern design and features a large Texas-themed mural that is designed to connect to the region.

Black Rock Coffee Bar, which is celebrating its 15-year anniversary with more than 115 stores in the U.S., is guided by three principles - coffee, community and connection. Its mission is to be a positive force in the communities it serves.

Founded in 2008 in Portland, Oregon, an area of the Pacific Northwest known for its coffee excellence, Black Rock Coffee Bar continues its rapid expansion in the West and into the Sunbelt with locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Texas and Washington. The boutique coffee chain recently was named the Fastest Growing Private Company in Oregon and SW Washington in 2021 by the Portland Business Journal. Last year, Black Rock Coffee Bar ranked 837th among Americas Fastest-Growing Private Companies by Inc. Magazines 5000 Annual List.

The Black Rock culture prides itself on providing opportunities for young people to learn how to lead, run a business, and develop people skills.

About Black Rock Coffee Bar

Black Rock Coffee Bar is a national boutique coffee shop that is known for its premium roasted coffees, teas, smoothies and flavorful Fuel energy drinks. Founded as a family owned and operated business in Oregon in 2008, Black Rock Coffee Bar has grown to more than 115 retail locations in seven states. The Black Rock culture prides itself on not only being a positive force for the communities it serves, but also the team members that fuel their locations day in and day out. An important aspect of their team mission is to recognize those that go above and beyond by displaying the 4Gs of Black Rock - grit, growth, gratitude, and grace.

For more information, visit https://br.coffee/

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Vancouver, August 8, 2023 - Cabral Gold Inc. (TSXV: CBR) (OTC PINK: CBGZF) ("Cabral" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Jon Gilligan, Ian Gendall and Larry Lepard to its Board of Directors, effective immediately.

Alan Carter, Cabral's President and CEO commented, "I am very pleased to welcome Jon, Ian and Larry to the Board of Directors. Our ongoing Prefeasibility Study on the near surface gold-in-oxide material at the Cuiu Cuiu district, and the recent transaction with Osisko Gold Royalties, means that additional skills and expertise will be required at the Board level. The fact that experienced and successful industry participants in the form of Jon, Ian and Larry have agreed to join our Board is another significant endorsement of the Cuiu Cuiu gold district."

Jon Gilligan has 35 years experience and a PhD in Geology (gold). He is currently the COO of Liberty Gold and previously held senior positions with Torex Gold, SSR Mining Inc., and BHP. Jon has extensive experience in advancing and building mines around the world including the Marigold open-pit heap leach operation, Nevada, USA; Chinchillas open pit mine, Argentina; Olympic Dam Expansion Project, South Australia and the Escondida and Escondida Norte mines in Chile. He was previously Manager Mine Operations at the giant Escondida copper mine in Chile. Jon has a proven track record of building high-performance exploration, development and operational mining teams in challenging environments.

Ian Gendall is the President & CEO of DLP Resources and was previously with Gencor, Billiton, Anglo American, Antofagasta and more recently OceanaGold. Whilst working with Billiton, Ian led the team that was responsible for the discovery of an entirely new porphyry copper district in southern Ecuador. One of the companies that acquired part of the district was subsequently sold to CRCC-Tongguan Investment Co., Ltd. for $679M. He has extensive knowledge of operating in Brazil and in particular the Tapajos region and was previously COO of Magellan Minerals.

Larry Lepard is Managing Partner at Equity Management Associates, an investment fund focused on the precious metals sector and which has over US$60M under management. Larry previously spent 25 years as a professional investor and venture capitalist with Geocapital and Summit Partners, and has an MBA with Academic Distinction from Harvard Business School and a BA in Economics from Colgate University.

The appointments of Jon, Ian and Larry to the Board brings the total number of Board members to six. They join the existing Board members of Mark Smith, Alan Carter and Sami Arap.

About Cabral Gold Inc.

The Company is a junior resource company engaged in the identification, exploration and development of mineral properties, with a primary focus on gold properties located in Brazil. The Company has a 100% interest in the Cuiu Cuiu gold district located in the Tapajos Region, within the state of Para in northern Brazil. Two main gold deposits have so far been defined at the Cuiu Cuiu project which contains National Instrument 43-101 compliant Indicated resources of 21.6Mt @ 0.87 g/t gold (604,000 oz) and Inferred resources of 19.8Mt @ 0.84 g/t gold (534,500 oz) as per the 43-101 technical report dated October 12, 2022.

The Tapajos Gold Province is the site of the largest gold rush in Brazil's history which according to the ANM (Agencia Nacional de Mineracao or National Mining Agency of Brazil) produced an estimated 30 to 50 million ounces of placer gold between 1978 and 1995. Cuiu Cuiu was the largest area of placer workings in the Tapajos and produced an estimated 2Moz of placer gold historically.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

"Alan Carter"

President and Chief Executive Officer

Cabral Gold Inc.

Tel: 604.676.5660

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Guillermo Hughes, MAusIMM and FAIG., a consultant to the Company as well as a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release.

Forward-looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively "forward-looking statements"). The use of the words "will", "expected" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon. The Company believes the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/176463
Diamond drill hole ST23-03 has discovered a new near-surface zone of mineralization and a deeper sediment hosted copper system in an underexplored area of the Storm Project

ST23-03 intersected two zones of visual copper sulfide mineralization:

76m of visual heavily mineralized breccia to massive copper sulfide (chalcocite, bornite and chalcopyrite) between 32m and 108m downhole

2m of visual breccia and dense vein style copper sulfide (chalcocite, bornite and chalcopyrite) between 273m and 275m downhole

The new zone of near-surface copper has been named 'Thunder'

The deeper intersection is interpreted to correlate with the prospective sediment hosted copper horizon intersected earlier this season, and is the first recorded occurrence south of the Southern Graben Fault

The drill hole was targeting both a near-surface Moving Loop Electromagnetic (MLEM) plate and a deeper gravity anomaly close to the Southern Graben Fault

The drilling results confirm that these geophysical techniques are reliable targeting tools for copper sulfides at Storm

Diamond drilling continues on high-priority copper targets

TORONTO, August 8, 2023 - Aston Bay Holdings Ltd. (TSXV:BAY)(OTCQB:ATBHF) ("Aston Bay" or the "Company") reports two new significant copper sulfide mineralization intercepts from a diamond drill hole testing blind geophysical targets at the Storm Copper Project ("Storm" or the "Project") on Somerset Island, Nunavut, Canada. The program, still underway, is being conducted by American West Metals Limited ("American West"), who are the project operator since entering an option agreement with Aston Bay in March 2021.

Figure 1: Massive chalcocite (dark grey) and chalcopyrite (brassy) in drill hole ST23-03 from approximately 58m downhole.

"This discovery of a new, very thick, strongly mineralized intersection in the near-surface coupled with the intersection of a chalcocite-mineralized sediment hosted copper horizon at depth once again highlights the immense potential for new discoveries at Storm" stated Thomas Ullrich, CEO of Aston Bay.

"This booming intersection of massive copper sulfides and copper sulfide-filled breccias in the near-surface has been aptly named 'Thunder.' With clear similarities to the high-grade mineralization of the 2750N Zone located over 1km to the east, this zone points to the potential for additional high-grade near-surface resources to add to the delineation program currently underway.

"The deeper interval is the first intercept of chalcocite, bornite and chalcopyrite mineralization south of the Southern Graben Fault. This shows that metal-rich fluids are migrating along permeable horizons and precipitating high-copper content minerals on a large scale. This is just as the sediment hosted copper deposit model predicts and provides further evidence for the widespread nature of this much sought-after style of mineralization at Storm.

"As well, the ability of gravity geophysics to find hidden mineralization, suggested by the previous targeting success in discovery of a sediment hosted horizon at a similar depth to the north of the graben underlying and west of the 4100N Zone earlier this program, is now firmly established. We have sediment hosted copper mineralization at Storm, and we have a way to find it. Additional ground surveys along 10km of strike are being planned as a priority for next spring.

Figure 2: Plan view of the Storm area showing the gravity data interpretation, known copper deposit footprints (yellow), major faults, and diamond drill hole locations as discussed in this release.

DIAMOND DRILLING HITS TWO NEW STRONG COPPER ZONES

Diamond drill hole ST23-03 has been completed in a largely untested area at the Storm Project and has intersected two main zones of visual copper sulfide mineralization. The drill hole is the third hole to be completed in the current drill program and was designed to test a high-priority, near-surface MLEM conductor, as well as a gravity anomaly proximal to the Southern Graben Fault at depth.

Both targets were successfully tested resulting in the discovery of two new zones of visual sulfide copper mineralization: a 76m intersection in the near surface corresponding to the MLEM conductor, and a deeper 2m intercept within the gravity anomaly. The drill hole highlights the outstanding exploration and expansion potential of both the near-surface, potentially open-pit accessible mineralization, and the deeper, large-scale sedimentary copper system.

The exceptional and thick upper copper sulfide mineralization within ST23-03 is more intense than the similar-looking, high-grade 2750N Zone mineralization (intersections include 41m @ 4.18% Cu within ST22-05), which is located over 1km to the east (Figures 2 & 3). The entire 76m interval in ST23-03 is heavily mineralized and includes a 22m thick zone of banded semi-massive to massive sulfides (Figures 1 & 4). The massive sulfides are interpreted to be the source of the MLEM anomaly. This geophysical method detects electrical conductance in high-sulfide content rock (typically >6% sulfide), which is typically contained within larger volumes of lower-sulfide, but still strongly mineralized, rock. Elsewhere at Storm, copper-rich massive sulfide bodies associated with MLEM anomalies are contained within larger bodies of breccia-fill and fracture-associated mineralization that contain greater than one percent copper.

The lower interval is interpreted to be the same distinctive sediment-hosted mineralized horizon as encountered within diamond drill holes ST22-10, ST23-01 and ST23-02 (Figures 2 & 3). Despite being relatively narrow (~2m), the presence of strong chalcocite, the mineral common in the core of these sediment hosted systems, is highly encouraging. Significantly, ST23-03 is the first deep drill hole to be drilled to the south of the Southern Graben Fault and is located over 1.7km from the other deeper drill holes (Figures 2 & 3). This discovery confirms the prospectivity of the area to the south of the main graben where multiple large gravity anomalies remain untested by drilling (Figure 3). Further diamond drilling is planned to test these features.

Figure 3: Total Bouguer gravity image of the Storm area, fault architecture and drill hole locations

Hole ID Prospect Easting Northing Depth (m) Azimuth Inclination ST23-01 4100N 464805 8174335 416 180 -75 ST23-02 EXPL. 464255 8174741 602 180 -70 ST23-03 EXPL. 465267 8172805 396 320 -65

Table 1: 2023 program drill hole details and copper mineralization summary.

Visual estimates of mineral abundance should never be considered a proxy or substitute for laboratory analyses where concentrations or grades are the factor of principal economic interest. Laboratory assays are required to determine the presence and grade of any contained mineralization within the reported visual intersections of copper sulfides. Portable XRF is used as an aid in the determination of mineral type and abundance during the geological logging process.

DRILL HOLE ST23-03 DETAILS

ST23-03 was drilled to a downhole depth of 396m and intersected two main zones of visual copper mineralization. The drill hole was designed to test a near-surface MLEM conductor approximately 1km to the west of the high-grade copper 2750N Zone, and the edge of a moderately dense gravity anomaly close to the Southern Graben Fault (Figure 3). Corresponding upper and lower zones of copper sulfide mineralization were intercepted.

The upper zone of copper mineralization encountered within ST23-03 is a 76m thick interval of strong breccia and vein-style copper sulfides, with broad zones of semi-massive to massive sulfide from 32m downhole. The massive sulfides are dominantly chalcocite, with bornite and chalcopyrite (Figures 1 & 4), and represent a significant new discovery of near-surface copper mineralization.

The thickness and intensity of the mineralization of the new zone (now named 'Thunder'), and high-grade 2750N and 2200N Zones along strike to the east, suggest that this high-grade mineralization and structural setting may be directly related to their proximity to the Southern Graben Fault. These faults are interpreted to be the primary source of plumbing for both the near-surface, and deeper copper mineralization.

Figure 4: Massive chalcocite (dark grey) in drill hole ST23-03 from approximately 57.4m downhole.

The lower zone of mineralization was intersected at 273m downhole and is interpreted to correlate with the sediment hosted copper mineralization intersected in drill holes ST22-10, ST23-01 and ST23-02. The 2m mineralized interval consists of broad fractures and dense anastomosing veins of chalcocite, bornite and chalcopyrite (Figure 5).

The copper sulfides are hosted within a sequence of organic rich and vuggy dolomudstones that are visually very similar to ST22-10, ST23-01 and ST23-02.

Figure 5: Breccia chalcocite (dark grey), bornite (purple/grey) and chalcopyrite (brassy) in drill hole ST23-03 from approximately 272.9m downhole.

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Min Description ST23-03 0 25 Cape Storm Formation 25 32 Allen Bay Formation 32 41 br, cp, cc Intermittent breccia and veinlets (1.5%) 41 53 cc, br, ct Breccia and veinlets (2.5%) 53 59 cc, cp, br Breccia with semi-mass/massive (10%) 59 63 cc, br, cp Intense breccia sulfides (2.5%) 63 80 br, cc, ct Crackle breccia and veinlets (1%) 80 90 cp, ml Fine crackle breccia and veinlets (0.5%) 90 94 py, Cu Vug sulfide infill and minor Cu (0.8%) 94 95 cp Cp selvage in calcite veining (1%) 95 102 py, br, cp Fracture infill and veinlets (0.5%) 102 108 cp, cc, br Veinlets and breccia (1%) 108 273 Massive floatstone and minor dolomustone 273 275 cc, cp, br Dense veining and broad fractures (2.5%) 275 347 Floatstone with minor dolomudstone 347 347.5 cc Veinlets and fracture fill (0.5%) 347.5 396 Floatsone and minor dolomudstone

Table 2: Summary geological log for drill hole ST23-03. Mineralization key: cc = chalcocite, cp = chalcopyrite, br = bornite, py = pyrite, Cu = native copper, ct = cuprite, ml = malachite, sph = sphalerite, ga = galena. (5%) = visual estimation of sulfide content.

Figure 6: NW - SE geological section through drill hole ST23-03.

The diamond drilling is continuing to test key geophysical and geological copper targets in the Storm area.

The Reserve Circulation (RC) drilling is continuing in the Storm area with the results from the 2750N and 2200N Zones expected shortly. Drilling will also focus on expansion of the 4100N Zone and testing new, near-surface copper targets.

The ore sorting, beneficiation and process optimisation continues on a range of mineralization types.

An environmental baseline survey will begin in mid-August 2023.

About the Storm Copper and Seal Zinc-Silver Projects, Nunavut

The Nunavut property consists of 173 contiguous mining claims covering an area of approximately 219,257 hectares on Somerset Island, Nunavut, Canada. The Storm Project comprises both the Storm Copper Project, a high-grade sediment-hosted copper discovery (intersections including 110m* @ 2.45% Cu from surface and 56.3m* @ 3.07% Cu from 12.2m) as well as the Seal Zinc Deposit (intersections including 14.4m* @ 10.58% Zn, 28.7g/t Ag from 51.8m and 22.3m* @ 23% Zn, 5.1g/t Ag from 101.5m). Additionally, there are numerous underexplored and undrilled targets within the 120-kilometre strike length of the mineralized trend, including the Tornado copper prospect where 10 grab samples yielded >1% Cu up to 32% Cu in gossans.

Storm Discovery and Historical Work

High-grade copper mineralization was discovered at Storm in the mid-1990s by Cominco geologists conducting regional zinc exploration around their then-producing Polaris lead-zinc mine. A massive chalcocite boulder found in a tributary of the Aston River in 1996 was traced to impressive surface exposures of broken chalcocite mineralization for hundreds of metres of surface strike length at what became named the 2750N, 2200N, and 3500N Zones. Subsequent seasons of prospecting, geophysics and over 9,000 m of drilling into the early 2000s confirmed a significant amount of copper mineralization below the surface exposures as well as making the blind discovery of the 4100N Zone, a large area of copper mineralization with no surface exposure.

Following the merger of Cominco with Teck in 2001 and the closure of the Polaris Mine, the Storm claims were allowed to lapse in 2007. Commander Resources staked the property in 2008 and flew a helicopter-borne VTEM survey in 2011 but conducted no additional drilling. Aston Bay subsequently entered into an earn-in agreement with Commander and consolidated 100% ownership in 2015. Commander retains a 0.875% Gross Overriding Royalty in the area of the original Storm claims.

In 2016 Aston Bay entered into an earn-in agreement with BHP, who conducted a 2,000-station soil sampling program and drilled 1,951m of core in 12 diamond drill holes, yielding up to 16m* @ 3.1% Cu. BHP exited the agreement in 2017. Aston Bay conducted a property-wide airborne gravity gradiometry survey in 2017 and drilled 2,913m in nine core holes in the Storm area in 2018 yielding a best intercept of 1.5m* @ 4.39% Cu and 20.5m* @ 0.56% Cu.

Agreement with American West Metals

An earn-in agreement for the Storm and Seal properties was signed with American West Metals in March 2021. Under the terms of the agreement, an expenditure of C$10m will earn 80% ownership of the property for American West. Aston Bay is carried for all expenditures to the completion of a feasibility study and production decision. If Aston Bay chooses not to participate and is diluted below 10% ownership, the ownership converts to a 2% Net Smelter Royalty, half of which is purchasable by American West for C$5m at first production. Aston Bay received a cash payment of C$500,000 on signing.

Recent Work

American West completed a fixed loop electromagnetic (FLEM) ground geophysical survey in 2021 that yielded several new subsurface conductive anomalies. A total of 1,534m were drilled in 10 diamond drill holes in the 2022 season, yielding several impressive near-surface intercepts including 41m* @ 4.1% Cu as well as 68m of sulfide mineralization associated with a deeper conductive anomaly.

In April 2022 results of beneficiation studies demonstrated that a mineralized intercept grading 4% Cu from the 4100N area could be upgraded to a 54% Cu direct ship product using standard sorting technology. Further beneficiation studies are ongoing.

In April 2023 American West embarked on a spring delineation drilling program using a helicopter-portable reverse circulation (RC) drill rig as well as gravity and moving loop electromagnetic (MLEM) ground geophysical programs. Results from the programs are in process and are released as they come available.

A summer 2023 program plans further delineation drilling of the near-surface high-grade copper zones to advance them toward maiden resource reports by late 2023. Diamond drilling is planned to test new high-priority gravity targets and environmental baseline studies will be initiated.

*Stated drill hole intersections are all core length, and true width is expected to be 60% to 95% of core length.

Figure 7: Storm Copper Project, Location Map.

Qualified Person

Michael Dufresne, M.Sc., P.Geol., P.Geo., is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release.

About Aston Bay Holdings

Aston Bay is a publicly traded mineral exploration company exploring for high-grade copper and gold deposits in Virginia, USA, and Nunavut, Canada. The Company is led by CEO Thomas Ullrich with exploration in Virginia directed by the Company's advisor, Don Taylor, the 2018 Thayer Lindsley Award winner for his discovery of the Taylor Pb-Zn-Ag Deposit in Arizona. The Company is currently exploring the high-grade Buckingham Gold Vein in central Virginia and is in advanced stages of negotiation on other lands with high-grade copper potential in the area.

The Company is 100% owner of the Storm Project property, which hosts the Storm Copper Project and the Seal Zinc Deposit and has been optioned to American West Metals Limited.

About American West Metals Limited

AMERICAN WEST METALS LIMITED (ASX: AW1) is an Australian clean energy mining company focused on growth through the discovery and development of major base metal mineral deposits in Tier 1 jurisdictions of North America. Our strategy is focused on developing mines that have a low-footprint and support the global energy transformation. Our portfolio of copper and zinc projects in Utah and Canada include significant existing resource inventories and high-grade mineralization that can generate robust mining proposals. Core to our approach is our commitment to the ethical extraction and processing of minerals and making a meaningful contribution to the communities where our projects are located.

Led by a highly experienced leadership team, our strategic initiatives lay the foundation for a sustainable business which aims to deliver high-multiplier returns on shareholder investment and economic benefits to all stakeholders.

For further information on American West, visit: www.americanwestmetals.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements made in this news release, including those regarding the Option Agreement, grant of the Option and the expected closing date, American West's interest in the Storm Project and its other acquisitions and plans, plans for the upcoming field season, management objectives, forecasts, estimates, expectations, or predictions of the future may constitute "forward-looking statement", which can be identified by the use of conditional or future tenses or by the use of such verbs as "believe", "expect", "may", "will", "should", "estimate", "anticipate", "project", "plan", and words of similar import, including variations thereof and negative forms. This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect, as of the date of this press release, Aston Bay's expectations, estimates and projections about its operations, the mining industry and the economic environment in which it operates. Statements in this press release that are not supported by historical fact are forward-looking statements, meaning they involve risk, uncertainty and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although Aston Bay believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which apply only at the time of writing of this press release. Aston Bay disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by securities legislation.

For more information contact:

Thomas Ullrich, Chief Executive Officer

thomas.ullrich@astonbayholdings.com

(416) 456-3516

Sofia Harquail, IR and Corporate Development

sofia.harquail@astonbayholdings.com

(647) 821-1337

SOURCE: Aston Bay Holdings Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/772769/Aston-Bay-and-American-West-Metals-Announce-Two-More-Exceptional-Discoveries-at-the-Storm-Copper-Project-Canada
COEUR D'ALENE, ID / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Idaho Strategic Resources Inc. (NYSE American:IDR) ("IDR", "Idaho Strategic" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Carolyn Turner, CPA, MBA has joined the Company as an independent board member.

Mrs. Turner is currently the owner and principal of Graham Peak Consulting, LLC in Kingston, ID where she specializes in accounting and finance consulting in the mining and heavy construction industries. Prior to her time at Graham Peak Consulting, Mrs. Turner spent over 30 years in the mining industry with companies such as Silver Valley Resources (ASARCO), Coeur Mining, and Hecla Mining Corp. Mrs. Turner's experience includes mine operations, metals marketing, project development and financing. She previously served as the Treasurer for both Hecla Mining and Coeur Mining where her roles were centered around quarterly and annual budgeting, rolling monthly forecasting, economic modeling, mergers and acquisitions, as well as numerous treasury and audit functions.

Mrs. Turner's educational background consists of a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration Accounting from Montana State University - Billings, followed by a Master of Business Administration from Regis University, Denver. Mrs. Turner is a licensed CPA and has served numerous years as an elected trustee on the Kellogg Idaho Joint School District Board.

Idaho Strategic's President and CEO, John Swallow stated, "We are excited to have Carolyn join the team. She came highly recommended from a number of our employees and current directors. While her industry knowledge and career experience largely speaks for itself, Carolyn will also be a great fit with IDR culturally. She grew up in a small, rural community in Montana and has chosen to stay in the area where we operate and appreciates the challenges and nuances that naturally come along with operating a small and growing business in this industry - and within smaller communities such as ours. Our team will lean on her experience and utilize her expertise to help IDR take the next step as we continue to execute on our business plan."

Carolyn Turner added, "I have always appreciated Idaho Strategic's business model as a great fit for our local economy and an example of integrity for the mining industry in general. It is an exciting time and true honor to join the team as they further develop and expand the Golden Chest mine and facilities, as well as look toward the future of clean energy with domestic sourced critical minerals."

With the addition of Mrs. Turner, the Company's Board of Directors now consists of five total directors made up of three independent directors and two non-independent directors. Mrs. Turner will serve on the Company's Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.

About Idaho Strategic Resources Inc.

Domiciled in Idaho and headquartered in the Panhandle of northern Idaho, Idaho Strategic Resources (IDR) is one of the few resource-based companies (public or private) possessing the combination of officially recognized U.S. domestic rare earth elements properties (in Idaho), the largest known concentration of thorium resources in the U.S., and Idaho-based gold production located in an established mining community.

Idaho Strategic Resources produces gold at the Golden Chest Mine located in the Murray Gold Belt (MGB) area of the world-class Coeur d'Alene Mining District, north of the prolific Silver Valley. With over 7,300 acres of patented and unpatented land, the Company has the largest private land position in the area following its consolidation of the Murray Gold Belt for the first time in over 100-years.

In addition to gold and gold production, the Company maintains an important strategic presence in the U.S. Critical Minerals sector, specifically focused on the more "at-risk" Rare Earth Elements (REEs) with an overall land position of approximately 18,030 acres in Idaho's REE-Th Belt. The Company's Lemhi Pass, Diamond Creek, and Mineral Hill REE properties are included the U.S. national REE inventory as listed in USGS, IGS and DOE publications. IDR's Lemhi Pass REE-Thorium Project is also recognized by the USGS and IGS as containing the largest concentration of thorium resources in the country. All three projects are located in central Idaho and participating in the USGS Earth MRI program.

With an impressive mix of experience and dedication, the folks at IDR maintain a long-standing "We Live Here" approach to corporate culture, land management, and historic preservation. Furthermore, it is our belief that successful operations begin with the heightened responsibility that only local oversight and a community mindset can provide. Its "everyone goes home at night" policy would not be possible without the multi-generational base of local exploration, drilling, mining, milling, and business professionals that reside in and near the communities of the Silver Valley and North Idaho.

For more information on Idaho Strategic Resources click here for our corporate presentation, go to www.idahostrategic.com or call:

Travis Swallow, Investor Relations & Corporate Development

Email: tswallow@idahostrategic.com

Phone: (208) 625-9001

Forward Looking Statements

This release 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 that are intended to be covered by the safe harbor created by such sections. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by forward-looking words such as "intends, "potential", "believe", "plans", "expects", "may", "goal", "assume", "estimate", "anticipate", and "will" or similar words suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, assumptions, intentions, or statements about future events or performance. The forward-looking statement information above, and those following are applicable to both this press release, as well as the links contained within this press release. With respect to the business of Idaho Strategic Resources, these risks and uncertainties include risks relating to widespread epidemics or pandemic outbreaks, if they occur, including our ability to access goods and supplies, the ability to transport our products and impacts on employee productivity, the risks in connection with the operations, cash flow and results of the Company relating to the unknown duration and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; interpretations or reinterpretations of geologic information; the accuracy of historic estimates; unfavorable exploration results; inability to obtain permits required for future exploration, development or production; general economic conditions and conditions affecting the industries in which the Company operates; the uncertainty of regulatory requirements and approvals; fluctuating mineral and commodity prices; the ability to obtain necessary future financing on acceptable terms; the ability to operate the Company's projects; and risks associated with the mining industry such as economic factors (including future commodity prices, and energy prices), ground conditions, failure of plant, equipment, processes and transportation services to operate as anticipated, environmental risks, government regulation, actual results of current exploration and production activities, possible variations in ore grade or recovery rates, permitting timelines, capital and construction expenditures, reclamation activities. 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. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such information. Additional information regarding the factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from this forward?looking information is available in Idaho Strategic Resources filings with the SEC on EDGAR. IDR does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or other such factors which affect this information, except as required by law.

SOURCE: Idaho Strategic Resources Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/772792/Idaho-Strategic-Announces-the-Addition-of-Carolyn-Turner-to-the-Companys-Board-of-Directors
Vancouver - Aug 8th, 2023 - Juggernaut Exploration Ltd. (TSXV:JUGR.V) (OTC:JUGRF) (FSE:4JE) (the "Company" or "Juggernaut") is pleased to report the maiden drill program has commenced early on its 100% controlled Bingo property located within the Eskay Rift. The Bingo property is surrounded by a number of known and rapidly evolving deposits hosted within the same world class geologic units, including Surebet, Anyox, Dolly Varden, Porter Idaho, and Premier to name but just a few.

The Bingo Main Zone is a drill ready zone containing extensive gold mineralized grab, chip and channel samples along the axial plane of a fold hinge over an area of 550 meters x 175 meters in a region of recent glacial retreat and permanent snowpack abatement located within the Eskay Rift region of the Golden Triangle, British Columbia. High-grade gold from surface grab samples assayed up to 9.79 gpt Au. Channel samples assayed up to 1.77 gpt Au and 0.20 % Cu over 4.85 meters and 1.48 gpt Au and 0.37 % Cu over 3.2 meters, respectively. A second sister hinge zone has been identified approximately 1 km to the north (named the "Double Down" hinge zone) as strongly indicated by both lidar and geophysics that will be tested in 2023. The Bingo property has strong similarities to Goliath Resources' Surebet Project located further to the east, including same mineralogy, lithology, textures and structures.

The 2023 field program on the 100% controlled Bingo property consists of up to ~2000 m of drilling from 4 drill pads within the Bingo Main zone. Additional surface exploration work will also be undertaken to better understand the folded system at play on Bingo by mapping and prospecting of the "Double Down" hinge zone located 1 km to the north of the Bingo Main Zone and believed to be part of the same mineralizing system. Providing excellent additional exploration upside for further drilling.

Bingo Property Main Gold Hinge and Double Down Hinge Drill Targets.



Click Image To View Full Size

Highlights from the high-grade gold Bingo property:

The Bingo Main zone has been expanded from 320 meters by 175 meters to 550 meters by 175 m and remains open with high-grade gold samples locatedalong the axial plane of a fold hinge that assayed up to 9.79 gpt Au.

An additional hinge zone named the "Double Down" hinge zone with similar characteristics is located 1 km to the north.

Bingo is located in the Eskay Rift in an evolving gold district in a world-class geologic setting within the Golden Triangle of British Columbia, host to several multi-million-ounce gold deposits.

Bingo contains the same world-class geological units as Goliath Resource's Surebet discovery next door, including Hazelton Volcanics and related sediments and intrusives.

Gold mineralization in outcrop, stream sediment geochemistry, ground magnetic survey, soil sampling and other lines of evidence confirm strong gold-mineralization on the property.

Mineralization is characterized by pyrite, chalcopyrite, galena and pyrrhotite.

Gold-rich fluids intruded and altered the host rock indicating a shear zone.

The Bingo property is surrounded by a number of known deposits, including Anyox, Surebet, Dolly Varden, Porter Idaho, Premier, and more.

Infrastructure includes direct access to tide water in close proximity to roads and high-tension power.

The Bingo property has an area of 989 hectares and is located 45 km SSW of Stewart, BC and 28 km W of Kitsault, and only 12 km to tidewater landing and roads in the historic mining town of Anyox providing for cost effective exploration.

Dan Stuart, President and CEO of Juggernaut Exploration states "We are excited to have drills turning on Bingo, Midas and Empire simultaneously all with world class expression of high-grade mineralization in bedrock that was previously undetected until only now due to glacial recession and the abatement of permanent snow pack. The drill programs currently underway consists of ~6,500 meters commenced early this year due to exceptionally good weather across Northwestern B.C. With much anticipation, we look forward to executing the inaugural drill and exploration programs and reporting results."

Qualified Person

Rein Turna P. Geo is the qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, for Juggernaut Exploration projects, and supervised the preparation of, and has reviewed and approved, the technical information in this release.

Other

Grab, channels, chip and talus samples were collected by foot with helicopter assistance. Prospective areas included, but were not limited to, proximity to MINFile locations, placer creek occurrences, regional soil anomalies, and potential gossans based on high-resolution satellite imagery. The rock grab and chip samples were extracted using a rock hammer, or hammer and chisel to expose fresh surfaces and to liberate a sample of anywhere between 0.5 to 5.0 kilograms. All sample sites were flagged with biodegradable flagging tape and marked with the sample number. All sample sites were recorded using hand-held GPS units (accuracy 3-10 meters) and sample ID, easting, northing, elevation, type of sample (outcrop, subcrop, float, talus, chip, grab, etc.) and a description of the rock were recorded on all-weather paper. Samples were then inserted in a clean plastic bag with a sample tag for transport and shipping to the geochemistry lab. QA/QC samples including blanks, standards, and duplicate samples were inserted regularly into the sample sequence at a rate of 10%.

All samples, including rock grabs, channels, and talus samples, are transported in rice bags sealed with numbered security tags. A transport company takes them from the core shack to the ALS labs facilities in North Vancouver. ALS is either certified to ISO 9001:2008 or accredited to ISO 17025:2005 in all of its locations. At ALS samples were processed, dried, crushed, and pulverized before analysis using the ME-MS61 and Au-SCR21 methods. For the ME-MS61 method, a prepared sample is digested with perchloric, nitric, hydrofluoric and hydrochloric acids. The residue is topped up with dilute hydrochloric acid and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Overlimits were re-analyzed using the ME-OG62 and Ag-GRA21 methods (gravimetric finish). For Au-SCR21 a large volume of sample is needed (typically 1-3kg). The sample is crushed and screened (usually to -106 micron) to separate coarse gold particles from fine material. After screening, two aliquots of the fine fraction are analysed using the traditional fire assay method. The fine fraction is expected to be reasonably homogenous and well represented by the duplicate analyses. The entire coarse fraction is assayed to determine the contribution of the coarse gold.

Some of the reported data is historical in nature and is a compilation of third-party data from previous operators. The reader is cautioned that grab samples are spot samples which are typically, but not exclusively, constrained to mineralization. Grab samples are selective in nature and collected to determine the presence or absence of mineralization and are not intended to be representative of the material sampled. In addition, the reader is cautioned that proximity to known mineralization does not guarantee similar mineralization will exist on the properties.

For more information, please contact:

Juggernaut Exploration Ltd.

Dan Stuart

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Tel: (604)-559-8028

www.juggernautexploration.com

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENT

Certain disclosure in this release may constitute forward-looking statements that are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties relating to Juggernaut's operations that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements, including its ability to complete the contemplated private placement. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements.

NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. PERSONS OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES. THIS PRESS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR AN INVITATION TO PURCHASE ANY SECURITIES DESCRIBED IN IT.

Copyright (c) 2023 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
VANCOUVER, Aug. 08, 2023 - Trailbreaker Resources Ltd. (TBK.V) ("Trailbreaker" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that it has consolidated the Castle Rock property on northern Vancouver Island, British Columbia (BC).



The property was initially acquired through claim staking, then expanded through a partnership with Cazador Resources Ltd. ("Cazador") in January, 2023 (see January 20, 2023 news release). Trailbreaker has now signed an agreement with Cazador which provides Trailbreaker with the option to own 100% of the 3,108-hectre (ha) Castle Rock property.

Highlights of the Castle Rock property

Covers 3,108 hectares of land on northern Vancouver Island, approximately 70 km northwest of Campbell River, BC (Figure 1)

Claims cover 5 Minfile occurrences on a district-scale structure that is >5 km-long, and newly identified gold  copper-enriched intrusions

Relatively new discovery, in an area that hosts copper-gold (Cu-Au) porphyry and skarn deposits

Northern Vancouver Island is host to several large Cu-Au porphyry deposits including Northisle's Hushamu deposit (Inferred Resource of 5.57 Moz AuEq) 1 , and BHP Billiton's past producing Island Copper porphyry copper deposit (produced >2.7 B lb Cu and >1.0 Moz Au) 1

, and BHP Billiton's past producing Island Copper porphyry copper deposit (produced >2.7 B lb Cu and >1.0 Moz Au) Newly accessible via recent logging activity

Historic chip sample returned assays of 2.0 g/t Au over 30 metres 2 at the Heart zone, which is a brecciated zone containing 5 to 10% pyrite-chalcopyrite

at the Heart zone, which is a brecciated zone containing 5 to 10% pyrite-chalcopyrite Historic sampling returned assays up to 135 g/t Au from boulders, 1.5 km west of the Heart zone 3

Gold is hosted in Jurassic granodiorite dykes which have been emplaced along a regional-scale fault zone separating Lower to Middle Triassic Daonella Bed sedimentary rocks from Upper Triassic Karmutsen Formation basalts

In September, 2022, Trailbreaker completed a 3-day first-pass evaluation program on the Castle Rock claims. The program successfully confirmed historic gold grades, with 2022 channel sample returning values up to 0.68 g/t Au over 13.11 m, including a subinterval of 1.85 g/t Au over 2.92 m. A soil geochemical survey outlined a 50 m x 400 m, northwest-southeast trending gold-in-soil anomaly interpreted to represent the surface footprint of the gold-bearing dyke exposed at the Heart zone. Soil values up to 5.44 g/t Au were returned, and the anomaly remains open.





Figure 1: Map of mineral claims colour-coded by pre-option agreement ownership. The soil anomaly associated with the Heart zone occurs on Trailbreaker claims and is open toward the southeast and northwest.

Option agreement with Cazador Resources

In January, 2023, Trailbreaker signed a partnership agreement with Cazador whereby each party owns 50% of the property.

Effective as of July 27th, 2023, Trailbreaker has signed an option agreement with Cazador which provides Trailbreaker the option to acquire the remaining 50% of the Castle Rock property (for 100% ownership) by completing the following:

Upon receipt of TSX-V approval for the option agreement, issuance to Cazador of 200,000 common shares;

A total of CAD$60,000 of expenditures on the Castle Rock property by the second anniversary of the effective date;

On the second anniversary of the effective date and annually to the fifth anniversary date, payment to Cazador of CAD$5,000 as advance payments on the royalty; and

On or before the fifth anniversary of the effective date, issuance to Cazador of a further 300,000 common shares.

Cazador will retain a 2% NSR (Net Smelter Return royalty) on claims currently 100% held by Cazador, and a 1% NSR on claims held jointly between Cazador and Trailbreaker. Once the option is exercised Trailbreaker may buy back 50% of the royalty by paying Cazador CAD$1 million.

2023 exploration at Castle Rock

During 2023 Trailbreaker plans to execute a property-wide geochemical soil survey to further expand the Heart zone soil anomaly outlined in 2022, and to explore for other mineralized intrusive dykes.

Numerous other historic showings remain underexplored, with no systematic exploration completed to date. The Flan showing, discovered in 2000, is located approximately 1.5 km west of the Heart zone. The showing consists of numerous high-grade boulders assaying up to 135 g/t Au. This indicates potential for the Castle Rock property to host much higher-grade gold mineralization than identified thus far.

The geochemical survey, combined with prospecting and geological mapping, is intended to lead to drill target generation at the Heart zone, and may result in further discoveries within the 3,108-ha property.

Message from the President

"This is a step in the right direction for Trailbreaker and the project. I believe the Castle Rock area has been overlooked in the past and remains considerably underexplored. Given the property's association with large, district-scale structures and open-ended anomalies, Castle Rock has the potential to be rapidly expanded into a significant gold prospect."

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Daithi Mac Gearailt

President and Chief Executive Officer

Carl Schulze, P. Geo., Consulting Geologist with Aurora Geosciences Ltd, is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 for Trailbreaker's BC and Yukon exploration projects, and has reviewed and approved the technical information in this release.

Other

For new information about the Company's projects, please visit Trailbreaker's website at TrailbreakerResources.com and sign up to receive news. For further information, follow Trailbreaker's tweets at Twitter.com/TrailbreakerLtd, use the 'Contact' section of our website, or contact us at (604) 681-1820 or at info@trailbreakerresources.com.

References

1) https://cmscontent.nrs.gov.bc.ca/geoscience/PublicationCatalogue/InformationCircular/BCGS_IC2014-04.pdf

2) https://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=092L%20%20399

3) https://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=092L%20%20396

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "Forward-Looking Information") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, disclosure regarding possible events, conditions or financial performance that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action; expectations regarding future exploration and drilling programs and receipt of related permitting. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified by the use of words and phrases such as "anticipates", "expects", "understanding", "has agreed to" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "would", "occur" or "be achieved". Although Trailbreaker has attempted to identify important factors that could affect Trailbreaker and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-Looking Information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, if any, Trailbreaker has applied several material assumptions, including the assumption that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner. 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 statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on Forward-Looking Information. Except as required by law, Trailbreaker does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b1cf45d5-fe52-4412-9057-c8befb9030e5
Vancouver, August 8, 2023 - Baru Gold Corp. (TSX.V:BARU) (OTC:BARUF) ("Baru" and its subsidiary PT. Tambang Mas Sangihe ("TMS") or the "Company") is happy to announce to shareholders that mining contractor CV. Mahamu Hebat Sejahtera (the "Contractor") has signed a legally binding contract to operate and produce gold on Sangihe Island.

There were no substantial changes between this contract signed August 4, 2023 and the intent of the Memorandum of Understanding, announced on August 3, 2023. However, in the interest of shareholders, the Company has decided to allocate the 65 ha in multiple phases. In the Company's estimation, exclusive operations within the entire mining concession was too significant a risk.

The Company will award subsequent land allocations in a competitive process that will include other interested parties. This allocation method gives the Company greater control, assurance of the Contractor's legal and environmental compliance, and also the option for the Company to develop their own operation.

This first phase with the Contractor involves only 15 ha of the 65 ha area. The Contractor will use their own capital to operate and expand an existing mining operation. For the exclusive contracting right within the prescribed area, the Contractor will pay the Company approximately CAD $670,000. The payment is based on both the land area and estimated gold content. The payment will be as follows:

i. IDR 1,000,000,000 (CDN$88,000)(1) as the first payment to be paid at the time of signing of the agreement as a non-refundable deposit

ii. IDR 3,250,000,000 (CDN$286,000)(1) as the second payment to be paid when the Contractor starts carrying activities on the land area.

IDR 3,250,000,000 (CDN$286,000)(1) as the third payment to be paid 30 days after the second payment.

(1) At the conversion rate of the Bank of Canada on August 4, 2023 of IDR 0.000088 to CDN$1.00

The Contractor will immediately begin operations by restarting a recently producing gold mine within the contracted 15 ha. With all the equipment already on site, land cleared, and construction complete, operations will start immediately. The Contractor anticipates the operation will begin generating cash flow within two months.

The Contractor is responsible for all operational, production and site remediation expenses. As the result of their responsibility for operational expenses, they will receive 65% of the total gross receipts from the sale of gold recovered. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company will receive 35% of the total gross receipts from the sale of gold recovered.

The Company will supervise all activities and co-process the gold. The Company will be responsible for refining the gold and distributing the resulting funds. The Contractor must abide by the same environmental and reclamation standards required of the Company by Indonesian law, including mercury prohibition.

The Company negotiated the phased allocation of land with the Contractor. The $670,000 will be used for the Company's near-term obligations. In addition, the area reduction has no impact on near-term cash flow as the Contractor can operate at maximum production capacity on 15 ha for the next 12 months. This contract for 15 ha does not prevent the Company from opening or contracting out additional worksites.

The Company retains complete control of the Sangihe Project. The Company's Contract of Work includes an area of 42,000 ha, of which 23,000 ha is gold bearing.

In the event of a regulatory cessation of work occurring prior to the due date for the second payment, the agreement shall be automatically terminated. In such an instance, both the second and third payments specified within the agreement will be deemed non-payable.

Mr. Terry Filbert, CEO of Baru Gold, commented, "This arrangement is a win for the environment, the Company, and for Indonesia. By licensing a previously unpermitted mine, the Company is raising the legal protections for workers and forcing environmental protections and rehabilitation on Sangihe, including the clean-up of and prohibition of mercury. Mining on Sangihe has a long history and this is the first time any mine on the island has followed environmental standards and protections, including ecological restoration. The Company has the opportunity to achieve cash flow almost immediately, with no dilution to shareholders. The local community will very quickly feel the distribution of wealth. I look forward to being in production and building long-lasting and productive relationships with the residents of Sangihe and our new contractor."

The Company is fully permitted and legally entitled to operate, hire contractors and produce gold on Sangihe Island. We are committed to doing so in a safe manner, following environmental regulations outlined in our Environmental Permit.

ABOUT SANGIHE GOLD PROJECT

The Sangihe Gold Project ("Sangihe") is located on the Indonesian island of Sangihe, off the northern coast of Sulawesi. Sangihe has an existing National Instrument 43-101 inferred mineral resource of 114,700 indicated and 105,000 inferred ounces of gold, as reported in the Company's "Independent Technical Report on the Mineral Resource Estimates of the Binebase and Bawone Deposits, Sangihe Project, North Sulawesi, Indonesia" (May 30, 2017). Readers are cautioned that mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

The Company intends to proceed to production without the benefit of first establishing mineral reserves supported by a feasibility study. The Company cautions readers that the any production decision made by the Company will not be based on a NI 43-101 feasibility study of mineral reserves that demonstrates economic and technical viability and as such, there may be involved increased uncertainty and various technological and economic risks

The Company's 70-percent interest in the Sangihe-mineral-tenement Contract of Work ("CoW") is held through PT. Tambang Mas Sangihe ("TMS"). The remaining 30-percent interest in TMS is held by three Indonesian corporations. The term of the Sangihe CoW agreement is 30 years upon commencement of the production phase of the project.

Baru has met all the requirements of the Indonesian government and has been granted its environmental permit.

ABOUT BARU GOLD CORP.

Baru Gold Corp. is a dynamic junior gold developer with NI 43-101 gold resources in Indonesia, one of the top ten gold producing countries in the world. Based in Indonesia and North America, Baru's team boasts extensive experience in starting and operating small-scale gold assets.

Baru Gold Corp.

Per:"Terry Filbert"

Terry Filbert, Director

President & CEO

info@barugold.com

For investor contacts more information, please contact:

Kevin Shum Investor Relations kevin@jeminicapital.com

647-725-3888 ext 702

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.

Certain statements in this News Release, which are not historical in nature, constitute "forward looking statements" within the meaning of that phrase under applicable Canadian securities law. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements or information concerning future work programs, results and timing of any work programs, the Company's performance or events as of the date hereof. These statements reflect management's current assumptions and expectations and by their nature are subject to certain underlying assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or events to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Those risks include the interpretation of drill results; the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with our expectations; commodity and currency price fluctuation; failure to obtain adequate financing; regulatory, recovery rates, refinery costs, and other relevant conversion factors, permitting and licensing risks; general market and mining exploration risks and production and economic risks related to design and engineering, manufacturing, technological processes and test procedures and the risk that the project's output will not be salable at a price that will cover the project's operating and maintenance costs. Forward-looking statements should not be construed as investment advice. Readers should perform a detailed, independent investigation and analysis of the Company and are encouraged to seek independent professional advice before making any investment decision. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements to reflect events or changes in circumstances that occur after the date hereof.

Copyright (c) 2023 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
TSXV:GMIN

OTCQX:GMINF

BROSSARD, Aug. 8, 2023 - G Mining Ventures Corp. ("GMIN" or the "Corporation") (TSXV: GMIN) (OTCQX: GMINF) announces that, in accordance with the Corporation's Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan") approved by the Corporation's shareholders as of June 6, 2023, the Board of Directors has granted, as of August 7, 2023, an aggregate of 112,968 stock options (the "Options") and 42,723 restricted share units (the "RSUs") to certain officers and employees of the Corporation.

Each Option confers upon its holder the right to purchase one common share in the capital of the Corporation (a "Common Share"), for a following period of five (5) years and exercisable at a price of C$1.25.

Each RSU confers upon its holder the right to receive, without payment of any consideration, one Common Share or, at the Corporation's option, a cash payment equal to the Fair Market Value (as defined in the Plan) of such Common Share (with the additional option of receiving any combination of cash and Common Shares).

The vesting terms for Options as well as RSUs are: one third (1/3) the first anniversary of the date of grant, one third (1/3) the second anniversary of the date of grant, and one third (1/3) the third anniversary of the date of grant.

About G Mining Ventures Corp.

G Mining Ventures Corp. (TSXV: GMIN) (OTCQX: GMINF) is a mining company engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of precious metal projects, to capitalize on the value uplift from successful mine development. GMIN is well-positioned to grow into the next mid-tier precious metals producer by leveraging strong access to capital and proven development expertise. GMIN is currently anchored by its flagship Tocantinzinho Gold Project in mining friendly and prospective Para State, Brazil.

Additional Information

For further information on GMIN, please visit the website at www.gminingventures.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of certain securities laws and are based on expectations and projections as of the date of this press release. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, without limitation, those related to the above section entitled "About G Mining Ventures Corp.".

Forward-looking statements are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the time of this press release. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Corporation as of the time of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. These estimates and assumptions may prove to be incorrect. Such assumptions include, without limitation, the items listed in the above section entitled "About G Mining Ventures Corp.".

Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can directly or indirectly affect, and could cause, actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that the Corporation will bring the Tocantinzinho Gold Project into commercial production and grow into the next mid-tier precious metal producer group, and no assurance that the State of Para will remain mining-friendly and prospective, as future events could differ materially from what is currently anticipated by the Corporation.

By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved or that assumptions do not reflect future experience. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a number of important risk factors and future events could cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates, assumptions and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those made in the Corporation's other filings with the securities regulators of Canada including, but not limited to, the cautionary statements made in the relevant section of the Corporation's (i) Annual Information Form dated April 28, 2023, for the financial year ended December 31, 2022, and (ii) Management Discussion & Analysis. The Corporation cautions that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive, and new, unforeseeable risks may arise from time to time. The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/g-mining-ventures-grants-equity-incentives-301896208.html

SOURCE G Mining Ventures Corp.
COCOBOD extends offer period for cocoa bills restructuring

Emmanuel Bruce Business News Aug - 08 - 2023 , 12:27

The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has extended the offer period for the Exchange Programme for its cocoa bills from August 4 to August 18.

Per the new timetable for the invitation, the announcement date is now August 21, and settlement date is now August 25, or as soon as practicable thereafter.

A release issued by Cal Bank, who are transaction advisers for the programme, urged all persons who intend to participate in the Exchange Programme to endeavour to submit their applications by 4pm on August 18 2023.

COCOBOD last month, launched a debt securities exchange programme to restructure debts totalling GH7.93 billion.

Under the programme, COCOBOD is inviting holders of its short-term debt securities (the Cocoa Bills) to voluntarily offer to exchange their Cocoa Bills for longer-term debt securities with averagely lower coupon rates.

Holders of the Cocoa Bills whose offers are accepted by COCOBOD will receive five new bonds which would mature in 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028. The new bonds will come at a coupon rate of 13 per cent.

The successful completion of this aspect of the domestic debt exchange programme is very crucial to the countrys quest to restore debt sustainability which is a critical component of the IMF programme.

As per the IMF's methodology and as explained in their Staff Report published on May 17, 2023, Cocoa bills are included in the public debt perimeter considering the risk and contingent liability on Government debt profile.

The IMF/WB debt sustainability analysis has demonstrated unequivocally that Ghana is faced with a significant financing gap over the coming years and that the country's public debt (including COCOBOD's cocoa bills) is unsustainable.

The Chief Executive officer of COCOBOD, Joseph Boahen Aidoo, in a letter, said the objective of the Cocoa Bills exchange was to reduce the excessive burden created by the short-term cocoa bills and put COCOBOD on the path of financial sustainability in line with targets defined by the IMF Staff agreement.

He said to alleviate the debt burden of COCOBOD in the most transparent, efficient and expedited manner, this debt exchange programme was necessary.

In this context, the least painful set of restructuring efforts to be borne by the domestic financial market is sought.

In particular, the Invitation to Exchange does not embed any principal haircut on Eligible Bills. It involves an exchange for new COCOBOD bonds with a 13 per cent coupon and longer average maturity, he stated.

He said regrettably, COCOBOD's financial challenges brought on by the low cocoa prices on the world market in the last few years have been exacerbated by the onset of COVID-19 and its consequential shut down of global economies.

The CEO said that heavily compromised COCOBOD's ability to fully redeem the cocoa bills as and when they matured, leading to rollovers.

This exchange is therefore intended to give COCOBOD the ability to redeem the new bonds as and when they mature, he said.

Domestic debt exchange

The government in December 2022 announced a Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) which was one of the conditions required to unlock the US$3 billion IMF programme.

The DDEP saw the government swap a total of GH82 billion of old bonds for 12 new ones at a reduced coupon rate and longer tenor.

The government has however indicated in recent times that the domestic debt restructuring was still not yet over as it seeks to restructure cocoa bills and US dollar denominated bonds.

At the end of 2022, the countrys total domestic debt was around GH259 billion and so far the government has been able to restructure GH82 billion, which means that over 50 per cent of the domestic debt is yet to be restructured.

Dollar bonds

The Ministry of Finance has also announced the commencement of its US dollar bonds to restructure debts totalling US$809 million.

A draft memorandum of the invitation shows that the government intends to swap two dollar denominated bonds which are expected to mature in November 2023 and November 2026, respectively with new bonds that would mature in 2027 and 2028.

The new bonds will also come with a reduced coupon rate of 2.75 per cent and 3.25 per cent. This compares to the 4.75 per cent and 6 per cent offered for the old bonds.

An exchange memorandum dated July 14 noted that the invitation to exchange would not embed any principal haircut on eligible bonds.

It also pointed out that the Republic, in its sole discretion, may settle the eligible bonds in full or in part and that the eligible holders subscription to receive the new Bonds is voluntary.

A release issued by the Ministry of Finance indicated that the successful completion of this domestic debt exchange would contribute to unlocking the support of the international community and would allow Ghana to achieve its debt targets.

External debt

On the external side, following the formation of the Creditor Committee, co-chaired by China and France on May 12, the government has begun negotiations with its external bilateral creditors to restructure debts totalling $5.4 billion.

It is also in negotiations with its commercial creditors to restructure its $14-billion debt.

The government is targeting an external debt relief of $10.5 billion between 2023-2026 through the external restructuring.

Under the IMF programme, the government is seeking to reduce its total public debt-to-GDP ratio to below 55 per cent.

A bulk of the fiscal adjustments required to achieve this target is expected to come from debt restructuring.

The Ministry of Finance has since the beginning of the debt exchange exercise noted that the alternative to the debt exchange would be a far worse economic crisis, with protracted closure from international markets and further domestic economic instability both for the real economy and the financial sector.
The Ghana banking industry report 2023  An annual performance review

Graphic Business Business News Aug - 08 - 2023 , 03:05

The banking industry has experienced a significant decline in performance, primarily driven by substantial impairment losses, resulting in a notable decrease in profitability.

Only six banks reported profits before tax in the review year, in contrast to the 20 banks that achieved this milestone in 2021 and twenty-one in 2020.

One of the key indicators reflecting the industrys decline is the shareholders equity, which decreased from GH26.49 billion to GH20.53 billion, representing a reduction of 22.49 per cent.

This decline was primarily attributed to the review years retained losses, which marked a departure from the positive gains of 16.23 per cent witnessed in 2021.

On the other hand, total deposit liabilities experienced a significant increase in 2022, with an upswing of GH36.85 billion, representing a substantial growth rate of 29.92 per cent.

This stands in contrast to the previous year, which saw a comparatively lower increase of GH19.17 billion, translating to an 18.43 per cent growth rate.

Despite the challenging environment, the industry managed to improve its balance sheet through an increase in deposit liabilities.

Overall, while the banking sector in Ghana demonstrated commendable performance in enhancing its balance sheet, the incidence of impairment losses had a significant impact on profitability thereby affecting the balance sheets.

Reductions in impairment losses would have positively influenced the sectors profitability, thus highlighting the importance of addressing this issue in the coming period.

This report delves deeper into the factors influencing the banking industrys performance, examining strategies to mitigate impairment losses and further enhance financial stability in the sector.

Total assets

Four banks have remained in the top 4 biggest banks by total assets for the last three years.

Ecobank Ghana emerged the biggest bank by total assets with GH25.77bn in total assets as at December 2022; followed by GCB Bank with GH21.35 billion, Stanbic Bank with GH18.60 billion and Absa with GHS17.10 billion.

All banks saw an increase in growth of total assets in 2022 in line with the general performance of the industry.

The ranking of banks in Ghana based on total assets as of December 2022 generally reveals a mix of indigenous and non-indigenous banks dominating the top positions, demonstrating the strength and expansion of the Ghanaian banking sector.

Profits/losses before tax

Banks like Ecobank, GCB Bank, and Stanbic Bank consistently ranked in the top ten in previous years but faced larger losses in 2022 due to factors like the Domestic Debt Exchange Program (DDEP).

Ecobank Ghana, for example, dropped to 9th place due to increased net impairment losses on financial assets.

Similar patterns were observed in other banks such as Cal Bank and Consolidated Bank. These losses highlight the impact of bad loans and investments on banks financial performance.

GT Bank was the most profitable in absolute terms, followed by Societe Generale Ghana Limited and FBN with profits of GH191m, GH168m and GH102m profits before tax respectively.

Share of industry deposits

Our analysis provides insights into the market share of each bank. Non-indigenous banks like Ecobank, Absa, Standard Chartered, Access Bank, and Zenith Bank dominate the top positions, indicating their dominance in the deposit market.

However, indigenous banks like GCB Bank, Fidelity Bank, Consolidated Bank, and Cal Bank also secured spots in the top ten.

Notably, banks outside the top ten collectively held 28.6% of the industry deposits, indicating room for competition in the market.

The ranking of banks in Ghana based on their share of industry loans and advances reveals the market presence of each bank in lending activities.

Ecobank Ghana holds the highest share, followed by Stanbic Bank, Absa Bank, and GCB Bank. Agricultural Development Bank of Ghana, Cal Bank, and Societe Generale Ghana also feature in the top positions.

Liquidity

The Governments Domestic Debt Exchange Program had a significant impact on banks balance sheets in 2022, resulting in decreased values of trading assets and retained earnings compared to the previous year.

Capital adequacy and efficiency

In the review of the performance of banks in Ghana, several key observations were made regarding their capital adequacy and efficiency ratios, particularly the cost to income and cost to asset ratios.

Cost to Income

FBN Bank improved its cost significantly and positioned itself as the best bank in terms of income spent on cost in 2022, despite falling out of the top 10 in 2021.

Guaranty Trust Bank consistently maintained its position as the second-best bank in this category.

Access Bank retained its position in the top 3, although it dropped to the 3rd position in 2022 after being the top bank in 2020 and 2021.

OmniBSIC showed significant improvement by placing 9th in 2022, indicating successful cost- cutting measures.

Capital adequacy ratio

FBN Bank consistently held the top position in the capital adequacy ratio, with a range of 56 per cent to 74 per cent from 2020 to 2022, maintaining a significant lead over other banks.

Bank of Africa experienced a decline in its position, moving from 2nd in 2020 to 5th in 2022, possibly due to the impact of the DDEP.

Guaranty Trust Bank maintained a relatively stable position, moving from 3rd in 2020 to 4th in both 2021 and 2022.

Zenith Banks position fluctuated, going from 4th in 2020 to 3rd and 4th in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

Profitability

This report further analyzes the profitability of Ghanaian banks, focusing on key profitability ratios: Profit Before Tax Margin, Return on Assets (ROA), Return on Equity (ROE), and Net Interest Margin (NIM).

Profit before tax margin

The average Profit Before Tax Margin in the banking industry decreased from 45 per cent in 2021 to -33 per cent in 2022.

This decline was mainly due to impairment losses on financial investments, particularly losses on investments in government securities resulting from the implementation of the Domestic Debt Exchange Program (DDEP).

FBN Bank emerged the most profitable by profit before tax margin with a rate of 22.50 per cent, followed by Societe Generale Ghana at 21 per cent, GT Bank at 19.80 per cent, UBA at 13.40 per cent, First Atlantic Bank at 4.2 per cent and Bank of Africa at 3.8 per cent.

Return on assets

The industrys ROA experienced a steady decline, averaging 2.1 per cent from 2.8 per cent in 2020 to -3.0 per cent in 2022.

Despite a 10.16% increase in total assets from 2021 to 2022, the lower Profit Before Tax Margins resulted in a significant decline in ROA.

Several banks that were market leaders in ROAs, such as GT Bank and SCB, experienced declines in 2022 due to decreased Profit Before Tax Margins.

On the other hand, banks like FBN, SG, GT Bank, UBA, and BOA recorded the highest ROAs in 2022, primarily due to impressive Profit Before Tax Margins and lower net impairment losses on financial assets.

Return on equity

A sustainable and increasing ROE over time indicates a companys ability to generate shareholder value. FBN, SG, GT Bank, and UBA recorded the highest ROEs in 2022, experiencing significant growth in Net Interest Income.

Factors contributing to the ROE growth for these banks include improved Net Interest Income and increased efficiency in reinvesting earnings.

On the other hand, CBG, CAL, FNB, and UMB recorded the lowest ROEs due to significant losses on derecognition of renegotiated loans and net impairment losses.

Credit risk efficiency

In 2022, Guaranty Trust Bank (GT Bank) emerged as the bank with the lowest NPL ratio.

This performance is consistent with their previous year results, where they also ranked favorably.

GT Banks strong performance indicates effective credit risk management policies and financial soundness.

Following two years of severe decline in 2021 and 2020, Access Bank showed significant improvement in its NPL ratio in 2022.

This suggests that the bank has made efforts to address its credit risk and improve the quality of its loan portfolio.

While Consolidated Bank Ghana recorded the best NPL performance in 2021 and 2020, their NPL ratio sharply declined in 2022. This indicates a deterioration in the banks loan portfolio and increased credit risk.

Several banks, including GT Bank, Zenith Bank, Stanbic Bank, First National Bank Ghana, and Fidelity Bank Ghana Limited, consistently maintained top ten rankings in terms of NPL ratio over a three-year period.

Their consistent performance suggests effective credit risk management practices and a focus on maintaining a healthy loan portfolio.

The NPL ratio of Ghanaian banks is an important indicator of credit risk and financial soundness. GT Bank, Access Bank, and several other banks demonstrated improvements or maintained strong NPL performances in 2022.

However, Consolidated Bank Ghana experienced a decline in their NPL ratio. Monitoring and managing the NPL ratio is crucial for banks to mitigate credit risk and ensure financial stability.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the banking industry in Ghana experienced a significant decline in performance in the review year, primarily driven by impairment losses, resulting in a notable decrease in profitability.

Only a few banks reported profits before tax, highlighting the impact of bad loans and investments on financial performance.

Despite these challenges, the industry managed to improve its balance sheet through an increase in deposit liabilities.

The ranking of banks based on total assets showcased a mix of international and regional banks dominating the top positions, indicating the strength and expansion of the Ghanaian banking sector.

Non-indigenous banks held a significant share of the deposit market, but indigenous banks also secured spots in the top positions, suggesting room for competition.

In terms of lending activities, several banks demonstrated a strong market presence in Ghana, with Ecobank Ghana holding the highest share of industry loans and advances.

Liquidity ratios revealed the capacity of certain banks to absorb deposit-related and balance sheet shocks, indicating their ability to meet cash demands.

Capital adequacy ratios showed varying performances among banks, with FBN Bank consistently leading in this area.

However, the industrys profitability ratios, such as profit before tax margin, return on assets, return on equity, and net interest margin, experienced declines due to impairment losses and the implementation of the Domestic Debt Exchange Program.

Credit risk efficiency was highlighted by the NPL ratios of banks, with GT Bank showing the lowest ratio and demonstrating effective credit risk management policies.

While some banks consistently maintained strong performances in this area, others experienced fluctuations and deterioration in their loan portfolios.

Addressing impairment losses and credit risk management will be crucial for the future of the banking industry in Ghana.

Efforts to improve profitability, strengthen balance sheets, and enhance financial stability should remain a priority for banks.

In conclusion, based on the Expanded LIMA CAMEL Banking Performance Index (ELCBPI), FBN Bank demonstrated exceptional performance and emerged as the top-performing bank with an impressive index score of 9.03.

Following closely behind was Guaranty Trust, securing the second position with an ELCBPI of 8.83. Access Bank claimed the third position with an ELCBPI of 8.40.

Societe Generale, Bank of Africa, Zenith Bank, and Absa ranked fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh respectively.

Standard Chartered Bank, Fidelity Bank, and Stanbic Bank also secured positions within the top 10.

However, UMB Bank faced significant challenges and ended up as the least performing bank. Consolidated Bank Ghana ranked at the 21st position, while ADB held the 20th position.

These rankings highlight the varying degrees of success and performance across the banks evaluated, ultimately showcasing FBN Bank as the frontrunner in terms of overall performance
Daily Graphic Editorials

Lithium policy must meet Ghanaians aspirations

Daily Graphic Editorials Aug - 08 - 2023 , 10:20

There has been a big conversation about Africas approach to natural resources management over the years, which has led to the continent becoming the poorest in the world, despite its wealth in natural resources.

African countries have generally been blamed also for not doing well in negotiations with companies in the extractive sector, partly due to corruption, incompetence, political instability and short-sightedness, which results in countries settling for less.

These issues are usually worsened by illicit financial flows from the extractive industry.

These are conversations that resonate with many Ghanaians and civil society organisations in the country, particularly because Ghana is a resource-rich country.

Fact is the country is endowed with abundance of natural resources, including arable land, forests, water bodies and precious minerals.

However, these resources are in the main finite and require proactive measures to nurture and protect for the collective good now, and importantly, for the next generation.

Ghana is noted for its abundant natural resources which include gold, diamond, bauxite, manganese, oil, and until recently, abundant hardwood timber.

The mining sector has played an important part in the country's economic development, providing jobs for our people and revenue to the government to support other initiatives.

The country has discovered lithium and other green minerals in commercial quantities with the unpalatable experience of the country deriving less benefit from over a century of mining gold.

Fortunately, Cabinet has approved a new policy for the exploitation, management and regulation of lithium and other green minerals in the country.

Often referred to as minerals of the future, green minerals are metals and other mineral resources that are needed to support the transition to clean energy technologies aimed at reducing carbon emissions.

A wide range of minerals that fall under the umbrella of green minerals include bauxite, cobalt, copper, lithium, granite, manganese and nickel.

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, told the Daily Graphic last Thursday that Cabinet approved the policy on July 27 this year after a rigorous interrogation.

The new Green Minerals Policy, thus amends the Mining and Minerals Policy of 2014 to include robust and progressive regimes that would enable the country to reap optimum benefits from lithium and other green minerals.

It became clear that the exploitation of the natural resources was non-negotiable.

However, it must be done sustainably and responsibly.

It is imperative, therefore, for the government to do whatever it takes to ensure that the exploitation and utilisation of these green minerals are done, not only in an environmentally sound manner but also in a way that ensures optimal benefit to the people of Ghana.

This government must never compromise on its resolve.

The Daily Graphic holds the position that much as a lot has been said, done and achieved, it is time to take the multi-stakeholder route to commit to a national action plan to ensure that only the right things are done in the natural resource sector, and any bad lots expeditiously punished.

We believe that to secure a more sustainable future, all citizens must approach natural resource management more holistically.

This will entail balancing economic progress, environmental conservation and social welfare with national revenue and growth or developmental aspirations.

The Daily Graphic is urging that the overarching goal of the new policy must anchor on the principle that the exploitation of green minerals must benefit Ghanaians who are the true owners of the resource.

The building blocks for the green minerals exploitation must be different from what exists with gold in particular.

The country must strive to create a healthier environment by carefully leveraging the natural resource endowments for our long-term collective good.

The paper calls on all to commit to take action, learning from what has been done over time, to make a difference for the environment and communities for the future.

This can be achieved by caring and working together to create a sustainable future for all Ghanaians; living and unborn.
Nigerian comedian and actor AY Makun loses house to fire outbreak

Graphic Showbiz Showbiz News Aug - 08 - 2023 , 11:10

Popular Nigerian comedian, AY Makun has lost his house to a fire outbreak on Sunday, August 6. In a video that went viral on social media, the roof of the comedians house and some sections were on fire.

A fire service truck was also parked in front of the home while his neighbours rushed out of their homes for their own safety.

In an Instagram post yesterday, August 7, the comedian, real name, Ayodeji Makun, revealed that his family is safe and are on vacation in the US.

He expressed his gratitude to God for the safety of his family on Instagram.

Family and God. That is whats important. Everything else comes and goes. Cant wait to join you guys in the US in a few days, he wrote.

Reacting, many colleagues and fans of AY, including his younger brother and fashion designer, Yomi Casual sympathised with the comedian and his family.

Also, AY Comedian's sister-in-law, Grace Makun has shared a video of the aftermath of the comedian's house after the tragic fire incident.

In a social media post, Grace Makun expressed her gratitude to a higher power for sparing the lives of AY Makun and his family from the perilous fire.

She wrote; "Yall be wandering why Im appraising @lanremakunevents @yomicasual we cried and prayed together and God showed us mercy as a family 

Our heart is full of gratitude for @aycomedian @realmabelmakun we love you both  God got you both and May he fill your home with joy this season."

The cause of the fire outbreak is still unknown.

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Wanderlusts inspirational adventure

Rodney's Potpourri Opinion Aug - 08 - 2023 , 07:53

Like many Ghanaians I know, my visits to various parts of the country have mainly been on the back of attending funerals.

For some, class excursions back in school or church excursions constitute the only experience that they have had of visiting other parts of the country.

My time at the Ministry of Education did facilitate some work-based travel, but not enough to make up for my appalling deficit in this department.

The notion of your average Ghanaian hitting the tourist trail in Ghana, or just travelling from one point to another just for the thrill-seeking sake of it is quite far-fetched.

This is quite understandable when one considers the costs involved, including fuel and accommodation, as well as the state of many of our roads and other security concerns.

For many of our citizens, keeping body and soul together and putting bread on the table are the things that held sway over the mind.

So, in the scheme of Maslows hierarchy of needs, esteem and self-actualisation are way up in the stratosphere.

Even for those who have the means, it is not particularly a venture that comes to mind readily.

Wanderlust adventure

The longest road journey I have ever undertaken was a road trip from Accra to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, which took a total of 27 hours or so, with a sleepover at Bolgatanga, since the border would be closed by the time we got there if we had continued further.

This was back in October 1990 when, together with my fellow third-year undergraduate classmates offering French at the University of Ghana, we travelled on a Ghana Tourism Board (as it was then) bus to Ouagadougou for our year abroad language programme in Burkina Faso.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable trip.

The story of a group of 13 Ghanaians, including a lady, who undertook an ambitious, bold and gruelling 10,000km trip by road from Accra to London, UK, has gripped many minds and catapulted Ghana into the international news circuit for the right reasons.

The distance is astonishing by any stretch of the imagination, the equivalent of driving at 100km per hour non-stop for 100 hours.

Their diary, captured in their online diary on their Facebook page, Wanderlust Ghana, is nothing short of captivating and inspiring, and in some cases, almost scary.

Their account of a Moroccan police officer giving them full escort out of heavy traffic when he discovered that they were Ghanaians, and his subsequent revelation that he admired Abedi Pele, was most heart-warming.

I am sure the account gave many readers a burst of patriotic pride.

Why not?

During a BBC video link interview with one of the team members when they were in Spain, they were asked why they were undertaking the trip.

Why not?, came the reply.

Immediately, I was reminded of late US President John Kennedys September 1962 speech announcing the US intention to go to the moon by the end of that decade.

We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organise and measure the best of our energies and skills because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win, and the others, too, he said.

For me, why not? captures the whole essence of this expedition, and indeed other expeditions that have been undertaken throughout the history of mankind and continue to be pursued.

It is this question that has inspired mankind to keep pushing the frontiers, whether it is in going to space, discovering far-flung lands, sailing across the oceans, discovering the ocean depths, or exploring the North or South Pole, among others.

Human knowledge and the advancements we enjoy today, including our ability to fly across the world or communicate with others with ease at the touch of buttons have, in most instances, been born out of audacious dreams that bucked the trend and screamed Why not?

Missing the point

Life is not, and must not be, a straitjacket, with safe, predictable routines and predictable outcomes.

It is to be lived to the fullest, even with its risks, so long as those risks are managed.

Of course, there were several risks associated with this expedition, but then there are risks involved in driving from, say Accra to Sunyani.

My only gripe with Ocean Gates Titan expedition in June this year to see the Titanic shipwreck at the bottom of the ocean, with the resulting death of all its passengers in an implosion, was the sheer negligence in ignoring safety precautions against several warnings and alerts.

To criticise the trip as a pointless waste of time and money when the group could have simply purchased airline tickets and flown in comfort to London, as some have argued on social media portals, is to miss the entire point by a mile and to demonstrate a certain unfortunate poverty of thinking.

After all, the expedition was not publicly funded.

As someone quipped in response to such an argument, Is your money missing?

On this trip, the team built many memories that will live with them for the rest of their lives.

They have raised money for charity, achieved global recognition and have become the toast of a nation that is so heavily split along party lines that it is difficult to rally around any single issue without the usual partisan bickering.

I am sure many television interviews, speaking engagements and probably a book to share their experiences will emerge out of this expedition.

I can see the National Geographic television channel making a documentary out of this.

I can see car giants falling over each other and themselves in a scramble to sponsor their next expedition, which I have no doubt will eventually take place.

You do not get to make this kind of impact whilst crammed into seat number 23D on a routine British Airways overnight flight from Accra to London.

As TS Elliot put it, The journey, not the destination, matters

Ouagadougou inspiration

The Wanderlust adventurers dared to dream, worked hard at it and actualised it.

They have demonstrated strength of character, clarity of purpose and sheer grit, and we can only admire and cheer them, as a group of enthusiastic and proud Ghanaians turned up to do when they arrived in the UK.

A West African coastal tour from Douala to Nouakchott. Cairo to Cape Town.

A round trip expedition of Ghana from Accra through Hohoe, Bimbila, Tamale, Bolgatanga, Lawra, Bole, Dormaa, Kumasi and Takoradi back to Accra, or a coastal expedition from Keta to Half Assini, revealing how connected and beautiful Ghana is.

The permutations are endless and exciting and I hope this trip inspires such feats.

Those of us of a certain age bracket will recall the exploits of the famous Kak Dee, who walked from Accra to Paga in the 1980s, to wild acclaim.

With the right pitch, sponsorship for logistics should not be a barrier.

Inspired by the Wanderlust team, maybe I can convince my Burkina Faso class from Legon to get together so that we retrace our steps to Ouagadougou 33 years ago.

The idea would be to take it nice and easy, as we are no longer spring chickens and our knees can be a bit wobbly.

We could do with quite several stops along the way to stretch our legs, sample fresh, frothy local palm wine or pito, feast on some fufu with goat light soup, munch on roasted guinea fowl, feed the crocodiles at Paga and then go on to pose for photographs sitting on their backs as they snore contentedly, before descending on Ouagadougou to revisit our stomping grounds of yesteryear.

Why not?

Rodney Nkrumah-Boateng,

Head, Communications & Public Affairs Unit,

Ministry of Energy,

Accra.
Four individuals arrested for examination malpractice on first day of BECE

Kweku Zurek Education Aug - 08 - 2023 , 06:00

The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has disclosed that four individuals have been apprehended for their alleged involvement in examination malpractice during the commencement of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) on Monday.

Attributed to the implementation of more stringent measures this year to counter exam malpractice, the arrests underscore the commitment to maintain the integrity of the examination process.

These measures are designed to create an environment that prevents students from engaging in any form of malpractice.

Mr. John Kapi, the Head of Public Affairs at WAEC, confirmed the arrests in an interview with Joy FM. He detailed that the arrests were carried out across the Ashanti region, Tema Central, and Central region.

Mr. Kapi explained the circumstances of the arrests, stating, "One individual was apprehended in the Ashanti region while attempting to enter the examination hall with prepared materials for the candidates. In Tema Central, a female individual was taken into custody for possessing a tablet containing information intended to be communicated to candidates. In the Central region, specifically Dunkwa-On Offin, two individuals were caught solving questions in the midst of the examination, which they intended to relay to candidates."

The WAEC spokesperson emphasized that the arrested individuals had violated the examination rules set forth by WAEC.

He reiterated, "According to our rules and regulations governing the conduct of examinations at WAEC, any breach of these rules is promptly reported to law enforcement agencies. Subsequently, those individuals are charged and brought before the court."

A total of 602,457 final-year junior high school (JHS) students across Ghana are writing this years Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) which starts today.

The total candidature of 602,457 represents an increase of 49,049 over last year's figure of 553,408.

The examination would be held simultaneously for both school and private candidates from Monday, August 7 to Friday, August 11, 2023.

Candidates wrote Religious and Moral Education and English Language yesterday (August 7, 2023).
35 Children benefit from free heart surgery at UGMC

Rebecca Quaicoe Aug - 08 - 2023 , 07:25

Thirty-Five children with various heart conditions are undergoing free surgery at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) in Accra.

The operations, which started on August 5, 2023, will end on August 12, 2023.

Each of the surgeries which is being sponsored by Qatar Charity, is estimated to cost between $3,000 and $5,000.

Known as paediatric catheterisation, the surgery is being carried out by specialists from nine different countries including the US, Canada, Qatar and Jordan.

Cardiac catheterisation is a minimally invasive procedure in which a thin flexible tube, catheter, is guided through a blood vessel to the heart to diagnose or treat certain heart conditions such as clogged arteries or irregular heartbeats.

Treatment

At a ceremony to officially mark the beginning of the exercise in Accra yesterday, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the centre, Dr Darius Osei, said congenital cardiac disease that affected children was about one in every 100 children, meaning out of every 100 children that are born, one would have the disease.

Cardiac disease treatment is not exactly cheap, especially in our part of the world where we don't have people who are not economically self-sufficient.

Most of these children are coming from simple backgrounds and, therefore, need assistance.

What is exciting about this particular mission is that the operation is going to be non-invasive or minimally invasive; it is not going to be like open heart surgeries.

This means that patients will recover faster, and so this offers us a very unique opportunity to help the children who are unfortunate to have these diseases, he said.

Dr Osei added that after the procedure, a patient could leave the hospital in two days.

Advice

The CEO advised pregnant women to avoid taking substances such as alcohol which he said predisposed children to various congenital anomalies.

Anytime you are pregnant and taking in any medication or ingesting any substance that you usually don't take, you need to be careful and ask professionals, he said.

Dr Osei said that another laudable thing about the operation was transfer of expertise, adding that such interventional cardiology would enable doctors to learn about innovative techniques to support them in their work.

Qatar Charity

The Director, International Programmes and Development Department at Qatar Charity, Abdulaziz Jassim Hejji, said the intervention was a first step for more initiatives to support children.

He said the programme targeted congenital heart disease, cleft palate and cataract diseases and added that we started with these 35 children as a pilot project.

The Country Director, Qatar Charity, Hasan Owda, said the organisation started its activities in the country in 2018, and that it had since implemented various projects in water and sanitation, health, education, culture, housing and economic empowerment.

We are building schools, constructing boreholes and a clinic.

We have also launched a campaign for cataract removal, including sponsoring the education of some 5,000 orphans, offering them monthly stipends and taking care of their health and housing needs, he added.
African Bar Association honours President Akufo-Addo

Daily Graphic Aug - 08 - 2023 , 02:59

The African Bar Association has conferred a Medal of Merit in Leadership Award on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

A citation accompanying the award described President Akufo-Addo as a pan Africanist, anti-corruption crusader, a rare democratic leader in the field of good governance, a true African Statesman whose legacies present African leaders must emulate, and we are minded to say will stand the test of time.

The President of the association, Hannibal Egbe Uwaifo, conferred the honour on President Akufo-Addo at the 2023 Annual Conference of the African Bar Association in Pretoria, South Africa.

Acceptance

Receiving the award, President Akufo-Addo commended the association for the award, stating that the legal profession had a rarefied position in African societies, and lawyers were assured of a special status.

He said as lawyers, it was a source of pride that they were in the forefront of the fight for liberation from colonialism, and that since independence, lawyers had moved seamlessly between politics and the legal profession.

We must be defined by what we see in ourselves, and not what others choose to say about us.

However, this cannot happen if we do not trade amongst ourselves.

Africa accounts for only three per cent of global trade, and intra-African trade is one of the lowest of any region globally, he said.

President Akufo-Addo said this was largely due to the colonial economic model characterised by small individual economies, fragmented and disconnected regional markets, over-reliance on the production and export of primary commodities, and the presence of low productive capacities, which had been in existence for the last century.

AfCFTA

He said the emergence of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) represented a historic opportunity for Africa to strengthen intra-African trade as a powerful avenue for developing Africas vast economic and material potential.

As the adage goes, there is strength in unity, and, for all 54 member states of the African Union, our strength lies with our numbers.

Cumulatively, we have a population of 1.3 billion, the majority of whom are young people, and we are in possession of a collective gross domestic product (GDP) of $3 trillion, making us, collectively, the eighth largest economy in the world, he stressed.

That, he explained, positioned Africa as potentially an attractive investment destination, adding that with the relevant investment, we will be able to sustain economic growth and create the job opportunities that the youth of our continent so desperately need.

President Akufo-Addo described the AfCFTA as a major game-changer, and once fully realised, we can increase intra-African trade by $35 billion, and reduce external imports by $10 billion yearly.

He said that meant more opportunities for growth for small businesses and the potential to lift some 30 million people out of extreme poverty, and that a successful AfCFTA would mean that Africas industrial exports would be diversified, moving it away from undue reliance on extractive commodities and foreign imports.

Africa

These benefits to be sought from the AfCFTA, he said, could, however, not be reaped in an atmosphere of chaos and insecurity.

We, in West Africa, are currently preoccupied with the need to free the region from the terrorist insurgency that has engulfed Mali, Burkina Faso, parts of Niger and Nigeria, and is threatening the peace and stability of the coastal nations, he said.

President Akufo-Addo said it was incumbent that this generation stood together to defeat the menace, and guarantee the peace and stability, which were essential to the rapid economic development not only of West Africa, but also of the entire continent.

He added that in the same vein, we must reiterate our commitment to democratic governance and reject all unconstitutional changes of government.
BECE takes off smoothly - 57 Prisoners, juvenile inmates sit exam

Emelia Ennin Abbey Aug - 08 - 2023 , 04:00

This year's Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) took off across the country Monday, with 57 prisoners, including 26 inmates of the Senior Correctional Centre of the Ghana Prisons Service meant for juvenile offenders of up to 21 years old, among the candidates.

Eight other candidates from the Kumasi Central Prison, nine from the Nsawam Medium Security Prison and four from the Sunyani Central Prison are also taking the examination.

The all-males candidates from the Senior Correctional Centre are between 13 and 21 years old and are serving a maximum of three-year terms for different offences.

The Senior Juvenile Correctional Centre, formerly known as the Borstal Home, only admits male offenders below 21 years.

The inmates are sitting the examination with other candidates from regular schools in the Ayawaso District in Accra at the Bethany Methodist Junior High School, which is serving as an examination centre for BECE candidates.

The Daily Graphic yesterday observed that prison officers escorted the inmates to the centre and waited on them as they wrote the first paper, Religious and Moral Education, while a bus with the inscription Prisons waited to take them back to the correctional centre after the days papers.

Successes

The officers in charge of the Senior Correctional Centre, Deputy Director of Prisons, Millicent Owusu, said the inmates had been prepared adequately for the examination with support from the Education Unit of the Ayawaso District.

She said some volunteers and the teachers at the centre spent time discussing past questions with the candidates and prepared the inmates psychologically ahead of the examination.

We have told them that no matter where you are you will be able to excel, and from here you can move on to the next level.

Inmates who sat the BECE in the past were successful and had admission to various senior high schools (SHS), and we have had many who have gone ahead to the tertiary level and are doing very well.

Sometimes we invite such people to come and motivate them to know that all is not lost because they are in custody, she said.

Ms Owusu said: Last year, we registered a similar number and they did well in the exam.

They are currently in some SHSs in Accra.

Every year, our students do very well.

Since the inception of the centre, our students have scored 100 per cent with distinction in the BECE.

It is all because of what goes into the preparation, she said.

Ms Owusu said the government had absorbed the registration fees of the inmates, while the Ghana Prisons Service took over all other costs of writing the subjects.

Although government is doing its best, I need materials to facilitate teaching and learning.

Until recently, we had students writing the BECE without having a computer to know this is the mouse and that is the keyboard, she said.

A science teacher, Bennett Quist-Ayiku, who has been at the centre for the past five years, appealed to individuals, corporate entities, churches and other organisations to support the centre with relevant logistics to enhance teaching and learning.

Hope

After writing the first paper, one of the inmates who has served a year and 10 months out of his three-year prison term said he was happy to sit the BECE and looked forward to furthering his education.

The young man, who was convicted of defilement, said: I should have written my BECE in 2021, but because of my case and conviction I could not.

I will advise all young people to be obedient and respect their parents and all adults because l am here as a result of my disobedience.

I am now serving three years in prison.

Another inmate who was preparing to write his second examination paper for the day said he was convicted of stealing a bag containing a laptop and a tablet with a friend.

He said it was his wish to become a mechanical engineer, and advised young people to be good children so they do not end up like me, but I know theres still hope, and I will make it.

He also urged families and corporate bodies to pay regular visits to show love to children in the centre, saying we have a bright future.

Another inmate said he ended up at the centre as a result of theft, and had since learnt that education was his only hope to a brighter future, hence his decision to take the examination.

He expressed the hope that he would gain admission to a senior high school.

History

The Greater Accra Regional Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Prisons Service, Assistant Superintendent of Prisons, Loretta Valentina Amoah, appealed for a bus to convey inmates at the senior high school level across the city to school on a daily basis.

The centre was established in 1947 as a Borstal Home under the Social Welfare Department, and in 1958 the Ghana Prisons Service took over and changed the name to Senior Correctional Centre.

In 2008, a reformers junior high school was established to educate inmates and to provide free lessons for prisoners who are willing to study and improve themselves.

The first batch of 21 candidates from the centre sat their examination in 2009.

Apart from formal education, there are inmates who are also trained at the centres vocational school to be equipped with various skills.

At the Bankoe Centre B in the Ho Municipality in the Volta Region, for instance, one pregnant girl was among the registered 295 candidates, reports Alberto Mario Noretti.

The Municipal Director of Education, Dr Esther Adzo Yeboah-Adzimah, said one candidate at another centre in Ho, who was suffering from cerebral palsy, would be given an additional 50 minutes to finish every paper.

Invigilators were cautioned not to use mobile phones in the examination halls.

A total of 3,571 candidates from 101 schools have registered for the exam in the Ho Municipality alone.

The candidates include 1,468 boys and 1,503 girls from public schools, and 281 boys and 319 girls from private schools.

At the Ho-Kpodzi Centre D, most of the 428 candidates turned up as early as 6:45 a.m.

Absentees, others

Beyond the prison inmates, the exam recorded absentees and sick candidates at some centres, with a number of pregnant girls and cerebral palsy patients also writing.

Emmanuel Bonney & Diana Mensah report that the three centres at the Accra Girls Senior High School recorded one absentee each.

The examination, which began with Religious and Moral Education as the first subject, had uniformed police and National Investigations Bureau (NIB) officers in attendance as one of the prominent features of the exercise.

At the Accra Academy Centre, three candidates, all boys, who fell ill, received attention before writing the paper.

The Ayawaso North Municipal Director of Education, Philip Aidoo, who was at the Accra Girls SHS to observe events, told the Daily Graphic that there was no challenge whatsoever.

So far, so good, and we are going to ensure that it continues like this up to Friday when they will finish the examination, he said.

He said this years total candidature of 650 in the municipality represented an increase by 104 candidates over last years figure of 546.

At the Accra Academy centre, the supervisor, Michael Odoom, said by 8:20 a.m. majority of the candidates had arrived.

He indicated that there was no absentee at the centre, and that candidates wrote their first paper without any hitches.

Some of the candidates said they were optimistic of excelling.

At first, I was nervous and scared, but after this paper, I am calm and hopeful that the subsequent papers will be as easy as the first one, a student of Ramseyer Presby School, Stephanie Abena Fosuwaa, told the Daily Graphic.

Cape Coast

Francisca Eshun reports from Cape Coast that the Central Regions 68,049 candidates for the exam include 52,949 from public schools and 15,100 from private schools, made up of 34,113 boys and 33,936 girls.

The number also includes 55 with special needs and four inmates of the Ankaful Prisons.

The examination centres in Cape Coast include Adisadel College, Mfantsipim School, Ghana National College, St Augustines College, University Practice Senior High School, Holy Child School and Wesley Girls High School.

The Cape Coast Metropolitan Director of Education, Phyllis Krobea-Asante, who toured some of the examination centres, indicated that 3,988 candidates, made up of 2,067 females and 921 males from 102 schools, were sitting the BECE in the metropolis.

A total of 602,457 junior high school final-year students are sitting this years BECE.

The examination is being held simultaneously for both school and private candidates.
Kumasi: Six policemen injured during scuffle with tricycle operators

Getrude Ankah Nyavi Aug - 08 - 2023 , 11:10

Six policemen were injured in Kumasi on Monday as a result of a scuffle between them and tricycle operators [commonly referred to as Pragya].

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) since August 1, 2023 has been enforcing a decision to prevent tricycle operators from plying their business in the central business district of Kumasi, as part of security measures to clamp down on reckless riding in the city centre.

Following that, a number of tricycle operators have attempted to flout the directive.

Last Wednesday, some of them blocked roads leading to the central business district in protest.

The KMA is however committed to enforcing the directive and has since impounded some tricycles, following the riders decision to flout the directive.

On Monday, some of the riders attempted to forcibly enter the KMA premises and retrieve the impounded tricycles following which the KMA called in the police for security reinforcement.

The Public Relations Officer of KMA, Nana Afuah Konadu, explained that the policemen called by the KMA to help restore calm after the tricycle operators besieged the KMA offices to retrieve seized tricycles.

Speaking to journalists, Nana Afuah Konadu said the KMA will still go ahead with its decision.

If you go to the hospitals you will see various injuries they have sustained. We realised the situation was getting out of hand. They were not ready to comply, they were ready to hurt anybody that came their way. They just didnt allow law or order to work, so the military came in, I think about seven or so came in to disperse the crowd. They have left. As you can see, we are continuing for one week, and it will continue again depending on the state of affairs, the Head of Communications at the KMA said.

Tricycle operators in Kumasi, on August 2, escalated their protest against a directive to restrict their movement in parts of the Central Business District as the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly vows to implement the policy.

The tricycle operators on Wednesday, August 2, took to the streets and blocked a major road leading to Kejetia, causing significant disruptions to traffic and daily activities.
Kumasi South Hospital staff reject former KATH CEO's posting to facility

Getrude Ankah Nyavi Aug - 08 - 2023 , 13:36

Some members of the Health Services Workers Union at the Kumasi South Hospital are protesting the posting of Dr Oheneba Owusu Danso, a former Chief Executive Officer of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital to the facility on clinical duties.

Dr Oheneba Owusu Danso, a plastic reconstructive and hand surgeon recently went on compulsory retirement.

But he has been re-engaged for two years, starting from July 2023 to June 2025.

Per a letter signed by the Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Kumah Aboagye, Dr. Danso is on a two-year contract as a Consultant in Plastic, Reconstructive, and Hand Surgeon at the Kumasi South Hospital.

On hearing about the posting, some workers have raised red flags and questioned what Dr Danso was going to do at Kumasi South Hospital, located at Atonsu in Kumasi.

Speaking in a radio interview with Accra-based Citi FM on Tuesday, [August 8, 2023], the Vice Chairman of the Health Services Workers Union at the Kumasi South Hospital, Joshua Lawrence Nii Adu Arday said they will oppose the posting.

We heard the news and we saw it on social media, about Dr Oheneba Owusu Danso who they are bringing to Kumasi South Hospital..., if that is what is the case then I think that we are not ready for him. Because he is a plastic surgeon, what is he coming to do here? he quizzed.



"There are people here who are capable of handling affairs here. We are not saying that we are preventing the government from increasing us [our numbers] or adding up to us, but for Gods sake, hes 65 years old. What is he coming to do? he stressed.

Attached below is the a copy of the letter from the Director General of the Ghana Health Service:
Govt disburses GH20.88m to 199 women-owned businesses

Maclean Kwofi Aug - 08 - 2023 , 07:17

Women-owned enterprises formed the majority of beneficiaries of the technical assistance and grant programmes of the government for the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME).

Data from the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) showed that 199 women-owned enterprises were supported out of the 274 awardees for the Ghana Economic Transformation Project (GETP) grant.

It represented over 70 per cent of all beneficiaries.

The women beneficiaries received GH20.88 million out of the GH35.34 million disbursed.

The funds are expected to be used to secure machinery and equipment, working capital, and last-mile infrastructure investments.

The beneficiaries were part of those who applied for the Youth in MSME, Women MSME, and SME High Growth programmes funded by the World Bank under the Ghana Economic Transformation Project.

Signing ceremony

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Kobina Tahir Hammond, at the grant signing ceremony in Accra, said the signing ceremony marked the commencement of grant disbursement under the three programmes.

He said it formed part of the governments effort to strengthen local businesses and positioning them as viable entities for economic growth and transformation.

participants in the signing ceremony

Mr Hammond said the government had identified industrialisation as a key driver of prosperity and a vehicle for reducing dependence on primary commodities, creating wealth and reducing unemployment.

The minister explained that through a focused and strategic approach, the country aimed to transform its economy by promoting the establishment and growth of industries across various sectors.

To achieve this, the government follows a strategic roadmap that seeks to improve the competitiveness of local MSMEs and position them to benefit from existing and future global or regional trade opportunities such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) initiative, he said.

Mr Hammond said the government established the technical assistance and grant programmes to support MSMEs through the GEA.

Commitment

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GEA, Kosi Yankey-Ayeh, said the SME High Growth programme, which was piloted in October last year, had been focused on technical assistance which involved a four-month intensive business management training and capacity upgrade/mentoring plan.

She said the SME High Growth programme was now being implemented at full-scale across the country since May 2023 following a successful pilot of the programme.

She noted that with the target to assist 2,000 high growth SMEs across the country, the programme was aimed at boosting productivity and competitiveness, enabling these businesses to scale up their operations, increase sales, and create sustainable jobs.

Additionally, the Youth in MSME programme has extended the age limit to 40 years, involving young entrepreneurs from the ages of 18 to 40.

The GETP

The Ghana Economic Transformation Project's past interventions have showcased remarkable success, with over GH65 million disbursed/committed to nearly 800 SMEs between September 2021 and January 2023.
Govt urged to promote small-scale farming for poverty reduction

Delali Sika Aug - 08 - 2023 , 07:30

Discussants on poverty dynamics in the country have urged the government to implement programmes that foster productivity growth in small-scale farming, particularly in rural areas and northern Ghana.

They said such initiatives could help break the cycle of poverty and support non-poor households to improve upon their livelihoods.

The discussants included a lecturer at the African School of Economics, Benin Campus, Dr Dede W. Gafa; Researcher, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, UK, Louis S. Hodey, and Prof. Bernardin Senadza of the Department of Economics, University of Ghana,

The workshop was on the topic: Poverty dynamics in Ghana, and was held in Accra by the Department of Economics, University of Ghana.

Participants included representatives of the World Bank, the Ghana Statistical Service, the Institute of Statistical Social and Economic Research (ISSER), and the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), among others.

Bridging gaps

Dr Gafa, however, said efforts at ensuring productivity growth in the agriculture and informal sectors needed to be accompanied with balanced investments,"investments that bridge the existing infrastructure gaps between northern and southern Ghana, and rural and urban dwellings," she said.

Dr Gafa said the implementation of social programmes in the country must also focus on building resilience of vulnerable households to shocks.

"The country needs to be intentional about providing more equal access and opportunities for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds in terms of education and employment," she said.

Dr Gafa further said that social spending by the government must ensure the right balance between fiscal sustainability and reaching the left behind.

Prof. Senadza on the other hand, recommended that existing flagship programmes such as Planting for Food and Jobs and the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation initiatives should be complemented by a multifaceted, sustainable rural and infrastructure development programmes, particularly in northern Ghana.

Additionally, he said pro-poor policies and programmes that sought to ensure equal access to education and employment opportunities in the country such as the Free SHS policy should be revised to target the most vulnerable groups.

"These groups include poor people residing in rural locations and northern Ghana, especially persons from disadvantaged backgrounds, the unemployed and those in vulnerable employment," Prof. Senadza said.

Shocks

For his part, Prof. Hodey said people living in rural areas, including those into traditional farming practices and low-productivity informal sectors were vulnerable to various shocks such as climate issues and job losses.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has further worsened the situation.

Its negative effect on businesses, employment and incomes have led to heightened vulnerabilities of many non-poor households and poverty persistence for poor households," he said.

Prof. Hodey also said that although the government had implemented some social programmes such as the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), inequalities had increased over time and remained entrenched across the population.

"The categories of people who face the greatest challenge to escaping poverty are those in rural areas and those that have disadvantaged social backgrounds, he added.
'Was never contacted, heads will roll'  Kantanka CEO on not joining Wanderlust expedition

Beatrice Laryea Aug - 08 - 2023 , 12:08

The Chief Executive Officer of Kantanka Automobile, Kwadwo Safo Jnr has refuted claims that his company refused to join the historic Accra to London road trip organised by a group of Ghanaians from Wanderlust Ghana.

The Wanderlust Ghana team, a group of philanthropists and tourism enthusiasts, embarked on a 16-day journey from Accra to London travelling by road, a journey of about 10,000 kilometres.

On their arrival in London, the organisers of the trip released a statement indicating that their efforts to bring Kantanka on board proved futile as Mr. Safo refused to meet them.

The statement also suggested that they had wanted to promote made-in-Ghana brands but the Kantanka CEO turned down the offer.

The revelation by the travelers triggered a lot of backlash from Ghanaians, especially on social media, who believed the company had blown away a great opportunity to market their cars internationally.

Responding to the allegations on Monday, August 7, Mr. Safo noted that contrary to the earlier reports, he was never contacted by the group saying was never contacted ooo. Hmmm! A few heads will roll since its a Monday. This is something I would have loved to be part of.

The Wanderlust Ghana team

The common trip has always been stories of people travelling by road from Europe to Ghana, but this time around the tourism enthusiasts from Ghana did the reverse.

They started the expedition of driving from one continent to the other from Accra on Sunday [July 23, 2023] through Aburi, Nsawam, Kumasi, Sunyani to Dormaa and then entered Cote d'Ivoire via Gonokrom.

They were 12 people when they started the journey but one person dropped off in Senegal because of work related reasons and two others also dropped off in Morocco.

By Friday [August 4, 2023], they were at the outskirts of Monaco in Europe and were about to enter France, having moved through five African countries, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, Senegal, Mauritania and Morocco and entered Europe by a ferry on the Mediterranean to Algeciras in Spain, before driving to Barcelona via Valencia. They spent three days in Morocco.

The group arrived in London on Sunday, August 6, 2023, after days of exploring nations and appreciating nature.

The Kantanka Automobile is a Ghana-based auto company that designs, manufactures, and assembles luxury cars. It was founded by Apostle Dr Ing. Kwadwo Safo in 1994.
Man jailed 8 years for forging Bank of Ghana Microfinance license

GNA Aug - 08 - 2023 , 06:33

A 34-year-old man, who forged a Bank of Ghana (BoG) License to operate a microfinance company at Suhum in the Eastern region and its environs, has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment by an Accra Circuit Court.

Kofi Asante, aka Davis, pleaded guilty to the charge of engaging in deposit-taking without license and was sentenced to four years imprisonment.

On the charge of forgery of an official document, Asante pleaded guilty and was sentenced to eight years imprisonment.

The sentences are to run concurrently, the court presided over by Joojo Amoah Hagan, said The prosecution, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Emmanuel Haligah, said the Police picked intelligence that the accused person, now convict, had established microfinance business centres in the name of KM Community Bank and Prym Capital within the Suhum and its environs.

It said the convict, after establishing the business, went ahead to collect deposits from people without license.

The prosecution said intelligence indicated that the KM Community Bank had branches in Anum Apapam, Akorabo, and Amanase, while Prym Capital had its headquarters in Suhum.

The prosecution said on June 30, 2023, Asante was arrested for investigations and when his offices were searched, copies of documents purported to be issued by the Bank of Ghana in the name of KM Community Bank were found and retrieved for investigations.

It said investigations revealed that Asante had forged the Bank of Ghana License between April and January 2023 and had about 24 youths working as representatives within Suhum and its environs.

It said during the period, Asante had successfully convinced about 950 persons, who made daily deposit of GHc56,000 with his business.

The prosecution said during interrogation, Asante admitted that KM Community Bank and PRYM Capital were neither registered by the Office of the Registrar of Companies nor licensed by the Bank of Ghana to undertake deposit-taking business.

It said Asante confessed that he forged the Bank of Ghana license retrieved from his office.
MANET estate owner on how she became a successful entrepreneur

Beatrice Laryea Aug - 07 - 2023 , 17:44

The founder and president of MANET Real Estate, Theresa Oppong-Beeko has urged young women to be prudent in managing their finances and focus more on venturing into entrepreneurial work.

In a speech read on her behalf by Patience Yaakai Adjei, Event Management Consultant for the TAABEA Notable Women of Substance Breakfast Conference, which was organised by the Mission Africa Incorporated at the La Maison Lounge in Accra, Dr. Oppong-Beeko said with perseverance and sacrifice, young women, especially entrepreneurs would build generational wealth.

She explained that she started her first business venture in fishing after graduating from the University of Ghana but unfortunately, faced many challenges and eventually ran into debt to the tune of $2.5 million.

I was not discouraged because I understood that crying over spilt milk would get my business nowhere. So I rose to the occasion, dusted myself and went on to establish MANET which today, has blossomed and has become synonymous with professionalism in the real estate development industry in Ghana, she said.

Empower yourself as a woman because if you are empowered, you can build a house, buy a car and live your best life as well as support your family. Prudence, sacrifice, perseverance and hard work are the key words.

The multiple award winning Real Estate owner has a long list of awards garnered, including Woman of the Year Award, (by the American Biographical Institute); Most Outstanding Woman of the Year (by Woman 21 Game Changers); Africa's Most Influential Woman in Business and Government (by CEO Holdings); Property Personality of the Year, 2007, and Ghana's Indigenous Woman Entrepreneur of the Year 2010.

Never give up

The Headline Sponsor for the event, TAABEA Herbal Company, was represented by their vice president, Mrs. Clara Akua Agyeman, who urged the participants to be courageous in the face of the challenges that they may encounter in their various business endeavours.

It is a story of resilience and I deem it fit to share this journey with you to encourage up and coming women entrepreneurs in particular, and all business inclined people in general not to give up on their dreams, said Mrs Agyeman.

To buttress her point, Mrs. Agyeman quoted Jack Welch, a successful Business Executive, who once said: Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision and relentlessly drive it to completion.

She also encouraged them to engage in community service quoting the former president of the United States of America, George W Bush: There can be no definition of a successful life that does not include service to others.

With a desire to give back to the community, and impact lives, Mrs. Agyeman sought for a platform that would focus on touching the lives of the least privileged in society. To that end, the Clara Agyeman Foundation was birthed. Over the past five years, the Foundation has contributed start-up capital to over five hundred women for small scale, over the counter businesses.

By sponsoring this event, we are not just promoting our brand, but more importantly, we are aligning ourselves with the mission to uplift and empower women - women who are not only influential, but also instrumental in driving change and fostering development, she concluded.

Skills development

For her part, co-founder of Mission Africa Incorporated, Dr. Akosua Sumney urged women not to be in competition with men but rather sharpen their skills to do better for themselves, their families and society at large.

We dont want competition with men. We just want men to help and support women. Women should come out with their skills and the things that they can do to better society because when you train a woman, you train a whole generation and that is what we are doing as notable women of substance, she said.

Some of the participants in a photograph with Dr. Akosuah Sumney (seated), host of the Notable Women of Substance Breakfast Conference

Men are trying but a man cannot give you everything so you must develop yourself to be able to acquire properties yourself. If you are able to support yourself, whatever your husband will give you will be a bonus, she added.

Attendance

The event brought together women entrepreneur of all ages to dialogue, share ideas and network for future collaborations.

It was attended by notable people including ex-wife of Archbishop Nicholas Duncan Williams, Mama Francisca, Global President for International Youth Network for United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250, Lilian Sally Addo, Event Management Consultant for this event, Lady Patience Yaakai Adjei, National Deputy Women's Organiser Aspirant for NDC Miss Jessie Adams, actress Haillie Sumney and radio personality Caroline Sampson.

The event was sponsored by TAABEA Company Limited, Special Ice, Adonko were official beverage sponsor and Konzoom while Photo Club Imaging were the official photography sponsor.

Mission Africa

Mission Africa Incorporated is a 21st century humanitarian and missions non-profit organisation founded in 2000 by Dr. Kodjoe Sumney and his wife Dr. Akosuah Sumney, in the USA with an office in California.

Their mission is to feed the homeless in America. They have trained over 6000 people in ICT in Ghana and offer entrepreneurial assistance to young people. They have also brought over 1000 African Americans to Africa to do humanitarian work.
Namibia understudies Ghana in utilisation of oil proceeds

Maclean Kwofi Aug - 08 - 2023 , 07:36

The Republic of Namibia is understudying Ghana in the utilisation of oil proceeds for the benefit of its citizens.

In line with that, a delegation from the Upper House of Parliament of Namibia paid a courtesy call on the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) in Accra to understand petroleum revenue management and its maximisation for the benefit of the people.

The delegation, which comprised Members of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, was led by the Vice-Chairman of the committee, Elder Filipe.

The visit was in accordance with Rule 159 of the National Council Standing Rules and Orders of the Namibian Parliament which mandates the committee to address matters pertaining to various sectors such as water, agriculture, land, environment, forest, mines and energy.

They were received by the Chairman of PIAC, Prof. Kwame Adom-Frimpong, and other members of the committee.

Namibia discovers hydrocarbons

The leader of the delegation, Mr Filipe, said Namibia had discovered hydrocarbons which needed to be exploited for the benefit of its citizens, hence the need to learn from countries such as Ghana which had a wealth of experience.

He said there were plans to establish an accountability committee such as the PIAC in Namibia to ensure that revenues from petroleum resources were managed and utilised effectively to avoid a resource curse.

Mr Filipe observed that Ghana had been progressive in the management of its petroleum revenues through the promulgation of laws and establishment of necessary institutions to govern operations in the sector.

This was contained in a press statement release by PIAC in Accra.

Prof. Adom-Frimpong said that the committee played a key role within the petroleum revenue management space.

He urged the leadership of Namibia to ensure there was secure funding for an accountability committee they intended to set up to help facilitate its operation.

Recounting the establishment of PIAC in 2011, Prof. Adom-Frimpong said there was no reliable source of funding for the committee in its formative years, and that they had to rely on funds from donor partners that were supplemented by allocations from the Ministry of Finance for its activities.

He said it was not until the Petroleum Revenue Management Act (PRMA) 2011, Act 815 was amended in 2015, that a permanent source of funding was secured for the committee.

The chairman expressed the committees willingness to provide technical support for its Namibian counterpart to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of their natural resources.
Onion prices may go up if Niger tensions continue - Sellers in Accra

Zadok Kwame Gyesi Aug - 08 - 2023 , 15:35

Prices of onions may go up in Ghana if the political tensions in Niger continue, some onion sellers in Accra have said.

The leader of onion sellers in Accra, Sani Abubakar in a radio interview with Accra-based 3FM on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, said if government does not intervene in the situation, the prices will further go up.

Niger is one of Ghana's major suppliers of onion.

Sani Abubakar in the radio interview said more than 70 trucks loaded with onions heading towards Ghana are currently stuck at the borders of Niger, hence affecting the prices of the product in Ghana.

Mr. Abubakar said the Niger crises has pushed a bag of the vegetable to between GH1500 and GH1600 in Accra and that if nothing was done about the situation, a bag could sell at GH3000.

Tensions in Niger and neighbouring countries are fast deteriorating following a military takeover in the country recently.

The region bloc, ECOWAS, gave the military junta in Niger a seven-day ultimatum to reinstate the deposed President or risk the intervention of ECOWAS.

Even before the elapse of the seven-day ultimatum on Monday, August 7, 2023, ECOWAS had imposed some sanctions on Niger, including cutting trade ties with the member states.

The coup leaders have refused to cede power back to the deposed President of the country and have cautioned ECOWAS not to carry out its planned intervention.

It is these sanctions and the political turmoil in Niger that the leader of the Accra onion sellers is expressing concerns about the free flow of the commodity from Niger to Ghana.

The ECOWAS will convene another Extraordinary Summit on Thursday, August 10 on the political situation in Niger.
Researchers develop a model for chronic disease management in primary care

Doreen Andoh Aug - 08 - 2023 , 03:00

A team of researchers has developed a new model of care for persons 50 years and above who live with multiple chronic health conditions to help improve their quality of life.

The chronic conditions include diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, arthritis and respiratory disorders.

Focused on Africa, the team developed the model - Theory of Change - around the findings of a research conducted to identify gaps in primary palliative care for the ageing population who are confronted with multiple chronic conditions.

The research, conducted in Ghana, Malawi and Zimbabwe on the topic, Multimorbid Ageing Primary Palliative Care, was also to find out how to improve on such care in terms of staff workforce capacity and patients families.

The local team was led by a Senior Specialist, Family and Palliative Physician, Dr Edwina Beryl Addo Opare-Lokko, who is also the National Coordinator for the Modular Family Medicine Membership Training Coordinator at the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Other collaborators included King's College, London; the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons.

The 18 months study, which was completed in March this year, was funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC).

Dissemination

Presenting portions of the study at a meeting in Accra last Thursday, Dr Opare-Lokko from the Department of Family Medicine of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, said those chronic conditions interacted with each other, leading to complex health challenges which required a more human-centred holistic, unique care.

She said multimorbid ageing could pose significant medical, psychological and social challenges for both the affected individuals and their healthcare providers.

Integrating primary palliative care principles into the care of older adults experiencing multimorbid ageing can enhance their quality of life, promote effective symptom management and facilitate important conversations about care preferences and goals.

It requires a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach among healthcare providers, caregivers and patients to provide comprehensive and compassionate care, she said.

Model piloted

Another member of the team, Dr Adwoa Bemah Boamah Mensah, said the new model of care was piloted in two facilities, the Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital and the Mamprobi Government Hospital, after a series of capacity-building and mentorship programmes for selected health professionals.

She said mentees welcomed the intervention and proposed that training and mentorship should also target all departments as communication was universal, irrespective of the unit.

The training and mentorship has transformed the way they are managing patients now.

They think that patients can attest to this.

They would like this mentorship to continue even after the MAPCare Programme.

They are also of the view that the classroom training should have been extended; two days was not enough to capture and internalise everything, she said.

Present at the meeting included representatives of the Ministry of Health, the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Ghana Health Service, who applauded the model and recommended that it be replicated nationwide in all health facilities to enhance health outcomes.

Introducing the study for dissemination, another team member and the overall lead investigator, Dr Kennedy Nkhoma, said it had been established that each year, an estimated 61 million people experienced serious health-related suffering (SHS) towards the end of their lives.

He said 80 per cent of older people lived in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), while access to palliative care remained poor in such countries.

Objectives

Objectives of the study included establishing an African patient and public involvement palliative care network to inform research procedures and dissemination, determine primary care staff, patient and family views of costs, barriers, facilitators and necessary support to achieve primary person-centred palliative older care for multimorbid serious illness and to develop a logic model and novel model of care to integrate value-based care, patient-centred outcome measurement, a decision support tool and staff mentorship.

Among the findings of the study are the long hours the aged living with multiple chronic conditions spend at the hospitals to access care.

The elderly who participated in the study recommended an appointment system in healthcare delivery.
Empowering parents to give better care to children with autism

Doreen Andoh Health Aug - 08 - 2023 , 09:14

As a mother with two of my three children living with autism, I can confidently say that when parents and caregivers are empowered with information and understanding, unique challenges associated with raising children with autism become surmountable, Harriet told the Daily Graphic.

She said the lack of widespread awareness and understanding of autism had led to misconceptions, discrimination and stigmatisation, making it difficult for individuals with this silent disability called autism to be fully accepted and integrated into society.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects social communication and behaviour, and it is important to shed light on how it is understood and addressed in different regions, including Ghana.

My first boy is almost 15 and the last, who is a twin, is 13 and they are all at the very end of the autism spectrum, meaning they cannot verbally communicate and are highly dependent on adult support for their everyday activities.

My husband and I faced a number of challenges with our children when they were diagnosed with autism and were very young.

Our initial challenges, which I believe most parents like us are facing, included not being able to figure out what their needs were at any given time, especially when they resort to crying to depict their discomfort or the fact that they needed help.

It was very difficult to understand them.

You dont know what they are going through, and they cry a lot to let you know there is something wrong.

Initially it was a lot of guess work for us.

When they cry, we try so many things like giving them food, water, cuddling, taking them to the loo among others.

Sometimes its so bad that none of these work out, making it so frustrating.

When my husband and I made the deliberate effort to seek more knowledge and understanding into autism, we were able to make life easier and better for ourselves and our children.

Foundation and book

As a parent of a child with autism, you don't have to navigate the journey alone.

Build a support network that includes family members, friends, other parents of children with autism and support groups.

Sharing experiences and learning from others can be empowering and comforting, she said.

Understand that autism is a spectrum disorder, and each child's experience is unique.

Resources such as books, online articles and workshops can provide valuable insights and practical advice, she said.

Their life experiences coupled with limited support system for affected families and limited awareness and understanding about autism encouraged her family to set up a foundation.

Thanks to the pacesetters who have championed the cause, autism is now a word recognised by many.

However, there is still much work to be done.

As we strive to develop a better understanding of the condition.

Known as the Sparkles Foundation, it is registered and operational both in the UK and Ghana to help families with children with special needs.

As a parent of three children, two with autism, the personal difficulties experienced led me with the support of my husband, Richard, to found Sparklers Foundation UK and Ghana.

Symptoms of level 3 Autism

Our years of experience is now used in combatting isolation, empowering persons with disability, and supporting families managing autism and other disability.

The learning from their own experience has encouraged her to write a book as part of the support to families who find themselves in a similar place and with similar challenges.

It is the story of our family and our struggles with autism, but at the same time a story which resonates with many other individuals, families and communities touched by autism or other forms of disability.

Book

This book, Autism and Living Series: Understanding Autism shares from both a parental and a professional specialist perspective, and is designed to aid parents, caregivers, special educators, health practitioners, and the general public on who a person with autism is and the diverse strategies and approaches for meeting their needs.

The knowledge shared is based on tried and tested approaches with our two preverbal young men on the spectrum (Delasi and Dave) who have such intriguingly different and fascinating personalities.

This book is a journey down memory lane, aiming to share one familys lived autism experience, the challenges theyve faced so far, and some coping mechanisms.

Numerous effective strategies and resources have also been provided in the book based on my 17 years of teaching and research in England, working closely with neurotypical children as well as children with autism and other additional needs.

It also highlights some key indicators that parents or guardians are to look for when their children are showing signs of delayed development.

This book is one of the series sharing insight on how to support your child from infancy to adulthood.

The book walks you through what autism is, the causes, recognition of symptoms, diagnosis, grieving, intervention, challenges, supporting your child after diagnosis, crises phases, and managing through it all. Parental and family well-being is not neglected.

It also shares some effective professional strategies from the authors many years of training and experience as a Special Educational Needs and mainstream teacher, autism researcher, founder of an international autism charity, disability advocate and a senior leader in autism specialist settings in UK and Ghana.

Remember that every child is unique, and with love, patience and understanding, you can help your child with autism lead a fulfilling and enriched life.

Early intervention

Early intervention is critical for children with autism.

If you suspect your child might be on the autism spectrum or notice developmental delays, seek professional assessment and intervention as soon as possible.

Early intervention programmes can significantly improve your child's communication, social skills and overall development.

Sensory sensitivities are common in children with autism.

Pay attention to your child's sensory preferences and sensitivities.

Create a sensory-friendly environment by minimising overwhelming stimuli and incorporating sensory activities that your child enjoys.

Communication can be a significant challenge for children with autism.

Employ various communication strategies, such as using visual aids, gestures and simple language, to facilitate understanding.

Encourage your child to communicate in their preferred way, be it through speech, sign language, or augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices.

Embrace Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) Therapy: ABA therapy is a widely recognised and evidence-based intervention for autism.

Consider enrolling your child in ABA therapy, which focuses on positive reinforcement and behaviour modification to enhance communication, social skills and daily living activities.

Social skills are vital for your child's overall development.

Encourage social interaction by arranging playdates with understanding peers or engaging in group activities where your child can learn and practice social skills in a supportive setting.

Remember that caring for a child with autism can be emotionally and physically demanding.

Prioritise self-care to maintain your well-being.

Take breaks when needed, seek respite care, and engage in activities that bring you joy and relaxation, she advices.

There are still hard questions to answer around inclusive education, adult care and life long support for neurodiverse persons who may require care all their lives.

Who will take care of my children after I'm gone?

I wish someone had handed me a book like this when my eldest, Delasi was diagnosed.

And I yearn with all my heart for our pain and victory to become a blessing to many families and communities around the world.
Establish more centres for development  Youth Parliament

Mohammed Fugu Politics Aug - 08 - 2023 , 06:29

The Northern Region Youth Parliament has called on the government to build more youth centres across the country to enhance youth education and development.

The Minority Leader of the Northern Region Youth Parliament, Alhassan Musah Timtooni, who made the call, said such centres would strengthen the incorporation of youth development across all sectors.

Such centres can also be used as avenues for sharing awareness of some development projects that the government want to undertake.

The youths' understanding and involvement in such projects will go a long way to foster its success he noted.

Given the significant role of the youth in national development, he emphasised the need to create more interventions and platforms that would further motivate the youth to take active part in governance of the country.

Parliament sitting

Mr Timtooni made the call at a joint sitting of the Youth Parliament in Tamale which brought together various youth groups, Civil Society Organisations, students, among others.

The event, which was on the theme: A year implementation of the national youth policy; success, challenges and way forward, sought to raise issues that were affecting young people in the country.

It was organised by the National Youth Authority (NYA), in collaboration with Northern Sector Action on Awareness Centre (NORSAAC) and the Northern Regional Youth Parliament, to create a platform to deliberate on issues concerning development in the country.

Mr Timtooni urged the NYA to seek legislation to back the activities of the youth Parliaments to help empower the youth and get their voices heard.

YouStart

For his part, the Chief Executive Officer of the NYA, Pius Enam Hadzide, said lack of finance was one of the main challenge facing the youth for which reason the government had invested about GH10 million into its YouStart Programme to support the teeming youth with startup capitals.

While charging the youth to take advantage of opportunities offered by the government to better themselves, he appealed to corporate institutions and various stakeholders to collaborate with the government to empower the youth.

With the implementation of the National Youth Policy, we are on the right direction to ensuring that Ghanaian youth are empowered to contribute to national development he noted.
Fred Nuamah withdraws from NDC Parliamentary Primary, throws support behind John Dumelo

Kweku Zurek Politics Aug - 08 - 2023 , 06:10

Fred Nuamah, known for his transition from acting to politics, has opted to withdraw from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary primaries for the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency.

Nuamah's decision was articulated in a personal letter directed to the party leadership. He emphasized that his choice to withdraw was a product of thorough consultations with key stakeholders and was devoid of any external influence.

In a letter addressed to the General Secretary of the NDC and the Chairman of the Ayawaso West Wuogon Chairman of the party, Nuamah stated: "I firmly believe that the NDC must present a unified front for the 2024 general elections. As a dedicated member of the NDC, I prioritize the partys unity and the President John Mahama project aimed at rescuing our country."

Nuamah expressed gratitude towards his supporters and well-wishers, acknowledging their backing throughout his political journey. He conveyed his appreciation for the time spent in their company.

While announcing his withdrawal, Nuamah pledged his support to his primary rival, John Dumelo, in the contest for the Ayawaso West Wuogon candidacy.

"I wholeheartedly endorse and throw my support behind my good friend and brother, Mr. John Dumelo, to be the parliamentary candidate for the NDC in the Ayawaso West-Wuogon constituency," Nuamah affirmed.

He further implored his followers to unite behind Dumelo, fostering a renewed sense of cohesion to secure victory in the upcoming 2024 elections.

Background

The news of a head-to-head contest between Fred Nuamah and John Dumelo for the NDC parliamentary candidacy in Ayawaso West Wuogon ahead of the 2024 general election emerged in March.

Although Nuamah declared his intention first, he later faced recommendations to step aside for Dumelo, who had previously represented the party in 2020.

Amid allegations of bad faith and claims of mutual approval to contest, Nuamah chose to withdraw, aiming to preserve his friendship with Dumelo.

However, the party suspended the vetting of candidates and the constituency's election in April, adding a layer of uncertainty to the contest's trajectory.

Read the entire letter below;
I will give NPP 2million votes in Ashanti - Alan Kyeremanten

Zadok Kwame Gyesi Politics Aug - 08 - 2023 , 13:16

Flagbearer hopeful on the ticket of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Alan John Kwadwo Kyeremanten, has promised to help the party secure two million votes in the Ashanti Region in order to help the party stay in power after the 2024 general elections.

This is why he says he is the rightful candidate to lead the NPP to the 2024 general elections and delegates should therefore consider and vote for him.

He said the party will need two million votes from the Ashanti Region alone in order to retain power during the 2024 elections and the person who could help the party to secure such votes is himself.

He said failure to make him the flagbearer of the NPP going into the 2024 elections will cause the party a lot as Ghanaians prefer him to other candidates in the flagbearer race.

Mr. Kyeremanten who was speaking at Bidieso in Obuasi in the Ashanti Region as part of his campaign tour said the party has the chance to continue to remain in power if he is made the flagbearer.

Ten candidates, including Mr. Kyeremanten are contesting the flagbearer slot of the party slated for November 4, 2023.

He asked delegates not to give in to influence by anybody to vote for someone who will not help the party to win the 2024 general elections.

He explained that aside his ability to gain two million votes in the Ashanti Region, he is also the preferred candidate who could gain more votes in the Volta Region to weaken the strength of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

He said if the party does not want to go into opposition, then the party must elect him to lead the party into the elections.
Im politically experienced to lead NPP  Dr Bawumia

Ezekiel E. Sottie Politics Aug - 08 - 2023 , 06:24

The Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has said he is more politically experienced to win the flagbearership race of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and defeat the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2024 general election.

He said his track record as a running mate for the party four consecutive times, Vice-President for two terms and his experience in the economic management performance of the country put him ahead in the flagbearership contest.

Our party, the NPP, wants to break the eight (8) and we cant just break the 8, but break it with winnable candidate that has the qualities and credibility to break it.

I am from the north, and John Dramani Mahama is also from the north and, therefore, I will be able to infiltrate into the northern stronghold of the NDC for victory in 2024, the Vice-President assured.

Addressing delegates at Somanya last Sunday, the Vice-President said even though he had better job opportunities outside the country at the time he was to partner President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, he abandoned them to join the campaign team to win the 2016 election.

Disaffection

The Vice-President, also a flag bearer hopeful of the NPP, who was accompanied by a number of Members of Parliament and the Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Acheampong, said one major challenge facing the NPP was factionalism, which was creating disaffection within the rank and file of the party.

He said as a unifier, the unity of the party would be his preoccupation after getting the nod to lead the party into the 2024 general election.

Dr Bawumia recounted a number of social interventions including the Free Senior High School, Technical Vocational Education, Zongo Development Fund among others that the NPP government including him has implemented.

He said those were the trump cards that would defeat the main opposition party, the NDC.

Policies

He also mentioned a number of new policies he would bring on board including Ghana card for children at their birth and Ghana card that would be used to trace any passport that was lost.

Ladies and gentlemen, nobody should deceive you that I will not be capable of handling the economy for that matter the country when given the nod as the flag bearer and eventually as the next President of this country, he said.

Credibility and experience

The Vice- President told the delegates that out of the 10 NPP aspirants, he is the target of their opposition, the NDC simply because of his credibility and experience, saying For we are not just looking for flag bearer, but want the one with vision, credibility, creativity, humility and tolerance.

He therefore urged the delegates of the party to give him the nod to lead the party to a third successive victory in the 2024 general election.

The Yilo Krobo Municipal Chief Executive, Eric Tetteh, and the constituency chairman Abubakar Teye assured the Vice President that Yilo Krobo had no other choice than Dr Bawumia for the flagbearership race for the success of the party.

Background

The NPP will hold its Special Electoral College election on August 26, 2023 to prune down the number of the presidential aspirants from 10 to five for the partys national delegates congress on November 4, 2023 to elect a flag bearer to lead the party into the 2024 general election.
Mahama urges leaders to prioritise welfare of citizens

Daily Graphic Politics Aug - 08 - 2023 , 06:35

Former President John Dramani Mahama has urged leaders to prioritise the well-being of citizens by ensuring that people benefit from the nations resources and projects, regardless of who initiated them.

He described as unacceptable a decision by the government not to commit funds to complete the Saglemi Housing Project, which he said could have benefited thousands of Ghanaian families.

Comments

Mr Mahama, who is the leader of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), in a Facebook post yesterday said: It is unacceptable for Akufo-Addo to spend over half a billion cedis on a national cathedral project that has ultimately failed due to corruption and is now abandoned, yet refuses to commit funds to complete a housing project that will benefit thousands of Ghanaian families, he said.

Knowing the New Patriotic Party government, they did not want to complete the Saglemi Housing Project simply because it was initiated by John Mahama and an NDC administration, he stated.

Mr Mahamas Facebook post seemed to be in response to last Tuesdays (August 1,2023) sod cutting ceremony performed by President Akufo-Addo for the commencement of 8,000 housing units project at Pokuase in the Greater Accra Region.

The project on a 203-acre land is under the Revised National Affordable Housing Programme.

At the sod cutting ceremony, President Akufo-Addo was reported to have announced that it was the first government housing project that had undergone meticulous feasibility study as prerequisite for funding from the Ministry of Finance.

, Mr Mahamas Facebook post said: Leaders must always prioritise the well-being of their citizens and ensure that they benefit from government resources and projects, regardless of who initiated them.

Mr Mahama stated further that the misplaced priorities of a government that claims it is unable to raise money to complete the Saglemi Housing Project and yet is willing to spend half a billion cedis on the largest civil excavation in Africa is a humiliating slap in the face of Ghanaians who entrusted Akufo-Addo with their mandate.

Just think about the countless number of Ghanaian families who could have had decent living conditions over the past seven years and the individuals who could have had a place to truly call home in Saglemi, Mr Mahama said.
Mother and daughter first to go to space together

bbc.com Technology Aug - 08 - 2023 , 05:46

An 18-year-old Aberdeen University student and her mother will travel to space later this week after winning a place on Virgin Galactic's second commercial flight in a prize draw.

Anastatia Mayers and her mum Keisha Schahaff will be the first mother and daughter to go to space.

They will also be the first people from the Caribbean to make the journey.

The pair will take off from New Mexico on Thursday.

Keisha was travelling to the UK to sort out her daughter's visa when she entered the competition.

She was on a Virgin Atlantic flight from Antigua to London when suddenly an advert popped up.

"I filled out this sweepstake and then suddenly months later I'm getting correspondences saying that you're a top 20 finalist, then a top five finalist, to becoming a winner," she says.

"Suddenly, who's walking into my yard? Richard Branson. The whole team just swarmed into my house saying 'you're the winner, you're going to space'."

Anastatia says it was her decision to travel from the Caribbean to study in Scotland that led to the opportunity to go space.

"Had I not randomly chosen Aberdeen University and had we not had to take a massive detour to get my visa - we wouldn't be going to space," she says.

"I feel like a lot of things had to happen at very specific moments for us to end up here."

The second-year philosophy and physics student says coming to study in Scotland was one of the biggest decisions of her life but it has "led to magnificent things happening".

The mission, named Galactic 02 is the second commercial spaceflight conducted by the American space company, and the first with paying customers onboard.

The advertised price for a ride on the rocket plane has been as high as $450,000 (350,000).

The Galactic 01 mission took place in June. It reached an altitude of 279,000ft (85km). It is thought the second mission will attempt the same path.

'Over the moon'

Anastatia, who will be the second youngest person to go to space, says she hopes she can use the experience to inspire others.

"That would be very important to me, both in Scotland and Antigua and anywhere else I have any ties," she says.

"I do hope that people are watching and supporting.

"My intention is to just break any barriers that we set for ourselves or that the world sets for us.

"I want people to know that it doesn't matter where you come from, who you are - anything - your dream is your dream and you can make that happen, despite what anyone else says."

Keisha adds: "For me and my daughter together, it's more than a dream come true.

"This is my kid, I love her with all my heart, and to know that we both share the same goal, the same dream, that is super over the moon."

The pair will be joined former Team GB Olympian Jon Goodwin from Newcastle. He will become the second person with Parkinson's to go to space as well as the first Olympian.
Zoom orders workers back to the office

bbc.com Technology Aug - 08 - 2023 , 05:40

Zoom, the video communications company whose name became synonymous with remote work during the pandemic, has ordered staff back to the office.

The firm said it believed a "structured hybrid approach" was most effective and people living within 50 miles (80km) of an office should work in person at least twice a week.

It is the latest push by a major firm to row back flexible working policies.

Amazon and Disney are among the firms that have reduced remote work days.

Surveys suggest that workers are still holding onto the ability to work from home to some degree.

About 12% of workers in the US, where Zoom is headquartered, were fully remote in July, while another 29% had hybrid policies, according to a survey by researchers at Stanford University and others that has been conducted monthly since the pandemic.

That is similar to patterns recorded by the Office for National Statistics in the UK earlier this year.

Earlier research by the Stanford team has found remote work is more common in English-speaking countries, and far less common in Asia and Europe.

Before the pandemic, the share of days worked from home in the US was only about 5%. Globally, workers consistently desire more flexible working arrangements than employers see as optimal.

Zoom at one point said staff would be able to work remotely indefinitely.

The tech firm said the new policy would be rolled out in August and September, on a staggered timeline that varied by country.

It said it would continue to "hire the best talent, regardless of location". At the end of January, the company employed about 8,400 people, more than half of whom were based in the US.

About 200 people currently work for Zoom in the UK, where it just opened a new London office.

Zoom said that the new policy, which was first reported by Business Insider, would put the company in a "better position to use our own technologies, continue to innovate, and support our global customers".

"We'll continue to leverage the entire Zoom platform to keep our employees and dispersed teams connected and working efficiently," Zoom said.

Only about 1% of the company's workers had "regular office presences" in September 2022, while 75% lived remotely and the remainder had hybrid arrangements, the Wall Street Journal reported at the time.

But Zoom is under mounting pressure as the expansion of remote work prompts rivals, such as Microsoft, to upgrade their video offerings.

Growth has slowed sharply since the pandemic. Earlier this year, it announced it was cutting 15% of its staff and top executives would take major pay cuts.

Its shares are worth about $68 apiece today, down from more than $500 at the peak in October 2020.
Montauk Renewablesa renewable energy company specializing in the management, recovery and conversion of biogas into RNGand its subsidiary Montauk Energy Holdings signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with EE North America, a North American subsidiary of Denmarkbased European Energy, to deliver all biogenic CO 2 volumes from all its Texas facilities sufficient for large scale production of e-fuels such as e-methanol.

The initial delivery period is expected to begin in 2026 and is expected to last for 15 years upon final agreement. The LOI immediately commits Montauks CO 2 from its Texas facilities to EE North Americas Texas Power-to-X project.





Rendering of EE North America Power-to-X plant.

EE North America intends to construct a Power-to-X facility in Texas that would take the biogenic CO 2 from Montauks locations and use it in the production of e-methanol. The e-methanol would then be used to fuel vessels for maritime shipping operations. The LOI between Montauk and EE North America assists Montauk in synchronizing capital commitment timing at its Texas facilities with EE North Americas project.

The planned delivery would prevent biogenic CO 2 from entering the atmosphere and put it to beneficial use, creating a new fixed-price commodity revenue stream for Montauk.

Montauk Renewables captures methane, preventing it from being released into the atmosphere, and converts it into either RNG or electrical power for the electrical grid. The company, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has more than 30 years of experience in the development, operation and management of landfill methane-fuelled renewable energy projects.

The company has current operations at 15 operating projects located in California, Idaho, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Texas. The company sells RNG and renewable electricity, taking advantage of Environmental Attribute premiums available under federal and state policies that incentivize their use.
Taiwan-based ProLogium, a developer and manufacturer of next-generation EV solid-state battery solutions selected France as the location for its first large-scale solid-state battery manufacturing plant outside Asia. The European Commission has now given a green light to a 1.5-billion grant from the French government to support ProLogiums project. (Earlier post.)

The grant from the French government, approved by the European Commission under the European framework for State aid for research, development, and innovation (RDIF), will serve as robust backing for ProLogiums project in researching and developing a new generation of batteries for electric vehicles and to set up a 48 GWh gigafactory in Dunkirk, France.

Total gigafactory investment is projected to be 5.2 billion. ProLogium will receive the 1.5 billion grant according to different milestones until 2029. ProLogium will share the technical results gained through the project and collaborate with local industry, academia and customers based on FRAND (Fair, Reasonable and Non-discriminatory) conditions and mutual benefits.

ProLogium was allowed to be involved in the IPCEI (Important Project of Common European Interest) on Batteries on December 2022 and will pursue its collaborations with direct partners in this IPCEI.

The next step for ProLogium is the launch of the public consultation process under the aegis of the CNDP, which will begin in September 2023. Construction of the gigafactory is set to begin in the second half of 2024, with production estimated to start by the end of 2026.

ProLogium is actively scouting locations for its R&D center. As part of its expansion, ProLogium will initiate the recruitment process, seeking talented professionals to spearhead these projects.
Topsoe has signed an agreement with World Energy GH2, a net-zero solutions provider, to provide Topsoes dynamic ammonia loop technology for Canadas largestand one of the worlds first-to-market, renewable hydrogen projectsProject Nujioqonik. (Nujioqonik is The Mikmaw name for Bay St. George)

Located in the Bay St. George region of Newfoundland and Labrador, Project Nujioqonik was announced by World Energy GH2 in spring 2022 with an intended investment of US$12 billion to produce renewable hydrogen, also referred to as green hydrogen, to decarbonize the hard-to-abate sectors globally.

World Energy GH2 will supply 250,000 metric tons of renewable hydrogen per year to global markets at the completion of its renewable hydrogen project. The project will use wind energy power for production on the site, which is expected to begin producing hydrogen in 2025.

Topsoes ammonia loop technology (earlier post) will be used to generate up to 1,650 metric tons per day of renewable ammonia on the site.

World Energy GH2 is a Newfoundland and Labrador-based renewable energy company. Project Nujio'qonik is a consortium of Canadian and international partners focused on developing a cost-effective, wind energy to green hydrogen/ammonia production facility located on the west coast of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

Project Nujioqonik aims to be Canadas first commercial green hydrogen/ammonia producer created from 3+ Gigawatts of wind energy in one of the worlds best wind resource regions.
Today is the first Monday of the month, and that's when Google traditionally releases new Android updates. It's done the same this time around, but if you were expecting Android 14 to officially drop, we have some bad news.

The updates going out today to supported Pixels are still based on Android 13, despite the fact that new Android 14 betas have generally gone out early each month so far - including in July. The finalized, non-beta version of Android 14 might still arrive later this month, like it did last year. If not, then we need to wait until September for that.

Anyway, the update that is going out is identified as TQ3A.230805.001 globally for all devices except for the Pixel Fold which gets TQ3C.230805.001.A3 and the Pixel Tablet which gets TQ3A.230805.001.B1. In Japan, the Pixel Fold gets TQ3A.230805.001.A4. Meanwhile in the US, Pixel 6, 6 Pro, and 6a models on T-Mobile and its MVNOs as well as Google Fi get version TQ3A.230805.001.A1. Finally, for Verizon and its MVNOs, the version is TQ3A.230805.001.A2 for all models.

As usual, the update includes security patches, bug fixes, and various improvements. Google mentions a few. An issue that sometimes caused Bluetooth keyboards to not connect has been fixed for the Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet, an issue causing certain Live Wallpapers to display incorrectly in different orientations, another one causing the launcher search input to not register, and one sometimes causing the lock screen to become unresponsive have all been fixed for the Pixel Fold.

Finally, an issue causing flickering or glitches while in Hub mode is also gone from the Pixel Tablet. Since this is a Google update, expect it to take its sweet time reaching all supported devices out there (Pixel 4a and later). These rollouts sometimes conclude in days, but usually it's weeks.

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Several key partners just announced plans to build the European Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (ESMC) GmbH  a joined venture between TSMC, Robert Bosch, Infineon Technologies and NXP Semiconductors. TSMC will hold a 70% stake, the other three will have 10% each.

ESMC will begin construction of a fab in the second half of next year and plans to begin mass production of chips in 2027. Before you get too excited, note that this fab will focus on older nodes.

The target is to produce 40,000 300mm (12) wafers per month using TSMCs 28/22nm planar CMOS process and the 16/12nm FinFET process. Both of these are a decade old at this point, but the fab wont be building smartphone chipsets or GPUs.

Bosch, Infineon and NXP are major players in automotive hardware market (the first two are from Germany, the latter is based in the Netherlands). These older nodes are well-suited for the dozens and dozens of microcontrollers that go into a modern car. Additionally, Infineon makes memory for embedded systems, thats a use case as well. A few years ago TSMC build a dedicated 28nm fab for Sony image sensors too (and modern cars have several cameras on board).

There are other products that can be made at these nodes, for example, Samsung announced the start of production of 12nm DDR5 RAM earlier this year, though while it is cutting edge now, it will be fairly old by 2027.

Again, this is clearly a move meant to bolster EUs automotive and industrial sectors rather than trying to enter new markets that need cutting edge silicon. But if you paid attention to the car market over the last few years, you will remember the havoc that the chip shortage wreaked on the industry. With a secure domestic supply, local manufacturers will be in a better position when another shortage inevitably hits.

The total investment in the project is over 10 billion. It will create around 2,000 jobs for high-tech professionals, the fab will be operated by TSMC.

Source
With Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero signing three bills into public laws to help the Guam Department of Education, it remains to be seen if any of the fifteen senators of the 37th Guam legislature will introduce legislation proposed by Attorney General Douglas Moylan.

Moylans proposed bills to raise enrollment caps for charter schools and providing vouchers to attend private schools have the intent to absorb the DOE students who may not be able to receive their 180 instructional days before those instructional days collide with the summer and next school years, according to Moylans news release on July 28.

Together, the two bill proposals would require the Department of Administration to disburse over $32 million dollars to accommodate the extra students, but they did not clarify where the funds would come from other than Guams general fund.

Our legislature is needed to accomplish our common goal to ensure every student is provided in-person instruction from school day one. As I promised in our round-table discussions, we are committed to assisting in providing an adequate public education by drafting proposed legislation, stated the AG. We want to provide to all our elected leaders options. Your assistance in adopting the draft bills is appreciated.

Moylan has also showcased posters on billboards to indicate that he wants children to succeed with a stamp to love your kids.

Charter school enrollment caps

The first legislative proposal intended to maximize the publicly funded charter schools facilities and allow for funding to start at the beginning of the school year.

This bill would increase the cost of operating the charter schools to a total over $17 million in Fiscal Year 2024 through an authorization by the Department of Administration.

The proposal would raise enrollment caps to the following:

iLearn Academy Charter School: 785 students

Guahan Academy Charter School: 865 students

Science Is Fun and Awesome Academy Charter School: 485 students

Career Tech High Academy Charter School: 140 students

This would lead to an additional 350 students to be taken in across the four charter schools, which was supported by Evangeline Cepeda, Chairperson of the Guam Academy Charter Schools Council.

During the GACSCs budget hearing last month, Cepeda noted that iLearn can take another 45, SIFA can take 135, Career Tech can take 70 and GACS can take 100.

Cepeda stated this may be a possibility while still adhering to requirements set by the Department of Public Health and Social Services, building codes and others set by the government of Guam.

Moylans proposal would additionally require that each Academy Charter School submits monthly invoices to GACSC and DOA.

Private school vouchers

The second proposal would intend to provide students that are currently enrolled in GDOEs Phase III schools the opportunity to receive a voucher for the upcoming school year to attend an accredited private school on Guam. Phase III schools are those schools that are not designated to open for more than three months or about one third of a school year, as of Moylans release on July 28.

The vouchers would be issued via a public lottery system for students currently registered at the following Guam Department of Education schools:

Adacao Elementary School

Captain H.B. Price Elementary School

D.L. Perez Elementary School

J.Q. San Miguel Elementary School

Tamuning Elementary School

Upi Elementary School

Agueda I. Johnston Middle School

Astumbo Middle School

Inalahan Middle School

Jose L.G. Rios Middle School

Vicente S.A. Benevente Middle School

George Washington High School

This proposal would provide vouchers no more than $7,500 per student.

We envision and understand that the private schools may be able to accommodate up to 1,500 DOE school students from elementary to middle to high school grade levels, according to Moylan.

This possible bill would require another $15 million to be funded by DOA.

Vouchers may be used at any accredited private school, with inperson learning, willing to accept the voucher. The vouchers may not be switched with other students, clarified the AG.

Similar to the first proposal, private schools would need to submit monthly invoices reflecting the number of voucher students enrolled to the Department of Administration for payments.
The Guam Fire Department and Guam Community College have celebrated the graduation of their first paramedic cohort program within the college.

The fourteen GFD firefighters, now certified as paramedics, were praised for being the trailblazers after first starting the program in July 2020 and finally graduating from the program on Tuesday, after setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic and Typhoon Mawar.

In order to complete the program, firefighters had to go through 1,100 hours of school and pass the test set by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, according to Lt. Nick Garrido, GFD Public Information Officer.

The following firefighters are the first nationally certified paramedics within GFD:

Fire Capt. John C. Carbullido Fire Capt. Jerel-Kent L. Cruz Fire Capt. Peter Martinez Fire Capt. John Jude S. Pinaula Fire Lt. Angel B. Llagas Jr. Fire Lt. Ignacio L. Rosario II Fire Lt. Ken Vincent Q. Siongco Firefighter II Darren G. Apiag II Firefighter II Andrew M. Escamilla Firefighter II Wayne R. Matanane Firefighter II Bryan Craig C. Paul Firefighter I Patrick J. Flores Firefighter I Jocelyn Alvarez Sablan Firefighter I Anthony W. Taijeron Jr.

Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio stated that the program will have a lasting impact on the islands future.

It is an effort to try to save lives, which is a very important and humbling thing that any public servant can do, added Tenorio. Now that we have a paramedic program, we will continue to work on building a first-rate hospital that the people of Guam deserve, right here in Mangilao.

Tenorio also told the graduates that this program showcased their decision to be proactive and aspirations to have national standards in GFD.

Despite the time this takes away from your personal lives and families, what we have is a group of dedicated public servants, life-savers and heroes who are so committed to working on behalf of the people of Guam, stated Tenorio. Their legacy brings an improvement to our fire practice and a raised standard for what we know GFD is going to be able to provide in public services.

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero echoed Tenorios sentiment as the firefighters are pioneers for the program.

Because of your experiences and challenges to move forward to be nationally certified, others that come behind you will have a better and easier way to be paramedics, said the governor. For the people of Guam, we are blessed and grateful for having these paramedics out there and are better prepared to serve the people of Guam. My vision is to have all firefighters be paramedics.

Joey San Nicolas, Acting GFD Fire Chief, noted how the newly credentialed fire personnel will benefit their Advanced Life Support program.

The ALS program is now ready to officially roll out as a true paramedic-level, advanced life support intercept program, raising the level of care of emergency medical services for our island and people, said San Nicolas.

The ceremony took place at GCCs new concrete canopy outside their student center as its first hosted event after it was officially opened on Monday.
Published on 2023/08/08 | Source

New behind-the-scene stills added for the upcoming Korean movie "A Man of Reason" (2021)

Advertisement

Directed by Jung Woo-sung

With Jung Woo-sung, Kim Nam-gil, Park Sung-woong, Kim Jun-han, Park Yoo-na, Lee Elijah,...

Formerly known as "The Protector" on HanCinema

Synopsis

After 10 years in the prison on behalf of his boss, Soo-hyeok is released, but the boss doubts his loyalty. When Soo-hyeok visits his long-abandoned girlfriend, he finds out that he, now, is a father of young girl. He wants to cut ties with the gang, but the boss is not ready to release him, and hires a notorious killer. The killer takes the daughter as hostage, and Soo-hyeok decides to take revenge in a way that he`s best at; a violence.

Release date in Korea : 2023/08/15
Photo courtesy Kelley Germain, Germain Media LLC

The New River Conservancy and Ashe County invite you to join them for the ribbon cutting of the New River Park on Highway 163, West Jefferson, North Carolina. The ribbon cutting will begin at 11:00 am with representatives from Ashe County, Ashe County Chamber of Commerce, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and New River Conservancy (NRC). Following the ceremony, there will be opportunities to tour the new park with Foggy Mountain Nursery and NRC. Swimming in the New River will be encouraged, or bring your boat for a relaxed paddle to Elk Shoals. Please RSVP at EVENTS@NewRiverConservancy.org if you are planning to attend.

After the Conservancy purchased and transferred Elk Shoals (270-acre former Methodist camp) to the New River State Park, it was evident that a public river access upstream would enhance the river experience. Elk Shoals is 5 miles downstream of this new park and there are no bridges in this section of the river. Not long after the Elk Shoals acquisition, a new opportunity arose, and in the fall of 2021 NRC received donated land adjacent to the HWY 163 bridge where there was no public access. This project was born of that need for a new recreational access and has resulted in an incredible resource for West Jefferson, Ashe County, North Carolina (NC) and the New River Watershed in general.

Through the generosity of donors and several grants NRC created the New River Park on Highway 163 in West Jefferson, North Carolina. By restoring the river buffer with native shrubs and trees, the Conservancy stabilized the river bank, minimizing erosion and preventing further sedimentation of the headwaters of the New River. This restoration work will endure as the New River remains a resilient and healthy attraction for both residents and visitors alike.

Officially opening Friday, August 18 at 11:00 am, the park now includes a new river access ramp, parking lot, information kiosk, picnic shelter and portajohn. Paddlers will now be able to traverse the New River from this location and takeout at the Wagoner Access 5 miles downriver. This is a beautiful paddle or float as there are no low water bridges to worry about, nor any difficult rapids.

Huge thanks go to Ashe County of North Carolina, State of North Carolina, North Carolina Land and Water Fund, High Country Association of Realtors, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Foggy Mountain Nursery and all donors, both big and small. Please RSVP if you are planning to attend the ribbon cutting at EVENTS@NewRiverConservancy.org. There are still opportunities to contribute to the park.

Please contact Elizabeth Underwood at elizabeth@newriverconservancy.org or donate at https://newriverconservancy.org/donate/ We couldnt protect the New without you.

New River Conservancy is a 501c3 non-profit dedicated to protecting the New River watershed in Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina, and is based in West Jefferson, N.C., near the rivers headwaters.

Courtesy of New River Conservancy.

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(HedgeCo.Net) The Securities and Exchange Commission has settled charges against Theorem Fund Services LLC (TFS), a fund administrator based in Boca Raton, Florida, for failing to respond to red flags relating to a fraud against a private fund and its investors.

According to the SECs order, TFS provided administration services to a fund managed by EIA All Weather Alpha Fund Partners and Andrew M. Middlebrooks, both of whom the SEC charged in May 2022 with fraud for allegedly engaging in a scheme that included the misappropriation and misuse of investors funds over a five-year period. According to the order, during TFSs engagement, the fund suffered significant losses as a result of trading by EIA and Middlebrooks; however, TFS, at the direction of EIA and Middlebrooks, calculated the Net Asset Value, which did not recognize the losses, and sent investors account statements that materially overstated the value of their investments.

Fund administrators are important gatekeepers in the private fund space, said Andrew Dean, Co-Chief of the SEC Enforcement Divisions Asset Management Unit. Here, TFS failed to live up to its gatekeeper responsibilities and distributed inaccurate account statements to investors despite clear red flags.

The SECs order finds that TFS was a cause of certain of EIAs and Middlebrooks violations of the Securities Act of 1933 and of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and Rule 206(4)-8(a)(1) thereunder. TFS agreed, without admitting or denying the SECs findings, to a cease-and-desist order and to pay a civil penalty of $100,000. In addition, TFS agreed to pay disgorgement of $18,000 and prejudgment interest of $4,271.
THL on Friday reported that samples taken from animals at two fur farms show mutations that accelerate the replication of the virus in mammal cells.

INITIAL whole-genome sequencing analyses have confirmed that the avian influenza infections detected at fur farms originated in wild birds, especially in black-headed gulls, according to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).

It is important to monitor how the avian influenza mutates because the virus is prone to mutations and its ability to cause infections also in people rises as a result of so-called mammalian adaptation. Otto Helve, the head of health security at THL, warned that at worst the situation could cause a global pandemic.

The situation is of broader than national importance. Also international health authorities and researchers are afraid that mammalian adaptation will at worst result in a pandemic caused by an influenza virus that is new to humans, he stated in the press release.

THL and the Finnish Food Authority recently described the outbreak at fur farms, along with its causes and official actions to prevent its spread, in a rapid communication article in Eurosurveillance.

Bird-flu infections have thus far been detected in fur-bearing animals at 21 fur farms in South and Central Ostrobothnia. The Finnish Food Authority has ordered all the minks at the affected farms to be culled because similarities between the respiratory tracts of minks and humans increase the risk of new viral combinations emerging, explained Erika Lindh, a senior advisor at THL.

Mink farms were monitored closely during the coronavirus pandemic in Finland. Denmark, meanwhile, decided in the first year of the pandemic to cull all of the roughly 17 million minks at its fur farms after confirming that minks had contracted and transmitted the virus to humans.

Terhi Laaksonen, the head of animal health and welfare at the Finnish Food Authority, on Friday underscored that the avian influenza can spread from wild birds to fur-bearing animals at farms without sufficient control measures.

Managing the risks would require measures at fur farms that prevent birds from coming into contact with fur-bearing animals, she stated.

The outbreak has stirred up concerns also overseas. Isabella Eckerle, a virologist at the Geneva University Hospital, on Friday wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, that the best way to prevent the virus from spreading would be to shut down fur farms. The situation, she estimated, does not appear to be under control in Finland.



Not very reassuring data: many species, transmission route unknown, she messaged, referring to the article in Eurosurveillance.

In Finland, thousands of birds have died this year after being infected with a highly-pathogenic strain of the avian influenza, H5N1.

Hanna Lempinen, a senior visiting researcher at the University of Lapland, reminded last week that fur-farming has been banned or is about to be banned in many European countries. Finland, she added in her guest contribution to Helsingin Sanomat, is about to be left in the minority with its pro-fur farming views.

The risk is that fur farming as a livelihood ends in a fashion that is not nationally controllable, she cautioned.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
On Sunday, August 6, 2023, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra hosted his global health counterparts from around the world for the High-Level Meeting on Health and the Economy (HLMHE) at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Senior Officials' and Ministerial Meetings (SOM 3) in Seattle, Washington.

The U.S., as the host economy for 2023, has selected the theme of Creating a Resilient and Sustainable Future for All. Under the auspices of this theme, the health work stream and HLMHE focused on three health priorities:

strengthening primary health care (PHC) and its linkages to pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response (PPR),

innovation in digital health, and

strengthening gender and health equity in the economy

As the Chair of HLMHE, Secretary Becerra expressed the U.S. government's ongoing commitment to strong partnerships with APEC member economies. He emphasized our commitment to leveraging innovations for global health to advance research and development of medical countermeasures for health emergencies, investing in developing new antibiotics to combat antimicrobial resistance, and accelerating sustainable health financing.

In addition, the Secretary expressed the United States' commitment to furthering APEC's work spanning wide range of policy domains within health and the economy, including trade and investment facilitation, digital innovations in health, sexual and reproductive health and rights, clean energy and climate impacts on health, sustainable financing to enable universal health coverage, and pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.
Action resolves complaint that a Pennsylvania County Children and Youth Services denied an individual the opportunity to apply to be a foster parent based on her treatment of a substance use disorder, protected under disability law

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has entered into a voluntary resolution agreement with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through its Department of Human Services (PA DHS), protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, including persons in recovery from substance use disorder, based on Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Section 504 covers programs and activities that are conducted by HHS or receiving Federal financial assistance from HHS and protects qualified individuals with disabilities from discrimination on the basis of disability in the provision of benefits and services. Title II of the ADA applies to the services, programs, and activities of all state and local governments, including child welfare agencies and court systems.

Todays agreement resolves a complaint against a county-operated child welfare agency overseen by PA DHS that denied an individual the opportunity to apply to be a foster parent because she receives medication for the treatment of substance use disorder, a violation of her rights under federal disability laws. This settlement is an example of ongoing efforts by OCR to ensure that child welfare entities meet their obligation to comply with federal civil rights requirements.

State, county, and local child welfare organizations must ensure that they have policies and practices in place that do not limit opportunities for people with disabilities to fully participate in their programs, including individuals in recovery from a substance use disorder, said OCR Director Melanie Fontes Rainer.

During its investigation, OCR identified systemic concerns regarding the PA DHSs oversight of county child welfare agencies Section 504 and Title II policies, practices, and procedures to prevent discrimination against individuals with disabilities in Pennsylvanias child welfare system, which is administered by county agencies but licensed and overseen by PA DHS. Such policies should ensure that individuals should not be discouraged from applying or denied participation in a PA DHS-licensed agency program based on unfounded discriminatory assumptions that medications for substance use disorder limits their ability to be effective foster parents. Foster parents are critical to an effective child welfare system and promoting opportunities for qualified individuals to participate in federally funded programs serves an important public interest.

Under this comprehensive agreement, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services will take the following corrective actions to ensure it and county partners meet all civil rights requirements:

Either directly, or through its program offices, refrain from discrimination against individuals with disabilities, including individuals in treatment for opioid use disorder;

Designate a Section 504 and Title II Coordinator;

Develop and adopt a non-discrimination policy; specifically one that emphasizes that individuals with a substance use disorder, including persons receiving medications for substance use disorders, are entitled to the protections of Section 504 and Title II in specific circumstances;

Develop and adopt a procedure for individuals to file complaints;

Track and review requests by individuals for reasonable accommodations;

Develop and provide annual mandatory training regarding compliance with Federal civil rights laws, including Section 504 and Title II of the ADA, and working with participants with disabilities, including those in recovery from a substance use disorder;

Specifically address and seek to resolve the complainants allegations with respect to being denied the opportunity to participate in the foster care program;

OCR will monitor PA DHSs compliance with federal laws and be available to provide technical assistance.

These steps will help ensure that county-operated Children and Youth Services agencies are not imposing eligibility requirements that screen out individuals with disabilities because of treatment for substance use disorder.

Pennsylvania is committed to offering services and supports available to our residents in an accessible manner that is free of discrimination. As the state agency overseeing our county-operated child welfare agencies, we must be sure we have clear policies and expectations to ensure our partners act in line with these values, said PA DHS Secretary Val Arkoosh. We appreciate the partnership and support from HHS to make our shared goals a reality.

Child welfare professionals are encouraged to review HHS five-part online video series, Civil Rights Protections for Individuals in Recovery from an Opioid Use Disorder. The series provides guidance on applying federal disability rights laws to child welfare programs and activities, discusses protections that apply to some individuals in recovery from an opioid use disorder, and provides an overview of medication-assisted treatment and misconceptions about medication-assisted treatment. A link to this guidance material can be found here: Medication-Assisted Treatment | National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare (NCSACW) (hhs.gov).

OCR hopes that its efforts will reduce complaints from individuals in recovery who have experienced discrimination in the child welfare system based on their receipt of medications for opioid use disorder or participation in medication-assisted treatment programs.

For more information about this topic, please visit our website at http://www.hhs.gov/opioids.

OCRs Civil Rights webpage describes OCRs commitment to improving access to child welfare programs and activities. https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-individuals/special-topics/adoption/index.html.

If you believe that you or someone else has been discriminated against because of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, or religion in programs or activities that HHS directly operates or to which HHS provides federal financial assistance, you may file a complaint with the HHS Office for Civil Rights at: https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/filing-a-complaint/index.html

Pennsylvanians may contact the Pennsylvania Office of Children, Youth and Families (PA OCYF) Section 504/ADA Coordinator at RA-PWOCYF-ADAResource@pa.gov to file a grievance, request assistance, or to be connected with your countys HHS grievance procedure.

To read the full Voluntary Resolution Agreement text, please visit: Voluntary Resolution Agreement Between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the Pennsylvania Department | HHS.gov
Daily Horoscope Prediction says, always be positive in attitude Handle love issues with care today. Despite the challenges at the office, you will be professionally successful. Be careful while taking financial decisions today. Cancer Daily Horoscope for August 9, 2023: Be careful while taking financial decisions today.

Fall in love today and avoid troubles in the relationship. Your sincerity and commitment to office will be recognized. You may also experience health problems.

Also Read Horoscope Today

Cancer Love Horoscope Today

Your love affair will be strong today and your efforts need to be to make it stronger. Office romance is good but married persons should come out of this today as our spouse will find this out in the second half of the day. Give an ear to the partner and stay away from confrontation and arguments. Today is also good to convert a romantic relationship to married life. The partner will also love surprise gifts.

Also Read Love Horoscope Today

Cancer Career Horoscope Today

Be ready to take on new roles at the office. Some controversies will surround you but the focus needs to be on the targets Be sincere in your dealings and youll earn good revenue to the organization. Architects, civil engineers, designers, SEO persons, animators, and automobile engineers will prove their potential today. If you are into business, you will find appropriate investors who will prove to be successful in the coming months.

Also Read Career Horoscope Today

Cancer Money Horoscope Today

Be careful about the wealth today. There can be minor issues related to your income as the past investments may not bring in expected results. This may impact your wealth. However, you may continue with the routine, as the money may not be a serious concern. But make sure to not spend a high amount on luxury today. Female Cancer natives who are entrepreneurs will receive foreign funds which would improve their financial status.

Cancer Health Horoscope Today

Your health will be good today. Though minor stress-related problems may disturb senior Cancer natives, you may overcome them through yoga and medication. Pregnant females need to be careful while going outside and gynaecology-related issues can be a cause of worry. Hypertension and BP patients need extra care. Avoid both tobacco and alcohol as well for a day.

Cancer Sign Attributes

Strength: Intuitive, Practical, Kind, Energetic, Artsy, Dedicated, Benevolent, Caring

Weakness: Insatiable, Possessive, Prudish

Symbol: Crab

Element: Water

Body Part: Stomach & Breast

Sign Ruler: Moon

Lucky Day: Monday

Lucky Color: White

Lucky Number: 2

Lucky Stone: Pearl

Cancer Sign Compatibility Chart

Natural affinity: Taurus, Virgo, Scorpio, Pisces

Good compatibility: Cancer, Capricorn

Fair compatibility: Gemini, Leo, Sagittarius, Aquarius

Less compatibility: Aries, Libra

By: Dr. J. N. Pandey

Vedic Astrology & Vastu Expert

Website: https://www.cyberastro.com

E-mail: caresponse@cyberastro.com

Phone: 9717199568, 9958780857

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India, 7th August 2023: Masters of Business Administration (MBA) plays a crucial role in significantly enhancing your marketability as a professional, leading to a substantial improvement in job opportunities both in terms of quality and quantity. Recognizing the importance of attaining mastery in marketability, Parul University offers an insightful MBA program spanning two years. This comprehensive program provides a diverse array of 20 specializations, catering to the unique interests of each student.

These specialized programs cover a wide array of fields, such as Agribusiness Management, Information Technology, Forensic Accounting & Fraud Investigation, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Digital Marketing and Sales, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Development, Family Managed Business, Pharmaceutical Management, Project Management, Healthcare Management, Public Policy, Retail Management, Tourism & Event Management, Business Analytics, Finance, Human Resource Management, Marketing, Operations Management, Banking and Financial Services, and International Trade & Business.

Parul Universitys Online MBA program represents a longstanding legacy of producing successful business leaders. It equips students with the knowledge, skills, and network necessary to excel in todays competitive business world.The Business Administration program at our institution provides versatility, offering numerous entrepreneurial and networking prospects. Our overarching vision and mission for the business administration students are centered around cultivating highly competent leaders capable of excelling in business and industry, with a particular emphasis on emerging areas of specializations. Furthermore, we strive to achieve exceptional institutional growth by providing an optimal blend of diverse management specializations, empowering our students to thrive in various leadership roles says Dr. Parul Patel, Vice President, Parul University while expressing her gratitude in proving a beneficial and insightful program for coming generations.

The success of the Parul Universitys students is attributed to the institution's unwavering dedication to building strong industry connections. These connections not only provide students with valuable insights into the real-world industry experience but also foster a culture of upskilling and innovation. Remarkably, the university has forged over 700 collaborations with various industries and secured funding of more than 10 crore for over 125 projects and start-ups initiated within the institute.

Furthermore, the collaborations between the university and the industry result in the creation of updated pedagogic materials, incorporating practical, implementable industry skills. These materials are delivered through exercises focused on tackling prevailing challenges within different domains, ensuring students gain relevant and applicable knowledge.

To cultivate future leaders with a global perspective, Parul University actively establishes international partnerships and welcomes guest faculties and international students. Presently, the university takes pride in more than 75 international collaborations and hosts over 2000 international students.

To know more visit Parul University

Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same.
India, August 8, 2023: 1 Click Capital, powered by CHP Finance Private Limited, proudly announces the launch of its Innovative product, Shopkeeper Finance, designed to empower and support shopkeepers across India. As the country's first non-banking financial company (NBFC) to provide unsecured payroll funding, 1 Click Capital has established itself as a unique and rapidly growing entity within the finance sector. Behind this remarkable endeavor stands Sachin Malik, the visionary Founder and Managing Director of 1 Click Capital, whose determination and unwavering commitment have propelled the company to its current success.

With humble beginnings, Sachin Malik founded 1 Click Capital with a mere five employees and a vision to revolutionize the finance market. Building upon the triumph of Payroll Funding, Sachin Malik recognized the need for a new product that would address the challenges faced by shopkeepers in the market. Consequently, the conception of 1 Click Retail took place, aimed at providing shopkeepers with the necessary financial resources to enhance their cash flow.

Shopkeepers serve as the backbone of the economy, yet their path is fraught with numerous obstacles. High competition, limited access to capital, technology, as well as a lack of customer loyalty due to the saturation of similar shops and brands in every neighborhood, impede their growth and success. Moreover, the inability to expand their business or hire new employees due to insufficient funds further compounds their difficulties.

1 Click capital: A groundbreaking solution:

1 Click Retail by 1 Click Capital offers an unsecured short-term financing solution, ranging from 50,000 to 5 lakhs. This pioneering shopkeeper financing tool empowers shopkeepers all over India and enables them to overcome the challenges they face daily. By granting shopkeepers access to essential capital, they can purchase inventory and supplies at the opportune moment. This newfound financial support will facilitate the resolution of their day-to-day financial needs and allow them to compete effectively with online retailers such as Amazon and Flipkart.

What are the benefits that the shopkeepers will enjoy by joining hands with 1 Click Capital?

It improves cash flow, ensuring timely payments to suppliers and avoiding penalties, thereby improving their credit rating. Effective inventory management becomes possible, preventing situations where shops run out of stock or are burdened with overstocked items that do not sell well. Enhanced inventory control enables improved customer service and stronger customer relationships.In times of financial strain and cash flow challenges, 1 Click Capital stands as a steadfast partner for shopkeepers, ready to provide effective solutions and facilitate the growth of their businesses.

Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same.
India, 7th August 2023: Vadodara-based premier Indian institute, Parul University recently became the youngest private university to have received the prestigious A++ grading from the renowned education-centric government body, National Assessment and Accreditation Council. This stamp of approval points to excellent educational outcomes, a crucial metric that the leading institution strives to uphold. The institution, in a rather short period, has made a name for itself in the competitive education sector, and a close look at its success trajectory would reveal one of its most enviable forte: an elite league of faculty members, especially for STEM disciplines.

While speaking about its faculty, Dr. Parul Patel, Vice President, Parul University said, We understand that teachers play a pivotal role in the growth of students and the institution is as good as its array of instructors. This is why we have spared no effort in congregating some of the best minds of our time under the same roof. From helping students in their entrepreneurial journey to guiding them in their research aspirations, Parul University faculty members continually endeavour to go above and beyond. Most importantly, true to the spirit of the noble profession they belong to, our teachers inculcate a solid moral compass, encouraging students to be responsible and sensitive future leaders.

The teaching staff comprises academicians, researchers and alumni of leading HEIs, such as IITs, NITs, and IISc, among others. Also, top industry experts closely work in curriculum curation as well as student mentoring, contributing extensively to Parul Universitys first-rate, industry-specific pedagogical efforts. Moreover, it's worth mentioning that the concerted efforts of the faculty members have resulted in an impressive track record of innovation and entrepreneurship as well as solid placement records.

Speaking of innovation, the excellent faculty of Parul University has been the driving force behind the inception of a whopping 180+ incubates, which have garnered over 8.6 crores. Further, attesting to the superlative guidance provided by the faculty, these start-ups have generated not just an impressive sum of 30+ crores in revenue but also 1100+ jobs.

Additionally, with the aim of fostering practical learning and innovation in candidates as well as conducting cutting-edge Research and Development work, the faculty members also spearhead or contribute to 700+ industry collaborations. Under the guidance of the expert faculty members, 5000+ papers have been presented, and 128 patents and copyrights have been filed, proving that the university has left no stone unturned in its human capital investment. Owing to research-centric faculty, Parul University has collaborated with prestigious international bodies such as IAMA (Indian American Medical Association), with which there were made conjoined projects on medicine and pharmaceutical-centric welfare. Parul University has also participated in an advanced scientific and technological initiative by the renowned Royal Academy of Engineering, UK, in association with Larsen and Toubro.

Similarly, the robust placement figures of the institute validate the fact that the professors at Parul University successfully train cohorts that find much appreciation from major industry players. To elaborate, notable recruiters from the university include DMart, Flipkart, Godrej, ICICI Bank, BYJUS, IndusInd Bank, Adani Gas, Patanjali, Aditya Birla Group, Colgate, Asian Paints, Amul, and Amazon, among others. Further, the average and highest-grossed packages stand at 8 LPA and 30 LPA, respectively. In short, Parul University's relentless efforts to bring together good faculty members have yielded great results, whether it is in terms of education outcomes, innovation or research.

To know more visit Parul University

Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same.
India, 3rd August 2023: Young innovators at Parul University are committed to enhancing the safety and well-being of Vadodara City through their participation in the Vadodara Police Hackathon 2023. This event, organized in collaboration with the university's Parul Innovation & Entrepreneurship Research Centre, brought together students, start-up founders, and Vadodara Police on a common platform to develop innovative solutions to various challenges faced by the city's law enforcement.

It is very significant to engage our young innovators in technologies that actually create value and make an impact on society. This hackathon is yet another step that we have taken as a university towards creating a better and safer Vadodara all through the support of the city Police, said Mr. Jay Sudani, the Universitys Director of Parul Innovation & Entrepreneurship Research Centre.

During the 3-day hackathon, students were guided and mentored by senior police officials, including Shri Hardik Makadia, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Cybercrime; Shri Haresh Chandu, Prob Deputy Superintendent of Police, Vadodara Rural; Shri. P R Jadeja, Police Inspector, Waghodia; and Shri Krunal Patel, Police Inspector, Local Crime Branch, Vadodara Rural, among others.

The hackathon presented 24 problem statements from Vadodara Police, covering areas such as road safety, speech emotion recognition, CCTV-based criminal activity detection, missing child identification, digital stamping software, anti-drone systems, and health monitoring for elderly communities, among others. Students worked tirelessly to provide the best solutions, addressing social challenges and assisting in policing and security.

Winning solutions stand a chance to secure a prize fund and potential start-up funding of up to 10 Lacs. Additionally, other mentors, including Shri J.M.Chavda, Police Inspector, Special Operation Group; Shri B.N.Gohil, Police Sub Inspector, Reader to respected Superintendent of Police; and Shri C.M.Kanteliya, Police Sub Inspector, Parole-Furlough Squad from Vadodara Rural, also played crucial roles in guiding the participants.

The Vadodara Police Hackathon, organized by Vadodara Police Rural Division in collaboration with Parul Innovation & Entrepreneurship Research Centre, Parul University, aims to boost smart innovation in the Police. The hackathon serves as a launchpad for disruptive innovation through creative problem-solving techniques.

To know more visit Parul University

Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same.
Concord Biotech IPO: The initial public offering (IPO) of Concord Biotech, backed by Rekha Jhunjhunwala, opened for bids on August 4, is set to close today. Concord Biotech IPO will close on August 8. (Representative Photo)

Concord Biotech IPO Grey Market Premium (GMP) update

Market observers have noted that Concord Biotech IPO's grey market premium (GMP) is 202 today. This reflects a 49 increase from its GMP of 153 on Monday, as reported by Mint.

Subscription Progress

As of 2:00 PM on the third day of bidding, the public issue has been subscribed 10.96 times overall, with the retail portion witnessing a subscription of 3.12 times. The book build offering has seen strong demand, with the Non-Institutional Investors (NII) category subscribed 11.28 times and the Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIB) portion subscribed 24.42 times, Mint added.

Concord Biotech IPO's Day 2 performance

During the second day of bidding on Monday, the IPO of Concord Biotech was subscribed 2.03 times. The public offering of 1,550.59 crore received bids for 2,34,03,680 shares against the offered 1,15,13,609 shares, according to NSE data.

Rekha Jhunjhunwala's backed firm

Following the passing of Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, wife Rekha Jhunjhunwala has assumed full control of Concord Biotech's shareholding. The couple initially invested in the company in 2004. Now, with Rakesh Jhunjhunwala's demise, Rekha Jhunjhunwala holds the entire 24.09 per cent stake in the company through RaRe Enterprise.

Anchor investors show confidence

Concord Biotech on Thursday raised 465 crore from anchor investors. Prominent names, including the government of Singapore, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, and several insurance and mutual fund companies, have shown strong interest in the company.

IPO allotment and listing Dates

Concord Biotech IPO allotment is likely to take place on August 11, 2023. The company plans to list its IPO on both the BSE and NSE. The anticipated listing date is August 18, as reported by Mint.

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Zoom Video Communications Inc., a one-time darling of the work-from-home era, is calling workers back to the office. zoom video

Employees who live near a Zoom location must be on-site two days a week, a company spokesperson said. A hybrid approach is most effective for Zoom, she said, because it will be in a better position to use our own technologies, continue to innovate and support our global customers.

The companys eponymous video-conferencing software was a breakout hit of the pandemic as entire industries were forced to communicate virtually. Since then, companies as varied as Amazon.com Inc., Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. and BlackRock Inc. have increased the amount of time employees must spend on site.

ALSO READ: Is work from home ruining our mental health? Here's what an expert says

Still, many offices remain lightly used, and there are signs that some roles may remain remote. Offices in the Northeast were only at peak capacity 24% of the time in the first half of the year, according to data from Basking.io, a workplace-occupancy analytics company. Listings for remote jobs have also trended up in many cities.

Zoom itself has struggled to keep growing in a post-pandemic world. While its share price quintupled from March to October 2020, the stock has since retreated to pre-pandemic levels. In an effort to resuscitate growth, Zoom is developing a wider suite of software tools for big businesses, including in-office collaboration products. It has invested in startup Anthropic to include artificial intelligence in its software for managing and automating customer service requests.

Insider earlier reported Zooms new office policy.

While many chief executives want employees back five days a week, I think the hybrid work is going to stay, Chief Executive Officer Eric Yuan said during a May earnings call. I think hybrid work does bring another kind of huge opportunity to us.

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Google Maps has met its toughest competition yet globally. MappIs, developed by Indian navigation company MapmyIndia, is topping download charts on application stores. As timing would have it, the Google Play Store downloads counter for Mappls ticked past 5 million at the time HT was having a conversation with Rohan Verma, CEO of MapmyIndia. Rohan Verma, CEO of MapmyIndia. (Press image)

I can say we are reaching out to just less than 10 million users directly. Our API is built into apps such as Amazons Alexa, PhonePe and Paytm. So, our maps in that sense touch hundreds of millions of users every day, Verma says.

A snapshot of the last two months pegs Mappls regularly leading downloads in the navigation category on Googles Play Store for Android phones. That gives Mappls headway against Google Maps, an app preloaded on Android phones, and one of the reasons for an antitrust verdict against Google in India.

This is collectively a pivotal moment for the Indian tech company, which is eyeing expansion in more countries, in the next few years.

Foundations for a successful business

His parents Rashmi and Rakesh Verma had founded MapmyIndia in 1995. The company has been in the business of navigation, much longer than Google, that way. My parents had envisioned then that as much as 80% of all our data will eventually have a location component, Verma says.

They saw the future of data much before smartphones came along.

MapmyIndia launched online maps in 2004, a year before Google Maps, in many countries. But for Google, monopolistic contours for Android worked globally, as the then emerging crop of Android phones gained popularity in the late 2000s.

It has been a battle, one of perseverance for Verma. Mappls is just one part of MapmyIndias navigational portfolio, which includes mapping data, solutions for businesses, navigation systems for cars, APIs or application programming layer to work with platforms such as Alexa, AI tools and analytics.

There are solutions for governments too, such as an emergency system that works with disaster response agencies to analyse water level and predict changes using AI.

MapmyIndia raised $15 million in funding, before the public listing in 2021, which was oversubscribed by 155 times. The company confirms 124 crores have been infused into the company through equity.

We have no debt and have more than 500 crores in cash reserves. Its all profitable, and the money we get from (business) customers is reinvested, he says.

Balancing function and features

MappIs, across Android and iOS, includes unique features, the highlight being 3D junction views with specific lane guidance, such as whether to proceed on to a flyover or take the road beside it. There are also speed limit alerts, trip toll and fuel cost estimates, alerts for upcoming speed breakers, sharp curves, and even potholes.

Google Maps, or indeed third-party map apps including Heres WeGo or NNGs iGo, do not have much of this extended functionality set.

A unique layer of real-time data in MappIs, which gives it a significant advantage over Google Maps, comes from traffic police departments in Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Rajkot in Gujarat, for live route and road closure updates.

On Twitter, the police can post the same update but its not really actionable. Here, they actually feed it straight into the maps that a particular road is going to be closed for VIP movement. The navigation automatically routes you around that, Verma points out.

During the recent floods in Himachal and Delhi, for instance, HT noticed layers for time-bound, localised information such as water logging, flooding, road damages and road blockages. This is in addition to live weather that contextually overlays your destination, at the time of travel.

It is often challenging to balance stability of core functionality, with new functionality regularly. MapmyIndias approach is clear  basics cannot be compromised with.

The core has to work. Other things are add-ons. We have to be very careful with our product. This is the ethos with which we have been building it, to make sure that the core navigation experience is sorted, he says.

MapmyIndia does its own mapping across India. There is a 1,200-member strong team that has mapped 3.3 million sq km, 6.6 million km of road as well as more than 50 million places or points of interest. There are also about 420 million geotagged photos, videos and panoramas. Literally, we have scanned or mapped India digitally and we continue to do that from vehicles, and now from drones, Verma says.

This data is in addition to satellite imagery. The drone imagery, specifically, is used for collecting height data of buildings, physical structures and natural features such as mountains. This not only helps develop 3D layers on the maps we use, but also for predictive AI calculations, such as predicting the overflow of a river as it flows through.

Breaking the monopoly

Mapplss momentum coincidentally follows an antitrust order by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) in March. The CCI imposed fines twice on the tech giant, including a 1,337.76 crore penalty for anti-competitive practices with Android, including forcing phone makers to preload Google apps and thereby restricting choice of alternative apps.

By forcing phone makers to preload their apps, Google unlocked a direct route to a demographic that became regular Google Maps users. A sort of default choice.

A part of the reason we are doing well is consumers got to know that Google was monopolizing, and not giving them a choice, Verma says. He is looking at a dark cloud, and its silver lining. The target, an estimated 200 million regular Google Maps users, undoubtedly a steep climb.

HT notes the new guidelines for Android, wherein an option must made available for users to choose default apps for navigation, web browser, email and search, are yet to be implemented even on recently launched phones.

We are yet to see that happen. India doesnt have a large handset OEMs. The popular ones are mostly Chinese, one Korean, with Apple being American. Nonetheless, there are global relationships they have to maintain, Verma makes sense of sluggish pace.

The changes, when they are finally implemented on phones sold in India, will significantly change the structure of Android. Numbers necessitated regulation. Androids market share in India was 94.64% at the end of June, according to research firm StatCounter. Apples iOS for iPhone follows at a distant second, with 4.18% share.

It is a similar story of an uptick in fortunes for Mappls, on Apple App Store as well, where it now regularly holds the top spot among all free apps. Being consistently listed ahead of WhatsApp, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) over the past few months, is no mean feat.

Apple Maps, which is Apples own navigation app, uses MapmyIndias maps as its foundation. There is no scope for friction with Mappls, Verma insists.

Apple requires maps to make the whole OS operate in a very seamless way. I think for them it is to create location intelligence for contextual awareness, such as in Apple Photos, where you can see your photos spread on a map, or Find My, he says.

The strengths of either work well, in sync. In that sense, Apple derives a lot of value from working with us. Im saying that a lot of OEMs could get a lot of interesting benefits from us, he says, with the hope that Android phone makers will soon implement the mandatory app choice guidelines.

Carmakers formula for innovation

There has been a steady increase in availability of connected car tech, in the last couple of years. Verma believes cars built-in SIM cards for data connectivity, enable innovation. Carmakers are using advanced mapping alongside connected tech to enable driver guidance functionality, such as notifications for school zones, sharp curves and road speed limits.

In 2022, 1.9 million new cars were shipped in India with MapmyIndias navigation systems built-in. The year before, 1.3 million cars. They provide navigation for Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Mahindra, MG Motors, BMW and Mercedes Benz.

Is Mappls doing well, a sign for app developers struggling to break through? Verma believes breaking the monopoly is a good start.

Even if you had made something better, you were being held back. This is MapmyIndias true story, he says. Its a good thing for app developers now to try to build a better search engine or a better email service. Its great for consumers. Choice is great, he adds.

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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
The High Court of Karnataka has said that insulting a man for being dark-skinned by his wife constitutes cruelty as it underlined this as a strong reason for allowing his appeal and granted him divorce. The couple from Bengaluru got married in 2007 and had a girl child. In 2012, the husband approached a family court in Bengaluru seeking divorce. (File Photo)

The HC stated this, in a recent judgement, while granting divorce to a 44-year-old man from his 41-year-old wife.

The evidence on record, from close scrutiny, also leads to the conclusion that the wife used to insult the husband on the premise that he is dark and for the same reason has moved away from the company of the husband without any cause, the court noted.

READ | Karnataka high court issues notice to CM over plea alleging poll malpractices

"To cover up this aspect, (she) has levelled false allegations of illicit relationships against the husband. These facts certainly will constitute cruelty," the HC said while allowing the petition for dissolution of the marriage under Section 13(i)(a) of the Hindu Marriage Act.

The couple from Bengaluru got married in 2007 and had a girl child. In 2012, the husband approached a family court in Bengaluru seeking divorce.

His appeal was heard by the division bench of Justices Alok Aradhe and Anant Ramanath Hegde, which gave the judgment.

"It is the case of the husband that the wife used to humiliate him on the pretext that he is dark-skinned. He has further stated that the husband used to bear insult for the sake of the child," the HC noted.

She had also filed a case under Section 498A (subjecting a married woman to cruelty) of the Indian Penal Code against her husband and in-laws.

READ | Cops file FIR over threat to kill Karnataka High Court judges

The woman also filed a case under the Domestic Violence Act and left with the child to live with her parents.

She had denied the allegations in the family court and in turn alleged that it was the husband and his family members who were ill-treating her and subjecting her to cruelty.

She alleged that they demanded dowry from her and did not allow her to go out with her child. She also alleged that her husband had an illicit relationship with another woman and had a child with her.

The family court had dismissed the husband's petition for divorce in 2017 after which he approached the HC, which pronounced the verdict recently.

The HC said that the allegations levelled against the husband that he is having an illicit relationship with a lady is totally unfounded and baseless as well as reckless.

"This allegation made in paragraph No.10 of the statement of objections is serious. If such an allegation is made in the pleading, it can be certainly concluded that the person against whom such allegation is made will be subject to enormous mental cruelty. This fact has not been appreciated by the Family Court at all."

The HC also said that calling him dark amounted to cruelty.

"It is further stated that the wife has not made any attempt to join the company of the husband to come back and the evidence on record would establish that she was not interested in the marriage because of the dark complexion of the husband. By referring to these contentions, it is urged that the Family Court ought to have granted a decree for the dissolution of marriage," the HC said setting aside the family court order.
In a significant development, the Chandigarh-Shimla Highway, also known as the Kalka Shimla highway (NH-05), which had been rendered impassable due to a severe landslide near Chakki Mor in Parwanoo, has now been reopened for light vehicles and pick-ups. The closure, which lasted nearly a week, caused significant disruptions to traffic flow between the two cities. The Chandigarh-Shimla Highway, also known as the Kalka Shimla highway (NH-05), which had been rendered impassable due to a severe landslide near Chakki Mor in Parwanoo, has now been reopened for light vehicles and pick-ups. (HT Photo)

For heavy vehicles, the Solan police have advised the use of the Shimla-Kunihar-Nalagarh-Pinjore route. All heavy vehicles moving from Kumarhatti towards Chandigarh are advised to take Nahan Road.

On the other hand, heavy vehicles making their way from Chandigarh towards Shimla are advised to follow the route via Kala Amb, Nahan, and Kumarhatti.

Alternatively, the Nalagarh-Ramshahar-Kunihar-Solan-Shimla route is also available for heavy vehicles, said Solan superintendent of police Gaurav Singh.

The reopening of the Kalka-Shimla highway for light vehicles brings a much-needed relief to commuters and businesses that rely on this vital road connection. Authorities, however, urge all motorists to exercise caution and adhere to traffic regulations to ensure safe travel.
Administration of Goswami Ganesh Dutta Sanatan Dharma College (GGDSD), Sector 32, has made i-cards mandatory for entry into the campus following a spat between two parties on Tuesday. HT Image

This happened after the Student Organisation of India (SOI) and the Sanatan Dharam College Union (SDCU) accused each other of bringing outsiders to the campus owing to the upcoming elections. The first spat took place inside the campus around 1.00 pm. In a viral video, students can be seen holding brooms and even throwing flower pots inside the campus.

The second brawl took place outside the campus. According to party leaders, the flare up happened over both parties accusing each other of bringing outsiders to the college to work for the upcoming student council elections. A student of the college sustained injuries on his head and was taken to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH-32), Sector 32, for treatment and was later discharged.

After the authorities called the police, the Station House Officer (SHO) of Sector 34 held a meeting with both parties asking them to behave during the election season.

No FIR has been registered as yet. Police officials have said they would intensify patrolling to keep a check on things.

Declare PU elections as soon as possible to avoid such incidents: Principal

Taking strict note of the incident, college principal Ajay Sharma urged the UT administration and Panjab University (PU) authorities to declare the PU Campus Student Council elections as soon as possible.

Till the elections are not conducted many such incidents will take place. This years session started on time unlike previous years and we shouldnt wait till mid-September to declare the elections, he said.

Sharma said they will deploy extra security staff from Wednesday onwards and will ask police to intensify their patrolling around the campus.

He added that since the academic session has already started in the college, i-cards have been issued to all students and from Wednesday students will have to carry their i-card with them to enter the campus so outsiders can be prevented from entering and such incidents could be avoided.

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Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday slammed chief minister (CM) Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu for his firing them from their job is not a big issue remark on outsourced employees stating that it reflects his insensitivity towards the suppressed people. HT Image

Sukhu on Monday, responding to the allegations levelled by three outsourced employees of National Health Mission (NHM), said the outsourced employees are hired through private companies and sometimes they are fired from their job, so that is not a big thing and their grievances will be heard.

The NHM has alleged that they were fired from their job for refusing to work at secretary (health) M Sudha Devis residence. One of the disabled woman employees comes from a far-flung area. The employees said they had also complained to the CM but to no avail.

What could be more unfortunate is that the CM, instead of taking an action against the officer, he is protecting her, while grievances of the employees went unheard, BJPs media co-coordinator Sanjay Sharma said in a statement issued here.

It is the same government that came to power promising one lakh jobs every year but now is failing to protect the interests of the employees, he added.

The CM should explain as to if someone has been hired through a company is he, not an employee and is it, not the duty of the government to safeguard his or her interests, said Sharma.

Sharma said this was not the first instance of officers forcing the employees to do their household chores.

The secretary (health), who is already under scanner for her role in a PDS scam in Tamil Nadu when she was on deputation, should be immediately removed from the post and the CM should also apologise for his comments, he demanded.
In a joint operation conducted by counter intelligence and the Delhi Police, the Ludhiana Police arrested two Delhi men for allegedly stealing a bag containing 28 lakh from an SUV near South City here last week. The accused in police custody in Ludhiana. (HT PHOTO)

The police have recovered 15.21 lakh from their possession, while two of the accused are still absconding.

The arrested suspects have been identified as Sanju, 20, and Sumit, 21, both residents of New Delhi. Notably, Sumit was already facing trial in three prior theft cases and had recently been released on bail from Amritsar Jail.

Commissioner of police Mandeep Singh Sidhu said that the police was pursuing the accused since the time of the theft. The chase led the officers through Jagraon, Raikot, and Bathinda, where the culprits had established a hideout. On Monday night, the two accused were apprehended from Delhi.

It has been discovered that the four accused arrived in Ludhiana on August 3 with the intention of committing the theft. Their modus operandi involved identifying luxury cars with bags inside and then tailing their targets, the commissioner of police said.

Whenever the targeted vehicles came to a halt due to traffic signals or jams, the accused would seize the opportunity to steal the bags after opening the car doors. In some instances, they would deceive the vehicle occupants by feigning a flat tire, prompting them to exit the car to inspect it and during this diversion, the bags were swiftly stolen, he said, adding that the accused would promptly flee the city to avoid police.

On August 3, the accused managed to steal a bag containing 28 lakh from the a Range Rover belonging to realtor Karan Arora in South City. Witnesses reported two men escaping on a motorcycle with the stolen bag. An FIR was filed against unidentified accused.

The police are also questioning the accused regarding their involvement in similar incidents reported in the city. A similar incident occurred on June 5 where two miscreants on a bike tricked a trader in Haibowal by falsely claiming a flat tire. While the trader and his driver were checking the tyres, the accused fled with a bag containing 11.50 lakh. A hunt is on for the arrest of the rest of the accused.

Commissioner of police Sidhu appealed to the locals for not carrying huge cash and other valuables with such carelessness. He said that with such carelessness, they invite miscreants to execute crime.
Clarifying the recent modifications in the counselling process for MD/MS courses at GMCH, Sector 32, UT health secretary Yashpal Garg said the only change made was that an IP Pool candidate will firstly be considered against a seat in the same pool if the desired branch is available. Chandigarh health secretary Yashpal Garg said the only change made was that an IP Pool candidate will firstly be considered against a seat in the same pool if the desired branch is available. (HT Photo)

He said there was no change in the eligibility criteria of Institutional Preference Pool (IP) and the UT Chandigarh Pool (UT Pool). Candidates of IP Pool eligible under UT Pool will be considered against the UT Pool seats also in case their preferred choice is not available in IP Pool.

Garg said earlier an IP Pool candidate was firstly considered against UT Pool seat even though the desired branch was available in IP Pool, which resulted in injustice with UT Pool candidates with higher NEET-PG rank.

On August 4, the health secretary had directed GMCH to revise the counselling process and sequencing promptly for MD/MS admissions for the 2023 session to ensure a completely fair and transparent admission process.

IP Pool seats are exclusively for IP Pool candidates and UT Pool candidates will be considered against UT Pool seats only. They will not be considered against IP Pool seats, Garg said.

The MBBS doctors of GMCH-32 have termed the changes unjust and demanded roll back of the decision, while the MBBS doctors from Chandigarh have hailed it.

The Chandigarh-based MBBS doctors also held a candle march in Sector 10 on Monday in support of Chandigarh administrations decision.

Sonu Shergill, a resident of Chandigarh and a mother of an MBBS doctor, said under the previous rule, individuals from the UT Pool with superior merit were often unable to secure seats, as they were occupied by IP Pool students with lower scores.

MBBS doctors hailing from Chandigarh holding a rally in support of the UT administrations decision. (HT Photo)
Kangra police have found an international link to an online betting racket that was busted in Kangra in June this year. HT Image

Kangra superintendent of police (SP) Shalini Agnihotri said they launched an inquiry into a racket, which led them to Dubai, Cambodia, African countries and Armenia.

Since the mandate and preview of the case is beyond the capacity of local police, we have submitted a request that the investigation should be taken over by a central agency, said the SP.

She said, so far, 18 people involved in the racket have been arrested from seven states, including Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab,

More than 90 bank accounts were investigated and an amount worth 94 crore was seized during the investigation, said Agnihotri, adding that this amount and number of accounts could increase.

Police busted the racket in June this year when a youth from Chamba filed a complaint at Dharamshala police station stating that a person from Baijnath befriended him and got his account opened in a local bank, and made transaction amounting to 65 lahk through it.

After getting the tip-off, police conducted raids at some places in Kangra district and besides arresting people involved, police recovered laptops, mobile phones, passbooks, chequebooks and SIM cards.

Subsequent investigation led the police to Mohali, Punjab, where the racket was operating from an office-like setup in two flats.

The ring involved a large number of accounts opened in banks at Dharamshala, Baijnath-Paprola and Mohali. The modus operandi of the racket was that they would get an open account in the name of different persons with or without knowledge of the account holder and keep ATM cards, passbooks and chequebooks with them. They would then carry out transactions worth lakhs through these accounts.

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The man who shot dead his sister in cold blood for marrying against her familys wishes, had bought the illegal pistol used to commit the crime for 30,000 from Uttar Pradesh, police said on Tuesday. Accused bought illegal weapon for  30,000 from UP . (HT FILE)

The accused had bought some extra bullets from the seller as he had planned to shoot at the newlywed couple multiple times, they said.

The accused did not hurt the mother-in-law of his sister, who was also present in the house at the time of the incident, while fired shots at her husband in the face and shoulder. The accused told the woman that as his sister had married against the familys will, he will teach them a lesson.

Assistant commissioner of police (ACP, West) Mandeep Singh stated that the accused had planned to kill his sister and her husband the day she had eloped. The family had not filed a missing complaint to the police after she had left the house on June 21.

The couple stayed at some unknown place for over a month and returned one week ago to Corporation Colony at Panj Peer Road. As the accused came to know about their arrival, he went to Uttar Pradesh and bought an illegal pistol.

On Saturday night, the accused barged into their house and shot at the newlywed couple. The accused pumped four bullets in the face and head of his sister from a point-blank range, while her husband suffered two bullet injuries in his face, shoulder. He has been admitted to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), where his condition is stated to be stable.

Hours after the incident, the police arrested the accused. He is in the custody of police on remand.

The ACP said that the police are trying to trace the supplier from whom the accused had procured the illegal weapon. Involvement of any other family member of the accused in the crime has not been ascertained yet.

The victim had married her fathers employee against the will of her family members on June 29.
A matchmaker abducted a married woman from the city and sold her to a man in Rajasthan for 2 lakh who allegedly raped her for at least seven months and impregnated her, police said on Tuesday. A case under section 363 (kidnapping), 342 (wrongful confinement) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC. (HT FILE)

On July 27, the woman managed to escape and reached Ludhiana after boarding a bus.

The Meharban Police lodged an FIR against the matchmaker and her accomplices on the statement of the cousin of the victim. The accused have been identified as Kirna of Captain Colony, who is a matchmaker, her husband Laddi, and her aides, including Simran, Billo, Manjit of Captain Colony and Rajveer Majhu of Rajasthan.

The victim, who has a 4-year-old son, said that she had approached the matchmaker Kirna to intervene after a spat between her and her husband in December last.

The woman said that on January 4, she had left her in-laws house to see Kirna and requested her to intervene. Kirna kept her in her house for at least 10 days. Later, the accused took her along with them on the pretext of paying obeisance at Shri Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar. After boarding the train, the accused offered her a cup of tea after which she lost consciousness.

The woman said that after she gathered consciousness, she found herself in Rajasthan in the house of Rajveer, who told her that he had bought her from the accused for 2 lakh. The accused confined her in the house and raped her for 7 months. She was impregnated.

On July 27, she managed to escape from the house and made a call to her cousin in Ludhiana seeking help. She boarded a bus and reached Ludhiana. Later, she filed a complaint to the police.

ASI Surjit Singh, who is investigating the case, said that a case under section 363 (kidnapping), 342 (wrongful confinement) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC has been registered against the accused. Medical examination of the woman is pending. After medical examination, more sections could be added in the FIR, the ASI said.

A hunt is on for the arrest of the accused.

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High drama was witnessed in Mundi Kharar after employees of the Powercom and Transco Contract Workers Union tried to gherao the office of cabinet minister and Kharar MLA Anmol Gagan Mann on Monday. Members of the Powercom and Transco Contract Workers Union holding a protest near Bhago Majra toll plaza in Kharar. (HT Photo)

Their attempt, however, was thwarted by police that were deployed in heavy numbers. Subsequently, the protesters staged a demonstration near the Bhago Majra toll plaza, highlighting their long-standing demand for service regularisation.

Initially, police detained the protesters and transported them in two buses to beyond Kharar boundaries. However, they regrouped at Bhago Majra.

The protesters accused the AAP-led Punjab government of making false promises of permanent employment. They said despite dedicated service, numerous Powercom and Transco workers continued to toil as contract employees, receiving meagre salaries.

The protesters, joined by their family members, commenced their march from Kharar bus stand, only to be intercepted by the administration and the police, who ultimately brought the march to a halt.

Unions state president Balhar Singh and state general secretary Rajesh Kumar Mor said, We have been protesting for the past three months, yet cabinet minister Anmol Gagan Mann has remained indifferent to our appeals. Both the Punjab government and the Powercom management have deceived contract workers by not regularising their employment.

The protest impeded vehicle movement, compelling police to redirect traffic. After two hours, the protesters lifted the dharna following assurances from administrative and police officials of a meeting with the cabinet minister.

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The Punjab Agricultural University on Tuesday suspended a professor of entomology department, who is facing charges of sexual misconduct from two female varsity students, including a former one. The Punjab Agricultural University suspended a professor of entomology department, who is facing charges of sexual misconduct. (HT FILE)

The suspension comes a day after a former student of the varsity submitted a complaint to the vice-chancellor of sexual harassment against the professor.

He was last week accused by a female student of sexual misconduct. A high-powered committee constituted by the PAU to investigate allegations of sexual harassment against the professor had handed over the case to the sexual harassment committee, which will further investigate the matter and determine appropriate disciplinary actions in accordance with the law in the coming week. As a temporary measure to address the issue, the professor was transferred to Kapurthala research station on July 31.

The vice-chancellor has decided to suspend the professor working at the Regional Research Station in Kapurthala, with immediate effect pending a comprehensive investigation by the Internal Complaint Committee. He will receive a suspension allowance during the suspension period, the order issued by the university reads.

With the complaint filed on Monday evening, we have obtained substantial evidence against the professor. Therefore, the university has taken swift action of suspending him. Legal proceedings will follow after the five-member sexual harassment committee concludes its inquiry,  Tejinder Singh Riar, additional director of communication, said.
The Rajasthan government has shown interest to buy paddy stubble from Punjab for its milch animals. A farmer with a paddy straw management machine at Mehma Sawai village in Bathinda (HT FILE)

A team of officials led by a principal secretary rank officer from Rajasthan on Tuesday met the officers of the state agriculture department to work out modalities and logistics for the transfer of paddy from Punjab to the neighbouring state.

In October and November during paddy harvest season, Punjab produces 22 million tonnes of paddy stubble, out of which 40% (8.8 million tonnes) is used in the boilers, as industrial fuel and mixed in the soil and rest approximately 13.2 million tonnes in set ablaze leading towards a serious health and environmental hazard, as per official state figures.

As against the annual requirement of 68.5 million tonnes, Rajasthan is a deficit in fodder supply by at least 25% with an availability of 51.5 million tonnes. In Punjab milch is fed on dry fodder produced from wheat stubble, an official privy to the meeting said.

Additional chief secretary (agriculture) KAP Sinha led the team of officials from Punjab, which included principal secretary (animal husbandry) Vikas Partap Singh and secretary agriculture Arshdeep Thind.

According to Gurvinder Singh, director agriculture, Punjab, who was also in the meeting, Rajasthan sees a scope of taking away 1 to 1.2 million tonnes of paddy stubble as per the requirement in the state between April to July months.

During the harvest in October-November, Punjab farmers usually have a shorter window to clear their fields for the winter crop. Invariably, many choose to burn the paddy stubble left behind after harvest, sending up plumes of smoke that drifts over to large population centres, sinks and chokes settlements in toxic smog.

The crisis often pushes air in North Indian states and that of the national capital Delhi into the severe category, with air quality index (AQI) climbing past 400 and even 450, to reach severe and severe-plus categories. Apart from Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh farmers also contribute to the smog.

According to Rajasthan principal secretary animal husbandry Vikas Sitaram Bhale, his state requires dry fodder in the form of paddy stubble for four months and Punjab produces it in October and November months.

I will discuss the issue with my government, and put forward all the issues and then only the matter can be moved forward, he told, adding that his government would also explore the possibility of getting fodder supply from Haryana.

The initial meeting, according to Gurvinder Singh was fruitful. We need to store the quantity of stubble that the neighbouring state requires for four months from November to March. And in case Rajasthan can store it is a win-win situation for both the states, he added.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Gurpreet Singh Nibber Gurpreet Singh Nibber is an Assistant Editor with the Punjab bureau. He covers politics, agriculture, power sector, environment, Sikh religious affairs and the Punjabi diaspora. ...view detail
Delhi has reported 105 new dengue cases in the last one week taking the tally of the cases reported till August 5 this year to 348 cases, the weekly mosquito borne disease report released by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) shows. This is the highest number of cases reported till August 5 in at least the last 10 years. An NDMC worker fumigates an area in the city. (Vipin Kumar/HT Photo)

Meanwhile, the number of new weekly cases continues to almost double over the last three weeks with the city reporting 56 and 24 cases in the preceding two weeks respectively.

The decadal data from MCD shows that in comparison to the 348 dengue cases reported between January 1 and August 5 this year, the city had reported 174 cases in 2022, 55 cases in 2021, 35 in 2020, 47 in 2019 and 64 cases in 2018. The corresponding period in 2017 saw 185 cases, while 119 cases were recorded in 2016, 53 in 2015, and just 22 cases were reported in 2014.

Moreover, the city witnessed its worst dengue outbreak in 2015 when 15,867 cases and 60 deaths were reported. In 2021, Delhi had recorded 9,613 dengue cases and 23 fatalities due to dengue.

To be sure, data for the corresponding period for years before 2014 was not available with HT on Monday.

An MCD spokesperson said the spike in cases can be largely attributed to heavy waterlogging observed in July as Delhi witnessed record rainfall which led to water stagnation and rise in mosquito breeding sites.

In July, Delhi received 384.6mm rainfall, the third highest in the last 20 years.The monthly normal rainfall mark for July is 209.7mm, meaning there was an excess of 83% over the long-period average (LPA). Moreover, the city reported 1,42,206 mosquito breeding sites this year which is more than double the count of 69,549 breeding sites detected in 2022 and 63,280 sites in 2021. This is despite a five-day strike undertaken by the civic bodys domestic breeding checkers (DBCs)  field workers who keep a check on mosquito breeding sites.

Of the 348 cases recorded so far this year, 191 emerged in MCD areas, 32 in New Delhi region and 19 in Delhi Cantonment areas, and six cases under Railways jurisdiction. Within the MCD jurisdiction areas, the west, south and Najafgarh zones reported the maximum cases.

Moreover, 100 cases remain untraced as on Monday.

An MCD official said that that the problem of untraced cases acts as a hurdle in the fight against mosquito-borne disease despite a Delhi government notification on October 14, 2021, declaring dengue a notifiable disease in the city under the Epidemic Diseases Act. The notification made it mandatory for healthcare institutions to report dengue to the health department to improve its surveillance in the city.

While the notification has improved the reporting of cases, incomplete and wrong data regarding patients is defeating the purpose behind the move. In cases where the addresses are untraceable and anti-mosquito drive cannot be undertaken, we have again written to hospitals to provide complete details, the official said.

Officials said that a more dangerous strain of dengue is in circulation this year. On July 28, state health minister Saurabh Bharadwaj stated that genome sequencing of 20 dengue-positive samples in Delhi showed that 19 of these had the severe Type 2 strain. While the Type 1 strain causes fever, the second strain can lead to fatal haemorrhagic fever with shock and chills.

Experts suggest that prevention is the only alternative in tackling severe cases of dengue, like one caused by the Type 2 strain.

Besides leading to low platelets, it can also lead to shock in the patient and capillary leak syndrome. Usually, the dengue cases see spike in September-October but due to waterlogging and flooding in the city, a rise in water accumulation sites could have led to increase in the mosquitogenic conditions, said Dr Sumit Ray, the head of the department of critical care medicine and medical director at Holy Family Hospital.

While stating that there is no emergency like situation at this stage, the Delhi government last week had reserved 5% of beds in government hospitals for dengue patients. The Union health ministry has asked the hospitals to create separate dengue wards.

As part of its efforts to check the spread dengue, the Delhi government has increased fines for unchecked mosquito breeding  1,000 for households and 5,000 for commercial establishments. However, an MCD official stated that the corporation has not received the notification of the hiked fines so far.

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The stately sheesham door looked sufficiently venerable to be a tangible link to some unrecorded past. Delhiwale.

It is gone, replaced by a metal shutter.

The next-door Saeed Hair Cutting Saloon is also gone, replaced by an eatery serving new-world dishes like pizza and pasta.

Haveli Azam Khan was chronicled on these pages some weeks ago. Since then, it has undergone a change, paralleling the superfast transformation across the Walled City. This makes one desperate to spend the waking hours strolling non-stop along the galis of the historic quarter, making a record of all the longtime establishments belonging to the button wale, the flower wale, the hakeem wale, the nihari wale, the ghodi wale, the bone-setter wale, the roti wale, the bartan wale, the achar wale, the printing press wale, the baraf wale, the kalai wale, the mehendi wale, the bakarkhani wale, the atta chakki wale, the sehra wale, the gur sherbet wale, the clock wale, the fen wale, the photo studio wale, the binding wale, and all the other wale. It also feels as urgent to document each of these old housestheir carved doors, their dalaan with fluted columns, their steep staircases, their sculpted balconies, their lakhori bricks.

Plus, it all need to be done fast, before its too late. Everything in Old Delhi is dissolving and evolving right in front of our eyes. Suburb-style flats are mushrooming, along with gyms and eating joints. No certainty that things from the past that have survived to this day might last long.

Take this missing door. It opened to Rahman Alis machine-repair workshop he had inherited from his father. He sold the place to a footwear merchant. The new owner quickly got rid of the door.

The streets ongoing alteration is most palpable at a circumcision clinic, opposite Delicious Omelet Corner, which was earlier Imamuddins pansari store. Set up 70 years ago by late Firoz Akhlaq, the clinic is run by his son and grandsons. Undergoing a renovation, the walls lie stripped of their marble tiles, revealing the raw bricks beneath. A handful of black granite tiles have been laid on the floor though.

A few steps ahead, shutters have been down for days at Modern Tea house, a favoured timepass stop for the local poets. Some say the attendant who administers it has gone to his village in Bihar. In any case, owner Khalil Bhai no longer comes to the establishment his father founded in 1967, while his young son is building an office-goers career outside the Walled City.

Amid the unstoppable transition, it is consoling to spot good old Maiku, the alley cat who walks stiffly with tail on high. At Naeem Bhais meat shop, she is snoozing under the chicken cages.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mayank Austen Soofi Mayank Austen Soofi is a writer-snapper trying to capture Delhi by heart. ...view detail
The six suspects involved in the murder of gangster Sunil Maan alias Tillu Tajpuriya, 33, at Tihar jail had hatched a plan to kill him on April 22, the day he was transferred to the prison from Rohini jail and 10 days before he was stabbed to death, the Delhi Police has said in a charge sheet filed in Patiala House court. Gangster Tillu Tajpuriya was killed on May 2. (File)

On May 2, Tajpuria was brutally stabbed over 100 times in the courtyard of jail number 8 of Tihar Central Prison, and in full view of the security personnel and other inmates. According to the police charge sheet, filed by the special cell on August 3, Tillus murder was a revenge attack for his involvement in the September 2021 murder of Jitender Maan alias Gogi inside a courtroom at Rohini courts complex.

Also Read: 80 officials from Tihar jail transferred in Tillu Tajpuriya murder case

The police have charged four inmates  Riyaz Khan alias Riyaz alias Gainda alias Sonu, Deepak Singh alias Tittar, Yogesh Singh alias Tunda, and Rajesh Singh alias Karambir  with murder, and two others  Vinod Lal alias Chavanni and Ataul Rehman Khan  with criminal conspiracy in connection with Tillus killing.

The charge sheet says that as part of the plan, Chavanni put a bedsheet in front of the CCTV camera installed at the ground floor of the jail so that the incident could not be captured, while Tunda locked the gate of barrack A-2, so that the inmates there, which include gangsters Sonu Daryapur, Vijay Sehrawat, and Pradeep Solanki, could not come out to help Tillu. They also threatened jail staff and prisoners, who were trying to save Sunil alias Tillu. Accused persons obstructed jail staff while performing their official duties and threatened them to kill. As per statements of eyewitnesses, Ataul Rehman and Vinod alias Chavanni were provoking them to kill Sunil alias Tillu, the charge sheet says.

Tillu was reportedly associated with the Kala Asauda gang, which has been involved in a long-standing rivalry with Jitender Gogis gang. Police believe that the 33-year-olds killing may have been a result of the turf war between the two gangs. Tillu was accused as the mastermind behind the killing of gangster Jitender Gogi inside the Rohini court complex in Delhi during a hearing in September of 2021. Tillu was in touch with his associates over call directing them on how to execute the plan, said a senior Delhi Police officer, asking not to be named.

Also Read: Attack on gangster Tillu continued in presence of Tihar jail staff in Delhi

The charge sheet says, To take revenge, they [the six suspects] planned murder in a most cold blooded manner..... Further role of each and every perpetrator was duly assigned as to who will attack Sunil, who will stop the other inmates, jail staff/TSP staff to intervene.

The special cell in the charge sheet also mentioned that when the forensic team visited the scene of the crime and inspected barrack B-1 at ward number 5, where three of the accused were lodged, it was noticed that someone had written Gogi Bhai on the wall with blood. It was later discovered that Riyaz had written this using his own blood after murdering Tillu.

The charge sheet also says that the six accused prepared improvised knives by using parts of exhaust fans installed in the jail premises.

Also Read: Month after Tillu murder, another gang war in Tihar

Accused Riyaz Khan alias Gainda had broken legs of exhaust fan installed in barrack B-1, in which accused Riyaz Khan alias Gainda, Yogesh alias Tunda and Deepak alias Tittar were lodged. Riyaz Khan alias Gainda and Yogesh alias Tunda prepared four improvised knives with the legs of exhaust fan. They prepared hand grips of the knives by threads/yarns of carpet. They also prepared two ropes by tiding 4 bed-sheets together. They broke the iron grills of first floor by using bed-sheet and wiper stick, the charge sheet said.

HT had on May 7 reported that after the murder, Tihar jail officers learnt that Tillus assailants removed an exhaust fan from the jail premises to prepare the knives used in the attack. It may be noted that after Tillus murder, Tihar prison authorities removed all exhaust fans with metal arms.

Mentioning the post mortem report, the chargesheet said that Tilllus body had 106 incised/stab wounds. The cause of the death was haemorrhagic shock via multiple and repetitive stab and incised wound injuries... ante-mortem in nature and fresh in duration, it noted

Questioning the safety measures of Delhi jails, the charge sheet said the incident has raised questions of security in the mind of the family members of other inmates lodged in the jail.

They were so cold blooded that as the deceased Sunil alias Tillu was being taken to hospital for medical aid, he was again attacked with knives and his head was crushed with shoes...... This gruesome incident sent shivers across civilized society, it said.

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An employed man in Delhis Jaffarpur Kalan on Monday stabbed his neighbour to death suspecting the victim of performing black magic on him, the Delhi Police said on Tuesday. The attacker also injured another person, who had intervened, with the same murder weapon. Representational image.

The suspect, identified as 44-year-old Vinod, was arrested within hours of the murder, deputy commissioner of police (Dwarka) M Harsha Vardhan said.

Vinod and the victim, 47-year-old Sunil, were neighbours in Surhera village of Jaffarpur Kalan, a neighbourhood adjacent to west Delhis Dwarka. The victim was a farmer.

A week ago, they quarreled over open defecation in Sunils farmland, the DCP said.

The confrontations continued until Monday when the two again got into a fight, and this time Vinod allegedly used a kitchen knife to stab Sunil to death.

Another neighbour, Rajpal, tried to intervene and save Sunil, but he too sustained stab injuries, the DCP said.

Rajpal, 58, is undergoing treatment at a hospital and is recovering.

The police have registered a case of murder and attempt to murder, and are questioning Vinod to understand what led him to suspect the victim of performing black magic.

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Two days after thousands of villagers from across Gurugram gathered to attend a mahapanchayat in Tigra village of Sector 57, two people were booked for their speeches at the event held on Sunday, Gurugram police said on Tuesday. The mahapanchayat was called to protest the arrest of four men from Tigra village for their alleged involvement in an attack on a mosque in Gurugram. (PTI)

Officers said that the mahapanchayat was held without valid permission where the speakers called for economic boycott of Muslims. The mahapanchayat was organised in the wake of the communal violence in Nuh on July 31 in which at least six people were killed.

Also Read: Gurugram Hindu groups call for boycott of Muslims

The Sector 56 police booked two speakers at the event  Kulbhushan Bhardwaj and Babita Gurjar. An FIR has been registered under sections 53A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, etc.), 153B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration), 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) and 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code, police said.

A police officer aware of the developments said that the two were booked after investigators went through the videos of the event that were shared on social media websites.

We are collecting evidence based on which further action will be taken against them, said the officer who did not wish to be named.

Also Read: Mahapanchayat members meet Gurugram DC, seek release of innocent youths

Meanwhile, Bhardwaj, a member of Bajrang Dal, said the authorities were trying to divert the focus from the violence in Nuh last week. We are fighting for justice, and I will continue to support Hindu groups that were targeted in Nuh. We have lost a member and cannot sit silently and demand no action, he said.

The mahapanchayat was called to protest the arrest of four men from Tigra village for their alleged involvement in an attack on a mosque in Gurugram.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Leena Dhankhar Leena Dhankhar has worked with Hindustan Times for five years. She has covered crime, traffic and excise. She now reports on civic issues and grievances of residents. ...view detail
The Kerala high court on Monday dismissed a plea filed by a couple seeking permission for sex-affirmative surgery of their seven-year-old with ambiguous genitalia to raise the child as a female. Noting the lack of norms regulating such surgeries on children, the court ordered the state government to construct a medical board to give its recommendations on the case. It also directed the government to issue an order regulating sex-selective surgeries on infants and children within three months. The court said that permission can be granted for carrying out the genital reconstructive surgery based on recommendations of a medical board. (File Photo)

Justice V G Arun in an order stated that a non-consensual sex affirmative surgery on a minor would violate the child's dignity and privacy. The ruling said that until norms for regulation are in place by the state government, sex-selective surgery shall be permitted only based on the opinion of the state-level multidisciplinary committee that the surgery is essential to save the life of the child/infant.

Right to choose identity has to be recognised

...I find that grant of permission for conducting genital reconstructive surgery would impinge the rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India and conduct of the surgery without consent would violate the child's dignity and privacy, ruled the high court judge.

"Granting such permission may also result in severe emotional and psychological issues if, on attaining adolescence, the child develops orientation towards the gender, other than the one to which the child was converted through surgical intervention," the court said in its order.

It further added that the right of a human being to choose his/her sex or gender identity, which is one of the most basic aspects of self-determination, dignity and freedom, has to be recognised.

What are genital reconstructive surgeries?

According to the International Society for Sexual Medicine, gender reassignment surgery, sometimes called sex reassignment surgery, is performed to transition individuals with gender dysphoria to their desired gender.

People with gender dysphoria often feel that they were born in the wrong gender. A biological male may identify more as a female and vice versa, it explained.

Surgery is typically the last step in the physical transition process, but it is not a decision to be made lightly, the organisation added.

(With PTI inputs)

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The absence of Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Chaudhary during the crucial voting on the Delhi Services Bill in the Rajya Sabha on Monday night has raised questions over his future plans yet again. Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Chaudhary. (File Photo)

The contentious Bill was passed with 131 votes in its favour and 102 against it. Since the voting on the Bill was being seen as an occasion to test the Oppositions unity after formation of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) coalition, Jayants absence has also put a question mark on the Samajwadi Party (SP)-RLD alliance in Uttar Pradesh.

Earlier also, he had surprised many by not attending the Oppositions first meeting in Patna in June. The reason given then was that he was out of India to attend some family function overseas. However, Jayant had lent support to the INDIA by attending the Oppositions second meeting in Bengaluru last month.

Sensing the seriousness of the issue, RLD leaders here on Tuesday went into an overdrive clarifying that Jayant had to give it a miss because his wife had undergone a surgery though many are not ready to take this reason at its face value.

RLD national spokesman, Anil Dubey, however, said the RLD was strongly with INDIA and Jayant, he claimed, would attend the Oppositions third meeting in Mumbai at the end of this month.

Also Read|House nod for Delhi bill after fierce debate in Rajya Sabha

Jayant Chaudhary wanted to vote in the Rajya Sabha but could not reach there because he had to take care of his ailing wife who has undergone an operation, Dubey said. We are with the INDIA and the SP-RLD alliance is intact and strong, he added. Some other RLD leaders also issued similar clarifications.

Had there been any possibility of one vote making any difference to the outcome of the Delhi Services Bill, Jayant Chaudhary would have certainly remained present in the Rajya Sabha to vote, another RLD leader Rohit Agrawal said.

However, Jayant Chaudhary who keeps on posting tweets regularly, is yet to issue any clarification personally in this matter.

Many feel the reasons being cited for Jayants absence during the voting are too simplistic, believing there could be something more to it than meets the eye.

The theory that Jayant could not remain present during the voting because of ill-health of his wife is not digestible, said a former RLD leader requesting anonymity.

The talks about the RLD chief being wooed by the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) have been there for quite some time. He is also believed to have met a senior minister at the Centre last month. Now, his not joining the voting being seen as the first test of the INDIAs unity only lends credence to the theory, he added.

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The special PMLA court on Tuesday has taken cognizance of the chargesheet filed by Enforcement Directorate (ED) against three persons in the multi-crore scholarship fraud case under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on July 23, said ED officials at a press meet here on Tuesday. PMLA court takes cognizance of chargesheet in scholarship fraud case (Pic for representation)

The officials said the court was pleased to take cognizance of the chargesheet against three accused including two brothers Izhar Hussain Jafri and Ali Abbas Jafri, the owners of Hygia College of Pharmacy and their employee Ravi Prakash Gupta. They said the trio was arrested under PMLA on April 26 earlier this year and are presently in jail since then.

A senior ED official said extensive searches were conducted at nine pharmacy colleges and other educational institutes of Lucknow, Hardoi and Farrukhabad based on intelligence input about illegal acquisition and use of the governments scholarship fund, which was given to facilitate the education of SC, ST, PH and EWS candidates. Seizures were made from there under provisions of PMLA, 2002, said official.

He said four Lucknow colleges that were raided, include SS Institute of Management, Hygia College of Pharmacy, Hygia Institute of Pharmacy/Central Institute of Pharmacy and Institute of Management and Education. Besides, four Hardoi colleges, including Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar Foundation and Jivika College of Pharmacy, RP Inter College, Gyanwati Inter College and Jagdish Prasad Verma, Uchatar Madhyamik Vidyalaya and a college in Farrukhabad --Dr Om Prakash Gupta Institute of Management and Technology.

The investigation revealed that these institutes and colleges had unlawfully availed scholarships in the names of several ineligible candidates and illegally misappropriated the same for their use. He said the investigation revealed that these colleges and institutes used bank accounts even of minor children in the age group of 07 to 12 years of age and persons in age group of 45 years and above in order to avail more and more of scholarship funds. He said these institutes opened 3000 such accounts using documents of various persons and common email IDs, said the official.

He said huge number of SIM cards and stamps and seals of various institutes were found and seized from the accused persons premises during searches. He said the probe discovered that these institutes and colleges were found involved in forgery and fabrication of various documents. It was also revealed during investigation that most of the beneficiaries are villagers who are not even aware of these bank accounts and have never received any scholarships.

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LUCKNOW The Association of Private Schools, Uttar Pradesh, on Tuesday, urged the state government to bring the School Safety Bill or issue a government order that prohibits arrest of any school member without proper investigation in a case. A Class 11 student of a girls college in Azamgarh had allegedly killed herself on July 31. The principal and the class teacher were arrested in the matter on August 5, following a complaint by the girls family members. (Pic for representation)

Over 45,000 private schools across UP remained closed during the day following a call by their association to protest against the arrest of a principal and a teacher in connection with the suicide of a student in Azamgarh district.

A Class 11 student of a girls college in Azamgarh had allegedly killed herself on July 31. The principal and the class teacher were arrested in the matter on August 5, following a complaint by the girls family members.

In wake of the arrest of the principal and teacher, the association felt there was a need for some safeguard measures so that heads of institutions and teachers were not harassed by police in case of any eventuality.

The Unaided Private Schools Association, Uttar Pradesh, also urged the state government to form a committee to probe such incidents.

The Association of Private Schools will also give a representation to chief minister Yogi Adityanath in this connection.

We deeply condole the death of the girl student in Azamgarh. But we strongly condemn the arrest of the principal and the teacher under Section 305 without any investigation into the case. The arrest has shaken the teachers, principals and school management, said Atul Kumar, president of Association of Private Schools, at a press conference.

Kumar said the students suicide was extremely unfortunate, but blaming the principal and teacher of the school without any investigation was injustice to the entire school fraternity.

Mobile phones are prohibited on the school campus, but parents still give phones to their wards. It is sad that parents threaten to lodge FIR against the school at the slightest instance. Even children have stopped respecting teachers, he added.

The association requests the UP government to bring the School Safety Bill or a government order that prohibits arrest of a school member without proper investigation in a case, added Kumar.

Unaided Private Schools Association (UPSA) chief Anil Agarwal claimed that director-general of school education Vijay Kiran Anand assured formation of a committee and sought names of the members. All private schools in the state will be fully functional from Wednesday (August 9), said Agarwal.
LUCKNOW The 76th anniversary of the countrys independence will be celebrated in Uttar Pradesh by saluting the soil and worshipping the heroes (mitti ko naman, veeron ka vandan), chief minister Yogi Adityanath said on Tuesday. Many events will be organized every day from villages to cities as part of I-Day celebrations from August 9 to 15. chief minister Yogi Adityanath. (File Photo)

Independence Day is a festival of every citizen and every resident of UP should participate in this. The main function, which will take place in the capital on August 15, should be broadcast live in all villages and towns, the CM was quoted saying in a statement.

On August 9, the CM will formally launch a week of programmes in Kakori by taking Prime Minister Narendra Modis Panch Prana pledge for Amrit Kaal, honouring families of martyrs, and planting 75 saplings.

As per the instructions of the CM, ministers and local public representatives will be present at the programmes to be held in districts and local bodies, said the spokesperson.

During the meeting, the CM said after setting a record last year by hoisting six crore national flags under Har Ghar Tiranga campaign, this year also the national flag should be hoisted at every residence, every business establishment, industrial units, government buildings, and non-government buildings. He directed officers to arrange the time-bound delivery of the national flag required for this.

In the Azadi ka Amrit Varsh, under the guidance of the Prime Minister, meri mitti, mera desh programme was being organized on Independence Day, with the message of mitti ko naman, veeron ka vandan, said the CM.

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The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday informed the state legislative assembly that legal action was taken against 7,570 cyber criminals and a sum of 90 crore was recovered from them in over a year. Khanna said the state government was proactively dealing with cases of cybercrime in the state. He said the Yogi government has adopted zero tolerance policy against crimes, including cyber offences. (For representation)

Replying to a question during the question hour, minister for finance Suresh Khanna said 13,155 cybercrime cases were registered between 2022 and till March 2023. He said charge sheets had been filed in 4,372 cases, while final reports were submitted in 4,606. Besides, 45 cases were rejected.

Khanna said the state government was proactively dealing with cases of cybercrime in the state. He said the Yogi government has adopted zero tolerance policy against crimes, including cyber offences.

Khanna said there was a noticeable decline in crime rates in the state following installation of the Yogi Adityanath government.
Navi Mumbai: Following the notice sent on August 5 by the Raigad police to the MDs of ECL Finance and the Edelweiss Group, seeking information on certain aspects of the late art director Nitin Desais dealings with them, one of the two managing directors, along with three employees, visited Khalapur police station on Tuesday morning. HT Image

Raigad superintendent of police Somnath Gharge confirmed that Phanindranath Kakarla, MD of ECL Finance Ltd of the Edelweiss group, was present at the police station today along with three legal assistants.

The police, while sending the August 5 notice, had mentioned that the MDs had to provide the documents and reach the police station latest by August 8, 10 am. Consequently, on Tuesday, the four officials from ECL finance were interrogated for eight hours regarding the loan that Desai had procured from their company. The police sought detailed information on the procedure followed to grant the loan as well as the procedure that was followed to recover it. They also sought all the details of the case that were with the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).

The officials produced various documents pertaining to the loan that Desai had taken, and we have studied them, said Atul Zende, additional superintendent of police, Raigad. During the process of investigation, we asked for some more documents, which they have been told to bring by 10 am on August 11. The police, however, refused to divulge what kind of additional information had been sought.

Meanwhile, Rashesh Shah, chairman of Edelweiss Financial Services and Raj Kumar Bansal, MD and CEO of Edelweiss Asset Reconstruction Company Limited, have approached the Bombay high court seeking to quash the FIR filed against them for allegedly abetting Desais suicide. Pending the hearing of their plea, the two have also sought interim relief of no coercive action and prayed that the probe be stayed until the hearing.
Three months after the Supreme Court granted a temporary concession to the Chhattisgarh government to implement a law providing 58% reservation to Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in government jobs, the Bhupesh Baghel administration on Monday decided to kickstart the process in admissions to all educational institutions of the state. Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel. (PTI Photo)

The cabinet chaired by chief minister Baghel decided to implement 58% reservation in admissions as per the top courts interim order dated 1 May 2023, a government statement read.

Interim relief has been provided to continue the appointment/selection procedures as per the pre-existing reservation system in the state. As per this interim order, the cabinet has decided to conduct the admission process in the educational institutions of the state under the pre-existing reservation system, it said.

The Supreme Court had on May 1 stayed the Chhattisgarh high courts order which in 2022 declared unconstitutional an amendment to the 2011 reservation law that aimed to increase the reservation to 58%.

Also Read:SC allows Chhattisgarh to recruit under 58% quota law as interim measure

In September last year, the high court struck down the Chhattisgarh Lok Seva (Anusuchit Jatiyon, Jan Jatiyon aur Anya Pichhade Vargon ke Liye Arakshan) (Sanshodhan) Adhiniyam, 2011, which provided 58% reservation  12% for SCs, 32% for STs and 14% for OBCs  in public services and posts, and to certain educational institutions established, maintained or aided by the state government.

The high court held that no exceptional circumstance had been made out for breaching the reservation ceiling limit of 50% as held by the Supreme Court in the Indira Sawhney case in 1994.

On May 1, a three-judge bench headed by justice BR Gavai heard an urgent request by the Chhattisgarh government, which submitted that owing to the high courts stay, recruitments had come to a standstill and the state was facing an extreme shortage of manpower.

We find that a situation cannot be permitted where the state does not have requisite manpower to run the administration, the bench stated.
GORAKHPUR Two female professors from Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University have been issued a notice by the university registrar for allegedly welcoming eight activists from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), who were reportedly involved in vandalising the Vice-Chancellors office and assaulting the registrar on July 21. A video capturing the incident went viral on various social media platforms. (HT Photo)

Registrar Professor Ajay Singh has confirmed that, in accordance with university regulations, an explanation has been requested from the two professors.

Previously, university authorities lodged a complaint against 22 individuals, including student leaders. Following the filing of the First Information Report (FIR), police arrested eight ABVP leaders, who were subsequently incarcerated. However, after 11 days, these students were released on bail on August 1.

The two female professors, Uma Srivastava and Sushma Pandey, who hold positions on the central executive committee of ABVP, extended their welcome to these activists. A video capturing the incident went viral on various social media platforms. After verifying the content of the video, the registrar issued a notice to them on Monday.

Notably, students had been conducting a protest at the Vice-Chancellors office as part of an ongoing agitation in support of their seven-point demands, which include the reversal of the fee hike across various courses. However, the university authorities exhibited an indifferent attitude towards the demands.

The situation took a violent turn on July 21 when the Vice-Chancellor disregarded the protesting students. Enraged by this negligence, student leaders engaged in destructive behaviour, physically assaulting both the Vice-Chancellor and the registrar.

In another development, in response to a directive from the University Grants Commission, the authorities of DDU Gorakhpur University launched a website for reporting cases of sexual harassment on Tuesday. Additionally, a 10-member committee has been established to address such complaints. Concerned by reports of a romantic relationship between a teacher and a student that have emerged in certain media outlets, the university authorities have adopted a stringent stance.

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In its endeavour to enhance media outreach, and mutual understanding and strengthen future collaborations, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is carrying out media orientation capsules at various field units under all its Commands situated across the nation. The first such media orientation capsule under the Central Air Command (CAC) area of responsibility was held at Air Force Station-Bamrauli in Prayagraj on Monday, informed IAF officials. Media orientation capsule underway at AFS-Bamrauli in Prayagraj. (Courtesy: IAF)

Apart from disseminating information specific to Air Force Station-Bamrauli, the capsule also provided glimpses into the rich history of the IAF and Central Air Command.

Critical capabilities, achievements and the role being played towards nation-building were also put forth to them. It was also an effort towards IAFs commitment to fostering cohesiveness and enhancing communication with the media, officials added.

The event took place in coordination with the regional defence public relations officer (PRO) and witnessed good participation from members of the print and electronic media fraternity of different media houses.

The programme commenced with an elucidation of the objectives of the media orientation capsule by Station PRO.

The keynote address was delivered by Air Commodore DK Vats, Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station - Bamrauli. He applauded the media personnel for their exceptional service to the nation and society.

The Air Commodore also urged them to become a force multiplier, in projecting the efforts of the Armed Forces in various aspects of nation-building. He underlined the need for a collaborative approach to ensuring accurate and timely information sharing with countrymen.

The capsule exposed the media personnel to basic flying aspects, the functioning of flying simulators along with a comprehensive flying brief.

The media personnel also witnessed the flying operations and functioning of fighter aircraft besides a static display. The key doctrinal aspects of air power, the IAFs pursuit of Atmanirbharata (self-reliance) by means of recent and forthcoming inductions, the stellar role played by the IAF during various humanitarian assistance disaster relief (HADR) missions and many other important issues were discussed during the capsule.

The media representatives interacted with personnel from various branches and streams and got a firsthand account of the functioning of the Air Base. The event met its objectives of creating mutual understanding while building long-lasting relationships, informed Group Captain Samir Gangakhedkar, public relations officer (defence), Prayagraj.

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Bahraich Imagine sending your child to school amidst the danger of encounters with wild beasts like tigers, leopards, and elephants. Or needing medical care for a sick parent, yet risking your life due to lurking predators. In Bharthapur, the last village on the Indo-Nepal border, these agonising choices are a grim reality. Recently, district magistrate Monica Rani, accompanied by forest officials, visited Bharthapur by motorboat (HT Photo)

Nestled between the Geruwa and Kaudiyala rivers, surrounded by dense forests, Bharthapur lies 122 kilometres from the district centre. Its been recognised as a revenue village since 1834.

To access the village, one must navigate the waters, braving the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary (KWS) before crossing the Geruwa river by boat. The journey continues with a lengthy walk. Even district officials follow this arduous path to deliver government initiatives.

Linked to Amba Gram Panchayat, situated 15 kilometres away, Bharthapurs life is hazardous and challenging. Iqrar Ansari, the head of Amba, described how villagers trek 6 kilometres through perilous forests teeming with wildlife. Many have left in pursuit of better lives elsewhere, leaving around 526 residents.

Significantly, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has been implementing the VVRP (Voluntary Village Relocation Program) in all tiger reserves across the country to create inviolate space for tigers.

Our ancestors moved to this village around 350 years ago, but we are now forced to abandon this place due to the lack of basic infrastructure. There is only one school here, and that too only up to Class 5th, said 44-year-old Munna Lal Maurya.

When asked about casualties due to man-animal conflict in the region, Maurya added, Every year, at least one or two villagers lose their lives to wild animal attacks. In February, a 30-year-old named Chhote Lal was killed by a wild tusker. Previously, a 40-year-old named Lekhram Maurya was also killed by wild elephants. Another man, Ram Nath Kashyap, sustained injuries in an attack by a herd of elephants.

Another reason behind the residents agreeing to relocate under the governments Voluntary Village Relocation Program (VVRP) is the sense of hopelessness due to the lack of development. There are neither roads nor any solid houses in the village.

Laxmi Narayan, another local resident, said that about 50% of the village land gets inundated by the Geruwa and Kaudiyala rivers every year, causing massive losses to farmers.

It is worth mentioning that officials from the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, home to 59 tigers, have proposed to the Bharthapur residents to vacate the village under the VVRP scheme.

Speaking to HT, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Akash Deep Badhawan said that one or two deaths due to wild animal attacks are reported in the area every year. However, flooding caused by overflowing rivers is the major cause of concern for the villagers.

The DFO added that VVRP schemes were introduced by the NTCA to relocate those living adjacent to tiger reserves. Initially, villagers were not ready to relocate due to sentimental value. They were asking for either 2 hectares of land or 15 lakh in cash. However, after eight meetings, all villagers have now given their written consent to relocate.

Recently, district magistrate Monica Rani, accompanied by forest officials, visited Bharthapur by motorboat. The journey revealed rhinos and crocodiles along the Geruwa river. Distressed women implored for relocation due to constant life-threatening risks. Villagers lamented their childrens compromised education and the scarcity of livelihood opportunities due to menacing animals.

Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, the DM promised a solution. A meeting was held with concerned officials, and an eligibility assessment committee was formed, consisting of administrative authorities.

Responding to the DMs directive, the forest department conducted a survey in collaboration with other agencies. The voluntary displacement policy deemed 257 families eligible for a compensation of 15 lakh each. For 73 families, asset evaluation is ongoing prior to relocation.

Two relocation proposals have been formulated, one already submitted and the other to be sent shortly, said the DM. Despite the delay, the she has assured swift execution. If successful, Bharthapur will become the first village to be relocated in the state.

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The Kerala assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution against the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), claiming that the central governments attempts to impose the law without consensus are aimed at erasing the secular character of the Indian Constitution. The Kerala assembly. (ANI Photo)

The resolution, presented by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, was backed by all parties from the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF). Though the Bharatiya Janata Party is in favour of UCC, it doesnt have representation in the state assembly.

Kerala is the first state in the country to pass such a resolution in its assembly against the proposed law.

The idea of a Uniform Civil Code in the Constitution is not the same as that of the version of the UCC of the Sangh Parivar. Their idea of the law is as per the Manusmriti. They had made it very clear early on, CM Vijayan said while presenting the resolution.

Even though there is much talk around UCC, no draft of the proposed law has been presented so far. The expert panel formed by the Uttarakhand government last year has still not come forth with a draft before the state government even though chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had said in June that it would be done within a fortnight.

The Law Commission of India had sought suggestions for the proposed law till July 28, and claims to have received over 3 lakh responses.

The Kerala assembly also urged the central government to refrain from taking blatant moves until a consensus on issues affecting our people is arrived at through discussions with various religious groups.

Making a strong case for the implementation of uniform civil laws across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at a Bhopal meeting that the country cannot be run with two laws when the Constitution espouses equality for all.

Article 44 of the Constitution states that the State shall endeavour to secure a Uniform Civil Code throughout the territory of India.

Tuesday resolution stated that the UCC refers only to the Directive Principles of the Constitution and its implementation is not mandatory.

The Constitution refers to Uniform Civil Code only in its Directive Principles. It is pertinent to note that the Uniform Civil Code was limited to Directive Principles. Implementation of Directive Principles is not mandatory. The court may order to enforce Fundamental rights. But the Directive Principles of Article 44 of the Constitution cannot be enforced even by courts. It is essential to understand how much thought the founders of the Constitution had put in while arriving at such a decision, it read.

It further mentioned that Dr BR Ambedkar had advocated for UCC but never pressed for one. Ambedkar, who advocated Parliament passing the Uniform Civil Code by respecting citizens rights to choose their laws, never pressed for one. So, its very clear that he was pointing towards a possibility. Common Civil Law was restricted to the scope of the Directive Principle of State Policy due to this opposition, the resolution read.

UCC is a common set of laws pertaining to marriage, inheritance, adoption, and other matters that are not based on religion.

Earlier, the Kerala assembly was also the first legislative body in India to pass a resolution against the Citizenship Amendment Act.

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The Pimpri-Chinchwad police have detained a 17-year-old youngster for the alleged murder of an 85-year-old woman in Pimpri. According to the Pimpri police, the minor was involved in a relationship with a girl who was in jail facing charges of attempt to murder in another case. As her bail given by the court required a substantial sum of money, the accused hatched a plan to secure the necessary funds by committing another crime, said police officials. The Pimpri-Chinchwad police have detained a 17-year-old youngster for the alleged murder of an 85-year-old woman in Pimpri (REPRESENTATIVE IMAGE)

On July 30, the minor entered the house of the elderly woman, identified as Shalubai Rupa Salvi, a resident of Pimpri. The minor is said to have attacked the senior citizen with brutality, resulting in her demise. Following the act, he ransacked the residence, specifically targeting gold ornaments and mobile phones.

Upon the discovery of the crime scene, Pimpri police launched an investigation and found the minor, who was previously involved in criminal activities, was on the run after the murder.

During the search operation, police got information on August 7 of his whereabouts in the Pimpri mandai area. Following confirmation, police detained him, and during interrogation, he confessed his involvement in the crime.

Ram Rajmane, senior police inspector (SPI) at Pimpri Police Station said, During the investigation, we found that the accused was in a relationship with a girl and was living with her previously. His live-in partner was arrested under IPC section 307, and he required money to secure her bail. To get easy money he planned to kill the elderly woman and carry out a robbery at her home.

Police recovered gold ornaments, a mobile phone, and other valuables from the accused worth 30,400. According to the investigation team, the accused will turn 18 on August 9, 2023. He previously worked on various constriction sites. According to Rajmane, the accused is an on-record criminal and at least 11 cases are registered against him at Pimpri, Shivajinagar, and Yerwada police stations.

A case has been registered at Pimpri Police Station under IPC sections 302 (murder), 392 (Punishment for robbery), 457 (House trespass), and 427 (Mischief) and further investigation is underway.
Citizens will be raising civic issues before the municipal commissioner on Wednesday under the initiative Chalo PMC. Citizens will be highlighting civic issues, including traffic jams, before the municipal commissioner on Wednesday under the initiative Chalo PMC. ((PIC FOR REPRESENTATION))

Various citizens group who joined hands under the initiative, said in a joint statement that the daily problems of citizens in Pune include traffic jams, resulting in air and noise pollution, extremely scarce parking, piles of garbage and resulting stench, releasing untreated sewage in the river, resulting in river pollution.

The municipal corporation has a financial provision of 10,000 crore per annum. This is to prioritise these issues, and solve them. No goal or roadmap seems to exist either. PMC is fully in the hands of this administration for over a year and under the supervision of the municipal commissioner, yet the problems of Pune residents have not been solved, in fact they have increased. Therefore, citizens are gathering on Kranti Day, August 9, to ask for a town hall meeting with the PMC officials, stated the statement.

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Pune: Following demand from flyers, PMPML plans to restart bus service from Pune airport to various destinations. (HT FILE)

Considering the growing demand for feeder bus service at Pune airport, the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) plans to resurrect the network that connects crucial city junctions to the airfield. Previously, due to a low response to the service, the PMPML reduced the number of buses from 35 to 10, and since 2022 November, the service was suspended by the public transport authority.

Please start the buses to and from the Pune airport. Bengaluru airport has superb bus service and I hope PMPML improves the connectivity soon, Ramesh Gaikwad, a frequent flier, tweeted on Tuesday.

In response to his social media post, the PMPML issued a statement saying, Due to meagre response from citizens the bus service from PMPML is currently discontinued. We will surely try to restart the service if the demand increases.

There were electric buses given by PMPML to Pune airport at Lohegaon, and a dedicated space was given to park the buses inside the airport premises. However, there were few takers for buses travelling to Kothrud, Chinchwad, Swargate, Hadapsar and other parts of the city. Mostly during the evening peak hours, passengers would travel by these buses, but due to poor response, the number of buses was reduced by the PMPML and then eventually stopped in 2022.
The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed the Indian Institutes of Management (Amendment) Bill, 2023 which entrusts the management accountability of the institutes with the President of India giving more powers to the Centre, diluting the premier Business-schools autonomy. Rajya Sabha passes IIM Bill which entrusts President with management powers

The Bill was passed by voice vote. Earlier, the Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on August 4.

The Bill seeks to amend the Indian Institutes of Management Act of 2017. It designates the President of India as a Visitor of every Institute covered by the Act.

Currently, the Director of an IIM is appointed by the Board of Governors, based on the recommendations of a Search-cum-Selection Committee. The Bill mandates the Board to obtain the prior approval of the Visitor before appointing an Institute Director. The procedure for selecting the Director will be prescribed by the central government.

At present, the Search Committee comprises the Chairperson of the Board, and three members from amongst eminent administrators, industrialists and educationists. The Bill reduces these three members to two and adds another member to be nominated by the Visitor.

The Bill says that the Board will require prior approval of the Visitor before removing a Director. It also grants the Visitor the authority to terminate the services of the Director, as may be prescribed. The Bill also states the Chairperson of the Board will be nominated by the Visitor.

The Bill proposes a new procedure for inquiries against IIMs. It confers the power of inquiry upon the Visitor. The Visitor may appoint persons to review the work of any Institute and hold inquiries into its affairs.

Based on the report of such inquiries, the Visitor may issue directions which will be binding on the Institute. The Board may also recommend such inquiries to the visitor.

The Bill provides that the central government may prescribe the conditions and procedure for dissolving or suspending an Institutes Board. If a Board is suspended or dissolved, the central government will constitute an interim board for six months or until a new Board is constituted.

At present, the Act provides for a Coordination Forum for all the Institutes, the Chairperson of which is selected by a Search-cumSelection Committee. Under the provisions of the Bill, the Chairperson will be nominated by the Visitor.

Currently, the Forum comprises Chairpersons of four Institutes, by rotation for two years, nominated by the Chairperson. The Bill amends this to provide that Chairpersons of all Institutes will be ex-officio members of the Forum.

The Bill also classifies the National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE), Mumbai as IIM, Mumbai.

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Actors Akshay Kumar, Pankaj Tripathi and Yami Gautams upcoming film OMG 2 has got censor certification for viewing by 12+ age group in UAE and Oman without any cuts. OMG 2 will release on August 11.

The film, which is sequel to Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawals 2012 film OMG - Oh My God, is said to promote awareness and the need for sex education amongst adolescents, through a gripping story of a middle class family.

Confirming the news, Ajit Andhare, COO, Viacom 18 motion pictures, says,  Happy to share that censor authorities in Oman have cleared our film OMG 2 in 12+ category without any cuts. Film has also been cleared for exhibition by censor authority in UAE while Quebec, Canada has cleared it in General category without cuts.

Notably, the Indian censor board has cleared the film, slated to release in theatres on August 11, with an adults only certificate.
Actor Kiara Advani reached the Wagah border recently to honour the soldiers of the nation. Several photos and videos of her from her Amritsar trip have surfaced online. From spending time with the real heroes of the nation to trying her hands at guns, the actor also held the tricolour flag at the border. Also read: Kiara Advani takes a dip in the ocean with Sidharth Malhotra as they celebrate her 31st birthday Kiara Advani visits BSF boot camp ahead of Independence Day.

Kiara at Wagah border

A video of Kiara shows her waving the Indian flag. She opted for a traditional look in a green salwar suit. A few more videos and photos feature her greeting everyone with folded hands. In other visuals, she is seen engaging in fun activities in a boot camp with BSF soldiers.



Kiara planted trees with others at a site. This was followed by a round of gun shooting in which Kiara took an active part. She also interacted with others and posed with them for group photos.

Kiara returns to Mumbai

Kiara has now returned to Mumbai. Earlier in the day, she was spotted by paparazzi at the airport. She sported the same ethnic outfit which she had worn at the ceremony at the Wagah border. Upon walking out of the terminal, she was surrounded by some fans who requested her for selfies. After quickly posing with them, the actor got into her vehicle and left the premises.

Upcoming work

Kiara was last seen in Satyaprem Ki Katha alongside Kartik Aaryan. Fans will see Kiara in the upcoming film Game Changer alongside Ram Charan. The film marks her return to Telugu cinema after almost four years. She was last seen in Vinaya Vidheya Rama, which also had Ram Charan. Game Changer will be an onscreen reunion for Kiara and the RRR actor.

Besides this, Kiara also has the action thriller film War 2 alongside Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR. A source told Hindustan Times previously said, Kiara Advani fits the bill to a T as far as YRF Spy Universe and War 2 is considered. The YRF Spy Universe is a league of all-time blockbuster films like Ek Tha Tiger, Tiger Zinda Hai, War & Pathaan and the expectation from each movie coming out from this franchise is sky high. Look at the superstars who have graced this universe.

The source added, War 2 right now has the hottest cast. You have three superstars in it like Hrithik Roshan, Jr NTR and now Kiara Advani. Then you have the brightest young director of the country, Ayan Mukerji, directing War 2. Aditya Chopra is going all out to make this film the slickest and the coolest action entertainer that this country has ever seen. It will be really exciting to see Kiara in this universe and how Ayan and Adi present her in War 2."

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Actor Natalie Portman and husband-choreographer Benjamin Millepied have separated after being married for 11 years. As per Us Weekly, the decision came following his alleged affair with Camille Etienne. The split speculation began on their 11th wedding anniversary (August 4), when Natalie was seen without her wedding ring during an event in Australia. (Also Read | Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied marriage on the rocks after his extramarital affair: Report) Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied have separated.

About Natalie and Benjamin's relationship

Us Weekly quoted an insider as saying, After news of his affair came out, theyve been trying to work on their marriage but are currently on the outs. They share two children  son Aleph (12) and daughter Amalia (6). As per the report, rumours started in June that Benjamin was having an affair with climate activist Camille Etienne.

Sources had spoken about Natalie's reaction to affair

In June, an insider had told Us Weekly that Natalie believed 'Benjamins affair was a brief and stupid liaison that means nothing to him' and she was willing to see if shes capable of rebuilding her trust in him to make sure that their kids dont 'grow up in a broken home'. Quoting another source it had reported that the duo was then 'talking and working on it together for the sake of their children' adding that Benjamin regretted his actions.

In June, People had quoted a source on Benjamin's affair, which said, "It was short-lived and it is over He knows he made an enormous mistake and he is doing all he can to get Natalie to forgive him and keep their family together. Natalie is incredibly private and has no intention of playing this out in the media. Her biggest priority is protecting her children and their privacy."

How Natalie and Benjamin met

Natalie and Benjamin met in 2009 while working on Darren Aronofskys thriller Black Swan. Apart from Black Swan, Natalie and Benjamin have collaborated on various projects, including the 2018 film Vox Lux, where his choreography helped in the transformation of Natalie's portrayal of a troubled pop star Celeste.

Natalie's upcoming project

Natalie will be seen in May December in which she stars as an actor researching an upcoming film that's to dramatize a scandal from 20 years earlier. She comes to Savannah, Georgia, to spend time with Gracie Atherton-Yoo (Julianne Moore), who years earlier become tabloid fodder for a sexual relationship with a seventh grader. Now, she's seemingly happily married to him, Joe Yoo (Charles Melton), with kids of their own and suburban barbeques to host. Helmed by Todd Haynes, May December will release on Netflix later this year.

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HYDERABAD: A 21-year-old post-graduate student of Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad (IIT-H) was found dead in her hostel room on the campus at Telanganas Sangareddy district late on Monday, police said. A faculty member at IIT-H said the institute has a well-staffed counselling centre for students (IIT-H website)

She was a first-year post-graduate student and joined the masters programme in civil engineering on July 26. Sangareddy (rural) sub-inspector of police M Rajesh Naik told reporters that she was found hanging in her room by some students at about 10pm and they immediately alerted the police.

We recovered a suicide note from her room in which the student scribbled a two-line statement in Odia, saying that nobody was responsible for her death and that she was under severe mental pressure, Naik said.

We have sent the body to the Sangareddy government hospital for postmortem and informed her parents. They were on their way to Hyderabad, Naik said.

She is the second IIT-H student to have died by suicide in the last three weeks, and the fourth over the last one year.

On July 17, a second-year engineering student from Telanganas Nalgonda district went missing from the campus. His body was found washed ashore on the beach of Visakhapatnam three days later on July 25.

On August 31, 2022, a post-graduate student also died by suicide in his hostel room on the campus. A few days later on September 6, another B.Tech student who reportedly had backlogs to clear, also died by suicide.

A senior faculty of the IIT-H, who refused to be quoted, said there was a full-fledged counselling centre in the institute with experts in psychology, who regularly counsel students to help them cope with pressure. Yet, such incidents continue to happen now and then, he said.

(If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist. Helplines: Aasra: 022 2754 6669; Sneha India Foundation: +914424640050 and Sanjivini: 011-24311918, Roshni Foundation (Secundrabad) Contact Nos: 040-66202001, 040-66202000, ONE LIFE: Contact No: 78930 78930, SEVA: Contact No: 09441778290

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Srinivasa Rao Apparasu Srinivasa Rao is Senior Assistant Editor based out of Hyderabad covering developments in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana . He has over three decades of reporting experience. ...view detail
Hyderabad According to police, the 21-year-old who died by suicide was a first-year masters student in the field of civil engineering and had joined the institute in July. (HT Archives)

A 21-year-old post-graduation student at the Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad died by suicide in her hostel room on campus on Monday night, police said on Tuesday.

This is the second case of death by suicide in the Hyderabad institute in three weeks and fourth in last one year.

According to Sangareddy (Rural) sub-inspector of police M Rajesh Naik, the 21-year-old  a resident of Odisha -- was a first-year masters student in the field of civil engineering and had joined the institute in July. She was staying in a single-seater room in the college hostel. The other students found her hanging from the ceiling fan around 10pm and one of them alerted the police... We found a suicide note in her room in which the student has written two lines in Odiya language saying that no one is responsible for her death... and that she was undergoing severe mental pressure, SI Naik said, adding that a case of suspicious death has been registered and further investigation is underway.

We have sent the body to Sangareddy government hospital for a postmortem examination and informed the students parents... they are on their way to Hyderabad, he added.

On July 17, a second year BTech student at IIT Hyderabad went missing from the campus. Three days later, his body was found washed ashore on a beach in Visakhapatnam and identified by his parents on July 25. Police said the BTech student died by suicide.

On August 31 last year, an MTech student died by suicide in his hostel room on the IIT Hyderabad campus. A few days later, on September 6, a BTech student at the institute also died by suicide.

A senior faculty of IIT Hyderabad said on condition of anonymity that there exists a counselling centre in the institute who regularly counsel students to ease the academic pressure on students.

Amid a surge in suicides among students in premier educational institutes, including IITs and National Institute of Technology (NITs), and Indian Institutes of Management (IIM), Union education Dharmendra Pradhan, in an interview with HT had said: It is a serious issue, and we need to address it. It is our responsibility to ensure that the campuses of India are sensitive, responsible and free from discrimination of any kind... These are social, economical challenges of our society and we, as a society, have to take the responsibility to address them.

Academic stress, and family, personal and mental health issues, are among some of the reasons identified behind the cases of suicides among students at the countrys premier higher education institutions, the Union ministry of education informed Parliament in March.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Srinivasa Rao Apparasu Srinivasa Rao is Senior Assistant Editor based out of Hyderabad covering developments in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana . He has over three decades of reporting experience. ...view detail
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday blamed the Congress party for the ethnic clashes in Manipur, claiming that the northeastern state is burning because of the wrong policies adopted by the grand old party. Addressing a press conference to counter Congress allegations during the debate on the no-trust motion in Parliament, the chief minister alleged that the hands of the Congress party are full of blood as far as the northeast is concerned. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma addresses a press conference, in Guwahati, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023.(PTI)

Congress must think and analyse that it is because of their wrong policy and wrong approach towards the people of the northeastern region that Manipur is burning, and the sole responsibility is with them, Sarma told the press conference in Guwahati.

"Congress hands, as far as the northeast is concerned, are full of blood. No Congress PM extended any healing touch to the region in the last 75 years," he claimed.

Dismissing the opposition's criticism that the prime minister hasn't appealed for peace in Manipur, Sarma said he has visited the northeast 60 times and his wisdom will be on display when he replies to the debate on the no-confidence motion.

The PM has visited northeast 60 times. He knows everything, he is guiding everything. We know that he is in command. You must see the wisdom of PM when he will answer to the no-confidence motion, the BJP leader said.

Reacting to Sarma's allegations, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh called the turncoat a product of BJP Washing Machine and said the real sins were committed by former chief ministers Hiteswar Saikia and Tarun Gogoi by giving respectability to a "young man who formed part of the Surrendered ULFA" and giving this rank opportunist positions of power and authority.

Sarma held various important positions within the Congress-led Assam government from 20004-2014, including being the health and education minister. However, in 2015, he switched to the Bharatiya Janata Party citing ideological and governance-related differences with the Congress leadership.

No-confidence motion

The Congress-led opposition grouping INDIA has brought a no-confidence motion against the government to force a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had condemned the harrowing incident of two women in Manipur being assaulted and groped by a mob but held back from addressing the overall conflict.

The conflict was triggered by a recommendation of the Manipur high court to grant the dominant Meitei community Scheduled Tribes status that would let them buy land in the hills populated by Kukis and other tribal groups and get a share of government jobs. More than 150 people have died and over 50,000 displaced after ethnic clashes in Manipur erupted in early May.

Initiating the debate on the motion in the Lok Sabha, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi posed a series of three questions focused on Manipur -- why the prime minister had not visited Manipur, why it took 80 days to break the silence on the state and why he had not sacked the chief minister. Going on to list his reasons for Modi's silence, he alleged, "It was because the state government failed to deal with the ethnic violence in Manipur and the Home Department and the National Security Advisor failed to handle the situation.

The third reason for the prime minister's silence is that he does not like to accept his mistakes. He will never accept publicly that his state government has failed. He prefers to remain silent than accept mistakes.

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Biju Janata Dal (BJD) opposed the no-confidence motion brought by the Congress-led opposition saying it is grateful for many things the central government has done for Odisha. Participating in the debate on the no-confidence motion, BJD MP Pinaki Misra questioned the logic behind the move and said the Congress party is adept at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. BJD MP Pinaki Misra.

I cannot support a no-confidence motion against the central government today, even though we are against the BJP as a political party, Misra said.

He added, I am grateful for the many things that the central government has done for Odisha which is why, in any case, I am unable to persuade myself on behalf of my party and leader to support a no-confidence motion today which has been brought by the Congress party.

The opposition bloc Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) has brought the no-confidence motion to force a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Manipur violence.

I have always believed that the Congress party is adept at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. They are also very adept at cutting their nose to spite their face, the BJD MP said.

They know that every time the PM has got up to speak on the Floor of this House, he has pushed the Congress party through the shredder...This defies common sense, logic, political sense, he said.

Misra said it is for the people of this country to decide if a lack of statement on Manipur from the prime minister was right or wrong.

You have to take the case to the people.

The Congress accused Prime Minister Modi of taking a "vow of silence" on issues such as the ethnic violence in Manipur and Chinese incursions, and said opposition parties were forced to bring a no-confidence motion against the government to make him speak up. Initiating the debate on the motion in the Lok Sabha, Gogoi posed a series of three questions focused on Manipur -- why the prime minister had not visited Manipur, why it took 80 days to break the silence on the state and why he had not sacked the chief minister.

Parties of the INDIA were forced to bring the no-confidence motion as this was never about numbers but about justice for Manipur, he said.

"If Manipur is burning, entire India is burning, if Manipur is divided, the country is divided. It was our demand that as the leader of the country, Prime Minister Modi should come to the House and speak about Manipur. However, he kept a 'maun vrat' (vow of silence) that he will neither speak in the Lok Sabha nor in the Rajya Sabha," the Congress MP from Assam said.

"Through the no-confidence motion we want to break his vow of silence," he said.

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NEW DELHI: The government on Tuesday launched a special initiative to create a robust skill-centric and industry-ready ecosystem in the northeastern region. The government said the initiative will benefit 250,000 youth of the northeastern region who will get access to industry relevant skill training programmes (Photo:X/dpradhanbjp)

The initiative, Transforming lives, building futures: Skill development and entrepreneurship in North-East, was launched by union education and skill development minister Dharmendra Pradhan, culture and tourism minister G Kishan Reddy and minister of state for skill development and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

According to a government statement, 250,000 youth of the northeastern region will be provided with industry relevant skill training programmes through a wide array of schemes and initiatives, under the initiative.

The government has earmarked a substantial fund of 360 crore to facilitate inclusive development, nurture entrepreneurial talent, and propel socio-economic growth of the region. To fuel further growth, concerted efforts are being made to provide vocational education and skill development programs to cater to the demand for skilled professionals across sectors, including agriculture, tourism, handicrafts, and information technology, the statement said.

Pradhan said the initiative will create unprecedented skilling opportunities for the youth in line with their interest areas and lead to unlocking the potential of north-eastern youth. The north-eastern region of our country is abundant with natural resources and demographic dividend and with a whole-of-government approach, our government has worked to drive unprecedented development of the region. Todays programme will further give impetus to these efforts and lead to the socio-economic transformation of the region, he said.

We are working to make India, the skill capital of the world,  he said.

Chandrashekar said that Transforming lives and building the future was not just a slogan. This is a mission for our young Indians of the Northeast. We believe that the future of new India is bright and skill is the passport to prosperity, he said.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who was reinstated as a Lok Sabha member of Parliament on Monday, following the stay on his conviction in a 2019 defamation case, has been reallocated his government bungalow at 12, Tughlak Lane near India Gate. The House Committee of the Lok Sabha has decided to allot the same bungalow he was asked to vacate. (Sanchit Khanna/HT Photo)

An official from the Lok Sabha House committee confirmed to HT that the committee had issued a letter allocating him the bungalow that he had lived in since becoming MP in 2004.

Gandhi had vacated the house in April after the committee sent him a notice after his conviction in the defamation case.

``The entire country is my home, Gandhi said while responding to the development. While leaving his home, Gandhi had said that he was paying the price for speaking the truth and moved in with his mother Sonia Gandhi at 10, Janpath.

Also Read: Rahul Gandhi to visit Wayanad on Aug 12, 1st time after being reinstated as MP

Gandhi was disqualified from the Lower House on March 24. A day later, he was issued notice to vacate his house.

The Congress had pointed out that the period of time taken in sending an eviction notice is often much longer, saying some like Ghulam Nabi Azad who retired from the Rajya Sabha in 2022 still retain their official bungalow.

On March 23, Gandhi was convicted and sentenced to two years in prison by a metropolitan magistrates court in Surat in the defamation case. On Friday, the Supreme Court stayed the conviction, finally allowing Gandhi to come back to Parliament after 137 days.

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The Congress Tuesday named Chandy Oommen, son of late former chief minister Oommen Chandy, as its candidate for the upcoming bye-election in the Puthuppally Assembly constituency. Chandy Oommen is currently the chairman of the national outreach cell of the Youth Congress. (Facebook/Chandy Oommen)

The announcement came within hours of the Election Commission declaring the bye-election in Puthuppally along with six other seats across the country on September 5. The bypoll was necessitated following the demise of Oommen Chandy, who represented the seat for a record 53 years over 12 terms. The veteran Congress leader served as the states chief minister twice, from 2004 to 2006 and again from 2011 to 2016.

Following the announcement by the party, Chandy Oommen, who is currently the chairman of the national outreach cell of the Youth Congress, told reporters, The party has handed me a big responsibility and I will try to fulfill it. As you know, my father represented this seat for 53 years. Its a big challenge to match such a feat. I thank the party leadership for this opportunity. The development works done in this constituency by the Congress and its MLA for all these years will help it in this election.

Also Read|Bypolls to seven assembly seats in six states to be held on September 5: EC

Oommen has been active in the state as well as the national Youth Congress units for quite some time and was a permanent participant in the Bharat Jodo Yatra undertaken by Rahul Gandhi from Kanyakumari to Kashmir last year. Following the death of his father on July 18, Congress had indicated that someone from his family will contest the bypoll.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M) state committee is expected to convene later this week to decide its candidate in the bypoll. In 2021 Assembly elections, Oommen Chandy had defeated Jaik C Thomas of the CPI(M) by 9,044 votes. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate N Hari came third with less than nine percent of the votes polled.
KOCHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi meets Chandy Oommen at his father Oommen Chandy remembrance function, at Kottakkal in Keralas Malappuram district. (PTI)

The Congress Tuesday named Chandy Oommen, son of late former chief minister Oommen Chandy, as its candidate for the upcoming bye-election in the Puthuppally Assembly constituency.

The announcement came within hours of the Election Commission declaring the bye-election to Puthuppally along with six other seats across the country on September 5. The bypoll was necessitated following the demise of Oommen Chandy, who represented the seat for a record 53 years over 12 terms. The veteran Congress leader served as the states chief minister twice, from 2004 to 2006 and again from 2011 to 2016.

Following the announcement by the party, Chandy Oommen, who is currently the chairman of the national outreach cell of the Youth Congress, told reporters, The party has handed me a big responsibility and I will try to fulfill it. As you know, my father represented this seat for 53 years. Its a big challenge to match such a feat. I thank the party leadership for this opportunity. The development works done in this constituency by the Congress and its MLA for all these years will help it in this election.

Also Read|Bypolls to seven assembly seats in six states to be held on September 5: EC

Oommen has been active in the state as well as the national Youth Congress units for quite some time and was a permanent participant in the Bharat Jodo Yatra undertaken by Rahul Gandhi from Kanyakumari to Kashmir last year. Following the death of his father on July 18, Congress had indicated that someone from his family will contest the bypoll.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M) state committee is expected to convene later this week to decide its candidate in the bypoll. In 2021 Assembly elections, Oommen Chandy had defeated Jaik C Thomas of the CPI(M) by 9,044 votes. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate N Hari came third with less than nine percent of the votes polled.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Vishnu Varma Vishnu Varma is Assistant Editor and reports from Kerala for the Hindustan Times. He has 10 years of experience writing for print and digital platforms and has worked at The New York Times, NDTV and The Indian Express in the past. He specialises in longform reportage at the intersections of politics, crime, social commentary and environment. ...view detail
A referendum is out of question in a constitutional democracy like India to carry out the decision to abrogate Article 370 and the special status of Jammu & Kashmir, a Constitution bench in the Supreme Court observed on Tuesday, adding that the will of the people in a democracy can be expressed only through established institutions. A five-judge bench is holding day-to-day hearings from August 2 on a clutch of petitions pertaining to the nullification of Article 370 of the Constitution. (File photo)

On the third day of the arguments in a bundle of matters challenging the August 2019 nullification of Article 370, the bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, remained firm that a referendum on the line of Brexit could never be a legally tenable way to go about the nullification of the provision.

Also Read: Political slugfest in Jammu and Kashmir marks 4 years without Article 370

In a constitutional democracy, seeking the opinion of people has to be through established institutions. So long as democracy exists, any recourse of will of people has to be expressed through established institutions under the law and the Constitution, remarked the bench, which also included justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai and Surya Kant.

The courts remarks came as senior counsel Kapil Sibal, appearing for National Conference leader Mohammad Akbar Lone, pressed that will of the people had to be in favour of abrogation if Article 370 had to go.

Your lordships must remember Brexit. What happened? There was no constitutional provision seeking a referendum. But when you want to sever a relationship, you must seek the opinion of the people. Because people are central to the decision, he added.

Brexit, a portmanteau coined as shorthand for British exit, refers to the UKs withdrawal from the European Union (EU) following a referendum held in June 2016. UKs withdrawal formally occurred in January 2020.

Also Read: How abrogation of Article 370 has helped India diplomatically

However, the bench was not impressed with Sibal citing Brexit in the context of Article 370. Any recourse to will of the people has to be sought through established institutions. You cannot envisage a Brexit type referendum here. Thats a political decision which was taken by the then government. But within the constitutional framework we have, there is no question of a referendum, it said.

Sibal then went on to contend that the Centres exercise of power to abrogate Article 370 was completely unconstitutional, prompting the bench to comment: Then the question is whether the Constitution does or does not entrust that authority with this power.

During the hearing, the bench also wondered why the Constitution was not amended in over six decades if the fundamental understanding of the lawmakers was to keep Article 370 and the special status of J&K intact for all times to come.

The court asked the petitioners if speeches made in the J&K Constituent Assembly were enough to grasp the provision as a permanent arrangement between the Dominion of India and the erstwhile Valley State when there was no evidence to show that Parliament made attempts to remove the words Temporary provisions with respect to the State of Jammu and Kashmir from Article 370.

Also Read: Peace dividend in Jammu and Kashmir is visible post-Article 370 abrogation

Could Article 370, which was envisaged as a temporary provision, be converted into a permanent provision merely by proceedings of J&K Constituent Assembly? Or was there an act required by the Indian Constitution - either in form of constitutional amendment or something else? it asked Sibal.

As the senior counsel stressed the point that the debates in the J&K Constituent Assembly showed that J&K chose to accede to India with an understanding that its special status will remain forever, the bench asked what stopped Parliament from amending Article 370 to clarify it was not a temporary provision.

Even if we accept it for the purpose of hypothesis that it was mentioned as a temporary provision pending the decision of the constituent assembly of J&K, the difficulty is this: Is that submission itself enough to convert Article 370 into an unamendable and untouchable provision? Or did it require something more in the nature of a parliamentary intervention to convert that into a permanent provision? asked the court.

It emphasised that the third clause in Article 370 provided for the President to nullify the provision following the recommendation of the constituent assembly of the state. Article 370 provides for a modality through which Article 370 itself would come to an end, it said.

Referring to the article which empower Parliament to amend the Indian Constitution, the bench added that once the court accepts the proposition that Parliament, as a sovereign body, is capable of amending any part of the Constitution, the exercise of such a power would be subject to criticism on the ground of morality, but not power. Maybe its a political argument that Parliament could not have done it, but it cannot be an argument on the constitutional power, it said.

Sibal, on his part, make two points as he concluded his submissions on Tuesday. First, he maintained that Article 370 acquired a permanent place after the dissolution of the J&K Constituent Assembly in 1957; and second, that the procedure resorted to by the Centre in abrogating the provisions smacked of political malice and hushing up the voice of the people of the Valley.

The court will continue hearing the case on Wednesday when senior advocate Gopal Subramanium, who represents a J&K resident, will make his arguments in the matter.

A raft of petitions, filed by parliamentarians from the National Conference party, Kashmiri citizens, former bureaucrats and various organisations laid the challenge to the abrogation of Article 370 soon after the presidential order in August 2019.

While some petitioners brought up the requirement of consent from the Constituent Assembly for abrogation of Article 370, others questioned the validity of the Presidents rule that was in effect when the abrogation was made. A few of these pleas went back to the Instrument of Accession, while some highlighted the Supreme Courts ruling of 2018 that observed that Article 370 had gained a status of permanence. Many of these pleas also challenged the Jammu & Kashmir State Reorganisation Act, by which the state was bifurcated into two Union territories with effect from October 30, 2019.

On August 28, 2019, the Supreme Court issued notices on the pleas despite resistance from the central government, which argued that Article 370 had international and cross-border implications.

On July 3, the Supreme Court notified the setting up of a new Constitution bench, comprising its first five judges. A week later, the new bench directed that day-to-day hearing in the case would begin from August 2.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Utkarsh Anand Utkarsh Anand is Legal Editor at the Hindustan Times. He writes on law, judiciary and governance. ...view detail
Raghav Chadha found himself in the middle of a big controversy as five Rajya Sabha MPs on Monday demanded to move a Privilege Motion against the Aam Aadmi Party MP alleging that their forged signatures were added to the proposed select committee on the Delhi Services Bill without their consent. AAP MP Raghav Chadha coming out from Parliament after Rajya Sabha passed the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, also known as Delhi Services Bill during Monsoon session on Monday, (Sanjeev Verma/HT)

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh announced a probe into the complaints. The select committee was proposed by Raghav Chadha in the Upper House to examine the bill.

Responding to the allegations, Chadha said, Let a privilege committee send me a notice. I will give my answer to the committee.

Chadha's amendment to send the contentious bill to a select committee was negated by a voice vote. The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023 seeks to replace an ordinance on the handling of transfers and postings of officials in the Delhi government.

Also Read: House nod for Delhi bill after fierce debate in Rajya Sabha

Five MPs, who claimed their names were listed in the proposed select committee without their consent, are S Phangnon Konyak, Narhari Amin and Sudhanshu Trivedi of the BJP, M Thambidurai of the AIADMK and Sasmit Patra of the BJD.

Who said what on Raghav Chadha?

1. After the deputy chairman read out the names to be included in the proposed select committee, Union home minister Amit Shah informed that five members have complained that their names were included without their signatures in the proposal moved by the AAP leader. He demanded that this issue be investigated. Terming it a breach of privilege of the House, Shah said the matter should be referred to the privileges committee.

"Who all have signed on their behalf is a subject of investigation," Shah said and requested the Chair to record the statements of the complainant members. Who all have signed on their behalf is a subject of investigation, Shah said and requested the Chair to record the statements of the complainant members.

2. YSRCP MP Vijay Sai Reddy claimed one of its party member's names was also included by Chadha without his consent.

"AAP MP Raghav Chadha has made certain comments and we have countered them. Before a resolution is moved, members, whose names are included in it, have to be consulted. But Raghav Chadha included one of our party members' names in the proposed select committee on the Delhi Services Bill without holding prior consultations with him. So, some of the members, including our MP, have decided to move for a privilege motion against Raghav Chadha," Reddy said.

3. BJD's Sasmit Patra told news agency ANI, "At the time when resolutions were being moved in the House (during the discussion on the Delhi Services Bill), I learned that my name was mentioned in a resolution moved by Raghav Chadha. How could he put my name in the resolution without my consent? I hope the Chairman of the House will take action. I have tendered a complaint. Obviously, this is a matter of privilege. All of us have filed our complaints individually."

4. BJP's Narhari Amin said, Raghav Chadha included my name in the select committee. He did not hold prior consultations with me and neither did I give my consent to this. What he did was wrong. I did not even put my signature on any document."

5. Thambidurai said he has already written to Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, seeking his intervention in the matter. "I have written to the Rajya Sabha Chairman requesting that the matter be taken up by the privilege committee. How was my name included in the motion, as I had not signed on any document? It's likely that my signature was forged," the AIADMK MP said.

6. Parliamentary affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said, I want to ask the Congress if they are supporting people (AAP) who are forging. Strict disciplinary action will be taken against this. A motion will be moved against the member. Union Home Minister has given a detailed answer on the bill.

7. Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri said, "In my six years as a minister or the 30-40 years that I have been watching Parliament and covering it as a civil servant, I have never seen something like this happen...This should be seriously enquired."

8. Congress MP Shakti Singh Gohil, however, said, ...There is a law that if I am moving (the proposal to send Delhi NCT Amendment Bill to select committee), there is no compulsion to take consent of the member who has to be in the committee. If the member does not want to be on the committee, their name will be removed automatically. There is no provision to take the signature of any member whose name has been mentioned in the proposal.

(With inputs from PTI, ANI)

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Samajwadi Party leader Dimple Yadav on Tuesday alleged the sexual assault of Kuki women in Manipur that triggered widespread outrage was a state-sponsored ethnic violence. During the debate on the no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha, Dimple Yadav lamented the absence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the House and said the opposition parties wanted to keep their viewpoints in front of him. Lok Sabha MP Dimple Yadav speaking on the no-confidence motion.

The incident (Manipur video) has been condemned across the world and has left us ashamed. It was state-sponsored ethnic violence, she said.

Yadav asserted that it was the special duty of chief minister N Biren Singh to stop the violence in the state.

If the (state) government wanted, this violence could have been controlled within two days but the government's intention was not right. Even today, it continues to be in deception mode, she said.

The Samajwadi Party leader also accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of destroying administrative and financial federalism. She alleged that the BJP is destroying institutions like the Election Commission and misusing central probe agencies as tools to harass the people of the country.

Initiating the debate on the motion in the Lok Sabha, Congress MP Ranjan Gogoi posed a series of three questions focused on Manipur -- why the prime minister had not visited Manipur, why it took 80 days to break the silence on the state and why he had not sacked the chief minister. Going on to list his reasons for Modi's silence, he alleged, "It was because the state government failed to deal with the ethnic violence in Manipur and the Home Department and the National Security Advisor failed to handle the situation.

"The third reason for the prime minister's silence is that he does not like to accept his mistakes. He will never accept publicly that his state government has failed. He prefers to remain silent than accept mistakes."

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT News Desk Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail
NEW DELHI: The database of Indias public health assurance scheme, the worlds largest, has several discrepancies that led to crores of rupees in expenditure on ineligible beneficiaries, mainly due to inadequate validation controls, a performance audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General has found. For instance, between 2018 to 2021, 16,865 and 335 ineligible beneficiaries, respectively, were identified by health authorities in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, after cleaning data of the Socio Economic and Caste Census, the CAG report said. (File photo)

The faults in the database of Ayushman Bharat  Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) include invalid names, unrealistic dates of birth, duplicate health IDs and unrealistic family sizes, the governments auditor said in a report tabled in Parliament on Tuesday.

In the absence of adequate validation controls, errors were noticed in beneficiary database In 36 cases, two registrations were made against 18 Aadhaar numbers and in Tamil Nadu, 4,761 registrations were made against seven Aadhaar numbers, the report said. Registration of multiple beneficiaries against same or invalid mobile number ranging from 11 to 7,49,820 beneficiaries were noted in the Beneficiary Identification System (BIS).

For instance, between 2018 to 2021, 16,865 and 335 ineligible beneficiaries, respectively, were identified by health authorities in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, after cleaning data of the Socio Economic and Caste Census, it said.

In six states and Union territories, ineligible households were found registered as PMJAY beneficiaries and had availed the benefits of the health scheme. The expenditure on these ineligible beneficiaries ranged from 0.12 lakh in Chandigarh to 22.44 crore in Tamil Nadu, the auditor said after scrutinising data for the period between September 2018 and March 2021.

The report was tabled on a day when junior health minister SP Singh Baghel in a written reply to Rajya Sabha said that the Indian government uses artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to detect suspicious transactions and potential frauds under AB-PMJAY.

These technologies are used for prevention, detection and deterrence of health care frauds in the schemes implementation and are helpful in ensuring appropriate treatment to the eligible beneficiaries, Baghel replied to a question raised by the BJPs Neeraj Shekhar and the Janata Dal (United)s Ram Nath Thakur.

The central governments flagship public insurance scheme was launched on September 23, 2018, to achieve universal health coverage, as recommended in the National Health Policy of 2017.

The scheme was rolled out in rural and urban areas based on deprivation and occupational criteria of the SECC 2011 for at least 107.4 million families, or about 500 million people, with an aim to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure of the poor and vulnerable population.

The report pointed out large gaps in hospital empanelment and management, with several states showing shortage of infrastructure, equipment, doctors and non-functional equipment. Some of the Empanelled Health Care Providers (EHCPs) neither fulfilled minimum criteria of support system and infrastructure, nor conformed to the quality standards and criteria prescribed under the guidelines, the CAG found.

In several states, mandatory compliances criteria for empanelment of hospitals relating to infrastructure, fire safety measures, biomedical waste management, pollution control and hospital registration certificate were not fully followed, the report said.

In some health care providers, fire safety certificates had expired before empanelment under PMJAY, it said. Also, some of the hospitals did not conform to the prescribed quality standards and criteria, which were crucial to the safety and well-being of beneficiaries and were mandatory minimum conditions for empanelment.

In addition, the availability of hospitals per lakh beneficiaries was low, ranging from 1.8 in Bihar to 26.6 hospitals in Goa. Among others, Assam had 3.4, Dadra Nagar Haveli-Daman Diu 3.6, Maharashtra 3, Rajasthan 3.8 and Uttar Pradesh had 5.

In Jharkhand, two private hospitals were not providing three specialities under the scheme, which were otherwise available for the general public. In Assam, 13 hospitals were providing 4% to 80% of available facilities to the beneficiaries, the auditor found.

The CAG report mentioned that the implementation of the scheme needs improvement in the light of the findings. It is expected that the compliance to the observations and recommendations made in this report will help in improving the implementation of the scheme, it said.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rhythma Kaul Rhythma Kaul works as an assistant editor at Hindustan Times. She covers health and related topics, including ministry of health and family welfare, government of India. ...view detail
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh came to Parliament in a wheelchair to participate in the crucial Rajya Sabha session where The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was being discussed. Former prime minister Manmohan Singh attends proceedings in the Rajya Sabha during the Monsoon session of Parliament in New Delhi on Monday, (PTI)

Thanking the 90-year-old Congress veteran, Aam Aadmi Party MP Raghav Chadha wrote on X (formally Twitter), Today, in the Rajya Sabha, Dr. Manmohan Singh stood as a beacon of integrity and came especially to vote against the black ordinance. His unwavering commitment to democracy and the constitution is a profound inspiration. My heartfelt gratitude goes out to him for his invaluable support.

But Singh's presence in the Upper House of Parliament also triggered a political debate between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party on social media.

Criticising the grand-old party, the BJP wrote in Hindi, The country will remember, this madness of the Congress! Even in such a critical health condition, Congress kept a former Prime Minister seated in a wheelchair in the Parliament late at night, all just to sustain their dishonest alliance! Extremely shameful!

Hitting back, Supriya Shrinate, chairperson of Congress social media and digital platforms, said, This dedication towards democracy of the doctor sahab is a testament to his faith in the Constitution of this country. Even if the BJP has pushed its elders into a mental coma, they remain our inspiration, our courage. Tell your master to learn something - don't become a deserter.

Besides Singh, the opposition brought an ailing Sibhu Soren of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha to the House to shore up its numbers and got the backing of 102 MPs against the bill.

The Delhi services bill secured parliamentary approval after the Rajya Sabha passed the contentious measure that will give the Centre control over bureaucracy in the national capital, with the BJP-led NDA thwarting Opposition challenge in the keenly-watched numbers game. The bill that seeks to replace an ordinance was approved 131-102 during voting as the BJD and the YSR Congress Party backed the government in an exercise that was seen as a first major test for opposition unity after the formation of the 26-party alliance INDIA last month to challenge the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

The Rajya Sabha has a current strength of 238 and there are seven vacancies.

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Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) supremo HD Deve Gowda, who is also a member of the Rajya Sabha, informed that he could not participate in the Rajya Sabha proceedings on Monday due to illness. Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda (HT Photo)

He released an urgent media statement about this tonight and has given this information.

Also, an important meeting of the JDS party was organized in Bangalore on Monday. Due to hip pain, he could not sit for a long time even in that meeting. The former Prime Minister said that he attended the meeting for only ten minutes and then got treatment from the doctor and returned home to rest.

The former prime minister said that he will participate in the program on Wednesday if the pain subsides.

Meanwhile, the former prime ministers watched the Rajya Sabha proceedings live on TV at home.

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New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) (Amendment) bill 2023, giving the government sweeping powers to control the functioning of the premier business schools. Rajya Sabha proceedings underway during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, in New Delhi on Tuesday. (ANI)

The bill, which amends the 2017 IIM Act was passed in the upper house by a voice vote. It was cleared by the Lok Sabha on August 4.

The bill names the President of India as a Visitor for all the IIMs; it gives the Visitor powers to nominate the chairperson of the board of governors, oversee appointment as well as removal of directors, and audit the functioning of the institution. The bill also classifies the National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE), Mumbai, as the 21st IIM in the country.

Replying to a debate on the bill in Rajya Sabha, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that the bill will fix governance accountability, and ensure social justice.

Some members raised questions over why the constitutional requirements of the country including reservation in faculty recruitment are not followed in the IIMs or students from weaker sections are not admitted in these institutions. As long as we dont fix the accountability, the institutes are not answerable to anyone. Therefore, the bill has been brought to bring that accountability while keeping academic autonomy intact, the minister said.

Pradhan said that the amendment will strengthen the constitutional position through Parliament to ask why the IIMs have not been adhering to the central educational institutions (Reservation in Teachers Cadre) act, 2019. Previously, they were not answerable. But now they will be, he said.

During the debate, V Vijaysai Reddy, member YSR Congress, supported the bill but also raised concerns over reduction in the budgetary support to IIMs over the years.

Pradhan said that the Centre has spent more than 6,000 crore in setting up the IIMs. The government is financially helping new IIMs. There is an option of HEFA (Higher Education Financing Agency, (the ministrys joint venture with a state-owned bank) loans for all the greenfield IIMs. The IIMs are also free to fix their fees. They are also generating their internal revenue.There is no issue of funding.

Critics of the bill have pointed out that it takes away some of the independence the 2017 law gave the IIMs. The 2017 IIM Act provides the institutes a higher degree of autonomy over its functioning, with a very limited role of the government. The board of governors of each IIM has 19 members, including one representative each from the central and state governments.

The bill that was cleared in the Rajya Sabha, however, seeks to nominate the President as Visitor of each IIM, with complete power to nominate the chairperson of the board of governors, and also have its nominee in the search-cum-selection panel for the directors appointment.

Currently, the chairperson of the board of governors is appointed by the board itself.

Earlier this month, commenting on the bill, former IIM Ahmedabad director Bakul Dholakia supported the legislation: Autonomy and accountability are interlinked, and while the IIM boards and the institute directors enjoy full freedom in their operations, there must be a framework for accountability which should be adopted by the board.

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The central government will be soon investigating the possibility of Havana Syndrome in India, the government told Karnataka high court last week. According to reports, the Centre made the submission to the court while hearing a petition filed by A Amarnath Chagu. Havana syndrome (Representational image)

The petitioner, who is a resident of Bengaluru, had approached the court seeking an inquiry into the syndrome in India and for the government to come up with measures to prevent its transmission in the country, reported LiveLaw.

Notably in 2021, a US intelligence officer who was traveling to Delhi with Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director William Burns had reportedly experienced symptoms similar to the Havana Syndrome.

What is the Havana Syndrome?

The mysterious illness Havana came to the public attention in 2016 after several diplomats at the American embassy in Havana began complaining of being sick. Their symptoms included migraines, nausea, memory lapses, dizziness, hearing sounds without any external noise, and vertigo. Some of the officials claimed that their symptoms lasted for months.

According to reports, thousands of alleged cases of the mysterious condition have been reported by diplomats, spies, and US officials across the world including Vienna, Paris, Geneva, Beijing, and Havana, among others over the past few years.

As per a report by the New York Times last year, around 1,000 cases reviewed by US investigators were explainable, while another two dozen cases remained unexplained.

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The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) continued its scientific survey of the Gyanvapi complex in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi for the fifth consecutive day on Tuesday to determine if the 17th-century mosque was constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple. As the ASI team resumed the survey at 8am, advocate Sudhir Tripathi, representing the Hindu side, said the survey of the dome was yet to be completed. Tight security arrangements as a team of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) arrives to conduct the scientific survey at the Gyanvapi mosque complex, in Varanasi.(PTI)

It seems the survey of the dome has not been completed. 'Tahkhana' is also being surveyed. Without removing the rubble, photography and videography are not possible, news agency ANI quoted Tripathi as saying.

Heavy security was deployed at the Gyanvapi mosque complex as the survey is still in its ongoing phase by the ASI. The team will conduct the survey till 12.30pm. Between 12.30pm and 2.30pm, the survey will be halted for lunch.

Rekha Pathak, a Hindu side petitioner, said, The 'Tahkhana' might be opened today. We are very excited about the survey. It has become our routine to get up in the morning and head for duty. That's how we feel. Our work is to supervise. We have had talks and the survey starts at 8am and will go on till 5pm.

The scientific survey of the complex, adjacent to Kashi Vishwanath Temple, excluding Wuzu Khana, resumed last Friday, following the Allahabad high court's order, which allowed the ASI to conduct the survey.

The high court on Thursday dismissed the plea filed by the Muslim side, the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, challenging the Varanasi court order allowing the ASI to conduct a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque premises, except the 'Wazukhana' area where a Shivling was claimed to have been found last year.

Delayed start of Gyanvapi survey

On Monday, the ASI survey of the Gyanvapi mosque was delayed briefly due to a heavy rush of devotees at the adjacent Kashi Vishwanath temple.

Mondays in the month of 'sawan' hold great significance for devotees, who queue up at temples to offer prayers to Lord Shiva.

As a crowd of devotees gathered at the Kashi Vishwanath temple, the survey started three hours late at 11am and continued till 5pm. Monday was the fourth day of the exercise being carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on court directives.

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A nine-member delegation of senior Haryana Congress leaders, which was visiting the violence-affected areas in Nuh - was stopped by the police on Tuesday near Rewasan village, citing prohibitions under Section 144 CrPC that are in place and security concerns. Nuh: Congress MP Deepender Hooda with other party leaders stopped by police while on their way to violence-hit areas of Nuh.(PTI)

The delegation included Congress MP Deepender Hooda and the party's state unit chief Udai Bhan - who was heading the team.

Speaking to the media, Hooda said that they wanted to meet victims of the violence and appeal for peace.

Our delegation wants to visit Nuh City, Nalhar Mandir, and markets. We want to speak to everyone...There is a lot of police deployment. Had this been done earlier, there would not have been the clashes, he added.

Earlier on Sunday, a four-member delegation of the Communist Party of India (CPI) - including CPI Rajya Sabha MP Binoy Viswam, CPI general secretary Amarjeet Kaur, party MP Sandosh Kumar P, and party leader Dariyav Singh Kashyap - was also stopped by the police citing the same reasons.

Violence in Haryana

Massive violence erupted in Haryana's Nuh district on July 31 over an attempt to stop a Vishva Hindu Parishad procession, in which six people lost their lives. The violence soon spread to Gurugram and other parts of the state.

According to the state government, around 156 people have been arrested and 56 FIRs registered so far in connection with the violence and rioting in Nuh district, reported news agency PTI.

Meanwhile, Haryana's District Public Relations Officer (DPRO) on Monday said that normal life has started to restore in the violence-hit areas.

"People of all communities were engaged in restoring peace by cooperating with peace and harmony. People are now completely alert to any kind of rumours. Citizens bought their essential commodities from various markets. The officers of the district administration and police remained in constant contact with the people," the DPRO said as quoted by PTI.

(With inputs from agencies)
All India Majilis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday hit out at Congress leader Kamal Nath for his remarks on the demand to make India a Hindu Rashtra, saying he was echoing the words of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat. Congress leader Kamal Nath and AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi.

Kamal Nath asked whether it is needed to say separately that India is a "Hindu Rashtra" given the fact that 82 per cent of Hindus live in the country.

World's largest Hindu population lives in our country. 82 per cent of Hindus reside here. It is not a debatable issue. It is not something to be told. These are statistics...What is the need to say it separately?" Nath shot back when reporters sought his comment on spiritual preacher Dhirendra Shastri's purported demand to make India a Hindu Rashtra.

The spiritual discourse of Shastri, popularly known as Bageshwar Dham Sarkar, was organised on Nath's home turf Chhindwara which concluded on Monday.

Reacting to Nath's remark, Owaisi said, "The "veteran" Congress leader from Madhya Pradesh is clearly saying what Mohan Bhagwat says: that India is a Hindu nation."

India is not a country of just one community. India was never a Hindu nation, is not and will never be Inshallah. Hate is being trafficked in Mohabbat Ki Dukan, he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Where did they get the right to label others as B-Team? Even if the BJP loses tomorrow, will there be any reduction in this hatred?

Kamal Nath and his son Nakul, a Lok Sabha MP from Chindwara, attended the congregation of controversial godman Dhirendra Shastri, triggering criticism from Congress allies.

RJD national vice president Shivanand Tiwary, a veteran socialist leader, underscored Shastri's advocacy for 'Hindu Rashtra' and claimed that the gesture of Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath has led to discomfiture in Bihar's ruling 'Mahagathbandhan' in which the party is a junior ally.

"Kamal Nath is said to be the chief ministerial candidate of Congress in Madhya Pradesh. The welcome accorded to the godman by him and his son is difficult for Mahagathbandhan to digest", Tiwary said here in a video message.

Tiwary said, "Shastri has, on several occasions, favoured making the country a Hindu Rashtra. He reiterated the view when he held a congregation in Patna a few months ago".

"Clearly, the godman's views are at variance with that of the Mahagathbandhan which holds that the country must be run as per the Constitution", asserted the former Bihar minister.

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The Allahabad high court on Tuesday dismissed as withdrawn a petition seeking a direction to the Uttar Pradesh government to seal the entire Gyanvapi premises without affecting the Varanasi courts order for the survey of the 17th-century mosque by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI). The Archaeological Survey of India team during the scientific survey at Gyanvapi mosque on Tuesday. (PTI)

A bench comprising chief justice Pritinker Diwakar and justice Ashutosh Srivastava dismissed the public interest litigation (PIL) as withdrawn when petitioner counsel made a prayer to approach the appropriate forum as per law and file an application for the reliefs claimed in the petition.

The PIL was filed on August 2 by Jitendra Singh Visen, the head of Vishwa Vedic Sanatan Sangh, Rakhi Singh, one of the plaintiffs in the Gauri Shringar-Gyanvapi suit pending before the Varanasi district court, and others.

The petitioners had sought a direction to the state government and district administration to restrain the entry of non-Hindus in the complex till the disposal of the suits pending in the district court, claiming not doing so would damage Hindu signs and symbols allegedly found in the premises.

When the matter came up for hearing, the bench inquired from the petitioners counsel, Saurabh Tiwari, as to how only non-Hindus would damage the Hindu signs and symbols. The court wondered how damages could be caused when everything was being recorded and photographs taken of whatever artefacts were found.

The court also took into account submissions of additional advocate general Manish Goyal, who said that the court orders were being followed.

ASI survey continues

Meanwhile, ASI surveyed the three domes of the Gyanvapi complex on Tuesday, the fifth day of the court-mandated exercise to determine whether the mosque was constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple.

The survey began at 8am and ended at 5pm. There was a two-hour break from 12.30pm to 2.30pm, Sudhir Tripathi, counsel for some of the Hindu plaintiffs, said, adding that the survey will resume again at 8am on Wednesday.

The Muslim side fully cooperated in the survey, Tripathi added.

SM Yasin, the joint secretary of Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee, which manages the Gyanvapi mosque, said three members of the committee  vice-president Haji Javed Iqbal, caretaker Ejaz Mohammad and member Shamsher Ali  were present in the survey.
From sending two warships on a voyage of more than 5,500 nautical miles for a visit to Papua New Guinea to backing the Philippines in a territorial dispute with China, India has in recent weeks signalled a larger role for itself in the Indo-Pacific. HT Image

India has also gifted an active duty missile corvette to Vietnam, another Southeast Asian country involved in a long-standing territorial dispute with China, and sent two military aircraft to Australias Cocos Keeling Islands for exercises aimed at enhancing interoperability between the armed forces of the two countries.

People familiar with the matter said diplomatic circles in Papua New Guinea were surprised when a reception held aboard INS Sahyadri, a multi-role frigate, and INS Kolkata, a guided-missile destroyer, at Port Moresby on August 3 was attended by Prime Minister James Marape and almost the entire cabinet. Similar receptions aboard other foreign warships were usually attended by only the defence minister or other officials, the people said.

The visit of the warships followed a trip to Port Moresby in May by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC). Marape said he hoped the visit would lead to more collaboration between the armed forces of the two sides.

On July 22, the Indian Navy chief, Admiral R Hari Kumar, presided over the ceremony where the missile corvette INS Kirpan was gifted to Vietnam. This was the first time India provided a fully operational warship with its weapons complement to a friendly country, especially one whose maritime forces have repeatedly engaged in face-offs with Chinese vessels in the South China Sea.

Kumar hoped the Vietnam Navy would use the warship to safeguard their national maritime interests, contribute to regional security and foster peace and stability.

Earlier India only acknowledged the Permanent Court of Arbitrations ruling of 2016 in favour of the Philippines in its territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea. But a statement issued after a meeting between external affairs minister S Jaishankar and his Filipino counterpart Enrique Manalo in New Delhi on June 29 made it clear the Indian side had revised its position.

The statement said the two sides emphasised the need to peacefully resolve disputes and to adhere to international law, especially UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea. China hasnt accepted the Permanent Court of Arbitrations award.

One of the people cited above said the Pacific Island states and Southeast Asian countries are looking to India as a balancing factor amid growing contestation between China and the US in the Indo-Pacific. Some Pacific Island states, such as Solomon Islands, have thrown in their lot with China but others like Papua New Guinea dont want to get caught between the two elephants, the person said.

In a recent article, David Brewster and Samuel Bashfield of the Australia India Institute wrote that the visit by an Indian Dornier maritime patrol aircraft and a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft to the Cocos Keeling Islands in July elevates the islands as a staging point for Australian and Indian air surveillance of the maritime choke points through Southeast Asia and the entire eastern Indian Ocean.

The two warships that visited Papua New Guinea will sail to Australia for the Malabar exercise, which will begin on August 11 and feature the navies of all Quad member states. This exercise is being hosted by Australia for the first time at a time when the Quad, which also includes India, Japan and the US, has launched initiatives in areas ranging from maritime security to critical technologies to counter Chinas assertive behaviour across the region.

Former navy chief Admiral (retired) Arun Prakash said some of the steps taken by India may be symbolic, but are important gestures which should have been made many years ago. A compact force such as the Indian Navy doesnt have the assets needed for prolonged deployments in areas such as the Pacific Ocean, though it is crucial to reach out to such countries, he said.

We are part of the Quad, which expects us to reach out to these countries. We have gifted a warship to Vietnam and a submarine to Myanmar. These steps are meant to wean them away from China and to reassure them that they have friends, Prakash said.

He pointed out almost half of Indias seaborne trade heads towards the Pacific Ocean, while ONGC Videsh Ltd has oil exploration interests in a Vietnamese block in the contested South China Sea. At the same time, China, with its so-called string of pearls approach, has been building a network of military and commercial facilities that includes Hambantota port in Sri Lanka, an overseas military base in Djibouti and a new naval base in Cambodia.

India needs to safeguard its own interests and its never too late to make these symbolic gestures, Prakash said.

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NEW DELHI: From sending two warships on a voyage of more than 5,500 nautical miles for a visit to Papua New Guinea to backing the Philippines in a territorial dispute with China, India has in recent weeks signalled a larger role for itself in the Indo-Pacific. The visit of the warships followed a trip to Port Moresby in May by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (HT File Photo/Sanjeev Verma)

India has also gifted an active duty missile corvette to Vietnam, another Southeast Asian country involved in a long-standing territorial dispute with China, and sent two military aircraft to Australias Cocos Keeling Islands for exercises aimed at enhancing inter-operability between the armed forces of the two countries.

People familiar with the matter said diplomatic circles in Papua New Guinea were surprised when a reception held aboard INS Sahyadri, a multi-role frigate, and INS Kolkata, a guided-missile destroyer, at Port Moresby on August 3 was attended by Prime Minister James Marape and almost the entire cabinet. Similar receptions aboard other foreign warships were usually attended by only the defence minister or other officials, the people said.

The visit of the warships followed a trip to Port Moresby in May by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC). Marape said he hoped the visit would lead to more collaboration between the armed forces of the two sides.

On July 22, the Indian Navy chief, Admiral R Hari Kumar, presided over the ceremony where the missile corvette INS Kirpan was gifted to Vietnam. This was the first time India provided a fully operational warship with its weapons complement to a friendly country, especially one whose maritime forces have repeatedly engaged in face-offs with Chinese vessels in the South China Sea.

Kumar hoped the Vietnam Navy would use the warship to safeguard their national maritime interests, contribute to regional security and foster peace and stability.

While India earlier only acknowledged the Permanent Court of Arbitrations ruling of 2016 in favour of the Philippines in its territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea, a statement issued after a meeting between external affairs minister S Jaishankar and his Filipino counterpart Enrique Manalo in New Delhi on June 29 made it clear the Indian side had revised its position.

The statement said the two sides emphasised the need to peacefully resolve disputes and to adhere to international law, especially UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea. China hasnt accepted the Permanent Court of Arbitrations award.

One of the people cited above said the Pacific Island states and Southeast Asian countries are looking to India as a balancing factor amid growing contestation between China and the US in the Indo-Pacific. Some Pacific Island states, such as Solomon Islands, have thrown in their lot with China but others like Papua New Guinea dont want to get caught between the two elephants, the person said.

In a recent article, David Brewster and Samuel Bashfield of the Australia India Institute wrote that the visit by an Indian Dornier maritime patrol aircraft and a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft to the Cocos Keeling Islands in July elevates the islands as a staging point for Australian and Indian air surveillance of the maritime choke points through Southeast Asia and the entire eastern Indian Ocean.

Former navy chief Admiral (retired) Arun Prakash said some of the steps taken by India may be symbolic, but are important gestures which should have been made many years ago. A compact force such as the Indian Navy doesnt have the assets needed for prolonged deployments in areas such as the Pacific Ocean, though it is crucial to reach out to such countries, he said.

We are part of the Quad, which expects us to reach out to these countries. We have gifted a warship to Vietnam and a submarine to Myanmar. These steps are meant to wean them away from China and to reassure them that they have friends, Prakash said.

He pointed out almost half of Indias seaborne trade heads towards the Pacific Ocean, while ONGC Videsh Ltd has oil exploration interests in a Vietnamese block in the contested South China Sea. At the same time, China, with its so-called string of pearls approach, has been building a network of military and commercial facilities that includes Hambantota port in Sri Lanka, an overseas military base in Djibouti and a new naval base in Cambodia.

India needs to safeguard its own interests and its never too late to make these symbolic gestures, Prakash said.

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The debate on the no-confidence motion opened on a high pitch in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday with the Opposition attempting to corner the government on the violence in Manipur and rising prices of essentials, and the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) hitting back at fault lines within the INDIA grouping and past allegations of corruption. Lok Sabha during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament House, in New Delhi on Tuesday. (ANI)

In a high-decibel six-hour debate peppered with disruptions, 11 speakers from the Opposition and 11 from the ruling alliance took the floor in what was the second no-confidence motion faced by the Narendra Modi government, and the first in this term. With a brute majority of 330 in the Lower House, the government faces no numerical threat for the Opposition, which said that it had to use a no-confidence motion as it was the only way to make Prime Minister Narendra Modi speak in Parliament.

The Opposition focused on the violence in Manipur, where at least 160 people have died and 40,000 displaced in ethnic violence that has spanned three months, and said that Modi had no respect for Parliament. Gaurav Gogoi, an MP from Assam, opened the debate and questioned why Modi maintained silence on Manipur and demanded that the states chief minister N Biren Singh be sacked.

Why didnt the PM go to Manipur till date? Rahul Gandhi went there, the Union home minister and the minister of state for home visited Manipur. Why not the PM? he said.

If Manipur is burning, then India is burning. If Manipur is divided, India is dividedI can understand why the PM is silent. He must admit his double- engine government has failed, Gogoi added.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who returned to the Lok Sabha after 137 days on Monday, was scheduled to open the debate, but some strategists said the Congress changed plans as Gandhi wanted Gogoi, an MP from northeast India, to start, although another theory is that the party wants Gandhi to face off against Modi on Thursday. Gandhi changed the plan to surprise the government, a party strategist said, asking not to be named.

The governments first speaker, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member Nishikant Dubey, hit back, sidestepping the Manipur question and instead targeting the Gandhi family, highlighting the historical differences and conflicts between the various constituents of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).

He said former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi consistently attempted to set her son, Rahul Gandhi, up, and take care of cases against her son-in-law (he did not name Robert Vadra), and insisted that the motion was actually a vote by the Opposition to see who supports them.

In 1976 , the Congress dismissed the Karunanidhi government and in 1980 when the Indira Gandhi government came back, the DMK supported it. Aap karein to raaslila hum karein to character dheela (If you do it is fine, if we indulge in it our character is questioned), Dubey said. He cited the Congress targeting the Trinamool Congress over corruption and also Rashtriya Janata Dal founder Lalu Prasad going to jail to highlight the differences in the Opposition ranks.

Dubey also targeted Rahul Gandhi over his statement that he will not apologise for his Modi surname remark ahead of the 2019 elections. Why would he apologise? Modi is a low caste, an OBC [other backward classes]. Why would you apologise to OBCs? Dubey asked sarcastically.

The Congress and other Opposition parties raised objections against the government news appearing as tickers in the Sansad TV channel during the live telecast. They argued that when the no-confidence motion is being debated, why the Sansad TV is showing the governments achievements.

The Oppositions arguments were supported by DMKs TR Baalu, Nationalist Congress Partys Supriya Sule, Congresss Manish Tewari, Shiv Sena (UBT)s Arvind Sawant, Trinamool Congresss Saugata Ray ,Samajwadi Partys Dimple Yadav and RSPs NK Premachandran. The government was supported by earth sciences minister Kiren Rijiju, Shiv Senas Shrikant Shinde, independent lawmaker Navneet Rana and BJPs Sunita Duggal. The Biju Janata Dal (BJD), represented by Pinaki Mishra, also backed the government.

Manipur was a common thread connecting the Opposition speakers, who flagged concerns over the situation in Manipur, referring to the brutal assault of two Kuki women in the northeastern state.

SP leader Dimple Yadav said the incident amounted to a violation and destruction of human rights.

Using women for purporting violence is simply not acceptable in a constitutional democracy, she said.

Ray argued that a heartless Union government sent several delegations to West Bengal but only one to Manipur. The Manipur situation reminds us of the ethnic violence in Rawanda. Are we living in a civilised country where this should happen to our sisters? Ray said.

Yadav maintained the video of atrocities against two Kuki women amounts to violation and destruction of human rights and cautioned that using women for purporting violence is simply not acceptable in a constitutional democracy. She maintained the Manipur situation has arisen out of a state-sponsored ethnic violence that has been condemned by the world.

From the government, Rijiju said that at a time when Modi emerged as the world leader and the country was marching to become a developed nation by 2047, there was no need for such a motion against the government. Instead, he said, the Opposition should join hands with the government to celebrate Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (marking 75 years of Independence).

Congress and Opposition parties will regret bringing in the no-confidence motion at the wrong time and in a wrong manner, the minister said.

The wild allegation by the opposition that prime minister didnt pay attention to Manipur is not correct as lots of development took place in the state by the Modi government, Rijiju said. Prime minister has won the trust of people of northeastern states.

Nothing will happen by naming the alliance I.N.D.I.A when you are actually working against India.
Pakistan on Tuesday granted one year visa to 34-year-old Rajasthani woman Anju who reportedly crossed the Wagah border to marry her Pakistani Facebook friend. According to her Pakistani husband, Anju's visa was extended after she converted to Islam, reported news agency PTI. 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)

Earlier, her visa was extended by two months after her marriage to her 29-year-old friend Nasrullah, who lives in the Upper Dir district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Her original one-month visa was set to expire on August 20.

"All Pakistani institutions are cooperating with us," Nasrullah said as quoted by PTI.

Anju Rafael, who now goes by the name Fatima, traveled to Pakistan from India via the Wagah-Attari border on July 20 to meet Nasrullah. According to reports, the two met on Facebook four years ago and eventually fell in love with him, following which they decided to meet in Pakistan.

She already has been married to Arvind from Rajasthan for 16 years and has two children with him.

Pak businessman gifts plot to Anju

A Pakistani businessman - the CEO of Pak Star Group of Companies Mohsin Khan Abbasi - gifted Anju 10 Marla housing land, and a cheque of PKR 50,000 for converting to Islam. A video of the businessman interacting with the newly-wed couple went viral on social media in which he can be heard saying, Anju has come here from India and converted to Islam. So these gifts are to welcome her, to congratulate her as we are immensely happy. This is just a small attempt to appreciate her.

Another thing is when someone comes to a new place, the main problem is housing. Since we have a project running, we thought we can accommodate them here, he added.

Anju's Indian husband files FIR

Last week, Anju's husband in India filed an FIR against accusing her of constantly threatening him. Bhiwadi assistant superintendent of police, Sujeet Shankar, said, Arvind said that Anju has been reaching out to him through their daughters cell phone and threatening him for life. She told him that shell come back to India to take her 2 children along with her to Pakistan. Arvind said that he is afraid of his and the childrens security and filed the complaint.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The local administration in Haryanas Nuh district and the organisers of a Hindu religious procession were unable to correctly assess the situation, state deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala said on Tuesday, adding that administrative lapses in the run-up to the clashes that killed six people and brought violence to the Capitals doorstep were under investigation. Security personnel deployed at Naleshwar Mahadev Mandir in Nuh. (Parveen Kumar/HT Photo)

Chautala, who on August 1 had blamed the organisers of the Brij Mandal Yatra for not providing a correct estimate of the number of people attending the event, also said that the government will take action against anyone found guilty and dismissed charges of communal bias. There was a lack of assessment not only by the administration but also on the part of organisers who could not properly assess this entire episode properly, said Chautala.

Also Read | Nuh: A troubled district to a communal tinderbox?

The deputy CM said that Nuh superintendent of police (SP) was on leave since July 22 and that the SP with additional charge of Nuh could not assess the situation properly. The officials who gave the go ahead (for the yatra) too could not assess it properly. It is a point which is under investigation, he said at a press conference, reiterating that the police personnel were not deployed properly through the yatra route.

The attack on the religious procession last Monday triggered communal clashes in Nuh, which quickly spread to Gurugram and other neighbouring cities, leaving six dead and over 100 injured, said police.

Since then, the state government has demolished around 750 shops and establishments, sparking allegations that the administration was behaving in a biased manner. The Punjab and Haryana high court halted the exercise on Monday.

Also Read | HC halts Nuh demolitions by Haryana, asks if govt action is ethnic cleansing

Chief minister ML Khattar has previously said that his government is working to identify the perpetrators of the communal clashes. The states home minister Anil Vij told HT that Mondays violence in Nuh was orchestrated and that such a conflagration cannot happen at several points simultaneously.

In his press conference, Chautala said that action was being taken against the guilty and dismissed charges that people from one community were being targeted during the demolition drive.
Bengaluru: After the chief minister Siddaramaiah ordered the police department to probe the alleged fake letter accusing agriculture minister N Cheluvarayaswamy of demanding bribes from officials, it has been handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said, Cheluvarayaswamy has said the letter is fake, I have told police to investigate the matter. (HT Photo)

With regard to the purported letter written by the agriculture officers against the agriculture minister, it has been decided to conduct a CID inquiry. The chief minister decided to hand over the matter to the CID after discussing with home minister Dr G Parameshwara, the CMs office said in a statement on Tuesday evening.

Siddaramaiah earlier on Tuesday said, Cheluvarayaswamy has said the letter is fake, I have told police to investigate the matter. The joint director of the agricultural department has also given a statement on the same. So, I have asked the police to investigate and find out the truth.

Hours before the CMs statement, VS Ashok, joint director of the agriculture department in Mandya district had lodged a complaint with the superintendent of police demanding a probe into the fabricated letter.

In his official complaint, joint director Ashok conveyed that he had conducted inquiries among the assistant directors, and their responses clarified that they had not submitted any complaint to the governor. The assistant directors firmly stated that they had experienced no mistreatment, asserting that the entire episode had been orchestrated and executed with malicious intent.

Echoing this concern, several Congress representatives, including MLAs Ramesh Babu Bandisidde Gowda and Ravikumar Gowda, along with MLCs Madhu G Made Gowda and Dinesh Gooligowda, have also formally reported the matter to the police.

The complainant asked the police to identify the individuals responsible for tarnishing the departments reputation through propagandist activities. The complaint underscored that the signatures of the seven assistant directors from the agriculture department had been counterfeited, suggesting a meticulously planned scheme aimed at coercing the officials.

Subsequently, the police initiated an investigation into the matter. Additional superintendent of police Thimmaiah visited the Mandya agriculture department office to gather preliminary information pertinent to the case.

On Monday, the Karnataka governors office wrote to the State Chief Secretarys office seeking a probe into corruption allegations against Chaluvarayaswamy. This comes after the Governors Office received a letter written by seven officers from the agriculture department accusing the minister of demanding a bribe of 6 to 8 lakh. In the purported letter, which the minister termed as fake, officials mentioned that they would resort to extreme measures, like consuming poison, if no action was taken against the minister.

However Chaluvarayaswamy denied any knowledge of the letters and labelled them as fake. He stated that he had not received any such communication and questioned the authority of the directors who penned the letters. Nevertheless, he expressed willingness to cooperate with a thorough investigation if any errors or irregularities were found.

The letter was allegedly written by a group of agricultural department officials in Mandya district, which is the ministers home district. The governor, in response to the letters received, instructed the Chief Secretary of Karnataka, Vandita Sharma, to investigate the matter thoroughly and take appropriate action.

Responding to the controversy, home minister G Parameshwara said that officials of the agriculture department have said that the letter is fake. I will speak to the SP and enquire about the complaint made by the department officials I will also ask the cyber department to identify these people (creating fake letters), he said.

BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai said that when a letter goes from the office of the Governor it is a matter of concern and it should be investigated thoroughly.

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KOCHI: The resolution was presented by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and was supported by all parties belonging to the Left Democratic Front and United Democratic Front. (PTI)

The Kerala assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution asking the Centre to not implement a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the country without reaching a consensus on the controversial issue.

The resolution was presented by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and was supported by all parties belonging to the Left Democratic Front and United Democratic Front. Although the Bharatiya Janata Party is in favour of implementing UCC, it doesnt have representation in the state assembly.

Kerala is the second state in the country after Mizoram to pass such a resolution in the legislative assembly against the proposed code. The Mizoram assembly passed a resolution opposing any move to implement UCC in February. Kerala is the first assembly to pass such a resolution after the Law Commission sought responses on the proposed code on June 18.

To be sure, there is no draft UCC or even a suggestion on the contours a legislation could take. The issue has been a constant in the manifesto of the Bharatiya Janata Party, though, and some BJP-ruled states have set up committees on it. The committee set up by Uttarakhand has submitted its report.

The Kerala assembly registers its apprehension and concern over the way in which the Centre is trying to forcefully implement the UCC, the resolution said. Such attempts are aimed at erasing the secular character of Indias Constitution, it added.

The Constitution refers to Uniform Civil Code only in its Directive Principles. It is pertinent to note that the Uniform Civil Code was limited to Directive Principles. Implementation of Directive Principles is not mandatory. The court may order to enforce Fundamental rights. But the Directive Principles of Article 44 of the Constitution cannot be enforced even by the courts, the resolution said. It is essential to understand how much thought the founders of the Constitution had put in while arriving at such a decision.

BR Ambedkar had advocated for UCC, but never pressed for one, the resolution said. Ambedkar, who advocated Parliament passing the Uniform Civil Code by respecting citizens rights to choose their laws, never pressed for one. So, its very clear that he was pointing towards a possibility. Common Civil Law was restricted to the scope of the Directive Principle of State Policy due to this opposition, it added.

The idea of a uniform civil code in the Constitution is not the same as that of the version of the UCC of the Sangh Parivar. Their idea of the law is as per the Manusmriti. They had made it very clear early on, Vijayan said while moving the resolution.

If the UCC becomes a reality, will it solve the underrepresentation of STs, SCs, minorities and OBCs in education and job sectors? Will Dalits stop being attacked in the name of jobs, clothing and living partner? Will khap panchayats be erased? Will the discrimination faced by Hindu women in adoption, succession be eliminated? he asked.

BJP leaders in the state have not reacted to the assembly resolution on the UCC.

The opposition in Kerala, the Congress-led UDF welcomed the resolution.

We welcome the move of the government to bring this resolution by consulting us. I will suggest a modification in the draft resolution where it says in the end that the creation of the code should only be after discussions with religious groups and state governments, leader of the opposition VD Satheesan said. The resolution should instead say that this law should never be implemented.

The revised resolution was later passed by the assembly.

The Law Commission of India last month received submissions from the public regarding the implemention of the UCC in the country.

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Lok Sabha on Tuesday was adjourned until 12 noon, minutes after the proceeding began, due to the oppositions protests over BJP MP Nishikant Dubeys expunged portion from Mondays session being re-recorded and run in the late-night bulletin. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey speaks in the Lok Sabha during the Monsoon session. (ANI Photo)

The BJP MP had attacked the Congress party on Monday alleging that the party had always taken funds from China and that they should be investigated.

Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, in a letter to the Lok Sabha speaker, called Dubeys allegations libellous and defamatory, and demanded that under Rule 380, Dubeys remarks be expunged in full and that an inquiry be conducted into how such an allegation was permitted to be raised on the record.

Dubeys remarks were expunged from Parliament records but later, to the surprise of the opposition, restored on the House website late on Monday evening.

To be sure, the expunging of words of any MP from Parliament records and their restoration is entirely the prerogative of the Speaker or Presiding Officer of a House.

Any expunged portion of the proceedings no longer remain in the Parliament records and they cannot be reported by media houses, even if they might have been recorded during the live telecast of the proceedings.

Dubey on Monday said, Whenever there was a problem in the country from 2005 to 2014, the Chinese government gave money to the Congress whose FCRA license was canceled by the Indian government In 2008, they invited both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. In 2016, they were talking to the Chinese during the Doklam crisis They want to divide India through the Chinese government and journalists... The Government of India should investigate the Chinese funding of the Congress party and close the Congress shop.

Citing a New York Times latest investigation on the media portal Newsclicks alleged flow of funds from China, Dubey claimed that the Congress party and some independent journalists have alleged ties with Chinese propaganda.

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The Congress party on Tuesday hit out at Union minister Kiren Rijiju over his remark in Lok Sabha that the prime minister had directed a group of ministers to visit northeastern states every 15 days, challenging him to furnish details of such visits to strife-torn Manipur in the last 97 days. Union Minister fo Earth Sciences Kiren Rijiju speaks in the Lok Sabha during the ongoing Monsoon session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023.(PTI)

Intervening in the debate on the no-confidence motion against the government, Rijiju said, "When our government was formed, in the first cabinet meeting, (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi ji made a group and said that every 15 days, five cabinet ministers and seven ministers of state must tour the Northeast. It is still going on, all the ministers sitting here have toured the northeast."

"PM Modi has also given directives to officials to visit the Northeast and meet people. There is no meaning of ruling from Delhi, one can reach the people through service. You never thought about this. The prime minister has won the confidence of the people," Rijiju said.

The minister also claimed that people from the northeast faced racial discrimination before 2014 in major cities of the country, including the national capital, but the situation changed after BJP came to power. Rijiju said the prime minister also directed the police at the DGP conference in Guwahati to ensure the security of people from the northeast.

Reacting to the remarks, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the minister boasted about the prime minister's directions to ministers and Ministers of State to visit Northeast every 15 days.

Yes, we all know about the frequency of visits of Union Ministers before any election. But it has been 97 days since the horrific ethnic violence broke out in Manipur. INDIA asks how many of Modis Ministers have been to Manipur? Ramesh said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

We challenge you to furnish details of the visits of Union Ministers to Manipur in the last 97 days!

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New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Nishikant Dubey, while speaking in the Lok Sabha during the no-confidence motion on Tuesday, alleged a nexus between Chinese authorities, the CPI(M), former CPI(M) chief Prakash Karat, and the Congress, citing emails after a New York Times report that an American millionaire, Neville Roy Singham, funded reportage to defend Chinas handling of Covid. Rajya Sabha proceedings underway during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, in New Delhi on Tuesday. (ANI)

The mails were allegedly sent by Singham to help publish a series of articles in the international media on Chinas steps to contain Covid, which included the Indian news website NewsClick. Dubey also said the campaign included issues such as supporting farmers protests in India and collaboration with Indian communists.

Dubey alleged the involvement of former CPI(M) chief Karat in supporting the Chinese-funded propaganda, stating that he had evidence of the former CPI(M) chiefs involvement in NewsClick, which he could put on record.

On Monday, too, the BJP targeted the Congress in Lok Sabha over the New York Times report on China pumping money into various countries including India to push its propaganda. Naming media portal NewsClick, which was named in the NYT report for allegedly receiving Chinese funds, BJP leaders said that the opposition party and some independent journalists have ties with the Chinese propaganda machinery.

We are working together on a three-part series of articles on China and the handling of the corona virus. They will be originally syndicated by Globetrotter. Then all three will be assembled into a TriContinental publication, one of the purported emails from Singham cited by the BJP? read.

Portions of Mondays statements in the House on the issue were expunged from the records but later reintroduced.

If NewsClicks name has been restored (in Mondays speech in Parliament), what is your problem? Former CPI(M) chief Prakash Karat had exchanged several emails with Singham. I can put them on record, Dubey said while speaking in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

HT reached out to Karat for a remark but did not get one immediately.

Congress leader Adhir Chowdhury rejected the BJPs allegations, calling them defamatory and libellous.

NewsClick, in a statement on Monday, said the charges against it were unfounded and without basis in fact or law.

Over the past 12 hours, various false and misleading allegations have been levelled against Newsclick which pertain to matters that are currently sub judice before courts in India. We respect the sanctity of the legal process and do not intend to indulge in a media trial, the statement said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that the no-confidence motion brought by the opposition is a reflection of mutual distrust among INDIA bloc parties as they want to test who is with their proposal and who is not, sources said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Union MoS for Parliamentary Affairs V. Muraleedharan arrives for the BJP Parliamentary party meeting, in New Delhi, Tuesday.(PTI)

In his address to party MPs at the BJP parliamentary meeting, he described the opposition alliance as 'ghamandia' (marked by arrogance) and congratulated the party's Rajya Sabha members for the "semi-final" win in voting on the Delhi services bill.

Delhi services bill

Modi, sources said, noted that some opposition members had described the voting in Rajya Sabha as a semi-final before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls as he exuded confidence about the BJP's prospects in the national elections.

The Delhi services bill secured parliamentary approval on Monday after the Rajya Sabha passed the contentious measure that will give the Centre control over bureaucracy in the national capital, with the BJP-led NDA thwarting opposition challenge in the keenly-watched numbers game.

With the ruling party certain to defeat the no-confidence motion in Lok Sabha, where it enjoys a strong majority, Modi told party MPs hit "sixers" on the last ball before the 2024 polls.

He also referred to his 2018 speech in which he had wryly wished to the Opposition to bring a no-confidence motion against his government in 2023.

In a swipe at opposition parties, the prime minister said their leaders speak of social justice but harmed it most with their dynastic, appeasement and corrupt politics.

He reiterated his call for corruption, and dynastic and appeasement politics to quit India.
Opposition leaders of I.N.D.I.A bloc in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday submitted a privilege notice against Union minister Piyush Goyal for allegedly using an unparliamentary word. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh alleged that Goyal, leader of the House, addressed the opposition leaders as traitors and demanded an apology from the minister. Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha Piyush Goyal speaks in the house during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, in New Delhi on Monday. (ANI Photo/Sansad TV)

In a tweet, Ramesh said, Today at 1300 hrs, the floor leaders of INDIA parties in the Rajya Sabha submitted a privilege motion against Leader of the House Piyush Goyal for addressing the Opposition as all of them "traitors".

Nothing less than an apology from him on the floor of the House, when it is in order, will do, he added.

Before the House was adjourned for the third time till 2 pm, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar repeatedly asked members to go back to their seats and maintain order in the House. The Chairman informed the House that Congress leader Jairam Ramesh met him in his chamber and told him that Leader of House Piyush Goyal used an "inappropriate word".

"Let me examine. It will not be in the record of the House," he said.

Goyal, on his part, also urged the Chair to expunge if any unparliamentary remark was made by him in House.

Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh said, "Please examine his (Goyal's) statement. Charges which he levelled against us calling traitor and charge of moneySir, what is all that?"

The opposition leaders of the Congress-led Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance walked out of the Upper House when the proceedings resumed at 2pm.

Ramesh said they walked out for the rest of the day because of the continued refusal of the Leader of the House Piyush Goyal to apologise for the highly objectionable and completely unacceptable remarks he made against leaders of the INDIA parties.

Another reason he cited was the continued refusal of the Modi government to allow an immediate discussion on Manipur on the basis of a mutually negotiated Motion.

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Parliament Monsoon Highlights: The much-anticipated bill for this Monsoon Session, the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, was passed by the Upper House on Monday. The bill, which had already been passed by the Lok Sabha last week, seeks to replace an ordinance and was approved 131-102 during voting in the Rajya Sabha. It will empower the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi to control Group A services of Delhi, including matters of appointments, transfers, and postings. The bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha by the Union home minister Amit Shah. Lok Sabha during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament House, in New Delhi on Tuesday. (ANI)

We are making amendments to the Constitution, but they are not for imposing another Emergency. The Congress has no right to speak on democracy, Amit Shah lashed out at the Opposition during his reply amid the debate on the NCTD (Amendment) Bill in the Upper House.

On Monday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha membership was also restored, days after the Supreme Court halted his criminal defamation conviction in the 2019 Modi surname case. A discussion on a no-confidence motion was taken up in the Lok Sabha today and will continue until Thursday. The motion was moved by Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi against the current BJP-led government to force Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak on the Manipur issue.

During the debate on the Delhi services bill on Monday in the Rajya Sabha, Amit Shah said that the government is ready for a discussion on Manipur on August 11 - the last day of the Monsoon Session. He said, There is nothing to hide, and added that he has written to the House chairman regarding the same.

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Union minister for earth sciences Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday attacked Opposition parties during the ongoing no-confidence motion debate, and said that it was only in the Narendra Modi regime that the North East had seen real development. Rijiju, who represents Arunachal West constituency, spoke for more than an hour and claimed that Modis leadership had won the trust of the people living in all northeastern states. Union minister of earth sciences Kiren Rijiju in Lok Sabha on Tuesday. (ANI)

Before 2014, many people from the Northeast faced racial discrimination and atrocities in Delhi and other major cities of the country. After 2014 the situation changed, and the DGP conference was held in Guwahati for the first time after independence. During this meeting, the PM directed that police must ensure the security of people from the Northeast, Rijiju said.

Working for people and understanding their issues is how we can reach them. PM Modi won the trust of the people living in the eight Northeastern states that way. The insurgency has been brought down, and every region brought to the mainstream, he added.

Rjiju said that the Manipur conflict has not come suddenly and the UPA government was responsible for the present condition. For years, you left the Northeast in its own condition, the BJP Minister said.

Emphasizing the numbers, Rijiju said, In last 9 years, more than 8000 militant organizations have surrendered themselves along with guns. There has been an 800 percent increase in surrendering of the militants There has been a 97% decrease in the number of civilians killed in the conflict The AFSPA total coverage area has a 75% reduction.

Also Read | \On Rijijus Modi made a group remark, Congresss dare: Furnish details of Manipur visit

Slamming the no-confidence motion, Rijiju said, No-confidence Motion is set to fail. The opposition parties will regret bringing this No-confidence Motion at the wrong time and in the wrong manner Working against the country and calling themselves (opposition) the I.N.D.I.A. This will not be tolerated in our nation, India.

Making wrong statements in the Parliament sends the wrong message and there is no benefit in manipulating the citizens, Rijiju added.

The state of Manipur has been stuck in an ethnic conflict since May 3. The opposition has been seeking Prime Minister to speak in the Parliament on the Manipur issue, following which a no-confidence motion was passed.
Police have registered a first information report (FIR) against Assam Rifles personnel for allegedly stopping them from pursuing armed miscreants involved in the killing of three men in Kwakta in Bishnupur district on Saturday morning  a move that reflects the deep distrust even between the security forces of the state (one under the state government, and one under the Centre). Manipur police registers FIR against Assam Rifles personnel for stopping them from pursuing armed miscreants. (ANI)

The army rejected the allegation against the Assam Rifles. Some inimical elements have made desperate, repeated & failed attempts to question the role, intent and integrity of the Central Security Forces, especially Assam Rifles,...Indian Army and Assam Rifles assure the people of Manipur that we will continue to remain firm and resolute in our actions to prevent any attempt that could result in furthering violence... the Spear Corps posted on X (formerly Twitter).

The FIR, a copy of which has been seen by HT, was filed on August 5, hours after a clip of the standoff between Manipur police and Assam Rifles personnel surfaced on social media and was widely circulated.

In the video, Manipur police officers are seen accusing Assam Rifles of interfering in their operation while chasing the armed miscreants. The Assam Rifles officer in the video is heard saying that he was only doing his duty. HT could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.

A team led by Bishnupur superintendent of police and other officers were proceeding towards Pholjang road along Kwakta to chase Kuki militants, who could have been involved in the three killings earlier that day, the FIR said. Police teams were conducting search operations after receiving reports that the militants were hiding in the areas between Kwakta and Pholjang village, it added

On reaching the Kutub Wali Masjid located at Kwakta ward 8 along Pholjang road, the state police teams were stopped, and their way was blocked by the personnel of the 9 Assam Rifles by keeping and parking their Casper vehicle in middle of the Kwakta Pholjang road.... As such, the arrogant act of the personnel of 9th Assam Rifles gave a chance to the accused Kuki militants to escape freely to somewhere that is a free zone for them, the FIR filed by the officer in- charge of Phougakchao Ikhai police station claimed.

The FIR has been filed under sections of obstructing a public servant from discharging duty, threat of injury to public servant, assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging duty, and criminal intimidation.

Three Meitei men were shot dead and their bodies mutilated in their house in Kwakta ward 8 of Bishnupur at around 3am on Saturday. The three men, who were residing at a government camp, had come to check their houses, which they had abandoned on May 3 as clashes between Kuki and Meitei communities broke out across the state.

Following the murder, Meitei groups began protesting against the Assam Rifles, demanding the removal of the force from Manipur.

Meira Paibis, a collective of Meitei women, have accused Assam Rifles of being biased in discharging their duty. The women have also accused them of using excessive force dealing with Meitei women protesters. The states Bharatiya Janata Party vice-president Chidananda Singh said a memorandum was submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking removal of Assam Rifles from the state.

On Monday, Assam Rifles personnel were replaced with civil police and Central Reserve Police Force at a check post in Moirang between Bishnupur and Kangvai, an order issued by Manipur police stated. The order issued by the additional director general of police, law and order, did not cite any reason for this.

Assam Rifles and other paramilitary forces continue to remain posted across the state to restore normalcy. At present, CRPF, Border Security Force, Sashastra Seema Bal, Indo- Tibetan Border Police and Assam Rifles, along with the Indian Army, are posted in Manipur.

The forces are working under a unified interagency command to restore normalcy, headed by Kuldiep Singh, security advisor to the Manipur government.

Saturdays incident was not the first time that police were engaged in a tense standoff with Assam Rifles. On June 2, a video of an altercation between the two surfaced on social media; the incident came about after an Assam Rifles vehicle blocked the road outside Sugnu police station.

At least 160 people have died so far in the ethnic clashes in the past three months. Clashes in Manipur first broke out on May 3 in Churachandpur town after Kuki groups protested against a proposed tweak to the states reservation matrix, granting scheduled tribe status to the Meitei community. Violence quickly engulfed the state where ethnic fault lines run deep, displacing tens of thousands of people who fled burning homes and neighbourhoods into jungles, often across state borders.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Prawesh Lama Prawesh Lama covers crime, policing, and issues of security in Delhi. Raised in Darjeeling, educated in Mumbai, he also looks at special features on social welfare in the National Capital. ...view detail
Rahul Gandhi No Confidence Motion Debate News: Rahul Gandhi was expected to begin the no-confidence motion debate against the Narendra Modi government in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, following his return to Parliament a day before, after nearly four months. However, in last minute changes, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi opened the debate instead and sought justice for Manipur. Parliamentarians in the Lok Sabha during the Monsoon session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Tuesday.(PTI)

Gandhi's MP status was reinstated on Monday after the Supreme Court gave him relief last week by staying his conviction in the Modi surname case.

A Surat court in Gujarat had awarded the former Congress chief a two-year sentence in the criminal defamation case in March, which led to his disqualification as a lawmaker. Other than Gandhi, Gaurav Gogoi and Manish Tewari will be the other speakers from the Congress, sources said. The motion will run for three days till Thursday, during which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to reply on the last day.

The motion was tabled against the government after the Opposition failed to receive PM Modi's statement to both Houses on the violence-hit Manipur, which it had been demanding since the monsoon session began on July 20. Although the no-confidence motion is bound to fail the numbers test, the Opposition is counting on winning the battle of perception among the public by cornering the government on the Manipur crisis.
New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been reallotted the government bungalow he used to occupy, at 12, Tughlaq Lane, a day after being reinstated as a Lok Sabha member following the stay on his conviction in a 2019 defamation case , people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. Rahul Gandhi (ANI)

An official of the House Committee of the Lok Sabha confirmed to HT that a letter has been issued to Gandhi allocating him the same bungalow in which he had stayed since becoming a parliamentarian for the first time in 2004.

The entire country is my home, the former Congress president told reporters when asked about the allotment.

Gandhi vacated the bungalow in April , after he was asked to do so, following his disqualification as member of the Lok Sabha on March 24 following his conviction and a two-year jail term awarded to him. While leaving his bungalow, Gandhi said he was paying the price for speaking the truth.

The House Committee issued a notice to Rahul Gandhi on March 25, a day after his disqualification as the Wayanad MP. A disqualified parliamentarian is not entitled to a government accommodation and gets a months time to vacate the official residence.

The Congress, however, had pointed out that the committee is usually not as prompt in sending such notices and cited some examples, including that of former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who retired from the Rajya Sabha in 2022, but continued to retain his official bungalow.

The reallotment has come as promptly, though.

Congress general secretary KC Venugopal on Tuesday said that Gandhi would visit Wayanad in Kerala on August 12-13, his first trip to his constituency after being reinstated as an MP.

 The people of Wayanad are elated that democracy has won, their voice has returned to Parliament! Rahul ji is not just an MP but a member of their family! Venugopal tweeted.
Rahul Gandhi of the Congress who was reinstated as the Lok Sabha MP on Monday, three days after the Supreme Court suspended his criminal defamation conviction in the Modi surname case, will start the no-confidence debate against the Narendra Modi government in the Lower House of Parliament on Tuesday, sources said. Rahul Gandhi's parliament membership was restored on Monday(X/INCIndia)

Rahul Gandhi's party colleagues Gaurav Gogoi and Manish Tewari will be other speakers from the Congress, the sources added. Gandhi made his last speech in the Lok Sabha on February 7, 2023, when he had participated in the debate on the President's speech.

"We look forward to what Rahul Gandhi has to say. He has visited Manipur and in the meantime, he has met with the cross sections of Indian society. He knows the state of the economy and the ground situation in Manipur. So, he has a very valuable perspective which we all look forward to hear," Gogoi said.

MP Nishikant Dubey will be the first speaker from the Bharatiya Janata Party the on no-confidence motion debate, sources.

A fierce critic of Modi and his main challenger in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Wayanad MP was ousted from Parliament after his conviction by a Gujarat magistrates court in March. The Supreme Court stayed his conviction on Friday, which means it is temporarily halted while the court goes into Gandhis appeal in detail before issuing a final ruling. Gandhi was sentenced to two years in prison but the court suspended his prison sentence in April. The conviction was upheld by the Gujarat high court so he filed an appeal in the Supreme Court last month.

The discussion on the no-confidence motion will begin in the Lok Sabha from Tuesday. According to sources, a time of 12 hours has been fixed for the discussion.

"In this, a time of about 6 hours and 41 minutes has been fixed for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and about one hour and 15 minutes for the Congress party. While, Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP), Shivsena, Janata Dal -United (JDU), Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) have been given a total of 2 hours, which has been divided according to the number of party members in the house", the sources told news agency ANI.

At the same time, a time limit of 1 hour 10 minutes has been set for other small parties and independent MPs.

PM Modi to reply on August 10

On August 10, Modi will reply to the debate on the no-confidence motion against the BJP-led NDA government presented by Gogoi over the Opposition's demand for a detailed discussion on violence in Manipur and a statement from the prime minister.

"(Rahul Gandhi) will definitely speak," said Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday on being asked if Gandhi would speak during the no-confidence motion discussion.

The no-confidence motion moved by Opposition parties of I.N.D.I.A bloc was accepted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla last week.

Ahead of the no-confidence motion debate in Lok Sabha, the Bharatiya Janata Party has called a meeting of its parliamentary party on Tuesday.

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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will visit Wayanad on August 12-13, his first trip to his constituency after being reinstated as a member of Parliament, party general secretary KC Venugopal said on Tuesday. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. (PTI)

Gandhi was reinstated as MP by the Lok Sabha secretariat on Monday, days after the Supreme Court stayed his conviction in a criminal defamation case.

"On 12-13 August, Sh. @RahulGandhi ji will be in his constituency Wayanad! The people of Wayanad are elated that democracy has won, their voice has returned to Parliament! Rahul ji is not just an MP but a member of their family!" Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said in a tweet.

Gandhi was disqualified as Lok Sabha MP on March 24 after the metropolitan court in Surat in Gujarat sentenced him to two years in jail in the case a day earlier.

On July 7, the Gujarat High Court dismissed his plea seeking a stay on the conviction, after which he approached the apex court on July 15.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday said he thinks of leaving the CMs post, but this post is not leaving me. And it take courage to state this, the Congress leader added. Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot (PTI)

Gehlot, who has been in a tussle with his former deputy Sachin Pilot over the top post since the Congress won the assembly polls in 2018, appeared to be projecting himself as his partys CM candidate when elections are held in a few months.

He however made clear that he will abide by the decision of the partys central leadership.

This is the second time in recent days that Gehlot has made the post-not-leaving-me statement. Last week, he made the remark when a woman told him that she wanted to see him continue as the chief minister.

At an event here to mark the foundation of new Rajasthan districts, Gehlot referred to that incident and stressed that when he says something it is after thinking it out.

It comes to my mind that I should quit the post -- why I should quit is a mystery -- but this post is not leaving me, he said.

Whatever decision the high command takes is acceptable to me. It takes courage to say that I want to leave but this position is not allowing me to leave, he continued.

Gehlot said he has been made the chief minister thrice by Sonia Gandhi, which is not a small thing.

As the elections near, the party high command brokered a truce between Pilot and Gehlot some weeks ago.

But Gehlot, in his address at the Jaipur event, appeared to pitch for another term as CM if the party wins, and recalled his vision for the state in 2030. He said a new, stronger Rajasthan has emerged due to his work and the reforms he has introduced.

"Why am I talking about 2030? I have worked in the fields of education, health, electricity, water and roads, so it is comes to mind why shouldnt I move forward? he said.

Last September, the party high command had tried to get him to contest the organisational elections for the Congress presidents post.

The high command called a meeting of Congress Legislature Party in Jaipur, amid speculation that it would be a step towards replacing Gehlot with Pilot as the Congress-run state's chief minister.

But many Rajasthan Congress MLAs held a parallel meeting that day, indicating that they wanted Gehlot to remain the CM.

Later, Pilot tried to corner Gehlot on the issues of recruitment exam paper leaks and corruption. But the central leadership intervened, managing to extract a show of unity from the two leaders.

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Forty-three years after communal riots killed at least 83 people and injured 112 others in Uttar Pradeshs Moradabad town, the state government has tabled a report of a judicial commission that cleared the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the local administration of any wrongdoing, and blamed local Muslim political leaders instead for what it called the pre-planned violence. The 1980 Moradabad riots inquiry report was tabled in the U.P. Assembly on August 8. (HT photo)

The violence on August 13, 1980 on Eid-ul-Fitr in Moradabad were the worst communal clashes in Indias most-populous state since Independence.

Also Read | 1980 Moradabad riots: Political slugfest over timing of tabling probe report

According to the report, 83 people died on the day of the violence that continued till November that year, with riots spreading to several other districts, including Aligarh, Bareilly and Prayagraj, and ripples felt as far as Delhi. The then Congress government set up a one-man inquiry commission led by former Allahabad high court judge MP Saxena, who submitted his report in 1983. Since then, no government has made the report public.

No government officer, employee or Hindu was responsible for fomenting trouble at Eidgah or other places. The RSS or the BJP nowhere came on the front in these riots. Even common Muslims were not responsible for violence. This was a handiwork of Muslim League led by Shamim Ahmad and Hamid Hussain alias Ajji and their supporters. The riots were pre-planned, said the judge in the 458-page report tabled by parliamentary affairs minister Suresh Khanna in the state legislative assembly on Tuesday.

Trouble broke out on August 13, 1980 when Eid prayers were being offered by around 50,000 Muslims in the Eidgah grounds, where a couple of pigs were spotted.

Pigs are considered haram, or forbidden, in Islam.

The sight enraged local Muslims, who asked the police to intervene. Shortly afterwards, riots broke out in the area, as stones were hurled at the police, who retaliated by firing into the crowd.

Also Read | 1980 Moradabad Riots: Muslim League rejects blame for violence, points finger at then Cong govt

Muslims got angry and went out of control when there was a rumour that pigs have been pushed among those offering prayers and large number of Muslims along with children have been killed at the Eidgah. Police stations, police outposts and Hindus were attacked. This led to Hindus taking revenge resulting in communal riots.

The violence spread to the rural parts of the district, and then to neighbouring regions. Even in faraway cities such as Delhi, tensions were simmering. Violence continued till November 1980.

As a large number of people belonging to the minority community were killed in the violence, the incidents continued even after August 13, 1980. There was anguish as those killed included children though they died in the stampede, the report noted.

At the time, Opposition parties had alleged that indiscriminate police firing was responsible for the deaths. But the commission dismissed these charges.

The commission has concluded that district magistrate SP Arya, SSP VN Singh had taken adequate precaution... The firing at Eidgah was ordered only when there was a threat to the lives of those present or living in nearby areas, noted the report.

After the commission submitted its report to the state government in 1983, it was placed before the state cabinet 14 times to table it before the legislature. But the cabinet decided to not table the report under administrations run by the Congress, the BJP, Samajwadi Party, and Janata Dal.

The findings sparked a political row.

The report on Moradabad riots is a damning indictment of the way previous governments used to foment trouble. Compare this with the spotless record of the BJP under whose regime there has never been any riots. In communal tensions, everyone suffers but at this time, such political parties which play dirty games for narrow political gains are exposed before the masses, said UP BJP vice-president Vijay Bahadur Pathak.

The Congress hit back at the ruling BJP.

The BJP government should first clarify why did it transfer SSP (Bareilly) who tried to maintain law and order and control the riots? Why is the BJP protecting those who try to spread riots? asked Congress spokesperson Akhilesh Pratap Singh.

The BJP works under its agenda. This step is in sync with its obvious agenda as the Lok Sabha elections are nearing, said Samajwadi Party national secretary and spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary.

On May 12, the Uttar Pradesh cabinet, presided over by chief minister Yogi Adityanath, approved the proposal to table the report in the legislative assembly.

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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
Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Tuesday said he believes that the cruelty with which the minor girl in Bhilwara district was raped and killed cannot be accepted in any civilised society. Speaking on the rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl whose charred body was recovered from a coal furnace in Bhilwaras Kotri, the Tonk MLA said those who had committed the crime had crossed all limits of humanity. He also met the relatives of the victim and spoke to the Bhilwara Police to seek an update on the investigation in the matter. Congress leader Sachin Pilot (PTI)

Pilot also said, I've met the relatives of the victim and got to know that all the accused have been arrested and the police are also going to detain the two minors. The administration has informed me that the court will conduct hearings daily and charge POCSO case and take strict actions against them.

As reported by news agency PTI, the police have so far arrested Kalu (25), his brother Kanha Kalbelia (21), Kalu's wife Laad (25), Pappu (35), Sanjay (20), Kamlesh (30), Prabhu (40) in the case. Besides this, a minor, as well as a teenager, have also been taken into custody.

Other than Pilot, Rajasthan's revenue minister Ramlal Jat and home minister Rajendra Yadav had also met the kin of the victim and consoled them. Yadav said after the meeting, Rajasthan is the state where quick action is taken (in rape cases) and we are handling the cases with strictness.

The Opposition in the state, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has been repeatedly targeting the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government over the alleged deteriorating law and order situation and increase in such heinous crimes.

Yadav said on Tuesday, The BJP has nothing to say other than making allegations. They won't say that they are unable to handle the situation in Manipur.

Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot calls the Bhilwara incident tragic

Terming the incident tragic, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday said that the police will take strict and quick action in the Bhilwara rape and murder case and will ensure the strictest punishment to the accused.

He added that the prevention of crime against women and other minority sections of the society was a priority of his government.

Gehlot also said that rape and molestation accused will be banned from government jobs.

Gehlot said, The record of such miscreants should be maintained, and mention should be made of their involvement in molesting in the character certificate. He said that action should be taken against habitual miscreants up to disqualification from government jobs.

In a Twitter post, Gehlot said, Social boycott of such anti-social elements is necessary.

BJP forms 3-member committee to prepare ground report on the incident

Last Wednesday, BJP state president CP Joshi formed a three-member committee comprising MLA Anita Bhadel, the state president of the womens wing, Raksha Bhandari, and the district-in-charge Atar Singh Badana to prepare a ground report through a fair investigation in the matter.

The BJP also formed another team on Friday comprising four MPs Saroj Pandey, Rekha Sharma, Locket Chatterjee, and Kanta Kardam to conduct the investigation. The investigation team will submit their report to the BJP chief J P Nadda. Joshi also visited the victims family in Bhilwara on Saturday.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sanskriti Falor Sanskriti Falor is a Senior Content Producer at the News Desk of HT Digital. Having worked in Digital Media for the past two years, she is interested in covering civic issues and global affairs. ...view detail
Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, who is the son of Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde, on Tuesday, recited the Hanuman Chalisa in the Lok Sabha while hitting out at Uddhav Thackeray during the debate on the no-confidence motion in the lower house of the Parliament. Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde

Referring to the row that erupted in Maharashtra last year after Amravati MP Navneet Rana and her MLA-husband Ravi Rana were arrested for announcing to recite the Hanuman Chalisa outside Uddhav Thackeray's residence in Mumbai, the Shiv Sena MP said I know the whole Hanuman Chalisa and started reciting the hymns.

However, the Chair asked him to stop and continue with his speech.

Shinde then continued his attack on Thackeray and said, In 2019 people gave the mandate to Shiv Sena and BJP together. But such a situation was created... He felt I should become the chief minister. They did not care about Bala Saheb's ideology, or Hindutva ideology. They sold the Hindutva ideology and stepped away from Bala Saheb's ideology.

Meanwhile, he also launched a scathing attack at the opposition parties over naming their alliance INDIA.

They renamed their alliance INDIA as 'UPA' had become synonymous with corruption. It is not just NDA vs INDIA, but scheme vs scam. They have all gathered against one person. They have no leader or policy. Every leader here wants to be the prime minister because this team has no captain, he said.

The no-confidence motion debate

The Lok Sabha on Tuesday debated a no-confidence motion against PM Modi-led government after it was moved by the opposition parties of I.N.D.I.A bloc last week. While the House has been adjourned for the day, the debate will now resume on Wednesday.

Initiating the debate, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said the opposition alliance was "forced to bring the no-confidence motion against the government to break Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "maun vrat" (vow of silence) on the Manipur violence."

"We have three questions for him (PM Modi) - 1) Why did he not visit Manipur to date? 2) Why did it take almost 80 days to finally speak on Manipur and when he did speak it was just for 30 seconds? 3) Why has the PM not sacked the Manipur CM so far? Gogoi asked.

(With inputs from agencies)
The newly formed State Investigation Agency (SIA) in Jammu & Kashmir on Tuesday issued a notice seeking help from the public to reinvestigate the murder of retired judge Neelkanth Ganjoo in 1990, as it continues its probe into similar old cases of attacks on Kashmiri Pandits. HT Image

Sessions and district court judge Ganjoo, who sentenced to death J&K Liberation Front founder Maqbool Bhat in a murder case in August 1968, was shot dead by terrorists on November 4, 1989 in Srinagar. Bhat was hanged to death on February 11, 1984 at Tihar jail.

In its communique, the SIA appealed to the public to share any inputs that could help the investigation.

In order to unearth the larger criminal conspiracy behind murder of Retired Judge, Neelkanth Ganjoo three decades ago, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) has appealed all persons familiar with facts or circumstances of this murder case to come forward and share any account of events which has direct or indirect bearing on the investigation of the instant case, it said. The SIA assured the people that the identity of all informants will be kept secret and protected and they will be suitably rewarded.

A senior officer familiar with the development said SIA is already probing several high-profile old cases of attacks against Kashmiri Pandits. The process has begun to investigate all the old cases which had been almost closed. Now, the time has come to ensure justice for families of victims, the officer said.

In May this year, SIA tracked down and arrested two absconding terrorists who assassinated former Mirwaiz of Kashmir, Molvi Farooq, on May 21, 1990. Recently, after more than three decades, the people who killed Mirwaiz Farooq were arrested and handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation, the officer added.

Ganjoos family, however, said the reopening of the case has come a little too late and they dont want wounds to be scraped again. Its little too late after 34 years of the incident. Now we dont want our wounds to be scraped again, SK Ganjoo, son of the slain former judge, told news agency ANI.

Former J&K deputy chief minister Kavinder Gupta welcomed the probe. It is good that he (Neelkanth Ganjoo) will get justice. The BJP government had already said that such things should be investigated. This was a conspiracy, he told ANI.

Kashmiri Pandit Sangharsh Samiti president Sanjay Tickoo urged the government to expedite the probe in other cases too. The first investigating officers of all the cases should be called for information by SIA, he said.

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A first information report (FIR) was registered by Manipur police against Assam Rifles personnel for allegedly stopping them from pursuing armed miscreants, who were involved in the killing of three men in Kwakta on Saturday morning. More than 160 people lost their lives and several hundreds were injured since the ethnic clashes broke out on May 3. (ANI Photo)

The FIR, a copy of which seen by HT, was filed on August 5 hours after the standoff between Manipur police and Assam Rifles personnel surfaced on social media and widely circulated.

In the video, Manipur police officers are seen accusing Assam Rifles of interfering in their operation while chasing the armed miscreants. The Assam Rifles officer, in the video, is heard saying that he is only doing his duty.

Also Read: At check point in Manipur, biased Assam Rifles personnel replaced with civil police, CRPF

According to the FIR filed by the Manipur police, a team led by Bishnupur superintendent of police (SP) and other officers had proceeded towards Pholjang road along Kwakta ward 8 to chase Kuki militants who could have been involved in the three killings earlier that day.

The FIR said the police teams were conducting search operations.

On reaching the Kutub Wali Masjid located at Kwakta ward 8 along Pholjang road, the state police teams were stopped, and their way was blocked by the personnel of the 9 Assam Rifles by keeping and parking their Casper vehicle in middle of the Kwakta Pholjang road, obstructing in discharging their law bound duty. As such the arrogant act of the personnel of 9th Assam Rifles giving a chance to the accused Kuki militants to escape freely to somewhere that is a free zone for them, the FIR filed by the officer in charge of Phougakchao Ikhai police station said.

Three men were shot dead, and their bodies mutilated in their house in Kwakta ward 8 of Bishnupur, at around 3am on Saturday.

Following the murder, different Meitei groups began protesting against the Assam Rifles, demanding the removal of the force from Manipur.

The women groups have accused Assam Rifles of being biased in discharging their duty. The women also accused them of using excessive force dealing with Meitei women protesters.

On Monday, Assam Rifles personnel were replaced with civil police and CRPF at a check post in Moirang between Bishnupur and Kangvai in Manipur, an order issued by the Manipur police stated.

The order issued by the additional director general of police (law and order) did not cite any reason for the same.

The order, however, pertains to only one check point.

Assam Rifles and other paramilitary forces continue to remain posted across the state to restore normalcy.

At present, CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force), BSF (Border Security Force), SSB (Sashastra Seema Bal), ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) and Assam Rifles along with the Indian Army are posted in Manipur.

The forces are working under a unified interagency command to restore normalcy, headed by security advisor to Manipur government, Kuldiep Singh.

At least 160 people have died so far in the ethnic clashes between Meiteis and Kukis.

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.

(HT has contacted the spokesperson of the Assam Rifles for their comments and this copy will be updated as and when the response is received)

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Prawesh Lama Prawesh Lama covers crime, policing, and issues of security in Delhi. Raised in Darjeeling, educated in Mumbai, he also looks at special features on social welfare in the National Capital. ...view detail
The Supreme Court on Tuesday raised doubts over its own order of May 13, 2022, which directed the Gujarat government to consider the premature release plea of one of the convicts in the Bilkis Bano gang-rape case, and wondered if the convicts petition was legally maintainable at all. 2002 Gujarat riots survivor Bilkis Bano (AP Photo)

A bench of justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan made pointed queries on how a writ petition was entertained by the Supreme Court at the instance of the convict, Radheyshyam Bhagwandas Shah, after the Gujarat high court turned down his prayer for directing the Gujarat government to decide his remission plea.

Also Read: Convicts in Bilkis case driven by blood thirsty approach, SC told

According to the bench, after the Gujarat high courts refusal in July 2019, Shah was required under the law to challenge the impugned order in appeal before the Supreme Court, instead of filing a writ petition. However, the top court not only admitted his writ petition but also directed the Gujarat government to decide his remission plea, noted the bench.

Is there any challenge to the Gujarat high court order? If not, then how did this court get jurisdiction to set aside the July 2019 order? asked the court, as it heard Banos petition challenging the remission granted to 11 convicts in by the Gujarat government in August last year.

It also questioned the Gujarat governments lawyer if the issue of maintainability of Shahs petition was raised by the state before the apex court before an order was passed in May, allowing the Gujarat government to consider the remission plea of the convicts under the 1992 policy.

Soon after the Supreme Court order in May, Shah and 10 other convicts moved for premature release and the Gujarat government freed the 11 men, convicted of gang-rape and murdering Banos family during the 2002 communal riots in the state.

Also Read: SC rejects Bilkis plea seeking review of its earlier order

The courts bewilderment arose from the fact that the May 2022 order became the basis for the Gujarat government to release all the 11 convicts but there were no answers coming to the fore as to how a petition evidently challenging a high court order was entertained by the Supreme Court as a writ petition.

It further pointed out that Shah, following the Gujarat high court order in July 2019, approached the Maharashtra government too with his remission plea since the trial was conducted in that state. The trial of this sensitive case was shifted by the Supreme Court to a Mumbai court, which convicted all 11 persons and sentenced them to life imprisonment in January 2008.

But even before the Maharashtra government could take a call on it, the bench noted, Shah approached the Supreme Court by filing a writ petition and got an order that the Gujarat government could instead decide his remission plea under the 1992 policy  the one prevalent on the date of the conviction. While the existing remission policy of 2014 of the Gujarat government prohibits early release of rape convicts, no such restrictions were part of the 1992 policy.

Did you oppose this writ petition. He had gone to the Gujarat high court and acted upon the order of the high court by filing for premature release in Maharashtra on August 1, 2019. How was his writ petition entertained by this court? Did not the Gujarat government mention that his writ is not maintainable as he has already accepted remedy under Article 226 (high courts writ jurisdiction)? the bench asked additional solicitor general (ASG) SV Raju, representing Gujarat.

It further the ASG that why the state chose not to file a review petition against the Supreme Courts May 2022 order when its stand before the Gujarat high court had been that the Maharashtra government was the appropriate authority to consider the remission pleas since the trial was conducted there. Raju, on his part, said that he would make an endeavour to answer the courts queries in his turn to argue.

However, advocate Shobha Gupta, who appeared for Bano, concurred with the court, saying Shahs only remedy under the law was to file a special leave petition against the Gujarat high court order. Judicial order cannot be knocked off in an Article 32 petition (Supreme Courts writ jurisdiction). The only remedy was to file a special leave petition. I have gone through Shahs petition. He did not challenge the Gujarat high court order. Yet, the final judgment has been set aside, she complained.

At one point, Gupta submitted that public outcry should also be a consideration for the court to consider validity of a remission order as this case saw massive protests in the country. But the bench retorted: Public outcry will not impact our judicial conscience. We will consider only legal submissions.

Bano was 21, and five months pregnant when she was gang-raped while fleeing the violence during the 2002 riots, and her three-year-old daughter was one of the seven people killed.

The 11 men convicted of the crimes against her and her family were released on August 15, 2022, after one of them, Shah, approached the Supreme Court in April 2022 seeking remission, arguing that he had spent over 15 years in prison. By an order in May 2022, a bench led by justice Ajay Rastogi (since retired) directed the Gujarat government to consider the convicts plea for premature release in accordance with the 1992 policy.

As their release sparked public outrage, several PILs were filed in the Supreme Court by Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, former CPI member MP Subhashini Ali, among others, in August 2022. Later, in November 2022, Bano also approached the Supreme Court against the Gujarat governments decision to allow the 11 men to walk out of jail.

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NEW DELHI: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Supriya Sule on Tuesday demanded that chief minister N Biren Singh resign for the shameful blunders in Manipur, which have led to more than 150 deaths since May 3. NCP MP Supriya Sule speaks during a debate on no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha amid the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament (PTI)

There have been shameful blunders of the state government in Manipur. I demand that just today after this, the chief minister must resign, Sule said as she wrapped up her speech during the discussion on the no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government in the Lok Sabha.

Congress deputy leader Gaurav Gogoi initiated the discussion, saying the government which often speaks about one India had created two Manipurs -- one living in hills and the other in the valley. PM Modi is expected to reply to the discussion on August 10.

The Opposition moved the no confidence motion over the handling of clashes between

the Kukis and Meiteis that first erupted in Manipur on May 3 during a protest against a court-ordered tweak to the states reservation matrix, granting scheduled tribe (ST) status to the latter. 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.

Sule said the Opposition brought the no-confidence motion against the government because it was representing the sentiment of the nation. Quoting American economist Milton Friedmans emphasis on evaluating policies on the basis of outcomes rather than the intention , Sule said she did not intend to take away from the intention of the government but underlined that it was the outcomes that she had a problem with.

Sule, who launched a sharp attack at the central government, said India had fallen on multiple indices globally and taunted the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for toppling nine state governments in nine years.

Gogoi, who led the Congresss offensive, accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of taking a vow of silence on crucial issues such as the ethnic violence in Manipur and recalled that former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Gujarat after the 2002 communal riots.

Why did he (Prime Minister Modi) take about 80 days to speak on Manipur and (he) just spoke for 30 seconds. After that there has been no peace appeal on Manipur from him. Ministers are saying they will speak, but as prime minister, the power of his words cannot be matched by ministers, Gogoi said.

When people were gasping for breath during the Covid second wave, the prime minister was seeking votes in West Bengal. When women were being assaulted in Manipur, the prime minister was seeking votes in Karnataka. What kind of nationalism is this that places power above the nation, the deputy leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha said, according to PTI.
AGARTALA: The Tripura government is focussed on taking stern steps to prevent Rohingya from infiltrating into India by using the northeastern state as a corridor, chief minister Manik Saha said on Tuesday. Tripura chief minister Manik Saha. (PTI photo)

 There are reports suggesting that Rohingyas are using Tripura as a corridor for moving to different parts of the country. We have discussed these issues ; how they are coming. I recently visited Unakoti district to see that the border fencing had moved towards India as the river was flooded. It (the flooding) resulted in disruption of fencing in different areas. I also got information that there are some touts who communicate through Bangladesh SIM cards in the area. I have asked BSF (Border Security Force) and police for better cooperation, Saha said after holding review meeting with police officers at Pragna Bhawan convention centre in Agartala.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had recently said Tripura was being used as a corridor by the Rohingyas -- who are refugees from Myanmar -- from Bangladesh to come into India.

At least 52 Rohingyas have been arrested this year in Tripura, Manchak Ipper, the deputy inspector general of police, had said last week, according to an ANI report.

Apart from the problem of Rohingya infiltration, issues related to the illegal drug trade and cattle smuggling were also discussed at the security review meeting.

Also Read: 2,131 arrested under NDPS Act in 3 years in Tripura: CM Manik Saha

 PM (Narendra) Modi and home minister Amit Shah have made it clear that no haven for drugs can be here for which we started the drug-free Tripura ...movement. Our police force, starting from (local) police stations to top officers are very serious about the issue. In the meeting, we also discussed details regarding drug trade and the masterminds behind these operations and how to nab them. None having involvement with the drug trade will be spared, said Saha.

He also advised police stations in border areas to closely coordinate with the BSF to check human trafficking and livestock smuggling across the border.

Tripura, as per the official state government portal, is surrounded by Bangladesh on its north, south and west. The length of its border with Bangladesh is 856 km, which is some 84 % of all its borders, according to the portal.

Saha stressed on uprooting mafiaraaj  (rule of the underworld) from the state, saying that his government is working towards providing modern technology at police stations; a full-fledged cybercrime police station would be launched by next September, he said.

He added that police are conducting awareness programmes to prevent child marriages across the state.

Saha said the state tops the list of child marriages with the districts of South and Sepahijala reporting the highest incidence of child marriages.

 We are working to prevent it. I urge everyone to give suggestions on how to prevent it, he said.

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Monsoon tracker: Rain-battered Uttarakhand is not likely to get relief anytime soon as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for the hill state, predicting heavy rainfall till Friday, with some districts on an orange alert for Saturday. Besides Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal are also likely to continue receiving rainfall activities for the next two days, according to the IMD. Commuters wade through a waterlogged road after rainfall, in New Delhi on Friday. (ANI Photo)

Uttarakhand's Dehradun MeT office has put several districts, including Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Tehri, Dehradun, Pauri Garhwal, Pithoragarh, among others, on a yellow alert on Tuesday. However, some districts such as Tehri Garhwal, Dehradun, Pauri Garhwal, Champawat, Nainital, and Haridwar are on an orange alert for Wednesday with the possibility of very heavy rainfall in isolated areas. It stated that all these districts will continue to experience downpours till Friday and are on a yellow alert.

UP, Bihar on alert too

Similarly, the IMD warned that Bihar will also get isolated very heavy rainfall today, and similar weather conditions will prevail in Uttar Pradesh Wednesday. Furthermore, the weather office predicted light to moderate widespread rainfall with isolated showers to continue in West Bengal and Sikkim today, and in Jharkhand during the next 48 hours.

In view of the prediction, the regional weather office in Bihar's Patna has put all the districts on a yellow alert for today, except Madhubani, Sitamarhi, Muzaffarpur, Saharsa, Purnia, and Kathihar, which are on an orange alert and will receive very heavy rainfall throughout the day as per the prediction.

The IMD further noted that the remaining parts of the country, except the northeast, will witness subdued rainfall activity till August 14.

All seven northeastern states will witness isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall till Wednesday and isolated heavy rainfall in the subsequent three days, the IMD said. It predicted, Light or moderate fairly widespread to widespread rainfall with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall activity very likely over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura during the next 2 days and isolated heavy rainfall for subsequent 3 days."

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Hyderabad Indian Navy authorities have decided not to allow night flight services at Visakhapatnam international airport for resurfacing work on the main runway for five months starting November. (Wikimedia Commons)

The decision of the Indian Navy authorities not to allow night flight services at Visakhapatnam international airport on the ground of resurfacing work on the main runway for five months starting November is set to hit the flow of tourists and frequent air travellers from different parts of the country to the port city.

The Visakhapatnam airport, also known as INS Dega, is actually a civil enclave in the Naval air base belonging to Eastern Naval Command (ENC), which has been allowing civilian commercial aircraft during normal hours, apart from defence aircraft.

In a letter written to the airport director of Visakhapatnam airport on July 26, Commander of INS Dega, Capt Sanjeev K Agnihotri, said it was proposed to close down the main runway for the night operations  from 9 pm to 8 am the next day -- with effect from November 15 till end of March, 2024 as it was rescheduled to undergo resurfacing.

The main runway is presently being utilised by civil flights all through the day and with the latest decision by the Naval authorities, it would not be available for landing and take-off of civilian aircraft for nearly half-a-day.

Agnihotri said a coordination meeting with airline operators was conducted at INS Dega on July 25 and the project details had been shared with the representatives concerned.

The changed time schedule has been acknowledged by the airline operators. Besides, a mail has been forwarded to each airline operator to plan winter schedule accordingly, he said.

Andhra Pradesh Air Travellers Association (APATA) expressed concern over the decision of the Naval authorities. Visakhapatnam is the largest and most populous city in Andhra Pradesh. It is fast growing as a commercial hub and is the ninth richest city in the country. It is now proposed to be the executive capital of the state, association vice president O Naresh Kumar said.

Kumar, also director of AP Chambers of Commerce and Industry and president of Visakhapatnam Development Council, said the decision would affect the operation of nearly 12 flights, including that of the only international flight of Scoot Airways to Singapore.

It will cut off air connectivity to many places from Visakhapatnam causing inconvenience to many passengers and 90 global connections via Singapore, he said.

Kumar said the coming winter season is a peak period for tourists and also time for weddings and festivals, during which period there would be demand for air travel. Besides, many investors and business people are preferring to make their visit to Visakhapatnam.

There are several restrictions in peak hours during the day time also, restricting the civilian movement, he pointed out.

In a letter written to the Union civil aviation ministry on August 5, APATA president K Kumar Raja said recently, N5 taxi track, which was built by the Airport Authority of India, came into operation and there is a potential increase of capacity for flight operations from 10 to 15 movements per hour.

It can be allotted to civil flights without any reduction in slots for military movement, Raja said and also appealed to the aviation ministry to help allot two additional slots per hour during day time for enabling the greater movement of civilian aircraft for improved economic activity.

He also asked the Centre to instruct the naval authorities to reschedule the restricted hours from 11 pm to 5.30 am next day so as to facilitate the operation of all flights in the Visakhapatnam airport with additional flying slots during peak hours also.

An airport official, who refused to be quoted, said the resurfacing of the runway should be done once in 10 years and the last time it was done in Visakhapatnam was in 2009. It was delayed due to Covid-19 pandemic and hence, the Naval authorities have taken up the job now, he said.

Former Union minister and state BJP president Daggubati Purandeshwari also wrote to the Union civil aviation ministry that the airport closure timings would disrupt the services to New Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Pune, apart from Singapore. Visakhapatnam is an emerging industrial hub, catering to the needs of pharma, garment, aqua and other sectors, besides a major tourist destination. Closing the airport for 11 hours would be detrimental to its progress, she said.

Purandeshwari suggested that the resurfacing work could be taken up from 10.30 pm to 6.30 am next day.

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The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday alleged that the Congress, news portal NewsClick and China were linked to an anti-India umbilical cord as Union minister Anurag Thakur cited a report by The New York Times to claim that companies linked to China were funding the website. Neville Roy Singham with wife Jodie Evans.

In the controversy, the name of American millionaire Neville Roy Singham also emerged in the NYT's report, which claimed that NewsClick was part of a global network that received funding from Singham, to allegedly spread Chinese propaganda in India.

"In New Delhi, corporate filings show, Singham's network financed a news site, NewsClick, that sprinkled its coverage with Chinese government talking points. 'China's history continues to inspire the working classes,' one video said," The New York Times report noted.

Who is Neville Roy Singham?

1) Born on May 13, 1954, in the United States, Neville Roy Singham is the son of leftist academic Archibald Singham. Singham's father was born in Burma to Sri Lankan parents and served as a professor of political science at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York until his demise in 1991.

2) Singham is the founder and former chairman of ThoughtWorks, a Chicago-based software consultancy. According to his LinkedIn profile, he served at the company for about 24 years from 1993 until 2017, when he sold it. He has a bachelor's degree in political science from the US-based Howard University and also attended the University of Michigan, his LinkedIn showed.

3) In 2016, Singham married activist Jodie Evans, a former Democratic political adviser and the co-founder of Code Pink. The NYT alleged that CodePink, once a staunch critic of China, has turned its defender in the recent past and linked the alleged shift in stance with Singham's network of funding.

4) Currently, he hosts an office space in China's Shanghai, on the 18th floor of Times Square. NYT claimed that there, one outlet in his network is co-producing a YouTube show financed in part by the citys propaganda department.

5) The 69-year-old millionaire is described as a socialist benefactor of far-left causes and has been alleged of having direct contact with the propaganda arm of the Communist Party of China. However, his LinkedIn profile describes his ongoing work profile as retired."

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Nisha Anand Trainee Content Producer for Hindustan Times Digital Streams. I read about feminism, late modern history, and globalisation of Korean music. ...view detail
BTS agency BigHit Music has officially announced that Bangtan Boys' final weapon V aka Kim Taehyung's long awaited solo debut album will be released in September this year and the K-pop sensation has chosen the birthday of his pet pomeranian Yeontan i.e. September 8 as the release date for Layover. The album consists of six tracks in total - five tracks and a bonus track which include Rainy Days, Blue, Love Me Again, Slow Dancing, For Us and Slow Dancing (Piano Version) but it is the images that have taken the Internet by storm as they feature V in a wolf cut hairstyle while posing for the cameras. Love BTS V aka Kim Taehyung's wolf cut in solo debut album Layover? Here's how to ace Gen Z's gender fluid hairstyle (Photo by Twitter/woogasquad5/btstatsreminder)

The pictures that are now breaking social media platforms have the BTS ARMY on edge and we don't blame them. V's distinctive and ever-changing hairstyles make him a head-turner and have often set trends in the world of K-pop and fashion.

It is remarkable how after flaunting sexy blonde hair recently, Taehyung not only managed to rock the wolf cut with flair but also inspired fans to jazz up their own look with this gender fluid hairstyle which is the latest Gen Z beauty trend. The wolf cut is characterised by its layered and tousled look, giving the appearance of a messy yet stylish haircut, which typically involves shorter layers on top and longer layers at the bottom, creating a textured and voluminous effect.

Though this trendy and edgy hairstyle gained popularity in recent years, particularly on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, it is believed to have originated in South Korean salons and reportedly takes its name from the wild, untamed look that the heavy layers create, resembling the fur of its namesake. If you too are inspired by Taehyungs hair, it is important to note that the wolf cut is all about creating layers and texture where the top layers are cut shorter and more unevenly, while the bottom layers remain longer to create a contrast between the lengths and adds volume and movement to the hair.

The ends of the hair are often left choppy and uneven to enhance the messy and carefree vibe of the style while the layering technique used in the wolf cut adds natural volume and body to the hair, making it appear thicker and more dynamic. Hairstyling experts recommended that you can opt for this style irrespective of whether you have straight, wavy or curly hair as the wolf cut works with various hair types and lengths and is also adaptable to different face shapes and personal styles.

To enhance the textured look, styling products like texturising sprays, sea salt sprays or volumising mousses can be used to give the hair extra volume and hold. Since the wolf cut is known for its low-maintenance appeal, the tousled and slightly messy appearance means that it can still look great even as it grows out between haircuts.

Known to impulsively experiment with his hair and be ahead of the global fashion, BTS Jin - the oldest member of the boy band had already flaunted this hairstyle before enlisting in the South Korean military. However, V adds oomph to the hairstyle like never before and you should do the same to keep your tresses from looking plain and one-dimensional.

If you are considering getting a wolf cut, it's a good idea to consult with a hairstylist who can tailor the style to your hair type, face shape and preferences. As with any haircut, proper haircare and maintenance will help keep your wolf cut looking its best.
Dengue cases are rising exponentially in the capital and last week the number of cases stood at 105 raising alarm bells to take preventive measures for containing the spread. As per a Hindustan Times report, this tally is the highest number of cases reported till August 5 for at least the last 10 years. Amid the rapid spread of the mosquito-borne illness the vulnerable sections of population should take the required precautions to safeguard their health. This includes pregnant women as they are not only at increased risk of getting infected by dengue, but it can also cause complications for the unborn baby which includes preterm birth and even foetal death. (Also read: Dengue surge: Mild to dangerous, common signs and symptoms of different dengue strains) As monsoon is here to stay for some time and dengue cases are seeing upward swing, one must closely monitor symptoms like fever and rash, aches eye pain, muscle, joint, or bone pain, vomiting, nausea etc. (Freepik)

As monsoon is here to stay for some time and dengue cases are seeing upward swing, one must closely monitor symptoms like fever and rash, aches eye pain, muscle, joint, or bone pain, vomiting, nausea etc. It's important for expecting mothers to wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants minimising the risk of a mosquito bite.

How monsoon increases risk of dengue

"As the monsoon season sets in, so does the increased risk of mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue. For pregnant women, dengue can pose serious health risks not only to themselves but also to their unborn babies. To safeguard against this potential threat, it is crucial to take proactive measures at home during this vulnerable time," says Dr Chandrika Anand, Consultant Obstetrics & Gynecology, Fortis Hospitals, Nagarbhavi, Bengaluru.

How dengue spreads, know symptoms

Dengue is a viral infection transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, which are more active during the monsoon season.

"The symptoms of dengue can range from mild to severe and may include high fever, severe headache, joint and muscle pain, rash, and bleeding. In severe cases, dengue can lead to dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) or dengue shock syndrome (DSS), which can be life-threatening," adds Dr Chandrika

Why pregnant women are more at risk of dengue

"During pregnancy, the immune system undergoes changes to support the growing foetus, making pregnant women more susceptible to infections like dengue. Additionally, hormonal changes during pregnancy can also impact the severity of the disease if infected. Moreover, dengue infection during pregnancy can lead to complications for both the mother and the baby, including preterm birth, low birth weight, and even foetal death," says Dr Chandrika.

Preventive steps at home

Prevention is the best remedy for avoiding dengue and whether you are at home, workplace, commuting, you must wear the right clothing, and apply mosquito repellent creams. Preventing waterlogging and using mosquito nets can help minimise changes of getting dengue.

De Chandrika shares some preventive measures for dengue:

Use mosquito repellent: Applying mosquito repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus to exposed skin and clothing can significantly reduce the risk of mosquito bites. Pregnant women should choose a repellent that is safe for use during pregnancy and follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Wear protective clothing: Covering up with long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and closed shoes can provide an additional layer of protection against mosquito bites, especially when spending time outdoors.

Stay indoors during peak mosquito hours: Mosquitoes are most active during dawn and dusk. Pregnant women should avoid outdoor activities during these times and opt for indoor spaces with screened windows and doors.

Drain standing water: Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, so it is essential to remove any standing water around the home. Regularly check and empty water in buckets, flowerpots, and birdbaths to eliminate potential breeding sites.

Screen windows and doors: Installing screens on windows and doors can effectively prevent mosquitoes from entering the home. Properly maintained screens create a barrier against these disease-carrying insects.

Use a mosquito net: If living in an area with a high mosquito population or traveling to such regions, using a mosquito net while sleeping can provide a peaceful and bite-free night's rest.

Seeking medical attention

If a pregnant woman suspects that she has dengue or experiences any concerning symptoms during pregnancy, it is crucial to seek immediate medical attention.

"Dengue can be particularly severe for pregnant women, so early detection and prompt treatment are vital to ensure the best possible outcome for both the mother and the baby. A falling platelet count or bleeding from any site in the body itself counts as an indication to visit a hospital. It is very important to look for bleeding manifestations," says Dr Chandrika.

Complications of dengue fever

Acute hepatitis

Dengue encephalitis and seizures

Intracranial haemorrhage

Fulminant myocarditis

Acute kidney injury

Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis

Retinal vasculitis

How dengue fever is diagnosed

Dengue fever is diagnosed by detection of viral nucleic acid in serum by means of reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay which is positive during the first five days of illness or via detection of viral antigen non-structural protein NS1 which is positive during the first seven days of illness.

Additional measures for dengue prevention during pregnancy by Dr Chandrika:

Consult your doctor: Pregnant women should talk to their healthcare provider about their specific risk of contracting dengue during pregnancy. The doctor can help assess the risk and provide personalized preventive measures.

Be vigilant regardless of location: Mosquitoes can travel over long distances, making dengue a concern even in areas not commonly associated with the disease. Pregnant women should stay vigilant and take precautions regardless of their location.

Know the symptoms: Familiarising oneself with the symptoms of dengue is crucial, as they can often be mistaken for other illnesses. If experiencing any signs of dengue, such as high fever, severe headache, joint and muscle pain, or rash, seeking medical evaluation promptly is essential.

"By adopting these preventive steps and seeking early medical attention if needed, pregnant women can significantly reduce their risk of contracting dengue during the monsoon season. Protecting oneself from mosquito bites is crucial not only for the expectant mother's well-being but also for the health and safety of her precious baby. Remember, staying informed and proactive is the key to a healthy and enjoyable pregnancy journey during the monsoon season," adds Dr Chandrika.

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Often, tender minds of children go through traumatic stressors like loss of a parent, grandparent, pet or physical abuse where children find it very difficult to comprehend what happened with them and further process and express this. Sometimes such situations like a physical/sexual abuse remains undisclosed to the family and a child starts behaving differently due to this trauma but the child may show mood swings, avoidance to school, aggression, agitation, be irritable, depressed, alone or refuse leisure activities and that is when the family or caregivers try to find out the cause and often Play or Art Therapy is suggested to them. Tips to help children with post-traumatic stress disorder express their emotions, process their experiences (Photo by Aidan Smith on Unsplash)

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Isha Soni, Senior Occupational Therapist and Centre Head at Lexicon Rainbow Therapy and Child Development Centre in Pune, shared, It is very well said that Play is the primary occupation of a child. I firmly believe that the best way to assess a child is not by administering batteries of tests or checklists but to play with a child. In play, one can unravel the most natural abilities and difficulties of a child. In case of post  traumatic stress disorder, what is not possible through a dialogue/counselling by a therapist can be known through use of certain toys, dolls, pretend situations because the child doesnt feel judged. Through Play Therapy, a child can be assessed as well as healed of the trauma he/she has undergone. It helps to express, identify and resolve their emotions and thoughts and form coping strategies. Play Therapy is a well-known evidence-based practise to heal anxiety and disruptive behaviour.

Recognising the importance of addressing the emotional and psychological effects of PTSD in children, Dr Himani Narula, Developmental and Behavioral Paediatrician Director and Co-Founder of Continua kids, said, "It is important for children experiencing symptoms of PTSD to seek professional help from mental health professionals who specialise in trauma-related disorders.

Play therapy allows them to use toys, games, and creative activities to symbolise their thoughts and feelings. Whereas, art therapy allows children to communicate and explore their emotions through various art forms, such as drawing, painting, sculpting, or making a collage. Therapy, medication and support from family and friends can assist people in managing their symptoms and achieving healing and recovery."

According to Dr Ritika Agarwal, Consultant, Psychologist at Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, children may find it difficult to verbally communicate what they're feeling. She explained, They may not know the right words or be unable to find the right words to express what they've been through and are still going through. Using expressive art therapies gives them an alternative way to understand their emotions, communicate and express those emotions non-verbally, and experience catharsis while feeling safe. Expressing negative emotions through an art form provides the child with a safe environment to release the negative emotions through a positive and enjoyable activity, which in turn can accelerate the healing process and general growth. Expressive art therapies can also help with a range of other concerns and also normal development.

Bringing her expertise to the same, Dr Meghana Dikshit, Author and Brain and Performance Expert, revealed, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, a term used for war veterans originally, is now used to describe the aftereffects of any trauma that a person goes through. The term PTSD is used for children who have experienced bullying, a dysfunctional home, physical, verbal, or sexual abuse, or any other trauma during their formative, impressionable years. As a result, the young child may go silent, rebel, or develop what we would call as inappropriate behaviour; but it is a call for help and attention made through negative behaviour.

She suggested, It is important to remember that children sing before they speak, they paint before they write and they dance as soon as they stand before they walk and run. This is the essential nature of a child. It follows then that any therapy for children must remind them of their essential nature; that they chose to dance, paint, and sing their hearts out. The curiosity of the child to explore the environment can be roped in with these art forms, where the sense of control is given back to the child to choose the form of expression to own back their power. What is required is to enable them to express themselves in any way that they feel comfortable, in any form of art and for you to be a compassionate listener.

Dr Shivani Sadhoo, Certified Counselling Psychologist, highlighted, Children grappling with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) mostly find themselves trapped in a whirlwind of intense emotions and haunting memories. However, traditional therapy methods may pose challenges for young individuals to express their experiences effectively. To address this, integrating expressive therapies, such as art and play therapy, emerges as a transformative approach to their healing journey. Art therapy gives children a safe space to externalise their inner world, providing an avenue for visual communication of emotions, traumas, and anxieties that words may fail to capture. By engaging with various art materials, children experience a cathartic release, allowing them to process their experiences while fostering self-expression, self-esteem, resilience, and empowerment.

She added, Play therapy, on the other hand, taps into the innate language of children - play. Through imaginative play scenarios facilitated by trained therapists, children reenact and explore their traumatic experiences, gradually regaining a sense of control and creating alternative narratives. This modality promotes emotional regulation, healing, and the development of healthy coping mechanisms. Art and play therapy offer children with PTSD an avenue to express emotions in a non-threatening environment, enabling them to explore and process their traumatic memories. These therapies empower children, nurture resilience, and facilitate the formation of healthier coping strategies. In the end would like to say by, incorporating art and play therapy into the treatment of children with PTSD holds promise. By harnessing the power of creativity and play, these expressive therapies allow young individuals to navigate complex emotions, facilitate healing, and pave the way for a brighter and more hopeful future.

Pointing out that all children react differently to stresses, Dr Shyam S Lulla, Consultant Psychiatrist at PD Hinduja Hospital and MRC in Mahim, asserted that some may land up with post-traumatic stress disorder and causes can be stress like child abuse or death of someone near or any kind of trauma. He said, A child is very sensitive, they cannot express their feelings. A child will react by suppressing everything and by suppressing the child will show behavioural changes which needs to be observed as such. The child might start getting nightmares, flashbacks, changes in the sleep cycle, physical symptoms such as diarrhoea. The child might stop communicating and meeting people and loss of interest along with anger or mood changes. A lot of negativity and startle reactions can come in. It can be prevented through various manifestations. Art and play therapy are fantastic because we cannot pick across the child and talk freely like we can with adults. Ultimately, we must make the child go in art and play therapy.

He gushed, In play therapy there is a family shown via story and the child is asked to assess the situation and give answers which will give ideas of what is the what is the conflict in the child. Additionally, a great counsellor who is good with kids and has patience not everyone can do this. It is a beautiful way for the child to express their emotions in a non-threatening way and would share in a safe environment. This creative outlet is a form of communication where the therapist must interpret what is happening and understand what the child is going on. There is so much pressure on the child that this kind of therapy is an outlet for the child. We need to find the reasons and help the child cope with the situation and neutralise the emotions which is easier said than done because we do not want the child to carry the unnecessary burden for life. Children are very adaptable, if we handled correctly, we can help in building resilience to this and navigate through it correctly.

Assuring that the child will ultimately develop a very good therapeutic relationship with the therapist, the mental health expert said, The therapist must transfer this nature of the relationship to the parents or foster parents. This is like a healing journey for the child and we need to check for every child, since each is unique genetically, we need to check the genetic talent of this child or aptitude and create an outlet on those basis. A proper communication diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, and outlet is very important. Unfortunately, a lot of children do not come and as they grown, we find out a lot of things have been suppressed over the years. This is a very important area to be taken care of especially in nuclear families with both the parents working with less time and attention given to the child. For every child we need to understand the family structure, a care facility near the house, what therapy they can afford and tailor it accordingly to that.

Art and play therapy help create a great outlet and resolve underline trauma and change the underline attitude. Creating a very trusting environment would really help as other emotion to tackle would be guilt which stops growth in life.
We celebrate when students attain top ranks in an entrance examination and get admission to a great institution. But what about those who could not succeed? We tend to consider them as failures. We understand failure as our inability to realise an expected outcome or goal. The tendency to berate the students for their so-called failure affects them irreparably. Failures can result at various stages and in different forms in life, such as academics, careers, relationships, or similar endeavours. PREMIUM Stigma can severely impact individuals well-being and quality of life.(Hindustan Times)

Many well-known achievers such as Thomas Edison faced numerous setbacks before achieving greatness. Edison used multiple failures as opportunities to reassess strategies, identify areas for improvement, and build resilience, leading to many of his transformative inventions in history.

But we tend to stigmatise failures, creating the fear of failure in the minds of our students. For instance, it is not uncommon to see someone with mental illness facing stigma because we think that such a person is unmanageable or problematic. But medical science does not support this stereotype as most individuals experiencing mental health conditions can recover with appropriate support and treatment, and lead fulfilling lives. Can the same be true of students who experience failures or are marginalised? Can they rise like a Phoenix? If so, how?

Stigma, often referred to as spoiled identity, was first explored theoretically by sociologist Erving Goffman in his seminal work published in 1963. He underlined how individuals with stigmatised characteristics are perceived and treated by society. Stigma can have negative impacts with profound detrimental effects on the individuals sense of self, social interactions, and overall well-being. Stigmatisation is a result of societal prejudices, stereotypes, and misunderstandings.

Suppose, for example, a student has failed to earn the required credits to move to the next semester or has dropped out of university due to health or family circumstances. Or consider another situation where a student joins in a not-so-sought-after discipline or degree programme in a not-so-well-known institution. When we stigmatise this, it sets the student apart from others, leading to a devaluation in the eyes of society; the student may internalise it as something that will always be a part of their life. When students are labelled inferior by peers or teachers because of their social background or language inadequacies, they encounter negative attitudes, prejudice, and discrimination, leading to exclusion.

Stigma can severely impact individuals well-being and quality of life. It can lead to shame, guilt, and isolation, discouraging individuals from seeking help or support. Stigmatised individuals may experience low self-esteem and avoid socialising or pursuing opportunities. The government this month told Parliament that 98 students died by suicide in the past five years in our higher education institutes. What is not a mystery is that such incidents are linked to professional problems, a sense of isolation, family problems and mental disorders, among others.

Stigma power, conceptualised by scientists BG Link and Jo Phelan in 2014, tells us how influential the nature of stigma is. Sociologist Pierre Bourdieu called it symbolic power, referring to how certain symbols, representations, or labels shape our perceptions, beliefs, and behaviours about weak students or so-called failures.

In essence, we must collectively work towards overcoming the effects of stigma and promote understanding and compassion. Awareness campaigns can help debunk myths and stereotypes, fostering a more inclusive and supportive campus. A recent example is the new guideline of IIT-Bombay, which encourages students to avoid inappropriate and biased questions such as entrance exam rank or any other information that may reveal their caste, or perpetuate bias and discrimination. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has also issued guidelines to all higher educational institutions for promoting physical fitness, sports, students health, welfare, and psychological and emotional well-being to ensure a seamless, inclusive ecosystem for learners with various challenges. These guidelines align with the 2020 National Education Policy that asks institutions to provide students with the necessary support.

Similarly, the multi-entry, multi-exit scheme is an essential reform in higher education introduced by UGC. For example, in a four-year undergraduate programme, students can exit at the end of the first, second or third year for various reasons and be awarded an appropriate certificate, diploma, or degree. Such an exit should not be considered as a failure. Students can return to continue their studies within three years of a break. Such reforms in education are required to dismantle systemic biases. Temporary setbacks will no longer burden our students, and educational institutions must embrace them with compassion and dignity.

But what does it all mean? The stigma surrounding failure is not solely a students problem but an institutional issue that requires collective action. We must, therefore, focus on efforts essential to reducing stigma and building a more empathetic campus community. By treating our students with respect and dignity, we can work towards melting away the barriers of stigma and creating a more equitable and accepting environment for everyone.

Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar is chairman, UGC and former vice chancellor, JNU. The views expressed are personal.
A sweet video of an elephant's reaction to a baby buffalo charging at it has won people over. The video captures this hilarious scene from the wild where a gentle giant is seen slowly backing away from a tiny buffalo, trying to show its might. The image shows a baby buffalo charging towards an elephant. (YouTube/@Latestsightings)

Originally posted on the YouTube channel of the organisation Latest Sightings a few years ago, the video has recently created a chatter after making its way onto Reddit. The caption of the YouTube video explains that the scene was recorded by an individual named Andrew Cohen at the Kruger National Park in South Africa. The organisation also shared more about the background of the video in Cohens own words.

We were going for our late afternoon drive while taking it very slowly when we came up to a reservoir and decided to stop and watch for a while. We saw a buffalo cow walking out from behind the bush towards the waterhole, and in tow was her brand new little calf following diligently behind her. We then noticed the ellie [Elephant] coming from the left-hand side towards the mom and baby buffalo. It seemed as if he wanted to interact with them both, but this baby wasnt having any of it! As soon as the young buffalo caught a glimpse of the elephant, he charged towards him and had the ellie pedalling backward and trumpeting, he explained.

He added that initially, he thought the baby would get hurt, however, the gentle giant simply started moving backward as if not to hurt the little calf. On Reddit, the video is shared with a caption that reads, Bold baby water buffalo charges an elephant.

Take a look at this video of an interaction between a baby buffalo and an elephant:

The video was posted four days ago. Since being shared, it has accumulated close to 4,500 upvotes and the numbers are quickly increasing. Additionally, the share has received several comments from people.

Also Read: Baby elephant gets jealous as his keeper pets another one

How did Reddit users react to this video of an elephant and a baby buffalo?

Ive never seen an elephant trot backwards before! posted a Reddit user. Me neither!! Very smoothly done for such a large animal. I'm telling myself the elephant didn't want to hurt the youngin, shared another. Definitely didn't want to hurt it. Incredible animals. Could easily kick that little thing and end it, but knows it's not a threat and likely that it's a baby, expressed a third. Oh dear, I am being pursued most relentlessly, whatever shall I do? Meanwhile, the mother is desperately trying to rein in her bombastic child, who is probably breaking every social norm of the jungle, commented a fourth. That elephant has a gentle soul! wrote a fifth.
Awoman aboard an American Airlines flight who wascaught on camera freaking out over a passenger she bizarrely claimed was not real has been identified as a Texas marketing executive. Tiffany Gomas, a Dallas resident, told cops that the meltdown happened following an argument over wireless headphones. She was forced to leave the plane after the incident, which led to hours of delay for other passengers. Tiffany Gomas was forced to leave the plane after the incident, which led to hours of delay for other passengers (TikTok)

Tiffany served as vice president of Elevate Brand Marketing, and was even a rising star in 2017 by a trade publication. She lives in a $2 million home in the Lakewood neighbourhood.

Im telling you, Im getting the fk off and theres a reason why Im getting the fk off and everyone can either believe it or they can not believe it, Tiffany yelled in the video that circulated on social media. I dont give two fks, but I am telling you right now  that motherfker back there is NOT real.

Despite her apparent fear, however, Tiffany was unwilling to leave the plane, New York Post reported. She had to be removed by staff.

Tiffany Gomas refused to sign a criminal trespass notice

Police have revealed that the incident took place after Tiffany lost her cool over relatives she was travelling with. She accused them of stealing her AirPods. The female then started claiming the aircraft was not safe and did not want the aircraft to leave due to her believing it would not make it to its destination, the July 2 complaint reads.

Due to the statements the flight attendants felt the aircraft needed to be rescreened. [The airline manager] explained that the passenger was denied boarding and they wanted her escorted to the public side, it adds.

Due to the nature of Tiffanys complaints, the passengers aboard Flight 1009 from Fort Worth to Orlando had to deplane. They had to be screened through security as a precaution yet again. TSA personnel arrived at the scene to conduct a full rescreening of the aircraft, the paperwork said.

Tiffany was distraught by the time officers arrived, and was trying to board the plane again. [The airline manager] gave Gomes a verbal criminal trespass notice, explaining she was denied boarding and needed to depart the secure area, investigators said.

Tiffany was taken to the non-secure area of the airport, but she allegedly tried to get back into the boarding area several times, as per the documents. Police tracked her down to the terminal curb and found her waiting for an Uber. She refused to sign a criminal trespass notice she was handed, and also refused to show her ID to police. She was not formally arrested or taken into custody following the incident.
A 16-year-old boy is being referred to as Black Aquaman after he jumped into an Alabama river and swam to a dock to help a staffer being beaten up during a brawl.A massive brawl broke out on Saturday, August 5, on a dock in Alabama. Dozens of people were involved in the fight, which has been captured on video. The battle began after a group of boaters attacked a Montgomery Riverfront dock worker, according to witnesses, New York Post reported. Aaren is seen jumping in the river and swimming over to help the staffer being beaten up (@_dreadadon/X)

The teen has been identified only as Aaren. He was one of the many people who had rushed to help the black security guard being attacked.Makina Lashea, a representative for Aarens family, said the family was proud of the nickname he has earned. In the face of adversity, Aaren selflessly came to the rescue of a fellow colleague, showcasing courage beyond his years, Lashea said in a statement on Facebook.The overwhelming love and support pouring in from all corners of the state and surrounding areas have deeply touched Aaeren.

What happened during the brawl?

The incident took place at the 200 block of Coosa Street at about 7 pm on Saturday, police have confirmed. As per a witness, the group of boaters refused to move their pontoon to allow the Harriott II Riverboat to dock. Some tweets suggested that the fight was racial as white people jumped this black security guard, but there is no official statement on racism being involved. The incident was caught on camera.

In a video, a shirtless man is seen starting the fight, running up and punching the dock worker in the face. The two then struggle, before two more men join in to assault the staffer. A woman is heard screaming and urging others to help.

Aaren is then seen running to the dock and jumping in the river, swimming over to help the staffer being beaten up. Several other people quickly approach the area, trying to defend the worker. Officers eventually intervened, and as many as four active warrants were issued by Montogomery police as of Sunday, August 6.

The video went viral on social media, and many were quick to point out Aarens swift action.We are immensely proud of his actions and the values he exemplifies, standing as an inspiration to us all, Makina said. Your messages and gestures of appreciation have not gone unnoticed, and they have left a lasting impact on Aaren and his family. She added, We assure you that he will continue being a force for good in the world.

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China last week unleashed some of its strongest criticism against Russia since Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine. Yet any suggestion that Xi Jinping is shifting his view on the war amounts to wishful thinking. Xi, who signed up to a no limits friendship with Putin shortly before his invasion, has sought to portray China as a neutral broker on Ukraine. (File)

The rare admonition took place on Friday over an incident involving Chinese citizens  including a popular video blogger  who were denied entry from Kazakhstan into Russia at a border checkpoint. Video footage widely circulated on Chinese social media platforms over the weekend showed Russian border officials going through suitcases, with one of the travelers saying he felt like he was being treated as a criminal.

Russias brutal and excessive law-enforcement activities in this incident have seriously violated the legitimate rights and interests of the Chinese citizens, the Chinese Embassy in Moscow said in a post on the social media platform WeChat.

Yet while the language was unusually harsh, it hardly signals a broader shift from Beijing. Since Russias invasion, China has repeatedly sought to create some space with Moscow on issues such as the use of nuclear weapons and attacks on civilians, even as Xi consistently backs Putins reasons for going to war  not least because Beijing sees the US and its allies strengthening ties with Taiwan.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reaffirmed the nations are good partners in a phone call Monday with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, according to a statement from the ministry in Beijing, which made no mention of the border incident. China would take an independent stance on Ukraine, Wang added.

The border incident shows the world that relations between China and Russia are more layered and nuanced than understood by many in the West, according to Henry Wang Huiyao, founder of the Center for China and Globalization research group based in Beijing.

China needs to maintain good relations with Russia, he said. It doesnt mean theyre in favor of everything Russia does.

Xi, who signed up to a no limits friendship with Putin shortly before his invasion, has sought to portray China as a neutral broker on Ukraine, releasing a 12-point blueprint for bringing peace that included calls to respect sovereignty, facilitate grain exports and halt all hostilities. While the roadmap has been widely panned by the US and its allies, it has bought Xi credibility among the so-called Global South and won China a seat at Ukraine talks hosted by Saudi Arabia over the weekend.

Unpredictability

China sent a delegation led by veteran diplomat Li Hui to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to join more than 40 countries including the US and European nations  but not Russia. While the discussions brought little in the way of concrete steps to stop the war or reverse Russias territorial gains, they showed Xis success in countering US efforts to isolate Beijing due to its relationship with Russia.

Still, China has several reasons to be irked with Putin, including his move to end a deal that allowed grain exports through the Black Sea, leading to food supply problems that also impact China. And thats only part of the problem, according to Raffaello Pantucci, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.

Read Here | United States sent 4 destroyers while China and Russia conducted joint naval exercise near Alaska recently: Report

The main issue remains the unpredictability of the long-term nature of the conflict, he said. The war destabilizes the world, and this is bad from Beijings perspective as much as they might like the distracting effect it has toward the Wests focus on China.

China has also made some economic overtures to Ukraine, although not to a degree that comes anywhere close to its trade ties with Russia.

Last month, Chinas deputy commerce minister met with Ukraines deputy economy minister in Beijing, pledging to import more products from Ukraine and develop mutually beneficial economic and trade cooperation with the country, according to a Chinese readout from the meeting. Chinas exports to Ukraine totaled nearly $233 million in June, down from a high of $1.2 billion from January last year.

By contrast, Chinas exports to Russia reached a new historical monthly high of 69 billion yuan ($9.6 billion) in June. Its crude imports from Russia rose 8.2% month-on-month to a record 10.50 million tons in June, according to customs data.

Military Exercises

China and Russia are also deepening military cooperation.

Over the weekend, both countries sent 11 navy patrol ships near Alaska, according to a Wall Street Journal report, the seventh bilateral military exercise between the two nuclear-armed nations this year. It also set a new milestone in cooperation, marking the highest number of joint military exercises in the past two decades between the neighbors, according to data compiled by the US National Defense University and Bloomberg News.

Moscow and Beijing have tried to put a lid on the slow-boil friction between the two powers in order to focus on areas where their interests converge, said Theresa Fallon, director of the Brussels-based Centre for Russia Europe Asia Studies.

At the same time, Xi isnt afraid to hit back at Russia  particularly if its actions could pose a threat to his domestic standing or make him look weak. The border incident showed that many social-media users in China remain skeptical that Russia is worth all the grief Beijing is getting from the US and its allies.

A hashtag on Chinas response to the incident saw nearly 50 million views on the Twitter-like Weibo platform, at one point ranking among the top ten most searched topics. Videos posted by social media accounts run by party-backed outlets such as Beijing Youth Daily primarily focused on the mistreatment of the travelers, echoing parts of the embassy statement that such behavior isnt in line with China and Russias current friendly situation and the trend of increasingly close exchanges between people.

Online Outrage

Some of the most upvoted comments on Weibo questioned whether the travelers had failed to give a bribe, while others cautioned against having deep diplomatic relations with Moscow. It goes without saying that one cannot have a deep friendship with Russia, said Weibo user Wall-E_22, in a post that received almost 1,000 likes.

Russia is looking into the matter to avoid similar issues in the future, Tass reported Saturday, citing an unidentified person familiar with the matter. The incident wont harm relations between Russia and China, the state news wire said, adding that Western media is using the issue to try and undermine ties between the countries.

While the relationship with Russia is too important for China to throw Vladimir Putin under the bus, Xi must also show his people that he will stand up for their interests, said Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center.

The strongly worded statement is not a signal to the Russian authorities themselves, but rather a reaction and signal to Chinese domestic online public to say that Xi Jinpings government and MOFA is vigorous in protecting the rights of Chinese regardless of who the violators are, Gabuev said, referring to Chinas Foreign Ministry. Be it enemies like the West or friends like Russia.

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Germany's Dusseldorf asked its 13,000 residents to leave their homes temporarily as a World War II-era bomb was found, German news outlet Deutsche Welle (DW) reported. The police and bomb squad launched an operation to dispose of the unexploded one-tonne shell which was discovered on August 7-8. Some residents carried their pets with them(Representational)

The bomb was found during the working hours near the city zoo, the outlet reported quoting officials. In Dusseldorf, authorities ordered all residents within a 500-metre radius of the bomb's location to evacuate the area. Even roads within the evacuation zone were temporarily closed during the disposal operation.

Some residents carried their pets with them as they left their homes, the report claimed. However, it remains unclear when the disposal was completed and restrictions lifted.

Has this happened before?

In 2017, the discovery of a 1.4-tonne bomb in Frankfurt forced the evacuation of 65,000 people. In December 2021, a Second World War bomb exploded at a construction site near Munich station. Four people were injured due to the explosion.

The US and British air forces dropped 2.7 million tons of bombs on Europe- half of which were on Germany between 1940 and 1945, Smithsonian Magazine reported.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" ...view detail
Derek Porter, from Georgia, broke into the Emerald Beach Church of God in Panama City Beach on Friday and caused approximately $8,000 to the church. He stole electronics and then baptized himself in the pool. Derek was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia when he was arrested.

Officers responding to the burglary call discovered that Derek had used a cinderblock to smash a church window to get inside. A female church employee fled towards safety when she heard the glass breaking, the Bay County Sheriff's Office said.

Porter loaded several electronics including a television and a computer into his truck along with the church's money bag. While inside, Porter caused approximately $8,000 worth of damage to the church", police said in a statement.

Body cam footage shows deputies from the office making contact with Derik and clearing the church.

Derek was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia when he was arrested and was out on bond for burglary in Georgia, police said.

Porter stated he could not remember what happened inside the church, but he did remember baptizing himself in the church's baptistery pool.

He also claims something was holding his head down under the water while he was in the pool, the department said in the statement.

Derek is being charged by the Bay County Sheriff's Office for burglary, criminal mischief and possession of meth and drug paraphernalia.

He is being held in the Bay County Jail on a $19,500 bond and might as well have to stay there for a longer period.
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey declared a state of emergency Tuesday, citing an influx of migrants seeking shelter at a time when the cost of housing  already in short supply  continues to rise. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey declares a state of emergency Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023 in Boston, citing the influx of migrants to the state in need of shelter. Healey said there are nearly 5,600 families or more than 20,000 individuals  many of whom are migrants -- currently living in state shelter across Massachusetts. That's up from around 3,100 families a year ago, about an 80 percent increase. (AP Photo/Steve LeBlanc)

There are nearly 5,600 families or more than 20,000 people  many of whom are migrants -- currently living in state shelters, including infants, young children and pregnant women. That is up from around 3,100 families a year ago, about an 80% increase, Healey said.

Many of the migrants are arriving by plane from other states. In the past 48 hours alone, she said, 50 migrant families have landed in the state in need of shelter.

It's exponentially more than our state has ever served in our emergency assistance program, she said. These numbers are being driven by a surge in new arrivals in our country who have been through some of the hardest journeys imaginable.

The migrants arriving in Massachusetts are the face of the international migrant crisis and are coming at a time when the state is already experiencing a housing crunch, Healey said.

She called on the federal government for financial help, and more urgently, expedited work authorizations to allow the new arrivals to more quickly find jobs and start earning a living, she wrote in a letter to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas.

In the letter, Healey pointed to work authorizations as a primary driver of the crisis. Currently, she said, it can take weeks, months or more than a year to receive the authorizations.

Our new arrivals are most eager to work. The last thing they want is to be dependent, she said.

As part of the emergency declaration, Healey said she is renewing a call to local organizations that can assist those seeking shelter as well as to people interested in sponsoring a family in their home.

The state has also launched a new migrant relief fund to help raise money to aid migrants.

The contributions will be used to help pay for a range of goods and services for migrants, including food, clothing, diapers and transportation as well as health screenings, translation services, legal assistance and English classes.

As a right-to-shelter state, Massachusetts is legally required to provide eligible families shelter through its emergency assistance program.

Geralde Gabeau, executive director of the Immigrant Family Services Institute, has worked with immigrants arriving from Haiti and said they are ready to get to work.

The new families coming to our communities are wonderful human beings, she said. They are ready to work. They are ready to contribute to our economies.

Healey and state lawmakers should rescind the state's right-to-shelter policy, said Paul Diego Craney of the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, a conservative group.

Perhaps it is time for the governor to take a trip to the southern border to see firsthand the open southern border crisis, he said in a statement.

More than 80 cities and towns across the state have already felt the impact of new migrants and support the emergency declatarion, said Geoff Beckwith, executive director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association.

Community leaders want state and federal agencies to step in to provide these families with the services and support they need to be safe and healthy, he said.

Other states have faced challenges with soaring numbers of migrants.

On Monday, New York Mayor Eric Adams announced a plan to house as many as 2,000 migrants on an island in the East River where a migrant center was set up last year and then taken down weeks later.

Some states led by Republicans  including Texas and Florida  have bused or flown immigrants to states and cities led by Democrats, including California, Massachusetts. New York and Chicago.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis last year flew 49 Venezuelan migrants to the upscale Massachusetts enclave of Marthas Vineyard.

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Donald Trump pushed back on Monday against a bid by government lawyers to restrict what he can share publicly about his historic prosecution for allegedly conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Former US President Donald Trump.(AP)

"I shouldn't have a protective order placed on me because it would impinge upon my right to FREE SPEECH," the former president said in a post on his Truth Social platform.

"Deranged Jack Smith and the Department of Injustice should, however, because they are illegally 'leaking' all over the place!" he added in a reference to the special counsel who filed the case against him.

In a court filing, lawyers for the former president also argued on Monday that the restrictions proposed by Smith would violate Trump's right to free speech under the First Amendment to the Constitution.

"In a trial about First Amendment rights, the government seeks to restrict First Amendment rights," Trump's attorney John Lauro said, putting forward a line of argument that defense lawyers are expected to make at trial.

Prosecutors asked US District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is to preside over the case, for a protective order on Friday after Trump posted "If you go after me, I'm coming after you!" on Truth Social.

"Such a restriction is particularly important in this case because the defendant has previously issued public statements on social media regarding witnesses, judges, attorneys, and others associated with legal matters pending against him," they said.

"If the defendant were to begin issuing public posts using details -- or, for example, grand jury transcripts -- obtained in discovery here, it could have a harmful chilling effect on witnesses or adversely affect the fair administration of justice in this case," they added.

In his response to the government motion, Lauro, Trump's lawyer, said it was "overbroad" and prosecutors were asking the court to "assume the role of censor and impose content-based regulations on President Trump's political speech."

Lauro asked the judge to limit the protective order to "genuinely sensitive materials" while "preserving the First Amendment rights of President Trump."

The court filing came just hours after Trump repeated his demand that Chutkan, who was appointed by former Democratic president Barack Obama, be recused from the case.

The twice-impeached Republican has unleashed a stream of invective against those prosecuting him for allegedly trying to overturn the 2020 election results and defraud the United States.

On Sunday, Trump said "there is no way I can get a fair trial with the judge 'assigned' to the ridiculous freedom of speech/fair elections case. Everybody knows this, and so does she."

Trump also said he would seek to have the trial moved out of the nation's capital, which leans heavily Democratic.

Chutkan, 61, has a legal history with Trump, having ruled against him in a November 2021 case in which she notably declared that "presidents are not kings."

And she has handed down lengthy sentences to Trump supporters who stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 in a bid to block the congressional certification of Democrat Joe Biden's election victory.

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Pakistan former Prime Minister Imran Khan challenged his conviction in a graft case at the Islamabad high court, his lawyer Naeem Panjutha said as per news agency Reuters. The petition to challenge the weekend conviction had been filed in the Islamabad High court, the lawyer said. Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan.

Earlier, the former Pakistan PM's lawyer told Geo News that Imran Khan was being provided C-class facilities and being kept in "poor condition" in Attock jail. The PTI chairman was ready to spend the rest of his life in prison, the lawyer added.

Elaborating on the poor conditions of the cell where the PTI chief is lodged, the lawyer said it was infested with flies and bugs.

The PTI chairman says he is ready to spend the remainder of his life in jail, the lawyer said.

Imran Khan was jailed on August 5 for three years on charges of selling state gifts unlawfully- Toshakhana case- during his tenure as premier from 2018 to 2022. A district and sessions court convicted him for corrupt practices as judge Humayun Dilawar wrote in his judgement, Charges of misdeclaration of assets have been proven against PTI chairman.

Imran Khans lawyer said the former PM, who was removed from power via a parliamentary vote last year, was provided with a small room which has an open washroom.

Earlier, Imran Khan's party PTI petitioned the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to transfer Imran Khan from Attock Jail to Adiala Jail. "Since childhood, the petitioner is from an affluent family, and later due to his education, habits, and social and political status in the society, has got accustomed to a better mode of life... is a graduate of Oxford University, UK and the ... captain of Pakistan national Cricket...," the petition read.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" ...view detail
One person has been killed while six others have gone missing as a landslide swept houses in Central Nepal after heavy downpours till Tuesday morning. Nepal Floods: People walk along a flooded road near the bank of overflowing Bagmati river following heavy rains, in Kathmandu.(Reuters)

As per the District Police Makwanpur, a woman died after she was pulled alive from the debris while six of her family members have gone missing in Sigre of Bagmati Rural Municipality of the district.

The rescue effort is underway; we are searching for the possible survivors. We managed to pull one from the debris but she died later. An additional six people have gone missing, a spokesperson at the District Police Office Makwanpur Tek Bahdur Karki told ANI over the phone.

In the capital Kathmandu, the heavy downpour past midnight has flooded roads and submerged temples. The water level at Bagmati and Bishnumati rivers along with their tributaries have burst the embankments entering the residential areas.

Roads are covered with rain water throwing daily life out of gear and triggering the authorities to send alerts about further embankment outbursts. Corridors that run along the river embankments have been water-logged and flooded throwing the valley's traffic out of gear.

Furthermore, the Meteorological Forecasting Division said Nepal will witness rainfall for a few more days as the low-pressure trough of the monsoon is north of the average location.

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London's Brick Lane, famous for its street art, has become a talking point after one of its walls was covered by slogans praising Chinese Communist Party ideology. Videos shared widely on social media showed a group of people spray painting big red Chinese characters on a white background overnight. The core socialist values are composed of 12 two-character words- most common political slogans under China president Xi Jinping's rule. Political propaganda in the form of red block characters on a white wall are seen in China as well. London Brick Lane: Political graffiti is written on a white-washed wall in the Brick Lane area of east London.(AFP)

Following the appearance of slogans, debate ensued online over whether they can be considered as street art or not as on the wall people swiftly added new graffiti criticising the Chinese government.

Some added "no" in front, or posted other messages or images. One picture showed an 800 fine issued citing "graffiti & flyposting" as offences while others were upset that the slogans covered up older works.

Wang Hanzheng, one of the creators, claimed that the piece "didn't have much political meaning". In an Instagram photo post, he wrote in Chinese saying the group used the political elements as a coat "to discuss different environments".

"In the name of freedom and democracy, it illustrates the cultural centre of the West, this is London's freedom Decolonize the false freedom of the West with the construction of socialism, let's see what happens," the post read.

"Needless to say what's the situation on the other side," he added. Speaking to BBC, he said that "there is no question" that the 24 characters are "not only goals of China, but common goals for the world".

"More and more people are using this subject for their own purposes and displaying maliciousness, this is not my intention," he explained.

In China some argued that what had been done in Brick Lane was freedom of expression and should be protected. "Obstructing freedom of speech is not a part of freedom of speech. The jargons you used cannot justify your brutal destruction of other people's art," a user commented on Wang's Instagram post.

"Do you dare to go to Beijing and write democracy and freedom? If you dare, the home country you love will dare to arrest you," another wrote.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" ...view detail
Niger was slapped with more sanctions on Tuesday, hours after its new military leaders rejected the latest diplomatic mission aimed at restoring constitutional order following a July 26 coup. Anti-sanctions protestors hold the Niger flag as they arrive to gather in support of the putschist soldiers in the capital Niamey, Niger August 3, 2023. REUTERS/Balima Boureima (REUTERS)

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu ordered the new sanctions through Nigeria's central bank, aimed at squeezing those involved in the takeover, a presidential spokesperson said.

It came after Niger's junta denied permission to enter Niger to a joint delegation from West African states, the African Union (AU) and the United Nations, resisting pressure from the United States and the UN to come to the negotiating table.

Western powers fear the coup will destabilise the Sahel region of West Africa, one of the world's poorest that is already dealing with a string of coups and a deadly Islamist insurgency.

Border and airspace closures have cut off supplies of medicine and food, hampering UN humanitarian efforts. U.S. and Western interests in Niger, a former ally, are also under threat.

"We are still hopeful and we are still trying to achieve a result that is a return to the constitutional order," U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters on Tuesday.

Funding for international military education and training, peacekeeping operations, and foreign military financing programs supporting Niger's counterterrorism capabilities are among the assistance the U.S. has paused since the coup, he said.

Heads of state from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are preparing for a summit on Thursday to discuss their standoff with the junta, which defied an Aug. 6 deadline to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.

ECOWAS defence chiefs agreed last week on a possible military action plan, which the heads of state are expected to consider at their summit in the Nigerian capital, Abuja.

Still, Tinubu's spokesperson said the leaders prefer a diplomatic solution.

"No options have been taken off the table," the spokesperson told reporters in Abuja, adding that "far-reaching decisions" would be taken at the summit concerning the bloc's next steps.

Explaining the decision to not allow the delegation in on Tuesday, Niger's junta said it could not guarantee their safety in the face of popular anger. It also denounced "a climate of threatened aggression against Niger".

An AU spokesperson confirmed that a mission had been denied access, while ECOWAS declined to comment.

The junta had already snubbed meetings with a senior U.S. envoy and another ECOWAS delegation.

Under Bazoum, Niger was relatively successful in containing an Islamist insurgency devastating the Sahel region and was an important ally for the West after two of its neighbours rejected former colonial power France and turned towards Russia instead.

The UN said Secretary General Antonio Guterres strongly supported mediation efforts by ECOWAS, while U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told French radio station RFI diplomacy was the best way to resolve the situation.

He declined to comment on the future of some 1,100 U.S. troops in Niger, where French, German and Italian troops are also stationed.

Blinken later told the BBC he was worried that Russia's Wagner mercenaries could take advantage of the instability in Niger to strengthen their presence in the Sahel.

"I think what happened and what continues to happen in Niger was not instigated by Russia or by Wagner, but to the extent that they try to take advantage of it  and we see a repeat of what's happened in other countries, where they've brought nothing but bad things in their wake  that wouldn't be good," he said.

Adding to its strategic importance, Niger is the world's seventh-biggest producer of uranium, the most widely used fuel for nuclear energy.

RUSSIAN FLAGS

U.S. Acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland flew to Niamey on Monday but was denied permission to meet coup leader Abdourahamane Tiani or Bazoum, who is in detention. She told reporters her talks with more junior officers were "frank and difficult".

Last week, ECOWAS sent a mission to Niamey led by Abdulsalami Abubakar, a former military ruler of Nigeria, but Tiani also refused to see him.

In contrast, Tiani on Monday met a joint delegation from Mali and Burkina Faso, both neighbouring countries where the military has seized power from civilians.

"We will not accept military intervention in Niger. Our survival depends on it," said Abdoulaye Maiga, a spokesman for Mali's junta, appearing on Niger state television.

Some pro-coup demonstrators in Niamey have held up Russian flags, which are in fashion according to residents and fabric vendors.

"I'm a fan of the Russian flag, which is why I've come today to buy fabrics for the tailor to make me a flag," said Okacha Abdoul-Aziz.

Western allies fear that Niger could go the way of Mali, which threw out French troops and U.N. peacekeepers and invited in Wagner mercenaries after a 2021 coup.

Alongside the Malian army, fighters presumed to be from Wagner have carried out a brutal military offensive, executing hundreds of civilians last year, witnesses and rights groups say, charges the army and Wagner deny.

In a new report seen by Reuters on Monday, U.N. sanctions monitors said they had also used a campaign of sexual violence and other grave human rights abuses to terrorise the population.
Majority of care workers who were sponsored for skilled work visas in the UK in 2022 came from non-EU countries, a study claimed, adding that the maximum were from India and just one per cent belonged to EU countries. The report was made by Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford. UK's immigration system brought unprecedented number of workers from overseas into health and care workforce in the year 2022-2023, it said. India (33 per cent) was also among top countries of citizenship for workers using Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) in 2022.(Representational)

The study observed that India was the top country of nationality for newly-recruited overseas doctors (20 per cent) and nurses (46 per cent), followed by Nigeria, Pakistan and the Philippines. India (33 per cent) was also among top countries of citizenship for workers using Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) in 2022, followed by Zimbabwe and Nigeria, it added.

From 2017, recruitment of non-EU citizens on skilled work visas increased in the health and care sector amid staff shortages. A sharp increase was observed in 2021 and 2022, according to Britain's Office for National Statistics (ONS) as vacancies in the UK's health and social work sector peaked at 217,000 in July and September 2022. It fell in late 2022 and early 2023.

The UK immigration system admitted unprecedented numbers of overseas health and care workers in the year ending March 2023 as 57,700 care workers received skilled work visas, the study which was commissioned by the employment group ReWage claimed.

Overall migration into the UK for 2022 was at 606,000- a 24 per cent increase from the previous year.

"Health and care employers have benefited a lot from international recruitment. But relying this much on overseas recruits also brings risks," Dr Madeleine Sumption, director of the Migration Observatory said, adding, that care workers on temporary visas are vulnerable to exploitation and "the rapid growth in overseas recruitments makes monitoring pay and conditions a real challenge".

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In a shameful incident from California, United States, a mother allegedly filled her baby's bottle with alcohol to stop the baby from crying. According to a report published by the New York Post, the 7-week-old baby became intoxicated. Representational picture(shutterstock)

The San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department informed on Monday that the 37-year-old woman named Honesti De La Torre has been charged with child endangerment, for her shocking act.

According to authorities, deputies were called around 12:45 a.m. on Saturday to an unincorporated area of Rialto, 55 miles east of Los Angeles in the United States.

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As per officials, De La Torre was driving through Rialto and stopped to put alcohol in the baby's bottle in an attempt to stop the baby from crying.

The child is being treated at a hospital and the health condition has not been revealed. Meanwhile, the mother is being held in the West Valley Detention Center on a $60,000 bond.

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle didnt have the easiest time when they started dating as the couple were followed by the paparazzi everywhere. Owing to this they had to take all kinds of precautions even relating to what Meghan Markle would wear during her public appearances. At that time, when Prince Harry gave Meghan a sweet gift, she was told she couldnt wear it. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Prince Harry reportedly had a $300 necklace made for Meghan which held an M and H charm and was a sweet symbol of the couples romance. The necklace could not compare in price to some of the royal familys fine jewelry. But when Meghan wanted to wear the necklace, she was not allowed to.

According to Finding Freedom, a biography about the couple, Prince Harrys aide called Meghan Markle and told her she couldnt wear the necklace.

She was advised that wearing such a necklace only served to encourage the photographers to keep pursuing such images  and new headlines, the book said. Authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand claimed that this made Meghan Markle very upset as she was not able to wear the sentimental gift.

After hanging up, [Meghan] felt frustrated and emotional. While she knew the aide had good intentions, the surreal experience of having someone from her boyfriends office tell her what kind of jewelry to wear or not to smile at a photographer was too much," the book claimed.

The couple stepped down from their royal roles in 2020 along with their son Prince Archie. They now live in the United States where they also welcomes their daughter Princess Lilibet.

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Royal author Tom Quinn claimed that Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton have intense arguments behind closed doors which escalate to the point where they throw things at each other". The author made the claims in his new book Gilded Youth: An Intimate History of Growing Up in the Royal Family. Kate Middleton Prince William: Britain's Kate, Princess of Wales, and Prince William, Prince of Wales, in London.(AP)

Contrary to their public image, Tom Quinn claimed that Prince William and Kate Middleton are accustomed to intense arguments and heated disagreements. Their fights have gotten so big that they even resorted to throwing things at each other, he added.

Its not all sweetness. They have terrible rows where they throw things at each other," the author claimed noting that Prince William and Kate often get stressed out by all the attention they receive around the clock.

Their disagreements arent anything extraordinary. The two basically have spats, just like any other married couple in the world, the author explained.

Kate Middleton is a natural peacekeeper and Prince William tends to avoid confrontations and can be quick to yield, the author continued.

William is the one whos a bit hotheaded. We see an example of that in Harrys book But Kate is very level-headed. Shes the one who will pour oil on troubled waters and go, Lets not stir things up'," the author claimed.

Prince William and Kate Middleton's affectionate names for each other

Prince William and Kate Middleton also have some charming aspects in their relationship. Kate lovingly refers to William as babe" and he has a couple of playful names for her, including Babykins and the teasing Duchess of Doolittle", the author claimed.

They also poke fun at each other, particularly when it comes to Prince Williams thinning hair. According to Tom Quinn, Kate Middleton affectionately teases him by calling him baldy.

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Queen Elizabeth II owned many extraordinary pieces of jewelry which she was seen wearing in public throughout her life. Royal fans saw the monarch wear her three-strand pearl necklace multiple times. Following her death, the queens daughter-in-law Queen Camilla and Prince William's wife Kate Middleton inherited some of the jewelry in her collection, but not her iconic pearl necklace. Queen Elizabeth

Queen Elizabeths personal jewelry collection is separate from the Crown Jewels that are owned by the sovereign in a trust. It consists of about 300 pieces including 98 brooches, 46 necklaces, 37 bracelets, 34 pairs of earrings, 15 rings, 14 watches, and five pendants.

Queen Elizabeth's natural pearl necklace

Queen Elizabeth received her natural pearl necklace as a gift from her father. The necklace is estimated to be worth between $1 million and $1.2 million. Style experts from Diamonds Factory Ireland told Daily Express that after the queens death, her necklace went to her daughter Princess Anne- a fan of pearls. The Princess Royal has been seen many times over the years donning pearl necklaces and pearl earrings.

Princess Anne has been spotted wearing the necklace since her mothers passing when she made a surprise trip to New York City and visited the English Speaking Union.

What Camilla and Kate Middleton got?

Queen Camilla and the Princess of Wales inherited plenty of jewels from the late monarch. The Court Jeweller Lauren Kiehna said that she believes Queen Elizabeth like her grandmother, Queen Mary, and her mother, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother bequeathed most of her jewelry to the new monarch King Charles III and Prince William.

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Russian missiles struck the centre of Ukraine's Pokrovsk twice on Monday night killing eight people, including five civilians, regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said in a statement. Russia-Ukraine War: Rescuers work at the site where a building was destroyed during a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Pokrovsk.(Reuters)

The second missile hit the Ukraine-controlled town near the frontline 40 minutes after the first, the governor said. It killed and injured first responders, witnesses of the strikes told a Reuters cameraman at the scene.

Two rescuers and one military person were among the dead. Nine policemen and one military person were wounded, but most of the 31 injured were civilians, including a member of the local city council, Ukrainian officials said.

Kateryna, a 58-year-old resident of Pokrovsk, was at home when she heard the first blast and thought that the attack spared her. She even told someone who called to check on her that she was alright but at this moment the place was hit for the second time.

"Thats it, bang  and thats all. A flame filled up my eyes. I fell down on the floor, on the ground. My eyes (hurt) a lot," Kateryna told Reuters in an interview pointing at multiple scratches around her eyes. She had bandages on her forehead.

The footage from the town showed rescuers going through the rubble, a wreckage of a car and an apartment building with torn down balconies.

Another resident, 75-year-old Lidia, said she was also on the phone at the moment of the second blast. She had picked up from the floor a torn white curtain covered with broken glass.

"Suddenly this flew out and wrapped me up. Then the window fell on me," she said sitting on her sofa.

"My back has cuts. I just got back from the hospital My knee and my thigh have cuts. I had glass here," she said pointing at her head.

Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine's presidential administration, reported two more civilian victims of Russian strikes in Kruhliakivka village in the Kharkiv region.

Killed were a 45-year-old woman and a man around 60 and five people were injured, Kharkiv regional governor Oleh Synehubov said.

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Sikh man who thrashed a burglar from looting a 7-Eleven store in the United States, is facing assault charges. A video had gone viral few days ago, in which two workers at the store including a Sikh man were seen stopping a thief from robbing the store in California. The thief was brutally beaten with stick by the Sikh man while another worker caught hold of the burglar. Screengrab of the video of the incident(Twitter)

According a report by the New York Post, the shop lifter allegedly stole from the same location at least twice. As per a news release by the police, the shoplifter went behind the counter and threatened to shoot a worker if he tried to stop him the day before on July 28, 2023 at 3:41 a.m.

On July 29, 2023, at 12:27 a.m, the same suspect entered the store again and demanded money from the workers while simulating a handgun. When the employees didn't give in to his demands, the suspect started grabbing several food items and placed them in a garbage bag before fleeing.

Almost three hours later, police got information of a male who was requesting medical aid and complained of pain to his leg and shoulder.

The male did not know if he had been assaulted. The male was then transported to an area hospital to be treated for a complaint of pain," said Stockton Police.

At the time this was reported, Officers could not confirm if the male was a victim of an assault, or a suspect related to the series of robberies at the 7-Eleven, said Police.

ALSO READ| McDonald's employee in the United States makes startling revelation about company's iced tea

Initially, Stockton Police got confused by a report of an assault and a report of attempted shoplifting. Days later on Thursday August 3, 2023, police were able to combine the investigations of the suspected robbery and suspected assault.

Meanwhile, the Stockton police Department is collecting evidence related to the incident. Police informed that they will turn over the findings of the robbery and assault investigations to the San Joaquin County District Attorneys Office for review.

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The second-eldest son of Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn visited a child-care centre for underprivileged families on Tuesday during a surprise visit to the kingdom, the first time he has been back in his homeland in 27 years. Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse, 42, the second-eldest son of Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn arrives at the Foundation for Slum Child Care supported by the Royal Family, in Bangkok, Thailand, August 8, 2023. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha(REUTERS)

The trip by Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse, 42, comes at a fraught time for the Thai royal family, with the monarch's eldest daughter in a coma since December.

Vacharaesorn, who works at a law firm in New York, visited the Foundation for Slum Child Care, which is supported by the royal family, and greeted well-wishers.

Clad in jeans and a casual black shirt, he posed for photographs in front of portraits of his father and his grandfather, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died in 2016 after a 70-year reign.

"I am delighted to return ... I have been away for a long time, 27 years," Vacharaesorn told reporters at the Bangkok foundation.

"It is like a dream come true to be back," he said.

The Royal Palace has not commented on the visit. The Palace Household Bureau did not respond to requests for comment.

Many Thais have been surprised by Vacharaesorn's return. A picture of him in a "tuk-tuk" auto-rickshaw in Bangkok, that he posted on Monday on his Facebook page, which has more than 80,000 followers, received tens of thousands of likes.

On X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, the hashtag #SonOfTenReturnToThailand was mentioned almost 390,000 times. His father's formal title is King Rama X.

Those who saw Vacharaesorn were impressed.

"I am very moved, he has been away for a long time. To me he is still a member of the royal family," said Angsana Seeprasit, 66.

Vacharaesorn is the second of four sons of King Vajiralongkorn's second wife, Sujarinee Vivacharawongse, a former actress whom the then-crown prince divorced in 1996.

'No formal royal title'

He has no formal royal title though he technically retains a status bestowed when he was a child as a grandson of a monarch.

He, his mother, three brothers and one sister were estranged after the 1996 divorce, in which his mother was publicly accused of adultery, and they moved abroad.

Vacharaesorn's younger sister was later re-embraced by the royal family and given the royal title Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana. She is a fashion designer and equestrian who competed in the 2014 Asian Games for Thailand.

The thrice-divorced King Vajiralongkorn has seven children. He is married to Queen Suthida, his former chief bodyguard whom he wed days before his coronation in 2019.

The 71-year-old monarch has not named an official heir.

In late December, the king's eldest child, Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavati, 44, collapsed due to a severe heart condition. She remains in a coma.

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Ukraine's domestic intelligence agency said on Monday that it had detained a woman who it accused of gathering information about President Volodymyr Zelensky's itinerary ahead of a trip and also trying to pass information about military facilities to Russia. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.(AFP)

The Ukrainian security service, the SBU, did not give the name of the alleged agent. A dark-haired woman in a black-and-white dress surrounded by two servicemen was seen in a picture published by the agency. All of the faces in the image were blurred.

The suspect was arrested in the southern Ukrainian port city of Mykolaiv, the security service said. Zelenskiy last visited the city on July 27, his media channel reported.

The SBU also accused the alleged agent of trying to establish the locations of Ukrainian electronic warfare systems and ammunition depots near the port town of Ochakiv, 30 miles (48 km) from Mykolaiv.

"Members of the SBU caught the traitor red-handed when she was trying to pass intelligence to the invaders," the SBU said, adding that additional security measures were taken during the presidential visit.

The woman is from Ochakiv and used to work at an army store selling goods to soldiers at one of the local Ukrainian military units, the SBU said. A court approved her arrest and, if convicted, she would face a prison term for up to 12 years, according to the statement.

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President Joe Biden's administration will announce $200 million of new weapons aid for Ukraine as soon as Tuesday, U.S. officials told Reuters, as it begins to dole out $6.2 billion of funds discovered after a Pentagon accounting error over-valued billions of Ukraine aid, two U.S. officials said on Monday. Russia-Ukraine War: A Ukrainian serviceman stands amid destroyed Russian tanks in Bucha, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine.(AP)

In May, the Pentagon announced it had mistakenly assigned a higher-than-warranted value to the U.S. weaponry shipped to Kyiv when staff used "replacement value" instead of "depreciated value" to tabulate the billions worth ammunition, missiles and other equipment sent to Ukraine.

Ukraine needs weaponry that can be shipped from U.S. stocks in a matter of days or weeks so it can keep up its fight to repel Russia's invasion - the accounting error worked to Kyiv's benefit because more equipment can be sent.

Beginning to use these discovered funds is significant because they represent the last of the previously congressionally authorized $25.5 billion worth of Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) the administration can utilize to ship weapons from U.S. stocks in the event of an emergency, the U.S. officials said.

Washington is currently working on a supplemental budget request to continue to aid Kyiv, the US officials said.

Tuesday's expected announcement of $200 million would be the first tranche of the $6.2 billion windfall of previously authorized Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), the officials said.

Included in this package were items like mine clearing equipment, TOW and AT4 anti-tank weapons, guns and ammunition, air defense interceptors made by Lockheed Martin Corp for the Patriot system, Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets and Javelin anti-tank missiles made by a joint venture between Lockheed and RTX Corp, along with other equipment.

(Reporting by Mike Stone in Washington; Editing by David Gregorio)

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Residents in Oakland, California in the United States are facing serious threat to life and property amid a surge in crime. Carjackings are also on the rise and due to the grave situation, several residents have been forced to relocate to other states. Meanwhile, Police have suggested residents to use air horns to alert neighbours to intruders and add security bars to their doors and windows. Representational Picture(Getty Images)

A resident of Oakland, Toni Bird highlighted the grave situation in her neighbourhood. Adhering to the police's instructions in light of the situation, she now has three air horns and five security cameras around her home.

People arent feeling safe out of their house. It makes sense that you would want to protect your house then, right? You would barricade it, Bird told CNN.

The types of crime that were seeing feel much more violent and the consequences feel much more severe. And it feels like the people that are being targeted are people who are vulnerable, she explained.

According to data from the citys police department, burglaries have increased by 41% and robberies by more than 20%. However, homicides are down 14% in the last year.

ALSO READ| Sikh man who thrashed burglar in 7-Eleven store in the United States faces assault charges

Even people holding responsible positions are aware of the adversity. NAACP Oakland Branch President Cynthia Adams and Oakland pastor Bishop Bob Jackson released a letter in July, demanding action from elected leaders to ensure security of the public, especially in predominately Black neighborhoods.

We call on all elected leaders to unite and declare a state of emergency and bring together massive resources to address our public safety crisis, the letter said.

According to the union representing Oakland police officers, the city needs more officers on the street. They believe the number of officers in the city must be closer to 1,200, given the volume of calls and population size.

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InterContinental Dominica Cabrits Resort & Spa is thrilled to announce the appointment of Ernesto Luna as its new General Manager. With a proven track record in leading hotel openings, renovations and property conversions across Mexico and the U.S., Luna brings a wealth of experience and dynamic leadership to the resort. His vision for fostering creativity and innovation, as well as his commitment to exceptional service and community development, make him an invaluable addition to the executive team.

In his new role, Ernesto Luna will be responsible for overseeing all resort operations and leading the executive team with a strong focus on inspiring creativity and innovation. His extensive background in the industry and passion for delivering unique guest experiences align perfectly with the resort's commitment to providing world-class services and showcasing the local essence of the hidden gem island of Dominica.

Born and raised in Mexico City, Luna's passion for travel and exploration has made him a true citizen of the world. Prior to joining InterContinental Dominica Cabrits Resort & Spa, he served as Corporate Director of Operations for the Ahau Collection, overseeing six unique boutique beachfront hotels in Tulum, Mexico. His extensive experience also includes serving as Director General of Hipotels' Haven Riviera Cancun on Mexico's Riviera Maya, as well as holding General Manager positions at ME Miami, Cancun, and Cabo, and Director of Operations at the iconic, design-driven Paramount Hotel New York in Manhattan. Luna's illustrious career began in Mexico City as Rooms Division Manager at Camino Real, where he honed his skills in providing exceptional guest experiences.

An active participant in key industry meetings and congresses, Luna has been involved with SKAL International and Hotel Association boards. Additionally, he successfully completed the General Managers Program (GMP) at Cornell University, solidifying his commitment to continued learning and growth within the hospitality industry.
Rosewood Hotel Group announces today the appointment of Joerg Zobel as Chief Operating Officer, filling a key executive role for the global luxury lifestyle and hospitality group. Joerg's appointment arrives at a pivotal point for Rosewood, as it continues to execute the group's ambitious vision and growth strategy.

An accomplished executive with over 25 years of global experience steering consumer-facing companies towards sustained growth and market leadership, Joerg will head Rosewood Hotel Group's global operations across the group's four brands including Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, New World Hotels & Resorts, Asaya, and Carlyle & Co. He will be responsible for driving the commercial success and operational excellence, overseeing all teams across both functions. Based out of Rosewood's Hong Kong headquarters, he joins on September 25, 2023, and will report directly to Sonia Cheng, Chief Executive Officer.

Joerg has a wealth of experience leading global companies on their own growth journeys, brand positioning, and value creation. He has a proven track record as a corporate leader, board member, and investor, and has global experience across multiple continents including Europe and Asia Pacific. In his most recent role, he served as the CEO and Chairman of the Board of Eschenbach Optik GmbH, one of Europe's largest eyewear groups. Prior to that, he served as General Manager, Asia Pacific for PUMA, where he led the brand to commercial success in the region. Joerg is also a published author who has written about a diverse array of topics from industry disruption to the pursuit of happiness.

With his deep understanding of the customer lifecycle, Joerg will lead the group's retail and e-commerce teams, where his expertise will be critical to further developing and growing the Rosewood lifestyle brand ecosystem. Further, as the group continues to focus on delivering a forward-thinking customer-centric approach across all guest touch points, Joerg will also be responsible for steering Rosewood's global CRM and guest experience teams.
Rosewood Vienna is pleased to announce the appointment of Roland Hamberger as the new Managing Director of the ultra-luxury hotel located in the heart of Austria's capital. Rosewood Vienna opened in August 2022, making it the fifth European property in the

Rosewood Hotels & Resorts portfolio and the brand's first in the German-speaking market. Under Roland's leadership, the property aims to immerse guests in Austrian culture by providing exceptional experiences, services, and amenities, while simultaneously reinforcing Rosewood Vienna's signature sense of place.

In his new role as Managing Director of Rosewood Vienna, Roland will have the comprehensive responsibility of overseeing all aspects of the hotel. His remit extends from the hotel's vibrant Neue Hoheit Brasserie and Bar, and the elegant Salon Aurelie, to the extensive programming and a variety of luxurious accommodations that capture the heart of every visitor.

Roland will also oversee the Asaya Spa at Rosewood Vienna, a significant addition to the Rosewood portfolio being the first Asaya outside of Asia and first stand-alone Augustinus Bader Spa. Visitors to Vienna now can immerse in distinct therapies and rituals that are true representatives of Asaya's approach to wellness, centered around the holistic idea of 'The Method Augustinus Bader' to stimulate the tissue to encourage repair and healing of the body.

Having spent over a decade as the General Manager at Palais Coburg Hotel Residence Vienna, part of The Leading Hotels of the World, Roland brings extensive experience and a robust understanding of the ultra-high-end hospitality sector. During his tenure, Roland was responsible for spearheading a comprehensive operational and financial turnaround, which included an impressive increase in gross operating profit and a substantial boost in average daily rates.

Roland has also held significant roles in other prestigious properties such as The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna, and the Grand Hotel Wien, both recognized as 5-star hotels. He has successfully led pre-opening teams, developed robust sales strategies, and managed key stakeholder relationships across multiple properties. Roland's tenure as Managing Director of Rosewood Vienna begins in August 2023. For more information and reservations, please visit www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/vienna.
ATLANTA  Today, hotel owner, operator and developer, Hotel Equities (HE), announced they have formed a strategic alliance with Maximum Hospitality, a prominent hotel operator, developer and investment company. As part of this collaboration, Hotel Equities will provide operational resources and oversight for Maximums portfolio of hotels, marking a significant milestone for both organizations.

The partnership leverages the expertise and resources of both HE and Maximum Hospitality to drive operational excellence, guest satisfaction, and financial performance across the portfolio. The alliance provides a significant advantage by placing emphasis on hiring and retaining employees by granting access to HE's exclusive talent acquisition, training and career development platform as well as enhanced benefits for associates and partners. Maximums associates will be able to take advantage of HE's programs such as a sabbatical program, daily pay option, HE Marketplace, and peer management training initiatives, which foster and assist in continuous professional advancement. With this new collaboration, HE expands its footprint, reinforcing its position as a trusted industry leader in hotel management and development.

We are thrilled to join forces with Maximum Hospitality and take on the management of their outstanding hotels. This alliance affirms our commitment to partnering with likeminded individuals and organizations who believe success is fueled by taking care of our people. By combining our expertise and Maximums trusted brand of hospitality we are excited about our future growth together. Brad Rahinsky, President & CEO of HE, expressed enthusiasm about the alliance

This strategic alliance with Hotel Equities will empower our portfolio of hotels to reach new heights of operational efficiency and excellence. We are confident that Hotel Equities proven track record and unwavering commitment to guest satisfaction will ensure continued success for our properties. Maximum Hospitalitys President, Dan McEwan

With the integration of HEs innovative technology, robust operational systems, and industry-leading talent, the hotels within Maximum Hospitalitys portfolio will benefit from operational efficiencies, personalized guest experiences, and increased revenue opportunities. HE's business intelligence tools will provide Maximum Hospitality with valuable data-driven insights and analytics, enabling them to make real-time informed decisions.

Both HE and Maximum Hospitality remain dedicated to driving innovation, fostering exceptional guest service, and creating value for their stakeholders. The strategic alliance is a testament to their shared commitment to excellence, providing a solid foundation for continued success and growth within the dynamic hospitality industry.

About Hotel Equities

Hotel Equities (HE) is an award-winning full-scale hotel ownership, management, and development firm with a portfolio of approximately 300 hotels and resorts throughout the United States and Canada. Fred Cerrone, CHA, serves as Founder and Chairman; Brad Rahinsky serves as President and CEO. Hotel Equities is an affiliate of 33 Degrees, an integrated management platform combining market knowledge and industry experience across a broad range of CRE assets including office, restaurant, retail, mixed-use and multi-unit residential. For more information on Hotel Equities, visit hotelequities.com.

Sommer Shiver

Director of Communications & Marketing

+1 678 678 4444, x19

Hotel Equities
New York tops the list when American travelers were asked to name the five domestic destinations they most want to realisticly visit in the coming 12 months

As Americans report lower anticipated travel budgets, they predict there will be less price gouging by travel companies. Meanwhile, on the marketing front, TikTok and podcasting continue to grow their reach as resources for travel inspiration.

Current Sentiment Towards the Economy & Travel

Noteworthy Concerns:

One alarming trend to note is the continuing decline in travel budgets. In January, the typical American traveler said they expected to spend $4,677 on their leisure travel over the next 12 months. Since then, reported travel budgets have steadily declined, now at $3,505the lowest average budgets have reached since October 2021.

This month 46.2% of American travelers report that high travel prices deterred them from traveling in the past four weeksthis is the second time this year this sentiment has reached this (high) level. Similarly, the percentage of American travelers citing personal financial reasons as a recent deterrent to travel reached 38.2% for the second time this year. 41.2% believe travel prices are too expensive right now.

The proportion of American travelers who say the present is a bad time to spend on leisure travel (36.0%) exceeds the proportion who say it is a good time (28.9%)

Leisure day trips have risen at a higher rate than overnight leisure trips. A year ago, the percentage of Americans reporting taking leisure day trips and overnight leisure trips was about the same (overnight even outpacing day trips 38.7% to 35.8%). Now 45.2% of American travelers report they took an overnight leisure trip in the last month, compared to 54.4% who reported taking day trips.

On the Upside:

Fears of a recession continue to decline, reaching 49.4%, a 16-month low.

Despite a somewhat greater proportion who say they are worse off financially now compared to a year ago, American travelers are overall feeling better off financially now relative to how they felt a year ago. This month 30.7% say they are doing better now financially than they were a year ago, up from just 25.8% who reported such last July.

More than half of American travelers (50.4%) anticipate that they will be better off financially next year compared to now, the most optimistic they have felt since July 2021.

Nearly one-third of American travelers (32.9%) believe it is likely that the US stock market will enter a bull market in the coming months.

Although down slightly, excitement for travel remains at record levels (8.1 on a scale from 0-11). Just over 83% of American travelers have existing trip plans for the next 12 months.





Travelers Predict Less Price Gouging and Labor Shortages, More Crowding, Frustration & AI

In January we asked American travelers their predictions about a number of factors, predicaments and issues that impact travel, from geopolitics to technology advancements. This month we revisited these predictions to see what beliefs may have shifted in the past six months, particularly in light of current events and many tourism records set.

Slightly fewer now say that price gouging will be more common in the travel industry, at 62.6% from 63.8%. There is also a lessening belief that labor shortages will be a problem for the travel industry in the coming year, down to 61.8% from 65.1%.

There is slightly more belief that domestic travel will become generally more frustrating, up to 61.7% from 60.0% in January. Meanwhile, the belief that popular National Parks will be over run with tourists has jumped to 44.7% from 39.4%.

American travelers appear to believe that some of the latest technology will be transformative to travel relatively soon. Predictions that AI will start to replace some travel agents/advisors leapt to 54.4% from 38.7%, and predictions that the metaverse will start replacing some real-world travel jumped to 30.0% from 21.3%.

Marketing Travel: Tik Tok & Podcasts Keeps Rising, Travel Planning Windows Shrinking

When asked to think about how travel destinations could best reach them with messaging right now, 15.0% of all American travelers cited TikTok. However, its likely no surprise that Tik Tok is firmly tops with GenZ: 42.2% of GenZ travelers say it is where they would be most receptive to learning about new travel destinations, which is nearly double the percent of Millennials (whom continue to cite Instagram and Facebook their top travel inspiration sources) who said the same. American travelers who predict TikTok will become Americas top social media channel has risen to 40.9% (up from 38.7% in January).

Also notable is that more than one-third of American travelers now say they regularly listen to podcasts, up from 28.0% just six months ago. Nearly 20% of those who regularly listen to podcosts report that they listen to travel podcasts. (See our livestream on the rise of podcasts as a travel marketing tool)

Meanwhile, the average trip planning window has shrunk. In January, American travelers said they would take 11.5 weeks to plan a week-long domestic trip. Since then, that planning window has continued to get shorter, with American travelers now reporting they would begin planning such a trip just 9.8 weeks out. Americans who traveled in the last month said they planned this most recent trip 6.4 weeks out.

Hot Destinations

When asked to name the five domestic destinations they most want to realisticly visit in the coming 12 months, the top spots go to:

1. New York

2. Florida

3. Las Vegas

4. California

5. Hawaii

Texas, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami and Colorado round out the domestic top 10. When it comes to Americans most desired international destinations for their travel in the coming year, these countries reign:

1. Italy

2. United Kingdom

3. Mexico

4. France

5. Canada

In addition to European and North American destinations, Asian and Gulf destinations also made the top 20, including Japan, China and Dubaidriven by stronger interest from Millennial and GenZ age travelers.

This article originally appeared on Destination Analysts.
Guestroom at the Crown Krakow Handwritten Collection

The Handwritten Collection is joined by the first property in Poland and the second in Eastern Europe, marking a new chapter for the local tourism industry. The Crown, a four-star hotel in Krakow, interiors are inspired by the Art Deco movement. Original interiors of 44 rooms and unique oval suites, as well as a restaurant with a lobby bar and conference facilities, create an ideal boutique product.

Visitors heading from the district of Bronowice in the direction of the Main Market Square in Krakow, while nearing the Inwalidow Square will inevitably turn their eyes to the characteristic facade of the tenement house at 6 Krolewska Street, designed by Wacaw Krzyzanowski and erected in 1923. The oval shape and subtle decorative motifs of the impressive building send one's imagination back to an era when artists and designers were asking questions about the practical function of beauty in human life and looking for new forms of expression that would combine high craftsmanship, noble materials, and straightforward utility. In this meticulously restored building, located at one of the most important communication arteries in the city centre, The Crown Krakow Handwritten Collection welcomes its guests. The new hotel, embodying the vision of the hoteliers who run it, is a place where the artistic and utilitarian ambitions of the historical Art Deco movement meet the expectations of modern travellers.

- The idea that inspired us for this amazing hotel was to capture the old spirit of true Polish hospitality and the history that is associated with this hundred-year-old building and Krakow itself. Thanks to an individual approach, we want to provide our guests with a sublime journey that will allow them to discover the historical capital of Poland in a truly royal style. We are proud to start the local history of the unique Handwritten Collection brand in our hotel  said Patrycja Matyjaszczyk, Brand Manager - Mercure & Handwritten Collection  DACH & Eastern Europe.

The five floors of The Crown Krakow Handwritten Collection house 44 rooms, a restaurant, bar, conference and banquet space and a fitness area. The interior design recreates the atmosphere of the interwar period and the artistic avant-garde of the time. Art Deco inspirations are omnipresent. The utilitarianism of design, geometric simplicity of forms, and noble finishing materials express the ideal of searching for beauty in what is useful, practical, and, at the same time, exquisitely made. From marbled nightstands in the rooms, through openwork decorations in the conference hall and the restaurant, to the hotel bar inspired by the Streamline Moderne style  at The Crown Krakow Handwritten Collection, every detail has been designed to surround guests with beauty while providing them with contemporary comfort they expect.

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 We put our whole heart into this project, and I am convinced that The Crown Krakow Handwritten Collection will delight connoisseurs visiting us from all over the world for tourist or business purposes and who appreciate interiors designed with beauty and utility in mind, perfect for both relaxation and work. The style of our hotel captures the atmosphere of our renowned neighbourhood, filled with modernist structures, both private tenement houses and public utility buildings, created, like our townhouse, a century ago by the most outstanding Polish architects, whose works were an expression of the modern ambitions of our reborn country  said Agnieszka Dabrowska President of the Management Board of PI Apartamenty&Hotele, the company that will manage this facility.

The Crown Krakow Handwritten Collection offers a stay in one of the most attractive parts of the capital of Lesser Poland, near the so-called Avenues of the Three Bards, on a route leading straight to the Main Market Square. The Old Town, Wawel Hill, and the district of Kazimierz, the most popular parts of the city in terms of tourism, forming its historical centre listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, are all within a short walk. The hotel is also located close to the buildings of the AGH University of Science and Technology, the Jagiellonian University, and other seats of higher learning as well as the most important cultural institutions in the city and many of its bustling businesses.
Accor Opens Ibis Styles Hotel Near Warsaw Airport

Accor opened on a ibis Styles hotel near the largest airport in Poland and one of the largest in Central Europe - the airport of Fryderyk Chopin. The hotel is located at ul. Poleczki 31 in Warsaw is also located a short distance from the Suzewiec Horse Racecourse and the Westfield Mokotow shopping mall. This is the third Accor branded hotel in the Polish capital.

The new property is an investment of the ISWM Group, which has developed 10 projects since 2006, covering 50,000 square meters of commercial real estate and 2,160 residential units. The company also has 15 projects under development in the near term, including hotels, offices and 4,000 residential units. The investor is a leading Private Equity company on the real estate market in Ukraine.

The new ibis Styles hotel is located approximately 3.5 km from the airport. F. Chopin in Warsaw. It has 124 guest rooms, a bar, a restaurant and parking. The property has unique interiors inspired by the Queen's Gambit TV series, meeting and conference rooms, as well as an ideal setting for private celebrations. The hotel also accepts pets.

The facility not only impresses with its unique design but due to its location it is an excellent choice for business guests and tourists.

 We are glad that we could join the ibis Styles family and offer a hotel inspired by retro aesthetics and chess motifs that refer to one of our favorite TV series. We are convinced that every guest will find something unique here. The opening of the third ibis Styles hotel in Warsaw will further strengthen the position of this unique brand in the capital. This is a real checkmate on the Warsaw hotel market - says Tomasz Murawski, director of ibis Styles Warsaw Airport. "From the moment they cross the threshold of the hotel, guests are drawn into the world of the ibis Styles brand. The chess leitmotif runs through every stage of the guest's stay - from the first step, through all common areas, to the room.

References to the iconic production are visible both in the forms and textures present on the floors, walls and furnishings. The reception desk with a chessboard motif, geometric black and white patterns in hotel rooms or figures used in this royal game in the lobby - all this allows guests to fully feel the hotel's unique leitmotif.
Holiday Inn Express San Antonio North Riverwalk Area

New study reveals the industry impacted the local economy approximately 10% above the pre-pandemic peak in 2019

In a remarkable rebound, the San Antonio tourism and hospitality industry shattered key performance metrics, surpassing pre-pandemic levels with an unprecedented economic impact of $19 billion  a 10% year-over-year increase. The findings, identified by Trinity University professors Richard V. Butler, Ph.D., and Mary E. Stefl, Ph.D., in a study commissioned by Visit San Antonio, the San Antonio Hotel & Lodging Association, the Texas Restaurant AssociationSan Antonio Chapter and the San Antonio Visitors Alliance, underscore the sector's undeniable resilience, vitality and importance to the San Antonio region.

Part of the industry's historic economic impact includes a notable boost in contributions to the city's local taxes and fees, soaring to an impressive $262 million. San Antonio has become a beacon of hope, recovering faster than many cities across the United States, as a separate visitation study by renowned national research company, D.K. Shifflet, found that San Antonio attracted 34.8 million visitors and employed over 140,000 individuals  nearly a 10% increase from 2021 figures.

"There is so much more work to be done, and Visit San Antonio remains steadfast in its commitment to rejuvenating our city's tourism and hospitality sector, aiming to restore hotel occupancy, city visitation and tourism-supported jobs to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024 or even sooner," said Marc Anderson, President and CEO of Visit San Antonio. "The latest record-breaking news of over $19 billion in economic impact and $262 million in city tax revenues for 2022 is immensely gratifying and promises a bright future for our city and its residents."

With more than 100 new restaurants and a dozen new hotels opening since the onset of the pandemic, the industry's total payroll has surged beyond 2019 levels, reinforcing its position as one of the top five economic drivers in the San Antonio region.

This is not only a win for our city, but it is a win for the citizens of San Antonio. The positive impact our tourism and hospitality industry has had on our local economy since the start of the pandemic is tremendous, said Ron Nirenberg, Mayor of the City of San Antonio. It showcases the remarkable efforts to tell San Antonios story to the world.

This robust growth exemplifies the unwavering power of tourism and hospitality in shaping the city's profile and status as the fastest-growing big city in the United States. Visit San Antonio Board Chair, Phil Stamm, emphasized the vital role of tourism and hospitality as key economic drivers and job creators.

"While we celebrate surpassing pre-pandemic benchmarks in crucial categories, we must unite to further increase business demand in both leisure and meetings and conventions, Stamm said. Our industry's impact extends far beyond San Antonio, generating revenue that propels our city to compete economically with other metro districts."

Professors Butler and Stefl's study lauded the industry's "impressive" performance in 2022. In response, Visit San Antonio continues to spearhead innovative marketing initiatives, enticing leisure and business travelers from around the globe. The city's iconic attractions and culinary offerings are being showcased, reaffirming San Antonio's status as a global destination with immense economic potential.
Successful Hotel CO Inspections - By Clarisa James

A CO is a vital requirement before opening your new-build/renovated hotel. One area we often see overlooked within the process is telecommunications. To help get you started, weve compiled a checklist of key telecom-specific items to consider that may be subject to inspection.

A Certificate of Occupancy (CO) is a vital requirement before opening your new-build/renovated hotel. Without it, youre subject to massive, compounding fines! Because of the necessity of this certification, youll want to work it into your construction plans from the very beginning to avoid any project delays.

Unfortunately, the inspection process involves multiple steps. Its not necessarily quick or straightforward and is prone to oversights.

One area we often see overlooked within the process is telecommunications. Get familiar with specific telecom requirements and regulations in your local jurisdiction by consulting with telecommunications experts and local authorities. To help get you started, weve compiled a checklist of key telecom-specific items to consider that may be subject to inspection:

Infrastructure

Inspectors may assess the quality/functionality of hotel telecommunication infrastructure, including:

Proper installation/maintenance of telephone lines

Data cabling

Networking equipment

Wi-Fi access points

Data privacy and security

With increasing emphasis on data privacy, guest information absolutely must be protected above all. In addition, hoteliers must maintain compliance with data protection regulations. Their inspections may cover aspects like secure storage of guest data, proper network security measures and adherence to relevant privacy laws.

Network reliability and coverage

Ensuring consistent, reliable network connectivity is not only crucial for guest satisfaction, but more importantly, it affects safety. Inspectors may assess the reliability and coverage of the hotels network, including:

WiFi availability

Signal strength throughout the location

Accessibility for guests

Its typically required to provide accessible telecommunication services for guests with disabilities, including but not limited to those who are hearing-impaired. This may include features like TTY/TDD devices, visual notification systems for incoming calls and accessible telecommunication equipment.

Emergency communication systems

At a minimum, hotels are required by law to have reliable emergency communication systems in place within elevators. Additional requirements may include emergency phones in common areas and guestrooms, as well as a public address (PA) system for broadcasting emergency announcements.

When it comes to elevator phones, weve seen these challenges:

Telecom providers are phasing out the support of analog lines, resulting in increased costs, decreased availability and slower service for new elevator installations.

These industry changes have resulted in limited code-compliant solutions.

The coordination of multiple vendors to navigate the installation of necessary wiring causes delays, and elevator companies prefer not to have third parties perform any installations on elevators before inspections.

Theres a need for immediate service to make the transition from temporary line connectivity to a permanent emergency monitoring service at new construction sites. Weve developed a code-compliant solution that circumnavigates local wiring infrastructure. This helps your elevators get through inspection, avoiding phone lines delaying your construction projects, and eventually transitioning you to our turnkey elevator phone solution.

We can get your elevator emergency phones 100% compliant in 72 hours. Once end users sign a pre-CO agreement with us, well ship the required equipment, ready for quick and easy self-set-up, at a zero upfront cost.

Need to pass inspection? Get in touch, and well hook you up.

About Kings III

Partnering with Kings III not only provides a streamlined, code-compliant solution to get you through inspection but will also prep your hotel for emergency response moving forward. Our all-inclusive solution includes equipment, installation, maintenance and 24/7 monitoring at our own Emergency Dispatch Center. Our best-in-class emergency dispatch service helps reduce risk and liability for hotels, keeping safety a staple of your brand and taking unnecessary pressure and responsibility off your front desk, and all our full-service solution helps eliminate unexpected costs associated with maintenance. Talk to an expert here.
Window

ATM on-site

Electric kettle

Executive lounge access

Fan

Feather pillow

Fire extinguisher

Gift shop

Laundry facilities

Ironing service

Flat-screen TV

Fold-up bed

Free toiletries

Shops (on site)

Room service

Smoke alarms

Heating

Hypoallergenic

Hypoallergenic pillow

Physical distancing in dining areas

Physical distancing rules

Process in place to check health of guests

Hot tub

Interconnected room(s) available

Outdoor pool

Key card access

CCTV in common areas

Kids meals

CCTV outside property

No smoking

Kitchenware

Restaurant

Bar/Lounge

Landmark view

Hand sanitizer in guest accommodation and key areas

Laptop safe

Express check-out

Hairdryer

Screens or physical barriers placed between staff and guests in appropriate areas

Lowered sink

Cable or satellite TV

Use of cleaning chemicals that are effective against coronavirus

Air-conditioned

Non-feather pillow

Guest accommodation is disinfected between stays

Guest accommodation sealed after cleaning

Outdoor dining area

All plates, cutlery, glasses and other tableware have been sanitized

Outdoor furniture

Delivered food is securely covered

Pants press

Food can be delivered to guest accommodation

Guests can opt-out of accommodation cleaning

Free parking

Staff follow all safety protocols as directed by local authorities

Pool view

Disinfection of high-touch surfaces

Coffee shop

Privacy curtain

Bathrobe

Private bathroom

Garden

Private check-in/check-out

Kitchen

24hr front desk

Designated smoking area

Kitchenette

Steam room

Storage available

Private parking

Quiet street view

Spa and wellness center

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Berkshire Bounty to Crowdfund to Address Community Need

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.  Berkshire Bounty, a 501(c)3 food rescue organization, will be conducting a crowdfunding campaign Aug. 16 to 22 to address an urgent community need.

The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts (FBWM) will be moving their facilities from Hatfield to Chicopee at the end of August, preventing them from making deliveries Aug. 28 to Sept. 6.

"This is a move that will help the region, and there's simply no way to manage it without shutting down temporarily," said Morgan Ovitsky, Executive Director of Berkshire Bounty. "That means that emergency food sites in the Berkshires that depend on FBWM will miss two weeks of deliveries, resulting in a substantial food shortage for our food insecure neighbors."

Berkshire Bounty and community partners Berkshire United Way and Berkshire Community Action Council are stepping in to help procure and distribute food to fill this gap. The Helpful Hands crowdfunding campaign aims to raise $10,000, allowing Berkshire Bounty to purchase and deliver fresh produce, dairy, and eggs for two weeks to at least six Berkshire County emergency food sites that would otherwise not be able to serve the community.

"We are so grateful for Berkshire Bounty's partnership with FBWM and our agency partners, and appreciate their efforts to maintain access to nutritious food in Berkshire County during this transition from our current building to our new, larger distribution facility in Chicopee," said Christina Maxwell, Director of Programs at the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.

The Helpful Hands campaign is aided by a match from Berkshire Money Management (BMM). BMM is stepping in with a $5,000 dollar-to-dollar match for donations below $150 and will triple every donation of $150 and above (up to an additional $5,000).

"Having a plan can make all the difference. Berkshire Money Management is proud to support Berkshire Bounty as they prepare to provide extra support to our neighbors in a time of need," said Allen Harris, CEO and Chief Investment Officer at Berkshire Money Management.

Berkshire Bounty does not endorse or promote advisory services provided by BMM.

"The BMM match is just another example of our community pulling together," said Mark Lefenfeld and Jay Weintraub, board co-presidents and co-founders of Berkshire Bounty. "We are very grateful."
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Sandra Bullocks longterm partner, Bryan Randall, has died aged 57, his family announced in a statement on Monday (7 August).

It is with great sadness that we share that on 5 August, Bryan Randall passed away peacefully after a three-year battle with ALS [amyotrophic lateral sclerosis], his family shared.

Bryan chose early to keep his journey with ALS private and those of us who cared for him did our best to honor his request.

We are immensely grateful to the tireless doctors who navigated the landscape of this illness with us and to the astounding nurses who became our roommates, often sacrificing their own families to be with ours, his family added.

At this time we ask for privacy to grieve and to come to terms with the impossibility of saying goodbye to Bryan, the statement sent to People magazine concluded, signed, His Loving Family.

Bullock has yet to make an individual statement about Randalls death.

The actor, 59, met Randall, a model-turned-photographer, in 2015 when he was photographing her son Louiss birthday. She and Randall made a public appearance together at Jennifer Aniston and Justin Therouxs wedding later that year.

Bullock has two adopted children, Louis Bardo Bullock (13) and Laila Bullock (11).

I found the love of my life. We share two beautiful children  three children, [Randalls] older daughter. Its the best thing ever, Bullock told Red Table Talk in 2021.

I dont wanna say do it like I do it, but I dont need a paper to be a devoted partner and devoted mother, The Lost City star said of marriage, adding: I dont need to be told to be ever present in the hardest of times. I dont need to be told to weather a storm with a good man.

ALS (also commonly known as Lou Gehrigs disease) affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord and causes the muscles responsible for controlling voluntary movement to waste away.

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There is currently no cure for ALS, but the US Food and Drug Administration has approved four drugs to treat the condition and ease the discomfort of sufferers.

Randalls family asks for donations to be made to the ALS Association and the Massachusetts General Hospital.
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Tory Lanezs sentencing was once again delayed following his court hearing on Monday (7 August).

The Los Angeles Superior Court is waiting to see what sentence Lanez (legal name Daystar Peterson), 31, will be given after he was convicted of first-degree assault, discharge of a firearm with gross negligence and having a concealed and unregistered firearm in a vehicle in December 2022.

Megan Thee Stallion (real name Megan Pete), 28, had accused Lanez of shooting her in the foot in a July 2020 incident.

Court reporter Meghann Cuniff  who has earned the affectionate monicker Meghann Thee Reporter from Megans fans during the longwinded trial  tweeted: Incredibly, Judge Herriford managed to not finish today... Megan did not speak in person, but she submitted a statement that DA Kathy Ta read aloud.

According to Cuniff, the WAP artist said she struggled with whether to attend in person, and her absence should be seen as her preserving her mental well-being.

She reportedly said since Lanez shot her, Ive not experienced a single day of peace. He lied to anyone that would listen, Megan said of Lanez.

Cuniff added: Megan said mercy is for people who show remorse, and Lanez has shown none. She thanked the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office for their support. She wants the sentence to be a message for everyone woman of violence.

Los Angeles prosecutors are seeking a 13-year prison sentence for Lanez, who also faces deportation to his native Canada. The sentencing is now expected tomorrow (8 August), which his lawyers plan to appeal.

During the court hearing on Monday, Judge Herriford read out more than 70 letters of support Lanez had received, one of which reportedly came from Australian rapper Iggy Azalea.

Herriford reportedly told the court that Azaleas letter asked him to impose a sentence that is transformational, not life-destroying.

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Azaleas representatives did not respond to The Independents request for comment.

Megan Thee Stallion (real name Megan Pete) testified during the trial that Lanez had shot a handgun towards the back of her feet and told her to dance b**** after she got out of his SUV and walked away from it. The pair had left a party at Kylie Jenners Hollywood Hills home.

Tory Lanez is set to be sentenced today (AP)

She required surgery to remove bullet fragments from her feet and alleged Lanez offered her $1m (830,000) to stay quiet about the incident as he was on probation.

Lanez has been in jail since he was convicted by a jury last year.

In April, Megan  real name Megan Pete  spoke for the final time about being shot by Lanez and the public reaction to the shooting.

Explaining that she saw herself as a survivor, because I have truly survived the unimaginable rather than a victim, Megan said that shed had to face her trauma being turned into a running joke.

I understand the public intrigue, but for the sake of my mental health, I dont plan to keep reliving the most traumatic experience of my life over and over again. Im choosing to change the narrative because Im more than just my trauma, she said.
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BTS star Suga has become the third member of the K-pop band to join South Koreas compulsory military service.

The news was announced by the bands label Big Hit Music.

We would like to inform our fans that Suga has initiated the military enlistment process by applying for the termination of his enlistment postponement, the label said in a statement.

We ask you for your continued love and support for Suga until he completes his military service and safely returns.

Our company will spare no effort in providing support for our artist.

In South Korea, all able-bodied men aged 18 to 28 are required by law to complete 18-21 months of military service under a conscription system meant to deter aggression from rival North Korea.

The law gives special exemptions to athletes, classical and traditional musicians, and ballet and other dancers if they have obtained top prizes in certain competitions and are assessed to have enhanced national prestige.

K-pop stars and other entertainers, however, arent subject to such privileges.

(AP)

In April this year, BTSs J-Hope entered a South Korean boot camp to start his 18-month compulsory military service. Before him, Jin, 30 and the oldest member of BTS, became the bands first member to enter the army after revoking his request to delay his conscription.

There was a heated public debate in 2022 over whether to offer special exemptions of mandatory military service for BTS members until the groups management agency announced in October 2022 that all seven members would fulfill their duties.

In September 2022, Busans mayor asked South Koreas president to exclude BTS from mandatory military service so they can help support the citys bid to host the World Expo in 2030.

Park Heong-joon told president Yoon Suk-yeol that without solving the military service issue, BTS actively promoting Busans bid for the Expo might be impossible.

However, during a conference at the National Assembly, South Korean defence minister Suh Wook said that it would be difficult to extend this alternative programme to BTS due to aspects of fairness on fulfilling mandatory military service.

Additional reporting by agencies
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Tory Lanez was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Tuesday (8 August) following a drawn-out trial over the shooting of fellow rapper Megan Thee Stallion.

Lanez (whose legal name is Daystar Peterson), 31, has been in jail since 23 December after a jury convicted him of first-degree assault, discharge of a firearm with gross negligence and having a concealed and unregistered firearm in a vehicle.

Megan (real name Megan Pete), 28, testified during the trial that Lanez had fired a gun at the back of her feet and shouted for her to dance as she walked away from an SUV in which they had been riding in the summer of 2020. The pair had left a party at Kylie Jenners Hollywood Hills home.

Ahead of his sentencing, Lanez asked Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David Herriford not to send him to prison, saying he still cares about Megan, calling her someone I still care for dearly to this day.

We both lost our mothers. We would sit there and drink, and drink until we got numb, he said of his relationship with the WAP artist.

Matthew Barhoma, a member of Lanezs legal team, said they will be filing appeals for both the sentence and conviction.

In a statement read in court on Megans behalf on Monday, the artist said she struggled with whether to attend in person, and her absence should be seen as her preserving her mental well-being.

She reportedly said since Lanez shot her, Ive not experienced a single day of peace. He lied to anyone that would listen, Megan said of Lanez.

Court reporter Meghann Cuniff reported: Megan said mercy is for people who show remorse, and Lanez has shown none. She thanked the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office for their support. She wants the sentence to be a message for everyone woman of violence.

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Megan Thee Stallion and Tory Lanez (Getty Images)

I commend Megan Pete for her incredible bravery and vulnerability as she underwent months of probing investigation and court appearances where she had to relive her trauma, and the public scrutiny that followed, said Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon after the sentence was delivered.

During the court hearing, Judge Herriford summarised more than 70 letters of support for Lanez, including one from Australian rapper Iggy Azalea.

Los Angeles prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum that along with the crimes for which he was convicted, Lanez has re-traumatized Megan with social media posts about the case that emboldened many among his more than 2 million followers to attack her.

Judge Herriford denied a motion from Lanez defense attorneys for a new trial on 9 May.

Lanezs lawyers had argued that a post from his Instagram account was improperly admitted into evidence. They said that Megans testimony that Lanez urged her not to go to police because he was on parole and would be in serious trouble was both untrue and an improper allowance of prior bad acts. And they said DNA evidence that prosecutors used to argue Lanez was the likely shooter fell well short of industry standards.

Tory Lanez (2018 Invision)

The day after Megan named him as the shooter, Lanez released his Daystar album with a track featuring lyrics that appeared to be aimed at Megan: How the f--- you get shot in your foot / dont hit no bones or tendons.

Once arrested, he posted bail at $190,000 and was ordered to surrender all weapons and not contact Megan. He pleaded not guilty in November 2020 but violated the protective order after appearing with rapper DaBaby during a Rolling Loud Miami festival set in July 2021, moments after Megan got off stage. His bail was increased to $250,000.

In April 2022, he was briefly jailed for sending tweets that appeared to target her, increasing his bail to $350,000. And in October 2022, Lanez was placed on house arrest until the case went to trial after allegedly attacking another musician, August Alsina, at a concert, violating his bail.

Lanez began releasing mixtapes in 2009 and saw a steady rise in popularity, moving on to major-label albums. Megan Thee Stallion, now 28, was already a major rising star at the time of the shooting, and her prominence has surged since. She won a Grammy for best new artist in 2021, and has had No. 1 singles with Savage, featuring Beyonce, and as a guest with Cardi B on WAP.

The allegations and subsequent charges against Lanez unleashed several waves of misinformation and online vitriol aimed at Megan, prompting conversations about misogynoir  a specific form of misogyny experienced by Black women.

In April, Megan spoke for the final time about being shot by Peterson and the public reaction to the shooting.

Explaining that she saw herself as a survivor, because I have truly survived the unimaginable rather than a victim, Megan said that shed had to face her trauma being turned into a running joke.

I understand the public intrigue, but for the sake of my mental health, I dont plan to keep reliving the most traumatic experience of my life over and over again. Im choosing to change the narrative because Im more than just my trauma, she said.

Additional reporting by the Associated Press
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Tens of thousands of young people are being evacuated from the ill-fated World Scout Jamboree in South Korea ahead of an approaching typhoon  having already had hundreds of people treated for heat-related illness thanks to a heatwave.

The Jamboree has also been criticised for poor sanitation, waterlogged conditions caused by previous heavy rain and swarms of flies during the event  which has attracted more than 40,000 scouts from more than 100 countries to the southwestern county of Buan.

Ahmad Alhendawi, secretary-general of the World Organisation of the Scout Movement, said the challenges were unparalleled in a century of scouting history.

This is the first time in more than 100 years of World Scout Jamborees that we have had to face such compounded challenges, he said.

Scouts from the UK, a 4,6000-string delegation, and the US had already departed the campsite, heading to the capital, Seoul, and other areas.

The father of a British scout who was evacuated from an international jamboree in South Korea has said his daughter complained about "disgusting" conditions at the World Scout Jamboree campsite.

The father, who asked to remain anonymous, said of the stay for his 17-year-old daughter: "The toilets deteriorated over the time she was there to the point they were unusable and pretty disgusting.

"There were just not enough people on the ground and by the sounds of it it hasn't been well organised by the Koreans, The 48-year-old said. "I don't think they were being particularly well catered for."

Starting from Tuesday at 10am local time, more than 36,000 individuals remaining in Saemangeum started to be transported via 1,000 buses to more secure locations, according to South Koreas vice minister for disaster and safety management Kim Sung-ho. Seoul and its surrounding province of Gyeonggi would host almost half the scouts, with the rest fanning out to six other areas, Mr Lee said. Police cars and helicopters will escort the convoys to safety, he added.

Local media reported that at the expansive campsite, scouts were busy dismantling their tents, gathering their possessions and forming lines to board buses destined for substitute lodging.

A closing ceremony, to be followed by a K-pop concert, will now be held on Saturday at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, the culture ministry said on Tuesday.

Severe tropical storm Khanun, responsible for evacuations and power outages in Japan, is predicted to reach South Koreas southern Jeolla province by Thursday. While downgraded from a typhoon, it continues to bring heavy rain and winds of up to 125 kph (78 mph) as of Tuesday morning, according to South Koreas weather agency.

The adverse weather conditions had significantly impacted the planning and delivery of the 25th World Scout Jamboree, Mr Alhendawi said, adding that despite the challenges, scouts had shown true resilience, determination and leadership in the face of adversity.

According to the scouts organisation, this is the first time when a campsite is being evacuated due to adverse weather since 1971, when a typhoon hit a world scout jamboree in Japan.

Reuters and the Press Association contributed to this report
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A cheetah has managed to give Indias wildlife officials the slip for more than a week, amid fears she could be the latest wildcat to die over the series of major setbacks plaguing an ambitious translocation project.

The news of cheetah Nirvas disappearance for 10 days now has just added to the woes of Indian wildlife officials trying to curb the increasing number of deaths of the wildcats that have been brought to India from Africa to revive their population in the continent more than 70 years after extinction.

There have been six deaths of cheetahs translocated from Africa, in addition to the deaths of three cubs that were born to the wildcats in India, in the last four months.

Eight cheetahs were initially translocated from Namibia to Kuno National Park, where the project is taking place since September last year, while another 12 were borrowed from South Africa this February.

And now, officials at Kuno are on the hunt for the South African cheetah amid fears that she has low chances of survival.

The officials had a very brief glimpse of Nirva on 29 July after a tough search operation for her and another cheetah that was earlier found dead due to myiasis, or maggot infection, last week, park officials told The Independent on Tuesday.

Our staff had a direct sighting of Nirva on 29 July but it was a very brief glimpse that we managed. We are continuing our search for her every day, and the hunt is based on our records of her previous movements and visuals, chief wildlife warden Aseem Shrivastava told The Independent on Tuesday.

The cheetah successfully managed to dodge a darting attempt.

The official, who recently took charge of the Kuno National Park, however, said the hunt has been rigorous and continuing as they want to bring her back into an enclosure made for the cheetahs for her well being.

We have her pug marks on record and several movements reported by our staff, Mr Shrivastava said, adding that local staff is using indirect evidence, last recorded locations on her satellite collar and physical sightings to assess where Nirva could likely be.

Officials were previously unable to pin Nirva down in the last two months as well due to her malfunctioning collar. They have deployed drones, taken help from locals and villagers in and around the area and dozens of officials to find her.

Locals, however, suspect Nirvas survival chances are bleak and have said officials should disclose if the cheetah is alive and safe.

Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey said there is a huge question mark on Nirvas condition.

The missing cheetah Nirva, who happens to be wearing a radio collar, is not expected to be alive, Mr Dubey told The Independent.

This is not the first time something like this will happen under the watch of the Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Uttam Sharma, he said, referring to a senior state-level forest official.

A similar case of a tiger wearing a satellite collar was also reported missing for a month but only its skinned body was found after a month, the activist said.

The CCF declined to comment on the matter and said any details about Nirva will only be revealed in an official note to the media.

A total of 13 cheetahs are now kept in enclosures to restrict their wildlife activities, as the park administration looks to avoid further deaths amid extreme monsoon conditions in central India.

The African cheetahs  that grow thick fur due to the anticipation of winter conditions  have faced excessively wet conditions in India.

Those who died had contracted septicemia on their wet necks. To prevent this, Indian officials have brought over the 13 remaining cheetahs from the free-ranging wild to enclosures for monitoring.

The lone surviving cub, born in March this year, is also being bred in captivity after being deserted by its first-time mother, officials had told The Independent.

Conservationists have emphasised on the projects critical need to succeed as they look to repopulate cheetahs outside of Africa, slowly into Asia and then to the Middle East.

Of the 12 borrowed from South Africa, India lost four cats within six months to bacterial infection, maggots and cardio-pulomonary failure.

While some deaths were anticipated among the founder population of cheetahs, and that the project would be termed a success if half the population survives, the string of deaths since March have given rise to many questions.

Some of the founders of the project have termed the latest deaths an expensive learning and avoidable for India.
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Indias parliament began a debate on a no-confidence motion that opposition political parties have brought against Narendra Modis government to force the prime minister to break his silence on the sectarian violence that has engulfed Manipur state.

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi initiated the debate on the no-confidence motion instead of Congress scion Rahul Gandhi, who was widely believed to lead the debate after being reinstated as a lawmaker on Monday.

The debate is expected to continue till Thursday when Mr Modi will likely present his reply. The motion is not likely to affect Mr Modis government as his party enjoys a significant majority in parliament over his political rivals.

The motion has been presented by the newly formed INDIA alliance, a 26-party opposition bloc formed recently, to push Mr Modi to issue a statement on Manipur in parliament since the session began last month and take on the ruling government in the 2024 national elections.

On Tuesday, Mr Modi said the motion moved by the INDIA bloc is only a programme for them, but for us its an opportunity. He said there was no reason to worry about the upcoming debate as he is confident his MPs would hit a sixer at the last ball.

It comes on the heels of unprecedented ethnic violence between two groups in Manipur that has pushed the northeastern state to the brink of civil war in recent months.

Since early May, violence has engulfed the remote state ruled by Mr Modis Bhartiya Janata Party.

The dispute originated from an affirmative action dispute, where Christian Kukis opposed the request from predominantly Hindu Meiteis for tribal status that would enable them to purchase land in the hills inhabited by Kukis and other tribal communities, as well as gain access to government job opportunities.

Security personnel stand guard as demonstrators protest against mass burial of Kuki-Zomi people killed in Manipurs ethnic violence on 3 August (AFP via Getty Images)

More than 150 people have died and over 50,000 displaced as ethnic clashes continue with mobs rampaging through villages, torching houses and buildings.

If Manipur is burning, then India is burning, Mr Gogoi said while opening the session.

PM has taken a maun vrat [vow of silence] to not speak in the Parliament. So, we had to bring the No Confidence Motion to break his silence, he said.

Mr Gogoi put three questions in front of the ruling BJP.

Why did Mr Modi not visit Manipur to date? Why did it take almost 80 days to finally speak on Manipur and when he did speak it was just for 30 seconds, and why has the PM not sacked the Manipur CM [chief minister] so far? he asked.

The debate is expected to continue for 16 hours, with 15 speakers debating from both sides.

Dozens of houses lay vandalized and burnt during ethnic clashes and rioting in Sugnu, in Manipur (AP)

A commotion broke out in the secretariat of the lower house of parliament, the Lok Sabha, as proceedings were disrupted with sloganeering after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey countered Mr Gogoi.

Opposition party members protested and a huge uproar began in the Lok Sabha after a ticker by Sansad TV, a government television channel, showed the BJP governments achievements instead of reflecting the information on ongoing debate proceedings.

The uproar led house speaker Om Birla to say he will look into the controversy over the ticker and ask the relevant team to take the necessary action. Mr Birla, who belongs to the ruling party, however, quipped: I dont have the button to stop the ticker.

The Modi government has no chance of losing the no-confidence motion as the BJP enjoys a clear majority of 301 members in the 542-seat parliament.

But opposition parties argued that the motion will force Mr Modi to appear on the parliament floor to answer questions on the failure of his government in controlling the violence.

The parliament session which began on 20 July has been consistently hit by adjournment and disruptions amid loud sloganeering and booing as opposition parties protested to demand Mr Modis address in the house.

The government has tried to rush through bills and some have been passed with disruption and protests with little debate.

Opposition lawmakers demanding a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the violence in Manipur state carry placards outside the Parliament building in New Delhi (AP)

Mr Modi, who has taken numerous diplomatic and strategic trips to countries, broke his silence for the first time last month when a horrific video of women being paraded naked and molested by a mob in the state sent shockwaves across the country.

While he condemned the sexual assault, he refrained from commenting on the larger ongoing conflict.

This is the second time Mr Modis government is facing a no-confidence vote since coming to power in 2014.

In 2018, a no-confidence motion was defeated after a debate over the issue of granting a special category status to southern Andhra Pradesh state.

On Tuesday, the motion was presented in the presence of home minister Amit Shah and opposition Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
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Japan on Tuesday refused to confirm if any security information was leaked through a cyberattack after a report claimed China hacked into the country's defence networks.

Chinese military hackers allegedly gained access to a sensitive and classified defence network in Japan in 2020, which provided Beijing access to Tokyo's military capabilities, plans and assessments of shortcomings, the Washington Post reported on Monday.

The hack was discovered by the US National Security Agency (NSA), prompting heads of the agency to fly to Tokyo to brief the Japanese defence minister, who asked the US officials to alert the prime minister themselves, the newspaper report said.

NSA chief General Paul Nakasone, and then-White House deputy national security adviser, Matthew Pottinger, were part of the delegation. It was bad  shockingly bad, a former US military official who was briefed on the event told the newspaper.

Japan's chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters on Tuesday that Japan and US have always been in close communication on various levels.

"Due to the nature of the matter, I am unable to provide further details of the communication but we haven't confirmed the fact that security information has been leaked due to cyber attacks," he said.

Mr Matsuno also said that cyber security is the foundation for maintaining the Japan-US alliance and that Japan will continue to work to keep its network firm and secure.

Separately, defence minister Yasukazu Hamada said: We have not confirmed that classified information held by the defence ministry has been leaked due to a cyberattack," the minister said.

Japans slow response to improve its cyber network could impede greater intelligence sharing between the Pentagon and Japans Defence Ministry, the newspaper said, citing officials.

Chinese state-sponsored breaches have become increasingly common, with the US being the latest country targeted by hackers.

Since May, hackers have secretly accessed email accounts at around 25 organisations, including US government agencies, Microsoft and US officials have said. China has not yet commented on the incident.
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At least 14 police personnel sustained injuries as thousands of people took to the streets in protest against the burning of dozens of Quran in Bangladesh.

The chair of the Dhanupara Ideal College along with another person were arrested on Monday from the north-eastern city of Sylhet for allegedly burning the holy books.

Chair Nurur Rahman and Mahbub Alam reportedly burned the Qurans as they were "very old and some had printing mistakes". Local police said they have seized at least 45 copies of the burned Quran.

Protests broke out overnight from Sunday to Monday, where the police said they resorted to firing rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse a crowd of at least 10,000 people, according to AFP.

The livid mob reportedly attacked the two men suspected of destroying the books. At one point, people attacked them. The chair and the other man were heavily beaten. They were later rescued by the police, the Dhaka Tribune quoted an official as saying.

Another police officer said at least 14 policemen were injured in the clashes, but did not have details of injuries among protesters.

The protesters then tried to block the Sylhet-Sunamganj highway, but the situation was eventually brought under control after 2am.

The incident comes at a time when the Muslim-majority South Asian nation has opposed public desecrations of the Quran in Sweden and Denmark.

Both countries have condemned the desecrations but upheld their laws regarding freedom of speech and assembly. Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson previously said the protest was legal but not appropriate and said it was up to the police to permit it or not.

Dhaka had also summoned Jakob Etaat, the Charge dAffaires at the Swedish Embassy, to protest the burning of a copy of the Quran outside a mosque in Stockholm.

Earlier in July, a group of 57 Islamic countries called for collective measures to prevent acts of desecration of the Quran, and sought an international law to bring an end to religious hatred.
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A grounded and rusting Second World War vessel that once served the US Navy has become a fresh diplomatic flashpoint between the Philippines and China over territory in the South China Sea.

China has asked the Philippines to tow the BRP Sierra Madre from a disputed reef and return the site to its unoccupied state.

Manila uses the warship, which also saw action in the Vietnam war, as a base for a handful of troops. It was deliberately run aground in 1999 on the Second Thomas Shoal to help the Philippines check the advances of China in a disputed maritime region.

Tensions have resurfaced under Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr as the country pivots toward the United States.

China once again urges the Philippine side to immediately remove the warship from Second Thomas Shoal and restore it to its unoccupied state, Beijings foreign ministry said in a statement.

Philippine coast guard vessel BRP Malapascua patrols the grounded navy ship BRP Sierra Madre (AFP via Getty)

The ministry also said it had contacted the Philippines over the issue many times using diplomatic channels, claiming its goodwill has been ignored.

Chinas ambassador to the Philippines said on Monday that it had no choice but to respond. China has been waiting for feedback from the Philippine side and hopes that both sides will start talks as soon as possible so as to jointly maintain peace and tranquillity in the relevant waters, Huang Xilian said.

Manila has repeatedly accused the Chinese coast guard of impeding its ability to supply its troops there by blocking resupply missions, like on Saturday when it sprayed a Philippine vessel with a water cannon in an excessive and offensive move.

China Coast Guard using a water cannon against Philippine Coast Guard vessels on Saturday in the South China Sea (via Reuters)

Japan and France, through their embassies in Manila, have expressed concern over such actions and repeated their support for a 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated Beijings expansive South China Sea claims.

Manila insists it will not abandon the disputed shoal.

The Philippines will never abandon our post in Ayungin Shoal, said Jonathan Malaya, assistant director general of the Philippines National Security Council, referring to the Philippines own name for the shoal. We urge China not to escalate matters by water cannons or military-grade lasers, which places Philippines lives at risk, but by sincere negotiations and other diplomatic means.

China has long claimed sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, even though it overlaps with the waters of Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan and the Philippines.
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The son of famous Spanish actor Rodolfo Sancho Aguirre has been charged with murder for allegedly killing his boyfriend and dumping his severed head in the sea at a Thailand resort.

Daniel Sancho, 29, appeared before a court on Monday as police sought his continued detention in the alleged murder and dismemberment of 44-year-old Colombian plastic surgeon Edwin Arrieta Arteaga.

Mr Sancho, who is also the son of actor Silvia Bronchalo, works as a chef and was visiting the southern Thai island of Koh Pha Ngan, famous among tourists for its "full moon" parties.

Mr Sancho on Sunday traveled with police to seven sites, including a beach where he is suspected of dumping plastic bags containing body parts of the Colombian man.

He admitted it, said Panya Niratimanon, the police chief of Koh Pha Ngan.

The victim and the suspect knew each other before they came to Thailand, and his dubious activities indicate that he might murder the victim," he told AFP.

Mr Sancho is charged with premeditated murder and concealing and removing body parts to cover up the death or the cause of death of the victim, the officials said.

The suspect was detained shortly after body parts were found at a landfill on Koh Phangan. The police said DNA tests of the remains proved them to be of the Colombian national, adding they have other evidence against Mr Sancho.

Surveillance footage aired by local broadcaster ThaiPBS showed Mr Sancho and the victim on a motorcycle together days before the remains were discovered.

He was seen on the evening of 1 August buying knives, garbage bags, rubber gloves and cleaning utensils at a local store, according to the Spanish El Pais newspaper.

Later that night, Mr Sancho approached two women who run a kayak rental store close asking to hire a boat". The women reportedly said they told him it wasnt safe for a tourist to go out on the water at night but eventually allowed him after he paid $1,000.

After dumping the body parts, Mr Sancho checked out of his hotel on 4 August. The same day, a garbage collector reportedly found a human pelvis and intestines stuffed inside a bag at the landfill.

Mr Sanchos family released a statement on Sunday asking for maximum respect, both for Daniel Sancho himself and for the whole family, in these delicate moments of maximum confusion.
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President Joe Biden hailed his administrations efforts to combat the effects of the climate crisis as he signed a proclamation to establish the Baaj Nwaavjo I'Tah Kukveni National Monument near the Grand Canyon in Arizona.

Mr Biden, who travelled to Arizona on Monday as part of a multi-day trip to highlight his legislative record ahead of the 2024 election season, said it was not hyperbole for him to say theres no national treasure that is grander than the Grand Canyon, which he described as one of the wonders of the world.

The first time I saw the Grand Canyon years ago, I was a young senator. I stood there and looked out. A phrase came to mind  it was instinctive  I said this must be ... this is God's cathedral, he said.

The president said he was proud that he could use his authority to protect more than a million acres near the site using the Antiquities Act, a century-old law enacted under Theodore Roosevelts administration which allows the president to designate monuments of natural, historical or cultural significance.

Mr Biden also said the monument designation would right the wrongs of the past and conserve this land of ancestral footprints for all future generations, though he lamented how the designation of Grand Canyon National Park had the effect of denying Native Americans full access to their homelands.

He noted that tribal activists had for decades fought to protect these lands from mining and development, to clear them of contamination, [and] to preserve their shared legacy for future generations, and reiterated his commitment to use his authority as president to prioritise respect for the tribal sovereignty and self-determination and honour the solemn promises the United States made to tribal nations to fulfil federal trust and treaty obligations.

My administration has worked alongside tribal leaders ... to keep that promise. At a time when some seek to ban books and bury history, we're making it clear that we can't just choose to learn only what we want to know. We should learn everything that's good or bad, the truth about who we are as a nation, he said. That's what great nations do.

Today's action is going to protect and preserve that history along with these high plateaus and deep canyons, majestic red cliffs over 300 million years old, he continued, adding later that preserving the lands he designated as a monument on Tuesday is good for Arizona, for the planet, for the US economy and for the soul of the nation.

But Mr Biden also said there is more work ahead for his administration when it comes to combatting the existential threat of climate change, citing the extreme heat that has hit Arizona and other western states in recent days.
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At least two people died, thousands of flights were cancelled and over 1.1 million residents were left without electricity as storms swept across the Washington DC area late Monday afternoon and evening,

The nations capital was on high alert as powerful storms unleashing winds up to 60mph in a few locations brought strong winds and rains, toppling trees and triggering power outages.

The National Weather Service also issued a tornado watch for the greater DC area, lasting until 9pm but so far no tornadoes had been confirmed in the region.

One of the two victims of the extreme weather was a 15-year-old boy in Anderson, South Carolina, who was killed when a tree fell on him as he got out of a car at his grandparents house, according to the Anderson County Office of the Coroner.

The second victim was a 28-year-old man in Florence, Alabama, who was struck by lightning, WAAY-TV reported quoting police.

By Monday night, more than 2,600 flights were cancelled and nearly 7,900 delayed, according to flight tracking service FlightAware.

Many cancellations were at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which was digging out from disruptions caused by Sundays storms.

The flight disruptions also impacted president Joe Bidens four-day trip to Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah as the White House pushed his flight up by 90 minutes. While the first lady Jill Bidens back-to-school cybersecurity event was also cancelled.

Federal office workers were sent home early out of caution, while concertgoers at Nationals Park sheltered under eaves to wait out the rain.

The storms postponed a Major League Baseball game between the Phillies and the Washington Nationals in Philadelphia, and in Maryland.

This does look to be one of the most impactful severe weather events across the Mid-Atlantic that we have had in some time, NWS meteorologist Chris Strong said in a Facebook live briefing.

Have yourself in a strong shelter. Be at home or be at work, Mr Strong advised people.

The NWS issued a flash flood warning into Tuesday after 4 inches of rain fell in a short amount of time.

The storms caused dramatic images like dark clouds about the Capitol and Washington Monument.

Its like the Fourth of July with lightning strikes popping off in every direction, NBC4 photographer Nick Leimbach said of conditions in Northern Virginia around 5.30 local time.

People battling storm conditions in Washington DC on Monday (AFP via Getty Images)

By early evening, more than 1.1 million customers were without power across Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia and Virginia  all states along the storm systems path, according to poweroutage.us.

The Knoxville Utilities Board tweeted that the damage across its service area in Tennessee was widespread and extensive and will likely take several days to repair.

As of 7.45pm, about 1,800 people were without power in Marylands Montgomery and Prince Georges counties, while 40,000 lacked electricity in Carroll County, per the Post. Meanwhile, in Virginia, 12,500 were without power and in Loudoun County and 20,000 suffered outages in Fairfax County.

We saw the clouds coming and could hear a rumbling in the distance, Tom Tomovich, whose home was damaged, told The Associated Press.

We went into the house and we were on the first floor, and before we could blink an eye the winds just came right through the back of our house.

Overnight some areas continue to witness showers and lightnings. The inclement weather in Washington was part of a series of storms battering the East Coast.
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I was doing fine as a recently single dad-of-two, right up until I reached page four of the manual for an Ikea bunk bed for kids. This was a few years ago, when despite going through a sad break up and then having to face making a new home for my kids and me, I felt deep down that Id be  to quote Alice Deejays 1999 trance-pop masterpiece  better off alone. I felt cocky. I felt like I didnt need anyone ever again, least of all to help assemble a flat-packed bunk bed for my darling kids to sleep in. And then I turned to page four, wherein the figure of a mystery, unannounced second human appeared in the diagram, helping hold the beds supporting beams. My solo bravado came to a screeching halt.

I begrudgingly had to ask a friend for help, which was the start of a process of finally understanding the importance of reaching out to people around you when life is actually a big steaming cauldron of WTF. Im slowly learning not to be one of those frustrating people who never asks for help. I know its a flaw. I know theres been a huge amount of dialogue in recent years trying to get men especially to open up, admit things are a bit shit, and reach out. But while I like to think Im a fully modern human, when it comes to asking for help, Im a caveman who other cavemen think is a bit old school.

All those entrenched fears about appearing weak cloud my better judgement. Im a man  I should be helping others, I insist, not asking for help myself. Gendering personality traits is mostly pointless and reductive, but I have to say I recognise this so often in the psyche of many other men I know. Its an almost sinisterly deep feeling of shame and embarrassment about having to ask for help with anything  from a full-blown mental health crisis to holding a piece of wood and twirling a tiny Ikea Allen key.

Despite the world living through a pandemic, during which asking for help suddenly felt radically normalised, its worrying how many men and women in all our lives seem to have the same inclination. As I get older and life gets more complicated, the cursed plague of stubbornness seems to get worse, not better.

Its everywhere. As a man sandwiched between two children and an elderly mum, youd assume Id be drowning in a constant sea of help mes. But no: both ends of the family spectrum annoyingly want to pretend theyre absolutely fine, thank you. My kids want to display their maturity. My mum wants to prove shes still young and able. They dont seem to notice Im quietly catching them as they slip from vertiginous monkey bars, or discretely letting the handbrake off when shes driven half way down the street.

I worry more, though, about those friends many of us have who are intensely kind, thoughtful and generous enough to offer help at the drop of a hat, yet on the inside are crying out for help themselves. Theyre not easily classified. Theyre not people pleasers and theyre not people with a saviour complex. This used to be me  convinced I was being bravely resilient and stoic, yet on the inside building up a grudgeful resentment of friends who couldnt magically tell that I needed help.

If only I trusted in people sooner. We revel in the drama of lifes cruelties and its villains but humans on the whole are a top species. Even on the supposed moral wasteland of social media, you can ask an audience of relative strangers for recommendations and advice, and people will respond out of nothing more than a desire to be helpful. Trusting that your friends are actually your friends, that theyre in it for the long haul and arent going to delete your number if they ask for help moving house is also vital. If your closest friends arent willing to pick you up after a routine hospital procedure involving mild sedation, then frankly, are they actually your friends?

The world doesnt need a superhero who helps  we need one who asks for help (iStock)

I wish we could celebrate asking for help, as a way of crushing the ridiculous notion that theres a sense of failure or frailty attached to it. More and more with my kids, Im trying to point out all the ways in which daddy cant do things by himself. Whether or not they appreciated the visual metaphor of me sitting alone on a see-saw in a playground for 45 minutes is up for debate, but whenever I ask a friend over to help with something, my young DNA clones know Ive asked for help.

A part of me wants to deface every motivational You Got This! or Hang In There! sign I see, but it would probably be more constructive to have some actual reaching-out role models instead. We need a hero, but not a cliched fixer, solver or white-knight saviour. The world doesnt need a superhero who helps  we need one who asks for help. If a Hollywood studio decides to start a long-running franchise titled Useless Man, Id be there in a heartbeat. Before that, Im off to Ikea  could one of you help me build a wardrobe next Thursday please?
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Sandra Bullocks longterm partner Bryan Randall has died at the age of 57 after a three-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ASL).

His family shared a statement confirming that Randall passed away peacefully on Saturday (5 August), adding that he chose early to keep his journey with ALS private and those of us who cared for him did our best to honour his request.

The statement, sent to People magzine, continued: We are immensely grateful to the tireless doctors who navigated the landscape of this illness with us and to the astounding nurses who became our roommates, often sacrificing their own families to be with ours.

Bullock and Randall first met in 2015 and made their first public appearance together the following year. The model-turned-photographers family has asked for donations to be made to the ALS Association and the Massachusetts General Hospital.

ALS affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, its name coming from the Greek and referring to a wasting away of the muscles responsible for controlling voluntary movement caused by a lack of nourishment, the fault of a genetic mutation.

As the ALS Association explains: Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their demise.

When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. When voluntary muscle action is progressively affected, people may lose the ability to speak, eat, move and breathe.

The motor nerves affected when you have ALS are the motor neurons that provide voluntary movements and muscle control. Examples of voluntary movements are making the effort to reach for a smartphone or step off a curb. These actions are controlled by the muscles in the arms and legs.

Early symptoms of the disease, according to the US National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes (NINDS), include: muscle twitches in the arm, leg, shoulder or tongue; cramps; tight or stiff muscles; muscle weakness; slurred or nasal speech; and difficulty chewing and swallowing.

The first sign of ALS usually appears in the hand or arm and can show as difficulty with simple tasks such as buttoning a shirt, writing, or turning a key in a lock, the NINDS explains.

In other cases, symptoms initially affect one leg. People experience awkwardness when walking or running, or they may trip or stumble more often.

There is currently no cure for ALS but the US Food and Drug Administration has approved four drugs to treat the condition and ease the discomfort of sufferers: Riluzole, Nuedexta, Radicava and Tiglutik.

It was first discovered by French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot in 1869 and is also commonly known as Lou Gehrigs disease in memory of the celebrated New York Yankees baseman (1903-41) who also suffered from it.

Baseball star Lou Gehrig at the bat in 1930 (Hulton Archive/Getty)

While ALS affects all demographics, it is most common among people aged between 55 and 75 and, according to some studies, disproportionately affects former members of the armed forces, perhaps because of exposure to harmful toxins during their service careers although this has not been definitively substantiated.

The ALS Association reports that, in 90 per cent of cases of ALS, there is no family history of the genetic mutation that causes the disease and, in the 5-10 per cent of cases in which there is, only a 50 per cent possibility exists of its being passed on.

For more information, please visit the websites of the ALS Association or the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes.
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Greg Rutherfords fiancee Susie Verrill has shared that she had to rush the British track and field athlete to the hospital on Saturday (5 August) after an unknown illness left him clawing at his skin and just screaming.

Verrill, a social media influencer and blogger, posted about the incident on her Instagram page on Monday morning (7 August) and described it as the scariest time of her life.

Alongside a photograph of Rutherford, 36, sitting up in a hospital bed and appearing to grimace, she explained that the day began normally and that she went to their friends house for a roast dinner with their three children.

Verrill said she later received a text message from Rutherford informing her that he might be having an allergic reaction to something and felt itchy, but she did not think it was an emergency.

However, he called shortly after screaming on the phone, she wrote, adding: And I mean SCREAMING. He shouted, YOU NEED TO GET HERE NOW and so I drove back to our house while calling an ambulance, terrified I was about to get home and find him not breathing.

The blogger said she was told that an ambulance would take 40 minutes. Once home, she ran into the house and found Rutherford inside, screaming and acting like one of those people you see in videos where theyve taken bath salts.

He was clawing at his skin and just screaming. Repeatedly. He ran to our car and while I rang 999 again to say Id have to take him, we had to run every red light and I had to focus on not crashing while he screamed and tried to grab the wheel, she recalled.

He was delirious and I looked like I was kidnapping him. I was on the phone to the 999 call handler and the poor girl just kept saying, OK yeah he doesnt sound good, please be safe but hurry and I was like OK well this is a nightmare because Ive been driving like three months. It was AWFUL.

Susie Verrills Instagram Story about Greg Rutherford experiencing a mystery allergy (Instagram/Susie Verrill)

She continued her story in another slide, which showed a close-up of Rutherfords skin on his thighs. It appeared red with raised bumps, like hives or a rash, covering the surface.

Verrill said she threw [Rutherford] out of the car in front of the A&E and went to park her car. Once inside the hospital, she was told that staff had sent him to Resus, which is a term used for the resuscitation area of the department.

I think [they sent him there] mainly because he was a six-foot-three bloke acting like a psychopath and they didnt want to scare anyone, she wrote, adding: They also pumped him full of steroids and antihistamines and it seemed to work pretty much immediately. Thankfully by the time I got there hed stopped screaming and raking himself.

(Instagram/Susie Verrill)

In the next slide, she showed Rutherford still sitting up in a hospital bed, but appearing calmer. She said that they were allowed to leave the hospital three hours after they arrived.

Verrill added that she felt close to having a heart attack but reassured followers that she was fine otherwise.

My question is  we did nothing differently yesterday in terms of eating/drinking but the only snack Greg ate was nuts  could he have developed an allergy, do we think? she asked her fans.

Have any of you had this? Hospital recommended we get him tested but said it could have also been viral. I appreciate rashes can appear with a viral illness but his body went MAD. The doctor who suggested the viral thing hadnt seen how Greg had been on arrival; I cant explain how much pain he was in.

Greg Rutherford poses for a photograph with his partner Susie Verrill and son Milo after arriving on a British Airways flight from Rio de Janeiro to London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 on August 17, 2016 (Getty Images)

She recalled a time when Rutherford shrugged off a grumbling appendix in comparison to how he reacted to the recent illness, and asked followers to let her know if they had ever experienced something similar.

In her most recent Instagram Story, Verrill addressed suggestions from fans that Rutherford may have come into contact with a plant on his run that may have caused the reaction.

We dont think it was any sort of plant because the reaction began before he went on his run (although we appreciate this may have exacerbated symptoms with the sweating), she wrote. Gregs having some tests this morning so hopefully it can start the ball rolling and if I dont get back to you just yet, Im so sorry. Ive had about 500 messages already! Really, really appreciate all the advice.

Greg Rutherford shares a close-up of the skin rash he experienced (Instagram/Greg Rutherford)

Rutherford, who participated in Strictly Come Dancing in 2016, also shared Instagram Stories about his experience.

In one slide, showing a close-up of his skin from another angle, he wrote: I suddenly had a massive allergic reaction to something (no idea what) and had to get Susie to rush me to hospital. Thankfully they pumped me with a load of stuff and calmed it down. But it was HORRIBLE. This rash was covering my entire body.

In a second Story, he shared a photograph of himself and added: Im not home. A little [itchy] still, but nothing like earlier. I was trying to get my skin off it was so bad. Im going to get some tests done to figure out what it was, as I NEVER want to experience that again.

The sportsman thanked the hospital staff for helping him, adding: I was screaming at one point So apologies for that too.

Rutherford and Verrill have been together since 2012 and share a daughter named Daphne, two, and sons Milo and Rex, eight and five respectively. The couple were due to be married in May, but postponed their wedding because of the death of a family member.
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Raven-Symone has revealed that she underwent several cosmetic surgeries as a teenager, after her father encouraged her to do so while she was receiving criticism about her weight.

The Thats So Raven star said she had two breast reductions and liposuction done before she turned 18 in 2004.

Speaking on the latest episode of her and her wife Miranda Pearman-Madays podcast, Symone recalled: There was paperwork involved. My dad suggested strongly that I should get my breasts reduced.

He was like, So you dont feel bad, is there anything that you want? I was like, Yeah, if I get lipo, will people stop calling me fat?

She continued on The Best Podcast Ever with Raven and Miranda: So I got a twofer. It was just a mess, just being that young and the pain of it all.

Symone also disclosed that, after her first breast reduction surgery, she suffered a seizure.

I remember waking up and seeing everything and then I just started to have this dry mouth and couldnt breathe and went back under, she said of the experience.

The Cheetah Girls star said she does not remember much else because she was disassociating from reality, but admitted that not knowing what caused the seizure freaks her out a bit.

She still went ahead with the second breast reduction. While she advised others who may be considering similar procedures to wait until they are fully developed before going under the knife, Symone added that her decision to get breast reductions prevented her t**ties reaching her ankles.

The cast of "That's So Raven" pose for photographers at the Disney Channel press conference for the new television series at the Graciela Hotel on January 14, 2003 (Getty Images)

I dont know if I regret it because they grew back not to that big of a size, she said.

Last year, Symone credited her wife with helping her kick sugar, which led to her losing 40 pounds (approximately 18kg).

She told The View: With [Pearman-Madays] help and guidance and love and fantastic cooking skills she helped me kick sugar.

I say kick sugar because it is an addictive drug and I was addicted to it in wheat form, in regular form. And its out of my system.

Raven-Symone (L) and Miranda Maday appear at the Los Angeles premiere of the Disney+ Music Docu-Special "Bono & The Edge: A Sort Of Homecoming, with Dave Letterman" at The Orpheum Theatre on March 08, 2023 (Getty Images)

Receiving bad news about her health from her doctor also spurred Symone to take her weight more seriously, so that she could be around longer to spend her life with her wife.

I want to be here for her as long as I can, she said. I found out some numbers at the doctor that were not pleasant for someone in my age bracket  or any age bracket, to be honest with you She doesnt want to take me to an early grave, and I want to make sure I am there for her in the best health possible.

In July, Symone called on people not to use diabetes medication Ozempic purely for weight loss, as it is made for certain people.

She opened up about her familys history of pre-diabetes and diabetes, and said she is more susceptible to the disease if she is not careful about what she eats.

So, I think its very important we understand certain medications are made for certain people  and to not take that away just for glamazon purposes, she told E! News.
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Noah Schnapp has revealed how his twin sister reacted when he first told her he was gay, prompting raised eyebrows among many fans.

The Stranger Things star, 18, said his sister Chloe Schnapp was the first person he came out to, before he told the rest of his family and later, the world, about his sexuality.

In a new interview with Variety, Noah recalled thinking: I cant tell anyone else before I tell my own twin sister  shell kill me.

He added: She was ecstatic. She said that she wouldve hated the idea of me marrying another girl and having to compete with that girl for attention.

The fact that now itll be a guy, she was like, Oh, hell be my best friend.

In a response to a tweet from Variety about the moment, fans have suggested Chloes concern about having to compete with another woman for attention was creepy.

Many referred to the late Sigmund Freud, the Austrian neurologist and founder of psychoanalysis who was known for his theories about sexual relations and family dynamics.

RIP Sigmund Freud you would have loved Noah Schnapp revealing his twin sisters reaction to him coming out, one person wrote on Twitter.

Another said: Oh Sigmund Freud would have had a field day with this.

Some people opined that Noah should not have told the publication what Chloe said.

His sister was crazy for saying it but hes crazier for telling Variety. Like nobody needed to know this, one person commented.

Truly some stranger things going on, another fan quipped.

However, some people came to Chloes defence and criticised others for immediately over-sexualising the teenage siblings.

People acting like this is such a bizarre thing to say shes just a teenage girl afraid of losing her brother to someone else, one person said, adding that it might have been silly and embarrassing for Chloe but people should not be judgemental.

Another said: The comments so serious when clearly this was light-hearted banter between siblings [Be for f***ing real].

In his interview, Schnapp also spoke about how his mother reacted when he came out to her. He said that, while he had told his sister, he slid back into the closet after returning to college, but became miserable.

His mother, Karinne Schnapp, became worried for his wellbeing and visited him in college: I couldnt tell her how I was feeling without telling her what the problem was, so just one night at dinner, I was like, This is it, Noah explained.

She was like, Finally, you told me! She said that she would talk to her friend when I was 12 and be like, I know my son is gay. Do I have to ask him? How do I do it? The friend was like, Oh, you just let him be and let him figure it out himself.

Noah added that he felt like he had taken the biggest breath of relief of my life after telling his mother. Just to know what I finally got it off my chest and she knew it was like, ugh!, he said. He later came out to his father and his friends.

In January, he posted a TikTok video in which he came out to the world. He shared a clip of himself lip-syncing to the words: You know what it never was? That serious? It was never that serious.

In text over the clip, he wrote: When I finally told my friends and family I was gay after being scared in the closet for 18 years and all they said was we know.

He attended his first-ever Pride celebration in New York this year after coming out. To mark the occasion, Noah shared a series of photos on Instagram, which showed him wearing a vest that read Straight Outta The Closet in rainbow colours and dancing in the street with other LGBT+ revellers.
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Pain is a tricky subject - as it is often considered subjective and dependent on individual pain threshold.

However, while the painfulness of getting a tattoo or having a baby may be debatable, there are certain health conditions or illnesses that are undeniably excruciating.

According to the NHS, there are 20 conditions that rank as pain so disabling that they can prevent you from performing daily tasks - and they include well-known pains such as broken bones and kidney stones to the lesser-known but still agony-causing gout or trigeminal neuralgia.

The NHS also names frozen shoulder as one of the worst pains to suffer, a condition where the joint becomes so tight and stiff that its almost impossible to raise your arm. The condition can last for several years if left untreated.

Endometriosis, a debilitating gynaecological condition where tissue similar to the tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus is found elsewhere in the body, makes the list as well.

The condition, which is thought to affect one in 10 women worldwide, takes an average of 7.5 years to diagnose - during which women can experience general pain, pelvic pain, period pain, and pain during sex, as well as fertility issues.

Also amongst the NHSs list of conditions that can cause the most notoriously severe pains are arthritis, appendicitis and migraines.The full list, in no particular order, is as follows:

Shingles

Cluster headaches

Frozen shoulder

Broken bones

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)

Heart attack

Slipped disc

Sickle cell disease

Arthritis

Migraine

Sciatica

Kidney stones

Appendicitis

Trigeminal neuralgia

Acute pancreatitis

Gout

Endometriosis

Stomach ulcer

Fibromyalgia

Pain after surgery

Of the conditions, Dr Gary LeRoy, a family medicine doctor in Dayton, Ohio, told The Independent: These are all very valid pain conditions that we commonly see in the healthcare setting.

However, Dr LeRoy would argue that two other conditions make the list as well - back pain, the most common thing that we see in primary care practices and toothaches.

According to Dr LeRoy: Chronic lower back pain affects 80 per cent of the population at some point in their life because as homo sapiens who are bending, stooping, pushing and pulling, we end up with musculoskeletal back pain.

Toothaches, which are often dismissed, can also be extremely painful, according to Dr LeRoy, who told us: We often overlook the things above the neck and again, it is such a common thing."

Dr LeRoy has found himself constantly aware of oral pain syndromes after multiple patients complaining of pain in the mouth, jaw, or ears were actually found to suffer from tooth issues, such as an abscess.

As for what to do in a situation where pain is affecting a persons ability to function in society, or when it stops them from work, sleep, or providing nutrition to themselves, Dr LeRoy recommends seeking medical advice - as there can be health consequences to prolonged pain.

And for pain associated with heart attacks, the worst headache you have ever experienced, kidney stones, acute pancreatitis, or appendicitis, Dr LeRoy advises seeking emergency medical attention - as those types of pain can be potentially life-threatening.

[This article was originally published in 2018]
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Author Carley Fortune has confirmed that her bestselling romance novel Meet Me at the Lake will be adapted for Netflix by Harry and Meghans production company.

News that the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs Archewell Productions had acquired rights to Fortunes book broke over the weekend, weeks after their exclusive, multi-million pound deal with Spotify was terminated.

In a statement to The Independent, Fortune said: Im so thrilled about working with Netflix and Archewell to bring Meet Me at the Lake to the screen.

Will and Ferns love story is dear to my heart, and I cant imagine a more perfect partnership.

A former journalist, Fortunes second book Meet Me at the Lake was released in the US on 2 May, and debuted at No 1 on the New York Times bestseller list.

It is published by Penguin Random House, who also published Prince Harrys memoir Spare.

The book follows Will and Fern, two strangers on a daylong adventure where they make a promise one keeps and the other breaks, with life-changing effects.

The plot bears some likeness to Harry and Meghans whirlwind romance, as one of the protagonists in Fortunes story lost a parent in a car crash and struggled with alcohol and drug use.

Harrys mother, the late Princess Diana, died in a car crash in 1997, when the prince was 12.

Fortune has previously described the book as a love letter to Toronto, where Meghan lived before she started dating Harry.

Author Elena Armas praised Fortunes the novel as breathtaking tale of star-crossed lovers in a testimonial for the Canadian authors book.

In June, Spotify terminated its 15m podcasting deal with Archewell Audio, after just one season of Meghans podcast Archetypes.

Less than a year after it was released, the audio streaming company and Archewell Audio announced they had mutually agreed to part ways and are proud of the series we made together.

News of the planned Netflix adaptation comes days after Meghan celebrated her 42nd birthday on Friday 4 August, amid a pointed silence from the Royal Family.

The official Twitter accounts for King Charles and Queen Camilla, and the Prince and Princess of Wales, did not feature birthday messages for Meghan  as they have in previous years.

None of the royals wished Harry and Meghans daughter Lillibet on the occasion of her second birthday in June, either.

Harry and Meghan were spotted leaving Italian restaurant Tre Lune earlier this week, in photos obtained by the Daily Mail, as they celebrated the duchesss birthday together.
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A Kings Guard in London is being applauded for acknowledging a young boy who wore a replica uniform during a visit to St Jamess Palace in London.

The boy named Frank, who goes by the username @frankthesolider1 on TikTok, is known for showcasing his own version of the uniform, complete with the red jacket and bearskin hats that are usually worn by the guards standing outside of St James Palace and Buckingham Palace.

In a viral video from last week, Frank is seen standing to attention outside a gate near St James Palace, as the guards walk past holding musical instruments.

Although not all of the guards appeared to pay attention to him, following strict protocol, one in the very back of the procession silently gave the little boy a nod as he would to a fellow soldier, which Frank reciprocated.

The soldiers are famous for maintaining their professionalism, no matter the scenario, as part of their training and protocol. The guards can even be landed with a fine for laughing or smiling, and have to work through all weather conditions.

Another one of the soldiers shared a verbal greeting with Frank, with the video capturing the moment the guard said: Morning young man.

The TikTok ended once the guards had walked out of the frame, at which point Frank could be seen standing in disbelief before sharing a thumbs up with his father, who films all of his videos. The video has since been viewed more than five million times.

People in the comments section were quick to praise the Kings Guard for breaking protocol to make the little boys day. I love how they acknowledged him, including the Kings Guard the other day, one comment read. Theyve all been that little lad at one point, another one wrote. That last nod brought tears to my eyes, a third viewer said.

This isnt the first time the soldiers have performed a heartwarming gesture. In July, another member of the Kings Guard was applauded for taking an unexpected step toward a young man with Down Syndrome to help him take a better picture.

In the video posted on TikTok, an unnamed member of the Household Calvarys Blues and Royals regiment helped Ibrahim and his friend Mike van Erp capture an improved photo by taking one step closer to them, Forces Network reported.

"[Ibrahim] was nervous around the guard, probably because I was being careful to give the soldier space and because the guard has such emphatic body language, van Erp said.

The gesture has also amassed more than five million views on TikTok and was seen by Major Steve Parker, an official at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst where both Prince Harry and Prince William went.

I am proud to be a member of @HCav1660 (Blues and Royals) every single day but seeing this young Trooper do this has me bursting with Pride. Well done young man, you are a fantastic example of the empathetic, strong young leaders we need in the @BritishArmy, Parker tweeted after seeing the video.
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Sandra Bullocks sister has praised the actor for the way she cared for her partner, Bryan Randall, until his death on Saturday 5 August.

Randalls family announced in a statement on Monday (7 August) that Randall died after a private battle with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), aged 57.

While Bullock, who had been in a relationship with the model-turned-photographer since they met in 2015, has yet to issue her own statement about Randalls death, her sister, American pastry chef Gesine Bullock-Prado, shared a touching Instagram tribute to the late photographer.

ALS is a cruel disease but there is some comfort in knowing he had the best of caretakers in my amazing sister and the band of nurses she assembled who helped her look after him in their home, wrote Bullock-Prado, sharing a picture of Randall wearing a suit and smiling at the camera.

Im convinced that Bry has found the best fishing spot in heaven and is already casting his lure into rushing rivers teaming [sic] with salmon, Bullock-Prado added. Rest in peace, Bryan.

It is with great sadness that we share that on 5 August, Bryan Randall passed away peacefully after a three-year battle with ALS [amyotrophic lateral sclerosis], his family shared.

Bryan chose early to keep his journey with ALS private and those of us who cared for him did our best to honor his request.

We are immensely grateful to the tireless doctors who navigated the landscape of this illness with us and to the astounding nurses who became our roommates, often sacrificing their own families to be with ours, his family added.

At this time we ask for privacy to grieve and to come to terms with the impossibility of saying goodbye to Bryan, the statement sent to People magazine concluded, signed, His Loving Family.

ALS is a neurological disease that damages nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. In the UK, ALS is the most common form of motor neurone disease (MND), which is when nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, call motor neurones, stop working properly.

Randalls family has asked for donations to be made to the ALS Association and the Massachusetts General Hospital.

The Gravity actor, 59, met Randall in 2015 when he was photographing her son Louiss birthday. She and Randall made a public appearance together at Jennifer Aniston and Justin Therouxs wedding later that year.

Bullock has two adopted children, Louis Bardo Bullock, 13. and Laila Bullock, 11.

I found the love of my life. We share two beautiful children  three children, [Randalls] older daughter. Its the best thing ever, Bullock told Red Table Talk in 2021.

I dont wanna say do it like I do it, but I dont need a paper to be a devoted partner and devoted mother, The Lost City star said of marriage, adding: I dont need to be told to be ever present in the hardest of times. I dont need to be told to weather a storm with a good man.
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Divers have recovered the flight data recorder from an Australia army helicopter that crashed at sea, killing the four crewmembers, during a military exercise with the United States last month, officials said Tuesday.

Recovering the black box was a priority to help determine the cause of the crash of the MRH-90 Taipan during a nighttime operation July 28 in the Whitsunday Islands off the northeast Australian coast.

Navy divers retrieved the device that contains the helicopters flight data and cockpit voice recordings Monday, a Defense Department statement said.

A drone spotted human remains in the wreckage last week at a depth of 40 meters (131 feet). But the remains have yet to be retrieved because of bad weather and strong currents.

Australias fleet of more than 40 Taipans has been grounded since the crash and there are doubts any will fly again. The government says they will remain grounded until crash investigators have found a cause of the tragedy.

The government announced in January plans to replace the French Airbus-manufactured helicopters with 40 U.S. Black Hawk helicopters. The Taipans retirement date of December 2024 would be 13 years earlier than Australia had initially planned.

The army has taken delivery of three new UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters since July.

The crashed Taipan had been taking part in Talisman Sabre, a biennial U.S.-Australian military exercise that is largely based in Queensland state. This years exercise involves 13 nations and more than 33,000 military personnel.
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Scientists are planning to solve one of the worlds greatest archaeological mysteries.

Using an unparalleled range of tests, experts are investigating whether a group of ape-men succeeded in creating a complex human-like culture - potentially thousands of years before our own species, Homo sapiens, managed to do so.

Evidence, gathered by the scientists, suggests that a complex ape-man culture with some practices and belief systems normally only associated with modern humanity, emerged in southern Africa around 300,000 years ago.

The species has been named Homo naledi by the scientists (Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 4.0)

Adding to the mystery is the fact that the now long-extinct species behaved in several key ways like modern humans - and yet appears to have been able to do that with brains which were only a third the size of ours.

The discovery and the ongoing research threatens to overthrow key aspects of how the scientific world understands human evolution.

The evidence assembled so far is beginning to suggest that these small-brained ape-men may have been able to do seven remarkable things:

-Envisage an afterlife (in other words, a belief that some form of existence continues beyond death).

-Believe that an afterlife occurs in some sort of underworld, located beneath (rather than on or above) the world of the living. That implies that they may have developed some very embryonic sense of cosmology.

-Conceive the idea of physically burying their dead - in that underworld.

-Give grave goods to dead members of their community - an apparent act that implies that they may have believed that the dead would somehow be able to use them in an afterlife.

-Carry out potential rituals - specifically funerary meals - inside their underworld.

-Create rudimentary art (abstract designs) around the entrance to at least one of the burial chambers in that underworld.

-Plan some sort of relatively complex lighting system (either a succession of small fires and/or torches) to enable them to penetrate their underworld and take their dead there.

The discovery has been met with excitement by some scientists but with scepticism from others (Lee Roger Berger research team/CC BY 4.0)

Their underworld was located deep underground in a complex subterranean system, known as Rising Star Cave, in what is now the north-east part of South Africa. To reach the main chamber (accommodating what appear to be burials) within that system involved a 130 metre long subterranean journey.

The discovery have been met with excitement by some scientists but with scepticism from others.

We know that what were discovering breaks totally new ground - and is therefore likely to be controversial. Thats why we are deploying every possible type of investigative technology to ensure that the maximum amount of additional evidence can be found, said the leader of the Rising Star Cave investigation, National Geographic and University of Witwatersrand palaeoanthropologist, Professor Lee Berger, who with co-investigator, human evolution expert Professor John Hawks, has just published a detailed National Geographic book on the discoveries, entitled Cave of Bones.

Preliminary scientific tests have already been carried out - but large numbers of other tests are now being planned to confirm or amend initial conclusions.

The most controversial aspect of the species (named Homo naledi by the scientists) is the creatures brain size - barely bigger than that of a chimpanzee.

So a crucial part of the ongoing investigation will be further detailed examination of the species skull fragments, found in the cave complex, to try to better understand the structure and organisation of their brains. So far remains of at least 30 individuals have been found there - and its likely that dozens more will be discovered over the coming months and years.

Certainly, despite its small brain size, the creature had very well-developed human-like frontal lobes, the precise area of the brain known to be involved with planning and language.

To make the discovery less controversial, the scientists will need to provide additional evidence that brain size is not necessarily crucial in terms of cognitive ability. That would involve demolishing literally centuries of scientific belief.

The investigation so far strongly suggests that Homo naledi corpses were deliberately brought into the cave system and deliberately buried there. The evidence gathered so far points to living members of that species being responsible for doing that.

Despite its small brain size, the creature had very well-developed human-like frontal lobes (Cicero Moraes (Arc-Team) et alii/CC BY 4.0)

One Homo naledi individual (a child) seems to have been deliberately buried with a grave good - a probable tool placed in his or her right hand.

Now, further excavations are planned which may yield additional such grave goods in other graves in the Homo naledi underworld.

Any such discoveries would further bolster the idea that Homo naledi had a concept of life after death.

Key to the investigation will be dating the hearths used to cook food (including antelope) in the pitch-dark subterranean complex. Dating them is crucial in order to definitively confirm that the hearths were made in the Homo naledi era. Using a dating system, known as electron spin resonance, it may be possible to date the enamel of teeth from those antelopes and other animals. Whats more the archaeologists will try to use another dating system to determine the age of a layer of solidified lime which overlies some of the hearths.

The individuals cooking the antelope and other meat also seem to have deliberately broken those animals long bones, presumably to extract the very nutritional marrow from inside them. Microscopic analysis of the bone breaks will be carried out to try to prove that they were deliberately broken with a stone tool, rather than accidentally.

The team lays out fossils of H. naledi at the University of the Witwatersrands Evolutionary Studies Institute (Robert Clark/National Geographic)

Another key part of the investigation will involve detailed geomorphological and other studies of the cave rock faces where what are almost certainly engravings have been discovered. First, the archaeologists will need to prove beyond any doubt that the designs seemingly engraved on those walls could not have been made by erosion or other natural processes.

Then they will need to demonstrate that they were made by tools.

And crucially, the scientists plan to date the apparent engravings by using uranium series dating to reveal the age of patches of stalagmite-like material (calcite) which formed inside the engravings after they were made.

The investigators will also be looking for any traces of surviving Homo naledi DNA associated with the engravings or with any other material adhering to the cave walls. Thats because other, albeit much less ancient, Stone Age art is known to have sometimes been created by using a mixture of pigment and potentially DNA-bearing spit.

A reconstruction of Homo naledis head by paleoartist John Gurche, who spent some 700 hours recreating the head from bone scans (Mark Thiessen/National Geographic)

We are currently planning the most ambitious and comprehensive scientific investigation ever carried out on apparent prehistoric engravings. If we can confirm that the patterns on the rock face were most likely created by Homo naledi, they will overturn scientific thinking on the evolution of symbolic thought, said rock art specialist Genevieve von Petzinger, co-leader of the Spanish-based archaeology group, the First Art Team, which is carrying out the examination of the Rising Star Cave engravings.

One of the most remarkable aspects of the Homo naledi underworld is its difficult-to-access location. In order to reach it today involves a 130 metre long 30 minute subterranean journey including around 12 metres crawling through narrow passageways between 15 and 20 centimetres high, before descending down an almost vertical 12 metre long chimney, with an average width of just 20 centimetres.

Geomorphological surveys of the cave complex suggest that it was almost as challenging back in Homo naledis era. So it would have taken huge determination and, arguably, even ideological vision, for them to take corpses, fire wood, fire brands, and potentially antelope and other meat on such a daunting subterranean journey.

The ten metre high ceiling of the main burial chamber is deep underground - around 35 metres below the outside world with no apparent alternative above ground access.

The importance of the discovery - potentially implying that ape-men had religious and even perhaps cosmological concepts about life after death - are so revolutionary that many scientists will find the very concept extremely difficult to accept.

The find was announced by the University of the Witwatersrand, the National Geographic Society and the South African National Research Foundation and published in the journal eLife (Christo Saayman)

It very substantially blurs the cognitive boundary between our species (Homo sapiens) and our ape-man ancestors and predecessors.

And yet, if the ongoing investigations strengthen those revolutionary implications, they may shed fascinating new light on the ultimate origins of how and what modern humans still think and believe.

A majority of the worlds population still believes in an afterlife - and historical and ethnographic evidence clearly shows that very large numbers of ancient human cultures thought that that afterlife was, cosmologically, located beneath the world of the living (rather than on it - or, heaven-style, above it). Perhaps tellingly, it is a global concept.

From at least the 4th Millennium BC, the ancient Sumerians (of southern Iraq) believed in an underworld called Kur (meaning earth/ground or mountain). The ancient Egyptians had an underworld called the Duat, while the ancient Chinese had a similar concept (called the Diyu, literally meaning Earth Prison and the Difu, literally meaning the Earth Mansion). In Hinduism, there is the ancient concept of the Patala (literally that which is below the feet), while in the Americas, the ancient Maya, the Aztecs and the Incas all had underworld concepts, as did the ancient Celts, Greeks and Romans in Europe, the Polynesians of the Pacific, the Inuit of the Arctic and the peoples of Japan and Korea. In Christianity the concept survives as hell.

Homo naledis apparently sophisticated funerary culture is significant because its the first time that archaeologists have discovered evidence of such behaviour being practiced by a species not closely related to us, Homo sapiens.

Interestingly, some Neanderthals and Homo heidelbergensis communities buried or deposited their dead in caves - as have many modern human (Homo sapiens) cultures from the Stone Age to the present day. In many ancient civilizations worldwide, humans even created artificial caves, if there were no natural ones available.

The ongoing research into the mysteries of Rising Star Cave is likely to shed fascinating new light on the distant origins of human thought and belief systems.

National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Lee Berger and leader of the excavation expedition, inside the Rising Star cave in South Africa where fossil elements belonging to H. naledi, a new species of human relative, were discovered (Robert Clark/National Geographic)

The ultimate implication may affect how we view prehistory going back several million years ago - because Homo naledi was almost certainly not a direct ancestor of ours.

Instead, Homo sapiens is and Homo naledi was probably descended from a common ancestor species long before either existed - so the similarities in belief could be either coincidental or inherited from even deeper prehistory.

Zoological research over recent years has begun to reveal that a number high intelligence animal species (elephants, chimpanzees, monkeys, magpies, dolphins and others) appear to have death-related rituals - including standing guard over the dead and in some cases covering the dead with leaves and other material. Additional future research into such animal behaviour may well shed additional light on the very distant origins of modern human and pre-modern-human funerary behaviour.

The Rising Star Cave investigation - which is currently the subject of a one and a half hour long Netflix documentary (Unknown: Cave of Bones) - is multidisciplinary and international, involving archaeologists, physical anthropologists, geomorphologists and other scientists from South Africa, The United states, Canada, China, Nigeria, Germany, the UK, Italy, Spain and Portugal.

Many hundreds of bones of Homo naledi have been found in the cave system in a series of expeditions over the past decade. The engravings have only just been published, as has evidence for the deliberate burial of Homo naledi individuals in the cave. The detailed book on the site, Cave of Bones, was published earlier today, Tuesday.
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The Justice Secretary has defended the Governments announcement of a task force targeting corrupt immigration lawyers as critics branded it a red herring to distract from the asylum backlog.

Alex Chalk said the Whitehall unit, for which there is no new funding, will aim to ensure that advocates who are found to be responsible for submitting fraudulent claims are convicted, punished and disgraced.

Touring broadcast studios on Tuesday, he said it is right to root out a tiny minority of lawyers damaging the reputation of others in the profession.

It came as the public affairs director for the Law Society, which represents solicitors in England and Wales, accused the Government of lawyer-bashing with the announcement of work that is not new.

David McNeill said the task force  bringing together civil servants, regulatory bodies and law enforcement  has been in existence for months, despite its official launch by the Home Office on Tuesday.

The Justice Secretary acknowledged that the unit has been in operation for some time, but told BBC Breakfast: The Law Society is right that its a tiny minority of lawyers and the overwhelming majority of lawyers in this country do an extremely important job.

However, there is a small minority that are doing terrible damage, not just because theyre coming up with false claims which means that people are remaining here who ought not to remain here, but doing terrible damage to the reputation of lawyers. And it is absolutely right that we crack down on them.

The Law Society questioned what, if anything, the Government is announcing today and said the necessary powers are already in place to deal with immigration advisers engaged in misconduct.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) prohibits lawyers from deceiving courts, and any act of dishonesty or lack of integrity may result in them being struck off.

As part of the announcement, the Home Office said those ultimately found guilty of helping people remain in the country by fraudulent means could face life imprisonment, which is already the maximum sentence for assisting unlawful migration under the Immigration Act 1971.

This task force which they tout with such aggressive language has been in existence for months now so really, from our perspective, it just looks like a bit of lawyer-bashing as a distraction from really bad news for the Government on the number of asylum seekers now accommodated in hotels - 50,000 David McNeill, Law Society

Speaking on BBC Radio 4s Today programme, Mr McNeill accepted that improper practice sometimes occurs in the industry, but added: Its not in our interest to have any solicitor acting improperly or crookedly this announcement today is something of a red herring.

This task force which they tout with such aggressive language has been in existence for months now so really, from our perspective, it just looks like a bit of lawyer-bashing as a distraction from really bad news for the Government on the number of asylum seekers now accommodated in hotels  50,000.

Mr Chalk said the Professional Enablers Taskforce has been developing resources to ensure Home Office lawyers are better trained to identify evidence of fraud.

This has included the development of a new training package for frontline staff who work in the immigration system to help them identify and report suspect activity.

The Justice Secretary, a former barrister, said professionals should not be granted immunity from the law simply because they are lawyers, telling GB News he is absolutely comfortable with the crackdown.

But Bar Council chairman Nick Vineall KC warned the task force must not fall into the trap of identifying lawyers with the causes of their clients, nor should it assume that misbehaviour by clients amounts to misbehaviour by lawyers.

Now, weak as ever, they are setting up a talking shop instead of cracking down on those who abuse our immigration system Shadow justice secretary Steve Reed

For Labour, shadow justice secretary Steve Reed said it is too little too late and the buck stops with the Conservatives, accusing them of having sat idly by for 13 years while illegal migration has spun out of control.

He said: Now, weak as ever, they are setting up a talking shop instead of cracking down on those who abuse our immigration system.

It comes as the Government kicks off a stop the boats week of linked announcements on immigration.

The number of people in the UK waiting for a decision on their asylum application stood at nearly 173,000 in March, according to the latest available data  the equivalent of around 345 Bibby Stockholm barges.

The first migrants boarded the giant vessel  moored off the Dorset coast in Portland  on Monday, while others were granted a last-minute reprieve after a series of legal challenges.

Mr Chalk admitted it is frustrating that just 15 have arrived on the 500-capacity vessel but insisted it doesnt diminish our resolve to solve this.

He defended Conservative Party deputy chairman Lee Anderson, who said asylum seekers complaining about the Bibby Stockholm barge should f*** off back to France.

Lee Anderson expresses the righteous indignation of the British people. Yes, he does it in salty terms, thats his style, but his indignation is well placed, the minister told LBC.

Former shadow home secretary Diane Abbott, currently an Independent MP, wrote on Twitter: A new low even for the Tories.

Taxpayer money is being spent on housing migrants in some cases in four-star hotels, Mr Chalk confirmed, which he said is why the Government is looking at cheaper alternatives.

Around 20 asylum seekers did not board the barge as planned on Monday because their transfers were cancelled after lawyers challenged the decisions.

More men with luggage were pictured walking up a gangway to the barge on Tuesday.

The Home Office said the first asylum seekers are now being housed on the barge after it successfully completed all health, fire and safety checks, adding: The number of people on board will increase gradually with more arrivals later this week and in the coming months.

The number of migrants staying in hotels as temporary accommodation stood at more than 50,000 in June  up by about 10,000 since December, according to official figures.

Mr Chalk said the backlog of asylum claims has decreased by 17,000 over recent weeks.
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Justice Secretary Alex Chalk has defended Lee Anderson after the Conservative Party deputy chairman said asylum seekers complaining about the Bibby Stockholm barge should f*** off back to France.

Mr Chalk said the indignation of the Ashfield MP was well placed after just 15 migrants entered the floating accommodation off the Dorset coast on Monday.

The Government has said the barge, which was initially designed to fit about 200 people, has a 500-person capacity.

Lee Anderson expresses the righteous indignation of the British people. Yes, he does it in salty terms, that's his style, but his indignation is well placed Justice Secretary Alex Chalk

But the transfer of migrants on to the vessel has been mired in difficulty and delays amid safety concerns, local opposition and legal challenges.

Mr Chalk told LBC: Lee Anderson expresses the righteous indignation of the British people. Yes, he does it in salty terms, thats his style, but his indignation is well placed.

The Justice Secretary said France is a safe country and a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights.

People should claim asylum in the first country  its not like there should be an open shopping list of where you want to go, he said.

He expresses himself in his characteristically robust terms but there is a lot of sense, in my respectful view, in what Lee says.

Around 20 migrants refused to board the Bibby Stockholm on Monday because their transfers were cancelled after lawyers challenged the decisions.

On those complaining about the accommodation, Mr Anderson told Express.co.uk: If they dont like barges then they should f*** off back to France.

He added: I think people have just had enough.

The dehumanising and inflammatory language used by certain politicians is putting people seeking sanctuary in this country at real risk, including the survivors that Freedom from Torture treat every day Natasha Tsangarides, Freedom from Torture

These people come across the Channel in small boats if they dont like the conditions they are housed in here then they should go back to France, or better not come at all in the first place.

Former shadow home secretary Diane Abbott, currently an Independent MP, wrote on Twitter: A new low even for the Tories.

Freedom from Torture, a refugee charity, said the dehumanising and inflammatory language would put people seeking sanctuary in the UK at real risk.

Natasha Tsangarides, associate director of advocacy for the organisation, said: Time and time again, were seeing Government ministers amping up the cruelty of their anti-refugee rhetoric to distract from their own catastrophic mismanagement of both the asylum system and of this country.

The dehumanising and inflammatory language used by certain politicians is putting people seeking sanctuary in this country at real risk, including the survivors that Freedom from Torture treat every day.

Home Office figures released on Monday showed that the number of asylum seekers being housed in temporary hotel accommodation passed 50,000 in June this year  up by around 10,000 from December.
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The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has apologised to its thousands of serving officers and civilian staff whose personal and employment data was compromised in a significant data breach.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said he is deeply concerned by the data breach, while the Police Federation for Northern Ireland (PFNI) said its members are appalled.

The incident happened when the PSNI responded to a Freedom of Information request seeking the number of officers and staff at all ranks and grades across the organisation.

In the published response to this request a table was embedded that contained the rank and grade data, but also included detailed information that attached the surname, initial, the location and the departments for all employees of the PSNI.

The data was potentially viewable by the public for between 2.5 to three hours.

Addressing the media in Belfast on Tuesday, Assistant Chief Constable Chris Todd apologised to officers for the unacceptable breach.

He said that once it was brought to the PSNIs attention it was taken down quickly, and that early indications were that this was a simple human error.

Mr Todd also said there were no immediate security concerns, but they were monitoring the situation.

I understand that that will be of considerable concern to many of my colleagues and their families indeed, at the moment, he said.

We operate in an environment at the moment where theres a severe threat to our colleagues from Northern Ireland-related terrorism and this is the last thing that anybody in the organisation wants to be hearing this evening.

So, I owe it to all my colleagues to make sure that this is investigated thoroughly, and weve initiated that and will keep them informed, keep all the staff associations informed of that investigation, and weve been engaging with them throughout the afternoon.

The information was taken down very quickly but, nevertheless, I do appreciate the concern, of course we will seek to find the extent to which that has been viewed.

What I would say is that although the error was our own, once that information was out there if anybody did have access to it, I would ask them to delete it straight away.

The incident was first reported by the Belfast Telegraph, which reported that it viewed the uploaded material after it was contacted by a relative of a serving officer.

Apart from the person who released the information, the PSNI was unaware the information had been released until they saw it on a website, Mr Todd confirmed.

He said that despite the data only including surnames and initials, the breach will still be of significant concern to many of my colleagues.

We will ensure we do anything we can to mitigate any security risks that are identified.

He added: Weve looked into the circumstances, well continue with our investigation, but the very early considerations are that this is simple human error and the people who have been involved in the process have acted in good faith.

Weve identified some steps that we can take to ensure that it doesnt happen again.

It is regrettable but it is simple human error.

Liam Kelly, chairman of the PFNI, said an urgent inquiry is needed into the monumental breach.

Even if it was done accidentally, it still represents a data and security breach that should never have happened, he said.

Rigorous safeguards ought to have been in place to protect this valuable information which, if in the wrong hands, could do incalculable damage.

The men and women I represent are appalled by this breach. They are shocked, dismayed and justifiably angry. Like me, they are demanding action to address this unprecedented disclosure of sensitive information.

Politicians have reacted with shock  the SDLPs policing spokesman Mark H Durkan called on PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne to make a statement.

DUP MLA for South Antrim, Trevor Clarke, a member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, said they would look for answers when it meets on Thursday, and pinned some blame on Mr Heaton-Harris.

The Secretary of State has presided over a budget, which is the worst that the police have ever had  theyve looked to reduce numbers at a time they shouldve been increasing numbers, he told BBC Radio 4s World Tonight.

Mr Todd said Mr Byrne is aware of the issue, but would not comment on whether he would return from his summer break to respond.

Im the duty officer and Im the senior information risk owner, so I take responsibility for this, he said.

A spokesman for the Information Commissioners Office said the PSNI has made us aware of an incident and we are assessing the information provided.
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Horrified witnesses described pools of blood after a man was stabbed while waiting in the queue outside the British Museum.

Officers were called to the world-renowned tourist attraction in London following reports of a knife attack on Tuesday morning, with an eyewitness reporting that a pool and trail of blood was visible on the ground.

Witnesses said the middle-aged male victim, who was stabbed in the arm, attempted to escape and was dripping blood everywhere along the busy street, which was packed with tourists.

Visitors have been evacuated while the victim has been taken to hospital (Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)

The man was initially treated at the scene and was taken by London Ambulance Service to hospital. He was taken to a major trauma unit and his condition is being assessed.

George Osborne, former chancellor and chairman of the British Museum, praised the emergency services after the disturbing attack, and added: Everyones thoughts at the BM are with the victim and we wish him the best recovery.

The Met Police said a man had been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous body harm following the incident.

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In a statement posted on social media, the force said: A man has been arrested on suspicion of GBH following an isolated incident at the junction of Russell Street /Museum St approx 10am  a man was taken to hospital with a stab wound. No outstanding risk to the public.

It said the stabbing was an isolated incident and was not being treated as terror-related.

An employee at a nearby souvenir shop told The Independent there was blood on the pavement which has since been washed away. Another local said they had heard no screaming, no shouting but later saw a trail of blood leading away from the Museum Tavern pub.

The victim has been rushed to hospital with an arm injury (Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)

An eyewitness told the Mirror: A pool and trail of blood was clearly visible to hundreds of bystanders at the entrance of the museum. I saw an officer walk past with a large 30cm kitchen knife in hand.

A large line of visitors to the museum were moved away from the scene. The response of the officers was calm despite the circumstances.

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said it sent an ambulance crew and an incident response officer to the scene. We treated a man at the scene for an arm injury before taking him to a major trauma centre as a priority, it added.

The junction of Great Russell Street and Museum Street was close to the entrance of the famous museum after the attack while police investigated.

Visitors were evacuated from the museum, with the Financial Times journalist Keira Renee tweeting: Was just waiting in line to enter. Being told by police that its a large crime scene and that the museum will be closed until tomorrow.

The British Museum later confirmed it had reopened with increased security.

A statement said: The museum was closed this morning due to an incident following a member of the public being attacked nearby.

The museums security team supported at the scene until the emergency services arrived. Visitors were evacuated from the museum as a precaution and we wish the victim a full and swift recovery. The museum has now reopened with raised security including a heightened search operation.

A tent has been erected at the scene while police investigate (Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)

One witness tweeted: Within ten minutes of entering, they are kicking us out. The @britishmuseum is closing due to police alert?? A man with a knife in the queue.

A 27-year-old American woman said she was about to enter the queue when she was told to leave by police because someone had been stabbed.

The visitor from New York was leaving a Starbucks near the museum on Great Russell Street when police approached her.

The incident is not being treated as terrorism-related (Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)

She said: I was standing across the street at the Starbucks walking out to get into the line.

We decided it was a good time to go, then we walked out and a cop directly in front of us told us we needed to leave and that the crime scene was large.

I heard that someone was stabbed and the ambulance was parked inside near the grass area and then rushed down the street, right by me, with police following behind.

Anyone with information or footage which could assist the police investigation is asked to contact police on 101, quoting CADF 2184/08AUG, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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A man who fled to Bulgaria after bomb-making manuals and videos of beheadings and terrorist attacks were found on his laptop has been jailed after being extradited back to the UK.

David Bodill failed to show up at a court hearing last year after police discovered various chemicals and notes about how to mix them to create an explosive at his home in Buxton, Derbyshire, on March 2 2020.

Analysis of the 29-year-olds devices also found extremist material from both extreme right-wing and Islamic terror organisations which showed attacks, beheadings and bomb-making tutorials, Derbyshire Police said.

After being charged, he failed to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court last October and later told police he had fled to Bulgaria with no intention of returning.

While he did not appear to have any significantly extreme political views his interest in such matters  combined with his bomb-making materials and handbooks  makes for a dangerous individual. Det Sgt Frank Fraser, Counter Terror Police

He was arrested by Bulgarian authorities in January 2023 and extradited back to the UK for his trial at Manchester Crown Court, where a jury found him guilty of an offence under section 4 of the Explosive Substances Act 1883.

He was jailed for two years and six months at the same court on Monday.

Detective Sergeant Frank Fraser, from Counter Terrorism Policing East Midlands (CTPEM), said: The substances and downloaded bomb-making materials possessed by David Bodill are very concerning.

Not only had he researched and written his own notes on bomb-making, but had also searched for and downloaded extreme footage from various terrorist groups.

While he did not appear to have any significantly extreme political views, his interest in such matters  combined with his bomb-making materials and handbooks  makes for a dangerous individual.

We welcome both the verdict and sentence and hope it sends a clear message that we will do all we can to ensure the safety of our communities.

We have seen an increasing number of people being exposed to extremist material online and I would urge anyone who has any concerns about any of the family or friends who may be exhibiting concerning behaviour to report it.

When Bodills home in Carlisle Road was searched, police also found a laptop which had terrorist bomb-making manuals on it and searches for how to make gunpowder.

The case was then handed over to CTPEM, who found more extremist material.

Bodill had claimed that the material was for legitimate use, adding that he had an interest in firearms and was looking to pursue a career in manufacturing them, police said.
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Dozens of animals have been targeted and killed with lethal weapons including crossbows, air guns, catapults and slingshots in the last four years in the UK, with hundreds of others being injured, the RSPCA has revealed.

The animal welfare charity said its latest case was a horrifying crossbow attack on a squirrel in Whinchat Grove in Kidderminster on June 19. X-ray images released by the charity showed how deep the crossbow injured the animal, leaving a mark and a deep hole in its body.

At the time of the incident, RSPCA Inspector Steve Morrall rushed the squirrel to a vet where sadly he had to be put to sleep because of the severity of the injuries.

Mr Morrall said: The squirrel was alive and in agony with the crossbow bolt lodged in his body. This cruel and intentional act caused the squirrel significant pain and unnecessary suffering.

An X-ray of a squirrel shot with a crossbow (RSPCA)

Kent is among the worst areas for cases of animals being intentionally harmed by weapons, seeing 56 reports since 2020, followed by Greater London with 47 reports.

From the start of 2020 up to May 2023, the animal welfare charity received 808 reports relating to animals being intentionally harmed by weapons.

Airguns and rifles were responsible for a majority of the incidents with 658 reports made to the charity. However, catapults and slingshots accounted for a combined 124 incidents, while there were 34 calls made to the RSPCA about crossbow attacks.

(RSPCA)

The counties that saw the most reports of animals intentionally harmed by weapons between 2020 and May 2023 were:

Kent - 56 reports Greater London - 47 reports Merseyside - 35 reports West Yorkshire - 30 reports Nottinghamshire - 30 reports West Midlands - 30 reports Greater Manchester - 28 reports Essex - 26 reports Hampshire - 26 reports South Yorkshire - 25 reports

The figures were released as part of the charitys Cancel Out Cruelty campaign, which strives to stop animal abuse.

RSPCA national wildlife coordinator Geoff Edmond said: It is unspeakably cruel, totally unacceptable and illegal to shoot animals for fun - or as target practice, but sadly our emergency line is receiving hundreds of reports.

We think of ourselves as a nation of animal lovers, but the RSPCAs experience shows that there are people out there who are deliberately targeting wildlife, pets and farm animals with guns, catapults and crossbows. These weapons cause horrific pain and suffering.

Mr Edmond said frontline officers and animal centres see the sickening consequences of weapons being used on animals, with severe injuries often leading to death.

And what we deal with is probably only the tip of the iceberg as not all cases will be reported to the RSPCA directly and there may be situations where animals injured and killed by these weapons are sadly never found - especially in the case of wildlife, he added.

The RSPCA has called on the public to back their campaign to help tackle this horrific trend.

Earlier this year, in April 2023, a buzzard was also found shot in the head with an air rifle. Although the pellet missed her eye and skull, the wound had become an abscess and as the bird was emaciated it is likely she had been shot some time ago, preventing her from eating, the RSPCA said.

In November last year, a mallard duck survived an attack after it was shot with a crossbow bolt.

Mallard duck shot in the head with a crossnow (RSPCA)

Another incident last November saw two cats shot in the face within the space of a month. The cats were shot with an airgun, the RSPCA said.

Due to the increase in reports, the RSPCA has been campaigning to remove the loophole from firearm legislation which allows minors unsupervised possession of air weapons on private land.

The UK government agreed with this proposal and in July 2022 undertook to amend the Firearms Rules 1998 to strengthen controls on access to airguns by minors, but this has yet to occur one year on, the RSPCA added.

The charity has said that all birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and killing them or intentionally hurting them is an offence - except under licence. The maximum penalty, if found guilty, is six months in prison and/or an unlimited fine.

Under the Animal Welfare Act, anyone caught deliberately using an air gun to injure an animal can face up to five years in prison and/or an unlimited fine if found guilty, the RSPCA said.

Mr Edmond added: Right now, animal cruelty is happening in England and Wales on a massive scale. It is heartbreaking that we are seeing such sad figures which show animal cruelty is so prevalent in our society.

Each year, reports of cruelty reach a terrible annual peak in the summer months  and were braced for another summer of reports about innocent animals being targeted by air rifles, catapults and other deadly weapons. We need the help of our supporters so we can cancel out cruelty once and for all.

The Independent has contacted DEFRA for a comment.
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Asylum seekers who refuse to move onto the governments new asylum barge are being threatened with eviction and potential homelessness, as resistance hampers ministers ambitions to pack 500 people on board.

Only 15 migrants were put on the Bibby Stockholm on Monday  far below the Home Offices initial estimate of 50 in the first group  and officials said more people had arrived on Tuesday but would not confirm how many.

The Home Office has already abandoned attempts to transfer at least 20 men selected for the barge, after receiving legal letters warning that some had disabilities, serious medical conditions and other issues and that placing them on board would break the governments own rules.

But several other people who refused to board buses from their hotels to Portland Port on Monday received letters demanding they move on Tuesday or face the withdrawal of housing and other support.

The letters, originally published by Sky News, read: Arrangements were made for you to travel from your accommodation to alternative accommodation at the Bibby Stockholm in Portland on 7th August 2023.

On 7th August 2023 you did not take up the offer of this accommodation  if you do not travel tomorrow, on 8th August 2023, arrangements for ceasing the support that you are receiving from the Home Office may commence.

The Home Office cited part of a 1999 law that creates a duty for it to provide accommodation and financial support for asylum seekers who are destitute, meaning they do not have adequate accommodation or any means of obtaining it, or cannot meet essential living needs.

The Care4Calais charity said anyone receiving a transfer notice for the Bibby Stockholm has the right to challenge it, and there are multiple reasons for them to do so.

Chief executive Steve Smith added: We have serious concerns that the letters portray a strong element of compulsion when in fact asylum seekers are entitled to say no.

Its becoming clear that the government is now trying to target those asylum seekers who have been unable to secure legal representation, by threatening to make them homeless if they dont move.

Only 15 people boarded the vessel on Monday, after the Home Office reversed some transfer notices and other asylum seekers refused (PA)

The charity said no asylum seekers who have obtained legal representation had received the latest Home Office threat, and that it would be seeking advice from lawyers on the governments process.

Asked whether it was legal to withdraw state accommodation for refusing to board the Bibby Stockholm, justice secretary Alex Chalk said it was not unreasonable to expect people to live on the perfectly safe and decent barge.

Pressed on whether it would be illegal for the Home Office to remove accommodation, he told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: That is something the courts would have to consider but I think it would be unlikely that it would be illegal  I suspect its unlikely to be unlawful.

The Independent understands that the initial transfer notices were sent to hotels in two batches on the evenings of 28 July and last Friday, meaning that some asylum seekers had only two days warning.

Inside the Bibby Stockholm' asylum barge

Many are believed not to have obtained advice or legal representation, and there have already been several cases where the Home Office violated its own guidance by trying to move disabled asylum seekers and torture victims onto the Bibby Stockholm because of poor screening.

The new letter said that accommodation was offered on a no-choice basis, adding: Where asylum seekers fail to take up an offer of suitable accommodation without a reasonable explanation, there should be no expectation that alternative accommodation will be offered.

It listed facilities on the barge, including an on-site nurse, gym, and offered voluntary sector activities and English classes.

Following concerns over fire safety, evacuation routes and virus outbreaks, the letter added: The vessel was recently updated and it is a safe and appropriate accommodation site.

Charity Migrants Organise has sent a pre-action letter to the Home Office calling for it to stop transferring asylum seekers until and unless all concerns regarding the safety and suitability of the barge have been adequately addressed, including the necessary fire safety checks.

The Home Office says the barge will hold 500 people (Getty Images)

The letter, sent on Sunday, demanded a new screening process for asylum seekers being housed there, and a minimum of 72 hours notice.

It warned of serious risks of unlawful detention, targeting by far-right groups, virus outbreaks, fire, overcrowding and a lack of privacy.

Rules imposed by the government itself exclude some vulnerable people from the barge, and state that those who do board should only be there for a maximum of nine months.

Internal guidance states that only single men between the age of 18 and 65 can be put on the Bibby Stockholm, and that they cannot be victims of modern slavery or trafficking.

They cannot be disabled, elderly, or victims of torture, rape or other serious forms of psychological, physical or sexual violence.

Those with complex health needs, such as tuberculosis and infectious diseases, are also excluded, as is anyone with serious mental health issues.

The Home Office bars anyone who is at risk of suicide or serious self-harm, who could be a threat to others or has a history of disruptive behaviour.

Even if it reaches its full capacity, the Bibby Stockholm will house less than 1 per cent of the over 50,000 asylum seekers currently being accommodated in hotels at a cost of over 6m a day.
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Londons famous Brick Lane became a battleground for supporters and opponents of Chinas Communist Party, as artists engaged in a graffiti war with slogans and signs countering each other.

It began after a group of artists spray-painted the big red Chinese characters that outline the 12 core socialist values on a nearly 100m long wall on East London Street on Saturday.

The Chinese government slogan under the leadership of Xi Jinping is at the heart of CCP propaganda and these values include, prosperity, patriotism and harmony, democracy, equality, freedom and the rule of law.

The graffiti on the Brick Lane swiftly went viral on social media, sparking criticism and concerns with another section of artists covering it with anti-Beijing slogans.

The CCP slogan was overlaid with social concerns linked to Chinese rule with graffiti reading Free Taiwan, Free Tibet, Free Uyghur and references to the Tiananmen Square massacre references.

But on Monday, residents woke up to the wall being completely whitewashed by the Tower Hamlets council. While confrontational art was removed from both sides, the residents were upset that they lost some more meaningful older slogans.

A woman sticks a Tibetan independence poster on an area of wall that had been graffitied with Chinese Communist Party ideology (Getty Images)

It included a piece of graffiti work that was a tribute to the late street artist Marty.

Wang Hanzheng, one of the students who created the graffiti, wrote on Instagram that the piece "didnt have much political meaning".

"In the name of freedom and democracy, it illustrates the cultural centre of the West, this is Londons freedom Decolonize the false freedom of the West with the construction of socialism, lets see what happens," the post read.

"Needless to say whats the situation on the other side," he added.

Benedict Rogers, head of the rights group Hong Kong Watch, was critical of the graffiti on Brick Lane.

I utterly condemn the #CCP thugs who defaced Londons Brick Lane with their regimes vile hate-filled propaganda, he said.

The Brick Lane area known for its diverse and vibrant atmosphere has colourful and intricate murals painted on the lanes and buildings, making it a popular destination for street art enthusiasts.

But the slogans on Brick Lane have ignited online debates regarding their classification as street art and the intricate interplay between freedom of expression and political propaganda.

Moreover, the wall has transformed into a stage for conflicting narratives, with individuals promptly incorporating fresh graffiti to voice criticisms against the Chinese government.
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A devastating fire at Britains wonkiest pub is being treated as arson, as a local mayor called for it to be rebuilt brick by brick after it was gutted and demolished.

The Crooked House in Himley in the West Midlands was destroyed by the blaze which broke out at around 10pm on Saturday.

It was confirmed last month that the owners, Marstons, had sold the renowned 18th-Century building to a private buyer for alternative use less than two weeks before the blaze.

A local mayor has said there are major questions to be answered over the blaze (Jacob King/PA Wire)

Flowers and a card left on the sign outside the remains of The Crooked House pub (Matthew Cooper/PA Wire)

Carly Taylor and her husband Aadam had purchased the property shortly before locals submitted an application to Historic England for the pub to be given protected listed status.

A popular landmark in the Black Country, its leaning walls created a number of optical illusions such as pennies and marbles appearing to move uphill along the bar.

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Fire crews were alerted to reports of smoke coming from the empty building, with firefighters battling for an hour to bring the flames under control.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said no one was believed to be inside the property and no injuries have been reported. Pictures from the scene reveal the extent of the damage, with footage emerging of the ruins being demolished.

Below we look at the history of the premises as investigations into what happened continued.

The historic landmark was built in 1765 and is a popular tourist attraction (Nick Maslen/Alamy/PA Wire)

History of The Crooked House

Originally built as a farmhouse in 1765, one side of the building began to tilt due to mining in the area during the 18th century.

It became a public house in the 1830s and was initially called The Siden House, before being renamed the Glynne Arms after the local landowner, Sir Stephen Glynne.

The pub was condemned as unsafe during the 1940s and was scheduled for demolition until Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries stepped in to purchase the building. Using buttresses and girders, they were able to secure the structure while also retaining its lopsided appearance.

It became known as The Crooked House and became a tourist attraction as well as a popular wedding venue site.

Pub sold and unlikely to open its doors again

A fire has completely gutted the building (Jacob King/PA Wire)

The pub was closed earlier this year and sold by Marstons to ATE Farms Ltd, which lists Carly Taylor as its director, with a guide price of 675,000. She and her husband are the current or former directors of 18 companies, including Himley Environmental, which operates a landfill site next to the pub.

Thousands of locals signed a petition to keep the pub as a public house, but a statement from their Facebook page confirmed it had been sold for an alternative use and was unlikely to open its doors again.

Historic England received a request for the pub to be given listed status protection just a week before it burnt down.

This level of protection would require property owners to seek permission from the local council to change the physical features of historical buildings and landmarks.

The organisation The Georgian Group was also examining the historic pub for listed status prior to the fire.

Major questions over blaze

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street has called for the building to be rebuilt brick by brick' (Jacob King/PA Wire)

Staffordshire Police have confirmed they treating the blaze as arson in a joint investigation with fire services and the council.

The force said officers were reviewing all of the available evidence into the blaze, which was tackled by 30 firefighters, and stressed that speculation was extremely unhelpful.

A cordon was in place while inquiries were ongoing but due to the unsafe structure of the building, officers were pulled back on Monday. The burnt remains were then demolished by the owners, without permission from the council.

Roger Lees, leader of Staffordshire Council, said planning officers had visited the site but had not agreed to the demolition, and stated it was completely unacceptable and contrary to instructions provided by our officers.

Multiple reports on social media stated that mounds of dirt were blocking access roads to the pub, with West Midlands Mayor Andy Street and night-time economy adviser Alex Claridge saying there were major questions over the cause of the fire.

In letters to South Staffordshire Council and the emergency services, the two men said they make it clear we are not inferring that The Crooked House was deliberately set alight, and said they were intrigued by the fact officers faced blocked access while trying to get to the scene.

An application had recently been made for the pub to receive listed status (Jacob King/PA Wire)

The two men wrote: Whilst we do not yet know the cause of the fire or the outcome of any investigation being conducted by Staffordshire Police or Staffordshire Fire and Rescue, it is clear that we should not allow such a tragic act to be the end of The Crooked House.

We, therefore, ask that you consider ensuring the property is rebuilt brick by brick (using as much original material as possible) before any further discussions about the future of the site take place.

A petition has received over 13,000 signatures with the aim of restoring this piece of history and restoring the pub to its former glory.

People inspect the rubble and remains of the former pub (PA)

Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Chisholm, Head of Specialist Crime, said: We understand the significance of this much-loved building and the upset and anger felt by many so want to reassure you were doing all we can to understand more about what happened, and who was responsible.

There is lots of misinformation circulating within communities and online and this is unhelpful. Were trying to provide accurate and timely updates, but as I am sure you can appreciate, there is a lot of work and liaison with a number of partners which needs to be completed and this takes time.

There are also certain things that police and fire do not have the powers to deal with, the decision around partial demolition of the building for example, when the scene was handed back to the owner.

We are working hard with our fire colleagues to understand the cause of the fire and are in contact with the landowner, we will keep you updated with any further significant developments.
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A council is investigating potential breaches of the law after construction equipment was used to completely demolish a landmark 18th-century pub near Dudley less than 48 hours after it was gutted by a fire.

South Staffordshire Council said its officers had carried out a site visit to The Crooked House in Himley on Monday  but had not agreed to the demolition of the whole structure or deemed that it was necessary.

Police and fire service experts are investigating the cause of a fire late on Saturday, which caused extensive damage to the inn just two weeks after it was sold by brewer Marstons to a firm based in Warwickshire. The buyers identity is unknown.

Reflecting the mood of many in the community, Dudley North MP Marco Longhi said he was completely devastated and angry at the pubs demolition. He has written to Staffordshire Police to question them on how they are conducting their investigation.

I refuse to believe that what has taken place is normal procedure, the Conservative MP said, adding: Surely, [police] would have needed access to the site to carry on their investigation with the help of forensics? How are they going to do this now that the building has been demolished?

"Did the Police intervene during demolition? There are many questions that need answering.

West Midlands mayor, Andy Street, is calling for the inn  known as Britains wonkiest pub, due to mining subsidence  to be rebuilt brick by brick, and for a ban on any other future use for the site.

There have been multiple reports that mounds of dirt were blocking access roads to the pub after the fire started, something Mr Street confirmed in a letter to the police and fire services.

The historic landmark was built in 1765 and is a popular tourist attraction (Nick Maslen/Alamy/PA)

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the day after a mechanical digger was used to reduce the remaining structure to rubble, the leader of South Staffordshire Council said: Our officers carried out a site visit to the site yesterday, prior to the demolition of the building.

Officers agreed a programme of works with the landowners representative to ensure the safety of the building and the wider site.

The agreed course of action included the removal of three elements of the first-floor front elevation only. This was only to avoid the weak parts of the structure from falling.

At no point did the council agree the demolition of the whole structure nor was this deemed necessary.

South Staffordshire Council finds the manner in which the situation was managed following the fire completely unacceptable and contrary to instructions provided by our officers, councillor Roger Lees continued.

As such, we are currently investigating potential breaches of both the Town and Country Planning Act and the Buildings Act.

West Midlands mayor has called for the pub to be rebuilt brick by brick' (Jacob King/PA)

The councillors statement said demolition of a building should be carried out in accordance with Schedule 2 Part 11 Class B of The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015.

Mr Lees added: The steps required by the legislation were not carried out in this case. We have referred these matters to our legal team with a view to taking enforcement action.

As soon as we were made aware of the breaches during the demolition, we notified the Health and Safety Executive. We are also liaising with many other relevant statutory bodies, including Historic England, the police and fire services, amongst others.

These bodies will take the lead on investigating the issues surrounding the fire, safety of the unauthorised demolition and securing the ongoing safety of the site.

Our own investigation is in its early stages and whilst it continues at pace, we ask for time to consider the facts thoroughly to ensure any future actions are meaningful and proportionate.

The burnt out remains of The Crooked House pub near Dudley (Jacob King/PA)

The council is incredibly saddened by the loss of the building which, whilst not listed, was a heritage asset and important landmark to the local area and community. Over recent months, the council had been in conversation with the relevant national bodies regarding how best to protect and preserve this important heritage asset.

Staffordshire Police said the force is progressing a number of lines of enquiry alongside the council and continues to ask anyone with any information relevant to the inquiry to get in touch as soon as possible.

Chief Inspector Chris Cotton said police are doing everything we can to progress our lines of enquiry, adding: We understand the strength of feeling in the community is high at this moment and the sadness felt amongst those who have a strong emotional attachment to this place.

We recognise the cultural heritage and significance of the building within communities in the area and we understand that people are concerned about what happened over the last few days.

Id like to reiterate that speculation into the cause of the fire is not helpful at this time. Officers have been working hard to examine all of the evidence available and continue to speak to members of the public who have been forthcoming with information which can help our investigation.

A new petition calling for a public inquiry ... into the burning and destruction of this remarkable building surpassed 5,000 signatures on Tuesday.

The pub was listed for sale with a guide price of 675,000, according to a previous petition set up in a bid to save the building, after a post on the pubs Facebook page a fortnight ago noted that it had been sold to private buyer for alternative use. That appeal garnered nearly 12,000 signatures.

Additional reporting by PA
 Close Three hikers found dead in Glencoe

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Three hikers have been found dead in Glencoe, after failing to return from the narrowest mountain ridge on mainland Britain.

The hillwalkers were reported missing shortly after 9pm on Saturday, with a Coastguard helicopter assisting Police Scotland, the RAF and Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team in searching the Aonach Eagach ridge.

Their bodies were discovered shortly after the rescue mission began in the Scottish Highlands, and police said their deaths do not appear to be suspicious.

The ridge is probably the trickiest scrambling on any route listed on WalkHighlands, the website says, describing it as hard, exposed terrain linking the Munros of Meall Dearg and Sgorr nam Fiannaidh, which have summits reaching 952m and 967m above sea level respectively.

Police said: We were made aware of concern for a group of three hillwalkers who had not returned from the Aonach Eagach ridge in Glencoe shortly after 9.05pm on Saturday 5 August.

A search was carried out and the bodies of three people were found. HM Coastguard as well as Glencoe and RAF mountain rescue teams assisted with the recovery operation.
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The Home Office spent more than 1,500 redecorating a migrant detention centre where childrens cartoons were painted over.

A Freedom of Information request revealed the cost of works at Manston in Kent, where all asylum seekers arriving on small boats are detained for initial processing.

The facility, which became unlawfully overcrowded and saw a diphtheria outbreak last autumn, previously had murals of Disney characters including Anna from Frozen on the walls of its children and families unit.

Following a visit in February, the prisons watchdog praised the area for being decorated in bright cheerful colours.

But it emerged last month that the murals had been painted over by the Home Office, along with similar cartoons of Mickey Mouse and other characters at the separate Kent Intake Unit.

In response to a Freedom of Information request by a member of the public, the Home Office said the redecoration of reception areas at Manston had cost 1,549.52.

Immigration minister Robert Jenrick previously told MPs that there was no financial cost to paint over the murals in the Kent Intake Unit.

He claimed he ordered the move because they were not age-appropriate, after being accused of losing sight of humanity with his intervention.

The cohort of unaccompanied children who passed through [the Kent Intake Unit] last year were largely teenagers and we didnt feel the site was age-appropriate, but it does contain a range of support for children and infants, Mr Jenrick told the House of Commons last month.

Murals in a children and family area of the Manston detention centre were painted over in July (HM Inspectorate of Prisons)

Nothing about the decoration of sites changes the fundamentals that if someone comes to the UK we will treat them with decency and compassion at all times.

Yvette Cooper, Labours shadow home secretary, said that painting over cartoons would not deter small boats, and accused the minister of trampling over common decency towards vulnerable children.

The Freedom From Torture charity accused the government of losing sight of its humanity, while Labour MP Stella Creasy compared the minister to a cartoon villain.

A Home Office spokesperson said: We do all we can to ensure children are safe, secure and supported as we urgently seek placements with a local authority. All children receive a welfare interview, which includes questions designed to identify potential indicators of trafficking or safeguarding issues.
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The father of a British scout who was evacuated from an international jamboree in South Korea has said his daughter complained about disgusting conditions at the World Scout Jamboree campsite.

Temperatures have risen to 35C at the campsite near the south-western town of Buan, where more than 40,000 scouts from around the world have gathered for the 12-day event.

Last week South Korea raised its hot weather warning to the highest serious level for the first time in four years.

The father, who asked to remain anonymous, said his 17-year-old daughter was among 4,500 British scouts aged 14 to 17, some of whom have needed treatment for heat-related illnesses.

The toilets deteriorated over the time she was there to the point they were unusable and pretty disgusting Father of British scout

The scouts were moved to hotels in Seoul to help alleviate the pressure on the campsite.

The 48-year-old father told the PA news agency: The toilets deteriorated over the time she was there to the point they were unusable and pretty disgusting.

There were just not enough people on the ground and by the sounds of it it hasnt been well organised by the Koreans.

I dont think they were being particularly well catered for.

The father, from Lancashire, added that the campsite seemed to have been set up on reclaimed land.

The scout was evacuated from the campsite on August 6 and is now quite happy with her current living arrangements in a hotel, the father added.

He said: Shes had a shower and decent food. She seems fairly happy and in reasonable spirits now.

Young people attending the scout event will travel home as originally planned from August 13, the UK Scout Association said on Saturday.

Scouts from 158 countries are attending the jamboree which is hosted by a different nation every four years.

At least 108 people have been treated for heat-related illnesses, most of whom have recovered, it was reported on Thursday.

Activities requiring hard physical effort have been cancelled and organisers have brought more emergency vehicles, medical staff and air conditioning to the site.
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A major data breach involving personal details of every officer of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has left staff fearing for their safety.

The police service mistakenly divulged the names, ranks and other personal data in response to a Freedom of Information (FoI) request.

The routine inquiry had asked for a breakdown of the number of officers the PSNI has of each rank and was published online, PSNI assistant chief constable Chris Todd said at a press briefing in Belfast on Tuesday.

Weve responded to that request, which was seeking to understand the total numbers of officers and staff at all ranks and grade across the organisation, and in the response, unfortunately, one of our colleagues has embedded the source data, which informed that request, said Mr Todd.

This source data included the surname, initial, the rank or grade, the location and the departments for each of our current employees across the police service, he added, noting that every serving police officer and member of police staffs data has been compromised.

The details were accidentally published on the FoI directory, What Do They Know, for a period of time before being taken down.

It is understood that the leaked details do not include officers and civilians private addresses.

Mr Todd apologised to the officers for the breach caused by simple human error, adding that it was unacceptable.

He also said there was nothing at the moment to suggest theres any immediate security concerns but added the police service has put actions in place to ensure that if anything does arise we will be aware of that, and then we can mitigate accordingly.

He added: Weve looked into the circumstances, well continue with our investigation, but the very early considerations are that this is simple human error and the people who have been involved in the process have acted in good faith.

Weve identified some steps that we can take to ensure that it doesnt happen again, he told reporters.

He also said the severe terrorist threat facing PSNI officers has made news of the extensive data breach the last thing that anybody in the organisation wants to be hearing.

A spokesperson for the Information Commissioners Office said: The Police Service of Northern Ireland has made us aware of an incident and we are assessing the information provided.

The secretary of state for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, said he was deeply concerned by news of the data breach. My officials are in close contact with senior officers and are keeping me updated, he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Mike Nesbitt, the Ulster Unionist Party representative on the Policing Board of Northern Ireland, has called for an emergency meeting of the board on Wednesday in response to the disclosure.

In a statement, Mr Nesbitt said the breach must be seen to be taken seriously by the police.

It is imperative that officers, staff and their families and friends understand how seriously this breach is being taken, and that the board is determined to fulfil its oversight and challenge functions appropriately, he said.

There are several issues here. First, ensuring those who now feel themselves at risk are given a realistic assessment of the implications of the data breach, added Mr Nesbitt. Second, why was there no fail safe mechanism to prevent this information being uploaded.

Third, there is the question of whether it was a genuine mistake and, here, the principle of innocent until proven guilty applies. I view this like a serious incident when people are seriously physically injured. The priority is to assist the injured. Only after that do you turn to examine the other issues.

Alliance Party leader and former justice minister Naomi Long said: This level of data breach is clearly of profound concern, not least to police officers, civilian staff and their families, who will be feeling incredibly vulnerable and exposed tonight, and in the days ahead.

Immediate action must be taken to offer them proper information, support, guidance and necessary reassurances regarding their and their families security, Ms Long advised.

She noted that while this data had been removed, once such information has been published online, it leaves an indelible footprint.

That such sensitive information could ever have been held in a manner open to such a breach is unconscionable and will require serious investigation. However, the most urgent issue is supporting those whose security has been compromised, she added.
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Senior Labour MP Harriet Harman has said the four Conservative MPs who agreed that Boris Johnson had lied over Partygate were heroic.

The chair of the cross-party privileges committee investigation praised Tories on the panel for resisting real harassment from their party colleagues.

In her first interview since the historic report  which saw Mr Johnson forced out of parliament  Ms Harman said it was very galling for the ex-PMs allies to try to discredit the probe.

Those four Conservative members of the committee did a heroic service on behalf of the House of Commons because they were absolutely steadfast, Ms Harman told Iain Dale at an Edinburgh fringe event.

They were getting rained down with emails and everything with people saying, You are a disgrace, get off the committee. You should not be doing this. This is a witch-hunt, she added.

And they were being so pressurised from their own side that they were like, This is the job that we have agreed to do for the House of Commons. For our democracy. We are going to look at the evidence without fear or favour. And were going to carry on doing it.

Ms Harman  stepping down at the next general election  defended the committees conclusions and the recommended 90-day suspension, arguing that ministers who lie were now in jeopardy.

To have a cross-party committee make a unanimous finding and put it to the house and it be unanimously accepted: that is quite something, said the MP for Camberwell and Peckham.

I do think that ministers in future will be more careful about telling the truth. Because it is absolutely clear that there is no impunity, Ms Harman added.

Jacob Rees-Mogg (l) was among those who challenged the impartiality of Harriet Harman (r) (PA)

The whole thing about misleading the house is not the technicality .... Its what our democracy is completely based on. So this was a very serious issue being done on behalf of the House.

Ms Harman was accused by bias by some of Mr Johnsons fiercest allies. She had been appointed after Chris Bryant recused over tweets critical of Mr Johnsons behaviour.

A follow-up dossier by the cross-party group found that the ex-Tory leaders supporters had made a series of disturbing attacks on the committee launched which undermined democracy.

It found that Jacob Rees-Mogg, Nadine Dorries, Priti Patel, serving minister Zac Goldsmith and others made unprecedented and unacceptable attempts to damage the work of the cross-party inquiry.

The committee said the MPs should now consider whether the actions of Johnson allies should be considered a contempt of parliament and what further action to take  raising the possibility of suspensions.
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Senior Labour MP Sir Chris Bryant has claimed he has has been repeatedly groped by male colleagues during his time in parliament.

In one of incidents detailed in a new book, Sir Chris said one MP forced him up against a wall and felt his crotch.

Mr Bryant, who chairs the Commons standards committee, has called for an overhaul in the system for investigating MPs suspecting of misconduct.

Over the years five male MPs have felt my bottom uninvited. One of them, who was not out, did so repeatedly, he wrote.

Another, who is still in the House and still does not accept that he is gay, pushed me against a wall and felt my crotch.

The MP added: Another rubbed himself behind me in the queue to vote and was later snogging two men in the Strangers Bar. I know other gay MPs and staff who have faced the same.

The 61-year-old had previously said he was regularly touched up by older MPs when he first joined parliament, but never felt he was able to report it.

He told LBC last year: I was regularly touched up by older, senior, gay  they werent out  MPs. I never felt I was able to report it because you end up being part of the story, and thats the last thing you want. And I think a lot of women have been through that.

In his book Code of Conduct: Why We Need to Fix Parliament  and How to Do it, Mr Bryant said voters should accept good enough MPs, rather expecting them to be perfect.

Chris Bryant received a knighthood in the New Year Honours (PA Archive)

The senior MP, knighted in the New Years honours, admitted that there had been times in which he had got his facts wrong. He said that in the whirligig of politics has spun so fast I havent corrected the record.

The Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) was established in 2018 in the wake of the Me Too movement to deal with complaints against MPs.

But it has come into for serious criticism over the pace of its investigations. Both the Tory and Labour whips have also been attacked for failing to act appropriately on complaints.

Labour MP Charlotte Nichols said she was warned of a group of around 30 MPs she should stay away from when elected in 2019  saying there was something deeply rotten in the Westminster culture.

MPs and peers accused of sexual offences or violent behaviour could be banned from being on the parliamentary estate under new rules.

The Commons authorities have proposed to block colleagues from coming into parliament or going on committee trips if they are being investigated by police over wrongdoing.
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The Conservative partys deputy chairman Lee Anderson said asylum seekers complaining about being moved into the Bibby Stockholm barge should f*** off back to France.

The senior Torys incendiary comments came after the first 15 migrants boarded the barge in Dorset, while 20 others were granted a last-minute reprieve after a series of legal challenges.

Care4Calais said they did not board the barge because their transfers were cancelled after lawyers challenged the decisions. The campaign group described the barge as a quasi floating prison.

If they dont like barges then they should f*** off back to France, Mr Anderson told the Express.

He added: These people come across the Channel in small boats, if they dont like the conditions they are housed in here then they should go back to France, or better not come at all in the first place.

Justice secretary Alex Chalk defended his colleague Mr Andersons f*** off back to France comment  arguing that it was salty language but his point was not unreasonable.

Going further, Mr Chalk also told LBC that the deputy Tory chair expresses the righteous indignation of the British people and said his indignation is well placed.

No 10 also Mr Anderson after he said asylum seekers when asked if f*** off back to France represented the view of the government.

Pointed to comments made by Mr Chalk, the Downing Street spokesperson said: The justice secretary was speaking on behalf of the government. That is the response.

Labours London mayor Sadiq Khan accused the government of stoking division and hate, while Liberal Democrats home affairs spokesman Alistair Carmichael said Mr Chalks defence of Mr Anderson was toe-curling.

Georgie Laming of the at Hope not Hate group said it was morally reprehensible for the top Tory cabinet minister to have defended Mr Andersons inflammatory remarks. The Conservative party is rapidly adopting dangerous and divisive tactics, she said.

Cabinet minister backs Lee Andersons salty comment

Mr Anderson was unrepentant. Responding to Diane Abbott, the MP currently suspended by Labour, who called the comments a new low, the Tory deputy chair tweeted: Wrong again. I told illegal migrants to go back to France not genuine asylum seekers.

Disabled asylum seekers, torture victims and those suffering from traumatic experiences at sea were among those the Home Office initially tried to put on the Portland barge.

The Independent understands that a man who is blind in one eye, another partially-sighted person, and migrants with phobias of water were issued with transfer orders that were successfully challenged by lawyers.

But Tory right-wingers have reacted with fury to the hold-up. Ex-home secretary Priti Patel said campaigners and lawyers were milking the legal aid system and the same naysayers and left-wingers who have sought to smear our Rwanda policy.

15 migrants arrive at Bibby Stockholm barge in Portland, Dorset (Getty Images)

Home Office sources said those refusing to leave hotels and board the barge could have their asylum application delayed or withdrawn after one day.

Anyone refusing to move without a reasonable excuse has 24 hours to reconsider, after which their asylum support will cease and they will have to fend for themselves, one government source told The Telegraph.

Mr Chalk said the asylum seekers legal challenges were not improper but are completely misconceived.

The justice secretary also said it was unlikely to be illegal for the government to refuse asylum seekers accommodation if they refuse to go on the barge.

A small group of 15 migrants arrived on Monday following delays caused by last-minute safety checks. The government is not believed to have identified all 500 people it eventually hopes to house on board.

Home Office minister Sarah Dines had suggest all 500 could be on board by the end of this week  but No 10 later played down the idea.

First arrivals on controversial barge (AFP via Getty Images)

The charity Migrants Organise has sent a pre-action letter to the Home Office calling for it to stop transfers until and unless all concerns regarding the safety and suitability of the barge have been adequately addressed.

Internal guidance states that only single men up to the age 65 can be put on the Bibby Stockholm, and they cannot be victims of modern slavery or trafficking. They cannot be disabled, elderly, or victims of torture, rape or other serious forms of psychological, physical or sexual violence.

Mr Chalk acknowledged it is frustrating that only 15 migrants have boarded the 500-capacity barge so far. It doesnt diminish our resolve to solve this, he told BBC Breakfast.

The cabinet minister also told Times Radio that the point of the austere Bibby Stockholm is to act as a deterrent. He said the government spending 6m a day on 4-star hotel accommodation for asylum seekers is not what the British people want.

But campaign groups One Life to Live and Reclaim the Sea have estimated that the barge will cost 18m a year, saying it would almost certainly cost more than housing migrants in hotels.

The number of asylum seekers in hotels has risen by a 25 per cent since Rishi Sunak promised to end the practice. There were 50,546 migrants in hotels, according to the latest Home Office figures for June, up from around 40,000 in December.

Suella Braverman announces crackdown on crooked lawyers (PA Wire)

The controversy comes as the government announced a new task force to identify crooked lawyers after reports that false asylum claims are being submitted for a fee.

Home secretary Suella Braverman, speaking about the task force, said: Crooked immigration lawyers must be rooted out and brought to justice.

Any lawyers  or any other professionals who help migrants make fraudulent claims  could face a maximum sentence of life in prison following the implementation of the Nationality and Borders Act.

It comes after the Daily Mail reported that a number of solicitors agreed to help an undercover journalist posing as an economic migrant submit a false application in exchange for thousands of pounds.

But the Law Society, which represents solicitors in England and Wales, said the necessary powers are already in place to deal with immigration advisers engaged in misconduct.
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Lee Anderson has been branded a fascist and a pound shop Enoch Powell for telling asylum seekers who dont wish to be housed in a barge to f*** off back to France.

No 10 has defended the Tory deputy chairman, but the comments have sparked anguish among Tory moderates and fresh infighting  with the right of the party now pushing for Britain to quit a landmark human rights agreement.

One former Tory minister told The Independent the comments look chaotic and unsophisticated  which puts Rishi in a slight mess. Another ex-minister referred to Mr Anderson as a fascist who does not represent the same party as me.

Tory grandee Dominic Grieve, the former attorney general, told The Independent that such foul language will turn floating voters off and risked making the Tories the even nastier party.

Mr Grieve argued that it was a sad commentary on the current state of the Conservative party when its deputy chairman resorts to crude and threatening profanities.

The former minister said the silence from the cabinet in condemning Mr Anderson was deafening and the current justice secretary Alex Chalk had been dragged down by actively defending the rhetoric.

Mr Anderson has refused to apologise for his incendiary comments, made after a group of 20 migrants were granted a last-minute reprieve as the first group boarded the Bibby Stockholm barge in Dorset.

One senior Tory, a former minister, warned Mr Sunak against following Mr Andersons cheap populism. They urged colleagues to remember this is as big a problem for France as it is for us.

Nigel Mills, Tory MP for Amber Valley, told The Independent that it was language we dont want to use and said Mr Andersons comments were not consistent with the reality of how the asylum system works.

But Mr Mills said the underlying sentiment of, If you dont like it feel free to go somewhere else, is quite widely shared. He added: We have to find a way of reducing this ridiculous hotel bill.

Sir Jake Berry, the former Tory chairman, also said he agreed with the sentiment of Mr Andersons comments which reflect the frustration of the British people, but added that its not the sort of language I would use.

London mayor Sadiq Khan accused the government of stoking division and hate, while Liberal Democrats said the governments defence of Mr Anderson was toe-curling.

Among the widespread condemnation, Chris McEleny, general secretary of Alex Salmonds pro-independence Alba Party attacked the broken politics of pound shop Enoch Powells.

Lee Anderson says migrants can f*** off back to France (UK Parliament /AFP via Getty Images)

No 10 defended his remark on Tuesday, backing comments by Mr Chalk, who said Mr Andersons anger echoed the righteous indignation of the British people and were not bigotry at all.

Immigration minister Robert Jenrick also defended Mr Anderson on Wednesday, saying the senior Tory was expressing the deep frustration of the British public.

Mr Anderson doubled down in an interview on Tuesday evening. Asked by fellow GB News host Nigel Farage whether he felt his remark was perhaps bad taste, the MP said: No ... its borne out of frustration. Its borne out of me being absolutely furious.

He added: Like I say: if it [accomodation] is not good enough, then they should go back to France, in stronger words.

However, Mr Anderson also appeared to criticise No 10, saying there was no doubt about it that Rishi Sunaks government have failed in effectively stopping the boats  one of the PMs five key pledges.

People look on at the Bibby Stockholm barge docked in Portland Port (EPA)

Labours shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said on Wednesday that the Tories were promoting division and lashing out due to their failures on tackling unlawful migration and the asylum backlog.

Ms Cooper told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: It is clearly the wrong language to use and it is ramping up the rhetoric as a distraction from the fact the government is failing.

First migrants board the Bibby Stockholm barge (PA)

It comes as Mr Jenrick suggested that Tories could quit a landmark international human rights agreement to help tackle the problem of small boats crossing the English Channel.

An unnamed minister told the BBC the party was now likely to campaign to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) at the next election if Rwanda flights continue to be blocked.

Mr Jenrick told Times Radio said the government will do whatever is required, when pressed if that could mean pulling out of the ECHR.

Asylum seeker films inside Bibby Stockholm barge after moving in

One senior Tory moderate told The Independent that talk of quitting the ECHR came from a noisy crowd on the right, but is not widely supported in the parliamentary party.

Lord Michael Heseltine told The Independent that pulling out of the convention would send an appalling signal to the world about Britains view of international law.

The former deputy PM said it was part of the Brexit disaster  arguing that the right of the party know Brexit has failed and is constantly looking for ways to reinforce prejudices.

Mr Mills said he would rather push for reform of the European court at Strasbourg which oversees human rights cases, rather than pull out of the ECHR. But he warned the government may have to look at ways to modify UK membership if no progress is made.

The governments position is that the UK will remain inside the ECHR. As weve set out previously  we believe our stop the boats bill will deliver the changes necessary ... while remaining party to the ECHR.

Meanwhile, asylum seekers who refuse to move onto the barge are being threatened with eviction and potential homelessness, as resistance hampers ministers ambitions to pack 500 people on board.

Immigration minister Robert Jenrick (PA Wire)

Mr Jenrick threatened to pull support for anyone who did refuse to go on the barge. If you decline the accommodation thats provided, such as a barge, then we will consider removing your asylum support and that individual will ultimately have to fend for themselves, he told BBC Radio 4.

Mr Jenrick said on Wednesday that a significant number of asylum seekers who had objected to moving to barge have since changed their minds, as he warned there was not an a la carte menu of accommodation choices.

A significant number moved yesterday, I suspect more will move in the coming days, he told Times Radio. I think this issue will be resolved.

Mr Jenrick added: We are a generous country ... but it is not an a la carte menu from which people can choose the particular hotel or location that suits them best. If you are destitute, then you will accept the decent accommodation the state is able to provide for you.

The immigration minister also said he was unable to disclose how much money the UK had given Turkey as part of a deal to help crack down on unlawful migration.

Britain and Turkey have struck a new deal to address the surge in illegal migration, which will focus on co-ordinated actions to disrupt and dismantle people smuggling gangs. A new operational centre of excellence will be set up by the Turkish National Police.
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Kwasi Kwarteng admitted at the weekend that he was badly hit by his own disastrous mini-Budget  revealing his mortgage payments had soared a great deal.

The former Tory chancellor has also struggled to keep up with his old boss Liz Truss when it comes to earnings outside parliament since the pair left Downing Street in ignominy.

Mr Kwarteng has made 34,000 from a single overseas speech and various media appearances since he was sacked in October during Britains financial meltdown.

The Tory MP for Spelthorne was handed 27,000 for a speech to bankers at the Fund Experts Forum in Switzerland in April, entitled:  Growth Plan for Europe  How to Get Back in the Drivers Seat.

Mr Kwarteng has also made 4,000 for recent appearances on the Dan Wootons GB News programme to talk about his brief stint at No 11 and his views on economy.

However, the sums are dwarfed by the money made Ms Truss  who has managed to rake in close to 190,000 from the international speaking circuit since the Tory party kicked her out of No 10 after only six weeks.

The lucrative gigs mean the former Tory leader, the shortest-ever serving PM, now has the highest hourly rate of any current MP  making a mammoth 15,000 per hour.

Like Boris Johnson, Ms Truss is also enjoying some huge payments for speaking on global affairs, pocketing 80,000 for a recent speech in Taiwan on the threat posed by China.

Having signed up with Chartwell Speakers agency, she also received 32,000 for a speech to a newspaper in Switzerland, 65,000 for a speech to a media firm in India, and 6,000 for a speaking engagement at Tokyo University.

Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng, during their brief stint at the head of UK government (PA)

Ms Truss received an extra 18,000 from the taxpayer as part of the severance payments given to exiting prime minister, despite howls of outrage from Labour and the Lib Dems. Mr Kwarteng received 16,000 severance payment.

The ex-chancellor  once a close friend of Ms Truss  is not thought to be in line for a gong or peerage as part of her forthcoming resignation honours. But several key supporters and aides are thought to be on her list.

She had nominated at least 16 people  but two have turned them down, according to The Times. One source told the newspaper they felt an honour from Ms Truss would be humiliating, while another potential recipient said they did not deserve it.

Those nominated for a peerage by Ms Truss reportedly include Tory donor Sir Jon Moynihan, who gave 20,000 to her leadership campaign.

Mark Littlewood  the outgoing boss of the right-wing Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA)  is also said to be in line for a peerage. The IEA backed Ms Truss disastrous mini-Budget of unfunded tax cuts.

Matthew Elliott, who led the Vote Leave campaign during the Brexit referendum in 2016, and Ms Trusss former deputy chief of staff Ruth Porter are also said to be on the list for peerages.
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Britain has announced its largest ever crackdown on third countries aiding Russia after a dramatic plea from Ukraines first lady in an interview with Independent TV.

Foreign secretary James Cleverly said the 25 new sanctions would give those assisting Moscows illegal invasion nowhere to hide.

It follows Olena Zelenskas warning that, without urgent steps to clamp down on loopholes that allow Russia to fuel its war, the conflict risks continuing endlessly.

The Independent revealed on Monday that the government was hoping to act on the problem imminently.

The crackdown includes targeting companies outside Russia which supply drones and microelectronics to its defence industry.

Sanctions include asset freezes and travel bans.

Russia is using drones to attack critical infrastructure to try to cut Ukrainians off from electricity, heating and water. Their use to attack grain silos in Ukraine also makes them a threat to global food security.

Those caught up in the new sanctions include individuals and businesses in Turkey, Dubai, Slovakia and Switzerland, which the Foreign Office said were supporting the illegal war in Ukraine.

Ministers believe the stepping up of its war on Russias access to resources will have a real impact on a regime they said was already being forced to take apart kitchen freezers to harvest low-grade computer chips.

Mr Cleverly said the landmark action would further diminish Russias arsenal and close the net on supply chains propping up Vladimir Putins struggling defence sector.

There is nowhere for those sustaining Russias military machine to hide, he added.

The UK, alongside others in the G7 group of advanced nations, had repeatedly warned third parties to immediately cease providing material support to Russias aggression or face severe costs, he added.

The UK is also taking further action to tackle Iran and Belarus support for the Russian military.

Iranian individuals and groups involved in drone development were slapped with fresh sanctions. These have also been imposed on defence organisations linked to the manufacturing of military tech for the Belarusian regime, which has directly helped Putins forces.

Speaking exclusively to Independent TV from the presidential compound in Kyiv, Ms Zelenska said that in order to combat Putins invasion the world had to impose heavy sanctions, and terminate the possibility of circumventing these sanctions.

In a rare interview, she also warned: There are countries that simply underestimate the threat from Russia who think that it is far from them. When there is such a powerful terrorist in the world, no one can feel completely safe.

Some countries continue to conduct trade with [Russia] through third countries and think that this is acceptable because it is important for their business... I believe that this is simply and critically wrong. Resources are being spent on this [war].

But resources will be spent endlessly until Russias ability to wage war is stopped.

Among those sanctioned are two Turkey-based businesses, Turkik Union and Azu International, for exporting microelectronics used by Putins forces. The Dubai-based Aeromotus Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Trading was also sanctioned for its role in supplying drones to Moscow.

Slovakian national Ashot Mkrtychev was added to the sanctions list for his involvement in an attempted arms deal between North Korea and Russia, said the Foreign Office. And a Swiss national, Anselm Oskar Schmucki, was sanctioned for his role in Russias financial services sector.

Also affected is the Belarusian company Gomel Radio Plant, for repairing Russian military equipment, a key issue as the war drags on now more than 500 days since the invasion, and the Iranian Paravar Pars Company, a drone manufacturer, as well as seven of its executives. Iran is responsible for supplying Russia with the kamikaze drones used to bombard Ukraine, the Foreign Office said.

New sanctions have also been placed on three Russian companies importing electronics that the UK government says are vital to the military equipment that Russia is using on the battlefield.

Britain, America and the European Union have all imposed a range of sanctions since the war began designed to try to stop Russia in its tracks. As a result of sanctions there has been a 99 per cent fall in UK goods imports from Russia and an 80 per cent cut in UK goods being exported to Russia.

On Monday, a spokesman for Mr Cleverly said that the governments own assessment of the situation echoed the frustrations the first lady has expressed about the use of third countries to circumvent sanctions.

He said at the time: Not only is her a view a position we ourselves have already taken, we are right now working quickly but carefully to make the use of a third country as a cut out far more difficult or indeed to try and stop it altogether.
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The UK and Turkey have struck a new deal to address the surge in illegal migration, which will focus on co-ordinated actions to disrupt and dismantle people smuggling gangs.

Central to the partnership is the establishment of a new operational centre of excellence by the Turkish National Police.

Supported by the UK, the centre is to focus on addressing organised immigration crime by enhancing the alignment of intelligence between the two nations.

A new memorandum of understanding will also facilitate the swifter exchange of customs data, information and intelligence between UK and Turkish authorities, bolstering the collaborative efforts to disrupt the supply chain of materials employed in illegal migration.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: As Ive made clear, we must do everything we can to smash the people smuggling gangs and stop the boats.

Our partnership with Turkey, a close friend and ally, will enable our law enforcement agencies to work together on this international problem and tackle the small boat supply chain.

Immigration minister Robert Jenrick said about the deal: We will be intensively sharing intelligence, people and technology to disrupt and dismantle people smuggling gangs and the manufacture and supply of materials which enable small boat crossings.

Having met our partners in Europe, North Africa and indeed Turkey recently, Ive seen first-hand the benefits our increased co-operation has on stopping the boats.

I am determined that the UK is a leading force in tackling illegal migration and a partner to all those allies who share our determination to defeat it.

We will be intensively sharing intelligence, people and technology to disrupt and dismantle people smuggling gangs and the manufacture and supply of materials which enable small boat crossings Robert Jenrick

The new operational centre will aim to strengthen collaboration between the National Crime Agency and Home Office Intelligence staff based in Turkey and their Turkish counterparts. And the UK will deploy more officers in Turkey to enable collaboration on joint operations to disrupt the criminal gangs who are facilitating illegal journeys.

According to the Home Office, the export of small boats and boat parts across the continent of Europe in order to facilitate illegal crossings to the UK is a vital element of people smugglers tactics.

It said it is estimated that hundreds of small boats and boat parts are transported through Europe each year for this purpose.

The reinforced collaboration between the UK and Turkey will take centre stage at the upcoming UK-Turkey Migration Dialogue meeting, scheduled for the autumn in London.

The deal comes after Mr Jenricks visit to Turkey last month, where he visited the Turkish-Bulgarian Border Check Point at Kapikule  the largest and busiest border crossing point in Europe.

The announcement is also one of a series the Government will be making as part of its stop the boats week.

On Monday, and after weeks of delays, the first 15 asylum seekers boarded the Bibby Stockholm barge.

Around 50 people were expected to move onboard the giant vessel, docked in Portland Port in Dorset, but around 20 were granted a last-minute reprieve after a series of legal challenges.

The Government also announced the launch of a new interdepartmental team, the Professional Enablers Taskforce, which will work with industry bodies and law enforcement to increase enforcement action against lawyers who help migrants exploit the immigration system.

The task force drew criticism, though, with the Law Society accusing the Government of lawyer-bashing with the announcement of work that is not new.

The Justice Secretary Alex Chalk defended the Whitehall unit, for which there is no new funding, insisting it will ensure advocates who are found to be responsible for submitting fraudulent claims are convicted, punished and disgraced.
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African leaders are to hold a summit to discuss possible military action in Niger after coup leaders defied a deadline to reinstate the ousted president.

The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), which has sent military forces into troubled member states in the past, had told the junta to stand down by Sunday, but instead the rebels closed Nigers airspace and pledged to defend the country.

Nigers armed forces and all our defence and security forces, backed by the unfailing support of our people, are ready to defend the integrity of our territory, a junta representative said on national television.

Coup leaders are already braced for a military response to their refusal to restore Mohamed Bazoum to power after deposing and imprisoning him on 26 July.

Their closure of airspace disrupted the skies over landlocked Niger, which is more than twice the size of France and borders Libya, which is considered too unsafe for passing commercial aircraft. Flights between London and Nairobi and London and South Africa were forced to divert.

The closure of Nigers airspace dramatically widens the area over which most commercial flights between Europe and southern Africa cannot fly, tracking service FlightRadar24 said in a blog post.

Ecowas said it would hold an extraordinary summit at its Abuja headquarters in Nigerial on Thursday, but made no direct reference to the missed deadline.

The bloc has taken a harder stance on the Niger coup, the regions seventh in three years, than it did on previous ones. The credibility of the 15-nation union is at stake because it had said it would tolerate no further such overthrows.

Last week it agreed a possible military action plan if Mr Bazoum was not released and reinstated, although it said operational decisions would be decided by heads of states.

But the blocs unity has been broken by a promise from the ruling juntas in Mali and Burkina Faso, both member states, to come to Nigers defence if needed.

A fracture within Ecowas and escalation of the stand-off with Niger would further destabilise one of the worlds poorest regions, already facing a hunger crisis and an Islamist insurgency that has killed thousands and displaced millions.

Nigers uranium and oil reserves and its pivotal role in a war with Islamist militants in the Sahel region give it economic and strategic importance for the United States, Europe, China and Russia.

A street vendor outside the headquarters of ousted president on Monday (AFP)

African and Western allies have imposed sanctions and cut aid to Niger in attempts to pressure the junta to step down. Germany said on Monday that sanctions were on the table and described the juntas flight ban as a setback.

Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani said Ecowas should extend its deadline for the reinstatement of Mr Bazoum. The only way is the diplomatic one, Mr Tajani told La Stampa. It is right that he [Bazoum] should be freed, but we cannot do it. The United States are very cautious about this, it is unthinkable that they would start a military intervention in Niger.

The junta appears to enjoy support from at least part of the population. At pro-coup rallies in Niamey, some participants have cast the situation as a patriotic battle by the former French colony to retain its independence in the face of imperialist interference. Some have held up Russian flags and expressed anti-French sentiment.

France warned its citizens against all travel to Niger, while the Chinese embassy in Niamey said its nationals in Niger should leave for a third country or return home if they had no reason to stay.

Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report
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Leaders of a coup in Niger have rejected the latest diplomatic mission from west African countries aimed at restoring constitutional order, resisting pressure from the United States and the United Nations to come to the negotiating table.

Heads of state from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are preparing for a summit on Thursday to discuss their standoff with the junta, which defied a weekend deadline to reinstate ousted president Mohamed Bazoum.

ECOWAS defence chiefs have already agreed on a possible military action plan, which heads of state are expected to consider at their summit in the Nigerian capital, Abuja.

The junta denied permission to enter Niger to a joint delegation from ECOWAS, the African Union (AU) and the UN, according to a letter circulated on social media whose authenticity was confirmed by a Niger army spokesperson.

The letter said popular anger among Nigers citizens over sanctions imposed by ECOWAS in response to the coup made it impossible to host the envoys safely and denounced a climate of threatened aggression against Niger.

Under Bazoum, Niger was relatively successful in containing an Islamist insurgency devastating the Sahel region and was an important ally for the West after two of its neighbours rejected former colonial power France and turned towards Russia instead.

Niger is the worlds seventh-biggest producer of uranium, the most widely used fuel for nuclear energy, adding to its strategic importance.

The UN said secretary general Antonio Guterres strongly supported mediation efforts by ECOWAS, while US secretary of state Antony Blinken told the BBC he was worried that Russias Wagner mercenaries were taking advantage of the instability in Niger to strengthen their presence in the Sahel.

I think what happened and what continues to happen in Niger was not instigated by Russia or by Wagner, but ... they tried to take advantage of it, he said.

US acting deputy secretary of state Victoria Nuland flew to Niamey on Monday but was denied permission to meet coup leader Abdourahamane Tiani  or Bazoum, who is in detention. She told reporters her talks with more junior officers were frank and difficult and they had shown little interest in exploring ways to restore democratic order.

In contrast, coup leaders did meet a joint delegation from Mali and Burkina Faso, both neighbouring countries where the military has seized power from civilians. The juntas there have pledged support for the coup in Niger.

We will not accept military intervention in Niger. Our survival depends on it, said Abdoulaye Maiga, a spokesperson for Malis junta.

Western allies fear Niger could go the way of Mali, which threw out French troops and UN peacekeepers and invited in mercenaries from Wagner group after a 2021 coup.

Every single place that this Wagner group has gone, death, destruction and exploitation have followed, Blinken said.
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Police in Montgomery, Alabama, have unveiled new details of a waterfront brawl captured on stunning viral video over the weekend - including the names of three white men currently facing charges.

Mongtomery Police Chief Darryl Albert addressed the incident at a press conference on Tuesday, confirming it all began with a private pontoon boat blocking a tourist cruise ship.

Chief Albert said that the Harriott II cruise ship, which takes passengers for 2-hour rides along the Alabama River, had 227 passengers on board when it tried to dock in its designated space, when it noticed a pontoon boat was docked there.

Damian Pickett, the Harriotts co-captain, waited for 40 to 45 minutes for the boat to move. A smaller boat picked up Mr Pickett and brought him to the pier to try to have a conversation with the pontoon boat owner so that he could park the large vessel in its spot.

Thats when the co-captain was attacked by several members of the private boat after they confronted him in a hostile manner, the police chief said. Mr Pickett was doing his job, he added. The videos of the incident that ensued have now gone viral.

A video posted on Twitter by Alabama Political Reporters Josh Moon shows a white man coming up the co-captain and punching him. More people are then seen piling on the alleged dock worker, hitting and punching him.

Mr Moon posted subsequent footage of even more people attacking each other. Heres part of what happened after the riverboat docked and the other workers and people on the boat were able to get to the fight, the journalist wrote. The footage captured one man grabbing a foldable chair and then hitting people over the head with it.

The police said that in addition to Mr Pickett, an employee on the smaller vessel that transported him to the dock, a 16-year-old white male, was assaulted by members of the pontoon boat.

On the night of the incident, police detained 13 individuals; the interviews lasted several hours, but all parties involved were released.

Now, three people have warrants out for arrest. Richard Roberts, a 48-year-old white male has two warrants for assault, Allen Todd, a 23-year-old white male has one warrant for assault, and Zachary Shipman, a 25-year-old white male, also has one warrant for assault.

All individuals with warrants were members of the pontoon boat, the police chief said. The mayor said they are not residents of Montgomery, Alabama.

The police chief said one person is in custody with the Selma Police Department, and two still have to turn themselves in within the hour, but he did not identify who had already been detained.

Chief Albert also called for Reggie Gray, who is seen wielding that folding chair in videos, to contact police for further interviews.

The police chief added that the Montgomery Police Department is working with the state police agency, DAs office and local FBI office; he said more charges are likely as the investigation is ongoing.

He added that the police examined whether there was enough to file hate crime charges but these are the applicable charges with the footage they have so far. Chief Albert encouraged people to keep sending videos of the incident to the Montgomery Police Department.

This is not indicative of who we are as a city. We are much better than that, the police chief added. He called the incident disturbing.

Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed released a statement following the brawl, saying that officers detained several reckless individuals for attacking a man who was doing his job. He continued, This was an unfortunate incident which never should have occurred. As our police department investigates these intolerable actions, we should not become desensitized to violence of any kind in our community. Those who choose violent actions will be held accountable by our criminal justice system.
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The criminal case against a former Northern California university student accused of several stabbings is on hold after prosecutors agreed that he is incompetent to stand trial for charges related to the attacks, which killed two people, wounded a third and terrorized a peaceful college town.

The judge dismissed jurors in Carlos Dominguezs competency trial Monday, which would have been the fifth day of testimony, after county prosecutors informed the court last week they no longer planned to fight the defense by Dominguezs attorney that he was not mentally fit for trial.

A determination of incompetency means Mr Dominguez cannot currently understand court proceedings, assist his attorney in his defence and understand his own status in the criminal proceeding.

Yolo Superior Court Judge Samuel McAdam last week ordered the defendant to receive medication over Mr Dominguez's objections, ruling he was a danger to himself and others without it. Three medical experts testified that Mr Dominguez is schizophrenic.

Mr Dominguez will go to a state hospital when a bed becomes available and once his competency is restored, the criminal trial will resume, said Jonathan Raven, the county's chief deputy district attorney.

Mr Raven said in an email Monday that prosecutors disagreed with the initial doctor's report and how she reached her conclusions regarding Mr Dominguez's competency. Prosecutors previously said Mr Dominguez was toying with the system and should face a criminal trial.

They dropped their challenge after hearing new information at trial and the court's order to initiate involuntary medication proceedings, Mr Raven said.

Dominguez had been a third-year student at the University of California, Davis majoring in biological sciences until 25 April, when he was expelled. Stabbings near campus began shortly after. He is charged in the deaths of a 50-year-old homeless man and a 20-year-old UC Davis student. A homeless woman who was attacked in her tent survived.

The attacks terrified the community. Businesses closed early and some students were too scared to attend even daytime classes as their parents pleaded with them to return home.

Mr Dominguez was arrested 4 May, a week after the first body was found, near the location of the second attack.

Mr Dominguez was in court Monday wearing a green safety vest. Previously he has spoken out loud to say he was guilty and wanted to apologize and that he did not want an attorney.

His appointed attorney Dan Hutchinson, a Yolo County deputy public defender, said in court that Mr Dominguez would not eat, shower or speak much while in jail. He still believed he was a student at UC Davis and insisted he was not ill, his lawyer said.

It is unclear if Mr Dominguez is 20 or 21 years old. The prosecutor's office says official records list different dates of birth.
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An eight-year-old Chicago girl was shot and killed by a neighbour after he complained about children making too much noise outside his home, according to officials.

Sarabi Medina was shot in the head by Michael Goodman as she rode her scooter home after getting ice cream, police said.

The 43-year-old suspect, who is known to authorities, allegedly walked up to a group of people in the Portage Park neighbourhood on Saturday evening before opening fire.

During a struggle that ensued with the victims father, the suspect was hit in the face with a bullet from his own gun. Sabrina was rushed to Stroger Hospital in critical condition where she died a short time later, police said.

Mr Goodman was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center in critical condition and has been charged with first-degree murder.

You killed an innocent child, an innocent baby girl for what reason? Now these parents have to mourn their baby and everything else, and every time you turn around and look, theyll know it was across the street. Nobodys going to let their kids come around here and play. People arent going to take their kids to this park because they are terrified. We just wanted to pay our respects to her and to her family. But its just crazy, Sue Kyser, who lives in the neighbourhood, told ABC7.

The family had moved to Portage Park after the youngsters mother, 29-year-old Bianca Miranda, was shot and killed in 2018.

Neighbour Megan Kelley said that the suspect had confronted the victim and her father about noise before the fatal incident.

Yesterday, when he came out, before he shot her, he had said something about them being too loud, she told The Chicago Sun-Times.

And she added: Just little kids playing, he would come out just yelling about the noise. It just didnt make sense, none of it made sense.

Everybody in the community would just tell him they are just kids having fun playing, just let them be.
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A former high-ranking FBI official is expected to plead guilty next week in Manhattan federal court for his alleged ties to a Russian oligarch.

Charles McGonigal, 54, the former head of the FBI's counterintelligence division at the agency's New York field office, will appear at a "plea proceeding" on 5 August, according to court records.

He is one of the highest-ranking FBI officials to ever face criminal charges, according to ABC News.

Mr McGonigal retired from the FBI in 2018. He initially pleaded not guilty to four charges brought against him.

"The Court has been informed that Defendant Charles McGonigal may wish to enter a change of plea," a judge's order said.

The former federal agent was charged with violating US sanctions after he allegedly tried to get Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska off of the sanctions list.

He has also been accused of investigating a rival Russian oligarch in exchange for payment by Mr Deripaska. Investigators believe Mr McGonigal accepted payments through shell companies and forged signatures in order to obfuscate the fact that Mr Deripaska was paying him.

"The FBI is committed to the enforcement of economic sanctions designed to protect the United States and our allies, especially against hostile activities of a foreign government and its actors," FBI Assistant Director in Charge Michael Driscoll said in a statement at the time of Mr McGonigal's arrest. "Russian oligarchs like Oleg Deripaska perform global malign influence on behalf of the Kremlin and are associated with acts of bribery, extortion, and violence."

Charles McGonigal was arrested in January on charges of money laundering and conspiring to commit money laundering, among other charges. (Executive Mosaic/Potamic Officers Club)

Each of the four counts Mr McGonigal was charged with carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. It is unclear what sentence he will receive in exchange for a guilty plea, should he make one.

Mr McGonigal was arrested in late January after he returned from traveling to Sri Lanka. A judge released him on a $500,000 personal recognisance bond with restrictions on his travel.

He was also prohibited from contacting anyone else associated with his case.

Mr McGonigal is also facing charges in a separate case in Washington DC. He is accused of concealing $225,000 he allegedly received from a former Albanian intelligence agent.

His attorney said those charges are likely to be resolved without going to trial.
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Almost 100 people have been arrested for alleged child sex abuse and 13 children were rescued in an international operation two years after a pair of FBI agents investigating the ring were murdered.

The FBI says that 79 arrests, 65 indictments, and 43 convictions were secured in the US, while 19 men were also arrested in Australia.

The arrests came after Daniel Alfin and Laura Schwartzenberger were shot dead in 2021 while executing a search warrant in Sunrise, Florida, for a computer programmer linked to the ring.

The alleged abuse ring was a peer to peer network said Australian Federal Police Commander Helen Schneider, with some suspects committing offenses for over 10 years.

Some of the children were known to the men who were arrested, she added.

The investigation in Australia began in 2022 when the FBI passed on information about Australian suspects sharing child abuse material on the dark web.

Investigators in the country say that most of the alleged Australian suspects had professional IT skills.

Suspected network members used software to anonymously share files, chat on message boards and access websites within the network, using encryption and other methods to avoid law enforcement detection, according to AFP.

And Cmdr Schneider added: Viewing, distributing and producing child abuse material is a horrific crime, and the lengths that this network went to avoid detection is an indication of just how dangerous they were.

Officials say that 200 leads have been sent to partner countries and more than 300 investigations have been opened.
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The father of Harmony Montgomery denied murdering the five-year-old as he was sentenced to decades in prison on firearms charges.

I love my daughter unconditionally and I didnt kill her, claimed Adam Montgomery as he appeared in New Hampshires Hillsboro Superior Court in an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs.

Montgomery, 33, is facing a second-degree murder charge over the death of his daughter, who was last seen alive in December 2019. He faced a judge after being found guilty in June of a string of weapons charges and took the chance to profess his innocence over Harmonys killing.

So, I understand that I was found guilty by a jury, and Im not here to dispute that at all, he told the court on Monday.

The only consideration that I have is for you not to consider anything as it relates to the case regarding my daughter, Harmony.

I didnt kill my daughter, Harmony, and I look forward to my upcoming trial to refute those offensive claims.

And he added: You probably wont believe me when I tell you that I didnt wake up one morning and chose to become an addict. I dont want to be an addict, and I will spend my time in prison realizing it to the best of my ability to change things about myself.

The judge handed down a sentence that could see Montgomery behind bars until 2099.

FILE - A man walks past the missing child poster for Harmony Montgomery on Thursday, 5 May, 2022, in Manchester, New Hampshire (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

New Hampshires state Attorney General John Formella announced last August that investigators had reached the conclusion that the youngster was killed in early December 2019.

The assessment by prosecutors came months after they searched an apartment where Adam Montgomery and her stepmother Kayla Montgomery, had previously lived.

When Harmony disappeared she was in the legal custody of her father, who has been indicted on an assault charge that he hit the youngster in the face in July 2019.

Harmony was only reported missing in November 2021, two years after she disappeared and her body has never been found.

Prosecutors claim that Montgomery killed his daughter by repeatedly hitting her his the head with his fist.

He is set to go on trial for her murder in November, and last October pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, falsifying physical evidence and abuse of a corpse.

Kayla Montgomery, Adam Montgomerys estranged wife, is serving an 18-month prison sentence after she pleaded guilty to lying to a grand jury about her whereabouts when she last saw Harmony.
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A father has asked a judge to dismiss his case in which authorities say he helped his son obtain a gun license three years before the younger man fatally shot seven people at a 2022 Fourth of July parade in suburban Chicago.

Illinois prosecutors charged Robert Crimo Jr. under an unconstitutionally vague law, his lawyers argued at a Monday hearing in Waukegan, north of Highland Park where the shooting occurred. If Lake County Judge George Strickland allows the case to proceed, Mr Crimo Jr's bench trial would start on 6 November.

Mr Crimo Jr has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of reckless conduct, one for each person killed. Each count carries a maximum three-year prison term.

Prosecutors said he helped his son, Robert Crimo III, obtain a gun licence even though the then-19-year-old had threatened violence.

At Mondays hearing, Mr Crimo Jrs lawyer George Gomez said his client was being charged for innocent conduct and that the affidavit he signed for his son to obtain a gun was wholly truthful.

The four-sentence section of the state law invoked to charge Mr Crimo Jr says a person commits reckless conduct when he or she, by any means lawful or unlawful, recklessly performs an act or acts that ... cause great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to another person.

A defense filing argues the law's lack of specificity makes it impossible to know what actions qualify as criminal reckless conduct. They also say it offers no definition of cause, opening the way for prosecutors to wrongly link the signing of a gun-license application to a shooting years later.

Here, the reckless conduct charge ... specifically seeks to criminalize the Defendant's lawful act of signing a truthful affidavit, the filing says. It adds that, until Mr Crimo Jr, Illinois has never prosecuted an individual for signing a truthful affidavit under oath.

The potential for the arbitrary enforcement of such a vague standard is staggering, it said.

A grand jury indicted the son last year on 21 first-degree murder counts, 48 counts of attempted murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery, representing the seven people killed and dozens wounded in the attack. Potential evidence is voluminous in the son's case and no trial date has been set. He has pleaded not guilty.

Robert Crimo III is seen in court

Lake County States Attorney Eric Rinehart said after the fathers arrest that the accusations against him are based on sponsorship of his sons application for a gun license in December 2019. Authorities say Mr Crimo III tried to kill himself in April 2019 and in September 2019 was accused by a family member of making threats to kill everyone.

Parents who help their kids get weapons of war are morally and legally responsible when those kids hurt others with those weapons, Mr Rinehart said at the time.

Legal experts have said it is rare for a parent or guardian of a suspect in a shooting to face charges, in part because it's so difficult to prove such charges.

The father is a familiar face around Highland Park, where he was once a mayoral candidate and operated convenience stores. He was released on a $50,000 bond after his December arrest.
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You shouldnt have anything. You should lose everything. Because that was just out of nowhere, for no reason. You are a sociopath to me. Youre insane.

That was the message Imani Robersons younger sister Patience had for her brother-in-law Donell Anderson after he was arrested and charged with the Georgia mother-of-fours murder, almost three weeks after she first disappeared.

Also speaking to FOX 5 Atlanta outside Rockdale County Jail where Mr Anderson was being held was Robersons father, Ronald Acklin, who told the television cameras in a tone of steely resolve: Were going to make sure that this malicious, malevolent person does not ever see the streets again.

Mr Anderson, 22, was arrested at an apartment in Atlanta on the evening of Friday 4 August shortly after his wifes remains had been found by police cadaver dogs in a wooded area outside the city earlier in the day.

Currently represented by a public defender, the suspect was denied bail on Sunday and, should he ultimately be convicted of the horrific crime of which he stands accused, Mr Acklin and his surviving daughter may well see their wishes granted.

On 9 August, the Rockdale County Sheriffs Office annocuned a second arrest in the case; Mr Andersons brother, Cedarius Glaze, 28. Mr Glaze has been accused of helping to hid Ms Robersons body.

Here is everything we know about the disappearance of Imani Roberson and the arrest of her husband Donell Anderson.

A quiet Sunday dinner

Roberson, 30, was last seen on 16 July when she left the house of her mother, Clarine Andujar-White, in Conyers, Georgia, after bringing her children  all boys aged 11, nine, three and two months  over for Sunday dinner.

Roberson departed in her white Mazda SUV at around 5.30pm, leaving the two eldest behind after they decided to stay the night with their grandmother, heading back to her own place across town. She was last seen driving on Plantation Road.

When Ms Andujar-White subsequently called her daughter and got no answer she became concerned, eventually visiting Imanis house herself the following day, finding it empty and reluctantly filing a missing persons report.

Traces of blood

The police arrived and discovered traces of blood at the property, commencing a hunt for the missing woman that would ultimately clock up more than 400 hours of search time without yielding an outcome as the family appealed for information and detectives executed a series of search warrants, conducted interviews and checked cell phone records.

Grainy footage from a neighbours Ring doorbell handed to the family and subsequently passed on to the authorities and the media showed Robersons car backing speedily out of her driveway and racing away on the evening she went missing after a loud bang was heard at the property, which Mr Acklin claimed had been a gunshot.

The torched car

Ten days later, on 27 July, officers discovered the charred husk of Robersons car.

It had been set on fire and dumped near Camp Creek Parkway off Union Road in Atlanta, around 24 miles from her home, apparently having been burned from the inside, its logo singed into the ground among the ash left behind.

Donell Anderson (Rockdale County Sheriffs Office)

Eight days after that, the police canines discovered human remains that proved to belong to Roberson not far from the spot where her vehicle had been found torched, prompting a SWAT team to pick up Mr Anderson that evening.

The suspect was duly charged with felony murder, malice murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during commission to attempt a felony by the Rockdale County Sheriffs Office.

Mr Glaze was arrested in early August on suspicion that he assisted Mr Anderson with hiding Ms Robersons body.

Foul play was evident

Speaking at a press conference on 5 August, Sheriff Eric Levett revealed that his office was still looking for a second suspect but did not name them or offer any further information.

It was clear that foul play was evident in the disappearance of Imani, he said of the moment his officers had first visited Robersons house.

Gesturing to the deceaseds grieving parents standing beside him, Sheriff Levett said: I promised them that I was gonna find Imani and find out who had done something to Imani, and that today we have done.

He continued: When that body was found, it was our mission, especially mine, to make sure that we could convince our judges and/or DAs office that we have enough evidence to secure a warrant and to get him off the street. This investigation is still ongoing and I can assure you that another arrest will be made.

Ms Andujar-White said: When I couldnt reach Imani almost three weeks ago, I knew something was wrong. Late last night my worst fears were confirmed and our family is devastated.

Mr Acklin  who became understandably emotional during his appearance before reporters, especially when he reflected that this was the third of his children he had lost to the state of Georgia  commented: Its not the news that we wanted, but Im happy that we can hold them accountable.

Four kids without their parents

Sheriff Levett concluded with a broader message for the community: If theres anyone thats out here that is involved in a toxic relationship, whether you are receiving mental abuse, verbal abuse, or physical abuse it is not worth keeping quiet and we need for you to step out and say something so we can end such tragedies like this.

These are four kids now without a mother and unfortunately now without a father.

Imani Robersons children, none of whom were harmed during the episode, will be raised by their grandparents, the sheriff confirmed.

For now, the motive behind their mothers killing remains a mystery.

Mr Acklin had previously told the website 11 Alive that his daughter had been in the process of moving in with her mother, without specifying why, perhaps indicating an imminent separation.

On Monday evening, a vigil was held by mourners outside of Robersons home in Conyers. Those in attendance to pay their respects brought candles and balloons in white and purple: her favourite colours.
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A federal judge pushed back the trial of executives at now-shuttered online classified webpage Backpage.com, following the July suicide of site co-owner James Larkin.

The 74-year-old died by a gunshot on Monday at his home in Paradise Valley, Arizona, according to officials.

Larkin the longtime publisher of the Phoenix New Times was alternatively celebrated as a free speech advocate, and charged in 2018 as part of a group of Backpage executives who allegedly facilitated prostitution and money laundering through the sites adult services section.

In this Jan. 10, 2017 file photo former Backpage.com owners, James Larkin, left, and Michael Lacey wait on Capitol Hill in Washington, to appear at a congressional hearing examining the classified site

The site, founded in 2004 to compete with Craigslist, allegedly featured online ads through which women and girls were trafficked. The sites founders maintained that they cooperated with law enforcement, screened ads for prostitution, and hosted ads from consensual sex workers that should be protected by the First Amendment.

Among the executives charged in the case, Daniel Hyer of Dallas and former CEO Carl Ferrer struck plea deals.

The remaining employees were previously tried, but the case ended in a mistrial in 2021, after a judge ruled the jury heard too many references to child sex trafficking, even though none of those charged were accused of that offence.

On Friday, US District Court Judge Diane Humetewa ruled to push back the trial, which is now scheduled to begin 29 August and last until 9 November, from the original 8 August start date.

In court, the judge warned that Larkins death could impact the handling of evidence exhibits in the case, as well as limit the potential jury pool, because a tremendous amount of potential jurors in the case may have heard about the executives suicide.

Following Larkins death, some celebrated his memory.

"I never saw my friend do a dishonest or dishonorable thing in his entire life," fellow defendant Michael Lacey wrote in a statement. "I had a four-decade friendship with a wonderful man. Now I have only his memory."

Jim was an incredible husband, father, grandfather, colleague and friend, his family said in a statement to the New Times, saying the media mogul fearlessly blazed his own path in life and always stuck to it.
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Gilgo Beach murders victim Karen Vergata made one final phone call to her father on the day that she was last seen alive, it has been revealed.

A petition filed in court in 2017 reveals that the 34-year-old woman called her father Dominic Vergata on his birthday on 14 February 1996. She was never seen or heard from again.

Long Island officials announced on Friday that Vergata went missing that very same day on Valentines Day 1996.

At the time, she was living on West 45th St in Manhattan and is believed to have been working as an escort.

Police said that no missing persons report was filed at the time.

But, court records show that in July 2017  more than two decades later  Dominic Vergata filed a petition to have his daughter officially declared dead so that he could obtain the unclaimed assets from her estate, including two life insurance policies.

In the petition, Vergatas father details that he last had contact with his daughter on 14 February 14 1996, when she called him on his birthday.

Before that, he said she would call him from time to time.

Following her disappearance, Dominic Vergata says that he tried to track down his missing daughter including hiring an investigator and contacting law enforcement agencies and people who had known her.

But those efforts were unfruitful as she had been murdered and her remains dumped in Long Island.

The Surrogates Court in New York ruled that, based on Vergatas whereabouts being unknown for so long, she was presumed dead on 14 February 1999 and her father was appointed temporary administrator of her estate.

Records show Dominic Vergata died in December 2022.

It is unclear whether or not he knew what had happened to his daughter before he passed away.

On Friday, Long Island officials identified Vergata as the Gilgo Beach murders victim previously known only as Jane Doe 7 or Fire Island Jane Doe.

Karen Vergata was identified as Jane Doe 7 (Suffolk County DA)

Vergatas partial remains were first discovered along the Long Island shores more than 26 years ago  but the victims identity remained unknown until now.

It was 20 April 1996 when a womans legs were found wrapped in plastic at Davis Park on Fire Islands Blue Point Beach.

Almost exactly 15 years later on 11 April 2011, the womans skull was then found off Ocean Parkway during the search for Gilgo Beach victims. The skull was located close to the remains of another unidentified victim  Jane Doe 3, also known as Peaches.

The two sets of remains in Fire Island and Ocean Parkway were later found to belong to the same person.

Before now, investigators had long been unable to identify Jane Doe 7 and she was described only as a white woman aged 18 to 50 years old who had several notable scars including evidence of surgery on her left ankle.

She was one of 11 victims whose remains were found dumped along the shores of Gilgo Beach back in 2010 and 2011  several of whom are also yet to be identified.

Decades later, investigators were finally able to identify Fire Island Jane Doe using genetic genealogy and her surviving relatives DNA.

In August 2022  around six months after the new Gilgo Beach taskforce was launched  a DNA profile suitable for genealogical comparison was developed from the remains of the victim, officials said in a press conference on Friday.

The next month, the FBI was able to presumptively identify the victim using genetic genealogy as Vergata.

Then, that October, investigators tracked down a relative of Vergata and took a buccal swab. Using this, they were able to definitively identify the victim as Vergata.

While her identity was confirmed late last year, Suffolk County DA Rodney Tierney said in a press conference that officials kept the major breakthrough under wraps until now due to both the ongoing investigation into Mr Heuermann and the need to contact all of Vergatas family members.

Prior to disclosing, we needed to contact all Vergatas family members and around the same time we were beginning the grand jury confidential investigation into the murders of the victims known as the Gilgo 4, he told reporters.

So we decided not to make it public... until the results of that investigation became public and we had made notice to Vergatas family.

Map showing sites where victims remains found along Gilgo Beach (Suffolk County Police Department)

It remains unclear if Vergatas father was the relative whose DNA was used to make the positive confirmation  or if he was told about his daughters fate before his death that December.

The huge breakthrough announcing Vergatas identity came just weeks after suspected serial killer Rex Heuermann, a 59-year-old father-of-two architect, was arrested and charged with the murders of three of the Gilgo Beach victims.

In Fridays press conference announcing Vergatas identity, Suffolk County officials refused to confirm whether or not her murder may be linked to Mr Heuermann.

At this time, no one has been charged in connection to her homicide and her cause of death is unknown.

Mr Heuermann, a 59-year-old architect, 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.

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.

Rex Heuermanns home being searched by investigators (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

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.

Following his arrest, his wife Asa Ellerup filed for divorce. She has since told The New York Post that she has been left filled with anxiety and their two children cry themselves to sleep over the horror.

I woke up in the middle of the night, shivering... anxiety, she said.

My children cry themselves to sleep. I mean, theyre not children. Theyre grown adults but theyre my children, and my son has developmental disabilities and he cried himself to sleep.

Mr Heuermanns sudden 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.

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.

Crime scene investigators use metal detectors to search a marsh for the remains of Shannan Gilbert in December 2011

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.
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A Black man in the state of Michigan has had his drug conviction vacated because a white district court judge said the man looks like a criminal to me, according to a federal appellate court ruling.

Earlier this year, 34-year-old Leron Liggins was sentenced to 10-and-a-half years in federal prison by US District Court Judge Stephen J Murphy. Now, however, Mr Liggins wont have to serve a day of that sentence after the appellate court ruled that his conviction is null due to Mr Murphys conduct.

Mr Murphys statement that Mr Liggins looks like a criminal, which came in January 2020, was apparently not the only prejudiced remark the judge made about the then-defendant.

The appellate court wrote that it ultimately does not matter whether Mr Murphy was actually prejudiced against Mr Liggins  that the appearance of prejudice alone was enough to necessitate the vacation of the conviction.

In its judgement, the court wrote that it must consider the interpretation that a reasonable observer of this public hearing could have made, for we must guard against not only actual bias but also the appearance of bias, which demeans the reputation and integrity of the court of which the district judge is a part.

At one point during the trial, after Mr Murphys looks like a criminal comment, Mr Murphy reportedly apologised to Mr Liggins for losing his temper and stated that he was not biased against him. Mr Murphy said he was frustrated with repeated delays in Mr Liggins case, which began in 2018.

That, however, was not enough for the appellate court to consider allowing Mr Liggins conviction to stand.

The complexity or long duration of a criminal case gives no license to a district court to prejudge the defendants guilt or otherwise dispose of the case in any manner except through fair proceedings, the appellate court said.

Mr Liggins will now likely face a new trial held before another judge. According to a release from the US Department of Justice, Mr Liggins, a resident of Southfield, Michigan, has been charged with one count of participating in a drug conspiracy and one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin.

Mr Liggins attorney, Wade Fink, told CNN that the appellate court ruled correctly  even if he harbours no personal animosity toward Mr Murphy.

I want to be very clear that I have the utmost respect for Judge Murphy and people should not assume anything about his character, Mr Fink told the network. Criminal Justice requires not just actual fairness but the appearance of it, too.
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A teenager accused of fatally stabbing Black dancer OShae Sibley in an alleged racist and homophobic attack was described by his lawyer as a good Christian boy.

Dmitriy Popov, 17, had reportedly claimed he was Muslim during a deadly confrontation with Sibley and his friends over their shirtless voguing dance moves at a Mobil gas station in Brooklyn on 29 July.

Mr Popov has been arraigned as an adult on murder and hate crime charges and ordered to be held without bail after allegedly going on the run for a week after the killing.

Mr Popovs lawyer Mark Pollard told The Independent in an interview on Tuesday that his client was a good Christian boy who regularly attended church.

I have no idea where that came from. I just know hes not Muslim. Its very strange, Mr Pollard told The Independent.

According to the NYPD, Sibley, 28, and a group of friends had pulled in to the Coney Island gas stations forecourt at about 11pm on 29 July and began voguing to Beyonces Renaissance album.

Mr Popov and his friends were captured on surveillance coming out of the stations convenience store and demanded the men stop dancing because it offended their faith, NYPD Assistant Chief Joseph Kenny told a press conference on Saturday.

As the group began to yell at Mr Sibley and his friends, they began to call them derogatory names and used homophobic slurs against him, NYPD Assistant Chief Joe Kenny said at a press conference Saturday.

They also made anti-Black statements, all while demanding that they simply stop dancing.

OShae Sibley with fellow students from the the Ailey Extension dance school in Manhattan (Whitney Brown / Alvin Aliey)

Court records obtained by the New York Daily News allege Mr Popov said: Stop dancing here... we are Muslim. Get that gay s*** out of here.

As the confrontation continued, Sibley followed Mr Popov around the back of an SUV and was allegedly stabbed once in the chest. He died in hospital a short time later.

At a court appearance on Monday, Assistant District Attorney Sarah Jafari said that Mr Popov had shaved his hair and turned off his phone in an attempt to evade capture, the Daily News reported.

He surrendered to detectives on Friday and has pleaded not guilty.

Friends and LGBT+ community members gathered at events across New York over the weekend to mark Sibleys death (Associated Press)

Mr Pollard told The Independent that his client denied making any racist or homophobic statements.

I have met his family, he has Black family members. Ive met his friends, he has Black friends. He denies hate being a part of anything regarding this.

Mr Popovs grandmother said outside court that he acted in self-defence, while his mother read a statement expressing sympathy for the Sibley family.

My heart goes out to the family of Mr Sibley, she said, according to the Daily News.

She said her son was a good boy and regular churchgoer.

A funeral for Sibley is due to be held in his home city of Philadelphia on Tuesday.

Sibley attended the Philanco dance academy in the city before moving to New York about three years ago to further his dream of becoming a professional dancer.

Friends and LGBT+ community members gathered at events across New York over the weekend to mark Sibleys death.

Voguing is a form of house dancing that emerged from the ballroom scene in Harlem, and has been popularised by the LGBT+ community.
 Close Woman's body found off of popular trail believed to be missing Maryland woman

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More than a week after mother-of-five Rachel Morin was found dead on a popular trail in Maryland, authorities have yet to make any arrests in the investigation into her death.

Morin, 37, was last seen heading to the Ma & Pa Trail at around 6pm on 5 August. Her boyfriend reported her missing that night after she failed to return home and her body was found the following day.

On Thursday, Harford County Sheriffs Office said investigators had been made aware of potential witnesses who may have seen Morin on the Ma & Pa Trail in Bel Air on Saturday. The witnesses  either three men, two women and two dogs or two men, three women and two dogs  were urged to come forward.

Officials said that these individuals had been identified and were contacted by investigators.

A spokesperson for the sheriffs office told The Independent on Tuesday that the department had increased patrol on the Ma & Pa Trail area to reassure the community in the aftermath of Morins tragic death, but noted that there is no perceived threat at this time.
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The identity of a body found on a Maryland hiking trail on Sunday has been confirmed as mother-of-five Rachel Morin.

A spokesperson for the Harford County Sheriffs Office told The Independent that the medical examiners office had identified the 37-year-olds body on Monday.

The spokesperson could not provide a cause of death, what injuries she suffered, or whether any suspects have been identified.

Morin was reported missing after she failed to return from a hike on the Ma and Pa Trail in Bel Air, about 30 miles northeast of Baltimore, on Saturday night.

Her body was found by a member of the public along the 6.25m (10km) trail just after 1pm on Sunday.

On Sunday night, Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler said the department had launched a homicide investigation and warned the public to be vigilant while hiking in the area.

Morins grieving sister Rebekah wrote on a GoFundMe page that her death was not accidental, and she did not go willingly.

Morin was reported missing by her boyfriend Richard Tobin at around 11pm on Saturday night.

He later expressed his innocence of any part in her death.

I love Rachel, I would never do anything to her, let the family and I grieve, Mr Tobin wrote.

Yes I have a past but I also have 15 months clean and have changed as a person. Please.

Mr Tobin, 27, has not been named as a suspect or been implicated in any way in his girlfriends death by law enforcement.

Richard Tobin has denied involvement in his girlfriend Rachel Morins death as homicide probe launched after womans body found (Facebook / Rachel Morin)

Mr Tobin has two arrests for second-degree assault, and separate arrests for violating restraining orders, malicious destruction of property and drug possession dating back to 2014, court records show.

He has also faced charges of being a fugitive from justice, resisting arrest and disorderly intoxication, according to Maryland judiciary case search records.

Mr Tobin and Ms Morin confirmed they were in a relationship in a Facebook post on 1 August, five days before she was reported missing.

Sheriff Gahler on Sunday urged the public to report any information directly to them, no matter how insignificant it might seem.

He asked anyone hiking trails in the area to carry a whistle alert device, pay attention to their surroundings, and notify family and friends of their plans.
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The boyfriend of a Maryland mother-of-five has denied involvement in her death, after police launched a homicide probe into the death of a woman whose body was found on a popular hiking trail.

Rachel Morin, 37, disappeared after reportedly heading out for a hike on the Ma and Pa Trail in Bel Air, Hartford County, at around 6pm on Saturday.

Her new boyfriend Richard Tobin, 27, reported her missing at around 11pm that night after she failed to return, Hartford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler told a press conference on Sunday.

Authorities launched a missing person investigation and Ms Morins car was found at the Williams St entrance to the trail on Sunday morning.

A member of the public found a womans body near the trail at 1.07pm, and authorities launched a homicide investigation as they await formal confirmation of the deceaseds identity and cause of death from the medical examiners office.

On Sunday night, Mr Tobin took to social media to state his innocence while also making reference to his lengthy criminal rap sheet.

I love Rachel, I would never do anything to her, let the family and I grieve, Mr Tobin wrote.

Yes I have a past but I also have 15 months clean and have changed as a person. Please.

Richard Tobin has denied involvement in his girlfriend Rachel Morins death as homicide probe launched after womans body found (Facebook / Rachel Morin)

Court records show Mr Tobin has two arrests for second-degree assault, and separate arrests for violating restraining orders, malicious destruction of property and drug possession dating back to 2014

Mr Tobin has also faced charges of being a fugitive from justice, resisting arrest and disorderly intoxication, according to Maryland judiciary case search records.

Mr Tobin has not been named as a suspect, or accused of any wrongdoing in connection with the homicide inquiry.

Mr Tobin only confirmed his relationship with Ms Morin in a Facebook post on 1 August, five days before she was reported missing.

The Independent has attempted to reach Mr Tobin, but a publicly listed cellphone number went straight to voicemail on Monday.

Ms Morins devastated sister Rebekah Morin confirmed in a post on a GoFundme page that the remains located on the Ma and Pa Trail belonged to her sister.

Rachel Morin was last seen alive heading off on the Ma and Pa Trail near Bel Air in Maryland (Harford County Sheriffs Office)

My sister, Rachel Morin went missing on Saturday August 5 2023 around 6 pm. In less then 24 hours her body was found by local law enforcement, she wrote.

Rebekah Morin added her death was not accidental, and she did not go willingly.

She also revealed that the family had been devastated by the loss of her niece to sudden infant death syndrome just a week earlier.

On Sunday, Sheriff Gahler has said that there may still be a danger to the public, and urged anyone hiking the Ma and Pa Trail to be vigilant.

Thankfully we dont have too much violent crime in Harford County, but when we have one, I prefer when I can stand here and tell you that the suspect has been arrested or that its a targeted crime.

I cant tell you that is the case, he said.

He urged anyone hiking trails in the area to carry a whistle toan alert device, pay attention to their surroundings, and notify family and friends of their plans.

Sheriff Gahler also pleaded with the public to call 911 immediately if they spotted anything suspicious, and come forward with any information that might be relevant to the homicide inquiry.
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Rex Heuermanns two adult children are now living in a surreal, waking horror show following his shock arrest for the infamous Gilgo Beach serial killings, according to their attorney.

Victoria Heuermann, 26, and Christopher Sheridan, 33, still lived at home with their parents when investigators arrested their 59-year-old father on suspicion of at least three murders that rocked Long Island over a decade ago.

Mr Heuermann, a professional architect, was charged with the murders of Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy and Amber Costello last month.

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, together 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. Their remains were found in December 2010 within one-quarter mile of each other, bound by belts or tape and some wrapped in burlap  all dumped along Gilgo Beach.

They were among 11 victims found in the area  some of whom are yet to be identified  which sparked fears of one or more serial killers on the loose.

Mr Heuermann has claimed his innocence of the murders which investigators believe may have taken place inside the one-storey home in Massapequa Park that he shared with his wife of two decades Asa Ellerup, their daughter Victoria and his stepson Christopher.

Since his arrest, search teams have combed every inch of the family home looking for clues about the killings or any potential trophies taken from the victims by the accused serial killer.

Victoria, who worked at her fathers Manhattan-based architecture firm up until his arrest, and Christopher, who has developmental disabilities, have now been left to deal with the aftermath of their fathers alleged actions and the fallout from the high-profile case.

Their attorney Vess Mitev, of Mitev Law Firm, told Fox News Digital that the siblings have found themselves thrust into the developing legal case of the century and are trying to claw back some basic sense of normalcy.

Theyre constantly... having to reevaluate what is happening to them, almost in real-time, he said.

Mr Mitev said that a major concern for them is the state that their home was left in following a 12-day search by authorities.

Asa Ellerup, Victoria Heuermann and Christopher Sheridan (left to right) (GoFundMe)

Images of the aftermath show the bathtub with holes cut out and possessions strewn everywhere inside the property.

Obviously, the deplorable conditions that their house was left in  torn apart from the floorboards to the shingles, basically, is their paramount concern, he said.

[Theyre] trying to regain some basic sense of normalcy, which is completely impossible at this point.

Theyre living in a surreal, waking horror show.

Mr Mitev said that the two children had hired his services to protect their own rights and liberties as their role in their fathers murder case has yet to be determined.

Their rights and liberties have to be protected. And that investigation  is now heating up with the DA handing over troves of documents last week, and ... the leads the DA may be pursuing, whatever they may be, at some point may intertwine  with the rights and remedies that my clients have and enjoy under the Constitution and under the laws of New York, he said.

At this point, they want to hold onto whatever minimum degree of privacy they can, he said  adding that this is something that has been completely eroded under the harsh glare of the spotlight.

The comments on behalf of Victoria and Christopher come after their mother broke her silence in her first interview last week where she revealed that she has been left filled with anxiety and their two children cry themselves to sleep over the horror.

I woke up in the middle of the night, shivering ... anxiety, she told The New York Post.

My children cry themselves to sleep. I mean, theyre not children. Theyre grown adults but theyre my children, and my son has developmental disabilities and he cried himself to sleep.

Gilgo Beach serial killer suspect Rex Heuermann in court (jtc)

Ms Ellerup filed for divorce just days after his arrest but her attorney has confirmed that she has had some contact with her husband.

She found support from a somewhat unlikely source as Melissa Moore  the daughter of the notorious Happy Face Killer  launched a GoFundMe campaign to help her start her new life.

Today, I have an opportunity to use my voice to help Asa, who isnt in a place to speak about the terror and horror she and her family are experiencing at this moment, she wrote in the GoFundMe, which had topped $38,000 as of Tuesday morning.

Ms Ellerup, Victoria and Christopher were all out of town at the time of the three murders and investigators are allegedly probing whether Mr Heuermann brought the victims to the family home.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said that a massive amount of evidence had been recovered from the property as part of the investigation.

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 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.

Aerial view of search on Rex Heuermanns home (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

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 home 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.

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.

Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Costello, Maureen Brainard-Barnes and Megan Waterman (clockwise from top left) (AP)

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.
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A woman in Texas was arrested last week after landscapers alerted police to dozens of dead animal bodies they allegedly found at her ranch.

Rachel Ann Sword, 22, was arrested on Friday and had been charged with one count of cruelty to a non-livestock animal, and one count of cruelty to livestock animals  physical abuse. Police reportedly found the bodies of 12 horses and 24 dogs on her property, according to Law&Crime.

A spokesperson for the Collin County Sheriff's Office told the outlet that a "citizen complaint" from the landscapers kicked off the investigation into Ms Sword's property. They reportedly had been working on the property when they discovered the horse bodies.

The whole property just smelled like death. Cages everywhere. Dead animals everywhere, Alston Mays, one of the landscapers, told local broadcaster KTXA. He said there were "skeletons everywhere."

Collin County Animal Services and the sheriff's department executed a search warrant on 1 August at the property. The warrant granted authorities to remove "all living animals" from Ms Sword's property approximately 50 miles northeast of Dallas.

During the execution of the warrant, investigators seized two dogs, two horses, one cow, one lizard, and one snake, which were turned over to Animal Services personnel for their care and control, the CCSO said in a statement. While at this scene, in and around a number of buildings located on the property, Sheriffs investigators discovered the remains of 12 horses and 24 deceased dogs in advanced states of decomposition.

Deputies reported they began to smell rot when they arrived at the property. Upon further investigation, they found a dead dog inside a cage near a home on the property. They noted there was no food or water anywhere near the cage.

They eventually found 23 other dead dogs in various states of decomposition around the property, many of which were reportedly locked in cages or stuffed into pens that were exposed to the sun.

Rachel Ann Sword, 22, was arrested and charged with animal cruelty charges after deputies allegedly found the bodies of 24 dogs and 12 horses on her ranch (Collin County Sheriffs Office)

The deputies' reports also noted the discovery of the horses' remains, some of which were "skeletal."

The decay on the horses ranged from completely skeletonized to partially skeletonized with skin and fur, generally indicating the deaths were not recent, the affidavit says.

Deputies investigating the landscapers' claims found that Ms Sword's property is actually owned by her elder grandparents, according to KDFW.

A probable cause affidavit obtained by the broadcaster reportedly said the grandparents had mobility issues and were under the impression that Ms Sword was caring for the animals at the ranch.

Ms Sword spoke to the deputies and said her husband  who she said owned the animals  had died three weeks prior, and admitted that she could not bring herself to care for the numerous animals.

However, KDFW found that there had been at least 16 calls reporting animal cruelty at the property dating back to 2019, long before Ms Sword's husband would have died.

Ms Sword was arrested and is being held on an $85,000 bond.
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Newly unsealed court documents reveal that the first-grader who shot his teacher earlier this year later bragged to school officials, claiming I shot that b**** dead.

Abigail Abby Zwerner was left with severe injuries to her torso and her hand after being shot on 6 January at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia.

The six-year-old boy who pulled the trigger of his mothers gun made the shocking comments, according to the unsealed search warrants obtained by WTKR.

I did it, the boy told school officials just after the shooting, according to the affidavit. I got my moms gun last night.

The mother of the student pleaded guilty to federal gun charges in connection with the incident as part of a plea deal. She will be sentenced in October.

One of the staff members was Amy Kovac, a reading specialist at the school, who heard from two students on the day of the shooting who said the six-year-old had a gun in his book bag.

Ms Kovac notified school administration and the boys bag was checked while he was at recess, but no gun was found, the warrant revealed.

When the class returned from recess, Ms Kovac heard a gunshot from the classroom and several children fled, according to the warrant. Ms Zwerner was also seen running from the classroom bleeding from her hand and torso.

Ms Kovac entered the classroom to find the six-year-old boy with the gun on the floor next to him. She held him in place until police could respond to the scene.

It was then that he told her, I shot that b**** dead, according to the search warrant.

Mom of six-year-old boy who shot Virginia teacher breaks silence

Ms Zwerner spoke to police from the hospital where she was treated for her injuries.

She recalled how the boy pulled the gun from his pocket and pointed it at her as she asked, What are you doing with that?

The boy paused, Ms Zwerner said and then fired one shot that struck Zwerner in her left hand and upper torso, according to the affidavit.

Ms Zwerner has since filed a $40m lawsuit against Newport News Public Schools, alleging officials of ignoring several warnings about the student leading up to the shooting.

The warrant also detailed how Ms Zwerner allegedly told investigators there had been multiple disciplinary incidents involving the boy before the shooting. The incidents involved physical violence and threats of violence.

A retired Newport News elementary school teacher who had been assigned to Richneck told investigators that she was choked in September 2021 by the same student.

This affiant was able to obtain limited school records pertaining to [the student] from Child Protective Services, the search warrant reads.

The shooting happened on 6 January at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

The incident to which [the kindergarten teacher] describes above is not found in these records. This affiant believes that [the kindergarten teacher] incident and possibly others were not readily provided by Newport News Public Schools.

James Ellenson, a lawyer for the childs family told CNN on Tuesday that the child is in therapy and has shown improvement.

The child had extreme emotional issues, and we are all working to see that he improves every day, he said.

Newport News Public Schools released a statement on Tuesday.

Since the tragedy at Richneck Elementary School in January, Newport News Public Schools has worked cooperatively with the Newport News Police Department and other authorities in support of the investigation. While the school division cannot comment on legal actions, NNPS remains committed to ensuring the well-being and care of all students and staff.
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A female black bear nicknamed Hank the Tank believed to be responsible for 21 home break-ins has been apprehended by wildlife officers in California.

Officials in South Lake Tahoe say that the 400-pound animal, who became an internet star was safely mobilized by a tranquilliser dart on Friday.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a statement that the female bear was found responsible through DNA for the string of break-ins in Tahoe Keys dating back to 2022. The bear will now be transported to an animal sanctuary in Colorado.

Hank the Tank was captured after being shot with a tranquiliser dart (AP)

Relocation is not typically an option for conflict animals over concern that relocating an animal will relocate the conflict behavior to a different community, the agency stated.

However, given the widespread interest in this bear, and the significant risk of a serious incident involving the bear, CDFW is employing an alternative solution to safeguard the bear family as well as the people in the South Lake Tahoe community.

Authorities initially blamed a total of 28 break-ins and 152 reports of conflict behavior on the bear. But now they believe that it was at least three bears, including the female Bear 64F, that were behind the trespassing.

California Fish and Wildlife say that the female bear was accompanied on a recent break-in by her three young cubs, who will be relocated to Sonoma County.

A CDFW-permitted wildlife rehabilitation facility in Petaluma in hopes they can discontinue the negative behaviors they learned from the sow and can be returned to the wild.

Colorado governor Jared Polis welcomed the bears relocation to his state on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter.

We welcome Hank the Tank (turned out to be Henrietta the Tank) to Colorado!
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Theres a sign in the office of Judy Shepards Wyoming home  beyond the refrigerator with its photos of her murdered son, less than three hours from the capitol building of one of the few states still to enact hate crime legislation  that reads: Im sorry, did I roll my eyes out loud?

Ms Shepard, who turns 71 this month, starts talking about that sign as she attempts to describe her feelings in the wake of recent decisions by the US Supreme Court.

I think I probably did more than roll my eyes, she tells The Independent of the courts June ruling allowing creative businesses to refuse services for same-sex clients.

Because Ms Shepard has spent nearly the past quarter-century fighting for equality legislation, thrown into the international spotlight in 1998 by the brutal murder of her 21-year-old son, Matthew. The gay University of Wyoming student was badly beaten and tied to a fence in Laramie, already in a coma when he was discovered 18 hours later and succumbing to his injuries the following week on 12 October 1998.

His death galvanised a movement; Matthews name became something of a rallying cry amongst LGBT+ activists, and Judy and her husband, Dennis, were highly visible and vocal  particularly when it came to issues facing gay youth. They began the Matthew Shepard Foundation two months after his murder and pushed doggedly for change; the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama in October 2009, and, ten years later, Matthew was one of the inaugural 50 American pioneers, trailblazers, and heroes inducted on the National LGBTQ Wall of Honor within the Stonewall National Monument (SNM) in New York Citys Stonewall Inn. Also in 2019, Matthew was honoured with a plaque at Washington National Cathedral, where his remains had eventually been interred after years of searching for a safe and appropriate resting place.

Matthew Shepard was just 21 when he was brutally beaten in Wyoming and left tied to a fence, succumbing to his injuries days later on 12 October 1998

For an encouraging stretch of time, there were victories, both in the courts and socially; before the 2016 election, Ms Shepard says, she and her husband had ideas of, actually, Well, we think our work is pretty much over now ...They dont need us anymore. Were good. We can go home now if we want to.

And it just didnt turn out that way, she says, referring to the election of Donald Trump and his subsequent installation of conservative Supreme Court judges. And I just sometimes feel like were just starting completely over.

There have been several significant blows to LGBT+ rights and other causes central to the left. Five years ago, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Colorado baker who objected to designing a cake for a same-sex wedding; last year, the Court overturned Roe v Wade; and on 30 June, the Courts conservative majority ruled that a Christian designer could refuse to work with gay couples.

During the Trump presidency, Ms Shepard says, the whole administration was just completely opposite of everything we had all been fighting for  all the marginalised communities  for decades. And it was just like, we see the haters unleashed now, even encouraged now. So thats very scary, and Im worried that right now, at this moment in time, some of them, even in my state, those people are being elected into office ... we are outnumbered in Wyoming at least three to one. So really, its going to be a while before I expect to see [progressive legislation].

Before that, she says, shed been heartened by the stories shed hear from gay youth around the country  and she still is, to some extent. Things seemed to have been changing on a grassroots level when it came to acceptance across the sexual spectrum.

One of the coolest things is, I did a lot of colleges in the beginning, and now I'm meeting them as adults in the corporate world, which is very cool to me, she says. The stories we used to hear from kids were, I wish my parents were as accepting as you. And now we don't hear that so much, which is, I think, great.

She says: Certainly, the young people I come in contact with, they just dont give a crap about any of that stuff ... theyre worried about climate change and gun safety and getting an education and a job, not whos in love with who and all that stuff, she says. So they believe in equality across the board.

Mrs Shepard continues: I think its because theyre more educated and because theyve seen same-sex marriage now and families with two moms and two dads.

A pair of Matthew Shepards sandals are displayed at the White House as part of the commemoration of LGBTQ+ Pride Month on June 25, 2021 in Washington. (Getty Images)

She does concede, however, that its a geographic thing in the sprawling US.

If youre living in the Deep South, that may not be as widely accepted as it is in Minnesota or Colorado or California  some parts of California, not even all of California, she says, highlighting the stark division within the country.

While the youth may be accepting, however, a vast swathe of problematic haters are the adults who should be setting a societal example, she says.

What were hearing is, kids in school, its not so much the kids that are giving those kids problems, its staff, she says. Its either the principal who goes to the evangelical church, or its the one teacher who just cannot let go of their own bias or the janitor or the lunch lady or the bus driver. Its not so much the kids anymore in public schools, its the staff.

She fears that trend shed been seeing of more familial and social acceptance may be changing, fuelled by ongoing alt-right rhetoric.

What breaks my heart is when I hear people, really genuine people who should know better, saying those things  like parents, right? If you have a gay kid, your responsibility is your child. Its not your fault, or anybodys fault that theyre gay; they are who they are  and just, you know, figure it out. Love them. Thats what youre supposed to do. So thats the heartbreaking part to me ... why are they letting somebody in the pulpit tell them how to think? I dont get that at all.

And Ive met so many parents who are like, Im not letting anybody tell me how to raise my kids. However, that is also what the other side says.

Shes certain that, had Matthew lived, he would have been hugely active in social causes, not just for the gay community but all the marginalised communities.

Thats who Matt was, she says. He didnt understand categorising people, putting them in a category, Black or Mexican or immigrant or Muslim ... to him, they were people, first and foremost.

At the time of his death, Matthew  whod already lived overseas with his family after his father secured work in Saudi Arabia, introducing the teen not only to the Middle East but also to Switzerland, where he attended school  was studying political science at the University of Wyoming with a minor in languages.

His dream was to be part of the State Department, Ms Shepard tells The Independent. He wanted to do this work internationally, magnified by living in Saudi and seeing the discrepancy between the haves and have nots, especially when it comes to US foreign aid.

He was venturing into the fledgling world of social media  complete with a MySpace page and would have fully embraced the advent of anything that would have put him in touch with more people, according to his mother.

She wants people to remember that he was a human being and had friends and family who cared about him ... he was a real person with real flaws but a heart as big as the all outdoors.

The Laramie Project, a play based on interviews with Wyoming residents following Matthews murder, was later turned into a film

He loved people, the theater, politics, she says, describing him as very much an extrovert.

Every day was a new adventure, she says. He just wanted the world to be a better place. [He was] very empathetic, good listener, smart ... The world lost something really special when we lost Matt.

Since then, Ms Shepard says, Dennis and I have figured, weve sort of come to the conclusion, that the work we do now is what Matt would be doing if he were here.

She also believes that, right now, her son would be very discouraged and angry  and all the more out there, speaking out, trying to remind people.

Theres a fear, I feel, that the gay community in states where they have all the rights have kind of forgotten that there are others out there that dont have those rights ... and weve sort of dropped the ball in demanding them, she says, adding that shes a little more worried about that now that the extreme right wing has gained a louder voice.

I think that this is a moment in time ... people will wake up and go, This is really not what I want my country to be, she tells The Independent. But in the meantime, its hurting kids, especially trans kids and gay kids. And yes, so that, that worries me ... Im just tired of being angry all the time.

She stresses the need for political action rather than complacency, but acknowledges that, for one thing, people are trying so hard right now just to get by day to day.

And they're tired, and they have work responsibilities and family responsibilities, she says. Not everybody has the freedom to just go to a school board meeting ... what are they going to do with their kids? Its a big choice now. So there's priorities, but there are folks who don't have those other things going on that should be doing more, I think.

She says: A lot of young people just don't understand how government works, how important it is to use your privilege to vote. And I just think it's kind of escaped  well, until recently, anyway  a lot of young people that don't understand how important it is that they do vote. But as, as just regular folks, yall have got to start going to school board meetings and fighting back. You just cannot let that stuff happen, continue to happen  and town council meetings and county commissioner meetings. All politics are local, and then they become national.

When it comes to factions pushing for division and intolerance, Ms Shepard has witnessed the vitriol firsthand  such as members of the infamously anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church picketing at Matthews funeral.

She says of such haters: I pity, them, actually, that their lives are so steeped in finding ways to hate people and take away their rights and privileges. Im just befuddled. Animosity? Probably not. Im just like, What are you people doing? Thats just stupid. Westboro Baptist Church, when they used to follow us around? ... I feel bad for them. Their lives are just surrounded by hate. What must their lives be like?

Her own life remains committed to combating such hate, she says, and continuing the fight for equality which has become her sons legacy.

I didn't expect to be here, 25 years later, doing this work, she says. Quite honestly, [after] two or three years, I thought people were just going to move away from Matt onto the next horrible thing, because that's what humanity does ... maybe I didn't have an idea of how big the scope was of Matts story.

Even if, as time passes, people dont remember her sons name, she says, this may sound weird to you, but thats okay with me: Just get the work done.

She remains determined, despite feeling frustrated and tired.

I love meeting people and working with them, but I'm really disappointed that it's not further along now and disappointed in the population in general, I think, that they didn't fight back against this nonsense, she says.

So all thats left is to continue looking forward  and remain beyond hopeful.

I am positive, she says. Im 100 per cent positive people are going to look back at this and go, What were we thinking? Or What were they thinking?

The majority is going to take hold again, she says. But it is a moment in time where we're just stuck right now.
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Public health officials are warning of a mild summer surge in Covid, as hot weather pushes people inside and others engage in summer travels and events. But recent changes to the disease-fighting infrastructure in the US, including the end of the federal Covid public health emergency, may be getting in the way of assessing the extent of the threat.

According to the most recent data released by the Centers for Disease Control, for the week ending in 22 July, hospitalisations were up 12 per cent from Covid, while emergency department visits were up 17 per cent, though deaths were still the lowest since the agency began keeping track, and hospitalisations were at nearly a sixth of their level during this same period last year.

The U.S. has experienced increases in COVID-19 during the last three summers, so its not surprising to see an uptick after a long period of declining rates, CDC spokesperson Kathleen Conley told NBC News of the data.

Experts noted that the modest increase doesnt appear to suggest a new variant.

We are now in the fourth summer of the coronavirus pandemic. Every summer thus far, the United States has seen an increase in Covid-19 cases, Dr Leana Wen, emergency physician and professor of health policy and management at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, told CNN.

Its important to note that this current increase does not appear to be driven by the emergence of a new variant, she added. According to the CDC, all existing variants are offshoots of the Omicron strain, which first emerged in late 2021.

As health officials look to respond to the bump in cases, they wont have as many tools at their disposal as during previous periods of the pandemic.

The Biden administration stopped mailing free Covid tests in June, and the end of the public health emergency means the largests insurers dont have to cover the tests anymore. Many of the home tests Americans purchased or were sent during previous periods are expiring, and Medicaid will stop providing tests in September of 2024.

We are going to continue to see people hospitalized for covid for illnesses that could have been prevented had testing been freely and widely available, William Schaffner, a professor who specializes in infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University, told The Washington Post.

Whats more, the end of the public health emergency in May meant the end of mandatory reporting of Covid data to the CDC, and widespread at-home testing over check-ups at official clinics means the extent of Covid around the country is being less well-captured than at previous times during the pandemic,

"We know that the counts we have on our dashboard are an estimate," Dr. Olivia Kasirye, public health officer for Californias Sacramento County told KCRA last month. "We just know that its not counting everybody because a lot of people either dont get tested or are using the at-home kits."

In lieu of widespread, government-supervised testing, experts have looked to wastewater surveillance to monitor the spread of Covid. Even this comes with its own complications though.

In July, a new study found that wastewater surveillance was ceasing to be as accurate a predictor of official case rates or hospitalisation numbers than it was in previous years.

This, experts say, is not because waterwater surveillance itself is getting worse, but rather because of increasing immunity in the US population and because official counts are becoming less reliable due to at-home tests.
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A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by America First Legal against an Ohio school district over its transgender bathroom policy.

America First Legal filed the suit in November. The president of the organisation is Stephen Miller, who served as a senior White House adviser to former President Donald Trump. District Judge Michael Newman ruled on Monday that the organisations claims lacked standing, and the boards new policy did not infringe on the parents free exercise of religion.

The [parents] do not have a substantive due process right to dictate to the School District which bathroom a transgender student must use, Judge Newman wrote in the filing. The School Districts bathroom policy applies evenly to all students, making no exception for anyone based on their religion, to allow each students identified gender to prescribe the bathroom to use.

Todays ruling reaffirms that the Constitution is not a vehicle to compel discrimination. Nothing in the (Constitution) guarantees of parenting rights, equal protection, or free exercise of religion mandates that transgender students be excluded from gender-appropriate communal restrooms on the basis of their classmates beliefs and values, said David Carey, deputy legal director at the ACLU of Ohio.

For public schools to function, one students or familys religious beliefs cannot provide a basis to exclude another student from full participation in the school environment, he continued.

According to the most recent filing, one transgender student, Anne, transferred to Bethel Middle School in January 2020, and was told to use the single-use bathroom.

But she felt ostracized, humiliated, and targeted by other students who taunted her for using the separate bathroom, the filing states.

At a September 2021 school district board meeting, a faculty member asked to change rules surrounding the school districts current bathroom policy, which was divided by biological sex. The Bethel Local School District Board of Education announced the change at a January 2022 meeting to align with the faculty members suggestion.

Anne was told she could use the girls restrooms.

This change was made in secret, the complaint alleged, because there was no public discussion, deliberation, or voting of any kind related to intimate facility use being based on gender identity instead of biological sex. This move, the suit continued, violated Ohio law.

Furthermore, the new rule, the complaint argued, hindered students (and parents of students who chose where their children attended school) exercise of religious freedom.

Therefore, it continues, the Board is treating religious students and parents, including the Plaintiffs, worse than the transgender students and parents and denying religious students, including the Plaintiffs, an educational benefit that the Board is providing for the transgender students.

The complaint stated that the Board placed a substantial burden on cisgendered students and forced them to violate their core beliefs. So, through this policy, the suit alleged that the Board is violating the Plaintiffs rights under both the United States Constitution and the Ohio Constitution.

Not every contentious debate, concerning matters of public importance, presents a cognizable federal lawsuit, the judge wrote in Mondays filing.
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A federal civil rights lawsuit intends to diminish the neo-Nazi group Patriot Front and dozens of its members into bankruptcy and irrelevancy following a violent assault against a Black man who is at the centre of the challenge.

On 2 July, 2022, members of the white supremacist hate group allegedly beat Charles Murrell III with their shields, feet and fists during a march in Boston, according to the lawsuit filed in US District Court on 8 August.

This attack left me with both physical and emotional injuries, he said in a statement. While I am still trying to heal, I hope that this healing will be broader than salving my own wounds.

The challenge echoes a similar, successful case and subsequent multi-million dollar judgment against white nationalists involved with the lethal Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017.

One of the chief organisers of that event, white supremacist group Vanguard America, later rebranded as Patriot Front. Thomas Rousseau has functioned as a leader for both groups and is named as a defendant in the Boston case  along with 99 masked and presently unidentified individuals who marched in the streets and beat Mr Murrell.

Recommended Patriot Front members convicted for Idaho Pride threats to serve three days in jail for conspiracy to riot

Mr Murrell is represented by Human Rights First and Foley Hoag LLP.

The law has prohibited racially motivated violence for more than 150 years, and this complaint seeks to use that law to its full extent to hold Patriot Front accountable for its conduct, Foley Hoag partner Anthony Mirenda said in a statement announcing the case.

After the violence in Charlottesville, Patriot Front has been deemed responsible for the vast majority of white supremacist propaganda efforts in the years that followed, according to the Anti-Defamation League and Southern Poverty Law Center, which designates Patriot Front as a hate group.

Over the last few years, Patriot Front has made its physical presence known at demonstrations and rallies across the country. One month before the Boston attack, police in Coeur dAlene, Idaho arrested 31 members organizing in military-like formation in a Uhaul truck with plans to disrupt a LGBT+ Pride event with shields, metal flag poles and a smoke grenade.

Last month, five members of the group were sentenced to three days in jail after a jury convicted them of conspiracy to riot.

Amy Spitalnick, senior adviser on Extremism at Human Rights First and CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, spearheaded legal efforts in the Charlottesville case, which underscored the substantial financial and operational consequences of coordinated civil rights abuses and hate campaigns.

The Charlottesville lawsuit pushed leading extremists to bankruptcy and irrelevancy, she said in a statement. We hope to do the same to Patriot Front in this case  to make clear there will be consequences for their violent hate.

Recommended Why Trump is charged under a civil rights law used to prosecute KKK terror

On 2 July, 2022, roughly 100 members of the group, including Mr Rousseau, marched in a flash demonstration through downtown Boston with fascist flags and a banner with the phrase Reclaim America. Other than Mr Rousseau, the members used cloth coverings, sunglasses and hats to hide their faces and identities, a common tactic at other Patriot Front demonstrations, including the massa arrest in Idaho.

Charles Murrell III is suing members of the white supremacist group Patriot Front after an attack in Boston in 2022 (Human Rights First)

When the group encountered Mr Murrell, members used their shields to shove him on the sidewalk, pressed him against a concrete light post, knocked him to the ground, and continuously hit and kicked him for several minutes until law enforcement intervened, according to the complaint.

The attack was filmed and photographed by members of the press and public.

Mr Murrell was taken by ambulance to Tufts Medical Center and treated for lacerations to the head, hand and face, some of which required stitches, according to the complaint.

The musician and educator says the attack has adversely affected his ability to perform and he has generally lost the will to write or perform music in the wake of the attack, the filing states.

Meanwhile, Patriot Front has used images of the attack to promote their group and advocate for similar in-person activity in the future, according to the complaint.

As a Black man and an educator, I feel like every Black and Brown child is my own, Mr Murrell added. If this lawsuit helps keep even one of them  one person  safe from violent white supremacists, some justice will have been served.
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Influencer Tierra Allen, known online as Sassy Trucker, is headed home after being stuck in Dubai after being arrested for shouting in public.

Ms Allen, a Houston resident, was arrested in May following an altercation, which allegedly violated local morality laws. She was reportedly arguing with a car rental employee following a minor fender bender.

Her mom told Fox 26 at the time that following the minor car accident, her daughter went to the car rental company to get her ID, credit card and some other personal items.

She added that Ms Allen found out she could only receive those items if she paid an undisclosed amount of money and alleged that the employee dealing with her daughter was very aggressive and screaming at her.

According to the nonprofit Detained in Dubai, Ms Allen was facing charges that could potentially result in up to two years in prison. The organisation added that the influencer was notified of a civil case registered against her, seeking at least $10,000 in damages including the accumulated impound fees.

The CEO of the organisation posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, writing of her plans to return to the US.

Tierra Allen boarded a flight home to the United States today after police lifted her travel ban, Radha Stirling announced.

She nearly didnt make it through airport immigration and thought she would be jailed but all worked out and Tierra is now relieved her nightmare has come to an end.
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A white woman who was traveling with her 10-year-old daughter is suing Southwest Airlines after she claims she and her child  who she describes as mixed-race Black  were victims of racial profiling.

An airline employee reportedly saw the two together and became suspicious that the child was being trafficked. The employee then called the police.

Mary MacCarthy filed a suit on Thursday in Colorado, according to Newsweek.

Police arrived at the Denver International Airport to investigate the trafficking claims on 22 October 2021.

The mother and daughter were eventually allowed to leave, but not before they experienced "extreme emotional distress," according to the lawsuit. The litigation is requesting economic damages, compensatory damages, as well as punative and exemplary damages.

Ms MacCarthy told Newsweek that she felt the need to be "hyperaware" of any interaction between her and her daughter due to fears that someone else might call the police on them.

She said being "on alert" about her "most basic behaviours" is "exhausting."

Mary MacCarthy and her daughter Moira (Mary MacCarthy)

Her attorney, David Lane, told the outlet that the lawsuit was intended to bring accountability to Southwest Airlines and force it to re-examine its training policies.

"Just as the police are constitutionally not permitted to stop-and-frisk young men of color based upon their race, corporate America is similarly not permitted to resort to such profiling to use law enforcement to stop and question racially diverse families simply based upon their divergent races, which is what Southwest did," Mr Lane told the outlet.

Southwest Airlines said it did not have further comment on pending litigation.

In November 2021, the airline said it would conduct an internal review of the incident.

"We were disheartened to learn of this mother's account when traveling with her daughter," Southwest said at the time. "We are conducting a review of the situation internally, and we will be reaching out to the customer to address her concerns and offer our apologies for her experience traveling with us."
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The US Supreme Court issued an order on Tuesday allowing the Biden administrations regulations on ghost guns to continue.

In a narrow 5-4 vote, the court permitted President Joe Bidens regulations banning the manufacturing of unserialised buy build shoot kits, otherwise known as ghost guns, to continue.

The court did not provide any reasoning or detail to its miscellaneous order other than clarifying that Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the liberal justices in the decision.

The order will allow the regulation to remain in place as challenges to it continue in court.

Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh voted against the regulation remainining in place.

Mr Bidens regulation, enacted last year, re-defines the meaning of a firearm to include ghost guns, which can be easily sold and bought online or in a store without a background check.

After the rule, manufacturers of ghost guns must obtain a license, conduct background checks and sell their products with serial numbers.

It is part of an effort to reduce gun violence by making untraceable firearms less accessible to the public.

As of 2021, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) reported approximately 20,000 suspected ghost guns had been recovered by law enforcement officials in criminal investigations.

Gun advocates, including gun rights groups and firearm part manufacturers, challenged the regulation in court.

A case, brought forward by Tactical Machining LLC but joined by Polymer80, Defense Distributed and Blackhawk Manufacturing Group disputed that the regulations contradicted wording in the 1968 Gun Control Act that defined a firearm.

The Supreme Courts order was a response to a challenge in the US District Court for the Northern District of Texas where a judge struck down the ruling.

Judge Reed OConnor argued that a weapons part kit is not a firearm and even if it is interpreted as such it is ultimately up to Congress to decide.

In the Biden administrations emergency application, Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar appealed to the Supreme Court to keep the regulations in effect due to the urgent public safety and law enforcement crisis posed by the exponential rise of untraceable firearms.

She wrote: Every speaker of English would recognize that a tax on sales of bookshelves applies to IKEA when it sells boxes of parts and the tools and instructions for assembling them into bookshelves.

The courts insistence on treating guns differently contradicts ordinary usage and makes a mockery of Congresss careful regulatory scheme.
 Close Related video: Trump polls far ahead of Republican rivals, despite legal troubles

Support is dropping for the anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist Robert F Kennedy Jr in the Democratic primary, polls show.

A poll by Quinnipiac University released on Wednesday revealed that Mr Kennedy is supported by 13 per cent of Democrats, a drop of 3.5 per cent compared to June.

The recent poll was conducted between 10 and 14 August and included 1,632 likely voters. It showed a slight increase in support for Marianne Williamson, the self-help author who also ran for president in 2020.

Her support increased from eight per cent in June to nine per cent in August.

Support for President Joe Biden increased from 70 to 72 per cent.

In the RealClearPolitics average of polls, Mr Kennedy received 20 per cent in April, 16.8 per cent in June and 13.3 per cent in August.

Meanwhile, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has dropped into third place behind entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy in the bookmakers odds for who will grab the Republican nomination.

The average odds for Mr DeSantis is now 7.1/1 compared to 7/1 for Mr Ramaswamy, according to Newsweek.
 Close Who is Ron DeSantis?

Nearly five months ahead of the Iowa caucuses, 14 candidates have hit the campaign trail hoping to convince voters, and their respective parties, why they are the best option.

So far, just three Democrats have announced their campaign for the White House: incumbent President Joe Biden, self-help author Marianne Williamson and anti-vaccine advocate Robert F Kennedy Jr.

As of now, President Biden is assumed to be the Democrats choice for representing the party.

Whats more unclear is who will receive the GOP nomination as the pool of candidates grows.

Leading the GOP polls is ex-president Donald Trump who has continued to receive support from voters despite facing three criminal indictments this year.

Other Republican candidates include Florida governor Ron DeSantis, ex-vice president Mike Pence, ex-South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, ex-Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson, North Dakota governor Doug Burgum, South Carolina senator Tim Scott, ex-New Jersey governor Chris Christie, Miami mayor Francis Suarez, and ex-congressman Will Hurd.

Republicans who qualify will go head-to-head in the first RNC debate on 23 August.
Jeff Gunter, a dermatologist who was ambassador to Iceland during Donald Trump's administration, announced Monday he's running for U.S. Senate in Nevada, joining an increasingly crowded field of Republicans looking to unseat first-term Democratic incumbent Jacky Rosen.

In a three-minute introductory video, Gunter presented himself as a loyal Trump supporter committed to furthering the former president's movement.

I'll fight to support Donald Trump and his amazing and great America First agenda, Gunter says in the video.

Rosen is one of the top Republican targets in next year's election as the GOP looks to wrest the Senate majority from Democrats, who now hold a 51-49 edge in the chamber.

Swing-state Nevada has had many high-profile races decided by thin margins, including Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto 's narrow victory in her 2022 reelection bid.

Gunter started his dermatology practice in California in 1992 before expanding into Nevada three years later, according to his campaign. He has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Trump, the GOP and Republican candidates over the past two decades, campaign finance records show.

Gunter joins a Republican field that includes Jim Marchant, a former state lawmaker who led a national movement of candidates who promoted Trumps lies of a stolen 2020 election, and Sam Brown, a retired Army officer who lost the GOP Senate primary last year.

Marchant, who lost his 2022 race for secretary of state, is highlighting his own ties to Trump. Brown, meanwhile, has the backing of the GOP establishment in Washington.

Rosen has posted strong fundraising numbers in her first reelection run, posting a $2.7 million fundraising haul in the second quarter of 2023, leaving her with $7.5 million cash on hand.

An ally handpicked by legendary Nevada Democrat Harry Reid to run for the Senate, Rosen has steered a moderate path during her first term in the chamber. She was a first-term congresswoman from a Las Vegas-area district when she defeated GOP Sen. Dean Heller in 2018. Before that, she was president of a prominent Jewish synagogue in the Las Vegas suburb of Henderson.
Former Gov Chris Christie is spelling out what he believed was truly Donald Trumps biggest problem as the criminal trial of the former president for his attempt to overturn the 2020 election looms.

Speaking Monday on CNN, the former New Jersey governor and current 2024 candidate for president reiterated his belief the Department of Justices special counsel had been able to charge Mr Trump with four criminal counts related to those efforts thanks to the cooperation of Mark Meadows, Mr Trumps former and final chief of staff.

Mr Meadows is known to have testified to the grand jury in some manner: CNN reported in June that the former White House chief of staff had made at least one appearance before the panel summoned by special counsel Jack Smith in Washington. What remains unknown is the extent, if any, of Mr Meadows cooperation with the DoJ investigation.

Ive said all along I think Mark Meadows is already a cooperating witness, Mr Christie said in his latest interview. He has all the looks of a cooperating witness, running into coffee shops away from the press.

Mr Christie added that he expected, given Mr Meadowss proximity to the president in the final days of the Trump administration and during the peak of Mr Trumps efforts to overturn the election, that the former chief of staff would have the ability to deliver the worst testimony possible for the Trump teams legal defence.

That sentiment was echoed by John Dean, a former White House counsel under Richard Nixon during the Watergate scandal.

It would be as important as mine was during Watergate, he said on CNN the same day. It would actually be more important, because he was at the scene of so many of the activities that occurred that are now causing Trump the problems hes got.

The ex-governor has made his beliefs about Mr Meadowss supposed cooperation clear for weeks in various media appearances.

He himself was a supporter of Mr Trump in 2016 and 2020, and only broke from Mr Trumps orbit after the latter refused to accept his defeat in the 2020 presidential election.

The former president is currently facing a staggering and unprecedented 78 criminal charges, four of which relate specifically to his efforts to change the 2020 election results.

DoJ special counsel Jack Smith argues that Mr Trump and his legal team conspired to deprive Americans of their rights when they went ahead with a plan to halt or interfere with the certification of the 2020 election results after failing to prove their case in court and being told, specifically, by experts in their own administration that they were spreading lies and falsehoods.

Mr Trump has denied guilt in this and the other criminal investigations he faces. Despite his professed innocence, his attorneys have said publicly that they expect further criminal charges to be filed over the 2020 election matter imminently.
Former president Donald Trump has again lashed out at the District of Columbia judge who will preside over his criminal trial and the prosecutor who brought the case against him for allegedly conspiring to disrupt the certification of electoral votes following his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden.

Mr Trump on Monday wrote on his Truth Social platform that Jack Smith, the Department of Justice special prosecutor who has obtained two federal indictments against him since June, is going before his number one draft pick, the Judge of his dreams (WHO MUST BE RECUSED!) in an effort to take away the ex-presidents First Amendment rights.

The twice-impeached, thrice-indicted former president was referring to a series of court filings in which Mr Smith is seeking a standard protective order to prevent Mr Trump from disclosing information that the government is set to turn over to him and his defence team as part of the pre-trial discovery process.

Prosecutors, citing Mr Trumps penchant for public statements on social media regarding witnesses, judges, attorneys, and others associated with legal matters pending against him, asked Judge Tanya Chutkan to impose an order barring the former president from disclosing discovery materials directly or indirectly to any person or entity other than persons employed to assist in the defense, persons who are interviewed as potential witnesses, counsel for potential witnesses, and other persons to whom the Court may authorize disclosure.

Mr Trumps attorneys asked the judge for extra time to compose a response to the governments motion, but Judge Chutkan quickly ordered the defence to respond by 5pm along with a proposal for an alternative protective order.

The former president has a history of disclosing sensitive materials so the names of people involved in court proceedings against him could be leaked to his supporters.

After the FBI searched his Palm Beach, Florida home on 8 August 2022, an unredacted copy of a search warrant receipt that had been given to his attorneys was published by Breitbart News, allowing the names of FBI agents involved in the search to become public.

According to subsequent court filings, the agents who were named on the document were inundated with death threats after their names became known to the ex-presidents supporters.

Mr Trump has in recent days taken to posting attacks on Judge Chutkan, a respected former member of the Washington DC defence bar who was named to the bench by then-president Barack Obama. in 2014.

He has done so despite an admonition from Magistrate Judge Moxila Upadhyaya at his arraignment last week that his bail could be revoked if he violated his terms of release by committing new crimes, including attempting to threaten or bribe witnesses or otherwise obstruct the administration of justice.
Washington, DC Federal District Judge Tanya Chutkan chose to ignore the latest delay attempt by Donald Trumps legal team when scheduling a hearing regarding a protective order to prevent the former president from sharing certain details set to be revealed in the discovery process.

This comes after Mr Trumps lawyers appeared to ignore the judges orders in their latest filing in the case related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election.

US Department of Justice special counsel Jack Smith and the Trump defence team submitted their suggestions for when a hearing may be held on prosecutors proposed protective order to restrict what the former president can share about the case.

Judge Tanya Chutkan requested a hearing date between 9 and 11 August. The special counsel said his team would be available on any of those days while Mr Trumps team ignored the judges order and suggested 14 or 15 August.

On Tuesday, the judge ultimately set a hearing date for 10am ET on 11 August.

In a filing on Monday night, the special counsels office wrote that Mr Trump was attempting to litigate this case in the media.

This came after Mr Trump objected to the proposal that public discussion of the discovery evidence in the case be restricted.

The defendants principal objection to it  as defense counsel stated publicly yesterday, and in conference with Government counsel  is that it would not permit the defendant or his counsel to publicly disseminate, and publicize in the media, various materials obtained from the Government in discovery, the office wrote. But there is no right to publicly release discovery material, because the discovery process is designed to ensure a fair process before the Court, not to provide the defendant an opportunity to improperly press his case in the court of public opinion.

The filing came shortly after Mr Trumps attorneys requested that the judge in charge of the case give permission to the former president to use large parts of the discovery materials while campaigning for the 2024 Republican nomination for president.

Over the course of 13 pages, the attorneys responded to the governments motion for a protective order banning Mr Trump from sharing any of the material that is set to be handed over by the prosecution during the pre-trial discovery process.

Mr Trump faces three criminal conspiracy charges and a charge of obstruction of an official proceeding.

The defence lawyers argued that the standard protective order would mean that the judge would be able to censor Mr Trump and put in place content-based restrictions on his political speech.

Prosecutors pointed to Mr Trumps frequent public statements on social media regarding witnesses, judges, attorneys, and others associated with legal matters pending against him, including insults and attacks lobbed at the prosecutors and judges overseeing other criminal cases and investigations in New York and Georgia.

They had asked the judge to impose an order barring Mr Trump from sharing discovery materials directly or indirectly to any person or entity other than persons employed to assist in the defense, persons who are interviewed as potential witnesses, counsel for potential witnesses, and other persons to whom the Court may authorize disclosure.

Mr Smith filed the request for the protective order on Friday night after Mr Trump posted If you go after me, Im coming after you on Truth Social. The special counsel argued that Mr Trumps posts may have an effect on witnesses.

The Trump legal team claimed to be busy this week, requesting a delay until next week for the hearing now set for Friday.

President Trump will not appear. However, he would like to have both his counsel John Lauro and Todd Blanche at the hearing, the lawyers wrote to the court, according to Mediaite. Todd Blanche is not available on Thursday, since he must appear for a court proceeding in the prosecution brought against the same defendant, President Trump, by the Special Counsel in SD Florida. Mr. Lauro is available on Thursday, with a preference for an afternoon setting. However, since we lost Friday as an option, we would respectfully request a setting on Monday (after 12:00 p.m.) or Tuesday (all day) to allow for both Mr. Blanche and Mr. Lauro to be present.

Judge Chutkun wrote in a minute order that The court hereby schedules a hearing on the parties respective protective order proposals in this matter on August 11, 2023 at 10:00 AM in Courtroom 9. The requirement of Defendants appearance is waived for this hearing.
California Governor Gavin Newsom mocked Florida Governor Ron DeSantis's proposed debate rules, likening them to crutches and calling him a "joke."

Mr Newsom has repeatedly called for Mr DeSantis to debate him on policy issues, with the Florida governor only recently accepting the challenge. Mr DeSantis  who is running against Donald Trump in the GOP's 2024 presidential primary  told Fox News' Sean Hannity on Wednesday that he would duke it out with Mr Newsom, assuming they could reach an agreement on rules.

"I'm game, let's get it done, just tell me when and where," Mr DeSantis said.

While the ideologically opposed governors did find some common ground  they both agreed to have Hannity act as a moderator and they both listed Georgia as an acceptable host state for the event  Mr Newsom otherwise rejected Mr DeSantis's proposals, Politico reports.

The Florida governor's team asked that opening statements be replaced with pre-recorded videos, and that the venue include a live audience rather than a debate in an empty room, according to Politico Playbook.

Mr Newsom's spokesperson called the stipulations a "crutch" and laid into Mr DeSantis.

Election 2024 DeSantis Newsom (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

What a joke, Mr Newsom's spokesperson, Nathan Click, said in a statement. Desantis counterproposal is littered with crutches to hide his insecurity and ineptitude  swapping opening statements with a hype video, cutting down the time he needs to be on stage, adding cheat notes and a cheering section.

He added that "Ron should be able to stand on his own two feet," and that "it's no wonder Trump is kicking his a**."

Mr Newsom's rule proposal  which he issued in late July  included no audience, live opening statements, and suggested venues in Georgia, Nevada, or North Carolina.

While Mr DeSantis suggested dates spanning the fall  from 19 September through 8 November  Mr Newsom only offered November dates for a possible debate.
The sheriff in the Georgia county where former President Donald Trump is expected to be indicted in connection to his attempts to overturn the presidential election results in the state has said that Mr Trump will receive no special treatment and that a mugshot will be taken if warranted.

Fulton County Sheriff appeared on CNN on Sunday, saying that first and foremost, we will follow our own policies and procedures.

We simply don't ... give any leniency just because of your status. Ultimately, there may be a court order that his lawyers may ask for, there may be some alternate ... processes around it, but we'll stay focused on our policies and procedures. And if a mugshot is warranted, we'll follow that policy and procedure as well, he added.

We have a lot of high-profile cases here in Fulton County in Atlanta. And so again, we treat everybody equally, he said.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is expected to indict Mr Trump any day this month in relation to her years-long investigation into the ex-presidents conduct. Its set to be Mr Trumps fourth indictment of this year.

The work is accomplished, Ms Willis recently told local news stations. Weve been working for two-and-a-half years. Were ready to go.

Sheriff Labat told CNN on Sunday that Atlanta police have taken lessons from Mr Trumps previous arraignments.

Weve certainly learned from both New York as well as Miami. So, weve got a lot of different agencies involved, he said. And so ultimately, weve created a force multiplier and really just focusing on the moment. So, again, you mentioned roads being closed, and several other security opportunities for us that we keep close to the vest. But other than that, we are standing ready.

Ms Willis has said that shes been receiving a high number of threats in connection to her work prosecuting Mr Trump.

Theyre very grotesque things. Were on family television. I dont even know that I like to say all of them but slave whore is one of them. Ive been called pretty much everything but a child of God, Ms Willis said, according to WSB-TV.

Im receiving phone calls and emails and communications that are derogatory in nature. They dont always state what the reason is that their calling. But Ive probably been called the N word more times in the last two-and-a-half years than most  a hundred people combined, she added.

Sheriff Labat told CNN that we investigate every threat and she and her team have forwarded us those threats. Ive received threats personally, both text, cell phone messages ... and e-mails. Its easy to be a keyboard bully, but our goal is to focus on the safety and security of our community and really stick to the plan.

When asked if the threats are directly connected to Mr Trump, Sheriff Labat said, Oh, absolutely.

They mentioned the former president by name in many of them  e-mails, social media, again, including voicemails, he added.

Were focusing on all of the courthouse security, the surrounding security and just trying to be prepared as we possibly can, Sheriff Labat told CNN.
Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi once again praised the indictments of former presidentDonald Trump after the former president railed against the former speaker.

The former speaker commended the indictment that a grand jury handed down to the former president last week in an interview with New York Magazine. The grand jury indicted Mr Trump with conspiracy to defraud the United States and he had previously been indicted for his handling of classified documents related to national security.

The indictments against the president are exquisite, she said in reference to both indictments. Theyre beautiful and intricate, and they probably have a better chance of conviction than anything that I would come up with.

Ms Pelosi said that she did not speak with Attorney General Merrick Garland or anyone in President Joe Bidens administration about investigating Mr Trump.

On Friday, Ms Pelosi said that Mr Trump looked like a scared puppy during his arraignment in Washington DC. In response, Mr Trump lashed out at Ms Pelosi, referencing the attack on her husband Paul Pelosi, which led to him being seriously injured.

I purposely didnt comment on Nancy Pelosis very weird story concerning her husband, but now I can because she said something about me, with glee, that was really quite vicious, he posted on Truth Social. I wasnt scared. Nevertheless, how mean a thing to say! She is a Wicked Witch whose husbands journey from hell starts and finishes with her. She is a sick & demented psycho who will someday live in HELL!

Ms Pelosi told New York Magazine that she suspected that Mr Trump would try to steal the election in some way.

As we got closer to January 6, I knew he was cooking up all these things, but what was he going to do about it? she said. It was clear that he knew he did not win the election.

Ms Pelosi said it was clear he would attempt to disrupt the certification of the 2020 presidential election results on that day.

When we saw what he did on January 6, I knew that was a crime, she said, acknowledging that it is not possible to determine what can be proven in a court, but I know he committed a crime that day.
Indias opposition accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of choosing silence while a northeastern state governed by his party convulsed in ethnic violence as Parliament began debate Tuesday on a no-confidence motion against his government that's certain to be defeated.

If Manipur is burning, India is burning. If Manipur is divided, India is divided, Congress party lawmaker Gaurav Gogoi said as he opened debate on the motion.

For three months, Modi has been largely silent on the bloodshed in the remote state, which teeters on the brink of a civil war, and the opposition moved the no-confidence motion to force Modi to address the Manipur conflict from the floor of Parliament.

He is expected to speak Thursday when the motion will be put to a vote. Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled government holds a clear majority in Parliament, meaning the motion is certain to be defeated.

Gogoi said the no-confidence motion was never about numbers, but about seeking justice for Manipur. He said Modi's silence showed the failure of his party on a state and federal level, and said Modi has not uttered a word of condolence or even appealed for peace in Manipur since the violence began in early May.

Top opposition leader Rahul Gandhi is also expected to speak on Tuesday, a day after his parliamentary seat was restored. A fiery critic of Modi and his main challenger in the 2024 polls, Gandhi was expelled from Parliament in March after a court convicted him for defamation over mocking the prime minister's surname.

He was reinstated as a member of Parliament on Monday after India's Supreme Court temporarily halted his conviction last week. The move is likely to strengthen a struggling opposition and their new alliance, which will take on Modis BJP in next year's general election.

India's Parliament has been locked in an intense impasse for weeks over the crisis in Manipur. Sessions nearly every day have been adjourned over protests and sloganeering from the opposition. They have also called for the firing of Biren Singh, Manipurs top elected official and a BJP member, and to impose a rule that would bring the state under direct federal control.

More than 150 deaths have occurred in Manipur and over 50,000 people have fled in fear as clashes continue to erupt.

The conflict was triggered by an affirmative action controversy in which Christian Kukis protested a demand by mostly Hindu Meiteis for a special status that would let them buy land in the hills populated by Kukis and other tribal groups and get a share of government jobs.

Critics say the government has shared very little publicly on the situation in Manipur and their plans to resolve it. Last month, a video surfaced showing an assault on two women being paraded naked and groped in Manipur. Modi condemned the incident, even as he refrained from addressing the overall conflict.

Home Minister Amit Shah visited the state in May and held talks with community leaders and groups, but the violence has persisted despite these efforts and a heavy army presence.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has replaced his campaign manager as he struggles to gain traction in his attempt to take down former President Donald Trump in the fight for the Republican presidential nomination.

Campaign manager Generra Peck will now instead move to the role of chief strategist with James Uthmeier taking the top post, according to The Messenger.

Mr Uthmeier previously held the position of chief of staff in the governors office. The shakeup comes not long after the campaign said that Ms Pecks position was secure. She was in charge of Mr DeSantiss successful 2022 re-election campaign in Florida but has been criticised by advisers to the governor as well as donors after the campaign began to stumble and funding started to run out.

The campaign has had two rounds of staff and expenses cuts and a revamp of its media strategy to make the governor more available to mainstream outlets.

A number of donors and advisers outside the campaign reportedly remained unsatisfied, prompting Mr DeSantis to ask Mr Uthmeier last week if he could analyse what issues may be plaguing the campaign and how they may be solved, leading to his hiring as campaign manager.

People have written Governor DeSantiss obituary many times, Mr Uthmeier told The Messenger in a statement. From his race against establishment primary candidate Adam Putnam, to his victory over legacy media-favored candidate Andrew Gillum [in 2018], to his twenty-point win over Charlie Crist [in 2022], Governor DeSantis has proven that he knows how to win. Hes breaking records on fundraising and has a supporting super PAC with $100 million in the bank and an incredible ground game. Get ready.

Iowa operative David Polyansky will take on the role of deputy campaign manager, leaving his post as an advisor to Never Back Down, the DeSantis-supporting Super PAC.

Ryan Tyson, an adviser and pollster for the campaign, will take on a larger role as will Marc Reichelderfer, a political operative and Tallahassee-based lobbyist.

The Florida Secretary of Commerce, Alex Kelley, will become acting chief of staff in the governors office. David Dewhirst, a former solicitor general of Montana and deputy attorney general of Idaho, joined the governors office last month as an adviser, The Messenger reported.

Mr Uthmeier and Ms Peck worked together on the 2022 reelection campaign and Mr Uthmeier has raised money for the presidential effort while serving as chief of staff.

Ms Peck told The Messenger in a statement that Governor DeSantis is running one of the most aggressive early state campaigns in modern history.

Our organization welcomes the best of the best and James is one of my closest colleagues and friends  we are better for his joining and providing day to day leadership. This team is built to last and built to win, she added.

Mr Uthmeier, 35, has no previous experience managing a campaign. When Mr DeSantis became governor in 2019, Mr Uthmeier served as deputy legal counsel, then chief legal counsel, before becoming chief of staff in late 2021.

He has been a part of the conservative efforts in Florida that made Mr DeSantis a darling of the far-right, such as banning local mask mandates, vaccine passports, and the reopening of schools during the pandemic.

Mr Uthmeier also helped orchestrate the effort by the governor to redraw the states congressional maps and the removal of Disneys special legal status, as well as the institution of a six-week abortion ban, according to The Messenger.

DeSantis communications director Andrew Romeo said in a statement that Uthmeier has been one of Governor DeSantis top advisors for years and he is needed where it matters most: working hand in hand with Generra Peck and the rest of the team to put the governor in the best possible position to win this primary and defeat Joe Biden.
A federal judge in Texas has ordered attorneys for Southwest Airlines to take religious-liberty training from an influential right-wing Christian legal group behind anti-abortion policies and litigation targeting LGBT+ rights.

US District Judge Brantley Starr  a member of the Federalist Society who was appointed to the bench by Donald Trump in 2019  issued additional sanctions in an employment law case on 7 August that directs the airlines lawyers to take eight hours of instruction from Alliance Defending Freedom, which is designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

The group is among esteemed non-profit organizations that are dedicated to preserving free speech and religious freedom, according to the judges order, first reported by Chris Geidner.

While Alliance Defending Freedom promotes religious freedom principles, the group has played a critical role in legal efforts to incorporate Christianity into government, schools and public life. At the Supreme Court, the group supported the legal effort to overturn Roe v Wade and litigated a case in front of the justices to argue that a website designer has a First Amendment right to reject LGBT+ couples. The group is currently leading efforts to block the federal governments long-standing approval of a widely used abortion drug.

But Alliance Defending Freedom is not involved in this case, and it is unclear why the judge specifically recommended the group. The woman who sued Southwest did not make any request that its employees undergo religious liberty training.

ADF is pleased that the judge and jury protected the religious speech of the employee in this case, according to a statement from chief legal counsel Jim Campbell shared with The Independent.

Every company should respect religious liberty and diverse viewpoints in the workplace. We are happy to help Southwest achieve that goal by providing training on Title VII and other applicable laws barring religious discrimination, he added.

The case stems from flight attendant Charlene Carters firing in 2017 after she sent anti-abortion messages to her unions former president. She argued that the company discriminated against her religious beliefs. Following a jury verdict, the judge ordered that she be reinstated last year.

Judge Starr also ordered Southwest to issue a statement to all employees stressing that the company may not engage in religious discrimination. Southwests subsequent statement said the company does not do that.

The judge reprimanded the company for the change in language and mulled additional sanctions, including religious liberty training, in May  one month after that another Trump-appointed judge in the North District of Texas ruled in the Alliance Defending Freedoms favour in a case that threatens access to a critical abortion drug.

Southwest is still appealing the jury verdict.

In his latest order, the judge wrote that religious liberty training amounts to the least restrictive means of achieving compliance with the courts order, and that the Alliance Defending Freedom has conducted such training in the past, and the Court deems that appropriate here.

Under the order, Southwest is responsible for transporting a representative of the group to Dallas along with any food, accommodation, or other travel expenses.

That training must be completed by 23 August.

The Independent has requested comment TWU Local 556, the Union of Southwest Airlines Flight Attendants.
Donald Trump has called for the judge in his most recent federal indictment to be removed from the case after she issued a ruling against him.

The ex-president launched his attack on District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan on Sunday morning, days after he appeared before her in court to plead not guilty to four federal charges stemming from a Department of Justice investigation into his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election and the subsequent January 6 attack on the Capitol.

The day after the arraignment took to Truth Social with a post seemingly threatening revenge on those pursuing him.

IF YOU GO AFTER ME, IM COMING AFTER YOU! the ex-president wrote.

Special Counsel Jack Smiths team cited that post in a Friday request for Judge Chutkan to issue a protective order that would limit what discovery evidence Mr Trump and his legal can share publicly.

The judge responded by giving Mr Trumps team until 5pm Monday to respond to the request and pitch amendments to the prosecutions proposed order.

Mr Trumps team asked for a three-day extension to respond, but that request was denied by Judge Chutkan.

Then came another Truth Social post attacking the judge.

THERE IS NO WAY I CAN GET A FAIR TRIAL WITH THE JUDGE ASSIGNED TO THE RIDICULOUS FREEDOM OF SPEECH/FAIR ELECTIONS CASE. EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS, AND SO DOES SHE! he wrote.

WE WILL BE IMMEDIATELY ASKING FOR RECUSAL OF THIS JUDGE ON VERY POWERFUL GROUNDS, AND LIKEWISE FOR VENUE CHANGE, OUT IF (sic) D.C.

That post goes to the heart of prosecutors argument for why the protective order is needed: Mr Trumps prolific use of social media.

All the proposed order seeks to prevent is the improper dissemination or use of discovery materials, including to the public, prosecutors wrote in the protective order request.

"Such a restriction is particularly important in this case because the defendant has previously issued public statements on social media regarding witnesses, judges, attorneys, and others associated with legal matters pending against him, it continued.

Mr Trump has continuously attacked prosecutors, judges, witnesses and more involved in his many legal battles to maintain his innocence and discredit their arguments.

Before the indictment against the ex-president was made public on 1 August, Mr Trump used Truth Social to inform his followers he expected to be federally indicted at 5pm and called the prosecutor, Jack Smith, deranged.

The protective order would limit what Mr Trump and his attorneys could publicly say in order to protect the integrity of the case.

Mr Trumps campaign issued a statement regarding the request for the protective order saying, The Truth post cited is the definition of political speech, and was in response to the RINO, China-loving, dishonest special interest groups and Super PACs, like the ones funded by the Koch brothers and the Club for No Growth.

Mr Trumps attorneys have publicly used the First Amendment as a defence against the indictment which charges Mr Trump 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.

They have argued that the statements Mr Trump issued claiming there was election fraud and he actually won the 2020 election were only political speech and he had a right to say them.

The indictment clearly mentions that while Mr Trump had the right to say what he wanted he unlawfully took steps to try and change election results in his favour.
Despite Donald Trumps penchant for attacking his political rivals on social media, the former president has taken issue with a tweet where Joe Biden is seen sipping coffee from a Dark Brandon themed mug.

In a court document filed in Washington DC on Monday, Mr Trumps attorneys complained that Mr Biden is capitalising on the former presidents legal troubles with the meme post.

President Biden has likewise capitalized on the indictment, posting a thinly veiled reference to his administrations prosecution of President Trump just hours before arraignment, his attorneys wrote in the filing.

The court document then included a photo of the offending image, showing Mr Bidens video post on his personal account on X  formerly known as Twitter.

In the video, the president is seen drinking a cup of coffee from a mug featuring an image of Mr Biden with lasers coming out of his eyes  also known as Dark Brandon.

In the clip, captioned A cup of Joe never tasted better, Mr Biden says: I like my coffee dark.

The social media post includes a link to buy the mug, which is part of the merchandise being promoted by Mr Bidens campaign as he seeks to capitalise on a trend that was first adopted by his critics.

The Dark Brandon moniker was born out of the right-wing chant Lets Go Brandon  a thinly-veiled chant meaning f*** Joe Biden  before it was adopted and turned into a merchandise opportunity by the president himself.

Mr Bidens tweet was posted on Thursday morning, hours before Mr Trump was arrested and arraigned on charges over his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and his role in the lead-up to the January 6 Capitol riot.

Mr Trumps complaint about the Dark Brandon meme post came in a court document filed by his defence attorneys on Monday arguing against a protective order in the case.

Last week, special counsel Jack Smiths office had requested a protective order in the federal criminal case limiting what Mr Trump can publicise about the case.

Donald Trump took issue with this social media post (UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA)

Such an order would not stop Mr Trump from commenting on the case altogether, but would simply prevent him from disclosing evidence such as secret grand jury materials.

The request specifically referred to a seemingly threatening Truth Social post from the former president where he wrote: IF YOU GO AFTER ME, IM COMING AFTER YOU!

On Monday, Mr Trumps defence team filed a motion pushing back against the protective order, claiming that his political rivals are campaigning off the back of his legal troubles.

They also claim a protective order would violate Mr Trumps right to free speech in what they say is a trial about First Amendment rights.

Instead, Mr Trumps defence is asking the judge to narrow limits of a protective order so that his right to free speech is protected.

Mr Smiths office quickly filed a motion in response, accusing the former president of trying to litigate this case in the media.

Now, Judge Tanya Chutkan has ordered that a court hearing will take place this week over the issue of a protective order in the case.

The judge told both parties to give her two proposed dates and times by 3pm ET on Tuesday for when a hearing can be held over the matter.

The hearing must take place by Friday, she said, and Mr Trump is not required to attend.

The irony of Mr Trumps issue with the presidents post comes as the former president has repeatedly railed against Mr Biden, the DOJ, Mr Smith and the judges overseeing his criminal cases in angry tirades on his Truth Social page.

Meanwhile, Mr Biden has made no public comments on Mr Trumps indictment on criminal charges.

The former president was arrested last Thursday on four federal charges of 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 Dark Brandon meme has been coopted the Biden campaign (Twitter / TJ Ducklo)

He appeared in court in Washington DC for his arraigment that afternoon, where he pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The former president is accused of conspiring with his allies to overturn the 2020 election, in a bid to sabotage the vote of the American people.

A grand jury, which has spent months hearing evidence in special counsel Jack Smiths investigation, returned a federal indictment on 1 August hitting him with four federal charges.

The Justice Department alleges that Mr Trump and his circle of co-conspirators knew that he had lost the election but launched a multi-prong conspiracy to do everything they could to enable him to cling to power.

This included spreading 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, the indictment states.

Mr Trump and his allies also allegedly plotted to send slates of fake electors to seven targeted states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin which President Joe Biden had won  to get them to falsely certify the election for Mr Trump.

The indictment also alleges Mr Trump tried to use the DOJ to conduct sham election crime investigations, sending letters to the seven states claiming that significant concerns had been found in the elections in those states.

As well as the false claims about the election being stolen from Mr Trump, the scheme also involved pushing false claims that Vice President Mike Pence had the power to alter the results  and pushing Mr Pence to fraudulently alter the election results.

When Mr Trumps supporters stormed the US Capitol in a violent attack that ended with five deaths, Mr Trump and his co-conspirators exploited the incident by redoubling efforts to levy false claims of election fraud and convince Members of Congress to further delay the certification based on those claims, the indictment claims.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Mr Smith placed the blame for the January 6 attack on the US Capitol firmly on Mr Trumps shoulders.

Former President Donald Trump speaks before he boards his plane at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport after arraignment last week (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

The attack on our nations capitol on January 6, 2021, was an unprecedented assault on the seat of American democracy, he said.

As described in the indictment, it 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.

The indictment marks Mr Trumps second federal indictment, his third criminal indictment overall  and arguably his most serious.

While the former president is the only person charged in the case, the indictment also refers to six co-conspirators who worked with him to try to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

The six individuals  four attorneys, one Justice Department official and one political consultant  have not been named in the charging documents because they have not yet been charged with any crimes.

However, based on the details in the indictment and records already known about the events leading up to the Capitol riot, the identities are apparent as Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell, John Eastman, Jeffrey Clark, Kenneth Chesebro and Boris Epshteyn.

This marks Mr Trumps third indictment after he was hit with New York state charges following an investigation into hush money payments made prior to the 2016 election and then separate federal charges over his alleged mishandling of classified documents on leaving office.

He has pleaded not guilty in both of those charges as well.
The US District Court judge assigned to supervise the election subversion case against former president Donald Trump has reportedly been assigned extra security by the US Marshals Service since the ex-presidents arraignment last week.

CNN reported on Tuesday that deputy US Marshals have discussed plans for stepped-up protective operations relating to Judge Tanya Chutkan, the nine-year veteran of the federal bench to whom the four-count indictment against the ex-president was randomly assigned after the charging document was filed with the US District Court for the District of Columbia.

The network also reported that journalists had observed a larger security detail for the judge, a veteran of the DC defence bar who was named to the bench in 2014 by then-president Barack Obama.

Security for federal judges and courthouses is handled by the Marshals Service, which is the nations oldest law enforcement agency. The service has been part of the Department of Justice since 1969, but from 1789 until it was absorbed into the DOJ it was the law enforcement arm of the federal courts and still maintains its role in protecting the court system.

A spokesperson for the Marshals Service, Drew Wade, told CNN that the Marshals take their responsibility to protect the DC District Court and its judges very seriously.

Ensuring that judges can rule independently and free from harm or intimidation is paramount to the rule of law, and a fundamental mission of the USMS, he said. While we do not discuss our specific security measures, we continuously review the measures in place and take appropriate steps to ensure the integrity of the federal judicial process.

The heightened security for Judge Chutkan comes after Mr Trump began posting about the judge on his Truth Social platform.

The ex-president and his attorneys have both suggested the judge is biased against him and have also called for her recusal, but no formal request for recusal has been filed with the court.

Mr Trump has a history of using friendly news outlets or his own social media to signal real or perceived enemies who have been subsequently inundated with abuse and threats by his supporters.

After the names of FBI agents involved in the 8 August 2022 search of his Palm Beach, Florida property were leaked to Breitbart News, prosecutors said in court papers that those agents were targeted with death threats by the ex-presidents fans.
Former president Donald Trump decried the multiple charges and indictments, calling them bulls***, during a rally in New Hampshire on Tuesday afternoon.

Mr Trump spoke during a rally in the state that holds the first presidential primary and the one that gave him his first primary win in 2016.

The twice-impeached and now thrice-indicted former president baselessly said that President Joe Bidens administration indicted him to hamper his 2024 run, despite the fact that Attorney General Merrick Garland nominated Special Counsel Jack Smith to handle the probes into Mr Trump independently.

How can my corrupt political opponent, crooked Joe Biden put me on trial during an election campaign that I'm winning by a lot, but forcing me nevertheless to spend time and money away from the campaign trail in order to fight bogus made-up accusations and charges, he said.

So what they're doing, I'm sorry, I won't be able to go to Iowa today. I won't be able to go to New Hampshire today because I'm sitting in a courtroom on bulls*** because his attorney general charged me, he said.

In response, attendees in Windham proceeded to chant bulls***.

Last week, a federal grand jury indicted Mr Trump for his alleged plot to overthrow the 2020 election after a four-hour presentation by Mr Smith. The indictment came after a federal grand jury had indicted him in June on 37 charges stemming from the Department of Justices investigation into his possession of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago residence.

On Friday, Mr Trump pleaded not guilty to a 40-count superseding indictment in the same case in the Southern District of Florida.

Mr Trump said that prosecutors are trying to restrict his rights guaranteed in the First Amendment of the US Constitution, an argument the former presidents legal team has floated recently.

You know, they want to take away your freedom of speech, everything else would have mattered a lot less, he said. They waited till the election.

Mr Trump also decried the investigation from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. Mr Trump faces a potential indictment in the county that houses Atlanta for his attempts to overturn the election results in the state.

Specifically, Mr Trump decried the fact that he was indicted for spreading lies that the 2020 election was stolen and said that Democrats have acted similarly.

And they want to indict me because I challenged the election, the indictment said. So does that mean that Hillary Clinton who challenge the election does that mean that Stacey Abrams and all of the other virtually every Democrat challenges the election?

Mr Trump also railed against Mr Smith, calling him deranged.

The rally comes as Mr Smiths office accused Mr Trumps office on Monday of trying to litigate this case in the media after the former president objected to a proposal to limit public discussion of the case.

-Andrew Feinberg and Josh Marcus contributed reporting
At least one of Donald Trumps former lawyers appears to have a pretty low opinion of the newest defence that the ex-presidents legal team is trying out for size.

Ty Cobb, former White House counsel, was speaking on CNN when he was asked about a whirlwind Sunday morning media tour embarked upon by John Lauro, one of Mr Trumps currently defence attorneys.

On several shows across the major TV networks, Mr Lauro displayed the Trump camps newest excuse for the former presidents efforts to pressure various Republican officials to interfere with state or federal election processes on his behalf, including his vice president, Mike Pence.

In multiple interviews, Mr Lauro used the same word  aspirational  to describe Mr Trumps urgings for Mr Pence to attempt to halt the Senates process certifying the 2020 election that he did to describe a phone call in which the former president was heard urging Georgia officials to find thousands of votes for him that did not exist.

Mr Cobb was asked by CNNs Erin Burnett whether there was any First Amendment defence that would come into play when a politician or elected official requests that a subordinate violate the law.

Not at all. Im not aware of the aspirational defence or the free speech defence to a gang leader saying to two of his subordinates, I need you two to please rob a bank for me, and they do it. Thats aspirational but it leads to a crime and thats exactly what Trump did with Pence, Mr Cobb responded.

His analysis appeared to poke a hole cleanly through the argument that the Trump team has made all weekend  that merely encouraging a crime to be committed is not an offence. Mr Trump has pleaded not guilty to all of the 78 criminal charges that the former president is accused of, including the four related to the 2020 election. But the aspirational defence appears to be the closest the Trump team has come to acknowledging that the actions the president requested, if carried out, would have been blatantly illegal.

DoJ special counsel Jack Smith has argued that Mr Trump conspired to violate the constitutional rights of millions of Americans when he worked to change the results of the 2020 election even after losing all of his court challenges and being told, repeatedly, by his own expert authorities that his claims of election fraud were false.

The ex-president is separately charged in two other cases involving classified documents retained from the White House as well as his own hush payments to a porn star in 2016. Despite his professed innocence, his lawyers have said that they expect more charges related to the 2020 election to be handed down in Georgia.

His latest criminal indictment has been understood by numerous experts to have been engineered by the Justice Department for speed in the hopes that it will play out, one way or another, before the 2024 presidential election concludes. Mr Trump remains the dominant candidate in the Republican presidential primary.
Donald Trump has now added a fourth criminal case to his list of ever-growing legal troubles  this time for his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia.

The former president was indicted by a grand jury in Fulton County on 14 August on 13 charges accusing the ex-president of engaging in a conspiracy to replace public officials with fake electors as well as engaging in overt acts to further the conspiracy.

The indictment arrived after a two-year-long investigation from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis into Mr Trumps actions following the 2020 election.

It is the second criminal indictment the former president is facing related to his alleged interference in the election that Mr Trump lost. The ex-president was charged with four federal counts related to his supposed efforts earlier this year.

A statement from Mr Trumps campaign called the latest indictment bogus and accused Ms Willis of engaging in political targeting.

Combined with the intentionally slow-walked investigations by the Biden-Smith goon squads and the false charges in New York, the timing of this latest coordinated strike by a biased prosecutor in an overwhelmingly Democrat jurisdiction not only betrays the trust of the American people, but also exposes true motivation driving their fabricated accusations, the statement from Mr Trumps campaign read.

They are taking away President Trumps First Amendment right to free speech, and the right to challenge a rigged and stolen election that the Democrats do all the time. The ones who should be prosecuted are the ones who created the corruption.

What charges is he facing?

The indictment in the 2020 election interference case charges Mr Trump with 13 counts: violating the RICO Act, three counts of solicitation of violating an oath by a public officer, conspiracy to commit impersonating a public officer, two counts of conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree, two counts of conspiracy to commit false statement and writings, conspiracy to commit filing of false documents, filing false documents and two counts making false statements.

The charges stem from an alleged plot and conspiracy Mr Trump engaged in to turn Georgias votes over to himself. One of the many actions stated in the indictment was Mr Trumps effort to replace electors in Georgia with false ones.

It is the second criminal case over Mr Trumps alleged actions while he was running the country.

Former President Donald Trump walks over to speak with reporters before he boards his plane at Ronald Reagan Washington Airport after his arraignment (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

The first federal indictment against the ex-president occurred on 8 June, when a grand jury in Mr Smiths investigation charged Mr Trump and his co-defendant Walt Nauta on 37 counts related to Mr Trumps alleged unlawful retention of national defence information and obstruction of justice.

Those charges stem from a case that began early last year after National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) officials discovered more than 100 classified documents in boxes that were retrieved from Mr Trumps Palm Beach, Florida residence.

This came after his first criminal indictment in March on state charges in New York.

In that case, he appeared in a Manhattan courtroom to face criminal charges following Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs investigation into hush payments leading up to the 2016 presidential election.

After the first two arraignments, he returned to his properties to deliver remarks to crowds of supporters to cast himself as a victim of political persecution, baselessly accusing his political rivals of interfering with his chances of winning election to the presidency in 2024.

In all three cases, Mr Trump has pleaded not guilty.

In this handout photo provided by the U.S. Department of Justice, stacks of boxes can be observed in the White and Gold Ballroom of former U.S. President Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida (Getty Images)

This most recent indictment stems from a years-long investigation from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis that has been probing Mr Trumps attempts to reject the results of that election in the state of Georgia.

So will he go to jail?

With his growing list of criminal cases, speculation is mounting as to whether Mr Trump will face jail time.

If convicted, federal and state prosecutors and judges could have to decide whether to jail a presidential candidate  or even the potential victor in the 2024 race.

Following the first federal indictment, experts said that the Justice Department was likely to attempt to have Mr Trump incarcerated if hes convicted.

Each charge in that case  the classified documents case  carries a maximum sentence ranging from five years to 20 years. A potential sentence, if convicted, could include decades in prison.

National security lawyer and George Washington University law professor Kel McClanahan said that the department will probably want to go for incarceration in the case of Mr Trump, according to Insider.

Mr McClanahan said that the evidence in the indictment is intended to show that Mr Trump is a kingpin who knowingly broke the law, endangered national security, endangered nuclear weapon security, [and] endangered other countries national security.

Former US President Donald Trump waves from his vehicle following his appearance at Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Federal Courthouse, in Miami, Florida, on June 13, 2023 (AFP via Getty Images)

The consensus among most legal experts commenting on the indictment appears to be that Mr Trump is in serious legal jeopardy.

In Georgia, there are mandatory minimum sentences under the racketeering charges Mr Trump faces. The former president could be sentenced to between five and 20 years in prison if he is convicted.

A former assistant US attorney in the Southern District of New York, Sarah Krissoff, said that to the extent that theres a conviction here, the Department of Justice is going to want to be seeking a real sentence because of the nature of the conduct, how long it lasted, his involvement, the involvement of other people, working allegedly at Trumps direction.

She noted that if Mr Trump is convicted, the sentence would depend on the judge, which seems likely to be Trump-appointee Aileen Cannon in the District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Meanwhile, Mr Trump could be looking at a maximum of five to 20 years of prison time if he is convicted in the January 6 charges.
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It was arguably the mass shift to remote working sparked by coronavirus lockdowns which saw Zoom rapidly become a household name  but now, three years later, even the tech giant itself is extolling the benefits of a physical office.

The videoconferencing firm has now told employees who live within 50 miles of an office that they should commute in at least two days each week, in a plan due to come into force over the course of the next two months.

The move to what Zoom calls a structured hybrid approach will impact its roughly 7,400 employees at its offices across the world, including in the UK.

A spokesperson said: We believe that a structured hybrid approach  meaning employees that live near an office need to be onsite two days a week to interact with their teams  is most effective for Zoom.

As a company, we are in a better position to use our own technologies, continue to innovate, and support our global customers.

Well continue to leverage the entire Zoom platform to keep our employees and dispersed teams connected and working efficiently. Additionally, we will continue to hire the best talent, regardless of location.

The company was reported to have nearly 8,500 employees at the end of 2022, but like several other big tech companies was forced to let go 15 per cent of its staff in February, amounting to some 1,300 employees, as chief executive Eric Yuan took a 98 per cent pay cut.

Zoom went from having 10 million daily meeting participants in 2019 a measure which fails to account for whether one person attends multiple meetings  to 300 million the following year, as social and working lives were pushed further online by health restrictions to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Zoom was the the most downloaded free iPhone app in 2020 (Getty Images)

But the tech firm has taken a hit amid a push by many firms to get employees back into offices, with its share price falling from a high of $559 in October 2020 to $68, lower than they were prior to the pandemic.

Mr Yuan faced a series of questions from employees who expressed frustration about the time and money theyd waste while commuting, during a tense meeting about the new hybrid policy last week, one employee who was present told the New York Times.

The company currently employs more than 200 people at its UK office, and has this week opened a new office space in central London, which is being billed as laying down the foundations for Zoom as a successful hybrid business, according to The Times.
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The mayor of the village where French toddler Emile Soleil went missing has theorised a madman or someone Machiavellian is behind the two-and-a-half-year-olds disappearance.

Today marks exactly one month since Emile vanished from his maternal grandparents home in Le Vernet in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, triggering a massive search operation in the idyllic French hamlet.

An extensive search operation  involving drones, sniffer dogs, and helicopters  was launched to find Emile, but police announced they were calling it off eight days later as Emiles whereabouts remained unknown.

In a new interview, the mayor of Haut Vernet, Francois Balique speculated that Emile was necessarily moved from the village by one or more adults, adding that it could be the work of a madman or someone Machiavellian.

He told C News: When we see that we have not found Emile in the town, it means that he has necessarily been moved. It cannot be otherwise. [He] could only have been moved by adults, by one or more adults. Either we are dealing with a madman, or we are dealing with someone Machiavellian.

Mr Balique also said he had done everything in his power to ensure the search for Emile succeeds, hoping that the people responsible for Emiles disappearance are punished.

Shortly after the search for Emile was called off, on 13 July, Mr Balique told French newspaper Le Figaro the best hope for the toddler is that hes been kidnapped and is alive.

The local politician, who has served as Haut Vernets mayor since 1977, added: We could consider that someone wanting to cause harm to a child passed by the area, that he saw this beautiful little boy and took him away. He couldnt survive alone in the wild, thats for sure.

Police have ruled out an animal attack, and also confirmed nothing turned up after all the homes in Haut Vernet were searched. In an update on 19 July, investigators said they are looking into the possibility Emile was hit by a combine harvester while walking in the long grass.

The mayor of Haut Vernet, Francois Balique (AFP via Getty Images)

So far, Emiles disappearance remains shrouded in speculation, with no verifiable explanation for what happened to the little boy on 8 July.

Emile, who is from Bouches-du-Rhone near Marseille, was staying with his grandparents on the day he disappeared. They were getting ready for a family outing and noticed Emile was missing when they went to put him in the car.

Police and the gendarmes combed 97 hectares of land in their search for Emile, as helicopters played his mothers voice as loudly as possible over the area, while looking for clues that might lead to Emiles discovery.

In the wake of the incident, locals feared their village was cursed as they recalled earlier tragedies that had occurred in Le Vernet, including a gruesome murder and a devastating plane crash that left 149 people dead.
 Close Firefighters battle wildfires in Portugal as thousands forced to evacuate

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Portuguese authorities fear new wildfires could spark as blistering 37C heat has provoked extreme weather warnings.

Yellow warnings - the lowest level on a three-tier scale - will remain in place across the Beja and Faro districts until 10 August at the minimum, with the Met Office anticipating that, on Friday, temperatures will reach highs of 37C across Faro in the Algarve region of southern Portugal.

Vitor Vaz Pinto, regional commander of the emergency and civil protection authority (ANEPC), said on Wednesday the wildfire in the municipality of Odemira, in the Alentejo region, was brought under control at 10.15am.

The wildfire started on Saturday, but high temperatures and strong winds hampered efforts by more than 1,000 firefighters and water-dousing planes to extinguish the flames, which destroyed some 8,400 hectares, according to preliminary data.

For now, firefighters, water-dousing planes and bulldozers being used to prevent the spread of the fire will remain on the ground and then gradually be demobilised, Vaz Pinto said.

Temperatures have now dropped along the Portuguese coast but remain high across the countryside, with around 100 municipalities remaining at maximum risk of wildfires.

The biggest blaze, in the northeast, burned about 600 hectares (1,500 acres) and required the evacuation of 150 people.
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Hundreds of firefighters are battling wildfires in Portugal where 1,400 people have been evacuated in a 46C heatwave.

The wildfire started on Saturday in the Odemira region on the west coast but it has since spread south towards the tourist hotspot of the Algarve.

Nine have reportedly been injured as a result of the fire.

High temperatures and strong winds have continued into Tuesday with two active fronts of the fire have now been confirmed  with one spreading towards the picturesque Monchique village.

Three districts, Braganca, Castelo Branco and Guarda, are currently on red alert for extreme heat. Authorities say that more than 120 Portuguese districts, including Lisbon, Alentejo and Algarve, are at maximum risk of wildfires.

Around 850 firefighters have been out battling the large blaze in the Alentejo region, with planes carrying water dousing the flames from above.

A firefighter airplane drops water in a wildfire in Carrascal, Proenca a Nova (AFP/Getty)

Odemiras mayor, Helder Guerreiro, called the situation critical, difficult and complex while Civil Protection commander Jose Ribeiro said there was a lot of work ahead to bring the wildfire under control.

The weather conditions we are going to experience in the coming days means any small occurrence (fire) could become a big one, Civil Protection secretary of state Patricia Gaspar told a news conference.

View of a wildfire in Aljesur, Portugal, (REUTERS)

Advice for tourists

The primary wildfire area is the municipality of Odemira, in the Alentejo region, although there could soon be a major spread into the holiday destination of the Algarve.

Some roads in the Alentejo region have been blocked off, while 19 villages, four tourist accommodations and a campsite have been evacuated.

The UKs Met Office has also issued a weather warning for Spain, Portugal and Africa as wildfires rage across some of Portugals most popular tourist hotspots.

Temperatures have increased across Spain, Portugal and North Africa in recent days, widely into the mid-30sC, if not into the low- to mid-40sC, the Met Offices statement, released via Twitter, read.

A tractor cleans up land during a wildfire in Aljezur, Portugal (Reuters)

The heat is expected to extend further north and east by midweek, before temperatures return closer to average by the weekend.

As of Monday, Portugals minister of internal administration confirmed that for now the government will not declare an alert.

Firefighters battle a wildfire in Carrascal, Proenca a Nova (AFP/Getty)

The UK Foreign Office has said: Forest fires can occur anywhere in Portugal. Risk of fires is higher when the weather is hot and dry. Fires have become more common due to drought and high temperatures.

Forest fires are highly dangerous and unpredictable.

No holidays to Portugal appear to have been cancelled by travel companies at this time.

Firefighters try to extinguish a wildfire in a forest area in Puerto Real, near Cadiz (AFP via Getty Images)

Fires continue to burn elsewhere

There have also been wildfires in Sardinia, while in Greece, the island of Rhodes is recovering from 10 straight days of fires and the community is hoping for a return of tourists to bolster its local economy after thousands of tourists were evacuated due to the blazes last month.

In Algeria, approximately 35 wildfires have been spreading across more than 11 regions in the northeast since 24 July. The Algerian Government has reported 34 deaths, with temperatures exceeding 45C and high wind speeds reaching over 50kmph by the Tunisian border worsening the situation.
 Close Ukraine war: Footage appears to show moment drone attack hits building in central Moscow

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President Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed revenge for the attack which left seven dead and 144 injured in Chernihiv.

I am sure our soldiers will give a response to Russia for this terrorist attack, Zelensky said in his nightly video address, delivered early on Sunday at the end of a visit to Sweden. A notable response.

He said that of the 144 people injured, 15 were children, and named the girl killed as Sofia. Fifteen others were police officers, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said on Telegram. Klymenko said most of the victims were in vehicles, crossing the road, or returning from church.

Regional governor Viacheslav Chaus said 41 people were in hospital on Saturday.

Zelensky said the strike on Chernihiv, a city of leafy boulevards and centuries-old churches about 145 km (90 miles) north of Kyiv, coincided with the Orthodox holiday of the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord.

It comes as a Ukrainian drone crashed into the rooftop of a railway station in the Russian city of Kursk, injuring five people and setting off a fire, the TASS news agency said on Sunday, citing regional governor Roman Starovoit.
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Kyiv has accused Moscow of targeting rescue workers after an eastern Ukrainian city was hit with two missiles in quick succession  the first destroying buildings before the second hit emergency crews clearing the scene.

The strikes on the downtown district of the city of Pokrovsk  in the Donetsk region  killed at least seven people, including an emergency official, and wounded more than 80 others, most of them police officers, emergency workers and soldiers who rushed to assist residents, Ukrainian officials said.

The Iskander missiles used in the strikes on Monday evening have an advanced guidance system that increases their accuracy. The two strikes hit within 40 minutes of each other, said Donetsk governor Pavlo Kyrylenko. The tactic is called a double tap in military jargon. It is one that Russia has previously used during Syrias civil war.

All of [the police] were there because they were needed, putting their efforts into rescuing people after the first strike, Ivan Vyhivskyi, chief of Ukraines National Police, said on Tuesday. They knew that under the rubble were the injured  they needed to react, to dig, to retrieve, to save. And the enemy deliberately struck the second time.

Russias Ministry of Defence claimed it hit a Ukrainian army command post in Pokrovsk. The head of the Pokrovsk city administration, Serhii Dobriak, described the attacks as a typical Russian scenario, with 30 to 40 minutes between missiles.

Mr Kyrylenko said that more than a dozen buildings were damaged in Pokrovsk, including a hotel, a pharmacy, two shops and two cafes.

A wounded resident stands near her destroyed flat in Pokrovsk (Viacheslav Ratynskyi/Reuters)

In a statement, the UN humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine, Denise Brown, described the latest attack as absolutely ruthless and said it was a serious breach of international law and violated any principle of humanity.

Volodymyr Nikulin, a police officer originally from the now Russian-occupied port city of Mariupol, was among the injured. Arriving at the scene between the two strikes, Mr Nikulin had shrapnel pierce his left lung and left hand as the second missile hit. Today is not my happy day because Russian criminals committed another awful crime in Pokrovsk, he said in a video from a hospital ward. The police officer said he was concerned about a second strike but wanted to help. Showing other wounded people on his ward, he said in the video: Look, these are Ukrainian heroes who helped (injured) people.

Mr Nikulin was later transported to a hospital in Dnipro where he was to have the shrapnel removed.

According to the spokesperson for Ukraines State Emergency Service, Colonel Oleksandr Khorunzhyi, 78 employees have been killed and 280 wounded while responding to Russian missile strikes. Kyiv officials say rescuers are protected by international conventions as they are providing humanitarian assistance and are not engaged in combat.

In the northeastern Kharkiv region, an overnight attack on the town of Kruhliakivka killed three people and injured nine others, governor Oleh Syniehubov said. Another Russian strike on a village near Kupiansk, in the same region, is also said to have killed two civilians.

Elsewhere, Ukraines security services claimed they had foiled an attempt by Russian hackers to penetrate the Ukrainian armed forces combat information system and so protecting sensitive information.

Meanwhile, Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video that his country will fight back against Russia in the Black Sea to ensure it can export its grain. Last month, Russia ended a deal brokered by the UN and Turkey that allowed the safe export of grain from Ukrainian ports  since then, Moscow has repeatedly struck Ukrainian port facilities and grain silos. Mr Zelensky called on Russia to stop firing missiles and drones and allow trade to take place, but said Kyiv would have no problem defending itself.

If Russia continues to dominate the Black Sea, outside its territory, blockading or firing at us again, launching missiles at our ports, Ukraine will do the same. This is a just defence of our opportunities, of any corridor, Mr Zelensky said. We dont have that many ships. But they should clearly understand that by the end of the war, they will have zero ships, zero.

Mr Zelenskys comments come days after Ukrainian sea-based drones packed with explosives damaged a Russian ship near a Russian port in the area, as well as striking a Russian tanker.
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Russian students will be reading a coursebook that praises Valdimir Putins invasion of Ukraine on their national curriculum when they return to school next month  as the Kremlin seeks to control the historial narrative around its war provided to young people.

The Kremlin is said to have ordered the rapid writing of the coursebooks, which will be aimed at 17-year-olds, with Ukraines Western allies seeking to make Moscow a global pariah over the invasion of its neighbour.

Education minister Sergei Kravtsov unveiled the book at a press conference on Monday and said the material aimed to convey the aims [of the Ukraine offensive] to schoolchildren.

Trotting out the usual claims that Moscow repeatedly uses to try and justify its actions, namely the false claim that Kyivs government is full of Nazis, Mr Kravtsov said: The tasks of demilitarisation and denazification, so that schoolchildren are convinced that this is really the case.

He added that the book has been written in just under five months.

The language used by Mr Kravtsov is similar to that spoken by Vladimir Putin to justify the invasion of February 2022. Mr Putin sees having the support of young people as crucial in the years ahead and is seeking any means to bolster deomestic support for his war.

Mr Kravtsov added that the book will cover Russian history from 1945 to the present day and will be in all schools by 1 September, when the term begins.

Sergei Kravtsov (AFP via Getty Images)

The book also praises Russias illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, a move condemned by the international community. The book porrays the move as saving peace  despite it settomg the stage for the current invasion.

Indeed, the cover of the book is of the Crimean Bridge that is linking Russia with the Crimea which has been attacked several times since the invasion began. Mr Putin sees the bridge as the crown jewel of his infrastructure projects.

The book also denounces Western sanctions imposed since Moscows invasion began, describing them as worse than Napoleon, who marched on Russia in 1812.

The Russian equivalent of personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) has also been modified since the invasion. Under Mr Kravtsovs regime, students are now privy to lessons on what is important which are designed to instil a sense of patriotism.

This also plays into a wider cracdown on dissent around the invasion, with a number of critics of the war having been handed lengthy prison sentences.

It follows a girl being taken away from her father after she drew a picture in support of Ukraine at school. That broaded into a case against the father.
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Wildfires have ravaged two countries in Europe this week, forcing thousands of 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 Portugal and Italy.

Portugal is facing wildfires raging across the south of the country, with more than 850 firefighters battling to put out the flames. The first wildfire started in the municipality of Odemira, in the Alentejo region on Saturday, but it has since spread south towards the Algarve.

Portugal is battling wildfires raging across the south of the country (AFP via Getty Images)

The local mayor confirmed that there are two active fronts in both Odemira and Monchique. Monchique, a lush green mountainous area in the Algarves countryside, last burned in 2018. It is popular amongst locals and tourists due to its thermal springs and hotels.

Elsewhere in the country, a fire broke out in Ourem, in the district of Santarem, on Sunday but has since been brought under control. A nearby fire in the district of Leiria - in Caranguejeira and Arrabal - was extinguished on Tuesday morning.

Odemiras mayor, Helder Guerreiro, called the situation critical, difficult and complex while Jose Ribeiro, commander of the emergency and civil protection authority, said there was a lot of work ahead to bring the wildfire under control.

The Portugal wildfires have now scorched thousands of hectares of land and forced the evacuation of around 1,400 people.

Follow the latest on wildfires in Portugal here.

View more

Elsewhere, in Italy, wildfires have been spreading across the island of Sardinia.

The Cagliari and Nuoro Provinces have been severely impacted, with 28 active fires in Nuoro Province and 16 in Cagliari Province confirmed by the Italian authorities.

View more

According to local media reports, four people have been injured and at least 600 people have been evacuated, with over 12,000 people cut off from their water supply across the Podasa and Siniscola Municipalities.

Meanwhile, the JRC European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) reports that the main fire in the Posada area covers 514 hectares, with other blazes in the Cagliari Province spanning 657 hectares.

A firefighter airplane drops water in a wildfire in Carrascal, Proenca a Nova, 6 August 2023 (AFP via Getty Images)

Countries outside of Europe have also been battling wildfires this week during scorching temperatures. In Algeria, approximately 35 wildfires have been spreading across more than 11 regions in the northeast since 24 July.

The Algerian government has reported 34 deaths, with temperatures exceeding 45C and high wind speeds reaching over 50kmph by the Tunisian border worsening the situation. Here, the fires have most affected Bejaia, Skikda, Tizi Ouzou, Bouira, Jijel and Boumerdes.

Smoke clouds cover the sky during wildfires in the forests of Bejaia in northern Algeria, 25 July (AFPTV/AFP via Getty Images)

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It comes after Rhodes saw the latest evacuation operation in Greek history launched last month as a wildfire inferno swept the island, with more than 20,000 tourists and locals having fled from the now-extinguished blaze.

In the hard-hit area of Magnesia, wildfires reached an air force ammunition depot close to the coastal town of Nea Aghialos. 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.
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Scientists have achieved a net energy gain in nuclear fusion for the second time, marking major progress towards realising the potential of the near-limitless energy source.

A team at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, who first achieved the feat last December, claimed to have passed a new milestone with fusion ignition by producing even greater energy output than the original experiment.

The nuclear fusion process has been described as the holy grail of clean energy, as it requires no fossil fuels and leaves behind no hazardous waste. Instead it mimics the natural reactions that occur within the Sun, though harnessing its potential has puzzled scientists since the 1950s.

Achieving nuclear fusion ignition is a crucial step towards building commercial power stations, though the technology needs to be significantly scaled up from the current experiments for it to be a viable energy source.

The first ever successful fusion energy gain experiment on 5 December, 2022, used lasers to fuse two light atoms into a single one, releasing 3.15 megajoules of energy from 2.05 megajoules of input.

Researchers described the milestone as one of the most significant scientific challenges ever undertaken by humanity that would enable the next steps toward clean fusion energy for the future.

Scientists that were not involved in the fusion experiments said the advance had profound implications for the future of the planet.

We are witnessing a moment in history: controlling the power source of the stars is the greatest technological challenge humanity has ever undertaken, said physicist Arthur Turrell.

This experimental result will electrify efforts to eventually power the planet with nuclear fusion  at a time when weve never needed a plentiful source of carbon-free energy more.

A spokesperson for the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory said the final results of the latest experiment are still being analysed. The lab plans to present the results at upcoming scientific conferences and in peer-reviewed journals.

Several companies are already investing heavily in nuclear fusion, with Microsoft making the worlds first purchase agreement earlier this year.

US research firm Helion Energy is aiming to build the worlds first nuclear fusion power plant (Helion)

The US tech giant made the deal with Helion Energy, which aims to set up a nuclear fusion power plant within the next five years despite the challenges remaining to make it commercially viable.

Helion chief executive David Kirtley said at the time: We still have a lot of work to do, but we are confident in our ability to deliver the worlds first fusion power facility.
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Since Brexit, the rules on passport validity for British visitors to the European Union have tightened.

Gone are the days when you could travel to the EU at any point before your travel document expired; the UK is now a third country, with rules to match.

Added confusion has come in the form of the UKs own HM Passport Office, which has continued to give out incorrect information regarding child passport expiry dates.

These are the key questions and answers based on EU rules.

Whats changed?

While the UK was in the European Union, British passports were valid up to and including their expiry date for travel within the EU. But since the end of the Brexit transition phase, British passport holders are treated as third country nationals with stipulations about passport issue and expiry dates  together with limits on the length of stay almost everywhere in Europe.

For the avoidance of doubt, these are not new EU rules  they were decided while the UK was in the European Union.

What is required for my passport to be valid?

The requirements for the Schengen Area  comprising most EU countries plus Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and a handful of micro-states  are crisply expressed on the Travel page of the European Unions Your Europe site: If you are a non-EU national wishing to visit or travel within the EU, you will need a passport:

valid for at least three months after the date you intend to leave the EU country you are visiting,

which was issued within the previous 10 years.

(All childrens passports meet this latter condition  see below.)

Why the line about issued within the previous 10 years?

For many years, until September 2018, the UK had a generous policy of allowing credit for unspent time when renewing a passport, issuing documents valid for up to 10 years and nine months.

So a passport issued on 31 October 2012 could show an expiry date of 31 July 2023.

This was fine around Europe and the world for decade  until Brexit, whereupon a longstanding rule kicked in. For non-members of the EU hoping to enter the Schengen Area, a passport must have been issued in the past 10 years.

With a passport issued on 31 October 2012, regardless of the expiry date, youre not allowed to enter the EU post-1 November 2022.

Until September 2018 the government appeared unaware of the problem. Once the issue was identified, the practice of giving up to nine months grace ended abruptly.

Are the issued less than 10 years ago and valid for three months rules combined?

No. There is no need to have a passport issued less than nine years, nine months ago. The two conditions are independent of one another.

The Migration and Home Affairs Department of the European Commission in Brussels told me: Entry should be allowed to those travelling with passports issued within the previous 10 years at the moment of entry into the Schengen area.

The condition that the passport must have been issued within the previous 10 years does not extend for the duration of the intended stay. It is enough if this condition is fulfilled at the moment of entry.

To give a practical example, a non-EU traveller arriving on 1 December 2021 for a 20-days stay in the EU with a passport issued on 2 December 2011 and valid until 2 April 2022 will be allowed entry.

If I get wrongly turned away, what are my rights?

For flights: you can claim denied boarding compensation (either 220 or 350, depending on the length of the flight) and associated costs  for example, booking another flight on a rival airline, or for wasted car rental and hotel expenses that cannot be reclaimed.

Ive just read a report saying I need six months remaining for Europe?

Some news outlets, regrettably, continue to publish incorrect information. Ignore it.

Does that 10-year-plus rule apply anywhere else in the world?

No as far as I am aware. The concern around the date of issue is relevant only for travel to the European Union  not for the rest of the world.

For destinations outside EU, the only significant consideration is the expiry date. And for destinations such as Australia, the US and Canada, your passport is valid up to and including this date.

So with that passport expiring on 31 July 2023, you could be in New York until that very day (though you would need to get a daytime flight back to avoid your passport running out en route.

Read the Independents guide to how many months you need left on your passport to travel worldwide

What about children?

Passports for under-16s are typically valid for five years (plus any extra credit). A childs passport issued for five years and nine months is clearly within the 10-year limit, and there is no possibility of breaching that condition.

(During 2021, the Home Offices defective passport checker stripped all extra credit, which was both wrong and unhelpful. The online checker has now been switched off.)

But beware of the three-months-remaining-on-exit rule, which children are more likely to fall foul of because of the shorter duration of their passports.

What about this 90/180 day rule?

For trips to the Schengen area (most EU nations plus Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and some small countries) British passport holders can stay a maximum of 90 days in any 180. Thats roughly three months in six.

it is tricky to explain, but I shall do my best. Imagine a calendar that stretches back almost six months from today. What happened more than 180 days ago is irrelevant. What counts is the number of days you were either inside (I) or outside (O) the Schengen Area in the past 180 days.

You can easily keep count on a calendar yourself, either printed or digital.

If I hits 90, you must leave that day and stay out for almost three months, to accumulate 90 Os in a row. Then you can go back in, for a maximum of 90 days.

During the course of a calendar year, it could work like this (assuming no travel to the EU in the previous six months).

1 January: enter the EU and stay for 90 days until the last day of March, when you must leave.

1 April: remain outside for 90 days, which takes you to 29 June.

30 June: enter the EU and stay for 90 days, until 27 September. Then leave.

28 September: remain outside the EU until 26 December.

For longer stays, some countries offer visas that allow British citizens to remain for months on end. If you get one of these, then the time spent in that country does not count towards the 90/180 rule  in other words, you can explore other EU countries with a fresh calendar.

What about non-Schengen EU members?

For British visitors to Ireland, there are no limits on passport validity. Indeed, a passport is not legally mandatory for British travellers to the republic, though some airlines insist on it.

Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania have identical rules to the Schengen Area: passport issued in the past 10 years, and with three months validity remaining on the day of leaving the country. But time spent in any of these nations does not contribute to the 90/180 day total.

Help! My passport is full of stamps and I have no space left. Will I be turned away?

No, even though Eurostar warns British passport holders : Check that you have a clear page in your passport as it will need to be stamped with your travel date when youre travelling to and from the EU.

The EUs Practical Handbook for Border Guards is explicit about a document enabling a third-country national to cross the border [that] is no longer suitable for affixing a stamp, as there are no longer available pages.

It says: In such a case, the third-country national should be recommended to apply for a new passport, so that stamps can continue to be affixed there in the future.

However, as an exception  and particularly in the case of regular cross-border commuters  a separate sheet can be used, to which further stamps can be affixed. The sheet must be given to the third-country national.

In any case, the lack of empty pages in a passport is not, in itself, a valid and sufficient ground to refuse the entry of a person.
Conservationists and animal handlers have arrived in the Everglades for the 2023 Florida Python Challenge.

An Indiana couple who have made hunting snakes their livelihood - Amy Siewe and Dave Roberts - will join the effort that hopes to reduce the population of the invasive Burmese python.

Every single python that were taking out of the Everglades is saving the lives of hundreds of our native species, Siewe - who is also nicknamed the python huntress - said.

The Flordia Python Challenge encourages participants to do their part for the eco-system, with up to $30,000 in prizes on offer.
Lee Andersons comments on migrants boarding the Bibby Stockholm were not unreasonable, Alex Chalk has said.

The Tory deputy chairman told the Express: If they dont like barges then they should f*** off back to France.

The incendiary comments came after 15 migrants boarded the barge in Portland, Dorset.

Twenty others have been granted a last-minute reprieve after legal challenges.

The justice secretary said Lee Anderson expresses the righteous indignation of the British people and added that his indignation is well placed.
Carralyn Parkes, the Mayor of Portland, has shared her concerns over the Bibby Stockholm barge, moored in Portland Port.

Up to 500 people are expected to be housed on the vessel.

Ms Parkes spoke to Good Morning Britain on Tuesday 8 September and argued the barge is a completely unsuitable environment to house asylum seekers.

I think that the barge itself is small, and accommodation is cramped. Its a cruel and unusual way to treat human beings, she said.

People belong in communities, not on barges.
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The Supreme Courts Dobbs v Jackson Womens Health Organization decision turned the 2022 midterm election on its head. It went from a year that should have been a blowout for Democrats, to one where Republicans narrowly won the House of Representatives and lost races for governor and Senate that otherwise should have been aces in the hole.

But more tellingly, voters pushed back referendums that would have restricted abortion even in solidly Republican states such as Kansas, Montana and Kentucky. Naturally, this has scared Republicans, particularly in red states.

Even the most hardened anti-abortion Republicans acknowledge that they dont have the votes to pass a national abortion ban, and such an effort would even be a lift were they to win the White House and the Senate. Combine that with conservatives preference for state government as opposed to governing on a national level and they have plenty of reason to worry about their voters stonewalling their ability to tighten abortion access.

If Republicans cant stop voters in Kansas, Montana or Kentucky, what chance do they ever have to oppose abortion access anywhere else?

That makes tonights vote in Ohio all the more important, for both supporters of abortion rights and its critics. As my colleague Alex Woodward reported, the Buckeye state will hold a referendum in November to amend its state constitution to enshrine the right to abortion care.

But before then, it faces another hurdle. As friend of the Inside Washington Newsletter, Grace Panetta, at the 19th News reported, in January, Republicans in the state legislature eliminated the August special elections - but then added them back as it was clear abortion rights activists could get the necessary signatures to put the abortion referendum on the ballot. Indeed, Ohios Secretary of State Frank LaRose, now a candidate for Senate, said the move was 100% about keeping a radical pro-abortion amendment out of our constitution.

As a result, voters will cast their ballot tonight to determine whether to raise the threshold for amending Ohios state constitution from a simply majority to 60 per cent. Doing so would add an additional burden for supporters of abortion rights, specifically because the election in November would happen in an off-year, where turnout is already low.

This is to say nothing of Ohios political makeup. In the past decade, Ohio went from being a firmly down-the-middle state known for deciding the presidency to a much more solidly Republican state. Former president Donald Trump beat both Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden by eight points in both of his elections. The state now only has one Democratic official who was elected statewide, Sen Sherrod Brown, whom Republicans hope to knock off in the 2024 election.

Even when Republicans underperform in the state, they still tend to win. Last year, despite the fact that Sen JD Vance severely underperformed his predecessor Rob Portman and Gov Mike DeWine, who was running for a second term, he still beat Democrat Tim Ryan by six points. This came despite the fact that Mr Vance went from a Trump-critical conservative to kissing my ass as Mr Trump said at a rally with Mr Vance.

At the same time, Ohio became a flashpoint last year, when a 10-year-old girl who was raped in the state had to travel to Indiana to obtain an abortion. While President Joe Biden and Democrats held it up as an example of a post-Roe v Wade world, Republicans, including Rep Jim Jordan, questioned the veracity of the case, calling it another lie.

When it turned out to be true, Republicans sought to deflect to point to the fact that the man accused of raping the girl was an undocumented immigrant.

In recent months, anger about abortion shows little sign of petering out. Last week, in a special election in Tennessee, the two legislators who were expelled from the state legislature vastly overperformed Mr Bidens 2020 performance in their districts, friends of the newsletter over at the Daily Kos noted. Similarly, abortion rights proved to be an especially potent motivator in Wisconsins supreme court judicial race in April.

All of this is setting up a race where Democrats and abortion rights activists are hoping that anger will overcome apathy while Republicans hope that voter apathy in an off-year works in their favour.
It is heartening that the government has responded with such alacrity to calls from Olena Zelenska, Ukraines first lady, to tighten the sanctions regime on Russia. As she pointed out so forcefully in her exclusive interview with The Independent, many states friendly to Russia are assisting the Kremlin in getting around international sanctions imposed on key individuals and on the wider Russian economy.

Sanctions have had an impact on the Russian war machine, and the exit of many Western industrial groups has denuded its ability to manufacture weapons. However, as Ms Zelenska reminds us, it is tempting for states such as Turkey, Kazakhstan and Armenia to try to leverage some short-term tactical gains from covert assistance to Russia. Even more damaging to Ukraine has been the studied yet misguided neutrality of the likes of South Africa, Brazil and India, while Iran and North Korea, experts in the field of sanctions-busting, have given Vladimir Putin plenty of advice as well as hardware.

China, though more circumspect about supplying single-purpose lethal material, hasnt strayed too far from its no limits partnership with Moscow. Even Saudi Arabia, which recently hosted an international conference on the war with president Volodymyr Zelensky in attendance, has proved unhelpful in managing the post-invasion energy crisis.
Glenveagh claims proposed Kildare hub will manufacture enough pre-fab frames to build 3,000 homes every year
Students have been warned about a surge in rental scams as the scramble for accommodation gets under way.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) said that Gardai have reported a 65pc increase in accommodation scams since 2019.

It warned students to be careful not to fall prey to such frauds.

The State watchdog said the fact that an accommodation crisis and the fact that people now do so much business online have combined to create the perfect storm for a surge in rental scams.

Students are under severe pressure at this time of year to find a place to live and can be vulnerable, the CCPC said.

The consumer rights agency said the scams typically try to trick people out of money by pretending to offer a property or room to rent.

It warned that if the landlord advertising accommodation says they are away or living outside the country and cannot show the student letting in person, this is a major red flag.

The CCPC said: Theyll likely request a deposit from you and maybe one months rent to secure the room before any mention of a lease.

Students seeking somewhere to live may even be sent a false contract to sign or fake keys to make it more convincing.

Another potential alarm bell is getting offered a rental without any questions being asked of the student, the State agency said.

For example, you receive an unsolicited email or text message offering you a place. This could include the real address and photos of properties which the scammer is already using on the rental sites.

It advised students to research the rent prices in the area they are looking in and be wary if the price seems too cheap.

It also said to never agree to rent a property without having seen it first in person, never use cash to pay the deposit nor make any payments until they have been given the written lease and the keys fit the doors.

Anyone who falls victim to a scam was advised to their bank or credit card company immediately if they have transferred money online or given bank details to someone.

Your bank can cancel your cards and secure your account. You may be able to get the transaction reversed through a chargeback from your card provider.

Report the incident to your local Garda station. Doing this may stop a scammer altogether and save other people from becoming victims.

It is common practice for scammers to advertise the same bogus properties in multiple scam attempts.

They will use similar names, cover stories and contact you only through email, text, WhatsApp or other socials, the CCPC said.

A recent survey of international students in Ireland undertaken late last year, found that 14pc said they had been the victim of an accommodation scam. Some 63pc were female.

One in 10 students said it took them more than three months to find accommodation.

Sinn Fein spokesperson for higher education Mairead Farrell said that increased prices across the board for the coming year meant massive additional pressure was being put on students.

The additional costs required by students to cover their housing expenses will place more pressure on students whose educational experience has already been diminished from the related stress and anxiety, she said.
I tried dating two AI women... Its not going to work out
Wolf review: The insanely unpredictable thriller gets even crazier this week

The BBC series has already served up more twists than a bag of fusilli pasta

Jack Caffrey (Ukweli Roach) in Wolf. Photo: BBC/Hartswood Films Ltd/Simon Ridgway

Pat Stacey Tue 8 Aug 2023 at 07:59






Angus Woods: Joint advice at the Tullamore Show was a breath of fresh air for worried farmers 08:41
Land bonds helped lay the template for home ownership in modern Ireland

The Bank of England and Royal Exchange in the City of London which would have processed land bonds. Photo: Getty

Until the end of the 19th century, agricultural land was a major source of wealth in old Europe and landowners were the wealthiest class in the British Isles. The association of land with wealth led to widespread contemporary debate about the inequality of land ownership in Victorian Britain and Ireland.
110hp for 56,000 as Chinese brand aims to shake up Irish tractor market

Lovol pledges to beat the big brands on quality as well as price as they launch a range of tractors in Ireland, from 25hp to 240hp

Lovol Tractors Ireland will stock the full range of tractors from 25hp to 240hp

Niall Hurson Tue 8 Aug 2023 at 03:00
Exclusive | Is there no way back?  Ryan Tubridys camp believe Kevin Bakhurst wanted an excuse to pull deal
Then Sinn Fein president Eamon De Valera is arrested in Ennis, Co Clare, in 1923 because of his opposition to the Free State government during the Irish Civil War. Photo: Getty Images

August 9 this year marks the centenary anniversary of one of the most important pieces of social legislation passed by an Irish government in the post-independence era: the 1923 Land Act.
A 16-year-old boy was beaten, "slashed", and scarred from his left ear to the back of his neck after briefly making eye contact with a man on a double-decker bus in Dublin, a court has heard.
Murder case over killing of man whose body was found wrapped in carpet on farmland is stalled
A Dublin man has been sent for trial accused of knocking his ex-partner unconscious with a vodka bottle after twice trying to choke her in a home invasion at her flat.
A 31-year-old man is in a serious condition in hospital after he was stabbed in the neck during a vicious assault in Mountjoy Prison on Sunday evening.
A drug-driving doctor who was facing five months behind bars for a series of motoring offences has fled the country and is unlikely to return to face justice.
Dublin Airport operator DAA will go to the High Court this afternoon to plead for an interim stay against an enforcement notice from Fingal County Council that it says could cause severe disruption to flights.
'The use of the Erasmus programme to provide financial support to displaced Ukraine students is currently the subject of discussions with government colleagues.' said a spokesperson for Higher Education Minister Simon Harris. Photo: Colin Keegan/Collins
Gardai in the Dublin area have arrested more than 500 people in the last week as part of a crackdown on street violence in the wake of a number of high-profile attacks.
A nurse denied access to a special leave scheme for long-Covid because she could not produce a positive test for the virus is to receive more than 127,000 for lost earnings.
The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) has secured a temporary High Court stay on a decision it claims will force it to significantly reduce the number of night-time flights going to and from the airport.
People declining social housing offers, Sinn Fein sniping and the complex issue of homelessness all discussed in Independent.ie interview

Housing Minister Darragh OBrien is pushing for the renters tax credit to be increased to almost 800, the average monthly rent per tenant, along with income-based tax breaks for landlords as part of his Budget demands.
The PSNI has apologised after a data breach of monumental proportions meant the force mistakenly published the names, ranks, locations and other personal data of every serving police officer and civilian employee.
Shane Ross: Just as Ryan Tubridy was about to triumph, he kicked a lame donkey where it hurt
There have been calls for a cull of the cow population. Photo: Getty

The environmentalists calling for a cow cull have it all wrong. Pound for pound, I believe the cow is the worlds most efficient animal in terms of producing top-quality nourishment for the human body.
Simon Bourke: First the pubs, now the clubs  soon therell be nowhere to go for a drink
Irish News

Man (30s) slashed in the face in attack on Talbot Street in Dublin as gardai identify suspect
Single mum among number of families facing eviction from homes of 10 years

I do everything right; I work, I pay my taxes and its unfair that the system doesnt cover you

Jekaterina Deja, a single mother living in Applewood, Swords for the past 10 years, is now facing eviction

Amy Donohoe Tue 8 Aug 2023 at 17:57






The late Brenda Sexton meeting Tanaiste Micheal Martin on his recent visit to Listowel, with Jimmy Deenihan also pictured. The Tanaiste called in to Arus Mhuire to see her after officiating at the opening of the new Ard Churam service nearby.
Other Sports

Kerrys David Kenny fails to finish the 20km race walk final at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest

Kerry race walker David Kenny had a morning to forget at the World Athletics Championships this morning after he failed to finish the 20km race in Budapest.
The thirteenth annual outing of the St Brendan's Athletic Clubs Banna 10k/5k run took place this past Sunday of the Bank Holiday weekend and as always with this popular event, it was deemed by Run Director Moira Horgan to have been a huge success once more.
Tralee native Noel ORegan pictured with a copy of his debut novel Though the Bodies Fall at The Rose Hotel last Wednesday night. Photo by Mark O'Sullivan.

Its been a long road to this point for Tralees Noel ORegan but he is very much reaping the rewards for years of hard work this week as his debut novel Though The Bodies Fall (TTBF) hits the shelves.
GAA

Naomh Fionnbarra hit the sweet spot to see off O Raghallaighs in The Argus/Drogheda Independent U17 Division 3 final

Fifteen-year-old Andrew OReilly lit up Friday nights Argus/Drogheda Independent U17 Division 3 final in Haggardstown with a 2-4 blitz as Naomh Fionnbarra held off O Raghallaighs to comprehensively take the title.
News

A special celebration marking 30 years of the MS North West Therapy Centre in Sligo

Sligo based MS North West Therapy Centre celebrated its 30th anniversary on Thursday, as an appeal was made to the community to continue to support it through fundraising
Having already borne the brunt of a monsoon which completely flooded their camp and an extreme heatwave which saw children collapsing and field hospitals completely overrun, a Wexford scout is among an Irish contingent of 222 that is currently being evacuated from the World Scouting Jamboree in South Korea, as a deadly typhoon which has already killed two people in Japan approaches their campsite.
MEMBERS of the public still have some time left to have their say on the identification of bathing waters in County Wicklow.
While most Heritage Week visitors to County Wicklow head for the hills at Glendalough or the coastal towns of Bray, Greystones and Wicklow town, Kilcoole Heritage Group will be leading the way on a fascinating stroll down through time in the village.
Ukrainian prisoners of war, who are on their way home after being exchanged in a swap with Russia. Photo: Reuters
Middle East

She reminds us of her parents and siblings  baby born under rubble of massive Syria earthquake is now thriving
A file image of Pepperfry co-founder Ambareesh Murty from his Instagram page. Photo Courtesy: Ambareesh Murty Instagram page

Online marketplace Pepperfry's co-founder Ambareesh Murty has died due to cardiac arrest in Leh, his company's other co-founder Ashish Shah said.

He was 51.

Shah wrote on X: "Extremely devastated to inform that my friend, mentor, brother, soulmate @AmbareeshMurty is no more."

Extremely devastated to inform that my friend, mentor, brother, soulmate @AmbareeshMurty is no more. Lost him yesterday night to a cardiac arrest at Leh. Please pray for him and for strength to his family and near ones.   Ashish Shah (@TweetShah) August 8, 2023

"Lost him yesterday night to a cardiac arrest at Leh. Please pray for him and for strength to his family and near ones," he said.

Pepperfry is a popular online marketplace for furniture and home decor.

A bike enthusiast, the entrepreneur was on a motorcycle trip from Mumbai to Leh when the tragic incident happened, media reports said.

Murty, who was an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM)-Calcutta, has described himself on his Instagram bio section as: "Closet Sociopath, History Buff, Solo Rider, Furniture Salesman, Poker of Bears."

Meanwhile, people started to mourn his death by posting their reactions on X.

Writer Amish Tripathi wrote: "Terrible news. Ambi was my senior from IIM-C. A great guy. Our batch mates and I are all in shock Sincere condolences to his family. "

Writer Harini Calamur said: "Deepest condolences. I am so so sorry."

Check out his last Instagram post:
Indian Minister Piyush Goyal attended 7th BRICS Industry Ministers meeting on Monday. Photo Courtesy: PIB

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has announced India will launch BRICS Startup Forum this year to facilitate collaboration among startups, investors, incubators and aspiring entrepreneurs.

The Indian minister made the announcement while attending the 7th BRICS Industry Ministers meeting that was hosted virtually with South Africa as the Chair on Monday.

Piyush Goyal, while highlighting the transformation that has taken place in India, mentioned the expanding Startup India initiative that has led to the creation of nearly 100,000 startups in the country.

The Minister focused on Transforming Production Systems and the support India can offer to other BRICS members and the wider international community.

The Industry Ministers of other BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa) also attended the meeting and the Joint Declaration was adopted.

The Ministers re-emphasized the need for digitalization, industrialization, innovation, inclusiveness, and investment among BRICS countries.

They recognized the increasing importance of Industry 4.0 and other emerging technologies in promoting the digital transformation of all economic sectors.

"Through the declaration, the BRICS members acknowledged the need for human resource development and explored opportunities for cooperation on upskilling and reskilling programs," read the official statement issued by the Indian government.
Image Courtesy: Pixabay

After agreements with United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Indonesia, India is considering the possibility of establishing bilateral agreements with important partners in Latin America and Africa to bolster trade using local currencies, thereby contributing to the broader goal of internationalizing the Indian rupee, Moneycontrol reported.

A government official has indicated that countries like Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, Senegal, and Tanzania are potential candidates for India's initiative to settle transactions in local currencies.

The strategy involves initially approaching smaller nations to encourage them to accept payments in rupees for various transactions.

If we have to push rupee trade, we have to start with smaller nations where it would be easier to give a push rupee internationalisation, an official told Moneycontrol on the condition of anonymity, adding that the plans are initial and would require discussions.

With Brazil and Tanzania, New Delhi maintains a trade surplus of $3.25 billion and $1.39 billion respectively, according to data from the commerce ministry for the year 2022-23. Similarly, with South Africa, Senegal, and Argentina, the trade deficit is minimal at best, as per the same data period.

India's primary exports to these countries encompass various categories, including petroleum products, engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, and rice.

On the import side, India traditionally sources edible oils from both Brazil and Argentina, while also procuring substantial amounts of fertilizers, cotton, and toys from South Africa. Additionally, Tanzania and Senegal are important partners in meeting India's demands for gems and jewellery, said the report.

Recently, New Delhi has taken significant steps in this direction by entering into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the UAE.

This agreement aims to use the rupee and the dirham for conducting bilateral transactions. Discussions over a local currency settlement strategy were held with Indonesia. These talks occurred on the sidelines of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting in Gandhinagar in mid-July, said the report.

India is reportedly considering the inclusion of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in its local currency settlement plan. These neighbouring countries are currently facing currency shortages, making them potential candidates for such arrangements.
Kolkata: Akasa Air on Tuesday completed one year of commercial operations in the Indian skies.

The airline operated its first commercial flight on 07 August 2022 from Mumbai to Ahmedabad.

The carrier said it has created the record of becoming one of the fastest-growing airlines in the 120-year history of global aviation by achieving a fleet size of 20 new aircraft within 12 months of commercial operations.

Akasa Air said it followed its initial fleet induction plan of adding one brand new aircraft every 15 days to achieve growth.

The delivery of its 20th aircraft on 1 August 2023, makes Akasa Air the first airline in Asia to add the 737-8-200 variant of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to its rapidly expanding fleet.

Akasa Airs order book comprises 76 jets which include 23 737-8s and 53 737-8-200 airplanes. In addition, the airline remains fully committed to placing a three-digit aircraft order by the end of 2023.

The addition of its 20th aircraft opened Akasas foray into international skies, it said.

With this immense impetus to its growth plans, Akasa will get access to international flying opportunities as it prepares to commence international operations by December 2023, the carrier said.

In its first year of commercial operations, Akasa Air has already served 4.3 million passengers and crossed the milestone of operating over 900 weekly flights with a published network of 35 unique routes across 16 destinations.

It has also carried over 25,000 tonnes of cargo across its network during this time.

In a short span of a year, Akasa Air has grown its market share from 0% to 4.9%, having registered a passenger load factor of over 84% since the start of operations, with a steadily growing record of close to 90% in the current financial year.

While developing its operations, the airline has maintained a steadfast commitment to becoming Indias most dependable airline, evidenced with industry-leading on-time performance for several consecutive months of operations in 2023.

Akasa Air said it setting up several world-class learning academies in key cities across the country.

The Akasa air Learning Academy (AALA) offers technologically forward learning for the modern aviation world with capabilities to simultaneously train over 700 future-ready aviation professionals. The facility features Indias only door trainer for next generation aircraft for the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, thereby supporting extensive safety training for our cabin crew, the airline said.

Recently, the Academy has also installed the B737 - 8200 Max Mid Exit Door to ensure that the cabin crew is equipped to deal with emergencies in its newly inducted aircraft, from the get-go.

Akasa Air has over 3,000 employees and has created indirect jobs within the aviation ecosystem.

It expects to reach an employee strength of over 3500 by March 2024, to support its expansion plans.

Gender parity has been one of the key aspects of the companys growth strategy and its continued efforts have resulted in a third of its Executive Committee and almost 40% of the companys workforce already comprising of women, the company said.

Regarding sustainability, the airline said it has invested in making environmentally progressive choices  like fuel-efficient new 737 MAX airplane that lower environmental impact, recycled materials used in crew uniforms and shoes, as well as eco-friendly packaging in the airlines in-flight meal service.

Commenting on the milestone, Vinay Dube, Founder and CEO, Akasa Air, said, As we have grown and delivered to our plans, Akasa Air has become the preferred carrier for an increasing number of travellers across the country. The Akasa story is a testament of Indias ongoing economic transformation and that of the countrys rapidly progressing civil aviation landscapes."

Remembering Akasa Air cofounder Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, who passed away a week after the launch of the airline, Dube said, Above all, I want to take this opportunity to thank the late and great Mr. Jhunjhunwala, who seeded the ability that enables us to deliver on our ambitious roadmap. We cannot thank him enough for being an early believer and for putting his faith in us to build a world-class airline.

He also thanked aviation watchdog DGCA for its regulatory guidance and the Ministry of Civil Aviation for propelling the growth of the aviation industry.
Image: Pixabay

Yangon: Thousands of people have been evacuated as continuous heavy rains have caused floods in several townships in western Myanmar's Rakhine State, according to the Myanmar Fire Services Department.

Heavy rains or swollen rivers in many parts of Myanmar in recent days have caused flooding and landslides, forcing residents to relocate, local media reports said.

Photos shared on social media by a local rescue organization showed a section of the Myawaddy-Kawkareik Asia Road in Kayin State collapsed due to heavy rains on Monday.

In Rakhine State's Mrauk U township, some 1,209 people have been evacuated to safe places such as monasteries and relatives' houses due to heavy rainfall between Aug 1 and Aug 7, the department said on Monday, adding in Mrauk U township, flood victims included 596 males and 613 females from 246 households.

Buthidaung town and Minbya township of Rakhine State also evacuated the residents from flood-hit areas, the state-run television channel MRTV reported on Monday.

On Monday, Myanmar's Meteorology and Hydrology Department warned of flood risks, saying that river levels in several townships are approaching or already exceeding their danger marks.

(With UNI inputs)
Image credit: Nishant Jadhav/Unsplash

Kolkata/IBNS: According to the Handloom Census 2019-20 undertaken by the Union Ministry of Textiles, India has nearly 35,22,512 handloom workers employed across the country, out of which 72 per cent or around 25,46,285 are women workers.

Although women form the backbone of the handloom sector, yet their significant contribution often goes unnoticed, said Debaraoopa Bhattacharya, founder, Ummaira, an ethnic apparel brand which has been closely working with the sector.

Indias diverse handloom options reflect the nations rich cultural heritage, with the handloom sector standing as one of the largest economic contributors, preserving traditions across generations.

According to a 2021 report by NABARD, the handloom sector, the second largest employer after agriculture and dominated by women, is characterised by households having low levels of education, low levels of income ridden with high inequalities and low credit penetration.

Other women entrepreneurs owning boutique apparel brands too reiterated Bhattacharyas observations while talking on the side-line of the country-wide celebration of National Handloom Day (August 7).





According to Matrika Bhandari, co-founder, Inkriti, Its always amazing to see women artisans break free of social boundaries and rise in various crafts like pattachitra, kalamkari, and embroidery. However, in the case of handlooms, history shows their involvement in supporting activities rather than the main act of weaving.



According to Bhattacharya, Strengthening education, promoting self-employment, and empowering women politically and socially are essential steps to empower them and enable them to make and implement decisions for themselves and their craft. It is time to recognise their dedication and empower them further to take centre stage in the handloom journey.

Drawing from her own experience, Bhandari said, Education and awareness have played a crucial role in empowering women artisans, as I have personally witnessed through my work with Somaiya Kala Vidya in Kutch, Gujarat.

Design education and skill-training programs are enabling traditional artisans to encourage their daughters and family members to pursue crafts more holistically, she said.

According to the label Vilasa, the growing consciousness about slow and genuine handcrafted products has led to a renewed demand for handloom products, empowering females to play diverse roles in the traditionally male-dominated industry.

Sreya Samanta, running the eponymous label, said, Traditionally, the handloom industry was male-oriented, with women confined to supporting roles or household-based activities like spinning yarns. However, key factors such as growing awareness, changing societal attitudes, market demand for sustainable products, and economic necessity have empowered females to break barriers and embrace diverse roles in the handloom sector.

While governments at both the state and Centre levels are implementing various programmes for overall improvement of the sector and for the women workers, it is heartening to find the boutique apparel labels, especially those led by women, are also coming forward to empower the women workers.
Photo Courtesy: Arindam Bagchi Twitter page

Indian and Thailand officials participated in the 7th Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) when they noted the growth in bilateral trade in recent years and even agreed to look to exploit its full potential through regular Government-to-Government (G2G) and B2B (Business to Business) interactions and business collaborations.

The meeting was held in Bangkok city on Monday and the Indian side was represented by Saurabh Kumar, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs.

Sarun Charoensuwan, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Thailand, co-chaired the meeting

"The two sides undertook a comprehensive review of bilateral relations and agreed to further strengthen cooperation in a number of areas, including trade & investment, MSMEs, defence & security, connectivity, health, culture, and science & technology. Both sides welcomed regular meetings of their bilateral mechanisms," read a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.

7th - FOC held in Bangkok today.



Co-chaired by Secy (East) @AmbSaurabhKumar and Permanent Secretary Sarun Charoensuwan of @MFAThai.



Both sides took stock of entire range of bilateral relations including trade & investment, defence & security, S&T, connectivity, education, pic.twitter.com/if92RpzB3P  Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) August 7, 2023

"Both sides also exchanged views on regional and global developments and agreed to coordinate closely in multilateral and regional fora, including in UN, BIMSTEC, IORA, MGC, ACD and India-ASEAN," read the statement.

The next FOC will be held in India.
Image Credit: Facebook/Ashok Gehlot

Jaipur/UNI: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday said strict action will be taken against bars and nightclubs that open beyond the prescribed time.

In the review meeting of law and order, at the Chief Minister's residence on Monday night. Mr. Gehlot said along with the managers of these clubs, the responsibility of the owners would also be fixed.

He said action will be taken to cancel the license of such clubs for violating the rules.

He said the prevention of crimes against women and weaker sections is their top priority. The Chief Minister instructed the police officers to take strict action against the miscreants by running a special operation.

Gehlot said the record of such miscreants should be maintained and their involvement in tampering should be mentioned in the character certificate. He said action should be taken against habitual miscreants up to disqualification from government jobs.

The Chief Minister expressed his sadness at the Bhilwara incident. Police have taken quick action in this matter and efforts are being made to punish the culprits at the earliest. Gehlot said efforts are being made to give political colour to this incident which is not appropriate.
Image: Pixabay

Ballia: A youth was arrested by the police on Tuesday for allegedly sexually assaulting a 6-year-old girl in Narahi area of Ballia district in Uttar Pradesh, police sources said.

The sources said here that the accused Saral Yadav (18) took the victim to a secluded place and sexually assaulted her on Monday evening.

"On the complaint of the victim's mother, a case was lodged against Saral late on Monday night under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act," they said.

In-charge of Narahi police station Panne Lal said that accused Saral Yadav has been arrested and further action was being taken.

"The victim has been sent for medical examination," he said.

(With UNI inputs)
PM Narendra Modi addressing at the National Handloom Day celebrations at Pragati Maidan, in New Delhi on August 7, 2023. Photo Courtesy: PIB

New Delhi: Indian PM Narendra Modi has launched the e-portal Bhartiya Vastra evam Shilpa Kosh - A Repository of Textiles & Crafts to mark the National Handloom Day and said the turnover of Khadi and village industries has reached more than 1.3 lakh crore rupees in the past nine years.

Incidentally, Narendra Modi and his NDA is ruling the Centre for the past nine years since 2014.

Addressing the event at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi's Pragati Maidan, the Indian PM said: "The India of today is not just Vocal for Local but also providing a global platform to take it to the world.

Highlighting the Swadeshi Movement, the Prime Minister said that it was not only limited to boycotting foreign-made textiles but a source of inspiration for the independent economy of India.

He said that it was a movement to connect the weavers of India with the people, and this was the inspiration behind the government choosing this day as National Handloom Day.

In the last few years, the Prime Minister underlined that unprecedented work has been done for the expansion of the handloom industry as well as the weavers.

There is a new revolution in the country about Swadeshi, Modi said.

He expressed pride in the success of India through the achievements of its weavers.

The Prime Minister emphasized that ones identity is related to the clothes they wear and highlighted the diverse clothing that can be seen on the occasion.

He said that it is also an occasion to celebrate Indias diversity through the clothes of different regions.

India possesses a beautiful rainbow of clothing, the Prime Minister said as he observed the diversity in clothing ranging from the tribal communities in far-fetched areas to people living in the snow-clad mountains, and from people in the coastal regions to those living in the desert as well as the clothing available in the markets of India.

He recalled urging the need to enlist and compile the diverse clothing of India and expressed delight that it has come to fruition today with the launch of Bhartiya Vastra evam Shilpa Kosh.

Noting that Indias textile industry was well-founded in the past centuries, the Prime Minister lamented that no concrete efforts were made to strengthen it after independence.

Even Khadi was left in a moribund state, he said, adding that those wearing Khadi were looked down upon.

After 2014, the Prime Minister said, the government is striving to change this circumstance and the thinking behind it.

The Prime Minister recalled urging the citizens to buy Khadi products during the early phase of the Mann Ki Baat program which resulted in more than a 3 fold rise in the production of Khadi in the last 9 years.

He also noted that the sale of Khadi clothes has increased by 5 times and its demand in foreign nations is also increasing.

Modi also recalled meeting the CEO of a huge fashion brand during his visit to Paris who informed him about the growing attraction towards Khadi and Indian handloom.

The Prime Minister said the turnover of Khadi and village industries was only around Rs 25-30 thousand crores nine years ago. but today it has reached more than one lakh thirty thousand crore rupees.

He said that the additional Rs 1 lakh crore has reached those associated with the handloom sector in the villages and the tribals.

The Prime Minister cited the Niti Aayog Report which states that 13.5 crore have come out of poverty in the last 5 years and acknowledged the contribution of the growing turnover for the same.

With the spirit of Vocal for Local, the citizens are buying indigenous products wholeheartedly and it has become a mass movement, Modi said.

He also reiterated the need to repeat the Swadeshi resolution to support the weavers and handicraftsmen in the upcoming festivities of Raksha Bandhan, Ganesh Utsav, Dussehra and Deepavali.

He mentioned a scholarship up to Rs 2 lakh in textile institutes for skill training of the children of weavers.

Modi informed that more than 600 handloom clusters have been developed in the last 9 years and thousands of weavers have been trained.

It is the constant endeavor of the government to make the weavers work easier, increase their productivity and improve the quality and designs," Modi said.

He said that computer-operated punching machines are also being provided to them which enables the creation of new designs at a fast pace.

Warp-making is also becoming easier with motorized machines. Many such equipment, many such machines are being made available to the weavers, he said.

He also mentioned that the government is providing raw materials like yarn to handloom weavers at concessional rates and also bearing the cost of transporting the raw material.

The Prime Minister also touched upon the Mudra Yojana and said that it has now become possible for weavers to get loans without guarantee.

Speaking about the GeM Portal or Government e-Marketplace, the Prime Minister said that even the smallest artisan, craftsman, or weaver can sell their goods directly to the government and informed that about 1.75 lakh organizations related to handloom and handicrafts are linked to the GeM portal today.

Efforts are on to ensure that our brothers and sisters in the handloom sector get the benefits of Digital India, he added.
Image: S Jaishankar Twitter page

New Delhi: Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met former Mongolian President Enkhbayar Nambar and said he appreciates his contributions to strengthening the relationship between the two countries.

Following his meeting, S Jaishankar tweeted: "Pleasure to meet former President of Mongolia Enkhbayar Nambar this afternoon. Appreciate his contributions in strengthening our relationship and deepening our spiritual ties."

H.E. Mr. Enkhbayar Nambar, former President of Mongolia called on the Hon'ble Vice-President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar at Upa-Rashtrapati Nivas today.



Both leaders underlined the cherished ideals of democracy and freedom that form the foundation of India-Mongolia relations, and pic.twitter.com/bxmzldCfKZ  Vice President of India (@VPIndia) August 5, 2023

"Value his guidance and insights on taking our cooperation to the next level," Jaishankar said.

Pleasure to meet former President of Mongolia Enkhbayar Nambar this afternoon. Appreciate his contributions in strengthening our relationship and deepening our spiritual ties.



Value his guidance and insights on taking our cooperation to the next level. pic.twitter.com/VO9h97WydI  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 7, 2023

Meanwhile, the former Mongolian President also met Indian Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar and committed to further strengthening the spiritual, cultural and civilisational ties between the two nations.
Shillong/IBNS/UNI: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday and submitted a memorandum seeking his intervention in addressing crucial concerns of the state, including the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system, and the inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

Sangma, who was accompanied by Assembly Speaker Thomas Sangma and his council of ministers, also sought the support of the Prime Minister for arriving at a solution to the remaining six out of twelve disputed areas between Assam and Meghalaya.

The Chief Minister highlighted the resolution passed by the Meghalaya State Assembly in December 2019, focusing on the need for ILP implementation in Meghalaya, a statement issued by the chief ministers office (CMO) said.

Sangma sought PM Modi's intervention as the state government awaits a response from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs regarding the consideration of ILP in Meghalaya.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister also emphasised the eligibility of Khasi and Garo languages for inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

A resolution to this effect was passed by the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly in November 2018, and the matter is currently pending with the Centre.

The delegation also sought the support of Modi to resolve the remaining six out of twelve disputed areas between Assam and Meghalaya.

In March 2022, an MoU was signed, leading to joint boundary surveys conducted by both states. Reconstituted regional committees are currently working on assessing the status of these areas.

The Chief Minister also conveyed the state's views on the Constitution (125th Amendment) Bill, 2019 highlighting concerns related to the nomination of un-represented tribes to the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) in Meghalaya.

CM of Meghalaya, Shri @SangmaConrad, Speaker of the state Legislative Assembly, Shri Thomas A. Sangma and ministers of the Meghalaya Government met Prime Minister @narendramodi. pic.twitter.com/SRL5IpgNOk  PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 8, 2023

The Meghalaya government argued that reserving seats in the district councils for the un-represented tribes would lead to inequality of opportunity among different tribes, potentially endangering the unity and fraternity.

The State government decided against this nomination after extensive consultations with various stakeholders, given concerns of unequal opportunity among tribes, the official statement informed.

On the ongoing peace talks with the outlawed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), the Chief Minister apprised the Prime Minister that the outfit has expressed its readiness for unconditional talks with the Governments of India and Meghalaya, within the framework of the Indian Constitution and without any preconditions.

Acknowledging this development, the Ministry of Home Affairs has signalled the Meghalaya State Government to initiate peace talks with HNLC, and the Ministry is committed to offering necessary support and guidance throughout the process.

The Chief Minister also informed the Prime Minister that the formal dialogue is underway, and the State Government is optimistic that the peace process will reach a successful conclusion.

The government also sought the support of Modi to resolve the remaining areas of difference between Meghalaya and Assam.

Sangma also expressed the governments reservations about the nomination of unrepresented tribes to the Autonomous District Councils.

The delegation argued that reserving seats in the district councils for the un-represented tribes would lead to inequality of opportunity among different tribes, potentially endangering the unity and fraternity.

Apprising the Prime Minister that Externally Aided Projects (EAPs) are very critical for Meghalaya, Sangma informed the Prime Minister that Meghalaya has embarked on an ambitious goal of becoming a USD 10 billion economy within the next five years, and to achieve this target.

The State requires to double its economy through investment in physical and social infrastructure, which will drive sustainable growth and employment opportunities, he told PM Modi.

Moreover, the Chief Minister said that the state government has actively pursued private investments and aimed to foster a robust private sector.

Despite efforts, inherent challenges related to land tenure systems, remoteness, and rugged terrain have constrained private investments. Therefore, public investments, including those from EAPs are crucial to boost the state's economy. These projects, which account for around 72 percent of the project cost as grants from the Government of India to the North-Eastern and Hill states, form a pivotal component of the investment portfolio, the Chief Minister said.
Uzbekistan Parliament. Photo courtesy: Wikipedia Creative Commons

Improving legislation and establishing public control are key to protecting the human rights of convicts and prisons, writes Feruza Eshmatova, the Authorized Person of the Oliy Majlis (parliament) of Uzbekistan for Human Rights (Ombudsman)

The issue of ensuring human rights does not lose its relevance, regardless of whether a person is at large or serving a sentence. Convicts and prisoners also have certain rights established by law. In particular, Article 28 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan establishes that persons deprived of their liberty have the right to humane treatment and respect for the honor and dignity inherent in the human person.

Moreover, Article 26 of our Basic Law said: The honor and dignity of a person are inviolable. Nothing can be grounds for belittling them. No one may be subjected to torture, violence, other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment...

Also, international human rights documents reflect the Miranda rule, that is, when detaining a person, it is necessary to explain to him his rights and the reasons for his detention.

The amended Constitution also included a special provision that arrests and detentions are allowed only by a court decision and that a person cannot be detained for more than forty-eight hours without a court decision.

The fact that these norms are directly reflected in the Constitution testifies to the firm position of Uzbekistan regarding the supremacy of human dignity and the fight against torture in the country. In these processes, along with reforming the system, the state seeks to establish public control over them.

In fact, the issue of combating torture is one of the most painful problems in the world. Therefore, the world community is on the path of joining efforts in the fight against this disease, developing norms that must be followed at the international level.

It is known that on December 18, 2002, Resolution 57/199 of the UN General Assembly, the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, provided for the establishment of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM).

The National Preventive Mechanism is the creation of a system of regular visits by independent international and national bodies to places of detention of persons deprived of their liberty in order to prevent all forms of torture.

Ensuring the rights and interests of persons in institutions where persons with limited freedom of movement are kept is a somewhat complex process. In the past, events in closed institutions were not always under the scrutiny of the public.

In 2019, after the creation of the National Preventive Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, based on international best practices, penitentiaries became objects of constant supervision by the Ombudsman and members of the public.

The NPM under the Ombudsman, created on the basis of the Ombudsman Plus model, created the basis for the regular access of the Ombudsman and members of the public to closed institutions with limited freedom of movement, to study the conditions of detention of persons and communicate with them.

During visits to closed institutions, the conditions of detention of persons with limited freedom of movement are studied, in particular, the condition and quality of accommodation and food, labor, medical care, spiritual and educational work for persons with limited freedom of movement, sanitary and hygienic requirements during the coronavirus pandemic and other conditions.

It is important to note that media representatives also participate in these monitoring visits, which gave them the opportunity to see with their own eyes the conditions in penitentiary institutions and personally communicate with convicts and prisoners. Based on the results of monitoring visits on identified shortcomings, analytical information, conclusions and presentations, as well as relevant statements are prepared and sent for consideration to the relevant ministries and departments.

It is important to note that in 2019 monitoring visits were carried out 46 times, in 2020 - 71 times, in 2021 - 177 times, in 2022 - 381 times, and for the first half of 2023 this figure was 348 times. From the figures, one can also make a choice that the Ombudsman, together with public groups, increases the effectiveness of its activities in studying the conditions established by law for convicts and prisoners, as well as in identifying and eliminating cases of torture.

As a result of these reforms, parliamentary and public control over the prevention of torture was established. From 2019 to the present, collective conversations have been held with more than 25 thousand and individual conversations with almost 6 thousand convicts and prisoners.

In addition, in 2019-2022 and the first half of 2023, more than 10,000 appeals from persons held in institutions with limited freedom of movement and their close relatives and defenders (lawyers) were accepted and taken under control. These figures indicate that the rights of convicts and prisoners to apply to the Ombudsman are ensured.

Here it is necessary to dwell on the "Ombudsman's boxes" installed in all institutions for the execution of sentences and pre-trial detention centers of our republic, and their significance. These boxes are placed in convenient places for convicts and prisoners to submit appeals, and only a representative of the Ombudsman has the right to open them. Applications dropped into the Ombudsman's boxes are taken for consideration every two weeks.

Since 2022, regional representatives of the Commissioner for Human Rights have started working in the regions on a permanent basis, and the volume of monitoring visits to all existing penitentiary institutions of the republic has also been expanded. At the same time, reports of torture posted on social networks are also promptly monitored, investigated and appropriate measures are taken.

It should be noted that by the Decree of the Head of State of June 26, 2021 On additional measures to improve the system for detecting and preventing cases of torture, the activities of the NPM under the Ombudsman were further strengthened. In particular, on the basis of an expert group under the Ombudsman, public groups were created to identify and prevent cases of torture under the Ombudsman. They were entrusted with such tasks as identifying the facts of torture and submitting petitions for their prompt elimination to the relevant state body, participating in the consideration of appeals about the facts of torture.

At the same time, it should be noted that in recent years, punishment measures have been toughened in Uzbekistan against employees who have used torture, and it has been established that the institute of pardon cannot be applied to these persons. In addition, in order to hold officials accountable for illegal actions, a separate article was introduced into the legislation and it was established that aggravating measures would be applied to the person who used torture.

Article 235 of the Criminal Code criminalizes torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. There is no such rule in the legislation of many countries. An important step in the elimination of the facts of torture was the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated August 2, 2019, the closure of a specialized penal colony No. 19, located in the village of Jaslyk of the Republic of Karakalpakstan.

In general, if we compare the conditions in closed institutions with limited freedom of movement with the current and 5 years ago, we can see huge changes. These changes are the result of systemic reforms and the establishment of public control.

Over the past seven years (2017 - 2023), 5 laws, 1 decree of the Head of State, 6 resolutions, 11 resolutions and orders of the Government, as well as more than 15 other legal documents aimed at further improving the legal rights and freedoms of prisoners have been adopted.

In particular, in 2019, the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules), adopted by a resolution of the UN General Assembly of December 17, 2015, were introduced into our national legislation.

According to these rules, prisoners are granted the right to receive psychological assistance, and those in need of medical assistance are allowed to receive treatment in the regional institutions of the Ministry of Health, prisoners suffering from serious illnesses are allowed to additionally talk on the phone and meet with relatives with the permission of a doctor, the application of disciplinary sanctions is canceled for a violation committed by a convict in violation of the mental state.

Also, since 2019, it was decided that social insurance would not be deducted from the wages of convicts, and pensions for prisoners would be provided, and the number of phone calls, visits and meetings of prisoners in strict regime colonies was doubled.

According to the amendments and additions to the legislation made in 2023, the period during which convicts worked in the institution was included in the total length of service, which allowed them to receive a pension.

At the same time, in accordance with the relevant amendments and additions to the Penitentiary Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the rights of convicts have been brought into line with international standards, they have been granted the right to use the services of sign language interpreters, and the living space of prisoners with disabilities of groups I and II has been increased from 2.5 square meters up to 3 square meters, and it is determined that the common areas intended for them will be equipped with special facilities and devices (ramps).

A vivid expression of the humane attitude towards them is the definition of the work of persons sentenced to deprivation of liberty, taking into account gender, age, state of health, ability to work and specialty.

In accordance with the Electoral Code adopted in 2019, convicts serving sentences for less serious crimes or crimes that do not pose a great public danger are granted the right to vote, which lays the foundation for their participation in government. According to the data, 33,753 people held in penitentiaries took part in the presidential elections on July 9, 2023.

Work has been carried out to introduce digital technologies into the activities of the penitentiary system, including intelligent smart cameras, video recorders, X-ray scanners, electronic stores, and an online video meeting service. Of course, the digitalization of the functioning of the system will not only facilitate the work of employees of penitentiary institutions, but also increase their responsibility. In fact, by preventing cases of torture, the foundations for ensuring human rights are laid.
A sight of a damaged building following Russian missile strikes in the Ukrainian town of Pokrovsk. Photo Courtesy: Video grab from Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky's Twitter page

At least seven people died as two Russian missiles hit residential buildings in the Ukrainian town of Pokrovsk on Monday, officials said on Tuesday.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said an ordinary 'residential building' was hit by a missile.

He wrote on X: "The city of Pokrovsk, Donetsk region. Donbas, from which Russia is trying to leave only broken and scorched stones. Two missile strikes. An ordinary residential building was hit. "

"Unfortunately, there are victims. Rescuers and all necessary services are on the scene. The rescue of people continues," he said.

Sending out a strong message to Russia, he said: "We have to stop the Russian terror. Everyone who fights for the freedom of Ukraine saves lives."

"Everyone in the world who helps Ukraine will defeat the terrorists together with us. Russia will be held accountable for everything it has done in this terrible war," he said.

The city of Pokrovsk, Donetsk region. Donbas, from which Russia is trying to leave only broken and scorched stones. Two missile strikes. An ordinary residential building was hit. Unfortunately, there are victims. Rescuers and all necessary services are on the scene. The rescue of pic.twitter.com/zsIA7dR6HR    (@ZelenskyyUa) August 7, 2023

Serhii Dobriak, a local military leader, told CNN all the victims in the attack were either residents, rescue workers or police, including some officers who had been displaced from their homes in Mariupol after the Kremlin bombarded and eventually seized the coastal city.

Meanwhile, a UN spokesperson said attacks against Ukrainian port infrastructure are not isolated and Russias termination of the Black Sea Initiative is impacting global food prices and affecting the most vulnerable people.

Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, made the remark while speaking at the regular press briefing at UN Headquarters in New York.

The Danube port of Izmail, in the Odesa Region, was hit on 2 August. The attack damaged facilities storing thousands of tons of food grains.

The Secretary-General also condemned Russias intensification of attacks on Ukrainian ports, calling for the immediate cessation of all attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, he said.

The Black Sea Initiative enabled the export of millions of metric tons of food from Ukrainian ports, and together with the UNs parallel accord with Russia on export of food and fertilizer, had been vital for global food security and price stability, including in areas hit hard by conflict and hunger, such as Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa and Yemen.
Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

At least seven people, including a chairman of a union council (UC), died in a landmine blast in Pakistan's Balochistan region on Monday.

Deputy Commissioner of Panjgur, Amjad Somro, told Dawn News that miscreants had planted a remote explosive device to target a vehicle carrying Balgatar UC Chairman Ishtiaq Yaqoob and others who were returning from a wedding ceremony.

As the vehicle reached Chakar Bazar in the Balgatar area, the device detonated, resulting in the loss of lives, he said.

The deceased people were reportedly identified as Mohammad Yaqoob, Ibrahim, Wajid, Fida Hussain, Sarfaraz and Haider, who were residents of Baltagar and Panjgur.

Levies said four deceased people remained unidentified.

An investigation into the incident is currently underway.
Photo courtesy: UNI

Islamabad/UNI: A bomb went off near a vehicle in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, killing at least seven people including a local politician, government officials and police said.

The incident took place late on Monday night when a roadside bomb hit the vehicle of a chairman of a union council and others who were returning from a wedding ceremony in Panjgur district of the province, Deputy Commissioner of Panjgur Amjad Somro told local media.

The bomb was detonated through remote control, said police, adding that the vehicle was completely damaged in the explosion.

Following the incident, police and security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to arrest the culprits.

No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Photo Courtesy: Tibet.Net Twitter page

Indian Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh recently hosted an exhibition titled Mapping Tibet' at the Tibet Museum in Dharamshala town.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Norzin Dolma, Minister of the Department of Information and International Relations of the Tibetan government in exile.

42 maps have been displayed showcasing the historic boundaries of Tibet since the 17th century and its political relationships with the neighbouring countries, reports ANI.

The exhibition, which was inaugurated on Monday, will continue till October 5.

The chief guest of the event was Tsering Wangyal Shawa. He has served as the Geographic Information System (GIS) and Map Librarian at Princeton University Library since 1998.

He presently teaches a course on GIS for Public Policy at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs.

Speaking to ANI, he said: "These maps tell a story about how Tibet was mapped by different agencies over time and so that people will understand how Tibet mapping was evolved over time so that is the whole idea here and at the same time we want the general public to understand what Tibet is and how the mapping of Tibet was evolved over time so that they can have a better understanding.
Photo Courtesy: Imran Khan Instagram page

Former prime minister Imran Khans lawyer, Naeem Haider Panjotha, has claimed the PTI leader was kept in distressing conditions in prison.

His lawyer claimed he has been provided C-Class jail facilities.

His lawyers alleged that they were not allowed by the jail administration to meet the PTI chairman.

On Monday afternoon, Panjotha was allowed to meet the PTI chairman. The meeting lasted an hour and 45 minutes.

Narrating his conversation with Imran in a media talk, he told Dawn News: I asked Khan sahib about the situation in jail after his arrest. He said he is being kept in a dark, small, C-Class, chakki wala [manual labour] room. He said there is an open washroom there, which does not have a shower.

He said the jail has flies in the morning and insects in the evening, Panjotha said.

Pakistan police on Saturday arrested PTI chief Imran Khan, shortly after an Islamabad trial court declared him guilty of corrupt practices in the Toshakhana case.
Image: Pixabay

A Pakistani teacher was shot dead by unknown men on an allegation of blasphemy in Turbat town in the country.

Police told Dawn News that Abdul Rauf, 22, an English teacher, was targeted near a graveyard in the Malikabad area on Saturday when he, accompanied by some people, was going to attend a jirga of ulema to explain his position on the matter.

Sources told the Pakistani newspaper that students of the language centre had lodged complaints with local clerics, accusing Mr Rauf of committing blasphemy during a lecture.

Sudhir Ahmed, the principal, told Dawn News a group of ulema visited the language centre on Friday and listened to the students and Rauf on the issue.

Rauf denied all allegations against him.

He, however, tendered an apology for any objectionable words on the issue.

The clerics said they would resolve the issue and asked Rauf to come to the jirga, to be held in a madressah, to explain his position.

I invited Abdul Rauf to the jirga where over 100 ulema from Turbat were present to resolve the issue amicably, but he was killed by unknown masked men before reaching the madressah, Mufti Shah Mir said.

He said police were informed about the issue after the murder.

The deceased teacher's family members did not lodge any police cases following the incident.

A special police team has been constituted for a thorough investigation into the incident, considering all aspects, District Police Officer Mohammad Baloch told Dawn on Sunday.
Acting is a greater medicine than any prescribed medication, according to Sushmita Sen, who underwent an angioplasty after suffering a severe heart attack in March.

Talking about her health and work, the actress said, Health is good, because they (doctors) give you that many pills. The work aspect keeps me healthiest. When Im working, the mind doesnt have the time to think about sad stories or tragedies. You keep moving and doing whats best."



Trailer

To be an actor or creative person is not an easy life, but it is a life that most of us are privileged to have. So, every time you are dog tired to the bone, tell yourself How many people get this? You are so lucky, shut up and do it

Sen is back on television in the JioCinema series Taali, a biographical drama that tells the tale of transgender rights advocate Gauri Sawant, who was born as Ganesh.

The programme follows her critically lauded web debut "Aarya" on Disney+ Hotstar as her second digital release.



Trailer

Former Miss Universe claimed that streaming services provided her with the chance to "grow" as an actor.

Im a big fan of OTT. Im one of the first mainstream actresses to take on OTT at a time when it was not a done thing. Im glad I did because it allowed me an opportunity to grow and come back to an art form that I love."

Trailer

Earlier, it used to be the greatest tragedy, when an actor or actress reached this age, their careers were long finished, but this is when they know how to bring it to real life. This is the time to be an actor, she said.

"Taali" marks Sen's first time portraying a real-life character and is directed by National Award winner Ravi Jadhav of "Natarang" fame.

It might be difficult to portray a real person on TV; the actor stated her approach was to keep things straightforward.

One of the key things that we decided when we started Taali was that you cannot try to ape Gauri Sawant, she is strong. We will have to not mimic her, (because) then we will get it wrong Thats how strong that persona is. So, what do we do? We take the essence of this woman, and all of what she is hiding and she is projecting. What she is hiding is far more powerful because you dont see that on YouTube or Google. You see that when you meet her. Thats what I brought to Taali, with her permission, she added.



Taali will premiere on August 15 on Jio Cinema.



(Inputs From PTI)
People can sometimes resort to unusual and unexpected measures when managing their allergies during flights. From unique precautions to extraordinary actions, people with severe allergies may go to great lengths to ensure their safety and well-being onboard.



In a strange incident, a woman with a severe nut allergy took a proactive step to ensure her safety during a flight.

She spent 15,000 of her own money to buy out all the peanut packets available on the flight, preventing other passengers from purchasing and opening them.

As reported by Business Insider, on July 13, 27-year-old Leah Williams embarked on a flight from Germany's Dusseldorf to London's Heathrow Airport.

Leah faces the challenging condition of anaphylactic shock, a severe allergic reaction that can be life-threatening.

Even someone nearby opening a packet of peanuts can trigger hives and extreme discomfort for her.

During her Eurowings flight from Dusseldorf to London, Leah Williams took the initiative to request the cabin crew to announce her severe nut allergy. She kindly asked passengers to avoid opening peanut packets during the flight to ensure her safety.

In a previous experience, the cabin crew had complied with her request.

However, this time, they declined, stating that it went against the airline's policy.

Leah Williams told Business Insider that the flight attendant didn't make eye contact. He didn't grasp the seriousness of her situation and asked if she needed an inhaler.

She felt he was frustrated because she was causing a delay in the line.

Unsplash

Faced with no other option, the woman decided to spend a significant amount, $185 (15,000), to purchase all 48 packets of peanuts on the flight. She intended to prevent other passengers from buying and opening them during the journey.



She took this step as she believed the cabin crew was unwilling to assist her by refraining from serving peanuts.

The flight attendants meticulously counted all 48 packets of peanuts to ensure they charged the correct amount. Surprisingly, they even asked Leah Williams if she wanted to take the packets home, which she declined.

Consequently, the crew placed the 48 boxes of peanuts in a plastic bag and stored them at the front of the cabin.

While Leah spent 15,000 to safeguard herself from an allergic reaction during the flight, she could travel safely but at a substantial cost.

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Parents often develop creative and unique methods to comfort their babies, especially when soothing a fussy or crying infant. These tricks can range from gentle rocking to playing soft music, and each family may have their own set of tried-and-true techniques.

However, amidst the sea of creative parenting hacks, an important question arises: where should the boundary be drawn when trying unconventional methods?

A concerning event occurred in California, United States, where a mother reportedly put alcohol in her baby's bottle to quiet the crying. A report from the New York Post states that the 7-week-old baby became drunk.

The San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department announced on Monday that a 37-year-old woman, Honesti De La Torre, is facing child endangerment charges for her concerning action.

Authorities reported that deputies received a call around 12:45 a.m. on Saturday in an unincorporated area of Rialto, 55 miles east of Los Angeles in the United States.

Officials stated that De La Torre had been driving through Rialto when she stopped to put alcohol in the baby's bottle to quiet the baby's crying.

The child is currently receiving treatment at a hospital, and the specifics of the health condition haven't been disclosed. At the same time, the mother is being detained at the West Valley Detention Center with a bond set at $60,000.

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This incident serves as a stark reminder of the fine line between innovative parenting methods and ensuring the safety and well-being of children.



While parents' intentions to calm their babies are driven by love and concern, the case in California underscores the potential dangers of resorting to solutions that may put infants at risk.

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In an extraordinary event, a woman, Miche Zephany Sheldon, who was taken at birth and raised by a kidnapper, walked down the aisle with both of her 'dads.' At only three days old, Miche Zephany Sheldon was abducted by Lavona Solomon from Groote Schur Hospital in Cape Town on 30th April 1997.



Raised by Lavona and her husband Michael, Miche did not know that she was the biological daughter of another family.

However, everything took a turn in 2015 when Cassidy, a new girl, enrolled in Miche's school, and striking resemblances between them became apparent. Due to the striking resemblances between Miche and Cassidy, social workers at the school she requested Miche to take a DNA test.

The test revealed that Cassidy was, in fact, Miche's biological sister.

Furthermore, the DNA test confirmed that Lavona and Michael were not Miche's biological parents, resulting in Lavona's arrest and a ten-year sentence for kidnapping Miche.

On 25th February 2015, at 17, Miche was introduced to her birth parents; however, she did not immediately feel connected.

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"It was extremely difficult because youve grown up thinking this is your family," she said.



"Meeting my biological parents there wasnt that connection."

She added, "I was looking for it, but it wasnt there initially. Id been raised by Lavona and Michael my whole life. Both families were just so harsh with each other, as well. I really had to adjust to having two different dads in my life. But I knew Id want them both walking me down the aisle whenever I got married."

When Miche tied the knot with Justin Sheldon in March of this year, she made a special request.

She asked Michael, who raised her, and her biological dad, Morne Nurse, to walk her down the aisle.

"Michael had been my dad my whole life - he fathered me. Im so glad Morne opened his heart to walk alongside him down the aisle," she said.

"It was such a beautiful day. We saw the union ship of my two families."

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Authority (OLTH) announced a new partnership with Ashdod Port Company Ltd., Israels national port.The new partnership is rather important for the international port industry as it focuses

Thessaloniki Port and Ashdod sign cooperation agreement -  
Make Peace, You Fools!

Americas proxy war with Russia has transformed Ukraine into a graveyard.



By Douglas Macgregor

August 07, 2023: Information Clearing House -- Incrementalismthe tendency to inch forward rather than to take bold stepsis usually preferred by political and military leaders in warfare, because the introduction of a few forces into action puts fewer personnel at risk, and, in theory, promises a series of improvements over time, often through attrition.

In 1950, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, led by the then-chairman General J. Lawton Collins, recommended short envelopments along the Korean coastline that were designed to gradually increase the size of the U.S. and Allied enclave known as the Pusan Perimeter. The idea was to buy time to assemble enough forces to launch a breakout on the Normandy model. But General of the Army Douglas MacArthur disagreed. He argued for a daring, deep envelopment that promised to cut off the North Korean Forces south of the 38th Parallel that were encircling Pusan.

As it turned out, MacArthur was right. Today, we know that the short envelopments were exactly what the North Korean command was prepared to defeat. In retrospect, it is certain that along with their Chinese allies, the North Koreans were familiar with the operational employment of U.S. and Allied forces during WWII. Eisenhowers insistence on a broad front strategy that moved millions of troops in multiple armies in parallel across France and Germany to Central Europe conformed to the low-risk formula.

In light of this history, it was reasonable for the North Koreans to believe that MacArthur would never split his forces and launch an amphibious assault far behind North Korean lines. It was simply too risky. And the operational concept for Inchon was also inconsistent with the way U.S. forces were employed during the Civil War and World War Iwars won through attrition, not maneuver.

Break out of the Matrix

In February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin opted for incrementalism in his approach to the Special Military Operation in Ukraine. Putin committed fewer than 100,000 Russian troops to a shallow penetration attack on a broad front into a country the size of Texas. Having failed over a period of nearly 15 years to persuade Washington and the collective West of Moscows opposition to NATOs advance to the east, Putin seems to have concluded that Washington and its NATO allies would prefer immediate negotiations to a destructive regional war with unknowable potential for escalation to the nuclear level.

Putin was wrong. He made a false assumption based on rational choice theory. Rational choice theory attempts to predict human behavior based on the assumption that individuals habitually make choices in economics, politics, and daily life that align with their personal best interest.

The problem with the theory is that human beings are not rational. In fact, the human mind is like a black box. It is possible to observe what goes into the black box and the decisions that come out of it, but the actual decision-making process that unfolds inside the black box is opaque.

In international relations and war, the defining features of human identityhistory, geography, culture, religion, language, race, or ethnicitymust also figure prominently in any strategic assessment. For reasons of culture, experience, and innate character, MacArthur was a risk-taker. As Peter Drucker reminds his readers, culture is the foundation for human capital. These realities routinely defeat the unrealistic expectations that rational choice theory creates.

Instead of approaching the negotiating table, Washington discarded the caution, given Russias nuclear arsenal, that had guided previous American dealings with Moscow. Washingtons political class, with no real understanding of Russia or Eastern Europe, subscribed to the late Senator John McCains notion that Russia was a gas station with nuclear weapons.

Putin is not a risk-taker. But he abandoned incrementalism, and rapidly reoriented Russian forces to the strategic defense, an economy of force measure designed to minimize Russian losses while maximizing Ukrainian losses until Russian Forces could return to offensive operations. The Russian change in strategy has worked. Despite the unprecedented infusion of modern weaponry, cash, foreign fighters, and critical intelligence to Ukrainian forces, Washingtons proxy is shattered. Ukraines hospitals are brimming with broken human beings and Ukrainian dead litter the battlefield. Kiev is a heart patient on life support.

Russias attrition strategy has achieved remarkable success, but the success is making the conflict currently more dangerous than at any point since it began in February 2022. Why? Defensive operations do not win wars, and Washington continues to believe Ukraine can win.

Washington discounts Ukrainian losses and exaggerates Russian losses. Officers present at meetings in the Pentagon tell me that minor Ukrainian battlefield successes (that are almost instantly reversed) loom large in the discussions held in four-star headquarters, the White House, and Foggy Bottom. These reports are treated as incontrovertible evidence of inevitable Ukrainian victory. In this climate, staff officers are reluctant to highlight effective Russian military performance or the impact of Russias expanding military power.

The Western media reinforce these attitudes, arguing that the Russian generals and their forces are dysfunctional, mired in corruption and sloth, and that Ukraine can win if it gets more support. As a result, it is a good bet that Washington and its allies will continue to provide equipment and ammunition, though probably not in the quantities and of the quality they did in the recent past.

Warsaw, whose leadership of NATOs anti-Russian crusade is prized in Washington, finds comfort in the Beltways belief in Russian military weakness. So much so, that Warsaw seems willing to risk direct confrontation with Moscow. According to French sources in Warsaw, if Ukrainian forces are driven back, the Poles may introduce the first division this year, which will include the Poles, the Balts, and a certain number of Ukrainians.

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Now, Washington is misjudging Moscow. The Russian national command authorities may well think that Warsaws actions align with Washingtons intentions. President Bidens executive order to extend hazard pay to American soldiers currently serving in Ukraine (who are not supposed to be there) no doubt reinforces this opinion.

But it is far more likely that the Polish tail wants to wag the American dog. The Poles know their military intervention in historic Galician Ukraine will provoke a military response from both Belarus and Russia, but Warsaw also reasons that Washingtons air and ground forces in Europe are unlikely to sit quietly in Ukraine, Romania, and the Baltic littoral while Polish forces fight a losing battle.

Americas proxy war with Russia has transformed Ukraine into a graveyard. Indulging Polands passion for war with Russia encourages Poland to follow the Ukrainian example. The very idea must leave Moscow no choice but to bring all of Russias military power to bear simultaneously against Ukraine, before the collective West stumbles into regional war. Make peace, you fools, before its too late.
By Lawrence Davidson

August 07, 2023: Information Clearing House -- The term democracy is back in the news from the Middle East. Americans will assume that this has nothing to do with the Arabs. They know that news about democracy in this region must be about Israel because it is the only democracy in the Middle East. Well, it now turns out that Israelis too cant agree as to what is and is not a real democracy. There is an increasingly violent Zionist brawl going on over this question: two sides, two different claims to know what democracy is, and both parties claiming to be the sole representative of the real thing. Each side screaming at the other. And, by the way, they are both wrong.

Part IThe Israeli Right

Israels governing rightwing coalition has staked its claim to defending real democracy on the majoritarian principle. That is, they claim to represent democracy because a large plurality of those Jews who voted in the last election (roughly 48.3%) did so for their side. As a result, a coalition of religious and nationalist parties now controls the government. So, they should be able to rule as they see fitfor them, that is democracy.

Please note, for the rightwing, and the center-left as well Jewish votes are what count. Bringing Palestinian parties into a ruling Israeli coalition has always been technically possible but for most Jewish Israelis it remains a taboo. What we have here is a de facto apartheid democracy.

Israel doesnt have a written constitution, but it has evolved a set of Basic Laws that, for the moment, are interpreted by an independent judicial system led by its Supreme Court. While its judges are not elected, they can, through this judicial power, act as a check on any elected government. The courts have often acted as a roadblock to government efforts that would institute the kind of religious/authoritarian Jewish society the present Knesset desires. So, under cover of the principle of majoritarian rule, the Israeli government now aims at the destruction of its independent Israeli judiciary.

Break out of the Matrix!

Of course, Prime Minister Netanyahu describes it in a more neutral fashion: the government wants to take a democratic step at restoring the balance between the institutional branches of government. That is how all Israeli diplomats have been told to describe the situation. Of course, balance means no more checks on the executive. From the majoritarian perspective, this is a democracy in action.

Part IIThe Israeli Left

The Israeli secular left claims that it is defending Israeli democracy. It is defending democracy from an internal threat of a rightwing government that wants to change the very nature of Israeli Jewish society. Prime Minister Netanyahus (sometimes called the crime minister by the Left) judicial overhaul has generated a protest movement that has put tens to hundreds of thousands of secular-minded Israeli Jews into the streets over the past several months. While, in numerical terms, it does not represent a majority of the countrys 7.145 million Jewish citizens, it may well represent the outlook of the AshkenazisIsraelis of European origin who dominate the business, technology, intellectual, and artistic side of society as well as some of the professional elements of the military.

These protesters reject the principle of majoritarianism. In contrast, the democracy the Left says it believes in requires the continuance of an independent judiciary serving as a check on the executive branch. This sounds good, but again the Palestinians are left out of the equation. Most protesters do not want equal representation of all those under the authority of the Israeli government any more than their rightwing opponentsor the courts for that matter. They just want a secularist version of apartheid democracy.

Part IIIWhy Both Sides Are Wrong About Democracy

Why are both sides wrong?

(1) Criticism of the majoritarian principle has merit. Here is a critique, referencing the situation in Israel, by the Brookings Institute. In Israel, if a small majority of the sole chamber of the legislature, say 64 of the 120-member Knesset, supported a bill to curtail individual or minority rights, it would face precisely one formal constraint: the Supreme Court, acting as a High Court of Justice. This is what the Netanyahu-Levin legislation would effectively abolish.   In short, if Netanyahu gets his way, the slimmest of majorities could decide anything. Pure, unbridled majoritarianism. There is no built in protection of minority rights.

It is important to note that this fear of majoritarianism has been around for a long time. A prime example is the early adoption of a Bill of Rights as the initial amendments to the U.S. Constitution. At the time these amendments were approved, they were meant to protect the rights of white malesessentially an American apartheid democracy.

(2) The liberal protesters in todays Israel fear that the rights of secular Jews are at risk. Yet, just like those who insisted on the original American Bill of Rights, the majority of liberal Israelis are uninterested in the rights of the Palestinians in whose oppression and displacement they are complicit. This indifference means that they too are not the supporters of liberal democracy that they think they are. Here is how Anshel Pfeffer puts in it the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, If anyone has any illusions that this wonderful resurgence of Israels democratic camp will lead to a wider reckoning in Israeli society over the occupation, it would be best to put those aside. One of the very first strategic decisions made by the committee coordinating the pro-democracy protests was that the path to victory would have to run through the center ground. To achieve that, the anti-occupation groups were firmly told  Palestinian flags were not to be waved.

Today, we know all the democracy references about Israel are tragically wrongheaded. Israeli democracy, no matter which Zionist side claims to be its champion, is an apartheid democracy which is but a bastardization of the real thing. Every relevant human rights organization on the planet has recognized, based on evidence made public, that Israel is an apartheid state that has institutionalized racism in its laws and policies.

Part IV The Only Way the Protest Movement Can Win

The position taken by Israels liberal/secular camp regarding the Palestinian participation in protests, will probably contribute to failure in their fight with Netanyahu. A plausible explanation of this likelihood is put forth by the Jewish progressive commentator Peter Beinart.

Beinart quotes Moshe Koppel, a conservative activist. His position is that demography is on our [conservative/religious] side. Well make these changes [such as the judicial overhaul] sooner or later because in Israel, the ultra-orthodox population is growing and the religious nationalist population is growing. One should note the implied belief that as the rights demographic strength grows, so does their claim to democracy.

Beinart points out that the protest camp, while rejecting the legitimacy of majoritarianism, has never questioned the ethno-nationalist parameters of Israeli politics. In other words, for the protesters, the goal is to keep Israel a kind of secular, modern, pluralistic society for Jews. The fact that, to achieve this goal, they are fighting conservative/religious people who want to entrench Israels control over Palestiniansundemocratic control, and potentially expel them is not a motivation for most of the protesters.

Given the indifference the liberal camp has, to this point, shown to the plight of the oppressed, there is real irony in the fact that allying with the Palestinians may be the only road to victory for the protesters. Peter Beinart, among others, again emphasizes this point. He urges the liberal protest movement in Israel to transform the struggle into one that pits Jews and Palestinians against those groups who are invested in the maintenance of apartheid. An egalitarian society would certainly nullify the rights demographic advantage.

Part VConclusion

Such an alliance is unlikely in the foreseeable future. Israel has had over 75 years to inculcate a supremacist outlook into its Jewish citizens and all the evidence points to the fact that they have been successful. To break through such long standing cultural indoctrination usually requires a catastrophic situation that causes the culture to crumble. For Israels secular Jewish society, the present situation may be a step in that direction. However, keep in mind that they represent a minority within the country as a whole.

There is also the fact that most Israeli state institutions are responding to the present coalition governments change in orientation with dutiful obedience. A good example is the Israeli police. Change that institutions top leadership and the entire apparatus pivots to follow new orders. In this regard, parts of the military are still in doubt, but this may be only temporary.

The hard truth is that the liberal side is losing. Despite really spectacular views of mass protests throughout Israel, the government has turned its back on the liberals and carried on with its legislative agenda. And, true to form, the police have moved on the protesters with water cannons and the liberal use of billy clubs.

We will give the final point to the Haaretz reporter Amira Haas:

The gods are taking poetic revenge on Israelis who continue living in peace and harmony, or mere indifference, with the dispossession and oppression of the Palestinians.  The holy kingdom of wild, thuggish youths [here she is speaking of Israels colonial settler enterprise] is turning its back on you after your years of active service defending it and silently collaborating with it. [She includes the judiciary in this collaboration.] The settler colonial enterprise wouldnt have thrived as it has without all [the courts] learned legal opinions and solutions. They cultivated the seeds of Jewish fascism with their own handsraising generations of Israelis who are sure that its completely normal to rule over and tyrannize another people deprived of its most basic rights.

Haas also would like to see the protest movement overcome its ethnocentrism and ally with the Palestinians. She too will almost certainly be ignored. For the protesters and their supporters to take such a monumental step they will have to overcome generations of racist indoctrination, and compete with easy access to foreign passports. Rather than go down that path, many of the liberals may just leave.

Lawrence Davidson is professor of history emeritus at West Chester University in Pennsylvania. He has been publishing his analyses of topics in U.S. domestic and foreign policy, international and humanitarian law and Israel/Zionist practices and policies since 2010.

Views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House.
Home Search ICH Question Everything! Click Here To Support Information Clearing House The Electric Kool-Aid Trump Indictment



Special prosecutor Jack Smith's January 6th case is a surreal mix of conventional law and authoritarian lunacy By Matt Taibbi The United States of America v. Donald J. Trump may be the trippiest read since Cats Cradle, and not in a good way. Special Counsel Jack Smiths indictment is a case within a case, a prosecutorial enchilada filled with things for people of all political persuasions to hate. The outside is a shell of a conventional conspiracy prosecution, and these parts are genuinely damaging for Donald Trump. Inside, its a deranged authoritarian fantasy, at times reading more like a 45-page Louise Mensch tweet than an indictment. This radical core is somehow scarier than the allegations against Trump and co-conspirators like Rudy Giuliani, John Eastment, Sidney Powell, Jeffrey Clark, and Kenneth Cheeseboro. Despite early criticism describing the case as entirely about protected speech, Special Prosecutor Jack Smiths case does focus on some overt acts, and these sections are buttressed by witnesses who could be convincing across the spectrum. Former Arizona Speaker of the House and onetime Trump supporter Rusty Bowers will describe being asked not to certify the results by, among others, Trump and Giuliani. Ronna McDaniel, chair of the RNC, will say she was told votes by so-called fraudulent electors would only be deployed if election litigation was successful. Former Vice President Mike Pence, who is rumored to be running for president and took instant advantage of indictment news Tuesday (see below), will testify Trump told him, Youre too honest, in response to prods to refuse to certify the outcome. If Smith simply focused on those damaging episodes in states like Arizona, Michigan, and Georgia, or on Trumps interactions with Pence, this prosecution would be an easier sell to the general population. Instead, Smith has tried to pen a Unified Field Theory of insurrection that would massively expand the meaning of concepts like incitement to include false statements, tweets, and other forms of protected speech, down to classic Trumpisms like I dont care about a link I have a much better link, and I have a lot of friends in Detroit Detroit is totally corrupt. In fact, if rumors are true and the four counts filed by Smith this week are later complemented by a superseding indictment, this document may end up expanding the definition of seditious conspiracy to include those things as well. As Adam Kinzinger said this week, he hoped additional counts will hold Trump accountable for all the actions of January 6th. Its not hard to read this and see the framework of an argument that Trumps ideas, tweets and knowingly false statements were elements of the same conspiracy to violently disrupt the election for which people like Oath Keepers Elmer Stewart Rhodes and Kelly Meggs have already been convicted and sentenced to 18 and 12 years in prison, respectively. A successful prosecution would fold space and time to make legal speech felony violence. If the falsifying business records case in Manhattan involving a payoff to porn star Stormy Daniels felt like one offense stretched to 34 counts, Smiths January 6th indictment seems like 20-30 discrete scenes rolled out as a single conspiracy. In no particular order, here are three bizarre elements of Smiths vision: The mood police. Conspiracy to create mistrust and anger. In the opening passages of the indictment Smith rails against Trumps knowingly false statements, saying they created an intense national atmosphere of mistrust and anger, intended to erode public faith in the administration of the election. I thought I was having an acid flashback when I read this passage. Instead of focusing on overt acts in the individual states, episodes which clearly make even some Trump supporters nervous, the prosecutors are after bigger game. They want to argue that by spreading lies Trump created an atmosphere of mistrust and anger that, by the end, they will argue led to the violent attack on the Capitol. This argument brings in fairly anodyne Trump tweets, like Big protest in D.C. on January 6th. Be there, will be wild!, or Our country has had enough, they wont take it anymore!, and ties it to the crowds Send it Back! chants, its steady, violent advancement toward Capitol doors, and scenes of crowd members violently attacking law enforcement. The Supreme Court in 1969 heard a landmark case, Brandenburg v. Ohio, that set an extremely high bar for government intervention in speech cases, making the standard likely to incite or produce imminent lawless action. A tweeting campaign that begins in November and produces a general atmosphere of mistrust and anger that by January works a protesting crowd into a lather is exactly the kind of behavior Brandenburg says is not illegal. In fact, Brandenburg goes further and says mere advocacy of the use of force, even advocacy of the forcible overthrow of government, is not illegal. The speech has to be likely to produce imminent lawless action to be considered illegal. But Smith wants to criminalize the creation of the atmosphere of mistrust, and/or the intent to erode public faith in officialdom. The definition of knowingly false. Best positioned to know the facts. In the relentless, redundant style of an MSNBC broadcast or a Washington Post editorial  Smiths prose in places definitely reads more like moral-clarity-era journalism than law  the prosecutor repeatedly mentions knowingly false claims. From a language standpoint alone, its wild stuff, like an exercise in how many times one can say the same thing in a handful of lines. In the second paragraph for instance Smith describes how Trump spread lies that were false, and [Trump] knew they were false, and repeated them even though they were knowingly false claims. Smith in other words makes Trumps state of mind central to the indictment. Even the New York Times markup of the document notes that proving Mr. Trumps mindset may be a key element to all the charges. Therefore the craziest part of this document is the section beginning on page 6, called The Defendants Knowledge of the Falsity of His Election Fraud Claims. One would expect that proof Trump was knowingly lying and didnt really believe the election had been stolen from him would be something like an email to Giuliani saying, I know this is bull, but lets try it anyway!, or testimony from a confederate that Trump admitted in private that he knew he lost. There are bits and pieces of this kind of argument in the text, but Smith leads with a different argument: that Trump had been notified repeatedly by people who were best positioned to know the facts yet deliberately disregarded what hed been told. Smith then goes on to list these best positioned people: Pence, senior leaders of the Justice Department, the Director of National Intelligence, the Department of Homeland Securitys Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), senior White House attorneys, and others. Smith is going to try to define knowingly false as a statement made in defiance of what one has been told by people best positioned to know the facts. Once youve been told X by the right people, going on to insist Y anyway will be defined as a knowing falsehood. This concept is deployed over and over. In another section, Trump cites the infamous State Farm Arena video, which his team insisted showed evidence of vote fraud in Atlanta. However, Smith says, Justice Officials specifically refuted the video, telling them what they were looking at was benign. Which may be true, but this is how Smith is trying to prove state of mind: your claim has been specifically refuted, you persisted in saying it, therefore its a knowing falsehood. Unless Im missing something, theyre aiming to prove intent without introducing evidence of Trumps thoughts, which seems bananas. Trial by harm. As a result threats. After Trump maligned a Philadelphia City Commissioner for stating there was no evidence of fraud, Smith noted that as a result, the Philadelphia City Commissioner and his family received death threats. There are two of these passages, and Smith seemingly doesnt feel the need to prove causation in either, using this Trump said things and as a result threats happened without listing how the one affected the other, or showing that Trump knew his speech would result in threats, etc. This goes back to the first problem, redefining incitement as something generalized and broad. Again, in Brandenburg, the court specifically ruled that lines like Bury the n couldnt be construed as incitement, yet heres Smith arguing that Trump mean-tweeting former Philadelphia City Commissioner Al Schmidt by saying he was being used big time by the fake news media was an element of a crime because threats resulted. This is very similar to the logic we saw in the Twitter Files, when executives at the company formerly known as Twitter decided that while individual Trump tweets on January 6th werent violative, they could be struck under a new definition of incitement that included the so-called context surrounding. Bari Weiss showed that executives using this theory could look at the entire history of Trump statements, the reactions to the same, and conclude that phrases like American Patriots or They will not be disrespected could be understood as coded incitement to violence. How Twitter made Trumps tweets violative. Smith is doing the same thing. Hes taking statements that werent even against Twitters terms of service and arguing theyre part of a criminal conspiracy, using the same thinking that Twitter deployed in creating coded incitement. Instead of drawing the most specific, clearest of lines to describe incitement  Go hit that dude with a rock  this crop of prosecutors wants to create the broadest definition possible, holding Trump responsible for an atmosphere of anger that at best arguably inspires violent crowd behavior weeks or months later. A future superseding indictment could link Trumps felony case to the seditious conspiracy convictions already handed down. Those cases, if you go back and look, introduced as evidence that the Oath Keepers used encrypted communications applications like Signal. So false statements, private gatherings, and words that erode trust in government could end up defined as elements of felony conspiracy, maybe even sedition. Thats a concept that would make John Adams or Mitchell Palmer blush. This prosecution puts Americans in the same conundrum theyve been in since the beginning of the Trump years: forced once again to choose between a serial line-crosser and more or less open gangster on one hand, and a gang of never-Trump lawfare aficionados whod like to revive the Alien and Sedition Acts on the other. As Woody Allen put it, Let us pray we have the wisdom to choose correctly. Are you excited yet? Views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Registration is not necessary to post comments. We ask only that you do not use obscene or offensive language. Please be respectful of others. See also Search Information Clearing House The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Click Here To Support Information Clearing House Your support has kept ICH free on the Web since 2002. 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Home Search ICH Question Everything! Click Here To Support Information Clearing House Target China By Mike Whitney August 07, 2023: Information Clearing House -- " Unz Review -- The Biden Administration is implementing a plan to draw Taiwan into a direct military confrontation with the Peoples Republic of China. The plan bears many similarities to the strategy that was used in Ukraine where Russia was goaded into invading the country in response to emerging threats to its national security. In this case, Beijing is expected to react to mounting challenges to its territorial integrity by US proxies and their political allies operating in Taiwan. These incitements will inevitably lead to greater material support from the United States which has stealthily worked behind the scenes (and in the media) to create a crisis. The ultimate objective of these machinations, is to arm, train and provide logistical support for Taiwanese separatists who will spearhead Washingtons proxy war on China. According to a number of independent reports, there is already growing operational collaboration between the Taiwanese Army and US Armed Forces. That collaboration will undoubtedly deepen after hostilities break out and the island is plunged into war. The plan to confront China militarily was outlined in the 2022 National Security Strategy in which the PRC was identified as Americas most consequential geopolitical challenge who expressed its intent to reshape the international order. This NSS analysis was followed by an explicit commitment to prevail in the struggle to control the Indo-Pacific region which fuels much of the worlds economic growth and will be the epicenter of 21st century geopolitics....(No region will be of more significance to everyday Americans than the Indo-Pacific.) Bidens NSS emphasizes the critical role the military will play in the impending confrontation with China: We willmodernize and strengthen our military so it is equipped for the era of strategic competition with major powers America will not hesitate to use force to defend our national interests. Drawing China into a Taiwan quagmire is the first phase of a broader containment strategy aimed at preserving Americas top spot in the global order while preventing China from becoming the regions dominant economy. The plan also includes economic, cyber and informational elements that are designed to work in concert with the military component. In its entirety, the strategy represents Washingtons best effort to roll-back the clock to the heyday of the unipolar world order when America set the global agenda and the United States had no rival. Trouble in Taiwan Taiwan is not a country. Taiwan is an island off the coast of China much like Santa Catalina is an island off the coast of California. No one disputes that Santa Catalina is part of the United States, just as no one disputes that Taiwan is a part of China. The issue was settled long ago, and the US agrees with the results of that settlement. For all practical purposes, the issue has been resolved. Breaking people out of the Matrix for more than 23 Years! Click Here To Get Our FREE Newsletter The United Nations does not recognize Taiwans independence nor do the 181 countries that have established diplomatic relations with China. In fact, the UN adopted a General Assembly Resolution back in 1971 acknowledging the Peoples Republic of China as the sole legal government representing the whole of China. The One-China policy explicitly relates to the status of Taiwan. Taiwan is part of China, thats what the One-China policy means. Nations that want to have relations with China must agree on the status of Taiwan; it is the foundational principle upon which all relations with China are based. The issue is not debatable. One can either accept that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinas territory or take their business elsewhere. There is no third option. The United States claims that it is committed to the One-China policy. In their recent visits to Beijing, all three senior-level officials from the Biden Administration (Anthony Blinken, Janet Yellen and John Kerry) publicly stated their unwavering support for the One-China policy. This is an excerpt from an article at Forbes: Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated the U.S. position on its One China policy as he met with Chinas leader Xi Jinping Monday, saying it does not support Taiwanese independence and that containing Chinas economy was not an American goal. Blinken said the U.S. held a One China policy and does not support Taiwanese independence, but is concerned about Chinas provocative actions along the Taiwan Strait. Blinken Tells Xi Jinping U.S. Does Not Support Taiwanese Independence, After Meeting To Quell Tensions, Forbes President Joe Biden has also stated his support for the One-China principle on many, many occasions, which is what you would expect since it is the official position of the United States government. Heres a short recap on the issue from Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs: The US made the following commitments to China regarding the one-China principle in the three China-US joint communiques. In the Shanghai Communique released in 1972, the US explicitly stated that The United States acknowledges that all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is but one China and that Taiwan is a part of China. The United States Government does not challenge that position. In the Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations released in 1978, the US clearly stated that, The Government of the United States of America acknowledges the Chinese position that there is but one China and Taiwan is part of China. In the August 17 Communique released in 1982, the US unequivocally stated that In the Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations on January 1, 1979, issued by the Government of the Peoples Republic of China and the Government of the United States of America, the United States of America recognized the Government of the Peoples Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China, and it acknowledged the Chinese position that there is but one China and Taiwan is part of China, and that it has no intention of infringing on Chinese sovereignty and territorial integrity, or interfering in Chinas internal affairs, or pursuing a policy of two Chinas or one China, one Taiwan. (Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs) The western media would like their readers to think there is some gray area here and that the issue regarding Chinas sovereign territory has not been settled. Butas we have shownit has been settled. Taiwan is China. We must assume therefore that the media is being intentionally misleading in order to garner support for an independence movement that serves only one purpose; to legitimize the arming and training of US assets and insurgents that will be used in a bloody conflagration with China. In truth, the United States is laying the groundwork for a proxy-war on China, and Taiwan has been designated as the frontlines in that war. The independence movement is merely the cover Washington has chosen to conceal its real objectives. This is why Taiwan has become a flashpoint in US-China relations. This is why numerous US-led delegations have visited Taiwan expressing their tacit support for Taiwan independence. This is why Congress has allocated millions of dollars to provide lethal weaponry for the Taiwanese military. This is why the US Navy has sent warships through the Taiwan Strait and conducted massive military drills on Chinas perimeter. This is why Washington continues to provoke Beijing on the one issue that it is most sensitive. All of these incitements were conjured-up with one goal in mind: War with China. This is from Politico: The Biden administration announced a $345 million weapons package for Taiwan on Friday, the first tranche in a total of $1 billion the U.S. has allotted to be transferred directly from Pentagon stockpiles to the island this year. The move is sure to anger China as Washington has been trying to rebuild relations with Beijing. Senior administration officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, recently visited China, but the outreach has done little to quell tensions over a range of issues, from U.S. support to Taiwan to Beijings spy balloon program. We take our responsibilities to Taiwan and to improving their self-defense capabilities very, very seriously, John Kirby, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, told reporters ahead of the announcement on Friday. U.S. announces $345M weapons package for Taiwan, Politico Repeat: The move is sure to anger China. Indeed, the move was designed to anger China. That was clearly the point. But, why? Why is Washington challenging China on an issue on which there is virtually universal agreement? Two reasons come to mind: To goad China into overreacting and thus alienating itself from its allies and regional trading partners. To turn public opinion against China by portraying the country as a violent aggressor that poses a clear threat to its neighbors. Heres more from the World Socialist Web Site: The US announced last Friday that it will provide Taiwan with $345 million in weapons as the first tranche of an annual $1 billion in military equipment. The announcement marks another step to arm Taiwan to the teeth as Washington escalates its provocative confrontation with China. the Biden administration has used the same provision to supply Ukraine with billions of dollars in US military equipment to intensify the war against Russia. Just as it goaded Russia into a conflict in Ukraine, the US is deliberately provoking a conflict with China over Taiwan.  a Chinese embassy spokesman in Washington, Liu Pengyu, stated: China is firmly opposed to USs military ties with and arms sales to Taiwan. He warned the US to stop selling arms to Taiwan, stop creating new factors that could lead to tensions in the Taiwan Strait and stop posing risks to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The US is intentionally undermining the One China policy, which de facto acknowledges Beijing as the legitimate government of all China, including Taiwan, and formed the basis of US-Chinese diplomatic relations established in 1979. Washington knows full well that China has long warned that it would respond with force to any declaration of independence by Taipei.

Preparing for war with China, US provides $345 million in arms to Taiwan, World Socialist Web Site Imagine if China sent millions of dollars of lethal weapons to a budding secessionist movement in Texas. Imagine if they offered to arm and train Texan separatists in counterinsurgency warfare so they could kill as many American soldiers as possible. Imagine if China sent one political delegation after the other to Austin (Texas) to embolden the rebels and to offer them moral and material support. Imagine if China deployed part of their fleet and airforce to ports and bases near Texas so they could join in the fray when blows were exchanged and the fighting broke out. How would Washington react to those developments? Would they be as restrained as the Chinese leadership has been in dealing with the relentless US meddling and provocations? And, ask yourself this: Havent we seen this drill before? Didnt this same scenario unfold in Ukraine following the CIA-backed coup in 2014 after which the US armed and trained Ukrainian forces to dig-in and provoke hostilities with Russia? Didnt Washington deliberately choose an issue on which Russia was particularly sensitive in order to get a rise out of Moscow? Of course, they did. In his 22 years in office, President Putin has never started a war. In contrast, in Americas 247-year history, there have been only 16 years when the US was not at war. It is an astonishing record of violence that has no equal. As former President Jimmy Carter said, The United States is the most warlike country on earth. People who have been following developments closely in US-China news, know that Team Biden has been playing a game of good cop, bad cop in which US diplomats have been making every effort to ingratiate themselves with the Chinese leadership (to assuage the allies) whileat the same timepumping Taiwan full of weapons hoping to incite Beijing. The objective of this charade is to preserve so-called strategic ambiguity on the one hand while ratchetting up the savagery on the other. Regrettably, the tactic seems to be working. Chinese leaders are getting progressively more irritated which leads us to believe that, eventually, Uncle Sam will get the war he is looking for. At least, that is how things played-out in Ukraine. Heres more from the WSWS: Last week the Taiwanese military carried out its annual, multi-day war games known as the Han Kuang exercises, focused on repelling a Chinese invasion of the island. This years drills dealt more heavily than previously on threats to major infrastructure and transportation hubs, including the islands main Taoyuan international airport. Speaking to the media, Taiwans premier Chen Chien-jen justified the exercises, declaring: Todays drills in Tainan, include the simulation of wartime scenarios, is not only because of the increased international sensitivity triggered by Russias war in Ukraine. Its even more a reflection of the constant threats and provocations from China directed at our country. The reality is that the US, not China, has upended the status quo in North East Asia, setting the stage for a conflict in the Indo-Pacific between nuclear-armed powers, even as it intensifies the war with Russia in Ukraine. Just as it has sacrificed countless Ukrainian soldiers and civilians, so it is prepared to do the same in Taiwan and is marshalling its regional allies including Japan, South Korea and Australia, for war. World Socialist Web Site All of these developments suggest that US plans for a kinetic conflict with China are in a very advanced stage and that the Taiwan powder-keg could be ignited at any time. A number of recent polls indicate that the American peoplewho remain completely ignorant of the events we have discussed herehave been conditioned to regard China as an unscrupulous competitor and a growing threat to national security. According to a recent survey from Gallup, US public opinion of China has fallen off a cliff. Heres an excerpt from the report: A record-low 15% of Americans view China favorably, More than eight in 10 U.S. adults have a negative opinion of China, including 45% who view it very unfavorably and 39% mostly unfavorably. In addition to holding a largely unfavorable opinion of China, more Americans name China as the United States greatest enemy than any other nation by a wide margin. This view is closely linked to two other measures in the poll, which find that Americans broadly believe Chinas military and economic powers represent a critical threat to the United States vital interests in the next decade. Record-Low 15% of Americans View China Favorably, Gallup Additionally, the PEW Research Center produced the same grim results: Naturally, a great deal of the animus towards China is the result of the medias relentless propaganda which is aimed at demonizing Americas most formidable economic rival. Consider, for example, how the American people were whipped into a frenzy over a Chinese balloon that drifted off-course and traversed parts of the US posing no threat to anyone. The media transformed this inconsequential incident into a lurid tale of international espionage as the errant civilian airship was dubbed the Chinese spy balloon whose nefarious purpose was to gather intelligence from several sensitive American military sites. Now we can see how trivial incidents like this are being used to smear Washingtons enemies and prepare the people for war. Is War With China Inevitable? Foreign policy mandarins on both sides of the aisle have repeatedly pushed for Americas deeper involvement in Central Asia. Grandmaster Zbigniew Brzezinski first made the case in his classic The Grand Chessboard where he said: ..how America manages Eurasia is critical. A power that dominates Eurasia would control two of the worlds three most advanced and economically productive regions. A mere glance at the map also suggests that control over Eurasia would almost automatically entail Africas subordination, rendering the Western Hemisphere and Oceania (Australia) geopolitically peripheral to the worlds central continent. About 75 per cent of the worlds people live in Eurasia, and most of the worlds physical wealth is there as well, both in its enterprises and underneath its soil. Eurasia accounts for about three-fourths of the worlds known energy resources. Zbigniew Brzezinski, The Grand Chessboard, Wikiquote His views have been universally supported among the Washington pundit class and their chief proponents like former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who said: It is becoming increasingly clear that, in the 21st century, the worlds strategic and economic center of gravity will be the Asia-Pacific, from the Indian subcontinent to western shores of the Americas. Harnessing Asias growth and dynamism is central to American economic and strategic interests. Open markets in Asia provide the United States with unprecedented opportunities for investment, trade, and access to cutting-edge technology..American firms (need) to tap into the vast and growing consumer base of Asia. Americas Pacific Century, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Foreign Policy Magazine And heres one more from former Secretary of Defense Ash Carters speech at the McCain Institute at Arizona State University: (The)  Asia-Pacificis the defining region for our nations future Half of humanity will live there by 2050 and that more than half of the global middle class and its accompanying consumption will come from that region..There are already more than 525 million middle class consumers in Asia, and we expect there to be 3.2 billion in the region by 2030President Obama and I want to ensure that businesses can successfully compete for all these potential customers. .Over the next century, no region will matter more for American prosperity. Former Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, Department of Defense The above quotes help to underscore the importance the US places on its strategy for the region. China is not only the gateway to Central Asia, it is also the main obstacle to the US plans to establish itself as the regional hegemon. That is why there must be a strategy for dealing with China, a strategy that isolates, sanctions, contains and eventually subjugates Americas biggest rival. Not surprisingly, Bidens 2022 National Security Strategy articulates that plan in clear, unambiguous terms that leaves no doubt that the country is headed for war. Here are a few excerpts from the 48-page document: The post-Cold War era is definitively over and a competition is underway between the major powers to shape what comes next We will build the strongest and broadest possible coalition of nations that seek to cooperate with each other, while competing with those powers that offer a darker vision and thwarting their efforts to threaten our interests We willmodernize and strengthen our military so it is equipped for the era of strategic competition with major powers,.. The Indo-Pacific fuels much of the worlds economic growth and will be the epicenter of 21st century geopolitics. ..No region will be of more significance to the world and to everyday Americans than the Indo-Pacific We reaffirm our iron-clad commitments to our Indo-Pacific treaty allies America will not hesitate to use force when necessary to defend our national interests The military will act urgently to sustain and strengthen deterrence, with the PRC as its pacing challenge. The PRC is the only competitor with both the intent to reshape the international order and, increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to do it. The American military is the strongest fighting force the world has ever knownAmerica will not hesitate to use force when necessary to defend our national interests. Around the world, the need for American leadership is as great as it has ever been.  . We will partner with any nation that shares our basic belief that the rules-based order must remain the foundation for global peace and prosperity.. There is nothing beyond our capacity. We can do thisfor our future and for the world. National Security Strategy, White House Lets summarize: The Indo-Pacific is now Americas top foreign policy priority because that is the area that will experience the most growth The US will lead with its military and with the allies who share US interests We willmodernize and strengthen our military to prevail in our strategic competition with major powers. Americas Number 1 enemy is China; the PRC presents Americas most consequential geopolitical challenge .The PRC is the only competitor with both the intent to reshape the international order and, increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to do it The post-Cold War era is over but the United States is prepared to preserve the rules-based order whatever the cost in blood and treasure. This is Americas foreign policy in a nutshell. US leaders and their globalist allies are fully committed to prevailing in todays great power struggle with Russia and China. They have a clear grasp of the objectives they want to achieve and they are prepared to risk anything, including nuclear war, to achieve them. Any developments in Taiwan must be seen through the lens of Washingtons geopolitical ambitions which are clearly driving events. Mike lives in Washington state. He can be reached at fergiewhitney@msn.com. Views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Registration is not necessary to post comments. We ask only that you do not use obscene or offensive language. Please be respectful of others. See also Search Information Clearing House The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Click Here To Support Information Clearing House Your support has kept ICH free on the Web since 2002. Click for Spanish , German , Dutch , Danish , French , translation- Note- Translation may take a moment to load.
A Sharia Court in Kano State has ordered that a 23-year-old man, Abdulwahab Yusuf, who pleaded guilty to stealing cow skin (ponmo) worth N8,500 be remanded in a correction centre.

According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the police on Tuesday, charged Yusuf, who lives in Tukuntawa Quarters, Kano, with theft.

Judge Umar Lawal-Abubakar adjourned the matter until August 22 for summary trial.

READ ALSO: Court Remands Abuja Businessman For Allegedly Threatening To Kidnap His Landlord

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp. Abdullahi Wada, told the court that the complainant, Fatihu Auwal, who also resides in Tukuntawa Quarters, reported the matter at the Fagge Police Station, Kano, on August 5.

Wada alleged that the defendant entered into the complainants stand and stole the cow skin.

The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge.
The military junta in Niger Republic has closed the countrys airspace following the threat of military invasion by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Recall that ECOWAS, a regional political and economic union of 15 countries located in West Africa, had threatened to restore order in Niger by force.

The regional bloc had issued its ultimatum a week ago, and threatened the use of force if the coup plotters led by General Abdourahmane Tchiani failed to relinquish power by midnight of Sunday (2300 GMT) and reinstall President Mohamed Bazoum, who they toppled on July 26 when members of his own guard detained him.

Faced with the threat of intervention, which is becoming clearer through the preparation of neighbouring countries, Nigers airspace is closed from this day on Sunday for all aircraft until further notice, the junta said in a statement released shortly before the deadline passed.

Any attempt to violate the countrys airspace would meet with an energetic and immediate response, the statement added.

However, reports on Monday indicated that there were no aircraft operating in Nigers skies, according to the flight tracking website, Flightradar24.

In a separate statement, the now-ruling National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) said there had been a pre-deployment in preparation for intervention made by two Central African countries, without naming them.

Any state involved will be considered co-belligerent, the council warned.

Thousands of coup supporters had gathered on Sunday in the capital Niamey to cheer on the CNSP.

At the 30,000-seat Seyni Kountche Stadium, named after Nigers first coup detat leader in 1974, CNSP leaders, including General Mohamed Toumba, greeted a jubilant crowd.

The venue was draped in Russian flags and supporters carried portraits of CNSP leaders.

Also, Mali and Burkina Faso resolved yesterday to send a joint delegation to Niamey, the capital of Niger, in a show of solidarity.

READ ALSO: Coup: Biafra Will Back You If Nigerian Military Intervenes  Simon Ekpa Assures Niger, Mali

Burkina Faso and Mali are sending a delegation to Niamey to show the solidarity of the two countries with the brotherly people of Niger, the Malian army said.

The transitional governments of Burkina Faso and Mali, which were established after the military took power by force in 2020 and 2022 in the two countries, also declared their support for the Nigerien soldiers who overthrew Bazoum.

The two countries also warned that any military intervention in Niger would be considered as a declaration of war against them and would lead to the withdrawal of Burkina Faso and Mali from the ECOWAS.

In a reaction to the Niger crisis yesterday, a prominent northern group, Gamji Members Association (GAMA), opposed military rule in any African country and hailed the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and ECOWAS at resolving the imbroglio.

GAMA said military rule is no longer fashionable and called for an immediate restoration of democratic rule in the West African country.

While restating its support for any effort towards the promotion and protection of democratic rule in the African continent, the association, however, cautioned against military action in resolving the Niger Republics crisis.

GAMA, an association committed to the promotion of ideals of the late premier of Northern Nigeria and Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello made its position known in a statement issued in Ilorin, Kwara State yesterday.

The statement was signed by GAMAs president-general, Alhaji Mohammed Tunde Akanbi, and director of publicity, Alhaji Abdullahi Olesin.

The association noted that democracy remains the best form of government which all and sundry, including the military, should allow to flourish in Africa, despite the perceived shortcomings of the elected representatives at all levels.

It added that if there is the need for a change in leadership of any African country, it should be through balloting and not barrel of guns, urging Africans and their friends all over the World to allow Africas democracy to evolve.

We should also note that the security situation in Nigeria is fragile, hence, the need to guard against military options in Niger Republic, more so that Nigeria shares a border with Niger Republic, it added.

GAMA implored African leaders to ensure good governance across the continent and concentrate on providing the citizens needs, including infrastructure needed to achieve economic buoyancy which will in turn ensure the wellbeing of the people.
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, has clarified that there is no plan to impeach his Deputy, Philip Shaibu.

According to Obaseki on Monday, the action by Shaibu to seek a court order to stop his purported impeachment was a preemptive move ahead of his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

This is as leaders of Edo North Senatorial District, the senatorial zone of the States Deputy Governor, distanced themselves from his governorship ambition, warning Shaibu against fueling crisis in the State.

The Governor, while briefing journalists in Benin City during a visit by the Edo North leaders, said that Shaibu has been actively engaging with senior members of APC both at the national and state levels, negotiating his way into their party, adding that he was at the verge of finalising his move to defect to the APC.

He said, Let me put it on record that I am not aware of any plot or any scheme to impeach the Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu. I have also checked and there was no such plan.

So, the Court action taken, for me, is a thing of shock and disappointment. I am trying to reflect on the move made by somebody that I have given a broad latitude to do his work as deputy governor. So, for him to take this kind of action is shocking.

He noted that, Its clear what has happened in the last few weeks. It is a preemptive move for him to conclude what he has started. Those of you from Akoko-Edo can recall that when we were discussing the issue of your local government chairman and that of Owan, there was a lot of resistance from you on the candidates he wanted to impose on you. I listened to your entreaties and thought that what you were recommending was fair. How can he be recommending the son of an APC leader in that local government? You resisted and I saw reason and acceded to your request.

The next day, I saw on social media that he was in Abuja robbing minds with the opposition party. I have heard for months now that he has been in closed consultation with friends from another party because he was not sure that you, the leaders of PDP, will give him the ticket as governor in 2024.

READ ALSO: Court Stops Obasekis Impeachment Moves Against Shaibu

I must state here that Philip Shaibu has never had the courtesy to discuss his ambition with me. The last time we spoke of my successor after the House of Assembly elections, I did say that we should be patient and that our task is to try and finish well and conclude all our projects we started. Its only when we do this right that we will have the support of the people for my successor.

I believe that this action by him is a preemptive move. I think its unfair for our party. We dont need this sort of crisis. I have been getting calls all over the world and its rather sad that somebody who is part of an administration will do this to the administration because of his personal ambition.

Obaseki furthered that, I am not angry but naturally I should be disappointed. I understand what is going on. I thank you for your solidarity. We should not be distracted but consolidate and unite our party and bring all on board. As we start our local government campaigns tomorrow, I urge you to join me so that we can build a PDP that will continue to dominate the politics of Edo State as we must finish well so our people will continue to give us the mandate. Edo will continue to be great as our collective efforts will drive our future as no one man can be bigger than all of us.

Kabiru Ajoto, leader of the Edo North group and former Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, said, We are here to amplify the voice of the majority of the people from the six local government areas in Edo North as we have all taken our position to stand with the Governor of Edo State in the ongoing crisis which is really uncalled for.

What is happening now is really unfortunate as the people of Edo North have met severally over a week thinking of what to do over the face-off between Governor Obaseki and Shaibu. We sent a powerful delegation to the deputy governor to make peace with his boss but we were surprised that he turned it down. We reached out to him but he turned the offer for peace down.

Taking the governor to Court is most unfortunate and we cant keep quiet but to speak out over the development. The Deputy Governor decided not to work closely with Mr. Governor because of personal ambition to become governor of Edo State.
Former Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, on Monday, shared his unfortunate experience with the much criticised Nigerian health sector.

The lawmaker representing Ebonyi South Senatorial District recounted the incident during the screening of Mariya Mahmoud, a ministerial nominee from Kano State, saying my father died because of the negligence of that private hospital.

The nominee, Mahmoud, a former Commissioner for Higher Education in Kano State, introduced herself as a medical doctor and public health practitioner.

Recall Mahmoud is President Bola Ahmed Tinubus substitution for Maryam Shetty, another female nominee from Kano who was dropped in a dramatic twist of events last Friday.

READ ALSO: Keyamo Apologises To Senate, Takes A Bow As Ministerial Screening Concludes

During her screening on Monday, Umahi, who is also one of the 48 ministerial nominees of the President earlier screened, asked Mahmoud to tell the Senate how she intends to curb situations of conflict of interest where doctors in government hospitals also have private medical centres.

The Senator disclosed that his late father was taken to a government hospital when he was ill and was treated by a doctor but the doctor referred his late father to a private hospital owned by the medical practitioner.

According to Umahi, his father then died of the negligence of the medical personnel at the undisclosed hospital.

On her part, she agreed with Umahi, saying that doctors in government hospitals moonlighting at private medical centres affect the quality of healthcare in society.

It is something we have to look into and see what are the things to be done to strengthen the issue, she said.
The Federal Government has withdrawn its suit against the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

The Federal Ministry of Justice in a letter dated August 7, 2023, and addressed to the Nigeria Labour Congress through their counsel, Femi Falana, SAN, said the contempt proceedings filed against the congress for embarking on a nationwide protest last week Wednesday had been overtaken by events and such no longer stands.

The ministry in the letter signed by the Permanent Secretary, Beatrice Jeddy-Agba said the ministry filed the contempt proceedings before the interventions of the President, Bola Tinubu, and the National Assembly.

READ ALSO: NLC Threatens Nationwide Strike If FG Fails To Withdraw Lawsuit

The message which was addressed to NLCs counsel, Femi Falana reads, The attention of the Federal Ministry of Justice has been drawn to the Communique issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress on 3 August 2023 wherein NLC announced the suspension of its nationwide protests and criticised the contempt summons issued by the National Industrial Court (Court), amongst other issues.

Kindly recall the exchange of correspondence between the Ministry and your Office on the need for compliance with the extant court orders, restraining industrial action of any kind on the part of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress. The position of the Ministry was informed by the need to safeguard the integrity of the court and prevent avoidable service disruption or damages to public facilities.

However, despite these exchanges/interventions, the labour unions on 2nd August 2023 proceeded with the industrial action through public protests which led to disruption of work and the eventual pulling down of the gate of the National Assembly. The foregoing prompted the Ministry to initiate contempt proceedings by filing Form 48 on the same 2nd August 2023 in accordance with Section 72 of the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act and Order 9 Rule 13 of the Judgement (Enforcement) Rules.

It is trite that issuance of Form 48 is just the starting point in contempt proceedings which will only crystalize upon the issuance of Form 49 and the consequential committal order. Upon the intervention of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the decision of the labour unions to call off their industrial action after meetings with the President and leadership of the National Assembly, this Ministry did not proceed further with the contempt proceedings, which would have required the issuance of Form 49 within two days of the issuance of Form 48.

It is self-evident that the non-issuance of Form 49 as at 4 August 2023, renders the contempt proceedings inchoate. You may therefore wish to advise or guide the labour unions on the practice and procedure of contempt proceedings, particularly to the effect that the issues or concerns raised by NLC in its communique on the proceedings have been overtaken by events.
A Kano State Sharia court sitting in Kiru Local Government Area has remanded one Jaafar Lukman, in a correctional centre for allegedly injuring the son of Jamila Mai-Kosai, who refused to sell pap for him on credit.

Lukman was also alleged to have poured away the womans bean cake, bean paste and pap she was selling at a junction in the State.

According to the police, the defendant went to the woman with the intention to buy bean cake and pap on credit, but the woman refused to give him because he owed her some money.

READ ALSO: BBNaija: Tacha Blows Hot After Biggie Failed To Disqualify Ilebaye

The police added that after refusing to give him the food, Lukman used his leg to kick the pap, bean cake, bean paste and the oil she was using for frying.

When the charges were read to him, the defendant pleaded guilty, but told the court that he was angry and hungry when he committed the offence.

The judge, Malam Usman Haruna Usman, who ordered that he beremanded in prison adjourned the case to September 4.
Operatives of the Zone 2 Police Command, comprising Lagos and Ogun State have arrested a popular Ikorodu-based Islamic scholar, Alhaji Afeez Uthman for allegedly hypnotizing and duping a US-based man of over N105 million.

The Islamic scholar was arrested alongside his wife, Alhaja Mushirafat Kikelomo, a herbalist and three other accomplices, who allegedly took part in the fraud.

Parading the suspects before newsmen on Monday, August 7, 2023, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of the zone, Muhammed Ali, said the alfa also abducted his victims wife and children and kept them in his house for about thirteen years.

On July 17, 2023, Mr Animashaun Oluwasegun also known as Afeez Uthman brought a petition of Criminal conspiracy, compelling action by intimidation obtaining by false pretence, threat to kill, suspected ritualist, stealing, criminal charms and conducted to cause to breach of peace against one Alhaji Afeez Uthman Imole Ayo and Alhaja Mushirafat Kekelomo Salaam, Saheed Ajayi Uthma Temidayo Rashmon and others at large, Ali stated.

READ ALSO: Delta Assembly Staff Bags Two Years In Jail Over N14.5m Fraud

Based on the petition, the Assistant Inspector General of Police detailed detectives from the Zonal Anti-Piracy Unit who immediately swung into action and got the suspects arrested namely (1) Alh. Afeez Uthman Imoleayo, (2) Mr. Ramon Temidayo Uthman (3) Saidi Ajayi (4) Alhaja Monsurat Salami (5) Kikelomo f and others who are still at large who conspired, abducted the complainants wife and children through which the total sum of One Hundred and Five Million Naira (105,000,000.00) was obtained with a written threat to kill the complainant and his family members.

The principal suspects, Alh. Afeez Uthman Imoleayo and his cronies also falsified the complainants childrens birth certificates and also compelled the complainant to relinquish all his properties to him, the AIG added.

Consequently, when the principal suspect, Alh. Afeez Uthman Imoleayo was interrogated, he admitted the allegations against him for obtaining the alleged sum of One Hundred and Five Million Naira (N105,000,000.00,

He also converted Model 2004 Chevrolet Rain Blazer SUV valued $9,700 USD equivalent to Five Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira (N5,600,000.00) and abducted the complainants wife and three children for twelve years, changed their vital documents such as birth certificates etcetera belonging to the complainant in connivance with his wife Alhaja Kikelomo and one Saidi Ajayi, his driver.

The modus operandi of the suspect is by pretending to be a prayer partner with his victims as he is a strong member of an Islamic society called Ansarullai Youth at Ikorodu, Lagos.

He uses spiritual concoction to bath and drink with the pretence that it will pave the way for his victims, and also make them take an oath that they should not disclose to anyone.

In the interim, investigation is still ongoing, suspects will be charged to court of competent jurisdiction, at the end of investigation, please.

The 43-year-old Islamic scholar, however, denied the allegation levied against him, claiming that the victim voluntarily donated the said money for his religious activities.

I did not force him (the prosecutor) to give me the money.

He also admitted that the victim changed the name on all his familys vital documents to his but denied forcing the US-based man to do so.

I was not happy when he changed the names on his property as well as the surname of his children and wife to my name, the alfa said.
Spokesperson to Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, Olawale Rasheed, has dismissed claims that Governor Ademola Adeleke begged and prostrated before his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde during a recent meeting.

According to him, the recent meeting between his principal and Governor Makinde centered on issues around the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-West region.

Information Nigeria understands that the reaction stems from social media allegations that Adeleke prostrated for Makinde at a meeting held at Oyo Governors Lodge in Abuja.

Rasheed who said there was no need for such, urged members of the public to disregard the insinuations.

He said Adeleke had gone to Oyo Lodge to observe the renovation work in the building, as Osun planned to also embark on renovation of its lodge and only leveraged the opportunity to discuss issues concerning PDP in the region with Makinde.

Our attention has been drawn to a planted fake news about a purported private meeting between Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state. The concocted lies in the said story have no basis in truth as at no point did Governor Adeleke have any private talk with his Oyo state counterpart.

READ ALSO: This Is Just The Beginning  Atiku Discloses Why He Withdrew Suit Seeking Tinubus Academic Records In US Court

Governor Adeleke had visited the Oyo state Governors lodge to see the newly renovated Oyo State Government House as Osun state government is embarking on a similar renovation of Osun Government House located within Asokoro.

It was also an opportunity for both leaders to review the state of the relationship and chart a path to strengthen the Peoples Democratic Party within the South West zone including the issue of filling the vacancy existing within the party zonal leadership.

The interactions were in the open and at no point did the question of begging and prostration arise as there was nothing to plead and beg about, Rasheed said.

Revealing more on the meeting between the duo, Rasheed said the parley was held in the living room after which photographs were taken in the presence of people in attendance.

He furthered that insinuations about infighting either among Osun Government functionaries or otherwise were the handiwork of those profiting from the lack of substantive leadership for the party in the zone.

We, therefore, urge members of the PDP across the South West to ignore the fake news and focus on making a success of the forthcoming zonal meeting in the best interest of the party, Rasheed added.
The Deputy National Women Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, Hajiya Hajara Yakubu Wanka has resigned from her position to serve as a commissioner in Bauchi State.

Wanka made this known in her resignation letter addressed to the Acting National Chairman of the party, Ambassador Iliya Damagun and sent to the National Secretariat in Abuja.

According to Wanka, she resigned from her position to serve as a commissioner in the Bala Mohammed administration in Bauchi State

The PDP chieftain expressed her profound gratitude to the national leadership of the party for the rare privilege given to her to serve at the national level and to Governor Mohammed for finding her worthy to serve in his cabinet.

READ MORE: Nigerians Will Take To The Steets In Joy When Tribunal Invalidates Tinubus Election  PDP Boasts

While noting that the experience she gained while serving as the Deputy National Women Leader of the party cannot be quantified, Wanka stated that such experience would immensely enhance her performance as a commissioner in Bauchi State.

Meanwhile, the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) has accepted and congratulated Hajiya Wanka on her appointment as a commissioner in the Bauchi State Executive Council.

The National Publicity Secretary of the main opposition party, Debo Ologunagba, in a press statement released on Monday described Wankas appointment by Governor Mohammed as another testament to her selfless service, deep intellect, competence, administrative skills and patriotic roles towards the development of PDP, Bauchi State and the nation at large.

Wanka was among the 24 commissioner-nominees list sent to the State House of Assembly by Governor Mohammed and screened and confirmed by the House.
The Lagos State chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Students Joint Campus Council (NANS JCC), has suspended its planned protest against the hike in school fees of the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

Disclosing this on Tuesday, the students attributed the suspension to the intervention of the State Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa.

Chairman of the association, Alimi Idris and Secretary, Abdulrazak Yusuf, in a statement, urged the commissioner to ensure the students grievances were communicated to the appropriate authorities.

The student leaders further commended the Owohunwa for his intervention and assured the police boss of their cooperation.

Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Benjamin Hundeyin, said that the Commissioner met with the student leaders on Monday.

According to Hundeyin, the students planned a demonstration for Tuesday (today) but were invited by the Commissioner for discussion to find a way around the protest.

READ ALSO: PDP Deputy National Women Leader Resigns

He said that Owohunwa assured the students that he would meet with the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Folasade Tolulope, to discuss their grievances.

The PPRO said that the police commissioner also set up a Police-Student Relations Committee (PSRC) to address issues that might arise from the meeting in the future.

One of the students (name withheld) in the delegation, who is an indigent student, was given a scholarship by the CP throughout his university education.

Based on this and others, the student leaders agreed to suspend the protest.

They promised to maintain peace within the campus, he said.

Recall that on July 20, 2023, the university authorities announced a hike in fees for undergraduate students.

The authorities raised the fees from N19,000 to N190,250 for students studying medicine, while for courses that require laboratory and studio, students are to pay N140,250.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has revealed that the agency obtained a detention order to keep Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in its custody.

According to the secret police, the order was gotten from a magistrate court immediately after the July 27 court case.

Recall that Edward Okpe, a judge at the high court in Abuja, on July 27, dismissed an application by the DSS seeking to further detain Emefiele for 14 days.

But in the application filed by the service, the agency alleged that it has discovered new evidence against the suspended CBN governor.

Peter Afunanya, DSS spokesperson, said the July 27 court case was dismissed because the agency withdrew the application.

Afunanya said the secret police has always obeyed court orders in the handling of Emefieles case.

On the face-off between DSS operatives and prison officials, he said the findings from the preliminary investigation of the incident are quite shocking.

Emefiele was arraigned before Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the federal high court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on 25th July 2023 for illegal possession of arms and ammunition.

The service had long issued a press statement over the incident that happened at the court between its staff and those of Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) and pledged to investigate it.

READ ALSO: Its Easier To Lobby Into APC Now That Im In Charge  Ganduje To Kwankwaso

Though the investigation is ongoing, the preliminary findings are quite shocking considering the ignoble roles played by some public officials.

As normal with criminal investigations, security agencies re-arrest suspects when there is adequate suspicion of commission of a crime or as may be revealed by an ongoing investigation.

Emefiele was re-arrested on the basis of this. Even though the re-arrest was tainted by the overzealousness of personnel of the service and NCoS, it was nonetheless legally procedural.

Later, the service applied for an ex parte order at the FCT high court presided by Justice Edward Okpe (and not Justice Muazu as erroneously and massively reported in the media) to detain Emefiele for 14 days.

Many had gone to town with stories of DSS fragrant disobedience to court orders especially in view of the last episodes at the high courts in Lagos and Abuja.

With what played out at the court on 27th July 2023 under Justice Okpe, the service immediately applied and obtained a detention order from a magistrate court.

So, Emefiele is legally detained. For reasons that the Emefiele case is subjudice, the service will restrain from making further comments on the subject matter, the DSS spokesperson said.
Microsoft is previewing new syntax for string interpolation in F#, an improvement intended to make it easier to work with interpolated strings.

Interpolated strings allow developers to embed F# expressions into string literals. But they can become cumbersome when dealing with text that contains many curly braces. The F# interpolation syntax addresses this. Announced July 27 and modeled after how interpolation works in C# raw strings, the new syntax maintains backward compatibility with F#s triple-quoted strings.

The new syntax is an extension of the existing F# syntax for interpolated strings. Developers can use multiple $ characters and corresponding numbers of opening and closing curly braces for interpolation. The same rules apply to % characters, which have special meaning in F# interpolated strings as format specifiers.

An example of where this new syntax can be useful is when working with CSS literals in a front-end F# application, such as with the Fable F# compiler for JavaScript. The new syntax lets developers write CSS without having to worry about escaping curly braces. Instead, developers can focus on the interpolation expressions. To try out this new feature, developers must use the flag --langversion:preview .

F# is a language that offers first-class functions, lightweight syntax, pattern matching, and async programming, according to Microsoft. It is immutable by default. Other recent improvements for F# developers include a preview of F# type and parameter hints in Visual Studio. Installation instructions for the language can be found on learn.microsoft.com.
Sovos Brands, headquartered in Louisville, Colorado, owns Rao's, known for its line of sauces. Read more

Campbell Soup Co. announced on Monday that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Sovos Brands, Inc., the parent company behind Raos, known for its pasta sauces.

The deal, which is subject to regulatory approval, is expected to close in December, and represents a $2.7 billion acquisition. It would be Campbells largest deal since the company announced it would acquire snack maker Snyders-Lance for $6 billion in 2017, according to Bloomberg. The iconic soup company has been based in Camden since its founding in 1869.

The Sovos Brands portfolio strengthens and diversifies our Meals & Beverages division, Mark Clouse, Campbells president and CEO, said in a press release.

Sovos Brands, headquartered in Louisville, Colo., also owns food brands Michael Angelos, which sells frozen Italian-style dinners, and noosa, a yogurt brand known for its flat and wide tubs of creamy yogurt with fruit purees.

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The acquisition of Sovos Brands would expand Campbells line of frozen products as well as enlarge the companys portfolio of pasta sauces. The company already owns sauce brands Prego and Pace, as well as the Pepperidge Farm brand, known for snack foods like Goldfish, a wide variety of cookies, and frozen puff pastries.

Campbell saw an increase in sales during the pandemic, and earlier this year announced it was expanding its headquarters in Camden to make room for 330 more employees. Last month, the company also invested $160 million to bolster Goldfish production, cranking out 1,500 goldfish a second, according to Bloomberg.

As one of the most trusted and respected food companies in North America, Im confident in Campbells ability to continue bringing our products to more households, Todd Lachman, founder, president and CEO of Sovos Brands, said in a press release.

Prior to the announcement of the acquisition, Raos was one of Campbells competitors in the soup market. The companys soups, from Italian wedding soup to vegetable minestrone, are sold in clear glass jars. In the past, the companys marketing took a jab at Campbell, pointing out that the clear jars have nothing to hide. In the ad, one of the Raos soup jars is placed next to a series of cans in a timeline that dates back to the creation of condensed soup, which Campbell popularized.
Wawa, the Eagles Autism Foundation, and Popcorn for the People announced Sunday that a popcorn facility will open on Ninth and South Streets. The facility will stand where a Wawa was shuttered in 2021. Read more

A former Wawa on Ninth and South Streets, which closed in 2021, is set to become a Popcorn for the People production facility, as part of a new collaboration with the Eagles.

The transformation of the shuttered Wawa is the result of a partnership between Wawa, the Eagles Autism Foundation, and Popcorn for the People, a nonprofit founded in 2014 to employ people with autism and other developmental disabilities.

We are thrilled to join hands with Popcorn for the People and the Eagles Autism Foundation to provide even more individuals with the chance to pursue a fulfilling career, Dave Simonetti, senior director of store operations for Wawa, said in a news release.

The plans for the new store were unveiled Sunday at the Eagles open practice. Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie also announced that the team would open a new Popcorn for the People concession stand at Lincoln Financial Field, where the team plays.

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The Center City popcorn facility is expected to open by early 2024 and will initially employ 10 people and ramp up to over 50 by the end of the first year, according to Mark Katz, board chair of the nonprofit.

While the Center City location wont be open to the public, it will produce popcorn that will be sold at some Wawas later this year. Popcorn flavors include butter, kettle, Chicago baked cheddar, caramel, and dark chocolate espresso.

Wawa has committed to providing building expenses and helping to redesign the former store into a Popcorn for the People facility. Nouryon, a chemicals business that has previously contributed to the Eagles Autism Foundation, has donated $500,000 to this project. The funds from Nouryon, along with money from the Eagles Autism Foundation, will go toward popcorn-making equipment.

Wawa has a history of employing people with disabilities through its Supported Employment Program, which employed about 500 people in 2019. According to Popcorn for the People, 82% of people with disabilities were unemployed in 2022.

The news of the new popcorn facility comes as Wawa has closed several locations in Center City in the last few years. The South Street store transformation is just the latest for the company, which last week began experimenting with a shelf-free store at their Drexel University location, where customers can place orders on digital screens.
Demonstrators waved flags during a March protest in Jerusalem against plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to overhaul the judicial system, outside the offices of the conservative Kohelet Policy Forum think tank. Read more

An American billionaire from the Philadelphia suburbs whos reportedly given millions of dollars to a conservative Israeli think tank seen as a key driver of the countrys contentious judicial overhaul says he will no longer fund the organization.

Arthur Dantchik, 65, cofounder of the Bala Cynwyd-based trading firm Susquehanna International Group, made that announcement after facing news media scrutiny and months of protests by a small group of Israelis outside his home in Gladwyne.

When society is divided in a way that endangers democracy, the order of the day is to focus on bringing hearts together, he said in a statement to the Israeli publication Calcalist on Friday.

Throughout my entire life I supported a variety of organizations that promote individual liberties and economic freedom for every person, he said.  I believe that in this moment, the thing that the State of Israel needs the most is the fusion of divisions and the rehabilitation of the national unity.

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At issue was Dantchiks support for the Kohelet Policy Forum, a think tank that helped develop Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus plan to rein in what he has described as overreach by the countrys Supreme Court.

Israels parliament passed a law last month amid widespread protests and threats of strikes by doctors, military reservists, and others who denounced it as a power grab that would undermine faith in democratic institutions. The move drew condemnation from the Biden administration, while Republicans in Congress said it was inappropriate for the president to intervene in Israeli domestic affairs.

The laws supporters said that it would give Israeli lawmakers greater authority to implement the policies they campaigned on and that it represented a much-needed check on an activist judiciary.

As a plan to transform the judicial system took hold in recent months, Israeli and American news organizations have scrutinized the role the Kohelet Policy Forum played in driving the proposal  and the donors backing the organization.

The think tank, which says it strives to secure Israels future as the nation-state of the Jewish people, was founded by a New York City native named Moshe Koppel. Dantchik, who also grew up in New York, has given the group millions of dollars, according to the New York Times and Israeli media.

And a group of some 30 Israelis has been protesting for months outside his house, according to Haaretz.

That effort appeared to get results last week, when Dantchik issued his statement to Calcalist saying hes decided to end my support for research institutes in Israel, including the Kohelet Forum. A representative for Dantchik said he had no further comment.

Forbes estimates that Dantchik, who cofounded Susquehanna in 1987 with business partner Jeff Yass, is worth $7.3 billion. The firm was the earliest U.S. backer of the Chinese company behind social media app TikTok.
The bodies were found in April 2020 inside the crypt of Capt. A. H. Cain from the 1800s at Mount Moriah Cemetery. Multiple members of the Cain family were buried inside the vault centuries ago. The two Warlock members' bodies were dumped alongside their coffins. Read more

A member of the Warlocks Motorcycle Club has been convicted of killing an associate member, then leaving his body in an underground crypt at Mount Moriah Cemetery, where his remains lay undiscovered for nearly three years, authorities said Tuesday.

Michael DiMauro, 51, was found guilty of first-degree murder, abuse of corpse, and related charges in the 2017 death of David Rossillo Jr., a prospective Warlock member.

Standing under the gates of the Southwest Philadelphia cemetery on Tuesday, prosecutors described how DiMauro shot Rossillo, 33, four times in the cemetery one night in December 2017, tied a rope around his neck, dragged him across the property with a car, then left his dying body into an underground crypt.

Rossillo was missing for nearly three years. His body was not discovered until April 2020 amid the search for another Warlock associate member who had disappeared.

Philadelphia police were searching for Keith Palumbo, a 36-year-old musician from Drexel Hill, who had disappeared a few months earlier. Palumbo had told a relative that, were he to ever go missing, to check Mount Moriah, where the Warlocks had ties.

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In April, investigators trekked through the mostly abandoned cemetery, to the vault where Capt. A.H. Cain and his family were buried in the 1800s. They found the crypts top marble slab slightly ajar, with fresh scratches at the base where someone had pried it open, said Assistant District Attorney Robert Wainwright, who prosecuted the cases.

When police opened the vault, they found Palumbos body wrapped in a carpet, lying next to a second badly decomposed body.

A DNA test later confirmed the second body was Rossillos, Wainwright said.

The arrests and testimony through the four-day trial offered unique insight into the Warlock Motorcycle Club, which law enforcement considers to be a dangerous outlaw motorcycle gang. The club, founded in Philadelphia in the late 1960s, has chapters across the region. Other members have been charged with various violent crimes over the years, including the fatal shooting of a South Jersey police officer and trafficking meth. Members have called themselves one-percenters, or the 1% of the population that doesnt follow the rules.

Rossillo and Palumbo were prospective club members, working toward full status, Wainwright said. Their killers, and those who helped dispose of their bodies, he said, were full-fledged members.

Aided by incredible detective work and crucial witness testimony, prosecutors were able to prove that DiMauro, of Delaware County, had shot Rossillo those years ago, Wainwright said. Those witnesses then described how, three years later, Michael DeLuca and three fellow Warlocks returned to that same crypt, where they knew Rossillos body was hidden, and left Palumbos body.

DeLuca, 41, pleaded guilty earlier this year to murder and related crimes for fatally shooting Palumbo at a nearby Woodland Avenue house, known as the Warlock headquarters. Three others  Billy Gibson, Buck Evans, and Donna Morelli  then helped DeLuca, known as Kaos, bring Palumbos body to Morellis house on Trinity Street, which backed up to the cemetery, before putting it in the crypt, Wainwright said.

The motives behind Palumbos and Rossillos killings remain unclear, Wainwright said. Rumors had circulated that Rossillo and Palumbo had broken club rules, but specifics were never substantiated, he said. All the people involved, including the victims, were using methamphetamine at the time of the murders, he said, but it did not appear that they were trafficking drugs.

Morelli  who was a member of Mount Moriah Cemeterys board of directors  was previously married to the former president of the Warlocks, and acted as a de facto leader after he died in 2015, said District Attorney Larry Krasner.

As police zeroed in on the case, Morelli was so desperate to warn the others that she delivered a note for DiMauro.

TELL DIMAURO THEY FOUND DAVE. HE NEEDS TO RUN NOW, she scribbled on the paper, according to evidence.

Morelli, Gibson, and Evans cooperated as witnesses for prosecutors and testified at trial. All three pleaded guilty in connection with their roles in disposing of Palumbos body.

Gibson and Evans were sentenced to two years of probation. Morelli was sentenced to up to two years in prison.

But Morelli, in a final attempt to avoid appearing as a rat following her open plea, sought to intimidate the other witnesses in the case by posting their information and testimony online, Wainwright said. She has been charged with two counts of witness intimidation, and those cases remain ongoing.

In the aftermath of the arrests and the unwanted attention brought to the motorcycle club, the Philadelphia Warlocks have largely disbanded, Wainwright said members testified at the trial.

Meanwhile, DiMauro, who represented himself at trial, is expected to be sentenced to life in prison, with no possibility of parole, at a hearing later this month.
A judge has ruled that the Philadelphia school board was within its rights to limit speakers at its public meetings. Two community groups had challenged the legality of the policy, calling it "speaker suppression." Shown in this May file photo are Philadelphia school board president Reginald Streater (left) and Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. at a board meeting. Read more

The Philadelphia school board broke no laws when it limited the number of speakers at public meetings and shortened the time each person has to talk, a judge has ruled.

Common Pleas Court Judge Jacqueline F. Allen handed down the brief order in July, ruling against UrbEd Inc. and the Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools, two community groups that strongly objected to the limits.

In 2021, the board made the changes, moving from no cap on the number of public speakers to a limit of 10 students and 30 members of the public. It also cut from three minutes to two the amount of time each can address the board. (Students speaking time has since been changed back to three minutes.) When the change was initially made, leaders said they wanted to spend more of each meeting scrutinizing district academics.

UrbEd, which was founded by district students, and APPS, established by former district educators, said the rule changes ran afoul of Pennsylvania law by foreclosing the public from meaningfully participating in government operations. The groups were represented by the ACLU of Pennsylvania.

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The community groups hope to appeal the decision, said Brandon Archer, UrbEd co-executive director, and Lisa Haver, an APPS co-founder, who frequently references the districts speaker suppression policy in board testimony. Stephen Loney, the ACLU of Pennsylvanias senior supervising attorney, said no decisions have yet been made about whether an appeal will be filed.

School board president Reginald Streater said that the decision represents a vindication, and that the board has attempted to create a process that both recognizes the voices that we would like to hear, but encourages new voices to be heard, as well. (The policy prevents those who speak regularly from being heard every month.)

Members of the public can be heard not just by speaking during the public comment sessions, Streater said, but also by submitting written testimony, participating in community forums held on various topics, filling out surveys, and interfacing with the districts Family and Community Engagement Office.

The action meeting isnt the end-all, be-all place for engagement, Streater said. We cant do everything in action meetings.

Streater said the board is not in the business of censoring speech; it tries to balance the interests of doing the work of the people with actually hearing from the people.

Loney, the ACLU lawyer, said that if an appeal were filed  the deadline is in two weeks  Allen would be asked to elaborate on her rationale for the decision. The order, filed July 21, is just one page and does not explain the reasoning underlying the decision.

For practical purposes, we know that the Philadelphia school board, at least for now, got an endorsement to its approach to restricting public comment, Loney said. But unlike elsewhere in the region and country, where school board meetings have sometimes devolved into shouting matches over issues like banning books and limiting students rights to gender expression, it seemed like the school board just wanted to hear less from certain people who were frequent fliers at school board meetings.

The judges order disappointed former board member Angela McIver, who testified on the community groups behalf in court.

The policy change never sat well with McIver, an educator who was on the board from 2018 to 2021.

It felt to me like they were trying to shut down public voice, said McIver, who testified on the community groups behalf in court. I think thats problematic. I really, truly believe if you have to sit for 10 hours listening to the public, then you sit for 10 hours listening to the public. Thats our job.

McIver said her board decisions were shaped in part by the people who spoke at meetings, and the things they said.

We dont get a true understanding of public opinion when we start trying to manage the voices that get to speak, McIver said.

Archer said although the ruling was disappointing, I think that this is just a reminder that we need to push harder to make sure that the community is engaged in everything the district does. We need to be doing whatever we can to mobilize, to organize, to make sure that our voices are heard.
Travis Scott arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards at Barclays Center on Sept. 12, 2021, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File) Read more

Travis Scott announced his tour for the new album Utopia on Tuesday morning, and will reportedly include a stop at Philadelphias Wells Fargo Center.

The tour, called Utopia Presents Circus Maximus, is Scotts first headlining tour since the 2021 Astroworld Festival in Houston, where a crowd surge led to 10 deaths and multiple injuries.

This morning, Scott released an Instagram post that says, UTOPIA TOUR SOON. He just performed the album in Rome with Kanye West as a surprise guest.

Pitchfork, XXL, Variety, and other outlets have reported that the Utopia tour will kick off on Sept. 25 in Chicago and conclude on Nov. 27 in Miami. The tour will reportedly stop at the Wells Fargo Center on Oct. 4 and at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on Sept. 29.

The Wells Fargo Center distributed a press release this morning with the Philadelphia date, but later said the announcement was released prematurely. According to Pitchfork, Live Nation also announced the dates and stops; ticket pages and a social media post from Live Nation were deleted shortly afterwards.

The Inquirer has learned that the Scott is, in fact, scheduled to perform on October 4th at Wells Fargo, and that the official announcement should come next week.

This story has been updated with new information
"Jeopardy!" will return with new episodes next month, but it's unclear if Ken Jennings will be back hosting the show due to the ongoing writers strike. Read more

What are recycled clues and previous contestants?

Despite the ongoing actors and writers strikes, Jeopardy! will return with new episodes next month. But the popular quiz show, which is entering its 40th season, will feature some major changes and delay the start of its regular competition indefinitely.

For starters, Jeopardy! will feature a combination of new clues written before the strike and repurposed clues from previous episodes, producer Michael Davies announced Monday on the Inside Jeopardy! podcast.

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Because the show will turn to old clues, Davies said, Jeopardy! will give losing contestants from the shows 37th season a second chance instead of featuring new contestants. The winners will advance to a Season 37 and Season 38 Champions Wildcard.

I believe, principally, that it would not be fair to have new contestants making their first appearance on the Alex Trebek Stage, doing it with non-original material or  a combination of non-original material and material that was written pre-strike, Davies said. So we decided that really, we needed to invite back and give a second chance in general to players who probably thought that their chance to come back and play on the Alex Trebek Stage had gone forever.

The new season of Jeopardy! will begin Sept. 11.

Davis said producers had planned to kick off the new season with the Second Chance tournament and Champions Wildcard leading into the annual Tournament of Champions, but they were forced to push that back after New Jerseys Cris Pannullo and previous Jeopardy! champs said they would boycott the show if its writers were still on strike.

The next Tournament of Champions wont be filmed until the writers strike ends, Davis said.

I understand that the best episodes that are possible are episodes that feature our writers writing original material and the very best contestants that weve always put on the air playing that original material, Davies said.

Davies outlined a couple of other updates, including:

Celebrity Jeopardy! will return for a second season, featuring original material written before writers went on strike. Jeopardy! will increase its consolation prizes by $1,000. Contestants who finish in second place will now receive $3,000, and third-place finishers will receive $2,000. Its unclear when the regular competition for Season 40 will begin, though it appears unlikely it will start before the writers strike ends.

One aspect left unaddressed is who will be hosting Jeopardy! when filming for the new season gets underway. Host and actress Mayim Bialik left the show during the final week of filming in May due to the strike, and fellow host and former Jeopardy! champion Ken Jennings has received pressure not to cross the picket line after filling in for Bialik so filming could be completed.

Sony Pictures Television did not respond to a request for comment.

Taping is scheduled to begin Aug. 15, with five episodes shot daily, according to a call for audience members from the casting company On Camera Audiences.

Writers in Hollywood began striking in May after they were unable to agree on a new contract with the top film and television studios. Actors joined them on the picket line last month after also failing to come to terms on a new deal.

Despite the ongoing strikes, Jeopardy! can continue production based on a new network TV code deal signed last year, which covers game shows, soap operas, talk shows, and variety shows.
Debbie Friedner is an employment counselor with Camden County who has many, many career Barbies and the Barbie slogan at her cubicle at work. It's helped inspired dispirited clients and has become her passion. She was photographed in her cubicle at work in Cherry Hill, N.J. on Friday, August 4, 2023. Read more

The movie Barbie tells women, You can be anything. Debbie Friedner and her Barbies help people believe it.

Friedner, 68, is a career counselor with Camden Countys One-Stop Resource Center. For nearly 29 years, she has helped the unemployed figure out what they want to do and how to get there.

The Cherry Hill resident has been a longtime Barbie fan, but the dolls 60th anniversary in 2019 rekindled her passion for Barbie, who was no longer just the fashionista of Friedners childhood.

Never before had I seen so many [Barbies] marked with a specific job title, with the box displaying the slogan, You Can Be Anything, Friedner said. I just thought that they were so relevant to what I do that buying only career Barbies started to become an obsession.

Friedner now has 56 career Barbies in their original boxes, and shes always on the lookout for a new addition. The fun is in the find.

Her collection includes dolls of different body types and is multiracial. Theyre all stacked atop the walls of her office cubicle  everything from President Barbie to astronaut to nurse to polar explorer, and historic figure Barbies . Her favorite is probably the Helen Keller Barbie. Friedner has had hearing challenges since she was child, so Keller has long been an inspiration.

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On the wall, above all this, are the magic words to live by: You Can Be Anything.

Its not that any of the people Friedner helps have ever pointed to a career Barbie and said they wanted to do that profession, she said. What the Barbies have done is give a much-needed lift to people, especially women, whose stories feel overburdened by defeats.

When they come to us, theyve gone through something, Friedner said. Theyve gone through a job loss. Theyve been laid off from their job. Or maybe they had a medical problem, and they cant do that job anymore. So theyre thinking about the next move, but at the same time, theyre dealing with the emotional impact of that.

The vast array of Barbies has raised downcast gazes as well as spirits.

Anybody that sees my collection cant help but be inspired, Friedner said.

The original Barbie came out when she was 4.

My sister and I mutilated her, Friedner said, sounding a bit gleeful. We made earrings out of pins. We took crayons, and we made makeup.

She understands the later objections to Barbies perfection and impact that could have had on impressionable young minds. Friedner said she never noticed. In the end, she got a masters degree in vocational rehabilitation and her sister, Ronee Korbin Steiner, is a judge in Arizona, and they both turned out OK.

And Barbie evolved. Friedner said she gave Barbies to her daughter, Sarina Russomano, including a graduation Barbie in honor of her commencement from Pace University. She has also bought Barbies for Sarinas daughter, Juliet, age 6, one of her 12 grandchildren. Juliets Barbie has horses to ride. Friedner noted there are also Barbie food trucks, Barbie campers, and cars. Like young women now, today Barbie has choices.

Friedner hasnt seen the Barbie movie yet, but shes looking forward to it. She intends on adding to her career Barbie collection so the doll can keep bringing a smile and maybe some inspiration to someone who needs it.

Barbie over the years, said Friedner, has become more and more relevant.
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What we know about the FBI shooting of Tahiem Weeks-Cook in Nicetown-Tioga

Authorities have released few details on the circumstances behind the shooting last week. Weeks-Cook died Sunday evening.
A SEPTA bus driver resigned Monday after reporting to police that a gun he was carrying in a bag on his bus was stolen Sunday night, an agency spokesperson said.

The driver violated SEPTA policy by having the gun, said agency spokesperson Andrew Busch.

The driver, who was not identified but who had been with SEPTA for around 10 years, was driving a Route 39 bus and had stopped for a layover at the 33rd and Dauphin Streets bus loop in Strawberry Mansion, Busch said.

A Philadelphia Police Department spokesperson said the driver reported parking his unoccupied bus at the SEPTA bus loop around 6 p.m. He told police he took a 10-minute break and left his gun on the bus inside a bookbag. When he returned, the bookbag was missing, the driver said. Investigators were reviewing video from the bus and the SEPTA facility.

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Except for police officers and sworn revenue agents, SEPTA employees are prohibited from carrying guns with them at work or otherwise having them on any SEPTA property, including vehicles, shops, offices, and personal vehicles parked on SEPTA property, Busch said in an email.

The incident came the same day an off-duty SEPTA employee allegedly ran a red light and crashed her Mercedes-Benz into a SEPTA trolley in Kingsessing, injuring four people.

Brianna Satchell-Thomas, 31, of King of Prussia, a maintenance custodian for SEPTA, was expected to be charged with aggravated assault while driving under the influence, hindering apprehension, and other crimes, police said.

SEPTA continues to assess processes and procedures after six major accidents involving its buses and trolleys in a week resulted in one death and at least 25 injuries.

The transit agency has been reluctant to link the incidents, but has acknowledged ongoing struggles with staffing. As part of its investigation, SEPTA said it planned to get feedback from employees on safety issues. The agency also has been hiring more transit police officers.

Last month, a man shot at the drivers-side window of a bus in North Philadelphia after attempting to board without paying, police said. No one was injured.

In May, two men were injured and one teenager was killed in separate shootings on SEPTA buses.
Marissa Zito (right) and her grandmother Doris Murray allege that Terry Reid, a former FOP official, borrowed more than $20,000 from Marissa's mother, Meagan Diaz, and then tried to avoid repaying the money. Read more

Meagan Diaz was desperate.

It was a cool, dreary day in January, and Diaz was trying to scrape together money to host a baby shower for her 20-year-old son, who was expecting his first child.

Money had been tight since 2016, when Diazs husband, Philadelphia police officer Raymond Diaz, died at 47, two years after he suffered career-ending injuries in an on-duty car crash.

Now Diaz was broke. To her friends and familys dismay, Diaz had been lending thousands of dollars to Terry Reid, a top official with the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 5, The Inquirer has learned.

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Diaz had felt indebted to Reid, who had testified on Diazs behalf when she sought to receive a $100,000 state death benefit for fallen officers.

Last fall  not long after Diaz was awarded the benefit  Reid began asking for large sums of cash, and Diaz agreed to hand over money, according to text messages between the two women, which the Diaz family shared with the newspaper.

Diaz later repeatedly begged Reid to repay the loans, which Diaz estimated had totaled more than $20,000. But Reid  whose total compensation as the unions trustee and disability coordinator was $189,000  often didnt respond to Diazs pleas.

Terry, what is going on? Diaz texted Reid on Jan. 6. I need my money and I shouldnt have to beg you and be sick over it.

On Feb. 26, Diaz, who had diabetes and other illnesses, died. She was 46.

Reid did not reply to messages left by a reporter.

In March, Diazs daughter, Marissa Zito, filed a complaint with police Internal Affairs, accusing Reid of taking financial advantage of her mother, and then attempting to cover up the matter.

On July 11, Reid retired from the police department, where she held the rank of detective. Six days later, the FOP announced, in an email to its members, that Reid had been removed from her position.

FOP president John McNesby told The Inquirer that he was left speechless when he learned of Zitos account, and believed his only recourse was to fire Reid from the union.

I pride myself on how we take care of these families, he said. If someone does something like this, it upsets me. Thats why we did what we did.

Zito said Reid pressured her to drop her Internal Affairs complaint, in exchange for repaying the money that she had borrowed.

The daughters complaint has been referred to the Special Investigations Unit of the District Attorneys Office for criminal investigation, according to a law enforcement source.

This whole situation has me very nervous, scared, and disappointed, said Zito, who lives with her husband and her maternal grandmother in Clearwater, Fla. It makes me feel like I cant trust the police department.  I am still mourning the loss of my mother, and reliving this horror story all over again. Its very overwhelming.

She does a lot for me

Reid, a member of the FOPs leadership team for nearly two decades, occupied a critical role for the union, one that put her in regular contact with members who were struggling through difficult times.

As disability coordinator, Reid was the person with whom police officers consulted when they suffered on-duty injuries; she helped them navigate the states Heart and Lung disability benefit system, which police and city officials have long insisted has been abused.

A 2022 Inquirer investigation, MIA: Crisis in the Ranks, found that in late 2021, Philadelphia had a much higher percentage of its entire police force  11%  out of work due to injuries, compared to 0.6% of officers in Phoenix, 1.9% in Portland, Ore., and 3.3% in Chicago. Some Philadelphia officers who had been deemed too hurt to work had managed to work second jobs, in violation of a police directive, while collecting the benefit, which includes tax breaks that amount to a 20% raise.

When police officers were killed in the line of duty, Reids job was to meet families on behalf of the FOP at hospitals, and remained a point of contact for relatives afterward.

Raymond Diaz joined the Philadelphia Police Department in 1996, and spent 20 years as a patrol officer in North Phillys 24th District. He and Meagan married in 2005, and raised three children in Northeast Philadelphia.

Meagan and Ray were like the best couple ever, said Michelle Pickup, who grew up with Meagan in Kensington. You could see the love they had for each other.

On Nov. 14, 2014, Diaz was responding to a radio call about a burglary in progress when another motorist slammed into his patrol car. Diaz suffered a concussion, and severe neck and back injuries.

Diazs injuries left him with poor balance, so doctors sent him home with a cane, a prescription for two pain killers, oxycodone, and a fentanyl patch. He never returned to police work.

In July 2016, Diaz tried to reach the bathroom in his home and fell, injuring his head and shoulder. Two months later, on Sept. 6, surgeons operated to repair a torn left bicep tendon.

Diaz was discharged the following day, and doctors prescribed him hydromorphone, a powerful opioid. A few days later, Diazs wife couldnt wake him. He was pronounced dead at Nazareth Hospital.

The medical examiner ruled Diazs death an accidental prescription drug overdose.

When he died, Pickup said of Meagan, it destroyed her.

Zito, Diazs daughter, said Reid met their family at the hospital. Reid consoled the widow, offered help with benefit-related paperwork, and asked if the family needed anything.

Soon, Reid became a regular presence at the Diaz household.

She was bringing us food every single night for like three months after my dad died, said Zito, 29, the eldest of the Diaz children. Terry would bring [her mother] cash from the Survivors Fund.

The FOP has, for years, maintained a charitable fund to help families of fallen officers pay for food and medical bills, home repairs, and other needs.

McNesby said that individual union officials do not have access to the fund. Requests for aid have to be reviewed and approved by a committee, generating a paper trail for each request.

After reading an email from Zito that outlined her allegations against Reid, he said, the union examined records for any survivors fund disbursements made to the Diaz family, to see if money had been misappropriated.

We reviewed everything, McNebsy said, and they all reconciled with each other.

(McNesby said the union is not aware of other families of fallen police officers having made similar claims about Reid. He also shared with The Inquirer a copy of a recent audit of the survivors fund.)

Even with assistance from the FOP, Meagan Diaz struggled to reorient her life after her husbands death.

She hardly came out of her bedroom for almost a year, recalled Doris Murray, Meagans mother. She could never come back from it.

In the years that followed, Diazs family and friends wondered about Reid, who was still in close contact with Diaz. I thought it was very odd how much she was attaching herself to Meagan, said Pickup, who once had lunch with the two women.

 READ MORE: MIA: Crisis in the Ranks  cops who have claimed to be too injured to work started new businesses, toiled at strenuous jobs

In 2017, the city filed an application on Diazs behalf to the Pennsylvania Department of General Services, for a $100,000 benefit thats available through the Emergency and Law Enforcement Personnel Death Benefits Act.

The state denied the claim, arguing that Raymond Diaz hadnt died in the line of duty.

Meagan Diaz appealed to the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania  and Reid testified on her behalf, arguing that Marilyn Howarth, the citys medical director, concluded that Diazs death was service-related because the oxycodone and fentanyl found in his bloodstream had been prescribed for pain caused by the injuries he sustained in the 2014 car accident.

In August 2022, President Judge Emerita Mary Hannah Leavitt sided with Diaz and ruled that she was entitled to the benefit.

Then Reid started to ask Diaz to lend her money. Lots of it.

And Diaz, who felt beholden to Reid, agreed, her family said. [Meagan] said, She does a lot for me, Murray recalled her daughter once explaining. [Reid] helped with all this paperwork. She helped me get money.

Terry knew that Meagan was weak, Murray said. She clung to Meagan because she knew Meagan was a kindhearted person.

On Oct. 18, 2022, according to messages viewed by The Inquirer, Reid texted Diaz: I would need to borrow 12k until I get my bonus.

Reid claimed that she would receive bonuses in November and January, and would be able to repay all of the borrowed money.

I really hate asking, Reid added, but Im really in a [jam].

The following month, Reid texted Diaz a photo of two yellow cones that were in front of steps that led to a rowhouse. this is what I came home to, Reid wrote.

Reid claimed that the previous owners of the property had a water lien that she was now obligated to pay, leaving her, for the meantime, with no running water.

I know youve help so much [sic] I can pay this back in about two weeks or more, Reid wrote. I get my bonus first week in December.

The photo that Reid sent Diaz was taken outside a Northeast Philadelphia property where the former FOP officer is currently registered to vote, but city property records show that Reid has never owned that home.

New Jersey court filings, meanwhile, show that while Reid was soliciting cash infusions from Diaz, she was also being taken to court over $2,500 in unpaid condo fees for a unit she co-owns with her sister in Delanco, N.J.

The condominium group had similarly taken the Reids to court over unpaid debts on four other occasions over the past decade.

In May, lawyers for the condominium sought a court order compelling the Reids to respond to the suit, under penalty of arrest, after they ignored several subpoenas. A judge granted the order.

Relatives claim that Diaz gave Reid cash in person at various locations: a Target, a Millers Ale House on Roosevelt Boulevard, even the FOPs headquarters on Caroline Road in Northeast Philly.

Murray, Diazs mother, said she went to an American Heritage Credit Union three times with her daughter, and saw her withdraw cash that she stuffed in envelopes.

I asked her what it was for, Murray said. She wouldnt tell me.

In December, Diaz was planning a baby shower for her youngest child, RJ  Raymond Jr.  who was expecting a girl. She had deposits to pay, decorations, gifts, and desserts to buy.

Reid had led Diaz to believe that she would receive a monthly income supplement through Act 51, another state benefit for first responders who are killed in the line of duty, her family said. But the state told Diaz that she was ineligible.

She texted Reid that, if she had known she wouldnt receive the additional benefit, I wouldnt have lent any money out. I did lend a lot to you.

Diaz recounted her loans to Reid: $12,000 during one exchange, $3,000 at a lunch meeting, $2,000 at a Target, $3,500 for the water bill.

That is over $20,000, Diaz wrote.

Increasingly, Diaz had trouble reaching Reid. On Dec. 30, Diaz asked Reid for the $1,000 she promised to repay. Reid was returning from vacation. ...just getting off the plane, she texted.

Diaz told Reid that she couldnt pay her phone, cable, or utility bills: I dont even have a dime in my freaking bank account.

Terry I dont understand why when I text you, that you cant even answer me back, Diaz wrote in another message, on Jan. 9. Every time that you called or texted asking to borrow money, I jumped and answered you right away.

I will call u later, Reid responded.

On Feb. 13, she texted Reid to tell her she was in the hospital for a week. Diaz was battling uncontrolled diabetes, an infection, and was in a back brace for a fractured spine, her family said. She asked Reid if she could repay her $300.

Hello sorry to hear, Reid replied, but Im broke.

(Below: Terry Reid is at left.)

A hand grenade

My phone is gonna be shut off by the end of the day, Diaz texted Reid two days later, and I have nothing right now.

I will call you Im in meeting, Reid wrote.

Eleven days later, on Feb. 26, 2023, Meagan Diaz died at home.

The next day, Murray, Diazs other daughter, Lexi Negron, and her best friend, Karen Laude, were gathered on a sectional sofa in her house. A family friend, who happened to be a former Philadelphia police officer, was also there. The friends cell phone rang. It was Terry Reid.

Im on my way, Reid said, according to the friend, who asked to remain anonymous. I have to get Meagans phone.

Why? the friend asked.

Meg talked to undesirable people and I want to make sure the kids dont see that, Reid said.

Soon, Reid arrived at Diazs home and began discussing some of Diazs outstanding bills. Then she asked for Diazs phone.

Diazs relatives and friends watched Reid closely. Each knew that Reid had owed Diaz a significant amount of money.

Reid sat nervously on the couch, tightly gripping Diazs phone.

Terrys hands were shaking, said Diazs friend, the former police officer. They were shaking so badly, I literally thought she was going to drop the phone. And then I look over and see her swiping delete.

A couple times I went to grab the phone, Murray said, and she wouldnt give it back. When one of them finally snatched the phone from Reid, the text history between Diaz and Reid  stretching back to October, when Diaz had purchased the phone  was gone.

Murray and the others were stunned.

Two days later, Zito said, Reid called her phone repeatedly. Zito didnt answer. Then she heard a pounding on her mothers front door. She opened it, and found Reid.

Reid insisted on speaking with Zito and Murray privately. They retreated to Meagan Diazs bedroom. Reid locked the door, Zito said.

According to both Zito and Murray, Reid was trembling, and told them that she had owed Diaz a lot of money.

Zito said that Reid vowed to repay the money she had borrowed from Diaz by the end of May.

She kept saying, Can we do this? Can we do this? Zito said.

There was a condition, however.

Zito claims that Reid said the Diaz family couldnt tell McNesby, the head of the FOP, about the situation.

We cannot tell anyone about this, Reid said, according to Zito. Can you promise me that youre not going to tell anybody?

With Reid still standing in front of the locked door, Zito felt trapped. So of course, Im like, Yes, Zito said. She almost fell to her knees.

Shes not my friend

Zito and her siblings were determined to make Reid pay back what she owed their mother.

By then, Diazs family had managed to restore all the text messages that Reid had deleted, which showed the cash amounts Diaz had given Reid, and Diazs growing despair over not being repaid.

In March, Zito filed a complaint against Reid with the Police Departments Internal Affairs Bureau. An investigator later asked each of Diazs relatives the same question: Were Diaz and Reid friends?

My mom said to everyone, Zito said, Shes not my friend.

Zito sifted through her mothers records, text messages, and bank statements, and calculated that Reid still owed $17,768.

Beginning in April, Zito texted Reid three times over eight days to ask when she was going to pay back the money before Reid replied.

In June, Zito called Internal Affairs for an update. An investigator told her that Reid wouldnt face any charges because she didnt commit a crime, Zito said.

At that point, Im sick to my stomach, Zito recalled.

She decided to email McNesby, and explain the bizarre sequence of events.

McNesby recalled feeling stunned as he read the allegations. It was like somebody gave me a hand grenade and pulled the pin, he said.

The next day, Reid called Zito, telling her she would pay back the money in three installments. Then she says, I just want to confirm, because John wants me to ask you, if we pay this money back, can we make this all go away? Zito said.

McNesby said he made no such comment.

Reid did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Reid repaid the Diaz family, with a final installment made just a few days after she retired from the police department.

A sense of betrayal still nags at the Diaz children, though. They thought they belonged to a larger family, a fraternity of police officers who were supposed to look out for one another, especially in the wake of tragedy.

I think [Reid] tried to get into my moms head because of how broken she was, Zito said.

I think that she succeeded because she got so much money from my mom. She took advantage of a widow who had nowhere else to turn.

Staff writer William Bender and researcher Ryan W. Briggs contributed to this article.
The 250th birthday of the United States is just around the corner, and four Philadelphia groups are offering area nonprofits a total of $9 million in funding to help celebrate.

That funding comes in the form of the Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial, a joint effort by the Connelly Foundation, the William Penn Foundation, the Pew Charitable Trusts, and the Neubauer Family Foundation. The fund, announced Tuesday, is designed to give financial support to regional nonprofits programs that will commemorate the countrys 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026.

The Funder Collaborative aims to support nonprofit programs that honor Philadelphias historical importance, encourage widespread community participation, celebrate the diversity of the region, and inspire greater civic engagement, Shawn McCaney, William Penn Foundation executive director, said in a statement. We hope this initiative ignites a sense of civic pride that inspires Philadelphians to imagine their contributions to the next 250 years of American democracy.

Funding is open to 501(c)3 public charities in Philadelphia, as well as Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties. Groups can submit applications to the Funder Collaborative online at www.phila2026fund.org, and they will be reviewed by the contributing philanthropic organizations.

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The focus for the group is reflective patriotism, said Tom Riley, Connelly Foundation chairman and president. As a result, he added, its approach will center on celebrating the nations Founding ideals, acknowledging its failures to live up to those ideals, and recognizing the many individuals who have helped move the country towards the realization of its Founding ideals.

In addition, the Funder Collaborative is seeking additional contributors. The minimum commitment to join the group is $500,000, according to the funds website.

Often referred to as the birthplace of the United States, Philadelphia played a significant role in the creation of the country as host of the Continental Congress and the place where the Declaration of Independence was signed. In 1976, the city hosted a massive Bicentennial celebration that reportedly drew two million revelers to celebrate the countrys 200th birthday.

The funding initiative, organizers said, looks to inspire local nonprofits to bring residents and communities together from across Philadelphia to celebrate the countrys 250th birthday. Two types of grants, one for planning and one for implementation, will be made available. This year, the fund plans to award up to $1 million in planning grants, capped at $75,000 each. Implementation grants, which help nonprofits host programs, do not have a limit, but are constrained by the resources available to the fund, according to its website.

We want everyone in our region to feel welcome to participate and for groups to use this opportunity to think about events, activities, and exhibitions that are meaningful to them, said Donna Frisby-Greenwood, Pew Charitable Trusts senior vice president.
Doris Murray, left, and granddaughter Marissa Zito pose for a photo at their home in Clearwater, Florida on Saturday, August 5, 2023. Octavio Jones for the Philadelphia Inquirer Read more

Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter

Happy Tuesday.

Expect some patchy fog on your morning commute but otherwise, it should be partly sunny. The heavy rain should be over for now, and the Phillies should be able to make up the opener of their series against the Washington Nationals this afternoon.

Todays lead story tells of the story of a family who says a top official with the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 5 tried to scam a widow out of $20,000.

 Taylor Allen (@TayImanAllen, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

Meagan Diaz, a widow of a Philly police officer, loaned more than $20,000 to Terry Reid, a former detective and top official with the FOP.

Diaz felt like she owed Reid, who testified on Diazs behalf when she sought to receive a $100,000 state death benefit for fallen officers. Money had been tight for Diaz after her husband died in 2016, two years after he suffered significant injuries in an on-duty car crash.

But not long after Diaz was awarded the benefit, Reid began asking her for large sums of cash.

Note: Reids total compensation as the unions trustee and disability coordinator was $189,000.

When Diaz begged for Reid to repay the loans, Reid often ignored her. Diaz, who had diabetes and other illnesses, died on Feb. 26.

In March, Diazs daughter, Marissa Zito, filed a complaint with police Internal Affairs, accusing Reid of taking financial advantage of her mother, and then attempting to cover it up.

Read more to learn how the Diaz family says they were taken advantage of.

What you should know today

This project is Columnist Elizabeth Wellingtons love letter to hip-hop.

From Lady B dropping some of the first beats to Lil Uzi Vert putting emo rap on the map, Wellington shares the 50 moments that shaped Philly hip-hop culture.

Note: Hip-hops birthday is August 11, 1973. Its the day DJ Clive Kool Herc Campbell introduced the breakbeat at his sisters back-to-school-party in the Bronx. Kool Herc used two turntables and a mixer to loop instrumental parts of disco and funk songs like James Browns Clap Your Hands or Donald Byrds Black Byrd. This technique became known as a breakbeat. Emcees started telling stories that rhymed over it and the rhymes evolved into rap music, the foundation of hip-hop culture.

Let us walk you through how the foundation was set when rap first came to Philly radio all the way to contemporary highlights like Questlove winning an Academy Award for his documentary, Summer of Soul, last year.

Keep reading to reminisce on the moments that cemented Phillys place at the heart and soul of Americas most enduring and influential musical genre.

When youre done, be sure to take a look at Philly artists impact and continued influence and then let us make you a Philly hip-hop playlist.

 Trivia time 

Philadelphia has some of the most expensive cannabis in the country at $11.30 per gram on average.

Which U.S. city has the least expensive cannabis?

A) Portland

B) Washington D.C.

C) Denver

D) Las Vegas

Think you know? Check your answer.

What were...

 Anticipating: Vice President Kamala Harris visit to Philly today.

 Considering: Trying out the wings and chicken sandwiches from Hot Ones, the popular YouTube talk show. Though, I am a little disappointed theyre only offering mild choices at this time.

 Unscramble the anagram 

Hint: Cherry and white

PELMET

Email us if you know the answer. Well select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Carly Christel, who correctly guessed Mondays answer: Philly Elmo.

Photo of the day

Have a good day, and Ill be your inbox bright and early tomorrow.
Former President Donald Trump walks over to speak with reporters before he boards a plane at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Va. Thursday. Read more

In October 2020, my wife and I arrived in Philadelphia just in time to be registered voters in our new home. We joined a long line of folks at our early voting location to be certain our vote was counted.

This being Philadelphia, the line was a blend of young and old, white and Black and Latinx, gay and straight. Despite the 45-minute wait, folks were patient, polite, and happy. It was obvious that the majority were excited to exercise their right to vote, and that Joe Biden was their choice for president  except for the elderly couple just in front of us. The husband and wife were frail, in their late 80s, and somewhat unsteady on their feet. Even without speaking much, it became obvious that the gentleman did not share his line-mates enthusiasm for the Democrat.

We struck up a conversation about nonpolitical stuff. He was a Marine Corps veteran who had seen combat in the Korean War. I mentioned that I, too, had combat service in the Middle East, and we thanked each other for that shared commitment to our Constitution. As we climbed the final few steps into the polling place, I reached my hand out behind his back every time he started to stumble. But thankfully he righted himself and pressed on, determined to complete the task at hand.

My wife and I finished voting and walked outside. Our Marine friend was already there, anxiously waiting for his wife to come out of the building. I assured him that I saw her just finishing up and that she would be out shortly. We bid him farewell.

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I have thought of that experience often since the events of November 2020, and again on Jan. 6, 2021. I was proud of our new city and state for conducting a well-administered election. I was well aware that there were those who tried to upend that effort. While reading the entire federal indictment of former President Donald Trump released last week, those thoughts came rushing back.

The indictment is clear: Trump has been charged for his role in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Pennsylvania and six other battleground states.

Trump and his coconspirators tried to cancel my vote. They tried to cancel that Marines vote. They tried to cancel the votes of millions of folks from both parties and overrule the clear mandate of the electorate.

The fact that they did not succeed because other Americans would not let them is irrelevant. (Thank you, too honest Mike Pence.) Their nefarious goal was clear and unambiguous.

Read the indictment for yourself, and you will see that Trump tried in every way he could imagine to overturn a free and fair election. He knew it was free and fair despite every corrosive lie he told and continues to tell.

Those lies may be protected free speech. But his documented actions to subvert the election were not. Trump conspired to destroy the linchpin of our republic: our sacred vote.

Trump was abetted by numerous elected Pennsylvania Republicans, including State Sen. Doug Mastriano, in his attempt to reverse our decision. Their lack of fidelity to the Constitution and the laws of the land is a stain on their character that can never be erased. And one we should never forget.

Whatever you may think about our disagreements about politics, about President Biden, about Democrats or Republicans, or about policies you wish to support or not, remember this: Donald Trump tried to take away my vote and yours, disregarding my 32 years of service to the nation in support of the Constitution.

If that does not disgust and anger you, then you are no friend of mine. Worse, you are no friend of America if you do not walk away from Trump now. Because if he ever gets the chance, hell do it again.

Irv Halter is a retired U.S. Air Force major general and proud citizen of Philadelphia.
City Council candidate Nicolas ORourke (left) and Councilmember Kendra Brooks at City Hall on July 31, 2023, after filing their nomination petitions. Read more

A small detail portends a serious political and legal battle between the progressive Working Families Party and the citys Republican Party over Philadelphia City Council at-large seats.

Republicans on Tuesday filed twin legal challenges to end a bid for a second term by Philadelphia City Councilmember Kendra Brooks and to remove from Novembers ballot her Working Families Party Council at-large running mate, Nicolas ORourke.

The Working Families Party is seeking to oust Republicans from city office, and the race between them for two at-large Council seats is expected to be the most closely watched in Novembers municipal election. But removing the Working Families Party from the ballot would effectively end that race before it heats up.

The legal reason Republicans provided for their challenge: Brooks and ORourke filled out and signed their candidate statements of financial interests electronically before submitting them to the citys Department of Records last week.

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In identical legal cases, Republicans argue that state law requires candidates to fill out those forms with a wet signature  an indelible pencil or ink from a pen.

The challenges came as a political action committee funded primarily by Jeff Yass, a Main Line conservative billionaire and Pennsylvanias richest man, said it was fundraising to defeat Working Families Party candidates in the city.

Brooks and ORourke, in a joint statement Tuesday, called Yass an extremist billionaire and said Republicans feared the momentum of two Black working-class progressives in the Council races.

Its no coincidence that their frivolous challenge comes the same day a super PAC funded by a right-wing billionaire pledged to smear us this fall, they wrote. Our opponents can try to knock us off the ballot or flood the airwaves with dark money, but they cant stop our grassroots momentum.

The challenge was filed by two Republican ward leaders who are also members of Pennsylvania Republican Partys State Committee.

The motive here for the Republican City Committee is to have fair and honest elections and make sure the Working Families Party candidates are held to the highest standards when filing their nomination petitions, said Vince Fenerty, chair of the citys Republican Party.

The challenge cites a 2020 case, when Pennsylvanias Democratic Party successfully petitioned to have the Green Partys candidate for president removed from the ballot for a similar issue.

The Democrats in 2020 were leery of the Green Party sapping Democratic votes from Joe Biden in a close election with then-President Donald Trump, in a repeat of what they suspected helped Hillary Clinton lose the state in 2016.

Brooks in 2019 became the first Working Families Party candidate to win a Council at-large seat while ORourke fell short in his bid that year.

Her victory shocked the political order, and the presence of two party candidates on the ballot threaten the Republican Party with exile from Council at-large seats this year.

Philadelphias Home Rule Charter requires that two of seven City Council at-large seats be reserved for members not in the majority political party, in a city where Democrats outnumber Republicans 7-to-1.

Republicans won those two set-aside seats for seven decades until 2019.

Former City Councilmember David Oh, a Republican, kept the second set-aside seat in 2019. He resigned in February to run for mayor and his now his partys nominee in November. That Council seat is now vacant.

The local Republican Party has five nominees who won the May primary for Council at-large seats but is focusing its support on just two of the candidates, Drew Murray and Jim Hasher.

A judge is scheduled to hear the arguments about the challenge against Brooks and ORourke on Friday morning.
City Council candidate Nicolas O'Rourke speaks during a January press conference announcing the group's endorsement of Helen Gym for mayor. A super PAC that opposed Gym's candidacy is now fundraising to try to defeat Working Families Party candidates. Read more

A slate of liberal third-party candidates trying to oust Republicans from Philadelphia City Hall are about to see a flood of spending in opposition to their campaigns.

A new political group that already spent $1.4 million this year solely to oppose a progressives bid for the mayors office is fundraising to get involved in city politics again this fall  this time to try to defeat three members of the Working Families Party who are seeking seats on City Council and in the City Commissioners Office.

In the spring, the Coalition for Safety and Equitable Growth drew donations from high-profile conservatives, moderate Democrats, business interests, and even some labor unions. Mo Rushdy, a developer and treasurer of the group, said it will be very active in the November election to make sure that moderate voices are heard.

Rushdy said the City of Philadelphia really needs solution-based politicians and that candidates running as members of the Working Families Party care for the show and the rhetoric rather than the actual solutions that the people in Philadelphias neighborhoods need urgently.

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The resurrection of the super PAC adds a new wrinkle ahead of the November general election, when Republicans will try to defend the few officeholders they have remaining in City Hall from the Working Families Party, which has gained traction in the city over the last five years. That fight is expected to be the most competitive and closely watched this fall.

Any effort opposing the Working Families Party could help the GOP, which has seen its influence in city politics wane. And super PACs can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to influence elections so long as they dont coordinate with a candidate or campaign they are supporting.

In the spring, the Coalition for Safety and Equitable Growth bought television ads and sent mailers attacking former City Councilmember Helen Gym late in the Democratic mayoral primary campaign. She finished third in a crowded field, losing to Cherelle Parker, who is the odds-on favorite to win the November general election given Democrats enormous voter registration advantage in the city.

 READ MORE: Legal challenge seeks to bump Working Families Party candidate from ballot for Philly city commissioner

Who has funded the Coalition for Safety and Equitable Growth?

Most of the super PACs activities earlier this year were financed by conservative billionaire Jeffrey Yass, a charter-school proponent who contributed more than $1 million. The group also attracted donations from elsewhere in the citys political and business class, including the Laborers District Council, the police union, the General Building Contractors Association, former Mayor Michael Nutter, and venture capitalist Josh Kopelman, the chairman of The Inquirer board.

Another independent expenditure, called Philly For Growth, was aligned with similar special interests in the spring and spent more than $2 million to back business-friendly Democrats running in the Council primary.

Its unclear how the Coalition for Safety and Equitable Growth will be financed heading into the fall campaign season, which typically begins in earnest around Labor Day. The most recent campaign-finance paperwork filed by the group in early June shows that it had less than $2,000 in the bank after spending almost all the money it raised in the spring to oppose Gyms candidacy.

In a statement, the Working Families Party slammed the group and Yass, saying the effort is an attempt to smear our working-class candidates this fall.

It confirms what weve known all along, said Stephen Drain, the partys Philadelphia political director. Our opponents are extremist Republicans beholden to billionaire donors who want to gut our schools and disenfranchise our communities.

Whats at stake

The super PACs planned involvement is a sign that moneyed interests are taking the labor-aligned Working Families Party seriously after 2019, when Councilmember Kendra Brooks was considered a long-shot candidate and then won a seat in historic fashion.

She did so in part by raising a record amount of money for a third-party candidate. A coalition of progressive organizations that undertook a significant voter education effort also helped her win one of seven at-large seats on City Council.

 READ MORE: Philly Democrats to party officials: Dont back Working Families Party candidates

Two of those seats are, by law, reserved for members outside the dominant party, and had been held by Republicans for 70 years until Brooks win. Voters select five candidates, so for a third-party contender to beat a Republican, they need to convince voters who usually pick five Democrats to instead select fewer Democrats and vote for one or two third-party candidates.

Brooks is running for reelection alongside Nicolas ORourke, a pastor who also ran in 2019 but finished behind Republican David Oh, who resigned from Council earlier this year and is now the GOPs nominee for mayor.

Also running on the Working Families Partys slate is Jarrett Smith, a former labor lobbyist trying to oust Republican Seth Bluestein from the City Commissioners Office. On Monday, three voters  including Bluesteins father  filed a legal challenge seeking to have Smith removed from the ballot.
Vice President Kamala Harris will visit Philadelphia for third time this summer on Aug. 8, 2023, where she will tour the I-95 construction site and announce new wage standards for construction workers at Busleton's Read more

Vice President Kamala Harris will arrive in Philadelphia today for the third time this summer  and she might want to bring a hard hat.

Harris  alongside Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su  is set to announce plans to gradually raise wage standards for more than a million construction workers across the United States.

Harris will unveil the policy at the Finishing Trades Institute in Bustleton just before 12:30 p.m, when she will meet with rank-and-file union construction workers, as well as local and national union leaders, according to White House official.

After her speech, Harris is scheduled to visit the I-95 construction site just after 2 p.m. to receive a briefing on the status of the Betsy White off-ramp.

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She will depart from Philly an hour later.

The highway, which re-opened just 12 days after a fiery, fatal crash caused a portion to collapse, is shaping up to be a significant part of President Joe Bidens campaign messaging ahead of the 2024 election. He toured the construction zone during a June visit to Philly and called fixing I-95 the most important project in the country after allocating the immediate release of $3 million in federal funding for the project.

 READ MORE: Here are all the times Biden has come to Philly since taking office.

Biden himself has made six visits to Philly since the start of 2023. On his most recent trip, the president coined the phrase Bidenomics while touring a shipyard. The term has come to represent a suite of economic policies Biden hopes will elevate the middle class, including, of course, big-swinging infrastructure spending.

 READ MORE: President Biden talked Bidenomics at the Philly Shipyard. Heres what it means.

Kamala also visited Philly twice this summer. The first was for a June panel hosted by Service Employees International Union at the Center City Sheraton, where the vice president touted a proposal that would increase wages for personal care workers.

The second trip was in July, when Harris joined Governor Josh Shapiro on North Broad Street to push for the protection of voting and abortion rights.

 READ MORE: Vice President Kamala Harris visits Philly to push for protection of abortion and voting rights
Lullworth Hall on the site of the former Bancroft School in Haddonfield. The school used the house as the administrative office until the campus moved in 2017 to an 80-acre complex in Mount Laurel. The building is listed on the state and national Registers of Historic Places. Read more

Haddonfields epic struggle to settle on an acceptable future for the former Bancroft NeuroHealth campus on Kings Highway may be entering a new phase.

The Camden County borough is paying a company associated with developer J. Brian ONeill $3.25 million to avoid enmeshing the property in what could have been years of expensive litigation, Mayor Colleen Bianco Bezich said Monday.

The settlement of a lawsuit filed by ONeills 2 Hopkins Lane LLC against the borough last December also will enable Haddonfield to pursue residential development  including 10 affordable units  on the 8.2-acre portion of the property for which the LLC has agreed to give up its option.

The lawsuit alleged that the borough had partnered with 2 Hopkins Lane in 2016 not to develop housing on the Bancroft site but instead to prevent construction of one of ONeills Recovery Centers of America addiction treatment facilities on the property. The borough contended that its sustained and good-faith efforts to work with 2 Hopkins Lane were unsuccessful.

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None of us are thrilled, but we feel strongly about moving the ball forward, Bezich said during a news conference with fellow borough commissioners Kevin Roche and Frank Troy. The three voted unanimously to approve the settlement in June.

In an email, Kevin H. Marino, the lawyer for 2 Hopkins, said his client is very pleased with the settlement, which we feel is a fair and appropriate resolution of this long-running dispute.

Affordable housing obligation

Haddonfield is obligated to provide 10 affordable housing units on the Bancroft site under terms of a legally binding agreement it signed with New Jerseys Fair Share Housing Center in 2019.

In June, the New Jersey Superior Court judge overseeing the agreement directed the borough to issue requests for proposals from residential developers that would include the 10 affordable units. A number of proposals have been received ahead of Thursdays deadline. The Bancroft project is part of a larger legal requirement to provide more affordable housing in the borough under the Fair Share agreement.

Haddonfield also has launched a program to buy existing homes to rent to income-eligible tenants. With the purchase of a Tanner Street duplex, the borough will have eight properties in its portfolio. Earlier this year, a solicitation by Triad Housing Programs, the company Haddonfield hired to attract and screen potential tenants, drew 1,169 inquiries.

So many years, so many issues

Questions about the future of the Bancroft School property  named for Margaret Bancroft, who revolutionized special education in the late 1800s  have created conflicts and raised hopes for well more than a decade.

Some residents argued for expanding the adjacent Haddonfield Memorial High School campus onto the Bancroft property, while others sought to make the entire property a park. Some wanted to see construction of age-restricted housing, raising fierce objections from others seeking to minimize the number of townhouses or apartments built there. For still others, affordable was anathema.

The borough websites Bancroft Site  Redevelopment Plan page currently has no content. The mayor and her fellow commissioners said five acres would be set aside as parkland.

A developer plans to convert a remaining building, Lullworth Hall at the corner of Kings Highway and Hopkins Lane, into four condos by rehabbing the mansions interior and adding a garage with a second-floor residential unit in the rear. And in a land swap with the borough last August, the Haddonfield Board of Education received 4.7 acres next to the high school.

In 2013, the Board of Education had proposed buying the entire property for $12.3 million, but a ballot question to authorize the purchase failed.

 READ MORE: OPINION As Bancroft leaves Haddonfield, the borough and the school look ahead

Enter ONeill, who proposed constructing one of his addiction treatment chains first rehab centers on the property in 2015. Amid the resulting furor, the borough itself bought the Bancroft site for $12.9 million the following year.

ONeill retained an option to buy back 8.2 of those 19.2 acres, and in 2019, he and the borough entered into an agreement in which his development firm dropped the rehab proposal and planned to build 80 market-rate townhouses as well as the 10 affordable townhouses there.

At what cost?

Although an estimate of what the borough has spent so far on the Bancroft site was not immediately available, Haddonfield paid about $1 million to demolish almost all of the buildings on the east side of Hopkins Lane, according to the mayor. The school board and the borough are in conversation about the estimated $1 million cost of demolishing the asbestos-laden Cooley Hall classroom building.

During the news conference, the three commissioners were cautiously optimistic about the opportunity the settlement represents. They said they are eager to review the proposals that were submitted and develop a plan that does justice to the sites potential, as well as to the interests of borough taxpayers.

I feel confident that the three of us and our administration, working together, can move things in a new direction  and ultimately salvage a priceless piece of Haddonfields history, said Bezich.
Residents of Western Australia (WA) shared their own experiences with rising premiums with ABC Radio Perth. Small business owners have seen their premiums had gone up by tens of thousands of dollars, they told ABC. A resident near Margaret River in the South West said his insurance premium had gone up by 40% since a 2011 bushfire in his area.
A strong independent broker network is crucial to the health and success of the insurance industry, Tammy Paris, AVP regional offices and insurance operations, said of the renewed partnership. HSB Canada fully supports IBACs endeavours to advocate on behalf of our broker partners to government and the greater community.
Artificial intelligence and patient consent  a challenge for life sciences

Like insurers, many life sciences businesses are seeing AI as a way to streamline their own back-office processes. However, when organizations are handling sensitive patient data, this comes with risks. An article by Ao, quoting an Accenture report, found that life science organizations are likely to lose $642 billion US globally to direct cyberattacks over the next five years. The exposure of the life science industry is rated second compared to the high-tech industry, which it predicts will be robbed of $753 billion by 2024.
Insurance Business America is looking for companies offering top-tier programs for the third annual 5-Star Diversity, Equity & Inclusion report. Let us know how much progress you have made in DE&I.
Kempers preferred auto and home insurance exit comes as some insurance companies have been reducing their personal lines exposure, with certain states feeling the brunt of changes. In July, Farmers Insurance confirmed it would end sales of its own-brand policies in Florida, in addition to cutting down on new business in California. State Farm and Allstate have both ceased sales of new policies in California. Nationwide Insurance has also confirmed corrective action across its personal and commercial portfolios.
The growth of the industry makes a tremendous impact on a variety of companies and organizations in all sectors from all over the world, but also impacts our small state in a significant way, ensuring the presence of hundreds of good jobs for Vermonters and revenue that contributes directly to programs that impact Vermonts most vulnerable populations, said Commissioner Joan Goldstein of the Vermont Department of Economic Development.
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Banks seeking to sell commercial-property loans are encountering a dried-up market with few options for an easy exit.

Lenders including Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. have been trying to sell debt backed by offices, hotels and even apartments in recent months, but many are finding that tidying up loan books is no easy feat when concerns about commercial real estate have surged.

This years rise in borrowing costs has made commercial real estate one of the hardest-hit areas of the economy. Property sales, especially for office buildings, have slowed to a trickle, giving landlords and lenders few markers to determine the value of certain assets. In the absence of transactions, stakeholders are closely watching the loan sale market to see what price banks can ultimately nab for some of the loans.

Banks have been eager to sell what they can, at times to shore up liquidity or to avoid complicated situations that may crop up when a loan is maturing and needs to be refinanced. For some lenders, taking a slight haircut on the price may be better than running the risk that the lender has to foreclose and ultimately ends up stuck with the property, according to Gregory Hagood, president of SOLIC Capital, which has an investment banking practice.

Even if most of these are performing loans today, theyre trying to reduce their exposure by selling loans at a discount as they head into a refinance cycle, Hagood said. A lot of these banks will say, Id rather take the hit there than take the hit on a foreclosure and have to deal with the asset after.'

Goldman and JPMorgan, along with other banks including Capital One Financial Corp. and M&T Bank Corp., have sought to sell property debt in recent months, seeking buyers both for one-off sales and transactions for portfolios of loans, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified citing private information.

While pressure is building on banks to reduce their commercial-property exposure, distressed loan sales are still relatively rare. Many banks are opting to hold onto the debt for longer and work out situations with different borrowers.

Hit the Numbers

With so few sales occurring, its been hard to figure out exactly what the loans are worth. On top of that, some sellers have become more cautious about what bids theyll accept, especially after the spate of bank failures earlier this year. Too low of a price could spook investors and raise concerns about the health of the financial institution, according to Josh Zegen, co-founder of Madison Realty Capital, a non-bank lender.

Some banks have tested the market on office loans and they just cant hit the numbers, Zegen said. Theres too much of a bid-ask spread, and theres really nothing to talk about because agreeing to the lower pricing would make these banks more insolvent.

Given the banks caution about accepting too low of a price, some lenders have opted to entice buyers through other means. Seller financing has become one option, where the seller helps the loans buyer finance the purchase.

Its become particularly challenging for debt tied to offices  the property type thats seen its value plummet the most over the past 12 months. Job cuts and the rise in remote work have led to record vacancies across major cities, while higher borrowing costs have made financing more difficult.

Read More: US Asks Lenders to Help Firms with Commercial Real Estate Stress

We dont know yet where tenant demand shakes out, and in the absence of that, you cant have stability in the market, said Winston Fisher, a partner at New York-based real estate investment firm Fisher Brothers. Were a contractual income business. If you dont know where that contractual income is going to stabilize, how do you value it?

Shopping Loans

Capital One has struggled to offload a large office debt portfolio with a heavy concentration in the tri-state area including parts of New York, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified discussing private information.

Capital One Chief Financial Officer Andrew Young told investors in July that the bank had moved about $900 million of loans from its office portfolio to a held for sale designation as it seeks to offload the debt.

Earlier this year, Webster Financial Corp. sold an $80 million portfolio tied to offices and mixed-use properties in Connecticut, New Jersey and New York.

JPMorgan is exploring a sale of a $350 million loan thats backed by Manhattans HSBC Tower, Bloomberg reported in July. The bank has approached potential buyers to sell the loan at par, while offering cheaper-than-market financing.

Spokespeople for Capital One and JPMorgan declined to comment.

Banks have also sought to sell debt on other types of real estate besides offices, such as apartments or hotels. Pricing has held up better for those property types, with apartment values dropping 16% over the past 12 months through July compared with a 27% decline for offices, according to real estate analytics firm Green Street. Hotel prices were unchanged over that time period.

Goldman has sought to offload hotel and apartment loans, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified citing private information. Meanwhile, M&T is in the market with a hotel loan too, the people said.

Spokespeople for Goldman and M&T declined to comment.

Lenders that have found buyers for loan portfolios have used the deals to help shore up liquidity at a time of increased stress across the banking industry. PacWest Bancorp, for example, has been selling construction loans and other real estate debt.

Because recent loans at higher rates are more profitable, banks are becoming more inclined to get rid of low-yielding, high-maintenance dead money loans with limited prospects for returns, according to Will Sledge, senior managing director in Jones Lang LaSalle Inc.s capital markets group.

Liquidity is a prized possession, Sledge said.

The industry is keenly watching one big potential sale thats being managed by brokerage Newmark Group Inc. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. is seeking to offload about $60 billion of loans  many of which are tied to real estate  from the failed Signature Bank.

Walking Away

Banks are facing the prospects of getting stuck holding the properties in some situations. Large institutions, such as Brookfield Asset Management Ltd., Blackstone Inc. and an office landlord tied to Pacific Investment Management Co., have chosen to cut their losses on some buildings, defaulting on debt. In some instances, landlords have handed the keys back for certain properties.

Aareal Bank AG is working to sell debt on two Manhattan buildings where owners walked away. A unit of the bank is offering non-performing loans on two large offices, one in the Financial District and one in Midtowns prestigious Plaza District, according to people familiar with the matter. A spokesperson for Aareal Bank declined to comment.

Even if banks are struggling to offload loans, some lenders are controlling their exposure to commercial real estate by halting origination of new debt. Banks including Fifth Third Bancorp have said that theyve stopped originating office loans.

More deals for old loans would give better clarity on pricing, which could reveal just how different valuations are these days, according to Martin Nussbaum, principal of Slate Property Group.

Theres a complete fear around office values and where they stand, Nussbaum said. Repricing could be a seismic shift in the asset class.

Copyright 2023 Bloomberg.

Topics New York Commercial Lines Business Insurance Property
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The Public Utility Commission has approved a revised settlement totaling nearly $1 million with a gas utility over a 2019 explosion in western Pennsylvania that reduced a home to rubble and injured five people.

Canonsburg-based Columbia Gas took responsibility for the July 2019 blast in North Franklin Township, saying it had failed to install a key piece of equipment in the home while workers nearby upgraded a gas main. Officials said the home lacked a pressure regulator, and when the new system was engaged with much higher pressure, the pipes in the home leaked and that led to the explosion.

The homeowner, a neighbor and three firefighters were hurt in the blast, which also damaged cars and nearby homes. Columbias insurance company earlier paid out more than $3 million to cover the damage, with $2 million to cover the property damage and another $1 million for personal injury and emotional distress.

Commissioners in December had rejected an earlier proposed settlement reached by commission staff with the utility, saying they wanted more information about the extent and cost of damage and about how the company had remedied deficiencies identified during this and other incidents.

On Thursday, the commission unanimously approved the revised settlement, which carries a $990,000 civil penalty that the utility cannot recover from ratepayers. The settlement also lays out corrective actions such as enhanced training and ways to identify and map system infrastructure and customer service lines, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

The Pennsylvania gas utility is part of Columbia Gas, owned by NiSource, which supplies gas to customers in six states. A year before the North Franklin explosion, a series of similar blasts in Massachusetts Merrimack Valley were attributed to the utility company, according to news reports. More than 80 homes were damaged or destroyed and one person died.

The explosions resulted in numerous property insurance claims, a class-action settlement and multiple subrogation actions Columbia Gas and its liability insurers. The firm sold its Massachusetts utility in 2020.

Photo: The rubble from the Pennsylvania home that exploded in 2019. (Jessie Wardarski/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP)

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Pennsylvania
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Massachusetts State Police must reinstate seven troopers who refused to be vaccinated for COVID-19, an independent arbitrator has ruled. The troopers have been on unpaid leave, but the arbitrator`s decision means they can return to work with retroactive pay if they choose.

The union representing state troopers, which plans to hold a news conference Monday outside the State House, filed a grievance after the law enforcement officers were suspended following former Republican Gov. Charlie Baker`s 2021 order requiring executive department employees to be vaccinated. Current Democratic Gov. Maura Healey lifted the vaccine mandate in May.

Massachusetts State Police are in the process of determining the scope as well as the administrative and legal steps needed to implement the arbitrator`s ruling, David Procopio, an agency spokesperson, said Sunday in an email.

The arbitrator concluded State Police violated a collective bargaining agreement in the way they handled the cases of eight troopers who cited religious grounds for refusing to take the vaccine. The agency summarily dismissed the troopers instead of reviewing their accommodation requests, the arbitrator said Friday. One of the eight troopers later returned to work.

The State Police Association of Massachusetts criticized the former Baker administration for refusing to work with the troopers.

These members, whose religious convictions were trampled, and who were left without pay or benefits, now can choose to return to work and will be made whole through retroactive pay and earned seniority, said Patrick McNamara, the union president.

He said the union will continue to fight for another 13 troopers who weren`t deemed eligible for exemptions and were fired or dishonorably discharged for failing to get vaccinated.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Law Enforcement Massachusetts
A drone attack on a Russian oil tanker and a warning from Kyiv that more could follow has so far had little impact on insurance costs for oil and commodity carriers in the key Black Sea region, as rates were already unusually high.

As of Monday, the extra insurance premium ships pay when entering risky areas was stable compared with levels prior to the weekend attack, according to two people familiar with the market. The figure is closely watched by traders and shipowners alike for whether it becomes too costly for vessels to enter Russian Black Sea ports such as Novorossiysk.

Ukraines seaborne drone attacks on a naval ship and oil tanker put Russias commodity exports via the Black Sea at risk for the first time since the war began last year. The route accounts for most of the grain and between 15% and 20% of the oil that Russia sells on global markets every day.

Ukraine Black Sea Attacks Signal Expanding War; Russia Insurance Costs Likely to Rise

So far, there havent been significant changes in freight and insurance rates for most Black Sea grain shipments, said Bilal Muftuoglu, a director of dry-bulk research at shipbroker Howe Robinson Partners. The concern could grow if a commercial or grain vessel in the region were to be struck, he said. Ukraine said the tanker involved in the attack was delivering fuel to Russian forces in Crimeas Kerch strait.

Shipowners pay what is known as an additional war risk premium when they enter the worlds most dangerous waters. That figure has ballooned since Russia invaded Ukraine last year, and was recently about 1% of a vessels insured value, compared with a just a fraction of a percent usually.

After the attacks, there were some indications that a larger-than-normal number of oil tankers were waiting further away from Russias ports before potentially heading to load. Nine vessels signaling Novorossiysk as a destination are currently anchored between Sinop and Samsun in Turkey. Thats up from a peak of about three ships during July.

Despite the increase, there is no indication that the vessels wont ultimately sail to their destination, and it isnt uncommon for some ships to wait near the Turkish coast before heading to Novorossiysk or the nearby Caspian Pipeline Consortium crude export terminal.

With assistance from Sherry Su.

Photograph: Bulk carriers in the Black Sea. Photo credit: Andrei Pungovschi/Bloomberg

Copyright 2023 Bloomberg.

Topics Energy Oil Gas Ukraine
Vale on Monday lost a bid to block fellow mining giant BHP Groups bid to have it share potential liability in a 36 billion-pound ($46 billion) London lawsuit over Brazils worst environmental disaster.

More than 720,000 Brazilians are suing BHP, the worlds biggest miner by market value, over the 2015 collapse of the Fundao Dam, which was owned and operated by the Samarco joint venture between BHP and Brazilian iron ore producer Vale.

The disaster killed 19 people as more than 40 million cubic meters of mud and toxic mining waste swept into the Doce river, obliterating villages and reaching the Atlantic Ocean more than 650 km (400 miles) away.

Mining Giants BHP, Vale Face Off in London Court Over Brazil Dam Damages

BHP, which denies liability, applied in December to have Vale join the case and contribute to damages if they are found liable to the claimants.

The company argued that Vale should share in any potential liability because BHP Brasil and Vale both owned 50% of Samarco.

Vale challenged the jurisdiction of Londons High Court to hear BHPs claim, arguing that any dispute between it and BHP should be heard in Brazil.

However, Judge Finola OFarrell rejected Vales challenge in a written ruling on Monday. She said BHPs claim against Vale essentially mirrored the claimants case against BHP, meaning it should be decided as part of the existing lawsuit.

A BHP spokesperson said Mondays ruling would have no impact on the underlying case.

They also pointed to reparation and compensation programs implemented by the Renova Foundation, a redress scheme established in 2016 by Samarco and its shareholders, which has funded more than $6 billion of rehousing, rehabilitation and indemnification for those affected by the disaster.

A Vale spokesperson said the company will carefully consider the courts ruling. They also said Vale reaffirms its commitment to repairing the damage caused by the Fundao dam collapse, under agreements with the Brazilian authorities.

Tom Goodhead of law firm Pogust Goodhead, which represents the claimants, welcomed the decision.

Its time for BHP and Vale to both do the right thing and to engage with the claimants in this case in order to affect an effective resolution, he said in a statement.

(Reporting by Sam Tobin; additional reporting by Clara Denina; editing by Kirsten Donovan)

Photograph: In this Nov. 8, 2015 file photo, rescue workers search for victims at the site where the town of Bento Rodrigues stood, after two dams burst on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2015, in Minas Gerais state, Brazil. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Topics Lawsuits London
This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI), Trans Re and CNA Hardy.

A summary of these new hires follows here.

BHSI Names AIGs Bidmead as Head of Transactional Liability, Asia and Middle East

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) announced that it has named Louis Bidmead as head of Transactional Liability Insurance for Asia and the Middle East.

In this role he will work with BHSIs global transactional liability team to provide BHSIs comprehensive line of coverages to manage the risks of mergers, acquisitions, and other corporate transactions. He will report to Scotland Walsh-Riddle, head of Executive & Professional Liability for Asia, BHSI.

Bidmead comes to BHSI with 14 years of experience as both a lawyer specializing in M&A transactions and corporate advisory at major law firms and most recently as a senior underwriter, providing warranty & indemnity insurance solutions at American International Group. He is based in Singapore and can be reached at Louis.Bidmead@bhspecialty.com.

BHSI continues to expand our transactional liability portfolio in Singapore and throughout Asia and the Middle East, said Walsh-Riddle. Louis has extensive knowledge of the intricacies of M&A transactions, and I am excited to have him leading our team as we deliver tailored and timely solutions for customers.

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Berkshire Hathaways TransRe Announces Latest Promotions

TransRe, the New York-based property/casualty reinsurer and subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaways Alleghany Corp., has promoted a group of leaders to new roles in actuarial, underwriting and operations.

Suzanne Holohan has been promoted to Chief Actuary, following the retirement of Ken Apfel . In this role, Holohan will report to TransRe CEO Ken Brandt .

has been promoted to Chief Actuary, following the retirement of . In this role, Holohan will report to TransRe CEO . John Fugit is promoted to deputy chief underwriting officer for North America. In this new role, Fugit will work closely with the Global Portfolio team and North America managers to enhance our offerings and manage our overall profitability goals. Fugit will report to Kyle Rhodes , president of North America.

is promoted to deputy chief underwriting officer for North America. In this new role, Fugit will work closely with the Global Portfolio team and North America managers to enhance our offerings and manage our overall profitability goals. Fugit will report to , president of North America. Ben Hodge is promoted to head of US Property, Treaty and Facultative. Hodge will report to Kyle Rhodes .

is promoted to head of US Property, Treaty and Facultative. Hodge will report to . Aisling Jumper assumes the position of head of Global Underwriting Operations, having previously been the claims manager for FAIRCO. Jumper will report to Lisa Moser , president, Global Portfolio Management.

assumes the position of head of Global Underwriting Operations, having previously been the claims manager for FAIRCO. Jumper will report to , president, Global Portfolio Management. Shawn Lynch assumes the position of global head of Financial Risks to work closely with TransRes regional underwriting teams on overall strategy and portfolio composition. Lynch will report to Paul McKeon , president, Regional Markets.

assumes the position of global head of Financial Risks to work closely with TransRes regional underwriting teams on overall strategy and portfolio composition. Lynch will report to , president, Regional Markets. James Nunn assumes the position of international head of Financial Risk and will work closely with Trans Res regional teams to manage the financial risk and terror portfolios. Nunn will report jointly to Shawn Lynch and Laurence Butt , CUO of TransRe London.

assumes the position of international head of Financial Risk and will work closely with Trans Res regional teams to manage the financial risk and terror portfolios. Nunn will report jointly to and , CUO of TransRe London. John Spencer is promoted to head of North America Surety to lead our surety and credit portfolios. Spencer will report to Shawn Lynch .

is promoted to head of North America Surety to lead our surety and credit portfolios. Spencer will report to . Tony Celii assumes the position of deputy general counsel. Celii will report to Ken Yapp , general counsel.

assumes the position of deputy general counsel. Celii will report to , general counsel. Brett Denyer is promoted to head of Sustainability and Resilience. Denyer will report to Cedric Lobo , chief risk officer.

is promoted to head of Sustainability and Resilience. Denyer will report to , chief risk officer. Cedric Lobo is promoted to chief risk officer. Lobo will report to Matt Mahoney, chief operating officer.

Established in 1977, TransRe is the brand name for Transatlantic Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries (including Transatlantic Reinsurance Co.)

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CNA Hardy Appoints Senior Underwriters to UK Marine Team

CNA Hardy, the specialist commercial insurance provider for clients within the Lloyds and company markets, has made three new senior underwriter appointments plus an internal promotion of a senior underwriter to its UK Marine team.

Trevor McAuley joins as senior marine underwriter, based in Glasgow. McAuley will be responsible for Marine Cargo and Transport & Logistics underwriting for Scotland & Ireland and Marine Equipment/Subsea underwriting for UK company business. McAuley has 30 years insurance experience including roles at Allianz, XL Catlin, RSA and Tokio Marine.

Conlie Wong joins as senior underwriter, Marine Cargo and Transport & Logistics, based in Manchester. Wong will be responsible for Marine Cargo and Transport & Logistics renewal underwriting. Wong also has 30 years insurance experience including roles at Tokio Marine and Catlin.

Hugh Consitt joins as senior marine development underwriter, based in Manchester. Consitt will be responsible for new business development in the North of England for Marine Cargo business. Consitt joins CNA Hardy from Chubb where he spent eight years as regional senior cargo underwriter.

In addition, Michael Slack has been promoted to senior technical underwriter for Transport & Logistics business for UK company business. Slack is based in Manchester and joined CNA Hardy in 2014.

I am delighted to welcome our new colleagues Trevor, Conlie and Hugh who will further strengthen our Marine proposition in the UK. I am also really pleased to congratulate Michael on his promotion as we improve the senior underwriting capabilities from both within our own ranks and externally with the caliber of Trevor, Conlie and Hugh, commented Neil Atkinson, head of Marine UK.

Topics Underwriting New Markets AIG
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Some 30,000 workers at Yellow Corp were looking for jobs on Monday after the major trucking company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, potentially saddling U.S. taxpayers with losses from a government rescue of the long-troubled carrier.

The nearly 100-year-old company, which halted operations on July 30, has been a dominant player in the less-than-truckload segment that hauls cargo for multiple customers on a single truck.

It laid blame for the bankruptcy, likely the largest ever for a U.S. trucking firm, at the feet of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union that represents about 22,000 of its employees.

Teamsters leadership was able to halt our business plan, literally driving our company out of business, Yellow CEO Darren Hawkins said in a statement late Sunday.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters blamed Yellow executives for the companys demise.

Yellows dysfunctional, greedy C-suite failed to take responsibility for squandering all that cash. They still dont, said Teamsters General President Sean OBrien. They shamelessly pin their corporate incompetence on working people.

Financial analysts traced the companys persistent financial woes to acquisition-related debt, the high cost of operating disparate companies and low shipping rates that depressed revenue.

Prior to its filing, Yellow held roughly 8% to 10% of market share, according to brokerage TD Cowen. Its customers included large retailers such as Walmart and Home Depot, manufacturers and Uber Freight.

In its Chapter 11 filing, Yellow estimated total assets of $2.15 billion and total debt of $2.59 billion.

Yellow executives said they intend to fully repay a $700 million loan former President Donald Trumps administration issued to bail out the firm in 2020 under a pandemic relief program. Their success will depend on proceeds from selling Yellows properties and roughly 12,000 trucks, according to bankruptcy experts.

Government officials earlier this summer warned that U.S. investments could face losses. In particular, the Treasury Department has a nearly 31% stake in Yellow after accepting 15.9 million company shares as additional security for the loan, according to audit reports and bankruptcy documents. Shareholders are often last to recover their investments.

Yellow shares skidded 40% to touch a session low of $2.13 on Monday. They soared fivefold last week following a surge in retail investors interest.

It has $1.3 billion in debt payments coming due in 2024, including a roughly $500 million private-equity term loan in June and the $700 million U.S. loan in September.

Apollo Global Management has a big chunk of Yellows term loan. It arranged debtor-in-possession financing that will keep Yellow afloat during the restructuring and move it to the front of the line for repayment.

Yellow also has a roughly $450 million secured revolving loan from a syndicate of banks arranged by Citizens Bank, Merrill Lynch and others that expires in January 2024.

This leaves the taxpayer the last creditor to get repaid, said the authors of a congressional report in June.

Yellow recently averted a strike by 22,000 Teamsters-represented workers by agreeing to pay more than $50 million it owed in worker benefits and pension accruals. The companys business evaporated in the days leading up to that deal, according to court documents.

Meanwhile, Yellow employees on Monday filed two lawsuits accusing the company of failing to give the required 60 days notice before firing them.

Photo: Box trailers are seen at Yellow Corp. trucking facility in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Topics Trucking
Insurance companies are increasingly incorporating environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into their underwriting processes when they examine risk. However, despite the increasing adoption of ESG-related factors by insurers, political polarization and divergent political stances on the utility of ESG have placed insurers in the crosshairs of certain regulators and legislatures.

The Net-Zero Insurance Alliance (NZIA), a UN-backed initiative founded in 2021 at the G20 climate summit in Italy to help the insurance industry transition to a low-carbon economy, has seen an exodus of nearly half its members following receipt of a letter, signed by 23 Republican Attorneys General, citing serious concerns about NZIA members being in violation of federal and state antitrust laws as a consequence of their climate-related commitments as members of the group.

While traditionally viewed as more likely to oppose business regulations than their counterparts in the Democratic Party, Republican-controlled state legislatures have increasingly pushed back on rules and regulations that require or advocate businesses to integrate ESG-related factors into their business, investment, and strategic decisions. Meanwhile, Democratic-majority state legislatures are moving in the opposite direction, increasingly passing laws mandating more ESG-related disclosures, such as the recently passed Illinois House Bill 2782, awaiting the Governors signature before it can be enacted into law. As a consequence of this red-and blue-state divide, optimized by these pro-ESG and anti-ESG laws at the state level, the regulatory landscape, particularly as it relates to insurers, has become increasingly difficult to navigate and risk-laden due to the various ways in which insurers incorporate ESG-related considerations into their underwriting processes.

Overview of SB 833

One recent example of such regulatory impact on the insurance industry is Texas Senate Bill 833 (SB 833), which seeks to address the challenges faced by the fossil fuel industry in procuring insurance coverage. As a response to a letter urging 30 insurance company CEOs to stop underwriting new fossil fuel projects and to divest from fossil fuel companies, SB 833 operates, in the legislatures view, to combat the negative effects of such external pressure on the business decisions of insurance companies and emphasize sound actuarial principles.

SB 833 aims to achieve its purpose by prohibiting insurers operating in Texas from using an ESG model, score, factor, or standard to charge a rate different than the rate charged to another business or risk in the same class for essentially the same hazard. However, the Texas legislature also placed a broad exception, stating that an insurer does not violate [the statute] if the insurers actions are based on an ordinary insurance business purpose, including the use of sound actuarial principles, or financial solvency considerations reasonably related to loss experience for the different types of risks and coverages made available by a particular insurer.

For context, Texas law generally prohibits excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory rates for property-casualty insurance. SB 833 will take effect on September 1, 2023, and will apply to policies issued for delivery or renewed in the state of Texas after January 1, 2024, excluding fidelity, guaranty, and surety bonds and crop insurance policies.

While SB 833 does not include an express enforcement provision for insurers that fail to comply with the statutory requirements, the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) would likely be able to enforce SB 833 through the general enforcement provisions in Texas Insurance Code Chapter 82. The TDI has shown a willingness to bring enforcement and disciplinary orders against insurers, as the TDI ranked among the highest states in terms of fines and penalties levied against insurers for both 2021 and 2020.

Depending upon the enforcement of SB 833, insurance underwriting could be impacted in a variety of ways. Critically, SB 833 fails to define environmental, social and governance, introducing considerable uncertainty as to whether current insurance practices would be in violation of the law. For example, the TDI could potentially take the position that an insurance company evaluating a policyholders relationship with stakeholders by considering the policyholders labor practices, diversity and inclusion policies, customer satisfaction, and community engagement efforts as a sign of good risk management and responsible corporate behavior would violate SB 833.

Moreover, as the physical impacts of climate change are expected to accelerate, it is also possible that an insurance company could face regulatory scrutiny as a consequence of considering the policyholders carbon footprint and its efforts to manage and mitigate environmental impacts to the extent that those factors are not directly related to the risks being underwritten. Further compounding this difficulty is the increasing pressure that insurance companies are facing to incorporate ESG-related factors into their policy decisions from both investors and stakeholders.

In effect, SB 833 requires insurers that use ESG-related factors in their underwriting process to be able to link such factors to an ordinary insurance purpose, such as the rate of claims by similarly situated policyholders or an actuarial forecast of losses for similarly situated policyholders. To the extent an insurer can demonstrate the former, it should be positioned to mitigate any potential impact of SB 833 on its operations. However, regardless of whether laws such as SB 833 actually require insurance companies to change their current underwriting practices, as a consequence of the existence of such laws and pressure from the anti-ESG movement more broadly, we may see insurance companies change or re-evaluate their utilization of ESG-related factors in their underwriting approach, particularly as it relates to certain industries such as the fossil fuel industry.

Proactive Steps Insurers Can Take to Mitigate the Impact of SB 833

Consequently, while in-house legal departments at insurance companies are well versed in state insurance laws and regulations, new legislation such as SB 833 will necessitate greater oversight by legal and compliance departments. While the extent to which regulators such as the TDI will leverage newly passed laws like SB 833 to bring enforcement actions remains to be seen, insurers should nonetheless be on notice and carefully scrutinize any underwriting guidelines or policy exclusions for certain industries in which they refuse to provide insurance to or adjust policyholders premiums for having or not having ESG-related programs.

As a first step, in-house legal and compliance departments should ensure that all of their underwriting teams premium- and coverage-related decisions are substantiated using sound actuarial principles or are reasonably related to expected loss experience as the basis of their coverage or premium decision making. While it may be tempting to consider the external pressures, such as the reactions by stakeholders in underwriting a particular company in a particularly disfavored industry, insurers can protect themselves against liability by connecting any premium decision impacted by an ESG-related factor with an established evidentiary-based risk mitigation strategy.

For example, in the context of evaluating a policyholders climate governance practices for purposes of making a coverage or premium decision, in-house legal and compliance departments should work with their underwriting team to appropriately document the established correlation between strong climate governance profiles and reduced claims. Establishing a link between the relevant ESG-related consideration and financial loss via the increased likelihood of a potential claim is critical to rebutting any accusation that the insurance company is considering ESG-related factors above actuarial considerations or expected loss experience.

Legal and compliance departments play a critical role in analyzing enterprise risk management requirements and ensuring compliance with applicable laws. Accordingly, monitoring and ensuring that an insurers underwriting process is compliant with emerging state regulatory requirements should be a focus for in-house counsel and other legal professionals. Insurance companies that empower legal departments to play an active role in monitoring and then instituting compliance procedures will be in the best position to mitigate the risk of divergent state laws going forward.

Heather Palmer is a partner in the Houston office of Sidley Austin LLP. Andrew Holland is a partner in the New York office and Evan Grosch is an associate in the Houston office of the firm.

Topics Carriers Texas
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Saying Gov. Ron DeSantis has followed the autocratic examples of governments in Russia and China, a group of mostly Republican former high-level government officials and business leaders has called the Florida governor`s takeover of Disney World`s governing district severely damaging to the political, social, and economic fabric of the State.

The group of former governors, U.S. House members and presidential administration officials filed a friend of the court brief on Wednesday in Disney`s federal lawsuit against DeSantis and his appointees to the board of Disney World`s governing district. Disney`s lawsuit says the Republican governor violated the companys free speech rights by taking over the district after Disney publicly opposed Floridas so-called Dont Say Gay law, which banned classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades.

The group`s goal in filing the brief last week is to demonstrate how the path the Governor has chosen is corrosive to the form of democracy envisioned by the Constitution, and to re-emphasize this Courts critical constitutional role in curbing the excesses of governance by retaliation, they said in a court filing.

Specifically, the group says that DeSantis` actions harm Florida economically because firms are being dissuaded from doing business in Florida since they could be subject to the governor`s retaliatory whims if they ever voice disapproval over his policies. The group noted that Disney scrapped plans for a $1 billion campus in Orlando that would have relocated 2,000 employees from Southern California, following a year of attacks by DeSantis.

The group is made up of two former GOP governors, Christine Todd Whitman of New Jersey and Arne Carlson of Minnesota; three former Republican U.S. House members, Tom Coleman of Missouri, Claudine Schneider of Rhode Island and Christopher Shays of Connecticut; and a host of attorneys, commissioners, chiefs of staff and other officials from previous Democratic and Republican presidential administrations.

DeSantis actions were retribution with a goal of discouraging Disney and others from opposing his policies in the future, said the officials who compared the takeover to autocratic actions taken in Russian and China.

The fact that Governor DeSantis has taken these anti-democratic actions so blatantly and brazenly  that he is proud of them  only makes them all the more damaging to the political and social fabric of Florida and the country as a whole, they said.

An email seeking comment was sent Sunday morning to a spokesperson for the governor`s office in Tallahassee. The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press also has filed a brief in support of Disney, arguing that a win by the Florida governor would embolden other governments across the U.S. to take actions against journalists and other media when they exercise their First Amendment rights.

DeSantis, a candidate for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, is seeking a dismissal of Disney`s lawsuit in Tallahassee federal court. The governor argues Disney is barred from filing a lawsuit because of legislative immunity protecting officials involved in the process of making laws and that the company lacks standing since it can`t show that it has been injured.

DeSantis appointees took control of the Disney World district earlier this year following a yearlong feud between the company and DeSantis. 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, Republican lawmakers passed legislation reconstituting the district and DeSantis appointed a new board of supervisors to oversee municipal services for the sprawling theme parks and hotels. Disney sued DeSantis and his five board appointees in federal court, saying the governor violated the companys free speech rights by taking the retaliatory action.

Before the new board came in, Disney made agreements with previous oversight board members who were Disney supporters that stripped the new supervisors of their authority over design and development. The DeSantis-appointed members of the governing district have sued Disney in state court in a second lawsuit stemming from the districts takeover, seeking to invalidate those agreements.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Florida Politics
The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division fined Hillsboro contractor Arm & Hammer Construction Inc. $66,420 for multiple violations of workplace safety rules.

In one violation, the company repeatedly failed to protect workers from fall hazards that could seriously injure or kill them, and in another, the company willfully decided against notifying Oregon OSHA a worker was hospitalized overnight due to an on-the-job injury, according to Oregon OSHA.

The citation against Arm & Hammer Construction stems from an inspection opened in March in response to a confidential complaint. The complaint concerned work in mid-Januaray at a jobsite in Hillsboro where employees were building a deck on the second level of an outbuilding near a house.

The complaint alleges the company did not provide employees with fall protection and that a worker fell and was hospitalized for broken ribs and punctured lungs. The complaint also alleged Arm & Hammer Construction decided against following an Oregon OSHA requirement that employers report work-related injuries that result in overnight hospitalizations.

The investigation found the company exposed an employee to the hazard of falling about 15 feet to the ground, and it did so by failing to comply with an Oregon OSHA rule that requires employers to implement fall protection systems when workers are exposed to a hazard of falling 6 feet or more to a lower level. It was the companys fourth such violation since September 2021, according to Oregon OSHA.

It also found that although the owner of Arm & Hammer Construction was made aware of the work-related injury when it occurred, he reportedly willfully decided against complying with Oregon OSHAs reporting requirement and instructed the injured worker to not report the incident.

The total penalty issued against Arm & Hammer Construction included a standard penalty reduction based on the size of the company. Under Oregon OSHA rules, penalties multiply when employers commit repeat offenses.

Employers have 30 days after receiving a citation to file an appeal.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Workers' Compensation Talent Contractors Oregon
Dispensary entrepreneur Adam Fong got tired of having his San Rafael, California operation being broken into. The business suffered five break-ins starting in 2019, with the biggest loss coming from the first theft  $10,000 worth of product and $20,000 in cash.

Fong, who has built his Northern California-based business into a well-known name in the cannabis industry  Nice Guys Delivery  started to make incremental changes to his operation after that first break in, continually looking to make it harder for would be crooks to get in.

He watched surveillance videos and studied how the thieves were trying to enter his facility, then he used his welding skills to create security systems to prevent criminals from being able to enter.

He fortified and fortified. He made all the access points more secure, and the doors stronger  he even built a custom entrance for the main door. His security systems have since deterred criminals from entering his facility on multiple occasions.

Fongs experience with dispensary theft arent unique. Thefts at dispensaries are common, becoming a big talking point in the industry for a number of years.

Cannabis operators are beefing up security, and in some cases they are custom fortifying, in hopes of making a case to carriers for lowering premiums. One well-known cannabis business, Nice Guys Delivery, is even launching a custom fortification operation to capitalize on what owners believe will be a trend.

Our latest podcast episode features Adam Fong, owner of Nice Guys Delivery, and his broker Valerie Taylor with The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers.

Following are takeaways from that conversation.

You know, operating in cannabis business in California, its a dangerous territory because, you know, most cannabis businesses are seen as soft targets, Fong said. We opened in 2016, and weve had five break-ins total. Our first break-in was in 2019. The second one happened in 2022. And unfortunately, we had three in 2023. The only substantial losses that we had were the first break-in, in 2019, just because we werent prepared. We were comfortable in the space we were in. And its been a learning process since then.

It started off in 2019 with Fong just fortifying the windows. Then they addressed all of their access points, and finally he built a custom entrance for the main door. As time has passed, the security has gone through several reiterations and redesigns.

As of now, I think we have a really good system, and it really brings a lot of comfort to being in the cannabis business, he said. Having being broken into really does a lot to a business owners confidence, but, you know, security really, really helps us be in the space and feels safe.

Taylor said in the last few years more dispensary owners are beefing up security to make a case to carriers for lower rates  something she has been proactive in helping her clients do.

I think that things have changed significantly since probably Id say 2020 in terms of preventative measures, she said. So it used to be that an operator would leave the theft idea towards almost the end  they would sort of say, OK, now were gonna open, lets hire some, some guards. Now, what Im seeing is that security consulting companies are in at the design process. So very early on they are already thinking of custom fortification, entry points and standard security measures that carriers require to meet the theft warranties that have to be met.

That is where she ties it all back to insurance for her clients, making sure they understand thes theft warranties.

If theyre not met, theres no coverage in a theft, she said. So, a lot of times, people arent explaining this, so I like to go over that to make sure everyones on the same page.

These steps may not immediately show a direct correlation to rate decreases, it does help build a case, according to her.

So, I build the story of, Here are all the elements that are being put into the design. Heres everything that the clients are doing to mitigate or prevent claims. You know, its becoming more common that there is a claim on a clients, loss history. And so, what I do is say, OK, well what happened? What did they do about it? And in Adams case, its sort of a perfect scenario to build a story to carriers because hes done so much about it. So it helps, i its used as an element to negotiate to carriers why they should provide better rates. Its not a direct correlation, its just part of the story that I build to help negotiate.

Related:

Topics California Cannabis
Source: Streetwise Reports

August 8, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Defense Metals Corp. has hired two companies as principal consultants for its preliminary feasibility study (PFS) of its Wicheeda Rare Earth Element (REE) project in British Columbia.

Defense Metals Corp. (DEFN:TSX.V; DFMTF:OTCQB; 35D:FSE) announced it has hired two companies as principal consultants for its preliminary feasibility study (PFS) of its Wicheeda Rare Earth Element (REE) project in British Columbia.

SRK Consulting Inc. will lead coordinating the National Instrument 43-101 report and handle the mining and tailings scope of work with support from APEX Geoscience Ltd., Defense Metals said.

Hatch Ltd. will focus on REE concentrating and hydrometallurgical processes and plant facilities, as well as capital and operating costs.

Defense Metals is looking to steal some of China's stranglehold on the sector - it accounts for about 60% of REE mine production and more than 85% of the refined output of REEs.

The Wicheeda rare earths project in British Columbia has the "excellent infrastructure and a large, growing resource" to take on China, Paradigm Capital senior analyst David Davidson wrote in an April research note.

"The Wicheeda deposit is one of the more advanced light rare earth element (LREE) projects in North America," wrote Davidson, who has given the stock a Speculative Buy rating and a CA$1.25 per share price target. "With the push to source more critical elements domestically, Defense Metals is well positioned to take advantage of this opportunity."

World politics may be playing right into DEFN's hand. China recently decided to restrict the export of two metals critical to superconductor production, gallium, and germanium.

While these metals are not being sought by Defense at Wicheeda, company officials worry China may eventually target the REEs the company wants to provide for green technologies like wind turbines and electric vehicles (EVs).

Technical Analyst Clive Maund wrote on July 19 that although the stock's "price hasn't moved - yet," he expected that to change.

"The heavy volume driving this advance and the soaring Accumulation line resulting from this is very bullish," Maund noted.

The Catalyst: Possibility of a 'Compelling' PFS

SRK was previously involved in the preliminary economic assessment (PEA) published in 2022. SRK will build on that knowledge to "create an optimal development plan for Wicheeda, Defense Metals said in a release.

SRK will also be project lead and work with risk assessment, surface water management, contact water treatment, and environmental geochemistry.

Both SRK and Hatch have extensive experience and knowledge of the REE sector, the company noted.

Defense Metals recently updated Wicheeda's 3D geological model with 10,000 meters of new drilling from 47 holes completed in 2021 and 2022, which the company called a "significant milestone." Updating the resource estimate and completing the PFS is next up.

Early successes of the testing process and the results of drilling in 2021 and 2022 point to the possibility of a "compelling" PFS, Noble Capital Markets analyst Mark Reichman wrote. He rated the stock Outperform with a CA$0.90 target price.

Davidson with Paradigm Capital wrote that he expected "positive surprises" in the upcoming resource estimate from the company.

"We expect to see the total resource increased by at least another 10-15% and a modest improvement in overall grade," he wrote. "In addition to the drilling, considerable metallurgical work has also been undertaken, particularly regarding assessing acid bake technology opportunities, which should provide a higher degree of confidence in eventual REE recoveries."

Clock Is Running Out

Defense Metals wants to reduce North America's dependence on Chinese REEs and produce as much as 10% of them. But time on the clock is running since it can take years to develop a mine into production.

"This geopolitical conflict ... related to semiconductors that are essential for military, AI, telecommunications, and transportation technologies raises the emergency for the West to develop critical materials and supply chains," Defense Metals President Luisa Moreno told Streetwise Reports. "China is the largest producer of rare earths, and it can at any time impose broad 'export restrictions' in the same fashion is now imposing on gallium and germanium."

Canada's government introduced its Critical Minerals Strategy, backed by nearly CA$4 billion, late last year.

The government promised to review the permitting process to cut the time required to bring new mines online by avoiding duplication and ensuring early First Nations engagement.

Companies will get help applying for permits and federal support through the Critical Minerals Centre of Excellence, which is already operating with a team of about 15 people.

REEs are in high demand as the economy shifts into greener territory. They are used for purifying water, MRIs, fertilizers, weapons, scientific research, wind turbines, computers, and permanent magnet motors for electric vehicles (EVs). [OWNERSHIP_CHART-9678]

The global market for the elements is expected to grow from US$2.6 billion in 2020 to US$5.5 billion in 2028, according to a report by Fortune Business Insights.

"The rising demand for consumer durables such as tablets, laptops, and smartphones (are some) of the factors driving the consumption of rare earth elements," the report said. "The demand for these elements in developing economies is estimated to expand rapidly."

Ownership and Share Structure

About 5% of the company's stock is owned by insiders, including Director Andrew S. Burgess with 1.63% or 4.18 million shares, and CEO Taylor with 0.98% or 2.5 million shares, according to Reuters.

About 11% of the company is owned by institutional entities, including RCF Opportunities Fund II LP, with 10%, the company said. The rest, 84%, is retail.

Defense Metals has a market cap of CA$56.27 million with 255.78 million shares outstanding, 212.98 million of them free floating. It trades in a 52-week range of CA$0.39 and CA$0.17.

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August 8, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Despite the plethora of electronic gadgets we have at our fingertips, most people don't make the connection between the materials that go into them, and the magic of the devices we use.

As for the electrification of the global transportation system, it doesn't happen without graphite. That's because the lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles are composed of an anode (negative) on one side and a cathode (positive) on the other. Graphite is used in the anode.



The cathode is where metals like lithium, nickel, manganese and cobalt are used, and depending on the battery chemistry, there are different options available to battery makers. Not so for graphite, a material for which there are no substitutes.

Due to its natural strength and stiffness, graphite is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. It is also stable over a wide range of temperatures.

Graphite is thus found in a wide range of consumer devices, including smart phones, laptops, tablets and other wireless devices, earbuds and headsets. Besides being integral to electric car batteries, graphite is found in e-bikes and scooters.

Graphite has the largest component in batteries by weight, constituting 45% or more of the cell. Nearly four times more graphite feedstock is consumed in each battery cell than lithium and nine times more than cobalt.

Needless to say, graphite is indispensable to the EV supply chain. Bloomberg New Energy Finance expects graphite demand to quadruple by 2030 on the back of an EV battery boom transforming the transportation sector.



The International Energy Agency (IEA) goes 10 years further out, predicting that growth in graphite demand could see an 8- to 25-fold increase between 2020 and 2040, trailing only lithium in terms of demand growth upside.

Graphite crisis

The question then becomes whether we have enough graphite to sustain the demand pressures of the EV revolution. To answer it, consider the slide below:

The United States currently imports 100% of its graphite. Another way of saying this is the US has zero production. With 70% of the world's graphite supply coming from China, how will the United States compete in these new technologies that are shaping our world? Are we going to own what we need here or buy it from other countries? Current events are teaching us how dangerous it is to rely on foreign sources of supply, in a world where adversaries can use access to materials as an economic weapon.

American manufacturing including equipping the US military with the most advanced weapons systems in the world is untenable without domestic production of graphite and other critical minerals. 95% of the typical battery anode is composed of graphite, none of which the United States currently mines. The World Bank projects that the market for graphite will grow by nearly 500% by 2050; President Biden in his 100-day report said the number is 2,400% by 2040.

In the past, the industrial minerals sector has mostly overlooked any potential problems in securing graphite for EV batteries.



After all, graphite is plentiful, with a well-developed supply chain due to longstanding demand from industries such as steelmaking and electronics. It's also cheaper, with the raw material priced at roughly one-tenth that of lithium. In 2022, graphite made up just 2% of the battery cost, according to consultants at Kearney.



However, what many are forgetting are two important trends concerning graphite: 1. Demand is accelerating at a rate never seen before; and 2. The industry is shifting towards natural graphite.



An analysis of expected demand by Benchmark Mineral Intelligence suggests that graphite has the largest future gap between supply and demand - even more than that of lithium. Graphite demand is likely to grow by a factor of eight by 2030 over 2020 levels (4.2 metric tons over a supply of 3.0), and 25 times by 2040, said Benchmark. That translates into a predicted supply shortfall of 30% for graphite, compared to 11% for lithium (2.4 over 2.1), 26% for nickel (1.5 over 1.1), and 6% for cobalt (0.32 over 0.30).



EV demand will absorb all graphite output at this rate. Source: Kearney

By then, the world's graphite supplies will not even be able to cover demand for EVs, let alone all end-use sectors, BMI projections showed.

Then there's the problem with the type of graphite used. For ages, synthetic graphite has held the lion's share of the battery market (57% of the anode market in 2022, according to BMI), because it performs better in electrolyte compatibility and has fast-charge turnaround and battery longevity. But compared to the natural version, it costs nearly double and has a lower capacity.



Importantly, synthetic graphite is very energy-intensive. BMI estimates that anode production using synthetic graphite can be over four times more carbon-intensive than with natural graphite. Not to mention the pollutants, which make synthetic graphite counterproductive to climate goals.



For these reasons, EV manufacturers are beginning to show a preference for natural graphite, especially as processors have improved the purity. It's widely expected that the world's natural graphite production is likely to outpace synthetic yields by 2030 (see below).



Natural & synthetic graphite consumption outlook. Source: Roskill

Flake graphite, as the name implies, has a distinctly flaky or platy morphology. Only flake graphite upgraded to 99.95% purity can be used in batteries. Herein lies a bigger problem: natural flake graphite is difficult to source. Only about 20 countries make up the world's supply, many of which produce insignificant amounts (<10,000 tonnes a year).



Complicating matters is that not all mined material has the required purity for EV battery consumption.



China is currently by far the biggest producer with nearly three-quarters of the world's graphite production. Due to weak environmental standards and low costs, China also controls almost all graphite processing, establishing itself as the dominant force in every stage of the supply chain.

US import dependence

As much as the United States wants to keep pace with China in the global EV race, it can't do so without a reliable graphite supply. As mentioned, the US does not mine any graphite, so it is solely reliant on imports.



According to the USGS, in 2022 the US imported 82,000 tonnes of natural graphite, of which 77% was flake and high-purity. The top importers were China (33%), Mexico (18%), Canada (17%) and Madagascar (10%).



But taking into account the fact that EV batteries require run-of-mine graphite to go through purification and coating, a process controlled by China, the US is actually not 33% dependent on China for its battery-grade graphite, but 100%. This is a precarious position to be in should the country want to stay in contention for EV dominance.



Heavy reliance on Chinese graphite mine supply. Source: Kearney

This is why graphite is firmly placed on the US government's critical minerals list, and is identified as one of five key battery minerals that are at risk of supply disruptions. The other four - lithium, nickel, cobalt and manganese - typically form the cathode that decides the capacity and therefore tend to get more attention. But graphite, as the anode material, is probably the most crucial one since it's far superior to current alternatives.



According to the USGS, the battery end-use market for graphite has already leaped by 250% since 2018. It's thought that battery demand could gobble up well over 1.6 million tonnes of natural flake graphite per year.



For context, 2022 mine supply was about 1.3 million tonnes, which means we're very close to entering, if not already, a period of deficits. Benchmark Mineral Intelligence projects natural graphite will have the largest supply shortfalls of all battery materials by 2030, with demand outstripping expected supplies by about 1.2 million tonnes.



Source: USGS

And this is just counting EV battery use; the mining industry still needs to supply other end-users. The automotive and steel industries remain the largest consumers of graphite today, with demand across both rising at 5% per annum.



BMI has said as many as 97 average-sized graphite mines need to come online by 2035 to meet global demand. That's about eight new mines a year, which at first may seem doable but considering the number of graphite projects worldwide and the time it takes to develop them into mines, we're really up against it.

Support from government

Thankfully, the US. government has begun to appreciate the current crisis in graphite and other critical minerals it is import-dependent on.

In 2022 the Biden administration invoked its Cold War powers by including lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite and manganese on the list of items covered by the 1950 Defense Production Act, previously used by President Harry Truman to make steel for the Korean War.

To bolster domestic production of these minerals, US miners can now gain access to $750 million under the act's Title III fund, which can be used for current operations, productivity and safety upgrades, and feasibility studies.

The trillion-dollar infrastructure bill allocates $7 billion to advance domestic projects and renewable energy, supply chains and critical minerals with specific focus on EV batteries.

Richard (Rick) Mills

aheadoftheherd.com

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Business groups have warned the Government the current windfall from exchequer returns must not be "squandered" and excess funds need to be locked into a special purpose fund targeted at the country's infrastructure deficits in the coming years.

In its pre- budget submission, Chambers Ireland said for the first time in five years, the Government would be creating its budget without being under the shadow of an immediate impending crisis.

"Ireland has, since Brexit, been navigating an uncertain world with un-anticipatable crises impacting us in successive years," its submission states.

"At last, Budget 2024, is being drafted during a period of relative calm. Government parties and ministers need to use this opportunity to cement the gains that we have made and prepare for both the uncertain years we have before us and the impact of our population growth on infrastructure and services."

Chambers Ireland, representing the country's 40 chambers of commerce organisations, said its submission was focused on housing and infrastructure including the activation of vacant sites, brownfield redevelopment and modern methods of construction.

"Having successfully weathered so many crises, we are in an era of unprecedented tax revenues which are largely a result of the unique mix of businesses based on this island," the submission states.

This windfall must not be squandered, and excess funds need to be locked into a special purpose fund that will ensure that the capital we need to make good on our infrastructural deficits is consistently available when needed.

Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said its members were extremely concerned about the infrastructure gap which is lowering the quality of life for people working in Ireland.

"The challenges of recruiting and retaining staff is lowering our competitiveness and damaging our reputation internationally," he said.

"Covid, Brexit, and inflation have all delayed the closing of the gap which is the result of the post-crash decade of under-investment.

The economic problems our members are experiencing today are all problems of capacity  much of our energy, transport, housing, health, and water networks are operating at or beyond their projected utility.

"The recent Census results underline how important it is that our ambitious plans are delivered in a timely manner, or we will continue to play catch-up."

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said Budget 2024 will include a package of measures for businesses that will recognise the additional costs coming down the line, including the expected increase in the minimum wage.

It is really important, as a country, that we dont engage in any hubris here. We have seen, in the past, how quickly a small, open economy like Ireland can be affected by making the wrong policy choices and by events that happen internationally.

That is why we are taking the decision to set aside about 10bn from the surplus next year to pay down the debt.

To set that aside for future infrastructure costs. To set it aside for future pension costs and I think that is the right decision.
Kerrygold owner Ornua has partnered with University College Cork to offer a fully-funded postgraduate scholarship for the MSc in Sustainable Development, Agri-Food and Co-operatives.

The Ornua Scholarship, which was launched for the first time in 2021, will support a student in the upcoming academic year, helping them pursue a career towards sustainability leadership in agri-food.

As part of their participation in the programme, the successful scholar will complete a work placement with Ornua in 2024.

The scholarship for Cork University Business School, which is part of UCC, is worth 16,000 to the student recipient, as it covers college fees as well as a stipend.

The first-of-its-kind master's programme integrates collaborative approaches into the study of sustainable development and agri-food, offering work placements and research-based learning to help students secure roles in areas such as ESG, green energy, logistics, project management, agri-advisory and research.

"We firmly believe that investing in education and developing talent is key to driving sustainable development and securing a prosperous future for the entire Irish agri-food sector," said Dave Fitzgerald, Sustainability Director at Ornua.

"We are excited to continue our partnership with UCC. This scholarship will help participants further develop cutting-edge research, gain practical experience and contribute to the dairy industry's collective effort in further embedding sustainability.

Celia Cremin, last year's Ornua scholar, said the mentorship and guidance helped her gain "valuable insights into the dairy industry," adding that undertaking the MSc gave her a "strong competitive edge," as she embarks on her career.
Why do we sometimes feel anxious, cross or afraid? And what can we do about it? These questions are asked and answered in Mighty Mindsets, a picture book for four- to eight-year-olds by Niamh Doyle.

Doyle has years of experience teaching in mainstream and special education schools. She uses her expertise to help young readers understand their emotions, how their brain works and how they can use strategies like breathing to feel calm and care for their mental health.

With playful illustrations by Carol Betera, this book is an excellent introduction to mindfulness for children. Its available from 11.99 in bookshops nationwide.

Tableware for kids

The family-owned Irish business bamboobaby.ie has just launched its own line of baby tableware. Made from 100% organic bamboo, it includes bowls, plates, spoons, and forks, all designed to be eco-friendly, safe, stylish, and affordable.

The forks and spoons have smooth edges that are gentle on little gums and easy for babies to hold. The bowls are fitted with suction pads to remain firmly on the table. The plates are also divided into sections so that various foods can be served at mealtimes.

All of bamboobaby.ies tableware is free from harmful chemicals such as BPA, PVC, and phthalates. Its available online, where the suction bowl and plate set, complete with fork and spoon, is currently reduced from 35.99 to 27.99.

Embracing our heritage

National Heritage Week starts on Saturday, August 12 and runs until Sunday, August 20. Those seven days will see more than 1,000 free events taking place throughout the country, featuring architecture, archaeology, art, film, music, storytelling, and much more.

In Douglas, Cork, ecologist Karen Loxton will bring families on a biodiversity walk through Ballybrack Woods on August 12, pointing out the birds, bees, butterflies and bugs along the way.

In the Kerry County Museum in Tralee, our Viking past will be brought to life through interactive workshops on August 15. Visitors to Limericks Bunratty Castle will meet its resident blacksmith and learn just how important his work was to the people of medieval times.

Theres plenty more to enjoy, too, including a childrens mini beasty hunt in Cobh on August 12, a childrens plaster art workshop in Clonmel Library on August 15 and a big beach nature survey in Gearhies on the Sheeps Head Peninsula on August 15.

To find the perfect event for you and your family, visit heritageweek.ie.

Creative calendar

Irish Rugby Star Sean OBrien launches the 4th Annual Hereford Charity Photo and Calendar Competition, this year in-aid of Childrens Health Ireland at Crumlin

Does your kid love animals? Do they also like drawing, painting or sketching? If so, they need to know about the Hereford Charity Calendar Competition.

Irish Hereford Prime organises this competition every year to showcase the Hereford cattle breed and raise funds for the Childrens Health Foundation, which supports parents and families attending the childrens hospitals in Temple Street, Crumlin, Connolly, and Tallaght. For the past three years, it has called on budding photographers to submit photos of Hereford cattle for inclusion in its calendar.

The company has introduced a new category called Creative Calves this year. Its for children and teens under 16, says Sean OBrien, the former Irish rugby star who launched the competition. Were inviting entrants to draw, paint or sketch a Hereford animal and to use their creativity in support of their peers undergoing treatment and recovering in hospital.

Entries are open until Friday, September 15. The submissions will then be shortlisted, and the public will be asked to vote for their favourites. The winners will be announced in October and the calendar will go on sale in November, with all proceeds going directly to the Childrens Health Foundation. For further information, see irishherefordprime.com/crumlin-charity-calendar.
Derry Girls star Siobhan McSweeney has opened up about death, her love for her home county, and her fantasy funeral in a candid conversation with fellow actor, Kathy Burke.

Speaking on the Where Theres A Will, Theres A Wake podcast, which is based around the concept of planning your perfect death, Cork native McSweeney admitted that she does not like the idea of dying.

What I would like is that everybody else is gone. The world is on fire. It is uninhabitable. There's nothing to live for," she tells Burke. "The idea of somebody else, of everybody else being dead would probably be enough to let me curl up into a corner and die.

When asked if she has a touch of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), the 43-year-old says she used to have major FOMO but now, she is at the point in her life where she enjoys missing things.

Im like, no, no, thank you. I'm staying in and watching Poirot and it sort of gives me the same tingly delight as if I'd been like, oh, I found out where the party is. I'm off to there and I'm really enjoying it.

McSweeney's mother died when she was 27 and had just graduated from drama school while her father was ill for a long time before he passed away.

In May, the actor won a Bafta for her performance in Derry Girls and admits she would have liked to have had her parents there. Not for the, like, aren't I great? But for the, I'm okay, she explains.

In her acceptance speech, McSweeney said one of the very last things her mother said to her was, "would I not consider retraining as a teacher."

"If she could see me now getting a Bafta for playing a teacher. Jokes on you," she told the audience at the time.

Speaking to Burke about her parents, she said: I feel a bit, should I say this, but after my father died  my father was ill for a long time  and I felt high. I was manic for three months after he died. After the manic stopped, I swear to God, Kathy, this outpouring of ideas and of plots and plans and I started writing and I had an idea for this and I had an idea for that.

"It was like a dam had burst and I think that the best gift my parents gave me was dying.

I feel that it has allowed me finally to grow up. I minded dad and I minded mam as much as I could. There's a great honour and it's a real privilege to be able to look after your parents  it's a real, real privilege and a beautiful thing to suddenly not have to worry about that anymore and feel like, yes, I minded them, that's fine. But now I have this. I have more than half my brain back.

Siobhan McSweeny as Sister Michael. Picture: PA Photo/Channel 4 Television/Peter Marley

Moving on to her fantasy funeral  unsurprisingly  she said it would have to be in Cork.

I was thinking maybe the lovely black horses and the carriage instead of the hearse. But then I thought, no, I want a litter of young Greek boys. Do you remember how Liz Taylor entered in Cleopatra? That but me dead.

I want it camp and beautiful and sad and I also definitely, no matter what, want the same litter of Greek boys to send out beautifully embossed pieces of off-white card to my list of enemies.

It would say, you are cordially not invited to Siobhan McSweeney's funeral. And I would hand write underneath the reasons why they were c****. Im really looking forward to that bit.

Settling the Barry versus Lyons tea debate, McSweeney says for her last supper, it would be a combination of some classic Irish cuisine.

Freshly cut mackerel fried in either plain flour or porridge oats. A big mug of Barrys tea with a teensy bit of milk, soda bread with  I use butter like cheese, I cut it like cheese  but, Bandon Co-Op butter and a bit of salt, a bit of white pepper and that is it. It is the most delicious meal in the world.

As for her ashes, they would be scattered in Cork, she says, because even while enjoying life in London  home is home.

You can listen to the Where Theres A Will, Theres A Wake podcast here. Where Theres A Will, Theres A Wake is available on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
There are significantly more short-term lets available across the country than there are long-term rentals, with more than 18,000 properties available to lease on Airbnb.

Analysis carried out by the Irish Examiner shows that there are a total of 18,086 Airbnb rentals nationwide, compared to just 1,299 rental properties available on Daft.ie. That is 14 times more short-term lets compared to long-term rentals.

The high proportion of Airbnbs compared to rental properties is particularly high in counties that are known to attract tourism, particularly Donegal, Clare, Kerry and Cork county.

In particular, there were just 31 properties available to rent on Daft across Donegal. This compares to the 1,796 Airbnbs in the county. In Clare, there were just 17 rental properties available on Daft, however there were 1,044 properties available on Airbnb.

In Cork city, the ratio of rental properties to short-term lets is smaller, with 40 properties available to rent compared to 181 Airbnbs. However, outside the city there are over 1,418 Airbnbs available to let compared to just 34 rental properties on Daft.

One eighth of all Airbnbs in Ireland are located in Kerry, where there are 82 times more short-term lets than long-term rental properties. In total, there are 2,056 properties on Airbnb, with just 25 houses available to rent on Daft.

All these figures exclude Airbnb properties that are single rooms in currently occupied houses.

Legislation

The Government is currently seeking to further regulate the short-term let sector, with legislation agreed by Cabinet in late 2022. Currently, people seeking to let out their property require planning permission if they wish to rent it for more than 90 days a year.

This legislation would establish a short-term tourist letting register that would require any homeowner renting their house for more than 21 days to register with Failte Ireland.

It would also grant Failte Ireland the ability to levy fines against households for listing properties without valid registration numbers, with maximum fines of up to 2,000.

The Government had estimated that the new rules would bring back an additional 12,000 properties onto the rental market. However, the European Commission ruled that it was too strict and placed a standstill on enacting the legislation until December 22, 2023.

Due to the standstill, the Department of Tourism is currently liaising with the European Commission over the legislation. It is expected that the new regulations will be brought into force in 2024.

However, Sinn Feins Eoin O Broin has called for punitive measures to be brought against the short-term let platforms in particular, saying that they should not be able to host homeowners without valid short-term let planning permission.

I dont think we should let the platforms off the hook, Mr O Broin said. The idea that platforms are profiting off properties without planning permission is unacceptable.

He said that daily spot fines for platforms, like Airbnb, valued above the level a homeowner rents out their property would help tackle the issue.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Airbnb said that hosts are encouraged to check existing rules before they rent out their property. We remind hosts, wherever they are, to check and follow the rules before they list their space and throughout the year.

The majority of hosts on Airbnb in Ireland are everyday families who share their primary home and rent their space for just three nights a month on average.
The man who was convicted in 1983 in Texas for the murder of an Irish priest has been exonerated by a county judge, and his case will be transferred to the US Court of Criminal Appeals.

James Reyos, an Apache Native American, had been convicted of the murder of Limerick priest Fr Patrick Ryan and sentenced to 38 years in prison.

However, during a hearing in March of this year, the Ector County judge was given evidence of Mr Reyos innocence by his legal team at the Innocence Project of Texas (IPTX).

In a statement issued by the Innocence Project yesterday, Mr Reyos said: I have always believed that one day the world would know I did not kill Father Ryan.

Todays ruling puts me one step closer to finally clearing my name.

His attorney Allison Clayton, deputy director of IPTX and director of the Innocence Clinic at Texas Tech School of Law said: We are so thankful for todays ruling, which significantly advances our pursuit of James complete exoneration.

We could not have gotten here without the outstanding work of OPD and the Ector County DAs [district attorneys] office.

We all anxiously await a final ruling from the Court of Criminal Appeals.

Fr Patrick Ryan, 49, and originally from Doon, was found beaten to death in a motel room in Odessa, Texas on December 21, 1981, having checked in under the name John Killey.

The Odessa Police Department reopened the investigation into the murder earlier this year following the identification of three suspects after fingerprints taken from the scene in 1981 found matches in the US national fingerprint system last year.

Sergeant Scottie Smith previously told the Irish Examiner that there had been considerable damage caused to the room that night, including holes in doors, blood spatters on the walls, and the bed was broken.
Flags have been flown at half-mast at garda stations in south-east Dublin, mourning the loss of a respected detective garda who died tragically in a boat fire on Monday.

Detective Garda Deirdre Finn had investigated brutal murders, rapes, and robberies, and was due to retire next year.

An investigation of the fire will probably take some time but it is not currently being treated as suspicious, a colleague said.

We havent heard of anything suspicious, so far. Boat fires like this are unusual. There are things that can go wrong on a boat but I havent heard of too many boat fires where someone has died like that."

The fire took hold early yesterday morning on the boat moored in Carrick-On-Shannon in Co Leitrim. It is understood Det Gda Finn, who was attached to Dun Laoghaire Garda Station, had been attending a function in the area and was alone on the boat.

Her body was removed from the scene to Sligo University Hospital Mortuary where a post mortem was due to take place on Today. The Marine Casualty Investigation Board said it is currently gathering information on the incident to determine whether a full investigation is required".

Det Gda Finn worked in the F district of DMR East, in the Dun Laoghaire, Shankill, Cabinteely areas. She also worked with the Organised Crime Unit for some time in the city, the colleague said.

A large crowd is expected at Det Gda Finns funeral on Friday at 12pm in St John the Evangelist Church, Ballinteer. She was well-known across the country from her work over some 20 years with the Garda Representative Association (GRA).

She was described as larger than life and affable by GRA president Brendan OConnor.

We are devastated at the loss of a colleague and friend who not only was a talented crime investigator but also served colleagues and the GRA so well in a number of elected roles.

Deirdres personality was larger than life. She was a very friendly, outgoing person.

She started her career as a young garda in Bray, and spent most of her service in the DMR East.

She was also a detective and had been involved in the investigation of crime in both Shankill and Dun Laoghaire.

"She was also a very active member of our own association. She fulfilled a number of roles, both as a district and a divisional rep and she was part of our standing order committee and was very involved in organising our annual delegates conference.

A lot of messages came in yesterday from people who attended conferences and met Deirdre.

She made a big impression. As a rep, she gave herself to colleagues, advocating on their behalf. And she applied herself in that nature to victims of crime in instances she investigated.

So, really she touched a lot of lives, and theres shock and devastation with what occurred.

Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors general secretary Antoinette Cunningham tweeted: Unspeakably sad news that a highly respected serving garda colleague has died in these terribly sad circumstances. Our thoughts and the condolences of all in AGSI Ireland are sent to her family, friends, and colleagues, may her gentle soul rest in peace.

Friends told the Irish Examiner that Det Gda Finn loved spending time on the River Shannon and had recently bought a new boat.

A spokesperson for Waterways Ireland told the Irish Examiner the agency was supporting the emergency services following a tragic incident in Carrick.

Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the person who has lost their life, they added.

A family liaison officer has been provided to Det Gda Finn's family.
Respected mathematician Dr David Flannery, who was the father of acclaimed Cork singer-songwriter Mick, has died aged 71.

Dr Flannery, a father of five, had helped found Munster Technological University's (MTU) (then Cork Institute of Technologys) flagship engineering programme and maths department, which he headed for some time.

He had suffered with Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a rare neurological condition that is similar to Parkinson's.

His wife, fellow academic Elaine, died aged 59 from metastatic cervical cancer in October 2014. Last year, Dr Flannery settled a High Court action over the alleged misdiagnosis of her smear slide.

Dr Aine Ni She said Dr Flannery was a fantastic mathematician and a fantastic teacher. Dr Ni She is MTU's Registrar and Vice President of Academic Affairs in the Cork campuses and she took over as Head of Department in Mathematics from Dr Flannery in 2012.

Paying tribute, she said: He was really honest. Integrity is a noun I associate with David. He had huge integrity and would always stand up for his principles. He was always trying to do the right thing.

He was humble and was always quick to recognise other peoples work and identify talent. He was hugely generous with his knowledge, expertise, resources, insights. He had an impact on thousands of students. Its a sad day today.

Dr Flannery joined the college in the 1970s and was instrumental in developing the colleges engineering programme which proved key to building MTUs academic and professional reputation.

David Flannery had helped found Munster Technological University's (MTU) (then Cork Institute of Technologys) flagship engineering programme and maths department

'Dedicated'

MTU is now known as an engineering school of renown in Ireland," Dr Ni She said. David was someone who left his mark on CIT/MTU. He was a fantastic mathematician, but also a fantastic pedagogue, a fantastic teacher.

"He was really dedicated to MTU producing top quality candidates and he minded his students, he knew them by name. He was also key in driving the establishment of the mathematics department in CIT.

He was Head of Department from 2010 to 2012 and really put his stamp on it developing a good, sound curriculum. And he was a fantastic customer of the library, he was always looking for new knowledge.

Dr Ni She said that his late wife Elaine was a dearly loved colleague too. She remembers them waiting for her in her new office with a vase of sunflowers when she took over from Mr Flannery as head of the mathematics department. Mr Flannery had thoroughly cleaned out his office for her and he had even put her name on the door, "with every fada correct" on her name.

He called me one sunny May evening to say my office was ready and to come over. Elaine was there. They had a bunch of sunflowers in a vase on the table for me. I still have that vase. He had changed the name on the door to mine, with all the fadas perfect.

When they left, they walked off down the corridor into that warm May sunlight together like loves young dream.

She was diagnosed a short time later.

Mrs Flannery, a microbiologist from Blarney in Cork, died of cervical cancer in 2014. A High Court action was settled last October, but the HSE did not admit liability after Dr Flannery sued over his wifes care. He criticised the HSE for never apologising to the family.

Pat Ahern, who has been a close friend and colleague of Dr Flannerys for 53 years, having met studying maths in UCC in 1970. Mr Ahern said Dr Flannery was an extraordinary man who "was out of pain now."

They later worked together at Cork Regional Technical College which became CIT, now MTU.

I knew him as a friend, as a man and as an educationalist. As an educationalist, he always thought the subject was hugely important but that the students were of paramount importance.

When we started there, we felt like pioneers. We were doing things that had not been done before, writing a syllabus and teaching it.

He was an inspiration to his students and other teachers. He developed courses that were tailored to the students needs in their fields, like in engineering, but he also gave them space to investigate the side roads, if they were interested.

'He was kind'

Dr Flannery was not long retired when his wife died, Mr Ahern said.

Elaines loss was an enormous blow. I was worried about him, he was like a shadow of himself. But he knew he had to move on.

He was a brilliant chess player. He caused me to give up because he would always win. He loved playing cards and was so good he was almost at a professional level. He loved building stone walls. He loved hurling and would support Tipperary, where his family was rooted.

He was kind, gentle and had the most extraordinary intelligence I ever came across.

He was dedicated to his family, to Elaine, to his new wife Ann and to his children.

He managed to fit a lot into his life and was still fascinated by everything right up to the end.
Asylum seekers living in towns and villages across Clare have been welcomed to a shindig in Ennis, in what has been described as a total contrast to previous protests in the county.

Some 60 locals came to the event to welcome and meet over 60 asylum seekers who now call the county their home.

One of the organisers, Sarah Ferrigan said the event was an opportunity for the local community to meet the newest residents in Clare.

She said protests against the accommodation of asylum seekers in May painted an unfair picture of the county.

We had the opportunity to do something positive because there was a lot of negative coverage in May about protests in Clare, she said.

That month, local protesters in Inch erected barricades at the entrance to Magowna House Hotel, which is accommodating asylum seekers in the village.

Ms Ferrigan, an Ennis local and member of Clare Welcomes Everyone, said on the contrary, Clare has been fantastic in welcoming and standing in solidarity with those living in direct provision.

Similar to Saturdays event, a solidarity gathering was held for asylum seekers who had recently arrived in Miltown Malbay two weeks ago.

Attendance at the welcoming was bolstered by a local priest who had urged those attending Mass to show their support.

Theres a lot of good stuff happening and it just gives a bit of a counter to the bad news.

However, while travelling home from the event, she saw Inch locals still protesting at Magowna House Hotel.

I couldnt believe it, they were sitting there with their signs and just a couple of miles up the road there was joy and connections being made, she said before adding: What a difference a few miles make.

Once a narrative gets hold in the community it is very hard to break down that echo chamber, she said before adding that Inch locals attended the event that same day to welcome asylum seekers to Clare.

Ms Ferrigan said Saturdays gathering was a success with great feedback from Clare locals and asylum seekers. Picture: Sarah Ferrigan

She said asylum seekers do not live in a vacuum and are aware of what is said about them.

It has a direct impact on their own well-being when they hear the awful things said about them, she said, before adding that it is important they know that it is just a minority.

Ms Ferrigan said she recently spoke to younger asylum seekers who currently live in Magowna House Hotel, some of whom described the hardship they have fled, saying the protests are minor when compared with the horrible circumstances they have left behind.

She said Saturdays gathering was a success with great feedback from Clare locals and asylum seekers.

One highlight was two men from Nepal who live in Ennis and own a local restaurant playing the Ceist Jig, while asylum seekers from Syria, Africa, and the Middle East danced, cheered, and clapped, she said.

Clare musicians performed while food supplied by locals was shared, with Ms Ferrigan describing the shindig as great craic for all involved.

Its only the start because asylum seekers can be stuck in these institutional living situations for years and its ongoing support thats needed, not just not just an event every now and then, she said.

Ms Ferrigan said it is up to communities to help asylum seekers integrate, while supporting them in getting healthcare information, transport and their children into local schools.

The Government is expecting communities to do an awful lot, she said.
Attempting to enter the job market as a skilled young graduate  Expected waiting time: Eight months, and 100+ rejections. It is of my potentially controversial yet humble, Generation Z snowflake opinion that the modern world of recruitment has become much like that of its digital counterpart  the modern digitised world of dating.

Such a desensitised world, where people are no longer people; they are swipeable, ghostable, and incentive-driven entities.

Where emotional joyrides are common, relations are short-lived, and rejections executed without basic human courtesy and decency (that is of course if the recruitee/date goer is lucky enough to actually be rejected and not merely ghosted).

Upon recently receiving my umpteenth rejection  an impersonalised, error-ridden, automated email after extensive rounds of applications, interviews and tests  I began to think about just how thick the skin of young people or recent graduates seeking to enter a so-called booming job market ought to be.

Even more so, if such a demographic, alike a proud humanities graduate myself, dare to step outside the narrow, glorified repertoire of traditionally employability friendly subjects  commerce, law, engineering (you know, the ones who have entire careers fairs dedicated to them).

To top off my ever so-inspiring rejection, (which ironically came from a Google-sponsored PR initiative, whoops, I meant programme, seeking to nourish the next generation of young journalists), was the classic rejection cop-out trope that the demographic in question will most likely be acquainted with: Please note that because of the high volume of applications, we cannot provide you with individualised feedback on your application.

Weirdly enough, this high volume actually pertained to a narrowed-down list of shortlisted candidates.

Before my parents generation and the boomers get their knickers in a twist and start with the Your generation has it easier than ever with jobs spiel, (while were at it, how about your generation had it easier than ever with housing spiel?), despite undeniable advances that have created more professional opportunities today, there are concurrently certain novel factors that have made obtaining said opportunities even more difficult.

For one, unlimited opportunities = unlimited competition and expectations. Nowadays, it seems as if an honours bachelors degree, if even a masters degree, is merely an hors doeuvre for a recruiters elevated standards.

A driving factor of such fierce competition are the comically oxymoronic, unrealistic job expectations and standards posted on entry-level roles (seeking XYZ years and ABCDEF... skills and experience).

Not only are these requirements unrealistic, they more importantly unfairly promote unequal opportunities. If anything, they look past those who may not have had the chance for whatever reason  be it personal, financial etc  to travel or to gain unpaid work experience, which is largely the norm these days, even in cities as expensive as Dublin.

At the end of the day, every unique and equally able candidate assimilating into any company will require some form of training. Doesnt everyone, no matter what background, deserve a chance? Even if they havent had the time to complete three summers of unpaid internship at their dads legal firm, 100 LinkedIn courses, or create their own start-up before the age of 22? Pathetic, right?

My own potentially salty experience aside, recently Ive heard alarming accounts from classmates and contacts, much like myself holding high-scoring academic accreditations and prior experiences under their belt, struggling to secure a fitting professional opportunity in Ireland  again despite a so-called booming economic climate.

One being a first-class honours masters graduate of data analytics and economics, who forewarningly told a French friend of mine (equally, if not more qualified) seeking work in Ireland, that it took him eight months to land a job here.

Another being a gifted, hardworking, and simply likeable Letterkenny graduate of law and social justice who, whilst breaking her back applying and interviewing for jobs, couldnt help but find herself partially dissuaded by hearing of those in unrelated backgrounds magically (cough cough by the powers of D4 mommies and daddies), securing jobs at one of the Big Four.

Despite certain employers often flamboyant promotions of their best diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity practices, from what I and a lot of other graduates hear and see, in certain industries anyways, the days of its who you know are still very much in full nepotistic swing.

On top of these hurdles, the psychological and existential weight of professional choices (and complementing mishaps) come at a much heavier cost than they ever did in my parents era  where a job was just a job, where you somehow managed, with solely a mediocre Leaving Certificate, to find your way into a company and work your way up the ladder.

On the contrary, these days, thanks to a plethora of choice and values, a hustle and capitalistic geared culture and unchallengeable meritocratic societal values, like it or not, a job has a lot to say about a person. Is it really a wonder why young people are so riddled with anxiety?

One of the best pieces of professional advice I received throughout my four years of university came post my circa 20th rejection, from a skilled journalist and fantastic mentor teaching a professional workshop. That advice was: You have a lot less control of your career than you think you do.

Although it may be seem like a rather implausible, and sore-loser cop-out in this world-is-your-oyster, unwaveringly loyal meritocratic era, when you actually consider all of the uncontrollable factors Ive touched on (inflated standards and competition, nepotism, personal factors, finances, and most importantly, sheer luck), it may seem easier than you think to consider that alike any other aspect of life  relationships, health etc  careers are no more saliently controllable, stable nor just.

Eve Moore, Donabate, Dublin

Two forms of daft in Irelands defence For good reason, Irelands defence has been an area of much discussion recently. Likewise, its something I have put thought into, and it has become obvious to me that if Ireland wishes to be serious about our defence, this can truly manifest in only two ways, both of which are daft. The first way is daft, not in the traditional sense, but rather as an acronym. That is to say it would be devastating, absolute, final, and terrifying, or DAFT for short. This option is of course equipping ourselves with the ultimate deterrent; nuclear warheads. I would expect that this would garner much criticism. What right have we, a small nation, in giving ourselves the keys to nuclear Armageddon and the total destruction of humanity and all life on Earth? Theres a strong argument in saying that no nation has the right to destroy the world, however people making that argument have been unsuccessful in winning the argument, partially on account of their opponents having nukes. It could never really be a fair fight. The second way sounds much more daft, in the classical sense. If we look at todays world leaders and warmongers, the phrase male and stale certainly comes to mind. Given this, Ireland has the capacity to utilise a unique form of leverage over this demographic. That is of course that most of the worlds Viagra is produced in Ireland (apparently the Spire is an advertisement for it). I have no doubt that a strategic economic sanction regarding this would take the wind out of a few mens sails, in both the metaphorical and biblical sense. If we used this, I would go so far as to bet on world peace by the end of the week. Sean de Burca, Loughrea, Co Galway

Flying past the laws of physics

I dont know if Mick OLeary knows even less than I do about physics, but I have my suspicions.

Maybe he and other airline CEOs should do a short course in aerodynamics to acquaint themselves with the business of actually flying airplanes in cold air versus hot, and how increases in temperature requires more fuel and less weight to take off and land.

If Micko thinks that he can subvert the laws of physics by ignoring climate change, he might be better advised to quit while hes ahead and confine himself to breeding pedigree beasts down on the farm.

Liam Power, Dundalk, Co Louth
Two Russian missile strikes hit the city centre of the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk in the eastern Donetsk region on Monday, killing five people and wounding at least 31, Ukrainian officials have said.

Ukraines Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said one of the strikes, which targeted the Ukrainian portion of a region partially occupied by Russia, killed four civilians, and the other killed the deputy head of the regional branch of Ukraines State Emergency Service.

At least 31 people  including 19 policemen, five rescuers and one child  have been wounded in the attack, the official said.

The strikes damaged a hotel, residential buildings and other civilian structures, according to Donetsk Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of trying to leave nothing but broken and scorched stones in eastern Ukraine.

His remarks accompanied footage of a damaged, five-story residential building with one floor partially destroyed.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has fired draft board directors in all of Ukraines regions in efforts to stamp out corruption (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office/AP)

The deadly attack came just a day after officials from around 40 countries gathered in Saudi Arabia to find a peaceful settlement for the war in Ukraine.

Russias Foreign Ministry denounced the two-day talks in Jeddah as not having the slightest added value because Moscow  unlike Kyiv  was not invited.

A statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry repeated previous assurances that Moscow is open to a diplomatic solution on its terms that would end the 17-month-old war, and that it is ready to respond to serious proposals.

The Kremlins demands include Kyiv recognising its annexation of four Ukrainian regions, which Russian forces at this point only partially control, and Crimea, which Moscow seized in 2014.

But Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Mr Zelenskyy, ruled out Moscows previous demands that would give Russia time to dig in deeper in the parts of Ukraine it has occupied.

He said that Russian forces must fully withdraw from the occupied areas and there would be no compromise by Kyiv on that.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Security Service announced on Monday that it had detained an alleged Russian informant who gathered intelligence about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys trip to the southern Mykolaiv region last month.

Emergency services work at a scene of destroyed residential area after a Russian attack in Mykolaiv, Ukraine. Details of Mr Zelenskys visit to the city last month were the target of a Russian informant, who has been detained by authorities (Ukraini

It claimed the woman was collecting data for an airstrike during Zelenskyys visit.

The woman attempted to establish Zelenskyy's route, times and visits in the region.

She was detained when she tried to pass the information to the Russians, the statement said, without providing evidence.

Mr Zelenskyy has been a prime target for the Kremlin since Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022, when he refused to leave Kyiv as Moscows forces approached.

He has been one of Ukraines unexpected trump cards in the war, playing a key role in rallying public morale, including a nightly video address, and becoming a recognisable face across the world as he presses allies and others to help Ukraine.

Also on Monday, Russian shelling struck a nine-story residential building in the city of Kherson, killing one person and wounding four others, according to regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin.

Mr Prokudin said Kherson had endured a tough night as the Russians covered the central part of the city with fire.

A 57-year-old woman was killed and four people were wounded in the Russian shelling of a village in the north-eastern Kharkiv province, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said.
A senior US official says coup leaders in Niger refused to allow her to meet with the West African countrys democratically elected president, whom she described as under virtual house arrest.

Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland also described the mutinous officers as unreceptive to US calls to return the country to civilian rule.
Weight loss jabs can reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke in obese people with cardiovascular disease by a fifth, researchers claim.

Pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk conducted a five-year study of semaglutide, which is sold as Wegovy.

As part of its Select trial, the company recruited 17,604 adults over the age of 45 from across 41 countries.

Each patient had a body mass index (BMI) of 27 or over and established cardiovascular disease, with no history of diabetes.

Researchers found that the risk of heart attack or stroke in patients given a 2.4mg once-weekly dose of Wegovy, alongside standard care for the prevention of heart attacks or stroke, reduced by 20% compared with those given a placebo drug.

Martin Holst Lange, executive vice president for development at Novo Nordisk, said: People living with obesity have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, but to date, there are no approved weight management medications proven to deliver effective weight management while also reducing the risk of heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular death.

Therefore, we are very excited about the results from Select showing that semaglutide 2.4mg reduces the risk of cardiovascular events.

Select is a landmark trial and has demonstrated that semaglutide 2.4mg has the potential to change how obesity is regarded and treated.

Novo Nordisk said it expects to file for regulatory approvals of a label indication expansion for Wegovy in the US and the EU in 2023.

Professor Stephen ORahilly, director of the MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit at the Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, said the results have been long awaited and do not disappoint.

He added: Simply put, a drug which acts to reduce body weight by targeting appetite, if taken long term by people who are overweight or obese, significantly reduces their risk of serious cardiovascular events, such as heart attack.

The obvious conclusion of these findings is that we should view obesity as a medical condition, like high blood pressure, where effective and safe drug therapy can contribute to reducing serious adverse health outcomes.

The results come after experts suggested that obese people on weight loss jabs should be prepared to take them for life.

Earlier this year, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) recommended the use of Wegovy for adults with a BMI of at least 35 and one weight-related health condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

The regulator said it should not be taken for more than two years, but studies show that people who stop weight loss jabs, such as Wegovy, can regain much of the weight they have lost.

A team of obesity experts argue Nice 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.

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.
Overwhelming monsoon rains and flash floods have battered three states in Myanmar since Sunday, killing at least two people in Rakhine State and causing sections of the Asia Highway to collapse in Karen State, according to local sources.

Flooding inundated three townships in Rakhine StateMrauk-U, Minbya and Kyauktawkilling at least two people in Minbya Township. A woman and her daughter were swept away by a streams current on Sunday, a local volunteer said.

At least 60 villages in Mrauk-U Township have been inundated by heavy rainfall, residents say.

Our crop fields were damaged by floods again. Were still not completely back on track after Cyclone Mocha. Most of us are poor and running low on food. So, we would like to ask for donations of food supplies if possible, a resident of Shauk Pon Kyun Village said. The village on the west bank of the Lemro River has about 135 homes.

On Sunday, more than 1,100 people from Myatasaung camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Mrauk-U Township were evacuated to Myatasaung monastery, its abbot said. They have been here for three days now. Most are day laborers and they dont have a regular income. We need urgent food supplies for them, he said. Space is so limited that three families have to share a single small room, the abbot said.

In northern Mrauk-U, about 4,000 people from seven IDP camps will need to be evacuated if the downpours continue tomorrow. It has been pouring heavily for eight days. If it continues to rain another day, we will need to evacuate people from seven camps, a spokesperson from Tein Nyo IDP camp said on Tuesday. The camp is one of the most crowded IDP camps in northern Mrauk-U, with about 2,900 people.

Twelve of the 17 IDP camps in Mrauk-U face the gravest threats because they are in low-lying areas.

In Karen State, non-stop rain and flash flooding caused landslides on the Asia Highway between Myawaddy and Kawkariek townships on Monday. The highway is a major trade route between Myanmar and Thailand. Some of its elevated sections collapsed, disrupting trade and transportation. Many trucks were stranded along the highway and at least two sections of it were destroyed by landslides, but there were no reports of casualties.

Prices will skyrocket due to collapses on the Asia Highway. It will take nearly a month to repair it, a resident of Myawaddy said.

Myawaddy and Hpa-an towns have also been inundated by flooding, residents say. Flooding in Mon Sate has disrupted transportation since last Friday after several sections of the Mawlamyine-Yangon Highway were submerged. We had to pull a small car [out] after it was swept away by floodwater yesterday, a volunteer said.

Rescue operations are continuing in Bilin Township on Tuesday as the level of the Bilin River rose above the danger level. At least 1,000 people remain displaced and are taking shelter at seven camps as a result of flooding in Bilin Township since early August, residents say.
Myanmar regime troops launched airstrikes in Sagaing Regions Pale Township after suffering heavy casualties in a resistance ambush on Monday, according to local resistance group Myanmars Royal Dragon Army (MRDA).

More than 80 regime soldiers were attacked by the MRDA between the villages of Kyay Nin Gyi and Kyaung Than on Monday morning after leaving Zee Phu Kone, a village controlled by pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee militia.

The MRDA said 10 junta soldiers were killed in the clash, which lasted for about two and a half hours.

The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the casualty claim.

After suffering heavy casualties, they called in a jet fighter, which bombed the clash area three times. However, no civilians or resistance members were injured by the airstrike, MRDA spokesperson Ko Naung Yoe told The Irrawaddy.

The dead and wounded soldiers were taken to a junta outpost at the monastery in Kyay Nin Gyi village.

Kyay Nin Gyi and Kyaung Than are located 4 kilometers from Pale town. Around 3,000 civilians from seven villages in the area fled after the regime conducted the airstrike, according to the Pale Township Peoples administration.

The administration issued security alerts that junta troops were still in the township. Accommodation and food for displaced villagers is being provided by an alliance of Peoples Defense Forces and other local organizations.

On Sunday, the MRDA also attacked a junta convoy of military vessels on the Chindwin River in Salingyi Township, Sagaing Region.
East Timor Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao has said the country would reconsider its goal of joining the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) if the bloc is unable to find a resolution to the conflict in Myanmar.

He was quoted by the Jakarta Post as saying his country, which is also known as Timor-Leste, will not be joining the ASEAN if ASEAN cannot convince the military junta in Myanmar [to end the conflict]. Late last year, leaders from the bloc agreed in principle to admit the island state as its 11th member.

Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing has turned a deaf ear to repeated calls by ASEAN for his regime to implement the Five-Point Consensus the bloc agreed on two years ago.

East Timor has shown support for Myanmars anti-regime movement. On July 1, Dili officially invited Myanmars civilian National Unity Government (NUG) to the swearing-in of the new East Timor government, and at last years United Nations General Assembly, the Timorese president asked world leaders why they were not helping Myanmar the way they are helping Ukraine.

The invitation to the July swearing-in ceremonyat which the East Timor president even accepted a portrait of jailed civilian leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from NUG Foreign Minister Daw Zin Mar Aungmade East Timor the first country to invite the NUG to a national-level event as the legitimate government of Myanmar. Angered by the move, the juntas Foreign Ministry on July 5 summoned the charge daffaires at East Timors embassy in Yangon to Naypyitaw and complained about the invitation.

The ministry told the diplomat the junta considers the NUG a terrorist organization, and that invitation to or communication with NUG representatives abets terrorism and encourages violence in the country, and infringes international agreements related to combating terrorism. The ministry also called on the East Timor government to refrain from making any form of contact with such terrorist groups and their representatives.

Far from being deterred, on July 6, East Timors prime minister invited Daw Zin Mar Aung for another meeting. And East Timor again vocally criticized the regime after Min Aung Hlaing extended military rule for another six months on July 31.

The former Portuguese colony was occupied by Indonesia for more than two decades. In 2002, it became a sovereign state following a UN-sponsored popular referendum.
The Kachin Independent Army (KIA) says it seized two Myanmar junta outposts and one held by the regime-allied Shan Nationalities Army (SNA) in Hpakant Township, Kachin State, on Monday.

The KIA attacked outposts on Mt Kathaing and at Nam Hmaw village and an SNA position near a bridge in Sal Zin village in Myanmars jade-mining hub, according to Colonel Naw Bu, the KIA spokesman.

We seized the SNA outpost near Sal Zin and then the one at Mt Kathaing. It is confirmed, he said.

The colonel added that the KIA seized three SNA officers along with other ranks along with arms and ammunition. Hpakant residents said the junta suffered many deaths and heavy casualties.

The Mt Kathaing position was formerly held by the KIA until the junta seized it in 2022.

Both junta outposts were held by Light Infantry Division 33 and were strategically important for the military, said residents.

Residents should be aware that the regime might retaliate with airstrikes, warned Col Naw Bu.

As the clashes broke out about 600 residents from Nam Hmaw and other nearby villages fled their homes. The junta fired at least 30 shells on Monday from its bases in Hpakant.

Col Naw Bu said KIA troops held the Mt Kathaing outpost but were facing junta airstrikes on Tuesday. He said fighting was continuing on Tuesday evening.

The two outposts were about 16km from Hpakant and were held by around 70 junta troops, said residents.
Myanmars junta finds itself in a conundrum. Two-and-a-half years after its coup, armed resistance to its rule has not diminished and is stronger than ever. What to do about this, from the juntas perspective, is unclear. Its advantage in military hardware has not been decisive, its atrocity campaigns have not pacified, its diplomatic maneuverings have yielded little benefit, its ranks keep shrinking, and its financial viability gets thinner and thinner. Much of the foreign commentary about Myanmar focuses on the democratic resistance, with a good deal aimed at its weaknesses. But a big question is generally left unanswered: What is the militarys strategy to escape the hole it has dug for itself? On August 1, junta chief Min Aung Hlaing declared another state of emergency and mumbled about a future census and an election, this time in 2025. Why anybody would believe these pronouncements is baffling; they have been said over and over. Considering that, its worth assessing what the juntas military status is and whether it has a viable strategy to regain the initiative, particularly on the battlefield.

It is worth stating some of the stark military realities facing the junta this year. Repeated large-scale offensives in Karenni State have been thwarted. Resistance has expanded across larger parts of Bago, Tanintharyi and Magwe regions while resistance everywhere is deeper, more experienced, better armed, increasingly coordinated, and unwavering in its intent to destroy the junta. No ethnic armed organizations have signed new ceasefires with the junta and none of the NUGs partners has disowned it. The juntas meetings with the remnants of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement dont even carry ceremonial benefit anymore. The Arakan Army doesnt need to fight to secure more and more control over Rakhine. All it must do is strengthen its administration and legal systems, support cyclone relief, train new cadres of soldiers within the state, and let the junta kill itself elsewhere. So desperate is the junta, it sends scarce reserves from Rakhine to bolster weakening units elsewhere.

Presently, the junta cannot use highways to send supplies to large parts of the northern half of the country so it must resort to archaic flotillas easily targeted on the open spaces of rivers. It hasnt sent significant convoys to Chin in over a year, and has stopped trying, so bad were its casualties. It has effectively lost its main arms supplier, Russia, and has not been able to bring any significant new weapons systems to the battlefield. Its new proxy militias, the Pyu Saw Hti, have never grown into significant combat forces while its old proxies, the Border Guard Forces (BGFs), only engage in hostilities to protect their commercial interests on their home turf. The juntas troops are not massacred, but day after day they bleed casualties across the country through the steady onslaught of ambushes, roadside bombs, and drone attacks.

Worryingly for the junta, it cannot recruit new troops on any meaningful scale while its officer cadet schools scrape the barrel, desperate for admissions. It cannot maintain steady operations at key border crossings in Muse and Myawaddy, while reaching India with commercial traffic is impossible. There are increasing attacks on major highways  generals are hit with roadside bombs just outside of Naypyitaw while resistance checkpoints are increasingly the norm in Bago, Mon and Karen states. Bridges are now systematically blown up by the resistance, such as across eastern Bago and northern Mon. The coordination and strategy demonstrated in these systematic sabotage campaigns by the Karen National Union and its PDF partners will only spread.

And yes, internal cohesion is ever more problematic for the junta. It has doubts over its senior commanders, repeatedly arresting those from the northern and northwestern commands as well as the southern one in Tanintharyi. Lower-ranking field commanders have been repeatedly arrested in Karenni and Karen states for refusing orders to partake in offensive operations because they are pointless deathtraps. Overall, the juntas units are more demoralized. Being surrounded by a population that wants you dead eventually takes a toll. Arguably the biggest military threats to the junta are consistent attrition and the subsequent erosion of the chain of command. Defections and desertions are not nearly as likely or devastating to a military as the loss of chain of command. The junta has too many small, disparate units. They wont desert or defect en masse because that carries too many risks; theyll just stop responding to orders and hunker down; wait for the storm to blow over until they can safely surrender. From a junta grunts perspective, they are now too dispersed as fighting forces, too atomized, and face too much resistance. No armored troop transport, limited and unreliable air support, little to non-existent medivac, no new weapons systems of note, limited to no communications with family, no rotations out, few if any reinforcements coming in where does it all end for them?

Min Aung Hlaing can neither claim nor offer greater stability: no normalization, no change in public support. He knows it. Extending the state of emergency is all the junta can do, which merely reinforces the overall veracity of the preceding descriptions. The challenge for the junta is what to do about it. It never countenanced the possibility of wide-scale, sustained rebellion across massive swaths of the Bamar heartland, much less that resistance in these places would have consistent support and direct collaboration from major ethnic armed groups, enabling mass armed revolt across most of the country. Myanmars sprawling geography and its own decreasing manpower are crippling challenges for the junta.

Predictably, the juntas forces will persist in what they do best, killing unarmed civilians and provoking massive population displacement through atrocity campaigns. The juntas military strategy, if one wants to call it that, is to brutalize the population with endless atrocities hoping to break its defiance. At a much lower pace, it will conduct operations against armed resistance groups. Why this strategy would change the overall situation now is dubious given the juntas challenges, but it will persist because that is all it knows. One shouldnt downplay the humanitarian costs of atrocities and they do affect the armed resistances operations, but they are not decisive at a strategic level. Large parts of the country  think Karenni and Sagaing  have experienced systematic arson attacks and significant population displacement, but the resistance in all of them is stable if not increasing. The humanitarian crisis afflicting the Myanmar people is horrendous but their determination to win through stoic perseverance is unwavering so far.

The coordination and cohesion of resistance forces is constantly questioned and maligned by analysts domestic and foreign, but considering the back-story of decades of mistrust and indoctrination, the core block of the resistance  the National Unity Government and the consultative councils, plus the KIA, KNU, CNF and KNPP  is remarkably stable if at times frustratingly opaque. Local PDFs may bicker but that doesnt detract from their overall achievement  building their capacities to consistently degrade the juntas combat units. When they emerge, junta forces numbering up to several hundred men are routinely engaged in mortal combat by PDFs. This stands in contrast to a year or two ago when the junta could burn villages by the dozen with 20 men and face little to no pushback. In the remarkably honest calculation of the junta, far too much of the country requires an active military presence, i.e., what a state of emergency recognizes as necessary. In late March of this year, Min Aung Hlaing admitted in a woeful speech that the junta cannot control 130 townships. One should assume this means the junta cannot effectively control a great deal more. If the juntas units go outside their bases, they must fight. If the junta doesnt actively defend an area, it will be lost. The junta may control towns, but more and more this just means the army barracks, police station, and GAD office, which it increasingly uses to shell villages so that its battered units dont have to emerge even to burn villages.

Considering this, what can be expected by the junta is greater emphasis on the theater of international diplomacy to obscure a worsening military position within the country. The supposed meeting by the Thai foreign minister with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, junta clemency for some of her convictions, and her movement to house arrest instead of a prison has the diplomatic and media corps abuzz. With Laos soon assuming the ASEAN chair, it can be expected that there will be more diplomatic engagement with the junta, which will attempt to use Aung San Suu Kyi as a prop to foster the false sense that it is moderating its approach. This theater of the absurd will garner endless commentary because it can be seen and written about. But it wont change the substance of the matter, which is on the ground: a population of tens of millions that all viscerally want rid of this military. The revolution didnt start because one party, much less one person, dictated it so. It started across the country when thousands of communities chose to take up arms. That is the reality of this time compared with 1962 and 1988, and it is inescapable. Myanmars war will be won or lost on the ground.

Regardless, even in the realm of diplomacy, the junta still faces massive challenges. Support from regional neighbors is not significant despite the hype. Nobody is going to prop up the junta with hefty amounts of armaments, help it break sanctions at a large scale, or invest in it in any way that will fundamentally change the strategic trajectory of the conflict, which it is losing. International engagement with the junta is largely transactional and the junta has less and less to offer. Allowing junta officials to join ASEAN meetings is morally pathetic but changes nothing. All that Track 1.5 talks produce is to make their participants feel better about themselves. The junta increasingly demonstrates it has little to offer its neighbors. It cannot control BGF crime hubs. It cannot prevent refugee outflows, instead causing ever more of them. The drugs trade is growing exponentially. Its economic management is woeful to even junta supporters. The latest sanctions by the US mean the junta cannot operate effectively with foreign business partners, meaning investment and even ongoing engagement is massively encumbered and never more unattractive. ASEAN has had no breakthroughs. Nobody can even remember what the 5 points of the ASEAN Consensus even were.

What the junta does next is unclear other than to manipulate the diplomatic stage and commit more atrocities. What the resistance does is much clearer  more of what it has been doing. The best thing going for the resistance is the public, which even after 2.5 years of war, still sees the junta as nothing but a loathsome foreign occupying force. Public opinion is not shifting in the juntas favor; too much innocent blood has been spilled. The biggest need is to send more and more humanitarian aid to displaced populations and bolster battered communities resilience. Maintaining public morale and support for the revolution and deepening cohesion of the core block of resistance are the other driving imperatives for the pro-democracy movement. Expanding the chain-of-command, bolstering local social services, and growing local administration are clear priorities already unfolding. Methodical relationships with the Myanmar diaspora are critical for financing. Engagement with unofficially supportive ethnic armed groups is important for bleeding the junta further.

It is easy to find faults in the resistance, to nitpick it in a thousand ways and claim these flaws lead only to defeat. Myanmars revolution is what it is: a sprawling bottom-up revolt initially driven by the imperatives of local self-defense that grew into a national uprising based on shared aspirations for a better future built upon federal democracy. Yes, more coordination, more messaging, more clarity about its politics, more inclusion, more and better of everything would be wonderful. But the flaws dont detract from the bigger picture. Look around the world and there is no clearer example of a mass movement fighting for a just cause. Moreover, despite whatever its critics proclaim, the raw fact remains that Myanmars pro-democracy resistance is not being defeated militarily and shows no sign of wavering despite all the horrors the junta has thrown at Myanmars people.

The junta is losing. If things continue as they are, it will lose. The juntas incessant brutality has lit a fire it does not know how to extinguish. That will not change. It created this raging inferno of resistance through the arrogance of staging another coup and the mass atrocities it committed afterwards. More atrocities will not shift the war in its favor. The democratic resistance is viable and ascendant because it is, and will remain, a popular national uprising of a people determined to rid themselves of juntas once and for all. If present trends continue, and it stands to reason they will, Myanmars current junta will not be defeated in a grand battle for Naypyitaw. By the end Naypyitaw will not even matter. The junta will simply bleed out in different parts of the country until it effectively collapses as a force and a new government is stood up. The post-conflict peace may be messy in places, at least to parts of the international community, but it will not be Syria. There is simply too much social goodwill and solidarity among the Myanmar people, the starting and end point of this revolution.

Matthew B. Arnold is an independent policy analyst. He has been researching Myanmars politics and governance since 2012.
Tuesday, Aug 8th, 2023 (1:38 pm) - Score 1,944

Some 14,000 homes and businesses in the Kent (England) town of Sevenoaks will soon benefit after Netomnia, supported by UK ISP YouFibre, started a 4.2m project to deploy their 10Gbps capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP / XGS-PON) broadband network in the area.

The operator has contracted civil engineering firm GNS Communications to roll out its broadband infrastructure in Sevenoaks, using as much of Openreachs existing ducting and overhead poles to run their own fibre as possible to minimise disruption. The first phase of work appears to be taking place around the St Johns and Greatness areas.

NOTE: DigitalBridge and commitments from existing shareholders (Soho Square Capital LLP, Advencap Ltd etc.) = funding of 418m. Plus 230m in committed debt financing from six bank ( Netomnia is fuelled by an equity investment fromand commitments from existing shareholders (Soho Square Capital LLP, Advencap Ltd etc.) = funding of 418m. Plus 230m in committed debt financing from six bank ( here ).

The operator, which is currently present in parts of almost 40 towns and cities (with many more in-planning), has already covered well over 500,000 premises (RFS) and they have ambitions of reaching 1 million premises by early 2024 in parts of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (coverage plan  plus additions here, here and here).

The service, once live, is typically supplied to consumers via YouFibre, which offers unlimited usage, symmetrical speeds, a Wi-Fi router, free installation and 24/7 UK based support. Customers pay from just 21 per month on a 24-month term for their unlimited 150Mbps package (25 thereafter), which rises to just 29.99 if you want their top 920Mbps plan (40 thereafter). The latter is also on an offer of 1 a month for the first 3 months.

Zoltan Kovacs, Managing Director at Netomnia, said: Our team has started work in Sevenoaks and were proud to be able to boost broadband access in the area. We know how empowering excellent internet access can be and are working hard to level the digital playing field. Not only is the fibre infrastructure we are building reliable, but it is future-proofed, allowing people to take full advantage of all the resources on the internet and the opportunities they offer, unleashing their potential for years to come. And it will deliver speeds that enable the people and businesses of Sevenoaks to keep up with technology advances and growing demand for bandwidth.

In terms of local gigabit-capable competition, Openreach has already deployed FTTP across most of the town and Gigaclear has done something similar around the Wildernesse area. But otherwise, there is not a lot of full fibre rivals to worry about in the area, which leaves plenty of opportunities.
Today

Windy with rain showers. Potential for heavy rainfall. High near 80F. Winds SE at 25 to 40 mph. Chance of rain 50%.

Tonight

Tropical storm conditions likely. Windy. Some showers early then partly cloudy overnight. Low 72F. Winds SSE at 25 to 35 mph, becoming N and decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.

Tomorrow

Partly cloudy skies. High 91F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.
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Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  White Power nationalism in South Africa during the Apartheid period from the 1940s until the early 1990s demanded that the 20% of the population that was white control the lives of the 68% of the population that was Black. (Actually, during this era the whites declined to only 13% by 1990, and Blacks increased to 76%).

Education was one way that Blacks were kept down. They were, or many were, offered an education, but only one that led to working class status. Maria Lizet Ocampo writes at a Stanford University page,

The Apartheid system created educational inequalities through overt racist policies. The Bantu Education Act of 1952 ensured that Blacks receive an education that would limit educational potential and remain in the working class (UCT). This policy directly affected the content of learning to further racial inequalities by preventing access to further education.

While schooling was compulsory until age 16 for whites, it was only compulsory for Blacks until age 13.

She adds,

The policies and funding disparities in schools ensured contrasting access to higher education. Four Afrikaans speaking universities and one English speaking university admitted only Whites, while the other five had restricted admission and segregated classrooms.

Black students received no financial aid and could not get loans for education from banks.

So many human rights organizations have by now declared that Israels treatment of persons of Palestinian heritage constitutes Apartheid that it is no longer a controversial assertion, at least in American academia, and including US Jewish Studies.

But here we have an exact parallel to the South African system. Extremist Bezalel Smotrich, minister of finance, has frozen $680 million in funding earmarked for the development of largely Palestinian East Jerusalem. A portion of this funding was to prepare Palestinian-Israeli students for entry into the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. So reports Gianluca Pacchiani at The Times of Israel.

Smotrich alleged that there was a problem of Islamic radical cells in Israeli colleges and universities. Smotrichs office could not provide any evidence of such cells when the press asked about the issue. (That is because Smotrich made the whole thing up.)

Pacchiani writes, Smotrich said that the sum will be earmarked for training East Jerusalem Arabs for high-productivity professions instead of encouraging their integration into Israeli academia.

Bingo. That is precisely the program of South African Apartheid in the second half of the twentieth century. Precisely. An exact parallel.

Article continues after bonus IC video

Secular Talk: Ex-Mossad Chief Compares Israel To The Ku Klux Klan | The Kyle Kulinski Show

Smotrich has long been known to be an insufferable racist. He defended an Israeli housing developer that refused to sell homes to Israelis of Palestinian heritage. He told Palestinian-Israelis, You are here by mistake, because the Zionist forces should have ethnically cleansed them in 1948.

This is actually worse than Apartheid, which did not seek to uproot South African Blacks and drive them into neighboring countries.
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By Stefan Wolff, University of Birmingham | 

As the war in Ukraine escalated on and beyond the existing battlefields with intensified air, drone and ground operations, more than 40 countries met in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, over the weekend of August 5-6 2023, to discuss peace.

The talks in Jeddah were the latest effort to rally support behind Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskys ten-point peace plan, first presented at the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, on November 15 2022. Aimed at mobilising a global and diverse coalition of support, these efforts are not only about bringing this or that particular vision of peace to a war in the heart of Europe. Their deeper significance lies in the continuing shifts in the international order that they reflect.

No breakthrough joint declaration was reached in Jeddah. This is hardly surprising given that some 40 countries participated with very diverse views on the war, its causes and possible solutions. But the fact the meeting was attended, not only by the usual suspects among Ukraines western partners, but also by four of the five Brics members was highly significant. Brazil, India, China and South Africa all sent senior envoys. The fifth member of the bloc, Russia, was not invited.

The meeting in Jeddah followed an earlier one in Copenhagen at the end of June. Taking place at the same time as Yevgeny Prigozhins ultimately failed mutiny unfolded in Russia, the Copenhagen gathering was a more low-key affair without Chinese participation.

In Jeddah, China not only participated but also sent its Ukraine point man  the special representative of the Chinese government on Eurasian affairs, Li Hui. Li attended alongside US national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, and his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval. This is indicative of the importance that China and India  two key Russian allies among Brics  assign to these western-backed Ukrainian efforts to galvanise support for Zelenskys ten-point plan.

Russia under pressure

That China remains engaged in, and supports, the continuation of discussions around Ukraines plan will be deeply worrying for Russia. The plan calls for the restoration of Ukraines territorial integrity, the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from all occupied Ukrainian lands, and a special tribunal to prosecute Russian war crimes.

Article continues after bonus IC video

What did Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia achieve without Russia? | DW News

In fact, commenting on the Jeddah meeting, Russias deputy foreign minister, Sergey Ryabkov, was only able to express an expectation that a relevant exchange of views between us and the Brics participants who were there at different levels will be held. This does not bode well for Russia, which will not be represented by Vladimir Putin, at the upcoming Brics summit in South Africa. Putin is subject to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, which South Africa is bound as a signatory to execute.

Adding further to a sense of continuing marginalisation of Russia, even in formats such as the Brics, Moscow has also been subject to pressure from some of its traditional African allies over the war in Ukraine. An African peace mission to St Petersburg in June 2023, just before the Copenhagen meeting, yielded no success.

Whats worse for Moscow, a second Russia-Africa summit in St Petersburg on July 27 and 28 2023 was an almost unmitigated disaster for Putin. The Russian presidents justifications for abandoning the Black Sea grain deal fell on deaf ears among the significantly lower number of African leaders who even bothered to attend the gathering.

Different drivers, one outcome: a changing world order

But at the same time, it is important not to overestimate the momentum that appears to be slowly building behind Zelenskys western-backed peace plan. Proposals for a ceasefire to be followed by negotiations, like that suggested by Indonesias defence minister, Prabowo Subianto, at the 2023 Shangri-La dialogue in early June, remain on the table.

They may not get traction in Kyiv or western capitals, but they are mirrored in similar efforts, including by the Vatican and the group of African leaders who travelled to Kyiv and St Petersburg in June on a peace mission of their own.

Above all, China has not given up on its peace plan either. Beijings Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis, like the Indonesian, African and Vatican proposals, also prioritises a ceasefire over the restoration of Ukraines territorial integrity. And Beijing is unlikely to change its stance in this regard until something more compelling emerges that would serve Chinas own interests better in becoming a major player in a new Eurasian, and global, security order.

This highlights a deeper meaning to the summit. Its not merely the various different peace plans on the table. But the emergence of a variety of coalitions pushing for different visions of a peace settlement is also of huge significance. This ultimately reflects  and will determine  the nature of the new international order that is emerging.

The meeting in Jeddah, inconclusive as it may have been, signals a continuing shift in Ukraines favour, albeit at glacial speed. This is driven by the self-interests of those involved, be it African food security, Chinese great-power ambitions, or Saudi middle-power aspirations.

All of these and other players may agree with Ukraine and its western partners that respect for Ukraines territorial integrity and sovereignty should be at the heart of any peace settlement. But this should not be mistaken for a reaffirmation of a US-led international order. If anything, it is another indication of its replacement which will be decided both on the battlefield in Ukraine and at a future negotiation table.

Stefan Wolff, Professor of International Security, University of Birmingham

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 8, 2023 /CNW/ - Entree Resources Ltd. (TSX: ETG) (OTCQB: ERLFF)  the "Company" or "Entree") has today filed its interim financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023. All numbers are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.

Entree's President and CEO Stephen Scott commented, "It's been an extremely exciting first half of 2023 with many Oyu Tolgoi Lift 1 underground project milestones achieved including the commencement and ramp-up of production from Panel 0, improved sinking rates for Shafts 3 and 4, and completion of the Panels 1 and 2 mine design and schedule optimization studies. Our joint venture partner has advised that first development on the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property is expected to commence in H1 2024 with production from Panel 1, which includes the Hugo North Extension deposit on the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property, now scheduled for H1 2027. It certainly feels that we are closer than ever to our first production. Entree also endorses ongoing Oyu Tolgoi project drilling designed to support an Order of Magnitude study for Hugo North/Hugo North Extension Lift 2, a significant portion of which is on the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property."

Q2 2023 HIGHLIGHTS

Oyu Tolgoi Underground Development Update

The Oyu Tolgoi project in Mongolia includes two separate land holdings: the Oyu Tolgoi mining licence, which is held by Entree's joint venture partner Oyu Tolgoi LLC ("OTLLC") and the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi joint venture property ("Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property"), which is a partnership between Entree and OTLLC. Rio Tinto owns 66% of OTLLC and is the manager of operations at Oyu Tolgoi.

In July 2023 , Rio Tinto announced that ramp-up of the high-grade Oyu Tolgoi underground mine continues. Oyu Tolgoi is set to become the world's fourth largest copper mine by 2030 with the operation expected to deliver average mined copper production of ~500 kilo-tonnes per annum between 2028 and 2036.

, Rio Tinto announced that ramp-up of the high-grade Oyu Tolgoi underground mine continues. Oyu Tolgoi is set to become the world's fourth largest copper mine by 2030 with the operation expected to deliver average mined copper production of ~500 kilo-tonnes per annum between 2028 and 2036. As at June 30, 2023 , 54 Lift 1 Panel 0 draw bells have been opened, and the delivery of infrastructure for ramp-up to full capacity remains on target. Construction of conveyor to surface works was ~60% complete at the end of the second quarter. Construction works for the concentrator conversion also progressed during the period, with the main contractor mobilized and the commencement of major site works in May.

, 54 Lift 1 Panel 0 draw bells have been opened, and the delivery of infrastructure for ramp-up to full capacity remains on target. Construction of conveyor to surface works was ~60% complete at the end of the second quarter. Construction works for the concentrator conversion also progressed during the period, with the main contractor mobilized and the commencement of major site works in May. Shaft sinking rates improved during the second quarter. At the end of June, Shafts 3 and 4 reached 639 metres and 752 metres below ground level, respectively. Final depths required for Shafts 3 and 4 are 1,148 metres and 1,149 metres below ground level, respectively. Rio Tinto now expects both shafts to be commissioned in the second half 2024.

Technical studies for Panels 1 and 2 mine design and schedule optimization were completed by OTLLC during the second quarter. The Hugo North Extension deposit on the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property is located in the northern portion of Panel 1. According to Rio Tinto: The technical studies have resulted in substantially de-risked, resilient mine designs that provide a pathway to ramp-up, flexibility to pursue value creating opportunities and react to future risks, and improved stability, constructability, and operability. The studies also provide a pathway to bring the panels into production faster and maximize the use of the ventilation system. Identified risks associated with the previous Panel 1 mine design have been resolved by increasing drawpoint and rim drive spacing, relocating the central material handling system and return raises outside of the active caving area, and optimally orienting the extraction drives and drill drives. Panel 1 production is anticipated to commence in ~2027. The technical studies have been incorporated into an updated Oyu Tolgoi Feasibility Study (" OTFS23 ") to be submitted to and reviewed by applicable regulatory bodies in Mongolia .

Although the Company does not anticipate any material changes to underground development cost or schedule for the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property, once OTLLC has provided Entree with a copy of OTFS23 (including the updated mine plan for Panel 1), Entree will assess the potential impact and update the market accordingly.

Rio Tinto reported during its July 11, 2023 investor site visit that with the technical studies for Lift 1 Panels 1 and 2 completed, attention is shifting to the design of Lift 2. Drilling programs to support a Lift 2 Order of Magnitude Study are in progress. An updated resource model for Hugo North (including Hugo North Extension) is expected to be completed by mid-2024 and will include Lift 2. The updated resource model will incorporate the results from ongoing Hugo North Extension surface and underground drilling on the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property. The Company continues to request full results of the 2022 Hugo North Extension diamond drill program from OTLLC.

investor site visit that with the technical studies for Lift 1 Panels 1 and 2 completed, attention is shifting to the design of Lift 2. Drilling programs to support a Lift 2 Order of Magnitude Study are in progress. An updated resource model for (including Hugo North Extension) is expected to be completed by mid-2024 and will include Lift 2. The updated resource model will incorporate the results from ongoing Hugo North Extension surface and underground drilling on the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property. The Company continues to request full results of the 2022 Hugo North Extension diamond drill program from OTLLC. Rio Tinto has reported the capital cost estimate for the underground project remains unchanged at $7.06 billion with $1.4 billion remaining to be spent at June 30, 2023 . The Company continues to request full results of the 2022 Hugo North Extension diamond drill program from OTLLC.

Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property

The Entree/Oyu Tolgoi joint venture (" Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV ") Management Committee approved a 2023 in-fill drill program for Hugo North Extension comprising both underground (12 holes totalling 3,889 metres) and surface (six holes totalling 9,082 metres) diamond drilling. The underground holes are collared from underground drill stations on the Oyu Tolgoi mining licence crossing onto the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property. The approved budget for the program is ~$4.5 million , 20% of which will be contributed by OTLLC on Entree's behalf as a loan in accordance with the joint venture agreement (the " Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JVA "). The principal purpose for the 2023 drilling is to support the Lift 2 Order of Magnitude Study and updated resource model.

") Management Committee approved a 2023 in-fill drill program for Hugo North Extension comprising both underground (12 holes totalling 3,889 metres) and surface (six holes totalling 9,082 metres) diamond drilling. The underground holes are collared from underground drill stations on the Oyu Tolgoi mining licence crossing onto the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property. The approved budget for the program is , 20% of which will be contributed by OTLLC on Entree's behalf as a loan in accordance with the joint venture agreement (the " "). The principal purpose for the 2023 drilling is to support the Lift 2 Order of Magnitude Study and updated resource model. The Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Management Committee also approved a budget of ~$2.245 million for exploration on the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property, including three inclined diamond drill holes totalling 2,600 metres on the Heruga South and Railway targets (Javhlant licence) and four diamond drill holes totalling 2,600 metres on the Ulaan Khud South target (Shivee Tolgoi licence). 20% of the exploration expenditures will be contributed by OTLLC on Entree's behalf as a loan in accordance with the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JVA.

for exploration on the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property, including three inclined diamond drill holes totalling 2,600 metres on the Heruga South and Railway targets (Javhlant licence) and four diamond drill holes totalling 2,600 metres on the Ulaan Khud South target (Shivee Tolgoi licence). 20% of the exploration expenditures will be contributed by OTLLC on Entree's behalf as a loan in accordance with the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JVA. The Company recently received partial assay results from 2022 exploration drilling conducted on the Shivee Tolgoi licence at the North Ulaan Khud target (six reverse circulation drillholes totalling 1,506 metres and one 800 metre diamond drill hole) and the Airstrip target (three diamond drill holes totalling 2,200 metres). The Company is reviewing the results and will update the market in due course. The Company does not consider any of the results to be material.

Corporate

For the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2023 , the Company's operating loss was $1.0 million and $1.9 million , respectively, compared to $0.7 million and $1.3 million , respectively, for the comparative periods in 2022. The increase in the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2023 was due to legal costs for both commercial negotiations with OTLLC and Rio Tinto and the arbitration proceedings.

, the Company's operating loss was and , respectively, compared to and , respectively, for the comparative periods in 2022. The increase in the three and six month periods ended was due to legal costs for both commercial negotiations with OTLLC and Rio Tinto and the arbitration proceedings. For the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2023 , the Company's operating cash outflow before changes in non-cash working capital items was $0.9 million and $1.4 million , respectively, compared to $0.7 million and $1.1 million , respectively for the comparative periods in 2022.

, the Company's operating cash outflow before changes in non-cash working capital items was and , respectively, compared to and , respectively for the comparative periods in 2022. Share purchase warrants to purchase 2,847,000 common shares with an exercise price of C$0.60 were exercised resulting in gross proceeds of C$1,708,200 being received by the Company since January 1, 2023 .

were exercised resulting in gross proceeds of being received by the Company since . As at June 30, 2023 , the cash balance was $6.0 million and the working capital balance was $5.6 million .

, the cash balance was and the working capital balance was . On May 9, 2023 , 2,799,079 common shares were cancelled and returned to the Company's treasury for no consideration which was related to the Company's spin-out of its U.S. assets into Mason Resources Corp. on May 9, 2017 .

, 2,799,079 common shares were cancelled and returned to the Company's treasury for no consideration which was related to the Company's spin-out of its U.S. assets into Mason Resources Corp. on . On July 17, 2023 , the Company announced it has made good progress in its previously disclosed negotiations with OTLLC and Rio Tinto to amend or restructure the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JVA and transfer the Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant mining licences to OTLLC as contemplated in the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JVA. However, several key items still need to be resolved before any definitive agreement could be finalized and executed, including with respect to the potential acquisition by the Government of Mongolia of 34% of the Company's economic interest in the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property.

, the Company announced it has made good progress in its previously disclosed negotiations with OTLLC and Rio Tinto to amend or restructure the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JVA and transfer the Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant mining licences to OTLLC as contemplated in the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JVA. However, several key items still need to be resolved before any definitive agreement could be finalized and executed, including with respect to the potential acquisition by the Government of of 34% of the Company's economic interest in the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property. While the Company remains committed to achieving a commercial resolution with OTLLC and Rio Tinto, the binding arbitration proceedings commenced by the Company on May 26, 2022 also continued to progress. The Company is seeking declarations and orders for specific performance relating to certain provisions of the Equity Participation and Earn-in Agreement (the "Earn-in Agreement") with Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. ("Turquoise Hill") dated October 15, 2004 , as amended and subsequently assigned to OTLLC and the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JVA. Both Turquoise Hill and OTLLC are respondents to the arbitration proceedings. A three-member Tribunal has been appointed and a merits hearing is set for April 2024 .

OUTLOOK AND STRATEGY

Entree's primary objective is to confirm the transfer of the Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant mining licences to OTLLC as contemplated by the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JVA, either in conjunction with finalization and execution of a restructured or amended agreement with OTLLC, or enforcement of certain provisions of the Earn-in Agreement and Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JVA pursuant to binding arbitration proceedings. The Company currently is registered in Mongolia as the 100% ultimate holder of the licences. The Company is also advancing discussions with Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC regarding a potential acquisition by the Government of Mongolia of 34% of the Company's economic interest in the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property. The Minerals Law of Mongolia provides the State may share in up to 34% of the economic benefit derived from exploitation of a mineral deposit of strategic importance where proven reserves were determined through funding sources other than the State budget. The Hugo North Extension copper-gold deposit on the Shivee Tolgoi mining licence and the Heruga copper-gold-molybdenum deposit on the Javhlant mining licence are mineral deposits of strategic importance.

As previously disclosed by the Company, the contract area defined in the 2009 Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement among the Government of Mongolia, OTLLC, Rio Tinto and Turquoise Hill (the "Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement") includes the Javhlant and Shivee Tolgoi mining licences. However, at the time of negotiation of the Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement, the Company was not made a party to the Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement, and as such does not have any direct rights or benefits under the Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement.

Entree has been engaged in discussions with stakeholders of the Oyu Tolgoi project, including the Government of Mongolia, OTLLC, Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC, Turquoise Hill and Rio Tinto, since February 2013. The discussions to date have focused on issues arising from Entree's exclusion from the Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement, including the fact that the Government of Mongolia does not have a full 34% interest in the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property; the fact that the mining licences integral to future underground operations are held by more than one corporate entity; and the fact that Entree does not directly benefit from the stability that it would otherwise have if it were a party to the Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement.

The Company believes that amending or restructuring the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JVA to align the interests of all stakeholders, transferring the licences to OTLLC as contemplated by the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JVA, and resolving outstanding issues arising from Entree's exclusion from the Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement would be in the best interests of all stakeholders. No agreements have been finalized and executed and there are no assurances agreements may be finalized and executed in the future.

The Company's interim financial statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023 are available on the Company's website at www.EntreeResourcesLtd.com, on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

QUALIFIED PERSON

Robert Cinits, P.Geo., consultant to Entree and the Company's former Vice President, Corporate Development, and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has approved the technical information in this release. For further information on the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property, see the Company's Technical Report, titled "Entree/Oyu Tolgoi Joint Venture Project, Mongolia, NI 43-101 Technical Report", with an effective date of October 8, 2021, available on the Company's website at www.EntreeResourcesLtd.com, on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

ABOUT ENTREE RESOURCES LTD.

Entree Resources Ltd. is a well-funded Canadian mining company with a unique carried joint venture interest on a significant portion of one of the world's largest copper-gold projects  the Oyu Tolgoi project in Mongolia. Entree has a 20% or 30% carried participating interest in the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV, depending on the depth of mineralization. Horizon Copper Corp. and Rio Tinto are major shareholders of Entree, beneficially holding approximately 25% and 16% of the shares of the Company, respectively. More information about Entree can be found at www.EntreeResourcesLtd.com.

This News Release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws with respect to corporate strategies and plans; requirements for additional capital; uses of funds and projected expenditures; arbitration proceedings, including the potential benefits, timing and outcome of arbitration proceedings; the Company's plans to continue discussions with OTLLC and Rio Tinto regarding a potential restructuring or amendment of the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JVA; the Company's plans to advance discussions with the Government of Mongolia regarding a potential acquisition by the Government of Mongolia of 34% of the Company's economic interest in the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property; the Company's ability to transfer the Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant mining licences to OTLLC either in conjunction with finalization and execution of a restructured or amended agreement with OTLLC, or enforcement of certain provisions of the Earn-in Agreement and Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JVA pursuant to binding arbitration proceedings; the potential for Entree to be included in or otherwise receive the benefits of the Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement; the expectations set out in OTLLC's 2020 Oyu Tolgoi Mongolian Statutory Study and the Company's 2021 Technical Report on its interest in the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property; timing and status of Oyu Tolgoi underground development; the expected timing of first development and undercut production from Lift 1 of the Hugo North Extension deposit; the nature of the ongoing relationship and interaction between OTLLC and Rio Tinto and the Government of Mongolia and Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC with respect to the continued operation and development of Oyu Tolgoi; the technical studies for Lift 1 Panels 1 and 2, OTFS23, the Lift 2 Order of Magnitude Study, and the updated resource model for Hugo North (including Hugo North Extension) Lifts 1 and 2 and the possible outcomes, content and timing thereof; the timing and progress of the sinking of Shafts 3 and 4 and any delays in that regard in addition to previously disclosed delays; timing and amount of production from Lift 1 of the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property, potential production delays and the impact of any delays on the Company's cash flows, expected copper, gold and silver grades, liquidity, funding requirements and planning; future commodity prices; the estimation of mineral reserves and resources; projected mining and process recovery rates; estimates of capital and operating costs, mill and concentrator throughput, cash flows and mine life; capital, financing and project development risk; mining dilution; discussions with the Government of Mongolia, Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC, Rio Tinto, and OTLLC on a range of issues including Entree's interest in the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property, the Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant mining licences and certain material agreements; potential actions by the Government of Mongolia with respect to the Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant mining licences and Entree's interest in the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property; potential size of a mineralized zone; potential expansion of mineralization; potential discovery of new mineralized zones; potential metallurgical recoveries and grades; plans for future exploration and/or development programs and budgets; permitting time lines; anticipated business activities; proposed acquisitions and dispositions of assets; and future financial performance.

In certain cases, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budgeted", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "does not anticipate" or "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". While the Company has based these forward-looking statements on its expectations about future events as at the date that such statements were prepared, the statements are not a guarantee of Entree's future performance and are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies; the correct interpretation of agreements, laws and regulations; the commencement and conclusion of arbitration proceedings, including the potential benefits, timing and outcome of arbitration proceedings; the potential benefits, timing and outcome of negotiations with the Government of Mongolia, Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC, OTLLC, and Rio Tinto; that the Company will continue to have timely access to detailed technical, financial, and operational information about the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property, the Oyu Tolgoi project, and government relations to enable the Company to properly assess, act on, and disclose material risks and opportunities as they arise; local and global economic conditions and the environment in which Entree will operate in the future, including commodity prices, projected grades, projected dilution, anticipated capital and operating costs, including inflationary pressures thereon resulting in cost escalation, and anticipated future production and cash flows; the anticipated location of certain infrastructure and sequence of mining within and across panel boundaries; the construction and continued development of the Oyu Tolgoi underground mine; the status of Entree's relationship and interaction with the Government of Mongolia, Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC, OTLLC, and Rio Tinto; and the Company's ability to operate sustainably, its community relations, and its social licence to operate.

With respect to the construction and continued development of the Oyu Tolgoi underground mine, important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and information include, amongst others, the nature of the ongoing relationship and interaction between OTLLC, Rio Tinto, Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC and the Government of Mongolia with respect to the continued operation and development of Oyu Tolgoi along with the implementation of Resolution 103; the continuation of undercutting on the Oyu Tolgoi mining licence in accordance with the Panel 0 mine plan and design; the amount of any future funding gap to complete the Oyu Tolgoi project and the availability and amount of potential sources of additional funding; the timing and cost of the construction and expansion of mining and processing facilities; inflationary pressures on prices for critical supplies for Oyu Tolgoi including fuel, power explosives and grinding media resulting in cost escalation; the ability of OTLLC or the Government of Mongolia to deliver a domestic power source for Oyu Tolgoi (or the availability of financing for OTLLC or the Government of Mongolia to construct such a source) within the required contractual timeframe; sources of interim power; OTLLC's ability to operate sustainably, its community relations, and its social licence to operate in Mongolia; the impact of changes in, changes in interpretation to or changes in enforcement of, laws, regulations and government practises in Mongolia; delays, and the costs which would result from delays, in the development of the underground mine; the anticipated location of certain infrastructure and sequence of mining within and across panel boundaries; international conflicts such as the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict; projected commodity prices and their market demand; and production estimates and the anticipated yearly production of copper, gold and silver at the Oyu Tolgoi underground mine.

Other risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results, performance or achievements of Entree to differ materially from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements and information include, amongst others, unanticipated costs, expenses or liabilities; discrepancies between actual and estimated production, mineral reserves and resources and metallurgical recoveries; development plans for processing resources; matters relating to proposed exploration or expansion; mining operational and development risks, including geotechnical risks and ground conditions; regulatory restrictions (including environmental regulatory restrictions and liability); risks related to international operations, including legal and political risk in Mongolia; risks related to the potential impact of global or national health concerns; risks associated with changes in the attitudes of governments to foreign investment; risks associated with the conduct of joint ventures, including the ability to access detailed technical, financial and operational information; risks related to the Company's significant shareholders, and whether they will exercise their rights or act in a manner that is consistent with the best interests of the Company and its other shareholders; inability to upgrade Inferred mineral resources to Indicated or Measured mineral resources; inability to convert mineral resources to mineral reserves; conclusions of economic evaluations; fluctuations in commodity prices and demand; changing foreign exchange rates; the speculative nature of mineral exploration; the global economic climate; dilution; share price volatility; activities, actions or assessments by Rio Tinto or OTLLC and by government stakeholders or authorities including Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC and the Government of Mongolia; the availability of funding on reasonable terms; the impact of changes in interpretation to or changes in enforcement of laws, regulations and government practices, including laws, regulations and government practices with respect to mining, foreign investment, royalties and taxation; the terms and timing of obtaining necessary environmental and other government approvals, consents and permits; the availability and cost of necessary items such as water, skilled labour, transportation and appropriate smelting and refining arrangements; unanticipated reclamation expenses; changes to assumptions as to the availability of electrical power, and the power rates used in operating cost estimates and financial analyses; changes to assumptions as to salvage values; ability to maintain the social licence to operate; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; global climate change; global conflicts; title disputes; limitations on insurance coverage; competition; loss of key employees; cyber security incidents; misjudgements in the course of preparing forward-looking statements; and those factors discussed in the Company's most recently filed MD&A and in the Company's Annual Information Form for the financial year ended December 31, 2022, dated March 31, 2023 filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available at www.sedar.com. 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 as 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. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company is under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements except as required under applicable securities laws.
Further exploration update on multiple high-priority hydrothermal centres within the Cabacal VMS belt

LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Meridian Mining UK S (TSX:MNO) (OTCQX:MRRDF) (Frankfurt/Tradegate:2MM) ("Meridian" or the "Company") is pleased to advise of the arrival of the fourth rig and the expansion of the Company's exploration programs into new targets. Drilling has now commenced at Santa Helena, targeting confirmation and expansion of the historic high-grade VMS resources and the previously untested high-grade gold overprint.

Meridian has also received an environmental licence ("LOPM") to enable additional exploration of multiple high-priority hydrothermal centres across the Cabacal VMS belt, including an initial 2km of Alamo, in addition to the Chiquito and Cigarra targets (previously "C2-A", & "C6" respectively. See Figure 1).

The geological team has been further strengthened with the appointment of a Chief Geologist, Mr Erich Marques, adding extra resources to the geological management team in realizing the Cabacal Project's exploration and development potential.

Highlights Reported Today

Drilling has commenced in the Santa Helena Zone; Vertical drill program to confirm historical high-grade results and VMS host geology; Angled drill program to test high-grade gold over-print; Drill program to test near mine exploration upside defined by geophysics; New bore-hole probe arriving to optimize targeting for Cu-Zn-Au-Ag mineralization.

Meridian receives additional permits and access agreements for expanded exploration across the VMS belt; Environmental licence covers ten additional farms on three exploration licences; Opens up further exploration programs at the initial 2km of Alamo target, in addition to the Cigarra, & Chiquito targets; Geological and geophysical programs to be expanded to define drill targets; and

Meridian strengthens geological management team with appointment of Chief Geologist, Erich Marques.

Dr. Adrian McArthur, CEO, comments: "The Company is very pleased to have now added the fourth rig to its 2023 drilling program, which enables testing of new areas and targets while maintaining the high rate of drilling at Cabacal. Work is commencing at Santa Helena where we will conduct verification and extensional drilling, testing the shallow high-grade resource potential and immediate extensional geophysical targets. With the expansion of these programs targeting multiple hydrothermal centres in the belt, the Company is pleased to welcome Mr Erich Marques as Chief Geologist, allowing the team to focus on both the execution of ongoing resource development programs at Cabacal and the expansion of the belt's potential."

Figure 1: Multiple hydrothermal centres within the Cabacal VMS belt

Santa Helena Drill Program

Drilling has now commenced at Santa Helena (Figure 2), a Cu-Zn-Au-Ag deposit located ~9km to the southeast of the Cabacal Mine area, forming one of a series of exploration targets along the Mine Corridor. The various targets are considered to represent hydrothermal centres in a clustered VMS field. The Company has been progressively working to expand access to new sites as licences are granted. Work programs to assist 3-D targeting through regional geochemical and geophysical programs will be expanded.

The Santa Helena drill program has a twofold objective: 1) to complete a series of holes as part of a verification program, to validate the historical data in line with 43-101 standards; 2) to initiate scout drilling to test satellite geophysical targets, to test resource extension potential.

The compiled Santa Helena database indicates that many historical holes were not completely sampled (at surface or at depth). Extensions of near-surface mineralization to the east were also not integrated into the last historical resource estimation1, and dominantly vertical drilling may not have coupled well with steeper structural sets related to the high-grade gold overprint event.

The Company's digitization of additional BP drill records in the area suggests that mineralization may occupy more than the one stratigraphic level previously modelled. Modelling of grade shells in Leapfrog software highlights a lower mineralization horizon that has been poorly drilled.

A new down-hole probe has been purchased by the Company and is currently clearing customs. It is optimized to test for Cu-Zn sulphide assemblages of lower conductivity, complimenting the Company's existing EMIT probe. The geophysical program will screen for multiple potential sulphide mound systems which characterise VMS fields.

Figure 2: Sonda Service low-impact portable drill rig setting up at Santa Helena.

Targeting the Cabacal Belt's Multiple Hydrothermal Centres

The belt scale exploration and permitting program continues engagement with landholders and statutory agencies to expand its footprint for regional exploration programs. The Brazilian management team has established exploration access agreements with local landholders and submitted them for environmental licencing with the state agency, SEMA. The Company has already established agreements with twelve local landholders from the Cigarra target. Some of these properties will require the landholders to register a land-use document ("CAR"; Cadastro Ambiental Rural) before the environmental agency can issue exploration permits. SEMA has already issued a new environmental licence (Licenca de operacao para pesquisa mineral; "LOPM" n 330101/2023) relating to properties where both formal agreements and CARs are in place.

1 Meridian Mining News Release of March 29, 2022.

The newly issued LOPM also covers properties in the Company's Alamo licence, 867407/2008, to the east of Santa Helena. Amongst the areas approved for exploration is the immediate adjoining farm to Santa Helena, which extends the strike extension of the Santa Helena VMS system now available for exploration over 2km to the east. This and a number of other smaller farms will provide access to open soil anomalies and Cabacal Threshold VTEM anomalies2. Meridian will execute geochemical and ground geophysical programs to define follow-up drill targets. The community engagement program remains in progress to expand land access agreements on the Alamo and Cigarra licences.

The new LOPM adds to the existing permit for the Chiquito target region, where the Company has already defined an emerging area of Au-Ag mineralization3, and where further drilling will be conducted on the Chiquito Cu-Au target area an untested geochemical-geophysical target position.

The ANM has recently approved two licences for a second term of exploration - 866002/2016 and 866455/2016, spanning 3,746 Ha across a 7km extension of the northern extension of the Cabacal Belt. This area covers an historical BP Minerals Target area, referred to as Cigarra (Figure 1). Historical records describe a geological / geochemical environment similar to that of the chloritic outcrops of the Cabacal deposit setting, with gold and base metal anomalies present.

The Company will continue to liaise with landholders and statutory agencies for access to other interpreted hydrothermal centres, which include Sucuri (geochemical / geophysical target), Sao Jose (geochemical target), Santa Rita (formerly "C4B"; geochemical - geophysical target), and multiple other targets. Access agreements are in place for some areas, but await regularisation of title documents. Access agreements and/or written contracts are required on other areas with the management continuing with community liaison. As these agreements, and subsequent LOPM's, are granted the Company will seek to commence exploration activities in these areas.

The Company's licences in the Araputanga and Jauru Belts, along with the northern and southern extensions of the Cabacal Belt, remain under in application stage.

Expanding Geological Team

The Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Erich Marques as Chief Geologist of the Company. Erich is a geologist with 15 years of experience, and holds a Bachelor in Geology from the Federal University of Mato Grosso, Brazil. He is a Qualified Person, being a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (MAIG). He is also registered with the Brazilian Resources and Reserves Commission (PQR. CBRR). He has held positions with ECI Exploration & Mining, Yamana Gold, Meridian Mining and Cerrado Gold on Gold, Copper, Tin and industrial mineral projects. Erich will assume responsibilities as Qualified Person. He joins existing senior staff members, Frederic Vanderoost, and Antonio Jose de Almeida to strengthen the Company's capacity in the execution of resource definition, and near mine and regional exploration.

2 Meridian Mining News Release of January 10, 2023

3 Meridian Mining News Releases of June 21, 2022 and July 12, 2022

About Meridian

Meridian Mining UK S is focused on:

The development and exploration of the advanced stage Cabacal VMS goldcopper project;

Regional scale exploration of the Cabacal VMS belt;

Exploration in the Jauru & Araputanga Greenstone belts (the above all located in the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil); and

Exploring the Espigao polymetallic project in the State of Rondonia, Brazil.

Cabacal is a gold-copper-silver rich VMS deposit with the potential to be a standalone mine within the 50km VMS belt. Cabacal's base and precious metal-rich mineralization is hosted by volcanogenic type, massive, semi-massive, stringer, and disseminated sulphides within deformed metavolcanic-sedimentary rocks. A later-stage sub-vertical gold overprint event has emplaced high-grade gold mineralization cross-cutting the dipping VMS layers.

The Cabacal Mineral Resource estimate consists of Indicated resources of 52.9 million tonnes at 0.6g/t gold, 0.3% copper and 1.4g/t silver and Inferred resources of 10.3 million tonnes at 0.7g/t gold, 0.2% copper & 1.1g/t silver (at a 0.3 g/t gold equivalent cut-off grade), including a higher-grade near-surface zone supporting a starter pit. Gold equivalents are calculated as: AuEq(g/t) = (Au(g/t) * %Recovery) + (1.492*(Cu% * %Recovery)) + (0.013*(Ag(g/t) * %Recovery)), where Au_recovery_ppm = 5.4368 ln (Au_Grade_ppm) + 88.856; Cu_recovery_pct = 2.0006 ln (Cu_Grade_pct) + 94.686; Ag_recovery_ppm = 13.342 ln (Ag_Grade_ppm) + 71.037. Recoveries are based on metallurgical testwork on core submitted to SGS Lakefield in 2022.

The Preliminary Economic Assessment technical report (the "PEA Technical Report") dated March 30, 2023, entitled: "Cabacal Gold-Copper Project NI 43-101 Technical Report and Preliminary Economic Assessment, Mato Grosso, Brazil" outlines a base case after-tax NPV5 of USD 573 million and 58.4% IRR from a pre-production capital cost of USD 180 million, leading to capital repayment in 10.6 months (assuming metals price scenario of USD 1,650 per ounces of gold, USD 3.59 per pound of copper, and USD 21.35 per ounce of silver). Cabacal has a low All-in-Sustaining-Cost of USD 671 per ounce gold equivalent for the first five years, driven by high metallurgical recovery, a low life-of-mine strip ratio of 2.1:1, and the low operating cost environment of Brazil (see press release dated March 6, 2023).

Readers are encouraged to read the PEA Technical Report in its entirety. The PEA Technical Report may be found on the Company's website at www.meridianminig.co and under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

The qualified persons for the PEA Technical Report are: Robert Raponi (P. Eng), Principal Metallurgist with Ausenco Engineering), Scott Elfen (P. E.), Global Lead Geotechnical and Civil Services with Ausenco Engineering), Simon Tear (PGeo, EurGeol), Principal Geological Consultant of H&SC, Marcelo Batelochi, (MAusIMM, CP Geo), Geological Consultant of MB Geologia Ltda, Joseph Keane (Mineral Processing Engineer; P.E), of SGS, and Guilherme Gomides Ferreira (Mine Engineer MAIG) of GE21 Consultoria Mineral.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Meridian Mining UK S

Dr. Adrian McArthur

CEO and Director

Meridian Mining UK S

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ph: +1 (778) 715-6410 (PST)

Qualified Person

Mr Erich Marques, B.Sc., MAIG, Chief Geologist of Meridian Mining and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and verified the technical information in this news release.

Stay up to date by subscribing for news alerts here: https://meridianmining.co/contact/

Follow Meridian on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MeridianMining

Further information can be found at: www.meridianmining.co

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information or forward-looking statements for the purposes of applicable securities laws. These statements address future events and conditions and so involve inherent risks and uncertainties, as disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in under the heading "Risk Factors" in Meridian's most recent Annual Information Form filed on www.sedar.com. While these factors and assumptions are considered reasonable by Meridian, in light of management's experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, Meridian can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Meridian disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or results or otherwise.
Vancouver, British Columbia  TheNewswire - Aug 8th, 2023  Juggernaut Exploration Ltd (TSXV:JUGR.V) (OTC:JUGRF) (FSE:4JE) (the Company or Juggernaut) is pleased to report the maiden drill program has commenced early on its 100% controlled Bingo property located within the Eskay Rift. The Bingo property is surrounded by a number of known and rapidly evolving deposits hosted within the same world class geologic units, including Surebet, Anyox, Dolly Varden, Porter Idaho, and Premier to name but just a few.

The Bingo Main Zone is a drill ready zone containing extensive gold mineralized grab, chip and channel samples along the axial plane of a fold hinge over an area of 550 meters x 175 meters in a region of recent glacial retreat and permanent snowpack abatement located within the Eskay Rift region of the Golden Triangle, British Columbia. High-grade gold from surface grab samples assayed up to 9.79 gpt Au. Channel samples assayed up to 1.77 gpt Au and 0.20 % Cu over 4.85 meters and 1.48 gpt Au and 0.37 % Cu over 3.2 meters, respectively. A second sister hinge zone has been identified approximately 1 km to the north (named the Double Down hinge zone) as strongly indicated by both lidar and geophysics that will be tested in 2023. The Bingo property has strong similarities to Goliath Resources Surebet Project located further to the east, including same mineralogy, lithology, textures and structures.

The 2023 field program on the 100% controlled Bingo property consists of up to ~2000 m of drilling from 4 drill pads within the Bingo Main zone. Additional surface exploration work will also be undertaken to better understand the folded system at play on Bingo by mapping and prospecting of the Double Down hinge zone located 1 km to the north of the Bingo Main Zone and believed to be part of the same mineralizing system. Providing excellent additional exploration upside for further drilling.

Bingo Property Main Gold Hinge and Double Down Hinge Drill Targets

Highlights from the high-grade gold Bingo property:

The Bingo Main zone has been expanded from 320 meters by 175 meters to 550 meters by 175 m and remains open with high-grade gold samples locatedalong the axial plane of a fold hinge that assayed up to 9.79 gpt Au.

An additional hinge zone named the Double Down hinge zone with similar characteristics is located 1 km to the north.

Bingo is located in the Eskay Rift in an evolving gold district in a world-class geologic setting within the Golden Triangle of British Columbia, host to several multi-million-ounce gold deposits.

Bingo contains the same world-class geological units as Goliath Resource's Surebet discovery next door, including Hazelton Volcanics and related sediments and intrusives.

Gold mineralization in outcrop, stream sediment geochemistry, ground magnetic survey, soil sampling and other lines of evidence confirm strong gold-mineralization on the property.

Mineralization is characterized by pyrite, chalcopyrite, galena and pyrrhotite.

Gold-rich fluids intruded and altered the host rock indicating a shear zone.

The Bingo property is surrounded by a number of known deposits, including Anyox, Surebet, Dolly Varden, Porter Idaho, Premier, and more.

Infrastructure includes direct access to tide water in close proximity to roads and high-tension power.

The Bingo property has an area of 989 hectares and is located 45 km SSW of Stewart, BC and 28 km W of Kitsault, and only 12 km to tidewater landing and roads in the historic mining town of Anyox providing for cost effective exploration.

Dan Stuart, President and CEO of Juggernaut Exploration states We are excited to have drills turning on Bingo, Midas and Empire simultaneously all with world class expression of high-grade mineralization in bedrock that was previously undetected until only now due to glacial recession and the abatement of permanent snow pack. The drill programs currently underway consists of ~6,500 meters commenced early this year due to exceptionally good weather across Northwestern B.C. With much anticipation, we look forward to executing the inaugural drill and exploration programs and reporting results.

Qualified Person

Rein Turna P. Geo is the qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, for Juggernaut Exploration projects, and supervised the preparation of, and has reviewed and approved, the technical information in this release.

Other

Grab, channels, chip and talus samples were collected by foot with helicopter assistance. Prospective areas included, but were not limited to, proximity to MINFile locations, placer creek occurrences, regional soil anomalies, and potential gossans based on high-resolution satellite imagery. The rock grab and chip samples were extracted using a rock hammer, or hammer and chisel to expose fresh surfaces and to liberate a sample of anywhere between 0.5 to 5.0 kilograms. All sample sites were flagged with biodegradable flagging tape and marked with the sample number. All sample sites were recorded using hand-held GPS units (accuracy 3-10 meters) and sample ID, easting, northing, elevation, type of sample (outcrop, subcrop, float, talus, chip, grab, etc.) and a description of the rock were recorded on all-weather paper. Samples were then inserted in a clean plastic bag with a sample tag for transport and shipping to the geochemistry lab. QA/QC samples including blanks, standards, and duplicate samples were inserted regularly into the sample sequence at a rate of 10%.

All samples, including rock grabs, channels, and talus samples, are transported in rice bags sealed with numbered security tags. A transport company takes them from the core shack to the ALS labs facilities in North Vancouver. ALS is either certified to ISO 9001:2008 or accredited to ISO 17025:2005 in all of its locations. At ALS samples were processed, dried, crushed, and pulverized before analysis using the ME-MS61 and Au-SCR21 methods. For the ME-MS61 method, a prepared sample is digested with perchloric, nitric, hydrofluoric and hydrochloric acids. The residue is topped up with dilute hydrochloric acid and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Overlimits were re-analyzed using the ME-OG62 and Ag-GRA21 methods (gravimetric finish). For Au-SCR21 a large volume of sample is needed (typically 1-3kg). The sample is crushed and screened (usually to -106 micron) to separate coarse gold particles from fine material. After screening, two aliquots of the fine fraction are analysed using the traditional fire assay method. The fine fraction is expected to be reasonably homogenous and well represented by the duplicate analyses. The entire coarse fraction is assayed to determine the contribution of the coarse gold.

Some of the reported data is historical in nature and is a compilation of third-party data from previous operators. The reader is cautioned that grab samples are spot samples which are typically, but not exclusively, constrained to mineralization. Grab samples are selective in nature and collected to determine the presence or absence of mineralization and are not intended to be representative of the material sampled. In addition, the reader is cautioned that proximity to known mineralization does not guarantee similar mineralization will exist on the properties.

For more information, please contact:

Juggernaut Exploration Ltd.

Dan Stuart

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Tel: (604)-559-8028

www.juggernautexploration.com

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENT

Certain disclosure in this release may constitute forward-looking statements that are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties relating to Juggernauts operations that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements, including its ability to complete the contemplated private placement. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements.

NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. PERSONS OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES. THIS PRESS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR AN INVITATION TO PURCHASE ANY SECURITIES DESCRIBED IN IT.
Xi leads way in combating Beijing, Hebei floods

Xinhua) 08:08, August 08, 2023

BEIJING, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- From 8 p.m. on July 29 to 7 a.m. on Aug. 2, Beijing recorded its heaviest rainfall since records began 140 years ago.

The heavy overall rains in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region caused anomalous floods in several districts of Beijing and several localities in north China's Hebei Province in the past few days.

At urgent times, the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee with Xi Jinping at the core kept standing firm in putting the people first and once again provided powerful backing for all those affected.

BEIJING MUST STAND THE TEST

Landing on the southeast Chinese coast on July 28, Typhoon Doksuri had not kept its realm in southern China as many other typhoons that weakened after landing but continued moving northward, bringing rain clouds to northern China.

President Xi closely followed the development of Doksuri, stressing that special precautions should be taken in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

Late July and early August are the usual rainy season in China. In early July, Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, asked relevant authorities to enhance coordination, step up monitoring and early warning, and provide targeted guidance over disaster prevention and rescue efforts.

In the face of Doksuri, authorities immediately mobilized, and multiple disaster alerts for mountain torrents, floods and waterlogging were announced.

Railway workers remove fallen trees from railway tracks in Shuiyuzui Village in flood-hit Mentougou District, Beijing, Aug. 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

Typhoon Doksuri brought heavy downpours in north China and resulted in floods and geological disasters.

On July 30, over 2,800 passengers were trapped on the K396, K1178 and Z180 trains in Beijing due to railways cut off by the rainfalls, facing a shortage of food and water and no communication signals.

The situation quickly came to Xi's notice and he immediately made instructions.

"Local authorities and relevant departments must get in touch with the trains and make every effort to arrange rescue and give out food and drugs to ensure the safety of the trapped passengers," Xi said in an instruction.

During the following days of rescue, Xi repeatedly stressed sound logistics guarantees for those temporarily settling where the trains were stuck, urging efforts to transfer trapped passengers to Beijing as soon as possible while ensuring their safety.

On Aug. 3, all the passengers were able to leave the temporary settlement spots.

Amid the rescue, Xi continued to give instructions concerning all those suffering from the natural disaster, stressing efforts to make appropriate arrangements for people affected by the floods and geological disasters, promptly repair damaged infrastructure, including transportation, telecommunications and electricity facilities, and restore order in work and life as soon as possible.

Party members and officials must charge forward, and primary-level Party organizations must play their roles so that the people can feel like they have something to rely upon, said Xi.

"As a modernized metropolis, Beijing must stand the test," he said.

Rescuers carry out drainage operation in Diaowo Township, Zhuozhou, north China's Hebei Province, Aug. 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

ALL-OUT RESCUE EFFORTS IN HEBEI

When Beijing was drenched, rainstorms also swept half of the counties and city districts in neighboring Hebei. Around 2.2 million people were affected.

Zhuozhou City in Hebei saw 60 percent of its urban areas immersed in water up to 6 meters deep.

Xi was deeply concerned about the disaster situation in Hebei. He learned about the water levels in places including Zhuozhou and instructed the province to mobilize rescuers and resources to promptly evacuate trapped individuals, ensure effective drainage in urban areas, and expedite restoring normal urban operations.

On Aug. 1, Xi demanded all-out search and rescue efforts to find people missing or trapped in floods.

The Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee has allocated 44 million yuan (about 6.16 million U.S. dollars) in funds to assist with flood control and disaster relief work in Beijing, Hebei and Tianjin.

On Aug. 4, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Water Resources allocated 450 million yuan for disaster relief in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei.

On the same day, the country earmarked an additional 100 million yuan from its central budget to assist in rehabilitation in Tianjin and Hebei.

Local authorities in Hebei mobilized large rescue forces to the flood-hit areas: 4,705 rescue teams consisting of 105,988 members were formed, and emergency departments of various levels exchanged information daily with the teams.

On Xi's instructions, the central government and Beijing also sent support. The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and the National Health Commission sent work teams and experts to guide the rescue efforts on site. Beijing Drainage Group dispatched four units of large-scale water pumps, 14 vehicles and 63 technicians to assist with water drainage.

Villagers of Qinglonghu Town have meal at a temporary shelter after being evacuated from flood-hit areas in Fangshan District, Beijing, Aug. 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

Currently, the ongoing rain has significantly eased, but flood prevention remains a tough challenge.

Xi emphasized that all regions and relevant departments must strengthen monitoring, forecasting and early warning efforts and enhance inspection measures.

On Aug. 4, Xi warned the disaster-affected areas, especially those in mountainous regions, to be vigilant against secondary disasters and not lower their guard.

Authorities in Hebei strived to ensure the safety of flood detention areas and made every effort to minimize losses caused by flood detention.

As of Aug. 4, about 1.6 million people have been evacuated in Hebei, and expressways have all reopened. In the worst-hit Zhuozhou, all 402 villages resumed contact with the outside world, and electricity supplies were restored in 75 urban neighborhoods suffering power cuts due to the flood.

"After the rescue teams cleared the roads, villagers actively took part in relief efforts and transported supplies," said Zhao Feifei, Party chief of Qiyu Township in the city of Baoding, Hebei Province, where a landslide took place.

"We are confident that we can help people restore normal life and production soon," she added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American Pacific Mining Corp (CSE: USGD / OTCQX: USGDF / FWB: 1QC) (American Pacific or the Company) is pleased to provide an update on the ongoing activities at its Palmer Project (Palmer or the Project) near Haines, Alaska, US.

Palmer is an advanced-stage, high-grade volcanogenic massive sulphide-sulphate deposit (VMS) located in the Porcupine Mining District of the Haines Borough, Alaska. Constantine North Inc (Constantine), a subsidiary of American Pacific, is the operator for the Project and the US$25.5 million 2023 program is funded by joint venture partner Dowa Metals & Mining Co., Ltd (Dowa).

Drilling progress is ahead of schedule, and we are pleased to report that semi-massive and massive sulphide mineralization has been observed over drilled thicknesses of approximately 40 metres within the upper (Zone 1) and lower (Zone 2-3) VMS lenses of the Southwall Zone at the Palmer Deposit, stated Warwick Smith, CEO of American Pacific.

Plate 1: (left) Native copper in drillhole CMR23-152 at 177.6 m downhole (Southwall Zone 1).

Plate 2: (right) Massive sphalerite from CMR23-153 at 156.9 m downhole (Southwall Zone 1).

Highlights:

4,178 metres (m) of the planned 9,000 m resource definition program has been drilled representing 46% of the planned 2023 program.

1,022 m of the planned 2,550 m geotechnical drill program has been drilled, representing 40% of the planned program. Hydrogeologic testing and monitoring well installations are ongoing to determine the hydrogeological characteristics and rock mechanics of the hanging wall and footwall.

The first 378 samples for assays were recently shipped to the laboratory with results expected during Q3, 2023.

Program Goals and Drill Program Overview:

One of the 2023 program goals is to build the foundation of people, infrastructure, and resources needed to operate through the advanced exploration and evaluation stages and complete feasibility-level engineering studies on the Project in the coming years.

The 2023 field season started with snow clearing along Porcupine Road, providing construction access for a safe and modern 60-person camp, scheduled for occupancy in August. The addition of these facilities is a major milestone and will support an expanded field season, year-round environmental monitoring and maximize productivity going forward, commented Peter Mercer, VP of Advanced Projects for American Pacific.

The 2023 diamond drill program is targeting high-priority areas in two unique mineralized lenses, which make up the Southwall Zone of the Palmer deposit. The knowledge gained from this program will provide insights to support feasibility-level studies of the Palmer deposit and future discovery focused drilling throughout the mineralized district. Two diamond drill rigs dedicated to the infill drill program have collared 14 holes, with good productivity and 46% of the program now complete. The third diamond drill rig, focused on hydro-geotechnical drilling in the immediate deposit area, has collared five holes, to date.

The 2023 drilling builds upon the Companys confidence in the current geologic modeling of the VMS lenses within the Southwall Zone, while gaining valuable geotechnical insight into the surrounding wall rock.

Figure 1: Oblique view of the planned 2023 drill program at the Southwall Zone with topography.

Infill drillholes shown in white and grey; Geotechnical drillholes shown in pink.

Logging of drill core from Southwall Zone 1 indicates massive and semi-massive sulphide mineralization up to 43 m in drilled thickness and defined by a sphalerite-rich eastern limb, a chalcopyrite-rich core and increasing pyrrhotite-pyrite mineralization through the centre of the lens. Drilling will continue to test the western portion of Zone 1 and the extent of the mineralization.

Directional drilling of Southwall Zone 2-3 has provided insight into the structural complexity of the deposit at depth, allowing for precision targeting of desired intersections. Two distinct sphalerite-chalcopyrite-pyrrhotite-barite massive sulphide horizons have been visually identified through core logging at approximately 39 m in drilled thickness.

In addition, ongoing analysis of historical geochemical data continues to highlight areas with high-grade potential near the Southwall Zone.

Figure 2: Massive chalcopyrite-pyrrhotite-pyrite in directional hole CMR23-157-01, Lower Southwall Zone 2-3.

Figure 3: Banded sphalerite-pyrite-chalcopyrite-barite in hole CMR23-155, Southwall Zone 1.

Team and Safety

The Company is building the team and facilities to fully evaluate the Palmer Project over the next several years. This year's field program is being executed with 41 direct employees, 11 are year-round and 30 are full-time until late October. The Company has built a high-performing team, adding a Human Resources Manager, Financial Controller, Health and Safety Superintendent, Site Manager, Exploration Manager and several technical experts. The Project's ongoing hazard awareness and risk reduction focus will continually aim for industry-leading safety performance. The Companys safety record has remained excellent, with zero reportable lost time injuries to date.

Environmental Programs

An important part of Palmers 2023 programs is broadening the understanding of environmental conditions in and around the Project area. The environmental team has been planning baseline studies to properly evaluate new areas for potential infrastructure. These studies include wetland mapping, noise monitoring, measuring ambient light, and fish and wildlife surveys.

A continued priority for the environmental team is ensuring Palmers environmental studies and monitoring provide community confidence in the Project above and beyond regulatory compliance.

Geotechnical Studies

The 2023 geotechnical program will be focused on data acquisition to evaluate potential locations for Project infrastructure. The company has been working with contractors to be field ready marking the beginning of a multi-year effort to evaluate infrastructure locations and design. Overall, the focus of these programs will be to identify the best location possible for site infrastructure from multiple perspectives, allowing the Company to design the best project for the region.

Qualified Person Statement

The scientific technical information in this news release was reviewed and prepared under the supervision of Michael Vande Guchte, P.Geo., Vice-President Exploration for the Palmer Project. Mr. Vande Guchte is a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Vande Guchte has verified the data related to the exploration information disclosed in this press release through his direct participation in the work.

About American Pacific Mining Corp.

American Pacific Mining Corp. is a precious and base metals explorer and developer focused on opportunities in the Western United States. The Company has two flagship assets: the Palmer Project, a Volcanic Massive Sulfide (VMS) project in Alaska, under joint-venture partnership with Dowa Metals & Mining, owner of Japans largest zinc smelter; and the Madison Project, a past-producing copper-gold project in Montana partnered with Kennecott Exploration, a division of the Rio Tinto Group. For the Madison transaction, American Pacific was selected as a finalist in both 2021 and 2022 for Deal of the Year at the S&P Global Platts Global Metals Awards, an annual program that recognizes exemplary accomplishments in 16 performance categories. Also, in American Pacifics asset portfolio are three high-grade, precious metals projects located in key mining districts of Nevada, USA: the Ziggerat Gold project, partnered with Centerra Gold; the Gooseberry Silver-Gold project; and the Tuscarora Gold-Silver project. The Companys mission is to grow by the drill bit and by acquisition.

On behalf of the American Pacific Mining Corp Board of Directors:

Warwick Smith, CEO & Director

Corporate Office: Suite 910  510 Burrard Street

Vancouver, BC, V6C 3A8 Canada

Investor relations contact:

Kristina Pillon, High Tide Consulting Corp.

604.908.1695 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Media relations contact:

Adam Bello, Primoris Group Inc.

416.489.0092 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Orogen Royalties Inc. (TSXV:OGN) (OTCQX:OGNRF) ("Orogen") or the ("Company") is pleased to provide a drilling and resource development update on AngloGold Ashanti NA's ("AngloGold") Silicon-Merlin gold project (Figure 1) in Nevada, USA where Orogen holds a 1% net smelter return ("NSR") royalty.

Merlin Update Highlights

The Exploration Target at Merlin ranges from 230 to 250 million tonnes grading 0.8 to 1.0 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold for a total of 6.0 to 8.0 million ounces of gold (see cautionary note) 1,2,3

The Exploration Target at Merlin is exclusive of the 3.4 million ounces gold Indicated and 800,000 ounces gold Inferred resources at Central Silicon 4

Impressive drill hole intercepts include drill hole MER-23-0105-RD grading 3.27 g/t gold over 285 metres and drill hole MDT-21 grading 2.61 g/t gold over 214.8 metres 3

Over 261 drill holes totalling over 120 kilometres of drilling at Merlin completed as of July 2023 3

The Merlin zone remains open to the west, south-west, and north

"This is an excellent start for the resource development program at Merlin", commented Orogen CEO, Paddy Nicol. "AngloGold anticipates completion of the resource delineation drilling program by the end of the third quarter of 2023. By year end, AngloGold plans to release a concept study on the combined Silicon-Merlin project including an initial Mineral Resource declaration at Merlin. Drilling is also continuing at both Silicon Central and Merlin for resource conversion and expansion. In combination with the previously announced resources at Central Silicon, the new announcement clearly indicates that a world-class deposit is developing within Orogen's royalty AOI."

Figure 1 - AngloGold's Beatty District Projects displaying mineralized zones and Orogen's royalty AOI

Figure 2 - Merlin long section looking northwest showing drill results. Adapted from Interim 2023 Merlin Exploration Target1

Figure 3 - Plan map displaying drill collar locations (red dots)at the Silicon and Merlin targets.1

About the Silicon Merlin Project

Orogen holds a 94 square-kilometre 1% NSR royalty area of interest covering the Central Silicon deposit and Merlin Exploration Target on AngloGold's Expanded Silicon project, part of the broader Beatty District Projects. AngloGold have completed over 200 kilometres of drilling on the Expanded Silicon project with a conceptual study designed to integrate the two mineral bodies (Central Silicon and Merlin) to be completed by the end of 2023. The mineralization at Central Silicon and Merlin consists of epithermal gold mineralization. At Central Silicon, where a pit constrained 3.4 million ounces gold Indicated and 0.8 million ounces gold Inferred resources were previously announced4, mineralization is focused around a structural corridor with a small high grade core expanding at depth that has not been captured in the current resource. At Merlin, mineralization appears to be dominantly hosted in the Bullfrog and Tram tuffs with the currently defined Exploration Target open to the west, south-west and north. AngloGold is currently working on an integrated concept study for the Expanded Silicon project to be completed in H2 2023. AngloGold predicts first production in the Beatty District by the end of 2025 with the region forming a greater than 300,000-ounce gold per year multi-decade mine1,2.

Table 1 - Drill hole intercept results shown in Figure 21

Drill hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Au (g/t) MD-0017 425.2 592.8 167.6 0.82 MD-0016 397.8 617.2 219.4 0.62 MRC-0017

and 367.3 722.4 685.8 792.5 318.5 70.1 0.72 0.76 MDT-0021 448.1 662.9 214.8 2.46 MER-23-0105-RD 482.8 564.3 81.5 2.61 MER-23-0147-RD 284.1 569.1 285.0 3.27 MRC-0014 480.1 595.9 115.8 2.42 MD-0005 408.4 585.2 176.8 0.64 MER-23-0044-RD 316.5 553.5 237.0 0.67 MD-0001 342.0 556.0 214.0 1.19 ML20-171CT 256.4 454.8 198.4 1.40 ML21-185CT 323.4 506.1 182.8 0.83 CH21-056 143.3 196.6 53.3 0.55 CH21-072 123.4 167.6 44.2 0.43

(1) Results reported at 0.1g/t cut-off. Reported intervals are drilled core lengths, true widths are not yet established. Assay values are uncut.

A full report and transcript are available at: https://www.anglogoldashanti.com/.

Qualified Person Statement

All new technical data, as disclosed in this press release, has been verified by Laurence Pryer, Ph.D., P.Geo., VP. Exploration for Orogen. Dr. Pryer is a qualified person as defined under the terms of National Instrument 43-101.

Certain technical disclosure in this release is a summary of previously released information and the Company is relying on the interpretation provided by the relevant referenced partner. Additional information can be found on the links in the footnotes or on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) or EDGAR (www.sec.gov).

Cautionary Note: The ranges of tonnage and grade of the Exploration Target are conceptual in nature and could change as the proposed exploration activities are completed. There has been insufficient exploration of the relevant property or properties to estimate a Mineral Resource at this point in time. It is uncertain if further exploration will result in the estimation of a Mineral Resource and the Exploration Target therefore does not represent, and should not be construed to be, an estimate of a Mineral Resource or Mineral Reserve. Given the conceptual stage of the project, a number of risks, uncertainties and opportunities, are evident in the confidence of the known orebody and the potential for upside at Silicon, Merlin and in the surrounding area. The Merlin Exploration Target grade and tonnage ranges have been determined by a preliminary review of the location and weighted average grade of the mineralised intercepts. The geology of the deposit contains a significant number of faulted offsets, which require detailed geological modelling to fully define the extent and continuity of the mineralisation. A bulk density value of 2.4 t/m3 was used. No economic constraint has been applied to the deposit to determine the extent of what material may ultimately be extracted.

About Orogen Royalties Inc.

Orogen Royalties Inc. is focused on organic royalty creation and royalty acquisitions on precious and base metal discoveries in western North America. The Company's royalty portfolio includes the Ermitano gold and silver mine in Sonora, Mexico (2% NSR royalty) being mined by First Majestic Silver Corp. and the Silicon-Merlin gold project (1% NSR royalty) in Nevada, USA, being advanced by AngloGold Ashanti NA. The Company is well financed with several projects actively being explored under joint ventures.

On Behalf of the Board

OROGEN ROYALTIES INC.

Paddy Nicol

President & CEO

To find out more about Orogen, please contact Paddy Nicol, President & CEO at 604-248-8648, and Marco LoCascio, Vice President, Corporate Development at 604-248-8648. Visit our website at www.orogenroyalties.com.

Orogen Royalties Inc.

1015 - 789 West Pender Street

Vancouver, BC

Canada V6C 1H2

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Forward Looking Information

This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward looking statements". All statements in this presentation, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that Orogen Royalties Inc. (the "Company") expect to occur, are 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 the Company believe 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 the forward looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions.

Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

Except where otherwise stated, the disclosure in this news release relating to properties and operations in which Orogen holds a Royalty are based on information publicly disclosed by the owners or operators of these properties and information/data available in the public domain as at the date hereof, and none of this information has been independently verified by Orogen. Specifically, as a Royalty holder and prospect generator, the Company has limited, if any, access to properties on which it holds Royalty or other interests in its asset portfolio. The Company may from time to time receive operating information from the owners and operators of the mining properties, which it is not permitted to disclose to the public. Orogen is dependent on, (i) the operators of the mining properties and their qualified persons to provide information to Orogen, or (ii) on publicly available information to prepare disclosure pertaining to properties and operations on the properties on which the Company holds Royalty or other interests, and generally has limited or no ability to independently verify such information. Although the Company does not have any knowledge that such information may not be accurate, there can be no assurance that such third-party information is complete or accurate. Some reported public information in respect of a mining property may relate to a larger property area than the area covered by Orogen's Royalty or other interest. Orogen's Royalty or other interests may cover less than 100% of a specific mining property and may only apply to a portion of the publicly reported mineral reserves, mineral resources and or production from a mining property.

References

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.
Channel sampling of limited oxidized and weathered outcrop exposures in the northern corridor of the Plutus porphyry target have returned encouraging assay results including: 10.25 metres @ 2.81 g/t gold,13 g/t silver and 186 ppm copper 23.71 metres @ 1.22 g/t gold, 16 g/t silver and 198 ppm copper

The Plutus northern corridor, which is part of the greater Plutus porphyry target area, measures 600 metres along strike (open) by 250 metres wide and hosts mineralized porphyry outcrops which include breccia and quartz vein stockwork.

The initial drill pad at the Plutus northern corridor (PPad1) is now complete and drilling is expected to commence in the coming days. Additional drill pads are being constructed throughout the entire Plutus target area in order to drill a series of holes from multiple pads.

Four rigs are now operating at the Guayabales project with eleven holes completed at the Apollo porphyry system which are currently in the lab for analysis. Additional assay results are expected in the near term.

Ari Sussman, Executive Chairman commented: "The sheer scale of exploration occurring at the Guayabales project is impressive and I would like to commend our team for their efforts. Plutus is clearly a distinct second porphyry center with many similarities to the Apollo porphyry system, including multiple stages of potentially overprinting styles of mineralization hosted in breccia and porphyry rocks. We are excited to begin drilling Plutus for the first time and look forward to providing updates as we receive addition analytical results."

TORONTO, Aug. 8, 2023 /CNW/ - Collective Mining Ltd. (TSXV: CNL) (OTCQX: CNLMF) ("Collective" or the "Company") is pleased to announce assay results and field observations from recent reconnaissance exploration work undertaken in the northern corridor of the Plutus porphyry target. Plutus is located between 500 metres and 1,500 metres to the east of the Apollo porphyry system and 1,500 metres to the north of the Marmato mine.

The Plutus porphyry target ("Plutus") measures approximately 1,000 metres by 720 metres, remains open for expansion and has been outlined by a coincidental magnetic high with copper and molybdenum in soil anomalies measuring greater than 300 ppm and 20 ppm respectively. The Plutus northern corridor, which is situated within the northern portion of Plutus, measures 600 metres in strike by 250 metres in width and remains open along strike for expansion.

Details ( See Figures 1-4)

Observations from surface mapping of the Plutus northern corridor identified both porphyry and related hydrothermal breccia with at least ten small outcrop exposures. The Company believes that outcrops located to the west of the Donut breccia in the western portion of the Plutus northern corridor may represent a new breccia body while the outcrops located directly east of the Donut breccia are likely related to extensions of that breccia system.

Recent surface mapping of the new breccia outcrops outlines angular clasts of porphyritic quartz diorite with a stockwork of overprinting quartz and magnetite veins hosting sulphides of pyrite and chalcopyrite as well as molybdenite (see Figure 1 for the location of the channel sampling). Breccia matrix cement is mainly iron oxides formed from weathering of sulfides. Despite the level of weathering at surface there are significant grades encountered from the continuous rock channel sampling with assay results as follows:

10.25 metres consisting of 2.81 g/t gold, 13 g/t silver and 0.02% copper (CH-3540)

23.71 metres consisting of 1.22 g/t gold, 16 g/t silver and 0.02% copper (CH-5155)

6.00 metres consisting of 1.06 g/t gold, 3 g/t silver and 0.02% copper (CH-1002)

9.70 metres consisting of 0.71 g/t gold, 7 g/t silver and 0.01% copper (CH-12078)

5.60 metres consisting of 0.70 g/t gold, 14 g/t silver and 0.03% copper (CH-3547)

7.0 metres consisting of 0.70 g/t gold, 15 g/t silver and 0.03% copper (CH-3554)

4.0 metres consisting of 0.54 g/t gold, 3 g/t silver and 0.02% copper (CH-8190)

7.60 metres consisting of 0.57 g/t gold, 32 g/t silver and 0.03% copper (CH-3553)

3.20 metres consisting of 0.53 g/t gold, 6 g/t silver and 0.06% copper (CH-3548)

In the eastern portion of the Plutus northern corridor, sparse outcrops highlight the presence of porphyry-related mineralization, including magnetite veins as well as pyrite, chalcopyrite and molybdenite and quartz in porphyry vein systems classified as A, B, EB, and D types. The quartz diorite porphyry host rock exhibits both potassic and sericite alteration.

Recent reconnaissance exploration work in the eastern part of the Plutus northern corridor has discovered a new outcrop of quartz diorite porphyry with a stockwork of quartz veinlets hosting iron oxides derived from weathering of sulphides. Results are pending from a continuous forty-seven metre long channel sample along exposed porphyry stockwork mineralization.

Drilling to test the Plutus northern corridor from newly constructed pad PPad1 is expected to commence in the coming days. Additional drill pads are being constructed throughout the Plutus target area ahead of additional planned drilling.

About Collective Mining Ltd.

To see our latest corporate presentation and related information, please visit www.collectivemining.com

Founded by the team that developed and sold Continental Gold Inc. to Zijin Mining for approximately $2 billion in enterprise value, Collective Mining is a copper, silver, and gold exploration company with projects in Caldas, Colombia. The Company has options to acquire 100% interests in two projects located directly within an established mining camp with ten fully permitted and operating mines.

The Company's flagship project, Guayabales, is anchored by the Apollo target, which hosts the large-scale, bulk-tonnage and high-grade copper-silver-gold Apollo porphyry system. The Company's near-term objective is to drill the shallow portion of the porphyry system, continue to expand the overall dimensions of the system through step out and direction drilling, which remains open in most directions and drill test multiple new targets generated through grassroots exploration.

Management, insiders and close family and friends own nearly 45% of the outstanding shares of the Company and as a result, are fully aligned with shareholders. The Company is listed on the TSXV under the trading symbol "CNL" and on the OTCQX under the trading symbol "CNLMF".

Qualified Person (QP) and NI43-101 Disclosure

David J Reading is the designated Qualified Person for this news release within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") and has reviewed and verified that the technical information contained herein is accurate and approves of the written disclosure of same. Mr. Reading has an MSc in Economic Geology and is a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and of the Society of Economic Geology (SEG).

Technical Information

Rock, soils and core samples have been prepared and analyzed at SGS laboratory facilities in Medellin, Colombia and Lima, Peru. Blanks, duplicates, and certified reference standards are inserted into the sample stream to monitor laboratory performance. Crush rejects and pulps are kept and stored in a secured storage facility for future assay verification. No capping has been applied to sample composites. The Company utilizes a rigorous, industry-standard QA/QC program.

Information Contact:

Follow Executive Chairman Ari Sussman (@Ariski73) and Collective Mining (@CollectiveMini1) on Twitter.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements about the drill programs, including timing of results, and Collective's future and intentions. Wherever possible, words such as "may", "will", "should", "could", "expect", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict" or "potential" or the negative or other variations of these words, or similar words or phrases, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof.

Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties, and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, Collective cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and Collective assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2023) - Dolly Varden Silver Corporation (TSXV: DV) (OTCQX: DOLLF) (the "Company" or "Dolly Varden") is pleased to announce initial drill results from expansion drilling at Kitsol and Torbrit as part of the 2023 exploration program on the 100%-owned Dolly Varden property in BC's Golden Triangle. Due to drilling success and efficiencies, a fifth drill has been mobilized to site and the 2023 program has been expanded by approximately 10,000m to 55,000m of drilling. Over 70 drill holes have been completed to-date this season.

Highlights from the Kitsol Vein in the Torbrit Deposit area include*:

DV23-334: 297 g/t Ag over 8.32 meters including 1,090 g/t Ag over 0.90 meters at Kitsol

DV23-336: 342 g/t Ag over 18.00 meters including 2,270 g/t Ag over 0.50 meters and 995 g/t Ag with 3.6% Pb over 0.60 meters at Kitsol

DV23-337: 496 g/t Ag over 9.57 meters including 1,100 g/t Ag over 0.73 meters at Kitsol

DV23-348: 334 g/t Ag over 3.50 meters including 672 g/t Ag over 1.34 meters at Torbrit Main, south extension

* Intervals are core length; true widths vary from 64 to 87% of core length interval (see table 1), assays are uncut

"As the flow of results from our fully funded 2023 exploration drill program have started, we continue to see successful resource expansion drilling at the Kitsol Vein, intersecting high grade silver mineralization over wide intervals, that is potentially amenable to bulk underground mining methods," said Shawn Khunkhun, President and CEO of Dolly Varden Silver. "We are excited to have the fifth drill turning as it will allow us to allocate extra meters to exploration drilling on our priority list of targets along the Kitsault Valley trend."

Figure 1. Area of results released relative to Silver and Gold Deposits of Dolly Varden's Kitsault Valley Trend



Holes DV23-334 and 336 extended the plunge extent of the wide, high grade, silver mineralization at the Kitsol vein for an additional 40m towards surface. The plunge direction has been extended to over 250m from the furthest southwest intercept, down plunge in drill hole DV22-323 (Figure 2). Drilling has identified a consistent, high-grade interval within the wide vein interval, associated with multiple phases of brecciation (DV23-334: 1,090 g/t Ag over 0.90 meters and DV23-336: 2,270 g/t Ag over 0.50 meters).

Drill holes DV23-335, 337, 341 and 343 tested the high-grade shoot along strike; hole DV23-337 was a 41 meter step-out, up plunge from DV18-131, confirming the consistent vertical dimension of the shoot to be of 50-75 meters, along the length of the plunge. The remaining holes intersected the Kitsol vein, either above or below the higher grade mineralized shoot.

Exploration holes to the west, testing for new structures in the hanging wall of the Moose Lamb fault encountered a block of the Kitsol vein in drill hole DV23-338 within a fault splay. Further modelling with the new oriented core data will guide targeting of the possible offset of the Kitsol Vein across the Moose Lamb fault.

At the southern end of the Torbrit Main deposit, drill holes DV23-348 and 350 were collared as a 31m step outs testing for the mineralized horizon. DV23-348 intersected mineralization consistent with the lower sequence of the basin fill-style silver zone at Torbrit, within potassic and chlorite altered volcanic tuff.

Figure 2. Kitsol Vein Longitudinal section with plunge of high grade silver shoot and 2023 results

Figure 3. Drill hole DV22-336 (74.00m to 85.55m) from the Kitsol Vein deposit showing breccia vein style mineralization with argentite, native silver in a dark silica matrix and vein breccia fragments

Addition of fifth Diamond Drill and start of Geophysical Survey

The 15km long extent of the prospective Hazelton rocks on the property is host to numerous surface occurrences of alteration and silver mineralization that have been prioritized for drill testing. With the addition of approximately 10,000 meters to the initial 45,000 meter planned program, the extra drilling will be allocated to discovery-focused exploration targets. Efficiencies and excellent drill production have allowed for the additional drilling within the current budget.

In addition, a MT geophysical survey conducted by Simcoe Geoscience has commenced. The ground survey will be run over post-mineralization sedimentary rocks over the centre of the valley. Additional surveys will be performed to the area west and north of Homestake Ridge, where extensive gold in soil anomalies coincident with strong quartz-sericite-pyrite (QSP) alteration in interpreted to suggest a possible source at depth for the structurally-controlled gold-silver mineralization at Homestake Main and Homestake Silver deposits.

Figure 4. Kitsol Vein Plan View showing Drill Hole locations with Lithology, this release.

Table 1. Drill Hole Assays from 2023 Kitsol and Torbrit drill holes.

Hole ID From

(m) To

(m) Length

(m) True Width

(m) Ag*

(g/t) Pb*

(%) Zn*

(%) Au*

(g/t) DV23-334 63.00 71.32 8.32 7.21 297 0.28 0.22 including 65.10 66.00 0.90 0.78 1090 1.59 0.90 DV23-335 159.50 160.50 1.00 0.72 118 0.24 0.06 and 174.00 175.00 1.00 0.72 104 0.24 0.50 and 176.70 177.61 0.91 0.65 176 0.12 0.09 DV23-336 70.00 88.00 18.00 15.59 342 0.58 0.57 including 75.40 75.90 0.50 0.42 2270 0.10 1.13 including 79.65 80.25 0.60 0.51 995 3.60 1.48 DV23-337 122.33 131.90 9.57 7.94 496 0.78 0.38 including 122.33 123.06 0.73 0.61 1100 0.14 0.37 and 171.00 172.00 1.00 0.83 129 0.03 0.09 DV23-338 123.27 123.74 0.47 0.33 14 0.02 1.02 DV23-341 176.90 177.40 0.50 0.32 310 1.20 0.11 0.80 and 184.14 184.64 0.50 0.32 208 1.48 0.11 and 187.03 187.53 0.50 0.32 22 0.11 0.09 0.16 and 272.50 275.50 3.00 1.92 115 0.21 0.06 0.11 DV23-342 NSV DV23-343 216.45 217.36 0.91 0.52 107 0.02 0.11 and 299.00 300.00 1.00 0.57 140 0.18 0.32 DV23-346 NSV DV23-348 86.00 89.50 3.50 3.50 334 0.03 0.05 0.13 including 86.00 87.34 1.34 1.34 672 0.02 0.07 0.24 DV23-350 NSV

* Assays reported are uncut. NSV denotes 'No Significant Values'

Table 2. Drill Hole Collars for 2023 Dolly Varden Kitsol - Torbrit Area Drilling (this release)

Hole ID Easting

UTM83 (m) Northing

UTM83 (m) Elev.

(m) Azimuth Dip Length

(m) DV23-334 467617 6172166 380 100 -45 130 DV23-335 467569 6172125 408 113 -59 201 DV23-336 467617 6172166 380 81 -45 130 DV23-337 467569 6172125 408 104 -49 228 DV23-338 467482 6172082 410 108 -60 401 DV23-341 467543 6172134 405 122 -55 321 DV23-342 467482 6172082 410 130 -60 326 DV23-343 467543 6172134 405 121 -70 396 DV23-346 467482 6172082 410 120 -50 276 DV23-348 468321 6171190 562 45 -55 168 DV23-350 468321 6171190 562 45 -72 186

Quality Assurance and Quality Control

The Company adheres to CIM Best Practices Guidelines for exploration related activities conducted on its property. Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) procedures are overseen by the Qualified Person.

Dolly Varden QA/QC protocols are maintained through the insertion of certified reference material (standards), blanks and field duplicates within the sample stream. Drill core is cut in-half with a diamond saw, with one-half placed in sealed bags and shipped to the laboratory and the other half retained on site. Third party laboratory checks on 5% of the samples are carried out as well. Chain of custody is maintained from the drill to the submittal into the laboratory preparation facility.

Analytical testing was performed by ALS Canada Ltd. in North Vancouver, British Columbia. The entire sample is crushed to 70% minus 2mm (10 mesh), of which a 500 gram split is pulverized to minus 200 mesh. Multi-element analyses were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) for 48 elements following a 4-acid digestion process. High grade silver testing was determined by Fire Assay with either an atomic absorption, or a gravimetric finish, depending on grade range. Au is determined by Fire Assay on a 30g split.

Qualified Person

Rob van Egmond, P.Geo., Vice-President Exploration for Dolly Varden Silver, the "Qualified Person" as defined by NI43-101 has reviewed, validated and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release and supervises the ongoing exploration program for Dolly Varden on the Kitsault Valley Project.

About Dolly Varden Silver Corporation

Dolly Varden Silver Corporation is a mineral exploration company focused on advancing its 100% held Kitsault Valley Project (which combines the Dolly Varden Project and the Homestake Ridge Project) located in the Golden Triangle of British Columbia, Canada, 25kms by road to tide water. The 163 sq. km. project hosts the high-grade silver and gold resources of Dolly Varden and Homestake Ridge along with the past producing Dolly Varden and Torbrit silver mines. It is considered to be prospective for hosting further precious metal deposits, being on the same structural and stratigraphic belts that host numerous other, on-trend, high-grade deposits, such as Eskay Creek and Brucejack. The Kitsault Valley Project also contains the Big Bulk property which is prospective for porphyry and skarn style copper and gold mineralization, similar to other such deposits in the region (Red Mountain, KSM, Red Chris).

Forward Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements or forward-looking information under applicable Canadian securities legislation that may not be based on historical fact, including, without limitation, statements containing the words "believe", "may", "plan", "will", "estimate", "continue", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "potential", and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Dolly Varden to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements or information in this release relates to, among other things, the 2022 drill program at the Kitsault Valley Project, the results of previous field work and programs and the continued operations of the current exploration program, interpretation of the nature of the mineralization at the project and that that the mineralization on the project is similar to Eskay and Brucejack, results of the mineral resource estimate on the project, the potential to grow the project, the potential to expand the mineralization and our beliefs about the unexplored portion of the property.

These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and assume, among other things, the ability of the Company to successfully pursue its current development plans, that future sources of funding will be available to the company, that relevant commodity prices will remain at levels that are economically viable for the Company and that the Company will receive relevant permits in a timely manner in order to enable its operations, but given the uncertainties, assumptions and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements or information. The Company disclaims any obligation to update, or to publicly announce, any such statements, events or developments except as required by law.

For additional information on risks and uncertainties, see the Company's most recently filed annual management discussion & analysis ("MD&A") and management information circular dated January 21, 2022 (the "Circular"), both of which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The risk factors identified in the MD&A and the Circular are not intended to represent a complete list of factors that could affect the Company.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

For further information: Shawn Khunkhun, CEO & Director, 1-604-609-5137, www.dollyvardensilver.com.
Vancouver, British Columbia (FSCwire) - Tasca Resources Ltd. ("Tasca" or the "Company") ( TSX Venture symbol: TAC ) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an option agreement (the Agreement) with Sydney Wilson (the Optionor) to earn up to a 100% undivided interest in the Optionors... Read More
VANCOUVER, BC --(Marketwired - March 24, 2017) - Western Copper and Gold Corporation ("Western" or the "Company") (TSX: WRN) ( NYSE MKT : WRN) reports its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2016. "Western is proud to have been able to weather the latest market downturn without share... Read More
UN investigators said Tuesday they had gathered strong evidence of surging war crimes in Myanmar, including mass executions and sexual violence, and were building case files to help bring perpetrators to justice.

The Southeast Asian country has been ravaged by deadly violence since a coup deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi's government in February 2021, unleashing a bloody crackdown on dissent that has sparked fighting across swathes of the nation.

The United Nations' Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) said it had evidence that Myanmar's military and affiliated militias were "committing increasingly frequent and brazen war crimes".

It pointed among other things to indiscriminate aerial bombardments, the burning of villages and mass killings of civilians and detained combatants, as well as torture and horrific sexual violence.

The investigation team warned in its annual report that "the number of incidents bearing the hallmarks of serious international crimes" had surged since the coup.

"Every loss of life in Myanmar is tragic, but the devastation caused to whole communities through aerial bombardments and village burnings is particularly shocking," Mechanism chief Nicholas Koumjian said in the statement.

"Our evidence points to a dramatic increase in war crimes and crimes against humanity in the country, with widespread and systematic attacks against civilians, and we are building case files that can be used by courts to hold individual perpetrators responsible."

- 'Highest level of cruelty' -

The IIMM was established by the UN Human Rights Council in 2018 to collect evidence of the most serious international crimes and prepare files for criminal prosecution.

While the team has never been permitted to visit Myanmar, it said it had engaged with over 700 sources and had collected "over 23 million information items", including witness statements, documents, photographs, videos, forensic evidence and satellite imagery.

The team -- already cooperating with the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court -- said it "plans to accelerate its collection of evidence of the most serious international crimes".

The investigators said they were particularly looking for "linkage evidence" demonstrating responsibility of specific individuals, especially high-level officials.

The IIMM report explained that military commanders have a duty under international law to prevent and punish war crimes committed by those under their command.

"Repeatedly ignoring such crimes may indicate that the higher authorities intended the commission of these crimes," the report said.

It highlighted evidence of the use of child soldiers by "various armed actors", and said it was seeing "more and more evidence concerning torture, sexual violence and other forms of severe mistreatment at numerous detention facilities".

The evidence indicated that such crimes were "being committed with the highest levels of cruelty and harm to the victims, including rape with objects, other forms of humiliation, mutilation, gang or serial rape and sexual enslavement," the report said.

The IIMM said it was also investigating rampant sexual violence committed during the bloody crackdown on Myanmar's Muslim Rohingya minority that in 2017 resulted in the displacement of nearly a million people.

"Sexual and gender-based crimes are amongst the most heinous crimes that we are investigating," said Koumjian, saying these were "pervasive during the Rohingya clearance operations."
A group representing survivors of the Rwandan genocide Tuesday expressed anger and disappointment at a UN appeal court ruling that a suspect should be urgently considered for release after he was declared unfit for trial.

The Ibuka association representing survivors slammed the decision in the case of former business tycoon Felicien Kabuga, accused of setting up a hate broadcaster that fuelled the 1994 slaughter of around 800,000 people.

"The ruling to potentially release Kabuga is a deliberate insult to the deep wounds that genocide survivors suffer," Naphtali Ahishakiye, executive secretary of the group, told AFP.

The survivors are "extremely angry and disappointed," said Ahishakiye, saying it set a "deplorable precedent."

In June, judges found Kabuga was not fit enough to go on trial but ruled he should still undergo a stripped down legal process without a verdict.

Appeals judges rejected that on Monday, saying the lower court made an "error of law" and ruling Kabuga, who is 88 according to officials but claims to be 90, should be urgently considered for release.

Captured in Paris 2020 after two decades on the run, wheelchair-bound Kabuga went on trial last September and pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors accuse Kabuga, once one of Rwanda's richest men, of being the driving force behind Radio-Television Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM), which urged ethnic Hutus to kill Tutsis with machetes.

But judges said in June that medical experts had now found he has "severe dementia".

The court first put the trial on hold in March over health concerns, having earlier dismissed bids by Kabuga's defence lawyers to have him declared unfit to stand trial.

Ahishakiye slammed Monday's outcome and said his group was now considering cutting ties with the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals.

"Aligning with a court that continuously shields genocide perpetrators at the expense of justice for survivors has lost its rationale," hence "our continued cooperation with this court is untenable -- it serves no purpose."

Prosecutor Serge Brammertz said he had carefully reviewed the Appeal Chamber's decision and "its decision must be respected, even if the outcome is dissatisfying.

"My thoughts are with the victims and survivors of the Genocide," said Brammertz," recognising that "this outcome will be distressing and disheartening to them".

He cited the recent arrest of former police inspector Fulgence Kayishema, accused of a massacre, as evidence the Kabuga ruling "is not the end of the (overall) justice process."

Defence counsel Emmanuel Altit told AFP he welcomed the appeal judges' ruling.
By Denis Edema

Police in Jinja City have arrested a witch doctor for allegedly raping his female client, who had sought his services at a cost of Shs120,000.

Mr James Mubi, the Kiira Region Police Spokesperson, identified the suspect as Mr. Siraj Wanzala, 70, a resident of Kainogoga Cell, Mafubira Ward in Jinja North City Division, while the victim is 46 years old.

The victim visited the suspects shrine in May to have some rituals performed on her. However, he allegedly ordered her to undress for cleansing or to sprinkle magic greenish fluids all over her body, but raped her in the process, Mr Mubi said.

He added that the suspect, who has been on the run since May, is currently being detained at Jinja Central Police Station and will be charged accordingly upon completion of investigations.

In her statement to police, the victim alleges that after the cleansing, she has been experiencing nightmares, including those of the witch doctor threatening to kill her if she discloses anything to authorities.

Mr Mubi says witch doctors have taken advantage of innocent persons, especially women, by assaulting them sexually and exploiting them financially.
The Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala has issued an arrest warrant against embattled former Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) boss, David Livingstone Ebiru for failing to turn up in court on Tuesday to answer to corruption-related charges.

Ebiru was relieved of his role by the Minister of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives, Mr. Francis Mwebesa after he admitted before parliaments committee on public accounts  Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) that he paid a bribe of Shs100 million to the Bureau board members in exchange for protection. It is alleged that Ebiru was on the verge of losing his job due to lack of qualifications.

The arrest warrant has been signed by Chief Magistrate Joan Aciro, instructing authorities to produce him in court on August 31, 2023.

Prosecution alleges that between October 2022 and December 2022, Ebiru corruptly offered a gratification of 100 million shillings to Charles Masekuura the chairperson of the UNBS board as an inducement to secure his job as the executive director of UNBS where he was employed.

Ebirus suspension from office was contained in a letter dated 20th July 2023 by the minister asking him to step aside from office with immediate effect to enable investigations into the alleged misappropriation of funds, misconduct, and abuse of office.

Ebiru is accused of masterminding an expenditure of Shs12.5 billion without approval from the Ministry of Finance and Parliament following the Auditor Generals report for the financial year 2021/2022.
The Democratic Party (DP) has asked parliament to investigate the alleged corruption in utilization of Emyooga funds. This is after news broke about the alleged misuse of over Shs2 billion Emyooga funds by the state minister for Micro-Finance, Haruna Kasolo.

It is alleged that he used the money to organize his Shs2 billion wedding.

Speaking to journalists at the party head offices in Kampala, the president of the Uganda Young Democrats, Ismael Kirya, said the alleged corruption is impunity of the highest order, urging government not to just look at Minister Kasolo but also make a thorough investigation into other corrupt officials.

He noted that there is a lot happening at the Ministry of Micro-Finance as officials such as the permanent secretary, chief administration officers, among others have been accused of misusing powers and awarding themselves with money that could have helped the poor.

Kirya thus asked parliament and the Inspector General of Government to make inquiries into the matter critically so that those implicated are brought to book.
By Peter Sserugo & Alex Ashaba

The Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) in its joint operation with the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), have rescued seven more abductees.

They also killed two rebels and received two fighters who surrendered during a successful Operation Shujaa attack against ADF on Sunday.

According to Maj Bilal Katamba, the public information officer for operation Shujaa, the joint forces got into contact with the rebels in Mwalika valley prior to the fight which resulted into the rescue operation, recovery of guns and ammunitions as well the killing of two rebels and surrendering of others. Read more
Kilkenny College was a hive of bustling activity last week as over 360 people gathered for their annual Bahai Summer School

Its such a pleasure to see all these sunny, smiling faces on a rainy day, said Mayor Joe Malone on his visit to the Bahai Summer School in Kilkenny College last Thursday.

The Mayor toured the activities on campus accompanied by Ann OSullivan, Secretary of the Irish Bahai governing body.

This week, in dozens of different ways, were exploring the idea of our common human identity, explained Ann.

Because if we can really see that were all just people, all part of one human family, then well be able to find common

ground and learn to work together to make our society safe, healthy, welcoming and inclusive - more neighbourly in the best sense of the word.

The Mayor visited the classes for teenagers and children and joined the adult session in the main hall of the College and he extended a warm welcome to Kilkenny to everyone he met during his visit.

Among the groups he dropped in on was a group of 11-15 year olds all busily playing a very active game.

Eoin Tynan-OMahony, one of the organisers, welcomed the Mayor into the classroom full of laughing young people.

Were playing a game here called the Trading Game, explained Eoin. As you can see, were having a lot of fun but in that fun were also learning about the great economic imbalances that exist between the rich and poor countries in the world and the injustice and suffering that can come about as a result.

The young teenagers paused their game to listen to the Mayor and were charmed by his words as he commended them on their study and their bright, active, happy approach.

Throughout his visit the Mayor chatted with everyone he met and listened carefully to try to find out a little more about what they were doing. He was also happy to learn from Ann OSullivan that while there was a lot of work and study going on that wasnt all that happens throughout the week of an Irish Bahai Summer School.

Irish Bahais are like all Irish people, Ann explained. We love to learn but we also love to relax and socialise, to visit the beautiful town of Kilkenny and, of course, to have a craic!

The Mayor left promising to return again - and maybe join in some of the activities at the Bahai Summer School next year.
Four young people from Kilkenny were among the 350 teenagers from around the world to gather in Maynooth for Foroiges Leadership for Life Youth Conference.

The conference, which happened last week on the grounds of NUI Maynooth, brings together young people from the USA, Ukraine, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, South Africa and Ireland to learn how to become leaders in their own lives.

During the week-long conference the teens learn crucial life skills such as empathy, decision making, problem solving, communication skills, critical thinking and team work.

Sean Campbell, CEO of Foroige, said: The conference gives young people the chance to not just learn from the speakers and facilitators, but to learn from each other in a fun and safe environment. This week is not only about creating new relationships and learning new skills; its about transforming as an individual. Im continually in awe of what young people can achieve when given the opportunity and its weeks like these that give them that opportunity.

As part of the week-long conference, the delegates will meet inspirational guest speakers including:

Ashwin Chacko, an Indian author, illustrator and motivational speaker based in Dublin. His mission is to champion creativity and empower people to find their inner spark through his art, books, talks & workshops.

Norah Patten, an Irish aeronautical engineer and an award winning STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) advocate from Ballina, County Mayo.

Jack Kavanagh, one of Ireland's leading speakers focusing on Mental & Emotional Wellbeing and DiverseAbilities.
People living in the Piltown and Fiddown areas of South Kilkenny received a major boost in recent months, with news of substantial upgrades to their broadband supply from LEADER through the 'Smart Villages' initiative and the Tomar Trust.

750 homes and businesses in the locality now have, or will soon have, access to at least 150MB speeds and a future-proofed high-speed broadband service they can afford.

The development is expected to offer hundreds of families the opportunity to work and study from home, to conference call and stream.

It's also hoped the measures will increase enterprise and business opportunities in the communities, not just with other parts of Co. Kilkenny but with the surrounding counties of Waterford and Tipperary.

Locals from the two parishes were quite literally at the heart of the upgrades, getting down into the trenches and building their own 'Fibre-to-the-Premises' (FTTP) broadband network through the voluntary 'Broadband 4 Our Community' (B4OC) group.

Kilkenny LEADER Partnership now wants community-focused individuals and groups who are interested in building "better, more inclusive communities," to register for an information and training workshop in Thomastown on Thursday, August 10.

The free Our Town event at Thomastown Community Centre begins at 2.30pm and will focus on the future of rural towns in Kilkenny, scoping out areas such as Mobility, Connectivity, Inclusion and the Circular Economy. There will be a number of guest speakers present including former Mountjoy Prison Governor, John Lonergan.

Pre-registration for Thursdays workshop is essential as places are limited and registration is now open via the LEADER website or on www.eventbrite.ie
(In Aug 7 story, corrects to 2021 from 2011 in third paragraph and removes incorrect paragraph on Piedmont's supply to Tesla relying partly on Atlantic's Ghana operations) Aug 7 (Reuters) - Atlantic Lithium said on Monday the Africa-focused company was confident of getting a lease for a lithium mine in Ghana following the approval of a green minerals policy by the country's government. The company said the new policy included "changes to the mining royalty rate and the state's carried interest in minerals projects" and that Atlantic Lithium was in talks with Ghana's Minerals Commission. In 2021, Piedmont Lithium invested $100 million in the company to secure spodumene, or high-purity lithium ore, from Atlantic Lithium's mine in Ghana. In March, short seller Blue Orca Capital alleged Atlantic Lithium obtained key Ghana mining licenses by making secret payments. The company had rejected the allegations. (Reporting by Seher Dareen in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta) 70128, if within U.S. call +1 646 223 8780))

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
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(Kitco News) - Craig Parry, co-founder of Inventa Capital, said the current malaise in the junior resource sector is comparable to the period right before the last boom in 2010. The trigger then was a spate of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and he sees the same thing starting now.

Parry spoke to Kitco at the Rule Symposium Natural Resource Investing 2023 show held in Boca Raton, Florida.

Although we haven't yet seen much M&A in the juniors, several deals have been struck or proposed within larger companies, such as Teck-Glencore, Newmont's takeover of Newcrest, and Hudbay's acquisition of Copper Mountain Mining.

"There's big deals happening and that very much feels like 2005-2006 to me. That was all a front runner to the serious boom that came from 2007 onwards, so I think we're starting to see that," said Parry, who believes there will be a fresh round of deal-making among juniors and mid-tiers in the next couple of years.

Asked whether juniors are "too cheap" right now for M&A, Parry responded:

"For quality companies I think these valuations we're seeing at the moment are almost unique, an extraordinary buying opportunity. So many investors have thrown the baby out with the bath water," Parry said, adding he has personally deployed over $1 million into the market in the past six months.

Kitco Mining's coverage of the Rule Symposium Natural Resource Investing 2023 was sponsored by G Mining Ventures.
Get all the essential market news and expert opinions in one place with our daily newsletter. Receive a comprehensive recap of the day's top stories directly to your inbox. Sign up here!

(Kitco News) - China continues to put the world on notice that it intends to challenge the U.S. dollar's role as a reserve currency after the nation's central bank bought more gold in July, pushing its current shopping spree to nine consecutive months.

Krishan Gopaul, senior analyst at the World Gold Council, reported on social media that the People's Bank of China bought 23 tonnes of gold last month. Gopaul noted that so far this year, China has purchased 126 tonnes of gold, increasing its official reserves to 2,136 tonnes.

China's ongoing gold purchases have put renewed focus on the growing de-dollarization trend as nations around the world reduce their exposure to the U.S. dollar. Although China has become a leading buyer in the precious metal market, some analysts say that the central bank is just getting started.

"When you buy gold, it's a direct vote against the U.S. dollar," said Willem Middelkoop, creator of the Commodity Discovery Fund. "China is sending a message to the White House that they don't support the global financial system backed by the U.S. dollar."

Thorsten Polleit, chief economist at Degussa, said he also sees China's sustained gold purchases as a vote of no-confidence in the greenback.

"China is sending an unmistakable signal to the world for all eyes to see: It reduces its US-dollar holdings and, at the same time, increases its gold reserve stock," he said. "Like many other non-western countries, China wishes to reduce its dependence on the greenback, and physical gold is the greenback's natural substitute."

Polleit added that as aggressive as China has been in the last nine months, the central bank still has a long road ahead.

"The U.S. M2 money stock amounts to nearly 21 US$ trillion, backed by the US official gold stock of 8,133.5 tonnes. The Chinese M2 money stock  in terms of current US$  amounts to nearly 40 US$ tn, while the Chinese official gold stock is just 2,113.5 tonnes," he said.

Middelkoop said he also expects China to buy gold for an extended period, and that he believes this is the start of the endgame for the U.S. dollar.

"It will take decades, but this is how a new system is started," he said. I expect China will continue to buy gold for the next decade. We will have a multi-polar currency world for quite a while."

Analysts have said that central bank demand, while it has slowed in the last few months, remains a significant support for gold prices. Middelkoop noted that gold is holding critical support levels even as the yields on U.S. 10-year bonds hold around 4%.
TAIPEI/BERLIN, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC on Tuesday committed 3.5 billion euros ($3.8 billion) to a factory in Germany, its first in Europe, taking advantage of huge state support for the $11 billion plant as the continent seeks to bring supply chains closer to home.

The plant, which will be TSMC's (2330.TW) third outside of traditional manufacturing bases Taiwan and China, is central to Berlin's ambition to foster the domestic semiconductor industry its car industry will need to remain globally competitive.

The European Union has approved the European Chips Act, a 43 billion euro subsidy plan to double its chipmaking capacity by 2030, in a bid to catch up with Asia and the United States after shortages and high prices during the COVID-19 pandemic created havoc for the continent's carmakers and machine builders.

Germany, which has been courting the world's largest contract chipmaker since 2021, will contribute up to 5 billion euros to the factory in Dresden, capital of the eastern state of Saxony, German officials said.

"There is going to be a real ecosystem for semiconductor manufacturing in Germany," said economy minister Robert Habeck. "It's going to generate orders for the whole sector: for machine builders, for optics manufacturers, for skilled workers."

Saxony, centre of the former East Germany's electronics industry, already has several chip "fabs" and is heir to a tradition of precision craftsmanship: in one of the 40 rounds of talks, officials from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) were treated to a visit to see exquisitely-wrought jewellery in the city's Green Vault museum.

TSMC's is the single largest investment in Saxony's history and a boost for conservative state premier Michael Kretschmer, who faces a strong challenge from the anti-immigration, far-right Alternative for Germany party ahead of next year's regional election.

"This will only work if Germany becomes an immigrant country," Kretschmer told a news conference, acknowledging that filling the 10,000-odd vacancies that would be created by the factory and its suppliers would take more than the investments in training that he was also planning.

VOTE OF CONFIDENCE

TSMC said it would invest up to 3.499 billion euros into a subsidiary, European Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (ESMC), of which it will own 70%. Germany's Bosch (ROBG.UL) and Infineon (IFXGn.DE) and the Netherlands' NXP (NXPI.O) will each own 10% of the plant, which will make up to 40,000 wafers a month for cars and industrial and home products when it opens in 2017.

The factory will cost around 10 billion euros in total.

Semiconductor makers Intel (INTC.O) and Wolfspeed (WOLF.N) have already taken advantage of the subsidies on offer to set up shop in Germany.

The EU seeks to double to 20% its global market share in semiconductors by 2030.

Habeck hailed the investment as a vote of confidence in a German economy that has been battered by high energy prices following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which triggered a slowdown and fears that Europe's economic powerhouse could be deindustrialising.

TSMC is also investing $40 billion in a new plant in the western U.S. state of Arizona, supporting Washington's plans for more chipmaking at home, and is building a plant in Japan in a joint venture with Sony.

TSMC said in a statement after a board meeting that approved the German investment that it had also approved a capital injection of not more than $4.5 billion for the Arizona plant as part of the overall $40 billion investment.

($1 = 0.9122 euros)
NEW YORK, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs' (GS.N) global head of commodities research Jeff Currie, a prominent analyst who accurately predicted a surge in commodity prices in the 2000s, is retiring, according to a memo seen by Reuters.

Currie is leaving after 27 years. His departure is the latest high-profile exit from the Wall Street giant in recent months.

Julian Salisbury, chief investment officer of its asset and wealth management arm, is departing to join investment firm Sixth Street, according to an announcement last month.

Currie, 56, coined the phrase "Revenge of the Old Economy" in 2004 to describe how commodity prices would spike after decades of underinvestment, according to the memo. His forecast was borne out in what would become known as the commodities supercycle, during which crude oil surged to record highs in 2008.

More recently, Currie revived his prediction for another supercycle fuelled by pandemic stimulus measures and rebounding economic activity.

"We expect a structural bull market in commodities, very similar to what we saw in the 2000s or the 1970s," Currie told the Reuters Commodities Summit in late 2021.

The firm "has greatly benefited from Jeff's thought leadership on a broad range of topics and his ability to identify fundamental commodity market themes well before others," Jan Hatzius, Goldman's chief economist and head of global investment research, wrote in the memo.

Currie's responsibilities will be shared among Daan Struyven, Sam Dart and Nick Snowdon, who are in charge of oil, natural gas and metals research, respectively.

Currie joined Goldman in 1996 and was promoted to managing director in 2002, then partner in 2008. He also chairs the advisory board of the University of Chicago's Energy Policy Institute.

Other senior departures from Goldman in recent months include Dina Powell McCormick, who led its sovereign business, and Lisa Opoku, who ran a unit that manages the wealth of its partners and senior executives.
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(Kitco News) - The stablecoin landscape is undergoing a shift following Mondays announcement by PayPal that introduced the PayPal USD (PYUSD) stablecoin, giving many crypto holders a third reliable option when it comes to a U.S.-dollar pegged store of value and payment token.

Shortly after the PYUSD news hit the press, Tether (USDT) CTO Paolo Ardoino noted on Twitter that more than $325 million worth of USDT was redeemed on Monday, and highlighted the companys banking-grade standards that require customers to be fully verified via KYC/AML before they can access services.

When you redeem USDt, it means you want to have FIAT back, ie. interact on the banking layer, hence you have to comply with the FIAT system rules, Ardonio said.

Data provided by Glassnode comfirms that USDT saw significant outflows on Monday, but the overall impact is negligible as USDT is the largest stablecoin by market cap, with a current circulating supply of 83.9 billion tokens worth approximately $83.7 billion.

Tether circulating supply. Source: Glassnode

The reason that the value of the USDT market cap is lower than the circulating supply is due to the fact that the stablecoin is trading slightly off its $1 peg on Tuesday following the redemptions. Data from TradingView shows that USDT slipped as low as $0.997 amid the redemptions as traders looked to swap out their tokens for fiat dollars.

The second-ranked stablecoin by market cap, USD Coin (USDC), has also seen an increase in redemptions in the wake of the PYUSD announcement. According to Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire, over the past month, Circle has issued $5 billion worth of USDC and has redeemed $6.6 billion USDC.

USDC banking is public and transparent, with 24/7/365 mint/burn, and wire settlement with nearly 90 countries, Allaire said. We don't charge fees to mint and burn USDC.

Allaire also took the opportunity to congratulate PayPal and Paxos on the new stablecoin launch, saying, It's incredibly exciting to see such a significant internet and payments company entering the stablecoin space.

This is what happens when we start to get regulatory clarity, and with the Payment Stablecoin Act, this can open up a free and competitive market for dollar stablecoin issuers with strong supervision, allowing the US to compete with digital dollars that are uniformly safe, transparent, liquid and supervised to Fed-standards, he said. Stablecoin laws are arriving in Japan, the U.K., EU, Hong Kong, UAE, Singapore, and the U.S. Customers will know who they are dealing with, and firms that can survive scrutiny by central banks and prudential regulators will thrive. That's the market in 2024 and 2025.

Allaire also addressed concerns that PYUSD will eat into USDCs market share. Despite the hype that we're all about the US, we estimate that 70% of USDC adoption is non-U.S., and some of the fastest growing areas are emerging and developing markets, he said. Strong progress happening across Asia, LATAM and Africa. Demand for safe, transparent digital dollars is strong.

The spike in redemptions has led to speculation that some crypto holders are looking to convert their stablecoin holdings into PYUSD once the token becomes widely available. The cryptocurrency exchange Huobi has already signaled that it intends to be the first exchange to list the new stablecoin as a way to help promote the development of the industry.

Huobi will be the first exchange to support the launch of PYUSD stablecoin, and will provide PYUSD/USDT trading pairs with 0 trading fee permanently, the exchange announced on Tuesday. When the market circulation and liquidity conditions are ripe, Huobi will open trading for the first time.

But not all cryptocurrency enthusiasts are excited about the new stablecoin, as several crypto sleuths have pointed out that the source code for PYUSD allows PayPal to freeze, seize, or burn the tokens in a users wallet.

Crypto Carl, a partner at 6th Man Ventures who said he worked on the PYUSD project, pushed back against these concerns, tweeting, Of course PYUSD has ability to "freeze & seize" assets - this is consistent with USDC, BUSD and even USDT. It's a core requirement for centralized issuers. Anyone tweeting as if it's surprising in some way is click-baiting you for a reaction.

As for why PYUSD is significant, Crypto Carl noted that its another step towards legitimizing crypto [as] PayPal is the worlds largest fintech provider and carries incredible brand reputation and user trust; theres a clear vision strategy [and] methodical approach at all levels; PYUSD will enable millions of people to safely enter Web3; and PYUSD is held bankruptcy remote, unlike USDT and USDC.

Lastly, they have the right partnerships in place to unlock millions in crypto settlement volume overnight  29 million merchants and thousands of cross-border payments  one of the few platforms that can begin to solve global payments at scale, he said. PayPal's launch of crypto assets in Sept 2021 was a leading driver of the prior bull cycle  I expect PYUSD will lay critical groundwork for future adoption.

And crypto analyst Miles Deutscher noted the interesting timeline of developments that led to the PYUSD launch, suggesting that the February crackdown on Binance, Paxos, and Binance USD (BUSD) was all part of the plan leading up to the issuance of PYUSD by PayPal and Paxos.
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(Kitco News) - Russias finance ministry announced late last week that it would start buying currencies and gold again in August after 18 months of selling or sitting on the sidelines as Moscow looks to profit from recent high oil prices, according to a report from Reuters.

Russia ended a nearly one-year-long pause in their foreign exchange interventions in January when they began selling their yuan reserves under a budgetary mechanism designed to insulate the countrys economy from the volatility of commodity markets. FX purchases were halted in late January 2022, and the program was suspended after the invasion of Ukraine the following month.

As the bulk of Russias currency reserves were frozen by U.S. and European sanctions, the yuan is the main asset Russia still has available for these operations. Approximately one-third of Russias budget revenues come from its oil and gas industry.

The finance ministry said it planned to buy 1.8 billion roubles, or $19.27 million worth of foreign currency, each day from Aug. 7 to Sept. 6, with FX purchases totaling 40.5 billion roubles ($3.78 billion). It did not share a specific target for its gold purchases.

The Central Bank of Russia (CBR) carries out these FX interventions on behalf of the finance ministry, but the CBR also resumed interventions of its own on Aug. 1, selling 2.3 billion roubles worth of foreign currency per day, meaning Russia will still be a net seller of 0.5 billion roubles worth of currency each day. The central bank has sold 559 billion roubles worth of yuan and gold ($5.98 billion) from the National Wealth Fund (NWF) on the finance ministrys behalf so far this year.

In the previous period, between July 7 and Aug. 4, the ministry sold 34.9 billion roubles worth of foreign currency to compensate for lower oil and gas revenues. The ministry said that energy revenues were 32.7 billion roubles below expectations in July, but forecasted additional oil and gas revenues of 73.2 billion roubles in August.

Russias reference Urals crude oil blend rose in July above the price cap of $60 per barrel imposed in December, but it remained well below the $78.41 per barrel it earned in July 2022.

The NBRs National Wealth Fund accounts hold 9.054 billion euro, 285.7 billion yuan (USD$40.2 billion), 517.1 metric tons of gold, and 228 mln rubles (USD$2.82 million), according to the latest data.

The NWF holds Russia's oil revenues and was created to help support the pension system. "NWF is dedicated to support pension system of the Russian Federation to guarantee long-term sound functioning of the system," the Finance Ministry's website states. The Fund's primary mission is to "co-finance voluntary pension savings of Russian citizens and to balance budget of Pension Fund of the Russian Federation."

The fund's assets held in euro, pounds, and Japanese yen were frozen after sanctions were introduced on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.

Back in January, Russia already sold 3.6 tonnes of gold and 2.3 billion Chinese yuan from the NWF to cover the budget deficit as income from oil and gas revenues fell. This marked the first move of its kind.

Two years ago, the NWF ditched all of its U.S. dollar assets and boosted its gold, euro, and Chinese yuan holdings.

And at the start of this year, the Russian Finance Ministry said it had doubled its holding limits of gold and Chinese yuan within the National Wealth Fund (NWF). The new maximum holding limits are set at 40% for gold and 60% for yuan. The previous limits were at 20% and 30%, respectively.
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(Kitco News) - While countries around the world explore the creation of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) as an additional option alongside physical cash, results on the ground continue to show a tepid response from consumers, with Russia being the latest country to admit that the public reaction to the digital ruble has been lackluster.

According to a report from Kommersant, the Association of Russian Banks (ARB) sent a letter to the Bank of Russia asking for clarification on Moscows CBDC plans and warned that thus far, citizens have been wary of the digital ruble.

[Russian] people have an extremely wary attitude to the introduction of the digital ruble. [This attitude is shared by] the consumers of financial services, the ARB said. The letter also called for the Bank of Russia to propose the introduction of a direct ban on forcing citizens to open a digital ruble wallet.

The ARB asked the central bank to provide clarification on several topics, including, What is a digital ruble  a third form of money or non-cash currency; will the central bank compensate banks for the costs of providing customers with access to the digital ruble; and will banks be required to become participants in the project, and if so, what do they need to change in their infrastructure?

Russia began testing the digital ruble on August 1, and 15 of the countrys largest banks are participating in the pilot project. According to Oleg Sysuev, Chair of the Board of Directors at Alfa Bank, there is still a high level of confusion regarding the legal nature of the digital ruble.

Generally speaking, and on a global scale, CBDCs are very young, Sysuev said. And as the Russian banking system, in terms of IT, is still ahead of many developed countries, we are  in some respect  pioneers. Therefore, there are a lot of questions to be answered. It is not clear how [banks] will be incentivized to distribute the [CBDC]. And it is not clear how customer interest will be driven up. Nor is it not clear how the [Central Bank] will regulate transactions with the [CBDC].

Additional questions identified by other market participants include whether or not the state, police, and regulators can block digital ruble transactions, set restrictions on who can transact with the digital currency, and whether there will be a time limit to spend the tokens before they are burned. This is of particular interest to the investing crowd as the digital ruble cannot be used to purchase investment products, and these participants are wondering how the new money supply will interact with financial markets.

While there are many questions that remain and the public has been reluctant to engage with the CBDC, the current plan is for the digital ruble to enter wide circulation beginning Jan. 1, 2025.

Belarus follows in Russias footsteps

Russian ally Belarus is set to follow up the launch of the digital ruble with the launch of a digital version of the Belarusian ruble for use in cross-border payments.

According to a report from Interfax, the National Bank of Belarus (NBB) plans to introduce a digital Belarusian ruble that can be used to conduct settlements for international operations.

Dmitry Kalechits, Deputy Chair of the Board of the NBB, announced the digital currency via a statement on the NBB website, saying, One of our most significant large-scale projects will be the introduction of the digital Belarusian ruble and its use at the cross-border level.

The National Bank of the Republic of Belarus defines the Belarusian digital ruble as a legal means of payment that performs all the functions of money, is issued by the central bank, and has the same value as the cash and non-cash Belarusian ruble, he added.

Kalechits noted that the NBB is considering the possibility of making payments in digital currencies between the central banks of Belarus and Russia.

Of particular interest is the possibility of making cross-border payments in the digital currencies of central banks, he said. The interaction of digital currency platforms of central banks will increase the availability of cross-border payments with counterparties from partner countries by integrating them, which is especially true in conditions of sanctions pressure on the economies of Russia and Belarus, as well as restrictions on access to international payment systems.

This announcement from the NBB follows a report in May that Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko met with Elvira Nabiullina, Chair of the Bank of Russia, to discuss the topic of the digital ruble. In early 2023, NBB head Pavel Kallaur reported that the central bank was studying the topic of introducing a digital ruble and would make an appropriate decision by the end of the year.
Aug 8 (Reuters) - United Parcel Service <UPS.N> cut its full-year revenue and profitability targets on Tuesday on the back of a slump in shipments due to labor turmoil in its U.S. business, sending shares of the world's largest package deliverer down more than 2%.

UPS reached a tentative five-year deal for some 340,000 U.S. employees represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union shortly before the July 31 contract expiration. As the union threatened to strike, customers diverted more shipments than expected to rivals, UPS CEO Carol Tome said on a conference call with analysts.

Customers shifted about 1 million packages per day to other providers, resulting in about $200 million of lost sales. Data suggests the U.S. Postal Service, FedEx (FDX.N) and regional rivals each picked up about one-third of that business, Tome said.

"It's all hands on deck to get back the volume that was diverted as a result of the negotiations," she said.

Voting by employees on whether to ratify the handshake agreement wraps up on Aug. 22. The deal includes wage hikes, ends a two-tier wage system for delivery drivers, adds one paid holiday and begins installing air conditioning in new delivery trucks next year. UPS retained flexibility for weekend service, temporary holiday workers and technology adoption.

UPS shares were down about 2.8% in mid-morning trading, while shares in rival FedEx were up more than 1%.

Atlanta-based UPS said it would lay out labor costs from the deal after it is ratified by employees.

UPS, often seen as a bellwether for the U.S. economy, and other logistics companies are facing a global shipping demand slump from soft e-commerce and weak export and industrial production that has squeezed margins.

To shield its profit, UPS has been focusing on moving high-margin parcels for healthcare and other businesses.

UPS forecast annual consolidated revenue to be about $93 billion in 2023 compared with a prior view of about $97 billion and said it expected adjusted operating margin this year of around 11.8%, compared with an earlier forecast of about 12.8%.

"We will stay on strategy to capture growth in the most attractive parts of the market," Tome said.

The company's adjusted profit of $2.54 per share for the second quarter beat market expectations by 4 cents. Revenue fell about 11% and missed estimates of $23.1 billion, as per Refinitiv data.
WASHINGTON, Aug 8 (Reuters) - U.S. regulators on Tuesday hit another batch of Wall Street firms with $549 million in civil penalties over widespread record-keeping failures related to employees' use of personal text messages and other messaging apps.

Eleven firms, including Wells Fargo Securities and BNP Paribas Securities Corp, have agreed to pay $289 million in fines to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to resolve the allegations.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission separately fined affiliates of five of the same group another $260 million for related issues: Wells Fargo (WFC.N), BNP Paribas (BNPP.PA), Societe Generale (SOGN.PA), the Bank of Montreal (BMO.TO) and Wedbush Securities Inc.

The fines are the latest in a series of investigative enforcement actions by the regulators aimed at use of so-called "off-channel" communications such as text and WhatsApp messages. Regulators require broker dealers and investment advisers to keep certain work-related communications, but Wall Street dealers have increasingly used personal devices in recent years.

Spokespeople for Wells Fargo, which has agreed to pay $200 million in penalties to the SEC and CFTC, and Bank of Montreal, which agreed to pay $50 million, said the firms are pleased to have resolved the matter.

Spokespeople for BNP, which agreed to pay $110 million to the regulators, and Mizuho, which agreed to pay $25 million to the SEC, declined to comment.

SMBC Nikko Securities, which will pay $9 million to the SEC, declined to comment.

Representatives for the other firms did not respond immediately to requests for comment.

The regulators have already fined units of JPMorgan Chase and Co (JPM.N), Barclays, Bank of America and others for similar record-keeping failures.

After announcing a wave of such actions last September, the SEC launched new rounds of investigations into investment advisers and other broker dealers, Reuters was first to report in October.

"Compliance with the books and records requirements of the federal securities laws is essential to investor protection and well-functioning markets. To date, the Commission has brought 30 enforcement actions and ordered over $1.5 billion in penalties to drive this foundational message home," SEC enforcement director Gurbir Grewal said in a statement.
Photo by APN. Proof that a photo is worth 1000 words.

Anna Leask at NZ Herald reports:

An Auckland mother has admitted driving under the influence of methamphetamine and causing a crash that killed her 12-year-old daughter and injured a heavily pregnant woman in another car.

Toni Ericksen, 33, was scheduled to stand trial this week for driving under the influence of drugs causing the death of Bryer Rose Greenwood, the eldest of her two daughters.

She originally pleaded not guilty however the Herald has learned that she changed her plea to guilty on August 21.

Ericksen also admitted injuring her 8-year-old daughter Gemma Greenwood and another motorist in the same crash while under the influence of drugs, and being an unlicensed driver driving while prohibited. 

On August 14 Ericksen's lawyer Peter Kaye indicated the defence was almost ready to proceed to trial. Expert witnesses were expected to give evidence about the crash analysis and the blood-alcohol and blood-drug test results.

Mr Kaye did not respond to the Herald yesterday and Ericksen could not be reached for comment.

When she first appeared in court she was supported by the president of the Auckland chapter of the Hells Angels gang, Douglas Jay, believed to be her current partner. Afterwards her then-lawyer Ron Mansfield said Ericksen had suffered a tragic loss. 

Ericksen will be sentenced on November 30. The maximum penalty for killing a person while driving under the influence of drugs is five years in jail or a fine of $20,000.
EATS Act is seeing pushback. Where do we go from here? (Part 2)
Weather Alert

...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 10 PM CDT THURSDAY... * WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions with heat index values up to 114 expected. * WHERE...Portions of south central, southwest, and west central Illinois. Portions of central, east central, northeast, and southeast Missouri. * WHEN...From Noon today to 10 PM CDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Heat related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat and high humidity events. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1. &&
COLUMBIA  The family of an adult male shot by Columbia police officers last week is asking the department to release video related to the Aug. 4 shooting.

While authorities have not officially released the name of the man killed, his family identified him as 22-year-old Marquis Rivera.

Columbia Assistant Police Chief Lance Bolinger said officers were called to The Landing at CoMo apartment complex on Campusview Drive at 3:05 p.m. Friday for a report of a suicidal subject.

According to Bolinger, officers spoke to Rivera and cleared the call. Then around 3:57 p.m., Rivera called 911 and requested officers back to the scene.

When officers arrived, police say Rivera was armed and started firing shots into the air. Then Rivera started directing gunfire toward officers, Bolinger said.

Officers returned fired at Rivera, resulting in his death.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is conducting a criminal investigation of the shooting while CPD starts an internal review.

"Anyone that knows Marquis knows that Marquis is so loving and caring," Rivera's mother, Katuiscia Penette, said.

On Monday, Rivera's family sent a letter through their attorney addressed to Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe.

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Rivera's family is requesting officers' body-camera footage and dispatch audio recordings from the time surrounding his death to be released. The family also wants the involved officers' names to be released.

"I'm not blaming anybody for anything that happened to my son," Penette said. "I just want to see it. How they say it happened."

Buffaloe shared a statement at Monday night's City Council meeting.

"The death of Mr. Rivera is a tragic incident for his family and our community. Our condolences are with his family and community members impacted by this unfortunate event," Buffaloe said. "The Columbia Police Department is currently in the process of gathering information and records which will be released to Mr. Rivera's family. My thoughts are with them as they grieve the loss of their loved one."

Andrew M. Stroth, a civil rights attorney representing Rivera's family, says they just want the truth.

"The family wants to see the objective narrative and that's why they're in Columbia today," Stroth said. "We want to help them get answers."

Penette said she wants to see footage from that day so she can better understand what happened to Rivera.

"This is not making any sense to me. I'm still trying to process all of this," Penette said.

Penette says her son had not shown signs of mental health struggles. She believes he was reaching out for help that day.

"He reached out them to help him and they couldn't help. They didn't help him," Penette said. "He was trying to save himself from himself, but they killed him instead."

The family says they want more help for people struggling with a mental health crisis like their son.

"There should have been crisis intervention, specialists sent," Stroth said. "There's got to be another way than just shooting someone to resolve this situation."
Saga plc (LON:SAGA  Get Free Report)s share price crossed above its fifty day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of GBX 122.43 ($1.56) and traded as high as GBX 135 ($1.73). Saga shares last traded at GBX 131.60 ($1.68), with a volume of 203,745 shares traded.

Saga Price Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 241.30. The stock has a market cap of 185.98 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -70.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 2.45. The companys 50-day moving average is GBX 122.43 and its 200-day moving average is GBX 136.30.

About Saga

(Get Free Report)

Saga plc provides package and cruise holidays, general insurance, and personal finance products and services in the United Kingdom. The company operates through three segments: Cruise and Travel, Insurance, and Other Businesses and Central Costs. It offers car, home, travel, health, landlord, motorhome, caravan, and pet insurance products.

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Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund (NYSEAMERICAN:EAD  Get Free Report)s stock price passed above its 50-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of $0.00 and traded as high as $6.43. Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund shares last traded at $6.43, with a volume of 70,540 shares.

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund Stock Performance

Get Wells Fargo Advantage Funds - Allspring Income Opportunities Fund alerts:

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 14th will be given a dividend of $0.0478 per share. This represents a $0.57 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 8.92%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 11th.

Institutional Trading of Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Raymond James & Associates boosted its position in Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund by 49.3% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 27,614 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $218,000 after buying an additional 9,122 shares during the period. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC increased its position in Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund by 10.1% during the first quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 46,122 shares of the closed-end funds stock worth $364,000 after purchasing an additional 4,245 shares during the last quarter. West Michigan Advisors LLC grew its stake in Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund by 20.0% during the first quarter. West Michigan Advisors LLC now owns 12,000 shares of the closed-end funds stock worth $95,000 after buying an additional 2,000 shares during the period. UBS Group AG raised its holdings in Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund by 19.0% in the first quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 356,187 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $2,814,000 after acquiring an additional 56,911 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Rivernorth Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund during the first quarter worth $404,000.

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund Company Profile

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. It is co-managed by Wells Capital Management Incorporated. The fund invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. It primarily invests in below investment grade debt securities, high-yield debt securities, loans and preferred stocks rated Ba or lower by Moody's Investors Service, Inc or BB or lower by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group.

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Orion's Choco IQ and Proyo! dairy products to be launched in Vietnam in collaboration with Dutch Mill / Courtesy of Orion



By Kim Jae-heun



Orion has joined hands with Thailand's No.1 milk beverage company Dutch Mill to enter Vietnam's dairy market, the company said Tuesday.



According to the company, its Vietnam branch signed a business agreement last December with Dutch Mill to be the exclusive seller of its products in Vietnam's market.



"Our entry to Vietnam's dairy market is meaningful in that our local branch has established a new growth engine in the new business category," an Orion official said. "Based on our differentiated sales capability, we will try to settle in the local market and increase our market dominance as a top food firm there."



Orion will first introduce two new product lines under Dutch Mill  Proyo! and Choco IQ  this month and launch others later on.



The company plans to expand its sales channels for Dutch Mill products at general retail shops, which account for 70 percent of the local retail market, and to large discount stores, convenience stores and online malls.



Vietnam's dairy market is estimated at 7 trillion won ($5.32 billion) as of 2021. There are about 1.5 million babies born per year in Vietnam and the demand for high-quality dairy products is increasing due to people's keen interest in their children's growth.



Founded in 1984, Dutch Mill accounts for 70 percent of the Thai milk beverage market with products such as milk, yogurt and soy milk. It currently exports to 20 countries around the world.




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On 7 August Mexicos Presidentsaid the arrest of Morelos state attorney general (AG)three days earlier was legal.

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On 7 August thousands of protesters took to the streets in Haitis capital, Port-au-Prince, demonstrating against gang violence.

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The Megan Thee Stallion shooting was once one of the music world's biggest scandals. Now, rapper Tory Lanez is about to be sentenced for the attack that wounded the "W.A.P." rapper.

Lanez, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, is facing a 13-year sentence that Los Angeles prosecutors are asking the judge to hand down. The rapper was found guilty and convicted of three felonies, including assault with a semiautomatic firearm; having a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle; and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.

According to the Associated Press, Megan Thee Stallion testified during the trial and stated under oath that Lanez fired his gun as she was walking away from an SUV that they had been riding in the summer of 2020. This was after the two left a party at Kylie Jenner's Hollywood Hills home.

After he was convicted, Christian minister Sonstar Peterson, Tory Lanez's father, asked for leniency for his son.

Peterson fought back tears while talking about his wife, who died of a rare blood disorder.

"I don't think anybody ever gets over that," said the rapper's father regarding his embattled child. "But his music became his outlet."

Sonstar Peterson notedly grew emotional after the jury read out their guilty verdict against his son. Deputies had to wrestle him out of the courtroom after the verdict was revealed. The pastor has since expressed his regret for the outburst.

"I want to personally apologize to you," he told the judge during the trial. "It was an overwhelming time."

Iggy Azalea Defends Tory Lanez, Sends Note to the Judge

While Tory Lanez is heading to jail, Australian rapper Iggy Azalea continued her defense of the rapper even after the massive wave of criticism she received for continuing to work with Lanez even after the shooting.

READ MORE: Louisiana Man Shot Girl Playing Hide and Seek

According to the BBC, the judge overseeing the Tory Lanez trial received over 70 letters, all in support of the embattled rapper. One of the letters reportedly came from Azalea, asking the judge to make the sentence "transformational, not life-destroying."

She also defended her continued working relationship with the convicted shooter, saying, "You're all very welcome to speak your opinion freely about me... just as long as we all have an understanding: you are having a monologue & not a discussion with me - because (respectfully) my bills remain paid without your two cents."

Megan Thee Stallion Says She Never Thought People Would Believe Her That Tory Lanez Shot Her

Since the Megan Thee Stallion shooting, she has seemingly moved on to other things and admitted she wants to put the incident behind her. However, the top female rapper admitted that she did not think anybody would even believe her.

According to The International News, the "W.A.P." rapper wrote an essay that stated this is the "final time that I'll address anything regarding the case in the press." She added that from her point of view, she is not a victim but a survivor.

"Not only did I survive being shot by someone I trusted and considered a close friend, but I overcame the public humiliation of having my name and reputation dragged through the mud by that individual for the entire world to see," she wrote.

She also admitted. "it never crossed my mind that people wouldn't believe me," but said that she never stopped believing that "truth and the indisputable facts would prevail."

READ MORE: Shakira Spotted With Tom Cruise in Miami

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Tory Lanez to be sentenced for Megan Thee Stallion's shooting - KTLA 5
Former Minneapolis police officer Tou Thao has been sentenced to 4 years and 9 months in prison for aiding and abetting manslaughter in the tragic 2020 George Floyd death, Reuters reports.

The incident saw Floyd, a Black man, pinned to the ground with an officer's knee during an ill-fated arrest.

Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill delivered the sentence, surpassing the 4-1/4 years requested by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.

While handing down the sentence, Judge Cahill expressed a desire for more remorse and acknowledgment of responsibility from Thao.

Judge Cahill had found Thao guilty of aiding and abetting manslaughter in the second degree concerning the George Floyd death in May.

Thao, a nine-year police force veteran, becomes the fourth and final officer sentenced for the incident.

In court proceedings, Thao shared, "I didn't intend on doing any malice or ... try to hurt anyone. That was never my intent. I did the best that I thought I could."

The incident happened on May 25, 2020, when Derek Chauvin, a white officer, was captured on video kneeling on Floyd's neck for over nine minutes.

Thao, meanwhile, was observed holding back a small group of onlookers while Chauvin and two other officers subdued Floyd. The police suspected Floyd of using a counterfeit $20 bill at a nearby store.

The tragic event ignited a surge of protests both within the United States and internationally, with demonstrations focusing on racism and police brutality.

READ NEXT: George Floyd Killer Derek Chauvin Sentenced

Tou Thao's Federal Civil Rights Charge

Tou Thao's concurrent sentence of 4-3/4 years for aiding and abetting manslaughter will coincide with his existing 3 1/2-year federal civil rights charge, which was upheld by an appeals court on Friday, per AP.

Following this, Thao will return to federal prison to complete his sentence before being transferred to a Minnesota state prison, where he will serve the remaining months with credit for time already served.

In court, Thao's legal representative, Robert Paule, characterized Thao as "a good and decent man with a family."

He revealed that they intend to appeal in state and federal cases but declined to provide additional commentary.

Assistant Attorney General Erin Eldridge emphasized the global impact of George Floyd's final words during the hearing.

She recounted how Floyd's narration of his demise extended over a grueling restraint lasting 9 minutes, culminating in the loss of consciousness, cessation of breath, and cessation of heartbeats.

Eldridge contended that Thao played a facilitating role in George Floyd death by failing to intervene.

She asserted that Thao's actions prevented others, including a trained emergency medical technician who was a Minneapolis firefighter, from aiding the dying man.

Eldridge emphasized that Thao possessed the knowledge and training to act differently, stating, "He knew better, and he was trained to do better."

Other Former Minneapolis Police Officers Pleaded Guilty in George Floyd Murder

J. Alexander Kueng, one of the former Minneapolis police officers involved in the George Floyd death, opted to forego a jury trial by pleading guilty to aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. Consequently, he has been sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison, according to USA Today.

Similarly, Thomas Lane, another former officer, also entered a guilty plea for aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter, leading to a three-year prison sentence last year.

Chauvin, the officer primarily responsible for George Floyd's death, received a 22 1/2-year prison term in 2021 after being found guilty of murder and manslaughter in a closely observed trial.

Despite Minnesota's highest court rejecting his appeal for a new state trial, Chauvin's legal team recently declared their intention to appeal his conviction to the US Supreme Court.

However, the prospects for success at the Supreme Court level are generally limited, as the court declines to hear most appeals.

Furthermore, these former officers faced federal convictions for violating George Floyd's civil rights, resulting in concurrent prison sentences in federal facilities.

Kueng received a three-year sentence, and Thomas Lane was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison.

Meanwhile, Derek Chauvin, who pleaded guilty to violating Floyd's civil rights, was subjected to a 21-year prison sentence.

READ MORE: Pregnant Black Woman Sues Detroit Over False Arrest

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Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Tou Thao sentenced to 57 months for state conviction in George Floyd's killing - From NEWS CENTER Maine
Donald Trump's legal losing streak continues as a judge dismissed his counter-defamation lawsuit against columnist E. Jean Carroll. The judge noted that Carroll's claim that Trump raped her is "substantially true."

Trump's lawyers claimed that E. Jean Carroll defamed their client during an interview after a jury found Donald Trump liable for sexual abuse in a civil lawsuit from the former Elle Magazine columnist. He was not found liable for rape but US District Judge Lewis Kaplan ruled that what Carroll said in that interview is true.

In his ruling, Jude Kaplan stated that the jury found Trump raped Carroll "as the term is understood more broadly." He added that while the jury concluded Trump was not liable for rape according to New York's penal code, the jury found that his act of sexually abusing her by forcefully inserting his fingers was an "implicit determination that Mr. Trump digitally raped her."

According to CBS News, the judge previously concluded in his July 19 decision that "Mr. Trump did in fact digitally rape Ms. Carroll." The judge also wrote in his decision, "The definition of rape in the New York Penal Law is far narrower than the meaning of 'rape' in common modern parlance, its definition in some dictionaries, in some federal and state criminal statutes, and elsewhere."

Why Did Donald Trump File a Defamation Lawsuit Against E. Jean Carroll?

After winning the case, E. Jean Carroll's lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, who is not related to the judge, sat down with several outlets and stated that Trump indeed raped her client. Carroll reportedly also told one of Trump's attorneys, "He did it and you know it."

READ NEXT: Donald Trump Defamation Lawsuit Vs. CNN Dismissed

Carroll and her attorney then went on doing several interviews, and they both stated that Trump raped her. This then led to Trump filing the now-dismissed countersuit where he claimed Carroll "made these statements knowing each of them were false or with reckless disregard for their truth or falsity."

Carroll's attorney, Roberta Kaplan, stated that she was pleased with the judge's decision to throw the countersuit out while Trump lawyer Alina Habba stated, "We strongly disagree with the flawed decision and will be filing an appeal shortly."

Donald Trump on a Losing Streak Against E. Jean Carroll

Trump seems to be suffering a string of legal defeats against E, Jean Carroll specifically, as he not only lost the civil rape case against her but she also won against him with this defamation suit he filed.

However, that is not the only legal loss Trump suffered against Carroll, as back in July, after losing the case against the former columnist, the former president tried to have a new trial that would have overturned the verdict that he is liable for sexually assaulting her. He lost that one as well, according to NPR.

In his decision, Senior District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan wrote that the jury did not reach "a seriously erroneous result" and its verdict is not "a miscarriage of justice," as Trump stated in his filing for a new trial.

READ MORE: Court Finds Donald Trump Liable For Sexual Abuse

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH Judge dismisses Trump's countersuit against E. Jean Carroll - NBC News
More and more migrants from South America are crossing the Darien Gap, a dangerous jungle between Colombia and Panama, in record numbers, as Panama's top immigration official blasted Colombia over its inaction in stopping migrants from crossing.

Panamanian Immigration Service Director Samira Gozaine revealed that between 2,600 and 2,800 migrants have been moving through the treacherous jungle each day. This is higher than 2022 where it saw 700 migrants cross the roadless parts of the jungle each day.

Back in April, Panama and Colombia agreed with the United States that they will crack down on the smuggling rings that smuggle people across the Darien Gap.

However, Gozaine said that Colombia is not doing its part, accusing the South American country of not sharing information and getting involved in joint actions against the human smugglers, according to the Associated Press.

"Instead of getting better, it has gotten worse, in spite of the negotiations with Colombia," said the Panamanian immigration official. "There has been no agreement, no information sharing, nor any effort that might help Panama manage the unregulated flow, which has grown considerably in recent days."

Gozaine continued blasting Colombia, saying, "Unfortunately, we have not been able to reach any agreement with Colombia, which continues to indiscriminately send us not only people from other countries but Colombians as well."

UN Stresses Need for Safe Migration Pathways as More Migrants Cross Darien Gap

The Darien Gap not only connects Panama and Colombia but also the continents of North and South America. As more migrants seek to enter the United States, the United Nations is stressing that there is a need for safer pathways for migrants to travel.

READ MORE: Panama Migrant Bus Plunges Into Ravine, Killing 39

The UN International Organization for Migration and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees are working with national authorities, host communities, and other organizations in the humanitarian efforts in the Darien Gap. These UN organizations found that there is a need for a collaborative, comprehensive, and regional approach in order to "better respond to humanitarian and protection needs of people on the move in Latin America and the Caribbean."

The UN has projected that if the current pace of crossings keeps up, as many as 400,000 migrants may cross the gap by the end of the year.

Why Is the Darien Gap Dangerous?

The Darien Gap has been described as an inhospitable stretch of the Central American jungle, yet many still brave the jungle in their desperate struggle to reach the United States.

Most of those who cross are from Venezuela, though there are also from other countries like Haiti, Cuba, and even as far away as China, Iran, and India. These migrants usually fly to Venezuela or other countries that do not require a visa before starting their trek to the US.

Their real test is the Darien Gap though, as migrants face not just steep mountains, tangled forests, and raging rivers, but also wild animals and criminal groups. The latter often extort these migrants and sexually assault some of them, according to Al Jazeera News.

READ MORE: Mexico Files Diplomatic Complaint Vs. Texas

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: CBS Reports | Darien Gap: Desperate Journey to America - CBS News
A Texas teen, claiming to be the cousin of the Uvalde school shooter, has been apprehended in San Antonio following allegations of making threats against a local school, according to News 4.

Legal documents reveal that the teenager's mother informed authorities that the suspect had expressed intentions to replicate the actions of his cousin, Salvador Ramos, the perpetrator of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary in 2022.

The suspect, 17, conveyed these alarming intentions to his sister, who subsequently informed their mother, leading to her decision to contact law enforcement.

The mother cited several reasons for her concerns, including the fact that her son is currently on probation, had been under the influence of alcohol when he made the threats, and that their residence is near an elementary school.

Further adding to the apprehension, the mother disclosed that she overheard a phone conversation where her son discussed procuring an AR-15 rifle through an illicit private transaction.

The teen's sister also recounted an incident during which she gave her brother a ride. While in her vehicle, he allegedly threatened to shoot her in the head and proclaimed his intent to "shoot the school."

The sister found these threats to be credible, given their family's recent history and the suspect's apparent knowledge of his cousin's actions.

READ NEXT: Houstonians Commemorate Victims of Robb Elementary Shooting 1 Year Later

Texas Teen Lives Across the Street From the School

The family's residence was situated directly across the street from an elementary school, as disclosed in the documents, the Daily Mail reports.

The Texas teen, Nathan Cruz, had recently remarked, "School is starting soon," contributing to the concern raised by his family.

Given their familial link to Salvador Ramos, the Uvalde shooter, the family deemed the threats articulated by Cruz as substantial and credible.

The Texas teen, presently under probation, although the specifics remain undisclosed, was taken into custody on Monday and subsequently booked into Bexar County Jail.

The charges against him include a felony charge of making a terroristic threat to the public and another charge of making a terroristic threat to a family member.

As of now, no details regarding the amount of the bond have been made available.

The Uvalde School Shooting

The arrest of the Uvalde shooter cousin has transpired over a year after the most devastating school shooting in US history in May 2022.

On that fateful day at Robb Elementary School, a heart-wrenching toll was exacted, claiming the lives of fourteen children and a teacher.

Uvalde Memorial Hospital CEO Tom Nordwick noted that their emergency room received at least 13 injured children.

Customs and Border Protection agents swiftly responded to the scene amid the chaos. Tragically, one of their agents sustained a gunshot wound to the head, surviving the ordeal.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott disclosed that two officers were also wounded as they engaged in gunfire with the shooter. Thankfully, the injuries sustained by both officers were not life-threatening.

Ultimately, Salvador Ramos, the Uvalde shooter, met his demise when an off-duty Customs and Border Protection agent shot and killed him.

READ MORE: Uvalde School Shooting: Video Shows Massive Failure of Texas Police During the Shooting

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Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Teen cousin of Uvalde school shooter arrested for alleged threats against school - From News 4 (WOAI) San Antonio
Amidst a climate of growing turmoil, several thousand people took to the streets of Haiti's capital on Monday, their faces concealed to safeguard their identities, as they demanded protection against the rampant violence perpetuated by gangs that are ravaging neighborhoods not only in Port-au-Prince but also throughout the nation.

The daily lives of Haitians have been profoundly disrupted by the unrelenting onslaught of gang violence, exacerbating the already dire poverty that grips the nation, AP reports.

The country now awaits a decision from the United Nations Security Council regarding the potential deployment of an international armed force to address the crisis.

Marching for over two hours, the crowd echoed their call for security as they proceeded from the strife-ridden community of Carrefour-Feuilles to Champ de Mars in the downtown area and ultimately to the prime minister's official residence.

However, the demonstration was met with tear gas as the police intervened to disperse the gathering.

Wilene Joseph, a 36-year-old street vendor and mother of two, participated in the march out of frustration.

She lamented how the current environment has shackled her daily life, confining her to her own home. Fearing for the safety of her children, aged 5 and 7, Joseph highlighted the ever-present danger of bullets whizzing by from all directions.

The situation has notably deteriorated since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021.

Experts estimate that gangs have now assumed control of up to 80% of Port-au-Prince, causing untold suffering through violence, sexual assault, and the pervasive spread of terror within communities grappling with entrenched poverty.

READ NEXT: Haiti: Protests Erupt, Demand Release of Kidnapped American Nurse

Tens of Thousands of Haitians Fled the Country Amid Soaring Gang Violence and Poverty

The United Nations refugee agency reports that approximately 73,500 individuals fled Haiti last year, compelled to escape the escalating gang violence and deepening poverty that has gripped the nation.

The UN further discloses that an astonishing 5.2 million people, nearly half of Haiti's population, require urgent humanitarian assistance, according to Reuters.

This dire situation has prompted a call for international aid to help restore stability and alleviate the ongoing crisis in the country.

Individuals participating in the march expressed their profound desperation, describing their dire circumstances.

One individual succinctly summarized their plight: "There are thieves. We can't sleep. We can't eat. We can't even live. We didn't create the gangs."

During the protest, participants voiced their demand for intervention, particularly in the Carrefour-Feuilles area of Port-au-Prince.

They decried the absence of essential health services and the loss of lives at the hands of violent gangs. Some even went so far as to call for military intervention, stating, "We are asking for tanks."

Kidnappings of Women, Children Soar in Haiti

As gang violence continues to escalate in Haiti, a distressing surge in kidnappings targeting women and children has been observed, with the number of abductions during the first half of 2023 nearly equaling the total for the previous year, per Al Jazeera.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) highlighted the alarming situation on Monday. Within the initial six months of this year, approximately 300 kidnappings have been reported in the Caribbean nation.

Women and children are not commodities. They are not bargaining chips.@UNICEF reports an alarming spike in crimes, especially kidnapping, of women and children; calls for the immediate release and safe return of all those who have been takenhttps://t.co/gRxUWfbTYf  UN News (@UN_News_Centre) August 7, 2023

The abductions primarily involve armed groups targeting women and children to achieve financial gains or strategic advantages. UNICEF has urgently called for the immediate release of those who have been kidnapped.

Garry Conille, UNICEF's regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean, strongly condemned these heinous acts, emphasizing that women and children should never be viewed as commodities or bargaining tools.

The growing prevalence of kidnappings is a deeply concerning trend that endangers the people of Haiti and those assisting.

READ MORE: Colombia: President Gustavo Petro's Son Gets Conditional Freedom

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Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Haiti: protesters demand end of criminal gang violence - From Reuters
A Pennsylvania State Police trooper was justified in firing of two shots at a suspected drug dealer in Allentown, according to the Lehigh County district attorney.

The trooper fired the shots after Paris Bartlett allegedly drove into the troopers thigh, backed into a car occupied by two Allentown Police Department vice officers, and then accelerated toward the trooper, according to a news release and letter made public Tuesday by District Attorney James Martin.
Five French police officers were arrested on Tuesday, August 8, over the death of a 27-year-old man in the southern city of Marseille in early July during nationwide rioting, prosecutors said. The five police officers, all members of the elite Raid unit, were detained in Marseille for questioning in the probe over the death of Mohamed Bendriss, prosecutors said. Several civilians and police are also giving evidence as witnesses.

The incident took place during the night of July 1-2 during violent protests in the centre of Marseille sparked by the death of Nahel M, 17, who was shot dead by a policeman in Nanterre. France was rocked in late June and early July by violent rioting over the killing of a teenager by a policeman during a traffic check outside Paris on June 27. The riots were met by a forceful police response, with hundreds arrested and hundreds of police officers wounded.

Bendriss, a married father of one, whose widow is now expecting a second child, lost his life after feeling unwell while riding a scooter. His autopsy showed traces on his chest of what could be the impact of a blast ball (known in French as an LBD), an alternative and less lethal weapon commonly used by the country's riot police.

The investigation is the latest controversy to hit Marseille police. Earlier this summer, a 22-year-old man called Hedi had to have part of his skull removed after being beaten and fired on with an LBD on July 21 by a group of men suspected to be police officers.

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Beating of Hedi R.: Investigators reconstruct violent attack by Marseille police

Four Marseille police officers have been charged over the incident, of whom three have been released under judicial supervision. The fourth has been remanded in custody for the duration of the investigation and his detention has caused huge controversy within the French police forces. Officers across the country went on sick leave en masse in protest, but a court last week rejected the appeal against his detention.

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes French police use sick leave to protest detention of colleague

The officer admitted in court to firing a blast ball round, reversing an earlier denial, but said he did not see anybody injured. His lawyer added that there was no proof that it was his round that had wounded Hedi. The powerful police union, Alliance, said the ruling was "incomprehensible and very unfair".
Rescuers carry a wounded person into an ambulance following Russian missiles strikes in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, amid Russian invasion of Ukraine, on August 7, 2023. ANATOLII STEPANOV / AFP

Two Russian missile strikes hit the city center of the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk in the eastern Donetsk region Monday evening, killing at least seven people and wounding 81 more, Ukrainian officials said. The strikes, which targeted the Ukrainian portion of a region partially occupied by Russia, occurred within 40 minutes of each other, according to Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko. The attack damaged nine- and five-story buildings, residential houses, a hotel where foreign journalists used to stay, dining establishments, shops and administrative buildings, he said.

Ukraine's Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said seven people, including a local official of Ukraine's State Emergency Service, were killed and 81 more were wounded by the strikes. Nineteen policemen, five rescuers and two children were among the wounded, Klymenko said.

Trying to leave nothing but 'broken and scorched stones'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an online statement accused Russia of trying to leave nothing but "broken and scorched stones" in eastern Ukraine. His remarks accompanied footage of a damaged, five-story residential building with one floor partially destroyed.

The deadly attack came just a day after officials from around 40 countries gathered in Saudi Arabia to find a peaceful settlement for the war in Ukraine. Russia's Foreign Ministry on Monday denounced the two-day talks in Jeddah as not having "the slightest added value" because Moscow  unlike Kyiv  wasn't invited.

Rescuers carry a wounded person from a damaged residential building following Russian missiles strikes in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, amid Russian invasion of Ukraine, on August 7, 2023. ANATOLII STEPANOV / AFP

A statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry repeated previous assurances that Moscow is open to a diplomatic solution on its terms that would end the 17-month-old war and that it is ready to respond to serious proposals. The Kremlin's demands include Kyiv recognizing its annexation of four Ukrainian regions, which Russian forces at this point only partially control, and Crimea, which Moscow seized in 2014.

Read more War in Ukraine: Russian shelling hits a landmark church in Kherson

But Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Zelensky, ruled out Moscow's previous demands that would give Russia time to dig in deeper in the parts of Ukraine it has occupied. He said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Russian forces must fully withdraw from the occupied areas and there would be no compromise by Kyiv on that.

UN political chief Rosemary DiCarlo participated in the Jeddah meeting by video, and UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said the United Nations welcomes all diplomatic initiatives and wants "to keep pushing forward towards any form of a peace that is based on the UN Charter, including on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine."

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes In the Black Sea, Ukraine attacks the Russian fleet with naval suicide drones

Zelensky, a prime target for the Kremlin

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Security Service announced Monday it had detained an alleged Russian informant who gathered intelligence about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's trip to the southern Mykolaiv region last month. It claimed the woman "was collecting data for an airstrike during Zelensky's visit."

The woman attempted to establish Zelensky's route, times and visits in the region. She was detained when she tried to pass the information to the Russians, the statement said, without providing evidence. Zelensky has been a prime target for the Kremlin since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, when he refused to leave Kyiv as Moscow's forces approached.

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Zelensky calls for a 'Nuremberg' to judge the Russian leaders

He has been one of Ukraine's unexpected trump cards in the war, playing a key role in rallying public morale, including a nightly video address, and becoming a recognizable face across the world as he presses allies and others to help Ukraine.

Also on Monday, Russian shelling struck a nine-story residential building in the city of Kherson, killing one person and wounding four others, according to regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin. He said Kherson had endured a "tough night" as the Russians "covered the central part of the city with fire."

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes The letters from two Ukrainian sisters: 'I'm a pacifist, but I can't be one anymore'
Around 20 people were killed in a suspected jihadist attack in Burkina Faso, security and local sources told AFP on Monday, August 7.

The Sunday attack in the Centre-East region near the Togolese border killed "around 20 people, mostly traders," a security source told AFP while a trader put the toll at 25, and another said there were a dozen wounded.

More than 16,000 civilians, troops and police have died in jihadist attacks, according to an NGO count, including more than 5,000 since the start of this year.

More than 2 million people have also been displaced within their country, making it one of the worst internal displacement crises in Africa.

Read more Burkina Faso declares a general mobilization in the face of increasing jihadist attacks

Captain Ibrahim Traore seized power in Burkina Faso in a September 2022 coup that ousted Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who in January that year had toppled the country's last elected president, Roch Marc Christian Kabore.

The motive for both coups was anger at failures to stem a jihadist insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives since spilling over from neighboring Mali in 2015.

Read more Traore officially named Burkina Faso president after second coup in nine months
Efforts by West Africa's bloc ECOWAS and the United States to parlay with Niger's new rulers made no headway on Tuesday, August 8, ahead of a regional summit to mull options that include military intervention.

Hours after a US envoy failed to make progress in an unannounced visit, the soldiers who seized power in Niamey on July 26 blocked a mission by ECOWAS in the runup to a summit on Thursday. In a letter, the coup leaders said that public "anger" triggered by ECOWAS sanctions meant the delegation's safety could be at risk. "The current context of public anger and revolt following the sanctions imposed by ECOWAS does not permit the welcoming of this delegation in the required conditions of serenity and security," the foreign ministry said in the letter seen by Agence France-Presse (AFP).

A source close to the Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, said on Monday that military intervention was not being immediately envisaged and the path to dialogue still appeared open. The bloc sought to send a delegation to Niamey on Tuesday ahead of the crisis summit on Thursday in Abuja, the Nigerian capital.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu, who heads the West African bloc ECOWAS, said he believed diplomacy was the "best way forward" for resolving the crisis in Niger, his spokesperson told journalists Tuesday. Tinubu "has been unequivocal in his position that diplomacy is the best way forward," spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale said. "He along with his colleagues in (ECOWAS) would prefer a resolution that was obtained through diplomatic means, through peaceful means, rather than any other."

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Niger: Life goes on in Niamey, despite tense atmosphere and fear of intervention

But the coup leaders' letter, dated Monday, said: "The postponement of the announced mission to Niamey is necessary, as is the reworking of certain aspects of the (delegation's) schedule." The schedule "includes meetings with certain personalities which cannot take place for obvious reasons of security given the atmosphere of the threat of aggression against Niger," it said.

ECOWAS slapped trade and financial sanctions on Niger after rebel soldiers toppled the elected president, Mohamed Bazoum. The bloc also gave Niger a seven-day ultimatum to reinstate Bazoum or face a potential use of force, but the coup leaders defied the warning.

Top US diplomat warns against Wagner

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned against Russia's Wagner mercenaries taking advantage of instability in coup-hit Niger, whose neighbor Mali has become a partner of Moscow. In an interview with the BBC released Tuesday, Blinken doubted that Wagner  which in June staged a shadowy rebellion against President Vladimir Putin  plotted the Nigerien military's July 26 ouster of the elected president, Western ally Mohamed Bazoum.

"I think what happened and what continues to happen in Niger was not instigated by Russia or by Wagner," Blinken said in the interview Monday, according to a transcript released by the State Department. "But to the extent that they try to take advantage of it  and we see a repeat of what's happened in other countries, where they've brought nothing but bad things in their wake  that wouldn't be good," he said. "Every single place that this group, Wagner Group, has gone, death, destruction and exploitation have followed."

ECOWAS is struggling with a cascade of coups that since 2020 have now hit four of its 15 members.

In Mali, Burkina Faso and now Niger, all of the takeovers have been fueled by a jihadist insurgency that has claimed many thousands of lives, forced at least two million from their homes and dealt crippling blows to some of the world's poorest economies.

On Monday, Victoria Nuland, a veteran US envoy, met with the country's military rulers for more than two hours but came away empty-handed. She described her talks as "extremely frank and at times quite difficult." She said she offered the coup leaders "a number of options" to exit the crisis and restore the relationship with the United States, which like other Western nations has suspended aid. "I would not say that we were in any way taken up on that offer," she told reporters before her departure.

Niger's new strongman, General Abdourahamane Tiani, did not attend the meeting, and Nuland was unable to see Bazoum, who has been detained since July 26.

Warnings

The juntas in Mali and Burkina Faso have expressed solidarity with Niger, saying that any military intervention would be seen as a "declaration of war" against them. Algeria, which shares a long land border with Niger, has cautioned against a military solution, which President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said would be "a direct threat" to his country. Senators in Nigeria  the regional superpower and a major voice demanding tough action  have urged everyone to focus on the "political and diplomatic option."

Bazoum, 63, was feted in 2021 after winning elections that ushered in Niger's first-ever peaceful transition of power. He took the helm of a country burdened by four previous coups since independence and survived two attempted putsches before he himself was ousted.

His support was a key factor in France's decision last year to refocus its Sahel anti-jihadist mission on Niger after withdrawing from Mali and Burkina Faso.

Read more US envoy speaks with Niger coup leaders, but not allowed to meet with president

France has 1,500 troops in Niger, and the United States 1,000 personnel, most of whom are deployed at two major air bases. Nuland said she warned Niger not to follow Mali by bringing in Wagner mercenaries from Russia. "The people who have taken this action here understand very well the risks to their sovereignty when Wagner is invited in," she said.
TWO LIMERICK museums are set to receive substantial funding injections in efforts to preserve and showcase the city's unique heritage.

A substantial sum of 174,434 allocated under the Regional Museum Exhibitions Scheme 2023, has been allocated by Minister Catherine Martin to go towards 16 carefully curated projects, and among the beneficiaries stands the Limerick Museum, securing a grant of 10,200 for its captivating 'Postcards from Limerick' exhibition.

Timed with the 1,100th anniversary of Limerick city, this exhibition embarks on a mesmerising journey through time, guided by an impressive collection of over 4,000 postcards.

Moreover, the Hunt Museum, is set to receive an even more significant allocation of 15,000 for its visionary exhibition titled 'Nights candles are burnt out: Climate, Culture, Change & Community. This exhibition aims to use the power of art and culture to engage people emotionally with the existential threat of climate change to encourage behavioural change.

The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, in a statement, emphasises the profound role that local and regional museums play in shaping local identities: "Our local and regional museums are an extremely important resource for accessing culture and heritage in towns and villages across the country, and I am very pleased to be able to support their renewal and development through the Regional Museum Exhibition Scheme."

She continued: "Funding provided under this scheme allows local and regional bodies to continue to enhance their exhibitions, which improves the cultural offering for their communities and visitors."
GARDAI have warned Limerick motorists after a spate of break ins targeting specific cars.

On Thursday, August 3, a thief made an effort to steal a red Toyota Vitz hatchback from Mungret Street in Limerick city between 12pm and 9:30pm.

The thief smashed the drivers side window and got into the car and then tried to start the car by interfering with the ignition barrel.

Fortunately, they were unable to get the car started. There is no description of the thief.

A similar incident happened the next day when a thief broke a rear passenger window of a silver Toyota Aqua hatchback at 6pm on High Street.

Fortunately, the thief did not succeed in this endeavour.

The thief was described as approximately 5ft 8inches. He was wearing a distinctive dark blue tracksuit with a hood that was pulled up. He had his face covered.

There was slow moving traffic on the street at the time as well as pedestrians. Gardai at Henry Street are investigating and can be contacted on 061 212400.

Garda John Finnerty from Henry St garda station said: "We would like to remind people that thieves are currently targeting

second hand Japanese imports as unlike in the EU Japanese cars are not required to fit an immobiliser.

"An immobiliser is an additional security devise on a car that prevents it from starting unless the correct key or key fob is used.

"Thieves specifically target Mazda Demio models, the Toyota Aqua model and the Toyota Vitz models."
TOMAS Heneghan, the University of Limerick (UL) graduate who achieved a landmark Supreme Court victory in March this year, is now calling on Limerick TDs and senators to expedite Seanad reform ahead of the upcoming general election.

Following his successful appeal against the existing rules for Seanad elections, Mr Heneghan is now urging both government and opposition representatives to take legislative action and expand voting eligibility for Seanad elections to all citizens across the island of Ireland.

Speaking at the Four Courts in Dublin last Wednesday, Mr Heneghan expressed his disappointment over the long-standing neglect of the Seanad franchise expansion issue, which has persisted for 44 years and through 18 Irish governments.

He emphasised that the government must address this issue promptly to uphold the principles of democracy and the rule of law.

Mr Heneghan's legal battle centred around the 1937 legislation that restricted voting for six senators exclusively to graduates of Trinity College Dublin and the NUI universities.

He, along with his legal team, called for the formal striking down of these provisions no later than the end of July next year.

The Attorney General, however, proposed a significantly delayed timeline, pushing it to July 2027, with no guarantee that new legislation would be in place by then.

This isn't a complex issue that requires years of work. There is a bill already at the second stage of the legislative process that would allow graduates like me to vote in a new Institutions of Higher Education Seanad panel, in line with the Supreme Court's decision and the electorate's decision in 1979, Mr Heneghan asserted.

He passionately called on the government to prioritise democracy and take action to implement the much-needed reform.

The Supreme Court's 6-1 majority ruling in March confirmed that the Oireachtas was mandated to change the voting system for the six university seats in the Seanad, following a 1979 referendum to amend the Constitution.

The court suspended the formal declaration striking down certain parts of the 1937 law that conflicted with the Constitution until July 31, 2025.

Mr Heneghan's legal challenge, initiated in December 2019, sought to establish his right to vote in Seanad elections either as a UL graduate in the university panels, or as an ordinary citizen in the vocational panels.

On his motivation to bring the case, he explained: Growing up, only two things really excited me about turning eighteen: Registering to vote and donating blood.

The proposed legislation for expanding the franchise for the Seanad university seats is likely to include Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest (TUS).
Much of the Western military hardware used in Ukraine sounds familiar to any student of 20th-century warfare: surface-to-air missiles, anti-tank weapons , rocket launchers and howitzers. But Ukraines use of Western information technology, including artificial intelligence (ai) and autonomous surveillance systems, has also had a powerful, if less visible, impact on Russian forces. Commercial vendors supply Ukrainian troops with satellites, sensors, unmanned drones and software. The products provide reams of battlefield data which are condensed into apps to help soldiers on the ground target the enemy. One American defence official calls them, appreciatively, Uber for artillery".

Behind this new form of warfare are some of the most unconventional minds in American tech. Everyone knows about Elon Musk, whose rocket company SpaceX put Starlink satellites at the service of Ukraine (though he has now restricted access from the battlefield). Your columnist recently met two other iconoclastic entrepreneurs. One is Palmer Luckey, a 30-year-old who in 2017 co-founded Anduril, a maker of surveillance towers, drones, unmanned submarines and an AI-driven system that supports them, called Lattice. With his trademark flip-flops, Hawaiian shirts and goatee, he is an atypical defence contractor (Tony Stark, Marvels gadget-obsessed Iron Man", springs to mind). Yet the startup is already shaking up the traditional model of military procurement in America. In its short life, it has won contracts in America and Australia. It provides autonomous systems to Ukraine. When it last raised money in December, it was valued at $8.5bn.

The other is Alex Karp, an eccentric doctor of philosophy with an Einstein-like mop of hair. (Mr Karp used to sit on the board of The Economists parent company.) Palantir, his Denver-based software firm, builds digital infrastructure to help clients manage lots of data, be it on security threats, health-care systems or factories productivity. Like SpaceX, it has blazed the trail for civilian-military ventures since he co-founded it two decades ago. He makes bold claims. Palantir, he says, has changed the way Ukrainian troops target the enemy, and even the nature of counter-terrorism. He credits its software with saving millions of lives during the covid-19 pandemic. It may not all be gospel truth (the description of British journalists he delivers while staring at Schumpeterbad teeth, hard questions"is only half true). Yet there is little doubt Palantir is supporting Ukraine both on the ground and as part of NATOs intelligence network. On February 13th, when it reported its first-ever quarterly profit and Mr Karp hinted that his firm might be an acquisition target, its market value rose to $21bn.

Both men are cut from similar cloth. They are Silicon Valley renegades. They criticise big tech for abandoning its historic link with Americas defence establishment. They lament the fast pace of civilian-military fusion in China, which they see as a potential threat to the West. To a greater or lesser degree, they are linked to Peter Thiel, a right-wing venture capitalist. Mr Thiel chairs Palantir and his Founders Fund was an early backer of Anduril (both names echo his love of J.R.R. Tolkien). To some that makes them creepy. Still, using different business models, both highlight how sclerotic the traditional system of prime" defence contracting has become. They offer intriguing alternatives.

Like a prime contractor, Anduril only sells to military customers. But unlike defence giants such as Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, it does so while taking all the research-and-development (R&D) risk on its own shoulders. Mr Luckey is a born innovator. As a teenager, he invented the Oculus virtual-reality headset that he later sold to Facebook for $3bn. Walk with him through the arsenal of airborne and subsea devices on display at Andurils headquarters in Southern California and his wonkishness as he explains the gadgetry is almost overwhelming.

His business acumen is no less sharp. He and his executives have no time for the Pentagons traditional cost-plus" procurement system. Though it may be necessary for big projects like fighter planes and aircraft-carriers, they say, in general it distorts incentives, creating a risk-averse, expensive and slow-moving defence juggernaut. Rather than waiting for government contracts, Anduril creates what it thinks defence departments need, and uses iterative manufacturing and a lean supply chain to make products quickly and relatively cheaply.

It is fiercely competitive. Compared with the prolix, PowerPoint-heavy bidding processes for prime contracts, Anduril relishes the cut-and-thrust of shoot-offs", or competitions in which the Department of Defence (DoD) tests commercial products against each other. Its success rate is high. In 2020 it won a big contract to provide surveillance towers on Americas border with Mexico. Last year it secured $1bn from the DoD to provide autonomous counter-drone systems. It is building underwater vehicles the size of buses to patrol waters off Australia. Though there is an element of the America first" crusader about Mr Luckey, he leaves no doubt that he intends Anduril to be a big, profitable business.

Lords of the slings

Palantir has tentatively started to achieve that status, but with a dual-use" business model. It works for private clients as well as governments (albeit only ones friendly with America). Both on the battlefield and in business, its software cuts through the thickening fog of data to enable quick decision-making. Other dual-use firms are increasingly winning defence contracts. The Pentagons Defence Innovation Unit, set up in 2015, supports a big increase in the use of commercial technologies, such as AI, autonomy and integrated systems, to speed up the responsiveness to global threats.

Ukraine is a good testing ground. It is also a good simile. The struggle of tech Davids taking on Americas military-industrial Goliath is not dissimilar to tech-enabled Ukrainian troops battling the turgid might of Russia.

Read more from Schumpeter, our columnist on global business:

What would Joseph Schumpeter have made of Apple? (Feb 9th)

Chinas BYD is overtaking Tesla as the carmaker extraordinaire (Feb 2nd)

How will Satya Nadella handle Microsofts ChatGPT moment? (Jan 25th)

To stay on top of the biggest stories in business and technology, sign up to the Bottom Line, our weekly subscriber-only newsletter.

 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India  Business Wire India

Fashion apparel manufacturer KKCL, makers of Killer Jeans announced today their continued support for cricket, by signing on as an Official Sponsor for the fast-paced West Indies vs India T20I Series.



This association will see Killers brand presence on the ground, boosting brand recall and visibility, following on from the exposure the brand registered during Killer Jeans stint on the team jersey as the Official Kit Sponsors of the Indian Cricket team until May 31st, 2023 which was stitched together by ITW.



KKCL, which has been a listed entity at NSE (KKCL) & BSE (532732) since 2006, is a company that has established themselves as one of Indias leading apparel and accessories manufacturers and proud owner of Killer, Integriti, LawmanPg3, Easies, Desi Belle, Iti and Izel.



KKCL, who have achieved the remarkable milestone of 10 Million units sold within one year has an impressive feat of selling a garment every 3 seconds. It is now hoping to further build on this feat and achieve their vision of selling "A-Garment-A-Second" in the near future, with the visibility garnered during the 5-match series which will be played between India and West Indies from the 3rd to the 13th August in 3 venues- Trinidad, Guyana and Lauderhill.



Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Hemant Jain, Joint Managing Director  KKCL, said, With aggressive retail expansion geographically, it's important for us to reach to the maximum audience and we believe that this reach can be achieved with cricket, which has millions of followers that T20 attracts today. We are extremely excited to be a part of the West Indies vs India T20 series. Like our earlier cricket association, we are confident that this sponsorship will strengthen our brand presence and drive us to achieve "A-Garment-A-Second" in the market."



Dominic Warne, Commercial Director for Cricket West Indies, said: We welcome Killers support and investment for international cricket and for this West Indies home T20I Series vs India. The T20I Series is set to be watched and followed around the globe and featuring some of the worlds most exciting cricketers in two teams with a great rivalry."



About Kewal Kiran Clothing Limited

Kewal Kiran Clothing Limited (KKCL) is one of the leading manufacturers and retailers in the fashion industry. We are a fast-growing fashion brand that has established a dominant presence in the market and is known for offering brands such as Killer, Integriti, LawmanPg3, Easies, Desibelle, Iti and Izel. KKCL offers something for everyone from signature styles to trend-setting fashion that excites our consumers' spirit.
Ahead of the acquisition of Suzuki Motor Corporation(SMC) in Suzuki Motor Gujarat Private Limited (SMG), Maruti Suzuki will issue equity shares on preferential allotment basis to Suzuki Motor Corporation, the company said in its stock filing on Tuesday.

Also Read: Maruti Suzuki plans to add 28 different models in next seven years

Maruti Suzuki's board approved the issuance of equity shares to the SMC on Tuesday. The company said that the decision would be subject to applicable regulatory and statutory approvals, as may be required. After the acquision, SMG will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Maruti Suzuki. Maruti Suzuki shares were trading 0.63% higher at 9575.70 apiece on BSE at 11:16 am on Wednesday.

Also Read: Maruti Suzuki 3.0: MSIL planning to double production to 4 mn units in 9 years, says RC Bhargava

The Board of Directors, at its meeting held today, has approved issue of equity shares of the company on preferential allotment basis to Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), as consideration for the acquisition of 100% stake of SMC in Suzuki Motor Gujarat Private Limited (SMG). This will be subject to applicable regulatory and statutory approval(s), as may be required, including requisite approval of shareholders. Post such acquisition, SMG will become a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company," said the company in its stock filing.

Also Read: What Maruti Suzuki's acquisition of the SMG plant means for minority shareholders

On July 31, the Maruti Suzuki board had approved the termination of the contract manufacturing agreement (CMA) with Suzuki Motor Gujarat Private(SMG) Limited and acquiring of shares of SMG from Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC).

The board evaluated two available options for acquiring the SMC equity in SMG, first is payment in cash and issue of MSIL equity shares on a preferential allotment basis. The impact of both options on the earnings of MSIL was calculated for each year up to 2031.

It was only after the evaluation of all the aspects, the board reached to a decision that the acquision of SMG shares by issue of Maruti Suzuki equity shares to SMC would benefit minority shareholders and Maruti Suzuki.
Mumbai: Amid the increasing push for sustainable global practices among large industrial houses, billionaire Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) said it is committed to double its investment target for green energy to 1.5 trillion, as part of the companys initiatives to expand its renewable energy portfolio.

In 2021, RIL announced an investment of 75,000 crore to build its new energy business. Once proven at scale, RIL is prepared to double the investment to scale up its manufacturing ecosystem. The investment of 75,000 crore with a readiness to double investment will further the companys goals related to energy transition, enhance renewable energy usage and operational economic efficiency, and broaden focused research for the new energy business," according to the companys latest annual report.

A person in the know of RILs investment strategy for new energy, said it has already invested around 50,000 crore to develop a green energy Giga complex at Jamnagar in Gujarat. It plans to invest at least 1.5 trillion in total into green energy capacities. After the initial 75,000 crore, the exact resources and areas where additional 75,000 crore will be invested is still to be decided," he said.

RIL invested in and formed partnerships with leading companies in the fields of solar power, batteries and electrolysers," the company said in the report. RIL is in advanced talks with leading electrolyser technology players globally to establish a Giga-scale electrolyser manufacturing facility in Jamnagar, it added.

After proving cost and performance targets, the company also aims to progressively commence the transition from grey to green hydrogen by 2025," according to the report.

RIL has been making significant progress in developing the Dhirubhai Ambani Green Energy Giga Complex, spread over 5,000 acres at Jamnagar. The 75,000 crore will be primarily invested in setting up solar, wind and electric battery manufacturing plants.

RILs increased investment target in new energy, the highest among Indian companies, but lower than global peers, assumes significance amid a drive to achieve net zero emissions, primarily spearheaded by Asian countries, which accounted for over 50% of carbon dioxide emissions in 2020. China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Singapore and Australia have initiated large-scale wind and solar projects to fulfil their commitment to cleaner energy sources.

In India, RIL is competing with the Tata and Adani groups in the new energy space. While Adani Green aims to achieve 45 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030 and is working towards its net-zero target by 2050, Tata Power said it will be investing $9.5 billion in renewables over the next five years, as it aims to double the share of clean energy in its portfolio.

Several large global companies are also ramping up their investments in sustainable energy. Texas-based ExxonMobil and UKs BP plc seek to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. While ExxonMobil is set to invest over $15 billion by 2027 on lower-emission initiatives, BP will raise investments on low-carbon energy by $3-5 billion every year until 2025 from $1 billion in 2022.

Shell, which was one of the first oil and gas giants to announce its net zero ambitions by 2050, has lowered its original carbon emission reduction target by 20-30%, as it is required to keep its investments going in oil and gas to meet demand, the company said. Shell has been investing around $1 billion every year in low-carbon energy, such as charging for electric vehicles, hydrogen, biofuels and electricity generated by wind and solar power, and is preparing to increase it to around $2 billion, depending on commercial opportunities, it added.

Tata Power has accelerated its net zero target to 2045, according to N. Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Sons, which had previously set a goal of hitting the mark by 2050.

For Adanis, as per a June 2022 announcement, Frances TotalEnergies was to take 25% in Adani New Industries Ltd (ANIL), which is to invest $50 billion over 10 years in a green hydrogen ecosystem that includes an initial production capacity of 1 million tonnes before 2030.

On the other hand, RIL is building world-scale assets to produce new-age material, green energy, green chemicals, transforming our oil-to-chemical business into a more sustainable model targeting circularity and net carbon zero.

With a plan to invest around 75,000 crore over a span of three years, RIL aims to establish and enable 100 GW of solar energy by 2030; Build five giga factoriessolar photovoltaic module factory, an advanced energy storage battery factory, an electrolyser factory, a fuel cell factory, and a power electronics factory.

RIL says in its report that in the coming days it will partner with leading companies globally in solar, battery, and electrolyser space.

While revealing the rationale behind its 1.5 trillion investment target in new energy, RIL said it will focus on bioenergy, offshore wind, and other non-conventional sources; maximise crude to chemicals integration and create a portfolio of advanced and speciality materials.

RILs 10 GW solar PV cell and module factory at Jamnagar, which will commence production by 2024, aims to scale the plant to 20 GW by 2026.

Alongside, RIL has formed strategic partnerships with Lithium Werks, Faradion and Ambri.

RIL aims to start production of battery packs and scale up to a fully integrated 5 GWh annual cell-to-pack manufacturing facility by 2024. Reliance plans to further scale this capacity to 50 GWh annually by 2027," said RIL.

RILs businesses have captive energy requirements, which underpins the companys ambitious giga-scale manufacturing operations, entailing an initial 75,000 crore investment.

Upon validating the feasibility of this initiative at scale, Reliance is ready to double its investment to further scale up the manufacturing ecosystem," said RIL.

Mukesh D. Ambani, RILs chairman and managing director, said, The world is entering a new energy era, which is going to be highly disruptive. The age of fossil fuels, which powered economic growth globally for nearly three centuries, cannot continue much longer."
The Reserve Bank of India ( RBI ) has imposed monetary penalties on four co-operative banks for deficiencies in regulatory compliance. These banks are Shri Vinayak Sahakari Bank, Shreeji Bhatia Cooperative Bank, Mizoram Urban Cooperative Development Bank and Vita Urban Co-operative Bank.

The Reserve Bank imposed a monetary penalty of 1.50 lakh on Vita Urban Co-operative Bank Ltd., Vita, Maharashtra (the bank) for contravention of provisions of certain banking norms and directions issued by the apex bank on Maintenance of Deposit Accounts. The bank had not transferred the eligible amount to Depositor Education and Awareness Fund (DEAF) and had not conducted annual review of inoperative accounts.

The Mizoram Urban Cooperative Development Bank Limited, Aizawl (the bank) was also penalised of 20,000 on for non-compliance with specific directions issued by the apex bank under Supervisory Action Framework (SAF) and certain provision of RBIs KYC directions. The bank had granted fresh loans and advances carrying risk weights of more than 100% in violation of specific directions issued under SAF and failed to put in place a system of periodic review of risk categorisation of accounts.

The apex bank further imposed a monetary penalty of 1.00 lakh on Shreeji Bhatia Cooperative Bank Ltd., Mumbai (the bank) for non-compliance with specific directions issued by RBI under the Supervisory Action Framework (SAF) and RBIs KYC directions. The bank had incurred capital expenditure without prior approval of RBI in violation of SAF directions and had not conducted periodic review of risk categorization of its existing customers.

The Reserve Bank also imposed a monetary penalty of 1.50 lakh on Shri Vinayak Sahakari Bank Ltd, Ahmedabad (Gujarat) for contravention of direction issued by RBI on Placement of Deposits with Other Banks by Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs). The bank had breached prudential inter-bank (counterparty) exposure limit.

The actions of Reserve Bank was based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the banks with its customers.
Indias automotive components sector saw a record turnover of $69.7 billion in 2022-23, driven by a significant rise in demand for high value-added components for the domestic market, data released on Monday by apex auto components industry body Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) showed. The growth was despite a moderation in exports to North America and Europe, as fears of inflation weighed on demand in those regions.

In FY23, automotive parts suppliers saw a 32.8% increase in sales to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to nearly $70 billion, reflecting a shift in preference for larger, high-powered vehicles across segmentssport utility vehicles (SUVs) in the passenger vehicles space, medium and heavy commercial vehicle, and high-capacity, premium motorcycles and scooters, said ACMA.

Growing domestic auto sales, however, led to higher component imports, reversing the $700-million trade surplus seen by the Indian auto parts sector in FY22 clocking a $200 million deficit in FY23, primarily due to higher imports from China, the single largest sourcing destination outside India for domestic OEMs.

Component imports grew 10.9% in FY23 to Rs1.63 trillion ($20.3 billion) from Rs1.36 trillion ($18.3 billion) a year ago. Asia accounted for 66% of the imports followed by Europe at 26% and North America at 6%, according to data shared by ACMA. Imports from the Asian region grew 12%, Europe by 6% and from North America by 23%, the industry body said.

Exports, on the other hand, rose 5.2% to Rs1.61 trillion ($20.1 billion) in 2022-23 in contrast to Rs1.41 trillion ($19.0 billion) in FY22. North America accounted for 32% of the exports, up 8%. Europe accounted for 31% and Asia for 26%, growing 3% and 4%, respectively.

ACMA data showed a nearly three-fold increase in contribution of electric vehicle parts, barring EV batteries, to overall auto components supplies to 2.7%, compared to 1% in FY22. Indias EV component sales are dominated by electric two- and three-wheelers, with electric passenger vehicles (four-wheelers) representing just 1.0-1.5% of total EV sales. The auto components segment has been growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.1% over the last five years.

ACMA represents over 800 auto component manufacturers across tier-1, 2, and 3 levels and uses a mathematical model to arrive at its turnover volumes, which is then verified with industry stakeholders, including agencies. It sources trade data from the government.

The domestic industry has definitely seen growth, which is really a bounce back from where we were. The export opportunity has risen, too. We are at $20 billion in terms of exports and $70 billion in revenue. I think the China +1 strategy is playing out from a value addition perspective. What were doing in terms of investments in technology is paying off for us now. Many OEMs are looking towards new technologies, and were able to follow suit, and providing them the technology solutions that they require. Thats really where a lot of the value addition comes in. With the increase of EVs, there is more movement towards supplying them because thats the global trend. I see it continuing, and were going to invest more in products for EVs," Sunjay Kapur, ACMA president, said.

Kapur expects Indias reliance on China for imports of various components including engine parts, vehicle chassis, suspension and braking systems and electronics which has remained at a stable 20%-30% of all its total imports for the last five years to gradually come down. We expect this reliance to come down even as we increase domestic volumes. Weve been able to narrow down our trade gap significantly", he said.

ACMA expects the auto components industry to show a strong double-digit growth in FY23 as well, as domestic manufacturers invest significantly to expand capacity for passenger vehicles in the country. Passenger vehicles constitute 45% of all auto component sales in India in value terms, followed by 25% contribution from the CV sector, and nearly 20% from two-wheelers.
Day trading guide for today: Amid mixed global market cues, Indian stock market ended higher for second straight session on Monday. NSE Nifty added 80 points and closed at 19,597 levels while BSE Sensex shot up 232 points and ended at 65,953 mark. However, Bank Nifty shed 42 points and closed at 44,837 levels. In broad market, small-cap index added 0.26 per cent whereas mid-cap index gained to the tune of 0.56 per cent.

Day trading guide for stock market today

On outlook for Nifty today, Nagaraj Shetti, Technical Research Analyst at HDFC Securities said, "The negative chart pattern like lower tops and bottoms is intact as per daily timeframe chart. Presently, the market is in line with another lower top formation, which needs to be confirmed with decline from the highs. Immediate support for Nifty today is placed at 19,450 and any upside from here could encounter strong resistance around 19,700 levels."

On stock market triggers that may dictate Dalal Street today, Siddhartha Khemka, Head - Retail Research at Motilal Oswal said, "Markets are likely to trade in a range ahead of RBI policy this week. FIIs continued their selling streak for the last few days, thus keeping the upside limited. We expect sector- and stock-specific actions to continue."

Stocks to watch today

Market is expected to remain vigilant about the outcome of board meeting of Vascon Engineers and Talbros Automotive Components. The board of directors of Vascon Engineers are going to consider and approve interim dividend for the financial year 2023-24 whereas Talbros Automotive Components board is going to consider the proposal for stock split.

Dividend stocks today

Seven stocks are going to trade ex-dividend today and those seven dividend paying stocks include Taneja Aerospace, Power Grid Corporation, Sterlite Technologies, etc.

Stocks in focus

Rekha Jhunjhunwala, Ashish Kacholia and Mukul Mahavir Agrawal-backed BSE stock Raghav Productivity Enhancers will be in focus today as the stock is trading ex-bonus today. The board of directors of this BSE-listed company has declared issuance of bonus shares in 1:1 ratio.

Q1 results today

A total of 87 Dalal Street listed companies are going to declare their respective Q1 results 2023 on Tuesday. Those 87 companies include Coal India Ltd, Adani Ports, Oil India, Aarti Industries, Happiest Minds Technologies, Brigade Enterprises, Mishra Dhatu Nigam, Borosil Renewables, Utkarsh Small Finance Bank, IdeaForge Technology, Sudarshan Chemical Industries, Hikal, Ashiana Housing, Talbros Automotive Components, Windlas Biotech, etc.

F&O ban list

Six stocks have been out in the list of ban for trade date 8th August 2023. Those six stocks are Balrampur Chini Mills, GNFC, Hindustan Copper, Indiabulls Housing Finance, India Cements and Piramal Enterprises Ltd or PEL.

Day trading stocks for today

Stock market experts  Sumeet Bagadia, Executive Director at Choice Broking; Ganesh Dongre, Senior Manager  Technical Research at Anand Rathi and Rajesh Bhosale, Technical Analyst at Angel One  have recommended five intraday stocks that intraday trading members can look at.

Sumeet Bagadia's intraday stocks for today

1] JSW Steel: Buy at 813.05, target 850, stop loss 795.

JSW Steel share price has corrected from the all-time high levels of 825 levels but has bounced from the initial support of 795 levels which was also close to 50 Day EMA levels. Currently, the stock is trading around 813.05 levels. The stock is trading above all important moving averages indicating strength. The correction was from the upper band of the Bollinger band and also the bounce back is from the middle band which indicates strength.

2] IndusInd Bank: Buy at 1415, target 1490, stop loss 1385.

IndusInd Bank share is trading around 1415 levels. The stock has a strong support near 1405 levels. Currently stock is trading above all important moving averages. The important support of 1405 was prior a resistance and stock sustaining above these levels indicates strength. The momentum indicator RSI is around 57 levels and slopping upwards indicating strength.

A small resistance is placed around 1444 levels which is also a recent high, once stock surpasses the above-mentioned level it can lead towards the target of 1490 and above.

Ganesh Dongre's stock of the day

3] ICICI Bank: Buy at 976, target 990, stop loss 967.

On the short-term chart, ICICI Bank share price has shown a bullish reversal pattern, so holding the support level of 976 this stock can bounce toward the 990 level in the short term. Hence, the trader can go long with a stop loss of 976 for the target price of 990.

Rajesh Bhosale's day trading stocks

4] Adani Ports: Buy at 791, target 825, stop loss 770.

Adani Ports share price is looking positive on chart pattern and it may go up to 825 apiece levels in near term.

5] Godrej Consumer Products: Buy at 1031, target 1075, stop loss 1010.

Stock looking positive and bull trend in the scrip may lead its prices around 1075 apiece levels.

Disclaimer: The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, and not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
Gland Pharma share price jumped 20 per cent to hit their upper circuit on the BSE on Tuesday, a day after the pharma company announced its first-quarter (Q1FY24) earnings.

Gland Pharma reported a 41 per cent jump in first-quarter revenue boosted by the acquisition of Cenexi, but its profit fell on a year-on-year basis. The Hyderabad-based company posted a 15 per cent year-on-year decline in consolidated net profit at 194 crore for Q1FY24. In the same quarter last year, the company's net profit was 229.2 crore.

Gland Pharma's share price opened at 1,480 on BSE as compared to the previous close of 1,343.85. The Gland Pharma shares further rose 20 per cent to hit their upper price band of 1,612.60 on BSE.

Shares of Gland Pharma have performed poorly in the last one year, falling almost 31 per cent while the equity benchmark Sensex has gained over 12 per cent in the same period.

Brokerages upbeat post-better-than-expected Q1FY24

Brokerage firms highlighted Gland Pharma reported better-than-expected Q1 numbers as they appear optimistic about the company's growth prospects.

Brokerage firm Motilal Oswal Financial Services gave a buy call on the stock with a target price of 1,560, citing Gland Pharma posted better-than-expected Q1FY24 performance.

"After a lacklustre Q4FY23, Gland Pharma has exhibited an improvement in business from core markets as well as stability in India and ROW (rest of the world) businesses. The overall performance has improved to some extent due to a higher profit share component as well for the quarter," Motilal said.

The brokerage firm has raised its earnings estimates by 8.5 per cent and 5 per cent for FY24 and FY25 factoring in a faster revival of the lost business by adding new customers, price stability in the base portfolio, and an increase in milestone income.

"We value Gland Pharma at 23 times 12-month forward earnings to arrive at our target price of 1,560. Gland Pharma remains on track to not only revive the base business but also to (a) increase its offerings in newer markets like China, (b) build a niche pipeline for regulated markets, and (c) enhance the scope of synergy from the Cenexi acquisition," said Motilal Oswal.

On the other hand, brokerage firm Kotak Institutional Equities upgraded Gland Pharma stock to a 'reduce' from a 'sell' and raised the target price to 1,300 from 1,075 earlier.

The brokerage firm said Glands sequential recovery in the base business in Q1FY24 was in line with its estimates.

"While concerns about the long-term growth and margin outlook remain, we highlight that, unlike its commentary in May 2023, when Glands management had limited visibility on client-specific challenges among other issues, the company has now alluded to having greater visibility on the demand front. In addition, higher confidence in the margin trajectory of the base business augurs well," said Kotak.

"With Cenexis disclosed gross margins being significantly higher than our estimates, we tweak our assumptions. This leads to a 3-6 per cent earnings per share (EPS) upgrade to our estimates. Apart from slightly improved demand visibility, the base business EBITDA margin in Q1FY24 also recovered 780 bps quarter-on-quarter from the lows of Q4FY23, providing higher confidence in the margin trajectory of the base business. As a result, we are raising our target multiple for Gland from 18 times to 20 times EPS," said Kotak.

Kotak expects the company to report a 10 per cent organic sales CAGR over FY2023-26E.

However, Kotak said it remains concerned about any "impact on Glandsm margins due to the acquisition of Sagent Pharma (one of Glands key clients, which has been reporting heavy operating losses) by Glands ex-promoter."

Read all market-related news here

Disclaimer: The views and recommendations above are those of individual analysts and broking companies, not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
Job satisfaction matters. What matters more is the remuneration. All salaried employees will vouch for that. Thats the reason why they look forward eagerly to the first quarter of the financial year _ when salaries are revised. Thereupon, there is a mad scramble to understand the latest pay package and calculate the percentage of hike received. Not all employees can instantly decipher what the hike implies. The few who do immediately understand that taxes are a bitter part of their lives and jobs. The rest realize it when the salary is credited into their bank accounts.

Understanding the nitty-gritty of salaries is not everyones cup of tea. And the salary components can differ from one company to another. Ask Vinay Jhunjhunwala (34), head-treasury with MCPI, part of The Chatterjee Group, Kolkata. Jhunjhunwala received a 25% hike in salary when he joined the firm but his tax liability also trebled. It was because of the lower LTA (leave travel allowance) and HRA (house rent allowance) component, compared to what I was getting at my previous organisation. Considering the post-tax income, my hike turned out to be just 15-16%," he says.

To avoid such dejections, its important for employees to understand salary components, mandatory deductions and their taxation before accepting an offer letter. So, ask the human resource department to explain your salary structure and negotiate for tax-friendly components that will get you the maximum tax benefit.

View Full Image Mint

The cost to company

Employers calculate your salary in terms of cost to company, or CTC. It is the total amount that a company spends on its employee in a financial year. This includes basic salary, HRA, special allowances and flexi benefits, gratuity, and health insurance, among others. For the benefit of employees, a few large corporations exclude gratuity and insurance premium from the CTC. So, broadly, your salary will have three componentsfixed benefits, reimbursements (also called flexi benefits), and other components.

Fixed components include your basic salary, dearness allowance, HRA, childrens education allowance and special allowance. Basic salary, which makes up for 40-50% of your CTCand the special allowance are fully taxable. However, some tax benefits are available on other components such as HRA and childrens education. HRA generally constitutes 50% of the basic salary. Education allowance for two children is pegged at 100 per month per child.

Flexi benefits and allowancesfor uniforms, conveyance, Wi-Fi and mobile, periodicals, meal coupons, car lease, car maintenance, drivers salary and company-paid accommodation help lower taxes. All you have to do is provide receipts against these expenses. This can help employees lower their tax liability significantly. For instance, an employee in the 30% tax slab who opts for the meal coupons of 2,200 per month can save tax of 8,237 per annum," says Latha Iyer, CHRO, Zaggle, a B2B fintech firm in expense management.

A few organizations are even offering reimbursements for OTT subscriptions and also appliances such as laptops in case of work from home.

Other components include contributions to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), National Pension System (NPS), gratuity, insurance premium and variable pay, if any.

The best salary structure

Employees alone can decide whether their salary structure is beneficial. Some prefer more salary in-hand, while others want it to be tax-efficient. For instance, Narendran Sivakumar (30), a senior manager at a Bengaluru-based firm, Strata, says his CTC comprises basic salary (50%), HRA (20%), and special allowance (20%). The remaining is flexi benefits. Employer contribution to EPF and premium paid for employee insurance is not part of his CTC. I have opted for fuel, internet, uniform and food coupons as flexi benefits. As long as I provide receipts, I get reimbursed for these," he says.

Ashish Sapra, senior manager at a financial services firm in Delhi, does not have any flexi benefits, except meal coupons (1.5%) and LTA (3%). His basic pay, HRA and special allowance are 22%, 11% and 33%, respectively, of the CTC. Variable pay comprises a good chunk of his CTC at 23% and is fully taxable. The structure doesnt give him much leeway to save on taxes. My previous organisation offered me fuel and car lease along with drivers salary. Thankfully, now I have a home loan and can claim deduction for this , else the current salary structure would have increased my tax liability," he says.

Navratan Bohra, deputy vice president at Anand Rathi Shares & Stock Brokers, does not have many flexi benefits or variable components in his salary. So, it gets him a decent post-tax income. I get 11% of my CTC without any deduction in the form of conveyance and meal voucher reimbursements. While 5% is NPS contribution by employer, the rest goes into basic salary, HRA and special allowance," he says.

Some companies, instead of hiking allowances, offer perks that are not part of the salary and thus has its own tax benefits. It could be a phone or a car for official use . My company offers me flat 50,000 over and above the CTC to be reimbursed against training and education," says Sivakumar. Some companies offer such perks for gym memberships and travel and accommodation during personal vacations.

The reimbursements model

There is no doubt that reimbursements are tax efficient. However, most employees underestimate its impact. They let go of reimbursements to increase their fixed pay just to avoid paperwork. The accompanying graphic showcases two scenarios. Employee A hasnt opted for flexi benefits. Employee B has a long list of line items under reimbursements. While the gross pay is higher for employee A, so is the gross taxable income. Employee A ends up paying over 2.5 lakh extra tax even as the CTC is same for both employees at 20 lakh. The take-home salary will also be higher for employee B assuming he claims all reimbursements.

Now that I am aware of the advantages of flexi components, I would be fine with a slightly lower gross CTC if the company offers me various allowances because itll make my post-tax salary higher. Post-tax salary is more important than CTC," says Sivakumar.

Reimbursements are a smart choice but involve administrative hassles for both employers and employees. B2B platforms such as Zaggle helps employers implement bespoke flexi-benefits programmes. It eliminates the need to juggle multiple cards for various benefits like food, fuel, travel, attire, books and periodicals, internet, and the platform simplifies the entire benefits management workflow," says Iyer.

The new tax regime

The new tax regime, despite having more tax slabs but lower tax rates, does not offer many tax-efficient tools. Certain deductions or exemptions such as gratuity, leave encashment, daily allowance, conveyance allowance, transport allowance for a specially-abled person, tax beneficial perquisites (e.g. gifts up to 5,000, car and driver related reimbursements, etc.), employers contribution towards NPS u/s 80CCD(2), standard deduction of 50,000, are still available under the new regime," says Anurag Jain, co-founder and partner, ByTheBook Consulting LLP.

Note that gifts up to 5,000 by employers is different from 50,000 tax-free gifts that you are eligible to receive in a financial year from people other than your close relatives. Gifts by employers are usually given in your birthday month.

Mint take

Always enquire about flexi components in the salary and make use of it. Focus on post-tax salary over CTC or gross pay. It would be ideal to consult a chartered accountant before accepting a job offer rather than approaching them only when filing income tax returns.
Nippon Life India Asset Management Limited (NAM India) asset manager of Nippon India Mutual Fund (NIMF), launched Nippon India Innovation Fund (An open-ended equity scheme investing in innovation theme). Over the next 20 years India is likely to witness significant investment in Innovation and R&D (Research & Development). The need for creating differentiation through innovation is a key growth driver for the long-term success of any business. Participating in this space is critical as Innovation led transformation and transition may offer growth possibilities across multiple segments. Hence, we are launching Nippon India Innovation Fund to capture some of these potential opportunities. However, we also need to understand that such themes may have higher gestation periods as not all innovation will be successful and attempt to manage the risks through adequate diversification across sectors," said Sailesh Raj Bhan, CIO  Equity Investments, Nippon India Mutual Fund.

Nippon India Innovation Fund: key things to know

1)Nippon India Innovation Fund will predominantly invest in a diversified portfolio of companies that are driving innovation across themes like fintech, specialty chemicals & pharma, auto & auto ancillaries, internet-based businesses, MNCs etc.

2)Nippon India Innovation Fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in innovative companies that have the potential to disrupt their industries and create significant value for investors in the long term.

3)Nippon India Innovation Fund will have the flexibility to invest across market caps and sectors.

4)The fund's flexibility will allow it to identify better investment opportunities by identifying companies ahead of the curve in new innovation, technologies or business models.

5)Nippon India Innovation Fund may be well-positioned to capture companies that have the potential for significant growth.

6) The NFO opens on 9th August 2023 and closes on 23rd August 2023.

7) The minimum investment amount required during NFO is 500 and in multiples of Re 1 thereafter.

8) The performance of the Scheme shall be benchmarked against Nifty 500 TRI.

Nippon Life India Asset Management Limited is one of the largest asset managers in India, managing (directly & indirectly) assets across mutual funds including Exchange Traded Funds, managed accounts, including portfolio management services, alternative investment funds, and offshore funds and advisory mandates.

NIPPON LIFE More Information
Bengaluru traffic chaos is known to all. On multiple occasions, social media has been flooded with posts discussing the issue of traffic in Bengaluru.

Now a study has stated due to traffic and other related issues, Bengaluru city has lost close to 20,000 crore per year, NDTV has reported. This study was conducted by MN Sreehari, a traffic expert and his team. They look over issues in the city related to road planning, flyover, traffic management and infrastructural deficit.

The study found that Bengaluru lost 19,725 crore despite having 60 completely functional flyovers due to delays, traffic, signal delays, interference of slow-moving vehicles with fast-moving, fuel loss and other related factors.

The study showed estimates which stated that the city expanded from 88 square kilometres to 985 square kilometres in 2023, however, the study has proposed it expansion to 1,100 square kilometres.

The study said as reported by NDTV that the city has a huge population of 14.5 million due to the increase of employment in IT sector which has also led to infrastructure development for the people. Moreover, the study added that city also has a vehicle population of nearly 1.5 crore. The report also added that the road length growth which is 11,000 km is not in proportion with the area and vehicular growth.

"The exponential growth of population and their job potential speed could not match with the infrastructural growth that is existing. The gap deficiency has resulted in delays, congestion, higher travel time, and huge economic loss (intangible) in terms of direct and indirect cost," Sreehari and his team said as quoted by NDTV.

Suggestions by expert on traffic woes:

The experts as reported by NDTV have suggested radial roads, ring roads, underground transportation for metros, government buses. Apart from this, the experts have also suggested more underground-based road systems to cater the road traffic for next 25 years.

Moreover, experts have also suggested to remove roadside parking. "As a transportation expert, I have failed to show even one road in Bengaluru without parking," Mr Sreehari said as quoted by NDTV. It also recommended an increase in mass transportation of metro, monorail, high-capacity buses.

Meanwhile, on 2 August, Shivakumar, in-charge of the Bengaluru Urban Development and Water Resources Ministries, discussed the traffic congestion issue with Union Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. Sharing the outcome of the meeting with reporters, Shivakumar said he discussed with the Union Minister ways to ease traffic in Bengaluru and also asked how the central government can support this issue. "In a positive way, he (Gadkari) gave certain suggestions. He has asked us to prepare a DPR," he said as reported by PTI.

He further added that the state government has already invited Expression of Interest (EoI) with a proposal for construction of either a tunnel or flyover or any other means through which the traffic can be eased. "After receiving the proposals, we will talk to the central government, which is ready to support," he added.

Around 10 companies, including one from Israel, have made presentations and they have been asked to participate in the bids, he added as reported by PTI.

"The last date for submission of the EoI is August 8. Let all of them participate with international design and concept. We have decided to take this forward so that Bengaluru traffic congestion is eased," he added.

Prior to this, in July, the Deputy Chief Minister had also chaired a meeting with the BMRDA officials and committee members to find a solution for Bengaluru's traffic issues. They had decided to connect the ends of Bengaluru with underpasses. According to media reports, the officials had planned to allocate 22,000 crore for the initial phase of the 50 km tunnel construction project.

The Bengaluru city was ranked second in the slowest place to drive through in the world in 2022, according to the report by a specialist in geolocation technologies, TomTom. The report also found that Bengaluru's rush hour traffic led to the loss of as much as 129 hours last year. Even after the rising popularity of WFH option post pandemic, there has been a rising trend in the number of hours lost in traffic jam.

(With inputs from NDTV, PTI)
New Delhi: In a major boost to Indias fruit exports prospects, the commerce ministry on Tuesday said the first trial shipment of fresh pomegranate has been sent to the US through airways. The shipment was facilitated by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).

APEDA chairman Abhishek Dev said that the increase in pomegranate exports to the US would result in higher price realisation and increase in farmers income. There has been encouraging response from the importers of the pomegranate shipment.

The trial shipment of pomegranate was carried out by the APEDA registered INI Farms, which are among the top exporters of fruits and vegetables from India. It has built a value chain of banana and pomegranate by working directly with farmers. As a part of Agrostar group, complete services from agronomy, agri-inputs and off-take is provided to farmers with the produce exported to over 35 countries across the world.

As the long-distance market and high cost was prohibitive in commencing commercial operations, the export of trial shipment of pomegranate would help in building capacities among Indian exporters and US importers by ensuring that quality fruits are exported, the ministry said.

Buoyed by the acceptance of Indian mangoes in the US, exporters are hopeful that pomegranate would also script a similar success story. For ensuring traceability in the export value chain of pomegranate, APEDA organizes sensitisation programmes on a regular basis in association with state governments to register farms under AnarNet  a system developed by APEDA.

APEDA has played a significant role in gaining market access by opening the pathway to allow high quality Indian pomegranates in the US and Australia.

Because of its high antioxidant content and super fruit characteristics, Bhagwa pomegranate from Maharashtra has a substantial export potential. The Bhagwa variety of pomegranate has substantial demand in the overseas markets. The Solapur district in Maharashtra contributes almost 50% of the pomegranate export from the country.

In 2022-23, an estimated 62,280 tonne of pomegranate worth $58.36 million was exported to countries including United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bangladesh, Nepal, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bahrain, Oman. India is the second largest producer of horticulture crops.

In 2021-22, India produced 333.20 million metric tonne (MMT) of horticulture crops, of which the share of fruits and vegetables was 90%. The total production of fruits during 2021-22 was 107.10 MMT and pomegranate accounted for around 3 MMT.

India ranks seventh in production of pomegranates in the world and the total area under cultivation is around 2,75,500 hectare. In India, the major pomegranate producing states are Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh.
Members of the Narendra Modi government clashed with the Opposition in Parliament on Tuesday amid debate over a no-confidence motion. While the newly named INDIA coalition does not expect to successfully topple the administration, the move is intended to force discussion on the ongoing Manipur crisis. The discussion however devolved into name calling and allegations were hurled by both factions during the day.
On August 3, the Allahabad High Court made a significant ruling affirming the continuation of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) survey of the Gyanvapi Mosque premises. In a blow to the petition filed by the Muslim litigants, the court dismissed their request for a stay on the order issued by the Varanasi court.

The court emphasised that the scientific survey by ASI was essential in the pursuit of justice. It, however, was made clear that the survey would not involve any form of excavation within the premises.

Why survey?

In 2022, a lower court in Varanasi was petitioned by a group of women who sought permission from a Hindu deity to access a mosque's complex, claiming historical presence of a temple on the site. Responding to this appeal, the court ordered a video survey of the complex. The survey resulted in the identification of a structure that the petitioners insisted was a 'shivling'.

However, the mosque's management committee vehemently opposed this claim, asserting that the structure was, in reality, a component of a fountain located in the 'wazukhana' - an area designated for ritual ablutions before prayers.

Considering the delicate nature of the situation, the Supreme Court stepped in and issued a directive to seal off the portion of the complex containing the contested structure. This intervention aims to maintain the status quo and prevent any potential escalation of tensions.

Varanasi court

On July 21, 2022, the Varanasi district court issued a directive for an ASI survey of the Gyanvapi mosque, setting a submission deadline for the report by August 4. Amit Srivastava, the standing government counsel (Government of India), submitted an application requesting an extension for the ASI's investigation. He explained that the survey, which commenced on July 24, had to be halted shortly thereafter due to an order from the Supreme Court.

Following this, on August 5, the Varanasi district court extended the timeline for the ASI's comprehensive survey and scientific examination of the Gyanvapi mosque. The court granted the ASI four additional weeks to finalise the investigation and present the report. A subsequent hearing on the matter has been scheduled for September 2.

Gyanvapi survey: What happened so far

The Gyanvapi mosque complex saw a significant turn of events unfold on August 4 when the Supreme Court declined to halt an Allahabad High Court ruling permitting the ASI investigation. This move, while deemed necessary by some, has sparked concerns among the Muslim community who fear that it might "reopen old wounds".

Commencing on August 4, a team of around 40-45 ASI officials initiated the survey at 7 AM. Despite initial discussions, it seems that this inspection is poised to be an extended process, according to the lawyer representing the Hindu side.

By August 6, unease had already surfaced on the Muslim side. They voiced their concerns about the alleged spreading of "rumours" that a Hindu idol and a trident had been discovered during the survey. Demanding a halt to such speculations, the Muslim side appealed to the administration to take corrective measures, PTI reported.

Subsequent days only saw the situation intensify. On August 7, because of devotees congregating at the Kashi Vishwanath temple, the survey began three hours late, at 11 AM, and concluded at 5 PM. This marked the fourth day of the ASI's mandated undertaking as directed by the court.

Representatives from the Anjuman Intezamia Mosque Committee, responsible for overseeing the Gyanvapi mosque, along with the local imam, were present during the survey.
The roaring debate over Delhi Ordinance Bill ended with parliamentary approval of the same in Rajya Sabha on Monday. The bill will pave way for the centre to strengthen its control over bureaucracy in Delhi. Amid the defeat of INDIA bloc, what garnered huge attention was thin and lean Manmohan Singh who attended the session on wheelchair despite his ill health.

Opposition might have failed in thwarting the bill on upper house, but opposition leader Manmohan Singh won everyone's heart because of his dedication. Many people on the internet praised the nonagenarian parliamentarian for having more attendance than celebrity parliamentarians like Kirron Kher, Sunny Deol and Gautam Gambhir. AAP MP Raghav Chadha hailed the former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his dedication. Today, in the Rajya Sabha, Dr. Manmohan Singh stood as a beacon of integrity and came especially to vote against the black ordinance. His unwavering commitment to democracy and the constitution is a profound inspiration. My heartfelt gratitude goes out to him for his invaluable support. Thank you, sir," tweeted Raghav Chadha on Monday.

Not just politicians, a large number of Twitterati applauded the determination of Manmohan Singh towards his work. Notably, Manmohan Singh is often called as the Silent Prime Minister of India' by many.

At 90, the King Dr. Manmohan Singh has come to Parliament to vote against Govt of NCT bill as per whip issued by Party. India will forever remain indebted to Dr. Manmohan Singh and his contributions towards building a self reliant economically strong India," tweeted one user.
TMC's Derek O' Brien's suspension from Rajya Sabha, due to "unruly behavior," awaits Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar's decision. Dhankhar cites pending process, as he seeks the House's consensus before action.

Earlier in the day, TMC leader Derek O'Brien invoked Rule 267 to discuss the Manipur issue, but the chairman questioned the relevance and subsequently named him.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal then moved to suspend O'Brien for the Monsoon session due to his actions. In response, TMC MPs protested by shouting slogans and gathering at the session's well.

This infuriated the Speaker, who later ordered O'Brien's suspension stating, He must leave the House

Dhankhar says, This is too serious a matter for me to be overruled...After deep, immediate deliberation, I did not take the sense of the House earlier. If I had really fructified the process, Derek O'Brien would have been out of the House. In my wisdom, I thought I must not take it to that conclusion at that point of time..."
Odisha police busted a big multimedia, ponzy scam related to cryptocurrency worth 1,000 crore and has arrested prime accused in the case.

The police arrested the head of STA Crypto Token, namely Gurtej Sigh Sidu, from Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, and its Odisha unit Nirod Das, Inspector-General of Police told ANI. In the scam, victims from different states including Delhi, Jharkhand, Rajasthan,etc were told to invest in STA Crypto Token. From Odisha, more than 10,000 people lost their money in the scam. Fraudsters used to encouraged more and more people to invest in crypto coins and gather the currency in large numbers. Moreover, victims were also encouraged to include more people in the group, said JN Pankaj, IG EOW.

Odisha (EOW) has busted a very big multimedia, pyramid structure, ponzi scam...We have got to know that people have invested more than 1,000 crores in this scam across India. Around 10,000 people from Odisha are also there. A lot more people are involved from the Bihar, Delhi, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, MP, and Haryana sides. Approximately 2 lakh people are members of this," Economic Offence Wing IG, JN Pankaj told ANI.

How was the crypto currency scam busted?

The mastermind behind the crypto scam was frequently changing his location in places like Goa, Lonavala, Mumbai, Delhi, Faridkot, Bhatinda, Hanumangadh and Sri Ganganagar. The movement of the main culprit was constantly tracked by the DSP Sasmita Sahoo.

The Odisha Economic Offence Wing got the first lead of the crypto scam from intelligence wing. It was informed that the cryptocurrency-based Ponzi scheme was being run in Odisha, especially in Bhadrak, Balasore, Bhubaneswar, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Kendrapada and Keonjhar districts.

Investigation revealed that STA through some up-line members was very active in these districts and they were also using propaganda tools to persuade people to join this scheme and earn huge money.

What is STA Token, the  1,000 crore cryptocurrency fraud?

He also said that the members had started using the STA Token as legal tender in their day-to-day business. It is estimated that more than 10,000 people from Odisha have already been members of this scheme.

This Ponzi scheme has more than 2 lakh members (Pan India) mainly in the states like Punjab, Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand, Haryana, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha and Assam, the official informed.

The Solar Techno Alliance (STA) was launched in September 2021. From youtube channel, to an authentic-looking website, the fraud cryptocurrency opted for all possible measures to deceive people as a generic crypto token. Its social media accounts claimed it to be a "one-stop Solar Technologies service that enables users to order anything they like from nearest farmers in shortest time using blockchain technology.

STA token conduced extravagant celebrations, gave membership bonus to expand network

The fraud network also used to organise extravagant celebrations and also give bonuses to up-line members based on their performance. Last week, STA had a grand celebration in a luxurious star hotel/banquet hall in Goa, police told ANI.

The meeting was attended by more than one thousand up-line members from across the states. These members who were responsible for adding members got bonuses and vaiour royalties for adding new members. Its leadership is named Pearl, Ruby, Emerald, Topaz, Diamond, Pink Diamond, Blue Diamond, Black Diamond, The Hope Diamond and Koh-I- Noor depending on the number of down-line members under them and STA coin holdings, he added.

There are also youtube channels and publicity programs at various places to spread membership. They use fancy hotels, motivational speakers, music, lunch/dinner, etc. in such meetings to brainwash future members.

The official said they also run several YouTube channels for publicity and tutoring the new members. Members are promised that they will earn $20 to $3000 per day if they join this scheme and add more members under them.

Major red flags in STA

Despite all the pomp and show lure members and customers, there were many basic essential things STA lacked. The police found that the STA is not authorised by RBI or any other authorities to collect deposits. Another thing that was found fishy by the police in its primitive investigation was that the STA website is hosted from Iceland but its business/activity is targeted/ limited to India. It is headed by one David Gez a young Hungarian (Europe) national who has visited India multiple times, he added.

To avoid any further fraud by the STA fraudsters, an advisory has been issued to the general public. People are advised to not inves ttheir muny in such such MLM/Ponzi schemes which show dreams of becoming a millionaire in an unrealistically short time. The advisory also advised investors and celebrities to invest their money wisely only after checking the credentials of the company.
In a bid to steal technology, an elite group of North Korean hackers secretly breached computer networks at a major Russian missile developer for nearly five months in 2022, reported Reuters on Tuesday.

Also Read: Funds worth 215 crore frozen: US targets Indian diamond sellers over alleged Russia connection: Report

The cyber-espionage teams to the North Korean government targeted Mashinostroyeniya, a rocket design bureau based in Reutov, a small town on the outskirts of Moscow. The team, secretly called as ScarCruft and Lazarus, installed stealthy digital backdoors into system at NPO Mashinostroyeniya found Reuters' James Pearson and Christopher Bing.

Also Read: Ukrainian Naval Drones Attack Russian Black Sea Port

Till now, there has been no clarity on wether any data was taken during the intrusion or about the information that was leaked. In the months following the digital break-in Pyongyang announced several developments in its banned ballistic missile programme but it is not clear if this was related to the breach.

The incident is a proof how North Korea can target even its allies, like Russia, to acquire technologies, reported Reuters.

Also read: Is Russia involved in Niger coup through Wagner Group? Here's what experts say

There was no official confirmation by NPO Mashinostroyeniya officials about the espionage. Neither there was an official response to Reuters' query by Russian embassy in Washington, none by North Korea's mission to the United Nations in New York.

About the Russian company that was targeted by the hackers

The company is commonly known as NPO Mash. It holds niche in developing hypersonic missiles, satellite technologies and newer generation ballistic armaments. Experts believe that these areas are of North Korea's interest since it embarked on its mission to create an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) capable of striking the mainland United States.

The technical data reveals that the hackers gained the access of the documents and leaked them between 2021 and till May 2022. Afterwards, the IT engineers detected the hackers' activity, according to the news agency.

NPO Mash grew to prominence during the Cold War as a premier satellite maker for Russia's space programme and as a provider of cruise missiles.

Hackers read email traffic, jumped between networks and extracted data of the Russian company

After hacking, the intruders dug into the company's IT environment, giving them the ability to read email traffic, jump between networks, and extract data, according to Tom Hegel, a security researcher with U.S. cybersecurity firm SentinelOne, who initially discovered the compromise.

"These findings provide rare insight into the clandestine cyber operations that traditionally remain concealed from public scrutiny or are simply never caught by such victims," Hegel said.

Hegel's team of security analysts at SentinelOne learned of the hack after discovering that an NPO Mash IT staffer accidentally leaked his company's internal communications while attempting to investigate the North Korean attack by uploading evidence to a private portal used by cybersecurity researchers worldwide.

Experts say that the data leaked might be of crucial importance, but it would take a lot more information, effort and expertise for North Korea to build the missile based on the information.

"That's movie stuff," he said. "Getting plans won't help you much in building these things, there is a lot more to it than some drawings".

However, given NPO Mash's position as a top Russian missile designer and producer, the company would be a valuable target, Schiller added. "There is much to learn from them," he said.
Thousands of fligths were cancelled or delayed, electricity was shut, schools were closes, and people were asked to stay indoors as the US prepared for one of its worst weather events in near time.

THe weather forecast agency on Monday warned of destructively strong storms, including tornadoes, hail and lightning, and residents were warned to stay indoors and prepare for the worst.

Also read: Haze, heat and storms are bringing danger and discomfort to many parts of the US

In evening the rain began falling in the Washington area shortly after 5 pm, and the skies gradually turned an ominous dark gray, a precursor to the severe weather and mass power outages that were predicted.

Tornado threat in Washington

The national weather service issued a tornado watch for the greater DC area till 9 pm. There was also flood warning till Tuesday morning. The weather service also warned of destructive hurricane-force winds along with the potential for large hail and tornadoes, even strong tornadoes."

Also Read: US: Over 900 flights cancelled, 3,165 delayed due to strong storms, flash floods

The storms' spread was massive, with tornado watches and warnings posted across 10 states from Tennessee to New York. The National Weather Service said the area of greatest concern centred in the Washington-Baltimore region.

Flights cancellation

By Monday afternoon, more than 1,300 US flights had been cancelled and more than 5,500 flights were delayed, reported AP citing data from FlightAware. There were large number of cancellations from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which was digging out from disruptions caused by Sunday storms.

Also Read: At least 26 dead after tornadoes rake US Midwest, South

The Federal Aviation Administration said that it was changing the route of planes around storms heading to the East Coast. In case of adverse situation, it has warned of pausing flights in and out of the New York City area, Philadelphia.

President Joe Biden's departure on a four-day trip pushed up by 90 minutes

The White House pushed up by 90 minutes PResident Joe Biden's departure on a four-day trip that's taking him to Arizona New Mexico and Utah. There were other cancellations of programmes and events that featured first lady Jill Biden, who is a teacher, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and school administrators, educators and education technology providers from around the country.

Power outage

By early evening, more than 5.8 lakh customers were under darkness across Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Tennessee and Virginia due to the harsh weather. The Knoxville Utilities Board tweeted that the damage across its service area in Tennessee was widespread and extensive" and will likely take several days to repair.

Dominion Energy reported nearly 15,000 people without power in Loudoun County, Virginia, west of D.C. And Pepco, a power company serving Washington and its suburbs, reported outages affecting more than 2,000 people.

This does look to be one of the most impactful severe weather events across the Mid-Atlantic that we have had in some time," National Weather Service meteorologist Chris Strong said in a Facebook live briefing.

The storms are expected to strike in late afternoon, warned the weather forecasting agency. Due to this, federal workers needs to be sent home early so they wouldn't be in their cars amid wind, hail and tornadoes.
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan was barred from politics for five years on Tuesday by Pakistan's election commission after his conviction in Toshakhana corruption case, the local media reported.

Under Pakistani law, a convicted person cannot run for any public office for a period defined by the ECP, which could be up to a maximum of five years staring from the conviction date.

The former prime minister was sentenced to three years imprisonment on Saturday. He was arrested at his Lahore house and taken to a prison near Islamabad.

Imran Khan was tried on charges of unlawfully selling state gifts during his tenure from 2018 to 2022.

Khan's legal team has filed an appeal seeking to set aside the guilty verdictwhich Islamabad High Court will take up on Wednesday.

The petition describes the conviction as "without lawful authority, tainted with bias", reported Reuters.

The petition said the lower court had rejected a list of witnesses for the defence a day before reaching its verdict, calling this a "gross travesty of justice, and a slap in the face of due process and fair trial".

Meanwhile, ARY News has reported that the Supreme Court of Pakistan will resume the hearing of the murder case of a Senior Supreme Court lawyer Abdul Razzaq Shar against Pakistan Imran Khan on Wednesday.

A three-member bench headed by Justice Yahya Afridi will resume the hearing. ANI reported citing ARY News.

Moreover, the former prime has submitted the additional to the Supreme Court, reported ARY News.

During the last hearing of the case, the Supreme Court bench summoned the PTI chairman Imran Khan to appear before it on August 9.

The Pakistan's Supreme Court Monday barred the authorities from arresting Khan until August 9 in a case related to the murder of a lawyer in Quetta, the ANI reported citing Pakistan-based The Express Tribune.

The PTI chief was booked in Advocate Abdul Razzaq Shar's murder case on June 7, registered at the Shaheed Jameel Kakar police station under the charges of murder, terrorism and others, ANI reported

Abdul Razzaq Shar was shot dead on Tuesday at Airport Road in Quetta and the case was registered on the complaint of the deceaseds son.
A diverse delegation of US lawmakers, representing both sides of the political spectrum, is making its way to India to take part in several events, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address at the historic Red Fort on August 15.

As reported by PTI, this notable group is being led by Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna and Congressman Michael Waltz.

Their leadership stems from their roles as co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, as stated in an official announcement.

The lawmakers will visit Red Fort where the Prime Minister will address the nation on August 15th, Indias Independence Day.

As per the press release, they will meet with business, tech, government, and Bollywood leaders in Mumbai, Hyderabad, and New Delhi and visit Raj Ghat, a historic memorial dedicated to Gandhi.

Khanna and Waltz will be joined by Congressmen Deborah Ross, Kat Cammack, Shri Thanedar, and Jasmine Crockett along with Rich McCormick and Ed Case. For Congressman Khanna, this is history coming full circle, PTI reported.

His grandfather Amarnath Vidyalankar was an Indian freedom fighter who spent four years in jail alongside Gandhi and later was part of Indias first parliament," said the statement issued on Monday.

As co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, we are proud to lead a bipartisan delegation to India. We will be there to discuss how to strengthen economic and defense ties between our two counties, the oldest and largest democracies," Khanna said.

Both of us believe that the US-India relationship will be a defining one of the 21st century. India is a key partner in ensuring multipolarity in Asia and the denial of China as a hegemon," he said.

Khanna further added, We must continue to strive to make progress and build our partnership based on our shared founding values of democracy, freedom of the press and assembly, and human rights. This delegation is a historic opportunity to drive further collaboration and advance shared aims."

In the earlier part of this year, Khanna and Waltz organized a groundbreaking summit in the US Congress focusing on US-India relations. The summit comprised discussions and speeches involving governmental figures, experts, as well as leaders from the Indian-American community across the nation.

(With inputs from PTI)
The military junta currently ruling the African state of Niger may turn to Russia's Wagner group for support in the coming days. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken voiced concern about the mercenary troops "possibly manifesting itself" in parts of the Sahel region. The concern is not wholly unfounded with neighbouring Mali having taken a similar route two years earlier.

I think what happened, and what continues to happen in Niger was not instigated by Russia or by Wagner, but... they tried to take advantage of it. Every single place that this Wagner group has gone, death, destruction and exploitation have followed," Blinken told BBC.

Niger President Mohamed Bazoum was ousted in a military coup nearly two weeks ago. Since then the country's new military leaders have eschewed all efforts to reinstall the ousted leader as well as diplomatic missions aimed at restoring constitutional order. This in turn has led to a growing list of sanctions against entities and individuals involved in the takeover.

The US has not yet called the junta's actions a coup, which would mean Niger would stand to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in military assistance and other aid. It also would mean US pulling its support for a major drone base it built in Niger to monitor extremists - something that reports quoting analysts suggested the US would be loathe to do.

Coups however have been rampant in the region in recent years. Neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso have had two each since 2020 with little regard for the regional bloc known as ECOWAS or other regulating entities.

Western allies fear that Niger could go the way of Mali, which threw out French troops and UN peacekeepers and invited in mercenaries from Wagner group after a 2021 coup. According to reports from the ensuing months, the Malian army as well as fighters presumed to be from Wagner have since carried out a brutal military offensive. While witnesses and rights groups say they executed hundreds of civilians last year, the army and Wagner deny the charges.

(With inputs from agencies)
The Supreme Court's decision to stay a criminal-defamation case against Rahul Gandhi, the Congress's most prominent leader, may have a significant impact on the party's fortunes in south India, where it is betting strongly against the BJP regaining power in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections .

While the Supreme Court's decision has reverberated across the Congress, images of joy in southern states stood out as a clear reminder of the interplay between legal proceedings and political realities. As Congress workers held celebratory rallies with large crowds in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, they expressed confidence that the party would win the upcoming assembly elections. The overall media coverage in southern states also viewed the decision as a vindication of Gandhi's leadership.

Congress insiders hailed the decision as a watershed moment that would drastically influence the party's political fortunes in southern states. The party has recently been relying on the south to counter its loss of electoral appeal in the north. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Gandhi sought a seat outside the family bastion of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh for the first time, and found it in Kerala's Wayanad. As Gandhi had to tour India extensively for the elections, it was chosen as a safe seat where he could attend only a few rallies and yet win.

Gandhi was following in the footsteps of his grandmother, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who won from Karnataka's Chikmagalur in 1978 and Telangana's (previously Andhra Pradesh) Medak in 1980, bucking the anti-Emergency wave; and his mother Sonia Gandhi, who won from Karnataka's Bellary in 1999.

The Supreme Courts decision helped the Congress greatly. Not only did Gandhi win Wayanad by a landslide, his popular appeal helped the party sweep 19 of Kerala's 20 Lok Sabha seats. The Congress won nearly half of its total of 52 seats in five southern states and union territories in 2019. Despite the party's poor performance elsewhere, the southern surge helped it rebound from 44 to 52 seats between the 2014 and 2019 elections. According to a post-election Hindustan Times study, the party won nine seats in the south for every seat it lost elsewhere.

Since then, Gandhi has emerged as an outspoken critic of the BJP's policies in the region, someone with national clout who appears at practically all major local events and even participates in regional-language vlogs. He is regarded as a more liberal and secular leader than Prime Narendra Modi, who is seen as a Hindu nationalist. This appeals to many south Indian voters, who are more diverse (with four major languages, and heterogenous religion and culture) than those in north India.

The BJP on the other hand arguably doesnt have a leader with a pan-south appeal other than Modi, as recent election results show. The BJP was humiliated by the Congress in the recent Karnataka elections, and the party no longer has a presence in any southern state government, either directly or through partners.

The Congress on the other hand is now in power in Karnataka, a junior partner in the Tamil Nadu government, trying to form coalitions with parties in power in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and a major opposition force to the communists in Kerala. Gandhi's ability to connect with young people who are growing disillusioned with the region's traditional political satraps, as well as the development of regional leadership, has played a significant role in this. Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Yatra,' a foot tour across the country last winter, was the party's largest mass outreach in southern states in recent years and won it enormous social capital.

With campaign fever for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections heating up, the Congress needed Gandhi to be the face of the party to keep this momentum going. While there are various regional personalities who could campaign in southern states, there is certainly no national Congress leader who can galvanise cadres across the south the way that Gandhi has.

Had the courts judgement gone the other way, Gandhi's prospective two-year prison sentence and an eight-year ban from voting could have upended the Congresss calculations. For southern leaders, Gandhi's electoral ineligibility seemed unfathomable. For instance, when Congress leaders from Kerala met the national party's senior brass in Delhi on 3 August to discuss strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, they simply believed that the Supreme Court would rule in his favour. The alternative was never considered.

Gandhi returned to parliament on Monday, armed with the court's decision. The saga, however, runs the risk of stymieing the opposition alliance INDIA, comprising 26 parties including the Congress. Some Congress leaders have clearly indicated Gandhi is their next candidate for prime minister, reportedly irritating other INDIA alliance partners such as Kerala's Communist Party of India (Marxist), which stands to lose heavily in another Gandhi-wave election.
Credit Suisse Groups crown jewel is its wealth management business in Asia, judging by the tremendous personnel effort its acquirer is making. UBS Group plans to retain most of Credit Suisses relationship managers in the region, while cutting more than half of its smaller rivals 45,000-strong workforce worldwide. Bonuses are being dangled for private bankers with growing client books. Singapore-based Jin Yee Young, a long-time star banker at Credit Suisse who had left for Deutsche Bank early this year, was poached back to co-head UBSs Asia wealth business. Youngs return was good optics, a signal that UBS desires an equal partnership, at least in Asia.

Seeing the power of two," UBS global wealth chief Iqbal Khans decision to retain Credit Suisse staff showcases his bet that Asia will continue to generate lucrative clients. The merger will give UBS more relationship managers than its closest rivals DBS and HSBC combined. Meanwhile, there is some synergy here. Credit Suisses solid client base in southeast Asia, which Khan might hope to maintain with Youngs promotion, can complement UBSs core strength in Hong Kong and mainland China. Through Credit Suisse, UBS will also gain a presence in India and Australia.

But how do you mix oil and water? Drastically different cultures mean the two Swiss banks integration cant possibly be smooth or pleasant.

First, do Credit Suisses relationship managers know how to pitch to clients without offering them loans? The bank has been willing to use its own balance sheet to help company founders grow their businesses, so it can win investment banking deals, such as initial public offerings, then going on to manage private wealth later. This approach has been popular with Asian tycoons and Chinese tech entrepreneurs. Before its collapse, Credit Suisse was backing mall operator Dalian Wanda Groups ambitious turnaround plan, and Vietnamese real estate giant Vingroups EV dream, among others. UBS is the direct opposite. After suffering huge losses during the global financial crisis, it became a more conservative institution with lower appetite for risk. Chairman Colm Kelleher talks about cultural contamination," worrying that some of Credit Suisses business models are too risky. UBS plans to dispose of billions of dollars in loans Credit Suisse had extended in Asia. This decision essentially blocks how the smaller Swiss bank built its private wealth business. And there is no guarantee of a star banker at UBS.

Second, for now, Khan is focusing on getting net new money, perhaps to compensate for the big deposit flight Credit Suisse suffered during its downfall. However, what will matter to UBSs bottom line will be the fees private banking generates, not how big the deposit base is.

Unfortunately, Asias millionaires are not trading these days. After all, why take on risks when they can sit back and get 6% from one-year dollar savings accounts? Consider Singapore, a Credit Suisse stronghold. Banks there are so flush with deposits that they dont know what to do with them. In June, Singapores largest lender DBS gave its central bank a $30 billion loan. Recently, United Overseas Bank lowered its fee growth forecast for the year, signalling a challenging outlook.

Once UBSs focus shifts from net new money to fees, what will happen to the relationship managers? Is UBS showing as much commitment to Credit Suisse bankers as Nomura Holdings did to Lehman Brothers legacy staff in 2008, showering them with large guaranteed cash bonuses and employment? Meanwhile, inevitably, some of UBS and Credit Suisses private wealth businesses will overlap. So will the client go with a UBS or Credit Suisse banker? As long as theres employment uncertainty, fast turnover will continue.

Private banking is a small world. Former colleagues are serendipitously meeting again through a shotgun marriage that neither side wanted. For instance, in the new management lineup, Adeline Chien from UBS will be head of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia Hong Kong," while Credit Suisses Rickie Chan will be head of Greater China business in Hong Kong." They were colleagues at Barclays Plc a decade ago. And Young will be working with Benjamin Cavalli againshe was his deputy at Credit Suisse.

I wonder how these bankers are feeling right now. They certainly have a tough mandate. That involves finding a way to work together, to figure out how Credit Suisses legacy employees can adapt to the UBS culture, while still expanding the banks wealth business that is set against an increasingly tough and competitive backdrop. Only time will tell. But so far, these Swiss bank expectations seem impossible to meet.

Shuli Ren is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Asian markets.
Marc Andreessen first shot to fame as a young technology entrepreneur in the 1990s. His company launched Netscape Navigator. It soon became the most popular tool to browse the internet. A complex legal battle with Microsoft followed. The company was eventually sold in 1998 in a deal that was one of the defining moments of the internet era. Andreessen is now a venture capitalist.

Andreessen wrote a prescient essay in April 2020 calling for a new era of ambitious building: aggressive investment in new products, in new industries, in new factories, in new science, in big leaps forward." The essay was written when countries around the world were struggling to cope with the pandemic shock. Healthcare systems were crumbling under pressure. Vaccines were still in the future. His call for a new wave of building was aimed at the US, but there were lessons for other countries as well.

The pandemic is now over. This is a good time to ask whether the world is actually entering a new era of asset creation that Andreessen called for in April 2020. There are signs that many countries are pivoting towards bringing manufacturing closer home, rebuilding energy systems to deal with the threat of climate change, rethinking transport systems as well as personal mobility, and creating new infrastructure. Is this decade going to be marked by a massive capex boom?

It is perhaps not a global phenomenon. There is no doubt that the US is seeing a capex boom, thanks to the policy push from the Joe Biden administration. China is investing heavily in new technologies, but its main macroeconomic requirement is to stimulate domestic consumption after many decades of aggressive investments and even over-investmentsthat helped pull it out of poverty. Europe is somewhere in the middle.

What about India? The main story is widely known. Private sector investment slowed down after 2012, as companies were burdened with excess capacity as well as high levels of debt. Banks saddled with a mountain of bad loans were not in a mood to take risks either. The government has pivoted towards capital spending in the past few years, especially on physical infrastructure. The hope is that public sector investment will eventually attract more private sector investment. There are now some signs of this happening, but there have been too many false dawns in recent years (including over-optimistic calls in this column about a revival of corporate investment activity).

In this context, a recent report by Paul Gruenwald of S&P Global Ratings, Dharmakirti Joshi of Crisil and Rajiv Biswas of S&P Global Market Intelligence makes for interesting reading. They say that capital accumulation will be the dominant driver of Indian economic growth over the next decade, of an estimated 6.7% a year on average. It will contribute more than half of the additional economic output over the next 10 years. The rest will be from productivity growth and an increase in the labour force, in that order. The authors also call for an increase in labour force participation, especially by women.

There are two main types of asset creation other than construction activitynew capacity in existing industries and the growth of new industries. Take the automobile sector, for example. It makes a difference whether new investments are expanding factory lines for cars run on internal combustion engines or creating an electric vehicles industry from scratch. This column had previously made the distinction between Keynesian and Schumpeterian investment cycles, the former based on output gaps while the latter is based on creative destruction. That distinction matters when looking at macroeconomic data in the context of the ongoing green transition. Much of the discussion about the private-sector investment cycle tends to focus on the state of existing capacity utilization by existing companies. However, the next decade could also see new investments because of structural shifts towards a digital and decarbonized economy," this column had noted in November 2021.

In a recent interview, the chief financial officer of a leading Indian capital goods company said that more than half his order book is from green energy projects, though some of this reflects foreign rather than Indian demand. An earlier report from analysts at Crisil estimated that investments from the production-linked incentive scheme and new-age sectors would grow in importance in the overall Indian capex mixfrom barely 1% in fiscal 2021-22 to 17% between fiscal years 2022-23 and 2026-27.

There is growing confidence that the private sector investment cycle in India is gradually recovering, which will be one of the important building blocks of sustained growth in the coming years. It is worth watching how it will be distributed between Keynesian and Schumpeterian projects, or old industries and new ones.

The world has seen five long waves of technological innovation in industry. The first was led by textiles, iron and water. The second was about steam power, railways and steel. The third was led by cars, plastics and electricity. The fourth had petrochemicals, electronics and aviation. The fifth was powered by microprocessors, software and digital networks. The world could now be entering a sixth wave of green energy, robots and artificial intelligence.

The policies needed to support investment at the technology frontier tend to be very different from those needed to push a country closer to that frontier in a catch-up game. This key distinction is often missed in policy debates.

Niranjan Rajadhyaksha is executive director at Artha India Research Advisors, and a member of the academic advisory board of the Meghnad Desai Academy of Economics.
The second leg of Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra is set to begin from Gujarat and extend to the northeastern state of Meghalaya. Senior party leader Jairam Ramesh had previously broached the possibility of a march from Porbandar in Gujarat to Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh before November.

Confirming the news on Tuesday, Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole told reporters that party leaders within the state would hold a parallel march. Prominent Congress leaders will be leading the march in different parts of the western state. The first phase had begun in September last year and culminated in Kashmir. It lasted more than 130 days later and covered 12 states and two Union Territories. Details about the new route and corresponding dates however remain unconfirmed thus far.

Earlier on Monday, the Gujarat Congress said that it had extended an invitation to the newly reinstated MP to begin his journey from the land of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel.

The second phase should begin from the state. A committee has been formed at the central level to chalk out the second phase of Bharat Jodo Yatra. Details are being finalised. Many state units have made similar or other suggestions for the second phase of the padyatra," State Leader of Opposition Amit Chavda told reporters.

ALSO READ: 'Mera ghar...': Rahul Gandhi gets his official residence back after reinstatement as MP

Fielding questions about a possible east-to-west yatra earlier this year, Ramesh however said that the format was likely to be somewhat different. It may not have such an elaborate infrastructure as was mobilised for the initial Bharat Jodo Yatra and may have less yatris. While it would largely be a padayatra, the senior politician noted that there are jungles and rivers on this route.

It would be a multi-modal yatra, but mostly it would be a padayatra," Ramesh had said.

Citing the Karnataka elections, monsoon season and the state polls in November he had indicated at the time that the yatra may have to be undertaken before June or before November. It is also likely to be of a shorter duration that its north-south predecessor.

(With inputs from agencies)
The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was passed in the Rajya Sabha by voice vote late on Monday. i.e. on 7 August.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah introduced the contentious bill in the House and said that the proposed legislation is aimed at providing effective and corruption-free governance in the national capital. On 3 August, the bill was passed by the Lok Sabha by voice vote after a walkout by members of the I.N.D.IA Alliance.

After the bill was passed in Rajya Sabha, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said it was a black day for India's democracy and said that said that the "law will not let the elected government of Delhi work." He also added that it was an "insult" to the right to vote of the people of Delhi.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal also added that "PM Modi does not obey the Supreme Court's order. The public had clearly said that the Centre should not interfere in Delhi by defeating them, but PM does not want to listen to the public."

With this bill passes, it now effectively gives the control of bureaucrats in Delhi to the Centre and neutralizes the recent Supreme Court judgment which gave the control of services to the elected government of Delhi.

After the bill was passed, AAP MP Raghav Chaddha said that the party will fight against the bill in the judiciary.

While speaking to reporters, he said, More than 100 votes of INDIA  were against this bill. Though we could not stop this bill, but we will fight against it in the judiciary. This issue has come under the consideration of the Supreme Court thrice. In 2018 and 2023, the constitutional bench has given decision in favor of Kejriwal ji. This time also the constitutional bench will give decision in favor of Kejriwal ji and democracy but we will fight against it in the judiciary."
Amid the trials linked to US presidential 2020 election, Donald Trump is likely to skip first Republican debate on August 23 in Milwaukee, And in such a situation, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who desperately needs momentum in his challenge to former US President for the party's nomination, would be the top target of the debate from other candidates looking to climb past him and brand themselves as voters' primary alternative to Trump.

"The guy on the stage in the No. 1 spot is probably going to be taking more heat than the others," a strategist told Reuters.

In the most recent Reuters/Ipsos poll, released last week, Trump held 47% of the Republican vote nationally, with DeSantis dropping 6 percentage points from July down to just 13%. None of the other candidates due to attend the debate have broken out of single digits.

Donald Trump argues proposed limits on 2020 election case evidence violate free speech

Meanwhile, Trump's lawyers urged a federal judge on Monday to reject a protective order sought by prosecutors ahead of the former U.S. president's 2020 election trial, saying it would violate his free speech rights under the Constitution.

Prosecutors requested a protective order to prevent Trump from improperly disclosing confidential evidence prior to trial. In response, Trump's attorneys submitted a 29-page filing to the U.S. District Court, not directly addressing potential witness intimidation claims, another Reuters report cited.

They, however, did acknowledge the need to shield certain court documents, including materials from a grand jury investigation that led to an indictment accusing Trump of plotting to overturn his 2020 election loss.

"However, the need to protect that information does not require a blanket gag order over all documents produced by the government," Trump's attorneys wrote in the court papers.

"In a trial about First Amendment rights, the government seeks to restrict First Amendment rights," Trump's attorneys said, referring to the right of free speech guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.

In a reply brief filed late on Monday, prosecutors said that since they had asked for the protective order, Trump's attorneys had discussed the case on major U.S. television networks. Prosecutors said Trump had a "plan to litigate this case in the media."

Trump on Thursday pleaded not guilty to federal charges that he conspired to try to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democratic President Joe Biden. It was the third criminal case brought against Trump so far this year.

At his arraignment on Thursday, Trump swore to not intimidate witnesses or communicate with them about the case without legal counsel present.

(With agency inputs)
The Left government in Kerala is set to present a resolution in the State Assembly, urging the BJP-led Central government to abandon plans for a Uniform Civil Code ., sources close to the development tod PTI. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will table the resolution in this regard, they said.

The government, in its resolution, will urge the Central Government to withdraw from the move to implement the Uniform Civil Code, they added.

In a recent statement, the chief minister alleged BJP has raked up the issue of the UCC with an "electoral agenda" in mind and urged the Central government to withdraw from the move to impose it.

Vijayan, who is also a senior leader of the CPI(M), has said the Centre's move can only be seen as a plan to implement the "majority communal agenda of 'one nation, one culture' by wiping out the cultural diversity of the country".

"The Central Government and the Law Commission should withdraw from the move to impose the Uniform Civil Code," he has said.

Adding to it, Congress MP K Suresh says, as quoted by news agency ANI, In Kerala, all the parties - except BJP - are against Uniform Civil Code (UCC)...We are against the UCC. In Kerala, there are a lot of agitations going on UCC, which is reflected in the Kerala Assembly also"
In the Indian news website NewsClick controversy, Union Minister and BJP MP Anurag Thakur took a jibe at the Congress party, stating that Congress ka haath 'NewsClick' ke saath, 'NewsClick' ke upar China ka haath. He also demanded that Rahul Gandhi should apologise to nation.

While speaking to news agency ANI, he said, All I would like to say Congress ka haath 'NewsClick' ke saath, 'NewsClick' ke upar China ka haath. Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the nation and say how did Rajiv Gandhi Foundation take money from China and where did it use this." He should apologise that China funds NewsClick, so why did he support it. He should tell the country who are the people who provided the funding and what was the compulsion that Congress was seen standing with 'NewsClick'"

Thakur, on Tuesday, cited The New York Times report alleging that Congress has links to the Indian news website NewsClick, which is funded by a pro-China US-based network.

What did the New York Times report say

In a report titled, "A Global Web of Chinese Propaganda Leads to a US Tech Mogul", the US daily has claimed that the news portal was part of a global network that received funding from American millionaire Neville Roy Singham, who allegedly works closely with the Chinese government media machine.

"In New Delhi, corporate filings show Singham's network financed a news site, NewsClick, that sprinkled its coverage with Chinese government talking points. 'China's history continues to inspire the working classes,' one video said," the report noted.

Raising the issue inside and outside Parliament, the BJP alleged that the Congress had joined hands with anti-India forces" to break the country.

This comes after Supreme Court on Friday restored Rahul Gandhi's MP status allowing him to join the Parliament. The senior Congress leader will lead the no confidence debate against the Modi government during the Parliament session.

(With inputs from ageencies)
Shortly after the invasion of Ukraine, Bacardi said it had paused exports to Russia. Since then, the liquor company has sent millions of dollars of products to the country and has been advertising for new employees.

Continuing to bring in brands such as Grey Goose vodka, Martini vermouth and its namesake Bacardi rum helped the family-owned company report a rise in sales and profit in Russia for last year at the same time many of the worlds biggest booze brands have beaten a costly retreat from the country.

Bacardi issued a statement soon after the war started that said it had paused exports to Russia and frozen advertising investments in the market. That language remained on its website through at least most of last year but has since been removed from the original statement.

The departure of several leading international brand owners from the alcohol market has reduced competition and has created an opportunity for the ones that have remained as well as for local companies," said Ivan Kolarov, an analyst at IWSR, a drinks-industry tracker.

Bacardi didnt respond to requests for comment.

Many Western companies said they would close operations and pull out of Russia within days of Moscows invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Some companies characterized their moves as taking a moral stand, while others said Western sanctions against Russia made it hard or impossible to continue doing business. The majority of products sold by big booze makers like Bacardi arent subject to sanctions.

Bacardis Russian business, Bacardi Rus LLC, imported $169 million of products during the 12 months to June 30, according to Russian government customs data collected by Export Genius, a trade-data specialist. Products imported include Grey Goose vodka, Bombay Sapphire gin, Oakheart rum, Dewars Scotch whisky, Patron tequila and Martini-branded vermouth, prosecco and other products.

Meanwhile, Bacardi Rus reported an 8.5% rise in annual revenue to 30 billion rubles, equivalent to about $314 million, for 2022, according to data from Russias federal tax agency. Profit jumped to 4.7 billion rubles from 1.5 billion rubles in 2021.

Bacardi isnt the only business that has chosen to stay. Earlier this month, JDE Peets defended its decision to stay in Russia, describing the tea and coffee it sells there as essential and saying it is complying with sanctions.

Bacardi rival Davide Campari-Milano, which makes aperitif labels Aperol and Campari, has also remained in Russia, importing millions of dollars of both brands since the invasion, the Export Genius data show.

Campari said in April 2022 that it stopped all investments in Russia and reduced the business to the bare minimum necessary to pay the salaries of our colleagues." It declined to comment beyond that statement.

Other alcohol makers that have departed Russia or halted operations there have taken a financial hit. Diageo, the owner of Smirnoff vodka and Johnnie Walker Scotch whisky, said it left Russia at the end of last year. Its local business reported a loss of 122 million rubles for 2022, compared with a net profit of 325 million rubles in 2021, according to data from Russias federal tax agency.

Others are struggling to find buyers or close deals to exit. Budweiser brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev is in talks to sell its stake in a large Russian beer joint venture. Heineken said in March that it was doing everything it could to find a new owner for its Russian operations. Carlsberg recently struck a deal to sell its business in Russia, but the government has since seized the brewers local operations and installed new leadership.

Despite exits, many Western booze brands are still available in the country. Amid the onslaught of Western sanctions, the Russian government encouraged so-called parallel imports, permitting companies to bring in foreign products through third parties, without the permission of brand owners.

A government decree in October listed a range of alcohol brands that can be imported without permission, including products made by Diageo. Russian booze retailer winestyle.ru, for instance, lists Diageos Guinness beer and Baileys liqueur as available to buy, among other brands.

Some drinks makers that have stayed in Russia have faced a backlash. Chivas whisky owner Pernod Ricard initially continued to operate there after the invasion. In April of this year, though, it said it had halted exports to the country after criticism from restaurants, consumers and politicians in the West.

Russia is an important market for Bacardi, which describes itself as the worlds largest privately held alcohol maker.

Bacardi was founded in 1862 by Don Facundo Bacardi Masso in Santiago de Cuba, where the company developed a lighter, drier rum that would become known as Cuban-style rum.

The Bacardi family fled Cuba after the government of Fidel Castro expropriated their business, though they continued to operate the company from overseasmaking its namesake rum from Puerto Rico, the U.S., Mexico, Spain and the Bahamas.

The company started selling its brands in Russia in 1992, opening an office there a decade later. In 2016 it formed a partnership with Beluga Group, Russias largest spirits maker, to bottle its William Lawson Scotch. The whisky has since become a top-seller in the country.

In 2018, Bacardi named Russia among five emerging markets that it said would drive most of its growth.

Today, Bacardi employs 350 people across seven cities in Russia, according to its website. The company has continued to advertise for new staff locally since the start of the Ukraine war.

In recent months Bacardi executives have shared job postings on LinkedIn advertising for Russia-based positions, including a talent-acquisition expert tasked with recruiting managers and helping new employees adapt. Other job postings include a training-and-development coordinator and a warehouse manager.

Kate Vtorygina contributed to this article.

Write to Saabira Chaudhuri at Saabira.Chaudhuri@wsj.com and Alistair MacDonald at Alistair.Macdonald@wsj.com
Since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, the pathogen has given rise to a slew of descendants.

By picking up mutations in their genetic code, some of these descendants, known as coronavirus variants, have gained the ability to spread more easily between people, outwit the immune system or trigger more severe disease. These abilities give the variants a competitive edge over their relatives, and in time, the advantaged variants outcompete the disadvantaged for hosts and eventually drive them to extinction.

The omicron variant first emerged in November 2021 and gained global prominence in March 2022. And as of August 2023, the direct descendents of omicron  known as omicron subvariants  only have each other left to compete against, as all other versions of the coronavirus have dwindled away.

The World Health Organization (WHO) ranks circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants in three categories: variants of concern (VOC), variants of interest (VOI) and variants under monitoring (VUM). As of March 15, 2023, there are no circulating VOCs, and all the VOIs and VUMs are different subvariants of omicron.

Related: Do other viruses have as many variants as SARS-CoV-2?

Here's a look at the science of the SARS-CoV-2 variants, including both omicron and past variants that have fallen from prominence.

Currently circulating variants

Omicron variant (B.1.1.529)

Where did the variant emerge? The original version of omicron, formally known as B.1.1.529, was first identified in South Africa in November 2021. The WHO labeled omicron as a variant of concern on Nov. 26, 2021, but it's since been downgraded.

Where is it now? Omicron quickly spread around the world, causing a surge of COVID-19 cases in December 2021 and January 2022. By mid-March 2022, omicron was the dominant coronavirus variant in the world, accounting for 99.9% of coronavirus genome sequences from recent COVID-19 cases in the global database GISAID.

What are key mutations? The original version of omicron had more than 30 mutations in the genes that code for its spike protein, with 10 of those genes coding for parts of the "receptor binding domain," or the part of the spike protein that latches onto human cells.

Some of omicron's other mutations have also shown up in previous variants of concern. For example, omicron has the N501Y mutation, which is also found in the alpha variant, and is thought to make the virus more contagious, according to The New York Times .

The original omicron, B.1.1.529, has since fallen out of circulation, but not before spawning dozens of its own descendents. Each of these offspring comes with its own genetic quirks.

As of August, the WHO's list of VOIs includes XBB.1.5 and XBB.1.16, two branches that stem from the broader XBB lineage of omicron. The majority of VUM are also XBB subvariants, with the exception of BA.2.75 and its offspring CH.1.1.

Why is the variant concerning? Omicron has many mutations in the spike protein that appear to make it more transmissible and allow it to at least partially evade vaccines. Some studies estimated that omicron's BA.1 subvariant is four times more transmissible than the delta variant, according to CNBC . And BA.2 is more contagious still  it's estimated to be 1.5 times more transmissible than BA.1, CNBC reported .

Do vaccines work? Most COVID-19 vaccines, including those used in the U.S., prime the immune system against the spike protein. Because of the high number of mutations that omicron has on its spike protein, scientists expected that vaccines would be less effective against omicron compared with previous variants.

And indeed, there has been an increased number of breakthrough infections with omicron compared with earlier variants. A study published in March in The New England Journal of Medicine found that the vaccine effectiveness of two doses of the Pfizer vaccine was 65%, but this fell to about 9% more than 25 weeks after vaccination. However, with an additional vaccine dose, the shot's effectiveness rose to 67%, and then fell to about 45% after about 10 weeks, the researchers found. A CDC report published in January 2022 also found that an extra dose provided 90% protection against hospitalization with omicron.

In fall 2022, two updated COVID-19 vaccines were released that targeted the omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5, as well as the original version of SARS-CoV-2. At the time, these two flavors of omicron were responsible for the majority of new COVID-19 cases in the U.S. In 2023, the vaccines will get another update, this time to guard against the XBB lineage of omicron , whose members are currently causing the majority of cases.

(The XBB lineage includes EG.5, which started dominating in the U.S. in late July 2023.)

Previously circulating variants

The following information was last updated in March 2022. Previous sections of this article were last updated in August 2023.

Delta variant (B.1.617.2)

Where did the variant emerge? The delta variant, formerly called B.1.617.2, was first identified in India in October 2020 and labeled as a variant of concern in May 2021, according to the WHO .

Where is it now? Delta rapidly became the dominant variant in the U.S. and worldwide in the summer of 2021, but it would largely be replaced by omicron in mid-December 2021, according to Yale Medicine. Besides omicron, delta remains the only other VOC with a notable level of global circulation, according to WHO. By mid-March 2022, delta accounted for 0.1% of coronavirus genome sequences from recent COVID-19 cases in the global database GISAID.

What are key mutations? The delta variant has several important mutations in the spike protein, including T19R, del157/158, L452R, T478K, D614G, P681R, D950N mutations, according to outbreak.info . Two of these mutations  L452R and D614G  allow the variant to attach more firmly to ACE2 receptors, Live Science previously reported . Others, such as P681R, may allow delta to evade host immunity.

Why is the variant concerning? The delta variant is potentially up to 60% more transmissible than the alpha variant and perhaps twice as transmissible as the original strain of coronavirus that emerged in Wuhan, China. In addition, some evidence suggests the variant can more easily evade existing vaccines than earlier variants of the coronavirus.

Do vaccines work? All the vaccines approved in the U.S. likely work against the delta variant, although exactly how well still isn't clear. For instance, Public Health England found the Pfizer vaccine was 88% effective against the delta variant, while health officials in Israel announced the Pfizer vaccine was only 64% effective against delta, The New York Times reported. However, Israel didn't control for differences in people who did and did not get vaccinated, making its data hard to interpret, according to The New York Times . The Pfizer vaccine remained strongly protective against severe disease and hospitalization. In a statement , Moderna said its vaccine neutralized the delta variant, and though it has not yet provided real-world data on infection, it is likely to work similarly to the Pfizer mRNA vaccine. Johnson & Johnson said their vaccine produced a strong neutralizing antibody response against the delta variant, but did not report on how much it reduces the odds of symptomatic disease, Live Science previously reported .

Alpha variant (B.1.1.7)

Where did the variant emerge? The alpha variant, formerly called B.1.1.7, was first seen in the United Kingdom in September 2020, according to WHO(WHO). By December 2020, the variant had shown up in the United States.

Where is it now? Alpha is virtually extinct worldwide. After its emergence in the U.K., the alpha variant soon spread around the world, and became the dominant variant in the U.S. in the spring of 2021, according to The New York Times . But the delta variant replaced alpha as the dominant strain in the U.S. in the summer of 2021, the Times reported. Cases of the alpha variant have since faded in the U.S. and worldwide. By March 2022, few to no genetic sequences from alpha had been reported worldwide, and the variant was designated a "previously circulating VOC," according to WHO.

What are key mutations? The alpha variant has 23 mutations compared with the original Wuhan strain, with eight of those in the virus's spike protein, according to the American Society for Microbiology . (ASM) Three of the spike-protein mutations are thought to be responsible for the biggest impact on the virus's biology: The N501Y mutation seems to boost how tightly the spike protein attaches to the ACE2 receptors  the main entry point into human cells; the 69-70del mutation could, in concert with N501Y, explain the variant's increased transmissibility, some scientists say; and the P681H mutation could also increase transmissibility, as it may be involved in how the virus merges its membrane with that of a human cell in order to deliver its genome into the cell, according to ASM.

Why is the variant concerning? The strain is about 50% more transmissible than the original form of the novel coronavirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Do vaccines work? Research to date suggests that the two mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna vaccines) are effective at preventing symptomatic infections with the alpha variant of the coronavirus. For instance, a study published June 28, 2021 in the journal Nature Communications found that the blood of health care workers who had been vaccinated with the Pfizer shot was effective at neutralizing B.1.1.7. A single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine also stimulates neutralizing antibodies that protect against the alpha variant, J&J reported in July, 2021.

Beta variant (B.1.351)

Where did the variant emerge? The beta variant, formerly called B.1.351, was first detected in South Africa in October 2020 and was designated a variant of concern in December 2020, according to WHO .

Where is it now? Beta is also nearly extinct. It took off rapidly in South Africa in late 2020 and early 2021, and spread to over 30 countries, Live Science previously reported . But beta was never common in the U.S., and it was later replaced by delta in the places where it was once dominant, according to Nature News . Beta was also designated a "previously circulating VOC" in March 2022, according to WHO..

What are key mutations? The beta variant has eight distinct mutations that may affect how the virus binds to cells, Live Science previously reported . The most notable are N501Y, K417N and E484K. The N501Y mutation, also seen in the alpha variant, may allow the novel coronavirus to bind more tightly to the ACE2 receptor. The K417N mutation may change the shape of the spike protein, making antibodies primed for earlier strains less likely to recognize the spike. The third notable mutation, E484K, also seems to help the virus evade antibodies from the immune system , according to a February 2021 study in the British Medical Journal .

Why is the variant concerning? The beta variant is about 50% more transmissible than the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 that emerged in Wuhan, according to the CDC . Some monoclonal antibodies don't work as well against the strain, according to the CDC. Vaccines are also less effective against the variant. And the variant may lead to slightly more severe disease and slightly higher risk of death than the original coronavirus, according to a July 2021 study in The Lancet Global Health .

Do vaccines work? Most vaccines work with lower efficacy against beta than was seen for earlier strains. For instance, the Pfizer vaccine had a 75% efficacy against the beta variant, which is lower than the 95% efficacy seen in clinical trials when earlier strains were dominant, according to a May 2021 study in The New England Journal of Medicine . The Johnson & Johnson and Novavax vaccines also showed lower efficacy against the beta variant. And the AstraZeneca vaccine did not prevent mild or moderate COVID-19 in trials in South Africa when beta was the dominant strain, according to the Global Virus Network . Data on how well the Moderna shot works against the beta variant is limited, but most experts suspect it will work similarly to Pfizer's mRNA vaccine.

Gamma variant (P.1)

Where did the variant emerge? The earliest documented samples of the gamma variant, also known as P.1, were collected in Brazil in November 2020, according to the WHO . Scientists first found the variant in Japan in early January 2021, when four travelers tested positive for the virus after a trip to Brazil; researchers then found evidence that the variant was already widespread in the South American country, The New York Times reported . Gamma was labeled as a variant of concern on Jan. 11, 2021.

Where is it? Gamma is no longer circulating widely. In July, 2021, gamma had been reported in 74 countries worldwide, according to the United Nations . But cases faded with the rise of delta and omicron, with few to no genetic sequences from gamma reported worldwide by March 2022, according to WHO. Gamma was also designated a "previously circulating VOC" in March 2022.

What are key mutations? Gamma is closely related to beta (B.1.351), and the two variants share some of the same mutations in their spike proteins, the Times reported. These spike protein mutations include N501Y, which helps the virus bind tightly to cells and is also found in the alpha (B.1.1.7) lineage. The spike mutation K417T may also help gamma latch onto cells, while the E484K mutation likely helps the variant dodge certain antibodies. And according to the CDC , in addition to these three mutations, the variant carries eight additional sequence changes in its spike: L18F, T20N, P26S, D138Y, R190S, D614G, H655Y and T1027I.

Why is the variant concerning? Several studies suggest that gamma is about twofold more transmissible than its parent coronavirus lineage, B.1.1.28, and that gamma infections are associated with a significantly higher viral load than other variants. Compared with the original strain of SARS-CoV-2, gamma shows less susceptibility to several monoclonal antibody treatments, including bamlanivimab and etesevimab, according to the CDC . And according to a study, published May 12, 2021 in the journal Cell Host & Microbe , the variant also appears relatively resistant to neutralization by convalescent plasma and antibodies drawn from vaccinated people.

Do vaccines work? Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine produces neutralizing antibodies against gamma, although the shot is slightly less effective against the variant than it is against the original strain of the virus, the company announced on June 29. The Pfizer vaccine showed similar levels of protection against gamma in a recent study, Business Insider reported; and the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine also produces neutralizing antibodies against the variant, according to a recent statement from the company.

Lambda variant (C.37)

Where did the variant emerge? The lambda variant, also known as C.37, was first detected in Peru in August 2020, according to WHO . On June 14, 2021, WHO designated C.37 a global variant of interest, and dubbed it lambda.

Where is it now? Lambda spread to a number of countries in the summer of 2021 and had high levels of spread in Peru and Chile, Live Science previously reported . But by March 2022, there was no circulation of the variant reported worldwide in the past 90 days, according to WHO .

What are key mutations? The variant has seven mutations in the virus's spike protein compared with the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 detected in Wuhan. Specifically, these mutations are known as G75V, T76I, del247/253, L452Q, F490S, D614G and T859N, according to the WHO.

Why is the variant concerning? Some of these mutations have the potential to increase transmissibility of the virus or to reduce the ability of certain antibodies to neutralize, or inactivate, the virus. For example, lambda has a mutation known as F490S located in the spike protein's receptor-binding domain (RBD), where the virus first docks onto human cells. A paper published in the July 2021 issue of the journal Genomics identified F490S as a likely "vaccine escape mutation" that could both make the virus more infectious and disrupt the ability of vaccine-generated antibodies to recognize the variant.

Do vaccines work? Data from the time when lambda was circulating did not show that the lambda variant caused more severe disease or reduced vaccine effectiveness, according to Public Health England .

Mu variant (B.1.621)

Where did the variant emerge? The mu variant, also known as B.1.621, was first detected in Colombia in January 2021, according to the WHO . On Aug. 30, WHO classified it as a "variant of interest," and named it mu.

Where is it now? The mu variant caused some large outbreaks in South America and Europe in 2021, according to the WHO. But the mu variant did not out-compete the delta variant in terms of circulation, and by March 2022, there was no circulation of the variant reported worldwide in the past 90 days, according to WHO.

What are key mutations? Mu shares some concerning mutations with the beta variant, including mutations known as E484K and K417N, according to Medpage Today .

Why is the variant concerning? The mu variant "has a constellation of mutations that indicate potential properties of immune escape," WHO officials said in August 2021. Early data in lab dishes show that antibodies generated in response to COVID-19 vaccination or previous infection are less able to "neutralize," or bind to and disable, the mu variant, the report said. However, this finding still needs to be confirmed by future studies.

Do vaccines work? According to Public Health England , there is "no real-world data on vaccine effectiveness" against mu. Studies in lab dishes have found a reduction in the ability of antibodies to neutralize the mu variant that is "at least as great as that seen with the beta variant," according to Public Health England.

Jeanna Bryner, Tia Ghose and Yasemin Saplakoglu contributed to this article.

Editor's note: The introduction and omicron sections of this page were last updated on Aug. 8, 2023. The information about previously circulating variants was last updated on March 23, 2022.

Originally published on Live Science.
The 41st Thailand Tourism Festival (TTF 2023) took place from August 2-6, 2023, at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC) in Bangkok. The event was a showcase of the best of Thailands tourism products and experiences, and was expected to attract over 100,000 visitors.

I recently attended TTF 2023 as a journalist, and I was blown away by the sheer variety of activities and attractions on offer. From traditional cultural shows to modern food festivals, there was something for everyone at TTF 2023.

Highlights of the Festival

Food: One of the highlights of the festival for me was the food. I had the opportunity to try a wide variety of Thai dishes from all over the country, including some that I had never heard of before. The northern and southern food in particular was amazing, and I really appreciated the way that the festival organizers had arranged the seating so that people could sit around the stage and enjoy the music and performances while they ate.

One of the highlights of the festival for me was the food. I had the opportunity to try a wide variety of Thai dishes from all over the country, including some that I had never heard of before. The northern and southern food in particular was amazing, and I really appreciated the way that the festival organizers had arranged the seating so that people could sit around the stage and enjoy the music and performances while they ate. Cultural Shows: In addition to the food, I also enjoyed the cultural shows. There were performances from traditional Thai dancers, musicians, and performers, and I learned a lot about Thai culture and history. I was also impressed by the way that the festival organizers had created a space where people could come together and celebrate Thai culture.

In addition to the food, I also enjoyed the cultural shows. There were performances from traditional Thai dancers, musicians, and performers, and I learned a lot about Thai culture and history. I was also impressed by the way that the festival organizers had created a space where people could come together and celebrate Thai culture. Workshops and Artcrafts: Finally, I was impressed by the workshops and artcrafts that were offered at the festival. I had the opportunity to try my hand at Thai silk painting and batik, and I learned a lot about the traditional methods of making these crafts. I also enjoyed the way that the festival organizers had created a space where people could come together and learn new skills.

Overall, I had a wonderful time at the Thailand Tourism Festival 2023. It was a great opportunity to learn about Thai culture, food, and history, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in visiting Thailand.

Some additional thoughts on the festival:

The festival was very well-organized and easy to navigate.

The staff was friendly and helpful.

The atmosphere was festive and welcoming.

There was something for everyone at the festival, regardless of age or interests.

I would definitely recommend the Thailand Tourism Festival 2023 to anyone who is interested in learning more about Thailand or who is looking for a fun and cultural event to attend.

Conclusion

The Thailand Tourism Festival 2023 was a great success. It was a well-organized event that offered a wide variety of activities and attractions for people of all ages. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning more about Thailand or who is looking for a fun and cultural event to attend.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional intergovernmental organization comprising ten countries in Southeast Asia:

Brunei

Cambodia

Indonesia

Laos

Malaysia

Myanmar

the Philippines

Singapore

Thailand

Vietnam

The ASEAN economies are diverse, with different levels of development. However, they are all growing rapidly, and they are becoming increasingly integrated with each other and with the global economy.

The GDP of ASEAN was estimated to be $3.2 trillion in 2021, and it is projected to reach $4.9 trillion by 2025. The growth of the ASEAN economies is being driven by a number of factors, including:

A young and growing population: ASEAN has a young and growing population, which is a major driver of economic growth. The median age in ASEAN is 28 years old, compared to 38 years old in the United States.

Increasing urbanization: ASEAN is also urbanizing rapidly, which is another driver of economic growth. The urban population in ASEAN is expected to reach 500 million by 2030.

Rise of the middle class: The middle class in ASEAN is growing rapidly, which is creating a growing demand for goods and services. The middle class in ASEAN is expected to reach 400 million by 2030.

Free trade agreements: ASEAN has signed a number of free trade agreements (FTAs) with other countries, which is opening up new markets for ASEAN businesses. ASEAN has FTAs with China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand, and the European Union.

The ASEAN economies are also becoming increasingly integrated with each other. The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) was established in 2015, and it aims to create a single market and production base in ASEAN. The AEC has led to the removal of tariffs on most goods traded between ASEAN countries, and it has also made it easier for businesses to invest and operate across borders in ASEAN.

The ASEAN economies are also becoming increasingly integrated with the global economy. ASEAN has signed a number of FTAs with countries outside of the region, and it is also a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The integration of the ASEAN economies with the global economy is creating new opportunities for ASEAN businesses, but it is also posing some challenges.

One of the challenges facing the ASEAN economies is the need to diversify their economies. The ASEAN economies are currently heavily reliant on exports of commodities, such as oil and gas, and this makes them vulnerable to fluctuations in global commodity prices. The ASEAN economies need to develop their manufacturing and services sectors in order to reduce their reliance on commodities.

Another challenge facing the ASEAN economies is the need to improve infrastructure. The infrastructure in many ASEAN countries is not as developed as it needs to be in order to support economic growth. The ASEAN economies need to invest in roads, railways, ports, and airports in order to improve connectivity and reduce transportation costs.

The ASEAN economies are facing a number of challenges, but they are also well-positioned for future growth. The ASEAN economies are young, growing, and increasingly integrated with each other and with the global economy. These factors are making the ASEAN economies attractive to investors, and they are poised to continue to grow rapidly in the coming years.

ASEAN economies are poorly treated by international media in many areas such as:

Corruption: Corruption is not a major problem in many ASEAN countries, nowhere near the levels of corruption we see in the USA.

Inequality: Inequality is not a major problem in many ASEAN countries, in fact their is far greater social stability then western nations.

Climate change is a major challenge facing all countries, but it is particularly poorly reported in the west for ASEAN countries, which are some of the greenest societies in the world.

ASEAN economies are poised to continue to grow rapidly in the coming years. The ASEAN economies are young, growing, and increasingly integrated with each other and with the global economy. These factors are making the ASEAN economies attractive to investors, and they are poised to continue to grow rapidly in the coming years.

Shayne Heffernan
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Video has emerged of a fight between a man and a group of people who appear to be boaters on a riverfront dock in Montgomery, Alabama. CNN's Ryan Young reports.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: August 08 2023

Latest DEC Out-of-State Staff Deployment as DEC Water Engineers Return From Dam Safety Inspections in Vermont Following Floods.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced that DEC Forest Rangers and expert wildland firefighters are being deployed to assist with efforts to contain the Ridge Creek Fire in the Idaho panhandle and the Niarada Fire in northwestern Montana. The latest Forest Ranger deployments come as a team of DEC engineers recently returned from performing dam safety inspections in Vermont after being directed by Governor Kathy Hochul to assist in the recovery from the devastating flooding that inundated the Northeast last month.

"New York State is known for lending a helping hand and providing resources to others when disaster strikes and DEC's Forest Rangers, engineers, and other expert staff continue to stand ready to assist our neighbors," Commissioner Seggos said. "New York is no stranger to the destruction wrought by extreme weather, climate change, and forest fires, and I applaud the selfless acts of those willing to step up and assist others in times of need."

New York State often deploys highly trained wildland firefighters to help battle wildfires as part of interstate and international firefighting compacts. The DEC Forest Ranger assisting in Montana will serve as a Task Force Leader and help coordinate the response to a fire that is currently estimated at 10,400 acres and zero percent contained. The fire on Bureau of Indian Affairs lands 12 miles west of Elmo, Montana, is currently threatening several structures. A pair of Rangers are also deploying to Idaho to assist with efforts to contain the Ridge Creek Fire north of Coeur D'alene.

DEC Forest Rangers have deployed three times this summer to assist with efforts to help contain wildfires in Canada, where more than 4,000 fires have burned an estimated 23.7 million acres.

Additionally, a pair of DEC engineers returned to New York on July 26, after spending a week in Vermont performing expedited visual safety inspections on non-hydroelectric and non-federally licensed dams following historic flooding last month.

Warren Shaw, Professional Engineer 1, and Ayotunde Adebajo, Assistant Engineer, both from DEC's Division of Water, were part of a team of nine engineers the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and DEC sent to Montpelier, Vermont, to assist in performing dam safety evaluations throughout the state. All seven NYPA members of the team also returned to New York safely after completing their work in Vermont.

New York State responded to Vermont Governor Phil Scott's request for assistance under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), a national disaster relief system that allows states to send personnel, equipment, and commodities to assist with response and recovery efforts in other states. Established in 1996, the Emergency Management Assistance Compact is an all-hazards, all-discipline mutual aid compact that helps provide a consistent, coordinated response to disasters across the country and establishes a legal framework for reimbursement between states.

The DEC team inspected 45 high, significant, and low-hazard dams and traveled over 1900 miles while conducting their inspections. A good portion of the dams inspected were very remote, located off seasonal or non-paved roads damaged by flooding or required hiking significant distances along trails to gain access.

Overall, Vermont officials were successfully able to inspect over 400 dams with the help of staff from New York and Massachusetts in conjunction with their own staff from the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (VDEC).
(Alliance News) - The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers on AIM in London on Tuesday.

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AIM - WINNERS

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PHSC PLC, up 35% at 19.55 pence, 12-month range 11.55p-22.80p. The health, safety, hygiene and environmental consultancy services provider says that in the year ended March 31, it swung to a pretax profit of GBP304,598 from a loss of GBP577,798 a year earlier. However, revenue falls to GBP3.4 million from GBP3.6 million. PHSC declares a final dividend of 1.0 pence per share, increasing its total dividend to 1.5p per share, up 50% from 1.0p in financial 2022. Looking ahead, the firm says financial 2024 has the potential to be a successful year, "despite the slow start to the year based on Q1 figures". PHSC adds that while some expenses are "almost certain" to continue rising, it expects energy and shipping costs to remain stable in the coming year.

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AIM - LOSERS

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MyHealthChecked PLC, down 26% at 11.48 pence, 12-month range 10.22p-33.00p. The consumer home-testing healthcare company says it expects revenue to drop in its half-year, as the demand for Covid-19 tests falls. MyHealthChecked says that it expects revenue to fall by 74% in the six months ended June 30 to GBP2.5 million, from GBP9.8 million. This fall in revenue is caused by the lessening of demand for Covid-19 tests, and the company expects a reduction in overall demand for these tests in 2023 compared to the year before. Chief Executive Officer Penny McCormick says: "Despite the inevitable and anticipated fall in demand for Covid-19 testing, MyHealthChecked remains well-positioned to deliver its plan in 2023 given the distribution relationship we have established with Boots and their nationwide launch of our expanded portfolio of at-home wellness tests."

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Atlantic Lithium Ltd, down 13% at 16.92p, 12-month range 16.15p-52.17p. The lithium exploration and development company, with assets in Ghana and Ivory Coast, says it remains confident of receiving a mining licence for the Ewoyaa project, despite recent reports of a new green minerals policy in Ghana. Its flagship project is the Ewoyaa site in western Ghana, funded under agreement with Piedmont Lithium Ltd for USD103.0 million. Atlantic initially submitted a mining licence application to the Minerals Commission of Ghana for the extraction of minerals from Ewoyaa last October. Yet on Monday, the firm acknowledged comments made by Ghana's Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Jinapor, which related to potential implications for mining companies from the introduction of the new policy, including changes to the mining royalty rate and the state's carried interest in minerals projects.

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By Sophie Rose, Alliance News reporter

Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
(Sharecast News) - It was a subdued start for UK equity indices on Tuesday as weaker-than-expected economic data out of China dragged mining stocks into the red.

Poor UK retail sales figures also dampened sentiment in the market, with the FTSE 100 trading 0.1% lower at 7,546.65 by 0900 BST.

Overnight, China's customs administration reported a 14.5% fall in exports for the month of July, following a 12.4% drop in June and worse than the consensus estimate of -13.2%. Imports also reduced by 12.4% after a 6.8% fall in June (consensus: -5.6%).

"Exports are now falling in all of China's significant markets, except Russia, meaning that China will need to rely more on domestic demand to stabilise growth in H2," said Duncan Wrigley, chief China+ economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics.

"Policymakers appear determined to allow household spending and business investment to take the lead in this recovery cycle, even if that means a drawn-out, 'tortuous' upturn."

On home shores, the British Retail Consortium reported that annual retail sales growth slowed to just 1.5% in July, down from 4.9% in June. Like-for-like sales also slowed, from 4.2% to 1.8%.

Glencore leads miners lower, Abrdn sinks

Glencore, Anglo American, Antofagasta and Rio Rinto were all trading lower early on.

Glencore was the worst performer of the lot after reporting that adjusted core earnings halved in the first six months of the year. The company blamed macro conditions on price reductions in copper, cobalt, nickel and zinc.

Shares in Abrdn plunged around 9% following the release of the asset manager's first-half results. The company cited "challenging market conditions" and a "risk-off environment" as it reported net outflows of 4.4bn.

Banking stocks were also providing a drag on the UK's benchmark index, with Lloyds, HSBC and Standard Chartered all losing ground.

Hotels operator IHG was trading higher after announcing a sharp jump in half-year profit as the travel sector continued to rebound from the Covid pandemic. Operating profit at the Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn owner rose 62% to $584m.
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A $150,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) in support of Lycoming Colleges Humanities Research Center (HRC) has enabled student interns to spend the summer months working collaboratively with faculty members to develop a digital history of the College.

Each student-faculty team addressed an important moment or movement in the Colleges history, especially as it relates to local and national historical contexts, fusing research, interviews, podcast development, and work with Lycoming College Archives and local entities to develop digital exhibits. The work completed this summer will help to establish the procedural groundwork and technical platforms for future, expanded undergraduate digital humanities research.

They have been able to participate in training sessions and workshops, learn from professionals in fields relevant to the work theyre performing, and build experiences and skills that will help them advance to the next stages of their academic and professional careers.

The following student-faculty teams researched select moments in the Colleges history:

Rei Saar 25, Spanish and political science double major with a French minor, worked on the project, Breaking Barriers: A Path for Women and People of Color in the Legal Profession, with Susan Achury, Ph.D., assistant professor of political science.

Amelia Thompson 26, archaeology major and Spanish minor, worked on the project, Hispanic Voices at Lycoming, with Ruben Varona, Ph.D., assistant professor of Spanish.

Mackenzie Holmes 25, history and English double major, worked on the project, Indigenous History of Lycoming, with Christopher Pearl, Ph.D., associate professor of history.

Alicia Purcell 24, anthropology and Spanish double major, worked on the project, College Identity and Its Relationship to Pennsylvanias Native Peoples, with Ryan Adams, Ph.D., associate professor of anthropology.

Dominick Philip 24, economics, philosophy, and comparative literature triple major with a minor in German, worked on the project Lycoming in the Sixties, with Andrew Leiter, Ph.D., professor of English and director of the HRC.

Research projects kicked off in mid-June with a two-week training seminar featuring guest speakers, instructional sessions, and technical training for student interns. Author Jim Minick 86, included the HRC in a 12-stop tour to launch his new book, Without Warning: The Tornado of Udall, Kansas. Minick also spent time with students to discuss his personal experiences in the collection and usage of oral histories for his new book, and how students might adapt his practices to their own pursuits as interns. Emma Fredericks 17, associate producer  history podcasts, A+E Networks, conducted a Podcasting 101 session with students in preparation to orally record their research.

These NEH internships are just one way that the HRC is supporting educational opportunities for humanities students at Lycoming College. In this case, students are able to complete interdisciplinary research projects that will help preserve the history of this institution, said Leiter. They have been able to participate in training sessions and workshops, learn from professionals in fields relevant to the work theyre performing, and build experiences and skills that will help them advance to the next stages of their academic and professional careers.

To learn more about Lycoming Colleges Humanities Research Center, visit www.lycoming.edu/humanities-research-center or follow the HRC on Facebook (@LycomingHRC).
Andre Dubus III spoke Saturday evening at the Northshire Bookstore in Manchester Center. He explained that the terror of returning to poverty led him to create a novel in which the protagonist does just that.
The second-ranking US diplomat met Nigers military leaders on Monday to press to reverse a coup but she reported no headway a day after the junta ignored an ultimatum from the West African bloc.

Victoria Nuland, a veteran envoy who is the acting deputy secretary of state, said she met for more than two hours with chiefs of the military who on July 26 ousted Mohamed Bazoum, a democratically elected Western ally.

She described the talks as extremely frank and at times quite difficult but that she offered a number of options to exit the crisis and restore the relationship with the United States, which like other Western nations has suspended aid over the coup.

This was a first conversation in which the United States was offering its good offices if there is a desire on the part of the people who are responsible for this to return to the constitutional order, she told reporters by telephone before flying out.

I would not say that we were in any way taken up on that offer.

She said the junta did not respond to her requests to meet Nigers self-proclaimed new leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani, or the detained elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, although US officials have been in touch with Bazoum by telephone.

Nuland said she met Brigadier General Moussa Salaou Barmou, who has been named the new military chief of staff and who has worked closely in the past with the United States, which along with former colonial power France has based anti-jihadist operations in the Sahel out of Niger.

Nuland said she warned Niger against following neighbouring Mali in bringing in Russias Wagner mercenaries.

The people who have taken this action here understand very well the risks to their sovereignty when Wagner is invited in, said Nuland, known for her hawkish stance on Russia.

 Regional summit 

Nulands trip, conducted in secrecy until she left, came after the junta ignored a deadline set by the ECOWAS regional bloc to reinstate Bazoum by midnight (2300 GMT) on Sunday or risk military intervention.

The 15-nation bloc said it would hold a summit on the crisis on Thursday in the Nigerian capital Abuja.

A source close to ECOWAS said an immediate military intervention to restore Bazoum was not being envisaged at this stage.

Mali, which neighbours Niger, said it and Burkina Faso  which have both been suspended from ECOWAS over their own military coups  were sending a joint official delegation to Niamey to show solidarity (with) the people of Niger.

They have said military intervention would be tantamount to a declaration of war.

Algeria, which shares a long land border with Niger, has also cautioned against a military solution, which President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said would be a direct threat to his North African country.

Senators in regional heavyweight Nigeria urged everyone to focus on the political and diplomatic option.

 More envoys coming 

Just before the ultimatum expired on Sunday, Nigers military rulers closed the Sahel countrys airspace and warned any attempt to enter it would meet with an energetic and immediate response.

They said there had been a pre-deployment in preparation for intervention made by two Central African countries, without naming them, and warned: Any state involved will be considered co-belligerent.

But Nigers military rulers also urged an ECOWAS delegation to return for talks, Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou told French broadcaster TV5 Monde Monday, after an abortive first attempt.

Mahamadou revealed in his interview that Bazoum  held with his wife and son  was enduring deteriorating conditions.

The junta have asked the ECOWAS delegation to return and its members will be in Niamey probably today (Monday) or tomorrow, Mahamadou said in an interview.

An ECOWAS delegation had arrived in the capital Niamey last Thursday but did not stay overnight as scheduled. It did not meet either Bazoum or Tiani.

The UN Secretary-Generals representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Santos Simao, was also in Abuja for talks on the crisis.

France, with which Nigers new rulers have broken military ties, said it would firmly back whatever course of action ECOWAS took after the deadline expired.

The Niger coup was the latest of several to plague Africas Sahel belt since 2020.

Niger has been critical to Western strategies to combat jihadist insurgencies that have plagued the Sahel since 2012, with France and the United States stationing around 1,500 and 1,000 troops in the country respectively.

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Bangladeshs government said Monday it would overhaul controversial security laws the opposition says are being used to stifle dissent, but rights groups said the overhaul could result in the same repressive features.

Opposition parties have accused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of using the 2018 Digital Security Act (DSA) to crack down on dissenting voices and have vowed to scrap it if they win elections slated for January.

Justice Minister Anisul Huq said Monday the cabinet had approved changes that include a reduction in punishments in a bid to prevent some misuse and abuse.

We have reduced the penal provisions, Huq told reporters.

The repeal was cautiously welcomed by the United States, which said it was glad for the governments long-stated commitment to reform the law to protect freedom of expression.

Huq said the laws name would be changed to the Cyber Security Act and that the punishment for defamation would be changed from jail to a fine.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters that the United States encouraged Bangladesh to give all stakeholders an opportunity to review and provide input to the new draft Cyber Security Act to ensure it meets international standards.

Amnesty International said it welcomed the move to change the act, which it called a draconian law which was weaponised by the ruling party and its affiliates to stifle dissent and thwart freedom of expression online.

But it also voiced caution, saying the new act should not rehash the same repressive features.

Human Rights Watch has said the vague and overly broad measures of the DSA had been used to harass and indefinitely detain activists and journalists.

One study by the Centre for Governance Studies, a Bangladesh think tank, found that the law had been used to charge more than 1,500 people between January 2020 and September 15, 2021, including scores of journalists, teachers, politicians and students.

Bangladeshs next general election is due before the current parliaments term expires in January.

The opposition has called for Hasina to step down and for the polls to take place under a neutral caretaker government. Hasina has rejected the demand as unconstitutional.

Western governments have expressed concern over the political climate in Bangladesh, saying the ruling party dominates the legislature and runs it as virtually a rubber stamp.

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Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile also finds the Love the Philippines slogan unsatisfactory

The nation is still recovering from the embarrassment generated by the recent fiasco at the Department of Tourism headed by Secretary Christina Frasco, a politician from Cebu.

She belongs to the Garcia political dynasty that dominates the province.

Last month, news reports revealed Frascos DOT allocated a staggering P49-million for a campaign project to promote tourism in the Philippines.

The campaign called for a videogram to focus on tourist destinations all over the country.

It also called for other promotional strategies, including a new slogan and a new template logo.

The project was awarded to DDB Philippines, a public relations company.

According to the DOT, the materials to be used in the campaign must be original creations, which means DDB Philippines must produce the videogram using its own visuals.

After some time, DDB Philippines submitted to the DOT a new tourism campaign slogan and the contracted videogram, among others.

Surprisingly, the new tourism campaign slogan was the bland and simplistic phrase Love the Philippines which is to replace the existing oneIts more fun in the Philippines.

As for the videogram, the DOT apparently accepted it on its reckless assumption the visuals therein are, as promised by DDB Philippines, original footage of real Philippine tourist destinations.

Thereafter, the DOT disseminated the videogram to the news media, and online.

Soon after that, many experts on visual graphics noticed that several segments of the videogram are not original materials produced by DDB Philippines.

The segments are stock footage which DDB Philippines apparently acquired from an upscale distributor which sells them.

Aggravating the problem is the stock footage are not even about real Philippine tourist destinations, but sites located in Asia and the Middle East, among other places.

The DDB Philippines videogram made it appear those foreign sites are in the Philippines.

That revelation put Frascos DOT in very embarrassing light.

The anomaly was all over the news, both local and international.

It indicates Frasco and her DOT personnel responsible for the DDB Philippines project failed to notice the fraudulent misrepresentationforeign sites made to appear they are Philippine tourist destinations before they allowed the dissemination thereof to the public.

Didnt they even watch it before they disseminated it?

That revelation also indicates Frasco and her DOT minions are unable to distinguish between local tourist destinations from tourist sites abroad!

Officials of the DOT are not even familiar with our very own tourist destinations!

How can they even begin to promote tourism in the Philippines?

After Frascos fiasco was exposed, Frasco announced the DOT will no longer use the videogram.

However, it appears the DOT is inclined to retain the Love the Philippines slogan.

Frasco also said as a consequence of this anomaly, the DOT cancelled its P49-million contract with DDB Philippines.

She also claimed the DOT has not paid DDB Philippines anything for the campaign.

Whether Frascos claim of non-payment is true or not remains to be seen.

Frasco has not substantiated her story with proof.

Perhaps she expects everyone to take her word for it, even if the incident involves P49-million in taxpayers money.

So far, Frasco seems mum about the matter.

The public demands an investigation. Whether or not Frasco has actually ordered an investigation on this fiasco is unclear.

Frasco and her DOT officials should explain why they did not bother to review the DDB videogram before allowing the material to be disseminated to the public.

That failure, which seems to be attended by gross inexcusable negligence, may lead to the filing of anti-graft or administrative charges against the DOT officials who allowed the irregularity to happen.

If Frasco is unable to offer a satisfactory explanation as to why this embarrassing anomaly happened, she should resign her post immediately and spare President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. the trouble of dismissing her from the tourism portfolio.

Regarding the Love the Philippines slogan, if the DOT insists on using it, that will create a problem because according to Frasco, the DOTs contract with DDB Philippines has been canceled.

Be that as it may, Love the Philippines seems forgettable enough.

Its plain and bland, and isnt catchy enough.

For me, it sounds more like an exhortation for Filipinos to buy locally manufactured products instead of as a tourism promotional slogan.

Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile also finds the Love the Philippines slogan unsatisfactory.

Enrile, a keen observer of events, is known to focus his public commentaries on legal issues. The slogan, which doesnt involve law, must have been so objectionable to Enrile that he deviated from his usual legal discourses and this time openly expressed his reservations about the slogan.

Senator Nancy Binay also dislikes the slogan, which she called unsalvageable.

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Boston police detectives were spotted on Monday looking through trash at the Department of Public Works central facility after a body was discovered inside a bin, according to a CBS News Boston I-Team report.

GPS tracking on a dump truck traced the trash back to Winchester Street near the intersection with Arlington Street in Bay Village, according to the report. A complaint on the Boston 311 app at around 9:17 a.m. was reported about a shopping cart with several items inside, including a blue bin.

Most of the neighborhood puts trash right there in front of our door, so its not unusual, but that is terrifying, Shelly Imonti, who works down the street, told CBS Boston. Theres always trash, its been a very big complaint in our office.

DPW arrived to collect the cart and its contents and took it to the dumpsters at Frontage Road, CBS Boston said. When trash was being dumped out, the bins lid came off and a human arm rolled out.

Homicide detectives investigated the dumpster site and were seen removing articles of clothing, including a beige blanket or clothing, and a hooded blue jacket, the news station reported.

Boston police detectives continue to investigate how the body in the bin got to Winchester Street, CBS Boston said. The state medical examiner will determine the bodys identity and how the person died.
A Black teacher and musician who says members of a white nationalist hate group punched, kicked and beat him with metal shields during a march through Boston last year sued the organization on Tuesday.

Charles Murrell III, of Boston, was in the area of the Boston Public Library to play his saxophone on July 2, 2022, when he was surrounded by members of the Patriot Front and assaulted in a coordinated, brutal, and racially motivated attack, according to the lawsuit filed in federal court in Boston.

No one has been charged in connection with the attack on Murrell, 36, and the investigation remains open, according to a spokesperson for the Suffolk district attorneys office.

Murrell was taken by ambulance to the hospital for treatment of lacerations, some of which required stitches, the suit says.

As a result of this beating, Mr. Murrell sustained physical injuries to his face, head, and hand, all of which required medical attention. Mr. Murrell also continues to suffer significant emotional distress to this day as a result of the incident, the suit says. Among other harms, those physical and emotional injuries have adversely affected Mr. Murrells ability to earn a living as a musician.

He has been plagued by severe anxiety, mental anguish, invasive thoughts, and emotional distress, including, but not limited to, persistent concern for his physical safety and loss of sleep, and routinely has nightmares and flashbacks, according to the suit.

The defendants are Patriot Front, its founder Thomas Rousseau and multiple John Does.

Attorney Jason Lee Van Dyke, who has represented Patriot Front members in prior cases, is still trying to determine whether he is eligible to represent the group in this case, but said Tuesday Charles Murrell is not telling the truth.

Read more: How Patriot Front and white supremacist groups are hijacking American symbols to recruit in Massachusetts

I happen to have seen the raw video footage and it was clear that Charles Murrell was the aggressor and no one with Patriot Front did anything unlawful, he said. His assertion that he was beaten is factually incorrect.

Murrell, who has a background teaching special education, said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press on Monday that the lawsuit is about holding Patriot Front accountable, helping his own healing process and preventing anything similar from happening to children of color, like those he teaches.

Because I am a teacher, because I come from special education, I am filing this suit so that even if one of them has a safer sidewalk to walk on, the work that I am doing will have been very much worth it, Murrell said.

The march in Boston by about 100 members of the Texas-based Patriot Front was one of its so-called flash demonstrations that it holds around the country. In addition to shields, the group carried a banner that said Reclaim America as they marched along the Freedom Trail and past some of the citys most famous landmarks.

They were largely dressed alike in khaki pants, dark shirts, hats, sunglasses and face coverings.

Murrell said he had never heard of the group before the confrontation, but believes he was targeted because of the tone of their voices and the slurs they used when he encountered them.

Patriot Front trains members to commit acts of violence, according to the suit.

What happened to Mr. Murrell was no accident, the suit says. For years, Patriot Front ... has publicly and privately advocated for the use of violence against those who disagree with its express goal of creating an entirely white United States.

The goal of the lawsuit is not just justice and accountability, said Licha Nyiendo, the chief legal officer at Human Rights First, which is backing Murrell in the lawsuit, but to bankrupt Patriot Front.

Our goal is to decimate this extremist group, she said, and bring a national spotlight to the dangers of their extremist ideology.

Its a similar tactic used against multiple white supremacist groups involved at the deadly Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017, which resulted in a $26 million verdict.

That bankrupted and marginalized the leading hate groups that were involved in Charlottesville and really pulled back the curtain, through the discovery process, on how these groups operate, said Amy Spitalnick, the senior adviser on extremism for Human Rights First.

The suit, which alleges among other things civil rights violations, assault and battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, seeks a jury trial and unspecified damages.

Founded after the Unite the Right rally, Patriot Fronts manifesto calls for the formation of a white ethnostate in the United States, according to the Southern Poverty Law Centers website.

Its members post flyers and stickers, put banners on buildings or overpasses and even perform acts of public service, designed to maximize propaganda value, the SPLC said.

Also active online, the Patriot Front is one of the nations most visible white supremacist groups whose members maintain that their ancestors conquered America and bequeathed it to them, and no one else, according to the Anti-Defamation League.

Five members of the group were sentenced to several days in jail for conspiring to riot at a Pride event in Idaho last year. A jury found them guilty of the riot charge after they were accused of planning to riot at the Coeur dAlene, Idaho, LGBTQ+ Pride event.

A total of 31 Patriot Front members, including one identified as its founder, were arrested June 11, 2022, after someone reported seeing people loading into a U-Haul van like a little army at a hotel parking lot in Coeur dAlene, police said at the time. Police said they found riot gear, a smoke grenade, shin guards and shields in the van.
CHICOPEE  A business owner wants to build a Starbucks with a drive-through window on a hard-to-develop property that fronts on Memorial Drive, abuts a rotary and backs onto a residential neighborhood.

But homeowners are not happy. They complained to the Planning Board last week about existing traffic and noise from the busy road and nearby businesses. They said a Starbucks will add to their woes and bring down their property values.

The two parcels in question at 523 James St. total 1.3 acres and the site is split-zoned  with about 0.7 acres designated for homes and the rest for business. Developer Daniel Hannoush, of DDM Property Group, applied for a zone change asking to make all the property Business A.

It is going to ruin our lives, said Diane Martin, whose backyard abuts the property.

The Planning Board tied 2-2 Thursday on recommending the zone change. It now goes to the City Council for a final vote.

Planning Board member Tom Reniewicz said he agrees the zoning should have been cleaned up years ago, but did not feel comfortable recommending the project to the City Council. Something could be built there by right (on the portion zoned for business) if they can fit there, he said.

It is wearing

Martin and her neighbors hear noise from nearby businesses and traffic and dont want to add the sound of people ordering coffee, lattes and cappuccinos as well as music from cars as drivers wait for their drinks.

I dont know how many times we can do this, it is wearing. I hope we dont have to come here again, said Christine Parker, who also lives on Prospect Street.

This is the fourth time in recent memory developers have asked for a zone change so a business could be located on the parcel. In 2013, a plan to build a Family Dollar store on the site was rejected. Another proposal for a zone change submitted around January 2022 was withdrawn before developers shared details of the proposal.

Janet Paquette, a Prospect Street resident, said she felt the Starbucks plans shoehorn a business into land where it doesnt fit in an area with a lot of traffic. She said she is leery of changing the zoning on the entire parcel because the list of companies allowed under a Business A zone is long and many should not abut a neighborhood.

It is just another money-making business opportunity, she said. I advocate for a pocket park and less density.

But the land is privately owned by Westover Shops LLC. Managers of the corporation are Sherry Fanti and Sharon Raverta, according to state records.

A house on the property has been vacant for years. While some asked why the entire property couldnt be rezoned for residential, a local home builder said no one would construct a house there.

An open field

Rob Levesque, owner of R. Levesque Associates, presented the preliminary plan for a Starbucks. He said the building fits well on the property and said plans include installing a sound barrier fence and planting trees on the back to buffer the business from residents backyards.

We feel this is an opportunity, he said. The land is currently an open field which does not block any noise from Memorial Drive.

A business like Starbucks would not add to existing traffic, he said. The outlet is designed to capture some of the roughly 30,000 motorists who drive by daily and want to make a quick stop, Levesque said.

Assistant City Planner James Dawson said his department is working to eliminate split zones on properties throughout the city because that status makes them difficult to develop. He did not offer an opinion on whether the Planning Board should recommend the zoning be changed.
BOSTON  A controversial member of the state Parole Board quietly resigned in July, less than a year after she fought to keep her job and narrowly won another term, leaving the boards membership even further depleted.

Colette Santa resigned from her position with the Parole Board and retired from state service effective July 7, a spokeswoman for the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security said Monday in response to a News Service inquiry.

A former Massachusetts Department of Correction employee and prison warden in Puerto Ricos correctional system, Santa was first nominated to the board in 2017 by then-Gov. Charlie Baker. A contentious hearing on her reappointment in 2022 featured allegations from former Parole Board colleague Lucy Soto-Abbe that Santa brought chaos and destruction of morale to the agency.

I think its a good thing for the Parole Department to have her gone, Councilor Eileen Duff told the News Service on Monday. I think she was bad for morale, and I think she was too controversial a figure.

Councilor Marilyn Petitto Devaney said she hoped to see a new Parole Board member that will bring justice and fairness, because people werent treated right.

It was not clear when Santa informed the agency of her plans to resign. The state spokeswoman said that the News Services request for a copy of her resignation letter was under review by the legal and human resources departments.

Santas July 7 departure came just 16 days after the Governors Council, which has final approval over the Parole Boards membership, heard testimony about how the board was coping with an immense workload while operating with two fewer members than usual.

Baker did not fill Gloriann Moroneys seat on the board after tapping her for a judgeship last year, and Dr. Maryanne Galvin resigned from the board in May.

The seven-seat Parole Board is now down to four members after Santas resignation. The board conducts hearings and renders decisions on parole for inmates along with advising the governor on applications for pardons and commutations.

One of the things that surprises me is when people come in to watch hearings, or I meet them for the first time, they think its a very simple and uncomplicated job. But were all very, very busy. Theres a lot of work, the boards chair, Tina Hurley, told Governors Council members in June.

Hurley added that the volume of parole and life sentence hearings has increased tremendously since the height of the pandemic, and said some binders of background information they need to read before hearings can be 900 pages in length.

This latest resignation means the panels workload has increased exponentially, Duff said Monday.

Hurley and two other remaining board members  Tonomey Coleman and Dr. Charlene Bonner  are appointees of Gov. Deval Patrick, whom Baker supported for reappointment to new terms. With Santas resignation, just one member remains who was originally picked by Baker: former Rep. James Kelcourse.

The three vacancies are Gov. Maura Healeys to fill, subject to confirmation by the elected Governors Council.

Parole Board members serve for five years, and the governor can then choose to nominate them for reappointment to subsequent terms.

Santa scored a renomination from Baker last summer to serve a second term that would have stretched into 2027, and she ultimately won approval from a divided Governors Council after Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito broke a 4-4 tie last August.

The former correctional official faced a months-long bumpy confirmation process before the council in 2022, with a public interview postponed multiple times and an initial confirmation vote canceled at the last minute.

Soto-Abbe, who served on the board from 2011 to 2019, told councilors in a scorching email that Santa lacked the necessary skills to perform effectively and had brought nothing to the agency other than chaos and destruction of morale, and that during Santas prior employment as the agencys transitional services chief she had ruled with intimidation tactics, including cyberbullying and violating civil service rules.

At the public hearing where those accusations were raised along with an anonymous list of complaints from parole staff members, Santa declined to look at a copy of the email and repeatedly said she was baffled by the allegations.
Elected officials in Massachusetts applauded Gov. Maura Healeys bid Tuesday to enlist federal help in housing migrants, saying that they, too, see a crisis.

Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said his administration will continue to work with Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll on the challenge of providing housing for migrant and other homeless families.

However, our Springfield residents are our top priority, Sarno said in a statement in response to questions about Healeys declaration. Many of whom are facing housing challenges. The federal government must get their act together and work in unison to constructively address this nationwide problem ASAP  instead of holding hearings on UFOs.

In Worcester, Mayor Joseph Petty and City Manager Eric Batista released a joint statement Tuesday saying they support Healeys emergency declaration.

The City of Worcester has experienced this demand firsthand, and we are prepared to rise to the challenge with our state and federal partners to provide both short- and long-term solutions, the joint statement read. Specifically, we are launching a New Arrivals Task Force to assist with resettlement efforts in collaboration with local service providers, property owners, and the community at large.

Batista and Petty called on everyone who lives and works in Worcester to come together and show that the city is welcoming and inclusive and acts out of love, compassion and integrity. They asked people to be ready to aid those seeking shelter, resources and job opportunities.

We are extremely grateful for the many agencies and community members already involved in this work and recognize that they are currently at  or over  capacity while still doing everything in their power to help those in need, Petty and Batista said.

The Southern Middlesex Opportunity Council is working with 178 families staying in hotels in the Metrowest arena, according to Chief of Staff Tania Diduca. The nonprofit definitely supports the governors state of emergency.

We appreciate that the commonwealth is taking this approach and to meet the demands which are so great right now, Diduca said. Following the emergency declaration, the council is looking for continued support from state and local municipalities and partner organizations. The groups have already done tremendous work together, Diduca said.

In Chicopee, migrants and other homeless people are being housed at the Quality Inn. The hotel has 98 rooms, which are full. Officials estimate at least 300 people are housed there, said Lisa Sanders, the citys health director.

We need assistance. We cant do it on our own, Sanders said in reaction to Healeys state of emergency declaration. Kids have to go to school, people need health care. There is a myriad of issues.

The Valley Opportunity Council, which runs programs in housing, food insecurity, child care and adult education, including English as a Second Language classes, now has a nurse and a therapist located at the hotel full-time to help people get services they need, Sanders said.

But it is still a difficult situation, because people cannot cook in their rooms. The agency is working with others to deliver ready to eat and culturally appropriate food to people living in the hotel, she said.

The School Departments homeless liaison is working with families to enroll children in schools and ensure they receive services such as English as a Second Language instruction, Sanders said.

While she believes the Valley Opportunity Council is doing a good job providing services, Sanders said she is encouraged by the promise of fast-tracked work permits. If migrants can work, they can get established in a community and start providing for their families, she said.

Growing demand

Greenfield Mayor Roxann Wedegartner termed Healeys state of emergency declaration crucial.

I believe Gov. Healeys request for more resources to support emergency-sheltered families is crucial, with the state seeing an 80% increase in emergency-sheltered families from last year, Wedegartner said in a statement in response to a request for comment. The influx of new families requires an expansion of assistance to meet the growing demand.

The city has hosted an emergency shelter at the Days Inn motel since the end of May. Approximately 48 families and 150 people are housed at the motel, according to Wedegartner.

We hope that federal government involvement, the recently created Massachusetts Migrant Families Relief Fund and other new measures can provide additional aid to shelters across the state, she said.

Wanting to work

One of Healeys requests is that migrants be able to work. That wish rang a bell with one of the thousands of migrants with skills sidelined by current rules.

Joseph Jocelyn, who migrated to Massachusetts from Haiti, said Tuesday he is interested in seeking work and expressed hope when told Healey sought to enable newcomers to gain work permits.

I can work any job, he said. Jocelyn has been living at the Clarion Hotel in West Springfield for four months with his son.

State Rep. Bud L. Williams, D-Springfield, said he is in favor of any solution the governor can obtain.

I think its spiraling out of control, Williams said of the migrant housing situation. We have to give her all of the tools necessary to deal with the problem.

The state representative, however, said he would not support families being housed in downtown Springfield and considers it a fragile area.

State Rep. Orlando Ramos, D-Springfield, noted that there is a shortage of places to shelter families in Springfield and surrounding areas.

He said on the state level, the House of Representatives recently passed a measure to raise the $10 million budget for the Housing Development Incentive Program to $30 million.

He said that change has been sent to the Senate and remains under review.

Springfield City Council President Jesse Lederman said he backs the need for the declaration. I believe its a necessary action, Lederman said.

Lederman said there must be a consistent communication strategy between the commonwealth and municipalities as the state continues to make its way through this moment.

Not meeting need

Leah Bradley, executive director of Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance, attended Healeys press conference. Bradley said the governors announcement is absolutely a good thing for the shelter system in Massachusetts.

The alliance has expanded its capacity by around 100% since November. Other providers in Central Massachusetts have also added space. Still, shelter providers are not able to meet the need.

The shelter providers are in conversations with the state so they can figure out how to identify local resources and mobilize them, according to Bradley.

Were also working closely with the administration on thinking about additional prevention dollars to keep local families out of the system and strategies for exits out of the existing shelters for long-stayers  folks that have been in the shelter system for over a year or so, Bradley said.

What were hoping is theres going to be some strategies to help them to get housing to free up some space in the existing shelter system, Bradley said.

A critical element will be expedited work visas, she said, adding that the people coming into Massachusetts want to work.
The man charged in connection with a fatal shooting at Myles Standish State Forest in June will be held without bail after his court appearance on Monday, Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruzs office announced.

John Geovanni Pires Monteiro Macedo, 20, pleaded not guilty to one count of murder before a judge in Plymouth District Court, Cruzs office said in a statement.

On July 12 at around 2:40 p.m., Plymouth police received multiple 911 calls reporting a shooting at Myles Standish State Forest in Carver, where a man was shot several times, Cruzs office said. Police and first responders found 25-year-old Robert Aponte-Flores, of New Bedford, with wounds to the face, left tricep and right-side collarbone.

After Aponte-Flores was taken to Beth Israel Deaconess-Plymouth Hospital, he died from his injuries. Witnesses told investigators, including Massachusetts State Police, that an altercation took place in a picnic area before the shooting.

The next day, July 13, an arrest warrant for Macedo was issued. On Saturday, Aug. 5, state police and New Bedford Police went to 78 Morgan St. after they determined Macedo was seen in the second-floor apartment, state police said in a statement. After troopers and police heard movement, they called for anyone in the apartment to come out.

The property owner gave officers and troopers permission to enter the apartment. Inside, they found a large pile of clothes on the floor of the bedroom closet that appeared out of place. Investigators removed the clothing and found a man underneath with his hands under his stomach. He refused to show his hands, so he was forcibly removed from the closet and placed into handcuffs.

Troopers identified the man as Macedo, state police said in their statement.

Macedos next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 5.
Christopher Ferguson, the man charged in connection with the stabbings deaths of Gilda and Bruno DAmore and Gildas mother Lucina Arpino in June, was found by a judge on Monday to be not competent to stand trial due to mental illness, the Boston Globe reported.

Ferguson, 41, will remain at Bridgewater State Hospital, according to the decision made by Newton District Court Judge Jennifer Quealy, the newspaper reported. Ferguson previously pleaded not guilty to homicide charges.

If he is found to have regained competency, either because he was treated or medicated, his case would then continue along the regular path toward a criminal trial, Fergusons lawyer Dmitry Lev told the Globe.

Lev added that Ferguson is expected to be indicted by a grand jury in the coming weeks, and a Superior Court judge will decide to adhere to the current competency evaluation or request a new one.

At 10:14 a.m. on June 25, Newton Police Department responded to a home on Broadway Street, where a person known to the three victims called 911 to report that the three residents in the home were found dead from apparent stab wounds and blunt trauma, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryans office said. DAmore and his wife Gilda were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.

Gilda was 73, DAmore was 74 and Arpino was 97. Investigators said the attack appeared to be random and that Ferguson had no relationship with the family.

Investigators found signs of forced entry through the basement. Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said in a press conference that authorities were able to identify Ferguson, in part, due to bloody bare footprints that matched Ferguson, who she said was not wearing shoes. Video obtained from near the home also helped to identify him.

Friends and neighbors said Ferguson was struggling with his mental health prior to the killings, the Globe reported. Neighbor Ilana Margalit told the Globe that Fergusons sister told her that he was hospitalized for mental health issues earlier in June and was back at home by June 20.

Ferguson is scheduled to appear again in court on Oct. 10.
A 51-year-old police officer from Methuen was arrested Tuesday morning on charges related to child sexual abuse material, according to Massachusetts State Police.

Troopers and the Methuen Police Department arrested Matthew Bistany at his home in the town on Aug. 8, state police said. He is expected to be arraigned in Lawrence District Court on Tuesday afternoon on possession of child sex abuse material, state police added.

Bistany was a patrol officer with the department, state police said, before he was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigations.

A search warrant at Bistanys home was also executed on Tuesday by state and local police, state police said.

Earlier in the summer, the state polices Computer Crimes Unit had received a tip through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), state police said, with an IP address that had been accessing child sex abuse material. After an investigation, the IP address related to Bistany was determined, police said.

Upon learning of these allegations, Officer Matthew Bistany was immediately placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal investigation and any internal investigation that is to follow, Methuen Police Chief Scott McNamara said.

While Officer Bistany is presumed innocent until proven guilty, the Methuen Police Department condemns the officers conduct as alleged in the charging documents. These allegations in no way reflect upon the character and reputation of the men and women of the Methuen Police Department who stand committed to protecting children and continue to serve with distinction.

State Police Colonel John Mawn Jr. said, The Massachusetts State Police and our law enforcement partners like the Methuen Police Department stand committed to protecting children, who are among the most vulnerable members of society, from sexual abuse, which is what child pornography is.

I commend the work of our Cyber Crimes Unit and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and am grateful for our partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Colonel stated.
A Middleborough middle schooler prohibited from wearing a controversial T-shirt to class, and thus sparking a debate over free speech that has drawn some national media coverage, has appealed the decision of a federal judge who said school officials acted within their authority by asking the teen to switch his clothing.

The T-shirt in question, which Nichols Middle School administrators told seventh-grader Liam Morrison he could not wear in school, read There are only two genders.
SPRINGFIELD  A team now at work at the Springfield Armory, a National Park Service site, is doing double duty: Its members are fixing up the place, while training in the art of historic preservation.

For the next six months, an outside maintenance action team is removing, repairing and reglazing windows in the historic sites Byers Street Gatehouse and painting part of the Iron Boundary Fence.

Thats a famous fence, team member Mary Kate Lyons of Duxbury has discovered. It was made from melted cannons used in the American Revolution and the War of 1812.

I think [this job] makes you realize the care that has gone into a lot of historic buildings and historic structures, Lyons said.

Lyons and other members of a historic preservation team with the Student Conservation Association seek to do good work while jumpstarting careers.

Lyons said she wants to pursue work in the field of history, her major at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She said the hands-on aspect of the job has given her a greater appreciation for the history of the Armory.

Amy Glowacki, program manager of Interpretation & Education with the National Park Service, is glad to have a crew of young conservationists on the site.

Its helping us in one of our [goals], which is working with young people in the community, Glowacki said. It supports jobs in the local community as well as developing skills in historic preservation. The SCA also offers opportunities for high school students interested in conservation.

Members of the Student Conservation Association work on the fence of the Springfield Armory along State Street in Springfield. They are in the area through December, working on the fence and other projects at the Armory. Clockwise from left are, Gabby Blanchette of Dracut, Carlos Corrada of Puerto Rico, Molly Diggins of Northampton and Mary Kate Lyons of Duxbury. (Don Treeger / The Republican)

The Springfield Armory received funding to bring in the SCA crew from the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund, part of the Great American Outdoors Act.

The fund aims to reduce work backlogs for five land management agencies. The National Park Service is the largest beneficiary and receives $1.33 billion, which is 70% of the funding.

Janina Nina Peppers, the senior program manager of Historic Preservation at the SCA, considers the young adults now working at the Springfield Armory to be the future of historic preservation and conservation.

The historic preservation field is just itching for young people to work for companies, to work for the National Park Service, specifically with historic preservation training centers and things like that, Peppers said. And so, these opportunities are really that first step to get in the door for those job opportunities.

A typical day for the crew at the Armory involves arriving at the park before guests visit, setting up equipment needed for the day and working with one another and other Armory employees to preserve the site.

Gabby Blanchette, the team leader, graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a degree in anthropology. She said she was looking for an entry-level position that fit with her degree. She said the SCA is giving her an opportunity to begin her career and meet people in the conservation industry.

Blanchette said she values the people shes met with the National Park Service. And, she said, My really awesome team, theyre all really hard workers.

Molly Diggins of Northampton, a member of the Student Conservation Association, applies a coat of primer to the fence of the Springfield Armory along State Street in Springfield. Members of the group are in the area through December, working on the fence and other projects at the Armory. (Don Treeger / The Republican)

SCA team members say the organization is big on networking. Molly Diggins, a Northampton native and Dickinson College graduate, knew she was interested in conservation but wasnt initially drawn to historic preservation. But her experience with the association and the National Park Service has made her consider the field as a career.

Carlos Corrada, a Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, native and Wheaton College graduate, has enjoyed his time in the two SCA programs hes worked in. He said his experience has taught him valuable trades and skills. He now views sites and areas with a historical perspective.

Every step along the way you get experience, you get a lot of mentors that teach you, Corrada said. Even now, in this program, the first week was just orientation, onboarding, letting you know the area which is really, really helpful and really cool.
Gov. Maura Healey declared a state of emergency on Tuesday in regard to the shortage of available shelters needed to house the rising number of migrants arriving in the state.

This is a national issue that demands a national response, Healey said during a press conference at the State House. In the meantime, were simply asking the federal government to use the tools already available to give these brave parents a chance to work and to support their families. At the same time, were calling on everyone in Massachusetts to come together, help us meet this moment in our state, and offer a helping hand.

Specifically, the governor is asking for the federal government for funding and to expedite work authorization papers for migrants.

Last Friday, Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll paid a visit to a temporary shelter at Salem State University. While there, they met a father of two young children from Haiti who was a certified welder. During their conversation, the father took out his welders license and asked the two state officials if he could work in the state.

His story is emblematic of so many stories, Gov. Healey said. He wants desperately to get to work in our country. He wants to practice a trade. He wants to support his family.

Healey was considering an emergency declaration to handle the rising number of migrants coming into the commonwealth, the Boston Globe first reported on Monday. The declaration could expedite state services for migrants and place further pressure on the Biden administration to provide federal aid.

Since Healey took office, the number of migrant families placed in hotel shelters has dramatically risen. At Tuesdays press conference, she said there are currently nearly 5,600 families in state shelters which is 80% higher than last year.

These numbers are being driven by a surge of new arrivals in our country whove been through some of the hardest journeys imaginable, she said during a press conference Tuesday. They are the face of the national international migrant crisis. Theyre here because where they came from is too dangerous to stay. Theyre here because Massachusetts has and will always be a beacon of hope, compassion, humanity and opportunity.

The rising number of migrants over the past year has led officials to place them in hotels, buildings on college campuses and a temporary shelter at Joint Base Cape Cod.

Under Massachusetts right-to-shelter law, the state is required to provide immediate housing to families in need.

Dr. Geralde Gabeau, the executive director of the Immigrant Family Services Institute, has worked to provide housing and job opportunities to several Haitian migrants. During the press conference, she shared several stories of migrants, who she has helped provide jobs and shelter through her Institute. One of the migrants she helped was named Esther, who had recently given birth and was desperate to find services to support her newborn. It wasnt until Esther came to the Immigrant Family Services Institute, that they helped her support her young child and get her access to a job.

Gabeau said people ask her why she is so passionate about helping immigrants. An immigrant from Haiti herself, the executive director empathizes with the struggles and arduous journey many immigrants take to live in the United States for a better life.

I say it is our duty, Gabeau said. It is our duty to stand behind what they which means that we have to welcome them into the community. We are people who honor those who risk their lives to live here. And the least we can do is do everything in our power to serve them and to welcome them.

Massachusetts is just one of several states undergoing its own shelter crisis. Both New York and Illinois, which are right-to-shelter states, have declared emergencies as they have run out of room to house migrants in their largest cities.

We need to be really really intelligent by investing in them. We invest in the future of our community. They are our teachers, Gabeau said. They are drivers. They went into nursing they went into hospital They are all over the place making us better. So I call them my heroes.
Gov. Maura Healey declared a state of emergency on Tuesday in regard to the shortage of available shelters needed to house the rising number of migrants arriving in the state.

This is a national issue that demands a national response, Healey said during a press conference at the State House Tuesday. In the meantime, were simply asking the federal government to use the tools already available to give these brave parents a chance to work and to support their families. At the same time, were calling on everyone in Massachusetts to come together, help us meet this moment in our state, and offer a helping hand.

Healey said more than 80 cities and towns throughout the commonwealth are hosting families and that the state has more than 20,000 individuals in state shelters.

Although Healey, said that she is asking for the federal government for funding and to expedite work authorization papers for migrants, the letter she sent to the Department of Homeland Security, doesnt specify exactly what the state is looking for, but asks the Secretary to, heed this call for action.

Healey said she wants the federal government to help streamline the process for getting migrants authorized to work.

I am declaring a state of emergency in Massachusetts and urging my partners in the federal government to take the action we need to address this crisis by streamlining the work authorization process and passing comprehensive immigration reform, Healey said. Many of the new arrivals to our state desperately want to work, and we have historic workforce demands across all industries.

You can read the entire text of Healeys letter to Homeland Security below:
SPRINGFIELD  Springfields Forestry Division has a new operation center, a 8,000-square-foot-space nestled in Forest Park, named for a long-time forester.

City Forester Edward P. Casey, a Springfield native, served as the citys forester from 1992 to 2018. He said he started working for the division in 1976 after graduating from Classical High School the same year.

Over the years, he climbed the ranks and joined different organizations, such as the Foresters Association, to gain experience in forestry.

Under his direction, the division became more active in the city, hosting regular tree plantings with young residents as part of the Tree City USA program. It trained volunteers to plan trees in their neighborhoods. The division helped coordinate the citys first digitized tree inventory.

During a dedication of the operations center Monday, Caseys response to the June 1, 2011, tornado, which destroyed thousands of trees, was considered his biggest accomplishment.

Just 48 hours after the tornado, Casey and David Bloniarz of the U.S. Forest Service gathered public and private resources to fund the replanting of all trees lost.

Casey said Mayor Domenic J. Sarno called him on Arbor Day last April and told him the operations center would be named after him. Casey had retired on Arbor Day in 2018.

I was overwhelmed, Casey said. I did dedicate my career to the city. I love working with trees in the city.

$4.6 million project

The new building at 200 Trafton Road, erected under the direction of Capital Asset Construction, took two years to complete. It was funded by a $4.6 million Municipal Vulnerability Action Grant, according to Alexander Sherman, the citys current forester. It replaces space elsewhere in the park.

Sherman said the new operation center is part of the Forestry Divisions plan to place both its office and field staff under the same roof, Sherman said.

Communication was a little more difficult between the office staff and field staff, Sherman said.

He said having all staff in one location will streamline operations. Additionally, the staff is closer to its tree nursery, which raises between 3,000 and 5,000 trees a year.

The Forestry Divisions staff members will work out of their new location five days a week.

The division receives between 1,000 and 15,000 calls for service a year, which varies by season, according to Sherman.

Related Content:

Springfield forester Alexander Sherman keeps the city green, one tree at a time
The tornado that touched down in Mattaspoisett on Tuesday morning was confirmed to be an EF-1 tornado, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters said the tornado was on the ground for around three minutes after it was detected at around 11:20 a.m. and moved northeast at about 20 mph on North Street just north of Eldorado Drive.

Read more: Tornado touches down in Mattapoisett Tuesday

Numerous large Pine and Maple trees were uprooted falling in several directions, forecasters said in a statement. There were also numerous pine trees along the path that were snapped off between 10 and 20 feet above the ground. The most concentrated damage was found along Eldorado Drive by Granada Court.

A chart tweeted out by the weather service said that the tornado drew a path that was almost one mile long and left no injuries or deaths in its wake. This tornado peaked at 95 mph, according to the chart.

[Survey Results] Good Evening! We are able to confirm that an EF-1 Tornado touched down in Mattapoisett, MA this morning around 11:20AM. More information can be found in our Public Information Statement: https://t.co/ar7CF2QdA1 pic.twitter.com/iVy8boAmaJ  NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) August 8, 2023

The EF, or Enhanced Fujita scale, ranks the intensity of a tornados wind speed. EF-0 and EF-1, between 65 and 110 mph, are considered weak; EF-2 and EF-3 tornadoes are expected to be strong, reaching speeds of 111 to 165 mph; and EF-4 and EF-5 tornadoes reaching somewhere between 166 or over 200 mph are considered violent, according to the weather service.

Forecasters noted that this information is preliminary and is subject to change pending further review.

Three tornado warnings were issued as storms moved east, impacting Worcester, Middlesex, Plymouth, Bristol and Barnstable counties, even stretching across into parts of Cape Cod.
WESTFIELD  This summer, Baystate Noble Hospital brought back its Student Ambassador Program designed to give high school students an introduction to the wide range of careers in hospital healthcare.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, this was the first time the program for ages 16-18 has been run since 2020. Its an intensive two-week mini-medical school where students observe what is done in the hospitals different departments, see what jobs are available in each one, and hear from speakers about other aspects of the healthcare industry. The program started on July 24 and ended Aug. 4 with a graduation ceremony for the eight participants.
Apex Group Ltd, a global financial services provider, today announces its appointment to support the launch of Blackwattle Investment Partners, a newly created Australian fund manager.

Blackwattle, a new generation Australian investment manager, has recently launched with initial seed capital commitments of over $60 million to offer investment solutions across Australian equities, and in time global markets. Blackwattle has been established to create a better investment management model, providing investors with greater alignment, attractive returns, and enhanced transparency.

From August 2023, Blackwattle launched its first four funds: ASX Small Cap Quality, Mid Cap Quality, Long-Short 130/30 Quality, and Large Cap Quality Funds  and expects to expand into global equity and alternative assets at a later date. Ray David and Joe Koh will head up Blackwattles Long Short 130/30 Quality and Large Cap Quality funds bringing more than 40 years of combined investment experience. Tim Riordan and Michael Teran will head up the Mid Cap Quality Fund after previously managing a similar fund for over five years at Aware Super. The Small Cap Quality Fund will be managed by Robert Hawkesford and Daniel Broeren, who together have more than 40 years of investment experience at Ellerston and Watermark.

Apex Group will provide Blackwattle with technology-enabled Fund Administration, Transfer Agency, Middle Office and Custody Solutions. Fund Administration is at the core of Apex Groups single-source solution, delivering timely, accurate and independent services, underpinned by market leading technology platforms. Apex Groups Transfer Agency and Middle Office services enable efficient and compliant daily investment management including transparent investor communication and reporting.

According to a Total Economic Impact (TEI) report by Forrester Consulting, clients of Apex Groups single-source solution achieve, on average, cost benefits of $5.39m, with a net present value of $2.75m over a three-year period.

Nick Bradford, Head of Business Development  Australia and New Zealand at Apex Group comments:

We are delighted to be supporting Blackwattle, who have brought a refreshing approach to the market which has been received enthusiastically by the Australian investment community. Our fund solutions will free up the time and resources of the Blackwattle investment team, enabling them to focus on building on their proven investment ability and track record of outperformance, to become leaders within the Australian market.

Michael Skinner, Chief Investment Officer at Blackwattle further comments:

From day one at Blackwattle we are committed to open and transparent communication with our investors so it essential that we get the fundamentals established, including daily investment management tasks. Apex Groups solutions will enable our teams to operate efficiently, giving them the time and bandwidth to focus on their core purpose of delivering strong returns for our investors. We value Apex Groups single-source model, which allows us to access all the Fund Administration, Transfer Agency, Middle Office and Custody Solutions we require, via one local relationship with an experienced local team.

Jarred Rubin, Chief Executive Officer at Blackwattle adds:
Cloudmania, launched by Liquid C2 in 2021 to support Africas digital transformation journey, opens its doors for the Mauritius channel partner ecosystem.

With partners in 22 countries across the continent, Cloudmania is committed to providing cloud and cyber security services to partners within an ecosystem defined by support, expertise, and enablement.

Vinay Hiralall, Managing Executive of Cloudmania, said, Our operations have grown exponentially, in the last year itself, we have grown from 100 partners to over 500. This highlights that our value proposition resonates with channel partners across the continent. We have a deep understanding of the channel ecosystem and work with partners to provide the technical enablement, operational efficiency, and solution portfolio to drive their businesses forward. Winning the Microsoft Partner of the Year award in Ethiopia and Cote dIvoire in 2022 and 2023, respectively, reinforces our commitment to delivering solutions that propel cloud adoption and partner growth and accelerate digital transformation for businesses in Africa.

All resellers that partner with Cloudmania receive access to a suite of market-leading solutions tailored to suit their customers needs. Cloudmania aims to help channel partners better manage their business by creating a single-pane view via an always-on platform that assists with billing and subscription management services. In addition to providing partners with programmes that drive sales enablement, they also have access to our marketing initiatives and technical advisories. By alleviating the backend operations, partners can focus more on their core business of expanding their operations and increasing their customer base.

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Green Energy Africa Summit (GEAS) announced that the ministers and government officials confirmed to attend the continents leading energy event  many of which are returning after successful participation at GEAS 2022. This strong presence indicates the growing importance of renewable energy and sustainable development in Africa.

The Green Energy Africa Summit  to be held in the heart of South Africas Cape Town on 10-11 October at the CTICC2  brings together governments, national regulators and utililty companies, independent power players, investors, financial institutions and service providers under the theme Unlocking Africas Sustainable Energy Potential.

This years attendees will showcase the true diversity of Africas energy mix potential and challenges across the solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal, hydrogen, gas-to-power and electric mobility sectors.

The following ministers and government officials have confirmed their attendance at GEAS.

Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu, Minister of Energy & Mineral Development of the Republic of Uganda will be showcasing Ugandas energy ambitions. She oversees Ugandas ambitious energy development program, in a country where only 45% of the population had access to electricity and only 1% had access to clean cooking in 2021, according to the SDG 7 Energy Progress Report. She will bring a strong voice to this event, as she advocates for additional investments in Uganda and East Africas energy sector and a truly inclusive and sustainable development of Africas natural resources.

Hon. Lefoko Moagi, Minister of Minerals and Energy of Botswana will attend GEAS 2023 to speak about the status of Southern Africas energy security. He will be sharing the dilemma and opportunities of diversifying the energy mix in Southern Africa. He joins GEASs high-level programme at a crucial time for Southern Africa. As a coal producer and consumer, Botswana is a critical part of the African and global debate on the energy transition and the ways to find business models that work for people and the climate without compromising on much-needed socio-economic development.

Hon. Aissatou Sophie Gladima Siby, Minister of Petroleum & Energy of the Republic of Senegal will showcase Just Energy transition opportunities at this years event. Her participation comes at a historic time for the country which signed in June 2023 a Just Energy Transition Partnership with the European Union and the International Partners Group. As part of its Low-Cost Electricity Plan, the country wants to further deploy renewable energies in its energy mix and attract additional financial and technical partners. The Just Energy Transition Partnership announced in June will already mobilise 2.5bn over an initial period of up to five years, starting in 2023.

Hon. Dr. Ing Habtamu Itefa Geleta, Minster of Water and Energy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia will be sharing his countrys experience in developing clean energy capacity and call for more power infrastructure investments. Ethiopia is Africas largest hydropwer market but has embarked on a strategic diversification of its energy mix, first with wind and now with solar and geotheramal energy projects.

Hon. Arthur Bertrand Piri, Ministre du Developpement de l`Energie et des Ressources of Central African Republic is returning to GEAS 2023 after attending last years event.

Hon. Sam Cheptoris, Minister of Water and Environment of the Republic of Uganda is returning to GEAS 2023 after speaking at the event last year.

Other notable attendees include:

Hon. Abdelkerim Mahamat Abdelkerim, Minister of Mines and Geology of the Republic of Chad

Hon. Yonis Ali Guedi, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Djibouti

Hon. Dr. Michael Usi, Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change, Republic of Malawi

Hon Ibrahim Matola, Minister of Energy, Republic of Malawi

Hon. Ibrahim Yacouba, Minister of State, Minister of Energy and Renewable Energy, Republic of Niger

Hon. Dr. Foday M. Jawad, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Republic of Sierra Leone

Organised by Hyve Group Plc., the Green Energy Africa Summit is where the world connects with the African Energy sector. Attend the Green Energy Africa Summit to be part of the solution and connect with industry leaders, charting the way towards a sustainable clean energy transition for Africa.
A MAN who campaigned for assisted dying while suffering from Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is to be buried in Westport today (Tuesday).

Brendan Clarke, late of Balbriggan, Co Dublin, and formerly of Altamount Street, Westport, will be buried alongside his brother John in Aughavale Cemetery following funeral Mass in St Marys Church at 12.30pm.

A native of Westport who spent most of his life in Dublin, Brendan had called for the legalisation of assisted dying for people with incurable illnesses after contracting MND last year.

He was to address the Oireachtas committee on assisted dying in October but passed away last week after his condition rapidly deteriorated in recent times.

In an interview with The Sunday Times in June, he said that his doctors, to whom he was grateful, were only prolonging a life that I dont want to live.

In a post on social media, his niece Tara Clarke described him as an absolute hero who was always joking, laughing and up to devilment.

Paying tribute to her uncles campaign, she said: Brendan used the last bit of his life to be a voice for people who dont have a voice. His campaign is his legacy.

Various others have paid tribute following the passing of Brendan, who has been described as an inspiration and one of the nicest people.

People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny, a long-time campaigner on the issue of assisted dying who had been in contact with Brendan, said he was very sad to hear of his passing.

Brendan will be sadly missed by the extended Clarke family, his neighbours and friends.

May he rest in peace.
THE Minister for Community and Rural Development, Heather Humphreys has pledged her and the Government's continued financial support for agricultural shows.

Minister Humphreys performed the official opening of the 103rd Claremorris Agricultural Show on Sunday where she outlined her department's commitment to financially support the 122 agricultural shows around the country.

In June Minister Humphreys' department announced funding of 1 million to the Irish Shows Association to fund the shows throughout the country. A number of agricultural shows take place in Mayo during the summer and Minister Humphreys said that the shows are an important aspect of community life in rural areas.

As minister I am very supportive of the Irish Shows Association and I was delighted to announce an extra 1 million in funding for the 122 agricultural shows nationwide which is the largest single investment in agri-shows ever. It represents a 40 percent increase on last year's allocation, she said.

Praise

THE Monaghan native was accompanied by her predecessor in the Department of Community and Rural Development, Michael Ring and she praised the Westport-based TD for 'starting the ball rolling' in supporting agricultural shows.

Michael Ring was the Minister of Rural and Community Development and he was the man who put the money into the shows, so fairplay to Michael. He gave them that leg up. I know that the Irish Shows Association are very appreciative of Michael because he started the ball rolling and it is my honour and privilege to continue to keep the ball rolling and the money into the shows. While Michael and I are still part of this government there will be money for the shows there is no doubt about it, she said to large applause from the crowd at the Claremorris show.

Chairman of the Claremorris Agricultural Show, Cllr Tom Connolly welcomed Minister Humphreys to the show which was first started in 1904 and this year it had 270 classes of competition. Cllr Connolly thanked the minister for her continued commitment to the shows.

Deputy Ring told the crowd that he was delighted to be invited to attend the show saying that shows like Claremorris are important to the economy of the county. He also praised Cllr Connolly along with the show's secretary, Maureen Finnerty and the hard working committee for making it a success.

Raymond Brady, the President of the Irish Shows Association was also among the attendees where he and he thanked all the volunteers who work hard to ensure the shows goes ahead every year.
ACTOR Domhnall Gleeson is urging people across Mayo to host coffee mornings next month to help raise 2million for the 'extraordinary' services provided by the Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation.

The Hollywood star - whose father Brendan starred in the Banshees of Insheerin - is supporting Bewleys Big Coffee Morning Social for Hospice, a fundraising drive which has generated 43.2 million since 1992.

Both of Gleesons grandparents  his father Brendans parents - spent their final days in St Francis Hospice in Dublin.

"My grandma (Pat) was only there for a few weeks and that was my first experience of being around a Hospice," said Gleeson, who has starred in Harry Potter and Star Wars films in the past.

"I was incredibly close to her and I was struck by the atmosphere of care and kindness. She had a rough journey before she got there - and all of a sudden, that difficult road seemed less punishing to travel."

He recalled thinking she seemed as 'safe and cared for' as possible.

"So I am asking everyone in Mayo on September 21, or whenever suits them, to organise, support or donate to a coffee morning, wherever it might be held."

Now in its 31st year, organisers hope to raise 2 million in 2023, returning the countrywide fundraiser to pre-Covid levels and bringing the total raised since its inception beyond the 45 million mark.

Communities right across Mayo are urged to simply gather a group on September 21 to help raise much needed funds to support the work of Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation, Mayo.

Martina Jennings, of Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation, said: "We are delighted Bewleys Big Coffee Morning Social for Hospice, which is one of Irelands longest and most loved fundraisers, is now entering its fourth decade of raising funds in support of Hospice in-patient and community services around Ireland.

"It is a chance to celebrate our many coffee morning hosts across the county, who are an incredible testament to the dedication and committed nature of Hospice supporters in local communities. This ongoing support is invaluable and funds vital services and quality initiatives enhancing care for patients living with a life limiting illness."

Together for Hospice, The National Hospice Movement, represents 26 hospice and specialist palliative home care providers supporting patients and their families.

Funds raised locally stay local and go back into each hospice service, helping to pay for medical and general staff, palliative care beds, home care visits, specialist equipment and new hospice builds.

Jason Doyle, Managing Director at Bewleys Ireland & UK, said the company has stood 'side by side' with Hospice since 1992.

"Our business was founded on the principle of caring for people and communities, so we urge everyone to host a coffee morning social to help support the incredible work Hospice carries out every day.

"The organisation helps patients to live life as fully as possible with dignity, respect and comfort.

"We are asking people to register to host a coffee morning on September 21, or on a date that suits them, to support their local Hospice, at hospicecoffeemorning.ie or call 0818 995 996.

"If you cannot host or attend one, you can make a donation at hospicecoffeemorning.ie/ donate."
A MODULAR housing development in Claremorris which commenced construction in mid-December has now been occupied by Ukrainian refugees.

The Mayo News has learned that the 28 units were delivered at a cost of 145,000 per unit and are to be occupied by Ukrainian families of four who have been living in the Mayo area.

Some Ukrainian refugees from the nearby Western Hotel are among those who have moved into the development, which is situated on an OPW-owned site on the Ballyhaunis Road.

A source familiar with the development said that each house has a lifespan of 60 years and can be unbolted and removed to another location.

Residents will be made up solely of those fleeing the war in Ukraine and will predominantly be women and children. Garda vetting is not required.

Occupants are given the use of the houses as part of a year-long contract, which may be renewed on a case-by-case basis.

During this time, they must reside there for 50 of the 52 weeks of the year or they will risk losing their tenancy.

The site is one of the first such modular housing developments in the country and follows the opening of a similar development for Ukrainian refugees in Sligo.

These developments are exempt from regular planning rules on foot of an EU directive which designates the provision of modular homes as a matter of extreme urgency.

Guidelines

GUIDELINES for those living in the houses forbid them from keeping pets - bar certain exemptions - as well as smoking or vaping within the houses.

There is to be no more than one modular housing development in any county in Ireland.

According to the latest CSO figures, at least 425 Ukrainian refugees have resided in the Claremorris Electoral Area since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022.

Local county councillors Tom Connolly and Richard Finn had vowed to oppose the modular homes going ahead, arguing that they were in an inappropriate location. Cllr Finn branded the development as a shanty town and threatened to lie in front of machinery to halt it.

A special meeting of Mayo County Council passed a motion opposing the construction of the development after it came to light last October.

It is understood that there has been little to no objection to the development among the locality since work commenced on the site in mid-December.

One local man said that there had been little communication between authorities and local people regarding the development.

Nobodys being told anything, so nobody knows anything about it.

Another local source said that some locals would prefer to see permanent housing built on the site, which had received planning approval for 80 apartments.

The only issue people had with it was that it was a shame that they didnt build traditional houses on the site because they felt it was a good site, prime site and that a better house on it would have a longer life.

Local county councillors and representatives of local groups met with government officials regarding the development on June 16.

It is understood that the erection of modular homes will act as a pilot scheme for the use of modular homes to deal with the countrys broader housing shortage.

Yesterday (Monday), there were 25 houses listed on Daft.ie for rent in Mayo, where the average price of a house now stands at 190,000.

NOT OPPOSED

CLAREMORRIS-based councillor Tom Connolly said he would not be opposed to seeing modular housing used to alleviate the ongoing housing shortage in Mayo.

We have a housing crisis. I wouldnt be against modular homes being used for housing people that are homeless or staying in hotels as a temporary accommodation until more secure accommodation can be sourced, Cllr Connolly told The Mayo News yesterday (Monday).

Cllr Connolly insisted that the Claremorris area had taken more than our share of Ukrainian refugees and said better consultation would be needed with communities taking in refugees.

I have got phone calls from councillors in different counties and the same thing; no consultation, nobody told whats happening. These modular homes are imposed on people, he said.

You need consultation not confrontation and thats what we wanted but we didnt get that. We were imposed the site because it wasnt owned by Mayo County Council.

The Fine Gael councillor reiterated that he was opposed to the location of the modular houses and not the housing of Ukrainian refugees.

Two other local sites had been suggested for modular housing for Ukrainians; one owned by Clar IRD and the other owned by Mayo County Council.

The houses situated on the chosen site are the property of the Department of Children, Equality, Disabilities, Integration and Youth.

We do appreciate the war that is going on in Ukraine but there are other war-torn countries that people are trying to flee and get into a better life. In Claremorris, I cant say whats around the country, we feel that we have taken our fair share and if everyone takes their fair share there wouldnt be any difficulties, said Cllr Connolly.

The Ballyhaunis Road site was purchased by the state in 2004 and had been mooted for new government buildings as part of the ill-fated civil service decentralisation.

The government aims to erect 700 modular houses in 16 sites across the country to house Ukrainian refugees.
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The research study on the Single-use Bioprocessing Market  Global Outlook & Forecast 2023-2028, recently published by Arizton Advisory & Intelligence, states that the global single-use bioprocessing market to reach USD 26.54 billion by 2028.

Single-Use Bioprocessing Market Report Scope

Report Attributes Details Market Size (2028) USD 26.54 Billion Market Size (2022) USD 9 Billion CAGR (2022-2028) 19.74% Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023-2028 Market Segmentation Product Type, Application, End-users, Method, Workflow, and Geography Geographic Analysis North America, Europe, APAC, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa Market Dynamics Growing Biomanufacturing Capacity and Uptake of Biopharmaceuticals & Biosimilars

Lower Capital Investment in SUTs over Multi-use Platforms and Less Floor Space Requirements

Increased Acceptance of SUS To Enhance Biomanufacturing Productivity and Efficiency

Reduced Water Consumption and Lesser Environmental Impact of Single-Use Technologies

The report provides an in-depth analysis of the present scenario of the global single-use bioprocessing market and its market dynamics from 2023 to 2028. It comprehensively overviews various factors that drive market growth, restraints, and trends. Both the demand and supply aspects of the industry are thoroughly examined. Furthermore, the report includes profiles and evaluations of major companies and several other prominent players operating within the sector.

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The global single-use bioprocessing market has grown significantly in the upcoming years. New product launches enabling single-use technology adoption are a great way to reduce waste and improve sustainability. Single-use technology allows companies to reduce their reliance on disposable products and materials while still providing customers with quality products. This technology can be used to create more efficient and sustainable packaging and products that are easier to use and more cost-effective. In addition, single-use technology can help reduce the environmental impact of production and consumption and the amount of waste generated. With the launch of new products that enable the adoption of single-use technology, companies can positively impact the environment and create a more sustainable future.

Segmentation Insights

Product Type: Single-use bioprocessing equipment is a technology that has revolutionized the biopharmaceutical industry. This technology has increased efficiency, flexibility, safety, and cost savings during bioprocessing. Single-use bioprocessing equipment is a system of technologies designed to replace reusable stainless steel and other materials traditionally used in bioprocessing. This equipment uses single-use components, including bags, bioreactors, tubing, syringes, connectors, and filters, disposed of after use. In 2022, the single-use bioprocessing equipment product type held a larger share of the global single-use bioprocessing market.

Application: the global single-use bioprocessing market by application is segmented as monoclonal antibodies (mABs), vaccines, cell therapies, and others. Monoclonal antibodies (mABs) hold the largest industry share by application segment. Single-use bioprocessing is an emerging technology in the biopharmaceutical industry that has revolutionized how monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are produced. Single-use bioprocessing involves using disposable bioreactors and other components to produce proteins, such as mAbs. Unlike traditional stainless-steel bioreactors, single-use bioreactors can be quickly set up, require minimal cleaning, and reduce the risk of cross-contamination. Due to their complexity and high cost, these advantages make single use bioprocessing particularly attractive for mAb production.

End-User: the biopharmaceutical manufacturers segment accounted for over 39% of the global single-use bioprocessing market. This segment dominates the overall market and will likely retain its dominance in the coming years due to its widespread adoption in research and commercial manufacturing applications. Several biopharmaceutical manufacturers have already explored SUB solutions usage in commercial manufacturing. However, their potential benefits are significant, particularly in small-volume manufacturing in modular facilities. Most biopharmaceutical manufacturers, especially large and medium-sized companies, spend over $50 million on equipment annually. It has been witnessed that a high percentage of capital is being spent on single-use bioprocessing by biopharmaceutical manufacturers.

Method: the global single-use bioprocessing market by the method is categorized as filtration, storage & transport, cell culture, mixing, and purification. Filtration holds the largest share of the market. Single-use bioprocessing is a method of filtration that has grown increasingly popular in the biotechnology industry. It involves using disposable, self-contained systems to prepare, filter, and process bioproducts. This form of filtration has many advantages, especially for pharmaceutical and biological product manufacturing. Single-use bioprocessing has revolutionized the biotechnology industry. This reduces the need for traditional equipment and infrastructure, resulting in cost savings and improved production efficiency.

Workflow: the upstream workflow segment dominated the global single-use bioprocessing market. Upstream single-use bioprocessing workflow is focused on upstream unit operations such as cell culture, protein expression, and harvest. Over the last decade, advances in this workflow have enabled biopharmaceutical companies to streamline the process, increase product yields, and reduce costs. The upstream single-use bioprocessing workflow advancements have provided biopharmaceutical companies with a more efficient and cost-effective workflow.

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Growing Investment Activities Supporting Single-use Technology in Biomanufacturing

In 2021, Merck announced European expansion plans for single-use products critical to manufacturing vaccines and lifesaving therapies. The companys $27 million investment has enhanced its European expansion plans for this key technology, which produces COVID-19 vaccines and other lifesaving therapies. Molsheim is the first site in Europe where Merck manufactured the product. Further production sites are in Danvers, Massachusetts, US, and Wuxi, China.

In 2022, Merck KGaA signed an agreement with the Administrative Management Committee of Wuxi National High-Tech Industrial Development Zone to significantly expand the first APAC Mobius Single-Use manufacturing center in China. The company planned to invest approximately $110 million over six years by expanding the existing Wuxi production site to increase biopharma single-use assemblies and custom design capabilities significantly.

In March 2022, ABEC, a global provider of engineered solutions and services for biotech manufacturing, announced the completion of an expansion of its Fermoy, Ireland, cleanroom for single-use disposable container (DC) manufacturing. The expansion is fully operational and is pivotal for the biopharmaceutical industry, as many customers cite lead times of a year or more from other suppliers.

In August 2022, ABEC announced an investment of $11 million to expand single-use disposable container (DC) manufacturing capacity for its CSR biomanufacturing solutions. The companys project in Wilson includes a 50,000-square-foot facility on 13 acres, outfitted with an ISO-7 cleanroom and state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment. The new facility is ABECs third global DC manufacturing site and has been fully operational since Q2 2023.

Key Company Profiles

Thermo Fisher Scientific

Sartorius Stedim Biotech

Danaher

Merck KGaA

Avantor

3i Group

3M

ABEC

Adolf Kuhner

AdvantaPure

Barry-Wehmiller Companies

Broadley-James

Celltainer Biotech

CerCell A/S

CESCO Bioengineering

Charter Medical

Colder Products Company

Corning

Distek

DrM, Dr. Mueller

Emerson Electric

Entegris

Eppendorf

Foxx Life Sciences

Getinge

HIGH PURITY NEW ENGLAND

Holland Applied Technologies

Lonza

MEISSNER FILTRATION PRODUCTS

New Horizon Biotech

OmniBRx Biotechnologies

PARKER HANNIFIN

PendoTECH

PBS Biotech

Repligen

Saint-Gobain

Sentinel Process Systems

Solaris Biotechnology

SYSBIOTECH GmbH

Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions

Weigao Group

W.L. Gore & Associates

Market Segmentation

P roduct Type: Single-use Bioprocessing Equipment and Simple & Peripheral Devices

Application: Monoclonal Antibodies (mABs), Vaccines, Cell Therapies, and Others

Monoclonal Antibodies (mABs), Vaccines, Cell Therapies, and Others End-us ers: Biopharmaceutical Manufacturers, Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs), and R&D Companies & Research Institutes

Method: Filtration, Storage & Transport, Cell Culture, Mixing, and Purification

Workflow: Upstream and Downstream

Geography: North America, Europe, APAC, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa

Check the detailed table of contents of the report @ https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/single-use-bioprocessing-market?details=tableOfContents

Key Questions Answered in the Report:

How big is the global single-use bioprocessing market?

What is the growth rate of the single-use bioprocessing market?

What are the rising trends in the single-use bioprocessing market?

Which region holds the most significant global single-use bioprocessing market share?

Who are the key players in the global single-use bioprocessing market?

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by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, August 7, 2023

Microsoft Bing announced Monday that it soon will begin to support AI-powered Bing in third-party browsers on web and mobile.

The company, which estimates that today it supports more than 1 billion chats, in late July confirmed that Bing Chat was testing in third-party browsers like Chrome and Safari for select users.

The move puts the AI chatbot in direct competition with other browsers built-in tools, such as Googles generative AI search features that have become available in the Google mobile app and Chrome browser.

This next step in the journey allows Bing to showcase the incredible value of summarized answers, image creation and more, to a broader array of people," Microsoft wrote in the announcement. "Youll get most of the great benefits of Bing and well continue to optimize along the way to meet your needs across different browsers."

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The celebratory six-month anniversary announcement also focused on other company products since launching generative AI in the search engine Bing and browser Edge.

And while the experience works well in most preferred browsers, Microsoft encourage users to use Bing in the Microsoft Edge browser. In Edge, users can have conversations with chat, access to chat history, and other Bing features built into the browser.

Multimodal visual search in chat also is available. It relies on OpenAI models to allow users to input images, such as a picture taken by the user or one found elsewhere.

Bing Chat now can understand the context of an image, interpret it, and answer questions about it. For example, users can go to Visual Search to ask Bing Chat about the architecture of a building in a photograph.

Microsoft also mentioned the launch of Dark Mode for Bing Chat and Bing Chat Enterprise, which includes commercial data protection for use inside organizations where sensitive data cannot leak out.

As of July, more than a dozen companies had restricted employees from using applications like ChatGPT due to data protection requirements. The companies include Amazon, Apple, Verizon, Wells Fargo, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, among others.
by Robert Williams , August 7, 2023



The steep drop in sales for Bud Light, which had been the top-selling light beer in the United States, after a consumer boycott has served as a warning for marketers about the potential backlash from taking a stand on social issues. A majority (61%) of corporate executives said they expect 

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by Joe Mandese @mp_joemandese, August 7, 2023

On July 21, I published a Red, White & Blog column (WTF Is Publir And Who Is Behind It) based on a report by ad-tech watchdog group Check My Ads alleging that it was utilizing its ad network to help monetize some questionable publishers, including one that was kicked off of Reddit for helping to organize the January 6th insurrection.

As it turns out, Publir is a publisher monetization platform that claims it is 100% neutral and transparent and the person behind it is founder Anand Ramanujan, the former CTO of Real Clear Politics, which he says is a client of Publir but is otherwise unaffiliated. In the following Q&A, Ramanujan explains Publir's policies, business model and why some questionable website publishers are part of its client list.

Red, White & Blog: We ran a column a couple of weeks ago titled, WTF Is Publir And Who Is Behind It. Youre the guy behind it, so heres an opportunity for you to tell our readers about that in a verbatim Q&A.

Anand Ramanujan: We are a small company. I bootstrapped the company back in 2011 and we pivoted to becoming a platform that incorporated -- not just ad optimization -- but also subscriptions and crowdfunding and an element of ecommerce to help publisher monetize themselves.

RW&B: When we published a column two weeks ago based on Check My Ads report alleging Publir has been monetizing some questionable sites, we told our readers to read it and be the judge. But heres an opportunity for you to address it. What is the problem with that report, and what is the truth from your perspective?

Ramanujan: There are multiple problems. First, the report insinuates somehow that Real Clear Politics is in any way associated with Publir. I just want to make it very clear that Real Clear does not have an ownership stake or any stake in Publir. Real Clear is a client of Publir, just like we have 75 other clients that we work with. But thats the extent of our relationship.

Two, the report accuses us of being part of dark pools, and Im not even sure what that means. They say that because we work with sites that are higher quality -- like Real Clear Politics and a bunch of others -- and we also work with sites that might not be that reputable, that we are somehow able to use the fact that we work with these high-quality domains to juice the revenues for lesser-known domains, and that is not true at all.

We work with about three dozen programmatic partners, and every single domain that we onboard onto our platform is subject to our demand sources approval, and each domain is approved based on the merits of that domain name and what happens with that site.

Once a site is approved, the ads that show up on that site are based on the content of that site, the audience that goes to that domain, the traffic level of the domain, and the performance of ads on that domain.

There is no way for us to use an existing customers site that is performing well to try and get revenue to a site that is not performing well. That is not the way we work with the programmatic ad marketplace.

There were also a couple of insinuations with some specific publications that were on Reddit and got banned that applied to be part of Publir. And each time someone applies to be part of Publir, there are certain criteria that we follow.

We make sure a site doesnt have copyright violations of plagiarized content. We want to makes sure that site is not strictly made-for-advertising. We dont work with those sites. And lastly, obviously, any sites that have illegal material.

But beyond those criteria, our philosophy has always been that we dont work with advertisers directly. We work with SSP and DSPs, and the goal of our platform is to connect the programmatic marketplace with publishers.

So when a site applies to be part of Publir, we check those criteria and submit the site for approval to all our demand partners. And if a demand partner approves them and wants to work with them, we facilitate that.

RW&B: If we can follow up on a couple of points? One on the Real Clear Politics relationship: full disclosure you were the former CTO and you were listed as a partner and they are a current client of yours. Thats all accurate, correct?

Ramanujan: Yes, thats all accurate. I was CTO up until December of 2020. And they are a client of ours.

RW&B: Regarding publishers that apply and are accepted as clients of Publir, we understand that if there are no demand partners approving them, you dont serve ads to them. And we checked to see if patriots.win, which is the former The_Donald subreddit that was banned from Reddit for helping to organize the insurrection, is a client, but they are not running ads. We just checked.

And QAnon conspiracy site greatawakening.win also is not being served ads.

But youre not just an advertising monetization platform. You offer a multifaceted way for publishers to monetize themselves, including subscription models, crowd-funding, ecommerce, etc. So how are you helping those sites monetize themselves?

Ramanujan: Our subscription model and our crowdfunding model is not appropriate for every site. With the two sites you mentioned, they were only working with our ad optimization model and we are not helping them monetize their site in any other way.

RW&B: But theyre not running an ads? How are you optimizing advertising for them?

Ramanujan: Theyre not generating any revenue from us.

RW&B: So how are they clients? Thats some of the confusion we have and I think its some our readers might have?

Ramanujan: Anybody can sign up to be a client of Publir, and we will make our best attempt to try and monetize them through the programmatic channels we work with. If we cant monetize them, we let them know and we five them time so that if they can fix this or that issue, maybe we can start to work together again, but right now we cant help monetize you.

And oftentimes, if these issues are small, like an issue with the navigation of the site or some piece of content that gets flagged, we tell them and they can reapply when the problem has been fixed.

Our default policy is whenever we onboard a client and we cant get them approved for advertising right away, we dont deactivate them. We keep them on knowing that we have identified some issues that they need to fix on their end.

Normally, we give them six months to a year to fix their problems. The reason we dont deactivate those accounts is, to the extent they were running on our platform, theyve accrued some ad revenue and we want them to be able to log in and grab any data that they generated on our platform.

Thats our standard process. So theyre not clients in the sense that we are actively working to monetize them. They tried at one point and we tried to get them monetized though our demand partners, and it didnt quite work out the way either of us wanted.

RW&B: So you do believe, if they address some of those issues, that you could be serving ads through your ad network to sites that publish QAnon conspiracies, election denial or organizing insurrections. Do you think thats appropriate?

Ramanujan: Thats not really what I said. Our process is: we dont look at what specific content is on a site. We just know that issues have been identified that need to be fixed. And part of the process is, we give them time to fix the issues.

RW&B: So one more time on those sites particularly? Youre not helping them in any way monetize, including crowdfunding? Because that would seem a natural for them.

Ramanujan: That is correct.

RW&B: Do you think the mainstream advertisers who do work with you on your other more mainstream sites as part of your network want to be associated with a platform that helps monetize sites that they dont want to be associated with? Should they be correlated?

Ramanujan: We are a platform and our job is to connect the advertising market to the publisher market and if advertisers dont want to work with those sites, they dont need to. We are very transparent. We publish every single publisher we work with in our json file, which happens automatically when we sign someone up. And we dont want to be in a position to make editorial judgement about what content is right and whats not right.

Journalism is the first take of history and there have been a lot of reports published that often are not right. The first stake is not always the right take. And the more voices we have out there freely expressing what they believe and what they think, the better it is for the marketplace of ideas. And thats what we believe.

I dont think theres anything different from us and any other platform. You could argue the same thing about Facebook. Facebook has a ton of content that they dont have the bandwidth to moderate. And they dont censor somebody before they even write a post of create a group. But if something comes to their attention, Im sure they take action and they have policies in place to act on that. And we are not any different than that.

We allow everybody to work with us and we look at the activity onboarded on our platform and then we let the marketplace decide if they want to work with a certain site or not. And we stand by that. Thats who we are.

RW&B: So you dont think platforms should be held accountable for facilitating or disseminating content that is harming society in explicit ways?

Ramanujan: By the same standards would you hold, lets say, The New York Times or The Washington Post accountable for some of the reporting that they might have gotten wrong?

RW&B: Absolutely.

Ramanujan: They got the whole WMD in the Iraq war wrong and we later found out that none of that was true. In the heat of the moment those organizations are reporting the facts and information as best they can. And if we start to censor people for reporting the first take of history, because they might be wrong, I think thats where we get into trouble.

I feel like when you talk about misinformation or disinformation you cant just single out one side of the vertical ideology.

RW&B: Youre right. Truth is malleable and changes over time based on new information, but to your point, The New York Times and The Washington Post put significant resources behind doing the best job they can in that moment in time and if its wrong they correct if over time.

Youre also right about political discourse and opinion up to the point when it involves false information that causes public harm. Denying an election that was was fairly conducted and inciting people to have an insurrection or cause violence, because of that, is over the line.

Ramanujan: I definitely think inciting people to violence is over the line. The First Amendment doesnt protect that. If you incite people to organize and commit violence it doesnt protect that. And if there is a group or organizations engaging in that there are legal recourses to deal with that.

: Well thank you for being fully disclosed.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, August 7, 2023

Arguing that TikTok is a vital tool for the press, organizations representing reporters are urging a federal judge to prohibit enforcement of Montana's ban on the app.

The app has emerged as a key part of the digital public square, hosting conversations on matters of significant public importance, and it enables members of the press to gather information sometimes shared nowhere else, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and Media Law Resource Center say in a friend-of-the-court brief filed Friday with U.S. District Court Judge Donald Molloy in Missoula.

For working journalists today, TikTok is a vital tool, the organizations say.

They are weighing in on lawsuit brought by TikTok and several users who are seeking to block a new law that will prohibit app stores from offering the app to people in Montana, and prohibit the use of the app in the state (with some exceptions for law enforcement). The measure doesn't penalize users, but provides for sanctions starting at $10,000 per violation against TikTok and mobile app marketplaces.

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Unless blocked, the law will come into effect on January 1 of next year.

Montana lawmakers who passed the bill expressed concerns that TikTok's parent company, the Beijing-based ByteDance, shares data about U.S. users with China. Similar concerns have spurred other states to prohibit use of the app on government-owned devices or public WiFi networks, but Montana is the only state so far to outright ban the app.

In addition to privacy concerns, the Montana legislature also accused TikTok of failing to remove dangerous content that allegedly encourages young users to engage in risky activity, such as throwing objects at moving automobiles, inducing unconsciousness through oxygen deprivation, and cooking chicken in NyQuil.

The media advocacy groups say in their court papers that the prohibition violates the First Amendment, arguing the law unconstitutionally singles out TikTok.

The groups argue that much of the dangerous content cited by lawmakers as justification for the ban didn't originate on TikTok, are available on other platforms, or may not represent bona fide trends at all.

The organizations also say the ban threatens press freedom by prohibiting news gathering and publishing on an entire platform.

Montanas TikTok ban eliminates the unique benefits the app offers to journalists working to gather and disseminate the news, the groups write. That severe restriction invites the highest degree of constitutional skepticism and cannot withstand it.

They specifically contend that TikTok's short-form video format makes it a valuable source of firsthand recordings of breaking news events.

Among other examples, they note that the March 3 New Yorker article Watching the Worlds 'First TikTok War' credited the app with offering some of the first videos of Russia's invasion of the Ukraine.

The groups add that the app's young-skewing audience provides reporters a unique window into the views and lives of younger Americans."

Without access to a platform where millions of young people are expressing themselves, members of the press would be handicapped in their effort to understand the stories of that share of the public, the organizations write.
by Erik Oster , August 7, 2023

Leaning into the brands distinction as a smooth summer treat, Mars Dove Ice Cream introduced a line of limited-edition silky pajamas.

Dove teamed up with southern California designer and founder of clothing brand Mien Studios, Lisa Hsieh, to create a series of pajama sets in such styles as classic button-down pajama tops with reclaimed buttons, tanks, and wide-leg pajama bottoms.

The comfort-focused lounge and sleepwear line was introduced for International Self-Care Day on July 24, along with suggestions it should be worn while eating ice cream on the couch and streaming comfort TV. The silky pajama sets were restocked for the final time last Friday, and are selling for $25 for a set, or half that for individual pieces, available only through the website https://mienstudios.com/collections/doveicecream.

Mien and Dove are also offering to send a box of ice cream to customers to ease the anticipated two-week wait time for the PJs.

Dove reports it showed restraint by avoiding prominently featuring its logo on the loungewear, instead alluding to the brand through color schemes inspired by its new packaging. The company also claims the collection is eco-friendly, using deadstock or existing fabric and trims sourced from local, family-owned vendors" -- in keeping with Dove's value of sustainability evident in its support of female vanilla farmers in Madagascar.

Mars Ice Cream marketing director Jayesh Shah touted the value of "collaborating with an eco-conscious, female-led company like Mien Studios, on the collection to showcase how the brand is doubling down on providing ice cream fans with the opportunity for more moments of indulgence, self-care, and everyday happiness while supporting our broader purpose of building the world we want tomorrow."
by Teresa Buyikian , August 7, 2023

Canadian coffee chain Tim Hortons today announced its first foray into the U.S. retail market. Hortons Cold Brew concentrate will be available in participating Walmart stores and regional U.S. grocery locations in the U.S.

The chain currently operates 600 QSR locations in the U.S.

Tim Hortons Cold Brew concentrate will be packed in 32-ounce multi-serve bottles, available in four flavors: Medium Blend Black, Birthday Cake, Cinnamon Swirl and Mocha Cereal. The concentrate.

This past weekend Tim Hortons also launched Tims Boat Thrua floating pop-up location on Ontarios Lake Scugog to serve seafaring visitors.

Hortons customers piloting various watercraft, including motorized boats, canoes, kayaks and paddleboards, wont need to dock to receive their beverages.

Our summers fly by so quickly, and Canadians savor every moment of their long weekends -- so we thought, why not open our first-ever Tims Boat Thru so our guests on Lake Scugog don't miss a minute on the water," Hope Bagozzi, chief marketing officer for the brand, said in its announcement.

The floating location opened this three-day weekend, known as Civic Holiday in Canada, which is a public holiday celebrated on the first Monday in August. Drink options included limited free summer beverages including the Caramel Toffee Cold Brew, Vanilla Iced Latte, Blackberry Yuzu and Orange Ginger Sparkling Quenchers.

Canadas largest restaurant chain with over 4000 units across the country, Tim Hortons coffee chain opened in Hamilton, Ontario in 1964. The brand currently has approximately 5,600 restaurants across 15 countries, including the United States, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom, across the Middle East, China, India, Thailand, and the Philippines.

The chain also recently announced an expected expansion into the South Korean Market later this year. Hortons entered a master franchise agreement with BKR Co. Ltd., one of the largest QSR companies in South Korea.
by Ray Schultz , August 7, 2023

The legendary British music publication NME is returning to print after a five-year hiatus.

The title will put out its first print issue since 2018 on Wednesday. It will have exclusive availability through Dawsons, a music retailer Dawsons.

NME has a large online readership. But its July/August issue marks its return as a return to print as a bi-monthly global print magazine.

The cover of the new issue features music star d4vd. Inside readers will find an interview with Josh Homme, of Queens of the Stone Age and articles on Bloody Civilian and Glamorous lead Miss Benny.

NME first appeared in 1952.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, August 8, 2023

Siding against Google, a federal judge has refused to throw out claims that the company wrongly collects data about users who attempt to keep their web activity by using Chrome's incognito mode, or a comparable setting on other browsers.

In a decision denying Google's motion for summary judgment, U.S. District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers rejected the company' argument that incognito users consented to data collection.

Googles motion hinges on the idea that plaintiffs consented to Google collecting their data while they were browsing in private mode, Rogers wrote in an opinion issued Monday. Because Google never explicitly told users that it does so, the Court cannot find as a matter of law that users explicitly consented to the at-issue data collection.

A Google spokesperson says the company disputes the claims and will defend itself.

Incognito mode in Chrome gives you the choice to browse the internet without your activity being saved to your browser or device, the spokesperson stated. As we clearly state each time you open a new incognito tab, websites might be able to collect information about your browsing activity during your session.

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When Chrome users command the browser to open an incognito window, they are greeted with a message stating that Chrome won't save browsing history, cookies and site data, and information entered in forms. But the message also tells users their activity may be visible to websites they visit.

Monday's ruling stems from a lawsuit filed in June of 2020, when California residents Chasom Brown and Maria Nguyen and Florida resident William Byatt alleged in a class-action complaint that they were tracked by Google, even though they used the Chrome browser's incognito mode to visit sites including CNN.com, Apartments.com and NYTimes.com.

They alleged that even in incognito mode, visiting a site that uses Google Analytics or Google Ad Manager results in Google's collection of IP addresses, browser and device information, and web pages' content.

The complaint includes claims that Google violated wiretap laws and that it engaged in intrusion upon seclusion -- a broad California concept that allows people to sue for highly offensive privacy violations.

Google urged Rogers to dismiss the claims without a trial, arguing that users expressly consented to the relevant data collection and its use for advertising, by accepting Google's privacy policy and other terms of service.

The Privacy Policy and Account Holder Agreements disclose that Google collects the at-issue data when users visit websites choosing to use Google services and that Google may use the data for advertising, the company wrote in its bid for summary judgment.

Rogers said she disagreed that the privacy policy unambiguously discloses the data collection, noting that the privacy policy also told users: You can also choose to browse the web in a private mode, like Chrome Incognito mode.

She wrote: The way Google presents Incognito mode could be read to contradict its suggested interpretation of the Privacy Policy.

The ruling paves the way for the users to attempt to prove their claims at trial, which is scheduled for November.

Rogers previously ruled that if the users prevail they will be able to seek an injunction against Google, but won't be able to seek monetary damages on a class-wide basis.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, August 8, 2023

A dozen Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee are asking an appellate court to restore an injunction that would prevent federal government officials from urging social-media platforms to suppress misinformation.

In papers filed Monday with the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, the lawmakers say evidence obtained by the committee shows that the Biden administration has relentlessly pressured private entities -- sometimes in cooperation with other private entities -- to censor speech that the administration disliked.

The injunction, issued by U.S. District court Judge Terry Doughty in Monroe, Louisiana, prohibits numerous federal agencies and personnel from taking any action such as urging, encouraging, pressuring, or inducing in any manner social-media companies to remove, delete, suppress, or reduce posted content protected by the First Amendment.

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Doughty's order includes prohibitions on meeting with social media companies in order to convince them to suppress content protected by the First Amendment, flagging specific posts as problematic, and encouraging tech platforms to change their content-moderation guidelines.

On July 14, a three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit on July 14 temporarily lifted the injunction. That court is scheduled to hold a hearing in the matter on Thursday.

Doughty issued the injunction in response to a lawsuit by attorneys general in Louisiana and Missouri, as well as several individuals who said their posts related to COVID-19 policies and vaccines were suppressed.

The complaint included a claim that the government violated the First Amendment by pressuring social platforms "to censor disfavored speakers and viewpoints by using threats of adverse government action."

Doughty wrote in a 155-page opinion issued July 4 that the government's effort to prevent the spread of some content depicts an almost dystopian scenario.

He said in his ruling that posts opposing COVID-19 vaccines, masking requirements, lockdowns and the validity of the 2020 election were among the content that was suppressed on social media.

The Biden administration, which is appealing the injunction, argued in papers filed last week that the order should be reversed for numerous reasons -- including that government officials don't violate the First Amendment by asking social media companies to take down posts, unless the government is also threatening companies with some sort of sanction for failing to remove the material.

The administration added that no one presented Doughty with evidence that government officials ever threatened social media platforms with sanctions for failing to suppress posts.

A New York-led coalition of 20 states and the District of Columbia recently sided with the White House, arguing in a friend-of-the-court brief that discussions between government officials and social media companies are frequently mutually desired and beneficial.

Those states argued that talks have helped social media companies to make fully informed decisions regarding their content moderation policies -- such as policies aimed at combatting cyberbullying or preventing the spread of false information about voting.

The Republicans who support the injunction argue that evidence obtained from Meta by the House Judiciary Committee confirms that Facebook and Instagram censored information and altered their content moderation policies because of pressure from the Biden Administration to rid their platforms of purported 'misinformation.'

The lawmakers cite an email sent to CEO Mark Zuckerberg and former Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg by an employee.

That email, which was reproduced in the lawmakers' brief, included the sentence: We are facing continued pressure from external stakeholders, including the White House and the press, to remove more COVID-19 discouraging content.

In short, the Biden administration used its power to commandeer the apparatuses of social media companies to affect their COVID-related content policies, the lawmakers write. And out of self-interest, the companies complied and censored content beyond what it otherwise would have. This government coercion violates the First Amendment.
More than 80 days after a missing 14-year-old girl was found in a Camp Pendleton barracks, her family says they've received few details about the investigation or those who brought the girl onto the military base.

Casaundra Perez, the girl's aunt, alleges her niece was raped by a Marine on the base north of San Diego and, in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, said military police at the base questioned her niece without a guardian present before notifying her family that she had been found. The aunt continues to be concerned about the investigation and said she worries that investigators have attempted to lay some blame on her niece and get the incident "swept under the rug."

"(Investigators) were accusing (my niece) of communicating with the Marine, and saying that he was her boyfriend, but she doesn't even know the Marine's name," Perez said.

Perez said the family is working with CommunityX, an organization that organizes petitions, calls to action and fundraisers through "digital activism," to raise awareness of her niece's case.

An online petition created by Perez is demanding that the name of the Marine be released to the family, that an impartial investigation be completed and that Camp Pendleton adopt measures to prevent similar incidents. The petition has garnered more than 7,000 signatures.

"Eighty-five days since this happened, and the identity of the accused is still not being released, either privately to the family, to the victim, or to the public," said Chloe Cheyenne, founder of CommunityX.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service confirmed the investigation is still active and that no charges have been filed.

NCIS declined to offer any other details, citing the ongoing investigation.

"As always, NCIS is committed to fully investigating any allegation of criminal behavior that threatens the Department of the Navy's readiness and the safety of children in the communities where our family live and work," said spokesperson Jeff Houston in a statement.

NCIS has previously confirmed that it took a Marine with Combat Logistics Battalion 5 in for questioning on the day the girl was found.

Officials with the 1st Marine Logistics Group did not immediately respond to inquiries about the case.

Perez said the family has received calls from detectives who said the investigation is moving along but provided few specific details.

The family has been particularly concerned that the Navy has not issued a military protective order, or MPO, which is often issued to prevent military personnel under investigation from contacting alleged victims. The MPO, relatives said, would have also revealed the Marine's name to the girl and her family.

The girl went missing June 10 from her home in Spring Valley, in San Diego County, and Perez said she spent June 27 and 28 at the base before she was discovered.

She said her niece does not know the Marine who brought her onto the base. Investigators initially told the family that the girl had been in communication with the Marine, but Perez suspects her niece was sold to the Marine for sex, though she provided no evidence.

She also questioned how the Marine was able to bring a minor onto the base.

_____

2023 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
One of the Army's largest bases has been barely able to keep its food services up and running for months, according to soldiers stationed there and dining facility schedules reviewed by Military.com.

The situation at Fort Cavazos, Texas -- previously known as Fort Hood -- has left some junior enlisted with few options for meals, as top officials on base struggle to juggle logistics while most of its cooks are on deployments, missions or serving field training and other events.

The base had only two of its 10 major dining options open every day for much of the summer, with three others open only during limited times. The closures forced many soldiers to drive long distances across base, sometimes an hour round trip for their meals.

Read Next: 'I Have These Skills:' An American Veteran's Death Fighting in Ukraine

But not all junior soldiers have vehicles, and the base provides only a limited shuttle service, with none dedicated to dining facilities. The service is so limited that some service members interviewed by Military.com didn't even know it exists.

"For months, one [dining facility] was open and was a more than 30-minute drive for my soldiers," said one noncommissioned officer, who spoke to Military.com on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the press. "All the soldiers were going to that one. It's unmanageable during the workday."

In some situations, the base posted conflicting schedules or confusing guidance on what meals were being provided at which dining facilities. One facility had a sign on the door stating that it was "closed for dinner," but it didn't note which specific days it was closed or days when other meals were not available.

Base officials also did not post updated dining facility schedules on social media, although two of the base's dining facilities -- Iron Horse and Patriot -- were reopened in the past week, which should start alleviating traffic jams and logistical hurdles in providing more accessible meals for soldiers.

At the heart of the issue is the dining facilities not having enough Army cooks to run them. A rotation to the National Training Center, or NTC, and support for a cadet training exercise at Fort Knox, Kentucky, took many cooks off base.

Dining facilities have been a key focus in the Army's discussions on boosting the quality of life for soldiers.

That has included access to healthier foods and staffing those facilities with civilians so Army cooks can focus on feeding troops in the field.

However, the service has made no notable progress on those efforts.

Army officials are eyeing allowing soldiers to use their meal cards at non-military restaurants on base, such as Panera and Qdoba, an idea that is currently being piloted at Fort Drum, New York.

-- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon.

Related: Army Secretary Says She Wouldn't Want Her Daughters Living in Some Army Barracks
On July 29, Russian forces were peppering members of Chosen Company -- a volunteer group composed of military veterans fighting against the Russian invasion -- with mortars, heavy machine guns, grenade launchers and grenades in eastern Ukraine.

Marine veteran Lance Lawrence, who had recently returned to fighting after being hospitalized due to a ricochet round hitting his wrist, was killed in the conflict. Lawrence is one of nearly 20 American veterans who have been killed fighting for Ukraine, a total that has steadily increased as the conflict has largely faded from the nightly news. A second American veteran, former Army officer Andrew "Dubs" Webber, was also killed in the same operation.

Lawrence and Webber were in the middle of the brutal combat that has characterized the Ukrainian offensive to reclaim territory that Russian forces quickly gobbled up in the early days of the conflict, which commenced in February 2022. The nearly 18 months of war have seen a steady stream of American veterans head to Ukraine, both to fight and to provide training and aid to forces that have managed to repel Russian troops, despite early predictions of imminent conquest.

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Weeks before his death, while recovering from the wrist injury, Lawrence sat receiving medical care. But it wasn't the wound that seemed to be bugging him.

"I think he was more pissed off that he got blood on his new uniform than actually getting shot," a volunteer who served with Lawrence and goes by the moniker Brit told Military.com. Brit's name, and those of several other volunteers, is being withheld in order to protect their identity, given security concerns surrounding fighting in Ukraine.

In the four-plus months he was with his volunteer unit, Lawrence, a former Marine Corps machine gunner, had earned a reputation as a weapons expert and hard-charger.

Military.com spoke to more than half a dozen people who knew Lawrence, either from his time in the Marines or Ukraine. Volunteers who are quoted under pseudonyms provided Military.com with pictures, messages or both connecting themselves to Lawrence.

An image that emerged of the Marine showed a consummate heavy weapons guru with a cheeky magnetism that boosted morale in the most austere environments. It was in those conditions that Lawrence was drawn to that he seemed to thrive most.

His family did not return Military.com's requests for comment, but released a statement saying, in part, that "he was known for his unwavering determination, infectious smile and compassionate nature.  He was a down to earth person who gave a helping hand to anyone who needed it," according to Task & Purpose.

A Marine, ''Til the Day He Died'

Without any prior combat experience, Lawrence stepped foot into the deadliest war in Europe since World War II.

"He felt the calling," Brit, who shared pictures of Brit and Lawrence together, told Military.com. As Lawrence's medic, Brit recalled many conversations with the Marine veteran. "He spent all his life practicing war, never got to go. He was like, 'I have these skills, there's people out there that need it. Let me go.'"

Lawrence joined the Marine Corps in August, 2013 -- nearly a decade to the month before he was killed. He enlisted as an 0331, Machine Gunner. Elijah Sisney served with him and remembered a day that Lawrence came back from time off with a military machine gun symbol tattooed on the inside of his trigger finger.

After a deployment on the USS Iwo Jima to the Mediterranean, Sisney recalled a brutal run of training back stateside. They had been rucking all day in the heat and were "smoke-checked," a term Marines use to describe being exhausted. Sisney was huddled up in his sleeping bag with heaters for cooking meals tucked under him for warmth -- the squad was miserable and cold.

"He had this bottle of booze that he pulled out of his back," Sisney remembered. "He thrived on that kind of stuff. It never knocked him down at all. He rolled with every punch that was given.  And just in a moment like that, he pulls out a bottle and it's a big morale boost."

Lawrence told most of his comrades in Ukraine that he'd been a contractor after leaving the Marine Corps in 2016 before arriving in Ukraine.

"He always said, 'I made a lot of money back in the States. But I gave that all up to come here and help,'" Grim, a Marine veteran and volunteer, remembered Lawrence saying.

Lawrence left for Ukraine in February. He met Brit and another volunteer, Plomo, near the beginning of March, and all three clicked instantly. They were struck by Lawrence's kindness; Plomo, a former Colombian Marine, said that he was short on funds and Lawrence paid for his food for a month without saying a word to anyone.

Around this time, Lawrence also connected with a group called Protect A Volunteer, a Ukraine-focused organization that links volunteer soldiers with donors. The group provided Lawrence with uniforms, according to internal records and messages reviewed by Military.com.

"If you look at all of the things that he could have asked for help with -- all kinds of different expensive equipment -- he asked for uniforms," Rachel Jamison, a lawyer and director of the organization, told Military.com.

"That's a really humble request, which I think says exactly about who he is," she said. "Just somebody who wanted to be there and wanted to do good and didn't ask anything of anybody."

Eventually, Lawrence earned a spot in Chosen Company as the unit's fire support group leader. Grim said that it was his natural leadership and competency that got him placed into the integral position.

"He performed exceptional or he wouldn't have been in a leadership position," said Ryan O'Leary, a Global War on Terrorism veteran and the commander.

Fierce Fighting

By July, the world was watching Russia react to a failed rebellion the month before. Yevgeny Prigozhin and his private military group launched a campaign against the Kremlin, but failed to march on Moscow over reported disagreements with the Ministry of Defence.

For Chosen Company, July was an apparently busy season for fighting. A video O'Leary posted on Twitter just three days before Lawrence and Webber, the former Army officer, died went viral. It showed the unit riding into combat.

As tributes for the veterans poured out on social media, the State Department confirmed the deaths of two unnamed U.S. citizens on July 29, 2023, from "a drone attack in Ukraine."

Members of Chosen Company did not go into detail about the battle, either citing operational security or because they were not there.

The latter reason haunts some of Lawrence's friends. Grim, who is back stateside, said that he is alive today because of Lawrence, who convinced him to take a job back home.

Plomo shared encrypted messages he had exchanged with Lawrence after the shrapnel injury, not long before he died.

"Dude, [I'm] half mad because you got wounded without me," Plomo wrote. "Please keep safe, bro. I really love you. I don't want to [lose] you."

"I'll be safe man and I love you too, brother," Lawrence replied.

"The next time [I'm] gonna keep you safe," Plomo wrote. "With my life."

-- Drew F. Lawrence can be reached at drew.lawrence@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @df_lawrence.

Related: Wagner Handoff, DNA Tests: Remains of Special Forces Vet May Finally Be Coming Home from Ukraine
Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley criticized Sen. Tommy Tubervilles months-long hold on military nominations Tuesday, calling it shameful.

Haley, who is seeking the Republican nomination for president, spoke on the Hugh Hewitt Show, according to The Hill.

It goes to the heart of, we dont treat our military men and women, servicemen and women well. We dont treat our veterans well, Haley said.

Attempts by AL.com to reach Tubervilles office for comment were not immediately successful. NBC News quoted Tuberville spokesman Steven Stafford, who said he didnt view Haleys comments as criticism.

She regrets that it is necessary but doesnt seem to dispute that it is indeed necessary.

President Biden last month, as well as a growing chorus of Democrats, have called on Alabamas senior senator to end his hold on military nominations. Tuberville initiated the stand in March, keeping more than 250 high-ranking military nominees in the Senate from receiving promotions.

The hold comes in response to a Defense Department policy to pay the travel expenses of service members traveling to other states for abortions. He says his tactic is within his rights as a senator, and that Defense policies can only be implemented through Congress.

Haley, whose husband is currently in a yearlong deployment in Africa with the South Carolina Army National Guard, said she agreed that the Pentagons policy is totally wrong. While she can appreciate what Tubervilles trying to do, she said theres got to be other ways to go about doing this.

There are currently two military services without a confirmed leader, after the head of the Marine Corps retired last month and the head of the Army retired last week without replacements.

Haley said the hold is doing damage to recruiting efforts.

They look at the fact that 33,000 veterans are homeless, she said. They look at the fact that theyre, you know, dangling these promotions out there and using them as fodder. I mean, theyre looking at the fact that people dont see these, you know, men and women who serve as heroes anymore.

Haley in July said the third in a series of Republican presidential debates will be held in Alabama in October. That has yet to be confirmed.

2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit al.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The Pentagon is not only keeping U.S. troops in place in Niger but pointing to their presence as a vote of confidence in the people of the West African nation, even as hope for a restoration of the democratically elected government begins to dwindle.

"We're going to continue to engage from a military standpoint," Sabrina Singh, a Defense Department spokeswoman, told reporters at a briefing Tuesday. "I think the fact that our force posture has not changed sends a message that we're committed to the region, we're committed to Niger."

The country has been a partner in the U.S. efforts against terror groups in the region -- including the location of an American drone base -- but was thrown into turmoil last month when its military rose up and deposed the first democratically elected and seated president in decades, leaving the future uncertain.

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"We are hopeful that there will be a diplomatic resolution to this attempted coup that took place in Niger," Singh said, notably referring to the situation as an "attempted coup."

Pentagon officials have been cautious about using the term "coup" since it carries legal implications for U.S. foreign policy and military assistance.

The Pentagon statement comes less than a day after a top State Department official gave a grim assessment of the situation in the African nation after having met with the leaders of the military junta that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum from power two weeks ago. The news became public in the early hours of July 27.

"These conversations were extremely frank and at times quite difficult," Acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland told reporters on a call Monday.

Nuland said she met with the leader of the junta -- Brig. Gen. Moussa Salaou Barmou -- as well as three colonels supporting him.

"They are quite firm in their view on how they want to proceed, and it does not comport with the constitution of Niger," Nuland said.

Meanwhile, French news outlet Le Monde reported Tuesday that the junta led by Barmou has begun to consolidate power in the country by appointing its own prime minister and several top military officers to key government posts.

Singh stressed that the U.S. does not want to "abandon Nigeriens that we've partnered with that we've trained with over many years," before adding that "Niger is, of course, an important ally within the region when it comes to counterterrorism and other operations."

However, one of the beneficiaries of this training has been Barmou himself.

Nuland noted that he "is somebody who has worked very closely with U.S. Special Forces over many, many years." Several media outlets, including The New York Times, reported that Barmou was trained at Fort Benning, Georgia (now renamed Fort Moore), and that he attended the National Defense University -- self-described as the "nation's premier joint professional military education institution" -- in Washington, D.C.

The Pentagon even released images of Barmou meeting with and embracing the head of U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Lt. Gen. Jonathan Braga, less than two months ago.

"So, we were able to go through, in considerable detail, the risks to aspects of our cooperation that he has historically cared about a lot," Nuland told reporters.

Meanwhile, the role of the Wagner group -- a cadre of mercenaries controlled by the Russian oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin -- continues to remain an unsubstantiated but ever present worry among U.S. officials.

Singh said that the Pentagon continues to see the mercenary group "trying to take responsibility for activities that happen within Africa," but she was quick to add that officials "have seen no indications they have anything to do with the events in Niger and have not seen any assistance so far flown in from Wagner forces."

Nuland said she raised the topic of the mercenary group with Barmou but added that she "would not say that we learned much more about their thinking on that front."

Meanwhile, Singh did say that the Pentagon's continued presence in the country is heavily contingent on American citizens and service members being safe from harm.

"If their lives are at risk, of course, we're going to make that change and, of course, we will address that," Singh said.

-- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin.

Related: Pentagon Keeps Troops in Niger Despite Putsch, Maintains Contact with Some Military Leaders
An unusual sighting of a Russian military jet in North Korea is stoking concern that Kim Jong Un is selling Russian President Vladimir Putin weapons as ties strengthen between the sanctioned states.

Tracking data from FlightRadar24 shows the Russian Air Force Ilyushin IL-62M flying from Moscow to Pyongyang on July 31 and returning on Aug. 2. Satellite imagery showed the aircraft at Pyongyangs international airport for about 36 hours, according to NK News, a Seoul-based provider of news on North Korea that also tracks flight activity in the isolated country.

The flight was the first by this type of Russian military VIP plane to North Korea since mid-2019, when Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin traveled to Pyongyang, NK News said. Pyongyang closed its borders in early 2020 due to the pandemic, choking its economy.

Neither Russia nor North Korea have reported on the plane, and it is unclear who was aboard. Russias Defense Ministry didnt respond to a request for comment.

The journey by the Russian Air Force jet came just days after Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu traveled to Pyongyang on a similar plane to attend a military parade hosted by Kim, who also gave him a tour of a weapons exhibit. It appears related to following up on Shoigus delegation visit and possibly agreements made with Kim, NK News said, adding that analysts speculated that the two could have made weapons deals.

North Korea has been trying to revive its economy, largely by resuming trade with China and evading international sanctions. Russia recently restarted oil shipments to North Korea for the first time since 2020, the United Nations has said, following the earlier resumption of grain exports. It is impossible to know what North Korea is sending in return but both the U.S. government and independent analysts suggested munitions from the stockpiles North Korea has built up amid tensions with Seoul.

For months, U.S. officials have said Moscow is seeking to restock ammunition reserves depleted by its war in Ukraine.

We have made clear our concerns about cooperation between Russia and North Korea, we have made clear our concerns about North Korea seeking to assist Russia in its aggression in Ukraine, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Monday at a briefing in Washington in response to a question about the plane.

We will continue to make those concerns clear and we will continue to enforce all of our sanctions, he said.

The U.S., European Union and others stepped up sanctions against Russia after its February 2022 invasion, including against its leading banks, while also warning nations against materially supporting Moscows war effort. The U.S. strategy over Ukraine rests in part on choking off Putins economy and hindering its armed forces so any backing from other nations could undercut that.

The most obvious items that Pyongyang has and Moscow needs are artillery shells and rockets that Moscow can use in Soviet-era weaponry pushed into service in Ukraine. The Kremlins war machine has been burning through its stocks and is scrambling for supplies with the war now in its second year.

Since North Koreas economy is so small, an arms deal of about $250 million would be equal to about 1% of its GDP and welcome for a country cut off from the global financial system due to sanctions aimed at ending its nuclear weapons program.

A sale of North Koreas newest short-range ballistic missiles would constitute a pretty significant escalation, said weapons expert Joost Oilemans. It would likely be soon identified (if only during transport) and condemned as a gross sanctions violation, he wrote in an email to Bloomberg News.

Russia has been scouring its arms depots for any functioning armored vehicles, reactivating some absolutely stunningly old equipment such as T-54 and T-62 tanks and may need help keeping them running, he said. North Korea is perhaps the final remaining producer of spare parts for these types as it still maintains an extensive inventory itself, Oilemans said.

Kim also showed Shoigu new drones but those are unlikely to make their way to a battlefield in Ukraine anytime soon.

They are just not at a mature stage, said Yoon Sukjoon, a retired captain in South Koreas navy who is a senior fellow at the Korea Institute for Military Affairs. North Korea lacks the manufacturing capacity to produce them in significant numbers anyway, he said.

Whatever the exact reason for the mysterious military flight, Russia and North Korea would be aware that they were fanning the flames of the U.S. governments accusation that the two countries have a weapons deal, said Rachel Minyoung Lee, a regional issues manager at the Vienna-based Open Nuclear Network who was an analyst for the Central Intelligence Agencys Open Source Enterprise for almost two decades.

Lee added that she was concerned the countries might have discussed deeper-level military cooperation during the Russian defense ministers visit. Clearly, showcasing to the world that they have each others back was more important than whatever optics Shoigus visit would present, she said.

_____

(With assistance from Danny Lee.)

_____

2023 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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What do the U.S. Army, the Chicago Police Department and Taylor Swift all have in common? Along with the other military branches, and police departments the world over, they all exclusively use QuikClot Combat Gauze while on duty.

Before QuickClot was introduced by the Navy and Marine Corps to the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan, the methods medics used to stop bleeding in combat wounded troops hadn't changed since the Civil War. "In The Blood," a new book from author Charles Barber, tells the story of how QuikClot made its way into first-aid kits, and the war its creators fought against the U.S. Army to get them there.

"In the Blood: How Two Outsiders Solved a Centuries-Old Medical Mystery and Took On the US Army," by Charles Barber.

Frank Hursey has long been the kind of engineer who, by his own admission, was more interested in building a plane than keeping it in the air. He grew up poor in Dillon, South Carolina, but studied engineering at the University of Hartford in Connecticut and earned a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from upstate New York's Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

After a series of engineering jobs and two failed business ventures, he started his third, a company that made machines that produced oxygen and nitrogen. He was a constant tinkerer, wondering how things -- and the world around those things -- worked. His novel machines used a mineral called zeolite, the structure of which tended to separate the elements of any given chemical.

Zeolite was a common mineral and had been used as an absorption agent and building material for millennia. For some reason, only Hursey came up with the idea of using zeolite to separate the water in blood from its other components. In October 1983, he tested pure zeolite on a mouse in his basement. Hursey cut the mouse open, put zeolite on the wound, and the bleeding stopped. The mouse survived.

It was a breakthrough in medical trauma treatment, but even after Hursey patented his idea and shopped it to pharmaceutical companies, no one seemed to care. He eventually shelved his idea and went back to work at his struggling gas machine company. It wasn't until he looked for a sales partner that zeolite would see its true potential.

For centuries, the only way to treat bleeding trauma wounds on the battlefield -- or anywhere, really -- had been gauze and pressure. This combination buys the body time to clot the wound, if the bleeding isn't too substantial. Even off the battlefield, trauma is the world's fourth-leading cause of death, and uncontrolled bleeding causes half those deaths.

Despite the advanced technologies of western medicine, no advancements in stopping uncontrolled bleeding had been made for hundreds of years before Hursey put zeolite on a mouse, and no one noticed.

In an effort to save On Site Gas, his gas machine business, Hursey met with Bart Gullong in a Connecticut pizza parlor. Despite a privileged upbringing, Gullong was down on his luck and looking for meaning in his life. He joined On Site Gas on a commission-only basis and began translating Hursey's brilliant machinery into a thriving enterprise. Hursey only told Gullong about zeolite and its potential in passing.

Frank Hursey, creator of QuikClot. (Talcott Mountain Science Center)

Gullong eventually networked his way into bidding for a military contract to build a compact oxygen generator for a proposed mobile field hospital called Forward Resuscitative Surgical Systems. While the other bidders only sent in proposals, Hursey created a scaled-down prototype of his oxygen generator for the military in just six weeks.

From that first contract, Gullong got an almost-impossible chance to show what Hursey's zeolite creation could do. Their Defense Department contact told him about a blood clotting trial they were conducting, and how one of the competing companies had dropped out. Gullong asked whether zeolite could take the slot, and the Office of Naval Research agreed.

A number of defense contractors were signed on to demonstrate their proposed hemostatic agents (chemicals that clot blood) on arterial wounds in large pigs. Of all the entries, Hursey's zeolite powder was the only product with a 100% survival rate. Elated, Gullong dubbed the product QuikClot and began to market it toward the military.

There was just one problem: The Army, the largest of the branches and the one with the biggest budget, was backing another, less effective product.

"In the Blood: How Two Outsiders Solved a Centuries-Old Medical Mystery and Took On the US Army" details Gullong's fight to save the lives of American troops in the face of the Army's resistance to Hursey's revolutionary creation. It also describes the improvements Hursey and colleagues made to QuikClot over the years, resulting in the creation of QuikClot Combat Gauze.

Millions of dollars were spent and wasted before the Army adopted QuikClot, a major drug company faced whistleblower lawsuits in its fight to champion its alternatives, and untold numbers of American troops were saved and died while the real-world combat of the Global War on Terror raged the entire time.

"In the Blood: How Two Outsiders Solved a Centuries-Old Medical Mystery and Took On the US Army" is an engrossing and fascinating history of this simple but miraculous discovery, as well as the personal stories of the unsung heroes who fought to get it into medical kits the world over. It's available on Kindle eReader, audiobook and hardcover now.

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, or on LinkedIn.

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The White Sox signed righty Chris Muller to a minor league deal over the weekend, according to an announcement from their Triple-A team. Hes been assigned to their top affiliate in Charlotte.

Muller, 27, has yet to make his big league debut. He received his first major league call from the Rays in May but was optioned back out without making an appearance. After he suffered an injury in Triple-A, Tampa Bay released him. The Rays brought him back on a minor league pact but released him again last week.

A former 17th round pick, Muller is strictly a bullpen option. Hes worked 20 innings across 16 appearances with the Rays top minor league club this season, posting a 4.95 ERA. His 24.4% strikeout rate was solid, but he walked a lofty 12.2% of batters faced. It was a similar story the year before, when Muller fanned 28.1% of opponents against a 12.7% walk percentage en route to a 4.91 ERA in 58 2/3 Triple-A frames.

Chicago traded away a number of relievers at the deadline, leading to MLB calls for the likes of Declan Cronin, Bryan Shaw, Edgar Navarro and Lane Ramsey. That thinned the Triple-A depth, making it a fairly sensible landing spot for Muller to look for his initial MLB appearance.
DETROIT -- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation covering 1.1 million older Dodge Ram trucks because of a possible power steering problem. According to the Associated Press, the probe involves older Ram models that can lose power-steering assistance without warning.

If the trucks lose power steering, it becomes difficult to maneuver the vehicle and can cause the driver to lose control. While a recall has not been announced, the NHTSA is looking into 2013 through 2016 model year Dodge Ram 1500 trucks to determine if a recall is needed.

So far, the NHTSA says it has received 380 complaints about the issue and three crashes as a result, however no injuries have been reported in those incidents. In 2016, a recall of 440 trucks was instituted for a similar issue, but the NHTSA is now trying to determine if enough of the vehicles were recalled or if there is another problem that is causing the power steering to fail.

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MEARS, MI  Horseback riding along the Lake Michigan shoreline is set to return to this state park in the fall.

Silver Lake State Park will host a second season of shoreline horseback from Nov. 1-30.

This follows a successful first season in 2022, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said.

Its part of continuing efforts to expand outdoor recreation at the park in the off-season, the DNR said.

The registration fee is $10 per horse per day. There will be 125 slots available daily. Registration opens at 8 a.m. Friday, Sept. 1.

A Recreation Passport is also required for vehicle entry into the state park, located at 9679 State Park Road in Mears.

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DETROIT  A Michigan man is accused of murdering his wife near a construction zone in Detroit.

Breon McIntosh, 35, of Detroit was charged with premeditated first-degree murder and felony firearm, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced on Monday.

McIntosh is accused of shooting his wife Andricka McIntosh, 35, multiple times in the 6000 block of Gunston Street at approximately 7:53 a.m. on Aug. 4.

Detroit police said the couple had separated and got into an argument. Andricka McIntosh was found dead at the scene and Breon McIntosh was found standing nearby with a handgun, police said.

The alleged facts in this case are an egregious example of what domestic violence looks like, Worthy said in a statement. The death of Andricka McIntosh is the eighth domestic violence homicide this year and, very unfortunately, there will be more. This cannot be said enough: The most dangerous time in the life of a domestic violence victim is when they are trying to leave the relationship.

Breon was arraigned at 36th District Court on Aug. 6. A probable cause conference is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Aug. 14, and a preliminary examination is scheduled for 8:45 a.m. Aug. 21.

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DETROIT  A Detroit man was sentenced yesterday to life in prison without parole for murder during liquor store robbery in early 2022.

A jury found Dvante Antioni Howard, 24, guilty of multiple felonies related to the fatal shooting of Behnam Rasho, 64, of Detroit. The trial concluded on July 24. Howard was sentenced Monday by Judge Kevin Cox.

Around 9:16 p.m. on Jan. 17, 2022, Detroit police officers were dispatched to a liquor store in the 20440 block of James Couzens Freeway in Detroit for a reported shooting. Upon arrival, officers found Rasho inside with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Howard had entered the store and fired a handgun, fatally wounding the victim, before robbing the store and fleeing the scene.
ANN ARBOR, MI - Two paths toward potentially removing Superintendent Jeanice Swift were approved by the Ann Arbor School Board Monday, with some trustees saying its time for a change while others suggested the actions felt rushed.

The Ann Arbor School Board approved both motions by a pair of 4-3 votes during the special meeting on Monday, Aug. 7, one day after the meeting was added to the boards schedule. The first motion involves the board sending the 10-year veteran superintendent a contractually-required pre-termination notice without cause.

The pre-termination letter is a statement the board is considering according to AAPS General Counsel David Comsa and does not constitute a formal action to terminate the superintendent.

Instead, the letter sets into motion a minimum of a two-week timeframe, during which the board cant take action to remove her as superintendent. Swift has five days to respond to the letter and to determine whether she would like a hearing with the board to defend herself in open or closed session before any final board decisions are made on Swifts employment status.

A second motion made by trustee Ernesto Querijero was subsequently approved by the board to allow AAPS attorney to enter into negotiations with Swift on a separation agreement for a period to last no more than the next 30 days.

While Swift did not explicitly share how she plans to respond to the letter or a potential settlement agreement, she said she will be dedicated to move forward from this evening to a strong transition.

This is what we owe our team, our students and our families, Swift said following the votes on both motions Monday. I want to believe that thats the case for the trustees and I want to believe that in good faith (we can) work together to ensure a strong transition.

AAPS Board President Rima Mohammad, who made the motion to submit the pre-termination letter, said she felt it was the right decision to move forward without Swift based on feedback she had received from the community. Mohammad was supported in the motion by trustees Jeff Gaynor, Ernesto Querijero and Jacinda Townsend Gides.

The boards actions Monday were precluded by some Ann Arbor parents asking for Swift to resign in connection with a lawsuit alleging a special education student was abused on a school bus in 2021 and the district did not review footage of the incident for five weeks.

The online letter dated Aug. 5 and signed by nearly 100 Ann Arbor parents stated that many of our special education families have not felt safe in our district for some time while asking for a change in leadership to move the district forward.

The lawsuit by parent Jamie Nelson-Molnar alleges the school district, Carpenter Elementary School Principal Michael Johnson and Durham Transportation sent her child onto the bus where he was assaulted by bus aide Rochanda Jefferson.

The lawsuit alleges that surveillance footage of the abuse was immediately available to AAPS and Durham, but for reasons unknown, the footage was not reviewed for five weeks. Nelson-Molnar only learned of the physical abuse through a teacher who broke ranks to tell the truth, the lawsuit states.

Board member Jeff Gaynor spoke highly of Swifts accolades as superintendent at AAPS, but ultimately voted in favor of both motions. He shared that his decision was based on an accumulation of issues, of information and decision-making, noting that he has had concerns about AAPS special education department that has not been up to satisfactory levels for many years.

Theres a culture on the board that says lets just keep things as they are, lets protect the district from liability, lets keep the status quo, Gaynor said.

Veteran board member Susan Baskett described the boards decision to move toward removing Swift as a rookie mistake, pressing Mohammad and other trustees to share why they felt it was the best path forward for the district.

This happened out of the blue, Baskett said. I do not know why we are meeting Monday. I dont know why we are rushing on this topic. Are we trying to meet to cover up actions that were out of process or (meet an) arbitrary deadline ahead of school? I question what were doing tonight.

I cannot feel but a great gray cloud over the opening of our school district. This is not a good way to start the school year. This is not a good way to end someones career of 10 years, of (Swifts) caliber. This is not a good way to try to find someone else at this particular time.

Board member Susan Ward Schmidt agreed with Basketts sentiments, adding that she felt the activity among some board members supporting the removal of Swift has not felt very comfortable to me.

To think that were going to take (some) letters and some comments at a board meeting to dismantle 10 years of high quality service and continuity for our district - all of thats out the window because of that small sample when we know there are thousands of families across the district that have benefited from her work seems short sighted, Ward Schmidt said.

Unfortunately, what I know is happening here is the urgency to get (Swift) out as soon as possible seems to be the prevailing wishes of a subset of this board.

Swift was supported by a number of former school board members in attendance who lauded her performance as superintendent from their time on the board, while also criticizing the current school board for not understanding how to achieve legislative transparency, effective meeting management, or due process.

Former board member Simone Lightfoot said some of the board members responsible for Swifts potential ouster have only been on the board for seven months and havent served long enough to know the destruction that you are in line to cause the district.

Its irresponsible, its not good stewardship, it doesnt provide the oversight that voters expected you to bring to the table, its disrespectful to every process weve got going, Lightfoot said. ... I hope our city brings the wrath of Khan down on this board for the destructive behavior you all are embarking upon.

RELATED: Autistic boys assault on Ann Arbor school bus wasnt reported to parent for 5 weeks, lawsuit alleges

Parents attending the meeting, on the other hand, said the rally to save Swift from being terminated was another example of the district rallying around its administrations, rather than its most vulnerable students like the one abused on a school bus.

The conversation tonight should not be about loyalty to this administration, Ann Arbor parent Erich Zechar said. It is about assault on a 7-year-old boy on AAPS property and the subsequent response once it was reported.

This could have been my son on this bus. I dont trust this administration to tell me in this moment that my son was assaulted and that means a lot - a lot more than loyalty to one person.

Ann Arbor Public Schools hired Swift in 2013. She previously served as assistant superintendent of instruction, curriculum and student services for Colorado Springs School District 11.

During her time as superintendent, Swift led the school district through successfully passing a $33 million bond in 2015, an increase and extension of the districts sinking fund millage in May 2017 and a $1 billion capital bond in 2019.

Swift has been a finalist for superintendent positions in recent years, including this past spring, when she was one of three finalists for the superintendent job with Northshore Public Schools in Bothell, Washington. In 2018, Swift was a finalist for the Seattle Public Schools position. A year later, Swift was named as one of three finalists for Michigans superintendent of education position.

Swift was named Michigans 2018 Superintendent of the Year by the Michigan Association of School Administrators.

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:

Former Ann Arbor school board members support superintendent amid calls for resignation

Autistic boys assault on Ann Arbor school bus wasnt reported to parent for 5 weeks, lawsuit alleges

10 years after consolidation are Ypsilanti and Willow Run schools stronger together?
(This story has been updated to correct the spelling of a name.)

GENESEE COUNTY, MI - An Ingham County judge has dismissed two lawsuits that sought to invalidate the appointment of county Clerk-Register Domonique Clemons after he was chosen for the position by a panel of local judges.

Circuit Judge James S. Jamo ruled on Monday, Aug. 7 that the Michigan Constitution called for the judges to make the appointment and that the county was not in violation of state laws. Jamo presided over the cases after Genesee County judges recused themselves from hearing them.

Clemons was appointed clerk-register on Dec. 6 after a panel of county judges selected him without conducting public interviews, keeping minutes or deliberating in public.

Former Flushing Mayor Archie Bailey and Hemlock resident Nichole Ruggiero sued the county separately, contending a different panel -- subject to the Open Meetings Act -- should have chosen the clerk-register.

Their attorney Philip Ellison argued that state law called for the presiding or senior judge of the probate court, the county clerk and the prosecuting attorney to make the appointment. However, Jamo wrote in his opinion and order that the statute is at odds with the Michigan Constitution, which calls for the judges to make the appointment of the county clerk.

In addition to arguing that the wrong panel picked Clemons, the lawsuits alleged violations of the Open Meetings Act and accused the county of violating the Freedom of Information Act for not releasing the names of other candidates for the position.

The question over whether the judges should have made the appointment is rooted in the hybrid office of clerk-register, which the county created when the Board of Commissioners merged the clerk and register of deeds positions more than a decade ago.

Michigans Election Code says that if a vacancy occurs in a county clerk or prosecutor position, it shall be filled by circuit judges in the county.

The code does not address a merged office of clerk-register, saying a vacancy that occurs in any county office except clerk or prosecutor must be filled by the presiding or senior judge of the probate court, the county clerk and the prosecuting attorney.

The question before the Court can thus be stated, Jamos order states,Where two constitutional offices are combined, and the Constitution provides a procedure for filling the vacancy of one office and a statute provides a procedure for filling the vacancy of the other, does the Constitution or the statute control?

This court finds that the Constitution controls, the order states.

Genesee judges announced the appointment of Clemons, who previously served as the chairman of the Board of Commissioners, in a Dec. 6 news release.

His appointment came after the judges said they had interviewed eight applicants for the position in private and never revealed the names of other candidates.

In a statement issued in a county news release, Clemons said the process used in his appointment was proven to be correct.

Since day one in this role, I have been dedicated to improving the office operations and providing exceptional services to all residents of Genesee County, Clemons statement says. I am relieved to have this case resolved and excited to continue.

Ellison said in an email to MLive-The Flint Journal that he plans to appeal Jamos decision.

Leyton thanked his staff for their work in the case in a news release Monday.

The appointment of Dominque Clemons to the position...was done in accordance with the state Constitution, Leyton said in a statement.

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:

Second lawsuit challenges closed-door process used to pick Genesee clerk-register

289 crashes, 93 injuries occurred at Genesee Countys 10 most dangerous intersections

Groups that sued Flint over service line replacements renew call for contempt ruling
FLINT, MI -- The state expects to request additional funding to remediate the most contaminated sections of the old Buick City site, a former General Motors property -- most of which is under contract to be sold for redevelopment.

Elizabeth Browne, director of the Materials Management Division in the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, told MLive-The Flint Journal that she expects the state and federal government to request additional cushion funding from a trust administrator charged with considering such requests from managers of polluted properties GM abandoned during its 2009 bankruptcy.

The amount of the potential funding request isnt yet known, Browne said, but the Revitalizing Auto Communities Environmental Response (RACER) trust that owns Buick City is expected to need more than the $14.6 million remaining in its cleanup budget to address PFAS contamination and other issues on the site.

We are trying to prioritize the work that they need to do ... so that we can get the most remediation we can while its still funded by the RACER trust ..., Browne said. There (currently) isnt money to do everything.

RACER is the trust that was created to manage, remediate and resell properties like Buick City. Brown said it has spent roughly $29 million at the property and was previously granted $6.5 million in cushion funds to carry out work at the site.

The trust is under contract to sell the bulk of Buick City -- 273 additional acres -- to Ashley Capital for its Flint Commerce Center, leaving RACER with two sections of land on the site containing the most difficult cleanup challenges, including PFAS.

Browne was one of several EGLE representatives who led an informational meeting in Flint last week, detailing cleanup activities and pending requests by both the trust and Ashley in advance of the sale closing.

RACER remains responsible for dealing with environmental contamination on the site until its remediated to acceptable levels. Ashley, which broke ground on the first building in the Commerce Center in June, is responsible if it causes exacerbations of the pollution problems during its redevelopment.

Ashley officials have said the company wont go forward with its purchase of the property and a full redevelopment, a projected $300 million investment, without first having agreed to a materials management plan with EGLE and without a brownfield tax break from the city of Flint that would allow it to capture more than $70 million in future property taxes for the project.

Browne said additional cushion funding would be used for work on two sections of the site that are not currently being sold to Ashley. Its those two sections -- in the area of Hamilton Avenue and around a lagoon dug decades ago by GM off James P. Cole Boulevard -- that RACER is continuing to monitor and attempting to contain PFAS and other pollution.

Those (sections) are the areas with the most significant contamination -- where they are going to need to do a lot more work and dont want to have other people (on site) having to worry about coordinating with redevelopment, she said.

Because of restrictive deed covenants on the 273 acres Ashley plans to purchase this year, the company will need approval from EGLE for its own work on the site, including a materials management plan and a proposal for razing surface concrete slabs and pavement, building foundations and utilities that were left behind by GM.

Ashley officials have said GM left Buick City in worse condition than a typical brownfield because while it demolished buildings that made up the complex, it left behind that infrastructure on and below the surface.

The company said in October removing that infrastructure will cost roughly $17 million and it secured funding to complete the work from the state ($8.5 million), the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation ($2 million), and from American Rescue Plan Act funds from the city and Genesee County ($3.25 million from each).

Ashley officials have said the purchase of the Hamilton Avenue and lagoon properties are a part of the companys long-term plans but have also said a sale could take up to a decade to complete as RACERs remediation work continues in those areas.

The Buick City complex on Flints north side opened in 1904 and became known as Buick City in 1985 after company and union officials launched a plan to bring supplier plants on the property, cutting down on potential supply chain issues.

At its peak, nearly 30,000 GM employees worked at the site, which once produced every Buick built by the company. Vehicle assembly ended in 1999.

Under the terms of a 2010 settlement agreement with the federal government, GM agreed to pay more than $641 million for the cleanup and administration of 89 properties it surrendered during its bankruptcy, including Buick City. The money was placed in a trust to fund cleanup and oversight of the properties with some held in reserve to provide supplemental funds to the most contaminated sites.

The Flint City Council has set a public hearing on Ashleys redevelopment plan at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 14. The meeting is scheduled to be held in the third-floor auditorium of the Genesee County administration building, 1101 Beach St.

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:

Flints Buick City site is back in business but these 4 hurdles still face developer

Trust that owns Buick City site looks for PFAS solutions in contaminated lagoon

Buick City brownfield plan would capture $70M for redevelopment
WALKER, MI  The search for a person distressed in the Grand River in the Walker area is now a recovery effort, a fire official said.

The individual  authorities arent sure if its a man or woman  was last spotted about four hours ago by another person in a canoe on the opposite side of the river.

Walker Fire Battalion Chief Chad Host briefed media outlets with an update on the search Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 8, as well as where the investigation stood.

Host said initial reports indicated a person may have been seen in the 4000 block of Butterworth Street SW with their head above water gasping for air and then was not seen after.

So far, dive teams and rescue boats searched north and south of the Wilson Street bridge, and nothing has been found.

Host noted that authorities havent located any empty canoes or kayaks along the river and no missing persons reports have been filed.

The recovery could take hours, he said, and the scene will eventually be turned over to the Kent County Sheriffs Office for further operations.

Emergency personnel remained at the scene as of 2 p.m. on Tuesday.

Read more on MLive:

City of Grand Rapids to borrow up to $12M to redevelop downtown riverfront park

John Gibbs hires new senior assistant, refuses to disclose their name

Faygo Rock and Rye soft serve available this week only at Michigan ice cream shop
ALLENDALE, MI  Grand Valley State University has secured a $2.6 million federal grant to continue a nursing scholarship program that aims to train more nurse practitioners in Michigan.

GVSU is partnering with McLaren Health Care and Trinity Health Muskegon this year to recruit and train 37 nurses from disadvantaged or underrepresented backgrounds through the four-year program, the university announced in a July news release.

Nurses who are accepted in the program can receive up to 80% tuition assistance from GVSU and will have the opportunity to earn advanced nursing degrees ranging from a masters to a doctorate through GVSUs Kirkhof College of Nursing.

The $2.6 million Advanced Nursing Education Workforce grant was provided by the Health Resources and Services Administration in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The scholarship program is intended to support registered nurses who want to advance their education, and who are interested specifically in working rural or underserved areas, and pursuing a career in primary care or mental health, according to GVSU.

Both McLaren and Trinity Health Muskegon are recruiting from the communities these nurses will serve, said Katherine Moran, associate dean for graduate programs and research in GVSUs Kirkhof College of Nursing.

These are working nurses who have expressed a desire to enhance their education in primary care, mental health, or substance use disorder care.

The program has three pathways: adult/older adult primary care, family nurse practitioner, and psychiatric mental health.

Each pathway takes eight semesters, or four years, to complete. Students take most of the classes online, with one or two in-person high-impact learning sessions each semester, the release said.

This is the fourth year GVSU has secured funding through the federal program, which has provided a total of $7.6 million to Grand Valley since 2019.

The program has provided tuition support to 80 McLaren nurses across the state since its inception, according to a news release from McLaren. The initial group of nurse-scholars graduated in 2022 and 2023 and have entered the nursing workforce with their elevated credentials.

At a time when every nurse counts, I cannot adequately express how proud I am of the leadership associated with this endeavor, one that will provide a deserving group of McLaren nurses with this tremendous opportunity, said Phil Incarnati, president and CEO of McLaren Health Care, in a statement. This has been a truly rewarding program, and we are grateful to Grand Valley for their partnership.

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.

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Brewery Vivant bringing back Beer Fest after 4-year hiatus

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI - A Muskegon area man was sentenced to 150 months, or 12.5 years, in federal prison for felony firearm possession, according to a Aug. 7 announcement by the U.S. Attorneys Office.

Zebulon Timothy Nester, 27, of Ravenna, will also spend a court-ordered three years on supervised release after his imprisonment, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten said in a release.

Nester, who pleaded guilty to this charge in April, previously served time for an assault with the intent of unarmed robbery at a Kentwood house party in 2013.

Related: Man, 17, reportedly burst through door before shooting victim at Kentwood party, court records show

The felony firearm possession charge stemmed from police discovering in July 2022 that Nester had a stock of firearms, unregistered firearm silences, ammunition, firearms accessories, body armor, a 3D printer and 3D printed Glock switches that convert semi-automatic Glock pistols into fully automatic firearms, Totten said.

Whether they are purchased illegally, stolen, or manufactured at home, federal law is clear: firearms, ammunition, unregistered silencers, and firearm conversion devices do not belong in the hands of felons, Totten said in a statement. The serious sentence imposed here shows that illegally armed criminals will face serious consequences in federal court.

Glock switches even when unattached to a firearm are considered machine guns under federal law, Totten said. Firearm silencers must also be registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, he added.

The firearms and accessories were found at Nesters home in Ravenna, officials said. He was previously apprehended by police in connection to a June 8, 2022 breaking and entering report of a stolen handgun from a Newaygo County residence, officials said.

Zebulon Nester blatantly and illegally possessed and sold firearms buying himself another round in federal prison, said James Deir, special agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Risking the safety of our community will not be tolerated.

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Allendale teen girl hospitalized in crash in West Michigan

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8 men accused of soliciting prostitution in Kent County undercover sting
WYOMING, MI  The embattled mayor of Wyoming criminally charged in the alleged 2020 false-election scheme intended to keep former President Donald Trump in office faced calls Monday evening to resign or step aside.

The leader of our small city is involved in a crime against our democracy, Wyoming resident Carla Gaunichaux told city council on Monday. You cannot sweep that under the rug. The mayor has every right to due process and I respect that, but we cannot sweep this under the rug.

His name is on this paper. You cannot deny that.

The Wyoming City Councils Monday, Aug. 7, meeting was the first since Mayor Kent Vanderwood, 69, was charged in mid-July with eight felonies stemming from his alleged participation in the effort to replace the states electoral college representatives with a pro-Trump slate.

Vanderwood was among a group of Republicans who in late 2020 allegedly signed documents that falsely identified themselves as the states electors in what some claim was a coordinated effort to subvert the election results in favor of Trump across a handful of swing states.

The mayor of Kent Countys second-biggest city is one of 16 people charged by Michigan Attorney Dana Nessel in connection to the scheme.

Vanderwoods attorney has said his client will be vindicated and that the mayor has no intention of resigning.

Related: Charged in Trump fake elector scheme, West Michigan mayor will be vindicated, attorney says

Neither Vanderwood nor his colleagues on city council publicly addressed the charges during the Monday meeting. Only 2nd Ward Councilmember Marissa Postler was absent.

Vanderwood quickly left through a side door after the meeting ended.

During the meeting, Vanderwood requested that Mayor Pro Tem Robert Postema preside over public comments to make it less awkward for other councilmembers.

About 20 people criticized Vanderwood and another 12 people supported him during public comment. A number of people, but not a majority, on both sides werent Wyoming residents.

A number of those who criticized Vanderwood said he should either resign or at least step down from the mayoral role, saying he attempted to undermine American democracy.

Most of those who supported Vanderwood spoke to his character. Some said Vanderwood broke no law.

I think that the city of Wyoming could be in no better hands at this time, in this junction -- I know theres a lot of challenges that arent being maybe talked about tonight and given their due attention -- but I think that theres no better leader for this time and the time of where were at as a city of Wyoming than Kent Vanderwood, said Greg Kelley, who said he raised his family in Wyoming.

I just want to voice my appreciation and trust in him as a leader, unequivocally, without reservation. He is a man of integrity.

Wyoming resident Valley Moore asked Vanderwood to own up to his mistake and let Wyoming move forward.

What I am most upset about is that my own mayor, or councilmember, tried to negate my vote, said Moore. He actually tried to negate thousands of legal votes in a presidential election. A man was just up here saying hes a man of integrity. Are you kidding me? Its unbelievable.

Vanderwood has served on the Wyoming City Council for 16 years and is serving in his first year as mayor.

In August 2022, Vanderwood won a three-way primary to replace retiring, longtime Wyoming Mayor Jack Poll. Vanderwood is vice president of The Timothy Group, which serves faith-based nonprofits.

Vanderwood is charged with conspiracy to commit forgery, two counts of forgery, conspiracy to commit uttering and publishing, uttering and publishing, conspiracy to commit election law forgery, and two counts of election law forgery.

Nessels offices alleged Vanderwood, and the other individuals charged met covertly in the basement of the Michigan Republican Party headquarters on Dec. 14, and signed their names to multiple certificates claimed to be the legal electors.

On the day the states legal electors met to certify the 2020 election results in Michigans Capitol, they walked to the building and attempted to enter to certify the false electors but were blocked.

These false documents were then transmitted to the United States Senate and National Archives in a coordinated effort to award the states electoral votes to the candidate of their choosing, in place of the candidates actually elected by the people of Michigan, Nessels office previously said in a statement.

In a Facebook post last month, the City of Wyoming said residents had asked about recalling or removing Vanderwood from office. The city said that recall petitions cannot be filed in Kent County until the elected official has been in office for a year. Under state law, the governor can remove an elected official for misconduct or a felony conviction, the city said.

The alleged misconduct would have to have happened while the elected official held the position.

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Allendale teen girl hospitalized in crash in West Michigan

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JACKSON COUNTY, MI  Parts of I-94 and U.S. 127 will see some closures in Jackson County.

The Michigan Department of Transportation is closing the Dearing Road entrance ramp to westbound I-94, along with the westbound I-94 exit ramp to Michigan Avenue for rebuilding, officials said.

The closure will be from 6 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9 through 9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 25. The ramps will be opened temporarily from Saturday, Aug. 12 through Sunday, Aug. 13, officials said.

Dearing Road traffic heading for westbound I-94 will be detoured south to westbound Michigan Avenue to reach westbound I-94. Additionally, I-94 westbound exit ramp traffic to Michigan Avenue will exit at Concord Road and take northbound Concord Road to Michigan Avenue.

The construction is part of the I-94 Jackson project rebuilding nearly 13 miles of I-94 in Jackson, Albion and Parma.

Funding for the project is made possible by Gov. Gretchen Whitmers Rebuilding Michigan program to rebuild the state highways and bridges that are critical to the states economy and carry the most traffic, officials said.

The overall project is expected to be complete by November 2024.

In addition to the I-94 construction, a part of U.S. 127 also will be closed in Jackson County. MDOT will close northbound U.S. 127/M-50/West Avenue to a single lane for sidewalk construction, officials said.

The closure will take place from 7 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8 through 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11. The closure is from Commonwealth Avenue to Andrew Avenue, officials said.

The work is part of MDOTs ongoing $120-million investment to rebuild and widen I-94 near the Airport Road interchange to just west of the east U.S. 127/I-94 interchange in Blackman and Leoni townships.

The entire project is expected to be complete in November.

Motorists should expect delays, official said.

Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Jackson daily newsletter.

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KALAMAZOO, MI  Nearly $800,000 of a combined $2 million in funding has been distributed to help prevent gun violence to help Kalamazoo communities heal.

The city of Kalamazoo and Kalamazoo County each pledged $1 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds to help fight gun violence in September 2021.
KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI -- Polls are open for the Tuesday, Aug. 8 election in Kalamazoo County.

Voters can visit their polling location between 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Polling location information and registration status can be found here.
BAY CITY, MI  From a $31 million investment planned at Standish-based Vantage Plastics to a Saginaw County banquet centers big plans for the Lumber Barons and Stables property in Bay City, heres some recent mid-Michigan business news you might have missed:

Treat your four-legged friend to a banana pup cup from this Michigan ice cream shop

Theres a waterfront ice cream shop on the banks of the Saginaw River in Bay City thats known for its unique flavors freshly made with locally-sourced ingredients.

Michigan Cream & Sugar Ice Cream Co., a seasonal ice cream parlor located in the Uptown Bay City development thats also home to Prost! Wine Bar & Charcuterie, Real Seafood, Vinnys Pizzeria and other restaurants and retailers, serves campfire smore, peaches and cream, lemon blueberry and other special flavors in freshly-made bubble waffle cones.

But this summer, Cream & Sugar has a special treat for canine customers, too.

Ice cream maker Rachel Vaillancourt was baking banana bread for our totally bananas flavor a couple weeks ago, when she suggested we should make a banana pup cup. She said her dog loves to eat bananas as an occasional treat, said Tim Mangan, manager of Cream & Sugar, 160 Uptown Drive.

Read the full story here.

A view of a Frankenmuth sign through the sunflowers at Grandpa Tinys Heritage Farm located at 7775 Weiss St. in Frankenmuth on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

Frankenmuth event to focus on autism awareness for the business community

The Xavier DeGroat Autism Foundation will host a special event focused on autism awareness for the business community at Frankenmuths historic Fischer Hall next month.

The organizations Autism Club Awards Dinner will take place from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17, at 613 S. Main St.

Area business and community leaders are invited to attend the event and reflect on how neurodiversity and inclusion can benefit their organizations. General admission is $25, and VIP admission is $100. Register online at www.xavierdegroatfoundation.org.

During the event, Xavier DeGroat, CEO of the foundation and an autism advocate, will honor Wayne Bronner, president and CEO of Bronners Christmas Wonderland, the Zehnder family, U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint Township, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, State House Rep. Amos ONeal, Frankenmuth Mayor Mary Anne Ackerman and others, according to a foundation news release.

Read the full story here.

Heritage Natural Foods, 717 Gratiot Ave. in Saginaw, seen here on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, has closed. (Heather Jordan | MLive.com)

West side Saginaw shop known for natural foods, snail mail newsletter closes after 41 years

A small health food store with a decades-long history on Saginaws West side has closed.

Debie Baxter first opened Heritage Natural Foods with her late husband, Paul Baxter, on Mackinaw Street in 1982. They operated the store there for about a decade before moving it to 717 Gratiot Ave., across the street from Zorbas Lounge, now Skymint, and Scottish Inn, where it has served loyal customers ever since.

There was such a lack of natural food stores (at the time), Debie Baxter said, noting that major grocery store chains werent yet offering many of those products. We were the first independent natural food store in town.

Through the years, Heritage Natural Foods offered shoppers specialty and gourmet foods, such as nuts and seeds, organic jams, honey, maple syrup and Traverse City cherries, giftable items like Saginaw T-shirts and hats, and other Michigan-made and locally-made goods. When natural food products became commonplace at larger grocery stores, Heritage Natural Foods added supplements to its inventory to remain competitive.

The Baxters shop attracted a loyal clientele whom Debie Baxter kept in touch with via a monthly newsletter.

I did an actual snail mail newsletter every month to about 150 people, she said.

Read the full story here.

Workers trim molds for returnable packaging at the Vantage Plastics, 1415 W. Cedar St. in Standish in this MLive/The Bay City Times file photo. (Yfat Yossifor | MLive.com file)The Bay City Times

Vantage Plastics to invest $31 Million, create 93 jobs in Bay County

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.

Read the full story here.

Popeyes says it is bringing back its popular chicken sandwich "every day" on Sunday, November 3, 2019 (Photo by Neil Blake | MLive)

Midland will have to wait at least a little while longer for new Popeyes to open

Midland will have to wait at least a little while longer for a new Popeyes restaurant to open.

The fast food chain specializing in fried chicken is opening a new location at 1807 S. Saginaw Road, just North of Pis Chinese Restaurant. The building is under construction.

Were always happy to see new investment in center city Midland, and weve certainly heard a lot of positive things in the community, people excited about Popeyes coming to Midland, Jacob Kain, director of planning and community development for the city of Midland, told MLive/The Saginaw News in March. Were excited for them to open and be a part of Midland.

But four months later, the restaurants timeline for opening is unclear. As of late July, the project had experienced delays.

The latest information the city has regarding the project is that there are delays receiving switchgear necessary for their electrical service, an issue facing other projects around the nation as well, Kain said. As a result, we dont have an estimate on the projects completion.

Read the full story here.

Lumber Barons Brewery, 804 E. Midland St. in Bay City, is seen in this MLive file photo. (Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com file)Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com file

Saginaws historic Golden Glow brings new life to Bay Citys shuttered Lumber Barons

A Saginaw County banquet center with a nearly 100-year history has acquired Bay Citys Lumber Barons and Stables property.

Golden Glow Ballroom, established in 1924 and located at 2950 S. Graham Road (M-52) in Saginaw Countys Swan Creek Township, has big plans for the shuttered Bay City event venue and bar at 804 E. Midland St.

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!! We have acquired The Lumber Barons and Stables in the heart of downtown Bay City. Though the name and location will be different, we will be bringing the same high level of hospitality, food, and service to Bay City, reads a recent post announcing the news on the Golden Glow Ballrooms Facebook page. Our new location is currently being renovated and will feature an all-new restaurant, brewery, banquet facility, and more.

Read the full story here.

Style Encore, located in the plaza at 2830 Tittabawassee Road, near the intersection of Tittabawassee and Bay roads in Kochville Township, is for sale and possibly closing. (Heather Jordan | MLive.com)Heather Jordan | MLive.com

Saginaw-area resale clothing shop seeks new owner

A resale clothing store near one of Saginaw Countys busiest intersections has been listed for sale.

Style Encore, located in the plaza at 2830 Tittabawassee Road, near the intersection of Tittabawassee and Bay roads, is in need of a new owner, according to a recent post on the shops Facebook page.

Style Encore Saginaw is for sale. We have loved this business and our customers for almost a decade. We are looking for the new owner to take over this store so we can focus on other things, reads a recent post. Please share this news with friends and family so Style Encore can continue to give Saginaw a great place to buy and sell apparel, handbags, shoes and accessories! Contact Cat Eckstaedt for inquiries at 763.520.8464 or ceckstaedt@winmarkcorporation.com.

Read the full story here.

Wedding gowns from the Lillian West collection and carried by Infinity Bridal are seen in this 2018 MLive file photo. (Isis Simpson-Mersha, MLive.com file)Isis Simpson-Mersha, MLive.com file

A mid-Michigan bridal boutique is going out of business

A bridal boutique located in the Uptown Bay City development is going out of business.

The shop is having a farewell sale with dresses deeply discounted, according to the Infinity Bridal Facebook page. In recent days, the store had about 30 gowns left, and they were marked 60% off.

The shops impending closure was announced via the Infinity Bridal Facebook page earlier this summer. The post reads:

It is time to say Farewell to the chapter that is Infinity Bridal. Kelly and I couldnt be more thankful for each and every individual who has touched this business and helped us turn it to gold. We are so fortunate to be able to move on with amazing memories, accomplishments and immense success.

We would love to pass Infinity Bridal on to someone who can continue to grow what we have built but if we cannot we will be closing our doors August 31st, 2023.

Read the full story here.

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DETROIT -- Joey Wentz was roughed up in the first two innings and the Minnesota Twins cruised to a 9-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers in the series opener on Monday night at Comerica Park.

The Tigers (49-63) have three more this week against the first-place Twins (60-54).

The Twins scored four in the first, thanks to an RBI double by Carlos Correa and a three-run homer by Ryan Jeffers. Wentz surrendered three more in the second when Correa hit a three-run homer that just cleared the fence in right.

The Tigers did almost nothing on offense, only reaching scoring position once against Twins starter Pablo Lopez.

Lopez pitched seven scoreless frames, striking out eight without a walk.

He has four pitches and he uses them all. With a lead like that, he didnt lose his mental edge, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. Thats why he lasted as long as he did and finished strong and got through seven.

Hinch used the blowout game to get Alex Lange a low-leverage opportunity in the eighth inning. Lange walked three batters and forced in a run when he hit Max Kepler with a pitch. He also struck out three batters.

In his last three outings, Lange has walked nine of the 17 batters hes faced.

As good as it is to punch out hitters, giving them free base runners is just not a path to success that you can sustain, Hinch said. It was one step forward, one step backward.

Infielder Zack Short pitched a scoreless ninth inning, getting Michael A. Taylor swinging on a 70 mph fastball for his first career strikeout in five innings of garbage-time work.

Detroit second baseman Nick Maton finally got the Tigers on the board in the bottom of the ninth with a three-run homer against Twins reliever Brent Headrick.

It was a bad morale day from the get-go, Hinch said. Youve got to fight through that a little bit. Hopefully, Matons swing at the end will kickstart tomorrow. But weve got to get away from this one because it was ugly from the beginning.

The Tigers could add a fresh arm (or arms) from Triple-A Toledo as soon as Tuesday to help the taxed bullpen.

Well have all options on the table, Hinch said.

BOX SCORE

Up next: The Tigers and Twins meet again on Tuesday at 6:40 p.m. Tigers lefty Eduardo Rodriguez (7-5, 2.96 ERA) will face Twins right-hander Sonny Gray (5-4, 3.18).

Rodriguez allowed two runs on seven hits in six innings, striking out five with one walk, in his last start on Aug. 2 in Pittsburgh. That was just one day after he rejected a trade that would have sent him to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Gray last faced the Tigers on June 15 at Target Field. He walked three in the fourth inning and didnt come back out for the fifth.
Scott Rumpsa.

Alma-Jean Fossel at the Community Food Club of Grand Rapids.

Community Action House's Food Club and Opportunity Hub.

The Community Food Club of Grand Rapids.

Alma-Jean Fossel at the Community Food Club of Grand Rapids.
Actress and social commentator Lydia Forson gave a witty response to a netizen questioning how a team of travellers drove from Accra to London.

The netizen asked under Forson's congratulatory tweet to the travellers on Sunday, August 6, "How did they drive to London with all the water in the sea? I am not understanding this trip by road."

Lydia sarcastically replied on Tuesday, August 8,"They called Moses to part it for them."

Her lighthearted response to the netizen's query has garnered laugher on Twitter, with many blasting people who have been doubting the trip.

Lydia Forson had earlier congratulated the team, tweeting: "Congratulations Richard and all the amazing guys and the only woman who made the journey safely to London."

The groundbreaking trip has been hailed for showcasing pan-African unity and friendship.

The successful expedition has earned the team accolades for completing a challenging cross-continental road trip and proving it can be done.

Background

A 13-member team of Ghanaians successfully completed an epic 10,000km road trip from Accra to London.

The group was led by tourism enthusiast Kwabena Peprah of Wanderlust Ghana.

The team left Accra on July 23 and drove through several African countries before entering Europe and finally arriving in London on August 6.
Kenyan victims of the 1998 US embassy bombing in Nairobi on Monday renewed calls for compensation from Washington as the East African nation marked 25 years since its deadliest terror attack.

A powerful blast hit the US embassy in downtown Nairobi on August 7, 1998, killing 213 people and injuring over 5,000 -- most of them pedestrians or office workers in the adjacent buildings.

Minutes later, another explosion rocked the US mission in Dar es Salaam, in neighbouring Tanzania.

The twin bombings, claimed by Al-Qaeda, killed a total of 224 people and went on to shape how a generation thinks about personal security.

The attack "still feels fresh" a quarter century later, said Anisa Mwilu, who lost her husband in the blast.

"What we can ask is for compensation," she said to applause from several hundred people gathered for a remembrance ceremony for those killed, held at a memorial park in the Kenyan capital.

Caroline Muthoka, a member of a victims' group, urged the US Congress to approve legislation to cover medical expenses and education costs for survivors and their families.

Muthoka described the failure of the US government to compensate victims as a "injustice".

Redempta Kadenge Amisi, who was in a building flattened by the explosion, said she needed financial assistance to cover the costs of her twice-daily medication.

Revenge attacks

"The three people I was with were killed instantly. I didn't realise it but my back was on fire," she said of injuries that hospitalised her for over a month.

"Since the attack, I haven't received anything... but I still hope to get some."

Both Kenyan and US officials attended the ceremony, where the names of all the victims were read out aloud, and candles lit in memory.

The 1998 attack thrust Al-Qaeda onto the global stage and was the first in a series of bloody assaults in the East African nation.

Since the deployment of Kenyan military in Somalia in October 2011 to fight the Al-Qaeda-affiliate Al-Shabaab, there has been an upsurge in revenge attacks over the border.

In September 2013, Al-Shabaab gunmen stormed Nairobi's Westgate mall, killing at least 67 people.

Another Al-Shabaab attack in April 2015 at a university in the eastern Kenyan city of Garissa left 148 people dead.

In January 2019, the group laid siege to a hotel complex in Nairobi, killing 21 people.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has admonished presidential aspirants to desist from creating the impression that the partys electoral roll for its presidential primaries is not credible.

Campaign teams of some aspirants raised concerns about the register claiming it is fraught with errors.

But the NPP in a statement dated August 7, signed by the Secretary of the Presidential Elections Committee, William Yamoah, assured that the committee members are working closely with the presidential aspirants to ensure all errors are corrected.

The party assured that the committee is determined not to only produce a credible Voter Register but also to ensure that the election process is free, fair, and transparent.

We are aware that complaints about albums have been a subject matter of disputes in the history of our political party elections in the 4th Republic and this is exactly what the NPP together with the Presidential Elections Committee is taking steps to avoid in the current contest. It is therefore unfortunate for anyone to give the impression to Ghanaians that the Album is a fallacy.

We wish to assure the entire public that the Presidential Elections Committee is determined not only to produce a credible Voter Register but also to ensure that the election process is free, fair and transparent. In this regard, we continue to invite inputs from interested individuals and Party members.

-citinewsroom
Renowned media practitioner Eric Murphy has urged the youth to be innovative and create jobs for themselves.

At the recent Youth in Economic Development and Growth (YED-G) symposium, held at the UniMAC-GIJs North Dzorwulu campus, Mr. Murphy advised the youth not to always rely on government for jobs.

"Don't wait on government to offer you a job; employ yourself. Be a critical thinker who will think beyond boundaries, he said.

The symposium organized by MaxSector Consulting was themed "Envision Limitlessly: The Value of an Innovative and Participatory Youth in Economic Development & Growth."

In his speech, Murphy emphasized the importance of developing strong leadership skills, effective communication, problem-solving, and adaptability.

"You should be able to entice people to follow you," he said regarding getting more followers.

Murphy also stressed the need to "think beyond boundaries and be a critical thinker" when it comes to problem-solving.

The award-winning CEO of Ghana Universities Journals emphasized that the countrys youth must take initiative to create their own opportunities.

The symposium aimed to motivate Ghanaian youth to tap into their potential and drive economic growth through innovation and participation.
07.08.2023 LISTEN

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) branch in German has welcomed governments move to provide Rapid Intervention Vehicles (RIVs) to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS).

The Ghana National Fire Service last week took delivery of an RIV prototype from Toyota Ghana at the National Headquarters.

With the help of government, the Service is expected to have 200 Rapid Intervention Vehicles by the end of 2023.

In a press release from NPP Germany, it has applauded President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his government for continuously committing to resourcing the National Fire Service.

The group shares the view that resourcing firefighters by providing adequate funding, equipment, training, and personnel to ensure effective life-saving response, and management is very important.

The NPP Germany in its release admonished Ghanaians to vote for the party in the 2024 General Elections for the continuous investment in the Ghana National Fire Service and other security agencies.

We will continue to urge the good people of Ghana to vote NPP and break the 8 in order to retain the NPP so that the next NPP administration in the helm of governance will continue to give off its best.

We Say KUDOS to Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawmia, parts of the NPP Germany release said.

Below is a copy of the release:

NPP GERMANY

PRESS RELEASE

07---08---2023

NPP GERMANY LAUDS, WELCOMES NEW DAWN OF INTERVENTIONS FOR FIRE SERVICE

The Ruling NPP Branch of Germany finds it highly refreshing and commendable that the President of the Republic, His Excellency Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo is not relenting in ensuring that security agencies and the Ghana National Fire Service alike get the best of resources to enhance their operations.

According to a Ghanaweb Report, on Thursday, 3 August 2023, Mr. Julius Kuunuor, the Chief Fire Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), along with several Directors of the Service, conducted an inspection of the newly received Rapid Intervention Vehicle (RIV) prototype from Toyota Ghana at the National Headquarters.

This is indeed amazing because State resourcing of security agencies is crucial for maintaining law and order, protecting citizens, and ensuring national security.

This news comes as a major intervention since without proper funding and resources, security agencies might struggle to stay ahead of evolving threats, leading to potential vulnerabilities and compromised safety.

The Rapid Intervention Vehicle (RVI) prototype is an exceptional all-rounder vehicle, meticulously designed to handle a variety of emergency situations. Its compact size allows it to navigate even difficult terrains, ensuring a prompt response to emergencies in challenging locations.

This development comes as the GNFS is eagerly anticipating the arrival of 200 of these cutting-edge RIVS in the country by the end of the year.

The addition of these vehicles is a crucial step in bolstering the Service's fleet of rescue and firefighting engines, which have been showing signs of aging.

They will be stationed in accident-prone areas, strategically important locations with critical national installations, and all District Fire Stations currently without fire engines.

It is not surprising at all to acknowledge that it is only during the NPP tenure of office that all these massive development-oriented initiatives are being facilitated by the Akufo-Addo-led NPP government.

The NPP remains committed to resourcing our firefighters by providing adequate funding, equipment, training, and personnel to ensure effective life-saving response, and management.

The NPP further acknowledges that It's crucial to continually assess and adapt resources based on changing environmental conditions and fire risk factors.

We will continue to urge the good people of Ghana to vote NPP and break the 8 in order to retain the NPP so that the next NPP administration in the helm of governance will continue to give off its best.

We Say KUDOS to Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawmia!!!

Let The Truth Confound The Wise

Long Live Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo!!

God Bless Our Homeland Ghana!!!

Long Live the Elephant Party!!!!

Kukruduuuu Eeeessshiii!!!!

Signed:

Nana Osei Boateng

NPP Germany Branch

Communications Director
President Nana Akufo-Addo has sent words of encouragement to the 600,714 candidates sitting for this year's Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), the final exam for Junior High School which began today across the country.

In a statement on social media, President Akufo-Addo urged the candidates to avoid examination malpractices.

He motivated them to give the exams their best shot so they can move on to the next stage of their education under his government's free Senior High School policy.

"I send best wishes to all 600,714 students sitting this year's Basic Education Certificate Examination, which begun today.

I urge all students not to engage in any acts of examination malpractice, complete their exams successfully, and move on to the next stage of their education, senior high school, which is free," the President said.

This years BECE is the last to be held since the inception of the exam in 1990.

From next year onwards, the new standardized national exam for Junior High School graduation will be the National Standards Test (NST).
A 34-year-old man, who forged a Bank of Ghana (BoG) License to operate a microfinance company at Suhum in the Eastern region and its environs, has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment by an Accra Circuit Court.

Kofi Asante, aka Davis, pleaded guilty to the charge of engaging in deposit-taking without license and was sentenced to four years imprisonment.

On the charge of forgery of an official document, Asante pleaded guilty and was sentenced to eight years imprisonment.

The sentences are to run concurrently, the court presided over by Joojo Amoah Hagan, said

The prosecution, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Emmanuel Haligah, said the Police picked intelligence that the accused person, now convict, had established microfinance business centres in the name of KM Community Bank and Prym Capital within the Suhum and its environs.

It said the convict, after establishing the business, went ahead to collect deposits from people without license.

The prosecution said intelligence indicated that the KM Community Bank had branches in Anum Apapam, Akorabo, and Amanase, while Prym Capital had its headquarters in Suhum.

The prosecution said on June 30, 2023, Asante was arrested for investigations and when his offices were searched, copies of documents purported to be issued by the Bank of Ghana in the name of KM Community Bank were found and retrieved for investigations.

It said investigations revealed that Asante had forged the Bank of Ghana License between April and January 2023 and had about 24 youth working as representatives within Suhum and its environs.

It said during the period, Asante had successfully convinced about 950 persons, who made daily deposits of GHc56,000 with his business.

The prosecution said during interrogation, Asante admitted that KM Community Bank and PRYM Capital were neither registered by the Office of the Registrar of Companies nor licensed by the Bank of Ghana to undertake deposit-taking business.

It said Asante confessed that he forged the Bank of Ghana license retrieved from his office.

GNA
The second-ranking US diplomat met Niger's military leaders on Monday to press to reverse a coup but she reported no headway a day after the junta ignored an ultimatum from the West African bloc.

Victoria Nuland, a veteran envoy who is the acting deputy secretary of state, said she met for more than two hours with chiefs of the military who on July 26 ousted Mohamed Bazoum, a democratically elected Western ally.

She described the talks as "extremely frank and at times quite difficult" but that she offered "a number of options" to exit the crisis and restore the relationship with the United States, which like other Western nations has suspended aid over the coup.

"This was a first conversation in which the United States was offering its good offices if there is a desire on the part of the people who are responsible for this to return to the constitutional order," she told reporters by telephone before flying out.

Victoria Nuland, who as acting deputy secretary of state made a crisis trip to Niger, is seen addressing a news conference in Sri Lanka on February 1, 2023. By ISHARA S. KODIKARA (AFP/File)

"I would not say that we were in any way taken up on that offer."

She said the junta did not respond to her requests to meet Niger's self-proclaimed new leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani, or the detained elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, although US officials have been in touch with Bazoum by telephone.

Nuland said she met Brigadier General Moussa Salaou Barmou, who has been named the new military chief of staff and who has worked closely in the past with the United States, which along with former colonial power France has based anti-jihadist operations in the Sahel out of Niger.

Nuland said she warned Niger against following neighbouring Mali in bringing in Russia's Wagner mercenaries.

"The people who have taken this action here understand very well the risks to their sovereignty when Wagner is invited in," said Nuland, known for her hawkish stance on Russia.

Regional summit

Nuland's trip, conducted in secrecy until she left, came after the junta ignored a deadline set by the ECOWAS regional bloc to reinstate Bazoum by midnight (2300 GMT) on Sunday or risk military intervention.

The 15-nation bloc said it would hold a summit on the crisis on Thursday in the Nigerian capital Abuja.

A source close to ECOWAS said an immediate military intervention to restore Bazoum was not being envisaged at this stage.

Niger ignored a deadline to reinstate democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum. By - (AFP)

Mali, which neighbours Niger, said it and Burkina Faso -- which have both been suspended from ECOWAS over their own military coups -- were sending a joint official delegation to Niamey to show "solidarity (with) the people of Niger".

They have said military intervention would be tantamount to a declaration of war.

Algeria, which shares a long land border with Niger, has also cautioned against a military solution, which President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said would be "a direct threat" to his North African country.

Senators in regional heavyweight Nigeria urged everyone to focus on the "political and diplomatic option".

More envoys coming

Just before the ultimatum expired on Sunday, Niger's military rulers closed the Sahel country's airspace and warned any attempt to enter it would meet with an "energetic and immediate response".

They said there had been a "pre-deployment in preparation for intervention" made by two Central African countries, without naming them, and warned: "Any state involved will be considered co-belligerent."

But Niger's military rulers also urged an ECOWAS delegation to return for talks, Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou told French broadcaster TV5 Monde Monday, after an abortive first attempt.

Mahamadou revealed in his interview that Bazoum -- held with his wife and son -- was enduring deteriorating conditions.

"The junta have asked the ECOWAS delegation to return" and its members "will be in Niamey probably today (Monday) or tomorrow", Mahamadou said in an interview.

An ECOWAS delegation had arrived in the capital Niamey last Thursday but did not stay overnight as scheduled. It did not meet either Bazoum or Tiani.

Map showing the members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), including those suspended or sanctioned following a coup. By Nalini LEPETIT-CHELLA (AFP)

The UN Secretary-General's representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Santos Simao, was also in Abuja for talks on the crisis.

France, with which Niger's new rulers have broken military ties, said it would "firmly" back whatever course of action ECOWAS took after the deadline expired.

The Niger coup was the latest of several to plague Africa's Sahel belt since 2020.

Niger has been critical to Western strategies to combat jihadist insurgencies that have plagued the Sahel since 2012, with France and the United States stationing around 1,500 and 1,000 troops in the country respectively.
In the wake of NDCs 2016 humiliating election defeat, some sympathisers expressed their disappointments and argued somewhat impetuously that after all Mahama provided Ghanaians with some few developments, including the Circle and Kasoa interchanges, schools, and hospitals, and therefore it was quite unfair for Ghanaians to vote him out of power.

The overarching question we should be asking then is: is governance all about the provision of social amenities and infrastructural projects?

A few years ago, I thought I was dreaming when I heard that some NDCs stone pelting homicidal brats had decided to pelt the Health Minister, Kwaku Agyemang Manu with stones for attempting to inaugurate one of the much touted Mahama infrastructural projects in the Central Region.

According to the ill-informed leader of the NDC stone throwing thugs, since the NPP operatives somehow failed to acknowledge the said Mahama project, the NPP government has no business completing and inaugurating the Government of Ghanas project. How unfortunate?

To be quite honest, I could not contain my arousing disgust when I heard the playful leader of the NDC stone pelting bandwagon insisting somewhat naively that the NPP operatives can only be allowed to go near the NDCs uncompleted projects if they render an unqualified apology to Ex-President Mahama. How pathetic?

The fact of the matter is that we elect a government to oversee our national affairs. And, we, in turn, are obliged to pay taxes to the elected government so as to run the country seamlessly.

In addition, the elected government has our unwavering support to secure prudent loans to support the day-to-day management of the country.

In effect, we (the citizens and denizens) pay for all the expenses in respect of the management of the country.

It was for that reason that I was in acquiescence with former President Mahama for poignantly suggesting sometime in 2008 that it is an exercise in mediocrity for any government to take delight in infrastructural projects.

Somehow, Ex-President Mahama meant to suggest that every lousy government could easily undertake that role of governance. By inference, according to the former president, the provision of infrastructural projects is as easy as ABC.

No offence intended, though, Madam Akua Donkor of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP) could put up more infrastructural projects if given the opportunity.

Indeed, since discerning Ghanaians are obliged to pay taxes, it would be boundlessly unconscionable for any government and its teeming supporters to hide behind social amenities and infrastructural projects such as public toilets, schools, roads, water, electricity, amongst others.

Apparently, I have been maintaining consistently that a president of the nation is a privilege and most important position, and therefore it will always require a tried and tested character to hold such position.

Much as the 1992 Constitution of Ghana prescribes that every sound adult Ghanaian can vie for the presidential seat, not every bona fide Ghanaian can hold down the position and deliver efficiently to the high expectations of the good people of Ghana.

Ideally, someone with a high calibre, vast life experience, a catalogue of suitable employable skills, a portfolio of relevant qualifications, tried and tested competencies and requisite knowledge should be a suitable candidate for the position.

Unfortunately, however, we are, more often than not, been relying on negligent officials whose only preoccupation is to sink the nation deeper and deeper into the mire through unpardonable incompetence and unbridled corruption.

I do not intend to be condescending, far from it. But if governance is all about putting up infrastructural projects, then I will dare state that even my unlettered and untrained mother can perform exceedingly better than what the outgone Mahama government did with all the copious resources.

Somehow, Ex-President Mahama and his teeming supporters are refusing to appreciate the fact that exemplary governance is not all about putting up infrastructural projects.

It is, however, worth stressing that excellence governance goes beyond the provision of social infrastructural and amenities. In fact, praiseworthy governance also involves continuous improvement of socio-economic standards of living.

It is well-stencilled that during his tenure in office, whenever the suffering Ghanaians complained about the economic hardships, former President Mahama and his vociferous communicators would ungraciously chastise the same people who gave them the electoral mandate.

Suffice it to state that the erstwhile Mahama administration failed wilfully to improve on the standards of living of Ghanaians, which partly accounted for their humiliating 2016 election defeat.

K. Badu, UK.

[email protected]
August 2003 saw nearly 15,000 people in France die from heat, more than any summer before or since. Twenty years on, the country is better prepared  but temperatures are rising. RFI looks at what the 2003 disaster can teach France about protecting the vulnerable from heatwaves.

June 2003 was hot. July 2003 was hotter. August 2003 was fatal.

There were actually three significant heatwaves in the summer of 2003  there was one in June, one in July, and then the real whopper came in August, says Richard C Keller, an historian of public health who was in France during the first part of that summer and later wrote a book about its devastating consequences.

In the first days of the month, daily temperatures were normal for the time: on average, around 25 degrees Celsius maximum. By 5 August, they had risen to 37 degrees, and they would remain between 36 and 37 degrees until the 13th.

It was the length of the heatwave that made it exceptional, and its reach. A weather pattern known as blocking meant that hot, dry air remained stuck over France for two weeks, day and night.

Even parts of the country where intense heat was rare weren't spared  notably Paris, where the nighttime temperature barely dropped below 23 degrees throughout the second week of August.

This fact would prove deadly: most of France simply wasn't prepared.

Danger underestimated

At the time, heat wasn't seen as a killer. France had had two fatal heatwaves within living memory  in 1976 and in 1983  but they were seen as freak events, or confined to the south.

As temperatures rose in 2003, newspaper front pages were filled with pictures of tourists splashing in fountains to cool off, recalls Keller, today a professor of medical history and population health at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the US.

For the most part the heat was billed as an inconvenience, he says.

The first warnings that it could be more than that didn't start appearing until a few days into the August heatwave, when French weather service Meteo France cautioned that the elderly, the sick and infants might be at risk.

People on the front lines could already see the proof: they reported that hospitals were being flooded by people suffering from dehydration and other tell-tale signs of heat stress.

The problem is real  we have sick people here who are dying, Patrick Pelloux, a doctor at Saint-Antoine Hospital in Paris and head of the union of French emergency room physicians, told France 3 television, visibly frustrated.

But the government was slow to admit that the heat was killing people. After Pelloux sounded the alarm bell, the then health minister Jean-Francois Mattei also went on TV  from his holiday home in the Riviera where, dressed in a polo shirt, he assured that the situation was under control.

At this point, the bodies were just absolutely piling up in makeshift morgues in cities like Paris and Lyon, notes Keller. By 10 August, he says  the day before Mattei's interview  at least 6,500 people had already died from the heat.

Morgues overflowing

In the days that followed, the government ordered hospitals onto an emergency footing. But it was already too late: most of the deaths occurred in the first two weeks of August.

As the heat abated, emergency services and undertakers struggled to collect and bury the bodies. In Paris, the city ran out of places to store them.

Others wouldn't be discovered until later.

Those who could had left on holiday. When they returned to big cities, some found gruesome scenes: apartment buildings pervaded by the reek of decomposing flesh; ceilings stained by bodily fluids that had dripped through from the flat above, where an upstairs neighbour had died and lain undiscovered for weeks.

Ultimately, 14,802 deaths in France would be attributed to the August 2003 heatwave. Over the entire summer, the toll has been estimated at around 19,000.

The statistics painted a bleak picture. Around 82 percent of the victims were 75 or older. Many of the deaths took place in big cities, Paris above all, where the excess mortality rate was 141 percent compared to an average summer. Of those in the capital who died in their homes, 92 percent were estimated to have lived alone.

The tragedy left France soul-searching, according to Keller: How can the nation that claims to be the originator of the notion of human rights and dignity be in such a place that people could die in such misery, and completely alone, completely isolated?

Efforts to correct mistakes

France put the question to a parliamentary inquiry, which published its conclusions in February 2004.

It identified multiple failings: decision-makers absent during the August holidays, hospitals and nursing homes understaffed, lack of a monitoring system or any kind of heat emergency plan, poor information sharing, a general failure to join the dots.

By that summer, France had put in place its first national heatwave plan.

It introduced a warning system that automatically puts each department of France on alert from June to September. During this period meteorologists and health experts assess risks daily and advise local authorities to issue warnings for intermittent heat (yellow alert), heatwaves (orange alert) or severe heatwaves (red alert).

Each alert is linked to an action plan, setting out specific measures the authorities and emergency services should take.

Crisis mode kicks in with an orange alert. In Paris, for instance, that's when the city begins opening public cool spaces in council offices and stepping up checks on people living on the street. A red alert gets the national government involved.

Since 2004, old people's homes and nursing centres have been required to set up at least one common room with air conditioning where elderly residents can cool off. They must have an emergency strategy in place for heatwaves, including plans to mobilise extra staff if needed.

Meanwhile local councils encourage over-65s and people with disabilities who live at home to sign up to receive phone calls checking in in the event of an orange or red alert. If they report signs of distress, operators can connect them with a doctor or send someone round to their home.

Preventable deaths

That's a nice sentiment, but who really wants to lump themselves in with the idea of being at risk during a heatwave? says Keller, who says France's community registers are limited by requiring people to opt in.

Many people who need help may be reluctant to seek it out, he points out, or simply unaware the service exists. Some don't have a permanent address where they can be reached, or a phone.

In his book, Fatal Isolation: The Devastating Paris Heat Wave of 2003, Keller investigated the abandoned victims of that summer: some 60 Parisians whose bodies were never claimed after their deaths.

Speaking to neighbours and others who had known them, he was struck to see that most people only believed victims had died because of the heatwave if they were over 60. Younger victims were described as dying during the heatwave, but of other causes  alcoholism, heart problems, obesity.

The framing of the typical victim of the heatwave as an older French person led people to think that those are essentially the only people who are at risk, Keller says.

In fact, around a third of the 32,658 people who died from heat in France between 2014 and 2022 were under 75, according to national public health institute Sante Publique France.

While Keller understands why the state has focused on the elderly in the wake of 2003, he'd like to see it take a more comprehensive view of what can put two people of the same age at different risk of dying from heat.

This is a difficult task because the people who are at the greatest vulnerability of dying are in many cases difficult people to reach, he says.

They're people who live in isolation, they're people who suffer from physical or mental disabilities, or addictions, or a range of other health problems that make them difficult to contact. They're people who are unhoused, and in many cases mentally ill.

These are difficult people to reach and difficult people to help, and people who may reject help. I don't think that makes their lives worth any less, though. I think these are important lives to save, and it's important to remember that heat deaths are, for the most part, preventable deaths.

Better prepared, but more exposed

No summer in France has ever been as deadly as 2003, nor as hot. But 2022 came close: it was France's second-hottest summer on record and overall hottest year.

Meanwhile heat-related deaths in France last year were estimated at around 4,800. That suggests France has got better at preventing at least some deaths from heatwaves.

Everything indicates it will have to improve further. In the years since France introduced its first heatwave plan, extreme heat has ceased to be a contingency: between 2004 and 2018, France did not once issue a red alert for heat; since 2019, the maximum warning has been declared five times.

We're certainly better prepared and the public is much more aware, says Guillaume Boulanger, a public health expert who studies living and working environments at Sante Publique France.

But the difficulty we face today is real and rapid climate change, bringing higher temperatures and more frequent, more intense hot spells that now affect the whole of the country, he told Le Monde newspaper.

Based on its observations over the past decade, the public health institute says that France's emergency response to hot weather needs to be complemented by structural and systemic adaptation to heat.

From emergency to adaptation

Earlier this year France unveiled its first heatwave management plan, made up of longer-term measures. They include annual temperature checks on school buildings, better monitoring of the electricity network to avoid power cuts, and inspections of working conditions in especially exposed sectors.

The strategy also proposes strengthening the existing prevention system, notably sending volunteers and postal workers door to door to sign vulnerable people up to community registers. Emergency text messages might also be sent out en masse in the event of a heatwave, not only to the elderly.

Local authorities, too, are seeking to make French cities more bearable in hot weather. Paris  which has the highest number of heat deaths of any capital in Europe, according to one recent study  has put in place policies to limit traffic, plant more trees and replace heat-trapping tarmac with lighter, more permeable materials.

In future, the city aims to cover the iconic zinc rooftops that turned top-floor apartments into ovens in 2003 with reflective paint, greenery or solar panels.

Those are the kind of things that can be broadly effective, but they're going to take lots of time to work, comments Keller. And in the meantime, the heat's rising.

As it does, France may find it still has more to learn from the summer of 2003  the first time the country saw heat as a killer, and the last time anyone could say they didn't see it coming.
The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta says recent calls for his dismissal were justified within the framework of the countrys democracy.

Mr. Ofori Atta noted that as a public official, individuals had the right to demand his removal.

In 2022, the Finance Minister faced criticism as some New Patriotic Party (NPP) legislators called for his ousting, attributing the nations economic challenges to him.

The National Democratic Congress also lodged a censure motion for his removal, citing factors like gross incompetence and conflict of interest.

Amid the vote to remove him from his position, the Majority staged a walkout.

In an interview with GTV, Ken Ofori-Atta emphasized that people have the right to express their viewpoints.

In the period of censure, in which Parliament then voted against it, but more importantly, you were in a situation where you were battered and broken. [But] you do not leave a ship at that time. And given the urgency of ensuring the IMF programme goes through, for me, it was a duty to serve, and there was no running away from it, the Finance Minister said.

Citi Newsroom
Cabinet approval has been granted for a groundbreaking policy that outlines the framework for the extraction, management, and oversight of green minerals, including lithium, in Ghana.

These essential resources, often referred to as "minerals of the future," play a crucial role in supporting the transition towards cleaner energy technologies aimed at mitigating carbon emissions.

Green minerals encompass a wide spectrum of metals and mineral resources, such as bauxite, cobalt, copper, lithium, granite, manganese, and nickel.

Samuel A Jinapor, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, confirmed the development in an interview with the media on August 3rd, 2023. The policy received Cabinet approval on July 27th, 2023, following a rigorous evaluation process.

According to Minister Jinapor, the new policy marks a departure from the existing framework, as it will emphasise a more substantial level of local involvement in the entire green minerals value chain. This stands in contrast to the current state's 10 percent vested interest in mining entities.

The policy's overarching objective is firmly rooted in the principle that the exploitation of green minerals should primarily benefit the citizens of Ghana, who are the rightful owners of this valuable resource.

Minister Jinapor emphasised that the policy is also designed to introduce incentives and mechanisms that attract crucial investments. Stabilization clauses, development agreements, and other measures will be implemented to provide investors with the confidence necessary to commit their resources to the sector.

Notably, in addition to other green minerals, Ghana has identified significant deposits of lithium, particularly in the Ewoyaa region of the Central Region. While it was reported that some licenses had been issued for lithium mining, Minister Jinapor clarified that the government had not granted any licenses for exploitation. The licenses issued thus far were exclusively for exploration purposes, which differs from full-scale exploitation.

Although the next step involves moving towards actual mining operations, the government's immediate focus is centered on establishing a comprehensive policy framework to guide these activities.

Globally, the lithium industry alone is valued at approximately $11 billion at the mining stage, with potential estimates at the highest levels reaching an astounding $7 trillion.

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Coup leaders in Niger have named Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine as the country's new prime minister in a statement read out on national television. Meanwhile US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told RFI that diplomacy was the "preferred way" to resolve the crisis as coup leaders held talks with a US envoy.

Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine held the position of cabinet director in 2001, then finance minister in 2002 under former president Mamadou Tandja. He served as finance minister until Tandja was overthrown in a coup d'etat in 2010.

In Monday's statement, Colonel Major Amadou Abdramane also named Lieutenant-Colonel Habibou Assoumane as Niger's new commander of the presidential guard.

The second-ranking US diplomat met Niger's military leaders on Monday to press to reverse the coup but reported no headway a day after an ultimatum from the West African bloc Ecowas was ignored.

Victoria Nuland, a veteran envoy and acting deputy secretary of state, said she met for more than two hours with military chiefs who ousted democratically elected Western ally Mohamed Bazoum on 26 July.

Nuland's trip, conducted in secrecy until she left, came after the expiration of a deadline set by Ecowas to reinstate Bazoum by midnight on Sunday or risk military intervention.

The 15-nation bloc is reconvening for its own diplomatic push on the crisis with a summit Thursday in Nigerian capital Abuja.

A source close to Ecowas said an immediate military intervention to restore Bazoum was not envisaged at this stage, adding that the path to dialogue still appeared open.

'Talks quite difficult'

Speaking to reporters before her departure, Nuland described her talks as "extremely frank and at times quite difficult".

She said she offered the coup leaders "a number of options" to exit the crisis and restore the relationship with the United States, which like other Western nations has suspended aid.

"I would not say that we were in any way taken up on that offer," she said.

She added that the coup leaders did not respond to her requests to meet Niger's self-proclaimed new leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani, or the detained elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, although US officials have been in touch with Bazoum by telephone.

Nuland said she met Brigadier General Moussa Salaou Barmou, who has been named the new military chief of staff and who has worked closely in the past with the United States, which along with former colonial power France has based anti-jihadist operations in the Sahel out of Niger.

Nuland said she warned Niger against following neighbouring Mali in bringing in Russia's Wagner mercenaries.

"The people who have taken this action here understand very well the risks to their sovereignty when Wagner is invited in," said Nuland, who is known for her hawkish stance on Russia.

Diplomacy 'preferred'

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stressed on Monday the need for the international community to find a diplomatic route out of the coup.

"Diplomacy is certainly the preferred way of resolving this situation," he told RFI.

"It is Ecowas' current approach. It is our approach."

Niger's neighbours have strongly rejected the possibility of a regional military intervention.

Mali said it and Burkina Faso - which have both been suspended from Ecowas over their own military coups - were sending a joint official delegation to Niamey to show "solidarity with the people of Niger".

They have said military intervention would be tantamount to a declaration of war.

Algeria, which shares a long land border with Niger, has also cautioned against a military solution, which President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said would be "a direct threat" to his North African country.

Senators in regional heavyweight Nigeria urged everyone to focus on the "political and diplomatic option".

(with AFP)
Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) have jointly underscored the significance of breastfeeding as an essential right of every child, vital for their survival and development.

In honor of World Breastfeeding Week, the two organisations have released a statement affirming that breastfeeding not only represents a natural and nutritious act but also plays a pivotal role in shaping a healthier and more sustainable future for society.

This year's theme, "Enabling breastfeeding: Making a difference for working parents," highlights the necessity of fostering a supportive environment that allows working parents to maintain breastfeeding practices without compromising their professional responsibilities. The statement further emphasises that breastmilk provides infants with vital nutrients and antibodies that protect against infections, reduce the risk of malnutrition, and enhance cognitive development.

The FDA and GHS underscore the positive impact of breastfeeding on maternal health, as it aids postpartum recovery, lowers the risk of certain cancers, and nurtures a strong emotional connection between mother and baby.

Despite the indisputable benefits of breastfeeding, the statement highlights that many working parents face challenges in adhering to exclusive breastfeeding for the recommended six months and extending it up to two years or more. Barriers such as long working hours, limited maternity leave, insufficient breastfeeding leave, and workplace stigmatisation of breastfeeding pose obstacles to parents providing optimal nutrition to their infants.

In light of these challenges, the FDA and GHS call on various stakeholders, including governments, employers, civil society, and community organisations, to collaborate in removing these barriers and establishing a conducive environment that supports breastfeeding for working parents.

Key actions recommended by the agencies include:

 Advocating for laws and workplace policies that safeguard the breastfeeding rights of working parents, encompassing full leave, flexible work arrangements, and breastfeeding-specific leave.

 Encouraging employers to create breastfeeding-friendly workplaces, complete with secure spaces, hygienic facilities, and storage solutions for breast milk.

 Launching public awareness campaigns to educate the public about the benefits of breastfeeding, dispel myths, and foster supportive surroundings.

 Strengthening health systems by providing training and support to health professionals, enabling them to assist with breastfeeding support.

 Facilitating partnerships between government bodies, the private sector, and civil society to promote policies that encourage breastfeeding.

 Utilizing the media as a platform to disseminate positive and accurate breastfeeding messages and lend support to working parents.

 Investing in research to gain insights into the breastfeeding challenges encountered by working parents, leading to evidence-based policy decisions.

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The 2023 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) kicked off in the Ho Municipality of the Volta region with 3,571 candidates sitting for the examinations across ten centers.

This figure is made up of 1,749 boys and 1,822 girls.

A total of 101 schools made up of 75 public and 26 private schools are partaking in the exam.

A source from the Municipal Education Office disclosed that there is one special candidate sitting for the exam.

In a statement, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Ho, Hon. Divine Richard Komla Bosson sent his best wishes to the candidates in the Municipality and the country as a whole.

The statement urged the candidates to put in their best to enable them enjoy the Free Senior High School program aimed at giving each Ghanaian child equal access to quality education regardless of their socio-economic background.

Hon. Bosson assured the candidates of the support of the municipality noting that their success is a collective success to the Municipality.

"The entire community stand behind them in every step of the way as their success is our collective success. We eagerly anticipate the positive impact they will have on society as educated and responsible citizens.

"The Municipality looks forward to celebrating their achievement in the near future," he stated.
The DCE for Anloga District Hon. Seth Yormewu has toured four out of the eight exam centres in the district and wishes the candidates well ahead of their Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

He was accompanied by officials from the Ghana Education Service and National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE).

Hon. Seth Yormewu, speaking to the media was optimistic that the result of this year's exam will be better than previous years looking at how most of the students were serious with their exams. He also encouraged them to put up their best.

From the four centres visited three girls were discovered to be pregnant. Some were also nursing their babies.

He further advised teachers to also do their best to prepare students on how to answer exam questions properly and build their confidence level for the exam.

"Parents should also guide their children since it's only education that can take them to higher levels," he said.

Torgbui Hatsu lll, NCCE Director of Anloga District was excited everything was going on peacefully in all the centers. "Give them enough food to eat, give them money and encourage them," Torgbui urge parents.
The Speaker of Ghanas Parliament, Rt. Hon Alban Sumani Kingsford Bagbin has reassured the Ghanaian public that the Bill on the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values will be passed into law when the House comes back from recess somewhere in October 2023.

According to him, all the concerns raised by some stakeholders and other financial commitments have been addressed to pave way for the passage of the bill.

A section of the general public became a bit apprehensive about the future of the much talk about Bill on the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values aka anti-LGBTQ+ Bill which was not passed after the second meeting of the Parliament though it was advertised many times in the Order Papers.

But the Speaker in addressing some members of the Executive Board of Mission Africa Incorporated USA/Ghana, who called to honour him with a citation in recognition of his contributions and support for the promulgation of the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill re-affirmed his commitment to see the bill passed into law.

Let me assure you all that nothing and I mean nothing will stop Parliament from passing the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill.

"The only reason for not passing the bill before going on recess is that we want to come up with a law of national character. Some concerns were raised and those concerns have been already addressed.

"However, the responses on the finality of the bill came a bit, that is why we didnt pass it but trust me it will be passed immediately the House resumes from recess, the Speaker reiterated.

The Rt. Hon. Bagbin thanked the group for their prayers and support to the Legislation arm of government.

The President and Founder of Mission Africa Incorporated USA/Ghana, Dr. Kodjoe Sumney highly commended Speaker Bagbin for the quality leadership he (Bagbin) has exhibited since assuming the position of a speaker.

According to Dr. Sumney, Bagbins election into the office of a speaker was a divine intervention adding that it takes a man rooted in the word of God, cultural and traditional norms as well as a selfless and dedicated leader like him to resist the immoral colonialism (LGBTQI+) agenda.
Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah has admonished Ghanaians to support the judiciary to deal with persons standing trial for the Saglemi Housing Project.

In a post on Twitter on Tuesday, August 8, he said its painful that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) wants to paint government black when in actual fact it is the opposition that supervised the waste and illegality associated with the project.

Richard Ahiagbah says the Saglemi Housing Projeft supervised by the NDC was a complete financial lost to the state.

It's painful to hear the NDC talk about Saglemi given the waste and illegality they supervised. A complete financial loss to the state. Perhaps, it is time for Ghanaians to call on the judiciary to bite harder and faster in the Saglemi case before it, Richard Ahiagbah said.

The Director of Communication for the NPP further argues that the NDC is talking down the economy because it doesn't have alternative ideas to counter the policy offerings of this government to regenerate the economy.

He insists that indeed the economy has turned the corner and Ghanaians must stand with the government to stabilize the economy.
The Speaker of Ghanas Parliament and eight Members of Parliament (MPs) who jointly submitted a private bill to push for the criminalization of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI+) activities in the country have been honoured at a short but colourful ceremony held at the Justice D. F. Annan Hall Parliament House in Accra.

The Speaker and the eight MPs were honoured by the Executive Board of Mission Africa Incorporated USA/Ghana, in collaboration with the Parliamentary Christian Fellowship, the Worldwide Miracle Outreach UK led by Dr. Lawrence Tetteh, Inland Empire Concern African America Churches of California, (IECCAC (UNA- GH), Inter-Faith Christian for Jewish Strategic Diplomacy, USA, Christian Bible, and Governance.

The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill commonly know as anti-LGBTQ+ Bil which was laid in Ghanas Parliament on Tuesday, June 29, 2021, met with some stiff opposition from a section of the international community.

However, with determination and fortitude on the part of the Speaker, MPs especially the eight MPs, and some religious groups, the bill has gone through various stages and its currently at the consideration stage.

For this reason, the Executive Board of Mission Africa Incorporated USA/Ghana, and its partners held a special prayer session to pray and honour them with a citation dubbed Mission Africas Humanitarian -Good Fight of Faith Award.

Addressing the gathering on behalf of her colleagues, the MP for Krachi West Constituency in the Oti Region, Mrs Helen Adjoa Ntoso, who could not hide her joy commended organisers for the honour done them.

We thank the Executive Board of Mission Africa Incorporated USA/Ghana, and its partners honouring us while we are alive.

"As we have been witnessing in Ghana, people are mostly honoured after they are dead and gone but we thank God and the organisers especially the founder and President of Mission Africa Inc, she reiterated.

Meanwhile, the Vice President of Mission Africa Inc. in her welcome address admonished the general public especially the religious bodies to continue to pray for the MPs and people in leadership positions.

They need our prayers and support because this LGBTQ+ brouhaha is a spiritual warfare that should be taken lightly. Thus our MPs, the Speaker, and everyone in a position to influence the passage of the bill into an Act should be prayed for so that they will continue to hold their faith to ensure the bill is passed, she explained.

Rt. Hon Alban Sumani Kingsford Bagbin, Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram constituency, Samuel Nartey George, Emmanuel Bedzrah (MP, Ho West) Della Adjoa Sowah (MP, Kpando), John Ntim Fordjour (MP, Assin South), Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini (MP, Tamale North), Helen Adjoa Ntoso (MP, Krachi West), Rita Naa Odoley Sowah (MP, La Dadekotopon), Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor (MP, South Dayi) and Lawyer Moses Foh Amoaning, received the Mission Africas Humanitarian Good Fight of Faith Award.
President Akufo-Addo has been tagged as a corrupt leader by Eric Edem Agbana, Ketu North National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate.

According to Mr. Agabana, every time President Akufo-Addo discusses the privatization of a state facility, he sees it as an opportunity to loot and share with his family and friends in government.

In an interview on TV3 on July 8, he cited the PDS scandal which occurred in July 2019 where the company was found to have presented invalid insurance security for the takeover of ECG assets.

He noted that since then not a single person has been punished for the botched contract.

Privatisation to him is an avenue to loot and give out state properties to cronies. We havent forgotten about ECG and the PDS scandal. Do you know what happened with the PDS scandal and how much money Ghana lost till today? Has anybody been prosecuted for the millions of dollars? Now this criminal enterprise of NPP, anytime they mention privatization that is what they mean, Edem Agbana stated.

He slammed President Akufo-Addo for abandoning the Saglemi housing project commenced by the erstwhile Mahama administration.

You abandon this Saglemi housing project when you needed only 32 million dollars and you were putting 52 million dollars into that wasteful National Cathedral Project that became an avenue for thieves with double identities to be allocating projects and contracts to themselves, he stated.
The Akrofuom District Chief Executive, Hon. Dr Maurice Jonas Woode is known for consistently uplifting the confidence of BECE students and this year was not an exception.

Hon. Dr Maurice Jonas Woode in conjunction with Akrofuom Education Directorate led by Mr George Sarfo Kantanka visited the 813 candidates at their examination centres to inspire and raise their confidence and optimism on Monday 7th August 2023.

Mr George Sarfo Kantanka in his introductory address eulogized Hon. Dr Maurice Jonas Woode for his constant support to the Education Directorate especially on infrastructure.

He sincerely commended Hon. Dr Maurice Jonas Woode and the Akrofuom District Assembly for funding the District School Performance Appraisal Meeting(SPAM) and BECE orientation for all the candidates.

Hon. Dr. Maurice Jonas Woode in his motivational address encouraged the candidates to believe in themselves and feel comfortable at their centres.

He further advised the candidates not to entertain any thought of not furthering their education since there is no justifiable reason for it at this age.

Hon. Dr Maurice Jonas Woode inspired the candidates to take full advantage of the Free Senior High School Program introduced by the Government by passing well.

He continued to challenge the candidates to excel and become beneficiaries of the Hon. Alex Blanksons Lets Go To School Project which provides trunks, chop boxes and mattresses for brilliant but needy students.

Hon. Dr Maurice Jonas Woode motivated the candidates to come out with flying colours as a befitting send-off parcel for Mr George Sarfo Kantanka who is on transfer to Asante Akyem Central (Konongo) as the Municipal Director of Education.

Hon. Dr Maurice Jonas Woode finally wished the candidates a peaceful and successful examination.
08.08.2023 LISTEN

A team of Volta Regional Executives led by the Regional Chairman, Mr. Mawutor Agbavitor, together with his Regional Secretary, Hon. James Gunu, earlier today toured some parts of BECE Centers in the Volta region to give morale support to the candidates.

Mr. Agbavitor and his entourage visited exam centers in the heart of the capital city of the region, Ho to assess the progress of the exercise.

Mr. Agbavitor, the Volta Regional Chairman of the opposition NDC addressing the hundreds of candidates urged them to be moderate in celebration after the exams in order not to fall into trouble.

While speaking to Japhet Festus Gbede, DFS Live News Volta Coordinator, Mr. James Gunu revealed that they visited the examination centers to familiarize themselves with preparations for the exams and to motivate the candidates.

He disclosed that the team interacted with invigilators and other stakeholders present and commended the teachers for preparing the students adequately for the examination.

Mr. Gunu challenges the candidates to excel in their examinations while encouraging them to make the most of the time left for them.

The students, with high optimism and great cheer, expressed confidence they would come out with flying colours to make the region proud.

Teachers who interacted with Mr. Agbavitor and his team expressed appreciation for their visit, describing it as a morale booster.

For his part, Mr. Gunu, the Volta Regional Secretary of the NDC, urged the students to abide by the rules and regulations governing the examinations.

The Volta Regional Secretary of the opposition NDC tasked the students to put their knowledge acquired in the last three years into practice and make their parents, guardians, teachers, and the Volta NDC proud.
08.08.2023 LISTEN

A member of the Okumagba Royal Family in Delta State, Prince Louis Okumagba, on Monday apologized to the Alema of Warri Kingdom, Chief Emmanuel Oritsejolomi Uduaghan, for his comments on Warri land.

I sincerely apologise for dragging the name of the Alema of Warri Kingdom, Chief Emmanuel Oritsejolomi Uduaghan, in the mud Louis Okumagba said in a statement entitled Okumagba: Warri Land Scandal.

Louis Okumagba said he was sorry for his comments.

Everything I earlier mentioned is false and untrue. I regret any embarrassment I might have caused him. I hereby undertake never to bring his name to disrepute the statement said.

Last year, key families in Okere-Urhobo took steps to foil the divisive and land grabbing plan of Louis Okumagba.

They also urged the good people of Delta State and the public to completely discountenance the false publication by Louis Okumagba.

Heads and members of the Olodi, Oki and Ighogbadu families of Okere-Urhobo of Warri South spoke on prejudices of some local and foreign publishers on the land opposite Don Domingo College, Warri.

Chief Gideon Okumagba, a representative of the three families, read the statement of the royal families aloud to newsmen.

The families accused Louis Okumagba of distortion and inciting fear in Delta State.

The families of Olodi, Oki and Ighogbadu collectively owned landed properties in Warri.

The Okere-Urhobo leaders said the land was acquired by the defunct Bendel State Government.

The families are represented by Heads of the Kindred family and are the original owners of the land until it was acquired by the then Bendel State Government. The families currently have their administrative office at No 60 Okumagba Avenue Warri where they meet frequently to deal with issues on family lands and other related family matters.

They offered an itemized and caustic indictment of Louis Okumagbas behavior in Warri South.

As one of the elders in the family, specifically as related to the false claims by Louis Okumagba, I am well abreast of the issues raised in that publication. The good people of Warri are not in any war or in a battle over the landed property opposite Don Domingo College, Warri, and it is very shameful that the said Louis is trying to incite tribal/ethnic battle in that publication.

They promised to file a libel suit against individuals and organizations publishing Louis Okumagbas false narrative.

It is not true that the Alema of Warri Kingdom, High Chief Emmanuel Oritsejolomi Uduaghan, used officials of the Delta State Government to intimidate and arrest Louis Okumagba. To be candid, it was Chief Gideon Okumagba that reported his criminal extortion of money from developers to the Police Area Commander Office in Warri.

The statement emphasized how the matter was dragged to the office of the Inspector General of Police Abuja.

Particularly, the families accused Louis Okumagba of trying to sow discord amongst Deltans through falsehood.

Louis Okumagba claimed that he has been in the forefront of the land in dispute is false and misrepresentation of facts. The land was acquired by the then Bendel state for public purposes. The Delta State government has since done the needful by releasing/returning parts of the land to the Olodi, Oki and lghogbadu families who are the rightful owners. 4.6 hectares of land was released to the family on the 26 day of June 1988 and another part of the unused land was released to the Olodi, Oki and 1ghogbadu families on the 14 of January 2000. Also, the Olodi, Oki and Ighogbadu families have an agreement with the Government of Delta State over the remaining parts of the land.

The families told news men there was zero evidence for Louis Okumagba claims of land grabbing.

To be more specific, the remaining portion of the land was released to Seriviri Nigeria Limited wherein Chief Emmanuel Oritsejolomi Uduaghan is one of the directors of that company and the said company also have an agreement with the families and half of the land was released to the families. Indeed, the three families benefited from the land including Louis Okumagba.

They scolded Louis Okumagba for rendering a real disservice.

There was never any consultation by Louis Okumagba with the well-known families of Olodi, Oki and Ighogbadu before that Publication was made by him. Its a futile attempt to incite the Urhobo and Itsekiri into a needless bickering. There is no dispute as far as the land in this narrative is concerned. The said Louis should avail himself to enable the police conclude their investigation in the crime levied against him. The land in question belongs to the Olodi, Oki and lghogbadu families of Okere-Urhobo and he should stop spreading false claims and division among the families and tribes in Delta State. If there are disputes in any land owned by these families, it is the heads and members of the family who will collectively decide to institute an action in court.

The notable families also condemned the role of Chief Louis Okumagba in the 30 plots released to the Olodi, Oki and Ighogbadu families of Warri in the Okere  Urhobo kingdom of Delta State.

They described it as a negative development and a minus for peace and development in Delta State.

In a letter titled: Attempt / efforts to cause communal war, fanning embers of communal dispute, conduct likely to cause breach of peace and criminal defamation of characters of our clients; Olodi, Oki and Ighogbadu families of Warri in the Okere  Urhobo kingdom of Delta State, all committed by Mr. Louis Okumagba  a call to investigate the allegation herein, the families urged the Inspector General of Police to investigate allegations against Louis Okumagba, so as to prevent a monumental communal war/crisis between Itsekiri and the Urhobo of Okere Urhobo Kingdom.

God forbid a repetition of what happened in 1997/98 in Okere-Urhobo Kingdom.

Counsel to the Olodi, Oki and Ighogbadu families of Warri in the Okere  Urhobo Kingdom, L O. Egboyi & CO said in 1974/76, the then government acquired a part or portion of our clients land for public purpose.

In 2017, the Delta State government gave part of this acquired land to Messrs. Seriviri Nig. Ltd. for the purpose of partnership (Leisure Park) with the state government, covered by a certificate of Occupancy. Considering the size of the land given to Seriviri Nig. Ltd, for the partnership, it could not utilize the entire land. So, it entered into agreement with our client family, wherein, it released 30 plots thereof back to the family  our clients.

The Olodi, Oki and Ighogbadu families of Warri are made up of the popular Okumagba family of Warri, Okere- Urhobo kingdom.

Our clients are the owners of all the land in the entire Okere-Urhobo kingdom Warri. Certain Mr. Louis Okumagba who is the black sheep of the family started to foment trouble, disturbing and threatening Seriviri Nig. Ltd, with thugs and dangerous weapons which led to his arrest in 2019 to the Police Force Headquarters', Abuja. After being granted bail by the police, the suspect (Mr. Louis Okumagba) rushed to file a fundamental Human Rights action against the Police, at the Delta State High Court, sitting in Warri. The action stalled the prosecution of the suspect (Mr. Louis) by the Police.

The families said the suit of the suspect against the Police was dismissed by the Delta State High Court, sitting in Warri, with a specific order of the Court directing the police to arrest and prosecute the suspect (Mr Louis Okumagba).

While the Police were looking for the suspect for arrest and prosecution as directed by the Court, the same suspect went to social media (Opera news) to declare that there will be looming danger of war/crisis between the Itsekiri and Urhobos, thereby inciting, promoting and instigating communal war between the two peaceful co-existing communities of Itsekiri and Urhobo.

This incitement, according to the families, created several apprehensions in the minds of locals, which has affected the hitherto peace that reigned and pervaded the two communities.

Furthermore, the suspect posted on the same social media that some named members of our clients namely, Chief Gideon Okumagba, Stanley Oki, Chief Victor Okumagba, Engr. Prince Ojuvwu Okumagba and others, sent assassins to his house to kill him, but he escaped by the whiskers. He confirmed that he had a one-on-one confrontation with the assassins, who confirmed the named members of our clients above, as the people who commissioned them to eliminate him.

The legal practitioners described Olodi, Oki and Ighogbadu as bunch of responsible families

Olodi, Oki and Ighogbadu families are known throughout Nigeria for their peaceful disposition. The named individuals are distinguished and respected members of the Okumagba family and the Nigeria Society. Our clients therefore take the allegation of hiring assassins by its members very seriously, especially in this era of Security challenges in the country.

The families also deplored the actions of Louis Okumagba and urged the Inspector General of Police to use his good offices to investigate the allegations and anyone found culpable to be brought to book.

By Henry Ovie
08.08.2023 LISTEN

The second U.S. President John Adams once said, Democracy never lasts long there never was a democracy; yet, that did not commit suicide. A fervent nationalist, leader of the American Revolution, and a remarkable political philosopher, John Adams, what meant by democracy is that absolute power - if intoxicated by few for long, the exercisers and the people all are bound to get corrupted by it. In this sense, democracy always changes and shapes into new forms to maintain its inherent dynamism through time and space.

The transformation of democracy occurred in Greek City-States, where states or polis were to be governed by the city people, especially male citizens. The Athenian democracy was run by male citizens, free slaves, and native people. The idea of citizenship was simple, and so was the voting. However, modern democracy is a product of thousands of years of political evolution, legal amendments, and civic participation. Now, we call it a democratic process that includes ideas such as liberty, equality, justice as well as equal decision-making participation.

In the 21st Century, the key idea of democracy such as the rule of people, individual liberty, and accountability becomes critical in supporting a democratic system. The modern idea of a democratic system or process has not come from a single diluted evolution. Moreover, the idea of the struggle for democracy has also come through evolutionary stages.

Take for instance, eighteenth-century Europe observed an emergence of republicanism which greatly influenced the representation in the parliament and the application of the equality principle- that is every individual is endowed with a decision-making power and no minority can have an upholding power over any majority rulings. But at present, the idea of democracy has transformed into equity from equality.

However, democracy does not only mean political freedom rather it took into new forms such as economic freedom or climate freedom. For example, the 1970s climate action renewed the debate on the nexus between climate change and democracy. The green democracy or the environmental performance of the democracies became critical to maintaining a counter-hegemony against eco-authoritarianism. Similarly, the economic freedom linked with development in the global South region became a neo-liberalism program particularly run by the IMF and World Bank. The regions in Latin America and Asia joined the program and it was understood that economic liberalization could be best achieved under certain political reforms which would lead to democracy.

Similarly, the struggle for democracy also changes its course today. Black Lives Matter (BLM), Me Too, We Are the 99%, Indian Farmers Protest, etc. various social movements demonstrate the increasing social mobility and movements in realizing democratic rights around the world. For example, BLM, an international activist movement, campaigns against systemic racism and violence against black people, primarily arose out of the police brutality and killings against African-American people. Similarly, in Paris, the Yellow Vest protesters are known by their gilets jaunes gathered around their unsustainable livelihood for excessive fuel price conditions. Denouncing Macrons Green Tax policy, the demonstration turned into a political crisis. Occupy Wall Street also provided a similar case where Americans realized traditional work hard, play by the rules, get ahead dont actually work hence culminating into protests of We are 99%.

Interestingly, all of these protests and demonstrations had no hierarchical decision-making body and were merely organized through social media and people-people connections. Nonetheless, despite having a short-term effect on political authority, they could not bring their attained outcomes out of these protests. Instead, most of the protests ultimately turned into violence and anarchism that affected society and the state. The world witnessed the violent phases of BLM, Yellow Vest, Occupy World Street, and the recent protest in France over killing of Nahel Marzouk and many more protests. All these protests ultimately met brutal crackdown by the police in the name of maintaining law and order. Interestingly, the coercive power of police control over public spaces also increased vehemently in recent decades, a fact that has paradoxically increased the vigor of such social movements.

It seems the evolving idea of protest, the anarchic nature of individuals and mobs, and the complex interdependence between society and state are now making street protests less effective yet more destructive. Therefore, street protests are often turning into violent and inviting anarchy and vandalism. The Capitol Hill riot and the ongoing Manipur ethnic pogrom are some of the examples that fit such a claim. Hence, street protests are gradually becoming a relic of the 20th Century in democratic societies.

Like the rest of the world, similar facts could be observed in Bangladeshi politics. The long traditional Awami League vs. BNP contests seem to be a mere political show for years. The upcoming elections and the BNP vehemently denied any such electoral participation without a caretaker government. Now, the party calls for a massive demonstration demanding the resignation of the current ruling prime minister. It is expected the protests will continue till December. On the other hand, the Dhaka-17 election also has been marked by the attack on Hero Alam by the corresponding party cadres. Unsurprisingly the election was won by the Awami League candidate. These suggest political developments in Bangladesh around elections though getting violent in nature is less likely to bring any desired outcomes for any opposition party or independent candidate.

In our time, dialogue has become a more pertinent theme in the idea of democracy. As the nature of civil and political movements has changed rapidly in this 21st century, the nature of democratic process also changed. Democracy itself is adopting the politics of dialogue as its core method of transition. Previously, the transition was not always peaceful, rather often entangled into blood affairs as were in Bangladesh, Sierra Leone, Chile etc. The bloody affairs on political grounds are becoming more infrequent than the establishing the agenda of having political dialogue with electoral parties.

In future decades, democracy will take a more vibrant form through new urgencies of political inclusion, political space and dialogue. The critical linkage here will be how governments will adapt to the new changes of democracy struggles of the general people. The mass is not willing to shed blood on the grounds anymore, even though coercive actions of police are getting record bar high. Undoubtedly, the paradoxical transition will shape democracy to have its new course for its evolution in future time. To maintain relevance and practice contemporary democracy, political parties in Bangladesh should also focus on dialogue ahead of the election to avoid political deadlock- which will be detrimental for all.

Shafiqul Elahi is a retired Government Official of Bangladesh
The National Communications Director of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) Richard Ahiagbah has hit back at former President Mahama and the NDC over the Saglemi housing project.

In a recent statement, former President John Dramani Mahama took a swipe at President Akufo-Addo for abandoning the project which could have served as home for thousands of Ghanaians for a national cathedral.

"It is unacceptable for Akufo-Addo to spend over half a billion cedis on a national cathedral project that has ultimately failed due to corruption and is now abandoned, yet refuses to commit funds to complete a housing project that will benefit thousands of Ghanaian families."

According to the former President, the President is only abandoning the projects because it was started by the erstwhile NDC administration.

"Knowing the NPP government, they did not want to complete the Saglemi housing project simply because it was initiated by John Mahama and an NDC administration," he stated.

"The misplaced priorities of a government that claims it is unable to raise money to complete the Saglemi housing project and yet is willing to spend half a billion cedis on the largest civil excavation in Africa is a humiliating slap in the face of Ghanaians who entrusted Akufo Addo with their mandate," added the former president.

In a tweet on Tuesday, August 8, the ruling partys spokesperson described as painful, hearing the NDC talk about the waste and illegality they supervised at Saglemi.

He described the project as a complete financial loss to the state and called on Ghanaians to support the court to deal with the case.

It's painful to hear the NDC talk about Saglemi given the waste and illegality they supervised. A complete financial loss to the state. Perhaps, it is time for Ghanaians to call on the judiciary to bite harder and faster in the Saglemi case before it, he wrote.
08.08.2023 LISTEN

In the tapestry of a nation, the treatment of its elderly stands as a testament to its compassion, values, and commitment to care for its citizens. In Ghana, a country known for its rich cultural heritage and warm hospitality, a deep concern arises when we examine the way in which our elderly are treated. In the light of recent events, it is becoming evident that the nation is falling short in providing adequate provisions for its senior citizens, leaving them to fend for themselves in their old age.

The elderly, who have dedicated their lives to building the foundations upon which our society stands today, deserve to be honored and supported in their golden years. However, the reality is far from this idyllic vision. Ghana faces significant gaps in ensuring the well-being of its elderly population, with inadequate social welfare programs and limited access to healthcare services tailored to their unique needs.

A lack of sufficient provisions has forced many individuals to take their destinies into their own hands, making personal preparations for their final days on earth. While this resilience and self-reliance are commendable, it should not be a substitute for a robust and caring state that supports its citizens throughout their lives.

What is particularly distressing is the recent domestic debt exchange program that has impacted pensioners in Ghana. This program has led to the erosion of the value of their investments, leaving many retired individuals grappling with financial instability in their retirement years. This is an alarming state of affairs, considering that the funds saved through pensions were meant to provide a sense of security and stability in old age.

Perhaps even more disheartening is the lack of collective action to protect the rights and well-being of the elderly. While these citizens have contributed significantly to the development of our nation, they are seemingly left to fend for themselves in the face of adversity. The absence of a comprehensive social safety net and support system for the elderly sends a disquieting message about the values and priorities of our society.

In times like these, we are reminded of the poignant words of the German Lutheran pastor Martin Niemoller in his iconic poem "First They Came". If he was writing his poem under our current circumstances, his poem might have read:

First, they came for the elderly, and I did not speak out because I was not elderly.

Then they came for the workers, and I did not speak out because I was not a worker.

Then they came for the youth, and I did not speak out because I was not young.

These lines serve as a sobering reminder that failing to advocate for the rights and well-being of our elderly today may come back to haunt us in the future. The youth of Ghana must recognize that they are the architects of tomorrow's society and that the treatment of our elderly reflects the compassion and humanity of our nation as a whole.

Ghana must rise to the occasion and prioritize the care and support of its elderly citizens. By investing in comprehensive social welfare programs, accessible healthcare services, and policies that safeguard pension funds, we can ensure that our senior citizens are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve. By doing so, we will not only honor the legacy of our elders but also create a society that cherishes and safeguards the well-being of its people.

In conclusion, as we reflect on the treatment of the elderly in Ghana, we are compelled to question whether our nation truly prioritizes the well-being of its citizens throughout their lives. The lack of adequate provisions and the erosion of pension funds call for urgent action and advocacy. If we, the youth, fail to stand up and fight for the rights of the aged, we risk being left to face a similar fate when we, too, reach old age. Let us heed the call to protect and honor our elderly citizens, for the strength of a nation lies in the compassion and care it extends to all its people, regardless of age.

Authored by Albert Allan Dakyie

(Deputy Chapter Secretary-NDC Germany)
President of Ghana, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has reiterated his call for all African countries to take full advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Africa accounts for only three percent (3%) of global trade, and intra-African trade is one of the lowest of any region globally.

This is largely due to the colonial economic model characterised by small individual economies, fragmented and disconnected regional markets, over-reliance on the production and export of primary commodities, and the presence of low productive capacities, which have been in existence for the last century.

President Akufo-Addo argues that the AfCFTA represents a historic opportunity for Africa and Africans to develop the continent through strengthened intra-Africa trade.

The emergence of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), in which trading began on 1st January 2021, and whose Secretariat Ghana is privileged to host, represents a historic opportunity for Africa to strengthen, immeasurably, intra-African trade as a powerful avenue for developing Africas vast economic and material potential, President Akufo-Addo said on Monday, August 7.

The President was giving a speech after the Africa Bar Association conferred on him The Medal of Merit in Leadership Award at its ongoing 2023 Annual Conference in Pretoria, South Africa.

President Akufo-Addo indicated in his acceptance speech that the time is long overdue for Africa and Africans to define our own narrative.

He stressed that Africans must be defined by what they see in themselves, and not what others choose to say about Africans.
Engineering Club of Afia Kobi Ampem Girls Senior High School at Trabuom in the Ashanti Region has successfully completed the testing of a model Autonomous Search and Rescue Water Craft.

Designed for some security agencies in Ghana including the Ghana Navy and the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), the rescue machine will help determine the location of missing persons, items and minerals in water.

In a viral video shared by this reporter on the Kumasi-based OTEC 102.9 FM's afternoon political show Dwabrem, hosted by Price Ade(D. O. K Cash) on Monday August 7, 2023, the miniature ship was seen moving effortlessly on a vast river during test sail.

The lead person for the project who is also a tutor at the school, Engineer Sam explained the project.

"We have equipped the machine with cameras and sensor capable of detecting missing people in rivers and the sea, it has the capability of searching and informing the user after detecting its target.

"So in an unfortunate event of flooding or any disaster on a river, the officer of NADMO and other security agencies can use it to rescue the victims much faster, it can be controlled autonomously by a remote during the search, he said

He expressed their readiness to come out with other innovative inventions that can solve everyday problems but pointed out that they will need financial support to achieve that.

"We are ready to change the future of Ghana with our creative works but will need the support from all particularly the business communities who can assist us financially," he stated.
Voters in the Central African Republic overwhelmingly approved a draft constitution paving the way for President Faustin Archange Touadera to seek a third term as president. However NGOs and civil society groups accuse the government of circumventing democracy.

The CAR's National Election Authority announced the results of the 30 July referendum on Monday, with voters casting 95.27 percent of ballots in favour of the text.

Turnout was put at over 61 percent despite the vote being boycotted by the country's main opposition parties and civil society organisations, as well as armed rebel groups.

The provisional results must now be ratified by the constitutional court, scheduled to publish the definitive outcome on 27 August.

Potential third mandate

The new constitution is designed to extend the presidential mandate from five to seven years and abolish the two-term limit.

The incumbent 66-year-old head of state Touadera can now seek a third term in 2025. His rivals say he wants to remain "president for life".

Touadera was first elected in 2016, when the country emerged from a civil war that spiralled along sectarian lines following a coup.

To increase security, he brought in private Russian mercenary group Wagner, first deployed to the CAR in 2018.

In 2020, Touadera won a second five-year term after a vote interrupted by incursions by armed rebel groups, and allegations of fraud.

Since December 2020, hundreds of Wagner fighters and Rwandan troops have been deployed to face an offensive led by an alliance of the country's most powerful rebel groups.

Lack of transparency

The opposition also complained about the lack of an up-to-date electoral register and said institutions tasked with guaranteeing a free and fair vote were not independent.

"It's a comedy ... we've all seen that people didn't go out to vote and it doesn't reflect the will of the Central African people," Crepin Mboli-Goumba, coordinator of the BRDC opposition coalition, told AFP.

The NGO Human Rights Watch reports that government officials have "cajoled and threatened referendum opponents", and that authorities banned an opposition rally in the capital in a bid to keep a lid on hostility to the poll.

Touadera supporters are also accused of targeting the president of the Constitutional Court, Daniele Darlan, who was later was forced to retire.

A landlocked nation in central Africa, the CAR is considered one of the poorest and most troubled countries in the world.

It has been going through conflict and political turmoil for most of its history after independence from France in 1960.

(with AFP)
08.08.2023 LISTEN

Executive Director for the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Sulemana Braimah has reacted to happenings in the ongoing flagbearership race of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Last week, President Akufo-Addo, who is a de facto leader of the ruling party addressed the party in which he raised concerns over the conduct of supporters of flagbearer aspirants.

In a reaction, the media freedom advocate said he is surprised at the presidents assertion.

In a tweet on Tuesday, August 8, Mr. Braimah said the aspirants are taking swipes at each others competence because the current administration left no good legacy.

I hear Mr. President is surprised that persons campaigning to lead the NPP are attacking the record of their own government. Well, I am surprised the President is surprised. Even the Vice President has had to say he has his own vision. There is no good record to defend, his tweet reads.

Meanwhile, the NPP will be holding a special Delegates' Conference on August 26, to choose five out of the ten flagbearership aspirants ahead of its November 4 primaries.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo urged Africans to take control of their own narrative and rewrite their stories based on their own perceptions and not what others say about them.

He made this call on Monday, August 7, after receiving The Medal of Merit in Leadership Award from the Africa Bar Association at its 2023 Annual Conference in Pretoria, South Africa.

In his acceptance speech, President Akufo-Addo stated, "The time is long overdue for Africa and Africans to define our own narrative. We must be defined by what we see in ourselves, and not what others choose to say about us."

He explained that this shift in mindset cannot happen if African countries do not increase trade among themselves.

Africa accounts for only three percent (3%) of global trade, and intra-African trade is one of the lowest of any region globally," he noted.

President Akufo-Addo attributed this low intra-African trade to the "colonial" economic model that relies heavily on the production and export of primary commodities.

He said this model results in "small individual economies, fragmented and disconnected regional markets, over-reliance on the production and export of primary commodities, and the presence of low productive capacities."

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which began trading on January 1, 2021, provides a "historic opportunity for Africa to strengthen, immeasurably, intra-African trade," President Akufo-Addo remarked.

He stated that increased trade among African nations would be a powerful way to develop the continent's vast economic potential.

Ghana hosts the AfCFTA secretariat, which President Akufo-Addo said is a privilege.

He called on African leaders to take advantage of this historic trade agreement to shift focus from commodity exports to value-added intra-regional trade.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo decried the negative impact of the colonial economic model on African nations.

He made this remark on Monday, August 7, after receiving The Medal of Merit in Leadership Award from the Africa Bar Association at its 2023 Annual Conference in Pretoria, South Africa.

In his acceptance speech, President Akufo-Addo lamented that "Africa accounts for only three percent (3%) of global trade, and intra-African trade is one of the lowest of any region globally."

He attributed this low level of trade between African nations to the "colonial economic model" imposed by European powers.

"This model is characterised by small individual economies, fragmented and disconnected regional markets, over-reliance on the production and export of primary commodities, and the presence of low productive capacities," the president explained.

He stressed that this colonial economic structure has persisted in Africa for the last century.

The time is long overdue for Africa and Africans to define our own narrative," he tells African leaders.

President Akufo-Addo called on African leaders to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to strengthen intra-regional trade.

The AfCFTA, which began trading on January 1, 2021, the President said represents a "historic opportunity for Africa to strengthen, immeasurably, intra-African trade.

Ghana hosts the AfCFTA secretariat, which President Akufo-Addo said gives the country the privilege to champion the noble course.

He implored nations across Africa to embrace the AfCFTA as a powerful means to developing the continent's vast economic potential.
The Communications Director for the Ministry of Education (MoE) Kwasi Kwarteng has reiterated that students in basic and public schools are not required to pay examination registration fees.

This comes on the back of reports that students of the Buduatta Basic School could not find the index numbers on Monday, 7 August 2023 when they went to write the Basic School Certificate Examination (BECE) because the headmaster of the school, allegedly squandered the registration fees of the students hence failing to register them for the exam.

Reacting to the incident, the Communications Director of the MoE, explained that as part of efforts to ensure quality education, students in public schools are covered by government and therefore do not need to pay registration fees for the BECE.

Mr Kwarteng therefore called on parents whose wards are enrolled in public basic schools to contact the GES when they need clarity on issues regarding the welfare of their wards to avoid misconceptions.

Government has taken charge of everything regarding students feeding, uniforms, and the component includes examination schools for students in basic schools to SHS.

So when it comes to registration for the exams, students in public schools, are not expected to pay for the BECE and WASSCE, Mr Kwarteng stated.

He noted that: Hearing about the allegations of Head teachers charging to the extent that some students are unable to pay, is mind baffling. The GES is however looking into it.

Source: classfmonline.com
08.08.2023 LISTEN

"People don't pine for democracy. They want homes, medicine, jobs, schools... with a few exceptions, democracy has not brought good government to developing countries." - Singapore former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew

It is quite unfortunate that the Nigerian president, Asiwaju Tinubu, who touted experience as one of his special qualities, decided to violate some basic tenets of rulership/leadership in Africa, especially as taught by his Yoruba people.

The first one is that a Chief does not make new laws when he is angry.

Having suffered grievously under military dictatorship (we all did), we can excuse his disdain for military rule, but rulers/leaders are not supposed to lose their heads so much so that their actions are ill-thought-out, knee-jerked, and driven by emotion and anger.

The reason is quite simple: A Chief's actions can have very dire consequences.

Second, Africa's conflict resolution mechanism pride itself in reaching conclusions that seek to satisfactorily reconcile warring parties. Issuing ultimatums is alien to our way of resolving conflicts.

The Yorubas have ample proverbs to guide them. One is: Iku ya ju eshin lo. To wit: Death is preferable to ignominy.

As we seek to solve problems, we do not give people ultimatums that would make them lose face. Another proverb: Ti a ba le ewure kan ogiri, o ma bu ni je / If we push a goat to the wall, it will bite back. Of course, goats do not have the sharp teeth of carnivores to inflict grievous harm, but our ancestors simply try to tell us not to tempt fate.

Our ancestors left us a corpus of wise sayings to allow us to make decisions that are based on sound reasoning, it is quite sad and unfortunate that an elder like Tinubu chose to ignore them.

One of the reasons why the late Chief MKO Abiola wowed many people is that his comments are often laden with deep Yoruba proverbs. Alas, Tinubu who proclaimed himself an apostle of Abiola, appeared not to have imbibed much of a wisdom from that great man.

We can excuse Tinubu's angry and irrational response to the coup in Niger because he is new to the job, and foreign policy was never touted as one of his fortes, but his inability to reach back into the wisdom bank of his own Yoruba people is simply inexcusable.

How will Tinubu explain himself to Nigerians if the Junta in Niamey decided to disrupt the flow of the River Niger and deprived the Kainji Dam of water required to run the turbines?

It is quite sad to witness a Nigerian leader behave so unwisely and so unreasonably in the way Tinubu acted in his handling of the crisis in Niger. Even as Russian troops pummeled their Ukrainian foes, President Putin scrupulously kept all the agreements his country signed.

Tinubu's advisers also badly let him down. They should have told him to calm himself down and, perhaps, remind him of another Yoruba proverb: Oba to je ti ilu toro, oruko o ko ni pa re, eyi to de je ti ilu fon kan, oruko e na ko ni pa re / The King, under whose rule the town was peaceful will never be forgotten, the one under whose rule the town was destroyed will also not be forgotten.

For better or for worse, Tinubu is carrying the Yoruba race on his ancient shoulders: it must never be said that it was a Yoruba man who set fire to Africa and ignited a pan-African war. Yoruba people in every corner of the world ought to get it across to Tinubu that the reputation of the Yoruba race is not his to besmirch.

Another Yoruba proverb: Bi ara ile eni ba nje kokoro buruku, ti a ko ba tele so fun, aruwo e o ni je ka sun loru / If a member of your family is swallowing poisonous critters and you fail to warn him, his groaning will keep you awake at night!

The Mother of All Question: Why is Tinubu not willing to write his name in Gold among the pantheon of African gods and heroes by leading ECOWAS to get France to renegotiate its Pacte Coloniale agreements, and grant Niger better terms for its minerals!

Why, in the name of African gods and ancestors, is Tinubu not willing to lend his authority to the decolonization of Africa? It shouldn't require fire-breathing Pan-Africanists to know that the current neocolonial setup in much of Africa, especially in West Africa, is simply untenable.
Dr. Gideon Boako, the spokesperson for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has asked critics to refrain from blaming Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia solely for Ghana's economic challenges.

He noted that though Dr. Bawumia heads the Economic Management Team, he should not be solely held responsible for the nation's economic difficulties.

Dr. Boako highlighted Dr. Bawumia's commitment to Ghana's development since joining the New Patriotic Party and taking on the role of Vice President.

He emphasized that various successful initiatives and accomplishments bear Dr. Bawumia's imprint.

"This government has built more interchanges than any government since 1992. We should say Bawumia did that. This government has built railways more than any government since 1992, let's say Bawumia did that.

This government has installed more rural telephonists than any government since 1992, we should credit Bawumia for doing that, Dr. Boako stated.

He listed government's achievements in areas such as education, job creation, and infrastructure development, and suggested that Dr Bawumia should also receive applause for the positive strides.

"This government has built classrooms more than any other government since 1992, let's say Bawumia did that.

This government has created 2.1 million jobs more than any other government has provided jobs to Ghanaians since 1992, let's say Bawumia did that.

If you say Bawumia should be blamed for anything bad about this government, then equally you should praise Bawumia for all the good things as well," he stated, during an interview on Peace FM's Kokrokoo morning show.

He indicated that the criticisms directed at Dr. Bawumia are calculated attempts to undermine his bid to become the NPP Presidential candidate for the 2024 elections.
Member of Parliament (MP) for Akuapem South Osei Bonsu Amoah has endorsed Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia's candidacy to lead the governing the New Patriotic Party (NPP) into the 2024 general elections.

He said the mood and the harmony within his constituency show clearly it is Dr Bawumia the party needs to retain power.

Addressing the party faithful on Monday, August 7, during Dr Bawumia's campaign visit to his constituency, he said he and his executives will not disappoint him.

According to him, they will ensure that Dr Bawumia tops the August 26 Special Delegates Conference votes.

Now the time has come again for us to elect the next flagbearer for our great party and you (party faithful) are sending me as your MP and our constituency chairman to go to Koforidua to elect the five that will proceed to the main elections and mostly elect the one that will lead.

But if I look at the energy, the zeal, the chemistry and preparations and all that is ongoing, the message you have given to us is to go and elect Dr Bawumia.

So we will not disappoint you and on August 26, the news will not be that only Akuapem South elected Dr Bawumia but the whole of Ghana, he said.

Already, other bigwigs within the party, have endorsed Dr Bawumia's candidature for the flagbearer position.

Okere MP and current Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Daniel Botwe is among these persons.

He insisted that Dr Mahamudu Bawumia was the best strategic choice for the NPP in the 2024 elections.

Dan Botwe made this declaration during a gathering of party members in Okere on Sunday, August 6.

Reflecting on his extensive experience within the party, Mr Botwe emphasised his deep knowledge of the NPP and its key figures.

When it comes to the future of our beloved country, Ghana, the NPP is the only party that can guarantee progress, Dan Botwe declared, rallying the crowd.

After much thoughtful consideration and careful analysis, I am confident that the best strategic decision for the NPP is to elect Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as our flagbearer, Botwe asserted, prompting applause from the attendees.

He further highlighted what he said was Bawumia's record of competence and unwavering loyalty to the NPP as the reasons behind his choice.

-Citi Newsroom
The Accra Circuit Court has remanded five of the accused persons in the Cecilia Abena Dapaah case and granted bail to two lactating mothers to the tune of GH1 million each with three sureties to be justified.

Two house helps of the former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources and her husband, Daniel Osei Kuffour, 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 couple's 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 had her current and former boyfriends, as well as her father, all being dragged before the same court.

Madam Dapaah eventually resigned from her position after a public uproar and demands for her to leave the government for allegedly illegally acquiring and storing the funds.
Ken Ofori-Atta, the Finance Minister described massive calls for his resignation including those from his own party members as painful.

According to the Finance Minister, working during the Covid pandemic period was one of the toughest years for him in office.

In an exclusive interview with GTV, he said his desire to help Ghana and restore the situation was what kept him strong.

In the period of censure, in which Parliament then voted against it, but more importantly, you were in a situation where you were battered and broken and do not leave a ship at that time, and given the urgency of ensuring the IMF program will get through, for me it was a duty to serve, and there was no running away from it, Mr Ofori-Atta stated.

According to him, the year in question compelled him to take very difficult decisions but necessary decisions for the recovery of the Ghanaian economy.

The Finance Minister revealed that key among them was the decision to seek for a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Mr. Speaker, 2022 was the most difficult year for me as Ghanas Finance Minister. On July 1st, 2022, we took what was then a very difficult but necessary decision to request support from the IMF to implement our Post-COVID-19 Programme of Economic Growth (PC-PEG).

The country was going through a dire period of economic uncertainties and despondency, he stated.

In 2022, the Finance Minister faced criticism as some New Patriotic Party (NPP) legislators called for his removal, attributing the nations economic challenges to his alleged poor performance.

The National Democratic Congress also filed a censure motion for his removal, citing factors like gross incompetence and conflict of interest.
Mr Akwasi Oppong-Fosu

08.08.2023 LISTEN

Mr Akwasi Oppong-Fosu, Ghanas former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation has appealed to Africans in the Diaspora and the People of African Descent to accept and embrace Africa as their homeland.

He said Africa was home of immense opportunities for which the African Diasporans should be proud to tap into them.

We need to make Africa strong by investing there, while we reap the benefits of our investments, we will gain the respect and recognition we have been fighting for."

Mr Oppong-Fosu was speaking at the Rainbow Push Coalition Annual Convention International Forum at the University of Chicago, USA.

The forum was on the theme: People of African Descent: Recognition, Justice and Development which was in line with the United Nations General Assembly in December 2013 proclamation of 2014-2015, as the international decade for the people of African descent.

It was organised by the Rainbow Push Coalition, founded by Reverend Jesse Jackson Snr, a Global Civil and Human Rights Icon.

He paid tribute to Rev Jesse Jackson Snr, who retired on the day of the event and described him as someone who had served humanity, adding, Throughout the world today, another global icon, Nelson Mandela, is being celebrated.

Mr Oppong-Fosu on the intractable identity question of people of African descent said his focus was central to the theme because identity gave a sense of Africans, and how others perceived, labeled and related.

Out of this social consciousness, our very being and existence is acknowledged and accepted as being worthy of equal rights and justice, he stated.

Mr Oppong-Fosu reminded the audience of Malcom Xs appreciation of the African Diaspora and Africa's connection where the development in China saw Africa as a weak continent whose people were disrespected.

For which there was a saying that, one doesnt have a China mans chance till China become strong and the saying disappeared with an accompanying recognition and respect to Chinese wherever they find themselves.

Malcom X, went on to say that 'when we get a strong Africa, the person of African origin or ancestry will be respected on this earth even in America, but he will not be respected in America until Africa is strong, he added.

Drawing on Malcom Xs observation that "whatever is happening in Africa impacts on the recognition and respect people of African descent will be accorded anywhere they find themselves in the world, he urged all to respect the African ideology.

People are entitled to their opinions, but as an African, I do not accept labels such as black Africa and sub-Sahara Africa with all the negativities aimed at alienating and disconnecting the global African diasporans from their roots, he intimated.

Dignitaries present at the forum were the president and founder of the Rainbow Push Coalition, Reverend Jesse Jackson Snr, Epsy Campbell Barr, former Vice President of Costa Rica, Jonathan Jackson, US Congressman, Ilhan Omar, US Congresswoman of Illinois State, Malcom Jallow, a Swedish Member of Parliament and Carol Ammons, a Representative of the 103rd District.
Aid a Child Ghana, a non-governmental organization operating in the Atebubu-Amantin municipality is undertaking an initiative to empower the youth through the provision of income generating skills.

The initiative which started in April this year, involves the formation of basic school based groups who are assigned dedicated facilitators to guide and motivate them to take full advantage of the opportunity.

As a first step, five groups have been established and given liquid soap making skills. All five beneficiary groups are currently producing and selling these products after school to make some income for their groups.

According to Pastor Nelson Aho, Board Member and Senior Technical Advisor of the organization, with a little seed money provided by the NGO, the groups have been able to generate an average of six hundred Ghana cedis each in its few months of operation which he described as a promising beginning.

He said from these resources the beneficiaries can buy basic needs like sanitary pads, footwear, school bags and the like for themselves to ease the pressure on their families whiles making life a bit more comfortable for themselves.

The skills that we are imparting unto the youth today could also lead to a lifelong trade on the part of these children which could lead to a brighter future, Pastor Aho added.

He said his outfit intends to create five more groups in the near future subject to the availability of dedicated facilitators who are key to the survival and progress of these groups.

Through the initiative, beneficiaries have also been taken through lessons termed empowered world view which seeks to help them explore and exploit available resources within their environment for their benefit and that of their communities.

They are also tutored on Citizens Voice and Action which empowers them to hold duty bearers at the local authority to task to ensure accountability and the provision of quality services for the betterment of their communities.

Beneficiary schools are Akokoa Roman Catholic JHS, First Class educational complex at Amantin, First Choice International based in Atebubu, New Kokrompe M.A primary and Primukyeae M.A primary.
Nairobi, Kenya, 8th August 2023: Investing in science, research, and innovation could help African governments break the cycle of poverty, and underdevelopment, resource mapping experts meeting in Nairobi on Tuesday have said.

Speaking at the 7th Regional Centre for Mapping Resources for Development , Dr. Mahaman Bachir Saley, Senior Scientific Officer, African Union Commission said Africa has no choice but to initiate education policies and curricular that address our priorities in terms of access, quality and relevance.

This is what we learn from the developed north. It has meant implementinga governance policies that is driven by data and research, investing in the required infrastructure to build science hubs, centers of excellence, laboratories and research facilities. Africa cannot be an exemption, he said.

Dr Saley noted that space science, whose resources include the Regional Centre for Mapping Resources in Development (RCMRD) has given Africa the ability to look outwards to the stars and beyond.

It is a strategic asset that can drive innovation and lead to progress and economic development for the continent. In addition, it inspires future generations of scientists and engineers, and drives global information exchange and communication, he said.

The seventh RCMRD International Conference comes at a time the world is recovering from COVID 19 pandemic.

According to Dr Saley, COVID-19 reechoed the realities that health, well being and resilience of populations depend on endogenous skills and solutions supported by science.

We have seen massive disruptions caused by the pandemic in education and economic activity. The ability to respond to future pandemics is determined by the capacity by governments to plan, manufacture essential supplies, role out treatment and share critical data. The same goes for the creation of digital infrastructure and virtual learning facilities to support continuity in education, he noted.

Over 1000 leading geo-information and allied technologies experts from 20 East and Southern African countries are gathered at The Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) for the three-day conference to share, and exchange related information for sustainable development.

Themed as "Space to Community" the conference outcomes will enable opportunity for geo-science experts to inform policy.
Senior Psychologist Professor, Joseph Osafo has advised the New Patriotic Party's presidential aspirants to prioritize politics of ideas over insults.

Speaking on the importance of peaceful engagement among aspirants, Prof. Osafo underscored that resorting to insults would undermine the peace and unity in the party.

Speaking during a panel discussion on Peace FMs "Kokrokoo" morning show, the renowned psychologist urged aspirants to view their competitors as "value creators" rather than adversaries.

"You cannot destroy your competitors because whether you like it or not when you win, you will need them," Prof. Osafo advised, highlighting the importance of fostering strong relationships within the party.

In his call for peaceful competition, the Head of Psychology at the University of Ghana emphasized that the NPP's success in the 2024 elections would be achieved not through ruthlessly competitive tactics, but through a compassionate approach.

The forthcoming NPP Special Delegates Congress, scheduled for Saturday, August 26, 2023 will play a crucial role in streamlining the party's presidential candidates.

With ten candidates currently in the race, the Congress aims to reduce this number to five, who will then proceed to the main election where the party's flagbearer would be elected on November 4.

Notable candidates participating in the race include the Vice President of the Republic, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia; former Minister of Trade, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen; Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, the Member of Parliament for Assin Central; former Minister for Energy, Boakye Agyarko; former Attorney General and Railways Minister, Joe Ghartey; and Dr. Owusu Afriyie-Akoto, who resigned from his role as Agriculture Minister to pursue the presidential candidacy.

Over 900 delegates are set to participate in the super delegates elections in all constituencies across Ghana.
08.08.2023 LISTEN

Well-known actor and film producer Fred Nuamah has said his decision to step down from the Ayawaso West Wuogon (AWW) contest was motivated by advice from important persons in National Democratic Congress (NDC).

According to Mr. Nuamah, he was asked to join the former President's campaign team and he agreed to opt out of the race.

In an interview with United TV, he stated, I have realized that the battle to regain power in 2024 is not an easy task so I believe moving forward if there are issues within the party, we will have a divided front therefore to unite the party I stepped down so as to promote unity. Additionally, there was an offer to serve in the national interest therefore I decided to drop this one. The new offer is to assist the incoming President of Ghana John Dramani Mahama camp therefore I am officially confirming that I have been elevated.

When asked about his current relationship with John Dumelo, he said the misunderstanding between them is now a thing of the past.

The issue between myself and John Dumelo is in the past, what is important is the unity, if we continue to discuss matters of the past it is not in line with the partys objective. So, moving forward our message is tagged along the line of promoting the party and John Dumelo in winning the Ayawaso West Wuogon seat," he emphasised.
The Akropong District Court has remanded 12 tricycle riders arrested for their alleged involvement in a clash that ensued between some Tricycle operators and the police in an attempt to retrieve their seized vehicles from the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA).

In court on Tuesday, 8 October 2023, the pleas of the accused persons were not taken.

The Prosecutor, ACP Kofi Blagodzi, prayed the court to remand the accused to allow for further investigations.

The court thus remanded the accused into police custody to reappear on August 15, 2023.

Some tricycle operators, clashed with the police on Monday, August 7, 2023, when they stormed the towing yard of the KMA to retrieve their tricycles after blocking the Suame Road stretch to the Kumasi Central Business District (CBD).

The protesters pelted stones at the police who had been stationed in the towing yard and in response, the police fired warning shots.

A joint armed military and additional police personnel were deployed to the scene to disperse the aggrieved riders.

Six Police officers got injured and were rushed to the KMA clinic for medical attention.

Twelve of the riders were immediately arrested by the police.

They were provisionally charged with conspiracy to commit crime to wit rioting.

Source: classfmonline.com
The obnoxious-agreements that France is using to exploit the citizens of its former African colonies, and their nations, in such egregious fashion, are an affront to human dignity, and crimes against humanity, no less.

Luckily, as it happens, a Rubicorn-moment has now arrived for France's former colonies in Africa - for, as we speak, the world is now very receptive to such unconscionable agreements, between nation-states, being torn up.

The international community must condemn those post-independence agreements, in no uncertain terms - and demand that their continued enforcement by France, ends. Now. Not tomorrow. Africa must seize this momentous-moment, to free the tens of millions of Africans in France's former colonies across the continent, who are burdened by the yoke of French ruthless-exploitation. Shame on France!
08.08.2023 LISTEN

The Minority in Parliament is demanding that persons who have recklessly mismanaged the Bank of Ghana (BoG) should leave office immediately.

At a press conference on Tuesday, August 8, Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson handed Bank of Ghana Governor Dr. Ernest Addison a 21-day ultimatum to resign from his position.

It is however our position that those who have so recklessly mismanaged the Central Bank and brought it to its knees cannot remain at the helm of affairs of the bank without being held accountable. Those who have by their reckless and criminal conduct unleashed economic hardship and financial distress on the suffering people of Ghana must be held to account. Impunity of the highest order can no longer be tolerated by the suffering masses of Ghanaians. We must not allow dangerous precedents to be set for future leaders, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson told the press.

The Minority Leader in Parliament continued, In this regard, we call for the resignation of the Governor of the Central Bank within 21 days from today.

The demands from the Minority are coming on the back of Bank of Ghanas Annual Report which revealed that the Central Bank recorded a staggering loss of GHS60.8 billion, which is equivalent to $6 billion.

The report also revealed that the Bank of Ghana spent a whopping GHS131.6 million on motor vehicle maintenance and running in 2022 alone - a 114% increase over the previous years expenditure.

Should the Governor of the Central Bank refuse to resign, the Minority has warned that it will embark on popular action to Occupy the Central Bank and drive out the team of inept, callous, and criminal mis-managers of the finances of the country and Save The Bank of Ghana.

The March to Ensure Accountability will begin in 21 days if the Governor of the Bank of Ghana does not do the needful and pack bag and baggage out of that sacred institution that he has so desecrated. Dr. Ernest Addisson Must Go! There has to be an end to impunity and it is NOW, Dr. Ato Forson said.

Below is a copy of the statement read by Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson during the press conference on Tuesday.

THE INSOLVENCY OF THE BANK OF GHANA AND THE CALL FOR THE GOVERNOR OF THE CENTRAL BANK DR ERNEST ADDISON TO RESIGN.

Date: 8th August 2023

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

It is with a heavy heart and great sorrow that we welcome you to this critical press briefing.

The Bank of Ghana, which is our Central Bank and lender of last resort, has been dealt a catastrophic blow by the reckless, clueless and criminally minded NPP mis managers of our economy and this has necessitated an urgent call for action to Save Our Central Bank. Many media houses, including those of you here, have, in the last week, covered the sad and pathetic story of the Central Bank following the release of its annual report.

Anyone who understands the crucial role of the Bank of Ghana will be rightly worried about this development. Its is a total disaster. Unless we take urgent and drastic action, the reckless, clueless and criminally minded NPP mis managers of the economy have laid the final groundwork for the collapse of our financial system and the economy which will worsen the already horrible conditions of Ghanaians.

We in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have consistently warned of the mismanagement of the financial sector by the Governor of the Central Bank and his team of inept deputies anchored on the jaundiced supervision of the spectacularly failed Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the Vice President and the brain behind the NPP economic mis-management team. All our warnings were ignored.

Only last week, the Annual Report and Financial Statement of the Bank of Ghana was released. This report vindicated the catastrophic decline of the Bank into a bottomless pit. The report revealed the following astonishing facts:

The Bank of Ghana recorded a staggering loss of GHS60.8 billion, which is equivalent to $6 billion. This is twice the amount we are to receive from our recent IMF bailout. This means the recklessness and ineptitude of the Governor of the Central Bank has cost us twice what we have laboured and are sacrificing to receive from the IMF. The bank has also recorded a negative equity of over GHS55.1 billion. What this simply means is that the Bank of Ghana is insolvent. In other words, the once prestigious Bank of Ghana, the mother of all banks in Ghana, has been bankrupted and collapsed by this NPP economic management team led by Dr Mahamudu Bawumia with the complicity of the Governor of the Central Bank.

Friends from the media, many questions have been asked about how we arrived at this gloomy and sad situation, with some expressing surprise at the state of affairs of the Central bank. For us in the NDC this disaster did not come as a surprise. We in the NDC Minority have always known that the Bank of Ghana has been mismanaged. We have made this point time without number. The Bank of Ghana is a classic example of how not to manage an economy. The NDC party is on record to have informed Ghanaians on countless occasions that the Bank of Ghana has been on a dangerous trajectory, and indeed, it has now become a crime scene with dire consequences for all of us.

Fellow countrymen and women, after the inept and clueless Finance Minister over-borrowed and got Ghana locked out of the capital market due to our unsustainable debt obligations, the NPP government chose the easy, reckless, lazy and criminal path of printing money. This is how the Governor of the Central Bank, Dr. Ernest Addison who is now known as the Printer of Money, conspired with members of the Economic mis-management Team led by the failed Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia and the inept Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta aka One Problem, One Bond, to destroy Ghanas Central Bank.

After this dastardly act of over-lending to the government by the Central Bank, they then proceeded to do the unthinkable  to write-off a whooping GHC 48.4 billion, about half of Ghana Governments indebtedness to the Central Bank, without so much as seek parliamentary approval. This is illegal and criminal and the NDC Members of Parliament will not allow this to pass.

Beyond the mismanagement of the economy and our finances, the spectacular recklessness and ineptitude of the Governor and his team has called into question the wisdom of leaving him at the helm of affairs of the Central Bank as we seek to get ourselves out of this mess of securing policy solvency for the Bank to carry out its primary mandate. Please note below the manifestations of mismanagement, ineptitude and potential corruption at the Central Bank revealed by the Annual Report and Financial Statement of the Bank of Ghana.

The 2022 Report revealed that millions of Ghana Cedis have been wasted on frivolous administrative expenditures. The Bank of Ghana spent a whopping GHS131.6 million on Motor vehicle maintenance and running in 2022 alone - a 114% increase over the previous years expenditure. Similarly, foreign and domestic travels of the Bank of Ghana cost the Ghanaian tax payer a staggering GHS97.4 million, which is about 246% increase over the previous year. The Bank of Ghana also dissipated another GHS8.6 million on Directors remuneration alone. This represents about 87% increase over the previous years expenditure. This means that Ghanaians were charged a Mismanagement Fee to deliver the collapse of the Bank. The Bank further claimed to have spent a colossal GHS357.9 million on Banking Supervision Expenses. The Report disclosed other undisclosed expenses amounted to GHS287.8 million of the taxpayers money. Perhaps the more troubling fact is that, having brought the bank of Ghana to this terrible financial state, the Governor working with the Board, has found it prudent and expedient to invest $250 million (GHC2.8 billion) on another Head Office building somewhere at Ridge. In our circumstances, this is the height of criminality in the management of the finances of a troubled country.

It is now obvious that many more members of the Akuffo Addo Government will likely be keeping several more millions of dollars in their bedrooms and building a war chest to illegally buy electoral votes at both party primaries and the upcoming general elections of December 2024. We will not be surprised if members of the Economic Management Team involved in these contests make a strong showing.

We in the NDC will continue to explore ways of rescuing this country to prevent it from the doom that have befallen several West African countries. The IMF has made offers to assist develop a plan for the recapitalization of the Central Bank (see paragraph 18 of the Ghanas Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policy).

It is however our position that those who have so recklessly mismanaged the Central Bank and brought it to its knees cannot remain at the helm of affairs of the bank without being held accountable. Those who have by their reckless and criminal conduct unleashed economic hardship and financial distress on the suffering people of Ghana must be held to account. Impunity of the highest order can no longer be tolerated by the suffering masses of Ghanaians. We must not allow dangerous precedents to be set for future leaders.

In this regard, we call for the resignation of the Governor of the Central Bank within 21 days from today. We are resolved to embark upon popular action to Occupy the Central Bank and drive out the team of inept, callous and criminal mis-managers of the finances of this country and Save The Bank of Ghana. The March to Ensure Accountability will begin in 21 days if the Governor of the Bank of Ghana does not do the needful and pack bag and baggage out of that sacred institution that he has so desecrated. Dr Ernest Addisson Must Go! There has to be an end to impunity and it is NOW!

Fellow country men and women, Arise for Ghana!

Thank you and God Bless our March.

STATEMENT READ BY HON. DR. CASSIEL ATO FORSON, LEADER OF THE NDC CAUCUS IN PARLIAMENT
The Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin has affirmed the commitment of Ghana's parliament to promoting disability rights and inclusivity in the legislative body.

During a recent courtesy call on him by selected members of the disability movement and the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD), Mr Bagbin emphasized the importance of having physically challenged individuals as Members of Parliament (MPs).

He stated that the move is a global benchmark for assessing parliaments around the world.

We need to have a number of physically challenged persons as Members of Parliament; it is one of the benchmarks for assessing parliaments in the world, Mr Bagbin asserted.

He further conveyed that efforts were underway to ensure the inclusion of disabled MPs in parliament.

He highlighted the establishment of a disability caucus within the parliament by the end of the year as part of efforts.

Bagbin said, We are working on all these things to make our parliament inclusive; we will do our best to inaugurate the disability caucus by the end of the year.

The Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD) has been actively advocating for the creation of a formalized disability caucus in parliament.

This caucus would serve as a platform to advance disability-related advocacy, monitor legislative discussions on disability matters, and contribute effectively to disability-related debates on the floor.

Ms Rita Kyeremaa Kusi, the Executive Director of the GFD, led the delegation and emphasized the need for comprehensive discussions on disability issues in parliament.

She called on the Speaker of Parliament to support the process of re-enacting the disability law to ensure the protection of rights for persons with disabilities in Ghana.

Ms. Kusi noted that Ghana is yet to ratify the African Disability Protocol (ADP), a protocol that addresses African practices and concerns related to disability issues.

Interim leaders of the disability caucus of parliament were present at the meeting to express their support.

Dr. Emmanuel Marfo, Member of Parliament for Oforikrom Constituency, Mr. Clement Apaak, Member of Parliament for Builsa South, and Ms. Darkoa Newman, Member of Parliament for Okaikwei South, all voiced their unwavering commitment to the disability movement in Ghana.

They also echoed the call for the formal establishment and inauguration of the disability caucus in parliament to enhance their contribution to disability-related initiatives.
The Minority in Parliament has lambasted the Governor of Bank of Ghana over what it says is the spectacular reckless mismanagement of the finances of the country.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, August 8, Minority Leader Dr. Ernest Addison said the Annual Report and Financial Statement of the Bank of Ghana has vindicated the National Democratic Congress (NDC) which has constantly warned that the financial sector is being mismanaged.

Bank of Ghanas Annual Report has revealed that the Central Bank recorded a staggering loss of GHS60.8 billion, which is equivalent to $6 billion.

The report also revealed that the Bank of Ghana spent a whopping GHS131.6 million on Motor vehicle maintenance and running in 2022 alone - a 114% increase over the previous years expenditure.

The Report further disclosed other undisclosed expenses amounted to GHS287.8 million of the taxpayers money.

Shocked by the figures, the Minority in Parliament says it suspects that more members of the government are keeping millions of dollars in their bedrooms to be used to buy votes in the 2024 General Election.

It is now obvious that many more members of the Akuffo Addo Government will likely be keeping several more millions of dollars in their bedrooms and building a war chest to illegally buy electoral votes at both party primaries and the upcoming general elections of December 2024, Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson said.

He added, We will not be surprised if members of the Economic Management Team involved in these contests make a strong showing.

In its bid to hold Bank of Ghana accountable, it has noted that it will embark on a March to Ensure Accountability after 21 days if BoG Governor Dr. Ernest Addison does not resign with his two deputies.

Below is the statement read by Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson at the NDC press conference:

THE INSOLVENCY OF THE BANK OF GHANA AND THE CALL FOR THE GOVERNOR OF THE CENTRAL BANK DR ERNEST ADDISON TO RESIGN.

Date: 8th August 2023

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

It is with a heavy heart and great sorrow that we welcome you to this critical press briefing.

The Bank of Ghana, which is our Central Bank and lender of last resort, has been dealt a catastrophic blow by the reckless, clueless and criminally minded NPP mis managers of our economy and this has necessitated an urgent call for action to Save Our Central Bank. Many media houses, including those of you here, have, in the last week, covered the sad and pathetic story of the Central Bank following the release of its annual report.

Anyone who understands the crucial role of the Bank of Ghana will be rightly worried about this development. Its is a total disaster. Unless we take urgent and drastic action, the reckless, clueless and criminally minded NPP mis managers of the economy have laid the final groundwork for the collapse of our financial system and the economy which will worsen the already horrible conditions of Ghanaians.

We in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have consistently warned of the mismanagement of the financial sector by the Governor of the Central Bank and his team of inept deputies anchored on the jaundiced supervision of the spectacularly failed Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the Vice President and the brain behind the NPP economic mis-management team. All our warnings were ignored.

Only last week, the Annual Report and Financial Statement of the Bank of Ghana was released. This report vindicated the catastrophic decline of the Bank into a bottomless pit. The report revealed the following astonishing facts:

The Bank of Ghana recorded a staggering loss of GHS60.8 billion, which is equivalent to $6 billion. This is twice the amount we are to receive from our recent IMF bailout. This means the recklessness and ineptitude of the Governor of the Central Bank has cost us twice what we have laboured and are sacrificing to receive from the IMF. The bank has also recorded a negative equity of over GHS55.1 billion. What this simply means is that the Bank of Ghana is insolvent. In other words, the once prestigious Bank of Ghana, the mother of all banks in Ghana, has been bankrupted and collapsed by this NPP economic management team led by Dr Mahamudu Bawumia with the complicity of the Governor of the Central Bank.

Friends from the media, many questions have been asked about how we arrived at this gloomy and sad situation, with some expressing surprise at the state of affairs of the Central bank. For us in the NDC this disaster did not come as a surprise. We in the NDC Minority have always known that the Bank of Ghana has been mismanaged. We have made this point time without number. The Bank of Ghana is a classic example of how not to manage an economy. The NDC party is on record to have informed Ghanaians on countless occasions that the Bank of Ghana has been on a dangerous trajectory, and indeed, it has now become a crime scene with dire consequences for all of us.

Fellow countrymen and women, after the inept and clueless Finance Minister over-borrowed and got Ghana locked out of the capital market due to our unsustainable debt obligations, the NPP government chose the easy, reckless, lazy and criminal path of printing money. This is how the Governor of the Central Bank, Dr. Ernest Addison who is now known as the Printer of Money, conspired with members of the Economic mis-management Team led by the failed Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia and the inept Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta aka One Problem, One Bond, to destroy Ghanas Central Bank.

After this dastardly act of over-lending to the government by the Central Bank, they then proceeded to do the unthinkable  to write-off a whooping GHC 48.4 billion, about half of Ghana Governments indebtedness to the Central Bank, without so much as seek parliamentary approval. This is illegal and criminal and the NDC Members of Parliament will not allow this to pass.

Beyond the mismanagement of the economy and our finances, the spectacular recklessness and ineptitude of the Governor and his team has called into question the wisdom of leaving him at the helm of affairs of the Central Bank as we seek to get ourselves out of this mess of securing policy solvency for the Bank to carry out its primary mandate. Please note below the manifestations of mismanagement, ineptitude and potential corruption at the Central Bank revealed by the Annual Report and Financial Statement of the Bank of Ghana.

The 2022 Report revealed that millions of Ghana Cedis have been wasted on frivolous administrative expenditures. The Bank of Ghana spent a whopping GHS131.6 million on Motor vehicle maintenance and running in 2022 alone - a 114% increase over the previous years expenditure. Similarly, foreign and domestic travels of the Bank of Ghana cost the Ghanaian tax payer a staggering GHS97.4 million, which is about 246% increase over the previous year. The Bank of Ghana also dissipated another GHS8.6 million on Directors remuneration alone. This represents about 87% increase over the previous years expenditure. This means that Ghanaians were charged a Mismanagement Fee to deliver the collapse of the Bank. The Bank further claimed to have spent a colossal GHS357.9 million on Banking Supervision Expenses. The Report disclosed other undisclosed expenses amounted to GHS287.8 million of the taxpayers money. Perhaps the more troubling fact is that, having brought the bank of Ghana to this terrible financial state, the Governor working with the Board, has found it prudent and expedient to invest $250 million (GHC2.8 billion) on another Head Office building somewhere at Ridge. In our circumstances, this is the height of criminality in the management of the finances of a troubled country.

It is now obvious that many more members of the Akuffo Addo Government will likely be keeping several more millions of dollars in their bedrooms and building a war chest to illegally buy electoral votes at both party primaries and the upcoming general elections of December 2024. We will not be surprised if members of the Economic Management Team involved in these contests make a strong showing.

We in the NDC will continue to explore ways of rescuing this country to prevent it from the doom that have befallen several West African countries. The IMF has made offers to assist develop a plan for the recapitalization of the Central Bank (see paragraph 18 of the Ghanas Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policy).

It is however our position that those who have so recklessly mismanaged the Central Bank and brought it to its knees cannot remain at the helm of affairs of the bank without being held accountable. Those who have by their reckless and criminal conduct unleashed economic hardship and financial distress on the suffering people of Ghana must be held to account. Impunity of the highest order can no longer be tolerated by the suffering masses of Ghanaians. We must not allow dangerous precedents to be set for future leaders.

In this regard, we call for the resignation of the Governor of the Central Bank within 21 days from today. We are resolved to embark upon popular action to Occupy the Central Bank and drive out the team of inept, callous and criminal mis-managers of the finances of this country and Save The Bank of Ghana. The March to Ensure Accountability will begin in 21 days if the Governor of the Bank of Ghana does not do the needful and pack bag and baggage out of that sacred institution that he has so desecrated. Dr Ernest Addisson Must Go! There has to be an end to impunity and it is NOW!

Fellow country men and women, Arise for Ghana!

Thank you and God Bless our March.

STATEMENT READ BY HON. DR. CASSIEL ATO FORSON, LEADER OF THE NDC CAUCUS IN PARLIAMENT
Former President John Dramani Mahama has congratulated the 13 Ghanaians who travelled from Accra to London by road.

The former President described the adventure as a great one embarked on with conviction, zeal and determination.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, August 8, Mr. Mahama noted that the trip helped raised Ghanas flag high.

A great story of adventure, conviction, zeal, and determination, which has also helped to raise Ghana's flag across the world.

Congratulations to the Wanderlust Ghana team. Accra to London. More than 10,000 km. You made it! the post reads.

Background

A 13-member team of Ghanaians successfully completed an epic 10,000km road trip from Accra to London.

The group was led by tourism enthusiast Kwabena Peprah of Wanderlust Ghana.

The team left Accra on July 23 and drove through several African countries before entering Europe and finally arriving in London on August 6.

The successful expedition has earned the team accolades for completing a challenging cross-continental road trip and proving it can be done.
The Minority Leader in Parliament, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has argued that Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Bank of Ghana Governor Dr. Ernest Addison, and Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta are to be blamed for the current state of the Ghanaian economy.

Speaking to Asempa FM in an interview, on Tuesday, August 8, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam alleged that government shared money with party members during the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said after government shared the Covid Funds as if it was sharing kelewele and groundnut, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Ken Ofor-Atta, and Dr. Ernest Addison cannot expect the countrys economy to be doing better.

Dr. Ato Forson insists that the three top officials of government are responsible for the destruction of the Ghanaian economy.

Government officials shared money like kelewele during the Covid-19 pandemic. During the Covid time, the NPP government shared money as if they were sharing groundnut. Their own Vice Chairman came out to speak out about it. Didnt you hear it?

This government shared the money like kelewele. So after sharing the money and they were expecting Ghana to be better? So where we are now Governor Addison, Mr. Printer, Finance Minister, One Problem One Bond, and Mr. Strategist Our Vice President, they have destroyed the country to where it is today, the Minority Leader in Parliament said.

Meanwhile, the Minority in Parliament has given Bank of Ghana Governor Dr. Ernest Addison a 21-day ultimatum to resign.

The Minority has cautioned that after 21 days, it will march to the head office of the Central Bank to demand his removal.
The Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) has awarded scholarships to 4,279 tertiary students across the country for the 2023 academic year.

This represents a 63% increase from the 2,704 students who received the scholarship in 2022.

Out of 22,000 applicants this year, the GETFund awarded scholarships to 2,951 diploma and undergraduate students, as well as 1,328 master's and PhD students enrolled in both public and private tertiary institutions.

The scholarships awarded cover a diverse range of academic programs.

Per details shared on the funds official website, 1,963 students (46%) received funding for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programs, while 2,316 students (54%) were awarded scholarships for programs in the humanities and other fields.

As of August 2nd, the GETFund has already disbursed GHC 25,278,029.39 in scholarship funds to the schools attended by the recipients.

The money covers tuition and other approved educational expenses.

The application process for the scholarships opened in December 2022.

The overwhelming interest led the GETFund's Board of Trustees to increase the number of available scholarships.

However, about 300 students have yet to accept their offers, preventing the disbursement of their funds.

GETFund is contacting these students directly to resolve any issues.

The GETFund Local Scholarship program aims to make tertiary education accessible and affordable for Ghanaian students, particularly those from poor backgrounds.
Mr Albert Quarshigah, a Law Lecturer at the University of Professional Studies (UPSA), has urged the Government to repeal or amend all laws which impede media freedom.

That, he said, was necessary to ensure that journalists effectively delivered on their constitutional mandates for the betterment of the country.

He was speaking at a forum to commemorate the first anniversary of the new administration of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), in Accra, on Tuesday, on the theme: Current Trends In Ghanas Media Landscape.

The forum, among other things, was to enable the current administration of the Association to evaluate its performance a year after assuming office.

Mr Quarshigah, who was speaking on the topic: An Assessment of the Criminal Law on False News and Its Application Against Media Practitioners In Ghana, noted that, over the years, Ghana had taken steps to make the environment conducive for journalists to work.

One of such steps, he said, was the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law in 2001, which had improved the practice of journalism and strengthened the countrys democracy.

Despite that, he noted that many laws existed in the country's books, which deterred journalists from delivering on their mandates assigned by the Constitution.

For instance, Mr Quarshigah noted that Section 208 of the Criminal Code which states that a person who knowingly give false or misleading information can face a fine of not more than one thousand penalty units or to a term of imprisonment of not more than three years or to both, remained in the books of the country.

Mr Quarshigah raised questions about the existence of the State Secret Act, indicating that, the Act, al though not primarily targeted at journalists, could still be used to prosecute journalists if the State so desired.

The Law Lecturer said the medias role in the countrys development could not be underestimated, so any law which prevented media practitioners from effectively delivering on their constitutional mandate must not be entertained.

Most journalists report information from government circles. Sometimes it is difficult to get information in government circles, so you let the story go anywhere and then it turns out that if you have done a check you would not have published it.

With all these challenges, why should the journalist go to jail for instance, because he published a story and then because of certain failure to search. Sometimes, when you put the story out, it gives story makers the opportunity to actually come out to respond and to clarify, he said.

He added that: We have done it before, we have repealed laws in this country. If you look at Article 12 of the Constitution the responsibility that is imposed on journalists is a very serious one. Journalists are supposed to hold government accountable and responsible to the people of Ghana.

Mr Quarshigah also urged the GJA and the National Media Commission to take steps to strengthen issues of ethics among journalists.

Mr Yaw Sarpong Boateng, Executive Secretary, Right To Information Commission, said the passage of the RTI law has improved the work of journalists in the country.

However, he noted that non-compliance by public institutions remained a major challenge to the implementation of the RTI law.

Madam Fatimatu Abubakar, Deputy Minister of Information,said the Ministry was implementing programmes to improve the work of Ghanaian journalists.

Key amongst them includes capacity building of journalists, campaigns on negative effects of mis/disinformation, making information accessible to all and prioritising the safety of journalists.

GNA
Mr James Gyakye Quayson, the Assin North Member of Parliament (MP), has called on the National Communications Authority and the National Media Commission to ban all forms of advertisement for money rituals in the media.

He said such advertisements, particularly those shown on television, which sought to make people instant millionaires, was a bad influence on the youth making them to engage in heinous crimes.

The MP's appeal was in reaction to the recent serial killing of elderly women in Assin North by unknown assailants, ostensibly for ritual purposes. Areas including Assin Dansame, Bereku and Praso are the most affected.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mr Gyakye Quayson blamed the situation on advertisement on TV for money rituals and other spiritual purposes.

These have heightened insecurity, causing people to live in fear as they are unable to go about their normal duties, he said.

Most of the youth in the area are unemployed and others having an insatiable desire to 'get rich quick' are being lured by the unregulated programming on the airwaves.

Mr Quayson said the disturbing trend, if not nipped in the bud, had the potential of destroying the younger generation.

He called on the Police Administration to beef up security in the area to ease the seeming insecurity.

He said the number of police personnel in the district was inadequate and lacked the logistics to facilitate their operations.

Assin-Bereku is the capital of Assin North District and the most populous community in the district, but they have only five personnel. The district has only 27 police personnel, he said.

Mr Quayson pledged to roll out employable skills training to enhance the socio-economic livelihoods of the people, particularly vulnerable women in the area.

Employable skills training remained the surest strategy for wealth creation and poverty reduction in rural communities. I will ensure all deserving people in the area benefit from the training, he said.

The youth would be trained in masonry, carpentry, tailoring, steel bending, electrical and plumbing works, among other skills.

Mr Quayson appealed to the people to be vigilant and to take issues of personal safety and security seriously.

He said taking precautionary measures for one's safety was key to dealing with crime and preserving lives and property.

GNA
09.08.2023 LISTEN

Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has cautioned strongly against the increasing clamour for a military regime in the country, indicating that the consequences were dire and counterproductive.

Instead, he said the nation must come together in the spirit of unity and development to reform the 30-year-old multi-party democratic system to align with the development aspirations of the people.

He maintained that it was better to acknowledge the flaws in the current political system and correct it to maintain multi-party democracy, which he said was the best for the world.

Because there is nowhere on the world that has developed through any other system apart from a democratic system. So, that is why usually after the military regime or dictatorship, we come back to it, he said.

Speaker Bagbin made the admonition when he called on Osabarimba Kwesi Atta II, the Oguaamanhen, as part of activities to celebrate 30 years of uninterrupted parliamentary democracy under Ghana's Fourth Republic.

The Speaker was accompanied by Mr Cassiel Ato Forson, Minority Leader of Parliament and his deputy, Mr Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah; Madam Kate Addo, Director of Public Affairs of Parliament; Madam Rosemary Arthur Sarkodie, Parliamentary Procedural Clerk, Mr Kweku George Ricketts-Hagan among other leaders of Parliament.

Other dignitaries at the meeting also included Mrs Justina Marigold Assan, the Central Regional Minister, some of Members of Parliament (MPs) of the Central Region and chiefs and queens of the Oguaa Traditional Council.

The anniversary, among other things, seeks to enlighten the public on the role of parliament and allow MPs to confer with citizens on how to improve the political system.

Mr Bagbin attributed the calls for military rule and military takeovers in the past to the lack of understanding of parliamentary democracy, a situation he noted had been taken for granted.

Such lack of appreciation, he averred, was responsible for the recent coups d'etat in Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger and other parts of Africa.

In view of that, he said it was critical for Parliament to reach out to the people to help them appreciate the system to restore confidence.

The Speaker observed, for instance, that many young people saw Parliament as an avenue to enrich themselves while citizens were enraged by MPs' resources for work and consider it a waste of money.

But Mr Bagbin dismissed that notion, saying, I dont know which MP has left Parliament better than they came.

He also raised questions about the dilemma of whether MPs should listen to their political parties or their constituents when making decisions in Parliament.

In his view, it was worrying that political parties held sway over MPs and controlled them in their interest rather than the interest of the people.

Similarly, he expressed disquiet over how a lot of people voted on party lines instead of the quality of representation.

He also expressed concerns over the low representation on women and the youth in Parliament as well as the utter lack of representation of some vulnerable and minority groups such as differently abled persons.

He added that the country must reconsider the exclusion of chiefs in politics given the critical role they played in development.

Citing countries like Botswana, Malawi, and Eswatini, he said Ghana would be in a better place if chiefs were given a direct role in democratic governance.

For Ghana to develop, Mr Bagbin also argued that the country must develop its language, indicating that no country had ever developed using a foreign language.

He observed that South Africa and countries in East Africa were fast developing because they had developed and leveraged Swahili as a common language.

The Speaker also called on the citizenry to bury all forms of differences, see themselves as one people and work concertedly to develop Ghana.

Osabarimba Kwesi Atta, for his part, stressed the need for Ghana to be wary of Western manipulation and adopt indigenous ways to expedite meaningful development.

After the meeting, the Oguaamanhen gifted the Speaker a colourful Kente and a beautiful model of a crab, the symbol the Oguaaman.

In return the Speaker gifted the Omanhen a golden plaque of the Parliament House.

GNA
The Governance and Business Boardroom has awarded the Deputy Director General of the National Lottery Authority(NLA), Ms Anna Horma Miezah, the Top Transformational Deputy MD Leadership Award at the 3rd National Governance and Business Leadership Awards 2023.

Ms Miezah is one of the 10 Top Transformational Deputy MDs Across Industries in Ghana selected for this Award.

The Governance and Business Boardroom has awarded the Deputy Director General of the National Lottery Authority(NLA), Ms Anna Horma Miezah, the Top Transformational Deputy MD Leadership Award at the 3rd National Governance and Business Leadership Awards 2023.

Ms Miezah is one of the 10 Top Transformational Deputy MDs Across Industries in Ghana selected for this Award.

A citation presented to her at the event reads, Anna Horma Miezah, Deputy Director-General, National Lottery Authority, is presented with the Top Transformational Deputy MD Leadership By the Governance and Business Boardroom, under the Auspices of Rad Communications, in Recognition of Your Remarkable Merits and Achievements as a Deputy Managing Director.

The National Governance & Business Leadership Awards is a high-impact economic development and strategic leadership awards programme developed by The Governance & Business Boardroom to champion and celebrate good corporate governance and leadership, economic empowerment and job creation in Ghana.

The event recognizes and celebrates top CEOs, Board Chairs, Procurement Leaders, HR Leaders, Business Leaders and Organizations.

About Ms Anna Horma Miezah

The Governance and Business Boardroom has awarded the Deputy Director General, Ms Anna Horma Miezah, the Top Transformational Deputy MD Leadership Award at the 3rd National Governance and Business Leadership Awards 2023.

Ms Miezah is among the 10 Top Transformational Deputy MDs Across Industries in Ghana selected for this Award.

The citation presented to her reads, Anna Horma Miezah, Deputy Director-General, National Lottery Authority, is presented with the Top Transformational Deputy MD Leadership By the Governance and Business Boardroom, under the Auspices of Rad Communications, in Recognition of Your Remarkable Merits and Achievements as a Deputy Managing Director. Congratulations!

The National Governance & Business Leadership Awards is a high-impact economic development and strategic leadership awards programme developed by The Governance & Business Boardroom to champion and celebrate good corporate governance and leadership, economic empowerment and job creation in Ghana.

The event recognizes and celebrates top CEOs, Board chairs, procurement leaders, HR Leaders, business leaders, companies and organizations.

Ms Anna Horma Miezah, a University of Buckingham, United Kingdom graduate, has contributed a great wealth of experience to the NLA since her appointment.

With a career that spans over 20 years in Banking, Finance, Marketing, Real Estate Construction and Management, Journalism and Insurance. She has worked with Intercontinental Bank (Access Bank), FBN Bank, United Bank of Africa, Jana Deluxe Estates Limited, Mahaj Limited and the Independent newspaper.

To give back to society, Ms Miezah founded Hormas Hope for Women Foundation, an NGO that supports women empowerment and Girl-Child education.

Ms Anna Horma Miezah is an Old Girl from Arch Bishop Porter Girls Secondary School. She is bilingual and speaks fluent French and English.
Aviva (OTCMKTS:AVVIY  Get Free Report) had its target price dropped by investment analysts at Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from GBX 560 ($7.16) to GBX 475 ($6.07) in a note issued to investors on Monday, FlyOnTheWall reports.

A number of other analysts have also commented on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut shares of Aviva from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a report on Friday, July 28th. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on shares of Aviva from GBX 520 ($6.65) to GBX 470 ($6.01) in a research report on Thursday, July 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on shares of Aviva from GBX 545 ($6.96) to GBX 535 ($6.84) in a research report on Thursday, May 25th. Berenberg Bank dropped their target price on shares of Aviva from GBX 532 ($6.80) to GBX 481 ($6.15) in a research report on Monday. Finally, HSBC raised shares of Aviva from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, June 30th.

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Aviva Stock Performance

Aviva Company Profile

AVVIY traded up $0.14 on Monday, reaching $9.88. The company had a trading volume of 41,297 shares, compared to its average volume of 46,592. Aviva has a one year low of $8.05 and a one year high of $11.39. The company has a fifty day moving average of $10.07 and a 200-day moving average of $10.36.

(Get Free Report)

Aviva plc provides various insurance, retirement, investment, and savings products in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, and internationally. The company offers life insurance, long-term health and accident insurance, savings, pension, and annuity products, as well as pension fund business and lifetime mortgage products.

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Hikma Pharmaceuticals (OTCMKTS:HKMPF  Get Free Report) had its price objective raised by Berenberg Bank from GBX 1,740 ($22.24) to GBX 2,100 ($26.84) in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday, FlyOnTheWall reports.

Several other research firms have also weighed in on HKMPF. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on Hikma Pharmaceuticals from GBX 1,950 ($24.92) to GBX 2,050 ($26.20) in a research note on Wednesday, May 3rd. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Hikma Pharmaceuticals from GBX 1,700 ($21.73) to GBX 1,800 ($23.00) in a research report on Wednesday, July 12th. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Hikma Pharmaceuticals from GBX 1,800 ($23.00) to GBX 1,900 ($24.28) in a research note on Friday.

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Hikma Pharmaceuticals Stock Performance

About Hikma Pharmaceuticals

Shares of HKMPF stock remained flat at $26.45 on Monday. The stock had a trading volume of 6 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,010. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $24.03 and its 200 day moving average price is $22.04. Hikma Pharmaceuticals has a 1-year low of $13.76 and a 1-year high of $27.15. The company has a quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53.

(Get Free Report)

Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC develops, manufactures, markets, and sells a range of generic, branded, and in-licensed pharmaceutical products. The company offers its products in solid, semi-solid, liquid, and injectable final dosage forms in North America, the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe. It operates through three segments: Injectables, Generics, and Branded.

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Bradley Foster & Sargent Inc. CT lessened its holdings in shares of Assurant, Inc. (NYSE:AIZ  Free Report) by 56.6% during the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 5,241 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 6,822 shares during the quarter. Bradley Foster & Sargent Inc. CTs holdings in Assurant were worth $629,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in Assurant by 4.3% during the 4th quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. now owns 5,694,084 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $712,103,000 after buying an additional 237,239 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. raised its stake in Assurant by 53.7% during the 1st quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,622,996 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $295,111,000 after buying an additional 566,763 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Assurant by 2.1% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,186,165 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $148,380,000 after buying an additional 24,567 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its stake in Assurant by 0.6% during the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 984,267 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $178,970,000 after buying an additional 5,554 shares during the period. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised its stake in Assurant by 33.5% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 906,647 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $113,385,000 after buying an additional 227,315 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.86% of the companys stock.

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Assurant Stock Performance

Assurant stock traded up $0.32 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $142.10. 261,551 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 415,994. Assurant, Inc. has a 52 week low of $104.49 and a 52 week high of $172.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a quick ratio of 0.41 and a current ratio of 0.41. The firm has a market cap of $7.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.05, a P/E/G ratio of 0.85 and a beta of 0.55. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $128.22 and its 200 day simple moving average is $125.63.

Assurant Announces Dividend

Insider Buying and Selling

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 20th. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 30th were issued a dividend of $0.70 per share. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.97%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 26th. Assurants payout ratio is currently 43.55%.

In other news, CFO Richard S. Dziadzio sold 4,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $131.07, for a total transaction of $524,280.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 55,893 shares in the company, valued at $7,325,895.51. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, CAO Dimitry Dirienzo sold 800 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $124.00, for a total transaction of $99,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 5,516 shares in the company, valued at $683,984. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CFO Richard S. Dziadzio sold 4,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $131.07, for a total value of $524,280.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 55,893 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,325,895.51. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.51% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

AIZ has been the topic of several recent research reports. Bank of America lifted their price target on Assurant from $160.00 to $164.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 3rd. Piper Sandler raised Assurant from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and set a $144.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, June 13th. Truist Financial lifted their price target on Assurant from $170.00 to $180.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday. TheStreet upgraded Assurant from a c+ rating to a b rating in a report on Wednesday, May 10th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded Assurant from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Thursday. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat, Assurant has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $141.00.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Assurant

About Assurant

(Free Report)

Assurant, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides business services that supports, protects, and connects consumer purchases in North America, Latin America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates through two segments: Global Lifestyle and Global Housing. The Global Lifestyle segment offers mobile device solutions, and extended service products and related services for consumer electronics and appliances, and credit and other insurance products; and vehicle protection, leased and financed solutions, and other related services.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AIZ? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Assurant, Inc. (NYSE:AIZ  Free Report).

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Fresnillo (OTCMKTS:FNLPF  Free Report) had its price objective lifted by Barclays from GBX 525 ($6.71) to GBX 650 ($8.31) in a report published on Thursday morning, FlyOnTheWall reports.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. UBS Group raised shares of Fresnillo from a sell rating to a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on shares of Fresnillo from GBX 620 ($7.92) to GBX 590 ($7.54) in a report on Friday, July 28th. Berenberg Bank cut their target price on shares of Fresnillo from GBX 700 ($8.95) to GBX 670 ($8.56) in a report on Friday, July 7th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their target price on shares of Fresnillo from GBX 790 ($10.10) to GBX 690 ($8.82) in a report on Monday, July 31st. Finally, Credit Suisse Group cut their price target on Fresnillo from GBX 620 ($7.92) to GBX 580 ($7.41) in a report on Wednesday, August 2nd.

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Fresnillo Trading Up 1.0 %

Fresnillo Company Profile

Shares of FNLPF stock traded up $0.07 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $7.22. 12,325 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 17,464. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a quick ratio of 2.10 and a current ratio of 2.82. Fresnillo has a one year low of $7.07 and a one year high of $11.95. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $8.01 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $8.88.

(Get Free Report)

Fresnillo plc mines, develops, and produces non-ferrous minerals in Mexico. It operates through seven segments: Fresnillo, Saucito, Cienega, Herradura, Noche Buena, San Julian, and Juanicipio. The company primarily explores for silver, gold, lead, and zinc concentrates. Its projects include the Fresnillo silver mine located in the state of Zacatecas; Saucito silver mine situated in the state of Zacatecas; Cienega gold mine located in the state of Durango; Herradura gold mine situated in the state of Sonora; Noche Buena gold mine located in the state of Sonora; San Julian silver-gold mine situated on the border of Chihuahua/Durango states; and Juanicipio mine located in the state of Zacatecas.

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Emfo LLC bought a new position in The Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE:BNS  Free Report) (TSE:BNS) during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm bought 4,700 shares of the banks stock, valued at approximately $237,000.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. increased its stake in Bank of Nova Scotia by 59.1% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 26,438 shares of the banks stock worth $1,896,000 after buying an additional 9,818 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. increased its stake in Bank of Nova Scotia by 2.7% in the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 18,359 shares of the banks stock worth $1,317,000 after buying an additional 475 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC purchased a new stake in Bank of Nova Scotia in the 1st quarter worth $366,000. Private Advisor Group LLC increased its stake in Bank of Nova Scotia by 56.3% in the 1st quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 7,272 shares of the banks stock worth $522,000 after buying an additional 2,619 shares in the last quarter. Finally, BlackRock Inc. increased its stake in Bank of Nova Scotia by 10.3% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 870,918 shares of the banks stock worth $62,462,000 after buying an additional 81,002 shares in the last quarter. 37.03% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have issued reports on BNS. Barclays lowered Bank of Nova Scotia from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 9th. StockNews.com upgraded Bank of Nova Scotia from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 4th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and seven have given a hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Bank of Nova Scotia has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $86.06.

Bank of Nova Scotia Price Performance

Shares of Bank of Nova Scotia stock traded up $0.35 during trading on Monday, reaching $48.46. 483,983 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,402,887. The company has a market capitalization of $58.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.45, a P/E/G ratio of 2.24 and a beta of 1.01. The Bank of Nova Scotia has a 52-week low of $45.26 and a 52-week high of $63.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 1.05 and a quick ratio of 1.05. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $49.36 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $50.29.

Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE:BNS  Get Free Report) (TSE:BNS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 24th. The bank reported $1.25 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.32 by ($0.07). The company had revenue of $5.85 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.91 billion. Bank of Nova Scotia had a return on equity of 13.99% and a net margin of 14.16%. Sell-side analysts expect that The Bank of Nova Scotia will post 5.28 EPS for the current year.

Bank of Nova Scotia Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, July 27th. Investors of record on Wednesday, July 5th were given a $0.7851 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, July 3rd. This represents a $3.14 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.48%. This is a positive change from Bank of Nova Scotias previous quarterly dividend of $0.77. Bank of Nova Scotias dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 62.87%.

Bank of Nova Scotia Company Profile

(Free Report)

The Bank of Nova Scotia provides various banking products and services in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Colombia, the Caribbean and Central America, and internationally. It operates in four segments: Canadian Banking, International Banking, Global Wealth Management, and Global Banking and Markets.

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Baker Ellis Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in iShares International Equity Factor ETF (NYSEARCA:INTF  Free Report) by 5.9% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 35,800 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 2,000 shares during the quarter. Baker Ellis Asset Management LLCs holdings in iShares International Equity Factor ETF were worth $948,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Bank of Montreal Can bought a new position in iShares International Equity Factor ETF in the 1st quarter valued at about $29,000. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of iShares International Equity Factor ETF during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $71,000. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust bought a new stake in shares of iShares International Equity Factor ETF during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $88,000. Aspire Private Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of iShares International Equity Factor ETF during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $90,277,920,000. Finally, Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. bought a new stake in shares of iShares International Equity Factor ETF during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $200,000.

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iShares International Equity Factor ETF Stock Performance

Shares of iShares International Equity Factor ETF stock traded down $0.18 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $26.99. 37,363 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 128,263. The stock has a market cap of $941.95 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.65 and a beta of 0.87. The firms fifty day moving average price is $26.85 and its 200-day moving average price is $26.60. iShares International Equity Factor ETF has a 12 month low of $20.47 and a 12 month high of $27.78.

iShares International Equity Factor ETF Company Profile

The iShares International Equity Factor ETF (INTF) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the STOXX International Equity Factor index. The fund tracks an index of large- and mid-cap equities in developed markets outside the US. Stocks are selected and weighted to maximize exposure to five factors: momentum, quality, value, low volatility, and size.

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StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Barnwell Industries (NYSE:BRN  Free Report) in a report issued on Friday morning. The firm issued a hold rating on the stock.

Barnwell Industries Stock Performance

NYSE:BRN opened at $2.54 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $25.30 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.13 and a beta of 0.37. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $2.60 and a 200 day moving average of $2.57. Barnwell Industries has a 52-week low of $1.89 and a 52-week high of $3.33.

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Barnwell Industries (NYSE:BRN  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 15th. The company reported ($0.12) EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of $5.24 million for the quarter. Barnwell Industries had a return on equity of 11.76% and a net margin of 7.68%.

Barnwell Industries Dividend Announcement

Insider Activity at Barnwell Industries

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 12th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 25th were issued a $0.015 dividend. This represents a $0.06 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.36%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, May 24th. Barnwell Industriess payout ratio is currently 26.09%.

In other Barnwell Industries news, major shareholder Ned L. Sherwood purchased 105,180 shares of Barnwell Industries stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 25th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $2.61 per share, for a total transaction of $274,519.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 2,102,960 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,488,725.60. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 16.30% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Barnwell Industries

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BRN. Stilwell Value LLC purchased a new stake in Barnwell Industries in the first quarter worth $220,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Barnwell Industries by 15.0% in the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 637,622 shares of the companys stock worth $1,639,000 after buying an additional 83,286 shares in the last quarter. EA Series Trust bought a new stake in shares of Barnwell Industries in the second quarter worth about $88,000. Susquehanna International Group LLP purchased a new stake in shares of Barnwell Industries during the 1st quarter worth approximately $75,000. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP purchased a new position in shares of Barnwell Industries in the first quarter valued at $78,000. Institutional investors own 9.38% of the companys stock.

About Barnwell Industries

(Get Free Report)

Barnwell Industries, Inc acquires, develops, produces, and sells oil and natural gas in Canada. It operates through three segments: Oil and Natural Gas, Land Investment, and Contract Drilling. The company acquires and develops crude oil and natural gas assets in the province of Alberta; and invests in land interests in Hawaii.

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Beaumont Financial Advisors LLC raised its holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWF  Free Report) by 1.8% in the first quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 7,050 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 123 shares during the quarter. Beaumont Financial Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF were worth $1,723,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of IWF. Capital Investment Advisory Services LLC lifted its stake in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 1.6% in the 4th quarter. Capital Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 2,723 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $583,000 after purchasing an additional 43 shares during the last quarter. Ritholtz Wealth Management increased its position in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 4.5% in the 1st quarter. Ritholtz Wealth Management now owns 1,050 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $257,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares during the period. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. increased its position in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 4.0% in the 1st quarter. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. now owns 1,208 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $295,000 after acquiring an additional 46 shares during the period. Chicago Capital LLC increased its position in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 1.9% in the 1st quarter. Chicago Capital LLC now owns 2,565 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $627,000 after acquiring an additional 47 shares during the period. Finally, Larson Financial Group LLC increased its position in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 0.4% in the 1st quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 13,092 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $3,199,000 after acquiring an additional 47 shares during the period.

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iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Stock Down 0.5 %

NYSEARCA IWF traded down $1.33 on Tuesday, hitting $276.90. The companys stock had a trading volume of 724,480 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,440,065. iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF has a 1-year low of $202.05 and a 1-year high of $286.96. The companys 50-day moving average is $273.16 and its 200 day moving average is $251.03. The firm has a market cap of $70.64 billion, a PE ratio of 26.14 and a beta of 1.08.

iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Company Profile

iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment returns that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 1000 Growth Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of equity securities of Russell 1000 index issuers with relatively higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth.

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Hersha Hospitality Trust (NYSE:HT  Get Free Report) has received an average rating of Hold from the five research firms that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have given a hold recommendation and one has assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $8.80.

HT has been the topic of several research reports. Barclays cut their price objective on Hersha Hospitality Trust from $9.00 to $8.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 27th. B. Riley raised Hersha Hospitality Trust from a neutral rating to a buy rating and cut their price objective for the company from $10.00 to $9.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Hersha Hospitality Trust in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a sell rating on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Hersha Hospitality Trust from $6.50 to $7.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 12th. Finally, Oppenheimer cut Hersha Hospitality Trust from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and set a $10.00 price objective on the stock. in a research report on Thursday, July 20th.

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Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on HT

Hersha Hospitality Trust Stock Up 3.7 %

Hersha Hospitality Trust Announces Dividend

Shares of NYSE:HT opened at $6.38 on Thursday. Hersha Hospitality Trust has a 1 year low of $5.64 and a 1 year high of $12.10. The company has a market cap of $255.84 million, a PE ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 2.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a current ratio of 1.71 and a quick ratio of 1.71. The stocks 50-day moving average is $6.14 and its 200 day moving average is $6.85.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 30th were given a $0.05 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, June 29th. This represents a $0.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.13%. Hersha Hospitality Trusts dividend payout ratio is currently 6.45%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hersha Hospitality Trust

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its stake in Hersha Hospitality Trust by 23.1% during the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 15,626 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $142,000 after buying an additional 2,936 shares during the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. raised its stake in Hersha Hospitality Trust by 8.2% during the 1st quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 35,523 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $323,000 after buying an additional 2,682 shares during the last quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund purchased a new stake in Hersha Hospitality Trust during the 1st quarter valued at $1,075,000. Acadian Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Hersha Hospitality Trust during the 1st quarter valued at $693,000. Finally, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS raised its stake in Hersha Hospitality Trust by 14.1% during the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 28,473 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $259,000 after buying an additional 3,510 shares during the last quarter. 62.56% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Hersha Hospitality Trust Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Hersha Hospitality Trust (HT) is a self-advised real estate investment trust in the hospitality sector, which owns and operates luxury and lifestyle hotels in coastal gateway and resort markets. The Company's 25 hotels totaling 3,811 rooms are located in New York, Washington, DC, Boston, Philadelphia, South Florida, and California.

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Canadian Natural Resources (TSE:CNQ  Free Report) (NYSE:CNQ) had its price objective boosted by Evercore from C$88.00 to C$90.00 in a research report report published on Friday, BayStreet.CA reports. They currently have an in-line rating on the stock.

A number of other brokerages also recently issued reports on CNQ. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price objective on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$97.00 to C$95.00 in a research report on Friday, May 5th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price objective on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$85.00 to C$82.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 12th. Desjardins cut their price objective on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$97.00 to C$95.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, July 25th. Scotiabank boosted their price objective on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$86.00 to C$87.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. Finally, National Bank Financial dropped their target price on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$105.00 to C$93.00 in a report on Thursday, June 29th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of C$89.44.

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Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Canadian Natural Resources

Canadian Natural Resources Trading Up 1.9 %

Canadian Natural Resources Announces Dividend

TSE:CNQ opened at C$81.51 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 35.40. Canadian Natural Resources has a 12 month low of C$61.23 and a 12 month high of C$84.25. The company has a market cap of C$88.85 billion, a PE ratio of 9.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 2.04. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of C$75.20 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$76.81.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 5th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 15th will be given a dividend of $0.90 per share. This represents a $3.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.42%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 14th. Canadian Natural Resourcess dividend payout ratio is 42.30%.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Stephen W. Laut sold 60,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$75.46, for a total transaction of C$4,527,600.00. Corporate insiders own 2.22% of the companys stock.

Canadian Natural Resources Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Canadian Natural Resources Limited acquires, explores for, develops, produces, markets, and sells crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs). The company offers light and medium crude oil, primary heavy crude oil, Pelican Lake heavy crude oil, bitumen (thermal oil), and synthetic crude oil (SCO).

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Cannell & Co. acquired a new stake in Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HII  Free Report) during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm acquired 54,225 shares of the aerospace companys stock, valued at approximately $11,226,000. Cannell & Co. owned 0.14% of Huntington Ingalls Industries at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of HII. HighTower Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Huntington Ingalls Industries by 1.2% in the first quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 7,072 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $1,403,000 after purchasing an additional 87 shares during the period. D.A. Davidson & CO. boosted its stake in shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries by 27.5% in the first quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 1,467 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $293,000 after acquiring an additional 316 shares during the last quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund acquired a new stake in shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries in the first quarter worth approximately $60,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries by 23.0% in the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 10,885 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $2,171,000 after acquiring an additional 2,035 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS boosted its stake in shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries by 6.6% in the first quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 5,360 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $1,069,000 after acquiring an additional 332 shares during the last quarter. 87.80% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on HII shares. StockNews.com raised Huntington Ingalls Industries from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday, June 26th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Huntington Ingalls Industries from $238.00 to $250.00 in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $245.86.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, VP D R. Wyatt sold 500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, May 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $198.13, for a total transaction of $99,065.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 20,820 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,125,066.60. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 2.30% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Huntington Ingalls Industries Trading Down 1.7 %

Shares of HII stock traded down $3.83 on Tuesday, hitting $226.71. The stock had a trading volume of 76,368 shares, compared to its average volume of 359,108. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 0.96 and a quick ratio of 0.90. The firm has a market capitalization of $9.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.72 and a beta of 0.65. Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. has a 1 year low of $188.51 and a 1 year high of $260.02. The companys 50 day moving average price is $222.76 and its 200-day moving average price is $214.07.

Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 3rd. The aerospace company reported $3.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.14 by $0.13. The firm had revenue of $2.79 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.67 billion. Huntington Ingalls Industries had a return on equity of 15.13% and a net margin of 4.77%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 4.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $4.44 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. will post 14.51 earnings per share for the current year.

Huntington Ingalls Industries Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 8th. Investors of record on Friday, August 25th will be issued a $1.24 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 24th. This represents a $4.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.19%. Huntington Ingalls Industriess dividend payout ratio is presently 38.12%.

About Huntington Ingalls Industries

(Free Report)

Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc engages in designing, building, overhauling, and repairing military ships in the United States. It operates through three segments: Ingalls, Newport News, and Mission Technologies. The company is involved in the design and construction of non-nuclear ships comprising amphibious assault ships; expeditionary warfare ships; surface combatants; and national security cutters for the U.S.

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Cannell & Co. purchased a new position in Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL  Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 1,126,596 shares of the transportation companys stock, valued at approximately $39,341,000. Delta Air Lines makes up approximately 1.4% of Cannell & Co.s portfolio, making the stock its 14th biggest holding. Cannell & Co. owned 0.18% of Delta Air Lines at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Federated Hermes Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Delta Air Lines by 0.7% in the first quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 1,168,022 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $40,787,000 after acquiring an additional 7,821 shares in the last quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of Delta Air Lines by 15.5% during the first quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC now owns 11,993 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $419,000 after buying an additional 1,606 shares in the last quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of Delta Air Lines by 10.7% during the first quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 320,434 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $11,190,000 after buying an additional 30,936 shares in the last quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of Delta Air Lines by 16.0% during the first quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 12,925 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $441,000 after buying an additional 1,783 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Perpetual Ltd bought a new position in shares of Delta Air Lines during the first quarter worth about $1,057,000. 68.35% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

DAL has been the subject of a number of research reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price objective on Delta Air Lines from $47.00 to $58.00 in a report on Wednesday, June 28th. Wolfe Research raised their price target on Delta Air Lines from $51.00 to $54.00 in a research note on Friday, July 14th. Evercore ISI raised their price target on Delta Air Lines from $55.00 to $60.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, July 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on Delta Air Lines from $81.00 to $69.00 in a research note on Monday, May 8th. Finally, Susquehanna raised their price target on Delta Air Lines from $45.00 to $54.00 in a research note on Wednesday, June 28th. Thirteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $56.88.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Joanne D. Smith sold 7,513 shares of Delta Air Lines stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.90, for a total value of $277,229.70. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 107,782 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,977,155.80. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, EVP Joanne D. Smith sold 7,513 shares of Delta Air Lines stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.90, for a total value of $277,229.70. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 107,782 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,977,155.80. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Michael P. Huerta sold 3,350 shares of Delta Air Lines stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $48.43, for a total value of $162,240.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 27,465 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,330,129.95. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 17,919 shares of company stock worth $756,990 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.89% of the companys stock.

Delta Air Lines Stock Performance

NYSE:DAL traded up $0.20 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $45.44. 2,742,389 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 10,739,300. The stock has a market capitalization of $29.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.18 and a beta of 1.30. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $44.07 and its 200 day simple moving average is $38.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.24, a quick ratio of 0.41 and a current ratio of 0.46. Delta Air Lines, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $27.20 and a fifty-two week high of $49.81.

Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 13th. The transportation company reported $2.68 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.40 by $0.28. Delta Air Lines had a return on equity of 59.56% and a net margin of 5.36%. The firm had revenue of $15.58 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.44 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.44 EPS. The companys revenue was up 12.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Delta Air Lines, Inc. will post 6.67 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Delta Air Lines Cuts Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, August 7th. Shareholders of record on Monday, July 17th were paid a dividend of $0.10 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, July 14th. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.88%. Delta Air Liness dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 8.62%.

Delta Air Lines Company Profile

(Free Report)

Delta Air Lines, Inc provides scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Airline and Refinery. Its domestic network centered on core hubs in Atlanta, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Detroit, and Salt Lake City, as well as coastal hub positions in Boston, Los Angeles, New York-LaGuardia, New York-JFK, and Seattle; and international network centered on hubs and market presence in Amsterdam, Mexico City, London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, and Seoul-Incheon.

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StockNews.com started coverage on shares of China Green Agriculture (NYSE:CGA  Free Report) in a report issued on Friday morning. The brokerage issued a sell rating on the basic materials companys stock.

China Green Agriculture Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:CGA opened at $2.73 on Friday. The companys 50-day moving average price is $2.77 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $3.51. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01, a current ratio of 2.76 and a quick ratio of 2.04. China Green Agriculture has a one year low of $2.54 and a one year high of $7.80.

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China Green Agriculture (NYSE:CGA  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 15th. The basic materials company reported $0.02 EPS for the quarter. China Green Agriculture had a negative net margin of 12.95% and a negative return on equity of 12.31%. The firm had revenue of $45.26 million for the quarter.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

About China Green Agriculture

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of CGA. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP acquired a new position in shares of China Green Agriculture during the 1st quarter worth about $115,000. Susquehanna International Group LLP acquired a new position in shares of China Green Agriculture during the 1st quarter worth about $175,000. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its stake in shares of China Green Agriculture by 67.8% during the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 19,051 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $192,000 after purchasing an additional 7,700 shares during the last quarter. 0.62% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

(Get Free Report)

China Green Agriculture, Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the research, development, production, and sale of various fertilizers and agricultural products in the People's Republic of China. The company operates through three segments: Jinong (Fertilizer Production); Gufeng (Fertilizer Production); and Yuxing (Agricultural Products Production).

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Federated Hermes Inc. raised its stake in shares of Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH  Free Report) by 9.0% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 749,617 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 61,638 shares during the quarter. Federated Hermes Inc.s holdings in Choice Hotels International were worth $87,848,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Townsquare Capital LLC lifted its position in shares of Choice Hotels International by 561.0% in the 4th quarter. Townsquare Capital LLC now owns 24,621 shares of the companys stock worth $2,773,000 after buying an additional 20,896 shares during the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System lifted its position in shares of Choice Hotels International by 3.8% in the 4th quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 10,230 shares of the companys stock worth $1,152,000 after buying an additional 379 shares during the last quarter. Investment Research & Advisory Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Choice Hotels International by 6.7% in the 1st quarter. Investment Research & Advisory Group Inc. now owns 9,922 shares of the companys stock worth $1,163,000 after buying an additional 627 shares during the last quarter. Rheos Capital Works Inc. lifted its position in shares of Choice Hotels International by 161.8% in the 1st quarter. Rheos Capital Works Inc. now owns 178,000 shares of the companys stock worth $20,860,000 after buying an additional 110,000 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Alliance Wealth Advisors LLC UT bought a new position in shares of Choice Hotels International in the 4th quarter worth about $497,000. 60.62% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Choice Hotels International Stock Up 0.9 %

Choice Hotels International stock opened at $128.37 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $6.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.13, a PEG ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 1.27. The company has a current ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 29.25. The companys 50-day moving average price is $119.38 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $120.79. Choice Hotels International, Inc. has a 52 week low of $104.15 and a 52 week high of $131.64.

Choice Hotels International Dividend Announcement

Choice Hotels International ( NYSE:CHH Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, May 9th. The company reported $1.12 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.08 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $333.80 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $320.43 million. Choice Hotels International had a net margin of 21.50% and a return on equity of 129.67%. Choice Hotels Internationals quarterly revenue was up 29.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.03 EPS. On average, analysts expect that Choice Hotels International, Inc. will post 5.93 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 19th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, July 5th were paid a $0.287 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, July 3rd. This represents a $1.15 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.89%. Choice Hotels Internationals dividend payout ratio is currently 19.83%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

CHH has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Choice Hotels International in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Choice Hotels International from $119.00 to $122.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, July 21st. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of Choice Hotels International from $122.00 to $113.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, July 21st. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on shares of Choice Hotels International from $134.00 to $135.00 in a report on Friday, May 12th. Finally, TheStreet cut shares of Choice Hotels International from a b rating to a c+ rating in a report on Tuesday, May 9th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Choice Hotels International has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $121.57.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Choice Hotels International

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Choice Hotels International news, CFO Dominic Dragisich sold 15,877 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.55, for a total value of $1,977,480.35. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 83,739 shares in the company, valued at $10,429,692.45. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Corporate insiders own 23.07% of the companys stock.

Choice Hotels International Company Profile

(Free Report)

Choice Hotels International, Inc together with its subsidiaries, operates as a hotel franchisor. The company operates through Hotel Franchising & Management and Other segments. It franchises lodging properties under the brand names of Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Clarion, Clarion Pointe, Sleep Inn, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, WoodSpring Suites, Everhome Suites, Cambria Hotels, Ascend Hotel Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson RED, Radisson, Park Plaza, Country Inn & Suites, Radisson Inn & Suites , Park Inn by Radisson, Radisson Individuals, and Radisson Collection.

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Deutsche Post (OTCMKTS:DPSGY  Get Free Report) and Cargojet (OTCMKTS:CGJTF  Get Free Report) are both industrials companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, analyst recommendations, risk, dividends, institutional ownership, earnings and profitability.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

17.2% of Cargojet shares are held by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

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Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current ratings and price targets for Deutsche Post and Cargojet, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Deutsche Post 1 5 3 0 2.22 Cargojet 0 0 0 0 N/A

Dividends

Deutsche Post currently has a consensus price target of $49.35, indicating a potential upside of 0.04%. Cargojet has a consensus price target of $166.14, indicating a potential upside of 132.02%. Given Cargojets higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Cargojet is more favorable than Deutsche Post.

Deutsche Post pays an annual dividend of $1.44 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.9%. Cargojet pays an annual dividend of $0.60 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.8%. Deutsche Post pays out 34.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Cargojet pays out -238.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Deutsche Post and Cargojets top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Deutsche Post $99.52 billion 0.61 $5.65 billion $4.20 11.75 Cargojet N/A N/A N/A ($0.25) -286.47

Deutsche Post has higher revenue and earnings than Cargojet. Cargojet is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Deutsche Post, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares Deutsche Post and Cargojets net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Deutsche Post 5.32% 20.75% 7.21% Cargojet N/A N/A N/A

Summary

Deutsche Post beats Cargojet on 8 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Deutsche Post

(Get Free Report)

Deutsche Post AG operates as a mail and logistics company in Germany, rest of Europe, the Americas, the Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. The company operates through five segments: Express; Global Forwarding, Freight; Supply Chain; eCommerce Solutions; and Post & Parcel Germany. The Express segment offers time-definite courier and express services to business and private customers. The Global Forwarding, Freight segment provides air, ocean, and overland freight forwarding services; and offers multimodal and sector-specific solutions. This segment's business model is based on brokering transport services between customers and freight carriers. The Supply Chain segment delivers customized supply chain solutions to its customers based on modular components, including warehousing and transport services; and value-added services, such as e-fulfilment, omnichannel solutions and returns management, lead logistics partner, real estate solutions, service logistics, and packaging solutions for various industrial sectors. The eCommerce Solutions segment provides parcel delivery and cross-border non-time definite international services. The Post & Parcel Germany segment transports and delivers mail communication, parcels, physical and hybrid letters, and special products for the delivery of goods; and offers additional services, such as registered mail, cash on delivery, and insured items. Deutsche Post AG was founded in 1490 and is headquartered in Bonn, Germany.

About Cargojet

(Get Free Report)

Cargojet Inc. provides time sensitive overnight air cargo services in Canada. It operates domestic air cargo network services between 16 Canadian cities; and provides dedicated aircraft to customers on an aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance basis operating between points in Canada, North and South America, and Europe. The company also operates scheduled international routes for various cargo customers between the United States and Bermuda; and between Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany. In addition, it offers aircraft to customers on an ad hoc charter basis operating between points in Canada, the United States, and other international destinations; and specialty charter services for livestock shipments, military equipment movements, emergency relief supplies, and virtually large shipments across North America, South America, the Caribbean, and Europe. Further, the company is involved in the aircraft operation and maintenance, flight planning and dispatch, crew planning and training, ground handling, and commercial airline cargo management businesses. As of December 31, 2022, it operated a fleet of 39 aircraft. The company was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Mississauga, Canada.

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Cooke & Bieler LP decreased its position in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO  Free Report) by 2.1% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 1,010,553 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 21,476 shares during the period. Cooke & Bieler LP owned 0.70% of Atmos Energy worth $113,546,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Dark Forest Capital Management LP bought a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy in the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. First Horizon Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 2,500.0% in the 4th quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 260 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 250 shares during the period. WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy in the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy in the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000. Finally, Ameritas Advisory Services LLC bought a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy in the 1st quarter worth approximately $37,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.82% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on ATO shares. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $127.00 to $126.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, July 21st. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Atmos Energy in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Atmos Energy has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $126.00.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

ATO traded down $1.85 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $116.14. The companys stock had a trading volume of 419,215 shares, compared to its average volume of 848,191. The company has a quick ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63. Atmos Energy Co. has a one year low of $97.71 and a one year high of $125.28. The firm has a market cap of $17.24 billion, a PE ratio of 20.01, a P/E/G ratio of 2.59 and a beta of 0.61. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $118.11 and its 200-day simple moving average is $115.84.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The utilities provider reported $0.94 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.97 by ($0.03). The business had revenue of $662.73 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $959.54 million. Atmos Energy had a return on equity of 8.38% and a net margin of 19.02%. The firms revenue was down 18.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.92 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Atmos Energy Co. will post 6.06 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Atmos Energy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 5th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 21st will be given a dividend of $0.74 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 18th. This represents a $2.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.55%. Atmos Energys payout ratio is 50.68%.

Atmos Energy Profile

(Free Report)

Atmos Energy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the regulated natural gas distribution, and pipeline and storage businesses in the United States. It operates through two segments, Distribution, and Pipeline and Storage. The Distribution segment is involved in the regulated natural gas distribution and related sales operations in eight states.

Further Reading

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Shares of East Africa Metals Inc. (CVE:EAM  Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week low on Tuesday . The company traded as low as C$0.09 and last traded at C$0.10, with a volume of 50000 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at C$0.11.

East Africa Metals Trading Down 9.1 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.99, a quick ratio of 0.26 and a current ratio of 1.24. The company has a market cap of C$20.43 million, a P/E ratio of -3.67 and a beta of 0.87. The stock has a 50-day moving average of C$0.12 and a two-hundred day moving average of C$0.13.

About East Africa Metals

(Get Free Report)

East Africa Metals Inc, a mineral exploration company, focuses on the identification, acquisition, exploration, development, and sale of base and precious mineral resource properties in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the United Republic of Tanzania. The company primarily explores for gold, copper, silver, and zinc deposits.

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Emfo LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE:CM  Free Report) (TSE:CM) during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 2,400 shares of the banks stock, valued at approximately $102,000.

Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce during the 4th quarter valued at about $305,412,000. Clearbridge Investments LLC purchased a new position in shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in the 1st quarter worth approximately $73,764,000. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 3.5% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 14,825,265 shares of the banks stock worth $1,804,087,000 after buying an additional 495,127 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley grew its position in shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 23.5% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 2,189,852 shares of the banks stock worth $88,580,000 after buying an additional 416,362 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 75.3% in the 2nd quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 941,255 shares of the banks stock worth $45,689,000 after buying an additional 404,220 shares during the last quarter. 37.70% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have commented on the stock. Canaccord Genuity Group upgraded shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 10th. StockNews.com raised shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, June 29th. Finally, CIBC upgraded shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $70.40.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE CM traded up $0.25 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $42.80. 364,064 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,158,198. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has a 1-year low of $39.40 and a 1-year high of $53.36. The company has a quick ratio of 1.06, a current ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $42.87 and a 200-day simple moving average of $43.13. The firm has a market cap of $39.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 1.00.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE:CM  Get Free Report) (TSE:CM) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 25th. The bank reported $1.25 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.20 by $0.05. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce had a return on equity of 14.13% and a net margin of 11.14%. The business had revenue of $4.21 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.15 billion. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce will post 5.14 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 28th. Investors of record on Wednesday, June 28th were paid a dividend of $0.642 per share. This is an increase from Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerces previous quarterly dividend of $0.64. This represents a $2.57 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.00%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, June 27th. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerces dividend payout ratio is presently 64.65%.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Profile

(Free Report)

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, a diversified financial institution, provides various financial products and services to personal, business, public sector, and institutional clients in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Canadian Personal and Business Banking; Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management; U.S.

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Factory Mutual Insurance Co. raised its holdings in shares of ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW  Free Report) by 103.2% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 70,500 shares of the information technology services providers stock after purchasing an additional 35,800 shares during the quarter. Factory Mutual Insurance Co.s holdings in ServiceNow were worth $32,763,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of NOW. New Hampshire Trust raised its holdings in ServiceNow by 4.0% in the 1st quarter. New Hampshire Trust now owns 599 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $278,000 after acquiring an additional 23 shares during the period. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of ServiceNow by 1.4% during the first quarter. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC now owns 1,666 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $774,000 after purchasing an additional 23 shares during the period. Sigma Planning Corp lifted its holdings in ServiceNow by 0.9% during the 1st quarter. Sigma Planning Corp now owns 2,454 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $1,141,000 after purchasing an additional 23 shares during the last quarter. Alera Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in ServiceNow by 2.7% in the 1st quarter. Alera Investment Advisors LLC now owns 928 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $431,000 after purchasing an additional 24 shares during the period. Finally, Mirova increased its position in ServiceNow by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. Mirova now owns 2,525 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $980,000 after buying an additional 25 shares during the period. 86.72% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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ServiceNow Stock Performance

NOW stock traded down $2.06 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $552.83. 1,084,605 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,568,649. ServiceNow, Inc. has a 52 week low of $337.00 and a 52 week high of $614.36. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $561.18 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $492.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.14. The firm has a market capitalization of $112.63 billion, a PE ratio of 80.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.62 and a beta of 1.02.

Insider Buying and Selling

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

In related news, General Counsel Russell S. Elmer sold 69 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $453.30, for a total transaction of $31,277.70. Following the completion of the transaction, the general counsel now owns 4,047 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,834,505.10. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink . In related news, General Counsel Russell S. Elmer sold 69 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $453.30, for a total value of $31,277.70. Following the sale, the general counsel now directly owns 4,047 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,834,505.10. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website . Also, insider Paul John Smith sold 580 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, August 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $564.40, for a total transaction of $327,352.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 1,977 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,115,818.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last quarter, insiders have sold 22,116 shares of company stock valued at $11,879,574. Corporate insiders own 0.28% of the companys stock.

Several equities analysts recently commented on NOW shares. Needham & Company LLC restated a buy rating and issued a $660.00 price target on shares of ServiceNow in a research note on Friday. TheStreet upgraded ServiceNow from a c+ rating to a b rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 26th. Citigroup increased their target price on ServiceNow from $506.00 to $562.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. Bank of America boosted their price target on ServiceNow from $600.00 to $700.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 19th. Finally, Moffett Nathanson upped their price target on shares of ServiceNow from $549.00 to $600.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, July 27th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-nine have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $589.48.

View Our Latest Research Report on ServiceNow

ServiceNow Profile

(Free Report)

ServiceNow, Inc provides enterprise cloud computing solutions that defines, structures, consolidates, manages, and automates services for enterprises worldwide. The company operates the Now platform for workflow automation, artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotic process automation, process mining, performance analytics, electronic service catalogs and portals, configuration management systems, data benchmarking, encryption, and collaboration and development tools.

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FineMark National Bank & Trust increased its holdings in AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (NYSE:AVB  Free Report) by 5.1% during the first quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 25,375 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after acquiring an additional 1,235 shares during the quarter. FineMark National Bank & Trusts holdings in AvalonBay Communities were worth $4,265,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 3.2% during the 4th quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 1,920 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $310,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares during the last quarter. Sentry Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in AvalonBay Communities by 7.5% during the 4th quarter. Sentry Investment Management LLC now owns 978 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $158,000 after acquiring an additional 68 shares during the period. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund boosted its holdings in AvalonBay Communities by 0.7% during the 4th quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 10,794 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,743,000 after acquiring an additional 72 shares during the period. Moody National Bank Trust Division lifted its holdings in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 5.6% in the 1st quarter. Moody National Bank Trust Division now owns 1,379 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $232,000 after buying an additional 73 shares during the period. Finally, Profund Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 2.9% in the 4th quarter. Profund Advisors LLC now owns 2,814 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $455,000 after buying an additional 78 shares during the period. 87.85% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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AvalonBay Communities Stock Performance

AvalonBay Communities stock traded down $2.74 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $185.12. 86,645 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 796,342. The firm has a market capitalization of $26.29 billion, a PE ratio of 21.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.06 and a beta of 0.93. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $188.36 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $178.36. AvalonBay Communities, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $153.07 and a fifty-two week high of $220.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 0.95.

AvalonBay Communities Announces Dividend

AvalonBay Communities ( NYSE:AVB Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The real estate investment trust reported $2.59 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.60 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $690.86 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $675.67 million. AvalonBay Communities had a net margin of 46.32% and a return on equity of 11.01%. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $2.43 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that AvalonBay Communities, Inc. will post 10.52 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 17th. Investors of record on Friday, June 30th were issued a $1.65 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, June 29th. This represents a $6.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.57%. AvalonBay Communitiess dividend payout ratio is presently 74.24%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have weighed in on AVB. KeyCorp upped their target price on AvalonBay Communities from $193.00 to $205.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 12th. StockNews.com began coverage on AvalonBay Communities in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. TheStreet raised AvalonBay Communities from a c+ rating to a b rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on AvalonBay Communities from $200.00 to $215.00 in a research report on Tuesday, July 18th. Finally, Mizuho upped their target price on AvalonBay Communities from $188.00 to $190.00 in a research report on Friday, May 19th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $203.50.

Read Our Latest Research Report on AvalonBay Communities

Insider Activity at AvalonBay Communities

In related news, CIO Matthew H. Birenbaum sold 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $176.10, for a total value of $704,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive now owns 62,559 shares of the companys stock, valued at $11,016,639.90. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.42% of the companys stock.

About AvalonBay Communities

(Free Report)

As of March 31, 2023, the Company owned or held a direct or indirect ownership interest in 295 apartment communities containing 88,826 apartment homes in 12 states and the District of Columbia, of which 19 communities were under development and one community was under redevelopment. The Company is an equity REIT in the business of developing, redeveloping, acquiring and managing apartment communities in leading metropolitan areas in New England, the New York/New Jersey Metro area, the Mid-Atlantic, the Pacific Northwest, and Northern and Southern California, as well as in the Company's expansion regions of Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte, North Carolina, Southeast Florida, Dallas and Austin, Texas, and Denver, Colorado.

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Headwater Exploration (TSE:HWX  Free Report) had its target price boosted by Royal Bank of Canada from C$8.00 to C$8.50 in a research note released on Friday morning, BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage currently has a sector perform rating on the stock.

Other analysts also recently issued reports about the company. Desjardins raised their price target on Headwater Exploration from C$9.00 to C$9.25 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 25th. Raymond James decreased their price objective on shares of Headwater Exploration from C$8.50 to C$8.00 in a research note on Friday, July 14th.

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Headwater Exploration Trading Up 0.8 %

Shares of HWX stock opened at C$7.55 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a current ratio of 1.66 and a quick ratio of 2.07. The company has a market cap of C$1.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.62, a PEG ratio of 0.83 and a beta of 1.58. Headwater Exploration has a 1 year low of C$4.96 and a 1 year high of C$7.88. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of C$6.72 and a 200-day moving average price of C$6.42.

Headwater Exploration (TSE:HWX  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 11th. The company reported C$0.13 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of C$0.13. Headwater Exploration had a return on equity of 30.18% and a net margin of 41.63%. The firm had revenue of C$104.21 million during the quarter. As a group, equities analysts predict that Headwater Exploration will post 0.6349745 earnings per share for the current year.

Headwater Exploration Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 30th were issued a $0.10 dividend. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.30%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, June 29th. Headwater Explorations payout ratio is currently 61.54%.

About Headwater Exploration

(Get Free Report)

Headwater Exploration Inc engages in the exploration, development, and production of petroleum and natural gas in Canada. It holds interest in the Marten Hills area located in Alberta; and McCully Field area located in New Brunswick. The company was formerly known as Corridor Resources Inc and changed its name to Headwater Exploration Inc in March 2020.

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HF Sinclair (NYSE:DINO  Free Report) had its price target lifted by Wells Fargo & Company from $52.00 to $60.00 in a research report report published on Friday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. The firm currently has an overweight rating on the stock.

Other research analysts have also issued reports about the company. Piper Sandler increased their price objective on HF Sinclair from $57.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, July 13th. Mizuho cut their target price on shares of HF Sinclair from $69.00 to $56.00 in a research report on Friday, May 19th. TD Cowen cut their target price on shares of HF Sinclair from $50.00 to $44.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, May 5th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating and set a $70.00 target price on shares of HF Sinclair in a research report on Wednesday, July 19th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $60.91.

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HF Sinclair Trading Up 1.8 %

HF Sinclair Announces Dividend

NYSE:DINO traded up $1.04 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $57.42. 1,967,049 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,367,535. The company has a market capitalization of $11.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 4.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.28 and a beta of 1.40. The company has a quick ratio of 1.19, a current ratio of 2.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28. The companys 50 day moving average is $46.55 and its two-hundred day moving average is $47.60. HF Sinclair has a twelve month low of $37.12 and a twelve month high of $66.19.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 6th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 17th will be given a dividend of $0.45 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, August 16th. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.13%. HF Sinclairs dividend payout ratio is currently 15.28%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On HF Sinclair

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Campion Asset Management lifted its position in shares of HF Sinclair by 2.6% during the 2nd quarter. Campion Asset Management now owns 7,985 shares of the companys stock valued at $356,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the period. CWM LLC raised its position in shares of HF Sinclair by 9.0% in the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,484 shares of the companys stock valued at $111,000 after buying an additional 206 shares in the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC raised its position in shares of HF Sinclair by 9.2% in the 1st quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 2,963 shares of the companys stock valued at $143,000 after buying an additional 249 shares in the last quarter. National Bank of Canada FI raised its position in shares of HF Sinclair by 4.5% in the 1st quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 6,739 shares of the companys stock valued at $326,000 after buying an additional 288 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cullen Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of HF Sinclair by 3.9% in the 1st quarter. Cullen Capital Management LLC now owns 7,782 shares of the companys stock valued at $376,000 after buying an additional 290 shares in the last quarter. 90.82% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About HF Sinclair

(Get Free Report)

HF Sinclair Corporation operates as an independent energy company. It produces and markets gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, renewable diesel, specialty lubricant products, specialty chemicals, specialty and modified asphalt, and others. The company also owns and operates refineries located in Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming; and markets its refined products principally in the Southwest United States and Rocky Mountains, Pacific Northwest, and in other neighboring Plains states.

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iA Financial (TSE:IAG  Get Free Report) had its target price dropped by equities research analysts at CIBC from C$96.00 to C$95.00 in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, BayStreet.CA reports. The firm presently has a neutral rating on the stock. CIBCs price objective suggests a potential upside of 6.68% from the companys previous close.

Several other brokerages have also recently weighed in on IAG. TD Securities reduced their price target on iA Financial from C$105.00 to C$100.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Friday. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on iA Financial from C$3.25 to C$3.50 in a report on Thursday, April 20th. National Bank Financial cut their price objective on iA Financial from C$5.00 to C$4.75 in a research report on Wednesday, May 17th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on iA Financial from C$96.00 to C$100.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, Desjardins cut shares of iA Financial from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a C$95.00 price objective for the company. in a research report on Thursday, July 20th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of C$80.75.

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iA Financial Stock Performance

Shares of iA Financial stock traded up C$2.33 on Tuesday, reaching C$89.05. 144,646 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 237,425. The business has a 50 day moving average price of C$90.04 and a two-hundred day moving average price of C$87.31. The firm has a market capitalization of C$9.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.50, a PEG ratio of 1.26 and a beta of 1.19. iA Financial has a twelve month low of C$67.43 and a twelve month high of C$93.90. The company has a quick ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 3.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 34.35.

iA Financial (TSE:IAG  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 10th. The company reported C$2.08 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of C$2.19 by C($0.11). iA Financial had a net margin of 7.59% and a return on equity of 15.95%. The business had revenue of C$1.36 billion during the quarter. Analysts anticipate that iA Financial will post 9.4507187 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Senior Officer Renee Laflamme sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$86.85, for a total transaction of C$434,246.00. In other news, Senior Officer Renee Laflamme sold 5,000 shares of iA Financial stock in a transaction on Friday, May 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$86.85, for a total transaction of C$434,246.00. Also, Director Monique Mercier sold 2,301 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$87.59, for a total transaction of C$201,536.54. Insiders have sold a total of 14,301 shares of company stock valued at $1,260,418 in the last 90 days. 0.14% of the stock is owned by insiders.

About iA Financial

(Get Free Report)

iA Financial Corporation Inc, through its subsidiary, Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc, provides various life and health insurance products in Canada and the United States. The company operates through Individual Insurance, Individual Wealth Management, Group Insurance, Group Savings and Retirement, and US Operations businesses.

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Shares of International Game Technology PLC (NYSE:IGT  Get Free Report) have earned a consensus recommendation of Buy from the five research firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Five analysts have rated the stock with a buy recommendation. The average 12-month price target among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $45.17.

A number of research analysts recently commented on IGT shares. StockNews.com downgraded shares of International Game Technology from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 2nd. B. Riley initiated coverage on shares of International Game Technology in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. They issued a buy rating and a $43.00 target price for the company. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their target price on shares of International Game Technology from $32.00 to $38.00 in a research report on Monday, June 26th. Truist Financial boosted their target price on shares of International Game Technology from $35.00 to $37.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Finally, Susquehanna boosted their target price on shares of International Game Technology from $49.00 to $54.00 and gave the stock a positive rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 2nd.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On International Game Technology

International Game Technology Stock Up 0.8 %

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its stake in shares of International Game Technology by 47.1% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 11,072,313 shares of the companys stock valued at $353,096,000 after buying an additional 3,545,549 shares in the last quarter. Boston Partners grew its holdings in shares of International Game Technology by 3.4% in the 4th quarter. Boston Partners now owns 7,025,021 shares of the companys stock worth $157,905,000 after purchasing an additional 230,692 shares during the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of International Game Technology by 3.7% in the 1st quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 6,207,288 shares of the companys stock worth $153,195,000 after purchasing an additional 220,574 shares during the last quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of International Game Technology by 2.0% in the 4th quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 3,969,508 shares of the companys stock worth $90,018,000 after purchasing an additional 79,232 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of International Game Technology by 87.3% in the 2nd quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 2,343,145 shares of the companys stock worth $43,488,000 after purchasing an additional 1,092,029 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 44.33% of the companys stock.

IGT stock opened at $32.75 on Tuesday. International Game Technology has a 52 week low of $15.01 and a 52 week high of $33.99. The company has a market capitalization of $6.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.81 and a beta of 1.93. The firms 50-day moving average is $30.94 and its two-hundred day moving average is $27.94. The company has a current ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.95.

International Game Technology (NYSE:IGT  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The company reported $0.45 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.34 by $0.11. International Game Technology had a net margin of 6.30% and a return on equity of 27.29%. The business had revenue of $1.06 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.03 billion. On average, analysts forecast that International Game Technology will post 1.77 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

International Game Technology Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 29th. Investors of record on Tuesday, August 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.44%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 14th. International Game Technologys payout ratio is currently 60.61%.

International Game Technology Company Profile

(Get Free Report

International Game Technology PLC operates and provides gaming technology products and services in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Caribbean. It operates in three segments: Global Lottery, Global Gaming, and Digital & Betting. The company designs, sells, operates, and leases a suite of point-of-sale machines that reconciles lottery funds between the retailer and lottery authority; provides online lottery transaction processing systems; produces instant ticket games; and offers printing services, such as instant ticket marketing plans and graphic design, programming, packaging, shipping, and delivery services, as well as iLottery solutions and services.

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Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp cut its holdings in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWP  Free Report) by 15.5% in the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 24,057 shares of the companys stock after selling 4,401 shares during the period. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corps holdings in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF were worth $2,190,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in IWP. MAS Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF by 46.6% during the first quarter. MAS Advisors LLC now owns 5,034 shares of the companys stock worth $513,000 after buying an additional 1,599 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers lifted its position in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF by 38.9% in the first quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 8,439 shares of the companys stock worth $848,000 after purchasing an additional 2,363 shares during the period. Cibc World Market Inc. acquired a new stake in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF in the first quarter worth approximately $505,000. Merit Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF in the first quarter worth approximately $285,000. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its position in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF by 4.6% in the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 77,406 shares of the companys stock worth $7,779,000 after purchasing an additional 3,379 shares during the period.

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iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF Stock Up 0.7 %

IWP traded up $0.63 during trading on Monday, reaching $96.93. The stock had a trading volume of 388,584 shares, compared to its average volume of 658,193. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.03 and a beta of 1.10. iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF has a 1-year low of $75.88 and a 1-year high of $100.93. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $95.80 and a two-hundred day moving average of $91.97.

iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF Profile

iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF, formerly iShares Russell Midcap Growth Index Fund (the Growth Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the Russell Midcap Growth Index (the Growth Index).

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L.M. Kohn & Company trimmed its position in Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO  Free Report) by 2.9% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 638 shares of the medical research companys stock after selling 19 shares during the quarter. L.M. Kohn & Companys holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific were worth $367,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of TMO. Bornite Capital Management LP boosted its holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 50.0% in the 1st quarter. Bornite Capital Management LP now owns 30,000 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $17,719,000 after purchasing an additional 10,000 shares during the period. Fairfield Bush & CO. grew its position in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 1.2% during the first quarter. Fairfield Bush & CO. now owns 2,928 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $1,729,000 after buying an additional 36 shares in the last quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P increased its stake in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 563.5% during the 1st quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 19,844 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $11,721,000 after acquiring an additional 16,853 shares during the period. Covestor Ltd lifted its position in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific by 60.5% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 321 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $190,000 after acquiring an additional 121 shares during the period. Finally, Merit Financial Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific by 3.6% during the 1st quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 669 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $395,000 after purchasing an additional 23 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.33% of the companys stock.

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Thermo Fisher Scientific Trading Up 0.6 %

Shares of NYSE:TMO traded up $3.15 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $551.79. 737,265 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,530,103. The firm has a market capitalization of $212.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.72, a PEG ratio of 2.59 and a beta of 0.77. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has a twelve month low of $475.77 and a twelve month high of $609.85. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $530.29 and its 200-day moving average price is $548.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a current ratio of 1.42.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Announces Dividend

Thermo Fisher Scientific ( NYSE:TMO Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The medical research company reported $5.15 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $5.43 by ($0.28). The company had revenue of $10.69 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.99 billion. Thermo Fisher Scientific had a net margin of 13.14% and a return on equity of 18.59%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 2.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $5.51 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. will post 22.37 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 15th will be paid a $0.35 dividend. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.25%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 14th. Thermo Fisher Scientifics dividend payout ratio is currently 9.57%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

TMO has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Robert W. Baird cut their price objective on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $664.00 to $625.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 27th. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $590.00 to $625.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, July 27th. Credit Suisse Group upgraded shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $620.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 13th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $670.00 to $620.00 in a report on Thursday, April 27th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on Thermo Fisher Scientific in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $633.50.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on TMO

Insider Transactions at Thermo Fisher Scientific

In other news, CFO Stephen Williamson sold 14,100 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $550.00, for a total value of $7,755,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 27,393 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $15,066,150. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Thermo Fisher Scientific news, CEO Marc N. Casper sold 1,600 shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $534.82, for a total value of $855,712.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 141,330 shares of the companys stock, valued at $75,586,110.60. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CFO Stephen Williamson sold 14,100 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $550.00, for a total value of $7,755,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 27,393 shares in the company, valued at approximately $15,066,150. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 25,700 shares of company stock worth $14,100,712 over the last three months. 0.32% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About Thermo Fisher Scientific

(Free Report)

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc provides life sciences solutions, analytical instruments, specialty diagnostics, and laboratory products and biopharma services in the United States and internationally. The company's Life Sciences Solutions segment offers reagents, instruments, and consumables for biological and medical research, discovery, and production of drugs and vaccines, as well as diagnosis of infections and diseases; and solutions include biosciences, genetic sciences, clinical next-generation sequencing, bio production to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, agricultural, clinical, healthcare, academic, and government markets.

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Metis Global Partners LLC lifted its stake in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO  Free Report) by 49.3% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 55,661 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 18,375 shares during the quarter. Metis Global Partners LLCs holdings in Altria Group were worth $2,484,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in Altria Group by 108,222.5% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 18,590,308 shares of the companys stock worth $849,763,000 after acquiring an additional 18,573,146 shares during the last quarter. Edmp Inc. increased its position in shares of Altria Group by 4,424.6% during the 4th quarter. Edmp Inc. now owns 4,074,178 shares of the companys stock valued at $89,131,000 after purchasing an additional 3,984,132 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Altria Group by 8.7% during the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 44,066,327 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,000,861,000 after purchasing an additional 3,516,646 shares during the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP increased its position in shares of Altria Group by 32.6% during the 4th quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 7,209,557 shares of the companys stock valued at $329,550,000 after purchasing an additional 1,774,297 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased its position in shares of Altria Group by 9.8% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 17,105,285 shares of the companys stock valued at $781,883,000 after purchasing an additional 1,531,337 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 58.38% of the companys stock.

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Altria Group Price Performance

Shares of MO stock traded up $0.12 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $44.12. The stock had a trading volume of 7,555,964 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,792,138. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $40.35 and a 12-month high of $51.57. The firm has a market capitalization of $78.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.21 and a beta of 0.59. The firms 50-day moving average is $44.99 and its two-hundred day moving average is $45.60.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

Altria Group ( NYSE:MO Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 1st. The company reported $1.31 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $1.31. The firm had revenue of $5.44 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.43 billion. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 225.61% and a net margin of 27.40%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.26 EPS. Analysts expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 4.99 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 15th were paid a dividend of $0.94 per share. This represents a $3.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 8.52%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, June 14th. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 98.69%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. StockNews.com upgraded Altria Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, July 4th. Stifel Nicolaus assumed coverage on Altria Group in a report on Thursday, April 13th. They set a buy rating and a $52.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Citigroup dropped their price objective on Altria Group from $49.50 to $47.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 17th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $46.00.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on MO

Altria Group Company Profile

(Free Report)

Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company provides cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; cigars and pipe tobacco principally under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco products and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; and on! oral nicotine pouches.

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Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado lifted its position in shares of Integer Holdings Co. (NYSE:ITGR  Free Report) by 1.0% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 252,351 shares of the medical equipment providers stock after buying an additional 2,536 shares during the quarter. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado owned approximately 0.76% of Integer worth $19,557,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Truist Financial Corp boosted its position in Integer by 25.3% during the 1st quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 43,646 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $3,383,000 after acquiring an additional 8,825 shares in the last quarter. Versor Investments LP purchased a new position in shares of Integer in the 1st quarter worth approximately $597,000. Pitcairn Co. raised its stake in shares of Integer by 6.1% during the 1st quarter. Pitcairn Co. now owns 5,524 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $428,000 after acquiring an additional 318 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC boosted its stake in Integer by 1,422.2% in the first quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 269,059 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $20,853,000 after acquiring an additional 251,383 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in Integer by 5.6% in the first quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 17,188 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $1,332,000 after purchasing an additional 912 shares during the last quarter. 99.34% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Integer Stock Performance

Shares of ITGR stock traded down $1.87 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $89.70. The companys stock had a trading volume of 23,478 shares, compared to its average volume of 294,722. The stock has a market cap of $2.99 billion, a PE ratio of 43.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 1.12. Integer Holdings Co. has a 12-month low of $50.05 and a 12-month high of $96.17. The company has a 50 day moving average of $85.92 and a 200 day moving average of $79.84. The company has a current ratio of 3.08, a quick ratio of 1.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68.

Insider Buying and Selling

Integer ( NYSE:ITGR Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The medical equipment provider reported $1.14 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.99 by $0.15. The company had revenue of $400.04 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $367.05 million. Integer had a net margin of 4.77% and a return on equity of 9.67%. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Integer Holdings Co. will post 4.35 EPS for the current fiscal year.

In related news, Director Jean M. Hobby sold 3,625 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, June 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $83.85, for a total value of $303,956.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 9,126 shares in the company, valued at approximately $765,215.10. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. 1.84% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Citigroup started coverage on Integer in a research note on Thursday, May 11th. They set a neutral rating and a $88.00 target price on the stock. TheStreet upgraded shares of Integer from a c+ rating to a b rating in a report on Thursday, July 27th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Integer in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Integer from $87.00 to $94.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, July 28th. Finally, Benchmark lifted their price objective on shares of Integer from $90.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, July 28th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Integer presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $93.83.

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About Integer

(Free Report)

Integer Holdings Corporation operates as a medical device outsource manufacturer in the United States, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, and internationally. It operates through Medical and Non-Medical segments. The company offers products for interventional cardiology, structural heart, heart failure, peripheral vascular, neurovascular, interventional oncology, electrophysiology, vascular access, infusion therapy, hemodialysis, urology, and gastroenterology procedures.

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Quanta Services (NYSE:PWR  Free Report) had its price target increased by Northland Securities from $190.00 to $210.00 in a report published on Friday morning, FlyOnTheWall reports.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. DA Davidson raised their target price on shares of Quanta Services from $160.00 to $170.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 9th. KeyCorp lifted their target price on Quanta Services from $174.00 to $190.00 in a report on Monday, April 24th. StockNews.com started coverage on Quanta Services in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Robert W. Baird boosted their price target on Quanta Services from $186.00 to $219.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, Citigroup boosted their target price on Quanta Services from $192.00 to $234.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, July 24th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $199.91.

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Quanta Services Stock Up 0.1 %

Quanta Services Announces Dividend

Shares of PWR traded up $0.12 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $202.24. 170,323 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 857,130. The company has a market cap of $29.36 billion, a PE ratio of 51.56 and a beta of 1.08. Quanta Services has a 52 week low of $123.25 and a 52 week high of $206.43. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $193.07 and a 200 day simple moving average of $172.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 1.68 and a quick ratio of 1.64.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 14th. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 3rd were given a dividend of $0.08 per share. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.16%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 30th. Quanta Servicess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 8.16%.

Insider Activity at Quanta Services

In related news, COO James Redgie Probst sold 50,000 shares of Quanta Services stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $171.13, for a total value of $8,556,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 50,036 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,562,660.68. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, COO James Redgie Probst sold 50,000 shares of Quanta Services stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $171.13, for a total transaction of $8,556,500.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 50,036 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,562,660.68. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Earl C. Jr. Austin sold 85,000 shares of Quanta Services stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $171.32, for a total value of $14,562,200.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 730,890 shares in the company, valued at $125,216,074.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 147,074 shares of company stock valued at $25,306,506. 1.30% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Quanta Services

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in PWR. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Quanta Services in the 4th quarter valued at about $180,853,000. FMR LLC raised its stake in Quanta Services by 19.7% in the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 4,905,283 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $817,416,000 after acquiring an additional 806,157 shares during the period. Great Lakes Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Quanta Services in the 1st quarter valued at about $118,223,000. Royal Bank of Canada raised its stake in Quanta Services by 52.2% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 1,492,323 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $196,405,000 after acquiring an additional 511,508 shares during the period. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its stake in Quanta Services by 9.0% in the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 6,055,835 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $862,956,000 after acquiring an additional 501,131 shares during the period. 88.80% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Quanta Services Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Quanta Services, Inc provides infrastructure solutions for the electric and gas utility, renewable energy, communications, and pipeline and energy industries worldwide. The company's Electric Power Infrastructure Solutions segment engages in the design, procurement, construction, upgrade, repair, and maintenance of electric power transmission and distribution infrastructure and substation facilities; installation, maintenance, and upgrade of electric power infrastructure projects; installation of smart grid technologies on electric power networks; and design, installation, maintenance, and repair of commercial and industrial wirings.

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Daiichi Sankyo (OTCMKTS:DSNKY  Get Free Report) and Roche (OTCMKTS:RHHVF  Get Free Report) are both medical companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, valuation, dividends, risk, profitability, earnings and institutional ownership.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for Daiichi Sankyo and Roche, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Daiichi Sankyo 1 0 1 0 2.00 Roche 1 0 0 0 1.00

Roche has a consensus price target of $275.00, indicating a potential downside of 9.17%. Given Roches higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Roche is more favorable than Daiichi Sankyo.

Dividends

Earnings & Valuation

Daiichi Sankyo pays an annual dividend of $22.47 per share and has a dividend yield of 74.4%. Roche pays an annual dividend of $7.80 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.6%. Daiichi Sankyo pays out 19.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Roche pays out 72.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Daiichi Sankyo is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

This table compares Daiichi Sankyo and Roches revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Daiichi Sankyo N/A N/A N/A $114.69 0.26 Roche N/A N/A N/A $10.81 28.01

Daiichi Sankyo is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Roche, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares Daiichi Sankyo and Roches net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Daiichi Sankyo N/A N/A N/A Roche N/A N/A N/A

Insider & Institutional Ownership

0.1% of Daiichi Sankyo shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 29.0% of Roche shares are held by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

Daiichi Sankyo beats Roche on 5 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Daiichi Sankyo

(Get Free Report)

Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited manufactures, markets, and sells pharmaceutical products worldwide. The company offers Enhertu, a HER2 directed antibody drug conjugate; Turalio, a CSF-1R inhibitor; Vanflyta, a FLT3 inhibitor for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed/refractory FLT3-ITD acute myeloid leukemia; ferric carboxymaltose injection for treating anaemia; and Injectafer for the treatment for iron deficiency anaemia. It also provides olmesartan medoxomil antihypertensive agents; NILEMDO, an oral treatment to help in lowering cholesterol; and Nustendi, a fixed-dose combination tablet of bempedoic acid and ezetimibe for reducing cholesterol. In addition, the company offers Canalia for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus; Emgalty for the treatment of migraine attacks; Pralia for the treatment of anti-osteoporosis/inhibitor of the progression of bone erosion associated with rheumatoid arthritis; Ranmark for the treatment of bone complications caused by bone metastasis from tumors; Tarlige for treating pain; Tenelia for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus; Venofer for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia; and Vimpat, an anti-epileptic agent. Further, it provides vaccines for influenza, measles/rubella infection, and mumps. The company was founded in 1899 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

About Roche

(Get Free Report)

Roche Holding AG engages in the pharmaceuticals and diagnostics businesses in Switzerland, Germany, the United States, and internationally. The company offers pharmaceutical products in the therapeutic areas of oncology, neuroscience, infectious diseases, immunology, hemophilia, ophthalmology, dermatology, respiratory, anemia, inflammatory and autoimmune, and transplantation. It also offers in vitro tests for the diagnosis of various diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular, diabetes, Covid-19, hepatitis, human papillomavirus, and other diseases. In addition, the company supplies diagnostic instruments and reagents. It has a research collaboration agreement with Synlogic, Inc. for the discovery of a novel synthetic biotic for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Roche Holding AG was founded in 1896 and is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland.

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Riley Exploration Permian, Inc. (NYSE:REPX  Get Free Report)s share price gapped down before the market opened on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $37.28, but opened at $34.59. Riley Exploration Permian shares last traded at $30.80, with a volume of 43,110 shares trading hands.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Truist Financial lowered their target price on Riley Exploration Permian from $60.00 to $53.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Monday, July 24th.

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Riley Exploration Permian Trading Down 7.1 %

The company has a quick ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 0.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $36.11 and its 200-day moving average price is $36.17. The stock has a market capitalization of $698.63 million, a P/E ratio of 4.04 and a beta of 1.33.

Riley Exploration Permian (NYSE:REPX  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Monday, May 8th. The company reported $1.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.32 by ($0.06). The company had revenue of $67.01 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $62.45 million. Riley Exploration Permian had a net margin of 48.84% and a return on equity of 37.29%. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Riley Exploration Permian, Inc. will post 7.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Riley Exploration Permian Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 3rd. Investors of record on Thursday, July 20th were given a $0.34 dividend. This represents a $1.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.93%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, July 19th. Riley Exploration Permians payout ratio is currently 17.09%.

Insider Activity at Riley Exploration Permian

In other news, President Kevin Riley sold 3,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $35.11, for a total value of $105,330.00. Following the sale, the president now directly owns 190,899 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,702,463.89. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 4.20% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Riley Exploration Permian

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its stake in Riley Exploration Permian by 872.4% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 33,752 shares of the companys stock worth $846,000 after purchasing an additional 30,281 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its stake in shares of Riley Exploration Permian by 13.7% in the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 204,226 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,122,000 after purchasing an additional 24,588 shares during the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Riley Exploration Permian during the 1st quarter worth approximately $180,000. Rhumbline Advisers purchased a new position in shares of Riley Exploration Permian during the 1st quarter worth approximately $277,000. Finally, BlackRock Inc. grew its position in Riley Exploration Permian by 248.5% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 531,585 shares of the companys stock valued at $13,332,000 after acquiring an additional 379,047 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 50.17% of the companys stock.

Riley Exploration Permian Company Profile

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Riley Exploration Permian, Inc, an independent oil and natural gas company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in Texas and New Mexico. The company's activities are primarily focused on the San Andres Formation, a shelf margin deposit on the Central Basin Platform and Northwest Shelf.

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Rio Tinto Group (LON:RIO  Get Free Report) announced a dividend on Wednesday, July 26th, Upcoming.Co.Uk reports. Investors of record on Thursday, August 10th will be given a dividend of GBX 137.67 ($1.76) per share on Thursday, September 21st. This represents a yield of 2.55%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 10th. The official announcement can be viewed at this link.

Rio Tinto Group Trading Down 1.3 %

LON:RIO opened at GBX 4,900 ($62.62) on Tuesday. Rio Tinto Group has a one year low of GBX 4,424.50 ($56.54) and a one year high of GBX 6,406 ($81.87). The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 26.38, a current ratio of 1.99 and a quick ratio of 1.34. The companys 50-day simple moving average is GBX 5,083.17 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 5,378.68. The firm has a market capitalization of 61.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 831.59, a PEG ratio of -0.64 and a beta of 0.71.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on RIO shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Rio Tinto Group to a buy rating and dropped their target price for the stock from GBX 6,200 ($79.23) to GBX 6,000 ($76.68) in a research note on Monday, June 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of Rio Tinto Group from GBX 5,390 ($68.88) to GBX 5,440 ($69.52) in a research report on Thursday, July 27th. Citigroup restated a buy rating on shares of Rio Tinto Group in a research report on Tuesday, July 18th. Berenberg Bank increased their price objective on shares of Rio Tinto Group from GBX 6,100 ($77.96) to GBX 6,300 ($80.51) in a research report on Friday, July 28th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group lowered their price objective on shares of Rio Tinto Group from GBX 7,400 ($94.57) to GBX 6,800 ($86.90) in a research report on Monday, July 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of GBX 6,149.09 ($78.58).

Insider Transactions at Rio Tinto Group

In related news, insider Ngaire Woods bought 500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 11th. The stock was purchased at an average price of GBX 4,921 ($62.89) per share, for a total transaction of 24,605 ($31,444.09). Corporate insiders own 14.67% of the companys stock.

About Rio Tinto Group

(Get Free Report)

Rio Tinto Group engages in exploring, mining, and processing mineral resources worldwide. The company operates through Iron Ore, Aluminium, Copper, and Minerals Segments. It offers aluminum, copper, iron ore, diamonds, gold, borates, titanium dioxide, salt, silver, molybdenum, and lithium. The company also owns and operates open pit and underground mines, refineries, smelters, and concentrator facilities, as well as power stations, research, and service facilities.

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Floor & Decor (NYSE:FND  Free Report) had its price objective cut by Robert W. Baird from $120.00 to $115.00 in a research note released on Friday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. They currently have an outperform rating on the stock.

A number of other equities analysts also recently issued reports on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded shares of Floor & Decor from a buy rating to a hold rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $110.00 to $108.00 in a report on Friday, July 21st. Telsey Advisory Group reiterated a market perform rating and set a $85.00 target price on shares of Floor & Decor in a research note on Monday, July 31st. Truist Financial assumed coverage on shares of Floor & Decor in a research report on Friday, June 23rd. They set a buy rating and a $120.00 price target for the company. Wedbush upped their price objective on Floor & Decor from $100.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 25th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their target price on Floor & Decor from $90.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, July 31st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $103.19.

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Floor & Decor Stock Up 1.4 %

Shares of NYSE FND opened at $103.92 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 1.20 and a quick ratio of 0.15. Floor & Decor has a 1 year low of $63.51 and a 1 year high of $116.03. The stock has a market capitalization of $11.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.92, a P/E/G ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 1.90. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $103.23 and a 200-day moving average price of $96.85.

Floor & Decor (NYSE:FND  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The company reported $0.66 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $0.66. The business had revenue of $1.14 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.15 billion. Floor & Decor had a return on equity of 16.94% and a net margin of 6.55%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 4.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.76 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Floor & Decor will post 2.48 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Floor & Decor

In other news, CEO Thomas V. Taylor sold 18,656 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.00, for a total transaction of $1,958,880.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 215,203 shares in the company, valued at approximately $22,596,315. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, CEO Thomas V. Taylor sold 18,656 shares of Floor & Decor stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $105.00, for a total transaction of $1,958,880.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 215,203 shares in the company, valued at approximately $22,596,315. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP David Victor Christopherson sold 5,804 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $100.00, for a total transaction of $580,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 42,356 shares in the company, valued at $4,235,600. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 48,920 shares of company stock valued at $5,323,160. Corporate insiders own 2.50% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Floor & Decor

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Brighton Jones LLC raised its position in Floor & Decor by 1.0% during the second quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 11,300 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,175,000 after purchasing an additional 111 shares in the last quarter. Salvus Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Floor & Decor by 0.3% during the 2nd quarter. Salvus Wealth Management LLC now owns 42,259 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,393,000 after buying an additional 115 shares in the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Floor & Decor by 1.3% during the 1st quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 10,982 shares of the companys stock valued at $889,000 after buying an additional 141 shares in the last quarter. Alliance Wealth Advisors LLC UT lifted its position in Floor & Decor by 4.6% in the 1st quarter. Alliance Wealth Advisors LLC UT now owns 3,362 shares of the companys stock worth $330,000 after buying an additional 149 shares during the last quarter. Finally, CWM LLC boosted its stake in Floor & Decor by 23.6% in the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 848 shares of the companys stock worth $88,000 after buying an additional 162 shares in the last quarter.

Floor & Decor Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc together with its subsidiaries, operates as a multi-channel specialty retailer and commercial flooring distributor in Georgia. The company offers tile, wood, laminate, vinyl, and natural stone flooring products, as well as decorative accessories, wall tiles, and installation materials and tools.

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Fresnillo (OTCMKTS:FNLPF  Get Free Report) had its price objective reduced by analysts at Royal Bank of Canada from GBX 690 ($8.82) to GBX 625 ($7.99) in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, FlyOnTheWall reports.

Several other research firms also recently commented on FNLPF. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Fresnillo from GBX 525 ($6.71) to GBX 650 ($8.31) in a report on Thursday, August 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on Fresnillo from GBX 650 ($8.31) to GBX 600 ($7.67) in a research report on Friday, April 28th. Credit Suisse Group decreased their target price on Fresnillo from GBX 620 ($7.92) to GBX 580 ($7.41) in a research report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on Fresnillo from GBX 620 ($7.92) to GBX 590 ($7.54) in a report on Friday, July 28th. Finally, Berenberg Bank decreased their price objective on Fresnillo from GBX 700 ($8.95) to GBX 670 ($8.56) in a report on Friday, July 7th.

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Fresnillo Stock Down 2.5 %

Fresnillo Company Profile

Shares of OTCMKTS:FNLPF traded down $0.18 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $7.04. 4,867 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 17,380. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $8.01 and its 200 day simple moving average is $8.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a quick ratio of 2.10 and a current ratio of 2.82. Fresnillo has a 52-week low of $6.96 and a 52-week high of $11.95.

(Get Free Report)

Fresnillo plc mines, develops, and produces non-ferrous minerals in Mexico. It operates through seven segments: Fresnillo, Saucito, Cienega, Herradura, Noche Buena, San Julian, and Juanicipio. The company primarily explores for silver, gold, lead, and zinc concentrates. Its projects include the Fresnillo silver mine located in the state of Zacatecas; Saucito silver mine situated in the state of Zacatecas; Cienega gold mine located in the state of Durango; Herradura gold mine situated in the state of Sonora; Noche Buena gold mine located in the state of Sonora; San Julian silver-gold mine situated on the border of Chihuahua/Durango states; and Juanicipio mine located in the state of Zacatecas.

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Sempra (NYSE:SRE  Free Report) had its price target cut by Wells Fargo & Company from $174.00 to $166.00 in a research report report published on Friday, Benzinga reports. They currently have an overweight rating on the utilities providers stock.

Several other equities research analysts have also recently weighed in on the stock. Morgan Stanley reissued an equal weight rating and set a $158.00 price target on shares of Sempra in a research report on Friday, July 21st. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Sempra in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on Sempra in a report on Wednesday, June 7th. They issued a buy rating and a $178.00 price objective for the company. 888 reiterated a maintains rating on shares of Sempra in a report on Friday, June 23rd. Finally, Guggenheim reduced their target price on Sempra from $174.00 to $172.00 in a research note on Friday, July 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $165.71.

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Sempra Price Performance

Shares of SRE stock traded down $0.20 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $142.20. 71,302 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,236,551. Sempra has a 12-month low of $136.54 and a 12-month high of $176.47. The company has a market capitalization of $44.74 billion, a PE ratio of 18.03, a PEG ratio of 3.24 and a beta of 0.73. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $146.77 and its 200-day simple moving average is $150.58. The company has a current ratio of 0.57, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91.

Sempra shares are set to split on the morning of Tuesday, August 22nd. The 2-1 split was announced on Tuesday, August 22nd. The newly minted shares will be distributed to shareholders after the market closes on Tuesday, August 22nd.

Sempra (NYSE:SRE  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The utilities provider reported $1.88 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.72 by $0.16. Sempra had a return on equity of 10.04% and a net margin of 14.90%. The company had revenue of $3.34 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.54 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.98 EPS. Sempras revenue for the quarter was down 6.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Sempra will post 8.93 earnings per share for the current year.

Sempra Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Saturday, July 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, July 5th were given a dividend of $1.19 per share. This represents a $4.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.35%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, July 3rd. Sempras dividend payout ratio is currently 60.25%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Sempra

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Ieq Capital LLC raised its position in Sempra by 5.0% in the 2nd quarter. Ieq Capital LLC now owns 7,250 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,056,000 after buying an additional 344 shares during the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Sempra by 13.2% during the 2nd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 955,203 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $139,068,000 after buying an additional 111,146 shares during the period. Acadian Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Sempra by 1,710.3% in the 2nd quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 22,701 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $3,301,000 after buying an additional 21,447 shares during the last quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp grew its holdings in shares of Sempra by 0.7% in the second quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp now owns 65,979 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $9,606,000 after acquiring an additional 446 shares during the period. Finally, Mitchell & Pahl Private Wealth LLC increased its position in Sempra by 2.6% during the second quarter. Mitchell & Pahl Private Wealth LLC now owns 12,086 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,760,000 after acquiring an additional 303 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 84.45% of the companys stock.

Sempra Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Sempra operates as an energy infrastructure company in the United States and internationally. It operates through four segments: San Diego Gas & Electric Company, Southern California Gas Company, Sempra Texas Utilities, and Sempra Infrastructure. The San Diego Gas & Electric Company segment provides to San Diego and southern Orange counties; and natural gas service to San Diego County.

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Cannell & Co. lifted its position in The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS  Free Report) by 129.2% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 144,770 shares of the investment management companys stock after buying an additional 81,601 shares during the period. The Goldman Sachs Group makes up about 1.7% of Cannell & Co.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 9th biggest position. Cannell & Co.s holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group were worth $47,356,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Tower View Investment Management & Research LLC purchased a new position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in the 4th quarter worth $27,000. Larson Financial Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 224.0% in the 4th quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 81 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 56 shares during the last quarter. Elequin Securities LLC purchased a new position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in the 4th quarter worth $32,000. Worth Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in the 1st quarter worth $33,000. Finally, NewSquare Capital LLC raised its holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group by 3,433.3% in the 1st quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 106 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 103 shares during the period. 76.90% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Activity

In related news, major shareholder Goldman Sachs Group Inc sold 1,145,486 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $11.73, for a total transaction of $13,436,550.78. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 50,099,392 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $587,665,868.16. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other The Goldman Sachs Group news, major shareholder Goldman Sachs Group Inc sold 1,145,486 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $11.73, for a total value of $13,436,550.78. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 50,099,392 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $587,665,868.16. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO David M. Solomon sold 4,200 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $356.28, for a total transaction of $1,496,376.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 124,782 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $44,457,330.96. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 10,159,686 shares of company stock valued at $123,960,027 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.54% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

GS has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. UBS Group raised their target price on The Goldman Sachs Group from $385.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, July 24th. JMP Securities reaffirmed a market outperform rating and issued a $450.00 target price on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in a report on Thursday, July 20th. Oppenheimer raised their target price on The Goldman Sachs Group from $433.00 to $483.00 in a report on Thursday, July 20th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on The Goldman Sachs Group from $407.00 to $411.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, July 20th. Finally, Citigroup cut The Goldman Sachs Group from a buy rating to a neutral rating and raised their price target for the company from $370.00 to $400.00 in a report on Tuesday, July 25th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $396.93.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on The Goldman Sachs Group

The Goldman Sachs Group Price Performance

GS stock traded down $7.91 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $347.65. The companys stock had a trading volume of 979,166 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,584,175. The stock has a market cap of $114.61 billion, a PE ratio of 14.80, a P/E/G ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 1.39. The company has a current ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.18. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $287.75 and a fifty-two week high of $389.58. The companys 50 day moving average is $333.46 and its two-hundred day moving average is $337.33.

The Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE:GS  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 19th. The investment management company reported $3.08 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.25 by ($0.17). The business had revenue of $10.90 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.61 billion. The Goldman Sachs Group had a net margin of 9.74% and a return on equity of 8.27%. The firms revenue was down 8.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $7.73 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will post 25.75 EPS for the current year.

The Goldman Sachs Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 28th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 31st will be paid a $2.75 dividend. This is a boost from The Goldman Sachs Groups previous quarterly dividend of $2.50. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, August 30th. This represents a $11.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.16%. The Goldman Sachs Groups dividend payout ratio is 42.66%.

About The Goldman Sachs Group

(Free Report)

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc, a financial institution, provides a range of financial services for corporations, financial institutions, governments, and individuals worldwide. It operates through Global Banking & Markets, Asset & Wealth Management, and Platform Solutions segments. The Global Banking & Markets segment provides financial advisory services, including strategic advisory assignments related to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate defense activities, restructurings, and spin-offs; and relationship lending, and acquisition financing, as well as secured lending, through structured credit and asset-backed lending and involved in resale agreements.

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The Scottish American Investment Company P.L.C. (LON:SAIN  Get Free Report) announced a dividend on Tuesday, August 1st, Upcoming.Co.Uk reports. Investors of record on Thursday, August 10th will be given a dividend of GBX 3.45 ($0.04) per share on Wednesday, September 20th. This represents a dividend yield of 0.65%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 10th. This is an increase from Scottish American Investments previous dividend of $3.30. The official announcement can be viewed at this link.

Scottish American Investment Stock Performance

SAIN opened at GBX 508.38 ($6.50) on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of 899.48 million, a P/E ratio of -1,359.46 and a beta of 0.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 11.19, a current ratio of 2.85 and a quick ratio of 3.87. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is GBX 522.28 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 517.92. Scottish American Investment has a 1-year low of GBX 434 ($5.55) and a 1-year high of GBX 543 ($6.94).

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Scottish American Investment Company Profile

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The Scottish American Investment Company P.L.C. is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Baillie Gifford & Co Ltd. The fund is co-managed by Baillie Gifford & Co and OLIM Property Limited. It invests in public equity markets across the globe. The fund seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors.

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Triumph Capital Management lessened its stake in shares of Ford Motor (NYSE:F  Free Report) by 86.9% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 10,248 shares of the auto manufacturers stock after selling 67,927 shares during the quarter. Triumph Capital Managements holdings in Ford Motor were worth $129,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. lifted its position in Ford Motor by 6.9% in the first quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 3,344,421 shares of the auto manufacturers stock valued at $42,140,000 after purchasing an additional 215,130 shares during the period. Gibraltar Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Ford Motor by 13.2% in the 1st quarter. Gibraltar Capital Management Inc. now owns 59,370 shares of the auto manufacturers stock valued at $748,000 after buying an additional 6,933 shares during the period. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC boosted its stake in shares of Ford Motor by 4.0% in the first quarter. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC now owns 46,648 shares of the auto manufacturers stock valued at $588,000 after buying an additional 1,795 shares in the last quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of Ford Motor by 32.4% in the first quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 45,243 shares of the auto manufacturers stock valued at $533,000 after buying an additional 11,071 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Perpetual Ltd acquired a new position in Ford Motor during the first quarter worth $245,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 53.20% of the companys stock.

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Ford Motor Stock Performance

NYSE:F opened at $12.93 on Tuesday. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $13.97 and its 200 day simple moving average is $12.88. The company has a current ratio of 1.20, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.15. Ford Motor has a twelve month low of $10.90 and a twelve month high of $16.68. The firm has a market capitalization of $51.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.68, a PEG ratio of 0.90 and a beta of 1.59.

Ford Motor Announces Dividend

Ford Motor ( NYSE:F Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The auto manufacturer reported $0.72 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.51 by $0.21. Ford Motor had a return on equity of 20.48% and a net margin of 2.44%. The business had revenue of $44.95 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $43.17 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.68 EPS. The companys revenue was up 11.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Ford Motor will post 2.05 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 1st. Investors of record on Tuesday, July 25th will be issued a $0.15 dividend. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.64%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, July 24th. Ford Motors dividend payout ratio is currently 58.82%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded shares of Ford Motor from a buy rating to a hold rating and reduced their price target for the company from $17.00 to $15.00 in a research report on Monday, July 31st. Benchmark boosted their target price on Ford Motor from $19.00 to $20.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Barclays raised their price target on Ford Motor from $13.00 to $14.00 in a research report on Monday, July 10th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $16.00 price objective on shares of Ford Motor in a research report on Tuesday, August 1st. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded shares of Ford Motor from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, July 31st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $15.42.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on F

Ford Motor Company Profile

(Free Report)

Ford Motor Company develops, delivers, and services a range of Ford trucks, commercial cars and vans, sport utility vehicles, and Lincoln luxury vehicles worldwide. It operates through Ford Blue, Ford Model e, and Ford Pro; Ford Next; and Ford Credit segments. The company sells Ford and Lincoln vehicles, service parts, and accessories through distributors and dealers, as well as through dealerships to commercial fleet customers, daily rental car companies, and governments.

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Assurant (NYSE:AIZ  Free Report) had its price objective raised by Truist Financial from $170.00 to $180.00 in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, Marketbeat.com reports. They currently have a buy rating on the financial services providers stock.

A number of other brokerages have also recently issued reports on AIZ. StockNews.com raised shares of Assurant from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Thursday. Bank of America upped their price objective on shares of Assurant from $160.00 to $164.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. TheStreet raised shares of Assurant from a c+ rating to a b rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 10th. Finally, Piper Sandler raised shares of Assurant from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and set a $144.00 target price for the company in a report on Tuesday, June 13th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $141.00.

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Assurant Stock Performance

Assurant Dividend Announcement

Shares of NYSE:AIZ traded up $0.32 on Thursday, hitting $142.10. The company had a trading volume of 261,551 shares, compared to its average volume of 415,994. Assurant has a 1-year low of $104.49 and a 1-year high of $172.99. The stock has a market cap of $7.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.10, a P/E/G ratio of 0.85 and a beta of 0.55. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $128.22 and a 200 day moving average price of $125.63. The company has a current ratio of 0.41, a quick ratio of 0.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 20th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 30th were paid a $0.70 dividend. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.97%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 26th. Assurants dividend payout ratio is currently 43.55%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Assurant

In other Assurant news, CFO Richard S. Dziadzio sold 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $131.07, for a total transaction of $524,280.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 55,893 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,325,895.51. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, CAO Dimitry Dirienzo sold 800 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.00, for a total transaction of $99,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 5,516 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $683,984. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CFO Richard S. Dziadzio sold 4,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $131.07, for a total transaction of $524,280.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 55,893 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,325,895.51. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.51% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Assurant

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of AIZ. State of Michigan Retirement System lifted its holdings in shares of Assurant by 0.7% in the 1st quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System now owns 14,467 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,737,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Korea Investment CORP lifted its holdings in shares of Assurant by 3.5% in the 4th quarter. Korea Investment CORP now owns 20,074 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,510,000 after purchasing an additional 673 shares in the last quarter. abrdn plc lifted its holdings in shares of Assurant by 2.3% in the 1st quarter. abrdn plc now owns 14,078 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,690,000 after purchasing an additional 321 shares in the last quarter. Inspire Investing LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Assurant by 19.3% in the 1st quarter. Inspire Investing LLC now owns 2,578 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $310,000 after purchasing an additional 417 shares in the last quarter. Finally, New York Life Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in Assurant by 1.8% during the 4th quarter. New York Life Investment Management LLC now owns 7,495 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $937,000 after acquiring an additional 129 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.86% of the companys stock.

Assurant Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Assurant, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides business services that supports, protects, and connects consumer purchases in North America, Latin America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates through two segments: Global Lifestyle and Global Housing. The Global Lifestyle segment offers mobile device solutions, and extended service products and related services for consumer electronics and appliances, and credit and other insurance products; and vehicle protection, leased and financed solutions, and other related services.

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Twin Capital Management Inc. reduced its holdings in The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV  Free Report) by 13.6% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 10,882 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 1,707 shares during the period. Twin Capital Management Inc.s holdings in Travelers Companies were worth $1,865,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in TRV. Nordwand Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Travelers Companies in the 1st quarter worth $26,000. FWL Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Travelers Companies during the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. US Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Travelers Companies during the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. FNY Investment Advisers LLC purchased a new position in shares of Travelers Companies during the 1st quarter worth about $31,000. Finally, Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC boosted its stake in shares of Travelers Companies by 203.3% during the 4th quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 364 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 244 shares during the period. 81.06% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other Travelers Companies news, EVP Michael Frederick Klein sold 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, July 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $175.05, for a total transaction of $1,750,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 14,080 shares in the company, valued at $2,464,704. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 1.29% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms recently commented on TRV. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target on shares of Travelers Companies from C$183.00 to C$185.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of Travelers Companies from $185.00 to $194.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 6th. Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Travelers Companies from $188.00 to $191.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, July 24th. Morgan Stanley restated an equal weight rating and issued a $185.00 price target on shares of Travelers Companies in a report on Friday, July 21st. Finally, Piper Sandler reduced their price target on shares of Travelers Companies from $208.00 to $176.00 in a report on Thursday, July 6th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Travelers Companies presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $196.08.

Get Our Latest Analysis on TRV

Travelers Companies Stock Down 1.4 %

Shares of NYSE TRV traded down $2.37 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $167.75. 164,443 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,383,912. The company has a market cap of $38.40 billion, a PE ratio of 18.12, a PEG ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 0.59. The Travelers Companies, Inc. has a 12 month low of $149.65 and a 12 month high of $194.51. The company has a quick ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $172.72 and a 200-day moving average price of $176.91.

Travelers Companies (NYSE:TRV  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 20th. The insurance provider reported $0.06 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.05 by ($1.99). The company had revenue of $10.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.97 billion. Travelers Companies had a return on equity of 10.75% and a net margin of 5.77%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 10.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.57 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that The Travelers Companies, Inc. will post 12.01 EPS for the current year.

Travelers Companies announced that its Board of Directors has approved a share buyback plan on Wednesday, April 19th that allows the company to repurchase $5.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the insurance provider to repurchase up to 12.2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are typically a sign that the companys leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Travelers Companies Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 29th. Investors of record on Friday, September 8th will be issued a dividend of $1.00 per share. This represents a $4.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.38%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 7th. Travelers Companiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 42.60%.

Travelers Companies Company Profile

(Free Report)

The Travelers Companies, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides a range of commercial and personal property, and casualty insurance products and services to businesses, government units, associations, and individuals in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Business Insurance, Bond & Specialty Insurance, and Personal Insurance.

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Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund (NYSE:AIO  Get Free Report) declared a monthly dividend on Friday, May 26th, Wall Street Journal reports. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 11th will be paid a dividend of 0.15 per share on Friday, September 1st. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 9.85%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 10th.

Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund Price Performance

Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund stock opened at $18.28 on Tuesday. The companys fifty day moving average price is $18.19 and its 200 day moving average price is $17.39. Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund has a 1 year low of $14.92 and a 1 year high of $19.11.

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Institutional Trading of Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Moors & Cabot Inc. boosted its holdings in Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund by 10.6% in the 1st quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 19,323 shares of the companys stock worth $422,000 after buying an additional 1,855 shares during the last quarter. UBS Group AG grew its position in shares of Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund by 7.1% in the first quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 536,183 shares of the companys stock valued at $11,721,000 after purchasing an additional 35,686 shares in the last quarter. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. acquired a new position in Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund in the 1st quarter valued at about $648,000. Royal Bank of Canada lifted its holdings in Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund by 16.9% in the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 262,242 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,732,000 after acquiring an additional 37,935 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Lido Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund in the first quarter valued at approximately $501,000.

About Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund

The Fund seeks to generate a stable income stream and growth of capital by focusing on one of the most significant long-term secular growth opportunities in markets today. A multi-asset approach based on fundamental research is employed, dynamically allocating to attractive segments of a companys debt and equity in order to offer an attractive risk/reward profile.

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Wrapmanager Inc. lowered its stake in shares of Visa Inc. (NYSE:V  Free Report) by 8.3% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 10,701 shares of the credit-card processors stock after selling 973 shares during the period. Visa accounts for approximately 0.7% of Wrapmanager Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 27th biggest holding. Wrapmanager Inc.s holdings in Visa were worth $2,413,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Financial Freedom LLC purchased a new position in shares of Visa during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Ridgewood Investments LLC acquired a new position in Visa during the 1st quarter worth $35,000. Kalos Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Visa in the 1st quarter worth about $40,000. St. James Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Visa by 58.7% in the 4th quarter. St. James Investment Advisors LLC now owns 219 shares of the credit-card processors stock valued at $45,000 after purchasing an additional 81 shares in the last quarter. Finally, NewSquare Capital LLC lifted its position in shares of Visa by 121.9% during the first quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 213 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $48,000 after purchasing an additional 117 shares during the last quarter. 84.92% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on shares of Visa from $270.00 to $280.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 19th. KeyCorp boosted their price target on Visa from $250.00 to $260.00 in a research report on Monday, April 24th. Robert W. Baird increased their target price on shares of Visa from $272.00 to $284.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Susquehanna raised their target price on Visa from $266.00 to $300.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 26th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group raised their target price on shares of Visa from $265.00 to $275.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 26th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and fifteen have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $270.32.

Visa Price Performance

NYSE V traded down $3.69 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $237.82. 2,304,530 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,232,597. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 1.49 and a quick ratio of 1.49. Visa Inc. has a 1 year low of $174.60 and a 1 year high of $245.37. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $233.10 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $228.71. The company has a market cap of $442.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.83 and a beta of 0.97.

Visa (NYSE:V  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The credit-card processor reported $2.16 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.11 by $0.05. Visa had a return on equity of 49.42% and a net margin of 51.94%. The firm had revenue of $8.12 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.06 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.98 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 11.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts predict that Visa Inc. will post 8.66 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Visa Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 11th will be given a dividend of $0.45 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 10th. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.76%. Visas payout ratio is 22.84%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Rajat Taneja sold 2,300 shares of Visa stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $240.00, for a total transaction of $552,000.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 232,112 shares of the companys stock, valued at $55,706,880. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other Visa news, CEO Ryan Mcinerney sold 425 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $240.00, for a total value of $102,000.00. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Rajat Taneja sold 2,300 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $240.00, for a total value of $552,000.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 232,112 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $55,706,880. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 57,600 shares of company stock worth $13,828,767. Insiders own 0.21% of the companys stock.

Visa Profile

(Free Report)

Visa Inc operates as a payments technology company worldwide. The company operates VisaNet, a transaction processing network that enables authorization, clearing, and settlement of payment transactions. It also offers credit, debit, and prepaid card products; tap to pay, tokenization, click to pay; Visa Direct, a real-time payments network; Visa B2B Connect, a multilateral B2B cross-border payments network; Visa Treasury as a Service, a cross-border consumer payments business; and Visa DPS that provides a range of value added services, including fraud mitigation, dispute management, data analytics, campaign management, a suite of digital solutions, and contact center services.

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WealthPlan Investment Management LLC reduced its stake in shares of Polaris Inc. (NYSE:PII  Free Report) by 6.9% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 4,644 shares of the companys stock after selling 342 shares during the period. WealthPlan Investment Management LLCs holdings in Polaris were worth $514,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. D.A. Davidson & CO. grew its holdings in Polaris by 13.6% during the first quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 2,510 shares of the companys stock valued at $264,000 after purchasing an additional 301 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers grew its stake in shares of Polaris by 0.4% during the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 152,648 shares of the companys stock worth $16,077,000 after acquiring an additional 572 shares during the period. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS increased its holdings in Polaris by 10.5% in the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 20,905 shares of the companys stock worth $2,202,000 after acquiring an additional 1,993 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. raised its stake in Polaris by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 4,803,771 shares of the companys stock valued at $505,933,000 after acquiring an additional 13,281 shares during the period. Finally, Great West Life Assurance Co. Can lifted its holdings in Polaris by 8.9% during the first quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 33,033 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,575,000 after purchasing an additional 2,692 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 88.29% of the companys stock.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Kevin M. Farr sold 3,225 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $133.28, for a total value of $429,828.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 14,645 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,951,885.60. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other Polaris news, SVP James P. Williams sold 14,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $130.00, for a total transaction of $1,820,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 16,001 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,080,130. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Kevin M. Farr sold 3,225 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $133.28, for a total value of $429,828.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 14,645 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,951,885.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 137,152 shares of company stock valued at $18,513,434. 2.75% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently weighed in on PII. Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on shares of Polaris from $125.00 to $140.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 26th. Raymond James downgraded Polaris from a strong-buy rating to a market perform rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 18th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target on Polaris from $115.00 to $121.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 26th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on Polaris from $110.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Wednesday, July 26th. Finally, Roth Capital reaffirmed a neutral rating on shares of Polaris in a report on Tuesday, April 25th. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $124.18.

Read Our Latest Report on PII

Polaris Price Performance

Shares of Polaris stock traded down $1.55 on Tuesday, hitting $127.27. 15,109 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 573,698. Polaris Inc. has a 12-month low of $91.86 and a 12-month high of $138.49. The company has a current ratio of 1.20, a quick ratio of 0.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21. The company has a market cap of $7.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.02 and a beta of 1.65. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $123.84 and its 200 day simple moving average is $114.83.

Polaris (NYSE:PII  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The company reported $2.42 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.21 by $0.21. Polaris had a return on equity of 57.98% and a net margin of 6.89%. The business had revenue of $2.22 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.14 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.42 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 7.5% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts expect that Polaris Inc. will post 10.41 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Polaris Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 1st will be given a dividend of $0.65 per share. This represents a $2.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.04%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 31st. Polariss payout ratio is currently 24.28%.

Polaris Company Profile

(Free Report)

Polaris Inc designs, engineers, manufactures, and markets powersports vehicles worldwide. It operates through three segments: Off-Road, On-Road, and Marine. The company offers off-road vehicles (ORVs), including all-terrain vehicles and side-by-side vehicles; military and commercial ORVs; snowmobiles; motorcycles; moto-roadsters, quadricycles, and boats; and aftermarket parts and apparel.

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WealthShield Partners LLC increased its holdings in First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF (NYSEARCA:FPE  Free Report) by 5.1% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 14,299 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 696 shares during the period. WealthShield Partners LLCs holdings in First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF were worth $228,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its position in First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF by 20.0% in the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 36,572 shares of the companys stock worth $696,000 after purchasing an additional 6,095 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can boosted its holdings in First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF by 14.9% in the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 271,002 shares of the companys stock worth $5,149,000 after buying an additional 35,120 shares during the period. Synovus Financial Corp boosted its holdings in First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF by 12.2% in the 1st quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 86,767 shares of the companys stock worth $1,651,000 after buying an additional 9,418 shares during the period. Baird Financial Group Inc. boosted its holdings in First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF by 9.4% in the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,768,430 shares of the companys stock worth $33,636,000 after buying an additional 152,045 shares during the period. Finally, Mather Group LLC. bought a new position in First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF in the 1st quarter worth approximately $425,000.

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First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF Stock Up 0.2 %

FPE opened at $16.23 on Tuesday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $16.03 and a 200 day moving average of $16.42. First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF has a 12 month low of $15.23 and a 12 month high of $18.33.

About First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF

The First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF (FPE) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in broad credit fixed income. The fund is an actively managed fund that attempts to generate income by investing globally in preferred equities and income producing debt across the market cap spectrum.

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Amazon.com is set to meet next week with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ahead of a potential long-awaited antitrust lawsuit against the retailer, according to a source familiar with the matter.



The FTC began probing Amazon during the Trump administration. The company has been criticized for allegedly favoring its own products and disfavoring outside sellers on its platform, among other allegations. Amazon denies this. The FTC typically holds meetings with companies after lengthy investigations before deciding whether to file a suit.



The FTC declined comment on the planned meeting.



The Justice Department and FTC opened probes into four tech giants - Alphabet's Google, Meta's Facebook, Apple and Amazon - during the Trump administration. That was followed by a major report by a House panel that discussed how the four companies dominate their industries.



The Justice Department has sued Alphabet's Google twice, once regarding its search business and a second time on advertising technology. The FTC has sued Meta's Facebook. None of the three cases has yet gone to trial.



The FTC in June sued Amazon, accusing it of enrolling millions of consumers into its paid subscription Amazon Prime service without their consent and making it hard for them to cancel. Amazon called the FTC's claims "false on the facts and the law."



The FTC on May 31 announced a $5.8 million settlement with Amazon's Ring doorbell camera unit after the agency said cameras had been used for spying on some customers. Amazon also agreed in May agreed to pay $25 million to settle FTC allegations it violated children's privacy rights by failing to delete Alexa virtual assistant recordings at the request of parents and keeping them longer than necessary.
Bombay Shaving Company is "on track" to achieve Rs 260-280 crore topline in FY24, driven by its "big bet" on razors and trimmers, focus on hair removal products, and wider distribution network to grab a larger slice of the market, Shantanu Deshpande, its Founder and CEO, said.



In an interview with PTI, Deshpande talked about his expectations of breakeven this fiscal, a possible $60-80 million pre-IPO round in 3-4 quarters, and gameplan to scale up Bombay Shaving Company to Rs 2,000-3,000 crore, and Bombae (a line up of women's products) to Rs 1,000 crore businesses in his 5-year vision. The brand -- which now bears an all-new look-and-feel after a refreshed brand identity -- is also looking to scale its presence from 65,000 stores to 3-5 lakh stores in 2-3 years, Deshpande said describing offline mode as the "belly of Indian retail market".



For FY23, the company logged a revenue of Rs 186 crore. Bombay Shaving Company is hopeful of exiting FY24 at a breakeven, Deshpande said. The top line for FY24 is seen at Rs 260-280 crore, he said, adding that the company is so far "on track" to reach it.



Deshpande -- who belongs to a growing tribe of outspoken founders scaling their companies in India -- likened the play in the razor category to "entering a deadly battlefield" (where well-entrenched brands have a stranglehold). "It is a battlefield that is deadly...the incumbent is strong, very powerful...consumer has a lot of love, so you are entering a battlefield where you know if you are not a gladiator, you are done for," he said, adding that there are many "variables" and "volatility" but the company has a 'razor-sharp' focus on capital efficiency.



Bombay Shaving Company is a "lot more cautious as the responsibility of large scale business rests on our shoulders". "In five years for Bombay Shaving Company, we should be 20 percent of the share of the market we compete in...shaving consumables, razors, trimmers, and select personal care categories...my view is Bombay Shaving Company should be Rs 2,000-3,000 crore business depending on the 5-year horizon," he said.



Bombae, he said, should be the first port of call for women looking at hair removal solutions. "There, we should have 5 percent share of the total market and possibly 20 percent share of product market...that is another Rs 1,000 crore in terms of business," he said.



Overall, it can easily be Rs 2,500-3,500 crore topline company across Bombay Shaving Company, Bombae and services business, he envisioned. Bombay Shaving Company will also move to a higher gear on the expansion of its offline footprint.



Accordingly, the business will scale up from 65,000 stores to 3,00,000-5,00,000 stores in 2-3 years. "That is the weighted distribution needed for our brand to hit critical mass or escape velocity. We are not there yet, and I think the focus of the business will now be on penetration," Deshpande said.



Offline is one of the hardest things for online-first brands to do because it is a margin-depletive to start off with, and involves upfront investment, he explained. Initially, going deep into existing cities will be a priority, Bombay Shaving Company will then move wider from its existing presence in 25 cities to 50 cities and onwards to 75 cities.



On whether a funding round is in the offing, Deshpande said that Bombay Shaving Company has a significant amount of runway left, having raised a large round of capital in December 2021. "I don't actually want to raise more capital, it puts a lot of burden on value creation for the company and timing becomes a problem. Will we need external capital to grow...yes...my view is we might go into the market maybe 3-4 quarters down, to see how we can raise capital," he said.



The company is looking at a fiscal 2025-26 timeline for IPO, and the pre-IPO round could be timed in FY25. "The moment you are profitable you don't need capital, there is never a runway question anymore. My view is that it will be a growth round...it will be USD 60-80 million round, including secondaries and exits to current investors," he said.



Bombay Shaving Company, a homegrown personal care brand, is all set to empower the entrepreneurial zeal of the youth through their latest initiative 'Razorprenuer India ka edge.' This unique proposition is crafted to foster the spirit of entrepreneurship among the young minds of the country.



Deepak Gupta, Co-Founder of Bombay Shaving Company, said the current brand revamp is focused on targeting younger audiences, especially in the age group of 16-25 years. "They want to associate with the brand at a far more deeper level in terms of value they associate with, and how the brand is looking at innovation and sustainability, and what kind of language is the brand speaking," Gupta said.



Asked if connecting with male and female audiences requires different approaches, Gupta replied in the affirmative. "Men buy, and women shop...Men focus a lot on functionality and utility and women want to connect a lot more at an emotional level while buying a brand," Gupta said.
Top global private equity firm Carlyle and Quest Global, one of the worlds leading engineering services players, on August 8 announced a definitive partnership agreement whereby the investment giant will acquire a significant minority stake in the Singapore-headquartered company.



Equity for the transaction will come from funds managed and advised by entities affiliated to Carlyle Asia Partners.



Investors Bain Capital and Advent International will exit Quest Global, which will repurchase its shares, and its chairman and CEO Ajit Prabhu will acquire an additional stake in the company.



The exact stake acquired by Carlyle and Prabhu and the quantum of their investments were not disclosed but sources indicated that the deal values Quest Global at around $2 billion.



The partnership approach for the transaction demonstrates Quest Globals commitment to the long-term success of its business strategy and its employees, the announcement said.



Carlyle was one of the early backers of Quest Global and had invested $6 million in growth capital in September 2003.



Earlier this year, Carlyle acquired a majority stake in homegrown skincare and beauty platform VLCC.



Also Read: Carlyle acquires majority stake in homegrown skincare firm VLCC



More about Quest Global



Established over 25 years ago and headquartered in Singapore, Quest Global is a leading global player in engineering, research and development (ER&D) services for the design, product development and operations of complex engineering systems.



It has a multi-disciplinary team of more than 17,500 engineers, across 67 delivery centres and offices, in 17 countries dedicated to helping solve its clients engineering challenges better and faster.



According to recent reports, on the back of steady business growth, Quest Global plans to hire 20,000 individuals in India over the next three to five years to double its local workforce.



The Carlyle strategy



We have known Ajit for two decades and we believe he has demonstrated visionary leadership over these years. Carlyle was the first early-stage private equity investor in Quest Global and we are proud to partner again," Amit Jain, Managing Director and Head of Carlyle India Advisors, told Moneycontrol.



The companys undivided client-centricity, drive for engineering excellence, differentiated global delivery model and the entrepreneurial energy of the management team have enabled it to scale successfully across a diverse set of industry verticals.



Quest Global is well-poised to benefit from the growing focus on product innovation, digital engineering, embedded systems, increased outsourcing and disruptive technology advancements across industries, he said.



"We look forward to working closely with Quest Global's management team while leveraging Carlyles deep sector expertise and global network to help the company expand its global leadership in the ER&D space," Jain added.



Engineering has the unique opportunity to solve the problems "of today that stand in the way of tomorrow"  to create a brighter future, Prabhu said while talking to Moneycontrol.



"It was a great value-added partnership with Carlyle the first time around, and I look forward to working with Carlyle again, to propel us in the journey ahead, Prabhu said. Together, the two companies will provide cutting-edge engineering solutions to clients around the world, while preserving their entrepreneurial culture.



Prabhu thanked Bain and Advent for their "instrumental role in advancing the companys purpose and growth trajectory", saying their strategic insights and unwavering support have been invaluable.



The transaction remains subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions precedent to closing, including customary regulatory approvals.



Barclays, JP Morgan, BNP Paribas and Latham & Watkins served as advisers to Quest Global. Deutsche Bank, Clifford Chance, KPMG and Trilegal advised Carlyle.



Barclays, BNP Paribas, Citibank, Deutsche Bank, HSBC, ING, JP Morgan, Nomura, Standard Chartered Bank, Allen & Overy and Linklaters helped arrange financing for the transaction.



Carlyles buyout funds, including Carlyle Asia Partners, have well-established experience in investing in the technology and business services sector and have pumped in over $35 billion of equity in over 280 deals globally as of June 30, 2023, with approximately $5.6 billion in Asia.
Japan's SoftBank Group is likely to report a return to profit when it announces first-quarter earnings on August 8, analysts said, as its Vision Fund investing arm's portfolio of technology stocks enjoyed a rebound.



The tech investor has posted two consecutive years of loss on the slumping value of the Vision Fund portfolio and sold down its crown-jewel stake in Chinese e-commerce firm Alibaba Group Holding to bolster its balance sheet.



A return to profit could ease pressure on founder and CEO Masayoshi Son, who shook up the tech investing world with aggressive bets on late-stage start-ups but suffered a series of high-profile stumbles as investments under-peformed.



Investors will also be looking for updates on the potential blockbuster listing of portfolio chip designer Arm, which if successful would provide a further cash injection for the group and burnish Son's credentials as a farsighted tech investor.



"It's a major catalyst for the company and a very important event for tech as a whole, considering Arm's important position in semiconductors," said analyst Rolf Bulk at New Street Research.



SoftBank is set to post net profit of $525 million for the April-June quarter, showed the average of four analyst estimates compiled by Refinitiv.



Its Vision Fund unit has booked five consecutive quarters of investment loss after backing high-growth firms which fell out of favour with the market, forcing the conglomerate into a defensive stance to preserve cash.



"Public valuations in tech are trending up again and I would expect private valuations to follow suit," said Bulk.



Listed gainers during the quarter included food delivery company DoorDash and ride hailing business Grab Holdings.



Analysts expect a return to profit could herald an uptick in new deals. Son in June said he plans to shift to "offence mode" amid excitement over advances in artificial intelligence (AI).



Recent activity by SoftBank includes its creation of a joint venture to build automated warehouses and investment in insurance tech company Tractable.



Analysts have also expressed enthusiasm over Arm's prospects for expansion in data centres and in the automotive sector. Already, expectation that investment in AI will drive industry growth has boosted the market capitalisation of chipmaker Nvidia - a former Arm suitor - above $1 trillion.



Given elevated valuations of industry peers, Macquarie analyst Paul Golding said he sees potential upside of $31.4 billion for Arm from its current book value.



"SoftBank mandated Arm to reinvest all of its profit to enter new markets," New Street Research's Bulk said. "Arm is now in a phase where they can reap the benefits of that investment."
Tatas e-pharmacy, Tata 1mg, saw its losses widen by 139 percent in the previous financial year, dragged largely by input costs and other expenses. During the same year, the companys revenues largely moved in tandem with its bottomline.



The Gurugram-based company saw its losses jump from Rs 526 crore in FY22 to Rs 1,255 crore in FY23, as per regulatory filings sourced from Tofler. During the same period, the companys revenue from operations grew 160 percent from Rs 627 crore in FY22 to Rs 1,627 crore in the previous financial year.



Nearly 80 percent of its revenues came from the sale of medicines while the rest came from services like diagnostics, tests and others put together.



The healthcare startup's losses widened at a time when it is putting itself on a path to profitability and is hopeful of turning profits in the next two years.



Tata 1mgs losses increased primarily on the back of mounting expenses in FY23. The companys total expenses increased by 147 percent to Rs 2,894 core in FY23 from Rs 1,171 crore in FY22, the filings showed.



While its advertising expenses dropped in the year, it was offset by higher employee costs, among others, the company said.



The companys costs are also likely to remain elevated in FY24 as it looks to increase its store count to 200-300 outlets by the end of this calendar year, which is a 4-5X jump from its current offline footprint. For its offline foray, it is targeting cities such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Mumbai, the companys Chief Operating Officer, Tanmay Saksena, told Moneycontrol in an interaction earlier.



Offline stores will, however, help Tata 1mg increase its revenue streams. As is the case for other players in the industry, even for Tata 1mg, the online average order value (AOV) is much higher at Rs 1,200-1,300 versus the Rs 600 AOV through offline channels.



Tata 1mgs approach of offering add-on services at its offline stores is already helping it push up AOV. The companys offline AOV was around Rs 600 nearly double the AOV of traditional pharmacies in the Rs 325-350 range.



Path to profitability



Saksena said Tata 1mg will not need to raise additional capital to fund its offline venture as its cash burn has halved on a year-on-year (YoY) basis to single-digit millions now and the existing capital pool was sufficient for its growth.



At the same time, the company is growing 70-80 percent YoY, according to Saksena, who did not reveal exact numbers. Were well positioned now and will turn profitable in the next two years. If we do it well, it may even come in a years time, he added.



Tata Group acquired a majority stake in 1mg in June 2021 for about $250 million, according to reports. The company, which counts Kae Capital, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and several other entities among its backers, is now valued at $1.25 billion, according to data from Tracxn, a private market intelligence data provider.
After the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Indonesia, India may turn to key partners in Latin America and Africa to forge bilateral agreements to facilitate trade in local currencies to give the much-needed fillip to the eventual plan to internationalise the rupee, a government official has said.



Key nations in these regions, such as Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, Senegal and Tanzania, are likely to be the next set of candidates for Indias bilateral local currency settlement push as it plans to convince smaller countries first to accept payment in rupees for transactions, according to the official.



If we have to push rupee trade, we have to start with smaller nations where it would be easier to give a push rupee internationalisation, the official said on the condition of anonymity, adding that the plans are initial and would require discussions.



With Brazil and Tanzania, New Delhi enjoys a trade surplus of $3.25 billion and $1.39 billion, respectively, as of 2022-23. With South Africa, Senegal and Argentina, the trade deficit is minimal at best, commerce ministry data for the period revealed.



Picking the right partners



Moneycontrol had reported earlier that, for its bilateral currency settlement plan, the Indian governments pick for partners will be based on the potential to do more trade as well as balance the trade gap between the two nations. With these countries from Latin America and Africa, India has either a trade surplus or a manageable deficit.



Also Read: India pins hopes on bilateral local currency trade to internationalise rupee



The products India and these nations import and export between them are seemingly playing a role in New Delhis choice of partner countries. Senegal is a major importer of Indias rice, which makes the African nation a good candidate, the official said.



Indias key exports to these nations include petroleum products, engineering goods, drugs and pharmaceuticals, and rice. In terms of inbound shipments, while both Brazil and Argentina are traditional import source nations for Indias edible oil requirements, the South Asian nation purchases a significant amount of fertilisers, cotton, and toys from South Africa. Tanzania and Senegal play a key role in fulfilling New Delhis requirements in gems and jewellery.



New Delhi has already signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) last month with the UAE to use the rupee and the dirham to settle bilateral transactions and a local currency settlement plan was also discussed with Indonesia during talks between the two sides on the sidelines of the meeting of G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in Gandhinagar in mid-July.



India is also said to be looking at Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as well for its local currency settlement plan as these neighbouring nations are grappling with currency shortages.



Also read: India discusses potential for local currency trade settlement with Vietnam
A fresh set of 1.25 lakh entities, including government agencies, are currently under probe by the Goods and Services Tax (GST) authorities in the drive to curb fake input tax credit (ITC). These are entities found to have taken supplies from bogus entities identified in the initial two-month drive held by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) earlier, a senior government official said.



The drive against fake ITC is continuing till August 14 as of now. After the initial two-month drive held by CBIC it was found that the identified non-existent companies supplied fake bills to some companies. If some companies have taken supplies from the bogus entities, it may mean the supplies never took place. This way 1.25 lakh more companies were identified, who took these supplies, which are under probe, the official told Moneycontrol.



If the supply has not happened, then it becomes a disciplinary case, hence the extension of the drive, he added.



For example, a bogus entity based in Delhi is supposed to have supplied five companies based in Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, etc. So, all five companies are now being probed by the states tax administrations.



In the two-month drive held earlier by the CBIC, from May 14-July 14, a total of 60,000 entities were verified, out of which 20,800 were found to be bogus.



The first layer of verification included 60,000 entities. This  the 1.25 lakh companies  is the second layer of the probe. The 1.25 lakh companies are distributed across India. Some of them may be non-existent and fake. But many are not fake, many of them are government agencies and reputed companies, the official said.



Data analytics to identify wrongdoers



The government is using data analytics and multiple parameters to identify fake firms. ITC allows GST taxpayers to claim credit for taxes paid on inputs used in the production of goods or services. Fake invoicing means invoices are issued even when there is no real supply of goods or services. These invoices are then used to avail ITC, which causes a revenue loss to the government.



The official said the ongoing drive may be extended beyond August 14 as the probe into the 1.25 lakh companies will take time.



After analysing the outcome and data points of these drives, the CBIC will suggest policy measures to tighten the GST system further to prevent tax evasion. For example, the fake entities may belong to specific sectors, may be concentrated in some zones, or may use common ways of generating fake bills, which can be red-flagged.



Delhi is one big centre where fake entities were found. Curbing fake ITC will be one big GST reform going ahead. The government will look at tightening and more system reforms in the next GST Council meeting, he said.



Sectors and locations



The fake entities so far have been mostly found in sectors such as metal scrap, packaging, plastic waste, paper waste, agricultural inputs, manpower supply services and advertising. The fake locations of these entities were registered in areas such as Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Noida in Uttar Pradesh, Kolkata, Assam, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.



In a bid to weed out bogus entities registered under GST and plug fake ITC claims, the government is working towards making geotagging of addresses of all companies mandatory while biometric authentication will be compulsory for the ones detected as risky.



Even in cases where Aadhaar is authenticated, based on risk analysis, an applicant can be marked for physical verification. Pilots for biometrics are running in Gujarat, which will now be extended to Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh. Based on the risk analysis, applicants may be directed to biometric Aadhaar authentication centres.
India in recent months has barred domestic manufacturers of military drones from using components made in China over concerns about security vulnerabilities, according to four defence and industry officials and documents reviewed by Reuters.



The measure comes amid tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours, and as New Delhi pursues a military modernisation that envisages greater use of unmanned quadcopters, long-endurance systems and other autonomous platforms.



However, as the nascent Indian industry looks to meet the military's needs, the defence and industry figures said the country's security leaders were worried that intelligence-gathering could be compromised by Chinese-made parts in drones' communication functions, cameras, radio transmission and operating software.



Three of these people and some of the six other government and industry figures interviewed by Reuters spoke on the condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to talk to the media or because of the topic's sensitivity. India's defence ministry did not respond to Reuters questions.



India's approach, reported by Reuters for the first time, complements phased import restrictions on surveillance drones since 2020 and is being implemented through military tenders, documents show.



At two meetings in February and March to discuss drone tenders, Indian military officials told potential bidders that equipment or subcomponents from "countries sharing land borders with India will not be acceptable for security reasons", according to minutes reviewed by Reuters. The minutes did not identify the military officials.



One tender document said such subsystems had "security loopholes" that compromised critical military data, and called for vendors to disclose components' origin.



A senior defence official told Reuters the reference to neighbouring countries was a euphemism for China, adding that Indian industry had become dependent on the world's second-largest economy despite concern about cyberattacks.



Beijing has denied involvement in cyberattacks. China's commerce ministry, which last week announced export controls on some drones and drone-related equipment, did not respond to questions about India's measures.



The US Congress in 2019 banned the Pentagon from buying or using drones and components made in China.



MANUFACTURING HURDLE



Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sought to build India's drone capability to thwart perceived threats, including from China, whose forces have clashed with Indian soldiers along their disputed border in recent years.



India has set aside $19.77 billion for military modernisation in 2023-24, of which 75 percent is reserved for domestic industry.



Nevertheless, the ban on Chinese parts has raised the cost of making military drones locally by forcing manufacturers to source components elsewhere, government and industry experts said.



Sameer Joshi, founder of Bengaluru-based NewSpace Research and Technologies, a supplier of small drones for India's military, said 70 percent of goods in the supply chain were made in China. "So if I talk to, let's say, a Polish guy, he still has his components which are coming via China," he said.



Switching to a non-Chinese pipeline pushed up costs dramatically, Joshi said, adding that some manufacturers were still importing material from China but would "white-label it, and kind of keep the costs within that frame".



TECHNOLOGY GAPS



India relies on foreign manufacturers for both parts and entire systems as it lacks the know-how to make certain types of drones.



A government-funded program to produce an indigenous Medium Altitude Long Endurance unmanned system is delayed by at least half a decade, said Y. Dilip, director of the state-run Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE).



The platform, called Tapas, has met most requirements but needs further work to fulfil the military's goal of a drone that can reach an operational altitude of 30,000 feet and remain airborne for 24 hours, Dilip said. "Primarily we were constrained by the engines," he said, with neither those built domestically nor international models available to India up to the job.



Apart from Tapas, which is expected to begin military trials this month, ADE is working on a stealth unmanned platform and a High Altitude Long Endurance platform, but both are years away.



To fill these gaps, India announced in June that it would buy 31 MQ-9 drones from the US for over $3 billion.



RK Narang, a drone expert at the government's Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, said "there has to be coherent national strategy to fill the technology gaps" to deliver commercially viable products.



Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman pledged in February that one-quarter of this year's budget for defence research and development would be for the private industry.



Still, Narang said there was little investment in research and development by India's big private-sector companies. Joshi said venture capitalists eschewed military projects because of long lead times and the risk that orders may not eventuate. The senior defence official said India would need to accept higher costs to boost domestic manufacturing.



"If today I buy equipment from China but I say I want to make it in India, the cost will go up 50 percent," he said. "We as a nation need to be ready to help the ecosystem build here."
Gujarat-based Shelter Pharma will be opening its initial public issue on August 10, with an offer price of Rs 42 per share. It is a fixed price issue. The herbal products manufacturer is planning to mop up Rs 16.03 crore via public issue of 38.16 lakh equity shares. Of which, 1.92 lakh shares worth Rs 80.64 lakh are reserved for the market maker, while the remaining issue of 36.24 lakh shares is considered as a net issue. Investors can bid for a minimum of 3,000 equity shares and in multiples of 3,000 shares thereafter. That means, the minimum and maximum application size for retail investor would be Rs 1.26 lakh (3,000 shares X issue price of Rs 42) as they are allowed to invest only up to Rs 2 lakh in IPO. Shelter Pharma, which has built its presence in human pharma as well as veterinary space, will utilise issue proceeds mainly for its working capital requirements, besides general corporate purposes. Click Here To Read All IPO News With an in-house R&D efforts backed by sound knowledge of Ayurveda, Shelter has product portfolio of OTC products as well ethical pharma products. The company, which is being promoted by Mustaqim Nisarahmed Sabugar and Shakil Nisarahmed Sabugar, sources its required raw material directly from farmers, with whom it has long established relationships. The public issue will close on August 14. The basis of allotment of IPO shares will be finalised by August 21 and equity shares will be transferred to eligible investors by August 23. Click Here To Know Latest Concord Biotech IPO Subscription Numbers Unsuccessful investors will get refunds in their bank accounts by August 22. Equity shares will be listed on the SME Platform of BSE, on August 24. Gretex Corporate Services is the lead manager to the offer, while Bigshare Services is the registrar to the issue.

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Financial services major JPMorgan Chase plans to open two offices in Mumbai and Bengaluru to "strengthen its presence in India and redefine workplace experience" for employees, the company said in a release.



The new facilities are among the companys largest technology and operation centres across the globe, and are aimed at driving long-term service excellence, efficiency, and innovation, it said.



The campuses



The 1.16 million sq ft Mumbai office is located in the 23-acre Nirlon Knowledge Park (NKP) in Goregaon, while the 1.12 million sq ft Bengaluru facility is situated in the 103-acre Embassy Tech Village (ETV) on the Outer Ring Road.



Also Read | Gaurs Group to develop 1,200 mid-luxury flats near Delhi-Meerut Expressway



Daniel Wilkening, the Chief Administrative Officer and Head of Services for Commercial Banking and Executive for India and Philippines Corporate Centers at JPMorgan Chase, said the India centres have evolved to provide technology solutions, business and functional support for global clients.



Mumbai and Bengaluru are an integral part of our sustained success. These new facilities demonstrate our continued commitment to India and our people, Wilkening said.



Deepak Mangla, CEO, Corporate Centers, India and Philippines at JPMorgan Chase, said the new offices symbolise the companys vision for the future. The campuses enable our people with technology, flexible, efficient, and inclusive workspaces that are powered by sustainability and holistic wellbeing, it said.







Sustainability & design



Both campuses have been built on LEED Gold building standards, are 100 percent powered by renewable energy, and have energy efficient lighting. The facilities are also equipped with water conservation and waste management resources.



Other initiatives include zero waste management which entails paperless initiatives and digitisation, repurposing of materials and waste segregation at source. The parking facilities also host electric vehicle charging stations.



Also Read | 5 things about Dilip Kumar's landmark bungalow and its redevelopment



Design-wise, the campuses incorporate experiential meeting spaces, modern conferencing rooms, innovation labs, work cafes and game rooms, as per the release. The dining areas feature diverse cuisine offerings and outdoor seating.



Employees also have access to all-gender restrooms, a childcare centre, mothers rooms, prayer rooms, and a fully equipped health and wellness centre, it added.



JPMorgan Chase employs 50,000 strong workforce in India for investment banking, global markets, wholesale payments, and custody services businesses.
#1. India may regain second spot on MSCI emerging markets index



The Indian stock market could be on its way to reclaim the second spot on the MSCI Emerging Markets Index from Taiwan. After a rebound in domestic equities, the weight of Indian stocks in the gauge has risen from 12.97 percent at end January to 14.21 percent now, the highest rise among peers in the basket. MSCI India has rallied 9 percent so far this year, compared with the MSCI Emerging Markets 3 percent increase.



Why its important: Passive funds typically structure their investment basket in emerging markets on the basis of index weights. Once Indias position improves, there is a likelihood of increased fund inflows.



#2. Ant Financial sells 10.3 percent Paytm stake to founder Vijay Sharma



The Ant Group has transferred 44 percent of its stake in One 97 Communications, which operates Paytm, to founder and chief executive Vijay Shekhar Sharma. Resilient Asset Management BV, an overseas entity owned by Sharma, will acquire ownership of 10.3 percent stake in the company held by Antfin Netherlands, formerly known as Ant Financial.



Why its important: The deal is part of an effort to reduce the Chinese groups ownership in the Indian fintech firm. It also makes Sharma the largest shareholder in Paytm.



#3. Qatar Investment buys stake in Adani Green Energy worth $500 million



The promoters of Adani Group have raised about $500 million by selling a part of holdings in Adani Green Energy to investors, including INQ Holding, a unit of sovereign fund Qatar Investment Authority. It is one of the several recent stake sales by billionaire Gautam Adani to cut promoter-level debt and free stock pledges. At current market rates, around $3.75 billion is required by the promoters to release pledged shares in five key group firms.



Why its important: The investment by the Qatar sovereign fund is a vote of confidence in the Adani Group, which has been scrambling to restore investor trust after a market rout earlier this year.



#4. State Bank beats Reliance Industries to become Indias most profitable company



Reliance Industries, which topped corporate profits for more than a decade, has ceded its pole position to State Bank of India in the June quarter. Indias biggest lender reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 66,860 crore in the trailing 12-month ended in June, ahead of Reliances net profit of Rs 64,758 crore.



Why its important: The pandemic and its aftermath has changed the economic landscape in more ways than one. Financial services sector in India growing its heft at the cost of energy firms.



#5. Video games and e-sports may not attract 28 percent GST on online games



The recently proposed 28 percent goods and services tax on online games involving real money will not impact the taxation on e-sports like as FIFA and League of Legends, or titles on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo. The higher tax rate will be levied only on pay-to-win games, such as fantasy sports, rummy, and poker, which have the scope of monetary gains.



Why its important: Video games and e-sports will continue to attract tax at the rate of 18 percent. The government has now clarified the demarcation between them and pay-to-win games.



#6. Byjus in discussions with Davidson Kempner to settle debt dispute



Byjus and New Yorks Davidson Kempner Capital have started negotiations to settle a dispute over the breach of a loan covenant linked to Aakash Institute, a unit of the Indian edtech unicorn. Byjus has offered to repay the funds it has so far availed of from the sanctioned loan, along with the interest on that amount. Davidson Kempner is seeking interest on the entire amount for a period of 1-2 years instead of a quarter.



Why its important: The speedy resolution of the loan dispute will settle one of the several crises Byjus has been grappling with in recent times. Its troubles are far from over.



#7. Indias auditing overseer to flag concerns to corporate affairs ministry over Byjus financials



The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India is likely to flag concerns about the preparation of financial statements by Think and Learn that runs Byjus to the ministry of corporate affairs after a review of its 2019-20 and 2020-21 accounts. Separately, a disciplinary committee of the institute is expected to issue notice to Deloitte Haskins & Sells audit partner, who signed off on these financial statements for not having done enough regarding weaknesses in the accounts.



Why its important: There has been allegations of material weakness in Byjus internal financial controls that the start-up has been unable to dispel. Its losses could be much more than it has reported till now.



#8. Subhash Chandra to settle debts and regain ownership of Dish TV and Zee Learn



Essel Group founder Subhash Chandra is on the verge of settling debt of Rs 6,500 crore held by JC Flowers Asset Reconstruction Company for around Rs 1,500 crore to regain ownership of his familys stake in Dish TV, Zee Learn, and three properties, including a bungalow in central Delhi. Chandras Essel Group close to signing a definitive agreement to repay the settlement amount in a phased manner by March 31.



Why its important: It is yet unclear as to where Chandra will get the money to settle the debt. It could sell an infrastructure asset, people in know have said.



#9. Cost of vegetarian thali has soared by a third in a month, hurting the poor



The cost of preparing a vegetarian thali at home has surged by 28 percent in July from the preceding month due to a sharp rise in prices of vegetables and spices. The cost of a non-vegetarian thali rose by a relatively moderate 11 percent, according to a study by Crisil.



Why its important: The soaring prices of vegetables have placed a heavy burden on the poor, who spend the bulk of their income on food.



#10. BCCI cuts base price of title sponsor rights to Rs 2.4 crore per match in India



The Board of Control for Cricket in India has dropped the base price of title sponsor rights for international cricket matches played in India to Rs 2.4 crore per match from Rs 3.8 crore that MasterCard and Paytm paid in the last cycle. The base price for the three-year title sponsor rights would total Rs 134.4 crore. They will start in September and end in August 2026.



Why its important: The slash in base price underscores the tepid demand for high-cost cricket properties and the exit of new-age firms that now have lot less cash to burn.
The first quarter of financial year 2024 started on a positive note, as open-ended mutual funds saw net inflows of Rs 1,84,789 crore, the highest in four years, with the fixed-income segment witnessing the lions share of inflows.



As per the latest Morningstar India report, flows in open-ended funds started on a strong note during June quarter, with net inflows of Rs 1,23,613 crore in April, which dipped to Rs 59,879 crore in May and ended with a disappointing Rs 1,295 crore of inflows in June.



Meanwhile, assets under management (AUM) of the industry stood at Rs 44.13 lakh crore as of June end, up 13 percent over the previous quarter.



Flows breakdown



As per the report, net flows into equity funds have been positive over the past nine quarters even as the momentum has been dropping since the last few quarters. In the June quarter, net flows fell significantly to Rs 18,358 crore, compared with Rs 48,766 crore inflows in the previous quarter.



Also read | Why a separate healthcare fund is a must for those living with Parkinsons, Alzheimers diseases



The total AUM of equity funds as of June stood at Rs 17.44 lakh crore, up by a sharp 15 percent since the last quarter. Equity funds form about 40 percent of the total open-ended fund universe.



Weightwise, both the largecap and flexicap categories continued to lead the AUM split with approximately 15 percent and 16 percent, respectively, followed by midcap with 13 percent.



On the other hand, net flows in fixed-income funds have been quite disappointing in the last few quarters. But the first quarter of FY24 saw net inflows of Rs 1.39 lakh crore, the second-highest quarterly inflows for the asset class.



Also read | Mutual Fund Folio decoded: How to streamline and manage your investments effectively



After six consecutive quarters, the asset class finally managed to turn the corner and see net inflows.



Only four out of 16 fixed-income categories witnessed net outflows in the quarter ended June 2023. The liquid fund category (Rs 79,908 crore) and money market fund category (Rs 29,519 crore) managed to garner the lions share when it came to net flows during the quarter.



M-cap trend



The smallcap category saw net inflows of Rs 10,937 crore in the first quarter, the highest-ever quarterly inflows for the category. This was also the ninth consecutive quarter in which the category witnessed net inflows. The smallcap category witnessed the highest net inflows for the open-end equity asset class during the quarter.



The AUM for the smallcap equity category hit its peak of Rs 1.68 lakh in the quarter ended June.



Strong consistent net flows and favourable market conditions propped up the assets under management for the smallcap category to reach new heights, Morningstar India said in the report.



Also read | How Recurring Deposits are a smart option without risking the capital



Largecap funds saw net outflows worth Rs 3,359 crore during the quarter as against net inflows of Rs 1,981 crore in the previous quarter.



Next, the midcap category saw net inflows for the 10th consecutive quarter, wherein it managed to garner inflows of Rs 4,735 crore. Interestingly, during the quarter, the midcap category received the second-highest net inflows in the open-end equity asset class, only behind the smallcap category.



New kids on the block



Cumulatively, about 40 index funds were launched in the first half of calendar year 2023; of these, there were 31 fixed-income index funds and nine equity-based index funds.



In the quarter ended March 2023, passive index funds/target maturity funds garnered Rs 26,269 crore. The spike in flows in this segment could be attributed to the change in tax laws for the fixed-income mutual funds from fiscal year 2023-24, which takes away the indexation benefit offered to investors.



Also read | How much money do you need to retire comfortably?



Investors, therefore, largely chose to invest in these funds to avail the benefit of indexation before the end of the financial year.



With the change in the fiscal year from April, the amount of fixed-income index funds in the June quarter was muted.



In terms of fund houses, SBI Mutual Fund launched two open-end funds during the first half of 2023, namely SBI S&P BSE Sensex Index and SBI Dividend Yield Fund; the cumulative AUM of these two funds stands at Rs 4,583 crore, which is the highest among the launched funds.



HDFC, on the other hand, launched 13 funds, and the cumulative AUM of these funds stood at Rs 3,218 crore.



The overall open-ended mutual fund industry was well-diversified, and weightage-wise equity funds comprised around 39 percent of the total industry AUM, followed by fixed-income funds with 31 percent. The allocation/hybrid, solution, and other categories have approximately 12 percent, 1 percent, and 18 percent weightage, respectively.
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In a move that shows the vast scope of its e-commerce ambitions from food to fintech, Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) has for the first time released a blueprint of how financial services could be sold on the government-backed interoperable network.



This comes months after its foray into food and grocery deliveries with large incentives ruffled the hyperlocal commerce sector, and invited criticism for trying to disrupt incumbents with discounts.



The draft specifications for financial services, released on developer platform GitHub, are attached with a memo saying that ONDC is looking to build a nationwide network for the sector, support innovation and bring on board policymaking authorities, among other things.



ONDC is seeking feedback from participants such as banks, NBFCs, buyer and seller apps for the design of the protocol for purchases of financial products like gift cards, personal loans and invoice-based credit on the network. These specifications will be finalised within the next two or three weeks on the basis of feedback, sources told Moneycontrol.



"Post the finalisation of specs, NPs (network participants) will decide whether they want to join the network to provide financial services or not. Those who decide in favour of joining may take another month or so to integrate with the protocol," a source said.



According to ONDC's website, the government-backed interoperable network aims to bring on board FastTag and insurance products apart from gift cards and credit instruments.



ONDC did not respond to Moneycontrol's queries.



Also read: Understanding ONDC, the open network billed to be the UPI of e-commerce



The memo that appears below the specs on the GitHub page said, "ONDC financial services aim to build a nationwide multi-modal network that provides seamless experiences, supports growth & innovation by bringing together a diverse set of financial services players who can engage with the open network on their own terms, fostering collaboration, sharing & new models, facilitating responsive policy by bringing onboard decision making authorities."



The intent is to enable seamless and interoperable service options by bringing in diverse inventory onboard at scale, it added.



For this, all financial services apps on the network will have to be built in such a way that they can communicate with each other in the same language.



As of now, seven broad categories of products are available on ONDC  food & beverages, grocery, home & kitchen products, mobility, electronics, fashion and beauty & personal care. In the future, ONDC also plans to bring on educational services and home services to the network.



Battling platform dominance



Despite no special marketing efforts outside the top few metros like Bengaluru and Delhi, users from 620 cities have placed orders on ONDC, Moneycontrol reported earlier. The government-backed ecommerce network is now planning to double down on Tier 2 and beyond in the next iteration of its incentive scheme, which may be released this week.



With promotional campaigns by network participants such as Paytm, PhonePe's Pincode, and Magicpin, ONDC has been able to ramp up to more than 1.1 million retail transactions (food, grocery, apparel, etc.) and 5.4 million mobility transactions since its inception. The spike in mobility has come from the Juspay-backed Namma Yatri app, which aggregates auto rickshaws without charging any fees to drivers in Bengaluru.



On the retail side, 54,500 merchants have joined ONDC, offering about 75 lakh stock-keeping units (SKUs). In the past few months, they have averaged 16,000 orders per day, with a peak of 35,000 orders cumulatively last month.



Backed by the government, ONDC seeks to prevent the dominance of a few large platforms, such as Amazon, Flipkart, Swiggy, and Zomato, in the e-commerce and food delivery sectors.



Through ONDC, the government hopes to increase e-commerce penetration in the country to 25 percent in the next two years, reaching 900 million buyers and 1.2 million sellers through the network. It is projected to generate a gross merchandise value of $48 billion.



ONDC is banking on three key pillars to reduce the cost of doing business for everyone, including retailers: dynamic pricing, inventory management, and delivery cost optimisation.
Infibeam Avenue shares closed 2.08 percent up at Rs 14.75 after the company's said that its digital marketing subsidiary will list on the exchanges. Odigma Consultancy Solutions, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Infibeam Avenue, is into content, web development, social media management, email marketing, search engine optimization and others. Odigma Consultancy delivered a net profit CAGR of 13.4 percent and revenue CAGR of 11.43 percent in the last two years, Infibeam Avenue said in an exchange filing. Also read Buy Infibeam Avenues; target of Rs 28: KR Choksey The rapidly expanding digital marketing industry is poised for exponential growth in the upcoming years, attributed to the widespread digitalization of economies worldwide, said Mathew Jose, chief executive officer of Odigma Consultancy Solutions. The company aims to achieve heightened flexibility, enabling it to capitalise on diverse market opportunities in India and beyond. The Indian digital marketing market was valued at $3,931 million in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 30 percent during 2023-28 to reach a value of $ 19,268 million by 2028. Infibeam Avenue shares have lost 11 percent since January 1. Infibeam Avenue is a fintech company offering comprehensive digital payment solutions and enterprise software platforms to businesses and governments across industry verticals. Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

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Manappuram Finance share price gained 5 percent on August 8 after subsidiary Asirvad Microfinance's June quarter numbers beat Street expectations. The microfinance institution (MFI) reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 111 crore in the quarter gone by against a loss of Rs 8.3 crore in the year-ago period. Revenue from operations jumped 77 percent YoY to Rs 637 crore. Following Asirvad MFI's results, foreign broking firm Morgan Stanley reiterated its "overweight" rating on Manappuram Finance with a target price of Rs 160 a share. Asirvad MFI's profit is 25 percent higher than estimates, said Morgan Stanley. Consequently, there is the possibility of an upside risk for Manappuram's first quarter PAT, which is projected to be Rs 427 crore. Manappuram Finance closed at Rs 144.45 on the National Stock Exchange, 5.17 percent higher from the previous close. On July 26, Moneycontrol reported that Asirvad MFI has commenced work on an initial public offer to raise around Rs 1,500 crore and mandated three investment banks for the deal. 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. As of FY23 end, Asirvad MFI had 3.2 million borrowers, 15,784 employees with total disbursements of Rs 19,248 crore. It has 1,684 branches across 391 districts of 22 states and three UTs. The firm's microfinance loans are curated for women from poor and lower-income households and disbursed via its branch network. Its product offerings comprise micro finance loans, MSME loans and gold loans. 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.

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A bipartisan group of US lawmakers are travelling to India to participate in the Red Ford address of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15 among other things, according to an official statement.



The bi-partisan Congressional delegation is led by Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna and Congressman Michael Waltz. The two are co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans.



The lawmakers will visit Red Fort where the Prime Minister will address the nation on August 15. They will meet with business, tech, government, and Bollywood leaders in Mumbai, Hyderabad, and New Delhi, and visit Raj Ghat, a historic memorial dedicated to Gandhi, the media release said.



Khanna and Waltz will be joined by Congressmen Deborah Ross, Kat Cammack, Shri Thanedar, and Jasmine Crockett, along with Rich McCormick and Ed Case.



For Congressman Khanna, this is history coming full circle. His grandfather Amarnath Vidyalankar was an Indian freedom fighter who spent four years in jail alongside Gandhi and later was part of Indias first parliament, said the statement issued on August 7.



"As co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, we are proud to lead a bipartisan delegation to India. We will be there to discuss how to strengthen economic and defence ties between our two counties, the oldest and largest democracies," Khanna said. "Both of us believe that the US-India relationship will be a defining one of the 21st century. India is a key partner in ensuring multipolarity in Asia and the denial of China as a hegemon," he said.



"We must continue to strive to make progress and build our partnership based on our shared founding values of democracy, freedom of the press and assembly, and human rights. This delegation is a historic opportunity to drive further collaboration and advance shared aims," further noted Khanna said.



Earlier this year, Khanna and Waltz hosted a historic US-India Summit on the Hill featuring panels and remarks from government leaders, experts, and Indian-American leaders from across the country.
Over the last year or so, India has banned exports of certain commodities including wheat and non-basmati rice recently. In the latest move, the country has imposed restrictions on imports of laptops and PCs, which was termed regressive by many experts.



Moneycontrol caught up with trade experts Professor NR Bhanumurthy, Vice Chancellor, Dr BR Ambedkar School of Economics University and Somnath Mukherjee, CIO & Senior Managing Partner at ASK Private Wealth, to decode what does this mean for India?



The government on August 3 announced restrictions on the import of laptops, tablets, personal computers, ultra-small form factor computers and servers, though it has deferred the move till October 31.



The benefits of protectionism



Mukherjee defended the move stating that smart protectionism of Indias trade will lead to its growth.



We need to make a difference between liberalisation of free markets and liberalisation of imports. Imports are coming under increased scrutiny across the world, barring a few notable exceptions, Mukherjee said.



Free-market liberalisation is the removal or reduction of restrictions or barriers on the free exchange of goods between nations.



We are globally seeing countries making a very sharp move away from theoretical cannons of free-trade practices. The US has taken several measures, such as the CHIPS Act, which has given out significant subsidies. Even champions of free trade are now pivoting, Mukherjee said.



The CHIPS and Science Act is a US federal statute that was signed into law on August 9, 2022. The act provides roughly $280 billion in new funding to boost domestic research and manufacturing of semiconductors in the United States.



India's signature success story  auto sector  followed the same template where auto imports were put behind extremely high tariff walls and domestic production was promoted with significant schemes, he said, adding that this is Indias attempt in the same direction.



This move will boost Indias domestic manufacturing capabilities and address import imbalances with China, as per Mukherjee.



China remains India's top import source nation for electronic components, accounting for a 32.13 percent share, according to the June monthly bulletin on foreign trade. During the April-June quarter this year, imports of electronic goods increased to $6.96 billion from $4.73 billion a year ago.



Long-term trade in peril?



However, Bhanumurthy disagreed and said this policy decision will be a drag on Indias long-term trade. This is not a strategy that India should adopt if it wants to take on a country like China, he said.



Cooperating with other countries while being part of global value chains will help bring down the cost of production, which is the only way to compete with the outside world, the economist said.



As per him, India should have benefitted better had it looked at policy measures in terms of levying higher import tariffs than enforcing licences.



We need different policies on services and manufacturing. While we are competitive in services and can afford stringent policy measures, our manufacturing exports depend on imports. We need more flexible policies there, he said.



Watch the whole discussion here
The Gujarat High Court on August 8 quashed and set aside a 2019 order of a NIA court sentencing a businessman to life imprisonment for leaving a hijack threat note on a Mumbai-Delhi flight in 2017, saying the trial court sentenced him for the offence of hijacking "on the premise of evidence which is tainted with doubt." Businessman Birju Salla was the first person to be booked under the stringent Anti-Hijacking Act, 2016.



The NIA had filed a chargesheet against him under sections 3(1), 3(2)(a) and 4(b) of the Anti-Hijacking Act, 2016.

A division bench of HC Justices AS Supehia and MR Mengdey said the appellant (Salla) is acquitted from the offences under sections 3(1) and 3(2)(a) of the Act. As a sequel the sentence under section 4(b) of the Act is set aside, it added.

The HC also directed that Rs 5 crore fine which Salla was ordered to pay be refunded in case it is already paid.

The special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Ahmedabad on June 11, 2019 sentenced Salla to life imprisonment under the Anti-Hijacking Act, 2016, and imposed a fine of Rs 5 crore for leaving a hijack threat note on a Mumbai-Delhi flight in October 2017.

Salla had become the first person to be booked under the stringent Anti-Hijacking Act, 2016, which replaced a vintage law of 1982. He was also the first person to be put under the "national no fly list".

While quashing and setting aside the NIA court order against Salla, the HC said it does not subscribe to "the view expressed by the trial court convicting and sentencing the appellant for the offence of hijacking on the premise of evidence which is tainted with doubt." It also directed that Rs 5 crore fine which Salla was ordered to pay be refunded in case it is already paid, and his properties seized and ordered to be confiscated by the investigation officer under provisions of section 19 of the Act be released.

The high court also directed crew members of the affected flight to refund the amount of compensation in case the same was paid as per directions of the trial court.

The trial court had said Rs 5 crore fine submitted by the convict shall be distributed among the crew members and passengers on board the affected plane.

"In the alternative, the state is directed to pay the amount which is paid to the crew members, and it will be open for the state to recover such amount from the crew members," the HC bench said in its order.

Salla was accused of creating a hijack scare by planting a threat note written in English and Urdu in the tissue paper box of the aircraft's toilet on October 30, 2017.

The NIA had said Salla prepared a "threat note" in both English and Urdu language and placed it "intentionally" in the tissue paper box of the toilet near the business class of the Mumbai-Delhi Jet Airways flight on October 30, 2017, thereby jeopardising the safety of passengers and crew on board.

He was arrested after the plane made an emergency landing at the Ahmedabad airport after a female flight attendant found the note in the washroom which read, "there are hijackers on board and explosives on the plane".

As per the prosecution, Salla confessed to the crime and told investigators he had done it in the hope that it would force Jet Airways to close its Delhi operation and his girlfriend, who worked in the airline's office in the national capital, would come back to Mumbai.

The note asked the plane to be flown to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The note ended with the words "Allah is Great". PTI KA GK
The Delhi High Court has granted bail to a 23-year-old man in a POCSO Act case arising from his consensual physical relationship with a minor girl, saying putting a "young boy" in the company of hardened criminals will do more harm than good to him.



Justice Vikas Mahajan observed that the minor girl, aged 17 years and half at the relevant time, had sufficient maturity and intellectual capacity, and was prima facie in a consensual romantic relationship with the accused. The physical relationship between them was of their own free will, he said.

The judge noted the high court had said in an earlier verdict that the intention of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act) was to protect children below the age of 18 years from sexual exploitation and it was never meant to criminalise consensual romantic relationship between young adults.

"The petitioner, who is presently aged about 23 years, is already in custody since 15.10.2021. Keeping the petitioner in jail will not serve any useful purpose, rather subjecting young boy in the company of hardened criminals would do more harm than good to him," said the court in a recent order.

"Accordingly, the petitioner is admitted to regular bail subject to his furnishing personal bond in the sum of Rs. 20,000/- and a Surety Bond in the like amount subject to the satisfaction of the Trial Court/CMM/Duty Magistrate," the court ordered.

In the present case, the FIR was registered at the instance of the girl alleging that the accused was her neighbour who befriended her and established physical relationship with her on the pretext that he would marry her.

The girl subsequently discovered that she was pregnant and her medical examination revealed it was too late for abortion.

In its order, the court recorded that the prosecutrix asserted in her statement that she never wanted to get a case registered against the petitioner but it seemed that the FIR was lodged by her "at the insistence of her family who were perhaps embarrassed after the discovery of prosecutrixs pregnancy which had surpassed the stage of its termination".

"This court is cognizant of the fact that the prosecutrix was minor at the time of incident but at the same time it cannot be overlooked that the prosecturix was aged 17.5 years and was thus, of sufficient maturity and intellectual capacity. The petitioner at the relevant time was aged about 20 years," it said.

The court observed that the object of judicial custody is to secure the presence of the accused during the trial which can be ensured by putting in place appropriate conditions.

The testimonies of the prosecutrix and her mother have already been recorded, therefore, there cannot be any apprehension about the material witnesses being influenced, it added.

The court asked the petitioner not to leave the city without permission and appear before the trial court whenever the case is taken up for hearing.

It also asked him to keep his mobile in working condition and not communicate with the witnesses or family members of the witnesses. PTI ADS ADS SK SK
Unclaimed deposits worth Rs 48,461.44 crore pertaining to 16,79,32,112 accounts have been transferred by the banks to Depositor Education & Awareness Fund as on March 31, 2023, Parliament was informed on August 8. Ministry of Corporate Affairs has informed that the amount lying with Investor Education and Protection Fund, as on March 31, 2023, is Rs 5,714.51 crore, Minister of State for Finance Bhagwat Karad said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha. "Fugitive Economic Offender Act was enacted in 2018. The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has informed that as on August 2, 2023, there are eight fugitive economic offenders who are wilful defaulters," he said. ED has further informed that as on August 2, 2023, proceeds of crime of fugitive economic offenders, amounting to Rs 34,118.53 crore have been attached, out of which assets amounting to Rs 15,838.91 crore have been confiscated and assets amounting to Rs 15,113.02 crore have been restituted to the public sector banks, he said. Replying to another question, Karad said, wilful defaulters cannot get a fresh loan for 12 months after executing a compromise settlement. The cooling period of 12 months has been introduced as a general prescription for normal cases of compromise settlements, without prejudice to the penal measures applicable in respect of borrowers classified as wilful defaulter or fraud, as per the RBI's Master Circular on Wilful Defaulters dated July 1, 2015, and the Master Directions on Fraud dated July 1, 2016, he said. Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) and Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs), having asset size of Rs 500 crore or above, report certain credit information of all borrowers having aggregate exposure of Rs 5 crore and above to the Central Repository of Information on Large Credits (CRILC), he said. PTI DP HVA

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The Panorama newsletter is sent to Moneycontrol Pro subscribers on market days. It offers easy access to stories published on Moneycontrol Pro and gives a little extra by setting out a context or an event or trend that investors should keep track of.



Gland Pharma occupies a unique place in pharma stocks. Its an injectables focused company and primarily operates in a business to business (b2b) model. The stock delivered stellar returns in its first year of listing. As business hit a rough patch in FY23, the stock quickly lost steam and dropped below its IPO price this year.



But the rebound seems to be as dramatic.



The stock jumped 20 percent and hit an upper circuit in Tuesday trade after the companys quarterly revenues and earnings grew for the first time in a year. The recovery is being driven by the US, the main business market of Gland Pharma.



US revenues rose 25 percent sequentially in the June 2023 quarter, helped by resumption of sales of the products that were disrupted in the March quarter due to client-specific issues. Importantly, the company expects steady sequential growth in US revenues from here onwards, versus a reduction in FY23.



The company has found new customers and is relaunching the products that were disrupted in FY23. Like the fixed dosage manufacturers, Gland Pharma has also indicated stable pricing pressure in the US base business. It sees opportunities in the current shortage of oncology drugs. Moreover, the company is expanding its product portfolio in the market and is aiming to launch one limited competition drug at the end of the current fiscal or in Q1 FY25.



Management commentary was convincingly optimistic after many quarters, and highlighted the improving outlook in multiple markets, analysts at Elara Securities said in a note on Gland Pharma.



Meanwhile, in Europe, the company sees significant synergies from integration of its recent acquisition, Cenexi. The Europe based unit has pre-filled syringe technology that Gland Pharma lacks. The company is pitching some of its products to Cenexis clients and is also looking to supply some of the intermediate products from India.



The results and the commentary do provide wings to recovery hopes. While valuations at around 25 times FY24 earnings estimates are not as prohibitive as in the past, it is vital the company keeps up the recovery momentum. Note that before the FY23 disruption, investors gave premium valuations to Gland Pharmas stock due to its high growth rates. Regaining the revenue growth momentum will be important for stock returns.



Moving beyond the disruptions in business seen in the earlier quarters of FY23, it remains a strong business model to look at due to the strong regulatory compliance record, improving complex injectables capabilities/technology, and a supportive balance sheet, writes Anubhav Sahu in his analysis of the Gland Pharmas June quarter results. Do Read.





Investing insights from our research team



Power Grid Corporation of India: Tweaking strategy to grow fast



Aditya Birla Capital: Strong business growth; outlook positive



Britannia: Volume growth takes focus



MapmyIndia: Solid performance reaffirms faith in growth trajectory



Mrs Bectors Food Specialities: Strong start to the fiscal; growth momentum to continue





What else are we reading?



Equity markets are rising rapidly. These winning strategies can help you leave a mark



Investing in Markets: Make haste slowly and keep an eye on costs



MPC meet would be unexciting with a status quo outcome



Marketing Musings: The tragic tale of the un-evolved tomato



Why global capital is souring on China



Impact of global inventory destocking goes beyond chemical sector



Fusion: start-up shares are easier to create than limitless energy (republished from the FT)



Is there a way out of the TOP problem?



Whats a content blocking provision doing in a data protection legislation?



A rolling recession is roiling lots of industries



It is the season for big changes in Pakistan



Singapore's political scandals could hurt, but not too much



Will the LK-99 superconductor change the world?



Personal Finance



Why a separate healthcare fund is a must for those living with Parkinsons, Alzheimers diseases



Tech and Startups



EU may negatively assess India's data protection Bill: Experts



Technical Picks: PG Electroplast, Crompton Greaves, Biocon, Coal India and Natural gas



(These are published every trading day before markets open and can be read on the app)



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You can think of the unfolding disaster in Niger in four ways, from embarrassing to ominous, catastrophic and apocalyptic.



Embarrassing, because the countrys coup on July 26 is blowback for a clueless West: Neither the hapless former colonial power, France, nor the waning superpower, the US, saw this coming. Ominous, because its a windfall for Russia and China, as they vie with the West for influence in the region and world. Potentially catastrophic, because its a setback in the struggle against jihadist terrorism and uncontrolled migration. Possibly apocalyptic, if it marks a slide into world war.



And all this because a general heard that he might be fired and decided instead to oust the leader he was meant to protect. That  not ideology, not geopolitics, not the world food crisis, not anything large, but a staffing problem  is the immediate reason for Nigers coup, the fifth since its independence from France in 1960.



It brings to more than half a dozen the putsches in the region just since 2020, including two each in Mali and Burkina Faso, and others in Guinea and Sudan. Chaos now reigns from the Atlantic to the Red Sea. If there is hell on Earth, its the Sahel, the arid and wretched savannas south of the Sahara.



The Nigerien generals name is Abdourahamane (Omar) Tchiani. As commander of the presidential guard, he was supposed to protect President Mohamed Bazoum, elected in 2021 and a rare American ally in the Sahel. But when Bazoum mused about replacing Tchiani, the general showed up with his junta and goons. Bazoum fled across the hall from his office into a safe room. Holed up, hes been begging the outside world for help, even dictating an op-ed article in the Washington Post by phone.



If the coups in Burkina Faso and Mali are any guide, heres whatll happen next. Nigers junta will kick out French and American troops stationed there and throw itself into the arms of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the Wagner Group, a ruthless Russian mercenary army. Even as the Nigerien revolt was underway, Putin was hosting other pliant African leaders in St. Petersburg, schmoozing them into supporting, or at least not opposing, his war against Ukraine.



Prigozhin also showed up in St. Petersburg for photo ops with the African leaders. That may seem surprising, since the Wagner boss is supposed to be in Belarusian exile, in punishment for his short-lived mutiny in June. Apparently, though, Putins interests in the Sahel trump his concerns about Prigozhin.



For years, the Wagner Group has been fighting for the worst kind of people in Africa, hawking its services in return for concessions to diamonds or other riches of the soil. Putin blesses these Wagner operations and

atrocities because hell do anything to pry countries away from the US.



In that way, Putin  like his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping  views the Sahel as just another front line in his civilisational struggle against the US-led West. Others run through Ukraine, obviously, but also Asia and the Arctic  last week, a combined Russian and Chinese flotilla sailed

provocatively close to Alaska.



Putin is particularly drawn to the Sahel because the region can destabilise the West in many ways at once. It has become the global epicenter of terrorism, as groups such as Boko Haram and the local branches of the Islamic State move into the power vacuums left by coups, ethnic uprisings, banditry and Wagner mercenaries. To fight the terrorists, Western countries, and notably France and the US, have stationed troops in the few places that remain cooperative. Niger has been among the most important, housing an American drone base. Without a Western presence, therell be nothing to stop the terrorists.



Putin loves that prospect. Itll cause even more suffering and even greater migrations northward and toward the European Union, which he loathes and wants to destabilise. Thats also a reason Putin has weaponised grain, which hes preventing Ukraine from exporting, fully aware that his blockade causes hunger in places like Africa.



The cynicism on the part of Putin and Prigozhin is breathtaking. Even as hes starving other Africans by bombing Ukrainian grain depots, Putin promised the ones who showed up in St. Petersburg free Russian grain instead  in amounts the United Nations considers risible. Prigozhin went on Telegram to praise the Nigerien junta for its righteous struggle against their countrys colonisers, by which he apparently means the French and Americans.



The willful gullibility of their African audiences is just as shocking. It should be plain to all countries in the region, and indeed every human alive, that Russia is the cause of the worlds food crisis, and that Putin is nowadays the coloniser fighting an imperialist war of subjugation in Ukraine.



What can the rest of the world do? Hard to say. The African Union and the West have of course condemned the putsch. The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), a bloc led by Nigeria, has stopped trade with Niger and shut off Nigerian electricity exports to it.



Ecowas even issued the junta an ultimatum to restore Bazoum to power or face military intervention. On cue, the pro-Russian regimes in Burkina Faso and Mali answered that theyd then come to the aid of the new leaders in Niger. With Russians in the second row on one side and Americans on the other, wed be in another proxy war, and another step closer to World War III.



For now, Nigeria and the other Ecowas countries appear to have calculated that the risk is too great  they let their ultimatums deadline pass on Sunday without sending soldiers. The US and France are also unlikely to take up arms for Bazoum. They fear that Niger could be the next Iraq or Afghanistan, or worse, that they might end up shooting at Russians and igniting a global conflagration.



As I said, blowback. The US and its allies have for years neglected the region diplomatically. Of late, Washington hasnt even had ambassadors to Niger or Nigeria  Senator Rand Paul has been blocking nominees to force the White House to release information on COVID.



Politics must once again stop at the waters edge. As Putin and Xi see it, were already in the next world war, even if nobodys declared it yet or started shooting directly at the other side. The US, Europe and the wider West must support Africa  and indeed the whole Global South  not just now, but from now on. We have to make it easier for the world not just to stare down juntas, but to resist the dark side in geopolitics.



Andreas Kluth is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering US diplomacy, national security and geopolitics. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication.



Credit: Bloomberg
The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023 (2023 Bill) passed in the Lok Sabha and pending discussion in the Rajya Sabha can be termed the fifth iteration of the legislation. However, it bears several points of contention.



One striking inclusion is a clause allowing the government to block and remove access to content  an unexpected feature within a data protection legislation. This power stretches beyond the objective of personal data protection and was absent from the preceding four iterations, thus evading public consultation feedback.



This begs the question, how does a regulation for content blocking align with the Statement of Objects of a Data Protection Law? Can we manage two simultaneous frameworks for content blocking? And how should Parliament address this proposed provision?



An Unheard Of Data Protection Provision



Under Clause 37 of the 2023 Bill, the central government appropriates the authority to block and remove online content in cases where a data fiduciary, specifically an intermediary, breaches the law on more than one instance. The data protection board  an executive-led body outlined in the bill  can then advise the central government to restrict access to the platform's content.



Yet, given that the government already possesses blocking powers under Section 69-A of the Information Technology Act, one wonders why it seeks to duplicate this authority in another legislation. Such a provision is unheard of in the data protection law of any major democratic jurisdiction.



To clarify, lets envisage a situation where a social media intermediary repeatedly infringes upon Clause 9 (protection of childrens data), resulting in multiple fines. Once this has been established, and the board advises governmental intervention, the government can proceed to issue orders blocking access to the platforms content (text, images or video) to its subscribers.



Defined under the IT Act, an intermediary can be any platform serving as a conduit for receiving, storing or transferring information. This clause will impact not only platforms functioning on the content layer of the internet (social media, e-commerce) but also those operating on application and network layers.



Therefore, it will affect not only user-generated content platforms, but infrastructure providers as well, such as content delivery networks, cloud service providers and domain registrars. It could impact business to user services, as well as business to business services.



Given the structure of the internet, blocking imposed within its architectural hierarchy can unintentionally disrupt unrelated applications and services due to top-down interference with specific services and technologies. Moreover, content blocking has ramifications for businesses and users who could lose access to services vital to their livelihood, healthcare, education, etc.



Hence, even though it is the data fiduciary that might transgress, the presence of Clause 37 may inadvertently result in consequences for users and startups that are connected with such data fiduciaries.



Section 69A Vs Clause 37: Safeguards Missing



Content blocking is universally acknowledged as a delicate balance between security and free speech. Consequently, digital rights scholars underscore the necessity for more greater procedural safeguards under S.69-A of the IT Act and the ensuing Blocking Rules, which currently govern Indias content blocking framework.



Against this backdrop, the sudden introduction of an alternate blocking procedure under the data protection law raises concerns about further institutionalising content blocking  a move equally infeasible for fundamental rights and the digital economy.



The issue becomes more complex given that Section 69-A, even though lacks adequate checks and balances, offers some procedural safeguards under the Blocking Rules, such as a review committee and public availability of blocking orders (with exceptions).



However, Clause 37 of the 2023 Bill is devoid of even such basic protections. The clause dictates that the government must provide a hearing to the intermediary, but leaves questions regarding the qualifications of those conducting the hearing and whether the hearing process will be public, unanswered.



The Supreme Court of India, in the case of Shreya Singhal v. Union of India, validated the legality of Section 69-A, premising its judgement on the provision's inherent procedural safeguards (even though it is understood that within the Digital India Act, we need reforms around blocking procedures).



While this observation of the Court has been critiqued by several experts on the ground that the safeguards are replete with leakages, there is no doubt that the Apex Court also believes that the presence of procedural safeguards is imperative for the constitutional validity of any law which impinges upon Right to Free Speech under Article 19 of the Constitution. Therefore, can Clause 37, devoid of safeguards, pass the test of constitutionality?



Beware Of Excesses



The 2023 Bill, marking a significant step towards institutionalising data protection, calls for meticulous examination to prevent encroachment upon free speech and regulatory harmony. The introduction of Clause 37, with its prospective implications, starkly illustrates that while pursuing robust data protection, we must remain vigilant against unintentional fallouts from legislative overlaps and inconsistencies.



Excessive regulation and uncertainties surrounding compliance can impede business growth, which can impact the trillion-dollar digital economy objective.



Sectoral regulators can coordinate with the government and offer advice on critical matters. For instance, if the Data Protection Board discovers serious and repeated legal violations by a data fiduciary, it can communicate these to the government.



However, duplicating a provision on content blocking within an Act not intended for online content regulation seems unwise. As we anticipate the 2023 Bills discussion in Parliament, it's imperative that legislators reassess the feasibility of this provision and the final draft appropriately addresses these conflicts through diligent feedback assessment.



Shruti Shreya is Programme Manager, Platform Regulation, The Dialogue. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on August 8 said he has directed the CID to investigate the alleged complaint letter sent to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot by assistant agriculture directors of Mandya district accusing Agriculture Minister N Chaluvarayaswamy of demanding Rs 6 lakh to Rs 8 lakh as bribe.



Seven assistant agriculture directors allegedly wrote a letter to Gehlot recently complaining that the minister was exerting pressure on the officers and employees of the agriculture department through the joint director of agriculture to pay the bribe.







They even threatened to commit suicide with their families if such a "tradition" of demanding bribe is not controlled.







Accordingly, the Governor sent the letter to Chief Secretary Vandita Sharma to look into the complaint and initiate appropriate action.







While Siddaramaiah called it a fake letter and blamed the BJP and their 'brother', an apparent reference to the JD(S) leader and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, for "creating it", he told reporters on August 8 that he has ordered a probe.







With regard to the purported letter written by the agriculture officers against the agriculture minister, it has been decided to conduct a CID (Crime Investigation Department) inquiry. The chief minister decided to hand over the matter to the CID after discussing with Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara, the CM's office said in a statement.







Earlier, in the day, the chief minister told reporters that he had ordered a police inquiry.







"I have told the police to inquire into it. Chaluvarayaswamy has called it fake because the joint director of agriculture has also issued a statement that it is fake and complained to the police. I have told the police to investigate and find out the truth, Siddaramaiah said on the sidelines of an event.







After the Governor's letter became public, Siddaramaiah posted on Twitter, It has come out that the letter in circulation in public domain is fake. The Joint Agriculture Director has already clarified that no officers in the district have written such a letter. Stating that he will get the matter investigated, he wondered whether the BJP was behind it.







BJP leaders, are you the creator of such a fake letter spreading slander against the government or your brother? he tweeted further.







Meanwhile, Kumaraswamy hit out at the chief minister for "supporting" the minister in a series of tweets.







The shameless Chief Minister who justifies the disgraceful acts of the ministers, has descended upon the state. The 'Siddha Kale' (expert art) of justifying the extortion by the minister is disgusting and nauseating, the JD(S) second-in-command said.







He sought to know if the letter was fake, will the Governor's office "falsely" write to investigate it.







"Has the Governor responded to the false letter? Should the preachers of 'Rajadharma' suspect the sanctity of 'Raj Bhavan'? This is no compliment to the self-proclaimed pseudo-constitutional expert, Kumaraswamy said.







The BJP too lashed out at the Congress government in Karnataka.







The party state unit president Nalin Kumar Kateel tweeted, The people of the state now have a 'guarantee of corruption'. The 'High Command' has given a collection task to the 'ATM Sarkara'. The ministers are putting pressure on the officials. "Now it is Minister Chaluvarayaswamy's turn. Was it instructed in the high command meeting to collect using officials? Kateel sought to know.







He alleged that it has become the Congress strategy to call all the letters against them fake to mislead corruption cases.







Now, by calling the letter against Chaluvarayaswamy fake, this government is insulting the dignity of Raj Bhavan and the Governor's action, Kateel alleged. PTI GMS RS ANE




Congress leader and Wayanad MP Rahul is likely to open the debate from the opposition side when the Lok Sabha takes up discussion on the no-confidence motion against the government on August 8.



Sources in the Congress said Gandhi will open the discussion, while other leaders, such as Gaurav Gogoi, who moved the motion, will follow later. Starting August 8, the Lok Sabha is set to witness a fierce debate on the no-confidence motion against the BJP-led government.



The motion of no confidence moved by Gogoi, the Congress deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, has been listed as agenda item three in the List of Business. It will take place under the shadow of the ethnic violence in Manipur, which has led to repeated disruptions in both Houses of Parliament.



Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to reply to the debate on August 10. Congress leaders, including Manish Tewari and Depak Baij, are also likely to speak during the debate.



"The numbers are comfortably stacked in favour of the government and the opposition is expected to utilise the opportunity to demonstrate its newly firmed-up unity to take on the Modi-led BJP in the Lok Sabha elections next year. Jaroor bolenge (definitely, he will speak), Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge told reporters on August 7, on being asked if Gandhi would speak on the no-trust motion.



Over four months after he was disqualified, Gandhi returned to the Lok Sabha on August 7 with his membership of the Lower House restored in the wake of the Supreme Court staying his conviction in a criminal defamation case.
Pakistan's jailed former premier Imran Khan on August 8 challenged his conviction in the Toshakhana corruption case by a trial court, saying the verdict by a "biased" judge was a "slap in the face due process and fair trial" and "a gross travesty of justice".



Khan, 70, was arrested on August 6 shortly after an Islamabad trial court found him guilty of "corrupt practices" in the Toshakhana case and sentenced him to three years in jail. Khan is currently lodged in the Attock Jail.







Khan has appealed his conviction and the three-year prison sentence in the case by filing a plea through his lawyers  Khawaja Haris and Gohar Ali Khan  at the Islamabad High Court (IHC).







He said that the trial judge made the conclusions on the basis of a "predisposed mind" instead of merit of the case because the petitioner's lawyer was not given the right of presenting arguments.







Khan's plea stated that the judgment passed by the trial court judge was "tainted with bias, is a nullity in the eye of the law and is liable to be set aside.







It said the order was issued without providing the petitioner with a chance to fight his case and alleged that Additional District and Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar had refused to hear the arguments of Haris, Imrans counsel in the Toshakhana case, on the pretext that he was late  which the plea claimed was because he was filing other applications with the Supreme Court and Islamabad High Court.







Thus, the petition said, the verdict of the trial court was a slap in the face due process and fair trial and a gross travesty of justice.







"The impugned judgment was announced despite the fact that before commencement counsel for the appellant was very much in court fully prepared to address arguments after explaining the reasons for the delay in arriving in court, but the trial judge, who throughout the proceedings had been exhibiting his extreme bias towards the appellant and his counsel, and constantly using disparaging remarks against them, even in their absence, was bent on carrying out a well-orchestrated plan, it read.







He accused that the judgment given at the conclusion of hearing had already been prepared and written, which is why a 35-page verdict was issued within 30 minutes of the announcement of the decision through a short order.







The plea named the district election commissioner of Islamabad as the respondent in the case.







Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf announced on WhatsApp group of foreign media journalists that the court accepted the petition and fixed it for hearing on Wednesday.







Separately, the IHC granted permission to Khans lawyers to meet him in jail as the court took up a petition filed by the party seeking A-Class facilities for the ex-premier.







Later, the court asked Khan's party to provide names of two lawyers who should meet Khan in prison.







Khan was convicted in the case filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) last year after it had disqualified him for not showing the money he received after selling the gifts he purchased at a discounted price from Toshakhana.







The Toshakhana case says that Khan 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).







This is the second time in three months that Khan has been arrested.







Khan was arrested on May 9 in Islamabad from the high courts premises in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case, sparking violent protests by his supporters.







Khan faces more than 140 cases across the country and charges like terrorism, violence, blasphemy, corruption and murder. PTI SH/AMS AKJ ZH ZH ZH




Congress leader and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi will visit Wayanad from August 12-13, making it his first trip to his constituency after being reinstated as a member of Parliament, party general secretary KC Venugopal said on August 8. Gandhi was reinstated as MP by the Lok Sabha secretariat on August 7, days after the Supreme Court stayed his conviction in a criminal defamation case. "On 12-13 August, Sh. @RahulGandhi ji will be in his constituency Wayanad! On 12-13 August, Sh. @RahulGandhi ji will be in his constituency Wayanad! The people of Wayanad are elated that democracy has won, their voice has returned to Parliament! Rahul ji is not just an MP but a member of their family! Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said in a tweet. Gandhi was disqualified as Lok Sabha MP on March 24 after the metropolitan court in Surat in Gujarat sentenced him to two years in jail in the case a day earlier. On July 7, the Gujarat High Court dismissed his plea seeking a stay on the conviction, after which he approached the apex court on July 15. The Supreme Court, on August 4, put a stay on the Gujarat High Court's order convicting him of criminal defamation over his "Modi surname" remark.

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India's largest passenger vehicle maker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) has announced that Japan's Suzuki Motor Corporation's (SMC) stake in the company will increase by about 1.8 percent, after the sale of the Gujarat plant.



MSI Chairman R.C. Bhargava, told reporters at a press conference, "Suzuki Motor's stake is likely to increase to 58.28 percent from 56.48 percent currently. Around 4 percent shares will be diluted basis the June 30 valuation. Having said that, the exact stake dilution will only be known once the AGM date is finalised.



The board of Maruti Suzuki India (MSI), in its meeting held on 8 August, has cleared the way for the passenger vehicle market leader to acquire a 100 percent stake of Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) in Suzuki Motor Gujarat (SMG) at a price to be determined in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. The board has also approved the termination of the contract manufacturing agreement with SMG.



The equity deal once complete will make SMG a wholly-owned subsidiary of Maruti Suzuki India.



The company's board, in its meeting held on the same day, evaluated two options for acquiring the SMC equity in SMG. The board discussed payment in cash or issue of MSI shares on a preferential allotment basis.



The impact of both options on the profitability of MSI, the earnings per share and the dividend payment to shareholders was considered for each year up to 2031. After going through the data, the board concluded that the option of acquiring SMG shares by issue of MSI shares to SMC would clearly be beneficial to both minority shareholders as well as the company, Maruti Suzuki said in its filing to the stock exchanges.



ALSO READ: Maruti goes downhill on muted Q1 earnings, worries over Gujarat unit deal



The board also approved seeking of minority shareholders' approval at the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) to be held later or through postal ballot for issue of shares on preferential basis to SMC.



"The total number of securities proposed to be issued to SMC as consideration for the acquisition of 100 percent stake of SMC in SMG, shall be decided in a subsequent Board Meeting, basis relevant valuation reports," the filing said.



The details in relation to the subscription, including the issue price for the securities and the post-allotment holding of the investors are yet to be decided.



On July 31, MSI announced that it will acquire the Gujarat-based production facility of its parent firm Suzuki Motor Corporation to reduce complexity and bring all manufacturing-related activities in the country under one entity. A fully-owned subsidiary of SMC, SMG supplies its entire vehicle output exclusively to Maruti Suzuki India.



SMG, which was incorporated in 2014, currently has a production facility in Gujarat with an installed capacity of 7.5 lakh units per annum. Initially, the Gujarat plant was proposed to be owned by MSI but the plan was changed later with SMC announcing that it would invest US$ 488 million to build the plant. The plan was opposed by the institutional investors forcing the company to seek minority shareholders approval on the matter.



Maruti Suzuki's stock closed at Rs 9,536.20 on BSE, up 0.22 percent from the previous close.
Google has silently updated Search with a new grammar check tool that will check whether, "a phrase or sentence is written in a grammatically correct way or how to correct it, if not".



To use it, simply type in a phrase or a sentence in the Search box and add "grammar check", "check grammar" or "grammar checker" at the end.



Also read | 'No commute, extra sleep': Google lures staff back to office with on-site hotel.



Google says that, "You're likely to get a grammar check result when you include "grammar check" in your search or if Search understands that "you want a grammar check".



The feature is limited to English for now. Google also points out that it uses AI systems to check grammar and it "might not be 100% accurate, especially with partial sentences".



When it works, a Grammar Check card will show up below the search box, with the sentence corrected for any mistakes.







If you hover over the corrected text, Google gives an option to copy it, so you can paste it in the Search box. If you feel like the result is not what you expected, you can click on "Feedback" in the bottom right and tell Google the problem.



Also read | Trade body representing Big Tech concerned with removal of deemed consent from data protection bill



As reported by 9to5Google, while Google didn't officially announce the feature, it has had a support page up since late last month. A Google spokesperson confirmed to The Verge that the feature was rolled out at the end of June.
The Norwegian Data Protection Authority (Datatilsynet) said that Meta Platforms, the owner of Facebook, will face a daily fine of 1 million crowns ($98,500) starting from August 14 due to privacy breaches. This significant penalty could set a precedent with potential implications for other European countries as well.



On July 17, Datatilsynet warned Meta Platforms that it would face fines unless it resolved the privacy breaches identified by the regulator.



Datatilsynet had instructed Meta Platforms not to collect user data in Norway, including users' physical locations, for targeted advertising purposes known as behavioural advertising. This practice is common among Big Tech companies.



Meta Platforms was given time until August 4 to demonstrate to the regulator that they had resolved this issue.



As of next Monday, a daily fine of 1 million crowns will be imposed on Meta Platforms, according to Tobias Judin, Head of Datatilsynet's international section.



The imposed fine will be effective until November 3 after which Datatilsynet can potentially make it permanent by referring the decision to the European Data Protection Board, which holds the authority to endorse the Norwegian regulator's ruling. If approved, this decision could extend its impact to the entire European region. As of now, Datatilsynet has not taken this step.



Recently, Meta announced its intention to seek consent from users in the European Union before enabling businesses to use targeted advertising based on their interactions with its services like Facebook and Instagram.



Judin emphasised that Meta's proposed step of seeking user consent was insufficient. He insisted that Meta must halt the processing of personal data immediately and not resume it until the consent mechanism was fully functional and operational.



"According to Meta, this will take several months, at the very earliest, for them to implement. And we don't know what the consent mechanism will look like," Judin said. "And in the (meantime), peoples' rights are being violated, every single day."



Meta explained that the modification in their approach was prompted by regulatory obligations in the European region, which originated from an order issued in January by Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner. The Irish authority, acting as Meta's lead regulator within the EU, directed the company to review the legal foundation of its ad targeting practices.



It is worth noting that Norway, although not an EU member, is still a participant in the European single market.
A 16-year-old Indian-origin girl living in the United States raised Rs 8.27 lakh for the victims of the Balasore train accident, that happened in June.



The amount will be sent to the victims wired via the PM Cares Fund and the girl-Tanishka Dhariwal- presented the money to the Counsel General of India in New York Randhir Jaiswal.



"I got to know about the train tragedy that occurred in Balasore, Odisha. With my parent's support, I was able to start a GoFundMe page. I reached out to schools, friends and family and raised over 10,000 dollars. Hopefully, this money will be able to go and help the people who have been affected by this. I believe a little goes a long way and hopefully, this is a good start to it," Dhariwal told ANI.



#WATCH | New York, US | 16-year-old Indian American Tanishka Dhariwal raised more than 10,000 dollars, a contribution towards helping those affected by the horrific train accident in Odisha

"I got to know about the train tragedy that occurred in Balasore, Odisha. With my pic.twitter.com/SYERRx6j9g



 ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2023



#WATCH | Prem Bhandari, President of RANA and Founding Chair of Jaipur Foot USA, says "We will hand over this 10,000 dollar cheque to the Indian Consulate which will be wired to the PM CARES Fund. Over the course of the past decade, India's outreach has extended to more than 100 pic.twitter.com/lOwBSeybcJ

 ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2023

The girl was accompanied by her parents when she handed over the funds.



"We will hand over this cheque to the Indian Consulate which will be wired to the PM CARES Fund. Over the course of the past decade, India's outreach has extended to more than 100 nations, culminating in aid exceeding $25 billion" Founding Chair of Jaipur Foot USA Prem Bhandari said.



As per reports, 295 people died in the train accident that involved the Coromandel Express, a stationary goods train and Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express.
It was a miracle when a 20-year-old woman survived after falling from a seven-storey building in Melbourne.



However, according to News.com.au, she is in a critical condition. Tominey Reid is fighting for her life at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne.



The incident happened in the wee hours of the night and Reid had plunged approximately 21 metres to the ground, her parents told the news outlet.



As per News.com.au, the 20-year-old has already gone through several life-saving surgeries. Her doctors are calling her survival a miracle, the parents told the news outlet. But, her recovery will be long and challenging, according to them.



"After the longest week of lifesaving surgeries she has miraculously defied the odds and still with us," Reids father Brad wrote on Facebook on Saturday. "She has the biggest fight ahead of her but is one of the strongest people I know and is ready for this fight! T-Bomb will come out of this stronger than ever!" he wrote further.



Reids aunt, Kirstin Small, has also created a GoFundMe page for her. The family has managed to raise $43,500 (approximately Rs 36,02,213) out of their goal of $50,000 (Rs 41,39,500)



"The Miracle of Survival, Against all odds - she survived. Tom is critically ill in the Intensive Care Unit at the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne. Tominey truly is the definition of a survivor & every person from the first responders to all the hospital staff has called it a miracle. It is a miracle and we are so thankful," the description on the page said.
A 28-year-old meter reader from the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) was brutally assaulted by a consumer, reportedly resulting in a broken tooth and multiple injuries. The attack came after a customer's outrage over a high electricity bill under the recently launched Gruha Jyothi scheme.



The victim, identified as Nagaraj Naik, a meter reader attached to the E9 sub-division in Nagawara, became the target of a resident's fury  his anger on the electricity company displaced on the unsuspecting employee, The Times of India reported.



The altercation unfolded on August 4 at around 11:30 am, when Naik visited the residence of Shamshad Khan, a 35-year-old resident of Govindapura in north Bengaluru. Naik's responsibility was to issue electricity bills for the area's consumers, and he handed Khan a bill amounting to Rs 4,026, including arrears.



However, the situation quickly escalated as Khan vehemently contested the bill's amount, claiming that it was "3-4 times of what it used to be earlier."



In an interview with The Times of India, Naik recounted the harrowing experience: "Khan was not ready to listen to me and continued arguing. I ignored him and went to neighboring houses. I was four houses away from Khan's when he approached me and began speaking to me casually. I again told him to visit the Bescom office in Nagawara to get his concern addressed. Out of the blue, he started punching me in the face."



The assault left Naik with a broken tooth and other injuries, prompting him to seek refuge near a nearby godown. However, Khan relentlessly pursued him and continued the assault.



Naik managed to alert his senior officials, who rushed to the scene and eventually transported him to a hospital for medical attention. Subsequently, Naik filed a complaint with the police, leading to Khan's arrest on assault charges.



Khan confessed to the police that the altercation stemmed from his dissatisfaction with the bill amount following the replacement of his old meter with a digital version by Bescom.



The Gruha Jyothi scheme aims to provide affordable and accessible power to residents. Bescom has undergone a major transformation in recent times, transitioning from traditional meters to digital ones.
An actor from the UK recently stirred emotions on social media with her tearful photo following a sparsely attended performance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where she was performing a one-woman show. The next day, her show Sunsets was near-house full.



Georgie Griers viral post with over 14.5 million views read, There was one person in my audience today when I performed my one-woman play, Sunsets at #edfringe. It's fine, isn't it? It's fine? The outpouring of sympathy was immediate, with fellow performers and well-known artistes reaching out to her.



There was one person in my audience today when I performed my one woman play, Sunsets at #edfringe. Its fine, isnt it? Its fine? pic.twitter.com/D0lfAsMMz0

 Georgie Grier (@georgie_grier) August 3, 2023

However, new revelations show that Grier had shared a strikingly similar tweet in 2022  that didnt go viral quite like this - leaving many wondering if this was a genuine plea or a calculated PR move.



Sharing a photo of her flyers from last year, she had written, Just had a cry because the only people who turned up to my first show were my parents. But when I had said cry in the bathroom, some other lovely Fringe performers gave me words of encouragement. And I guess two people is better than none? #EdinburghFringe."



Just had a cry because the only people who turned up to my first show were my parents. But when I had said cry in the bathroom, some other lovely Fringe performers gave me words of encouragement. And I guess two people is better than none? #EdinburghFringe pic.twitter.com/g5nhU8P6gi

 Georgie Grier (@georgie_grier) August 15, 2022

While some critics accused her of orchestrating a stunt, others expressed admiration for her audacity in attempting such a gambit more than once. Grier vehemently denies such allegations.



In response to the sudden wave of attention, Grier expressed her genuine surprise and gratitude. I didn't want to call my mum crying. I thought the hashtag Ed Fringe community on social media has been a really supportive place. I just wanted someone to vent to who wasn't my mum," she wrote on X, formerly Twitter.



"In that moment I had tears in my eyes, I wasn't thinking anything further than needing a bit of a release and not having to bother my mum, my dad and my sister, she explained.
July was the hottest month ever recorded on Earth, the European Union's climate observatory confirmed Tuesday, warning of dire consequences.



Marked by heatwaves and fires all around the world, the previous month was 0.33 degrees Celsius higher than the record set in July 2019 when the average temperature was 16.63C (32 Fahrenheit), it said.



"It has not been this warm, combining observational records and paleoclimate records, for the last 120,000 years," said Samantha Burgess, Deputy Director of the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service.



"The global average temperature for July 2023 is confirmed to be the highest on record for any month -- the month is estimated to have been around 1.5 degrees warmer than the average for 1850 to 1900," said Burgess.



The service stated that this July was 0.72C warmer than the 1991-2020 average for the month. About 1.2 degrees Celsius of global warming since the late 1800s, driven by the burning of fossil fuels, has made heatwaves hotter, longer and more frequent, as well as intensifying other weather extremes like storms and floods.



"Heatwaves were experienced in multiple regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including southern Europe. Well-above average temperatures occurred over several South American countries and around much of Antarctica," according to the observatory.



Scientists had warned that July could hit a new record.



The world's oceans also set a new temperature record, raising concerns about knock-on effects on the planet's climate, marine life and coastal communities.



The temperature of the oceans' surface rose to 20.96 degrees Celsius (69.7 degrees Fahrenheit) on July 30, according to European Union climate observatory data. The previous record was 20.95C in March 2016, a spokeswoman for Copernicus Climate Change Service earlier told AFP.



"We just witnessed global air temperatures and global ocean surface temperatures set new all-time records in July. These records have dire consequences for both people and the planet exposed to ever more frequent and intense extreme events," said Burgess.



2023 is currently the third warmest year to date at 0.43C above the recent average, with the average global temperature in July at 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.



"Even if this is only temporary, it shows the urgency for ambitious efforts to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, which are the main driver behind these records," she said.



(With inputs from AFP)



Read more: Hailstorms out, heatwave in: What to do about Indias climate change problem
Photographer Bryan Randall, the long-time partner of Hollywood actor Sandra Bullock, died on Saturday at the age of 57, following an arduous three-year struggle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder.



"It is with great sadness that we share that on August 5th Bryan Randall passed away peacefully after a 3-year battle with ALS," expressed Bullock and the bereaved family in a statement tendered to The New York Post on Monday.



The family further shared, "Bryan chose early to keep his journey with ALS private and those of us who cared for him did our best to honor his request. We are immensely grateful to the tireless doctors who navigated the landscape of this illness with us and to the astounding nurses who became our roommates, often sacrificing their own families to be with ours."



The family requested privacy as they cope with the loss.



Randall and Bullock first met in 2015 and he photographed the Oscar winners son, Louis, at a birthday celebration. Bullock described Randall as "the love of my life," on a talk show and spoke of their relationship, stating, "I don't want to say do it how I do it, but I don't need a paper to be a devoted partner and a devoted mother."















View this post on Instagram



A post shared by Sandra Bullock (@sandra.bullock.official)









Bullock has two adopted children and Randall is survived by his biological daughter. The couple co-parented the three children.



Randalls photography focused on children's portraits, outdoor vistas, high-fashion modeling, even gracing the pages of Vogue Paris.



What is ALS?



ALS, also known as Lou Gehrigs disease, is an affliction that attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, progressively robbing individuals of basic daily bodily abilities. The average lifespan for ALS patients is brief, usually ranging from two to five years from diagnosis.



Symptoms



The neurological disorder that primarily targets motor neurons, leading to muscle weakness, atrophy, and eventual paralysis. Its symptoms often begin subtly, with patients experiencing muscle twitching, cramps, and gradual loss of motor control.



As the disease progresses, individuals may face difficulties in speech, swallowing, and even breathing, ultimately leading to severe disability and shortened life expectancy.



Cause



While the exact cause of ALS remains elusive, a combination of genetic and environmental factors is believed to play a role in its development. Around 5-10% of cases are considered familial, resulting from specific genetic mutations, while the majority are considered sporadic, with no clear genetic predisposition.



Researchers are actively investigating the interplay between genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors to better understand the disease's origin.



Treatment and cure



ALS has long been a challenging condition to manage, but recent developments are offering some treatment like stem cell therapy, gene therapy among others.



A definitive cure for ALS still remains a long-term goal.
Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on August 8 briefed the Cabinet on intelligence reports warning of attempts by certain groups to create public unrest of the type that had happened on May 9 last year. The Cabinet spokesman and minister Bandula Gunawardena said the water crisis for cultivation caused by the ongoing drought was used by opposition groups to create problems in the cash-strapped country. The farmers in the southwestern region of Udawalawe have been protesting for weeks demanding water for cultivation from the Samanalawewa reservoir  a dedicated reservoir to produce hydropower. The officials have been reluctant to release water from the reservoir, saying it could cause daily electricity cuts. There were attempts to surround the house of Agricultural Minister Mahinda Amaraweera while special protection had to be provided to the house of Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara," Gunawardena said. Gunawardena said the intelligence reports suggested that at least two media institutions were behind the move to incite street violence using the drought-induced water crisis. They had planned to organise May 9-like street protests with agitated farmers, causing a gunfire retaliation from the law enforcement and then using dead bodies to meet political ends," Gunawardena said. In the May 9 incident last year, the then prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa was forced to resign as violence erupted across the island nation after government supporters attacked peaceful protesters agitating over the then governments inability to tackle the economic crisis which caused severe public hardships. The farmer agitation ended on August 8 morning with the cabinet decision to release the Samanalawewa hydropower reservoir water for farming purposes. The energy minister informed Parliament on August 8 the state power entity would be forced to make emergency power supplies at a higher cost to ensure uninterrupted power supplies. PTI CORR PY AKJ PY PY

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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is likely to step down on August 9 as the coalition government led by him is all set to dissolve Pakistan's National Assembly prematurely to get extra time for holding the general elections scheduled for later this year.



The five-year tenure of the lower house of the Parliament is ending on August 12 but it is likely to be dissolved on August 9 by Prime Minister Sharif who will send an advice to President Arif Alvi, a former leader of Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party. In case the president dithers, the assembly would be dissolved within 48 hours of advice given by the premier.







In an indication that Sharif would relinquish premiership, he made a farewell visit to the General Headquarters of the Pakistan Army in Rawalpindi.







Prime Minister Sharif paid his farewell visit to the General Headquarters (GHQ) on Tuesday, marking an important moment in his tenure as the head of the government, The Express Tribune newspaper reported.







The prime minister was warmly welcomed by Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir as the visit was replete with moving ceremonies and tributes to the nation's fallen heroes.







The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led coalition government would have liked to remain in power for a couple of more days and dissolved the Parliament on August 11 but it has a hunch that President Alvi might refuse to issue a notification immediately for the dissolution, political observers opine.







That is why the advice for dissolution is being given three days before the end of the assembly so that even if the president refuses to oblige the prime minister, the assembly would be dissolved before the end of its term, giving the Election Commission of Pakistan 90 days for elections.







In case the assembly completes its constitutional term, the ECP is bound to hold an election within 60 days. But even 90 days may not be enough for election as the new census has been endorsed by the Council of Common Interests, a constitutional body tasked to address issues involving the federating units, and after its approval, it is incumbent on the ECP to hold elections according to it.







Any new census entails a new delimitation exercise for which the ECP gets 120 days as per law. Once it completes the exercise, the process of elections would start, meaning that the polls would be delayed by a few months.







Meanwhile, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said that there is a possibility of a delay in holding the next general elections.







In an interview with Geo News on Tuesday, the minister said 2023 is not the election year.







"It is an absolutely straightforward answer  no," Sanaullah said when asked if 2023 was the year when elections would be held.







He reiterated that as per the Constitution, another general election could not be held on the 2017 census results as they had been accepted provisionally for a single time.







Emphasising that it was required by the Constitution to carry out the delimitation process after a census was notified, Sanaullah said, The caretaker government, while fulfilling this constitutional requirement, will carry out the delimitation process. The minister noted that the process takes around 120 days so there was nothing about the elections being delayed by many months. As soon as this constitutional requirement of delimitation is completed, then after that, God-willing, elections will be held, he said.







Though the government is set to dissolve the assembly and allow delay in elections, the name of the caretaker prime minister has not been revealed as yet. But the government and allies are reportedly discussing names.







Talking about the candidate under consideration for the role of the caretaker prime minister, Sanaullah said they are all respected names and discussions were underway.







No name has been locked till now. Even if it is [decided], till today (Tuesday) evening or tomorrow (Wednesday) there are more chances that it will be locked tomorrow, he said.







Constitutionally, the incumbent prime minister would carry on until the caretaker is agreed. PTI SH SCY ZH AKJ ZH ZH




Attendees learn about the Enhanced Air and Missile Defense system during a Missile Defense Agency open house public scoping meeting at the Hagat Community Center on Friday. U.S. Army Soldiers supporting the system may be housed at the Guam National Guard's headquarters.
The search for a 50-year-old man who was reported to be a distressed swimmer on Sunday afternoon at Tanguisson Beach continued into Monday.
(Reuters)  U.S. prosecutors flagged a threatening social media post from Donald Trump in a late-night court filing on Friday, arguing that it
Kenneth Polite, Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justices Criminal Division, discusses the arrest of the majority shareholder and cofounder of Hong Kong-registered virtual currency exchange Bitzlato Ltd for allegedly processing hundreds of million of dollars in illicit funds, during a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington, U.S., January 18, 2023. REUTERS/Daphne Psaledakis/File Photo
Julie Su appears before a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing on her nomination to be Labor Secretary, on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., April 20, 2023. REUTERS/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/File Photo
The seal of the Office of the Attorney General of Guam is shown May 4, 2023, at the ITC Building in Tamuning.
Reporter

Andrew Roberto was raised his whole life on Saipan. He graduated from Saipan Southern High School, holds a degree from Northern Marianas College, and a BA in English from the University of Guam. He once worked for KUAM, UNO Magazine, and the Guam Daily Post.
Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Organizational Development with the Guam Regional Medical City and Director for the Pacific State Council Charlotte Huntsman, right, standing, was one of the presenters at the training conducted by the CNMI Small Business Development Center at Northern Marianas College.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, ARMENPRESS. Former Mayor of Yerevan Hayk Marutyan has announced that he will run again for mayor.

Citizens of Yerevan will head to the polls on September 17 to elect a City Council, which will then elect a mayor.

Marutyan served as Mayor of Yerevan from 2018 until 2021, when he lost a no-confidence vote.

The actor-turned-politician announced his re-election bid in a video message released Tuesday.

6 political parties have announced participation in the upcoming election. The ruling Civil Contract partys candidate in the upcoming polls is Deputy Mayor Tigran Avinyan.

Viktor Mnatsakanyan, a former city official who oversaw the Kentron administrative district, is also running for mayor.

Other candidates include Mane Tandilyan from the Aprelu Yerkir party, MP Andranik Tevanyan from the Mother Armenia movement, Natalya Arzakantsyan and city councillor Davit Khajakyan.
YEREVAN, 8 AUGUST, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 8 August, USD exchange rate up by 0.37 drams to 386.46 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.33 drams to 423.29 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.03 drams to 4.03 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 0.09 drams to 491.54 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 110.46 drams to 24001.33 drams. Silver price down by 0.41 drams to 290.68 drams.
Sonora City Council View Photo

Sonora, CA  With a 3-2 vote, the Sonora City Council voted to raise the pay for the mayor and council members.

Effective next July, the Mayor will receive $262 per month and the council will receive $218. It is up from the current $150 for the mayor and $125 for council members.

Mayor Mark Plummer and Councilmember Suzanne Cruz were opposed. Plummer referenced the passage of the recent sales tax increase, noting, The optics of it are awful (pay raise). We have the public trust, and they trusted us at nearly two-thirds, to manage their money wisely, and increase personal taxes to save the city.

Councilmember Cruz stressed how the councils role is public service.

Vice Mayor Ann Segerstrom, and council members Matt Hawkins and Andy Merrill were in favor. They spoke about the need to attract more people to run for office, so that it is not just a job for retired members of the community. Hawkins noted that he and Plummer will not receive the raise, because they are not running for re-election. He noted that council members have the option of declining the stipend entirely or donating the money to community organizations. Vice Mayor Segerstrom added that young people, cant even afford a babysitter at the current rate.

The city council last adjusted pay in 2009, nearly cutting it in half at the time, and doing away with council member health benefits, during the recession. The council members still do not receive any city benefits in addition to the stipend.

The pay increase will take effect for all members of the council beginning on July 1st.
Australian police charge 19 men with child sex abuse after FBI tips about dark web sharing View Photo

BRISBANE, Australia (AP)  Police have charged 19 men in Australia with child sex abuse offenses and rescued 13 children from further harm following tips from the American FBI of an international online criminal network, officials said Tuesday.

Two of the 19 men already were convicted and sentenced to prison terms of almost 15 years in the Australian Capital Territory and five years in New South Wales state, Australian Federal Police Commander Helen Schneider said.

We will allege that these men were members of a technologically sophisticated online child abuse network that was operating across the country, Schneider told reporters.

The 19 had been charged with a total 138 offenses related to peer-to-peer sharing of video and images on the dark web. Most were information technology professionals with a high degree of technical competence, she said.

The men, aged 32 to 81, allegedly used software to anonymously share files, chat on message boards and access websites within the network.

Schneider said 13 children in Australia had been rescued as a result of the investigation. Police did not detail their circumstances.

The FBI alerted Australian authorities to the networks existence last year.

Australia-based FBI legal attache Nitiana Mann said 79 people had been arrested in the United States as part of the same investigation and 43 had been convicted of child abuse offenses.

Mann said the FBI had alerted other countries to suspects within their jurisdictions but did not name those countries.
A longshot Republican is entering the US Senate race in Wisconsin against Sen. Tammy Baldwin

A longshot Republican is entering the US Senate race in Wisconsin against Sen. Tammy Baldwin View Photo

MADISON, Wis. (AP)  A longshot candidate for U.S. Senate in Wisconsin who has never run for office in the state before plans to launch her candidacy Tuesday, becoming the first Republican to officially get in the race against Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin.

Rejani Raveendran, a 40-year-old college student and chair of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point College Republicans, planned to announce her candidacy for the 2024 election at an evening event in Stevens Point, according to her campaign.

Several other higher-profile Republicans have decided against taking on Baldwin as she seeks a third term in a presidential election year. U.S. Reps. Mike Gallagher and Tom Tiffany have both opted against a run. Other Republicans considering getting in the race include Madison businessman and 2012 Senate candidate Eric Hovde, Franklin businessman Scott Mayer and former Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke.

Raveendran declined to comment ahead of the campaign launch event to The Associated Press. But in a flyer detailing her candidacy, provided by her campaign, Raveendran said that she decided to run because she felt the political system needed new people with new ideas.

Raveendran said she is a single mother with three children and is running to bring the perspective of regular people and regular moms to Washington, according to her campaign material. She said that she was motivated to run for the Senate after visiting Washington earlier this spring.

Raveendrans campaign flyer said if elected she will push for eliminating illegal immigration, fight against the woke agenda and preserve the innocence of our children, end the war in Ukraine and push for congressional term limits.

Raveendran plans to graduate with a bachelors degree in political science and a certificate in international relations next year.

She immigrated to the United States in 2011 from India where she was a nurse and midwife. She became a U.S. citizen in 2015 and lived in California before moving to Wisconsin in 2017.

Raveendran told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that she supported former President Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020 and is supporting him again in 2024.

By SCOTT BAUER

Associated Press
Supreme Court reinstates regulation of ghost guns, firearms without serial numbers View Photo

WASHINGTON (AP)  The Supreme Court is reinstating a regulation aimed at reining in the proliferation of ghost guns, firearms without serial numbers that have been turning up at crime scenes across the nation in increasing numbers.

The court on Tuesday voted 5-4 to put on hold a ruling from a federal judge in Texas that invalidated the Biden administrations regulation of ghost gun kits. The regulation will be in effect while the administration appeals the ruling to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans  and potentially the Supreme Court.

Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined with the courts three liberal members to form the majority. Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Clarence Thomas would have kept the regulation on hold during the appeals process. Neither side provided an explanation.

The Justice Department had told the court that local law enforcement agencies seized more than 19,000 ghost guns at crime scenes in 2021, a more than tenfold increase in just five years.

The public-safety interests in reversing the flow of ghost guns to dangerous and otherwise prohibited persons easily outweighs the minor costs that respondents will incur, Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, the administrations top Supreme Court lawyer, wrote in a court filing.

The new rule was issued last year and changed the definition of a firearm under federal law to include unfinished parts, like the frame of a handgun or the receiver of a long gun, so they can be tracked more easily. Those parts must be licensed and include serial numbers. Manufacturers must also run background checks before a sale  as they do with other commercially made firearms. The requirement applies regardless of how the firearm was made, meaning it includes ghost guns made from individual parts or kits or by 3D printers.

The rule does not prohibit people from purchasing a kit or any type of firearm.

U.S. District Judge Reed OConnor, in Fort Worth, Texas, struck down the rule in late June, concluding that it exceeded the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives authority. OConnor wrote that the definition of a firearm in federal law does not cover all the parts of a gun. Congress could change the law, he wrote.

Lawyers for individuals, businesses and advocacy groups challenging the rule told the Supreme Court that OConnor was right and that the ATF had departed from more than 50 years of regulatory practice in expanding the definition of a firearm.

Were deeply disappointed that the Court pressed pause on our defeat of ATFs rule effectively redefining firearm and frame or receiver under federal law, Cody J. Wisniewski, general counsel of the Firearms Policy Coalition Action Foundation, said in a statement. Regardless of todays decision, were still confident that we will yet again defeat ATF and its unlawful rule at the Fifth Circuit when that Court has the opportunity to review the full merits of our case.

The Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, which has long supported regulation of ghost guns, praised the Supreme Courts action. The challenged rule simply requires that ghost gun kits are regulated like the guns that they are. It will save lives, David Pucino, the groups deputy chief counsel, said in a statement.

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Follow the APs coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court at https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court.

By MARK SHERMAN

Associated Press
Ukraine accuses Russia of targeting rescue workers with consecutive missile strikes View Photo

KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Ukrainian officials on Tuesday accused the Kremlins forces of targeting rescue workers by hitting residential buildings with two consecutive missiles  the first one to draw crews to the scene and the second one to wound or kill them.

The strikes Monday evening in the downtown district of the city of Pokrovsk killed nine people and wounded more than 80 others, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly address. According to Ukrainian authorities, one of those killed was an emergency official, and most of those wounded were police officers, emergency workers and soldiers who rushed to assist residents.

The Russian missiles slammed into the center of Pokrovsk in the eastern Donetsk region, which is partially occupied by Russia. Emergency crews were still removing rubble on Tuesday. The Iskander missiles, which have an advanced guidance system that increases their accuracy, hit within 40 minutes of each other, according to Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said.

Since the start of the war, Russia has used artillery and missiles to hit targets and then struck the exact same spot around 30 minutes later, often hitting emergency teams responding to the first blast. The tactic is called a double tap in military jargon. Russians used the same method in Syrias civil war.

All of (the police) were there because they were needed, putting their efforts into rescuing people after the first strike, Ivan Vyhivskyi, chief of Ukraines National Police, said Tuesday. They knew that under the rubble were the injured  they needed to react, to dig, to retrieve, to save. And the enemy deliberately struck the second time.

Russias Ministry of Defense claimed it hit a Ukrainian army command post in Pokrovsk. Neither sides claims could be independently verified.

Among those injured was Volodymyr Nikulin, a police officer originally from the now Russian-occupied port city of Mariupol.

Arriving at the scene after the first missile strike, Nikulin was wounded in the second strike when shrapnel pierced his left lung and left hand.

Today is not my happy day because Russian criminals committed another awful crime in Pokrovsk, he said in a video he sent to The Associated Press from a hospital ward.

In the video, he is seen lying on a bed shirtless, with dried blood on his side and covering his left hand. He moves with pain to show his wounds.

Pointing his camera to show other wounded security forces in the ward, he says: Look, these are Ukrainian heroes who helped (injured) people.

He told the National Police in a video that he feared a second strike but went to help anyway.

There were so many injured at the hospital that Nikulin was still waiting for surgery on Tuesday morning. He was later transported to a hospital in Dnipro, where he was to have the shrapnel removed.

Nikulin had already witnessed some of the wars horrors. He helped an AP team escape after Russian troops that besieged Mariupol entered the downtown area and searched for them.

He was featured in the award-winning documentary 20 Days in Mariupol, a joint project between The Associated Press and PBS Frontline about the earliest phase of the invasion of Mariupol.

In a statement, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine, Denise Brown, described the latest attack as absolutely ruthless and said it was a serious breach of international law and violated any principle of humanity.

Since the beginning of Russias invasion in February 2022, 78 employees of Ukraines State Emergency Service have been killed and 280 have been wounded while responding to Russian missile strikes, according to agency spokesperson Col. Oleksandr Khorunzhyi.

Ukrainian officials say rescuers are protected by international conventions as they are providing humanitarian assistance and are not engaged in combat operations.

The head of the Pokrovsk city administration, Serhii Dobriak, described the attacks as a typical Russian scenario, with 30 to 40 minutes between missiles.

When rescuers come to save peoples lives, another rocket arrives. And the number of casualties increases, he said in a video comment to local media.

Kyrylenko, the regional governor, said that 12 multistory buildings were damaged in Pokrovsk, as well as a hotel, a pharmacy, two stores and two cafes.

The roof of one building was partially demolished, and rubble filled the sidewalk outside. Across the road, a childrens playground was wrecked.

Russian missiles, drones and artillery have repeatedly struck civilian areas in the war. The Kremlin says its forces target only military assets and claims other damage is caused by debris from Ukrainian air defenses.

Meanwhile, an overnight attack on the town of Kruhliakivka, in the northeastern Kharkiv region, killed three people and injured nine others, Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said.

Russia also dropped four guided bombs on a village near Kupiansk, in the Kharkiv region, killing two civilians, Ukraines presidential office said.

Rescuers later came under fire, and two of them were wounded, it said.

Also on Tuesday, Russian-installed authorities of the Donetsk region accused Kyivs forces of shelling the regions namesake capital and killing three people. The Moscow-appointed leader of the Donetsk region, Denis Pushilin, said Ukrainian shelling of the Russian-held city of Donetsk also wounded 11.

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Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

By HANNA ARHIROVA

Associated Press
Son of Spanish actors is arrested in Thailand on suspicion of killing Colombian on a tourist island

Son of Spanish actors is arrested in Thailand on suspicion of killing Colombian on a tourist island View Photo

BANGKOK (AP)  The son of two Spanish film stars has been arrested in Thailand on suspicion of murdering and dismembering a Colombian surgeon on a tourist island, police said.

Daniel Sancho Bronchalo was taken from Koh Phagnan, where the remains of Edwin Arrieta Arteaga were found, to another island, Samui, where he is being held, Surat Thani provincial police commander Saranyu Chamnanrat said Tuesday.

Sancho, a chef with a YouTube channel, has been charged with premeditated murder, which carries a possible death penalty, and with concealment of a body to cover up the death, Saranyu said.

Details of the killing emerged last week when Thai media reported that plastic bags containing body parts of a man, later identified by police as Arrieta, were found at a landfill on Koh Phagnan, an island famous for its monthly full moon parties.

Police said Sancho came in to report a missing person after the body parts were found and was subsequently detained. He later confessed to killing and dismembering Arrieta and then dumping the body parts in the landfill and the sea, although he denied that it was premeditated, police said. His arrest warrant was issued by the Koh Samui Provincial Court on Saturday.

Saranyu declined to elaborate when asked about the motive, but said it was likely due to a personal relationship between the suspect and the victim. Thai media have cited police as saying that Sancho, who came to Thailand for a holiday, told the authorities that the two had a romantic relationship and that he tried to break up with the victim but the victim refused.

Security camera video broadcast by Thai media reportedly taken a day before the body parts were found showed Sancho and Arrieta on a motorbike together.

Regional police chief Surapong Thanomchit told public broadcaster Thai PBS that Sancho was seen buying a knife, garbage bags and cleaning solutions before Arrietas death.

Media reports say Sancho is the son of Rodolfo Sancho and Silvia Bronchalo, famous Spanish actors. Sanchos uncle, Felix Sancho, told journalists in Spain that, A little respect for the family is all we ask for, because this is so painful.

The Spanish Embassy in Bangkok said it was aware of a crime involving a Spanish man but declined to give further information because of data protection legislation.

Colombias Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted a statement on its website Sunday thanking the Thai police for their investigation and said it is providing assistance to the family of the victim.

By YUCHENG TANG and JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI

Associated Press
YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan has stressed the need to implement international calls and statements and reopen the Lachin Corridor.

Among others, we appreciate targeted [statements] by European Parliament, voice of EU citizens, which got stronger in course of Nagorno Karabakh blockade &violation of ICJ Orders by Azerbaijan. Now international efforts should be directed at the implementation, with relevant tools, & reopening of Lachin Corridor, Badalyan posted on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

Among others, we appreciate targeteds by @Europarl_EN,voice of EU citizens, which got stronger in course of #NagornoKarabakh blockade &violation of @ICJ Orders by AZ.



Now intl efforts should be directed at the implementation, w/relevant tools, & reopening of #LachinCorridor. pic.twitter.com/CYVkE6i6Uu  Ani Badalyan, Spokesperson of MFA of Armenia (@ArmSpoxMFA) August 8, 2023

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.

On July 26, Armenia sent a humanitarian convoy carrying emergency food and medication for Nagorno-Karabakh, but Azerbaijan blocked the trucks at the entrance of Lachin Corridor.
FORMER Defence minister and Zanu PF Council of Elders chairperson Sydney Sekeramayi has sent shivers down the spine of ruling party supporters after he denounced thieves, while chanting a slogan.

Sekeramayi chanted: Pasi nembavha (down with thieves) at the Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe star rally over the weekend, but the chant left the ruling party supporters perplexed.

The slogan failed to get traction in the audience, including those at the top table.

Sekeramayi, who was once touted as the successor of the late former President Robert Mugabe, fell off the partys succession matrix following the November 2017 coup which saw President Emmerson Mnangagwa grab leadership of both the party and government.

Pamberi nekuhwina maelections, pasi nembavha (Forward with election victory, death to thieves), he chanted, much to the chagrin of the crowd, which appeared very uncomfortable to respond to the chant.

Zanu PF has been accused of normalising corruption and creating a culture of impunity in which corrupt officials within the party are not held accountable.

Political commentator Tendai Reuben Mbofana told NewsDay that Sekeremayis slogan proved that Zanu PF supporters know the thieves in the party.

Zanu PF supporters are aware that Zanu PF is the headquarters of thieves and they were just shocked about what Sekeremayi was saying. Was he shooting himself in the foot? What he said is hypocritical to people who are suffering, Mbofana said.

We have witnessed that President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been getting the cheers he expected. People have been doing this out of desperation, because of hunger and poverty as they have been getting freebies at the rallies.

Political scientist Fanuel Kaseke said Zanu PF had normalised corruption and the only way to remove such a culture was by voting it out.

Sekeremayis pose shows a moral conflict, he realised just before uttering his chant that he is a victim of his statement, and the entire Zanu PF elite. Even the supporters response is a clear indication that corruption has been canonised in Zanu PF, he said.

Zanu PF survives on corruption, coming to this election the citizens have a moral obligation to convict such people on the ballot as Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and the Judiciary has proved to be toothless.

Several opposition social media sites were celebrating the slogan by Sekeramayi, saying corruption was the elephant in the room.

Meanwhile, in Uzumba, scores of Zanu PF supporters were seen grabbing food from a vehicle at the rally and living while Mnangagwa was still delivering his speech.

 NewsDay

Breaking News via Email
In a sh0cking incident that unfolded last week, a man from Harare unleashed a violent attack, resulting in the stabbing of four individuals, including a police officer. The accused, Saratoga Masere (26), allegedly engaged in a heated argument with his father, prompting concerned neighbours to intervene on August 3, 2023.

During the altercation, Masere locked himself inside his room while exhibiting aggressive behaviour. However, when the deceased, Dino Mpofu, approached him in an attempt to defuse the situation, Masere emerged from his room armed with an okapi knife. Without warning, he charged at the gathering outside, causing panic among the neighbours.

While most managed to escape, Dino Mpofu was tragically caught by the accused, who swiftly stabbed him in the chest. Despite immediate transportation to Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, Mpofu succumbed to his injuries.

The violence did not end there, as Masere also targeted Kim Mpofu (16), the son of the deceased, and a police officer who bravely tried to subdue him. Additionally, Lameck Nguwo Mazvunara (73) fell victim to the assailants knife wounds and tragically passed away the following day, bringing the death toll to two.

Attempting to evade arrest, Masere fled to his rural area in Masere village, Chief Musana, Bindura. However, law enforcement authorities successfully tracked him down and took him into custody.

The body of Dino Mpofu currently rests at Sally Mugabe Hospital mortuary, awaiting a post-mortem examination. Masere appeared before the Harare Magistrates Court, appearing in leg irons, and was remanded in custody until August 22, 2023. He is expected to face trial at the High Court following indictment.

This harrowing incident has left the community in sh0ck and raises concerns about the escalating levels of violence in Harare.

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In a sh0cking turn of events, hip hop chanter Holy Ten, real name Mukudzei Chitsama, has found himself under fire from netizens who have stripped him of the title leader of the youth. The backlash comes after Holy Ten openly endorsed President Emmerson Mnangagwa ahead of the general elections in a viral video that has been circulating on social media.

The video shows Holy Ten applauding the projects undertaken by Mnangagwa during his tenure, specifically mentioning the developments at the Beitbridge border post and Robert Mugabe International Airport. Holy Ten claims that these developments are evidence enough to warrant another term in office for Mnangagwa.

Well done Holy Ten for endorsing President Mnangagwa pic.twitter.com/zJaB5IMYv6   ZANU PF PATRIOTS  (@zanupf_patriots) August 7, 2023

However, this endorsement has not been well-received by social media users who wasted no time in expressing their dissatisfaction. Many criticized Holy Ten for being a selfish opportunist and questioned the logic behind his support for Mnangagwa, especially considering the high levels of unemployment among the youth.

Unemployment has been a major issue in Zimbabwe, leading to increased drug and substance abuse among the youth. Ironically, Holy Ten pointed out that Mnangagwa is now addressing this issue through the drug and substance abuse mitigation funds. Netizens found this contradictory and accused Holy Ten of being out of touch with the struggles of the majority of youths.

Prominent journalist Hopewell Chinono didnt mince words, calling Holy Ten an idiot. Other users labelled him a leader of fools and a failure, emphasizing his apparent self-centeredness. Many Twitter users dismissed Holy Ten as an opportunist who should be held accountable for enabling the system and contributing to the suffering of the people.

As Holy Ten faces the wrath of netizens, it remains to be seen how this controversy will impact his career and standing within the youth community. The fallout from his endorsement of President Mnangagwa serves as a reminder of the polarizing nature of politics and the expectations placed on public figures to align with the sentiments of the people they represent.

Breaking News via Email
In a campaign rally held at Neluswi Primary School in Jambezi, Zanu PF Secretary, Dr Obert Mpofu, made a bold statement yesterday, asserting that President Mnangagwa is the sole hope for the countrys continued development and ensuring equality across all corners of Zimbabwe.

As the ruling party intensifies its campaign efforts leading up to the August 23 elections, the Second Republics inclusive development policies have already won the hearts of the masses. These policies are firmly rooted in the principle of leaving no one and no place behind.

Dr Mpofu took the stage to present Zanu-PFs candidates in Hwange East, led by national assembly candidate, Cde Alois Sikuka. He criticized opposition parties, claiming that their presence in various constituencies has not resulted in any meaningful development over the years.

I was sent here by President Mnangagwa, who has demonstrated his love for Matabeleland North. He has visited the region twice in the past two weeks, commissioning projects such as the Muchesu Mine in Binga and the Hwange Thermal Power Station Units 7 and 8 expansion project, stated Dr Mpofu.

He continued, President Mnangagwa has also sent Vice-Presidents Cdes Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi, as well as the national chairperson Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri to show his commitment to our region. This should demonstrate how much our President cares about us.

Highlighting the lack of development in opposition-held constituencies, Dr Mpofu urged the crowd to vote for Zanu-PF, emphasizing that the ruling party is the only one capable of bringing progress to the area.

We have suffered greatly in the last 20 years under opposition rule. What development have they brought us? Absolutely nothing. So, I implore you, lets vote for Team Zanu-PF. The ruling party is the only party that can bring development to this area, he passionately expressed.

Dr Mpofu also reminded the audience of the significant role the Jambezi area played during the liberation struggle, emphasizing the need to protect the gains of independence.

However, the opposition was not spared from his criticism. He accused them of lacking knowledge about the liberation struggle and claimed their intentions were to reverse the achievements made during that period.

As the rally concluded, Dr Mpofu called for unity within the Zanu-PF party and urged leaders to serve as servants to the people who voted for them, leading by example and upholding integrity.

With the elections fast approaching, Dr Mpofu emphasized the importance of voting for the ruling party, warning that voting for an opposition candidate while the government remains under Zanu-PF control can create a disconnect.

He concluded by expressing confidence in Zanu-PFs victory, assuring President Mnangagwa that Matabeleland North would resoundingly support the ruling party.

Hwange consists of three constituencies: Hwange Central, where Cde Reeds Dube is the Zanu-PF candidate, Hwange East, represented by Cde Sikuka, and Hwange West, with Cde Philani Moyo running as the candidate.

Following the rally, Dr Mpofu visited Chief Shana, who has been unwell. Chief Shana emphasized the importance of unity and peace during and after the elections, urging the nation to prioritize development.

With Zanu-PFs campaign gaining momentum, the battle for votes continues, and only time will tell if President Mnangagwas promises of continued development will resonate with the electorate.

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In a recent development at the Beitbridge Border Post, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) confiscated a significant quantity of Zapu campaign T-shirts. The regalia, weighing 134kg and packed in seven bags, had been brought into the country by cross-border transporters. The donation of T-shirts was made by supporters of Zapu who are based in South Africa.

Confirming the seizure, Zapu spokesperson Mso Ndlovu announced that efforts were underway to secure the release of the confiscated consignment from Zimra. He stated, They are still held by Zimra, but we have dispatched a team to the border to get them released. Ndlovu also expressed determination and resilience, stating that the increased repression against Zapu following the partys manifesto launch and successful nomination of candidates would not deter them from their mission.

Godfrey Viki, the Zapu South Africa chapter provincial secretary for administration, shed light on the situation, revealing that Zapus provincial members in South Africa had purchased thousands of party regalia, including T-shirts, which were sent to Zimbabwe. However, upon their arrival at the Beitbridge Border Post, the merchandise was seized by Zimra.

According to a Zimra receipt dated August 4, the confiscated goods are currently pending clearance by bill of entry and payment of State warehouse rent. The receipt also notified Zapu that if the goods remain uncleared for three months from the date of the notice, they may be sold in accordance with the provisions of the Customs and Excise Act [Chapter 23:02].

The seizure of the Zapu campaign T-shirts is seen by many as another instance of escalating repression against the party. Despite this setback, Zapu remains resolute in its commitment to its cause and is determined to confront the challenges head-on.

Zapu, which stands for Zimbabwe African Peoples Union, is a political party in Zimbabwe that has been actively engaged in political activities and campaigning ahead of upcoming elections. The partys manifesto launch and the successful nomination of candidates have marked significant milestones in their efforts to gain support and win seats in the countrys political landscape.

As the situation unfolds, Zapus representatives will continue their efforts to secure the release of the confiscated T-shirts, ensuring that their campaign regalia reaches its intended recipients.

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MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora has withdrawn from contesting the 2023 Presidential elections in Zimbabwe.

Mwonzora made the announcement at a press conference in Harare on Tuesday.

The MDC-T leader said he was withdrawing from the race in protest over what he claims is unfair treatment against his party by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).

Smaller opposition MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora  widely seen as a Zanu PF political surrogate  has pulled out of the increasingly discredited presidential election set for 23 August, lambasting the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, which is under growing siege of sustained pic.twitter.com/2gvUAE95pF  TheNewsHawks (@NewsHawksLive) August 8, 2023

Addressing journalists, Mwonzora cited election mismanagement and bias by ZEC as the reason for pulling out of the race.

More to follow

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A LOCAL bank employee lost his Toyota Runx while relieving himself on Sunday.

Ashley Tinashe Mutambarika, 29, of Southlea Park, parked his silver Toyota Runx (AEH 2555) along a road behind Candy Shops.

He left the engine running while he was urinting.

An unidentified person entered his car and drove the vehicle away.

Tinashe tried to chase the car thief but he sped off.

Harare provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luckmore Chakanza, confirmed the incident.

He said Tinashe also lost two Cellphones (a Samsung A33 and Tecno spark core) in the car.

Police are investigating a car theft case in Southley Park, said Insp Chakanza.

The vehicle and valuables lost amounted to US$4900, he said.

Insp Chakanza also confirmed that Rufaro Kasirori, 27, of Zimre Park lost a laptop HP core i5, and two phone chargers, from his vehicle.

Rufaro had parked it at the corner of Herbert Chitepo Street and Simon Muzenda Street to attend a church service.

On his return, he found that someone had used an unknown object to smash and break the rear right quarter glass and gained entry.

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THREE Harare police officers who allegedly stage managed a break-in at Harare Central Police Station Stores office and stole money before setting it ablaze have appeared in court.

Stanley Musekiwa (46) from ZRP CID Stores, Takaidza Mugwisi (36) from CID Stores and Masimba Stanely Gwasunda (43), ZRP CID Stores were facing theft and malicious damage to property when they appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa.

Musekiwa is an Inspector and is the Officer In Charge of CID Stores and Business Harare.

Mugwisi and Gwasunda are subordinates of Musekiwa.

It is the States case that on June 23 2023 Mugwisi recovered cash amounting to US$40 500 from one Carlington Gengezha who had committed unlawful entry and theft in Belvedere, Harare. The recovered cash and US$5 000 which had been recovered in different cases were taken into possession by Musekiwa the Officer In Charge and he handed it to Gwasunda who is the Exhibit Officer.

Musekiwa and Gwasunda who were supposed to place the money in a safe at CID Homicide Harare for safekeeping after being instructed by Deputy Director Crime CID Zimbabwe (name not given) instead stashed the cash into a four-plate stove oven drawer which was in office 26 CID Stores and Business Harare.

On August 6 2023 Mugwisi was deployed on night guard duties securing CID offices that include the exhibit room.

On the same date at around 1 am the three accused persons took advantage of darkness after an electrical fault at Harare Central Police Station and proceeded to office 26.

They stage-managed a break-in by cutting the padlock keys that secure the screen gate using a bolt cutter to cut while in actual fact they used keys to open the door to gain entry. They opened the four-plate stove oven drawer which was securing the cash and stole it and yet to be quantified exhibits before they set the room alight thereby destroying several other exhibits comprising of two four-plate stoves, a fridge, a bed, various clothing, several crates of beer, cellphones, several televisions, radios and gas tanks.

The fire caused extensive structural damage to the building and the value of the destroyed exhibits and building is yet to be quantified.

 Herald

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As a result of Azerbaijan's blockage of the sole route linking Artsakh and Armenia (Lachin Corridor) for a period of 8 months, there has been a severe shortage of medications and food, along with constant stress among the population,Artsakh Republic Healthcare Ministry informs.

August 8, 2023, 10:10 Comprehensive Siege of Artsakh Leads to Significant Increase in Mortality and Morbidity Rates

STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 8, ARTSAKHPRESS: This has led to an increase in the rates of several diseases and complications in besieged Artsakh compared to the previous year, in particular: Among the total number of deaths over the seven months (January-July), there has been a recorded increase in mortality from cardiovascular diseases by more than 2 times. This includes a 66% increase in mortality from acute and chronic heart failure, a 20.8% increase in mortality from acute myocardial infarction, and an 8.8% increase in mortality from brain paralysis.

The mortality rate from cardiovascular diseases further increased in July, reaching a preliminary 2.6 times compared to July of the previous year. This includes 2.5 times increase in mortality from acute heart failure, 4 times increase in mortality from acute myocardial infarction, and 3 times increase in mortality from brain paralysis.

Over the course of seven months, the number of deaths caused by malignant neoplasms has increased by 15.9%. Among the reasons for the increased mortality, factors such as the shortage or absence of necessary medications, changes in quality of life, severe limitations on adequate medical assistance and reduced viability are highlighted.

During the same period, there has been an increase in new cases of acute cerebrovascular accidents (stroke) and acute myocardial infarctions among the population by 26% and 9.7% respectively.

From January to July, there has been a recorded increase of 24.3% in newly diagnosed cases of malignant neoplasms.

From January to July, compared to the same period of the previous year, the level of anemia among pregnant women under medical observation has reached around 90%. This is due to inadequate nutrition and the absence or insufficiency of appropriate medications.

Although there was no increase in the overall number of abortions during the first half of the year, there was a sharp fourfold increase in the number of medically indicated abortions in July. Stress, improper nutrition and the lack or absence of medications worsen the already distressing situation.

In July, there has been an increase in cases of fainting (collapses) reported by the Republican Emergency Situations Service. Compared to July of the previous year, cases of fainting have increased by 91%. Very often, there are cases where a person faints, but before the arrival of emergency medical assistance, the individual regains consciousness, and the incident is not actually documented.

In July, there was also a sharp 5.6-fold increase in emergency calls for cases of high blood pressure compared to the same period last year.

The increase in the mentioned and other indicators of mortality and morbidity is due to serious health problems caused by the blockade and subsequent complete siege of Artsakh. This includes the shortage or absence of medications and medical supplies, inadequate nutrition of the population, stress, suspension of scheduled surgeries and examinations, restricted access to medical care in Armenia and abroad, and so on.

The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Artsakh warns that in the event of the continued full siege of Artsakh by Azerbaijan, the mentioned and other indicators will further worsen, leading to the loss of many lives or a deterioration in their health.
In a stunning turn of events, opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Douglas Mwonzora has made a sh0cking decision to withdraw from the upcoming presidential race. This unexpected move follows a major setback for the party, as over 80 of their parliamentary candidates were disqualified from participating in the general elections.

Mwonzora, speaking at a press conference, expressed grave concerns about the compromised nature of this years elections, which he believes blatantly defy the constitutional principles. He accused the election management body, ZEC, of lacking impartiality and fairness, alleging that they have exhibited vindictive behaviour against the MDC.

Addressing the audience, Mwonzora declared, There is no doubt, ladies and gentlemen, that this election is not free and fair. The election management body has not displayed the requisite impartiality and fairness expected of it. It has acted vindictively in a partisan manner against the MDC.

As a patriotic Zimbabwean who played a role in crafting the countrys constitution, Mwonzora expressed his deep love for his nation. With the agreement of his party, he made the difficult decision to withdraw his candidature from the upcoming elections, citing the compromised nature of the electoral process.

This comes few weeks after MDC spokesperson, Witness Dube, dumped the opposition party and joined Mnangagwas Zanu PF.

This unexpected twist has sent sh0ckwaves through the nation, raising questions about the credibility of the upcoming elections. Mwonzoras bold move reflects the deep concerns held by the opposition party and has left his supporters reeling with disappointment.

As the nation braces itself for the forthcoming general elections, the spotlight remains on the election management body and its ability to ensure a fair and transparent electoral process.

Only time will tell how this dramatic turn of events will impact the political future of Zimbabwe. One thing is certain: the road to the general elections just got a lot bumpier, and the nation awaits with bated breath for what lies ahead.

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Yves here. Retired lieutenant colonel William Astore explains how the American greatest military is certainly the porkiest despite not having won a war since World War II (and even then the Soviets did more of the fighting than the Allies). He then amplifies this observation by looking at the budget (to the extent that tells the storyrecall the unaccounted for $21 trillion) and our grandiose ambitions.

By William J. Astore. Originally published at TomDispatch

In his message to the troops prior to the July 4th weekend, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin offered high praise indeed. We have the greatest fighting force in human history, he tweeted, connecting that claim to the U.S. having patriots of all colors, creeds, and backgrounds who bravely volunteer to defend our country and our values.

As a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel from a working-class background who volunteered to serve more than four decades ago, who am I to argue with Austin? Shouldnt I just bask in the glow of his praise for todays troops, reflecting on my own honorable service near the end of what now must be thought of as the First Cold War?

Yet I confess to having doubts. Ive heard it all before. The hype. The hyperbole. I still remember how, soon after the 9/11 attacks, President George W. Bush boasted that this country had the greatest force for human liberation the world has ever known. I also remember how, in a pep talk given to U.S. troops in Afghanistan in 2010, President Barack Obama declared them the finest fighting force that the world has ever known. And yet, 15 years ago at TomDispatch, I was already wondering when Americans had first become so proud of, and insistent upon, declaring our military the worlds absolute best, a force beyond compare, and what that meant for a republic that once had viewed large standing armies and constant warfare as anathemas to freedom.

In retrospect, the answer is all too straightforward: we need something to boast about, dont we? In the once-upon-a-time exceptional nation, what else is there to praise to the skies or consider our pride and joy these days except our heroes? After all, this country can no longer boast of having anything like the worlds best educational outcomes, or healthcare system, or the most advanced and safest infrastructure, or the best democratic politics, so we better damn well be able to boast about having the greatest fighting force ever.

Leaving that boast aside, Americans could certainly brag about one thing this country has beyond compare: the most expensive military around and possibly ever. No country even comes close to our commitment of funds to wars, weapons (including nuclear ones at the Department of Energy), and global dominance. Indeed, the Pentagons budget for defense in 2023 exceeds that of the next 10 countries (mostly allies!) combined.

And from all of this, it seems to me, two questions arise: Are we truly getting what we pay so dearly for  the bestest, finest, most exceptional military ever? And even if we are, should a self-proclaimed democracy really want such a thing?

The answer to both those questions is, of course, no. After all, America hasnt won a war in a convincing fashion since 1945. If this country keeps losing wars routinely and often enough catastrophically, as it has in places like Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq, how can we honestly say that we possess the worlds greatest fighting force? And if we nevertheless persist in such a boast, doesnt that echo the rhetoric of militaristic empires of the past? (Remember when we used to think that only unhinged dictators like Adolf Hitler boasted of having peerless warriors in a megalomaniacal pursuit of global domination?)

Actually, I do believe the United States has the most exceptional military, just not in the way its boosters and cheerleaders like Austin, Bush, and Obama claimed. How is the U.S. military truly exceptional? Let me count the ways.

The Pentagon as a Budgetary Black Hole

In so many ways, the U.S. military is indeed exceptional. Lets begin with its budget. At this very moment, Congress is debating a colossal defense budget of $886 billion for FY2024 (and all the debate is about issues that have little to do with the military). That defense spending bill, you may recall, was only $740 billion when President Joe Biden took office three years ago. In 2021, Biden withdrew U.S. forces from the disastrous war in Afghanistan, theoretically saving the taxpayer nearly $50 billion a year. Yet, in place of any sort of peace dividend, American taxpayers simply got an even higher bill as the Pentagon budget continued to soar.

Recall that, in his four years in office, Donald Trump increased military spending by 20%. Biden is now poised to achieve a similar 20% increase in just three years in office. And that increase largely doesnt even include the cost of supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia  so far, somewhere between $120 billion and $200 billion and still rising.

Colossal budgets for weapons and war enjoy broad bipartisan support in Washington. Its almost as if there were a military-industrial-congressional complex at work here! Where, in fact, did I ever hear a president warning us about that? Oh, perhaps Im thinking of a certain farewell address by Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1961.

In all seriousness, theres now a huge pentagonal-shaped black hole on the Potomac thats devouring more than half of the federal discretionary budget annually. Even when Congress and the Pentagon allegedly try to enforce fiscal discipline, if not austerity elsewhere, the crushing gravitational pull of that hole just continues to suck in more money. Bet on that continuing as the Pentagon issues ever more warnings about a new cold war with China and Russia.

Given its money-sucking nature, perhaps you wont be surprised to learn that the Pentagon is remarkably exceptional when it comes to failing fiscal audits  five of them in a row (the fifth failure being a teachable moment, according to its chief financial officer)  as its budget only continued to soar. Whether youre talking about lost wars or failed audits, the Pentagon is eternally rewarded for its failures. Try running a Mom and Pop store on that basis and see how long you last.

Speaking of all those failed wars, perhaps you wont be surprised to learn that they havent come cheaply. According to the Costs of War Project at Brown University, roughly 937,000 people have died since 9/11/2001 thanks to direct violence in this countrys Global War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and elsewhere. (And the deaths of another 3.6 to 3.7 million people may be indirectly attributable to those same post-9/11 conflicts.) The financial cost to the American taxpayer has been roughly $8 trillion and rising even as the U.S. military continues its counterterror preparations and activities in 85 countries.

No other nation in the world sees its military as (to borrow from a short-lived Navy slogan) a global force for good. No other nation divides the whole world into military commands like AFRICOM for Africa and CENTCOM for the Middle East and parts of Central and South Asia, headed up by four-star generals and admirals. No other nation has a network of 750 foreign bases scattered across the globe. No other nation strives for full-spectrum dominance through all-domain operations, meaning not only the control of traditional domains of combat  the land, sea, and air  but also of space and cyberspace. While other countries are focused mainly on national defense (or regional aggressions of one sort or another), the U.S. military strives for total global and spatial dominance. Truly exceptional!

Strangely, in this never-ending, unbounded pursuit of dominance, results simply dont matter. The Afghan War? Bungled, botched, and lost. The Iraq War? Built on lies and lost. Libya? We came, we saw, Libyas leader (and so many innocents) died. Yet no one at the Pentagon was punished for any of those failures. In fact, to this day, it remains an accountability-free zone, exempt from meaningful oversight. If youre a modern major general, why not pursue wars when you know youll never be punished for losing them?

Indeed, the few exceptions within the military-industrial-congressional complex who stood up for accountability, people of principle like Daniel Hale, Chelsea Manning, and Edward Snowden, were imprisoned or exiled. In fact, the U.S. government has even conspired to imprison a foreign publisher and transparency activist, Julian Assange, who published the truth about the American war on terror, by using a World War I-era espionage clause that only applies to American citizens.

And the record is even grimmer than that. In our post-9/11 years at war, as President Barack Obama admitted, We tortured some folks  and the only person punished for that was another whistleblower, John Kiriakou, who did his best to bring those war crimes to our attention.

And speaking of war crimes, isnt it exceptional that the U.S. military plans to spend upwards of $2 trillion in the coming decades on a new generation of genocidal nuclear weapons? Those include new stealth bombers and new intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) for the Air Force, as well as new nuclear-missile-firing submarines for the Navy. Worse yet, the U.S. continues to reserve the right to use nuclear weapons first, presumably in the name of protecting life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And of course, despite the countries  nine!  that now possess nukes, the U.S. remains the only one to have used them in wartime, in the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Finally, it turns out that the military is even immune from Supreme Court decisions! When SCOTUS recently overturned affirmative action for college admission, it carved out an exception for the military academies. Schools like West Point and Annapolis can still consider the race of their applicants, presumably to promote unit cohesion through proportional representation of minorities within the officer ranks, but our society at large apparently does not require racial equity for its cohesion.

A Most Exceptional Military Makes Its Wars and Their Ugliness Disappear

Heres one of my favorite lines from the movie The Usual Suspects: The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he did not exist. The greatest trick the U.S. military ever pulled was essentially convincing us that its wars never existed. As Norman Solomon notes in his revealing book, War Made Invisible, the military-industrial-congressional complex has excelled at camouflaging the atrocious realities of war, rendering them almost entirely invisible to the American people. Call it the new American isolationism, only this time were isolated from the harrowing and horrific costs of war itself.

America is a nation perpetually at war, yet most of us live our lives with little or no perception of this. There is no longer a military draft. There are no war bond drives. You arent asked to make direct and personal sacrifices. You arent even asked to pay attention, let alone pay (except for those nearly trillion-dollar-a-year budgets and interest payments on a ballooning national debt, of course). You certainly arent asked for your permission for this country to fight its wars, as the Constitution demands. As President George W. Bush suggested after the 9/11 attacks, go visit Disneyworld! Enjoy life! Let Americas best and brightest handle the brutality, the degradation, and the ugliness of war, bright minds like former Vice President Dick (So?) Cheney and former Secretary of Defense Donald (I dont do quagmires) Rumsfeld.

Did you hear something about the U.S. military being in Syria? In Somalia? Did you hear about the U.S. military supporting the Saudis in a brutal war of repression in Yemen? Did you notice how this countrys military interventions around the world kill, wound, and displace so many people of color, so much so that observers speak of the systemic racism of Americas wars? Is it truly progress that a more diverse military in terms of color, creed, and background, to use Secretary of Defense Austins words, has killed and is killing so many non-white peoples around the globe?

Praising the all-female-crewed flyover at the last Super Bowl or painting rainbow flags of inclusivity (or even blue and yellow flags for Ukraine) on cluster munitions wont soften the blows or quiet the screams. As one reader of my blog Bracing Views so aptly put it: The diversity the war parties [Democrats and Republicans] will not tolerate is diversity of thought.

Of course, the U.S. military isnt solely to blame here. Senior officers will claim their duty is not to make policy at all but to salute smartly as the president and Congress order them about. The reality, however, is different. The military is, in fact, at the core of Americas shadow government with enormous influence over policymaking. Its not merely an instrument of power; it is power  and exceptionally powerful at that. And that form of power simply isnt conducive to liberty and freedom, whether inside Americas borders or beyond them.

Wait! What am I saying? Stop thinking about all that! America is, after all, the exceptional nation and its military, a band of freedom fighters. In Iraq, where war and sanctions killed untold numbers of Iraqi children in the 1990s, the sacrifice was worth it, as former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright once reassured Americans on 60 Minutes.

Even when government actions kill children, lots of children, its for the greater good. If this troubles you, go to Disney and take your kids with you. You dont like Disney? Then, hark back to that old marching song of World War I and pack up your troubles in your old kit-bag, and smile, smile, smile. Remember, Americas troops are freedom-delivering heroes and your job is to smile and support them without question.

Have I made my point? I hope so. And yes, the U.S. military is indeed exceptional and being so, being #1 (or claiming you are anyway) means never having to say youre sorry, no matter how many innocents you kill or maim, how many lives you disrupt and destroy, how many lies you tell.

I must admit, though, that, despite the endless celebration of our militarys exceptionalism and greatness, a fragment of scripture from my Catholic upbringing haunts me still: Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Copyright 2023 William J. Astore
Reader Anthony L recommended an article in the Boston Review, based on a series of speeches Angus Deaton, which extends his landmark work on deaths of despair which earned him and his co-author Anne Case a Nobel Prize.1

The latest sighting is grim. As before, Deaton ties the US record of falling life expectancy among the less educated, which is a serious outlier by advanced economy standard, to the opioid epidemic. But his data updates show US outcomes to be getting even worse over time despite efforts to curb the pill-pushing practices of opioid makers, exemplified by Purdue Pharma.

Deaton also attributes the success of Purdue Pharma and its fellow travelers in ending curbs on what amounts to prescribing heroin to the widespread uptake of Chicago School of Economic ideology, which strongly favors de-regulation. Mr. Market is supposed to take care of bad actors. Yet even though Alan Greenspan, a strong-form libertarian, confessed that the 2007-2008 financial crisis showed his ideology was flawed,2 it still retains many adherents because libertarianism is good for business, bugger the costs for broader society. Deaton attributes the popularity of this bogus belief to a deliberate misreading of his fellow Scottish economist Adam Smith.3

I strongly urge you to read the Deaton article in full.

Recall that the Case-Deaton work, first published in 2015, found that all-cause mortality had increased among middle-aged non-Hispanic whites. Note that the chart below is not stratified by educational attainment. These deaths by suicide, opioid and drug overdose, which later work found were concentrated among those with at most a high school education, were substantial enough to lead to a reported increase in all-cause mortality for the entire non-Hispanic white cohort for that age group:

Case and Deaton have been refining their findings as the passage of time adds new data. The update per the Boston Review is grim. The death rate in the US among those in their mid-40s to mid-50s with only a high school education (note this now is for all races) has become so high that it has led to a fall in life expectancy among all adults with a high school education or less (Deaton also notes that only Scotland among advanced economies is following this trajectory), and that is what is driving the decline in US life expectancy overall. Note the declines started before Covid. From the Boston Review:

This chart show the difference in the US between the more and less educated:

Deaton elaborates (emphasis his):

Figure 2 shows life expectancy at twenty-five and, for the United States, divides the data into those with and without a four-year college degree. In Scotland, we do not (yet) have the data to make the split. The remarkable thing here is that, in the United States, those without a B.A. have experienced falling (adult) life expectancy since 2010, while those with the degree have continued to see improvements. Adult mortality rates are going in opposite directions for the more and less educated. The gap, which was about 2.5 years in 1992, doubled to 5 years in 2019 and reached 7 years in 2021.

One has to wonder if Obamacare played a secondary role. It became law in 2010 and its main provisions had phased in by the start of 2014. One benefit to the poor was Medicaid expansion, but many states refused to take that up. The complexity of the scheme would also work against the less educated. Even with Federal subsidies, most policies have high deductibles that render them high-cost catastrophic coverage.

Deaton describes how Purdue Pharma won FDA approval for OxyContin in 1995. A key point:

Traditionally, doctors in the United States did not prescribe opiates, even for terminally ill cancer patientsunlike in Britainbut they were persuaded by relentless marketing campaigns and a good deal of misdirection that OxyContin was safe for chronic pain.

He neglects to include that Perdure Pharma reformulated OxyContin from an 8 hour dose to a 24 hour dose that did not last 24 hours. This was a deliberate scheme to create addicts. When the pain resumed before the 24 hours were up, doctors were told to increase the dose, even though Purdue Pharma knew that would not change outcomes.

Deaton points out that Purdue Pharma reformulated OxyContin in 2010 to reduce its potential for abuse, but by then, the horse had left the barn:

By 2012 enough opioid prescriptions were being written for every American adult to have a months supply. In time, physicians began to realize what they had done and cut back on prescriptions. Or at least most did; a few turned themselves into drug dealers and operated pill mills, selling pills for money or, in some cases, for sex. Many of those doctors are now in jail. In 2010 Purdue reformulated Oxycontin to make it harder to abuse, and around the same time the docs pulled back, but by then a large population of people had become addicted to the drugs, and when prescribers denied them pills, black market suppliers flooded the illicit market with cheap heroin and fentanyl, which is more than thirty times stronger than heroin. Sometimes dealers even met disappointed patients outside pain clinics.

Deaton stresses that Smith has been misrepresented and quotes one American economist quipping that Smith had been imprisoned by the Chicago School. He turns to his economic argument. I have excised a lot in the interest of both space and not over-hoisting:

Smiths notion of the invisible hand, the idea that self-interest and competition will often work to the general good, is what economists today call the first welfare theorem. Exactly what this general good is and exactly how it gets promoted have been central topics in economics ever since. I want to discuss two issues. First, there is the question of whose good we are talking about. The butcher, at least qua butcher, cares not at all about social justice; to her, money is money, and it doesnt matter whose it is. The good that markets promote is the goodness of efficiencythe elimination of waste, in the sense that it is impossible to make anyone better off without hurting at least one other person. Certainly that is a good thing, but it is not the same thing as the goodness of justice A second condition is good information: that people know about the meat, beer, and bread that they are buying, and that they understand what will happen when they consume it..Patients must rely on physicians to tell them what they need in a way that is not true of the butcher, who does not expect to be obeyed when she tells you that, just to be sure you have enough, you should take home the carcass hanging in her shop.This is (at least one of the) reason(s) why almost all wealthy countries do not rely on pure laissez-faire to provide health care. So why is America different? And what does Americas failure to heed Arrow have to do with the Sacklers, or with deaths of despair, or with OxyContin and the pain and despair that it exploited and created? There are many reasons why Americas health care system is not like the Canadian or European systems, including, perhaps most importantly, the legacy of racial injustice. But today I want to focus on economics. Neither America nor American economics was always committed to laissez-faire. Chicago economics is important. Many of us were brought up on a naive economics in which market failures could be fixed by government action; indeed, that was one of governments main functions. Chicago economists correctly argued that governments could fail, tooFree markets, on the other hand, would produce both freedom and equality. These ideas were often grounded more in hope than in reality, and history abounds with examples of the opposite Chicago analysis serves as an important corrective to the naive view that the business of government is to correct market failures. But it all went too far, and morphed into a belief that government was entirely incapable of helping its citizens If the government could do nothing for African Americans, then it certainly could do nothing to improve the delivery of health care. There is no area of the economy that has been more seriously damaged by libertarian beliefs than health care.

I hope you will read this important article and circulate it widely.

_____

1 I believe most readers recognize that the economics Nobel is a Swedish central bank counterfeit, and I do not highlight that because it also takes too many words to make the point.

2 From the New York Times on the relevant section of Greenspans Congressional testimony in October 2008:

Mr. Greenspan admittedThose of us who have looked to the self-interest of lending institutions to protect shareholders equity, myself included, are in a state of shocked disbelief, he told the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. You had the authority to prevent irresponsible lending practices that led to the subprime mortgage crisis. You were advised to do so by many others, said Representative Henry Waxamn of California, chairman of the committee. Do you feel that your ideology pushed you to make decisions that you wish you had not made? Mr.Greenspan conceded: Yes, Ive found a flaw. I dont know how significant or permanent it is. But Ive been very distressed by that fact.

3 Deaton is far from alone in pointing out the way Smiths beliefs have been misrepresented and misused. For instance, we made that point in what amounts to the thesis statement of ECONNED:
British banks are now making it harder for customers to even deposit cash in their own accounts, while three of Australias Big Four banks are eliminating cash services altogether from many of their branches.

First up: the UK. Given the self-inflicted harm NatWest has already sustained in the still-simmering Nigel Farage debanking scandal, the latest revelation from which suggests that more than one million bank accounts have been closed in the past four years, one might expect that the Big Four lender would be doing all it can to win back the hearts and minds of its customers. But no. Instead, NatWest has decided to make life even harder for them by imposing new conditions giving [the bank] the right to set limits on inbound and outbound payments. As the Daily Telegraph reports, the bank has awarded itself sweeping new powers to limit cash deposits and withdrawals, fuelling fears that banks are steering customers towards a cashless society:

In a leaflet [Natwest] said [the new conditions] could include imposing daily and annual cash withdrawal and deposit limits and limiting the amount of cash paid in or taken out. The move has raised fears that increasing curbs on the use of paper money across the system could have negative consequences for consumers. It comes amid a wider scandal over de-banking after Nigel Farage revealed that Coutts  which is owned by NatWest Group  had closed his account because it disagreed with his political views. NatWest said it was making the change to protect our customers from the risk of fraud and that it was nothing to do with limiting customers access to cash.

Of course not, what a thought!

Worth recalling is the fact that the UK government is still NatWests largest shareholder with a whopping 39% stake  a lingering hangover from the States 45 billion bailout of the lender, then known as Royal Bank of Scotland, in 2008. As such, the government, which claims to be working on legislation to protect access to cash while allowing retailers of all sizes to reject cash payments, is, at the very least, tacitly complicit in NatWests latest hostile act against its own customers. It could also be argued that UK taxpayers are, to a certain extent, funding their own financial repression.

Leading the Charge Toward a Cashless Future

The UK is already one of Europes most cashless economies, with physical money accounting for just 17% of retail payments, compared to 56% in 2010. As in many countries, the move away from cash accelerated sharply during the first two years of the pandemic, largely due to the explosion in online purchases during the lockdowns and overblown fears about the health risks of using cash  fears first raised by the World Health Organization and then seized upon and massively magnified by the media, banks, payment processors, fintech firms and other cash assassins.

But as I reported this time last year in Is Cold, Hard Cash Making a Comeback?, the trend may have already reached its apogee. Survey after survey has shown that the overwhelming majority of UK citizens do not want to live in a fully cashless economy. In fact, only 3% of the population have gone fully cashless, according to a recent YouGov poll commissioned by the ATM network provider LINK. Only 12% want to live in a cashless society while 69% oppose it. In a similar survey by BusinessComaparison, 74% of respondents reported using cash over the previous month.

The volume of notes in circulation has actually increased by around 11 billion since 2020, to the current total of just over 81 billion, though this is apparently more due to people hoarding cash (as the central banks call it) during the early months of the virus crisis than actually spending it. That said, cash remains the preferred choice of payment for millions of people and is the only choice for an estimated 6% of the population, with this figure increasing to 9% for those in vulnerable circumstances, according to UK Finance.

In other words, the pandemic may have accelerated the shift from cash to digital, but cash is still hanging on in there. So, the cash assassins are doubling down. And leading the charge, as always, are the countrys biggest banks.

They have motives aplenty for wanting to kill off cash. For a start, cash is expensive to manage, store and transport. Banks would much prefer their customers to use their digital payments and digital banking infrastructure, which are cheaper to run, require far less labour, generate fees and interest and have the added bonus of generating reams of data about their customers earning, spending and saving habits. Also, people tend to spend a lot more with digital payment methods, as Brett Scott, a journalist, financial analyst and cash advocate notes in his book Cloud Money:

[O]ne of the big reasons why the cashless society is promoted is that people spend 25-40% more with digital payments  this is good for big business, but not good for ordinary humans.

The Big Nudge

In the UK, the banks have already closed some 5,000 bank branches over the past eight years  at a rate of around 54 per month  and 15,000 cashpoints, or ATMs, over the past five, with hundreds more scheduled to close this year. This has created a self-reinforcing feedback loop, noted Scott in a 2018 article for the Guardian:

There is a feedback loop going on here. In closing down their branches, or withdrawing their cash machines, they make it harder for me to use those services. I am much more likely to choose a digital option if the banks deliberately make it harder for me to choose a non-digital option. In behavioural economics this is referred to as nudging. If a powerful institution wants to make people choose a certain thing, the best strategy is to make it difficult to choose the alternative Financial institutions are trying to nudge us towards a cashless society and digital banking. The true motive is corporate profit. Payments companies such as Visa and Mastercard want to increase the volume of digital payments services they sell, while banks want to cut costs. The nudge requires two parts. First, they must increase the inconvenience of cash, ATMs and branches. Second, they must vigorously promote the alternative. They seek to make people learn that they want digital, and then choose it.

It is also true that cashs days may well be numbered in many countries anyway as a result of technological advances and generational preferences. But there is a whole world of difference between a natural death and euthanasia!

Now, the large banks in the UK are making it increasingly difficult for people to not only deposit cash in their branches but also use the intermediary services offered by the Post Office, which, ironically, were established to fill some of the yawning gaps in basic financial services left behind by the banks mass culling of branches and ATMs.

The Post Office has partnerships with over 30 banks, building societies, and credit unions, so 99% of UK bank customers can access their accounts at their PO branch. After the lockdowns of 2020, the Post Office became the only place in many communities where people could get their hands on actual banknotes, as Euro News reported in July 2021:

Retailers post-pandemic have been prioritising debit and credit cards but in the UK, the Post Office is trying to help save cash. With many bank branches closing and free-to-use ATMs being withdrawn, accessing cash has become more difficult. The Post Office says in communities across Britain, its one of the few places where people can get their hands on the actual banknotes. Increasingly the post office is the last counter in town, said Martin Kearsley, the Cash and Banking Director for the Post Office.

The campaign was a resounding success. In July 2022, 3.31 billion in cash was deposited and withdrawn across the Post Offices 11,500 branches  a record high for any month dating back over three centuries of operations. The trend remained strong through the rest of 2022, with a new record haul in September of 3.35 billion. But then the banks began setting limits on cash deposits, not only for their own branches but also for post office branches as well, ostensibly as part of tightening money laundering controls.

The result was a slight fall in deposits at Post Office branches in December, normally a bumper month. Kearsley blasted the banks for trying to force small businesses to become cashless, further restricting the ability of households to use cash on the high street:

Small businesses are the backbone of the British economy. Over-zealous limits imposed on the amount they are able to deposit is resulting in more businesses no longer being able to accept cash, impacting both their ability to trade as they would like, as well as their customers who need or choose to budget using cash. They must remain able to deposit their takings locally, securely and conveniently without having to suspend or disrupt trading to make an ever longer journey to a distant bank branch to deposit their takings.

In April this year, the Financial Conduct Authority entered the fray by setting formal cash deposit limits for post offices, including a limit of 1,000 per 24-hour period for personal accounts and 10,000 per 12-month period. For business accounts, cash deposit limits were reduced, subject to customer arrangements, to below the existing limit of 20,000 per transaction.

A Major Milestone For Aussie Banks

In Australia, meanwhile, the Big Four banks  Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Westpac Banking Corporation, ANZ Group Holdings Ltd, and National Australia Bank Ltd  were recently able to claim a major victory in their war of attrition against physical money. More than a billion dollars worth of physical cash disappeared from circulation in the last financial year, marking the first time the number of notes in circulation officially declined since dollars and cents were introduced in 1966. According to Channel Nine News, this is the strongest sign yet that Australia is truly on its way to becoming a cashless society.

Cash use has diminished significantly down under, especially during the pandemic, according to the Reserve Bank of Australias 2022 Consumer Payments Survey. This is in large part due to changes in consumer behaviour, but is also a result of the increased difficulty of accessing and using cash:

The share of in-person transactions made with cash halved, from 32 per cent to 16 per cent, over the three years to 2022. The decline in cash use was particularly pronounced for smaller payments; cash is now used less than electronic methods for all transaction sizes The decline in cash use between 2019 and 2022 partly reflects the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on peoples payment behaviour, which accelerated the decline that had been underway since at least the first CPS (Consumer Payments Survey) in 2007.

To help accelerate the publics move away from cash, three of the Big Four  ANZ, Commonwealth Bank and the National Australia Bank  have announced plans to cease handling physical currency altogether in select city branches, directing customers to withdraw and deposit cash at ATMs instead. The Commonwealth Bank and National Australia Bank are now referring to their cashless branches as expert centers and specialist centers respectively. ANZ unofficially calls their cashless outlets digital branches.

Needless to say, the move has not gone down well with some customer segments. As Channel 9 News reported, some Australians reacted to the new by ditching their debit cards for a Cash Only week between July 3 and July 10 in protest against an increasingly cashless society. Those protesting paid only with coins or notes, with some even vowing to forfeit their purchases if denied the opportunity to use cash.

Beyond social media engagement numbers, it is hard to gauge how much of an impact the protest movement has had. Perhaps readers down under can shed some clarity.

In Australia, the Commonwealth Constitution and the Bills of Exchange Act uphold the use of cash as legal tender. Yet despite petitions to parliament to enshrine its use, it is not forcibly legal (h/t Savita). Ominously, a recent paper on the cash-use cycle by the Reserve Bank of Australia claims that half of merchants that accepted cash in April 2022 planned on actively discouraging cash payments or displaying signage to that effect at some point in the future. Predictably, most of these merchants were more likely to have higher turnover and be located in metropolitan areas.

By contrast, in my country of residence, Spain, the government passed a law last year essentially obligating all bricks-and-mortar retail establishments to accept cash payments. Failure to do so can result in fines of up to 10,000. The law was largely the result of the tireless campaigning of Plataforma Denaria, a grass-roots movement set up by Javier Ruperez, an 82-year old former diplomat and politician, to defend the rights of consumers to pay for any good or service in cash.

It also helps that cash is still King in Spain, used on a daily basis by roughly 60% of citizens, according to the Bank of Spains latest annual payments survey. There has even been a recovery of sorts in cash usage since 2020. This is despite the best efforts of Spanish banks to limit access to cash by, among other things, culling branches and ATMs and, as in Australia, limiting or even eliminating cash services in many of their still-standing branches. It is also despite the Spanish governments introduction of a 1,000 cash payment limit in 2021, as part of a new anti-fraud law.

Digital Dystopia Down Under

Back in Australia, a new voluntary digital ID could be ready for national roll out as early as next year. From Channel 9 News:

A digital ID would usually be an application in a phone or computer that stores a mathematical representation of an individual that uniquely identifies them, without the possibility of reverse engineering their personal information, such as an address or date of birth, Dr Philip Bos, a security expert and founder of privacy protection software company BlueKee, told 9news.com.au. One way the scheme would work is via an app that is opened using the persons biometrics and sending an ever-changing, long mathematical code that identifies one to the other  the user and the business/government agency.

One thing the Channel 9 article doesnt mention is that a comprehensive digital identity system is a basic pre-requisite for the central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) being explored by more than 100 countries around the world. Australia is closer to launching a CBDC than any of its Five Eye peers. In fact, barring Sweden, it is the only country in the NATO-plus-friends collective to have reached the pilot stage of the development process, according to the Atlantic Councils CBDC Tracker.

Readers may recall (from my September 9, 2022 article, Big Banks in Australia and Canada Are Leading the Way on Digital Identity) that Australias Big Four are also heavily involved in developing ConnectID, a national infrastructure for digital identity verification, which (according to ConnectIDs official website) makes it easier to verify who you are, using organisations you already trust. You can expect to see ConnectID rolling out gradually across institutions and businesses in Australia during 2023.

As an article in Australia Financial Review reported at the time (emphasis and comment in parenthesis my own), the banks apparently see identity-as-a-service as an incremental revenue stream that will allow them to charge retailers, utilities or fintechs for validating customer details, given banks are highly trusted [no, seriously, that is what the banks say] in the digital economy. Which, I suppose, is just one more reason for wanting to kill off cash.
It would be inaccurate and a gross oversimplification to say Dan Auerbachs outstanding Easy Eye Sound label and studio specializes in blues or Americana music. Auerbach opened his studio on Eighth Avenue South in Nashville not long after he and Patrick Carney, his bandmate in Grammy-winning dynamic blues-rock duo The Black Keys, moved here from Ohio in 2010. Both Auerbach and Carney produce records for other artists. Auerbach launched the Easy Eye label, an imprint of Concord Music Group, in 2017, and he helms the combined Easy Eye enterprise. Both label and studio serve as yet another reminder of the sprawling idiomatic diversity that characterizes so much great American music, while reinforcing some shared traits that epitomize both the studios production sound and the imprints releases.

[Artists say] that the way we make records here reminds them of how they used to make records with [legendary Memphis production maven] Chips Moman, Auerbach told NPRs Jewly Hight in a 2019 interview for World Cafe. Sometimes you think youre hearing something that reminds you of [landmark recordings] but youre actually hearing the people that made those sounds.

Put another way, Easy Eye Sound extends the formula that the Keys perfected. Across the Easy Eye catalog, Auerbach and the artists he works with utilize the sensibility of blues, rock, country or any genre they choose, while carefully nurturing and showcasing each musicians individual stylistic flair and flamboyance. The sound is uniformly rich and organic, but always tailored to serve the needs of the artist and the song. Across more than 20 acclaimed releases from artists like soulful songsmith Yola, blues wizard Jimmy Duck Holmes and West Coast rockers Shannon and the Clams  as well as a tribute to country great John Anderson  this approach has yielded 11 Grammy nominations. Even more importantly, its made the releases truly special, and the superb forthcoming anthology Tell Everybody! 21st Century Juke Joint Blues From Easy Eye Sound continues the trend.

The roster blends the weathered vocals of old-timers with the spry, in-your-face mode of youthful types with one foot steeped in rock distortion and the other in world-weary blues sophistication. Some of the tunes ooze the intimate, close community feel that is the essence of the juke joint experience, while others are more flashy and offer an edgier perspective. But they all adeptly handle the balancing act between traditional and contemporary modes that every 21st century blues performer or group must master. Auerbach instinctively knows as a producer when to lay back and when to add some spice to the mix.

The LP was recorded over several years, and its title track is by Louisianas Robert Finley, who has released two albums via Easy Eye. Its crackling vocal refrain is ably supported by guitarist Kenny Brown and bassist Eric Deaton, both longtime celebrated Mississippi blues masters who recorded with the Keys on Delta Kream, their 2021 tribute to R.L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough. Another of Tell Everbody!s finest homages to the past comes from Mississippian R.L. Boyces anthemic version of Coal Black Mattie. Its a signature tune not only for Boyce, but was for the mighty Burnside, arguably the greatest performer of updated Hill Country blues. Finleys version doesnt merely guide the listener through the lyrics  it makes the subject resonate to the point you think youve seen someone like her recently.

Perhaps the records most poignant moments come in the moving vocals of revered Cleveland, Ohio, rocker and early Black Keys inspiration Glenn Schwartz, who died in 2018. Like Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis, Schwartz wrestled with the issue of whether he should sing for spiritual or secular salvation; he spent several years in the All Saved Freak Band, which was connected to the Church of the Risen Christ, a religious organization that became a cult. The two tracks featured on Tell Everybody! offer examples of each. A new version of Daughter of Zion matches him with longtime musical comrade Joe Walsh  who took over as guitarist in the James Gang when Schwartz left  and powers down the gospel-rock road. His original Collinwood Fire is an archetypal blues recounting of a tragedy, telling the story of the 1908 fire at Lakeview School in Cleveland that killed 172 schoolchildren.

Theres really not a throwaway cut  just a question of personal taste and preference. For me, hearing Holmes and the late Leo Bud Welch doing versions of Catfish Blues and Dont Let the Devil Ride (presented here in previously unissued mono mixes) is a special treat. Holmes may not have the sheer vocal majesty Muddy Waters brought to his version, but he knows how to make the lyrics memorable. Welch for whatever reason never acquired the reputation among the singing preacher/gospel blues crew he should have enjoyed. His Dont Let the Devil Ride is every bit as delightful in its pace and stern in its message as anything the Rev. Gary Davis or the Rev. Robert Wilkins might have done in their prime.

While Im not as enamored with some of the contemporary blues material, it is interesting to hear both Nat Myers (a Kentucky-residing Korean American songsmith whose own Yellow Peril was also recently released via Easy Eye) and Gabe Carter offering fresh takes on the vintage Bentonia school style. Though Im pretty sure Skip James wouldnt have sung it that way, it is interesting to hear Carters almost Auerbach-esque vocal on Buffalo Road. Theres also a fresh Black Keys single, No Lovin, and Auerbach steps out solo on Every Chance I Get (I Want You in the Flesh), which is sassy and groovy.

With the way the production is built around the artists, no one should be surprised that in Music City, Easy Eye Sound is recording and releasing blues material every bit as splendid, gritty  and yes, authentic  as anything coming out of Chicago or Mississippi.
Alaska task force recommends $67M worth of local measures to avert looming food shortage

A report by the Alaska Food Strategy Task Force (AFSTF) has warned that the state's dependence on outside sources makes it vulnerable to shortages.

Hence, it recommended $67 million worth of local measures and courses of action to avert an imminent food supply crisis. AFSTF Chair and Alaska Republican Sen. Shelley Hughes lauded the 36-seat task force's efforts to pinpoint actionable and achievable steps to overcome the challenges being faced by Alaska.

"We are currently vulnerable, and it is time we begin to implement tangible solutions. Our over-dependence on the lower 48 puts us one crisis away from a food shortage. An earthquake, a labor strike at a major port, a pandemic  and we would see our store shelves empty out in short order," Hughes said. (Related: Food insecurity a growing problem in US  America turning into a third-world country.)

"Rather than an academic discussion about interesting ideas, the report includes specific, workable strategies that list responsible entities, any required statutory or regulatory changes, proposed timelines and action steps, and metrics to be used to measure progress and success. We are not promoting boondoggles or interested in theories on paper. We are focused on actually increasing food production and access to locally grown foods over the coming years."

The recommendations in the 86-page report cover three priority areas: sustainably growing Alaska's agriculture industry; growing markets for local products; and improving transportation and infrastructure. One recommendation is the creation of an Alaska Department of Agriculture. It would cost more than $20 million to establish this government agency. The report also called for $3 million for forgivable loan programs to improve access to capital for food producers.

The task force's study also recommended $43 million to increase research capacity and programs through the University of Alaska Fairbanks Institute of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Extension. It also suggested expanding agriculture, including extending leases on state-owned land and encouraging tax exemptions for farmland. The creation of an Alaska Grown Marketing Institute and re-establishment of an Alaska meat inspection service would cost approximately $600,000, as per the report. The piece also urged grocery stores to track and sell more Alaska-grown food and expand the Agriculture Revolving Loan Fund to food processors and manufacturers.

Moreover, it recommended the following actions to improve transportation and infrastructure: strengthen maritime and aviation infrastructure; improve bypass mail operations, data collection and analysis; create a Supply Chain Coordination Council; increase food storage for community food banks and disaster preparedness; and extend the Northern Rail.

Recommendations like extending the Alaska Railroad to Fort Greely did not include an estimated cost in the report, but it said this effort would need both state and federal funds.

Hughes: Alaska's food strategy report will not collect dust in file

The task force's next report is due on Aug. 1, 2024, and will zero in on the remaining four focus areas as well as updates to recommendations in this year's report. Hughes vowed that the group is committed to the work ahead toward greater food independence in the state. "The report the task force has issued is not intended to collect dust in a file," she promised.

AFSTF Executive Board Member Michael Johnson said the state's food security is complex, "but requires both sound management of wild food systems and robust supply chains that provide high-quality and affordable food to populations across a vast area."

"This task force has identified many actionable and data-driven proposals across three initial focus areas that can support local production, reduce waste, and foster economic growth. We hope these intervention options foster high-level discussion and will be strongly considered as our team begins to work on the remaining four focus areas," he added.

Kelli Foreman, another executive board member and vice president of the Alaska Farm Bureau-Kodiak Chapter, applauded the expected implementation of the recommendations in the report. "As a farmer, it has been great to actively engage in the process of forming actionable recommendations," she said. "Task Force members are working to help empower farmers to not just survive but thrive in Alaska through enhancing support programs, boosting production, unlocking new avenues to reach and expand markets, and ensuring success in an ever-evolving agricultural landscape."

Visit FoodCollapse.com to read more about food production issues that could lead to shortages and starvation.

Watch the video below that talks about how Bill Gates and Silicon Vallet push "farming without farmers and food without farms."

This video is from the Free4eva Media channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

The 10 biggest THREATS to your food security in 2023  HINT: Prepare for a "grocery police state" with guards, rationing and riots.

Billionaires like Bill Gates are predicting a coming food crisis and preparing by building survival bunkers.

Drug and food shortages are here, and they will get a lot worse.

GLOBALISTS weaponized the food supply toward starvation because COVID-19 vaccines were not enough to depopulate the world, Mike Adams tells Maria Zeee.

Sources include:

JustTheNews.com

FrontiersMan.com

Brighteon.com
The Armenian Ministry of Environment has received a letter from the Azerbaijani authorities regarding the construction of a steelworks in Yeraskh and has responded to it, Ministry of Environment spokesperson Ani Hakobyan said.

August 8, 2023, 12:31 Armenian denies Azerbaijans accusations on Yeraskh steelworks, demands cessation of unlawful use of force

STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 8, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: In the response, Armenia denied Azerbaijans accusations which claimed that the plant is being built in violation of environmental norms, and in turn demanded Azerbaijan to cease its unlawful use of force against the sovereign territory of Armenia.

Azerbaijan is falsely accusing Armenia of violating the provisions of the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context.

Weve responded to the accusation and weve stated the standards with which the plant will function. The factory is being built without violations. Armenia demands Azerbaijan to cease its unlawful use of force on the sovereign territory of Armenia, the shootings targeting the construction site, because this has resulted in injuries among the employees, and material losses. This conduct is a gross violation of the provisions of the Convention which they themselves are citing, while Armenia remains committed to all its international obligations, Hakobyan told ARMENPRESS, adding that the content of the letter, as well as the response, is within the framework of the Convention.

The construction of the $70,000,000 steel mill in Yeraskh is being carried out by the U.S.-affiliated GTB Steel. The construction site has been targeted by Azerbaijani troops on several occasions. Two workers were shot and wounded in one particular cross-border shooting by the Azeri military.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), led by the Air and Marine Operations, recently intercepted a "narco-sub" with approximately four tons of cocaine worth $108 million off the southwest Mexico coast.

For the past five years, drug smugglers have been using narco-subs to discreetly transport large quantities of narcotics. In fact, Colombian officials revealed that they seized 111 narco-subs involved in drug trafficking from 2018 to 2021. It's such a lucrative method of transportation that traffickers reportedly destroy their subs to avoid being found and traced back to them.

But the issue extends beyond waterborne trafficking, as drones have become a larger problem for U.S. law enforcement agencies tasked to combat the drug trade. (Related: COKED-UP JAWS: Florida sharks may be feasting on cocaine dumped into the sea by traffickers.)

Chief Patrol Agent Gloria Chavez of the CBP's Rio Grande Valley sector stated that her team detected as many as 25,000 drones in a year. She warned that adversaries possess significantly more drones, flight hours and funding. Art Del Cueto, vice president of the National Border Patrol Council, said cartels also appear to be flying drones over border patrol stations to gather intelligence and seek ways to facilitate drug trade operations.

In 2018, academic journal International Studies Perspective cited an expert who said cartels use drones to look for border patrol agents and inform drug smugglers of their positions.

Drug cartels transport weapons using drones coming from the US

Drones used by drug cartels became even more dangerous when a cartel member told the Courier Journal that drones are being used to transport weapons, including explosives, for targeted attacks. The cartel member said the drones legally came from the United States.

In 2021, a drone dropped a gunpowder bomb on Mexican police in El Aguaje, Mexico. This incident underscored an alarming trend in the ongoing battle against drug cartels: the weaponization of drones. Cartels like the Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) and Carteles Unidos are already arming themselves with drone technology to bring in more drugs to the United States.

The cartel member, a drone operator with Carteles Unidos, revealed that his organization has about 100 drones. He added that cartel members receive training on their use from a man nicknamed "Lord of the Skies."
HUMANS BEWARE: Mad scientists discover that human DNA can be controlled with electrical signals from wearable devices

A new study has found that human DNA can be controlled electronically through wearable devices that can program genes to perform certain medical interventions.

Researchers successfully triggered human cells in one test participant to produce more insulin. They did this by sending electrical currents through an "electrogenetic" interface programmed to activate targeted genes.

Using this same method, scientists say that one day it will be possible to deliver therapeutic doses of all sorts of things for a wide range of health conditions, including diabetes, by using electricity to directly control human DNA.

Medical wearables, as they call them, are all the rage these days. They include things like fitness trackers, biosensors, blood pressure monitors, and portable electrocardiogram devices.

They call these things "smart" wearables because, as was done in these recent experiments, these devices can be programmed to deliver drugs on command without the need for an actual doctor to intervene.

(Related: Speaking of DNA, did you know that Wuhan coronavirus [Covid-19] "vaccines" contain green monkey DNA?)

Would you wear a device around your ankle or wrist that electronically controls your DNA?

The team, led by Jinbo Huang, a molecular biologist at ETH Zurich, created a battery-powered interface known as "direct current (DC)-actuated regulation technology," or DART, that triggers specific gene responses using an electric current.

According to Huang and his colleagues, the DART device represents "a leap forward, representing the missing link that will enable wearables to control genes in the not-so-distant future," their study having recently been published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature.

"Electronic and biological systems function in radically different ways and are largely incompatible due to the lack of a functional communication interface," the study explains.

"While biological systems are analog, programmed by genetics, updated slowly by evolution and controlled by ions flowing through insulated membranes, electronic systems are digital, programmed by readily updatable software and controlled by electrons flowing through insulated wires."

The paper goes on to explain that the missing link in the path towards full compatibility and interoperability of the electronic and genetic worlds is the electrogenic interfaces that would enable electronic devices to control gene expression.

Because of this, the team worked to forge a direct connection between the human body's "analog" DNA, which is the natural, God-given biological alphabet, of sorts, that controls the life cycles of all organisms on the planet, and the electronic systems that are used throughout the world of digital technologies.

This same research group published another study back in 2020 showing that it is, indeed, possible to electrically activate genes and DNA. This latest study simply builds on that with a new modified, simpler design in the technology that implants human pancreatic cells into mice with type 1 diabetes.

"The researchers then used electrically-stimulating acupuncture needles to switch on the exact genes involved in regulating doses of insulin, a hormone that is essential for the treatment of diabetes," Vice reports about the research. "As a consequence, the blood glucose concentrations of the model mice returned to normal levels."

Huang and his colleagues are convinced that what they have created and are now refining sets the stage for "wearable-based electro-controlled gene expression with the potential to connect medical interventions to an internet of the body or the internet of things."

"While we chose DART-controlled insulin production for proof-of-concept validation, it should be straightforward to link DART control to the in situ production and dosing of a wide range of biopharmaceuticals," their paper concludes.

"We believe simple electrogenetic interfaces such as DART that functionally interconnect analog biological systems with digital electronic devices hold great promise for a variety of future gene- and cell-based therapies."

The mad rush into a robot economy is accelerating. Learn more at Transhumanism.news.

Sources for this article include:

Vice.com

Newstarget.com

Nature.com
Medical organizations slam SCOTUS for rejecting affirmative action  because they dont want ASIANS to become doctors

The American Medical Association (AMA) and American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) together with other medical groups denounced the recent Supreme Court decision rejecting affirmative action, which is a set of procedures designed to consider race in building a diverse campus in the nation's most selective colleges and universities.

The SCOTUS's 6-3 decision is actually against the discrimination being used against all races, even to white kids who also want to get into Ivy League schools as a portion of the admission is already allotted to other races. The ruling will force a reworking of criteria throughout American higher education by setting new parameters for who is admitted to the country's elite institutions and hired into top jobs.

Affirmative action has long been violating the "Equal Protection Clause" of the 14th Amendment, claimed Chief Justice John Robert as well as Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.

By a vote of 6-3, the Supreme Court just ruled that university admissions programs that use affirmative action and other race-based admissions criteria are unconstitutional and violate the 14th Amendment. Roberts wrote the opinion. https://t.co/k5ZBSlUh12 pic.twitter.com/Yf5ReefNVY  Sean Davis (@seanmdav) June 29, 2023

"For too long, universities have concluded, wrongly, that the touchstone of an individual's identity is not challenges-bested, skills built, or lessons learned but the color of their skin. Our constitutional history does not tolerate that choice," Roberts wrote. Instead, he said, admissions could consider an applicant's discussion of how race affected his or her life, be it through discrimination, inspiration, or otherwise.

AMA released a statement on the same day of the SCOTUS decision: "Today's decision by the U.S. Supreme Court undermines decades of progress centered on the educational value of diversity and will reverse gains made in the battle against health inequities." It pointed out that the SCOTUS ruling restricts medical schools from considering race and ethnicity among the multiple factors in admissions policies and will translate into a less diverse physician workforce. According to the org, the ruling is a serious blow to increasing medical career opportunities for "historically marginalized and minoritized people."

Moreover, ACEP DIE (diversity, inclusion, and equity) Chair Dr. Ugo Ugoezenkwele, published a response to the ruling as an official statement of the organization titled "Joint Statement from Emergency Medicine Organizations on Efforts to Diversify Health Care Professionals in the United States." "Following the recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions on the consideration of an applicant's racial or ethnic background in the higher education admissions process, our emergency medicine organizations stand together in our efforts to diversify healthcare professionals, including physicians, in the United States. Additionally, we reaffirm our responsibility to address healthcare disparities and inequities as we deliver exceptional care to all patients who enter our emergency departments.

"If the court's decisions in Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) vs Harvard University and SFFA vs the University of North Carolina require changes to current law and practices, we stand ready to work together and with other stakeholders to foster a diverse health professions workforce."

SC ruling: POLITICAL or for the benefit of the MEDICAL field?

Digging deeper into this current national concern, critics are seeing something hidden deep beneath the Left's protests. The SCOTUS ruling started when Asian Americans protested being denied placement in academic institutions due to the color of their skin. Actually, it was because they had too much merit (too high scores/grades) and exceeded the quotas for Asians allocated by admissions boards.

"Do ACEP and its policy bodies then agree with discrimination against Asian Americans and agree with denying them entrance to institutions of higher learning? This means ACEP is joining together with the AMA and other medical organizations to be not only anti-white but also anti-Asian. If this is the case, then ACEP is not exactly being inclusive, as the statement claims," a blog post on the American Thinker by Dr. John Hughes pointed out.

According to Hughes, Asians represent only six percent of the American population but account for 27 percent of medical students. Apparently, ACEP thinks there are too many Asian medical students and doctors and they are the ones inhibiting diversity. In fact, the group's moderator blocked discussion of the SCOTUS ruling being brought by Asian students, unwittingly directing to ACEP's political beliefs and bias against whites and Asians in doing so.

Hughes also said that the medical organization's protest against the SCOTUS decision is not actually about promoting diversity in the medical field, it is actually political. "It is arrogant for anyone to claim to speak for everyone else. I could only guess that most, if not all ACEP members want the best for all Americans, regardless of race, sex, or other demographic," the doctor commented, stressing that affirmative action is not the only way to achieve "equality." However, these medical groups are assuming that their pathway is the only acceptable one.

"The ongoing debate of equity versus equality as the means to achieve success for all, unfortunately, falls largely along political lines, with the left favoring affirmative action, quotas, and manipulating admissions standards to achieve equity," he said, emphasizing that the right generally favors hard work, merit, and a level playing field to achieve "equality." And that is where it becomes political, he said, just like in the debates on climate change, abortions, reproductive health, gun control, and many other issues.

Bookmark CultureWars.news for stories similar to this.

Sources for this article include:

S.WSJ.net

AMA-Assn.org

ACEP.org

AmericanThinker.com
Austrian chancellor proposes enshrining the RIGHT TO USE CASH in countrys constitution

Austria's leader has proposed enshrining the "right to cash" in the country's constitution , contrary to a number of nations eschewing hard currency in favor of digital money.

"More and more people are concerned that cash could be restricted as a means of payment in Austria," Chancellor Karl Nehammer said in an Aug. 4 statement, adding that contradictory information and reports fuel this uncertainty.

"People in Austria have a right to cash. Everyone should have the opportunity to decide freely how and with what [they want] to pay. That can be by card; by transfer; perhaps in the future also with the digital euro; but also with cash. This freedom to choose must and will remain."

According to the chancellor's office, the proposal involves a "constitutional protection of cash as a means of payment" that ensures people can still pay for goods and services with hard currency. It also involves securing a "basic supply" of cash, to be done in cooperation with OeNB, the country's central bank.

Nehammer said he has instructed Finance Minister Magnus Brunner to work on the proposal. A round table with the concerned ministries, finance industry representatives and OeNB officials is also scheduled for September.

Cash remains more popular in the country of about 9.1 million than in many other places, with Vienna saying that 47 billion ($51 billion) are withdrawn from ATMs in Austria every year. While card and electronic payments have become increasingly dominant in many European nations, Austria and neighboring Germany remain relatively attached to hard currency. (Related: Austrians reject digital currencies, demand "right to cash payments.")

Nehammer's intent to protect right to cash questioned

While many lauded Nehammer's support for cash, some questioned his sudden support for hard currency. Austria's next election is due in 2024, and Nehammer's Austrian People's Party (OVP) is among those vying for a majority in the country's National Council  the Austrian counterpart to the U.S. House of Representatives.

However, the Freedom Party of Austria (FPO) has been fighting to protect hard currency against supposed threats. It has led polls in Austria in recent months. Despite this, Nehammer said the FPO stands for "beating the drum a lot without actually doing anything for this."

The party did not take too kindly to the remarks of the chancellor and OVP leader. FPO Chair Herbert Kick blasted Nehammer for stealing his party's ideas. He argued that the chancellor's "suddenly discovered love of cash" mainly served "to secure his political survival."

Even the center-left Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPO), the biggest opposition party in the current parliament, decried Nehammer's remarks and accused the chancellor of "pure populism."

"Even if we write the word 'cash' into the constitution 100 times, there won't be a single ATM more in Austria," said Philip Kucher, the head of SPO's parliamentary group. Given this, the party has called for at least one ATM in every municipality.

At home, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has also stood for the right to cash. His pushback was in a different manner, however, as he signed a bill banning central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) issued by the federal government for use in the Sunshine State into law.

"The Biden administration's efforts to inject a CBDC is about surveillance and control," the governor said in a press release when the bill was first introduced. A federally-controlled CBDC would allow government officials to see all consumer activity and even cut off consumers' access to certain goods and services.

"I think with CBDC, this is a wolf coming as a wolf," DeSantis stressed during a press conference before signing the bill. "This is something that will be a massive transfer of power from individual consumers to a central authority, and that's just fundamentally antithetical to a free society."

Visit CurrencyReset.news for more stories about CBDCs and the right to cash.

Watch Tucker Carlson and former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard discussing the criminalization of cash payments being pushed by European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde.

This video is from the Lastchance channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Ron DeSantis to introduce legislation in Florida prohibiting the use of CBDCs in the state.

British activist threatened with arrest for using CASH in cashless Aldi grocery.

Poll: Americans don't want a central bank digital currency.

Sources include:

APNews.com

PNJ.com

Brighteon.com
OPECs crude production DROPS to its lowest level in three years as Saudi Arabia continues to throttle oil production

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries' (OPEC) crude oil production has plummeted to its lowest level in three years , largely due to Saudi Arabia implementing deeper cutbacks in production in a bid to shore up global oil prices

Data shows that OPEC's crude oil output plunged by 900,000 barrels a day last month to an average of 27.79 million a day. This is the biggest reduction in oil production since the group and its allies, including those in OPEC+, massively slashed supplies during the height of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic lockdowns in 2020.

Saudi Arabia is responsible for much of the cutbacks, as Riyadh delivered on most of its promised extra one million barrels-per-day cut in a bid to keep oil prices elevated against lackluster economic data coming out of China and deepening concerns about a recession in the United States. (Related: Saudi Arabia signs $5.6 billion deal with China to boost the kingdom's EV industry.)

Oil prices have already somewhat recovered since 2020 as OPEC continues to throttle global supplies. In London, prices have reached a three-month high of above $85 a barrel as fuel demand continues to surge.

Futures contracts for Brent Crude  one of the main global benchmarks for gauging the price of oil  recently rose by as much as 2.1 percent, trading to near $85 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures were trading at just over $80 per barrel.

The cutback in production brought Saudi Arabia's average production to 9.15 million barrels a day in July.

Nigeria's production also fell by around 130,000 barrels a day to 1.26 million barrels on average. The country planned to bolster production last month, but a leak at the Forcados Oil Terminal Port  which was scheduled to ship an additional 220,000 barrels of crude oil per day in July  thwarted the country's plans.

Libya suffered similar setbacks following protests that briefly halted production at the El Sharara oil field. The country's production slipped by 50,000 barrels a day to 1.1 million a day.

Russia for the longest time has flouted pledges to reduce supplies and exports as it focused on maximizing revenues to fund its ongoing special military operation in Ukraine. But tanker-tracking data shows Russia is finally joining its colleagues in delivering on pledges to lower shipments. The data shows that shipments have dropped to a seven-month low of just under three million barrels a day.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said that the country will cut production by 500,000 barrels a day for August and taper this down to 300,000 barrels a day in September.

Saudi Arabia likely to keep production cutbacks in place until end of September

Traders expect Saudi Arabia to announce an extension of its cutbacks on oil production to keep the measure in place until the end of September, holding production levels at around nine million barrels a day, the lowest level it has been in several years.

Economists note that the kingdom may be looking to raise crude oil prices to as much as $100 a barrel to help Riyadh's increased government spending.

Riyadh introduced the current extra one million-barrel-a-day cut earlier this summer as a unilateral move, joining its colleagues in OPEC and OPEC+, most of whom are already producing well below their assigned targets and unlikely to reduce supplies even further.

But this very focused decision to defend prices in the oil market may end up costing Saudi Arabia more in the long run. The kingdom recently suffered its sharpest downgrade in economic growth projections by the International Monetary Fund. The organization now only sees the country's economy expanding by 1.9 percent, just a fraction of its performance last year.

Riyadh and Moscow are expected to co-chair an online review of market conditions with key OPEC and OPEC+ nations this month. The full alliance is also due to meet in person in late November to discuss oil production for the next year.

Learn more about the state of crude oil production and exports in the world at NewEnergyReport.com.

Watch this clip from the "Worldview Report" as host Brannon Howse talks with author and financial expert Rebecca Walser about OPEC's plan to join BRICS and help kill the U.S. dollar.

This video is from the Worldview Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Leaked files show Saudi crown prince threatened "major" economic pain on US amid oil feud.

IEA report: Nearly 80% of Russian crude oil has been rerouted from EU to China and India.

Poland threatens to cut off oil exports to major German refinery if Russian state-owned oil company remains a major shareholder.

OPEC+ oil cuts a slap in the face to Joe Biden  expect gas prices to skyrocket once again.

Saudi Arabia joins others in OPEC to cut oil production in latest slap in the face to Joe Biden.

Sources include:

RT.com

Bloomberg.com

Fortune.com

Reuters.com

Brighteon.com
Crime and homelessness in Portland have cost Oregon over a billion dollars as residents flee

Homelessness and crime in Portland are costing the state of Oregon serious money.

(Article by Mike LaChance republished from TheGatewayPundit.com)

According to recent analysis, the county of Multnomah, where Portland is located, has lost over a billion dollars as residents have fled the area.

This is not surprising to anyone who has been paying attention. Portland has allowed far left radicals like Antifa to run wild with no consequences for years now.

FOX News reports:

Oregon county lost $1 billion in 2020 as residents fled crime, homelessness: Its like Portland died Multnomah County, where Portland, Oregon, is located, reportedly lost more than $1 billion in income between 2020 and 2021 as a result of residents fleeing the state amid surging crime, homelessness and safety concerns. Data analysis conducted by Oregon Live showed that 14,257 tax filers and their dependents left Multnomah County during the first year of the pandemic in 2020 and took a record $1 billion of income with them. The data showed that higher earners were more likely to leave since their jobs could be done remotely during coronavirus shutdowns, and the average income of people leaving was 14% higher than people who left the year before.

FOX 12 in Oregon has more:

Portland is one of the fastest-shrinking US cities Census data shows Portland lost the sixth-most people in the U.S. in the last year After 15 straight years of growth, Portlands population began declining in 2020. Amanda Ghest has lived in Portland for about 15 years. She says she enjoys it and is troubled to hear many are packing up and leaving. I know its been really tough for a lot of people through the pandemic, Ghest said. Its been hard to see Portland at the forefront of some of those tensions. The data shows Portland lost 8,308 people from July 1, 2021 to July 1, 2022

The Portland Business Alliance said these trends are concerning in its 2023 State of the Economy report. It says there are high and rising vacancy rates in downtown offices and increased crime. Addressing the citys population it says, People and businesses vote with their feet, and they are not voting for Portland, the city or the region, in the way they have in the recent past.

How much worse will things have to get before the people who live there demand real changes?

Read more at: TheGatewayPundit.com
Two-tiered justice system: Stewart Rhodes stood outside US Capitol on Jan. 6  gets 18 years in prison Leftist Patricia Eguino stood outside US Capitol on Jan. 6  gets elected commissioner

Oath Keepers founder and political prisoner Stewart Rhodes was sentenced in May , in Washington, DC after he was found guilty of insurrection by a DC kangaroo court.

(Article by Jim Hoft republished from TheGatewayPundit.com)

Far-left Obama-appointed US District Judge Amit Mehta sentenced Rhodes to 18 years in federal prison. This was after Mehta added extra years to his sentence because he believed Rhodes actions amounted to terrorism. This was a completely ludicrous accusation based on zero evidence. The soulless judge then lectured Stewart Rhodes following his sentencing on what a danger he was to society before Rhodes was led out of the court in cuffs.

Rhodes is currently 57. If this kangaroo courts conviction stands, Rhodes will be 75 when he is released.

For the record  Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes:

He NEVER went inside the US Capitol on January 6.

He never instructed anyone to go inside the US Capitol.

He was unarmed as were all of his Oath Keeper associates that day.

They left their weapons outside of the city in their hotel rooms.

There was no plan to enter the US Capitol.

The few Oath Keepers who entered the US Capitol assisted police.

There was no scheme to take over the government with their bare hands.

There were no pre-planning meetings on how they were going to take over the Capitol.

The prosecution was a sham.

There was no evidence of an insurrection  at all!

The jury was a pool of DC Communists and unhinged left-wing activists who see themselves as victims.

Obviously, to any honest American, the court appears to be completely corrupt. The far left DC courts are destroying the lives of thousands of Americans.

** Please help Stewart Rhodes with his legal defense at GiveSendGo.com/GAF5B

Now compare Stewarts story to Patricia Eguino.

Via David Valentine at Freedom Express Media.

Leftist DC Commissioner Patricia Eguino loves to brag that she was at the Capitol counter-protesting on January 6, while also cheering on the prosecution of conservative J6 protestors. In DC: Conservative Protesting = Get Prosecuted Liberal Counter=protesting = Get Elected into Office Equino told Trump supporters she outside the US Capitol on January 6. She is free today. Patricia Eguino was also on the board of elections and voted in as DC Commissioner in January of 2023.

All of the January 6 defendants should claim they are Democrats. Theyll be out tomorrow.

Read more at: TheGatewayPundit.com
Skyscraper-sized asteroid spotted near Earth deemed potentially hazardous by NASA

A new algorithm has helped astronomers detect 2022 SF289, a skyscraper-sized asteroid hiding in plain view near Earth. The algorithm was designed to hunt the biggest and most dangerous space rocks.

Experts report that 2022 SF289 is 600-foot-wide (180 meters) and orbits close enough to Earth to be classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid (PHA). The asteroid 2022 SF289 is one of an estimated 2,300 similarly classed objects.

Potentially hazardous asteroids are near-Earth objects (NEOs) that are larger than 460 feet (140 meters) in diameter.

PHAs could come within 4.65 million miles (7.48 million km) of Earth, or roughly 20 times the average distance between Earth and the moon. If an asteroid of this size breaks through the planet's atmosphere without burning up, it could result in widespread damage and countless injuries, especially if it landed in a densely populated city.

Fortunately, experts say that there is no risk of collision with 2022 SF289, at least in the foreseeable future.

According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), 2022 SF289 first made a close approach to Earth in September 2022, when it flew within about 4.5 million miles (7.2 million kilometers) of the planet.

However, astronomers around the world didn't detect the asteroid in telescope data at any point before, during or after the approach because 2022 SF289 was hidden by Milky Way starlight.

But experts have finally discovered the asteroid's existence while testing out a new algorithm that was designed to specifically detect large asteroids from small fragments of data.

The detection of a PHA that is hard to spot using traditional methods proves the usefulness of the algorithm, which will soon be used to analyze data gathered by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory.

The observatory contains a cutting-edge telescope in the Chilean mountains and it is slated to begin asteroid-hunting operations in early 2025. (Related: Invisible asteroids could hit Earth at any time, researchers warn.)

Algorithm helps experts spot 2022 SF289

Mario Juric, one of the brains behind the new algorithm and the director of the Institute for Data Intensive Research in Astrophysics and Cosmology at the University of Washington, explained that the discovery of 2022 SF289 hints at what the world can expect from the Rubin Observatory in less than two years, which is when researchers estimated that the HelioLinc3D algorithm will be discovering a similar heavenly object like the asteroid every night.

Experts discovered 2022 SF289 by testing their algorithm on archival data from the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) survey in Hawaii.

ATLAS takes at least four images of the same spot of the sky every night. The analysis revealed something that ATLAS had missed: a large asteroid, visible in three separate sky images taken on September 19, 2022, and the next three nights.

For ATLAS to work, an object must first appear in four separate images taken on a single night before that object can be considered an asteroid. Because 2022 SF289 did not meet that criteria, astronomers didn't know about its close brush with Earth.

The new HelioLinc3D algorithm is designed to quickly produce asteroid detections from much less data.

The HelioLinc3D algorithm was designed with the Rubin Observatory in mind. While the observatory can only scan the sky twice every night, it will do so in much higher detail than most modern observatories, said the researchers.

The team believes that 2022 SF289 is only the first of many exciting discoveries for Rubin and the new algorithm.

Members of the team said there may be thousands of hidden PHAs circling Earth, awaiting detection. They are more than ready to make these discoveries to share them with the world.

Visit Space.news for more stories about asteroids and space-related updates.

Watch the video below to learn more about NASA's secret space program.

This video is from the Global Citizens channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

NASA warns: Earth at GREATER RISK of being destroyed by asteroid than earlier thought.

Ryugu asteroid holds building blocks of life older than the solar system.

Space hazards: 8 Huge asteroids made closest approach to Earth in the first 14 days of 2023.

Sources include:

LiveScience.com 1

LiveScience.com 2

Brighteon.com
Biden approves $345 million weapons package to Taiwan to support the island against Chinese invasion

The administration of President Joe Biden announced on July 29 its decision to send $345 million in weapons to Taiwan after Congress approved up to $1 billion in Presidential Drawdown Authority to fast-track the provision of support to the island nation against the possible invasion of China.

In response to the news, the Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense expressed its gratitude for the unwavering security commitment of the United States. Taiwan's representative office in the U.S. noted that the administration's decision to pull arms and other materiel from its own stockpiles provided "an important tool to support Taiwan's self-defense."

Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office, claimed that no matter how much money the "Taiwanese separatist forces spend" and no matter how many American weapons are sent to the island, "it will not take our resolve to solve the Taiwan problem or shake our firm will to realize the reunification of our motherland."

Communist China noted that it sees the military aid package as a direct challenge to its claims over Taiwan and vowed not to back down on its stance that Taiwan is its rightful territory. (Related: China continues to threaten Taiwanese airspace, deploying 10 WARPLANES to cross Taiwan Strait median line.)

"Their actions are turning Taiwan into a powder keg and ammunition depot, aggravating the threat of war in the Taiwan Strait," said Chen.

However, some fear that the security assistance of the U.S. to Taiwan may lead to a proxy war similar to the situation in Ukraine with Russia. The U.S. has been conducting war games in preparation for a potential conflict with China to defend Taiwan.

Lt. Gen. Jonathan P. Braga, the commanding general of the U.S. Army Special Command, stated before the exercises took place, "[China], in accordance with our national defense strategy, is our true pacing challenge out there. Ultimately, what we are trying to do is prevent World War III. That's our job."

Lawmakers pressuring Pentagon, White House to speed up delivery of weapons to Taiwan

The latest defense package for Taiwan comes as U.S. lawmakers continue to put pressure on both the Pentagon and the White House to speed up the delivery of weapons to Taiwan, with the goal of providing the democratically governed island nation enough strength to counter China and to deter the communists from considering an invasion. With enough weaponry given to Taipei, it could make the price of an invasion far too costly.

The upcoming military aid package will reportedly include at least four unarmed MQ-9A reconnaissance drones.

Su Tzu-yun, a research fellow at the Taipei-based think tank the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, believes that the Biden administration is likely prioritizing the delivery of precision-guided munitions in the recent defense package, such as FIM-92 Stinger surface-to-air missiles.

This package is in addition to the nearly $19 billion in military sales the U.S. has approved for Taiwan, including its recent $216.7 million order for four MQ-9B "Sky Guardian" combat drones, which are expected to arrive in Taiwan by 2025. Taiwan has also been purchasing other major weapons systems from the U.S., such as F-16 fighter jets.

Learn more about the possibility of the U.S. going to war at WWIII.news.

Listen to the full clip of Biden committing U.S. forces to defend Taiwan should China invade.

This video is from the Chinese Taking Down Evil CCP channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

INFILTRATION ALERT: CCP-linked media company running influence campaigns across US news websites.

Chinese military claims to possess high-tech NEUROSTRIKE WEAPONS that can disrupt brain function and manipulate entire populations.

New evidence reveals Chinese spy balloons are also flying over Japan and Taiwan.

Taiwan pushes back, won't let US destroy semiconductor factories to prevent them from falling into Chinese hands.

Taiwan to extend mandatory military service period amid rising tensions with China.

Sources include:

BigLeaguePolitics.com

Bloomberg.com

APNews.com

FocusTaiwan.tw
Dark secrets exposed: CIA is behind Deagels shocking 2025 depopulation forecast & official excess death figures in the millions prove its on target & not just an estimation

(Article republished from Expose-News.com)

One such intrigue revolves around Deagel.com, an obscure online entity known for its exhaustive data on military capabilities and eyebrow-raising depopulation forecasts for 2025.

We can reveal that recent findings appear to link Deagel directly to significant players on the world stage: The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), and The Rockefeller Foundation.

And current real-world data on excess deaths in the West strongly suggest Deagels depopulation forecast is not just an estimation but in fact, a target that is on track to be hit thanks to the deadly effects of Covid-19 vaccination.

The Man Behind Deagel:

We can confirm that Dr. Edwin A. Deagle Jr., who passed away on February 16th 2021, is the confirmed figurehead authorities would like you to believe is solely behind Deagel.com.

Source Dr Edwin A. Deagle Jr.

During his life, Dr Edwin served as the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense and the Deputy Secretary of Defense. He was also the Director of International Relations for The Rockefeller Foundation, an influential global philanthropic organization.

Source Extract from the book The Future of the International Oil Market published by the Group of Thirty

While in 1993, Deagle was nominated by President Bill Clinton to be Under Secretary of the Air Force 

Source

But the intrigue deepens.

Declassified documents, released via Freedom of Information Act requests, reveal Deagles communication with the then United States Director of Central Intelligence, Stansfield Turner, hinting at a relationship with the CIA.

One document, dated 1977, intriguingly refers to an event described as the most significant in the intelligence field since 1947.

Source

Source The full letter to then CIA Director Stansfield Turner from Dr Edwin A. Deagle Jr., the Deputy Director for International Relations for The Rockefeller Foundation

Source The full letter to Dr Edwin A. Deagle Jr., the Deputy Director for International Relations for The Rockefeller Foundation from then CIA Director Stansfield Turner

The CIA has released 23 FOIA articles relating to Dr Deagle, the Rockefeller Foundation, the U.S. DOD and the former director of the CIA.

Source

This strongly suggests that Deagel.com isnt just the work of one man, but is in fact the work of a U.S. Military Industrial Complex consisting of the CIA, the U.S. Department of Defense and the shady Rockefeller Foundation. Making its apocalyptic depopulation forecasts all the more concerning.

Deagels Forecasts & Current Events:

Deagels apocalyptic depopulation forecasts for 2025 predict significant population declines in various countries, stirring unease given the current excess death data being recorded around the world.

Deagel.coms [infamous] 2025 forecast was removed from their website sometime in 2020. However, thanks to the Wayback Machine / Internet Archive, we are able to view the original predictions before discovered by critical thinkers.

Deagel predicted in 2020 that the United Kingdom would see its population decline by 77.1% by the year 2025.

Source

Deagel predicted in 2020 that the United States would see its population decline by 68.5 % by the year 2025.

Source

Deagel predicted in 2020 that Germany would see its population decline by 65.1% by the year 2025.

Source

Deagel predicted in 2020 that Australia would see its population decline by 34.6% by the year 2025.

Source

While also predicting a huge decline among many other Western countries.

Source

A full list of Deagels original apocalyptic depopulation predictions can be viewed here.

Regrettably, the unfolding events strongly suggest that Deagels ominous depopulation estimates may not be merely speculative. Real-world data appear to align disconcertingly with these figures, primarily driven by the severe and deadly consequences of Covid-19 vaccination.

But the widespread distribution of these experimental vaccines, allowed under emergency use authorization, would not have been possible without the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic.

So the fact the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) issued a COVID-19 Research contract in Ukraine, three months prior to the official recognition of the Covid-19 virus, raises some seriously unsettling questions.

Especially when we consider the U.S. Department of Defense is now known to be intricately connected to Deagel.com, along with the CIA and The Rockefeller Foundation.

The U.S. DoD Factor:

The world first started to hear about a novel coronavirus in early January 2020, with reports of an alleged new pneumonia-like illness spreading across Wuhan, China.

However, the world did not actually know of Covid-19 until February 2020, because it was not until the 11th of that month that the World Health Organization officially named the novel coronavirus disease; Covid-19.

So with this being the official truth, why does United States Government data show that the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) awarded a contract on the 12th November 2019 to Labyrinth Global Health INC. for COVID-19 Research, at least one month before the alleged emergence of the novel coronavirus, and three months before it was officially dubbed Covid-19?

The Government of the United States has a website called USA Spending, an official open data source of federal spending information. According to the site as of 12th April 2021, the US Government has spent a mind-blowing $3.63 trillion in response to COVID-19. But thats not the only information on Covid that can be found on the site.

Hidden within the Award Search are details on a contract awarded by the Department of Defense to a company named Black & Veatch Special Projects Corp, which is allegedly a global engineering, procurement, consulting and construction company specialising in infrastructure development.

The contract was awarded on September 20th, 2012 and is described as Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services.

The Award History for the contract contains a tab for Sub-Awards detailing the recipients, action date, amount, and very brief description for 115 Sub-Award transactions. Most of the Sub-Awards are extremely mundane for things such as laboratory equipment for Kyiv, or office furniture for Kyiv.

But there is one Sub-Award that stands out among the rest, and it was awarded to Labyrinth Global Health INC for SME Manuscript Documentation and COVID-19 Research.

An award for Covid-19 research isnt exactly shocking when the world is allegedly in the grip of a Covid-19 pandemic, but considering the fact the sub-contract was awarded on 12th November 2019, at least one month before the alleged emergence of the novel coronavirus, and three months before it was officially dubbed Covid-19, the award for Covid-19 research should come as a shock to everyone.

Source

But the shock doesnt end there, because the place the contact for Covid-19 research was instructed to take place was Ukraine, the very country that the U.S. Military Industrial Complex is currently using to fight a proxy war against Russia.

Read more at: Expose-News.com
The two Azerbaijani servicemen who were found guilty and sentenced to prison in Armenia for illegally crossing into the sovereign territory of Armenia, transporting illegal weapons and ammunition, and killing an Armenian citizena security guard of the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine, have contacted their family members.

August 8, 2023, 15:03 Red Cross representatives visit 2 Azerbaijani soldiers who illegally entered Armenia

STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 8, ARTSAKHPRESS: "The opportunity was given [to them] to make a phone call and write Red Cross letters to the families," Zara Amatuni, Communication and Prevention Program Manager of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Armenia office, told NEWS.am.
Following East Palestine train derailment, environmentalists push EPA to ban vinyl chloride

A gathering of environmental leaders converged at the steps of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) headquarters this week to demand an immediate ban on toxic vinyl chloride, the same deadly chemical that was released in the East Palestine train derailment.

While the EPA limits vinyl chloride emissions below a certain threshold, the environmental leaders want the agency to ban vinyl chloride entirely because it causes cancer, among other things.

On July 27, the environmental leaders presented a petition signed by more than 27,000 people calling on the EPA to ban the chemical, which is used to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic for drinking water pipes, consumer product packaging, and children's toys.

The East Palestine train wreck released about 100,000 gallons of vinyl chloride as part of a "controlled burn," which was supposed to help prevent the toxic substance from causing more damage than necessary. As a result, the world's largest dioxin plume was released, blanketing the region with vinyl chloride residue.

(Related: Reports found that the air around East Palestine following the derailment contained "higher than normal" concentrations of at least nine highly toxic chemicals, including vinyl chloride.)

Should "petrochemical" products made from petroleum and natural gas be banned, or is this just another assault on so-called "fossil" fuels?

According to the environmental leaders, what happened in East Palestine should serve as a "chilling warning" about how the public must act now to keep communities safe from so-called "petrochemical" products made from petroleum and natural gas.

Heather McTeer Toney, executive director of the Beyond Petrochemicals campaign, stood in front of the EPA building along with her supporters and demanded that the EPA finish the job of banning vinyl chloride from the consumer market.

Back in 1974, the EPA banned vinyl chloride in refrigerants, aerosol propellants, drugs, and cosmetics. Now, some are demanding that the EPA ban vinyl chloride from everything else.

Short-term exposure to vinyl chloride is linked to dizziness, drowsiness, and headaches, according to the EPA's website. All of these symptoms and more reported among residents in the East Palestine area.

Over the long term, breathing in vinyl chloride is linked to a rare form of liver cancer, the EPA warns. Research further suggests that infants and young children are particularly susceptible to vinyl chloride's toxicity due to the dioxins that are released, especially when the substance is burned.

"We're here today for one reason and one reason only  to tell the EPA that it's time now," said Daniel Winston, co-executive director of the group River Valley Organizing. Winston lives just 17 miles from the site of the East Palestine train derailment.

"We can't wait to ban vinyl chloride," Winston added. "You can't slow-walk this. The livelihoods of Americans are dependent on the EPA doing their job and banning things that are giving people cancer."

Several large companies are already working ahead of regulators at the EPA to phase out the use of PVC. They have all signed onto what is known as the U.S. Plastics Act, which aims to rid all plastic packaging of "problematic and unnecessary" PVC by the year 2025.

Walmart, Target, Aldi, General Mills, and Coca-Cola have all signed onto the U.S. Plastics Act, despite the fact that more than 120 new petrochemical projects are now being proposed in Louisiana, Texas, and the Ohio River Valley.

In the comments, one person asked what can replace PVC, seeing as how it is used in piping, doors, windows, plastic bottles, packaging, bank and membership cards, plumbing, cable insulation, flooring, signage, phonograph records, inflatable products, and rubber substitutes.

"Any idea?" this person asked. "Some other polymer that is being manufacturing using other toxic monomers, which means more carbon footprint and pollution?"

The latest news about what the EPA is up to can be found at EPA.news.

Sources for this article include:

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

Newstarget.com
New crypto linked to digital ID forces all users to scan their EYEBALLS using iris-scanning technology

A new cryptocurrency linked to a digital ID is forcing users to scan their eyeballs for verification

The new Worldcoin, which was launched on July 24, requires users to verify their identities through the "chrome orb." Worldcoin is another endeavor by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, following the success of his initial ChatGPT artificial intelligence (AI) platform.

Acccording to Worldcoin's developer Tools for Humanity, the optical verification technology is an essential measure in an era dominated by AI chatbots. It seeks to differentiate human users from AI-powered bots while establishing a global currency accessible to everyone. (Related: OpenAI CEO launches iris-scanning crypto plan to "verify" every human being: "ITS TIME.")

Altman and co-founder Alex Blania envision the Worldcoin and the World ID system with a crypto-based universal basic income (UBI) program  through the WLD token. Eligible members in certain countries will gain immediate access to the latter upon successful registration and verification.

Worldcoin's official website states its vision to allocate shares fairly to as many people as possible. Thus, the WLD token is distributed to people based on their "uniqueness" as human beings, even without any financial investment. This lines up with Worldcoin's goal to ensure global access to the currency, regardless of a person's economic status.

Worldcoin, World ID receive not-so-warm welcome

Not everyone shares Altman's excitement about the new technology, however.

Investor and real estate guru George Gammon took to Twitter to express his condemnation. He described Worldcoin in a tweet: "Looks like it's a combination of a global digital ID, cryptocurrency, AI and UBI? It's literally not possible to create something that sounds worse."

Whistleblower Edward Snowden warned against the use of optical biometrics back in 2021. He tweeted: "Don't catalog eyeballs. Don't use biometrics for anti-fraud. In fact, dont use biometrics for anything. The human body is not a ticket-punch."

The MIT Technology Review joined the fray through an investigation scrutinizing the claims of Worldcoin anonymizing and destroying users' biometric data for privacy. It found, however, that the data destruction never occurred and that biometric information remained in Worldcoin's systems. (Related: Worldcoin accused of unethical practices shortly after its official launch.)

Furthermore, the Technology Review also looked at how the company collected biometric data in developing countries such as Indonesia, Kenya and Colombia. While researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) confirmed the use of the "chrome orb" in these countries, they added that local residents were enticed to participate with promises of future wealth, free cash and other incentives.

This lack of transparency about data handling and deletion further fueled the controversy involving Worldcoin. According to the Daily Expose, this absence of clear information from Worldcoin leaves users' data vulnerable to falling into the wrong hands.

Israeli intellectual Yuval Noah Harari warned back in 2018 that technological advancements in AI and machine learning could lead to machines having total control over humans. The advisor to the globalist World Economic Forum stressed the potential dangers of data collection and its implications for personal freedoms and human rights. According to Harari, the risk of personal data being exploited to gain control over individuals and societies is becoming increasingly evident.

Visit Surveillance.news for more stories about Worldcoin and its accompanying World ID.

Watch this video about how Worldcoin could control the world.

This video is from the GoneDark channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

OpenAI CEO launches iris-scanning crypto plan to verify every human being: "ITS TIME."

Worldcoin CEO: Global digital currency tied to global digital ID will soon be required 'whether you like it or not.'

OpenAI CEO launches global Worldcoin cryptocurrency to facilitate Universal Basic Income (UBI) and globalist authoritarian control.

"Worldcoin" is here: Just get your eyes scanned by "The Orb" and your new "World ID" will be issued to you.

Worldcoin accused of unethical practices shortly after its official launch.

Sources include:

Expose-News.com

ZeroHedge.com

DailyCaller.com

TechnologyReview.com

Brighteon.com
Panic-stricken Russians share videos, pictures of massive NUCLEAR MUSHROOM on social media

Residents in Kazan, Russia's fifth-largest city, had a major scare on August 2 when they saw an eerie-shaped cloud formation in the sky that looked like a nuclear explosion. They turned to social media to share pictures and videos of the phenomenon.

Local news outlet Vechernyaya Kazan later clarified that the cloud that resembled a "nuclear mushroom" was actually a meteorological occurrence called a "cumulonimbus" or "anvil" cloud, a dense, vertical cloud containing a thunderstorm. It is formed from warm, moist and unstable air that rises and overturns upward, causing the cloud top to flatten and spread into an anvil or a mushroom shape.

According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), this type of cloud is more likely to form in tropical latitudes year-round and during the summer season at higher latitudes. A representative from the Republic of Tatarstan's Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources also sought to ease the fears of the people, as per the state-run news agency RIA Novosti.

"Warm air is lighter than cold air. Its rise into the middle layers of the atmosphere can be seen in the form of a mushroom cloud. This atmospheric phenomenon is called an inversion, or an anvil cloud. This is a special type of cumulonimbus cloud that rises to a height of about 12 to 15 kilometers [7.4 to 9.3 miles], and then begins to blur," the spokesperson said.

Civilians are on their toes due to continuing nuclear threats

This type of phenomenon does not normally bring fear to people. However, tensions are already at a high in the Eurasian country amid Russia's special military operation in Ukraine. For months, Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened the use of nuclear weapons if Kyiv would not stop in its counteroffensive measures. He claimed to be more than ready to use them to defend Russian territory.

"If the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, we will without doubt use all available means to protect Russia and our people  this is not a bluff," Putin said in September 2022. (Related: US to train Ukrainians to fly nuclear-capable F-16s despite warnings that Russia will see this as a NUCLEAR THREAT.)

One year after the start of the Russian-Ukraine conflict, Putin said he could dismantle the architecture of nuclear arms control unless the West backs off in Ukraine. He added that the conflict had been forced on Russia, particularly by NATO's eastward expansion since the Cold War.

"They intend to transform a local conflict into a phase of global confrontation," he said. "This is exactly how we understand it all and we will react accordingly because in this case, we are talking about the existence of our country."

Meanwhile, Newsweek reported that there have been growing fears that Russia may issue fresh nuclear threats if Ukraine attempts to recapture Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that Putin annexed in 2014. Russia said on August 4 that it had thwarted Ukrainian sea and air drone attacks on a naval base in the Black Sea and the Crimean peninsula.

"Tonight, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, with the use of two unmanned sea boats, attempted an attack on the Novorossiysk naval base of the Russian Armed Forces," the Defense Ministry said on the Telegram messaging app. Many fear the retaking of Crimea by the Ukrainians could trigger Putin to use his country's nuclear capabilities to defend the territory.

Follow NuclearWeapons.news for more stories about Russia's imminent use of nuclear arms against Ukraine.

Watch the video below that talks about how an attack by Ukrainian troops at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant can trigger a nuclear war.

This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Zelensky's RHETORIC: Russia is preparing nuclear explosion as Moscow's troops are reduced at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.

France promises to supply Ukraine with long-range cruise missiles, putting a target on itself for Russia's nuclear weapons.

Report: Xi warned Putin against launching NUCLEAR ATTACK on Ukraine.

As Russia prepares to use tactical nukes, millions of you don't even realize you are going to die in a Third World War.

Russia is planning a NUCLEAR ATTACK at Zaporizhzhia power plant, Zelensky claims.

Sources include:

Newsweek.com

T.me

Reuters.com

TheMoscowTimes.com

Brighteon.com
Using garlic butter to entice the insects to their deaths, a Queensland woman managed to keep gnats and fruit flies out of her home throughout this humid season.

Garlic Butter vs Gnats and Fruit Flies

A woman has received accolades for disclosing a straightforward yet resourceful method to get rid of fruit flies minus the use of any toxic sprays.

The little pesky insects, which may infect homes in large numbers, are typically drawn to sweet scents, such as fruit left out on the kitchen counter.

But the woman claimed that all you need to do to get rid of flies is to place a tiny cup of garlic butter on the countertop.

Pictures taken over five minutes demonstrate how the bugs were attracted to and caught in the sticky material before being discarded.

Woman shares genius hack for getting rid of gnats using garlic butter: It works every time #butter #dailymail https://t.co/fQc5P9Disr  WhatsNew2Day (@whatsn2day) August 2, 2023

The annoying gnats and fruit flies will fall victim to the tempting garlic butter trap in 5 minutes, claims the Queensland woman.

She did, however, remark that while it is an unpleasant sight, it is preferable to having the insects fly everywhere.

The images depict more and more insects progressively being drawn to the garlic butter cup before they become stuck and perish.

While some commenters praised the concept, another person tried it and proved that it is effective. She gave the hack a perfect 10 and gave it her seal of approval. Additionally, the user claimed that after trying everything, this was the most successful.

Apple Cider Vinegar and Dishwashing Liquid

Before, other irate homeowners swore by a do-it-yourself method to permanently get rid of fruit flies from their homes.

A mother offered advice to individuals experiencing what she referred to as "feral pains" from fruit flies and gnats. She suggested a mixture of dishwashing soap and apple cider vinegar that will kill the insects in 30 minutes.

In the humid Queensland climate, one woman said she employed the same method to get rid of an "influx of fruit flies," Daily Mail reports.

The Country Living explains that flies are drawn to the stale sweetness that comes from the apple cider vinegar, and the dish soap serves to lower the surface tension of the mixture, leading the flies to immediately dive into the solution upon exploring it and becoming trapped therein.

Also Read: Virgin Birth Now Possible for Fruit Flies as Genetic Engineering Induce Parthenogenesis

Gnats and Fruit Flies

Common pest insects include fungus gnats and fruit flies. They produce so many of the same problems that homeowners frequently confuse them. Fruit flies and gnats are very distinct, even though the flying pests have comparable behaviors and a relatively similar appearance.

Since these minuscule pests are both approximately one-eighth of an inch long, it can be challenging for locals to distinguish between fruit flies and gnats. They can be distinguished from one another, but, by a few characteristics like their general color, shape, and eyes.

Fungus gnats are dark gray or black, while fruit flies vary between tan to black.

Fruit flies resemble a smaller, rounder form of the ordinary house fly in appearance. On the contrary, fungus gnats have long bodies and dangling legs that give them the appearance of little mosquitoes.

The eyes of fungus gnats are so small that they are difficult to spot, in contrast to the large, red eyes that make fruit flies simple to identify, according to Orkin.

Related Article: Invasive Tau Fruit Fly Puts South California Community Under Quarantine, Produce Movement Restricted
Two migrant shipwrecks off the southern Italian island killed two people and left 30 others missing at sea, with 57 people rescued.

According to a BBC report, the two ships departed from the Tunisian port city of Sfax, each carrying 48 and 42 individuals.

The shipwrecks occurred in extremely stormy seas 23 nautical miles (46 km) south-west of Lampedusa.

Italian coastguards said the fatalities were a woman and her one-year-old baby from Ivory Coast.

Read Also: Italy's Intense Drought Brings Old World War Shipwrecks to Emerge from the River

Complex rescue operation

As of Sunday afternoon, 57 individuals had been rescued, and more than 30 were still missing.

The authorities said they conducted a "complex" rescue operation.

The Associated Press reported that two aircraft battled extreme winds to rescue migrants who had been stuck for over two days on a rocky reef on the island.

Medical professionals checked on two women, one of whom was in an advanced stage of pregnancy.

Maria Ylenia Di Paola, a nurse on Lampedusa, told Italian state television that the women were dehydrated and chilly, "but above all, they were psychologically tried."

The coast guard initiated the helicopter mission after determining that the rough sea would make it hard for rescue boats to approach the jagged cliffs safely.

The refugees on the reef had received food, water, and thermal blankets from Italian helicopters the day before.

According to local news website Agrigento Oggi, provincial police head Emanuele Ricifari said whoever permitted the migrants to sail in such harsh weather "is a crazy criminal with no scruples."

He also urged traffickers to stop their illegal activities.

"Rough seas are forecast for the next few days. Let's hope they stop. It's sending them to slaughter with this sea."

Migrant victim

The passengers on the boats are believed to be from sub-Saharan Africa.

According to the International Organization for Migration, a total of 1,814 migrants were known to have died while attempting to cross the Mediterranean to Italy in boats launched from Tunisia or Libya this year.

"The truth is that figure is likely to be much higher. Lots of bodies are being found at sea, suggesting there are many shipwrecks we never hear about," said IOM spokesman Flavio Di Giacomo, as quoted by the Aljazeera.

Traffickers are sending migrants and refugees out to sea "in iron boats that cost less than the usual wooden ones but are completely unseaworthy, easily breaking up and sinking," he claimed.

In recent days, more than 2,000 individuals have been rescued at sea by Italian patrol boats and non-governmental organizations in the midst of severe winds near the island.

Crossing attempts from Sfax to Lampedusa have escalated since March of this year, after Tunisian President Kais Saied accused sub-Saharan migrants of attempting to change the nature of Tunisian society.

42,719 people had left Tunisia, where the EU agreed to a 1 billion (860 million) accord last month to help reduce irregular migration.

Based on the data provided by Italy's interior ministry, over 78,000 individuals have arrived in Italy by boat since the beginning of the year, more than doubling the arrivals during the same period in 2022.

Related Article: Mysterious Shipwreck from WWII Discovered 7000 Meters Below Sea Level

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An 8,000 to 12,000-year-old flamingo fossil egg was discovered at a construction site for a new airport in Mexico.

According to the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), the discovery was made at a depth of 31 cm (12 inches) at a building site in Santa Luca, adding that the specimen was "discovered in an exceptional state of conservation."

The egg was believed to be from the Pleistocene Epoch, as reported by the Mexico News Daily.

Rare preserved egg

The fossil egg is 93.5 millimeters long and 55.8 millimeters broad; it has an elongated shape with sharp tips on both ends and no pattern of dots on the shell.

A study was conducted to recognize the eggs of different groups of birds using their measurements: maximum length and width, as well as the shape and pattern of the shell.

The size and shape of recent eggs from various aquatic species on the American continent, such as the American white pelican, white geese, razorbill, guillemot, tundra swan, and common loonas, as well as the sandhill crane, were compared during the study.

However, the results revealed that its dimensions are quite similar to those of flamingos, which were only allocated to the flamingo family level (Phoenicopteridae).

The exceptionally preserved Pleistocene egg is extremely rare.

It is the first discovery of its kind in the Americas and just the second in the world from the Phoenicopteridae flamingo family.

The Mexican Institute said the records of fossil flamingo bones in America range from the late Miocene (11.63 million years ago) to the Holocene (11,700 years ago), and are found in the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Argentina, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

According to the Greek Reporter, the Pleistocene geological epoch, which is the most recent Ice Age, began around 2.6 million years ago. It lasted a long time, finally coming to an end around 11,700 years ago.

Significant temperature changes and glaciations happened during this epoch, changing the Earth's geography and impacting the evolution of diverse species.

Read Also: New Study Says Mystery Fossil Egg Could Have Been Laid by a Giant Sea Reptile

Region's ancient environment condition

The discovery provides an intriguing look at the region's past climatic conditions and the various animals that formerly thrived in Mexico.

Mexican scientists suggest that the presence of the egg indicates that the location was the site of a shallow lake between 8,000 and 33,000 years ago, and that flamingos formerly thrived in central Mexico.

"Flamingos were part of the lake landscapes of Central Mexico, and that the lakes that made up the Basin of Mexico underwent a significant number of changes, possibly due to the environmental influence derived from the glaciations and the intense volcanic activity," INAH said in a statement, as quoted by Eseuro.

The flamingo species, known for its brilliant pink feathers, may be found primarily in South America, the Caribbean, the Yucatan peninsula, and the United States' southeast coast.

Large alkaline or saline lakes or estuary lagoons with little vegetation are the flamingo's preferred environment.

Flamingos are non-migratory birds in general. However, flamingo colonies are not always permanent due to changes in the environment and water levels in their breeding grounds.

Related Article: Flamingos in Spain Driven Away From the Wetlands By Prolonged Drought

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A glacial outburst of flooding inundated some parts of the Alaskan capital city of Juneau during the weekend. The flooding was caused by the overflow of the Mendenhall River due to a melting glacier near the city, wherein evacuations have been made. The situation remains volatile after two buildings were destroyed by the raging floodwaters.

Although glacial flooding has occurred in the area in the past, this is the first time that such magnitude has been reported. The event takes place amid reports of persistent heatwaves across the United States and other parts of the Northern Hemisphere since June. Climate scientists have also attributed climate change and global warming to melting glaciers.

Glacial Outburst Flooding

Local officials on Sunday, August 6, confirmed the flooding from the glacier-dammed lake destroyed at least two buildings and forced residents in other establishments to be evacuated, as cited CBS News. The icy structure behind the Juneau floods is the Mendenhall Glacier, located above the said Alaskan city.

A news release from the City and Borough of Juneau mentioned the Mendenhall River overflowed on Saturday, August 5, following a major release from Mendenhall Glacier's side basin called the "Suicide Basin." Photos and videos that surfaced on social media show that the glacier floodwaters led to the collapse of a building, almost hanging over on the edge of the Alaskan river.

Also Read: Landslides Can Influence Glacier Melting and Glacier Movement: New Study

State of Emergency

Amid the ongoing threat, local authorities issued a state of emergency due to the destructive glacial flooding in Juneau, according to ABC News, which reported the rushing water eroded the river banks, toppling not only the two homes but also a tree. Furthermore, authorities say the river remains unstable and asks the public to avoid the area.

Experts have warned that Alaska is warming twice at the rate of the rest of the U.S., according to the media outlet. Despite being a tourist attraction, the Mendenhall Glacier is at risk of further melt or potential collapse in the coming years or decades.

There have been no reports of human casualties from the Alaska floods so far.

Suicide Basin

Since 2011, the Suicide Basin of Mendenhall Glacier has produced glacier lake outburst floods that resulted in flooding of areas along the Mendenhall Lake and Mendenhall River, according to the National Weather Service, which reported that the current lake level was at 7.22 feet and is receding as of 5:15 p.m. local time on Sunday.

Although water levels are dropping already, the NWS warned that hazards remain within and near the Mendenhall River, urging the public to abide with road closures and stay away from unstable river banks in the area.

Climate Change and Melting Glaciers

Based on scientific findings in recent years, glaciers are melting in different parts of the world, including in Greenland, Antarctica, and the Arctic.

Scientists pointed out that both atmospheric and ocean warming are causing these ice giants to gradually retreat or thaw at unprecedented rates. The main threat brought by melting glaciers is the rise of global sea levels.

Related Article: Flooding Caused by Glacial Lakes Threatens 15 Million People Worldwide
The Loch Ness monster, a mythical creature that apparently inhabits Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands, has remained a mystery for several generations and centuries. The creature, widely called Nessie, was first allegedly seen in the 6th century, long before the Viking warriors voyaged towards Great Britain.

After turning into local folklore and almost forgotten in myths and legends, the potential existence of the unknown animal emerged again, when an unverified photo of a dinosaur-like creature appeared in the early 20th century. Since then, there has been no concrete evidence of its existence.

Now, a local tourism group in Scotland is spearheading a "surface watch" activity to search the purported ancient creature. Since the identity and appearance of the Loch Ness creature is still unknown, local monster hunters are expected a long-necked animal. Also, the Loch Ness monster hunt is also calling for volunteers.

Loch Ness Monster Hunt

The Loch Ness Centre just announced that it is recruiting volunteers to join its "biggest search" in more than 50 years of Scotland's mythical creature. Cooperating with a research team at Loch Ness Exploration, the tourism group is looking for potential enthusiasts of the Loch Ness Monster hunt taking place late this month, from August 26 to 27, ABC News reported.

The hunt is reportedly the largest of its kind since the Loch Ness Investigation Bureau studied the Loch Ness freshwater lake in 1972, the U.S. media outlet said. The centre also adds never-before-used surveying equipment on the lake will be utilized and potentially help unravel secrets the mysterious waters hold. In addition, thermal drones will also be used to retrieve a thermal image of the underwater environment.

Meanwhile, the volunteers will conduct surface watch, as mentioned earlier, which will include monitoring breaks in the water with emphasis on "inexplicable movements," according to the group's website.

Also Read: Scientists Claim that Famous Loch Ness Photo was a Whale's Penis

Loch Ness Local Folklore

In 1934, a photo of the Loch Ness monster called the "surgeon's photograph" took the world by storm, showing the existence of a large, marine animal with a long neck that seems to be prehistoric. However, the scientific community has debunked sightings of the mythical creature, asserting they were just mistaken objects.

The surgeon's photograph was proven to be a hoax. Yet, the interest and curiosity of some people on the existence of the legendary animal has never waned. Following the infamous 1934 photo, hundreds of sightings of the Scottish sea creature were reported.

In 2019, a photo from a holidaymaker emerged online, showing a giant creature swimming in Scotland, making it the most compelling evidence yet of the Loch Ness monster, 7 News Australia reported. Still, no proof has been established yet about Nessie's real-world existence.

Prior to the Loch Ness monster hunt later this month, hopes are renewed for enthusiasts of the mythical creature.

Related Article: Scientists Vouching for Loch Ness Monster Existence Plausibility After Fossil Analysis
Cats are among the most popular and beloved animals in the world, but they are also the source of many conflicts and controversies.

A new study by researchers from the University of Exeter and the University of Auckland has examined the challenges and dilemmas of managing domestic and wild cats in Britain and New Zealand, two countries that have different approaches and attitudes towards these animals.

The difference between Britain and New Zealand

The study, which was published in the journal Communications Biology on August 7, compared how people in Britain and New Zealand deal with domestic and wild cats, especially in relation to their impacts on native biodiversity, as per Phys.org.

The researchers interviewed various stakeholders, such as conservationists, farmers, researchers, policymakers, and cat owners, to understand their perspectives and experiences.

The study found that Britain and New Zealand have very different views and values regarding cats.

In Britain, cats are generally seen as pets or companions, and people are reluctant to harm or kill them, even if they pose a threat to other species.

Meany, in New Zealand, cats are often seen as pests or predators, and people are more willing to control or cull them, especially if they endanger native species.

The study also found that Britain and New Zealand have different legal and practical challenges in managing cats.

In the former, the main problem is distinguishing between domestic cats, feral cats, and wildcats, which are all protected by law but have different levels of threat to native wildlife.

Meanwhile in the latter, the main problem is enforcing the regulations and responsibilities of cat ownership, such as microchipping, neutering, and confining.

Also Read: German Town Bans Cats From Going Outdoors to Save Endangered Crested Lark

The implications and recommendations of the study

The study suggested that managing domestic and wild cats is likely to remain fraught for the foreseeable future, as there is no easy or universal solution that can satisfy everyone, as per Eurekalert.

It also said that managing cats requires more than technical or scientific interventions; it also requires social and cultural considerations, such as public awareness, education, participation, and dialogue.

The researchers recommended that more research and monitoring should be done to understand the ecology and behavior of cats, as well as their impacts on other species.

More regulation and enforcement should also be implemented to ensure that cat owners follow the best practices for their pets' welfare and environmental impact.

The study also suggested that more alternatives and innovations should be developed to reduce the reliance on lethal methods for controlling feral or invasive cats.

The researchers hoped that their study will contribute to a more informed and constructive debate on how to manage domestic and wild cats in a way that respects both human and animal interests.

They also hoped that their study will inspire more collaboration and cooperation among different stakeholders, such as conservationists, farmers, cat owners, veterinarians, animal welfare groups, and policymakers.

Human-cat conflict resolution is the process of finding ways to reduce or prevent the negative impacts of human-cat interactions, such as predation, disease transmission, or persecution. It can involve various strategies, such as education, compensation, coexistence, or conservation.

Education is a strategy that aims to increase the awareness and understanding of the causes and consequences of human-cat conflict, as well as the benefits and challenges of living with cats.

It can target different audiences, such as farmers, hunters, tourists, students, or policymakers. Education can also use different methods, such as workshops, campaigns, media, or art.

Another strategy proposed is compensation, which aims to reimburse the losses or damages caused by cats to humans, such as livestock depredation or crop raiding.

Compensation can take different forms, such as cash payments, insurance schemes, or in-kind support, and it can also have different criteria, such as verification, eligibility, or timeliness.

Related article: Humans Can Communicate with Cats by Blinking the Eyes Slowly and Using Other Facial Gestures
At least 14 individuals were killed in the City of Shulan following the onslaught of torrential rains in China in the previous weeks.

According to a report on The Independent, three government officials were included in the number of fatalities in Shulan, which is situated in China's north-eastern Jilin province.

Among the deaths was the city's vice mayor, the report said.

Read Also: Heavy Rains Triggers Highway Bridge To Collapse In China, Two Cars Fall Into The River

Damage, negative effects

Authorities said power in 14,305 residences had been affected but the energy supply has already been restored.

Furthermore, water levels in the affected areas have already receded to a safe level.

Meanwhile, authorities already began with the emergency response efforts to relocate the affected residents and to repair the damage infrastructures.

The Guardian report noted that thousands of officials have already been sent in the affected areas of Jilin as well as in the neighboring Heilongjiang in order to provide assistance when it comes to flood response measures, evacuation protocols, distribution of emergency supplies, and construction and rehabilitation of damaged roads.

Concerned officials have warned that in some parts of two major rivers in Heilongjiang and Jilin, the water levels had already surpassed the alert line.

There were already recovery and rehabilitation measures being conducted in the north-eastern province of Heilongjiang.

People were seen using their shovels to clear the muddy waters from their buildings.

Members of the People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police were also putting sandbags placed along the rivers. These forces have also been in charged in repairing roads and distributing supplies in the provinces of Heilongjiang and Jilin.

In total, more than 2,050 troops and over 5,000 personnel helped in the evacuation of more or less 3,000 civilians.

Channel News Asia reported that at least 10 individuals were also killed due to floods in Baoding, a city that is near Beijing.

Moreover, 18 individuals were reported to have been missing in the area.

Officials said that more than 600,000 of Baoding's 11.5 million residents had been evacuated from areas in order to ensure their safety.

Food security concerns

A CNN report said that in the northern portion of Heilongjiang, the rivers that irrigate its fertile farmlands overflowed and this results in the submerging of rice fields, the destruction of vegetable greenhouses and the damage of factories.

Authorities are also making assessment on the damage in villages and large areas of farmland after the City of Wuchang was submerged in floods.

Wuchang is considered as another major rice producing city in Heilongjiang.

Due to this, officials are concerned about the potential effect of the bad weather towards the global food security. These extreme weather events being experienced in China have brought threat to agricultural and food supplies.

Information showed that the three provinces, Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning, are producing more than one fifth of the country's grain output.

Authorities said the major crops being produced were soybeans, corn and rice.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs already issued stern warning that the heavy rainstorms brought by Typhoon Khanun and Typhoon Doksuri were expected to cause adverse effects on China's agricultural production.

Related Article: Southwest China Flooding, Heavy Rain: 15 People Died in Chongqing; 460,000 Residents Affected in Sichuan

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Aussies like Ben Debono are embracing the work-from-anywhere lifestyle. (Source: Supplied/Getty)

Digital marketer Ben Debono has been working while travelling for the past couple of years, visiting everywhere from Albania to Greece to Central America.

The Adelaide local started his own marketing business, Bobo Digital, six years ago and said this had given him the freedom to work from anywhere.

One of the reasons I started my own agency was because I wanted to go to South America for a year. I thought, Ive got some money in the bank but itd be nice to work and travel at the same time, Ben told Yahoo Finance.

I was able to generate enough money while I was in South America because I was spending South American pesos and earning Australian dollars. I wasnt earning a lot but enough to get by and be able to do all the things I wanted to do.

Ben is now working with his clients, who are mostly based in Australia, while visiting Montenegro. He will soon head off to visit family in Malta and Wales, before packing up and moving to London next year.

The freedom to travel, meet new people and experience different cultures were the main benefits of working from anywhere, Ben said. But there are some downsides, with the Aussie still working his normal hours while travelling abroad.

There are days where I am travelling with friends and theyll go to the beach and Im just sitting here in an apartment pounding out work for 10 hours while they are having fun, he said.

So, you definitely have to be disciplined with how you go about it and be driven and not lose sight of the fact that you are still making money and you have deadlines with clients.

Growing trend

Ben is one of many Aussies who are embracing the work-from-anywhere lifestyle. New research by freelancer platform Fiverr found anywhere workers were now choosing to travel more and for longer periods of time.

Story continues

More than 80 per cent of anywhere workers planned to continue this lifestyle for up to five years, the worldwide survey of 2,000 digital nomads found, while 83 per cent planned to move locations at least once every six months.

Fiverr CMO Gali Arnon said work and travel were becoming increasingly blended as the global workforce evolved.

Its incredible to see this type of work becoming more common across the globe. This growing group of workers are taking control over their careers while enriching their lives experiencing what the world has to offer, Arnon said.

From full-time workers to freelancers, being an anywhere worker has never been easier and the opportunities are endless.

The main reasons workers are choosing the lifestyle range from a desire for more flexibility, excitement and adventure, to having grown tired of the typical 9-5 job grind.

Anywhere workers were largely Millennials, Fiver found, and were workers who had a fair amount of work experience and had found full-time remote positions that offered them the flexibility to work and travel.

Most in-demand jobs

Fiverr's latest Business Trends Index found it was digital jobs that were sending Aussies across the globe.

Some of the most in-demand jobs on the platform were:

YouTube Shorts video services

Instagram Reel editor

Shopify manager

Etsy digital planner

Making it work

Alongside his digital marketing business, Ben also picks up freelance work through Fiverr - setting up and managing Google Ads campaigns. He is currently earning up to $8,000 a month on the platform, with gigs ranging from $150 to $915.

For other Aussies hoping to jump on the work-from-anywhere trend, Ben recommends being disciplined and, if you are intending to freelance abroad, building up a profile before you head overseas.

Jump in and give it a go. Platforms like Fiverr and Upwork afford you the opportunity to do so, which is fantastic, he said.

Focus on expanding your network so you dont have as much reliance on those platforms and can build your own businesses.

Its a grind to get up and rank high. Youve got to do a lot of work for cheap but it pays off when you get to that point.

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The second legs of the European qualifiers involving Rangers and Hearts will be shown live by BBC Scotland.

After showing Rangers 2-1 first leg win over Servette in the Champions League, the return in Switzerland on 15 August (19:30 BST) will also be on the BBC Scotland channel, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

And Hearts return with Rosenborg on 17 August (19:45) will also be on those platforms, with the Premiership side 2-1 down after the first leg.

There will be accompanying live text coverage on the BBC Sport website and app.

Hearts and Rosenborg are competing to meet Hajduk Split of Croatia or PAOK of Greece in the play-off round.

Rangers or Swiss outfit Servette will face Dutch side PSV Eindhoven or Austria's Sturm Graz in the Champions League play-off round.

Watch on iPlayer banner
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The average prices of luxury homes costing more than Rs 1.5 crore have increased by 24 per cent in the last five years across seven major cities, according to property consultant Anarock.

Luxury homes recorded the highest average price appreciation of 24 per cent in the last five years, while rates of affordable homes below Rs 40 lakh went up by 15 per cent.

The price increase in the mid- and premium-housing segment -- costing in the range of Rs 40 lakh to Rs 1.5 crore -- was 18 per cent in the last five years.

Prices of luxury homes in the top seven cities in 2018 were at an average of Rs 12,400 per square feet.

The rates have increased to Rs 15350 per square feet now, Anarock said in a report released on Tuesday.

The average price in the affordable homes category across the top seven cities was Rs 3750 per square feet in 2018 as against Rs 4310 at present.

Mid- and premium-segment homes saw the average price go up from Rs 6050 per square feet in 2018 to Rs 7120 per square feet in 2023.

ALSO READ | REALTY  Myth and Reality

Anarock Chairman Anuj Puri said, "Extremely robust sales, ably supported by good supply pipeline, have resulted in luxury homes witnessing the most significant price appreciation. Considering the relative price stagnation in this segment in earlier years, a 24 per cent increase over the last five years is notable."

Commenting on the report, Pradeep Aggarwal, founder and chairman, Signature Global (India) Ltd, said housing prices have risen in the last two years after remaining stagnant for almost a decade.

"We are witnessing price appreciation in all segments, be it affordable, mid-income, luxury and ultra luxury," he said.

The price growth is higher in luxury homes category because of a surge in demand amid limited supply, Aggarwal said.

Mohit Jain, managing director, Krisumi Corporation, said, "Luxury homes witnessing maximum price appreciation in the last five years is not at all surprising, considering that the demand in this segment has surged during and post-pandemic."

People are looking to buy spacious homes with better amenities, he added.

"Luxury projects are now adopting green building norms in a big way, adding to the cost. Usage of top-notch construction material, finishes, appliances and design results in higher cost of construction," Jain said.

NEW DELHI: The average prices of luxury homes costing more than Rs 1.5 crore have increased by 24 per cent in the last five years across seven major cities, according to property consultant Anarock. Luxury homes recorded the highest average price appreciation of 24 per cent in the last five years, while rates of affordable homes below Rs 40 lakh went up by 15 per cent. The price increase in the mid- and premium-housing segment -- costing in the range of Rs 40 lakh to Rs 1.5 crore -- was 18 per cent in the last five years.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Prices of luxury homes in the top seven cities in 2018 were at an average of Rs 12,400 per square feet. The rates have increased to Rs 15350 per square feet now, Anarock said in a report released on Tuesday. The average price in the affordable homes category across the top seven cities was Rs 3750 per square feet in 2018 as against Rs 4310 at present. Mid- and premium-segment homes saw the average price go up from Rs 6050 per square feet in 2018 to Rs 7120 per square feet in 2023. ALSO READ | REALTY  Myth and Reality Anarock Chairman Anuj Puri said, "Extremely robust sales, ably supported by good supply pipeline, have resulted in luxury homes witnessing the most significant price appreciation. Considering the relative price stagnation in this segment in earlier years, a 24 per cent increase over the last five years is notable." Commenting on the report, Pradeep Aggarwal, founder and chairman, Signature Global (India) Ltd, said housing prices have risen in the last two years after remaining stagnant for almost a decade. "We are witnessing price appreciation in all segments, be it affordable, mid-income, luxury and ultra luxury," he said. The price growth is higher in luxury homes category because of a surge in demand amid limited supply, Aggarwal said. Mohit Jain, managing director, Krisumi Corporation, said, "Luxury homes witnessing maximum price appreciation in the last five years is not at all surprising, considering that the demand in this segment has surged during and post-pandemic." People are looking to buy spacious homes with better amenities, he added. "Luxury projects are now adopting green building norms in a big way, adding to the cost. Usage of top-notch construction material, finishes, appliances and design results in higher cost of construction," Jain said.
S Lalitha By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: An overseas citizen of India (OCI), employed as a civil engineer in Saudi Arabia, is completely upset at the alleged humiliation and abusive behaviour meted out to her by immigration officers at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport recently.

Flyer Nalini Murkutla said her nine-year-old son accompanying her was left traumatised by the incident.

The incident occurred in the wee hours of July 22 when Nalini had just landed at Bengaluru airport by a Gulf Air flight from Bahrain (GF 282). Since then, she reached out to different departments and registered formal complaints but has got no help.

Nalini told TNIE, As an OCI, we had to fill up a landing card and hand it over to the immigration counter. When my turn came, the lady at the counter treated me in an extremely rude manner and with contempt from the get-go. She didnt like the way I filled in the form and started screaming at me loudly. She took the form of another person and showed me how he had filled it, and how my form was not done properly.

It was condescending behaviour which made me feel humiliated. She ordered me to fill up another form and bring it. I just felt like a naughty pupil in front of a headmaster. She could have communicated in a polite manner. My son was asking me why she was treating me so badly, Nalini added.

The flyer conceded that she had not filled the complete address of her brothers place in Jayanagar where she had come on a visit.

I was exhausted without a nights sleep and had filled it up quickly, she added.

The engineer then moved to another counter.

I never had the intention to ignore the first officers instructions, but due to her arrogant and disrespectful behaviour towards me, I left her counter in a disoriented and anxious state - I just wanted to get away from her. When I handed in the same forms to another woman official, the previous officer came over and told her about my mistake and was making an issue out of it. Meanwhile, a male official around was gesticulating to this lady to okay it and she finally stamped the clearance, Nalini said.

The passenger went to the same male officer and said she wanted to register a formal complaint.

He had no intention to help me and tried to diffuse the situation by getting rid of me. This officer was seen hiding his ID from plain sight. I insisted that I wanted to lodge a formal complaint and when I asked for his name, he went berserk, turned abusive and even called me an obnoxious woman, and ordered to remove me from there she recalled.

Nalini felt humiliated, however, with deep regret, decided to leave as she didnt want to exacerbate the situation by fighting back, keeping her son in mind.

The following day, Nalini sent a complaint to the 'Air Sewa facility but did not get any response. She also shot off mails to the immigration authorities in Bengaluru and called a landline number too. She was told to approach the Foreigners Regional Registration Office.

I have travelled to nearly 30 countries including remote corners of the world. I have never been treated this shabbily at an airport anywhere. Experiencing this in my own country has left me heartbroken. My son was traumatised and anxious to fly after a couple of days due to the incident when we had to travel to Vijayawada from Bengaluru airport. she added.

Asked what action she wanted, Nalini said, The immigration officers must treat any passenger with respect, it looked like these officers were not trained to treat passengers properly. Their default attitude is to be disdainful and treat passengers in an inhumane way which is unacceptable. An apology would help.

A top immigration official told TNIE, I will check details about the incident and get back. We have CCTV footage available, and everything would be recorded in it.

BENGALURU: An overseas citizen of India (OCI), employed as a civil engineer in Saudi Arabia, is completely upset at the alleged humiliation and abusive behaviour meted out to her by immigration officers at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport recently. Flyer Nalini Murkutla said her nine-year-old son accompanying her was left traumatised by the incident. The incident occurred in the wee hours of July 22 when Nalini had just landed at Bengaluru airport by a Gulf Air flight from Bahrain (GF 282). Since then, she reached out to different departments and registered formal complaints but has got no help.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Nalini told TNIE, As an OCI, we had to fill up a landing card and hand it over to the immigration counter. When my turn came, the lady at the counter treated me in an extremely rude manner and with contempt from the get-go. She didnt like the way I filled in the form and started screaming at me loudly. She took the form of another person and showed me how he had filled it, and how my form was not done properly. It was condescending behaviour which made me feel humiliated. She ordered me to fill up another form and bring it. I just felt like a naughty pupil in front of a headmaster. She could have communicated in a polite manner. My son was asking me why she was treating me so badly, Nalini added. The flyer conceded that she had not filled the complete address of her brothers place in Jayanagar where she had come on a visit. I was exhausted without a nights sleep and had filled it up quickly, she added. The engineer then moved to another counter. I never had the intention to ignore the first officers instructions, but due to her arrogant and disrespectful behaviour towards me, I left her counter in a disoriented and anxious state - I just wanted to get away from her. When I handed in the same forms to another woman official, the previous officer came over and told her about my mistake and was making an issue out of it. Meanwhile, a male official around was gesticulating to this lady to okay it and she finally stamped the clearance, Nalini said. The passenger went to the same male officer and said she wanted to register a formal complaint. He had no intention to help me and tried to diffuse the situation by getting rid of me. This officer was seen hiding his ID from plain sight. I insisted that I wanted to lodge a formal complaint and when I asked for his name, he went berserk, turned abusive and even called me an obnoxious woman, and ordered to remove me from there she recalled. Nalini felt humiliated, however, with deep regret, decided to leave as she didnt want to exacerbate the situation by fighting back, keeping her son in mind. The following day, Nalini sent a complaint to the 'Air Sewa facility but did not get any response. She also shot off mails to the immigration authorities in Bengaluru and called a landline number too. She was told to approach the Foreigners Regional Registration Office. I have travelled to nearly 30 countries including remote corners of the world. I have never been treated this shabbily at an airport anywhere. Experiencing this in my own country has left me heartbroken. My son was traumatised and anxious to fly after a couple of days due to the incident when we had to travel to Vijayawada from Bengaluru airport. she added. Asked what action she wanted, Nalini said, The immigration officers must treat any passenger with respect, it looked like these officers were not trained to treat passengers properly. Their default attitude is to be disdainful and treat passengers in an inhumane way which is unacceptable. An apology would help. A top immigration official told TNIE, I will check details about the incident and get back. We have CCTV footage available, and everything would be recorded in it.
Shrimansi Kaushik By

Express News Service

HYDERABAD: About one-third of all food in India gets wasted, according to the FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India). The UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2021 mentioned that household food waste in India is approximately 50 kg per person annually. This is when according to Global Hunger Index, we were on the 101st rank out of 121 countries. We slipped to 107th rank in 2022.

These data sets help us identify the contradiction that we live in, we waste just about the same amount of food that we produce while more than 14% of our population is undernourished.

In a scenario like this, careful planning and utilisation of the food produced is required. Also, a system to move surplus food to those in need. There are a few good samaritans who have taken up the responsibility to build this system and have been relentlessly working in that direction for almost a decade.

Robin Hood Army (RHA) is an organisation, formed in 2014, which helps provide surplus food produced in the cities to those in need. It is a volunteer-based organisation and takes zero funds from its donors or volunteers.

What is exciting is that on this Independence Day, when India turns 76, RHA is launching an international campaign to serve underprivileged citizens across rural India and Pakistan. Through their endeavour called #MissionSwades, RHA is launching a collective societal effort in the week leading to the August 15 celebrations.

This ambitious project will unite civilians, creators, media houses and corporates to come together to provide millions of meals to the less fortunate across villages, said Maruti Prasad, one of the city representatives of the organisation. The other representatives from Hyderabad include Aswain Mohanty, Kiran Kumar and Prakash, all handling different roles.

#MissionSwades will focus on two major things: serving 10 million meals in 1000 villages. The dedicated army of RHA volunteers in India and Pakistan will join forces to deliver nourishing meals and rations to their fellow citizens, targeting the most marginalised populations in these countries. Each city will adopt around two-five villages through this mission, where food and groceries will be provided to those in need, he explained.

The second aspect of this drive includes, said Prasad, setting up rural networks for the long term. Kicking off RHAs long-term outreach in rural India, the team will build food, logistics, and mobilisation networks to ensure that hundreds of villages get a constant supply of rations through the cities every month. The most enormous pockets of hunger lives in the roots of our country - our villages. If we have to fight hunger on a bigger scale, focusing on rural India is important, he added.

Hyderabad has about 1000 volunteers with 16 chapters and they will be reaching out to the needy and distributing groceries in more than 50 villages in the upcoming mission. The volunteers comprise young professionals and citizens who have taken to the streets in their free time to fight global hunger. Prasad explained that the team collects surplus food from restaurants and distributes it to the less fortunate. They have a WhatsApp number (8971966164) through which volunteers and donors can connect with the organisation by sending a Hi to the given number.

Through their networks, they have been able to identify the pockets in rural and urban areas where food is required. As donors inform the organisation about surplus food they have, the volunteers pick the food from the given location and distribute it among nearby pockets. Every day, about 1200-1500 people are fed through the efforts made by the organisation in the city. In nine years, RHA has served food to 122.8 million people across 403 cities globally through a team of 2,30,000 volunteers.

HYDERABAD: About one-third of all food in India gets wasted, according to the FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India). The UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2021 mentioned that household food waste in India is approximately 50 kg per person annually. This is when according to Global Hunger Index, we were on the 101st rank out of 121 countries. We slipped to 107th rank in 2022. These data sets help us identify the contradiction that we live in, we waste just about the same amount of food that we produce while more than 14% of our population is undernourished. In a scenario like this, careful planning and utilisation of the food produced is required. Also, a system to move surplus food to those in need. There are a few good samaritans who have taken up the responsibility to build this system and have been relentlessly working in that direction for almost a decade. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Robin Hood Army (RHA) is an organisation, formed in 2014, which helps provide surplus food produced in the cities to those in need. It is a volunteer-based organisation and takes zero funds from its donors or volunteers. What is exciting is that on this Independence Day, when India turns 76, RHA is launching an international campaign to serve underprivileged citizens across rural India and Pakistan. Through their endeavour called #MissionSwades, RHA is launching a collective societal effort in the week leading to the August 15 celebrations. This ambitious project will unite civilians, creators, media houses and corporates to come together to provide millions of meals to the less fortunate across villages, said Maruti Prasad, one of the city representatives of the organisation. The other representatives from Hyderabad include Aswain Mohanty, Kiran Kumar and Prakash, all handling different roles. #MissionSwades will focus on two major things: serving 10 million meals in 1000 villages. The dedicated army of RHA volunteers in India and Pakistan will join forces to deliver nourishing meals and rations to their fellow citizens, targeting the most marginalised populations in these countries. Each city will adopt around two-five villages through this mission, where food and groceries will be provided to those in need, he explained. The second aspect of this drive includes, said Prasad, setting up rural networks for the long term. Kicking off RHAs long-term outreach in rural India, the team will build food, logistics, and mobilisation networks to ensure that hundreds of villages get a constant supply of rations through the cities every month. The most enormous pockets of hunger lives in the roots of our country - our villages. If we have to fight hunger on a bigger scale, focusing on rural India is important, he added. Hyderabad has about 1000 volunteers with 16 chapters and they will be reaching out to the needy and distributing groceries in more than 50 villages in the upcoming mission. The volunteers comprise young professionals and citizens who have taken to the streets in their free time to fight global hunger. Prasad explained that the team collects surplus food from restaurants and distributes it to the less fortunate. They have a WhatsApp number (8971966164) through which volunteers and donors can connect with the organisation by sending a Hi to the given number. Through their networks, they have been able to identify the pockets in rural and urban areas where food is required. As donors inform the organisation about surplus food they have, the volunteers pick the food from the given location and distribute it among nearby pockets. Every day, about 1200-1500 people are fed through the efforts made by the organisation in the city. In nine years, RHA has served food to 122.8 million people across 403 cities globally through a team of 2,30,000 volunteers.
By IANS

KOLKATA: A transgender woman was prevented from donating blood at a donation camp by a state government health worker on gender identity grounds.

The health worker finally agreed to allow the trans-woman to donate the blood following objections by the organisers and Queer-rights activists. But the health worker's approval came with weird interpretations of the sexual orientation of transgender persons and why they are medically risky of being allowed to donate blood.

Speaking to IANS, noted city-based transgender rights activist and popular elocutionist Anurag Maitrayee, who raised the voice of protest after the trans-woman was prevented from donating blood, said that the event happened at a blood-donation camp in the city on August 6 which was organised by an NGO Manusher Pashe Thakar Angikar (Promise to stand by people).

I was a guest speaker on the occasion. While the blood donation process was on suddenly it was brought to our notice that a state government health worker prevented a trans-woman from donating blood on gender identity grounds. The woman health worker argued that medical guidelines do not allow transgender persons, who are often on hormonal treatment, to donate blood.

"I and the NGO secretary Biswajit Saha immediately intervened and demanded a copy of the specific guideline that prevents transgender persons from donating blood. Unable to furnish that guideline document or logically present a counter-argument, the health workers ultimately had to allow the transgender persons assembled there to donate blood. But her approval came with lots of weird observations on the sexual orientation of transgender persons, Maitrayee said.

Saha said that the development was most unfortunate since before the blood donation camp started he had sensitised the health workers about the participation of trans persons in the camp.

Another transgender activist and former member of the West Bengal Transgender Development Board Aparna Banerjee told IANS that it is most unfortunate that despite anti-discriminatory orders from the Supreme Court of India, proper sensitisation of the government functionary is yet to be achieved.

We have already sent a representation to the state government in the matter," Banerjee said.

According to the general secretary of the Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) Ranjit Sur told IANS that this a serious case of human rights violation where a person is prevented from performing a social duty on grounds of gender-identity of that person. When such discriminatory action comes from a government employee, who is associated with the critical sector of healthcare, the matter becomes even more serious, he said.

KOLKATA: A transgender woman was prevented from donating blood at a donation camp by a state government health worker on gender identity grounds. The health worker finally agreed to allow the trans-woman to donate the blood following objections by the organisers and Queer-rights activists. But the health worker's approval came with weird interpretations of the sexual orientation of transgender persons and why they are medically risky of being allowed to donate blood. Speaking to IANS, noted city-based transgender rights activist and popular elocutionist Anurag Maitrayee, who raised the voice of protest after the trans-woman was prevented from donating blood, said that the event happened at a blood-donation camp in the city on August 6 which was organised by an NGO Manusher Pashe Thakar Angikar (Promise to stand by people).googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); I was a guest speaker on the occasion. While the blood donation process was on suddenly it was brought to our notice that a state government health worker prevented a trans-woman from donating blood on gender identity grounds. The woman health worker argued that medical guidelines do not allow transgender persons, who are often on hormonal treatment, to donate blood. "I and the NGO secretary Biswajit Saha immediately intervened and demanded a copy of the specific guideline that prevents transgender persons from donating blood. Unable to furnish that guideline document or logically present a counter-argument, the health workers ultimately had to allow the transgender persons assembled there to donate blood. But her approval came with lots of weird observations on the sexual orientation of transgender persons, Maitrayee said. Saha said that the development was most unfortunate since before the blood donation camp started he had sensitised the health workers about the participation of trans persons in the camp. Another transgender activist and former member of the West Bengal Transgender Development Board Aparna Banerjee told IANS that it is most unfortunate that despite anti-discriminatory orders from the Supreme Court of India, proper sensitisation of the government functionary is yet to be achieved. We have already sent a representation to the state government in the matter," Banerjee said. According to the general secretary of the Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) Ranjit Sur told IANS that this a serious case of human rights violation where a person is prevented from performing a social duty on grounds of gender-identity of that person. When such discriminatory action comes from a government employee, who is associated with the critical sector of healthcare, the matter becomes even more serious, he said.
Rajesh Asnani By

Express News Service

JAIPUR: Taking a jibe at PM Narendra Modi, Rajasthan CM and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Monday described himself as a bigger fakir.

While inaugurating the new districts of Rajasthan, Gehlot attacked the PM on several issues and said: The people of the state should trust me. Whatever I say, I say from my heart. Modi ji, I am a bigger fakir than you. You must have noted that Modi Ji does not repeat the dress he wears even once. Dont know if the dress would be changed once or three times a day. I keep my dress the same, I am not a fakir? Gehlot said.

I have not bought a plot in my life. Havent bought a flat. I have not bought a single gram of gold. What fakir would he be bigger than me? PM Modis spectacles cost two and a half lakh rupees, he said.

Gehlot inaugurated 17 new districts of Rajasthan on Monday. With a significant increase from 33 to 50 districts, the Rajasthan map has undergone a major transformation. However, the BJP claims that this is a pointless exercise to improve the chances of Congress candidates in the coming elections.

JAIPUR: Taking a jibe at PM Narendra Modi, Rajasthan CM and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Monday described himself as a bigger fakir. While inaugurating the new districts of Rajasthan, Gehlot attacked the PM on several issues and said: The people of the state should trust me. Whatever I say, I say from my heart. Modi ji, I am a bigger fakir than you. You must have noted that Modi Ji does not repeat the dress he wears even once. Dont know if the dress would be changed once or three times a day. I keep my dress the same, I am not a fakir? Gehlot said. I have not bought a plot in my life. Havent bought a flat. I have not bought a single gram of gold. What fakir would he be bigger than me? PM Modis spectacles cost two and a half lakh rupees, he said. Gehlot inaugurated 17 new districts of Rajasthan on Monday. With a significant increase from 33 to 50 districts, the Rajasthan map has undergone a major transformation. However, the BJP claims that this is a pointless exercise to improve the chances of Congress candidates in the coming elections.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); });
Mayank Singh By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The ten-day Malabar series of naval exercises  featuring navies of the United States, India, Japan and Australia (Quad group)  will get underway off the eastern coast of Australia this week.

Interoperability will be the focus of the manoeuvres planned this year  with air defence, sea operations and under-sea threats to be under stress.

The Royal Australian Navy is hosting the event for the first time from August 11 to 21. Divided into two phases, the programmes will include a harbour phase at Sydney followed by sea exercises.

The Australian forces will field two warships  HMAS Choules and HMAS Brisbane. The Indian Navy will send destroyer INS Kolkata and multi-role stealth frigate INS Sahyadri.

Besides, the US and Japan will send in one warship each. Additionally, the maritime forces of the US, India and Australia shall be fielding Boeing P8I maritime surveillance aircraft. The number of warships is going to be less as unlike in the past, there will be no submarines or aircraft carriers of any country at the exercise, sources said. But, the maritime exercise will involve very high-end complexity, sources added, which will focus towards interoperability.

Focus on connecting forces

Interoperability will be the focus of manoeuvres planned this year  with air defence, sea operations and under-sea threats to be in stress



NEW DELHI: The ten-day Malabar series of naval exercises  featuring navies of the United States, India, Japan and Australia (Quad group)  will get underway off the eastern coast of Australia this week. Interoperability will be the focus of the manoeuvres planned this year  with air defence, sea operations and under-sea threats to be under stress. The Royal Australian Navy is hosting the event for the first time from August 11 to 21. Divided into two phases, the programmes will include a harbour phase at Sydney followed by sea exercises. The Australian forces will field two warships  HMAS Choules and HMAS Brisbane. The Indian Navy will send destroyer INS Kolkata and multi-role stealth frigate INS Sahyadri.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Besides, the US and Japan will send in one warship each. Additionally, the maritime forces of the US, India and Australia shall be fielding Boeing P8I maritime surveillance aircraft. The number of warships is going to be less as unlike in the past, there will be no submarines or aircraft carriers of any country at the exercise, sources said. But, the maritime exercise will involve very high-end complexity, sources added, which will focus towards interoperability. Focus on connecting forces Interoperability will be the focus of manoeuvres planned this year  with air defence, sea operations and under-sea threats to be in stress
Ejaz Kaiser By

Express News Service

RAIPUR: Ahead of the assembly polls, the Bhupesh Baghel cabinet took a decision on Monday to implement 58 per cent reservation for the scheduled tribes, scheduled caste and other backward classes in the admission process for educational institutions of the state.

The decision follows the interim relief given by the Supreme Court staying the Chhattisgarh High Court order in May this year. The apex court allowed the state to continue with the appointment or selection procedures as per the pre-existing reservation system.

Last year in September, the Chhattisgarh High Court quashed the 58 per cent reservation in educational institutions and jobs as unconstitutional. In 2012, the BJP regime led by the Raman Singh government raised the quotas up to 58 per cent in educational institutions and government jobs. The reservation for the SCs was reduced from 16 per cent to 12 per cent while increasing the same for STs to 32 per cent. The quota for OBCs was kept at 14 per cent. In accordance with the interim order, the Bhupesh Baghel cabinet has decided to conduct the admission process in the educational institutions of the state under the earlier reservation system, said the official spokesperson.

Recruitments have already begun (under the 58 per cent reservation) but there were some discrepancies emerging in the admissions to the colleges. The reservation process that applies to job recruitment should also be the same in the admission process. So, the decision was taken in the cabinet, said the chief minister.

The opposition BJP claimed that the Bhupesh government yielded to their persistent demand in the interest of tribal communities. The CM is known to take a decision weighing the political gain or loss. But the cabinet decision was taken under compulsion owing to our protest and demand for the rights of tribals, said Ramvichar Netam, senior BJP tribal leader and Rajya Sabha member

RAIPUR: Ahead of the assembly polls, the Bhupesh Baghel cabinet took a decision on Monday to implement 58 per cent reservation for the scheduled tribes, scheduled caste and other backward classes in the admission process for educational institutions of the state. The decision follows the interim relief given by the Supreme Court staying the Chhattisgarh High Court order in May this year. The apex court allowed the state to continue with the appointment or selection procedures as per the pre-existing reservation system. Last year in September, the Chhattisgarh High Court quashed the 58 per cent reservation in educational institutions and jobs as unconstitutional. In 2012, the BJP regime led by the Raman Singh government raised the quotas up to 58 per cent in educational institutions and government jobs. The reservation for the SCs was reduced from 16 per cent to 12 per cent while increasing the same for STs to 32 per cent. The quota for OBCs was kept at 14 per cent. In accordance with the interim order, the Bhupesh Baghel cabinet has decided to conduct the admission process in the educational institutions of the state under the earlier reservation system, said the official spokesperson.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Recruitments have already begun (under the 58 per cent reservation) but there were some discrepancies emerging in the admissions to the colleges. The reservation process that applies to job recruitment should also be the same in the admission process. So, the decision was taken in the cabinet, said the chief minister. The opposition BJP claimed that the Bhupesh government yielded to their persistent demand in the interest of tribal communities. The CM is known to take a decision weighing the political gain or loss. But the cabinet decision was taken under compulsion owing to our protest and demand for the rights of tribals, said Ramvichar Netam, senior BJP tribal leader and Rajya Sabha member
Prasanta Mazumdar By

Express News Service

GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday blamed the Congress and its policies of the past for the ongoing conflicts in Manipur and the rest of the Northeast.

Manipur has seen ethnic conflicts and killings of civilians and defence personnel for 75 years, Sarma said.

He shared figures of human deaths in ethnic conflicts and other violent incidents in the state since 1990.

He said 300 people were killed in the state in 1990, 1,100 in 1993, 400 in 1997, 95 in 2001, 140 in 2003, 105 in 2006, 200 in 2008, 220 in 2010 and 165 in 2012. He said ethnic conflicts and other violent activities were the reasons behind the deaths. He said all these incidents occurred during Congress regimes.

I want to clearly say that because of the wrong policies adopted by the Congress during the formative years, today the states in the Northeast have not been able to resolve various disputes that exist from the time India attained freedom, the Assam CM said.

They (Congress) created situations. They put provisions in the Constitution. They either created safeguards in the Constitution which are creating various issues and problems among the communities or they had not done something which should have been done in the very beginning to resolve conflicts, Sarma alleged.

ALSO READ | Case registered against Assam Rifles personnel for 'obstructing' police in Manipur

He asked the Congress to think and introspect on how Manipur is burning because of the party's wrong policies and wrong approach towards the people of the Northeast.

The sole responsibility is with the Congress. They must also remember that during all these violent activities, none of their Prime Ministers visited Manipur or tried to give a healing touch, Sarma said.

He also said no Congress Union minister ever visited Manipur and stayed there for three nights and none of its ministers of state at the Centre stayed in the state for a month to resolve issues. He made the reference in the context of the visits by Union home minister Amit Shah and his deputy Nityanand Rai.

Without naming Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi, he said an Assam MP said former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had visited Assams Kokrajhar during communal violence. He said there were two "incidents" (communal violence ) one in 2008 and another in 2012.

In 2008, almost 64 people were killed, 3,211 houses were burnt, 115 were injured and 11,690 others were affected in Darrang and Udalguri districts. There are no records suggesting Singh visited Assam at that point in time, Sarma said, adding Singh did visit Kokrajhar in 2012 but only for an hour.

That did not resolve the problem. The conflict was resolved when at the initiative of Intelligence Bureau, I took Bodo and Muslim leaders to Delhi and a discussion had taken place in the presence of then Union home secretary RK Singh, the Assam CM added.

GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday blamed the Congress and its policies of the past for the ongoing conflicts in Manipur and the rest of the Northeast. Manipur has seen ethnic conflicts and killings of civilians and defence personnel for 75 years, Sarma said. He shared figures of human deaths in ethnic conflicts and other violent incidents in the state since 1990.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); He said 300 people were killed in the state in 1990, 1,100 in 1993, 400 in 1997, 95 in 2001, 140 in 2003, 105 in 2006, 200 in 2008, 220 in 2010 and 165 in 2012. He said ethnic conflicts and other violent activities were the reasons behind the deaths. He said all these incidents occurred during Congress regimes. I want to clearly say that because of the wrong policies adopted by the Congress during the formative years, today the states in the Northeast have not been able to resolve various disputes that exist from the time India attained freedom, the Assam CM said. They (Congress) created situations. They put provisions in the Constitution. They either created safeguards in the Constitution which are creating various issues and problems among the communities or they had not done something which should have been done in the very beginning to resolve conflicts, Sarma alleged. ALSO READ | Case registered against Assam Rifles personnel for 'obstructing' police in Manipur He asked the Congress to think and introspect on how Manipur is burning because of the party's wrong policies and wrong approach towards the people of the Northeast. The sole responsibility is with the Congress. They must also remember that during all these violent activities, none of their Prime Ministers visited Manipur or tried to give a healing touch, Sarma said. He also said no Congress Union minister ever visited Manipur and stayed there for three nights and none of its ministers of state at the Centre stayed in the state for a month to resolve issues. He made the reference in the context of the visits by Union home minister Amit Shah and his deputy Nityanand Rai. Without naming Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi, he said an Assam MP said former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had visited Assams Kokrajhar during communal violence. He said there were two "incidents" (communal violence ) one in 2008 and another in 2012. In 2008, almost 64 people were killed, 3,211 houses were burnt, 115 were injured and 11,690 others were affected in Darrang and Udalguri districts. There are no records suggesting Singh visited Assam at that point in time, Sarma said, adding Singh did visit Kokrajhar in 2012 but only for an hour. That did not resolve the problem. The conflict was resolved when at the initiative of Intelligence Bureau, I took Bodo and Muslim leaders to Delhi and a discussion had taken place in the presence of then Union home secretary RK Singh, the Assam CM added.
By Online Desk

The Congress on Tuesday sought to know why the Prime Minister of the country had not visited violence-hit Manipur in the last three months.

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi questioned the Prime Minister's silence over all the important issues that had happened in the country.

Gogoi said, "When award-winning women wrestlers were protesting on the streets, the Prime Minister remained silent. When 750 farmers lost their lives during the agitation, the PM was silent. In 2020, when Delhi witnessed riots and a foreign leader was visiting India, the Prime Minister remained silent."

"When we questioned the government on incursions by China, the Prime Minister remained silent. When a former lieutenant governor of Jammu and Kashmir said he had sought protection for the soldiers in Pulwama but was turned down, the PM remained silent," the MP said, adding that the opposition is bringing the no-confidence motion to make the PM speak up at least on Manipur violence.

Opening the debate on the no-confidence motion against the central government in the Lok Sabha, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi directed three questions at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Manipur violence.

MP Gaurav Gogoi asked, " Why did the Prime Minister did not visit Manipur in the last three months? INDIA alliance went to Manipur, Rahul Gandhi went, and Even Union Minister Amit Shah visited the violence-hit state. Being the chief of the country, why did you not visit the state".

The second question from the MP was why the PM took 80 days to speak on Manipur violence.

"After that, there has been no peace appeal on Manipur violence from the PM. His Ministers are saying they will speak on the issue, but as the Prime Minister, the power of his words cannot be matched by ministers. If PM Modi takes a step to ensure peace, it will carry more weight than that of a minister or an MP," Gogoi said.

The third question was on Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh. The MP asked why PM Modi had not sacked the Chief Minister so far.

"When polls were approaching and you needed to do your politics in Gujarat, you changed the chief minister there, not once, but twice. Ahead of the elections in Uttarakhand, you changed the state chief minister probably four times. A change was made in Tripura too. Why have you reserved special blessings for the Manipur chief minister, who has himself accepted that there was an intelligence failure because of him," the MP questioned.

The Congress MP said the opposition had moved the no-confidence motion not for numbers, but to get justice for Manipur.

"If Manipur is burning, entire India is burning, if Manipur is divided, the country is divided. It was our demand that as the leader of the country, Prime Minister Modi should come to the House and speak about Manipur. However, he kept a 'maun vrat' (vow of silence) that he will neither speak in the Lok Sabha nor in the Rajya Sabha. Through the no-confidence motion, we want to break his vow of silence," a reported PTI.

"When people were gasping for breath during the second wave of Covid, the Prime Minister was seeking votes in West Bengal. When women were being assaulted in Manipur, the PM was seeking votes in Karnataka. What kind of nationalism is this that places power above the nation," Mr Gogoi asked

The MP said it was a matter of grave concern that a government that talked about 'one India' had created 'two Manipurs - one living in the hills and the other in the valley'

The Congress on Tuesday sought to know why the Prime Minister of the country had not visited violence-hit Manipur in the last three months. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi questioned the Prime Minister's silence over all the important issues that had happened in the country. Gogoi said, "When award-winning women wrestlers were protesting on the streets, the Prime Minister remained silent. When 750 farmers lost their lives during the agitation, the PM was silent. In 2020, when Delhi witnessed riots and a foreign leader was visiting India, the Prime Minister remained silent." googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "When we questioned the government on incursions by China, the Prime Minister remained silent. When a former lieutenant governor of Jammu and Kashmir said he had sought protection for the soldiers in Pulwama but was turned down, the PM remained silent," the MP said, adding that the opposition is bringing the no-confidence motion to make the PM speak up at least on Manipur violence. Opening the debate on the no-confidence motion against the central government in the Lok Sabha, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi directed three questions at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Manipur violence. MP Gaurav Gogoi asked, " Why did the Prime Minister did not visit Manipur in the last three months? INDIA alliance went to Manipur, Rahul Gandhi went, and Even Union Minister Amit Shah visited the violence-hit state. Being the chief of the country, why did you not visit the state". The second question from the MP was why the PM took 80 days to speak on Manipur violence. "After that, there has been no peace appeal on Manipur violence from the PM. His Ministers are saying they will speak on the issue, but as the Prime Minister, the power of his words cannot be matched by ministers. If PM Modi takes a step to ensure peace, it will carry more weight than that of a minister or an MP," Gogoi said. The third question was on Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh. The MP asked why PM Modi had not sacked the Chief Minister so far. "When polls were approaching and you needed to do your politics in Gujarat, you changed the chief minister there, not once, but twice. Ahead of the elections in Uttarakhand, you changed the state chief minister probably four times. A change was made in Tripura too. Why have you reserved special blessings for the Manipur chief minister, who has himself accepted that there was an intelligence failure because of him," the MP questioned. The Congress MP said the opposition had moved the no-confidence motion not for numbers, but to get justice for Manipur. "If Manipur is burning, entire India is burning, if Manipur is divided, the country is divided. It was our demand that as the leader of the country, Prime Minister Modi should come to the House and speak about Manipur. However, he kept a 'maun vrat' (vow of silence) that he will neither speak in the Lok Sabha nor in the Rajya Sabha. Through the no-confidence motion, we want to break his vow of silence," a reported PTI. "When people were gasping for breath during the second wave of Covid, the Prime Minister was seeking votes in West Bengal. When women were being assaulted in Manipur, the PM was seeking votes in Karnataka. What kind of nationalism is this that places power above the nation," Mr Gogoi asked The MP said it was a matter of grave concern that a government that talked about 'one India' had created 'two Manipurs - one living in the hills and the other in the valley'
Mukesh Ranjan By

Express News Service

RANCHI: The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday sent summon to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren in an alleged land scam. According to the ED sources, Soren has been asked to appear for questioning at its zonal office in Ranchi on August 14.

In November 2022, Soren was grilled by ED for about 10 hours in connection with an illegal mining case.

The federal agency has been probing two major cases of money laundering in the state. The first case is related to illegal mining in the state and the second is related to alleged land scams in the state capital.

At least 13 persons, including Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Chhavi Ranjan and two businessmen- Amit Agrawal of Kolkata and Bishnu Agrawal-, who owns shopping malls in Ranchi, have already been arrested in connection with the land scam.

Bishnu Agrawal has been arrested based on the FIR registered with Sadar police station for the fraudulent sale of a one-acre plot in upscale Cheshire Home Road in Ranchi. Besides the Cheshire Home Road property and 9.3-acre plot at Namkum, Agrawal, in connivance with DC Chhavi Ranjan and others, also bought a 5.83-acre plot at Bariatu in Ranchi, which is in possession of the Indian Defence establishment since 1949.

Investigation revealed that a racket of land mafia is active in Jharkhand which used to forge the legacy records in Kolkata and Ranchi.

Earlier, ED carried out 41 searches and 5 surveys in this matter during which, several incriminating pieces of evidence like forged seals of the land revenue department, forged land deeds, records of distribution of proceeds of crime among them, photographs doing forgery, evidence of giving bribe to Government officials etc, were seized.

Meanwhile, state BJP Chief Babulal Marandi has termed Soren as the most corrupt Chief Minister in independent India, who has been summoned twice by the ED.

RANCHI: The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday sent summon to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren in an alleged land scam. According to the ED sources, Soren has been asked to appear for questioning at its zonal office in Ranchi on August 14. In November 2022, Soren was grilled by ED for about 10 hours in connection with an illegal mining case. The federal agency has been probing two major cases of money laundering in the state. The first case is related to illegal mining in the state and the second is related to alleged land scams in the state capital.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); At least 13 persons, including Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Chhavi Ranjan and two businessmen- Amit Agrawal of Kolkata and Bishnu Agrawal-, who owns shopping malls in Ranchi, have already been arrested in connection with the land scam. Bishnu Agrawal has been arrested based on the FIR registered with Sadar police station for the fraudulent sale of a one-acre plot in upscale Cheshire Home Road in Ranchi. Besides the Cheshire Home Road property and 9.3-acre plot at Namkum, Agrawal, in connivance with DC Chhavi Ranjan and others, also bought a 5.83-acre plot at Bariatu in Ranchi, which is in possession of the Indian Defence establishment since 1949. Investigation revealed that a racket of land mafia is active in Jharkhand which used to forge the legacy records in Kolkata and Ranchi. Earlier, ED carried out 41 searches and 5 surveys in this matter during which, several incriminating pieces of evidence like forged seals of the land revenue department, forged land deeds, records of distribution of proceeds of crime among them, photographs doing forgery, evidence of giving bribe to Government officials etc, were seized. Meanwhile, state BJP Chief Babulal Marandi has termed Soren as the most corrupt Chief Minister in independent India, who has been summoned twice by the ED.
David Wilcox Executive editor Follow David Wilcox Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

The first Chipotle Mexican Grill in Cayuga County will open this week.

A representative of the fast casual Mexican food chain told The Citizen on Wednesday that the restaurant, located on Plaza Drive off Grant Avenue in Sennett, will open Thursday, Aug. 17.

The restaurant's hours will be 10:45 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day.

Located near Staples and Panera Bread, the restaurant is approximately 2,400 square feet and will feature a Chipotlane drive-thru pickup lane for digital orders, and a dining room.

Chipotle averages 25 jobs per restaurant, the representative said, and offers employees "competitive benefits" as well as debt-free college and mental health care programs.

Founded in 1993, the chain has more than 3,100 locations worldwide. The closest one to Cayuga County is on West Genesee Street in Fairmount.

In the local Mexican restaurant marketplace, Chipotle will join fellow chain Moe's Southwest Grill, also on Grant Avenue in Auburn Plaza, and the locally owned Mesa Grande Taqueria on Genesee Street.

A local sit-down Mexican restaurant, Costa Grande, opened this spring in Grant Avenue Plaza in Sennett.
Yeshi Seli By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: In a bid to encourage Indian students to study in France, the French government is offering them a five-year Schengen visa.

"France believes that when an Indian student spends even just a semester in France, it creates a connection that ought to be fostered and cherished. That is why, Indian students who hold a Masters degree or above and have spent at least a semester studying in France are eligible for a 5-year short-stay Schengen visa," says Emmanuel Lenain, Ambassador of France to India.

President Emmanuel Macron, during PM Modis visit to Paris, had announced that France was looking at receiving 30,000 students from India by 2030.

"This ambitious target signifies France's conviction that welcoming more Indian students fosters academic excellence, cultural understanding, and long-lasting friendship between our two nations," Ambassador Lenain said.

ALSO READ | India, France firm up roadmap for next 25 years during PM Modi's visit

"Our teams are working double time to implement the decisions taken by President Macron and Prime Minister Modi in Paris to benefit students. France has always been an inclusive and diverse country, eager to share our rich cultural heritage and world-class education opportunities with Indian students. My message for Indian students: France will always be your friend, and we will do everything possible to ensure you have an amazing academic and life experience in our country," he said.

Higher education in France is highly subsidised by the government, as France offers more competitive tuition fees and living costs, making it a viable option for Indian students.

For non-French speakers, France offers over 1600 programmes in English, providing access to quality education for all.

Each year, France offers scholarships of over Rs 15 crore for Indian students.

These scholarships cover various disciplines, allowing students to pursue their desired academic fields without financial constraints.

Meanwhile, under a 2018 academic pact, India and France mutually recognize their degrees  a collaboration set to expand with the inclusion of additional professional designations.

"With 570 French companies employing more than 400,000 staff in India, graduates with French qualifications gain access to a wide spectrum of career prospects, and the chance to work with globally renowned organizations," Ambassador Lenain added.

NEW DELHI: In a bid to encourage Indian students to study in France, the French government is offering them a five-year Schengen visa. "France believes that when an Indian student spends even just a semester in France, it creates a connection that ought to be fostered and cherished. That is why, Indian students who hold a Masters degree or above and have spent at least a semester studying in France are eligible for a 5-year short-stay Schengen visa," says Emmanuel Lenain, Ambassador of France to India. President Emmanuel Macron, during PM Modis visit to Paris, had announced that France was looking at receiving 30,000 students from India by 2030.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "This ambitious target signifies France's conviction that welcoming more Indian students fosters academic excellence, cultural understanding, and long-lasting friendship between our two nations," Ambassador Lenain said. ALSO READ | India, France firm up roadmap for next 25 years during PM Modi's visit "Our teams are working double time to implement the decisions taken by President Macron and Prime Minister Modi in Paris to benefit students. France has always been an inclusive and diverse country, eager to share our rich cultural heritage and world-class education opportunities with Indian students. My message for Indian students: France will always be your friend, and we will do everything possible to ensure you have an amazing academic and life experience in our country," he said. Higher education in France is highly subsidised by the government, as France offers more competitive tuition fees and living costs, making it a viable option for Indian students. For non-French speakers, France offers over 1600 programmes in English, providing access to quality education for all. Each year, France offers scholarships of over Rs 15 crore for Indian students. These scholarships cover various disciplines, allowing students to pursue their desired academic fields without financial constraints. Meanwhile, under a 2018 academic pact, India and France mutually recognize their degrees  a collaboration set to expand with the inclusion of additional professional designations. "With 570 French companies employing more than 400,000 staff in India, graduates with French qualifications gain access to a wide spectrum of career prospects, and the chance to work with globally renowned organizations," Ambassador Lenain added.
By PTI

AHMEDABAD: The Congress on Tuesday termed "ill-timed" the announcement made by Gujarat AAP chief Isudan Gadhvi about both the parties fighting upcoming Lok Sabha elections in the state under a seat-sharing formula.

The Congress also asked Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders to refrain from making such statements saying the decision on alliances is taken by the central leadership of the Grand Old Party.

Gadhvi on Monday caused a flutter by saying the AAP and the Congress will contest the general elections together in Gujarat under a seat-sharing formula as both the parties are members of the opposition INDIA alliance.

"Congress' central leadership and the INDIA alliance will take a final decision about any pre-poll tie-up with other parties. Such decisions are not taken at the state level. Such a statement (by AAP about a tie-up) was ill-timed. Everyone should stay away from making such statements," Gujarat Congress' chief spokesperson Manish Doshi told media persons.

Gadhvi had said both AAP and Congress are part of the INDIA bloc and this poll alliance will be also implemented in Gujarat.

"Though the talks of a tie-up are still at the primary level, it is sure that both AAP and Congress will fight the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in Gujarat under a seat-sharing formula," the AAP leader had said.

Notably, the Bharatiya Janata Party won all 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat in the 2014 and 2019 elections.

The BJP had downplayed Gadhvi's claim.

In the 2022 assembly elections in Gujarat, the BJP retained power by winning a record 156 seats in the 182-member House while Congress' tally was reduced to 17 from the 77 seats it had won in 2017.

The AAP made an impressive entry into Gujarat politics by winning five seats.

The division of opposition votes between the Congress and AAP is believed to have helped the ruling BJP among other factors.

AHMEDABAD: The Congress on Tuesday termed "ill-timed" the announcement made by Gujarat AAP chief Isudan Gadhvi about both the parties fighting upcoming Lok Sabha elections in the state under a seat-sharing formula. The Congress also asked Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders to refrain from making such statements saying the decision on alliances is taken by the central leadership of the Grand Old Party. Gadhvi on Monday caused a flutter by saying the AAP and the Congress will contest the general elections together in Gujarat under a seat-sharing formula as both the parties are members of the opposition INDIA alliance.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "Congress' central leadership and the INDIA alliance will take a final decision about any pre-poll tie-up with other parties. Such decisions are not taken at the state level. Such a statement (by AAP about a tie-up) was ill-timed. Everyone should stay away from making such statements," Gujarat Congress' chief spokesperson Manish Doshi told media persons. Gadhvi had said both AAP and Congress are part of the INDIA bloc and this poll alliance will be also implemented in Gujarat. "Though the talks of a tie-up are still at the primary level, it is sure that both AAP and Congress will fight the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in Gujarat under a seat-sharing formula," the AAP leader had said. Notably, the Bharatiya Janata Party won all 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat in the 2014 and 2019 elections. The BJP had downplayed Gadhvi's claim. In the 2022 assembly elections in Gujarat, the BJP retained power by winning a record 156 seats in the 182-member House while Congress' tally was reduced to 17 from the 77 seats it had won in 2017. The AAP made an impressive entry into Gujarat politics by winning five seats. The division of opposition votes between the Congress and AAP is believed to have helped the ruling BJP among other factors.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Tuesday said the opposition bloc INDIA was forced to bring the no-confidence motion against the government to break Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "vow of silence" on Manipur.

Initiating the debate on the motion in the Lok Sabha, Gogoi alleged that a government which talks about "one India has created two Manipurs -- one living in hills and the other in the valley".

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi mentioned the recent communal violence in Haryana during the no-confidence motion debate in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. He said, "Hatred has become a weapon to win votes, be it Manipur or Haryana".

He added that Congress will stand by Constitutional values of Equality, Liberty and Fraternity, no matter what BJP does and says.

Gogoi also said that there has been violence in north-east India in the past, including in Manipur, but such hatred between two communities (the Meiteis and the Kukis) has never been witnessed before.

As the lower house took up the motion moved by Gogoi, there were heated exchanges between the opposition and treasury benches after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi wondered why Rahul Gandhi's name as lead speaker was withdrawn last minute.

Gogoi's response that should the remarks made by the prime minister in Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's chamber be revealed in the House evoked a sharp retort from Home Minister Amit Shah who said the member cannot make unsubstantiated claims about the PM.

Gogoi submitted his motion -- 'This House expresses want of confidence in the council of ministers' -- before the House and then made his statement.

He said the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) parties were forced to bring the no-confidence motion as this was never about numbers but about justice for Manipur.

"Manipur demands justice. Martin Luther King Jr had said injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. If Manipur is burning, the whole of India is burning, if Manipur is divided, the country is divided. It was our demand that as the leader of the country, Prime Minister Modi should come to the House and speak about Manipur. However, he kept a 'maun vrat (vow of silence) that he will neither speak in the Lok Sabha nor in the Rajya Sabha," Gogoi said.

"Through the no-confidence motion we want to break his vow of silence," he said.

Gogoi said he would like to ask the prime minister why had he not gone to Manipur, when Rahul Gandhi had gone as had Home Minister Shah and the minister of state for home (Nityanand Rai).

"Why did he (PM Modi) take about 80 days to speak in Manipur and just spoke for 30 seconds? Since that, there has been no peace appeal in Manipur from him. Ministers are saying they will speak, but as PM the power of his words cannot be matched by ministers," Gogoi said.

The Congress MP said it is a matter of grave concern that a government which talks about "one India has created two Manipurs -- one living in hills and the other in the valley".

NEW DELHI: Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Tuesday said the opposition bloc INDIA was forced to bring the no-confidence motion against the government to break Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "vow of silence" on Manipur. Initiating the debate on the motion in the Lok Sabha, Gogoi alleged that a government which talks about "one India has created two Manipurs -- one living in hills and the other in the valley". Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi mentioned the recent communal violence in Haryana during the no-confidence motion debate in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. He said, "Hatred has become a weapon to win votes, be it Manipur or Haryana".googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); He added that Congress will stand by Constitutional values of Equality, Liberty and Fraternity, no matter what BJP does and says. Gogoi also said that there has been violence in north-east India in the past, including in Manipur, but such hatred between two communities (the Meiteis and the Kukis) has never been witnessed before. As the lower house took up the motion moved by Gogoi, there were heated exchanges between the opposition and treasury benches after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi wondered why Rahul Gandhi's name as lead speaker was withdrawn last minute. Gogoi's response that should the remarks made by the prime minister in Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's chamber be revealed in the House evoked a sharp retort from Home Minister Amit Shah who said the member cannot make unsubstantiated claims about the PM. Gogoi submitted his motion -- 'This House expresses want of confidence in the council of ministers' -- before the House and then made his statement. He said the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) parties were forced to bring the no-confidence motion as this was never about numbers but about justice for Manipur. "Manipur demands justice. Martin Luther King Jr had said injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. If Manipur is burning, the whole of India is burning, if Manipur is divided, the country is divided. It was our demand that as the leader of the country, Prime Minister Modi should come to the House and speak about Manipur. However, he kept a 'maun vrat (vow of silence) that he will neither speak in the Lok Sabha nor in the Rajya Sabha," Gogoi said. "Through the no-confidence motion we want to break his vow of silence," he said. Gogoi said he would like to ask the prime minister why had he not gone to Manipur, when Rahul Gandhi had gone as had Home Minister Shah and the minister of state for home (Nityanand Rai). "Why did he (PM Modi) take about 80 days to speak in Manipur and just spoke for 30 seconds? Since that, there has been no peace appeal in Manipur from him. Ministers are saying they will speak, but as PM the power of his words cannot be matched by ministers," Gogoi said. The Congress MP said it is a matter of grave concern that a government which talks about "one India has created two Manipurs -- one living in hills and the other in the valley".
Ramashankar By

Express News Service

PATNA: Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief and Jamui MP Chirag Paswan said on Monday that his party would contest both from Hajipur and Jamui in the 2024 Lok Sabha election and disclosed that he wanted his mother to win the seat from Hajipur constituencies.

Putting all speculations to rest  abandoning his claim on Hajipur seat and instead contesting the election from Jamui again  Chirag said that he wanted his mother Reena Paswan to contest the election from Hajipur. Chirag had earlier said that he had come to Jamui when he was younger and he would leave only when he is older.

He said, I have been associated with Jamui for the last 8 or 9 years. I have been connected to Hajipur since my childhood. As a son, it became my duty to take care of the people of Hajipur after the death of my father. At the same time, I consider Jamui Lok Sabha as my Karmabhoomi.

It is my responsibility to take care of the people of Jamui. They treat me as their son and brother. Thats why it is my duty to take care of this place. Political meaning should not be taken out of this statement of mine, he asserted.

The Jamui MP said that the party had identified all those six seats on which it had contested the 2019 Lok Sabha election and won all of them. He said that the party would decide on candidates later.

His uncle and union minister Pashupati Kumar Paras is presently representing the Hajipur Lok Sabha constituency and he is adamant about contesting the 2024 LS seat from the same seat. Paras claimed that his brother late Ram Vilas Paswan had asked him to contest the election from the Hajipur seat in the 2019 LS election.

PATNA: Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief and Jamui MP Chirag Paswan said on Monday that his party would contest both from Hajipur and Jamui in the 2024 Lok Sabha election and disclosed that he wanted his mother to win the seat from Hajipur constituencies. Putting all speculations to rest  abandoning his claim on Hajipur seat and instead contesting the election from Jamui again  Chirag said that he wanted his mother Reena Paswan to contest the election from Hajipur. Chirag had earlier said that he had come to Jamui when he was younger and he would leave only when he is older. He said, I have been associated with Jamui for the last 8 or 9 years. I have been connected to Hajipur since my childhood. As a son, it became my duty to take care of the people of Hajipur after the death of my father. At the same time, I consider Jamui Lok Sabha as my Karmabhoomi.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); It is my responsibility to take care of the people of Jamui. They treat me as their son and brother. Thats why it is my duty to take care of this place. Political meaning should not be taken out of this statement of mine, he asserted. The Jamui MP said that the party had identified all those six seats on which it had contested the 2019 Lok Sabha election and won all of them. He said that the party would decide on candidates later. His uncle and union minister Pashupati Kumar Paras is presently representing the Hajipur Lok Sabha constituency and he is adamant about contesting the 2024 LS seat from the same seat. Paras claimed that his brother late Ram Vilas Paswan had asked him to contest the election from the Hajipur seat in the 2019 LS election.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 12 noon on Tuesday after opposition members strongly protested against an expunged portion of Monday's debate being re-recorded.

When the House met at 11 AM, Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury raised the issue of the expunged portion of the comments made by BJP member Nishikant Dubey being re-recorded.

Speaker Om Birla said the member, who chairs any proceeding of the House, has full authority to take any decision.

"The speaker does not give any instruction," he said.

As the opposition members continued their protests, Birla asked them whether they were interested in allowing the House to function.

"Don't you want to allow the House to function? Question Hour is very important but you don't want to take part in it," he said and adjourned the House till 12 noon.

On Monday, Dubey had raised in Lok Sabha the issue of a news report in the New York Times which claimed that web portal NewsClick has received Rs 38 crore in funding and the money has been used to create an anti-India environment.

Dubey alleged that NewsClick is a member of anti-India 'Tukde Tukde' gang, and demanded that the Government investigate the beneficiaries of the funding.

"Between 2005 and 2014, Chinese Government has paid money to Congress. Congress wants to divide India.," Dubey alleged, amid opposition uproar.

Later, a mail issued by the Lok Sabha secretariat said that some portions of Dubey's speech were expunged from the records.

However, late in the evening, some parts of these expunged portions were uploaded on Lok Sabha website.

Officials told journalists that whatever was uploaded on the website was final.

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 12 noon on Tuesday after opposition members strongly protested against an expunged portion of Monday's debate being re-recorded. When the House met at 11 AM, Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury raised the issue of the expunged portion of the comments made by BJP member Nishikant Dubey being re-recorded. Speaker Om Birla said the member, who chairs any proceeding of the House, has full authority to take any decision.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "The speaker does not give any instruction," he said. As the opposition members continued their protests, Birla asked them whether they were interested in allowing the House to function. "Don't you want to allow the House to function? Question Hour is very important but you don't want to take part in it," he said and adjourned the House till 12 noon. On Monday, Dubey had raised in Lok Sabha the issue of a news report in the New York Times which claimed that web portal NewsClick has received Rs 38 crore in funding and the money has been used to create an anti-India environment. Dubey alleged that NewsClick is a member of anti-India 'Tukde Tukde' gang, and demanded that the Government investigate the beneficiaries of the funding. "Between 2005 and 2014, Chinese Government has paid money to Congress. Congress wants to divide India.," Dubey alleged, amid opposition uproar. Later, a mail issued by the Lok Sabha secretariat said that some portions of Dubey's speech were expunged from the records. However, late in the evening, some parts of these expunged portions were uploaded on Lok Sabha website. Officials told journalists that whatever was uploaded on the website was final.
By PTI

MUMBAI: The employees of the private bus operators in BEST on Tuesday afternoon announced their decision to call off their strike claiming that Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has assured them of fulfilling their salary hike and other demands.

The move by the contractual staffers will provide relief to lakhs of bus commuters as the agitation had entered 7th day on Tuesday morning with 551 of the 1,600 buses wet-leased by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) going off roads.

A representative of the contractual employees told media persons at Azad Maidan that their delegation met CM Shinde after midnight on Monday.

Shinde assured that the demands of the agitating employees would be fulfilled, the representative said.

The delegation was led by Pradnya Khajurkar, wife of contractual worker Raghunath Khajurkar, an employee of Daga group.

"Our primary demands about salary hikes, bonus, leaves and free bus rides have been accepted. Hence the strike has been called off," said Vikas Kharmale, coordinator of a group of employees of private bus operators.

The employees, including drivers, of the private bus operators had stayed off roads over demands, including salary hikes and pay parity with BEST employees.

Notably, Mumbai guardian minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha on Monday said the affected BEST bus services will be restored in the next 24 to 48 hours.

The BEST undertaking, which provides public bus services in Mumbai and neighbouring areas, has hired more than 1,600 buses from some contractors on a wet lease model, under which the vehicle ownership, maintenance, fuel and driver costs are the responsibility of the private operator.

The public transport body ferries more than 30 lakh commuters on its buses in Mumbai and neighbouring Thane, Navi Mumbai and Mira-Bhayander cities with its fleet of more than 3,100 buses, of which it owns less than 1,400 buses.

MUMBAI: The employees of the private bus operators in BEST on Tuesday afternoon announced their decision to call off their strike claiming that Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has assured them of fulfilling their salary hike and other demands. The move by the contractual staffers will provide relief to lakhs of bus commuters as the agitation had entered 7th day on Tuesday morning with 551 of the 1,600 buses wet-leased by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) going off roads. A representative of the contractual employees told media persons at Azad Maidan that their delegation met CM Shinde after midnight on Monday.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Shinde assured that the demands of the agitating employees would be fulfilled, the representative said. The delegation was led by Pradnya Khajurkar, wife of contractual worker Raghunath Khajurkar, an employee of Daga group. "Our primary demands about salary hikes, bonus, leaves and free bus rides have been accepted. Hence the strike has been called off," said Vikas Kharmale, coordinator of a group of employees of private bus operators. The employees, including drivers, of the private bus operators had stayed off roads over demands, including salary hikes and pay parity with BEST employees. Notably, Mumbai guardian minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha on Monday said the affected BEST bus services will be restored in the next 24 to 48 hours. The BEST undertaking, which provides public bus services in Mumbai and neighbouring areas, has hired more than 1,600 buses from some contractors on a wet lease model, under which the vehicle ownership, maintenance, fuel and driver costs are the responsibility of the private operator. The public transport body ferries more than 30 lakh commuters on its buses in Mumbai and neighbouring Thane, Navi Mumbai and Mira-Bhayander cities with its fleet of more than 3,100 buses, of which it owns less than 1,400 buses.
By Express News Service

3 Lakh hectares of forests diverted in 15 years

Over three lakh hectares of forest land has been diverted for non-forestry use in India over the last 15 years under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav told Lok Sabha on Monday. Data showed 61,318 hectares of forest land in Punjab, the maximum among all states and union territories, has been diverted since 2008-2009.

Six states yet to ink PM Shri schools MoU: Bihar, Odisha, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Delhi have not signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the education ministry for the implementation of PM SHRI scheme, which provides for the setting up of more than 14,500 PM SHRI Schools by strengthening the existing schools from amongst schools managed by central government, state, UTs and local bodies, Minister of State for Education Annpurna Devi informed the House.

Bill on mediation procedures passed

The Lok Sabha on Monday passed a bill that seeks to provide a legal framework for mediation and reduce the burden on courts. Introducing the Mediation Bill, 2021, in the Lower House, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said it provides a legal backbone to mediation. The bill will also promote ease of doing business as many petty disputes would be cleared through this alternative dispute resolution mechanism.

J&K pharmacists to be recognised

The Lok Sabha on Monday passed a bill allowing persons qualified or registered under the Jammu and Kashmir Pharmacy Act to be recognised under the Pharmacy Act, thus doing away with the ambiguity over the two legislations. On the Pharmacy (Amendment) Bill, 2023, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that this will increase opportunities for the youth of J&K.

3 Lakh hectares of forests diverted in 15 years Over three lakh hectares of forest land has been diverted for non-forestry use in India over the last 15 years under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav told Lok Sabha on Monday. Data showed 61,318 hectares of forest land in Punjab, the maximum among all states and union territories, has been diverted since 2008-2009. Six states yet to ink PM Shri schools MoU: Bihar, Odisha, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Delhi have not signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the education ministry for the implementation of PM SHRI scheme, which provides for the setting up of more than 14,500 PM SHRI Schools by strengthening the existing schools from amongst schools managed by central government, state, UTs and local bodies, Minister of State for Education Annpurna Devi informed the House. Bill on mediation procedures passed The Lok Sabha on Monday passed a bill that seeks to provide a legal framework for mediation and reduce the burden on courts. Introducing the Mediation Bill, 2021, in the Lower House, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said it provides a legal backbone to mediation. The bill will also promote ease of doing business as many petty disputes would be cleared through this alternative dispute resolution mechanism.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); J&K pharmacists to be recognised The Lok Sabha on Monday passed a bill allowing persons qualified or registered under the Jammu and Kashmir Pharmacy Act to be recognised under the Pharmacy Act, thus doing away with the ambiguity over the two legislations. On the Pharmacy (Amendment) Bill, 2023, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that this will increase opportunities for the youth of J&K.
By Online Desk

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party launched its counter-attack on the no-confidence motion with a personal attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and by highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's credentials as a member of the Other Backward Classes or OBC.

Nishikant Dubey, a BJP Member from Jharkhand who opened the counter-attack from the ruling benches, started his speech by mocking Rahul Gandhi, widely seen as Congress Party's prime ministerial candidate for the next general election.

"I was expecting Rahul Gandhi to speak, perhaps he woke up late," said Dubey, drawing laughter and appreciation from the ruling benches. He was replying to a scalding attack from Gaurav Gogoi, who chose to open the innings for the opposition in what is expected to be a two-day slug-fest over Manipur violence in the guise of a no-confidence motion.

Before addressing the points raised by the opposition, Dubey devoted some more attention to Rahul Gandhi, especially on the latter's refusal to apologize to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remark on 'Modi surname' that landed the Congress leader in legal trouble.

"He has refused to apologize. After all why would he," Dubey went on.

"Modi is from a low caste, OBC. Why would he apologize to an OBC. He's a big person," he said, referring to Modi's background in a community that finds a place in the 'Other Backward Classes' category in Gujarat.

Later in his speech, Dubey also tried to paint the no-confidence motion as an attack on "the son of a poor man".

"Today, they want to bring a no-confidence motion against someone who gave people buildings, drinking water, who built toilets for people, who tried to bring light into people's homes. The motion is against the poor. Today, they will tear apart Narendra Modi's policies, just like they tore apart Draupadi," Dubey went on, referring to a character in the epic, Mahabharata.

The counter-attack -- and the decision to emphasize Modi's OBC credentials -- can be seen as an attempt to shore up BJP's support among intermediate castes.

The intermediate castes, most of which find a place in the OBC classification, had in 2019 voted in higher numbers than usual for the BJP, despite the saffron party's traditional image an upper-caste dominated outfit.

This had led to a weakening of the support base for many OBC- and Dalit-focused parties during the 2019 elections and was a key factor behind Modi's return to power.

Meanwhile, kicking off the no-confidence motion debate, young Congress Party leader Gaurav Gogoi had launched a stinging attack on the Prime Minister, questioning his commitment to law and order and justice, and asking why he did not utter a word against Manipur violence for nearly 80 days.

ALSO READ: Just wanted to break PM's 'maun vrat' - says opposition

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party launched its counter-attack on the no-confidence motion with a personal attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and by highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's credentials as a member of the Other Backward Classes or OBC. Nishikant Dubey, a BJP Member from Jharkhand who opened the counter-attack from the ruling benches, started his speech by mocking Rahul Gandhi, widely seen as Congress Party's prime ministerial candidate for the next general election. "I was expecting Rahul Gandhi to speak, perhaps he woke up late," said Dubey, drawing laughter and appreciation from the ruling benches. He was replying to a scalding attack from Gaurav Gogoi, who chose to open the innings for the opposition in what is expected to be a two-day slug-fest over Manipur violence in the guise of a no-confidence motion.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Before addressing the points raised by the opposition, Dubey devoted some more attention to Rahul Gandhi, especially on the latter's refusal to apologize to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remark on 'Modi surname' that landed the Congress leader in legal trouble. "He has refused to apologize. After all why would he," Dubey went on. "Modi is from a low caste, OBC. Why would he apologize to an OBC. He's a big person," he said, referring to Modi's background in a community that finds a place in the 'Other Backward Classes' category in Gujarat. Later in his speech, Dubey also tried to paint the no-confidence motion as an attack on "the son of a poor man". "Today, they want to bring a no-confidence motion against someone who gave people buildings, drinking water, who built toilets for people, who tried to bring light into people's homes. The motion is against the poor. Today, they will tear apart Narendra Modi's policies, just like they tore apart Draupadi," Dubey went on, referring to a character in the epic, Mahabharata. The counter-attack -- and the decision to emphasize Modi's OBC credentials -- can be seen as an attempt to shore up BJP's support among intermediate castes. The intermediate castes, most of which find a place in the OBC classification, had in 2019 voted in higher numbers than usual for the BJP, despite the saffron party's traditional image an upper-caste dominated outfit. This had led to a weakening of the support base for many OBC- and Dalit-focused parties during the 2019 elections and was a key factor behind Modi's return to power. Meanwhile, kicking off the no-confidence motion debate, young Congress Party leader Gaurav Gogoi had launched a stinging attack on the Prime Minister, questioning his commitment to law and order and justice, and asking why he did not utter a word against Manipur violence for nearly 80 days. ALSO READ: Just wanted to break PM's 'maun vrat' - says opposition
By Online Desk

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has been re-allotted the government bungalow in Delhi. The move comes a day after his Lok Sabha membership was restored. The Supreme Court had stayed his conviction in the 2019 "Modi surname" defamation case paving the way for him to return as an MP.

The house committee of the Lok Sabha has allotted Gandhi his old bungalow at 12, Tughlaq Lane, a report quoting sources said.

Rahul Gandhi vacated the bunglow on April last and shifted to his mother Sonia Gandhi's residence.

Rahul then said he was paying the price for speaking the truth and vowed to continue to raise people's issues.

After he was disqualified from Lok Sabha on March, 2023, following his conviction in a defamation case, Rahul was asked to vacate the 12, Tughlaq Lane bungalow by April 22.

Rahul was disqualified from Parliament after a Surat court convicted and awarded a two-year sentence to him in a defamation case over his Modi surname remarks made in Kolar in Karnataka in 2019.

He moved a sessions court against the magistrate's order but his plea was rejected.

The Supreme Court stayed his two-year prison sentence for defamation, paving the way for him to return as an MP and to run in next years general election.

According to a report in The Indian Express, the stay will operate until the Surat Sessions Court decides Gandhis appeal against the conviction. If the Sessions Court upholds the conviction and the maximum sentence that triggered the disqualification, Gandhi will have to move court again.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has been re-allotted the government bungalow in Delhi. The move comes a day after his Lok Sabha membership was restored. The Supreme Court had stayed his conviction in the 2019 "Modi surname" defamation case paving the way for him to return as an MP. The house committee of the Lok Sabha has allotted Gandhi his old bungalow at 12, Tughlaq Lane, a report quoting sources said. Rahul Gandhi vacated the bunglow on April last and shifted to his mother Sonia Gandhi's residence.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Rahul then said he was paying the price for speaking the truth and vowed to continue to raise people's issues. After he was disqualified from Lok Sabha on March, 2023, following his conviction in a defamation case, Rahul was asked to vacate the 12, Tughlaq Lane bungalow by April 22. Rahul was disqualified from Parliament after a Surat court convicted and awarded a two-year sentence to him in a defamation case over his Modi surname remarks made in Kolar in Karnataka in 2019. He moved a sessions court against the magistrate's order but his plea was rejected. The Supreme Court stayed his two-year prison sentence for defamation, paving the way for him to return as an MP and to run in next years general election. According to a report in The Indian Express, the stay will operate until the Surat Sessions Court decides Gandhis appeal against the conviction. If the Sessions Court upholds the conviction and the maximum sentence that triggered the disqualification, Gandhi will have to move court again.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- China's passenger vehicle (PV) retail sales amounted to 1.775 million units in July 2023, edging down 2.3% from the previous year, and also declining 6.3% from the previous month, according to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).

For clarity, the passenger vehicles hereby refer to the cars, SUVs, and MPVs locally produced on the Chinese mainland.

July's retail figures hit the second-highest monthly level so far this year, despite the traditional trend of July being a slack season for car shopping, typically only outdoing February. The month showcased a moderate sequential decline from June's peak, underscoring its robust performance.

With July marking the beginning for the implementation of China's VI-b emission standards, the rapid ascent of promotional prices witnessed in the first half of the year has tapered off, said the CPCA. The auto market entered a phase of subdued promotional growth in July, with an overall slight reduction in sales promotion intensity. This trend parallels the pricing patterns seen in 2019, signifying a weakening effect of promotional efforts on the automotive market.

At the national level, guiding policies have been frequently introduced to bolster and expand consumer automobile purchases. Initiatives such as the "Hundred-City Coordination" Auto Festival and the "Thousands of Counties and Ten Thousands of Towns" New Energy Vehicle Consumption Season, which promote the use of new energy vehicles, have yielded positive outcomes. Diverse promotional activities like regional auto shows and consumer voucher distribution, coupled with manufacturers' stronger efforts in the semi-annual sprint, have collectively boosted consumer confidence, the association added.

Besides, taking into account such factors as an earlier-than-usual Spring Festival, the ebb and flow of anticipated stimulus policies, the surge in sales promotion for China VI-a car inventories, and the lower base for the year-ago period, the cumulative PV retail sales for the Jan.-Jul. period in China rose 1.9% from a year earlier to 11.299 million units.

In July, China's indigenous brands recorded combined retail sales of around 940,000 units, a YoY growth of 15% and a MoM growth of 1%. These brands accounted for 53.2% of domestic PV retail sales in July 2023, an increase of 5.8 percentage points over the previous year.

Mainstream joint-venture brands retailed 590,000 locally-produced PVs in July, a decrease of 28% YoY, but an 11% growth MoM. The market shares of German and Japanese brands fell 0.8 and 5 percentage points to 20.8% and 15.8%, respectively, while the American brands share climbed 0.7 percentage points to 7.7%

Luxury auto brands sold 240,000 units in July by retail, indicating a 22% YoY decrease and a 20% MoM increase. The previous chip supply constraints last year has gradually been resolved, partly resulting in an 11% YoY growth in the year-to-date luxury PV retail sales in China.

Among the top 10 automakers by July PV retail sales in China, BYD still secured the top position, and was also the fastest-growing one in terms of YoY change. Among the No.2 to No.10 carmakers, only Geely Auto and Changan posted a rising movement over a year earlier.

China's PV wholesale volume in July 2023 reached 2.236 million units, down by 3.2% compared to the prior-year period and 7.6% from the previous month. The accumulated wholesales have amounted to 13.132 million units so far this year, reflecting a 6.6% YoY growth.

In July, Chinas local brands wholesaled 1.19 million units, up 22% YoY, but down 1% MoM. Mainstream joint-venture brands wholesaled 590,000 units, marking a 34% YoY decline and a 1% MoM decrease. Luxury brands wholesaled 280,000 units, up 13% YoY, but down 15% MoM.

There were 31 companies with a wholesales volume of over 10,000 units in July, 2 companies fewer than that of the previous month. According to the CPCAs data, 7 of these companies reported a MoM growth rate of over 30%, while 4 saw a growth rate of over 10%.

With regard to the PV wholesale volume in July, BYD still outdid other automakers with a volume of around 261,000 units and it was immediately followed by Chery Auto. Besides, the three major Chinese automakersGeely Auto, Changan Auto, and Great Wall Motorall scored a year-on-year increase in their July wholesales. Tesla didn't appear on the top 10 automakers list.

The production volume of locally-manufactured passenger vehicles in July amounted to 2.101 million units in the country, displaying a YoY decrease of 2.6% and a MoM drop of 4.3%. Due to the emission standard upgrades, enterprises have been extremely cautious in production.

This year's total auto exports continued the strong growth trend from the end of last year. Under the statistical scope of the CPCA, passenger vehicle exports (including complete vehicles and CKDs) reached 310,000 units in July, indicating a YoY surge of 63% and a MoM growth of 4%. From January to July, China's passenger vehicle exports totaled 1.99 million units, representing a YoY spike of 81%. New energy vehicles accounted for 28% of total exports in July.
Namita Bajpai By

Express News Service

LUCKNOW: BJP MP from Etawah Ram Shankar Katheria was saved from disqualification from Lok Saha as the Agra session court stayed his conviction in a 12 -year-old case of assault on an official of Torrent Power Limited in 2011.

Katheria hailed the sessions courts order saying that justice had been done to him. The former Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development was facing disqualification from the Lok Sabha after Special Magistrate MP/MLA Court had held Katheria guilty of the assault and rioting charges and sentenced him to two years in jail.

Kateria had moved Sessions court seeking a stay on his conviction and jail term. His plea was accepted by the sessions court and it posted the matter for the next hearing on September 11. The ruling partys sitting MP from Etawah was booked for thrashing the staff of Torrent Power in Agra in 2011 when BSP was in power.

Recounting the incident on November 16, 2011, Katheria on said, It was a matter related to an SC woman, who irons clothes. She had complained to me about getting excessive electricity bills from Torrent.

LUCKNOW: BJP MP from Etawah Ram Shankar Katheria was saved from disqualification from Lok Saha as the Agra session court stayed his conviction in a 12 -year-old case of assault on an official of Torrent Power Limited in 2011. Katheria hailed the sessions courts order saying that justice had been done to him. The former Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development was facing disqualification from the Lok Sabha after Special Magistrate MP/MLA Court had held Katheria guilty of the assault and rioting charges and sentenced him to two years in jail. Kateria had moved Sessions court seeking a stay on his conviction and jail term. His plea was accepted by the sessions court and it posted the matter for the next hearing on September 11. The ruling partys sitting MP from Etawah was booked for thrashing the staff of Torrent Power in Agra in 2011 when BSP was in power. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Recounting the incident on November 16, 2011, Katheria on said, It was a matter related to an SC woman, who irons clothes. She had complained to me about getting excessive electricity bills from Torrent.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the second time in the pre-lunch period amid uproar in the House over a media report on Chinese funding to a news portal to spread propaganda against India.

BJP member Sudhanshu Trivedi raised the issue and questioned Congress for its alleged links with the portal.

He raised the matter of a US media report alleging that web portal "NewsClick" received Chinese funding to spread propaganda against India.

Trivedi asked Congress about its alleged links with the portal, saying the party supported it when ED conducted raids on it.

Amid the din created by opposition members over the charge, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar adjourned the house till 12.45 pm.

Trivedi said there are certain things which have come in The New York Times about propaganda spread against India.

An American has said that the Communist Party of China has tried to use propaganda against India through foreign funding in Newsclick, he said.

Leader of the House Piyush Goyal said, "kya hai ye ajeeb rishta" and alleged that they are indulging in a conspiracy against India and there should be a discussion on this.

"They do funding against India and indulge in propaganda in the House. What is this relation with Rahul Gandhi? The country must know what this relationship is and he should tell whether he stands with China or India," Goyal said.

Earlier, TMC leader Derek O'Brien was suspended from the Rajya Sabha for the rest of the Monsoon session after he disobeyed Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar while trying to seek a discussion on the Manipur issue.

NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the second time in the pre-lunch period amid uproar in the House over a media report on Chinese funding to a news portal to spread propaganda against India. BJP member Sudhanshu Trivedi raised the issue and questioned Congress for its alleged links with the portal. He raised the matter of a US media report alleging that web portal "NewsClick" received Chinese funding to spread propaganda against India.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Trivedi asked Congress about its alleged links with the portal, saying the party supported it when ED conducted raids on it. Amid the din created by opposition members over the charge, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar adjourned the house till 12.45 pm. Trivedi said there are certain things which have come in The New York Times about propaganda spread against India. An American has said that the Communist Party of China has tried to use propaganda against India through foreign funding in Newsclick, he said. Leader of the House Piyush Goyal said, "kya hai ye ajeeb rishta" and alleged that they are indulging in a conspiracy against India and there should be a discussion on this. "They do funding against India and indulge in propaganda in the House. What is this relation with Rahul Gandhi? The country must know what this relationship is and he should tell whether he stands with China or India," Goyal said. Earlier, TMC leader Derek O'Brien was suspended from the Rajya Sabha for the rest of the Monsoon session after he disobeyed Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar while trying to seek a discussion on the Manipur issue.
By Online Desk

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founder Sharad Pawar chose to lay to rest rumours by assuring party workers that he will not join BJP.

NCP's Pune unit chief Prashant Jagtap led a delegation that met Sharad Pawar in Delhi on Tuesday.

Prashant Jagtap has been quoted as saying in a report that Pawar asked them to continue with the party works without apprehension as he will not join hands with the BJP. Pawar also asked the leaders to strengthen the party for the upcoming elections.

The confusion among the cadre and senior Pawars claim comes in the backdrop of Ajit Pawar approaching the Election Commission of India to stake claim over the NCP and its symbol. According to reports, Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP, which is part of the NDA government in Maharashtra, has the support of more MLAs.

Meanwhile, amid rumours, Pawar loyalist Jayant Patil had denied meeting Home Minister Amit Shah in Pune on August 6.

Moreover, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Pune last week, at that time, Sharad Pawar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were on the same stage at the Lokmanya Tilak award ceremony. On that, the opposition is targeting Sharad Pawar. Attempts are being made to question their role.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founder Sharad Pawar chose to lay to rest rumours by assuring party workers that he will not join BJP. NCP's Pune unit chief Prashant Jagtap led a delegation that met Sharad Pawar in Delhi on Tuesday. Prashant Jagtap has been quoted as saying in a report that Pawar asked them to continue with the party works without apprehension as he will not join hands with the BJP. Pawar also asked the leaders to strengthen the party for the upcoming elections.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The confusion among the cadre and senior Pawars claim comes in the backdrop of Ajit Pawar approaching the Election Commission of India to stake claim over the NCP and its symbol. According to reports, Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP, which is part of the NDA government in Maharashtra, has the support of more MLAs. Meanwhile, amid rumours, Pawar loyalist Jayant Patil had denied meeting Home Minister Amit Shah in Pune on August 6. Moreover, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Pune last week, at that time, Sharad Pawar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were on the same stage at the Lokmanya Tilak award ceremony. On that, the opposition is targeting Sharad Pawar. Attempts are being made to question their role.
Fayaz Wani By

Express News Service

SRINAGAR: A top militant commander of Hizbul Mujahideen and one of the oldest surviving militants who was active since 1996, was killed as security forces foiled an infiltration attempt by militants along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch on Monday.

An army official said the movement of two suspected persons was detected along the LoC in the Poonch sector at around 2 am and the movement of the group was kept under constant surveillance through new-generation electro-optical devices.

Army also released footage captured by thermal cameras showing two persons crossing into this side of LoC in the dark through a dense forest along the LoC. The militants were challenged when they attempted to cross LoC to this side. They opened fire on the troops, who retaliated. In the ensuing firefight, one militant was killed while another was injured and he sneaked back across the LoC taking advantage of thick foliage, rain and rocky terrain, the army official said.

The slain militant was identified as Muneser Hussain son of Sattar Mohammad R/o Bagyladra Poonch.

An AK 56 rifle, 1 9 mm pistol with a silencer, 1 magazine of AK rifle, 2 hand grenades, eatables and medicines were recovered from his possession, the army official said. A police official said the slain militant was active since 1996.

1993 he went to PoK for arms training and returned in 1996. He again returned to PoK in 1998. He masterminded a number of attacks on security forces in the Pir Panjal region comprising border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, he said. The police official said Hussain was the Divisional Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen and was tasked to revive militancy in Rajouri and Poonch.

Terror mastermind

Muneser Hussain was one of the oldest surviving militants, active since 1996. He was the mastermind behind a number of attacks on security forces in Pir Panjal region comprising the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch. As a Divisional Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, he was tasked to revive militancy in Rajouri, Poonch

SRINAGAR: A top militant commander of Hizbul Mujahideen and one of the oldest surviving militants who was active since 1996, was killed as security forces foiled an infiltration attempt by militants along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch on Monday. An army official said the movement of two suspected persons was detected along the LoC in the Poonch sector at around 2 am and the movement of the group was kept under constant surveillance through new-generation electro-optical devices. Army also released footage captured by thermal cameras showing two persons crossing into this side of LoC in the dark through a dense forest along the LoC. The militants were challenged when they attempted to cross LoC to this side. They opened fire on the troops, who retaliated. In the ensuing firefight, one militant was killed while another was injured and he sneaked back across the LoC taking advantage of thick foliage, rain and rocky terrain, the army official said. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The slain militant was identified as Muneser Hussain son of Sattar Mohammad R/o Bagyladra Poonch. An AK 56 rifle, 1 9 mm pistol with a silencer, 1 magazine of AK rifle, 2 hand grenades, eatables and medicines were recovered from his possession, the army official said. A police official said the slain militant was active since 1996. 1993 he went to PoK for arms training and returned in 1996. He again returned to PoK in 1998. He masterminded a number of attacks on security forces in the Pir Panjal region comprising border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, he said. The police official said Hussain was the Divisional Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen and was tasked to revive militancy in Rajouri and Poonch. Terror mastermind Muneser Hussain was one of the oldest surviving militants, active since 1996. He was the mastermind behind a number of attacks on security forces in Pir Panjal region comprising the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch. As a Divisional Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, he was tasked to revive militancy in Rajouri, Poonch
By Express News Service

BHOPAL: At least 15 tribal men, mostly from the Kol tribe who had been working with a private company in Gujarat's Rajkot, had been tortured beyond imagination over an alleged theft.

The incident that happened on August 4, came to light recently after the tribal men from Madhya Pradesh's Anuppur returned home bearing severe injuries and evidence of torture.

The tribal men have alleged that they were held captive and thrashed unimaginably by the private companys staffers over the alleged theft of copper scrap.

The victims identified as Santlal, Mukesh, Shivam and Prem Lal were first interrogated by a staffer, who allegedly pinned the crime on them without any evidence.

The men alleged that their employer then snatched their Aadhar cards and cell phones and held them captive in a room, where they were beaten mercilessly. One of the victims managed to get in touch with a relative, who alerted the police.

It is said that both parties reportedly struck a compromise in the matter on August 5, after which the men were sent back home by train. Meanwhile, the videos and photos of the tribal men with injury marks on their bodies went viral on Socials on Tuesday.

In one of the videos, the victims were seen travelling in a train, where one of them sought MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan's intervention in the matter.

Meanwhile, the state Congress president Kamal Nath raised the issue of the alleged torture of the tribal men. He also raised the matter pertaining to the alleged gang rape of two minor tribal girls by seven men in the Hanumana area of MPs Rewa district. Five of those gang rape accused men have been arrested so far.

These two recent incidents have once again exposed Shivraj Singh Chouhan governments inability to protect the tribals in the state, " He said.

ADG-Shahdol Range, DC Sagar said a zero FIR was registered against three persons, Faqruddin, Dhaval and Dipak under sections 294, 323, 506 and 34 IPC and provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. He also said the case has been transferred to Rajkot police station in Gujarat.

BHOPAL: At least 15 tribal men, mostly from the Kol tribe who had been working with a private company in Gujarat's Rajkot, had been tortured beyond imagination over an alleged theft. The incident that happened on August 4, came to light recently after the tribal men from Madhya Pradesh's Anuppur returned home bearing severe injuries and evidence of torture. The tribal men have alleged that they were held captive and thrashed unimaginably by the private companys staffers over the alleged theft of copper scrap. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The victims identified as Santlal, Mukesh, Shivam and Prem Lal were first interrogated by a staffer, who allegedly pinned the crime on them without any evidence. The men alleged that their employer then snatched their Aadhar cards and cell phones and held them captive in a room, where they were beaten mercilessly. One of the victims managed to get in touch with a relative, who alerted the police. It is said that both parties reportedly struck a compromise in the matter on August 5, after which the men were sent back home by train. Meanwhile, the videos and photos of the tribal men with injury marks on their bodies went viral on Socials on Tuesday. In one of the videos, the victims were seen travelling in a train, where one of them sought MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan's intervention in the matter. Meanwhile, the state Congress president Kamal Nath raised the issue of the alleged torture of the tribal men. He also raised the matter pertaining to the alleged gang rape of two minor tribal girls by seven men in the Hanumana area of MPs Rewa district. Five of those gang rape accused men have been arrested so far. These two recent incidents have once again exposed Shivraj Singh Chouhan governments inability to protect the tribals in the state, " He said. ADG-Shahdol Range, DC Sagar said a zero FIR was registered against three persons, Faqruddin, Dhaval and Dipak under sections 294, 323, 506 and 34 IPC and provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. He also said the case has been transferred to Rajkot police station in Gujarat.
Namita Bajpai By

Express News Service

LUCKNOW: Two Hindu families from Pakistan, who arrived at Chitrakoot district of Uttar Pradesh, around August 3 on a long-term visa (LTV), have appealed to the Centre to provide Indian citizenship.

They have pleaded with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to consider their demands.

The families comprising 15 members claimed that they migrated to India owing to atrocities committed against Hindus in Pakistan. They also cited unemployment and the rise in prices of essential commodities as some of the other reasons for their decision to flee to India.

According to a member Rakesh Kumar, 32, he along with his family migrated to India under duress as the conditions in Pakistan were going from bad to worse especially for the minority Hindu community. He claimed that he used to work in a jeans factory, but as the countrys economy had crumbled, he too lost his job and was left with no option but to migrate to India.

The first family arrived in India during October last year while the second family arrived in May, this year.

One of the families from Khairpur entered India with a valid visa and other documents through Attari in Punjab. They went to Amritsar and ended up in Chitrakoot via Delhi. The family reportedly stayed in Delhi with some relatives where they went searching for work. Meanwhile, they stumbled upon a social worker Kamlesh Patel who took them to his village in Sangrampur, which comes under the jurisdiction of Shivpur police station, in Chitrakoot district.

They were later quizzed, and their papers were verified, by officials in the Chitrakoot district administration and personnel in the local intelligence unit (LIU).

Later, both families, comprising seven women, including four girls, were shifted to the Panchayat Bhawan.

Chitrakoot district Superintendent of Police, Vrinda Shukla said that the families would remain under house arrest in Panchayat Bhawan until their credentials were established and the main motive behind their relocation to India is ascertained.

They have shown the copies of their documents saved on their mobile phones but failed to produce the original copies. We have sent their details to the foreigners regional registration office (FRRO) and are waiting for the inputs that would further clear the picture, the SP said.

Authorities said the visa of the family that arrived in India on October last has expired.

The documents, which the district authorities procured from Delhi on Sunday, did not mention the permission for the families to stay in Chitrakoot. The families are allowed to stay in Delhi and adjoining areas only.

They have come to Chitrakoot without informing the High Commission in Delhi, said one of the LIU officers adding that they were awaiting directions from higher authorities in connection with the families.

Kamlesh Patel has submitted an affidavit stating that all Pakistani nationals are of clean background and he takes responsibility during their stay in India. The affidavit lists the individuals as follows  Rakesh Kumar (32), Santosh Kumar (22), Afsa Kumari (19), Raj Kumari (26), Rakhi (12), Riya Kumari (10), Poonam (7), Tarun Krishna (3), Mangal Mal (46), Dadli (42), Kavita Kumari (24), Sanjay Kumar (22), Sunita (20), Sanit Kumar (16), and Raveena Kumari (14).

LUCKNOW: Two Hindu families from Pakistan, who arrived at Chitrakoot district of Uttar Pradesh, around August 3 on a long-term visa (LTV), have appealed to the Centre to provide Indian citizenship. They have pleaded with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to consider their demands. The families comprising 15 members claimed that they migrated to India owing to atrocities committed against Hindus in Pakistan. They also cited unemployment and the rise in prices of essential commodities as some of the other reasons for their decision to flee to India.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); According to a member Rakesh Kumar, 32, he along with his family migrated to India under duress as the conditions in Pakistan were going from bad to worse especially for the minority Hindu community. He claimed that he used to work in a jeans factory, but as the countrys economy had crumbled, he too lost his job and was left with no option but to migrate to India. The first family arrived in India during October last year while the second family arrived in May, this year. One of the families from Khairpur entered India with a valid visa and other documents through Attari in Punjab. They went to Amritsar and ended up in Chitrakoot via Delhi. The family reportedly stayed in Delhi with some relatives where they went searching for work. Meanwhile, they stumbled upon a social worker Kamlesh Patel who took them to his village in Sangrampur, which comes under the jurisdiction of Shivpur police station, in Chitrakoot district. They were later quizzed, and their papers were verified, by officials in the Chitrakoot district administration and personnel in the local intelligence unit (LIU). Later, both families, comprising seven women, including four girls, were shifted to the Panchayat Bhawan. Chitrakoot district Superintendent of Police, Vrinda Shukla said that the families would remain under house arrest in Panchayat Bhawan until their credentials were established and the main motive behind their relocation to India is ascertained. They have shown the copies of their documents saved on their mobile phones but failed to produce the original copies. We have sent their details to the foreigners regional registration office (FRRO) and are waiting for the inputs that would further clear the picture, the SP said. Authorities said the visa of the family that arrived in India on October last has expired. The documents, which the district authorities procured from Delhi on Sunday, did not mention the permission for the families to stay in Chitrakoot. The families are allowed to stay in Delhi and adjoining areas only. They have come to Chitrakoot without informing the High Commission in Delhi, said one of the LIU officers adding that they were awaiting directions from higher authorities in connection with the families. Kamlesh Patel has submitted an affidavit stating that all Pakistani nationals are of clean background and he takes responsibility during their stay in India. The affidavit lists the individuals as follows  Rakesh Kumar (32), Santosh Kumar (22), Afsa Kumari (19), Raj Kumari (26), Rakhi (12), Riya Kumari (10), Poonam (7), Tarun Krishna (3), Mangal Mal (46), Dadli (42), Kavita Kumari (24), Sanjay Kumar (22), Sunita (20), Sanit Kumar (16), and Raveena Kumari (14).
By PTI

UDUPI: The Karnataka government has handed over the case of the three girls allegedly filming a fellow girl student inside a college washroom to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Monday.

"There is an allegation that a video was filmed in the toilet of a private college in Udupi, and as this is a sensitive case, it has been handed over to the CID for further investigation," Chief Minister Siddaramaiah tweeted.

The incident, which took place on July 19, took a political turn with a series of protests in the town demanding action against the three students who allegedly filmed another girl inside the washroom of a college here.

The incident was portrayed in certain circles in a communal manner because the victim and the accused belong to different religious communities.

National Women's Commission member Khushbu Sundar, who is also a member of the BJP, visited Udupi on July 26 to ascertain the truth behind the incident.

ALSO READ| Udupi voyeurism: BJP leaders want SIT probe

As the victim had not filed a formal complaint, police registered a suo motu case in this connection on July 26 at Malpe police station in Udupi and a DySP-level investigation was going on.

The BJP held state-wide protests on the issue demanding the arrest of the three girls and an investigation by a special investigation team (SIT) into the incident.

Udupi Superintendent of Police Hakay Akshay Machhindra too confirmed that the case has been handed over to the CID. He declined to elaborate on the reason behind handing over the case to the CID.

According to the Netra Jyothi College director Rashmi Krishna Prasad, the incident took place on July 19 and after learning about it, the three girls were suspended from the college the next day.

The three girls brought a phone into the college, which is not permitted as per rules, and then they allegedly filmed a girl in the toilet, she said.

The girls later told the victim that they filmed her by mistake whereas their target was someone else and then deleted the video, Prasad told PTI.

The other college girls got alarmed and reported the matter to the college management when the victim told them about the conduct of the three girls.

ALSO READ| Udupi voyeurism case: Girls who filmed classmate in washroom get bail

However, some girls later alleged that the filming in the washroom had been going on for the past six months and that the accused had allegedly shared these videos with some boys to blackmail them.

However, police said they had found no such videos.

On July 27, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara had called it "a small incident blown out of proportion".

"That is a small incident. Reports say it happened amongst friends. Should it be blown out of proportion and given a political colour?" Parameshwara had asked.

"If a criminal activity has taken place beyond it and if a complaint has been given, then it will come under the jurisdiction of the police department. However, there is neither complaint nor anything else," he added.

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student's wing of the RSS, staged massive protests in the town for several days seeking action against the accused.

UDUPI: The Karnataka government has handed over the case of the three girls allegedly filming a fellow girl student inside a college washroom to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Monday. "There is an allegation that a video was filmed in the toilet of a private college in Udupi, and as this is a sensitive case, it has been handed over to the CID for further investigation," Chief Minister Siddaramaiah tweeted. The incident, which took place on July 19, took a political turn with a series of protests in the town demanding action against the three students who allegedly filmed another girl inside the washroom of a college here.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The incident was portrayed in certain circles in a communal manner because the victim and the accused belong to different religious communities. National Women's Commission member Khushbu Sundar, who is also a member of the BJP, visited Udupi on July 26 to ascertain the truth behind the incident. ALSO READ| Udupi voyeurism: BJP leaders want SIT probe As the victim had not filed a formal complaint, police registered a suo motu case in this connection on July 26 at Malpe police station in Udupi and a DySP-level investigation was going on. The BJP held state-wide protests on the issue demanding the arrest of the three girls and an investigation by a special investigation team (SIT) into the incident. Udupi Superintendent of Police Hakay Akshay Machhindra too confirmed that the case has been handed over to the CID. He declined to elaborate on the reason behind handing over the case to the CID. According to the Netra Jyothi College director Rashmi Krishna Prasad, the incident took place on July 19 and after learning about it, the three girls were suspended from the college the next day. The three girls brought a phone into the college, which is not permitted as per rules, and then they allegedly filmed a girl in the toilet, she said. The girls later told the victim that they filmed her by mistake whereas their target was someone else and then deleted the video, Prasad told PTI. The other college girls got alarmed and reported the matter to the college management when the victim told them about the conduct of the three girls. ALSO READ| Udupi voyeurism case: Girls who filmed classmate in washroom get bail However, some girls later alleged that the filming in the washroom had been going on for the past six months and that the accused had allegedly shared these videos with some boys to blackmail them. However, police said they had found no such videos. On July 27, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara had called it "a small incident blown out of proportion". "That is a small incident. Reports say it happened amongst friends. Should it be blown out of proportion and given a political colour?" Parameshwara had asked. "If a criminal activity has taken place beyond it and if a complaint has been given, then it will come under the jurisdiction of the police department. However, there is neither complaint nor anything else," he added. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student's wing of the RSS, staged massive protests in the town for several days seeking action against the accused.
By Online Desk

Ahead of President Joe Biden's visit to India, the US State Department says it has "regularly" raised the issue of human rights with India and plans to do so in the future. Notably, Biden will be in New Delhi next month as part of his presidential trip to attend the G20 Summit.

"We regularly raise human rights concerns with countries with which we engage, have done that  so in the past with India, and we'll do so in the future," State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters at his daily news conference.

Miller was responding to a question if President Joe Biden, during his upcoming trip to India, will be asking India about the alleged Christian persecution in the country.

"We have made very clear that we oppose the persecution of Christians and we oppose the persecution of any religious group, no matter where it takes place in the world," Miller said.

The BJP government under PM Modi has often been criticised for its handling of minorities in India. Critics and rights groups have continued to express concern over the Modi government's blind eye toward hate crimes and vigilante violence against Muslims and Christians.

Notably, Biden during PM Modi's visit to the US in June called religious freedom a "core principle" for India and the United States and asserted that democratic values "face challenges around the world and in each of our countries."

Biden during the ceremonial welcome to Modi had said: "Equity under the law, freedom of expression, religious pluralism and diversity of our people  these core principles have endured and evolved. Even as they have faced challenges throughout each of our nations' histories, and will fuel our strength, depth and future."

'Significant' human rights issues and abuses

In March, the US State Department had released its annual report on religious freedom which flagged attacks against religious minorities, dissidents and journalists under the Modi government.

The State Department report listed "significant human rights issues and abuses" and noted the increase in violence against minorities and the inflammatory rhetoric from members of the BJP since the Modi government took office in 2014. The report also flagged the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act and the abrogation of special status (Article 370 and Article 35A) in Jammu and Kashmir as among the contributing factors to the increase in violence.

The State Department report, based on direct research as well as accounts by media and advocacy groups, pointed to concerns about home demolitions against Muslims and public flogging by police of Muslims accused of injuring Hindus in the state of Gujarat.

Similarly, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) had called for blacklisting India over religious freedom in May, highlighting that the treatment of minorities has continued to worsen under PM Modi. The USCIRF, citing the State Department's annual report pointed to the violence and destruction of property targeting Muslims and Christians and drew links to comments and social media posts by members of the BJP and other right-wing outfits in the country.

"The continued enforcement of discriminatory laws facilitated a culture of impunity for widespread campaigns of threats and violence by mobs and vigilante groups," it had said.

Former US president Barack Obama, in an interview with CNN, said that India risks "pulling apart" if the Muslim minority is not respected and urged the need to highlight "religious pluralism." Obama had made these remarks days before PM Modi's State visit in June.

"If I had a conversation with Prime Minister Modi, who I know well, part of my argument would be that if you do not protect the rights of ethnic minorities in India, there is a strong possibility at some point that India starts pulling apart," Obama had said in an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour.

"We've seen what happens when you start getting those kinds of large internal conflicts. So that would be contrary to the interests not just of Muslim India but also of Hindu India," he said.

'Backsliding democracy', say Rights groups

Global human rights NGO Amnesty International has continued to highlight the erosion of civil rights and religious freedom under the Narendra Modi regime.

Amnesty in its India 2022 report noted that arbitrary arrests, prolonged detentions, unlawful attacks and killings, internet shutdowns and intimidation using digital technologies, including unlawful surveillance as major concerns faced by minority groups, human rights defenders, dissenters and critics of the Union government.

Similarly, Human Rights Watch, an international human rights research and advocacy group, has also continued to highlight the crackdown on civil society and media under the Modi government citing persecution of activists, journalists, protesters and critics on fabricated counterterrorism and hate speech laws. The vilification of Muslims and other minorities by some BJP leaders and police inaction against government supporters who commit violence are also among HRW's concerns in India.

Notably, the 'Democracy Index', prepared by The Economist Group's Economist Intelligence Unit, had downgraded India to a "flawed democracy" in its 2022 report due to the serious backsliding of democratic freedom under the Modi government.

Similarly, the US-based non-profit organization Freedom House had lowered India's standing from a free democracy to a "partly free" democracy in its global freedom and internet freedom ratings, while V-Dem Institute, a Sweden-based independent research institute, had classified India as an "electoral autocracy", as part of its 2022 Democracy report.

(With additional inputs from PTI, AFP, Amnesty International and HRW)

Ahead of President Joe Biden's visit to India, the US State Department says it has "regularly" raised the issue of human rights with India and plans to do so in the future. Notably, Biden will be in New Delhi next month as part of his presidential trip to attend the G20 Summit. "We regularly raise human rights concerns with countries with which we engage, have done that  so in the past with India, and we'll do so in the future," State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters at his daily news conference. Miller was responding to a question if President Joe Biden, during his upcoming trip to India, will be asking India about the alleged Christian persecution in the country.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "We have made very clear that we oppose the persecution of Christians and we oppose the persecution of any religious group, no matter where it takes place in the world," Miller said. The BJP government under PM Modi has often been criticised for its handling of minorities in India. Critics and rights groups have continued to express concern over the Modi government's blind eye toward hate crimes and vigilante violence against Muslims and Christians. Notably, Biden during PM Modi's visit to the US in June called religious freedom a "core principle" for India and the United States and asserted that democratic values "face challenges around the world and in each of our countries." Biden during the ceremonial welcome to Modi had said: "Equity under the law, freedom of expression, religious pluralism and diversity of our people  these core principles have endured and evolved. Even as they have faced challenges throughout each of our nations' histories, and will fuel our strength, depth and future." 'Significant' human rights issues and abuses In March, the US State Department had released its annual report on religious freedom which flagged attacks against religious minorities, dissidents and journalists under the Modi government. The State Department report listed "significant human rights issues and abuses" and noted the increase in violence against minorities and the inflammatory rhetoric from members of the BJP since the Modi government took office in 2014. The report also flagged the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act and the abrogation of special status (Article 370 and Article 35A) in Jammu and Kashmir as among the contributing factors to the increase in violence. The State Department report, based on direct research as well as accounts by media and advocacy groups, pointed to concerns about home demolitions against Muslims and public flogging by police of Muslims accused of injuring Hindus in the state of Gujarat. Similarly, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) had called for blacklisting India over religious freedom in May, highlighting that the treatment of minorities has continued to worsen under PM Modi. The USCIRF, citing the State Department's annual report pointed to the violence and destruction of property targeting Muslims and Christians and drew links to comments and social media posts by members of the BJP and other right-wing outfits in the country. "The continued enforcement of discriminatory laws facilitated a culture of impunity for widespread campaigns of threats and violence by mobs and vigilante groups," it had said. Former US president Barack Obama, in an interview with CNN, said that India risks "pulling apart" if the Muslim minority is not respected and urged the need to highlight "religious pluralism." Obama had made these remarks days before PM Modi's State visit in June. "If I had a conversation with Prime Minister Modi, who I know well, part of my argument would be that if you do not protect the rights of ethnic minorities in India, there is a strong possibility at some point that India starts pulling apart," Obama had said in an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour. "We've seen what happens when you start getting those kinds of large internal conflicts. So that would be contrary to the interests not just of Muslim India but also of Hindu India," he said. 'Backsliding democracy', say Rights groups Global human rights NGO Amnesty International has continued to highlight the erosion of civil rights and religious freedom under the Narendra Modi regime. Amnesty in its India 2022 report noted that arbitrary arrests, prolonged detentions, unlawful attacks and killings, internet shutdowns and intimidation using digital technologies, including unlawful surveillance as major concerns faced by minority groups, human rights defenders, dissenters and critics of the Union government. Similarly, Human Rights Watch, an international human rights research and advocacy group, has also continued to highlight the crackdown on civil society and media under the Modi government citing persecution of activists, journalists, protesters and critics on fabricated counterterrorism and hate speech laws. The vilification of Muslims and other minorities by some BJP leaders and police inaction against government supporters who commit violence are also among HRW's concerns in India. Notably, the 'Democracy Index', prepared by The Economist Group's Economist Intelligence Unit, had downgraded India to a "flawed democracy" in its 2022 report due to the serious backsliding of democratic freedom under the Modi government. Similarly, the US-based non-profit organization Freedom House had lowered India's standing from a free democracy to a "partly free" democracy in its global freedom and internet freedom ratings, while V-Dem Institute, a Sweden-based independent research institute, had classified India as an "electoral autocracy", as part of its 2022 Democracy report. (With additional inputs from PTI, AFP, Amnesty International and HRW)
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Tuesday hit out at Union Minister Kiren Rijiju over his remark that the prime minister has directed ministers to visit the Northeast every 15 days, challenging him to furnish details of the visits of Union ministers to Manipur in the last 97 days.

Intervening in the debate on the no-confidence motion against the government, Rijiju said, "When our government was formed, in the first cabinet meeting, (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi ji made a group and said that every 15 days, five cabinet ministers and seven ministers of state must tour the Northeast.

It is still going on, all the ministers sitting here have toured the northeast.

"PM Modi has also given directives to officials to visit the Northeast and meet people. There is no meaning of ruling from Delhi, one can reach the people through service. You never thought about this. The prime minister has won the confidence of the people," Rijiju said.

ALSO READ | 'What does Modi see in Biren Singh?' - Supriya Sule seeks Manipur CM's immediate dismissal

Reacting to the remarks, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that during the no-confidence motion in Lok Sabha, Union Minister Rijiju has "boasted about the prime minister's directions to Cabinet ministers and ministers of state to visit the Northeast every 15 days".

"Yes, we all know about the frequency of visits of Union ministers before any election. But it has been 97 days since the horrific ethnic violence broke out in Manipur. INDIA (opposition bloc) asks how many of Modi's ministers have been to Manipur?" Ramesh said on Twitter.

"We challenge you to furnish details of the visits of Union ministers to Manipur in the last 97 days!" he said.

The Congress accused Prime Minister Modi of taking a "vow of silence" on issues such as the ethnic violence in Manipur and Chinese incursions, and said opposition parties were forced to bring a no-confidence motion against the government to make him speak up.

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Tuesday hit out at Union Minister Kiren Rijiju over his remark that the prime minister has directed ministers to visit the Northeast every 15 days, challenging him to furnish details of the visits of Union ministers to Manipur in the last 97 days. Intervening in the debate on the no-confidence motion against the government, Rijiju said, "When our government was formed, in the first cabinet meeting, (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi ji made a group and said that every 15 days, five cabinet ministers and seven ministers of state must tour the Northeast. It is still going on, all the ministers sitting here have toured the northeast.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "PM Modi has also given directives to officials to visit the Northeast and meet people. There is no meaning of ruling from Delhi, one can reach the people through service. You never thought about this. The prime minister has won the confidence of the people," Rijiju said. ALSO READ | 'What does Modi see in Biren Singh?' - Supriya Sule seeks Manipur CM's immediate dismissal Reacting to the remarks, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that during the no-confidence motion in Lok Sabha, Union Minister Rijiju has "boasted about the prime minister's directions to Cabinet ministers and ministers of state to visit the Northeast every 15 days". "Yes, we all know about the frequency of visits of Union ministers before any election. But it has been 97 days since the horrific ethnic violence broke out in Manipur. INDIA (opposition bloc) asks how many of Modi's ministers have been to Manipur?" Ramesh said on Twitter. "We challenge you to furnish details of the visits of Union ministers to Manipur in the last 97 days!" he said. The Congress accused Prime Minister Modi of taking a "vow of silence" on issues such as the ethnic violence in Manipur and Chinese incursions, and said opposition parties were forced to bring a no-confidence motion against the government to make him speak up.
Rajesh Asnani By

Express News Service

JAIPUR: In Rajasthan, habitual eve-teasers and molesters will now be debarred from getting government jobs, said Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

Aiming to bolster the safety and security of women and girls in the state, the Chief Minister on Tuesday announced those involved in eve-teasing or molestation of women and girls will be ineligible for government jobs.

During a crucial law and order meeting held late on Tuesday night, CM Gehlot expressed his unwavering determination to prioritise the well-being of women and girls. He directed the officials to take stringent actions against habitual miscreants and molesters.

Under this special move, the Gehlot government has ordered that character certificates of the men who get involved in eve teasing will have a special mention of this. As part of the new measures, character certificates of individuals caught eve-teasing or molesting women will explicitly mention their offence. Furthermore, the names of these offenders will be forwarded to the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) and the Staff Selection Board.

The government has asked the police department to keep a detailed record of such men and records of those convicted in eve teasing will be sent to RPSC and the employees selection board. This proactive approach will ensure that such individuals are barred from future government job opportunities, as their applications will be rejected if they match the existing database.

CM Gehlot said," Checking crime against women and crime against those who come under the vulnerable section of the society is our government's top priority. We will ensure permanent cure of all problems that eve-teasers and molesters create in the state."

He said a special operation will be initiated with policemen deployed in schools, colleges, and markets to monitor crime against women and girls. The places with higher rates of complaints regarding misbehaviour will receive special attention, and monitoring will be intensified through fixed points in these areas.

In addition to this, Gehlot has directed the officials to take strict action against the bars and nightclubs which open beyond the stipulated time. Along with the managers of these clubs, the responsibility of the owners will also be fixed. He said that action will be taken to cancel the license of such clubs for violating the rules.

With these new directives in place, Rajasthan is taking a progressive stance in safeguarding the dignity and well-being of women and girls, while ensuring that offenders face appropriate consequences for their actions.

Ahead of the assembly elections, the Gehlot government has been under a lot of pressure over the law and order situation in general and about rising crimes against women in the state. Rajasthan currently has the highest number of crimes against women in the country.

JAIPUR: In Rajasthan, habitual eve-teasers and molesters will now be debarred from getting government jobs, said Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. Aiming to bolster the safety and security of women and girls in the state, the Chief Minister on Tuesday announced those involved in eve-teasing or molestation of women and girls will be ineligible for government jobs. During a crucial law and order meeting held late on Tuesday night, CM Gehlot expressed his unwavering determination to prioritise the well-being of women and girls. He directed the officials to take stringent actions against habitual miscreants and molesters.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Under this special move, the Gehlot government has ordered that character certificates of the men who get involved in eve teasing will have a special mention of this. As part of the new measures, character certificates of individuals caught eve-teasing or molesting women will explicitly mention their offence. Furthermore, the names of these offenders will be forwarded to the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) and the Staff Selection Board. The government has asked the police department to keep a detailed record of such men and records of those convicted in eve teasing will be sent to RPSC and the employees selection board. This proactive approach will ensure that such individuals are barred from future government job opportunities, as their applications will be rejected if they match the existing database. CM Gehlot said," Checking crime against women and crime against those who come under the vulnerable section of the society is our government's top priority. We will ensure permanent cure of all problems that eve-teasers and molesters create in the state." He said a special operation will be initiated with policemen deployed in schools, colleges, and markets to monitor crime against women and girls. The places with higher rates of complaints regarding misbehaviour will receive special attention, and monitoring will be intensified through fixed points in these areas. In addition to this, Gehlot has directed the officials to take strict action against the bars and nightclubs which open beyond the stipulated time. Along with the managers of these clubs, the responsibility of the owners will also be fixed. He said that action will be taken to cancel the license of such clubs for violating the rules. With these new directives in place, Rajasthan is taking a progressive stance in safeguarding the dignity and well-being of women and girls, while ensuring that offenders face appropriate consequences for their actions. Ahead of the assembly elections, the Gehlot government has been under a lot of pressure over the law and order situation in general and about rising crimes against women in the state. Rajasthan currently has the highest number of crimes against women in the country.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- The Chinese new energy passenger vehicle (NEPV) market continues its robust growth trajectory, with wholesales reaching an impressive 737,000 units in July, marking a significant surge of 30.7% compared to the corresponding period last year, according to data collected by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).

Despite a minor month-on-month dip of 3.1%, this substantial growth underscores the surging demand for new energy vehicles (NEVs). In the first seven months of this year, cumulative wholesale volume of NEPVs hiked up 41.2% year over year to 4.279 million units.

NEVs accounted for 52% of Chinese indigenous brands total passenger vehicle (PV) wholesale volume in July, while wholesale volume of luxury brands showcased a 28.9% NEV penetration rate. In contrast, mainstream joint venture brands lag behind, with a mere 5.8% of its monthly sales composed by NEVs.

Within the NEV segment, pure-electric vehicles remained dominant, recording a wholesale volume of 496,000 units, representing a 15.3% increase year-on-year, but a marginal 6.1% decline compared to the previous month. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) sales, on the other hand, surged remarkably by 80.0% year over year in July, securing a 33% share of the NEV market, which climbed up 9 percentage points compared to the previous year. Notably, extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs), a subtype of PHEVs, contributed significantly to this surge, constituting 23% of the PHEV market and displaying strong growth trends.

In the past month, there had been 16 passengr vehicle models boasting a wholesale volume exceeding the 20,000-unit mark (a slight decline from the 19 models in the same period last year). Among which, NEVs claimed the top three spots, including the BYD Song (51,258 units), the BYD Qin (44,695 units), and the Model Y (43,961 units). Other NEV models in the list include the BYD Dolphin (31,950 units), the BYD Yuan (31,456 units), the BYD Seagull (28,001 units), the BYD Han (25,237 units), the AION S (22,437 units), and the Model 3 (20,324 units).

China's NEV sector continued its international outreach, with 88,000 NEPVs exported in July, which shot up 80% from a year ago and zoomed 26% month over month. Notably, pure electric vehicles comprised 92% of these exports, underlining the global appeal of China's electrification technology.

Fueled by China's burgeoning NEV industry and expanding market demand, domestic manufacturers are increasingly gaining international recognition. With an ever-improving service network, the NEV export market remains on a positive trajectory.

In July, leading the export charge were Tesla China (32,862 units), BYD (18,169 units), SAIC Passenger Vehicle (17,724 units), SAIC-GM-Wuling (6,674 units), Dongfeng eGT (6,119 units), Great Wall Motor (2,391 units), Geely (2,280 units), Skyworth Auto (974 units), Chery (285 units), Dongfeng Yu-An (282 units), SAIC Maxus (171 units), Changan Ford (146 units), and Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen (127 units). Domestic automakers like SAIC Passenger Vehicle demonstrated robust performance in Europe, while BYD established a foothold in Southeast Asia.
By Express News Service

KOCHI: Filmmaker Siddique, who had been undergoing treatment at Amrita Hospital for three weeks, suffered a heart attack on Sunday and is in a critical condition, hospital officials said on Monday.

The 64-year-old, who started as a mimicry artist in the 1980s through Kochi-based Kalabhavan troupe before directing several blockbusters largely in Malayalam but also in Tamil and Hindi, is surviving with the support of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

He was admitted on July 10 following non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis. He suffered a heart attack on Sunday. He was suffering from liver failure too, and was recommended liver transplant, the sources said.

Among the many famous films Siddique has directed are Ramji Rao Speaking, Hitler, Vietnam Colony and Bodyguard, which was later shot in Tamil and Hindi .

Many of Siddique's films were co-directed with Lal, who went on to find fame as an actor and producer after their split.

KOCHI: Filmmaker Siddique, who had been undergoing treatment at Amrita Hospital for three weeks, suffered a heart attack on Sunday and is in a critical condition, hospital officials said on Monday. The 64-year-old, who started as a mimicry artist in the 1980s through Kochi-based Kalabhavan troupe before directing several blockbusters largely in Malayalam but also in Tamil and Hindi, is surviving with the support of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). He was admitted on July 10 following non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis. He suffered a heart attack on Sunday. He was suffering from liver failure too, and was recommended liver transplant, the sources said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Among the many famous films Siddique has directed are Ramji Rao Speaking, Hitler, Vietnam Colony and Bodyguard, which was later shot in Tamil and Hindi . Many of Siddique's films were co-directed with Lal, who went on to find fame as an actor and producer after their split.
By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution on Tuesday demanding the Centre to refrain from its "unilateral and hasty" move to impose a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) that voids the secular character of the Constitution.

The Kerala Assembly is the first state legislature in the country to pass a resolution against UCC.

The resolution, moved by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, noted that the Centre has proceeded with the 'unilateral' move without engaging in an ideological debate or seeking consensus. Such a move has caused concern among various sections of the population, it said.

ALSO READ | Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan moves resolution in assembly against imposition of UCC in the country

The resolution stated that the concern of the people over UCC is shared by the Kerala Legislative Assembly. It noted that a single civil code is a divisive move that threatens the unity of the people and is detrimental to the nation's cohesion.

The assembly unanimously demanded that the Central Government should refrain from taking any steps on issues affecting the entire populace of the country.

In December 2019, the Kerala Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution on Tuesday demanding the Centre to refrain from its "unilateral and hasty" move to impose a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) that voids the secular character of the Constitution. The Kerala Assembly is the first state legislature in the country to pass a resolution against UCC. The resolution, moved by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, noted that the Centre has proceeded with the 'unilateral' move without engaging in an ideological debate or seeking consensus. Such a move has caused concern among various sections of the population, it said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); ALSO READ | Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan moves resolution in assembly against imposition of UCC in the country The resolution stated that the concern of the people over UCC is shared by the Kerala Legislative Assembly. It noted that a single civil code is a divisive move that threatens the unity of the people and is detrimental to the nation's cohesion. The assembly unanimously demanded that the Central Government should refrain from taking any steps on issues affecting the entire populace of the country. In December 2019, the Kerala Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
By Express News Service

PURI: Ulluk Bek, a Kyrgyz national who was found in a precarious condition and had lost his passport, visa and money will soon be sent home due to the concerted efforts by social activists and Puri police.

After some social activists noticed Bek loitering near Sri Jagannath temple, they inquired about his identity. He narrated his plight and expressed his desire to return home. Since he said he does not have the money and access, the matter was informed to Puri police who rescued Bek and put him in a shelter home.

According to Bek, he has parents, two sisters and a brother back home. He had left Kyrgyzstan and arrived in Delhi in 2017. He then joined ISKCON and became a Sanatani, Bek said. He spent four years in the ashram practising the Sanatani way of life and then reached Vrindavan where he lost all his travel documents along with money.

Unable to sustain himself at Vrindavan, in May 2022, he embarked on a journey to Puri by foot and reached here last week, Bek said. On his way to Puri, he was helped by people who were generous enough to provide him food. Bek expressed his gratitude to Lord Jagannath who came to his rescue. After Puri police verified his statement and antecedents, all efforts are in place to send him to his native country.

PURI: Ulluk Bek, a Kyrgyz national who was found in a precarious condition and had lost his passport, visa and money will soon be sent home due to the concerted efforts by social activists and Puri police. After some social activists noticed Bek loitering near Sri Jagannath temple, they inquired about his identity. He narrated his plight and expressed his desire to return home. Since he said he does not have the money and access, the matter was informed to Puri police who rescued Bek and put him in a shelter home. According to Bek, he has parents, two sisters and a brother back home. He had left Kyrgyzstan and arrived in Delhi in 2017. He then joined ISKCON and became a Sanatani, Bek said. He spent four years in the ashram practising the Sanatani way of life and then reached Vrindavan where he lost all his travel documents along with money. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Unable to sustain himself at Vrindavan, in May 2022, he embarked on a journey to Puri by foot and reached here last week, Bek said. On his way to Puri, he was helped by people who were generous enough to provide him food. Bek expressed his gratitude to Lord Jagannath who came to his rescue. After Puri police verified his statement and antecedents, all efforts are in place to send him to his native country.
By Express News Service

HYDERABAD: The Indian Institute of Technology-Hyderabad (IIT-H) on Monday announced that it has entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kathmandu University (KU), under which both institutions will offer a Joint Doctoral Programme (JDP) at the PhD level in all areas of research. It also said that many more decisions to strengthen the ties between the two institutes have been taken during the recent visit of their delegation to KU in Nepal.

Within the JDP, students hailing from India and Nepal will be given the chance to work in science, technology, design and medical advancements. Those admitted to the JDP at KU will have the opportunity to spend a maximum of one year at IIT-H along with financial support through a scholarship. A similar programme will be offered to the students of IIT-H.

Furthermore, the IIT-H will host 10 BTech scholars from KU in their final academic year commencing from the August 2023 cycle and undergraduate scholars for concise research internships. To take the mutual academic and research collaboration to newer heights, both institutes have also agreed to exchange their faculty to work collaboratively, a release said.

HYDERABAD: The Indian Institute of Technology-Hyderabad (IIT-H) on Monday announced that it has entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kathmandu University (KU), under which both institutions will offer a Joint Doctoral Programme (JDP) at the PhD level in all areas of research. It also said that many more decisions to strengthen the ties between the two institutes have been taken during the recent visit of their delegation to KU in Nepal. Within the JDP, students hailing from India and Nepal will be given the chance to work in science, technology, design and medical advancements. Those admitted to the JDP at KU will have the opportunity to spend a maximum of one year at IIT-H along with financial support through a scholarship. A similar programme will be offered to the students of IIT-H. Furthermore, the IIT-H will host 10 BTech scholars from KU in their final academic year commencing from the August 2023 cycle and undergraduate scholars for concise research internships. To take the mutual academic and research collaboration to newer heights, both institutes have also agreed to exchange their faculty to work collaboratively, a release said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); });
By Associated Press

NAIROBI: Nearly two weeks have passed since the coup in Niger, and the two men making competing claims to power have gone quiet in recent days.

One is the ousted president, who said last week he's being held hostage and has been publicly silent since then. The other is the military junta leader who asserts he acted out of concern for the country's security and has encouraged Nigeriens to defend it from any foreign intervention.

Here's a look at President Mohamed Bazoum and Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani as Niger's junta defies a threat by the West African regional bloc to step in and use force if necessary.

President Mohamed Bazoum

As neighbours in West Africa experienced multiple coups and kicked out the military forces of former colonizer France in recent months, Niger's president came to be seen as a crucial partner of the West in the fight against groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State organization in what has become the global epicentre of extremism, the vast Sahel region south of the Sahara Desert.

The 63-year-old Bazoum took office in early 2021 in Niger's first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since the country's independence in 1960. The preferred successor of outgoing President Mahamadou Issoufou, Bazoum had been a teacher by training and a longtime Cabinet minister who comes from Niger's small ethnic Arab minority.

Welcomed for his security cooperation with the United States, France and others as alliances with neighbouring countries deteriorated, Bazoum was one of three "close partners" among African leaders to meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at last year's US-Africa summit. Closer to home, Bazoum received praise for taking on issues such as child marriage in the country with the world's highest birth rate.

But some in his security forces reportedly felt threatened as Bazoum made changes in leadership in recent months. Under house arrest, as the coup unfolded, he managed to stay in touch with the outside world by phone, at least for more than a week.

"I write this as a hostage," Bazoum managed to dictate for an opinion piece published in The Washington Post on Thursday.

In that piece, he pushed back against the coup leaders' assertions that they had acted in response to growing insecurity in Niger, saying that "to the south, where we face the terrorist group Boko Haram, there have been almost no attacks for two years."

He added, "The country's north and west have likewise suffered no major attacks since I took office."

The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project supported that in a statement after the coup in Niger, saying "levels of lethal violence are in steady decline, and significantly reduced in comparison to Mali and Burkina Faso."

Bazoum urged the United States and other international partners to intervene. Those partners are concerned. China issued a statement on Thursday calling Bazoum a friend of China and saying that "we hope that his personal safety is ensured."

US officials said they were still able to communicate with Bazoum and that their most recent contact was Monday morning.

Demonstrators gather in front of the Embassy of Niger in Paris, in support of Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum and ECOWAS, Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023. (Photo | AP)

General Abdourahmane Tchiani

The former head of the Niger's presidential guard, Tchiani has accused Bazoum of not doing enough to keep the country safe from Islamic extremists and declared himself the leader of the mutinous soldiers calling themselves the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Country.

Now he and his allies have reached out to the Russian mercenary group Wagner for help, according to Wassim Nasr, a journalist and senior research fellow at the Soufan Center, signalling a major shift in international partners.

The junta also is aligning with neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso, which also are led by juntas and are sending a delegation to Niger after saying any foreign intervention there would be seen as a "declaration of war" against them, too.

Tchiani, who is in his early 60s, is an army veteran and ally of former president Issoufou. He reportedly helped block a coup attempt in March 2021 shortly before Bazoum was sworn in as president.

The general is from the Tillaberi region northwest of the capital and bordering Mali. It is part of the area inside Niger that has suffered greatly from Islamic extremist attacks. After the coup, he asserted that he had stepped in to avoid watching Niger's "inevitable demise."

Like a number of high-ranking military officials in African nations, he received some U.S. training. In the past, he served as a military attache at the Niger embassy in Germany. He also took part in a past mission with the regional bloc, ECOWAS, which now threatens military intervention if Bazoum isn't reinstated.

Bazoum had been preparing to fire Tchiani as head of the presidential guard, the International Crisis Group said in a report on Monday, citing people close to the president.

The general hasn't spoken publicly since a televised speech on Wednesday in which he called on Nigerians to be ready to defend against "all those who want to inflict unspeakable suffering" on the country. He also promised to create the conditions for a peaceful transition to elections.

Bazoum, however, in his last public statement asserted that he's still in charge.

NAIROBI: Nearly two weeks have passed since the coup in Niger, and the two men making competing claims to power have gone quiet in recent days. One is the ousted president, who said last week he's being held hostage and has been publicly silent since then. The other is the military junta leader who asserts he acted out of concern for the country's security and has encouraged Nigeriens to defend it from any foreign intervention. Here's a look at President Mohamed Bazoum and Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani as Niger's junta defies a threat by the West African regional bloc to step in and use force if necessary.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); President Mohamed Bazoum As neighbours in West Africa experienced multiple coups and kicked out the military forces of former colonizer France in recent months, Niger's president came to be seen as a crucial partner of the West in the fight against groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State organization in what has become the global epicentre of extremism, the vast Sahel region south of the Sahara Desert. The 63-year-old Bazoum took office in early 2021 in Niger's first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since the country's independence in 1960. The preferred successor of outgoing President Mahamadou Issoufou, Bazoum had been a teacher by training and a longtime Cabinet minister who comes from Niger's small ethnic Arab minority. Welcomed for his security cooperation with the United States, France and others as alliances with neighbouring countries deteriorated, Bazoum was one of three "close partners" among African leaders to meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at last year's US-Africa summit. Closer to home, Bazoum received praise for taking on issues such as child marriage in the country with the world's highest birth rate. But some in his security forces reportedly felt threatened as Bazoum made changes in leadership in recent months. Under house arrest, as the coup unfolded, he managed to stay in touch with the outside world by phone, at least for more than a week. "I write this as a hostage," Bazoum managed to dictate for an opinion piece published in The Washington Post on Thursday. In that piece, he pushed back against the coup leaders' assertions that they had acted in response to growing insecurity in Niger, saying that "to the south, where we face the terrorist group Boko Haram, there have been almost no attacks for two years." He added, "The country's north and west have likewise suffered no major attacks since I took office." The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project supported that in a statement after the coup in Niger, saying "levels of lethal violence are in steady decline, and significantly reduced in comparison to Mali and Burkina Faso." Bazoum urged the United States and other international partners to intervene. Those partners are concerned. China issued a statement on Thursday calling Bazoum a friend of China and saying that "we hope that his personal safety is ensured." US officials said they were still able to communicate with Bazoum and that their most recent contact was Monday morning. Demonstrators gather in front of the Embassy of Niger in Paris, in support of Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum and ECOWAS, Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023. (Photo | AP) General Abdourahmane Tchiani The former head of the Niger's presidential guard, Tchiani has accused Bazoum of not doing enough to keep the country safe from Islamic extremists and declared himself the leader of the mutinous soldiers calling themselves the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Country. Now he and his allies have reached out to the Russian mercenary group Wagner for help, according to Wassim Nasr, a journalist and senior research fellow at the Soufan Center, signalling a major shift in international partners. The junta also is aligning with neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso, which also are led by juntas and are sending a delegation to Niger after saying any foreign intervention there would be seen as a "declaration of war" against them, too. Tchiani, who is in his early 60s, is an army veteran and ally of former president Issoufou. He reportedly helped block a coup attempt in March 2021 shortly before Bazoum was sworn in as president. The general is from the Tillaberi region northwest of the capital and bordering Mali. It is part of the area inside Niger that has suffered greatly from Islamic extremist attacks. After the coup, he asserted that he had stepped in to avoid watching Niger's "inevitable demise." Like a number of high-ranking military officials in African nations, he received some U.S. training. In the past, he served as a military attache at the Niger embassy in Germany. He also took part in a past mission with the regional bloc, ECOWAS, which now threatens military intervention if Bazoum isn't reinstated. Bazoum had been preparing to fire Tchiani as head of the presidential guard, the International Crisis Group said in a report on Monday, citing people close to the president. The general hasn't spoken publicly since a televised speech on Wednesday in which he called on Nigerians to be ready to defend against "all those who want to inflict unspeakable suffering" on the country. He also promised to create the conditions for a peaceful transition to elections. Bazoum, however, in his last public statement asserted that he's still in charge.
SAN FRANCISCOSalesforce, a publicly-traded software development company known for developing enterprise customer relationship management solutions, is on the hook for claims of aiding child sex trafficking in a lawsuit brought by a suing party claiming they were victimized and trafficked by Backpage.com.

A split panel of three judges sitting on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit ruled that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 doesn't immunize Salesforce, despite case law from recent weeks and months suggesting that the judges are relying on an outdated assessment of the law that resulted in the takedown of the popular classified site and the questionable indictments of James Larkin and Michael Lacey.

This particular case was filed under FOSTA-SESTA, a controversial federal law that sought to curtail online sex trafficking but simply gutted free speech rights on the internet. After former President Donald Trump signed FOSTA-SESTA into law, a civil exception was carved out from the broad protections under Section 230 for non-criminal violations of federal sex trafficking laws.

The exception includes language that grants a civil action against an individual or entity knowingly benefiting from participating in a venture involved in civil or criminal violations of sex trafficking laws under FOSTA-SESTA statutes. Mike Masnick, the editor for Techdirt.com, also pointed out that the judges in the Salesforce case have dismissed a ruling that upheld the constitutionality of FOSTA but narrowed the legal standards for what is aiding and abetting a civil or criminal defendant. That is an extremely high threshold to meet, he argues.

Other case law in question could be found in the landmark decisions for the U.S. Supreme Court cases of Twitter v. Taamneh and Gonzalez v. Google. In Twitter v. Taamneh, the high court ruled per curiam (unanimously) that Twitter cannot be held accountable for aiding and abetting the Islamic State terrorist group in the carrying out of a 2017 bombing at a nightclub in Istanbul.

A similar finding was reached in Gonzalez v. Google, indicating that a majority of the court had no business redefining Section 230 in attempting to lump liability on Googles parent company, Alphabet, for circulating extremist content related to Islamic State via YouTube recommendation algorithms, which the plaintiffs allege contributed to the 2015 Paris terror attacks and the death of a U.S. citizen who was studying abroad in France at the time. In the Supreme Courts opinion on Twitter, they state that this was a far cry from the type of pervasive, systemic, and culpable assistance to a series of terrorist activities that could be described as aiding and abetting each terrorist act.

Following similar reasoning in a ruling on FOSTAs constitutionality, a panel for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit decided in the case of Woodhull Freedom Foundation v. United States that narrowing the law is necessary. Ricci Levy, the president and chief executive officer of Woodhull Freedom Foundation, explained in a press release that the court ruled out many of the broader applications of FOSTA that caused us to challenge it. Considering these assessments, the Seventh Circuit in the Salesforce case chose to broadly interpret the civil action provision in FOSTA, which could lead to similar lawsuits that some observers consider to be frivolous. Eric Goldman, a leading legal mind on internet speech and an advocate for Section 230, told The National Law Journal recently that [t]heres so many lawsuits out there alleging ... civil claims over sex trafficking, and so this opinion ... impacts all of them and potentially swings the pendulum even more in favor of the plaintiffs in those cases.

Goldman, a professor at the Santa Clara University School of Law, explained further to Journal appellate court reporter Avalon Zoppo that the latest ruling in the case of G.G. v. Salesforce is a roadmap for how one party can sue other companies that served as vendors to Backpage.com and could survive a motion to dismiss. Note the Seventh Circuit panel was split on the ruling that Salesforce has to face claims that it knowingly aided and abetted sex trafficking by giving CRM services to Backpage before its seizure in April 2018.

The lone dissenting member of the panel, Judge Thomas Kirsch II, said that the majorityjudges David Hamilton and Doris Pryorbroadly interpreted federal sex trafficking statutes in this case. Kirsch argues in the official opinion: The majority ... concludes that the plaintiffs may hold Salesforce civilly liable ... as a participant in sex trafficking because Salesforce sold customized software to Backpage when it should have known that Backpage violated [the named plaintiffs] ... at some point in time, but not necessarily, Judge Kirsch wrote. G.G., at the time of the initial filing, was characterized as a minor, and the suit was brought against Salesforce with the help of G.G.s mother. That broad reading ... would extend civil liability to nearly every company and individual who did regular and personalized business with Backpage after it faced public allegations of sex trafficking, he added. It also renders meaningless ... requirement that the defendant have constructive knowledge of a ... violation. Because the plaintiffs have not alleged that Salesforce should have known of G.G.s particular trafficking, they have failed to allege a ... violation. I respectfully dissent.

The decision at the Seventh Circuit overturns a dismissal handed down by Judge Andrea Wood of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, based in Chicago. In that ruling, Wood said that counsel representing plaintiff G.G. and her mother failed to present a case that meets the required elements of a claim for beneficiary liability under FOSTA. This case is dismissed with prejudice because Salesforce is protected from liability under [Section 230] of the Communications Decency Act, Judge Wood wrote in her final order published in May 2022.

The revival of G.G. v. Salesforce comes days after the former Backpage.com executive James Larkin committed suicide in Arizona. The ruling from the Seventh Circuit also came days before Larkin was scheduled for a retrial in the criminal case brought against him and business partner Michael Lacey. According to The Independent, Larkins death has delayed the proceedings of the trial.

A federal judge hearing the first criminal trial against Larkin and Lacey declared a mistrial in the case in 2021 but granted the prosecuting U.S. Attorneys the ability to re-hear the filed charges.
Thailand bans book on King Vajiralongkorn before its publication

The book's exiled Thai editor, who has been a prominent opponent of Thailand's monarchy and conservative political establishment, has joined rights organisations in denouncing the action as a violation of the free speech and expression rights that the nation claims to preserve.The government announced its ban on the order and import of the book, Rama X The Thai Monarchy under King Vajiralongkorn, in the Royal Gazette, VOA reported.Voice of America is the US international broadcaster, providing news and information on digital, television, and radio platforms.Signed by police chief Damrongsak Kittiprapas, the order states that "the cover and the articles represent the attitude of the author to defame, insult or threaten the King, the Queen, the Heir to the throne or the Regent; or to undermine national security, social stability or good morals".Citing the 2007 Printing Recordation Act, it says anyone breaking the law could face up to three years in jail and a maximum fine of about USD 1,730. Copies that do make it into the country may be seized and destroyed, VOA reported.The order calls Pavin the book's writer and author. Pavin, however, told VOA he was the editor of the book, an anthology of chapters from several authors, including himself.He said he believed that the Thai authorities had not read the book, due out in hardcopy this fall, and that only he and the American publisher, Yale University's Council on Southeast Asia Studies, have seen the full final draft. An e-book of the volume will follow a few months later, he added, VOA reported.In 2014, following a military coup in Thailand, the regime that seized power ordered the overseas academic to report to authorities and issued an arrest warrant after he failed to show. The regime revoked his passport soon afterwards.In 2020, the Thai government blocked social media access inside the country to a page run by Pavin hosting a critical debate about the Thai monarchy.The cover of the forthcoming book includes images of the king, Thailand's Democracy Monument, and the bottom half of a military-type tank.Erik Harms, who chairs Yale's Council on Southeast Asia Studies, said the publisher was standing by the book."Banning a book does not seem to me to be a very thoughtful way of engaging with academic perspectives one disagrees with," Harms said, adding, "readers who end up reading it should be free to determine on their own whether the choice to ban it has any merit."Rights groups say banning the book tramples on the basic principles of free speech and expression, VOA reported.Human Rights Watch, meanwhile, said Thailand has banned about a dozen books over the past 20 years, most of them for their alleged offence of the monarchy.The group's senior researcher in Thailand, Sunai Phasuk, called the bans part of a concerted effort by Thai authorities to not just shield the monarchy but stifle growing demands for democratic reform.A critical debate on the monarchy has long been taboo in Thailand, protected by a constitution that holds the king beyond reproach and a royal defamation law that metes out up to 15 years in jail for insulting the king, queen, heir or regent, VOA reported.A young generation of activists shattered that taboo during a wave of pro-democracy protests in 2020, adding reform of the country's constitutional monarchy to their list of demands. They see a royal palace playing an outsized role in the country's politics and want new rules to rein it in. Authorities have since charged over 250 people with breaking the law on royal defamation for pressing those demands.Move Forward, a party proposing to restrict the royal defamation law's use -- and alleged misuse -- won the most seats in elections to fill the House of Representatives in May. However, conservative lawmakers in the House and in the military-appointed Senate denied party leader Pita Limjaroenrat's bid for the prime minister's seat in a joint session last month.Most of the lawmakers who spoke against Pita's bid railed against his party's proposal to amend the royal defamation law, VOA reported.The latest book ban echoes the pro-military government's use of the royal defamation law, said Khemthong Tonsakulrungruang, a legal scholar at Thailand's Chulalongkorn University.He said the military has long used to the monarchy's legal status to condone a history of political meddling, including 13 coups in the past nine decades."The military always justifies their intervention in Thai politics as to protect the monarchy. This is where the legitimacy is derived," he told VOA, adding, "Although the ban is futile, it shows that the government is loyal and proactive in safeguarding the monarchy, hence the reason for their existence."(ANI | Posted on 07 August 2023, 1692561498 162O158O110O151)
Yemen govt army launches major operation against Al Qaeda hideouts

The operation's primary focus is on the province's Mudiyah district, where numerous Al Qaeda terrorists have sought refuge in distant valleys and mountainous terrain, Xinhua news agency quoted the government army as saying in an official statement.The large-scale anti-terror operation has already led to the capture of a mid-level Al Qaeda commander named Abu al-Qaqa, it added."The government troops have successfully taken up positions at the entrance to the Wadi Omran area and in villages that have seen terrorist attacks on security forces blamed on the Al Qaeda," a military official told Xinhuaty.The military campaign comes as Yemen continues to grapple with violence and instability stemming from a years-long civil war between Houthi rebels and the internationally recognised government.On August 5, two soldiers of Yemen's government forces were killed and six others injured when a roadside bomb ripped through their vehicle near the entrance of the Mudiyah district.Abyan and other neighboring southern provinces have seen an increase in violence between Yemeni government forces and Al Qaeda militants in recent months.(IANS | Posted on 07 August 2023, 1692561498 162O158O87O67)
Zyber 365 Secures USD 100 Million in Funding to Revolutionize Web3 Cybersecurity

The startup, founded earlier this year by Pearl Kapur and ethical hacker Sunny Vaghela, is dedicated to providing a decentralized and cyber-secured operating system with a strong focus on environmental sustainability.Headquartered in London, Zyber 365 has established a robust presence in India, with a vision to make the country its operational hub. This recent investment positions Zyber 365 to expand its operations and offerings in the Indian market, aligning perfectly with India's economic growth initiatives, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious "Make in India" campaign.A celebratory event held at Pullman, New Delhi, showcased Zyber 365's founders, Pearl Kapur and Sunny Vaghela, as they shared their inspiring journey and plans for the future. The event was graced by the presence of Bollywood actress Tara Sutaria, who expressed her excitement and wholehearted support for Zyber 365's mission to contribute to India's economic growth.Co-founder Pearl Kapur stated, "We are deeply committed to being a part of India's economic growth and expanding our services in the Indian market. Our aim is to support the Prime Minister's Make in India initiative and contribute to India's goal of reaching a USD 5 trillion economy growth. It has been an incredible journey of two years with our dedicated team, investors, and funding to develop this groundbreaking technology."Zyber 365's innovative portfolio comprises a diverse range of Web3 products, including Layer-0, Layer-1, and Layer-2 blockchains, decentralized identities, data analytics, software development kits, web browsers, non-fungible token marketplaces, and initial coin offerings . These offerings can be customized to cater to individual user requirements or collectively leveraged to create a comprehensive Web3 ecosystem.Tara Sutaria said, "I am thrilled and inspired by Zyber 365. I can't wait to witness the new revolution they will bring to promote India's economy through their innovative services."Commenting on the funding milestone, Sunny Vaghela, Co-founder, and Chief Product Officer of Zyber 365 said, "With this infusion of capital, we are now well-equipped to accelerate our product development for Web3 and AI products. This investment will not only fuel our growth but also solidify our foothold in the Web3 ecosystem with a diversified portfolio of use cases related to AI and cybersecurity."Zyber 365 is poised to revolutionize the cybersecurity landscape by introducing innovative and decentralized solutions that prioritize user privacy, data security, and environmental sustainability. The startup's commitment to driving India's economic growth and advancing Web3 technologies positions it as a crucial player in the global cybersecurity and AI industries.For media inquiries, please contact PR Panda Promotions, WA +91-9667329503, E marketing@prpanda.in. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)(ANI | Posted on 07 August 2023, 1692561499 172O70O246O95)
Over 35000 missing children reunited with parents in Maharashtra since 2015: Dy CM Fadnavis

The Maharashtra Deputy CM was addressing the state assembly."Maharashtra police have succeeded in bringing back 96 per cent of children in 2021, 91 per cent in 2022 and in this year until now 71 per cent. Maharashtra Police is successfully working on 'Operation Muskan' since 2015 under which 35,000 to 40,000 missing children were reunited with their parents. Parliament has praised this mission", said Fadnavis.Operation 'Muskan' also known as Operation 'smile' is an initiative by the Ministry of Home Affairs. It was launched in 2015 with the purpose of rescuing and rehabilitation of missing children.Under the initiative, the ministry alloactes resources to the state police forces in order to carry out the operation.Significantly, the monsoon session of the Maharashtra assembly began on July 17.Speaking on the issue of drug-peddling in the state, Deputy CM Fadnavis said, "Maharashtra Police has adopted preventive approach and zero tolerance against crime. Under this, preventive action is taken against around 32,602 people. A Joint Task Force of the Central and the State Govt. is working together to resolve the issue of drugs in every District of the State".In addition, Fadnavis also spoke on the issue of cyber laws.He said that the State Govt. has established 43 cyber labs to combat cyber crimes."In these fast changing times, cyber crime is a huge challenge for the police. To prevent cyber crimes, the State Govt. has established 43 cyber labs, Very soon, a cyber intelligence unit will be established. Apart from this, a very robust integrated cyber platform is under construction. In this platform, banks, social media, financial institutions and NBFC will be included", Fadnavis added.Adding further, the Maharashtra Deputy CM said, "Action is taken on sand mafias on a large scale. Around 1,566 sand mafias are arrested. Strong action like MCOCA is invoked".(ANI | Posted on 07 August 2023, 1692561499 162O158O111O203)
Jaishankar meets Jennifer Ramsey, recognises Cummins contribution to India's growthA

Taking to his official Twitter handle, Jaishankar stated, "Delighted to meet Jennifer Ramsey, CEO of @Cummins. Recognize the contribution of Cummins to the growth and development of India. Encouraged by their future plans for investment and collaboration."On August 1, 2023, Jennifer Ramsey was named Cummins President and CEO. Prior to her current role, Ramsey served as President and Chief Operating Officer, which she assumed in March 2021, according to the statement released on Cummins website. Before serving as COO, Rumsey was Vice President and President of Components Segment, one of Cummins' five business segments.As the President of Components, Ramsey oversaw an organization of more than 12,000 global employees with sales of USD 6 billion in 2020 and customers located around the world, according to the Cummins website.Previously, she worked as Vice President and Chief Technical Officer where she led the global technical organization of approximately 11,000 employees responsible for research and engineering across Cummins.(ANI | Posted on 07 August 2023, 1692561500 162O158O87O39)
Infosys Executive Vice President Richard Lobo resigns, 2nd high profile departure in a week

Lobo previously headed the Human Resources wing at the company and later he was moved to the Special Projects team headed by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Salil Parekh.Last week, the Global Head of Account Expansion, Charles Salameh had resigned.Infosys announced the news of Lobo's resignation on a regulatory filing."This is to inform you that Richard Lobo, Executive Vice President and Senior Management Personnel, has resigned from the services of the company. His last date with the company would be August 31, 2023. The company places on record its deep sense of appreciation for the services rendered by him and for his contributions to the company," Infosys stated in its filing to exchanges.In his resignation, Lobo stated "I'm writing to inform you of my decision to resign from my position at Infosys. I'm grateful for the opportunities and experiences I have had during my time here."Global Head of Account Expansion Charles Salameh and Global Chief Information Security Officer and Business Head at Infosys, Vishal Salvi and EVP Narsimha Rao Mannepali, who was associated for 22 years, also left Infosys recently.Mohit Joshi had quit as the President and COO in Infosys in October 2022.(IANS | Posted on 07 August 2023, 1692561500 172O70O246O62)
Jayesh Saini Receives Global Leader Award 2023 for Healthcare Expansion in Africa

With LifeCare hospitals already established in five major parts of Kenya, Saini's passion drives him to lay the foundation for 10 additional hospitals in different regions of Africa. This ambitious endeavor aims to increase the total bed capacity to over 2,600 by 2024. Moreover, LifeCare Group has advanced plans to establish hospitals in other Eastern African nations, including Rwanda, Tanzania, Gabon and Republic of Congo.These hospitals will be equipped with super specialty clinics such as Cardiology, Orthopaedic, Oncology, Nephrology, Radiology, and more. The combined bed capacity of LifeCare hospitals across the region will exceed 4,100 beds by 2027. Notably, the regional hospitals will feature state-of-the art facilities, including Intensive Care Units, High Dependency Units, and modular theaters, ensuring safety, precision, and efficiency for the operating teams. Additionally, each country will have 10 specialized and centralized diagnostic centers in the presence of LifeCare Hospitals. As part of this expansion, LifeCare Group plans to establish a network of 30 outpatient medical centers in each country, replicating its successful business model of providing quality and affordable healthcare across East Africa.LifeCare Group's achievements position it as one of the largest hospitals and healthcare providers in Eastern and Central Africa, second only to healthcare chains in South Africa. Mr. Saini's dedication to addressing the pressing challenges in Kenya's healthcare sector, including the scarcity of skilled medical experts, is evident. He firmly believes that by emphasizing training programs and capacity building, the sector can be reinforced to meet the healthcare needs of the population.Over the past two decades, Saini has fortified the foundation of his companies through his knowledge and investments. Bliss Healthcare, his brainchild, stands as Kenya's largest network of outpatient medical centers and has earned the trust and support of the Kenyan public through its exceptional performance. In 2017, LifeCare Hospitals were established to address the inpatient care needs of Kenyans. Today, the chain of multi-specialty hospitals offers primary and secondary care, multifunctional clinics, surgical services, critical care units, child care, advanced diagnostic facilities, and more.Driven by a vision to revolutionize the healthcare sector and uplift communities across Africa, LifeCare Group has extensive plans for the future. In Kenya, the group aims to commission an advanced nursing training institute in 2024 and establish two additional hospitals, including a 500- bed tertiary care center. The group has also made significant investments in healthcare infrastructure across East Africa, with projects including a 250-bed hospital under construction in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, a 100-bed hospital in Rwanda, an IVF and diagnostic center in the Republic of the Congo, as well as a 150-bed and a 200-bed hospital in Gabon. These developments are expected to createemployment opportunities for over 10,000 staff members across these countries, contributing to the promotion of preventive healthcare.Saini emphasizes the importance of efficient operations, digitalization, and responsible resource utilization in the success of healthcare investments. Recognizing the potential of IT in accelerating the Universal Health Coverage Agenda, LifeCare Group actively aligns its technology to stay competitive in the market. The company has directly employed over 4,000 Kenyans and has had a positive impact on the country's economy so far.Jayesh Saini draws inspiration from his father, Dr Umesh Saini, an esteemed entrepreneur and investor with a deep interest in the medical field and a strong desire to make a difference. Dr Umesh Saini's establishment of Nairobi West Hospital in the 1980s, the first private and largest tax-paying hospital in Kenya, exemplifies his commitment to prioritize humanity above all. Today, Nairobi West Hospital, with its cutting-edge facility and 400 beds, offers top-notch medical care. Recently, the hospital achieved a groundbreaking milestone by performing the first-ever bone marrow transplant in the country.Jayesh Saini's leadership and commitment to expanding healthcare services have been recognized globally as he receives the prestigious Global Leader Award 2023 - Global Indian of the Year 2023. This accolade acknowledges his remarkable contributions to the healthcare sector and underscores the positive impact of LifeCare Group's initiatives in East Africa and beyond.For more information, please visit https//lchafrica.com/(ANI | Posted on 07 August 2023, 1692561501 162O158O111O134)
870 Air Traffic Controllers posts are vacant: MoS VK Singh in Rajya Sabha

"There is no backlog in filling vacancies of ATCOs. To meet the manpower requirements of ATCOs, an additional 796 ATCO positions have been created since 2022. Vacant posts of ATCOs are filled through direct recruitment examination as well as internally through departmental examination," said the minister in a written reply."The direct recruitment process to fill up 400 posts of Junior Executive has been completed and the selected candidates are currently undergoing training at three training institutes," Singh said.Apart from this, he said the Airport Authority of India has initiated action for direct recruitment for another 356 posts of Junior Executive .(ANI | Posted on 07 August 2023, 1692561501 162O158O87O75)
Price of tomatoes, chilli heated up veg and non-veg thalis by 34%, 13% in July

According to the report, in July, the cost of cooking a vegetarian thali at home stood at Rs 33.7 (June rate Rs 26.3) whereas the cost of non-vegetarian home meal was at Rs 66.8 (June rate Rs 60).According to CRISIL, a vegetarian thali comprises roti, vegetables (onion, tomato, and potato), rice, dal, curd, and salad. For a non-vegetarian thali, chicken has been considered instead of dal.Broiler prices for July 2023 are estimated.CRISIL said out of the 34 per cent rise in the cost of vegetarian meals, 25 per cent can be attributed to the 233 per cent hike in tomato price last month.In June, the tomato price was Rs 33/kg and shot up to Rs 110/kg in July.Tomatoes aside, the other ingredients that heated up the cost side last month as compared to June were the prices of onion that went up by 16 per cent, potato by 9 per cent, chilli 69 per cent, and cumin by 16 per cent.However, given the lower quantities of these ingredients used in a thali, their cost contribution remains lower than some of the vegetable crops, CRISIL said.On the other hand, the cost of a non-vegetarian thali rose at a slower pace as the price of broilers, comprising more than 50 per cent of the cost, likely declined 3-5 per cent on-month in July, the report notes. ""A 2 per cent on-month decline in the price of vegetable oil provided some respite from the increase in cost of both thalis," the report said.(IANS | Posted on 07 August 2023, 1692561501 172O71O250O95)
UK: PM Sunak announces new tech partnership to stop illegal migration

In the statement released by the UK government on Sunday, PM Sunak said, "To stop the boats, we have to tackle the business model of vile people smugglers at the source. That means clamping down on their attempts to lure people into making these illegal crossings and profit from putting lives at risk.""This new commitment from tech firms will see us redouble our efforts to fight back against these criminals, working together to shut down their vile trade," he added."This move came as the new figures show the government continues to make progress on the Prime Minister's plan to stop the boats crossings remain down on last year, the legacy asylum backlog has been reduced by a third since December 2022, and enforced returns of people with no right to be in the UK are at their highest level since 2019," the statement read.While figures from the National Crime Agency show that over 90 per cent of online content linked to people smuggling is taken down when social media companies are notified, the partnership between tech firms and the government will drive forward efforts to clamp down on the tactics being used by criminal gangs who use the internet to lure people into paying for crossings, as per the statement.This content can include discount offers for groups of people, free spaces for children, offers of false documents and false claims of safe passage - targeting vulnerable people for profit and putting people's lives at risk through dangerous and illegal journeys.Talking about this new move, Home Secretary Suella Braverman said, "Heartless people smugglers are using social media to promote their despicable services and charge people thousands of pounds to make the illegal journey into the UK in unsafe boats. They must not succeed.""This strengthened collaboration between the National Crime Agency, government and social media companies will ensure content promoting dangerous and illegal Channel crossings doesn't see the light of day," she further added.This new partnership will build on the close work already in place between the government and social media companies and includes a range of commitments to explore increased collaboration, according to the statement.Under this initiative, social media companies will look to increase cooperation with the National Crime Agency to find and remove criminal content and step up the sharing of best practices both across the industry and with law enforcement.The voluntary partnership also includes a commitment to explore ways to step up efforts to redirect people away from this content when they come across it online.This approach is already widely being used successfully by platforms, for example around harmful content promoting extremism or eating disorders, where people are presented with alternative messages to displace, rebut or undermine the damaging content they searched for - diverting them away from harmful messaging and misinformation, as per the statement.Alongside the partnership, the government will also set up a new centre led by the National Crime Agency and Home Office to increase the capacity and capability of law enforcement to identify this content on social media platforms.The governmnet is also planning to host a 'hackathon' event with industry experts in order to develop innovative new tools which will better detect people smugglers' publicly available content online, to help social media companies take it down more quickly. It will also help in cutting the potential of new technology such as AI to clamp down on criminals' content.(ANI | Posted on 08 August 2023, 1692561502 162O158O95O169)
MIAMISayUncle is offering up four new scenes from the brands popular sites, starring Brody Kayman, Jack Hunter, Jax Thirio, and others.

In Missionary Boys A Special Ritual,'' Elder Zacc Andrews has been looking forward to his sacred anointment ritual for a long time. President Brody Kayman will be performing the ritual and hes heard good things about Elder Andrews. Because of his good behavior, President Kayman decides to make Elder Andrews' ritual even more special. After applying the oil on Elder Andrews body and reciting some prayers, the two are ready to move on and explore their most sinful instincts.

To watch the scene, click here.

Jack Hunter is next in Pig Bottoms Join Us, where he plays a security guard who is inspecting an abandoned building only to find Aaron Allen, Jaxon Valor, and Keith Fox all having sex with each other. Hunter tries to stop them, but he is easily enticed by the trio and soon enough hes joining in on the action.

To watch click here.

Other scenes include:

 The Barracks at Midnight, from Military Dick, stars Bautista Nores, Felix Bonnet, Leonel Russell, and Rene Sava as soldiers trying to stay quiet while hooking up in the barracks.

 Manhood Lessons, from Family Dick, stars Jax Thirio who teaches his stepson (Joaquin Santana) and his friend (Danny Bianchi) about the art of manscaping. The boys get naked as the demonstration starts, but soon things take a sexy turn.

For more information, visit SayUncle.com and follow the brand on Instagram and Twitter.

Pictured: Zacc Andrews, left, and Brody Kayman.
Australia says hopeful of ending trade dispute with China

Trade restrictions imposed by China on a range of Australian goods, including coal, wine and beef, have been part of broader disputes between the two nations.There has been diplomatic friction in recent years over democracy in Hong Kong, human rights, and Beijing's ambitions in the South China Sea and the Pacific, VOA reported.Last week, China's Commerce ministry said it would scrap its 80.5 per cent tariffs on Australian barley.Australia has insisted the restrictions were punitive and were "economic coercion," although Chinese officials stressed there were sound technical reasons for the duties.Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell hopes that Beijing will soon lift similar sanctions on Australian wine exports to China."Our whole process over the last 15 months has been to try and stabilize our relationship with the Chinese government to get them to remove the trade impediments that have been a blockage in our relationship over a period of time," Farrell told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Monday."Bit by bit, that process has been working," Farrell added.The Canberra government is challenging China's tariffs of up to 212 per cent on Australian wine at the World Trade Organization, which tries to regulate global commerce, VOA reported.Chinese restrictions also remain on exports of Australian beef, cotton and seafood.Farrell said China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao agreed to visit Australia, although no details have yet been released.Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to visit China later this year. The trade of goods and services with China accounts for about a third of Australia's global trade.The China-Australia Free Trade Agreement came into force in December 2015, VOA reported.Australia is among China's largest suppliers of commodities, including iron ore, a key ingredient in steelmaking.The Canberra government has been seeking to diversify Australia's international trade away from its heavy reliance on China to include other countries, such as India and Indonesia.(ANI | Posted on 08 August 2023, 1692561502 172O70O250O145)
LS passes Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023

To decriminalise the offences, the bill seeks to remove the jail term of up to three years and impose only a penalty of up to Rs 1 lakh on offenders.The Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023, was passed within 50 minutes after a short discussion in the absence of the Congress-led opposition, which had earlier staged a walk out during passage of the data protection bill.Minister of State for Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries Parshottam Rupala, while piloting the bill said that the fishermen community of the country will welcome the bill.The bill also seeks to expand the scope, remove regulatory gaps and reduce the compliance burden without diluting environmental protection rules in the coastal areas.The proposed legislation also aims to iron out operational procedures of the Coastal Aquaculture Authority to make it more responsive to the needs of the stakeholders, promote newer forms of environment-friendly coastal aquaculture like cage culture and seaweed culture, and usher in global best practices in this sector, including mapping and zonation of aquaculture areas, quality assurance and safe aquaculture products.(IANS | Posted on 08 August 2023, 1692561503 162O158O95O156)
YSRCP claims its MP added to proposed panel on Delhi Bill without consent, seeks probe against Raghav Chadha

Amid voting for the Delhi Services Bill in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, five MPs, including those of the BJP, claimed that their names were listed in a proposal by the AAP MP to send the Delhi National Capital Territory Bill, 2023 to the Select Committee without their consent.Speaking to ANI, Reddy said, "AAP MP Raghav Chadha has made certain comments and we have countered them. Before a resolution is moved, members, whose names are included in it, have to be consulted. But Raghav Chadha included one of our party member's name in the proposed Select Committee on the Delhi Services Bill without holding prior consultations with him.""So, some of the members, including our MP, have decided to move for a Privilege Motion against Raghav Chadha," he added.A Privilege Motion pertains to a breach of parliamentary privileges by a minister.Five MPs, who claimed their names were listed in the proposed Select Committee without their consent, are S Phangnon Konyak, Narhari Amin and Sudhanshu Trivedi of the BJP, M Thambidurai of the AIADMK and Sasmit Patra of the BJD.Meanwhile, Chadha said he will reply to the Privileges Committee if and when they send him a notice.Thambidurai said he has already written to the Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar demanding a Privelege Motion against the AAP MP.Speaking to ANI, BJP's Narhari Amin said, "Raghav Chadha included my name in the Select Committee. He did not hold prior consultations with me and neither did I give my consent to this. What he did was wrong. I did not even put my signature on any document."BJD's Sasmit Patra told ANI, "At the time when resolutions were being moved in the House, I learned that my name was mentioned in a resolution moved by Raghav Chadha. How could he put my name in the resolution without my consent? I hope the chairman of the House will take action. I have tendered a complaint. Obviously, this is a matter of privilege. All of us have filed our complaints individually."Meanwhile, the Bill to replace ordinance for control of services in Delhi was passed by the Upper House after a division in which 131 MPs voted in favour of the legislation and 102 against it.Union Minister Amit Shah said two members clarified that they have not signed the motion moved by Raghav Chadha."Now it is a matter of investigation how the motion was signed," Amit Shah said in the Rajya Sabha during the discussion on Delhi Services Bill.Hitting out at the Aam Aadmi Party, which stands opposed to the draft law replacing the Ordinance on the control of Services in Delhi, Shah said, "The AAP has been known for hurling abuses at the Congress since being founded. They let loose almost three tons of offensive words against the Congress since coming into existence. And today, they are seeking the Congress' support in its opposition to the Bill. The moment this Bill is passed, Arvind Kejriwal-ji palat jayenge ."The National Capital Territory of Delhi Bill, 2023 was passed by the Lok Sabha, last week.(ANI | Posted on 08 August 2023, 1692561503 172O70O247O102)
Bryan Randall, Sandra Bullock's longtime partner, dies at 57

Bryan Randall lost his battle with ALS peacefully on August 5 after a three-year battle, according to information provided by his family. Bryan made the decision early on to keep his ALS journey private, and those of us who cared for him tried our best to comply with his wishes."We are immensely grateful to the tireless doctors who navigated the landscape of this illness with us and to the astounding nurses who became our roommates, often sacrificing their own families to be with ours," his family added as cited in People."At this time we ask for privacy to grieve and to come to terms with the impossibility of saying goodbye to Bryan," the statement concluded, signed, "His Loving Family."Bullock first worked with model-turned-photographer Randall in January 2015 when he documented the birth of her son Louis. Later that year, they made their relationship more public by attending Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux's wedding.During an appearance on Red Table Talk in December 2021, Bullock--the mother of Louis, 13, and Laila, 10--discussed marriage."I found the love of my life. We share two beautiful children-- three children, older daughter. It's the best thing ever," Bullock said at the time."I don't wanna say do it like I do it, but I don't need a paper to be a devoted partner and devoted mother," she said, adding, "I don't need to be told to be ever present in the hardest of times. I don't need to be told to weather a storm with a good man."Bullock stated earlier in the same Red Table Talk episode that Randall is a wonderful "example" to her kids."He's the example that I would want my children to have," the Bird Box star said. "I have a partner who's very Christian and there are two different ways of looking at things. I don't always agree with him, and he doesn't always agree with me. But he is an example even when I don't agree with him.""I'm stubborn but sometimes I need to sit back and listen and go, 'You're saying it differently but we mean exactly the same thing,' " she said during the appearance. "It's hard to co-parent because I just want to do it myself."The family of Randall requests donations to the Massachusetts General Hospital and the ALS Association in lieu of flowers.(ANI | Posted on 08 August 2023, 1692561503 172O70O242O73)
Yogi govt to set up more guest houses in UP, Delhi & Bengaluru

Even though Delhi has three state guest houses -- UP Bhawan, UP Sadan and a new guest house 'Indraprastha' in Dwarka -- need was being felt for yet another guest house to service guests visiting the national capital.He said that there was suitable land for the facility in Noida's sector 148.The chief minister also directed officials to complete the under-construction guest house 'Gomti', located on Lucknow's Vikramaditya Marg which is close to the chief minister's residence.According to a government spokesperson, "The chief minister has said that there need to be high-level services available in the guest houses for which officials have been asked to take the help of field experts. He said that through outsourcing, qualified and skilled youth in the hospitality sector should be deployed in guest houses."Regular employees must be deputed at each facility based on their qualification, efficiency and work behaviour," informed the spokesperson.On the transfer of employees, the chief minister asked the department to follow its stated policy on the issue and ensure police verification of outsourced personnel.For guests like Governors, judges, foreign and other special guests, the protocol must be strictly followed and new vehicles should be purchased for special guests.On the issue of residences and guest houses for MLAs, the CM said that such buildings must have proper security and adequate facilities."Visitors coming to any of the UP state guest houses should have a pleasant experience, right from hospitality to the food and room service. All necessary arrangements should be made while ensuring the security of buildings, including CCTV and fire safety. There should also be standard facilities available in all MLA residences," the chief minister said.(IANS | Posted on 08 August 2023, 1692561504 172O70O246O36)
Ridley Scott regrets choosing to helm 'Alien: Covenant' over 'Blade Runner' sequel

The director regrets his decision of not directing 'Blade Runner', reports Variety."I shouldn't have had to make that decision," Scott said in a recent interview with Empire magazine. "But I had to. I should have done 'Blade Runner 2'."After being attached to the project, Scott announced in 2014 that he would no longer direct the 'Blade Runner' sequel, instead choosing to helm the sci-fi horror film 'Alien Covenant', starring Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup and Danny McBride.Denis Villeneuve served as director on 'Blade Runner 2049', which is a follow-up to the 1982 original directed by Scott - which included Harrison Ford, Ryan Gosling, Ana de Armas and Jared Leto.Although Scott didn't direct the sequel to the original 'Blade Runner', the filmmaker worked as an executive producer on the film. He is also returning to the future dystopia in Amazon Prime Video's upcoming limited series 'Blade Runner 2099', which he first revealed was in development in 2021."I'm one of the producers," Scott told 'Esquire'. "It's all set years on. To me, it circles the idea of Aldous Huxley's 'Brave New World'."As per Variety, the series was officially ordered by Amazon last September and comes from Alcon Entertainment and Scott Free Productions."The original 'Blade Runner', directed by Ridley Scott, is considered one of the greatest and most influential science-fiction movies of all time, and we're excited to introduce 'Blade Runner 2099' to our global Prime Video customers," said Vernon Sanders, head of global television for Amazon Studios."We are honoured to be able to present this continuation of the 'Blade Runner' franchise, and are confident that by teaming up with Ridley, Alcon Entertainment, Scott Free Productions, and the remarkably talented Silka Luisa, 'Blade Runner 2099' will uphold the intellect, themes, and spirit of its film predecessors."'Game of Thrones' alum Jeremy Podeswa is set to direct the pilot of 'Blade Runner 2099' with Silka Luisa on board as showrunner and executive producer. While plot details remain under wraps, the limited series will serve as a TV sequel to 'Blade Runner 2049'.aa/prw(IANS | Posted on 08 August 2023, 1692561504 172O70O251O88)
AKS WebSoft has been Awarded the Best Website Development and Mobile App Development Company in Delhi/NCR!

Renowned Bollywood Celebrity, Malaika Arora, presented the award to AKS WebSoft's team, praising their innovative approach and commitment to excellence."Anjani Kumar Srivatsava, & Pankaj Kumar Choudhary, have been thrilled to receive the Millennium Brilliance Award for Best Website Development and Mobile App Development Company in Delhi/NCR"! "This recognition reinforces our dedication to providing outstanding services and support to our clients. Our team's tireless efforts, combined with the latest software methodologies and technologies, have enabled us to build an excellent track record in delivering top-notch solutions to our clients."The company was founded in 2004 by Anjani Kumar Srivatsava, His Vision was to innovate in Technology and make the common man use technology, across the Globe. His passion & dedication towards working ethics has been impeccable. The Company has risen to great heights owing to the creative thought process and customer orientation which Srivatsava has brought in. The immense power to run the organization with a customer-centric mind has been the key to success! Under his Leadership, there has been phenomenal Business Growth, coupled with great Customer Satisfaction.The Website Development and Mobile App Development industry has experienced significant growth in recent years, fueled by the increasing demand for digital solutions. With the rise in internet usage and smartphone adoption, businesses and individuals alike seek to establish their online presence and engage customers through user-friendly websites and mobile applications. This burgeoning sector continues to evolve rapidly, driven by advancements in technology and a focus on delivering seamless user experiences. As businesses recognize the importance of a robust digital presence, the industry's growth trajectory is expected to remain on an upward trend.The success of AKS WebSoft Consulting Pvt. Ltd. can be attributed to its "Perfect Fusion of Talent," where a passionate and innovative team works collaboratively to provide simplistic solutions to complex problems. Quality has always been at the forefront of the company's ethos, and they have adhered to it strictly, never compromising on any aspect related to it. The company's impressive range of services includes mobile app development for iPhone, Android, Web Application Development with expertise in content management systems and software development, as well as e-commerce solutions encompassing custom Software DevelopmentAKS WebSoft also excels in Ui/UX designing and development, ensuring that clients have visually appealing and user-friendly online platforms. During the 19 years trajectory, Clients have taken the Company to far-spread areas be it Australia, USA, UK, Canada, France & Philippines to name a few. The Company has the distinction of having completed 8000 Projects and has 5000+ Customer Base. The Clinetale working includes partnering with Government, PSU, Small Business Houses, Mid-Level Business Enterprises & Larger Enterprises.Furthermore, the company has established a robust digital marketing presence with its search engine optimization, content writing, and social optimization services, helping businesses enhance their online visibility and engage with their target audience effectively. This has enhanced Customer Loyalty & Deep Rooted Connection with the Company.What sets AKS WebSoft apart is its unwavering commitment to client satisfaction. By maintaining top-notch quality, speed, and efficiency, the company has managed to create a positive "word of mouth" reputation, leading to increased brand buzz and recognition.The Millennium Brilliance Awards, known for honoring excellence and innovation across various industries, have acknowledged AKS WebSoft 's outstanding contributions to the web and mobile app development landscape in Delhi/NCR. The company's relentless pursuit of excellence has made it a frontrunner in the industry, earning them the respect and trust of clients and competitors alike.AKS WebSoft extends its heartfelt gratitude to the organizers of the Millennium Brilliance Awards for this esteemed recognition. The company looks forward to continually expanding its knowledge and services to empower businesses worldwide with successful digital solutions.AKS WebSoft Always Exceeds Customer Expectations. The Proof is in the Pudding! Clients Vote and Bestow the Company with "The Millennium Brilliance Award"Visit our website AksWebSoft.com(ANI | Posted on 08 August 2023, 1692561505 162O158O87O214)
Boeing postpones 1st Starliner astronaut launch for NASA to 2024

Starliner's astronaut launch, which is already running years behind schedule, was scheduled to lift off to the International Space Station (ISS) on July 21 with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams."Based on the current plans, we're anticipating that we're going to be ready with the spacecraft in early March (2024). That does not mean that we have a launch date in early March. That means that we are ready with the spacecraft then," Mark Nappi, Boeing's Starliner vice president and programme manager, said during a press conference on Monday."What I know everybody would like is (a) launch date. The vehicle will be ready in the March timeframe," added Steve Stich, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Programme.Starliner's Crew Flight Test, or CFT, mission has been repeatedly delayed -- from December 2022 to February 2023, then to March, then to April, and then to July.In June, the company shared that the flight was delayed over parachute and wiring safety issues.Boeing and NASA officials have now confirmed that those problems could not be resolved in time for a launch this fall.Further, Boeing engineers found that the "soft links" used on the suspension lines of Starliner's three main parachutes are not quite as robust as previously thought, and the company determined that the protective tape it used to wrap the capsule's many wires is flammable, Space.com reported.Nappi said that Boeing is taking the tape off in places where it's easy and safe, and is also considering protective barriers or coatings over it.He noted that Boeing is currently manufacturing modified the soft link design to make it stronger.The company also decided to swap out Starliner's parachute system, putting a new version slated for the first operational mission on board for CFT. The new soft links will be incorporated into the new chutes, which will get to strut their stuff during a drop test soon, the report said."We expect that the drop test will occur in mid to late November," Nappi said. "That's what the planning indicates at this point, and we'll watch that closely."Boeing had signed a contract with NASA's Commercial Crew Programme to fly operational missions to and from the space station with Starliner in 2014.However, it has faced a series of setbacks.Its debut uncrewed orbital flight mission in 2019 did not go exactly as planned, requiring it to make another try before putting astronauts on board for the crewed flight test.The capsule, however, made a successful repeat of that mission in 2022.The flammable tape issue and the parachute soft links issue were both present on that flight, but the mission was a success, NASA officials said.(IANS | Posted on 08 August 2023, 1692561505 162O158O95O35)
Goa govt drops afforestation plan in Madhya Pradesh

Replying to a question raised by Goa Forward MLA Vijai Sardesai during the ongoing Assembly session, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that after reviewing the situation, the government has taken a decision to afforest in Goa itself."Review of afforestation has been taken and will be done in Goa itself. We have cancelled the plan of afforestation in Madhya Pradesh. It will be done in vacant land of forest areas of the state. We have dropped plan for Madhya Pradesh," he reiterated.Sources informed that the compensatory afforestation was advised by the Central Empowered Committee after thousands of trees were cut for highway and power projects in the state.Last year, Goa BJP government had come under attack from the Opposition for deciding to afforest in Madhya Pradesh, which is now dropped.sbk/shb(IANS | Posted on 08 August 2023, 1692561505 162O158O111O117)
Isolated heavy rain likely in Northeast India, Bihar, Uttarakhand over next 5 days: IMD

In Northwest India, the weather forecast indicates the anticipation of light to moderate, scattered to fairly widespread rainfall. "This pattern is expected to persist from Tuesday to Saturday. During this period, there is a high likelihood of isolated instances of heavy rainfall over the region of Uttarakhand," said the IMD in its bulletin.Additionally, the areas of East Uttar Pradesh are also expected to experience these conditions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, with a similar forecast for West Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday.Notably, the region of Uttarakhand could witness isolated episodes of very heavy rainfall on Wednesday and Thursday. Conversely, other parts of northwest India are expected to have relatively subdued rainfall activity in the upcoming week.In East India, the meteorological outlook suggests that there will be light to moderate, fairly widespread to widespread rainfall."This weather pattern is projected to span from Tuesday to Thursday. During this timeframe, areas like Bihar are likely to experience isolated instances of heavy rainfall, with the potential for isolated very heavy rainfall on Tuesday and Wednesday," the weatherman said.Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim are also in the forecast for similar weather conditions on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Furthermore, Gangetic West Bengal and Jharkhand could experience isolated heavy rainfall on Tuesday, with Bihar possibly encountering extremely heavy falls on Tuesday.The expected weather pattern in Northeast India is characterised by light to moderate, fairly widespread to widespread rainfall."Over the next five days, regions such as Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura are likely to witness isolated to very heavy rainfall episodes," the IMD said.In Central, West, and South India, the forthcoming week anticipates subdued levels of rainfall activity across these areas. The weather forecast suggests that these regions will experience minimal precipitation during the next seven days.(IANS | Posted on 08 August 2023, 1692561506 172O70O246O119)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.The Dungeon Store will be attending Fetish Con with its curated collection of BDSM pleasure products, Aug. 10 to 13, 2023 at the St. Petersburg Bayfront Hilton, 333 1st Street S, in St. Petersburg, Florida.



Hundreds of bondage, fetish, and adult models will be in attendance at Fetish Con. Guests can enjoy the exposition's lectures, workshops, play space, and parties. The show's exhibitors also offer latex couture, shoes, bondage gear, and leather goods. Stacy Burke, Jean Bardot, Kendra James, and Anastasia Pierce are just a few talents scheduled to appear at the convention.



"This year, we're bringing gorgeous gem pasties and something daring called skin corsets," noted Brittany Wilson, sales and marketing director for The Dungeon Store. "Skin corsets are sets of self-adhesive gems, rings, and laces that give the look of a corset piercing. These look stunning when applied to the back or belly, but can also be used on legs for a laced-up stocking effect. Our skin corsets are reusable, with variable spacing and there's an extra ribbon included."



Also on display will be The Dungeon Store's line of tarot cards and occult books. The booth will also be packed with conductive rope, shibari books, and medical toys, along with handmade floggers, paddles, and whips. Hand-poured silicone toys from its Split Peaches line will be on display. During the show, Wilson will hold demonstrations of The Dungeon Store's violet wands and accessories.



Check FetishCon.com for updates, event information, full special guest listing, schedule, and more.



For a sneak peek of the items coming from The Dungeon Store, go to TheDungeonStore.com . For online order info on the store's new skin corsets, email [email protected].
How Email Finder Tools like Aeroleads Supercharge Email Marketing

Aeroleads, a leading provider of email finder tools, offers a range of exclusive features that enable businesses to find, verify, and maximize the potential of their email campaigns.Benefits of using Aeroleads Email Finder ToolInstant Access to Targeted Contacts Aeroleads' email finder tools provide a searchable database, empowering businesses to quickly locate and connect with their target companies and contacts. By sourcing personal emails, business emails, and phone numbers, businesses can narrow down their search using keywords or specific attributes. This ensures they focus on the right prospects, saving time and effort.Verified Emails In the digital realm, trust is paramount. Email verification plays a vital role in establishing credibility with the audience. Aeroleads' email lookup tools offer email verification services, ensuring that businesses enhance their online presence and gain the trust of potential customers. Verified business emails naturally garner more attention and trust, ultimately resulting in increased sales and revenue.Seamless Integration with Chrome Plugins Aeroleads come equipped with email finder Chrome plugins that seamlessly integrate with LinkedIn and various websites. These plugins enable businesses to extract valuable data, find relevant emails, and discover phone numbers. By leveraging these tools, businesses can target potential customer bases within specific industries or geographic areas. Advanced filters further refine the search, ensuring businesses connect with the right contacts.Streamlined Bulk Email Campaigns Conducting successful bulk email campaigns can be complex and time-consuming. However, with Aeroleads' email finder tools, B2B businesses can simplify the process. These tools allow businesses to effortlessly find bulk emails for specific contacts. By automating the campaign process, businesses save valuable time and costs, enabling them to focus on building relationships and driving conversions.Email finder tools, such as Aeroleads, have become indispensable assets for businesses aiming to optimize their email marketing efforts. By streamlining the lead generation process, these tools provide accurate and verified business emails, enabling businesses to build targeted email databases and mailing lists effortlessly. With Aeroleads' features, businesses can enhance customer relationship management, increase sales, and maximize the effectiveness of their email marketing campaigns.In a digital landscape where personalization and targeted marketing are key, Aeroleads' email finder tools empower businesses to reach their desired audience with precision and efficiency. By supercharging email marketing efforts, businesses can achieve tangible results, nurture customer relationships, and drive sustainable growth.(ANI | Posted on 08 August 2023, 1692561506 172O71O250O67)
India to launch BRICS start-up forum, Piyush Goyal participates in 7th Industry Minister's meet

During the meeting, Goyal announced India's plans to launch the BRICS Startup Forum in 2023, aimed at fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing among start-ups, investors, incubators and aspiring entrepreneurs across the member nations.Highlighting India's progress, Minister Goyal underscored the remarkable growth of the start-up India initiative, which has nurtured the establishment of nearly 100,000 start-ups within the country.Emphasizing the theme of "Transforming Production Systems," he expressed India's willingness to extend support and share insights with fellow BRICS members and the global community.In his address, Piyush Goyal reiterated India's commitment to the principle of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam," emphasizing the nation's role as a responsible global citizen dedicated to fostering a more inclusive, tolerant and interconnected world.The Industry Ministers from Brazil, Russia, China, and South Africa also participated in the meeting, culminating in the adoption of a Joint Declaration.Among the key points discussed were the imperatives of digitalization, industrialization, innovation, inclusiveness and investment within the BRICS countries.The declaration highlighted the growing significance of Industry 4.0 and emerging technologies in driving digital transformation across diverse economic sectors.The BRICS members acknowledged the importance of human resource development and cooperation on upskilling and reskilling programs to facilitate technological adaptation.Further cementing their commitment to deepening industrial cooperation, the ministers emphasized a shared goal of expediting the recovery and growth of the Industrial Economy.They pledged to create an environment characterized by openness, fairness, vibrancy, resilience, and non-discrimination.Recognizing the pivotal role of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, the ministers emphasized the necessity of integrating and diversifying these entities into global industrial chains, supply chains, and value chains.The importance of generating market opportunities within BRICS nations for projects owned or managed by women, youth and marginalized groups was also underscored.(ANI | Posted on 08 August 2023, 1692561507 172O70O250O97)
Zoe Terakes responds to Kuwait's ban on 'Talk To Me', says they're just someone who got the role

In a statement on X, Terakes talking about the ban said "Our film doesn't have queer themes. I am a trans actor who happened to get the role. I'm not a theme. I'm a person".They added, "Kuwait has banned this film due to my identity alone. It is a targeted and dehumanising means to harm me."In a post back in August 4, the actor further said "As much as it is very sad to be on the receiving end of this, what is even more heartbreaking is what this precedent means for the queer and trans people of Kuwait.""Eliminating trans actors on screens will not eliminate trans people (as much as the government of Kuwait wishes it would) but it will eliminate a lot of hope. And hope is such a large part of how we live as marginalised people. It's how we learn to move through the hatred and the mistreatment and the violence," they further mentioned.This is nothing new as Kuwait is one of the strictest countries not just in Middle East, but in the whole world when it comes to pro-LGBTQ and pro-Left content, leading to a ban on many films, the latest example being 'Barbie', despite it being greenlit for release in both Saudi Arabia and the UAE. What made the ban surprising is that this ban was caused entirely due to someone's identity, which is new for the country.Some of the other very big films that have been in the country by the Censors in Kuwait that have even a remote mention of queer themes and characters, include major films such as 'Everything Everywhere All at Once', 'Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse' and Steven Spielberg's 'West Side Story.'anv/aa/prw(IANS | Posted on 08 August 2023, 1692561507 172O70O246O88)
LPAI to start testing facility at land ports to ensure quality of imported consumables items

The document accessed by ANI reads that a major part of the operations at Land Ports is verification/certification of the quality of goods, especially consumables items.Goods testing is currently done in partnership with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and other agencies, however, the services provided by them are not available at the land ports.As some of the Land Ports are located at remote locations, sending samples from the land port to testing labs and getting the results takes a lot of time.To reduce the standby time for the testing of goods, LPAI intends to engage service providers for providing goods testing facilities at its Land Ports.The purpose of setting up laboratories at the land ports for testing export and import terms and analysing samples received from port authorities for testing."This helps provide detailed reports to the authorities within a limited time frame. It maintains a database for the samples collected and reports. If any goods are identified that are banned or not authorised they are to be reported to authorities immediately. Apart from EXIM goods, service providers will be permitted to test other goods," the document reads.LPAI is the notified agency for undertaking the development and operations of Integrated Check Posts /Land Ports for cross-border trade and passenger movement through the land with the neighbouring countries, it reads.At Present LPAI operates 11 Land Ports at major trade routes with land neighbours. LPAI is further undertaking development works at 14 sanctioned land ports and plans to operationalise over 60 more land ports in the near future under the "Sambandh Setu" initiative.At present items like dry fruits, edible oil, carbonated beverages, organic products and others items imported from neighbouring countries through land ports in Attari, Agartala, Petrapole, Raxaul, Jogbani, Moreh, Sutarkandi, Srimantapur, Dawki and Rupaidiha, it reads.(ANI | Posted on 08 August 2023, 1692561507 172O69O150O211)
Delhi flood situation was brought under control due to all-out efforts: MoS Home RaiA

The topic of whether the government has taken note of the serious waterlogging that has occurred in some areas of Delhi, with flood water reaching the Supreme Court complex and causing hardship for the people, was addressed to the Lok Sabha by MoS Home Nityanand Rai in a written response.He said that due to heavy rains during monsoon in July 2023 and the unprecedented rise in the water level of the Yamuna River, water logging occurred in some parts of Delhi, particularly along the Yamuna River bank."Ministry of Home Affairs held meetings with all the authorities concerned and monitored the situation on a real-time basis. 16 Teams of NDRF and 06 columns of Army were deployed to support the local administration. Due to all-out efforts, the situation was brought under control" he added.Nityanand Rai further informed Lok Sabha on the Question of Lok Sabha MP Upendra Singh Rawat whether any national fund has been allocated to Delhi with a view to protect the capital city from floods and provide other facilities including sanitation and safety.Rai said that The Delhi Disaster Response Fund has been Constituted by the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi as per section 48 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, in which 80 per cent contribution is provided by the Government of India as Grant-in-aid for providing immediate relief to the victims of cyclone, drought, earthquake, fire, flood, tsunami, hailstorm, landslide, avalanche, cloud burst, pest attack and cold wave/frost."This Ministry vide O.M. No.33-03/2021-NDM-1 dated 12.01.2022 has issued Guidelines on the Constitution and Administration of State Disaster Response Fund, which are implemented by the respective State Governments" he added.(ANI | Posted on 08 August 2023, 1692561508 162O158O110O4)
Sonu Sood gets huge pop art tribute spanning 1.17 lakh sq ft in Ajitwal

The art piece was a recognition for Sonu's creative talent, many contributions to the entertainment industry and his humanitarian efforts.Sonu's own humanitarianism gained national traction when he was helping people at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country, particularly during crisis of oxygen cylinders, beds and hospital admissions along with getting vaccine shots.The art piece was created by Team Indian Creative Unity which is a collective unit of passionate artists, and skilled craftsmen.The art piece by the cohort was an extraordinary way for the team to express their own admiration. Through their artistic brilliance, they aimed to encapsulate not only the actor's cinematic journey but also his many humanitarian efforts during times of crisis.Recently, as the host of MTV Roadies 19 or 'MTV Roadies Karm Ya Kaand', Sonu has been engaging the viewers with his attitude, endearing personality and his intelligent spree in handing out tasks to the Gangs.On Roadies, the 'Singh is King' actor has gained a flair for the dramatic, where he often hands out things in the most unexpected manner which catches audiences by surprise.Packing a solid fan base, the actor's ardent admirers are looking forward to the release of his latest film 'Fateh,' an action-packed feature that promises to take viewers on a wild ride.(IANS | Posted on 08 August 2023, 1692561508 162O158O94O86)
Dilli Haat sees a vibrant cultural renaissance

Organised by Village Square, the initiative strives to tell meaningful stories from rural India, this concert is one of the highlights of a transformative eight-day event in the city - India Rural Colloquy - A Rural Renaissance - being held in Delhi by the NGO Transform Rural India's (TRI).The bands, who flew in from Udaipur and Leh to perform in the national capital for the first time, represented the voices of rural India. "We wanted to bring together a celebration of India's unique culture for the Rural Renaissance Concert. Both the bands have a unique story; Dashugs, hailing from the mesmerising landscapes of Ladakh, is on a journey to preserve their traditional folk heritage & culture. While Naya Savera, with its thought-provoking concept, offered a unique perspective on the lives of prisoners in rural areas. Through this concert, we wanted to provide a platform to these talented artists to truly showcase the transformative power of art, and how creativity and expression can transcend boundaries and reshape lives. We were glad to see that come to life!" shared Sanjana Kaushik, Manager at Village Square.The concert was a fitting tribute to the rich tapestry of India's artistic heritage and the indomitable spirit of rural life. It brought forth a wave of cultural renaissance, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for the diverse traditions that thrive beyond the urban landscape.Another highlight of the event was the presence of renowned filmmaker, cultural activist, and designer Muzzafar Ali. He led an interesting conversation on 'How India bridges the gap between urban and rural population through arts and culture' and also launched Village Square's first coffee table book, a collection of inspiring stories that beautifully capture the diversity and spiritedness of rural communities.Ali shared, "People need to strengthen the rural areas with various crafts and talents which need to be nurtured because without that the rural area will become totally bereft of its employment. If things don't develop in rural India, people in the cities are letting go of the craft and aesthetics that are the backbone of our culture. After all, it's only aesthetics that create a balance."Sanjana adds, "This book will serve as a visual and literary feast, offering a glimpse into the untold stories, cultural heritage, and community initiatives that shape rural India. It is our way of celebrating the resilience, wisdom, and creativity found within these communities. In the end, it is culture and art that build bridges where there are none and we hope this book and its stories will create a dialogue between rural and urban India."(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)ianslife/tb(IANS | Posted on 08 August 2023, 1692561509 172O70O242O12)
Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora files intervention application in the matter of Article 370 repeal

The petition should be dismissed with utmost contempt, thereby, restoring the confidence of the people of this great nation in 'One Country One Constitution'.Virinder Kaul, GKPD International Coordinator, said, "Dismissal of the petition will affirm Article 51A (a) of the Constitution of India which states that it shall be the fundamental duty of every Indian citizen to 'abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem'."GKPD has submitted arguments in favour of abrogation of Article 370 and 35A citing provisions of the Constitution of India and relevant precedent examples across the globe.Article 370 and 35A paved the way for the violent creation of a "Sheikhdom' within the Union of India primarily by snatching the rights and livelihood of oppressed minorities and women in favour of the majority population".GKPD now urges the Supreme Court to take cognisance of our application during the hearing scheduled from August 2, 2023, ensuring that these draconian laws are not restored.GKPD puts on record its deep appreciation to the Indian government for accepting the recommendation of the Delimitation Commission for nominating two members of the Kashmiri Pandit community to the Legislative Assembly.This step will go a long way in addressing the compounding problems faced by the Kashmiri Pandit community.GKPD looks forward to working with the Government of India to ensure inclusive representation of community interests.(IANS | Posted on 08 August 2023, 1692561509 172O70O251O88)
San Francisco de Asis (SFDA) has a new priest and principal, who both started July 1.

Father Dan Connealy is returning to lead the parish after four years at St. Joan of Arc in Phoenix. His pastoral career began at SFDA in 2016, where he served through 2019.

In his new role, he leads SFDAs parish and takes care of Nativity and Our Lady of Guadalupe churches in downtown Flagstaff.

Connealy said his current priority is building relationships and getting reacquainted with parishioners.

One of the things I notice when I read the Gospels is Jesus is always inviting people out, the big crowds, he said. It says the crowd followed Jesus, but Jesus is always pulling the individual out of the crowd into a relationship with himself. In todays world, its easy to get lost in the crowd. ... [SFDA is] already a place of community, but really a place to deepen that with authentic human relationships are rooted in our Christian faith.

Connealy and SFDAs schools new principal, Thomas Sorci, agreed that Flagstaff has a strong Catholic community, with fuller services and younger attendees and priests than theyd seen elsewhere.

That for me just gives me a lot of hope for the future of the church, to see 160 kids going to mass during the school week and on the weekends theres a lot of people from NAU, Sorci said.

Connealy added: I really want to put the Catholic parish in a place to thrive long term, for the Catholic church just to be a positive presence in the City of Flagstaff, Connealy said of his long-term goals. Flagstaffs just such a wonderful community and the Catholic community here is full of beautiful people, wonderful people who want to live their faith in Jesus Christ. I just want to set that up for the long run.

SFDA is also home to Flagstaffs Catholic school, serving area preschoolers through eighth-graders. Founded in the late 1800s, its the oldest in the Diocese of Phoenix, changing names from St. Marys Catholic School to San Francisco de Asis Catholic School in 2007.

Principal Thomas Sorci is joining the school from his previous position in New York, coming into a role that has been filled with interim appointments for the past year. Hes spent a total of five years in leadership St. Michaels Indian School on the Navajo Nation before becoming the principal of a Catholic school in Norwich, New York.

At SFDA he plans to focus on academics and Catholic identity, both of which he said are already its strengths. Another of his goals for the school is to move through the Western Catholic Education Association accreditation process in 2025.

The Catholic identity here at the school is one of the strongest Ive ever seen in terms of the students going to mass and having religion and prayer in the classroom, he said.  ... Its a very solid Catholic school; we have a large percentage of our teachers and our students who are Catholic, more so than any other school Ive been at.

The focus on academics comes from a desire to help students catch up from the COVID-19 pandemic. Hes doing so by rearranging the daily schedule to focus on core subjects in the mornings, with special subjects such as art, music and Spanish in the afternoon. The school has also added one-on-one pull-out interventions with a reading specialist to help students strengthen their English skills.

The group whose learning Sorci has seen most affected by the pandemic are currently in sixth and seventh grade, he said, students who were third- or fourth-graders during the pandemic.

Fortunately, we opened up in August 2021, where a lot of schools stayed remote. We came back in person, but were still making up the learning loss, he said.

He added that Arizonas empowerment scholarship accounts (ESA), which apply state funding to pay for a students private school tuition or other education expenses, made Catholic education affordable for local families.

If people are interested in coming to our school, theres a lot of possibilities to make it happen, Connealy said.

More about the church can be found at sfdaparish.org, while information about the Catholic school is at sfdaschool.org.
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A report issues last month by Patient Rights Advocate said five Carle Health hospitals  Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana (above), Carle BroMenn Medical Center in Normal, Carle Health Methodist and Carle Health Proctor hospitals in Peoria, and Carle Health Pekin Hospital in Pekin  as well as OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria were among those that were not fully in compliance with a new federal rule on price transparency, in that not all of 13 various factors were met.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government. It is distributed to hundreds of print and broadcast outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, along with major contributions from the Illinois Broadcasters Foundation and Southern Illinois Editorial Association.
After close to 15 months of silence, the investigation into last years Tunnel Fire was concluded with a six-paragraph news release from the U.S. Forest Service Region No. 3 headquarters in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Although presumed to be human-caused, the investigation was unable to determine what had actually started the fire, which burned 19,060 acres just northeast of Flagstaff, destroying 30 residences and 24 other structures.

The result of the investigation, undetermined, has continued to ripple through impacted communities in the subsequent weeks, affecting residents who have already had their relationship with the Forest Service tested by the blaze.

Flagstaff District Ranger Matt McGrath said he has certainly felt that impact, as well as the added distance between residents and the agency he is a part of.

I [live] up in Smokerise, I live on the east side, I work on the east side. I feel really connected to this half of the town. So I do feel like when I meet with people there, theres definitely less of a sense of trust, McGrath told the Arizona Daily Sun. Anytime we lose trust with the community is frustrating, because its so easy for people to not trust the government. And theres probably a lot of reasons for that, and not just the Forest Service, but government in general.

Lost in the haze

Gene Matchisrud has lived off of North Copeland Lane for close to 30 years, and as he worked to rebuild a barn that had been destroyed by the fire, he said he wasnt exactly surprised by how the investigation concluded.

Unlike many, he didnt lose his home to the fire. But his tractor, a truck  which still sits rusting in his driveway  a shed and a barn were all destroyed.

Matchisrud said after the investigation lasted so long and then concluded the way it did, its hard not to feel the Forest Service is hiding something. He added he certainly doesnt have much trust for the agency.

Rob Wilson, owner of Timberline Firearms and Training, shared a similar sentiment. Wilson and his wife lost their home to the fire, and have been living in a trailer on their property ever since, all the while fighting with their insurance company to get what they need.

Like Matchisrud, Wilson said while he was disappointed with the result of the investigation, he couldnt say he was surprised.

Thats why its particularly frustrating from my perspective that it took this long. You know? What was there to investigate to find out theres nothing? Wilson said. I guess the part that frustrates me the most is Im not angry at the Forest Service  I dont think theyre bad people  but they sure come off looking bad when this kind of stuff happens.

Wilson said he feels let down by the Forest Service, not just because the fire got away and impacted so many residents, but in how little communication there has been with residents around what happened.

Wilson had filed several requests for documents about the fire and the investigation into it through the Freedom of Information Act, largely to no avail.

They failed us, Wilson said, by not adequately communicating what was actually going on. They [surely] knew within a couple of weeks that the chances of identifying a source or anything like that was basically zero. And refusing to communicate with the community, even to the point of refusing to respond to FOIA requests, is a failure. And since then, we havent heard anything about what theyre doing to make sure this doesnt happen again  which is my single biggest concern.

Wilson said he has already seen how, in the absence of information being shared by the Forest Service, residents have been left to come to their own conclusions, as rumors and feelings of impropriety fill the void.

Internal heat

McGrath said that has been a frustrating situation.

Within the Forest Service, law enforcement investigations are managed out of the regional offices rather than locally at the district level. But even as local forest staff are not working on an investigation, they are also not able to talk about the issue until the investigation is completed.

McGrath acknowledged that the length of time it has taken before they can begin communicating with residents in the aftermath of the fire has likely impacted the relationship between the agency and residents.

If youre not telling the story of what happened, people make up the story, or they hear things, he said. If we wont show it to people for a year, why wouldnt they question what were doing?

McGrath said now that the investigation has ended, he and other local forest officials are looking at ways to bring more communication to residents, sharing the story of the fire.

Now, how do we talk about what happened in a way that will help people understand that fire suppression is both science and art? And this illegally human-caused fire, this one got away, he said. So I think the No. 1 thing that Im starting with telling people is that were sorry that any of this happened, and also Im sorry about the process.

McGrath added: I think whats important is we still dont know really the best way to address that with the community.

Rebuilding continues

Like so many affected by the fire, the Wilsons are still reckoning with its impact on their lives.

Since the blaze forced them from their home last year, the couple has been living in a trailer on their front yard as they struggle to get what they need from their insurance company.

Unlike so many others, Wilsons home actually survived the fire. But the heat of the blaze still made the house uninhabitable, Wilson said.

When I drove away, I pretty much expected not to see our house when I came back, based on the fire I saw in the yard already, Wilson said. We had broken windows, we had burned marks on the house, the deck had started on firing up and then been put out. And we thought, well, OK, thats all stuff we can fix. But then the more we researched it, it turns out there were other consequences to it.

Their home was surveyed by an industrial hygienist company out of Phoenix that found that while the structure of their home had indeed been largely untouched by the fire, the house was still essentially uninhabitable.

The extreme heat of the fire surrounding the home may not have burned it down, but it had superheated their foam insulation to a point that made it toxic, Wilson said.

What they found is the spray foam insulation that we used in the walls got hot enough that it is now putting off gassing toxic gases into the house, he said. They estimated the surface temperatures on our house were between 500 and 600 degrees, because thats what it takes to break the windows the way they did. And its uncommon, apparently, for houses to get that hot and not burn down.

There had been considerations on whether they could strip the house of the insulation, pulling down drywall and scraping the poisonous insulation out of the walls so they could replace it. But the industrial hygienists told them the toxins from the insulation have essentially contaminated the entire house, from two-by-fours in the walls to the wooden joists below their floor, as well as anything that was inside at the time.

Thats not what their insurance company wanted to hear, as it hired a company to wash the walls, fix the windows and clean the floors. Wilson said for over a year, he and his wife have found themselves in a battle of competing reports from industrial hygienists on whether the house is safe to occupy.

In some respects, if our house had burned down, the discussions with the insurance company would have been much easier. Because it didnt, theyre fighting trying to do anything about it. So its been a real challenge, Wilson said. The problem is even the two-by-fours that are the frame of the house, or two-by-sixes, are actually contaminated too. Those toxic chemical gases have contaminated everything in our home.

He said the fourth report by industrial hygienist was produced and delivered to the insurance company last month, and came to the same conclusion as the previous reports: the house is essentially uninhabitable.

Wilson said they are now waiting for their insurance company to respond to that report.

If its anything short of tear down to start over with, thats not going to work, and then it becomes time to hire an attorney, Wilson said.
Volunteers work on restocking day at the Salt Fork Resource Centers food pantry in Farmer City. The pantrys shelves will be upgraded thanks to a nearly $7,000 grant from the Bayer Fund.
Neighbors say a Chicago man charged with killing a 9-year-old girl was upset over noise

A Chicago man has been charged with first-degree murder after witnesses say a 9-year-old girl riding a scooter was fatally shot by someone upset over noise
Catherine Perkins, a clinical professor in the College of Education & Human Development at Georgia State University, has been awarded a five-year, $3.6 million grant by the U.S. Department of Education to expand quality school-based mental health (SBMH) services for underserved populations in high-need schools.

The Expanding Quality SBMH Services for Underserved Populations with Inclusive Practices (GSU-EQUIP) grant will have a direct impact in metro Atlanta by increasing access to school-based programs and strengthening the candidate pool of mental health professionals in school districts with the most need.

What we know is that there is a documented shortage of school psychologists in Georgia and nationwide. We also know that the demographics of our profession do not represent the diversity of our K-12 students. With this grant, we will be able to address these challenges by increasing the number and diversity of school psychology students in our combined M.Ed./Ed.S. program." Catherine Perkins, Clinical Professor, College of Education & Human Development, Georgia State University

The grant is part of a nationwide effort to tackle the mental health crisis in schools. According to a 2020 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) survey conducted between 2009 and 2019, there was a 40 percent increase in the number of high school students reporting persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness to the degree they couldn't participate in their regular activities.

Under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the Department of Education has awarded $286 million in funding through two grant programs -; the School-Based Mental Health and the Mental Health Service Professional (MHSP) grants -; aimed at preparing more than 14,000 new mental health professionals to work in schools.

Perkins' grant is funded through the DOE's MHSP Demonstration Grant program.

The funding will reduce financial barriers to graduate school for candidates from diverse and underrepresented groups who might not otherwise have access to professional training and expanded career opportunities, Perkins said. The Paulding and Gwinnett county school districts are partnering with the university to accept educational practicum and internship students and participate in a range of activities to create a community of providers trained to do work in high-need schools.

Participating graduate students will receive three full years of funding, including a stipend and tuition waiver, and money for parking, books, conference travel, laptop computers, health care benefits and child care as needed. Faculty will provide training to students focused on the delivery of culture-specific, evidence-based mental health interventions in high-need schools.

Dr. Perkins' grant exemplifies how college and school district partnerships can address the significant need for more and diverse school psychologists. We're grateful to do this work with strong partners like Gwinnett and Paulding counties." Paul A. Alberto, Regents' Professor in Intellectual Disabilities and Dean of the College of Education & Human Development

Perkins serves as the coordinator of the college's School Psychology M.Ed./Ed.S. program. She is also a research faculty member in the College of Education & Human Development's Center for School Safety, School Climate and Classroom Management. For this initiative, she is working with a team of Georgia State researchers including Tamika La Salle-Finley, who serves as co-principal investigator, and co-investigators Chavez Phelps, Joel Meyers and Kris Varjas.
The spinal cord is harder to access and study than even the brain. The challenges posed by its mobility and anatomical structure have made understanding exactly how it functions difficult.

Rice University engineers will work with collaborators to optimize an array of nanoelectronic threads, or NETs  already used successfully for gathering high-fidelity, long-term data from neurons in the brain  for use in the spine, supported by a $6.25 million, four-year grant from the National Institutes of Health.

In addition to neuronal activity recordings, NET probes can provide tunable, localized stimulation of adjacent neurons. Rice neuroengineers also hope to maximize NETs' functional bandwith by integrating them into a larger-scale, data-processing system.

The new tool could help neuroscientists crack the secrets of spinal cord function and bring new hope to patients dealing with injuries and other associated medical conditions.

So far, we haven't had a good understanding of how the neurons in the spinal cord actually work. For example, if you move your arms or walk around, you have the intention in your brain and the muscles operate exactly as you want them to. This conversion of the initial intention into specific motions of each of the muscles is operated and implemented in the spinal cord, where circuits consisting of many, many neurons are responsible for carrying out this job. But we don't know exactly how this is achieved." Chong Xie, principal investigator on the grant and associate professor of electrical and computer engineering and neuroengineering

Using electrodes to track neuronal activity in the brain has allowed neuroscientists to learn a great deal about brain function. The flexible NET probes developed by Xie and collaborators integrate seamlessly with brain tissue and perform better than rigid probes when used to record electrical information from individual neurons in the brain.

Preliminary tests have shown that NET probes can achieve high-quality, long-duration recordings from spinal cord neurons of mice. However, the scientists intend to further adapt NETs to the specific structural and functional demands of the spinal cord.

In the brain, the distribution of neurons, or gray matter, and the bundles of nerve fibers known as white matter is the exact inverse of spinal cord anatomy.

"We typically refer to this as the 'inside-out anatomy' of the spinal cord," said Lan Luan, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering and co-investigator on the grant. "The outer layer of the brain  the gray matter  is where the neurons are, whereas the fibers called white matter are on the interior. In the spinal cord, the white matter or fibers are on the exterior, shielding the neurons. This makes accessing those neurons more challenging."

To ensure better access, scientists plan to develop a probe design that is small enough to be implanted at different sites on the spine yet has greater depth coverage and enough channels to capture data from neurons in a spinal cord cross section.

Another goal is to equip the probes with stimulation capabilities in addition to their recording function.

"The electrode can do both," Luan said. "This has a direct health relevance, because for patients with spinal cord injury or other types of injuries, stimulation could be a way to restore fine motor control. There are several very successful technologies demonstrating that stimulation in the cord can restore local motions. But to impact finer motor control, we believe we need to go inside the cord and have a greater degree of access and precision for applying this stimulation."

The spinal cord plays a significant role in pain processes, so identifying which spinal neurons are directly involved with pain-signal relay could open the door to better pain-management therapies.

"Identifying the specific type of spinal neurons that play a significant role in processing pain information could potentially enable the development of drugs that target precisely those cells," Xie said. "Or maybe we can use the electrodes to stimulate those neurons and modulate their activity so that they don't convey the pain signal to the brain."

Scientists plan to not only optimize probe design, but also to incorporate spinal NETs into an extremely miniaturized, integrated data-processing and stimulation-feedback system.

In addition to developing the technology, Xie, Luan and their team have partnered with the Pfaff lab at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, the Weber lab at Carnegie Mellon University and the Basbaum and Ganguly labs at University of California, San Francisco for a series of spinal cord studies that will test the devices across different spinal regions, animal models and research topics.

Luan said she hoped that developing and optimizing NET-based technology for spinal cord research would "provide a tool that can help the entire neuroscience community achieve a more fundamental understanding of spinal cord function."

"My real hope is that, four years down the road, at the end of this project, neuroscientists will be able to see and do new things that are impossible with current technology," Xie said.
A new international study conducted by the Israeli Phage Therapy Center (IPTC) led by Prof. Ran Nir-Paz at Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center and Prof. Ronen Hazan of the Faculty of Dental Medicine at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, using phage PASA16 on compassionate basis to treat tough Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, has shown promising results with an 86.6% success rate.

This research involving 16 patients with persistent infections represents the largest of its kind and brings encouraging findings. The study's success demonstrates the potential effectiveness of PASA16 phage therapy in tackling challenging Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, paving the way for future clinical trials and encouraging further exploration of phage therapy as an alternative and auxiliary approach against antibiotic-resistant infections.

Phage therapy, the use of specific anti-bacterial viruses against infections, has garnered attention as a critical addition to conventional antibiotics, though clinical trials in this area have been limited. However, recent compassionate phage therapy cases have shown potential, albeit with scarce evidence on treating difficult infections. This study sheds light on the potential role of phages in combination with antibiotics in combating the hard-to-treat pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections that were unresponsive to conventional treatments.

Prior to treatment, all Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from patients were tested and treatment was personalized provided to those who were found to be sensitive to the PASA16 phage. During the PASA16 phage treatment, only minor side effects were observed, which were manageable. Remarkably, 13 out of 15 patients with available data achieved a favorable clinical outcome, resulting in an impressive 86.6% success rate. This highlights the potential of combining PASA16 phage with antibiotics as a promising approach for patients with previously unsuccessful treatments. The duration of treatment spanned from 8 days to 6 weeks (majority of ~ 2 weeks), with one- to twice-daily regimens, offering a time-efficient option.

In conclusion, this compassionate use case series demonstrates the potential effectiveness of PASA16 phage therapy in tackling tough Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. By outlining potential clinical protocols, this study paves the way for future trials. The success observed encourages further research and exploration of phage therapy as an alternative and complementary approach to combat antibiotic-resistant infections.

Prof. Ran Nir-Paz, co- lead researcher of the study at IPTC of Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, expressed excitement about the findings, stating, "We are elated by the promising results of our study using phage PASA16 to treat tough Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. This groundbreaking research offers hope for patients with persistent infections and highlights the potential of phage therapy as a valuable alternative to conventional antibiotics in combating antibiotic-resistant pathogens."

Prof. Ronen Hazan the co-lead researcher of the IPTC, also the head of the Bio-research institute of the Faculty of Dental Medicine at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem stated: "We are encouraged by the findings! The study's 86.6% success rate offers hope for patients with persistent infections and underscores the potential of phage therapy as an alternative to combat antibiotic-resistant pathogens."

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a type of bacteria commonly found in the environment, such as soil, water, and plants, and as part of bacteria residing in humans. It is both a pathogen and opportunistic bacteria, causing infections in individuals with weakened immune systems or underlying health conditions. Known for its potentially complicated and life-threatening infections, Pseudomonas aeruginosa poses challenges in healthcare settings.

These infections can range from mild to severe, affecting various body parts, including the lungs, urinary tract, skin, and wounds. It is a common cause of hospital-acquired infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients or those using mechanical ventilation or invasive devices. The bacteria's ability to form protective biofilms hinders treatment, sometimes necessitating the combination of antibiotics and alternative therapies like phage therapy. Strict infection control measures in healthcare facilities are essential to combat its persistence.

The study compiled comprehensive clinical data on 15 out of 16 patients treated with phage PASA16, assessing its efficacy in treating the infections. The phage, provided pro bono by the American phage company "Adaptive Phage Therapeutics", was administered through various methods, including intravenous, local application to the infection site, and topical use. The data mainly covered patients with osteoarticular and foreign-device-associated infections.

As the fight against antibiotic resistance continues, this compassionate use case series represents a significant step forward in exploring phage therapy as a potential solution for patients with tough Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections.

Phage therapy has re-emerged as a potential solution for antimicrobial-resistant and non-resolving infections, as phages specifically target other microorganisms. While compassionate use cases for phage therapy have been implemented, clinical trials remain limited. This study reports the largest case series of consecutive patients with severe Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections who received compassionate use treatment using a single specific phage, PASA16. All 16 patients were treated after demonstrating the susceptibility of their infective agent to both the phage alone and in combination with antibiotics. The study findings demonstrate a favorable outcome in over 80% of treated patients, with minimal side effects. Based on these findings, further compassionate use cases and the development of clinical trial protocols should follow.
After years of effort on the part of local tribes, nearly 1 million acres around the Grand Canyon are expected to be designated as part of the new Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni  Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument.

According to reports, the announcement will be official Tuesday morning, after President Joe Biden had landed at Grand Canyon National Park Airport on Monday night.

The new monument honors our solemn promise to Tribal Nations to respect sovereignty, preserves Americas iconic landscapes for future generations, and advances my commitment to protect and conserve at least 30% of our nations land and waters by 2030, Biden said in a statement about the monument designation.

Baaj Nwaavjo means where tribes roam, for the Havasupai people, while, for the Hopi tribe, Itah Kukveni translates to our footprints.

The new monument comes after years of work on the part of tribes and conservation groups to see areas around Grand Canyon National Park protected from uranium mining in particular. The monument will largely eliminate the possibility of future mining within the designated area.

Existing mines would still be able to operate.

In April, a coalition of 13 tribes began a renewed push for the Biden administration to declare the area a new monument.

Havasupai Councilmember Stewart Chavez told the Arizona Daily Sun he was almost taken aback by the announcement. He and others thought it would at least take several more months to convince the administration to declare the monument.

It just happened so fast, Chavez said. It's almost like whiplash.

Chavez said that feeling is especially pronounced given how long he and other tribal members have been fighting for a monument designation and the protections that come with it.

Close President Joe Biden, left, is greeted by Reps. Raul Grijalva, center, and Ruben Gallego, right, after landing at Grand Canyon National Park Airport in Tusayan Monday. President Joe Biden walks down the stairs of Air Force One Monday evening after landing at Grand Canyon National Park Airport in Tusayan. Biden attended a ceremony Tuesday to designate the Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, which contains just under 1 million acres of land bordering Grand Canyon National Park. The pilot of Air Force One sits in the cockpit after landing at Grand Canyon National Park Airport in Tusayan on Monday. President Joe Biden will designate the Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, which contains just under 1 million acres of land bordering Grand Canyon National Park. A Secret Service agent waits for Air Force One Monday evening at the Grand Canyon National Park Airport in Tusayan. President Joe Biden arrived in Arizona Monday in advance of a ceremony Tuesday to designate the Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. Secret Service agents wait for Air Force One on the runway of Grand Canyon National Park Airport at Tusayan Monday evening. Air Force One arrives at the Grand Canyon National Park Airport on Monday evening in Tusayan. A Secret Service sniper team stands on a hill of gravel watching the forest surrounding the Grand Canyon National Park Airport at Tusayan Monday evening before the arrival of Air Force One. Marine One sits on the apron at the Grand Canyon National Park Airport on Tusayan Monday evening. A Secret Service dog looks to his handler Monday evening at the Grand Canyon National Park Airport in Tusayan. President Joe Biden arrives in Arizona Monday in advance of a ceremony Tuesday to designate the Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, which contains just under 1 million acres of land near Grand Canyon National Park. Gallery: President Biden arrives at Grand Canyon Airport aboard Air Force One Biden will attend a ceremony Tuesday to designate the Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni-Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. President Joe Biden, left, is greeted by Reps. Raul Grijalva, center, and Ruben Gallego, right, after landing at Grand Canyon National Park Airport in Tusayan Monday. President Joe Biden walks down the stairs of Air Force One Monday evening after landing at Grand Canyon National Park Airport in Tusayan. Biden attended a ceremony Tuesday to designate the Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, which contains just under 1 million acres of land bordering Grand Canyon National Park. The pilot of Air Force One sits in the cockpit after landing at Grand Canyon National Park Airport in Tusayan on Monday. President Joe Biden will designate the Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, which contains just under 1 million acres of land bordering Grand Canyon National Park. A Secret Service agent waits for Air Force One Monday evening at the Grand Canyon National Park Airport in Tusayan. President Joe Biden arrived in Arizona Monday in advance of a ceremony Tuesday to designate the Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. Secret Service agents wait for Air Force One on the runway of Grand Canyon National Park Airport at Tusayan Monday evening. Air Force One arrives at the Grand Canyon National Park Airport on Monday evening in Tusayan. A Secret Service sniper team stands on a hill of gravel watching the forest surrounding the Grand Canyon National Park Airport at Tusayan Monday evening before the arrival of Air Force One. Marine One sits on the apron at the Grand Canyon National Park Airport on Tusayan Monday evening. A Secret Service dog looks to his handler Monday evening at the Grand Canyon National Park Airport in Tusayan. President Joe Biden arrives in Arizona Monday in advance of a ceremony Tuesday to designate the Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, which contains just under 1 million acres of land near Grand Canyon National Park.

There are generations before me that are gone that are definitely rejoiceful in the spirit world at this point, he said. I think the message that I have is thank you, from the bottom of my heart' -- for someone to have finally acknowledge Indigenous tribes, and it took this long, but for someone to actually respond, understand the request that we've had for years, the importance of preserving not only our history, but also our culture and the land for future generations.

Biden was set to make the monument proclamation, made possible through the Antiquities Act, on Tuesday morning at Red Butte, a place deeply sacred to the Havasupai.

Earlier this year, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland made a visit to Supai Village to hear from tribal members pushing for the monument. Haaland also heard from other tribes in the coalition and local Anglo leaders.

These special places are not a passthrough on the way to the Grand Canyon. They are sacred and significant unto their own right. They should not be open to new mining claims and developed beyond recognition, Haaland told reporters. We are in a new era, one in which we honor tribally led conservation, advanced code stewardship and care about the well-being of Native people.

The proclamation includes about 917,618 acres of public lands split into three distinct chunks. South of the Canyon, the monument encompasses much of the Kaibab National Forest.

Northeast of the Canyon, the monument includes much of the House Rock Valley from the edge of Marble Canyon to the Kaibab Plateau.

Finally, to the northwest of the Canyon, the monument includes areas spanning from south of Fredonia and the Kaibab Indian Reservation to the edge of the national park.

Thats somewhat distinct from the proposed 1.1 million acres asked for by the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition. The monument proclamation leaves out several thousand acres of land proposed in the northeastern section.

A senior administration official said new mining claims are still not permitted in that area under a 2012 moratorium enacted by the Obama administration. Officials also said tribes will have a role in developing and managing the monument, as will state and local agencies.

It is not exactly clear what form co-management will take, but officials said tribes with connections to the monument areas will be included in a commission that is meant to inform and guide what co-stewardship means.

The proclamation also establishes an advisory committee between tribes, stakeholders, and state agencies such as Arizona Game and Fish, and land management agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service.

In this time of the climate crisis, Indigenous knowledge is becoming increasingly valuable for the management of our public lands, and I just want to state that it's important that we have tribal input into how these lands are being managed, Haaland said.

The Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni  Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument would become the nations 133rd national monument, and brings the number of national monuments in Arizona to 19.

Reaction

The monument designation was applauded by many who have been working toward the protection of lands around the Canyon for years.

Arizona Rep. Raul Grijalva has introduced countless bills to do so, and thanked the efforts of tribes and tribal members for getting the administration to act.

[We] are witnessing the culmination of a monumental journey. Designation of the [monument] is a remarkable triumph and a testament to the unwavering dedication of the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition, local communities and other allies, Grijalva said in a statement. Together with the Biden-Harris administration, were ensuring the protection of the regions vast and rich natural resources, safeguarding cultural heritage and preserving the incredible beauty of this iconic landscape for generations to come.

Recent polls commissioned by conservation groups have shown the monument designation to be popular with Arizonans of all political stripes. One poll showed that about 75% of Arizona voters supported a monument designation.

But that doesnt mean the new monument wont ruffle any feathers.

At a public listening session in Flagstaff last month, several Mohave County officials spoke strongly in opposition to the monument designation, saying they had been left out of the process.

In Coconino County, residents of Fredonia and other Arizona Strip communities also expressed displeasure with the monument proposal.

Opponents of establishing a monument have argued it wont help combat a lingering drought and could prevent thinning of forests and stop hunters from keeping wildlife populations in check. Ranchers in Utah near the Arizona border say the monument designation would strip them of privately owned land.

And the effort has been strongly opposed by mining companies that hope to extract uranium from the area.

Energy Fuels Vice President of Marketing and Development Curtis Moore called the monument designation a mistake and one that is counter to the administrations own goals on climate change.

Energy Fuels owns and operates the Pinyon Plain Mine located just south of the Grand Canyon and just north of Red Butte. While that mine has yet to begin extracting uranium ore, its operations will be unaffected by the monument designation.

While our Pinyon Plain mine should not be affected by a national monument designation, we dont think permanently locking off Americas lowest environmental impact and most globally competitive uranium deposits makes sense, Moore said. Designating a national monument to stop uranium mining goes against the great weight of science and facts on the ground.

Energy Fuels has long held that modern uranium mining is much safer and less impactful than past efforts to mine uranium throughout the region, an assertion that tribes and conservation groups dispute.

On the other hand, Alicyn Gitlin with the Grand Canyon Chapter of the Sierra Club said she is still having a hard time believing that the monument designation is a reality.

We're thrilled and relieved to finally see this happen. It is the culmination of the efforts of tribal members, and conservation-minded people over decades. You know, these fights started in the '80s and it's great to see it now [come to fruition], Gitlin said.

And local leaders also applauded the effort. Flagstaff Vice Mayor Austin Aslan said he was proud of the role he and the City of Flagstaff could play in supporting the effort.

These protections are valuable to the Flagstaff community, and our solidarity with our tribal neighbors is critical and meaningful. For this region, when the tribes state that water is life, its not just a platitude. Im so proud to be a witness to this designation, Aslan said.

Both the Flagstaff City Council and Coconino County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to support tribal efforts to designate the monument.

Representatives of various northern Arizona tribes have been invited to attend the president's remarks. Among them are Yavapai-Apache Nation Chairwoman Tanya Lewis, Colorado River Indian Tribes Chairwoman Amelia Flores, Navajo President Buu Nygren and Havasupai Tribal Councilwoman Dianna Sue White Dove Uqualla.

Uqualla is part of a group of tribal dancers who will perform a blessing.

It's really the uranium we don't want coming out of the ground because it's going to affect everything around us  the trees, the land, the animals, the people, Uqualla said. "It's not going to stop.

In 2017, Democratic President Barack Obama backed off a full-on monument designation. The idea faced a hostile reception from Arizona's Republican governor and two senators. Then-Gov. Doug Ducey threatened legal action, saying Arizona already has enough national monuments.

The landscape of Arizona's political delegation has since changed considerably. Gov. Katie Hobbs, Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, an independent, are all on board. Hobbs, a Democrat, has openly urged Biden to issue a designation.

In a letter sent to Biden in May, Hobbs claimed that she heard from people across the political spectrum, including sporting groups and outdoor groups, in support of a monument.

After Arizona, Biden will go on to Albuquerque on Wednesday, where he will talk about how fighting climate change has created new jobs. Hell then visit Salt Lake City on Thursday to mark the first anniversary of the PACT Act, which provides new benefits to veterans who were exposed to toxic substances. Hell also hold a reelection fundraiser in each city.
Groundbreaking new research has uncovered a potential route to developing the first ever drug treatments for vascular dementia, that directly target a cause of the condition. The research, funded by the British Heart Foundation and published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, has shed light on how high blood pressure causes changes to arteries in the brain, a process that leads to the devastating condition.

High blood pressure is a main cause of vascular dementia, a condition characterized by poor blood flow to the brain. The reduced blood supply starves brain cells of nutrients and over time they become damaged and die. Symptoms of vascular dementia include loss of energy, lack of concentration and poor memory.

It's normal for the brain's arteries to narrow and widen in response to changes in blood pressure. However, consistently high blood pressure causes arteries to stay narrow and restrict the brain's blood supply. Until now, it was not known how.

The study, from researchers at the Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre at The University of Manchester, reveals that  in mice  high blood pressure disrupts messaging within artery cells in the brain. They found that this occurs when two cell structures, that normally help transmit messages that tell arteries to dilate, move further apart. This stops the messages reaching their target, which causes the arteries to remain permanently constricted, limiting blood flow to the brain.

By identifying drugs that could restore this communication, the researchers hope to soon be able to improve blood supply to affected areas of the brain and slow the progression of vascular dementia.

While the findings are yet to be confirmed in humans, the processes of blood vessel narrowing and widening are very similar in mice and humans. The researchers are now investigating drugs that could restore this signaling, which they hope, in future will lead to human studies that aim to restore healthy brain blood flow in vascular dementia.

Professor Adam Greenstein, a clinician scientist specializing in high blood pressure at the University of Manchester and one of the leaders of the research, said:

"By uncovering how high blood pressure causes arteries in the brain to remain constricted, our research reveals a new avenue for drug discovery that may help to find the first treatment for vascular dementia. Allowing blood to return as normal to damaged areas of the brain will be crucial to stopping this devastating condition in its tracks.

"Any drugs that are discovered to improve brain blood supply may also be able to open a new line of attack in treating Alzheimer's disease, which causes very similar damage to blood vessels as vascular dementia. Drugs to restore healthy blood flow could make current treatments, which focus on removing harmful amyloid plaques in the brain, more effective."

Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation, who funded the research, said:

"Vascular dementia affects around 150,000 people in the UK, and this number is going up. There are no treatments to slow or stop the disease, but we know that high blood pressure is an important risk factor. The incurable symptoms are hugely distressing for patients and those close to them.

"This exciting research reveals a specific mechanism by which high blood pressure might increase the risk of vascular dementia. Pinpointing how arteries remain permanently narrowed in vascular dementia could lead to the development of new effective treatments, raising hope that there may soon be a way to prevent this illness from destroying more lives."
Critically ill patients with circulatory shock-; when the heart cannot pump enough blood and oxygen to the rest of the body, often as a result of heart failure, sepsis, or hemorrhage-; require close monitoring and treatment, especially to maintain adequate blood pressure to prevent injury to important organs. A team led by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in collaboration with researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) recently developed a method for monitoring such patients, which may help clinicians control their blood pressure and heart function to reduce the risk of death and other negative health outcomes. The method was tested and validated in a study published in Nature Medicine.

The work involved designing an approach to measure a property of the circulation called the critical closing pressure, which is the blood pressure at which small blood vessels collapse and blood flow stops. Critical closing pressure can provide an indication of blood vessel tone in response to disease and therapy, but it has not been possible to measure this parameter routinely in clinical care.

Development of the new approach utilized high resolution waveform data from blood pressure monitoring of 5,532 patients in the cardiac intensive care unit at MGH. Researchers developed an analysis based on measured parameters (including arterial pressure, pulse pressure, and heart rate) to define the critical closing pressure. They then defined a value called tissue perfusion pressure-;calculated as the difference between average arterial blood pressure and critical closing pressure-;and found that it predicted a patient's risk of death, length of hospital stay, and peak blood lactate level (an indicator of tissue oxygenation).

When treating patients with circulatory shock, it is essential to maintain adequate blood pressure targets, yet standard goals are not personalized to individual patients. We have developed a new metric that can identify individuals with inadequate tissue perfusion who are at risk for adverse outcomes. We believe this method can be used to optimize treatment decisions for patients in the intensive care unit." Aaron Aguirre, MD, PhD, senior author, attending cardiologist and critical care specialist at MGH and assistant professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School

Dr. Aguirre's team will conduct additional studies to understand how tissue perfusion pressure varies with different therapies. They also plan to design clinical trials to test whether their new method can help guide clinical care and improve health outcomes in critically ill patients.

Additional contributors include co-first authors Anand Chandrasekhar and Raimon Padros-Valls and co-authors Roger Pallares-Lopez, Eric Palanques-Tost, Nicholas Houstis, Thoralf M. Sundt, Hae-Seung Lee, and Charles G. Sodini.

This work was funded by the Wellman Center at MGH, the National Institutes of Health, and the MIT Center for Integrated Circuits and Systems.
Aniya was ready to leave. She was dressed in a fuzzy white onesie her mother had packed for her first trip home. Yet Aniya's family had more questions than answers as they cradled the newborn out of the hospital, her mother's body left behind.

April Valentine, a 31-year-old Black mother, died while giving birth in Inglewood, California, on January 10. Her family has raised questions of improper care: Why didn't nurses investigate numbness and swelling in her leg, symptoms she reported at least 10 times over the course of 15 hours? Why did it take nearly 20 hours for her doctor to see her after she arrived at the hospital already in labor?

Valentine's family wants the state to investigate how she died and whether systemic or interpersonal racism could have played a role. Los Angeles politicians and media have amplified their demands. "I think she would have been treated differently if she was white," said Valentine's cousin Mykesha Mack, who filed a complaint.

The official cause of death was a blood clot that formed in her leg and traveled to her lung  a preventable condition. The state has issued a $75,000 fine to Centinela Hospital for risking the health and safety of Valentine, and an inspection report suggests it failed to properly assess her risk for blood clots, take precautions, and alert her physician. Centinela announced last month that it would close its maternity services on Oct. 25.

Even so, the odds of finding discrimination and getting justice remain stacked against her family.

The statuses of the state's investigations aren't clear, and a federal investigation is pending. The hospital and Valentine's OB-GYN deny allegations of improper care and reject assertions by some family members that Valentine's care team, which was largely Black, could have harbored bias toward her. But a KFF Health News analysis shows state authorities are ill-equipped to investigate discrimination complaints and often avoid fining hospitals that violate regulations. That highlights a big gap in the state's ability to hold doctors and hospitals accountable when it comes to reducing bias in maternal care.

Aiming to reduce stark health disparities, in 2019, California became the first state to require implicit bias training for maternity care providers. But the state hasn't penalized physicians and hospitals that treat patients inequitably, as it hasn't found discrimination in the incidents brought to their attention. Neither of the agencies overseeing health care facilities and physicians  the California Department of Public Health and Medical Board of California  has found discrimination, despite hundreds of complaints going back a decade, the KFF Health News analysis found.

In the unlikely event that regulators find discrimination, they usually prefer corrective actions for violations, such as improvement plans, as opposed to penalties. Karen Smith, a physician who led the Department of Public Health from 2015 to 2019, said the agency wants hospitals to provide high-quality care, not to shut them down. So when one violates a regulation, the agency typically tries to help it remedy the problem, depending on the severity. The medical board has come under fire for avoiding meaningful penalties, even for grossly negligent doctors.

California's rate of maternal deaths is among the lowest in the country, but is up to 3.6 times as high for Black women as for women of other races. Multiple factors, including systemic racism and provider bias, implicit or not, are thought to contribute to this disparity. Valentine's is not the only high-profile death of a Black mother whose family said her care providers dismissed her.

Some advocates believe these cases keep happening because the state's oversight of hospitals and doctors is too lax. "There's no accountability," said Linda Jones, a co-founder of Black Women Birthing Justice, a nonprofit organization seeking birth equity. "Why should they do anything different?"

A mother's pleas are dismissed

Valentine, who worked with at-risk youth and styled hair on the side, was acutely aware of the risks Black mothers face, so she diligently attended prenatal visits and sought a birth doula and Black doctor, her family said.

Valentine's sister Kesiah Cordova said she accompanied the first-time mother to a late-afternoon visit on January 9 with her OB-GYN, Gwen Allen, who told them Valentine was dilated and that she would meet them at the hospital. Valentine went to Centinela Hospital Medical Center, owned by Prime Healthcare, one of the country's largest for-profit health systems.

Cordova and Valentine's partner, Nigha Robertson, were both with her throughout her stay. They said she got to the hospital around 8:30 p.m. While being admitted, Valentine was asked several questions by staff that made her feel uncomfortable, including if she knew who her baby's father was and what type of housing her baby would live in, they said. Robertson said he doubts white mothers are asked these questions as often. Centinela responded in a statement that every patient is asked these questions to identify any nonmedical factors that could affect their health, so it can provide any necessary resources. Nurses then forbade her doula from attending her delivery, despite the hospital's approval a month earlier, Robertson and Cordova added. The hospital said it welcomes doulas.

After receiving an epidural five hours later, Valentine reported leg numbness and, later, swelling, they said. Cordova and Robertson estimated that they witnessed Valentine ask nurses to examine her leg and call her doctor at least 10 times. Each time, they said, the nurses declined, saying her symptoms were normal.

"Every time they came to check on her, she would say, 'Hey, can you look at my leg?'" said Cordova. "The nurse didn't even lift up the blanket to check."

Cordova and Robertson said nurses repeatedly told them they couldn't call Valentine's OB-GYN because she would get upset. They said Allen did not visit her until 4 p.m. the next day and did not address her concerns.

Two hours later, Cordova and Robertson said, Valentine coughed and vomited. A nurse told them this was normal. Then Valentine stopped breathing. Robertson and Cordova said the nurse in the room froze, so Robertson stepped in and gave Valentine CPR for about five minutes until additional staff, then Allen, arrived. They said her providers did not try to revive her before she was wheeled away. Centinela refuted these allegations but said it could not comment further.

Aniya was delivered via emergency cesarean section from her mother's body.

No track record of finding discrimination

The state's public health department and medical board would not comment on the details of Valentine's case.

The California Department of Public Health is "deeply saddened" by what happened to Valentine and her family and takes "every action within its legal authority to safeguard patients," including thoroughly investigating complaints, said spokesperson Ali Bay in a statement.

Asked how it evaluates the possibility of discrimination, the public health department sidestepped and said its role is to determine if any federal or state regulations were violated, and later added that hospitals must follow regulations that allow patients to exercise their rights without regard to race. It provided KFF Health News a copy of a letter dated Feb. 23 from Mark Ghaly, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Ghaly declined to be interviewed.

In the letter, he said the state would review medical records, interview medical staff, and assess the hospital's policies and procedures in its investigation.

But the public health department's track record shows it hasn't substantiated a discrimination complaint yet. Statewide, the department has not found any violations of regulations protecting patients against discrimination since 2007, Bay said. She said the department found over 650 complaints that mention racism, discrimination, or both in all available records since 2007. It receives an average of around 45,000 total complaints and reported incidents across all facility types every year.

The medical board also hasn't substantiated discrimination complaints against physicians. Since 2014, it has not found that a physician discriminated against a patient in any of the over 240 complaints it has closed, said Aaron Bone, the board's chief of legislation and public affairs. He cautioned against drawing conclusions from a small sample; the agency received approximately 10,000 complaints of all types in 2020 alone.

Both agencies' figures have limitations. The medical board tracks only discrimination resulting in a doctor's refusal to treat. And neither agency knows exactly how many discrimination complaints were race-based.

The exact reasons for their limited track records are unclear, but some experts point to the high burden of proof for substantiating these cases.

Abbi Coursolle, a senior attorney at the National Health Law Program, said anti-discrimination laws and regulations can be hard to enforce. They are intended to protect people from intentional discrimination and policies or actions that disproportionately harm them. But people can unconsciously harbor biases, or there could be alternative explanations for ignoring a patient, such as a provider being busy, which can make discrimination hard to substantiate.

Racism "is complicated and hard to isolate, but the law hasn't quite caught up to that," she said.

State agencies, she added, can interpret the law so narrowly that people can't take advantage of these protections.

The California agencies said they do their best within their legal authority. The medical board blamed current law, which, it said, requires "clear and convincing evidence" to discipline a physician, and it can be challenging to substantiate cases if the allegations aren't documented or aren't corroborated by witnesses. There may not always be sufficient evidence to find a violation, said Bay, of the public health department.

Smith, the former public health department director, said discrimination by a facility is typically hard to find unless investigators identify a pattern, but that type of research can be labor-intensive and hampered by underreporting of complaints.

So far, the public health department has imposed a $75,000 fine for risking Valentine's health and safety. In his letter, Ghaly said the state could revoke or suspend the hospital's license if it finds Centinela violated state or federal regulations. It could also refer the case to other agencies. The federal Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Civil Rights acknowledged it is investigating Valentine's case but declined to comment.

Centinela's fine is the exception, not the rule. Last year, roughly 100 fines were levied against hospitals statewide out of nearly 12,000 complaints and incidents closed, according to a state database. The department cautioned that the data contains many redundant complaints and noted that not all violations require issuing fines. It declined to provide aggregated data on corrective actions, such as improvement plans, and nonfinancial penalties, such as license suspensions.

Evidence is mixed on whether financial penalties improve hospital care, illustrating how regulators' hands may be tied.

'Thoughts and prayers'

The state public health department conducted an inspection of Centinela in February. It found the hospital failed to properly assess an unnamed labor and delivery patient's risk for clotting and failed to notify her physician when she reported "leg heaviness" and when her vital signs were abnormal. Though the inspection, first reported by the Los Angeles Times, does not name Valentine, it describes the account her partner and family shared, including the date she was admitted to the hospital.

In its report, the department deemed the situation "immediate jeopardy," meaning the hospital's failure to meet requirements caused or could have caused death or serious injury. But regulators removed that label after the hospital submitted an improvement plan. Among other measures, it promised to reeducate nurses on how to prevent blood clots.

The report found Centinela made similar missteps with other patients, potentially increasing their risk for developing blood clots in deep veins, typically in the leg, which, when untreated, can travel to the lungs. Known as a pulmonary embolism, this condition is one of the most common causes of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States, and is preventable and treatable if discovered early, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It was also the official cause of Valentine's death, stated the Los Angeles County medical examiner's website.

Centinela said it immediately addressed the inspection's findings. Sue Lowe, a Centinela spokesperson, said it was the hospital, not the state, that decided to close its maternity and newborn units, "to create capacity for services of greatest benefit and need for patients."

Robertson, Valentine's partner, said he felt the report validated his account.

"They killed her," said Robertson, who has retained an attorney. For him, justice would mean a punishment severe enough to ensure Valentine's situation never happens again, but he wants Centinela to remain in business since it's the only hospital in Inglewood.

Lowe said the hospital could not discuss specifics due to patient privacy laws but extended the hospital's "thoughts and prayers" to Valentine's family. She added, "We express our deepest condolences."

Before the results of the state's inspection report and the county's autopsy report were publicized, Centinela implied the death was unpreventable. "Despite the highest standards of care," said Lowe, "there are certain medically complex and emergent situations that cannot be overcome." Centinela declined to comment on the autopsy results.

Lowe defended the hospital's track record, noting it has won national awards for quality and patient safety. She said it had gone a decade without a maternal death in labor and delivery before Valentine's. She also said the unit was appropriately staffed.

In 2020, the hospital registered 1.8 times the number of complaints and incidents as the state average. So far this year, it's 9.5 times as many. Lowe responded that the state hasn't substantiated many of these and that, in some recent years, the hospital had fewer total violations than the state average for hospitals of its size.

The hospital, Lowe said, maintains "robust policies prohibiting discrimination" and requires diversity and implicit bias training for staff. "Our staff reflects the community that we serve," she added.

Allen, the OB-GYN, directed questions to her attorney, Ludlow B. Creary II, who said his client could not comment on the case, citing patient privacy protections. But he urged against drawing conclusions without both sides of the story and a medical expert's assessment of whether Allen caused Valentine's death. Allen, like the community she has served for 20 years, is Black, he added.

Doctors oppose more oversight

Mack, Valentine's cousin, said Valentine's providers being largely Black did not sway her view that they could have discriminated against her. She said she hopes the state evaluates whether interpersonal or systemic racism, or both, contributed to Valentines death. Did her clinicians dismiss her complaints due to bias, and did the hospital, located in a minority neighborhood, provide lower-quality care?

Both types of racism can be hard to see. The numbers, however, show they exist. Studies suggest Black mothers are more likely than white ones to report being ignored or mistreated by clinicians and to deliver at hospitals with lower-quality care.

The public health department considers how discrimination and systemic racism could have contributed to a maternal death in a quality improvement process known as the California Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review. But this committee lacks authority to discipline hospitals or clinicians.

Attempts to reform laws often face resistance. Last year, the medical board asked the state to lower the burden of proof for disciplining physicians from "clear and convincing" to a standard equivalent to "more likely than not," followed by most states. A bill including this request recently passed the California State Senate and is pending in the Assembly.

The California Medical Association, which represents physicians, opposes the bill, unless amended. "Clear and convincing" is the standard for disciplining professional license-holders in California, spokesperson Shannan Velayas said.

In Inglewood, a world away from bureaucrats and lobbyists, Robertson grieves and struggles as a single father. His job in crime scene and disaster cleanup can require long and unpredictable hours. He was recently called in to work at 2 in the morning, leaving him scrambling to get ahold of Aniya's godmother to come watch her.

"It's overwhelming, just all this juggling," he said.

In periods of calm, father and daughter bond over picture books Valentine bought and go to the park with their dog. Robertson said Aniya, now over 6 months old and sitting up, is deeply loved.

Still, there's a void that will only grow as Aniya gets older. He can't style her hair the way Valentine would have and worries that he won't be able to support her like a mother would when Aniya becomes a young woman.

"I don't want nobody else to have to go through this hurt and pain," Robertson said.

When told the state rarely finds discrimination, he paused, recognizing a gap in accountability. He said, "The government pick and choose which situations that they press the issue on."

This article was produced by KFF Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.
In a recent study published in the journal PLOS One, researchers used a cross-sectional survey of adults from Canada and France between 18-29 to evaluate the association between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) restriction compliance and depressive symptoms.

Their results found a strong association between increased adherence and major depressive symptoms. More than 30% of young adults reported depressive symptoms, necessitating the inclusion of mental health interventions for these age groups during COVID-19-driven social isolation.

Mental health impacts of COVID-19

The advent and progression of the COVID-19 pandemic saw nations worldwide implement policies and jurisdictions to curb the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). These public health preventive measures were tailored to local COVID-19 severity.

They included both educational guidance (hygiene recommendations through multimedia) and enforceable jurisdictions, including social isolation, face-mask usage, and stay-at-home orders.

These measures were found to help flatten the COVID-19 spread curve and proved effective in reducing the pandemics impact. Still, evidence collected during March-August 2020 (the first wave) suggests that older adults (above 30) were more likely to comply with these regulations than younger individuals.

Previous work has implied that the mental toll of social isolation especially impacted adults between the ages of 18-29, and these age groups were more likely to report depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation than their older counterparts.

Previous research has focused mainly on older adults, with analyses evaluating the mental toll of only one or a few preventive measures. The cumulative toll of complying with multiple concurrent preventive measures remains unexplored. Furthermore, results from these studies remain confounding, with some reporting positive associations between depressive symptoms and COVID-19 regulation compliance, while others reported no association or even negative associations between these variables. Most studies in the field have been conducted on individuals from the US, with a need for more literature available for other world regions.

Thus, there is a need to elucidate the additive impacts of the entire spectrum of public health policies on mental health and depressive symptoms, especially in young adults at higher risk.

About the study

In the present study, researchers employed a cross-sectional longitudinal survey approach to investigate the correlation between COVID-19 norm compliance and mental health. They hypothesized that individuals who showed higher compliance (i.e., more stringent social distancing and self-isolation) would also report increased mental trauma due to reduced social support.

Researchers collected data through the France-Canada Observatory on COVID-19, Youth health and Social well-being (FOCUS) study between 8th October and 23rd December 2020. The FOCUS study aimed to collect anonymous COVID-19 impact data from France and Canada's youth and young adults, which showed exceptionally high infection rates (17% and 19%, respectively) compared to other regions globally.

The online questionnaire comprised questions on sociodemographics, access to health and social services, experiences during COVID-19, and health outcomes, including mental health.

For the present study, respondents between the ages of 18-29 who completed questionnaire sections on COVID-19 jurisdiction compliances, sociodemographics, and mental health were included. This resulted in a Canadian cohort of 3,246 respondents and a French cohort of 2,680 young adults (total = 5,926).

Researchers built a COVID-19 compliance profile based on social-isolation preventive measures. Measures included staying home, only making trips outside when essential, social gathering avoidance, meeting friends avoidance, and social bubble maintenance.

The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used to assess short-term (two weeks) mental health. PHQ-9 scores greater than 15 were defined as major depressive symptoms. Cluster analyses were used to build and refine compliance profile results, and multivariate analyses were used to evaluate any associations between PHQ-9 scores and compliance profiles, using sociodemographic data as covariates.

Study findings

More than 30% of respondents were observed to report major depressive symptoms, with proportions in Canada (36.4%) being slightly higher than those in France (23.4%).

This may be attributed to decades of mental health awareness in Canada versus the still-prevalent social stigma associated with mental health illness in France, implying that the French observation may be an underestimation of the actual degree of major depressive symptoms among youth in the country.

Significant sociodemographic differences were observed between Canadian and French respondents, with the former having higher sexual-minority representation and lower education levels than the latter. Canadian young adults were more likely to have employment compared to their age- and sex-match French counterparts. A larger proportion of French respondents reported living alone than the Canadian cohort.

COVID-19 regulation compliance profile clustering identified four distinct profiles  high, medium-high, medium-low, and low.

In both countries, major depressive symptoms (Canada: 39.8%, France: 27.9%) were more prevalent among highly compliant participants than those who reported a low level of compliance (Canada: 32.7%, France: 17.7%). Jesson et al. (2023)

Researchers did identify that while the association between compliance and mental health was present for both sample cohorts, the strength of association was higher in France than in Canada, with low/no-income, ethnic-racial and sexual minorities being the worst affected.

Previous studies showed that sexual and gender minority youth experienced financial difficulties, limited access to gender-affirming resources, and increased experiences of discrimination, which therefore may increase the risk for depression. Jesson et al. (2023)

Conclusions

In the present study, researchers used data from the FOCUS study to investigate the association between COVID-19 regulation compliance and mental health in French and Canadian youth aged 18-29. Of the 5,926 respondents included in the survey, 30.5% were found to suffer from major depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 scores > 15). Canadians were observed to be overall worse affected than their French counterparts, but this might be attributed to the greater mental health awareness in the former country versus the still prevalent stigma associated with mental health in the latter.

While the study does present numerous limitations, including its employing a non-probability sampling design and the recruitment process biasing it towards respondents concerned with COVID-19, thereby excluding those less affected by the pandemic, these findings highlight how young adults who complied with COVID-19 norms to a larger extent were likely mentally and emotionally affected by social distancing more than those who bent the rules.

As such, this study provides new evidence in [favor] of the development and promotion of strategies that enhance access of young adults to equitable and non-judgemental mental health services. This is especially important for young adults who experienced various forms of social exclusion (e.g., poverty, racism, homophobia) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jesson et al. (2023)
In a recent article published in Natures Humanities and Social Sciences Communications Journal, researchers performed a qualitative study in the Netherlands to explore value-laden perspectives of the carriers of an autosomal dominant genetic disorder on the applications of somatic genome editing (SGE) and human genome editing (HGE).

In this way, they contributed to the global dialogue on the acceptability of HGE in line with previous public consultations, e.g., the Dutch DNA dialogue.

Study: Between desire and fear: a qualitative interview study exploring the perspectives of carriers of a genetic condition on human genome editing. Image Credit: Natali _ Mis/Shutterstock.com

Background

Many previous studies have presented the views of different stakeholders, e.g., experienced genetic professionals, people not affected by any genetic disorder, and those with a genetic disorder, on the future implementation of HGE. However, they often underestimate the quality of life of those affected by such diseases.

Also, as scientists alone cannot address moral and societal questions concerning HGE, it is vital to consider the 'worldviews,' i.e., the human ability to reflect on existential questions beyond religious and secular (non-religious) frameworks, of people affected by genetic disorders when using HGE.

HGE, i.e., initiating a pregnancy with a modified embryo to pass on altered genes to a potential child, is currently prohibited in many countries, including the Netherlands.

However, the Netherlands allows scientific research involving germline genome editing (GGE) using 'surplus embryos'. These are not intentionally created for research but taken from people receiving fertility treatment who consent to its use for scientific (HGE) research once the treatment is over.

About the study

In the present study, researchers first sent a link to a documentary on the basics of CRISPR-Cas9 technology to the recruited participants, 10 Dutch carriers of an inherited autosomal dominant disorder.

Then, they performed 50-80 minutes semi-structured interviews between April and June 2019 to explore their views on HGE and SGE.

All the recruited participants were prone to developing a serious genetic condition in the future and carried a 50% chance of passing disease genes to their (potential) offspring.

The team analyzed the gathered data using reflexive thematic analysis on interview transcripts to familiarize with the data, generate codes, find categories, review, define, and name the themes, and write the report.

Results

The researchers found one overarching theme and three main themes. Regarding the first theme, i.e., the benefits of SGE and HGE for individuals, the lived experiences of the carriers varied widely.

Regarding the safe use of SGE, participants were positive irrespective of disease severity as long as it was medically safe and effective; likewise, most participants were positive towards HGE use but only for severe genetic conditions.

SGE treatments involve painful medical procedures and prolonged hospitalizations. Thus, in a previous study among high-risk couples, they preferred HGE themselves than burden their child with the SGE treatment.

However, in this study, the participants had less information about SGE; thus, they had relatively positive views of SGE. It highlights the importance of providing adequate factual information about the technology to help participants take a balanced approach toward different clinical applications of genome editing.

Interestingly, two participants found HGE against their religious beliefs; they found tempering an embryo similar to tempering with God's work. On the contrary, other participants with a religious worldview saw HGE as a gift from God to alleviate suffering, despite the high value they placed on an embryo.

Surprisingly, others viewed HGE as a tool for seeking perfection and apprehended its widespread use.

Currently, HGE use is limited to research and treatment/prevention of severe genetic disorders. The future consequences of HGE use could be strikingly different if it includes enhancement and treatment of relatively less serious conditions.

The study results also raised the issue of contextual factors, such as difficulty in demarcating whether a condition is serious because of its type and expression or an affected person's coping ability.

In addition, the authors pointed towards country-specific contextual factors, e.g., access to or quality of healthcare in a country and its effect on a person's 'worldviews.'

So, in South Africa, participants willingly agreed to use HGE for immunity against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) because of its enormous financial burden and threat of passing on HIV to future generations, whereas, in the Netherlands, participants had opposing views because of the availability of better HIV prevention and treatment opportunities.

Conclusions

Together, the study results pointed towards a complex relationship between how participants perceived the status of an embryo and their views on its use for HGE research. Those with a religious worldview considered the embryo as a person from conception. Yet, some favored using them for HGE research based on the moral worth of an embryo vs. the value of promoting the health of future generations.

Nonetheless, the authors recommended embracing (not resolving) the ambivalent views of the carriers of autosomal dominant genetic conditions, especially when engaging broadly with the public and stakeholders.
In a recent article published in the Biologics Journal, researchers examined de-identified clinical data to identify gene fusions by next-generation deoxy- and ribonucleic acids (DNA and RNA) sequencing to understand their relationship with observed pathologies in a diverse population of cancer patients.

Study: Precision Medicine in a Community Cancer Center: Pan-Cancer DNA/RNA Sequencing of Tumors Reveals Clinically Relevant Gene Fusions. Image Credit: luchschenF/Shutterstock.com

Background

Advancements in sequencing technologies facilitate the detection of gene fusion events in relevant cancer genes among patients with solid tumors and or hematological malignancies, which is crucial for precision oncology programs.

Gene fusions, i.e., the formation of a hybrid gene through genomic rearrangements, are therapeutic targets of interest or prognostic, diagnostic, or therapeutic biomarkers that help physicians prescribe specific therapies to cancer patients, which help improve treatment outcomes.

About the study

In the present study, researchers analyzed formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) 4,415 samples derived from solid tumors of diverse cancer patients through two commercial labs in the USA between 2016 and 2022. A pathologist closely reviewed FFPE specimens to confirm the tumor size, content, and quality.

These samples had 20% tumor content for RNA sequencing, done on a targeted panel of 52 genes that potentially identified gene fusions and gene variant transcripts up to 2019, after which the team performed whole transcriptome sequencing (WTS) on these samples.

Further, they evaluated additional biomarkers using a DNA-based next-generation sequencing (NSG) panel of 592 genes, which encompassed microsatellite instability (MSI) and tumor mutational burden (TMB), with subsequent transition to whole-exome sequencing (WES) post-2019.

Before molecular testing, the team used manual microdissection techniques to achieve tumor enrichment of harvested targeted tissue. In addition, the team evaluated programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) protein expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC).

Furthermore, the researchers used OncoKB, a precision oncology knowledge base, to classify identified gene fusions into two groups, unclassified and known oncogenic gene fusions.

Results

The most important finding of this study was that 9.5% of analyzed tumor samples had oncogenic gene fusions of clinical relevance. In contrast, the authors identified unclassified gene fusions in 25/4415, i.e., 0.57% of the analyzed samples. The cost of DNA sequencing has decreased exponentially in the past two decades.

When used in tandem with RNA sequencing, it is crucial for identifying unclassified oncogenic fusions, novel therapeutic targets and optimizing the efficacy of existing cancer treatments.

Moreover, the current study underlined the significance of including a wide variety of tumors, as even low-frequency fusions have pronounced functional effects on the likelihood of cancer development, growth, and drug sensitivity.

Of all the new oncogenic gene fusions identified in this study, bone morphogenetic protein receptor 1B (BMPR1B)-PDZ and LIM Domain 5 (PDLIM5) and in-frame nipped-B-like protein (NIPBL)-piezo type mechanosensitive ion channel component 1 (PIEZO1) fusions are described in detail below.

The role of BMPR1B gene fusions and their protein products in cancer biology remains unknown because, to date, standardized classification guidelines for inherited conditions arising from the loss of function gene fusions do not exist.

Expert panels are working on standardizing methods for identifying and documenting loss-of-function gene fusions, such as the BMPR1B-PDLIM5 fusion.

The NIPBL gene-encoded protein is an essential regulator of the cohesin complex function. Some recent studies have found that loss-of-function mutations in NIPBL and its overexpression promote cancer cell growth and survival.

Moreover, exon 8 of NIPBL is involved in the in-frame NIPBL-NACC1 fusion that characterizes a unique cholangioblastic variant of cholangiocarcinoma.

Furthermore, a recent study showed NIBPL deficiency upregulates endogenous retroviruses and stimulates PD-L1 expression, a well-recognized cancer immune evasion mechanism. Together, these observations prompt researchers to explore NIPBL as a therapeutic target in cancer and its functions as an oncogene or tumor suppressor.

Conclusions

Given the lack of standardization in their discovery and validation, further research could help determine the functional consequences of the unclassified gene fusion events and their potential clinical relevance. It will infuse more confidence in the researchers reporting these events.

Future clinical trials should include WES and whole-transcriptome-based tumor profiling to identify gene fusions that remained undetected by the panels used in the current study. It could also help identify novel tumor histologies or novel fusion events.

Nonetheless, the study data and data from the suggested clinical trials could help clinicians in decision-making regarding cancer patient treatment and their inclusion in other cancer trials in the future.
In a landmark moment for the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's, a 5-year-old from Bellefontaine, Ohio, received the first dose of a recently approved gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy at Nationwide Children's Hospital, where the therapy was invented and initially tested. The therapy, developed, tested and patented at Nationwide Children's marks an extraordinary achievement in the field of neuromuscular medicine and provides a life-altering treatment for children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. This is the second gene therapy developed at Nationwide Children's to receive FDA approval, two of only eight to have received FDA approval to date.

Five-year-old Gideon Griffiths received the first infusion of ELEVIDYS (SRP-9001) at Nationwide Children's. Gideon was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) at birth. He is among the first group of patients across the country to receive the gene therapy since its accelerated approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June. Nationwide Children's has invented two of the first eight gene therapies approved by the FDA.

This is a meaningful day not only for these first families, but for families battling DMD everywhere. It is thrilling to arrive at this moment of getting treatment to a patient population that has waited so long for more hope." Jerry Mendell, MD, principal investigator in the Center for Gene Therapy at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute, and co-inventor of ELEVIDYS

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a severe form of muscular dystrophy caused by a mutation in the DMD gene, resulting in a lack of the dystrophin protein, leading to muscle weakness and atrophy. Muscle weakness may affect the skeletal muscle and the heart muscle. As an X-linked condition, DMD typically affects boys and is progressive; over time, children with DMD develop problems with walking, breathing and heart function.

SRP-9001 is a novel DMD gene-replacement therapy co-developed by Dr. Mendell and Louise Rodino-Klapac, PhD, formerly at Nationwide Children's and currently the executive vice president, head of Research and Development, and chief scientific officer at Sarepta Therapeutics. This gene therapy program was licensed by Sarepta in 2018. The therapy, an intravenous infusion of ELEVIDYS, packages a micro-dystrophin gene into an adeno-associated virus serotype (AAVrh74, which was isolated at Nationwide Children's) to deliver missing or corrected genes to cells.

"It's lifechanging to be able to experience this, to be able to give Gideon a better quality of life," said Erin Griffiths, Gideon's mother. "We feel hopeful and thankful, and we're excited to watch our little boy run around, play and just be a boy."
It has been known for several years that the diagnosis "multiple sclerosis" conceals a whole range of different illnesses, each requiring customized treatment. Researchers at the University of Basel and the University Hospital of Basel have now described a possible new MS-like disease and explained how to diagnose it.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by areas of inflammation in the central nervous system. The immune system attacks the body's own structures and destroys the covering of nerve cells, known as the myelin sheath. The picture research has painted of the illness is somewhat more complicated, however. It can cause a variety of neurological symptoms, like paresthesia and paralysis of the limbs, which progressively or abruptly worsen. Which parts of the nervous system are affected varies substantially between individuals. A treatment may work for some patients  but make the condition worse in others.

There's a huge amount of diversity in how inflammatory autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system like multiple sclerosis present." Professor Anne-Katrin Probstel, University of Basel and University Hospital Basel

Researchers have been gradually discovering the key distinctive features of "atypical" cases of MS for the past ten years. A few of these autoimmune diseases have been given different names to better distinguish them from MS even though they also destroy the myelin sheath. Victims of these diseases often have inflammation in their spinal cords or optic nerves.

In a study of roughly 1,300 patients, Probstel's team has now discovered a biomarker that may make it possible to differentiate another MS-like illness from the others. The researchers have reported their findings in the journal JAMA Neurology.

Antibodies as biomarkers

The team discovered a specific antibody, a type of immunoglobulin A (IgA), in one group of patients. The antibody attacks a component of the myelin sheath called "MOG" (which stands for "myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein"). IgA antibodies are typically responsible for protecting mucous membranes.

The precise role of MOG-IgA in this autoimmune disease remains unclear, however. "Victims experience inflammation particularly in their spinal cords and brain stems," Probstel explains. This group of patients was missing other typical biomarkers related to MS or similar diseases.

Next, the researchers want to decipher the role of MOG-IgA and the clinical characteristics arising from it in more detail. "By distinguishing between myelin-destroying autoimmune diseases that were previously all called MS, we're taking an important step towards a better understanding of the causes of these illnesses and towards individualized treatments," says the neurologist. Ultimately, the researchers hope to discover what treatments are most effective under what conditions.

About the project

The study was conducted in collaboration with the Universidade de Sao Paulo in Brazil and several German universities (Charite Berlin, Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf, Ruhr University Bochum). The research team from the Departments of Biomedicine and Clinical Research of the University of Basel, the Department of Neurology at the University Hospital, and the Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology, which is affiliated with both institutions, received funding for the study from the University Hospital of Basel's Propatient Foundation, the Goldschmidt-Jacobson Foundation, the Fondation Pierre Mercier pour la Science, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Swiss National Science Foundation. The two lead authors received grants from the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Fellowship, as well as the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship (Ana Beatriz A.G.R. Gomes) and the Trygve Tellefsens Legat Scholarship (Laila Kulsvehagen).
An interdisciplinary team of mathematicians, engineers, physicists, and medical scientists have uncovered an unexpected link between pure mathematics and genetics, that reveals key insights into the structure of neutral mutations and the evolution of organisms.

Number theory, the study of the properties of positive integers, is perhaps the purest form of mathematics. At first sight, it may seem far too abstract to apply to the natural world. In fact, the influential American number theorist Leonard Dickson wrote 'Thank God that number theory is unsullied by any application.'

And yet, again and again, number theory finds unexpected applications in science and engineering, from leaf angles that (almost) universally follow the Fibonacci sequence, to modern encryption techniques based on factoring prime numbers. Now, researchers have demonstrated an unexpected link between number theory and evolutionary genetics.

Specifically, the team of researchers (from Oxford, Harvard, Cambridge, GUST, MIT, Imperial, and the Alan Turing Institute) have discovered a deep connection between the sums-of-digits function from number theory and a key quantity in genetics, the phenotype mutational robustness. This quality is defined as the average probability that a point mutation does not change a phenotype (a characteristic of an organism).

The discovery may have important implications for evolutionary genetics. Many genetic mutations are neutral, meaning that they can slowly accumulate over time without affecting the viability of the phenotype. These neutral mutations cause genome sequences to change at a steady rate over time. Because this rate is known, scientists can compare the percentage difference in the sequence between two organisms and infer when their latest common ancestor lived.

But the existence of these neutral mutations posed an important question: what fraction of mutations to a sequence are neutral? This property, called the phenotype mutational robustness, defines the average amount of mutations that can occur across all sequences without affecting the phenotype.

We have known for some time that many biological systems exhibit remarkably high phenotype robustness, without which evolution would not be possible. But we didn't know what the absolute maximal robustness possible would be, or if there even was a maximum." Ard Louis, Study Lead Author and Professor, University of Oxford

It is precisely this question that the team has answered. They proved that the maximum robustness is proportional to the logarithm of the fraction of all possible sequences that map to a phenotype, with a correction which is given by the sums of digits function sk(n), defined as the sum of the digits of a natural number n in base k. For example, for n = 123 in base 10, the digit sum would be s10(123) = 1 + 2 + 3 = 6.

Another surprise was that the maximum robustness also turns out to be related to the famous Tagaki function, a bizarre function that is continuous everywhere, but differentiable nowhere. This fractal function is also called the blancmange curve, because it looks like the French dessert.

First author Dr. Vaibhav Mohanty (Harvard Medical School) added: 'What is most surprising is that we found clear evidence in the mapping from sequences to RNA secondary structures that nature in some cases achieves the exact maximum robustness bound. It's as if biology knows about the fractal sums-of-digits function.'

Professor Ard Louis added: 'The beauty of number theory lies not only in the abstract relationships it uncovers between integers, but also in the deep mathematical structures it illuminates in our natural world. We believe that many intriguing new links between number theory and genetics will be found in the future.'
As technology continues to advance, so do the tactics of fraudsters seeking to deceive individuals for their financial gain. The latest scam making the rounds target taxpayers by posing as legitimate entities, exploiting the vulnerability of unsuspecting victims. The scam, which closely resembles the notorious PAN card update hoax, has prompted the Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check official Twitter account to issue a warning to the public.

Fraudsters are sending messages that claim recipients are eligible for an income tax refund of Rs 15,490. These messages, designed to appear official, urge individuals to verify their account details by clicking on a provided link. However, the PIB has categorically stated that the claims are fake and that the Income Tax Department has not sent any such messages. The government bureau emphasizes the need for caution and advises individuals to avoid sharing personal information with such sources.

In its official statement, the PIB Fact Check account shared the scam message and warned recipients about the ongoing scheme. The bureau highlighted the telltale signs of such scams and stressed that the Income Tax Department does not solicit sensitive information through email. Furthermore, the department never requests PINs, passwords, or access information for financial accounts via email.

A viral message claims that the recipient has been approved for an income tax refund of  15,490.#PIBFactCheck  This claim is .  @IncomeTaxIndia has  sent this message.  of such scams &  from sharing your personal information. pic.twitter.com/dsRPkhO3gg  PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) August 2, 2023

Steps to Safeguard Against Scams:

For those concerned about falling victim to such scams, the PIB provides crucial guidance:

Avoid Interaction: Refrain from replying, clicking on links, or opening attachments from unknown sources. These could potentially contain malicious code that compromises your devices security.

Report Suspicious Activity: If you encounter an email claiming to be from the Income Tax Department or directing you to a supposed department website, do not engage with it. Instead, forward the email or website URL to webmanager@incometax.gov.in. For added security, send a copy to incident@cert-in.org.in. The headers of these emails will assist authorities in tracking down the perpetrators.

Delete the Message: After forwarding the suspicious link or email, delete the message from your inbox. This helps prevent any accidental interaction and potential compromise.
Californias Imperial Valley is one of the few places where a 95-degree day can be described as unseasonably cool.

In the shade of a sissoo tree, with a dry breeze rustling its leaves, JB Hamby called the weather pretty nice for mid-June. Over his shoulder, sprinklers ticked away over a field of onions. Every few minutes, a tractor rumbled across the broiling asphalt of a nearby road.

Hamby is a water policy bigwig, especially around these parts. He helps shape policies that define how water is used by arguably the most influential water users along the Colorado River. Hamby holds two jobs  he serves on the board of directors for the Imperial Irrigation District and was recently appointed to be Californias top water negotiator.

And hes only 27 years old.

The Colorado River is governed by more than a century of legal agreements, most of which were hammered out by generations of older white men. The ranks of the rivers top policy negotiators have begun to diversify in recent years, including more women and people of color, but still tend to skew older. Hambys inclusion marks the first time a member of Generation Z will be at the negotiating table, making deals for the Southwests most important water source.

I think every generation has an opportunity to do it better or worse than the prior one, Hamby said. My hope, at least, is being one representative of a generation about trying to make things better.

The Imperial Valley holds a special place in the Colorado River conversation. It uses more water than any other single entity along the river  which includes dozens of farming districts and big cities such as Los Angeles, Phoenix and Denver. Using that allocation, the valley produces about $3 billion in crops and livestock each year. The district has been described as brash, combative and eager to push back on its critics.

The district is situated in California, the state with the largest allocation of the river. During negotiations in the winter of 2022-2023, the state became the lone holdout to a watershed-wide consensus deal to reduce uses along the dwindling river, much of that due to reluctant agricultural districts like the Imperial Irrigation District.

As climate change shrinks the Colorado Rivers water supply, the Imperial Valley is increasingly in the crosshairs. Water managers from the seven states that use the river are squeezing every last drop out of a finite supply, and looking for new ways to conserve. Theyve turned to the Imperial Irrigation District, and other farm districts, and cranked up pressure to cut back on agricultural water use as states draw up new rules for water use before 2026, when the current guidelines expire.

Hamby was elected as chairman of the Colorado River Board of California in January, giving him a seat at the rivers most important negotiating tables alongside other state delegates generations his senior  representing nearly half of the rivers roughly 40 million users.

And hes taking that seat at one of the most critical moments in the rivers management, where users are collectively trying to figure out how to get by with a lot less water by making decisions that could upend generations of policy and attitudes around the Wests water.

Agricultural roots

Hamby was raised in Brawley, California, where about 25,000 people live amid a sea of sprawling crop fields. Hambys family has lived in the Imperial Valley since his great grandfather left Texas during the Great Depression and got a job digging irrigation ditches for the same water district his descendant now helps run.

This blasting hot, tough place with tough people that have struggled and made hardscrabble existences  and have had dreams to be made and dashed and made a living and a life out of hardscrabble desert, Hamby said, I think it shapes all of us. And I dont think Im any different.

Hambys passion for water issues goes hand in hand with his interest in history. He was a history major during his time at Stanford University, and unlike many students, long nights in the library have lingered long after graduation.

Now, he spends a lot of free evenings among stacks of leather-bound documents and rolled-up maps in the districts archives.

During some downtime between meetings on a June afternoon, Hamby twisted a dial and swung open the antique vault door that seals off a dusty room full of papers going back more than a century. In here, hes spent hours rifling through minutes from the districts earliest meetings.

Theres really nothing new under the sun in the Colorado River space, he said. People change, some of the words we use to describe things change, but the core themes and issues are the same ones we deal with now than as we did 100 years ago.

Hamby plucked a stiff maroon folder from a chest-high shelf in the corner of the vault.

Heres a good one, he said, leafing through the yellowed pages within.

Hamby began reading from a handout given to local farmers in the 1940s or 50s during an information campaign against the Central Arizona Project, warning them of subversive attempts to mislead California growers on Colorado River issues.

The Imperial Irrigation District and the Central Arizona Project, a canal that carries water to Phoenix through more than 300 miles of desert, have carried their tensions into the 21st century.

Your own experience is a very painful and expensive teacher, Hamby said. So its good to learn off of other peoples expense.

A seat at the table

Even decades before the current supply-demand imbalance put Colorado River water users in a bind, meetings were heated. Hamby recalled hearing about a particularly spirited discussion where the districts board members sat around a table, each stashing a gun in the drawer in front of them.

While this centurys water negotiations have perhaps included fewer firearms, contentious and well-publicized water debates played out during Hambys childhood in the Imperial Valley. His curiosity grew as negotiators drew up the Colorado Rivers current managing guidelines in 2007, and then re-upped its rules with the drought contingency plan in 2019. When he got old enough to get involved himself, Hamby felt it was important to help prepare the Imperial Valley and the state of California for the next wave of negotiations.

I had a real strong interest in history, Hamby said. Particularly of our region and the history of the Colorado River and happened to grow up in the very place that really kick-started all these discussions about a century ago.

Armed with that robust knowledge of the past, Hamby plays his youth close to the chest.

Im sure other people occasionally think about it, he said. But its not something I really dwell on.

Hambys colleagues agree that his age isnt a hindrance.

I think hes turned it into a positive and brought sort of our fresh look at things, said Tina Shields, Imperial Irrigation Districts water department manager. You do things for so long and you do them because youve always done them. And I think he can shake things up a little from that perspective.

Shields said the group of people shaping Colorado River policy has a long way to go in terms of diversity, but it already looks different than it did in the early days of her career, when she would attend meetings in Las Vegas and be treated like a cocktail waitress.

Maybe the diversity isnt where it needs to be, she said. But I think its not the old white guys you see in the pictures from the old days.

Hamby has had to balance any fresh perspective he brings to negotiating rooms with the needs of the people he represents. Right in his backyard, legions of growers make big money on farms that have belonged to their families for generations.

John Hawk, a farmer and county-level politician, took Hamby under his wing around 2019, when Hamby first ran for the districts board with the campaign slogan Water is Life.

Some of the growers in the valley look at the value of the water as far as dollars and cents, Hawk said. But many of us in the farm community look at it as the value of producing crops. And I think JB looks at it that way.

Perhaps Hambys most arduous task is to dig in his heels and try to keep water in California, just like so many of the states water negotiators before him. Californias Colorado River allocation isnt just the largest among the seven Colorado River basin states  its also the most legally untouchable.

The 1922 Colorado River Compact dictates how water is shared in the arid Western watershed. The legal system prioritizes older uses of water, like agricultural districts, meaning their shares will be the last to be shut off in times of shortage. The legal scaffolding built on top of the compact shields the Imperial Valleys voluminous uses.

Californias biggest water users would like to see that legal priority stay in place. When pressed on their role in negotiations about the rivers future, Hamby and other California water managers point to existing laws and say they should be followed. Water policy experts say Californias protected status on the river is unlikely to change without messy court battles, which states generally agree are best avoided.

(Hamby) looks at the letter of the law and he says Its written, this is legal, and lets support it, Hawk said. And I think you cant ask for much more than that.

Hamby seems to be sticking to that letter-of-the-law approach so far. Both California and the Imperial Irrigation District have signed on to conservation deals in recent months, but their contributions still lag behind Arizonas agreed-to cutbacks.

In October 2022, the district was one of four agencies that agreed to cut back on water use by a combined 400,000 acre-feet each year from 2023 to 2026, reducing Californias total water use by about 9%. Imperial is allotted 2.6 million acre-feet each year, and is set to contribute more than half of the states entire conservation commitment.

In January 2023, just weeks after Hamby began his tenure as Californias top water negotiator, the state was the lone holdout on a water conservation proposal signed by all six of the other states which use water from the Colorado River.

After that proposal was released, Hamby told KUNC the process by which it was created was horribly broken, and not carried out in good faith.

Since then, Hamby said hes worked to build better relationships with water leaders from other states, making things more conversational and less adversarial.

In May, California, Arizona and Nevada agreed to conserve a combined 1 million acre-feet each year until 2026. They did so once promised at least $1.2 billion in federal funds, designed to help incentivize farmers to pause some water use.

Arizonas top negotiator, Tom Buschatzke, credited his relationship with Hamby as a factor that helped clinch the deal among the two feuding states.

JB and I met in Yuma and kind of just had a good one-on-one conversation. It wasnt really even business. It was just, lets lay our cards on the table personally, get to know each other and build a relationship, Buschatzke said at a recent University of Colorado river symposium. And I think that jump-started where we got among Arizona and California in the end.

That rings true from Hambys perspective as well.

The Colorado River is history, Hamby said. Its science, its law, but its relationships that are perhaps equal, if not greater than any of those things.
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Indias largest IT services company, on Tuesday said it has been selected as a strategic partner by the government to transform the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) into a state-of-the-art public procurement platform with modern solutions leveraging new technologies.

The GeM platform provides an end-to-end online marketplace for central and state government bodies, including public sector undertakings, for procurement of common-use goods and services in a transparent and efficient manner. This e-marketplace currently handles a gross merchandise value (GMV) of over Rs 2 lakh crore purchased by over 70,000 buyer organisations from over 6.5 million sellers and service providers, including over 800,000 medium and small enterprises.

The current platform, while successful, has architectural challenges in scaling up and in meeting the evolving needs of buyers and sellers," TCS said in a regulatory filing.

The partnership will see TCS design and build a new modern solution leveraging new technologies, while maintaining the current platform, it said.

TCS said the new GeM platform will be based on e-commerce and e-marketplace principles with multi-tenancy, multi-rule, multilingual, open source, and open-API-based architecture. It will be highly scalable, designed to accommodate the anticipated six-fold growth in GMV over the next six years.

The new platform will be designed for interoperability and cloud neutrality, making it technology-agnostic and vendor-independent. Its deep reconfigurability will ease the onboarding of diverse buyer organisations having local rules, thus allowing them to transact on the national platform while maintaining their local flavour.

TCS will also design a better user experience for all stakeholders. The adaptable design will ease the onboarding of new sellers, driving greater participation from a more diverse vendor base, especially SMEs /MSMEs, resulting in greater inclusivity and a more democratised access to the public sector market. The new platform will use data analytics to forecast projections and improve supply chain management, and advanced AI/ML technologies to help identify potential fraud, enabling more transparent operations.

P K Singh, CEO, GeM, said, In its next avatar, GeM is envisioned to be an all-inclusive platform for government procurement, offering improved ease of doing business and transparency. With TCS as our SI (system integration) partner, we are assured of architecting the new GeM with unmatched experience, rigour, and passion to develop a world-class solution with resilient design, enriched user experience and innovative services. We also look forward to TCS expertise of managing mission mode programmes. We have a strong aspiration to scale up GeM to transcend geographies."

Tej Paul Bhatla, business head (public services - India) at TCS, said, We are proud to partner with the Government of India for the GeM platforms digital transformation, adding to our long list of contributions to Digital India. Our extensive experience in delivering large-scale transformation projects, technology expertise, deep domain knowledge in public services, and world-class delivery governance will help GeM achieve its vision for the next decade. The new GeM platform will transform public procurement with enhanced user experience, improved transparency, and greater inclusivity."
Kumudni Devi, a retired teacher and advocate residing in the Housing Development Colony of Hardoi City, remained steadfast in her commitment to work. Having retired from her position as headmistress at Kanya Junior High School Chand Behta in Hardoi district on March 31, 2016, Kumudani Devi contributed nearly 42 years of her educational service to the Basic Education Department.

Following her retirement, she pursued an LL.B. degree at the age of 66 and completed the course. She later went on to pass the All India Bar Association examination (AIBE) in 2022 on her first attempt at the age of 68. Her remarkable achievement has secured her a place in the world record books, marking her as the first woman globally to accomplish this feat.

Kumudni Devi shares her journey of post-retirement engagement, where she enrolled in law school to pursue an LLB degree. After completing her LLB, she accomplished the feat of passing the Bar Association examination. Furthermore, she has embarked on a path to enhance her legal knowledge by pursuing an LLM degree. Her ambitions, however, do not halt at the LLM level; she envisions pursuing a PhD in Law as well.

Abhishek Tiwari, Kumudini Devis son, said, My mother has brought immense pride not only to our family but to all of us through this recognition. And not just that, shes always kept our familys name high through her work in education. She never gave up on her efforts, standing up for what she believed in, and staying dedicated. The award she got is proof of all her hard work and determination."

Statistically, women lawyers hold the majority in the public sector at 64 per cent and in corporate in-house teams at 59 per cent. In law firms, they make up 50 per cent of lawyers, but only 31 per cent of senior roles. Barristers chambers have the lowest representation of women lawyers at 32 per cent. In the judiciary, women comprise 43 per cent of all judges and have 26 per cent of senior positions.
Quest Alliance, a non-profit organisation committed to revolutionising education and youth development, with a 15-year legacy in the education and skills sector, has garnered significant support from corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Companies such as Accenture, IBM, JP Morgan, Cisco, and Bank of America contribute to Quest Alliances mission, emphasising outcomes like job placement and skill development.

In a recent interview with News18, Akash Sethi, CEO of Quest Alliance, shed light on the organisations funding sources, transformative initiatives, and the changing landscape of education and skilling. With a focus on leveraging technology and innovative approaches, Sethi discussed the organisations strategies to equip youth with skills for the future.

Funds for Transformation

Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott recently made a substantial trust-based contribution, empowering Quest Alliance to drive systemic change. Sethi highlighted the diverse areas where these funds will be channelled stating, One part of the fund distribution will include investing in leadership development within the organisation. Were also focusing on strengthening operational systems and processes, such as finance and knowledge management."

We plan to harness advanced technologies like AI, machine learning, AR, and VR, for career guidance and to understand the challenges of the future. Our Quest App, akin to Google Maps for careers, will offer tailored paths for individuals, aiding them in making informed decisions, such as which course to choose, what are the internship options and what kind of networking places the person should be part of, " he added.

Adapting to a Shifting Education Landscape

Sethi shared his observations regarding the evolving education sector, highlighting the impact of digitalisation and the changing mindset of educators, COVID-19 has prompted teachers to embrace technology for digital learning. Weve witnessed increased investment in educational infrastructure, including devices and smart boards. However, its important to note that girls face unique challenges in the digital space due to safety concerns and cyberbullying."

He further noted shifts in learning dynamics, with learners now using digital tools to explore a broader range of subjects beyond traditional curricula.

National Education Policy

Speaking about Indias National Education Policy, Sethi expressed his optimism about its transformative potential. NEP is a progressive policy that offers learners greater choice and equalises the status of vocational education. This paradigm shift can change the mindset of the workforce, encouraging them to explore diverse career options early on," he said.

Countries like China, Korea, Germany, and Switzerland all of these countries were able to increase their GDP because their vocational education enrollment increased. With NEP, in the school, students are now able to create an equitable choice for vocational education. At such an early stage, getting such exposure would change the mindset of the Indian workforce when more people be aspiring to look for other career opportunities apart from government, police, or bank jobs," he added.

According to Sethi, while people still consider vocational education as non-credible, NEP reduces such stigma.

Skills for the Future

Anticipating the impact of AI, climate change, and rising inequality on the job sector, Quest Alliance is focusing on fostering skills crucial for future success.

Our focus lies in cultivating skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, pattern recognition, and self-learning. These abilities are essential for navigating a rapidly changing landscape," he added.

Sethi emphasised that while AI holds promise for education, addressing basic infrastructure needs must be a priority. According to him, AI can benefit both teachers and students, helping teachers frame better questions and enhance classroom preparation. However, ensuring basic infrastructure readiness in Indian education remains a critical concern at the moment. For example, in terms of Delhis education system the first 2-3 years the government focused on making the schools inviting and environment appealing. So there is basic readiness that needs to be dealt with."

Collaborating with Governments

Quest Alliance has forged partnerships with governmental bodies to bring about transformative change. Sethi outlined some of the initiatives, saying, Weve collaborated with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to revamp the employability skills curriculum. The focus is to make a curriculum to roll out across various skill development schemes that the ministry has such as Jan Shikshan Sansthan and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana."

Additionally, Quest Alliance is working to integrate computational thinking and coding into Odishas school curriculum, empowering students with digital skills.

Sethi also shared plans to enable teachers to become career counsellors in states like Gujarat, Telangana, Assam, Delhi, and Haryana, implementing a Google Maps-like solution for students to navigate their future paths.

As Quest Alliance continues to champion innovation, philanthropy, and skill development, Sethis insights underscore the organisations commitment to shaping a future where education is not just about exams but about holistic growth and career exploration.
Anjali Arora, a social media sensation boasting a substantial fan base, stands out as one of the most prominent figures in the limelight. Recently, Anjali embarked on a work trip to Sri Lanka, and upon her return on August 7, she pleasantly surprised her admirers. Displaying a deep bond with her father, Anjali took it upon herself to create a special moment by gifting him with a brand-new car.

Anjali Arora took to her Instagram Stories and shared a heartening video captured at the car showroom. In the video, the father-daughter duo can be seen all smiles, enjoying the tender moment. They together unveiled their sleek new four-wheeler, Maruti Suzuki, elegantly adorned in a striking black hue. The doting daughter exudes a sense of timeless style, embodying an air of sophistication and charm as she stands poised to accept the keys during the cars delivery.

Take a look at the video here:

Talking about her attire, Anjali Arora donned a long denim shirt layered over a chic crop top. She paired it with sleek black leggings, further solidified her reputation as a fashion-forward icon. For the footwear, she opted for black sneakers. While sharing the video, Anjali dropped a crying face, red heart, and nazar amulet emoticons."

In another Instagram story, Anjali Arora shared a picture of her brand-new swanky car. The snap also captured her palm on which she held the car keys. Accompanying the picture, Anjali wrote a touching caption that read A daughters heartfelt gift to her father (with a nazar amulet and read heart emoji)." Welcome home," she added.

This heartfelt gesture sparked a shower of adoration from her fans reacting with appreciative remarks, applauding her for embodying the role of a loving and caring daughter.

On the work front, Anjali Arora made her initial appearance on Lock Upp season 1, which was hosted by Kangana Ranaut. She managed to reach the finale and became one of the standout contestants of that season. Following her stint on the reality show, Anjali Arora starred in a couple of music videos that were adored by her fans. Her popularity soared, and she was recognized as the Most Searched Celebrity on Googles India list in 2022.

Anjali Arora gained widespread attention when a video of her dancing to Kacha Badam went viral. Her social media presence grew significantly, amassing a large and devoted fan following across various platforms. Its worth noting that her journey as a social media influencer commenced on TikTok and Instagram.

The social media influencer also made headlines for advocating for the people in Jammu who were protesting outside the Jammu airport due to losing their homes. She appealed to the Indian government to extend assistance to those in need.
Are democracies around the world in decline? The concern resonates across the globe- from Hungary in Europe to Turkey, from Venezuela to Tunisia, where the democracies have been seen deteriorating. The trends in Russia and China suggest a move towards a more authoritarian style of government. Moreover, the repeated protests and anger against the ruling dispensation in Israel, Sri Lanka and France suggest deep-rooted problems.

To add to the problem, the rise of the far-right across the world is magnanimous, if not unprecedented. In France, Marine Le Pen is trailing closest ever against President Macron, in Israel, there seems no clear alternative to Benjamin Netanyahu and similar concerning trends is observed in other countries including Italy, Germany and Spain.

What is Democratic Backsliding?

In the past two decades, and especially since 2016, democratic backsliding has become a defining trend in the global politics. Democratic backsliding and democratic erosion are defined as a process in which democratically elected leaders weaken democratic institutions.

According to Nancy Bermeo, political scientist at University of Oxford, democratic backsliding is the state-led debilitation or elimination of any of the political institutions that sustain an existing democracy.

The most common explanations given by experts including the role of Russia and China, rise of populism, political polarization, rise of far-right and democracies failure to deliver.

Some of the common indicators of the phenomenon include:

- hardening of autocratic rule in countries

- polarization

- weakening of opposition

- rise of illiberal forces in a democracy

- economic anxiety

Democratic backsliding denotes an erosion of the norms and institutions that support and allows democratic systems to function.

The backsliding can be due to a major like a military coup, but it can also be brought on at the hands of democratically-elected governments, who choose to subvert the basic tenets of democracy. The backsliding can be determined by a number of factors like checks and balance on the executive power, ensuring fundamental rights, impartial administration and public participation.

Is the World Really Seeing Democratic Backsliding?

While there is a popular opinion in the global media and academic discourse, a research paper has challenged the popular and academic commentary that the world is facing a systemic crisis of democracy.

In Subjective and Objective Measures of Democratic Backsliding, the political scientists Andrew Little of the University of California at Berkeley and Anne Meng of the University of Virginia claim the opposite.

The two political scientists claim that the post-Cold War expansion of democracy in nations around the world has, on average, held. They have argued that the recent studies that find evidence of global backsliding rely heavily on subjective indicators and ask experts to rate based on their own judgment.

In the research, the two authors have relied on more objective indicators of democracy like electoral competitiveness, executive constraints, and media freedom.

The two researchers claimed that they found little evidence of backsliding on these variables over the past decade. Instead, the global pattern seems to be one of democratic stability, rather than decline, they added in the research paper.

However, the paper stated that the democratic backsliding has occurred recently in places like Hungary, Poland, and Venezuela. But these declines have been balanced by more-democratic processes in other countries.

They also added that the indicators which shows democratic backsliding as taking place were based on relatively subjective measures which had disagreement among expert.

In Support of Democratic Backsliding

Stockholm-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance or International IDEA has said half of the worlds democratic nations are in retreat and added that 52 the 104 democracies studied were considered to be eroding.

Experts say that the rise of right-wing parties in Europe, the denial of climate change, rise of authoritarian government is due to a worldwide wave of democratic backsliding.

According to V-Dem, a Sweden based monitoring institute, more democracies were deteriorating and even slipping into autocracy in 2021, than at any point in the past 50 years.

The monitoring institute said that only 34 liberal democracies exist as of today, down to the same number as in 1995. Experts have called it a third wave of autocratization, the first beginning in the 1920s and the second in the 1960s.

The democracy was under siege last year marked by attempted coups in Peru, contested elections in Brazil and crackdowns on peaceful protesters in Iran, China and other nations, according to Time magazine.

The number of countries moving toward authoritarianism today are more than double those that are moving toward democracy, International IDEA added.
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.

Monday evening witnessed the passage of the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023 in the Rajya Sabha, four days after it was passed in the Lok Sabha. The bill dilutes the power of the Delhi government with respect to the appointments and transfers of Delhi government officers and empowers the Lieutenant Governor (LG) regarding the decisions of all Group A officers barring officers handling matters related to public order, land, and police.

The Bill, after becoming law, will establish a permanent authority named National Capital Civil Service Authority" to take decisions with respect to the services of civil servants working under the Delhi government.

The Bill has been a bone of contention between the Delhi government led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the Union government. The Aam Aadmi Party government had accused the Union government of usurping the power of the democratically elected government".

Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi had said, This Bill is completely unconstitutional. It is fundamentally anti-democratic. It is a frontal assault on the regional voice and the regional aspirations of the people of Delhi. It violates all principles of federalism, all norms of civil service accountability, all models of Assembly-based democracy,

However, the passage of the bill in Rajya Sabha after getting cleared from the Lok Sabha gives it political legitimacy. Moreover, the support from former Chief Justice of India (CJI) and Rajya Sabha MP Ranjan Gogoi gives it legal sanctity.

Speaking in support of the Bill on Monday, Gogoi said, I will confine myself to the legality of the proposed legislation and address the house and chair from three standpoints  sub-judice, the overreaching of the Supreme Courts order, and the constitutional validity.

He said that there are some faint voices regarding propriety and went on to add that what is pending before the court is the validity of the ordinance and what house of debating is the validity of the law.

He clarified that the Supreme Court is hearing validity of the ordinance while two questions that have been referred to the constitution bench have nothing to do with what is being debated in the house.

VIDEO | "The law doesn't appear to be arbitrary. In my respectful submission, the bill is perfectly valid," says Rajya Sabha MP Ranjan Gogoi on the Delhi services bill.(Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/CW0PeHOUtY  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 7, 2023

Regarding the question of overreach against the Supreme Court judgment, Gogoi said, The state legislature makes laws for the state and the Parliament makes laws for Union Territories".

For the National Capital Territory of Delhi, which has a special status, the state legislature makes the laws on all state subjects, except three. Parliament (on the other hand) has the powers to make laws beyond these three. So, there is no question of overreaching, he said.

Giving his final word on the law that the Bill goes to bring in, he categorically said, Is this law arbitrary? It doesnt appear to be so".

Heres What Experts Say

The opposition has claimed that the proposed legislation was unconstitutional and violates the principles of federalism. However, experts say that the bill addresses the long-term vision of a strong nation.

India from the very beginning was a federalism with strong center considering unique situations prevailing in the country then and now also. Federalism was always a compromise to address regional aspirations. In the long term, it was to emerge as a strong nation. Long term vision was to emerge as one nation, Shubhra Ranjan, an expert on constitutional and polity issues, said.

Delhi is not a state, it is still a union territory with the flexibility given to provide self-governance depending on the circumstances. Indias asymmetrical federalism grants enough scope for differential treatment depending on the context," she added.

Ranjan further said that in any of the country like India, Germany or Brazil, the federal state are to be administered under overall surveillance of the Union government.

Supreme Court in the Sarfesi case related to Jammu and Kashmir itself held India is quasi-federal. There is no provision in the constitution or any other law which prevents parliament from exercising its powers to make laws on the subjects given to it by the constituent assembly, she added.

Moreover, the Supreme Court can declare a law unconstitutional only after the law comes into existence.
A New York Times report headlined A Global Web of Chinese Propaganda Leads to a US Tech Mogul has triggered a political storm in India a year before General Elections, with the ruling BJP raising the issue in Parliament and accusing the opposition Congress of encouraging Chinese interference in the country through the NewsClick website.

The NYT report has claimed that the news portal was part of a global network that received funding from American millionaire Neville Roy Singham, who allegedly works closely with the Chinese government propaganda machine. In New Delhi, corporate filings show Singhams network financed a news site, NewsClick, that sprinkled its coverage with Chinese government talking points. Chinas history continues to inspire the working classes, one video said," the report noted.

Raising the report in the Lok Sabha, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey alleged that NewsClick is a member of anti-India Tukde Tukde gang, and demanded that the government investigate the beneficiaries of the funding. In a press conference later, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur alleged that China, NewsClick website and the Congress are linked to an anti-India umbilical cord".

NewsClick issued a statement on Monday evening, claiming the allegations being made against it by certain political actors and sections of the media are unfounded and without basis in fact or law". There was no immediate reaction from the Congress.

Beyond its political implications, the report has added to the growing heap of instances of Chinese involvement in Indian firms, some of which have been busted for running scams and extortion rackets.

News18s investigative series titled The Loan Wolves of China had earlier exposed how shady enterprises originating in China are thriving in India under the garb of loan apps, investment companies, and even non-banking financial companies (NBFC). Many of these displayed predatory behaviour after luring innocent Indians into the debt trap. Chinese links have also been detected as far as the diamond industry in Gujarats Surat.

The common thread is the money trail leading to China. The Chinese ecosystem, as investigators call it, has been well-fed through the years, receiving political and administrative patronage.

Since 2020, the Enforcement Directorate has busted multiple China-influenced financial operations and rackets. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Chinese connections are deep-rooted and it has spread its tentacles across sectors, a senior ED officer told News on condition of anonymity.

The Chinese Cobweb

In February 2021, the ED raided the NewsClick office after the Ministry of Corporate Affairs went through the portals funding pattern and allegedly unexplained export remittances in filings with the Registrar of Companies (ROC). The raids continued for five days and several employees were examined until the company moved court and won a stay on the investigation.

Around 25 FIRs lodged in the Bangalore zone in 2022 led the ED to a money laundering trail involving Chinese loan and investment apps. Based on multiple FIRs filed by debtors and investors, the ED registered six cases last year. According to the FIRs, the primary allegations against the apps were criminal intimidation, blackmail, capturing data and intrusion of privacy. Complainants alleged they were charged more than 40% interest in seven days. As the investigation progressed, a bigger conspiracy emerged revealing the use of cryptocurrencies to whitewash the ill-gotten gains.

Investigations revealed how Chinese mobile manufacturer Xiaomi Technology India Private Limited and three international banks operating in India allegedly sent Rs 5,500 crore as royalty to China in violation of rules. The existence of at least 300 smaller companies operating with dummy directors and being used as the filters for money laundering also came to light.

During the investigations, purported connections merged between a Surat-based diamond merchant and Chinese nationals. The probe is ongoing

The probe also blew the lid off another scam involving persons of Chinese-origin, Indian NBFCs and fintech units, wherein Chinese individuals used to directly coordinate with the NBFCs and sign agreements without the directors of fintech or Chinese-referred companies being aware. The NBFC employees assisted the Chinese nationals without examining their credentials or their relationship with the fintech companies to protect their commissions.

The cases lay bare the extent of Chinas influence in Indian financial operations, and even banking systems, through agents. In all the cases, investigations, sooner or later, met some Chinese link.

The Crypto Crisis

In majority of these scams and rackets, cryptocurrencies have been extensively used to conceal the illegitimate origin of payments. ED investigations into the loan apps revealed that money laundering through cryptocurrencies took place in three layers.

At least 14 private companies are accused of sending its proceeds to six entities that converted them into cryptocurrencies. The six private agencies transferred the amount in the form of cryptocurrency to four Chinese entities. These were shown as crypto investments.

Such companies dont comply with statutory filings such as annual reports to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, and Income Tax returns. If such companies were persuaded by a professional to get their balance sheet audited, the Chinese nations would relieve the professional from their duty and assign someone else in place, another senior ED officer told News18 on condition of anonymity.

Manipulation MO

According to investigators, the Chinese handlers of these companies used KYC documents of BPO employees or unemployed youth to register new companies by appointing them as directors and subscribers of the memorandum of association with the active assistance of Indian professionals like chartered accountants.

The directors and shareholders were not even made aware that they were directors or subscribers to the memorandum which is the level of crime committed by the perpetrators/certain individual directors and professionals," said a source.

During the course of the investigation, ED officers recorded the submission of an individual who was allegedly involved in the incorporation as well as directorship of eight companies, which she admitted was done on the instructions of her husband, who was, in turn, receiving instructions from Chinese nationals.

Following such revelations, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Finance Ministry have been closely monitoring cases with Chinese links to prevent this iceberg from tipping over.
Guardian minister of Mumbai suburban district Mangal Prabhat Lodha has ordered Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) chief Iqbal Singh Chahal not to cancel the tender process of Lot 12. Lodha in his letter to Chahal has said that under Lot 11 really good work of public sanitation was undertaken and hence tenders were floated for the next phase of work under Lot 12, as part of which approximately 14,000 public toilets will be constructed across Mumbai.

The tender process is in its last stage, but to construct better-quality public toilets, it was decided to get the work done by corporate houses. So the tender exercise for Lot 12 was kept on hold and new applications were sought from these corporate houses that are interested in this project. Lodha says this move is causing a lot of prfoblems for people as the project is getting delayed, which means locals have to wait for a basic facility like public toilets.

PM Modi in his vision has always emphasised on having toilets in each house. We all are of the opinion that toilets for the common public should be of good construction quality but cancelling the tender process which is in the final stage is not the right thing to do. Hence I order you to complete this tender process and with the help of corporate houses, we should plan to have additional toilets constructed for common people. Resuming the tender process will help us to construct the toilets as early as possible and we can make the toilet facility available for common people of Mumbai very soon, he wrote in his letter.

As per a survey in 2020, there was only one public toilet seat for every 752 men and 1,820 women in Mumbai. According to the Swachh Bharat Mission norms, the slum pockets should have one toilet seat for 35 males and 25 females. The BMC has plans to build more toilets to match the user and toilet ratio and has announced a proposal to construct 14,166 toilet seats under the slum sanitation programme in 2023-24.

After receiving several complaints regarding the inferior quality of work in the construction of public toilets across the city, the civic body had put on hold the tender to build the 14,166 toilet seats at 556 locations. The BMC decided to carry out the work under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) or District Planning Development Council (DPDC). It invited tenders to construct public toilets under Lot 12 in May, with an estimated cost of Rs 394 crore. However, the process was delayed due to a lack of space in the city.

Several former corporators complained that public toilets at several places were in dilapidated conditions and needed immediate repairs. They wrote a letter to Lodha to intervene in the matter. Accordingly, a meeting was held in the ministers new chamber in the BMC headquarters in the last week of July. The civic administration had clarified that the work had been put on hold as a few big companies had shown interest in building public toilets.
Amid the arguments before a constitution bench of the Supreme Court on Tuesday over pleas challenging abrogation of Article 370, senior advocate Kapil Sibal brought in a statement of former Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi, which raised doubts on the basic structure doctrine.

One of your esteemed colleagues has said that in fact the basic structure theory is also doubtful," said Sibal, while advancing submissions before a bench comprising CJI DY Chandrachud, Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, and Surya Kant.

ALSO READ | Integration of J&K in India Unquestionable, Says Sibal in SC | All About Article 370, Its Abrogation

Responding to it, CJI Chandrachud, who was heading the bench, said, Mr. Sibal, when you refer to a colleague, you have to refer to a sitting colleague. Once we cease to be judges, theyre opinions, not binding facts or diktats.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for Central government, too, interjected, saying, Parliament does not discuss what happens in court and court does not do so everyone has the freedom of speech and expression."

THE BASIC STRUCTURE DOCTRINE

Gogoi, a nominated member in Rajya Sabha, during the debate on Delhi Services Bill on Monday, said that the basic structure of the Constitution has a debatable jurisprudential basis. The law may not be to be my liking but that does not make it arbitrary. Does it violate the basic feature of the Constitution? I have to say something about the basic structure. There is a book by [former Solicitor-General of India] Andhyarujina on the Kesavananda Bharati case. Having read the book, my view is that the doctrine of the basic structure of the Constitution has a debatable, very debatable jurisprudential basis. I would not say anything more than this, he said.

The basic structure doctrine mandates the court to review and restrict Parliaments powers to amend the Constitutions foundational principles. When Gogoi was the judge of the Supreme Court, he had invoked the same doctrine in key cases.

#WATCH | Rajya Sabha MP and former CJI Ranjan Gogoi on The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023"I am concerned as a nominated member not belonging to any political party, I am only concerned with whether the bill is constitutionally valid, pic.twitter.com/RO03S42uy6  ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2023

ARTICLE 370: TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT?

Sibal, who is representing the petitioners, began his submission by citing the speech given by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in 2019, while the abrogation was being introduced in the Parliament. This is important to read and then the presidential notification came. So its just not interpretation, but superceding of certain provisions," Sibal said.

ALSO READ | Never in Indias History Has A State Been Converted into A Union Territory: Sibal in Supreme Court

Sibal further questioned whether the Union of India could, in this manner, terminate a relationship recognised in the Constitution of India. So your argument would be that proceedings of the Constituent Assembly would indicate a reaffirmation of the arrangement under Art 370 as a long-term arrangement, the CJI responded.

Yes, responded Sibal. The CJI responded saying, Now as per your arguments, there are two ways that we can deal with this  one, though placed in Part XXI, Art 370 was never intended to be temporary. Two, though temporary, the reason it was placed in Part XXI was pending the decision of Constituent Assembly of J&K, did that require something more, a parliamentary intervention to convert that into a permanent provision.

If we assume its amendable, then the Constitution has to provide us with the solution, said Sibal.
A 58-year-old individual, formerly an officer on special duty (OSD) for a past Karnataka chief minister, became ensnared in a sextortion scheme, resulting in a financial loss of Rs 6.8 lakh.

According to a report by the Times of India, the victim, a resident of Malleswaram, shared a distressing encounter wherein he found himself entrapped.

The victim detailed that, as he exited a washroom after showering at a guest house in Nashik, Maharashtra, he responded to a video call. Subsequently, this call evolved into the basis for blackmail and extortion.

After the initial incident, as the perpetrators persistently demanded more money, the victim sought assistance from the Bengaluru city police commissioner. This led to the filing of a formal complaint with the cybercrime police unit.

The TOI report stated that the 58-year-old explained to the police that he initially dismissed the call as a mistake. However, around 1 pm on the following day, he received another call from an unfamiliar number.

The caller identified himself as Mahendra Singh, claiming to be a reporter associated with a prominent national Hindi news channel. Singh alleged that a woman had filed a complaint against the victim, accusing him of initiating a video call and engaging in inappropriate behavior.

Exploiting this situation, Singh coerced the victim into paying a sum of money, threatening to publicly share the victims video on platforms such as YouTube and Facebook.

Subsequently, the victim came to realize that the couple who had initiated the video call on June 12 had clandestinely recorded his actions. To mitigate the situation, Singh assured the victim that he would delete the video upon receiving the demanded funds.

Under the weight of pressure, the victim complied and transferred Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 50,000 to the provided bank accounts as directed by the accused.

Later, on July 14, the culprits made repeated calls to the victim from four different numbers, compelling him to transfer Rs 2 lakh and Rs 2.8 lakh to two separate accounts.

However, even after extorting Rs 6.8 lakh, when the accused escalated their demand to Rs 7.2 lakh, the victim opted to lodge a formal police complaint.




Two-faced. Illustration: Liu Rui/GT

IF the US can patrol in South China Sea, why cannot China and Russia patrol near Alaska?

Global TimesThe US, which prides itself on the so-called freedom of navigation, becomes alarmed when China and Russia exercise this same freedom.

When covering a joint patrol of China and Russia, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) run an article on Sunday entitled, "Russia and China Sent Large Naval Patrol Near Alaska." "This move is highly provocative," Brent Sadler, a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation and a retired Navy captain, was quoted as saying. Dan Sullivan of Alaska, a Republican member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the patrol was a reminder that the US has entered "a new era of authoritarian aggression," adding that the US' response in a similar scenario in September had been "tepid."

Nothing can better describe the US' reaction than "nonsense." The US could not even defend its own logic. If the China-Russia joint patrol was in international waters, how can it be viewed as a "provocation" or "aggression"?

The China-Russia joint patrol are exercising true freedom of navigation, because they have not intruded any other country's waters, unlike the US, Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times.

The relevant information has long been made public. China's Ministry of National Defense said in a press release on July 26 that in accordance with an annual cooperation schedule between the Chinese and Russian militaries, the two countries' navies would hold a joint naval patrol in West and North Pacific waters. The operation is not targeted against any third party and has nothing to do with the current international and regional situation.

As important regional powers and permanent members of the UN Security Council, China and Russia bear the responsibility of maintaining regional and global peace and stability. Safeguarding strategic security channels at sea is a common mission of the two countries, Song said. However, some US politicians are busy taking the case personally, believing the patrol is targeting the US.

The most ridiculous part is that three of the four destroyers, dispatched by the US to monitor Chinese and Russian ships, namely the USS John S. McCain, the USS Benfold, and the USS Chung-Hoon, have trespassed into Chinese territorial waters without permission. What qualifies the US, the redline breaker, to accuse China and Russia, who have been following international laws in the patrol? The US' response is equivalent to a high-profile declaration that the entire Pacific Ocean is an American lake. So, who is really the authoritarian aggressor?

Over the past years, the US has repeatedly trespassed into the territorial waters or adjacent waters of Chinese islands and reefs in the South China Sea and has continuously stirred up troubles and instability in the Indo-Pacific region. The US is the biggest threat to international maritime security and the world's security, Zhang Junshe, a senior research fellow at the Naval Research Academy of the PLA, told the Global Times. US politicians should feel ashamed for their gangster logic. They are basically saying that Chinese and Russian navies should stay in their ports while the US Navy can roam the world and establish military bases wherever and as many as they want, Zhang added.

This China-Russia joint patrol is a message to the US that China and Russia have a common security pursuit in this region and are fully capable of defending their interests. The Pacific Ocean is vast enough to accommodate the peaceful coexistence of different countries. It doesn't belong only to the US, and the US doesn't have the final say for the region.

Chinese and Russian navies have been to Alaska too limited times, such joint patrol should be carried out more frequently in a normalized manner, Song said. It is hoped that one day when the two navies pass through the Panama Canal or the Caribbean Sea, the US will uphold the same "freedom of navigation" standards as how it views its warships' operation in the South China Sea.

The world is heading toward multipolarity, and the US will only find out that its hegemony and authoritarian control over the world will face more and more questioning and challenges. The US will have to get used to it sooner or later.
A 32-year-old father of four girls has been arrested for allegedly kidnapping a 4-year-old boy at Maharashtras Kalyan station in his desperate attempt to have a son, an official said on Tuesday.

Nashik resident Kachru Waghmare, alias Bala, allegedly committed the crime on Monday morning when the child was playing outside the waiting area at the station, on the outskirts of Mumbai.

The official said Waghmare, a daily wager, left the station premises with the child. He went around Kalyan city, bought food and sweets for the child and returned to the station to board a train to Jalna, some 350 km away.

Meanwhile, the boys father approached the Government Railway Police (GRP) saying his son had gone missing.

The GRP registered a first information report (FIR) and began scanning the footage of the CCTV cameras installed on the station premises. The footage showed Waghmare moving with the boy.

GRP nabbed Waghmare when he returned to the station, the official said, adding that he was planning to board a train to Jalna.

Waghmare has four daughters. He said he was desperate to have a son so he kidnapped the child, the official said.
A Mumbai jewellers wife and his mother-in-law allegedly used black magic and tried to kill him. The jeweller also claimed that his wife used to starve him during the Covid-19 pandemic and she along with her mother and a tantric devised a plan, and soon after he got infections all over his body".

A report in Times of India quoted RAK Marg police senior inspector as saying that an FIR for attempt to murder and using black magic was registered against jewellers wife, her mother and a tantrik on August 5 under the Criminal Procedure Code Section 156 (3) under directions of the metropolitan magistrate court.

According to the report, the jeweller had got married in 1989 and the couple has three children. He alleged that the couple was engaged in a dispute for quite a few years. The complainant said that in 2018, his sister-in-law informed him about the plot to kill him.

The report stated that the sister-in-law sent the jeweller audio recordings of his wife, mother-in-law and an unidentified man in which the plot was discussed.

The jeweller said he then began to prepare his own food. Some days, his wife did not allow him to cook and he had to starve during the Covid pandemic because he could not order food from restaurants, the TOI report stated.

He then shifted to a rented flat in Dadar. But in 2029, the jeweller claimed, he began to get infections all over his body. The report quoted him as saying that he had taken treatment at a private hospital in a suburb too.

I have been falling sick very often. I recovered after antibiotics but the infection reemerged when I stopped taking these. The doctors said the white blood cells in my blood had increased. I visited three to four other doctors and every doctor said that I had got an infection," the FIR said.

Meanwhile, two years later, on December 8, 2022, bank officials called and informed him that his wife had defaulted on the rent for the joint locker and asked them to vacate it.

The report stated that when he visited the bank, he allegedly found out that the jewellery he had saved for his daughters marriage was missing from the locker.
The Mumbai Traffic Police on Tuesday announced it will observe No Honking Day on Wednesday and August 16 in an attempt to reduce the growing trend of unnecessary honking."

Honking significantly contributes to noise pollution and health problems, the Mumbai Traffic Police said in a tweet.

Mumbai will be observing No Honking Day on 9th August (Wednesday) and 16th August in an attempt to reduce the growing trend of unnecessary honking.Honking significantly contributes to noise pollution and health problems.#NoHonkingDay#HornFreeMumbai pic.twitter.com/T70NS4VeBq  Mumbai Traffic Police (@MTPHereToHelp) August 8, 2023

The Traffic Control Branch in Mumbai appeals to all drivers and riders within the city, excluding ambulances, fire brigades, and other emergency vehicles, to refrain from honking their horns on August 9, 2023, and August 16, 2023, as well as on other days, it said.

Highlighting the detrimental effects of unnecessary honking that contributes to noise pollution and impacts human well-being," the Mumbai Police will observe No Honking Day on both August 9 and August 16, 2023, to counter the prevailing trend of excessive honking among motorists.

Police Action Against Violators

Motorists are strongly advised to ensure that their vehicle horns and silencers adhere to the guidelines outlined in Rule numbers 119 and 120 of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules of 1989, respectively, it said.

Stringent action will be taken against individuals engaging in needless honking, as per section 192(F) of the MV Act. Similarly, those who have altered their vehicles exhaust pipes or silencers in violation of norms, as stipulated under section 198 of the MV Act, will also face consequences, it added.
Of the total 6,523 FIRs registered, only three cases are of rape, Manipur police has informed the Supreme Court. Giving a break-up of the FIRs registered so far, the police said that there are overlapping cases where rape and murder both have happened, while in one case gang rape has been alleged. Speaking to CNN-News18, a top Manipur police officer said that in 15 cases, allegations of outraging the modesty" of women have been made, but the majority of the cases are of loot and arson.

In data shared with the Supreme Court, police said that between May and July 30, close to 4,500 cases of arson, 4,694 cases of destruction of property, and 4,148 cases of looting were registered. 46 cases were of damage to places of worship and 100 cases of grievous hurt, they added.

Decline in murders

A Manipur police officer said there has been a steady decline in the number of murder cases. While 107 deaths were reported in May, 38 people died in June, 17 in July, and 6 people in August so far. The deaths in August were on the 3rd after a brief lull.

There is a sporadic burst of violence but the overall violence spread has come down," the top cop from Manipur told CNN-News18. Officials said that 14 suspension of operation agreement camps have been inspected and are being regularly monitored to ensure that SOO signatory cadres remain inside the camps. 318 bunkers have been removed so far though officials acknowledge that some bunkers have come up again with the latest round of firing and tension.

Rape cases

Viral video case: Police officials said that in the case of two Kuki women being stripped, paraded, and videographed, evidence of rape has emerged. Seven people have been arrested for the assault. The Central Bureau of Investigation is now probing the case. Investigation officials said that even though a lot of time was wasted since the crime to the regular FIR getting registered, the probe has thrown up crucial evidence. Medical evidence may have been lost because of the delay but we will record section 164 statement of the survivor. Accounts of witnesses and survivors and the interrogation of the accused are consistent," the official said.

Imphal car wash case: Two Kuki women were assaulted and murdered in the car wash where they were employed on May 4. The families have alleged that the victims were confined to a room behind the car wash, tortured for hours, and raped. Their bodies were later recovered. Investigating officials say that so far the probe has not established rape. They were tortured but medical and forensic evidence has not established rape," an official said.

ATM case: A 19-year-old woman in Imphal had alleged that she was picked up by a mob when she had gone to an ATM kiosk to draw money. The money was to be paid to the taxi driver who would ferry her to Churachandpur. The woman alleged that a mob cornered her at the ATM kiosk, abducted her, and raped her in a moving vehicle as they traversed multiple locations. She escaped by rolling down a hill where the abductors had stopped. An autorickshaw driver reportedly helped her escape. Police say that medical evidence to prove rape is inconclusive in this case. The locations mentioned by the survivor, of the ATM and of the places she was taken to, are also inconsistent. But we have registered a rape case as per the allegations and a probe is on," an official said.

The Supreme Court had summoned Manipurs director general of police on Monday and ordered the supervision of the cases by retired high court judges and a Maharashtra police officer.
Congress MP Manish Tewari raised concerns regarding the security scenario in the India-China border region and cited a report by the Super Superintendent of Police (SSP) presented at a DGP-level conference. Currently, there are 65 patrolling points from Poratoram Pass to Chumar that are to be regularly patrolled by Indian Security Forces (ISF). Out of these 65 patrolling points, our presence has been lost at 26 patrolling points due to restrictive or no patrolling by ISF. Later, China forces us to accept the fact that as these areas have not seen the presence of ISFs or civilians for a long time and the Chinese were present in these areas. This results in a shift of the border under the control of ISF towards the Indian side, creating a buffer zone in such pockets that ultimately leads to a loss of control over the areas held by India. This is a tactic employed by the PLA to gradually grab land, known as salami slicing.
The South African government on Monday confirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the next BRICS Summit to be held here from August 22 in person, dismissing some media reports as rumours" that the Indian leader will not be present at the meeting.

Briefing the media on South Africas preparations for the 15th edition of the summit, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor told journalists that the leaders of Brazil, China, India and hosts South Africa will participate in a range of discussions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will participate virtually, due to an ICC warrant which would have obliged South Africa to arrest him if he came in person.

I did speak to various colleagues in government and outside, and everybody was astounded by this rumour. I think that someone who is trying to spoil our Summit is creating all sorts of stories that suggest that it wont be successful, Pandor said as she confirmed Modis attendance.

The Prime Minister of India has never said that he is not attending the Summit. I am in constant contact with foreign minister Jaishankar. He has never said that. Our sherpas are in touch and they have never said it. So, we have all been trying to look for this needle in a haystack that began this rumour, Pandor said.

The Ministry of External Affairs said in New Delhi last week that Prime Minister Modi will be visiting Johannesburg to attend the BRICS Summit.

President (Cyril) Ramaphosa invited PM for the BRICS Summit being hosted by South Africa on August 22-24, 2023 and briefed him on the preparations for the same. PM accepted the invitation and conveyed that he looked forward to his visit to Johannesburg to participate in the Summit," the MEA said in a press release on August 3 after the two leaders held a telephone conversation.

Reacting to a question on whether Modi had agreed to come after a phone call by President Ramaphosa, Pandor said the phone call had been in the planning for some time already for Ramaphosa to brief Modi on a number of issues as they developed.

The phone call was on our agenda. It had nothing to do with this rumour of non-attendance (by Modi), she said.

Pandor highlighted a wide range of activities which will take place during the Summit.

The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition and the BRICS Business Council will be hosting a content-rich BRICS Business programme from August 19 to 23; an event that seeks to foster economic growth, collaboration, attracting investment, and showcase opportunities within South Africa, Africa (as a continent) and all the BRICS countries, the minister said.

All Business Councils from the BRICS countries are expected to bring large delegations to participate in sector-focused visits to various South African areas.

Pandor said BRICS leaders are expected to discuss the opportunities for realising the full potential of BRICS for inclusive global recovery and sustainable development.

The leaders national statements at the plenary will be followed by reports of the president of the New Development Bank (NDB)as well as the South African chair of the BRICS Business Alliance and the BRICS Womens Business Alliance, which will be reporting in person to the BRICS leaders for the first time, Pandor said.

The minister explained how the NDB was established in 2015 to play a catalytic role in providing financial support to emerging markets and developing countries for infrastructure and sustainable development.

In late 2021, the Bank welcomed Bangladesh, Egypt, the UAE and Uruguay as new members, firmly positioning the Bank as a preferred global financing mechanism for emerging markets and developing countries, Pandor said.

The minister said it was important to remember that BRICS countries are at the centre of global recovery.

One of the stated objectives of BRICS membership is to leverage the political and economic relations as BRICS members to address the triple challenges of inequality, poverty and unemployment through increased intra-BRICS trade, investment, tourism, capacity-building, skills and technology transfer, Pandor said.
A division bench of the Bombay High Court, comprising Justice GS Patel and Justice Neela Gokhale, has asked the state government to process the medical bills of an employee who suffered an assault by the headmaster of a government-aided school.

The courts attention was drawn to a plea lodged by the employee-petitioner of the said school, who had been denied compensation for medical expenses following the assault. The incident had led to the registration of a First Information Report (FIR), and subsequent arrest of the headmaster, although he was later released on bail.

The headmaster contested the plea, pointing out that while the petitioner claimed he was assaulted, the medical bills suggested it was an accident.

The court, in its order, observed that if the headmaster was contending that it was an assault instead of an accident then he would a grim future in criminal trial. The choice is not so much the Petitioners as the 7th Respondents. If he maintains that there was an assault (because he opposes submission of bills claiming an accident), then the 7th Respondent faces a very grim future in the criminal trial. If he says nothing at all, leaves it to the Court, or says that on the ground of accident the bills may be passed, then his prospects are possibly brighter in that very criminal trial, the court observed.

The counsel appearing for the headmaster chose to not press for the objection. The bench also noted that there was no reason why reimbursement should be denied just because the respondent was the headmaster. That there was an incident is undeniable. That the Petitioner suffered injury is equally certain. We do not see why medical reimbursement should be denied to the Petitioner merely because the 7th Respondent happened to be the Headmaster, the bench noted.

The bench, however, refrained from passing in directions with respect to the selection grade and said, We are passing no directions in regard to selection grade, but we do expect the State Government to accept, process and to the extent permissible disburse the medical reimbursement as early as possible and without insisting on an approval from the 7th Respondent. The pension papers of the Petitioner are to be forwarded to the Government department. It would be foolish to expect the 7th Respondent to do this and, therefore, the Society which is the 5th Respondent through its secretary will furnish the pension documents to the State Government authority concerned.

Hence, the bench asked the state to pay entitled retirement benefits, as well as eligible medical bills, within a span of six weeks.
In another meeting of NDA MPs on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi once again criticized the opposition alliance. While addressing the gathering of NDA MPs from the north-east, PM Modi reportedly conveyed to his MPs that the NDA is an association, spanning over 25 years and significantly, it is an alliance that has evolved organically and remains so.

However, there is little noteworthy about the alliance that the Opposition is attempting to forge. Its merely an assembled unit trying to unite," Modi is said to have stated during the meeting.

PM On Diversity of North East

Continuing the focus on the north-east, Prime Minister emphasized the entire nation should take pride in the distinct culture and diversity present within the north-east.

He urged NDA MPs to convey the message about NDAs attention to the north-east region. From the state to the district to the booth levels, people need to be informed about the stability of the alliance and the governments efforts for this region," Modi mentioned in the meeting.

Promoting the culture and unique identity of the region must take precedence in the MPs agenda leading up to the 2024 elections," the PM told the MPs.

Stability in Focus

While development remains a focal point, the true game-changer for the NDA in the north-east region has been stability, a point that also deserves to be highlighted, according to the PMs advice.

The PM advised the MPs to continue their outreach efforts, particularly with prominent citizens through the Sampark Abhiyan campaign.

Upon assuming power at the Centre, Modi designated these states as Ashtalakshmi.

Special Attention to North East

The north-east region has been a special focus of the Narendra Modi-led government, particularly through its Act East policy. Modi himself has visited the region more than 58 times, a significant number surpassing any other prime minister in the history of India.

Beyond infrastructure, development, and recognition of the regions culture and heritage, they have also received strong representation in the central government. Five union ministers, including two Cabinet ministers, are part of Modis team. These include Kiren Rijiju (Arunachal Pradesh), Sarbananda Sonowal (Assam), Rajkumar Ranjan Singh (Manipur), Rameswar Teli (Assam), and Protima Bhowmick (Tripura).

The BJP independently governs Assam, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, and Manipur. The party is in an alliance in Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Sikkim.

Parties Part of NDA Alliance

SKM (Sikkim Krantikari Morcha) Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT), Mizo National Front (MNF), Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), United Peoples Party Liberal (UPPL), national Democratic progressive party (NDPP), Naga Peoples front (NPF), national Peoples party (NPP) amongst others.
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE WORLDS INDIGENOUS PEOPLES 2023: The International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples is celebrated annually on 9 August. It was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1994, in resolution 49/214. The date marks the first meeting, in 1982, of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations. The day provides an opportunity for indigenous peoples to share their perspectives and concerns on a global stage. It also aims to promote a better understanding of indigenous issues among governments, non-governmental organizations, and the general public.

International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples: Date

The International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples is observed on August 9th each year to promote and protect the rights of indigenous peoples worldwide.

International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples 2023 Theme

The theme for the International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples in 2023 is Indigenous Youth as Agents of Change for Self-determination.

This theme highlights the important role that indigenous youth play in promoting and protecting the rights of their peoples. Indigenous youth are often at the forefront of movements for social change, and they are using their voices to raise awareness of the challenges facing their communities. They are also using their skills and talents to build a better future for their people.

International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples: History and Significance

The United Nations (UN) established this observance in 1994 through a resolution passed by the General Assembly. The date was chosen to coincide with the day of the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations in 1982.

The day provides an opportunity for indigenous peoples to share their perspectives and concerns on a global stage. It also aims to promote a better understanding of indigenous issues among governments, non-governmental organizations, and the general public. Over the years, different themes have been chosen to focus attention on specific aspects of indigenous rights and well-being.

International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples 2023: Key Facts
Malaika Arora is a true blue fitness icon who simply bewilders all with her dedication and love towards the practice of yoga. Whether it is raining cats and dogs or there is just scorching heat, she fights it all to attend her regular yoga sessions and there is something to truly learn from her persistence. She keeps herself motivated no matter what and that is a very important learning in yoga.

Every now and then Malaika takes to the Instagram account of her brand, Diva Yoga to share a message with her fans. These little messages are extremely motivating and just go on the prove the fact that the actress has learnt as much as possible when it comes to yoga and wants her fans and followers to take cues too. In case, you have missed out on the latest post, check it out here-

View this post on Instagram A post shared by DIVA YOGA (@thedivayoga)

Malaika writes, Hello Divas, how are we doing today? Every time you step on the mat, you inhale serenity and exhale chaos. In this transformative journey allow yoga to guide you to achieve equilibrium. Let your practice be your sanctuary to find your balance." The actress notes down really important points that one must always remember when getting into the practice of yoga.

Yoga is truly a transformative journey that heals you physically as well as mentally, the benefits of practising yoga are never just limited to the body- it helps you in an overall manner. However, unlike other forms of workout, yoga is not just something that one can ace in just a day. If you are someone who is keen on doing yoga or is already engrossed in the practice of it, remember that you have to give it some time.

Yoga requires a lot of dedication and hard work, the more you give to the practice of yoga, the more you will receive from it. Malaikas posts resonate with the same idea when it comes to the practice of yoga.




China Coast Guard drives away Philippine vessels intruding into waters of China's Nansha Islands

China has again urged the Philippines to immediately tow away a grounded warship from Ren'ai Reef which is part of China's Nansha Islands and restore the original status of the reef, according to a spokesperson from China's Foreign Ministry on early Tuesday in response to recent accusations from the Philippine foreign ministry over its illegal sending supplies to the reef.

The spokesperson stressed that Ren'ai Reef is part of China's Nansha Islands. Though the Philippines has repeatedly made clear promises to tow away the warship illegally "grounded" on the reef, it has not only failed to tow away the warship, it has even attempted to repair and reinforce it on a large scale to achieve permanent occupation of the Ren'ai Reef 24 years after the issue first came to a head.

The spokesperson criticized Philippines' actions of seriously violating international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea signed by China and ASEAN members.

The second response from the ministry on Tuesday over the Philippines' disregarding China's repeated negotiations and requests to stop bringing construction materials to its "grounded" warship came after two responses from the China Coast Guard (CCG) .

Over the so-called South China Sea arbitration mentioned by the Philippine side in an attempt to justify its illegal action, the spokesperson once again presented China's clear and firm position, saying the so called arbitration violates international laws including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and is illegal and invalid. China does not accept or recognize the arbitration, nor does it accept any claim or action based on the arbitration .

The Chinese spokesperson from the foreign ministry made clear that the cause of the current situation in the Ren'ai Reef is because the Philippine side ignored China's goodwill and sincerity, and insisted on transporting construction materials to the warship "grounded" on the reef.

For a period of time, China has communicated with the Philippines over the Ren'ai Reef on multiple occasions through diplomatic channels, clearly requesting the Philippines not send construction materials for large-scale repairs and reinforcements to the illegally "grounded" warship, and also suggesting that the two sides discuss and control the Ren'ai Reef situation as soon as possible, the spokesperson noted.

The on-site operationtaken by the China Coast Guard (CCG) to defend China's sovereignty and marine interests was professional and restrained, which is beyond reproach, the spokesperson stressed.

During Tuesday's statement, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson again called on to properly handle maritime issues with the Philippines through dialogue and consultation to jointly safeguard bilateral relations and stability of the maritime situation.

The Philippines is an important maritime neighbor of China, and China and the Philippines have reached important consensus on managing maritime disputes, the spokesperson said.

One day earlier on Monday, a spokesperson from the Chinese Foreign Ministry also strongly condemned the US' endorsement of the Philippines' illegal provocative actions. The US is blatantly seeking to support the Philippines' violation of China's sovereignty, and its plot is doomed to fail, the spokesperson said.

The South China Sea arbitration case is a political farce manipulated behind the scenes by the US under the guise of law, the spokesperson noted.

In the meeting between Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian and the Philippine Foreign Undersecretary Theresa Lazaro on Monday, Huang elaborated on China's consistent position on the issue of Ren'ai Reef and the cause of the recent incident on the Ren'ai Reef.

Huang pointed out that it is the Philippines that has repeatedly taken unilateral actions that undermine the existing consensus over the issue and challenged the status quo relating to management and control over the area.

Ambassador Huang stressed that at the beginning of this year, the two heads of state reached consensus on properly handling differences through dialogue and consultation and hoped that the Philippines would work with China to meet each other halfway, stop all unilateral actions and prevent the situation from escalating or even getting out of control.

The use of hype and the introduction of third-party actors will not help solve the issue, and will only complicate the situation, Huang told Lazaro.

Global Times
The app for meeting new people, Tinder is back with an all new episode of Swipe Ride, a show that celebrates uninhibited, meaningful conversations about what Indian women want from their dating lives. The second episode this year features pan-Indian actress and millennial icon Sobhita Dhulipala and premiered on Monday, 31st July, 2023 on Tinders Youtube channel and stream exclusively on JioCinema.

Popular social media content creator and actor, Kusha Kapila, takes the drivers seat once again to pick up app members to meet their dates with a surprise celebrity guest as they chat about all things dating and relationships. In the currently released episode, Sobhita, Kusha and app member Aishwarya talk about their ultimate green flag checklist, healthy masculinity, and breaking barriers of conditioning to embracing modern love. Chatting about what healthy dating looks like, Sobhita shares with Aishwarya that the ability to be yourself and not change to please the other person is the biggest green flag! This resonates with 70% of women daters in India who appreciate when their match makes them feel comfortable being their true, authentic self. The trio also chats about traditional masculinity norms and how emotional intelligence and empathy are desirable qualities that make a match relationship material. This holds true according to Tinders Future of Dating report that reveals that young singles today are increasingly prioritizing value-based qualities like loyalty (79%), respect (78%) and open-mindedness (61%) over looks (56%).

Dhulipala says, It seems like this generation is challenging the relationship standards that were passed down to them from the previous generations to fit a more diverse society. Dating apps have given women a choice like theyve never had before - therefore equipping them to unlearn some of these biases and enabling them to figure out exactly what they seek. Tinders Swipe Ride celebrates this freedom of choice. I found it quite refreshing to see this fun (and funny) co-passengers confidence and unapologetic approach towards dating choices.

To empower young women in India to navigate the world of online dating and prioritise their wellbeing, Tinder recently launched Tinder Love and Care (TLC), a dating wellness guide developed in collaboration with That Sassy Thing. TLC features advice and insights from 15 prominent female experts and queer voices in India, covering a range of topics such as sexual health, intimacy, and fostering honest conversations with dates, all while prioritizing self-care.

Young women today are upfront about what they want when it comes to their dating lives. They are doing so by normalizing conversations around female desire, body positivity, consent and boundaries which the viewers will also get to witness on Swipe Ride. For the third season, I got a chance to witness female Tinder members be absolutely confident about their dating choices and take charge of what they want. I was more than happy to play a role in facilitating these meaningful conversations, adds Kusha Kapila.

Swipe Ride celebrates the diverse perspectives of young Indian women and their dating journeys in a relatable context. From having open dialogues on the importance of self-care, financial freedom, dating autonomy, to showing up with confidence and freedom of choice, young women daters are being fiercely honest about and transparent about putting oneself out there for all kinds of possibilities, says Taru Kapoor, GM, Tinder and Match Group India.

Co-created with film director Debbie Rao along with popular writer Supriya Joshi, Swipe Ride series is a product of the coming together of these women who like to call their own shots whether its in their careers, or their dating lives.
It has been 10 years since Chennai Express released and on the occasion, Deepika Padukone treated fans to an unseen video of Ranveer Singh. The actress took to Instagram and revealed that when the couple was dating, they recreated a scene from the Rohit Shetty film. In the vintage video, a bald Ranveer was seen mouthing Shah Rukh Khans lines from one of the most popular scenes from the movie. Ranveer appeared to be in his Bajirao Mastani look.

Sharing the video, Deepika wrote, They say that comedy is the most difficult genre for an actor. So when I was offered Chennai Express, I knew I had a daunting challenge ahead of me. And while it took me a little while to find Meenama, a process that is extremely lonely and often times frightening, Im grateful that we were able to create a character that is not only synonymous with the movie, but also one that continues to receive an abundance of love till this date"

Fans took to the comments section and showered the movie and DeepVeer with love. The golden era of Dubsmash," a fan noted. You as Meenamma is definitely one for the books ," added another. Cant wait for your collaboration with @itsrohitshetty again lady Singham," a third fan wrote. We want a separate movie for meenamma!!! ," a fourth user suggested.

Chennai Express released in 2013. The actress reunited with Shah Rukh Khan for the film but was her first collaboration with Rohit Shetty. The film emerged as one of the biggest blockbusters of 2013. It was the same year that Deepika and Ranveer starred in their first film together, Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela. 2013 was also a big year for the actress as she starred in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and Race 2.

Meanwhile, Deepika will be reuniting with Rohit for Singham 3. The director announced last year that Deepika will be essaying the role of the first lady Singham of the cop universe. The film will be headlined by Ajay Devgn.
Rajinikanth is one of the most loved actors and there is no doubt about it. The actor enjoys a massive fan following who are now eagerly waiting for the release of his much-awaited movie, Jailer. While the film will hit theatres on August 10, it has now been reported that certain offices in Chennai and Bengaluru have declared leave for its employees on Jailers release day.

As reported by The Economic Times, some offices in Chennai and Tamil Nadu have also distributed free tickets to their employees.

Amid all this, a companys holiday notice declaring a holiday on August 10 on account of the release of superstar Rajnikanths movie Jailer is also going viral on social media. On account of the release of SUPER STAR RAJINIs movie Jailer we have decided to declare holiday on 10th August 2023 in efforts to avoid piled up leave request to the HR department," the notice read. We also take the privilege of going the extra mile to support antipiracy by providing free tickets to employees, it added. Check it out here:

Jailer marks Rajinikanths comeback to the big screen after two years. The trailer of the film was recently released which showed two distinctive personalities of Rajinikanth as a typical retired family man, and a furious man who spares no one when he gets into action. It also revealed that Rajinikanths character is a father of a police officer in the movie.

Besides the Tamil superstar, Jailer also features Jackie Shroff, Sunil, Ramya Krishnan and Yogi Babu among others in key roles. Mohanlal will also be making a special appearance in the film. Jailer song Kaavaalaa was also released last month in which Tamannaah Bhatias sizzling moves and Rajinikanths special appearance left everyone impressed.
Could Kiara Advani play Roma in Don 3? Rumours of Kiara possibly replacing Priyanka Chopra as the new Roma sparked after she was spotted making her way to Don producer Ritesh Sidhwanis office on Tuesday. Her visit came just a few hours after Farhan Akhtar announced that he is returning with Don but sans Shah Rukh Khan. The filmmaker confirmed that there will be a new Don actor and his name will be unveiled soon. There are rumours doing the rounds that Ranveer Singh might be the new Don.

On Tuesday evening, Kiara greeted the paparazzi gathered outside Ritesh Sidhwanis office. The actress looked like a vision in white, wearing a pair of white pants and a matching top. She was seen having a quick conversation with Ritesh before she left the office. Watch the video below:

On Tuesday morning, Farhan left Don fans in shock after he teased that a new era of Don is in the making. After fans began chanting No SRK No Don, the filmmaker issued a statement teasing the new actor and urged fans to shower him with love just like they gave SRK their love.

The time has now come to take the legacy of Don forward and joining us in this new interpretation will be an actor whose talent and versatility I have long admired. We hope that you will show him the love you have so graciously and generously shown to Mr Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan. A new era of Don begins in 2025. Watch this space," Farhan wrote.

A source told Pinkvilla that Farhan will be introducing the new Don, speculated to be Ranveer Singh, this week. A teaser will be released announcing his new role and it will be attached with Gadar 2.
Natalie Portman and her husband, choreographer Benjamin Millepied have reportedly ended their 11 years old marriage. The news came as a shock to their fans. Well, the couple has not announced anything in this regard. It is being reported that their marriage has come to an end because of Benjamins alleged affair with Camille Etienne.

The rumours started when on their 11th wedding anniversary Natalie was spotted without her wedding ring during an event that happened in Australia. Us Weekly reported, After news of his affair came out, theyve been trying to work on their marriage but are currently on the outs. The couple have two children  son Aleph (12) and daughter Amalia (6). In June it was reported that Benjamin was having an affair with climate activist Camille Etienne.

In June, Us Weekly mentioned in its report that Natalie believed Benjamins affair was a brief and stupid liaison that means nothing to him and she was willing to see if shes capable of rebuilding her trust in him to make sure that their kids dont grow up in a broken home. Quoting another source it had reported that the duo was then talking and working on it together for the sake of their children adding that Benjamin regretted his actions.

Oscar-winner Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied tied the knot in a secret ceremony in California in 2012. PTI reported that they exchanged vows after dark in a Jewish ceremony at a private home on August 4, reported People magazine. Portman, 31, and Millepied, 35, met on the set of Black Swan and the two started to date during the shoot. The couple announced they were engaged in 2010 and expecting their first child, son Aleph.

On the work front, Natalie will be seen in May December in which she stars as an actor researching an upcoming film thats to dramatize a scandal from 20 years earlier. Helmed by Todd Haynes, May December will release on Netflix later this year.
ECL Finance Company MD and three officials were on Tuesday quizzed for nearly eight hours by Raigad police in Maharashtra probing the alleged suicide of film art director Nitin Desai an official said.

He said the police found the loan-related documents brought by the ECL officials incomplete and asked them to visit the Khalapur police station again on August 11.

The case-related information given by them was also prima facie not in detail. Desai, 57, who had worked for acclaimed Bollywood films such as Lagaan" and Jodhaa Akbar", was found hanging at his studio at Karjat in Raigad district on August 2.

The police on August 4 registered a criminal case against five persons, including Edelweiss Group chairman Rashesh Shah, for alleged abetment of Desais suicide. On August 5, the Raigad police issued a notice to the ECL Finance Company/Edelweiss Group MD seeking a personal appearance on Tuesday.

Accordingly, ECL company Managing Director Phanindranath Kakarla and three other officials reached Khalapur police station, 62 km from Mumbai, in the morning, the police official said. The police team examined the loan-related documents brought by them and questioned them between 10.30 am and 6.30 pm," he said.

However, the police found the documents about the loan extended to the late Desais company incomplete and the case-related information was also not in detail, and asked the ECL officials to come again on August 11 with a complete set of documents and detailed information, the official added. The investigation officer in the case is collecting the information from the advisor, financial advisor and accountant of ND Studio, set up by the late Desai, police earlier said. Desais company NDs Art World Pvt Ltd had defaulted on a Rs 252 crore loan repayment to creditors and the Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal had initiated insolvency proceedings against it.

A First Information Report was registered on August 4 under Indian Penal Code sections 306 (abetment of suicide) and 34 (common intention) at Khalapur police station based on a complaint filed by Nitin Desais wife Neha Desai, an official had said. The FIR named Edelweiss chairman Rashesh Shah, company official Smit Shah, another person named Keur Mehta, R K Bansal of Edelweiss Asset Reconstruction Company, and Jitender Kothari who has been appointed by the NCLT as an interim resolution professional.

Edelweiss ARC, in a statement, had denied that any undue pressure was put on Desai for loan recovery.
Actor Vijay Raghavendras wife Spandana died of cardiac arrest recently, while they were on a family trip to Bangkok. Spandana, who was just 42 years old, lost her life to a heart attack. Her family is in utter shock due to her sudden death. The post-mortem of Spandanas body was done yesterday, August 7. Now, Vijay Raghavendra has made preparations to bring his late wifes body back to India. Celebrities from the Sandalwood industry have visited Spandanas home and have given their condolences to her father, who is a retired police officer. Recently, Spandanas uncle and a close family relative BK Hariprasad arrived at her house in Malleswaram and provided information to the media. BK Hariprasad has mentioned that the postmortem of Spandanas body has been completed in Bangkok; and apart from that, a few legalities need to be completed, post that her body will arrive at the airport at 11 pm today. Then the arrangements for her last darshan have also been done near the house. He mentioned that the last darshan of Spandanas body will be allowed till tomorrow afternoon.

In order to aid the repatriation, Spandanas father BK Shivaram and brother Rakshit Shivaram are currently in Bangkok with her husband Vijay Raghavendra. The medical facility will provide the post-mortem certificate. Depending on the clinical document, the Bangkok District Centre issues a death certificate. The Indian Embassy should thereafter receive copies of these documents.

The Bangkok administration has authenticated each of these records. Once every document is in order, authorisation is granted for the body to be returned home.

The family is still deciding whether to hold her last rites in Bengaluru or her hometown Belthangady. She died quietly while sleeping, according to actor Sri Murali, who is Spandanas brother-in-law. When she lost consciousness, her cousins rushed her to the hospital; but by the time they arrived, she had passed away.

On August 26, 2007, Vijay and Spandana got married and have been together ever since. They have a son named Shaurya.
This is an age of planned weaponisation of institutions, organisations, universities, merchandise, food products, population, freedom, human rights, family, love affairs, drugs and even the judiciary. The weaponisation of the judiciary is causing strange upheavals and circumstances, that are profoundly and astoundingly affecting judicial interpretations, opinions, verdicts and decisions that are binding on anything and everything in nations that follow democracy as the pattern of government. A small number of judges, sitting solely or as a duo or trio, decide what is right and wrong, what is good and bad, what is lawful and unlawful, and what is permissible and impermissible. By impacting the minds of these judges, decisions can be extracted that can change the destiny of an entire nation, consisting of several hundred million, relatively easily.

For the right kind of price, there are lawyers who can deviously argue, debate and confound judges into upholding that the rights of terrorists, agitators, arsonists, rapists, anti-nationals, drug traffickers, human traffickers, seditionists, religion converters and illegal refugees are more paramount than the cares of a sundered nation. Privileged offenders can unbuckle and unshackle themselves from uncomfortable judgements of high courts and lower courts with just a midnight knock. Fancy-priced midnight-knock specialist lawyers can make any judgement go topsy-turvy, stay its operation indefinitely or even send it back to the lower courts. The journey up and down the stretch covering the hierarchy of courts would take more time than a journey to Pluto! Right here is the point at which millions of affected people, having no axe to grind, no influence to canvass and lobby, no money to hire fancy-priced midnight-knock lawyers, and no ulterior motives, find themselves flummoxed indefinitely.

The success of a democracy depends on its judiciary but not vice versa. If the judiciary can be overwhelmed or influenced by vested interests, anti-nationals, foreign-supported NGOs and foreign religious fundamentalists, the government of the day can be crippled into inaction and restrained indefinitely from proceeding and implementing any progressive reforms and changes. A simple judicial intervention can indefinitely delay, abort, twist, or jettison any scheme, program, or reform initiative of the government.

A slew of new tactics, strategies and techniques are being used by agitators in functioning democracies in Asia, Europe and America to compel judicial intervention, for acting as a cost-effective barrier, against the government of the day. There is no need for hyper-expensive military intervention by foreign countries, no need even to finance terrorists, insurgents and revolutionaries. A simple antithetical verdict, running into a few pages, will put any nation into the doldrums for decades.

Countries having a dictatorship form of government like China, or monarchies in West Asia, do not see any kind of impediments, either judicial or non-judicial in enforcing new initiatives, development agendas, or employing regressive measures on detractors. Tourists who go to Dubai are floored like Alice in Wonderland, at the fast-paced myriad changes taking place there, and blame the Central and state governments of India, as being incompetent. Bureaucrats and police are blamed on an everyday basis for being corrupt and unfit. But these critics forget that in countries like China, Dubai and other West Asian countries, the government does not have to face any judicial barricade whatsoever. What is decided by the government gets done immediately.

In democracies, what is decided by the government can be effectively debarred, by just a handful of judges, maybe just two, three or a maximum of five in number.

The simple strategy, therefore, for foreign intelligence agencies is to weaken the judiciary of any nation, so that it can be effectively controlled in order to fast-track ambitious agendas of nations, desiring global control, promoting their religion and culture by displacing existing religions and cultures.

Weaponise by weakening the judiciary, for it is the central switchboard of any democratic nation. Invisible counsellors spread across NGOs, universities, journalists in print and visual media, social media, political outfits, radical groups, religious conversion groups, and propagandists, will be induced and enticed to spread rumours, claims, and disputes, based on imaginary fears and fiction. Foreign-funded riots, demonstrations, agitations, and roadblocks, will be frequently unleashed by unseen and intangible forces. The judiciary will be invoked on an everyday basis for every conceivable reason or imagined misgivings.

The recent French Riots are a typical example of engineered riots seeking to replace the existing faith, culture, language and customs with a totally foreign religion, culture, and values. Well-conspired, planned and executed swarms of migration have inundated France (as also many European countries), with mostly male migrants, who while enjoying the hospitality of these nations are plotting their downfall, by setting deadlines. Huge enclaves of migrants have been established where they profess a different language, religion, and customs, and nurture hidden agendas. France, which built up a glorious reputation as the champion of liberty, equality and fraternity, is being forced to reconsider those ideals. As Marc-Olivier Padis of the left-wing think tank Terra Nova puts it, The words are the same but the meaning has changed.

Nations across Europe are feeling the heat of new developments like organised refugee influx, terrorism and jihadism, that will bring about cataclysmic demographic changes, wipe out French identity, and impose Arab language, culture and norms. The success of the recently concluded riots-festivals, in different cities of France, is set to debut in many European countries shortly. But, the judiciary in these countries is intoxicated with grandiose ideas and visions of human rights, refugee rights, judicial independence and an assortment of freedom and rights, that they fail to see the corroding disintegration happening before their eyes.

The precursor model for these riots has been repeatedly and successfully experimented with across India, which is heavily bogged down by just two undefined terms  secularism and minority. When these two terms are used in conjunction, every political party, bureaucracy and judiciary, gets intimidated into supplication. Advanced versions of rioting are now being released in different cities in India.

Violent pre-planned political agitations using children and women are a growing trend in India. Whether it is to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Uniform Civil Code (UCC), outlawing imposition of 7th-century foreign religion dress codes, prohibiting religious conversions (meaning the destruction of indigenous faiths and cultures), farm reforms, or any other progressive piece of legislation, agitation leaders place women and children in the vanguard. This formation and placement deter the police force from using coercive mob control measures. The stone pelters, provocative slogan shouters, and armed assailants make up the rear ranks. Against this pattern and placement of rioters, police forces are reluctant to act, fearing transfer, disciplinary action and damage to their long-term career prospects. The organisers and their foreign masters ensure international coverage and negative publicity, focusing on the hardships caused to women and child agitators. Judges, sitting singly or in a combination, are seeking only accolades and encomiums, by supporting such foreign-funded agitationists. Nobody sees the damage to the nation.

Though the nation is witnessing aggravated terrorism, money laundering, drug trafficking, human trafficking, love jihad, land jihad, food jihad, refugee jihad and dress jihad, organised and instigated by foreign powers and their intelligence agencies, the courts are more obsessed with upholding all kinds of freedoms.

Individually when analysed, they all appear innocuous  a Muslim man marrying a Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, Sikh or Jain community girl. But, when it happens in hundreds and thousands, there is some crazy design in it. When land is purchased and exclusive enclaves are built and bulk trading and voting happen, some dangerous motives are at play. When land around military bases, defence installations, international borders, sea coast, and pilgrimage towns, are being purchased and enclaves built, something sinister is being planned. When slaughterhouses are being set up indiscriminately, food is contaminated with human spit and other body wastes, there is vicious hidden perversion at play. When Bangladeshis and Rohingyas are flooding into cities and towns, bringing drugs, something murky is being organised. When Arab clothing is compelled on womenfolk, it is obvious that foreigners are dictating what changes are to be thrust on the unsuspecting population. Yet, none of these can be disputed in Court. Judges are in pursuit of panegyrics praising them as champions of human rights, minority rights, and secularism. They will restrain and bind the government and the police, but not those causing mayhem, indiscriminate killings, and destruction of public property. Why this leniency towards anti-national forces?

Legal cases in India, including aggravated crimes of terrorism, human trafficking, sex trafficking, drug trafficking, religious conversions, refugee influx, and multifarious forms of Jihad, are all viewed, analysed, and determined not from the macroscopic view of national security but from the very narrow perspective of freedom, the scope of rules, procedural irregularities, minor infractions and violations of natural justice. Select lawyers with clever legal salesmanship can easily rescue anti-nationals from the clutches of law and let them loose inside the country to repeat their crimes.

Democracies that permit weakening and thereby weaponising their judiciary are staring at inevitable collapse. Parliamentarians cutting across political affiliations need to be discussing and debating the future of litigation in this country. The nation needs laws to terrorise terrorists, drug traffickers and human traffickers. Why are we not distinguishing between domestic terrorism and overseas-dictated terrorism? Similarly, for other heinous crimes like drug trafficking and human trafficking? How is the judiciary going to respond to these heinous crimes? Is it not the time to change the legal landscape?

Judges and lawyers need to be aware that they are being discreetly weaponised and utilised for destroying the fabric of the nation. Stuart Pollak who was Law Clerk to U.S. Chief Justice Earl Warren, revealed that though Warren was not an intellectual heavyweight, he always issued court rulings that reflected what was best for the country, sometimes without worrying over legal technicalities or precedent. Hed say, cut through the law.

Dr G Shreekumar Menon IRS (Rtd), PhD (Narcotics), is Former Director General, National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes & Narcotics. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
Whats in a name? That which we call a rose

By any other name would smell as sweet.

Romeo and Juliet (Act II, Scene 2)

Thus said the leading lady to the protagonist in William Shakespeares classic Romeo and Juliet. The subtle message from these famous lines is that the character of an object or person does not change with the name. One is reminded of these famous lines whenever there is a controversy regarding the name of a place, and this time is no less than that of the country.

Ever since the newly formed Opposition conglomerate has given itself the acronym I.N.D.I.A., a few enthusiasts from the BJP have been asking for doing away with the name of India for the country and just retain Bharat. This has been countered by the crusaders on the Oppositions side claiming that this country never ever had the name Bharat. They hand out the argument that the existence of the present country as a political unit is a deed of the British, who called the land India.

Its true that from the time medieval, the sea explorers from the European continent went looking for the fairyland called India and in the process found the West Indies and the East Indies before Vasco da Gama finally found the sea route to the sub-continent. Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese explorer, found the direction by way of the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa and linked Europe and Asia by an ocean route, connecting the Atlantic and the Indian oceans.

But then not to forget that the name India existed only in the Western texts and it was their interpretation of the land beyond the river Indus. However, in the Indian texts, there always existed the name Bharat. The most common example is the sankalp (vow), which is taken before the commencement of any puja in Hindu ritualism. The sankalp mantra specifically mentions the name of the performer of the puja and the geographical location which mentions Jambudvipa, Bharat Khande and Bharat Varshe followed by more specific details like the house number, district and the state. Jambudvipa has been part of the scriptures but in the historical texts its was Ashoka who defined it as Greater India consisting of the present day India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Thus Bharat Khande, the sub-continent and Bharat Varshe, the country which is today constitutionally known as India, that is Bharat.

And for those who thought that respect for Bharat has emerged only now, they should read the Constituent Assembly debates, which chose a national anthem which has Bharat mentioned in it. Interestingly, the constitution makers debated whether to select the name Bharat or Hindustan for the country.

Hindustan has Persian origin, an identity strengthened during the Sultanate and Mughal periods. Since Persian was the language of the court when the British arrived, they too preferred calling India Hindustan in the local language. However, the majority in the Constituent Assembly favoured the use of Bharat over Hindustan as it reflected the ancient culture rather than a name given by the medieval aggressors. However, the debate did not end with the Constituent Assembly.

In 2012, Congress MP Shantaram Naik introduced in Rajya Sabha a bill to amend the first article of the Constitution. He proposed three main changes:

That in the Preamble to the Constitution, the word Bharat be substituted for the word India. That for the phrase India, that is Bharat the single word Bharat be substituted. That wherever the word India occurs in the Constitution, the word Bharat be substituted.

Stating his reasons, the Member of Parliament declared. In the justification of his demand, he said that India denotes a territorial concept, whereas Bharat signifies much more than the mere territories of India.

In 2014, Yogi Adityanath, the incumbent chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, had moved a Private Members Bill in the Lok Sabha, seeking the substitution of the word India in the Constitution with Hindustan, and proposing Bharat as the primary name of the country. His bill proposed to amend the language of Article 1 as, Bharat, that is Hindustan, shall be a Union of States.

Those who have been critical of the use of Bharat have said that Bharat has always been portrayed as a symbol of Hinduism and the Vedic civilisation of Aryavrat. Whereas, those who have been critical of the use of the word India say its a creation of Western modernity. However, the sentiments and justifications for having the name India, that is Bharat was best given on November 18, 1949, in the Constituent Assembly by Pandit Thakur Das Bhargava, who said, As regards the name of the country the term India that is Bharat has been laid down in the Constitution and some of my friends objected to this term. As for me, I have no serious objection to it. It is a fact that we cannot live in isolation from the rest of the world; we have centuries-old connections with England and the rest of the world. The world will always know us by the name of India. But so far as we are concerned, in our hearts and souls our country shall always remain as Bharat. So the term India and Bharat have been bracketed in order to meet the needs of our countrymen as well as of the outsiders. The world will call us as India and we ourselves will call us as Bharat. Thus there will be a blending of the East and the West.

The writer is an author and president, the Centre for Reforms, Development & Justice. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
Governance is a difficult job, more so because of the penetration of technology. On one hand, it is a boon because it eliminates the middlemen and helps benefits reach directly from the government to the beneficiaries. But it has also evolved as a tool of propaganda and misinformation, the cost of which could be sometimes very high. India has become a victim of toolkits and propaganda campaigns many times in the last few years  anti-CAA riots, vaccine hesitancy campaigns during the Covid pandemic, and farm protests  are a few examples of the same. Even as a section of Indians themselves try to derail the countrys progress for their own parochial political interests, such propaganda attempts become a national security challenge when an external power is also involved.

A shocking revelation in the same regard has come from The New York Times this week. As per an investigation by the American daily, a tech-millionaire of Sri Lankan-Cuban origin, Neville Roy Singham, has been funding many Indian websites including NewsClick to adopt an editorial line that is sympathetic towards Chinese national interest. In a brutal indictment of his actions, NYT points out that Singham is a man who is very close to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and is part of its influence operations across the world. The report goes on to assert that as per the corporate documents filed in India, Singhams network funded the NewsClick website, which in return sprinkled its coverage with Chinese Government talking points.

Anyone who has followed the work of NewsClick on issues such as the Rafale acquisition, the handling of the Covid pandemic by India, farm protests and most recently on Indias attempt to build its strategic manufacturing sector, would agree that its reports are laced with unsubstantiated hyperboles and a naked attempt to push China-sponsored narrative.

For a sample, just revisit their stand on the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme and Indias efforts to become a manufacturing hub. In one of their reports, they dismissed PLI as a freebie scheme which is a bane for a democracy like India. Ironically, PLI is a form of subsidy to incentivise domestic production in key sectors, a necessity to tackle the rising trade deficit with China. But it is no ones guess why NewsClick and the journalists who work with that organisation are bashing the same subsidy which China has doled out on a massive basis to power its own industrialisation story.

Interestingly, even before NYT had published this report, the Indian government was the first to take cognisance of their malicious activities. In the year 2021, the Enforcement Directorate of India successfully traced a money trail between Singhams network and NewsClick leading to a spate of raids on their Indian premises. At that time, NewsClick had played a victim card of attack on their freedom of speech. It had set the entire ball rolling with many leading journalists coming out in their support and even the Editors Guild of India, which has garnered a controversial reputation due to its selective actions coming out in their defence, by releasing a letter of condemnation. Today, when The New York Times, a foreign publication known for its staunch anti-India coverage has also indicted NewsClick, none of them have spoken on it.

The key takeaway from the NewsClick saga is that freedom of speech has become a convenient refuge for the sellouts. A similar toolkit was on display during IT raids on the BBC that had evaded taxes as a part of its operations in the country. A rising India has become a point of irritation for many global actors, whether it is China or the propagandistic outlets in the West. In order to harm Indias national interest and to sabotage its national security, they have found many guns on hire. Such individuals are IINOs or what I call Indian in Name Only. They masquerade as journalists who are doing critical journalism and speaking truth to power but in reality, as shown by the NYT report, they are just doing the bidding for their masters.

China, of all the countries, is an authoritarian state that doesnt have free media and is notorious for suppressing the freedom of speech of its own journalists. But while it discourages a fair assessment of its own actions, it is also known to fund propaganda operations across the world. Its activities are not limited to India but extend to the US and even Brazil. Many scholars have studied Chinas influence operations in detail and they point out how it systematically uses various methods that range from cultivating foreign agents, social media armies and even outright funding of platforms to have them publish the Chinese propaganda on their supplement pages. Many newspapers including in India have come under scrutiny for publishing similar content as advertorials.

Unfortunately, in India, Chinas actions also get political support from the Opposition parties. Case in point is the attack on BJP MP Nishikant Dubey by Congress leaders for speaking on the NYT report in the Parliament on Monday. Information warfare and propaganda outlets are a national security threat. It is time Indian political parties rise above their divides and narrow interests to see it as the danger that it really is.

The author is a PhD from the Department of International Relations, South Asian University. She writes on Indias foreign policy. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
TeleLift, which allowed Norfolk area residents to book a trip, is one of the services offered by North Fork Area Transit. (Screenshot of North Fork Area Transit website)

LINCOLN  A new state audit says the former general manager of the North Fork Area Transit used his position to embezzle hundreds of thousands of dollars by falsifying time sheets and seeking reimbursement for expenses that were never paid.

Jeffrey Stewart, according to the audit, spent considerable time during working hours at two Iowa casinos and charged over $35,000 in expenses for a family vacation to Florida.

State Auditor Mike Foley said his auditors found extraordinary and egregious breaches of law and common-sense management practices.

He said the forensic audit will be given to prosecutors as they prepare their case against the former director, who was arrested last month in Texas on theft charges.

Fled to Mexico

Stewart had fled to Mexico after an investigation was launched into alleged mismanagement of the agencys funds that began in early December, according to the Norfolk Daily News.

He is suspected of embezzling more than $740,000, according to reports by the Daily News. It forced the transit agency to suspend operations in January. Donations, including some from the foundation of Norfolk native Johnny Carson, allowed the agency to reopen this spring.

The nonprofit is subsidized mainly by the Nebraska Department of Transportation, but also gets funding from Madison County and the City of Norfolk.

Work hours at Iowa casinos

Foleys auditors, in what was described as the rest of the story, found that:

Time sheets, used to seek reimbursement from the state, county and city, were falsified, claiming funds for services never rendered. Auditors noted that the tampering was done in a clumsy and obvious manner.

The agencys credit card was used by Stewart to pay for over $35,000 in expenses for his familys vacation in Florida. Time sheets submitted indicated that Stewart was working at the time, but his wifes social media posts showed the family at Disney World and other attractions.

Stewart spent 90 hours at two Iowa casinos while charging that time on his work time sheet. He also used his agency car to drive to the casinos. Numerous significant wire transfers to the two Iowa casinos using a transit agency credit card were also noted.

North Fork transits accounting records were distorted and misleading, ostensibly to disguise financial impropriety. One tactic was to write a check to a vendor and then never mail the check  but use it to obtain reimbursement from the state and other funders of the nonprofit. A multitude of such unmailed checks were found by investigators.

Time sheets submitted to the state DOT contained extraordinary and unreasonable work hours claimed. One driver, for instance, claimed to have worked 53 hours straight.

Only 29 of the 90 North Fork transit employees identified as drivers had a valid commercial drivers license or learners permit. One driver didnt have any drivers license and had two convictions for driving under the influence.

There is no doubt whatsoever that (North Fork Area Transit) has seriously abused the trust of the citizens, not to mention their hard-earned tax dollars, Foley said in a press release.
Amid allegations of fraud in a motion moved by Aam Aadmi Partys Raghav Chadha, the Arvind Kejriwal-led party has clarified that the rules of the proceedings state no written consent or signature of the member whose name has been proposed. And hence, theres no question of any allegation of forged signature", the AAP added.

The clarification came after Union home minister Amit Shah alleged that five Rajya Sabha members complained that their names were included in a proposed select committee of the House for the Delhi Services Bill without their signatures, in the proposal moved by Raghav Chadha.

Who all have signed on their behalf is a subject of investigation, the Union home minister said, and requested the Chair to record the statements of the complainant members.

After Shahs demand that the matter be investigated by Parliaments Privilege Committee, Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh on Monday announced a probe into the complaints.

Four members have sent a complaint to me. It will be inquired into," said Harivansh. The MPs are Narhani Amin, Sudhanshu Trivedi, Sasmit Patra, Thambidurai and Phangon Konyak.

Sources in the Aam Aadmi Party later issued a clarification on the matter. The Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States, which has been quoted by Members moving privilege against Raghav Chadha nowhere provides that there is a requirement of a written consent or signature of the member whose name has been proposed to be included to the Select Committee," the sources said.

They added, The names of complainant MPs were given in good faith with a view that they have been participating on the discussion concerning the Bill, inside and outside Parliament." It was taken that these MPs would continue to be members of select committee to discuss the Bill even further, a source said.

The sources further said that the rules clearly state that names of the members can be withdrawn in case they have no intention of being a part of the select committee. Only presumption of consent or inclination of a member to be part of the select committee is required. No written contest or signature is required anywhere. There was no intention on the part of Raghav Chadha to corner any member," the AAP added.

Supporting AAP on the issue, Congress MP MP Shakti Singh Gohil too said that if a member does not want to be on the committee, his/her name will be removed automatically. There is no provision to take the signature of any member whose name has been mentioned in the proposal," the lawmaker added.

#WATCH | Delhi: Congress MP Shakti Singh Gohil says "There is a law that if I am moving (the proposal to send Delhi NCT Amendment Bill to Select Committee), there is no compulsion to take consent of the member who has to be in the Committee. If the member does not want to be pic.twitter.com/6BvvNOEqBQ ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2023

The Aam Aadmi Party said that select committees are non-partisan committees" comprising of members of all major parties. It is a long standing Parliamentary convention and precedent that while constituting a select committee on a Bill, diverse representation is ensured by including members of all major political parties in the committee whether from the ruling party or opposition," sources in the party added.

Slamming Union home minister, AAP lawmaker Sanjay Singh said, Dont you know the rules of Parliament proceedings? Any member can propose his/her colleagues name for the select committee and you dont need signatures. Stop spreading lies. Your partys job is to spread falsehood but why lie on every issue?"

Singh further said, And dont you even know that you cant name a person who is not a part of Parliament? You were continuously spewing fire against Kejriwal in the House. So at least, you people shouldnt teach others about House privilege."
After Congress Leader Gaurav Gogoi opened the floor with attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP during the debate over no-confidence motion, BJPs Nishikant Dubey made a swipe at the Congress Sonia Gandhi, saying she has only two things to do, which are bete ko set karna hai aur damad ko bhent karna hai".

During the debate Dubey said: This No Confidence Motion has been brought. Why has this been brought? Sonia ji (Gandhi) is sitting hereI think she has to do two things - Bete ko set karna hai aur Damad ko bhent karna haiThat is the base of this Motion.

#WATCH | BJP MP Nishikant Dubey says, "This No Confidence Motion has been brought. Why has this been brought? Sonia ji (Gandhi) is sitting hereI think she has to do two things - Bete ko set karna hai aur Damad ko bhent karna haiThat is the base of this Motion." pic.twitter.com/Gb40E2gfzu ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2023

The leader also raised the issue of Rahul Gandhis suspension and the Supreme Court staying his conviction in the Modi surname remark case, following which his membership was restored.

He said, The Supreme Court has not given a judgment. It has issued a stay order. He is stating that he will not apologize. Secondly, he says, I am not Savarkar. You can never be Savarkar."

#WATCH | BJP MP Nishikant Dubey raises the issue of the Supreme Court staying Rahul Gandhi's conviction in the Modi surname remark case following which his membership was restored.He says, "The Supreme Court has not given a judgement. It has given a stay orderHe is saying pic.twitter.com/7Q6UZ5Fxd9  ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2023

In the course of the discussion, Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi stated on Tuesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must acknowledge the failure of his dual-engine government in Manipur.

A discussion on the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Narendra Modis government began in the Lok Sabha with Gogoi initiating the debate.

PM will have to accept that his double-engine government, his government in Manipur has failed. That is why 150 people died in Manipur, around 5000 houses were torched, around 60,000 people are in relief camps and around 6500 FIRs have been registered," Gogoi said.

The Congress leader said that the opposition I.N.D.I.A. alliance has brought the no-trust motion for Manipur as the state wants justice.

The CM of the state, who should have created an atmosphere of talks, of peace and harmony, has taken instigating steps in the past two to three days that have created tension in society," he said.
From a bus conductors accusation of harassment during a posting transfer, to criticising his party Congresss poll promises as cheap popularity schemes, and even engaging in cross-voting during the Rajya Sabha elections in favour of the Congress while still in the Janata Dal (S), Karnatakas Agriculture Minister N Chaluvarayaswamy, who is currently facing allegations of corruption, has always been controversys favourite child.

The latest controversy surrounds a complaint letter, purportedly written by seven assistant directors from the Mandya agriculture department, sent to the Raj Bhavan, claiming the minister demanded bribes ranging from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 8 lakh to expedite government work in the region. The signatories even threatened to take their own lives, along with their family members, due to the pressure of these alleged demands.

Chaluvarayaswamy, who is in-charge of the Mandya district, has refuted the claims, asserting the letter is fake and has written to Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot seeking immediate action on the allegations. The Governor has written to Chief Secretary Vandita Sharma, requesting an investigation.

WHO IS CHALUVARAYASWAMY?

Chaluvarayaswamy, known for his dedication to the JDS and then a close friend of HD Kumaraswamy (HDK), played a pivotal role in making the latter the CM in 2006. He orchestrated a coup to topple the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition government, as Kumaraswamy aligned with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to seize power. He served as a cabinet minister during the Kumaraswamy regime and was later elected to the Lok Sabha from Mandya in 2009.

However, he resigned in 2013 after getting elected to the Nagamangala assembly seat.

Five years later, he switched to the Congress in 2018, just prior to the Assembly elections, experiencing his first electoral loss that year. Chaluvarayaswamy held a significant role in the JDS when he switched sides, but claimed that the party had devolved into anarchy and was prioritising family interests over politics. Years later, he reflected that he restrained himself from attacking the Gowda family due to his respect for JDS supremo and former PM Deve Gowda, who had always been a pillar of support for him.

Chaluvarayaswamy has a notable track record of winning Nagamangala five times in a row.

BUS CONDUCTORS SUICIDE

In July, bus conductor Jagdeesh from Mandya attempted suicide after receiving transfer orders from the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) officials, relocating him from Nagamangala to the Maddur depot.

What initially seemed as an act of frustration took a political turn as the conductor blamed Chaluvarayaswamy for his transfer in his death note. The conductor accused the minister of being responsible for his suicide, claiming the transfer was based on false allegations and inputs from superiors. This incident became a topic of discussion during the monsoon session of the Karnataka assembly, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and JDS demanding the ministers resignation.

KSTRC officials later clarified that the transfer was a response to multiple complaints and allegations of misconduct involving women.

VIDEO CRITICISING CONGRESS

Another controversy arose when an unverified video was circulated on social media in June, showing Chaluvarayaswamy criticising the Congress, the party he was elected from. He referred to the Congresss five poll promises, including Griha Jyoti, Griha Shakti, and Yuva Shakti, as cheap popularity schemes or gimmicks" designed to win votes. He also criticised the party for making promises without considering the consequences.

ALSO READ | Karnataka: Assembly Adjourned After BJP Storms Well of House in Protests Over 5 Guarantees of Congress

The BJP capitalised on this controversy, appreciating Chaluvarayaswamy for echoing their perspective. Former BJP Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, however, labeled Chaluvarayaswamy as an untrustworthy migrant.

The Congress refrained from making public comments, but it is believed that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah privately questioned Chaluvarayaswamy and sought an explanation on the video.

SIDDAS REMARK ON HDK

A month before the Congress gimmick" comment, at the peak of the Karnataka assembly campaign, Siddaramaiah accused HDK of using Chaluvarayaswamy for his political advancement and later discarding him.

Ironically, in 2019, when Siddaramaiah chaired the Congress-JDS Coalitions Coordination Committee, he had summoned Chaluvarayaswamy to advise him to stop making statements against then CM Kumaraswamy and the coalition government.

This occurred against the backdrop of Chaluvarayaswamy urging Kumaraswamy to mend his ways" or face consequences. Siddaramaiah wanted the leader to refrain from actions that could harm the coalition, failing which he had warned of disciplinary action.
Coming down heavily on Congress, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday blamed the grand old party for the violent situation in Manipur and held it responsible for framing wrong" policies during its previous governance that caused unrest in the northeastern state.

Sarmas remarks come as the Congress party has been attacking the BJP-led government at the Centre over Manipur which is in a state of turmoil for more than three months and over 150 people have lost their lives.

Addressing a press conference, the chief minister said the hallmark of Congress policy in the northeast was divide and rule.

The Congress hands so far Northeast region is concerned are full of blood whether it is Nagaland, Mizoram, Assam, Manipur or other parts of the Northeastern region," he said.

The Congress hands so far Northeast region is concerned are full with blood whether it is Nagaland, Mizoram, Assam, Manipur or other parts of the Northeastern region," says Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. pic.twitter.com/9K1sH7WhjT ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2023

Out of 6,500 Cases Registered, 3 Related to Rape: Manipur Police in Supreme Court

Congress Wrong Policies Responsible for NE Disputes: Sarma

Sarma said Congress is raising its voice when people are finding hope for normalcy in Manipur.

These things cannot be solved by the army. If it was possible, they could have solved it in 1990 that way. You want to solve everything by tweets or photo ops. When has the PM ignored the northeast? He has visited the northeast 60 times. I know he is in command. Dont question PMs love and affection for Northeast This is not the first time Manipur has seen violence. In 1990, 300 people were killed in Manipur. In 1993, 1100 were killed and 400 lost lives in 1997. In 2012, 167 got killed, he added.

Continuing his tirade, the CM said that the governments led by Congress at the Centre adopted the wrong policies during the formation years which is the reason various disputes exist in the northeast region.

I want to clearly state that because of the wrong policy adopted by the Congress Party during the formative years, today Northeastern state is not able to resolve various disputes that exist in our region from the time weve attained freedom," he said.

(With ANI inputs)
On Monday, the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc of opposition was supposed to get 105 votes in the Rajya Sabha during the voting on the contentious Delhi Services Bill, for which even a visibly frail 90-year-old former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh came in a wheelchair.

However, when the results were out, it had secured 102 votes.

ALSO READ | I.N.D.I.A. Loses First Big Fight Against BJP as Delhi Services Bill Sails Through Parliament

Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) Chief Chaudhary Jayant Singh, Samajwadi Party (SP)-supported independent candidate Kapil Sibal and Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) supremo and former Prime Minister Deve Gowda gave it a miss, raising questions and leading to political theories.

RLD ALLIANCE TALK REVIVED

Chaudharys absence is not just about a vote for the opposition bloc, it resurrects the buzz of a possible RLD-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance ahead of the Lok Sabha elections next year, which the RLD chief had earlier put to rest.

While the young Jat leader was said to be absent due to unavoidable work, it has certainly unsettled the opposition bloc. It already does not have the Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP)  an important Dalit-based party from Uttar Pradesh  in the group and the prospect of losing one from the most populous state is not something INDIA wants to encounter.

ALSO READ | BJPs Team Nadda Rejig Reignites Two Ideas: Nitish Kumars UP Contest for Lok Sabha Polls, RLD as Ally

Moreover, adding fuel to the fire was the BJPs recent constitution of Team Nadda, where almost all communities  Vaishya, backward, Thakur, Brahmin, Muslim  found representation, barring Jats. Although just 2% of the states 20 crore population, they constitute 30% to 35% of the population in 25 constituencies in Western Uttar Pradesh, which makes them indispensable. The wider belief is the BJP is confident that Chaudhary, who is carrying the legacy of his grandfather Chaudhary Charan Singh and has a command over the community, is going to side with the BJP in the upcoming general elections.

SIBALS RELATIONSHIP WITH CONGRESS, GOWDAS WITH MODI

Kapil Sibal, in spite of being an independent MP, won the Rajya Sabha seat with the support of the SP, after he walked out of the Congress last year. When he left the Congress, Sibal had said, You must be wondering how one can leave the Congress after 31 years. There must be something. Sometimes, such decisions are to be taken.

Sibal was the face of the Congresss rebel group G-23 and his exit was not on sweet terms. Many believe the crack is yet to be healed.

On the other hand, Sibals absence from the upper house raises a question for Akhilesh Yadav, whose party stood with the opposition bloc on the issue of the Delhi Services Bill. Particularly, Sibal was absent on a day Yadavs wife Dimple was present in the Lok Sabha.

Deve Gowda, who was also absent, cited ill health. A hurried press note released on Monday stated that his hip pain doesnt allow him to sit for long. However, interestingly, it added that he will be back in action from Wednesday, if his pain subsides.

It is no secret that Gowda and PM Modi share a close bond in spite being political opponents.

In a 2021 press conference, Gowda made his respect for PM Modi public. I had told him that if you win 276 seats, I will resign. You can rule by forging an alliance with others, but if you win 276 seats on your own, I will resign (from Lok Sabha)," Gowda had narrated in a press conference.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met former PM HD Devegowda in Parliament today.Image Source: PM Modi's Twitter handle pic.twitter.com/7sEaRKsGd7  ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2021

But when Gowda wanted to fulfill his promise, Modi asked him not to take electoral barbs seriously. The two met multiple times and photos of PM Modi assisting the 90-year-old speak for the chemistry between the two. Even recently, he refused to reply to Modis private limited jibe.

No wonder, the BJP isnt losing a minute to question the formidability of INDIA bloc.

BJPs IT Cell in-charge Amit Malviya told News18, What did you expect? The opposition is crumbling even before it takes shape. It is an alliance of convenience and the coming together of dynastic leaders who only want to preserve their political turfs. They have nothing to do with Indias development and prosperity.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday wondered whether the BJP or its brother" was behind the fake letter" accusing Agriculture Minister N Chaluvarayaswamy of demanding bribe from officers after the governor asked the government to probe the complaint.

In the letter, seven assistant agriculture directors of Mandya district have accused the Chaluvarayaswamy of demanding Rs 6 to 8 lakh from the agriculture officers and employees.

The complainants in the letter threatened to end their lives along with their family members if such corruption is not stopped. After receiving the letter, Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot referred it to Chief Secretary Vandita Sharma on August 1 to look into it and take action as per the rules.

Reacting to the development, CM Siddaramaiah tweeted, It has come out that the letter in circulation in the public domain is fake. The joint agriculture director has already clarified that no officers in the district have written such a letter." However we will review the matter and investigate, if necessary," he added. The leaders of BJP, are you the creator of such a fake letter spreading slander against the government or your brother?" he tweeted.

The brother" jibe is believed to be a reference to JD(S) leader and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy. Agriculture Minister N Chaluvarayaswamy too said the letter to the governor against him appears to be fake and said that he would try to ascertain the authenticity of the letter.

Chaluvarayaswamy said that he spoke to the Agriculture Joint Director of Mandya district V S Ashoka, who said it was a fake letter. Meanwhile, Ashoka on Monday convened a meeting with the assistant directors of all taluks and enquired with them whether they wrote any letter to the governor.

They all said in unison that they have not written any letter to the Governor," he told PTI. The minister said, It appears to be a fake letter. Some people are trying to dig out something about me. I will ask the secretary of our department to investigate it."
Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) on Monday once again revealed his plans to dominate national politics at an event at Telangana Bhavan.

At the programme, where a large number of leaders from Maharashtra joined the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), the CM said: If 48 out of 48 MPs in Maharashtra are elected from the BRS and go to Parliament, wont the central government bow down? There are 17 MP seats in Telangana. No party will be able to form the government in the Centre without support of these 65 MPs. For the first time, Maharashtra will get the opportunity to lead the country in this way.

ALSO READ | As Part of Expansion Plan, BRS Starts Process of Forming Party Committees in Maha

A total of 52 sarpanches, deputy sarpanches and members of village panchayats from Solapur district joined the pink party in his presence.

Explaining his partys plans in Maharashtra, the CM said: When I held a meeting in Maharashtra for the first time, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had asked why I was there. I made it clear that if you implement the Telangana model in Maharashtra, I will immediately go to Madhya Pradesh. He is yet to reply. Lakhs of farmers have committed suicide there. To stop this, the Telangana model should be implemented. Schemes like Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bima, 24-hour free electricity, purchase of grains and cancellation of water taxes should be implemented here."

THE TELANGANA MODEL

Before the formation of Telangana state, before the formation of the BRS government, the conditions in Telangana region were pathetic. Farmers used to receive electricity for only three hours in the morning and four hours in the night. Farmers who used to go to fields during the night died due to snake bites. Many died by suicide. The situation has changed completely today. No matter how many hours or how many motors are used, the government does not question the farmers. Today, underground resources have increased due to conservation of water sources by dams on ponds and construction of check dams, added the CM, talking about the transformation his party has brought about in the state.

Saying that its a paradox that Maharashtra suffers from lack of water, KCR said: It feels strange when talking about Maharashtra. With Mumbai as the financial capital of the country and many other big cities, industries and natural resources, there is no shortage of wealth in Maharashtra. Many rivers originate in Maharashtra. The big rivers Godavari and Krishna originate in Maharashtra and from there travel through Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to join the sea. More than two dozen rivers like Panchganga, Ven Ganga, Mool, Pravara, Warda flow into Maharashtra. But people across Maharashtra do not have enough drinking water.
The Opposition pulled out all guns, both old and new, on Monday to prevent the controversial Delhi Ordinance Bill from getting parliamentary approval. But, despite Oppositions strong fight in Rajya Sabha, the bill that paves the way for the Centre to strengthen its control over bureaucracy in Delhi, was approved during voting.

As the INDIA bloc faced the first major test for opposition unity, what garnered huge attention was the presence of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Rajya Sabha. The 90-year-old Congress veteran came to Parliament in a wheelchair despite his ill health and attended the session to shore up the Oppositions number against the bill.

Monsoon session of Parliament | Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh attends the Rajya Sabha session during a discussion on The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023. pic.twitter.com/d9IVdU5Cka ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2023

Besides Singh, the Opposition also brought ailing former Jharkhand Chief Minister Sibhu Soren to the House.

AAP Thanks Veterans

Thanking the political veterans, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said Singh and Soren stood as a beacon of integrity in Parliament.

A special acknowledgment goes to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and JMM chief Shibu Soren, who, despite challenging circumstances, stood alongside the people of Delhi with a health perspective in mind. Many thanks from all Delhi residents to these respected senior leaders," Kejriwal tweeted.

AAP MP Raghav Chadha also thanked the former PM and tweeted, Today, in the Rajya Sabha, Dr Manmohan Singh stood as a beacon of integrity and came especially to vote against the black ordinance. His unwavering commitment to democracy and the Constitution is a profound inspiration. My heartfelt gratitude goes out to him for his invaluable support.

BJP Vs Congress

However, the Congress veterans presence in Parliament triggered a political slugfest between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on social media.

BJP termed the Congresss move to call the ailing leader as madness and said it was extremely shameful that he was kept seated in a wheelchair for hours.

The country will remember, this madness of the Congress! Even in such a critical health condition, Congress kept a former Prime Minister seated in a wheelchair in the Parliament late at night, all just to sustain their dishonest alliance! Extremely shameful!" BJP tweeted in Hindi.

In reply, Congress said while BJP has pushed its elders into a mental coma", they remain the grand old partys inspiration and courage

This dedication towards democracy of the doctor sahab is a testament to his faith in the Constitution of this country. Even if the BJP has pushed its elders into a mental coma, they remain our inspiration, our courage. Tell your master to learn something - dont become a deserter," said Supriya Shrinate, chairperson of Congresss social media and digital platforms.

Delhi Service Bill Passed In Parliament

The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, on control of transfers, and postings of senior officers in the Delhi government was passed by Rajya Sabha with 131 votes in favour and 102 against despite a strong fight by the Opposition during the long discussion in the upper house.

The bill, which has been a point of contention between the Aam Aadmi Party, which governs the national capital, and the central government, was already passed by the Lok Sabha on August 3.

It will replace the existing Central governments ordinance on the transfer and posting of officers, brought in just days after the Supreme Court gave executive powers to the Delhi government in service matters in May this year.
The Lok Sabha witnessed a heated debate on the no-confidence motion, which commenced on Tuesday. The Opposition criticised the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government, while the NDA government retaliated by rebuking the Opposition INDIA bloc and Congress for introducing the motion at a wrong time and in a wrong manner." Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will likely speak in the Lower House on Wednesday.

The motion of no-confidence, brought forth by Congress deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi, occurred amidst the backdrop of the ethnic violence in Manipur. This situation has caused persistent disruptions in both Houses of Parliament.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to reply to the debate on Thursday.

Heres All You Need to Know About No-confidence Motion Debate in Lok Sabha

Congress Slams BJP Govt

Opening the discussion, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said, This motion is our compulsion. It was never about numbers. It is about justice for Manipur. This motion is by the INDIA alliance for seeking justice for Manipur.

Manipur demands justice. Martin Luther King Jr had said injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. If Manipur is burning, whole of India is burning, if Manipur is divided, country is divided. It was our demand that as the leader of the country, Prime Minister Modi should come to the House and speak about Manipur. However, he kept a maun vrat (vow of silence) that he will neither speak in the Lok Sabha nor in the Rajya Sabha," Gogoi said.

Gogoi expressed his curiosity about the Prime Ministers absence in Manipur, especially given that both Rahul Gandhi and Home Minister Shah, along with the Minister of State for Home (Nityanand Rai), had visited the region. He also raised the absence of subsequent peace appeals from the Prime Minister concerning Manipur.

The senior leader also asked why Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh has not been replaced so far. He said while chief ministers of BJP-ruled Gujarat and Tripura were changed, no such thing has happened in Manipur.

Congress MP Manish Tewari raised concerns over the spillover of violence in Manipur to nearby states including Mizoram, as the Northeast is strategic in nature and disturbance in any state in that region has a bearing on national security. Manipur violence will affect other states too and the rest of the country, he said. Manipur has been burning for the last three months and the government has hardly done anything to restore peace in the state," he claimed.

Tewari expressed concerns about the governments stance and situation in the India-China border, citing an SSP report presented at a DGP-level conference. Currently, there are 65 patrolling points from Poratoram Pass to Chumar, meant for regular ISF patrolling. However, 26 points lacked ISF presence due to restrictions. China claimed these areas due to prolonged absence of ISFs and civilians, causing a border shift toward India and a buffer zone creation, resulting in a loss of Indian control due to salami slicing, a PLA tactic to grab land," he said.

Rahul Gandhi Likely to Speak Tomorrow

The unexpected move by the Congress to refrain from having Rahul Gandhi initiate the discussion on the no-confidence motion was a calculated strategy. As per this plan, he is slated to speak tomorrow after prominent BJP leaders have taken their turn.

Party insiders told IANS that this decision was a deliberate step to shield Gandhi from the initial barrage of attacks he would have encountered had he spoken first.

BJP Responds

Starting the debate from the governments side BJP MP Nishikant Dubey referred to Supreme Court staying Congress leader Rahul Gandhis conviction in the Modi surname remark case and his subsequent return to Lok Sabha as MP. There was such a brouhaha over Rahul Gandhis return to Parliament but where had he gonehe was here in the Budget session. The Supreme Court has not acquitted him. He has also said he will not say sorryHe says I am not (VD) Savarkar, you can never be Savarkar," Dubey said.

This no-confidence motion is against the son of a poor, Dubey said, adding the no-confidence motion is against the person who gave people houses. The no-confidence motion is against the person who gave drinking water to the people, the no-confidence motion is against the person who gave toilets to the people, the no-confidence motion is against the person who tried to bring light in everyones home," the BJP leader said.

Launching a dig at Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, who were both present in the House, Dubey said she was following the traditional Indian womans way of Bete ko set karna hai, damaad ko bhent karna hai (Has to set her son, and gift to her son-in-law)".

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju in his hour long speech said Congress and opposition parties will regret bringing in the no-confidence motion at the wrong time and in a wrong manner."

Rijiju slammed the Opposition bloc over anti-India" activities. Nothing will come of naming the alliance I.N.D.I.A when you are actually working against India, he said.

BJD Explains Reason Behind Support to BJP

BJD MP Pinaki Misra said, I cannot support a No Confidence Motion against the Central Government today, even though we are against the BJP as a political party I am grateful for the many things that the Central Government has done for Odisha. That is why, in any case, I am unable to persuade myself on behalf of my party and leader to support a No Confidence Motion today, which has been brought by the Congress party.

Oppn Tears Into Modi Govt

Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav accused the BJP of destroying administrative and financial federalism. They are destroying institutions, from the EC, ED, CBI, and others. They are using them as tools to harass the people of the country," she said. Commenting on the Manipur issue, she said, The incident (Manipur video) has been condemned worldwide and has left us ashamed. It was state-sponsored ethnic violence."

If the (state) government had wanted, this violence could have been controlled within two days, but the governments intention was not right. Even today, it continues to be in a mode of deception, Yadav charged.

TMC MP Saugata Roy quoted from William Shakespeares Julius Caesar during his speech and said that while he doesnt have anything personal against PM Modi, But as Brutus said in Julius Caesar, not that I love Modi less, but that I love India more. If anybody loves India, they will oppose Modi, he added.

Roy said the Modi government is a government of fake promises, disastrous policy decision and destroyer of federalism in the country. West Bengal is a victim because (Home Minister) Amit Shah went and said agli baar 200 par (we will get 200 sets in West Bengal in the polls) but they did not even get 80 seats. In retaliation, they stopped all Central funds for MNREGA which amounts to Rs 7300 crore and PM Awas Yojna which comes to Rs 8400 crore, he said.

Speaking on Manipur situation, Roy called for chief minister N Biren Singh to be immediately dismissed and presidents rule imposed in the state

NCP MP Supriya Sule also echoed the calls for Manipur CMs resignation and condemned the incident regarding women being paraded naked and raped. What happened in Manipur is shameful. I demand the chief minister should resign immediately. Can you allow this to happen and shame the women of this country? Ask your conscience how you can support this government. How can you allow this?" she asked.

DMK member TR Baalu said late BJP veteran Atal Bihari Vajpayee stood behind rajdharma, but today we cannot stand behind them when women were striped and paraded naked". The whole world has condemned happenings in Manipur. The EU parliament has discussed this and the British parliament has condemned Prime Minister Modi and his party very strongly," he claimed. He said he is supporting the no-confidence motion because we want to kill evil". Referring to the Mahabharata, he said, Krishna advised that you are not killing your friends but evil  the same thing I am doing. There was no other way than to bring a no-confidence motion to get the presence of prime minister in the House," he said.

CPI(M) member A M Ariff alleged Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set the record of attending House proceedings the least number of times. While Manipur was burning, the prime minister went to France and delivered a speech on world peace," he said.

(With inputs from PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held another round of cluster meetings in the national capital. This time, the meetings were held with NDA MPs from Rajasthan and Maharashtra.

Continuing his attack on the Opposition, particularly the Congress, the Prime Minister highlighted that the grand old party was driven solely by the selfish interests of the Gandhi family. He stated, In their pursuit of selfish interests, they killed the aspirations of numerous big leaders who were Prime Minister material. Highly competent individuals such as Pranab Mukherjee and Sharad Pawar never had the opportunity to become prime ministers."

The Prime Minister also reminisced about his interactions with former president Pranab Mukherjee who had told him that he would be different from others.

While the focus remained on the attack on dynasty politics, the Prime Minister urged his colleagues to embrace the spirit of the Quit India movement by striving to free the nation from corruption, appeasement and dynasty politics.

Stating his personal example, Modi said that despite being in power, he was never scared to take tough decisions against those who are involved in wrong doing. On multiple occasions, such people have been stripped of the responsibility or have also been denied tickets, a source said PM told the MPs.

Shifting his focus to Congress-ruled Rajasthan, which is scheduled for polls later this year, PM Modi stated that the BJP must secure a victory in the state due to its current state of absolute disarray.

In both these meetings, the Prime Minister asked the party leaders to stay together as a unit, especially in Maharashtra where there is a three-party alliance, including NCP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and BJP.

Without explicitly naming any specific party in the context of Maharashtra, the Prime Minister hinted that the BJP did not withdraw or walk out of any alliance. Sources suggest that the reference was directed towards Uddhav Thackerays Shiv Sena, which alleged that the BJP had backstabbed it.

The Prime Minister asked NDA party leaders to stay connected with the people on the ground and promote central government schemes.

PM Modi also reiterated the significance of the NDA alliance over the last 25 years. This alliance has stood the test of time since the era of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, even during extended periods of being in the Opposition.

This is the ninth meeting of regions-wise clusters held in the last couple of weeks. The NDA has divided itself into 11 clusters, with the PM being present in all the meetings. On Wednesday, the PM will meet MPs from poll bound states of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
Editors note: This article contains a graphic image. We are publishing the photo because it illustrates the severity of the injuries involved with the excessive force allegation.

A Bismarck police officer fired last spring for allegedly using excessive force in the beating of a homeless man had a history of losing his temper, fighting with suspects, violating department policy and communicating ineffectively with the public, according to Bismarck Police Department documents submitted to the city Civil Service Commission.

The records also state that Officer George Huff was holding handcuffs when he punched suspect Keith Erlandson on March 9 three or four times while attempting to detain him for walking in a street.

Huff's attorney was out of the office Monday, and he did not immediately respond to email and voicemail requests for comment. Attorney Christopher Redmann has previously said that the case is about a "police department scared of the cancel culture of officers defending themselves if the optic is bad," and one that will cause officers to second-guess their ability to defend themselves in critical situations.

Chief Dave Draovitch fired Huff on May 21 following an internal investigation. Huff has since appealed to the Civil Service Commission, which handles appeals on city employee disciplinary matters. A hearing is scheduled Aug. 17.

Meanwhile, the state Attorney General's Office is weighing whether criminal charges are warranted against the officer. And Erlandson -- who has a criminal history that includes preventing arrest and attempted assault on a peace officer -- faces charges in two unrelated cases.

Internal investigation

The March 9 incident came to light after the Tribune inquired about a Burleigh Morton Detention Center booking photo in which Erlandson appeared bloodied and with one eye swollen shut.

Officers had responded to a call that a pedestrian was in the roadway at 24th Street and East Main Avenue. Huff was the first officer to arrive at the scene. Two other officers later reported to their supervisor that Huff might have used excessive force.

The department launched an internal affairs investigation that included reviews of the in-car cameras of five responding officers, as well as surveillance video from the nearby Railway Credit Union and Bismarck Motor Motel, along with interviews of officers and Erlandson. The Tribune obtained the video footage of the incident Monday and Tuesday.

The report states that Erlandson had a history of fleeing from officers and resisting arrest, and describes him as suffering from mental illness and having drug and alcohol issues. Erlandson's family also has told the Tribune he has a history of mental health issues, and is homeless.

One of the other responding officers described Huff as having "a short fuse" and liking to fight. Two other responding officers said Huff later bragged about Erlandson's jail booking photo.

Huff when interviewed for the investigation said Erlandson ignored his commands and was uncooperative as Huff tried to handcuff him, so he took him to the ground. Huff said he thought Erlandson was preparing to bite him, so he hit him in the face.

"Huff described he was holding the handcuffs in his right hand by the chain in the middle of his fist with both ends outside either end of his fist," Lt. Roger Marks III states in the investigation report. "He said his intention was to hit with the knuckles not the cuffs."

Huff stated that Erlandson then grabbed his neck and violently pulled down, causing Huff pain and making him feel his life was in danger because he thought Erlandson might choke him, according to the report. Huff said he punched Erlandson again.

"Huff described he had a death grip on his handcuffs because he did not want to lose them," the report states.

Huff said Erlandson pulled at the officer's vest -- which held Huff's gun, stun gun and knives -- and reached into his own waistband, and Huff was concerned Erlandson might be trying to get his hands on a weapon. Huff said he tried to deliver a knee strike to Erlandson's ribs but he slipped in the snow and it was ineffective, and he then delivered an elbow strike aiming for the base of Erlandson's neck. He wasn't sure where the blow landed, according to the report.

Huff said he showed the booking photo around shift change to another officer to relay information about Erlandson's hospital treatment, according to the report.

Erlandson told investigators he had gone outside to smoke a cigarette and was in the roadway but not the traffic lane. He said Huff brought him to the ground and punched him eight times. He denied running from Huff or trying to fight him off. He said he pushed Huff away so Huff couldn't get a full swing at his face.

The report concludes that Huff "initiated and persisted in the close physical contact" with Erlandson and that Huff ignored training on de-escalating a situation while waiting for backup, "which he knew was literally seconds away." It states that video appears to corroborate witness descriptions of Huff punching Erlandson three to four times.

Deputy Chief Jason Stugelmeyer concluded in his review of Huff's use of force that Huff lawfully detained Erlandson for walking in the middle of the road but that Huff punching Erlandson while holding handcuffs "was excessive for this situation, especially knowing that the underlying offense was a minor one." He noted that Huff is 37 years younger than Erlandson.

Huff indicated in his report that he feared if he let go of the handcuffs, a fight would ensue to control the handcuffs, according to Stugelmeyer.

"Officers are required per policy to have two sets of handcuffs with them, so throwing one set of handcuffs from the area would have been a more reasonable response," Stugelmeyer wrote.

A department disciplinary review board composed of Draovitch, Stugelmeyer, Marks and two other officers convened on May 11, held a hearing, and unanimously recommended Huff be fired based on the incident and also in part on his past conduct.

Past conduct

Huff at the time of the incident had been with the department about four years. He had no prior disciplinary documents in his file, a department spokesman told the Tribune at the time.

But documents submitted to the Civil Service Commission detail previous disciplinary issues. They include "shift file" and "shift notes" -- informal documents that commanding officers use to keep track of good and bad police work during the year, for the purposes of officer evaluations.

Documents detail incidents in July, August and October 2022 in which Huff fought with suspects. They also detail policy violations allegedly committed by Huff, including mistreating people and not reporting multiple speeding tickets he received.

"The issues ... are not training issues, rather an indication of one's character that Officer Huff's supervisors were unable to correct during counseling sessions," Stugelmeyer wrote in recommending Huff's firing.

The documents allege:

Huff was given a letter of reprimand in July 2020 for not following COVID-19 protocols. He was given a verbal warning in November 2020 for continuing to follow a vehicle after the pursuit was discontinued.

In March 2021 he was ticketed while off duty for driving 82 mph on a highway in an area where the speed limit was transitioning from 60 mph to 75 mph. He did not report the ticket, nor four others he received for speeding in 2021 and 2022, violating department policy.

In November 2021 he was given a letter of caution after his vehicle collided with a gate at the police department in icy conditions. He was given another letter of caution in May 2022 for unsafe driving while responding to a fight call. He allegedly traveled in residential areas and past schools at speeds more than twice the posted limit, traveled nearly 75 mph on Divide Avenue and traveled through a red light at 30 mph.

Huff's 2021 and 2022 performance evaluations gave him a below-average score in effective communication. Notes on the 2022 evaluation state "Officer Huff will lose his temper and act unprofessionally."

In September 2021 while handling a domestic dispute Huff told the victim to "shut the (expletive) up." He also allegedly used the same phrase during an August 2022 call. Department notes on that incident say "Huff indicated he was a hot-head, and a solution will be for him to stop and think before a blow up happens."

In November 2022 Huff took a call from a man with a parking complaint. The man hung up on Huff. Huff called him back, used an obscenity, then hung up on the man.

Erlandson cases

Burleigh County State's Attorney Julie Lawyer did not file any charges against Erlandson in the March 9 incident, citing the "circumstances of that case" and his mental health issues. She said the decision on any criminal charges against Huff will be up to the state Attorney General's Office. It's unclear when that decision will come.

Erlandson was arrested in July on warrants related to previous run-ins with law enforcement, in October 2022 and February of this year. He faces felony charges of simple assault on a peace officer, drug possession and preventing arrest, along with several misdemeanors.

Mental health evaluations were ordered in both cases. Court documents show that "fitness to proceed" reports from the State Hospital were filed Friday. Those documents are not public records, according to the clerk of court.

Both cases on Monday were listed as being "inactive," though Erlandson remained in the Burleigh Morton Detention Center. Defense attorney James Loraas did not immediately response to a Tribune request for comment left late in the day.

Erlandson has an extensive criminal record in Burleigh and Morton counties and in Bismarck and Mandan municipal courts dating to 2011, court records show. He has convictions for drugs, trespassing, disorderly conduct, fleeing, preventing arrest and attempted assault on a peace officer.

He spent about a year in jail in the attempted assault case, a total of about a year and seven months on several drug and alcohol convictions spanning four years, and about a month on the disorderly conduct conviction, according to court documents.
Lashing out at Uddhav Thackeray, Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde on Tuesday recited Hanuman Chalisa in Lok Sabha alleging that it was not allowed in Maharashtra during the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) regime.

Shinde, who is the son of Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde, was speaking during the debate on the no-confidence motion in the lower house of the Parliament.

He said no one had thought that the Shiv Sena, which witnessed a split last year after Eknath Shindes rebellion, would enter into an alliance with Congress.

Without naming Uddhav Thackeray, he said they cheated the voters of Maharashtra and moved away from the ideology of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.

VIDEO | Shiv Sena MP @DrSEShinde recites Hanuman Chalisa during no-confidence motion debate in the Lok Sabha.#NoConfidenceMotion (Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/QHCuucUEX5  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 8, 2023

In Maharashtra last year, a row erupted when Amravati MP Navneet Rana and her MLA-husband Ravi Rana were arrested for announcing to recite the Hanuman Chalisa outside Uddhav Thackerays residence in Mumbai.

Shinde then said he know the whole Hanuman Chalisa and started reciting the hymns.

Attacking I.N.D.I.A. alliance, the Shiv Sena MP said the opposition changed its name as the Congress-led UPA had become synonymous with corruption.

He described the oppositions coalition as a destructive alliance" and said the next elections will be fought on the issue of scams of the UPA and schemes of the NDA.

It is not just NDA vs INDIA, but scheme vs scam. They have all gathered against one person. They have no leader or policy. Every leader here wants to be the prime minister because this team has no captain, he said.

Shinde also accused the Thackeray-led Maharashtra government of indulging in corrupt practices instead of taking steps to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

Uddhav Sold Hindutva Ideology: Shrikant Shinde

Shinde said the Uddhav Thackrey faction of Shiv Sena cheated voters as they had gone to polls with the BJP in 2019 but later the alliance was broken.

In 2019 people gave the mandate to Shiv Sena and BJP together. But such a situation was created He felt I should become the chief minister. They did not care about Bala Sahebs ideology, Hindutva ideology. They sold the Hindutva ideology and stepped away from Bala Sahebs ideology," Shinde charged.

No one could have imagined Shiv Sena will have an alliance with Congress. Those who formed this government cheated the voters. They even had an alliance with SP which fired on kar sevaks," he said in an apparent reference to the incident in Ayodhya on October 30, 1990 when the late Mulayam Singh Yadav was the chief minister.

(With PTI inputs)
OSLO: Meta Platforms is asking a court in Norway to stop a fine the Nordic country's data regulator imposed on the owner of Facebook and Instagram for breaching users' privacy, according to a court filing.

Meta Platforms will be fined 1 million crowns ($97,700) per day from Aug. 14 over privacy breaches, Norway's data protection authority told Reuters on Monday, in a decision that could have wider European implications.

Meta Platforms is asking for a temporary injunction against the order, according to a court filing. Its petition will be presented on Aug. 22 during a two-day hearing.

Meta Platforms did not reply to a request for comment. The company's Norwegian lawyer did not immediately reply to an emailed request for comment.

The Norwegian data regulator, Datatilsynet, said Meta Platforms was seeking to stop the imposition of the fine.

"They say that the court should put  a pause on our order, pending a full trial," Tobias Judin, head of Datatilsynet's international section told Reuters. "Datatilsynet will argue that there is no basis for an injunction."

The regulator has said Meta cannot harvest user data in Norway, such as users' physical locations, and use it to target advertising at them, called behavioural advertising, a business model common to Big Tech.

The fine will run until Nov. 3. Datatilsynet can make it permanent by referring its decision to the European Data Protection Board, which has the power to do so, if it agrees with the Norwegian regulator's decision.

That could also widen the decision's territorial scope to the rest of Europe.

Datatilsynet had yet to take this step.
Harrys, a prominent American brand known for making grooming products for men, partnered with Luke Wesley Pearson, a transgender man, to endorse their latest line of razors. Pearson unveiled this collaboration through an Instagram video, sparking debate among social media users. This collaboration has been compared with Bud Lights previous campaign with a transgender woman, which faced a ban in March. Now, as Harrys trying to make a progressive move, it has ignited controversy as people are accusing the brand of being woke and many are demanding a complete ban.

The campaign stirred up more frustration because Luke mentioned that the profits will be going to the Trevor Project, an organization promoting and supporting gender transitioning. Twitter page End Wokeness shared the clip of Luke using the razor with his girlfriend, they wrote, Harrys Razors partnered with a trans man (female) to promote their razor set. 100% of the profits from this set go to the Trevor Project, which promotes gender surgeries for minors.

Harrys Razors partnered with a trans man (female) to promote their razor set100% of the profits from this set go to the Trevor Project, which promotes gender surgeries for minors pic.twitter.com/Sb6ZbBT0GA  End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) August 6, 2023

Matt Walsh, a prominent author and activist, has voiced his strong opposition to the woke campaign by Harrys. He accuses the brand of glorifying self-mutilation as a marketing strategy to boost razor sales. Weve taken down Bud Light. Now its Harrys turn, he tweeted.

Harrys glamorizes self-mutilation in an effort to sell razors. If you still buy products from this company this is what you are directly supporting. Weve taken down Bud Light. Now its Harrys turn. https://t.co/n7BmwopQQL Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) August 6, 2023

Media personality Ben Shapiro too expressed his perspective on the matter and revealed this is the reason they had launched a website against the brand.

There's a reason we started https://t.co/AmDBJlJnMHBecause you shouldn't give your money to companies that glorify mutilation and sterilization. #GoWokeGoBroke https://t.co/eNoXwIDggq  Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) August 6, 2023

Criticism against Harrys campaign continues to grow, as more social media users join in and expressed their dissatisfaction with the brand. Below are more reactions.

Oh boy, I see a boycott coming on Apparently Harry's Razors didnt pay attention to the whole Bud Lite / Dylan Mulvaney fiasco Now they are featuring women who cut their boobs off shaving their faces https://t.co/wbmlS5It0b  Winston (@19Goldstein84) August 6, 2023

Harry's razors (who used to sponsor my show) is hereby canceled. I guess there weren't enough men available to do the spot. https://t.co/mJClQgBK1Q Joe Pags Pagliarulo (@JoeTalkShow) August 6, 2023

Meanwhile, there are people who have stepped forward and supported the companys decision to include a Transgender man in their campaign. The supporters highlight the crucial role that the Trevor Project plays in preventing suicide and providing support for LGBTQ youth.

The Trevor Project's goal is to prevent suicide among LGBTQ+ youth.If you're going to boycott Harry's Razors because of their donations to the Trevor Project, you're outright saying you would prefer LGBTQ+ youths kill themselves than get help. There is no argument here.     (@DonutHolschtein) August 7, 2023

In recent years, numerous brands have faced the wrath of social media users for their attempts to use the LGBTQ community for profit. Target, another American brand, found itself in the spotlight due to its Pride-themed attire for children in June. Similarly, Bud Light faced controversy and was banned due to their ad featuring transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. Hersheys also sparked outrage with a campaign that featured a transgender social justice worker.
Instances of airline passengers going to extraordinary measures to reclaim their lost luggage have become more frequent. This highlights the ongoing concern of airlines mishandling suitcases. These occurrences have spurred a surge in traveller demand for investing in tracking devices in order to safeguard their belongings.

A recent incident shows how a woman recovered a lost bag by using AirTag. Sandra Shuster, a resident from Denver, took the matter into her own hands when her bag seemingly vanished without a trace, and her chosen airline, United, seemed to be sluggish in response, as reported by CNN.

Shuster, along with her 15-year-old daughter Ruby, was returning from a lacrosse tournament in Baltimore, with a layover in Chicago on July 17th. While they carried their clothes as carry-on items, they had checked in another bag containing Rubys precious lacrosse equipment. Upon their arrival in Denver after midnight, they were dismayed to find their bag missing from the luggage claim conveyor belt.

In response, United representatives in Denver provided them with a case number and offered reassurance that the bag would be on the 8:30 a.m. flight, arriving from Chicago. Yet, at the specified time, Shuster did not receive any bag or any information about it. She dialled the toll-free number for lost baggage provided by the airline, hoping for a breakthrough.

Despite promises from United, the bag remained out of sight. However, the matter looked suspicious to Shuster when she checked that a tracking device she had purchased earlier, an Apple AirTag, was signalling that the bag was still at Chicagos OHare Airport baggage claim area.

I told them I could see it at Terminal 1 baggage reclaim in Chicago, and they said We have no record of it. I asked them to call Chicago, and they said No, were not allowed. They said theyd put notes in the system and the baggage team would take care of it," recounted Shuster while talking to CNN.

A closer look revealed that the tag on her bags claim number was mismatched - it belonged to another traveller. This misstep led to the bag being rerouted to the baggage claim area in Chicago instead of being loaded onto the Denver-bound flight.

With Rubys valuable lacrosse gear still at large, Shuster took matters into her own hands. She booked a flight to Chicago, which is roughly 1,000 km from Baltimore, and upon arrival, she headed straight to OHares lost baggage office. There, the bag was handed over to her without much fuss. It took them 30 seconds to give me my bag," she told CNN.

Despite finding her lost bag at last, Shuster further said that she had to take a day off from work just to get her bag and was extremely disappointed with the kind of customer services airlines provide at the current time, despite ample technologies and the availability of advanced systems. She wishes that airlines would do better in order to make travelling seamless and worry-free for all.
The head of Bloomsbury publishing houses US branch, 45-year-old Adrienne Vaughan, died after she was flung from the motorboat in holiday hotspot Amalfi in southern Italy last week. The skipper who was in-charge of the motorboat is now being probed and there are accusations that he could have been under the influence of narcotic substances.

A separate report by the New York Post said that the boat skippers name was Elio Persico, a thirty-year-old. The report also said that Vaughans husband, Mike White, is accusing Persico of being not just high on coke and alcohol and also being distracted by his cell phone.

The president of the Harry Potter publisher Bloomsbury USA was also injured more severely when Persico put the speedboat into reverse due to which Adrienne was struck by the spinning propeller when the boat backed into her.

Vaughan was on the boat on August 3 afternoon with her husband and two children, aged 12 and eight years old and was sunning herself when the crash happened.

She was on the bow of the boat and bounced into the water at the moment of impact. Her husband and the authorities did not reveal any information about her injuries and asked the press to await the autopsy results.

Her daughter, the 12-year-old, was also flung into the sea but was unharmed.

Salerno Chief Prosecutor Giuseppe Borrelli said the skipper of the boat is being investigated on suspicion of causing a shipwreck. The boat crashed into a chartered sailboat, which was hosting a wedding reception with 70 guests onboard.

The skippers blood samples were taken to determine alcohol and drug levels but Borrelli said that the results are inconclusive. The results are being evaluated by a consultant of the prosecutors office since the data per se arent necessarily significant, Borrelli was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.

The skipper suffered pelvis and rib fractures. The victims husband, Mike White, is being treated at another hospital for a shoulder injury, according to reports.

However, Italian news reports said that the blood toxicology tests had found traces of cocaine.

Two doctors who were among the passengers on the sailboat dived into the sea to help Vaughan, while a nearby vessel brought her to shore, Italian state radio said, according to the Associated Press.

Their report said that Vaughan died before a medical helicopter and local ambulance could take her to hospital.
The ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) may have come to a consensus on the name for the caretaker prime minister, news agency the Dawn. People familiar with the developments said that the identity is being kept a secret to prevent a controversy.

The Pakistan government will enter a caretaker setup on Wednesday after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif dissolves the National Assembly and paves the way for polls to be held within the next 90 days.

The opposition leader and the Prime Minister of Pakistan can consult even after three days after the assembly is dissolved and if there is no consensus, the matter will be referred to the Election Commission of Pakistan.

The opposition leader Raja Riaz will hold a meeting with the Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the next 24-48 hours to finalise the name for the slot.

People familiar with the developments told the Dawn that the decision on the caretaker has been finalised.

Interior minister Rana Sanaullah did claim that no name has been finalised but said that a politician, who was not associated with any political party, could be chosen to lead Pakistan in caretaker capacity.

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Qamar Zaman Kaira said the coalition partner did not share any names with the premier so far. However, people mentioned above said that the PPP shared three names for the coveted post with Shehbaz Sharif.

There are reports that Dr Hafeez Sheikh could become the caretaker prime minister even though the parties have not agreed on Sheikhs name.

The report by the Dawn said that Sheikh, who served as the former finance minister, is among the strongest contenders. The report pointed out that Sheikh is a technocrat who is believed to be acceptable to all mainstream political parties and his name is always in consideration whenever Pakistan enters interim government setup.

Pervez Musharraf, former president of Pakistan and military dictator, first brought him in as privatisation minister. He served as finance minister in the PPP and PTI governments and has been a Senate member as well.
US Congressman Ro Khanna said that history is coming full circle for him as he landed in New Delhi as part of a large US delegation which will participate in the Red Fort address of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15.

The delegation led by Ro Khanna also includes Michael Waltz. These two are the co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans.

The delegation will be present at the Red Fort where PM Modi will address the nation on August 15th, Indias Independence Day.

The delegation also consists of congressmen Deborah Ross, Kat Cammack, Shri Thanedar and Jasmine Crockett along with Rich McCormick and Ed Case.

They will also meet business, tech and government leaders as well as Bollywood celebrities in Mumbai, Hyderabad and New Delhi and visit Raj Ghat, a historic memorial dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi.

His grandfather Amarnath Vidyalankar was an Indian freedom fighter who spent four years in jail alongside Gandhi and later was part of Indias first parliament, the US government said in its press release referring to the history Ro Khanna and his family share with respect to the Indian Freedom struggle.

As co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, we are proud to lead a bipartisan delegation to India. We will be there to discuss how to strengthen economic and defence ties between our two counties, the oldest and largest democracies, the release further added.

Khanna said that the US believes that the relationship between New Delhi and Washington will be a defining one of the 21st century.

India is a key partner in ensuring multipolarity in Asia and the denial of China as a hegemon. We must continue to strive to make progress and build our partnership based on our shared founding values of democracy, freedom of the press and assembly, and human rights. This delegation is a historic opportunity to drive further collaboration and advance shared aims, Khanna said.

Ro Khanna and Michael Waltz also hosted a historic US-India Summit in Capitol Hill which featured panels and remarks from government leaders, experts, and Indian-American leaders from across the country earlier this year.
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan has been disqualified for five years by the Election Commission of Pakistan after his conviction in the Toshakhana case.

In a notification issued on Tuesday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said that the Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf: was disqualified after being found guilty of corrupt practices under Section 167 of the Elections Act, 2017 and his sentencing for three years.

The ECP declared Khan, 70, disqualified under Article 63(1)(h) of the Constitution read with Section 232 of the Elections Act, 2017.

Therefore, Mr Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi is disqualified for a period of five years and is also de-notified as a returned candidate from constituency NA-45 Kurram-I, said the notification.

An Islamabad trial court last week declared Khan guilty of corrupt practices in the Toshakhana case and sentenced him to three-year imprisonment. Khan has been under the scanner of various probe agencies in Pakistan including the Election Commission and Federal Investigation Agency.

Imran Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf party, is lodged in the Attock Jail after being sentenced for concealing the sale of state gifts. Khan has become the first former prime minister who has been locked up in the Attock jail.

The PTI chiefs arrest comes as Pakistan is heading for general elections later this year, with the current National Assembly set to complete its term on August 12.

Toshakhana Case: A Brief Timeline

WHAT IS TOSHAKHANA CASE?

The Toshakhana is a department under Pakistans Cabinet Division that stores gifts given to rulers and government officials by heads of other governments and foreign dignitaries.

While the Prime Ministers and heads of state can retain gifts that cost less than PKR 30,000 for themselves, more expensive gifts must be kept in the Toshakhana under Pakistani law.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had filed a complaint against Imran Khan that he deliberately concealed his assets relating to Toshakhana gifts retained by him, particularly in the year 2018 and 2019.

According to a report in The Dawn, Khan retained gifts worth more than PKR 100 million by September 2018, just weeks after coming to power, and paid PKR 20.1 million to keep them". Other reports claimed that the gifts were more than PKR 140 million or $635,000.

In October last year, the ECP disqualified Khan in the Toshakhana case for making false statements and incorrect declaration". In May this year, a trial court rejected Imran Khans petition challenging the maintainability of the case and indicted the PTI chief, who denied all the allegations of misdeclaration of gifts.

Apart from the Toshakhana case, Khan has been slapped with more than 150 legal cases, including several on charges of corruption, terrorism and inciting people to violence over deadly protests.

Khan was indicted in the Toshakhana case in May which was filed last year on the complaint of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) which had disqualified him in the same case in October 2022.
Londons Brick Lane, which is famous for its street art, became a topic of debate after unknown people covered one of its walls with slogans praising the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Chinese characters.

The Brick Lane is known for allowing street graffiti makers freedom of expression and speech but many were quick to point out that the core socialist values" which are made of 12 two-character words translating to prosperity, democracy, civility, harmony, freedom, equality, justice, the rule of law, patriotism, dedication, integrity and friendship are not available in China.

I utterly condemn the #CCP thugs who defaced Londons Brick Lane with their regimes vile hate-filled propaganda I wholeheartedly applaud, support & stand in solidarity with the brave mainland Chinese who stood up against this and responded with counter-graffiti in Brick Lane! pic.twitter.com/P24fkuUMbs  Benedict Rogers  (@benedictrogers) August 6, 2023

People also took offence that the graffiti praising the CPC erased other notable street art. Online footage revealed that people spray painted the Chinese character on the white background overnight.

The spray paint has also sparked interactions online as well as offline about the intersection of freedom of expression and political propaganda.

Also some street artists added new graffiti criticising the Chinese government, People added no in front of these letters and mocked Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The slogans painted on the wall were first revealed by Hu Jintao in 2012. There is also a debate on whether the people who painted them were being serious or sarcastic.

Chinese citizens, who strongly support the CPC, back home said they were proud of the graffiti and their cultural export. They also said these are not just Chinese goals but also global objectives.

However, Chinese nationalists also pointed out that the graffiti could have been high-level black. High-level black is a term that Xi Jinping and his ministers use to describe people who use veiled language to criticise and satirise them.

People outside China flooded social media with criticism towards the CPC artwork by pointing out that ones freedom of speech and expression cannot come at the expense of destroying anothers rights.

Obstructing freedom of speech is not a part of freedom of speech. The jargon you used cannot justify your brutal destruction of other peoples art, a social media commentator said. Do you dare to go to Beijing and write about democracy and freedom? If you dare, the home country you love will dare to arrest you, another commentator added.

Wang Hanzheng, one of the creators who also goes by the name Yi Que for his art works, who appeared to have supported the graffiti, said his intentions were misunderstood and the reaction had been more intense than he expected, while speaking to the BBC. He said he is being doxxed and harassed for his point of view.

(with inputs from BBC)
China renewed calls Tuesday for the Philippines to remove an ageing ship from a reef that Manila uses to press its stake in the Spratly Islands in defiance of Beijings claim to nearly the entire South China Sea.

The move comes after the Philippines accused the China Coast Guard of firing water cannon against boats on a resupply mission to its garrison stationed on the grounded vessel at the weekend.

The BRP Sierra Madre  deliberately grounded in 1999 in an effort to check the advance of China in the hotly contested waters  has long been a flashpoint between Manila and Beijing.

The handful of Philippine marines deployed on the crumbling vessel depend upon resupply missions to survive their remote posting.

The Philippine military and coast guard accused the China Coast Guard of breaking international law by blocking and firing water cannon at the resupply mission, preventing one of the charter boats from reaching the shoal.

Beijing has defended its actions as professional" and accused Manila of illegal delivery of construction materials" to the grounded ship.

The Philippine side has repeatedly made clear promises to tow away the warship illegally stranded on the reef," a spokesperson for Chinas foreign ministry said Tuesday.

Twenty-four years have passed, the Philippine side has not only failed to tow away the warship, but also attempted to repair and reinforce it on a large scale to achieve permanent occupation of the Renai Reef," they said, using the Chinese term for the Second Thomas Shoal.

The Chinese side once again urges the Philippines to immediately tow away the stranded warship from the Renai Reef and restore the status of no one and no facilities on the reef," they said.

The Philippine foreign ministry said Tuesday the permanent station" on Second Thomas Shoal was in response to Chinas illegal occupation" of nearby Mischief Reef in 1995.

The deployment of a Philippine military station in its own areas of jurisdiction is an inherent right of the Philippines and does not violate any laws," the ministry said.

Illegal activities

Second Thomas Shoal is about 200 kilometres (120 miles) from the Philippine island of Palawan and more than 1,000 kilometres from Chinas nearest major landmass, Hainan island.

Chinas coast guard and navy vessels routinely block or shadow Philippine ships patrolling the contested waters, Manila says.

The Philippines has issued more than 400 diplomatic protests to Beijing since 2020 over its illegal activities" in the South China Sea, the foreign ministry said.

China appeared to be trying to gauge our commitment to supply our troops" at the shoal, National Security Council spokesman Jonathan Malaya told reporters on Monday.

For the record, we will never abandon Ayungin Shoal," Malaya added, using the Philippine name for Second Thomas Shoal.

Saturdays David and Goliath" incident showed the Chinese had established what appeared to be a blockade" of the shoal, Malaya said.

Philippine military spokesman Colonel Medel Aguilar dismissed on Monday the China Coast Guards request for Manila to tow away the BRP Sierra Madre.

Who is the China Coast Guard to tell us what to do?" Aguilar said.

Manila and Beijing have a long history of maritime disputes over the South China Sea but former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte was seen as cosying up to China in the hope of attracting investment.

Since succeeding Duterte, President Ferdinand Marcos has insisted he will not let China trample on his countrys maritime rights, seeking to strengthen defence ties with former colonial ruler and longtime ally the United States.
Gov. Doug Burgum is at the U.S.-Mexico border this week visiting North Dakota National Guard troops who are helping with security.

The Wahpeton-based 188th Engineer Company is on a 30-day mission. Burgum deployed the unit to help with a state of Texas operation. The North Dakota Emergency Commission approved a $2.2 million loan from the Bank of North Dakota to send the troops south. The loan ultimately will be repaid with taxpayer money.

Members of the Bismarck-based 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Regiment also are deployed at the border, on federal status in support of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The work theyre doing down here is so important, trying to protect the border, trying to stop illegal crossings. This is a matter of national security, Burgum said.

The North Dakota National Guards adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, is accompanying Burgum.
North Dakota is asking a judge to dismiss a lawsuit that a local election official and conservative legal organization filed seeking to restrict mail-in voting across the state.

A motion filed Monday by North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigleys office argues there is no conflict between state and federal election laws, which is a central claim in the federal lawsuit brought by Burleigh County Auditor Mark Splonskowski.

The state argues in part that Splonskowski's "true aim in this lawsuit is not adjudication of a true conflict, but the improper overthrow of North Dakota law."

Splonskowski, who was elected last fall, argues in the lawsuit filed July 5 that he faces an impossibility in enforcing election law. The lawsuit filed in collaboration with the Public Interest Legal Foundation argues that federal law assigns one day as Election Day, while the state allows for ballots to be counted up to 13 days after Election Day, creating a scenario in which Splonskowski has to decide which law to follow.

The foundation also filed voting-related suits in the wake of the 2020 election, including in Pennsylvania and Arizona, amid former President Donald Trumps claims of election fraud.

Though North Dakota requires all mail-in votes to be postmarked by the day before Election Day, the suit claims Splonskowski is harmed by instructions to accept and cast ballots received after Election Day and could face consequences for not following federal law if he counts these mail-in ballots.

The state argues that Splonskowski is wrong, citing a federal opinion in which a judge wrote that voting should not be confused with counting votes.

The state also disputes Splonskowski's claim that he could potentially face criminal penalties for enforcing the state's election law. For example, the state argues that a Burleigh County prosecutor would not attempt to prosecute someone for complying with state Century Code.

The lawsuit is directed at the states election director, Erika White. The state argues the inclusion of White appears to be an "afterthought" and that the lawsuit fails to address a connection between White and Splonskowski's fear of prosecution. White is an appointed official and is neither responsible for overall election administration in the state nor Splonskowskis hypothetical decision to violate state or federal law. Additionally, the state points out that the law at the center of the suit took effect in 1981  far before Whites time in her position.

The state also alleges that White is protected by the 11th Amendment, which states that federal courts are prohibited from hearing lawsuits filed against a state by citizens, another state or a foreign entity.

In July, when the suit was filed, The Associated Press reported that the Public Interest Legal Foundation met with multiple other election officials throughout the state before moving forward with Splonskowski, appearing to shop around for a plaintiff. The organization said the suit is focused on North Dakota when the AP asked about interest in a national injunction.

Prolonged elections with uncertain results are undermining confidence in the electoral system with significant segments of the country, foundation spokesperson Lauren Bis said in a statement to the Tribune. We have to restore the day in Election Day before 2024.
Throughout the summer there are 28 special memorial days recalling Indian Wars conflicts. In the Bismarck-Mandan region alone there is the Apple Creek Fight of 1863, Woodcutter Fight of 1872, and the Little Heart Butte Fight of 1874. Reaching back farther is one of the biggest Indigenous conflicts on the Northern Great Plains, the Battle of Heart River in 1803. Two of these conflicts reach far in scope and legacy.

The Battle of Heart River is remembered in the John K. Bear Winter Count. This conflict was the culmination of tension and trade on the Upper Missouri River following the American Revolution. The English turned after the war and sought out trade and allies. The Ihanktunwanna, later known as Yanktonai, and their Hunkpapa relatives on the west bank of the Missouri River expanded and established the Heart River as the northernmost territorial boundary of the Ocheti Shakowin, the Seven Fires. This boundary line was so firmly set it was later recognized by the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851 and 1868.

On Aug. 1, 1863, General Sibley left the Apple Creek fight claiming he met the objectives of his punitive campaign. His command of 2,200 men fought against an estimated Ocheti Shakowin force of 500 and Sibley could not take the hill. If Custer escaped from the Battle of the Little Bighorn would he have claimed a victory? This last fight of Sibleys arm of the 1863 Punitive Campaigns was minimized. It was in fact bigger than the Little Bighorn Fight and lasted four days and seriously needs to be reexamined and commemorated properly.

The Woodcutter Fight in 1872 wasnt a grand battle. It took place in the area of the old block houses on the hill out at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park and the valley where Highway 1806 goes around the park. What is memorable about this fight is that Rain In The Face crept up a ravine by the old On A Slant Mandan village to the infantry post and made off with Indian Scout ponies.

The Little Heart Butte Fight is a conflict that should cause the most reflection. Ihanktunwanna warriors enlisted as U.S. Indian Scouts in a time of disappearing bison. In fact, this division of Ocheti Shakowin had fought in support of the United States and American Fur Company in the first ever U.S. led campaign against a Plains Indian tribe in the Arikara War of 1823. At the Little Heart Butte, Ihantunwanna scouts were pinned for four days, They were on their way to deliver U.S. mail from Fort Rice to Fort Berthold and found themselves in a firefight against the Hunkpapa.

General Alfred Terry was so impressed with the exceptionalism of Blue Thunder, Cold Hand, and six others, during the Little Heart Butte Fight, Terry sought the highest honor that Congress could recognize in any enlisted or commissioned soldiers action. In an era of U.S. history, when a soldier could get a Congressional Medal of Honor for getting water for his fellow soldiers in a fight against Indians, why didnt Congress recognize the bravery of the U.S. Indian Scouts at Fort Abraham Lincoln? Congress would not recognize the Scouts service for the simple fact they werent U.S. citizens.

In the 19th century North Dakota citizens recognized this history in many of the various county historical records. In the 20th century North Dakota history was reenvisioned and minimized in the modern world. In the 21st century we as North Dakota citizens have nothing to lose remembering our collective history. We might even turn our eyes to Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park and consider legislation to create a new national park.
UPDATE

Aug 7, 2023 5:55 PM CDT

A former fifth grade teacher who reportedly said she'd compiled a "hit list" of students of staff members has been sentenced in a plea deal. Angelica Carrasquillo, 25, of Griffith, Indiana, pleaded guilty to an intimidation count on Friday, the AP reports. She was placed on probation for 2 years and will not be able to work at a school or daycare in that time. Carrasquillo is prohibited from contacting victims, and the court will monitor her mental health treatment. School officials said she had told them: "I'm having trouble with my mental health, and sometimes the kids do not listen in the classroom. I also have trauma caused when I went to high school."

Oct 14, 2022 8:23 AM CDT

An elementary school teacher in Indiana has been arrested after police say she told a student she had a "kill list" that named multiple students and staffers at the school. Police say they got a call from St. Stanislaus School in East Chicago late Wednesday afternoon and were told of the student's allegations by the principal and assistant principal, per WLS. According to school leaders, fifth grader Portia Jones confided in her counselor that 25-year-old Angelica Carrasquillo-Torres talked about wanting to kill not only herself, but also kids and employees at the private Catholic school, and that she had an apparently prioritized liston which she said Portia appeared near the bottom.
In an incident that reportedly happened in 2020 but is only just now being revealed, a dozen anonymous sources tell the Washington Post that China hacked into Japan's classified defense networks. A former US military official who was briefed on the cyberattack tells the Post, "It was badshockingly bad." The newspaper describes China as having "deep, persistent access" to things like "plans, capabilities, assessments of military shortcomings." That access continued until the Biden administration took over in 2021, and Japan has since said it will increase its cybersecurity budget massively, quadruple the size of its military's cybersecurity force, and boost its network security.

The National Security Agency discovered the hackone of the worst such attacks in Japan's historyin the fall of 2020, sources say. Later, under President Biden, the US Cyber Command offered Japan help, but Japan was "uncomfortable having another country's military on their networks," a former US military official says. Instead, domestic firms were used to probe gaps in Japan's cybersecurity, with Cyber Command reviewing what they found and offering advice. By fall of 2021, however, the US determined Japan had not made much progress in sealing the breach. Japan has not confirmed the story, Bloomberg reports. See the full story and analysis at the Washington Post. (Read more China stories.)
UPDATE

Aug 8, 2023 3:28 PM CDT

Three men have been charged in connection with a massive brawl on the Montgomery, Alabama riverfront on Saturday and police say more charges could be on the way. Montgomery Police Chief Darryl Albert said Tuesday that Richard Roberts, 48; Allen Todd, 23; and Zachery Shipman, 25, have been charged with assault, but police were unable to bring "inciting a riot or racially biased charges at this time," NBC News reports. He said one of the men is already in custody. The brawl erupted after a group of white boaters attacked a Black dockworker who tried to move their pontoon boat to make way for a riverboat. The chief said police also want to talk to Reggie Gray, a Black man seen wielding a fold-up chair in the brawl.

Aug 8, 2023 12:20 AM CDT

A massive brawl erupted along Montgomery, Alabama's riverfront Saturday after a Black man who was reportedly a crew member on a riverboat owned by the city attempted to move a pontoon boat that was parked illegally and blocking the riverboat from docking. A white man who was apparently associated with the pontoon boat ran up to confront the Black man before being joined by three other white men, all of whom began attacking the Black man, AL.com reports. Then, a number of Black people associated with the riverboat ran to the Black worker's defense, including one who jumped into the water and swam to the dock to help, and an all-out brawl began (and was captured on video). At least one person involved was knocked off the pier and into the water, WSFA reports.
At least two people died, thousands of US flights were canceled or delayed, and more than 1.1 million homes and businesses lost power Monday as severe storms, including hail and lightning, moved through the eastern US, the AP reports. The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for the greater DC area, lasting until 9pm. A special Weather Service statement warned, "There is a significant threat for damaging and locally destructive hurricane-force winds, along with the potential for large hail and tornadoes, even strong tornadoes." The storms' spread was massive, with tornado watches and warnings posted across 10 states from Tennessee to New York. The National Weather Service said more than 29.5 million people were under a tornado watch Monday afternoon.

In Anderson, South Carolina, a 15-year-old boy who arrived at his grandparents' house during the storm was struck and killed when a tree fell on him as he got out of a car, according to the Anderson County Office of the Coroner. In Florence, Alabama, police said a 28-year-old man was struck by lightning and died, WAAY-TV reported. By Monday night, more than 2,600 US flights had been canceled and nearly 7,900 delayed, according to flight tracking service FlightAware. Many cancellations were at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which was digging out from disruptions caused by Sunday storms. The Federal Aviation Administration said it was rerouting planes around storms heading to the East Coast.

"This does look to be one of the most impactful severe weather events across the Mid-Atlantic that we have had in some time," National Weather Service meteorologist Chris Strong said in a Facebook briefing. The storms were expected to strike major population areas in late afternoon and early evening, prompting federal workers to be sent home early so they wouldn't be in their cars amid wind, hail, and tornadoes. Strong advised residents: Get "yourself in a strong shelter. Be at home or be at work." By early evening, more than 1.1 million customers were without power across Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia and Virginiaall states along the storm system's path, according to poweroutage.us.

(Read more severe weather stories.)
A mother in San Antonio, Texas, called police on her 17-year-old son because she feared he was planning a massacre at an elementary school. The chilling twist: He is the cousin of the teen who did the same thing in Uvalde, Texas, reports the New York Times. Police arrested Nathan Cruz, cousin of 18-year-old Uvalde shooter Salvador Ramos. His mother told authorities that he said he planned to "shoot the school" and "do the same thing" as his cousin, according to an arrest affidavit. She said she also heard him on the phone trying to acquire an AR-15, per KSAT. The family lives near an unnamed elementary school.
Police in rural Australia are trying to figure out whether a deadly mushroom meal was accidental or sinister. Three people are dead and a fourth remains hospitalized after they ate lunch at the home of Erin Patterson in Leongatha, reports the Guardian . Patterson herself is fine, as are her two children, who were also present for the lunch. "At this point in time, the deaths are unexplained," said homicide detective Dean Thomas, per the BBC . However, he said "nefarious activity" has not been ruled out. Investigators believe the victims, in their late 60s or early 70s, ate death cap mushrooms in the lunch prepared by Patterson.

Family ties are involved in the case: Erin Patterson is the daughter-in-law of lunch guests Gail and Don Patterson, both of whom died after the lunch. The other two guests were Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, who also died, and her husband, Ian, who is awaiting a liver transplant. Erin Patterson, 48, is divorced from the Pattersons' son, but police describe the split as amicable. "I didn't do anything," Erin Patterson tearfully told reporters outside her home on Monday. "I loved them. I just can't fathom what has happened."

Detectives can't, either. Neither Patterson nor her children apparently ate the tainted dish, and it remains unclear where the mushrooms came from. Asked specifically whether Erin is a suspect, Thomas said, "Yes she is ... because she cooked those meals," per the BBC. The Australian Age reports an intriguing detail: Last year, Erin's ex, Simon Patterson, nearly died in the hospital after experiencing what he described on social media as "serious gut problems." He spent more than two weeks in an induced coma but has since recovered. (Read more mushrooms stories.)
Kevin Costner's divorce has apparently turned contentious , but that's not the only legal issue the Yellowstone star is contending with. For 15 years, a battle has been brewing between Costner, 68, and sculptor Peggy Detmers, who filed a suit against the actor in 2008 regarding a 17-piece bronze sculpture she'd created for him years earlier. The complaint was eventually dismissed, but on Thursday, a four-judge panel from the South Dakota Supreme Court ruled the suit may resume, reports Artnet .

The installation, called "Lakota Bison Jump," depicts three Lakota warriors on horseback chasing after 14 bison. Per Artnet, Costner had originally commissioned the piece to be created by Detmers in the early '90s, specifically so he could place it on the grounds of the Dunbar, a South Dakota resort he hoped to build. Costner claimed at the time that the piece would be the third-largest bronze sculpture in the world, per Courthouse News. Detmers was initially paid $300,000and also promised a portion of royalties on the sale of sculpture reproductions that would sold in the resort's gift shopbut in 2000, she stopped work on the sculpture when Costner started getting pushback on the planned resort by local Lakota members.

Costner then offered Detmers an additional $60,000 and made a vow to her that if the Dunbar wasn't built within a decade and the sculpture wasn't "agreeably displayed elsewhere," he'd sell the sculpture, split the proceeds with her, and allow the copyright for it to revert back to her. Dunbar never materialized, and Costner instead erected the Ta'Tanka tourist attraction on part of his property, with Detmers' sculpture included. A circuit court ruled that the tourist stop counted as "elsewhere," meaning Costner didn't have to sell it; the state Supreme Court agreed with that ruling in 2012.

But when Costner decided to sell Ta'Tanka in 2021 and relocate the sculpture, Detmers re-upped legal action, and the state Supreme Court agreed that the lower court had made a mistake in how it interpreted her contract with Costner. In Thursday's decision, Chief Justice Steven Jensen wrote that "Costner's decision to unilaterally sell [Ta'Tanka] and relocate the sculptures would trigger the sale clause in paragraph three of the Agreement unless the parties agree to another display location." The South Dakota Searchlight notes that the case will now be remanded back to Lawrence County's circuit court, where it may go to trial, per the Art Newspaper. (Read more Kevin Costner stories.)
After a Facebook post from the wife of a Republican state lawmaker in Arkansas, conservatives in the state were accused of seeking to censor Little Free Libraries as well as school libraries and public libraries. "I have been swapping out books in little free libraries for awhile. I have seen good books, terrible books, toiletries, and needles (yes, needles)," wrote Jennifer Meeks, per the Arkansas Times . Meeks, wife of Rep. Stephen Meeks, said she had been "picking up free Bibles at flea markets and thrift stores. Sometimes I find good devotion books or kids' Bible stories at a good price to add." She said gospel tracts were also good additions and described the libraries as "opportunities to be salt and light in our communities."

"From what I have seen a lot of these books and other things don't align with Christian values. Today, I saw a bunch of Pride stuff in one," Meeks wrote in the post. "There's a group of leftists, especially in Conway, who are very active in keeping little libraries well stocked." The Faulkner County Coalition for Social Justice addressed Meeks in a social media post, saying it had received more than $1,000 in donations to "supply our community with food, toiletries, reproductive care items, and naloxone. These materials are saving lives." A spokesperson said the "needles" Meeks mentioned are probably the overdose reversal kits.

Meeks' husband said Tuesday that her post had been "misconstrued" and while she has been adding Christian materials to the free libraries, she would never remove Pride content. He said her post about LFLs was publicized because somebody she was friends with on Facebook "basically betrayed her," Newsweek reports. LFL Executive Director Greig Metzger tells Newsweek that minority groups including LGBTQ+ people are "overwhelmingly" the targets of people who remove books from the free libraries that don't match their beliefs. "We applaud the Little Free Library stewards who offer books that enlighten readers, nurture empathy, and open up a world of diverse perspectives," he said. (Read more Arkansas stories.)
A woman was critically injured when a shark bit her on the leg while she was swimming at a New York City beach, per the AP. The 50-year-old woman was swimming off Rockaway Beach just before 6pm Monday when a shark bit her on the left leg, the city parks department said in a statement. Lifeguards pulled the woman from the water and administered first aid. The woman was taken to Jamaica Hospital in critical but stable condition with severe lacerations to her thigh, a police spokesperson said. Police used a helicopter to search the area for sharks but did not find any.
It might be one of the most uninspiring messages to new college grads ever conveyed in a commencement speech. "You must not aim too high or be picky about work," declared the president of Chongqing Metropolitan College of Science and Technology in China. "The opportunities are fleeting." The New York Times relays the quote as part of an in-depth look at the dicey prospects of China's college grads, as evidenced in two competing stats: First, this year's graduating class of 11.6 million students is the largest in China's history, a record expected to be broken again and again in the coming years. And, second, the unemployment rate for young adults rose to a record high 21.3% in June. It's expected to go even higher in July and August, notes the South China Morning Post .

In fact, this is the worst time in regard to youth unemployment (up to age 24) in China since the 1970s, per the SCMP. What's more, the situation is not expected to improve significantly for a decade or so. The latter outlet notes that things are so bad that college administrators, whose pay is tied to job-placement figures, have begun to regularly fudge their numbers and to pressure students to fabricate job offers. As a result, the Ministry of Education has enlisted a team of inspectors to travel the country to crack down on the phony stats.

A story at CNN continues the theme, with another telling example. It seems that a popular new trend among Chinese 20-somethings is to return home to become "full-time sons and daughters." The label first surfaced on the social media site Douban last year, and tens of thousands of young Chinese adults have since identified themselves as such. The idea is that they help their aging parents out with all manner of things in exchange for a modest salary. (Read more China stories.)
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A Black teacher and musician who says members of a white nationalist hate group punched, kicked, and beat him with metal shields during a march through Boston last year sued the organization on Tuesday. Charles Murrell III, of Boston, was in the area of the Boston Public Library to play his saxophone on July 2, 2022, when he was surrounded by members of the Patriot Front and assaulted in a "coordinated, brutal, and racially motivated attack," according to the lawsuit filed in federal court in Boston. Murrell was taken by ambulance to the hospital for treatment of lacerations, some of which required stitches, the suit says.

"As a result of this beating, Mr. Murrell sustained physical injuries to his face, head, and hand, all of which required medical attention. Mr. Murrell also continues to suffer significant emotional distress to this day as a result of the incident," the suit says. "Among other harms, those physical and emotional injuries have adversely affected Mr. Murrell's ability to earn a living as a musician." He has "been plagued by severe anxiety, mental anguish, invasive thoughts, and emotional distress" and "routinely has nightmares and flashbacks," according to the suit. No one has been charged in connection with the attack on Murrell, 36, and the investigation remains open, according to a spokesperson for the Suffolk district attorney's office.

The defendants are Patriot Front, its founder Thomas Rousseau, and multiple John Does. Murrell, who has a background teaching special education, tells the AP that the lawsuit is about holding Patriot Front accountable, helping his own healing process, and preventing anything similar from happening to children of color, like those he teaches. The march in Boston by about 100 members of the Texas-based Patriot Front was one of its so-called flash demonstrations that it holds around the country. Murrell says he had never heard of the group before the confrontation, but believes he was targeted because of the tone of their voices and the slurs they used when he encountered them.

The goal of the lawsuit is not just justice and accountability, said Licha Nyiendo, the chief legal officer at Human Rights First, which is backing Murrell in the lawsuit, but to bankrupt Patriot Front. "Our goal is to decimate this extremist group," she says, "and bring a national spotlight to the dangers of their extremist ideology."

(Read more white supremacists stories.)
Declaring it good "not only for Arizona but for the planet," President Biden on Tuesday signed a national monument designation for the greater Grand Canyon, turning the decades-long visions of Native American tribes and environmentalists into reality. Coming as Biden is on a three-state Western trip, the move will help preserve about 1,562 square miles just to the north and south of Grand Canyon National Park, the AP reports. It encompasses canyons, plateaus, and tributaries that feed a range of plants and wildlife, including bison, elk, desert bighorn sheep, and rare species of cactus, and it is Biden's fifth monument designation.

Tribes in Arizona have been pushing the president to use his authority under the Antiquities Act of 1906 to create a new national monument called Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni. "Baaj Nwaavjo" means "where tribes roam," for the Havasupai people, while "I'tah Kukveni" translates to "our footprints," for the Hopi tribe. "Preserving these lands is good, not only for Arizona but for the planet," said Biden, who spoke with a mountain vista behind him. "It's good for the economy. It's good for the soul of the nation." The president tied the designation to his administration's larger push to combat climate change and noted this summer's extreme heat, which has been especially punishing in places like Phoenix.

Biden said the new designation, which blocks mining in the area and doubles the protected area around the canyon, would see the federal government live up to its treaty obligations with Native American tribes after many were forced in decades past from their ancestral homes around the Grand Canyon as officials developed the site of the national park. "At a time when some seek to ban books and bury history, we're making it clear that we can't just choose to learn what we want to learn," Biden said. Republican lawmakers and the uranium mining industry that operates in the area had opposed the designation, arguing that the mining efforts are a matter of national security. (Read more Grand Canyon stories.)
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The potential promises and perils of populist governments for democratic regimes have been widely discussed theoretically, but less so empirically. Much has been said about how populism corrects the limitations of liberal democracies or damages their very foundations (Meny & Surel, 2002 ; Panizza, 2005 ; Mudde & Rovira, 2012 2017 ; Mudde, 2021 ; Casullo, 2014 ; Muller, 2016 2017 ; Rummens, 2017 ; Moffitt, 2020 ; Urbinati, 2020 ). The literature on democratic backsliding has documented how populist governments erode political institutions, electoral laws, constitutional principles, and individual rights (Bermeo, 2016 ; Levitsky & Ziblatt, 2018 ; Waldner & Lust, 2018 ; Haggard & Kaufmann, 2021 ). More recently, Public Administration scholars have argued populists undermine bureaucratic institutions and principles (Bauer & Becker, 2020 ; Bauer et al., 2021 ; Moynihan & Roberts, 2021a 2021b ; Moynihan, 2022a 2022b ; Peci, 2021 ; Peters & Pierre, 2019 2020 ; Rockman, 2019 ; Stoker, 2019 ).

Much has been said theoretically about whether populism corrects the limitations of democracies, or instead damages their foundations. Yet we still know very little about how populist governments affect democratic policymaking in practice. Taking the classic policy cycle approach as a heuristic device, this article analyzes how populists influence agenda-setting, policy formulation and design, implementation, evaluation, and termination processes. Using a variety of sources, the article provides a qualitative in-depth analysis of the Mexican case during the first half of president Andres-Manuel Lopez-Obrador administration. The article shows that a populist government may fulfill some of its promises, but it ultimately materializes most of its perils, causing significant policy, institutional, and social damage. Populists introduce important distortions in each one of the policy stages and thus alter considerably the policymaking processes usually associated with democratic regimes. They employ a variety of strategies to limit the number of policy actors taking part in agenda-setting and evaluation exercises; formulate ineffective policy tools based on questionable design assumptions; develop personalistic implementation channels prone to patronage and clientelism; undermine the value of evidence-based analyses and discussions; and terminate institutions and programs on a discretionary basis. By exerting a rhetorical monopoly over the will of the people, populists can follow policymaking patterns that significantly depart from the technical, rational, and pluralistic standards commonly associated with democratic policymaking. The article brings together debates on populism and policymaking, and studies a national case which has received limited scholarly attention, thus adding to both our theoretical and empirical contemporary understanding on this subject.

The article argues that a populist government introduces significant distortions in each one of the policy stages, and thus alters considerably the policymaking processes usually associated with democratic regimes. Populists claim to have a unique understanding of the peoples will and present themselves as the only true representatives of the people (Urbinati, 2020 ; Olivas, 2021 ; Muller, 2016 ). This shields them from any criticisms and allows them to develop a series of policymaking strategies that differ, significantly and systematically, from the technical rationality, evidence-informed, and pluralistic standards commonly associated with policymaking in democratic regimes. Along the way, populists fulfill some of their promises. Yet, in the end, they also materialize many of the perils the literature has long discussed. Ultimately, the case of Mexico shows that populist policymaking patterns are not only distinct from democratic policymaking ones, but also lead to faulty public policies and negative social outcomes.

The article is part of a broader research project on how populism affects bureaucratic institutions and public policies (see Dussauge-Laguna, 2021 , 2022 ; Dussauge-Laguna & Aguilar, 2021 ). It is mainly based on presidential statements, official documents, and secondary sources (e.g., media articles, policy expert analyses) covering the first three years of the Lopez-Obrador administration. In contrast to recent studies that focus on specific policy sectors (e.g., health or education; Flores-Crespo & Garcia, 2021 ; Guevara, 2022 ; Tello, 2022 ), this article provides several brief examples from a variety of policy areas. This is useful to illustrate policymaking patterns that cut across policy areas, and thus build theoretical insights about the phenomenon under study (George & Benett, 2005 ; Gerring, 2007 ; Toshkov, 2016 ; Widner et al., 2022 ).

The article studies the case of Mexico during the first three years of Andres Manuel Lopez-Obradors administration, a president commonly portrayed as a populist (Dussauge-Laguna, 2021 ; Mendez et al., 2021 ; Renteria & Arellano, 2021 ; Solorio et al., 2021 ). The Mexican experience is interesting for a variety of theoretical and substantive reasons (Toshkov, 2016 ). At one level, it seems to be a typical case (Gerring, 2007 ), given its similarities with other contemporary populist governments. Its analysis thus provides an opportunity to test the still limited theoretical insights from previous literature. At the same time, Mexicos populist regime has not been as thoroughly studied as other prominent cases such as Hungary, Venezuela, or the recent cases of the USA under Donald Trump and Brazil under Jair Bolsonaro. Therefore, its analysis is relevant for empirical reasons, as well as for broadening our comparative conversation (Page, 1995 ) on the subject. Indeed, the Mexican case provides a useful setting for generating new hypotheses and insights (Widner et al., 2022 ) about how populists influence policymaking processes.

Taking the classic policy stages approach as an analytical point of departure, the article discusses how populists affect agenda-setting, policy formulation and design, implementation, evaluation, and termination. The policy cycle metaphor has been long criticized for providing a simplistic perspective (e.g., textbook approach; Sabatier, 2007 ) about a process that is extremely complex (Cairney et al., 2019 ; Weible & Sabatier, 2018 ). However, it remains widely used as a heuristic, both in general policy discussions (Jann & Wegrich, 2007 ; Tosun & Knill, 2020 ; Wu et al., 2017 ) and in a variety of research areas (e.g., artificial intelligence: Valle-Cruz et al., 2020 ; relationships between bureaucrats and politicians: Alford et al., 2017 ). Indeed, as the article shows, looking at the policy stages provides a useful glimpse of populists in action. Moreover, given the novelty of this research subject, the policy stages heuristic provides a research entry point as good as any other.

Studying the influence of populists in policymaking is relevant for policy studies for at least three reasons. First, the topic cuts across key normative and theoretical issues which have been discussed since Harold Lasswells times (Farr et al., 2006 ; Laswell, 1993 ; Torgerson, 2017 ). For instance, what is the role policy sciences should play regarding the choice of (and support for) a given type of political system (e.g., democracies vs. autocracies). Second, the public policy literature has been traditionally grounded in what Howlett (2022) recently labeled a Panglossian view: one that underlines the relevance of evidence, value-free analyses, technical prowess, policy effectiveness, and the like (Bundi & Trein, 2022 ; Peters et al., 2018 ). Whether these features hold true under populist regimes remains an open question. Third and last, as the number of populist governments increases around the world (Moffitt, 2020 ; Oswald, 2021 ), so does the amount of policy processes and government decisions made under conditions that differ from those found in most policy texts. Indeed, we still know very little about how these changing political circumstances affect the lives of millions of people.

However, the study of whether and how populist governments affect democratic policymaking processes remains scarce. There are works that focus on the effects of populist policies on the economy and some policy indicators (Dornbusch & Edwards, 1990 , 2007 ; Funke et al., 2020 ; Peters, 2022 ). Similarly, some studies have provided information about the way populists influence certain policy areas (Albertazzi & Mueller, 2013 ; Batory & Svensson, 2019 ; Caiani & Graziano, 2022 ). Some authors suggest populism is changing the way evidence is used in the making of policies (Borins, 2018 ; Head & Banerjee, 2020 ). With the rise of the Covid-19 pandemic, scholars argue populist governments mishandled the crisis (Bayerlain et al., 2021 ; Lasco, 2020 ; Renteria & Arellano-Gault, 2021 ). Despite these contributions, we still lack a good understanding regarding how populists, once in government, affect policymaking patterns.

The previous discussion provides a theoretical point of departure to think about how a populist government may change (or not) policymaking patterns in contrast to the normal patterns one could expect to see in a democracy. The following section will now discuss the recent Mexican experience and will try to generate some hypotheses. Afterward, the paper will offer a broader discussion about the implications of the case considering the recent international experience.

How do populist policymaking features compare to those found in a democracy? There is, of course, a wide variety of policymaking characteristics in each democratic setting, which are conditioned by national administrative traditions, political systems, policy styles, etc. Despite these differences across nations, the literature does point at some commonalities in policymaking processes under democratic regimes (Jann & Wegrich, 2007 ; Knill & Tosun, 2020 ; Mintrom, 2012 ; Peters et al., 2018 ; Wu et al., 2017 ). First, policymaking in a democracy assumes a plurality of actors and thus a variety of interests, particularly in (but not limited to) agenda-setting processes. Because of each countrys empirical features, every policy actors power, resources, and access to decision-making centers will vary. Yet, a priori, all actors legitimacy to participate in policy decisions is not disputed. Second, modern democracies assume that public decisions will be made (and policies will be subsequently designed) with the aid of tools that are conducive to producing logic, efficient, effective, value for money, and/or evidence-informed actions (e.g., logic frameworks, costbenefit analysis, forecasting, environmental/regulatory impact analyses, systematic reviews, experiments, benchmarks). Third, policymaking processes in a democracy, particularly implementation activities and bureaucratic exchanges, are bound by impartial laws, administrative procedures, and regulations, which can only be ignored or changed through established institutional mechanisms, and not by personal or partisan reasons. Discretionary decisions do happen, but they are supposed to be grounded in administrative or policy needs, and not as a result of clientelism or political caprice. Fourth, on top of using analytical tools, governments in a democracy are also required to provide reasons and give accounts (grounded on technical assessments, objective data, and institutional channels) to the public about the policies they make and the results they get. External actors have an active participation in assessing government decisions and commenting on their relative level of success. Last but not least, policy termination is usually hard to come by in democratic regimes (Geva-May, 2004 ). Given the stickiness of policy arrangements, the political costs of cutting benefits, and the capacity of interest groups to detain (or at least influence) government decisions, policy inertia, succession, accumulation, or change are more common outcomes (Adam et al., 2019 ; Hogwood & Peters, 1982 ; Knill & Tosun, 2020 ; Rose, 1990 ).

In addition, there are some scattered mentions in the literature about how populist governments influence specific stages of the policy process. Regarding the agenda-setting process, Mueller ( 2016 :35) argues that populists sustain the idea that leaders represent the true will of the people and hence they know which policies to advance. Moffit ( 2020 :54) also states that, for populists, those outside the people are beneath contempt, which means they cannot legitimately contribute to the public/government agenda. Some authors have flagged populists use social media and other communication mechanisms (e.g., radio or TV programs) to bypass traditional media outlets, establish an unmediated communication with citizens, and share their policies more directly (Levitt & Ziblatt, 2018; Goodsell, 2019 ). In terms of policy formulation, Borins ( 2018 :1862) argues that populists usually do not collect information on what they see as non-priorities, regardless of how important the topics may be. Batory and Svensson ( 2019 ) have demonstrated that a populist government can distort public consultations to produce whatever information they want. Stoker ( 2019 :11) has noted populists do not tend to respect core features of politics, such as the complexities of implementation. Scholars have also flagged that populists are critical of external implementing actors, such as civil society organizations or private actors (Hajnal, 2021 ; Stoker, 2019 ). At the same time, they may favor the creation of clientelar networks to maintain a grip on implementation and build political support (De la Torre, 2017 ). Scholars have also shown populist governments systematically underplay the role of expertise and scientific evidence in policy design and evaluation activities (Borins, 2018 ; Head & Banerjee, 2020 ; Stoker, 2019 ). Indeed, Goodsell ( 2019 :880) states populist governments produce policies not thought out. Lastly, some authors have noted populist policymakers may decide to terminate policies and programs without much explanation. For instance, Borins ( 2018 :1862) discusses how Trumps first budget included deep cuts to several key departments [], as well as the termination of a large number of autonomous agencies and programmes and specific programmes within departments.

Finally, a few works have discussed the relationship between populism and policymaking. Bartha and colleagues ( 2020 ) have proposed an ideal type of populism in policymaking. They describe a regime that, among other features, reflects majoritarian preferences and hostility against unpopular minorities; challenges mainstream policy paradigms; circumvents established institutions and downplays veto players; limits the participation of technocratic policy experts, opposition parties and civil society actors; establishes direct communication with the electorate; and recurs to a tabloid, highly emotional communication style and Manichean discourses. Focused on what they called macroeconomic populism in Latin American countries, Dornbusch and Edwards ( 1990 , 2007 ) have argued populist policymaking tends to fail. Similarly, Funke and his colleagues ( 2020 ) have found populist governments produce lower economic growth and have deleterious effects on democratic institutions. Peters ( 2022 ) has recently shown that subnational populist governments in the USA performed worse than non-populist governments on indicators such as education attainment, infant mortality, economic inequality or growth. Lastly, studies on government responses to the Covid-19 pandemic have illustrated how populist leaders mishandled the crisis (Bayerlein et al., 2021 ; Lasco, 2020 ; Renteria & Arellano, 2021 ).

A third body of recent studies has investigated how populist governments affect bureaucratic institutions. Bauer and colleagues ( 2021 ) have recently provided an international account on how backsliding (triggered by populist governments) damaged bureaucratic institutions in countries as diverse as Italy, Venezuela, or Poland. They argue populist governments centralize powers around the executive leader; reassign institutional priorities and resources on a discretionary basis; increase patronage in public appointments; and undermine administrative principles (e.g., accountability). Bauer and Becker ( 2020 ) and Peters and Pierre ( 2019 , 2020 ) have further argued populists are less worried about governing effectively than about capturing, sabotaging, sidelining, or dismantling bureaucratic institutions. Others have shown populist governments affect public sector innovation (Borins, 2018 ) and governance arrangements (e.g., network-based or publicprivate collaborations; Stoker, 2019 ). A growing number of studies show the damage caused by populist governments on the administrative infrastructure of countries as varied as the USA (Goodsell, 2019 ; Moynihan & Roberts, 2021a , 2021b ; Moynihan, 2022a , 2022b ; Rockman, 2019 ), Hungary (Batory & Svensson, 2019 ; Hajnal, 2021 ; Hajnal & Boda, 2021 ), or Brazil (Guedes-Neto & Peters, 2021 ; Peci, 2021 ).

Discussions have taken a different turn under recent democratic backsliding studies (Bermeo, 2016 ; Waldner & Lust, 2018 ; Haggard & Kaufman, 2021 ). While not always explicit, the link between populism and democratic backsliding is present because it is populist leaders who lead the weakening of democratic institutions (Levitsky & Ziblatt, 2018 ; Bauer et al., 2021 ; Muller, 2016 ). This literature has shown the risks posed by populist governments are real. While some populist governments have brought with them an expansion of voting rights and participation from previously excluded minorities (Casullo, 2014 ; Rovira et al., 2017 ), they have also eroded democratic regimes. The governments of Donald Trump, Hugo Chavez, and Viktor Orban have used the people symbolically to justify illegal policies, pursue political polarization, and demonize political opponents. Once in government, their policies have undermined the separation of powers and the legitimacy of government institutions that opposed them. They have also attacked the media, civil society organizations, the deep state, and minority groups (Levitsky & Ziblatt, 2018 ; Haggard & Kaufman, 2021 ; Albertazzi & Mueller, 2013 ). Populist governments have also engaged in discriminatory legalism (e.g., the use of the law to protect allies while punishing enemies; Muller, 2016 ).

On the other hand, there have been several criticisms about the perils that populism poses to a democracy (Muller, 2016 , 2017 ; Rummens, 2017 ; Urbinati, 2020 ). Some authors doubt a political leader can rightfully speak in the name of the people, adopt a morally superior attitude against political opponents, and then justify political and government decisions (Muller, 2016 ; Urbinati, 2020 ). Others argue populists seek to delegitimize political opponents (Olivas, 2021 ). As a result, democratic values such as pluralism and freedom of expression suffer under populist regimes (Rummens, 2017 ). Furthermore, the majoritarian logic of populists undermines checks and balances, as well as political institutions established to protect minority rights (Mudde & Rovira, 2017 ). Some populists may even try to change the rules of the game to remain in power (Mueller, 2017 ; Urbinati, 2020 ).

The literature on populism provides several ideas about how the latter affects democratic regimes, but the debate remains inconclusive (Meny & Surel, 2000 ; Panizza, 2005 ; Casullo, 2014 ; Muller, 2016 , 2017 ; De la Torre, 2017 ; Urbinati, 2020 ; Moffitt, 2020 ). For instance, Mudde and Rovira ( 2017 :84) suggest, populism can play both a positive and a negative role for liberal democracy. Indeed, some argue populism may be good for a democracy for various reasons. In times of low trust in government and growing distance between citizens and traditional political parties, populists may help bring back to politics formerly excluded social groups (de la Torre, 2017 ). Populists are also seen as a potential counterweight to the elitist forces that usually control politics. Some even argue populists improve democratic responsiveness by advancing and implementing policies for long-ignored communities (Mudde & Rovira, 2017 ). Thus, the rise of populism can sometimes be seen less as a symptom of a malaise democratique (Meny & Surel, 2000 :21), than as a wholesome corrective (Rummens, 2017 :555). In the face of authoritarian regimes, populists may even become a democratizing force (Moffit, 2020 :108).

The relationship between populism and democratic governance has been long debated, but our knowledge about how populist governments affect policymaking remains limited. Scholars of populism have usually discussed its perils and promises from a theoretical perspective. It is only recently, when populists have reached more government positions, that scholars are assessing the effects populist governing styles have on political and bureaucratic institutions. Moreover, analyses have not really focused on how populist governments may affect public authorities decisions when trying to solve public problems or pursue social objectives.

Policymaking under a populist government: the case of Mexico

This section analyzes the contemporary experience of Mexico, a country currently governed by Andres Manuel Lopez-Obrador (20182024). In contrast to other historical populist experiences in Latin America (Argentina, Venezuela, Ecuador), or to contemporary ones (Hungary, the USA, Brazil), Mexico has not been widely discussed in the academic literature (Dussauge-Laguna, 2021; Bruhn, 2013). This makes it a particularly interesting case for broadening our comparative conversations, as it forms part of the broader universe of populist experiences, while at the same time it provides an opportunity to develop new hypotheses about how populist leaders govern.

The following description and analysis of the Mexican case is mainly based on a revision of official documents (e.g., evaluation and audit reports, institutional reports and statements), secondary sources (e.g., academic literature and analytical essays from academics and policy experts, which are commonly produced and used in public debates in Mexico), and presidential statements (e.g., books written by Lopez-Obrador himself, presidential speeches, and news articles which comment and reproduce verbatim the presidents words). The latter is a particularly relevant source given Lopez-Obradors governing style, which makes a prominent use of daily press conferences in which he talks about public issues, gives instructions to his cabinet members, elaborates on his plans or policy decisions, and engages in political discussions (see Espino, 2021; Estrada, 2022). Moreover, these sources are very useful given the moving target nature of the phenomenon under study.

The article draws examples from several policy areas. Some recent analysis on the Mexican experience have studied particular policy fields or topics, such as health, education, the management of the pandemic, or the provision of drugs and medicines (e.g., Flores-Crespo & Garcia, 2021; Guevara, 2022; Institute for Global Health Sciences, 2021; Tello, 2022; Ximenez-Fyvie, 2021). Other collective volumes have studied a variety of chosen policy topics from Lopez-Obradors administration (Becerra & Woldenberg, 2020; Heredia & Gomez, 2021). This article follows a slightly different, more generalist perspective, following what Page (1990, 1995) calls a Machiavellian style of analysis, that is to choose some illustrations to inductively explain a broader point about policy patterns. This mode of analysis is in line with the way other scholars have recently studied the effects of populist governments on public policies and administrations in Hungary (Hajnal, 2021), the USA (Moynihan, 2022b), and Brazil (Peci, 2021). Such a strategy is also useful to both provide an interpretation of the Mexican case, while building some broader hypotheses about the way populist governments influence policymaking (George & Benett, 2005; Gerring, 2007; Widner et al., 2022).

The period covered in the analysis is from 2018 (including some months prior to Lopez-Obradors inauguration) to the middle of 2022 (when this manuscript was completed). The study forms part of a broader project which uses the current Mexican experience to better understand how populists in government affect the functioning of public institutions and policies (Dussauge-Laguna, 2021, 2022; Dussauge-Laguna & Aguilar, 2021).

Lopez-Obrador as a populist leader In his third attempt to win the presidency (2006 and 2012), Lopez-Obrador won the 2018 national elections with a significant margin (53.19%, more than double the second place, with 22.27%). His political party, MORENA (Movimiento de Regeneracion Nacional), also won most seats in both the chamber of deputies and the senate. This majority was further extended with the support of allied political parties. Therefore, in addition to the political legitimacy derived from his electoral triumph, during the first half of his administration (20182021) Lopez-Obrador enjoyed a qualified majority to pass legal and constitutional changes. Lopez-Obradors popularity has also remained highly positive throughout his government. While his approval levels are like those of former presidents (Moreno, 2022), Lopez-Obrador has skillfully used information from public polls to build a narrative which paints his policy proposals and actions as a reflection of the peoples will. He has also ably separated his personal popularity from the actual results of his governments policies (Castro, 2022; Loaeza, 2022). Lopez-Obrador has been commonly portrayed as a textbook populist politician by the media and scholars alike (Espino, 2021; Mendez et al., 2021; Renteria & Arellano, 2021; Solorio et al., 2021). During his long career, particularly since he was Mexico Citys mayor in 20002006 (Bruhn, 2013), Lopez-Obrador has used a polarizing rhetoric which divides between el pueblo(the people) and other political actors (e.g., the elites, opposition parties, or specific social groups; see his own books: Lopez-Obrador, 2019c, 2021). He has portrayed himself as the only political leader who listens to the people and knows what the latter needs (Heredia & Gomez, 2021). In addition, his rhetoric and policy proposals are full of moral undertones (e.g., one of his recent books is titled Hacia una economia moral, or Toward a Moral Economy; Lopez-Obrador, 2019c; Diaz-Cayeros, 2021). He has also maintained an ambiguous attitude regarding the rule of the law and has often stated justice is even more important than legality (Dussauge-Laguna, 2021; Lopez-Ayllon et al., 2020). Taking advantage of his political legitimacy (as well as the poor reputation and significant weaknesses that oppositions parties currently face), Lopez-Obrador has employed his populist rhetoric to publicly justify and legitimize several actions and reforms which many authors think are triggering a democratic backsliding process in Mexico (Becerra & Woldenberg, 2020; Peters & Somuano, 2021; Sanchez, 2020; Ugalde, 2022). He has extended his control over the legislative and has influenced some key and highly political decisions in the judiciary (e.g., the approval of controversial public consultations). He has publicly attacked constitutional autonomous agencies and has used his legislative majority to cut their budgets. He has appointed political loyalists in leadership positions in semiautonomous regulatory agencies and has stalled the appointment processes of board members in independent regulators (e.g., the Federal Economic Competition Commission and the Federal Telecommunications Institute). Last but not least, he is currently pursuing an electoral reform which could compromise the independence of electoral institutions. Apart from Lopez-Obradors effects on political and bureaucratic institutions, how does his populist governing style influence policymaking patterns? The following sections discuss each of the policy stages and study the extent to which his populist government has fulfilled populisms promises, or instead has materialized its perils.

Agenda-setting Lopez-Obrador has tried to link what he sees as the peoples will with his own governments agenda. From a rhetorical point of view, el pueblo (the people) is the most frequently used term in the presidents daily morning press conferences (Espino, 2021; Estrada, 2022; Leal, 2021). Indeed, almost any official communication (from legal initiatives to tweets) refers to the people. Second, Lopez-Obradors agenda (as represented by official documents produced by him or his office) does seem to address policy topics in line with his concerns regarding the poor, the needy, and other social groups usually portrayed by Lopez-Obrador as the people (Diaz-Cayeros, 2021; Lopez-Obrador, 2019a, 2019b, 2019c, 2021). For instance, the document 100 compromisos (100 commitments) produced during his electoral campaign and basis of his government program, discusses the need to give special attention to the indigenous people; provide scholarships to students from economically disadvantaged families and to young people, in poverty conditions, who enter or study university; and increase pension amounts for the elderly (Lopez-Obrador, 2019b). Similarly, the governments Plan Nacional de Desarrollo 20192024 (National Development Plan 20192024; DOF, 2019) announces the provision of subsidies and financial support for low-income groups; a variety of social programs (e.g., Sembrando Vida, Jovenes Construyendo el Futuro; see more on this below); and infrastructure megaprojects (e.g., a so-called Maya train for the southeast region, a new oil refinery) for underdeveloped areas of Mexico. On the other hand, Lopez-Obradors policymaking style has also raised important challenges to basic features of democratic agenda-setting processes. A first strategy he has put in place is that of systematically biasing the public agenda, so that all attention is placed on his own policy priorities. Before entering office, Lopez-Obrador organized a highly disputed referendum on ten topics which he considered a priority for his government (Lopez-Obrador, 2018). The list included his big infrastructure projects and social programs. With an unsurprising majority of Yes (89.9% out of about less than 1 million votes out of 90 million potential voters), the president used the results to publicly underline the legitimacy of his agenda. Since then, most of his public speeches and morning pressers have focused on items related to that initial list (Estrada, 2022). Even during the Covid-19 pandemic, Lopez-Obrador quickly passed overall responsibility on the subject to a senior official and thus mostly avoided the topic during his public appearances (Peci et al., 2022). Lopez-Obradors focus on his own agenda has been so tight that even relevant issues, such as the need to provide emergency financial support to families and small business during the pandemic, have been ignored (Cejudo et al., 2021; Chertorivski, 2020; Diaz-Cayeros, 2021). Other top public concerns registered in national representative surveys run by the Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI, or National Institute of Statistics and Geography; INEGI, 2020), such as environmental pollution or deficient hospital attention, have not received much attention from the president. A second and complementary strategy the president has used (very much in line with Bachrach and Baratzs conception of power; see Birkland, 2017) has been neglecting the social relevance of certain policy topics, and thus blocking the flow of public and institutional attention (and thereafter resources) toward them. There are several examples of this (Estrada, 2022). Since the beginning of his mandate, there have been complaints by several social groups about the lack of medicines in public hospitals, including those for treating children with cancer (Tello, 2022). Despite the availability of public information, personal testimonies, and several reports documenting the issue (Impunidad Cero, 2021; Suarez, 2021), the president has systematically sidelined the relevance of the subject. In fact, it was not until the third year of his administration that he timidly admitted the desabasto de medicinas (undersupply of drugs) was a real issue (Cullell, 2021). Lopez-Obrador has acted in a similar way on other topics, such as the significant increase during his term in the number of massacres (Mendiola, 2021) or femicides (Diaz, 2020). Lastly, another strategy pursued by Lopez-Obrador has been that of delegitimizing policy actors. The president has often attacked political actors, social groups, academic institutions, and even public officials, aiming to undermine their legitimacy to participate in the public sphere and their right to push for their own issues to be included in the governments agenda. During his daily conferencias mananeras (morning pressers; Espino, 2021; Estrada, 2022), Lopez-Obrador has stigmatized civil society organizations which conduct anti-corruption research (they receive international funding from USAID; El Financiero, 2021); academics and scientists who have protested against government intervention in their institutions or have asked for stronger support for scientific programs (not all of them can be trusted; Redaccion Animal Politico, 2020); and feminist groups who have asked for more security and better policies for women (they are manipulated by conservative groups; Forbes, 2021).

Policy formulation and design Lopez-Obrador has tried to legitimize the formulation of his government policies in two ways: referring to his profound understanding of the peoples needs (due to his long political career); and suggesting his policy decisions have been clearly supported by the people (Espino, 2021; Heredia & Gomez, 2021; Lopez-Obrador, 2019c, 2021). Ad hoc public consultations, such as the one implemented for canceling Mexico Citys new international airport project and the one about the presidents priority projects (implemented in October and November 2018, respectively) have been used to show the presidents concern about listening to the people, as well as the latters trust on him and his policy decisions. Apart from these efforts to establish a symbolic link between the people and his administrations policies, some of Lopez-Obradors programs do address the needs of vulnerable social groups and underdeveloped regions. The program Sembrando Vida provides subsidies to farmers so that they focus on reforestation activities (Gobierno de Mexico, 2020). The program Jovenes Construyendo el Futuro supports paid apprenticeships for young people without education or a job (Gobierno de Mexico, 2021). Similarly, the Maya train (located in the Yucatan Peninsula; https://www.trenmaya.gob.mx/) and the Dos Bocas oil refinery (in the state of Tabasco; https://dosbocas.energia.gob.mx/) have been planned as projects which may trigger development in poorer regions of the country. On the other hand, Lopez-Obradors approach to policy formulation and design also seems to go against common principles of democratic policymaking. Many of his policy initiatives are based on an ambiguous legality modus operandi. For instance, the two public consultations mentioned above took place before Lopez-Obrador was sworn into office. They were organized by his political supporters and did not follow the procedures established on the public consultation law (Woldenberg, 2018). In the case of Mexico City airports cancelation, Lopez-Obradors government even had to negotiate monetary settlements with investors to avoid future legal conflicts (Auditoria Superior de la Federacion, 2021). Similarly, the presidents big infrastructure projects have faced criticisms and legal challenges from environmental activists and social organizations (and resignations from public servants) because proper environmental impact assessments and permits are missing (El Universal, 2019; Reforma, 2022). Indeed, the construction of the Maya train has been recently suspended by a federal judge for those same reasons (De Miguel, 2022). Another example is that of Lopez-Obradors energy policy reforms, designed to favor state-owned enterprises. According to the Comision Federal de Competencia Economica (COFECE, or Federal Economic Competition Commission), these initiatives are both anticompetitive and unconstitutional (COFECE, 2021). After a highly divisive vote, the Supreme Court judges could not fully agree on declaring the constitutionality of the presidents new electricity law, thus leaving the task of solving future legal challenges to lower courts on a case-by-case basis (Cullel, 2022a). A second feature of Lopez-Obradors policy formulation style has been the making of personalistic and potentially clientelist policies. Instead of developing better public service infrastructure or building partnerships with the private and social sectors, Lopez-Obrador has introduced public programs that establish a direct link between his government and the people, with no intermediarios (brokers; see Lopez-Obrador, 2019c; Hernandez, 2020a; Jaramillo, 2021). Therefore, direct, unconditional, cash transfers have been the main policy tool to help elderly people, groups in extreme poverty, and elementary/middle school students enrolled in the public education system. Similarly, cash subsidies have been provided as incentive for farmers to plant trees (Sembrando Vida) and unemployed young people (Jovenes Construyendo el Futuro). Many of the transfers are commonly associated with Lopez-Obrador in public speeches and electoral campaigns, with some people even calling them AMLOs scholarships (Casar, 2019). A final strategy that could be observed in Lopez-Obradors policy formulation style is that of advancing ill-designed hunch-based policies, as opposed to evidence-informed ones (Ureste et al., 2021). Studies from public institutions, such as the Consejo Nacional de Evaluacion de la Politica Social (CONEVAL, or National Council for the Evaluation of Social Policy) have flagged the deficient design of Lopez-Obradors insignia initiatives, such as the Becas Benito Juarez(Gobierno de Mexico, 2022) and the other programs mentioned above. The policy design assessments have flagged the lack of clear causal chains between tools, procedures, and policy objectives; unclear target populations; absence of baselines and performance indicators (CONEVAL, 2020a, 2020b, 2020c). Several media reports have similarly uncovered negative social outcomes in Sembrando Vida (farmers apparently deforest their fields to then ask for public subsidies to plant trees; Sanders, 2021), and Jovenes Construyendo el Futuro (there has been alleged corruption, inadequate training activities, and political involvement of young apprentices; Roldan, 2021). More broadly, academics and think tanks have pointed at the regressive nature of Lopez-Obradors cash transfer programs: they are not adequately targeting poorer populations and are increasing social inequalities (Jaime, 2022; Jaramillo, 2021, 2022).

Implementation In line with his policy formulation and design strategies, president Lopez-Obrador has aimed to build a centralized model of implementation that shows him in control, while at the same time reinforces the linkage between his persona and the people. Centralization has been pursued through various tools. In the daily conferencias mananeras, the president gives orders, delineates policies, and coordinates his cabinets activities in presence of the media, showing that he is in charge of policy delivery (Espino, 2021; Estrada, 2022). Less publicly but equally relevant has been the centralization of budgetary decisions, including the allocation of funds across federal institutions, budgetary cuts, and the redistribution of funds across policy sectors, all of which should in principle be decided by the chamber of deputies, but are currently controlled by the president and his legislative majority (Nunez, 2021). Centralization has been similarly pursued in relationships with state governments, for which a new structure of 32 superdelegados (super delegates) was established and reports directly to the presidents office (Redaccion Animal Politico, 2018). However, other implementation strategies pursued by Lopez-Obrador have run against what one would expect in democratic environments. A first one has been performative implementation, or how the president repeatedly states in public (e.g., in his press conferences) that him and his government are doing everything they can to address a public problem, while in reality public action on the subject is rather limited or deficient. The clearest example of this has been corruption control. Lopez-Obradors political campaign was built on criticizing the corruption of previous governments. Indeed, corruption is the second most used term during his conferencias mananeras (Estrada, 2022). However, his administration has not developed an effective anti-corruption strategy (Peschard, 2020). In fact, Lopez-Obradors government has undermined the existing anti-corruption system (Loreto, 2021). At the same time, corruption perceptions (Transparencia Mexicana, 2022) and experiences (as measured by the National Statistics Agency; INEGI, 2022) have remained at the levels of Pena Nietos administration, while corruption scandals in Lopez-Obradors entourage have become frequent (Estrada, 2021; Rubi, 2022). Another example can be found in the federal governments response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Publicly, the president built a narrative about having everything under control (Peci et al., 2022). Yet Mexico has had one of the worlds highest rates of Covid-19 deaths and excess mortality levels (see Our World in Data). This has been clearly due to the governments poor crisis response (Ximenez-Fyvie, 2020; Institute for Global Health Sciences, 2021; Chertorivski, 2020; Ponce de Leon & Rodriguez, 2021). A second strategy often used by the president is that of symbolic delivery, which is presenting an unfinished project as completed. A good example of this is the inauguration of the Aeropuerto Internacional Felipe Angeles (AIFA, or Felipe Angeles International Airport). After canceling Mexico Citys new international airport project, Lopez-Obrador said he would build a cheaper and better one on the grounds of the military airport in Santa Lucia. As promised, the AIFA was inaugurated on March 21, 2022, and a government sponsored documentary introduced it as an obra del pueblo (artcraft by the people; Garlem, 2022). However, essential components of this megaproject (such as transport connections to Mexico City) are yet to be built. There are no international flights (except for some charters and occasional flights from Venezuela), and no international airline plans to use the AIFA soon. Furthermore, the AIFA will never reach the canceled airports projected capacity; the feasibility of having simultaneous operations with Mexico Citys old airport is disputed; and its true construction costs are probably much higher than promised (Auditoria Superior de la Federacion, 2021; Cullell, 2022b; Van Bedolla, 2021). A similar example is the oil refinery in Dos Bocas, Tabasco, which was inaugurated on July, 2, 2022 (Presidencia de la Republica, 2022). However, per the presidents own admission, the refinery will not be operational until 2023. A third strategy Lopez-Obrador has pursued is using parallel administrative structures, that is organizations that either were not originally part of the government apparatus, or have very different institutional missions, to bypass existing administrative channels and exert control more directly. The Servidores de la Nacion is a good example of this (Hernandez, 2019). Initially created as a group to promote voting for Lopez-Obrador in the 2018 elections, its members now perform a variety of public functions, particularly in the implementation of social programs (e.g., collecting information from beneficiaries, delivering funds, etc.). Despite their functions, the Servidores de la Nacion work in coordination with the office of the president and not the ministry of social affairs (Secretaria de Bienestar). Another example can be found in the growing militarization of civilian responsibilities (Castaneda & Alvarado, 2021; Flores, 2020; Zepeda, 2021). Lopez-Obrador has assigned an increasing number of projects, tasks, and positions to the army and the navy, including control over ports; the construction and management of the AIFAand the Maya train (including use of all profits); and responsibility over the newly established Guardia Nacional (a body of 100,000 public security forces which substituted the federal police; Peralta, 2021). Last but not least, Lopez-Obrador has furthered implementation making use of extensive networks of loyalists. As the president has declared, he prefers personnel that shows blind loyalty to the cuarta transformacions (fourth transformation) political project (Lopez, 2019c; Morales, 2020). The Servidores de la Nacion are a good example of this, but so are the superdelegados that represent his government in each state and are accountable to him (Hernandez, 2019; Monroy, 2020). Patronage has been used (as expected) in high level positions across the federal bureaucracy, but several media reports have also shown its regular use within the structure of the federal civil service system. Moreover, the use of loyalists has been extended to leadership positions in semi-independent regulatory agencies in the energy sector (a priority area for the president Dussauge-Laguna & Aguilar, 2021; Lopez-Obrador, 2021), as well as in public research institutes (where scientific communities have been highly critical of the government's policies).

Evaluation Lopez-Obrador has followed a clearly populist approach to evaluation, which is based on the frequent use of public meetings to present his governments results to the people. Apart from the annual state of the union addresses to the congress, the president delivers to the people quarterly reports and yearly informes (reports, to commemorate his 2018 electoral triumph). All of these combine political propaganda and a description of commitments he has fulfilled. These include actions (e.g., the rehabilitation of tarmacs in Mexico Citys airport has begun), broad statements (e.g., neither torture nor any other human rights violation will be tolerated), performance indicators (e.g., 7,500,000 elderly people [] have received their pensions), or alleged accomplishments (e.g., corruption is no longer tolerated nor allowed; Lopez-Obrador, 2019a). As in the case of policy design processes, Lopez-Obrador seems to favor an approach to evaluation that is unmediated, direct to the people. In addition, the president has followed some peculiar strategies, such as the use of an alternative facts model of evaluation, in clear contrast to an evidence-informed one. When Lopez-Obrador has been questioned by reporters or academics about the results or costs of his governments policies (e.g., employment levels, public security figures, the new airports expenses), he usually responds that he has other data (Arista, 2021; Espino, 2021; Garduno & Jimenez, 2021). This happens even when questions and criticisms are grounded on official data from public agencies, such as the National Statistics Agency (INEGI), the CONEVAL, or federal government ministries. An illustrative example was the presidents replies to public criticisms during the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite reports from international organizations and op-eds from political analysts about the high numbers of deaths (based on official data from the federal ministry of health), Lopez-Obrador repeatedly dismissed the veracity of such commentaries. He actually referred to his governments crisis management as responsible and effective, and even argued it was an example to the world (Lopez-Obrador, 2020). A closely related strategy has been that of ignoring the added value of assessment and evaluation tools. As mentioned above, Lopez-Obradors government has shown a disregard for ex ante mechanisms needed to assess the feasibility and environmental impacts of his governments megaprojects, particularly the Dos Bocas oil refinery (Garcia, 2021) and the Maya train (Carabana, 2020). Better regulation procedures used to assess the impact of new regulations have been also ignored, as in the case of the regulatory changes introduced to favor the state-owned electricity company (Saldana, 2020). When the shortcomings of social programs have been flagged by publicly funded evaluations, government officials have replied with disdain, arguing that evaluation methodologies are useless, or that evaluators did not understand how the programs address the needs of the people (Arteta et al., 2020). Lastly, another presidential strategy has been that of disqualifying experts. As in the delegitimization of certain actors during the agenda-setting process, Lopez-Obrador has regularly disqualified public intellectuals, non-governmental actors, think tank analysist, and any other actor who questions his policies rationale or disputes their level of success. The president refers to them as conservadores (conservatives), who are critical because they have lost their privilegios (privileges) and cannot simply accept the peoples will (Espino, 2021). Scientific experts, for instance, have been labeled potentially corrupt (Morales & Villa y Cana, 2020), and their advice on subjects such as the management of the pandemic has been ignored. Assessments from international rating agencies on the governments financial management have been challenged by Lopez-Obrador, who argues they are using methodologies from the neoliberal era that do not account for the corruption variable (Albarran et al., 2019).
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Y.K. Almoayyed & Sons, sole distributor of Nissan Vehicles in Bahrain, has announced the arrival of their first female Bahraini intern, Asma Mohammed Ashfaq, who will be working as a car technician at Nissan Service Centre, Sitra.

Asmas two-month internship will allow her to further her knowledge of diagnostics and automotive experience. Until recently, this job was traditionally perceived as suitable only for men.

However, times are changing, and Asmas joining is breaking the gender barrier. "We are thrilled to welcome Asma to our team and to be part of her journey in the automotive industry," said Abraham John, Service Head of Nissan Bahrain.

"We believe that diversity and inclusion are essential to the success of any organisation, and we are committed to providing opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds to pursue their passions and achieve their goals," he added.

Asmas internship will provide her with hands-on experience in the field of automotive technology and diagnostics. A team of experienced technicians will work closely with Asma to ensure that she gains the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the industry.
TORONTO, Aug. 8, 2023 /CNW/ - August marks Children's Eye Health and Safety Month, and as good vision is significantly important for a child's growth and well-being, the Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS) wants to raise awareness about the importance of eye exams and highlight the work that's being done by the Indigenous Children Eye Examination (ICEE) project. To date, ICEE has helped provide eye care to over 6,000 Indigenous children in the towns of Moosonee, Moose Cree First Nation, Attawapiskat First Nation, Fort Albany First Nation, Kashechewan First Nation, Weenusk First Nation and, most recently, Ile-a-la-Crosse across Canada.

Indigenous Children Eye Examination (ICEE) Project (CNW Group/Canadian Ophthalmological Society)

ICEE, founded by COS member and pediatric ophthalmologist Dr. Kourosh Sabri, is developing a first-of-its-kind, self-sustaining model of eye care for Indigenous children and youth aged six months to 18 years. This model is designed to benefit Indigenous children in underserved areas of Canada and involves training local youth to assess children for eye problems. The next trip to Attawapiskat First Nation, scheduled for September 15-17, will include a team of five ICEE members, who will be providing training to local youth and will also assess and treat children for possible eye problems.

"Eye screening for children is crucial to detect issues that may go under the radar and cause problems later on in life," says Dr. Kourosh Sabri, Pediatric Ophthalmologist & Strabismologist and founder of ICEE. "Many children in these Indigenous communities have to travel over one hour by plane to see an eye care professional. Through the ICEE program, we discovered that over 50 per cent of the Indigenous children in these communities have never had an eye exam before. It is critical to develop a national vision screening strategy to prevent long-lasting vision loss, especially in children. ICEE aims to become the national outreach program for delivering eye care to Indigenous children living in the remote and under-served parts of Canada."

According to a 2022 survey by the COS , half of Canadians report that they have their children's eyes checked every two years (53 per cent), and watch for warning signs such as squinting, holding objects very close to their eyes, eye rubbing, sensitivity to light or poor hand-eye coordination (50 per cent). With only half of Canadians monitoring their children's vision and recognizing warning signs, it is crucial to raise awareness by promoting regular eye check-ups to safeguard their visual well-being.

"Given that vision plays a crucial role in a child's overall development, maintaining good eye health should be a priority," says Dr. Vivian Hill, Pediatric Ophthalmologist and Strabismologist and Chair, Council on Advocacy, Canadian Ophthalmological Society. "An eye exam by an eye care professional can help detect common childhood vision problems like refractive errors, strabismus and more, so if caught early and treated effectively, it can avoid more serious problems in later years."

For Children's Eye Health and Safety Month, the Canadian Ophthalmological Society outlines some of the common vision disorders among children:

Strabismus: A vision disorder in which one or both eyes are not properly aligned when focusing on an object. The eye can turn in, out, up or down and is typically caused by poor eye muscle control.

Amblyopia: Commonly known as lazy eye, a vision disorder resulting in decreased vision in one or both eyes due to insufficient visual stimulation of the visual pathways. Amblyopia can be caused by strabismus, refractive errors and visual deprivation (e.g., cataracts, ptosis, etc.).

Refractive errors: A vision disorder in which the shape of the eye prevents a focused image from forming on the retina, causing blurry vision at either near or far distances. The types of refractive errors include:

Myopia (distance images are blurry),



Hyperopia (close-up images are blurry),



Astigmatism (blurry and stretched out images), and



Anisometropia (difference in refraction between the two eyes)

For more information on eye health, visit seethepossibilities.ca .

About Canadian Ophthalmological Society

The Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS) is the national, recognized authority on eye and vision care in Canada. As eye physicians and surgeons, we are committed to assuring the provision of optimal medical and surgical eye care for all Canadians by promoting excellence in ophthalmology and by providing services to support our members in practice. Our membership includes over 900 ophthalmologists and 200 ophthalmology residents. We work collaboratively with government, other national and international specialty societies, our academic communities (ACUPO), our provincial partners and affiliates and other eye care professionals and patient groups to advocate for health policy in Canada in the area of eye and vision health. COS is an accredited, award-winning provider of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) through the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) and is an affiliate of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA). For more information, visit cos-sco.ca .

About Indigenous Children Eye Examination

The Indigenous Children Eye Examination (ICEE), a national project started in 2020, aims to bring self-sustaining, long-term eye care to Indigenous children in Canada by providing vision screenings and eye exams for children aged six months to 18 years across the country. By training local nursing staff and members of the communities served, ICEE ensures follow-up can be done locally, creating a sustainable model for pediatric eye care. For more information, visit iceenow.ca .

For media inquiries and more information, please contact:

Bojana Duric, [email protected], BlueSky Communications

SOURCE Canadian Ophthalmological Society
HALIFAX, NS, Aug. 8, 2023 /CNW/ - Renewing the Canadian Coast Guard's fleet ensures our personnel can continue carrying out critical work with modern and safe equipment, while creating good skilled jobs in our shipbuilding and marine industries across the country.

Canadian Coast Guards Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships Specifications (CNW Group/Canadian Coast Guard)

Today, Mike Kelloway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard was joined by the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities to celebrate the steel cutting milestone on the first of the two future Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships for the Canadian Coast Guard, marking the official start of construction of the vessel undertaken by Irving Shipbuilding Inc. from Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The Canadian Coast Guard's new Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships will operate as a primary platform to support fisheries enforcement missions on Canada's east coast, including Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization patrols. They will also support search and rescue and icebreaking operations on the east coast, strengthening Canada's presence in the low Arctic.

In addition to their primary missions, the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships will be able to support environmental response and aids to navigation, allowing greater flexibility and adaptability for the Canadian Coast Guard's operations. Outfitted with science equipment and a medical facility onboard, these modern and versatile ships will be able to conduct scientific research and support humanitarian assistance missions.

The two ships are built under the National Shipbuilding Strategy's large vessels construction pillar. Through the National Shipbuilding Strategy, the Government of Canada continues to make significant investments in modernizing the Canadian Coast Guard fleet while creating good skilled jobs in our shipbuilding and marine industries across the country.

The Canadian Coast Guard's Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships project will contribute to more than $125M annually to Canada's GDP, and create or maintain close to 1,250 jobs annually in the Canadian shipbuilding industry over the 2022-2030 period.

The first Canadian Coast Guard Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship is expected to be delivered in 2026. By 2027, the Canadian Coast Guard's fleet is expected to include two new Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships.

Quotes

"Our Coast Guard members are essential in keeping our waterways clean, safe and accessible. Today, as we celebrate the start of the construction of the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships, we are proud to invest in the Canadian Coast Guard's fleet of the future and provide state-of-the-art equipment to our personnel."

The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard

"Through the National Shipbuilding Strategy, the Government of Canada is providing the Canadian Coast Guard with the ships needed to carry out work for Canadians, while creating skilled jobs in our shipbuilding and marine industries across the country. The start of construction on the Coast Guard's first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship is a milestone worth celebrating. It will give Coast Guard members greater capability to deliver critical services on a wide range of missions."

The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement Canada

"Today's announcement will improve critical project infrastructure to enhance and accelerate construction of the Canadian Surface Combatants. Through the National Shipbuilding Strategy, our government is helping to restore our shipyards, rebuild our marine industry and create good Canadian jobs, including right here in Nova Scotia, while ensuring our sovereignty and protecting our interests at home and abroad. "

The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

"Today marks an important milestone for the Canadian Coast Guard as construction of our first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship officially begins. With their versatility and endurance, these vessels will serve Canada as an important platform for patrol, icebreaking operations, and science research, while being able to carry out a variety of other vital missions."

Mario Pelletier, Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard

"The official construction start of Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship 7, the first of two which will be delivered to the Canadian Coast Guard, is an important milestone for the Halifax Shipyard. We're proud to be building this ship right here in Atlantic Canada, as part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy, in support of Canada and our Coast Guard partners."

Dirk Lesko, President of Irving Shipbuilding Inc.

Quick Facts

In May 2019 , the Government of Canada announced that, as part of an investment to renew the Canadian Coast Guard fleet, Irving Shipbuilding Inc. would build 2 Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships for the Canadian Coast Guard in addition to the six being built for the Royal Canadian Navy. The ships will be adapted to the Canadian Coast Guard's needs, including modifications to the bridge layout, to the accommodations and to mission spaces.





, the Government of announced that, as part of an investment to renew the Canadian Coast Guard fleet, Irving Shipbuilding Inc. would build 2 Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships for the Canadian Coast Guard in addition to the six being built for the Royal Canadian Navy. The ships will be adapted to the Canadian Coast Guard's needs, including modifications to the bridge layout, to the accommodations and to mission spaces. The Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships will replace two of the Canadian Coast Guard's existing five Offshore Patrol Vessels. The vessels are 103 metres long, 19 metres beam, with approximately 6,677 metric tons displacement.





To date, three large vessels and 16 small vessels have been delivered to the Canadian Coast Guard under the National Shipbuilding Strategy. This includes three Offshore Fishery Science Vessels, 14 Search and Rescue lifeboats and two Channel Survey and Sounding Vessels.





In November 2019 , the engineering design contract for the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships project was awarded to Irving Shipbuilding Inc. In November 2022 , the build contract was amended to include the construction of the two AOPS for the Canadian Coast Guard, in addition to the six AOPS being built for the Royal Canadian Navy.

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Backgrounder: Canadian Coast Guard's Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships

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Backgrounder: Canadian Coast Guard's Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships

As part of its fleet renewal plan, the Canadian Coast Guard is acquiring two Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) to replace two of the five existing offshore patrol vessels. The new AOPS will support offshore patrol of international fisheries surveillance and Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization patrols, and offshore search and rescue on Canada's east coast and in the Arctic.

The AOPS are versatile and modern ships that will allow greater flexibility and adaptability for Canadian Coast Guard's operations, including icebreaking, science research, humanitarian assistance and aids to navigation.

The AOPS are designed with a hull form and strength capable of supporting icebreaking operations in the low Arctic during the summer and on the east coast during the winter. They are also outfitted with a medical cabin and shipping container accommodation, which allow the vessels to provide humanitarian assistance and support resupply operations to communities when needed. Equipped with a robust crane and A-frame on the stern of the ship, the AOPS will be capable of supporting aid to navigation operations and science research, providing greater capacity for important science missions and helping protecting our waters as part of Canada's Oceans Protection Plan.

Project Summary

In 2019, Irving Shipbuilding Inc. from Halifax, Nova Scotia was awarded the contract for the engineering design review for the AOPS variants for the Canadian Coast Guard. In November 2022, the build contract was amended to include the construction of the two AOPS for the Canadian Coast Guard, in addition to the six AOPS being built for the Royal Canadian Navy. Construction of the first AOPS for the Canadian Coast Guard officially began on August 8, 2023, marked by the steel cutting ceremony at Irving Shipbuilding Inc.

The construction of the AOPS falls under the Large Vessels construction pillar of the National Shipbuilding Strategy. Their construction represents an important contribution to the Government of Canada's efforts to renew the Canadian Coast Guard fleet and revitalize the Canadian shipbuilding industry, in addition to equipping Canadian Coast Guard personnel with the ships they need to carry out their essential work across the country.

The National Shipbuilding Strategy is a long-term investment that is delivering results now: ships for the Canadian Coast Guard and good jobs for Canadians working in the shipbuilding and marine sectors. To date, three large vessels and numerous small vessels have been delivered to the Canadian Coast Guard, and many more are under construction across Canada.

It is expected that the first AOPS will be delivered to the Canadian Coast Guard in 2026, followed by the second planned delivery in 2027.

Vessel modifications for the Canadian Coast Guard

The Canadian Coast Guard's AOPS will be built on the basis of the Royal Canadian Navy's base design of the ship and will be modified to comply with the requirements for civilian vessels and meet Canadian Coast Guard needs to conduct its range of missions and operations.

These vessel modifications include removal of weapons, as well as changes to the bridge layout, to the accommodations, to mission spaces, to the working deck, and tailoring of selected spaces for science missions. Main components of the vessel such as hull, engines and propulsive systems will remain unchanged.

The AOPS procurement project will allow better cooperation between the Navy and the Coast Guard for offshore patrol and border presence while promoting learning and skill-sharing of the crews who will be working on these state-of-the-art ships.

Vessels general specifications

The AOPS are highly capable and versatile ships in comparison to the existing offshore patrol vessels, enabling them to perform as an at-sea operations centre. The AOPS can operate beyond 120 nautical miles including outside the Exclusive Economic Zone, have a top speed of 17 knots and can stay at sea for up to 48 days.

Other main specifications of the ships include:

103 metres long

19 metres beam

approximately 6,677 metric tons displacement

can accommodate a crew of 31 members with berths for 57 in total

available command and control spaces

equipped with 20-tonne crane in the back of the vessel to support aids to navigation operations, and an A-frame designed to support science missions, and;

shipping container capability for resupply missions.

The new AOPS have a helicopter pad and hangar that will allow the ships to accommodate both light (Bell 429) and medium lift (Bell 412 EPI) Canadian Coast Guard helicopters, as well as National Defence's Cyclone helicopters. This advanced helicopter capability will increase cooperation and sharing of information with the Royal Canadian Navy to help protect lives at sea and strengthen border security on our coasts.

Stay Connected

Follow the Canadian Coast Guard on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Canadian Coast Guard

For further information: Matthew Dillon, Director of Communications, Office of the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, 613-992-3474, [email protected]; Media Relations, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 613-990-7537, [email protected]
Filmmaker Louis Malle cut his teeth on making movies during the French New Wave, and he brought that politically-charged style to the US when he emigrated in the 1970s. His work is filled with depictions of controversial and morally ambiguous acts. Although he was less of an iconoclast than his French New Wave peers, Malle still opted to delve into the psychic underpinnings of his stories, and Damage is no exception to that observation. As a matter of fact, Damage is much less concerned with matters of sex than the role of physical passion when its disconnected from anything mentally.

Such hot passion is given the proper stage in Damage, which posits matters of sexuality against better judgment without letting the two main players create a world in which they can live out their desires. Their flagrant affair has collateral damage, and thats reflected by all the normal people dealing with the consequences. And Malles assured direction gives way to that hot passion in some shocking ways. These matters of flesh arent to be bought into but feared and revered.

Dr. Stephen Fleming (Jeremy Irons), a successful member of Parliament, lives in London with his wife Ingrid (Miranda Richardson) and daughter Sally (Gemma Clarke). His son, a young and successful journalist named Martyn (Rupert Graves), brings home Anna Barton (Juliette Binoche), the daughter of a British diplomat and someone to whom Stephen is attracted and strikes up sexual tension immediately. Although Anna is Martyns girlfriend, both Martyn and Ingrid are completely unaware of the sexual tension that threatens to cause, well, damage!

Damage is very, very unique when compared to its peers in the 1990s, like Paul Schraders The Comfort of Strangers and the Wachowski Sisters' Bound, in that its much more concerned with the downbeat notions of romance and passion. The affair between Stephen and Anna is not one filled with mutual love or affection, its one driven by destructive desire. Jeremy Irons is terrific as an aristocrat that thinks himself to be immune to certain consequences. His affair with Anna sucks the life out of him, looking more and more gaunt as the film goes on. And the central sex scene that the film is well known for? Its like watching two people recede inside one another in violent convulsions. Theres nothing quite like it.

For fans of erotically-charged dramas, theres much to love in Damage, and I highly recommend it to anyone who has not seen it before. The ways in which it sidesteps the easy conclusions of affairs separate it from the pack, as does Malles expansive, gorgeous emotional scope.

Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray

Jeremy Irons and Juliette Binoche cause some emotional damage in Damage, presented here with a one-disc Blu-ray edition from Imprint Films. The Blu-ray is a BD50 and comes housed in a thick clear case and a slipcase over it. The disc boots up to a standard menu screen with options to play the film, set up audio and video, plus browse special features.
Enyinnaya Abaribe, senator representing Abia south, says the sit-at-home order by Simon Ekpa, a self-acclaimed disciple of Nnamdi Kanu, has become a scheme for making money.

In an interview with Channels Television, Abaribe said Ekpa and his cohorts have refused to reverse the policy because they are making profits from it.

In a letter posted on Twitter in July by Aloy Ejimakor, special counsel to Kanu, the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), asked Ekpa to desist from calling for further sit-at-home.

Reacting to the letter, Ekpa said Kanu cannot write such a letter, adding that it is not only a joke but an insult taken too far.

Speaking on the development, Abaribe said the south-east leaders have agreed to meet with the federal government over the continued detention of Kanu.

Last week, there was a hand-written message from him (Kanu), Abaribe said.

Of course, the man who is profiting from it, who is far away in Finland, denounced it and put more conditions saying they will never stop it until we (south-east leaders) see him in Finland.

We can now see that because they profit from this, they are not going to stop it because it has become a money-making venture.

We have seen adverts on the internet asking people to contribute money for the liberation of Biafra.

Now, what do we do? We have to engage the government because there are also some subsisting issues on the ground.

The court had granted him his freedom and the government applied to the same appeal court for stay of execution and appeal to the supreme court. The supreme court has not taken any decision.

Part of the resolution is that we are going to engage everyone.

We are going to engage the government at the same time on how we can make a solution that is favourable to all.




A delegation consisting of the representatives of the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the United Nations will on Tuesday travel to Niger to meet with coup leaders.





French broadcaster RFI reported that the delegation is set to arrive in the Nigerien capital city of Niamey in the coming hours to hold talks with the rebels on behalf of the international community.





The move was to restore the countrys disbanded institutions, the broadcaster reported.





According to the broadcaster, the Nigerian government had also boasted that Nigeria could provide more than half of the 25,000 troops for the invasion of Niger if necessary, citing a Nigerian official.





It added that military from Senegal, Benin and Cote dIvoire could also participate in the operation.





On 26 July 2023, a coup detat occurred in Niger when the countrys presidential guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum and presidential guard commander General Abdourahamane Tchiani proclaimed himself the leader of a new military junta.





The presidential guard thereby closed the countrys borders, suspended state institutions, and declared a curfew.





This was the fifth military coup detat since the country gained independence from France in 1960 and the first since 2010.





On 6 August, 57,000 soldiers were counted among the putschists and 245,000 on the ECOWAS side, with France refusing to intervene.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced sanctions against individuals collaborating with the military junta in the Republic of Niger.

The leadership of the regional body, on Tuesday, resolved to impose financial sanctions on the individuals and entities believed to be supporting the military junta in the Francophone country.

Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on media and publicity, told state house correspondents that the ECOWAS chairman has directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to implement the financial sanctions on those concerned.

The presidential spokesperson did not specify the sanctions and also did not reveal the identities of the individuals affected.

Mr President has directed the acting CBN governor to levy another slate of sanctions against entities and individuals associated with the military junta in Niger public, he said.

I said that intentionally I didnt make a mistake, because I was given permission to make that statement and I emphasised that this is not an individual action taken by an individual president on behalf of an individual nation.

This is an action taken yes, by the ECOWAS chairman who is the president of Nigeria, but standing on the authority provided by the consensus resolution of all ECOWAS members and heads of state with regard to financial sanctions being levied by ECOWAS members states against the military junta in Niger Republic.

There is an authority that we are standing on. It is not the Nigerian governments authority, it is the authority of the resolution passed in public before now.

Ngelale said the seven-day ultimatum issued against the military junta is not a personal decision taken by Tinubu but that of ECOWAS.

Concerning the ultimatum given to the military Junta in Niger Republic, it is an ECOWAS mandate, and it is not a Nigerian ultimatum. It is not a Nigerian mandate, he said.

And the office of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, also serving as the chairman of ECOWAS, to emphasise this point, that due to certain domestic and international media coverage, tending toward personalisation of the ECOWAS sub-regional position to his person and to our nation individually.

It is because of this that Mr President has deemed it necessary to state unequivocally that the mandate and ultimatum issued by ECOWAS is that of ECOWAS position.

Following the military takeover in Niger Republic, ECOWAS issued a seven-day ultimatum to the junta to reinstate the ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.

Despite pressures from the organisation and other countries, the military leaders in the country have refused to reinstate Bazoum.

On Thursday, ECOWAS leaders will reconvene to discuss the crisis in Niger Republic
The Department of State Services (DSS) says the agency obtained a detention order to keep Godwin Emefiele, the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in its custody.

The secret police said the detention order was gotten from a magistrate court immediately after the July 27 court case.

Edward Okpe, a judge at the high court in Abuja, had on July 27 dismissed an application by the DSS seeking to further detain Emefiele for 14 days.

In the application filed by the service, the agency alleged that it has discovered new evidence against the suspended CBN governor.

Speaking in an opinion published on Thursday, Peter Afunanya, DSS spokesperson, said the July 27 court case was dismissed because the agency withdrew the application.

Afunanya said the secret police has always obeyed court orders in the handling of Emefieles case.

On the face-off between DSS operatives and prison officials, he said the findings from the preliminary investigation of the incident are quite shocking.

Emefiele was arraigned before Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the federal high court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on 25th July 2023 for illegal possession of arms and ammunition, the DSS spokesperson said.

The service had long issued a press statement over the incident that happened at the court between its staff and those of Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) and pledged to investigate it.

Though the investigation is ongoing, the preliminary findings are quite shocking considering the ignoble roles played by some public officials.

As normal with criminal investigations, security agencies re-arrest suspects when there is adequate suspicion of commission of a crime or as may be revealed by an ongoing investigation.

Emefiele was re-arrested on the basis of this. Even though the re-arrest was tainted by the overzealousness of personnel of the service and NCoS, it was nonetheless legally procedural.

Later, the service applied for an ex parte order at the FCT high court presided by Justice Edward Okpe (and not Justice Muazu as erroneously and massively reported in the media) to detain Emefiele for 14 days.

Many had gone to town with stories of DSS fragrant disobedience to court orders especially in view of the last episodes at the high courts in Lagos and Abuja.

With what played out at the court on 27th July 2023 under Justice Okpe, the service immediately applied and obtained a detention order from a magistrate court.

So, Emefiele is legally detained. For reasons that the Emefiele case is subjudice, the service will restrain from making further comments on the subject matter.

BACKGROUND

On July 25, Emefiele was arraigned on a two-count charge over illegal possession of firearms at a federal high court in Ikoyi and was granted N20 million bail.

Nicholas Oweibo, the presiding judge, had ordered that Emefiele should be kept in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Service pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions.

But the DSS insisted that Emefiele must return to its custody  a development that led to the face-off between the secret police and prison officials.

After the face-off, DSS rearrested Emefiele at the court premises.
Haruna Kolo, a former staff of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) has alleged that job seekers paid millions of naira into his personal accounts for him to take to Muheeba Dankaka, chairman of the agency.

Kolo spoke on Monday while appearing before the investigative hearing of the house of representatives ad hoc committee probing job racketeering in federal ministries, departments and agencies of government.

Kolo, who now works with the Assets Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON), said Dankaka appointed him as her chief protocol officer, while he was serving at FCC.

He told the panel that he was never involved in selling job offers, adding that he only acted on the instructions of Dankaka.

The money is always sent to my account which I subsequently cashed to remit in cash, Kolo said.

My going to AMCON was her personal favour to me and others that left FCC at the time.

However, Dankaka denied the allegation, noting that it was a conspiracy between Kolo and the other commissioners of the commission to tarnish her image.

Subsequently, Dankaka brought out a copy of the Holy Quran to swear that she never collected money from Kolo as proceeds of job racketeering.

Meanwhile, Yusuf Gagdi, chairman of the panel, said the committee is in possession of evidence that Kolo had N38.5 million in his account, which he withdrew from point of sale (POS) terminals.

He said the sum of N75 million was in Kolos accounts in Access Bank, UBA and Eco Bank as proceeds of job racketeering

Kolo was serving as a front for collecting money for job recruitments in the commission as against the service, financial regulation and the extant law, Gagdi said.

This committee will have to be judicial in nature. We knew why we asked Kolo to give us evidence. We must come out straight; we arent even talking about racketeering in other MDAs.

Kolo you are not supposed to leave here without being arrested. As a civil servant, you are not supposed to have such a huge amount in your account.
The federal government says it will no longer pursue the contempt suit filed against the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

On July 26, NLC issued a seven-day ultimatum to the federal government to reverse all anti-poor and insensitive policies.

The policies, the union said, include the recent hike in the price of petrol, and the sudden increase in public school fees, among others.

The labour movements warned that they would go on strike and mass protests if the government failed to hearken to their demands.

However, the federal government said the unions were restrained by an order of the national industrial court from embarking on any industrial action regarding the removal of the petrol subsidy.

The government also said the order prohibited the NLC and affiliates from holding protests across the country.

Despite the governments stance, organised labour led its members to nationwide protests on Wednesday.

Consequently, the federal government initiated contempt proceeding against the unions for allegedly defying the order restraining them from embarking on industrial action.

The notice of consequences of disobedience to order of the court also called form 48 was filed before the national industrial court in Abuja.

The protest was later suspended on Thursday after leaders of the unions met with President Bola Tinubu at the presidential villa, Abuja.

In a letter addressed to Femi Falana, NLC counsel, on Monday, Beatrice Jedy-Agba, solicitor-general of the federation, said the protests led to disruption of work and the eventual pulling down of the gate of the national assembly.

The foregoing prompted the ministry to initiate contempt proceedings by filing Form 48 on the same 2nd August 2023 in accordance with section 72 of the Sheriffs and civil process act and order 9 rule 13 of the judgment (enforcement) rules.

It is trite that issuance of Form 48 is just the starting point in contempt proceedings which will only crystalise upon the issuance of Form 49 and the consequential committal order.

Upon the intervention of his excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the decision of the labour unions to call off their industrial action after meetings with the president and leadership of the national assembly, this ministry did not proceed further with the contempt proceedings, which would have required the issuance of Form 49 within two days of the issuance of Form 48.

It is self-evident that the non-issuance of Form 49 as of 4th August 2023, renders the contempt proceedings inchoate.
Quokkas are definitely some of the absolute cutest creatures on the planetand the quokkas in this video who are watching the smooth moves of professional juggler and circus performer Luke Forrester are some of the most adorable I've seen. Forrester, who lives in Perth, Western Australia, visited Rottnest Islanda protected nature reserve just off the coast of Perth that's one of the only places in the world where quokkas live (they are only found in Western Australia)to see how they would react to his juggling. He explains:

I went on a trip to Rottnest Island and discovered quokkas are the best (and cutest) audience in the world.

Well, spoiler alertthey loved it! While watching, they reach out their tiny hands, as if they are trying to imitate the juggling moves, or maybe they're trying to grab the objects bouncing up and down. At any rate, they are as gorgeous as can be! Enjoy!

For more of Luke Forrester's juggling, check out his Instagram.




Nigers junta on Tuesday rejected the latest diplomatic mission from African countries aimed at restoring constitutional order after a July 26 coup.





NAN reports that the junta resisted pressure from the United States and the United Nations to come to the negotiating table.





Heads of State from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are preparing for a summit on Thursday to discuss their standoff with the Niger junta, which defied an Aug. 6 deadline to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.





The possibility of military intervention will be discussed but ECOWAS has said it is a last resort.





The African Union (AU) sent a joint mission with representatives of the UN and ECOWAS to Niger on Tuesday but they were denied permission to enter the country by the junta, which has closed Nigers airspace, French magazine Jeune Afrique reported.
Senior US diplomat, Victoria Nuland has met with senior leaders of the military junta in Niger.

The US State Department confirmed this on Monday.

Nuland, the acting deputy secretary of state, travelled to Niamey to meet with the armed forces new chief of staff, General Moussa Salaou Barmou, and three other members of the military junta.

She expressed Washingtons grave concern regarding developments in Niger and our resolute commitment to supporting democracy and constitutional order, U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.

During the meeting Nuland outlined what was at stake if Niger did not respect its own constitutional order, Miller said.

This includes the potential loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in economic and security support for the people of Niger, she highlighted.

She described the more-than-two-hour conversation as extremely frank and at times quite difficult in a call with reporters.

Nulands request to meet with ousted and detained President Mohamed Bazoum was denied, she said.

The United States continues to call for the immediate release of President Mohamed Bazoum, his family, and all those detained as part of the extra-constitutional attempt to seize power, Miller said.

Nuland was also not able to see new self-declared ruler Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani.

Bazoum was ousted in a military coup on July 26.

Tchiani, the commander of Nigers presidential guard, then claimed power as the countrys new ruler.

He and his group of officers suspended the constitution and dissolved all constitutional institutions.
A woman working as a custodian and bus driver for a school district in Bergen County alleges in a lawsuit filed this month that she was sexually harassed by a supervisor who repeatedly called her mami and asked if he could take care of her daughters.

The woman, who is in her 50s, states in court papers that she reported directly to Amdi Ramani, the building coordinator at Pascack Valley Regional High School District.

Between August 2020 and November 2022, defendant Ramani, on a regular basis, directed sexual innuendos, overt sexual references, and chauvinistic comments at plaintiff, states the lawsuit filed July 12 in Superior Court of Bergen County.

The alleged harassment included an offer to sit on his lap while the woman was alone with Ramani in his office, the suit says.

In addition to Ramani, the woman is suing the school district and claims upper-level managers acted with reckless indifference for allowing the harassment to continue, even after she filed a complaint.

Ramani and district officials did not respond to requests for comment on the lawsuit.

The suit accuses Ramani of calling the woman mami  slang for attractive  both privately and in front of others. He also told the woman she should let me take care of you, and offered to take care of the womans daughters, who are in their 30s, the court papers say.

Ramani sent the daughters friend requests on Facebook and repeatedly asked the woman for their phone numbers, according to the suit.

The lawsuit alleges Ramani called the woman on her personal cellphone on June 17, 2022, to tell her someone had written a letter to his wife, describing inappropriate behavior toward other women in the district.

Two days later, Ramani brought the letter to work and asked the woman to help him identify the handwriting on the envelope, which she refused to do, the suit alleges.

In July 2022, Ramani allegedly asked the woman and one of her female co-workers to accompany him to a doughnut shop in his vehicle. During the drive, he allegedly made sexually explicit comments to both women, the suit says.

In August 2022, while alone together in his office, Ramani allegedly asked the woman to sit on his lap. She refused, the suit says.

Plaintiff felt humiliated, intimidated, and abused each time defendant Ramani harassed her and demeaned her and other female employees, the lawsuit says.

After the alleged incident in the office, the woman filed a formal complaint with the district.

In January, the districts affirmative action officer found the womans complaints about Ramani to be partially substantiated, the suit says.

The investigation further revealed that defendant Ramani had violated BOE policy 4532, pertaining to sexual harassment, the suit states.

The lawsuit alleges violations of New Jerseys Law Against Discrimination, a hostile work environment, and accuses the district of allowing the conduct to continue.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
First Kevin Smith got his friends together and made a movie called Clerks.

Then, nearly 30 years later, the director made Clerks III, in which the characters from the first movie make a movie with their friends.
It will be a year before a man convicted of killing his childhood mentor in New Jersey faces trial on the first of four murder charges in New Mexico.

Sean M. Lannon admitted to killing 66-year-old Michael Dabkowski in the victims South Jersey home in March 2021 and was sentenced last year to 35 years in prison.

He is charged in the killings of four people, including his ex-wife Jennifer, in New Mexico that same year.

Lannon, 49, was extradited from New Jersey to New Mexico in June to face charges in those cases and appeared for a brief hearing Tuesday morning as Judge Brett Loveless set an Aug. 19, 2024, trial date in the killing of Randall Apostalon, 60, of Albuquerque.

Lannon, his wife and their three kids moved to Grants, New Mexico, several years ago and he is accused of killing her in the rented home they shared in that town in January 2021. He lured two acquaintances, Jesten Mata and Matthew Miller, to the home on later dates and killed them, according to investigators.

Authorities say Lannon stowed all three bodies in crates which he later moved to Albuquerque. Apostalon had agreed to help him move his crates to a storage area in that city, but when they could not find a spot, they argued and Lannon bludgeoned the man to death, according to court documents.

In New Mexico, Sean Lannon is accused of killing his estranged wife, Jennifer, as well as Jesten Mata (top, right), Matthew Miller (bottom, left) and Randall Apostalon.

Police found all four victims in Apostalons truck, which was left at an Albuquerque airport in March 2021. Investigators then learned Lannon had flown from the airport to Philadelphia with his three kids a day before the gruesome discovery was made.

Lannon returned to South Jersey, left the kids with family and eventually wound up at his former mentors doorstep. Dabkowski met Lannon through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program in the 1980s.

Lannon admitted beating Dabkowski to death and stealing his vehicle, claiming the man had sexually abused him as a child and that he had gone to the house to recover photos of the assaults. No evidence to support those claims was ever disclosed in court.

The New Mexico killings occurred in separate jurisdictions, meaning Lannon faces two trials in that state. The district attorneys office handling the Albuquerque case is proceeding first with its prosecution in the Apostalon killing, officials said, and trial in the three Grants homicides will follow.

The prosecutor handling the case Tuesday told Loveless that the trial was expected to take 10 to 12 days.

The states witness list includes 22 Albuquerque police officers, two Grants officers, 16 civilians and four experts, including DNA and fingerprint specialists, trial attorney Jolanna Macias told the judge.

The judge also set various deadlines leading up to the trial for matters including disclosure of evidence, conducting pre-trial interviews, filing pre-trial motions, scheduling evidentiary hearings and filing any plea agreements.

During a June court appearance, Lannon declined to enter a plea following his indictment on a first-degree murder charge in Apostalons death. He instead chose to stand silent, according to his public defender, meaning Lannon didnt take a formal stance on guilt. The judge handling that hearing entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

Following his arrest on March 10, 2021, in St. Louis, Lannon admitted to the New Jersey and New Mexico killings, according to prosecutors.

Lannon will remain jailed in New Mexico while he awaits trial in that state, officials confirmed.

Michael Dabkowski, 66, of East Greenwich Township, once served as a mentor to Sean Lannon, the man convicted in his killing.(Provided photo)

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Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital officials and union leaders are expected to meet Wednesday amid the ongoing nurses strike at the New Brunswick facility.

They will be joined by a mediator at the Heldrich Hotel in New Brunswick as both sides try to work out a labor agreement after months of failed negotiations.
A group of North Jersey and New York restaurant owners are now better prepared to compete for the hearts and stomachs of diners.

The group, which includes Casa Cubana and Cavany Foods of Jersey City, celebrated the completion of DoorDashs Accelerator for Local Restaurants program, designed to help level the playing field for entrepreneurs and increase access to opportunity for small businesses.
Three people were shot at a party in Kearny early Monday morning, authorities said.

The shootings occurred in the Vermella East apartment complex, said Kearny police, who did not release any information about the victims. The injuries are not considered life-threatening.
The nightmare season continues for Mets outfielder Starling Marte. Just three days after being activated from the injured list, Marte is headed back on the 10-day IL with a right groin strain.

The 34-year-old has been dealing with discomfort since undergoing off-season surgery on both sides of his groin. On Tuesday, the pain must have been too much to handle, because the Mets sent Marte back to the doctor who performed the surgery to check on him.

BUY METS TICKETS: STUBHUB, VIVID SEATS, TICKETMASTER

I think we all know by the level weve seen him play at last year that he hasnt been able to do that consistently, manager Buck Showalter said via Mark W. Sanchez of The New York Post. I can get into all the factors and things that are going on with him, but I dont think hes 100 percent.

And I think we need to try to get our arms around getting him back to that again.

The groin injury appears to be impacting his power the most. His .625 OPS is .189 points below last season (.814), and he only has five home runs, compared to 16 last season.

To top things off, Marte has been dealing with debilitating migraines, which caused him to go on the IL on July 20, retroactive to July 17.

Marte was too weak to play in a July game against White Sox as he experienced a second migraine within a week. These migraines have come with vomiting and crippling headaches and are nothing like the ones hes experienced in the past.

Hes had them before, but not this close [together], manager Buck Showalter said via Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News. Thats why were going to do some tests and do some things to rule out some things.

Marte saw a specialist for these migraines, receiving nothing but good news, as reported by Joe Pantoro of amNewYork. Still, he was placed on the injured list.

Marte is hitting a career-worst .248 this season. He is still proving valuable to the Mets as has stolen 24 bases, the sixth-most in the NL.

MORE SPORTS

- WATCH: Yankees Aaron Boone imitates umpire after ejection, puts on a show

- Yankees announcer Michael Kay has had enough with oft-criticized umpire

- Yankees beloved reliever is a psychopath, teammate says

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.

Manuel Gomez may be reached at mgomez@njadvancemedia.com.
Two people have been charge in the attempted murder of a man in Long Branch in June, authorities said Tuesday.

Michael O Rourke, 31, of Asbury Park and Brianna L. Graziano, 27, of Tinton Falls have been charged with attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder, the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office said.

Rourke is also charged with weapons offenses.

The victim was shot multiple times, including once in the neck, shortly before 2:15 a.m. on June 12, officials said. He survived his injuries after being treated at an area hospital.

Authorities arrested Rourke Friday after locating him in Ohio. Graziano was taken into custody in New Jersey a short time later.

Attorney information for Rourke and Graziano wasnt immediately available.

Anyone with information is asked to call Monmouth County Prosecutors Office Detective Joshua Rios at 1-800-533-7443 or Long Branch police Detective Connor Mullan at 732-222-1000.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.
An Arizona woman is accused of poisoning her estranged husband's coffee with bleach for several months and has been charged with attempted first-degree murder. The two had filed for divorce but were still living together with their son when he began to notice a bad taste in his morning cup back in March.

Baffled, it wasn't until May, after weeks of investigating and even testing his tap water  which turned out to be normal  that he finally set up a camera in his kitchen. That's when he caught his wife "pouring something into his coffee pot," according to court documents.

From Huff Post:

Melody Johnson of Tucson was indicted by a grand jury on charges of first-degree attempted murder, attempting to commit aggravated assault and poisoning food or drink, CNN reported. She was arrested on July 18, NBC News reported. Court documents obtained by KVOA-TV in Tucson say that the husband  who was not named in initial reports but is identified by CNN as Roby Johnson  began to suspect his wife of poisoning him at the end of March. Roby is in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Germany at the time.  On July 5, Roby reportedly caught Melody on camera "walk to his coffee maker and pour something into his water reservoir" while the family was temporarily stationed at a hotel on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson. Roby showed the video to police, but officers told him that whatever Melody poured into the machine's reservoir wasn't apparent and that his report was "taken with no follow up," according to the complaint. When the family moved to permanent housing on July 7, Roby set up more cameras that looked like fire alarms that attached to the ceiling, according to court documents. One was placed in the laundry room, where bleach was kept, another was placed over the coffee machine and a third was placed to show the space between the two areas, the documents said. With the new setup, Roby was able to collect multiple videos that show Melody "take bleach, pour it into a container and then walk over and pour it into the coffee maker," the documents say.

Johnson "believes she was trying to kill him to collect death benefits," according to court documents.

Top image: BLACKDAY / shutterstock.com
Congressmen from New Jersey and Pennsylvania toured an NJ Transit project Monday that could be an important link in the national railroads long sought after plans for an intercity rail route between New York and Scranton.

Democrat U.S. Reps. Josh Gottheimer, 5th Dist., and Matt Cartwright from Pennsylvanias 8th Dist., toured the construction site of a new station in Andover Monday, which is being built as part of a larger project to serve NJ Transits Lackawanna cutoff line.
A man was arrested last week when authorities alleged he was sexually assaulting a minor in a parked vehicle, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II said.

Police in Livingston were called to an area parking lot for a report of suspicious activity in a car on Wednesday, Aug. 2.

Officers located and arrested Alan Kelsey, 69, of Whippany, charging him with sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child, officials said.

Authorities did not release the age of the victim.

The Essex County Prosecutors Office is asking anyone with tips about the case or similar cases to call its tip line at 1-877-847-7432.

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Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.
A fresh set of troops have been unleashed in the bi-state battle over New York Citys proposed congestion pricing plan to charge up to $23 to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street.

Port Authority employees said Tuesday they and toll revenues that bankroll the bi-state agencys big construction projects, will suffer if the plan is implemented.
A woman who was injured in a drunken fall last summer has filed a lawsuit against Martells Tiki Bar and its bartenders, alleging they kept serving her alcohol even though she was clearly intoxicated.

Mary Santoro, of Westfield, states in court papers she was visibly intoxicated July 14, 2022, at the boardwalk bar in Point Pleasant Beach but the bartenders kept the drinks coming anyway.

Martells and its bartenders negligently served and sold intoxicating substances  while she was in a visibly intoxicated condition, states the lawsuit, filed June 7 in Superior Court of Union County.

At the same time, the establishment allegedly allowed a dangerous condition to exist on the premises, which  along with Santoros intoxicated state  caused her to fall and injure herself, the lawsuit claims.

The suit does not state how or where Santoro fell. The attorney who filed the lawsuit did not immediately respond Tuesday to a request for comment.

Santoros lawsuit alleges negligence and violations of New Jerseys Dram Shop Law, which seeks to hold vendors responsible for damages if the person who caused the damages was visibly intoxicated when served.

An attorney for Martells did not return a call seeking comment. In an answer to Santoros complaint, however, Martells lawyers say that if the woman was injured, the injuries were caused by her own contributory negligence.

Martells denies any wrongdoing, and alleges Santoros injuries were due to unavoidable circumstances and causes beyond the control or fault of Martells and its employees, the answer says.

The suit is not the first against Martells Tiki Bar. The establishment was sued a decade ago after a Bergen County woman became intoxicated at the beach bar in August 2013 and was killed in a wrong way crash on Route 18 in Old Bridge while headed home.

The crash injured another driver, who also sued Martells. Both lawsuits were settled out of court for undisclosed amounts, and Martells did not admit to wrongdoing.

The state Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, however, ruled that bartenders at Martells had served the woman after she was already intoxicated and fined the business owners.

Martells later pleaded no contest to violations of state and local liquor laws and had its liquor license suspended for a month.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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The World Scout Jamboree, held in South Korea and attended by more than 40,000 youth from 155 countries, has turned into an utter debacle, as thousands of Scouts have gotten sick from excessive heat and a COVID-19 outbreak. News from over the weekend revealed that the event quickly devolved into a kind of nightmare scenario that sounds to me a lot like the Scouting version of Fyre Festival. Korea JoongAng Daily reported yesterday:

The World Scout Jamboree was supposed to be a major international celebration and a boost for Korea's bid for the World Expo in Busan.



Instead, it turned into a fiasco as nations start to pull out of the event.



It all began when Britain announced Friday that it was withdrawing its team from the Jamboree site in Saemangeum, Buan County, North Jeolla to hotels in Seoul to "alleviate pressure on the site." The United States and Singapore soon announced that they, too, would be pulling out their scouts.



Prompting the withdrawals were health concerns, especially for scouts aged 14 to 17, many of whom had fallen ill from the scorching heat as temperatures hovered close to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).



At least 2,500 scouts had fallen sick as of Sunday. Common ailments include bug bites, skin rashes and heat exhaustion. To make matters worse, a Covid-19 outbreak has been raging at the site since Thursday.



With the World Scout Jamboree in shambles, more countries may decide to withdraw their scouts as health concerns mount.

Over the weekend, thousands of Scouts relocated or left the Jamboree altogether, and now the remaining scouts are being evacuated due to a looming typhoon. BBC News reports:

World Scout Jamboree organisers said on Monday that the South Korean government told them it was no longer safe to hold the event. The government said it had listened to the concerns of the World Organisation for Scout Movements and national delegations, who had been requesting they close the site for days. From Tuesday at 10:00 local time (01:00GMT), some 36,000 people still in Saemangeum will be taken by bus to safer areas, South Korea's vice minister for disaster and safety management, Kim Sung-ho, has said. The event "is still continuing," but "the location is only changing because of the natural disaster," he added. Officials are seeking alternative venues and accommodation in and around Seoul. Severe Tropical Storm Khanun, which has already forced evacuations and cut off power to thousands in Japan, is forecast to reach South Korea's southern Jeolla province on Thursday. Originally classified as a typhoon, the weather system has weakened but is still bringing high winds and torrential rain to the region. Heatwaves have become more frequent, more intense, and last longer because of human-induced climate change. Increased sea surface temperatures also mean storms are likely to be more intense and bring more extreme rainfall.

It's hard to see how the event will continue, but I guess we'll know more soon. I thought the Scout motto was "Be Prepared"? All joking aside, I hope everyone gets home safe and sound.
More than 100 residents and business owners packed a community meeting at Cafe Istanbul Monday evening, speaking passionately both for and against parklets in the Marigny, Bywater and French Quarter.

Council Member Freddie Kings office called the meeting after the Department of Public Works sent out letters to many business owners notifying them they are no longer eligible for parklets under rules the City Council passed last summer and must remove them by Aug. 31.

King told Gambit he wanted to have the meeting to get people on all sides of the issue in one room to discuss it like adults. King did not attend the meeting as his chief of staff said the council member tested positive for Covid.

But the room Monday was divided. At times, the discussion became tense between those largely in support of the street seating in front of businesses  citing community gathering spaces and feeling safer at night  and those largely against it  complaining of noise, less parking spaces and un-aesthetically pleasing structures.

Several people from French Quarter neighborhood groups like Vieux Carre Property Owners, Residents and Associates (VCPORA) and French Quarter Citizens and other residents spoke out against parklets in the Quarter. Residents in the Bywater and Marigny seemed generally more supportive, though some neighbors were against them.

Dennis Alonzo, a French Quarter resident, called the parklets in the area eyesores and said he was against putting them in front of the neighborhoods historic buildings.

Friends I've had coming from out of town have expressed unhappiness that they come to the Quarter and see these red and white and orange blocks, he said.

Rebecca Rae, a Marigny resident, later replied, I'm sorry that this gentleman's out-of-town friends were disappointed with their visit here. However, we are New Orleanians  It is our tendency to gather and connect with each other in the street."

Under the rules the city has said theyll start enforcing at the end of the month, no parklets are allowed in the Quarter nor would they be under amendments to the rules the citys Office of Economic Development is proposing. Several parklets in the Marigny, Bywater and elsewhere in the city are the ones in limbo.

Under the current rules the city said they will begin enforcing, parklets are only allowed in strictly commercial areas. That means parklets at R Bar, Bud Rips, Kingpin, Pepps Pub and others will have to be removed. For those bars, parklet customers account for a significant chunk of their revenue.

At Pepps Pub in the Marigny, owners Sam and Kait Wurth have covered the city-given parklet barriers with wood and have used it to display artwork. Several neighbors said they feel safer walking in the area at night because of the parklets, and one regular credited it for being a spot where he made friends after moving to the city.

David Belk, who lives a few houses down from Pepps Pub, called the bar owners great neighbors. The more people on the street, the better, he said.

Still, some neighbors were not on board.

Patrick Dunne, who described himself as one of the oldest living persons on Franklin Avenue near Pepps, called the parklet unsightly and certainly unruly.

Were opposed not because were not cool, he said, adding what happens on Franklin Avenue is not cool, is not chic.

Parklets have been operating as part of a pilot program for the last several years starting during the pandemic, though city officials said they always intended to create a permanent program. The City Council passed rules last year, but business owners say last minute changes severely restricted the program.

Though the Office of Economic Development has already drafted changes to the rules, a council member needs to bring them forward. Many parties involved thought that was going to be King, but he insists he wont propose any citywide changes.

The council will not be able to create and pass new rules before the Aug. 31 enforcement deadline, but they could attempt to push back that date. At this point, no council member has committed publicly to trying.
Editor's note: An earlier version of this story listed the start of ticket sales as 1 p.m. Thursday. It is 11 a.m. Thursday.

Ever since Taylor Swift announced last week she would be descending upon the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans next year for a three-night run as part of her extended Eras Tour, area Swifties have been preparing for the Great War that will be securing tickets.

But unfortunately, so have the scammers. Heres what to know to make sure no one gets in your way of seeing Blondie in the flesh.

Ticketmaster hasnt begun selling tickets for any of the additional shows and according to their website, New Orleans tickets won't start going on sale until Thursday, Aug. 10, at 11 a.m.

But scalpers are already deceptively selling what theyre claiming are tickets on sites like Stubhub, Seatgeek and Vivid Seats. In reality, they are not actual tickets a reseller has but rather potential tickets a reseller is hoping to procure and sell. This is called speculative ticketing.

If the resellers cant get a ticket or choose not to complete the transaction for any reason, they can cancel the order, sometimes leaving fans without a ticket at the last minute.

The prices are also far more than what someone would pay going through Ticketmasters initial sale. For instance, scalpers are selling prospective tickets in the nosebleeds for around $1,500, while a comparable seat for a Houston show in April went for about $140.

Scalpers are also selling prospective tickets at the front of the floor for more than $10,000, likely at least ten times what someone would pay for similar seats going straight through Ticketmaster, despite the high fees the platform charges.

The problem is to gain access to the Ticketmaster sale of tickets, one must have already registered as a verified fan on taylorswift.com. Registration closed Saturday evening, and Ticketmaster will notify fans on Tuesday if theyve been chosen for the Thursday sale.

Sale for the Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, show starts at 11 a.m., followed by 1 p.m. for the Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, show and 3 p.m. for the Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, show.

To further avoid scams, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) recommends going through Ticketmasters official website and double-checking URLs before purchasing anything.

If purchasing from Ticketmaster is no longer an option, the BBB suggests using a credit card, which might offer a refund for sham tickets. Never give credit card information over the phone, and be wary if an individual seller asks for a method thats a direct transfer of money or a gift card. Before buying, make sure the ticket information matches up with the venue information.

And if you do suspect a scam, report it on the BBBs website.

Godspeed, Swifties. Heres hoping youre the Lucky One.
At least 59 evidence cones are placed by NOPD investigators as they gather information from the shooting scene at City Park Avenue and Canal Boulevard that injured six and killed one in New Orleans, La., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019.
NYPD is tossing some taxpayer funds around to pay for wrongfully arresting people who were protesting police abuses, but they aren't admitting they did anything wrong. NYPD famously settles claims of abuse for vast amounts of money paid for by the people they abuse. It is a great system for them.

All the footage of people being unjustly pepper sprayed or far worse means nothing except the City budget takes another hit.

TechDirt:
Evidence markers are seen next to shoes and socks along Palm Street in New Orleans as law enforcement officials investigate a shooting that killed one person and wounded two others outside of the Xavier University Convocation Center after the Morris Jeff Community School commencement ceremony on May 31, 2022.
Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office detectives are investigating the death of a man gunned down in the parking lot of a Waffle House in Terrytown Sunday night.

The Jefferson Parish Coroner's Office identified the victim as Joseph Harris Jr., 30, of Algiers.

No one had been arrested in connection with the killing as of Monday, said Capt. Jason Rivarde, a spokesperson for the Sheriff's Office.

The shooting was reported just before 10:45 p.m. at the Waffle House located at 559 Behrman Highway, authorities said.

Harris was shot while standing outside of a vehicle in the restaurant's parking lot, according to Rivarde. It's not clear whether Harris had just arrived or had just exited the Waffle House.
A Jefferson Parish grand jury handed up a murder indictment charging a Kenner man who was chased, shot and wounded by a friend of the homicide victim, according to authorities.

Tajh Terrell, 23, was charged with second-degree murder in the death of 21-year-old Trinity Castleberry, Jefferson Parish court records said.

Terrell is accused of gunning down Castleberry on April 8, outside of the victim's residence in the 2600 block of Greenwood Drive in Kenner.

Authorities said Terrell scammed Castleberry out of an undisclosed amount of money and the two argued at Castleberry's house on the evening of the shooting, Kenner police said.
With Gov. John Bel Edwards and DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson in the center, the dignateries do a ceremonial ribbon cutting to dedicate a new roundabout at La. 70 and La. 22, solving a bottleneck for industrial traffic in the area Monday August 3, 2020, in Sorrento, La. (Photo by Bill Feig, The Advocate)
With Florida governor Ron DeSantis's new laws limiting academic freedom and oppressive political oversight of state universities, there is an alarming shortage of college-level teachers in the state. The Guardian reports that DeSantis stacked the board of trustees of one college, the New College of Florida, with anti-"woke" political appointees, who quickly fired the college's president. As of mid-July, more than 1/3 of the college's full-time teaching positions for the coming academic year were vacant.

One educator who resigned because of the new laws and the college's new trustees is Liz Leininger, an associate professor of neurobiology.

"All of the legislation surrounding higher education in Florida is chilling and terrifying," said Leininger, who is rejoining the biology department at St Mary's College in Maryland this fall where she had been teaching before moving to central Florida. "Imagine scientists who are studying climate change, imagine an executive branch that denies climate change  they could use these laws to intimidate or dismiss those scientists." The new laws have introduced a ban on the funding of diversity, equity and inclusion programs at Florida's public colleges and universities, withdrawn a right to arbitration formerly guaranteed to faculty members who have been denied tenure or face dismissal, and prohibited the teaching of critical race theory, which contends that inherent racial bias pervades many laws and institutions in western society, among other changes. In the face of that and other legislation backed by DeSantis and Republican lawmakers that has rolled back the rights of Florida's LGBTQ+ community, many scholars across the state are taking early retirement, voting with their feet by accepting job offers outside Florida or simply throwing in the towel with a letter of resignation.

Florida also faces the worst K-12 teacher shortage in the country, reports Fox 13 News.

Andrew Spar, President of the Florida Education Association, said there are roughly 8,000 teachers and 6,000 support staff vacancies across the state. Spar blames the political climate for causing classroom controversies and low salaries, with Florida ranking 48th in the nation in average teacher pay.

The Guardian reports that Florida teachers are feeling under attack.

Florida teachers are feeling anxious, confused and beaten down by new laws, championed by DeSantis, that limit how issues of race can be taught, what teachers can say about sex, especially about homosexuality, and what books are permitted in schools. In promoting this legislation, DeSantis angered many teachers when he denounced "indoctrination in our schools" and let his press secretary accuse teachers of "grooming" students. In interviews with the Guardian, Florida teachers said they're feeling more disrespected, unappreciated and under attack than ever before, worried that they'll be fired or otherwise punished if they run afoul of the controversial  and often vague  new laws. As a result of these laws and their emboldening parents to challenge and even castigate teachers, many Florida teachers say they're considering either giving up teaching or finding a teaching job in another state  all when Florida, which ranks 48th among states in teacher pay according to a recent study, is already suffering from a shortage of 5,300 teachers.

The new laws provide for felony charges to be brought against teachers deemed to have run afoul of their vague provisions prohibiting certain discussion of race or LGBTQ issues.

Brandt Robinson, a high school history teacher in Palm Harbor, said, "The point is intimidation."

For 15 years, Robinson has had a personal library in his classroom with hundreds of books. "They're there as a model of interest in books  world history, African American history, American history, classics," Robinson said. "Now I have to worry that if a student uses a book, someone might say the book is an example of critical race theory, and I'll face a possible third-degree felony."
Q: Wherefore art thou Romeo? A: Anywhere but Florida!

Because teachers in the Sunshine State are now pulling Shakespeare books out of their curricula before the new school year starts, citing "raunchiness" as the reason.

Fearing Gov. Ron DeSantis' extended "Don't Say Gay" law that now includes anything that even hints at sexuality and that, if broken, could be considered a third-degree felony, English teachers in Hillsborough County aren't taking any chances. Instead of asking students to expand their minds with classics such as MacBeth, Hamlet, and Romeo and Juliet, they will understandably go the small-minded DeSantis route and offer only excerpts.

"I think the rest of the nation  no, the world, is laughing us," said Joseph Cool, a reading teacher in the district, via Tampa Bay Times. "Taking Shakespeare in its entirety out because the relationship between Romeo and Juliet is somehow exploiting minors is just absurd."

From Tampa Bay Times:

"There's some raunchiness in Shakespeare," said Joseph Cool, a reading teacher at Gaither High School. "Because that's what sold tickets during his time."  But teachers are advised, during class lessons, to stay with the approved guidelines, which call for excerpts. If not, in extreme circumstances, they might have to defend themselves against a parent complaint or a disciplinary case at their school. Cool said he enjoyed teaching "Macbeth" last year to his 10th grade students. "It gave them a sense of connection between stuff that happened in the past and things that are not necessarily in the past," he said. "The choices that we make, power struggles, delusions of grandeur. It is so rich in content and things that you can have discussions about, academic and scholarly discussions." When asked if students could have that caliber of experience through excerpts, he said, "absolutely not."

Top image: Videologia / shutterstock.com
President Joe Biden is joined by Education Secretary Miguel Cardona as he announces new actions to protect borrowers after the Supreme Court struck down his student loan forgiveness plan in the Roosevelt Room at the White House on June 30, 2023. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

In the latest challenge to President Joe Bidens wide-ranging efforts to find ways to forgive student debt, a federal appeals court has blocked parts of an Education Department rule that sought to make it easier for student borrowers to get relief if they were the victims of fraud or were misled by colleges.

In a case that pits the Career Colleges & Schools of Texas (CCST) against the U.S. Department of Education, the New Orleans-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit issued an order on Aug. 7 (pdf) that puts a hold on implementation of the so-called borrower defense provision of a Biden administration rule that meant to expand the triggers for student debt relief.

It is ordered that appellants opposed emergency motion for injunction pending appeal of the borrower-defense and closed-school provisions of a rule governing student loan discharges is GRANTED, the judges wrote in the decision, which freezes the provisions while the case is under appeal.

The Education Department earlier argued that its revamped borrower defense rule struck the right balance between denying meritless claims by student borrowers while making it easier for those who legitimately experienced harm due to misleading recruitment claims and other forms of questionable or illicit activity by schools to receive some sort of compensation.

On the other hand, CCST, which represents over 70 for-profit educational institutions in Texas, argued in court filings that the borrower defense rulewhich no longer requires borrowers to prove individualized harm in most circumstancesimposes an unfair burden of cost on educational institutions and that it was part of Mr. Bidens campaign promise to forgive student debt on a wide scale.

The Education Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Epoch Times.

Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU), a group that opposed the Education Departments borrower defense rule during the comment period on proposed rulemaking, issued a statement noting it was pleased with the appeal courts decision.

Imposing these two provisions would have been detrimental to career schools in Texas and across the country, CECU president and CEO Jason Altmire stated.

By contrast, Aaron Ament, president of the National Student Legal Defense Network and a former senior lawyer at the Education Department, issued a statement critical of the ruling.

Until these protections are restored, countless students are at risk of being taken advantage of by higher ed profiteers who are exploiting students with little accountability, Mr. Ament said in a statement.

The rule was initially supposed to go into effect on July 1, with the legal challenge brought by Career Colleges & Schools of Texas (CCST) putting the brakes on implementation.

Broad Forgiveness of Student Loans With No Avenues for Challenge

The lawsuit filed in February 2023 (pdf) by CCST stems from a rule adopted by the Education Department in November 2022, which implemented the borrower defense statute, giving borrowers new ways to avoid repayment of their federal student loan debt.

Specifically, the borrower defense statute let student borrowers seek relief from their federal student loan debt if they were defrauded or misled by a school. The program provides a process for borrowers to have their federal student loans forgiven in full by the Education Department if they can demonstrate that their school engaged in certain types of deceptive or illegal practices.

However, CCST argued in its complaint that the program was heavily skewed toward borrowers unproven claims, to the detriment of schools. They also noted that the Biden administration had pledged in its election promises to forgive student debt on a large scale.

The apparent goals of this new framework are to accomplish massive loan forgiveness for borrowers and to reallocate the correspondingly massive financial liability to institutions of higher education, CCST attorneys wrote in the complaint.

They argued further that the rule would cause financial and reputational harm to schools, educational harm to students, and budgetary harm to the public, while representing massive government overreach.

CCST also noted that one of the more remarkable parts of the rule was to create a new way of forgiving student loans via a so-called group process, basically a form of class action that lacked procedures for schools to challenge it; for instance, as part of the discovery process or individual witness examination.

Calling the rule part of the Biden administrations arsenal to pursue broad forgiveness of student loans, CCST argued in its complaint that the revamped borrower defense rule creates more favorable outcomes for borrowers in group versus individual proceedings and so is arbitrary and capricious, and violates fundamental principles of due process.

Unreasonable Burdens on Borrowers

By contrast, the Education Department said in a November 2022 announcement that in the course of public comment on the proposed rulemaking, many commenters backed the borrower defense rule revamp because the previous version required borrowers to meet an unrealistic standard that made it extremely difficult to prove harm.

Other commenters supported the proposed regulations citing that they are more streamlined, easier to administer, less confusing, and they eliminate unreasonable burdens on borrowers, the Education Department said at the time.

Prior to the CCST lawsuit, there was also some opposition expressed to the new rule as part of the commenting process, including the argument that the Education Department lacked the legal authority to issue them, that the rules are too vague, and that institutions were not given enough due process.

Commenters who opposed the rule also argued that it would lead to frivolous claims and impose greater costs on institutions, both in terms of defending against recoupment efforts and reputational harm for institutions, as well as the potential for actions by other regulators, loss of private financing, and the possibility of borrower lawsuits.

In its Aug. 7 order, the appeals court has set a hearing for Nov. 6 in the case, with the CECU chief executive saying he believes theres a strong chance the rule will eventually be overturned in a final ruling.

CCSTs legal case against the Department of Educations unlawful BDR rule is strong and we are confident that when the case is brought forward the facts will show the new rule to be an agency overreach in violation of the Departments authority, the Administrative Procedure Act, and the Constitution, Mr. Altmire said in a statement.

Knowing that this rule has a strong chance to be struck down during the upcoming legal process, it is unjustifiable to allow its implementation while the court proceedings continue, Mr. Altmire added.

By contrast, Mr. Ament said the appeals courts injunction amounted to open season on students by unscrupulous institutions.

We cannot afford a green light for dishonest schools to continue harming students. Defrauded borrowers are legally entitled to relief and their institutions should be held accountable, he said.

From The Epoch Times
People buying unregulated frog toxin off the internet for miracle cures, some for concocted reasons like "removing the COVID-19 vaccine," and having it administered by clueless self-proclaimed shaman-types, are dying. The harvesting of frogs for this toxin is also very bad for the rainforest.

I had a friend ask me how he should go about managing a substance abuse problem. We live in Los Angeles and I suggested he try the appropriate variant of Alcoholics Anonymous, as the program is very successful here. He decided to try a treatment like this and, while currently missing, was last known to still have a substance abuse problem.

SF Gate:

"There are so many serious adverse reactions," says Jan Keppel Hesselink, a pain physician and director at the Institute for Neuropathic Pain in the Netherlands, who has authored numerous research papers on kambo. "More and more people are getting very sick or even dying because the people administering kambo have no clue about medicine." Despite all of this, thousands of kambo users swear the poison has improved their health, and the number of providers is on the rise. Although kambo has been banned in Australia and Brazil after highly publicized deaths in those countries, it's legal in California, with no regulations or government oversight. That means the claims of practitioners largely go unchallenged. "When we imbibe of the frog, the frog is a symbol of transformation," Carrick says. "It can actually adapt to an aqueous environment and also a terrestrial one, right? So in taking the kambo, we take on the ability to be flexible."

The vomiting alone is enough to make me say no.

Featured Image for illustrative purposes not Phyllomedusa bicolor
Former Japanese Prime Minister Aso Taro says that Japan and the United States need the "resolve to fight" to prevent the Taiwan Crisis.
A teenage cousin of the 18-year-old Uvalde mass shooter who murdered 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in 2022 was arrested on Monday for threatening to "do the same thing."

The 17-year-old boy, Nathan James Cruz, who also lives in Texas, reportedly threatened his sister, who was in a car with him, telling her he wanted to "shoot her in the head and stated he would 'shoot the school,'" according to an affidavit obtained by CNN.

His sister apparently told their mother, who promptly called the police, telling them she was "especially concerned because the suspect is currently on probation, was intoxicated at the time," and lives right across the street from an elementary school. She said she also overheard her son on the phone trying to illegally get his hands on an AR-15 style assault rifle, which is what his cousin Salvador Ramos used in last year's mass shooting. (Hear more details in news video below, posted by The Recount.)
The LaPorte County Historical Society Museum recently hosted the Row Crop Tour and Barbecue, handing out scholarships and giving tours.

The LaPorte County Row Crop Food Producers Team and LaPorte County Farm Bureau Young Farmers staged the annual event, which included tours of the museum, the Door Prairie Barn and both historic and modern farm equipment. Row Crop Ag Scholarship winners were announced at the barbecue dinner.

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and LaPorte County officials attended the annual ag tour and barbecue.

Row Crop Food Producers have given out the annual scholarships since 1999 with the aim of educating young farmers and helping LaPorte County students afford the rising costs of higher education.

Attendees learn about the History of the LaPorte County Historical Society, which was formed in 1906 as the culmination of efforts to start a historical museum in LaPorte County dating back decades earlier.

The LaPorte Library and Natural History Association formed in 1963, bringing in speakers like Ralph Waldo Emerson, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Horace Greeley, and Clara Barton to raise funds. They bought land at 805 Maple Ave. and built a library with 7,000 books, 15 windows and an iron fence to keep the cows outs.

Non-members have to pay a $5 annual fee to use it until it was made free and then turned over to LaPorte in 1896.

It was remodeled, adding wings, a second floor, a children's reading room, a high school study area, a reading room with books and magazines and enough steel shelves for 25,000 books.

The school board landed $27,500 in funds from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation to build a larger library at 904 Indiana Ave across the street that opened in 1920.

The LaPorte County Historical Society moved its collections into the basement. The following year, the prominent citizen William A. Jones donated more than 800 firearms and weapons, which were displayed as the W.A. Jones collection.

The historic society and gun collections were moved to the basement of the LaPorte County Courthouse in 1938, remaining for 40 years until the 5- story County Annex building was constructed between State and Washington Streets.

Two floors of that building became the building until the Historical Society purchased the Door Prairie Auto Museum from Dr. Peter Kesling in 2003. The LaPorte County Historical Society opened there in 2006.

The three-story Colonial-style building has historical period rooms the collection of 50 antique automobiles and a replica of the tower on the second LaPorte County Courthouse.

For more information, visit https://laportecountyhistory.org/.
Mary Ann Pals has been painting the Indiana Dunes for years, often zeroing in on flowers, birds or blazing sunsets over the rippling surface of Lake Michigan.

The painter was named an Indiana Dunes Artist in Residence this year. She became the first to turn down the free housing that's offered since she already lives only two miles from the lakeshore.

The Indiana Dunes National Park has had an artist-in-residence program since 1996, back when it was the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Professional artists stay at a home at the sprawling National Park that stretches across 15 miles of Lake Michigan lakeshore and produce a work of art about the dunes the National Park Service can use however it deems fit, such as to plaster on a poster or for marketing purposes.

Pals is an artist who has exhibited widely, including in Traverse City, Michigan, Albuquerque, New Mexico and Tacoma, Washington. She most commonly works in pastel and charcoal.

She's been studying art since she first took private art lessons at the age of 8 years old. A second-grade teacher was wowed with a farm scene she drew with crayons of a farmer on a tractor.

"She pulled my parents aside and said get this girl into art lessons. She's got talent," she said. "I started art lessons the next year."

She studied with a teacher in South Holland, learning "anything and everything." She trained with oils, watercolor, acrylics, chalk and other mediums.

Pals ended up diving into pastel painting specializing in hyper-realistic work. She often painted floral pieces and about eight to 10 years ago started honing in on a single flower, a small group of flowers or a single bird.

'I take a close-in look at something, a closer look at one particular subject,' she said.

She often roams around the Indiana Dunes taking photos of butterflies, birds and flowers that she bases her paintings on.

"I have a second love of photography and a couple of really nice Nikon cameras," she said. "I take the pictures with all the detail and do a painting of them."

Sometimes her subjects come to her.

"My husband is an avid birdwatcher. He even leads hikes at the Indiana Dunes Birding Festival," she said. "He has three or four feeders he fills every day. We're two miles from the shoreline so we get all the birds from Lake Michigan except maybe the Great Egrets and Great Blue Herons. They literally come to me. I'll take a picture while they're on our railing or deck posting for me."

Her bird paintings have provided especially popular.

"As soon as I paint a bluebird, I sell it immediately," she said. "I just love them, they're gorgeous."

She also often paints sunsets over Lake Michigan, often with the Chicago skyline in the background. She has a favorite dune she likes to take sunset pictures from.

Pals is a self-described slow painter who often takes 12 to 15 hours to complete a painting. She often posts her progress on social media as she's painting, which has led to some sales before the painting was even finished.

One of her Lake Michigan sunset pieces was accepted by the Hoosier Women Artists program and hung in the lieutenant governor's office in the Indiana Statehouse for a year back in 2008.

"People offered to buy it from me. It put me on the map as an artist in Indiana," she said. "It's special to live so close to the lake. It is so magnificent."

She had toyed with the idea of applying for the Indiana Dunes Artist in Residency program. A few local artists like Kristina Knowski and Larry Jensen have taken part.

The National Park Service typically selects three to six artists in residence each year. Pals is one of five artists in residence this year. They live in a house on U.S. 12 in Beverly Shores where they contribute to a journal and explore the dunes in search of artistic inspiration.

"I thought it was cool and I'd love to do that," she said. "I served on the jurying committee and read the applications. It was very intimidating. They were so intelligent and so eloquent. I thought I am not ready to do this. But that was years ago until I just recently decided I was ready."

She often hikes through the dunes and wanted to highlight what the public often overlooks.

"As an artist, you come to the dunes and look at the scenery and paint pretty pictures. You invite the public to see the dunes through your eyes, to see the wildflowers, birds, butterflies and all the things they pass by and don't bother to look at on their way to the beach."

Pals got a call earlier this year congratulating her on the residency and she told them she didn't need the housing. She figured she only lived two miles from the lake and didn't want to be a space hog since she works with pastels.

"We don't mix colors like oil painters," she said. "We need hundreds of pastels, which take up room and are not easy to cart around."

Since she declined the free housing, they extended her residency from two weeks to five and a half months. She's an artist in residence through the beginning of October and plans to take advantage of the extra time she's been granted.

"It's awesome. I'm hiking all the time. I'm taking pictures all the time," she said. "It's been fun to write the journal entries."

She's still deciding what work of art she will provide to the National Park Service.

"It will be a close-up view of something," she said. "It's probably going to be a bird. The southern top of Lake Michigan is a hotspot for bird watchers. We get a lot of birds in their migrations from north to south. We also have a lot of wildflowers. We have a greater variety of orchids in the Indiana Dunes than they do in Hawaii. The wildflowers, plants and habitats in the Indiana Dunes are beautiful."

She hopes her art will help encourage more people to get out and explore the Indiana Dunes beyond the beaches that prove so popular each summer.

"It's a way to make the public more aware of the beauty of the Indiana Dunes," she said. "It's more than just a beach. It was to bring greater awareness to the vast diversity of the wildlife, plants and animals. I believe educating the public will help ensure this place is taken better care of. Hopefully, it inspires people to pick up their garbage, stay on trails and not trample plants."

She often goes on Ranger-guided tours trying to learn more about the Indiana Dunes and likes to explore more off-the-beaten-path places like Mnoke Prairie.

"I've learned so much. As I was walking through the prairie I was able to name every wildflower I was seeing," she said. "I wasn't able to do that a year ago."

The Indiana Dunes have surged in popularity since it was elevated from a National Lakeshore to a National Park and the coronavirus pandemic rekindled an interest in the great outdoors.

"People were coming and not cleaning up and leaving their garbage all over the beach," she said. "I hope art pieces make people stop and think about the nature and take notice of the rich diversity of the land and wildlife and respect it more."

She's interested in potentially pursuing artist residencies at other National Parks in the future.

"There's a whole program. They drive you around the first day and show you parts and pieces of the Indiana Dunes like the Tolleston Dunes and West Beach and Beverly Shores. Then you're free to go whatever, do whatever and concentrate on your work in a self-directed way," she said. It's not just sitting around on the beach for two weeks. It's a big job. You have to do your sketches in the field and then go home and create that artwork. When I was reading the journal, my draw dropped on the floor because they're also really good writers. There's a lot of talent out there who really care about the National Parks in this country."

She also hopes to inspire more local artists in Northwest Indiana to consider the Indiana Dunes Artist in Residency program. The Indiana Dunes supply a rich source of inspiration, she said.

"I was hiking by the Great Marsh in Beverly Shores and heard a scuffling noise," she said. "I turned around the looked and three sandhill cranes were foraging within 20 feet of me. They were in the marsh grass looking for food. It was to adults a teenage child, which is called a colt. I couldn't get decent pictures because they were blending in the grass but then they took off in the air and flew just in front of me. It was the coolest thing ever. You might not experience that during a two-week residency but could during a five-and-a-half-month residency hiking all over the Indiana Dunes almost every day. You have the opportunity to share some of those experiences with the public. I've seen bald eagles by Mount Baldy just posing for me. It's the coolest thing ever."

For more information, visit www.maryannpals.com.
Efforts to clean up a Niagara County site that was contaminated with waste from the Manhattan Project are poised to take an important first step.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District has awarded a $40 million contract that will begin the cleanup of a radioactive and chemical waste site in Niagara County.

The five-year contract with Enviro-Fix Solutions focuses on the government-owned Niagara Falls Storage Site. It will be the first phase in the full cleanup of the site that will take many more years and an estimated $500 million or more to complete.

Ultimately, we want the whole site to be clean, said Amy Gaskill, a spokeswoman for the Army Corps of Engineers. Thats the ultimate goal.

The 191-acre Niagara Falls Storage Site is the heart of the original 7,500-acre Lake Ontario Ordnance Works, which was built in 1942 in the towns of Lewiston and Porter. In 1944, the site began to be used to store radioactive residues and other radioactive material from the development of the atomic bomb. Radioactive wastes and residues continued to be brought to the site until 1952.

Does a hazardous waste landfill equal economic development? CWM, foes argue the point An attorney for the company that wants to bring a 43.5-acre hazardous waste landfill in Niagara County contended the project would have a $1 billion economic impact. But opponents said that number ignores the impact of bringing another 6 million tons of toxic waste to a region that with a long and notorious toxic legacy.

In 1982, the U.S. Department of Energy began to clean up and consolidate the radioactive wastes and residues in an earthen containment cell built on the property, according to the Army Corps of Engineers. The cell was completed in 1986.

Rep. Brian Higgins, D-Buffalo, said the awarding of the contract to Enviro-Fix kicks-off, in a substantial way, a comprehensive cleanup that will exceed a half billion dollars.

This work begins the transformation of legacy contamination, resulting from the regions role in World War II nuclear weapon production, into a legacy that leaves a safe and healthy environment for our children and future generations, he said.

Contract for cleanup of Lewiston radioactive site to be awarded in 2023 A formal decision is to be released this summer, but the Army Corps of Engineers has decided on a $24.5 million plan to remove waste scattered around the 191-acre Niagara Falls Storage Site.

The first stage of Enviro-Fixs work, estimated at $12 million, involves cleaning up contaminants outside the containment cell, which is formally called an interim waste containment structure. That will include soil and ground water around the containment cell.

In conjunction with the Army Corps of Engineers, Enviro-Fix will develop a plan to safely remove the materials from the site, Gaskill said. The destination for those materials will be determined as part of the planning process. The plan is expected be finalized in the fall.

The Army Corps of Engineers plans to hold a public information session in February 2024 about the remediation. The meeting will inform the public about how the materials will be safely removed and what routes will be used, Gaskill said.

Firm hired to design removal of WWII nuclear waste in Lewiston The government's plan is to remove more than 193,000 cubic yards of radioactive waste at the at the Niagara Falls Storage Site.

Plans call for Enviro-Fixs work on the first phase to get under way in spring and be completed in the fall. The remainder of the $40 million contract will go toward add-on costs or incidental expenses that arise.

The goal by the fall of next year is to have everything outside of that containment structure fully cleaned up, Gaskill said.

The Army Corps of Engineers will take the same approach to subsequent phases of the project, including developing a work plan and briefing the public and other stakeholders, he said.

In 2021, the Army Corps of Engineers awarded a $35 million contract to JE Architects/Engineers, a New York City-based architectural and engineering firm, to design the removal plan for nuclear waste and other contaminants.

What theyre going to do, theyre putting a design together for how were going to clean up whats under that structure at the Niagara Falls Storage Site, Gaskill said.

Army Corps finds radioactive materials in soil in Niagara County The Niagara County field where the samples were taken is believed to have been the site of open-air burning of radioactive material in the 1950s.

The timeline for that stage of the project wont be known until the design is complete, she added.

Its going to take a bit of time to make sure we do that safely and correctly and keep people informed all along the way what were doing, Gaskill said.

Enviro-Fix is a joint venture between Perma-Fix Environmental Services, which is based in Atlanta, and ECC of Burlingame, Calif., Perma-Fix is a nuclear services company. ECC is a construction and remediation firm.

This selection highlights our technical capabilities and prior success in remediating such sites and safely disposing of hazardous materials, said Mark Duff, Perma-Fixs CEO.

A spokesman for Perma-Fix said it has not yet been determined how many people the Enviro-Fix joint venture will employ for the Lewiston project.
PLEASANT TOWNSHIP  Porter County police say a repeat drunken driver was nearly five times the legal limit when she crossed the center line along a local stretch of Ind. 8 and collided head-on with another vehicle, landing that driver in a rehabilitation center to recover from serious injuries.

Alison Cook, 33, of Crown Point, faces three felony counts of operating while intoxicated, including two counts of causing serious bodily injury and one of having a prior OWI conviction, records show.

Porter Circuit Court Judge Mary DeBoer decided Tuesday morning to hold Cook without bond at the Porter County Jail while her case proceeds, records show.

The injured driver, a 70-year-old man from Hebron, reportedly told police he was driving westbound on Ind. 8 around 5 p.m. June 26 in a GMC Acadia when an eastbound Subaru Outback crossed the center line and collided head-on with his vehicle.

Emergency responders had to free the Hebron man from his vehicle and it was later learned his left leg and ankle were broken in the crash, as well as his left elbow, two ribs and sternum, police said. After spending two weeks at a hospital, the man was transferred to a rehabilitation center.

"(The man) was was advised that he has a long road to recovery ahead of him," police said.

Cook was treated at the scene of the crash and was reportedly verbally aggressive with emergency responders, thought she was in Crown Point and tried to walk away, despite having various large cuts along her arms from broken glass, according to the arrest report.

Cook admitted to drinking rum before driving and her blood alcohol concentration was found to be 0.39%, which far exceeds the legal limit for driving of 0.08%, police said.

Police said they learned Cook had an OWI case pending at the time of this incident and a prior OWI conviction from Lake County in August 2022.

Cook was booked into the Porter County Jail late Sunday night and remained in custody as of late Tuesday morning, records show.

She was given time by the judge to hire an attorney and a status hearing is set for Sept. 12.
CROWN POINT  The Lake County coroner's office identified three men who died over the weekend in separate instances in Gary, according to information released Tuesday.

The coroner's office was dispatched Thursday night to the 500 block of West Fifth Avenue to investigate the death of a man who sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Devon Hollman, 44, of Gary, died by homicide, the coroner's office said. Gary police did not immediately respond to a request for information. The Lake County Prosecutor's Metro Homicide Unit is investigating.

The body of Matthew Potocki, 32, of Hebron, was pulled from a body of water Friday morning in a forest preserve on the 700 block of Lee Street in Gary. Gary police, the Lake County Prosecutor's Metro Homicide Unit and the Department of Natural Resources are investigating. The coroner's office has not yet determined a cause and manner of death.

Moses Cantu, 25, of Gary, was identified as the decedent after an incident at Trendsetter's Bar & Grill on the 4400 block of Cleveland Street, the coroner's office said. Police were dispatched Sunday around 2:30 a.m. in response to a disturbance, according to a news release from the Lake County Sheriff's Department.

The altercation purportedly turned physical and eventually spilled outside, at which point an unknown individual fired multiple shots that struck the 25-year-old, who later succumbed to his injuries, according to the emailed statement from Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr.

The coroner's office did not identify Cantu's cause and manner of death. The investigation remains underway.
EAST CHICAGO  A 20-year-old man was still undergoing treatment for his injuries Tuesday after being shot over the weekend by police during a call in the 4800 block of Melville Avenue, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Department
The Indiana Chamber of Commerce has rolled out a new economic development plan that highlights goals to pursue and shortcomings to fix.

The statewide chamber of commerce is describing "Indiana Prosperity 2035  A Vision for Economic Acceleration" as a "long-range economic development playbook for the state." It was compiled by researchers, business leaders and other volunteers.

The effort was led by Ginovus Executive Managing Director Larry Gigerich, who works on economic development projects. Indiana Chamber President and CEO Kevin Brinegar said it provides a roadmap for growth.

Its worth stressing that Indiana Prosperity 2035 is more than an update," he said. "Its a new vision and an acceleration to push Indianas economy to even greater heights. Achieving the goals in the plan will benefit all Hoosiers, both businesses and citizens alike.

The report recommends drawing and retaining more human talent, improving education, preserving Indiana's business climate, focusing on high-tech industries, fostering startups, investing in infrastructure, honing quality of place, increasing access to affordable housing and improving air and water quality.

It suggests reducing smoking, obesity and substance abuse in a bid to improve Indiana's poor health and welfare ratings, as well as improving access to health services and limiting health care costs.

Currently, Indiana ranks as one of the best states to locate and operate a business, but its small business start-up rates lag much of the nation. In the last decade, productivity in the states advanced industries has lagged and fallen below the national average, Brinegar said. Indiana also is the state most at risk to industry and job disruptions from automation and artificial intelligence transitions. Those are all challenges that can and must be met head-on.

The state especially needs to focus on its workforce and education, the study argues.

If Indiana excelled in addressing every other goal outlined in this plan and failed to make significant progress on the workforce and K-12 education goals, we are doubtful that Indianas economy will hold its place  let alone accelerate at the pace of improvement necessary, Brinegar said. The states relatively low educational attainment rate should be a red alert regarding its ability to evolve and succeed in a rapidly changing, talent-based economy.

Improving the quality of place will help draw more talent, Brinegar said.

We need to expand our focus, planning and investment in innovative quality of place initiatives to create the communities and spaces that people want in where they live, work and stay," he said. As was the case with our prior two visioning plans, Indiana Prosperity 2035 will permeate much of our organizations work. Not only will it guide the Indiana Chambers advocacy and program development efforts, but it was designed to provide a variety of new goals and opportunities to engage with various stakeholders across the state.

For more information, visit www.indianachamber.com/2035.
Karaline Cartagena Edwards has returned home to the Region to serve as economic development manager of the Economic Development Corp. Michigan City, Indiana.

Through her role, she works to coordinate the latest projects, creating new connections, facilitating community outreach, leading the latest on the Vibrant Michigan City economic inclusive initiative and more, said Executive Director Clarence Hulse. Karaline infuses an element of education and expertise into her role from her time in Texas that boosts her ability to be a change-maker here in Michigan City."

Cartagena Edwards is a Portage native who graduated from Indiana University. Her role will be to help lure new businesses to Michigan City and greater LaPorte County.

In my position, I work heavily with business attraction, retention, and expansion. I hope to develop positive working relationships with the businesses we currently have here in Michigan City and make sure that they are thriving, while also working to promote our area to new businesses looking to join in on what NWI has to offer, she said.

She's been working in Houston for the last seven years.

I had been following the developments, positivity and momentum that have been transpiring in the Region and particularly in Michigan City, Cartagena Edwards said. After connecting with Clarence on LinkedIn and seeing the job opportunity, I knew it was time to be part of something impactful by returning to my hometown area.

She said she was drawn back home by natural resources, outdoor activities and access to the big-city amenities in Chicago.

We are poised in a prime location. Id love to be a part of helping bring in the best new businesses for our area, she said. But even more, I want to be a part of something that shines a positive light on Northwest Indiana and to have a role in enhancing our region. Were not just steel mills and sand. Were artists, foodies, nature enthusiasts and entrepreneurs. Were the perfect mix of white and blue collar. Were hard workers. Were steel, sand, soul and spirit.
Mary MacCarthy and her 10-year-old daughter, Moira, had just deplaned at Denver International Airport when two Denver police officers met them at the gate, calling them by name and notifying them that they had been reported for suspicious behavior.

The mother and daughter had flown a Southwest Airlines flight to Denver for a funeral. Ms. MacCarthys brother had died suddenly the night before.

Unbeknown to Ms. MacCarthy, a flight attendant had suspected Ms. MacCarthy, who is white, of human trafficking, Ms. MacCarthy said in an interview Monday. Moira, her daughter, is Black.

The officers questioned them, Ms. MacCarthy said, adding that her daughter cried in her arms throughout the entire interaction. Ms. MacCarthy showed her drivers license to the officers; they did not ask for identification for Moira, proving that they were related.
At least one tornado was confirmed, just after 5:30 p.m. in the village of McGraw, about 30 miles south of Syracuse, N.Y., but caused minimal damage, Mayor Allan Stauber said on Tuesday afternoon. He noted that tree limbs were down, but he had not received any reports of major structural damage. A local TV station reported there was one roof blown off a structure.

In Florence, Ala., a 28-year-old man died after he was struck by lightning in a parking lot in the city, about 60 miles west of Huntsville, local police said. And in Anderson, S.C., a 15-year-old boy was killed when a large tree fell and struck him, according to local fire officials.

In Pennsylvania, a person was injured when a tree fell on the car they were in, according to the preliminary reports. In Virginia, officials rescued a woman who was trapped inside her home after a tree fell on it.

Some of the worst-hit areas were along the Mason-Dixon line and the southern Appalachians, said David Roth, a meteorologist with the Weather Service.
A 17-year-old cousin of the gunman responsible for the deadly school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, was arrested after his mother reported that he was trying to buy a gun and do the same thing, the authorities said on Monday.

The cousin, identified as Nathan James Cruz, 17, was taken into custody on Monday morning and charged with making threats to a public place and a family member, said Sgt. Washington Moscoso of the San Antonio Police Department.

Mr. Cruzs mother notified the authorities after learning that her son had made statements that worried her, including that he would shoot the school, and that school is starting soon, according to an affidavit filed with the arrest warrant. Detectives later determined that the threats were serious enough to merit an arrest.

The affidavit said Mr. Cruzs mother contacted the police after her daughter told her that Mr. Cruz said he was planning to do the same thing as his cousin, Salvador Ramos. Mr. Ramos, an 18-year-old Uvalde resident, fatally shot 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School with an AR-15-style weapon in 2022.
The Philippine Coast Guard has released a video that shows a Chinese Coast Guard vessel firing a water cannon at one of its ships, going public with a new complaint of aggressive behavior from China.

Two vessels of the Philippines Coast Guard were on what was supposed to be a normal resupply mission 120 miles off the coast of Palawan, when they ran into a Chinese blockade. After a Chinese vessel fired its water cannon at one Philippine ship, it then moved to block it from advancing. The second Philippine ship was able to pass through the blockade, completing the supply mission.

The confrontation took place around the Second Thomas Shoal, part of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. The area is claimed by several countries and has been a site of repeated run-ins between Chinese and Philippine ships.

On Monday, Chinas Coast Guard released a statement, justifying its move by claiming that the Philippines violated Chinas sovereignty and international law and that the Philippine ships had been lawfully intercepted.
Russian forces shelled a small city in eastern Ukraine twice in quick succession on Monday evening, killing at least five people, including an emergency worker who was responding to the first attack, Ukrainian officials said.

At least 31 others, including a child and more than a dozen police officers, were injured in the attacks on the city, Pokrovsk, Ihor Klymenko, Ukraines minister of internal affairs, said on the Telegram messaging app. He praised the heroes who were first to arrive at the site to help.

The Russian strikes hit the center of Pokrovsk twice within 40 minutes, said the head of the Donetsk regional military administration, Pavlo Kyrylenko. The number of victims could rise. Rescuers were digging through the rubble of what he said included damaged residential buildings, shops and restaurants.

The details of the attacks in the mining city in the Donetsk region, which had a prewar population of about 50,000, could not be independently verified. But Mr. Klymenko said that a rescuer, Andrii Omelchenko, 52, was killed during the second strike.
Born and raised subsistence farmers, 200 refugee and immigrant families have been able to return to the soil, on 37 acres in Orchard Park.

The Somali Bantu Community Organization founded the farm in 2017. Since then, seven immigrant communities and Black Buffalo-born families have joined the Somali Bantus.

With Burmese, Karenni, Congolese, Somali Bantu, Burundian, Ethiopian, Liberian and Bangladeshi farmers, the Providence Collective Farm runs as far as the eye can see on both sides of Burton Road.

From 3 to 6 p.m. on Mondays, everyone is invited to stop by 5701 Burton Road to see what the neighbors grow for dinner. Plus, shop one of the most diverse produce selections any Western New York farm stand can offer.

That means okra, tomatillos, kale, collards, scallions, onions, tomatoes, basil, lettuce and Swiss chard. Also, green beans, Asian and Italian eggplant, peppers  sweet and hot  and summer squashes.

Each of our programs is a little different, but the community farm program addresses fresh food insecurity in communities, as well as access to those cultural foods and the tradition of farming, said Kristin Heltman-Weiss, the collectives executive director.

Its three-year incubator program helps develop new farm businesses. There are presently 28 small farms under the Providence Farm Collective umbrella.

Its not just about getting food, and about getting food they want, she said. For a lot of these people, its a continuation of their life. They were farmers before they came here, and they want to farm, because that's what they do.

The Providence Farm Collective community-supported agriculture program  farm subscriptions  has all the customers it can handle this season. In September or October, said Heltman-Weiss, we'll start taking orders for next year.

Find out more at providencefarmcollective.org.
At the 92nd Street Y, New York, last month, a diverse bunch of dance teachers from around the country played a game called Slow Land/Fast Land. A strip of blue tape on the floor divided the room in half. Those on one side improvised quick motions while those on the other kept to the opposite speed.

These teachers were all students of the Dance Education Laboratory, and the instructor leading the exercise was Jody Gottfried Arnhold. Now 79, she founded the program nearly 30 years ago and has been teaching in it ever since. But longevity isnt the most remarkable part of her story.

In dance education circles, her first name is enough. Everyone knows Jody. They call her the doyenne of dance, the godmother. They speak of her as the No. 1 cheerleader, the most tireless and tenacious champion, the general.

The name Arnhold is all over dance in New York: atop lists of donors to theaters and companies; affixed to university programs, scholarships, studio spaces and other parts of buildings. Arnholds class was in the newly renovated Buttenwieser Hall, now part of the 92nd Street Ys Arnhold Center, a dance and performance complex to which she and her husband, John, donated $30 million. The woman who led Slow Land/Fast Land with the firm, kind manner of an exemplary childrens teacher is also chairman of the board of 92NY, as the organization is now also known.
Perhaps more music festivals should open with a singalong.

At the start of the first concert of the Bard Music Festival on Friday, at the Fisher Center in Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y., a thronging audience was, shall we say, encouraged to join the Bard Festival Chorale in a rendition of Come Down, O Love Divine, one of the hymns that Ralph Vaughan Williams set as part of his efforts to enliven the music of Anglican worship. The tune, named Down Ampney after the Gloucestershire village in which this English composer was born in 1872, is simple, elegant and, as it turns out, satisfying to warble your way through.

That was, largely, the point. Vaughan Williams and His World, the 33rd Bard festival, argued during its first weekend that he was a composer who intended his art to be of use, who saw his search for beauty through music as a collective and communal act, who wrote not only for himself, but also for his time, his place, his countrymen.

The composer must not shut himself up and think about art, he wrote in 1912. He must live with his fellows and make his art an expression of the whole life of the community.

But does this music have anything to say now? After all, even some of Vaughan Williamss staunchest advocates feared for the future of his music while he was still alive. The human as well as esthetic aspects of Vaughan Williams art, and its nearer relation to contemporaneous society than that of Sibelius, might age it more quickly, the New York Times critic Olin Downes critic predicted four years before the composers death in 1958.
A judge in Los Angeles on Tuesday sentenced the Canadian musician Tory Lanez to 10 years in prison for shooting the rapper Megan Thee Stallion during an argument in 2020, the culmination of a case that polarized the music world, filled gossip pages and generated deeper discussion about violence against Black women.

He not only shot me, he made a mockery of my trauma, Megan Thee Stallion, the chart-topping artist born Megan Pete, wrote in a statement that was read in court on Monday, as supporters on both sides made their final pleas to the judge.

Megan Thee Stallion, who did not attend the sentencing because she said she could not be in the same room as Mr. Lanez, added, This is a statement for all survivors that their lives matter and there is zero tolerance for the torture that accompanies violence.

Prosecutors had sought a 13-year sentence for Mr. Lanez, born Daystar Peterson, arguing that he lacked remorse and was clearly incapable of accepting any responsibility for his own actions. Before Mr. Lanez was sentenced on Tuesday, he addressed the court in an orange jail jumpsuit, asking for redemption and a second chance.
The Numbers

Chinas exports dropped 14.5 percent in July from the same point last year, the biggest decline since February 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic sent the world into lockdown and tangled global supply chains. Imports fell 12.3 percent in the same period.

In the first seven months of the year, exports to the United States declined 18.6 percent from a year earlier, while shipments to the European Union fell 5 percent. Exports to Russia, which has been hit with Western sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine, increased more than 70 percent.

Mexico and Canada surpassed China this year as the United States top trading partners, as American companies seek to bring their supply chains closer to home. Foreign investment in China dropped more than 80 percent in the second quarter from a year earlier, according to Chinese government data released Friday.

Why It Matters

As developed countries like the United States tackle inflation by cooling demand, consumers are shifting spending from goods to services, Paul Donovan, chief economist at UBS, said in a note to investors.

There has been general weakness in demand for Chinas exports, he said.

Officials in Beijing have been trying to foster a rebound from an economic slump after nearly three years of pandemic restrictions. After China ended its lockdowns last December, many expected the economy to bounce back, but recovery has been halting.

A real estate crisis and weak spending by consumers have put pressure on Beijing to increase exports to help stabilize the economy. But the trade numbers released on Tuesday suggest that weak demand may exacerbate a global slowdown.
Government policymakers struggling to address the problem are now leaning on colleges to do more to find jobs for graduates. The job performance of school administrators was already tied to the percentage of their students who find employment after graduation. Now top school officials are being encouraged to visit companies to unearth opportunities. In some cases, the scrutiny is so intense that students resort to fabricating job offers to placate school officials.

Over the last three decades, as Chinas economy grew by leaps and bounds, more people attended college, seeing it as a pathway to promising careers. The number of students enrolling in colleges and universities increased to 10.1 million in 2022 from 754,000 in 1992, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

This years estimated graduating class of 11.6 million students is expected to be the largest ever, and future classes are expected to be even bigger. At the same time, the economy is not growing like it once did.

The problem of youth unemployment may not abate for a decade, carrying potentially bigger ramifications for the countrys leadership, said a June report from the China Macroeconomy Forum, a think tank with Renmin University of China.
Taiwan is a self-ruling island of 24 million people that is officially known as the Republic of China. Only about a dozen countries recognize it as a nation because China claims it as one of its provinces. Taiwan is called Chinese Taipei by international organizations and at the Olympic Games.

The ambiguity of Taiwans nationhood contrasts with a growing Taiwanese claim of identity. More than 60 percent of the people living on the island identify as Taiwanese, and roughly 30 percent identify as both Chinese and Taiwanese, according to the latest results of an annual survey conducted by National Chengchi University in Taipei. Only 2.5 percent consider themselves Chinese exclusively.

But what makes them Taiwanese, not Chinese? How will they create a cohesive narrative about their identity? And how do they reconcile with their Chinese heritage?

For many people, its through food, one of the things the island is known for, aside from its semiconductor industry. In the past decade or so, restaurateurs, writers and scholars have started to promote the concept of Taiwanese cuisine, reviving traditional fine dining and incorporating local, especially Indigenous, produce and ingredients into cooking.
On Tuesday, the leaders of eight countries that are home to the Amazon River basin agreed to work together to conserve the worlds largest rainforest at a groundbreaking meeting convened by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil.

The agreement, called the Belem Declaration, for the Brazilian city where the meeting was held, provides a road map to stave off the rampant deforestation, caused in large part by industrial agriculture and land-grabbing, that has severely damaged the rainforest and has major implications for Earths climate.

The meeting was also expected to yield a separate agreement on Wednesday among other nations with major rainforests  including the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo and Indonesia  to more closely coordinate protecting the ecosystems globally.

The Amazon rainforest is not only a haven of biodiversity but also plays an important role in the fight against climate change because it pulls huge amounts of planet-warming carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and stores it away. Over the past half-century, around 17 percent of the forest has been razed and an even bigger share is severely degraded.
Slowing down climate change is going to require big fixes, and many small ones, too.

Case in point: contrails, those wispy white lines that trail some airplanes flying high in the sky.

Contrails, short for condensation trails, are produced when exhaust from jets mixes with water vapor at extremely high altitudes, forming minuscule ice particles. Scientists have known for decades that in some cases, contrails spread out across huge areas, trapping heat in the atmosphere.

That may sound insignificant given the vastness of the sky. Yet studies have estimated that contrails are responsible for as much as 35 percent of all of the planetary warming attributable to aviation. By some measures, contrails account for upward of 1 percent of human-caused global warming.

We now know enough about contrails and their impact to know we need to do something about it, said Andrew Chen of RMI, a nonprofit that promotes sustainability.
On March 15, 2020, the pandemic forced the chef Dominic Piperno to close Hearthside, his then-two-year-old restaurant in Collingswood, N.J. When he reopened it six months later, industrywide staffing shortages meant he could operate only four days a week. During that period, he noticed what seemed like a better lifestyle for everybody, he said.

In January, Mr. Piperno added a fifth day of service, but in the return to the 12-hour workdays that are common in the restaurant industry, he worried that he would lose staff members to burnout. So after just one month, he reversed his decision and went back to four days of service, Wednesday through Saturday.

That way of life is just not sustainable anymore, Mr. Piperno said. Nor should it ever really have been.

While other types of businesses are clamoring to return to prepandemic norms, Hearthside is one of an emerging class of restaurants around the country  from New York City to Nashville to Los Angeles  that are paring back their hours to create a more sustainable schedule for their employees and draw wary veteran workers back to the business.
You cant hear hip-hop jewelry, technically speaking, but that doesnt mean you dont know what it sounds like. The word bling, which entered common parlance at the turn of the century, conjures specific sights: small flotillas of twinkling diamonds, gold layered literally to the teeth, watches so gem-encrusted they barely tick. But it also suggests an expansive range of sounds, from the chimes in B.G.s 1999 anthem Bling Bling to the reverberant pomp of Slick Rick, the otherworldly bounce of Missy Elliott, the diced-pineapple opulence of Rick Ross. One beguiling trick of hip-hop production, whether its expensive or ersatz, elegant or gaudy, is to convey musically what jewelry signifies visually.

And signify it does, in a dizzying variety of ways. Rappers wear jewelry to floss and flex, to make a flamboyant spectacle of their disposable income, but also to commemorate and honor, to endorse and advertise. Theyll commission a new piece to mark a milestone, to cement a bond with a crew or a record label, to declare their allegiance to a higher cosmic power or a fellow icon from pop culture  like Gucci Manes Bart Simpson pendant, DaBabys Stewie Griffin chain or Quavos Remy from Ratatouille. And beyond the decorative, representative function, many speak of jewelrys more intimate effect: a private energy, a sense of boundless potential and power  the same one, perhaps, that we hear through our speakers.
A Colden woman was arraigned Monday before Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan on three counts of second-degree manslaughter and one count of reckless driving stemming from a fatal crash in February on Millersport Highway in Amherst, according to the Erie County District Attorney's Office.

Prosecutors said that Jayla L. Mueller, 18, was speeding on the John James Audubon Parkway in Amherst on Feb. 20 when she lost control of her car on the ramp to Millersport Highway. Three young people who were passengers in the vehicle  Azathiel Pabon, 18; Isabella French, 19; and Dakota Eldridge, 20  were all ejected and later pronounced dead at the scene.

Mueller and a fourth passenger  a 17-year-old boy  were transported by ambulance to Erie County Medical Center, where they were both treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Mueller, who was released from custody under supervision, is scheduled to return to court on Aug. 29 for further proceedings. If convicted of the highest charge against her, Mueller faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

 Harold McNeil
It is impossible to know how many of the 1,000 overdoses OnPoint says it has reversed would have been fatal without intervention. Because they intervene so quickly, staff members are able to handle most overdoses simply by administering oxygen. When they do use naloxone, a drug that reverses the effect of opioids, they typically inject a small dose. They have called for an ambulance only about 20 times, said Rayce Samuelson, an OnPoint overdose prevention specialist.

In Albany, legislation has been introduced to more explicitly permit the centers and grant some legal immunity to those who operate them, but it has not passed. The City Council has also not passed legislation authorizing the centers.

Gustavo Rivera, a state senator from the Bronx who sponsored the Senate bill, has argued that Governor Hochul could expand state support to the centers through executive action alone. There are precedents, he said, such as her creation of a state agency to regulate marijuana despite its being illegal under federal law.

Ms. Hochuls office noted that marijuana was legalized in the state before she funded that agency. In March, she said it was the citys prerogative to experiment with the centers and even expand them, but as far as a statewide policy, its something that we are exploring.

I would encourage us to be brave about this, Senator Rivera said. He has been taking other lawmakers to tour the centers to try to convince them to vote yes. As we do nothing, more and more people die in every corner of our state.

Audio produced by Parin Behrooz .
A 65-year-old woman was bitten by a shark Monday afternoon at Rockaway Beach, the authorities said, in what appeared to be the first confirmed shark bite in New York City waters in decades.

The woman, Tatyana Koltunyuk, was bitten on the left leg as she swam near Beach 59th Street, a spokeswoman for the citys parks department said. Ms. Koltunyuk was swimming alone when lifeguards heard her screaming for help, according to a police report.

Lifeguards removed Ms. Koltunyuk from the water, applied a tourniquet and administered other first aid, and emergency responders then took her to Jamaica Hospital in critical condition. On Tuesday, her condition was listed as serious but stable, the police said.

We hope for a full recovery for this swimmer, the parks department spokeswoman, Meghan Lalor, said in a statement. Though this was a frightening event, we want to remind New Yorkers that shark bites in Rockaway are extremely rare.
By reaching out to as many ethnic groups as he can in the city of immigrants that he presides over, Adams can connect with voters well before 2025, when he is all but certain to run for a second term.

Mayor Adams, I think, is using flags as a part of political theater, which many politicians do, and hes doing it quite effectively, said Ted Kaye, the secretary of the North American Vexillological Association, which counts 1,000 members, mostly in the United States and Canada, and charges dues of $40 a year. Im not one to comment on the political aspects of this, but from the flag standpoint, we think its great when people raise and wave flags  because, he added, flags by their nature are colorful and meaningful and they catch our eyes and they catch our hearts.

Flag raisings caught Adamss attention when he was the Brooklyn borough president and proved to be an audience-pleasing tactic that he carried to City Hall. He microtargets, said Richard David, a district leader from Queens who attended the mayors Guyana flag raising. Little things like this for some folks might seem superficial, might feel performative, but youre a part of this and being seen for the first time, it does mean a lot. And the mayor knows that.

But Adamss appearances at flag ceremonies reflect basic arithmetic as much as advanced political calculus. He won the Democratic primary in 2021  which all but guaranteed him victory in the general election, given that registered Democrats far outnumber Republicans in New York City  by only 7,200 votes. When you do an analysis of how close our election was, Adams said at a flag raising for Saint Lucia, the birthplace of 10,500 New Yorkers, you begin to really benefit and understand how 10,000 people unified together can send a powerful message.

The mayors message from one flag-raising ceremony to another can be strikingly similar. You believe in families. You believe in business. You believe in public safety, he told Filipino Americans at a ceremony for the Philippine flag. He used the same line (except that he said family instead of families) at a flag-raising of the Croatian colors. At a ceremony for the flag of Kazakhstan, he said, You believe in public safety.
We have to prove democracy still works  that our government still works and we can deliver for our people, he said in a speech to a joint session of Congress in April 2021.

We are still an America that believes in honesty and decency and respect for others, patriotism, liberty, justice for all, hope, possibilities, the president said in a speech in September at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, where he asserted that the foundations of the Republic were under assault by MAGA forces. We are still, at our core, a democracy.

There is an insistent quality, almost a stubbornness, to Bidens still. Its implicit assumption is that many Americans may no longer believe in the nations professed virtues or trust that they will last much longer, that we must be persuaded of either their value or their endurance. To say that America is a democracy is to issue a statement of belief. To say that we are still a democracy is to engage in an argument, to acknowledge  and push back against  mounting concerns to the contrary.

The contrast between Biden saying America is still a democracy and Trump vowing to make it great again is more than a quirk of speechwriting. What presidents say  especially what they grow comfortable repeating  can reveal their underlying beliefs and basic impulses, shaping their administrations in ways that are concrete, not just rhetorical. Bidens still stresses durability; Trumps again revels in discontinuity. Still is about holding on to something good that may be slipping away; again is about bringing back something better that was wrested away. Both candidates, now in a dead heat in the 2024 presidential race, look to the nations past but through divergent lenses. Its the difference between America as an ideal worth preserving and an illusion worth summoning.

Bidens use of still is both soothing and alarming. It connotes permanence but warns of fragility. The message of still is that we remain who we are, but that this condition is not immutable, that America as Biden envisions it exists somewhere between reality and possibility. If we do our duty in 2022 and beyond, Biden said ahead of the midterm elections last year, then ages still to come will say we  all of us here  we kept the faith. We preserved democracy. We heeded not our worst instincts but our better angels. And we proved that for all its imperfections, America is still the beacon to the world.
Before I turned on the camera to interview Jim Auld for this documentary, he cautioned me: I think its impossible to convey the despair that went on in my head.

In 1919, the poet William Butler Yeats wrote The Second Coming, and its image of a falcon slipping free from a falconer came to symbolize for many the chaos and brutality that descended upon Ireland during the War of Independence.

Fifty-two years later, as a young man in 1971, Mr. Auld was one of 14 civilians accused of having links to the I.R.A. and tortured by the British forces in Northern Ireland. He was released from a Belfast internment camp without charges. Another 52 years have since passed, and Mr. Auld is now an experienced falconer, a pursuit that has allowed him to find some measure of calm.

In 1978, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that he and the other detainees  known as the Hooded Men  werent tortured. The court instead called it inhuman and degrading treatment. The Police Service of Northern Ireland formally apologized to the Hooded Men for the actions of its officers this past June, but the British government remains silent. Mr. Auld continues to call for their full responsibility: As human beings, we are better than this.
I moved from New York back to Paris in the summer of 2020, partly to get away from the spate of anti-Asian assaults that had emerged with the Covid pandemic. The last straw was when I became the victim of a drive-by yelling: Two white guys driving past me stuck their heads out of a car window to shout a racial epithet plus the word coronavirus.

I thought: I tried, America. And then I started packing.

But isnt there just as much racism in France? ask my U.S.-based friends, who need to believe they are living in the worlds most enlightened nation. Yes, there can be  sometimes horrifically so. The pandemic also saw a rise in anti-Asian incidents in France, as in many countries. France is a former colonial power that has significant ongoing racial tensions, as evidenced most recently by a Paris police officers fatal shooting of Nahel Merzouk, a 17-year-old Frenchman of Algerian and Moroccan descent. The killing led to nationwide riots.

So, no, France is not free of racism. But Paris does afford a person like me, occasionally, the chance to feel maybe Im free of it, in ways that my experience in America rarely does.

Sometimes  and I dont expect to make friends with this statement  all you have the energy for in this life is to go where you are most likely to be treated like a white male. For me, thats France. In the United States, I am an Asian female, an invisible minority, until were not and were being harassed. Meanwhile, my life in France, as a somewhat assimilated fluent French speaker, is the closest Ive ever come to the luxury of feeling like a privileged member of the dominant majority. It happens, in particular, when I am surrounded by non-French-speaking Americans.
This deeply unfortunate timing looks political and has potent political implications even if it is not driven by partisan motivations. And it is the Biden administrations responsibility, as its Justice Department reportedly delayed the investigation of Mr. Trump for a year and then rushed to indict him well into the G.O.P. primary season. The unseemliness of the prosecution will most likely grow if the Biden campaign or its proxies use it as a weapon against Mr. Trump if he is nominated.

This is all happening against the backdrop of perceived unfairness in the Justice Departments earlier investigation, originating in the Obama administration, of Mr. Trumps connections to Russia in the 2016 general election. Anti-Trump texts by the lead F.B.I. investigator, a former F.B.I. director who put Mr. Trump in a bad light through improper disclosure of F.B.I. documents and information, transgressions by F.B.I. and Justice Department officials in securing permission to surveil a Trump associate and more were condemned by the Justice Departments inspector general even as he found no direct evidence of political bias in the investigation. The discredited Steele dossier, which played a consequential role in the Russia investigation and especially its public narrative, grew out of opposition research by the Democratic National Committee and the Hillary Clinton campaign.

And then there is the perceived unfairness in the departments treatment of Mr. Bidens son Hunter, in which the department has once again violated the cardinal principle of avoiding any appearance of untoward behavior in a politically sensitive investigation. Credible whistle-blowers have alleged wrongdoing and bias in the investigation, though the Trump-appointed prosecutor denies it. And the departments plea arrangement with Hunter Biden came apart, in ways that fanned suspicions of a sweetheart deal, in response to a few simple questions by a federal judge.

These are not whataboutism points. They are the context in which a very large part of the country will fairly judge the legitimacy of the Justice Departments election fraud prosecution of Mr. Trump. They are the circumstances that for very many will inform whether his prosecution is seen as politically biased. This is all before the Trump forces exaggerate and inflame the context and circumstances and thus amplify their impact.

These are some of the reasons the Justice Department, however pure its motivations, will probably emerge from this prosecution viewed as an irretrievably politicized institution by a large chunk of the country. The department has been on a downward spiral because of its serial mistakes in high-profile contexts, accompanied by sharp political attacks from Mr. Trump and others on the right. Its predicament will now very likely grow much worse because the consequences of its election-fraud prosecution are so large, the taint of its past actions is so great and the potential outcome for Mr. Biden is too favorable.
FRONT PAGE

An article on Saturday about the first pill for postpartum depression misspelled the name of a psychiatrist. She is Dr. Ruta Nonacs, not Nunacs.

INTERNATIONAL

An article on Monday about a group of Swiss women who sued the government over climate change protections misstated how much warmer the average temperature was in July in Switzerland. It was 2 degrees Celsius warmer, not 35 degrees.

METROPOLITAN

A Big City column on Sunday about fear of crime in New York City misstated the surname of the man who choked Jordan Neely to death in May. He is Daniel Penny, not Perry.

BUSINESS

An article on Saturday about the tech industrys new investments in generative A.I. misstated Nvidias data center sales. The company will add $15 billion in sales this year, not reach $15 billion in sales.
These days, it seems that some restaurants will add a dollop of caviar to anything, from fried chicken to hamburgers, practically reducing the once-luxurious treat to a condiment. So its perhaps no surprise that chefs are turning their attention to something more rarefied than your everyday osetra: albino caviar, which ranges in color from alabaster to golden, and is the result of uncommon mutations. The most sought after is that of the beluga sturgeon but, says Hermes Gehnen, the founder of N25 Caviar, an international purveyor, restaurants generally cant afford it. Its more for superyachts. At Les Trois Chevaux in New York, the eggs of the Acipenser ruthenus, a small sturgeon known as the sterlet, are shaped into a quenelle tableside and plated with white asparagus, aerated bechamel and beurre de baratte-basted brioche. The monochromatic presentation allows diners to be more cognizant of what [theyre] actually tasting, says the restaurants owner, Angie Mar, 41, who describes albino caviar as supple and velvety. Rasmus Munk, 32, the chef and co-owner of Alchemist in Copenhagen, is drawn to albino caviars beautiful aroma of butter and creamy texture. He serves it atop a square of crisp, sourdough-flavored freeze-dried milk born of his collaboration with an M.I.T. researcher on food for space travel. And at the omakase restaurant the Araki in London, the chef Marty Lau slices white cuttlefish and squid into fine ribbons and tops them with a spoonful of golden roe. Although white caviar stock is limited, they arent the only pale orbs worth chasing. Snail eggs, which have a mushroomlike flavor, have the same visual appeal despite their earthy taste. Just dont assume theyll be a bargain. Sometimes, says Munk, youll pay even more money for snail eggs than you do for caviar.  Lauren Joseph

The Thing: Jewel-Toned Glass Lamps From Hermes
He took the job at a time when that venerable company was facing challenges and criticism, including over its recent decision to vacate its longtime home, the Barbican Center in London, and scale back its ensemble work. Michael Billington, a theater critic for The Guardian, had criticized the outgoing director, Adrian Noble, for attempting to create a revolution within the R.S.C. culture without getting the approval of the theater profession or the public.

Mr. Boyd, during his decade at the helm, brought audiences back; oversaw the renovation of the companys theater complex at Stratford-upon-Avon; created a reproduction of its classical theater in the Park Avenue Armory in Manhattan for a five-play residency in 2011; and set in motion the World Shakespeare Festival of 2012, a multicity celebration involving more than 50 arts organizations.

Mr. Boyd, The Guardian said in summarizing his decade of leadership, presided over a spectacular financial and architectural turnaround.

In announcing in 2011 that he was stepping away, he said the job had begun to wear on him.

Ive always said it would take 10 years to do something significant towards the life and the spirit of the company, he told The Birmingham Evening Mail, though more than 10 years would potentially not be so good for the life and the spirit of the artistic director.

But Mr. Boyd was hardly done. He continued to direct notable productions, including Tamburlaine, Parts I and II, the Christopher Marlowe classic, for Theater for a New Audience in New York in 2014. Its a bloody tale from 1587 about the warrior Tamburlaine, and Mr. Boyd didnt hold back; the show used 144 gallons of stage blood a week. For one effect, blood was pumped from beneath the stage so that it would creep up the skirt of a particular character.
An accusation of rape last week in a Cheektowaga hotel against an asylum-seeker from Venezuela has touched off a firestorm of criticism from Republicans who have been critical of Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarzs response to the migrant crisis.

The Republican Caucus of the Erie County Legislature, Erie County Republican Chairman Michael Kracker and Chrissy Casilio, Republican challenger to Poloncarz in this years election, all released statements blaming him.

This problem is at our doorstep because the County Executive welcomed it, the caucus said in a statement.

Poloncarz condemned the reported rape and said that any asylum seeker who shatters the sacred trust placed in them by violating the law, including against a fellow asylum seeker, as in this matter, should be swiftly prosecuted and deported after they are punished for their crimes.

Jesus D. Guzman-Bermudez, 26, is accused of raping a woman in a hotel on the 4000 block of Genesee Street in Cheektowaga on Aug. 2. A statement from the Erie County District Attorneys Office said the reported rape took place in the presence of a 3-year-old child.

Guzman-Bermudez was arraigned Friday morning before Cheektowaga Town Court Justice David M. Stevens on multiple charges, including felony counts of first-degree rape and second-degree unlawful imprisonment, a misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of a child and a violation of second-degree harassment. He was held without bail, and a temporary order of protection was issued on behalf of the victim. Prosecutors said the victim and the suspect know each other.

Since mid-June, New York City has sent 16 busloads with about 530 migrants to Western New York after running out of room in its own emergency shelters, according to Jericho Road Community Health Center, one of the local organizations working with the asylum-seekers who have arrived.

The asylum-seekers are being housed in three hotels near the airport.

Many counties outside New York City have balked at the idea of taking in the asylum-seekers, including the leaders of seven counties in Western New York who declared states of emergency to bar local hotels from accepting migrants.

Erie County was the exception, and Poloncarz said in June that the emergency orders were likely illegal and morally repugnant. In a ruling in Westchester County, a judge agreed that it was illegal.

On Tuesday, after the DAs announcement about the charges against Guzman-Bermudez, Republicans were quick to blast Poloncarz.

This individual was welcomed to our community by far-left politicians and committed a heinous crime in front of a young child, Kracker said. Erie County residents have been lectured and maligned by Mark Poloncarz and Kathy Hochul for raising concerns about these illegal migrants coming to our community. Now, we are dealing with the reality of allowing unvetted individuals into our community that make Erie County less safe.

Casilio held a news conference and said in a statement that Poloncarz brought this problem to our community. Our concerns are real and valid, and now Cheektowaga, Amherst, and Hamburg bear this burden.

Organizations working with the migrants also responded to reports of the attack.

At Jericho Road Community Health Center we are caring for the family involved in this complicated situation, Jericho Road CEO and founder Myron Glick said. Our partner organization is assisting us by taking over the care of the incarcerated gentleman accused of this crime. We will focus on the woman and her child. While the investigation and criminal process are ongoing, we expect that the rights of all parties involved will be respected.

Guzman-Bermudez is scheduled to return to town court for a felony hearing at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.
On the last day of June, American Airlines agents at Gainesville Regional Airport in Florida canceled a North Carolina teenagers flight after realizing that he had used a booking tactic called skiplagging or hidden-city travel, forbidden by airlines but used by some travelers to net flight bargains.

The teens father, Hunter Parsons, said it was his 17-year-olds first time flying unaccompanied and that both the timing and price of the booking made it appealing  for $150, his son was to fly from Gainesville to Charlotte, and not continue on the second flight to New York, a cost savings of roughly $300 if the family had simply purchased a direct flight to Charlotte. But Mr. Parsonss son didnt even make it past the check-in counter in Gainesville, where the airline agents questioned why the teen would fly to New York when his layover was in his hometown, Charlotte. He was forced to pay for a direct flight.

Skiplagging is buying a ticket for a connecting flight, with a layover in the city thats the real destination for the traveler. Flyers disembark after the first leg and simply fail to board the second. Often the fare is cheaper than if theyd actually bought a direct flight to their desired destination. At least two websites now help unearth these deals for consumers.

Though it is not illegal, the practice is strictly prohibited by airlines in their contracts of carriage. And carriers have shown an erratic but heavy hand in administering punishment for those caught, eliminating a skiplaggers frequent flier miles in one instance and suing a passenger in another. Mr. Parsons said that American barred his son from traveling with the carrier for three years.
Residents in Alaskas capital, Juneau, were urged on Monday to stay away from the Mendenhall River after flooding from a glacier destroyed two buildings and eroded riverbanks in the city over the weekend. Local officials declared a state of emergency.

Water released from Suicide Basin  an ice-covered depression near the Mendenhall Glacier, which is about 13 miles from the city  caused the Mendenhall River to flood on Saturday.

Floodwaters have been receding since the burst, according to the National Weather Service, but officials have warned residents to stay away from the river banks.

Although flooding is no longer expected to pose a threat, hazards persist in and near the Mendenhall River, the Weather Service warned. Please continue to heed remaining road closures, it said, adding that residents should stay out of the river and away from unstable banks.
Volunteer divers looking over the weekend for underwater vehicles in South Florida in an effort to solve missing persons cases found something unexpected: roughly 30 cars submerged under a single lake, according to the police.

The cars were discovered a few miles west of Miami International Airport in Doral, in a commercial area filled with cafes, a pharmacy and a car dealership. They were likely dumped there decades ago by people hoping to rid themselves of a car because of its connection to a crime, the search teams said.

The number of vehicles surprised the divers. Thats the highest weve ever found in a lake, said Ken Fleming, the founder of Recon Dive Recovery, one of the groups involved in the search. Recon Dive employs divers and special equipment such as sonar to find missing people and cars underwater.

The Doral Police Department said in a statement on Monday that it was investigating the submerged vehicles, and that dive teams from multiple agencies had been dispatched to extract them.
Ian fought with honor, integrity and courage for his nation and his fellow soldiers too, Major Forbes said. And with those same values he also stood up for some viewed only as enemies but, he knew, were people who had the right to just treatment and dignity.

I have buried many heroes," she added. But none like Ian Fishback.

After reporting his concerns about prisoner abuse in 2004 to his commanders in the 82nd Airborne Division, then-Captain Fishback staked his career on publicly exposing the crimes. He unequivocally characterized the soldiers behavior as torture and described it first as a systemic failure of the military to set standards for prisoner handling and later as a pernicious cover-up that reached all the way to Donald Rumsfeld, then the secretary of defense.

In 2005, after his concerns were largely ignored by his commanders and at least one military lawyer, Captain Fishback shared his account of torture with Human Rights Watch. He soon brought forward three anonymous Army sergeants who described for the organizations investigators beatings, sleep deprivation and other humiliating cruelties to which soldiers in his battalion had subjected detainees in its prisoner-handling routine.

As Human Rights Watch prepared its report, he wrote to Senator John McCain, who had survived torture as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, informing him of patterns of mistreatment and imploring him to do justice to your men and women in uniform. Give them clear standards of conduct that reflect the ideals they risk their lives for.
After sidestepping Ms. Boebert, House Republicans are now conducting what they characterize as an inquiry into a potential impeachment, one that is likely to gain steam in the G.O.P. backlash to the new indictment. And it is not just Mr. Biden in their sights but other administration officials including the homeland security secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, and Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, even though there is no chance any would be convicted in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

Lawmakers across Capitol Hill saw this coming.

I said two years ago, when we had not one but two impeachments, that once we go down this path it incentivizes the other side to do the same thing, said Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the minority leader.

Impeachment ought to be rare, he said, adding, This is not good for the country.

As for censures, Speaker Kevin McCarthy embraced meting out that penalty to Representative Adam B. Schiff, the California Democrat and former Intelligence Committee chairman who led the first impeachment prosecution of Mr. Trump.

The censure, brought forward by Representative Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, a strong supporter of Mr. Trump, accused Mr. Schiff of lying and spreading distortions in his investigation of the president. Some Republicans were clearly uncomfortable with the idea of censuring Mr. Schiff, and the move failed on its first attempt. But after Ms. Luna dropped a proposed $16 million fine from her resolution, Republicans pushed through the censure on a party-line vote in June.

Far from hanging his head in ignominy, Mr. Schiff said he welcomed the vote as a badge of honor that proved he was effective. It provided a fund-raising boost for his campaign for a Senate seat and should he ultimately win, it will probably be seen as a turning point in his effort to succeed Senator Dianne Feinstein, the ailing California Democrat.
Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida is shaking up his presidential campaign  again.

For the third time in less than a month, Mr. DeSantiss campaign announced a major restructuring, this time removing his embattled campaign manager, Generra Peck, and replacing her with a loyalist from the governors office, as he continues to search for a campaign team and a political message that can compete with former President Donald J. Trump.

The reorganization  in which a top official at the main pro-DeSantis super PAC will also take on an influential role inside the campaign  caps a turbulent period of layoffs, financial worries and a shift in strategy for the Florida governor, who is increasingly banking on an Iowa-or-bust approach.

So far, Mr. DeSantis and his message have failed to connect with Republican primary voters or make a dent in Mr. Trumps sizable lead in polls of the nation and the early nominating states. After winning re-election in a landslide last year, Mr. DeSantis built his 2024 candidacy on the idea that he was a more electable Republican than Mr. Trump and the type of politician who could actually accomplish what he promised, based on his record in Florida.

But he has yet to convince Republican voters. His donors have fretted about his hard-line positions, including on abortion, that could repel the independent voters he has said he can win over. And while he is putting in the work to hold small-town events, particularly in Iowa, he has not flashed the kind of personal magnetism that itself could change the trajectory of the race.
Prosecutors in the office of the special counsel Jack Smith are pressing forward with their investigation into former President Donald J. Trumps attempts to overturn the 2020 election, asking at least one witness this week about fund-raising efforts by Mr. Trumps political action committee.

The witness, Bernard B. Kerik, sat for a voluntary interview on Monday with prosecutors in what is known as a proffer session. A former New York City police commissioner, Mr. Kerik was instrumental in helping Rudolph W. Giuliani, a former mayor of New York and one of Mr. Trumps chief lawyers after the election, investigate claims of fraud in the vote results.

Mr. Keriks interview was earlier reported by CNN and by Politico.

Among the questions prosecutors asked Mr. Kerik were several related to Mr. Trumps main postelection fund-raising entity, Save America PAC. The special counsels office has been drilling down for months into whether the political action committee raised millions of dollars on claims that there was widespread fraud in the election, but ultimately earmarked the money for things other than investigating those claims.

Mr. Kerik told prosecutors that the team Mr. Giuliani had assembled to look into the allegations of fraud received no money from Save America PAC, even though it was one of the chief groups assigned the task of hunting down evidence that the election had been marred by cheating, Mr. Keriks lawyer, Timothy Parlatore, said on Tuesday.
[GUN CLICKS] This is a gun I made myself. The government doesnt know I have it, but its totally legal. You can buy a kit online with all the parts you need to build a Glock 19. You dont need a 3-D printer or fancy tools, and you dont need a background check. I purchased the Glock 19 during Glocktober, so I got $100 off. People call these ghost guns. And theyre becoming more popular, especially for people who want a gun, but dont want any record that it exists. Id like to see how easy it is to build one of these guns and to find out what these kits mean for the future of gun regulation. Order is confirmed. All thats left to do is build it. I dont have a handgun license in New York, so I sent the kit to Virginia, where you dont need one. Lets make a gun. I get the appeal of making a gun. I like building stuff. And for a lot of people who buy these kits, thats the point. Theyre fun to make. Hey, guys. Today were going to be going over how to build your Full Conceal Polymer80 frame. So its actually fairly quick to do this. Kind of paint by numbers in a sense. The lower receiver or frame is the only part of the gun thats technically considered a firearm under U.S. law. Gun kits arent regulated like firearms because they come with unfinished lower receivers. So this is the lower receiver, and its in this jig. So what well need to do is remove the extra pieces that are sticking up out of the jig. [SNAPPING] Yeah, instead of shop, I took early childhood development. It was actually really awesome. The finished lower receiver looks almost identical to the unfinished one. You just drill a few holes and remove these extra bits of polymer. Then you assemble and add the rest of the parts. If you do it right, youll have a working firearm. On a factory-made gun, the serial number would go here. But the gun Im building wont have one, so theres no way to trace it. Gun kits arent regulated at all in most states. There are no records of sales. And for a lot of people, thats the appeal. Hey. Hey. Andy Lander. Jeremy White. Andy Lander is a firearms expert who worked for the N.R.A. for 13 years. Hes built guns before. Were still technically a free country. And I think that one of the greatest freedoms is having privacy. To me, if you bought 100 guns, its none of my business. Its impossible to say how many ghost guns are out there or who owns them. Last year, nearly a third of all firearms seized by law enforcement in California were homemade without serial numbers. Still, Andy says the kits arent the problem. A criminal is going to steal a gun. Hes going to either rob somebody and get a gun. Hes going to get a gun anyway. Im not worried about a guy building a Glock 19 in his garage. Nope. Drop it in from the top. Drop it in. Straight down. Oh, it has to be all the way  You have to clear that, yeah. Push down till it pops. Yeah, thats it. [GUN CLICKS] There you go. Youre done. Wow. Thanks for your help. [GUN CLICKS] It took me about six hours to build my ghost gun. [GUN CLICKS] If I had to do it again, I could do it much faster. Still, theres no guarantee that it will work. Scot Thomasson. Jeremy White. Nice to meet you. Good to meet you. How are you? Good. Good. Its the same damn gun. Really is. The difference is right there, serial number. And thats important. Scot Thomasson is a retired A.T.F. agent. Hes letting me try out my new gun on his property. Looks O.K. Looks like its not going to blow up anybodys hand, so thats a good thing. Lets go test it out. [GUN CLICKS] [GUN FIRES] Hit. [GUN FIRES] Hit. [GUN FIRES] O.K. Thats a working gun. Yeah, sure enough is. Listen, I worked violent crime my whole career for 26 years. You want those officers to have every means possible bringing to justice those who use that firearm to commit acts of violence. And without a serial number on that firearm, you cant do it. So if these kits had a serial number and were sold through licensed dealers, do you see any problem with that? No problem whatsoever. So what? Right now we really dont know what we dont know, because these guns are completely untraceable. Jennifer Wexton is a representative from Virginias 10th district and a co-sponsor on two bills that would broaden the definition of firearms to include assembly kits. so you couldnt buy them without the government knowing. Normally the serial number would be here. No. And look, theres nothing there. Theres nothing there. Yeah. Thats part of the allure of these kinds of ghost guns, by the way. So when theyre picked up in crime scenes and things like that, we know that they are out there. And were seeing it happen more and more. What do you say to the Second Amendment advocate that says, these laws are an invasion of my privacy when it comes to gun ownership? I think that guns should be traceable. So I think that weighing the interest in not having a serial number on your firearm versus the overall public safety, I come down on the side of public safety. In the end, the government does find out about my ghost gun. Without a handgun license, I cant bring this gun back to New York, so Im turning it in to the local police. They interview me, do a background check and file a police report. Thats a lot more screening than I went through to get the gun in the first place. For most people, this isnt the easiest way to get a gun. It takes time and skill. Some people may like that challenge. Most people would rather just buy one from a gun shop or a licensed dealer. But if youre a felon, or underage, or you cant legally buy a gun for some other reason, these kits make it remarkably easy to get one anyway.
The fourth criminal case involving Donald J. Trump is likely to come to a head next week, with the district attorney in Atlanta expected to take the findings from her election interference investigation to a grand jury.

The Georgia investigation may be the most expansive legal challenge yet to the efforts that Mr. Trump and his advisers undertook to keep him in power after he lost the 2020 election. Nearly 20 people are known to have been told that they could face charges as a result of the investigation, which Fani T. Willis, the district attorney in Fulton County, Ga., has pursued for two and a half years.

Ms. Willis has signaled that she would seek indictments from a grand jury in the first half of August. In a letter to local officials in May, she laid out plans for most of her staff to work remotely during the first three weeks of August amid heightened security concerns. Security barriers were recently erected in front of the downtown Atlanta courthouse, and at lunchtime on Tuesday, 16 law enforcement vehicles were parked around the perimeter.

On Tuesday afternoon, two witnesses who received subpoenas to appear before the Fulton County grand jury said in interviews that they had not received notices instructing them to testify within the next 48 hours, a sign that the case will not get to the jury until next week.
The new military leaders of Niger have rebuffed diplomatic efforts by the United States, the United Nations and regional groups to resolve a crisis sparked by a coup in the West African nation, dimming hopes that civilian rule will be restored soon.

The soldiers who took over Niger last month refused to meet a delegation of envoys on Tuesday from the United Nations, the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States, the 15-member regional bloc known as ECOWAS.

A day earlier, Victoria Nuland, the acting U.S. deputy secretary of state, made a surprise trip to Niger but left after talks with one of the coup leaders that she described as extremely frank and at times quite difficult.

The general she met with had been trained in the United States and was considered a close U.S. military ally. But Ms. Nuland said that he offered no assurances that President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger would be reinstated or that civilian rule would be restored. And she was denied a meeting with the juntas leader, Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani.
A Texas man has been arrested by Orchard Park police, with the assistance of the Harris County Sheriff's Office in Houston, Texas, on an indictment warrant charging him with the first-degree rape of a girl under age 13, town police said Monday.

Orchard Park police said 28-year-old James Q. Carollo of Crosby, Texas, was charged with two counts of first-degree rape, one count of first-degree sexual abuse, six counts of second-degree criminal sexual act, one count of second-degree strangulation and one count of endangering the welfare of a child.

The victim, accompanied by her mother, reported the abuse to Orchard Park police in December 2022. The girl said Carollo, her mother's live-in boyfriend at the time, began sexually abusing her at their residence in Orchard Park in 2019 when she was about 12 . She told police the sexual abuse happened when her mother would leave the house during the day, and Carollo threatened that he would hurt the girl's family if she ever told anyone.

According to the victim, the abuse ended in 2022 when Carollo moved back to his former home in Texas, police said .

Police said Carollo confessed to having had sexual intercourse with the child when he was interviewed by Orchard Park police in May. Carollo was transported from Houston to Orchard Park on Aug. 1. He remains held without bond in the Erie County Holding Center.

 Harold McNeil
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company said on Tuesday that it would team up with three European technology firms to build a chip-making facility in eastern Germany as part of efforts to further diversify its production locations.

TSMC, the worlds largest maker of semiconductors, said it would invest 3.5 billion euros ($3.8 billion) and own 70 percent of the joint venture, in Dresden. The three other companies  Robert Bosch and Infineon Technologies, both based in Germany, and NXP Semiconductors of the Netherlands  will each control 10 percent.

The combined private and public investment, including strong support from the European Union and German government, is expected to total 10 billion, the company said.

The plant would be TSMCs first location in Europe, and it represents a win for Germany, which has been seeking out manufacturers of microchips, the tiny devices essential for the countrys large automotive industry and for building countless other devices.
Britain moved to curb the supply of military and other vital equipment for the Russian war effort in Ukraine by expanding sanctions on Tuesday to include 22 individuals and companies based outside Russia.

The new measures will affect businesses in Turkey, Dubai and Iran and target Slovakian and Swiss nationals that Britain says have supplied weaponry or components, including electronics, needed to sustain Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Todays landmark sanctions will further diminish Russias arsenal and close the net on supply chains propping up Putins now struggling defense industry, Britains foreign secretary, James Cleverly, said in a statement. There is nowhere for those sustaining Russias military machine to hide.

Britain has already imposed sanctions on 1,612 individuals and 229 entities in an effort to isolate Russia economically, but it says the latest measures are its biggest action yet against military suppliers beyond the countrys frontiers.
The ruler of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, is a key American ally who counts on the United States to defend his country.

But he has traveled twice to Russia over the past year to meet with President Vladimir V. Putin, and in June, his country was celebrated as the guest of honor at the Russian leaders flagship investment forum. Later this month, the Emirati and Chinese air forces plan to train together for the first time, a notable shift for an oil-rich Gulf nation that has long relied on American fighter jets, weapons and protection.

These deepening relationships show how a Middle Eastern leader viewed by the U.S. government as an important partner is increasingly striking out on his own path. American officials have had limited success in persuading Sheikh Mohammed to align with U.S. foreign policy  particularly when it comes to limiting Chinese military ties and isolating Russia after the invasion of Ukraine.

Instead, the Emirates has thrived on inflows of Russian money, oil and gold, fueling a feeding frenzy in real estate in the glittering metropolis of Dubai. The growing ties with both American rivals and expanding economies like India are all in preparation for a world that may someday be no longer dominated by the United States.
Last week in Japan, in addition to the fatalities, nearly 100 people were injured and thousands lost power after Khanun struck Okinawa, the countrys southernmost prefecture, which lies 350 miles south of Kyushu. At the time, the storm was moving northwest toward China, but over the weekend it pivoted east toward Japans southern islands. On Tuesday, it doglegged north toward Kyushu and South Korea.

Both countries began bracing for the storm, issuing landslide and flood warnings and evacuation orders. In South Korea, tens of thousands of teenagers who had gathered for the 25th World Scout Jamboree, and who had already been dealing with a brutal heat wave, began leaving their campsite.

Khanun had maximum sustained winds of 63 m.p.h. in Japan on Wednesday afternoon, the United States militarys Joint Typhoon Warning Center in Hawaii said. On the five-category wind scale that U.S. meteorologists use to measure hurricanes, the cyclone would be categorized as a tropical storm. Khanuns winds were expected to grow slightly stronger and peak Wednesday night at about 70 m.p.h.

The name Khanun, which means jackfruit, was contributed to the Typhoon Committee by Thailand.

A tropical cyclone is a storm that begins over a tropical ocean and generates violent winds, torrential rain and high waves. The term hurricane is used for storms that form around the Americas, while those that develop around Asia are called typhoons.
THE Monavane Wind Farm which is currently under construction in Offaly has been shortlisted for an Irish Planning Award.

The all-island professional membership body for spatial planners has shortlisted 39 entries for this year's awards which is returning for the first time since 2020.

The Monavane Wind Farm has been nominated in the President's Award Category.

The awards aim to highlight innovation and excellence in Irish Planning.

The Monavane Wind Farm is located between Cloneygowan and Walsh Island.

When fully constructed it will consist of 12 turbines. A spokesperson said they have almost completed the component delivery.

The project is due to supply renewable electricity for the Irish Electricity Grid System for use in Ireland.

Kevin ODonovan, Managing Director of Statkraft Ireland who are responsible for the project, said: Were delighted that Moanvane Wind Farm has been shortlisted for this prestigious award. Ensuring that this project will deliver for the local community has been to the forefront of consideration from the earliest stages. With a commitment of approximately 300,000 a year in community benefit funding, Moanvane will be well-positioned to deliver on many local energy and biodiversity measures, setting a new standard for wind farm development.

Engaging with, and getting feedback from, the local community has been vital for Moanvanes success to date. After all, it was local peoples knowledge of their own communitys needs that led to the inclusion of an amenity trail that will offer new opportunities for biodiversity, and allow residents to enjoy activities such as walking, bird watching, nature and wildlife exploration.

This people-first approach has ensured that the community living closest to the project will benefit the most, while Moanvane also will also deliver climate action and energy security  helping to end our reliance on fossil fuels and creating and sustainable energy future.

Below is Kevin O'Donovan the Managing Director of Statkraft Ireland who are constructing the windfarm

According to Monavane the windfarm will have an output in the region of 60MW, and will have the capacity to provide green energy to over 35,000 Irish Homes.

The maximum tip height is 169m.

All of the cabling is to be placed underground. Material for the construction of the roads and hardstanding areas will be sourced as locally as possible in order to minimise the number of traffic movements, the company states.

Offaly County Council is to receive rates payments of up to  500,000 per annum.

There are also plans for an inclusive community benefits package which is based on feedback from those in the local area. ''This will allow a wide range of individuals and organisations to benefit from the proposed wind farm and include an amenity walkway and cycle track,'' say Monavane.

A multi-million euro fund is also to be made available for local community groups and projects.

The awards gala ceremony will take place on September 28 2023 in Clontarf Castle Hotel.Other counties and projects include those in Clare, Tipperary, Kildare, Limerick, Meath, South Dublin, Fingal, Dublin City, Donegal, Laois, Cork, Galway, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, Louth.
Shelbourne Park, on Friday and Saturday, brought the standout racing of the week with the second round of the Boylesports Irish Derby. Heats one to eight on Friday with heats nine to sixteen on Saturday. Plenty of shocks with many fancied dogs exiting the competition but also some younger dogs putting themselves into the frame to be the outright winner of the worlds most sought after greyhound racing trophy.



In addition to the Derby there was plenty of other top class action including the semi-finals of the best sprint competition on either side of the Irish Sea. Some decent sweepstakes got underway while some came to the concluding stages. In another super week of racing around the tracks there were plenty of quality Offaly winners.



Early Week Racing



Monday, Enniscorthy, in the first round of the Public House Open Unraced stake, won in 2022, by Coolavanny Raven for Garry Dempsey. Six heats with Dempsey not giving up this trophy easy when supplying the fastest heat winner in Miami Prince in 28.99 (20 slow) by eight lengths.



Thursday in Enniscorthy, they celebrated a milestone at the track, when they held birthday celebrations as the Greyhound track on the Ross Road was ninety years old. While other tracks around the country may be older most have moved location over the years, Enniscorthy has started here and remains a vital part of the town. A huge crowd turned up for their gala night where the management ran nine races, six worth a 1k and three worth 750 to the winners. Lets hope racing continues there for many years to come.



In Shelbourne Park, in the semi-finals of the RCETS Open Unraced Stake, Droopys Mandolin remains unbeaten in this competition when winning by a head at 1/1 fav in 28.45. The second semi went to Grouchos Duke for John Byrne in a faster 28.31 by ten lengths at 1/2 fav.



Two finals on the night, in the RCETS A3 stake, the 4K first prize went to Glory Baz (Droopys Sydney - Glory Sara Jane) who made it six wins from six starts in 28.55 for owner Sheila Duncan by six lengths at 5/4 fav. In the final of the Sporting Press A4 stake, Comets Allegro (Pestana - Allen Comet) was on the winners podium for Marie and Skip Gilbert and owner Aidan Comerford in 28.61 by three lengths at 2/1.



Friday Racing



Kilkenny, in the quarter-finals of the Boylesports A3 Bitch Stake, Storys Fuse set the bar highest for local trainer Murt Leahy in 28.83 (10 slow) by two lengths at 7/2. First Offaly winner of the week was in an A2 550 contest in Newbridge, Dark Design seems to be back to her best when having her sixth career win in 30.30 (10 fast) by a neck at 5/2 for Rhode owner Sean Cocoman.



The highlight of a competitive card in Tralee was the final of the Tullig Cryname @ Stud A3 stake over 500 yards, the 2k first prize went to State Mint (Bull Run Bolt - Kateanns Joy) in 26.98 (10 fast) by five lengths at 5/4 fav with Shane Murphy owning and training. In the quarterfinals of the Rose Of Tralee A4 525 Sweepstake, Saleen Pearl was easily the fastest of the heat winners in 28.56 (10 fast) by two lengths at 7/2 for Patrick OConnor.



Saturday Racing



Curraheen Park in Cork, final of the Pat OKeeffe and CPSC A6 stake was the best race on their card, the 1.5k pot went to Paul Dowdeswell as Ballymac Reymie (Ballymac Cashout- Murleys Ellie) was an easy ten lengths winner in 28.65 at 6/4.



The two semi-finals of the Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup over the 400 yard trip were the main feature in Dundalk. Two very close battles with Offaly dog Carrick Aldo winning the first for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn in 21.04 by three lengths with David Murray training. The second semi went to Rathdown Molly for Marie Gilbert in 20.99 by four lengths. Only half a length separating these two winners, hopefully another trophy coming to the Faithful County in Saturday's final.



In a night of finals at the Showgrounds in Galway in conjunction with the Galway races, the best one on the card was the Galway Plate A2 stake, the 1.4K purse went to Grangeview Lolo (Ballymac Best - Grangeview West) for Emily Hogan in 28.91 (10 slow) by three lengths.



At the Dock Road track in Limerick, in the quarter-finals of the OConnor Julian Vets Cashel A2 Tri-Distance stake over the 575 yard trip, County Minor set the fastest time in 31.11 by a short head at 9/4 for Gerard White and Pat Butler. Semi-finals on Saturday will be over the 600 yard distance. Also in Limerick, in the final of an A3 bitch stake, Beaming Becca (Droopys Sydney - Beechgrove Bell) took the spoils in 29.01 by one length at 8/13 fav with a cheque of 1.2k going to Corona Ryan.



In Thurles, in an A6 grade, Birr owner Gerard Milne brought Clonkelly Cat and duly collected the winning prize money in 29.58 (20 slow) by three lengths.



The best two races in Kilcohan Park in Waterford were the semifinals of the John Fitzgerald Memorial Open Bitch stake. First one went to Clogheen Lass for Graham Holland in 28.36 by two lengths at 1/2 fav with the second going to Quivers Magic for Adam Dunford in 28.41 by a head also at 1/2 fav. Not much separating these two winners on the clock either.



Three Offaly winners in Mullingar, in an A5 grade, Ballyfore Blonde won for Johnny Jones in 30.20 by four lengths. In an A4 race, Clonearl Kate won for Tullamore owners Conor McGrath and Niall Deegan in 30.01 by a head at 6/4 making it two wins from three starts. In the final race on the card which was also the best, an A1 contest, Uncle Baldy came home strongly to win by one length in a fine 29.58 at 6/4 fav for Cappincur owners Charlie Colgan and the Glafo Syndicate. All races in Mullingar were rated .50 slow.



Boylesports Irish Derby

Friday, eight great heats, all won in super times, once again Scagletti set the standard when winning in a brilliant 29.26 by four lengths at 5/4 for Pat Guilfoyle. Next fastest on the clock was Pat Buckleys prolific winning bitch Bobsleigh Dream in 29.36 by a head at 2/1.

Portlaoise owners Ray Conroy and Ollie Dunne were in the winners enclosure for the second week in a row when Clonroosk Sydney won by three lengths in 29.61 at 5/1.The big losers on Friday were two of the most fancied dogs for outright victory when Ballinabola Ed and Gaytime Nemo had no luck in running and were sadly eliminated.

Saturday, the two standout performances in front of a massive crowd were from anti post favorite Coolavanny Hoffa and Bens Teddy as both stopped the clock in identical time of 29.31. Hoffa won by nine lengths for Michael ODonovan at 2/9 fav while Teddy won by six for Pat Buckley at 7/4 fav. The eight heats winners were spread around all the top trainers with no one having a double. Edenderry and our last remaining Offaly dog Trinity Junior qualified with ease only beaten into second on the run in by one length in 29.53 for Timmy Slevin. Undulation won this heat for Brendan Mathews. Sixteen great heats last weekend, Saturday should be brilliant.

Derby Betting

After Saturdays super performance Coolavanny Hoffa is now clear favourite with the sponsors Boylesports at 3/1. Clona Duke is second favourite at 10/1 for Holland with Scagletti on 12/1 fo Guilfoyle. 14/1 bar. Edenderry dog Trinity Junior can be backed now at 25/1 as he didnt get a favourable draw in trap five in his heat on Saturday but still has the early gears to clear the field and qualify.

Sunday Racing

One Faithful County winner at the matinee meeting in Mullingar, in an A2 race, Lingrawn Focus has his ninth career win for Moneygall owner Liam Jones in 29.56 (50 slow) by one length at 4/1.

Upcoming Events

Thursday, final of the RCETS Open unraced in Shelbourne. Friday, semifinals of the Boylesports A3 Bitch stake in Kilkenny and semifinals of the Rose Of Tralee A4 stake in Tralee. Saturday, third round of the Boylesports Irish Derby, final of the Bar One Racing National Sprint in Dundalk, semifinals of the OConnor Julian Vets Cashel A2 Tri-distance in Limerick and final of the John Fitzgerald Memorial Open bitch stake in Waterford. Loads of top class action to look forward to this week.

Tribune Offaly dog of the week

Carrick Aldo gets the nod this week for his magnificent win in the semi-finals of the countrys top sprint competition, the Bar One Racing Open Sprint in Dundalk for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn.

Offaly Winners

Seven Offaly winners this week, well done to all who contributed to these wins in any way.
A Town of Niagara man on parole pleaded guilty Monday in Niagara County Court to second-degree murder for fatally stabbing a Cheektowaga man in a Niagara Falls hotel room, Niagara County District Attorney Brian D. Seaman announced.

Seaman said Gilbert E. Cruz, 35, faces 20 years to life in prison when he returns for sentencing in October before Niagara County Court Judge John J. Ottaviano. Cruz admitted to murdering Timothy Weymer, 56, who was found dead Feb. 7, 2022, in his hotel room on Niagara Falls Boulevard.

Weymer's family had learned the day he was killed that he had not shown up at his job, and had checked multiple locations for him, including the hotel where he sometimes stayed related to his shift work. A check of his room by hotel staff led to the discovery of his body.

Cruz was arrested in the victim's vehicle early Feb. 9 by Lewiston Police, who chased him through Lewiston and into Youngstown. A Level 3 sex offender, Cruz was on parole at the time after serving five years in prison for a 2014 conviction for attempted second-degree rape of a 14-year-old girl in Buffalo, according to the state sex offender registry.

 Harold McNeil

"This mornings proceedings brings closure to a grieving family who are mourning the loss of their loved one," Seaman said in a statement Monday.

The case was investigated by the Niagara Falls Police Department and prosecuted by First Assistant District Attorney Doreen Hoffmann and Executive Assistant District Attorney Mary Jean Bowman.
Kambala: The Buffalo Race To Grace Bengaluru Palace Grounds This November

Bengaluru

oi-Madhuri Adnal

The traditional Janapada sport of the Karnataka, known as 'Kambala', is scheduled to take place at the Bengaluru Palace Grounds in November of this year.

This Kambala event has been organized to showcase its splendor across the state and the entire country, coinciding with the golden jubilee of Tulu Koota.

Under the guidance of Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai, arrangements are being meticulously put in place for the event's execution. The royal family's consent has also been secured to host the sporting spectacle at the Bengaluru Palace Grounds.

Congress MLA Ashok Rai from Puttur in Dakshina Kannada is overseeing the Kambala preparations in light of the golden jubilee celebrations of Tulu Koota this year. Although permission to utilize the Palace Grounds was granted by the Royal Family of the former Mysuru kingdom, tasks such as constructing the race track are yet to commence.

This traditional sport features buffalos racing through muddy tracks guided by their jockeys and is an annual event celebrated by the local farming communities of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi. The Kambala season kicks off in November and extends until March.

Kambala festival: Buffalo race season begins to enthuse local folks in coastal Karnataka

Prominent locations where Kambala takes place include Moodabidri, Puttur, Kakkepadavu, Mangaluru, Uppinangady, and Venur.

The participating buffalos are well-fed and cared for by their owners, who regard them as their own. Kambala started gaining statewide attention in 2020 when jockey Srinivas Gowda from Moodabidri set a remarkable record by covering 142.5 meters in just 13.62 seconds.

Comparisons were drawn, suggesting that if Gowda's performance were converted to a 100-meter sprint, he would outpace Olympic legend Usain Bolt by three seconds. Kambala's prominence further rose through the widely acclaimed Kannada film "Kantara," which showcased the sport and the sentiments of the locals in all their grandeur.

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Story first published: Tuesday, August 8, 2023, 11:57 [IST]
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Spandana Vijay Raghavendras Body Likely To Be Brought Back To Bengaluru Tonight, Final Rites Tomorrow

Bengaluru

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Vijay Raghavendra, a renowned Kannada actor, is expected to bring back the body of his late wife, Spandana, to Bengaluru tonight. Spandana tragically passed away due to a heart attack during her vacation in Bangkok with her cousins.

According to reports, a post-mortem examination was conducted at a Bangkok hospital, and the remaining documentation is expected to be finalised this afternoon. Following local authority clearance, her body will be repatriated to Bengaluru.

Accompanying Spandana's husband Vijay Raghavendra, her father BK Shivaram, and brother Rakshit Shivaram are currently in Bangkok to facilitate the repatriation.

There are plans to place her body at a location in Malleswaram for members of the film industry to pay their last respects, though the final decision rests with Vijay Raghavendra.

What Led To Spandana Vijay Raghavendra's Tragic Death?

Regarding the final rites, the family has yet to decide whether they will occur in Bengaluru or her native Belthangady.

According to Spandana's brother-in-law and actor, Sri Murali, she passed away peacefully in her sleep. Her cousins swiftly took her to a hospital when she became unresponsive, but she was declared deceased upon arrival.

Tragically, Spandana and Vijay were on the brink of celebrating their 16th wedding anniversary on August 26.

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Story first published: Tuesday, August 8, 2023, 10:32 [IST]
Maharashtra: BJP Leader Bharat Rajput Abuses, Assaults Tribal Man In Palghar

India

oi-PTI

A 57-year-old tribal man was allegedly beaten up and verbally abused by a local leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and three others in Maharashtra's Palghar district, police said on Tuesday.

The police on Monday registered an FIR against Bharat Rajput, the newly appointed president of the BJP's Palghar district unit, and three others under sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 506(2) (criminal intimidation) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, an official said.

Rajput's brother Jagdish, one Vishal Nandalskar and Rajesh Thakur are the other accused named in the FIR, he said. According to the police, the complainant is a resident of Navapada village and belonged to the Adivasi-Warli community. On August 4, a local organisation called on the complainant, who is a farmer and social worker, inviting him to put forth issues relating to roads and water in the village, and he accompanied them, the official said.

Two Chennai Women Assault A Biker, Cops In Road Rage Incident

The man later received a phone call from Rajput asking him to meet him at his office, and when he arrived at the premises, the BJP leader was allegedly furious at him for accompanying people from the other organisation, he said. Rajput and the other accused allegedly verbally abused the complainant, used casteist slurs against him and beat him up. They also warned him of dire consequences, the official said.

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Story first published: Tuesday, August 8, 2023, 16:46 [IST]
'Mera Ghar Poora Hindustan Hai': Rahul Gandhi After Getting Back Tughlaq Lane House

India

oi-Prakash KL

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, whose parliamentary membership has been restored, got back possession of his official bungalow in the national capital on Tuesday.

The House Committee of the Lok Sabha decided to allot the same bungalow he was asked to vacate after Gandhi was disqualified as a member of the lower house on March 24. When asked about this development, the Congress leader replied to reporters, "Mera ghar poora Hindustan hai," (the whole country is my home)."

Gandhi has received a letter confirming the reallocation of the house he had been using as a Lok Sabha MP for nearly two decades, PTI reported citing sources. Currently, he is residing with his mother, Sonia Gandhi, who also serves as the chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party.

On Monday, the Lok Sabha Secretariat restored Gandhi's membership of the lower house after the Supreme Court stayed his conviction in the defamation case.

In April, Rahul Gandhi adhered to protocol by vacating his official residence in central Delhi. This action followed his disqualification as an MP in March due to a conviction in a criminal defamation case by a Surat court. A disqualified MP loses the privilege of government accommodation and is typically granted one month to vacate the official residence.

Rahul Gandhi To Visit Wayanad Constituency On 12-13 August

Meanwhile, the former Congress President will visit Wayanad on August 12-13, his first trip to his constituency after being reinstated as a member of Parliament, party general secretary KC Venugopal said on Tuesday.

"On 12-13 August, Sh. @RahulGandhi ji will be in his constituency Wayanad! The people of Wayanad are elated that democracy has won, their voice has returned to Parliament! Rahul ji is not just an MP but a member of their family!" Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said in a tweet.
Pakistan Extends Visa For Indian Woman Anju After Converting To Islam And Marrying FB Friend

India

oi-Prakash KL

The Pakistan authorities on Tuesday extended the visa of the Indian woman Anju, who went to meet her boyfriend in the neighbouring country, by one year.

Her Pakistan husband Nasrullah said that Anju's visa, which was earlier extended for two months, has now been extended for a year after their marriage. Her original one-month visa was set to expire on August 20, according to a report in PTI.

"The visa of my wife Anju has been extended for a year after the provision of related documents to the Interior Ministry," said Nasrullah. "All Pakistani institutions are cooperating with us," he added.

The 34-year-old Indian woman allegedly ditched her family in India and went to a remote village in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan where she tied the knot with 29-year-old friend Nasrullah after embracing Islam.

Anju, who now goes by the name of Fatima after converting to Islam, got to know about him through Facebook in 2019. Last month, a real estate company gifted the couple a plot of land in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and presented them with a cheque.

Anju, who was born in Kailor village in Uttar Pradesh and lived in the Alwar district of Rajasthan, travelled to Pakistan legally from India via the Wagah-Attari border. She was granted a 30-day visa, valid for Upper Dir only.

In India, Anju was married to Arvind, who is in Rajasthan. They have a 15-year-old daughter and a six-year-old son.

Her story is similar to Seema Ghulam Haider, a 30-year-old Pakistani mother of four who illegally entered India to live with Sachin Meena, a 22-year-old Hindu man she got in touch with while playing PUBG in 2019.
After Anju, Yet Another Woman From Rajasthan Ditches Family For Boyfriend, Converts To Islam

People Involved In Acts Of Molestation, Rape Banned From Govt Jobs In Rajasthan

India

oi-Prakash KL

In a big decision, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday announced that people involved in the crime against women including rape and molestation are being banned from government jobs.

"The state government has decided that molestation of girls and women, rape attempts and rape accused and miscreants will be banned from government jobs. For this record of miscreants will also be kept in police stations like history sheeters and this will be mentioned on their character certificate issued by the state government/police. Social boycott of such anti-social elements is necessary," Gehlot said on Twitter.

It comes at a time when the government is being targeted by the BJP over crime against women.

Earlier in the day, Gehlot directed the police to take strict action against criminal-minded people, asserting that the prevention of crimes against women and weaker sections of society is the top priority of his government.

Terming the incident of rape and murder of a minor girl in Bhilwara as "tragic", he said the police took quick action in the matter and efforts are being made to give the strict punishment to the accused at the earliest. Gehlot alleged that some people are giving a "political colour" to the incident, saying it is not "appropriate", PTI reported.

The 14-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped, killed and later burned in a coal furnace in Bhilwara district on August 2 when she had gone to graze cattle.

Seven people, including a woman, have been arrested in the case so far. A married minor and a teenager have also been apprehended, according to police.

Gehlot asked the police to keep a record of habitual lawbreakers so that action, including depriving them of government jobs, could be taken.

He said this during a review meeting of the law and order situation at his official residence Monday night.

According to an official statement, the chief minister instructed the police officials to take strict action against criminal-minded people by launching a special campaign.

He also directed strict action against bars and nightclubs that remain open beyond scheduled hours.

He said besides taking action against managers and owners, the licences of such outlets will be cancelled for violating the rules.

According to the statement, Minister of State for Home Rajendra Yadav, Chief Secretary Usha Sharma, Principal Government Secretary (Home) Anand Kumar, Director General of Police Umesh Mishra and senior officers were present in the meeting.

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Story first published: Tuesday, August 8, 2023, 18:46 [IST]
Chanting 'Jai Shri Ram', Group Beats Up Muslim Youth For Going Out With Hindu Girl [VIDEO]

Ambareesh Murty, Co-founder Of Pepperfry, Dies Of Heart Attack At 51

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Ambareesh Murty, the co-founder of the online furniture store Pepperfry, passed away due to a heart attack in Leh during the night of Monday, August 7. He was 51 years old. Ambareesh established the home decor company in Mumbai back in 2012.

An alumnus of IIM Calcutta, he was also an avid trekking enthusiast. According to media reports, he had successfully undertaken two cross-country biking expeditions.

On Tuesday morning, Ashish Shah, the other co-founder of Pepperfry, expressed his profound sorrow in a tweet.

He wrote, "It is with extreme devastation that I share the news of my friend, mentor, brother, and soulmate @AmbareeshMurty's passing. He succumbed to a cardiac arrest in Leh last night. I request your prayers for him and for strength for his family and loved ones."

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All you need to know about: Pepperfry CEO - Ambareesh Murty

Prior to establishing Pepperfry, Ambareesh had cultivated an extensive corporate career. He held the position of Country Manager at eBay India, Philippines, and Malaysia from March 2008 to June 2011. Preceding this, he served as the Director of Marketplace Development & User Experience from December 2005 to February 2008. Earlier, Ambareesh was associated with Britannia Industries as a Marketing Manager from June 2005 to December 2005. Additionally, he contributed his expertise as the Brand Leader for Levi Strauss India Ltd. from August 2003 to December 2003 and as VP of Marketing and Customer Service at ICICI Prudential from October 2001 to August 2003. His professional journey commenced at Cadbury India, where he spent over five years as a Brand Manager from June 1996 to October 2001.

Aside from these accomplishments, Ambareesh initiated a content development and delivery company named Origin Sources in December 2003, focusing on training within the asset management sector.

Ambareesh holds an engineering and management background, having pursued Civil Engineering at Delhi College of Engineering (1990 - 1994) and an MBA at IIM-Calcutta (1994-1996).

During his tenure at Pepperfry, Ambareesh Murty, dedicated 12 to 14 hours a day, working relentlessly without taking holidays or weekends off. A fervent trekking enthusiast, Ambareesh, cherished Ladakh as his preferred winter vacation destination.

Pepperfry, initiated by former eBay executives Ambareesh Murty and Ashish, commenced its journey in Mumbai in 2012. In 2014, the company marked its offline presence with the inauguration of its first store in Mumbai. Rapid expansion followed, leading to a network of more than 70 stores spread across 28 Indian cities by 2019.

Pepperfry Co-Founder Ambareesh Murty Dies Of Heart Attack

Operational efficiency is supported by four strategically located warehouses in Bangalore, Jodhpur, Mumbai, and Delhi.

In 2020, Pepperfry expanded its horizons by venturing into the realm of home interiors through collaborations with prominent brands like Hettich, Bosch, Siemens, Kajaria, and Gyproc, among others.

The company's funding journey has been significant, raising a cumulative total of USD 240.5 million across eight successful funding rounds.
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PM Modi Takes Dig At Opposition Alliance As No-Confidence Motion Looms

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that the no-confidence motion brought by the opposition is a reflection of mutual distrust among INDIA bloc parties as they want to test who is with their proposal and who is not, sources said.

In his address to party MPs at the BJP parliamentary meeting, he described the opposition alliance as 'ghamandia' (marked by arrogance) and congratulated the party's Rajya Sabha members for the ''semi-final'' win in voting on the Delhi services bill.

Modi, sources said, noted that some opposition members had described the voting in Rajya Sabha as a semi-final before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls as he exuded confidence about the BJP's prospects in the national elections.

The Delhi services bill secured parliamentary approval on Monday after the Rajya Sabha passed the contentious measure that will give the Centre control over bureaucracy in the national capital, with the BJP-led NDA thwarting opposition challenge in the keenly-watched numbers game.

With the ruling party certain to defeat the no-confidence motion in Lok Sabha, where it enjoys a strong majority, Modi told party MPs hit ''sixers'' on the last ball before the 2024 polls.

He also referred to his 2018 speech in which he had wryly wished to the Opposition to bring a no-confidence motion against his government in 2023.

In a swipe at opposition parties, the prime minister said their leaders speak of social justice but harmed it most with their dynastic, appeasement and corrupt politics. He reiterated his call for corruption, and dynastic and appeasement politics to quit India.

Home Minister Amit Shah is set to respond to the Opposition on August 9, while PM Modi will address the motion on August 10.

Shah had earlier said that the government is prepared to engage in a discussion regarding the Manipur issue on August 11. He asserted that it's the opposition evading the matter.

Rahul Gandhi Likely To Join Debate On No-Trust Motion Against BJP In Parliament

August 11 marks the conclusion of the Monsoon session. The Lok Sabha will address the no-confidence motion from August 8 to 10. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi initiated the motion to compel Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the contentious Manipur matter.

While discussing the Delhi services bill in the Rajya Sabha, Shah informed that he had communicated his willingness to debate the Manipur issue to the House chairman.

He declared, "I am open to discussing Manipur on August 11, with nothing to conceal. The onus to hide things rests on your shoulders, causing your reluctance to converse."
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Privilege Motion Against Piyush Goyal In RS For Calling Opposition 'Traitors'

India

oi-PTI

Several leaders of the opposition alliance INDIA have given a privilege notice against leader of the house in Rajya Sabha Piyush Goyal over his certain remarks against some opposition leaders.

Among the parties whose leaders gave the notice are the Congress, TMC, AAP, RJD, DMK, RJD, JDU, NCP and the Left parties.

Sources said leaders of INDIA parties gave the notice to the Rajya Sabha chairman complaining against Goyal's certain remarks made while he was speaking on the issue of media portal 'NewsClick' receiving funding from China-linked firms allegedly to spread Chinese propaganda.

Goyal questioned the relationship between the opposition parties and the news portal 'NewsClick', now accused by the New York Times of receiving funding from China-linked firms.

"Today at 1300 hrs, the floor leaders of INDIA parties in the Rajya Sabha submitted a privilege motion against Leader of the House Piyush Goyal for addressing the Opposition as all of them 'traitors'," Ramesh said on Twitter.

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"Nothing less than an apology from him on the floor of the House, when it is in order, will do," the Congress leader, who is a signatory to the privilege notice, said.

The leaders also raised an uproar in the House and demanded an apology from Goyal.

Later in the House, however, Goyal said he takes back any words which may not be parliamentary and urged the chair to remove the same from the records.

The chairman said he will go through the records and if there is anything unparliamentary, that cannot remain as part of the records of the House. He said he would remove if there is anything which is unparliamentary.

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Story first published: Tuesday, August 8, 2023, 16:57 [IST]
RS Adjourned Twice Amid Uproar Over Media Report On Chinese Funding To Spread Propaganda Against India

Raghav Chadha In Trouble As Rajya Sabha Can Recommend FIR Against Him

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Regarding the controversy surrounding a motion presented by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha in the Rajya Sabha, it has been noted that if the Members of Parliament's signatures on the proposal are found to be forged, the Chairman has the authority to suggest initiating a First Information Report (FIR).

This scenario could arise if it's found out that the signatures endorsing Chadha's proposal to refer the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, to the Select Committee are fraudulent.

Several MPs, including BJD's Sasmit Patra and AIADMK's M Thambidurai, have raised concerns that their names were included in the proposed select committee for the Delhi Services Bill without their consent.

In response, Union Home Minister Amit Shah characterized the unauthorized inclusion of their names as a "fraud" against Parliament and called for an investigation.

On Camera: Crow Attacks Raghav Chadha, BJP Trolls Him With 'Jhoot Bole Kauwa Kaate'

The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, received approval from the Lok Sabha on Thursday amidst opposition party walkouts.

This bill is set to replace a Center-promulgated ordinance that governs the transfers and postings of officials within the Delhi government.

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Story first published: Tuesday, August 8, 2023, 10:00 [IST]
RS Adjourned Twice Amid Uproar Over Media Report On Chinese Funding To Spread Propaganda Against India

India

oi-PTI

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the second time in the pre-lunch period amid uproar in the House over a media report on Chinese funding to a news portal to spread propaganda against India.

BJP member Sudhanshu Trivedi raised the issue and questioned the Congress for its alleged links with the portal.

He raised the matter of a US media report alleging that web portal ''NewsClick'' received Chinese funding to spread propaganda against India.

Trivedi asked the Congress about its alleged links with the portal, saying the party supported it when ED conducted raids on it.

Amid the din created by opposition members over the charge, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar adjourned the house till 12.45 pm.

Trivedi said there are certain things which have come in The New York Times about propaganda spread against India.

TMC MP Derek O'Brien Suspended From Rajya Sabha For Unruly Behavior

An American has said that the Communist Party of China has tried to use propaganda against India through foreign funding in Newsclick, he said.

Leader of the House Piyush Goyal said, ''kya hai ye ajeeb rishta'' and alleged that they are indulging in a conspiracy against India and there should be a discussion on this.

''They do funding against India and indulge in propaganda in the House. What is this relation with Rahul Gandhi...The country must know what this relationship is and he should tell whether he stands with China or India,'' Goyal said.

Earlier, TMC leader Derek O'Brien was suspended from the Rajya Sabha for the rest of the Monsoon session after he disobeyed Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar while trying to seek a discussion on the Manipur issue.

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Story first published: Tuesday, August 8, 2023, 14:00 [IST]
Manipur, The Country Stands With You, This Parliament Is With You: PM Modi

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Sansad TV's Ticker Sparks Outrage During No-Confidence Debate

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

The broadcast of Lok Sabha proceedings on Sansad TV today ignited a major dispute due to the content displayed on the scrolling ticker, as the debate over the no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government was underway.

The Congress's deputy leader in Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, initiated the debate after a commotion arose over BJP MPs' queries regarding the absence of Rahul Gandhi as the opening speaker. The subsequent speaker listed was BJP MP Nishikant Dubey.

However, just before Nishikant Dubey's turn to speak, Danish Ali, a Member of Parliament from Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party, drew attention to the ticker on Sansad TV. He pointed out that the ticker was featuring updates on the government's achievements rather than reflecting the ongoing debate. Interestingly, the Bahujan Samaj Party neither supported nor opposed the no-confidence motion.

Ali's observation triggered a significant uproar, leading Opposition MPs to raise protests. Amidst the chaos, Speaker Om Birla made a lighthearted remark, saying, "Mere paas button nahi hai (I don't have the button)." The Speaker also playfully commented to Mr. Dubey that the Opposition seemed "afraid" of his impending speech.

During his subsequent speech, Nishikant Dubey directed criticism at the Opposition and Mr. Ali. He took a dig at the MP from Amroha, referring to a recent video in which Mr. Ali engaged in a heated argument with a BJP legislator at a public event.

No Confidence Motion: Gogoi Questions PM Modi's 'Maun Vrat' On Manipur, Asks Three Key Questions

In the midst of the controversy over the viral video, BJP MLC Hari Singh Dhillon asserted that Mr. Ali had protested against the chant of "Bharat Mata ki Jai" (Hail Mother India) slogans at a government event. The Bahujan Samaj Party leader responded by stating that BJP leaders had commandeered the stage and began chanting slogans in support of their own leaders. He questioned the transformation of a government event stage into a political platform.

The no-confidence motion was presented by the Opposition as a final attempt to compel Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address Parliament regarding the situation in Manipur.

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Story first published: Tuesday, August 8, 2023, 15:40 [IST]
SC's Manipur Committee: Meet Retired Judges With Gender Justice Record And Ex-Mumbai Top Cop

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

The Supreme Court put forth a proposition on Monday to establish a committee comprising three former High Court judges to address the humanitarian dimensions of the Manipur crisis. Additionally, the Court suggested appointing a former top police officer from Mumbai to oversee the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) investigation into cases of sexual violence in Manipur.

The panel of three will be led by former Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Gita Mittal. Justices Shalini Joshi and Asha Menon will also be part of this committee. The monitoring of the CBI inquiry will be entrusted to Dattatray Padsalgikar.

Justice Gita Mittal: Gita Mittal became the first woman Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court and concluded her tenure in December 2020. Her tenure coincided with the abrogation of Article 370 by the Centre, which marked the end of Jammu and Kashmir's special status. During her service, she played a pivotal role in establishing special courtrooms for vulnerable witnesses, such as children in sexual offense cases, to provide testimony. Her contributions led to her being awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.

Justice Shalini Joshi: Justice Joshi, who retired in February 2019, was elevated to the Bombay High Court in 2015. She is renowned for handling significant cases involving crimes against women. Her notable achievements include finding three convicts guilty in the Shakti Mills photojournalist gang-rape case. She holds a PhD in laws related to child sexual abuse and has been actively involved in training judicial officers on gender-related offenses.

Manipur Violence: SC Sets Up Panel Of 3 Former HC Judges To Look Into Relief, Rehabilitation

Justice Asha Menon: Retired from the Delhi High Court in September 2022, Justice Menon had previously served as a District and Sessions Judge in south Delhi before her elevation to the Delhi High Court in May 2019. Throughout her 33-year career as a district judge, she held crucial judicial and administrative positions. Notably, she was the Member Secretary of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) in 2012, and her efforts contributed to NALSA's representation of transgender persons before the Supreme Court, leading to the landmark recognition of the third gender.

Dattatray Padsalgikar: A 1982-batch former IPS officer, Padsalgikar's career largely involved the Intelligence Bureau (IB). In 2016, he was appointed the Mumbai Police Commissioner by then Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Padsalgikar later became the Director General of Police (DGP) of Maharashtra and subsequently a Deputy Lokayukta of the state following his retirement in 2018. He was also designated Deputy National Security Advisor (NSA). Known for his role in counter-terrorism operations, he significantly contributed to gathering evidence against non-state actors in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case. His practical approach was evident in approving a constable's proposal to modify police timings during his tenure as Mumbai Police Chief.

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Story first published: Tuesday, August 8, 2023, 10:40 [IST]
The Reason Why China Objected To Sanskrit Phrase 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' In G20 Papers

India

oi-Prakash KL

China has reportedly raised objection to a Sanskrit phrase which was mentioned in the G20 documents issued last month, The Economic Times reported.

The mention of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' in the Indian presidency's G20 theme in the Energy Ministers' Outcome document and Chair's Summary on Energy Transitions' has not gone well with China. It is a Sanskrit phrase from the Maha Upanishad.

'Vasudeva Kutumbakam' Meaning?

'Vasudeva Kutumbakam' is commonly interpreted as "the world is one family." Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been using the said adage in his speeches in India and abroad. It is also inscribed at the entrance of India's parliamentary building.

Then why has China raised objection to such a meaningful word?

China opposed the usage of the phrase in the G20 meeting outcome document adopted on July 22 in Goa as it is a Sanskrit adage which is not recognised by the United Nations.

Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the six official languages of the UN. Reportedly, China was the lone country which raised objections to the phrase, while other nations did not find anything wrong in its usage. Several of these nations highlighted that, as the current Chair of the G20, India has the right to take a call on such matters.

However, China refused to agree on the inclusion of the Sanskrit phrase.

Sources within the G20 Secretariat told the website that the Chinese delegation expressed opposition to formally embracing or endorsing this as a concept but did not object to its mention when presented in a relevant context.

The report points out that the final G20 document only carried the English translation of the concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam - 'One Earth, One Family, One Future'. However, the Sanskrit adage has been retained in the logo and letterhead of each document.

According to the G20 website, the theme of India's G20 Presidency - 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' or 'One Earth  One Family  One Future' - affirms the value of all life - human, animal, plant, and microorganisms - and their interconnectedness on the planet Earth and in the wider universe.

However, the government has not commented on the issue.
'Vow Of Silence' Over Ethnic Violence In Manipur: Opposition Invokes Atal Bihari Vajpayee To Attack PM Modi

India

oi-PTI

The opposition on Tuesday invoked BJP veteran Atal Bihari Vajpayee to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi and remind him of 'rajdharma', as it accused him of taking a "vow of silence" over crucial issues such as the ethnic violence in Manipur.

Initiating the debate on the no-confidence motion against the government in Lok Sabha, Congress member Gaurav Gogoi recalled that former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had visited Gujarat after the 2002 communal riots.

"Why did he (Prime Minister Modi) take about 80 days to speak on Manipur and (he) just spoke for 30 seconds. After that there has been no peace appeal on Manipur from him. Ministers are saying they will speak, but as prime minister, the power of his words cannot be matched by ministers," Gogoi said.

"When people were gasping for breath during the Covid second wave, the prime minister was seeking votes in West Bengal. When women were being assaulted in Manipur, the prime minister was seeking votes in Karnataka. What kind of nationalism is this that places power above the nation," the deputy leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha said. Later, participating in the debate, DMK member TR Baalu said late Vajpayee stood behind 'rajdharma', "...but today we cannot stand behind them when women were striped and paraded naked". "The whole world has condemned happenings in Manipur.

No Confidence Motion: Gogoi Questions PM Modi's 'Maun Vrat' On Manipur, Asks Three Key Questions

The EU parliament has discussed this and the British parliament has condemned Prime Minister Modi and his party very strongly," he claimed. The DMK leader said he is supporting the no-confidence motion because "we want to kill evil". "Krishna advised that you are not killing your friends but evil ... the same thing I am doing.

There was no other way than to bring a no-confidence motion to get the presence of prime minister in the House," he said. He also alleged "step-motherly" attitude towards Tamil Nadu.

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Story first published: Tuesday, August 8, 2023, 17:09 [IST]
Pak's Top Election Body Bars Imran Khan From Politics For 5 Years

International

pti-PTI

In a fresh setback to jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, Pakistan's top election body on Tuesday disqualified him for five years following his conviction in a corruption case.

In a notification issued on Tuesday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said that the Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was disqualified after being found guilty of corrupt practices under Section 167 of the Elections Act, 2017 and his sentencing for three years.

The ECP declared Khan, 70, disqualified under Article 63(1)(h) of the Constitution read with Section 232 of the Elections Act, 2017. "Therefore, Mr Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi is disqualified for a period of five years and is also de-notified as a returned candidate from constituency NA-45 Kurram-I, said the notification, a copy of which is available with PTI.

An Islamabad trial court on Saturday sentenced Khan to three years in prison in the Toshakhana corruption case in which the embattled former prime minister is accused of profiting from selling expensive state gifts when he was in power. Khan was subsequently arrested by Punjab police from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore.

Earlier on Tuesday, Khan challenged his conviction in the Toshakhana corruption case in the Islamabad High Court, saying the verdict by a "biased" judge was a "slap in the face due process and fair trial" and "a gross travesty of justice".

Khan, who is currently lodged in the Attock Jail, appealed his conviction and the three-year prison sentence in the case by filing a plea through his lawyers at the Islamabad High Court (IHC). The petition will be taken up on Wednesday by a two-member bench.

In his petition, Khan said that the trial judge made the conclusions on the basis of a "predisposed mind" instead of merit of the case because the petitioner's lawyer was not given the right of presenting arguments.

Khan's plea stated that the judgment passed by the trial court judge was "tainted with bias, is a nullity in the eye of the law and is liable to be set aside. It said the order was issued without providing the petitioner with a chance to fight his case and alleged that Additional District and Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar had refused to hear the arguments of Haris, Imrans counsel in the Toshakhana case, on the pretext that he was late - which the plea claimed was because he was filing other applications with the Supreme Court and Islamabad High Court.

Thus, the petition said, the verdict of the trial court was a slap in the face due process and fair trial and a gross travesty of justice. He also accused that the judgment given at the conclusion of hearing had already been prepared and written, which is why a 35-page verdict was issued within 30 minutes of the announcement of the decision through a short order.

The plea named the district election commissioner of Islamabad as the respondent in the case. Separately, the IHC granted permission to Khans lawyers to meet him in jail as the court took up a petition filed by the party seeking A-Class facilities for the ex-premier. Khan was convicted in the case filed by the ECP last year after it had disqualified him for not showing the money he received after selling the gifts he purchased at a discounted price from Toshakhana.

The Toshakhana case says that Khan 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). This is the second time in three months that Khan has been arrested.

Khan was arrested on May 9 in Islamabad from the high courts premises in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case, sparking violent protests by his supporters. Khan faces more than 140 cases across the country and charges like terrorism, violence, blasphemy, corruption and murder.
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July Jamboree Celebrates Digital Media Innovations And Excellence In Content Analytics

Partner Content

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The stage was set for an unforgettable July Jamboree by Inkspell Media as the highly anticipated MCube Awards 2023 and Unlocked Awards 2023 came together to celebrate the best in digital media innovations and exceptional contributions in content analytics. Themed "Celebrating Innovations," this prestigious event brought together industry trailblazers and thought leaders to showcase the latest and greatest achievements in the dynamic world of digital marketing.

Unlocked Awards 2023: Celebrating Excellence in Business

Innovation The Unlocked Awards 2023, an initiative by Inkspell Media and Global Trends Forum, recognized outstanding professionals and enterprises who have demonstrated exceptional innovation, creativity, and resilience in their respective industry sectors. The awards honored those who have transformed obstacles into strategic advantages by launching exemplary campaigns, programs, products, services, and solutions that have become game-changers in their fields.

A distinguished panel of experts, including industry leaders and marketing veterans, evaluated the entries based on criteria such as innovation, creativity, impact, and sustainability. The winners included CCAvenue - Infibeam Avenues Limited, Unspoken - #StoryOfAFatherAndSon, Dhar Mann - Short Videos, VTION, Starbucks India, Intent Farm X Cubelelo, and many more. Each awardee exemplified excellence and demonstrated a relentless pursuit of success, inspiring others to reach new heights in their industries.

Chitra Surana, Head of Alliances at Inkspell Media, expressed pride in the winners and nominees, stating, "Their dedication to excellence and ability to thrive in challenging times have truly set them apart. We believe that their exceptional accomplishments will continue to inspire the business community for years to come."

mCube Awards 2023: Recognizing Digital Media Innovations

The mCube Awards 2023 celebrated excellence in digital media and marketing, recognizing exceptional work across categories such as video marketing, content marketing, social media, mobile marketing, and more. The event served as a platform to honor the visionary individuals and teams who have harnessed data and analytics to drive content success.

Prominent professionals from renowned companies, including Microsoft, Tech Mahindra, ZEE5, SonyLiv and Paisabazaar.com, formed the distinguished panel of speakers & jury. Key winners included Mothers Day Campaign by Zee Bangla, Unspoken - #StoryOfAFatherAndSon, #MarketMasala by HDFC Securities, Netflix India - #DeshKeLiyeMajnu by Laqshya Live Experiences, Jio VIP Box, and many others. These winners showcased the transformative power of data-driven insights in shaping the digital marketing landscape.

The July Jamboree brought together the mCube Awards 2023 and the Unlocked Awards 2023 in an extraordinary celebration of excellence and innovation. Throughout the event, attendees engaged in vibrant discussions, sharing experiences and insights, while embracing the spirit of collaboration and collective ambition.

As the curtains drew to a close on the July Jamboree, it left a lasting impression on the digital media and marketing community. The event's organizers, Inkspell Media and Global Trends Forum, remain committed to fostering innovation, excellence, and meaningful connections, inspiring professionals and enterprises to embrace the ever-evolving digital realm.

Both events were supported by key partners, including Pinkvilla, Josh App - VerSe Innovation, Global Trends Forum, India Creative Industries Council, Kenscio, One India, For Press Release, ED Times, 24 Frames Digital, Jio News and EazyDiner.

For more information about the July Jamboree and a complete list of winners, please visit https://www.mcubeawards.com & https://www.unlockedawards.com/

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Story first published: Tuesday, August 8, 2023, 16:39 [IST]
Rumble 05 Aug 2023

Former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan has been sentenced to three years in prison and banned from politics for five years..
A Buffalo woman has been found guilty of an animal cruelty violation for leaving her dog inside a hot vehicle last summer, according to the Erie County District Attorneys Office.

During a two-hour, non-jury trial Monday, Cheektowaga Town Court Justice John Wanat found Shermika A. Walker, 38, guilty of a single count of confinement of a companion animal inside a vehicle in extreme temperatures, which is a violation under New York Agriculture and Markets Law. However, Daniel J. DuBois, a lawyer who represented Walker in court, said his client was also acquitted on a more serious misdemeanor charge of overdriving, torturing and injuring animals, and failure to provide proper sustenance under the Agriculture and Markets Law, which would have been punishable by up to a year in jail.

According to prosecutors, Cheektowaga police and Cheektowaga animal control officers were called June 15, 2022, to a plaza on Union Road for a dog in distress inside a parked vehicle. Officers said the dog was having a seizure and vomiting because of excessive heat.

Officers removed the 8-year-old male Boston Terrier mix from the vehicle and took the dog to an emergency veterinary clinic for treatment of severe heat stroke, after which the dog was held in the custody of the SPCA Serving Erie County. The dog was, however, returned to Walker, despite a request by the District Attorneys Office that the court impose a no animal order at Walkers arraignment. That request was denied by the town justice to whom the case had previously been assigned.

DuBois said Walker had left all four windows of the vehicle partially open while she went shopping for about 15 to 20 minutes, and said she left water inside the vehicle for the dog.

So this is a flat-faced dog and they pant all the time. They dont have to be distressed to be panting and drooling, he said. But in this dog enforcement officers opinion, the dog was in distress. So that was why they went into her car to retrieve the dog.

Walker remains released on her own recognizance pending sentencing Sept. 5. She faces a maximum of 15 days in jail.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Stephen C. Papia of the Justice Courts Bureau.
Former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan, who has been convicted and jailed on graft charges, was barred from politics for five years on Tuesday, an official order said.
Malta Gaming Authority Suspends SFJL Holding's Licence for Breach of Regulations

Published August 7, 2023 by OCR Editor

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has taken swift action to suspend SFJL Holding Limited's gaming license due to breaches of gaming regulations. The suspension was implemented immediately after the MGA's ruling on 3rd August.

Malta Gaming Authority Acts Swiftly on Licence Suspension

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has taken decisive action against SFJL Holding Limited, suspending the company's Type 2 Gaming Services license immediately. The suspension, triggered by multiple breaches of Malta's Gaming Compliance and Enforcement Regulations, officially came into force on 3rd August.

Breaches of Gaming Regulations

SFJL Holding Limited faced several regulatory infringements under Malta's Gaming Compliance and Enforcement Regulations. The MGA identified violations of regulations 9(1)(c), (k), and (j), which encompass different aspects of gaming operations.

Regulation 9(1)(c) relates to non-compliance with obligations stipulated in regulatory instruments or other applicable laws.

Regulation 9(1)(k) requires licensees to seek the regulator's approval for specific material changes within their business operations.

Regulation 9(1)(j) highlights instances, where the MGA would not have granted authorization had it been aware of certain circumstances.

MGA's Ruling and Suspension

The Malta Gaming Authority did not disclose explicit details of the breaches or the specific actions that led to the regulatory violations. Consequently, SFJL Holding Limited is prohibited from conducting any gaming operations during the suspension period. The suspension remains in place until further notice, subject to the outcome of any appeal initiated by the operator.

EGMIT Elite Limited's Licence Cancellation

The MGA's swift response to regulatory breaches did not stop with SFJL Holding Limited. The MGA canceled EGMIT Elite Limited's B2C gaming service license in a related development. EGMIT Elite operated the Elite24bet site under this license but must now cease all gaming activities.

Implications of Licence Cancellation

As a result of the license cancellation, EGMIT Elite Limited is no longer authorized to engage in gaming operations under the MGA license. The operator is required to remove any references to MGA approval from its websites and other platforms.

Police Report and Liquidation Proceedings

In addition to the license cancellation, the Malta Gaming Authority filed a police report against EGMIT Elite Limited, signaling the severity of the regulatory breaches. Furthermore, the MGA initiated liquidation proceedings against the operator.

The MGA's swift and stringent response to regulatory violations demonstrates its commitment to upholding gaming integrity and protecting players in the industry. Both SFJL Holding Limited and EGMIT Elite Limited now face the consequences of their actions, serving as a cautionary tale to other gaming operators operating under Malta's jurisdiction.
This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here.

I can still remember my parents singing a somewhat cleaned-up version of the World War I-era song "You're in the Army Now." ("You're in the Army now, You're not behind a plow; You'll never get rich, you son of a b*tch, You're in the Army now.") As it happens, though, that song no longer applies, not if you're in the upper ranks of the U.S. military, where you can "retire" directly onto the boards of top military contractors in the industrial part of the military-industrial-congressional complex that are making eternal fortunes off the Pentagon budget. If you don't believe me, check out Lloyd Austin's career. He retired as a four-star Army general and joined the board of Raytheon before Joe Biden appointed him secretary of defense (as Donald Trump had appointed a retired Marine four-star general, serving on the board of General Dynamics, to the same post). It should be shocking. It should be a crisis. It should be investigated. But no such luck.

Still, as retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, historian, and TomDispatch regular William Astore suggests today, as far as anyone in power is concerned, who cares if the U.S. military couldn't win a war when it's a veritable budgetary goldmine? And don't even dream of doing anything but adding to that if you hope to succeed in Congress. Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders has proven the rarest of exceptions for opposing and even calling for cuts to what he's termed a "bloated" Pentagon budget (which is expected to hit a trillion dollars annually in the next few years). But no such luck. Far too many congressional representatives are literally in thrall to defense contractors. In fact, did you even know that Sanders had done so?

With that uniformed nightmare first-class in mind, settle in for a ride to hell with Astore, whose Bracing Views newsletter is (to my mind) a must-read. Tom

"The Greatest Fighting Force in Human History"

The Perpetual Wars You Aren't Supposed to Notice

By William J. Astore

In his message to the troops prior to the July 4th weekend, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin offered high praise indeed. "We have the greatest fighting force in human history," he tweeted, connecting that claim to the U.S. having patriots of all colors, creeds, and backgrounds "who bravely volunteer to defend our country and our values."

As a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel from a working-class background who volunteered to serve more than four decades ago, who am I to argue with Austin? Shouldn't I just bask in the glow of his praise for today's troops, reflecting on my own honorable service near the end of what now must be thought of as the First Cold War?

Yet I confess to having doubts. I've heard it all before. The hype. The hyperbole. I still remember how, soon after the 9/11 attacks, President George W. Bush boasted that this country had "the greatest force for human liberation the world has ever known." I also remember how, in a pep talk given to U.S. troops in Afghanistan in 2010, President Barack Obama declared them "the finest fighting force that the world has ever known." And yet, 15 years ago at TomDispatch, I was already wondering when Americans had first become so proud of, and insistent upon, declaring our military the world's absolute best, a force beyond compare, and what that meant for a republic that once had viewed large standing armies and constant warfare as anathemas to freedom.

In retrospect, the answer is all too straightforward: we need something to boast about, don't we? In the once-upon-a-time "exceptional nation," what else is there to praise to the skies or consider our pride and joy these days except our heroes? After all, this country can no longer boast of having anything like the world's best educational outcomes, or healthcare system, or the most advanced and safest infrastructure, or the best democratic politics, so we better damn well be able to boast about having "the greatest fighting force" ever.

Leaving that boast aside, Americans could certainly brag about one thing this country has beyond compare: the most expensive military around and possibly ever. No country even comes close to our commitment of funds to wars, weapons (including nuclear ones at the Department of Energy), and global dominance. Indeed, the Pentagon's budget for "defense" in 2023 exceeds that of the next 10 countries (mostly allies!) combined.

And from all of this, it seems to me, two questions arise: Are we truly getting what we pay so dearly for the bestest, finest, most exceptional military ever? And even if we are, should a self-proclaimed democracy really want such a thing?

The answer to both those questions is, of course, no. After all, America hasn't won a war in a convincing fashion since 1945. If this country keeps losing wars routinely and often enough catastrophically, as it has in places like Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq, how can we honestly say that we possess the world's greatest fighting force? And if we nevertheless persist in such a boast, doesn't that echo the rhetoric of militaristic empires of the past? (Remember when we used to think that only unhinged dictators like Adolf Hitler boasted of having peerless warriors in a megalomaniacal pursuit of global domination?)

Actually, I do believe the United States has the most exceptional military, just not in the way its boosters and cheerleaders like Austin, Bush, and Obama claimed. How is the U.S. military truly "exceptional"? Let me count the ways.

The Pentagon as a Budgetary Black Hole

Next Page 1 | 2 | 3

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
A bicyclist died after a driver failed to yield to him in Clackamas County on Saturday morning, police said.

Mark Hendrickson, 48, was pedaling south on Oregon 173 from Timberline Lodge when the driver of a white Hyundai Tucson turned in front of him just before 7:45 a.m., according to Oregon State Police.

The driver, identified as 71-year-old Emilio Trampuz, was turning left onto West Leg Road and crossed into Hendricksons lane. Police said Trampuz failed to yield to the bicyclist. Hendrickson struck the car and was ejected from his bike, police said. He died at the scene.

Trampuz cooperated with officers and stayed at the scene, police said.

The Crash Reconstruction Unit is investigating the collision, and will decide on charges against Trampuz once the investigation concludes, according to police spokesperson Kyle Kennedy.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story included incorrect spelling provided by Oregon State Police of Emilio Trampuzs last name.

 Austin De Dios; adedios@oregonian.com; @austindedios; 503-319-9744

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A Washington County civil deputy who was shot and critically wounded while serving an eviction notice two weeks ago has been discharged from a hospital to continue his recovery at home, the sheriffs office said Tuesday.

Chuck Doze spent 13 days in Legacy Emanuel Medical Center after he was shot seven times at a Tualatin apartment complex July 26, with four of the bullets striking him in the face and arms. He lost his left eye and several teeth in the shooting, the Washington County Sheriffs Office said.
Medical examiners identified the 37-year-old woman struck and killed by a car that crashed into her Vancouver home Thursday as Danielle Abrahams.

Abrahams was pinned underneath the car, and died after being unable to breathe, according to the Clark County Medical Examiners office.

Vancouver fire and police responded to reports of a crash in the 2600 block of Unander Avenue around 6:40 p.m., and found a car inside a house. A rescue team worked to ensure the house wouldnt collapse on first responders, the fire department said.

Investigators believe the driver hit a curb at a high rate of speed, sending the car through a fence and into the house, police said. The driver has not been identified.

The crash injured two other people living in the house, and they have had to move, officials with Vancouver Fire said.

The driver faces pending charges of driving under the influence and vehicular homicide, police said.

 Austin De Dios; adedios@oregonian.com; @austindedios; 503-319-9744

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A story of a Portland cancer patient who criticized her medical clinics support for transgender rights racked up millions of views on social media last week, garnered the attention of both conservative and national news sites and set off alarms after someone called in a bomb threat to the medical clinic, forcing it to shutter its doors Friday.

The firestorm of attention came after patient Marlene Barbera said her healthcare provider  Oregon Health & Science University  told her itll no longer treat her after she complained about its display of a transgender pride flag and made what it called disrespectful and hurtful remarks about the LGBTQ community and staff at OHSUs Richmond Primary Care Clinic in Southeast Portland. The clinic is part of an OHSU network that offers gender-affirming care.

Barbera publicly shared a June 29 letter on OHSU letterhead in which the healthcare provider said it was giving Barbera until July 29 to find another provider.

Barberas account and the speed at which it inflamed an online audience speaks to an increasingly contentious national struggle over transgender rights.

The case also raises ethical questions for medical providers who encounter patients who espouse unwelcome views.

Its distressing, its upsetting, its dismaying, said Courtney Campbell, an Oregon State University professor who teaches medical ethics courses to future doctors, pharmacists and nurses. You dont go into the profession to engage in political or culture war discussions.

But, he said, it is both the patients obligation to keep those views to themselves and the medical providers obligation to communicate that and to continue to give care  unless the patient exhibits a pattern of truly abusive and disruptive behavior.

The dispute also came at a time when nurses and other medical providers say some patients or their families are more frequently hostile, verbally threatening and combative and they fear for their physical safety. Just last month, a man visiting a patient in the maternity ward at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center in Northwest Portland shot and killed a security guard after three days of making threats to hospital staff.

After Barbera tweeted Aug. 1 about her rejection, her story was picked up by some alternative or conservative websites last Wednesday, including Libs of TikTok, which attracted more than four million views. The following day, Thursday, the clinic received a threatening phone call and the clinic was evacuated, said OHSU spokesperson Nicole Rideout. The clinic canceled in-person visits Friday out of an abundance of caution, Rideout said. Union officials later confirmed the call was a bomb threat.

Oregon Health & Science University's Richmond clinic is pictured here on Monday, Aug. 7, 2023.

Rideout told The Oregonian/OregonLive she couldnt comment about the alleged dispute with Barbera  or even if Barbera is a patient  because of patient privacy laws.

Threats have been an ongoing problem for the Richmond Clinic, one of 20 clinics that OHSU lists as part of its Transgender Health Program.

Richmond employees have endured countless threats of harm, racial slurs, anti-LGBTQIA+ hate speech and more, with little to no recourse, wrote Michael Stewart, president of the union Oregon AFSCME, in an email to the thousands of OHSU workers it represents. As one person put it, Richmond staff have been sharing that theyre worried something like this would happen for a long time now, and now their fears and suspicions have been confirmed.

Meanwhile, hate crimes and other incidents targeting LGBTQ+ Oregonians have increased five-fold in the past few years  one of the swiftest rates of any group in the state, according to reports made to the states Bias Response Hotline. That has put those communities on even higher alert than they already had been.

Barberas conflict with OHSU began last year.

Barbera, 55, told The Oregonian/OregonLive that in summer 2022 she noticed a transgender flag displayed at the clinic. She sent a note to her doctor to say she did not feel comfortable coming into the facility with the banner hanging like a Nazi flag behind the reception desk.

Barbera told The Oregonian/OregonLive that she never made any threats or comments out loud in front of staff or other patients while at the Richmond Clinic.

She said she received a call a short while later from an OHSU administrator telling her she needed to reframe her thinking.

Then all was quiet, Barbera said, until she called the clinic in May 2023 to leave a message for her doctor, but an employee told her shed have to make an appointment and abruptly hung up. Barbera suspected that she was being treated poorly because the employee knew about her past criticism of the flag. She said when she called back and asked a different employee if she could leave a message for her doctor, the employee said shed need to talk to the first employee. Barbera said she responded Why, did I hurt the trans persons feelings?

Barbera said shes now talking to lawyers about her options.

She said OHSUs rejection of her as a patient has left her in a tough spot. She said shes fighting breast cancer, and although she has an oncologist who works for a different healthcare network, she now is scrambling to find a new primary care doctor. She said shes scheduled for a double mastectomy later this month.

It was quite a shocker that I have no primary care doctor, Barbera said. It has been terribly, terribly stressful.

Although Rideout, the OHSU spokesperson, said she couldnt comment about any specifics for this story, she noted patient guidelines state that patients shall refrain from using discriminatory, profane, derogatory or threatening language, imagery or behavior, and understand that these behaviors can result in limitation of visiting privileges and impact access to care at OHSU.

-- Aimee Green; agreen@oregonian.com; @o_aimee

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There is a warning in Shawn Strobls experiences navigating houselessness with a disability, (Oregonians with disabilities struggle amid homeless crisis: It was just impossible, July 24).

When we see an increasing number of disabled folks slipping out of secure housing  as the article notes, the poverty rate for adults with disabilities is twice that of adults without disabilities  we must wake up to the alarming violence faced by our disabled unhoused neighbors.

As a member of Salems Human Rights Commission, I have been startled by reported assaults against unsheltered Salemites. The commission often hears about the verbal harassment unhoused community members receive. Our Community Belonging Survey reveals growing instances of public humiliation. The most recent attack against an unsheltered neighbor in late June resulted in his death  a first for which none of us were prepared.

These episodes of life-threatening violence resemble one another in revealing ways. While the victims have been aging and disabled, the perpetrators have consistently been adolescents or young men. The hostility that leads to these public assaults runs deep and is not arbitrary. It derives its legitimacy from a culture and discourse that regards our unhoused neighbors as burdens. Our findings show that nearly 80% of folks experiencing houselessness report experiencing discrimination on a daily or weekly basis. Mr. Strobls story reminds us that every month many Oregonians teeter on the edge of facing the same.

It is time to regard this issue facing our communities - the one in which some feel compelled to assault and kill a neighbor due to circumstance and power - with the urgency it demands.

Joaquin Lara Midkiff, Salem

To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion.
Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell urged all cops and non-uniformed employees working for the Portland Police Bureau to stop spreading the dubious claim that their crime-fighting hands are tied by Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt.

The warning came in a bureau-wide memo sent May 4 and obtained this week by The Oregonian/OregonLive. In it, Lovell wrote that he routinely receives reports from city residents who are disappointed by their interactions with Portland police officers.
Portland and Multnomah County leaders drew attention Monday to increasing traffic deaths and urged people to drive more slowly and not get behind the wheel while drunk or high.

Their comments attracted several dozen protesters who blasted politicians for failing to propose concrete solutions to stem the tide of deaths.

Portlanders need to know that our city is in the midst of an epidemic of traffic fatalities, City Commissioner Mingus Mapps said from a podium outside City Hall. Portland could cut traffic deaths in half today if Portlanders embrace just two common-sense practices. Number one, dont speed. Number two, dont drive impaired.

Thats always been true, shouted Lois Leveen, a Portland resident who alerted other cyclists to the news conference and led chants demanding safe streets and repeatedly interrupted Mapps and other speakers.

I hear your rage and I hear your frustration, Mapps said. And I share it.

This July set a 10-year record for deaths in one month, Mapps said, with 13 deaths. With 44 traffic deaths so far this year, compared to 39 by the same time in 2022, Portland is on track to exceed last years record-setting death toll, said Portland police Sgt. Ty Engstrom.

Pedestrian deaths have driven much of the increase in traffic deaths since the pandemic, officials said, with a record 28 pedestrian deaths last year, nearly double the pedestrian deaths in 2018.

Despite the rancor outside City Hall, the half-dozen officials speaking at the podium presented a show of unity, underscoring their message that the way to tackle the problem is together.

Everyone has a role, they said.

Mapps said hes working with the state on addressing deaths on Powell Boulevard, a state-owned highway that he said is Portlands deadliest street, with 30 fatalities in the last 10 years.

Engstrom said the city is ramping up traffic enforcement, with more staff now on the traffic division, reversing some of the drastic cuts made during the pandemic. For two years, he was the only full-time employee in the division, he said. Now, the team is back to two-thirds of its original size, with coverage seven days a week from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m.

And Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson saidthe county is committed to investing in safer road design, more automated enforcement and a holistic public health approach.

But Pederson added, Its not work that we can do alone, echoing Mapps request that people not speed and not drive impaired. We need your engagement as a community to make change possible, she said.

As they spoke, Ted Buehler of Portland lay on the cement in poses mimicking a cyclist hit by a car, changing positions every five to 10 minutes.

The news conference coincided with Multnomah Countys release of an analysis of traffic deaths in 2020 and 2021. Using medical examiner reports, the county health department found that speeding played a role in 42% of fatal crashes; nearly a quarter of traffic deaths involved homeless people; and 84% of those who died had drugs or alcohol in their system.

The health department didnt examine what percentage of crashes were caused by people impaired by drugs or alcohol, but noted that a 2020 city report found that 20% of all fatal crashes that year were related to impairment.

Leevan was just as indignant after the press conference as she was when it began.

I heard nothing specific from the city about real change, she said. We cant get to Vision Zero with zero vision.

Vision Zero is Portlands broad campaign to, among other ambitious goals, eliminate traffic deaths and injuries by 2025.

Buehler, who spent more than half an hour lying on the cement, said he hopes that, in some small way, he helped the issue with his die-in a protest method he said worked effectively in the Netherlands in the 1960s to achieve lasting street safety.

Historically, the only way to get City Hall to prioritize traffic safety is to get them to respect the dead, Buehler said.

And Buehler, a cyclist, cited a personal reason for his presence at the news conference that day: I dont want to die.

 Fedor Zarkhin
New school zone speed limit signs have been installed in front of Clarence High School, according to the New York State Department of Transportation.

The signs alert motorists to the new 35 mph speed limit that will be in effect in front of the school on Main Street in Clarence between 8 and 10 a.m. and from 3 to 5 p.m. on school days. The current speed limit there is 45 mph.

Clarence Highway Superintendent Jamie Dussing said in a statement Tuesday that the reduced speed limit will improve safety for students, school employees and other motorists who travel to and past the school.

The new speed limit will go into effect on Sept. 5, the first day of the 2023-2024 academic year.

- Harold McNeil
A roundup of conversations we're having daily on the site. Subscribe to the Reckon Daily for stories centering marginalized communities and speaking to the under-covered issues of the moment.

The City of Detroit is being sued for falsely arresting a 32-year-old mother of three in February on carjacking charges after police used facial recognition technology in their investigation.

Porcha Woodruff is the sixth person to report being wrongly accused and arrested in connection to a crime using the technology.

Woodruff is suing the city and Det. LaShauntia Oliver  in his professional and individual capacities  on counts of false arrest and imprisonment, malicious prosecution, violation of public accommodation and public service and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The suit did not cite a specific monetary amount being sought by Woodruff, who was eight months pregnant at the time of her arrest. She was released from jail after posting a $100,000 bond. The ordeal led her to have stress-related contractions.

In a written statement, Detroit Police Department Chief James E. White said, I have reviewed the allegations contained in the lawsuit. They are very concerning. We are taking this matter very seriously, but we cannot comment further at this time due to the need for additional investigation.

We will provide further information once additional facts are obtained and we have a better understanding of the circumstances.

Its not the first time the police department has come under fire for such an arrest since it began using facial recognition technology in 2019.

In 2020, Detroit authorities wrongfully arrested Robert Williams for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars worth of watches. A year earlier, authorities falsely arrested then-26-year-old Michael Oliver for allegedly reaching into a teachers car, grabbing a cellphone and chucking it, damaging the device.

All of the plaintiffs in these cases have one thing in common: Theyre all Black. Researchers and critics have long argued that facial recognition technology is increasingly likely to harm people from vulnerable communities.

In 2022, researchers at Georgia State University found that police departments that used it disproportionately arrested Black people.

Research conducted by scholars from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Microsoft in 2018 concluded that some algorithms wrongly identified Black women almost 35 percent of the time but correctly identified white men nearly 100 percent of the time.

The technologys unreliability has led cities across the country to ban law enforcement departments from utilizing it altogether. In 2019, San Franciscos Board of Supervisors voted 8-to-1 to prohibit its police department from using it.

Lawmakers in about a dozen communities around the nation have made similar decisions.

Among advocates, there is concern about the lack of oversight police departments have after getting their hands on the technology.

I think the case we hear made for the ban is that police cant be trusted to use their technology in a way that wont harm peoples civil rights and civil liberties, Katie Kinsey, chief of staff of The Policing Project at New York University School of Law, said.

The organization works to promote public safety through transparency, equity and democratic engagement.

On the legal side, there has been debate about whether the use of such technology in police investigations could be a violation of the Fourth Amendment. Under the law, people in the U.S. are protected against unreasonable searches and seizures.

The courts have yet to take up that concern, however.

Nathan Freed Wessler, deputy director of ACLU Speech, Privacy and Technology Project, said that his organization is in favor of banning police departments from implementing the use of facial recognition technology.

Even though departments are being sued for using it, there continues to be interest in its adoption. In 2018, authorities in Annapolis, Md. used facial recognition to identify the person responsible for the shootings at The Capital Gazette newsroom.

At the very least, we need lawmakers in Congress and state legislatures to sit down and take a very serious look at this technology and how its being used and figure out what the guardrails are, Wessler said.

Still, advocates differ on how to address concerns. For Kinsey, her organization believes that communities should be able to make their own choices about how they want law enforcement agencies implementing it.

If a community wants to implement the technology, then it should be regulated, she argued.

Folks feel like policing is often not keeping those communities safe, Kinsey added, speaking generally about the issue. And so why give a more powerful tool to this agency when we havent solved some of the harm that its caused already?
Avid astronomers and casual summer stargazers alike can appreciate the mesmerizing Perseid meteor shower, one of the best astronomical events of the year, which will be reaching its peak this weekend.

Conditions look particularly good this year, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration currently forecasting clear or mostly clear skies over Oregon for the meteor showers peak nights on Aug. 12 and 13. And while wildfires are actively burning, there is not much heavy smoke across the state  though that could obviously change.

Seeing the meteors is as easy as getting yourself to the darkest skies possible. Rural settings generally are a pretty safe bet, but some of the states best dark sky areas, like Steens Mountain and the John Day Fossil Beds, will give you your best chance at seeing the estimated 50 to 75 meteors per hour.

That said, theres no need to travel hours into the high desert just to see the display. Those in the Portland area can head over to Rooster Rock State Park, where the Rose City Astronomers and Oregon Museum of Science and Industry will be co-hosting a star party for the general public.

The event will take place at sunset on Saturday, Aug. 12, in the Columbia River Gorge state park. Admission is free, but the park charges $5 per vehicle, unless you have an annual park pass. Astronomers will be on hand with telescopes and information about the meteor shower.

At least two other state parks are throwing star parties for the Perseids this year.

Prineville Reservoir in central Oregon, the states first official Dark Sky Park, will host astronomers on Aug. 12 and 13 from 9:30 to 11 p.m. The free event, which will take place in the day-use area, also includes a laser constellation tour, solar telescope event and Jr. Ranger program earlier in the evening.

Dexter Reservoir outside Eugene will also hold a Perseid watch party the night of Aug. 12. The event is free, but advance registration is recommended. Register online or at 541-912-2047.

In Bend, the Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory will not be hosting a Perseid-specific event, but will be holding its regular In-Depth Observatory Nighttime Visit. The event, which runs from 9 to 11 pm., includes an educational presentation and the chance to gaze through powerful telescopes. Tickets are $35 a person.

Its likely that other unofficial events will crop up as well, as people gravitate toward fellow stargazers under the night sky. All meteor watchers should head out after dark and look up to the constellation Perseus (which is the namesake of the shower), found in the northern part of the sky. Get comfortable and stare up at the stars, and before long you should be able see the show.

Escaping light pollution

Where are the darkest locations in Oregon? The interactive map below shows light produced at night by human activity, along with six suggested locations for watching the night sky.

 Jamie Hale

503-294-4077; jhale@oregonian.com; @HaleJamesB

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The 21-year-old firefighter killed in a Coos County crash Friday was from Boulder, Colorado, officials said Saturday.

Benjamin Charles Sapper recently joined the Gold Beach Ranger District as a hand crew member. He was killed after the pickup truck he was riding in left the roadway near Powers, Oregon, according to Coquille Fire and Rescue.

Coos County Sheriffs deputies responded to reports of a crash involving three U.S. Forest Service firefighters around 11:30 a.m. The firefighters were moving fire equipment, but were not assigned to an active fire, the sheriffs office said Monday.

Sapper graduated from Boulder High School and studied applied mathematics at the University of Colorado, the U.S. Forest Service said in a statement. Sapper planned to start graduate school at the University of British Columbia this fall, the Forest Service said.

He joined the Forest Service out of a desire to serve the community, the statement said.

Local firefighters are holding a standing vigil for Sapper until his remains can be moved to Colorado.

We have a tight knit community on the Gold Beach and Powers Ranger Districts, and we stand together in grief and support for his family, friends, and fellow firefighters during this heartbreaking time, Gold Beach District Ranger Kailey Guerrant said in the statement.

Investigators are still assessing the cause of the crash. The driver of the truck, who had not been identified publicly, has been cooperating with law enforcement, the sheriffs office said.

 Austin De Dios; adedios@oregonian.com; @austindedios; 503-319-9744

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A newly reported wildfire in Oregon has prompted more evacuation notices in Lane County, with as many as 800 residents near Oakridge instructed to be ready to go if the Salmon fire gets worse.

Wildfires in Curry, Lane and Linn counties have all prompted evacuation notices, with about 500 addresses within areas under Level 1 evacuation orders, meaning people there should have a plan and go-kit ready, according to the Office of Emergency Management.

The 100-acre Salmon fire began Sunday, threatens about 300 residences and is 0% contained, according to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center. Lane County officials Monday asked residents to the north and east of Oakridge to get ready to evacuate and encouraged residents to sign up for alerts at www.lanealerts.org.

It is the most recent of several wildfires burning within about 35 miles of Eugene, and one of three in the area to prompt evacuation notices.

Northeast of the Salmon fire, nearly 800 firefighters and nine helicopters are fighting the two-week-old Bedrock fire, which has grown to 13,700 acres, threatens 12 residences and has forced campground, trail and recreation site closures in the area. As of Tuesday morning, it was 5% contained.

The 310-acre Priceboro fire, eight miles northeast of Eugene, is 55% contained four days after igniting, according to the Oregon Department of Forestry. It threatens 100 structures, including 70 residences, according to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center, and had prompted evacuation orders that were lifted fully by Tuesday morning.

The Wiley fire, just east of Sweet Home, grew to 10 acres overnight and has prompted a Level 1 evacuation order affecting nearly 50 addresses.

Oregons largest current wildfire is in Curry County; in about three weeks it has expanded to nearly 33,300 acres. Burning in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, the fire is 39% contained and threatens 40 residences, according to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center. An estimated 304 people living in areas near the fire are under orders to prepare to evacuate.

Are you affected by these wildfires or have photographs you would like to share? Please get in touch.

 Fedor Zarkhin

Office: 503-294-7674; Cell: 971-373-2905; fzarkhin@oregonian.com
The race for Erie County executive may seem like a sleeper, with three-term incumbent Mark Poloncarz taking on political neophyte Chrissy Casilio.

But dont tell that to the chairmen of the Erie County Democratic and Republican parties.

Democratic chair Jeremy Zellner and Republican chair Michael Kracker say they are gearing up for the fall, huddling with their candidates and crafting what messages they think will stick with voters.

Hes working hard, hes raising money, Zellner said of Poloncarz. We decided that we were never going to take anything for granted. Were going to get out the vote in the fall and prepare for a major push for the county executive.

Zellner said the Dems strategy is to focus on Casilio in an attempt to define the Clarence businesswoman for many of the voters who may not know her.

Shes done and said a lot of things I think most people in this county would find abhorrent, Zellner said of Casilio. Were not going to sit back and just hope people find out about it.

Kracker said those in the county GOP organization are planning to kick their operation into high gear, too.

Were going to dial in here down the stretch, Kracker said. Shes going to be fairly active, both in grassroots and in getting media attention where she can.

As the [BN] Politics Now newsletter noted last week, Casilio has emerged more in recent weeks, holding news conferences and releasing statements about the issue of migrants coming to New York and other states from the southern U.S. border.

That is an issue Kracker says Poloncarz has mishandled  and one he predicts will become more of an issue as New York Citys social services system exceeds capacity.

Mark is being Mark, Kracker said of Poloncarz. Hes taken an arrogant approach to it, rather than being a leader ... I dont see this getting better over the next couple months.

Sharp words from both camps. Who knows  maybe well have an interesting race as the summer turns to fall.

The City Hall shuffle

Mayor Byron Brown has been on something of a hiring spree in his second floor offices after the departures of some of his best-known aides.

Brown has shuffled through multiple deputy mayors in recent years, from Steve Casey to Betsey Ball to Ellen Grant. And his most recent deputy mayor, Crystal Rodriguez-Dabney, left in June after 15 months in City Hall.

Rodriguez-Dabney, who also served as Browns chief of staff, is now the chief diversity officer and senior vice president at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Rodriguez-Dabney has been the most visible face of Roswells recent effort to turn around its image and reputation among Black employees, as reported in multiple Buffalo News stories about the diversity report that was originally kept secret by the hospitals board.

In a move to restock his cabinet, Brown has appointed Callie Johnson and Rashied McDuffie as deputy mayors, and Michael Marcy as chief of staff.

As reported by News City Hall reporter Deidre Williams, Johnson most recently worked since July 2021 as director of communications and community engagement for the Buffalo AKG Art Museum.

McDuffie was assistant corporation counsel for the citys Law Department from March 2014 to January 2022, serving as a Buffalo Housing Court prosecutor. He also defended the city in administrative hearings, settlement negotiations and other matters. Since last year, he has worked for the State Office of Cannabis Management.

Marcy has been in the Brown administration for 15 years, most recently as director of intergovernmental affairs in the Division of Urban Affairs.

In addition, Brown has given a promotion to Mike DeGeorge, his longtime communications director. Brown announced recently that DeGeorge will now take on the title of senior adviser.

That title will also be given to Oswaldo Mestre Jr., director of the citys Division of Citizen Services.

DeGeorge and Mestre will continue to oversee their previous departments, including the Mayors Office of Communications and the Division of Citizen Services, respectively, Brown said.
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Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, issued a warning on Tuesday that health conditions are rapidly deteriorating in Sudan, where conflict has uprooted four million people
PHILADELPHIA (AP)  Friends and family members gathered Tuesday in Philadelphia to remember OShae Sibley, who was fatally stabbed after he confronted teenagers who taunted his group of gay, Black friends as they danced at a New York City gas station.

OShae had the power to touch everyones heart, whoever met him, said Otis Pena, a close friend of Sibley's who was at the gas station and bared his grief hours later in a Facebook video. OShae was a beacon of light for a lot of us in our community.

About 200 people attended Sibley's funeral at a historic opera house in the city where he grew up and performed before moving to New York to pursue his career as a dancer. He had performed with the dance company Philadanco and used dance to celebrate his LGBTQ+ identity. Sibley was 28.

Brooklyn prosecutors have charged a 17-year-old high school student with hate-motivated murder in Sibley's death.

The stabbing happened after a group of teenagers got into an argument with Sibley and his friends as they danced shirtless to a Beyonce song while they gassed up their car.

Police said the teens used homophobic slurs and made anti-Black statements.

Security camera video showed the argument had broken up and both groups had walked away when Sibley, who is Black, and his friends abruptly returned and crossed a parking lot to confront the white 17-year-old, who was recording with his phone.

In the video, Sibley could be seen following the teen and then lunging at him. The stabbing happened out of a clear view of the cameras.

Karen Pendergrass, a teacher at the Philadelphia School of Dance Arts remembered Sibley as a shy 14-year-old who kept popping his head in the door of her classroom.

Youve got one more time to come past my door and then youre coming through my door, she said she had told him. He took that class, he got a scholarship and from there he just flourished.

A dance scholarship will be set up in Sibley's name, Pendergrass said.

Sibleys death prompted an outpouring of tributes from politicians and some celebrities, including Beyonce and the filmmaker Spike Lee.

At least one witness told reporters some of the teens who clashed with Sibley and his friends had objected to the dancers' behavior because they were Muslim. The mother and lawyer of the 17-year-old boy charged in the stabbing, though, said he is actually a Christian who wears a cross and goes to church.

The teen's grandmother told the Daily News he was just defending himself.
A Nato spokesperson has told PAP that the alliance, which has been monitoring military operations in Belarus, sees no direct or indirect military threat to its allies posed by the Wagner mercenary group.

Oana Lungescu said on Tuesday that, at the same time, the alliance remained extra vigilant.

On Monday, Belarus started military exercises near its border with Poland and Lithuania. Warsaw and Vilnius have seen it as a reason for concern due to the presence in Belarus of more than 4,000 Wagner fighters, Russian mercenaries that used to be supported by the Kremlin, but whose 24-hour mutiny forced them to seek a safe haven in Belarus.

The exercises are taking place in the Grodno district, near the Suwalki Gap, which separates the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea from Belarus.

Having recalled that Nato had increased its military presence in the alliance's eastern part in response to Russia's aggressive moves, the Nato spokesperson declared that the alliance continued to do everything in order to deter all possible threats and protect every inch of the allied territory.

Lungescu also renewed an appeal launched by Nato leaders in Vilnius in July and called on all countries not to support Russia in its illegal war against Ukraine and condemn all those who help Russia conduct this war.

Poland's defence ministry agreed on Tuesday to send an additional 1,000 troops to the border with Belarus following a request from the border guard service, amid an increase in attempts to illegally cross the frontier to Poland.

Poland had earlier built a fence on the border with Belarus, equipped with electronic protection, to stem an inflow of mostly Middle Eastern and African migrants, who had been invited by Minsk under a false promise of an easy access to the EU. (PAP)

at/jd/
Photo: (Photo : azerbaijan_stockers)

An Arizona woman, identified as Melody Felicano Johnson, has been arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, and adding harmful substances to food, drink, or medicine after allegedly attempting to poison her U.S. Army airman husband.

According to FOX News, the shocking incident came to light when the victim, Roby, noticed a strange taste in his coffee while the family was stationed in Germany in March. He later discovered high levels of chlorine in his coffee after conducting tests using pool testing strips.

Marriage Struggles Amidst Divorce: Troubling Allegations Surface in U.S. Army Airman's Attempted Poisoning Case

According to court documents, Johnson and Roby are in the process of getting a divorce and share a child together. Roby chose to stay silent about his findings while in Germany but took action after they returned to Tucson, Arizona, in late June. He set up a hidden camera in their temporary housing near Davis Monthan Air Force Base to monitor his wife's behavior. The camera allegedly caught her pouring bleach into his coffee.

Despite filing a report with the Tucson Police Department on July 6, no immediate action was taken as the initial video evidence did not conclusively show what liquid was being added to the coffee. This prompted Roby to set up a second camera disguised as a fire alarm. The new footage provided a clear image of Johnson pouring bleach into the coffee machine before brewing, leading to her detention.

Police, upon searching their home, found the coffee machine emitting a bleach odor, and they also discovered a small container in Johnson's personal bathroom that could have contained bleach. The couple had separate bedrooms and bathrooms, as mentioned in court documents.

According to The Guardian, Johnson is currently in jail on a $250,000 bond. The high bail amount was requested because she recently purchased a home in the Philippines, where her family resides. According to local news outlet AZ Family, Roby believes she may have tried to kill him to collect benefits.

This alarming incident sheds light on the importance of vigilance and safety measures, even within personal relationships. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the case, and Johnson will face the charges brought against her in court.

The brewing troubles in their marriage appeared to escalate when Roby started noticing a peculiar taste in his coffee during their stay in Germany. Intrigued and concerned, he conducted tests using pool testing strips, which revealed unusually high levels of chlorine in his coffee. Roby made the decision to be cautious and hold off on confronting his wife as a result of these findings.

The couple's relationship took a dangerous turn as Johnson and Roby were going through a divorce, a circumstance that likely contributed to the escalating tension. Court documents suggested that the couple had separate bedrooms and bathrooms, possibly indicating a deteriorating relationship. Amidst these personal struggles, Johnson was accused of taking sinister actions against her husband.

Upon returning to their home in Tucson, Arizona, in late June, Roby took decisive action and installed hidden cameras in their temporary housing near the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. These covert cameras would serve as a means to observe his wife's behavior and potentially provide evidence of her alleged misdeeds.

According to Sky News, the secret cameras captured footage that appeared to corroborate Roby's suspicions. The video allegedly showed Johnson pouring bleach into the coffee machine before brewing the coffee, effectively attempting to poison her husband. Armed with this compelling evidence, Roby filed a report with the Tucson Police Department on July 6.

However, the initial video evidence did not provide a clear view of what liquid Johnson was adding to the coffee, leading to limited progress in the investigation. Unwilling to give up on seeking justice, Roby decided to set up a second camera, discreetly disguised as a fire alarm.

Read Also: California Dermatologist Arrested Due to Poison Allegations; Documents Show

Lessons in Vigilance and Communication: Case Highlights the Importance of Addressing Relationship Struggles Safely

The second camera proved instrumental in the case, providing a clear and incriminating image of Johnson pouring bleach into the coffee machine. Armed with this additional evidence, Roby returned to the police department on July 18, providing the new footage, which led to Johnson's detention.

Upon conducting a search of their home, the police made additional discoveries that further strengthened the case against Johnson. The coffee machine emitted a distinct bleach odor, and authorities found a small container in Johnson's personal bathroom potentially containing bleach. These findings bolstered the argument that Johnson had indeed attempted to poison her husband.

The severity of the accusations against Johnson prompted a high bail amount of $250,000. The request was partially based on the fact that Johnson recently acquired a property in the Philippines, where her family resides, suggesting potential flight risks.

According to local news outlet AZ Family, Roby believes that Johnson's alleged actions were driven by the desire to collect benefits. The couple's impending divorce and custody arrangements for their child likely contributed to the emotional strain in their relationship.

The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance in personal relationships and the potential dangers that can lurk beneath the surface. Authorities continue to investigate the incident thoroughly, and Johnson will face the charges brought against her in court.

As this chilling case unfolds, it highlights the need for open communication, empathy, and support in relationships, particularly during times of stress and turmoil. Additionally, it underscores the significance of addressing conflicts constructively and seeking appropriate avenues for resolution to prevent tragedies like this from occurring in the future.

Related Article: First-Graders Attempt To Kill Classmate Using Poison, Teacher Intervenes
Photo: (Photo : Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)

A federal appeals court has intervened and halted a rule proposed by the Biden administration that aimed to facilitate student loan debt relief.

This relief is for borrowers who claim to have been deceived by colleges and universities regarding the quality of education they would receive.

The court order comes as a response to a lawsuit filed by the Career Colleges and Schools of Texas, an association representing for-profit higher learning institutions, raising concerns over the broad nature of the rule and its potential infringement on constitutional grounds.

The ruling has sparked a debate over the powers of the Department of Education and its authority to decide on debt relief claims, with the court set to hear further arguments later this year.

Biden Administration's Rule Challenged by For-Profit Colleges

According to ABC, the Biden administration's rule, aimed at addressing the issue of college misinformation, faced a setback on Monday as the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted an injunction against its implementation.

The rule is intended to expand the current policy that forgives the debts of students who attended colleges accused of misleading practices, such as promising employability in their chosen field or misrepresenting potential earnings after graduation.

The Career Colleges and Schools of Texas, representing for-profit higher learning institutions, launched a lawsuit challenging the rule's broad scope, claiming that it could inadvertently include unintentional actions by the colleges.

Moreover, they contended that such sweeping authority granted to the Department of Education raises constitutional concerns as it bestows quasi-judicial powers on an executive branch agency.

Debate over Department of Education's Powers

According to U.S. News, three judges currently serving on the panel in New Orleans include Edith Jones, who was appointed to the court during the presidency of Ronald Reagan, and two individuals, Stuart Kyle Duncan and Cory Wilson, who were nominated by former President Donald Trump.

At the heart of the dispute lies the Department of Education's newfound authority to adjudicate claims for student loan debt relief.

The rule, as proposed by the Biden administration, gives the department the ability to decide whether borrowers deserve relief based on allegations of college misinformation.

This shift has generated concerns among opponents of the rule, who argue that it encroaches upon the separation of powers and places the executive branch in a quasi-judicial role.

Conversely, proponents of the rule assert that the Department of Education's involvement is necessary to protect students from predatory practices at certain institutions.

While the case is still pending in court, the ruling of the appeals court to halt the implementation has brought this contentious issue to the forefront of the national conversation.

Read Also: Texas Judge Grants Temporary Exemption for Complicated Pregnancies under Controversial Abortion Law

Future Prospects and Implications

With the appeals court scheduled to hear further arguments in November, the fate of the Biden administration's student loan relief rule hangs in the balance.

According to The Independent, the ruling in this case will not only determine the applicability of the rule in question but also set a precedent for similar challenges to the Department of Education's authority in the future.

The outcome could have significant implications for both students burdened with college debt and the institutions offering higher education.

Additionally, the ruling will likely spark debates in Congress and among policymakers as they grapple with finding a delicate balance between protecting students from deceptive practices and safeguarding the separation of powers outlined in the Constitution.

Related Article: Florida Amusement Park Horror: Six-Year-Old Injured After Roller Coaster Fall at Fun Spot
Photo: (Photo : Christopher Furlong / Getty Images)

Nearly all the teenagers who were aboard the Idaho YMCA camp bus that tragically crashed on a winding highway have been safely reunited with their families.

The incident, which occurred on Friday afternoon, left the community in shock and concern.

However, as the investigation continues, families find solace in the knowledge that their loved ones are on the path to recovery after the harrowing experience.

A Frightening Journey on an Idaho Highway

CBS previously reported that last week's incident sent shockwaves through the state of Idaho when a school bus transporting campers and staff from Treasure Valley YMCA's summer camp at Horsethief Reservoir rolled over on a picturesque highway.

The bus was carrying around 30 teens, all aged between 13 and 18, who were excitedly making their way back to Boise after a week of memorable experiences at the YMCA summer camp.

The accident resulted in injuries to eleven individuals, with seven in critical condition and four in non-critical condition.

Prompt emergency response from law enforcement and medical agencies ensured the injured were quickly taken to local hospitals for treatment.

Thanks to the efforts of healthcare professionals and the resilience of the young campers, the majority have now been discharged and reunited with their relieved families.

According to ABC, Treasure Valley YMCA President and CEO David Duro expressed gratitude for the community's support during this challenging time.

The YMCA has always been a pillar of support and enrichment for the youth, and this accident has highlighted the importance of safety measures during summer camp transportation.

Read Also: IRS Aims for Complete Paperless Processing By 2025; Taxpayers To Digitally Submit Documents

Safety Measures Under Scrutiny - Seeking Answers

As the community embraces the positive outcome of reuniting families, the focus shifts to understanding the cause of the tragic accident.

Authorities, including the Idaho State Police (ISP), are conducting a thorough investigation in collaboration with the bus company involved.

The safety of school buses transporting children to and from summer camps is of utmost importance, and lessons learned from this incident will be instrumental in enhancing future safety protocols.

According to the Associated Press, the Treasure Valley YMCA's camp at Horsethief Reservoir has been a cherished destination for young campers to engage in various outdoor activities since its establishment in 2010.

The summer camp, located about 35 miles north of the crash site, has been a source of joy, learning, and camaraderie for children in the region.

Through activities like canoeing, archery, and zip-lining, the camp fosters a sense of adventure and personal growth among its participants.

Summer camp sessions at the YMCA cater to kids between grades 2 and 11, and the organization frequently arranges bus transportation to ensure safe and convenient travel for campers.

The cooperation with Caldwell Transportation, the contracted bus service, has been integral to maintaining the seamless operation of summer camps throughout the years.

As the healing process begins for the campers and staff affected by the accident, the YMCA remains committed to providing a secure and nurturing environment for children.

Families of the campers have shown unwavering support and gratitude for the tireless efforts of emergency responders, medical staff, and the YMCA community during this challenging time.

The YMCA's commitment to its mission of nurturing young minds and fostering growth remains unwavering, ensuring that the positive impact of summer camps endures for generations to come.

Related Article: Florida Amusement Park Horror: Six-Year-Old Injured After Roller Coaster Fall at Fun Spot
Photo: (Photo : Chung Sung-Jun / Getty Images)

South Korea is bracing for the imminent arrival of Typhoon Khanun, a tropical storm with winds potentially reaching up to 154 kilometers per hour, which poses a serious threat to the ongoing World Scout Jamboree in the southwestern county of Buan.

With tens of thousands of scouts from 156 countries gathered for this global event, authorities are taking decisive action to evacuate participants from the coastal campsite and ensure their safety.

The World Organization of the Scout Movement has urgently called on South Korea to provide the necessary resources and support during this evacuation process.

Mass Evacuation Efforts Underway for World Scout Jamboree

An approaching typhoon has prompted a large international scout meeting in South Korea to leave their camping grounds prematurely.

This comes just days after intense heat waves caused illness in numerous adolescents and led to criticisms regarding the event's management.

According to CNN, originally, the event was planned to showcase outdoor adventures, cultural displays, sustainability seminars, and various activities for the predominantly middle and high school attendees.

The World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) announced that they had been informed by the South Korean Government of the need for an early exit for all attendees at the 25th World Scout Jamboree, due to the anticipated effects of Typhoon Khanun.

CNN's weather experts predict that the typhoon will strike South Korea by Thursday, bringing with it as much as 150 millimeters (approximately 6 inches) of rain.

South Korea is set to deploy around a thousand buses to facilitate the evacuation of approximately 36,000 scouts from the World Scout Jamboree site.

The country's Ministry of the Interior and Safety has announced that the evacuation process will begin on Tuesday morning.

The scouts, representing a diverse array of nations, will be relocated to various venues in the capital city of Seoul and the nearby metropolitan area.

Officials are working to secure adequate spaces at government training centers and educational facilities to accommodate the large number of participants.

Most scouts are teenagers hailing from 156 nations who gathered at the jamboree site, situated on reclaimed land from the sea.

The United Kingdom constituted the most substantial national group, contributing approximately 4,500 scouts, while the United States sent around 1,000 participants to the global event.

Urgent Appeal by World Scout Organization

In response to the looming threat of Typhoon Khanun, NBC News reported that The World Organization of the Scout Movement has issued an urgent appeal to South Korea to expedite the evacuation process and ensure the safety and well-being of all participants.

The organization calls for the provision of essential resources and support throughout the scouts' stay in South Korea until they can safely return to their home countries.

The swift and efficient evacuation plan is critical to safeguarding the scouts from the approaching storm.

The ongoing World Scout Jamboree has already faced challenges even before the typhoon's approach.

Hot temperatures forced the early departure of numerous British and American scouts, and hundreds of participants have been treated for heat-related ailments.

Critics have previously expressed concerns about holding the jamboree in a vast, treeless area that lacks adequate protection from the summer heat.

Now, with the additional threat of Typhoon Khanun, organizers are working diligently to ensure the safety of all scouts, coordinating the evacuation of over 340 venues in regions near Buan.

Read Also: RSV Protection for Infants: CDC Advisory Committee Recommends Beyfortus Injection

Typhoon Khanun's Impact on Japan

As per the BBC, prior to its approach towards South Korea, Typhoon Khanun had taken an unusual and meandering path around Japan's southwestern islands, causing widespread disruptions and damage.

With the evacuation plan underway, tens of thousands of scouts from around the world will be relocated to safe venues in Seoul and nearby areas.

The World Organization of the Scout Movement has appealed for crucial support during this process.

Meanwhile, Japan continues to grapple with the impacts of the typhoon, with warnings of mudslides and strong winds in affected regions.

The safety and well-being of all scouts remain the top priority during this critical weather event.

Related Article: New Jersey Father Drowns While Rescuing His 3 Kids from Distress in Millstone River
Photo: (Photo : JEFF DEAN / Getty Images)

A former fifth-grade teacher from St. Stanislaus in East Chicago, Indiana, Angelica Carrasquillo, aged 25, has been sentenced to 2 years of probation after pleading guilty to felony intimidation.

The charges stem from her disturbing admission of possessing a "kill list" of students and staff. Carrasquillo's shocking threats came to light when a fifth-grade student reported overhearing her discuss the list and her desire to commit violence.

The court-monitored probation prohibits her from working at any school or daycare during the sentence, while mental health treatment is mandatory. This verdict aims to ensure the safety of students and staff and also offers the possibility of reducing the conviction to a misdemeanor if probation is completed successfully.

A Chilling Admission and Swift Consequences

According to NBC News, Carrasquillo's case came to public attention when she allegedly communicated a threat to commit murder on October 12.

The officials at St. Stanislaus wasted no time in taking action, as they immediately confronted her after learning about the threat. In response, the Diocese of Gary promptly sent a message to parents, reassuring them that the situation was being addressed. Carrasquillo was escorted from the school premises, and the police were involved in the investigation.

According to ABC, during the subsequent inquiry, details emerged about Carrasquillo's troubled mental state and her challenges managing the classroom.

According to school officials, she cited struggles with mental health issues and non-compliant students as contributing factors to her distress.

Additionally, Carrasquillo mentioned enduring past trauma from her high school years. Although she insisted that her threats were merely a joke, the seriousness of the situation could not be overlooked.

Read Also: Florida Amusement Park Horror: Six-Year-Old Injured After Roller Coaster Fall at Fun Spot

Terms of Probation and Commitment to Safety

The plea bargain resulted in Carrasquillo being sentenced to 2 years of probation. This agreement ensures that she will not be allowed to work in any educational institution or daycare facility during her probation period.

Moreover, the court-monitored mental health treatment aims to address and stabilize her mental well-being. Additionally, she is prohibited from contacting the victims involved in the case.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the Diocese of Gary expressed gratitude for the efforts of law enforcement and prosecutors to safeguard children and communities. With enhanced safety protocols in place, the school administration aims for a seamless and joyful start to the new school year.

The case of Angelica Carrasquillo serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing mental health concerns among educators while prioritizing the safety and well-being of students and staff.

Through this probation period, Carrasquillo is presented with an opportunity to seek rehabilitation and overcome the challenges that led to this troubling incident.

Related Article: Federal Court Halts Biden Administration's Student Loan Relief Rule Amid College Misinformation Dispute
This service is a courtesy for our print subscribers to give them access to our online edition at no additional cost. If you haven't registered on the new site, you must do it now before you do anything else.
The browser is the most commonly used program, and there are many ways to increase your security while you surf the Internet. Here we have collected the most important tips for staying safe and secure. Our examples show how to do it in the main browser, Google Chrome, but it works in much the same way in its competitors.

Checking security

Google Chromes Security Check and Privacy Guide tools allow you to quickly check that the browser is secure enough.

HOW? Tap the three dots in the top right and select Settings > Privacy and security. Select the Security control and then Privacy Guide.

Sam Singleton

Clearing data

Our browsers store cookie files that are used, among other things, to personalise advertising. However, this can be deleted.

HOW? Open Privacy and security (as above). Select the Clear browsing data > Basics. Tick what you want to clear, such as browsing history, cookies or files. By default, everything is deleted, but you can also press the Time interval to change it. Confirm with Clear data. To get more options, you can select Advanced. Here you can delete saved passwords and website settings, for example.

Block future cookies 

You can choose to block cookies in the future.

HOW? Open Privacy and security (as above). Select Cookies and other site data and decide what kind of cookies to save. You can also enable Delete cookies and site data when you close all windows and Send a Do Not Track-request with your web traffic. The latter signals that you do not want to be tracked. You can also go to See all site data and permissions to manage individual files.

Sam Singleton

 but add exceptions

Whatever rules you have created, you can add exceptions.

HOW? Open Privacy and security (as above). Select Cookies and other site data and Customized behaviors. Here you can add sites that are always (or never) allowed to use cookies.

Search more safely

Google Chrome has a feature called Safe Browsing that warns you if, for example, you visit malicious websites or download dangerous programs.

HOW? Open Privacy and security (as above). Select Security and set the level of protection. You can also go to Advanced and make more settings.

Changing rights

Different sites may be authorized to use your camera and location data, for example. You can change this afterwards.

HOW? Open up Privacy and security (as above). Select the Site settings and click on what you want to adjust.

Control your privacy

All Google services use the same login account, which stores a lot of information about you. But you can control what.

HOW? Open your Google Account by going to myaccount.google.com and log in. Go to Data and privacy and select Privacy Checkup. Go through the wizard and choose which options you want to select. For better control, you can instead select Data and privacy > Your data & privacy options. Here you can see what you have done and enable or disable different features.

Further reading: 5 free privacy tools for protecting your personal data

Sam Singleton

Securing your passwords

Given how much sensitive information is accessed through your Google account, its important to have a secure password. You can also increase security with something called two-step verification. This means that its not enough to have access to a password to sign in on a new device, you also need to confirm the login with your mobile phone.

HOW? Open Google Account (as above). Select the Security and tap on Password if you want to change it. You can also tap Two-step verification and follow the instructions to increase security.

To ensure that you can always access your Google account, it is important that you have entered the correct recovery information. These are phone numbers and email addresses that can restore control to your account if something happens. Make sure this information is correct!

HOW? Open Google Account (as above). Select Security and tap Recovery phone and Recovery email to check and update them.

Open the Ad Center

Of course, one important thing is to control your adverts in Google. You can do this in your companys Ad Center.

HOW? Open your Google Account (as above). Select the Data and privacy and scroll down to Personalized Ads. Here you can choose in different ways what information will be used in your personalized ads.

Sam Singleton

This article was translated from Swedish to English, and originally appeared on PCforAlla.se.
The Department of Economics and Hospitality Studies under the School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (SOLASS) of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) has introduced some innovative Masters Degree programmes to train economists to support the economic transformation of African countries.



Out of the four new programmes, three have a 12-month duration period while one has 24-month, equivalent to two years.



They include an MSc in Financial Economics, MSc in Energy Economics, and MSc in Economic Policy. The two-year programme is an MPhil in Economics.



The programmes have been running for over five years now and the fifth Cohort will be graduating this year 2023.



The admission process for the 2023/2024 academic year has been opened for the MSc. Financial Economics, MSc. Energy Economics, MSc. Economic Policy and MPhil in Economics.



The Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration(GIMPA) is a public co-educational university spread over four campuses in Accra, Kumasi, Tema and Takoradi.



According to the Management of SOLASS, the Department of Economics and Hospitality Studies has the most experienced economists who served as Lecturers for the running of the various Economic Masters Degree Programmes.



Subsequently, students who participate in these programmes are well prepared to become problem solvers.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
The National Youth Wing and the entire NPP express warm regards and support to all students participating in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) this academic year. As a political organization dedicated to the wellbeing and advancement of the Ghanaian youth, we understand the significance of education as the fundamental basis for a brighter future for our nation.



The BECE represents a critical milestone in the educational journey of every Ghanaian student. It signifies not only an evaluation of their knowledge and abilities; but also an opportunity to demonstrate their determination and potential for excellence. We have faith in the capabilities of the youth, and through this press release, we encourage them to approach the examination with confidence and resilience.



Education has always been a top priority for the NPP National Youth Wing. We acknowledge the transformative power of knowledge in individual lives and national progress. Consequently, we consistently advocate for policies and initiatives that aim to enhance educational quality, invest in infrastructure, improve teacher competency, and provide equal opportunities for all Ghanaian students.



Our Youth Wing acknowledges the tremendous effort and sacrifice that students, parents, and teachers have made in preparing for the BECE. We commend your dedication and applaud your hard work. Remember that this examination is an opportunity to showcase your abilities and shine brightly. Believe in yourself and have confidence in the knowledge and skills you have acquired throughout your educational journey.



As a National Youth Wing, we assure all students that we stand by them and offer our support during this crucial period. Our party remains steadfast in advocating for policies that create a conducive environment for comprehensive education reforms, including access to quality education and career guidance for the youth. The Free SHS and TVET/COTVET policies are life-changing for the Ghanaian student that we urge them to work hard and benefit from.



On behalf of the National Youth Wing and the entire party, we send our best wishes to all students taking the BECE. May you excel in your examinations, and may your efforts lead to success as you continue to progress in your educational pursuits. Remember, success goes beyond the results of this examination and encompasses a lifelong journey of personal growth and improvement.

Source: Salam Mustaph - NPP National Youth Organizer









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
China ramps up restoration works in flood-affected northern regions

Xinhua) 08:12, August 08, 2023

Rescuers perform drainage operation in downtown Zhuozhou, north China's Hebei Province, on Aug. 7, 2023. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

SHIJIAZHUANG/BEIJING, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- As floodwaters recede in north China's Hebei Province and Beijing, the disaster relief efforts in the regions are transitioning from emergency rescue and evacuation to recovery, aimed at restoring normalcy to people's lives at the earliest.

In Zhuozhou City, one of the worst-affected areas in Hebei, previously relocated residents have begun to return home, local authorities said Sunday.

Residents, volunteers and rescue personnel are actively involved in dredging, disinfection, and drainage works to repair the damage in affected communities.

As of Monday morning, electricity has been restored in 93 residential communities in Zhuozhou, with over 90 percent of the main urban zone's neighborhoods having their power supply reinstated, according to the State Grid Zhuozhou Electric Power Supply Company.

A total of 1,470 road sections in the province that were previously cut off by flooding have been reopened as of 6 p.m. on Sunday. This was achieved through the installation of emergency bridges and the opening of temporary roads, ensuring seamless transportation for relief personnel and supplies, according to the Hebei Provincial Department of Transportation.

The department has intensified inspections at road sections that remain partially accessible, promptly clearing debris on slopes, handling road collapses, and mitigating potential hazards.

To minimize agricultural losses, the province is conducting a detailed survey and assessment of the extent of crop, livestock and aquaculture damages in the flood-affected areas, according to the Hebei Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

Zhao Xiaoming, the person in charge of a family farm in Hebei's Anping County, said he can finally breathe a sigh of relief seeing the water level in the fields significantly decreasing. "The government provided us with water pumping equipment, which helped save our crops for this year."

Over 460 water pumps have been deployed across affected farmlands in Anping for drainage operations. A team of specialists has offered on-site guidance for disease and pest control and crop replanting.

In Handan City, an animal disinfection team has undertaken the task of gathering deceased chickens from a poultry farm. These carcasses were then carefully transported to a dedicated facility, where they undergo safe and professional disposal.

In the Chinese capital of Beijing, a total of over 440 km of rural roads in the nine towns of the suburban Mentougou District, which was heavily battered by rain early last week, had been reopened as of 10 p.m. Sunday, according to the district government.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Press Release

August 8, 2023 NANCY FILES BILL TO STRENGTHEN STANDARDS OF CREATION, CHANGING OFFICIAL SEALS AND LOGOS IN GOV'T Senator Nancy Binay is pushing for a bill to strengthen and strictly enforce the standards for the creation and changing of official seals and logos in government. "Hindi po basta basta ang rebranding at ang pagbabago ng logo. We need to ensure that official seals and logos convey national ideals and traditions that express the principles of sovereignty and national solidarity," Binay said. Senator Binay filed S.B. No. 2384 which seeks to amend Republic Act No. 8491 and strengthen the rules on the creation, modification, and registration of official seals and other heraldic items and devices of government entities. Binay cited the apparent trend of unilaterally changing seals/logos of government agencies like the Bangko Sentral's gold Philippine Eagle, and the new logo for the state-owned Philippine Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) which sparked controversy and cast the agencies involved in a negative light. "Nitong mga nakaraang araw, parang sunod sunod ang rebranding o pagpapalit ng logo ng mga ahensya ng pamahalaan. While I am sure na may ginawa naman silang mga pag-aaral ukol dito, maganda din sigurong maging permanenteng bahagi ang NHCP sa proseso ng redesign para masigurong akma at nasa ayos ang logo ng ahensya ng pamahalaan," Binay said. Under the proposed bill, any government entity, including the military, may adopt appropriate coat-of-arms, administrative seals, logo, insignia, badges, patches, banners and initiate awards, citations, orders or decorations, as may be authorized by the Congress or the Office of the President, subject to the approval and recommendation of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP). ISLANDS, SCHOOLS AND LEGAL TENDERS Binay likewise wanted designs made in the legal tender should first be cleared and approved by the NHCP, and concurred by Congress before being released for circulation. "Tinanggal na natin ang mga bayani sa ating pera. Parang sinasabi nating 'our martyrs and heroes are no longer worth our money'. 'Yung design ng pera hindi dapat BSP o Malacanang lang ang magde-decide. 'Yung magpalit nga ng name ng school at kalsada kailangan may congressional imprimatur at NHCP approval dahil meron 'yan relevance at implications sa culture at history, and there's a higher purpose than just having the names changed. Ganyan din sa ating legal tender--there's a higher purpose to what image or content should be printed on notes and coins," Binay pointed out. She added that the NHCP is responsible for the conservation and preservation of the country's historical legacies that even natural features such as islands, rivers, seas, oceans, mountains, plains are not supposed to be changed or renamed by a mere local ordinance or resolution, unless these are being reverted to their old indigenous names. "In a practical sense, official seals and logos are an important means of identifying a particular government agency and of recognizing the duties they perform," she said. "They are a means of strengthening people's nationalism, love of country, and pride for people's accomplishments," Binay added.
With sadness, I recently said goodbye to a dear friend, Veronica Hogle. Many readers will recognize the name, as she was a prolific contributor to My View over the decades.

She said goodbye before she wanted to. She had future plans and was not quite ready. There was more writing inside of her. However, she accepted with dignity the days the Author of Life had allotted to her.

Veronica introduced me to My View and encouraged me to submit writing to the column. Through her encouragement and positive critique, I followed her suggestion and became a published author. One of the tools she used for mentoring was her leadership role in the Downtown Toastmasters Club. Through her inspiration, I became a competent Silver Toastmaster.

She was the hostess with the mostest. At one of her parties, I met and eventually became good friends with Jackie, a friend of Veronica. She and I continued our friendship with Veronica throughout her days in assisted living, until her last day on earth.

One of her get-togethers wasnt a party. It was a gathering of her friends in her North Buffalo home to watch the funeral service for her first-born child, a son. Veronica, as a young woman in Ireland, had to give her baby up for adoption. Fortunately, the laws on closed adoptions were changed and Veronica was able to locate her grown son. She returned to Ireland to meet him. With grief, she then had to say goodbye to him.

Veronicas future plans were to reach out to other women who also experienced the heartbreak of giving up a child up for adoption.

Veronica had a collection of handmade lace and lace-trimmed christening dresses from Ireland. She declared, Lace making is a lost art! She shared this love with various audiences in WNY. She didnt just talk about lace, she would iron the gowns and dress lifelike dolls for the presentations.

Veronicas interests were not limited. Hanging out with Veronica meant new experiences. After my friend Peggy and I accompanied Veronica to a French club event, Peggy was inspired to study the language and enrolled at ECC.

Jackie and I had many heart-to-heart talks with Veronica, and often spoke of our faith in God. Sometimes faith seems so far from ones innermost being, yet the desire is to bring it in. I recall a recent visit when Veronica asked me a faith question. I told her I didnt have the answer and encouraged her to pray about it. She did, right then and there. As she prayed, it seemed like her prayer was reeling in the faith for which she yearned.

During my final visit with Veronica, her voice was barely audible, yet her facial features and body language spoke tenderly. As I was massaging her hands and arms, memories of our times together were foremost in my mind. Our past experiences came alive during our visit, and we closed with prayer. As I held her hands, there was a sweet understanding and acceptance. She would be meeting the Author of Life, and they would be celebrating.

At the time of her passing, Veronica was surrounded by her three children: Brian, Jill and Lisa, as well as Jackie (via the phone).

Life on earth goes on. Ill continue in my friendship with Jackie and we will remember Veronica together. As for this essay, I wonder, who will critique it for me?
Richard Branson, one of the world's most successful entrepreneurs once said, "Entrepreneurs are the dreamers who dare to challenge the status quo and transform the world.



This quote encapsulates the essence of my explorations discourse.



Ghana, a vibrant West African nation, is at a critical juncture in its developmental journey.



The country's economic landscape is undergoing a transformation, driven by a confluence of factors, such as progressive developmental strategies, the increasing importance of entrepreneurship education and the emergence of innovative business models.



According to the World Bank, Ghana's GDP has seen a steady growth rate of approximately 6.5 per cent in the past five years, a testament to its burgeoning economy.



However, to sustain this growth and ensure it translates into comprehensive development, there is a need to focus on entrepreneurship education.



A study by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) revealed that countries with a strong focus on entrepreneurship education tend to have a higher rate of start-up success, job creation and economic resilience.



In the context of Ghana, entrepreneurship education has the potential to empower individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to create innovative enterprises.



These enterprises, in turn, can contribute to sustainable growth by addressing local challenges, creating jobs and driving economic diversification.



For instance, the rise of digital start-ups in Accra, Ghana's capital, has not only boosted the local economy but also provided solutions to everyday challenges, from health care to agriculture; evidence depicting that the power of entrepreneurship education and innovative enterprises cannot be underestimated in fostering sustainable growth in Ghana.



It is the key to unlocking the nation's potential and propelling it towards a prosperous future.



Impact developmental strategies

Ghana has been the beneficiary of numerous developmental strategies aimed at enhancing the living standards of its citizens and promoting economic growth.



For instance, the World Bank Group has been actively assisting Ghana in maintaining economic growth and exceeding its poverty reduction targets.



The government has also initiated strategies to transform the country into a significant Meeting, Incentive, Conference, & Exhibition (MICE) hub.



Furthermore, initiatives like the Ghana Commercial Agriculture Project (GCAP) and the Sustainable Development of Rain-fed Lowland Rice Production Project are making significant contributions to the agricultural sector.



These strategies, along with others, are laying the groundwork for the systematic development of the state capital and surrounding areas, akin to the swift modernisation observed in China.



Ghana has been the beneficiary of numerous developmental strategies aimed at enhancing the living standards of its citizens and promoting economic growth.



For instance, the World Bank Group has been actively assisting Ghana in maintaining economic growth and exceeding its poverty reduction targets.



Over the past 30 years, real GDP in Ghana has more than quadrupled, and in 2011 the country joined the ranks of Lower Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).



According to the World Bank report, GDP per capita grew by an average of three per cent per year over the past two decades, putting Ghana in the top 10 fastest-growing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).



The government has also initiated strategies to transform the country into a significant Meeting, Incentive, Conference, & Exhibition (MICE) hub.



In addition, the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) has been playing a crucial role in the country's economic development.



The MIIF manages the equity interests of Ghana in mining companies and receives mineral royalties on behalf of the government.



These revenues are then used to fund key developmental projects, including infrastructure, education and health care, contributing to the overall economic growth and improvement of living standards in the country.



Furthermore, initiatives like the Ghana Commercial Agriculture Project (GCAP) and the Sustainable Development of Rain-fed Lowland Rice Production Project are making significant contributions to the agricultural sector.



The GCAP, supported by the World Bank, has been instrumental in promoting commercial farming and improving agricultural productivity.



It has helped to increase access to reliable water sources, improve agricultural practices, and strengthen market linkages, thereby boosting the incomes of smallholder farmers and contributing to food security in the country.



Another key initiative is the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NEIP), which aims to provide integrated national support for start-ups and small businesses.



NEIP primarily focuses on providing business development services; startup incubators and accelerators; funding for youth-owned businesses; and an innovation competition to unearth more innovative businesses.



The NEIP has so far trained over 7000 startups and small businesses and provided funding for over 500 businesses.



These strategies, along with others, are laying the groundwork for the systematic development of the state capital and surrounding areas, akin to the swift modernisation observed in China.



The success of these initiatives is a testament to the potential of strategic planning and targeted investment in driving sustainable growth and development.



Diagram 1: Impact of Ghanas developmental strategies by the writer



Significance entrepreneurial education

The Bilaad Development Trust has advocated for increased investment in education and entrepreneurship to tackle the high levels of poverty and unemployment in the country.



Entrepreneurial education is gaining momentum in Ghana, with a focus on training and financing for the small enterprise sector, which makes up 92 per cent of all businesses.



Institutions, such as the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), have established entrepreneurship clinics to equip students with the necessary skills to establish their businesses.



This approach is viewed as a means of alleviating the government's burden of providing jobs to the multitude of unemployed graduates.



Emerging ieas, economic trends

Despite fluctuations in Ghana's economy, with GDP growth expected to decelerate in 2023 due to rising consumer prices and monetary tightening, innovative business ideas are thriving in the country.



Profitable ventures range from taxi businesses, catering services, and poultry farming, to more tech-oriented solutions such as mobile money agents.



The Bank of Ghana's anticipated sale of $120 million to Bulk Oil Distribution Companies (BDCs) is another significant economic event that could stimulate business opportunities in the oil and gas sector.



Confluence

The amalgamation of developmental strategies, entrepreneurial education, and innovative business ideas is the driving force behind sustainable development in Ghana.



Entrepreneurial education, a cornerstone of this confluence, plays a pivotal role in nurturing innovative business ideas, which in turn contribute significantly to development initiatives.



Simultaneously, these development initiatives create a conducive environment for entrepreneurship to flourish, thereby fostering a cycle of innovation and growth.



One of the key developmental strategies in Ghana is the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF).



Under the leadership of the Business Development Director, MIIF, Dr Kennedy Abrokwa, has been instrumental in maximising the value of dividend and royalties income accruing to the Republic of Ghana in a beneficial, accountable and sustainable manner.



MIIF's strategy of building a highly diversified portfolio across varied asset classes and asset types for consistent returns through uncertain market cycles is a testament to the innovative business ideas at play in the developmental strategies.



On the government front, the Ghanaian government has launched the Ghana CARES Obaatampa programme, a bold, ambitious and novel initiative aimed at stabilising and revitalising the economy following the COVID-19 pandemic.



This programme is expected to accelerate Ghana's entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem, thereby fostering sustainable growth.



The programme's focus on entrepreneurial education and innovative business ideas is a clear demonstration of the confluence of these elements in driving development.



The Ghana Private Sector Competitiveness Programme is bolstering the business environment and SME competitiveness.



Educational institutions, such as the Centre for Sustainable Transformation (CeST), are emphasising Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) to prepare communities for a sustainable future.



Additionally, citizens are actively participating in sustainable growth initiatives, including a citizen science initiative that monitors progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Ghana, contributing to the country's sustainable development.



Ghana's journey towards sustainable development is a testament to the synergy of developmental strategies, entrepreneurial education and innovative business ideas.



This progress requires the combined efforts of the government, private sector, educational institutions and the public.



The success of initiatives such as MIIF and NEIP, bolstered by contributions from various sectors, underscores the effectiveness of this approach and offers a blueprint for sustained growth.



Charting course

The success of the MIIF, the Ghana CARES Obaatampa program, the Ghana Private Sector Competitiveness Programme, and the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NEIP) exemplify the potential of this approach.



They provide a roadmap for progress, demonstrating the power of collaboration between the government, private sector, educational institutions and the citizenry.



Sustainable growth in Ghana is not merely an economic goal; it's a holistic vision encompassing improved living standards, environmental sustainability and opportunities for all citizens.



As Ghana continues this path, it does so with the understanding that the power to shape its future lies within its entrepreneurs, innovators and people



In conclusion, Ghana's journey towards sustainable growth is a confluence of development, entrepreneurial education and business innovation.



It's a journey that requires vision, courage and collective effort.



As Ghana strides forward, it does so with the conviction that it is well on its way to a prosperous and sustainable future.







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.

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From September this year, residents of Accra and selected parts of the country do not have to own a cylinder to use gas.



Gas users only have to pick filled up cylinders and pay for the content, the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), after registering with their National Identity Card.



This is due to the phased implementation of the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM) being championed by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and its partners, under the supervision of the Ministry of Energy.



The rollout will begin in Accra and Kumasi next month and gradually spread across the country.



At a press briefing last Thursday, a Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the NPA, Perry Okudzeto, explained that the model had been well piloted, the system streamlined and the infrastructure was now in place to ensure the safe delivery and use of LPG across the operational areas.



As part of this, the NPA commissioned a pilot programme with the existing infrastructure.



The pilot programme was done in the Eastern Region around the Kwaebibrem (Kade) area in the Ashanti Region within the Obuasi Zone and then in the Northern Region in the Yendi Zone, he said.



The programme taught us quite a number of lessons and that has gone into shaping the framework for the implementation of the new policy, Mr Okudzeto added.



The Deputy NPA Chief Executive explained that the registration with the Ghana Card at the exchange points was important to collect data on consumers for traceability.



How CRM works

Ahead of the implementation in September, he said, four CRM Bottling facilities  GOIL Bottling Plant in Tema and Kumasi, as well the BlueOcean and Newgas facilities were ready to take off.



Also ready for the rollout are APPEB Cylinder Manufacturing Company in Awutu Senya, SIGMA Cylinder Manufacturing Company in Accra and the Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company at Spintex, which would be producing the cylinders to be distributed nationwide.



Per the CRM policy, cylinders procured from manufacturing companies would be sent to bottling plants to be filled.



Some officers of the NPA inspecting a cylinder manufacturing plant



The filled cylinders will be transported in bulk to exchange depots for holding and sorting before transporting them in quantities to cylinder exchange points where consumers can register and pay for any quantity for domestic and commercial consumption.



Specialised trucks will be used to transport the filled cylinders from the bottling plants to the retail stations or exchange points, where consumers will exchange their empty cylinders for filled up ones.





The CRM is to ensure that at least 50 per cent of Ghanaians have access to safe, clean and environmentally-friendly LPG by 2030.



It is also meant to improve access to LPG, improve safety in the distribution of LPG and to increase adoption of LPG.



Additionally, it is a policy shift to stop the unnecessary loss of lives and property, as well as gas filling stations, mostly due to human error.



So far, since 2017, the first step has been to construct bottling plants that will be the main pivot around which the policy will operate, since under the new policy, cylinders are going to be filled with LPG and sent to exchange points for distribution, Mr Okudzeto stated.



Pricing

The NPA deputy chief executive stressed that the model would not affect the price of LPG.



We are still going to use the same price build-up for the implementation of the policy.



What is going to change is the distribution network and how you access LPG.



Nothing in the price build-up is going to change, Mr Okudzeto stated.



The CRM policy will have various sizes of cylinders displayed at the exchange points to enable consumers to buy any amount they could afford.



Mr Okudzeto said consumers would also not bear the responsibility for fixing faulty cylinders, adding all we need from you is the Ghana Card and money to buy the LPG.



Transition, engagements

The deputy chief executive further explained that the existing distribution module would continue to run alongside the model until a suitable timeline was agreed upon by all stakeholders for the withdrawal of the old system.



We are still discussing the transition period.



Some people prefer 10 years, others want seven years, while some want five years.



There are varied views but the authority is looking at what is practical, Mr Okudzeto stated.



We are trying to accommodate everybodys concern so that we can roll out smoothly.



Since we are going to run both policies side-by-side theres the bulk load players and the new business for cylinder transportation until we find a suitable time for the transition, he said.



Mr Okudzeto said all industry players had been engaged, their ideas had been taken on board and the framework had been designed with their inputs.



He said the industry players were ready to offer their support to ensure the success of the project.



This is a policy that started in 2013, so players in this industry are very much aware of everything we are doing, he said.



Under this government alone, its been seven years of engagement, he insisted, recounting the committee of 50 people, including LPG Marketing Companies (LPGMCs).



The NPA, Mr Okudzeto said, had also engaged the banks through their umbrella body, the Ghana Association of Bankers, for the role they would play in financing the investment by various actors.



This we did because our industry mainly survives on finance and the engagement was to brief the banks on where we are in the implementation of the policy and what kind of support the industry and petroleum service providers require from the banks, he explained further.



Licensing

Henceforth, the NPA will be moving to the next stage of licensing businesses to start marketing LPG on the new policy.



The NPA later led the media for a guided tour of the facilities at the GOIL Cylinder Recirculation Facility, a bottling company at Tema, and the Sigma Cylinder Manufacturing Company in Accra, where production was ongoing, to ascertain how ready the NPA was to roll out the project.



Also at the press briefing were the Director, Policy at the NPA, Dr Sheila Addo; the Director Corporate Affairs, Mariam Oquaye, and the Communications Manager, Mohammed Abdul Kudus, among others.

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.

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Businessman and renowned entrepreneur Dr Kofi Amoah was on Saturday, August 5 honoured at the prestigious Tech EMINENCE Awards held at the Accra Technical University auditorium.



Dr Amoah, popularly known as Citizen Kofi, was honoured for his contribution to technical and vocational education.



The event coincided with this years graduation ceremony for students who have successfully completed their studies.



Addressing faculty members and the graduating class of 2023, Dr Amoah stressed that the pivotal role that technical and vocational education plays in shaping the future must be recognised.



Speaking on the theme Promoting Technical and Vocational Education for National Industrialisation, the business magnate underscored how TVET, among others, bridges the gap between theory and practice.



It emphasises experimental learning, allowing students to gain hands-on experience through internships, apprenticeships, and practical training, he told the gathering including faculty members.



This practical exposure not only enhances their skills and knowledge but also instills in them a sense of responsibility, discipline, and work ethic.



These qualities are invaluable in the professional world, where success is often determined by ones ability to apply knowledge effectively.



He, however, noted that the benefits of TVET can only be fully realised through collaboration and synergy.



It is the collective responsibility of the government, educational institutions, industries, and society at large to create an ecosystem that nurtures technical education.



Dr Amoah, therefore, called for investment into state-of-the-art infrastrutucre, for instance, and update curricula to align with industry needs in order to make the most from TVET.



Outstanding students of the various technical universities were honoured at the awards event.

Source: 3news.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Stanbic Bank Ghana has supported the 1991-year group of Ghana Military Academy (GMA) Regular Career Courses (RCC) 30th-anniversary celebrations with a sum of Ninety-Nine Thousand Ghana Cedis (USD 8,500.0). The cash received will be used to purchase One (1) portable Ventilator for the Medical Emergency Unit of the 37 Military Hospital.



At a brief ceremony to present the cheque to the officers, Mawuko Afadzinu, Head of Brand and Marketing at Stanbic Bank, shared that the donation is in line with the Banks unwavering commitment to supporting better health outcomes for the people of Ghana by financing healthcare providers, health infrastructure & equipment, and investing in health-focused CSI programmes. He said;



Stanbic is a bank that deeply cares about the health of people in the communities we operate. Our decision to support this project came naturally to us because we saw an opportunity to come together once again to touch a very important need area, (Health) although these are not the kindest of times for banks. We chose to fund the cost of the mechanical ventilator because we know it will help the emergency unit deliver quality care and ultimately save lives.



The Base Commander, AFB, Accra, Air Commodore Eric Agyen-Frempong, received the cheque on behalf of the group and thanked Stanbic for their support.



He noted that As part of our 30th-anniversary celebrations, we decided to give back to the 37 Military Hospital and accordingly rolled out a one-year fundraising project to solicit funds to fix old machines in the Medical Emergency Unit and buy new equipment as well. We are very grateful to Stanbic Bank for positively responding to our call and contributing to the success of this project.



Stanbic Bank Ghana has over the years embarked on numerous corporate social initiatives to drive national growth and ensure a better world for all. In 2020, Stanbic Bank donated COVID-19 items to three healthcare institutions to help in their fight against the pandemic. The institutions were Ghana Health Service (GHS), the Cardiothoracic Unit of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and the 37 Military Hospital.



The GHS got 5,568 units of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test kits, 5,504 units of Nucleic acid (RNA) extraction kits, and an Autopure 32A-Nucleic Acid Purification System  all valued at upward of 100,000 dollars. The Cardio Unit and 37 Hospital each received 200 Personal Protection Equipment (PPEs) for their frontline staff.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam Nartey George, has dared the Executive Council of the Ghana Real Estate Developers, after their threats to seek legal redress if the MP fails to render apology and retract comments he made about corruption in the association.



Sam George, while speaking to Joynews suggested that the real sector business in Ghana is an enterprise for money laundering, a comment which the association didnt take lightly.



According to the association, the MPs comment denigrates the profession and is an affront to their hard work.



They therefore demanded an immediate unqualified apology and retraction of the statements within 7 days from July 25th, 2023; the date stated in their press release.



Sam George who reacted indicating that he is in no position to apologise, also noted that he stands by his words.



Weeks on, Sam George has challenged the association and asked how he is still not in court despite their threats.



Im still waiting. Ebo Bonful and his people, its been more than 7 days you said you would send me to court, Im still waiting. Whether court or privileges committee so that I will expose you and the rot that is going on there, since you people want to fight me, he said.



Sam George made these comments while touching on matters regarding the Saglemi Housing Project on TV3.



Sam George sought to suggest that any contractor who may want to take up the project under the current Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government must be thoroughly investigated to ensure monies are used as apportioned for the project.



I have spoken about rot in real estate and dont forget we have ministers of state with millions of monies in their houses, they need to clean the money.

Any real estate developer who says he is going to take over Saglemi, well develop the money, Sam George further noted.







Source: ghanaweb.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Dr. Gideon Boako, the Spokesperson for Vice President Dr. Bawumia, has showered praises on the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo over his behavior towards the New Patriotic Party's impending internal elections.



The New Patriotic Party(NPP) will on August 26 hold a Special Delegates Conference to elect five out of ten candidates vying for the party's flagbearer position and on November 4, go into their main presidential election.



The ten candidates include; Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, former Trade Minister, Alan Kyerematen; former Agriculture Minister, Dr. Owusu Afriyie-Akoto; Assin Central MP, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong; former Attorney General, Joe Ghartey; former NPP General Secretary, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong and a host of others.



Speaking on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, Dr. Gideon Boako touted President Akufo-Addo as the only President in Ghana's history whose actions haven't interfered with political party internal elections.



He expounded that the President has made no decision that negatively impacts the NPP conference, stressing, "President Akufo-Addo has conducted himself very well than all other Presidents who have supervised internal elections in their parties. I'm saying this without any fear of anything".





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A York County company has opened a massive distribution center in Illinois.

Operations began at a new 1-million-square-foot warehouse for Wolf Home Products on Monday at 30350 S. Graaskamp Blvd. in Wilmington, Illinois.

The York-based company said that the warehouse is designed to create efficiencies and better serve customers across the Midwest.

The company said that the facility will support its national growth strategies while serving the Midwest region including western Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

The new warehouse is the companys largest distribution center in the United States. The warehouse will store various building, kitchen and bath products.

The facility will also be home to an employee and product training center and office spaces.

This is a milestone day for us  we couldnt be more excited about the opening of this facility, and the increased efficiencies it creates to allow us to better service our customers, Craig Danielson, CEO of Wolf Home Products, said in a news release. With multiple capabilities and offerings under one roof, this expansive warehouse signifies our commitment of delivering high-quality building products and fostering business growth for our customers and suppliers in Midwestern market.

The warehouse is expected to be fully operational by January 1.

Recent owners of Wolf Home Products
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The Lebanon County Detective Bureau on Monday arrested and charged a man with child sexual abuse.

Steve Jacobs, 37, has been charged with multiple counts of Rape of a Child, Statutory Sexual Assault, Aggravated Indecent Assault, Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child for his years-long abuse of two small children.

According to a press release sent out by the county district attorneys office, Victim 1 reported that Jacobs assaulted her between the ages 6 and 10 while Victim 2 reported that Jacobs assaulted her between the ages 9 and 12. Both were assaulted daily in their residences, the release said.

Jacobs was arraigned by Magisterial District Justice Kim Wolfe, who set bail at $250,000 for each victim.

District Attorney Pier Hess Graf in the release praised the county Detective Bureau, especially the work of Det. David Shaffer, for the investigation that led to the arrest of Jacobs.

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'
Taylor Swifts Eras tour is causing quite a stir among fans.

But one particular fan is blowing the whistle after spending $1,400 on tour seats sold by StubHub, only to be told that the tickets didnt exist, according to reports from NBC Los Angeles.

The trickery began when a California woman named Stefanie Klein purchased the pricey tickets for her daughter to see the tour and bought the in-demand tickets on StubHub. But in a surprising twist, StubHub later reached out to Klein to inform her that the seller shed purchased from didnt actually have the tickets, according to reports.

StubHub has a Fan Protection Guarantee, which promises a full refund plus 200% of their ticket purchase price if fans are misled by fake sellers. Due to that policy, Klein was confident shed get a full refund in no time.

But that wasnt the case, as Klein went through what seemed like never-ending stress as soon as she found out what happened. Klein repeatedly called the website but received no help to remedy the issue.

As it turns out, the protection guarantee did not protect Klein, according to reports.

This Fan Protect Guarantee did not protect me, Klein told NBC Los Angeles. I was given reason after reason, excuse after excuse after excuse. Theres nothing else I could get from customer service. I couldnt keep calling. It was actually giving me high blood pressure, I couldnt do it anymore. I couldnt spend my precious time arguing and arguing over and over again.

When NBC contacted StubHub to investigate the issue, Klein was offered a refund immediately. Right now, its unclear how many other fans are struggling with similar issues after theyd been tricked as well.

The moral of the story: buyer beware.

As of last week, more concert dates have been added to the tour. The Eras tour kicked off in March in Glendale, Arizona, and was initially set to end on Aug. 17, 2024, in London, The Independent reported.

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News / Local

by Staff reporter

CITIZENS Coalition of Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa has told his supporters to avenge the death of slain supporter Tinashe Chitsunge by voting out Zanu-PF in the August 23 elections.He said the CCC could easily take the violence route, but has chosen the peaceful route of fighting in the ballot box for the sake of the country.Nelson Chamisa has told his supporters to avenge the death of slain supporter Tinashe Chitsunge by voting out Zanu-PF in the August 23 elections.Chitsunge was stoned to death on Thursday last week while fleeing from a Zanu-PF mob in Glen View 7, Harare, in an incident which has thrust Zimbabwe's polls in the global limelight.Speaking at Chitsunge's funeral wake in Glen View yesterday, while offering his condolences to the deceased's family, Chamisa said Chitsunge's life should be avenged by votingZanu-PF out of office.People affected by violent attacks include CCC candidates contesting council seats in rural wards. They say people with links to the ruling party have been visiting their homes and threatening the residents."Tinashe haana kufira mahara (Tinashe did not die in vain) ... It pains us to [offer] condolences when we know it doesn't bring him back. Hatina bakatwa, uta nemuseve [We don't have any weapons], what we only have are Bible verses and the word of God. The only weapon we have is peace to bring down Zanu-PF and show them that it is possible to remain peaceful in a country."We don't want people who separate others. We unite people. Extreme provocation is done by Zanu-PF. They block us everywhere we go. Hatisikuti hatina mangoromera, tinawo akawandisa [We are not saying we cannot fight back], but we choose peace because when they invest in violence, we invest in peace," Chamisa said.He said President Emmerson Mnangagwa was not the right leader for the country due to his failure to offer condolences to the Chitsunge family.Nelson Chamisa, has claimed some of its members are staying away from their homes after a wave of violence allegedly meted out by President Emmerson Mnangagwa's governing Zanu-PF party in some parts of the country."Let us teach Zanu-PF the example of love and give them a template of peace. They are provoking us and we do not provoke them. We can deal with Zanu-PF if we want to, but we have not taken that route ... we said this party is a peace-loving party," he said.Chamisa added that Zanu-PF's days of violence were numbered and time to change the narrative was beckoning."Zanu-PF knows there is nothing for them anymore. That is why they are frog-marching people to their rallies."People of Zimbabwe are oppressed, they are yet to be freed. You can't be in a country where you force people to support a political party and you then kill people for supporting an alternative party as they did to Tinashe," Chamisa added.Swaziland's opposition People's United Democratic Movement leader Mlungisi Makhanya joined CCC members and supporters to offer condolences to the Chitsunge family.The violence, if not nipped in the bud, will spread across the country, according to CCC deputy spokesperson Gift "Ostallos" Siziba"Let us not let the blood of Tinashe be spilt in vain; come out in numbers on August 23 and vote for change. Bring relatives and friends to play as a befitting win for Tinashe," he said.Chitsunge is survived by his wife Dzidzisai and two children Shanell (11) and Shawn (4).He will be buried today at his rural home in Buhera.
Theres an oceanfront lot for sale in Stone Harbor, New Jersey, that could set a record for the highest amount ever if it gets the $14 million asking price.

And listing agent Steve Frame says it will. It already has three offers after less than a week on the market.

Were working through some diligence. Well see what happens. Its getting a lot of activity, he said.

The property could be broken into two lots and one home could be built on each lot. Or the buyer could build one large house. In Stone Harbor, lots require 60 feet of frontage. This lot has 124 feet. The minimum square footage is 6,600, and this lot is 13,200 square feet.

Its part of 13 lots that are owned by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The Immaculata, Pa., religious congregation has had a retreat, Vila Maria by the Sea, in Stone Harbor since 1937. It was torn down two years ago because it was outdated. To fund a new retreat, the congregation sold half of their lots. The first went for $3.6 million, and the prices increased the closer they got to the ocean. This parcel will fetch the highest price, Frame said.

The new Villa Maria by the Sea opened in June between 111th and 112th streets, Frame said.

The oceanfront lot will set a record because such lots are rare.

We might have an oceanfront lot come up for sale every five to 10 years, he said.

Oceanfront land in Stone Harbor has doubled in value every 10 years since 1960, Frame said. Theyre so limited. Its supply and demand.

The last oceanfront lot to sell in Stone Harbor was on 90th Street and sold for $13.1 million in 2021.

The most expensive home to sell in Stone Harbor closed in May for $12 million.

Allison Pries may be reached at apries@njadvancemedia.com.

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Theres nothing quite like posting up on the beach in a comfy chair, leaning back, and pulling out a book youre itching to get through.

So what are Pennsylvanians reading on the beach this summer, you may be wondering? Well, wouldnt you know, we have the answer to that!

Shane Co. conducted and published a study which sought to find each states top favorite book to bring for some ocean-side relaxation this summer season.

Researchers were able to do this by first seeding a list of almost 90 popular books from Barnes and Nobles own selection of beach reads for 2023, then analyzing Google Trends search data by location to gage eachs popularity by region.

Pennsylvanias favorite beach read was thus found to be Magnolia Parks by Jesse Hastings, which is described by Google Books as the story of the titular Magnolia Parks and BJ Ballentine, a former couple who wind up back in London and are thrust together once again, asking their age-old question: How many loves do you actually get in a lifetime, and, most important  are they each others?

Pennsylvania seemed to be the one of only a few states interested in whether or not they were, since no other listed Magnolia Parks as its top beach read other than Washington and Tennessee.

Other books that made it into the Shane Co. study were Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston  the most popular book nationally  and Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score.
A lawsuit seeking to boot Harrisburg City Council candidate Lamont Jones from the November ballot was shot down Tuesday by a Dauphin County Common Pleas judge, who ruled against the plaintiffs motions after roughly an hour and a half of testimony and discussion.

Cheers and applause erupted from dozens of Jones supporters who packed the courtroom as Judge Jeffrey Engle read his decision and ordered that Jones remain on the ballot.

This is much bigger than Lamont Jones, Jones said after Tuesdays court session.

Not only the citizens, but the re-entrants of Harrisburg have won today, Jones added, referring to those re-entering public life after incarceration, something which Jones has personally experienced and which was at the center of the matter before the court.

The suit against Jones sought to have the court order the county board of elections to remove his name from the ballot, and permit the Democratic party to select a substitute as if Jones had voluntarily withdrawn.

Jones was one of three winners in the May primary for a Democratic city council nomination, and stands a near-certain chance of winning a council seat in November given Harrisburgs heavily Democratic voter base.

The plaintiffs  two Harrisburg voters  argued that Jones is ineligible to serve based on the Pennsylvania Constitutions prohibition of public officials who have been convicted of infamous crimes, of which three of Jones past convictions meet the definition based on prior case law.

Thus, the plaintiffs argued, the court should remove Jones from the ballot so that Democratic voters are not disadvantaged by wasting a vote on someone who could be removed from office.

Jones, as well as the Dauphin County Board of Elections, argued that such an action by the court has no legal basis, given that the states election code clearly spells out a procedure to challenge candidates qualifications at the time they file their initial petitions.

This is the exclusive remedy as defined by law, Jones and the elections board argued, but the plaintiffs neglected to pursue this despite Jones record being well-known.

Jones - who has been open about his past drug convictions and prison time - has been an active and outspoken advocate and mentor for others who are looking to turn their lives around, serving on a number of local and state criminal justice advisory boards.

Jones is also in the process of seeking clemency before the states pardons board, and has a very high probability of receiving a pardon by the time he would be sworn in as a city councilman, former Board of Pardons secretary Brandon Flood testified Tuesday. This would obviate any issues with Jones qualifications regarding his criminal record, his attorney said.

Jones received a letter of support for his pardon from Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo, the person with the most direct power to remove Jones from office via a quo warranto proceeding, the mechanism by which a persons position of authority is legally challenged. The Pennsylvania Attorney General could also seek to do so  but she too voted in support of Jones during his clemency merit hearing in July, Flood said.

These facts, Jones attorney John Bravacos argued, point to the plaintiffs seeking legal relief based on a scenario  Jones removal from office due to his criminal history  which is doubtful to actually occur, and which has no bearing on Jones current right to run for office, only his right to serve.

While Engle did not elaborate on his reasoning during Tuesdays court session, his statements during the hearing aligned with Jones conception of the case.

Engle noted that the legal challenge before him concerned the right to hold the office, not run for office, and also noted that Chardos support means a quo warranto removal is unlikely to happen.

Engle also queried Bravacos and the plaintiffs attorney, Marco Attisano, on any relevant precedents. Attisano pointed to the case of former Pennsylvania House Speaker Bill Deweese - who was ordered off the ballot by a judge in August of 2012 due to criminal convictions - as the most directly relevant instance where the relief being sought by his clients was granted.

But the Deweese case did not feature a full opinion and is not precedential, Bravacos said. Further, Dauphin County Chief Solicitor Joseph Curcillo, speaking for the elections board, pointed out that the Deweese case featured a unique timeline that is not comparable to Jones situation, or any other.

Deweese resigned from his House seat, was sentenced to prison on conspiracy charges, and was then re-nominated in the primary election to the position he had just quit, despite the fact that he would have been incarcerated at the time he took office. All of this occurred on the same day.

Attisano told PennLive after Tuesdays hearing that he would investigate appeal options as well as the possibility of citizens initiating a quo warranto action, although that is a complex legal question that has to be looked into.

The case against Jones saw an outcry from Harrisburg politicos who said the challenge fits a pattern, in which specious legal claims are filed against outsider candidates who are seen as not being loyal to the political establishment.

Jones and others noted Tuesday that the plaintiffs in the case  Katherine Knapp and Sherron Roy  were not physically present at the hearing, something which has happened before in situations where political playmakers other than the named plaintiffs are driving the effort. Attisano sat alone at the plaintiffs table Tuesday.

Further, Kelly Summerford  a former Harrisburg city councilman and chair of the local Democratic candidate review committee  testified that Roys father headed the partys endorsement committee, which ultimately endorsed Jones before the primary.

This suggests, Summerford and others said, that the plaintiffs and anyone backing their legal effort knew about Jones criminal record but deliberately did not act earlier.

Summerford testified that he was amazed and disturbed that we are even here, given that there are so many things that could have been done that were not to address the plaintiffs concerns.

If Jones were to have been disqualified before the primary, the voters would have simply selected one of the other seven Democratic candidates, as opposed to the party choosing a ballot replacement or the city council choosing a fill-in if Jones were removed after being seated.

Its not really about a past [criminal] record, Jones said when asked what he believed the impetus of the case was, adding that I obviously pose a threat to the status quo.

There is a current thats been happening here in the City of Harrisburg regarding political gamesmanship with legal filings, Jones said, although he declined for now to go into detail about who he believes was behind the case against him because today, I want to keep this about the people who have supported his work.

The case against Jones fits a pattern in which politically influential actors assume that upstart candidates will not have the legal knowledge or financial resources to respond to court filings, said Fred Clark, a Jones supporter and long-time Harrisburg political advisor.

But the outpouring of community support for someone like Jones has changed the game, Clark said, and he intends to speak with those he believes pushed the case to let them know you do not run this town.

READ MORE:

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In 2013, a Greyhound bus heading from New York City to Cleveland hit the back of a tractor-trailer on Interstate 80 in central Pennsylvania. One woman was killed. Dozens were injured.

In a 2016 case, 13 people died and 31 were injured when a charter bus struck a stopped truck in Palm Springs, California.
A 20-year-old man who crashed his car onto the porch roof of a home in Mifflin County did so on purpose because he was suicidal and having a mental breakdown, according to court documents obtained by PennLive.

Pennsylvania State Police charged the 20-year-old driver from Granville Township with aggravated assault, criminal mischief and a number of related charges.
Mondays storm brought a combination of power outages, flooding rains, high winds and fallen trees to parts of central Pa., meteorologists say.

The National Weather Service (NWS) told PennLive that York, Lancaster, Fulton and Franklin counties experienced the most damage as winds reached between 60 and 70 mph. Those counties in general received between a half-inch and 2 inches of rain in a burst around the dinner hour Monday.

The precipitation numbers decreased farther north, as Cumberland County on average received a quarter-inch of rain and Dauphin County a tenth of an inch, a NWS meteorologist said.

Almost 24,000 Met-Ed customers were without power after storms passed through York County on Monday evening, according to a York Dispatch story. That number had only dropped to around 20,000 close to midnight.

Most of the outages were reported from the southern part of the county. Thousands lost their electricity in Shrewsbury Township, New Freedom, Stewartstown and Hopewell Township  all areas near the Mason-Dixon Line.

Firefighters, police and EMS were dispatched to a house fire in the 100 block of Burberry Lane in East Manchester Township, according to York County Regional Police. No one was home when the fire started just after 6 oclock, officials said.

First responders were called to emergencies throughout York County on Monday after storms passed through the area. The York County 911 webcad showed at least 40 incidents at one point, including everything from vehicle accidents to wires and trees down to roofs being pulled off structures. One person was injured when a tree fell on a vehicle near Shrewsbury, according to a NWS report.

Most of the area was under a severe thunderstorm warning at some point, and a tornado warning was issued for southern parts of York County around 5 p.m.

The thunderstorms cleared the area by 7 p.m., and sunset brought some breaks in the clouds and a cool breeze, with temperatures in the upper 60s.

Tuesdays forecast for central Pa. calls for sunny skies, temps ranging from the upper 70s to low 80s, and breezy conditions with some gusts topping 30 mph.

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A Harrisburg man on Pennsylvanias death row won another appellate court round Tuesday in his bid to avoid execution for the 1994 murder of a New Cumberland police officer.

A Pennsylvania Superior Court panel held prosecutors can not present witness testimony on the impact that Willis Coles death had on his family and the community when they ask a jury to decide on the death penalty for the convicted shooter, Seifullah Abdul-Salaam.
With the start of another school year around the corner, the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) is reminding eligible veterans with children and their family members that financial assistance might be available to help them pursue higher education.

The DMVAs Educational Gratuity Program provides financial assistance to children of honorably discharged veterans who have service-connected disabilities and served during periods of war or armed conflict, or children of veterans who died in service during a period of war or armed conflict.

The DMVA is committed to supporting our veterans and their family members. Thats why we are proud to administer the Educational Gratuity Program which helps open the doors of opportunity for the children of eligible veterans, Maj. Gen. Mark Schindler, Pennsylvanias adjutant general and head of the DMVA, said in a press release. This program is geared toward supporting the children of veterans with a disability or children who have suffered the loss of a parent who died in service. We encourage everyone who is eligible to apply for this funding.

Brig. Gen. (PA) Maureen Weigl, deputy adjutant general of Veterans Affairs, said this program includes approved colleges and trade schools across the commonwealth.

The Educational Gratuity Program supports both children of veterans who were discharged under honorable conditions, who have 100% permanent service-connected disabilities, and who served during a period of war or armed conflict, and children of veterans who died in service during a period of war or armed conflict.

The eligible child must be between the ages of 16 and 23, must be living in Pennsylvania five years prior to application, and must attend a school in the state. All applicants must demonstrate a financial need.

Payments will not exceed $500 per term or semester per qualified child to each approved educational institution over a total of eight terms or semesters.

To apply, contact the County Director of Veterans Affairs for the county in which you reside.

For more information about the programs criteria, eligibility and needed documentation, go to the Educational Gratuity Program page on DMVAs website.
Members of state governments largest union have ratified a proposed four-year contract with Gov. Josh Shapiros administration.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 13 represents approximately 27,000, or 48%, of all state employees under the governors jurisdiction.
The effects of Mondays storm continue to be felt across central Pennsylvania as people deal with downed trees and power lines.

A map of PPL outages shows the area most affected in central Pennsylvania is in southern Lancaster County, with 500 affected properties. Other places with high concentraion of properties without power included the Winfield area of Union County, parts of Juniata County and the Elverson area in Lancaster County.

Met-Eds power outages map shows a scattering of outages still remaining in a wide swath across southern York County, with nearly 30 affected properties close to the city.

The National Weather Service (NWS) told PennLive Monday night that York, Lancaster, Fulton and Franklin counties experienced the most damage as winds reached between 60 and 70 mph and up to two inches of rain fell in a short period.

The power outages increase further to the east, with more than 18,000 properties still without power near Allentown through PPL as of mid-morning Tuesday. Additional outages are scattered across the eastern and northeastern portions of the state, including dozens in regions near Reading, Stroudsburg and Easton.

WGAL reports that the National Weather Service will be in York County today to assess whether a tornado touched down in the area.

PennDOT also reports numerous road closures across southern York County due to downed trees striking electrical wires. One such road closure closer to the Harrisburg area is near Elizabethtown, with a downed tree closing lanes in both directions on PA 214 between Poplar and Market streets.

A map of closed and affected roads can be found on the PennDOT 511PA website.
News / Local

by Staff reporter

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa yesterday gazetted honours and awards in different categories for various individuals and an organisation, the First Lady's Angel of Hope Foundation, in recognition of the roles they played before and after independence in transforming lives of people in the country.The awards, ranging from gold, silver to bronze were made in terms of Honours and Awards Act that empowers the President to confer such awards in his capacity as Grand Master of Order of Merit.Those that have been earmarked for Order of the Great Zimbabwe in Gold are Zimbabwe's virologist Dr Sikhulile Moyo for his discovery of the Omicron Covid-19 variant in November 2021.Another luminary who has been honoured is Dr Mary Mubi who has been conferred with Order of the Star of Zimbabwe in Gold while medical doctor and Covid-19 Response National Coordinator, Dr Agnes Mahomva has been conferred with Order of the Star of Zimbabwe in Silver.Also to get the Jairos Jiri Humanitarian Award in Gold is the Angel of Hope Foundation whose philanthropic work is well documented.The recipients are expected to get their medals during the Heroes Day commemoration at the National Heroes Acre next week.There are more than 100 people that have been conferred with Independence Medal in Bronze for their role in the attainment of the independence and their role in post independence Zimbabwe.Notable people include Zanu-PF Chief whip, Pupurai Togarepi, Transport and Infrastructural development Deputy Minister Mike Madiro, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Deputy Minister Lovemore Matuke, Zanu-PF Politburo member, Kenneth Musanhi, Senator Omega Hungwe.The conferment comes as President Mnangagwa last week gazetted a warrant creating the new Royal Order of the Munhumutapa in the highest category, which can be awarded to an African foreign national for support rendered to Zimbabwe for her liberation and continued well-being.The Warrant 1 of 2023 was published in Statutory Instrument 143 of 2023 to create the award in terms of the Honours and Awards Act that empowers the President to create honours and awards.The decoration signifying the award is the Royal Order of the Munhumutapa Gold Medal, which is an oval medal of enamelled gold, 89mm in diameter and bears on the observe, the imposing bust of King Munhumutapa showing only his right arm clasping a sceptre over his right shoulder and wearing a headband.The Warrant goes into full detail of the full description of the medal and has the superscription "Order of Munhumutapa".Every medal shall be attached by a breast ribbon 92mm in width consisting of five vertical stripes of equal width coloured, gold on each outer end followed by two red stripes on either side that are separated by a single black stripe.The medal shall be awarded on the authority of the President, following upon the recommendation of the appropriate head of department.The head of department can be a person in the employ of the State, the Secretary of the Ministry concerned, the Commander of the Army or Air Force, the Commissioner-General of the Police or the Prisons and Correctional Services.They can also be a person in the employ of a body corporate established directly by any enactment for special purposes, the head of that body corporate or any other person, a minister or deputy minister, a chief or a mayor.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has announced that a rolling traffic shift is planned for Wednesday on the eastbound or westbound direction of the Route 30 (Wrights Ferry) Bridge connecting Lancaster and York counties.

This will allow a contractor to evaluate the existing barrier on the bridge in preparation for a barrier improvement project.

This work could cause traffic delays on Route 30. Motorists should be alert and drive with caution through the work zone.

Weather permitting, the traffic shift will occur on the Route 30 bridge from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday. This will be a mobile operation to shift traffic from the left (passing) lane to the right (travel) lane so workers can evaluate the barrier. Only one direction will be shifted at a time.

This work could cause traffic delays on Route 30. Motorists should be alert and drive with caution through the work zone.

Work on the barrier project is expected to begin later this month. An updated press release will be issued prior to the start of the project.

JD Eckman, Inc., of Atglen, PA is the prime contractor on this $5,247,787 project. Work is expected to be completed by November 2024.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts.

Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry and York counties at PennDOT District 8.
In March 2023, a Utah woman named Kouri Richins published a childrens book titled Are You With Me? which she characterized as an effort to help her three young sons process the loss of their father, who had died suddenly the previous year. Presenting herself as a concerned mother and grieving widow, she was interviewed on Good Things Utah in April 2023.

A few weeks later, on May 8, 2023, Richins was arrested and charged with killing her husband, Eric.

An autopsy showed that the 39-year-old man died of a massive fentanyl overdose. Since Eric had no history of drug abuse, his family found the circumstances suspicious. In the months before his death, Eric confided in his business partner that on several occasions  after being served a drink or meal by his wife, including on Valentines Day  he had become violently ill. Utahs Park Record reported that he had mentioned to friends and family that if anything were to happen to him, Kouri would be the likely culprit.

In August 2023, as I write this, the Richins housekeeper has confessed to providing the fentanyl that killed Eric, and the case is mired in multiple lawsuits, including one in which the victims sister accuses Kouri of enacting a horrific endgame to steal money from her husband, orchestrate his death and profit from it. Meanwhile, Kouri Richins refutes these charges and has filed her own civil suit seeking not only half of the marital residence but also her late husbands business, which is valued at approximately $4 million. She has been denied bail and is currently awaiting trial  an event destined to become a media spectacle.

Whether or not its true that each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way, as Leo Tolstoy famously wrote, other peoples domestic misery seems to be a constant source of interest.

What lies behind the publics fascination with familial trauma, especially when it turns deadly? And what occluded anxieties or longings do people confront or exorcise as they consume these stories of mayhem and murder?

The interest in true-crime podcasts, series and documentaries is nothing new. The public appetite for easily accessible portraits of real-life murders stretches back to the early days of print, when they were repackaged and sold as ballads, domestic tragedies and lurid penny pamphlets.

My research as a scholar of 16th- and 17th-century English literature is largely focused on popular representations of domestic crime. Im often struck by the resonance between these historical portrayals and the way such incidents are reported today.

While the medium has changed, the framing of these stories has remained strikingly consistent. The same queasy combination of sensationalist titillation and pious condemnation found in 16th- and 17th-century media appears in todays news coverage of domestic murders  and it shines a light on enduring cultural anxieties.

Sleeping in a serpents bed

The Richins case  with its themes of marital distrust, betrayal and conflicting interests  echoes a 16th-century murder so scandalous that it was reported in historical chronicles and popular pamphlets alike. It also inspired the Elizabethan domestic tragedy Arden of Faversham and at least one ballad.

The crime occurred on Valentines Day 1551, when Alice Arden conspired with her lover and some hired assassins to kill her husband, Thomas, at his own dinner table.

The historical records and the play depict a woman who places desire above duty, determined to kill her husband and replace him with her paramour, who was a servant in her stepfathers household  a step down the social ladder that added insult to injury.

That the murder of a middle-class suburban bureaucrat rated inclusion in official sources like Holinsheds Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland and the Newgate Calendar  and was still inspiring fresh interpretations decades later  suggests an appeal beyond the merely salacious.

In 16th-century England, where the majority of adults were married, women effectively became their husbands legal subjects upon marriage. This meant that a wife who killed her spouse was guilty not only of murder but of petit, or petty, treason, a crime against the state punishable by burning. As I have argued elsewhere, the idea of violent marital insurrection posed a frightening challenge to patriarchal notions of a mans home as his castle.

But cases of female violence were  as now  comparatively rare: The figure of the murderous wife wielded far more power in the imagination than in reality.

As the unmarried Elizabeth Is long reign drew to its close, fears about domestic partners gone wild indicated broader fears about the family as a little commonwealth or microcosmic state  and the need to reinforce the status quo in politically uncertain times.

In life and onstage, Alice Arden was the stuff of proto-feminist fantasy and masculine nightmare, and early modern plays, pamphlets and ballads sought to defuse the rogue womans perceived menace in the way they presented the scandal.

In the play, Alices lover, Moseby, notes that tis fearful sleeping in a serpents bed, since when she has supplanted Arden for my sake she might extirpen me to plant another.

These suspicions find an echo in Eric Richins fears about his wifes intentions, and in some media portrayals of her as a thwarted gold digger.

Like a fierce and bloody Medea

If a homicidal wife was a terrifying prospect, a murderous mother presented an entirely different level of horror.

The anonymous 1616 pamphlet A Pittilesse Mother That at One Time Murdered Two of Her Own Children at Acton, etc. tells the story of Margaret Vincent, who strangled and killed her two young children in an attempt to save their souls when her husband refused to convert to Catholicism. (She later repented, saying she had been converted to a blind belief of bewitching heresy.)

There are many parallels in the stories of Vincent and an evangelical Christian named Andrea Yates, who in 2001 drowned her five children in the bathtub of their Texas home, believing she would send their souls to heaven and drive Satan from the world. In March 2002, Yates was sentenced to life in prison, but a 2006 appeal found her not guilty by reason of insanity. She now resides in a mental health facility from which she routinely refuses to apply for release.

Neither Vincent nor Yates had been involved in any previous crimes or scandals, but both had exhibited signs of spiritual or mental instability. Vincent had disobediently insisted her family become Roman Catholics; Yates had stopped taking the medication prescribed for her postpartum depression and later psychosis without her doctors approval. Both women reportedly planned their childrens murders carefully, waited until their husbands were away from home to commit them, invoked diabolical forces to explain their actions, and initially claimed to feel no remorse.

The correlation between these historically distant murders is disturbing and fascinating, not least because both narratives feature conventionally good, married, middle-class mothers. Yet both were excoriated in contemporary media as monsters: guilty of crimes against nature, their husbands and their offspring.

Fast-forward to Jan. 24, 2023, when Lindsay Clancy sent her husband, Patrick, on an errand and, like Margaret Vincent, strangled her three children before attempting suicide.

When Patrick Clancy returned to their home in Duxbury, Massachusetts, he found Lindsay on the lawn with major injuries, suffered in a jump from a second-story window. Inside, his children  ages 5 years, 3 years and 8 months  were unconscious. The two oldest were pronounced dead at the scene, while the youngest survived for several days.

As more details of the case became known, a picture emerged of a doting mother and nurse midwife who often shared family photos and anecdotes on social media. After her youngest childs birth, these posts included references to depression, anxiety and her ongoing attempts to find relief via therapy and medication.

The inevitable comparisons to the 2001 Yates murders were exacerbated by her lawyers revelation that Clancy had been prescribed more than a dozen medications in recent weeks, and by her own claim  as reported during her Feb. 7, 2023, arraignment  that she had heard a mans voice, telling her to kill the kids and kill herself because it was her last chance.

The prosecution presented Clancy as a coldblooded, calculating murderer. The defense countered with a portrait of a woman suffering from serious mental illness with inadequate treatment. Patrick Clancy has argued that his wife deserves compassion rather than condemnation.

As the familiar lines are drawn on the battlefield of public opinion, the sense of deja vu is palpable. Is Lindsay Clancy a latter-day Medea, the vengeful child killer of Greek mythology, or an overwhelmed and poorly supported woman struggling with a serious illness? As of this writing, Clancy is committed to Tewksbury State Hospital until November 2023, at which point future legal proceedings will be assessed.

These events are unquestionably horrific, but the passage of two decades may have wrought some changes in the publics response. While Clancy has been reviled in some quarters as a coldblooded killer  particularly on social media  the murders have also sparked a discussion about postpartum mental health, suggesting a willingness to better understand this complicated topic.

A queasy sort of comfort

Tales of domestic murder expose and underscore fears about societys most fundamental institutions: home, family and community. The media in every period are extremely skilled at weaponizing  and capitalizing on  worries about the familys capacity to provide a safe haven in a turbulent world.

In early modern England, highly gendered ideas about the home as a reflection of the state politicized anxieties about order, stability and the family as a patriarchal institution. Then as now, it was a frightening  yet compelling  prospect that threats to a familys very survival might be hiding in the place people should feel safest.

Perhaps the ongoing fascination with dysfunctional, broken homes is based in schadenfreude, and the comforting realization that as troubled as our own families may be, we have not taken violent action against them.

Like the repentant gallows speeches recounted in ballads, or the assurance in A Pittilesse Mother that Margaret Vincent earnestly repented the deed, the containment and punishment of those who disrupt this bedrock institution offer reassurance that they are anomalies. (I could never do that; you could never do that.)

Or the appeal may lie in the idea that any of us might, in fact, be capable of such things.

Perhaps in choosing to be disturbed, entertained and ultimately comforted by narratives about domestic stability turned to chaos, we find a way to confront, if only obliquely, our most primal fears about the institutions we trust, the people we love  and our own capacity to destroy them.

Dianne Berg, Visiting Assistant Professor of English, Clark University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
By SETH BORENSTEIN, AP Science Writer

Now that Julys sizzling numbers are in, the European climate monitoring organization made it official: July 2023 was Earths hottest month on record by a wide margin.

Julys global average temperature of 16.95 degrees Celsius (62.51 degrees Fahrenheit) was a third of a degree Celsius (six tenths of a degree Fahrenheit) higher than the previous record set in 2019, Copernicus Climate Change Service, a division of the European Unions space program, announced Tuesday. Normally global temperature records are broken by hundredths or a tenth of a degree, so this margin is unusual.

These records have dire consequences for both people and the planet exposed to ever more frequent and intense extreme events, said Copernicus deputy director Samantha Burgess. There have been deadly heat waves in the Southwestern United States and Mexico, Europe and Asia. Scientific quick studies put the blame on human-caused climate change from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas.

Days in July have been hotter than previously recorded from July 2 on. Its been so extra warm that Copernicus and the World Meteorological Organization made the unusual early announcement that it was likely the hottest month days before it ended. Tuesdays calculations made it official.

FILE - A person drinks a bottle of water in the shade as temperatures are expected to hit 119-degrees (48.3 Celsius) July 20, 2023, in Phoenix. European climate monitoring organization made it official: July 2023 was Earth's hottest month on record by a wide margin. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)AP

The month was 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than pre-industrial times. In 2015, the nations of the world agreed to try to prevent long-term warming  not individual months or even years, but decades  that is 1.5 degrees warmer than pre-industrial times.

Last month was so hot, it was .7 degrees Celsius (1.3 degrees Fahrenheit) hotter than the average July from 1991 to 2020, Copernicus said. The worlds oceans were half a degree Celsius (0.9 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than the previous 30 years, and the North Atlantic was 1.05 degrees Celsius (1.9 degrees Fahrenheit) hotter than average. Antarctica set record lows for sea ice, 15% below average for this time of year.

Copernicus records go back to 1940. That temperature would be hotter than any month the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has recorded and their records go back to 1850. But scientists say its actually the hottest in a far longer time period.

Its a stunning record and makes it quite clearly the warmest month on Earth in ten thousand years, said Stefan Rahmstorf, a climate scientist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Research in Germany. He wasnt part of the Copernicus team.

Rahmstorf cited studies that use tree rings and other proxies that show present times are the warmest since the beginning of the Holocene Epoch, about 10,000 years ago. And before the Holocene started there was an ice age, so it would be logical to even say this is the warmest record for 120,000 years, he said.

We should not care about July because its a record, but because it wont be a record for long, said Imperial College of London climate scientist Friederike Otto. Its an indicator of how much we have changed the climate. We are living in a very different world, one that our societies are not adapted to live in very well.
FILE PHOTO: Eric Emeraux, head of the Gendarmerie's Central Office for Combating Crimes Against Humanity, Genocides and War Crimes, poses in Paris

By Stephanie van den Berg and Charlotte Van Campenhout

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - UN appeals judges on Monday ordered the war crimes trial for elderly Rwandan genocide suspect Felicien Kabuga indefinitely suspended because he has dementia, rejecting plans for an alternative slimmed-down procedure.

The judges, who are part of the court that succeeded the Rwanda war crimes tribunal, also ordered a lower trial chamber to rapidly evaluate under what circumstances Kabuga could be released. His lawyer has previously said his client should be freed.

The former businessman and radio station owner was one of the last suspects sought by the tribunal prosecuting crimes in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, when ruling Hutu majority extremists killed more than 800,000 minority Tutsis and Hutu moderates in 100 days.

Kabuga is in his late 80s, though his precise date of birth is disputed. He was arrested in France in 2020 after more than 20 years on the run.

In June, judges at a U.N. war crimes court ruled Kabuga unfit to stand trial but said alternative procedures should take place.

Prosecutors had argued halting the trial would be unfair to the victims and said Kabuga's own actions put him in the position of facing trial at an advanced age with diminished capacity.

(Reporting by Stephanie van den Berg, Charlotte Van Campenhout; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
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Rachel Maddow said that Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to make America like Florida, but part of the problem in Florida is Leprosy.

Maddow said:

The strongest wind in his sails for the purpose of motivating the conservative Republican base has been his claim that he would make America more like Florida. Make America Florida again. Ron Desantis pitch for the presidency has basically been at its most successful, that his leadership in Florida is a success story. Hes been electorally successful in Florida. Hes won re-election by a lot there. If you put him in charge in Washington, he would do the same thing for the whole country and he could put in place the kind of governance hes been able to pursue in Florida because hes been so successful there. That has been the sort of best version of Ron DeSantis pitch to be President Of The United States.

The problem is that part of the reality of whats actually going on in Florida under Ron DeSantis is leprosy. Now they have got leprosy. Not a metaphor, actual leprosy. Headlines, Central Florida is a hot spot for leprosy, report says. Headline, whats behind the increase in leprosy cases in Florida? Headline, as leprosy cases rise in Florida, what you must know about the infectious disease. So Florida has a leprosy problem,

Florida also has a malaria problem. Headline, alert issued after locally acquired malaria cases confirmed in Florida. Headline, malaria confirmed in Florida. Mosquitoes after several human cases. Headline, health officials say Florida malaria cases contacted and transmitted in Sarasota which hasnt happened since the 1950s. So poor Florida. Not good news, right? Leprosy and malaria both, A. in America, B. in the 21st century, and C. in the same state at the same time. Terrible news for Florida.

But particularly terrible news because its happening at a time when Ron DeSantis is the governor of Florida because under Ron DeSantis as governor of Florida, Florida state government is missing its top two public health officials who would be responsible for containing outbreaks and dealing with emerging epidemics. Florida doesnt have anybody in those jobs anymore. Because who on Earth would want to be a public health official working for Governor Ron DeSantis, whose whole Make America Florida gambit is largely based more than anything else on him being a covid contrarian, who insisted covid wasnt a thing, and hand-picked a surgeon general for the state after the man came forward as a group of quacks who insisted some disease is caused by sex with demons and if we could just get a handle on that problem, then why would you need vaccines? Stop it with the demon sex, you perverts.

Video of Maddow:

If Ron DeSantis is offering America Leprosy, Malaria, and crazy covid deniers in charge of public health, voters should probably take a pass. DeSantis is supposed to be the saner Republican alternative to Trump, but it turns out that he is really no different. Sure, DeSantis isnt facing roughly 80 felony counts and he has yet to be indicted, but in terms of governing, Ron DeSantis isnt kidding when he claims to be Trump without the Trump.

Unfortunately, he means it in all of the bad ways in which Trump governed.

Vote Ron DeSantis who promises to deliver a Leper in every house.

80% of all Leprosy cases in the United States are coming from Florida.

That is a statistic that DeSantis wont be mentioning in Iowa and New Hampshire while on the stump.

A vote for a Republican in Donald Trumps party is too often not a vote for a conservative government, but a government that could make you sick or kill you.
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Trumps lawyers argue that President Joe Bidens Dark Brandon coffee mug is a veiled reference to his prosecution.

On page 3 of Trumps response to the government seeking a protective order:

President Biden has likewise capitalized on the indictment, posting a thinly veiled reference to his administrations prosecution of President Trump just hours before arraignment:

https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1687120734793986048 (last accessed August 6, 2023); see also Kwan Wei Kevin Tan, Joe Biden appeared to throw major shade at a thrice-indicted Trump with a new Dark Brandon meme, and Twitter loved it, Business Insider (August 3, 2023). Indeed, President Biden promised from the outset that his administration would ensure President Trump does not become the next President again, adding an unprecedented political dimension to this prosecution. Remarks by President Biden in Press Conference (November 9, 2022). Moreover, the Biden Justice Department waited over two-and-a-half years to seek this indictment during an election cycle in which President Trump is the leading candidate.

It is no longer enough to say that Trump has offered no defense for his actions. Trump has a defense, and it is that everything is a conspiracy against him because he is a presidential candidate. What the former president and his supporters are never able to answer is why President Biden needs to plot to eliminate Trump when he already beat him by 7 million votes in 2020.

The conspiracy falls apart when looked at from the realistic point of view that Biden and the Democrats arent afraid of facing Donald Trump. The Trump teams response was a political document. There are no serious legal counterarguments made by Trumps lawyers.

Trump has made the indictments the centerpiece of his presidential campaign, and if he is limited in any way on what he might be able to say or release related to the case, it will deal a blow to his campaign,
LOCARNO  Two movie projects which capture best the brewing revolution in Latin American filmmaking walked off with the biggest plaudits at this years Locarno Open Doors prize ceremony on Tuesday.

Both underscore the mindset reset among cineasts  their questioning of received wisdom accompanied by the explosion in invention being brought to low-budget filmmaking in the region.

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Directed by Nicaraguas Gloria Carrion and produced by Leonor Zuniga, Pantasma took the biggest cash prize on offer, CHF25,000 ($28,600) from Visions Sud Est, for a project which begs to differ from Nicaraguas Contras were U.S.-backed mercenaries.

Pantasma presents a more nuanced vision, based on the memoirs of former Sandinista Felix Vigil and his dawning realization, during the Sandinista-Contra War that the revolution was fighting Nicaraguan peasants and not paid mercenaries [whch] will make him question everything he believes in, Carrion has noted.

Fleeing Nicaragua as Daniel Ortega has increasingly suppressed dissidence in the country in the last few years and now unable to shoot in the country, Carrion and Zuniga will shoot Pantasma using stop motion animation, creating dry corn leaf small-scale replicas of places and figures, mixed with archival footage, video art and photos, sometimes projected onto the screen The Missing Picture-style, she added.

An alum of San Sebastians prestigious Elias Querejeta Zine Eskola, Dominican Genesis Valenzuelas Three Bullets (Tres Balas) was the only title to take multiple awards, including a weighty CHF20,000 ($22,000) from Visions Sud Est.

Story continues

It investigates the murder of Dominican immigrant Lucrecia Perez, shot and killed by four neo-Nazis in 1992, the same year that Spain celebrated its conquest of Latin America. Valenzuela comes in at the film as she reconstructs her own identity as a human being/woman/Afro-Caribbean/filmmaker. The driving force of this film is the desire for emancipation, both from the constraints of existence and from those of filmmaking, she has said.

Pantasma

Mixing colonial history, displacement and criminal investigation, Three Bullets, a hybrid fiction-doc-come-essay again aims to explore the diaspora experience and dislocate the grand narrative of history, she has said.

Another animated feature, Carlos Zerpas LOA. Kill Your Masters likewise treats the 1791-1804 Haiti Revolution not as a narrative of British, French and Spanish imperial armies but from a feminine POV as being powered by a teen girl and supernatural African vodun spirituality.

Leandro Grillos Desidia, an atmospheric portrait of Aymara Bolivian highland city as controlled disorder, took the third Visions Sud Est cash prize.

Womens emancipation narratives figured strongly in the awards mix, with prizes to Costa Rican Paz Fabregas Milky Way, Leslie Ortizs Libertinas and Jamaican Gibrey Allens Raised by Goats.

Peruvian Victor Checa, a Latin American genre standard bearer, won the BR Lab Award for Last of Kings, a coming-of-age Western vampire story, Checa said,, set in a futuristic Peru ravaged by desert storms.

Further awards went to two Open Doors Producers Lab participants: Battling Peruvian LGBTQ director-producer Carlos Ormeno Palma for The Scent of Walls, whose short The Distance of Time was regarded as one of the best playing Open Doors Screenings; and Paraguayan Ivana Urizar, at Locarno with Bajo las banderas, el sol, a doc feature asking why Alfredo Stroessners 1953-1989 dictatorship lasted so long.

2023 Locarno Pro Open Doors Winners:

Open Doors Grant

A total of CHF 50,000 ($55,000), sponsored by Visions Sud Est, supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the City of Bellinzona and the Open Doors initiative.

Pantasma, (Gloria Carrion, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Honduras)

Three Bullets, (Tres balas, Genesis Valenzuela, Dominican Republic)

Desidia, (Leandro Grillo, Bolivia, Chile)

CNC Development Grant

8,000 ($8,780) for development provided by Frances powerful CNC national film agency.

LOA. Kill Your Masters, (LOA. Mata a tus amos, Carlos Zerpa, Venezuela, Puerto Rico)

Prix ArteKino International

6,000 ($6,590) for development provided by Europes online ArteKino Festival.

Three Bullets, (Tres balas, Genesis Valenzuela, Dominican Republic)

Srfond Award

Travel to and accommodation at a November pitching event organised by Norways Srfond, funding Norwegian companies minority co-production of films from low-income countries.

Libertines, (Libertinas, Leslie Ortiz, El Salvador, Peru)

Rotterdam Lab Award

Provided by the Rotterdam Film Festival, accommodation for an Open Doors Producers Lab participant at the next Rotterdam Lab.

Ivana Urizar, (Cine Mio, Paraguay)

Open Doors  BR Lab Award

Participation at Sao Paulos BR Lab project development workshop this November with travel and accommodation covered by BR Lab.

Last of Kings, (El ultimo rey, Victor Checa, Peru, Mexico, Germany)

Open Doors  World Cinema Fund Audience Strategy Award

A specific World Cinema Fund program tailored to closely follow the development of an audience engagement strategy.

Three Bullets, (Tres balas, Genesis Valenzuela, Dominican Republic)

Open Doors  OIF  ACP  EU Award

A consultancy for up to 18 months on script/treatment analysis, story editing and polishing of a film dossier provided by the Organisation Internationale Francophonie (OIF) and French consulting company Initiative Film.

Raised by Goats, (Gibrey Allen, Jamaica)

Open Doors  LEXIA Insights Award

Fine-tuning of a projects pitch, script, dossier, mood board and teaser, aided by experienced professionals.

Milky Way, (Via Lactea, Paz Fabrega, Costa Rica, Uruguay)

Open Doors  Moulin dAnde-CECI Award

Writing residency for the director of a first or second feature film project in development, provided by the Moulin dAnde-CECI, near Frances Rouen, and the Locarno Film Festival.

Carlos Ormeno Palma, (La Fiebre Films, Peru)

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Governor Ron DeSantis is making it possible for Florida children to be indoctrinated by far right propaganda by PragerU, which includes a cartoon video supposedly portraying abolitionist and former slave Frederick Douglass praising the Constitution as a glorious liberty document and taking a dig at Black Lives Matter activism.

In real life, Douglass criticized those who boasted about American liberty and called celebrations of freedom on July 4th a sham.

PragerU admits its material indoctrinate(s) kids. But they ask, But what is the bad of our indoctrination?

Florida Republicans are straight up doing what they falsely accuse teachers of doing; they are pushing Republican propaganda to children. PragerU, founded by conservative talk radio host Dennis Prager, showcases content framed through the lens of conservative pundits, conservative activists, and Republican National Committee members.

Heres one of the videos that will be available in Florida schools. But first, for context, Frederick Douglass was so against compromise (for what compromise can there be with the right to live freely?) that he remained unsure about Abe Lincoln, even after his assassination.

This was not a man given to equivocation and appeasement. He knew better.

Watch the lies:

Of all the PragerU propaganda you've seen, this might be the worst. Frederick Douglass takes a dig at BLM while praising the founding fathers as abolitionists and calling the Constitution a "glorious liberty document." Florida is letting schools play this stuff. pic.twitter.com/WbS3CDBeNE  David Heath (@davidhth) August 7, 2023

In other videos, the kids meet Christopher Columbus, who, as summarized by the Miami Herald), tells them that he should not be judged for enslaving people because the practice was no big deal in his time. Columbus argued to the kids that he did not see a problem with it because being taken as a slave is better than being killed.'

Yikes. In real life, which apparently will soon not be taught in schools at all if Republicans get their way, Frederick Douglass was a former slave who became a national leader of the abolitionist movement. Douglass was jailed when he attempted to get free as a young boy.

Douglass had scathing words for hypocrites who praised Americas liberty, in his famous speech What To the Slave Is the Fourth of July? (my bold, and by the way, this link is from Teaching American history):

What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer; a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciation of tyrants, brass fronted impudence; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade and solemnity, are, to Him, mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisya thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages. There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of the United States, at this very hour.

Go where you may, search where you will, roam through all the monarchies and despotisms of the Old World, travel through South America, search out every abuse, and when you have found the last, lay your facts by the side of the everyday practices of this nation, and you will say with me, that, for revolting barbarity and shameless hypocrisy, America reigns without a rival 

He called for fire and action, The feeling of the nation must be quickened; the conscience of the nation must be roused; the propriety of the nation must be startled; the hypocrisy of the nation must be exposed; and its crimes against God and man must be denounced.

At 16 years old, young Douglass had a battle with a man known to be a slavebreaker, where he was starved and whipped daily. Douglass was broken in body, soul, and spirit.

Lets see what he wrote about his experience: This battle with Mr. Covey was the turning-point in my career as a slave. It rekindled the few expiring embers of freedom, and revived within me a sense of my own manhood. It recalled the departed self-confidence, and inspired me again with a determination to be free.

As a slave, he was not allowed to learn to read and write. Somehow he managed to teach himself, which is an extraordinary accomplishment but one which does not scream deep glory in liberty! In his autobiography, he describes trading pieces of bread with white children so they would teach him to read.

Conservatives make a lot of noise about free speech. Guess what happened to Douglass when he used his free speech to talk about the need for abolition after he escaped slavery? He was attacked. Douglass fled to Britain and Ireland to avoid re-enslavement in this land of liberty. It was there, across the ocean, that he eventually bought his freedom.

The Florida Republican Governor has long wailed about indoctrination, but is now making sure it happens in Florida schools. 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, the Miami Herald wrote.

The videos they are allowing kids to watch do not list resources or admit who was involved in creating them. But a political supporter of DeSantis is involved with PragerU, as are Candace Owens (who once raised money for a businessman who called George Floyd a thug after he was murdered by Derek Chauvin, a white police officer) and Charlie Kirk (not known for his grasp on history or knowledge, to put it as kindly as possible). These are the folks Ron DeSantis and his wife Casey think your kids should be taught by.

But wait. Its not that they are force-feeding your kids far-right propaganda with no relationship to actual history as history, its that the materials are approved to be used in Florida schools. It does not mean that PragerU will be writing the curriculum at a school, but that if a school approved the use of the material, a teacher could use it as an aid to teach a class, the Miami Herald reported.

This is what they mean by choice. Teachers can choose to indoctrinate your kids, if the indoctrination is far-right. They may not choose, however, to teach the truth. So its not really choice. Its just a pretty word slapped on a very ugly and dangerous policy.

Sure, Prager U is not accredited, but Casey DeSantis uses PragerU videos for her kids, according to Melissa Streit, the chief executive officer of PragerU, so PragerU says they must be good enough for yours.

Before the initiative was launched in Florida, Streit said she also crossed paths with Floridas first lady, Casey DeSantis. Streit did not specify when or where, but she said that is how she learned that the DeSantis family showed PragerU videos to their young kids, the Miami Herald wrote.

Experts call PragerU propaganda and one expert even called it in the same above article a gateway to far right extremism, which if youve been reading the news doesnt end well for some people who are now in jail and might not be the sort of life you envisioned for your young Handmaid, but this is perfect pro-America content for your kids

According to the DeSantis family, if PragerU is to be believed.

Starting this fall, your kids will have the opportunity to be propagandized to by people who just passed a bunch of laws and rules claiming to be against indoctrination.

Florida under Ron DeSantis: If its not leprosy and malaria, its straight up indoctrination.

The PragerU stuff wont be the only indoctrination your kids get in Florida. That menu is full already. This is just supplemental. An extra dash of indoctrination, perhaps, in case the first efforts arent successful.



Do listen to Douglass speech read by Ossie Davis:
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Joe Scarborough told evangelical Christians that they are supporting a rapist by continuing to stick with Donald Trump.

Scarborough said:

Lets say the same thing to my brothers and sisters that I grew up with in the evangelical church. They are now fiercely fighting for and backing a rapist, according to a judge, who said by the common definition of the term, Donald Trump raped E. Jean Carroll.

Thats in the court of law. Thats not in, again, the pages of some left-wing journal. These are the same people who all collapsed on their fainting couch because Bill Clinton had a relationship with an intern back when he was in the White House. Said he was unfit to be President Of The United States. A judge has said Donald Trump is a rapist, and yet, they line up right behind him, just like these Republicans, who are all law and order and rule of law, continue to line up with the guy. Theyre doing it in a way thats eviscerating  or theyre attempting to eviscerate the rule of law, the Justice Department, and FBI in the process.

Video:

Jerry Falwell led evangelicals to sell out their faith for politics more than 40 years ago, so the situation is not new. The right-wing evangelical support for Donald Trump has put a magnifying glass on their hypocrisy and moved into full public display.

If conservative evangelicals truly voted based on their faith, they would not be supporting Donald Trump. They would support Mike Pence, Tim Scott, or some other candidate in the Republican presidential primary field who isnt a walking embodiment of an insult to their faith.

Trump does more than embody an insult. He reportedly mocks and insults evangelicals behind closed doors.

Trump falls apart on the rare occasion when a voter asks him about his faith, and yet evangelicals continue to stand with this fraud and worship a false prophet.

Joe Scarborough was correct. Evangelical right-wingers are supporting a rapist, and the rest of the country should not allow them to sweep it under the rug as they promote their Christian values.
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Judge Chutkan isnt playing games with Donald Trump and allowing his to stall and delay his trial until after the 2024 presidential election.

Chutkan ordered:

And just like that, Judge Chutkan orders the parties to give her a couple of dates so she can hold a hearing by August 11. pic.twitter.com/iGIP5SccbX  Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) August 8, 2023

The judge rejected Trumps effort to delay the Monday deadline to respond to the protective order request, and then after Trumps lawyers responded asking for a hearing, Judge Chutkan gave them less than one day to offer a couple of dates for a hearing that will take place by Friday.

Trumps strategy isnt legal. It is political. Trump wants to delay and bog down the court so that he can in his view win the 2024 election and make the federal criminal charges that he is facing disappear.

Judge Aileen Cannon in the classified documents is playing along. Judge Chutkan is not. The 1/6 case was always going to move faster than the classified documents case, because of the lack of national security concerns surrounding the Trump election plot prosecution.

Judges have caught on to Trumps games, and in other cases and jurisdictions, they have expressed their anger at his abuse of the courts.

The judge in the 1/6 case isnt going to allow Trump to drag out the process.

Donald Trump desperately wants the case moved out of DC and over to West Virginia, but that is not going to happen.

Trump is going to get the one thing that he definitely does not want, which is a speedy trial in Washington, DC.
Downtown Aiken will soon have its own pinball arcade.

Eric and Erin Edwards plan to open Radioactive Pinball Arcade on Aug. 26 in the Holley Building located at 113 Laurens St. S.W.

Eric said it was surreal to have an opening date for the business.

"We've been working so hard and so long at this," he said. "We haven't even been able to step back and appreciate the gravity of the fact that we're now small business owners and this is happening. We hope we can keep up."

Eric and Erin's journey to opening the arcade began around three years ago. They were vacationing in Florida and their friends suggested some time at Silverball Pinball Museum in Delray Beach, Fla.

Eric said he had no interest in pinball but decided to go anyway.

And they had a great time.

"I was like, man, I want one of these at home," he said in March.

They soon purchased a Nightmare on Elm Street machine.

Then, COVID-19 came and the world shut down to slow the spread. The Edwardses purchased four more machines. Eric, a mechanic, said he became fascinated with the inner workings of the machines and taught himself how to repair broken machines.

Eventually, the couple came to own more than 30 machines.

"One turned into six, six turned into 20 and 20 turned into maybe we should open our own business," Eric said.

Somewhere along the way, the Edwardses decided they needed to open their own business and fill in the pinball desert between Augusta and Columbia.

They soon picked out the name.

"We looked for something that was catchy and also tied us to the community," Edwards said. "It's a nuke town and we wanted to play on that."

The Savannah River Site, a site of plutonium production during the Cold War, is located 20 miles south of Aiken.

The Edwardses applied to rent 106 Laurens St. S.E, the former home of Beyond Bijoux but the city, the owners of the property, selected Flawless Glow Cosmetic Studio for the spot.

They eventually leased a spot in the Holley building, just across Laurens Street.

Erin said it's not hard to see the community's excitement about the business. She said she cleans the glass facing Laurens Street each day, only to return the next day and find more hand and face prints on the glass.

While she talked about the glass, a little boy pressed his face and hands against it to look inside.

"That's what I'm talking about, all these people walk by you can see the joy on their faces," she said. "I can't wait to opening day when they open the door and it's just like this look or this glow about them."

She added that interest in Radioactive extends to social media.

She said a recent Facebook post showing her husband painting a wall drew more than 10,000 impressions. She said the interest is particularly high from members of Generation X (1965-82) because pinball machines make them remember their childhoods.

Erin added Gen Xers want to share this part of their childhoods with their own children, some of whom are now teenagers.

"I think we're starting a fire here," Eric said. "When iPhone came out, people didn't know they had to have the iPhone until it was there. And for us, we played pinball and we had to have it. We think that will happen to other people too when they see how complex and engaging these machines are."

The Edwardses said they are selling two-hour tickets to the grand opening as a way of keeping a steady flow of traffic through the arcade.

Tickets are $15 and available via Radioactive's Facebook page, facebook.com/RadioactivePinballArcade.

After the opening, an hour of free play will cost $15 and an all-day pass will cost $20. The Edwardses also plan to sell soft drinks and beer.

For more information about Radioactive Pinball Arcade, visit radioactivepinballarcade.com, or call 803-373-1717.
The knife recovered Thursday may have been used in the sprawling fight at Aiken High School, and four more students have been charged, officials announced Monday.

School officials said they have since learned that the knife recovered in the vicinity of the situation may have been involved in injuries sustained by a least one of the students during the fight.

Police said they couldn't confirm whether the knife was used in the fight.

The knife may have injured one of the students, Superintendent King Laurence wrote on the district's webpage.

The fight led to the arrest of several students and the district plans to increase safety measures  including by adding more school resource officers  to discourage future fights and have a better notification system for parents and guardians.

Aiken High fight

Around 12:30 p.m. on Aug. 3, police responded to a disturbance at the high school, according to an incident report from the Aiken Department of Public Safety. Police arrested six people, ages 14-17, at the scene who were charged with misdemeanor affray and released to their parents. On Monday, police announced four more were charged with misdemeanor affray and also released to their parents.

The fight started in the school cafeteria and spilled out into the hallways, according to Laurence.

Several people were injured, including one who was taken to a local hospital with an arm fracture and an injury to the right thigh.

After reviewing medical documents and evaluating the injury, the release said, it appeared the victim may have been struck by a knife or other sharp instrument.

The school was placed on a soft lockdown, which Laurence said ensured safety and allowed officers and administrators to focus on supporting injured students and the investigation.

Despite rumors, police said no gun was used during the fight.

District response

In the immediate aftermath, the school increased the presence of officers on campus, and used metal detectors and bag checks at entrances on Friday said Merry Glenne Piccolino, who serves as the director of communications and community partnerships for the Aiken County Public School District.

Individual learning time or ILT didn't begin as planned on Friday and school counselors will continue appropriate conflict resolution education throughout our schools.

She said Laurence reached out to Aiken High School staff, students and parents on Saturday. Beyond injuries, Laurence said the fight was upsetting to many and traumatic for some.

Laurence said law enforcement and school administrators are actively reviewing footage of the fight.

Laurence said the notification process to parents was delayed and he regrets not being able to send the initial notification earlier. He said the district is exploring the implementation of more generalized initial communications to notify parents and guardians of a problem. He is asking for patience as the district works with law enforcement to ensure safety of students and staff.

"Situations like the one this week at Aiken High are a major detriment to all of our schools," Laurence said in a statement. "They diminish the sense of safety and security that students, staff and families deserve to have on our school campuses.

"Please be assured that we do not take lightly our responsibility to ensure the safety of our communitys children. Six students were apprehended by police Thursday for their involvement in the situation. Together with law enforcement, we will hold responsible, to the fullest extent possible, anyone who threatens the safety and security of our schools."
Travelers arriving at Charleston International like the ease of walking the short distance from the gate to the terminal's baggage-claim area.

What they don't like are the long waits to retrieve their checked bags at the airport's three luggage carousels.

Lillian Eades and her husband returned to the Lowcountry after a trip to New Orleans at about 3:30 p.m. July 29 on a Delta Air Lines flight from Atlanta.

"Our luggage did not come for another one hour and 22 minutes," the Mount Pleasant resident said.

Donald Wicks came back to the Lowcountry from a trip to Boston on a JetBlue Airways flight around 1 p.m. on July 17.

He waited 40 minutes before his luggage spilled onto the baggage carousel.

Others have reported long waits as well, saying the recent incidents are not rare and they can grab their checked bags faster at much larger airports than Charleston.

"On one occasion, it took longer to get our bags after we landed than the flight from Atlanta to Charleston actually took," Charleston resident Jim Matthews said.

He hesitates to check bags because he said the delays at CHS "are the worst of any airport we fly into."

Delta acknowledged the recent problem and is offering flying points to those affected.

Delta apologizes to our customers for a long wait at baggage claim during the afternoon of July 29," an airline spokeswoman said. "We continue to work with all stakeholders to find ways to improve our performance for our Charleston customers."

The Atlanta-based carrier said Delta customers can receive 2,500 SkyMiles by filling out an online airline form if checked bags aren't delivered to baggage claim 20 minutes after arrival time.

Airlines contract with independent ground crew companies to handle checked bags placed on and taken off airplanes. They are not airport employees.

Delta flights' bags at CHS are handled by Unifi. A spokesperson said Aug. 7 the company needed more time to respond.

Representatives from JetBlue and its Charleston airport baggage handler, G2 Secure Staff, did not respond to requests for comment.

Airport spokesman Spencer Pryor said the incidents were likely related to recent health and staffing issues of ground crews.

In one instance, he said several baggage handlers were out sick after a coronavirus outbreak. At another time, ground crews were not in place when flights arrived early.

He called the incidents isolated but regrettable.

"It's not something that happens frequently, and we apologize for any inconvenience to our passengers," Pryor said.

The delays are not only making people upset, they also are putting a blemish on the state's busiest airport and the thousands of tourists who arrive by air every year.

"I was talking to some folks who also were waiting and it was their first visit to Charleston," Wicks said. "This is a heck of a way to greet them."

Eades said the flight she was on arrived about 10 minutes early, and when she and her husband approached the baggage-retrieval area, passengers from three other flights also were waiting at the airport's luggage carousels.

She decided to sit aside with their carry-on bags, watching traveling families and friends growing impatient while her husband stood vigil near the carousels.

"There were children crying, people who were very angry at the delay of their luggage, verbally saying that they were never coming to Charleston again," Eades said. "We are very proud of our city, and ... to see the airport in such turmoil and inefficiency is very distressing."

Airport CEO Elliott Summey said CHS and the airlines that serve the Lowcountry "strive to provide a positive passenger experience for the millions of travelers that pass through" their doors.

"While these incidents appear to be rare, we take them seriously," Summey said. "We have reached out to the local airline station managers to ensure that bags are delivered in a timely manner.
The second half of a highly touted deal with a pair of Saudi Arabian airlines adding North Charleston-built 787 jets to their fleets was booked in July as Boeing Co. also moved closer to its annual delivery goal for the widebody.

The state-owned Saudia last month finalized an order for 39 Dreamliners, including a mix of 18 mid-sized 787-9 models and 21 of the largest 787-10 variant.

The order was part of a 78-plane deal announced in March that also included startup carrier Riyadh Air's order for 39 Dreamliners. The two airlines have options to buy a combined 43 additional 787s depending on market conditions.

Riyadh Air finalized its order in June.

The Saudia deal was among 52 orders Boeing booked for its commercial planes in July, stretching the aerospace giant's production backlog to 4,928 jets including 602 Dreamliners. For the year, Boeing has tallied 467 net orders, including 148 for 787s, after factoring in cancellations and conversions.

Boeing also delivered 43 planes in July, including four 787s  one apiece to Israeli carrier El Al, Qantas of Australia, Turkish Airlines and Latin America's LATAM Airlines.

The four Dreamliner deliveries give Boeing 35 for the year. That is halfway to the company's goal of delivering between 70 and 80 787s to customers by the end of 2023. Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun affirmed the delivery goal during a second-quarter earnings call with analysts last month.

Boeing's North Charleston campus is now building four new 787s each month, up from one or two at the beginning of the year, and the company plans to end the year with a rate of five per month. Boeing has been trying to boost production following several large orders in recent months from carriers, both for the company's Dreamliner and its single-aisle 737 Max.

Calhoun said last month those deals, including the one with Saudia, have helped to strengthen Boeing's order book.

The quality of the backlog has never been better  never, he said during an interview with CNBC.

Boeing delivered 309 commercial planes to customers during the first seven months of this year. That is a 22 percent increase from the same period a year ago but less than the 381 jets rival Airbus said it delivered through July.
South Carolina has joined the litigation against manufacturers of "forever chemicals," saying the persistent substances contaminated the state's drinking water, soil and other natural resources.

The complaint was filed Aug. 7 in state court in Richland County, according to a statement from Attorney General Alan Wilson's office.

The 46-page lawsuit alleges that the defendants, including 3M Co. and Dupont, knew for decades that the chemicals are toxic and that they misled the public and government regulators "by consistently and publicly denying that their ... products presented any harm to human health or the environment."

The state is seeking unspecified financial damages for damage to its natural resources and to public safety.

South Carolina joins a lengthy and growing list of government agencies that are suing over contamination caused by the man-made and nearly indestructible class of chemicals linked to cancer and other health ailments after leaching into drinking-water systems across the U.S.

One of the main manufacturers was 3M and DuPont. For decades, they made or sold the water-, stain- and heat-resistant chemicals for use in a wide variety of everyday products.

The perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances also were a key ingredient in a widely used suppressant that firefighters sprayed on the ground at military bases, airports and other sites.

Several thousand lawsuits from around the nation have been consolidated in federal court in Charleston. Some allege that the chemicals in the foam leached into the soil and contaminated public and private drinking-water sources.

The plaintiffs include state-owned utility Santee Cooper, the board that oversees Charleston International Airport and at least two local water systems.

The state's newly filed lawsuit isn't seeking to join the firefighting litigation, which 3M, DuPont and two other manufacturers hope to settle by paying about $13.7 billion. The offers are still being reviewed and have not been approved.

The manufacturers still face numerous other lawsuits from around the nation over claims of property damage and personal injuries.

The Attorney General's office is being assisted in its case by lawyers from two private South Carolina firms, including former state Sen. Vincent Sheheen of Camden.
WEST COLUMBIA  A section of Meeting Street connecting West Columbia and Columbia could honorarily become "Joe E. Taylor Jr., Way," after the late state commerce secretary and Columbia councilman.

The proposal, which would add signs over the busy thoroughfare between State and Huger streets on either side of the Gervais Street Bridge, is the second attempt to use a street name to honor the prominent businessman and public figure who died in December.

After backlash from community members in May, Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann asked the City Council to reconsider an already-passed resolution to honorarily put Taylor's name on two blocks of Washington Street between Gadsden and Park streets.

During a meeting at Zion Baptist Church, which sits at the corner of Washington and Gadsden streets, several dozen community members called on Rickenmann to instead propose honorarily naming the street after one of the Black businesses or activists with significance to the area, which was once part of Columbia's Black Wall Street.

Two months later, Rickenmann and West Columbia Mayor Tem Miles proposed to the Lexington County Legislative Delegation that Meeting Street  which the state owns  should be named in honor of Taylor. The delegation gave its stamp of approval.
(Bloomberg) -- The leaders of South Americas Amazon nations gathered in Brazil on Tuesday as President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva pushes for a united strategy to save the worlds largest rainforest  and pressures the planets richest countries to help.

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The Amazon Summit, a series of conferences and closed-door meetings, is taking place in Belem, the rainforest city that is slated to host the United Nations COP30 climate meetings in 2025.

Presidents from Bolivia, Colombia and Peru, the prime minister of Guyana, and top officials from Ecuador, Suriname and Venezuela joined Lula for the first meeting of the eight-member Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization since 2009. Leaders from other tropical forest countries, including Indonesia, Congo and the Republic of Congo, also planned to take part in the two-day event.

For Lula, the summit is part of a push to reclaim a leadership role for Brazil in global climate negotiations, a seat it largely abandoned under former President Jair Bolsonaro, who rolled back environmental protections and drew international scorn as rates of deforestation rose. Preliminary government data released last week showed that deforestation in the Amazon fell 66% in July from a year ago.

Brazil has managed to turn the sad page of its history, Lula declared Tuesday morning, while also stressing that the need for regional and global cooperation on climate change has never been so urgent.

Read More: Rich Nations Must Meet $100 Billion Climate Goal: COP28 Director

After a day of presidential-level meetings, the nations inked a joint statement based on a proposal Brazil drafted in an effort to put the countries on the same page ahead of Novembers COP28 climate talks in Dubai. Lula has indicated that he plans to use that event to convince wealthy countries to follow through on a stalled pledge to deliver $100 billion in annual climate aid to the developing world.

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Rich countries that have already destroyed their forests need to take responsibility for financing our efforts to protect our peoples, Lula said earlier in the day.

Financial Aid

In the 113-point text, the countries recognized the necessity of avoiding a point of no return in the Amazon, but did not make any binding commitments on hot-button issues like mineral extraction or an end to illegal deforestation, which Lula has pledged to do in Brazil by 2030.

They agreed to beef up safeguards and increase law enforcement cooperation in order to combat drug trafficking and environmental crimes. They also called for the creation of a financial mechanism to attract funding, particularly from regional and global development banks.

On the eve of the summit, a coalition of major financial institutions, including Brazils national development bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, pledged to support sustainable growth in the Amazon. The exact amount hasnt been defined, but initial estimates suggest it could be as high as $25 billion, local newspapers reported.

That may also help generate the sort of private-sector financing environmental groups say is necessary to bolster foreign government aid Lula has secured, including hundreds of millions of dollars in pledged contributions from the US, UK and other nations to the Amazon Fund, a Brazil-led initiative that finances forest protection.

Read More: Biden Seeks $500 Million for Brazils Amazon Rainforest in Gesture to Lula

The importance Lula is now placing on regional cooperation reflects Brazils belief that a united front can help attract additional funding and avoid future sanctions, said Matias Spektor, an international relations professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation in Sao Paulo.

Coalition politics are back, he said. The rationale in Brasilia is that Brazil should not act alone.

Hard-to-Reach Consensus

Consensus has long eluded the commodity-dependent region where about a third of the population lives in poverty and economic development remains the primary concern. And differences between the member nations made wide-ranging agreements  including a potential pledge to join Brazils goal of ending illegal deforestation by the end of the decade  unlikely as the summit began.

Colombia President Gustavo Petro highlighted disagreements between their policies in his opening remarks, while reiterating his call for bans on new oil exploration. Lulas government has taken a more measured approach, seeking to balance future development with its environmental aims  and is currently mired in a dispute over state-controlled oil company Petrobrass drilling plans near the mouth of the Amazon River.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, meanwhile, oversees an oil-dependent economy and has shown little interest in curbing deforestation in the Amazon. He has also faced condemnation from the UN over human rights abuses related to the participation of state forces in gold mining.

Outside the event, dozens of Indigenous activists protested against resource extraction in the region.

Inside, Peru President Dina Boluarte urged her counterparts to remember the human face of the Amazon, and called on the international community to make the well-being of the forests estimated 30 million inhabitants  and especially its Indigenous populations  its top priority.

Brazil Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira downplayed the differences, saying the statement showed that the region could work together to protect the environment.

Im confident that moving forward we in the region will be able to continue calling the worlds attention to the Amazon and the need for join actions, Vieira said.

The agreements may allow for some progress to combat an uptick in violence and criminal activity that has plagued the Amazon. A UN report released in June indicated that significant parts of the forest are wracked by a complex ecosystem of drug crime, with proceeds from sophisticated trafficking operations funneling into illegal logging, ranching and gold mining.

Read more: Narco Laundering Threatens Amazon Amid Cocaine Boom, UN Warns

Lula has unveiled series of new environmental safeguards and deployed the military to target networks of wildcat miners on Indigenous lands. The agreement includes a plan to create a central police office in the Brazilian city of Manaus to foster law enforcement cooperation among the eight countries.

Populations that face similar challenges throughout the region could benefit from a coordinated approach, said Beto Verissimo, the co-founder of Imazon, an environmental think tank in Belem.

With the joint agreement in hand, Lula is likely to continue pushing to convince Brazils neighbors that they are stronger as a bloc, especially amid debates over how much donor countries and major development banks should help fund green transitions in low- and middle-income nations.

The urgency of climate change means that all the rules are being contested, said Ilona Szabo, president of the Igarape Institute, a think tank in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil is keen to negotiate the importance of the region.

--With assistance from Guilherme Bento.

(Updates with details of joint declaration, Brazil foreign minister comments.)

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In early July, the thought of closing Butcher & Bee had not entered owner Michael Shemtovs mind.

The restaurateur had just returned from an inspiring week in Israel, a trip that brought trios from Butcher & Bees two locations in Nashville and Charleston to Haifa, Nazareth, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

After dining at dozens of Israeli establishments, Shemtov returned with the thought of shaking things up at Butcher & Bee Charleston, which has operated in two locations on the peninsula since October 2011.

The changes werent going to be big  the restaurant was, after all, just one year removed from a James Beard Award finalist nod, and its online reviews showed that diners were still enjoying the food and hospitality.

There were a few troubling statistics, including this: 75 percent of Butcher & Bee diners over the last few months were first-time visitors. Sales were also down during the busiest time of the year, which prepares Butcher & Bee and other Charleston restaurants for the slower months, October through February.

Shemtov thought they could change up the pacing and size of dishes to make the Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant a place where groups shared a table full of small plates. A restaurant that locals might, once again, start visiting more than once a week.

Then, he crunched the numbers. Shemtov, whose Iraqi father was one of the inspirations for Butcher & Bee, thought about what it would take for the restaurant to live up to the standard set by him, his management group and that James Beard nomination.

Thinking back to Israel, he was reminded of where he knew Butcher & Bee needed to go, and how far it was from getting there.

After many conversations with his team, he realized it was time to let go of the passion project that started as a late night gourmet sandwich shop on Upper King Street.

Its a thin line between success and failure, Shemtov said. Its just on the wrong side of that line right now.

Butcher & Bee will permanently close at 1085 Morrison Drive Sept. 3. In the weeks that follow, the address will become a pop-up version of The Daily, the artisan cafe that Shemtov first opened at 652 King St. in 2014.

Butcher & Bee Nashville will continue to serve customers in the Music City.

This feels like the hardest decision Ive ever made, Shemtov said. I had hoped that wed be right back in the running for a Beard award.

Butcher & Bee first opened in 2011 at 654 King St. Back then, the restaurant was much smaller and served globally inspired gourmet sandwiches to a local crowd on a stretch of Upper King Street that had yet to develop into the buzzing restaurant hub it is today.

During its tenure on King Street, Butcher & Bee catered to the food and beverage industry by opening from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. in addition to its lunch service. Charleston locals fell in love with Butcher & Bees open-faced chile relleno torta and muffaletta, but turning a profit was a challenge.

At a crossroads, Shemtov decided to bring Butcher & Bee to Nashville, a restaurant he at the time referred to as Butcher & Bee 2.0. Serving sandwiches, Middle Eastern mezze, salads and alcohol (Butcher & Bee Charleston was BYOB at the time), the restaurants sales stretched far beyond its Lowcountry counterpart.

Seven years after moving Butcher & Bee Charleston to Morrison Drive  a location that was originally slated to be a daytime cafe called Workshop  Shemtov finds himself at a similar crossroads. He believes in Butcher & Bees executive chef, Jeremy Waybright, and menu, but the restaurant has struggled to receive the dinner business it needs to survive, Shemtov said.

With rising food costs and other factors impacting the bottom line, the restaurants financials arent making sense.

Enter The Daily, a daytime eatery with a line out the door most days of the week on King Street. The cafe has been so successful in Atlanta that Shemtov will open another location in January, his third in just two years.

In addition to those three Daily locations and the one in Charleston, Shemtovs hospitality group still has two restaurants in Nashville: Redheaded Stranger and Butcher & Bee.

None of that would be possible without the original Butcher & Bee, he said.

We wouldnt have this office and six person management team and be in three states and almost 300 employees company wide, Shemtov said. It was like the little booster rocket that sent us off into space.

Shemtov isnt sure if a second location of The Daily will work in Charleston, but he is optimistic. He can envision a future with additional outposts of The Daily in Mount Pleasant or James Island, but this address would have to be successful.

When the pop-up opens sometime in September, it will look and feel a little different than The Daily on King Street, but the menu will be mostly the same. There will be a few more lunch options and Wi-Fi for those who want to eat and work at their leisure.

Perhaps most importantly, Shemtov said, it will cater to locals who might want to avoid the long lines at The Daily King Street.

Before that transformation happens, Butcher & Bee plans to go all in on its last three weeks of service. Shemtov hopes people flood the restaurant for their last bites of zaatar fried chicken, grilled okra, spicy avocado salad, bacon-wrapped dates and halloumi. (Butcher & Bees ever-popular whipped feta will still be on the menu at The Daily.)

Butcher & Bee is open Thursday through Monday through Sept. 3. To make a reservation, visit resy.com.
A Moncks Corner man out on bond for a violent offense was rearrested on allegations he sexually assaulted a woman at gunpoint.

The latest felony charges filed in Charleston County against Arthur Sentell Squire Jr. led Circuit Court Judge Roger M. Young on Aug. 8 to grant the states request to revoke Squire's bond. In his ruling, the judge said he found probable cause that Squire had not demonstrated good behavior in compliance with his bond and that he could pose a danger to the community.

Squire will remain jailed pending trial. Legislation passed this year to reform South Carolina's bail system means that Squire, 42, could face tougher penalties if he is convicted.

The legislation creates an offense punishable by up to five years in prison if an individual commits a violent crime while out on bond for a previous violent offense. If convicted, the person will not get credit for any time he spends in pre-trial detention.

Squire was initially arrested on Aug. 22, 2022, in North Charleston after a woman he met on a dating app told police he pulled a firearm on her inside a hotel room.

The 6-foot-2 man threatened to force the woman to perform sex acts on him, according to affidavits supporting his arrest. When she tried to call 911, the affidavits state, he grabbed her phone, stole her purse and fled in her vehicle.

North Charleston police charged Squire with grand larceny, armed robbery and a weapons offense. A magistrate set a total bond of $150,000 for the three charges. He spent one night in the Charleston County jail before bonding out, jail records show.

While free on bond, Squire allegedly lured another woman to a West Ashley apartment.

The woman told police that she met the defendant the night of July 3 and agreed to spend time with him the following morning at his apartment, located at 406 Royal Palm Blvd. When she arrived, affidavits state, she found the defendant naked and brandishing a firearm.

The woman said she tried to wrestle the firearm from Squire, but couldn't, according to the arrest affidavits. He dragged her by her hair, ripping strands from her scalp, and sexually assaulted her before she was able to flee the apartment after 45 minutes and called 911. A witness at the scene also reported hearing the victim screaming and banging on a door inside Squire's apartment.

Squire was charged with kidnapping, assault with the intent to commit criminal sexual conduct and a weapons offense.
ST. GEORGE  A second horse has died more than a week after five animals were shot at an animal sanctuary in Dorchester County.

Marcy Hippey, who operates Shangri-La Sanctuary in St. George, said Huck's Downtown Girl was humanely euthanized at a veterinary clinic Aug. 6.

The 3-year-old mare had been shot twice in the chest and shoulder on July 28, along with three other horses.

Charlotte, 30, the oldest of the 17 horses who live on the farm, was found dead the next morning with eight gunshot wounds to her head and body.

Another horse  Pepsi was shot in the eye, which had to be surgically removed and stitched shut; Millie was shot twice in her hindquarters.

A goat, Ginger, was also found dead. Hippey said she suspects the animal was shot as well, but she and Jodi Packard, who helps care for the nearly 200 animals on the farm, buried Ginger before learning of the injuries to the horses.

Dorchester County authorities believe a child under 11 years old shot the animals. By law, the juvenile cannot be detained because of his age. The solicitor's office is working to draw up petitions alleging the child committed criminal acts.

It is unclear if the child's guardians will face charges. Neither the Sheriff's Office nor the solicitor would provide more information on the case they're investigating as animal cruelty.

Hippey said she knows the suspected shooter who lives in the area. She continues to worry for the safety of the other animals under her care, as well as the humans who care for them.

She heard the barrage of gunfire coming from the tree line just beyond the western edge of her property where the horses and goat were grazing in several enclosed pastures. She yelled at the gunman to stop shooting toward the farm, but Hippey said she never imagined anyone would be intentionally aiming for the animals.

After the shooting, Huck's wouldn't put any weight on her front right leg below the two wounds. It meant putting too much pressure on her left leg, which the horse had broken about six months ago. She had just been allowed to graze in the pasture after months of being confined in a stall when she was shot.

On Aug. 4, Hippey said Huck's had been improving. Over the weekend, she posted to the sanctuary's Facebook page that the mare was finally putting weight on her right leg.

"I spoke too soon," Hippey posted Aug. 6. "She went down hard this morning."

A veterinarian visited the farm twice to treat the horse, but Hippey said Huck's could no longer be treated at the farm and they were taking her to Aiken for an emergency visit.

"Run free again sweet girl!" Hippey posted in memoriam early Aug. 7. "We did everything humanely possible to save you but failed. We will get justice for you, Charlotte, Pepsi and Millie."

For more information about the sanctuary, or to donate, visit its website at shangrilasanctuarysc.com
MONCKS CORNER  A judge denied an immunity request from a man seeking protection from prosecution under South Carolina's "stand-your-ground" law in a 2020 slaying in Goose Creek.

Jaylin Smalls, 24, is accused of fatally shooting 20-year-old Raquan Hughes at a home on Sora Lane, less than a mile south of the Goose Creek Police Department off U.S. Highway 52.

Hughes was shot nine times, including three in the back. He died July 9, 2020.

Six days later, Smalls turned himself into police, who charged him with murder. He has been held in the Berkeley County jail without bond since then.

On July 28, his attorney, Julie Shivers, argued that Smalls had feared for his life and shot Hughes after Hughes went into the home and returned with gun.

Smalls, who said he'd been shot before, heard Hughes cock the gun, and saw it pointed at him.

"I've felt a bullet, I didn't want to feel another one," Smalls testified in Berkeley County General Sessions court more than a week before Circuit Judge Bentley Price issued his ruling Aug. 7.

Shivers alleged that Hughes had texted in a group message just before the shooting that he was planning to shoot Smalls, though it was unclear why.

Because Smalls acted in self-defense, Shivers said, he should be immune from murder prosecution under the state's Protection of Persons and Property Act, more commonly referred to as the state's stand-your-ground law.

Assistant Solicitor Benjamin Dennis countered that Smalls had not been invited to the home where the shooting occurred, and that he came armed with the intention to kill Hughes in retaliation for the death of his cousin.

Nearly a year earlier, Smalls' cousin, 19-year-old Keyon White, was killed along with another man during an alleged drug deal, according to testimony last month. Hughes was the one who drove White to that deal. Hughes was charged with obstructing justice, being an accessory after the fact and two gun offenses for his involvement in that case, and was free on bond when killed. There charges against Hughes were dismissed a week after his death, according to court records.

Dennis called Hughes' shooting a "get back," slang for revenge.

Joshua Smith, who lived in the home where Hughes was shot, testified that he'd told Hughes to go to Columbia because "it was safer there." So he was surprised when his friend turned up at his home that afternoon.

Smith said he had not invited Smalls, who came over because he wanted to record music in the studio Smith had in his room.

A major issue in the case was whether Smalls had a lawful right to be at the house. Price ruled that because Smalls was an uninvited guest that cut against a claim of self-defense.

Smith testified all three men had guns when they were hanging out on the front porch, but that Hughes had left his gun behind when he was shot. Smith added that Smalls shot Hughes without any provocation.

But Smith's testimony was inconsistent with several prior statements he'd made to police and the solicitor's office.

Before making his ruling, Price also listened to the recorded statement of another witness, Hughes' girlfriend, outside of the public courtroom.

In his order, Price said Smalls failed to meet the standards required to grant immunity, clearing the way for a trial. But the judge's ruling doesn't prevent Smalls from arguing self-defense at trial.
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 76F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 76F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Sun and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 88F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear skies. Low 76F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.
We dont know if the political brawl in the capital city over a judicial reappointment is in fact the best evidence yet of the need for judicial selection reform, as S.C. Sen. Dick Harpootlian proclaimed last week  theres a lot of competition out there  but it certainly advances the argument that the current system is rotten.

And it certainly is great evidence  again, theres too much competition to declare it the best evidence  of how foolish it is to invest county legislative delegations with authority over  well, pretty much anything.

As The Post and Couriers Seanna Adcox reports, a meeting of the Richland County legislative delegation degenerated into insults and yelling when Mr. Harpootlian and Rep. Todd Rutherford squared off over the delegation chairmans unilateral decision to reopen screening for the judicial seat held since 1989 by Richland County Master-in-Equity Joseph Strickland.

Rep. Leon Howard clearly lacked the legal authority to take that action, which he claims represented a consensus on a body that never voted or even discussed the matter in a public meeting, and were glad the S.C. Supreme Court agreed the next day to hear a lawsuit that Mr. Strickland filed against the delegation. (A vote during the meeting would seem to have mooted the judges strongest argument: that the delegation had to take a vote to reopen screening, which it never did. Until Wednesday. So were fascinated to see where the court might go with this.)

We also were glad to see the delegation finally holding a meeting on the matter, both to comply with the minimum legal requirement of taking a vote before it takes action and also to demonstrate that this gang isnt fit to be making decisions.

And yet it is empowered by state law to do much more than essentially decide who will serve as an equity court judge, who has the authority of a Circuit Court judge primarily in matters concerning real property.

The delegation acting as a body separate from the Legislature also appoints a host of governing bodies whose work in most cases must be funded by either the full Legislature or the Richland County Council, neither of which has a say in those decisions. There are numerous examples of crony-filled boards taking taxpayers for a ride, but the most consequential appointments are for the county election commission, which has proven immensely talented at flubbing elections, largely because the delegation hangs on too long to incompetent election directors and runs off apparently competent ones. (This matters to all of us, because Richland County voters dont elect just Richland County officials; they also vote in statewide races.)

This is the way government worked in South Carolina through the first few centuries, when we didn't have county governments, but it was supposed to change after voters approved a constitutional amendment and the Legislature passed the Home Rule Act of 1975: County councils were supposed to run county government, and legislators were supposed to work as part of the full Legislature to write state law. But lawmakers never gave up all of their local power.

Granted, the Richland delegation is much better than most at putting its dysfunction on full display, but while the Charleston County delegation has managed to appoint election commissioners who have hired and kept a stellar election director, its hand-picked airport board did hire an unqualified crony for a job no one even knew was coming vacant running the airport. And the result of its tantrum over local school policies it didnt like was a completely upended school board that  well, judge that for yourself.

Are these two county delegations exceptions? Its hard to say, because most fly completely under the radar. In smaller counties, the delegation can be composed of a single senator and a single representative, who get to double-handedly dictate the direction of local agencies that spend either state or county tax dollars.

Yet how often, when you go into the voting booth, are you thinking about electing a House member or senator to run your county government? More often than never? Sure, you might sometimes get angry with your legislators because your property taxes are higher than you think they should be, but it would never occur to you that your individual representative and individual senator are to blame when the garbage isnt picked up on time or the police dont show up fast enough when you call. Or at least it shouldnt.

And if that does occur to you, then this should occur to you as well: Every minute your state legislators spend meddling in local matters that you elected county council members to handle is a minute they cant spend working to unshackle principals so they can improve our schools or fix our convoluted tax system or put some teeth in the open-government law that local governments routinely ignore or pass laws to let police arrest convicted criminals for carrying guns. Or reform a judicial selection system that gives the legislative branch total control over the judiciary and, within that legislative branch, allows six lawyer-legislators to serve as gatekeepers, deciding who even gets to seek a judgeship.

Click here for more opinion content from The Post and Courier.
COLUMBIA  The S.C. Department of Social Services says its taking action to find foster children homes after a report showed the system has become so unstable that dozens of kids were forced to sleep overnight in state offices.

Fueled by a dire shortage of foster homes, the number of children shuttled around the state and staying at temporary homes reached its highest level in about six years, according to a report filed in federal court in Charleston.

The report was compiled by independent monitors working to enforce a 2016 settlement agreement between the state and advocates for foster children.

From October 2021 to October 2022, 11 children spent more than 50 nights each in emergency homes, the report found. One child spent 129 nights in emergency homes during that period.

Meanwhile, 47 children slept 65 nights in state offices earlier this year  up from about two dozen in the preceding six months, the report found. That included 19 overnight stays in offices in February and 28 in March, the month the report was released.

The problem has continued to mount, with foster children spending a combined 251 nights in offices in June before dropping to 132 nights in July, according to Emily Medere, deputy state director for child welfare services.

It breaks my heart. I find myself apologizing and apologizing because I feel so badly, and if I could fit another one in I would, said Cindy Bogan-Baber, the president of the Berkeley County Foster Parents Association, who is currently fostering three children.

Its terrible to me to think that theres a child sleeping in an office somewhere, she said.

Medere and Michael Leach, director of the Department of Social Services, told The Post and Courier in early August they have implemented a raft of programs to get the situation under control.

The department is providing families with the most challenging children 24/7 crisis support, extra training and a behavioral specialist; enlisted the help of community organizations in the Upstate; began providing day services in the Midlands; and contracted with a third-party organization to work on keeping children in a consistent home, officials said.

A lot of these efforts are going in the right direction, Medere said. But this is a problem that has been mounting for years, and so all the strategies were addressing are still in implementation phases.

The troubling trends with foster homes come as the department has made immense improvements in other areas. A decade ago, the department was mired in scandal after revelations during a state Senate investigation of overstretched staff and a string of deaths of children in care. Then-Director Lillian Koller resigned in 2014 under immense pressure from state legislators who said they had lost confidence in her.

Foster children and advocacy groups sued the state in federal court over conditions in the system in early 2015. In 2016, the state signed a settlement agreement with the plaintiffs agreeing to a set of benchmarks and an independent watchdog to monitor progress.

Leach was brought in as director to turn the agency around in 2019.

The latest monitoring report showed the department has markedly improved investigations of neglect and abuse, significantly decreased caseloads and increased the number of foster children staying with extended family rather than in homes with nonrelatives.

Eighty-nine percent of case manager positions are filled and 38 of 46 counties have met the caseload objective set out by the settlement agreement. Additionally, more than a quarter of foster children now stay with relatives, up from 2 percent several years ago, according to Medere.

The crisis orientation that has defined DSS for years has begun to give way to a more purposeful focus on building infrastructure and improving practice with families, the report found. It was filed March 30.

U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel, who is overseeing the case, seconded that analysis Aug. 3, issuing an order affirming the states compliance with the agreement in four areas, the first time the state has moved toward exiting federal oversight.

Theyre making the best out of a bad situation, said state Sen. Katrina Shealy, a Lexington Republican who is the Statehouses leading voice on childrens issues.

The growing instability in the foster system is due to a shortage of foster families even as the number of children in the system has fallen by about a fifth in the past five years, Leach said.

These issues usually happen when these numbers are going up, Leach said. The numbers are not going up. Theyre going down, but the children who make up those numbers are more complex and have more needs.

The department, which has about 2,450 foster homes, said in early July it needs nearly 2,000 more to meet demand.

Foster homes, which have always been in short supply, became especially scarce after the pandemic.

Families were not too keen about thinking about bringing a child who they didnt know  into their home when there was so much concern and lockdown, said John Connery, who runs foster family recruitment for South Carolina Youth Advocate Program, a foster placement nonprofit that works with the state.

The extra burdens on parents during the lockdown, like online schooling, also took their toll on families, Leach said.

The department resumed direct recruitment of foster families in May after leaving that task to the placement nonprofits during the pandemic while it focused on increasing the number of relatives taking care of foster children.

The department is also trying to build its own network of mental and behavioral health treatment services for families to prevent children from entering the foster system in the first place, Medere said.

The issues of foster children staying overnight in offices, defined as children spending more than four hours in an office after 10 p.m., emerged in late 2021 and early 2022, leading the federal monitors to request the department create a plan to reduce it, which seemed to work over the summer and into the fall of last year, the report found. But this winter the issue dramatically increased, reaching crisis levels again, according to the report.

The problem has since ballooned, though DSS officials said the drop of overnight office stays in July is a sign they are making progress.

Some children without permanent homes often spend the day at department offices until employees drive them to sleep at a temporary home just for the night, the report found.

State Rep. John King, D-Rock Hill, received several calls earlier this year from department employees at regional offices raising concerns about the number of children staying overnight there, he said.

I was concerned as well as shocked, King said.

The rate of children being placed in temporary homes has grown 60 percent between 2017 and 2022, and only 35 percent of children are placed in their home counties, the report found.

Yet only a small fraction of the 3,600 children in foster care have been impacted by the systems instability. Thirty-five percent of children in state care have had unstable placements and 3.5 percent of children have stayed overnight in offices recently, according to Medere. Its often the most challenging children, teenagers with behavioral issues, that bear the brunt of the instability.

What we need is for folks in South Carolina, who often readily volunteer to serve their community for many things, is to step up and be willing to serve our children who are abused, neglected, and abandoned by their families, Leach said.
Republican presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., stands with, from second from left, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., during a rally, Friday, Feb. 19, 2016, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

As a pair of generally friendly foes in the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, South Carolinas Nikki Haley and Tim Scott share a great deal of similarities  both minorities with a South Carolina political pedigree whose paths have been inextricably intertwined over the last decade.

Haley, the states former governor, appointed Scott to the U.S. Senate, after all.

Both polling with around 3% of support among potential GOP primary voters, neither Scott nor Haley have targeted one another in their campaigns thus far. Both are pro-life. Both are pro-Ukraine. Both are supporters of parental rights in education. And both really, really dont like President Joe Biden.

The real question is  how are they different?

Occasionally referenced as South Carolinas brother and sister, the sibling pair now facing off for the 2024 presidential race do have differences. Their stances are becoming sharper as the first Republican debate draws near this month, allowing the two to zero in on what they would do as president.

The State compiled a list of some of the biggest 2024 topics and specifically looked at where Haley and Scott differentiated. Heres what we found.

Abortion

Both Haley and Scott have been adamant that they are 100% and unapologetically pro-life.

But they do differ when it gets down to specifics on abortion restrictions. They  like other GOP contenders including Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis  also have both refrained from answering some central policy specifics, including whether they would implement a six-week ban on abortions.

Haley has said she doesnt believe a federal abortion ban is realistic. However, she does say there should be some sort of federal legislation, specifically, on elements where there is some national consensus.

For instance, her campaign team said she would like a potential federal law to offer more information and support to pregnant women, make adoption easier, protect the rights of conscience for doctors and nurses, ban late-term abortion and not punish women who get abortions.

Story continues

Haley has said she will find consensus on abortion if elected and go from that point.

As South Carolinas governor, Haley signed into law a ban on abortions at 19 weeks, with no exceptions.

When asked whether she would support a federal a six-week ban on abortion, Haleys team did not respond. The team also did not respond to a question about exceptions. In response to both, they pointed to a quote from her Iowa town hall speech in late April:

No one talks about finding consensus, Haley said then. Everyone goes to the barricades and attacks the other side. Theyve turned a sensitive issue that has long divided people into a kind of gotcha bidding war. How many weeks are you for? How many exceptions are you for? And so on. But these questions miss the point if the goal is saving as many lives as possible.

Scott has said he would start the conversation with a 15-week abortion ban if elected president and then try his best to win the hearts and minds of the American people to get it any, any more conservative.

I say that to say this, because I think its really important to be honest today, as the guy who sponsored the 20-week bill. No chance of getting that through Congress, Scott said during an Iowa town hall. Because todays Congress is not interested in how conservative you can be. Todays Congress is interested in how late-term the abortion can be. Thats why the Democrats in the body today voted for abortions up until the day of delivery.

Scott also said he would create a federal limit where late-term abortions are impossible in the country.

Unlike Haley, Scott has said he supports exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother.

China

In her campaign, Haley frequently invokes China and proposed economic and domestic policies aimed at minimizing what she says are threats from China.

Arguably, shes talked about Chinas influence more than any other GOP candidate thus far and has touted her time as ambassador to the United Nations under Trump.

Haleys campaign also recently launched a new initiative highlighting a Comrade of the Week, which has featured an image of Joe Biden licking an ice cream cone and insulting his decisions on Chinese influence.

Haley says she would implement policies to prevent China from buying more U.S. land and force it to sell what it already owns; eliminate federal funding for universities that take Chinese money; ban all lobbying from Chinese companies and prevent former members of Congress and military leaders from lobbying on Chinas behalf; push Congress to revoke permanent normal trade relations if the flow of fentanyl from China does not end; end the export of sensitive technology to China; and block Chinese purchases of American companies specializing in advanced technology.

Haley also has said she would strengthen military ties to Japan, South Korea, Australia, India and the Philippines and give Taiwan what it needs to defend itself.

Scott has introduced, sponsored and co-sponsored multiple pieces of legislation related to China, including the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, the Know Your App Act and the Taiwan Partnership Act.

But he hasnt defined what exactly he would do if elected, other than vaguely keep Chinese influence out of America.

Ill keep China out of our homeland and out of our data, Scott said in a campaign ad. Ill protect American workers, and I will return our military to the fiercest fighting machine in the world.

He has also said he will rebuild a military so lethal and powerful that our adversaries will fear us and our allies will respect us.

Scott has yet to say whether he would prevent China from buying land or seek any other policies similar to those Haley has proposed.

Ukraine

Both Scott and Haley have been outspoken in their support of Ukraine in the war with Russia, and both have criticized how Biden has handled the situation.

Haley has said Ukraine should be a part of NATO and has said she would aim to help Ukraine defeat the Russian invasion.

A Russian defeat is an enormous loss for China  and a true victory for peace, Haley tweeted in June.

Haley also said she has no problem with the use of cluster bombs, which are controversial munitions the U.S. has supplied to Ukraine.

The U.S. has never banned cluster bombs. They have been banned in other countries, Haley said in a Fox News interview. Americas cluster bombs are actually safer. Russia is using cluster bombs; why wouldnt Ukraine use cluster bombs? I have no problem with cluster bombs being sent to Ukraine.

Scott has said it is in Americas vital national interest to degrade the Russian military. He has emphasized the wars ability to weaken Russia militarily.

Scott has said Ukraine cant join NATO until after the war is over, but he hasnt said whether he supports that move. He also hasnt been as specific about the use of cluster bombs but has addressed his disdain for how Biden has handled them. In July at the Family Leadership Summit hosted by Tucker Carlson, The Hill reported Scott dodged questions surrounding cluster bombs being sent to Ukraine.

Well, if I was president of the United States, we wouldnt have to, Scott said. He was further pressed on the question, and said, Well I think  theyre there. ... Under my administration, we would have the resources and a defense industrial complex that provides the weapons that we need and our Western allies need, we wouldnt be in this position at all.

TikTok

While a number of Republican candidates, including Haley, have been adamant that TikTok has got to go, Scott stands apart.

The senator has said he wouldnt support his kids using the app, but he also has said he would not ban the app federally. Rather, Scott says he would ban it on governmental devices and leave it up to individuals to decide whether to keep the app on their personal devices.

I think parents are going to have to make that decision, ultimately (whether children should have access to TikTok), he told Fox News in March. I would not allow my kids to have access to TikTok, without any question. I think we should seriously have that conversation in the public forums so parents have all the information about the challenges that are happening, because their kids are on the devices too much, and let them be the final arbiter in that conversation.

Scotts Know your App bill would require app stores to display the country where apps are developed and owned.

Haley, on the other hand, says she would ban the app altogether. Were going to ban TikTok. Ban TikTok everywhere, Haley said in March.

Education

Parental rights in education has become a central talking point of the 2024 election.

Haley has said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Parental Rights in Education bill, dubbed the Dont Say Gay bill, didnt go far enough. The bill signed by DeSantis restricts schools from teaching about sexual orientation and gender issues to students in kindergarten through third grade.

Theyre talking about this bill in Florida, the Dont Say Gay bill, where gay wasnt even mentioned, but you know what it did say? It said you cannot talk about any sort of sexual preference or gender pronouns before third grade, Haley said in June. I didnt think that went far enough. . . . We didnt have sex ed until seventh grade. And even then, you had to have your parent sign a permission slip. And my dad didnt sign it.

Scott, however, has said the Florida law is appropriate as is.

He defended Desantis efforts recently on The View, where he was booed by the audience after he said, Disney and Ron have been in a combat zone over what I thought is the right issue, which is our young kids and what they are being indoctrinated with.

Scott also introduced The PROTECT Kids Act, which would restrict federal funding for any elementary or middle school that allows students to change their pronouns, gender markers, or sex-based accommodations (including locker rooms and bathrooms) without the consent of their parents.

Immigration

Haley and Scott have very similar stances and proposals when it comes to immigration.

Both said they do not believe in the separation of families at the southern border. Both said they would recruit more border patrol and ICE workers. Both would bring back the Remain in Mexico policy, which was enacted under Trump and ended under Biden. And both would end what Republican critics have labeled as catch and release, a policy under Bidens administration that releases people who cross the border with alternatives rather than detaining them due to overcrowding in detention facilities. These alternatives to detention facilities included phone monitoring, ankle bracelets or check-ins by immigration officers, according to a Reuters report.

Haley has said she would institute a national E-verify program, which allows employers to confirm the immigration status of their employees using information from federal I-9 forms, similar to what she instituted for businesses as South Carolina governor, her campaign team said. Haley said she would keep Title 42, a code that was used widely in March 2020 to regulate border crossings during COVID-19. Biden had said he would end the program when campaigning but announced a policy in January that would expand it.

Scott has said he would designate cartels as terrorist organizations and sign the bill he wrote, the FEND Off Fentanyl Act. Scott also specified he would hire 1,000 new immigration judges and deploy military-grade technology at the border and ports of entry to stop illegal drugs and human trafficking.

Donald Trump

Over time, Haley has been bolder in her criticism of former President Donald Trump, the consistent frontrunner in the 2024 Republican race, compared to Scott or most other GOP candidates thus far.

But when Trump was indicted on criminal charges last week for the third time this year, this time in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot and efforts to undermine the results of the 2020 election, Scott responded more quickly. His arrows werent pointed at Trump, though.

I remain concerned about the weaponization of Bidens DOJ and its immense power used against political opponents, he said via Twitter last Tuesday night, less than four hours after the indictment was released. What we see today are two different tracks of justice. One for political opponents and another for the son of the current president. Were watching Bidens DOJ continue to hunt Republicans, while protecting Democrats.

Yet, Scott has remained relatively quiet on Trumps previous indictments  related to alleged financial fraud and the handling of classified documents  and has yet to openly criticize the strongest competitor in the Republican field.

After 37 federal criminal charges were filed against the former president related to the handling of classified documents, Scott said the indictment was a serious case with serious allegations. During a Fox News interview, Scott said, Voters will decide the next president of the United States. Thats the way it should be. Youre innocent until proven guilty.

Scott also has focused in on the ability to restore confidence and integrity to the Department of Justice if he were elected president.

Meanwhile, Haley has openly criticized the former presidents foreign policy, particularly when it comes to relations with China. And she has been somewhat more pointed in recent comments about Trumps legal woes. In a Fox News interview June 12, Haley said if the classified document charges are true, President Trump was incredibly reckless with our national security.

After Trump was charged on 34 felony counts related to alleged financial crimes in New York, Haley tweeted, This is not how justice should be pursued in our country. The American people are exhausted by the prosecutorial overreach, double standards, and vendetta politics. Its time to move beyond the endless drama and distractions.
Rep. Darrell Issa convened a public forum for the Gold Star families of service members killed in the 2021 attack at the airport in Kabul to say their piece. Family members told their stories as they sought answers and accountability for the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan during which 11 sons and two daughters were lost. The forum was held in the main council chamber of Escondido City Hall.

President Biden of course declared the evacuation from Afghanistan an extraordinary success. Every sentient American not toeing the party line found it a humiliating national disgrace. Our adversaries certainly took Bidens measure from it it. If they hadnt figured it out previously, they have marked him down as a lightweight chump ever since.

As the Washington Free Beacons Ben Wilson observes, Biden et al. have followed their accustomed practice in addressing such matters:

The Biden administration has declined to take responsibility for the chaotic withdrawal. White House spokesman John Kirby in April placed blame on the Trump administration, saying the Biden administration was not given plans for the withdrawal during its transition into office. Kirby said not everything about the withdrawal was perfect but that there is a lot to be proud of.

Something is wrong with Joe Biden. Actually, many things are wrong with Joe Biden. Some of them can be seen in the excerpts of statements in the video clips below. Cheryl Rex speaks here. She is the mother of Marine Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola.

This is Darin Hoover, father of Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover.

Issa has posted the full video of the forum on Facebook.

In the Times of San Diego story on the hearing, Ken Stone argues throughout with Issa and the families. He even takes issue with the mom in the first video above. Issa has posted the full video below on Facebook. On Twitter Stone describes himself as nutsy squirrel journalist.

Fox News covered the forum here. The Defense Department gave Fox News this statement: The Department of Defense expresses our deepest condolences to the Gold Star Families who lost loved ones during the tragic bombing at Abbey Gate. We are forever grateful for their service, sacrifice, and committed efforts during the evacuation operations. We also commend the historic and monumental efforts of all our service men and women who served honorably during the withdrawal period from Afghanistan.

The majority of the service members killed in the airport attack were from the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment assigned to Camp Pendleton. Issa identified all 13 in his press release calling announcing the forum. To remind myself of the 13 Americans killed at Abbey Gate, I also turned to this Washington Post story. The thumbnail photo on the home page is of Taylor Hoover (via Alex Cabrero).


Telecoms tycoon Patrick Drahi told an earnings call for Altice France on Tuesday his main priority for the subsidiary was to reduce its $26 billion debt but the sale of its media assets  comprising the BFM TV and RMC TV and radio networks  was not on the cards.

In a rare move for the Israeli-French billionaire, Drahi was talking directly to analysts for the second time this week as he attempts to calm market jitters sparked by a corruption probe involving Altice Portugal and Drahis long-term business associate Armando Pereira.

More from Deadline

The revelation has prompted closer scrutiny of the entire Altice parent group  spanning Altice International, Altice France and a stake in Altice US.

As well as raising questions about the governance of the group, some market commentators suggest the affair will impact its options for servicing its estimated combined $60 billion worth of debt.

Second quarter results for Altice France  grouping telecom giant SFR, Altice Media (BFMTV and RMC) and a 50% stake in fiber optics company XpFibre  showed a 2.6% decline in revenue year-on-year to $3 billion (2.77 billion euros) and a 5.7% decline in EBITDA to $1.12 billion (1.02 billion euros).

Drahi said his single priority for today for Altice France was to deleverage and strengthen its capital structure, with a leverage target of 4.5 times net debt to EBITDA, against 6.3 at the end of June.

He added that many of his long-term lenders had experience of him dealing with and finding solutions for similarly complex debt situations in the past.

Drahi detailed a four-pronged debt reduction strategy, comprising the empowerment of local management, the sale of non-core assets, buying back debt and contributing equity and implementing actions on the M&A front.

Story continues

Quizzed by one of the analysts on the call over whether Altice France was planning a sell-off of its media assets, Drahi said this was not on the cards.

The media business is not for sale, he said.

Although weve been approached by a number of people, this business is not for sale we are open to a discussion on anything but this is not our core reflection at the moment and this is not what will bring the leverage down to where we want to bring it, he said.

There has been speculation in the French media that a number of suitors are circling the assets including French-Lebanese billionaire businessman Rodolphe Saade and tech magnate and Mediawan co-founder Xavier Niels.

Altice is instead exploring options for the sale of its data centers in France and Portugal, although ongoing talks have been slowed by the Portuguese corruption probe.

As on Mondays call for Altice International quarterly results, Drahi sought to distance himself from Pereira and reiterated that Altice operations outside of Portugal had been only marginally touched by the allegedly corrupt activities.

He noted that while Pereira had played a major role in the growth of business up until 2019, at the time of his arrest he was coming to the end of a one-year advisory role supporting incoming SFR CEO Mathieu Cocq.

In Mondays call, Drahi expressed his shock and disappointment on being informed of the probe. Without naming Pereira, he said that if the allegations were found to be correct, he would feel betrayed.

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VICTORIA, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Boron One Holdings Inc. ("Boron One" or the "Company") [TSXV:BONE], is pleased to announce the implementation of a warrant exercise incentive program (the "Program") intended to encourage the exercise of up to 14,362,833 unlisted common share purchase warrants of the Company (the "Eligible Warrants") which were issued as part of the Company's private placements which closed on September 24, 2021 and September 22, 2020. The warrant issued on September 24, 2021 had an exercise price of $0.10, and the warrants issued on September 22, 2020 had an exercise price of $0.05. The board of directors of the Company have determined it to be in the best interests of the Corporation to reprice the warrants issued on September 24, 2021 from the current exercise price of C$0.10 per share of common stock to C$0.05 per Warrant Share (the "Warrant Repricing").Each Eligible Warrant is exercisable for one common share of the Company (each a "Common Share") at a price of $0.05 per Common Share, subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange to the propose Warrant Repricing. The September 24, 2021 warrants expire on September 24, 2023 and the September 22, 2020 warrants expire on September 9, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. (Vancouver time).To the extent that holders of Eligible Warrants take advantage of the opportunity to exercise their Eligible Warrants early, this will fund working capital purposes. Eligible Warrants that remain unexercised following the completion of the Early Exercise Period (defined below) will continue to be exercisable for Common Shares on the original terms as they existed prior to the Program.Summary Information about Warrant Incentive ProgramPursuant to the Program, the Company is offering an inducement to each holder of Eligible Warrants ("Warrant Holders") that exercises Eligible Warrants during an early exercise period (the "Early Exercise Period") consisting of one new Warrant (the "New Warrant") in addition to the common share subscribed for. Each New Warrant is exercisable at $0.10 in the first year, and $0.20 in the second year, until August 30, 2025, subject to the right of the Corporation to accelerate expiry upon 30 days notice if the shares of the Corporation trade on the TSX Venture Exchange at or above $0.20 in the first year, and $0.40 in the second year, for a period of 10 days.The Early Exercise Period will commence on August 15, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. (Vancouver time) and will expire on August 29, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. (Vancouver time) (the "Early Exercise Expiry Date"). The Incentive Warrants and any Common Shares issuable on the exercise thereof will be subject to a four-month hold period from the date of issuance of the Incentive Warrants pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws.Depending upon the number of Eligible Warrants exercised during the Early Exercise Period, the Company expects to:receive gross proceeds of up to $718,141.65;issue up to 14,362,833 Common Shares pursuant to the exercise of Eligible Warrants in accordance with the terms of the Eligible Warrants; andissue up to 14,362,833 Incentive Warrants to Warrant Holders pursuant to the exercise of the Eligible Warrants on or before the Early Exercise Expiry Date.The terms and conditions of the Program and the method of exercising Eligible Warrants pursuant to the Program are set forth in a letter which is being delivered to the last known contact of each Warrant Holder. Warrant Holders who wish to participate in the Program will agree to exercise their Eligible Warrants and deliver the other necessary documents in consideration of the issuance by the Company of the Incentive Warrants.The Program and the Warrant Repricing is subject to approval from the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") and is subject to the receipt of all final regulatory approvals, including final approval of the Exchange. The number of Eligible Warrants to be exercised by insiders of the Company is limited to no more than 10% of the total Eligible Warrants, being 14,362,833 Eligible Warrants, and the Company will issue no more than 1,436,283 Incentive Warrants to insiders under the Program. Insiders presently hold 1.0% of the Eligible Warrants.Procedure for the Exercise of WarrantsUpon commencement of the Early Exercise Period, registered holders of Eligible Warrants may exercise their rights to acquire the Common Shares and Incentive Warrants.All Eligible Warrants must be processed through the Company at the offices of the Company located at 203, 645 Fort Street, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 1G2.To exercise Eligible Warrants during the Early Exercise Period, until August 29, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. (Vancouver time), a Warrant Holder must:1. Surrender the original Warrant Certificate(s) representing the Eligible Warrants to the Company by hand or courier at the address noted above. The Warrant Certificate(s) representing the Eligible Warrants must be submitted together with:(a) a duly completed and executed Subscription Form as attached to the Eligible Warrant Certificate, specifying the number of Eligible Warrants that the Warrant Holder intends to exercise; and(b) a certified cheque, bank draft or money order in Canadian dollars, payable to or to the order of "Boron One Holdings Inc." in an amount equal to $0.05 multiplied by the number of Eligible Warrants that the Warrant Holder intends to exercise.All Eligible Warrant Certificates surrendered for full exercise will be cancelled by the Company and will be of no further force or effect.All Eligible Warrant Certificates surrendered together with a duly completed and executed Subscription Form, and payment of the applicable exercise price for the number of Eligible Warrants exercised will be deemed to be surrendered only upon personal delivery thereof to, or, if sent by mail or other means of transmission, upon actual receipt thereof by the Company. Any use of the mail to transmit Eligible Warrant Certificates is at the risk of the Warrant Holder. If such documents are to be mailed, it is recommended that registered mail, properly insured, be used with acknowledgement of receipt requested.Fractional SharesThe Company will not be obligated to issue any fractional Common Shares, fractional Incentive Warrants or any cash or other consideration in lieu thereof upon the exchange of one or more Eligible Warrants. If any fraction of a Common Share or Incentive Warrant would otherwise be issuable, the number of such securities so issued will be rounded down to the nearest whole number without compensation thereof.On behalf of the Board of Directors,Tim Daniels, Pre
PR-Inside.com: 2023-08-08 15:00:48

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Brigadier Gold Limited (the "Company") (TSXV:BRG)(FSE:B7LM)(OTC PINK:BGADF) is pleased to announce that field crews have completed a first phase of surface reconnaissance mapping, prospecting and sampling on its Nemaska2 Property, James Bay, Quebec. The program successfully confirmed pegmatite occurrences mapped in historical government exploration and discovered new zones of previously undocumented shallow pegmatite mineralization. Approximately 2/3's of the Company's Nemaska2 property remains unexplored and will be the subject of near-term follow-on mapping and sampling.Highlights:The three pegmatite swarms mapped and sampled during Phase-1 exploration at Nemaska2 include:The NNW swarm is ~1,000 hectares (10,000,000 square metres) at 4kms wide (E-W) and 3kms long (N-S);The central swarm is ~90 hectares (900,000 square metres) at 1km x 1 km.The SW swarm is ~100 hectares (1,000,000 square metres) at 1.2km wide and 2kms long (N-S).The 2023 Phase-1 exploration program is designed to identify targets for a Q3/Q4 2023 drill program. Sampling results will be made public when available. Brigadier's goal for this and future exploration at Nemaska2 is to prove the existence of bulk tonnage, near-surface, lithium-bearing mineralization.The Phase-1 program at Nemaska2 is being carried out by the Company's technical partner Geologica Groupe-Conseil ("Geologica") of Val D'or Quebec.Phase-1 Summer 2023 Exploration ProgramA total of 163 kms of tracked traverses were completed between July 10th and 28th. One hundred and twenty-four (124) pegmatite samples were collected in areas hosting pegmatite swarms in the north, northwest, central and southwest parts of the property (Figure 1). In addition, over 343 geo-observations, photos and descriptions were taken during this field program. The pegmatite dykes are generally hosted within dark pink medium grain size massive granites, vary in size from 30 cm to 4 metres, and have been observed over several tens of metres.The samples were sent to ALS Global Laboratories of Val-d'Or and assay results will be revealed as soon as available.FIGURE 1Management Commentary"We are encouraged to have successfully completed our first phase of work, which focused on systematic sampling of historically mapped pegmatite mineralization and identification of previously undocumented pegmatite occurrences", stated Robert Birmingham, President of Brigadier. "The known and newly identified pegmatite swarms comprise only a fraction of the overall property area, leaving the majority of Nemaska2 to be explored in future work programs." The James Bay region has seen a heightened level of activity favorable to further development of a lithium supply chain within Quebec. In May, Ford Motor Company signed an 11-year lithium hydroxide purchase agreement with Nemaska Lithium. More recently Rio Tinto has moved into the district, signing option agreements with two company's, allowing for an investment of up to $175 million in exploration of early-stage lithium targets.Nemaska2 may be one of the most conveniently located properties in the region for access, logistics and infrastructure, which will allow Brigadier to conduct its exploration programs and publish results in an efficient and timely manner.Historical ExplorationThe Quebec government has previously carried out a large sampling program and also an airborne magnetometric survey over Nemaska2 which shows the presence of several low magnetic anomalies likely corresponding with fractures or shear zones within the granitic Valiquette Pluton. These structures are generally favourable to the formation of pegmatites and other metals. The presence of pegmatites recognized during the regional reconnaissance mapping, anomalous values of Li and Cs in regional till sampling, and the presence of a major lithium deposit (Whabouchi Deposit) in the area, are all elements favourable to the existence of mineralization sought by the Company.About Nemaska2 Lithium ProjectThe Nemaska2 project consists of 162 map-designated mining titles (Nemaska2 and Nemaska2 extension) covering a total area of 8,300 hectares and is located in Northern Quebec, approximately 160 kilometres east of James Bay, near the community of Nemaska. Neighbouring Brigadier's Nemaska2 project are claims held by Li-Ft Power, Brunswick Exploration, Dios Exploration, Critical Elements Lithium and about 23 kilometres to the east lies Nemaska Lithium's Whabouchi project.Nemaska2 hosts easily accessible on-site infrastructure, including a powerline, aerodrome, railway and an accommodations camp. The property is bisected by the region's primary east-west road and is approximately five kilometres by road from additional accommodations, fuel and supplies. A large portion of the property is also accessible by all-season logging roads, eliminating the need for any use of helicopters in reconnaissance, mapping, sampling or drilling.Qualified PersonMr. Alain-Jean Beauregard, P. Geo., a "Qualified Person" under NI 43-101, has reviewed the technical contents of this news release and has approved the disclosure of the technical information contained herein.For further information, please contact:Brigadier Gold LimitedRobert Birmingham, Chief Executive Officerrob@ brigadiergold.ca (604) 4248131Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Forward-Looking Information Cautionary StatementThis release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". Forward-looking statements include those relating to the focus of the Phase-1 exploration program, the discovery of additional pegmatites, and target generation for and the timing of future drill programs. The Company cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a numbe
PR-Inside.com: 2023-08-08 11:45:12

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DEA is Mismanaging the Marijuana Registration Process as UMISS is Still the Only ProviderThe DEA is Perpetuating a Ruse on the American PublicWESTERLY, RI / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / As the DEA continues to play their callous, cruel, and indifferent game play in violation of President Biden's Marijuana Research and Expansion Act, Attorney Megan Sheehan representing MMJ International Holdings, MMJ BioPharma Cultivation, and MMJ BioPharma Labs is preparing to file suit in the DC appellate courts this week.MMJ Companies, the premier medical cannabis development and research group announced that it has completed the FDA required manufacturing of its proprietary THC and CBD soft gel capsule medicine. MMJ has developed a dose form, non-synthetic oral drug product from the marijuana plant extracts. MMJ will be utilizing its new product for an FDA-approved treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and Huntington's disease (HD) for its clinical trials once approved.Duane Boise the companies President stated "As the MMJ companies continue to overcome their struggle with the DEA's unexplained and unanswered delay, the issue is why has the DEA failed its legislative mandate? The DEA's incomprehensible actions are denying suffering patients from potential relief from the many benefits that cannabis will offer." The DEA administration states," the DEA anticipates that additional strains of marihuana will be produced and made available to researchers. This should facilitate research, advance scientific understanding about the effects of marihuana, and potentially aid in the development of safe and effective drug products that may be approved for marketing by the Food and Drug Administration," however talk is cheap.Dr Elio Mariani the company CEO lamented "talk is cheap and we are watching the inaction of the DEA". He further stated "We will get to the bottom of this at all cost." Congressman Buddy Carter recently slammed the DEA at a congressional hearing calling the agency the "EPITOME OF INEPTITUDE" he continued stating "as a practicing pharmacist for many years the worse thing for me to do is to fill a prescription for someone that doesn't need it however if they do need it I want to fill the prescription. If marijuana truly has medical benefit I want to know".Listening to the congressman one can recognize that he has clearly defined the WHAT. The only remaining question is WHY?Is the DEA acting intentionally? Does the DEA have a hidden agenda? Is the DEA personnel incompetent or merely under staffed? Or all of the above.Millions of Americans depend on the DEA for their well being and they not only deserve an answer they demand an answer.MMJ is represented by Attorney Megan Sheehan of Rhode Island.For more information on MMJ, please visit www.mmjih.com Contact: MMJMadison HiseyEmail: mhisey@ mmjih.com 203-231-8583SOURCE: MMJ International Holdings
PR-Inside.com: 2023-08-08 18:01:03

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BOULDER, CO and LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Innovative adaptogen beverage company, Rasa, and leading natural foods grocer, Lazy Acres Natural Market, have announced a strategic partnership to enhance Lazy Acres' product offerings with Rasa's unique coffee alternatives. This exciting collaboration underscores their commitment to providing their customers with sustainable products that benefit their overall health and well-being. This partnership is a testament to both companies' dedication to reshaping how consumers think about their daily routines.Rasa, a Boulder-based, woman-owned Public Benefit Corporation, is at the forefront of revolutionizing how people fuel their day. Their adaptogenic herb and mushroom-infused coffee alternatives are designed to nourish the nervous system and provide sustained energy without the spikes and crashes from traditional caffeinated beverages.Lazy Acres Natural Market, a prominent natural foods grocer in Southern California, is known for curating top-tier natural and organic products to promote healthier lifestyles. Including Rasa's innovative blends in Lazy Acres' offerings aligns seamlessly with their ethos and commitment to meeting the evolving nutritional needs of their customers."I look forward to brewing it every morning and savoring all that adaptogenic goodness. I'm so excited to have Rasa available in our Lazy Acres stores because now our customers can benefit from this amazing brand, but I also have easier access to all the other flavors and formulas!" said Silvia Navas, Director of Wellness at Lazy Acres."As pioneers in functional coffee alternatives, we're thrilled to join forces with Lazy Acres," said Rasa Founder, Lopa van der Mersch. "Our mission has always been to provide sustainable, nourishing energy solutions, and this partnership allows us to reach more people striving for healthier lifestyles. We're confident that our potent adaptogenic blends will redefine what customers expect from their daily brew." Store Locations Now Offering Rasa:Long Beach - 2080 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90815Santa Barbara - 302 Meigs Rd., Santa Barbara, CA 93109Encinitas - 150 Encinitas Blvd., Encinitas, CA 92024Hermosa Beach - 2510 Pacific Coast Highway, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254Mission Hills - 422 W. Washington St., San Diego, CA 92103Los Feliz - 1841 N Western Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027For more information about Rasa and their mission, visit https://www.wearerasa.com/pages/mission . To explore Lazy Acres' range of natural and organic products, visit https://www.lazyacres.com For further media inquiries, please contact Molly Greathouse at 855-685-2233 or email press@ wearerasa.com Source: Rasa and Lazy Acres Natural Market###About RasaA woman-owned Public Benefit Corporation from Boulder, Colorado, Rasa is rethinking how we energize through its coffee alternatives that support sustainable, balanced energy with adaptogenic herbs and mushrooms instead of caffeine to nourish the nervous system-not tax it. Rasa is known for its high-quality ingredients and proprietary drink blends, making it easy to get a functional daily dose of adaptogens by upgrading your daily brew. For more information, visit https://wearerasa.com/ or follow Rasa on Instagram.About Lazy Acres Natural MarketLazy Acres Natural Market believes in a natural approach to optimal health and wellness. From organic and seasonal produce and products steeped in tradition to functional supplements and body care, they are here to support you in mind, body, and soul. Founded in 1991, Lazy Acres quickly became a trusted resource within the Santa Barbara community. Now with five more Southern California locations, their friendly, informative, and passionate Team Members remain committed to providing exceptional service and wellness tips to the community and accommodating the needs of their customers. Lazy Acres believes that our collective actions can and will contribute to a healthier planet. They are dedicated to local communities and strive to provide a marketplace for anyone who loves to live healthy and eat well.Media ContactsRasa: Molly Greathouse, 855-685-2233, press@ wearerasa.com SOURCE: Rasa
PR-Inside.com: 2023-08-09 00:15:53

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Faraday Copper Corp. ("Faraday" or the "Company") (TSX:FDY) announces its financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023.Year-to-Date HighlightsAnnounced results from a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") and an updated Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") for the Copper Creek Project on May 3, 2023 which included:Post-tax Net Present Value (7%) of US$713 million and Internal Rate of Return of 16%.Updated MRE outlining 4.2 billion pounds of copper Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources, and 628 million pounds of copper Inferred Mineral Resources.Acquired a land package for $13.7 million (US$10 million) on March 6, 2023, consisting of approximately 6,000 deeded acres (private land) within 32,000 acres of grazing leases as part of a land consolidation strategy around the Copper Creek Project.Completed a bought deal financing on February 14, 2023, for a total of 49,999,700 common shares sold at a price of $0.80 per common share for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of $39,999,760.Announced results for the Copper Creek Project drill program on August 1, 2023, July 12, 2023, May 31, 2023, May 16, 2023, March 14, 2023, February 23, 2023, January 31, 2023 and January 17, 2023.Completed the Phase II drill program with all results released, continued baseline environmental data collection, stakeholder mapping, and generative exploration targeting at the Copper Creek Project to provide a pipeline of future targets through ongoing geological mapping and recently reprocessed and newly acquired geophysical data.Upcoming Milestones at Copper CreekQ3 2023 - Commence metallurgical program for grind size optimization, gold deportment, and further test work on near surface mineralizationQ3 2023 - Release initial results from the gold assaying program of historical drill coreQ4 2023 - Initiate Phase III drill programFinancial ResultsThree months ended Six months ended In Canadian dollars June 30, 2023 June 30, 2022 June 30, 2023 June 30, 2022 Exploration and evaluation expenses $4,170,334 $3,707,052 $9,409,364 $6,204,014 General and administration $319,721 $563,837 $1,199,750 $925,844 Share-based compensation $618,688 $1,612,575 $1,308,771 $2,618,865 Net Loss $5,497,051 $6,603,853 $12,665,010 $10,629,850 Basic and Diluted Loss per Share $0.03 $0.06 $0.08 $0.10 Note: The financial information in this table was selected from the Company's condensed interim consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 (the "Financial Statements"), which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and the Company's website www.faradaycopper.com Selected Financial InformationIn Canadian dollars June 30, 2023 December 31, 2022 Cash and Cash Equivalents $22,299,409 $9,535,039 Net Working Capital $20,625,323 $6,642,161 Property Plant and Equipment $15,053,234 $1,444,054 Resource Properties $4,955,328 $4,955,328 Total Assets $42,654,671 $16,580,308 Note: The financial information in this table was selected from the Financial Statements, which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and the Company's website www.faradaycopper.com Cash flow, Liquidity and Capital ResourcesThe Company is a resource exploration stage company and does not generate any revenue and has been mainly relying on equity-based financing to fund its operations. As at June 30, 2023, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $22,299,409 (December 31, 2022 - $9,535,039) and a net working capital balance of $20,625,323 (December 31, 2022 - $6,642,161). During the six months ended June 30, 2023, cash used in operating activities was $12,564,688 (2022 - $7,097,220), cash used in investing activities was $13,284,658 (2022 - $327,894), and cash provided by financing activities was $39,443,854 (2022 - $20,173,000). Cash used in investing activities was primarily related to the acquisition of the Mercer Ranch on March 7, 2023.The Company will need to raise additional funding to finance its day-to-day operations and to enable the Company to achieve its long-term business objectives. On February 14, 2023, the Company completed an equity-based financing of $39,999,760 to fund its operations.The Company will require additional financing either through equity or debt financing, sale of assets, joint venture arrangements, or a combination thereof to meet its administrative costs and to continue to explore and develop its resource properties. There is no assurance that sufficient future funding will be available on a timely basis or on terms acceptable to the Company. As such, there is a material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.About Faraday CopperFaraday Copper is a Canadian exploration company focused on advancing its flagship copper project in Arizona, U.S. The Copper Creek project, is one of the largest undeveloped copper projects in North America with open pit and bulk underground mining potential. The Company is well-funded to deliver on its key milestones and benefits from a management team and board of directors with senior mining company experience and expertise. Faraday trades on the TSX under the symbol "FDY".For additional information please contact:Stacey Pavlova, CFAVice President, Investor Relations & CommunicationsFaraday Copper Corp.E-mail: info@ faradaycopper.com Website: www.faradaycopper.com Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking StatementsSome of the statements in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking statements" and are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Faraday to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information specifically include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the future drilling and exploration potential of the Copper Creek property.Although Faraday believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements should not be in any way construed as guarantees of future performan
PR-Inside.com: 2023-08-08 09:30:32

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DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / GF Vehicle Assemblers, the pioneering modern-age vehicle assembler in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, has been honored with the prestigious Africa Company of the Year Awards 2023 in the category of "Car Manufacturer and Assembler of the Year." The awards were organized by Eastern Star Consulting Group, recognizing and celebrating outstanding achievements in the African business landscape.GF Vehicle Assemblers has consistently strived to deliver cutting-edge, reliable, and affordable vehicles to meet the diverse customer needs across and beyond Tanzania. This award not only underscores GF Assembler's exceptional manufacturing capabilities but also highlights its customer-centric approach that has earned them a loyal customer base.Upon receiving the award, the elated Mr. Imran Karmali, CEO of GF Vehicle Assemblers expressed gratitude to Eastern Star Consulting Group for the recognition and dedicated the award to the skilled and hardworking team at GF Vehicle Assemblers. "Winning the Africa Company of the Year Award is a significant milestone for us. We are motivated to continue pushing boundaries of innovation and strive for excellence not only in the automotive industry but also in every activity we undertake," Imran remarked.In addition to GF Vehicle Assembler's success, their sister company, GF Trucks, was recognized for its outstanding performance in a separate category.Other categories where GFA emerged victorious at the Africa Company of the Year Awards 2023 includeVehicle Assembler of the yearMost inspirational company of the yearBest employer of the yearFamily business of the yearGF Vehicle Assemblers and GF Trucks & Equipment extend their gratitude to all customers, partners, and stakeholders for unwavering support and confidence in their brands. The awards to both companies serve as motivation to further excel, innovate and lead the automotive industry in all of Africa.About GF Vehicle Assemblers Limited:GF Vehicle Assemblers is a trailblazing modern-age vehicle assembly plant located in Kibaha town, 35 kilometres West of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The company is committed to producing high-quality vehicles that cater to the diverse needs of customers across the African continent.For media inquiries, please contact:Smart Deus, Marketing ManagerGF Vehicle Assemblers Limited,Phone: 0677 022 417PR Contact:ZEX PR WIREinfo@ zexprwire.com SOURCE: GF Vehicle Assemblers Limited
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Peter Njeri, CEO of Mega Gas Alternative Energy, Announced as Waislitz Global Citizen Award WinnerEsther Kimani, Founder and CEO of FarmerLifeline Technologies, Recognized as Waislitz Global Citizen Disruptor Award WinnerOluwafunke Adeoye, Founder of Hope Behind Bars Africa, Recognized as Waislitz Global Citizen Choice Award WinnerNEW YORK, NY, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, NAIROBI, KENYA, and LAGOS, NIGERIA / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / The world's leading international advocacy organization Global Citizen working to end extreme poverty, and the Waislitz Foundation, a private foundation seeking to create positive social impact, locally and globally, through innovative projects that empower individuals to meet their full potential, today announced Peter Njeri from Kenya as the 2023 Waislitz Global Citizen Award winner. Other 2023 award recipients are Esther Kimani, also from Kenya, as the Waislitz Global Citizen Disruptor Award winner and Oluwafunke Adeoye, from Nigeria, as the Waislitz Global Citizen Choice Award winner.The Waislitz Global Citizen Awards are annual cash prizes totaling $250,000 that recognize the excellence of individuals in their work to end extreme poverty and its systemic causes. The grand prize is $100,000, with two additional prizes at $75,000 each. All applicants were evaluated based on individual merit in five key areas, including: global citizenship, proof of concept, disruption, scalability, and adaptability.The awards are presented by the Waislitz Foundation and Global Citizen, supported by leading U.S. and Australian-based cellular medicines company Mesoblast Ltd, and New York businessman Drew Schaefer."When we first conceived these awards almost 10 years ago we wanted to shine a light on those heroes working at grassroots levels to end global poverty. We also wanted to encourage others to do the same. The awards have grown in stature and participation rates every year and I am proud that we've been able to assist so many outstanding and inspirational young champions from around the world to advance their efforts in the fight against global poverty. This year's winners are no exception and I wholeheartedly congratulate them all. I and the Waislitz Foundation remain committed to supporting and growing these awards for many years to come." said Alex Waislitz, Chairman and Founder of the Melbourne-based Waislitz Foundation and recent recipient of a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)."We congratulate this year's Waislitz Award winners, innovators leading the way in creating solutions the world desperately needs to deal with the challenges of ending extreme poverty" said Hugh Evans, Co-Founder and CEO of Global Citizen. "The world depends on individuals like these, leaders who are taking immediate action that impacts lives and inspires others to do the same. We are thankful to our partnership with Alex and the Waislitz Foundation who continue to invest in championing our future leaders and supporting global grassroots communities." Peter Njeri, from Kenya, is the Waislitz Global Citizen Award Winner. Peter is the CEO of Mega Gas Alternative Energy. Mega Gas Alternative Energy is a clean-tech startup whose mission is to provide access to clean and affordable cooking energy for low-income families through converting plastic waste into clean cooking gas. Peter grew up in Soweto, South Africa, where with his family experienced first-hand the effects of indoor air pollution. Through his patented technology he set out to solve this problem and today he is serving over 10,050 families in Kenya. The Waislitz Global Citizen Award will enable him to serve an additional 5,400 families each month.Esther Kimani, from Kenya, is the Waislitz Global Citizen Disruptor Award Winner. Esther is the CEO of FarmerLifeline Technologies, a climate agritech trailblazer disrupting Africa's agricultural sector. With delayed detection of crop pests and diseases destroying over 47 per cent crop yield every farming season, Esther developed the first-ever solar-powered AI-based crop pests and diseases detection devices with a vision to end hunger and extreme poverty for 1 million marginalized smallholder farmers. Her inspiration comes from experiencing farm losses from pests and diseases firsthand as she grew up farming the slopes of the Aberdare mountains. Her technology has so far impacted over 60,000 farmers in Kenya. The award will enable FarmerLifeline Technologies to impact the lives of over 200,000 farmers, together with launching projects in Namibia, Uganda, Nigeria and Rwanda.Oluwafunke Adeoye, from Nigeria, is the Waislitz Global Citizen Choice Award Winner. Oluwafunke is a human rights lawyer and the founder of Hope Behind Bars Africa. After experiencing first hand the injustice of the legal system, including that of her father's arrest and detention for a crime he did not commit several years ago, Oluwafunke founded Hope Behind Bars Africa. Her organization aims to close the justice gap by providing free legal services and direct support to indigent incarcerated individuals while promoting criminal justice reforms through research, evidence-based advocacy, and technology. Over 7,000 incarcerated individuals have benefitted from the organization's interventions. With the award, Oluwafunke plans to launch Justicepadi, a tech platform that will revolutionize legal aid in West Africa and continue to expand her work for criminal justice.Since 2014, The Waislitz Foundation has committed almost $2 million to the Waislitz Global Citizen Awards and their efforts to end extreme poverty NOW.Previous Waislitz Global Citizen Award winners include:Kristin Kagetsu, Co-Founder and CEO, SaathiBina Shrestha, Co-Founder Build up NepalHaroon Yasin, Co-Founder and Chairperson of OrendaCharlot Magayi, Founder and CEO of Mukuru Clean StovesKoketso Moeti, Founder and Executive Director of amandla.mobi Caitlin Barrett, CEO of Love Mercy FoundationTabitha Mpamira-Kaguri, Founder and Executive Director of EDJA FoundationWilma Rodrigues, Founder, and CEO of Saahas Zero WasteClarisse Uwineza, for her work converting organic waste into fertilizer in RwandaTwesigye Jackson Kaguri, Director of Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project, working to make education more accessible to AIDS orphans in UgandaAnoop Jain, Founder of Humanure Power, for his work in rural India building sanitation facilities.Click here for more information about the 2023 Waislitz Global Citizen Awards.- Ends -About Global Citizen:Global Citizen is the world's leading international advocacy organization on a mission to end extreme poverty NOW. 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SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Hagens Berman urges Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.Class Period: Feb. 4, 2020 - July 26, 2023Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Oct. 2, 2023Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/vz Contact An Attorney Now: VZ@ hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895Verizon Communications, Inc. (VZ) Securities Fraud Class Action:The complaint alleges Verizon made false or misleading statements and failed to disclose that Verizon: (1) owns cables around the U.S. that are highly toxic due to their being wrapped in lead, and which harm company employees and non-employees alike; (2) faces potentially significant litigation risk, regulatory risk, and reputational harm as a result of its ownership of these lead-covered cables and the health risks stemming from their presence around the U.S; and (3) was warned about the damage and risks presented by these cables but did not disclose them as a potential threat to employee safety or to everyday people and communities.Investors began to learn the truth after the Wall Street Journal published a series of articles spanning July 9 - July 26, 2023.These articles revealed that Verizon and others left behind toxic lead cables that they laid years ago. The WSJ also reported that independently tested samples from underwater cable sites revealed lead on the banks of the Mississippi, Willamette, and Passaic Rivers as well as in parts of Louisiana, New York, New Jersey, and elsewhere.The WSJ further reported that Verizon officials have known for decades that lead in its networks was a possible health risk to its workers, some workers have illnesses that can be linked to lead, and lead could leach into the environment.Finally, on July 26, 2023, the WSJ reported that the Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency are investigating whether telecom companies knew of the potential risks posed by the abandoned lead cables."We're focused on investors' losses and Verizon's knowledge of potential liability stemming from its sprawling network of toxic lead-sheathed cables across the U.S.," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.If you invested in Verizon 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 Verizon 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 VZ@ 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: 2023-08-08 18:32:21

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / SAPHow can a three-year-old agroforestry company produce trustworthy, sustainable feedstock - raw materials for finished goods, energy, and more - while reducing the amount of carbon in the atmosphere?"We do that by using the biodiversity of this region, the Cerrado in Brazil," Francisco de Blanco, S.Oleum co-founder and CEO, told SAP at the company's headquarters, an innovative farm just outside Joao Pinheiro.Why the Brazilian outback? This tropical savanna is home to the macauba, a highly adaptable oil-producing tree with a penchant for scrubbing harmful CO2 from the air. Macauba fruit yields advanced vegetable oils (AVOs) and high-protein food - and it can be 15 times more productive than soybeans."We are restoring the landscape that was deforestedMacauba was native here many, many years ago," Felipe Morbi, S.Oleum co-founder and Agroforestry VP, said. "Now we are bringing back these trees, and also all the other species, to restore this biodiversity." S.Oleum seeks to accomplish this scientifically, using macauba and other crops in an integrated crop-livestock-forest approach, according to Morbi. The goal is to create working farms that rejuvenate degraded, low-yielding soil - and that sequester into the soil more carbon than they generate.Science-Based Approach to Reforesting the Cerrado"We are looking for the balance of the system," Morbi said in a new SAP video. "We will measure the amount of carbon in the soil, the moisture, the biodiversity in terms of the plants we have, and also native animals coming back to the area." Toward that end, S.Oleum is starting small, but aiming big. Most of the current crop grows on a 700-hectare, or more than 1,700-acre, pilot farm. But S.Oleum intends to plant more than 65 million additional macauba trees by 2029, which would reforest 180,00 hectares - about 444,800 acres - in Brazil's southeastern state of Minas Gerais.Over time, macauba trees also help improve the nutrient and moisture capacity of the soil, making it easier to grow other crops, according to de Blanco. And S.Oleum increases farm productivity by growing carefully chosen crops in between rows of macauba trees, such as sunflowers, peanuts, and yucas."If you do it right, agriculture as a system is positive for the environment," de Blanco said. "Plants that were deforested a few decades ago, they are currently in a poor state because they were depleted by poor managementWe believe there are better ways, and that's what we are pursuing here." An innovative case in point: macauba trees increase a biome's carbon sequestration levels. Removing this greenhouse gas helps more than the planet; S.Oleum also generates revenue by selling carbon credits and building trust via its data.Any Little Bit of Data"Any little thing, any generation of data that R&D is currently developing, is extremely important," Mirelle Santos, S.Oleum Agroforestry R&D manager, said. "We want to deploy technologies as dictated by those urgent needs." This could include remote sensing via drones that run fruit-recognition software, according to Santos. This would help S.Oleum gather and compile data quickly, without human error - and without sending workers, who must dress in personal protective equipment (PPE) to defend against snakes, mosquitos, the brutal Cerrado sun (even in winter), and dangerous macauba thorns, which grow even on seedlings.S.Oleum's intricate business model combines agriculture, forestry, biodiversity, and carbon offsetting - and that leads to a lot of complexity. SAP technology will be an important differentiator for this small enterprise, as well as a foundation for its future growth."We have a big project to run; so, a lot of people, a lot of machines, a lot of suppliers," Morbi said. "And we need everything in the right moment, in the right way." How to Best Manage ESG Metrics"SAP is different because it is recognized as one of the most reliable ERP systems on the market, not only based on the technology," de Blanco said. "Also, because it has well-established and well-defined processes." Standardizing processes was "extremely important" for S.Oleum both internally and to inspire customer, stakeholder, and regulatory confidence, according to de Blanco. SAP will also enable S.Oleum to run its circular enterprise as well as record, report, and act on its sustainability data."We have a very integrated system, and a very circular way to produce things," de Blanco said. "Finding out where waste is generated - and where it's being used - is very important to ensure the carbon intensity and the circularity of our systems at our entire siteThis is where SAP helps us." SAP S/4HANA, SAP Ariba solutions, SAP Concur solutions, and SAP SuccessFactors solutions will help standardize all of S.Oleum's processes, which will improve transparency and compliance, according to S.Oleum IT Director Marcio Propp. To help better manage and understand its myriad environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics, the company has also begun implementation of SAP Sustainability Control Tower and SAP Sustainability Footprint Management."It is super important that we have a very robust core system in place because it will serve as the basis for all our other processesand practically all niche applications focused on digital agriculture connect with this core with SAP," Propp said. "SAP is an agribusiness market standard, and it makes perfect sense for S.Oleum to be part of this ecosystem." That's a big deal because compliant, transparent ESG metrics are crucial to S.Oleum's success, according to de Blanco.A Matter of Trust"Somewhere around one-third of our revenues come from carbon credits," de Blanco said. "This is our, let's say, core businessto convert sustainability into revenues and financial results." That will require trust. SAP core technologies, such as SAP S/4HANA Cloud and SAP Sustainability solutions, will help S.Oleum keep that trust, thanks to a reliable foundation of sustainability data and robust, auditable ESG metrics for reporting."My advice for companies that are starting their sustainability endeavor: do it as quick as you can," de Blanco said. "And do it attached to science." For more information on how SAP helps companies record, report, and act on their sustainability goals, visit www.sap.com/sustainability Photo Credit
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Principal Eddie Price Elected as Board PresidentPASADENA, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Headlined by newly elected President Eddie Price, KBKG, a leading provider of turnkey tax services and solutions, saw four of its cost segregation experts appointed to the board of the American Society of Cost Segregation Professionals (ASCSP).Price will serve a two-year term as ASCSP President, effective Aug. 1, 2023. This is the first time he and elected Director of the Board Winston Shurtz will serve in their roles, while KBKG principals Lester Cook and Malik Javed will continue their terms. Cook serves as the appointed ASCSP Secretary while Javed is Chair of the Technical Standards Committee."I'm honored to have been elected president of such a well-respected organization, and equally proud of KBKG's presence on the board," Price said. "For years, KBKG has been looked upon as a leader in our industry and having so many of our experts represented shows how hard we have worked to get to this point." ASCSP is the preeminent professional organization for cost segregation experts which creates rules for the industry and sets guidelines for professionals. In addition to providing ongoing education and certifications for its members, the ASCSP serves as a liaison between the industry and lawmakers.Having joined the ASCSP in 2008, Price received his Certified Cost Segregation Professional (CCSP) designation in 2011, where he later became Chair of the Education Committee. He will finish his role as Chair of the Testing Committee prior to beginning his term as the ASCSP President. Price is based out of KBKG's Dallas office, overseeing the South region, where he has over 40 years of cost segregation experience.Cook has been a member of the ASCSP since 2008 and earned his CSSP designation in 2015. He currently serves as Chair of the Ethics Committee and is a past member of the Testing Committee. He is serving his second term as secretary. Cook works out of KBKG's Chicago office and leads the Midwest region, having guided clients for over 20 years in cost segregation and fixed asset depreciation.Javed became an ASCSP member in 2008 as well, earning his CCSP designation in 2012. While he currently heads the Technical Standards Committee, Javed has also been on the Board of Directors for four years. With nearly 20 years of cost segregation experience, Javed is the national leader of KBKG's Cost Segregation practice.Since 2019, Shurtz has been with the ASCSP, the same year he earned his designation, and has served on the Conference Committee for two years. With more than 17 years of experience in the cost segregation space, Shurtz is based out of KBKG's Atlanta office and provides engineering-based results across various industries.About KBKGEstablished in 1999 with offices across the U.S., KBKG provides turnkey tax solutions to CPAs and businesses, including Employee Retention Credits (ERC), Research & Development Tax Credits, Cost Segregation, Green Building Tax Incentives (179D Deductions and 45L Tax Credits), Transfer Pricing for multinational businesses, and more. KBKG has offices established throughout the country with employees located nationwide to better assist its partners and clients.For more information about KBKG, please visit KBKG.com Contact Information:Erika Egede-NissenCorporate Marketing DirectorSOURCE: KBKG
Christopher Behn travelled to countries in south-east Asia to carry out abuse, the National Crime Agency said

A convicted paedophile has admitted 21 further offences of sexually abusing young boys while overseas.

Christopher Behn, 68, from Colchester, is already serving a nine-year prison term for abusing 11 children in Myanmar in 2016.

The new charges related to the abuse of boys, aged six to 11, in Vietnam.

Behn, who police described as a "committed and prolific transnational child sex offender", is due to be sentenced next month.

The retired engineer appeared in Chelmsford Crown Court by video link from HMP Albany on the Isle of Wight.

Investigators from the National Crime Agency (NCA), Europol and Dutch authorities identified Behn as a member of a Europe-wide network who travelled together to abuse children across the globe.

He was arrested at Gatwick Airport in February 2020, after investigators identified him as appearing in images with another member of the network - a Dutch national who was convicted in the Netherlands.

Behn was detained by officers before he could board a flight to Vietnam.

Photographs taken by Behn, showing him abusing children, were recovered from encrypted electronic devices.

His travel history showed he had visited Vietnam 18 times since 2006, along with trips to Thailand, Philippines, Laos, Cambodia, India, and Myanmar, the NCA said.

He and the Dutch national had also written diaries that described in graphic detail the abuse committed by the pair on many of these trips.

Christopher Behn and his network "conspired together via encrypted chats in the hope of hiding their horrific offending", the NCA said

In June this year, Behn was further charged with 23 counts of sexually assaulting a child and causing a child to engage in sexual activity between 2008 and 2018.

He denied two of the charges, but will not face trial on those counts.

Phil Eccles, NCA operations manager, said Behn was "a committed and prolific transnational child sex offender, who dedicated years of his life to this criminal network".

"Behn and his like-minded friends conducted their offending in remote parts of the world and conspired together via encrypted chats in the hope of hiding their horrific offending from law enforcement," he said.

Story continues

The agency said it had identified a further five men based in the UK believed to have links to the network and investigations were ongoing in a number of countries across Europe.

Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook and Instagram. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk or get in touch via WhatsApp on 0800 169 1830
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ST. PETERSBURG, FL / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Legacy Protection Lawyers is proud to announce Nicole Bell Cleland as the newest partner in the law firm as the trust and estate planning firm celebrates its 10th anniversary in the Tampa Bay community. Since joining the firm in 2016, Nicole has provided excellent counsel helping her clients plan their legacies. She also has taken active leadership roles within the firm and the greater Tampa Bay community.Nicole Bell Cleland Cleland's professional accomplishments include the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the Florida Bar 2020-2022 Fellowship, recognizing only a few individuals who have a demonstrated interest in wills, trusts, and estates and service to the community. Additionally, Nicole has been named to Florida Super Lawyers Rising Star for four years, 2019-2022, and a Leader in the Law by the Florida Association of Women Lawyers in 2020."Nicole has been an integral part of our firm, contributing to our growth and success over the seven years she's been with us. Her service to our clients and the greater community exemplifies the leadership of the Legacy Protection Lawyers brand," said Partner William "Bill" Battle McQueen.Cleland has demonstrated constant commitment to the community through her board service with Pinellas County Chapter Florida Association for Women Lawyers (Past Chairperson, 2020- 2021), Suncoast Estate Planning Council (Board Member & Treasurer, 2023), and Inspire Equine Therapy Program, Inc. (Board Member), and Brookwood Florida, Inc. (Past Chairperson). She is a graduate of Leadership St. Pete Class of 2019. Cleland earned her JD from Stetson University College of Law in 2016 after completing her BA in English from Florida State University in 2013.To learn more about Nicole, visit https://www.legacyprotectionlawyers.com/our-team/nicole-bell-cleland/ ---Legacy Protection Lawyers, LLP is a boutique Florida law firm specialized in trust and estate law. Founded in St. Petersburg, FL, in 2013 by two seasoned estate attorneys, Legacy Protection Lawyers, LLP takes a holistic approach to the idea of a legacy through careful planning, meticulous probate and trust administration, and honest estate and trust litigation services.To learn more about Legacy Protection Lawyers, LLP visit www.legacyprotectionlawyers.com or follow their social media channels:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/legacyprotectionlawyers LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/legacy-protection-lawyers/ Contact InformationBill McQueenPartnerbill@ legacyprotectionlawyers.com 727.471.5868Related FilesLPL NPC Partner Final 8.8.23.docxLPL Logo.png SOURCE: Legacy Protection Lawyers
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MIRAMAR BEACH, FL / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / OMNICOMMANDER ( https://www.omnicommander.com/) proudly announced it was named in Florida Trend's 2023 Best Companies To Work For in Florida. Florida Trend ranks the top 100 companies in small, medium, and large employer categories. 2023 is the second consecutive year OMNICOMMANDER has made this prestigious list, securing a rank of 26 in the list of Best Mid-Sized Companies (50-249 employees).To be considered, OMNICOMMANDER was evaluated on workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems, and demographics. There was also a survey gauging employee satisfaction. The total of the combined scores determines the top companies and their ranking on the list."I'm thrilled that once again OMNICOMMANDER was named a Best Company To Work For in Florida," said Eric Isham, Founder, and CEO of OMNICOMMANDER. "Our client-obsessed mindset and purposeful investments in our team result in a company culture as iconic as the OMNICOMMANDER brand itself." Isham further discusses the culture by adding, "Every COMMANDO receives 22 paid days off each year; exceptional health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits; a flexible work schedule; and BEST OF ALL, an opportunity to earn equity in an Inc. 5000 ranked company. Learning is also an important part of our company culture. COMMANDOs can access endless opportunities to further their skill sets through company-paid training. Since becoming a COMMANDO, many on our team have earned certifications related to CPACC, Scrum, Project Management, Accounting, Cybersecurity, and many more. Due to our ongoing, incredible annual growth, there are immense opportunities for upward movement and career propulsion. Several COMMANDOs have become first-time home buyers, purchased new cars, started families, and went on trips around the world due to the work they are doing here. I believe our organization's extremely diverse makeup and the fact that we are a veteran-owned and operated company will continue to attract the type of person who wants to work harder here than they have anywhere else - and absolutely love it. It's not for everyone, but for the proud folks that call themselves a COMMANDO, OMNICOMMANDER is the best." To get a full list of the top companies, visit https://www.floridatrend.com/best-companies About OMNICOMMANDEROMNICOMMANDER is a veteran-owned and operated financial technology, digital marketing, and cybersecurity company that provides a comprehensive suite of digital solutions for financial institutions. For the first time in history, FIs can partner with a single company to create, host, and manage their Digital Branch and integrated service offerings within one complete ecosystem. A world-class team of financial institution experts powers OMNICOMMANDER solutions. In addition to unmatched service, OMNICOMMANDER products and services are always mobile-responsive and built with the highest level of attention to accessibility and ADA compliance to garner increased brand awareness and reach the widest audience possible. To learn more, please visit OMNICOMMANDER: https://www.omnicommander.com/ Contact Info:John PennycuffSVP MarketingPhone: (800) 807-3109Email: pennycuff@ omnicommander.com SOURCE: OMNICOMMANDER
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NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / August 7, 2023 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until October 2, 2023 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against RTX Corporation f/k/a Raytheon Technologies Corporation (NYSE:RTX), if they purchased the Company's securities between February 8, 2021 and July 25, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of RTX 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-rtx/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by October 2, 2023.About the LawsuitRTX and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.The alleged false and misleading statements and omissions include, but are not limited to, that: (i) the Company's Geared Turbofan (GTF) engine that powers hundreds of aircraft across many airlines had been affected by a quality control issue from at least 2015-2020; (ii) the quality control issue would require the Company to recall and reinspect many of its GTF airplanes, affecting customers and harming its business; and (iii) as a result, RTX's statements about its business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.The case is Peneycad v. RTX Corporation f/k/a Raytheon Technologies Corporation, et al., No. 23-cv-01035.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit http://ksfcounsel.com/ Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partner1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
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MISSISSAUGA, ON / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Science & Humans (S&H), a health and wellness company focused on managing hormone imbalances to boost healthy aging, is excited to announce the newest addition to their Medical Advisory Board (MAB), Fady Hannah-Shmouni, MD FRCPC.Dr. Hannah-Shmouni is an esteemed Canadian endocrinologist as well as geneticist, author, investor, and clinical professor of medicine at the University of British Columbia, who has centered his career around precision medicine in hormones, wellness, and healthy aging. Dr. Hannah-Shmouni's mission and values align perfectly with S&H as the company uses evidence-based practices to transform human life and enable humans to age beautifully.In this role, Dr. Hannah-Shmouni's expertise will strengthen S&H's gender-neutral practice in treating hormone imbalances. This includes testosterone replacement therapy, growth hormone therapy, bioidentical hormone therapy, and weight loss, as Dr. Hannah-Shmouni's main subject of study - endocrinology - concerns the system that is the source of many of the symptoms S&H treats.Endocrinology and metabolism plays a pivotal role in hormone health and overall physical and mental wellness. With Dr. Hannah-Shmouni's breadth of knowledge on how hormones affect various body systems, S&H is significantly advancing its expertise in the main function of the business while elevating its care for patients. S&H sees this as an invaluable opportunity to further its medical practices and provide comprehensive care to thousands more Canadians across the country."I am honored and beyond excited to join the S&H team, to help advance their digital health platform for meeting the needs of our patients that face significant barriers to accessing hormone health." Prior to this role, Dr. Hannah-Shmouni served the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland as a physician-scientist in endocrinology and genetics in the role of Head of Graduate Medical Education and Associate Program Director of the endocrinology and metabolism fellowship program. His research interests remain on precision medicine in endocrinology, including disorders of the adrenal glands. He has authored over 100 original articles, book chapters, and reviews on endocrine-genetic conditions, and was the founding member and first Editor-in-Chief of the medical journal Endocrine and Metabolic Science (Elsevier). He is the editor of the book, "Familial Endocrine Cancer Syndromes: Navigating the Transition of Care for Pediatric and Adolescent Patients", and the founder of Healthspan, a precision medicine clinic focused on delivering the most advanced diagnostics in hormone health.S&H's CEO, Aftab Pashaw, shared that, "Dr. Hannah-Shmouni's extensive experience, exceptional knowledge, and remarkable contributions to the field of endocrinology makes him an invaluable addition to our team." Pashaw continues, "With his guidance, we are confident that we can further optimize our medical services and make a significant difference in the lives of countless Canadians." About Science & Humans (S&H)Science & Humans is a first-of-its-kind platform transforming how individuals fulfill their hormone and wellness needs. The company's consumer-first digital platform offers treatments for hormone health, longevity, aging, and sexual wellness. Science & Humans is dedicated to providing accessible options and results for individuals living with hormone imbalances in Canada.As S&H grows, the future will have a particular focus on treatments for women as the company has recently expanded from being exclusive to men's health to a gender-inclusive practice.S&H is planning to prove its commitment to women's health through its "Jump for Menopause" campaign, which is, "A message of awareness that spread its wings across North America during Menopause Awareness Month for the over 100 million women experiencing symptoms." This October, S&H will be partnering with a network of skydivers at multiple dropzones to jump with a strong message about menopause. A portion of all funds raised will be going to charity as S&H wants to show its commitment to championing women and catalyzing menopause awareness in North America.Patient transformation stories and detailed product information is available on the S&H website at www.scienceandhumans.com , while entities looking to sponsor "Jump for Menopause" are asked to contact S&H directly.Media DetailsWebsite URL: https://www.scienceandhumans.com/ Company Name: Science & Humans (S&H)Email address: support@ scienceandhumans.com SOURCE: Science & Humans (S&H)
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LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Trans Astronautica Corporation, the pioneering space technology company and Y Combinator graduate, is pleased to announce it has been awarded a Phase 2 SBIR contract from the United States Space Force. This contract will fund the development of an operational prototype for the Sutter Turn Key Observatory (Sutter TKO), a cutting-edge, self-contained observatory capable of housing up to 18 integrated telescopes. The contract will also fund certain enhancements of TransAstra's capabilities, including improving detections of objects at low angular offset from the Moon and advancing tipping and cueing across TransAstra's telescope network to enable rapid follow-up to observations of moving objects in space.Sutter TKO, a remotely operable observatory, is a game-changing blend of TransAstra's suite of space domain awareness capabilities. Constructed to be functional in any remote location with electrical power, it eliminates the need for an existing observatory. Harnessing the power of TransAstra's Sutter technologies, the Sutter TKO system will deliver unparalleled object detection at a fraction of the cost of legacy systems.TransAstra eagerly anticipates unveiling further details about Sutter TKO at the Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies (AMOS) Conference in Maui, Hawaii, this September. Attendees will be offered a unique insight into this transformative technology, with a scaled model of the Sutter TKO on display. With its broad appeal, the Sutter TKO is poised to be a highly attractive option for the scientic and astronomy communities, as well as those invested in space domain awareness solutions. TransAstra envisions customers to include U.S. allies seeking an SDA solution, the international science community seeking cost-effective all-sky coverage solutions for nding and tracking NEOs for planetary defense and scientic purposes, and private companies desirous of their own organic SDA solution for monitoring traffic throughout cislunar space. TransAstra is projected to begin accepting commercial and government orders for Sutter TKO systems this Fall."National security and scientic discovery are mutually reinforcing," stated Dr. Joel Sercel, CEO of TransAstra. "Our collaboration with the Space Force reects our unwavering commitment to fortifying the security of our nation's space missions. Our Sutter TKO system presents a cost-effective gateway to crucial scientic research missions, democratizing the realm of space exploration and discovery. TransAstra remains steadfast in its mission to deliver cutting-edge, pragmatic solutions that address our national security needs while also propelling scientic advancements." About TransAstraTransAstra is a Los Angeles-based company committed to pioneering technology solutions for space exploration and development. We work at the cutting edge of technology to build a future where resources in space are available for the benet of humanity. For more information about TransAstra, visit www.transastra.com Contact InformationStanley ChenMedia Contactstan@ transastra.com SOURCE: Trans Astronautica Corporation
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David Ramos, Chief Strategy Officer, Joins the Brand Ambassador CircleNORTH CANTON, OH / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Visual Edge IT (VEIT), which specializes in managed IT services and security, cloud computing, and print/copy solutions for businesses across the U.S., shares support for the United States Law Enforcement Foundation (USLEF).USLEF VEIT CobrandUSLEF VEIT Cobranded Logo The United States Law Enforcement Foundation has been promoting and supporting the law enforcement profession for more than 60 years. The organization advocates for and honors all involved.Visual Edge IT has been pleased to support the United States Law Enforcement Foundation with needed technology equipment at both its training facility and at Freedom Fest Ohio where USLEF was participating.United States Law Enforcement Foundation Chairman and CEO Barry Shepherd said, "We are truly happy to have a partner such as Visual Edge IT and an Ambassador like David Ramos who shares our bold fresh vision for the law enforcement community. They truly understand the need to inject positivity and horsepower." David Ramos, Chief Strategy Officer for Visual Edge IT, who has participated in training at the organization's Florida-based facilities, recently joined USLEF's Brand Ambassador Circle and made an impassioned plea for support. The USLEF Ambassador Circle is a distinguished group of men and women devoted to achieving the vision of the United States Law Enforcement Foundation and bringing revival to law enforcement in America."You can choose a cause, and many do; however, in this case, the cause chose me," Ramos shared, "and I'm honored to be affiliated with such a tremendous, kind, and giving organization. I support the values they represent for the families of the fallen." Each year, Circle members provide a collective $500,000+ that impacts law enforcement officers and their families through officer training; compassionate programs supporting families of fallen and disabled officers; and programs that amplify the good stories - building awareness and support for law enforcement across America.For more information on Visual Edge IT, visit www.uslef.org and www.visualedgeit.com ABOUT VISUAL EDGE IT, INC.Visual Edge IT, Inc. (VEIT) specializes in managed IT services and security, cloud computing, and print/copy solutions for businesses across the U.S. including remote office locations. VEIT offers a full line of office technology and services for a variety of industries including 24/7 remote monitoring and administration of networks, service desk, and data backup and restore to improve business processes. Visual Edge IT is backed by more than 20 years of IT technology knowhow and a national network of expert engineers to support your technology needs. The company is headquartered in North Canton, Ohio, USA. For more information, visit www.visualedgeit.com ABOUT THE UNITED STATES LAW ENFORCEMENT FOUNDATIONThe United States Law Enforcement Foundation is a 501c3, registered in the State of Florida. The American Police Hall of Fame, National Association of Chiefs of Police, and American Federation of Police and Concerned Citizens operate as programs of the United States Law Enforcement Foundation. Visit www.uslef.org to learn more.Contact InformationJen ArthurNational Marketing Directorjarthur@ visualedgeit.com (317) 475-9519SOURCE: Visual Edge IT
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday inaugurated the presidential committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms.

The inauguration of the committee took place at the state house in Abuja, Nigerias capital city.

Earlier in July, Mr Tinubu approved the establishment of a Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms and appointed Taiwo Oyedele as the chairman of the committee.

The government said the establishment of the committee reflects Mr Tinubus commitment to addressing challenges and bringing about transformative reforms in fiscal policy and taxation.

The committees primary objective, according to the Nigerian government, is to enhance revenue collection efficiency, ensure transparent reporting, and promote the effective utilisation of tax and other revenues to boost citizens tax morale, foster a healthy tax culture, and drive voluntary compliance.

In his address at the inauguration, Zaccheus Adedeji, the special adviser to the president on revenue, said members of the committee were carefully selected based on their pedigree, years of experience, competence and professional integrity.

Mr President, these highly accomplished men and women with proven records of performance in their careers which cut across various sectors of our national life have accepted the honour to serve their country because they share in your vision of a better, more inclusive and more prosperous Nigeria, he said.

Mr President, you have the pedigree when it comes to revenue transformation. You demonstrated this when you were the Governor of Lagos State over 20 years ago.

Your remarkable achievements during the period not only set the path for future revenue improvement in Lagos state, but it also became the reference point for other states across the country.

Mr Adedeji said Nigerians have confidence that under Mr Tinubus visionary leadership, the country will overcome its unpalatable revenue problem.

He explained that Nigeria has huge potential for revenue mobilisation that should be sufficient to cater for the people without resorting to excessive borrowing which often crowds out the private sector and limits ability to finance sustainable development, create jobs and prosperity for Nigerians.

From our engagements with various stakeholders so far, the message has been clear, and we recognise the sense of urgency to address the various tax and fiscal impediments facing businesses, both large and small.

We are grateful to Mr President for assenting to the executive orders in July which provided some relief to individuals and businesses including the suspension of the excise tax on telecommunications, and the reversal of escalation of excise tax on manufacturers, he said.

Mr Adedeji noted that the inauguration of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms will allow Nigeria to further engage with various stakeholders to identify their pain points and critical concerns bothering tax and fiscal policies and to collectively develop the solutions necessary to address these challenges in a holistic manner.

We are most gracious to you, Mr President, for all the support you have given us so far. I want to assure you sir that this committee will deliver on its mandate.

On account of the work the committee sets out to do, our business environment will become more conducive for local and foreign investment, wealth will be created that will boost government revenue and our country will be better for it, he said.

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No fewer than three persons were killed on Sunday morning by gunmen in Nchya, village of Mangu local government area of Plateau state.

Oye James, spokesperson of Operation Safe Haven, a multi-security taskforce maintaining peace in the state, who confirmed the incident, also said two suspects were arrested in connection to the killing.

Mr James further said security operatives have been deployed to the affected area, adding that the incident was not an attack but an assassination.

Contrary to some reports on social media, that a village was attacked, that was not true. It was an assassination because the assailants went straight to the house of the victims and based on the report we have, it has indicated that it was an assassination,  he said.

Joshua Musa, a resident of the village who confirmed the incident, said the villagers were killed around 1:00 a.m. He said their bodies were in Mangu town, a situation that generated protests there.

Mr James, however, said the situation had been brought under control.

Three weeks ago, the Nigerian Army flagged off Operation HAKORIN DAMISA 4 to prevent further escalation of the crisis between the Mwaghavuls and Fulani in the area. The crisis between the two warring parties had led to the loss of hundreds of lives.

Another attack

Meanwhile, the Berom Youth Moulders -Association (BYM) has condemned an attack on commuters around the Heipang district of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State where one was killed and another one injured.

Our correspondent reports that the attack occurred on Sunday evening when the commuters were returning from Kara, a cattle market in Bukuru, in Jos South LGA of the state.

Condemning the attack, BYM described it as an act of criminality aimed at disrupting the recent peace in the area.

The attention of the leadership of the Berom Youth Moulder-Association, BYM has been drawn to an unfortunate incident that happened around Heipang District in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area on Sunday 06/08/2023 between the hours of 7 and 8 pm, BYM said in a statement.

The act of criminality where some hoodlums attacked innocent Citizens who were returning from the popular Kara cattle market. As a result, one Umar Idris was killed while the other victim is said to have sustained a gunshot injury and is currently receiving treatment in a hospital in Barkin Ladi.

This unprovoked act of criminality is totally condemnable, particularly at a time that we have put behind us incidents of the past to work with the government to ensure lasting peace in our communities.

We condole the family of the deceased and pray that God grant him eternal rest.

READ ALSO:

We equally pray for a speedy recovery for the injured and pray that the ugly incident will never repeat itself, the statement added.

The statement added that when the community heard a gunshot from the scene of the incident, it immediately organised its vigilante members who went to the spot where the shooting took place and the hoodlums escaped, adding that the vigilantes could not engage further as the attackers were well armed.

From reports gathered, a security meeting today between the Sector 4 Commander of the Special Task Force, Operation Save Haven, Col. US Abdulsalam, youths and stakeholders in Heipang, was held as the entire Community was also thrown into confusion when the incident happened as innocent persons from Heipang are also among road users.

The Community expressed its commitment during the meeting to support security personnel in its investigation to identify the perpetrators regardless of who they are, the statement added.

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The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) has donated 25 state-of-the-art operational vehicles to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to boost its operations across Nigeria.

The donation to the agency is drawn from the ASR Africa Security Sector Support Grant, a security intervention initiative targeted at providing critical support to the agency to boost its operational reach and capacity.

ASR Africa had announced the Security Sector Support grant to Nigerias Armed Forces and other security agencies as its support for security operations across the country.

Beneficiaries of the grant include the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Air Force, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service , State Security Service (SSS) and the Nigerian Correctional Service.

Presenting documents and keys of the vehicles to Mohammed Buba Marwa, a retired brigadier general and chairman/CEO of the NDLEA, Ubon Udoh, managing director, ASR Africa, said Abdul Samad Rabiu, founder and chair of the BUA Group is very passionate about giving back to society and has created the initiative to uplift and restore the dignity and lives of Africans.

READ ALSO:

Mr Ubon thanked the NDLEA leadership for its support in ensuring the speedy realisation of the project and noted that the operational vehicles would assist the NDLEA in fulfillment of its mandate in the war against drug-related crimes in the country.

According to Mr Udoh, We are very pleased to be here. I want to start by appreciating you and your team for all the collaborations to make this day a reality. This is a testament to your tenacity and will to ensure this handover happens within a short time.

I want to thank you all for the work you do. This agency has made a very giant stride under your leadership and this is a testament to the quality of your team. On behalf of Abdul Samad Rabiu, we are presenting your 25 operational vehicles to aid the work your do and I can assure you on his behalf that this is just the beginning of better things to come.

On his part, Mr Marwa of the NDLEA, appreciated the Chairman of ASR Africa for the support and redeeming his pledge to the agency.

He also enumerated the numerous achievements of the agency and promised full utilisation of the vehicles donated by ASR Africa.

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The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has appointed Muhammed Garba, as his chief of staff.

Mr Garba is the immediate past commissioner of Information and Home Affairs in Kano. He served in Mr Gandujes administration in Kano for eight years.

Mr Ganduje is the immediate past governor of Kano.

The appointment was announced in a statement on Tuesday by one of Mr Gandujes media aides, Abubakar Ibrahim.

Mr Garba was also the former National Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ). He also served as the press secretary to the office of the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives.

Reactions

Journalists and civil organisations in Kano commended Mr Ganduje for the appointment, describing Mr Garba as an experienced technocrat who has served humanity.

His (Mr Garba) appointment is certainly the height of putting a round peg in a round hole. More like doing the right thing, at the most appropriate time, the chairman, of the coalition of northern Nigeria civil society groups, Abdullahi Muhammad, said in a statement.

The appointment reiterated the competence and resilience of comrade Garba in defending the ideals of his boss, Dr Ganduje at all times, regardless of the backlash arising from deliberate misinformation by detractors.

READ ALSO: How Tinubu was misled in nominating Maryam Shetty as minister Ganduje

Mr Garba is well suited for the job looking at his antecedents and cognate experience spanning over three decades as a reputable journalist.

The group prays for the success of Dr Gandujes comrade Mohammed Garba, to succeed and exceed all expectations in the course of discharging their duties to the fatherland and humanity, Mr Muhammed said.

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Stenographers (Grade 'C' and Grade 'D') Examination, 2023 https://career.webindia123.com/career/dates_and_events/entrance/ssc/ssc-stenographers-grade-c-d-exam-notification.htm Details of Stenographers (Grade 'C' and Grade 'D') Examination, 2023 2023-8-8 2023-8-23 https://career.webindia123.com/career/images/exams.png India India Stenographers (Grade 'C' and Grade 'D') Examination, 2023 SSC

SSC Stenographers (Grade 'C' and Grade 'D') Examination, 2023

Stenographers (Grade 'C' and Grade 'D') Examination, 2023 Category : SSC Recruitment 2023 Published : On August 8, 2023 By Webindia123 Editor

Important Dates

Date for submission of online applications: 2nd August 2023 Last date for receipt of application 23rd August 2023 Last date for making online fee payment Last date for generation of offline Challan Last date for payment through Challan (during working hours of Bank) Date of Computer Based Examination November 2023

All India Open Competitive Examination for recruitment to the posts of Stenographer Grade 'C' ( Group 'B' Non-Gazetted ) in Pay Band 2 plus Grade Pay as admissible and Stenographer Grade 'D' (Group 'C' Non-Technical) in Pay Band 1 plus Grade Pay as admissible in various Central Government Ministries / Departments / Offices.

Question paper will be of Objective Multiple choice type. Questions will be set in Hindi and English except Part-III.

There will be negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer. Candidates are, therefore, advised to keep this in mind while answering the question.

Canvassing in any form will disqualifying the candidates.

Minimum Essential Qualification: 12th Class pass or equivalent from a recognized Board or University.

Age limit:

(a) Stenographer Grade C : 18 to 30 years as on 01.01.2020

(b) Stenographer Grade D : 18 to 27 years as on 01.01.2020



Nationality/Citizenship:

A candidate must be either:

(a) a citizen of India, or

(b) a subject of Nepal, or

(c) a subject of Bhutan, or

(d) a Tibetan refugee who came over to India, before the 1st January,1962,with the intention of permanently settling in India, or

(e) a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania(Formerly Tanganyika and Zanzibar), Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia and Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.

Provided that a candidate belonging to categories (b), (c), (d) and (e) above shall be a person in whose favour a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India.

A candidate in whose case a certificate of eligibility is necessary may be admitted to the examination but the Offer of appointment will be given only after the necessary eligibility certificate has been issued to him by Government of India.

Mode of payment: Fee Payable Rs. 100/-(Rupees One Hundred only)

How to apply:

Applications must be submitted only in the prescribed format On-line or by Post.

The commission encourages candidates to apply on-line. Submission of 'on-line' application avoid data discrepancies non/wrong delivery of admiit cards etc. as admit card can be downloaded from the website of the commission. Candidates desirous of submitting on line applications may do so. Such candidates should retain their registration number assigned to them on line for correspondence with the commission. They should not submit print outs of their application to the commission. The facility of on-line application will be available at website http://ssc.online.nic.in



(i) For the candidates sending the application by post:

The candidates submitting Paper application should pay the fee by means of "Central Recruitment Fee Stamps(CRFS)"only . CRFS are available at the counter of all Departmental Post Offices of the country. Recruitment Fee Stamps should be pasted on the application form in the space earmarked for the purpose and got cancelled from the Counter of Post Office of issue with the date stamp of the Issuing Post Office in such a manner that the impression or the cancellation stamp partially overflows on the Application Form itself, taking care at the same time that the impression is clear and distinct to facilitate the identification of date and Post Office of issue at any subsequent stage. After getting the Recruitment Fee Stamps cancelled from the Post Office, the candidate must submit their application to the concerned Regional Office/Sub Regional Offices of the Commission in the usual manner after completing other formalities.

(ii) For the candidates submitting their applications on-line:

The candidates submitting their applications on-line should pay the requisite fee as per instructions in Annexure-II(B) in the official website.

For further details and application format, visit SSC website.

Contact Details Address : Staff Selection Commission

Block No.-12, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road,New Delhi Phone : Fax : 011-24363343 Mobile : E-mail : Website : www.sscsr.gov.in

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The ongoing clearance operation by 1 Division of the Nigerian Army has yielded positive results as troops engaged and killed three alleged terrorists in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

According to a statement by the acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations 1 Division Nigerian Army Kaduna, Musa Yahaya, on Tuesday, the soldiers also recovered guns and other items in a raid on their hideouts on Monday.

During the well planned and adequately executed operation, troops neutralized 3 bandits and captured one AK 47 rifle, two locally fabricated AK 47 rifles, seven AK 47 magazines and eight motorcycles.

Other items recovered included three locally made magazines, six mobile phones, drugs and charms.

The General Officer Commanding 1 Division Nigerian Army and Force Commander operation Whirl Punch Maj Gen BA Alabi has commended the successes recorded by the gallant troops and charged them to continue the tempo and aggressiveness until all criminal elements are completely eradicated.

Chikun is one of the terrorised areas in the state as terror gangs locally called bandits attack rural communities, abducting and kidnapping residents and travellers at will.

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UN sanction monitors reported that Malis troops and its foreign security partners believed to be Russias Wagner mercenaries, were using violence against women and other grave human rights abuses to spread terror.

The monitors also warned in their report to the UN Security Council that the sexual violence by Malis troops and their foreign security partners remained systematic.

They said the foreign partners were presumed to be elements of the Wagner Group.

Mali had long been battling an Islamist insurgency and the West African countrys junta, which seized power in coups in 2020 and 2021, teamed up with Russias Wagner mercenary group in 2021. There were about 1,000 Wagner fighters in Mali.

Western countries had long raised concerns over Wagners activities in Mali. The United States had imposed sanctions on Wagner and Malian officials and repeatedly warned of what it said were Wagners destabilizing activities.

The panel believes that violence against women, and other forms of grave abuses of human rights and international humanitarian law are being used, specifically by the foreign security partners, to spread terror among populations, wrote the U.N. sanctions monitors, known as a panel of experts.

These practices potentially create a fear of reprisals, which acts as a deterrent for communities and armed groups who would otherwise seek to threaten the foreign security partners or harm them, they said.

The Wagner group could not immediately be reached for comment. Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin led a short mutiny against the Russian defence establishment in late June.

The U.N. Human Rights Office in May accused Malian troops and armed white men of likely executing at least 500 people, and sexually assaulting or torturing dozens of others during a five-day operation in central Mali in 2022.

Russia said the operation contributed to peace and tranquillity.

Elements of the foreign security partners are usually referred to in interviews with survivors of their operations as The Whites/Les Blancs, the sanctions monitors wrote in their annual report, which covered the period from Aug. 3, 2022, to June 23 this year.

The monitors visited Moscow in March and wrote that Russian officials confirmed the presence of the Wagner group in Mali as private contractors and the presence of Russian military instructors, based at the airport in the capital Bamako, who do not participate in operations.

They said Malis authorities had not allowed them to visit the country but that they had maintained the highest achievable standard of proof.

The UN Security Council unanimously voted on June 30 to end a decade-long peacekeeping mission in Mali after the junta abruptly asked the 13,000-strong force to leave, a move the United States said was engineered by the Wagner Group.

(Reuters/NAN)

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The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) are set to meet with President Bola Tinubus team on Tuesday.

Joe Ajaero, the NLC President, disclosed this on Monday while featuring on a Channels Television programme, Politics Today.

Mr Ajaero said the protest was suspended after the intervention of the National Assembly and the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu, adding that between that time and now, one or two issues have played out.

The Senate promised to get back to us and resolve the matter within one week. Just this evening we got a notice from them inviting us for a meeting tomorrow, Mr Ajaero said.

Another issue is we are yet to get the modality on the restructure initiative team, especially the government, and for those that will lead the government team, that one is still pending.

However, rising from our NEC meeting, we decided to take further action against the position of the industrial court and Ministry of Justice through the solicitor general that we are sending us letters about contempt, you know, and the NEC of the NLC rose giving to 14th of August for them to withdraw such summon for contempt or face industrial action. Real industrial action.

The NLC president added that the Ministry of Justice, through the solicitor general of the federation, sent a letter to the union withdrawing its charges.

So far so good thats where we are, he said.

Protests

On 29 May, during his inauguration, President Tinubu announced the removal of subsidy on petrol. This development has caused hardship for many Nigerians with its attendant increase in the prices of goods and services.

Last Wednesday, the NLC and TUC led Nigerian workers in protests across the country over the increasing cost of living due to government policies, especially the removal of subsidies on petrol.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the nationwide protest called by the two labour unions was held in various state capitals. The Abuja protest was led by NLC President Joe Ajaero and TUC President Festus Osifo.

The Abuja protesters marched from the Unity Fountain to the National Assembly complex, where they were addressed by a senator, Ali Ndume, who promised that the Senate would intervene in the crisis.

However, after the conclusion of the Abuja rally, the leaders of the two labour unions met with Mr Tinubu.

At the end of the meeting, Mr Ajaero told journalists that the issues we discussed are the same issues that led to the protest today.

He (President Tinubu) has expressed his position, made some commitment, which were taken side-by-side with what the Senate said, and were taking it back to the office with our colleagues to review it and release a document on our next line of action.

READ ALSO:

Shortly afterwards, presidential spokesperson Dele Alake released a statement announcing that the NLC had agreed to call off the protests.

Consequent upon the fruitful and frank discussion with President Tinubu and their confidence in his ability to encourage open and honest consideration of all the issues put forward by the Labour Movement, the Labour Leaders resolved to stop further protest, Mr Alake wrote.

Mr Alake said the president promised the union leaders that one of Nigerias four refineries would commence operations by the end of this year.

President Tinubu gave his commitment to the Labour leaders that the Port Harcourt refineries will start production by December 2023 after the completion of the ongoing rehabilitation contract between NNPCL and Italian firm Maire Tecnimont SpA, he wrote.

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Senators from the South-east geopolitical zone have called on President Bola Tinubu to appoint at least two additional ministers from their region.

The senators said their demand was to ensure fairness and justice in the representation of all geopolitical zones in Tinubus government.

Tony Nwoye (LP Anambra North) made the position of the South-east senators known via a motion he moved at the plenary on Monday.

Fourteen other senators from the South-East region are co-sponsors of the motion.

Mr Nwoye complained that the South-east region has the lowest ministerial representation among those appointed by Mr Tinubu with five nominees.

They are David Umahi (Ebonyi), Uju Kennedy Ohaneye (Anambra), Nkiru Onyejiocha (Abia), Uche Nnaji (Enugu) and Doris Uzoka (Imo).

The Anambra Senator said the gesture of the president in the appointment of ministers contravened Section 5 (a) and 5 (b) as well as Section 4 (1) of the Federal Character Commission Act Laws of the Federation, 2004.

He also said insufficient representation from the South-east region in Tinubus government does not promote national unity and national loyalty as enshrined in section 14 (3) of the 1999 constitution as amended.

Mr Nwoye requested that the Senate should urge Mr Tinubu to make additional appointments of at least two ministers from the South-east to balance geopolitical representation in the Tinubu administration.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio interjected the Anambra senator while he was speaking on the motion.

He promised that the leadership of the Senate would meet with Mr Tinubu very soon to table the matter before him.

After confirmation of the ministerial nomination, South-south zone has seven nominees, South-east (5), South-west (9), North-east (7), North-west (9) and North-central zone (8).

Three nominees namely Nasir El-Rufai (North-west), Sani Danladi (North-east) and Stella Okotete (South-south) are still awaiting confirmation.

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President Bola Tinubu has expressed his administrations commitment to break the cycle of overreliance on borrowing for public spending that results in burden of debt servicing.

Inaugurating the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms on Tuesday in Abuja, the president charged the committee to improve the countrys revenue profile and business environment.

He also said that the federal government was moving towards achieving 18 per cent Tax-to-GDP ratio within three years.

The president directed the committee to achieve its one-year mandate, which is divided into three main areas: fiscal governance, tax reforms, and growth facilitation.

He also directed all government ministries and departments to cooperate fully with the committee towards achieving its mandate.

Mr Tinubu said that the committee has the responsibility of assisting the administration in meeting the high expectations of citizens to make their lives better.

We cannot blame the people for expecting much from us. To whom much is given, much is expected.

It is even more so when we campaigned on a promise of a better country anchored on our Renewed Hope Agenda.

I have committed myself to use every minute I spend in this office to work to improve the quality of life of our people, he said.

Acknowledging Nigerias current international standing in the tax sector, the president said the nation was still facing challenges in areas such as ease of tax payment and its Tax-to-GDP ratio.

Our aim is to transform the tax system to support sustainable development while achieving a minimum of 18 per cent tax-to-GDP ratio within the next three years.

Without revenue, government cannot provide adequate social services to the people it is entrusted to serve.

The Committee, in the first instance, is expected to deliver a schedule of quick reforms that can be implemented within thirty days.

Critical reform measures should be recommended within six months, and full implementation will take place within one calendar year, the president directed.

Recounting the presidents track record on revenue transformation, the Special Adviser to the President on Revenue, Zacchaeus Adedeji, described the committee members, drawn from the public and private sectors, as accomplished individuals from various sectors.

Mr President, you have the pedigree when it comes to revenue transformation. You demonstrated this when you were the governor of Lagos State over 20 years ago, Mr Adedeji said.

Chairman of the Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, pledged the commitment of members to give their best in the interest of the nation.

Many of our existing laws are out-dated, hence they require comprehensive updates to achieve full harmonisation to address the multiplicity of taxes, and to remove the burden on the poor and vulnerable while addressing the concerns of all investors, big and small, he said.

(NAN)

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No fewer than 35 Ministries, Department and Agencies of the federal government on Tuesday in Abuja failed to appear before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating alleged job racketeering.

Yusuf Gagdi, chairman ad hoc committee probing employment racketeering and gross mismanagement of Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) said most of the agencies were not respectful of constituted authority.

Most of these agencies are not respectful of constituted authority.

We are supposed to have the presence of 40 agencies but only four are here, he said.

The chairman also read the riot act against some of the agencies earlier told to provide staff to serve as desk officers in the committee in a bid to provide necessary information when requested but failed.

Mr Gagdi had earlier asked the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Budget Office, IPPIS and the Federal Character Commission to provide desk officers that would be in the committee to give requisite information.

NAN reports jthat after the agencies failed to provide the desk officers, the chairman of the committee ordered that their directors should henceforth come to provide the information needed instead of the desk officers.

If the desk officers of head of service, budget office, IPPIS are not here then we should summon their directors to come and sit here so we can do the work together,  he said.

Five of the agencies that appeared before the committee are: Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, National Teachers Institute, National Commission for Colleges of Education and National Power Training Institute of Nigeria among others.

Mr Gagdi berated agencies for applying for waiver for the recruitment without advertising the same, adding that such were usually used to perpetrate fraud.

He noted that instead of engaging 100 staff as stipulated by the law guiding waiver on recruitment some agencies recruited as much as 150, thereby going beyond limit.

Josiah Ajiboye, Registrar of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria while answering questions on recruitment, said in 2018, 122 people had been recruited since he became the registrar in 2016.

READ ALSO: Senate urges MDAs to release funds allocated for dredging of rivers in 2023 budget

We got approval to recruit 122 with budget approval and waiver from the head of Service of the federation.

The Registrar of the National Commission for Colleges of Education, Paulines Chijioke, said the total strength of the commission was 280, while urging for approval to employ more staff.

He said 67 staff were replaced which was contrary to the 69 staff that was submitted to the committee.

He was, however, asked to leave when the number of officers recruited were inconsistent.

(NAN)

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The Nigerian government has imposed more financial sanctions on the coup plotters in neighbouring Niger and their backers, an official has said.

Ajuri Ngelale, the spokesperson of President Bola Tinubu, said Tuesday evening that the sanctions were in the aftermath of the deadline given to the coup plotters by ECOWAS.

I can also report that following the expiration of the deadline of the ultimatum and standing on the preexisting consensus position of financial sanctions meted out on the military junta in Niger Republic by the bloc of ECOWAS Heads of State, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered an additional slew of financial sanctions through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on entities and individuals related to or involved with the military junta in Niger Republic, Mr Ngelale told journalists in Abuja.

He also said ECOWAS had not taken off the option of military action in Niger and would discuss its options at Thursdays meeting in Abuja.

Mr Tinubu, the current chairperson of the ECOWAS heads of governments, has led the regional body to condemn the coup in Niger and demand a return to democracy and the release of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that an ECOWAS ultimatum for the return to democracy ended Sunday with the coup plotters remaining defiant.

Details later

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Nigerien authorities on Monday turned down a meeting request by a joint delegation from the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

According to a memo seen by PREMIUM TIMES and signed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Republic of Niger, the trio had jointly written to notify Niger authorities of the mission slated for today (Tuesday).

The Nigerien government said that based on ECOWAS sanction ordering member states to shut their border with Niger, organisation of such a mission by special flight requires special consideration by the Niger authorities, including a special exemption which is not invoked in this note from the Resident Representation.

According to the memo, the delegation was meant to arrive in Niamey on 8 August by a special flight chartered by the United Nations.

While reiterating their readiness to engage in discussions with delegations or emissaries concerning the situation in Niger, as indicated to the mission led by the former President of Nigeria, GI (er) Abdulsalami Abubakar, the current context of anger and revolt of the populations following the sanctions imposed by ECOWAS, does not allow to welcome the said delegation in the required serenity and security, it said.

As a result of the above, the Niger authorities said, the postponement of the mission is necessary, as is the revision of certain aspects of the programme, including meetings with certain personalities which, it said, cannot take place for obvious security reasons, in this atmosphere of threatened aggression against Niger.

It requested the Resident Representation of ECOWAS in Niamey to kindly communicate its position to ECOWAS while assuring the sub-regional bloc of its highest consideration.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that a three-person ECOWAS delegation led by former Nigerian military head of state, Abdulsalami Abubakar, was not allowed to see the coup leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani, or detained President Mohamed Bazoum.

Similarly, US Acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland on Monday visited Niamey but was also not allowed to meet Mr Tchiani.

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The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Abdullahi Gumel, has transmitted the confirmed list of 45 ministerial nominees to the Presidency.

Mr Gumel made this known while briefing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday.

The Senate had on Monday, confirmed the appointment of 45 ministerial nominees and put on hold the confirmation of three others.

Those not confirmed included former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, Abubakar Danladi, a former senator from Taraba State and Stella Okete, a nominee from Delta State.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, explained that the trio were not confirmed because they were still awaiting security clearance.

Mr Gumel said, We transmitted the confirmed list yesterday (Monday) by about 11:30 p.m. to the Chief of Staff to the President.

The list is now with the Executive, which means that the ministerial nominees were cleared by the Senate and confirmed.

He appreciated the senators who he said sacrificed their recess and stayed back as patriotic Nigerians to conclude the screening and confirmation of the nominees.

The interesting thing about what happened in the Senate is that, there wasnt opposition. The passion and commitment they showed to the work is commendable.

Im very grateful to the 10th Senate for making our jobs, those of us who represent the executive, very easy and very interesting.

So confirming the portfolios of the ministerial nominees, that one is presidential grace.

Mr Gumel also explained that the number of the nominees was increased from the usual 42 to 48.

We have increased the number of ministerial nominees from what we used to have, that is 42.

Our President sent 48 so we felt that what would happen is that some of the ministries which are so big are to be merged together or separated for easy oversight by the Senate, like the Ministry of Works and Housing, which we felt should be separated.

This is so that they can accommodate the number of ministers.

ALSO READ: Senate approves appointment of two ministerial nominees with questionable NYSC status

The president will give them portfolios so that the government can get going. It is the prerogative of the president, Mr Gumel said.

He also said that the crop of nominees were drawn from the private sector, technocrats and politicians, governors, serving and non-serving senators, Members of House of Representatives, Nigerian women and youth.

They will help to achieve the Renewed Hope mantra because Nigerians are waiting for the president to get his government running.

(NAN)

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Some yet-to-be-identified hoodlums have razed the Anambra home of a lawmaker, Paschal Agbodike.

Mr Agbodike represents Ihiala Federal Constituency of Anambra State in the House of Representatives.

The attackers invaded the house at about 1 a.m. on Tuesday in Ubahi-Mbosi, a community in Ihiala Local Government Area of the state, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.

The hoodlums were said to have shot indiscriminately for some minutes before setting the house ablaze during the attack.

Mr Agbodike, a former deputy speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, won the House of Representatives election for his constituency in the 2023 general election.

He is a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, the ruling party in Anambra State.

Sources said no life was lost in the attack, but the house, a well-furnished six-bedroom duplex, was completely razed by the attackers.

The lawmaker, who confirmed the incident to this newspaper, said he was in Abuja when the house was attacked.

Yes. It is true, he said, promising to revert back with details.

When contacted on Tuesday afternoon, the police spokesperson in Anambra State, Tochukwu Ikenga, also confirmed the attack to PREMIUM TIMES.

Mr Ikenga, a deputy superintendent of police, said a joint security team led by the area commander in Ihiala had been drafted to the scene of the attack.

Preliminary information from eyewitnesses reveals that the yet-to-be-identified persons invaded the six-bedroom duplex, made away with some properties and set the building ablaze, he said.

Not the first time

Like other states in Nigerias south-east, security has deteriorated in Anambra State with frequent attacks by armed persons.

The attacks often target security agencies, government officials and facilities.

Several government officials, including serving and past lawmakers, have been killed by gunmen in the state in the last year.

Aside from government officials, personnel of Nigerian security agencies and their facilities have been targets of such attacks.

This is the first major attack targeted at a politician in the state since the 2023 general election.

The Nigerian government has accused the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the state and the south-east. But the group has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attacks.

IPOB is leading the agitation for an independent state of Biafra which it wants carved out from the south-east and some parts of south-south Nigeria.

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Press Release

August 8, 2023 TENSION WITH CHINA NO EXCUSE FOR PANIC BUYING OF DEFENSE EQUIPMENT, CHIZ SAYS While tensions in the West Philippine Sea highlight the country's need for modern weapons, it does not give the government the excuse to go into panic buying for defense equipment, Sen. Chiz Escudero said today. "It is expected that arms merchants are beating a path to our door because they sense sales opportunity from a crisis. But we should be picky buyers because we don't have unlimited money," Escudero said. "Parang paalala sa pagbili ng gamot. Piliin kung ano ang mabisa at abot-kaya. Huwag pa-budol sa quack medicine." The Bicolano senator reminded the government not to let its desperation lower its guard when shopping for defense material. "Smart buying is the key because we don't have the resources to engage in an arms race. Magkano ba ang sticker price ng isang barko? Bilyun-bilyon. Hindi naman online shopping iyan na swipe, and add to cart. We have Rolls Royce dreams on a tricycle budget," he pointed out. Escudero shared that he is seeing a fad in the highest policy circles, egging us to boost our defense posture without providing ways on how to finance it. "Will we be using money for farms to buy for arms? Huwag naman po sana. Hunger is a more dangerous enemy," he said. Another thing to be considered, he said, is the country's pathetic lack for planes, boats, and motor vehicles to respond to challenges like calamities within our territory. Hence, the veteran legislator urged the government to consider "dual use" assets that can be used during military operations as well as rescue and relief operations in times of calamities. "May lumubog na banca sa Laguna Bay, wala man lang tayong air rescue capability sa isang lugar na malapit lang sa Manila. Wala ngang modernong Coast Guard boat doon," he lamented. "Ganun din sa ngayo'y Great Lake of Central Luzon. Kailangan ng amphibian boats doon. Kung mananawagan tayo ng bagong destroyers para sa laot, baka naman pwede isabay o unahin ang mas murang mga rescue boats," he added. Escudero said he has been advocating for a floating hospital that will double as a power plant, rescue headquarters, food pantry that will sail towards typhoon-hit areas. He said the equipment the nation will buy must be capable of being scrambled during calamities or emergency situations where lives are at stake. "Ang ipinupunto ko lang ay ibalanse, pumili ng wasto, at iprayoridad batay sa pangangailan at kakayahan," he said. Escudero said boosting defense capability should begin with the tapping of local manufacturers with a proven track of producing world class products. "We have excellent boat builders. We have gun manufacturers whose products have gotten great reviews. Pati mga sasakyan pang lupa, pwede na kunin dito," he concluded.
A U.S. Air Force veteran who originally grew up in Columbus is benefitting from a veteran-focused grant award to kick-start his new orchard farm in Brainerd.

Allen Brezenski, who now lives and works on his several-acre farm in Brainerd, recently got a boost for his new profession, receiving a $1,000 grant from the Farmer Veteran Coalition Fellowship Fund.

Brezenski, owner and founder of the newly created HoneyBreeze Orchards, was able to get the grant after the Tractor Supply Company Foundation donated $100,000 to the FVC Fellowship Fund to then disperse to dozens of veteran farmers across the nation.

Now 48, Allen runs the new orchard with help of his wife, Pamela Brezenski, growing produce. The couple also hopes to begin producing their own local honey in summer 2024 with new bee hives theyre purchasing.

The $1,000 grant from the FVC Fellowship Fund is intended to help Brezenski with his efforts to kick start the new farm. Brezenski served 21 years in the U.S. Air Force, retiring with an honorable discharge and rank of master sergeant. He was deployed overseas six times and worked as an aircraft armament specialist, loading munitions and working on weapons systems of F-16 fighter jets and B-52 bomber planes.

My wife and I were super excited, Allen said of receiving the grant. It helps immensely. What we bought with this money was a water wagon you can pull behind a tractor. And, we bought some fence posts.

Allen was honorably discharged from the U.S.A.F in November 2014, and has shifted between jobs and professions in the nearly 10 years since he left the military.

Ive been finding my way since retiring, he explained. I started teaching, then I was a postman for three years. Then we bought some acreage and we began planting.

Allen said while he is not a farmer and did not grow up on a farm, his wife  Pamela  did and both are, very passionate about the HoneyBreeze project. The couple have three daughters and two grandchildren and Allen is originally from Columbus.

The couples goals for the business include growing and harvesting cherries, apples, grapes and hopefully acquiring beehives to begin honey production. They own a small plot of land in Schuyler on which they are hoping to build a small farm and produce stand.

The goal would be to sell produce, Allen explained. We have some land in Schuyler where we want to put up a stand and sell produce to people.

His goal of having beehives is in part due to his membership on the Heroes to Hives program, which helps beginning beekeepers get their operation going. Allen said tending to the bees is, calming and a joy.

As for receiving the farm grant intended to help veterans, Allen said it is heartwarming to know companies care about former military members looking to start new businesses after they are discharged.

It was very, very helpful, Allen said of the $1,000 grant. It is nice to know there are things out there to help. The start-up (cost) of farming is the hardest part.
Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has vowed to deal with those enforcing the suspended sit-at-home order in the South-east.

Mr Kanu also said he would deal with those using his name and those of his pro-Biafran groups  IPOB and Eastern Security Network (ESN)  to organise fundraising without authorisation.

Aloy Ejimakor, special counsel to Mr Kanu, disclosed this in a statement via his verified Twitter handle on Monday.

Mr Ejimakor said Mr Kanu instructed him to post his (Kanus) exact words on the microblogging site when he visited the IPOB leader at the facility of the State Security Service (SSS).

Any person or group of persons using my name, the name of IPOB or ESN in fundraising without my direct and express authorisation is committing a crime with my name and I will deal with such a person, regardless of his place of residence, Mr Kanu said.

Although the IPOB leader did not mention names, he is believed to have been referring to a pro-Biafran agitator, Simon Ekpa, who has continued to organise fundraising sessions mainly on Twitter to support IPOBs Biafra agitation in the South-east and South-south regions.

Mr Ekpa, a Finland-based lawyer, hails from Ebonyi State, Nigerias south-east.

Both men were allies and Mr Ekpa still claims to be Mr Kanus disciple.

Sit-at-home order

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that Mr Kanu in late July, via a handwritten letter issued through Mr Ejimakor, his special counsel, ordered Mr Ekpa to stop issuing sit-at-home orders in the region.

But Mr Ekpa, who has continued to issue the sit-at-home orders in the region, described the letter as fake, and maintained that the civil action would go on until Mr Kanu speaks to him directly in Finland, a North European country, where he (Ekpa) resides.

In the letter, Mr Kanu said the idea of sit-at-home had been hijacked by our oppressors as a means of rendering our land desolate and forcing our people to migrate out of our lands.

The IPOB leader argued that the enforcers of the sit-at-home order have gerrymandered Igboland to now exclude the Igbos in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Kogi, Rivers, Edo, Delta and Benue.

Cross River, Akwa-Ibom, Rivers, Edo and Delta are South-south states while Kogi and Benue are North-central states.

Mr Kanu stressed that those enforcing the sit-at-home were also frustrating his release from the SSS detention.

I will never forgive any person or group of persons still insisting on and enforcing sit-at-home. I take it that such a person is merely using my name to indirectly work against my release, the IPOB leader stated.

Background

IPOB, in August 2021, introduced a sit-at-home order every Monday across the South-east to pressure the Nigerian government to release Mr Kanu, who is standing trial for terrorism at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The separatist group later suspended the order, in preference for it to be implemented only on days Mr Kanu appears in court.

But despite its suspension, residents of the five south-east states  Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, Abia and Anambra  have been observing the Monday sit-at-home order, mostly out of fear.

IPOB has repeatedly disowned the Monday sit-at-home across the region, saying those who still enforce the order were criminals attempting to blackmail the separatist group.

However, Mr Ekpa, who leads Autopilot, a faction of IPOB, has continued to declare sit-at-home orders in the region despite being suspended by the IPOB faction led by Mr Kanu.

IPOB is leading the agitation for an independent state of Biafra, which it wants carved out from the south-east and some parts of south-south Nigeria.

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The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has appealed to the Nigerian government to conclude measures to resolve all areas of disagreement with members of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).

The NMA, in a statement signed by its President, Uche Ojinmah, and obtained by PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday, said the avoidable labour dispute has gone on for far too long to the detriment of the common Nigerian citizen.

The association said it is necessary for the government to quickly conclude measures to resolve all areas of disagreement and eschew all punitive responses in the interest of industrial harmony.

The NMA, as the umbrella body for all doctors in Nigeria, is the mother association to NARD and hence as a matter of policy, must protect/promote her interest, the statement reads.

It is our belief that this avoidable labour dispute has gone on for far too long to the detriment of the common Nigerian citizen. We hereby call on our government to quickly conclude measures to resolve all areas of disagreement and eschew all punitive responses in the interest of industrial harmony.

NMA also called on NARD to extend a gesture of goodwill towards the government in the interest of suffering patients and fellow citizens.

Doctors strike

The resident doctors embarked on an indefinite industrial action on 26 July following the failure of the Nigerian government to meet their demands.

The doctors are demanding, among other issues, the immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), tangible steps on the upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), and payment of all salary arrears owed its members since 2015.

The doctors also want the immediate massive recruitment of clinical staff in the hospitals and the abolishment of the bureaucratic limitations to the immediate replacement of doctors and nurses who leave the system.

They also want the immediate review of hazard allowance by all the state governments and private tertiary health institutions where any form of residency training is done.

The resident doctors comprise the bulk of medical personnel in Nigerias tertiary hospitals; hence health activities are mostly crippled when they are on strike.

Peaceful Protest

The striking doctors said they would commence a daily peaceful protest from tomorrow, Wednesday, if the federal government fails to meet its demand.

The decision followed the directive by the Nigerian government to the management of federal tertiary hospitals to commence the enforcement of the no work, no pay policy against the striking doctors.

This policy means that the doctors who continue to stay away from their duty posts will not receive their regular salaries while the strike lasts.

In a letter dated 1 August, the government instructed the hospitals to implement the no work, no pay policy and keep an attendance register for resident doctors willing to continue working despite the strike.

The striking doctors, however, said the government has no moral justification for its action.

It said rather than make genuine and concerted efforts to resolve the challenges that led to the industrial action; the government has chosen to demonise the doctors.

We, therefore, resolved that it is time the whole world hears our side of the story  the decay and corruption in the health sector, as well as the neglect the public health institutions have suffered all these years that led to repeated industrial actions.

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The Second Russo-Africa Summit, which was originally scheduled to hold at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on October 2022, was eventually held at the Expo Forum in St. Petersburg, Russias second largest city after Moscow, on 27 and 28 of July 2023. The original idea of holding it in Addis Ababa was partly in response to criticisms of African leaders being herded into one European or American capital in the name of Africa Summit  like small boys. However, given what has happened in the last couple of years, what are the main takeaways from the Summit?

One, that the summit held at all was a subtle message that life in Russia remains normal despite the Ukrainian war and the Western sanctions on the country. Though attended by 49 delegations, with only 17 heads of state participating at the summit compared with the 43 which previously attended the first summit in 2019, it must be underlined that not many people would feel comfortable visiting a country at war. Add to this the rumour that the US and other European countries mounted serious pressure on African leaders not to attend the Summit and the attendance will be seen as not too bad. Besides, some of the continents most important leaders were there. They included Abdel Fattah el Sisi of Egypt, Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Macky Saul of Senegal and Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea. Other prominent attendees included Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Workneh Gebeyehu Negewo, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Amina Salmane, Permanent Representative of the Arab Maghreb Union to the African Union, Dilma Rousseff, BRICS New Development Bank President, Benedict Oramah, President of African ExportImport Bank (Afreximbank) and Gilberto Da Piedade Verissimo, President of the Economic Community of Central African States. Though the Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was not there, he was represented by the countrys Vice President, Kashim Shettima

Two, it is symbolic that the Summit was attended by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder and leader of the Russian private military contractor, Wagner group. It was Prigozhins first known public appearance in Russia since launching an unsuccessful armed rebellion against the countrys military hierarchy. Though Private military companies (PMCs) are banned in Russia, Wagner, has since 2014 (when Russia annexed Crimea), emerged as one of Russias most important foreign policy tools in several African countries. Capitalizing on anti-Western and anti-French sentiments, the Wagner group has bolstered its presence in Central African Republic, Libya, Mali and Sudan and looking for opportunities to extend its influence to other places. The group has been operating in several African countries since 2017, often providing its clients with direct military support and related security services alongside propaganda efforts. It was estimated that in 2018 about 1000 Wagner mercenaries entered CAR to defend the government of President Faustin-Archange Touadera against rebel attacks on the capital, Bangui. In return, Wagner subsidiaries received unrestricted logging rights and control of the lucrative Ndassima gold mine. The presence of Prigozhin at such a high level summit will indicate both tacit Russian support for Wagners operations as well as Prigozhins interest in exploring opportunities for further expansion in Africa.

Three, the summit provided an opportunity for Putin to make amends on his alleged shabby treatment of African leaders who had met with him to promote its peace plan for the war in Ukraine. It should be recalled that on May 16 2023, South Africas president Cyril Ramaphosa, announced new initiatives by African leaders for peace in Ukraine. In June 2023, the African peace mission, including representatives from South Africa, Egypt, Senegal, Congo-Brazzaville, Comoros, Zambia and Uganda visited both Ukraine and Russia to promote its peace deal. On 17 June, Ramaphosa and his delegation met the Russian President Vladmiri Putin at St. Petersburg. The delegation reportedly called on Putin to end the Russian invasion of Ukraine but Putin was said to have rejected the peace plan because it was allegedly based on Russia accepting Ukraines internationally recognized borders. Some have in fact argued that Putin treated the African leaders with disdain and disrespect. A South African Professor William Gumede, was for instance quoted as saying that the fact that Kyiv was bombed during the visit of the African peace mission to Ukraine was humiliating and then in Russia, Putin didnt even bother to listen to the delegation, basically interrupting them before theyd even finished speaking, implying there was no point in discussing anything as the war would continue. Perhaps what was often left out by critics of Russias treatment of the African delegation was that the time of the peace mission was probably inauspicious because Ukraine had just launched its much anticipated counter offensive to reclaim lost territories. Be that as it may, the Second Summit was an opportunity for Putin to make amends and Putin was mostly on charm offensive. Commenting on the African peace initiative, Putin was quoted as saying: We did not reject them, but only maintained that in order for this process to begin, there needs to be agreement on both sides.

Four, alongside the war in Ukraine, food security was high on the agenda especially following Russias decision to withdraw from an international grain deal. The agreement brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last year allowed the safe passage of agricultural goods through Ukraines ports in the Black Sea. While the vast majority of the nearly 33 million tonnes exported since then did not reach the worlds poorest countries, the deal was said to have helped reverse spiralling food prices by more than 20 percent, according to the UN. Russia justified its decision to withdraw from the grains deal by arguing that the conditions for the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative had been ignored. Korir SingOei, Kenyas principal secretary for foreign affairs, called Putins decision to pull out of the grain deal a stab on the back.

As if in response to the charge of stabbing them on the back, Putin told African leaders he would gift them tens of thousands of tons of grain despite Western sanctions, which he said made it harder for Moscow to export its grain and fertilisers. He was quoted as saying that Russia was ready to replace Ukrainian grain exports to Africa on both a commercial and aid basis to fulfil what he said was Moscows critical role in global food security. Russia said that Ukraines failure to export more grain to poorer countries was one of the reasons it pulled out of the deal. Putin also complained that parts of the deal allowing for the export of Russian food and fertilisers had not been honoured.

On charges of insensitivity to millions of poor in drought-hit horn of Africa, Putin was quoted as saying: We will be ready to provide Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, Central African Republic and Eritrea with 25-50,000 tonnes of free grain each in the next three to four months. Last year, Russia exported 60 million tonnes of grain, of which 48 million was wheat.

Five, the Summit also agreed to institutionalise Russo Africa relations by establishing a Russia-Africa Partnership Forum with a view to coordinating the development of the Russian-African relations. It designated the RussiaAfrica Summit as its supreme body to be convened once every three years. It also proposed an annual political consultation between Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and African States.

Six, the Summit also re-stated its commitment to enthrone a multipolar world order. Putin hailed the commitment of all our states to the formation of a just and democratic multipolar world order. The Participants at the Summit also signed a joint declaration that called for the establishment of a more just, balanced and stable multipolar world order, firmly opposing all types of international confrontation in the African continent. Putin promised that Russia would support African countries efforts to ensure compensation for colonial policies, including the restitution of cultural property displaced in the process of colonial plundering.

Jideofor Adibe is a professor of Political Science and International Relations at Nasarawa State University, Keffi and Extraordinary Professor of Government Studies at North Western University, Mafikeng South Africa. He is also the founder of Adonis & Abbey Publishers and can be reached at 0705 807 8841 (Text or WhatsApp only).

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His appointment brings hope for an era of unparalleled growth, where security issues will be addressed head-on, instilling confidence in investors and spurring economic activities across the nation. By eliminating corruption that has plagued law enforcement and national security, Ribadu aims to foster a secure environment that will attract investments, stimulate economic growth, and create opportunities for all Nigerians.

In a groundbreaking departure from tradition, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made a strategic move that promises to reshape Nigerias security landscape. With the appointment of Nuhu Ribadu as the National Security Adviser (NSA), the country has embarked on a journey towards enhanced internal policing and a resolute fight against corruption. This bold decision signifies a disruptive shift, veering away from the exclusive preserve of retired army Generals, and embracing the vast experiences of a retired police officer.

The significance of this appointment cannot be overstated. For decades, the office of the NSA had been largely synonymous with retired army Generals or officers, despite the Nigerian Police Force being at the forefront of maintaining peace and security across the nation. However, with Ribadus appointment, President Tinubu has charted a new course, signaling his administrations commitment to a reimagined and more effective national security strategy.

Nuhu Ribadus reputation as an anti-corruption warrior precedes him. His tenure as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) remains etched in the annals of Nigerias fight against corruption. Fearless and resolute, Ribadu took on powerful individuals involved in corrupt practices, securing over 270 convictions, including high-profile politicians and state governors.

However, Ribadus appointment as NSA extends beyond his anti-corruption credentials. His illustrious career as a law enforcement officer, from Assistant Superintendent of Police to Chief Superintendent of Police, equips him with an unparalleled understanding of Nigerias internal policing challenges. This experience promises to drive the formulation of innovative strategies to bolster the capabilities of law enforcement agencies nationwide.

President Tinubus decision to appoint Nuhu Ribadu as NSA represents a defining moment in Nigerias quest for a safer and prosperous future. As Ribadu takes charge, Nigerians can anticipate a bold and transformative era, characterised by an unyielding commitment to internal policing and an unrelenting fight against corruption.

As the Governor of Lagos State between 1999 and 2007, President Tinubu demonstrated his unwavering support for the police. Now, by appointing Ribadu, he underscores the importance of empowering and re-energising the Nigerian Police Force to take on the mantle of law enforcement and public policing.

This strategic move comes at a critical juncture for Nigerias economy. The recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) report, World Economic Outlook Update: Near-Term Resilience, Persistent Challenges, projects Nigerias economy to grow at 3.2% in 2023, with a slight decline to 3.0% in 2024 due to security issues in the oil sector. The countrys growth projections fall below the sub-Saharan regions average, set to grow by 3.5% in 2023 and 4.1% in 2024.

However, with Ribadu at the helm of national security, the tide may turn. His appointment brings hope for an era of unparalleled growth, where security issues will be addressed head-on, instilling confidence in investors and spurring economic activities across the nation. By eliminating corruption that has plagued law enforcement and national security, Ribadu aims to foster a secure environment that will attract investments, stimulate economic growth, and create opportunities for all Nigerians.

President Tinubus decision to appoint Nuhu Ribadu as NSA represents a defining moment in Nigerias quest for a safer and prosperous future. As Ribadu takes charge, Nigerians can anticipate a bold and transformative era, characterised by an unyielding commitment to internal policing and an unrelenting fight against corruption.

George Kerley, a public affairs analyst, writes from Port Harcourt.

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You want to have tears streaming down your eyes? Then read his account of the death of Dele Giwa. They had lived together in two wings of a duplex. Most times they ate together, either in his or Deles study. Both used Rays electricity generating set whenever there was a power cut. Then with palpable emotions, he talks about their last few days together.

Let me conclude this birthday wish to Ray Ekpu with a few paragraphs of a long story. It is a story of two men whose paths crossed dozens of years ago  a story of tested friendship loaded with benefits.

One day in the mid-1970s, an audacious young man walked into the South Eastern State Library in Calabar and had his destiny redirected. He had made it to the quiet, fun-filled city the previous day from Ibadan, where he worked as a library assistant at Nigerias premier university.

His mission was to explore the possibility of a job offer at the newly established second generation University of Calabar. Unfortunately, he was informed on arrival that the man he needed to meet was out of the country.

While being driven in a taxi out of the campus, almost in frustration, he thought of the most likely way and a place to spend his first afternoon in the city. The first place that came to mind was the library  his natural domain.

As he walked into the serene environment, loaded with books of all shapes and contents, he observed a familiar face sitting across the table  a face he had seen in the local newspaper the previous day.

Taking a deep breath, he walked up to the gentleman and greeted him with a smile. Sir, you must be Mr Ray Ekpu, he observed. Yes, I am. How did you know? I dont think Ive met you before, replied the man known today as Uncle Ray.

With a smile, the visitor explained, No, we havent met, Sir. But I know you. I read your column yesterday. A beautiful prose, rich in words, but not much of depth in terms of background.

Uncle Ray frowned. But he knew the young man was right. The Nigerian Chronicle at that time had no research centre or a library. He however wondered what qualified this bold-faced lad to be his judge. He tried to ignore him. However, minutes later, they got to know each other better.

Uncle Ray, now 75, was the editor of the Nigerian Chronicle  an office he occupied at age 29 after an interview conducted by the late Prince Tony Momoh. The young librarian was Nyaknnoabasi Osso, now close to 70.

A detailed version of this story is told in an upcoming book by Nyaknnoabasi. From their meeting in the state library, Nyak  as Uncle Ray calls him  got hired to set up a media research centre at the Nigerian Chronicle. This was where Nyaknnoabasi met the late Dele Giwa when the latter visited Uncle Ray in Calabar.

Hugely talented in library science, Nyaknnoabasi went ahead in his latter days to become a multiple award-winning media librarian, documentation specialist, an accomplished researcher, and author of the widely acclaimed Newswatch Whos Who in Nigeria.

His encounter with Uncle Ray that day, and later with Dele, paved way for his employment at the Newswatch magazine  an opportunity that took him to the front row of media librarianship and unlimited international exposure.

In 1980, he went to the Sunday Times newspaper as editor. Most old staff of the paper thought he was a mere local Calabar boy brought to be their boss. They however swallowed their arrogance when Uncle Ray redesigned the concept and the contents of the newspaper. Within a short time, he improved the circulation figure by 100,000 copies every Sunday.

So, when Nyaknnoabasi sent me an old copy of Gaskia magazine for a review, it was understandable and even expected, because the publication has Uncle Ray on the cover.

Described by the magazines publisher, Dare Babarinsa as the battle-tested general of the Nigerian press, Uncle Ray takes the reader back to his early days in the village as a kid when he used to read newspapers meant for his father, who was a member of the Customary Court of Appeal.

He was so much in love with the media that when he was at the Ibibio State College, he started writing articles, and pasted them on the schools notice board with his by-line: Pressman Remmy!

Moved over to Holy Family College, Abak later, he started a bi-monthly magazine called Nightingale. The production process was simple: write the articles, type them on stencils, have them cyclostyled, stapled and sold! Before long, he was noticed by the school principal who assigned him and his team a supervisor  a reverend Father from Ireland.

Rays father had five wives. Four of them gave him 19 children before he died at 50. The last wife had no child. One can only imagine what would have happened if the man had lived longer. Uncle Ray told the magazine that from the manner his father organised the family, he made polygamy look attractive.

Dare asked him the natural question: So what happened that you are not a polygamist? Uncle Ray responded without hesitation: I guess it is not too late! However, he went ahead to describe polygamy as a philosophy that should be discouraged in the modern era because it has its own downsides.

For unknown reasons, the interviewer did not ask him any question about his sojourn at the Nigerian Chronicle. From my findings, as editor, Uncle Ray kept a must-read weekly column that put him in trouble several times.

In 1980, he went to the Sunday Times newspaper as editor. Most old staff of the paper thought he was a mere local Calabar boy brought to be their boss. They however swallowed their arrogance when Uncle Ray redesigned the concept and the contents of the newspaper. Within a short time, he improved the circulation figure by 100,000 copies every Sunday.

Besides the in-house battle which he faced, Dare observed that the roughriders of the then ruling National Party of Nigeria never liked Rays icy witticism and omnivorous knowledge. Speedily, they kicked against his column and reassigned him to the relatively unknown Business Times.

He refused to be frustrated. Instead, he accepted the challenge, re-modelled the newspaper with appetising contents and design; and brought back his column. That was unacceptable to his bosses. He resigned. When Dele showed up and took him to the Concord Group as Chairman of the editorial board, Uncle Ray took his column with him.

One day, he predicted that at the rate public offices were being set ablaze whenever corrupt acts were noticed, the towering Nigerian External Telecommunications (NET) building was not safe. At that time, a N54 million corruption case was under investigation at NET.

The article appeared on a Sunday; and early Monday morning, NET building was on fire. The columnist was promptly arrested, detained and charged with murder and being an accessory to murder. He was later discharged and acquitted.

One day, he was at the Calabar airport, waiting for a flight to Lagos. He had just completed his vacation in his village. That week, Newswatch had on its cover an exclusive interview with General David Mark; conducted by Dan. It exposed General Sani Abachas sit-tight agenda as head of state. Uncle Ray, who was on leave, was arrested at the airport, detained and taken by road to Lagos, then locked up.

From this point, the interview shifts to how the Newswatch project was conceived. Ray reveals that he resigned from Concord Group when Dele was removed as editor of Sunday Concord. At that time, Dele was away on honeymoon.

Dare, the interviewer, had worked at the Concord with Uncle Ray, Dele and Yakubu Mohammed. He was also a senior editor at Newswatch. So, what you have in Gaskia are insiders questions and responses. Uncle Ray talks about his relationship with Dele, Dan Agbese, and Yakubu  who was his classmate at the University of Lagos.

You want to have tears streaming down your eyes? Then read his account of the death of Dele Giwa. They had lived together in two wings of a duplex. Most times they ate together, either in his or Deles study. Both used Rays electricity generating set whenever there was a power cut. Then with palpable emotions, he talks about their last few days together.

Six months after Dele was assassinated, Newswatch magazine was proscribed by the military government over a report on the draft constitution. Uncle Ray and his colleagues were loaded into jail. Another trouble!

One day, he was at the Calabar airport, waiting for a flight to Lagos. He had just completed his vacation in his village. That week, Newswatch had on its cover an exclusive interview with General David Mark; conducted by Dan. It exposed General Sani Abachas sit-tight agenda as head of state. Uncle Ray, who was on leave, was arrested at the airport, detained and taken by road to Lagos, then locked up.

Fast forward: Uncle Ray explains to Gaskia how Newswatch was sold to a new investor who abandoned it. That transaction was indeed a sad tale of how a flourishing and most influential news magazine in Nigeria went down the highway of silence; then death.

As predicted by Dare, the interview with Ray is un-put-down-able. It feels like a thriller. I expected more questions. But that may come another day.

Ray remains one of the most revered practitioners of journalism, not just in Nigeria, but across the world. He does not only write, but speaks as an ancestor of the noble profession  a living legend.

Many of us are still waiting for that day when Ray will compile and publish his columns  from the Nigerian Chronicle, Sunday Times, and Business Times, to Sunday Concord. A book on journalism practise, from an insiders view point, is equally not a bad idea. Such a book would capture the silent role played by Uyai, his wife of over 40 years; and chronicle his travails  the repeated harassments, arrests, and detentions.

Unfortunately, none of his three children is interested in journalism. They have all moved on to other things. His son, at five, dreamt of being like Uncle Dele and Daddy. But after the death of Dele on 19 October, 1986, the boy formally denounced his previous interest. His reason: I dont want to be killed like Uncle Dele.

For Uncle Ray, the world is waiting for his memoir, again. Happy Birthday, Sir.

Sam Akpe is a journalist and editor.

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Many voted for Tinubu because of his proven ability to fish out and assemble talents. If Jagabans cabinet were filled with exhausted governors coming into the cabinet to hide from the EFCC, it would have been an inexcusable tragedy. But with Alake, Edun, Fagbemi and people like Bosun Tijani, some neutrals might give the new president the benefit of the doubt, in the hope that the kitchen cabinet would think and innovate, while the other ministers enjoy the perks of the office and do agbero work during elections.

The proposed cabinet of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has many redundant minds chosen to serve the needs of political expediency. The anachronistic selection criteria appeared oblivious of a recent paradigm shift and misjudged political expediency. Yet, the mob raged against one of the few imaginative minds in the cabinet. The cabinet didnt meet public expectations because it has many black sheep in it; sheep in wolves clothing and downright empty vessels. So, why wouldnt the mob let merit breathe? Many in the cabinet lack the sobriety and mental rigour required to grapple with modernity and development ideas. The cabinet has an abundance of boring folks, most of whom the electorate has rejected but whom rigging has sustained. Persons, whose only political relevance stems from the stubborn, albeit fast dwindling, influence of ill-gotten wealth, thuggery and electoral malpractices. Yet, the mobs revulsion was against one of the few exciting and upright young minds who can inspire an increasingly apathetic youthful population.

The mob. A large disorderly crowd. Particularly, a crowd bent on some self-indulgent destruction. A mob. A frenzied crowd in a high state of suggestibility. Suggestibility. The quality of being easily swayed. A mob. A collection of people engaged in temporary thinking and demands, and makeshift logic. A mob. In other words, a congregation feasting on raw emotions. A mob. An excitable bunch that can eulogise stagnant mediocrity and rise to bully reasoned scepticism formed against prodigality and the bastardisation of values.

The mob will welcome with fanfare the nomination of Ganduje as the chairman of the ruling party. Of course, Ganduje is an innocent man. No court has found him guilty of stuffing his agbada with bribe money, as seen in that secret video recording. Political parties are now run like mafias. The only principle that matters is crude loyalty. But why wouldnt the mob fight for the substitution of many of the old rotten eggs with a few of their preferred, loyal and tech-savvy youth? The mob can accept the nomination of Matawalle as a minister. Though he was rejected by the Zamfara people after a disastrous tenure as governor, he is still a rich man.

Yes, Mattawalle and company love the country, and they call themselves progressives. Despite their travails with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), they are renowned statesmen, patriots of a great nation. But Bosun Tijiani is not a patriot. He is an insolent dissident against an old exploitative order. Having thrown tantrums at an indolent country whose clumsiness has stacked up misery for generations yet unborn, he must be banished from leadership. If he were a loquacious lackey of a big but small-minded politician, he would have been celebrated. He isnt a slippery chameleon, like many of the politicians on the ministerial list, so he must be crucified for holding strong opinions about the countrys drift. If he were a docile fellow sitting on the fence, waiting for crumbs or singing promiscuously for egotistical, self-absorbed politicians, he would have been deemed well-mannered. But he is a passionate youth with an independent mind, filled with righteous exuberance, so his frustrations must be interpreted without the relevant contexts.

The upwardly mobile, intensely fervent young people whom the country has filled with frustration have become an enemy tribe. They must be treated as traitors because they have dared to question the purpose of an incurably dysfunctional nationhood. In that cabinet of 48, not more than 10 can face the EndSARS youths and come out acquitted as diligent and knowledgeable, passionate and sincere, and selflessly devoted to national unity and progress.

The raucous rabble can conjure up justifications for the nomination of elderly agberos and slimy agents of religious exploitation into the cabinet, but it cant figure out that the president must seek rapprochement with a certain disenchanted segment of the population. The mob is quick to recognise the parochial service of entrenched interests and contemptible obeisance to feudalism as a sagacious political strategy, but it cant fathom an olive branch to disenchanted youth with a restless creativity and boundless passion. Corruption and indolence are now traditional; so, the queerness that must be quarantined is caustic political criticism.

The upwardly mobile, intensely fervent young people whom the country has filled with frustration have become an enemy tribe. They must be treated as traitors because they have dared to question the purpose of an incurably dysfunctional nationhood. In that cabinet of 48, not more than 10 can face the EndSARS youths and come out acquitted as diligent and knowledgeable, passionate and sincere, and selflessly devoted to national unity and progress. But does it matter to the mob? They reckon the EndSARS youths as coup plotters. Yet, Jagaban knows that as irreverent as those young people are, they can champion national development if their passion is harnessed.

If the apology Bosun Tijani tendered signals capitulation rather than tact, time will tell. Nevertheless, a feudal view of patriotism that enervates youthful dissent is an instrument of oppression. The oppressed must not quit. Principled nimbleness, rather than unbending idealism, might help to infiltrate the rot to begin the renewal.

A techpreneur, Bosun Tijani was born in Agege and trained in Jos, Leicester and Warwick. His biography details pioneering efforts at mainstreaming technology for social development and mentoring the youth. He is not contaminated old wine in a cheap new bottle. Many voted for Tinubu because of his proven ability to fish out and assemble talents. If Jagabans cabinet were filled with exhausted governors coming into the cabinet to hide from the EFCC, it would have been an inexcusable tragedy. But with Alake, Edun, Fagbemi and people like Bosun Tijani, some neutrals might give the new president the benefit of the doubt, in the hope that the kitchen cabinet would think and innovate, while the other ministers enjoy the perks of the office and do agbero work during elections.

Patriotism isnt subservience to political leaders or submission to dysfunctional political orders. It involves the identification and moral pursuit of actions that serve the overall best interest and values of the country. The country here means the masses. Patriotism then must include even acts of rebellion against the established order, if they are undertaken to attain superior moral objectives in the ultimate interest of the nation. If the apology Bosun Tijani tendered signals capitulation rather than tact, time will tell. Nevertheless, a feudal view of patriotism that enervates youthful dissent is an instrument of oppression. The oppressed must not quit. Principled nimbleness, rather than unbending idealism, might help to infiltrate the rot to begin the renewal.

Ugoji Egbujo writes from Lagos.

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For Nigeria to attain optimum tax revenue collection capacity across the Federal, States and Local Government tax authorities, the country must make hard but necessary reforms that would yield long term benefits.

This was the position stated by the Chairman of the Joint Tax Board (JTB), Mr Muhammad Nami, who is also the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) at the 153rd Meeting of the Board which held on Monday in Abuja with the theme: Harmonization and codification of taxes at the National and Sub-national levels: Key to achieving a tax friendly environment in Nigeria.

Mr. Nami, while delivering his address to the Board stated that for progress to be made in taxation, tax authorities must continue to explore and adopt measures and innovative initiatives that will lead to the optimisation of tax revenue for all levels of government.

As the new administrations attempt to address the many socio-economic challenges facing the nation on many fronts, it becomes imperative for all the levers of State to shake-off any lethargic antecedents and focus on the goal of a national resurgence.

The unique and privileged offices we occupy as drivers of the nations tax administration processes presents us with a rare opportunity to take hard, but necessary decisions that are expected to yield long term benefits and add immense value to our collective prosperity as a nation.

In recent years, especially since the dawn of our current democratic dispensation, the importance of taxation has continued to be reiterated and reinforced by all, and the critical role that tax-revenue plays in funding government and governance cannot be over-emphasised.

However, as we continue to make progress in our unique model of taxation, it is appropriate that we continue to explore and adopt measures and innovative initiatives that will lead to the optimization of tax revenue for all the levels of government, in more efficient, more effective, more inclusive, and more sustainable ways.

It is only by achieving this, that our efforts as tax administrators can trigger the manner of activity required in the productive sectors of our economy, towards achieving the immense economic potentials that we are capable of, Mr Nami said.

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The Chairman of the Joint Tax Board further assured Executive Chairmen of State Revenue Authorities present that given the thrust of the current administrations tax policy direction, the country was on the pathway to eradicating multiplicity of taxes as a core of its overall economic regeneration objectives.

Mr Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman, Presidential Fiscal Policy & Tax Reforms Committee, while delivering a presentation on the theme of the meeting highlighted that multiple taxation was causing low tax morale in the country, as well as discouraging investments, while creating room for corruption and making doing business difficult.

The Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee Chairman further noted that the solution to the countrys revenue challenges is not to introduce more taxes, but to focus on the few taxes that are high yielding, noting that with these, tax authorities would be able to collect far more than is currently being collected.

Taiwo said that for the government to raise more revenue, it needed to get to a point where the total number of taxes collected at the Federal, State and Local government levels would be at a single digit.

We also need to clarify on taxing rights. We need to integrate tax collection functionsthat is, all revenues that are to be collected must be collected by a single revenue agency. Government must also do well to fund our tax agencies well. We also need to harmonise revenue administration and simplify our approach to tax compliance, Taiwo stated.

He further advocated for the countrys tax authorities to use more technology, review the countrys constitution and tax laws, as well revisit Nigerias concept of fiscal federalism.

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The Enugu State Government has banned the unauthorised use of vehicle-tinted glasses in the state.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chidiebere Onyia, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

Mr Onyia, a professor, explained that the ban was designed to combat the nefarious activities of kidnappers and other criminals terrorising residents of the state.

The SSG said the implementation of the ban will commence on 4 September.

This is to give owners of vehicles with tinted glasses, who did not obtain police tinted permits before the suspension of its issuance by the Nigeria Police Force on 7th June 2021, sufficient time to have them removed or replaced, if they are factory fitted, in accordance with the provisions of the law.

Defaulting vehicles shall be impounded by the enforcement taskforce and shall not be released to their owners until the tinted glasses are removed or replaced and the specified fines paid, Mr Onyia stated.

He said the state government has appealed to residents of the state to show understanding and support the decision given that it was for the purpose of curtailing the activities of criminals and generally enhancing their security and safety in the state.

Ban on tolls, levies

Meanwhile, the state government also announced a ban on the collection of levies and tolls on all roads, including highways, in the state.

In a separate statement on Monday, Mr Onyia said the government was displeased about the activities of those who collect tolls and levies from motorists on behalf of the government.

The SSG said the collectors of the tolls and levies were constituting a nuisance along various roads in the state by deploying all manner of crude tactics to extort monies from vehicles transporting goods, farm produce and livestock in the state.

Such anti-business activities of syndicates operating on our highways and roads are contrary to the current governments determination to dismantle obstacles to the ease of doing business in the state, he said.

He said the administration of Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State was committed to expanding the states economy sevenfold by promoting economic activities, enabling private sector investments, and offering incentives to boost the productive sectors such as agricultural and agro-allied activities in the state.

ALSO READ: Police arrest officer filmed harassing motorist over tinted permit

In view of the foregoing, the Enugu State Government hereby bans the collection of levies and tolls along highways and roads in the state by individuals or groups of individuals purportedly acting on behalf of government, Mr Onyia said.

They have been, by this announcement, put on notice to quit all highways and roads within the state as failure to comply will attract severe consequences. The ban takes effect immediately. A task force has been constituted to enforce the ban, he added.

The SSG stressed that the government was also taking steps to eliminate multiple and illegal taxation in the state, including collection of taxes and revenues by individuals via cash payments, manual issuance of receipts, and paper tickets.

He said the government was convinced that tax and revenue collection must be convenient and friendly, with the use of technology which will also address leakages.

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It may be David Citys best kept secret  all in plain sight.

The citys downtown buildings have a rich history that dates back decades. Now townspeople and guests to this Butler County community can learn more about these buildings through the Then and Now Walking Tour.

This self-guided tour features 26 different locations, which each feature a sign that includes a photo and brief information about the historic building.

The sign includes the website address, davidcitytour.org, so people see the buildings that were  or which still are - at the various locations and get more information. Using their phones, walkers can scan a QR code on the each sign, which will take them directly to that building on the website so they can learn more about it.

Some website photos have a sliding feature. Visitors can click on a small circle and move it to the right to see the old building. By moving the circle to the left, they can see the current building.

Its super cool, said Kay Schmid, Hruska Memorial Public Library director.

Informational brochures, which list the locations and have a map of where to find them, are available at the library, Butler County Depot Museum and Butler County Chamber of Commerce.

Walking tour participants dont have to visit the buildings in the order listed on the brochure.

They dont build on each other. Theyre each individual sites so its not like you have to go in a particular order, Schmid said.

The website features photos and a plethora of information about the sites.

For instance, the Rominger Building  also known as the KFOR building  is the oldest structure in the downtown business square. In the late 1800s, its uses included a blacksmith shop and carriage factory. KFOR radio started here in 1924 and was the fourth radio station in Nebraska.

Other facts include:

 The Gold Dust Saloon/Thomas Tavern at 536 Fifth St. - In its Gold Dust days, the tavern had a Wild West atmosphere with frequent brawls. A picket fence was used to separate rowdy customers from more genteel ones, the website states.

 Schwesers on the southeast corner of Fifth and E streets.  The original Schwesers store, which George Schweser founded, was built in 1886. Schweser became a prominent businessman and his sons later joined him in the business. Eventually, a chain of Schwesers clothing stores developed with locations across the state.

 City National Bank at 490 E St.  This spot was first home to the Commercial Hotel in 1885. The bank replaced that wooden structure with a brick one. First National Bank took over City National Bank in the 1930s (during the Great Depression). The bank sustained major water and smoke damage after fire destroyed two nearby buildings. The police department and current city offices are situated here now.

This is the first time David City has had a walking tour.

We got the idea from Columbus, Schmid said. They have a walking tour. We have a lot very interesting historic buildings around the square of David City, so we thought that was neat. Then it came up that the 150th celebration of David City as the county seat was coming up.

Local residents embarked on the project, which was completed in time for the towns recent celebration.

Unlike a celebration, which comes and goes, this project is ongoing.

We only did 26 spots, Schmid said. We could have done a lot more than that and we hope to do more in the future.

Potential spots could include schools and churches of a historic nature.

Funding for the project came from the Butler County Area Foundation.

Schmid believes people will benefit from the walking tour.

For those who were there when those buildings were in place, it brings back lots of memories and hopefully good thoughts about what once stood there, she said.

Younger tourists can learn there were many steps for David City to get where it is today.

Although people can see historic and current buildings on the website, Schmid encourages the public to go through the walking tour.

We hope you come here, she said. Its fun to see the old buildings in person.
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The El Camino Healthcare District and El Camino Health announced today that they will jointly grant $11.02 million to support local health programs and initiatives in the coming year.

The funding  made through their Community Benefit programs  will go to agencies that help create healthier populations and support health equity for community members in Campbell, Cupertino, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Mountain View, San Jose, Santa Clara, Saratoga and Sunnyvale.

"These grants support invaluable programs and services that enhance the health of our neighbors, and each has a track record of success with demonstrated results," said Dan Woods, chief executive officer of El Camino Health. "Healthcare touches us all and we could not do what we do without these amazing community partners. We're grateful to them all."

More than $7.7 million of the total is being granted by the El Camino Healthcare District with the remainder coming from the El Camino Health.

"Supporting our community partners is the top priority of the healthcare district," said George Ting, M.D., and chair of the El Camino Healthcare District. "These are tax dollars entrusted to us by the public and every year we ensure that funds we invest are well spent on programs with a track record of helping people improve their health in a myriad of ways."

The boards of directors for both El Camino Hospital and the El Camino Healthcare District approved funding for a total of 100 grant proposals in fiscal year 2024, including eight new grant recipients.

Programs and agencies awarded grants include school districts, nonprofit organizations, safety-net clinics and community service agencies. Of the $11.02 million:

$4.935 million will go to agencies that expand healthcare access and delivery.

will go to agencies that expand healthcare access and delivery. $2.815 million will support behavioral health programs.

will support behavioral health programs. $2.16 million will fund diabetes and obesity programs.

will fund diabetes and obesity programs. $533,000 is dedicated to programs that address other chronic conditions, such as asthma and hypertension.

is dedicated to programs that address other chronic conditions, such as asthma and hypertension. $576,000 is going to agencies and programs that help improve economic stability or provide food and housing assistance.

Each fiscal year, the Community Benefit programs of El Camino Healthcare District and El Camino Health allocate crucial grant funding to community health services with the mission to expand healthcare access across age, education and income levels. During the past decade, both programs have contributed more than $100 million in community benefit grants.

The FY24 El Camino Healthcare District Community Benefit grant partner snapshots may be viewed online here. E-2611_FundingListsFY24_LtrSize_v3F_7-19-23.indd (elcaminohealthcaredistrict.org)

FY24 El Camino Health Community Benefit grant partner snapshots may be viewed online here. E-2611_FundingListsFY24_LtrSize_v3F_7-19-23.indd (elcaminohealth.org)

For more information on the El Camino Health and El Camino Healthcare District Community Benefit Program, click here.

About the El Camino Healthcare District

The El Camino Hospital District was established by voter approval in 1956 in accordance with California Local Hospital District Law. The purpose of the district is to establish, maintain and operate or provide assistance in the operation of health facilities and other health care services, provider groups and organizations that are necessary for the maintenance of good physical and mental health in the communities served by the district. The district, now known as El Camino Healthcare District, encompasses most of Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, a large portion of Sunnyvale, and small sections of Cupertino, Santa Clara, and Palo Alto. The publicly elected El Camino Healthcare District Board of Directors approves tax dollar expenditures, including expenditures for the award-winning Community Benefit program. Community Benefit funds are granted each year to local nonprofits, schools and government programs that provide critical health services to the underserved. All district board meetings are publicly noticed, open to the public, and available for viewing at https://www.elcaminohealthcaredistrict.org.

About El Camino Health

El Camino Health has served the communities of Santa Clara County for more than 60 years, with nationally recognized physicians and nurses at two not-for-profit acute care hospitals in Los Gatos and Mountain View, and primary care, multi-specialty care, and urgent care locations across the region. El Camino Health is dedicated to giving patients high-quality care utilizing the most advanced technology and research, delivering results first and respect always.

Aside from achieving outstanding patient outcomes, the hospitals have earned numerous awards for clinical excellence, including being named one of the World's Best Hospitals 2023 by Newsweek and becoming the San Francisco Bay Area's first Magnet hospital, earning four consecutive designations from the American Nurses Credentialing Center for nursing excellence.

Key service lines include cancer care, cardiovascular care, maternity care, mental health and addiction services, orthopedics, pulmonology, urology and women's health. Visit elcaminohealth.org to learn more.

Media contact:

Christopher Brown

650-694-3891

[email protected]

SOURCE El Camino Health
According to ProChile, bilateral trade reached $35.4 billion in 2022, representing an annual average growth of 9.2% since 2003.

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Chile celebrates two milestones in its relationship with the United States in 2023: 200 years of diplomatic relations and 20 years of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

On June 6th, 2003, Chile became the sixth country worldwide and the first from South America to have an FTA with the United States. It came into force on January 1st, 2004, and since 2015, 100% of the bilateral trade enjoys free tariffs.

In the past two decades, trade between the countries has increased fivefold to $35.4 billion in 2022, with an annual average growth of 9.2% since 2003, according to ProChile, the government institution promoting goods and services abroad.

"As a small country, it was a historic milestone for us to sign this FTA. It not only gave us access to sell our products in the largest economy in the world, but it also deepened our strategy to develop an open, competitive, and export-oriented economy," said Ian Frederick, ProChile's Trade Commissioner in Los Angeles.

The United States is Chile's second-largest trade partner, and it's the biggest market for four export categories: food, non-traditional services, non-copper small and medium-sized export companies, and women-led export companies.

Chile was the leading supplier of 51 products for the US market last year, including fresh fruit such as grapes, cherries, oranges, and apples; salmon filet; mussels; lithium carbonate; and refined copper.

According to Frederick, the government is making an effort for more non-traditional Chilean companies to enter the American market. "In the last few years, we have launched different soft-landing programs for service industries, including tech, education, and health. Chile is the most innovative country in Latin America, and our businesses have developed solutions that can be used in different markets, including the United States," he said.

ProChile will host multiple events in different US cities to celebrate the FTA's 20th anniversary and 200 years of diplomatic relations, including a wine tasting in San Francisco, a cooking demo in New York, and a discussion panel with local authorities in Miami.

SOURCE ProChile
AI cybersecurity pioneer, BlackBerry, calls for caution with consumer-grade Generative AI tools in the workplace

WATERLOO, ON, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BlackBerry Limited (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB) today released new research revealing that 75% of organizations worldwide are currently implementing or considering bans on ChatGPT and other Generative AI applications within the workplace. 61% of those deploying or considering bans said the measures are intended as long term or permanent, with risks to data security, privacy, and corporate reputation driving decisions to take action. 83% also voiced concerns that unsecured apps pose a cybersecurity threat to their corporate IT environment.

Despite their inclination towards outright bans, the majority also recognize the opportunity for Generative AI applications in the workplace to increase efficiency (55%) and innovation (52%), and enhance creativity (51%). When it comes to using Generative AI tools for cybersecurity defense, the majority of respondents (81%) remained in favour, suggesting that IT decision makers don't want to be caught flat-footed and give cyber criminals the upper hand.

Shishir Singh, Chief Technology Officer, Cybersecurity, at BlackBerry calls for organizations to take a cautious yet dynamic approach to Generative AI applications in the workplace, saying: "Banning Generative AI applications in the workplace can mean a wealth of potential business benefits are quashed. At BlackBerry, the pioneer of AI cybersecurity, we are innovating with enterprise-grade Generative AI, keeping a steady focus on value over hype, and are exercising caution with unsecured consumer Generative AI tools. As platforms mature and regulations take effect, flexibility could be introduced into organizational policies. The key will be in having the right tools in place for visibility, monitoring and management of applications used in the workplace."

The research also revealed that although 80% of IT decision makers agree that organizations are within their rights to control the applications that employees use for business purposes, 74% think that such bans signal "excessive control" over corporate and BYO devices.

For CIO's and CISO's, unified endpoint management (UEM) provides the required controls over which applications can connect to the corporate environment, ensuring enterprise security together with user privacy by containerizing corporate data. At a time when consumer-grade Generative AI and other unregulated applications are unsecure, an enterprise-grade UEM solution, such as BlackBerry UEM, is critical to organizations.

Join Shishir Singh, CTO, Cybersecurity at BlackBerry, for a BlackBerry LIVE broadcast exploring highlights of the report on August 10, 2023, at 12 p.m. ET. Follow BlackBerry on LinkedIn for updates on how to join the event.

For more information on how BlackBerry's pioneering and prevention-first solutions can help your business, visit BlackBerry.com.

Note: Research was conducted in June/July 2023 by OnePoll on behalf of BlackBerry, into 2,000 IT Decision Makers across North America (USA and Canada), Europe (UK, France, Germany and the Netherlands), Japan and Australia.

About BlackBerry

BlackBerry (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB) provides intelligent security software and services to enterprises and governments around the world. The company secures more than 500M endpoints including over 235M vehicles. Based in Waterloo, Ontario, the company leverages AI and machine learning to deliver innovative solutions in the areas of cybersecurity, safety and data privacy solutions, and is a leader in the areas of endpoint management, endpoint security, encryption, and embedded systems. BlackBerry's vision is clear - to secure a connected future you can trust.

For more information, visit BlackBerry.com and follow @BlackBerry.

Trademarks, including but not limited to BLACKBERRY and EMBLEM Design, are the trademarks or registered trademarks of BlackBerry Limited, and the exclusive rights to such trademarks are expressly reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. BlackBerry is not responsible for any third-party products or services.

Media Contacts:

BlackBerry Media Relations

+1 (519) 597-7273

[email protected]

SOURCE BlackBerry Limited
This New Location Signifies AAMCO's Dedication to the Kansas City Community  Creating Jobs and a Reliable Resource

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AAMCO Transmissions, Inc. ("AAMCO"), announced today the grand opening of a new service center in Kansas City South. Located at 5730 Troost Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64110, AAMCO of Kansas City South is a locally owned and operated establishment lead by entrepreneur Helmut Derra.

With a strong commitment to providing top-notch automotive services and exceptional customer care, AAMCO of Kansas City South is ready to serve the local community with a range of expert solutions for transmission repair, maintenance, and total car care needs.

"We are excited to be a part of the Kansas City South community and look forward to providing high quality and ethical car repair to our customers at a fair price," said Helmut Derra, Owner of AAMCO of Kansas City South, AAMCO's newest location. "This marks the beginning of an incredible journey, and we can't wait to showcase our state-of-the-art facilities and highly skilled team."

The store includes modern detailing, enhanced amenities, and upgraded shop equipment. The renovated 5000-square-foot facility features four bays, four lifts, with 600 feet of office space. This shop will also add new jobs to the area  visit aamco.com/careers to learn more about joining our team.

"At AAMCO Kansas City South, we aim to create a positive work environment that encourages learning, teamwork, and success," said Derra. "One of our top priorities is to maintain a clean, organized, and safe facility that makes our customers feel welcome and one that our team members can be proud of."

Join Helmut Derra and his family August 11th at 12:00 PM at the new AAMCO Kansas City South location for a Grand Opening event filled with fun and excitement. The Grand Opening event will feature members of the AAMCO corporate team for the official Ribbon Cutting ceremony. Complimentary snacks and refreshments will be provided, courtesy of AutoZone.

Whether you're a seasoned car enthusiast or simply interested in discovering reliable automotive solutions, the AAMCO Grand Opening Celebration is an event you won't want to miss. Engage in insightful conversations with our knowledgeable staff, explore our cutting-edge facility, and learn more about the comprehensive services we offer to keep your vehicles running smoothly.

To stay updated on the latest news and events, follow us on social media and visit our website at aamcokansascitysouth.com or aamco.com.

About AAMCO

AAMCO is the nation's leading transmission and total car care experts with over 50 years of experience. With a network of locally owned and operated centers across the United States, AAMCO remains committed to providing exceptional service, expert solutions, and unmatched customer satisfaction. To learn more about AAMCO and find a location near you, visit AAMCO.com

SOURCE AAMCO
NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AES (Absolute Event Solutions) NYC, a leading event management company renowned for its unparalleled expertise and commitment to excellence, is delighted to announce the opening of two new locations in the vibrant SoHo neighborhood of New York City. AES NYC has expanded its portfolio with the acquisition of 45Grand and 21Greene, presenting new and exciting opportunities for a wide variety of uses including retail pop-ups.

45Grand stands on Grand Street, between W. Broadway and Thompson Street. 45Grand is a unique modern industrial space offering an impressive 35 feet of frontage. This venue, spanning across 4,600 square feet of space, boasts a striking mezzanine floor, designed to complement a wide array of event possibilities. 45Grand's open design allows for virtually limitless customization, making the space fitting for a wide variety of uses. The sliding garage door enhances accessibility, adding an enticing extra touch to this remarkable venue. The venue is perfect for any event looking to be in one of the most trendy, yet timelessly popular neighborhoods in all the world.

Meanwhile, 21Greene , nestled on Greene Street, between Grand and Canal Street, offers an inviting facade with 25 feet of frontage, setting the perfect stage for retail pop-ups. This classic New York venue spans across 5,000 square feet over three levels - lower level, street level, and mezzanine - creating an aura of refinement that complements various artistic and promotional endeavors. 21Greene boasts a classic New York City interior with columns and spottings of exposed red brick. Being located in the heart of SoHo, 21Greene serves as an attractive destination for brands seeking to engage with their audience in an atmosphere that effortlessly fosters creativity and inspiration.

As the pop-up industry has taken off, one of the biggest problems clients and agencies face is the lack of extended booking times. Often, landlords are hesitant to make future commitments on available spaces awaiting long-term tenants. AES NYC has solved this, by making long-term commitments and locking in these prime spaces as event venues. AES NYC can thereby provide clients with the advantage of being able to secure their desired location well in advance, adding certainty, streamlining the planning process, and allowing them to focus on other crucial aspects of their event preparation.

In addition to their extended booking times, AES NYC goes above and beyond by offering a personalized and proactive approach. This greatly contrasts other venue booking intermediaries who offer lead generation services that connect clients with available spaces. AES NYC's team of dedicated professionals works closely with clients to understand their specific requirements and preferences, both during the venue search and after, ensuring your event proceeds without a hitch, whether it's a corporate conference, trade show, retail pop-up, or product launch.

With a forward-looking vision, AES NYC constantly seeks out opportunities to invest in unique and dynamic locations that align with its mission of providing top-tier event solutions. By expanding its portfolio, AES NYC aims to cater to an even wider range of client preferences and event requirements, ensuring that every occasion is executed with the utmost care and precision. The addition of 45Grand and 21Greene to AES NYC's roster of venues marks just the beginning of the company's exciting journey. As AES NYC continues to grow and evolve, it remains dedicated to delivering unparalleled event experiences that leave a lasting impact on attendees and clients alike.

About AES NYC:

AES NYC is a leading NYC event venue service provider, catering to corporate, retail, and social events. They boast a diverse portfolio of expertly managed venues, along with strong landlord relationships. Offering personalized 'Venue Seek' services, AES NYC ensures an ideal match for every client. Among their exceptional properties are Center 415, a 30,000 square foot open space in midtown Manhattan, and Iron 23, a 17,000 square foot event space with 17-foot ceilings and a VIP loft. AES NYC provides unmatched expertise and a growing selection of premier locations across New York City.

For Interviews, Photos, or other Media or Public Relations Needs, contact:

John Van Dekker 914-800-9222 | [email protected] | enormouscreative.com

SOURCE AES (Absolute Event Solutions) NYC
Annual highlights include landmark accounts such as the cities of Dallas, Seattle, Los Angeles, New York, Cleveland and Omaha; Lee County, Florida; and the States of Texas, Montana, California and Kansas; as well as expanded SaaS product capabilities and fourth consecutive Microsoft Partner of the Year win

SAN RAMON, Calif., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Accela , the trusted provider of cloud solutions at the heart of government operations, today announced it closed the 2023 fiscal year with increases of 31 percent in SaaS annual recurring revenue (ARR) and 36 percent in new accounts signed, as well as net customer retention of 117 percent. Professional services bookings also grew nearly 50 percent. The company was also recognized as a Microsoft Partner of the Year for the fourth consecutive year.

"Accela's record double-digit growth this past fiscal year demonstrates our leadership position at the heart of government and as a trusted partner accelerating modernization efforts across the industry," said Gary Kovacs, chief executive officer of Accela. "Quarter after quarter, we continue to meet our customers where they need us to be  at the center of their most critical operations  so they can focus on building vibrant communities and stellar resident experiences. Our robust cloud platform, deep customer relationships, extensive product expertise, and growing partner community form an unshakable foundation to fuel accelerated growth and even better address the needs of state and local government today."

More communities engage with Accela to modernize critical services

In the past twelve months, the company continued to extend its partnerships with dozens of new and existing agencies such as the city of Seattle; the city and county of Denver; Abu Dhabi Department of Health; Mendocino County, California; Butte County, California; Clark County, Nevada; and Los Angeles County Fire Department, Health Hazardous Materials Division.

Over the past fiscal year, Accela announced several landmark deals, including a 10-year, $6.2 million contract to lead Merced County, California's digital transformation. The county chose Accela for its single platform approach and ability to dissolve boundaries between departments. Additionally, the city of Dallas selected Accela's SaaS solutions to meet its goal of low-impact upgrades while providing a city-wide transformation to its Sustainable Development and Construction (SDC) Department services. The Texas Real Estate Commission was another deal of note.

In the quarter ending June 30, 2023, Accela announced a 19 percent increase in total ARR and continued 117 percent in net customer retention. During Q4 Accela welcomed new customers, including the State of Kansas Real Estate Commission; North Port, Florida; the city of Mansfield, Ohio; and University of California, San Francisco. The company also signed a multi-million dollar deal with Abu Dhabi Department of Health. There were nine new go-lives and completed SaaS upgrades, and the company booked new upgrade projects with 11 communities, including Los Angeles City Sanitation and the city of Knoxville, Tennessee.

Expanded Rapid Damage Assessment solution helps agencies respond to and prepare for natural disasters

Launched on the first day of hurricane season, Accela expanded its cloud-based solution to help municipalities respond to and prepare for the growing threat of hurricanes, fires, floods, tornados and other natural disasters.

The updated Rapid Damage Assessment (RDA) now features new geospatial and mobile capabilities and was made instantly available to hundreds of customers across the country. Integrated with Esri's ArcGIS Survey123, the solution streamlines inspections required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Reasonable Expected Market Area (REMA).

Accela partnerships deepen

Last quarter, Accela added LOGIS  a facilitator of leading-edge, effective and adaptable public sector technology through its member-driven consortium  to its comprehensive roster of industry partners.

New partner go-lives included the city of Lancaster, California (with Silver Lining Solutions); the city of Hartford, Connecticut (with Vision33); Santa Barbara County, California (with SEP Technology Consulting); Mendocino County, California (with Visionary Integration Professionals); and Kane County, Illinois (with Byrne Software Technologies).

Accela earns industry accolades, including Microsoft Partner of the Year

For the fourth consecutive year, Accela was honored as a Microsoft US Government Partner of the Year, and this year was also named a finalist in the Social Impact and Community Response category. In the past year, the company saw a 43 percent growth in Microsoft wins and 69 percent increase in co-sell revenue.

Accela was also shortlisted for the 2023 SaaS Awards in the Best Enterprise-Level SaaS Product (USA) category for its leadership in delivering SaaS solutions.

Annual Accelerate conference kicks off in September

Accela's annual customer conference and training event, Accelarate , will take place September 24-27, 2023 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center near Washington, D.C. Attendance by agency professionals, partners, and industry leaders is on pace to exceed previous years. CSG Forte is the title sponsor.

To learn more about Accela, please visit https://www.accela.com/solutions/ .

About Accela

Accela provides a unified suite of cloud solutions trusted by governments across the globe to accelerate their digital transformation, deliver vital services, and build stronger communities. More than 300 million citizens worldwide benefit from Accela's government software solutions. The company offers agile, purpose-built solutions and the power of a platform that provides users with a consumer-like experience, shares data across departments, and ensures world-class security.

With Accela, government agencies experience rapid and effective digital transformation. Accela's government software meets agencies wherever they are on their modernization journey, while also helping them prepare for whatever comes next. The company is a four-consecutive year Microsoft US Partner Award winner for its innovative SaaS solutions to help governments respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, Accela was honored as a recipient of Inc.'s Best in Business for SaaS and selected by Fast Company for its World Changing Ideas Award. Accela is headquartered in San Ramon, California, with offices around the world. For more information, visit www.accela.com .

Contact: Courtney Bonness, (317) 946-6389, [email protected]

SOURCE Accela
The Brazilian company's profits reached a new record by surpassing 2022's net income in just six months

CAMPINAS, Brazil, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Agibank, a Brazilian bank, kept its accelerated growth pace and surpassed 2022's full year results in just the first half of 2023, reaching new record highs. The company disclosed net income of R$ 146.6 million in 1H23, growing +238.5% from 1H22., creating a history of continuous growth in the previous quarters.

The total credit portfolio reached R$ 12.5 billion, increasing 48,0% from June 2022, and 10.8% from March 2023. According to Thiago Souza Aor, CFO & IRO, Agibank's strategy is set on credit builder, meaning that the credit offers are refined as customer relationship deepens. "In the first half of 2023, accumulated credit concession reached R$ 6.0 billion, which is an increase of 35.0% from the first half of 2022 and 6.0% from 2023's first quarter", the executive highlights.

The substantial growth was accompanied by the improvement in defaulting rates  the second quarter closed with 4.5% non-performing loans above 90 days (improving -40 bps QoQ)  and expansion of the coverage ratio to 120.9% (+500 bps QoQ), preserving the portfolio's quality and solidity in risk management.

The number of account holders is also growing consistently through the quarters. In June 2023, Agibank surpassed 2.2 million active clients, with an average of 5 products per active account holder.

Additionally, following the customer relationship strategy, the company grew in 41.6% its credit portfolio from account holders. "This direction is fundamental to increase our share as the customers' main financial institution, as it amplifies the relationship touchpoints, allowing us to promote all our business units", adds Glauber Correa, Agibank's CEO.

Besides that, the bank is investing continuously on artificial intelligence to increase client fidelity. "In the last months, AI has helped us to reduce up to 25% our churn rates, by mapping the behavior of customers who are about to leave our ecosystem and customizing the service and sales experiences, better answering to each individual's needs", Correa elaborates.

Total Revenues amounted to R$ 2,314.8 million in the first half of 2023, growing 45.8% from the previous year's, mainly due to Revenues from Credit Operations (+44.8%) following a considerably larger portfolio this quarter, and Bank Treasury Revenues (+75.3%).

For the company's CEO, the results allow Agibank to head on to the second half of 2023 with consistency. "We will maintain our focus on growth with profitability, discipline in execution and austerity. We continue firm in seeking maximum efficiency, increasing digitalization of credit origination, improving customer experience and satisfaction, and profitability of our business, hedged to a portfolio increasingly complete, with competitive offers to make people's daily lives better," the executive finishes.

Democratizing the access to financial services for all Brazilians continues being the central pillar of Agibank's operation, generating financial and digital inclusion for all, especially for sizeable share of the population that isn't well tented to by the market. Agibank's addressable market consists of individuals with monthly income up to R$ 4,000.00, representing over 100 million people in the Country. Since a significant portion of this demographic still needs assistance to fully enjoy digital channels and have easier access to financial services, the company has an omnichannel operation, bringing a fully digital experience accompanied by its almost 900 hubs spread throughout Brazil.

SOURCE Agibank
SHENZHEN, China, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AMIRO, a leading beauty tech solution provider, is pound to announce that the company has secured a spot in the list of Top 100 Emerging Brands released by Forbes China. The annual nomination is given to some of the fastest-growing China's homegrown start-ups whose visionary innovation in product R&D, supply chains, and operation models have inspired new changes in the country's business landscape. AMIRO emerged victorious among this year's candidates for its ability to achieve robust growth, amass a huge consumer base, and redefine the personal skincare experience since its establishment in 2015, setting new benchmarks for the beauty industry by pushing the boundary of technological innovation for skin health and improvement.

Since AMIRO's inception, it has embedded innovation into its brand DNA, seeking to develop easy-to-use and versatile solutions that improve skincare and optimize the appearance and wellness of our users. For this aim, AMIRO has set up an R&D center  AMIRO LAB  gathering top experts across the fields of medical technology, optoelectronics, image algorithms, and biology, who work together to create unique products that revolutionize the skincare experience. This recognition from Forbes has reinforced the brand's commitment to focusing on the fusion of technology and beauty products to deliver technologically-driven and innovative skincare solutions tailored to the needs of modern customers.

AMIRO also forms strategic cooperation with renowned research and education initiations to promote industry-academia-research cooperation. Thanks to the synergy with its partners, AMIRO is now the holder of 77 patents, with the total number of patent applications reaching 309.

AMIRO reinforces its pledges on product safety through collaborations with top-tier hospitals in China, conducting multi-center, multi-directional clinical trials to ensure the efficacy and safety of its solutions while making its products tracible and checkable for customers. Leveraging its strong R&D capabilities, AMIRO has introduced a range of skincare products powered by beauty tech, from radio frequency (RF) devices and phototherapy masks to hair removal devices and smart makeup mirrors, catering to the diverse skincare needs of users.

During the 2022 "double eleven" shopping extravaganza in China, sales of AMIRO products experienced an unprecedented surge, achieving a tenfold growth and being crowned as the Top 1 best-selling brand in the beauty device category across Chinese e-commerce platforms. AMIRO Mini desk makeup mirror, an award-winning LED mirror that has received rave reviews for its elegant design and a full gamut of brightness options that offer the best lighting for different environments, clinched the NO.1 spot in the chart, marking the fifth consecutive year that the product achieves such sales performance during the annual shopping festival.

In its ongoing effort to bolster technological and product innovation capabilities, AMIRO is also focusing on enhancing its brand presence through various strategies. This year, AMIRO embarked on a new project that has been introduced in major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, allowing users to experience AMIRO products and the tangible benefits of photoelectric technology firsthand by visiting the brand's pop-up store.

Furthermore, in a strategic collaboration with Frida Kahlo, AMIRO has introduced a co-branded gift box to the market. The co-brand box includes a smart makeup mirror and an AMIRO S1 Facial RF Skin Tightening Device. Frida Kahlo, a woman synonymous with resilience and passion, invoked beauty, art, and an unyielding spirit to combat life's fragility and adversity, and continues to inspire millions. The AMIRO products, upholding the idea of revitalizing beauty through science, embody the same resilience and beauty Frida Kahlo did.

About AMIRO

AMIRO, a beauty and skincare technology brand founded in 2015, has been delivering joy and harmony through its technologically advanced home beauty and personal care electronic products. With over 38 international design awards, AMIRO is your trusted skincare partner that offers portable, short-acting, and long-lasting solutions to improve skincare efficiency.

Upholding the idea of "Revitalize beauty through science", AMIRO's products are designed to be affordable, high-quality, and supported by clinical data. With a commitment to sustainability and innovation, AMIRO is dedicated to providing skincare solutions that make women of all ages feel confident and beautiful.

For more information, please visit Amiro official website: https://amirobeauty.com/

Or connect with them on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amiroglobal/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AMIRO-Global-103502195623795/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amiroglobal/featured

SOURCE AMIRO
Black America's Attorney General to Engage the Nation's Black Business Community in Atlanta, GA

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The 123rd National Black Business Conference presented by Comerica Bank is thrilled to announce Attorney Benjamin L. Crump as the keynote speaker. This momentous event, presented by Comerica Bank, will take place from August 23-27, 2023, at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta Hotel in Atlanta, GA.

Black America's Attorney General to Engage the Nation's Black Business Community in Atlanta, GA. Tweet this Attorney Benjamin L. Crump. The National Business League Official Logo (PRNewsfoto/The National Business League)

The conference has a rich history dating back to its origins with the National Business League, formerly known as the National Negro Business League, founded by the legendary Booker T. Washington. Inaugurated in Boston, Massachusetts, on August 23, 1900, the event has evolved into a collaborative effort with the newly formed National Alliance for Black Business (2022), partnering with institutions like the National Business League (1900), National Black Chamber of Commerce (1993), and the World Conference of Mayors (1986). This year's theme, "We Are Together," underpins the beginning of a unified Black business agenda. The Atlanta Business League and the Greater Georgia Black Chamber of Commerce shall serve as the hosts for this year's conference.

Attorney Ben Crump is widely recognized for his unwavering commitment to civil rights advocacy. As a successful Black business owner and founder of Ben Crump Law PLLC, he has championed justice as the utmost form of respect. Throughout his illustrious career, Crump has represented Black families, fighting for justice in cases such as Trayvon Martin, Ahmaud Arbery, Martin Lee Anderson, Breonna Taylor, and most recent major victory and settlement for Henrietta Lacks' family regarding the unauthorized use of her cells.

In light of the U.S. Supreme Court's recent ban on Affirmative Action, the significance of Crump's voice has only grown. This ban poses a threat to the progress achieved in civil rights over the years and disrupts initiatives and programs aimed at addressing race-focused issues. At this pivotal moment, the Black community stands at a crossroads regarding racial equity and economic justice. Crump's role as the conference's main speaker is both significant and timely. He will address the current challenges and future aspirations of Black business owners and professionals, particularly in relation to Black economic strength, development, and justice in the United States.

About the 123rd National Black Business Conference

The 123rd National Black Business Conference, founded by Booker T. Washington and the National Negro Business League in 1900, is a historic and highly esteemed event for Black businesses. Organized by the National Alliance for Black Business, attendees from all over the country and globally can expect valuable insights into enterprise ownership, access to vital resources, and a focus on the enduring principles advocated by Booker T. Washington, such as self-reliance and economic empowerment. Limited tickets are available for purchase at www.nationalblackbusinessconference.com.

National Media Contact:

Minehaha Foreman

Phone: (510) 220-0759

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE The National Business League
Russian Banks Say Citizens Are Wary of CBDC Plans  Digital Ruble Faces Roadblock?

Source: hodim/Adobe

Russias biggest banking association has demanded clarification on Moscows CBDC plans, and says citizens are wary of the digital ruble.

Per Komersant and BFM, the Association of Russian Banks (ARB) sent a letter to the Central Bank with a request to clarify certain issues pertaining to the digital ruble.

The Central Bank is currently working with over a dozen commercial banks on a real-world pilot.

But, the ARB wrote:

[Russian] people have an extremely wary attitude to the introduction of the digital ruble. [This attitude is shared by] the consumers of financial services.

The letter also called on the Central Bank to propose the introduction of a direct ban on forcing citizens to open a digital ruble wallet.

The ARB also wants the Central Bank to limit digital ruble operators from making increases in tariffs for their services.

The ARB further called on the Central Bank to answer the following questions:

What is a digital ruble? Is it a third form of money or a non-cash currency?

Will the Central Bank, as the digital ruble operator, compensate banks for the costs of providing customers with access to the CBDC?

Will banks be obliged to participate in the project and what kind of infrastructure-related changes will they need to make?

Oleg Sysuev, the CEO of Russias Alfa Bank, said that there was really is no complete understanding of the legal nature of the digital ruble.

He said:

Generally speaking, and on a global scale, CBDCs are very young. And as the Russian banking system, in terms of IT, is still ahead of many developed countries, we are  in some respect  pioneers. Therefore, there are a lot of questions to be answered.

Russian CBDC: Banks Remain Unsure

Russias business community appears to have mixed feelings about the issuance of a CBDC.

Alfas Sysuev added:

It is not clear how [banks] will be incentivized to distribute the [CBDC]. And it is not clear how customer interest will be driven up. Nor is it not clear how the [Central Bank] will regulate transactions with the [CBDC]. So many questions remain unanswered.

The Central Bank sees an expiated CBDC launch as a tool that could at once help Moscow de-dollarize its economy once and for all and reduce Russias spiking demand for cryptoassets.

Bitcoin prices versus the Russian ruble over the past 12 months. (Source: XE.com)

Elvira Nabiullina, the banks long-serving, crypto-skeptic Governor, has championed a digital ruble launch for several years.

Top politicians, meanwhile, have suggested that Russias digital ruble could be compatible with Chinas digital yuan and other global CBDCs.
Twin Valley is Kansas' largest privately owned broadband and communications company with more than 80 years of experience serving rural communities.

OTTAWA, Kan., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Twin Valley, Kansas' largest privately owned broadband and communications company, announces plans to bring fiber internet to homes and businesses in Ottawa, Kan. As a fourth-generation family business, Twin Valley has been advocating for cutting-edge communications and connectivity for rural Kansans for more than 80 years. Between its longevity and experience with 20 fiber broadband expansion projects, Twin Valley has established a proven track record for being a trusted partner, reliable service provider and active community member.

Twin Valley, Kansas' largest privately owned broadband and communications company, is bringing 2 Gbps symmetrical fiber internet to Ottawa, Kan. The company has more than 80 years of experience serving rural communities. Twin Valley strives to be a strong community partner, pledging to provide the most reliable broadband network, the best value for internet, hometown customer service, and support of local community outreach initiatives.

"After working with local city and county leaders over the last year, we are thrilled to announce our plans to bring 2 gigabit symmetrical fiber internet to Ottawa's residents and businesses," said Ben Foster, Twin Valley President & CEO.

"Reliable and affordable high-speed internet is no longer a 'nice to have,'" he continued. "We have seen the impact fiber connectivity can have on rural businesses and families, most recently in Junction City as we are building out fiber to the city's 22,000 residents."

Twin Valley recently received recognition for economic development contributions in Junction City as well as business of the year at both the local level in Clay Center and statewide. City, county and state leaders have shared their enthusiasm for working with a local business that is community-focused and dedicated to serving customers long-term, which stands in stark contrast to other providers.

"Twin Valley's commitment to our community and to those in the surrounding area is a testament to their desire to be a true partner," said State Representative and former Junction City Mayor Jeff Underhill.

Ottawa and Franklin County leaders have echoed Underhill's sentiments.

"There's significant momentum with growth and economic development in Ottawa and Franklin County, and fiber broadband expansion will add fuel to the fire," said Paul Bean, Executive Director of the Franklin County Development Council.

"There's no doubt that fiber broadband development is essential to retaining and attracting businesses and residents, but all providers are not equal. When building infrastructure that will support generations to come, it is important that the project be held to high standards and the provider be dedicated to the long-term success of Ottawa and Franklin County," Bean continued. "Twin Valley's track record, pledge to its customers, and the support of community leaders across the state speaks volumes and gives me peace of mind to know that we're working with a strong community partner."

Twin Valley is driven by the idea that a rural lifestyle should not require the sacrifice of high-tech amenities. The company's goal is to be the lifelong internet and communications provider for its customers. To earn their business, Twin Valley has pledged to provide the most reliable broadband network, the best value for internet, hometown customer service, and support local community outreach initiatives. More information can be found at twinvalley.com/pledge.

As an example of Twin Valley's community Pledge, residential fiber customers can get free internet service with qualifying application. To make this possible, Twin Valley offers its own financial assistance program in addition to the federal Lifeline Program and Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Information about these programs is available at twinvalley.com/assistance.

Twin Valley and its partners are actively working on the project, and their presence in the community will increase as work begins to ramp up over the coming months.

"The project is off to a great start thanks to the city utility department's collaborative approach. Together, we'll ensure the construction project aligns with the city's current and long-term vision," Foster said.

Twin Valley's multi-gigabit symmetrical speeds give individuals and families the bandwidth to handle all their online activities without any slowdowns, including working from home, completing online coursework, streaming TV, online gaming, accessing telehealth, and more. Fiber gives businesses the bandwidth to quickly store and access information in the cloud, connect with remote employees and clients through video calls, maintain their online presence through websites and social media, and more.

As the newest member of the Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce, Twin Valley brings a unique offering to Ottawa businesses. The company will provide fiber internet, hosted phone systems, and managed IT services  helping to boost productivity, create efficiencies, and protect from security threats.

"Broadband access is essential in today's digital age, serving as the backbone of economic growth and community development," said Ryland Miller, Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce President & CEO. "Twin Valley's initiative promises to invigorate our local economy, boost our businesses, and enhance the quality of life for all our citizens. Broadband expansion is a game-changer and a signal to the region that Ottawa is primed for growth."

Twin Valley plans to hire local employees and is now accepting applications for technical and community outreach/field marketing roles at twinvalley.com/careers. A dedicated web page will provide construction updates at twinvalley.com/ottawafiber. Residents and businesses interested in service can enter their address and submit the form on that page to receive project updates and help influence the build order. Twin Valley can also be reached at 800.515.3311.

About Twin Valley

Twin Valley is a fourth-generation family business that has over 80 years' experience providing cutting-edge technology and connectivity throughout the central U.S. Twin Valley helps customers unlock possibilities to realize their full potential by providing a unique combination of broadband, managed IT services, technology consulting, professional services, and cloud/data center solutions for both residential and business customers.

Twin Valley made a Pledge to their communities and customers, always striving to provide the most reliable broadband network, the best value for internet, local hometown customer service and meaningful community outreach initiatives. Learn more at twinvalley.com/pledge.

SOURCE Twin Valley
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hollenbeck celebrates the achievement of 11-year-old National Food Allergy Advocate Zacky Munoz who will be honored Wednesday, August 9, 2023 for his tireless advocacy efforts as well as celebrate the recent launch of the California Department of Education's new California Food Allergy Resource Guide. Now available to all school districts statewide, the guide helps staff and parents protect students with food allergies at school and minimize the risk of food anaphylaxis during school meals.

"Having food allergies makes you different but being different is not a bad thing, not one bit," young Munoz adds. "In fact, being different is my SUPERPOWER! And now I know. that my Superpower can help change the world."

"Being different is my SUPERPOWER! And now I know that my Superpower can help change the world." -Zacky Munoz Tweet this

An estimated 466,886 diagnosed California students with food allergies, ages 5-18, will benefit from this law with the online California Food Allergy Resource Guide, providing guidance to school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools on the importance of food allergy management and treatment. California Assembly Bill 2640, known as the 'Zacky's Bill,' was signed into law by Governor Newsom late last year in a virtual bill signing with the young advocate and his family.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, LAC Department of Education and partners will convene at a press conference being held at Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, 500 West Temple St., Los Angeles, CA 90012 on the steps of the LA County Supervisor's Building. Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Jaime Rupert, Chief Communications Officer, Food Allergy Research Education (FARE), Debra Duardo, MSW, PhD., Superintendent, Los Angeles County Office of Education, and partners will be in attendance to celebrate the efforts in developing this resource just in time for the school year.

To visit the site in its entirety, please visit here.

About Zacky Munoz:

Zacky Munoz is an 11-year-old boy from the Pasadena area who has multiple life-threatening food allergies. During his first-grade year, Zacky suffered anaphylactic reaction after being served his allergen of sesame, which required the administration of epinephrine at school. Zacky and his parents adopted a mission to provide a voice for all children with food allergies, becoming involved in statewide food allergy advocacy. Locally, Zacky's efforts have been lauded especially after the passage AB 2640 (Zacky's Bill). Zacky continues his advocacy today with AB 1651, Munoz SAFE (Student Allergy Framework for Education) ACT currently in the CA Legislature. Zacky serves as an Ambassador of Hollenbeck. Youth from organizations will be present to support the achievements.

SOURCE Hollenbeck Youth Center
NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The banana market is estimated to grow by USD 1,145.74 million from 2022 to 2027, growing at a CAGR of 9.32%. North America is estimated to account for 39% of the market during the forecast period. Technavio's analysts have elaborately explained the regional trends and drivers that shape the market during the forecast period. In North America, the banana market is projected to experience an increasing growth momentum as consumer perception and preferences have been evolving. Owing to convenience, reliability, and ready availability, consumers are inclined toward packaged food products. Also, in North America, hypermarkets and supermarkets are playing a significant role in promoting banana consumption. Banana is increasingly being used as a primary ingredient in baby food products. Therefore, the regional banana market is expected to experience steady growth during the forecast period. For Comprehensive details on the market size of the historic period(2017 to 2021) and forecast period (2023-2027) - View the Sample report

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Banana Market

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 increasing adoption of banana flour in the baking industry is notably driving market growth. About 30% less flour is required in food preparation than regular flour due to the high insoluble fiber content in banana flour. However, in the preparation of brownies, cookies, and waffles, banana flour is gaining vast acceptance. Moreover, it imparts a light, fluffy texture to the batter or dough, which is suitable for baked products. Therefore, the growing adoption of banana flour due to its beneficial attributes is anticipated to fuel market growth during the forecast period.

The impact of natural calamities on banana production is a significant challenge hindering market growth. The impact of natural calamities, which can affect banana production is one of the major challenges. Also, climatic changes and weather conditions can impact the overall production and quality of the crop yield. Globally, there is rapid climatic change with extreme droughts and floods. There is extreme heat in the deserts, monsoons, flooding in coastal areas, and extreme cold in the colder regions because of global warming. For instance, changing weather cycles such as El Nino and La Nina cause severe weather conditions such as floods in the Eastern Pacific Ocean region. Globally, in 2020, the Dominican Republic and Ecuador were the largest banana producers but the production got affected by Hurricane Irma or similar disasters. As a result, there is a reduction in a significant proportion of exports of bananas from the Dominican Republic to other countries. Therefore, the decrease in the production of bananas due to natural calamities such as hurricanes and floods can adversely influence the market growth during the forecast period

Key Trends

The growth of the banana production industry is an emerging trend shaping the market growth. Globally, the banana is recognized as one of the significant fruits produced in more than 120 countries, with Asia, South America, and Africa as the prominent banana producers. The global production of bananas and tropical fruits is projected to grow at 1.8% per year between 2019 and 2028. Global exports of bananas, excluding plantain, reached a new record high of approximately USD 14.5 billion. For instance, Ecuador exported around USD 3.5 billion of bananas in 2021 and Central and South America were the major exporters of bananas globally. The top 15 banana-producing countries, such as China, India, Indonesia, and Brazil, process more than 40 million tons of bananas and discrete waste such as damaged bananas and banana stems. More than nine million metric tons of banana stems are released into dumped into landfills or rivers. Therefore the continuous increase in such waste products can productively be used to produce banana paper and further boosts market growth during the forecast period.

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 banana 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 banana market report includes information on the product launches, sustainability, and prospects of leading vendors including 7-Eleven Inc., Agro America, Agrofruit Holding Corp., Aldi Stores Ltd., Auchan Retail Portugal SA, Axfood AB, Chiquita Brands International Sarl, Co-operative Group Ltd., Coliman, Dole plc, Federation of Migros Cooperatives, Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc, Fyffes Ltd., Global Banana, J Sainsbury plc, Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize NV, Lidl US LLC, Reybanpac, The Daiei Inc., and Waitrose Ltd.

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 banana market report extensively covers market segmentation by distribution channel (offline and online), type (inorganic/conventional and organic), and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa).

The market share growth by the offline segment will be significant during the forecast period. Due to the growing preference for online shopping platforms, the revenue from offline distribution channels has gradually declined. To overcome such challenges, major retailers are developing their stores in local and regional markets. Because of the high preference for online shopping, offline sales have declined gradually. To increase their sales through the offline channel, players are expanding their stores in both local and regional markets. Manufacturers of bananas sell their products through speciality stores and other retailing formats. Therefore, to sustain in such a competitive market and due to the increasing preference for online shopping, retailers are introducing new business and retail strategies, which include better pricing strategies and wider assortments. These factors will augment the segment growth during the forecast period.

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Banana Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 9.32% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 1,145.74 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 8.24 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution North America at 39% Key countries US, Canada, Japan, UK, and Germany Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled 7-Eleven Inc., Agro America, Agrofruit Holding Corp., Aldi Stores Ltd., Auchan Retail Portugal SA, Axfood AB, Chiquita Brands International Sarl, Co-operative Group Ltd., Coliman, Dole plc, Federation of Migros Cooperatives, Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc, Fyffes Ltd., Global Banana, J Sainsbury plc, Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize NV, Lidl US LLC, Reybanpac, The Daiei Inc., and Waitrose Ltd. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for the forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Table of contents

1 Executive Summary

1.1 Market Overview

Exhibit 01: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Overview



Exhibit 02: Executive Summary  Data Table on Market Overview



Exhibit 03: Executive Summary  Chart on Global Market Characteristics



Exhibit 04: Executive Summary  Chart on Market by Geography



Exhibit 05: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Distribution Channel



Exhibit 06: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Type



Exhibit 07: Executive Summary  Chart on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 08: Executive Summary  Data Table on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 09: Executive Summary  Chart on Vendor Market Positioning

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 10: Parent market



Exhibit 11: Market Characteristics

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 12: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 13: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2022

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2022-2027

Exhibit 14: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 15: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 16: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 17: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

4 Historic Market Size

4.1 Global banana market 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 18: Historic Market Size  Data Table on global banana market 2017 - 2021 ($ million)

4.2 Distribution Channel Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 19: Historic Market Size  Distribution Channel Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million)

4.3 Type Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 20: Historic Market Size  Type Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million)

4.4 Geography Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 21: Historic Market Size  Geography Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million)

4.5 Country Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 22: Historic Market Size  Country Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million)

5 Five Forces Analysis

5.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 23: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2022 and 2027

5.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 24: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers  Impact of key factors 2022 and 2027

5.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 25: Bargaining power of suppliers  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 26: Threat of new entrants  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 27: Threat of substitutes  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 28: Threat of rivalry  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.7 Market condition

Exhibit 29: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2022 and 2027

6 Market Segmentation by Distribution Channel

6.1 Market segments

Exhibit 30: Chart on Distribution Channel - Market share 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Distribution Channel - Market share 2022-2027 (%)

6.2 Comparison by Distribution Channel

Exhibit 32: Chart on Comparison by Distribution Channel



Exhibit 33: Data Table on Comparison by Distribution Channel

6.3 Offline - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 34: Chart on Offline - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on Offline - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 36: Chart on Offline - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 37: Data Table on Offline - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

6.4 Online - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 38: Chart on Online - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 39: Data Table on Online - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 40: Chart on Online - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 41: Data Table on Online - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

6.5 Market opportunity by Distribution Channel

Exhibit 42: Market opportunity by Distribution Channel ($ million)



Exhibit 43: Data Table on Market opportunity by Distribution Channel ($ million)

7 Market Segmentation by Type

7.1 Market segments

Exhibit 44: Chart on Type - Market share 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 45: Data Table on Type - Market share 2022-2027 (%)

7.2 Comparison by Type

Exhibit 46: Chart on Comparison by Type



Exhibit 47: Data Table on Comparison by Type

7.3 In-organic/conventional - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 48: Chart on In-organic/conventional - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 49: Data Table on In-organic/conventional - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 50: Chart on In-organic/conventional - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 51: Data Table on In-organic/conventional - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

7.4 Organic - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 52: Chart on Organic - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 53: Data Table on Organic - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 54: Chart on Organic - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 55: Data Table on Organic - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

7.5 Market opportunity by Type

Exhibit 56: Market opportunity by Type ($ million)



Exhibit 57: Data Table on Market opportunity by Type ($ million)

8 Customer Landscape

8.1 Customer landscape overview

Exhibit 58: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria

9 Geographic Landscape

9.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 59: Chart on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 60: Data Table on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%)

9.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 61: Chart on Geographic comparison



Exhibit 62: Data Table on Geographic comparison

9.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 63: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 64: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 65: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 66: 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 67: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 68: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 69: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 70: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.5 APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 71: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 72: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 73: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 74: 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 75: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 76: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 77: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 78: 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 79: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 80: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 81: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

and - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 82: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.8 US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 83: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 84: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 85: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 86: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.9 UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 87: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 88: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 89: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 90: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.10 Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 91: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 92: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 93: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 94: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.11 Canada - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 95: Chart on Canada - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 96: Data Table on Canada - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

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 (%)

9.12 Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 99: Chart on Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 100: Data Table on Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 101: Chart on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 102: Data Table on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.13 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 103: Market opportunity by geography ($ million)



Exhibit 104: Data Tables on Market opportunity by geography ($ million)

10 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10.1 Market drivers

10.2 Market challenges

10.3 Impact of drivers and challenges

Exhibit 105: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2022 and 2027

10.4 Market trends

11 Vendor Landscape

11.1 Overview

11.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 106: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation

11.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 107: Overview on factors of disruption

11.4 Industry risks

Exhibit 108: Impact of key risks on business

12 Vendor Analysis

12.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 109: Vendors covered

12.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 110: Matrix on vendor position and classification

12.3 7-Eleven Inc.

Exhibit 111: 7-Eleven Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 112: 7-Eleven Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 113: 7-Eleven Inc. - Key offerings

12.4 Agro America

Exhibit 114: Agro America - Overview

- Overview

Exhibit 115: Agro America - Product / Service

- Product / Service

Exhibit 116: Agro America - Key offerings

12.5 Aldi Stores Ltd.

Exhibit 117: Aldi Stores Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 118: Aldi Stores Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 119: Aldi Stores Ltd. - Key offerings

12.6 Axfood AB

Exhibit 120: Axfood AB - Overview



Exhibit 121: Axfood AB - Business segments



Exhibit 122: Axfood AB - Key offerings



Exhibit 123: Axfood AB - Segment focus

12.7 Chiquita Brands International Sarl

Exhibit 124: Chiquita Brands International Sarl - Overview



Exhibit 125: Chiquita Brands International Sarl - Product / Service



Exhibit 126: Chiquita Brands International Sarl - Key offerings

12.8 Co operative Group Ltd.

Exhibit 127: Co operative Group Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 128: Co operative Group Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 129: Co operative Group Ltd. - Key offerings

12.9 Coliman

Exhibit 130: Coliman - Overview



Exhibit 131: Coliman - Product / Service



Exhibit 132: Coliman - Key offerings

12.10 Dole plc

Exhibit 133: Dole plc - Overview



Exhibit 134: Dole plc - Business segments



Exhibit 135: Dole plc - Key offerings



Exhibit 136: Dole plc - Segment focus

12.11 Federation of Migros Cooperatives

Exhibit 137: Federation of Migros Cooperatives - Overview



Exhibit 138: Federation of Migros Cooperatives - Product / Service



Exhibit 139: Federation of Migros Cooperatives - Key offerings

12.12 Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc

Exhibit 140: Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc - Overview



Exhibit 141: Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc - Business segments



Exhibit 142: Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc - Key offerings



Exhibit 143: Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc - Segment focus

12.13 Fyffes Ltd.

Exhibit 144: Fyffes Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 145: Fyffes Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 146: Fyffes Ltd. - Key offerings

12.14 Global Banana

Exhibit 147: Global Banana - Overview



Exhibit 148: Global Banana - Product / Service



Exhibit 149: Global Banana - Key offerings

12.15 J Sainsbury plc

Exhibit 150: J Sainsbury plc - Overview



Exhibit 151: J Sainsbury plc - Product / Service



Exhibit 152: J Sainsbury plc - Key offerings

12.16 Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize NV

Exhibit 153: Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize NV - Overview



Exhibit 154: Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize NV - Business segments



Exhibit 155: Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize NV - Key news



Exhibit 156: Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize NV - Key offerings



Exhibit 157: Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize NV - Segment focus

12.17 Waitrose Ltd.

Exhibit 158: Waitrose Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 159: Waitrose Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 160: Waitrose Ltd. - Key offerings

13 Appendix

13.1 Scope of the report

13.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 161: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 162: Exclusions checklist

13.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 163: Currency conversion rates for US$

13.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 164: Research methodology



Exhibit 165: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 166: Information sources

13.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 167: 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

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UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com

SOURCE Technavio
Grupo Financiero Banorte secured the first place in the financial sector in all the categories it participated in within the Latin America Executive Team ranking by Institutional Investor (according to the publication's classification, which excludes Brazil ).

For the first time, the category of Best Company Board of Directors is evaluated as part of the ranking , and GFNorte takes the first place in th e ranking.

In Mexico , considering companies from all sectors, Grupo Financiero Banorte is recognized for the second consecutive year as the Most Honored Company.

'At Grupo Financiero Banorte, we are proud that the talent of our leaders and teamwork are recognized in such a prestigious ranking as Institutional Investor's ; I have always said that we are the best banking team in Mexico ': Carlos Hank Gonzalez, Chairman of the Board of Directors.

'This award demonstrates that at Banorte, we are taking steps in the right direction to become the best bank for our investors, clients, and collaborators; I am grateful that they allow us to be the best financial group in Mexico today': Marcos Ramirez Miguel, CEO.

MEXICO CITY, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Renowned American publication Institutional Investor has unveiled its annual Latin America Executive Team ranking, considered the foremost reference and the most important confidence indicator for investors worldwide.

Grupo Financiero Banorte (GFNorte) secured the top position in all categories of the ranking for financial companies in Latin America (excluding Brazil, according to Institutional Investor's methodology). Furthermore, GFNorte received recognition as the Best Company Board of Directors in the financial sector in Latin America, with Carlos Hank Gonzalez as their Chairman. Additionally, Banorte has positioned itself among the Most Honored Companies in Mexico for the second consecutive year.

The ranking results are based on the opinions of 1,105 investment professionals from 508 financial services companies. During the survey, participants are asked to rate Boards of Directors, CEOs, CFOs, and Investor Relations professionals, as well as the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategies of companies in their various scopes.

The seven categories in the financial sector ranking at the Latin American level, where Grupo Financiero Banorte secured the first place, are as follows:

Best CEO: Marcos Ramirez Miguel.

Best CFO: Rafael Arana de la Garza .

. Best IRO (Investor Relations Officer): Tomas Lozano Derbez .

. Best IR Team: GFNorte.

Best IR Program: GFNorte.

Best ESG: GFNorte.

Best Company Board of Directors: GFNorte.

The attributes measured in different categories include credibility, leadership, communication, and commercial and market knowledge, among others.

Carlos Hank Gonzalez, Chairman of the Board of Grupo Financiero Banorte, stated: "At Grupo Financiero Banorte, we are proud that the talent of our leaders and teamwork are recognized in such a prestigious ranking as Institutional Investor's; I have always said that we are the best banking team in Mexico."

Marcos Ramirez Miguel, CEO of Grupo Financiero Banorte, commented: "This award shows that at Banorte, we are taking the right steps to become the best bank for our investors, clients, and collaborators; I am grateful that they allow us to be the best financial group in Mexico today."

Institutional Investor is an international finance publication with over 50 years of experience, targeting the most influential decision-makers in asset management and banking around the world. For over 30 years, the publication has recognized companies through its global rankings. The integrity and credibility of the ratings it issues have been designated as a standard for measuring excellence.

About Carlos Hank Gonzalez

Carlos Hank Gonzalez is a seasoned professional in both the business and banking sectors, has amassed a wealth of experience through his numerous high-ranking roles within the industry and his membership on the boards of several notable corporations.

He ascended to the position of Board Chairman for Grupo Financiero Banorte in January 2015, having been a board member since October of the previous year.

In addition to his corporate responsibilities, Carlos Hank Gonzalez also heads the Banorte Foundation. This non-profit organization is dedicated to providing support to underprivileged communities and promoting progress in various sectors including education, science, medicine, technology, and economic and sustainable development.

He holds a bachelor's degree in business administration with a focus on finance, which he obtained from Universidad Iberoamericana.

For further information about Carlos Hank Gonzalez:

About Banorte

Grupo Financiero Banorte (GFNorte) is the largest Mexican financial institution. It offers financial services to individuals and businesses through its banking, brokerage, fund management, insurance, pensions, leasing, factoring, warehousing, portfolio management, and remittance businesses. GFNorte also includes Afore XXI Banorte, the country's largest pension fund administrator by asset management. GFNorte is a publicly traded company listed on the main indicator of the Mexican Stock Exchange, with more than 31,000 employees, 1,159 branches, 10,144 ATMs, 179,989 Point of Sale Terminals, and 19,800 correspondent banking locations.

For more information for the media:

Victor Palma Villarreal, Public Affairs Manager, Cell: +52 (55) 8471-7481 / [email protected]

SOURCE Banorte
NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.

Class Period: May 25, 2022 to February 8, 2023

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: September 11, 2023

No obligation or cost to you.

Learn more about your recoverable losses in BAX:

https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/baxter-lawsuit-loss-submission-form?id=43087&from=4

Baxter International Inc. NEWS - BAX NEWS

CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that Baxter International Inc. made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) the Company concealed the true extent of the supply chain problems it was experiencing while simultaneously exaggerating its ability to maintain a healthy supply chain in the face of global pressures; (ii) as a result, the Company's projected earnings were materially misleading during the Class Period; (iii) the foregoing, once revealed, was reasonably likely to have a material negative impact on the Company's financial condition; and (iv) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. Over the course of the Class Period, Baxter's stock price declined by nearly 50%, eliminating billions of dollars in market capitalization.

WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Baxter you have until September 11, 2023 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.

NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased Baxter securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the BAX lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/baxter-lawsuit-loss-submission-form?id=43087&from=4.

ABOUT KLEIN LAW FIRM

J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

J. Klein, Esq.

535 Fifth Avenue

4th Floor

New York City, NY 10017

[email protected]

Telephone: (212) 616-4899

www.kleinstocklaw.com

SOURCE The Klein Law Firm
DUBAI, UAE, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Beond, the world's first premium leisure airline, is pleased to announce the successful completion of over US$17M Seed Round from a group of esteemed investors. The round was oversubscribed, reflecting the strong confidence and belief in Beond's vision and potential.

Participants included family offices, angel investors, and strategic partners, signalling a vote of confidence in the company's ground-breaking approach to leisure travel and promising market potential.

Beond's Chairman and CEO, Tero Taskila, expressed gratitude towards the investors and partners who believe in the company's vision for a new and exciting approach to premium leisure air travel. "This funding round marks a significant milestone for Beond," Taskila said.

"We are humbled and excited to have the support of such remarkable investors who share our passion for innovation and believe in our mission. The investment will empower Beond to realise its full potential and deliver on the promise of both this ground-breaking business model in the airline industry and pioneering experience for passengers. Beond will operate a premium leisure experience for customers while bringing to bear the benefits of a lightweight, low-cost operation based on the collective decades of experience of our team."

The investment will fuel Beond's ambitious growth plans, including:

Expanding the team: Strengthening the core team with top-tier talent to accelerate product development and innovation, hiring pilots and cabin crew to build the network.



Scaling marketing and sales efforts: Increasing brand visibility and market reach to capture a broader customer base.



Securing more capacity: Investing in aircraft and latest technologies in full lie-flat premium seats to deliver a unforgettable customer experience.

Beond will begin operations in the fall of 2023, with Maldives as its first hub, pending regulatory approval. The airline intends to fly a fleet of state-of-the-art Airbus A320-family aircraft in a unique luxury, lay-flat configuration, bringing passengers to Maldives from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.

About Beond

Beond is the world's first premium leisure airline offering unique and tailored experiences for today's modern travellers. Beond will initiate flights from a variety of destinations with the latest aviation and luxury travel innovations.

Visit www.flybeond.com

SOURCE Beond
TUSTIN, Calif., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BioPhotas Inc., manufacturers of the award-winning Celluma SERIES of light therapy devices, recently welcomed Brian Gable as its new Vice President of Marketing. Throughout his career, Brian has demonstrated his expertise in various areas, including brand marketing, customer experience design, website optimization, paid media, and technology management. He is skilled in leveraging data insights to optimize operations, improve customer satisfaction, and increase loyalty, all while building high-performing teams passionate about brand culture and achieving results.

Brian Gable, VP of Marketing

Commenting on the announcement, Chief Executive Officer, Patrick Johnson said "Brian's addition to the management team represents our accelerating focus on bringing Celluma medical and aesthetic therapies to the global consumer. Whether it is improving their outcome as a patient of cosmetic and aesthetic procedures or using Celluma in their own home to enhance their well-being and quality of life, I am confident Brian's contributions will be significant."

Most recently, Brian served as the Managing Director of the Western U.S. region for the digital agency Shift7 Digital, where he played a key role in building an entirely new region with client services in eCommerce, Customer Experience Design, and Digital Marketing. Additionally, he has held Vice President positions in various lifestyle brands, including Municipal by Mark Wahlberg and Oakley, where he implemented and drove their online sales and marketing strategy.

"Celluma has been a leader at the forefront of innovation in a space that is exploding with demand," said Brian. "This is a compelling opportunity to bring a proprietary, gold standard professional therapy straight to the consumer and help millions of people experience the numerous benefits of LED light therapy to treat common issues such as acne or joint and muscle pain. I am excited about the enormous potential to expand the Celluma brand and help cultivate a future where LED light therapy becomes a universal standard in both the clinic and at home."

"Brian is an accomplished marketing and eCommerce executive with more than 12 years of success in driving revenue growth through innovative strategies and exceptional leadership," said the company's President Curtis Cluff. "His wealth of experience and expertise in marketing and eCommerce make him an invaluable asset to our team."

Brian holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from James Madison University, which has contributed to his strong foundation in business principles and strategic thinking.

About Biophotas, Inc.

In providing unique devices founded on NASA-developed technology and backed by clinical studies, BioPhotas, manufacturer of the Celluma SERIES of light therapy devices, is bringing to market safe, effective, and affordable devices that unlock the clinical power of biophotonics. BioPhotas develops and markets devices for healthcare providers and consumers that conveniently treat a variety of skin, muscle, and joint conditions. For more information about Celluma, visit us at the 2023 International Congress of Esthetics and Spa August 20-21 in Long Beach Calif., or visit www.celluma.com.

Media Contact:

Curtis Cluff

(714) 978-0080

[email protected]

SOURCE BioPhotas, Inc.
BBCF Head Start schools are Alabama's first to adopt new technology.

SELMA, Ala., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Black Belt Community Foundation (BBCF) is delighted to announce its collaboration with Hatch Early Learning, a leading provider of educational technology solutions. This strategic partnership aims to advance the mission of BBCF and bring transformative educational opportunities to the Black Belt Head Start program in underserved communities.

BBCF (www.blackbeltfound.org/) is a non-profit organization committed to creating positive change in the Black Belt region of Alabama. Their mission is to improve the quality of life and foster opportunities for growth and development for the residents of the Black Belt community. In 2017, BBCF began administrating six separate Head Start schools in four counties of the Alabama Black Belt (Choctaw, Dallas, Marengo, and Wilcox).

Black Belt Community Foundation is pleased to announce its collaboration with Hatch Early Learning. Tweet this

The Black Belt Head Start program has recently implemented broadband access in their facilities as part of their ongoing commitment to enhancing education. This significant step will bridge the digital divide and provide students and teachers with unprecedented access to resources and information.

To complement this broadband initiative, the Black Belt Head Start program has invested in twenty cutting-edge IgniteTables from Hatch Early Learning (www.hatchearlylearning.com). The IgniteTable is an innovative educational tool designed to engage young learners through interactive and immersive experiences. BBCF Head Start schools will be the first schools in Alabama to adopt this new learning tool.

The introduction of the IgniteTables, combined with the implementation of broadband, is expected to be game-changing for the students and educators in the Black Belt community. Students will be better equipped to develop critical skills and knowledge essential for their future success with enhanced access to educational content and interactive learning materials.

"Hatch Early Learning is thrilled to be partnering with the Black Belt Community Foundation to support their mission of providing quality education and opportunities in underserved communities," said Sam Bonfante, President of Hatch Early Learning. "We believe that every child deserves access to a high-quality education, and through this collaboration, we are proud to contribute to the positive impact on the lives of young learners in the Black Belt community."

According to BBCF President, Felecia Lucky, "Head Start focuses on the whole child with an emphasis on education, health, nutrition, and social-emotional well-being, while preparing them to enter elementary school. In addition, we provide family support and promote family involvement. Being able to equip our schools with the latest, state of the art learning tools helps us to ensure that our Head Start students have every advantage we can make available for them. Being the first schools in Alabama to adopt this technology is doubly exciting!"

Taquila Monroe, Director of the Black Belt Community Foundation Head Start Program, expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, "This collaboration with Hatch Early Learning represents a major milestone for our community. The introduction of broadband and the implementation of the IgniteTable solution will revolutionize the way our students learn and provide our educators with powerful tools to inspire and engage young minds. We are grateful for Hatch's support in advancing our educational initiatives and making a lasting difference in the lives of our children."

To mark the beginning of this transformative partnership, Hatch Early Learning will be coordinating a press event on August 11th in Selma, AL, in collaboration with the Black Belt Community Foundation. The event will include on-site training sessions and provide an opportunity for guests to meet with Sam Bonfante, the President of Hatch Early Learning, Taquila Monroe, the Director of the Black Belt Community Foundation Head Start program, and leaders of the Black Belt Community Foundation board of directors.

This momentous occasion signifies a step forward in educational innovation, equipping young minds in underserved communities with the tools they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world.

For media inquiries and further information, please contact:

Daron Harris

[email protected]

(256) 592-9153

Nicole Nesheim

[email protected]

(252) 561-5600

About Black Belt Community Foundation

The Black Belt Community Foundation (BBCF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in Alabama's Black Belt region. BBCF provides support to community efforts in education, health and wellness, economic development, and cultural heritage preservation.

About Hatch Early Learning

Hatch Early Learning is a leading provider of educational technology solutions designed to foster interactive and engaging learning experiences for young children. With a commitment to transforming education, Hatch offers a range of innovative products tailored to enhance early childhood education.

SOURCE Hatch Early Learning
CHICAGO, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In the near future, the breast biopsy devices industry is poised to witness remarkable advancements driven by innovative technologies and a growing emphasis on early detection and precise diagnosis of breast conditions. Rapid progress in imaging techniques, such as 3D mammography and molecular imaging, will catalyze the demand for minimally invasive and highly accurate biopsy devices. These devices will offer improved targeting capabilities, real-time imaging guidance, and enhanced tissue sampling methods, ultimately enhancing diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes. Additionally, the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms will further refine the biopsy process by providing predictive insights and aiding pathologists in analyzing tissue samples. As healthcare systems prioritize personalized medicine, the breast biopsy devices sector will play a pivotal role in revolutionizing breast health management through its convergence of cutting-edge technology and patient-centered care.

Breast Biopsy Devices Market in terms of revenue was estimated to be worth $1.6 billion in 2023 and is poised to reach $2.6 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 10.0% from 2023 to 2028 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets.

The major factors driving the growth of this market include the growing prevalent cases of breast cancer, the increasing number of breast cancer screening programs, the growing demand for minimally invasive and non-invasive procedures, and the improved reimbursement scenario.

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Browse in-depth TOC on "Breast Biopsy Devices Market"

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Breast Biopsy Devices Market Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2023 $1.6 billion Estimated Value by 2028 $2.6 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 10.0% Market Size Available for 2021-2028 Forecast Period 20232028 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Type, Procedure, Technique, Application, End User, and Region Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities Emergence of liquid biopsy and promising clinical trials Key Market Drivers Increasing number of breast cancer screening programs

Type segment to register significant growth rate over the forecast period of 2023-2028.

Based on the type, the global breast biopsy devices market is segmented into biopsy needles, guidance systems, localization wires, assay kits, liquid biopsy instruments, biopsy tables, and other devices. The assay kits segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. In 2022, the biopsy needle segment accounted for the highest breast biopsy devices market share.

Procedure segment to register significant growth rate over the forecast period of 2023-2028.

Based on the procedure, the breast biopsy devices market is segmented into needle open surgical breast biopsy, breast biopsy, and liquid breast. The liquid breast biopsy segment is anticipated to register the highest growth rate over the forecast period. However, the needle breast biopsy segment accounted for the highest market share in the breast biopsy devices market in 2022.

The early cancer screening segment accounted for the largest share of the breast biopsy market by application in 2022.

Based on application, the market is segmented into early cancer screening, therapy selection, treatment monitoring, and recurrence monitoring. Early cancer screening accounted for the largest share of the market in 2022. However, the therapy selection segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

Factors such as the rising occurrence of breast cancer cases, growing awareness of breast cancer, and supportive government initiatives for breast cancer care and treatment are expected to influence the demand for breast biopsy devices.

The hospital and clinics segment accounted for the largest share of the breast biopsy devices market, by end-user, in 2022.

Based on the end user, the breast biopsy devices market is segmented into hospitals & surgical centers, breast care centers, and imaging clinics & diagnostic centers. The hospitals & surgical centers segment accounts for the largest share of the market in 2022. Factors attributing to the increasing number of breast diagnostic procedures performed in hospitals, the growing inclination of hospitals toward automation and digitization of radiology patient workflow, and the rising adoption of technologically advanced systems in hospitals to improve patient care quality are driving this segment's growth.

The North American market is to register significant growth in the market during the forecast period.

The North American breast biopsy devices market is estimated to grow significantly from 2023 to 2028. factors such as ongoing technological advancements, rising breast cancer incidence rates, favorable reimbursement scenarios, and new breast density notification laws drive market growth in North America. This region has a rise in healthcare investment and expenditure, offering significant growth opportunities for the key players.

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Breast Biopsy Devices Market Dynamics:

Drivers:

Increasing number of breast cancer screening programs

Restraints:

Risk of infections associated with the use of biopsy needles

Opportunities:

Emergence of liquid biopsy and promising clinical trials

Challenges:

Underdeveloped Healthcare Infrastructure and Dearth of Resources in Developing Countries

Key Market Players:

As of 2022, prominent players in the breast biopsy devices market are Hologic Inc. (US), Danaher Corporation (US), Argon Medical Devices (US), Medtronic (IRL), Merit Medical Systems (US), Menarini-Silicon Biosystems (ITL), Varian Medical Systems, Inc. (Germany), Planmed Oy (Finland), Sterylab S.R.L (Italy), Biocept, Inc. (US), Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (US), F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd (Switzerland), Qiagen (Germany) and Exact Sciences Corporation (US).

Recent Developments:

Hologic, Inc, an innovative medical technology company primarily focused on improving women's health, announced today that it has completed the purchase of SOMATEX Medical Technologies GmbH; the deal size is $64 million .

. In 2022 Danaher Corporation launched Mammotome Revolve EX Dual Vacuum-Assisted Breast Biopsy System, the first vacuum-assisted biopsy device designed specifically for the excision of benign breast lesions and is twice as fast as traditional vacuum-assisted breast biopsy systems.

Argon Medical Devices announced the launch of the SuperCore advantage semi-automatic biopsy instrument's newest addition to its soft tissue biopsy product portfolio in the united states. The next-generation soft tissue biopsy instrument provides a superior volume of tissue samples. Collecting more tissue volume may increase the likelihood of an accurate diagnosis.

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Breast Biopsy Devices Market Advantages:

Early Detection: Breast biopsy devices enable the early detection of suspicious lesions or abnormalities in breast tissue, allowing for prompt diagnosis and intervention.

Minimally Invasive: These devices offer minimally invasive alternatives to surgical biopsies, reducing patient discomfort, scarring, and recovery time.

Precision Targeting: Advanced imaging technologies incorporated in these devices allow for precise targeting of the specific area of concern, ensuring accurate tissue sampling.

Reduced Procedure Time: Modern biopsy devices streamline procedures, leading to shorter procedural times, increased patient throughput, and efficient resource utilization for healthcare facilities.

Improved Patient Experience: Minimally invasive procedures and shorter recovery periods contribute to a better patient experience and higher patient satisfaction rates.

Cost-Effectiveness: Minimally invasive biopsies with these devices often lead to reduced healthcare costs compared to surgical alternatives, as they require fewer resources and less hospitalization time.

Real-Time Imaging Guidance: Integration of real-time imaging guidance enhances the accuracy of tissue sampling and reduces the likelihood of inconclusive results.

Diagnostic Accuracy: The use of advanced technologies, such as molecular imaging and artificial intelligence, enhances diagnostic accuracy, reducing the need for multiple procedures and interventions.

Customized Treatment Plans: Accurate biopsy results enable healthcare professionals to create personalized treatment plans, optimizing patient care and outcomes.

Research and Development: The ongoing innovation in breast biopsy device technology fuels research and development efforts, contributing to continuous improvements in diagnostic capabilities.

Reduced Anxiety: Early and accurate diagnosis through these devices can alleviate patient anxiety by providing a clear understanding of their condition and appropriate treatment pathways.

Screening Programs: Breast biopsy devices play a crucial role in supporting breast cancer screening programs, enabling efficient follow-up on suspicious findings from mammograms.

Healthcare Resource Optimization: By reducing unnecessary surgeries and interventions, these devices help optimize the allocation of healthcare resources.

Enhanced Medical Training: Modern biopsy devices are often integrated with training features, enabling medical professionals to acquire and enhance their skills in using these devices effectively.

Global Impact: The widespread availability and adoption of breast biopsy devices contribute to improving breast healthcare on a global scale, especially in regions with limited access to specialized medical facilities.

These advantages collectively underscore the significant role that breast biopsy devices play in improving patient care, enhancing diagnostic capabilities, and shaping the future of breast health management.

Related Reports:

Breast Imaging Market - Global Forecasts to 2028

Aspiration Needles Market - Global Forecasts to 2027

Liquid Biopsy Market - Global Forecasts to 2027

Cancer Diagnostics Market - Global Forecasts to 2026

Womens Health Diagnostics Market - Global Forecasts to 2025

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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.

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Higher Quality Photorealism & the Largest Capture Zone for Human Performances

GRENOBLE, France, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- 4Dviews, a leading innovator in volumetric capture, has announced the launch of their next-generation volumetric capture system, the HOLOSYS+, at SIGGRAPH 2023.

The HOLOSYS+ brings three main advances over its predecessor  higher-quality photorealism, the largest capture zone in the industry, and superior system performance. These innovations help content creators bring increased realism, more dynamic scenarios, and a better feeling of presence to their audience.

The first deployment of the HOLOSYS+ has been done at 4Dviews' client Crescent Inc.'s facilities in Japan.

"The HOLOSYS+ is built upon our 16 years of experience building high-quality volumetric capture systems. This new system provides XR professionals with volumetric video that immerses their audience in the world of the storyteller", said Richard Broadbridge, CEO of 4Dviews. "With the upgraded hardware and all-new system architecture, we're keeping abreast of growing demand."

The HOLOSYS+ is an all-in-one volumetric capture system now available to be installed by 4Dviews globally. The system will be available in two configurations  32 cameras and 48 cameras. The volumetric video output of the HOLOSYS+ is fully compatible with industry-standard hardware and software, enabling a seamless integration into existing professional workflows.

About 4Dviews

4Dviews (www.4dviews.com) is the leader in high-quality volumetric studios and volumetric video editing software. Best known for setting up the world's first volumetric capture studio in France, the company has been perfecting the art of human representation in XR since 2007. With more than 20 studios set up across Asia, North America, and Europe, the 4Dviews' international team shares a passion for putting real humans at the center of great stories.

Media Contact:

Mr. Yash Bhatia, [email protected], +33967404878

SOURCE 4Dviews
Silver Spring Township Police said it issued a shelter-in-place order Tuesday morning while it investigated a suspicious object in the first block of Stone Run Drive.

Police were called to the scene at 10:55 a.m. Tuesday for an item found on the ground near mailboxes. The item was described as a section of pipe with caps on each end.

Out of an abundance of caution, the item was initially treated as a possible pipe bomb, police said. By 12:25 p.m., investigators found that the item was not explosive and did not pose a safety risk, lifting the shelter-in-place order for that neighborhood.

Township police were assisted by the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office, Pennsylvania State Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit, numerous fire police officers from multiple agencies, Silver Spring and New Kingstown fire companies, Silver Spring Ambulance and Silver Spring Township Department of Public Safety.

During the order, nearby roads were closed and officers went door-to-door to notify residents.
DALLAS, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BRUSH ON BLOCK, a mineral suncare brand dedicated to encouraging everyday sun protection, is honored to announce national certification as a Women's Business Enterprise by the Women's Business Council - Southwest, a regional certifying partner of the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). WBENC Certification is the gold standard for women-owned business certification in the United States.

"The Women's Business Council - Southwest is proud to welcome BRUSH ON BLOCK to our network of over 1,300 Women's Business Enterprises (WBEs) and over 90 Corporate Members from across our region!" - Bliss Coulter, President & CEO of the Women's Business Council - Southwest

One of the core values at SPF Ventures / BRUSH ON BLOCK is to "Empower Women" and the company is committed to promoting diversity on both their team and in the business world. This certification is testament to that commitment, as is their majority-female operating team. The certification gives SPF Ventures / BRUSH ON BLOCK access to supplier diversity and procurement executives, formal and informal opportunities to pursue business with corporate and government members, access to networking events and programs, and a community of support from other female business owners.

"We are honored to receive national certification as a women-owned business by WBENC, after an extensive review of our business structure, financials and operations. We are especially thrilled to join our local chapter, WBC Southwest, and it is our hope that this certification will advance opportunities to partner with other organizations with similar values and help us continue to further our mission, locally and beyond. " - Andrea Wetsel, Founder and CEO of BRUSH ON BLOCK

Learn more about BRUSH ON BLOCK: www.brushonblock.com

ABOUT BRUSH ON BLOCK

Founded by Andrea Wetsel, BRUSH ON BLOCK was created to change the way everyone thinks about sunscreen - making it a simple, everyday habit. BRUSH ON BLOCK is a thoughtfully-developed line of reef-friendly mineral formulas - free of chemical sunscreens and is PETA-certified cruelty free and vegan  making protection and prevention safe for humans, animals, oceans & the environment. Andrea continues to strive to develop innovative products with a focus on continuous improvement of ingredients and packaging, operating in the intersection of safety for humans, eco-responsibility & functionality. BRUSH ON BLOCK targets customers who are conscious about what they put in and on their bodies, while making strides towards doing what is right for our environment.

SOURCE Brush on Block
LINCOLN, Neb., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CD2 Learning, a provider of innovative eLearning solutions, is excited to announce its strategic partnership with WinningWise, the creator of GrowWisea newly released professional growth and development platform. This collaboration aims to enhance the talent development landscape by combining CD2 Learning's learning management system with WinningWise's expertise in fostering organizational and personal growth.

By leveraging their respective strengths, CD2 Learning and WinningWise seek to provide a comprehensive and engaging digital platform to empower associates' skills, knowledge and career growth.

The collaboration will result in the integration of CD2 Learning's robust suite of eLearning features (eLearning authoring tools, gamification education and analytics) with the GrowWise platform. This incorporation will provide users with an extensive library of courses, microlearning modules and resources covering a wide range of professional development topics. Users will have the flexibility to learn at their own pace, engage with interactive content, collaborate with peers and receive personalized feedback and guidance.

"We are thrilled to partner with WinningWise to empower professionals with the tools they need to succeed," said Jay Breeden, president of CD2 Learning. "Our shared goal is to provide individuals with a comprehensive and user-friendly digital platform that enables continuous learning and professional growth. Through this partnership, we will revolutionize the way professionals develop their skills and advance their careers."

Robyn Clark, chief executive officer of WinningWise, expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, "By joining forces with CD2 Learning, we can enhance the reach and impact of the GrowWise platform. Our vision is to create a culture of continuous learning where professionals have access to high-quality content and resources. This partnership will enable us to deliver an unparalleled learning experience that empowers individuals to unlock their full potential."

The CD2 Learning and WinningWise partnership represents a significant step forward in the field of professional growth and development. By combining the full expertise of both organizations, individuals will have access to a comprehensive platform that fosters continuous learning, enhances skills and supports career advancement.

About WinningWise

Launched in 2014, WinningWise makes companies better by making their people's lives better. The mission of WinningWise is to empower individuals to maximize their potential and achieve success in their careers.

GrowWise is a talent development platform that supports individual career development plans. By empowering associates to grow, the whole organization also grows.

About CD2 Learning

CD2 Learning, a Nelnet company and recent recipient of the 2023 Gold Stevie Award in Customer Education LMS and 2022 Top "All-Purpose" Learning Systems Award changing the way people learn and grow through award-winning Software as a Service (SaaS) technology designed for the modern workforce.

Since 2008, CD2 Learning works with organizations of all sizes to support eLearning solutions. This can be through the learning management system (LMS) with analytics, personalized learning pathways, gamification and hybrid learning or through the eCommerce storefront, eLearning authoring tools or professional creative services to bring clients' training curriculum to life.

SOURCE CD2 Learning
SHANGHAI, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lufax Holding Ltd ("Lufax" or the "Company") (NYSE: LU and HKEX: 6623), a leading financial services enabler for small business owners in China, today announced that Mr. Guangheng Ji has tendered his resignation as a non-executive director and other relevant positions of the Company, due to change of his personal work arrangements. Mr. Ji's resignation took effect from August 8, 2023. The board of directors of the Company has appointed Mr. Yonglin Xie as a non-executive director of the Company with effect from August 8, 2023.

The Company would like to take this opportunity to express its appreciation to Mr. Ji for his significant contribution to the Company during his tenure of office.

Mr. Xie, aged 54, is currently an executive director, the president and co-CEO of Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China Ltd. (a company whose shares are dually listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange (stock code: 601318) and the Stock Exchange (stock code: 2318) and one of the controlling shareholders of the Company) ("Ping An Insurance") and the chairman of Ping An Bank Co., Ltd. (a company whose shares are listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (stock code: 000001)) ("Ping An Bank"). Mr. Xie joined Ping An Insurance in 1994 and has been serving as a director of Ping An Insurance since April 2020. He was the deputy director of Ping An Insurance's Strategic Development & Reform Center from June 2005 to March 2006. He held positions of the operations director, the human resources director, and a vice president of Ping An Bank from March 2006 to November 2013, and served as the special assistant to the chairman, the president and the CEO, and the chairman of Ping An Securities Co., Ltd. from November 2013 to November 2016 consecutively. He was a senior vice president of Ping An Insurance from September 2016 to December 2019. Previously, Mr. Xie served as the deputy general manager of sub-branches of Ping An Property & Casualty Insurance Company of China, Ltd., the deputy general manager and then the general manager of branches of Ping An Life Insurance Company of China, Ltd. ("Ping An Life"), and the general manager of the marketing department of Ping An Life. Mr. Xie graduated from Nanjing University with a Ph.D. in Corporate Management and a Master of Science degree.

About Lufax

Lufax is a leading financial services enabler for small business owners in China. The Company offers financing products designed principally to address the needs of small business owners. In doing so, the Company has established relationships with over 550 financial institutions in China, many of which have worked with the Company for over three years. These financial institutions provide funding and credit enhancement for the loans the Company enables as well as other products to enrich the small business owner ecosystem that the Company is creating.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement 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 Lufax's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Lufax has based these forward-looking statements largely on its current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends, which involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company's control. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about Lufax's goals and strategies; Lufax's future business development, financial condition and results of operations; expected changes in Lufax's income, expenses or expenditures; expected growth of the retail credit enablement; Lufax's expectations regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, its services; Lufax's expectations regarding its relationship with borrowers, platform investors, funding sources, product providers and other business partners; general economic and business conditions; and government policies and regulations relating to the industry Lufax operates in. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Lufax's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Lufax does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

Investor Relations Contact

Lufax Holding Ltd

Email: [email protected]

ICR, LLC

Robin Yang

Tel: +1 (646) 308-0546

Email: lufax.ir@icrinc.com

SOURCE Lufax Holding Ltd
PEACHTREE CORNERS, Ga., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Custard Companies is excited to celebrate CEO Charlie Peek's 30th year with the organization. Custard's entire team joins together to congratulate Peek on this remarkable achievement.

Peek began his career with Custard Insurance Adjusters, Inc. in April of 1993 as Branch Manager of the Dallas, TX office. Over the next 30 years, Peek rose through the ranks of CIA holding various district, regional and national management positions.

Rick Linville, Chairman, states "Under Peek's leadership, we have experienced tremendous growth at Custard Companies." Tweet this

Prior to his current position as CEO, Peek made significant contributions as Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer where he emphasized operational efficiency at all levels of the organization, as well as, providing excellent customer service to our client partners. It was this promotion, in March of 2012, that allowed Peek to relocate to the corporate headquarters in Atlanta, GA. Peek's dedication and concentrated efforts proved to have a direct impact on the overall financial performance and growth of Custard during his tenure as EVP/COO.

Continuing in his accomplishments toward excellence and superior leadership, Peek was again promoted to his current position as Chief Executive Officer in July of 2015. As the current President and CEO, Peek successfully handles the task of overseeing a thriving and growing company with a very bright future.

"Under Charlie's leadership, we have experienced tremendous growth as Custard Companies continues to strengthen its role as a national leader in the claims service industry," states Chairman, Rick Linville.

While being interviewed for a recent article, Peek stated, "Being part of such a great team of professionals has been the biggest highlight of my career. I have seen the company grow on all levels and it has been truly exciting to see and be a part of this team."

Charlie Peek can be reached at:

Custard Insurance Adjusters, Inc.

4875 Avalon Ridge Parkway

Peachtree Corners, GA 30071

T: 770-263-6800

E: [email protected]

www.custard.com

SOURCE Custard Insurance Adjusters, Inc.
BANGALORE, India, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Collaborative Robots (Cobot) Market is Segmented by Type (Below 5 kg, 5-10 kg, More Than 10 kg), by Application (Metal and Processing, Automobile, IT, Plastics and Polymers, Food and Beverage)

The Collaborative Robots Market is projected to reach USD 1357.4 Million in 2029, increasing from USD 771 Million in 2022, with a CAGR of 8.2% during the period of 2023 to 2029.

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Major Factors Driving the Growth of the Collaborative Robot (Cobot) Market:

The market for cobots is propelled by elements such as safety and teamwork, adaptability and flexibility, cost-effectiveness, labor shortages, advanced technology, Industry 4.0 efforts, safety requirements, ROI, and productivity improvements.

The adoption of collaborative robots, or cobots, by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is one factor contributing to the expansion. In order to engage with people in a shared office and automate industrial procedures, these businesses are investing more and more in cobots.

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TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF THE GLOBAL COLLABORATIVE ROBOTS (COBOT) MARKET

Stages of the assembly process are frequently automated in manufacturing using cobots. They might move and screw in bolts or lift and set a hefty automobile roof. Robots are more suited to assembly process steps that require a great deal of repetition than people are.

Because of their compact size, they are simple to assemble, disassemble, and transfer across the factory without affecting how the production is organized. Programming is made possible for non-engineers as well, thanks to kinesthetic leading (hand guiding). Hand directing allows the user to move the arm around in space at will by just pressing a button on the teaching pendant (the robot's controller). This allows the user to assign the task themselves. The demonstrated path is then logged and accessible for additional programming from the teaching pendant, which is typically simple to do. This procedure could take an hour.

Collaborative robots are especially intriguing for SMEs (small-medium-sized firms) that create a wide variety of items at a low volume due to the short changeover time.

The lack of a specialized work cell, which eliminates the need for fences and light curtains, is one of the main advantages of a cobot over a six-axis robot (although this is not always the case, depending on the application). This is due to the force limitations in the robot's joints. This indicates that each joint has a force sensor, which adds a quick response in the event of a collision and causes the robot to halt. Additionally, when a person approaches the robot, extra sensors like laser sensors can be added to slow down or stop the robot.

Although collaborative robots may be less expensive than industrial robots (mostly due to their smaller size), the cost of the investment as a whole must also be considered. The cost gap increases when all the ancillary considerations are considered. As an illustration, it is cost-effective to do without a work cell and all that entails (hardware, labor, and time). Employee training is not required, and a robotics expert is not required to supervise or maintain operations. In contrast to industrial robots, it is optional. Cobots have a shorter ROI (return on investment) period than six-axis robots, which might take up to 18 months.

A second arm, which is not present in conventional industrial robots, is a feature that a few businesses have introduced to cobots. Two arms are thought to be advantageous for sensitive operations like tightening screws or assembling small pieces (like electronic components), which can speed up the process and increase flexibility. Another use would be parallel bin picking. With two robotic arms, the task of scooping up small components from bins in haphazard positions can be completed more quickly. The difficulty of synchronizing the two arms to work together is one of the reasons why two-armed cobots are still not very common.

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COLLABORATIVE ROBOT (COBOT) MARKET SHARE

With a share of the market of roughly 54%, Asia-Pacific is the biggest region. With a market share of around 29%, Europe is a laggard.

The major players include Kawasaki, KUKA, FANUC, Rethink Robotics, ABB, Universal Robots, and others. The top 3 corporations had around 74% of the market.

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Key Players:

Universal Robots

ABB

Rethink Robotics

Kawasaki

KUKA

FANUC

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SIMILAR REPORTS

- Programmable Robots market is projected to grow from USD 1957.7 million in 2023 to USD 3193.9 million by 2029, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.5% during the forecast period.

- Industrial Robot Controller Market

- Parts Washer for Robotic Work Cell Market

- Robot Track Motion Systems Market

- Military Micro Robot Market

- Smart Home Robotics Market

- High-Speed Delta Robot Market

- PV Cleaning Robot Market

- PV Cleaning Robot Market

- Shelf-mounted Robots market was valued at USD 6574.8 million in 2022 and is anticipated to reach USD 11030 million by 2029, witnessing a CAGR of 7.5% during the forecast period 2023-2029.

- Robotic Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies market is projected to grow from USD 1021.7 million in 2023 to USD 1568 million by 2029, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.4% during the forecast period.

- Intelligent Surgical Robot Market

- Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR) market was valued at USD 1494.5 million in 2022 and is anticipated to reach USD 7938.4 million by 2029, witnessing a CAGR of 25.9% during the forecast period 2023-2029.

- Building Delivery Robot Market

- Industrial Cobot market was valued at USD 771 million in 2022 and is anticipated to reach USD 1661.4 million by 2029, witnessing a CAGR of 11.5% during the forecast period 2023-2029.

- Hazardous Environment Waste Handling Robots Market

- Gamma Ray-based Robot Market

- Patient Monitoring and Assistance Robots Market

- Foundry and Forging Robots Market

- Food Robotics market size was USD 441.8 million and it is expected to reach USD 812.8 million by the end of 2027, with a CAGR of 9.1% during 2021-2027.

- Agricultural Robots market size is estimated to be worth USD 5820.3 million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 16120 million by 2028 with a CAGR of 18.5% during the review period.

- Delivery Robot market size is estimated to be worth USD 20 million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 50 million by 2028 with a CAGR of 16.5% during the review period.

- The global automotive robotics market size was valued at USD 6.63 Billion in 2019, and is projected to reach USD 13.60 Billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 12.8% from 2020 to 2027.

- The global robotics market size was valued at USD 12,153.1 million in 2020, and is expected to reach USD 149,866.4 million by 2030, with a CAGR of 27.7% from 2021 to 2030.

- Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Market estimated at USD 426.7 million in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of USD 2404.5 million by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 33.4% during the forecast period 2022-2028.

- The global service robotics market size was valued at USD 21,684.5 Million in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 153,684.5 Million by 2030, registering a CAGR of 21.2% from 2021 to 2030.

- Industrial Robotics market size is estimated to be worth USD 41270 million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 63340 million by 2028 with a CAGR of 7.4% during the review period.

- Warehouse Robotics market size is estimated to be worth USD 3027.3 million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 4823.9 million by 2029 with a CAGR of 6.8% during the forecast period 2023-2029.

Click here to see related reports on Cobot Market

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The global construction equipment rental market is experiencing growth due to several factors, including a surge in construction activities in developing countries, a reduction in expenses such as maintenance, labor, and operational costs, and a lack of high ownership costs and financial constraints.

PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Construction Equipment Rental Market by Application (Excavation and Mining, Material Handling, Earthmoving, Concrete), by Product (Backhoes and Excavators, Loaders, Crawler Dozers, Cranes, Forklift, Other), by Propulsion System (IC Engine, Electric): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032." According to the report, the global construction equipment rental industry was valued at $93.5 billion in 2018, and is projected to reach $220.7 billion by 2032, registering a CAGR of 6.6% from 2023 to 2032.

Download PDF Sample: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/7021

Prime Determinants of Growth:

The global construction equipment rental market is experiencing growth due to several factors, including a surge in construction activities in developing countries, a reduction in expenses such as maintenance, labor, and operational costs, and a lack of high ownership costs and financial constraints. On the other hand, a lack of skilled and qualified operators and a decrease in new construction activities in developed nations may hinder the growth of the market to some extent. Furthermore, emerging economies are rapidly urbanizing and industrializing, resulting in increasing infrastructure development, which presents a huge market opportunity to produce construction equipment to meet the expanding demand for various machines and equipment in these markets.

Report Coverage & Details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2023-2032 Base Year 2018 Market Size in 2018 $93.5 Billion Market Size in 2032 $220.7 Billion CAGR 6.6 % No. of Pages in Report 220 Segments covered Application, Product, Propulsion System, and Region. Drivers Surge in construction activities in developing countries Reduction of expenses such as maintenance cost, labor cost, and operational costs No high ownership cost and financial constraints Opportunities Ease of relocation and high efficiency with IoT technology Restraints Lack of skilled and qualified operators Decrease in new construction activities in developed nations



COVID-19 Scenario:

The outbreak of COVID-19 had a negative impact on the construction equipment rental market. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent global lockdowns, the construction equipment rental market faced a downturn.

However, as the global situation has improved, the demand for construction equipment rental has been restored. This, in turn, presented various growth opportunities for companies operating in the construction equipment rental market.

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https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/checkout-final/78d6a8321232cd2ba6bd566cef8f9585

The earthmoving segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period-

Based on application, the earthmoving segment held the highest market share in 2018, accounting for more than two-fifths of the global construction equipment rental market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. This is due to a rise in the use of earthmoving equipment in a variety of industries for moving materials such as land, dirt, and stone. However, the concrete segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 7.3% from 2023 to 2032. Owing to the increase in construction of new airports, ports, commercial spaces, and residential projects, these concrete mixing machines are expected to be fast-operating and can produce concrete mixers at a faster speed, thus giving superior and faster performance.

The loaders segment to rule the roost by 2032-

Based on product, the loaders segment held the highest market share in 2018, contributing to nearly two-fifths of the global construction equipment rental market, and is projected to rule the roost in terms of revenue by 2032. Due to rising demand for commercial construction such as schools, malls, IT parks, and others. On the other hand, the other segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 7.7% from 2023 to 2032. Owing to the rise in construction of malls, bridges, and other infrastructure, the demand for construction equipment such as lift trucks, compactors, and concrete pumps and mixers has increased.

The IC engine segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period-

Based on propulsion system, the IC engine segment held the major share in 2018, contributed more than 90% of the global construction equipment rental market revenue, and is expected to maintain its lead position during the forecast period. The growth is attributed to the rising requirement for high power output, high efficiency, and high torque generated by IC engines. However, the electric segment is expected to portray the largest CAGR of 8.8% from 2023 to 2032. This is owing to its eco-friendly nature and comparatively lower operating costs.

Asia-Pacific to maintain its dominance by 2032-

Based on region, Asia-Pacific held the highest market share in 2018, accounting for more than two fifths of the global construction equipment rental market revenue, and is likely to maintain its dominance during the forecast period. owing to industrialization and business expansion by a key market player in the region. However, LAMEA is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 9.0% from 2023 to 2032. This is due to rising construction and infrastructure sectors in developing countries such as Africa, the Middle East, and others.

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Leading Market Players: -

Boels rentals

Hande equipment services inc.

Herc rentals inc.

Kanamoto co., Ltd.

Nesco holdings, inc.

Maxim crane works, l.P.

Mtandt group

Ramirent ab

Sarens n.V./S.A.

United rentals, inc.

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players of the global construction equipment rental market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, business expansion, acquisition, collaboration and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

Trending Reports in Construction Equipment Industry (Book Now with 15% Discount):

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mobile concrete mixer market is expected to reach $11,812.2 million by 2030

tower crane market is expected to reach $9,907.1 million in 2028

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Earthmoving Equipment Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032

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North America Heavy Construction Equipment Rental Market:Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032

Mobile Hydraulic Equipment Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032

Concrete Polishing and Grinding Machines Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032

Agriculture, Construction and Mining Machinery Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032

About Allied Market Research:

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.

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SOURCE Allied Market Research
DELFT, Netherlands, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Meatable, the industry-leading food tech company, announced today it has raised $35 million in new funding to bring the company's total funding so far to $95 million. Led by Agronomics, the successful close saw Invest-NL, a Dutch impact fund, coming on board as a new investor. The round also drew significant renewed support from existing investors, including BlueYard, Bridford, MilkyWay, DSM Venturing and Taavet Hinrikus.

Introducing Meatable's Pork Sausages: Meatable's Founders CTO Daan Luining (L) and CEO Krijn de Nood (R)

The funding will be used to further scale its processes and accelerate commercial launch of its cultivated meat products. The scale up and process optimization reduce the production costs to become cost competitive with traditional meat and reach production to commercial volumes. Starting in Singapore, Meatable is launching in selected restaurants and retailers from 2024. The company is also making solid progress on expanding to the United States and beyond, boosted by recent regulatory developments.

Krijn de Nood, co-founder and CEO of Meatable, said: "We're thrilled to welcome Invest-NL on board and to have renewed support from our existing investors. Both the regulatory landscape and the continued investments are aligning to show demonstrated momentum. This is a huge sign of confidence in the incredible quality, taste, and proven scalability of our product, especially in the current investment climate. We look forward to working closely with our investors as we enter our next growth phase and cement our position as global leaders in the cultivated meat industry."

To make its cultivated pork, Meatable takes one sample of cells from an animal without harming it and replicates the natural growth process of the cells using patented opti-ox technology combined with pluripotent stem cells. This technology makes it possible for Meatable to produce real muscle and fat cells in only eight days. This efficiency will enable the company to scale cultivated meat production quickly and affordably.

Contact:

Antonella Scimemi: [email protected] / +44 (0)7530815018

Jennifer Reid: [email protected] / +1 778-772-0754

About Meatable:

Meatable is an innovative, Dutch food company, aiming to deliver, at scale, cultivated meat that looks like, tastes like, and has the nutritional profile of traditional meat. The proprietary opti-ox technology enables Meatable to produce meat rapidly, sustainably, and without harming animals.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2169103/Meatable_1.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2074076/Meatable_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Meatable
SEATTLE, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- David Oppenheimer and Company I LLC is voluntarily recalling from the market all one-pound clamshells of organic green kiwifruit described below because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes . Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

Zespri green organic kiwifruit one-pound clamshells bear the UPC code 8 18849 02009 3 and contain fruit stickered with the GTIN bar code 9400 9552. Zespri green organic kiwifruit are labeled with the bar code bar code 9400 9552. Kiwifruit sold individually is not part of this recall. Zespri organic green kiwifruit shipped after August 7, 2023 in one-pound plastic clamshells with a WHITE STICKER that includes Work Order (WO) number and Packed on date is NOT subject to this recall.

The recalled organic green kiwifruit is grown in New Zealand, exported to North America and repacked locally for sale in one-pound clear plastic clamshells bearing the Zespri brand and UPC code 8 18849 02009 3, containing fruit stickered with the GTIN bar code 9400 9552.

The organic green kiwifruit subject to the voluntary recall was shipped between June 14, 2023 and July 7, 2023, and sold in clamshells at retail locations in FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MI, NC, NY, OH, PA, TN, TX, VA, and WI. Zespri organic green kiwifruit sold in other states is NOT subject to this recall.

Zespri organic green kiwifruit shipped after August 7, 2023 in one-pound plastic clamshells with a WHITE STICKER that includes Work Order (WO) number and Packed on date is NOT affected by this recall. See example of white sticker.

The recall was the result of a routine sampling by the Kentucky Department for Public Health on July 7, 2023. Since being notified on August 3, David Oppenheimer and Company I LLC has worked with Zespri to trace the product through the supply chain to two grower lots, and immediately ceased the distribution of organic green kiwifruit from the related grower lots as it continues its investigation in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

No illnesses have been reported to date. No other David Oppenheimer and Company I, LLC products are part of this voluntary recall.

Consumers who still have any of these products are urged not to consume the product and to discard it immediately. Consumers with questions may contact David Oppenheimer and Company I, LLC (Oppy) at 1-866-698-2580, Monday-Friday, 9am-4:30pm PDT, or send an email to [email protected].

About Oppy

Growing, marketing and distributing fresh produce from around the globe for 165 years, Vancouver, BC-based Oppy discovers and delivers the best of the world's harvest. With roughly 50 million boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables grown on every continent moving through its supply chain annually, Oppy offers popular favorites from avocados and berries to apples and oranges year-round, alongside innovative seasonal specialties. Go to oppy.com to learn more.

SOURCE The Oppenheimer Group
DALLAS, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorneys for DeSouza Law, P.C., of San Antonio, Texas continue to pursue litigation against Chesapeake Energy Corp, an independent exploration oil and energy exploration company, following its January 29, 2020, oil well explosion. Three men passed away, one was severely burned, and three others suffered severe physical injuries and significant emotional trauma from trying to save other men injured during the blow out.

Attorneys from DeSouza Law are battling Chesapeake to help three men obtain financial compensation for what they endured, and will continue to endure, as the company battles back by minimizing their own wrong-doing and scrutinizing the men's injuries instead of dutifully recognizing their heroism.

Chesapeake Energy Corp Oil Well Blow Out Petition States Unsafe Measures Led to Cause of Explosion and Injuries. Tweet this

The explosion took place in Burlson County, Texas, at an oil well operated and controlled by Chesapeake Energy Corp. It was learned that the oil well had been gassing all day as the men were taking off an old blowout preventer and installing a new one. Courthouse records show that these men told Chesapeake's representative that the well was gassing, and Chesapeake's onsite representative told them to keep working despite knowing that the gassy well could explode. The men kept working as Chesapeake instructed, and it exploded  killing, burning, and injuring numerous men. It was later learned during the initial trial discovery phase that the integrity of the oil well was compromised on several fronts, which led to the well continuing to burn for twenty-four hours underground after the initial explosion occurred.

Additionally, according to the petition, Chesapeake Energy Corp had a strict double barrier policy in place to prevent oil and gas from reaching the surface. Despite this, Chesapeake instructed the workers to only establish one barrier between the underground oil and gas and the surface instead of two. Chesapeake further instructed the workers to establish that one barrier with only brine water - even though it is well known throughout the industry that any barrier established in this way is only temporary in nature. A mechanical barrier, such as a plug or packer, is far superior at preventing blowouts than a brine water barrier. However, one barrier is less expensive than two barriers and brine water is less expensive than installing a mechanical barrier. Had Chesapeake installed the mechanical barrier and followed its own two barrier policy, the oil and gas would have never reached the surface, the well would have never exploded, and no men would have been killed, burned, or injured. Chesapeake put profits over safety and the on-site workers paid the price for Chesapeake's decisions.

Along with that, they allege that a power pack was placed within feet of the oil rig, where Chesapeake's policy clearly states items of this nature are to remain at least 100 feet away to prevent potential sparks it being an ignition source. They contend that the Chesapeake Energy Corp representative saw this issue and failed to correct it, contributing to the fatal events that day.

The three men left to continue to battle Chesapeake Energy Corp in court have physical injuries, and the mental trauma will continue to far outweigh their lives forever. These men, who were contractors hired by Chesapeake, ran to get ice water from the site's station and carried a man away from the explosion severely burned and days later went on to painstakingly pass away. The harrowing acts of these men that day were astounding as they risked their lives to run back towards the explosion so that they could help others.

Within seven days of the first deadly explosion, Chesapeake Energy Corp had two more oil wells blow  one in Lake Somerville, which sent debris flying as an innocent 68-year-old woman motorist was driving. She was taken by flight to the local hospital for treatment. The next day, near Cooks Point, a third Chesapeake Energy Corp oil rig went up in flames and by the time firefighters arrived at the scene, it was fully engulfed in flames.

When lives were lost in Burleson County, Chesapeake Energy was sued by the victims' families and many documents in the case were quickly sealed.

Uncovering the dangerous and risky conditions prevalent in oil wells across the globe are crucial to saving the future lives of the hardworking men and women of today's oil and energy sector. Ensuring onsite engineers are following strict safety measures to prevent catastrophic events is crucial for oil well workers who show up each day to perform a job and deserve to be protected from exposure to known hazardous conditions.

As this eye-opening Texas court trial sheds light on the stark realities faced by oil well workers, here's what we can do as consumers to protect worker safety, environmental protection, and the well-being of nearby communities:

Write or call primary regulatory bodies such as the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE). Check with your local state government to see if they have a regulatory agency that oversees energy production within their borders. Send letters to your state senators, and most of all, on behalf of these three men, send letters to Chesapeake Energy Corp executives asking what happened that day.

Implement and enforce stricter safety regulations to protect the welfare of oil rig workers and the environment.

Increase investment in comprehensive training programs to ensure workers are well-prepared to handle emergencies.

When danger strikes, publicly recognize and financially compensate those for their valiant efforts without subjectiveness related to what is believed to be an injury worthy of settlement.

Establish independent oversight bodies to monitor and enforce compliance with safety standards and environmental regulations.

Encourage the adoption of new technologies and best practices that promote safer and more sustainable operations in the oil and energy industry.

Foster great transparency and accountability with the industry to prevent incidents of negligence and environmental harm.

SOURCE DeSouza Law, P.C.
DigiCert Trust Lifecycle Manager enables full certificate lifecycle management of public and private trust for complex IT environments, supporting Microsoft CA and AWS Private CA

DigiCert also supports enrollment to a broad range of natively integrated Microsoft and AWS technologies, as well as workflow integration to ServiceNow

LEHI, Utah, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DigiCert today announced the expansion of its certificate management platform, DigiCert Trust Lifecycle Manager, to provide full lifecycle support for multiple CAs including Microsoft CA and AWS Private CA, as well as integration with ServiceNow to support existing IT service workflows. Trust Lifecycle Manager additionally supports enrollment to a broad range of Microsoft and AWS technologies, providing organizations a unified approach to managing public and private trust for use cases such as biometric authentication, device authentication, WiFi/VPN provisioning, cloud workloads and infrastructure management.

"DigiCert customers place high priority on ensuring continuity of security across diverse IT infrastructure, as data and processes cut across clouds and environments," said DigiCert Chief Product Officer Deepika Chauhan. "Trust Lifecycle Manager provides organizations a centralized way to secure users, servers and devices across all these environments."

With support for Microsoft CA and AWS Private CA, Trust Lifecycle Manager enables discovery, issuance, automation and revocation, including the ability to tag, filter and apply policy to imported and discovered third-party digital certificates. Certificates can be enrolled to a broad set of technologies through ACME, SCEP, EST and other enrollment methods. DigiCert's native integration reduces the effort and expertise needed to extend the value of internal CAs, with embedded, pre-built capability that accelerates time to value and eliminates human error.

Additional Microsoft technologies supported with native integration include:

Active Directory, for autoenrollment of certificates and zero-touch provisioning using DigiCert  Autoenrollment Server

Autoenrollment Server Windows Hello for Business, for support for certificate-mediated biometric authentication

Microsoft Intune, for management of certificates provisioned to end-entity devices

Azure Cloud Services, for deployment of DigiCert ONE solutions on Azure cloud infrastructure

Additional AWS technologies supported with native integration include:

Amazon Elastic Load Balancer, for governing certificate-mediated authentication to multiple targets

Amazon Cloudfront, for securing CDN-networked domains

For more information about implementing a unified approach to digital trust, learn about Trust Lifecycle Manager and the complete DigiCert ONE platform here.

About DigiCert, Inc.

DigiCert is a leading global provider of digital trust, enabling individuals and businesses to engage online with the confidence that their footprint in the digital world is secure. DigiCert ONE, the platform for digital trust, provides organizations with centralized visibility and control over a broad range of public and private trust needs, securing websites, enterprise access and communication, software, identity, content and devices. DigiCert pairs its award-winning software with its industry leadership in standards, support and operations, and is the digital trust provider of choice for leading companies around the world. For more information, visit www.digicert.com or follow @digicert.

SOURCE DigiCert, Inc.
Like many neighborhoods in the early days of the pandemic, the Germanna Heights Phase I community in Orange County found itself with a dissolved homeowners association. What was once a seven-member board was reduced to a single caretaker: Machell Marie Sims

In 2020, Sims was placed in charge of the HOAs financial reserves, amounting to $80,000. By the end of her tenure, there was just $280 left.

Sims had used the money on shopping sprees at Macys, a new Lexus and other personal items, according to court documents.

She was reported to the authorities only after residents discovered she had been using QuickBooks to manage the HOAs finances and that their personal routing numbers had been used to transfer money into her personal account.

On April 24, Sims pleaded guilty to three felony embezzlement charges. And on July 31, sentenced to 15 years of prison time per charge.

However, all but three years of her sentence has been suspended. And after her release, she is to receive supervised probation.

This isnt the first time Sims has been in trouble with the law for misusing funds. She pleaded guilty in June 2021 to embezzling $6,000 during her time as a special education contractor for Prince William County and for forging parents signatures, according to a criminal warrant. She served two months for those charges.
On National Pickleball Day Established Indoor Pickleball Concept Taps into Leading Global Franchise Consulting Firm for Innovative Franchising Launch

COLUMBIA, Md., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- There's a new, hotshot competitor in the pickleball world that's about to take the nation by storm

Dill Dinkers, a Maryland-based indoor pickleball concept and the first of its kind in the state, is quickly establishing a strong foothold, setting the stage for rapid franchise growth. In support of the brand's development efforts, the company announced on National Pickleball Day a strategic partnership with Franchise Well, a leading franchise consulting practice led by reputable industry veteran Dr. Ben Litalien.

As the fastest-growing sport in the country, Dill Dinkers is at the forefront of the pickleball phenomenon. Tweet this Dill Dinkers Finksburg

As Chief Development Officer, Litalien is setting plans in place to launch Dill Dinkers' franchise program this fall. "A testament to following a passion, Founders Will and Denise Richard's appetite for playing pickleball that has equipped them with the aptitude to open an indoor facility is inspiring," said Litalien. "And now, the opportunity to bring Dill Dinkers to communities across the country through a regional developer franchise offer is an exciting step in the journey."

Since opening the original Dill Dinkers Pickleball Club last November in the Richard's neighborhood of Columbia, Maryland, the site is now in the process of expanding to 12 courts. Alongside its flagship location, the brand has successfully opened two more Dill Dinkers Pickleball Clubs in Maryland and the fourth is anticipated to open in Rockville in the next few weeks. Most recently, the brand signed a lease for the Manassas Mall in Virginia which will be the first dedicated indoor pickleball facility in Prince William County.

"We started Dill Dinkers because of our unwavering passion for the sport and the community it has provided us. Now, through Franchise Well, Dr. Litalien is offering us unparalleled franchising experience, giving us the confidence to craft an effective growth strategy for Dill Dinkers," said Co-Founder and CEO Will Richards, alongside his wife Denise, Co-Founder, and COO and brings his own franchise owner-operator experience to the table as a former Domino's multi-unit franchisee. "It was crucial for us to ensure both owner-operators and investors could succeed, and we've developed an innovative approach to achieve that by offering both single-unit and regional developer growth paths. We are thrilled to be launching our franchise program in the coming weeks as we already have a long list of interested parties."

As the fastest-growing sport in the country, Dill Dinkers is at the forefront of the pickleball phenomenon with its dedicated indoor facilities that allow players to enjoy year-round play. With a dedicated fanbase of pickleball players spanning all skill levels and coming from different parts of the country, Dill Dinkers aims to attract single and multi-unit franchise operators who are eager to capitalize on the pickleball craze by providing early entry to an ideal indoor offer.

"The world has gone crazy for pickleball, and the demand for an indoor experience is overwhelming," said Litalien. "Dill Dinkers has perfected its model to deliver an unbeatable environmentit's climate-controlled, structured play at an affordable price. Being able to extend the success of the Dill Dinkers brand into a world-class franchise offering is a great honor. So many franchise concepts that come to market are simply 'cookie cutter' replicas of other franchises. It was essential to develop a franchise strategy befitting of the great concept Will and Denise have created."

Dill Dinkers Pickleball Clubs will operate in 15,000 square feet or more of indoor space, to provide space for six to 12 courts. The primary focus is on ensuring the functionality of the facilities by administering safety during play to achieve a seamless player experience. To accomplish this, each facility will have a dedicated Director of Pickleball responsible for providing training, instruction, and organizing tournaments, leagues, and special events. Delivering a quality professional experience, the brand boasts its special partnership with Joola, a leading manufacturer in paddle sports, equipping each facility with top-notch Joola nets, paddles and other high-quality products to enhance the overall player experience. "We are truly excited to be partnering with Dill Dinkers to support their national franchise expansion," said Richard Lee, CEO of Joola, "Will and Denise have created an exceptional club concept dedicated to passionate pickleball players."

Besides the single Dill Dinkers Pickleball Club franchise offer, the company will offer territories for development featuring nine revenue streams, a robust operating system, a proprietary reporting and management platform that is mobile-enabled, an intensive training system, and a turnkey marketing program for grand opening and membership development. Regional Developers must open and operate a flagship location in their territory, but can meet their development schedule by opening more units with independent franchisees opening in their territory. The company will compensate regional developers for soliciting qualified franchisees and for providing ongoing support for all the clubs in the territory. "The regional developer model is ideal for entrepreneurs that want to rapidly build the Dill Dinkers brand in a market, without the usual capital required by the area developer model," said Litalien.

While spearheading the franchise development efforts, Franchise Well is working alongside other Dill Dinkers strategic partners including All Points Public Relations, the Strategic Factory, Joola, Morrow Hill Commercial Real Estate and Court Reserve.

For more information about Dill Dinkers, visit www.dilldinkers.com.

About Dill Dinkers Pickleball

Dill Dinkers Pickleball is the leading provider of dedicated indoor pickleball facilities on the east coast. With the announcement of their fifth facility, Dill Dinkers will offer 50 dedicated indoor pickleball courts in the DMV by early 2024. The Dill Dinkers brand is known for its fun, friendly, and welcoming environment where players of all ages and skill levels can play, socialize, and improve their skills. Each facility offers dedicated indoor courts with fences and outdoor surfaces, event space, a ball machine, and a state-of-the-art reservation system powered by Court Reserve. Dill Dinkers offers court reservations for members and visitors. They also offer clinics, private and semi-private lessons, leagues, business advertising, and rental for private events.

About Franchise Well

Franchise Well is a boutique consulting practice in strategic franchise development working with select clients with concepts that can benefit from effective use of using the franchise model. Led by Dr Ben Litalien, a certified franchise executive who also teaches franchising at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. and the Liniger Center on Franchising at the University of Denver. For more information on Franchise Well visit their website at www.franchisewell.com or contact [email protected].

SOURCE Dill Dinkers
Highly regarded Lazard dealmaker Kurtz to work closely with Hilco Global Operating Company leadership to continue fueling the impressive growth and expansion underway.

CHICAGO, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hilco Global (www.hilcoglobal.com), a privately held diversified financial solutions firm, announced today that veteran Lazard banker David Kurtz, will join the firm, serving as Vice Chairman and Chief Strategic Officer. Mr. Kurtz will report to and work closely with Hilco Global Chief Executive Officer and Founder Jeffrey B. Hecktman.

Mr. Kurtz is a well-known and highly regarded deal maker for the past 40 years and was most recently at the financial advisory firm Lazard where he had been a Vice Chairman of U.S. Investment Banking and Head of Global Restructuring since 2012, as well as a member of the global executive committee.

In this new role as Vice Chairman and Chief Strategic Officer, Mr. Kurtz will be responsible for continuing to fuel growth and further expansion of the overall diversified platform, while reinforcing Hilco Global' s reputation for delivering unsurpassed asset knowledge and expertise.

Jeffrey B. Hecktman, CEO and Founder of Hilco Global explained Mr. Kurtz's new role by stating that "David will work directly with our executive leadership team and me to align the now 800+ person organization to meet our aggressive strategic and commercial growth objectives and to expand our footprint around the world."

Mr. Hecktman said "I've known David Kurtz for many years. He is recognized across the industry as one of the best strategic dealmakers in the business and his addition to our top management serves as a testament to the quality of the work we deliver and the level of talent we continue to attract to our company." Hecktman added, "As a longtime colleague and friend for many years, I am thrilled to say that David's business prowess is only bested by his commitment to his family, friends, and community, a critical component of our company's culture and values."

Mr. Kurtz brings to Hilco Global a depth and breadth of experience having worked across a broad range of some of the largest, most complex restructuring, M&A, and investment banking transactions around the world. Some of the transactions he has been associated with at Lazard include Bed Bath & Beyond, JC Penney, Neiman Marcus, J. Crew, Eastman Kodak, Tribune Company, Toys"R"Us, Belk, Nine West, Claire's, Valaris Limited, Transocean, Diamond Offshore, RH Donnelley, Xcel Energy Inc./NRG, USATA Board (USAir, ATA Airlines, America West, and Aloha Airlines).

David Kurtz said, "Joining Hilco Global provides such a unique opportunity to leverage both my professional skill set and passion for strategic thinking at a firm that is truly innovative." Kurtz added, "Jeffrey Hecktman and his leadership team at Hilco Global have built an impressive solutions focused platform that can look at a transaction holistically. The operating structure is built to take advantage of a comprehensive range of financial solutions delivering. This powerful one-two punch enables Hilco Global to deliver highly customized and proven solutions to resolve complex and stressed situations and enhance long-term enterprise business value for the clientAnd being privately held, they deliver it with speed and an entrepreneurial agility that is truly unsurpassed. "

Prior to joining Lazard in 2002, Mr. Kurtz was an attorney at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, where he served as Senior Partner and member of its Global Restructuring Group. He earned his J.D and B.A., from Case Western Reserve University. Over the years Mr. Kurtz has received many awards and accolades including the "Global Restructuring Investment Banker" at the Turnaround Atlas Awards and "Bankruptcy Dealmaker of the Year" by American Lawyer Magazine. He is also an accomplished lecturer and published co-author of books such as "Representing the Unsecured Creditors Committee in Insolvency Restructurings" and "Workouts and Turnarounds."

About Hilco Global: Hilco Global (www.hilcoglobal.com) is a privately held diversified financial services company and the world's preeminent authority on maximizing the value of assets for both healthy and distressed companies. Hilco Global financial services leverage a unique blend of deep restructuring, and principal investing. Hilco Global delivers customized solutions to undervalued, high potential companies to resolve complex and stressed situations and enhance long-term enterprise value.

Hilco Global operates as a holding company comprised of over twenty specialized business units that work to help companies understand the value of their assets and as needed monetize the value. Hilco has almost 4 decades of a successful track record of acting as an advisor, agent, investor and/or principal in any transaction. Currently, the company has $3 Billion in assets under management. Hilco Global works to deliver the best possible result by aligning interests with clients and providing them strategic insight, advice, and, in many instances, the capital required to complete the deal. Hilco Global is based in Northbrook, Illinois and has 800 professionals operating on five continents with US offices located in Boston, Detroit, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, and internationally in Australia, Canada, UK, Germany, Netherlands, Mexico and throughout Asia.

SOURCE Hilco Global
Premier On-Demand Dog Daycare Provider Set to Open First South Florida Location in Fort Lauderdale's Flagler Village

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dogdrop, the premier on-demand dog daycare provider, is thrilled to announce the signing of the brand's first lease in Florida. Located in Fort Lauderdale's vibrant Flagler Village at the mixed-use Motif development at 500 N. Andrews Ave, the new Dogdrop location will be owned and operated by multi-unit franchisees Nicholas Irwin and Miguel Angel Chuquichanca. Slated to open in early 2024, the brand is excited to open its second location as it continues to partner with passionate business owners who have a desire to become franchisees in the thriving pet industry.

"We are thrilled to be coming full circle by opening our first location within walking distance of where we used to live as well as adopted our beloved dog Brick, in Foundry Lofts," said Chuquichanca. "Motif is centrally located in Flagler Village, a fast-growing, vibrant community filled with young professionals who are looking to provide the best possible experience for their dogs. These professionals are very busy and need a service that is convenient, seamless and takes the very best care of their dogs. We are so excited to be one of Dogdrop's first franchisees and help the Fort Lauderdale community by offering this incredible service."

The new Dogdrop location will provide convenient, reliable, and on-demand dog daycare services, ensuring that pet parents can leave their furry friends in a safe and secure environment while they work, run errands, or enjoy their leisure time. Dogs will have the opportunity to exercise, socialize, and receive basic training under the supervision of well-trained staff. Additionally, Dogdrop will offer a range of dog essentials, including on-the-go wipes, compostable waste bags, and dog bowls. Limited-edition accessories and more will also be available.

"We have seen success and high demand in multi-family properties for our dog care services and know that Nicholas and Miguel will be terrific franchisees as well as ambassadors to our brand," said Shaina Denny, CEO of Dogdrop. "We are excited to be entering into a new market and joining other complementary businesses in Flagler Village and hope to collaborate with them on events and other community-building activities."

Dogdrop sets itself apart by emphasizing convenience, transparency, and quality for on-the-go dog parents. Services include curbside drop-off and pick-up in under 90 seconds, real-time text updates, and a well-trained and Pet CPR-Certified staff. Members can opt for open-play daycare for shorter periods, providing their dogs with the mental and physical stimulation they need. Usage is billed in 30-minute increments, with a daily capped rate. Members can choose between Loyalty and Unlimited Membership options based on their anticipated frequency of use.

"Flagler Village residents care for their dogs deeply and are in need of premier pet services for their favorite companion," continued Chuquichanca. "Opening a dog daycare aligns well with the values and needs of the community, and we are excited to be bringing dog parents convenient and compassionate dog daycare."

Dogdrop is dedicated to revolutionizing the pet care industry by providing unparalleled services and experiences for both pets and their owners. Don't miss your chance to be a part of the pet care revolution with Dogdrop.

About Dogdrop

Headquartered in Los Angeles, Dogdrop is a women-founded, LGBTQ+-led, and venture-backed start-up whose mission is to provide the best possible care, products, and services to dogs everywhere, so they live longer, happier, and healthier lives. Dogdrop provides better, more accessible dog care with their physical locations for recreation and activity and direct-to-consumer at-home essentials for dog parents. More information can be found at http://www.dogdrop.co/franchise.

SOURCE Dogdrop
DENVER, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cerebelly, the first and only science-backed and patented, cognitive development-focused baby food brand, announced today that Don Clark will join the brand as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Clark brings 30 years of senior experience in retail and merchandising expertise in various categories including extensive work at progressive industry leaders like Target, Whole Foods Market, and Giant Eagle.

Following the recent Series A Closure, Greg Shearson, who has been at helm of the CEO position since 2020, is taking a step back from the day-to-day role to return to a position as an investor and board member. "The timing is perfect for a gifted new leader to step into this role and prepare for the next chapter in the company's growth," says Shearson. "Don exemplifies the rare type of leader that will take Cerebelly to the next level of performance as a pioneering and mission-led baby food company, as well as expanding Cerebelly's unique vision to a broader audience."

Don Clark Appointed CEO of Cerebelly, The First and Only-Science Backed Cognitive Development-Focused Baby Food Brand Tweet this

Cerebelly was founded in 2019 by a practicing neurosurgeon and Stanford PhD, developmental neurobiologist and mom of three children of her own. Achieving 10x growth compared to the total baby food category and following its first international launch in Canada, Cerebelly is now sold, not only at Cerebelly.com, but also at Amazon, Thrive Market, and over 11,500 retail stores throughout North America including Whole Foods, Target, Meijer, Kroger, Walmart, Publix, and more.

"Cerebelly's mission and incredible growth over the last three years is a testimony to the strength of the brand as an industry leader," said Clark. "I'm excited to bring a new perspective to the leadership role and integrate my passion for a purpose-driven brands in the health, wellness and nutrition category."

In his new role, Clark's first priorities, beyond integrating with the organization, will be focusing on increasing velocity, growing distribution, and driving innovation.

"Don's strategic acumen in scaling businesses and building teams at Whole Foods and Target is relevant to furthering the mission in a way that makes Cerebelly a key player in this category," adds Brent Knudsen of Knudsen Capital and Cerebelly's Chairman of the Board. "After careful consideration, we unanimously determined that Don is the ideal person for the role with a wealth of expertise and we are confident that he will help this one-of-a-kind company reach its ambitious goals."

About Cerebelly:

Cerebelly is the first and only children's food brand on the market that combines up-to-date child nutrition and developmental neuroscience to offer products such as age-optimized pouches and smart bars with meaningful brain-supporting nutrients that science shows babies' growing brains need. Founded in 2019 by a practicing neurosurgeon, PhD in developmental neurobiology from Stanford, and mom of three Cerebelly is developed based on decades of research that demonstrated that various regions of the brain grow and peak at different times  each having their own nutrient needs to support seeing, hearing, memory, cause and effect, attention and social awareness. Organic, non-GMO, vegetable-first, dairy-free, gluten-free, with no added sugar, and Clean Label Project Certified, Cerebelly's brain-supporting pouches and Smart Bars contain 8x the amount of nutrients compared to the 7 top-selling baby food brands.

PR Contact:

Ana Gerst

[email protected]

SOURCE Cerebelly
NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DONER HAUS, the new thriving fast-casual restaurant renowned for its delicious German-style kebabs, finds itself embroiled in a trade dress infringement dispute with corporate giant Pornhub.com. Situated in the East Village, family-owned DONER HAUS has garnered immense popularity as an eatery inclusive to all. It caters to discerning food enthusiasts, curious families, visiting tourists, and to all else who seek nutritious, flavorful halal take-out options.

The Allegations:

In a surprising turn of events, Pornhub.com has alleged trade dress infringement against DONER HAUS  raising eyebrows across the culinary landscape and the small business industry. Contrary to the nature of its accused counterpart which is self-described as "the world's leading free porn site" featuring "unlimited free sex movies," DONER HAUS firmly distinguishes itself with its emphasis on wholesome, family-oriented dining and prides itself on serving delicious food. Resolute in their defense, DONER HAUS's team of seasoned trademark lawyers firmly assert that the allegations levied by Pornhub.com are fundamentally illogical. As a newly-established small business, DONER HAUS is baffled to be targeted by corporate behemoth Pornhub.com  they operate in another industry that does not offer food and confusion is improbable.

A Call to Experience:

DONER HAUS embodies culinary brilliance, drawing loyal patrons in with its mouth-watering German-style kebabs. The restaurant's commitment to quality and authenticity, as well as its dedication to providing delectable halal take-out options sets it apart in the industry. DONER HAUS warmly invites everyone to come experience its distinctive and delicious halal culinary offerings. Whether patrons choose to visit the East Village location, or explore the brand on their Instagram page, @realdonerhaus, they are guaranteed an unparalleled experience in an inclusive-to-all space. As the legal proceedings unfold, the restaurant continues to prioritize its commitment to culinary excellence and the well-being of its patrons.

For media inquiries please contact:

[email protected]

About DONER HAUS:

DONER HAUS is a prominent fast-casual restaurant specializing in authentic German-style kebabs. Situated in the East Village at 240 E 14th Street, New York, DONER HAUS offers nutritious, flavorful German-style kebabs, catering to the halal take-out market. It takes immense pride in delivering exceptional food experiences for all its patrons. To learn more, visit DONER HAUS on Instagram @realdonerhaus or on their website http://www.doner.haus.

SOURCE Doner Haus
Cutting-edge Dermatology Clinic in NYC

NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- This summer, Manhattan welcomes the opening of Dermatology Circle PLLC, a state-of-the-art dermatology clinic founded by esteemed dermatologist, Dr. Kazlouskaya, MD/PhD. Situated in the heart of the city, it offers comprehensive medical and cosmetic services to both adult and pediatric populations.

Dr. Viktoryia Kazlouskaya Opens Dermatology Circle PLLC

Dr. Kazlouskaya shared, "Circle symbolizes my 20-year career in Dermatology. A circle is also a small group of people with shared similar interests, and I want my patients to be part of our close circle." This philosophy highlights her dedication to fostering a close-knit relationship with her patients, ensuring they receive personalized care in a warm and welcoming environment.

Dermatology Circle PLLC is dedicated to delivering innovative dermatological care to patients of all ages, genders, sexual orientations, and ethnicities. The clinic's mission is to promote skin health, enhance natural beauty, and restore confidence by offering personalized treatment plans.

Here are a few highlights of the clinic's specialized expertise:

Mole Mapping: Dermatology Circle PLLC provides advanced total body photography imaging with detailed digital dermoscopy, allowing early detection of melanoma for high-risk patients.

Advanced Hair Loss Consultations: The clinic offers consultations with digital trichoscopy, allowing an accurate diagnosis and tailored treatment plans.

Non-Surgical Hair Restoration Techniques: Dr. Kazlouskaya offers a variety of non-surgical hair restoration techniques, including intradermal injections, PRP therapy, and the innovative and painless Keralase treatment, which combines a powerful laser with growth factors to stimulate hair regrowth.

Acne and Acne Scar Treatments: At Dermatology Circle PLLC, a combination of cosmetic and medical treatments is employed to combat acne and acne scars. The approach includes the use of peels, IPL therapy, lasers, and acne scar subcision, effectively improving and often eliminating acne scars.

Dr. Kazlouskaya completed her residency and PhD in Dermatology in Belarus and furthered her training in Italy and Germany. After immigrating to the USA, she repeated her Dermatology residency at SUNY Downstate and a fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh. With over 70 scientific publications and over 20 book chapters to her name, Dr. Kazlouskaya is a sought-after presenter at national and international meetings. Her expertise has also garnered attention from popular media outlets such as Marie Claire, HuffPost, and Bustle.

For more information about Dermatology Circle PLLC, please visit the website at www.dermatology-nyc.com, follow on Instagram @dermatology.circle, or contact via email at [email protected].

SOURCE Dermatology Circle PLLC
NORTHBROOK, Ill., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SunCloud Health proudly announces that Kevin A. Sabet, Ph.D., a leading authority in substance abuse and public policy, will present at SunCloud's Northbrook, Illinois facility.

The event, titled "Empowering Parents and Providers: Addressing the Adolescent Mental Health Crisis Amid Cannabis Use," will take place on August 30, 2023. Speaking alongside Dr. Sabet will be Dr. Alex Chevalier, MD, Medical Director of Adolescent Program at SunCloud Health, and Dr. Kim Dennis, MD, Chief Medical Officer and co-founder of SunCloud Health.

The presentation will address the pressing issue of adolescent mental health challenges arising from cannabis and THC drug use and provide invaluable insights for parents, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. With the growing legalization and normalization of cannabis, it is crucial to be informed about the potential impacts on adolescents. The event will delve into crucial topics, including the latest research on cannabis use and its potential effects on adolescent mental health, identifying warning signs of cannabis use in adolescents, and strategies for engaging and supporting both parents and healthcare providers in the prevention and intervention process.

Dr. Kevin A. Sabet is the founder and president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), a national non-profit organization that advocates for evidence-based drug policies. As a seasoned policy consultant and former senior drug policy advisor to Presidents Obama, Bush and Clinton, Dr. Sabet brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the topic. Along with his public policy work, Dr. Sabet is a published author, renowned speaker, and respected academic in public health.

Joining Dr. Sabet is Dr. Alex Chevalier, a distinguished medical professional specializing in adolescent medicine. Dr. Chevalier serves as the Adolescent Medical Director at SunCloud Health, where he has significantly contributed to the well-being of young people facing mental health challenges.

"We are thrilled to have Dr. Kevin A. Sabet and Dr. Alex Chevalier joining us for this essential discussion on adolescent mental health amid cannabis use," said Dr. Kim Dennis, CEO of SunCloud Health. "Their expertise will provide valuable insights for parents and providers as we collectively address this growing concern."

The presentation is open to the public, and attendees can participate in a Q&A session with the speakers following the presentation. Those interested in attending the event can register online through SunCloud Health's website, www.suncloudhealth.com . Space is limited.

Event Details:  Date: August 30, 2023,  Time: Noon (Central Time)

About SunCloud Health: SunCloud Health is an integrated, intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, and residential treatment center in Northbrook, Naperville, Chicago, and Gaithersburg, MD. Guided by Dr. Kim Dennis, SunCloud Health provides highly individualized care, and disease management for adults and adolescents of all genders struggling with alcohol and drug addiction, process addictions, eating disorders, mood disorders, trauma (PTSD), and other mental health conditions. Our integrated approach focuses on each patient's unique history and needs, emphasizing helping those struggling with more than one (co-occurring) issue.

For media inquiries or more information about the event, please contact:

Media Contact: Diane Carugati (SunCloud), [email protected]; (215) 356-6614

Bob Driscoll (Smart Approaches to Marijuana), [email protected]; 716-307-7406

SOURCE SunCloud Health
Ami-Lynn Bakshi, a 28-year spirits industry veteran with extensive senior executive experience in both the corporate and entrepreneurial sectors, will join as Chief Executive Officer of Elevated Spirits. Bakshi, a 21-year Diageo alumna, brings a depth of experience within premium agave spirits. As Vice President of Marketing for Tequila, she led the world's largest tequila trademarks to breakthrough growth within a highly competitive and rapidly growing segment. As Vice President of Innovation for North America, she led the development and delivery of Diageo's robust multi-year innovation platform. Most recently, Bakshi co-founded and led two successful new ventures in beverage alcohol, introducing unique products and disruptive business models to the market.

Bakshi will be charged with spearheading the continued expansion of Cierto, the Most Awarded Tequila in History, which recently became the first tequila to exceed the unprecedented milestone of 750 international accolades, with 762 medals and awards to date (and counting).

"In all my years in the business, I've never tasted a product as exceptional and as universally praised as Cierto," says Bakshi. "Additive-free and handcrafted in an authentic manner that respects the natural beauty of the agave plant, Cierto is a pure, natural, luxury tequila. I can't wait to leverage my experience, relationships and passion for brand-building to drive the continued growth and success of Cierto in the years ahead."

Rounding out the experienced leadership team are Jim Ruane  Chief Growth Officer, a former Diageo Vice President who spent 10 years leading some of the world's largest, best-known and fastest-growing premium spirits brands, in addition to serving as a venture-brand board member; Laurence Wolfe  Chief Operating Officer, who led end-to-end supply chain operations for Heineken USA as Chief Supply Chain Officer and for Pernod Ricard Americas as Head of Supply Chain, before joining Acreage Holdings as Senior Vice President of Manufacturing and Supply Chain; Neal Simons  Chief Financial Officer, who led Glanbia Performance Nutrition's North America finance function as well as corporate transformation initiatives as Vice President; Tony Spinelli  Head of Sales, whose 24-year beverage career includes 16 years with Diageo, most recently leading programming and relationships with its largest customers as Vice President of Strategic Accounts; Richard Booth  Head of Distribution, who led one of Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits' top markets as Vice President, General Manager South Florida for 35 years and also served as President of Drake's Organic Spirits Company; and Ken Ruff  Head of Strategic Accounts, On-Premise, who held several executive sales and strategic positions with Beam Suntory during his 35-year tenure, most recently the Vice President of National Accounts, On-Premise.

"I'm incredibly proud of the exceptional team we have at Elevated Spirits," said Todd Chaffee  Chairman and Co-founder of Elevated Spirits. "With the appointment of Ami-Lynn and the rest of the senior leadership team, we have assembled a remarkably talented group of seasoned experts to drive the growth of Cierto in the years ahead."

In addition to surpassing the 750 award threshold, Cierto has received a vast array of signature awards and accolades, World's Best Tequila and Best Extra Anejo at the World Tequila Awards; Tequila Distillery of the Year, Reposado of the Year and four Double Gold Medals at the New York International Spirits Competition; Best of Class and seven Double Gold Medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition; Best Tequila, Best Anejo and two Platinum Medals at the L.A. Spirits Awards; Chairman's Trophy at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge; Agave Spirits Producer of the Year and Chairman's Trophy at the International Spirits Challenge; Best of Class, seven Platinum Medals and fifteen Double Gold Medals at the SIP Awards; Best of Show, Best of Class and seven Double Gold Medals at the Singapore World Spirits Competition; Best of Class at the Sunset International Spirits Competition; Best in Show and two Platinum Medals at the Las Vegas Global Spirits Awards; Distillery of the Year, Tequila of the Year and twelve Double Gold Medals at the Global Spirits Competition; Distiller of the Year and Tequila of the Year at the Asia International Beverage Competition; Distiller of the Year, Best Extra Anejo and four Double Gold Medals at the San Diego International Wine & Spirts Challenge; Best in Class, Best Extra Anejo and two Double Gold Medals at the Los Angeles International Spirits Competition; Best of Class and four Double Gold Medals at the New York World Wine & Spirits Competition; Distiller of the Year at the Melbourne International Spirits Competition; Best of Class at the Sante International Spirits Competition; Best Extra Anejo and two Double Gold Medals at the Los Angeles Invitational Spirits Challenge; Best Tequila and Best Reposado at the Craft Distillers Spirits Competition; Distiller of the Year, Spirit of the Year, Best Tequila, seven Platinum Medals and four Double Gold Medals at the Critics Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition; and Distiller of the Year, Tequila of the Year and two Double Gold Medals at the Berlin International Beverage Competition.

In addition, Cierto has received unprecedented praise from leading trade and luxury lifestyle publications. Forbes called Cierto the "World's Best Tequila," "the stuff of legends" and "silky and smooth, with impressive depth of flavor;" Robb Report recognized Cierto as the "Tequila of the Year," "Best of the Best" and "truly the gold standard;" Food & Wine highlighted it as "next level tequila;" Uproxx said, "it's pretty astounding" and "one of the finest tequilas you will ever taste;" Drinkhacker called Cierto "a delicious, complex sipping tequila" that's "difficult to put down;" InsideHook praised it as "pure agave beauty" and "a standout;" Man of Many recognized Cierto as "an absolute masterpiece of craftsmanship;" The Tasting Panel said Cierto is "exceptionally smooth and excellent tequila;" Sunset Magazine deemed Cierto "best in class, classic and seamless;" Luxatic said, "Cierto is a home run, simply divine;" and Haute Living observed that "Cierto is the hottest name in spirits."

Cierto has also received exceptionally high ratings from tequila connoisseurs and experts, such as a 98 point rating from The Tasting Panel, 97 points from the Ultimate Spirits Challenge, 97 points from the Critics Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition, 97 points from Cigar & Spirits Magazine, 97 points from the Los Angeles Invitational Spirits Challenge, 96 points from the Sommelier Challenge International Spirits Competition; 96 points from the Asia International Beverage Competition, 96 points from the New York International Spirits Competition, 96 points from Sunset Magazine and 95 points from the San Diego International Wine & Spirits Challenge.

Cierto Tequila is available for purchase where luxury tequilas are sold. Elevated Spirits invites drinkers to savor Cierto slowly and celebrate responsibly.

About Cierto Tequila and Elevated Spirits

Elevated Spirits is the producer of Cierto Tequila  authentic, 100% natural, additive-free, luxury tequila made in Jalisco, Mexico. Cierto means "True," the perfect word to describe this remarkable award-winning family of tequilas  patiently crafted expressions of pure Highlands agave, harvested by fourth and fifth generation agaveros at peak maturity. The Elevated Spirits portfolio includes the Cierto Private Collection Blanco, Reposado, Anejo and Extra Anejo, as well as the Cierto Reserve Collection Blanco, Reposado, Anejo and Extra Anejo. Due to their character, complexity and luxuriously smooth taste, these eight agave expressions are widely acknowledged by tequila connoisseurs as "The World's Finest Tequila" and some of the best tequilas ever made. Cierto recently became the first tequila brand to surpass 750 international medals and awards, making it "The Most Awarded Tequila in History."

Learn more at cierto.com.

SOURCE Elevated Spirits Company
Current CEO Felice Gorordo Joins the Leadership and Board of the World Bank

MIAMI, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- eMerge Americas , a venture-backed platform transforming Miami into a global tech hub, announced today that Melissa Medina , president of eMerge Americas and part of the founding executive team, will step into the Chief Executive Officer role and continue to serve as president. Current CEO Felice Gorordo will step down to serve as the U.S. Alternate Executive Director of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and as a U.S. representative on the Board of the World Bank Group.

"I am extremely grateful to have been Felice's partner for the last five years. He has had an exponential impact on eMerge, and I'm incredibly proud of him as he transitions into this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Medina. "I look forward to continuing working with the eMerge team, being inspired by Felice's innovative thinking, continuing my father's bold vision, and leveraging the unique eMerge Americas platform we've grown for nearly a decade to help innovators in Miami and around the globe flourish."

Melissa Medina Appointed New CEO of eMerge Americas Tweet this

Medina will build upon the eMerge Americas legacy of creating a tech ecosystem that is uniquely Miami, while giving organizations the opportunity to attract and retain diverse talent and cultivate an inclusive environment. In her new role, Medina will propel innovation in South Florida and beyond, and facilitate connections between global technology industry leaders and investors, corporate business executives, government leaders and innovative entrepreneurs.

"It has been an honor and privilege to serve as CEO of eMerge Americas and work alongside Melissa over the last five years in helping build out our tech ecosystem," said Gorordo. "Together with our partners, we have forever changed the course of history of South Florida and undoubtedly established it as a global hub of innovation and entrepreneurship. I'm more bullish than ever on what the future has in store for eMerge, and excited to see Melissa take our platform and ecosystem to the next level."

In the past five years, eMerge has grown from a single event into a year-round platform that fosters the South Florida innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem through new investor summits, startup pitch competitions, innovation challenges, hackathons, roadshows, masterclasses, webinars and other events. Additionally, eMerge launched and established the "eMerge Insights" reports, a leading publication for tracking venture activity, investment trends, emerging entrepreneurs and startups, and the "eMerge Membership Program," a year-round initiative that deepens their expansive network of high-value individual investors, entrepreneurs, innovators and executives. Moreover, eMerge has accomplished all of this while continuing to successfully expand its tentpole event, breaking records and surpassing all previous metrics and milestones for the annual eMerge global tech conference.

Diane Vidoni will remain Chief Operating Officer and continue to be an integral part of the eMerge Americas executive team as she oversees the ongoing business operations of the company, expanded growth opportunities and overall event planning.

Launched in 2014, the eMerge Americas annual conference now attracts more than 20,000 attendees from over 50 countries and 4,000 unique participating organizations, and features a diverse group of speakers, live workshops, interactive exhibits and product demonstrations centered on emerging technologies and entrepreneurial success stories. The tenth anniversary eMerge Americas conference will be held during Miami Tech Month on April 18 - 19, 2024, at the Miami Convention Center.

To learn more about eMerge Americas, please visit emergeamericas.com .

About eMerge Americas

eMerge Americas is a venture-backed platform transforming Miami into the tech hub of the Americas. The eMerge signature event, launched in 2014, is a global tech conference held annually at the Miami Beach Convention Center, attracting more than 20,000 attendees from 50 countries and over 4,000 unique participating organizations. In addition to the annual conference, eMerge organizes and hosts year-round executive summits, innovation challenges, startup pitch competitions, masterclasses, webinars, as well as publishes venture activity and investment insights reports. For the last decade, eMerge has served as a catalyst for innovation and investment across the Americas, working at the forefront of building the South Florida entrepreneurial and tech ecosystem. Visit www.emergeamericas.com for more information.

SOURCE eMerge Americas
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The global environmental test chamber market size is anticipated to reach USD 1,197.9 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 3.0% from 2023 to 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The growth of the market for environmental test chambers is anticipated to be driven by the increasing utilization of environmental chambers for assessing environmental and reliability standards. The environmental test chamber is continually influenced by its own as well as external climate such as temperature & humidity and mechanical environment during the design and application process. However, it must still function normally, which necessitates the use of testing equipment for verification.

Key Industry Insights & Findings from the report:

The walk-in chamber segment held 20.1% of the market share in 2022. Walk-in test chambers offer a more advanced testing chamber that can be purchased as a ready-to-install device or customized to meet specific needs. These can be assembled using either linked or welded panels. Several types of walk-in chambers can be designed for a single sort of testing or a series of tests

Environmental test chamber standards are critical reference values for new design items, small batch production, and mass production sample inspection. Using environmental chambers to evaluate standards and verify product reliability during trial production and random inspection during mass production can assist firms in reducing R&D expenses while improving product quality. These aforementioned factors are anticipated to propel further the market demand over the projected period

North America is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 2.3% over the forecast period owing to strong linkages to the U.S. industrial sector. Furthermore, the car industry spends approximately USD18 billion each year on research & product development. Thus, the growing automotive industry in North America is expected to drive market growth over the forecast period

is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 2.3% over the forecast period owing to strong linkages to the U.S. industrial sector. Furthermore, the car industry spends approximately each year on research & product development. Thus, the growing automotive industry in is expected to drive market growth over the forecast period In March 2022 , Memmert GmbH & Co.KG has launched the all-new m360 lan automation device. The m360 offers reliable and premium advanced Peltier technology

Read 150-page market research report, "Environmental Test Chamber Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product, By Business Model, By Application, By End-use, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030", published by Grand View Research.

Environmental Test Chamber Market Growth & Trends

Environmental chambers are used to assess environmental and reliability standards. The capacity of a product to execute a specific function in a specified time under specified conditions is called environmental dependability. The product is continually influenced by its own and external climate and mechanical environment during the design and application process. However, it must still function normally, which necessitates the use of test equipment to verify. The verification of environment and reliability tests is separated as follows: research and development testing, trial production testing, temperature & humidity testing, and mass production sample inspection.

In numerous ways, the automotive industry relies on test chambers for instance; small environmental chambers are used to test small parts before inserting them into larger assemblies. Moreover, oversized items, such as assemblies and mechanisms, are tested in the more enormous environmental test chamber where more components can be tested. The entirely produced automobile is tested as a final stage to determine the interaction of various components. Environmental test chambers for the automotive industry have improved vehicle quality and lifespan.

The increasing automotive production will positively impact the market for environmental chamber testing. For instance, in 2022, according to OICA (International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers), global automotive production has increased by 6% and reached 85.0 million units compared to 2021.

Environmental Test Chamber Market Report Scope

Report Attribute Details Market size value in 2023 USD 964.4 million Revenue forecast in 2030 USD 1,197.9 million Growth rate CAGR of 3.0% from 2023 to 2030 Base year for estimation 2022 Historical data 2018 - 2021 Forecast period 2023 - 2030

Environmental Test Chamber Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global environmental test chamber market based on product, application, end-use, business model, and region

Environmental Test Chamber Market - Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

Temperature & Humidity Chamber

Thermal Shock Test Chamber

Walk-in Chamber

Customized Chamber

Vibration Chambers

Others

Environmental Test Chamber Market - Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

Research and Development (R&D)

Production & Inspection

Environmental Test Chamber Market - End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

Aerospace & Defense

Automotive

Telecommunications & Electronics

Medical & Pharmaceutical

Others

Environmental Test Chamber Market - Business Model Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

Product

Service

Environmental Test Chamber Market - Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

North America





U.S.





Canada





Mexico

Europe







Germany





France





UK





Spain





Italy

Asia Pacific







China





India





Japan





South Korea





Australia

Central & South America







Brazil





Argentina

Middle East & Africa

&





UAE





Saudi Arabia





South Africa

List of Key Players in the Environmental Test Chamber Market

KOMEG Technology Ind Co., Ltd

ACMAS Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

Weiss Technik North America, Inc.

Russells Technical Products

Thermotron Industries

TA Instruments

Memmert GmbH + Co. KG,

BINDER GmbH

Envisys Technologies

ESPEC CORP

Angelantoni Test Technologies

Climatic Testing Systems, Inc. (CTS)

Hastest Solutions Inc.

CM Envirosystems

Check out more related studies published by Grand View Research:

Membrane Separation Technology Market - The global membrane separation technology market size is expected to reach USD 62.45 billion by 2030 expanding at a CAGR of 12.2% during the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. This growth can be attributed to the growing population that has accelerated the depletion of water resources coupled with the contamination of ground and surface water bodies, which has encouraged the adoption of water treatment processes and thus increased the demand for membrane separation technology.

The global membrane separation technology market size is expected to reach by 2030 expanding at a CAGR of 12.2% during the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. This growth can be attributed to the growing population that has accelerated the depletion of water resources coupled with the contamination of ground and surface water bodies, which has encouraged the adoption of water treatment processes and thus increased the demand for membrane separation technology. High Temperature Insulation Market - The global high temperature insulation market size is expected to reach USD 10.57 billion by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc., registering a CAGR of 5.8% from 2022 to 2030. This growth can be attributed to the imposing of regulations related to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions on the metal producing, cement, and oil and gas industries.

- The global high temperature insulation market size is expected to reach by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc., registering a CAGR of 5.8% from 2022 to 2030. This growth can be attributed to the imposing of regulations related to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions on the metal producing, cement, and oil and gas industries. Advanced Ceramic Additives Market - The global advanced ceramic additives market size is expected to reach USD 781.3 Million by 2028, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 5.0% from 2021 to 2028. The market growth is attributable to the increasing utilization of advanced ceramics in producing components in various end-use industries including medical, automotive, and electronics.

Browse through Grand View Research's Advanced Interior Materials Industry Research Reports.

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research Helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.

Contact:



Sherry James

Corporate Sales Specialist, USA

Grand View Research, Inc.

Phone: 1-415-349-0058

Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519

Email: [email protected]

Web: https://www.grandviewresearch.com

Grand View Compass | Astra ESG Solutions

Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter

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SOURCE Grand View Research, Inc.
An electrical fire Monday morning outside of Guajiros Miami Eatery on West Main Street in Charlottesville closed the restaurant for the day.

Everyone is safe and sound and it was well contained before it made any real damage, according to a post on Guajiros Facebook Page.

The Charlottesville Fire Department was dispatched at 9:47 a.m. to a reported fire in the restaurants breaker box outside the building. Crews arrived a minute later as the restaurants owner was using a fire extinguisher to put out the flames, officials said.

Damage was contained to the meter box and units were only there for 10 to 15 minutes, Charlottesville Fire Marshal Joe Phillips told The Daily Progress.

Guajiros is open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Mondays.

The restaurant may remain closed Tuesday as Dominion Energy investigates the fire's cause, according to the restaurant's Facebook.

Maybe not, these Dominion people are confident, efficient and mad cool so well play it by ear for tomorrow, the Facebook post reads.
Envoy Global's Existing Law Affiliates Complete Combination and Acquisition of HNM to Form Corporate Immigration Partners, P.C.

CHICAGO and CINCINNATI and SAN FRANCISCO and DUBAI, UAE, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Envoy Global, Inc. ("Envoy"), the technology leader in global immigration and workforce mobility owned by affiliates of Palladium Equity Partners, today announced the acquisition of Sesam Immigration ("Sesam"), a top immigration services provider in the United Arab Emirates. Sesam Immigration, which has existed for more than two decades, offers a suite of services, including immigration and visa solutions, business travel, HR consulting, to local and international corporations operating in the UAE.

Sophy King, President of Global Immigration at Envoy, said, "This new partnership allows Sesam to offer global immigration services to existing customers in the UAE and positions Envoy to offer the best possible service and experience in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region to its clients."

Envoy today also announced that its existing law affiliates, Corporate Immigration Partners, LLP ("CIP") and Global Immigration Associates, P.C. ("GIA"), have completed their combination into one firm and simultaneously acquire the immigration law firm Hammond Neal Moore, LLP ("HNM"), forming a new consolidated law firm under the banner of Corporate Immigration Partners, P.C. ("CIP PC"). The combined firm will be exclusively affiliated with Envoy Global, Inc. The transactions represent the first add-on acquisition and law firm affiliation under Palladium's ownership.

Having completed its combination, CIP PC has approximately 300 employees across six offices throughout the U.S. and will work closely with Envoy's six regional hubs across EMEA, APAC and the Americas for its growing work outside the U.S. Partners from the combining firms will continue to serve in leadership roles as the firms come together.

Addie Hogan, Founding Partner at CIP and Managing Partner of CIP PC, said, "We're thrilled to bring together this incredible group of immigration legal talent from our three firms. The unification of our firms and our strengthened affiliation with Envoy will only elevate and amplify the exceptional service we provide our valued clients and creates the opportunity for enhanced, forward-looking offerings in the mobility space."

HNM, founded in 1991 and headquartered in Cincinnati, OH, is a full-service immigration law firm that serves clients located throughout the U.S. HNM provides representation to corporations across a variety of segments, including Information Technology and Nurse Recruitment.

Mike Hammond, Senior Partner and Founder of HNM and incoming Partner at the combined firm, said, "Envoy Global's technology platform is the premier tool for today's immigration and global mobility teams. Joining forces with Envoy Global and these two wonderful immigration law firms offers a new avenue for our team to expand and strengthen the services we deliver to our clients."

Dick Burke, President and CEO of Envoy, said, "With an expanded and diversified roster of top legal talent, both here and overseas, our global immigration solutions are even better positioned to serve today's global mobility needs, regardless of industry, geography or skill level. We are thrilled to charge ahead stronger than ever and with a deepened commitment to providing each and every client with bespoke, proactive and consultative solutions."

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About Corporate Immigration Partners, P.C.

Corporate Immigration Partners, P.C. is an elite group of immigration attorneys and legal professionals who bring dynamic perspectives and extensive experience to clients in both the U.S. and global economy to provide personalized immigration programs. With experience representing employer organizations ranging from startups to large corporations, the firm and its attorneys are highly rated by U.S. News & World Report, Chambers, Super Lawyers and WhosWhoLegal, and have received awards for pro bono service. Please visit www.immigrationlaw.com for more information.

About Sesam Immigration

For over two decades, Sesam Immigration has specialized in immigration services to local and international corporations operating in the UAE. Their growing client includes primarily international companies operating out of every major free zone and mainland jurisdiction in the Emirates. Sesam is also the trusted partner of several leading overseas-based immigration law firms. Sesam's highly qualified multilingual team of consultants navigates all complex administrative procedures on behalf of our clients, providing results, solutions and 100% transparency.

About Envoy Global, Inc.

Envoy Global's immigration and global mobility service offerings deliver exceptional service and a better overall experience for all stakeholders in the immigration process. With support in over 180 countries globally, Envoy Global is celebrating its 25th year and works with over 1,000 companies across all industries.

About Palladium Equity Partners, LLC

Since its founding in 1997, Palladium has invested in more than 200 companies (39 platforms and 170+ add-ons). With over $3 billion in AUM, the firm focuses primarily on buyout equity investments in the range of $50 million to $150 million. Palladium seeks to acquire and grow companies in partnership with founders and experienced management teams by providing capital and strategic guidance. The partners of the firm have meaningful experience in consumer, services, industrials, and healthcare businesses, with a special focus on companies they believe will benefit from the growth in the U.S. Hispanic population. For more information, visit www.palladiumequity.com.

Contacts:

For Envoy Global, Inc.

Steve Brown, Chief Revenue Officer

[email protected]

312-964-6306

For Palladium Equity Partners:

Todd Fogarty / Jeffrey Taufield

[email protected] or [email protected]

212-521-4800

SOURCE Palladium Equity Partners; Envoy Global, Inc.
THE NEW SERIES, HOSTED BY ANTHONY ANDERSON AND CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER PREMIERES AUGUST 12, 9:00 PM ET/PT

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hawke Media, founded by CEO Erik Huberman, is thrilled to announce their marketing partnership with A&E's newest TV venture "Kings of BBQ" starring comedians Cedric the Entertainer ("The Neighborhood") and Anthony Anderson ("black-ish"). In each one-hour episode, the cameras will follow this "BBQ-loving" dynamic duo as they go from backyards to BBQ pits to discover the best-tasting BBQ techniques, flavors, and traditions across the country. Their mission is to not only have fun but to master the art of BBQ only to start their own BBQ empire, AC Barbeque. With the support of Erik Huberman and Hawke Media, the fastest-growing marketing consultancy in the United States, Kings of BBQ will benefit from Hawke's professional expertise and proficient marketing strategies. Hawke is a major player in digital marketing and the company is valued at over $150M and has worked with over 4,500 clients with noteworthy compelling results. As a young standout in the industry, Erik Huberman is no stranger to success and accomplishments. As a serial entrepreneur, he is a national best-selling author of the "The Hawke Method," and has been recognized by his industry peers and honored by Forbes Magazine's 30Under30, CSQ's 40Under40, and Inc.'s Magazine Top 25 Marketing Influencers. He is also the host of the podcast "HawkeTalk."

Erik Huberman, Cedric the Entertainer and Anthony Anderson on Kings of BBQ airing on August 12th. (PRNewsfoto/Hawke Media)

Erik has collaborated and formed partnerships with many high-profile brands such as Casamigos (founded by George Clooney, Rande Gerber, and Michael Meldman), Heidi Klum Intimates, SelvaRey Rum endorsed by Bruno Mars, Red Bull, Verizon, Eddie Bauer, and many more. With the inclusion of both Cedric the Entertainer and Anthony Anderson, the impressive portfolio and star-studded lineup continue to get enhanced. "These Guys are the best," Huberman said. "Getting to work with them to help their dream come alive while the world witnesses it, is incredibly exciting to us." Erik Huberman is available for interviews.

About Hawke Media:

Established the idea that every modern business needs a CMO-level expert to lead marketing efforts, Hawke Media specializes in custom, data-driven, performance-focused solutions to help launch, scale, and invigorate businesses of all sizes, industries, and revenue models. Founded in 2014 by Erik Huberman and Tony Delmercado, Hawke Media is one of the nation's fastest-growing marketing consultancies in the country. And Erik is no stranger to TV. He has appeared on the Drew Barrymore Show, Million Dollar Listing, and Hatched He will also appear in several episodes of "Kings of BBQ" discussing branding and marketing.

Press Contact

Alyssa Mosher, Communications Manager

(310) 451-7295, [email protected]

1725 Berkeley St., Santa Monica, CA 90404, USA

SOURCE Hawke Media
Bank welcomes Fund Finance industry veterans Jeff Johnston and Mike Mascia to lead business

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Expanding its commercial banking operations to provide bespoke and customized fund-level financing to alternative asset managers and the private capital industry, EverBank (temporarily doing business as TIAA Bank) today announced the launch of its new Fund Finance division under the leadership of industry veterans Jeff Johnston and Mike Mascia.

The new group is based in Charlotte, N.C., and will focus on supporting alternative asset managers and the private capital community's fund-level financing needs, including subscription credit facilities, NAV financing, hybrid facilities, management company lines and other customized credit, advisory and placement solutions. Mascia and Johnston will serve as co-leaders of the Fund Finance division.

EverBank, N.A., Announces New Fund Finance Division and Leaders; Bank welcomes Fund Finance industry veterans Tweet this

The start of the Fund Finance business marks the first expansion milestone for EverBank. On August 1, TIAA announced the completion of the sale of TIAA Bank to private investors with extensive experience in financial services. The bank is temporarily going to market under the legacy TIAA Bank brand until early September, when it will fully convert to the new EverBank brand.

"We're focused on growth, innovation and supporting our private capital clients in this new chapter and building a fund finance vertical led by sought-after experts Jeff Johnston and Mike Mascia to support our long-term strategy," said Greg Seibly, EverBank's chief executive officer. "The addition of these successful leaders is exciting for the bank and reflects of our commitment to the greater private capital community."

Johnston, the division's co-leader, is widely regarded as one of the world's leading fund finance experts. He previously founded and led Wells Fargo's fund finance business and grew it into the world's largest global fund finance platform. He is also a co-founder and the current chairman of the Fund Finance Association, the industry group that advocates for and supports the global fund finance market.

Mascia, previously the chair of the Finance Practice and a management committee member at the law firm of Cadwalader, Wickersham and Taft, is credited with founding or co-founding many of the industry's key initiatives, including the Fund Finance Association, the annual Global Fund Finance Symposium (now in its 13th year), the Cadwalader Finance Forum, Fund Finance Friday and Fund Finance University. Mascia was also the contributing editor of five editions of the "Pink Book," the fund finance industry's legal treatise. Together, Johnston and Mascia bring more than 40 years of fund finance experience and unmatched transactional leadership to this new bank division.

"Jeff and I are thrilled to be part of EverBank and its leadership team," Mascia said. "From day one, leadership has demonstrated a strong understanding and commitment to the fund finance business."

"We're looking forward to supporting our key private equity relationships and helping them accomplish their goals," Johnston said. "The bank's platform and values put the client first, and those characteristics complement our long-term, relationship-based approach to fund finance. The existing commercial lending verticals at the bank are excellent and we look forward to complimenting them with truly unique offerings."

About TIAA Bank

TIAA Bank, a brand name for EverBank, N.A., is a nationwide specialty bank providing high-value products and services to consumer and commercial clients nationwide. As a pioneer in online banking, we offer convenient digital account access for clients 24/7, in addition to phone banking services and a network of financial centers across Florida. TIAA Bank's commitment is to deliver to our clients high-performing, high-yield solutions backed by exceptional service, always giving them the advantage they expect, to make the most of their money. Visit TIAABank.com or connect and interact with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or X.

About TIAA Bank Fund Finance

TIAA Bank's Fund Finance business is a division of TIAA Bank, a brand name of EverBank, N.A., a nationwide specialty bank providing high-value products and services to consumer and commercial clients nationwide. The Fund Finance division provides lending and financing solutions to alternative asset managers and the private equity community. Products include subscription credit facilities, hybrid and NAV loans, management company facilities and other bespoke financings, along with advisory and placement services, as needed, and customized treasury management capabilities built specifically for the private markets. This specialized business team has some of the industry's most experienced professionals to help deliver tailored solutions with preeminent service to help clients maximize their performance and efficiency. For more information on TIAA Bank's Fund Finance offerings, visit TIAABank.com.

SOURCE EverBank, N.A.
DURBIN, N.D., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Rural broadband providers broke ground today on a series of multimillion dollar projects that will deliver leading-edge fiber broadband technology to rural communities across Eastern North Dakota. A groundbreaking ceremony near Casselton today was hosted by Halstad Telephone Company, MLGC, Polar Communications, Red River Communications, and BEK Communications Cooperative.

The group cuts a golden fiber cable to symbolize unity in connecting rural areas through fiber broadband. L-R: Mason Sisk, Office of ND Governor / Will McIntee, Senior Advisor for Public Engagement, The White House / Lori Hinz, Moderator / Karl Blake, CEO Polar Communications / Senator Kevin Cramer (R) ND

"The people living in this region have been waiting a long time for this to happen," says Tom Steinolfson, CEO/GM of Red River Communications. "Speaking on behalf of my broadband colleagues across the state, we are thrilled to be able to fulfill the promise to the residents of these underserved and unserved communities who have been waiting a long time to enjoy the same connectivity as some of their neighbors in more populated areas."

In total, these rural broadband providers are building more than $119 million worth of fiber broadband, funded by four separate state and federal funding sources.

"Our focus is to ensure that every resident in North Dakota has access to high-speed broadband, leveling the playing field between urban and rural communities," says Karl Blake, CEO of Polar Communications. "North Dakota has always been the most connected state in America. With these recent funds, we'll be that much closer to 100% connectivity."

The transformational technology upgrade will generate a surge of benefits including: igniting economic opportunities for local businesses and agricultural operations, enabling rural students to realize their educational aspirations with better access to online learning platforms, strengthening healthcare services through improved telehealth capabilities, and bolstering public safety by improving communications infrastructure.

"This is a game changer for us," says Clay Erdmann, Regional Sales Manager for Mustang Seeds, a seed supply company located just three miles south of Casselton. "We'll be able to run our business much more efficiently with a reliable, faster connection."

"This is an unprecedented opportunity taking place in Eastern North Dakota," says Steinolfson. "We want to take a moment to thank the Governor's office, our state's congressional delegation, local and state legislators, and county officials for helping to secure the funding needed to make these projects a reality. Also, we thank the residents and businesses of our rural communities for your resilience and patience throughout this process."

Call your local broadband provider to learn about project details and to sign up for services.

Media Contact:

Julie Skaret, Media Relations

701.391.0413

[email protected]

SOURCE BEK Communications
HOUSTON, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Flotek Industries, Inc. ("Flotek" or the "Company") (NYSE: FTK) today announced significantly improved operational and financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023. The second quarter results further build upon the Company's turn-around momentum as nearly all financial metrics showed strong sequential growth.

Financial Summary

(in thousands) Q2 2023 Q2 2022 Percent

Change Q1 2023 Percent

Change

Total Revenues $ 50,594 $ 29,373 72 % $ 48,007 5 % Gross Profit (Loss) $ 3,904 $ (2,305) 269 % $ 1,880 108 % Adjusted Gross Profit (Loss) (1) $ 5,091 $ (1,578) 423 % $ 2,647 92 % Net Income (Loss) $ (21) $ 6,240 NM $ 21,343 NM Adjusted EBITDA (1) $ (2,004) $ (7,242) 72 % $ (3,851) 48 %





(1) A non-GAAP financial measure. See the "Unaudited Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Items and Non-Cash Items Impacting Earnings" section in this release for more information, including reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP measures.

Second Quarter 2023 Highlights

Reported gross profit of $3.9 million and adjusted gross profit (1) of $5.1 million marking the second consecutive quarter of positive results in both metrics. Second quarter of 2023 gross profit and adjusted gross profit (1) increased 108% and 92%, respectively, as compared to first quarter of 2023 results. Gross profit margin and adjusted gross profit margin (1) for the second quarter of 2023 increased to 8% and 10%, respectively.

and adjusted gross profit of marking the second consecutive quarter of positive results in both metrics. Second quarter of 2023 gross profit and adjusted gross profit increased 108% and 92%, respectively, as compared to first quarter of 2023 results. Gross profit margin and adjusted gross profit margin for the second quarter of 2023 increased to 8% and 10%, respectively. Achieved strong growth in total revenues of 72% from the second quarter of 2022, resulting from Flotek's strategic 10-year supply agreement with ProFrac Holdings, LLC ("ProFrac"). Second quarter of 2023 total revenues increased 5% sequentially despite an industry-wide slowdown in upstream activity and benefited from a 68% increase in transactional (non-ProFrac) chemistry business compared to the first quarter of 2023.

Improved adjusted EBITDA (1) for the eighth consecutive quarter reporting a 48% sequential increase.

for the eighth consecutive quarter reporting a 48% sequential increase. Appointed Dr. Ryan Ezell to the role of Chief Executive Officer to lead Flotek into its next phase of profitable growth.

to the role of Chief Executive Officer to lead Flotek into its next phase of profitable growth. Appointed Mr. Harsha V. Agadi to the role of Chairman of the Board of Flotek.

(1) A non-GAAP financial measure. See the "Unaudited Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Items and Non-Cash Items Impacting Earnings" section in this release for more information, including reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP measures.

August 2023 Update

Reiterate full year 2023 guidance for total revenues of $210 million to $230 million and an adjusted gross profit margin of 8% to 10%.

to and an adjusted gross profit margin of 8% to 10%. Report considerable progress toward securing an asset-based loan ("ABL"). See balance sheet and liquidity discussion below.

Management Commentary

Chief Executive Officer Ryan Ezell commented, "Our second quarter results highlight our operational excellence and the rapid improvement in Flotek's business fundamentals as we execute our corporate strategy. Our cost control initiatives continue to enhance profitability as demonstrated by adjusted gross profit nearly doubling from the first quarter with the associated margin increasing to 10%. Accordingly, we have high confidence in adjusted EBITDA turning positive before year-end.

"Operationally, even as the industry experienced less well stimulation activity during the quarter, our differentiated chemistry solutions, highlighted by the performance of our transactional chemistry business, enabled us to grow revenues and margins. Looking ahead, we are well positioned with a strong balance sheet that will be enhanced by the credit facility that we are actively pursuing. This will augment our liquidity and support our growth and path to sustained profitability."

Second Quarter 2023 Financial Results

Revenue: Flotek reported total revenues of $50.6 million for the second quarter of 2023, which was an increase of 72% compared to total revenues of $29.4 million for the second quarter of 2022 and a 5% increase compared to total revenues of $48.0 million for the first quarter of 2023. Second quarter of 2023 revenues benefited from a 68% sequential increase in transactional chemistry revenue.

Flotek reported total revenues of for the second quarter of 2023, which was an increase of 72% compared to total revenues of for the second quarter of 2022 and a 5% increase compared to total revenues of for the first quarter of 2023. Second quarter of 2023 revenues benefited from a 68% sequential increase in transactional chemistry revenue. Gross Profit (Loss) : The Company generated gross profit of $3.9 million as compared to a gross loss of $2.3 million for the second quarter of 2022 and gross profit of $1.9 million for the first quarter of 2023. The improvement in second quarter of 2023 gross profit was the result of the increase in transactional chemistry revenue during the quarter and continuing initiatives to drive further cost improvements with respect to freight logistics and materials.

: The Company generated gross profit of as compared to a gross loss of for the second quarter of 2022 and gross profit of for the first quarter of 2023. The improvement in second quarter of 2023 gross profit was the result of the increase in transactional chemistry revenue during the quarter and continuing initiatives to drive further cost improvements with respect to freight logistics and materials. Adjusted Gross Profit (Loss) (Non-GAAP) (1) : Flotek generated adjusted gross profit of $5.1 million during the second quarter of 2023 compared to adjusted gross loss of $1.6 million for the second quarter of 2022 and gross profit of $2.6 million for the first quarter of 2023. Adjusted gross profit (loss) primarily excludes non-cash items, including amortization of contract assets, which reduces both revenue and gross profit.

: Flotek generated adjusted gross profit of during the second quarter of 2023 compared to adjusted gross loss of for the second quarter of 2022 and gross profit of for the first quarter of 2023. Adjusted gross profit (loss) primarily excludes non-cash items, including amortization of contract assets, which reduces both revenue and gross profit. Selling, General and Administrative ("SG&A") Expense : SG&A expense totaled $8.4 million for the second quarter of 2023 compared to $6.8 million for the second quarter of 2022 and $6.5 million for the first quarter of 2023. Second quarter of 2023 SG&A included legal costs incurred in connection with the settlement of a portion of ongoing legacy litigation, as well as the final costs associated with the CEO transition. SG&A during the first quarter of 2023 included a $1.1 million credit to stock compensation expense related to head-count reductions. Excluding non-cash stock compensation, second quarter SG&A increased $0.5 million sequentially.

: SG&A expense totaled for the second quarter of 2023 compared to for the second quarter of 2022 and for the first quarter of 2023. Second quarter of 2023 SG&A included legal costs incurred in connection with the settlement of a portion of ongoing legacy litigation, as well as the final costs associated with the CEO transition. SG&A during the first quarter of 2023 included a credit to stock compensation expense related to head-count reductions. Excluding non-cash stock compensation, second quarter SG&A increased sequentially. Severance Costs: Flotek recorded a $2.3 million credit to severance expenses during the second quarter of 2023 in connection with the settlement of a portion of ongoing legacy litigation. The Company had accrued certain severance payments in connection with this litigation in prior years and reversed the accrual during the second quarter after reaching the settlement.

Flotek recorded a credit to severance expenses during the second quarter of 2023 in connection with the settlement of a portion of ongoing legacy litigation. The Company had accrued certain severance payments in connection with this litigation in prior years and reversed the accrual during the second quarter after reaching the settlement. Net Income (Loss) and EPS : Flotek reported a net loss of $21 thousand , or $0 per basic share, for the second quarter of 2023. This compares to net income of $6.2 million , or $0.08 per basic share, for the second quarter of 2022 and net income of $21.3 million , or $0.22 per basic share, in the first quarter of 2023. Net income/(loss) during the second quarter of 2023 and 2022 and the first quarter of 2023 included non-cash gains on the fair value measurement of convertible notes totaling $3.9 million , $17.2 million , and $26.1 million , respectively.

: Flotek reported a net loss of , or per basic share, for the second quarter of 2023. This compares to net income of , or per basic share, for the second quarter of 2022 and net income of , or per basic share, in the first quarter of 2023. Net income/(loss) during the second quarter of 2023 and 2022 and the first quarter of 2023 included non-cash gains on the fair value measurement of convertible notes totaling , , and , respectively. Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP)(1): Adjusted EBITDA was negative $2.0 million in the second quarter of 2023 as compared to negative $7.2 million in the second quarter of 2022 and negative $3.9 million in the first quarter of 2023. Adjusted EBITDA continues to trend upward and the Company expects to report positive adjusted EBITDA during 2023.

(1) See the "Unaudited Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Items and Non-Cash Items Impacting Earnings" section in this release for more information, including reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP measures.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

Flotek has received credit approval from a prospective lender in connection with a proposed ABL. The Company is reviewing the loan documents as well as completing final administrative matters prior to closing. The proposed ABL would provide credit availability based upon eligible accounts receivable, inventory and real estate values. The Company expects to provide an update before the end of August 2023.

Cash and cash equivalents were $8.8 million as of June 30, 2023, compared to $12.4 million as of March 31, 2023. Cash and cash equivalents were used during the quarter for working capital purposes.

Conference Call Details

Flotek will host a conference call on August 9, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. CDT (10:00 a.m. EDT) to discuss its second quarter 2023 results. Participants may access the call through Flotek's website at www.flotekind.com under "Webcasts'' or by telephone toll free at 1-844-835-9986 (international toll: 1-412-317-5270) approximately five minutes prior to the start of the call. Following the conclusion of the conference call, a recording of the call will be available on the Company's website.

Upcoming Investor Event

Members of the Company's management are scheduled to participate in EnerCom Denver  The Energy Investment Conference to be held in Denver, Colorado, August 14-16, 2023. Ryan Ezell, Chief Executive Officer of Flotek, will present on August 15, 2023, at 8:50 a.m. MT and will be joined by Bond Clement, Chief Financial Officer, in hosting meetings with investors throughout the day. Dr. Ezell will also participate in a service industry panel discussion on August 16 at 9:50 a.m. MT. A live webcast of the events will be available on the conference website at www.enercomdenver.com. Presentation slides will be posted on the Investor Relations section of Flotek's corporate website at www.flotekind.com prior to the start of the presentation.

About Flotek Industries, Inc.

Flotek Industries, Inc. is an advanced technology-driven, green chemical and data analytics company providing unique and innovative completion solutions that have a proven, positive impact on sustainability and reducing the overall environmental impact of energy on air, land, water and people. Flotek has an intellectual property portfolio of over 170 patents and a global presence in more than 15 countries throughout North America, Latin America, the Middle East and North Africa. Flotek has established collaborative partnerships focused on sustainable and optimized chemistry and data solutions which improve well performance and allow its customers to generate higher returns on invested capital.

Flotek is based in Houston, Texas and its common shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "FTK". For additional information, please visit www.flotekind.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements set forth in this press release constitute 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) regarding Flotek Industries, Inc.'s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Words such as will, continue, expects, anticipates, intends, plans, believes, seeks, estimates and similar expressions or variations of such words are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying forward-looking statements in this press release. Although forward-looking statements in this press release reflect the good faith judgment of management, such statements can only be based on facts and factors currently known to management. Consequently, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results and outcomes may differ materially from the results and outcomes discussed in the forward-looking statements. Further information about the risks and uncertainties that may impact the company are set forth in the Company's most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10-K (including, without limitation, in the "Risk Factors" section thereof), and in the Company's other SEC filings and publicly available documents. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect any event or circumstance that may arise after the date of this press release.

FLOTEK INDUSTRIES, INC.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per share data)



Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

6/30/2023

6/30/2022

3/31/2023

6/30/2023

6/30/2022



















Revenue:

















Revenue from external customers $ 17,820

$ 12,824

$ 11,652

$ 29,472

$ 23,206 Revenue from related party 32,774

16,549

36,355

69,130

19,046 Total revenues 50,594

29,373

48,007

98,602

42,252 Cost of goods sold 46,690

31,678

46,127

92,817

45,036 Gross profit (loss) 3,904

(2,305)

1,880

5,785

(2,784) Operating costs and expenses:

















Selling, general, and administrative 8,351

6,821

6,451

14,803

11,707 Depreciation 174

182

176

349

377 Research and development 860

1,115

614

1,474

2,530 Severance costs (2,279)

610

2,223

(56)

603 Gain on sale of property and equipment 

(1,914)





(1,906) Gain on lease termination 







(584) Gain in fair value of Contract Consideration

Convertible Notes Payable (3,874)

(17,158)

(26,095)

(29,969)

(13,266) Total operating costs and expenses 3,232

(10,344)

(16,631)

(13,399)

(539) Income (loss) from operations 672

8,039

18,511

19,184

(2,245) Other income (expense):

















Paycheck protection plan loan forgiveness 



4,522

4,522

 Interest expense (705)

(1,597)

(1,672)

(2,377)

(2,265) Other income (expense) , net 19

(104)

(9)

9

120 Total other income (expense), net (686)

(1,701)

2,841

2,154

(2,145) Income (loss) before income taxes (14)

6,338

21,352

21,338

(4,390) Income tax expense (7)

(98)

(9)

(16)

(94) Net income (loss) $ (21)

$ 6,240

$ 21,343

$ 21,322

$ (4,484)



















Income (loss) per common share:















Basic $ 

$ 0.08

$ 0.22

$ 0.18

$ (0.06) Diluted $ (0.02)

$ (0.05)

$ (0.02)

$ (0.04)

$ (0.12)



















Weighted average common shares:

















Weighted average common shares used in

computing basic income (loss) per

common share 143,433

74,861

98,808

121,244

73,476 Weighted average common shares used in

computing diluted loss per common share 169,500

124,335

158,441

164,165

107,086

FLOTEK INDUSTRIES, INC.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share data)







June 30, 2023

December 31, 2022 ASSETS





Current assets:





Cash and cash equivalents $ 8,841

$ 12,290 Restricted cash 101

100 Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses of $682 and

$623 at June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively 16,855

19,136 Accounts receivable, related party, net of allowance for credit losses of

$0 at June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively 23,033

22,683 Inventories, net 18,397

15,720 Other current assets 4,051

4,045 Current contract asset 7,716

7,113 Total current assets 78,994

81,087 Long-term contract assets 69,583

72,576 Property and equipment, net 4,753

4,826 Operating lease right-of-use assets 4,279

5,900 Deferred tax assets, net 404

404 Other long-term assets 17

17 TOTAL ASSETS $ 158,030

$ 164,810 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY





Current liabilities:





Accounts payable $ 44,949

$ 33,375 Accrued liabilities 5,178

8,984 Income taxes payable 12

97 Interest payable 

130 Current portion of operating lease liabilities 2,902

3,328 Current portion of finance lease liabilities 37

36 Current portion of long-term debt 179

2,052 Convertible notes payable 

19,799 Contract Consideration Convertible Notes Payable 

83,570 Total current liabilities 53,257

151,371 Deferred revenue, long-term 35

44 Long-term operating lease liabilities 6,584

8,044 Long-term finance lease liabilities 3

19 Long-term debt 149

2,736 TOTAL LIABILITIES 60,028

162,214 Stockholders' equity:





Common stock, $0.0001 par value, 240,000,000 shares authorized;

158,220,075 shares issued and 151,541,446 shares outstanding at

June 30, 2023; 83,915,918 shares issued and 77,788,391 shares

outstanding at December 31, 2022 15

8 Additional paid-in capital 462,517

388,177 Accumulated other comprehensive income 147

181 Accumulated deficit (330,197)

(351,519) Treasury stock, at cost; 6,678,629 and 6,127,527 shares at June 30,

2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively (34,480)

(34,251) Total stockholders' equity 98,002

2,596 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 158,030

$ 164,810

FLOTEK INDUSTRIES, INC.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)



Six months ended June 30,

2023

2022 Cash flows from operating activities:





Net income (loss) $ 21,322

$ (4,484) Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities:





Change in fair value of contingent consideration (324)

(134) Change in fair value of Contract Consideration Convertible Notes Payable (29,969)

(13,266) Amortization of convertible note issuance costs 83

414 Payment-in-kind interest expense 2,284

1,819 Amortization of contract assets 2,390

737 Depreciation and amortization 349

377 Provision for credit losses, net of recoveries 63

87 Provision for excess and obsolete inventory 497

769 Gain on sale of property and equipment 

(1,906) Gain on lease termination 

(584) Non-cash lease expense 1,621

112 Stock compensation expense (836)

1,591 Deferred income tax (benefit) expense 

(5) Paycheck protection plan loan forgiveness (4,522)

 Changes in current assets and liabilities:





Accounts receivable 2,218

(21,741) Accounts receivable, related party (350)

11,600 Inventories (3,158)

(4,521) Income taxes receivable 

7 Other assets (6)

(232) Contract assets, net 

(3,600) Accounts payable 11,574

12,154 Accrued liabilities (3,491)

(2,924) Operating lease liabilities (1,886)

(308) Income taxes payable (85)

99 Interest payable (8)

24 Net cash used in operating activities (2,234)

(23,915) Cash flows from investing activities:





Capital expenditures (292)

(5) Proceeds from sale of assets 

4,194 Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities (292)

4,189 Cash flows from financing activities:





Payment for forfeited stock options (617)

 Payments on long term debt (60)

 Proceeds from issuance of convertible notes 

21,150 Payment of issuance costs of convertible notes 

(1,084) Proceeds from issuance of warrants 

19,500 Payments to tax authorities for shares withheld from employees (229)

(138) Proceeds from issuance of stock 33

24 Payments for finance leases (15)

(21) Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (888)

39,431 Effect of changes in exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents (34)

95 Net change in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash (3,448)

19,800 Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period 12,290

11,534 Restricted cash at the beginning of period 100

1,790 Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period 12,390

13,324 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 8,841

33,084 Restricted cash at the end of period 101

40 Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period $ 8,942

$ 33,124

FLOTEK INDUSTRIES, INC.

UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP ITEMS AND NON-CASH ITEMS IMPACTING EARNINGS

(in thousands)



Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended



6/30/2023

6/30/2022

3/31/2023

6/30/2023

6/30/2022























Gross profit (loss) $ 3,904

$ (2,305)

$ 1,880

$ 5,785

$ (2,784)

Stock compensation expense 2

218

(139)

$ (137)

$ 374

Severance and retirement 11



15

$ 26

$ 3

Contingent liability revaluation 35

(228)

(359)

$ (324)

$ (134)

Amortization of contract assets 1,139

737

1,250

$ 2,389

$ 737

Adjusted Gross profit (loss) $ 5,091

$ (1,578)

$ 2,647

$ 7,739

$ (1,804)























Net income (loss) $ (21)

$ 6,240

$ 21,343

$ 21,322

$ (4,484)

Interest expense 705

1,597

1,672

2,377

2,265

Income tax expense 7

98

9

16

94

Depreciation and amortization 174

182

176

349

377

EBITDA (Non-GAAP) $ 865

$ 8,117

$ 23,200

$ 24,064

$ (1,748)

Stock compensation expense 274

852

(1,112)

(838)

1,591

Severance and retirement (2,268)

610

2,238

(30)

606

Contingent liability revaluation 35

(228)

(359)

(324)

(134)

Gain on disposal of assets 

(1,914)





(1,906)

Gain on lease termination 







(584)

Contract Consideration Convertible Notes

Payable revaluation adjustment (3,874)

(17,158)

(26,095)

(29,969)

(13,266)

Amortization of contract assets 1,139

737

1,250

2,389

737

PPP loan forgiveness 



(4,522)

(4,522)



Non-Recurring professional fees 1,825

1,742

1,549

3,376

2,017

Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) $ (2,004)

$ (7,242)

$ (3,851)

$ (5,854)

$ (12,687)





(1) Management believes that adjusted gross profit and adjusted EBITDA for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, and 2022, and the three months ended March 31, 2023, are useful to investors to assess and understand operating performance, especially when comparing those results with previous and subsequent periods. Management views the expenses noted above to be outside of the Company's normal operating results. Management analyses operating results without the impact of the above items as an indicator of performance, to identify underlying trends in the business and cash flow from continuing operations, and to establish operational goals.

SOURCE Flotek Industries, Inc.
Pledge commitment to achieve UN SDG Zero Hunger by 2030 includes the company's initiatives supporting smallholder farmers, rural women and youth, and advancements in climate-smart technologies and digital tools for farmers in Asia, Africa and Latin America

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --

FMC Corporation (NYSE: FMC), a leading global agricultural sciences company, today announced a $30.5 million commitment to the Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge. The Pledge, which emerged from the UN Food Systems Summit Action Track 1, is a call for companies to align their business initiatives and investments with a global movement to end hunger by 2030. FMC's commitment includes the company's ongoing efforts to improve the productivity and incomes of smallholder farmers, provide training and development opportunities for rural women and youth, and advance digital and precision technologies for farmers across Asia, Africa and Latin America.

"We are increasingly concerned by the growing number of people around the world facing acute food insecurity and believe companies like FMC have an obligation to use our resources and expertise to develop real solutions to the hunger crisis," says Julie DiNatale, vice president and chief sustainability officer. "FMC's commitment to the Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge further aligns our investments with continuous efforts to support farmers, secure the future of food and achieve the goal of Zero Hunger by 2030."

Key Elements of FMC's Pledge

A substantial part of FMC's commitment is in precision agriculture technology to help farmers adapt to increasingly unpredictable growing conditions, including changes in weather patterns that bring new and evolving pest pressures. Through its pledge, FMC will invest in launching its Arc farm intelligence platform on farms across Cameroon, Burkina Faso, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Philippines, Colombia and Mexico through 2030. Arc farm intelligence provides farmers real-time data and insights about the scope and scale of pest pressure on their crops, allowing them to proactively treat pest outbreaks before they lead to widespread crop damage. The platform and all necessary field monitoring equipment are provided at no cost to the farmer, which is part of FMC's commitment to ensuring smallholder and historically underserved farmers have access to advanced solutions that improve their productivity and resilience.

Smallholder farmers are at the center of FMC's commitment to the Pledge. They are a vital part of the food production system globally and an increasingly important farmer segment in Asia Pacific, contributing to economic stability and food security within the region. FMC will invest part of its overall commitment in the company's Sustainable, Transformational Initiative toward Development (STRIDE) program, a unique initiative launched in India, Pakistan and the Philippines to increase smallholder farmer access to innovative crop protection technologies and extension services to improve their yields, grow their incomes and enhance their quality of life. The program, which centers on technology, knowledge-building and community engagement, will directly impact more than 175,000 smallholder farmers across the region within a three-year period.

FMC's remaining commitment includes investments in additional partnerships and programs, including a development initiative in Kenya that will train young people to provide extension services to smallholder farmers in the region. Partnering with G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, FMC is training rural women in India in beekeeping as a sustainable source of income. And in Brazil, FMC's partnership with Traive, a fintech startup company, is helping small- to medium-sized farmers access credit to purchase vital crop inputs.

"We are not going to achieve Zero Hunger by 2030 by doing things the way we've always done them," continues DiNatale. "Innovation is essential. Involvement in this global movement creates new avenues for growth and innovation through opportunities to collaborate on groundbreaking solutions that transform the way food is produced."

About FMC

FMC Corporation is a global agricultural sciences company dedicated to helping growers produce food, feed, fiber and fuel for an expanding world population while adapting to a changing environment. FMC's innovative crop protection solutions  including biologicals, crop nutrition, digital and precision agriculture  enable growers, crop advisers and turf and pest management professionals to address their toughest challenges economically while protecting the environment. With approximately 6,600 employees at more than 100 sites worldwide, FMC is committed to discovering new herbicide, insecticide and fungicide active ingredients, product formulations and pioneering technologies that are consistently better for the planet. Visit fmc.com to learn more and follow us on LinkedIn.

Statement under the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release contains statements that are "forward-looking" and provide other than historical information. FMC has identified forward-looking statements by such words or phrases as "will likely result," "is confident that," "expect," "expects," "should," "could," "may," "will continue to," "believe," "believes," "anticipates," "targets" "intends" or similar expressions identifying "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including the negative of those words and phrases. Such forward-looking statements, which are based on management's current views and assumptions regarding future events, future business conditions and the outlook for the company based on currently available information. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by any forward-looking statement. These factors include, among other things, the risk factors and other cautionary statements included within FMC's 2022 Form 10-K filed with the SEC as well as other SEC filings and public communications. FMC cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the above cautionary statement. FMC undertakes no obligation, and specifically disclaims any duty, to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date on which they were made, except as otherwise required by law.

SOURCE FMC Corporation
Amplifies company's focus on applying space technology to the crucial national security threats posed by climate change

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Muon Space , a climate constellation company revolutionizing the way Earth is monitored from space, proudly announces the appointment of former Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense Christine H. Fox, to its Board of Directors. Fox brings a distinguished career in national security and strong commitment to addressing the far-reaching impacts of Climate Change. Her appointment significantly advances Muon Space's efforts at the intersection of Climate Change and National Security.

Former Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense Christine Fox Joins Muon Space Board.

Fox's distinguished career is underpinned by her strong commitment to innovation and technological advancement, and she is recognized for her strategic vision, particularly her ability to anticipate the potential of technology in addressing national security challenges. She served as Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense, the Department of Defense's second highest-ranking official, from 2013 to 2014, where she was responsible for overseeing the Pentagon's annual budget and strategic planning. She has held other significant roles within the defense community, including Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE).

"Joining Muon Space's Board of Directors presents an exciting opportunity to apply my expertise in emerging technology and national security with the urgent need for climate action," said Fox. "I believe that Climate Change poses significant new national security challenges and that large-scale remote sensing constellations are key to addressing these. I am excited to partner with Muon Space in their mission to deliver actionable Earth intelligence for the betterment of the world and our country's place in it."

In the face of escalating climate change threats, the convergence of space technology and environmental sustainability has become increasingly critical. Muon Space is at the forefront of leveraging cutting-edge aerospace technologies to confront climate-related challenges head-on. With Fox joining the Board, Muon Space solidifies its position as an industry leader, poised to drive sustainable solutions for a rapidly changing planet.

Jonny Dyer, CEO of Muon Space, expressed his excitement for Fox's appointment, stating, "We are honored and humbled to welcome Christine Fox to our Board of Directors. Her experience, keen intellect and humble, mission-driven approach are an inspiration to those around her and represent a formidable addition to our Board. I have supreme respect and admiration for Christine and cannot imagine someone I'd rather be on this journey with."

Fox joins a distinguished group of experienced and visionary investors on Muon Space's Board of Directors, including John Cowgill of Costanoa Ventures and Rob Toews of Radical Ventures, both renowned thought leaders in the Deep Tech Venture capital community.

About Christine H. Fox:

Christine H. Fox served as Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense and as Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation at the Department of Defense. Her career spans over three decades, including leadership positions at the Center for Naval Analyses, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab. Fox has received numerous awards and recognition for her contributions to national security and public service. She holds a bachelor's and master's degree in applied mathematics from George Mason University.

About Muon Space:

Founded in 2021, Muon Space is launching a new generation of smallsats and sensors to monitor Earth's climate and ecosystems with unprecedented fidelity. Muon Space's state-of-the-art facility in the heart of Silicon Valley is optimized for manufacturing spacecraft and integrating payloads at scale. Regular launches began in June 2023 , providing ever-increasing data sets addressing important geophysical and environmental applications and a platform to deliver new technologies to space. Muon Space's experienced science and engineering teams are uniquely suited to deliver the most exquisite and reliable remote sensing solutions at the speed and scale required to address our most urgent climate challenges.

For more information on Muon Space, visit: https://www.muonspace.com/

SOURCE Muon Space
SINGAPORE, Aug. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- GAO Capital ("GAO"), an alternative investment multi-manager platform, today announced the addition of long/short and quantitative trading capabilities in its flagship ASV Fund. The enhanced strategy will be overseen by Lead Portfolio Manager, Yongjie Yi.

As ASV enters its fourth year, these additions further diversify the opportunities GAO provides investors. The Fund has steadily grown since its launch, crossing $100m AUM and winning the HFM & Eurekahedge Best Asia ex-Japan award in 2022.

"We continue to build out our Fund in seeking uncorrelated results to the broader market and diversification for our investors. Markets have changed significantly since the Fund started at the beginning of Covid which makes the ability to short indispensable in our portfolio management capabilities," said Chauwei Yak, CEO and CIO of GAO. "We have built research and trading infrastructure to expand to new markets for the Fund - Japan and India."

Chauwei Yak has over 20 years of investment management experience. Prior to founding GAO in 2008, Ms. Yak led the research team at Ortelius Capital, where she developed their systematic monitoring process. She has extensive experience with alpha research and valuation stemming from her investment banking experience at JPMorgan and UBS, in New York and Tokyo. Ms. Yak graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Asian Studies and B.S. in Economics with Finance concentration from the Wharton School, with a Mathematics minor. She is a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) and a Chartered Valuer & Appraiser (CVA).

Yongjie Yi has over 20 years of investment management experience. Before joining GAO, Mr. Yi was a portfolio manager with Shidan Capital, a multi-strategy Japan fund with a focus on tactical trading using options and futures. His trading and risk management expertise stems from his experience at JPMorgan Tokyo as a Fixed Income Exotics Trader where he was ranked top 10% of his cohort globally. He holds a Bachelor's Degree (First Class Honors) in Electrical & Electronic Engineering from Imperial College of Science and Technology, and a Master's in Financial Engineering from Cornell University.

About GAO Capital

GAO Capital is an alternative investment multi-manager platform based in Singapore, regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).

For more information, please contact:

GAO Capital Pte Ltd

Tel: +65 6733 7088

Email: info@gao-cap.com

Website: https://www.gao-cap.com/

SOURCE GAO Capital
MEXICO CITY, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Genomma Lab Internacional, S.A.B. de C.V. (BMV: LABB) ("Genomma Lab" or "the Company"), one of the leading pharmaceutical and personal care product companies in Mexico with an expanding international presence, announced that on August 04, 2023 it has voluntarily prepaid the total amortization for the second tranche of its IFC secured loan.

The voluntarily prepayment of the Company's second tranche of its IFC Loan amounted an approximately of Ps. 272.2 million, adding the accrued interest to the principal.

The loan helped the Company to finance the construction of its first manufacturing plant in Mexico, a state-of the-art manufacturing facility for pharmaceuticals and personal care products. As of today, all manufacturing lines installed in the Company's manufacturing plant are able to manufacture a wide range of both personal care and pharmaceutical products.

Antonio Zamora Galland, Chief Financial Officer, commented: "Genomma is committed to continue strengthening its financial debt maturity profile and optimized the average liabilities duration." He added: "Genomma Lab is proud to have IFC as a key strategic partner to support the Company's long-term vision."

About IFC

IFCa sister organization of the World Bank and member of the World Bank Groupis the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. IFC works with more than 2,000 businesses worldwide, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in the toughest areas of the world. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

About Genomma Lab Internacional

Genomma Lab Internacional, S.A.B. de C.V. is one of the fastest growing pharmaceutical and personal care products companies in Latin America. Genomma Lab develops, sells and markets a broad range of Premium branded products, many of which are leaders in the categories in which they compete in terms of sales and market share. The Company has a sound business model through a unique combination of a new product development process, consumer oriented marketing, a broad retail distribution network and a lowcost, highly flexible supply chain operating model. For more information visit: www.genommalab.com

Genomma Lab's shares are listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange under the ticker "LABB" (Bloomberg: LABB:MM).

Note on Forward-Looking Statements

This report may contain certain forward-looking statements and information relating to the Company that reflect the current views and/or expectations of the Company and its management with respect to its performance, business and future events. Forward looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements, and may contain words like "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "envisages," "will likely result," or any other words or phrases of similar meaning. Such statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. We caution you that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in this presentation and in oral statements made by authorized officers of the Company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: risks related to the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic, such as the scope and duration of the outbreak, government actions and restrictive measures implemented in response, material delays, supply chain disruptions and other impacts to the business, or on the Company's ability to execute business continuity plans as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic factors, such as interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; competition, including technological advances, new products attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development; the ability of the Company to successfully execute strategic plans; the impact of business combinations and divestitures; manufacturing difficulties or delays, internally or within the supply chain; significant adverse litigation or government action, including related to product liability claims; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including tax laws; changes in behavior and spending patterns of purchasers of products and services; financial instability of international economies and legal systems and sovereign risk. A further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found within the Company's related filings with the Bolsa Mexicana de Valores. Any forward-looking statement made in this release speaks only as of the date of this release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Genomma Lab Internacional, S.A.B. de C.V.
"As a leader in peptide synthesis, we recognize the growing market need for fast-track production of cGMP-grade peptides," said Raymond Miller, associate marketing director at GenScript. "With an increasing number of peptide drugs moving from drug discovery to clinical trials and commercialization, it is critical that we meet the urgent demands of our customers. With over 20 years of experience in peptide synthesis, it is a natural progression for us to enter the cGMP peptide market and support these increasing market demands."

GenScript's cGMP peptide service provides a comprehensive set of services to support GenScript's global biotech customers in their quest to deliver new drugs to market, from preclinical development through clinical trials. It leverages GenScript's extensive manufacturing expertise in the synthesis of complex and modified peptides, including cyclic peptides, peptide-drug conjugates (PDCs), and more.

GenScript's new cGMP facility can deliver up to 48 personalized neoantigen sequences per patient per batch (and up to 500 items per month of sterile product), and supports rapid manufacturing, QC, and release. For peptide APIs, orders of up to 800 g per month (over 20 kg per year) can be delivered. GenScript's in-house scientists provide technical support throughout the drug development process, from drug discovery to CMC.

The new cGMP facility can deliver up to 48 personalized neoantigen sequences per patient per batch, enabling rapid manufacturing, QC, and release. For peptide APIs, orders of up to 800 g per month (over 20 kg per year) can be delivered. GenScript's in-house scientists provide technical support throughout the drug development process, from drug discovery to CMC.

The new Zhenjiang state-of-art cGMP facility has been designed and qualified to meet the GMP requirements of major regulatory authorities such as FDA, EMA, PMDA, and NMPA. GenScript has established a phase-appropriate cGMP system including material system, facilities & equipment system, laboratory control system, production system, packaging and labeling system, all of which are integrated into the quality system. GenScript has also established a sterility assurance program with systematic controls in place to ensure product sterility.

GenScript's cGMP peptide manufacturing facility combines scientific excellence with state-of-the-art technology:

Meets ICH Q7 guidelines and 21 CFR Part 210/211 regulation guidelines

Clean suite with Grade A isolator in Grade C background

Sterile filtration and aseptic fill finish available

Method development and validation, formal method transfer

Traceable manufacturing process with master batch record

CMC compilation

"GenScript's capabilities go way beyond peptide manufacturing  our professional regulatory affairs team provides extensive support in CMC filing documents and the development of global regulatory strategies for peptide new drugs, including drug substances, and drug products. Our team of scientists and technicians is dedicated to helping you succeed," said Hui Feng, director of regulatory affairs at GenScript. "We take on your challenges as if they were our own, and we're committed to delivering high-quality peptides on time, every time."

Where to learn more

About GenScript Biotech Corporation

GenScript Biotech Corporation ( HK:1548 ) is the world's leading technology and service provider of life-science R&D and manufacturing. Built upon its solid gene synthesis technology, GenScript Biotech is divided into four major platforms: the life-science service and product platform, the biologics contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) platform, the industrial synthetic products platform, and the integrated global cell therapy platform.

GenScript Biotech was founded in New Jersey, USA in 2002 and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2015. GenScript Biotech's business operations span over 100 countries and regions worldwide, with legal entities located in the US, Mainland China, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Singapore, Netherlands, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Korea, and Belgium. GenScript Biotech provides premium, convenient, and reliable services and products for over 200,000 customers.

As of December 31, 2022, GenScript Biotech had more than 6,000 employees globally, over 37% of whom hold master's and/or Ph.D. degrees. In addition, GenScript Biotech owns numerous intellectual property rights, including over 210 patents, over 800 pending patent applications, and a significant number of trade secrets.

Driven by the corporate mission of "make people and nature healthier through biotechnology," GenScript Biotech strives to become the most trustworthy biotech company in the world. As of December 31, 2022, 76,000 peer-reviewed journal articles worldwide have cited GenScript Biotech's services and products. For more information, please visit GenScript Biotech's official website genscript.com .

Media contact:

Tim Cox  ZingPR for GenScript

[email protected]

SOURCE GenScript Biotech Corporation
When it comes to wine, many decisions in the vineyard can affect quality and taste: density of vines, uniformity of grapes, frequency of fungicide, weather.

What might not make a difference  at least, as much as tasters and growers think it does  is whether or not grapes were picked by hand or machine.

The decision to mechanize or not is one weighing on Virginia winegrowers minds, especially as the wine country grows, gaining national and international attention.

Some have already mechanized. Lakeview Vineyard Equipment, a vineyard machinery distributor, has sold mechanical harvesters, leaf removers, trimmers and pesticide sprayers to several vineyards in Virginia. Keswick Vineyards has been mechanically harvesting grapes for almost 10 years.

Mechanization is not without controversy: Virginias slopes and smaller vineyards make mechanization not only difficult but costly. Thats not to mention the pushback from certain industry insiders who maintain that mechanization might negatively affect the harvest, producing lower-quality wine.

But with a small and unreliable local labor pool and high-cost barriers to importing foreign labor, mechanization might just be inevitable, said Stephen Barnard, president of the Monticello Wine Trail and former winemaker at Keswick Vineyards.

The labor pool hasnt grown as exponentially as the amount that vineyards are growing, Barnard told The Daily Progress. The question mark of labor and mechanization is going to be interesting. Theres been a lot of inquiries into harvesting and mechanization.

I do think theres going to be a certain paradigm shift to the use of that, Barnard said.

When a winegrower decides its time to pick a grape, its often a race against the clock. Fickle and furious Virginia weather can narrow the picking window to a day or less. Wait too long, and the crop could be damaged or lost.

For vineyards with an on-site crew, that means all hands on deck. But for vineyards without a stable, abundant source of labor, using a machine allows a winegrower to harvest quickly without waiting for extra hands to show up.

Keswick started using automated machinery to pick its grapes in 2015, said Barnard, now the winemaker at Delfosse Vineyards & Winery.

There are not enough good, skilled laborers to manage the amount of vineyards that need to be served, Barnard said. When were trying to pick, everyones trying to pick.  Having the flexibility of pulling out the harvester, hopping in and going out, theres value in that.

At Barboursville Vineyards 178 acres under vine, a team of roughly 20 laborers works to prepare the grape fields for the harvesting machine, which Barboursville winegrower Fernando Franco said he has been using for 18 years.

Without mechanization, we would need 100 people, Franco told The Daily Progress.

The most obvious barrier to mechanization, especially for smaller vineyards, is the sheer capital investment: It can cost $100,000 for a tow-behind harvester and up to half a million dollars for a fully autonomous vehicle. And thats not including the continued investment required to calibrate and repair the machines.

It blows my mind that a vineyard the size of Keswick has a harvest machine, said Robbie Corpora, winegrower at Grace Estate Winery. That was a hefty investment for 62 acres.

Grace hires a small crew of laborers every year through the governments H2-A program for nonimmigrant, seasonal agricultural foreign labor. That comes with its own set of costs in visas, transportation and housing. But for Corporas vineyard, its worth it.

Theres no work thats more detailed and precise than the handwork, Corpora told The Daily Progress. If you watch a leaf-puller go through a vineyard, it looks pretty destructive for the grapevine. You watch the crew go through and pop little leaves off, you can barely tell there was a leaf there to begin with.

Jonathan Wheeler, winemaker at Trump Winery, agreed.

I prefer using my team because they have eyes on everything that I want and they know what to exclude, Wheeler told The Daily Progress. If we get some clusters that have detritus or mold and the machine goes down and picks it, its going to be in the wine.

But mechanical harvesters have advanced over the years. The idea that mechanically harvested grapes are lower in quality is largely a myth, and one pervasive among Lakeview Vineyard Equipments prospective customers, according to company President Joe Pillitteri.

In California, the majority of vineyards use autonomous machines to harvest their grapes. In a place where labor is expensive and often scarce, mechanization is often the cheaper option, according to Anita Oberholster, professor of cooperative extension in enology in the department of viticulture and enology at University of California, Davis.

According to multiple studies by Oberholster and her colleagues to compare wines made with handpicked and mechanically harvested grapes, the differences between the two are extremely subtle, Oberholster said.

In one study published in 2016, blind tastings between hand- and mechanically picked pinot noir produced only two differences among 18 aroma, taste and mouthfeel attributes tested.

There wasnt a clear quality difference among these wines, Oberholster said. There were very small differences, differences that I think your general consumer would probably not pick up on.

While mechanical harvesting might hold different implications among varieties, other studies in Californias vineyards reached the same conclusion.

At the end of the day, I think if you dont have the labor, [mechanized harvesting and sorting] is not as detrimental as people think, Oberholster said. It doesnt have as big of an impact as people believe by what their eyes show them.

Many newer harvesters come with optical sorters, which mechanically sort desirable grapes from unwanted ones. Sorters can be extremely gentle and precise, filtering out around 99.8% of leaves, sticks and other matter other than grapes, or MOG, Pillitteri said.

The newer models of harvesters shake the picked grapes, which fall through a belt with holes in it, filtering out sticks, leaves and stems, he explained. Then a pressurized stream of air is applied to shoot out anything that is light, including raisins and under ripe berries.

What were left with is basically perfect berries in the harvest, said Pillitteri.

To address the freakout factor of a new, intimidating machine, Pillitteri said Lakeviews technicians train a vineyards staff upon delivery of the machines and then return before harvest to make sure the operator is completely comfortable.

Its not as complicated as it seems. Most operators, within a half an hour of training, are what I would consider near-experts on using them, Pillitteri said.

And despite the upfront cost, Pillitteri said his customers agree it is worth it.

There are other ways to deal with the price tag. In California, vineyards can rent out machinery for the harvest instead of purchasing their own equipment, Oberholster said.

Lakeview also sells used harvesters and mechanical equipment, which reduces cost significantly. The company once sold a used harvester to a vineyard with only 4 1/2 acres, Pillitteri said.

After 18 harvests, Franco at Barboursville said his harvester still runs beautifully.

It harvests, cleans the grapes, destems them, and only the clean fruit falls into its tanks, Franco said. The only thing that it doesnt do is ferment the wine.

There is still the question of practicality: Virginias farmland is often sloped, with vines planted close together, such as Trumps. One of Wheelers concerns with using a mechanical harvester is that a machine might slide and get stuck in the mud on a rainy day.

If it slid into the vineyard, how am I going to get it out? And now Im waiting on all this fruit, Wheeler said.

Oberholster said there is a movement in Europe to make machine harvesting more accessible. That means planting new vineyards further apart and higher off the ground to make mechanical harvesting easier and circumvent the same labor shortages in Europe.

Those working in Virginias vineyards appear to carry a similar sentiment. Pillitteri said there is a growing market for Lakeview in Virginia, and winegrowers similarly remarked on the growing interest in mechanization.

In Virginia, were still very much doing everything by hand, said George Hodson, president of the Virginia Wine Board and CEO of Veritas Vineyards and Winery. We have been trying to move more and more mechanized, as much as we possibly can."
TOKYO, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund is pleased to announce today to welcome an R&D-driven company Fujirebio Holdings Inc. (hereinafter "Fujirebio HD" and headquartered in Tokyo) to join GHIT as a new associate partner.

"We are excited to be working with Fujirebio HD to solve global health challenges and to help fight infectious diseases around the world. We expect that Fujirebio HD's expertise, especially in in vitro diagnostics solutions, will drive innovation in product development for tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). We are also confident that we will be able to support the expansion of Fujirebio HD's partnerships both domestically and globally," said Dr. Osamu Kunii, CEO of the GHIT Fund.

Mr. Goki Ishikawa, president and CEO, Fujirebio HD, said, "We have decided to join GHIT since we empathize with the concept of its mission of 'leveraging Japanese innovation to fight against infectious diseases through partnerships.' Our participation in GHIT enables us to utilize our R&D efforts in the fight against infectious diseases around the world, which leads us to a further contribution to global health."

About Fujirebio

Fujirebio, a member of H.U. Group Holdings Inc., is a global leader in the field of high-quality in vitro diagnostics (IVD) testing. It has more than 50 years' accumulated experience in the conception, development, production, and worldwide commercialization of robust IVD products.

Fujirebio was the first company to develop and market CSF biomarkers under the Innogenetics brand over 25 years ago. Fujirebio remains the only company with such a comprehensive line-up of manual and fully automated AD assays and consistently partners with organizations and clinical experts across the world to develop new pathways for earlier, easier and more complete neurodegenerative diagnostic tools. More information can be found at www.fujirebio.com/neuro.

The GHIT Fund is a Japan-based international public-private partnership fund (PPP) that was formed between the Government of Japan, multiple pharmaceutical companies, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The GHIT Fund invests in and manages an R&D portfolio of development partnerships aimed at addressing neglected diseases, such as malaria, tuberculosis, and neglected tropical diseases, which afflict the world's vulnerable and underserved populations. In collaboration with global partners, the GHIT Fund mobilizes Japanese industry, academia, and research institutes to create new drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics for malaria, tuberculosis, and neglected tropical diseases.

https://www.ghitfund.org/en

For more information, contact:

Katy Lenard at +1-301-280-5719 or [email protected]

Eriko Mugitani at +81-36441-2032 or [email protected]

SOURCE Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund
DUBLIN, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Meat-Based Flavors Market Size, Share & Industry Trends Analysis Report 2023-2029" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Global Meat-Based Flavors Market size is forecast to reach $5 billion by 2029, rising at a market growth of 5.6% CAGR during the forecast period.



Processed meat is one of the growing applications of meat-based flavors. Any meat that has changed to enhance flavor or lengthen shelf life is referred to as processed meat. Usually consisting of pork or beef, processed meat can also contain offal, meat, and poultry by-products, including blood. Ham, sausages, corned beef, jerky, salami, bacon, hot dogs, canned meat, chicken nuggets, lunch meat, and sauces using meat as an ingredient are all examples of processed meat products. Therefore, Processed Meat procured $291.7 million revenue in the market in 2022.



The major strategies followed by the market participants are Partnerships as the key developmental strategy to keep pace with the changing demands of end users. For instance, in April, 2023, Archer Daniels Midland signed an agreement with Believer Meats to work together on product enhancement items through ADM's ingredients and specialization in nutrition to improve Believer's cultivated meat process.



Market Growth Factors

Rising trend of veganism increases demand for exotic flavors: One of the major drivers of the market is customers' rising propensity for vegetarianism across the globe. Consumers are turning more and more toward veganism as a result of the excessive or frequent intake of meat as well as meat products. This is because meat and meat products contribute to a number of health problems. For vegans who like the taste of meat, meat tastes are emerging as a healthy alternative. Through foods like soup, sausage, quick noodles, ready-to-eat meals, baked goods, and many more products, meat flavors provide the consumers with both the taste and odor of meat. Hence, the rise in veganism directly influences the growth of the market in the coming years.

One of the major drivers of the market is customers' rising propensity for vegetarianism across the globe. Consumers are turning more and more toward veganism as a result of the excessive or frequent intake of meat as well as meat products. This is because meat and meat products contribute to a number of health problems. For vegans who like the taste of meat, meat tastes are emerging as a healthy alternative. Through foods like soup, sausage, quick noodles, ready-to-eat meals, baked goods, and many more products, meat flavors provide the consumers with both the taste and odor of meat. Hence, the rise in veganism directly influences the growth of the market in the coming years. Rapid use of meat-based flavors in the food service industry: Food chains as well as restaurant menus are increasingly featuring flavorings that make foods more appetizing. The food service sector strives to offer clients fresh, cutting-edge cuisine. To make food look better, the hotel, restaurant, and catering (HoReCa) industry uses a variety of flavors and seasonings. A craving for meaty tastes without genuine meat has arisen due to the move to more plant-based substitutes. By employing meat tastes, specific cooking techniques are used to transform everyday foods into viable meat substitutes. These aspects are anticipated to increase the demand for and growth of market.

Market Restraining Factors

Enormous cost of meat-based products like flavors: The high cost of meat-based flavors is one of the main barriers preventing their increased demand. These goods are not affordable for customers from all socioeconomic backgrounds. Additionally, businesses are working hard to roll out affordable plant-based meat substitutes, which can further reduce the demand market share. Moreover, the cost of meat-based flavors also increases because of the numerous processes involved in their production. Concentration, extraction, and blending are complicated procedures for producing meat-based flavors. As a result, the cost of meat-based flavors may increase overall since adhering to these requirements frequently necessitates extra expenditures in quality control procedures, testing, and certifications.

Scope of the Study

By Application

Soups & Sauces

Baked Goods

Savory

Ready Meals

Processed Meat

Others

By Type

Natural Meat Flavor

Artificial Meat Flavor

By Flavor

Beef

Chicken

Pork

Turkey

Fish & Seafood

List of Companies Profiled in the Report:

Archer-Daniels-Midland Company

Sensient Technologies Corporation

Essentia Protein Solutions

DSM-Firmenich

Symrise AG

Givaudan SA

H.E. Stringer Flavours Limited

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc

Kerry Group plc

Nikken Foods Co., Ltd.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/xvqa2a

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.

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Research and Markets

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SOURCE Research and Markets
DUBLIN, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Neuroendocrine Tumor Treatment Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Competition, Opportunity and Forecast, 2018-2028 Segmented By Product Analysis, By Site Analysis, By End User, By Region and Competition" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Global neuroendocrine tumor treatment market is anticipated to experience growth to 2028

This can be attributed to the rising prevalence of neuroendocrine tumors across the globe. The incidence of neuroendocrine tumors has increased notably in the past three to four decades, according to an article published in the Journal of Cancers in April 2022, titled "Advances in the Diagnosis and Therapeutic Management of Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (GEP-NENs)".

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) disease, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1), multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2), and Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome (VHL) can be owed to the increased prevalence of neuroendocrine tumor (NET). In the United States, more than 12,000 people are diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumor per year, and around 175,000 people are living with it, according to the most recent American Society of Clinical Oncology Neuroendocrine Tumor Statistics, which was updated in February 2022.



Carcinoid tumor, which typically manifests in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) or the lungs, affects between 3,000 and 30,000 persons in the United States, according to data updated in November 2021 by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences - Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center. The high frequency of neuroendocrine cancer patients worldwide is anticipated to contribute to the market's growth.



The treatment techniques for neuroendocrine tumors such as targeted therapy, radionuclide treatment, somatostatin analogs, immunotherapy, CAR-T-Cell therapy, INF, trans arterial treatment, vaccines, bispecific antibodies, and cytotoxic chemotherapy of highly differentiated and low differentiated G1 and G2 GEP neuroendocrine tumor treatments (NETs) have also observed innovations in the past few years.

This advancement in treatment techniques has led to a robust improvement in the growth of the neuroendocrine tumor treatment market.



Increased Government Initiatives



The governments of many developed nations like the United States are raising funds for research in cancer to assist in its diagnosis as well as treatment. The government is also funding numerous clinical trials to encourage companies to develop successful and effective cancer treatments. For instance, with federal government funding in cancer research, which is essential to assuring a future free of cancer, the American Institute for Cancer Research has financed almost USD110 million in research as of April 2021.

Additionally, under the 2021 Rare Cancers, Rare Illnesses and Unmet Need (RCRDUN) grant opportunity, The Department of Health of the Commonwealth of Australia January 2022 announced the availability of a grant for the study of rare cancers and rare diseases for USD 63.4 million.

Moreover, for the project `Implementing a Nurse-Enabled, Shared-Care Model to Address Unmet Needs of People with Neuroendocrine Tumor: the AUS-NET Trial,` Flinders University specifically obtained USD 2,374,220.10 in funding. Also, USD 1.5 million was invested by The Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation (NETRF) for the development of Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT), an advanced radiation therapy.

Competitive Landscape



Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the global neuroendocrine Tumor treatment market.

F Hoffmann-La Roche AG

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co

Eli Lilly & Co

Novartis AG

Pfizer Inc

Amgen Inc

Exelixis Inc

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd

AVEO Pharmaceuticals Inc

Hutchison MediPharma Ltd

Market Dynamics

Drivers

Developments and Approval of Novel Drugs

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Treatment Techniques

Increased Government and Company's' Initiatives

Market Trends & Developments

Upcoming Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs)

Ongoing Clinical Trials and R&D Programs

Adoption of Next-Generation Sequencing Techniques

Challenges

High Cost of the Treatment

Associated Side Effects of the Treatment

Stringent Regulatory Framework

Clinical Trial Analysis

Ongoing Clinical Trials

Completed Clinical Trials

Terminated Clinical Trials

Breakdown of Pipeline, By Development Phase

Breakdown of Pipeline, By Status

Breakdown of Pipeline, By Site Analysis

Breakdown of Pipeline, By Region

Clinical Trials Heat Map

Report Scope:



Neuroendocrine Tumor Treatments Market, By Product Analysis:

Somatostatin Analogs (SSA)

Targeted Therapy

Others

Neuroendocrine Tumor Treatments Market, By Site Analysis:

Lungs

Pancreas

Colon

Small Intestine

Others

Neuroendocrine Tumor Treatments Market, By End User:

Hospitals & Clinics

Ambulatory Care Centers

Others

Neuroendocrine Tumor Treatments Market, By Region:

Asia-Pacific

China

India

Japan

South Korea

Australia

Europe

France

Germany

United Kingdom

Italy

Spain

North America

United States

Mexico

Canada

South America

Brazil

Argentina

Colombia

Middle East & Africa

& South Africa

Saudi Arabia

UAE

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/s2j5rz

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SOURCE Research and Markets
DUBLIN, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Paint Additives Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Rheology Modifiers, Biocides), By Application (Architectural, Automotive), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global paint additives market is set to achieve remarkable growth, with an estimated value of USD 12,168.98 million by the year 2030, expanding at a steady CAGR of 3.8% during the forecast period.

The industry's upward trajectory is fueled by increasing demand from industrial and architectural segments, where paints and coatings find extensive applications in diverse sectors such as oil and gas, marine, aerospace, cookware and household, furniture, machinery, and automotive.

One prominent trend in the market is the shift towards the production of "green paints" - environmentally friendly paints with zero volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This eco-conscious approach is a response to the preferences of consumers who prioritize sustainable and eco-friendly solutions, further amplified by stringent regulatory policies. These factors are expected to have a positive impact on the market throughout the forecast period.

The versatility of paints and coatings is another key driver of market growth. With a wide range of product offerings, including protective, decorative, industrial, architectural, specialty, and high-temperature coatings and paints, each formulation caters to specific functions and provides unique advantages based on the type of additives used. This adaptability enables the industry to cater to the diverse needs of various end-use industries, fostering increased demand for paint additives across different sectors and regions.

Furthermore, the rise in construction spending in emerging economies is anticipated to drive the demand for paints and coatings in the buildings and construction segment, subsequently bolstering the need for paint additives. Additionally, the surge in demand for powder-based coatings is expected to benefit the overall product sector.

Geographically, the growth of the paint and coating market is closely tied to regional economic development. The mature markets of the United States, Japan, and Europe have consistently demonstrated their significance. However, the Asia-Pacific region is emerging as the fastest-growing market for this segment, accounting for approximately 55.0% of the global production. This rapid expansion in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to have a positive impact on the paint additive industry, creating new opportunities for growth and development.

It is important to note that the global market is subject to regulation and oversight by various regulatory agencies. These agencies, including the Council of the European Union, Occupational Health and Safety Associations (OSHA), and regional regulatory bodies, play a vital role in shaping the dynamics of the industry by establishing policies and norms ranging from environmental to economic considerations.

As the global paint additives market continues to evolve, industry players are urged to stay abreast of changing trends, consumer preferences, and regulatory developments to seize opportunities and drive innovation in this thriving sector.

Paint Additives Market Report Highlights

The architectural application segment is anticipated to register the highest CAGR of 4.5% from 2023 to 2030, on account of growing construction activities in developing countries, particularly in Asia Pacific and Central and South America

and Central and The Rheology modifiers is the fastest growing product segment by revenue with a CAGR of 4.4% from 2023 to 2030. The growth is mainly triggered by its high usage to reduce spattering and dripping of paints during brush application

The industry in Asia Pacific is projected to account the fastest growth by revenue with a CAGR of 4.1% from 2023 to 2030, owing to thriving construction, automotive, and marine industries

Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1 Methodology and Scope

1.1 Market Segmentation & Scope

1.2 Market Definitions

1.3 Information Procurement

1.3.1 Information analysis

1.3.2 Market formulation & data visualization

1.3.3 Data validation & publishing

1.4 Research Scope and Assumptions

1.4.1 List to Data Sources



Chapter 2 Executive Summary

2.1 Market Snapshot

2.2 Segment Snapshot

2.3 Competitive Landscape Snapshot



Chapter 3 Paint Additives Market Variables and Trends

3.1 Market Lineage Outlook

3.2 Industry Value Chain Analysis

3.2.1 Raw Material Outlook

3.2.2 Manufacturing Trends

3.2.3 Sales Channel Analysis

3.3 Price Trend Analysis

3.3.1 Factors Affecting Prices

3.4 Regulatory Framework

3.5 Market Dynamics

3.5.1 Market Driver Impact Analysis

3.5.1.1 Significance Increase of Demand from End-Use Industry Growth

3.5.1.2 Increased Demand of Paints and Coatings in Specific Regions

3.5.1.3 Increased Growth of Paints and Coatings in Aerospace Sector

3.5.2 Market Restraint Impact Analysis

3.5.2.1 Stringent Regulations Regarding Toxic Solvents

3.5.3 Industry Challenges

3.5.4 Industry opportunities

3.6 Industry Analysis Tools

3.6.1 Porter's Analysis

3.6.2 Macroeconomic Analysis



Chapter 4 Paint Additives Market: Supplier Portfolio Analysis

4.1 List of Raw Material Suppliers

4.2 Portfolio Analysis/Kraljic Matrix

4.3 Engagement Model

4.4 Negotiation Strategies

4.5 Sourcing Best Practices



Chapter 5 Paint Additives Market: Product Estimates & Trend Analysis

5.1 Product Movement Analysis & Market Share, 2022 & 2030

5.2 Paint Additives Market Estimates & Forecast, By Product (Kilotons) (USD Million)

5.2.1 Rheology Modifiers

5.2.2 Biocides

5.2.3 Anti-Foamers

5.2.4 Wet & Dispersion Agents

5.2.5 Other Product



Chapter 6 Paint Additives Market: Application Estimates & Trend Analysis

6.1 Application Movement Analysis & Market Share, 2022 & 2030

6.2 Paint Additives Market Estimates & Forecast, By Application (Kilotons) (USD Million)

6.2.1 Architectural

6.2.2 Industrial

6.2.3 Wood & Furniture

6.2.4 Automotive

6.2.5 Other Application



Chapter 7 Paint Additives Market: Regional Estimates & Trend Analysis

7.1 Paint Additives Market: Regional Outlook

7.2 North America

7.2.1 North america Paint Additives market estimates & Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

7.2.2 U.S.

7.2.2.1 Key country dynamics

7.2.2.2 U.S. Paint Additives market estimates & Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

7.2.3 Canada

7.2.3.1 Key country dynamics

7.2.3.2 Canada Paint Additives market estimates & Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

7.2.4 Mexico

7.2.4.1 Key country dynamics

7.2.4.2 Mexico Paint Additives market estimates & Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

7.3 Europe

7.3.1 Europe Paint Additives market estimates & Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

7.3.2 Germany

7.3.2.1 Key country dynamics

7.3.2.2 Germany Paint Additives market estimates & Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

7.3.3 France

7.3.3.1 Key country dynamics

7.3.3.2 France Paint Additives market estimates & Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

7.3.4 U.K.

7.3.4.1 Key country dynamics

7.3.4.2 U.K. Paint Additives market estimates & Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

7.3.5 Italy

7.3.5.1 Key country dynamics

7.3.5.2 Italy Paint Additives market estimates & Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

7.4 Asia Pacific

7.4.1 Asia Pacific Paint Additives market estimates & Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

7.4.2 China

7.4.2.1 Key country dynamics

7.4.2.2 China Paint Additives market estimates & Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

7.4.3 India

7.4.3.1 Key country dynamics

7.4.3.2 India Paint Additives market estimates & Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

7.4.4 Japan

7.4.4.1 Key country dynamics

7.4.4.2 Japan Paint Additives market estimates & Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

7.4.5 South Korea

7.4.5.1 Key country dynamics

7.4.5.2 South Korea Paint Additives market estimates & Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

7.5 Central & South America

7.5.1 Central & South America Paint Additives market estimates & Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

7.5.2 Brazil

7.5.2.1 Key country dynamics

7.5.2.2 Brazil Paint Additives market estimates & Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

7.5.3 Argentina

7.5.3.1 Key country dynamics

7.5.3.2 Argentina Paint Additives market estimates & Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

7.6 Middle East & Africa

7.6.1 Middle East & Africa Paint Additives market estimates & Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

7.6.2 South Africa

7.6.2.1 Key country dynamics

7.6.2.2 South Africa Paint Additives market estimates & Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

7.6.3 Saudi Arabia

7.6.3.1 Key country dynamics

7.6.3.2 Saudi Arabia Paint Additives market estimates & Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)



Chapter 8 Paint Additives Market - Competitive Landscape

8.1 Recent Developments & Impact Analysis, By Key Market Participants

8.2 Company Categorization

8.3 Company Market Share Analysis, 2022

8.4 Company Heat Map Analysis

8.6 Strategy Mapping

8.7 Company Listing

8.7.1 AkzoNobel N.V.

8.7.2 Arkema

8.7.3 BASF SE

8.7.4 Evonik Industries

8.7.5 Ashalnd Global Holdings Inc.

8.7.6 ANGUS Chemical Company

8.7.7 Buckman Laboratories International Inc.

8.7.8 Cabot Corporation

8.7.9 DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, Ltd.

8.7.10 Eastman Chemical Company

8.7.11 Elementis Specialties, Inc.

8.7.12 Dynea Oy

8.7.13 The Lubrizol Corporation



List of Tables

Table 1 Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 2 Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 3 Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 4 Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 5 North America Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 6 North America Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 7 North America Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 8 North America Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 9 Canada Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 10 Canada Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 11 Canada Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 12 Canada Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 13 Mexico Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 14 Mexico Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 15 Mexico Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 16 Mexico Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 17 Europe Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 18 Europe Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 19 Europe Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 20 Europe Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 21 Germany Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 22 Germany Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 23 Germany Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 24 Germany Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 25 U.K. Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 26 U.K. Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 27 U.K. Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 28 U.K. Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 29 France Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 30 France Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 31 France Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 32 France Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 33 Italy Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 34 Italy Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 35 Italy Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 36 Italy Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 37 Asia Pacific Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 38 Asia Pacific Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 39 Asia Pacific Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 40 Asia Pacific Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 41 China Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 42 China Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 43 China Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 44 China Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 45 India Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 46 India Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 47 India Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 48 India Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 49 Japan Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 50 Japan Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 51 Japan Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 52 Japan Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 53 South Korea Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 54 South Korea Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 55 South Korea Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 56 South Korea Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 57 Central & South America Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 58 Central & South America Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 59 Central & South America Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 60 Central & South America Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 61 Brazil Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 62 Brazil Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 63 Brazil Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 64 Brazil Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 65 Argentina Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 66 Argentina Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 67 Argentina Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 68 Argentina Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 69 Middle East & Africa Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 70 Middle East & Africa Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 71 Middle East & Africa Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 72 Middle East & Africa Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 73 Saudi Arabia Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 74 Saudi Arabia Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 75 Saudi Arabia Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 76 Saudi Arabia Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 77 South Africa Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 78 South Africa Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Product, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 79 South Africa Paint Additives Market Volume Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons)

TABLE 80 South Africa Paint Additives Market Revenue Estimates & Forecast By Application, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

TABLE 81 Recent Developments and Its Impact, By Key Players

TABLE 82 List of Raw Material Suppliers

TABLE 83 List of Key Manufacturers

TABLE 84 List of Key Channel Partners & Distrbutors

TABLE 85 List of Key Applicationrs



List of Figures

Fig. 1 Paint Additives Market Segmentation

FIG. 2 Information Procurement

FIG. 3 Data Analysis Models

FIG. 4 Market Formulation And Validation

FIG. 5 Data Validating & Publishing

FIG. 6 Market Snapshot

FIG. 7 Segment Snapshot

FIG. 8 Competitive Landscape Snapshot

FIG. 9 Coatings Market Value, 2022 (USD Million)

FIG. 10 Paint Additives - Industry Value Chain Analysis

FIG. 11 Paint Additives Market Dynamics

FIG. 12 Paint Additives Market: PORTER's Analysis

FIG. 13 Paint Additives Market: PESTEL Analysis

FIG. 14 Paint Additives Market, by Product: Key Takeaways

FIG. 15 Paint Additives Market, by Product: Market Share, 2022 & 2030

FIG. 16 Rheology Modifiers market estimates & forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

FIG. 17 Biocides market estimates & forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

FIG. 18 Anti-Foamers market estimates & forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

FIG. 19 Wet & Dispersion Agents market estimates & forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

FIG. 20 Other Product market estimates & forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

FIG. 21 Paint Additives Market, by Application: Key Takeaways

FIG. 22 Paint Additives Market, by Application: Market Share, 2022 & 2030

FIG. 23 Architectural market estimates & forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

FIG. 24 Industrial market estimates & forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

FIG. 25 Wood & Furniture market estimates & forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

FIG. 26 Automotive market estimates & forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

FIG. 27 Other Application market estimates & forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

FIG. 28 Paint Additives market revenue, by region, 2022 & 2030, (USD Million)

FIG. 29 Regional marketplace: Key takeaways

FIG. 30 Paint Additives Market, by Region: Market Share, 2022 & 2030

FIG. 31 North America Paint Additives market estimates & forecast, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

FIG. 32 U.S. Paint Additives market estimates & forecast, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

FIG. 33 Canada Paint Additives market estimates & forecast, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

FIG. 34 Mexico Paint Additives market estimates & forecast, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

FIG. 35 Europe Paint Additives market estimates & forecast, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

FIG. 36 Germany Paint Additives market estimates & forecast, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

FIG. 37 France Paint Additives market estimates & forecast, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

FIG. 38 U.K. Paint Additives market estimates & forecast, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

FIG. 39 Italy Paint Additives market estimates & forecast, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

FIG. 40 Asia Pacific Paint Additives market estimates & forecast, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

FIG. 41 China Paint Additives market estimates & forecast, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

FIG. 42 India Paint Additives market estimates & forecast, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

FIG. 43 Japan Paint Additives market estimates & forecast, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

FIG. 44 South Korea Paint Additives market estimates & forecast, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

FIG. 45 Central & South America Paint Additives market estimates & forecast, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

FIG. 46 Brazil Paint Additives market estimates & forecast, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

FIG. 47 Argentina Pacific Paint Additives market estimates & forecast, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

FIG. 48 Middle East & Africa Paint Additives market estimates & forecast, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

FIG. 49 Saudi Arabia Paint Additives market estimates & forecast, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

FIG. 50 South Africa Paint Additives market estimates & forecast, 2018 - 2030 (Kilotons) (USD Million)

FIG. 51 Company Categorization

FIG. 52 Strategy Mapping



Companies Mentioned

AkzoNobel N.V.

Arkema

BASF SE

Evonik Industries

Ashalnd Global Holdings Inc.

ANGUS Chemical Company

Buckman Laboratories International Inc.

Cabot Corporation

DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, Ltd.

Eastman Chemical Company

Elementis Specialties, Inc.

Dynea Oy

The Lubrizol Corporation

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/4jyt9h

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

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SOURCE Research and Markets
SHANGHAI, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Property Awards & Expo (GPAX), slated for 10-11 November 2023, is dedicated to the promotion of high-end real estate and immigration investment. The event will be hosted at the Crowne Plaza in Shanghai, China, and organised by leading industry entities 58.com, Anjuke, Simple and Overseas Investment Platform.

GPAX aspires to advance international high-end living, and focuses on five key themes of overseas real estate, migration, international education, overseas investment, and advancements in VR technology for real estate.

GPAX Shanghai 2023

GPAX will attended by:

50+ High Net Worth Individuals and their family offices.

High Net Worth Individuals and their family offices. 30+ Leading Chambers of Commerce members from various cities and provinces.

Leading Chambers of Commerce members from various cities and provinces. 20+ Leading universities' alumni associations.

Leading universities' alumni associations. 500+ Leading overseas education, migration, investment and other services agents.

The event will also be streamed by:

10,000+ Overseas education, migration, investment and other services agents in China .

Overseas education, migration, investment and other services agents in . 200,000 + Existing Anjuke database invitees.

+ Existing Anjuke database invitees. Additionally, GPAX will be covered by 300+ domestic and international media.

The event's highlight is the launch of 58.com's groundbreaking AI decoration technology. This innovative tool leverages virtual reality to deliver immersive decoration and viewing experiences for prospective home buyers that allows users to switch between different decoration styles effortlessly for a comprehensive, realistic home buying experience. This technology signifies a beginning of a revolution for the future of real estate, and affirms 58.com's commitment to pushing at the boundaries of technological innovation.

Event Organisers:

ANJUKE has an extensive Chinese real estate marketplace that spans 90 countries and 658 cities, and is working with REA Group on their Australian listing component. The platform provides real estate and rental data for over ten countries and 60+ cities, facilitating informed decision-making for users, and serves some 30 million unique website visitors a month.

SIMPLE is a global real estate transaction and distribution platform with a strong presence in Australia . With over 1,000 projects and a network of over 5000 agents, SIMPLE offers one stop real estate supply, marketing and distribution services connecting developers, agents, designers, customer service, and legal professionals worldwide.

. With over 1,000 projects and a network of over 5000 agents, SIMPLE offers one stop real estate supply, marketing and distribution services connecting developers, agents, designers, customer service, and legal professionals worldwide. OVERSEAS INVESTMENT PLATFORM supports clients in one-stop global asset allocation and other services through the platform's online lectures, private board meeting, and the annual "Belt and Road Forum on the Globalisation of Chinese Enterprises and the Overseas Investment Summit", as well as overseas business tours.

The 2023 GPAX Summit aims to serve as a dynamic platform for comprehensive discussions, explore future development, and to identify new opportunities. Companies keen on seizing opportunities within China's market are encouraged to participate in this premier event. The organisers are providing an excellent opportunity to explore the promising Chinese market and offering early bird packages at preferential prices for bookings made before September 10th.

Businesses wishing to exhibit or sponsor this event, please visit www.gpaxexpo.com for further details.

China Enquiries: Rebecca Zhang, +861862 136 588, [email protected]; Australia/New Zealand Enquiries: Eddie Wang, +61 421 729 533, [email protected]

SOURCE Anjuke
As the national nonprofit's newest Partner, former Booz Allen Hamilton leader Ebony D. Thomas will accelerate Grads of Life's efforts to help employers adopt skills-first talent strategies

BOSTON, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Grads of Life, a national initiative that helps leading employers to widen their talent pool and improve workforce equity through skills-first employment practices, today announced the appointment of Ebony D. Thomas as Partner of Strategic Growth and Operations. In her new role, Thomas will spearhead the organization's efforts to build processes and infrastructures to enhance Grads of Life's operational excellence and advisory practices.

Ebony D. Thomas

"I am ecstatic about joining Grads of Life and leveraging my consulting and organizational transformation background to help us think strategically about our next phase of growth and how we will ultimately close the Opportunity Divide," said Thomas. "Societal inequities and barriers in hiring have historically stifled broad access to upwardly mobile career paths. At the same time, corporate hiring needs far outpace what traditional, and often exclusionary, talent practices can deliver. By broadening our reach and helping more employers embrace a skills-first approach, we can unlock the true potential of individuals and enable a future in which corporations and the deep bench of wonderful talent in our country can thrive."

Thomas joins Grads of Life with over a decade of expertise in developing business solutions and leading strategic organizational transformation. In addition to her client-facing experience and expertise, she has a special, long-standing commitment to improving firm-wide DEI efforts. She most recently served as a Senior Associate at Booz Allen Hamilton, where she specialized in change management, organizational design, and business development for an array of clients including the Department of Defense, the National Institutes of Health, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Thomas also has experience in the financial sector, having worked for both Goldman Sachs and Fannie Mae prior to obtaining her MBA with a concentration in Finance and Investment Management. A sought-after expert on Employee and Business Resource Groups (ERGs, BRGs), she recently received Consulting Magazine's 2023 Global Leader Award for Excellence in DEI Programming.

"We are delighted to welcome Ebony to the Grads of Life team," said Elyse Rosenblum, Founder and Managing Director of Grads of Life. "Ebony is a true servant leader, and she brings deep expertise in developing agile teams, elevating strategic planning efforts, and advancing business solutions that deepen client relationships and drive organizational excellence. With Ebony's strategic mindset and extensive consulting experience leading change management efforts, we are confident that she will enhance our capacity to help employers adopt and implement skills-first talent practices, scale the skills-first movement, and create a more equitable and inclusive economy."

Founded in 2014, Grads of Life is one of the original architects of the skills-first movement, and now helps influential employers across the country to change their hiring practices and expand access to economic opportunity and mobility. The organization's Impact Measurement Framework, released earlier this year with support from Walmart, brought together a group of leading employers including IBM, Target, Accenture, and American Express to develop specific metrics for companies to evaluate the impact of their skills-first practices on their employees, their business, and society as a whole.

About Grads of Life

Grads of Life (GOL), an initiative of Year Up, works with leading employers to create skills-first talent strategies that deliver both business benefits and social impact, and provides employers with the insights, tools and partnerships to address talent needs while advancing racial and economic justice. For more information, visit www.gradsoflife.org or find us on LinkedIn and Twitter .

SOURCE Grads of Life
BANGALORE, India , Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Graphene Electronics Market is segmented by type (Graphene Transistors, Graphene Supercapacitors, Graphene Sensors, Graphene Ics & Chips, Others), by application (Batteries and ultracapacitors, Display, Sensors, Electro Mechanical Systems (EMS), Solar Cells, Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast 2023-2029. It is published in Valuates Reports under the Engineering & Technology Category.

The global Graphene Electronics market is projected to grow from USD 424.3 million in 2023 to USD 1318.5 million by 2029, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 20.8% during the forecast period.

Major Factors Driving The Growth Of Graphene Electronics Market

One of the key factors promoting market expansion is anticipated to be the rising demand for graphene in electronics. Vendors of graphene electronics are seeing explosive growth due to the spike in demand for flexible, transparent, and highly effective products for applications including electronic displays, sensors, and solar cells, among others. The growing desire for electronic devices with longer battery lives is also helping the market expand.

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https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-11X1375/global-graphene-electronics

TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF GRAPHENE ELECTRONICS MARKET

Supercapacitors are being employed as energy storage systems more frequently. With its enormous specific surface area, exceptional mechanical flexibility, and exceptional electrical properties, graphene makes an excellent contender for the next generation of high-performance wearable and portable gadgets. The electrical conductivity of graphene is greater than that of lithium-ion batteries. This makes it possible for cells to deliver extremely high currents while also charging more quickly. This is very helpful for large automotive batteries or quick device-to-device charging, for instance. Batteries that have high heat conductivity also operate cooler, extending their life even in small cases like a smartphone. This factor is expected to drive the Graphene Electronics Market. Furthermore, compared to current lithium-ion cells, graphene batteries are lighter and thinner. This translates to slimmer, more compact gadgets or capacities that don't require more space.

OLED and MicroLED displays, as well as backplanes, electrodes, and emitters, can all benefit from the use of graphene. Additionally, graphene can enhance designs and boost OLED lighting device efficiency. In electrical gadgets like smartphones, display components use the most power. To display images and videos on portable devices, power is typically converted into light, which consumes a lot of energy. The demands of virtual reality (VR) applications higher resolution displays with fewer pixels that can change their color more quickly and with less powercannot be met by standard technologies. With the demands of contemporary portable devices in mind, interferometric modulator displays (IMODs) are an emerging technology for displays that have low power consumption and great performance in bright conditions. This factor is expected to drive the Graphene Electronics Market.

Recently, improved access to renewable energy sources has grown to be a top priority for developing nations. Scientists are constantly exploring new ways to create effective energy-generating systems, with solar energy at the forefront of the government's attempts to develop new technology. One-atom thick sheets of carbon known as graphene are a relatively new material that has drawn attention for their effective properties. Due to graphene's exceptional conductivity and transparency, it is ideal for solar cells because they need materials that are both conductive and transparent. Although graphene is a fantastic conductor, it is not very effective in capturing the electrical current generated inside the solar cell. This factor is expected to drive the Graphene Electronics Market.

Because of the unique structure of graphene, the resulting properties can satisfy the needs of high-performance sensors. Consequently, graphene materials have been used in a variety of cutting-edge sensor materials recently. The significance and specific applications of graphene-based sensors in fields such as biomedicine, photoelectrochemistry, flexible pressure, and others are discussed in this paper. It also discusses the challenges associated with using graphene materials in sensors. This factor is expected to drive the Graphene Electronics Market.

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GRAPHENE ELECTRONICS MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS

In terms of revenue, the batteries sector dominated the market, and it is anticipated that this trend would continue during the projection period. However, throughout the forecast period of 20222031, the solar cell category is anticipated to become the market's fastest-growing section.

With a market share of% in 2022, the graphene supercapacitors sector is the market leader globally. It is made of a thin coating of pure carbon. Due to its extraordinary strength, light-absorbing materials are frequently employed in electronic applications such as energy production, grid power support, automotive, and consumer products.

The region with the biggest market share for graphene electronics in 2022 was North America. The main drivers influencing market growth are technological advancements and a preference for energy-efficient products. The market expansion in this region is being fueled by the expanding population, rising IoT device usage, and the presence of significant research universities. The USA is a nation with a sizable graphene production business in this area.

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Market By Region

North America

Europe

Asia-Pacific

Latin America

Middle East & Africa

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Key players

AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group (Netherlands), Applied Graphene Materials Plc. (U.K.), Grafoid Inc. (Canada), GrafTech International Ltd. (U.S.), Graphene Frontiers LLC (U.S.), Graphene Laboratories Inc. (U.S.), Graphene Square, Inc. (South Korea), Graphenea SA (Spain), Haydale Limited (U.K.), Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (South Korea), IBM Corporation

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SIMILAR REPORTS

- Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the global Synthetic Graphite market size is estimated to be worth USD 8833 million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 10920 million by 2028 with a CAGR of 3.6% during the review period.

- Special Graphite market was valued at USD 1423 million in 2022 and is anticipated to reach USD 2330.5 million by 2029, witnessing a CAGR of 5.5% during the forecast period 2023-2029.

- Amorphous Graphite market was valued at USD 123.4 million in 2022 and is anticipated to reach USD 219.2 million by 2029, witnessing a CAGR of 9.2% during the forecast period 2023-2029.

- Expandable Graphite market was valued at USD 183.8 million in 2022 and is anticipated to reach USD 312.4 million by 2029, witnessing a CAGR of 7.2% during the forecast period 2023-2029.

- Graphene Nano Platelets (GNPs) Electronics Market

- Graphite Paper Market

- Graphite Mine Market

- Large Flake Graphite Market

- Spherical Graphite Market

- Graphite Sagger Market

- 3D Hot Bending Glass Graphite Mold Market

- Vein Graphite market

- Battery-Grade Graphite Market

- Graphite Reboiler Market

- Machined Graphite Market

- Graphite Rods Market

- Graphite Column Market

- Graphene Baseboard Heater Market

- Reduced Graphene Oxide Market

- Graphene Anticorrosion Coating Market

- Graphene Transparent Electrode Film Market

The global Supercapacitor market was valued at USD 2445.2 million in 2022 and is anticipated to reach USD 8878.4 million by 2029, witnessing a CAGR of 20.0% during the forecast period 2023-2029.

Similar Reports for Graphene Electronics Market

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Name change celebrates accomplishments of partner Anna Greenberg

HOUSTON, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The esteemed trial lawyers at Blizzard Law are pleased to announce that the firm will now be known as Blizzard Greenberg, a change that recognizes the groundbreaking contributions of Partner Anna Greenberg and ushers in an exciting new era for the firm founded by her father, Ed Blizzard.

Ms. Greenberg joined Blizzard Law in 2018 after serving as a trial lawyer at a respected personal injury firm for four years. The two have tried several cases together and won a $44 million verdict against a Hilton hotel in Houston in 2021. While the firm is celebrating a new name, the father-daughter duo's award-winning legal strategy remains the same.

"It feels long overdue," said Mr. Blizzard, who founded the firm in 1981. "Anna has made some remarkable contributions to the firm, including launching a new practice area in hotel sexual assault cases. This recognition is hard-earned, and I am excited to further recognize her legal talents."

Trial lawyer Anna Greenberg has developed a national reputation for her advocacy on behalf of sexual assault victims, taking on large travel industry companies such as Hilton and others. In addition, Ms. Greenberg is widely known for securing favorable verdicts and settlements on behalf of her clients in a wide variety of practice areas, including catastrophic injury claims.

"This full-circle moment is so special," said Ms. Greenberg. "I am so grateful for the recognition and excited for the next chapter in building upon my father's legacy of outstanding legal work."

No stranger to professional accolades, Ms. Greenberg was named to The National Trial Lawyers: Top 40 Under 40 list for 2023, the latest edition of Texas Rising Stars, and is a repeat honoree by Best Lawyers in America. She was also named to the inaugural 2023 Lawdragon 500 X - The Next Generation legal guide and is a fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, a trial lawyer honorary society.

Mr. Blizzard repeatedly has earned distinguished recognition by Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America and was named to a shortlist of the best personal injury lawyers in Houston by Forbes Advisor.

About Blizzard Greenberg, PLLC

Blizzard Greenberg, PLLC is an award-winning national trial firm with more than 40 years of experience handling complex legal issues involving pharmaceutical and personal injury cases. For more information, visit www.blizzardlaw.com.

Media Contact:

Alyssa Woulfe

800-559-4534

[email protected]

SOURCE Blizzard Greenberg, PLLC
Financial release accessible online

BOSTON, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Haemonetics Corporation (NYSE: HAE) announced that financial results for its first quarter fiscal 2024, which ended July 1, 2023, are available on its Investor Relations website.

The Company will host a conference call and webcast with investors and analysts to discuss and answer questions about the results at 8:00 a.m. ET on August 8, 2023. The conference call and webcast can be accessed with the following information:

Teleconference link: https://register.vevent.com/register/BI161cbc44c95c40ac857474a72c5ba4c0

Once registration is completed, participants will receive a dial-in number along with a personalized PIN to access the call. While not required, it is recommended that participants join 10 minutes prior to the event start.

A live webcast of the call can be accessed on Haemonetics' investor relations website or via the following link: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/y8b7kg5q

In addition, the Company has posted to its Investor Relations website the earnings release that will be referenced on its conference call and webcast, a link to which is available below.

Direct link to 1Q FY24 Earnings Release:

https://haemonetics.gcs-web.com/static-files/59d8e57d-0800-42fb-9047-72f4fac27a89

A replay of the conference call and webcast will be available for one year beginning on August 8, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. ET using the conference call webcast link provided in this press release.

About Haemonetics

Haemonetics (NYSE: HAE) is a global healthcare company dedicated to providing a suite of innovative medical products and solutions for customers, to help them improve patient care and reduce the cost of healthcare. Our technology addresses important medical markets: blood and plasma component collection, the surgical suite and hospital transfusion services. To learn more about Haemonetics, visit www.haemonetics.com.

SOURCE Haemonetics Corporation
CAIRO, Aug. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hayel Saeed Anam (HSA) Group and SAP have today announced the graduation of 27 candidates who have successfully completed the SAP Young Professionals Program, jointly delivered in Yemen and Egypt.

For the second year, HSA Group partnered with global technology leader SAP to host the SAP Young Professionals Program in 2023. The program is a pioneering initiative run in 41 countries by the Digital Skills Center of SAP that provides unemployed or underemployed recent university graduates with three months of digital skills training to become certified SAP Associate Consultants.

The program aims to upskill young talent and help unlock candidates' digital potential. This initiative is a core component of a wider strategic partnership with SAP that is enabling HSA Group to future-proof its operations and invest in the development of its people and technology across the markets in which it operates.

All recent university graduates in Yemen and Egypt were eligible to apply for the 2023 program, which received over 3200 applications. The successful applicants took part in a comprehensive training program that was designed to develop personal and business skills, as well as provide technical knowledge of cutting-edge SAP technologies.

Nabil Hayel Saeed Anam, HSA Group  Yemen region Managing Director said:

"On behalf of HSA Group, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to this year's graduates of the SAP Young Professionals Program. We were proud to collaborate with SAP for a second year to deliver the newly expanded program in Yemen and Egypt and look forward to continuing this partnership in the future.

"We remain committed to investing in the next generation of leaders and ensuring that they have the skills and experience they need to unlock their collective potential. We will be continuing to support this important program in Yemen and Egypt and wish all applicants the greatest success."

Alp Geckalan, Head of SAP Digital Skills Center said:

"The initiatives of the Digital Skills Center create a win-win situation: local youth find a job, SAP customers and partners find talent to succeed in the digital era, and countries benefit from the digital skills created. We are looking forward to continuing our partnership with HSA Group to create further capacity in future."

The 3-month program covers SAP software functional/technical knowledge and certification, with a key focus on SAP's latest innovations as well as soft and future skill trainings. In this year's program, candidates were certified in their use of SAP Business Process Integration with SAP S/4HANA 2020 & SAP S/4HANA Cloud (Public) Implementation with SAP Activate. They also undertook training to develop their interpersonal skills, foster design thinking and learn about innovation models and interview techniques.

The 2023 graduation took place on 8 August 2023 and was attended by program graduates, Mohamed Khalifa (CITO of HSA), Dmitrii Krasiukov (COO of SAP North Africa), Alp Geckalan (Head of Digital Skills Center of SAP), SAP employees and SAP customers and partners.

Notes for editors:

About HSA Group

HSA Group is Yemen's largest company and through its 50+ operating companies in Yemen, it manufactures and supplies essential goods and services to multinational organisations and communities, both in Yemen and across the MENA region. The company serves the needs of millions of Yemenis, local and international businesses every day. Its wide-ranging activities include: producing market-leading food and beverage brands, household goods and healthcare essentials; manufacturing a diverse range of industrial and construction materials; supplying automotive vehicles; and providing insurance and financial services to Yemen.

Throughout its 85-year history, HSA Group has adopted a values-led approach to sustainable growth. The company is driven by the philosophy set by its founders: a belief in doing well by doing good. The company's values prize and reward compassion, care for others and a community spirit, guiding how it works with its employees, partners and the societies that it serves across the world.

About SAP

Visit the Digital Skills Center to find out more about the SAP Young Professionals Program.

SAP's strategy is to help every business run as an intelligent, sustainable enterprise. As a market leader in enterprise application software, we help companies of all sizes and in all industries run at their best: SAP customers generate 87% of total global commerce. Our machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics technologies help turn customers' businesses into intelligent enterprises. SAP helps give people and organizations deep business insight and fosters collaboration that helps them stay ahead of their competition. We simplify technology for companies so they can consume our software the way they want  without disruption. Our end-to-end suite of applications and services enables business and public customers across 25 industries globally to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and make a difference. With a global network of customers, partners, employees, and thought leaders, SAP helps the world run better and improve people's lives. For more information, visit www.sap.com .

This document contains forward-looking statements, which are predictions, projections, or other statements about future events. These statements are based on current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and outcomes to materially differ. Additional information regarding these risks and uncertainties may be found in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to the risk factors section of SAP's 2022 Annual Report on Form 20-F.

 2023 SAP SE. All rights reserved.

SAP and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE in Germany and other countries. Please see https://www.sap.com/copyright for additional trademark information and notices.

To preview and download broadcast-standard stock footage and press photos digitally, please visit www.sap.com/photos . On this platform, you can find high resolution material for your media channels. To view video stories on diverse topics, visit www.sap-tv.com . From this site, you can embed videos into your own Web pages, share video via email links, and subscribe to RSS feeds from SAP TV.

SOURCE HSA Group
The University of Virginias honor system recently underwent transformative changes, and its stirring debate  off Grounds.

Students at the university are now offered a variety of disciplinary actions in a major shift from the 181-year-old, single-sanction, expulsion-only system.

And while current students are by and large on board  after all it was a change spearheaded by student-run groups  alumni are divided. Some are embracing the change, while others say it is an affront to the honor the system was created to protect.

Our concern is that it has changed way too much, and its collapsing and becoming meaningless, James A. Bacon, executive director of the conservative alumni group the Jefferson Council, told The Daily Progress.

The honor system exists to foster UVas community of trust and to hold UVa to the highest standards of integrity, according to the school itself.

Students found guilty of lying, cheating or stealing were, once upon a time, punished by a single sanction of expulsion under the previous honor system.

The new system still considers honor offenses the same as the previous system, but now students who have committed an offense will be given consequences that are proportional to the offense and consider the circumstances of the student, according to the Honor Committee.

Before the multi-sanction system, the students had made a change that basically eliminated the sanction of expulsion and kind of replaced it with the single sanction of the two semesters suspension, Kennon Poteat, UVa alumnus, told The Daily Progress. They had the automatic right to return to the university after that, and I think a lot of people in the UVa community had concerns about that change. But then a year later, students made another change to it that created the multisanctioning system that restored the sanction of expulsion, but then created others so that a sanction could be handed down depending on the severity of the offense. And to me that makes much more sense than the change that had previously been made.

Poteat graduated from the McIntire School of Commerce in 2001. He also has firsthand knowledge of what goes into judging honor system offenders.

I served on the Honor Committee back in fall 2000 through spring 2001, and I was the vice chair for trial at that time, the person on the committee responsible for the various honor trials, Poteat said.

The system worked while Poteat was attending UVa, he said.

You could step away from your table at the library and you could trust that when you got back your stuff would be there when you returned, Poteat said. For the faculty, when I was there, professors would trust students to complete exams away from the classroom, which gave students flexibility and the ability to take an exam some place more comfortable than in a classroom with a bunch of other students.

In other words, you could see the system working, he said.

The new honor system has four categories of sanctions: amends, education, temporary removal and permanent removal.

Our feeling is it just kind of breaking down under its own weight, Bacon said. Most of us would like to see a return to something like when we were here, when it was simple.

Bacon said expulsion was a sanction to be feared, and with good reason.

The terms were harsh if you violated the honor code, but we preserved the integrity of what people now call the community of trust, he said.

But other alumni feel that fellow graduates really shouldnt have that much of a role in dictating how current students are governed.

From my perspective, the most important aspect is that the honor system is backed by the current generation of students, said Thomas Hall, who graduated from UVa in 2002 after serving as the first-ever two-time chair of the Honor Committee. The honor system needs to be something that is governed by the students and endorsed by the current generation of students for it to be successful.

In many ways, Halls words echo those of Thomas Jefferson, a Founding Father of both the country and UVa.

In a 1789 letter to friend and fellow Founding Father James Madison, Jefferson wrote a sort of treatise on generational sovereignty, claiming The earth belongs  to the living: that the dead have neither powers nor rights over it.

Jefferson even toyed with the idea that the Constitution should expire every 19 years, saying that otherwise it could become an act of force and not of right.

Bacon, who leads a group that works to uphold the Jeffersonian legacy, doesnt necessarily see it that way.

Current students should control the honor system, Bacon said, but there are just some things that are eternal and unchanging.

We would love to be able to engage students in that kind of conversation and say, Look this is the way it was when we were here, Bacon said. We would like to be able to make the argument for maintaining the more traditional way of doing things. So yeah, let the students control it obviously and recognize that times do change, but at the same time, recognize that theres also such things as eternal verities and eternal truths, and try to have that conversation.

The new multisanction honor system went into effect July 1. About 14 cases have resumed since then, according to Hamza Aziz, sitting chair of the Honor Committee.

I want to say 14 cases were resumed, so that means there were 14 cases that were on hold between the March referendum dates and the system in action, Aziz told The Daily Progress. Some of them went into their IR [informed retraction] periods, some of them filed an IR, others waived their IR, and the investigation process is ongoing and weve adjudicated since then like two or three cases since case-processing resumed.
ZEELAND, Mich., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Inspired by designs and technical drawings by Ray and Charles Eames, Herman Miller is pleased to announce its updated and newly named Eames Turned Stool. The iconic stool, previously titled the Eames Walnut Stool, has until now been available in solid turned walnut and in three shapes. The renamed Eames Turned Stool adds a fourth shape to the collection and expands the finish options to include ebonized ash.

Eames Turned Stool Collection by Herman Miller

As Herman Miller celebrates 100 years this year, the updated Eames Turned Stool honors the brand's rich design heritage and ongoing commitment to archival introductions and reinterpretations. The iconic design was first introduced in 1960 when Charles and Ray Eames were commissioned to design three lobbies for the newly constructed Time & Life Building at Rockefeller Center in New York City. The stool became one of the project's most famous elements and one of the most recognized pieces in Herman Miller's collection.

"According to photo documentation in the Library of Congress and technical drawings from the Herman Miller Archives, the Eames Office initially prototyped ten variations of turned stool designs," said Amy Auscherman, Director of Global Archives and Brand Heritage at MillerKnoll. "Of those ten designs, four were selected for the lobbies of the Time & Life Building, and three made their way into Herman Miller's product line. Shape "D" was included in the original Time & Life lobbies and offers a worthy addition to this now iconic family of Eames designs."

The sculptural stool is highly versatile in function and form, serving as side table and objet d'art. The concave top and bottom of each stool is designed so that it can be placed either way upa sculptural object that is a delightful host to a short-term guest, a stack of books, or a beverage.

All four Eames Turned Stools are available in the original solid turned walnut as well as a newly introduced ebonized ash finish. The newly introduced fourth shape is defined by a central section characterized by two thick, circular discs. All shapes share the original dimensions and craftsmanship and can be purchased in stores and online at Herman Miller and through Herman Miller and MillerKnoll dealers for contract customers. Visit the Herman Miller website for your region for availability.

About Herman Miller

Over the last century, Herman Miller has been guided by a commitment to problem-solving designs that inspire the best in people. Along the way, Herman Miller has forged critical relationships with the most visionary designers of the day, from mid-century greats like George Nelson, the Eames Office, and Isamu Noguchi, to research-oriented visionaries like Robert Propst and Bill Stumpfand with today's groundbreaking studios like Industrial Facility and Studio 7.5. From the birth of ergonomic furniture to manufacturing some of the twentieth century's most iconic pieces, Herman Miller has pioneered original, timeless design that makes an enduring impact, while building a lasting legacy of design, innovation, and social good. Herman Miller is a part of MillerKnoll, a collective of dynamic brands that comes together to design the world we live in. For more information, visit hermanmiller.com/about.

Herman Miller is the sole authorized manufacturer of furniture designs by Charles and Ray Eames for all markets except Europe and the Middle East. For these regions, please contact Vitra.

Resources

Eames Turned Stool Images

SOURCE Herman Miller
45+ Reasons speaks to Black communities with authentic voices to help break stigma and prevent one of the city's deadliest cancers

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Independence Blue Cross (Independence) and the Colorectal Cancer Alliance (the Alliance) announced the launch of 45+ Reasons, a campaign to get more than 5,000 Black Philadelphians ages 45-75 screened for colorectal cancer to reduce the significantly higher incidence and mortality rates of Black Americans. The campaign supports the Cycles of Impact initiative launched by Independence and the Alliance in 2022.

The campaign is a flagship program of Philadelphia's Accelerate Health Equity , a city-wide initiative to produce tangible improvement in health inequities, and ultimately achieve measurable, positive changes in health outcomes in Philadelphia. Colorectal cancer screening and treatment is a priority area for Accelerate Health Equity.

The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) lowered the minimum screening age from 50 to 45 in 2021. To ensure that the colorectal cancer prevention and screening messages reach those most at risk, the Alliance is launching a compelling new awareness campaign called 45+ Reasons. The campaign leverages authentic voices and stories to encourage Black individuals to seek information and screening options for colorectal cancer while breaking the stigma associated with the disease.

The campaign name, 45+ Reasons, highlights the new minimum screening age and invites people to identify their own personal reasons to get screened  from being able to watch a child grow up to achieving a lifelong career goal  and emphasizes the lifesaving nature of colorectal cancer screening. The community engagement, social media, and advertising campaign aims to instill much-needed trust in the healthcare system with fact-based support for colorectal cancer as a preventable cancer.

The support of Independence Blue Cross, which is funding the campaign and overall Cycles of Impact initiative, jump-started progress to address this urgent public health issue among the Black population. Recent American Cancer Society data show that Black Americans are 20% more likely to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer and 35% more likely to die from the disease. Colorectal cancer is the second most deadly cancer in the U.S., and it is also one of the deadliest cancers in Philadelphia, according to statistics from the American Cancer Society and the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

"Independence is dedicated to advancing equitable access to healthcare for all," said Gregory E. Deavens, president and CEO of Independence Blue Cross. "A key focus of our efforts is breaking down barriers to prevention, screening and care for communities who experience disparities in their health outcomes. One way we are addressing this is through this partnership with the Colorectal Cancer Alliance to reduce gaps in colorectal cancer screening rates among Black Philadelphians, who are disproportionately impacted by colorectal cancer."

"As the largest nonprofit organization solely committed to ending colorectal cancer, the Alliance is uniquely positioned to lead this bold health intervention," said Michael Sapienza, CEO of the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. "Through our innovative digital screening quiz and expert navigators, we helped more than 15,000 people across the nation access lifesaving preventive screening last year alone. We are so grateful to Independence Blue Cross for recognizing that access to quality care should not depend on your zip code."

The Alliance, in conjunction with colleagues at Penn Medicine, Salix Pharmaceuticals* and hundreds of local community health, religious and Black-owned businesses and organizations, is providing information about colorectal cancer and screening options, including home stool screening tests and colonoscopies.

Colorectal cancer screening events are being held throughout Philadelphia communities, including at Vine Memorial Baptist Church, Omega Psi Phi Men's Wellness Day, Independence Blue Cross Member Expos in October and November and Community Alliance for Development's Wellness Day on October 28. The 45+ Reasons awareness campaign is launching with radio and digital and social media advertising, some of which will feature community members expressing their personal reasons for getting screened for colon cancer.

Penn Medicine experts are helping to advise the efforts based on their experience with making cancer screenings more accessible.

"Our community screening efforts during the pandemic targeted hard-to-reach communities with lack of access to healthcare who are also adversely impacted by colon cancer," said Carmen E. Guerra, MD, vice chair of Diversity and Inclusion in the department of Medicine in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and the associate director of Diversity and Outreach at Penn Medicine's Abramson Cancer Center. "We are pleased to bring our expertise to the 45+ Reasons pilot and to continue this important work in conjunction with the Alliance. Unlike most cancers, colorectal cancer has a 91% survival rate with treatment when caught early through preventive screenings."

The Alliance is also working with Philadelphia medical centers, health systems and physician groups to help ensure that people who need colonoscopies receive access to prevention and care.

To learn more about 45+ Reasons or to take the screening quiz, visit https://45plusreasons.org/ .

For visuals from the 45+ Reasons advertising campaign: https://tinyurl.com/ye24ar9j.

*Salix, one of the largest specialty pharmaceutical companies in the world committed to the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, is donating its prescription bowel preparation product to individuals who require a colonoscopy.

Media Contacts:

Veronica Mikitka Reed, for Colorectal Cancer Alliance

[email protected]

484-241-0473

Ruth Stoolman, for Independence Blue Cross

[email protected]

215-667-9537

SOURCE Independence Blue Cross
ROCKVILLIE, Md. and SUZHOU, China, Aug. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovent Biologics, Inc. (Innovent) (HKEX: 01801), a world-class biopharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and commercializes high-quality medicines for the treatment of oncology, metabolic, autoimmune, ophthalmology and other major diseases, announced that the preclinical results of IBI363 were published in Nature Cancer (IF=22.7). The publication entitled, "IL-2R-biased agonist enhances antitumor immunity by invigorating tumor-infiltrating CD25+CD8+ T cells".

Interleukin 2 (Interleukin-2, IL-2) is the first cytokine to be discovered and identified as playing a pivotal role in T-cell growth and expansion. Aldesleukin (IL-2) was approved by U.S. Food and Drug Administration for metastatic renal cell carcinoma and metastatic melanoma in the early 1990s, but it has not been widely used in clinic due to poor selectivity, narrow therapeutic window, and side effects. As a bi-functional cytokine, IL-2 can not only activate CD4+ regulatory T cells (Treg) via interaction with IL-2 receptor  to suppress the immune system, but also stimulate CD8+ T cells and natural killer cells via its interaction with IL-2 receptor  to exert its anti-tumor effects. Most developers use the approach of eliminating IL-2 and IL-2 receptor  (IL-2R) as a strategy to reduce Treg activation while maximizing the anti-tumor effect of IL-2. However, these "not-" IL-2 muteins performed poorly in clinical studies. The published manuscript describes the mechanism underlying this discrepancy. The major observations include:

In comparison with "not-" IL-2, -biased IL-2 which retains intact IL-2R (CD25) binding showed superior anti-tumor efficacy and lower toxicity in multiple murine tumor models.

In tumor, -biased IL-2 can more effectively activate tumor-specific T cells (TSTs) because TSTs highly express CD25, which increases their interactions with -biased IL-2. In contrast, "not-" IL-2 is prone to expand CD25 negative bystander T cells, and this limits its anti-tumor efficacy. In the periphery, "not-" IL-2 can significantly expand peripheral T cells, while -biased IL2 preferentially expand peripheral Treg to restrain systemic toxicity.

Intratumoral CD25+PD -1 +CD8+ T cells exert more potent polyfunctionalities, including secreting effector molecules such as IL-2, IFN-, TNF- and GZMB, than CD25-P D-1 +CD8+ and CD25-PD -1 +CD8- T cells. CD25-blocking or IL-2-neutralizing antibodies can limit the activation of TSTs and negatively affect the anti-tumor effects of PD-1 blockade.

The corresponding author, Dr. Kaijie He of Innovent Biologics stated, "We are very pleased that the results of this study are published and highlighted in the current issue of Nature Cancer. IL-2 is one of the most important cytokines in immune-oncology, but the mechanism of action underlying its potent antitumor activity is still elusive. In this study, we propose a previously underappreciated function of CD25 in regulating IL-2 autocrine signaling in TST cells to exert their antitumor functions, and challenge the "IL-2 dogma" that has dominated the whole field in the past decades, suggesting a new approach to designing safer and more effective IL-2 drugs. At the same time, this study also proposes to use "IL-2 signature" as a novel biomarker to predict the clinical benefits of anti-PD-1 antibody in cancer patients, and provides scientific rationales of combining IL-2 and PD-1 antibody in individuals who do not respond to PD-1 blockade. Based on the findings of this study, we designed IBI363, a PD-1/IL-2 bispecific antibody fusion protein, to expand and re-invigorate the TST cells in the cold tumors and overcome resistance to PD-1 antibodies in certain populations. At present, IBI363 is in clinical Phase 1 studies to evaluate the safety and preliminary antitumor efficacy in cancer patients who have failed or are not suitable for anti-PD-1 treatment. "

IBI363 is a potential First-in-Class candidate drug independently developed by Innovent. Its active ingredient is PD-1/IL-2 bispecific antibody fusion protein. The IL-2 arm of IBI363 has been engineered to maximize efficacy and reduce toxicity, whereas the PD-1 binding arm achieves PD-1 blockade and selective IL-2 delivery. Therefore, IBI363 has both functions of simultaneously blocking PD-1/PD-L1 pathway and activating IL-2 pathway, allowing more precise and efficient targeting and activation of tumor specific T cells. IBI363 not only showed promising anti-tumor activity in a variety of tumor-bearing pharmacological models, but also exhibited prominent antitumor efficacy in PD-1 resistant and metastatic models; meanwhile, IBI363 demonstrated a good safety profile in preclinical models. Currently, Phase 1 studies of IBI363 are conducted in China and Australia to assess the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy in subjects with advanced solid tumors or lymphoma.

About Innovent

Inspired by the spirit of "Start with Integrity, Succeed through Action," Innovent's mission is to develop, manufacture and commercialize high-quality biopharmaceutical products that are affordable to ordinary people. Established in 2011, Innovent is committed to developing, manufacturing and commercializing high-quality innovative medicines for the treatment of cancer, autoimmune disease, metabolic disorder and other major diseases. On October 31, 2018, Innovent was listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited with the stock code: 01801.HK.

Since its inception, Innovent has developed a fully integrated multi-functional platform which includes R&D, CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls), clinical development and commercialization capabilities. Leveraging the platform, the company has built a robust pipeline of 35 valuable assets in the fields of cancer, metabolic disorder, autoimmune disease and other major therapeutic areas, with 9 approved products on the market. These include: TYVYT (sintilimab injection), BYVASDA (bevacizumab injection), SULINNO (adalimumab injection), HALPRYZA (rituximab injection), Pemazyre (pemigatinib oral inhibitor), olverembatinib(BCR ABL TKI), Cyramza (ramucirumab), Retsevmo (selpercatinib) and FUCASO (Equecabtagene Autoleucel). Additionally, 2 assets are currently under NMPA NDA review, 6 assets are in Phase III or pivotal clinical trials, and 18 more molecules are in clinical studies.

Innovent has built an international team with advanced talent in high-end biological drug development and commercialization, including many global experts. The company has also entered into strategic collaborations with Eli Lilly, Roche, Sanofi, Adimab, Incyte, MD Anderson Cancer Center and other international partners. Innovent strives to work with many collaborators to help advance China's biopharmaceutical industry, improve drug availability and enhance the quality of the patients' lives.

Disclaimer: Innovent does not recommend any off-label usage.

Note:

TYVYT (sintilimab injection) is not an approved product in the United States.

BYVASDA (bevacizumab biosimilar injection), SULINNO, and HALPRYZA (rituximab biosimilar injection) are not approved products in the United States.

TYVYT (sintilimab injection, Innovent)

BYVASDA (bevacizumab biosimilar injection, Innovent)

HALPRYZA (rituximab biosimilar injection, Innovent)

SULINNO (adalimumab biosimilar injection, Innovent)

Pemazyre (pemigatinib oral inhibitor, Incyte Corporation). Pemazyre was discovered by Incyte Corporation and licensed to Innovent for development and commercialization in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

CYRAMZA (ramucirumab, Eli Lilly). Cyramza was discovered by Eli Lilly and licensed to Innovent for commercialization in Mainland China.

Retsevmo (selpercatinib, Eli Lilly). Retsevmo was discovered by Eli Lilly and licensed to Innovent for commercialization in Mainland China.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain certain forward-looking statements that are, by their nature, subject to significant risks and uncertainties. The words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend" and similar expressions, as they relate to Innovent, are intended to identify certain of such forward-looking statements. Innovent does not intend to update these forward-looking statements regularly.

These forward-looking statements are based on the existing beliefs, assumptions, expectations, estimates, projections and understandings of the management of Innovent with respect to future events at the time these statements are made. These statements are not a guarantee of future developments and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond Innovent's control and are difficult to predict. Consequently, actual results may differ materially from information contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of future changes or developments in our business, Innovent's competitive environment and political, economic, legal and social conditions.

SOURCE Innovent Biologics
WASHINGTON, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kat Stafford , a national investigative writer with The Associated Press, will receive the National Press Club Journalism Institute's 2023 Neil and Susan Sheehan Award for Investigative Journalism.

Stafford is a leading voice on representation and equity; her investigative work analyzes how structural racism has fueled inequity through the lens of politics, government, health, and environmental justice. Among her journalistic work this year, she reported and published a series exploring how the legacy of racism in America has laid the foundation for health inequities Black people face throughout their lives.

"The Institute is pleased to recognize such deep reporting that puts a face on racial equity issues that so many people seem to want to brush aside," Journalism Institute President Gil Klein said. "Kat's vision and reporting in this year's 'From Birth to Death' series, which examined health care inequities for Black families in five communities throughout the country, added to her career accomplishments representing the best of investigative journalism."

Stafford joined the AP in February 2020 to cover the intersection of race and politics. Two weeks into her new role, COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, transforming her work to look at the pandemic's disparate impact on Black and other communities of color, the racial justice movement, and the presidential election.

Prior to joining the AP, Stafford was an investigative reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Her reporting there prompted city legislation, policy changes, congressional reviews, and federal and state investigations. She is a 2021-22 University of Michigan Knight-Wallace Fellowship alumni ; a 2019 Ida B. Wells Investigative Fellow ; and a 2016 Fellow of the Loyola Law School, Los Angeles' Journalist Law School.

"I am thrilled and honored to receive this incredible award," Stafford said. "Throughout my career, I have worked to shed light on structural racism and inequities that continue to impact Black Americans and people of color across our nation. This honor reaffirms the vital need for investigative journalism to remain committed to telling these truths in an unflinching, truthful manner."

Since publication, Stafford's five-part, multiformat project has received widespread praise from readers, medical professionals, journalists, and more. The project was also published and featured prominently in newspapers across the country by AP newsroom customers. Stafford has been featured in several TV and radio interviews, including NPR's Morning Edition show and BBC News. The families featured throughout the project heralded the series, sharing that for the first time in their lives, they "felt seen" through Stafford's work.

"Kat has long been a leader in using the power of investigative reporting to tell the stories of the marginalized, from the disproportionate impact of the COVID pandemic on communities of color to how structural racism continues to impact the everyday lives of these communities  in everything from the military to the health care system," said Ron Nixon, AP Vice President, News and Head of Investigations, Enterprise, Partnerships and Grants. "We are honored to see her work recognized by the National Press Club Journalism Institute with the Neil and Susan Sheehan Award for Investigative Journalism."

Stafford's history of service to representation in journalism and investigative reporting includes leadership roles with the Investigative Reporters and Editors' Board of Directors, the National Association of Black Journalists, the SPJ Detroit chapter, and the board of Eastern Michigan University's student newspaper, The Eastern Echo. Stafford has made several television appearances and regularly hosts panel discussions and trainings about race in America.

Each year, the Neil and Susan Sheehan Award for Investigative Journalism recognizes work that best reflects the Sheehans' extraordinary commitment to the principle that a vibrant democracy depends on an informed citizenry and a free press. The award promotes the practice of investigative journalism exemplifying compassion, courage, and integrity.

The Institute will confer the 2023 Sheehan Award during its annual Fourth Estate Award Gala later this fall.

The gala is a fundraiser for the Journalism Institute, the nonprofit affiliate of the National Press Club. Financial support for the Sheehan Award is provided by a generous endowment from long-time friends of the Sheehans who wish to remain anonymous. Neil Sheehan was the author of "A Bright Shining Lie," which won the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction in 1989. Susan Sheehan was the author of eight works of nonfiction. In 1983, she received a Pulitzer Prize for "Is There No Place on Earth For Me?"

The Sheehan Award was given in 2022 to PBS FRONTLINE's Local Journalism Initiative , in 2021 to The Marshall Project , a nonprofit news organization covering the U.S. criminal justice system; and in 2020 to Ed Yong , the staff writer at The Atlantic who has shaped our collective understanding of the coronavirus and its impact.

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 nonprofit affiliate of the National Press Club, the Institute powers journalism in the public interest.

Contact: Beth Francesco, National Press Club Journalism Institute executive director, [email protected]

SOURCE National Press Club Journalism Institute
FRISCO, Texas, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Launch Loyalty, powered by Careington International Corporation, announces a new affinity partnership with the Association of Dental Support Organizations. Launch Loyalty is now an endorsed affinity partner to deliver superior membership plan administration to ADSO's DSO member organizations nationwide.

Careington, a dental industry leader of 40+ years, was founded by two dentists with a plan to provide affordable access to dental care. As a pioneer in the dental space, Careington grew tremendously to provide millions of members with access to its national PPO and discount dental networks and offer custom development and administration of dental plans for large dental groups and dental offices. Through this experience gained over decades, Careington created Launch Loyalty as a full-service membership plan administrator to serve Dental Support Organizations and dental practices throughout the U.S. Launch Loyalty has extensive experience developing custom membership plans for dental practices to offer to their uninsured or underinsured patients. With more uninsured patients and plans becoming less comprehensive, the need for affordable dental care has grown tremendously  increasing demand for discount plans.

Understanding that membership plans play an important role in the success of dental group practices, ADSO sought the expertise of Launch Loyalty to provide turnkey membership plan administration to their member dentists, including custom plan design, marketing material development, nationwide compliance, dedicated support, customer service and staff training. The affinity partnership expands accessibility of Launch Loyalty's customizable membership plan solutions to ADSO member dentists, helping them to grow their business without the administrative burden of plan management so they can focus on delivering quality patient care.

ADSO evaluated several companies as part of its selection process of a new affinity partner, and Launch Loyalty was selected as a fully-vetted partner to offer membership plan administration to ADSO members.

"ADSO is pleased to welcome Launch Loyalty as an Affinity Partner offering our members' membership plan administration," said Andrew Smith, ADSO Executive Director. "ADSO went through a robust vetting process and selected a partner that offers attractive benefits to patients with system flexibility for our members. We look forward to our partnership."

Launch Loyalty collaborates with DSOs to assess and advise on the development and management of fully custom membership plans tailored for their individual practices to meet the needs of their patient base, helping with patient loyalty and retention, improved satisfaction and increased treatment acceptance.

"Launch Loyalty is proud to be an affinity partner of the ADSO to offer our turnkey solutions to its member companies nationwide," Bruce Bernstein, Launch Loyalty Vice President of Strategic Markets, said. "Improving access to affordable care has always been our corporate mission, and we are thrilled to offer our customized solutions to ADSO member companies to help make oral health care more affordable for their patients."

Careington is a nationally licensed Discount Plan Organization, uniquely positioning Launch Loyalty to provide compliant membership plans nationwide. As a nationally licensed Discount Plan Organization (DPO), Launch Loyalty eliminates the burden of plan compliance by the DSO. Careington is currently the only licensed DPO in the state of Washington. This critical administrative service sets Launch Loyalty apart.

"Endorsed by the ADSO through its membership plan affinity partnership, Launch Loyalty invites dental groups to see the competitive advantages of working with a company with deep roots in the dental space," Leesa Olson, Assistant Vice President of Launch Loyalty, said. "We have confidence that any ADSO member will experience growth in revenue and overall business by working with Launch Loyalty, so they can focus on providing care for their valued patients."

"We are very excited about our new partnership with the ADSO," Careington Chief Executive Officer Stewart Sweda said. "Careington was founded by two entrepreneurial dentists, and over more than four decades since, we have gained the dental industry expertise to help us provide innovative and successful membership programs designed for the unique needs of group dental practices."

About Launch Loyalty

Launch Loyalty, powered by Careington, is dedicated to providing turnkey administrative solutions for membership plans tailored for health care companies across the country. Launch Loyalty is a division of Careington International Corporation, an established leader in the health and wellness benefits space. Founded in 1979, Careington is a nationally recognized product aggregator and full-service administrator and one of the largest privately held discount health care companies in the nation. Today, Careington serves more than 30 million members across all industry-best companies, brands, products and services. Careington's national PPO and dental discount networks, flagship dental savings plans and growing portfolio of more than 150 health, wellness and lifestyle products and services are designed to deliver cost savings across a spectrum of life needs. For further information on Launch Loyalty and Careington's products and services, administration and custom marketing solutions, visit www.launchloyalty.com or www.careington.com.

About ADSO

The Association of Dental Support Organizations (ADSO) is a non-profit organization committed to providing support to its members, allowing affiliated dentists to focus on patients, expand access to quality dental care and improve the oral health of their communities. The ADSO represents Dental Support Organizations (DSOs) before the public, policymakers and the media. Learn more at theadso.org.

Contact:

Jamie Saunders

Vice President of Marketing and Communications

Careington International Corporation

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (800) 441-0380 ext. 2902

SOURCE Launch Loyalty
CHICAGO, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Liberty Advisor Group, a Chicago-based business and technology consulting firm, marks a milestone today as it celebrates its 15th anniversary. Founded in 2008 with the vision to build a different type of consulting firm, Liberty Advisor Group's mission is to always put its clients first and deliver tangible value.

Founded in 2008, Liberty Advisor Group's mission is always to put its clients first and deliver tangible value. Tweet this Liberty Advisor Group is celebrating its 15 year anniversary.

In these 15 years, Liberty Advisor Group has thrived on its unique blend of experience and agile, client-focused approach. The firm's unwavering commitment to doing what is right for the client at all times is the guiding principle that has led to its growth and success. Liberty Advisor Group is proud to bring the right experience to realize their client's greatest ambitions. This is what keeps its clients coming back year after year.

Chad Smith, CEO and founding partner, reflected on this significant achievement, stating, "As we celebrate our 15 year anniversary, I am so grateful to our people and clients who made it possible. We could not have come this far without their trust and belief in our vision."

Not only has Liberty Advisor Group built a reputation for its superior client service, but it has also created a strong company culture that encourages excellence, growth, and fun. The firm believes that its people are its greatest asset, and their dedication and commitment have played an integral role in achieving this landmark.

Looking ahead, the firm has set its sights on the future with optimism. "We are excited for the next 15 years. We will remain committed to continuing to realize our clients' ambitions while building a strong culture of fun and family," adds Smith.

About Liberty Advisor Group

Liberty Advisor Group is a goal-oriented, client-focused business and technology consulting firm based in Chicago. Since its inception in 2008, the firm has been committed to helping clients solve their most complex business issues, delivering tangible results that drive growth and reduce risk. Year after year Liberty has been recognized for its people, culture, and hard work. Most recently, Liberty was named to Best Workplaces in Chicago in 2023 by Great Place to Work and Fortune Magazine

SOURCE Liberty Advisor Group
NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lument Finance Trust, Inc. (NYSE: LFT) ("we," "LFT" or "the Company") today reported its second quarter 2023 results. Distributable earnings for the quarter were $1.9 million, or $0.04 per share of common stock. GAAP net income attributable to common shareholders for the quarter was $1.4 million, or $0.03 per share of common stock. The Company has also issued a detailed presentation of its results, which can be viewed at www.lumentfinancetrust.com.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

The Company will also host a conference call on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. ET to provide a business update and discuss the financial results for the second quarter of 2023. The conference call may be accessed by dialing 1-888-336-7151 (U.S.) or 1-412-902-4251 (international). Note: there is no passcode; please ask the operator to be joined into the Lument Finance Trust call. A live webcast, on a listen-only basis, is also available and can be accessed through the URL:

https://app.webinar.net/G3wzB3Pq64P

For those unable to listen to the live broadcast, a recorded replay will be available for on-demand viewing approximately one hour after the end of the event through the Company's website https://lumentfinancetrust.com/ and by telephone dial-in. The replay call-in number is 1-877-344-7529 (U.S.) or 1-412-317-0088 (international) with passcode 6083439.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In this release, the Company presents certain financial measures that are not calculated according to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"). Specifically, the Company is presenting distributable earnings, which constitutes a non-GAAP financial measure within the meaning of Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K and is net income under GAAP. While we believe the non-GAAP information included in this press release provides supplemental information to assist investors in analyzing our results, and to assist investors in comparing our results with other peer issuers, these measures are not in accordance with GAAP, and they should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, our financial information calculated in accordance with GAAP. The methods of calculating non-GAAP financial measures may differ substantially from similarly titled measures used by other companies. Our GAAP financial results and the reconciliations from these results should be carefully evaluated.

Distributable Earnings

Distributable Earnings is a non-GAAP measure, which we define as GAAP net income (loss) attributable to holders of common stock computed in accordance with GAAP, including realized losses not otherwise included in GAAP net income (loss) and excluding (i) non-cash equity compensation, (ii) depreciation and amortization, (iii) any unrealized gains or losses or other similar non-cash items that are included in net income for that applicable reporting period, regardless of whether such items are included in other comprehensive income (loss) or net income (loss), and (iv) one-time events pursuant to changes in GAAP and certain material non-cash income or expense items after discussions with the Company's board of directors and approved by a majority of the Company's independent directors. Distributable Earnings mirrors how we calculate Core Earnings pursuant to the terms of our management agreement between our Manager and us, or our Management Agreement, for purposes of calculating the incentive fee payable to our Manager.

While Distributable Earnings excludes the impact of any unrealized provisions for credit losses, any loan losses are charged off and realized through Distributable Earnings when deemed non-recoverable. Non-recoverability is determined (i) upon the resolution of a loan (i.e. when the loan is repaid, fully or partially, or in the case of foreclosures, when the underlying asset is sold), or (ii) with respect to any amount due under any loan, when such amount is determined to be non-collectible.

We believe that Distributable Earnings provides meaningful information to consider in addition to our net income (loss) and cash flows from operating activities determined in accordance with GAAP. We believe Distributable Earnings is a useful financial metric for existing and potential future holders of our common stock as historically, over time, Distributable Earnings has been a strong indicator of our dividends per share of common stock. As a REIT, we generally must distribute annually at least 90% of our taxable income, subject to certain adjustments, and therefore we believe our dividends are one of the principal reasons stockholders may invest in our common stock. Furthermore, Distributable Earnings help us to evaluate our performance excluding the effects of certain transactions and GAAP adjustments that we believe are not necessarily indicative of our current loan portfolio and operations and is a performance metric we consider when declaring our dividends.

Distributable Earnings does not represent net income (loss) or cash generated from operating activities and should not be considered as an alternative to GAAP net income (loss), or an indication of GAAP cash flows from operations, a measure of our liquidity, or an indication of funds available for our cash needs.

GAAP to Distributable Earnings Reconciliation





Three months Ended









June 30, 2023





Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Information









Net Income attributable to common shareholders

$ 1,389,185





Adjustments for non-Distributable Earnings









Unrealized losses (gains) on mortgage servicing rights

(206)





Unrealized provision for credit losses

555,083





Subtotal

554,877





Other Adjustments









Recognized compensation expense related to restricted common stock

2,836





Adjustment for income taxes

223





Subtotal

3,059

















Distributable Earnings

$ 1,947,121

















Weighted average shares outstanding - Basic and Diluted

52,231,152





Distributable Earnings per weighted share outstanding - Basic and Diluted

$ 0.04







About LFT

LFT is a Maryland corporation focused on investing in, financing and managing a portfolio of commercial real estate debt investments. The Company primarily invests in transitional floating rate commercial mortgage loans with an emphasis on middle-market multi-family assets.

LFT is externally managed and advised by Lument Investment Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

Investors, security holders and other interested persons may find additional information regarding the Company at the SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov/ or the Company website www.lumentfinancetrust.com or by directing requests to: Lument Finance Trust, 230 Park Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10169, Attention: Investor Relations.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements included in this press release constitute forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the safe harbor contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act, as amended. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. You can identify forward-looking statements by use of words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "project," "estimate," "plan," "continue," "intend," "should," "may," "will," "seek," "would," "could," or similar expressions or other comparable terms, or by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company's beliefs, assumptions and expectations of its future performance, taking into account all information currently available to the Company on the date of this press release or the date on which such statements are first made. Actual results may differ from expectations, estimates and projections. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements in this press release and should consider carefully the factors described in Part I, Item IA "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, which is available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov, and in other current or periodic filings with the SEC, when evaluating these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond the Company's control. Except as required by applicable law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Lument Finance Trust, Inc.
LAS VEGAS, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Luxury Realty Group LLC today announced it has become America's first US luxury real estate brokerage to have launched AI implementation across its brokerage operations.

AI Avatar

In a first-of-its-kind use case, Luxury Realty Group is currently developing a conversational AI-powered virtual assistant in the form of an avatar to transform search experience for people who are looking to buy luxury homes and high-rise condos. Consumers will no longer have to manually enter limited search criteria into real estate websites and portals. Instead, consumers will engage with a conversational AI avatar which will provide a variety of luxury real estate functions. They will ask the avatar to show them homes and condos that match their search criteria and a future option is planned to request a conversational walk-through home tour. Further, the learning avatar will send alerts to consumers and suggest properties they might consider as part of their search.

Luxury Realty Group is building the virtual assistant partnering with Kore.ai, the world's leading enterprise AI platform and solutions company. Orlando-based Kore.ai enables global businesses to enhance customer and employee experiences through virtual assistants and pre-trained AI solutions built on top of its no-code Experience Optimization (XO) Platform, leveraging generative AI (GenAI), large language models (LLMs) and proprietary conversational AI technologies.

An interesting way to create demand and drive property sales is to present unique stories associated with each luxury home using Luxury Realty Group's unique Our Luxury Home's Special Story marketing feature. Using the avatar, home sellers who list their homes with Luxury Realty Group can narrate interesting tales and anecdotes that went into the design and creation of the home.

Bruce Hiatt, Owner/Broker of Luxury Realty Group says "Many innovations were made over the years toward that objective by our subsidiary software company, Talega Systems. However, now with AI technology, we believe we can do so much more. That's why we forged a partnership with Kore.ai, which is the world's leading enterprise AI platform company. Our proprietary TalegaAI software product will seamlessly interface with the Kore.ai platform and Virtually-Human B.V. to drive superior luxury real estate experiences."

"We are excited to see all kinds of businesses explore and experiment with conversational AI technologies for customer experience," said Kore.ai Founder and CEO Raj Koneru. "Thanks to our Product-led Growth (PLG) model, Luxury Realty Group has opened up new possibilities of creating customer delight in a premium luxury brand segment through virtual avatars and immersive experiences. We see a significant opportunity to create value for consumers and sellers in this space through automated self-service, and personalized and contextual conversational experiences powered by our platform technology. PLG allows players like Luxury Realty Group to innovate and scale at their own pace."

About Luxury Realty Group LLC and Talega Systems LLC

Subsidiary Luxury Realty Group LLC was formed in 2004 and Talega Systems LLC in 2017. Luxury Realty Group has a long history of many luxury home and high-rise condo clients in Las Vegas, NV. License disclosures: Bruce Hiatt, Broker, Nevada License B.050917.LLC and Nicholas Kuhn, Broker-Salesperson, Nevada License BS.0146618

About Kore.ai

Kore.ai is a global leader in the conversational AI-first platform and solutions, helping enterprises automate business interactions to deliver extraordinary experiences for their customers, employees, and contact center agents. More than 400 Fortune 2000 companies trust Kore.ai's experience optimization (XO) platform and technology to automate their business interactions for over 200 million users worldwide to achieve extraordinary outcomes. Kore.ai has been recognized as a leader and an innovator by top analysts and ensures the success of its customers through a growing team headquartered in Orlando with offices in India, the UK, Japan, South Korea, and Europe.

Bruce Hiatt

Luxury Realty Group LLC

702-456-7080 x201

[email protected]

SOURCE Luxury Realty Group LLC
Red Table Talk Host Adrienne "Gammy" Banfield Norris, Miss Universe 2022 R'Bonney Gabriel, Tony Award Winning Actress Laura Benanti, Comedian and Actor Sebastian Maniscalco and More Call on You to Thank Seniors in Your Life this August

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- At a time when 24% of seniors report feeling socially isolated and 43% say they feel lonely on a regular basis, Meals on Wheels America  the national leadership organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs dedicated to addressing senior hunger and isolation across the U.S.  has launched its second annual #RespectYourElders campaign, a call to value our senior neighbors who are being hit especially hard by the epidemic of loneliness and isolation.

For too long, America has allowed seniors to fall into the shadows, which can have dire health consequences, but we all have the power to help. That's why a team of celebrity supporters are sharing heartwarming videos that raise up the stories, smiles and charming personalities of meaningful elders in their lives, and calling on everyone to do the same.

Several have already answered the call to #RespectYourElders on social media:

Other famous participants who will be joining the campaign this month include Miss Universe 2022 R'Bonney Gabriel, actresses Laura Benanti, Barrett Doss and Chaunte Wayans, actor Malik Yoba, Kim Murstein creator of @excusemygrandma and author Shelby Hoefling.

"When most people think of Meals on Wheels, they think food delivery, but that's really just the beginning of what these community-based organizations offer," said Ellie Hollander, President and CEO of Meals on Wheels America. "Frequent meal delivery opens the door to a wide range of social connection opportunities, and as our volunteers know, seniors hold a treasure trove of wisdom, resilience and experiences from which we can all benefit. With our #RespectYourElders campaign, it's our hope that everyone spends more time with seniors in their own lives, embracing their wisdom and showering them with the care and attention they deserve."

The seniors Meals on Wheels programs serve are often isolated and experiencing loneliness. For many homebound seniors, a Meals on Wheels volunteer is the only person they might see all day or all week long. You can help by supporting Meals on Wheels, spending time with seniors in your own life and posting about #RespectYourElders so others do the same. You can also visit https://respectyourelders.signforgood.com/, where you can create and display a custom thank you card for a senior or seniors who have made an impact on your life.

Head to https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/respect-your-elders to learn more about the #RespectYourElders campaign.

ABOUT MEALS ON WHEELS AMERICA

Meals on Wheels America is the leadership organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior hunger and isolation. Powered by a dedicated volunteer workforce, this network delivers the nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks that enable America's seniors to live nourished lives with independence and dignity. By providing funding, leadership, education, research and advocacy, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time. For more information, or to find a Meals on Wheels provider near you, visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org .

SOURCE Meals on Wheels America
After petitioning the city for years, Kevin Cox may soon see a dirt path on East High Road converted into a proper sidewalk.

Cox, who has long been determined to see more sidewalks built in Charlottesville, received an update Thursday from new City Manager Sam Sanders.

In an email sent days after The Daily Progress published a story about the matter, Sanders said that the proposed sidewalk would not be completed before the start of the school year, as had once been indicated to Cox.

But the good news is still that the timeline I provided of this project happening this year is still the intended deadline for the project to be completed, Sanders wrote.

Cox said he found the message encouraging.

Its a little different than previous promises, because he qualified it. He said, Were going to try to get it done, and put in bold font and underlined this year, Cox told The Daily Progress. Both are good signs to me that maybe actually it will get done.

Still, after decades crusading for sidewalks, the Charlottesville resident is remaining vigilant.

I do think this is legit and I do think Sanders means it, but I have been burned before. Many promises have been made to me about that little dirt path, so Im a little bit cautious, Cox said. But I like Sanders, and I do believe he means it this time.

The Daily Progress recently visited the little dirt path in question.

During the course of 10 minutes, multiple people walked across the parking lot in front of Charlottesville Glass and Mirror and onto the narrow cowpath, which has been formed over time by the heavy foot traffic that passes along each day.

In a video recorded by Cox and later shown to The Daily Progress, a man in a wheelchair had to push himself onto busy East High, unable to take his chair across the dirt and grass. In another video, a mother with a stroller took a long detour around a buildings back parking lot rather than risk the more rugged dirt route or taking her child out into the street.

In Sanders email to Cox, the city manager said a survey of the path has been initiated. He expects it to be finished by the end of August.

Next month, the city will attempt to find a contractor and will also consider using city staff for construction.

We could see construction in October, but I am not committing to that just yet, Sanders wrote. The update is that we are still working to finally deliver this long-awaited sidewalk section this year, as indicated by me earlier this year.

That would be music to Coxs ears.

Itd be great because that little missing piece of sidewalk is an important link in a regular pedestrian route than many people use. You can take a wheelchair from Downtown all the way to Pantops except for that link, Cox said.

It would also be a success for Sanders.

Building a new sidewalk, even a small one, would be a direct response to demands city taxpayers have had for years.

And it could also help prevent a scenario that has been terrifying Sanders: a lawsuit for not complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Were at risk. We could get hit with a lawsuit any day from anyone. And the Department of Justice, if they came here, would tell us to pay up. Thats how bad it is, Sanders told listeners at a July 20 meet-and-greet shortly after being named city manager.

Sanders said hes been working very hard to improve the citys ADA compliance, including adding an additional staff position to support those efforts and selecting a contractor for a new transition plan.

At minimum, if a federal or state official inspected the citys ADA compliance, Sanders said he wanted to be able to show best efforts.

That could prevent Charlottesville from being a headline in national news like some other communities that have chosen to do nothing, Sanders said. We have a lot of folks who love to come to the city, and we should ensure that those folks get to experience it the same as everyone else.

Still, there is much work to be done. And Cox said he knows it.

His wife, Sarah Pool, is blind. She frequently emails the city about its ADA violations, and she has trouble navigating sidewalks that are cracked, nonexistent or covered with vegetation.

People are forced into the street after getting smacked in the face by a stray branch or getting their wheelchairs tangled up in vines on the sidewalk, Cox wrote on Friday to Stacey Smalls, the citys director of public works, in an email obtained by The Daily Progress. Blocked and missing sidewalks make many disabled people prisoners in their own homes.
TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MHK, a leading healthcare technology provider and part of the Hearst Health network, announced today that Dr. Maurice Herbelin joined the company as the new chief medical officer. The announcement was made by Conor Bagnell, president of MHK.

As chief medical offer, Dr. Herbelin leads the company's clinical strategy and provides thought leadership to ensure MHK's suite of solutions continually evolves to deliver value for clients across the dynamic healthcare landscape.

"It gives me great pleasure to welcome Maurice to MHK," said Bagnell. "He is a seasoned entrepreneurial physician executive with a track record of providing vision, strategy and leadership through the build and implementation of innovative solutions leveraging technology, data, analytics and strategic channel partnerships."

Before joining MHK, Dr. Herbelin held CMO-level leadership roles across the UnitedHealth Group, Optum and the UnitedHealthcare family of companies for close to a decade. He was responsible for architecting and leading several new market offerings to drive growth and transformation for the company and was recognized for his contributions by receiving the UnitedHealth Group Stephen J. Hemsley CEO Innovation Award. Outside of the UnitedHealth Group, Dr. Herbelin has consulted as an industry expert and provided CMO-level leadership to several companies across various domains of the healthcare ecosystem.

"MHK has a strong foundation that is well-positioned for growth and differentiation between its platform, client base and ownership structure through Hearst Health," commented Dr. Herbelin. "I'm looking forward to working with the team to deliver solutions that support clinical transformation and success in value-based care across both payer and provider ecosystems."

Dr. Herbelin is board-certified in emergency medicine and clinical informatics and practiced medicine for UC Davis Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente and Tahoe Forest Hospital. He attended the University of Southern California for his undergraduate and UC San Diego for medical school. He completed his residency training at UC Davis Medical Center and studied healthcare systems as a Fulbright Scholar in Spain.

About MHK MHK, part of the Hearst Health network, serves as a trusted technology partner, guiding our health plan and PBM clients to excel in compliance, improve health outcomes and deliver operational efficiencies. Starting at the point of enrollment and continuing throughout the member care journey, MHK technology brings together vital information into centralized technology trusted by top-ranking plans across the nation. Four of the top five and seven of the top ten health plans are served by MHK and forty percent of all 4-5 Star Medicare health plans utilize MHK solutions. For more information, visit mhk.com. Follow MHK on LinkedIn @MHK or Twitter @MedHOK360.

About Hearst Health

The mission of Hearst Health is to help guide the most important care moments by delivering vital information into the hands of everyone who touches a person's health journey. Care guidance from Hearst Health reaches the majority of people in the U.S. The Hearst Health network includes FDB (First Databank), Zynx Health, MCG, Homecare Homebase and MHK. Hearst also holds a minority interest in the precision medicine and oncology analytics company M2GEN. Follow Hearst Health on Twitter @HearstHealth and LinkedIn @Hearst-Health .

SOURCE MHK
Joining Benchmark and Mayfield, the additional investment brings total seed funding raised to $46.5M to fuel the democratization of AI application development

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MindsDB , an artificial intelligence virtual database enabling the creation of the next wave of AI-centered applications, today announced an investment from NVentures, NVIDIA's venture capital arm, bringing total seed funding raised to $46.5 million.

The latest round  which includes existing investors Benchmark , Mayfield , Y Combinator, OpenOcean and Walden Catalyst  will further advance MindsDB's mission, making AI more accessible to all businesses by enabling the world's 30 million software developers to implement AI capabilities in their products.

"Today, there are close to 30 million software developers around the world, but only less than five percent are proficient AI/ML engineers," said Jorge Torres, Co-Founder and CEO of MindsDB. "However, the world is facing a new transformation where most software that you know today will need to be upgraded with an AI-centric approach. To accomplish this, every developer worldwide, regardless of their AI knowledge, should be capable of producing, managing and plugging AI models to existing software infrastructure. This is the exact issue that our AI database resolves."

"Businesses everywhere see the extraordinary potential generative AI can have for their operations, but there's an acute shortage of specialized talent to help bring this capability within their reach," said Mohamed (Sid) Siddeek, Corporate Vice President and Head of NVentures. "MindsDB is helping to change that, increasing the accessibility of AI for companies of all sizes."

"We were immediately impressed with MindsDB's success in open source, the broad reach of its platform for building AI into applications, and its extensive partnerships across the database and AI ecosystems," said Navin Chaddha, Managing Partner at Mayfield. "The team has built a uniquely innovative platform to increase AI accessibility within organizations and we see a clear opportunity to help scale an organization leading the way in empowering business to seamlessly create and deploy generative AI apps."

MindsDB has more than 130 integrations and enables developers to manage AI models from the most advanced ML frameworks including Hugging Face, Cohere, LangChain, Nixtla, and to plug them to data in platforms like Amazon Redshift, Google BigQuery, MySQL, Postgres, MongoDB and Snowflake.

On top of more than 150,000 open source deployments, MindsDB Pro Cloud is used by more than 100 emerging startups and small-to-medium sized businesses, helping companies like Bytes, Dumuso, JourneyFoods, Progressify, Precise Finance, Rize and more , to improve their products and internal operations.

"Institutional investors use Precise Finance's B2B embedded finance platform to evaluate smaller companies with the help of AI. Since using MindsDB, we have removed the need for data engineers and data scientists, putting AI development skills directly in the hands of our domain experts," said Dan Shapir, Co-founder and CTO of Precise Finance. "As a result, we not only improved both accuracy and ease of use for our domain experts, but we greatly reduced the time it takes for our customers to evaluate potential investments, allowing for a streamlined onboarding process that maintains stringent underwriting standards for the financial sector."

"With MindsDB, we have used our existing team and technical resources to implement advanced Machine Learning models faster and with less complexity," said Sameer Nayyar, EVP of product and operations at Domuso, a next-generation financial services platform offering comprehensive payment processing solutions for multifamily properties. "It has positively impacted our business, and we saw a reduction of chargebacks by $95k over two months and a saving of $500,000 over the year."

The company is also recognized as one of the most promising AI companies from Forbes and by Gartner as a Cool Vendor for Data and AI (2022).

About MindsDB

MindsDB enables developers to create the next wave of AI-centered applications that will transform the way we live and work. MindsDB was founded in 2017 by Adam Carrigan (COO) and Jorge Torres (CEO) and is backed with $46.5M in seed funding from Benchmark, Mayfield, MMC, NVentures, OpenOcean, SpeedInvest, TQ Ventures, University of California Berkeley SkyDeck Fund, Walden Catalyst Ventures and YCombinator. MindsDB is also recognized by Forbes as one of America's most promising AI companies (2021) and by Gartner as a Cool Vendor for Data and AI (2022). To see how MindsDB can help you visit www.mindsdb.com or follow us @MindsDB.

Media Contact:

Jordan Beadle

[email protected]

SOURCE MindsDB
GUANGZHOU, China, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MINISO Group Holding Limited (NYSE: MNSO; HKEX: 9896) ("MINISO", "MINISO Group" or the "Company"), a global value retailer offering a variety of design-led lifestyle products, today announced that it plans to release its June quarter 2023 and fiscal year 2023 financial results before the U.S. market opens on Tuesday, August 22, 2023.

The Company's management will hold an earnings conference call at 3:00 A.M. Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday, August 22, 2023 (3:00 P.M. Beijing Time on the same day) to discuss the financial results. The conference call can be accessed by the following zoom link or dialing the following numbers:

Access 1

Join Zoom meeting.

Zoom link: https://dooyle.zoom.us/j/87376379858?pwd=dEs5ZUFaRWxHTkxHVCtnaWc1MzdlZz09

Meeting Number: 873 7637 9858

Meeting Passcode: 9896

Access 2

Listeners may access the call by dialing the following numbers by using the same meeting number and passcode with access 1.

United States: +1 213 338 8477 (or +1 646 518 9805) Mainland China: 400 182 3168 (or 400 616 8835) Hong Kong, China: +852 5803 3730 (or +852 5803 3731) United Kingdom: +44 203 481 5237 (or +44 131 460 1196) France: +33 1 7037 9729 (or +33 1 7037 2246) Singapore: +65 3158 7288 (or +65 3165 1065) Canada: +1 438 809 7799 (or +1 204 272 7920)



Access 3

Listeners can also access the meeting through the Company's investor relations website at https://ir.miniso.com/.

The replay will be available approximately two hours after the conclusion of the live event at the Company's investor relations website at https://ir.miniso.com/.

About MINISO Group

MINISO Group is a global value retailer offering a variety of design-led lifestyle products. The Company serves consumers primarily through its large network of MINISO stores, and promotes a relaxing, treasure-hunting and engaging shopping experience full of delightful surprises that appeals to all demographics. Aesthetically pleasing design, quality and affordability are at the core of every product in MINISO's wide product portfolio, and the Company continually and frequently rolls out products with these qualities. Since the opening of its first store in China in 2013, the Company has built its flagship brand "MINISO" as a globally recognized retail brand and established a massive store network worldwide. For more information, please visit https://ir.miniso.com/.

Investor Relations Contact

Raine Hu

MINISO Group Holding Limited

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +86 (20) 36228788 Ext.8039

Eric Yuan

Christensen Advisory

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +86 1380 111 0739

SOURCE MINISO Group Holding Limited
- The Choice of Modern Moms: MomMed Breast Pump Stands Out in the Market

NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MomMed, a renowned mother and baby brand, proudly announces that its flagship product, the S21 Breast Pump, has received three prestigious industry awards in 2023: the NAPPA Awards, Family Choice Awards, and Parents' Picks Awards. The S21 Breast Pump, launched by MomMed at the end of 2022, quickly garnered widespread acclaim from users. This triple recognition from esteemed industry awards showcases not only the product's popularity in the market but also its acknowledgment by authoritative organizations.

The Choice of Modern Moms: MomMed Breast Pump Stands Out in the Market

The National Parenting Product Awards (NAPPA) is one of the longest-running and most respected awards programs in the country. With 33 years of experience in the industry, NAPPA has been continuously celebrated as the go-to source for parents and professionals seeking the best products for their children and families. After a comprehensive month-long evaluation process, MomMed's S21 Breast Pump successfully obtained the committee's approval and was honored with the 2023 National Parenting Product Awards.

Some evaluation praised the product, stating, "There are a lot of accessories included. That's a very nice touch." "These wearable pumps are a solid option. They are lightweight and a nice shape. The quality is good. The assembly is slightly different than most other pumps in that the diaphragm is a unique bucket shape rather than a small disk." Some also expressed their satisfaction, saying, "The parts are easy to clean. The charge on the motor is fast, and the battery is long-lasting." "The box includes many extras such as disposable milk storage bags, two charging cables, a bra extender, replacement diaphragms and duckbill valves, smaller flange inserts, dust bags for the pumps, and even an informative breastfeeding manual. It's a great all-in-one package."

The Family Choice Awards honors the best products, services, and resources for all members of a family, including beloved pets. Now in its 19th year, this award program stands as one of the most sought-after, family-friendly consumer awards programs in the nation.

The Parents' Picks Awards is a leading platform that showcases parent-tested and kid-approved products. To become a Parents' Picks Award Winner, products undergo a rigorous approval process based on over 50 criteria, including engagement, ease of use, innovativeness, quality, durability, and creative thinking. The awards committee guarantees that each product or service listed on its site comes highly recommended by their team of parents, kids, and experts.

In the 2023 evaluation, the MomMed S21 Breast Pump was selected as the "Winner of a 2023 Family Choice Award" and also received "The Best Baby Products & Toddler Products of 2023" in The Parents' Picks Awards. The product's multiple modes and levels, excellent leak-proof performance, lightweight and discreet design, perfect low noise level, and rich array of accessories have gained recognition from both awarding bodies. This recognition further showcases MomMed's commitment to user-centered design and its dedication to providing premium quality products.

"Receiving these esteemed accolades is a moment of great joy and accomplishment for all of us at MomMed. It reaffirms our commitment to serving the needs of modern moms and supporting them in their breastfeeding journey with the utmost care and compassion."said Alex, founder of MomMed. "This recognition will further fuel our determination to continue delivering cutting-edge solutions that empower and support mothers on their unique parenting journeys. Together, we will continue to push the boundaries of excellence in mother and baby care."

As World Breastfeeding Week approaches this year, MomMed has also launched a special "Caring and Giving Back" campaign. In addition to inviting real moms for interviews about their breastfeeding experiences, MomMed has collaborated with social influencers for exciting giveaway events. The brand is dedicated to supporting and celebrating the journey of motherhood, and remains committed to providing top-quality products and initiatives that empower and uplift moms everywhere.

About MomMed

MomMed is a baby and maternity brand dedicated to providing helpful products and fostering a loving, caring, and supportive community. Its notable products are the test strips series and wearable breast pumps for women, as well as baby scales for babies. Whether you are a new mom or an experienced one, MomMed understands the challenges and joys of motherhood, and strives to provide you with the support and resources you need to make the most of this special time in your life.

For more information, please visit: https://mommed.com/

PR CONTACT: [email protected]

SOURCE MomMed
NEO: SHWZ

OTCQX: SHWZ

DENVER, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Schwazze, (OTCQX: SHWZ) (NEO: SHWZ) ("Schwazze" or the "Company"), a multi-state operating cannabis company with assets in Colorado and New Mexico, announces the grand opening of its medical and recreational dispensary, R.Greenleaf Hobbs, which opened on Saturday, August 5, 2023. The new store is located at 1901 Joe Harvey Blvd #130 in Hobbs, NM 88240. Store operating hours are 8a to 11p Monday through Saturday; 8a to 8p on Sunday.

The R.Greenleaf Hobbs store opening continues the Company's expansion throughout New Mexico and comes on the heels of eight additional R.Greenleaf store openings since Schwazze's acquisition of the retail banner in February 2022. This opening along with the recent acquisition of Everest brings Schwazze's total number of New Mexico retail dispensaries to 33. All locations serve the needs of medical patients as well as recreational adult-use consumers.

"We are excited to be a part of the growing cannabis community in New Mexico and to open an additional R.Greenleaf dispensary in the state. The team has been hard at work preparing to serve our customers in and around the city of Hobbs offering a wide variety of quality products serviced by dedicated, knowledgeable staff," said Ken Bair, Senior Vice President of New Mexico Retail.

Since April 2020, Schwazze has acquired, opened, or announced the planned acquisition of 62 cannabis retail dispensaries (bannered as Star Buds, Emerald Fields, R. Greenleaf, Standing Akimbo, and Everest) as well as eight cultivation facilities and three manufacturing plants across Colorado and New Mexico. In May 2021, Schwazze launched its Biosciences division, and in August 2021 it commenced home delivery services in Colorado.

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.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements." Such statements may be preceded by the words "plan," "will," "may," "continue," "predicts," or similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future events or performance, are based on certain assumptions, and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control and cannot be predicted or quantified. Consequently, actual events and results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with (i) our inability to manufacture our products and product candidates on a commercial scale on our own or in collaboration with third parties; (ii) difficulties in obtaining financing on commercially reasonable terms; (iii) changes in the size and nature of our competition; (iv) loss of one or more key executives or scientists; (v) difficulties in securing regulatory approval to market our products and product candidates; (vi) our ability to successfully execute our growth strategy in Colorado and outside the state, (vii) our ability to consummate the acquisition described in this press release or to identify and consummate future acquisitions that meet our criteria, (viii) our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses, including the acquisition described in this press release, and realize synergies therefrom, (ix) the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, * the timing and extent of governmental stimulus programs, and (xi) the uncertainty in the application of federal, state and local laws to our business, and any changes in such laws. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as required by law.

SOURCE Schwazze
Rapid and higher epinephrine absorption - for potentially quicker rescue of patients in anaphylactic shock

TEL AVIV, Israel, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nasus Pharma Ltd a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing needle-free, powder-based Intranasal (PBI) product portfolio, to address acute medical conditions announced the publication of positive results from a clinical study of intranasal powder-based Epinephrine.

FMXIN002 is an investigational intranasal epinephrine powder spray device that is noninvasive, user-friendly and reliable and could provide timely effective rescue for severe potentially life-threatening allergic reactions to food, medications and insect bites. The clinical study provides additional compelling evidence to the robustness of Nasus Pharma's intranasal powder technology already tested in other drugs. Importantly the pharmacokinetics of the powder-based intranasal epinephrine can potentially abate multiple concerns recently raised within the medical community as to the adequacy of other intranasal solution-based epinephrine with regards to protection in the immediate period following anaphylactic shock development.

"The results of Nasus's FMXIN002 powder intranasal epinephrine study show that it can provide a safer and more effective rescue for the emergency treatment of life-threatening allergic reactions by providing a compact easy-to-use device and quicker absorption of Epinephrine," said Dr. Dalia Megiddo. Nasus Pharma CEO. "The publication of our results in a prominent scientific journal such as JACI: In Practice will ensure the dissemination of FMXIN002's promise within the relevant medical community."

The FMXIN002 clinical study was an open-label, ascending dose, two-period, three-treatment, comparative bioavailability study designed to compare the PK profile of FMXIN002 with the current standard of care- an intramuscular epinephrine autoinjector. (EpiPen , Mylan )

Twelve (12) volunteers with known seasonal allergies received three-sequenced treatment with either 0.3 mg IM epinephrine via an autoinjector or FMXIN002 in dosages of 1.6 and 3.2 mg. Each intranasal dosage was tested under normal conditions and under nasal allergen challenge in which nasal congestion was created to simulate the congestion of the nose in anaphylaxis. The results demonstrate that the exposure (AUC 0-t ) and maximum plasma level (C max ) of a 3.2 mg FMXIN002 dose was comparable to a 0.3 mg IM injection of epinephrine under normal nasal conditions. Moreover FMXIN002 showed a significantly superior PK profile especially during the first 30 minutes under induced nasal congestions that occurs in severe allergic reactions: C max was double, compared to IM autoinjector (1110 vs. 551). AUC (0-8h ) was 56% higher (672 vs. 431). The time to maximum plasma level (T max ) and time to 100 pg/mL of a 3.2 mg FMXIM001 dose was significantly faster than IM injection. Median T max for IM injection was 9.0 minutes compared to 2.5 minutes for 3.2 mg FMXIN002 under nasal congestion conditions. Median Time to 100 pg/mL was 3.0 minutes under normal conditions and 1.0 minutes under allergenic challenge that represents the real-life conditions of the nose in severe allergic reaction for FMXIN002. The time to 100 pg/mL is considered to be the clinical threshold where pharmacodynamic responses begins to occur. These findings indicate that FMXIN002 can provide an unprecedented quick rescue with a non-invasive easy to use device for life threatening allergic reactions.

The treatment was well tolerated. There were no significant side effects and no significant changes physiological parameters. Prof Yuval Tal MD PhD, Director of Allergy and Clinical Immunology unit at Hadassah Medical Center who headed the study added:

"In cases of severe life-threatening allergic reaction the therapeutic time window is very short and immediate rescue with epinephrine is required. Therefore, the pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of epinephrine rescue are extremely important. Failure to administer epinephrine promptly has been identified as the most important factor contributing to death from anaphylaxis. Parents and care givers are often hesitant to give injections. Teenagers are averse to carry the bulky two injection package with them at all times and are sadly over-represented in fatality cases. A pocket-size user-friendly nasal inhaler could make the much-needed difference sorely needed for rescue therapy of life-threatening allergic reactions. This, in addition to the significantly shorter time to therapeutic blood levels and higher drug exposure in the critical first half an hour indicate that FMXIN002 could change dramatically the fatality risk associated with anaphylaxis."

This pilot study indicates that powder-based intranasal epinephrine can offer significant clinical advantages, as compared to the currently-available intramuscular route of drug administration and other solution-based intranasal epinephrine programs in development. Powder-based products are also known to have better stability, as compared to the solution-based products. Yet an additional advantage for powder-based formulation of epinephrine, a drug that undergoes rapid degradation in the currently-available short shelf-life liquid dosage forms.

About FMXIN002

FMXIN002 is a powder formulation of epinephrine nasal spray developed by Nasus Pharma based on its unique intranasal powder proprietary technology. The company believes that the FMXIN002 may enable people to deliver epinephrine in emergency situations easily, rapidly, and with less hesitation, at the onset of an allergic reaction, as compared to currently available epinephrine auto-injectors. FMXIN002 uses APTAR Nasal Unidose Powder device  an intuitive and easy-to-use device with 360 functionality and precise one-dose nasal drug delivery.

Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction with a sudden onset that can occur within a few minutesand unless treated promptly could be fatal Some 5 million people in the United States are at risk of having an anaphylaxis reaction. Over 200,000 emergency room visits due to severe reactions from food allergies are reported annually.

About Nasus Pharma

Based on its unique microsphere technology, Nasus Pharma is developing a number of intranasal powder products aimed at assisting patients in several acute emergency situations such as opioid overdose and anaphylactic shock.

Intranasal administration is most suitable for those situations in which rapid drug delivery is required and offers multiple advantages such as rapid drug delivery, ease of use, non-invasiveness, and safety. Nasus portfolio comprises a number of programs: Intranasal Naloxone completed pivotal study and Intranasal Epinephrine (phase 2) as well as a number of preclinical POC programs.

Contact:

[email protected]

Nasus Pharma Ltd. Israel

https://www.nasuspharma.com

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1485582/Nasus_Pharma_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Nasus Pharma
Linux Foundation telco automation project triples participant base as telecom, network equipment, and cloud service providers embrace cloud native automated networks to revolutionize deployments.

Nephio's Release 1 delivers cloud native intent-based automation using Kubernetes with Gitops to boost telecom network deployment and efficiency

R1 provides a solid basis of interoperability with LF Networking, CNCF, Project Sylva and CAMARA, further enabling rapid deployment.

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Project Nephio , an open source initiative of partners across the telecommunications industry working towards true cloud-native automation under the Linux Foundation, today announced the availability of its Release 1 (R1). Nephio R1 brings revolutionary advancements in deployment, life cycle management and scaling of telecom cloud infrastructure and network functions by using Kubernetes cloud native technologies and intent- based automation.

Nephio delivers carrier-grade, simple, open, Kubernetes-based cloud native intent automation and common automation templates that materially simplify the deployment and management of multi-vendor cloud infrastructure and network functions across large-scale edge deployments. It brings zero-touch provisioning of cloud infrastructure and network functions, which can offer increased network availability and resiliency while reducing maintenance downtime.

Since its launch in April 2022 in partnership with Google Cloud, cloud, telecom and network function providers have embraced Nephio by expanding the seed code provided by Google Cloud to deliver R1. The community is further committed to enhance Nephio with additional use cases in future releases.

"We are thrilled to see the high-demand release of Nephio R1," said Arpit Joshipura, general manager, Networking, Edge, and IoT, the Linux Foundation. "By simplifying the complexity of orchestrating interconnected workloads across large-scale edge deployments, R1 represents significant progress managing large systems within the cloud-native ecosystem."

"The telecommunications industry is in much need for open, standard, efficient cloud-native automation solutions to keep up with connectivity demands," said Gabriele Di Piazza, senior director, Product Management, Google Cloud. "The release of Nephio R1 simplifies cloud based deployments and network management, while also demonstrating the importance of telecom and technology companies working together to develop open cloud native automation solutions that are scalable, reliable, and secure."

"Nephio is a game-changer for the telecom industry. It can help telecoms to automate their entire network efficiently and reliably, while achieving true zero-touch provisioning. The speed in which the community has embraced Kubernetes principles and further evolved Google Cloud's seed code to deliver Nephio R1 is truly phenomenal. It's clear that there is a great need for intent based automation to simplify the telecom deployments, and Nephio is well-positioned to meet that demand." said Kandan Kathirvel, Technical Steering Committee chair, Nephio.

Nephio R1 introduces features to empower telecoms to efficiently configure and manage cloud infrastructure and network functions using Kubernetes-based intent automation.

Release 1 highlights:

A framework to orchestrate cloud native network functions (CNF), infrastructure, and cross-domain lifecycle management Core Nephio principles and Kubernetes integration with custom resource definitions (CRDs). Enhanced user experience and sandbox environment.

New feature details:

Common configuration templates to provision and life-cycle management of cloud infrastructure, Kubernetes clusters, 5G network functions and network configurations

Gitops- based package management and scaled deployment using Kubernetes Resource Model (KRM) and Configuration as data (CaD)

Uniform Kubernetes CRD and operator-based deployment of multi-cloud infrastructure and multi-vendor network functions

Kubernetes- based Nephio control-plane which supports single pane of management of large scale deployments

Common set of user interface and APIs for integration with service orchestration layers

Multiple personas- based management and approval of configurations, and much more

More information on the R1 release can be found in the documentation .

About the Linux Foundation

The Linux Foundation is the world's leading home for collaboration on open source software, hardware, standards, and data. Linux Foundation projects are critical to the world's infrastructure including Linux, Kubernetes, Node.js, ONAP, PyTorch, RISC-V, SPDX, OpenChain, and more. The Linux Foundation focuses on leveraging best practices and addressing the needs of contributors, users, and solution providers to create sustainable models for open collaboration. For more information, please visit us at linuxfoundation.org. The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of The Linux Foundation, please see its trademark usage page: www.linuxfoundation.org/trademark-usage. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.

Media Contact

Sunny Cai

The Linux Foundation

[email protected]

Member Support

A5G Networks, Inc.

"A5G Networks enables autonomous networks with its industry-leading 4G,5G, and WiFi converged packet core software. We believe distributed networks with flexible and simplified operations are the future. With Nephio's pragmatic and flexible approach to orchestrating different workloads, we are enabling next-generation networks. Packet core is becoming increasingly important not only in the CSP networks but also for enterprises. Nephio R1 release enables us with many of the packet core function automation for private networks and distributed and edge-centric network," said Kaitki Agarwal, founder, president and CTO at A5G Networks, Inc.

Aarna Networks

"Nephio is disrupting the industry with a dramatically simplified framework and R1 represents a significant milestone in this journey. By automating cloud infrastructure, network functions, and potentially edge applications together, Nephio is transforming network service delivery. Aarna Networks is now applying Nephio to our core products while offering commercial support for R1 for the ecosystem to take advantage of the Nephio opportunity," said Amar Kapadia, CEO & co-founder at Aarna Networks.

AccuKnox

"At AccuKnox, we have believed in the power of orchestrated workloads and understood the security implications of shared infrastructure. AccuKnox has been working hard to achieve intent-based security using an open-source k8s native solution. With the release of Nephio R1, the ability to define blueprints has made this goal attainable," said Rahul Jadhav, co-founder & Engg head at AccuKnox.

ACL Digital

"Kubernetes holds significant importance in the current landscape of evolving cloud-native software solutions, particularly in complex use cases. Establishing an automation platform that incorporates intent-driven support for 5G networks represents a crucial milestone. ACL Digital is dedicated to collaborating with Nephio in pursuit of this objective, actively supporting the upcoming Nephio R1 to explore and leverage its forthcoming frameworks," said Suresh Galam, director, R&D engineering and technologies at ACL Digital.

Arm

"Cloud-native software has the potential to transform 5G network infrastructure by simplifying automation and enabling multi-vendor integration of network services. Arm is supportive of open-source community-driven projects like Nephio, which is leveraging Kubernetes and other cloud-native principles to run efficiently across a diverse ecosystem of hardware platforms," said Eddie Ramirez, VP of go-to-market, Infrastructure Line of Business, Arm.

Capgemini

"Intelligent and data driven network automation at scale is an essential ingredient for autonomous networks. With Nephio, system integrators like Capgemini can focus on what they do best - integrating systems and delivering best in class solutions to their customers. Projects like Nephio not only provides standardized reference implementation but also delivers a model for developing innovative applications for customized network/workload management and observability of telecommunication networks," said Shamik Mishra, VP and CTO connectivity, Capgemini Engineering.

Casa Systems

"At Casa Systems, we are driven by a vision of the future that emphasizes innovation, flexibility, and adaptability. With its carrier-grade, open, and Kubernetes-based cloud native intent automation, Nephio R1 is poised to revolutionize the way we deploy and manage multi-vendor cloud infrastructure and network functions across large-scale edge deployments simplifying complex processes through common automation templates. This means our customers can expect streamlined operations and increased efficiency, saving valuable time and resources," said Gibson Ang, vice president of Technology at Casa Systems.

Deutsche Telekom

"Nephio is leveraging best-practice cloud mechanisms to facilitate the flexible automation of telco network solutions at scale. Release 1 Nephio already demonstrates how intent based automation can simplify the deployment of distributed cloud native network functions. We believe that the concerted industry effort to simplify and harmonize automation concepts is pivotal to establish a comprehensive lifecycle management for telco network solutions," said Jochen Appel, VP Network Automation at Deutsche Telekom.

Ericsson

"Intent driven automation is critical to simplify and harmonize 5G network management. Nephio R1 is a significant step on this journey, leveraging the power and flexibility of Kubernetes. Ericsson is looking forward to continue our participation, helping to align open standards such as O-RAN with robust open source software and innovation," said John Landy, head of Network Management Systems, Technology & Architecture at Ericsson.

F5, Inc.

"At F5, we consistently hear requests from telecom customers for enhanced automation to simplify operations and infrastructure management wherever possible. Scalable agility relies on consistent operations, especially when shifting to distributed cloud infrastructure for 5G core and edge networks. We're delighted to support Nephio R1 Kubernetes-based cloud-native automation to expedite onboarding of critical network functions and provide additional security resilience for global networks," said Ahmed Guetari, VP of Products for Service Providers at F5, Inc.

Kubermatic

"Nephio R1 release, will help to automate the deployment and management of multi-vendor cloud infrastructure and network functions across large scale edge deployments. With Nephio, Kubermatic is heading the way towards a more efficient, cost-effective, and streamlined approach to cloud native operations, unleashing the true potential of Kubernetes and enabling organizations to embrace the future of edge computing with confidence," said Sebastian Scheele, CEO at Kubermatic.

MATRIXX Software

"To realize the full benefits of cloud native innovations, service providers require tools to efficiently configure, manage, and scale lifecycle functions for both network elements and cloud environments. Nephio's community focus on creating and building a framework to standardize automation for both Cloud Native Network Functions and network infrastructure will make it possible for Telcos to harness the power of new 5G networks to successfully deliver next-generation products and services. MATRIXX Software is proud to have played a role in realizing Nephio's Release 1 milestone, and we look forward to continued collaboration with the broader community to unlock monetization opportunities that are foundational to its success," said Marc Price, CTO at MATRIXX Software.

Nokia

"For the past several years, Nokia has been pursuing the next frontier of operational simplicity through the use of automation. We are excited about Nephio R1 because we finally see standardization of an automation platform that covers multi-dimensional resource management for cloud native applications, whether compute, storage or networking. Using the Kubernetes architecture allows both the standardized platform and the necessary flexibility to introduce custom resource management, which we believe will accelerate automation of telco application deployment," said Vach Kompella, VP & GM, IP Networks Division at Nokia.

Orange

"Network automation is a key component of Orange's Lead The Future strategic plan, which highlights its commitment to autonomous networks that includes both automation and intelligence. Orange actively participated in the Nephio project to drive the adoption of intent-based automation, Cloud Native Telco and the GitOps ops model, leveraging projects such as Pikeo 5G and free5GC. In addition, it reflects our commitment to open source projects such as the cloud native telco project Sylva and the telco APIs project CAMARA," said Philippe Ensarguet, VP Software Engineering at Orange Innovation.

Red Hat

"Red Hat is very pleased with the rapid progress of the Nephio project in exploring highly scalable approaches to streamlining day to day network operations. Infrastructure orchestration and automation, especially for network functions, is a top-of-mind challenge for our customers, and we're excited to work alongside them and our partners," said Chris Wright, chief technology officer and senior vice president, Global Engineering at Red Hat.

Samsung

"As a strong advocate for open source initiatives and innovation in the telecommunications industry, we at Samsung are excited to contribute to the first release of Nephio. We firmly believe that Nephio will provide the most efficient and simplified way of automation to onboard networking applications at scale. Joining at the early stage of the project, weve used our experience and expertise from other telco and open-source projects. Our team has made significant contributions to code quality and security checking automation, as well as developing an end-to-end testing framework. This will allow valuable insight into the development process, resulting in stable code and an efficient and friendly environment for Nephio contributors." said Soohong (Daniel) Park, Head of Samsung Open Source Group in Samsung Research at Samsung Electronics.

TELUS

"TELUS is leading the way in open-source innovation through our contributions to Project Nephio and the Linux Foundation. As we continue our journey of continuous improvement, embracing cloud native technologies, we are dedicated to meeting the evolving needs of our customers. The success of Project Nephio R1, featuring full-stack, intent-based, Kubernetes-supported automation, opens doors to opportunities for greater openness and standardization. Leveraging our position as a global technology and telecommunications operator, TELUS is ideally positioned to spearhead the transition towards cloud-native solutions across diverse industries through shifting mindsets, skillsets and adaptive commercialization of modern technologies," said Ibrahim Gedeon, chief technology officer at TELUS.

TIM

"We believe that Nephio's open-source, Kubernetes-based orchestration capabilities and its declarative and intent-based approach, will set new standards and common patterns for telcos to manage and automate their resources, offering unprecedented agility, cost-efficiency, and reliability, enabling new scenarios and opportunities," said Giovanni Picciano, head of Network Engineering & Innovation at TIM.

Vodafone

"Vodafone is pleased to be an active contributor to the Nephio community. Nephio has potential for accelerating the cloudification and automation of Telco Network Functions, leveraging Kubernetes-based Cloud-native automation. The publication of Release 1 is a key milestone in meeting this goal, and we look forward to continued progress and future releases," said Iain Wilkinson, Head of Network Cloud & Automation, Distinguished Engineer at Vodafone

Wind River

"As an active contributor and TSC member of Nephio, we at Wind River are excited to see the community produce its R1 release. Nephio provides an open, intent driven Cloud native domain orchestration platform that can enhance the automation capabilities around the 5G, O-RAN, Telco domains. As an Open Source leader with extensive cloud native expertise, Wind River looks forward to continued collaboration with the community," said Gil Hellmann, vice president, Engineering Solutions at Wind River.

SOURCE Nephio
SHENZHEN, China, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- HQ NextPCB, a subsidiary of Huaqiu Electronics, a leading Chinese-based multilayer PCB manufacturer and assembly house, are proud to announce the release of HQDFM Gerber Viewer and DFM Analysis Tool.

HQDFM Gerber Viewer is a completely free, online tool for displaying and reviewing PCB Gerber files and OBD++ files. HQDFM incorporates NextPCB's Design for Manufacture (DFM) algorithms, based on NextPCB's 15 years of high-reliability manufacturing expertise and current industry standards.

HQDFM Online Gerber Viewer works with 5 of the top web browsers HQDFM Online Gerber Viewer is completely free

The PCB manufacturing industry has and still relies on the Ucamco Gerber format to communicate PCB production to manufacturers, which are often located overseas. While the 2D image format overcomes language barriers, the language of PCB Design for Manufacture is still ambiguous to many inexperienced designers and the division between PCB design and PCB manufacture remains an expensive obstacle leading to missed deadlines, hit-and-miss runs and quick-to-fail products.

This is the problem NextPCB's engineers seek to resolve with HQDFM.

HQDFM is an easy-to-use Gerber Viewer and DFM tool for analyzing PCB production files before hand-off. Unlike EDA softwares' built-in DRC checks, HQDFM allows designers to navigate and analyze the production files and check for design issues that may impact manufacturing or cause long-term reliability issues. With HQDFM, designers are given a manufacturer's perspective and have valuable insights into how they can improve their designs.

Based on the free desktop software HQDFM, the cross-platform online version makes the easy-to-use Gerber Viewer function and DFM check available to everyone, including Mac and Linux users with no download or install and no sign-up. Anyone can freely upload PCB production files to the online interface and view their design in seconds. Try it now.

"There are still many designers that send off their production files without any knowledge of what the files contain. Resolving issues with the fab house becomes a challenge for both sides without the appropriate tools and knowledge to debug the design, which is something we hope to change for everyone's benefit," said HQ NextPCB CEO, Suibai Chen.

About HQ NextPCB

HQ NextPCB and HQ Online are the overseas trading brands of Shenzhen Huaqiu (HQ) Electronics Co. Ltd., a reliable multi-layer PCB manufacturer and assembly house. Their capabilities include up to 32 layer boards, blind and buried vias up to HDI 3, custom stack-ups, full turnkey assembly and more via a smart quotation platform with dedicated one-to-one support.

Founded in 2009, NextPCB's passion for fast, reliable and affordable full-featured electronics manufacturing has driven NextPCB to innovate and modernize the electronics manufacturing industry. NextPCB developed and maintains the software HQDFM, a groundbreaking tool for designers to analyze PCB Gerber files and detect design issues. Over 300,000 users around the world already choose NextPCB. Try them for your next design at NextPCB.com and see how they can accelerate your workflow.

Editorial Contact

Carmen Zheng

HQ NextPCB

+86 18565055449

[email protected]

SOURCE HQ NextPCB
PEORIA, Ill., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly 500,000 people undergo open-heart surgery a year in the United States. New technology being used by OSF HealthCare is hoping to bring that number down.

Starting this year, OSF began offering the Alterra Pre Stent to patients in Peoria. The FDA-approved valve consists of a catheter-based stent (called Alterra), an artificial heart valve (SAPIEN 3) and the opportunity to implant the stent and valve without the need for open-heart surgery.

Priti Patel, MD, is the director of the Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory for OSF HealthCare. She says this new technology will expand peoples' lives and enhance their quality of life.

"The advantage of the procedure is that the patient is up and awake, walking around after six hours. They get to go home the next day," Dr. Patel says. "With open-heart surgery, they are in the hospital for a longer period of time, and they have to recover from the sternotomy. Here, there is no recovery. There are no stitches in the groin, and they are going back to school or work the following day."

The abovementioned sternotomy is a procedure where a surgical incision is made through the breastbone (sternum) to access the thoracic cavity for open-heart surgery.

"The goal is to prevent repeated open-heart surgeries. The more sternotomies and open-heart surgeries they have, the more risk they have each time. With this, you can prevent that from happening," Dr. Patel adds. "You can do the procedure and see the results right away. The patients feel good when they wake up, because it is easy to breathe."

Dr. Patel says the new pulmonary valve is supposed to last 10 years. This current pulmonary valve that is in place allows you to be ready for another less-invasive procedure when the time comes.

"Now when it's needed, you can put multiple valves inside it. So, you can get these 40-50 years out without needing any open-heart surgeries," Dr. Patel says.

Dr. Patel and her team administered four pulmonary valves in patients this spring, with two more procedures planned in August. These procedures happen at the OSF HealthCare Children's Hospital of Illinois Congenital Heart Center located at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center. Dr. Patel says these patients come from all across the State of Illinois and can continue their health journey with their care team at OSF. They can perform the procedures on people of all ages.

Additional assets including video, audio clips, and photos are available on the OSF Newsroom.

OSF HealthCare is an integrated health system owned and operated by The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, headquartered in Peoria, Illinois. OSF HealthCare has 15 hospitals  10 acute care, five critical access - with 2,084 licensed beds throughout Illinois and Michigan. OSF employs nearly 24,000 Mission Partners throughout 150+ locations; has two colleges of nursing; operates OSF Home Care Services, an extensive network of home health and hospice services; owns Pointcore, Inc., comprised of health care-related businesses; OSF HealthCare Foundation, the philanthropic arm for the organization; and OSF Ventures, which provides investment capital for promising health care innovation startups. OSF OnCall, a digital health operating unit, was established in 2020 to improve patient experience, using digital tools for 24-7 communication, on-demand care, remote patient monitoring, and offers the largest hospital-at-home program in Illinois. OSF HealthCare has been recognized by Fortune as one of the most innovative companies in the country. More at osfhealthcare.org.

Contact: Matt Sheehan, Media Relations Coordinator, OSF HealthCare | (309) 308-5015

SOURCE OSF HealthCare
New Orleans-Inspired Restaurant Pays Homage to its Historic Past While Looking to Forward to the Future

WARREN, N.J., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tap & Bitters announced today its name change from TAP Gastropub to Tap & Bitters. Located within the Somerset Hills Hotel, a property owned by 6R Capital Group and managed by Valor Hospitality Partners, Tap & Bitters is a New Orleans-inspired restaurant and bar concept featuring contemporary takes on Cajun cuisine, an extensive list of craft beers and cocktails, vibrant atmosphere evoking the Big Easy spirit and flexible dining and event spaces for a truly unique culinary journey.

The restaurant is helmed by Rafi Hasid, a restaurateur with over 20 years of impressive culinary and leadership experience. Tap & Bitters is his latest concept, following his success with various restaurants he has led in New York City over the past two decades, including the Mediterranean concept, Miriam, and the New Orleans-inspired 1803.

When deciding on the direction of Tap & Bitters, Hasid drew much of his inspiration from his travels to New Orleans, a city he has fallen in love with and has visited more than 50 times. He wanted to bring the incredible cuisine and New Orleans vibe to Warren. Tap & Bitters was heavily influenced by Hasid's beloved Cajun-Creole restaurant in Manhattan, 1803.

"I'm thrilled to bring New Orleans' one-of-a-kind spirit to Warren through Tap & Bitters' refreshed dishes, cocktails and atmosphere," said Rafi Hasid, restaurateur. "I have no doubt locals and visitors alike will enjoy the Southern-inspired curated menu and will feel as though they've been immersed in the city I love."

The new menu features items influenced by New Orleans' culture, dining and drinking scene. Guests will be transported to NOLA as they enjoy a variety of dishes, such as Cajun broiled oysters, Louisiana Cajun chicken wings, signature gumbo and more. The menu will be updated seasonally, with a focus on incorporating fresh ingredients and sourcing local produce and products wherever possible. The beverage menu will be expanded to further infuse New Orleans' famed cocktail culture, utilizing a variety of different bitters, fresh herbs and more. There are staples from the former restaurant that will remain on the new menu, including the expansive tap line with local craft beers and the local favorite "Tap" Burger.

Additions to the decor and interior of the restaurant include more communal seating areas, cozy benches and low set tables, fresh greenery and plants, antique brass jazz instruments hung throughout and changes to the music to ensure guests feel immersed from the moment they walk through the door. There will soon be a variety of unique events and programming taking place at the restaurant, as well as regular live music.

"We're excited to see Rafi's vision come to life," said Scott McArthur, general manager of the Somerset Hills Hotel. "The restaurant is a fantastic complement to the hotel and an incredible culinary experience for our guests visiting from near and far."

Tap & Bitters originally opened in 2003 and quickly established itself as the local watering hole and go-to eatery for Warren locals and visitors. Hasid and the team are looking forward to continuing this legacy of the restaurant while enhancing its atmosphere by adding unique elements infused with New Orleans flair.

Tap & Bitters is located at 200 Liberty Corner Road in Warren, N.J. For more information, visit www.tapandbitters.com or follow on Instagram and Facebook for additional updates.

ABOUT TAP & BITTERS

Tap & Bitters is a New Orleans-inspired restaurant and bar in Warren, New Jersey. Located within the Somerset Hills Hotel, a Valor Hospitality Partners property, Tap & Bitters is a Northeasterner's culinary escape to the South. Visitors can enjoy the Cajun and Creole cuisine and the wide selection of beer and craft cocktails. The restaurant features a private dining room and a stunning outdoor patio surrounded by greenery and bistro lights for larger open-air gatherings. For more information, visit www.tapandbitters.com and connect on Instagram and Facebook.

ABOUT VALOR HOSPITALITY PARTNERS

Valor Hospitality Partners is a leading global full-service hotel underwriting, acquisition, development, management, and asset management company. With over 90 hotels in its international portfolio, Valor Hospitality offers an array of services, including site selection, product and brand selection, entitlements, financing solutions, conceptual design, construction and project management, procurement, technical services, pre-opening, and operations management. Valor also provides consulting services on a wide range of project scenarios, including working with new or existing ownership groups on reviewing site selection, assessing feasibility studies and project budgets, compiling project budgets, and underwriting. For more information, visit valorhospitality.com and connect with Valor on Facebook and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Tap & Bitters
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MIAMI, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- For the fourth consecutive year, Nicklaus Children's Hospital has received the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines  Resuscitation Quality Gold Achievement Award in the neonate and infant category due to its commitment to treating in-hospital cardiac arrest, and ultimately helping to improve patient survival rates.

More than 200,000 adults and children have an in-hospital cardiac arrest each year, according to the American Heart Association Tweet this Nicklaus Children's Hospital earns American Heart Associations 2023 Get With The Guidelines  Resuscitation Quality Gold Achievement Award in the neonate and infant category.

More than 200,000 adults and children have an in-hospital cardiac arrest each year, according to the American Heart Association. Survival from cardiac arrest is largely dependent on timely medical emergency team response and effective CPR.

The Get With The Guidelines  Resuscitation program was developed to help save lives of patients who experience in-hospital cardiac arrests by consistently following the most up-to-date research-based guidelines for treatment. Guidelines include following protocols for patient safety, medical emergency team response, effective and timely resuscitation (CPR) and post-resuscitation care.

"Nicklaus Children's is honored to be recognized once again by the American Heart Association for our dedication to ensuring that our clinical teams have the knowledge and training to provide the best possible chance of survival when a patient experiences cardiac arrest," said Perry Ann Reed, President of Nicklaus Children's Hospital and Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President at Nicklaus Children's Health System. "It is another example of why Nicklaus Children's is the hospital where children matter most."

Nicklaus Children's Hospital received the award for meeting specific measures in treating neonate and infant patients who suffer cardiac arrests in the hospital. It is the only freestanding children's hospital in the region.

About Nicklaus Children's Hospital, Where Children Matter Most

Founded in 1950 by Variety Clubs International, Nicklaus Children's Hospital is South Florida's only licensed specialty hospital exclusively for children, with nearly 800 attending physicians and more than 500 pediatric subspecialists. The 309-bed hospital, known as Miami Children's Hospital from 1983 through 2014, is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine with several specialty programs routinely ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report since 2008. The hospital is also home to the largest pediatric teaching program in the southeastern United States and has been designated an American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet facility, the nursing profession's most prestigious institutional honor. For more information, please visit www.nicklauschildrens.org.

About Get With The Guidelines

Get With The Guidelines is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 9 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org/quality.

For more information:

Fuad Kiuhan

786-449-4797

SOURCE Nicklaus Children's Health System
First prescription dispensed in Chinese Hainan Province

93% of patients enrolled completed the Phase 3 trial in premenopausal patients with Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) in South Korea

Data expected later this year



Supports submission to Korean Ministry of Food & Drug Safety (MFDS) for Marketing Approval

CRANBURY, N.J., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Palatin Technologies, Inc. (NYSE American: PTN), a biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class medicines based on molecules that modulate the activity of the melanocortin receptor system, today announced that Fosun Pharma, the licensee of Vyleesi in China, reported its first sale in the Hainan Province of China. Palatin also announced that their South Korean licensee, Kwangdong Pharmaceuticals, completed enrollment in its Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of Vyleesi in premenopausal women with HSDD. Data from this trial is anticipated by year end with a potential regulatory submission in the first half of 2024.

Vyleesi is the first and only as-needed treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for premenopausal women with acquired, generalized hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). Vyleesi is marketed by Palatin in the U.S. and the Company recently announced its sixth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth in Vyleesi prescriptions dispensed.

Vyleesi Licensee Fosun Reports First Sale in China and S Korean Licensee Kwangdong Completes Phase 3 Clinical Study Tweet this

"We are excited by this significant achievement and advancement of Vyleesi in HSDD patients in China," stated Carl Spana, Ph.D., President, and Chief Executive Officer of Palatin. "This first commercial sale, coupled with the completed enrollment in the Phase 3 clinical trial in South Korea, strengthens our position in the Asian marketplace. After the Phase 3 data analysis is complete, we will be working closely with Kwangdong on the potential marketing application with the Korean regulatory authorities. We look forward to increasing patient use in China, to the potential approval in South Korea and expanding the availability and use of Vyleesi worldwide."

Fosun's first sale of Vyleesi was dispensed through a medical institution in the Hainan Province, a free trade port in China, under which certain imported pharmaceutical products can be sold in Hainan without first receiving registration approval from the Chinese National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). The establishment of the Hainan Free Trade Zone (FTZ) is expected to further boost the medical tourism zone project and leverage market opportunities created by the growing demand for medical products and services.

Kwangdong's Phase 3 study is a bridging, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of subcutaneously injected bremelanotide in premenopausal women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (with or without decreased arousal). The study enrolled 193 patients with 180 or 93% completing the study. Results of the study are currently expected later this year and the data will support a potential first-half 2024 submission to the Korean Ministry of Food & Drug Safety (MFDS) for potential marketing approval.

Under the terms of the 2017 agreement with Fosun, Palatin granted Fosun an exclusive license to develop and commercialize bremelanotide (Vyleesi) in the territories of mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. Palatin received an upfront payment of $5.0 million and is due a $7.5 million milestone based on regulatory approval by the Chinese National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). Palatin has the potential to receive up to $92.5 million in sales related milestones and high single-digit to low double-digit royalties on annual net sales in the licensed territory. All development, regulatory, sales, marketing, and commercial activities and associated costs in the licensed territory are the sole responsibility of Fosun.

Under the terms of the 2017 agreement with Kwangdong, Palatin granted Kwangdong an exclusive license to develop and commercialize bremelanotide (Vyleesi) in the Republic of Korea for HSDD/FSD. Kwangdong is responsible for all regulatory and other development and clinical activities necessary for commercialization in the Republic of Korea. In exchange, Palatin received an upfront payment of $500,000 and is due a $3.0 million milestone based on the first commercial sale in Korea. Palatin has the potential to receive up to $37.5 million in annual sales related milestones and mid-single-digit to low-double-digit royalties on net sales in the licensed territory.

About Vyleesi (bremelanotide injection) for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD)

Vyleesi is the first and only as-needed treatment approved by the FDA for premenopausal women with acquired, generalized HSDD.

Palatin is actively seeking Vyleesi collaborations for the United States and for territories outside the currently licensed territories of China and Korea. Vyleesi is licensed to Fosun Pharma in China and Kwangdong Pharmaceuticals in South Korea.

Patients and healthcare providers can learn more about HSDD and Vyleesi at www.vyleesi.com and www.vyleesipro.com.

About Palatin

Palatin is a biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class medicines based on molecules that modulate the activity of the melanocortin receptor systems, with targeted, receptor-specific product candidates for the treatment of diseases with significant unmet medical need and commercial potential. Palatin's strategy is to develop products and then form marketing collaborations with industry leaders to maximize their commercial potential. For additional information regarding Palatin, please visit Palatin's website at www.Palatin.com and follow Palatin on Twitter at @PalatinTech.

Forward-looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts, including statements about future expectations of Palatin, such as statements about Vyleesi licensees and activities, initiatives, results and potential market, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Palatin intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause Palatin's actual results to be materially different from its historical results or from any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Palatin's actual results may differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements for reasons including, but not limited to, results of clinical trials, regulatory actions by the FDA and other regulatory and the need for regulatory approvals, Palatin's ability to fund development of its technology and establish and successfully complete clinical trials, the length of time and cost required to complete clinical trials and submit applications for regulatory approvals, products developed by competing pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, commercial acceptance of Palatin's products, and other factors discussed in Palatin's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Palatin is not responsible for updating events that occur after the date of this press release.

Palatin Technologies and Vyleesi are registered trademarks of Palatin Technologies, Inc.

SOURCE Palatin Technologies, Inc.
HAIFA, Israel, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In a world increasingly defined by technological advancements, Panda Trading Systems emerges as a pioneer in seamlessly integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the core of the brokerage industry. With a visionary approach to harnessing cutting-edge technologies, PandaTS has redefined business intelligence solutions, elevating efficiency, customer experience, and operational excellence.

One of the company's flagship products is an AI-powered document verification module for Panda CRM, which uses Google's Vision AI algorithm to scan and validate documents submitted by customers during the KYC/AML process. This module reduces the workload and errors of human compliance teams and improves the onboarding speed and experience for customers.

Another product is Next Call AI, a system that optimizes sales and retention teams' interactions based on customer actions. The system monitors various event triggers, such as registrations, logins, deposit attempts, card rejections, and more, and alerts the teams to reach out and provide pre-emptive support to customers. The system is fully customizable and can be tailored to each brokerage's goals and priorities.

PandaTS also offers an AI-powered marketing campaign module for Panda CRM, which can create personalized and relevant messages for customers based on their behavior, preferences, and interests. The module uses natural language processing to generate engaging and persuasive content that can be delivered via email, SMS, push notifications, or chatbots. The module also tracks and analyzes the performance of each campaign and optimizes them accordingly.

Panda's success stories illustrate the untapped potential of AI in the brokerage industry. By capitalizing on the vast data generated by online brokers, PandaTS has pioneered data-driven decision-making. Call Control, another AI-based module, examines call sentiment through natural language processing, providing insights into customer interactions that were previously overlooked.

As Panda Trading Systems continues to redefine the boundaries of what's possible in the brokerage industry, its commitment to AI-driven excellence promises to shape the industry's landscape. By harnessing the power of AI, PandaTS is at the forefront of a new era in business intelligence and operational efficiency.

About Panda Trading Systems

Panda Trading Systems is a visionary technology company specializing in providing innovative solutions for the online brokerage industry. With a relentless commitment to harnessing advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Panda empowers online brokers with game-changing tools that enhance efficiency, customer engagement, and overall success. As a trailblazer in AI integration, PandaTS is reshaping the future of the brokerage industry.

For more information about Panda Trading Systems and their new AI solutions, please visit their website at www.pandats.com

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2171480/panda_logo.jpg

SOURCE Panda Trading Systems
DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pegasus Legal Capital, LLC ("Pegasus") (mylawfunds.com), one of the preeminent pre-settlement legal funding companies in the U.S., announced today that it has recently closed a senior debt transaction with East West Bank. This marks another significant capital market transaction for the company and proceeds from the transaction will enable Pegasus to continue its growth across the United States.

Pegasus Managing Director, Max Alperovich commented, "With the addition of the new facility Pegasus will now be able to further expand its business in the personal injury market all while maintaining its industry leading service."

East West Bank Managing Director, David Hough, commented, "As the leading bank lender to the litigation finance market, East West Bank is pleased to engage with the Pegasus management team, and provide a senior, secured capital facility that will fuel their continued future growth. The entire Pegasus management team has a deep, demonstrated commitment to their customers and to the broader personal injury market."

GreensLedge Capital Markets LLC acted as financial advisor to Pegasus in connection with the transaction.

Pegasus is a proud member of the American Legal Finance Association (ALFA), which is comprised of companies nationwide that provide non-recourse funds to personal injury victims. One of the goals of ALFA was to create industry standards within the legal funding industry regarding transparency in each funding transaction with upfront clear disclosure to consumers.

East West Bank provides financial services that help customers reach further and connect to new opportunities. East West Bancorp, Inc. is a public company with total assets of $68.5 billion. The company's wholly-owned subsidiary, East West Bank, is the largest independent bank headquartered in Southern California, and operates over 120 locations in the United States and in Asia. The Bank's markets in the United States include California, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York, Texas, and Washington. For more information on East West, visit www.eastwestbank.com.

Max Alperovich can be reached at [email protected].

SOURCE Pegasus Legal Funding
FORT WORTH, Texas, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PHX MINERALS INC., "PHX" or the "Company" (NYSE: PHX), today reported financial and operating results for the quarter ended June 30, 2023.

Summary of Results for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2023

Net loss was ($0.04) million , or $0.00 per share, compared to net income of $9.6 million , or $0.27 per share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 , and net income of $8.6 million , or $0.25 per share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 .

, or per share, compared to net income of , or per share, for the quarter ended , and net income of , or per share, for the quarter ended . Adjusted pretax net income (1) was $0.6 million , or $0.02 per share, compared to $4.7 million , or $0.13 per share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 , and $4.3 million , or $0.12 per share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 .

was , or per share, compared to , or per share, for the quarter ended , and , or per share, for the quarter ended . Adjusted EBITDA (1) was $4.1 million , compared to $7.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 , and $7.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 .

was , compared to for the quarter ended , and for the quarter ended . Royalty production volumes decreased 4% to 2,010 Mmcfe compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2023 , and increased 26% compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2022 .

, and increased 26% compared to the quarter ended . Total production volumes decreased 7% to 2,304 Mmcfe compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2023 , and decreased 5% compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2022 .

, and decreased 5% compared to the quarter ended . Converted 81 gross (0.30 net) wells to producing status, compared to 117 gross (0.46 net) during the quarter ended March 31, 2023 and 96 gross (0.25 net) during the quarter ended June 30, 2022 .

and 96 gross (0.25 net) during the quarter ended . Inventory of 186 gross (0.51 net) wells in progress and 86 gross (0.40 net) permits as of June 30, 2023 , compared to 198 gross (0.65 net) wells in progress and 86 gross (0.24 net) permits as of March 31, 2023 .

, compared to 198 gross (0.65 net) wells in progress and 86 gross (0.24 net) permits as of . Total debt was $23.8 million and the debt to adjusted EBITDA (TTM) (1) ratio was 0.93x at June 30, 2023 .

and the debt to adjusted EBITDA (TTM) ratio was 0.93x at . PHX closed on acquisitions totaling 151 net royalty acres located in the SCOOP and the Haynesville plays for approximately $1.8 million .

. PHX announced a $0.0225 per share quarterly dividend, payable on Sept. 8, 2023 , to stockholders of record as of Aug. 24, 2023 .

(1) This is a non-GAAP measure. Refer to the Non-GAAP Reconciliation section.

Chad L. Stephens, President and CEO, commented, "We continue to experience significant activity on our minerals including wells being put on production, new wells being spud and new permitting, demonstrating the quality of our assets even during a down market with lower natural gas prices. During the quarter, we experienced increased rig activity on our minerals compared to a year ago, expanding our market share of rigs operating within our core regions. The sequential decline in royalty volumes during the quarter is primarily attributable to the timing of wells being placed online. We continually monitor operator activity across our mineral position and are confident that the timing of our wells in progress will support our royalty volume growth allowing us to achieve our royalty volume outlook for calendar 2023, driving revenue growth and increasing cash flow.

"It appears the second quarter likely represented the bottom for natural gas prices and current macro dynamics suggest sequential price improvements in the remainder of the year," said Stephens. "In spite of a dramatic drop in natural gas prices in the second quarter, PHX Minerals remained focused on proactively allocating its free cash flow to fund acquisitions, return capital to shareholders via our fixed dividend and improving our liquidity position. This speaks to the inherent benefits of our business model in mitigating risks and expanding margins to maximize cash flow. The acquisition market dynamics are improving as natural gas prices stabilize. Our strong balance sheet and cash flow provide ample liquidity to deploy judiciously to fund our growth strategy."

Financial Highlights









Three Months

Ended



Three Months

Ended



Six Months

Ended



Six Months

Ended





June 30, 2023



June 30, 2022



June 30, 2023



June 30, 2022

Royalty Interest Sales

$ 6,217,663



$ 12,473,415



$ 16,341,404



$ 21,352,409

Working Interest Sales

$ 1,013,501



$ 7,088,153



$ 2,747,007



$ 12,993,024

Natural Gas, Oil and NGL Sales

$ 7,231,164



$ 19,561,568



$ 19,088,411



$ 34,345,433



























Gains (Losses) on Derivative Contracts

$ 183,006



$ (2,387,226)



$ 3,985,826



$ (15,370,632)

Lease Bonuses and Rental Income

$ 111,991



$ 209,329



$ 425,141



$ 371,237

Total Revenue

$ 7,526,161



$ 17,383,671



$ 23,499,378



$ 19,346,038



























Lease Operating Expense























per Working Interest Mcfe

$ 1.07



$ 1.08



$ 1.26



$ 1.05

Transportation, Gathering and Marketing























per Mcfe

$ 0.39



$ 0.59



$ 0.43



$ 0.60

Production Tax per Mcfe

$ 0.20



$ 0.38



$ 0.22



$ 0.33

G&A Expense per Mcfe

$ 1.38



$ 1.18



$ 1.29



$ 1.15

Cash G&A Expense per Mcfe (1)

$ 1.07



$ 0.95



$ 1.01



$ 0.94

Interest Expense per Mcfe

$ 0.23



$ 0.12



$ 0.23



$ 0.11

DD&A per Mcfe

$ 0.96



$ 0.83



$ 0.86



$ 0.85

Total Expense per Mcfe

$ 3.30



$ 3.47



$ 3.21



$ 3.41



























Net Income (Loss)

$ (41,291)



$ 8,589,010



$ 9,511,953



$ 4,568,555

Adjusted EBITDA (2)

$ 4,086,707



$ 7,194,102



$ 11,826,947



$ 13,013,517



























Cash Flow from Operations (3)

$ 4,915,788



$ 8,404,654



$ 13,849,265



$ 15,700,984

CapEx (4)

$ 84,593



$ 72,176



$ 275,419



$ 158,847

CapEx - Mineral Acquisitions

$ 1,677,388



$ 8,954,133



$ 11,914,003



$ 18,228,580



























Borrowing Base













$ 45,000,000



$ 50,000,000

Debt













$ 23,750,000



$ 28,300,000

Debt to Adjusted EBITDA (TTM) (2)















0.93





1.31







(1) Cash G&A expense is G&A excluding restricted stock and deferred director's expense from the adjusted EBITDA table in the non-GAAP Reconciliation section. (2) This is a non-GAAP measure. Refer to the Non-GAAP Reconciliation section. (3) GAAP cash flow from operations. (4) Includes legacy working interest expenditures and fixtures and equipment.

Operating Highlights







Three Months Ended



Three Months Ended



Six Months Ended



Six Months Ended



June 30, 2023



June 30, 2022



June 30, 2023



June 30, 2022

Gas Mcf Sold

1,854,485





1,897,799





3,813,496





3,805,829

Average Sales Price per Mcf before the





















effects of settled derivative contracts $ 1.92



$ 6.82



$ 2.75



$ 5.65

Average Sales Price per Mcf after the





















effects of settled derivative contracts $ 2.49



$ 4.32



$ 3.18



$ 3.80

% of sales subject to hedges

45 %



63 %



47 %



62 % Oil Barrels Sold

41,009





48,928





95,116





100,559

Average Sales Price per Bbl before the





















effects of settled derivative contracts $ 73.87



$ 105.23



$ 75.09



$ 98.06

Average Sales Price per Bbl after the





















effects of settled derivative contracts $ 73.80



$ 60.18



$ 71.58



$ 62.02

% of sales subject to hedges

53 %



73 %



49 %



73 % NGL Barrels Sold

33,929





39,732





67,033





80,103

Average Sales Price per Bbl(1) $ 18.93



$ 36.76



$ 22.02



$ 37.41

























Mcfe Sold

2,304,113





2,429,760





4,786,390





4,889,802

Natural gas, oil and NGL sales before the





















effects of settled derivative contracts $ 7,231,164



$ 19,561,568



$ 19,088,411



$ 34,345,433

Natural gas, oil and NGL sales after the





















effects of settled derivative contracts $ 8,280,104



$ 12,607,397



$ 20,394,028



$ 23,687,014

























(1) There were no NGL settled derivative contracts during the 2023 and 2022 quarters.



Total Production for the last four quarters was as follows:

Quarter ended

Mcf Sold



Oil Bbls Sold



NGL Bbls Sold



Mcfe Sold

6/30/2023



1,854,485





41,009





33,929





2,304,113

3/31/2023



1,959,010





54,107





33,104





2,482,276

12/31/2022



1,669,320





52,406





38,611





2,215,419

9/30/2022



2,047,614





49,902





40,761





2,591,588



Total production volumes attributable to natural gas were 80% for the quarter ended June 30, 2023.

Royalty Interest Production for the last four quarters was as follows:

Quarter ended

Mcf Sold



Oil Bbls Sold



NGL Bbls Sold



Mcfe Sold

6/30/2023



1,673,346





35,599





20,516





2,010,036

3/31/2023



1,700,974





45,395





20,063





2,093,722

12/31/2022



1,303,825





33,691





20,353





1,628,089

9/30/2022



1,525,363





32,202





20,488





1,841,502



Royalty production volumes attributable to natural gas were 83% for the quarter ended June 30, 2023.

Working Interest Production for the last four quarters was as follows:

Quarter ended

Mcf Sold



Oil Bbls Sold



NGL Bbls Sold



Mcfe Sold

6/30/2023



181,139





5,410





13,413





294,077

3/31/2023



258,036





8,712





13,041





388,554

12/31/2022



365,495





18,715





18,258





587,330

9/30/2022



522,251





17,700





20,273





750,086



Quarter Ended June 30, 2023, Results

The Company recorded net loss of ($0.04) million, or $0.00 per share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, as compared to net income of $8.6 million, or $0.25 per share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2022. The change in net income was principally the result of a decrease in natural gas, oil and NGL sales and a decrease in gains on asset sales, partially offset by an increase in gains associated with our hedge contracts and a decrease in income tax provision.

Natural gas, oil and NGL revenue decreased $12.3 million, or 63%, for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2022, due to decreases in natural gas, oil and NGL prices of 72%, 30% and 49%, respectively, and decreases in natural gas, oil and NGL volumes of 2%, 16% and 15%, respectively.

The production increase in royalty volumes during the quarter ended June 30, 2023, as compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2022, resulted from new wells in the Haynesville Shale coming online.

The Company had a net gain on derivative contracts of $0.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, compromised of a $1.0 million gain on settled derivatives and a $0.9 million non-cash loss on derivatives, as compared to a net loss of ($2.4) million for the quarter ended June 30, 2022. The change in net gain on derivative contracts was due to the Company's settlements of natural gas and oil collars and fixed price swaps and the change in valuation caused by the difference in June 30, 2023 pricing relative to the strike price on open derivative contracts.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2023, Results

The Company recorded net income of $9.5 million, or $0.26 per share, for the six months ended June 30, 2023, as compared to a net income of $4.6 million, or $0.13 per share, for the six months ended June 30, 2022. The change in net income was principally the result of an increase in gains associated with our hedge contracts and an increase in gains on asset sales, partially offset by a decrease in natural gas, oil and NGL sales and an increase in income tax provision.

Natural gas, oil and NGL revenue decreased $15.3 million, or 44%, for the six months ended June 30, 2023, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2022, due to decreases in natural gas, oil and NGL prices of 51%, 23% and 41%, respectively, and decreases in oil and NGL volumes of 5% and 16%, respectively.

The production increase in royalty volumes during the six months ended June 30, 2023, as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2022, resulted from new wells in the Haynesville Shale coming online.

The Company had a net gain on derivative contracts of $4.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023, compromised of a $1.7 million gain on settled derivatives and a $2.3 million non-cash gain on derivatives, as compared to a net loss of ($15.4) million for the six months ended June 30, 2022. Gain on settled derivative contracts for the six months ended June 30, 2023, excludes $0.4 million of cash paid to settle off-market derivative contracts. The total cash received to settle hedge contracts during the six months ended June 30, 2023 was $1.3 million. The change in net gain on derivative contracts was due to the Company's settlements of natural gas and oil collars and fixed price swaps and the change in valuation caused by the difference in June 30, 2023 pricing relative to the strike price on open derivative contracts.

Operations Update

During the quarter ended June 30, 2023, the Company converted 81 gross (0.30 net) wells to producing status, including 26 gross (0.20 net) wells in the Haynesville and 20 gross (0.06 net) wells in the SCOOP, compared to 96 gross (0.25 net) wells in the quarter ended June 30, 2022.

At June 30, 2023, the Company had a total of 186 gross (0.51 net) wells in progress across its mineral positions and 86 gross (0.40 net) active permitted wells, compared to 198 gross (0.65 net) wells in progress and 86 gross (0.24 net) active permitted wells at March 31, 2023. As of July 10, 2023, 15 rigs were operating on the Company's acreage and 61 rigs operating within 2.5 miles of its acreage.















Bakken/







































Three



Arkoma





















SCOOP



STACK



Forks



Stack



Haynesville



Other



Total

As of June 30, 2023:







































Gross Wells in Progress on PHX Acreage (1)

68





12





8





5





84





9





186

Net Wells in Progress on PHX Acreage (1)

0.174





0.025





0.001





0.001





0.284





0.028





0.513

Gross Active Permits on PHX Acreage

30





11





13





5





21





6





86

Net Active Permits on PHX Acreage

0.115





0.046





0.049





0.002





0.161





0.025





0.398











































As of July 10, 2023:







































Rigs Present on PHX Acreage

5





2





-





-





8





-





15

Rigs Within 2.5 Miles of PHX Acreage

12





15





3





1





23





7





61







(1) Wells in progress includes drilling wells and drilled but uncompleted wells, or DUCs.

Leasing Activity

During the quarter ended June 30, 2023, the Company leased 367 net mineral acres for an average bonus payment of $526 per net mineral acre and an average royalty of 23%.

Acquisition and Divestiture Update

During the quarter ended June 30, 2023, the Company purchased 151 net royalty acres for approximately $1.8 million and had no significant divestitures.





Acquisitions





SCOOP



Haynesville



Other



Total

During Three Months Ended June 30, 2023:























Net Mineral Acres Purchased



113





5





-





118

Net Royalty Acres Purchased



144





7





-





151



Outlook

PHX is providing an updated operational outlook for 2023 as follows:





Calendar Year 2022

Actual

Calendar Year 2023

YTD Actual

Calendar Year 2023

Outlook Mineral & Royalty Production (Mmcfe)

6,613

4,104

7,600 - 8,600 Working Interest Production (Mmcfe)

3,084

683

1,200 - 1,400(1) Total Production (Mmcfe)

9,697

4,787

8,800 - 10,000 Percentage Natural Gas

78 %

80 %

78% - 83%













Transportation, Gathering & Marketing (per Mcfe)

$0.63

$0.43

$0.45 - $0.50 Production Tax (as % of pre-hedge sales volumes)

4.50 %

5.50 %

5.50% - 6.00% LOE Expenses (on an absolute basis in 000's)

$3,807

$860

$1,200 - $1,400 Cash G&A (per Mcfe)

$1.01

$1.01

$1.00 - $1.06





(1) Pro-forma divestitures of Eagle Ford and Arkoma working interest assets, excludes potential future sales of additional working interest assets.

Quarterly Conference Call

PHX will host a conference call to discuss the Company's results for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, at 11 a.m. EDT tomorrow, Aug. 9, 2023. Management's discussion will be followed by a question-and-answer session with investors.

To participate on the conference call, please dial 877-407-3088 (toll-free domestic) or 201-389-0927. A replay of the call will be available for 14 days after the call. The number to access the replay of the conference call is 877-660-6853 and the PIN for the replay is 13740305.

A live audio webcast of the conference call will be accessible from the "Investors" section of PHX's website at https://phxmin.com/events. The webcast will be archived for at least 90 days.

FINANCIAL RESULTS





Statements of Operations







Three Months Ended June 30,



Six Months Ended June 30,



2023



2022



2023



2022

Revenues:









Natural gas, oil and NGL sales $ 7,231,164



$ 19,561,568



$ 19,088,411



$ 34,345,433

Lease bonuses and rental income

111,991





209,329





425,141





371,237

Gains (losses) on derivative contracts

183,006





(2,387,226)





3,985,826





(15,370,632)





7,526,161





17,383,671





23,499,378





19,346,038

Costs and expenses:





















Lease operating expenses

314,150





900,807





859,917





1,830,261

Transportation, gathering and marketing

906,373





1,430,136





2,035,129





2,918,654

Production taxes

461,893





925,197





1,043,326





1,622,590

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

2,210,332





2,022,832





4,100,322





4,143,948

Provision for impairment

-





6,277





2,073





6,277

Interest expense

524,294





286,345





1,081,767





516,557

General and administrative

3,177,103





2,877,614





6,159,012





5,621,878

Losses (gains) on asset sales and other

139,307





(630,547)





(4,195,121)





(2,891,682)

Total costs and expenses

7,733,452





7,818,661





11,086,425





13,768,483

Income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income taxes

(207,291)





9,565,010





12,412,953





5,577,555

























Provision (benefit) for income taxes

(166,000)





976,000





2,901,000





1,009,000

























Net income (loss) $ (41,291)



$ 8,589,010



$ 9,511,953



$ 4,568,555









































































Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share $ (0.00)



$ 0.25



$ 0.26



$ 0.13

























Weighted average shares outstanding:





















Basic

35,965,281





34,652,155





35,950,615





34,473,247

Diluted

35,965,281





34,851,214





36,034,438





34,473,247

























Dividends per share of





















common stock paid in period $ 0.0225



$ 0.02



$ 0.045



$ 0.035



























Balance Sheets







June 30, 2023



Dec. 31, 2022

Assets









Current assets:









Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,267,627



$ 2,115,652

Natural gas, oil, and NGL sales receivables (net of $0

5,839,904





9,783,996

allowance for uncollectable accounts)









Refundable income taxes

675,268





-

Derivative contracts, net

1,371,377





-

Held for sale assets

-





6,420,051

Other

370,896





1,543,956

Total current assets

9,525,072





19,863,655













Properties and equipment at cost, based on









successful efforts accounting:









Producing natural gas and oil properties

189,868,020





181,431,139

Non-producing natural gas and oil properties

61,180,555





57,781,644

Other

1,347,124





1,122,436





252,395,699





240,335,219

Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization

(110,426,239)





(107,085,212)

Net properties and equipment

141,969,460





133,250,007













Derivative contracts, net

-





141,345

Operating lease right-of-use assets

640,799





706,871

Other, net

596,874





695,399

Total assets $ 152,732,205



$ 154,657,277













Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity









Current liabilities:









Accounts payable $ 270,780



$ 504,466

Derivative contracts, net

-





1,534,034

Income taxes payable

-





576,427

Current portion of operating lease liability

226,389





217,656

Held for sale liabilities

-





889,155

Accrued liabilities and other

1,342,795





3,121,522

Total current liabilities

1,839,964





6,843,260













Long-term debt

23,750,000





33,300,000

Deferred income taxes, net

5,132,906





2,453,906

Asset retirement obligations

1,041,177





1,027,777

Derivative contracts, net

83,857





-

Operating lease liability, net of current portion

814,169





929,208













Total liabilities

32,662,073





44,554,151













Stockholders' equity:









Common Stock, $0.01666 par value; 54,000,500 shares authorized and









35,938,900 issued at June 30, 2023; 54,000,500 shares authorized









and 35,938,206 issued at Dec. 31, 2022

598,742





598,731

Capital in excess of par value

43,782,600





43,344,916

Deferred directors' compensation

1,368,956





1,541,070

Retained earnings

77,555,195





68,925,774





123,305,493





114,410,491

Less treasury stock, at cost; 225,723 shares at June 30,









2023, and 300,272 shares at Dec. 31, 2022

(3,235,361)





(4,307,365)

Total stockholders' equity

120,070,132





110,103,126

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 152,732,205



$ 154,657,277



Condensed Statements of Cash Flows







Six Months Ended June 30,



2023



2022

Operating Activities



Net income (loss) $ 9,511,953



$ 4,568,555

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided









by operating activities:









Depreciation, depletion and amortization

4,100,322





4,143,948

Impairment of producing properties

2,073





6,277

Provision for deferred income taxes

2,679,000





(159,000)

Gain from leasing fee mineral acreage

(425,141)





(370,131)

Proceeds from leasing fee mineral acreage

488,173





450,881

Net (gain) loss on sales of assets

(4,428,212)





(3,028,394)

Directors' deferred compensation expense

109,383





79,728

Total (gain) loss on derivative contracts

(3,985,826)





15,370,632

Cash receipts (payments) on settled derivative contracts

1,865,779





(1,215,245)

Restricted stock award expense

1,228,871





963,203

Other

70,526





18,515

Cash provided (used) by changes in assets and liabilities:









Natural gas, oil and NGL sales receivables

3,944,092





(3,760,490)

Other current assets

405,055





247,518

Accounts payable

(228,305)





(155,410)

Income taxes receivable

(675,268)





(860,416)

Other non-current assets

95,283





(403,745)

Income taxes payable

(576,427)





(499,939)

Accrued liabilities

(332,066)





304,497

Total adjustments

4,337,312





11,132,429

Net cash provided by operating activities

13,849,265





15,700,984













Investing Activities









Capital expenditures

(275,419)





(158,847)

Acquisition of minerals and overriding royalty interests

(11,914,003)





(18,228,580)

Net proceeds from sales of assets

9,223,405





3,265,897

Net cash provided (used) by investing activities

(2,966,017)





(15,121,530)













Financing Activities









Borrowings under credit facility

6,000,000





10,300,000

Payments of loan principal

(15,550,000)





(2,000,000)

Net proceeds from equity issuance

-





4,702,619

Cash receipts from (payments on) off-market derivative contracts

(560,162)





(9,443,174)

Purchases of treasury stock

(669)





-

Payments of dividends

(1,620,442)





(1,208,967)

Net cash provided (used) by financing activities

(11,731,273)





2,350,478













Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

(848,025)





2,929,932

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

2,115,652





1,559,350

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 1,267,627



$ 4,489,282













Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:





















Interest paid (net of capitalized interest) $ 1,155,637



$ 487,487

Income taxes paid (net of refunds received) $ 1,473,696



$ 2,528,356













Supplemental Schedule of Noncash Investing and Financing Activities:





















Gross additions to properties and equipment $ 12,952,046



$ 18,248,046

Net increase (decrease) in accounts receivable for properties









and equipment additions

(762,624)





139,381

Capital expenditures and acquisitions $ 12,189,422



$ 18,387,427



Proved Reserves







Proved Reserves SEC Pricing



June 30, 2023



Sept. 30, 2022

Proved Developed Reserves:



Mcf of Gas

46,258,075





50,304,185

Barrels of Oil

979,110





1,275,853

Barrels of NGL

1,456,785





1,698,046

Mcfe (1)

60,873,448





68,147,579

Proved Undeveloped Reserves:









Mcf of Gas

6,484,678





11,933,021

Barrels of Oil

90,075





106,924

Barrels of NGL

119,268





64,637

Mcfe (1)

7,740,736





12,962,387

Total Proved Reserves:









Mcf of Gas

52,742,753





62,237,206

Barrels of Oil

1,069,185





1,382,777

Barrels of NGL

1,576,053





1,762,683

Mcfe (1)

68,614,184





81,109,966













10% Discounted Estimated Future









Net Cash Flows (before income taxes):









Proved Developed $ 135,258,962



$ 184,948,239

Proved Undeveloped

22,990,870





52,978,389

Total $ 158,249,832



$ 237,926,628

SEC Pricing









Gas/Mcf $ 4.63



$ 6.41

Oil/Barrel $ 82.41



$ 90.33

NGL/Barrel $ 31.24



$ 38.09













Proved Reserves - Projected Future Pricing (2)













10% Discounted Estimated Future Proved Reserves

Net Cash Flows (before income taxes): June 30, 2023



Sept. 30, 2022

Proved Developed $ 102,982,498



$ 128,718,584

Proved Undeveloped

17,361,221





39,770,031

Total $ 120,343,719



$ 168,488,615















(1) Crude oil and NGL converted to natural gas on a one barrel of crude oil or NGL equals six Mcf of natural gas basis.

(2) Projected futures pricing as of June 30, 2023, and Sept. 30, 2022 (the Company's fiscal year-end prior to adoption of December 31 as fiscal year-end), basis adjusted to Company wellhead price.



Derivative Contracts as of July 20, 2023





Production volume







Contract period

covered per month

Index

Contract price Natural gas costless collars











July - December 2023

20,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.00 floor / $4.70 ceiling July - September 2023

75,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.50 floor / $7.00 ceiling October - December 2023

25,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.50 floor / $7.00 ceiling November 2023 - March 2024

30,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.25 floor / $5.25 ceiling December 2023 - September 2024

30,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.00 floor / $3.60 ceiling January 2024

135,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$4.50 floor / $7.90 ceiling February 2024

125,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$4.50 floor / $7.90 ceiling March 2024

130,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$4.50 floor / $7.90 ceiling April 2024

90,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.50 floor / $4.70 ceiling May 2024

95,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.50 floor / $4.70 ceiling June 2024

90,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.50 floor / $4.70 ceiling January - March 2024

30,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.00 floor / $6.00 ceiling October 2024 - June 2025

30,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.00 floor / $5.00 ceiling November 2024 - March 2025

90,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.25 floor / $5.25 ceiling Natural gas fixed price swaps











July - December 2023

100,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.37 July - December 2023

20,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.57 July - October 2023

20,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.58 July - October 2023

50,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$2.52 April - June 2024

10,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.21 April - October 2024

50,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.17 July - October 2024

75,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.47 July - October 2024

25,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.47 Oil costless collars











January 2024

1,850 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$63.00 floor / $76.00 ceiling February 2024

1,700 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$63.00 floor / $76.00 ceiling March 2024

1,750 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$63.00 floor / $76.00 ceiling April 2024

1,700 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$63.00 floor / $76.00 ceiling May 2024

1,750 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$63.00 floor / $76.00 ceiling June 2024

1,650 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$63.00 floor / $76.00 ceiling January - March 2024

1,650 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$65.00 floor / $76.50 ceiling April - June 2024

500 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$65.00 floor / $76.50 ceiling July - October 2024

1,650 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$65.00 floor / $76.50 ceiling Oil fixed price swaps











July - December 2023

1,500 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$67.55 July - December 2023

750 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$70.05 July - December 2023

1,500 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$80.80 July - December 2023

1,000 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$80.74 December 2023 - March 2024

750 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$71.75 April - October 2024

1,000 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$66.10 April - June 2024

1,300 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$70.59 November 2024 - March 2025

1,600 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$64.80 April - June 2025

1,000 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$68.00

Non-GAAP Reconciliation

This press release includes certain "non-GAAP financial measures" as defined under the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, including Regulation G. These non-GAAP financial measures are calculated using GAAP amounts in the Company's financial statements. These measures, detailed below, are provided in addition to, not as an alternative for, and should be read in conjunction with, the information contained in the Company's financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP (including the notes thereto), included in the Company's SEC filings and posted on its website.

Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation

The Company defines "adjusted EBITDA" as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, excluding non-cash gains (losses) on derivatives and gains (losses) on asset sales and including cash receipts from (payments on) off-market derivatives and restricted stock and deferred directors' expense. The Company has included a presentation of adjusted EBITDA because it recognizes that certain investors consider this amount to be a useful means of measuring the Company's ability to meet its debt service obligations and evaluating its financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income, operating income, cash flow from operations or other consolidated income or cash flow data prepared in accordance with GAAP. Because not all companies use identical calculations, this presentation of adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to a similarly titled measure of other companies. The following table provides a reconciliation of net income (loss) to adjusted EBITDA for the quarters indicated:



Three Months

Ended



Three Months

Ended



Six Months

Ended



Six Months

Ended



Three Months

Ended



June 30, 2023



June 30, 2022



June 30, 2023



June 30, 2022



March 31, 2023

Net Income (Loss) $ (41,291)



$ 8,589,010



$ 9,511,953



$ 4,568,555



$ 9,553,244

Plus:



























Income tax expense



























(benefit)

(166,000)





976,000





2,901,000





1,009,000





3,067,000

Interest expense

524,294





286,345





1,081,767





516,557





557,473

DD&A

2,210,332





2,022,832





4,100,322





4,143,948





1,889,990

Impairment expense

-





6,277





2,073





6,277





2,073

Less:



























Non-cash gains (losses)



























on derivatives

(865,935)





3,282,921





2,306,464





(8,489,719)





3,172,399

Gains (losses) on asset sales

10,230





693,750





4,428,213





2,985,965





4,417,983

Plus:



























Cash receipts from (payments on)



























off-market derivative contracts(1)

-





(1,284,024)





(373,745)





(3,777,505)





(373,745)

Restricted stock and deferred



























director's expense

703,667





574,333





1,338,254





1,042,931





634,587

Adjusted EBITDA $ 4,086,707



$ 7,194,102



$ 11,826,947



$ 13,013,517



$ 7,740,240

































(1) The initial receipt of $8.8 million of cash from BP Energy Company, or BP, for entering into the off-market derivative contracts had no effect on the Company's statement of operations and was considered cash flow from financing activities. A portion of subsequent settlements with BP had no effect on the Company's statement of operations.



Debt to Adjusted EBITDA (TTM) Reconciliation

"Debt to adjusted EBITDA (TTM)" is defined as the ratio of long-term debt to adjusted EBITDA on a trailing 12-month (TTM) basis. The Company has included a presentation of debt to adjusted EBITDA (TTM) because it recognizes that certain investors consider such ratios to be a useful means of measuring the Company's ability to meet its debt service obligations and for evaluating its financial performance. The debt to adjusted EBITDA (TTM) ratio has limitations and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income, operating income, cash flow from operations or other consolidated income or cash flow data prepared in accordance with GAAP. Because not all companies use identical calculations, this presentation of debt to adjusted EBITDA (TTM) may not be comparable to a similarly titled measure of other companies. The following table provides a reconciliation of net income (loss) to adjusted EBITDA on a TTM basis and of the resulting debt to adjusted EBITDA (TTM) ratio:



TTM Ended



TTM Ended



June 30, 2023



June 30, 2022

Net Income (Loss) $ 22,016,554



$ 7,486,604

Plus:









Income tax expense (benefit)

6,313,000





2,221,949

Interest expense

2,191,181





898,201

DD&A

7,452,846





7,297,339

Impairment expense

6,105,472





16,482

Less:









Non-cash gains (losses)









on derivatives

10,211,207





(815,184)

Gains (losses) on asset sales

8,921,031





1,112,581

Plus:









Cash receipts from (payments on)









off-market derivative contracts(1)

(2,334,403)





2,334,403

Restricted stock and deferred









director's expense

2,944,517





1,691,912

Adjusted EBITDA $ 25,556,929



$ 21,649,493













Debt $ 23,750,000



$ 28,300,000

Debt to Adjusted EBITDA (TTM)

0.93





1.31















(1) The initial receipt of $8.8 million of cash from BP for entering into the off-market derivative contracts had no effect on the Company's statement of operations and was considered cash flow from financing activities. A portion of subsequent settlements with BP had no effect on the Company's statement of operations.



Adjusted Pretax Net Income (Loss) Reconciliation

"Adjusted pretax net income (loss)" is defined as earnings before taxes and impairment expense, excluding non-cash gains (losses) on derivatives and gains (losses) on asset sales and including cash receipts from (payments on) off-market derivatives. The Company has included a presentation of adjusted pretax net income (loss) because it recognizes that certain investors consider this amount to be a useful means of measuring the Company's ability to meet its debt service obligations and evaluating its financial performance. Adjusted pretax net income (loss) has limitations and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income, operating income, cash flow from operations or other consolidated income or cash flow data prepared in accordance with GAAP. Because not all companies use identical calculations, this presentation of adjusted pretax net income (loss) may not be comparable to a similarly titled measure of other companies. The following table provides a reconciliation of net income (loss) to adjusted pretax net income (loss) for the periods indicated:



Three Months

Ended



Three Months

Ended



Six Months

Ended



Six Months

Ended



Three Months

Ended



June 30, 2023



June 30, 2022



June 30, 2023



June 30, 2022



March 31, 2023

Net Income (Loss) $ (41,291)



$ 8,589,010



$ 9,511,953



$ 4,568,555



$ 9,553,244

Plus:



























Income tax expense (benefit)

(166,000)





976,000





2,901,000





1,009,000





3,067,000

Impairment expense

-





6,277





2,073





6,277





2,073

Less:



























Non-cash gains (losses)



























on derivatives

(865,935)





3,282,921





2,306,464





(8,489,719)





3,172,399

Gains (losses) on asset sales

10,230





693,750





4,428,213





2,985,965





4,417,983

Plus:



























Cash receipts from (payments on)



























off-market derivative contracts(1)

-





(1,284,024)





(373,745)





(3,777,505)





(373,745)

Adjusted Pretax Net Income (Loss) $ 648,414



$ 4,310,592



$ 5,306,604



$ 7,310,081



$ 4,658,190































Weighted average shares outstanding



























Basic

35,965,281





34,652,155





35,950,615





34,473,247





35,935,791

Diluted

35,965,281





34,851,214





36,034,438





34,473,247





35,935,791































Adjusted Pretax Net Income (Loss)



























per basic and diluted share $ 0.02



$ 0.12



$ 0.15



$ 0.21



$ 0.13

































(1) The initial receipt of $8.8 million of cash from BP for entering into the off-market derivative contracts had no effect on the Company's statement of operations and was considered cash flow from financing activities. A portion of subsequent settlements with BP had no effect on the Company's statement of operations.



PHX Minerals Inc. (NYSE: PHX) Fort Worth-based, PHX Minerals Inc. is a natural gas and oil mineral company with a strategy to proactively grow its mineral position in its core focus areas. PHX owns mineral acreage principally located in Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, North Dakota and Arkansas. Additional information on the Company can be found at www.phxmin.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes "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. Words such as "anticipates," "plans," "estimates," "believes," "expects," "intends," "will," "should," "may" and similar expressions may be used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact and reflect PHX's current views about future events. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements relating to: the Company's operational outlook; the Company's ability to execute its business strategies; the volatility of realized natural gas and oil prices; the level of production on the Company's properties; estimates of quantities of natural gas, oil and NGL reserves and their values; general economic or industry conditions; legislation or regulatory requirements; conditions of the securities markets; the Company's ability to raise capital; changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines; financial or political instability; acts of war or terrorism; title defects in the properties in which the Company invests; and other economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory or technical factors affecting properties, operations or prices. Although the Company believes expectations reflected in these and other forward-looking statements are reasonable, the Company can give no assurance such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially from those expected by the Company's management. Information concerning these risks and other factors can be found in the Company's filings with the SEC, including its Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, available on the Company's website or the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update the forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE PHX MINERALS INC.
AI-powered investment platform offers real estate investors, advisors and analysts real-time access to home valuation, risk assessment and remodel analysis

BELLEVUE, Wash., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Plunk , the first AI-powered home analytics platform in the US, has announced the launch of Plunk Pro for real estate investors, advisors and analysts. Plunk tracks over 104 million homes nationwide to give users the most comprehensive home valuation data in real time, in addition to predictive home investment analysis and risk assessment.

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Demonstrates how a home compares to others in the neighborhood, including number of bedrooms, bathrooms and stories, plus finished square footage, year built and home condition. Real-time Market Insights: How is the local housing market performing? Real-time access to median days on market, media list price, price per square foot, inventory, days of inventory and sale vs. list price.

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The future, fully-remodeled value of a home. Project Recommendations: What improvements can be made to increase this home's value? Renovation projects with the best return on investment.

Plunk Pro is designed for individual users and small teams. For more information on Plunk Pro visit www.plunkpro.com. Plunk's AI-powered home analytics are also available for enterprise customers via API. For more information on API access, visit: www.getplunk.com/developers.

About Plunk

Plunk is the largest and most comprehensive home analytics platform in the US  leveraging next generation applications of Artificial Intelligence, machine learning and image analysis. Plunk is revolutionizing the way investors, advisors and homeowners value and invest in residential real estate. For more information, please visit www.getplunk.com.

SOURCE Plunk
The Power semiconductor market is driven by factors, including a surge in the installation of solar photovoltaic panels for electricity generation, an increase in demand for power electronics modules across various industry verticals, and the HVDC and smart grid initiatives by the government.

PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Power Semiconductor Market by Material (SiC, GaN, and Others) Product (Power MOSFET, IGBT, Thyristor, Power Diode, and Others), Industry Vertical (IT & Telecom, Aerospace & Defense, Industrial, Energy & Power, Electronics, Automotive, and Healthcare): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20232032". According to the report, The global power semiconductor market was valued at $48.9 billion in 2022, and is projected to reach $75.1 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 4.5% from 2023 to 2032.

Power semiconductor are efficient electronic devices with high power ratings. These reliable devices are specifically designed to withstand high voltage and current with lesser losses. Power semiconductor are produced by using semiconducting materials like silicon (Si) or silicon carbide (SiC). Power semiconductor are critical components in all kinds of power electronics equipment including uninterruptible power systems (UPSs) and inverters.

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Prime determinants of growth

The Power semiconductor market analysis is anticipated to expand significantly during the forecast period owing to a surge in the installation of solar photovoltaic panels for electricity generation, an increase in demand for power electronics modules across various industry verticals. Additionally, the market for Power semiconductor is expected to benefit from the HVDC and smart grid initiatives by the government. However, complexity in the supply chain and designing process of SiC semiconductor technology poses a restraint to the growth of the Power semiconductor market during the forecast period.

Report coverage & details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20222032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $48.9 billion Market Size in 2032 $75.1 billion CAGR 4.5 % No. of Pages in Report 430 Segments covered Material, Product, Industry Vertical, and Region. Drivers Rise in the installation of solar photovoltaic panels for electricity generation Increase in demand for power electronics modules across various industry verticals Opportunities HVDC and smart grid initiatives by the government Restraints Complexity in supply chain and designing process of SiC semiconductor technology

Covid-19 Scenario

COVID-19 has a significant influence on both the economy and consumers. To curb the spread of the virus, manufacturing centers for electronics, including those producing semiconductors, were temporarily shut down. As a consequence, the semiconductor market's supply chain has been severely affected, leading to shortages of raw materials, intermediate components, and finished products.

The lack of business continuity has resulted in adverse effects on revenue, shareholder returns, and overall financial performance of power the semiconductor industry.

The SiC segment is anticipated to dominate in terms of revenue during the forecast period

Based on material, the SiC segment accounted for nearly three-fifths of the total revenue in the global Power semiconductor market in 2022, and it is expected to continue its dominant position throughout the forecast period. The primary factors contributing to its dominance and growth are its superior material properties, including higher breakdown electric field strength, wider bandgap, and lower thermal expansion compared to conventional silicon semiconductors. Moreover, the GaN segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 5.4% from 2023 to 2032, driven by include increasing demand in 5G infrastructure for high-frequency and high-power RF devices, growing adoption in electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy systems for enhanced efficiency, emerging applications in LiDAR technology for autonomous vehicles, and advancements in GaN technology leading to improved performance and cost-effectiveness.

Procure Complete Report (430 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) @ https://bit.ly/43Ylp0n

The power MOSFET segment garnered the major share in 2021

By product, the power MOSFET segment accounted for nearly one-fourth of the global Power semiconductor market share in 2021. This is attributed to its widespread use in various electronic devices for switching and amplifying electronic signals. Its compact size and ability to be integrated into single chips enable efficient power conversion and management, contributing to its significant market presence. Additionally, the increasing demand for electric devices, renewable energy systems, and electric vehicles further drives the adoption of power MOSFETs, solidifying their position in the Power semiconductor market. However, the IGBT segment would cite the fastest CAGR of 5.44% throughout the forecast period due to the increasing adoption of IGBTs in electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and renewable energy systems driving their demand in various industries. The ability of IGBTs to handle higher voltage and current levels, coupled with their fast switching rates and reduced power losses, makes them ideal for high-power applications.

The IT and Telecom segment is expected to dominate in 2022

Based on industry verticals, the IT and Telecom segment emerged as the market leader in the global Power semiconductor market in 2022, holding the highest market share of more than one-fifth of the revenue. This dominant position is attributed to the extensive adoption of Power semiconductor in various critical applications within the IT and Telecom industry. Power semiconductor are widely used in base stations, space applications, optical systems, satellite communication, radar systems, and wireless applications, among others, to enable efficient power management and signal amplification. Moreover, the energy and power segment held the major share of 18.9% in 2032. However, the automotive segment is expected to experience the fastest CAGR of 6.21% from 2023 to 2032. The remarkable growth of the automotive segment can be attributed to the increasing adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles, advancements in autonomous driving technologies, rising demand for vehicle connectivity and V2X communication, the need for high-efficiency power conversion, the popularity of advanced lighting systems, and the implementation of stricter emission regulations.

Asia-Pacific to maintain its dominance by 2032.

Based on region, Asia-Pacific dominated the Power semiconductor market revenue in 2022, representing nearly half of the global market share. This region is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 5.33% from 2023 to 2032. The primary reasons for this dominance are the rise in industrialization, rapid urbanization, and increasing demand for power modules in various industries, including automotive, renewable energy, and electric grid infrastructures, are driving the adoption of Power semiconductor. Additionally, the availability of massive power plants generating high voltage power, coupled with the region's growing population and energy consumption, further contributes to the dominance of Asia-Pacific in the Power semiconductor market.

Leading Market Players: -

Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.

Infineon Technologies

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Hitachi, Ltd.

NXP Semiconductors N.V.

ON Semiconductor Corporation

Renesas Electronics

STMicroelectronics N.V.

Texas Instruments Inc.

Toshiba Corporation

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global Power semiconductor market. These players have adopted different strategies such as agreements, innovations, expansions, product launches, collaborations, and others to increase their market penetration and strengthen their position. in the industry. The report is helpful in determining the business performance, operating segments, developments, and product portfolios of every market player.

Want to Access the Statistical Data and Graphs, Key Players Strategies: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/power-semiconductor-market/purchase-options

Key Benefits For Stakeholders:

This report provides a quantitative analysis of the market segments, current trends, estimations, and dynamics of the Power semiconductor market analysis and Power semiconductor market outlook from 2021 to 2031 to identify the prevailing market opportunity.

The market research is offered along with information related to key drivers, restraints, and opportunities.

Porter's five forces analysis highlights the potency of buyers and suppliers to enable stakeholders make profit-oriented business decisions and strengthen their supplier-buyer network.

In-depth analysis of the market segmentation assists to determine the prevailing market opportunities.

Major countries in each region are mapped according to their revenue contribution to the global market.

Market player positioning facilitates benchmarking and provides a clear understanding of the present position of the market players.

The report includes the analysis of the regional as well as global Power semiconductor market trends, key players, market segments, application areas, and market growth strategies.

Power Semiconductor Market Key Segments:

By Product

Silicon Carbonate (SiC)

Gallium Nitride (GaN)

Others

By Application

IT and Telecommunication

Consumer Electronics

Automotive

Aerospace and Defense

Transportation

Medical

Energy and Power

Others

By Component

Discrete

Module

Power Integrated Circuits

By Region

North America (U.S., Canada , Mexico )

(U.S., , ) Europe (UK, Germany , France , Rest of Europe )

(UK, , , Rest of ) Asia-Pacific ( China , Japan , India , South Korea , Rest of Asia-Pacific )

( , , , , Rest of ) LAMEA ( Latin America , Middle East , Africa )

Buy this Research Report @ https://bit.ly/3Qq8eCv

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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:

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#205, Portland, OR 97220

United States

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SOURCE Allied Market Research
The Proactiv Clean 3-Step Routine offers consumers a dermatologist-developed routine that delivers gentler ingredients to help calm the skin and treat acne.

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Alchemee LLC, formerly The Proactiv Company ("Alchemee"), the leader in clear skin innovation, is excited to announce the launch of its latest addition to the Proactiv portfolio: the Proactiv Clean 3-Step Routine. Specifically formulated for individuals with sensitive, acne-prone skin, this clean-conscious skincare regimen offers a gentler solution to clear blemishes, visibly smooth the skin, and promote a calming effectall while staying free from parabens, phthalates, sulfates, cyclic silicones, and over 100 other no-no ingredients*.

ProactivClean 3-Step Routine Proactiv Branded Lifestyle image

The routine's formulas contain gentler acne-clearing ingredients like mineral-derived sulfur and salicylic acid to help clear blemishes, as well as skin-loving ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, bakuchiol, and chamomile to help smooth texture, even skin tone, and calm irritated skin. The Proactiv Clean 3-Step Routine is a perfect introduction for anyone looking to establish a skincare routine, as it is non-comedogenic and safe for sensitive skin.

"After close monitoring of consumer feedback both offline and online, we created a dermatologist-developed routine that is both gentle enough for sensitive skin and effective enough for treating acne. This is a continuation of our effort to empower individuals wherever they may be on their clear skin journey," said Samantha Boulukos, Head of Business at Alchemee. "We worked hand-in-hand with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Rachel Nazarian on the formulation of the Acne Clearing Hydrator to ensure we were delivering the best ingredients in a gentle yet effective manner. We are proud to add this to our portfolio of science-backed products."

The Proactiv Clean 3-Step Routine includes:

Step 1: Mineral Acne Cleanser: A creamy, daily-use mineral cleanser that washes away excess dirt, oil, and dead skin. The cleanser is formulated with mineral-derived sulfur to help reduce oil and penetrate pores to control breakouts, and contains chamomile to help soothe sensitive, acneic skin. The Mineral Acne Cleanser is recommended to be used twice daily, morning and night, washing the entire face while avoiding eye area.

A creamy, daily-use mineral cleanser that washes away excess dirt, oil, and dead skin. The cleanser is formulated with mineral-derived sulfur to help reduce oil and penetrate pores to control breakouts, and contains chamomile to help soothe sensitive, acneic skin. The Mineral Acne Cleanser is recommended to be used twice daily, morning and night, washing the entire face while avoiding eye area. Step 2: Azelaic Pore Perfector: A lightweight serum-like azelaic acid lotion that helps improve the look of uneven skin tone and soothe irritation. The lotion contains squalane, bisabolol, and allantoin to help soften, smooth and hydrate the skin, as well as hyaluronic acid and glycerin to help nourish and soothe the skin. The Azelaic Pore Perfector is recommended to be used twice daily, morning and night, after using the Mineral Acne Cleanser. A thin layer should be applied to the entire face and should not be rinsed off.

A lightweight serum-like azelaic acid lotion that helps improve the look of uneven skin tone and soothe irritation. The lotion contains squalane, bisabolol, and allantoin to help soften, smooth and hydrate the skin, as well as hyaluronic acid and glycerin to help nourish and soothe the skin. The Azelaic Pore Perfector is recommended to be used twice daily, morning and night, after using the Mineral Acne Cleanser. A thin layer should be applied to the entire face and should not be rinsed off. Step 3: Acne Clearing Hydrator: A daily-use moisturizer that helps clear blemishes while replenishing the skin's moisture barrier. The hydrator is formulated with acne-clearing salicylic acid to encourage the shedding of dead skin cells. The Acne Clearing Hydrator is recommended to be used twice daily, morning and night, after the Azelaic Pore Perfector once skin is completely dry. The product can be worn alone or under makeupif going outside, wear a sunscreen SPF 30 or higher.

"Acne can be overwhelming and frustrating, and it's oftentimes difficult to pinpoint a specific cause," said consulting board-certified dermatologist Dr. Rachel Nazarian. "That's why I'm proud to work with Proactiv on creating skincare solutions for the next generation. Through our research and feedback, we have found that many consumers desire acne-fighting formulas that are gentle and want to avoid ingredients that risk drying out or irritating their skin. The Acne Clearing Hydrator is a gentle way to achieve beautiful skin using ingredients that are benzoyl peroxide and retinoid-free. The three-step routine has all the acne-clearing effectiveness without numerous chemicals many people want to avoid, helping to improve overall skin clarity. No compromise needed."

The Proactiv Clean 3-Step Routine is available for purchase now at www.proactiv.com , www.target.com , www.ulta.com , and www.cvs.com . Consumers will also be able to find it on www.amazon.com , and in Target and CVS stores by the end of the month. Follow the path to clear skin with @proactiv on Instagram and TikTok .

About Alchemee

Alchemee, formerly The Proactiv Company, is an industry leader in developing solution-based skincare systems. Alchemee takes medically-based breakthrough technologies and combines them with the best treatment fighters into clinically-proven regimens. With over almost 30 years of skincare innovation and more than 20 million customers worldwide, there's a reason Proactiv is America's #1 Clear Skin Routine. Proactiv's multi-step skincare regimens work to break the acne cycle and give users great-looking skin.

Alchemee is owned by Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

*Learn more about Proactiv Clean's benefits and ingredients here .

SOURCE Alchemee
GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Puffer Finance, a blockchain infrastructure company, has announced the successful closure of its seed round, raising a total of $5.5 million USD. The round was co-led by Lemniscap and Lightspeed Faction, with participation from Brevan Howard Digital, Bankless Ventures, Animoca Ventures, DACM, LBK, SNZ and Canonical Crypto.

The funding will be leveraged to accelerate the development of Puffer's open-source Secure-Signer solution for the public good, and to create a capital-efficient permissionless staking pool.

Puffer Finance Raises $5.5M Seed Funding to Strengthen Ethereum Decentralization & Scalability

Puffer recognizes the inherent challenges validators face in the Ethereum Proof of Stake (PoS) network, particularly the risk of losing all of their staked ETH to slashing penalties resulting from software bugs or user errors. This carries significant risk for solo stakers without access to substantial amounts of ETH, discouraging small-scale participation and increasing the appeal of centralized services.

Puffer's open-source project Secure-Signer is a remote signing tool designed to prevent Ethereum validators from committing slashable offenses, limiting access to validator keys in order to mitigate the effect of software bugs and user errors while simultaneously protecting them from costly penalties that disproportionately impact solo stakers. Secure-Signer previously received support from the Ethereum Foundation in the form of a $120k grant, underscoring its importance within the Ethereum ecosystem.

Additionally, Puffer Finance is actively working on a protocol to lower the barrier of entry for at-home stakers and to help them unlock additional rewards, providing a financially viable alternative to centralized Liquid Staking Providers (LSPs), whose economies of scale can otherwise provide greater rewards by addressing the issue of inactivity penalties and implementing innovative anti-slashing technology. The protocol will effectively reduce the bond requirement from 32 ETH to just 2 ETH.

Other participants in Puffer's seed round include community funds such as 33DAO, WAGMI33, and Concave, as well as angel investors including DiscusFish, Co-founder of F2Pool & Cobo; Sreeram Kannan, Founder of Eigen layer; Frederick Allen, Staking Sales Lead at Coinbase Institutional; Calvin Liu, Head of Strategy at Eigen Layer; Ramble, Founder of the North American Blockchain Association; Mr.Block: Core Contributor at Curve; Ladislaus von Daniels, Staking Educator, Richard Malone, Head of Business at Obol Labs.

Puffer's seed round follows an initial $650K raise in a pre-seed round led by Jump Crypto, and supported by IoTeX, Acanam Capital.

Commenting on the announcement, Amir Forouzani, and Jason Vranek, Founders of Puffer Finance, said: "The rapid advancements in infrastructure and user experience have primed Ethereum for mass adoption. As this era ushers in new centralization pressures, preserving Ethereum's core values becomes increasingly essential. We hope the Puffer Protocol will create a pocket within the validator set where decentralization can thrive. By lowering barriers to entry, anyone can run a Puffer Node from their home to operate Web3 infrastructure and play a pivotal role in shaping a Web3 that is resilient and censorship-resistant. We want to express our utmost gratitude to our investors for their trust, support, and partnership. Together and with our community, we will build a flourishing ecosystem true to the values that made Ethereum so special."

Justin Drake, Researcher at the Ethereum Foundation, said: "Validator operators should consider Puffer's SGX-based secure signer  at least until we get one-shot signatures. Zooming out, enclaves are a great way to incrementally improve security whenever pure cryptoeconomic defences fall short."

Roderik van der Graaf, Founder of Lemniscap, said: "The Puffer team is spearheading the development of sophisticated technological solutions geared towards reducing centralisation pressures on Ethereum. Puffer's proprietary Secure-Signer solution greatly mitigates operational risks associated with user errors and client bugs, providing best-in-class security for validators. The solution's low capital requirement of 2 ETH is a game changer in terms of broadening the accessibility of revenue streams for at-home stakers, encouraging new swathes of ecosystem participants to stake their claim in the burgeoning sector."

Samuel Harrison, Managing Partner of Faction, said: "Through software defined security, Puffer enables lower fees for users and higher ROI for node operators, whilst enabling a more decentralized and fragmented validator ecosystem. This advancement is beneficial for the entire space."

About Puffer Finance

Puffer is defining a new industry standard for secure validator operations with the primary objective of preserving decentralization, with Anti-Slashing technologies designed to minimize the chance of slashing events. The company's Secure-Aggregator technology provides the foundation to build a secure, scalable, and performant liquid staking protocol. Allowing permissionless and capital-efficient Node Operator (NoOp) participation allows anyone to join the PufferPool to help preserve Ethereum's decentralization.

About Lemniscap

Lemniscap is an investment firm specializing in investments in emerging crypto assets and blockchain startups. Since its founding in 2017, Lemniscap has funded multiple investments in the crypto blockchain space, on the core belief that blockchain technology will upend traditional business models, resulting in profound changes in the world economy. The Lemniscap team consists of talented people with backgrounds in financial markets, PE/VC, technology and entrepreneurship. For more information, visit https://lemniscap.com/.

About Lightspeed Faction

Faction is a joint-venture with Lightspeed Venture Partners. We back disruptive crypto projects at the early stage. We invest in the best entrepreneurs at the Seed and Series A, across both equity and tokens. We look to partner with BUIDLers who are working on something fundamentally useful in blockchain and who are passionately pushing the industry forward. We invest across the stack (layer zero to applications) and sectors (DeFi to NFTs). Regardless of vertical or horizontal, our north star is always the same: great entrepreneurs creating real utility and pushing the frontier. For more information, visit https://www.faction.vc/

Media contact:

media@puffer.fi

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2170815/PufferFinance.jpg

SOURCE Puffer Finance
AI to power new study experiences that enhance student learning

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ahead of back-to-school season, global learning platform Quizlet today announced a series of new study tools designed to help students return to the classroom with renewed confidence this school year. These new product launches deliver more AI-powered resources to Quizlet's 60 million monthly active users, combining cognitive science and artificial intelligence to help students study more effectively and efficiently.

Joining well-known and beloved study tools, including Flashcards and Learn and Test, this back-to-school Quizlet is introducing:

Explore fresh features from Quizlet, the #1 AI-enhanced learning platform

Magic Notes: With Magic Notes, students can upload their class notes to Quizlet and instantly and automatically turn them into flashcards, practice tests, and more. Whether notes are hand-written or digital, this AI-powered solution gets users ready to study in mere seconds, saving valuable time that was previously used manually building studying tools, and helping students extend their knowledge with outlines, sample essay topics and related course materials.

With Magic Notes, students can upload their class notes to Quizlet and instantly and automatically turn them into flashcards, practice tests, and more. Whether notes are hand-written or digital, this AI-powered solution gets users ready to study in mere seconds, saving valuable time that was previously used manually building studying tools, and helping students extend their knowledge with outlines, sample essay topics and related course materials. Memory Score: Memory Score lets students track their personal memory scores based on their study habits and help them understand how likely they are to remember material at different intervals and when test day comes.

Memory Score lets students track their personal memory scores based on their study habits and help them understand how likely they are to remember material at different intervals and when test day comes. Quick Summary: Quick Summary pulls key concepts out of dense readings, providing summaries that help students digest material faster and at the right level to match their current understanding.

Quick Summary pulls key concepts out of dense readings, providing summaries that help students digest material faster and at the right level to match their current understanding. Brain Beats : With Brain Beats , students can automatically turn their flashcards into a song to enhance studying, using a tune to aid in memorization.

With , students can automatically turn their flashcards into a song to enhance studying, using a tune to aid in memorization. Q-Chat : Q-Chat launched in beta in March as the first personalized AI tutor built on OpenAI's ChatGPT API and has since powered millions of conversations with students on Quizlet. Today, it is officially out of beta and Q-Chat will now be a part of the core Quizlet experience and with additional activities including Teach Me, Quiz Me, Apply my Knowledge, and Practice with Sentences. Q-Chat is built to help students achieve a deeper understanding of the topics they are studying through a virtual tutor-like experience.

: Q-Chat launched in beta in March as the first personalized AI tutor built on OpenAI's ChatGPT API and has since powered millions of conversations with students on Quizlet. Today, it is officially out of beta and Q-Chat will now be a part of the core Quizlet experience and with additional activities including Teach Me, Quiz Me, Apply my Knowledge, and Practice with Sentences. Q-Chat is built to help students achieve a deeper understanding of the topics they are studying through a virtual tutor-like experience. AI Enhanced Expert Solutions: Millions of step-by-step explanations written by verified experts on Quizlet are now enhanced by advanced AI capabilities. On top of the trusted step-by-step guidance this feature is known for, students can now access alternate explanations to better understand tricky concepts, practice problems to test their knowledge, and use Q-Chat for personalized AI-powered tutoring all built within the experience.

"Quizlet has invested in AI since we debuted Learn Mode in 2017 and we've seen first-hand just how beneficial AI is to help students learn," said Quizlet CEO Lex Bayer. "This back-to-school, we are launching products that use generative AI to go a step beyond anything students have seen before and to do what we do best: help students practice and master whatever they are learning."

Starting today in the US, all Quizlet users 16 years and older will be able to access these new features, with Quizlet Plus users gaining unlimited access.

About Quizlet

Quizlet is a global learning platform that provides engaging AI-enhanced study tools to help people practice and master whatever they are learning -- including 2 in 3 high school students and 1 in 2 college students in the US. Every month, over 60 million students, teachers, and everyday people use Quizlet to study any subject imaginable for school, work, or as part of their personal interests. Combining cognitive science and artificial intelligence, Quizlet guides students through adaptive study activities to confidently reach their learning goals. Quizlet is headquartered in San Francisco, California, and is backed by General Atlantic, Union Square Ventures, Altos Ventures, Icon Ventures, Owl Ventures, and Costanoa Ventures. For more information, please visit www.quizlet.com.

CONTACT: Crystal Braswell, [email protected]

SOURCE Quizlet
Press Release

August 8, 2023 Legarda bats for measure promoting geographical indications in PH Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda supported further promoting geographical indications (GI) in the Philippines to safeguard intellectual property mechanisms as she co-authored and co-sponsored Senate Bill No. 2387, or the Protected Geographical Indications Act. Anchored on the rules and regulations operationalized by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), the measure aims to give legislative fiat to GIs and promote the recognition and protection of the country's valuable geographical indications. GIs pertain to any indication that identifies a good as originating in a territory, region, or locality, where a given quality, reputation, or other characteristics of the good is essentially attributable to its geographical origin and/or human factors, as defined by the Intellectual Property Code of 1997. Known for her advocacies in promoting Philippine products and culture, Legarda has previously stated the need to pay attention to developing GIs and underscored the importance of ensuring the integration of efforts of the government and communities that will uphold the nation's indigenous and traditional products. "Timely as this discussion may seem to be, I must assert that our extensions come a tad late. We have known and loved these products for decades, yet we did too little for too long," Legarda conveyed. Legarda noted several controversies that troubled various indigenous communities, resulting in the term 'cultural appropriation.' These include the indigenous weaves of the Cordillera people and the traditional tattoo art of the Kalinga, among others. She said continuously honoring the country's culture and arts is a moral imperative and should be given legal intellectual protections and remedies. "These new regulations issued by the IPOPHL are, therefore, a welcome development. While it cannot be expected to resolve past controversies or halt attempts at cultural appropriation, it is a very good step toward this end. And giving it further legislative backbone is highly warranted," Legarda remarked. The four-term senator also stressed that GIs have back-end and front-end implications beyond marketing. She said that an indication of origin does a great deal more than increase market awareness and ensure sales. Legarda reported the recent inclusion of Guimaras mangoes as the first registered GI in the Philippines, where she also stated that more localities are putting their best foot forward, including Lake Sebu T'nalak, Batangas Barako, Lake Taal Tawilis, Bicol Pili and Davao Pomelo. These also include the patadyong weaving in her hometown province of Antique, which is considered a potential GI. "Locals will be motivated with pride and collective self-worth that their very own are recognized. They will continue to strive for perfection and even variation, confident that they have government recognition and support," Legarda expressed. "In the midst of all these opportunities, let us also remind ourselves that there is only so much that legal recognition can do. Loving our own, patronizing our own, and bearing our own with our head held high, whether registered or not, are themselves protections and should be nurtured," she added.
On a recent Friday, the waiting area at the Corvallis Department of Motor Vehicle was sparsely filled.

People trickled in, grabbed a number from the ticket dispenser and patiently waited their turns. Staff occupied five out of the six booths, tending to customers who could access any number of services the DMV offers after a reasonably short wait time.

A road test wasn't one of them.

And that wasn't unique to just that day.

Residents  regardless of age  who need to complete a driving test to obtain a Class C driver license or provisional driver license now have to visit any number of third-party test centers.

According to DMV spokesperson Michelle Godfrey, as many as 75% of all road tests across the state are now being administered by third-party centers.

For residents of Corvallis, which doesn't have such a center, it means a long wait for DMV appointment times.

Or making their way out of town.

Third-party centers

Tomi Shotuyo, a commercial loan analyst who recently moved from Corvallis to Newport, visited two such third-party test centers before finally obtaining a paper copy of her license in July. The first center was out of state in Seattle, where she paid $120 for a knowledge and road test  which she did not pass.

The driving instructor failed her for being too careful and for driving at 30 mph in a 25 mph zone. She did not retake the test there as she was of the impression the examiner was being stricter than was usual.

Shotuyo was 29 years old at the time and had been driving in her home country of Nigeria since she was 16.

This experience left such an unsavory taste that when the Corvallis DMV referred her to another third-party center, she worried about reliving the experience.

There was no particular reason they (DMV) gave me as to why I couldnt take it there, and Id have loved a reason, she said.

After retaking a knowledge test at the DMV  they did not accept the earlier knowledge test from Washington  Shotuyo opted to take the drive test at a center in Albany. It was the closest to her and suited her schedule, seeing that she was about to leave Corvallis.

Ill say I'm lucky because I have friends that have cars. If not, it would've been stressful, Shotuyo said about the logistics of getting to her driving test, which cost $75.

Being new to Albany and not very familiar with the driving test site threw another curve ball. In an area she believed was residential, Shotuyo drove within the required 25 mph speed limit having not seen a road sign that indicated differently. The zone in fact was both a residential and business district, so a 35 mph zone.

But she passed the test. She recalls that the examiner was welcoming and tried to ease her nerves. Three days later, she was back at the Corvallis DMV to obtain her license, a paper printout she can use until she receives a permanent card.

Abiodun Oseni, a graduate student at Oregon State University, has been trying to get an appointment slot at the Corvallis DMV since mid-July. On the DMV website, he said he was prompted to check back on Monday evenings, but three tries later, there is still no testing date available for a license he hopes to get this month.

Third-party center NW Drivers Ed used to have a Corvallis location, but it's since closed. Efforts to reach the driving school were unsuccessful.

Aside from nearby locations in Albany and Lebanon, Corvallis residents seeking a Class C driving license or provisional license may find themselves having to figure out the 30- to 50-mile drive to Eugene, Springfield or Salem, among other third-party center locations.

Third-party drive test centers are selected through a competitive, open-bid process submitted through the Oregon Procurement Office via OregonBuys.com, Godfrey said.

The procurement opens to new testers based on current needs, availability of locations, average wait times for drive tests, availability of staff to onboard and train new businesses and examiners, Godfrey said.

On average, the wait time at these centers is two to three weeks during the summer, and as short as a week during the winter, according to Godfrey.

Cost

The cost to take a drive test at the DMV is $9. Third-party centers charge anywhere between $70 and $80, depending on the day of the week the test is scheduled.

Some centers have a testing vehicle on hand, which individuals are required to use. A few provide car rentals for drivers who don't have access to a vehicle but are required to come with one.

Services like the latter which are not offered at the DMV  where drivers have to come with their own vehicle  contribute to the higher charges drivers pay at the third-party centers for their road tests.

Oseni said he wants to avoid this significant cost disparity but may have no option but to resort to a third-party center. He was advised to look to DMV offices outside of Corvallis, like in Eugene, where appointments are surer but the logistics of getting to a test location outside of Corvallis are daunting.

Based on her Seattle experience, Shotuyo  who prior to her test went online to learn out gaffes she should avoid to pass the test on the first try  believes that some third-party examiners might be unnecessarily strict so that drivers have to pay to retake tests, especially if they took driving lessons elsewhere.

But Godfrey said third-party centers are administering tests according to DMV guidelines. Regular assessment of pass-fail rates and evaluation of examiners testing skills are other ways the DMV keeps tabs on the tests at these centers.

We have investigated such claims in the past and never found evidence that third-party testing businesses were intentionally failing applicants to collect additional fees, Godfrey said.

Addressing staff shortages

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, DMV offices around Oregon have been facing staff shortages, including instructor and examiner positions. Last year, six out of Oregons 60 DMV offices closed during the summer  one of the DMVs more busy seasons  due to the insufficient staffing.

DMV is still struggling to fill positions, Godfrey said, adding that given the extensive nature of technical and expert knowledge that frontline DMV staff need, recruiting and training take time.

In addition to staffing issues, a summer construction project has been ongoing in Circle Boulevard near the Corvallis DMV, adding yet another challenge to offering drive tests there.

With reduced lanes, flaggers, poor road conditions, and long traffic backups, weve limited the number of tests to those that were already booked, Godfrey said. According to the city of Corvallis, the construction is set to end in October.

The DMV has made hiring a priority this year, Godfrey said. But while there has been some progress, staffing offices on a day-to-day basis remains a challenge. On Aug. 1, for instance, offices in Lebanon and Coquille had to be shut down for a day due to shortages.

Third-party centers have considerably eased the burden on the DMV, she added, because they free up available staff to focus on services that can only be obtained at the DMV.

Our current plan is to open a procurement (third-party center) for adding new Class C testers by late summer or early fall 2023, Godfrey said.

Even when the Circle Boulevard construction is completed, wait times will likely be long when tests resume at the Corvallis DMV because of demand, she said.

We will continue to advise customers to consider third-party testers as an alternative, Godfrey said.
FEXP boosts productivity, streamlines workflows, and enhances employee engagement

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Raydiant , the industry-leading Experience OS for physical locations, is proud to announce the launch of its innovative Frontline Employee Experience Platform (FEXP). The platform, equipped with task management, direct communication, and recognition and rewards features, seeks to address the troubling levels of disengagement among frontline workers, empowering businesses to connect with their employees in a transformative way.

Raydiant Ushers in New Era of Employee Experience with Launch of Innovative Frontline Employee Experience Platform (FEXP) Raydiant Ushers in New Era of Employee Experience with Launch of Innovative Frontline Employee Experience Platform (FEXP)

A staggering 59% of frontline workers are disengaged, according to a recent Raydiant study. Moreover, 78% of respondents report seeing "more turnover than ever," with 89% likely to quit next year. Raydiant is stepping in with its revolutionary employee experience platform to combat these alarming trends.

Accessible via the Raydiant mobile app , FEXP gives businesses an operations hub offering task management, rewards, and direct messaging. Now managers can connect with staff, assign and track tasks, and recognize achievements from one central platform designed to boost productivity, streamline workflows, and dramatically improve employee engagement levels.

With innovative features that address the very causes of frontline disengagement, including overwork, understaffing, and lack of communication and recognition, FEXP ushers in a new era of employee experience.

The platform's launch marks a critical milestone in Raydiant's journey to build the world's only Experience OS. While Raydiant's existing solutions, including digital signage, self-service kiosks, and customer analytics, have been enhancing customer experiences, the introduction of FEXP represents a strategic expansion, focusing on optimizing backend operations and the employee experience.

"The introduction of FEXP is an essential step in our journey towards creating a holistic Experience OS," says Bobby Marhamat, CEO of Raydiant. "We believe aligning the customer experience with the employee experience is crucial for long-term business success."

Industry experts agree this alignment is increasingly essential. Gartner predicts that by 2025, over a third of customer experience-focused organizations will consider connecting employee and customer experience vital for retaining talent, reducing turnover, and sustaining long-term growth.

To discover the power of transformation that the FEXP platform holds, Raydiant offers a free three-month trial available HERE .

About Raydiant

Raydiant is the leading in-location Experience OS for the world's most renowned restaurants, retail, hospitality, banking, and brands. With Raydiant, franchise managers, IT, marketing, and communications executives can scale their brick-and-mortar operations more effectively, reduce anxiety from outdated technology oversight, and seamlessly create more engaging and personalized in-store experiences that keep customers buying more. Raydiant works with nearly 5,500 brands, from SMB to enterprise, including Johnson and Johnson, Nestle, Unilever, The Estee Lauder Companies, Paradies Legerdiere, Red Bull, Chick-Fil-A, Sunglass Hut, and Wahlburgers. Founded in April 2017, Raydiant is headquartered in San Francisco, California, and has raised $50 million from 8VC, Atomic Ventures, Lerer Hippeau, Mark Wahlberg Investments, Bloomberg Beta, Gaingels, Illuminate Ventures, Transmedia Capital, Ron Conway. To learn more, visit www.raydiant.com .

Media Contact:

Ryan Helmstetler

650-720-8566

[email protected]

SOURCE Raydiant, Inc.
HOUSTON, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Silver Star Properties REIT, Inc. ("Silver Star" or the "Company"), a self-managed real estate investment trust that is currently repositioning into the self storage asset class and formally began its efforts to obtain a listing on an established exchange on April 19, 2023, today announced that self storage veteran, Steve Treadwell, will become Chief Executive Officer effective August 21, 2023.

Gerald Haddock, Chairman of the Executive Committee of Silver Star, stated, "We are thrilled to have Steve Treadwell join as CEO. This is a significant milestone for the Company as we continue to reposition our asset base into self-storage. As a corporate problem-solver, Steve will leverage his extensive self storage industry experience, his exceptional vision and his outstanding management skills to significantly accelerate our transition and help us strengthen our portfolio. I want to give a special thanks to David Wheeler, Michael Racusin, Lou Fox, and Alex Board who, with the expertise and diligence to drive our company forward, played a crucial role in bringing Steve to Silver Star."

David Wheeler, Silver Star's President, commented, "We have been diligently preparing the foundation for Steve's arrival by generating cash for our transition through property sales which will be instrumental as we look to close on the refinancing of our SASB Loan around September 1st."

Upon closing on its refinancing of the SASB Loan, the Company expects to have a loan to value ratio of approximately 50%; and upon the Company completing its repositioning, to have available around $400 million to invest in its repositioning and exchange listing process.

Haddock emphasized, "It is important that throughout our selling process that the management team has been adeptly dealing with the complexities of 1031 Exchange transactions in order to save tax dollars on the sale of assets. We believe Steve's leadership and our refinancing will significantly advance our repositioning efforts."

Steve Treadwell added, "I'm honored to have this unique opportunity to join the Silver Star team and lead the transition to a self storage strategy. We are well positioned to strengthen our balance sheet and consistently create value for our shareholders."

Haddock concluded, "As soon as Steve settles in, I plan to host a Town Hall with him to discuss the Company's future and to begin a cultural shift in Company communications. We will update investors and the public with the link to the Town Hall once we have posted it on our website."

More about Steve Treadwell

Prior to joining Silver Star, Treadwell spent the last three years as CEO of SpareBox Storage, a pioneer in remote self storage management with over 100 locations across nine states. Prior to SpareBox, he spent six years with National Storage Affiliates (NSA), the publicly traded US-based self-storage REIT where he served in a variety of roles including Chief Operating Officer. Prior to NSA, Treadwell spent five years in finance and treasury management with ProLogis, the world's largest industrial REIT. Steve began his career with the US Air Force, where he served for 11 years as an officer and instructor pilot in the C-21 Learjet and the KC-10 Tanker. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering at the United States Air Force Academy, a Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Master's in Business Administration degree at Harvard University.

Contact:

Investor and Media Relations

[email protected]

1-877-734-8876

SOURCE Silver Star Properties REIT, Inc.
Strategic partnership will also include an HBCU tour and programming with student-athletes focused on NIL

BOSTON and ATLANTA, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Stackwell , the digital investment platform designed to eliminate the racial wealth gap, and Fintech in Action , a social impact initiative that accelerates progress, innovation, and opportunity for Black talent in finance and fintech, today announced the launch of a new financial wellness program supporting historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU) students. The pilot program will provide a cohort of Spelman College students with a finance and investing course plus a seeded Stackwell account to begin building wealth during their college careers.

Fintech In Action logo (PRNewsfoto/Stackwell)

The first cohort of students comprises 16 Spelman sophomores who won the Braven Accelerator Capstone Challenge  funded by Fintech in Action coalition members Zogo Finance and MEMX . Each winner will receive their own seeded Stackwell account with $250 to begin their investment journey. Additionally, students will participate in Stackwell workshops that focus on finance and investing fundamentals to help them start to build wealth while in college. With the support of coalition member, Apex Fintech Solutions , Fintech in Action and Stackwell will be tracking student progress over three years to assess how students can build sustained wealth over time. The program's goal is to provide access to the financial markets, a foundational investment education, and ongoing support and resources to enable and empower the students to grow their investments over time. Students will graduate with all the funds they have amassed, providing a solid financial foundation as they begin their professional careers.

"Fintech in Action is thrilled to partner with Stackwell to build and launch this new initiative," said Korene E. J. Smith, Director of Fintech in Action. "Going into the Braven Capstone Challenge, I wanted our sponsorship to offer a challenge question and prize that made an impact beyond the classroom. We truly believe this program has the potential to be scaled to larger cohorts of students and expanded across HBCUs and other colleges and universities  providing access to critical and functional financial education and an understanding of the markets to countless Black students in America."

"I am so excited that our cohort is being given the opportunity to start an investment journey while we're still in school," said Morgan Newson, a rising junior at Spelman. "To be provided with a program that teaches us how to be successful investors on our own, along with a seeded account is a huge deal. As a Black woman, it means a lot to have this kind of support and head start in learning how to build wealth. Being able to start years before graduation gives me leverage as I think about financial stability and my future."

The pilot program is part of a larger strategic partnership between Fintech in Action and Stackwell, including a broad set of initiatives for Black college students and student-athletes. Beginning this Fall, Fintech in Action will be launching a national HBCU financial wellness tour with Rapunzl Investments focused on education, and investment access through Rapunzl's stock simulator app. Stackwell will be participating in the HBCU tour, speaking at on-campus events and providing other hands-on educational programming. In addition, Fintech in Action and Stackwell are set to launch a national student-athlete name, image, and likeness (NIL) program providing financial education to help student-athletes navigate how they can save and invest their earnings to grow that wealth over time and opening up access to mentorship and career opportunities in the world of finance and fintech.

"We are deeply committed to our work with HBCU students and student-athletes and are excited to expand access to the markets to students at Spelman College and beyond," said Trevor Rozier-Byrd, founder, and CEO of Stackwell. "Fintech In Action offers a unique partnership opportunity where we can build new programs that will impact different student populations and help instill core investing values and behaviors from a young age. Together, we have a chance to establish a culture of wealth building and financial wellness that impacts a new generation of Black students."

For more information about the Fintech in Action and Stackwell pilot program, please visit: https://stackwellcapital.com/community .

About Fintech in Action

Fintech in Action is a social impact initiative founded in 2020 in response to the industry's need to prioritize racial equity and inclusion. In its first year alone, the initiative invested over $1 million in strategic support and paid internship opportunities to further its mission and cause. Together with its coalition and community partners, Fintech in Action is a powerhouse resource, accelerating progress, innovation, and opportunity for Black talent across fintech and ancillary industries. Learn more at https://fintechinaction.com

About Stackwell

Stackwell Capital, Inc., is a fintech company that has created a digital investment platform for the Black community that is designed to eliminate the racial wealth gap in America. Stackwell provides the financial investment tools and guidance necessary to help build lasting wealth, equity, and equal opportunity. We've developed a unique ecosystem of strategic partners in financial services, higher education (HBCUs and MSIs), professional sports, and created an ever-growing NIL student-athlete ambassador program. Stackwell was a member of the 2022 Financial Solutions Lab, and MassChallenge U.S. Early Stage accelerator programs. For more information, visit stackwellcapital.com .

CONTACT: [email protected]

SOURCE Stackwell
The round was led by First Analysis with participation from Elevate Ventures, SmoothBrain, VisionTech Partners, and other seed investors

INDIANAPOLIS and PARIS, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Stamus Networks , the global leader of Suricata-based network security, today announced it has closed a $6 million series A round of funding. The round was led by First Analysis , a Chicago-based venture capital firm renowned for supporting emerging B2B technology companies, with participation from new investor SmoothBrain . In addition, existing seed stage investors Elevate Ventures and VisionTech Partners also participated in the round.

Stamus Networks has closed a $6 million series A round of funding.

This investment further cements the company's position as an innovator of enterprise class, Suricata-based threat detection and response systems that deliver effective results by integrating modern machine learning with traditional detection mechanisms from intrusion detection (IDS) and network security monitoring (NSM) systems. Focused on elite cyber defenders who require details, control, and transparency, Stamus Networks provides a powerful alternative to both legacy systems and the heavily-hyped artificial intelligence (AI) products that simply trigger a warning with no explanatory context or evidence.

"We were impressed by the conversations we had with Stamus Networks' sophisticated enterprise customers. Each praised the comprehensive, transparent, and granular evidence delivered with detections triggered by the Stamus Security Platform," said Howard Smith, Managing Director at First Analysis. "The customers also applauded the company's exceptional customer support. We look forward to helping scale the organization for breakout growth in this exciting market."

The company will use the funds to advance product innovation, elevate customer experience, and effectively scale go-to-market resources and programs.

"Some of the world's most targeted organizations trust Stamus Networks and its network-based threat detection and response solutions to help secure their operations," said Nick Mirchef, co-founder of SmoothBrain. "This notable list of customers includes central banks, multinational government institutions, departments of defense, managed security service providers, and financial service providers."

"We are excited to partner with First Analysis and SmoothBrain and are grateful for the confidence they and our existing investors have placed in us," said Ken Gramley, CEO of Stamus Networks. "The funds will enable us to expand our market reach and accelerate our research and development, bolstering our position as the leader of Suricata-based network security for enterprises. Ultimately, it will help us keep more of the most targeted organizations in the world secure," Gramley continued.

This week, the Stamus Networks team is exhibiting at Black Hat USA in Las Vegas where they will be demonstrating the Stamus Security Platform and meeting with customers and prospective customers in booth 2716D.

About First Analysis

First Analysis is a leading venture capital investor focused on business-to-business technology companies. The firm has one of the longest records in venture capital, having invested more than $825 million across multiple highly diversified funds over four decades. First Analysis invests mainly in North America with a focus on its sectors of expertise, including cybersecurity, e-commerce optimization, enterprise productivity, future of work, go-to-market tech, healthcare IT, infrastructure tech, Internet of Things, learning tech, pharma IT and vertical software as a service. The firm helps established companies become profitable leaders in large markets, funding growth plans and working closely with management in areas including strategy, recruitment, sales and marketing, and corporate development. Their flexible approach targets investing $3-10 million as lead investor or as a syndicate partner bringing valuable perspective. For more information, please visit: firstanalysis.com .

About Stamus Networks

Stamus Networks believes in a world where defenders are heroes, and a future where those they protect remain safe. As organizations face threats from well-funded adversaries, we relentlessly pursue solutions that make the defender's job easier and more impactful. The global leader in Suricata-based network security solutions, Stamus Networks helps enterprise security teams know more, respond sooner and mitigate their risk with insights gathered from cloud and on-premise network activity. Our Stamus Security Platform combines the best of intrusion detection (IDS), network security monitoring (NSM), and network detection and response (NDR) systems into a single solution that exposes serious and imminent threats to critical assets and empowers rapid response. For more information visit: stamus-networks.com .

SOURCE Stamus Networks
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --

Stellantis introduces bproauto as competitively priced, private-label replacement parts, designed for optimal performance on most makes and models from old to new, domestic to import. New replacement brake pads are available now from bproauto.

Introduces bproauto as competitively priced, private-label replacement parts

New parts line complements Mopar, the global original-equipment parts and authentic accessories brand for Stellantis

Proven second-line brand of high-quality aftermarket parts costs less than original-equipment (OE) offerings and are backed by a standard two-year/unlimited-mile warranty

30 parts categories will be available from a comprehensive, quality-tested and competitively priced product portfolio

Reliable bproauto parts are designed for optimal performance on most makes and models from old to new, domestic to import

See bproautoparts.com for more information or contact a local Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram or FIAT dealership

Mopar remains global original-equipment parts and authentic accessories brand for Stellantis

Launch of bproauto helps address a key pillar outlined in the Stellantis Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan  to grow sales in the independent aftermarket

To further enhance and expand its replacement parts and service business in North America, Stellantis today announced the bproauto aftermarket parts brand as its new line of high-quality, competitively priced, replacement parts.

Following decades of success in Europe and other international markets, including the Middle East and South America, the newly introduced bproauto parts portfolio is available for most makes and models to help combat the rapidly changing aftermarket and the long-term shift to electrification as vehicles and their components are becoming increasingly complex and digital. These original-equipment-backed parts come with up to a two-year/unlimited-mile warranty. In addition, batteries have up to two-year, free replacement coverage and brake pads carry a limited lifetime warranty.

"With the introduction of bproauto, we're further enhancing the customer experience by offering a new, competitively priced, private label line of high-quality, factory-backed parts for most makes and models," said Mike Koval, head of Mopar North America. "While Mopar will remain the global original-equipment parts and authentic accessories brand for Stellantis, bproauto will offer an alternative for nearly all brands and all cars  new, used, owned, rented or shared. With Mopar and bproauto, our dealerships offer a 360-degree, multi-brand, one-stop-shop solution for nearly all customers, all vehicles and all brands."

In North America, 30 parts categories will be available for most makes and models to support the ongoing transition of the automotive repair industry. Additional product lines will phase into the Stellantis dealership network.

The following parts are available now from bproauto:

Air filters

Batteries

Brake pads

Brake rotors

Hub bearings

Oil and oil filters

Tire-pressure monitoring systems

Additional high-quality products coming from bproauto will include:

ABS sensors Ignition coils A/C compressors Lubricants A/C condensers O 2 sensors A/C evaporators Radiators Alternators Shocks Ball joints Spark plugs Battery cables Spark plug wires Brake calipers Starters Brake hardware Struts Bulbs Taillamps Chemicals Thermostats Control arms Tie-rod ends Filtration: cabin and transmission Timing belts/tensionsers Fuel injectors U-joints Fuel pump modules Water pumps Functional fluids Wiper blades Headlamps



bproauto

bproauto  is the OE-backed auto parts brand delivering high-quality products for most makes and models to wholesale partners and customers through dealership service departments around the world. Experts in advanced technology, bproauto is focused on maintaining a reliable supply of advanced parts now, plus the new, high-tech parts emerging every day in an evolving aftermarket industry. For more information, visit bproautoparts.com.

Mopar

Mopar is the global name for Stellantis genuine parts and authentic accessories.

A simple combination of the words MOtor and PARts, Mopar offers exceptional service, parts and customer-care. Born in 1937 as the name of a line of antifreeze products, Mopar has evolved over more than 85 years to represent both complete vehicle care and authentic performance for owners and enthusiasts worldwide.

Mopar made its mark in the 1960s during the muscle-car era with performance parts to enhance speed and handling for both on-road and racing use. Later, Mopar expanded to include technical service and customer support, and today integrates service, parts and customer-care operations in order to enhance customer and dealer support worldwide.

Complete information on Mopar is available at www.mopar.com and the newly redesigned Mopar blog at www.blog.mopar.com. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com.

Follow Mopar and company news and video on:

Company blog: blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Media website: media.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Mopar brand: www.mopar.com/

Mopar blog: blog.mopar.com/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/mopar

Instagram: www.instagram.com/officialmopar

Twitter: twitter.com/OfficialMOPAR

YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/mopar or www.youtube.com/StellantisNA

SOURCE Stellantis
Pre-clinical data strongly supports progression of a METTL3 inhibitor in an immuno-oncology setting

STC-15 is the first molecule specifically targeting METTL3 to enter clinical development

CAMBRIDGE, England, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- STORM Therapeutics Ltd. (STORM), a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing novel small molecule therapies targeting RNA modifying enzymes (RMEs) for oncology and other diseases, is pleased to announce that it has published a scientific manuscript in the internationally recognised scientific journal Cancer Discovery.

The paper, entitled 'Inhibition of METTL3 results in a cell-intrinsic interferon response that enhances anti-tumour immunity', has been published in collaboration with Professor Mark Dawson's laboratory at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne, Australia, and reveals recent findings that demonstrate the therapeutic potential of drugs targeting METTL3 as immuno-oncology agents. Using pre-clinical cancer models, the study shows that pharmacological inhibition of METTL3 induces double-stranded RNA formation and a profound cell-intrinsic interferon response that potentiates T-cell killing of cancer cells. Whilst METTL3 inhibitors are equally efficacious to anti-PD1 therapy in pre-clinical models, the combination of the two agents has far greater activity, leading to tumour regression and durable anti-cancer immunity. A detailed investigation of the mechanism of action of the two treatments revealed that they act orthogonally and provides a strong rationale for their combination.

Oliver Rausch, Chief Scientific Officer of STORM Therapeutics and joint senior author of the study, said, "We are pleased to share this new data with the scientific community. Our study identifies a novel therapeutic mechanism triggered by METTL3 inhibition that opens a significant opportunity for METTL3 inhibitors in immuno-oncology. This work follows on from our previous work published in 2021 in Nature, demonstrating the efficacy of METTL3 inhibition in acute myeloid leukemia models, and illustrates the broad potential of this new class of drugs in oncology."

Dr. med. Josefin-Beate Holz, Chief Medical Officer of STORM Therapeutics, commented, "This exciting new data strengthens our hypothesis for the clinical development of STC-15 as a novel anticancer therapeutic in monotherapy and in combination with standard of care, including checkpoint inhibitors. We are looking forward to exploring these concepts following the conclusion of the current Phase 1 multiple ascending dose study with STC-15 in patients with relapsed solid tumours."

Jerry McMahon, Chief Executive Officer and President of STORM Therapeutics, added, "STORM is the first company devoted to pursuing RNA-modifying enzymes as drug targets, and our new study highlights the opportunities for new therapeutics targeting RNA modifications. We are encouraged by the progress of our ongoing Phase 1 trial of STC-15 in solid tumours and look forward to exploring its utility as an immuno-oncology drug in specific tumour types."

Citation:

Inhibition of METTL3 results in a cell-intrinsic interferon response that enhances anti-tumour immunity. Andrew A Guirguis, Yaara Ofir-Rosenfeld et al, 2023, Cancer Discovery (advanced online publication) https://aacrjournals.org/cancerdiscovery/article/doi/10.1158/2159-8290.CD-23-0007

NOTES TO EDITORS

About STORM Therapeutics

STORM Therapeutics (STORM) is a clinical stage biotechnology company creating novel therapies that inhibit RNA modifying enzymes (RME) for use in oncology and other diseases. There are more than 150 RNA modifications reported and approximately 300 RNA modifying enzymes which represent novel therapeutic targets.

STORM has leveraged its first-mover advantage to establish a novel drug discovery and RNA analytics platform leading to the identification of novel targets and a proprietary pipeline of first-in-class small-molecule drug candidates for potential use in oncology, inflammation, viral infection and CNS diseases.

The pipeline is exemplified by STORM's METTL3 inhibitor, STC-15, which has received IND approval and commenced its Phase 1 clinical study in cancer patients in November 2022. STC-15 represents the first ever RNA modifying enzyme inhibitor to enter clinical evaluation in humans. Additional programs are planned for advancement into IND-track activities.

Fierce Biotech named STORM as one of its 2022 "Fierce 15", designating it as one of the most innovative, exciting biotechnology companies in the industry, pioneering novel drug targets.

STORM investors include M Ventures, Pfizer Ventures, Taiho Ventures LLC, Seroba Life Sciences, Cambridge Innovation Capital I Limited, IP Group plc, UTokyo Innovation Platform Co., Ltd. (UTokyo IPC) and the Fast Track Initiative (FTI).

For more information, please visit www.stormtherapeutics.com

About STC-15

STORM's lead clinical program STC-15 is a first-in-class inhibitor of RNA modification and is the first ever RNA methyltransferase inhibitor to enter clinical development. STC-15 is an oral small molecule that inhibits METTL3, an RNA methyltransferase implicated in oncology and other diseases. Certain RNA methyltransferases are important regulators of RNA sensing and innate immune activation and represent novel immune-regulatory targets.

STC-15 has also been shown preclinically to inhibit tumour growth through mechanisms involving anti-cancer immune responses, such as changes in interferon signalling and synergy with T cell checkpoint blockade.

STORM commenced the dosing of the first patient in a Phase 1 clinical study of STC-15 in patients living with solid tumours in November 2022 and anticipates presenting first results from its study in 2024. Details of the study can be found on clinicaltrials.gov under the identifier NCT05584111.

About Peter Mac

Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre is a world-leading cancer research, education and treatment centre and Australia's only public health service solely dedicated to caring for people affected by cancer.

About Cancer Discovery

Cancer Discovery publishes high-impact, peer-reviewed articles describing major advances in research and clinical trials. As the premier cancer information resource, the Journal also presents Review Articles, Perspectives and Commentaries, News stories, and Research Watch summaries of important journal articles to its readers to keep them informed about the latest findings in the field. Topics span the spectrum of cancer research and medicine from the laboratory to the clinic and epidemiologic studies.

SOURCE STORM Therapeutics
- Themed AI Technology and Application

SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- To share technology status and strategies for areas of common interest between Korea and China, deepen cooperation network among engineering leaders in both countries and deliver strategy and insight to become a world-class technology powerhouse, The National Academy of Engineering of Korea (NAEK) held the 1st Korea-China Development Forum on Engineering Sciences on July 26 in Hangzhou, China.

NAEK is a unique corporate body established to promote more efficient engineering and technology development and discover and recruit talented engineers.

STRADVISION COO Sunny Lee Emphasizes the Scalability and Flexibility of Software for Automotive at the 1st Korea-China Development Forum on Engineering Sciences

Sunny Lee, a Member of NAEK and COO of STRADVISION, an automotive industry pioneer in deep learning-based vision perception technology, attended the panel discussion themed "AI Technology and Application." Lee delivered STRADVISION's core technology, references, and thought leadership about AI in the automotive industry.

STRADVISION's SVNet is an ultra-light, high-efficiency solution that implements deep learning-based object recognition with minimal computation and power consumption. It supports over 18 System-on-Chips (SoCs) platforms and provides over 30 object recognition functions. It actively participates in multiple projects for mass-producing vehicle models with autonomous driving level 2 or higher, leveraging solid technology and flexibility gained from mass production in the automobile industry.

Lee emphasized the scalability and flexibility of AI in the automotive sector by referring to existing customer demo cases. STRADVISION offers scalable software from Levels 0 to 4 with SoC flexibility to enable a road to autonomy. STRADVISION's SVNet can be provided as a one-chip solution, incorporating fusion and driving/parking functions to enhance safety and provide an active user experience in software-defined vehicles.

"Through this forum, it was more meaningful to interact with industry, academia, and research experts in the field of AI technology development," said STRADVISION COO Sunny Lee. "Combining our global presence with SVNet's competitiveness, STRADVISION will continue to position itself as a 'trustworthy partner' bringing cutting-edge vision AI technology within the automotive industry."

Together with NAEK, The Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) participated in the forum for discussions. CAE is the highest honorary and advisory academic institution in the nation's engineering sciences and technology fields. It is dedicated to uniting outstanding talents in engineering to lead innovation and development in China.

About STRADVISION

Founded in 2014, STRADVISION is an automotive industry pioneer in artificial intelligence-based vision perception technology for ADAS. The company is accelerating the advent of fully autonomous vehicles by making ADAS features available at a fraction of the market cost compared with competitors. STRADVISION's SVNet is being deployed on various vehicle models in partnership with OEMs; can power ADAS and autonomous vehicles worldwide; and is serviced by over 300 employees in Seoul, San Jose, Detroit, Tokyo, Shanghai, Friedrichshafen, and Dusseldorf. STRADVISION has been honored with Frost & Sullivan's 2022 Global Technology Innovation Leadership Award, the Gold Award at the 2022 and 2021 AutoSens Awards for Best-in-Class Software for Perception Systems, and the 2020 Autonomous Vehicle Technology ACES Award in Autonomy (software category). In addition, STRADVISION and its software have achieved TISAX's AL3 standard for information security management, as well as being certified to the ISO 9001:2015 for Quality Management Systems and ISO 26262 for Automotive Functional Safety.

SOURCE StradVision
MONTREAL, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Strategic Resources Inc. (TSXV: SR) (the "Company" or "Strategic") announces that it has granted incentive stock options under the Company's stock option plan to certain directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company to purchase up to an aggregate of 3,000,000 common shares of the Company (the "Grant"). The options are exercisable at a price of $1.45 per share, will expire on August 4, 2028 and are subject to vesting provisions. As part of the Grant, Orion Mine Finance will receive 200,000 options under the plan and has entered into a consulting agreement with Strategic.

Additionally, Strategic has entered into an agreement with First Globe Capital International Inc. ("First Globe") for a 12 month period. First Globe is based out of Vancouver, British Columbia, and is owned by Anish Sunderji. First Globe provides marketing and advisory services to its clients. The Company has compensated First Globe for its services by the issuance of 100,000 options of the Company and will also pay advisory fees from time to time. The options issued to First Globe are exercisable at a price of $1.45 per share, will expire on August 4, 2028, and will vest over two years in one-quarter portions every six months. The Company has also agreed to reimburse First Globe for its reasonable incidental expenses incurred in providing the investor relation services to the Company. First Globe does not otherwise have any relationship with or hold any securities of the Company.

About Strategic Resources

Strategic Resources Inc. (TSXV:SR) is a critical mineral exploration and development company focused on high-purity iron and vanadium projects in Canada and Finland. The Company is developing its flagship BlackRock Project, which is a fully permitted and ready to construct mine, concentrator and metallurgical facility located at a seaport in Quebec with full access to the St. Lawrence Seaway. The Company's Head Office is in Montreal, Quebec.

Further details are available on the Company's website at https://strategic-res.com/. To follow future news releases, please sign up at https://strategic-res.com/contact/.

Follow us on: Twitter or Linkedin.

STRATEGIC RESOURCES INC.

Signed: "Sean Cleary"

Sean Cleary, CEO & Chairman

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Strategic Resources Inc.
The Literacy-Focused Collaboration Puts Wholesome Snacking and Learning Hand-in-Hand for Kids with Interactive Reading Resources and Access to More than 50,000 Books

FRESNO, Calif., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- After a summer of fun and play, kids everywhere are preparing to head back to school. To mark the beginning of the new school year, Sun-Maid Growers of California, maker of innovative snacks that feed imagination one little red box at a time, has announced a new collaboration with ABCmouse, the leading and most comprehensive digital learning program for children ages 2  8, and Little Free Library to expand access to literacy resources and bring bite-sized learning to every pack of its classic Sun-Maid Raisin boxes.

The multi-faceted literacy campaign presented by Sun-Maid, ABCmouse and Little Free Library will provide widespread access to at-home reading activities and books that inspire young readers, all while promoting better-for-you eating habits. As of August 7, the iconic and beloved red Sun-Maid box will feature exclusive, limited-edition ABCmouse flash cards with a sight word lesson on every carton. In addition, each pack of six boxes will feature a custom link to an interactive and engaging microsite hosted by ABCmouse that includes a variety of imaginative and engaging activities, ranging from a full collection of sight word flash cards to worksheets and coloring pages.

The announcement comes alongside recent data that revealed that only 35 percent of students are reading proficiently by grade 4, and National Assessment of Educational Progress reading scores are the lowest they have been in decades. With these challenges in mind, Sun-Maid will expand its literacy efforts even further by teaming up with Little Free Library, a nonprofit with a mission to build community, inspire readers and expand book access. Through the partnership, Sun-Maid will sponsor the creation and installation of 100 Little Free Library book-sharing boxes throughout the U.S.

"Sun-Maid has long been known as parents' partner in better-for-you snacking, making sure kids have access to the snacks they need to succeed in the classroom as well as in imagination and play," said Steve Loftus, Sun-Maid President and Chief Operating Officer. "With less time in the classroom and reduced access to libraries for many, the last number of years have been challenging for many families. ABCmouse and Little Free Library are two of the finest education and literacy resources available, and we're proud to team up to inspire a love of reading and help feed hungry minds this back-to-school season."

Reading lovers around the country can get involved by voting to have a Little Free Library installed in their area via an online voting portal on the Sun-Maid website. With a global network and a mission of "Take a Book. Share a Book," the Sun-Maid sponsored Little Free Library book-sharing boxes will feature ABCmouse books and expand book access to thousands.

"Practicing sight words helps build more confident and fluent readers, and in teaming up with Sun-Maid we're taking the idea of wholesome snacking and learning and making it accessible to millions of families in bite-sized moments," said Christine Woertink, Senior Vice President of Consumer Product, Age of Learning, creator of ABCmouse.

As a whole, Sun-Maid's back to school efforts will have significant reach, including:

An anticipated 22 million cartons of raisins (bundled in packs of six), with access to the Sun-Maid x ABCmouse educational materials available, including ABCmouse 120 sight word flash cards and a link to a dedicated microsite.

Sponsorship of 100 Little Free Libraries, bringing access to books to some of the biggest literacy deserts in the country, including ABCmouse donated books within each of the libraries.

Access for young readers to an estimated 57,200 books shared through the Sun-Maid Little Free Libraries in the first year alone and an estimated 52,000 visitors to the Sun-Maid Little Free Libraries each year.

The Sun-Maid x ABCmouse packaging is available at retailers nationwide. For more information, please visit www.sunmaid.com

About Sun-Maid Growers of California

Founded in 1912, Sun-Maid Growers of California is a farmers' cooperative of hundreds of grower families with vineyards in California's Central Valley. From childhood to adulthood and generation to generation, Sun-Maid's innovative snacks continue to feed imaginations one little red box at a time--because when imagination is used for good, there's nothing more delicious! And while some things change, our real, minimally processed and consistently good ingredients haven't. Always starting with a whole fruit you can see and taste, Sun-Maid continues to offer a trusted go-to snack that's simple, wholesome and versatile--imagine that! For more information about Sun-Maid visit www.sunmaid.com and follow the brand on social media including TikTok, Instagram and Twitter.

About Age of Learning

Age of Learning is the leading education technology innovator, creating engaging and effective learning resources to help children build a strong foundation for academic success and a lifelong love of learning. The company's research-based digital education programs have been developed by an experienced team of education experts and have proven efficacy in increasing children's learning gains. Age of Learning's flagship product, ABCmouse.com Early Learning Academy, is an award-winning comprehensive curriculum for children. The company's school solutions programs include My Math Academy, an adaptive, personalized program proven to significantly accelerate math learning outcomes, and My Reading Academy, an adaptive program designed to help young learners build a foundation for reading comprehension and literacy and become fluent readers. With over 10 billion learning activities completed by more than 50 million children worldwide, Age of Learning is a global leader in efforts to advance equity, access, and opportunity for all children. To learn more about Age of Learning, visit www.AgeofLearning.com.

About Little Free Library

Little Free Library (LFL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that builds community, inspires readers and expands book access for all through a global network of volunteer-led Little Free Library book-sharing boxes. There are more than 160,000 registered Little Free Libraries worldwide in all 50 states, 120 countries and seven continents. Through them, over 300 million books have been shared since 2009. LFL received the 2020 World Literacy Award as well as honors from the Library of Congress, National Book Foundation and others. The organization grants Little Free Libraries full of books to underserved areas through its Impact Library and Indigenous Library Programs and champions diverse books through its Read in Color initiative. To learn more, visit LittleFreeLibrary.org.

SOURCE Sun-Maid
The city of Philomath has received $1.9 million from the state to help rebuild the Frolic & Rodeo bleachers after a fire partially destroyed a third of the stands in June 2022.

Frolic & Rodeo's new bleachers will:

Expand its current 2,250-seating area to space for 4,157 people.

Increase the number of accessible seating for those with disabilities from six to 33.

Add premium stadium and box seating options.

The new bleachers will be constructed with a steel and aluminum frame and the space between rows widened to between 12 and 16 inches. A new announcers stand and lights will be added.

And the current high-watt halogen flood lights will be replaced by energy efficient LED arena lighting.

The bleachers were first built in 1985.

What was adequate then does not currently meet the needs of the community, with limited ADA accessibility, only eight seats to accommodate wheelchair access and one wheelchair ramp, the Philomath Frolic & Rodeo wrote in a statement.

Limitations keep the event from being enjoyed by everyone who wishes to join the fun. A plan to upgrade them has been in the works for several years; the fire has transformed the project from a future need to a current necessity, the statement said.

The fire, caused by a propane torch, broke out at 11:10 on the night of June 27, with the rodeo scheduled to kick off not two weeks later, on July 7.

The 100-foot fire was put out in 15 mins by the concerted effort of the Philomath and Corvallis fire stations, Philomath police, Monroe Fire, Blodgett Fire and Kings Valley Fire. Temporary bleachers were installed so the rodeo could go on that July.

Officials estimated damages at about $500, 000.

The Frolic & Rodeo Board of Directors contracted Bleachers International in Colorado to develop and render the concept designs of the new bleachers right after the fire incident.

With the renderings in hand, and in partnership with the city of Philomath, the board sought funding assistance from the state Legislature. Over several months, the board made its case in Salem.

We cant invite any more people because we dont have any room, Frolic & Rodeo Board President Darrel Hinchberger wrote in a letter presented to state legislators.

The board argued, in the letter, that the reduced numbers would impact not only the communitys beloved event but other businesses that benefit from its packed attendance.

At the end of the 2023 Oregon legislative session, Philomath was allocated $1.9 million to rebuild the grandstands. The effort was led by state Rep. David Gomberg.

To receive the funding, the city and the Frolic & Rodeo Committee pledged to match the sum with $500,000 from the community. A fundraising campaign is currently underway to raise the money.

According to the citys August newsletter, the demolition and reconstruction of the new grandstands will begin in August 2024 with plans to have the new bleachers set for the July 2025 rodeo.

Related stories:
DALLAS, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Vari hit a milestone in its mission to make a positive impact on its communities  the donation of $8 million worth of furniture to U.S. nonprofit organizations.

On average, office furniture and other overhead expenses typically account for 20%-35% of a nonprofit's total budget. Reducing that cost means more funds can go to furthering their missions. For Make-a-Wish, for example, Vari's product donation helped fulfill an additional 48 wishes.

Today, Vari celebrates a milestone  the donation of $8 million worth of furniture to nonprofits since 2018. Tweet this Established in 2018, the Vari Community Giving program has donated $8M worth of furniture to nonprofit organizations, helping to make a positive impact. Vari has a mission to create workspaces that elevate people, cultures, and communities.

"Giving back has been in our company DNA from day one," said Jason McCann, CEO and co-founder of workspace innovation company Vari. "Sometimes products would be returned in new condition, and we knew there had to be a better way  a solution to leverage this resource and create change. In 2018, we officially created the Vari Community Giving program as a way to not only support the communities around us but to reduce our environmental footprint." Watch video here.

The 10-year-old company has donated furniture to nonprofits including the American Heart Association, Boys and Girls Club, Feeding America, Make-A-Wish, and United Way. View photos here.

"We were fully prepared to operate on a startup budget, salvaging previously used office and classroom furniture," said Aventura Community School founder, Natalie Morosi, Ed.D. "Instead, our staff has new flexible working areas and students have classrooms that encourage collaboration."

Elevating Communities

In the largest donation to date, Vari provided more than half a million dollars' worth of furniture and design services to Metrocrest Services, which is building a new facility in response to a growing community need. The nonprofit specializes in helping individuals, families, and seniors navigate through crisis situations and work to stabilize their lives for a brighter future.

"Metrocrest Services benefits not only in terms of receiving this generous donation, but most importantly, from the expertise Vari has offered to us," said Metrocrest CEO Tracy Eubanks.

Over the years, Vari Community Giving donations have benefited nonprofits including The DEC at Redbird, the J.J. Barrea Foundation, Mesa Arts Academy, North Texas Food Bank, and St. Luke's Community House. Boys Town received $470,000 worth of furniture to support its facilities.

"With this generous donation, our new, state-of-the-art education center will be a comfortable and efficient learning environment for every child," said Rod Kempkes, CEO of Boys Town. "Effective learning spaces support the important work of helping our boys and girls develop into responsible, productive citizens."

Environmental Impact: Reusing and Reducing Waste

According to the EPA, Americans throw out more than 12 million tons of furniture every year. Reusing furniture extends the life cycle of the product. Donations to nonprofits ensure furniture bypasses the landfill, which reduces its environmental impact.

Creating a specific focus on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) improvement has become a vital part of Vari's strategy. The company published its first ESG Report earlier this year. The Vari Community Giving Program plays a key role by giving returned furniture new life.

Since 2018, Vari's award-winning charitable giving program has had a mission to elevate our communities. The Vari Community Giving program's goal is to alleviate operational costs to help nonprofits focus funds where they matter most.

About Vari

A workspace innovation company, Vari helps growing organizations unlock the potential of their space and their people. From a collection of office furniture to workspaces offering space-as-a-service, the company makes it easy for high-growth businesses to scale and flex their office space. Organizations all over the world  including over 98% of the Fortune 500  use Vari products, which are tested and certified to the highest industry standards.

Media Contact:

Katie Satarino

Phone: 512-773-7002

[email protected]

SOURCE Vari
Clients continue to rely on Syniti's data experts and intelligent software as they accelerate investments in critical business transformation projects

BOSTON, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Syniti, a global leader in enterprise data management, today announced key financial and company milestones for the second quarter and first half of 2023. The company sees its customers increasingly recognizing the importance of a "data-first" strategy as they embark on critical business transformation projects like integrating an acquisition, carving out a divestiture or moving to SAP S/4HANA.

Financial & Product Highlights:

Syniti added 11 significant, multinational customer logos in the quarter, expanding its client base in all regions across a wide variety of industries including: infrastructure, specifically construction and utility providers; diversified manufacturing providers in oil and gas, and aerospace and defense, and consumer packaged goods.

Software bookings annual contract values (ACV) increased 20% and cloud annual recurring revenue increased 49% percent year-over-year compared to the previous year as customers continue to embrace cloud technologies.

Twenty-two clients have adopted the company's new cloud-native Syniti Knowledge Platform (SKP), which is also resold by SAP as SAP  Advanced Data Migration & Management by Syniti, since becoming generally available in early 2023.

Advanced Data Migration & Management by Syniti, since becoming generally available in early 2023. The company celebrated 10 major go-lives of multi-year transformation projects; successful projects were completed with longstanding clients, including a global aerospace corporation and one of the world's largest apparel companies.

Services revenue grew by 5% in the first half of 2023 versus first half of 2022.

Syniti continues to deepen its relationship with its largest partner, SAP. Ten major deals were closed with SAP in Q2 with key clients in manufacturing, utilities, retail and oil & gas.

The Syniti Knowledge Platform was recognized as an SAP Endorsed App and made available on SAP Store; the company saw its first sales from this new certification with customers Singapore Airlines and Imperial Brands.

Additional Highlights:

Key EMEA leadership hires with Erast Wortel appointed as Syniti's new vice president, go-to-market for EMEA North and Rene Haag named senior sales director for Middle and Eastern Europe

appointed as Syniti's new vice president, go-to-market for EMEA North and Rene Haag named senior sales director for Middle and The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) granted Syniti an allowance to expand its patent portfolio for its low-code development platform, which allows the generation of forms and workflows that enables users to adapt to changing business requirements. The patent is expected to be issued in a few weeks by the USPTO.

More than 400 enrollments of Syniti Education Services courseware for the cloud-native SKP since the course was released, enabling customers and partners on the new solution.

Syniti was listed for the tenth year in a row on the DBTA 100: The Companies that Matter Most in Data for 2023.

Chris Conrad, Senior Vice President & CIO, Levi's Strauss & Co, said: "Syniti's team of data experts played a crucial role in the success of LS&Co's immense, multi-year digital transformation initiative. They have been a trusted partner and we're thankful for their support in this project which is critical to delivering new business efficiencies and data insights."

Kevin Campbell, CEO, Syniti, said, "Like others, we are seeing customers exercise a bit more caution with their spending - whether that be in extending buying cycles or bringing more folks into the decision-making process. That being said, there is an uptick in the sense of urgency to get started with critical business transformation efforts. We've had major deals the first half of this year from customers realizing that complex digital transformation requires the specialized data expertise that only Syniti can bring to the table. We're thrilled to be expanding with our current customers and gaining new large enterprise clients; our built-for-purpose team of data experts will continue to deliver successful business outcomes with every project."

Bill Green, Chairman of the Board, Syniti, said: "Organizations that effectively drive crucial digital efforts understand two things: the importance of a data-first mindset and that difficult and large-scale enterprise transformations require deep expertise in order to be successful. In these critical moments, experience is not a luxury but a necessity. The Syniti team demonstrates time and again that their experience in complex data environments is second to none."

About Syniti

Syniti solves the world's most complex data challenges by uniquely combining intelligent, AI-driven software and vast data expertise to yield certain and superior business outcomes. For over 25 years, Syniti has partnered with the Fortune 2000 to unlock valuable insights that ignite growth, reduce risk and increase their competitive advantage. Syniti's silo-free enterprise data management platform supports data migration, data quality, data replication, master data management, analytics, data governance, and data strategy in a single, unified solution. Syniti is a portfolio company of private equity firm Bridge Growth Partners LLC. Read more at www.Syniti.com.

SAP and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE in Germany and other countries. Please see https://www.sap.com/copyright for additional trademark information and notices. All other product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies.

Media Contact

Shannon Van Every

Force4 Technology Communications

[email protected]

SOURCE Syniti
HOUSTON, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tachyus announced today a contract with Greylock Energy (Greylock) for Aurion, its cloud-scalable, comprehensive GHG emissions management and forecasting platform. Greylock's implementation of Aurion will help the oil and gas company monitor, forecast, and report carbon emissions across all of its assets. This is evidence of Greylock's commitment to corporate responsibility initiatives, including further mitigating their carbon footprint across their operations and enhancing their environmental, social and governance metrics.

"We're thrilled to partner with Greylock to assist them in meeting their carbon reduction goals; Aurion will allow them to estimate the impact of their operational decisions on emissions and allow the team at Greylock to achieve their emissions goals," said Matt Elbert, CFO of Tachyus.

"At Greylock, our mission is to produce and deliver energy that powers our communities and improves lives," said Jennifer Vieweg, Greylock's Director of Strategic Initiatives and Corporate Citizenship. "And when we say 'improving lives', that does not just extend to the Team Members we employ and the communities where we operate. It also extends to our broader, global community. That is why we have aggressive goals to minimize our emissions and we are confident that Aurion will help us achieve those goals."

Aurion addresses the growing need for the oil and gas industry to minimize GHG emissions by helping companies like Greylock to streamline GHG accounting, monitoring and forecasting future emissions with robust, tested, and reliable approaches.

About Tachyus: The Houston-based corporation is a leader in oil and gas modeling and optimization software. In 2021 Tachyus launched Aurion, an end-to-end platform for GHG estimation, reporting, and forecasting, to help companies tie operational decisions to their net-zero goals.

For more information, visit www.tachyus.com.

About Greylock: Greylock Energy is headquartered in Charleston, West Virginia with offices in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Wyoming and with operations scattered throughout Appalachia and the Rockies. The company's assets comprise more than 1.19 million acres, about 6,700 wells, and 2,600 miles of pipeline. Greylock's leadership is an experienced team with decades in the energy industry and possessing a wealth of knowledge and unmatched expertise relating to operations, particularly in shale development.

For more information, visit GreylockEnergy.com

SOURCE Tachyus
Experienced Exec to Spearhead Continued Growth



NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tandym Group ("Tandym" or the "Company"), a leading national consulting, recruitment, and workforce solutions company, announced today that it has appointed Byrne Mulrooney as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Mulrooney has also joined Tandym's Board of Directors. Tandym is a portfolio company of Mill Rock Capital and ICG.

A veteran executive, Mr. Mulrooney joins Tandym after 13 years at Korn Ferry, where he was most recently CEO of Korn Ferry Digital and CEO of Korn Ferry's Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) segments. Mr. Mulrooney has a proven track record of driving growth and creating high performing organizations, bringing together people and technology to enhance client, candidate, and employee experiences. Under his leadership, Korn Ferry expanded its enterprise recruiting portfolio from its nascent beginnings in Professional Search and RPO solutions into industry leadership positions. Additionally, he led the firm's efforts to create a multi-faceted digital business model underpinned by Korn Ferry's IP that established and strengthened unique value propositions for Korn Ferry's Talent Acquisition and Talent Management Workforce Solutions. Prior to Korn Ferry, Mr. Mulrooney spent more than 25 years in positions of increasing responsibility at both public and private companies, including IBM, EDS and Spherion.

"This role represents the capstone of my entire career, and I am thrilled to be joining Tandym as CEO," said Mr. Mulrooney. "Tandym's outstanding people, culture of success, and admirable history of expansion have prepared it to thrive in a rapidly evolving industry, and I am passionate about leading the Company through the next chapter of its growth story."

Tandym's President, Dave Muller, added, "On behalf of everyone at Tandym, I am excited for Byrne to join the organization. He brings a wealth of experience and a broad, global perspective, and I am confident that he will help steer our company energetically as we move forward. I am excited to work with Byrne to build an organization that is well-positioned for the future."

"We are delighted to welcome Byrne as Tandym's Chief Executive Officer," stated Chris Whalen and Adi Pekmezovic, Tandym Board Members and Co-Founders of Mill Rock Capital. "His strong leadership skills, proven track record and a focus on culture will be important assets as we continue to execute Tandym's strategy."

"Byrne has a clear vision for growth across each of Tandym's business segments," said Justin McDougall, Managing Director of ICG. "We look forward to working with him and our partners at Mill Rock to realize the Company's full potential."

Since Mill Rock and ICG's investment in Tandym in March 2021, the Company has acquired and integrated three complementary businesses, expanded its footprint across the United States and into new markets, and invested in people and technology to support continued organic and inorganic growth.

About Tandym Group

Tandym is a leading consulting, recruitment, and workforce solutions company with offices throughout the U.S. Named one of Inc. Magazine's fastest growing companies, the company serves clients across a broad range of verticals, including Healthcare, Technology, Life Sciences, and Professional Services (which includes Accounting, Financial Services, HR/People & Operations, and Legal). For more information, please visit: tandymgroup.com.

About Mill Rock Capital

Great Mill Rock LLC dba Mill Rock Capital is a growth and operations oriented private investment firm that invests in well-positioned middle market industrial businesses in North America. Founded by Christopher Whalen and Adi Pekmezovic, Mill Rock Capital is purpose-built to invest in family-owned businesses, owner-operators and founder-led companies across six industry verticals. Focus sectors include chemicals, materials and packaging; industrial distribution; services; metals and engineered materials; transportation and logistics; and specialty manufacturing and industrial technology. This strategy leverages the deep expertise of the firm's principals, a majority of whom have direct operating experience in these same industries. Mill Rock Capital supports business transformation through a dual-sourcing strategy encompassing majority equity and Activ Capital  debt, senior equity or hybrid investments which provide business owners value-added financial partnership without relinquishing a controlling stake. For more information, please visit millrock-cap.com.

About Intermediate Capital Group

ICG provides capital to help companies grow. The company is a global alternative asset manager with over 30 years' history, managing $77 billion of third-party assets in private debt, credit and equity - principally in closed-end funds - as of year-end June 2023.

ICG seeks to develop long-term relationships with its business partners to deliver value for shareholders, clients and employees, and use ICG's position of influence to benefit the environment and society. The firm operates across four strategic asset classes: corporate, capital market, real asset and secondary investments. In addition to growing existing strategies, ICG seeks to innovate and pioneer new strategies where the market opportunity exists. ICG is listed on the London Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: ICP). Further details are available at icgam.com.

Media contacts

Lambert

Caroline Luz

203-570-6462

[email protected]

or

Joanne Lessner

212-222-7436

[email protected]

Tandym Group

Stephanie Klemperer

212-871-0607

[email protected]

SOURCE Tandym Group
Companies Like Yellow Should Not Be Able to Escape Accountability, O'Brien Says

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Teamsters Union is calling on the federal government to reform corporate bankruptcy laws following Yellow Corp.'s filing for Chapter 11 this week. The freight company's closure leaves 22,000 union members without work despite Teamsters at Yellow giving back more than $5 billion in wages and benefits since 2009.

"Corporate bankruptcy legislation in the U.S. is a joke. The rules are written to favor corporations in this country, not working people. We see this with federal labor laws as well with workers fighting an unequal system for more than 400 days to get a union contract. Workers need real relief and protection," said Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien. "Perennially mismanaged companies like Yellow should not be able to find safe harbor from accountability by simply filing for bankruptcy. Hardworking people routinely get left behind in this process when they should be at the front of the line to be paid and protected for the sacrifices they make to American employers."

The Teamsters are calling on Congress and the White House to pass and enact new legislation that prioritizes workers throughout the corporate bankruptcy process. Legal safeguards must be established to protect earned pension credits and retirement benefits and ensure payment of severance money owed to workers.

The union also demands new regulations to protect existing collective bargaining agreements to guarantee contracts are honored on the other side of bankruptcy by any future employers.

"As in the case of Hostess or what may be the future of Yellow Corp., existing investors or new buyers are allowed to purchase failed companies with the sole intent of restructuring them to kill labor contracts and bust unions," said Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman. "This cannot continue to be the status quo in America, not when workers are being robbed of their wages and retirement because of corporate incompetence. The preservation of jobs and benefits to workers must be the primary objectives of Chapter 11, but they aren't, and it has to change."

Historically, the Teamsters have advocated for the Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act, legislation last introduced in 2020 by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY). The existing bill or other legislation to be introduced must create a fair and equitable bankruptcy system that puts workers and retirees at the forefront.

With the Yellow bankruptcy filing late Sunday, rank-and-file Teamsters are reminded that workers at the 99-year-old freight company are, in fact, Yellow's largest uncredited creditor. Since 2009, Teamsters sacrificed more than $5 billion in wage and benefit concessions to keep the company moving. These givebacks included more than $3.7 billion in voluntary wage cuts and more than $1.4 billion in pension benefit reductions.

In addition to being routinely rescued by its Teamsters workforce, Yellow still owes hundreds of millions of dollars to the federal government in bailout money and more than $750 million to Apollo Global Management.

"Despite its extraordinary debt, Yellow owes more to the workers who kept it running than to anyone else. Yet existing bankruptcy rules encourage corporate vultures to pick apart workers' bones, shred union contracts, and kill off companies," O'Brien said. "Yellow's collapse should bring deep shame to its corrupt management team, but it is an opportunity for unions, workers, and elected officials to take real steps to protect working people during such devastation. We need to enact new laws that safeguard American families from the greed and mismanagement of any employer."

The Teamsters will ask every member of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate to support legislation that protects workers during bankruptcy, particularly elected officials in jurisdictions facing heavy job losses from Yellow's destruction.

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:

Daniel Moskowitz, (770) 262-4971

[email protected]

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters
NEW YORK, Aug. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The burglar alarm systems market is estimated to increase by USD 1,493.73 million from 2022 to 2027, with a CAGR of 6.3%, according to a recent market study by Technavio. This report also offers a 5-year historical (2017-2021) data projection of market size, segmentation, and region. Discover some insights on market size before buying the full report -Request a sample report

Burglar Alarm Systems Market  Company Scope

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Burglar Alarm Systems Market

The burglar alarm systems market report also offers information on the criticality of inputs, R&D, CAPEX, technology, and products of 15 companies listed Below -

Ackerman Security, ADT INC., Alarm.com Holdings Inc., Alphabet Inc., Bay Alarm Co., Comcast Corp., Cove Smart LLC, Frontpoint Security Solutions LLC, Godrej and Boyce Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Guardian Protection Services Inc., Honeywell International Inc., Link Interactive, Monitronics International Inc., Nice SpA, NRG Energy Inc., Ring LLC, Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH, SimpliSafe Inc., Smith Thompson Home Security, and Vector Security Inc. - Download Sample Report

Chart & Data Table on 5-Year Historic (2017-2021) Market Size, Comparative Analysis of Segments, and Y-O-Y Growth of Burglar alarm systems market

Burglar Alarm Systems Market - Segmentation Assessment

The market is segmented by type (wireless alarm system and wired alarm system), end-user (residential, commercial, and industrial), and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa)

The wireless alarm system segment will account for a significant share of market growth during the forecast period. This system is typically equipped with motion detectors and door/window sensors and uses frequencies much lower than the standard 2.4GHz used for WiFi. Furthermore, B. High protection, low installation cost, and easy upgrade are some of the functions which are offered by the wireless alarm system. Wireless alarm systems are growing in popularity due to their adaptability, ease of use, and ease of installation which reduces installation costs. Hence, such benefits are expected to drive segment growth during the forecast period.

will account for a significant share of market growth during the forecast period. This system is typically equipped with motion detectors and door/window sensors and uses frequencies much lower than the standard 2.4GHz used for WiFi. Furthermore, B. High protection, low installation cost, and easy upgrade are some of the functions which are offered by the wireless alarm system. Wireless alarm systems are growing in popularity due to their adaptability, ease of use, and ease of installation which reduces installation costs. Hence, such benefits are expected to drive segment growth during the forecast period. North America is estimated to contribute 44% to the growth of the market during the forecast period. Rapid penetration of intruder alarm systems has been a key factor in the market growth in the region. The US, Canada , and Mexico are the major contributors to market growth in the region. Additionally, the region has a well-developed network infrastructure that ensures seamless connectivity between video surveillance components. Thus, these factors are expected to drive the growth of the burglar alarm systems market in the region during the forecast period.

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Burglar Alarm Systems Market- Market Dynamics

Key Driver

The growing adoption of smart homes is a key factor driving market growth. Smart home adoption is on the rise due to the growing need for security features such as digital security and secure homes. Furthermore, these devices are used in surveillance, automotive products, testing, gas and fire detection, and other commercial imaging applications. Advances in technology have increased the use of IoT at home. Consumers are using Intrusion detection to automate their homes. Hence, the increasing adoption of smart homes is expected to drive market growth during the forecast period.

Major Trends

The increasing advances in sensor technologies are a major trend in the market. The most important factors influencing the deployment of alarm systems are advances in sensor technology and wireless technology with video surveillance and intrusion detection. In addition, Radar, microwaves, fiber optics, and 2D lasers are some of the technologies leading to advances in alarm systems. Thus, the increasing advances in sensor technologies are expected to drive the growth of the burglar alarm systems market during the forecast period.

Significant Challenges

The increasing instances of false alarms are one of the significant challenges restricting market growth. Improper evaluation can affect the response of the alarm device. For example, due to a high false alarm rate, many operators may not respond to true alarm conditions. This can lead to customer dissatisfaction and impact the company's profit margins. The main drawback of false alarms is that customers cannot fully trust their devices. Companies are trying to address this challenge by using two-way communication and double-validation features to filter false positives. Hence, increasing instances of false alarms are expected to restrict market growth during the forecast period.

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What are the key data covered in this Burglar Alarm Systems Market report?

CAGR of the market during the forecast period

Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth of the burglar alarm systems market between 2023 and 2027.

Precise estimation of the size of the burglar alarm systems market and its contribution to the market with a focus on the parent market

Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

Growth of the burglar alarm systems market across North America , Europe , APAC, South America , and the Middle East and Africa

, , APAC, , and the and A thorough analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information about companies

Comprehensive analysis of factors that will challenge the growth of burglar alarm systems market companies.

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Burglar Alarm Systems Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 6.3% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 1,493.73 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 5.73 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution North America at 44% Key countries US, Canada, China, Japan, and the UK Competitive landscape Leading Companies, Market Positioning of Companies, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Ackerman Security, ADT INC., Alarm.com Holdings Inc., Alphabet Inc., Bay Alarm Co., Comcast Corp., Cove Smart LLC, Frontpoint Security Solutions LLC, Godrej and Boyce Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Guardian Protection Services Inc., Honeywell International Inc., Link Interactive, Monitronics International Inc., Nice SpA, NRG Energy Inc., Ring LLC, Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH, SimpliSafe Inc., Smith Thompson Home Security, and Vector Security 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.

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 of Market by Geography



Exhibit 05: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Type



Exhibit 06: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by End-user



Exhibit 07: Executive Summary  Chart on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 08: Executive Summary  Data Table on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 09: Executive Summary  Chart on Company 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 companies included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 13: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2022

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2022-2027

Exhibit 14: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 15: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 16: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 17: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

4 Historic Market Size

4.1 Global burglar alarm systems market 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 18: Historic Market Size  Data Table on global burglar alarm systems market 2017 - 2021 ($ million)

4.2 Type Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 19: Historic Market Size  Type Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million)

4.3 End-user Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 20: Historic Market Size  End-user Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million)

4.4 Geography Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 21: Historic Market Size  Geography Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million)

4.5 Country Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 22: Historic Market Size  Country Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million)

5 Five Forces Analysis

5.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 23: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2022 and 2027

5.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 24: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers  Impact of key factors 2022 and 2027

5.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 25: Bargaining power of suppliers  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 26: Threat of new entrants  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 27: Threat of substitutes  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 28: Threat of rivalry  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.7 Market condition

Exhibit 29: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2022 and 2027

6 Market Segmentation by Type

6.1 Market segments

Exhibit 30: Chart on Type - Market share 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Type - Market share 2022-2027 (%)

6.2 Comparison by Type

Exhibit 32: Chart on Comparison by Type



Exhibit 33: Data Table on Comparison by Type

6.3 Wireless alarm system - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 34: Chart on Wireless alarm system - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on Wireless alarm system - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 36: Chart on Wireless alarm system - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 37: Data Table on Wireless alarm system - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

6.4 Wired alarm system - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 38: Chart on Wired alarm system - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 39: Data Table on Wired alarm system - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 40: Chart on Wired alarm system - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 41: Data Table on Wired alarm system - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

6.5 Market opportunity by Type

Exhibit 42: Market opportunity by Type ($ million)



Exhibit 43: Data Table on Market opportunity by Type ($ million)

7 Market Segmentation by End-user

7.1 Market segments

Exhibit 44: Chart on End-user - Market share 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 45: Data Table on End-user - Market share 2022-2027 (%)

7.2 Comparison by End-user

Exhibit 46: Chart on Comparison by End-user



Exhibit 47: Data Table on Comparison by End-user

7.3 Residential - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 48: Chart on Residential - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 49: Data Table on Residential - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 50: Chart on Residential - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 51: Data Table on Residential - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

7.4 Commercial and industrial - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 52: Chart on Commercial and industrial - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 53: Data Table on Commercial and industrial - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 54: Chart on Commercial and industrial - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 55: Data Table on Commercial and industrial - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

7.5 Market opportunity by End-user

Exhibit 56: Market opportunity by End-user ($ million)



Exhibit 57: Data Table on Market opportunity by End-user ($ million)

8 Customer Landscape

8.1 Customer landscape overview

Exhibit 58: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria

9 Geographic Landscape

9.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 59: Chart on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 60: Data Table on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%)

9.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 61: Chart on Geographic comparison



Exhibit 62: Data Table on Geographic comparison

9.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 63: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 64: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 65: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 66: 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 67: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 68: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 69: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 70: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.5 APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 71: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 72: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 73: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 74: 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 75: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 76: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 77: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 78: 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 79: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 80: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 81: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

and - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 82: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.8 US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 83: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 84: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 85: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 86: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.9 Canada - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 87: Chart on Canada - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 88: Data Table on Canada - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 89: Chart on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 90: Data Table on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.10 UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 91: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 92: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 93: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 94: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.11 China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 95: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 96: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 97: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 98: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.12 Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 99: Chart on Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 100: Data Table on Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 101: Chart on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 102: Data Table on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.13 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 103: Market opportunity by geography ($ million)



Exhibit 104: Data Tables on Market opportunity by geography ($ million)

10 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10.1 Market drivers

10.2 Market challenges

10.3 Impact of drivers and challenges

Exhibit 105: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2022 and 2027

10.4 Market trends

11 Company Landscape

11.1 Overview

11.2 Company landscape

Exhibit 106: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation

11.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 107: Overview on factors of disruption

11.4 Industry risks

Exhibit 108: Impact of key risks on business

12 Company Analysis

12.1 Companies covered

Exhibit 109: Companies covered

12.2 Market positioning of companies

Exhibit 110: Matrix on company position and classification

12.3 ADT INC.

Exhibit 111: ADT INC. - Overview

INC. - Overview

Exhibit 112: ADT INC. - Business segments

INC. - Business segments

Exhibit 113: ADT INC. - Key news

INC. - Key news

Exhibit 114: ADT INC. - Key offerings

INC. - Key offerings

Exhibit 115: ADT INC. - Segment focus

12.4 Alarm.com Holdings Inc.

Exhibit 116: Alarm.com Holdings Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 117: Alarm.com Holdings Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 118: Alarm.com Holdings Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 119: Alarm.com Holdings Inc. - Segment focus

12.5 Alphabet Inc.

Exhibit 120: Alphabet Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 121: Alphabet Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 122: Alphabet Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 123: Alphabet Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 124: Alphabet Inc. - Segment focus

12.6 Cove Smart LLC

Exhibit 125: Cove Smart LLC - Overview



Exhibit 126: Cove Smart LLC - Product / Service



Exhibit 127: Cove Smart LLC - Key offerings

12.7 Frontpoint Security Solutions LLC

Exhibit 128: Frontpoint Security Solutions LLC - Overview



Exhibit 129: Frontpoint Security Solutions LLC - Product / Service



Exhibit 130: Frontpoint Security Solutions LLC - Key offerings

12.8 Guardian Protection Services Inc.

Exhibit 131: Guardian Protection Services Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 132: Guardian Protection Services Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 133: Guardian Protection Services Inc. - Key offerings

12.9 Honeywell International Inc.

Exhibit 134: Honeywell International Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 135: Honeywell International Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 136: Honeywell International Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 137: Honeywell International Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 138: Honeywell International Inc. - Segment focus

12.10 Link Interactive

Exhibit 139: Link Interactive - Overview



Exhibit 140: Link Interactive - Product / Service



Exhibit 141: Link Interactive - Key offerings

12.11 Monitronics International Inc.

Exhibit 142: Monitronics International Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 143: Monitronics International Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 144: Monitronics International Inc. - Key offerings

12.12 Nice SpA

Exhibit 145: Nice SpA - Overview



Exhibit 146: Nice SpA - Product / Service



Exhibit 147: Nice SpA - Key offerings

12.13 NRG Energy Inc.

Exhibit 148: NRG Energy Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 149: NRG Energy Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 150: NRG Energy Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 151: NRG Energy Inc. - Segment focus

12.14 Ring LLC

Exhibit 152: Ring LLC - Overview



Exhibit 153: Ring LLC - Product / Service



Exhibit 154: Ring LLC - Key offerings

12.15 Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH

Exhibit 155: Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH - Overview



Exhibit 156: Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH - Product / Service



Exhibit 157: Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH - Key offerings

12.16 SimpliSafe Inc.

Exhibit 158: SimpliSafe Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 159: SimpliSafe Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 160: SimpliSafe Inc. - Key offerings

12.17 Smith Thompson Home Security

Exhibit 161: Smith Thompson Home Security - Overview



Exhibit 162: Smith Thompson Home Security - Product / Service



Exhibit 163: Smith Thompson Home Security - Key offerings

13 Appendix

13.1 Scope of the report

13.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 164: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 165: Exclusions checklist

13.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 166: Currency conversion rates for US$

13.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 167: Research methodology



Exhibit 168: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 169: Information sources

13.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 170: List of abbreviations

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The Cohen Clinic at Endeavors, Killeen has provided critical mental health services to more than 2,100 post-9/11 veterans, active duty service members, and military family members

KILLEEN, Texas, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Endeavors, Killeen marked its five-year anniversary with a celebratory event attended by more than 50 military-focused community leaders, government officials, and local business representatives. Since opening in 2018, the Cohen Clinic at Endeavors, Killeen has delivered mental health care to more than 2,100 clients across Central Texas, nearly half of which have been military family members. The clinic has provided over 25,000 clinical sessions.

"This is a proud moment for our team as we reflect upon the deep impact this clinic has had on improving the lives of veterans, service members and their families throughout Central Texas," said Kristy Dean, Regional Director for The Cohen Clinics at Endeavors. "As we mark the clinic's five-year anniversary, we remain committed to our clients and our communities, evolving to meet their needs."

The Cohen Clinic at Endeavors, Killeen uses evidence-based practices to treat depression, anxiety, adjustment issues, anger, PTSD, grief and loss, and more. It is part of Cohen Veterans Network (CVN), a national not-for-profit network of 24 mental health clinics serving post-9/11 veterans, active duty service members and their families. In addition to the clinic in Killeen, CVN and Endeavors are also partners in Cohen Clinics in El Paso and San Antonio.

Located near Fort Cavazos, which is home to some 53,000 soldiers and family members, the Cohen Clinic at Endeavors, Killeen serves a significant number of active duty service members and their families. In fact, over the last year, approximately 30% of clients at the clinic in Killeen have been active duty service members and their family members, including children.

"The need for accessible, high-quality mental health services for the military community throughout Texas is great," said Dr. Anthony Hassan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cohen Veterans Network. "The Cohen Clinic in Killeen has been delivering critical support to our service members, veterans, and their families for five years and we look forward to many more years of saving lives, saving families, and saving futures."

In addition to providing mental health treatment, the Cohen Clinic at Endeavors, Killeen has become a hub for the Bell County military community, hosting timely workshops and events such as relationship management, financial wellness, and Parent Cafe, which provided free childcare to attendees this spring.

"Endeavors, in partnership with Cohen Veterans Network, has made a huge impact in Killeen since opening here five years ago," said Chip Fulghum, President and Chief Operating Officer of Endeavors. "As a Veteran, I feel a great deal of pride to serve with the clinicians and staff who make a difference here. They're helping thousands of Veterans and active duty service members, as well as their family members, change their lives for the better. It's our honor to serve those who serve."

Download high resolution photos or b-roll from the celebration here.

A Cohen Clinic at Endeavors tour video is available here.

About The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinics at Endeavors

The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Endeavors provides in-person and virtual high-quality accessible, and integrated mental health care to post-9/11 veterans regardless of role while in uniform, discharge status, or combat experience; active duty service members (with a TRICARE referral); and military families. There are three Cohen Clinic at Endeavors locations in Texas: Killeen, El Paso and San Antonio. All three clinics are part of Cohen Veterans Network (CVN), a national not-for-profit organization serving Veterans and military families via 24 clinics across the United States. Learn more about the Cohen Clinics at Endeavors here.

SOURCE Cohen Veterans Network
ANAHEIM, Calif., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tomorrow Water, a global environmental solutions provider, was selected to design and deliver a wastewater treatment solution that assures compliance with the regions' Publicly Owned Treatment Works pretreatment permit limits. Tomorrow Water was selected based on their ability to provide a cost-effective solution that meets the facility's water quality requirements and their ability to meet a very aggressive turnaround schedule. Services provided under this contract include progressive system design, equipment supply, commissioning and potentially an option for long term operations and maintenance after successful commissioning.

This facility is owned by one of the world's largest and most recognized photovoltaic (PV) manufacturers, known for its high-quality solar cells and modules. This will be the company's third US manufacturing facility and will be the largest solar panel production plant in the US described as "the largest solar investment in US history" by President Biden.

Tomorrow Water selected to design and deliver a wastewater treatment solution that assures compliance with permit limits Tweet this

EF Kim, CEO of Tomorrow Water notes  We are proud to support this global provider of premium solar cells and modules who is also known as a sustainability leader in the manufacturing sector. We are proud to support a top global ESG solutions company. We see an increasing number of similar companies establishing and expanding manufacturing capacity in the US, and we earn their trust due to our deep knowledge of the client needs, proven portfolio of treatment technologies, and knowledge of US/local rules and regulations.

Anthony Dusovic, President of Tomorrow Water notes  We are humbled to have earned the trust of the Contractor, Engineer and Owner. As the demand for their green energy products continues to grow this client demands strict environmental compliance for their production wastewater streams in keeping with their core values. I am particularly proud of the work done by our "Industrial Solutions" team in developing partnerships with clients for the life of their facility, integrating technology solutions, o&m services and tailor-made financial solutions to best solve their challenges.

About Tomorrow Water

Through innovative technology and thought leadership, Tomorrow Water is minimizing the global environmental impact of wastewater treatment, while delivering sustainable, practical, and economical solutions. Tomorrow Water is committed to building sustainable waste and wastewater management systems, integrating low-energy wastewater treatment, energy production and other crucial elements of modern infrastructure whenever feasible.

BKT Co Ltd. is the parent company of Tomorrow Water.

Contact:

[email protected]

+1 (714) 578-0676

SOURCE Tomorrow Water
PRINCE GEORGE, Va., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Touchstone Bankshares, Inc. (the "Company") (OTC Pink: TSBA) and its wholly owned subsidiary Touchstone Bank (the "Bank"), today announced the appointment of Bruce Brockwell as Senior Vice President/Executive Market President of the Bank.

Bruce Brockwell

A veteran of the local community banking industry, Brockwell is well-known throughout the community for his expertise in commercial and retail banking. He has worked in the banking industry for more than 30 years, primarily in Richmond and the Tri-Cities region. Prior to joining Touchstone Bank, he spent the last 12 years at Primis Bank in Richmond (and its predecessor Eastern Virginia Bank) where he served as Director of Commercial Banking and most recently as a Regional Market President where he was responsible for the leadership of the Richmond region. While at Primis, he had direct involvement and management of many of the bank's largest customer relationships.

"We are privileged to have Bruce join the Bank's management team as an Executive Market President. His insight into the Tri-Cities community and strong banking experience will be an extreme asset to us here at Touchstone Bank," President and CEO James Black said. "His leadership excellence and business development skills are significant to serving our local communities and progressing the Bank."

In addition to his experience growing and leading commercial and retail banking teams, Brockwell is a volunteer with the Chester Foodbank, and is a member of the Board of Directors with the Petersburg Country Club and has served as President of the Hopewell Prince George Chamber. Brockwell holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Virginia Tech.

About Touchstone Bankshares, Inc.

Touchstone Bankshares, Inc. is the bank holding company for Touchstone Bank. Most the Company's business activities are conducted through Touchstone Bank. Touchstone Bank is a full-service community bank headquartered in Prince George, Virginia. The Bank has ten branches serving Southern and Central Virginia and two branches and a loan center serving Northern North Carolina. Visit www.touchstone.bank for more information.

Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to historical information, this press release may contain certain forward-looking statements. For this purpose, any statement that is not a statement of historical fact may be deemed to be a forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements represent only the beliefs, expectations, or opinions of the Company and its management regarding future events, many of which are, by their nature, inherently uncertain. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of such words as: "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate," or words of similar meaning, or future or conditional terms, such as "will," "would," "should," "could," "may," "likely," "probably," or "possibly." Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from historical results or those anticipated by such statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, changes in interest rates and general economic conditions; the legislative/regulatory climate; monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. Government; the quality or composition of the loan or investment portfolios; demand for loan products; our allowance for credit losses may be insufficient due to market conditions, inflation, changing interest rates or other factors; adverse developments in the financial industry generally, such as the recent bank failures, responsive measures to mitigate and manage such developments, related supervisory and regulatory actions and costs, and related impacts on customer and client behavior; an unforeseen outflow of cash or deposits or an inability to access the capital markets, which could jeopardize our overall liquidity or capitalization; competition; demand for financial services in the Company's market area; mergers, acquisitions and dispositions; implementation of new technologies and the ability to develop and maintain secure and reliable electronic systems; and tax and accounting rules, principles, policies and guidelines. Any forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf speak only as of the date they are made or as of the date indicated, and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

SOURCE Touchstone Bankshares, Inc.
CLEVELAND, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TransDigm Group Incorporated (NYSE: TDG), a leading global designer, producer and supplier of highly engineered aircraft components, today reported results for the third quarter ended July 1, 2023.

Third quarter highlights include:

Net sales of $1,744 million , up 25% from $1,398 million in the prior year's quarter;

, up 25% from in the prior year's quarter; Income from continuing operations of $352 million , up 47% from the prior year's quarter;

, up 47% from the prior year's quarter; Earnings per share from continuing operations of $6.14 , up 50% from the prior year's quarter;

, up 50% from the prior year's quarter; EBITDA As Defined of $915 million , up 31% from $696 million in the prior year's quarter;

, up 31% from in the prior year's quarter; EBITDA As Defined margin of 52.5%;

Adjusted earnings per share of $7.25 , up 49% from $4.85 in the prior year's quarter; and

, up 49% from in the prior year's quarter; and Upward revision to fiscal 2023 financial guidance to reflect the continued strong performance of the Company.

Quarter-to-Date Results

Net sales for the quarter increased 24.7%, or $346 million, to $1,744 million from $1,398 million in the comparable quarter a year ago. Organic sales growth as a percentage of net sales was 20.7%.

Income from continuing operations for the quarter increased $113 million, or 47.3%, to $352 million from $239 million in the comparable quarter a year ago. The increase in income from continuing operations primarily reflects the increase in net sales described above and favorable sales mix. The comparable quarter a year ago also included the adverse impact of a pension settlement charge for the Esterline Retirement Plan. These favorable items contributing to the increase in income from continuing operations was partially offset by a higher effective tax rate, higher one-time refinancing costs and higher interest expense.

Adjusted net income for the quarter increased 47.3% to $414 million, or $7.25 per share, from $281 million, or $4.85 per share, in the comparable quarter a year ago.

EBITDA for the quarter increased 29.1% to $830 million from $643 million for the comparable quarter a year ago. EBITDA As Defined for the quarter increased 31.5% to $915 million compared with $696 million in the comparable quarter a year ago. EBITDA As Defined as a percentage of net sales for the quarter was 52.5% compared with 49.8% in the comparable quarter a year ago.

As previously reported, on May 8, 2023, TransDigm completed the acquisition of Calspan Corporation ("Calspan") for approximately $725 million in cash, including certain tax benefits. Calspan is a leading independent provider of highly engineered testing and technology development services and systems primarily for the aerospace & defense industry. Calspan's state of the art transonic wind tunnel in Buffalo, New York is used across a range of important aftermarket-focused development activities for both the commercial and defense aerospace end markets.

"I am incredibly pleased with the operating results for the third quarter. We continued to see strong Company performance along with further progression in the commercial aerospace market recovery. As we advance towards the end of our fiscal year, we are optimistic that the favorable trends in the commercial aerospace market will continue," stated Kevin Stein, TransDigm Group's President and Chief Executive Officer. "For the third quarter, our total revenue was strong, and we had a robust EBITDA as Defined margin. Revenues sequentially improved in all three of our major market channels - commercial OEM, commercial aftermarket and defense. Additionally, our diligent focus on our operating strategy and the continued recovery of the commercial aftermarket revenues drove further advancement in our EBITDA as Defined margin. The margin improved to 52.5% for the quarter, up approximately 270 basis points from the comparable prior year period."

Year-to-Date Results

Net sales for the thirty-nine week period ended July 1, 2023 increased 20.8%, or $814 million, to $4,733 million from $3,919 million in the comparable period a year ago. Organic sales growth as a percentage of net sales for the thirty-nine week period ended July 1, 2023 was 18.0%.

Income from continuing operations for the thirty-nine week period ended July 1, 2023 increased $284 million, or 47.3%, to $885 million from $601 million in the comparable period a year ago. The increase in income from continuing operations primarily reflects the increase in net sales described above and favorable sales mix. The increase was partially offset by a higher effective tax rate, higher interest expense and higher one-time refinancing costs.

GAAP earnings per share were reduced in fiscal 2023 and 2022 by $0.67 per share and $0.78 per share, respectively, as a result of dividend equivalent payments made during each year. As a reminder, GAAP earnings per share are reduced when TransDigm makes dividend equivalent payments pursuant to the Company's stock option plans. These dividend equivalent payments are made during the Company's first fiscal quarter each year and also upon payment of any special dividends.

Adjusted net income for the thirty-nine week period ended July 1, 2023 increased 48.5% to $1,017 million, or $17.80 per share, from $685 million, or $11.68 per share, in the comparable period a year ago.

EBITDA for the thirty-nine week period ended July 1, 2023 increased 27.6% to $2,237 million from $1,753 million for the comparable period a year ago. EBITDA As Defined for the period increased 28.4% to $2,432 compared with $1,894 in the comparable period a year ago. EBITDA As Defined as a percentage of net sales for the period was 51.4% compared with 48.3% in the comparable period a year ago.

Please see the attached tables for a reconciliation of income from continuing operations to EBITDA, EBITDA As Defined, and adjusted net income; a reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities to EBITDA and EBITDA As Defined; and a reconciliation of earnings per share to adjusted earnings per share for the periods discussed in this press release.

Fiscal 2023 Outlook

Mr. Stein stated, "We are raising our full year guidance primarily to reflect our strong third quarter results and our current expectations for the remainder of the fiscal year. We are very pleased to once more raise our guidance for fiscal 2023 and to see further progression in the recovery of the commercial aerospace market."

TransDigm now expects fiscal 2023 financial guidance to be as follows:

Net sales are anticipated to be in the range of $6,525 million to $6,585 million compared with $5,429 million in fiscal 2022 (an increase of $100 million at the mid-point);

to compared with in fiscal 2022 (an increase of at the mid-point); Net income from continuing operations is anticipated to be in the range of $1,227 million to $1,251 million compared with $866 million in fiscal 2022 (an increase of $73 million at the mid-point);

to compared with in fiscal 2022 (an increase of at the mid-point); Earnings per share from continuing operations is expected to be in the range of $20.78 to $21.20 per share based upon weighted average shares outstanding of 57.15 million shares compared with $13.38 per share in fiscal 2022 (an increase of $1.25 at the mid-point);

to per share based upon weighted average shares outstanding of 57.15 million shares compared with per share in fiscal 2022 (an increase of at the mid-point); EBITDA As Defined is anticipated to be in the range of $3,350 million to $3,380 million compared with $2,646 million in fiscal 2022 (an increase of $105 million at the midpoint and corresponding to an EBITDA As Defined margin guide of approximately 51.3% for fiscal 2023);

to compared with in fiscal 2022 (an increase of at the midpoint and corresponding to an EBITDA As Defined margin guide of approximately 51.3% for fiscal 2023); Adjusted earnings per share is expected to be in the range of $24.94 to $25.36 per share compared with $17.14 per share in fiscal 2022 (an increase of $1.40 at the mid-point); and

to per share compared with per share in fiscal 2022 (an increase of at the mid-point); and Fiscal 2023 outlook is based on the following market growth assumptions:

Commercial aftermarket revenue growth in the low 30% range;



Commercial OEM revenue growth in the 20% to 25% range; and



Defense revenue growth in the mid to high-single-digit percentage range.

Please see the attached Table 6 for a reconciliation of EBITDA, EBITDA As Defined to net income and reported earnings per share to adjusted earnings per share guidance mid-point estimated for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023. Additionally, please see attached Table 7 for comparison of the current fiscal year 2023 guidance versus the previously issued fiscal year 2023 guidance.

Earnings Conference Call

TransDigm Group will host a conference call for investors and security analysts on August 8, 2023, beginning at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time. To join the call telephonically, please register for the call at https://register.vevent.com/register/BI3f1c3da6ae7e491db6d891ea18cb26ca . Once registered, participants will receive the dial-in information and a unique pin to access the call. The dial-in information and unique pin will be sent to the email used to register for the call. The unique pin is exclusive to the registrant and can only be used by one person at a time. A live audio webcast of the call can also be accessed online at http://www.transdigm.com. A slide presentation will also be available for reference during the conference call; go to the investor relations page of our website and click on "Presentations."

The call will be archived on the website and available for replay at approximately 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time.

About TransDigm Group

TransDigm Group, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, is a leading global designer, producer and supplier of highly engineered aircraft components for use on nearly all commercial and military aircraft in service today. Major product offerings, substantially all of which are ultimately provided to end-users in the aerospace industry, include mechanical/electro-mechanical actuators and controls, ignition systems and engine technology, specialized pumps and valves, power conditioning devices, specialized AC/DC electric motors and generators, batteries and chargers, engineered latching and locking devices, engineered rods, engineered connectors and elastomer sealing solutions, databus and power controls, cockpit security components and systems, specialized and advanced cockpit displays, engineered audio, radio and antenna systems, specialized lavatory components, seat belts and safety restraints, engineered and customized interior surfaces and related components, advanced sensor products, switches and relay panels, thermal protection and insulation, lighting and control technology, parachutes, high performance hoists, winches and lifting devices, and cargo loading, handling and delivery systems and specialized flight, wind tunnel and jet engine testing services and equipment.

Non-GAAP Supplemental Information

EBITDA, EBITDA As Defined, EBITDA As Defined Margin, adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share are non-GAAP financial measures presented in this press release as supplemental disclosures to net income and reported results. TransDigm Group defines EBITDA as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and defines EBITDA As Defined as EBITDA plus certain non-operating items recorded as corporate expenses, including non-cash compensation charges incurred in connection with TransDigm Group's stock incentive or deferred compensation plans, foreign currency gains and losses, acquisition-integration costs, acquisition and divestiture transaction-related expenses, and refinancing costs. Acquisition and divestiture-related costs represent accounting adjustments to inventory associated with acquisitions of businesses and product lines that were charged to cost of sales when the inventory was sold; costs incurred to integrate acquired businesses and product lines into the Company's operations, facility relocation costs and other acquisition-related costs; transaction-related costs for both acquisitions and divestitures comprising deal fees; legal, financial and tax diligence expenses and valuation costs that are required to be expensed as incurred and other acquisition accounting adjustments. TransDigm Group defines adjusted net income as net income plus purchase accounting backlog amortization expense, effects from the sale on businesses, non-cash compensation charges incurred in connection with TransDigm Group's stock incentive or deferred compensation plans, foreign currency gains and losses, acquisition-integration costs, acquisition and divestiture transaction-related expenses, and refinancing costs. EBITDA As Defined Margin represents EBITDA As Defined as a percentage of net sales. TransDigm Group defines adjusted diluted earnings per share as adjusted net income divided by the total outstanding shares for basic and diluted earnings per share. For more information regarding the computation of EBITDA, EBITDA As Defined, adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share, please see the attached financial tables.

TransDigm Group presents these non-GAAP financial measures because it believes that they are useful indicators of its operating performance. TransDigm Group believes that EBITDA is useful to investors because it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties to measure operating performance among companies with different capital structures, effective tax rates and tax attributes, capitalized asset values and employee compensation structures, all of which can vary substantially from company to company. In addition, analysts, rating agencies and others use EBITDA to evaluate a company's ability to incur and service debt. EBITDA As Defined is used to measure TransDigm Inc.'s compliance with the financial covenant contained in its credit facility. TransDigm Group's management also uses EBITDA As Defined to review and assess its operating performance, to prepare its annual budget and financial projections and to review and evaluate its management team in connection with employee incentive programs. Moreover, TransDigm Group's management uses EBITDA As Defined to evaluate acquisitions and as a liquidity measure. In addition, TransDigm Group's management uses adjusted net income as a measure of comparable operating performance between time periods and among companies as it is reflective of changes in pricing decisions, cost controls and other factors that affect operating performance.

None of EBITDA, EBITDA As Defined, EBITDA As Defined Margin, adjusted net income or adjusted earnings per share is a measurement of financial performance under U.S. GAAP and such financial measures should not be considered as an alternative to net income, operating income, earnings per share, cash flows from operating activities or other measures of performance determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. In addition, TransDigm Group's calculation of these non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to the calculation of similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

Although we use EBITDA and EBITDA As Defined as measures to assess the performance of our business and for the other purposes set forth above, the use of these non-GAAP financial measures as analytical tools has limitations, and you should not consider any of them in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our results of operations as reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Some of these limitations are:

neither EBITDA nor EBITDA As Defined reflects the significant interest expense, or the cash requirements, necessary to service interest payments on our indebtedness;

although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and neither EBITDA nor EBITDA As Defined reflects any cash requirements for such replacements;

the omission of the substantial amortization expense associated with our intangible assets further limits the usefulness of EBITDA and EBITDA As Defined;

neither EBITDA nor EBITDA As Defined includes the payment of taxes, which is a necessary element of our operations; and

EBITDA As Defined excludes the cash expense we have incurred to integrate acquired businesses into our operations, which is a necessary element of certain of our acquisitions.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts, including statements under the heading "Fiscal 2023 Outlook," are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "believe," "may," "will," "should," "expect," "intend," "plan," "predict," "anticipate," "estimate," or "continue" and other words and terms of similar meaning may identify forward-looking statements.

All forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause TransDigm Group's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, TransDigm Group. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has on the TransDigm Group's business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity; the sensitivity of TransDigm Group's business to the number of flight hours that its customers' planes spend aloft and its customers' profitability, both of which are affected by general economic conditions; current and future geopolitical or other worldwide events; cyber-security threats, natural disasters and climate change-related events; TransDigm Group's reliance on certain customers; the U.S. defense budget and risks associated with being a government supplier including government audits and investigations; failure to maintain government or industry approvals; failure to complete or successfully integrate acquisitions; TransDigm Group's indebtedness; potential environmental liabilities; liabilities arising in connection with litigation; climate-related regulations; increases in raw material costs, taxes and labor costs that cannot be recovered in product pricing; risks and costs associated with TransDigm Group's international sales and operations; and other factors. Further information regarding the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from projected results can be found in TransDigm Group's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022 and other reports that TransDigm Group or its subsidiaries have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, TransDigm Group undertakes no obligation to revise or update the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

TRANSDIGM GROUP INCORPORATED



CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME



FOR THE THIRTEEN AND THIRTY-NINE WEEK PERIODS ENDED

Table 1 JULY 1, 2023 AND JULY 2, 2022

(Amounts in millions, except per share amounts)



(Unaudited)



















Thirteen Week Periods Ended

Thirty-Nine Week Periods Ended



July 1, 2023

July 2, 2022

July 1, 2023

July 2, 2022 NET SALES

$ 1,744

$ 1,398

$ 4,733

$ 3,919 COST OF SALES

715

582

1,983

1,706 GROSS PROFIT

1,029

816

2,750

2,213 SELLING AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

209

184

578

537 AMORTIZATION OF INTANGIBLE ASSETS

37

33

105

102 INCOME FROM OPERATIONS

783

599

2,067

1,574 INTEREST EXPENSENET

291

269

872

799 REFINANCING COSTS

32



41

 OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSE

(9)

18

(12)

9 INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES

469

312

1,166

766 INCOME TAX PROVISION

117

73

281

165 INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

352

239

885

601 INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF TAX







1 NET INCOME

352

239

885

602 LESS: NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS

(1)

(1)

(2)

(2) NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO TD GROUP

$ 351

$ 238

$ 883

$ 600 NET INCOME APPLICABLE TO TD GROUP COMMON STOCKHOLDERS

$ 351

$ 238

$ 845

$ 554 Earnings per share attributable to TD Group common stockholders:















Earnings per share from continuing operationsbasic and diluted

$ 6.14

$ 4.10

$ 14.80

$ 9.42 Earnings per share from discontinued operationsbasic and diluted







0.02 Earnings per share

$ 6.14

$ 4.10

$ 14.80

$ 9.44 Weighted-average shares outstanding:















Basic and diluted

57.2

58.0

57.1

58.7

TRANSDIGM GROUP INCORPORATED



SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION - RECONCILIATION OF EBITDA,



EBITDA AS DEFINED TO INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS



FOR THE THIRTEEN AND THIRTY-NINE WEEK PERIODS ENDED

Table 2 JULY 1, 2023 AND JULY 2, 2022

(Amounts in millions, except per share amounts)



(Unaudited)



















Thirteen Week Periods Ended

Thirty-Nine Week Periods Ended



July 1, 2023

July 2, 2022

July 1, 2023

July 2, 2022 Income from continuing operations

$ 352

$ 239

$ 885

$ 601 Adjustments:















Depreciation and amortization expense

70

61

199

188 Interest expense, net

291

269

872

799 Income tax provision

117

74

281

165 EBITDA

830

643

2,237

1,753 Adjustments:















Acquisition and divestiture transaction-related expenses and adjustments (1)

6

5

12

13 Non-cash stock and deferred compensation expense (2)

53

47

131

129 Refinancing costs (3)

32



41

 Other, net (4)

(6)

1

11

(1) Gross Adjustments to EBITDA

85

53

195

141 EBITDA As Defined

$ 915

$ 696

$ 2,432

$ 1,894 EBITDA As Defined, Margin (5)

52.5 %

49.8 %

51.4 %

48.3 %





(1)

Represents accounting adjustments to inventory associated with acquisitions of businesses and product lines that were charged to cost of sales when inventory was sold; costs incurred to integrate acquired businesses and product lines into TD Group's operations, facility relocation costs and other acquisition-related costs; transaction-related costs for both acquisitions and divestitures comprising deal fees, legal, financial and tax due diligence expenses, and valuation costs that are required to be expensed as incurred.





(2)

Represents the compensation expense recognized by TD Group under our stock incentive plans and deferred compensation plans.





(3)

Represents costs expensed related to debt financing activities, including new issuances, extinguishments, refinancings and amendments to existing agreements.





(4)

Primarily represents foreign currency transaction (gains) or losses, payroll withholding taxes related to dividend equivalent payments and stock option exercises, deferred compensation payments, non-service related pension costs including the pension settlement (gain) loss for the Esterline Retirement Plan, and for fiscal 2022, proceeds received from a final working capital settlement for the ScioTeq and TREALITY divestiture.





(5)

The EBITDA As Defined margin represents the amount of EBITDA As Defined as a percentage of net sales.

TRANSDIGM GROUP INCORPORATED







SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION - RECONCILIATION OF







REPORTED EARNINGS PER SHARE TO







ADJUSTED EARNINGS PER SHARE







FOR THE THIRTEEN AND THIRTY-NINE WEEK PERIODS ENDED





Table 3 JULY 1, 2023 AND JULY 2, 2022





(Amounts in millions, except per share amounts)







(Unaudited)



















Thirteen Week Periods Ended

Thirty-Nine Week Periods Ended



July 1, 2023

July 2, 2022

July 1, 2023

July 2, 2022 Reported Earnings Per Share















Income from continuing operations

$ 352

$ 239

$ 885

$ 601 Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

(1)

(1)

(2)

(2) Net income from continuing operations attributable to TD Group

351

238

883

599 Less: Dividends paid on participating securities





(38)

(46) Income from discontinued operations, net of tax







1 Net income applicable to TD Group common stockholdersbasic and diluted

$ 351

$ 238

$ 845

$ 554 Weighted-average shares outstanding under the two-class method















Weighted-average common shares outstanding

55.0

54.4

54.7

55.0 Vested options deemed participating securities

2.2

3.6

2.4

3.7 Total shares for basic and diluted earnings per share

57.2

58.0

57.1

58.7 Earnings per share from continuing operationsbasic and diluted

$ 6.14

$ 4.10

$ 14.80

$ 9.42 Earnings per share from discontinued operationsbasic and diluted







0.02 Earnings per share

$ 6.14

$ 4.10

$ 14.80

$ 9.44 Adjusted Earnings Per Share















Income from continuing operations

$ 352

$ 239

$ 885

$ 601 Gross Adjustments to EBITDA

85

53

195

141 Purchase accounting backlog amortization

2

1

4

6 Tax adjustment (1)

(25)

(12)

(67)

(63) Adjusted net income

$ 414

$ 281

$ 1,017

$ 685 Adjusted diluted earnings per share under the two-class method

$ 7.25

$ 4.85

$ 17.80

$ 11.68 Diluted Earnings Per Share to Adjusted Earnings Per Share















Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations

$ 6.14

$ 4.10

$ 14.80

$ 9.42 Adjustments to diluted earnings per share:















Inclusion of the dividend equivalent payments





0.67

0.78 Acquisition and divestiture transaction-related expenses and adjustments

0.10

0.09

0.20

0.24 Non-cash stock and deferred compensation expense

0.70

0.62

1.71

1.65 Refinancing costs

0.42



0.54

 Tax adjustment on income from continuing operations before taxes (1)

(0.05)



(0.28)

(0.44) Other, net

(0.06)

0.04

0.16

0.03 Adjusted earnings per share

$ 7.25

$ 4.85

$ 17.80

$ 11.68





(1)

For the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods ended July 1, 2023 and July 2, 2022, the Tax adjustment represents the tax effect of the adjustments at the applicable effective tax rate, as well as the impact on the effective tax rate when excluding the excess tax benefits on stock option exercises. Stock compensation expense is excluded from adjusted net income and therefore we have excluded the impact that the excess tax benefits on stock option exercises have on the effective tax rate for determining adjusted net income.

TRANSDIGM GROUP INCORPORATED



SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION - RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH



PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES TO EBITDA,



EBITDA AS DEFINED



FOR THE THIRTY-NINE WEEK PERIODS ENDED

Table 4 JULY 1, 2023 AND JULY 2, 2022

(Amounts in millions)



(Unaudited)











Thirty-Nine Week Periods Ended



July 1, 2023

July 2, 2022 Net cash provided by operating activities

$ 913

$ 675 Adjustments:







Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions of businesses

345

240 Interest expense, net (1)

842

773 Income tax provision - current

282

166 Loss contract amortization

27

28 Non-cash stock and deferred compensation expense (2)

(131)

(129) Refinancing costs (3)

(41)

 EBITDA

2,237

1,753 Adjustments:







Acquisition and divestiture transaction-related expenses and adjustments (4)

12

13 Non-cash stock and deferred compensation expense (2)

131

129 Refinancing costs (3)

41

 Other, net (5)

11

(1) EBITDA As Defined

$ 2,432

$ 1,894





(1)

Represents interest expense, net of interest income, excluding the amortization of debt issuance costs and premium and discount on debt.





(2)

Represents the compensation expense recognized by TD Group under our stock incentive plans and deferred compensation plans.





(3)

Represents costs expensed related to debt financing activities, including new issuances, extinguishments, refinancings and amendments to existing agreements.





(4)

Represents accounting adjustments to inventory associated with acquisitions of businesses and product lines that were charged to cost of sales when inventory was sold; costs incurred to integrate acquired businesses and product lines into TD Group's operations, facility relocation costs and other acquisition-related costs; transaction-related costs for both acquisitions and divestitures comprising deal fees, legal, financial and tax due diligence expenses, and valuation costs that are required to be expensed as incurred.





(5)

Primarily represents foreign currency transaction (gains) or losses, payroll withholding taxes related to dividend equivalent payments and stock option exercises, deferred compensation payments, non-service related pension costs including the pension settlement (gain) loss for the Esterline Retirement Plan, and for fiscal 2022, proceeds received from a final working capital settlement for the ScioTeq and TREALITY divestiture.

TRANSDIGM GROUP INCORPORATED



SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION - BALANCE SHEET DATA

Table 5 (Amounts in millions)

(Unaudited)











July 1, 2023

September 30, 2022 Cash and cash equivalents

$ 3,071

$ 3,001 Trade accounts receivableNet

1,159

967 InventoriesNet

1,603

1,332 Current portion of long-term debt

67

76 Short-term borrowingstrade receivable securitization facility

350

350 Accounts payable

292

279 Accrued and other current liabilities

824

721 Long-term debt

19,348

19,369 Total TD Group stockholders' deficit

(2,394)

(3,773)

TRANSDIGM GROUP INCORPORATED

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION - RECONCILIATION OF EBITDA, EBITDA AS DEFINED TO NET INCOME AND REPORTED EARNINGS PER SHARE TO ADJUSTED EARNINGS PER SHARE GUIDANCE MID-POINT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2023 Table 6 (Amounts in millions, except per share amounts) (Unaudited)







GUIDANCE MID-POINT



Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2023 Net Income

$ 1,239 Adjustments:



Depreciation and amortization expense

278 Interest expense - net

1,180 Income tax provision - current

414 EBITDA

3,111 Adjustments:



Acquisition transaction-related expenses and adjustments (1)

16 Non-cash stock and deferred compensation expense (1)

175 Refinancing costs (1)

41 Other, net (1)

22 Gross Adjustments to EBITDA

254 EBITDA As Defined

$ 3,365 EBITDA As Defined, Margin (1)

51.3 %





Earnings per share

$ 20.99 Adjustments to earnings per share:



Inclusion of the dividend equivalent payments

0.67 Non-cash stock and deferred compensation expense

2.31 Acquisition related expenses and adjustments

0.35 Refinancing costs

0.54 Other, net

0.29 Adjusted earnings per share

$ 25.15





Weighted-average shares outstanding

57.15





(1)

Refer to Table 2 above for definitions of Non-GAAP measurement adjustments.

TRANSDIGM GROUP INCORPORATED



SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION CURRENT FISCAL YEAR 2023 GUIDANCE VERSUS PRIOR FISCAL YEAR 2023 GUIDANCE

Table 7 (Amounts in millions, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)















Current

Fiscal Year 2023 Guidance Issued August 8, 2023

Prior

Fiscal Year 2023 Guidance Issued May 9, 2023

Change at Mid-Point













Net Sales

$6,525 to $6,585

$6,410 to $6,500

$100













GAAP Net Income from Continuing Operations

$1,227 to $1,251

$1,141 to $1,191

$73













GAAP Earnings Per Share from Continuing Operations

$20.78 to $21.20

$19.30 to $20.18

$1.25













EBITDA As Defined

$3,350 to $3,380

$3,230 to $3,290

$105













Adjusted Earnings Per Share

$24.94 to $25.36

$23.31 to $24.19

$1.40













Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding

57.15

57.1 0.05















SOURCE TransDigm Group Inc.
DENVER, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TRC Healthcare, a leading provider of healthcare training solutions, recognizes the crucial need for pharmacists to stay current on the latest medication therapies, particularly in the field of diabetes, a condition affecting approximately 37.3 million Americans. To address the challenges faced by pharmacists in finding comprehensive and reliable diabetes education, TRC Healthcare presents RxAdvanced: Diabetes Monitoring & Management  a robust training program offering six hours of ACPE-accredited continuing education that provides pharmacists with the skills needed to effectively advise patients and clinicians on how to use technology and pattern management to achieve improved glycemic control.

"With the prevalence of diabetes affecting millions of Americans, it is vital for pharmacists to stay updated on the latest therapies. By providing reliable, cutting-edge education on diabetes monitoring and management, we're able to further support pharmacists in their crucial role as trusted healthcare advisors," says Wes Crews, Chief Executive Officer of TRC Healthcare. Crews continued, "With this training program, we are committed to enhancing pharmacist competency and driving better patient care. Together, we can make a meaningful impact on the lives of those affected by diabetes."

Empowering pharmacists through technology-driven diabetes education, elevating patient outcomes. Tweet this

The program includes education from the esteemed experts at the Skaggs School of Pharmacy University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, covering the growing area of diabetes technology in healthcare. RxAdvanced: Diabetes Monitoring & Management is designed to enhance the competency of pharmacists and deliver better patient outcomes. The 12-course curriculum is focused on innovative, technology-driven techniques in the treatment of diabetes, ultimately resulting in enhanced patient outcomes. Pharmacists can conveniently complete each course online, at their own pace, 24/7.

For more information about RxAdvanced: Diabetes Monitoring & Management and other training solutions offered by TRC Healthcare, please visit trchealthcare.com.

About TRC Healthcare:

TRC Healthcare (TRC) is a premier source of lifelong learning solutions for healthcare professionals that provides unbiased training, continuing education, and resources, so they can provide the highest quality care to patients and improve outcomes.

With the acquisition of NetCE, Bula, QURE, and CriticalPoint, TRC has the industry's largest catalog of continuing education and advisory services, with thousands of courses trusted by healthcare professionals to provide accredited training that meets continuing education and licensing requirements. Our solutions are used by over 1M clinicians. For more information about TRC, please visit trchealthcare.com.

SOURCE TRC Healthcare
Twig Science Middle School's Volcano Hunters module was awarded the WestEd NGSS Design Badge

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Imagine Learning, the largest provider of digital curriculum solutions in the U.S., serving over 15 million students in more than half the school districts nationwide, has been awarded its first prestigious NGSS Design Badge from WestEd for the Volcano Hunters module of its Twig Science Middle School program.

WestEd , a nonpartisan research, development, and service agency, works with education and other communities to promote excellence, achieve equity, and improve learning for children, youth, and adults. The NGSS Design Badge is awarded to top-rated science lessons and units designed for the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Only 4% of units reviewed by WestEd have been awarded the esteemed NGSS Design Badge. The NGSS Design Badge provides an easy way for educators to be assured that units, like the Twig Science Middle School Volcano Hunters unit, are designed for the NGSS and that publishers and developers are creating materials that are high quality and designed for NGSS.

We are honored to be acknowledged by WestEd for our work on the Volcano Hunters module. Tweet this

Volcano Hunters is part of Twig Science Middle School, a phenomena-based program designed for the NGSS. In the module, students use visual media, datasets, maps, and hands-on exploration to figure out why some mountainous areas have volcanoes and others do not. They apply the three dimensions of the NGSS as they analyze real-life data from active volcanoes, assess threat levels, and devise a plan to protect people from the dangers of eruptions. A preview of the Volcano Hunters module can be found here .

"We are honored to be acknowledged by WestEd for our work on the Volcano Hunters module," shared Natasha Stillwell, President of Imagine Learning Studios UK and a Twig Science program author. "The teams that work on our Twig Science program are incredibly talented and innovative, and focused on creating only the highest quality of science education curricula for our students and educators."

Educational materials with the highest rating on the EQuIP Rubric for Science earn the NGSS Design Badge. Having a science unit achieve this distinction for design "reflects the degree to which the innovations represented by the standards are a foundational aspect of both the organization and content of the instructional materials." Educators can use this distinction to help in their science curricula selection along with considering other third-party organizations that review materials for alignment and usability of the standards.

About Imagine Learning

Imagine Learning provides digital-first PreK12 solutions for core instruction, supplemental and intervention, online courses, and virtual instruction. Our mission is to ignite learning breakthroughs with forward-thinking solutions at the

intersection of people, curricula, and technology. Imagine Learning serves over 15 million studentspartnering with over half of districts nationwide.

Twig Science provides comprehensive coverage of science standards through engaging hands-on and digital investigations where Pre-K8 students take on the roles of real-world scientists and engineers. Twig Science challenges all students to become creative problem solvers, making sense of real-world phenomena. Learn more about Imagine Learning at imaginelearning.com and learn more about Twig Science here .

SOURCE Imagine Learning LLC
DUBLIN, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "United States Women Health Laboratory Testing Market by Hereditary Cancer, Reproductive Health and Infectious Diseases, Prenatal Screening and Diagnostic Testing, Region, Competition Forecast & Opportunities, 2018-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The United States Women Health Laboratory Testing Market is poised for impressive growth during the period 2024-2028. Several key factors contribute to this upward trajectory, including the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, trauma, anemia, myeloma, lymphoma, leukemia, and more, along with a growing awareness regarding women's health-related tests.

Moreover, rising cases of aneuploidies and advancements in medical technology are playing significant roles in driving market expansion. Particularly, the rising prevalence of cancer among women has opened up new opportunities for growth in the Women Health Laboratory Testing Market in the United States.

Furthermore, increased investments in the healthcare sector, active involvement of market players, and a surge in funding activities are contributing factors.

The efforts of government and private organizations in conducting awareness programs about diseases and treatments, as well as the availability of advanced technologies and procedures at healthcare facilities, are also playing a vital role in fostering market growth.

Prevalence of Chronic diseases

The prevalence of chronic diseases like cardiovascular diseases, surgeries, trauma, and injuries either caused due to road accidents or any other accidental or non-accidental reasons are resulting in the growth of the market. The main cause of the increasing demand for laboratory testing procedures is increased health issues in women and the demand for the treatment of various severe diseases like cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, more than 1.8 million people were diagnosed with cancer in 2020. For instance, an estimated 1,519,907 people in the United States are suffering from leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), or myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). Additionally, in terms of health, women health varies from men in distinctive ways. Therefore, timely diagnosis/testing of a disease is important for getting management and treatment for the disease.

Also, the significant increase in the prevalence of cancer and certain infectious diseases, such as sexually transmitted diseases, immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Hepatitis, Syphilis, etc., is driving the growth of the women health laboratory testing market in the United States.

Growing awareness amongst key players in the market

Several market players are getting aware of women health and diseases. Therefore, they are participating in the development of diagnostic procedures for the impressive growth of the market. Also, certain mergers and acquisitions lead to the steady growth of the market.

For instance, in February 2022, Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings established a strategic partnership with Ascension to expand its testing capabilities.

Additionally, in January 2022, a company, namely Your Gene Health, announced that it had signed a strategic partnership agreement with a point-of-care business, namely EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc, with accredited laboratory testing capabilities in the U.S.

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in United States Women Health Laboratory Testing Market

F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG.

Stanbio Laboratory L.P.

Yourgene Health

Myriad Genetics Inc.

Natera, Inc.

Ovia Health

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, Inc.

Gateway Genomics, LLC

Ascension Healthcare Network Inc.

EKF Diagnostics Holdings PLC

Market Dynamics

Drivers

Prevalence of Chronic diseases

Recent Developments

Growing awareness amongst key players of the market

Challenges

Stringent Regulatory Guidelines Related to Laboratory Testing

Disparity in Awareness of Pregnancy and Fertility Issues in the Different Regions of the United States

Report Scope

United States Women Health Laboratory Testing Market, By Hereditary Cancer:

Cervical Cancer

Ovarian Cancer

Breast Cancer

United States Women Health Laboratory Testing Market, By Reproductive Health and Infectious Diseases:

CT/NG Testing, Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT)

Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)

Hepatitis

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Vaginal Infections

PAP Smear Testing

HIV Testing

Pregnancy and Ovulation Testing

HPV Testing

United States Women Health Laboratory Testing Market, By Prenatal Screening and Diagnostic Testing:

Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT)

Maternal Serum Screening (MSS)

Prenatal Diagnostic Testing

United States Women Health Laboratory Testing Market, By Region:

Northeast

Midwest

South

West

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ekokv

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SOURCE Research and Markets
Valisure and DoD Signed a Cooperative Research & Development Agreement to Conduct a Pharmaceutical Quality Risk Assessment Pilot Study

NEW HAVEN, Conn., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Valisure has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the Department of Defense (DoD) in order to generate objective drug quality data through independent sourcing and testing for metrics that are expected to differentiate the quality of available manufacturers of a given list of drugs. This study is being conducted in response to a mandate in the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which instructs the DoD to "assess risks to the Department's pharmaceutical supply chain."

By creating much-needed transparency in drug quality, this study will enable conscientious manufacturers to be able to better compete and allow major purchasers of drugs, like the Department of Defense and Veterans Administration, to reward good manufacturers and exclude substandard medicines from being consumed by the military and veterans, and serve as a model for broader adoption throughout the United States to benefit all American patients.

Over the past few decades, production of most of America's generic drugs and particularly, the ingredients needed to make them, has moved to India and China where regulation is increasingly difficult. There is growing concern over drug quality and safety, as evidenced by rampant drug shortages, approximately 76% of which are due to manufacturer quality problems, roughly 3 drug recalls per day in the United States, often related to dangerous impurities, and a growing number of studies and physician reports of patient harm. To address such issues, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness & Response (ASPR) published the report "Essential Medicines and Manufacturing Resilience Assessment" in May 2022 which recommended to "leverage the federal government's collective buying power to reform procurement protocols" and "revise purchasing models to increase emphasis on product quality and supply chain resilience, not simply lowest cost."

Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), a member of Congress for the past 32 years and Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, commented, "This study will allow the DoD, a major purchaser of drugs, to ensure those manufacturers, who are in compliance with U.S. health and safety standards and routinely assure the quality of their drugs, are rewarded for doing the right thing. In addition, it will ensure our men and women in uniform have access to safe and secure medicines. It's the least we can do for those who put their lives on the line. Our country's reliance on active pharmaceutical ingredients and medicines manufactured abroad in China and India has come at significant cost of safety, as drug quality is the main reason for drug shortages. I am committed to investing in long-term solutions to increase domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing"

Representative Neal Dunn, MD (R-FL), a former US Army surgeon and member of the China Select Committee, commented "Our veterans and servicemembers deserve ample access to safe, generic medications. This agreement provides the Department of Defense with quality data and much-needed transparency that will benefit our brave men and women in uniform. When it comes to the health and safety of our military, ensuring we have a plentiful and safe supply of life-saving prescription drugs and treatments at an affordable price is a matter of national security."

Bi-partisan support in Washington has been growing for taking action on improving drug quality, addressing drug shortages and specifically for independent chemical testing of generic drugs. Representatives DeLauro and Dunn co-lead a proposed amendment to the NDAA which stipulated that certain drugs with high quality concerns could be "tested and certified as safe by an accredited independent laboratory which tests pharmaceutical agents and their active pharmaceutical ingredients and certifies their safety." The proposed amendment defines an "accredited independent laboratory" as "a facility accredited to ISO 17025 or equivalent standards" and that has "no conflicts of interest." This is a policy closely aligned with the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & Healthcare and its network of Official Medicines Control Laboratories (OMCLs) that "By testing medicines independently of manufacturers (that is, without conflicts of interest and with guaranteed impartiality), the OMCLs have a fundamental role in ensuring the quality, safety and efficacy of medicines."

In this Defense Department collaborative study, quality will be assessed through a robust, multi-step process of independently testing the chemical properties of samples of drug products from suppliers to the DoD and objectively scoring the respective National Drug Codes (NDC) of each supplier. Scoring will be conducted according to a recently published paper authored by a consortium of healthcare key opinion leaders, including individuals at Department of Defense, Long Island University, Yale University, Stanford University, Columbia University, Ohio State University, University of Connecticut, University of Utah, NYU Langone, and Cleveland Clinic, titled, "A data-driven quality-score system for rating drug products and its implications for the health care industry." Scoring NDCs will not only provide a quality risk assessment but do so in a manner that is actionable for both pharmaceutical distribution and contracting.

"We at Valisure are honored to be working with the Defense Department on such a critical study." Adds David Light, Chief Executive Officer of Valisure. "We first described this drug quality scoring model as part of our Senate Finance Committee testimony in 2020 and are very excited to put it into practice with the Department of Defense. Beyond the importance this holds for national security, the Department of Defense is also a large health system with millions of patients. Together with private healthcare leaders like Kaiser Permanente that are already utilizing independent testing programs for generic drugs, this DoD initiative can be a powerful model for improving the generic drug market."

US Army Colonel, Victor Suarez and David Light, are co-presenting a learning lab session at The Association for Healthcare Resource & Materials Management (AHRMM) Annual Conference on August 8th, 2023. During their session, titled "Drug Shortage, Safety, Quality & Effectiveness Crisis: A Quadruple Threat to Healthcare & National Security," attendees will be given a background and landscape description of why the US is experiencing drug shortages and diminishing confidence in the quality, safety, and effectiveness of our drug supply, and discuss how healthcare leaders may mitigate these challenges.

Any entities interested in collaborating on this project can contact Valisure at [email protected].

About Valisure

Valisure is an independent laboratory and partner for quality that provides increased transparency and quality assurance throughout the healthcare industry. In response to rising concerns and quality issues in the global supply chain, Valisure's team of Harvard- and Yale-trained scientists developed proprietary analytical technologies to independently test products, identify critical issues, and offer services to help distinguish quality stakeholders and products. Valisure's novel approach to independent quality assurance has had a tremendous global impact and built a foundation of thought leadership that increasingly influences academia, government, and private industry to help improve public health. For further information, please visit www.valisure.com and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Karrah Goldberg

[email protected]

954-798-5422

SOURCE Valisure
BREA, Calif., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Goodwood Festival of Speed witnessed a groundbreaking collaboration among ViewSonic Corp., a leading global provider of visual solutions; RM Technology, a British EdTech company; and SaxaVord, renowned for Europe's first vertical rocket launch. Together, they launched Starflight Academy  an immersive virtual experience to ignite children's passion for space exploration. Held within the festival's Future Lab space, Starflight Academy used ViewSonic's cutting-edge 3D virtual learning platform, UNIVERSE, to connect 750+ students with commercial crew astronaut, Mike Mongo, and showcase the limitless possibilities of space exploration, inspiring young minds to reach for the stars.

ViewSonic partnered with SaxaVord and RM to hold cutting-edge virtual sessions held within UNIVERSE to connect over 750 students. The event featured the commercial crew astronaut, Mike Mongo, whose firsthand expertise inspired students to be the next generation of space explorers. ViewSonic partners with RM and SaxaVord to showcase the space exploration. The festival used UNIVERSE to connect 750+ students with commercial crew astronaut, Mike Mongo.

From July 13th to 16th, amidst the grandeur of Goodwood House in West Sussex, England, Starflight Academy welcomed schools from across the United Kingdom to experience four captivating virtual sessions held within UNIVERSE's Space room. The highlight of the event was an interactive session with commercial crew astronaut, Mike Mongo, whose firsthand expertise inspired students. Through live chat and collaboration boards, students could interact with him and listen to his inspirational talk. As Mike expressed, " UNIVERSE is an immersive virtual environment, and we are going to be using it to travel all over the world - and maybe even in space! - in the future ".

During the virtual sessions, onlookers actively engaged in the discussions, posing questions through an additional on-site UNIVERSE account, while witnessing the interesting sessions on the impressive ViewBoard IFP7562 75" large-format interactive display, complete with live captions via myViewBoard . Mike stressed the educational value these experiences deliver, stating: "Engaging solutions like UNIVERSE and ViewBoard play a crucial role in inspiring the next generation of space explorers, providing them with innovative tools and immersive experiences to nurture their passion for understanding the cosmos."

Throughout the event, the 'Design a Rocket' competition sparked creativity among Starflight Academy visitors. The environment was filled with a wealth of rocket information, complemented by an impressive NASA rocket for students to explore and interact with. Immersed in the UNIVERSE virtual world, attendees explored an array of rocket information and designs on the Resource Boards, while strolling amidst captivating 3D models of rockets that ignited their imagination. Using myViewBoard software on the TD1655 16" Touch Portable Monitor, participants sketched their rocket designs and every day, the finest designs were chosen as winners. The UNIVERSE team worked through the night to transform these 2D drawings into breathtaking 3D models, proudly showcasing them in the Space room the following day.

The ViewSonic collaboration with RM Technology and SaxaVord at the Goodwood Festival of Speed proved to be a resounding success. Through innovative technology and a desire to inspire the next generation of space enthusiasts, this partnership left a lasting impact on all who experienced it. As we look to the future, the prospects of space exploration have never looked brighter, and with initiatives like this, the cosmos may soon welcome a new wave of explorers, scientists, and dreamers, ready to push the boundaries of human achievement beyond the stars.

About ViewSonic

Founded in California, ViewSonic is a leading global provider of visual solutions and conducts business in over 100 countries worldwide. As an innovator and visionary, ViewSonic is committed to providing comprehensive hardware and software solutions that include monitors, projectors, pen displays, commercial displays, All-in-One LED displays, ViewBoard interactive displays, and myViewBoard software ecosystem. With over 35 years of expertise in visual displays, ViewSonic has established a strong position for delivering innovative and reliable solutions for education, enterprise, consumer, and professional markets and helping customers "See the Difference." To find out more about ViewSonic, please visit www.viewsonic.com.

SOURCE ViewSonic
BREA, Calif., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Goodwood Festival of Speed witnessed a groundbreaking collaboration among ViewSonic Corp., a leading global provider of visual solutions; RM Technology, a British EdTech company; and SaxaVord, renowned for Europe's first vertical rocket launch. Together, they launched Starflight Academy  an immersive virtual experience to ignite children's passion for space exploration. Held within the festival's Future Lab space, Starflight Academy used ViewSonic's cutting-edge 3D virtual learning platform, UNIVERSE, to connect 750+ students with commercial crew astronaut, Mike Mongo, and showcase the limitless possibilities of space exploration, inspiring young minds to reach for the stars.

ViewSonic partnered with SaxaVord and RM to hold cutting-edge virtual sessions held within UNIVERSE to connect over 750 students. The event featured the commercial crew astronaut, Mike Mongo, whose firsthand expertise inspired students to be the next generation of space explorers. ViewSonic partners with RM and SaxaVord to showcase the space exploration. The festival used UNIVERSE to connect 750+ students with commercial crew astronaut, Mike Mongo.

From July 13th to 16th, amidst the grandeur of Goodwood House in West Sussex, England, Starflight Academy welcomed schools from across the United Kingdom to experience four captivating virtual sessions held within UNIVERSE's Space room. The highlight of the event was an interactive session with commercial crew astronaut, Mike Mongo, whose firsthand expertise inspired students. Through live chat and collaboration boards, students could interact with him and listen to his inspirational talk. As Mike expressed, " UNIVERSE is an immersive virtual environment, and we are going to be using it to travel all over the world - and maybe even in space! - in the future ".

During the virtual sessions, onlookers actively engaged in the discussions, posing questions through an additional on-site UNIVERSE account, while witnessing the interesting sessions on the impressive ViewBoard IFP7562 75" large-format interactive display, complete with live captions via myViewBoard . Mike stressed the educational value these experiences deliver, stating: "Engaging solutions like UNIVERSE and ViewBoard play a crucial role in inspiring the next generation of space explorers, providing them with innovative tools and immersive experiences to nurture their passion for understanding the cosmos."

Throughout the event, the 'Design a Rocket' competition sparked creativity among Starflight Academy visitors. The environment was filled with a wealth of rocket information, complemented by an impressive NASA rocket for students to explore and interact with. Immersed in the UNIVERSE virtual world, attendees explored an array of rocket information and designs on the Resource Boards, while strolling amidst captivating 3D models of rockets that ignited their imagination. Using myViewBoard software on the TD1655 16" Touch Portable Monitor, participants sketched their rocket designs and every day, the finest designs were chosen as winners. The UNIVERSE team worked through the night to transform these 2D drawings into breathtaking 3D models, proudly showcasing them in the Space room the following day.

The ViewSonic collaboration with RM Technology and SaxaVord at the Goodwood Festival of Speed proved to be a resounding success. Through innovative technology and a desire to inspire the next generation of space enthusiasts, this partnership left a lasting impact on all who experienced it. As we look to the future, the prospects of space exploration have never looked brighter, and with initiatives like this, the cosmos may soon welcome a new wave of explorers, scientists, and dreamers, ready to push the boundaries of human achievement beyond the stars.

About ViewSonic

Founded in California, ViewSonic is a leading global provider of visual solutions and conducts business in over 100 countries worldwide. As an innovator and visionary, ViewSonic is committed to providing comprehensive hardware and software solutions that include monitors, projectors, pen displays, commercial displays, All-in-One LED displays, ViewBoard interactive displays, and myViewBoard software ecosystem. With over 35 years of expertise in visual displays, ViewSonic has established a strong position for delivering innovative and reliable solutions for education, enterprise, consumer, and professional markets and helping customers "See the Difference." To find out more about ViewSonic, please visit www.viewsonic.com.

Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2168059/ViewSonic_at_Goodwood_FOS_Future_Lab.mp4

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2168060/Image_1_Scenario_Photo_ViewSonic_partners_with_RM_and_SaxaVord_to_showcase_the_space_exploration.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2168061/Image_2_Scenario_Photo_the_festival_used_UNIVERSE_to_connect_750__students_with_commercial_crew_astr.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1587181/Logo.jpg

SOURCE ViewSonic
LIAOCHENG, China, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- This is a report from the Shandong office of Hong Kong Business Daily. "Wow, the sunflowers on this wall are beautifully painted! " And this plow cow, it's painted exactly like the real thing. At dusk on July 13th, in Suhai Village, Dabu Township, Yanggu County, Shandong Province, a group of children who returned from summer vacation were standing around the wall painting and admiring.

Night has arrived, and on the brightly lit square in Suhai Village, the team members are tracing the rural scenery while three elementary school students are watching intently. Villages become colorful due to wall paintings, and culture becomes vivid due to wall paintings. Starting from July 1st, Dabu Township took the opportunity of the "Dream Building Village" initiative to invite the "Dandelion" rural summer social practice team from the School of Fine Arts of Shandong Normal University to carry out the "Writing for a New Era, Colorful New Countryside" wall painting work in Suhai Village, Dabu Township. In order to provide children in the village with a greater sense of participation and experience in village construction, and to learn simple painting techniques and color matching during summer vacation, after discussing with 12 team members, it was decided to take the children to paint the walls together.

The team members utilized their professional advantages, carried forward the spirit of "not afraid of hardship, able to endure hardship", overcame various difficulties such as hot weather and rainwater invasion, from designing drawings to tracing and drawing lines, from mixing pigments to writing on walls, and completed more than 30 walls in 7 days. The pictures and texts were combined to promote the cultural characteristics of the village and promote the practice of new era civilization.

In recent years, Yanggu County has always made cultural revitalization a key focus of village development. Through wall painting, agricultural culture has become more vivid and colorful. It also uses the opportunity of wall painting to gather greater joint forces for the development of the village, adding color to the countryside with childlike innocence, and building dreams for the future with unity.

SOURCE Shandong Office of Hong Kong Business Daily
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Johannesburg, Aug 8 : South Africa is ready to host the much-anticipated 15th BRICS summit, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor has said.

"President Ramaphosa has confirmed South Africa's readiness to host the 15th BRICS summit in person, in Sandton, Johannesburg. The president has therefore invited 67 leaders from Africa and the Global South to attend the BRICS-Africa outreach and BRICS Plus dialogues," Pandor said on Monday while briefing the media about the country's preparations for the summit, which will be held on August 22-24, Xinhua news agency reported.

The leaders invited to attend the summit cover all the continents and regions of the Global South, Pandor said.

South Africa will host the summit under the theme "BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Multilateralism".

During the summit, it will host the BRICS Business Forum, the BRICS Leaders Retreat and the 15th BRICS Summit Plenary, among others, according to Pandor.

"BRICS leaders are expected to discuss opportunities for realizing the full potential of BRICS for inclusive global economic recovery and sustainable development and strengthening each other," she said.

The BRICS is an acronym for five emerging economies -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. South Africa assumed the BRICS presidency on January 1, 2023, taking over from China.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Bamako, Aug 8 : A total of 17 people were killed and two others injured in two terrorist attacks over the weekend in central Mali, local authorities have said.

The first attack took place on Saturday in Bodio village in Bandiagara region, leaving 15 people dead and two injured, according to a statement of the Bandiagara governorate. And two people were killed in another attack on Sunday at a mine between Bodio village and Anakanda village, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Operations are underway to track down the perpetrators of this despicable act which will in no way discourage us from our eternal fight for the preservation of our country," the statement issued on Monday said.

The attacks occurred one day after the handover of the Ogossagou camp, a military base in Bandiagara, to the Malian government from the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali.
Kiev, Aug 8 : Russian authorities have released 22 Ukrainian servicemen after they were held as prisoners of war, a top official in Kiev announced.

In a post on Telegram, Andriy Yermak, head of the Office of the President, said on Monday: "Today, 22 more Ukrainian soldiers were returned home from captivity. Among them are two officers, privates and non-commissioned officers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

"They participated in battles in different areas, and there are wounded among the released."

According to the official, the oldest of the soldiers is 54-years-old and the youngest is 23-years-old, CNN reported.

"Each of the liberated soldiers will undergo physical and psychological rehabilitation, reintegration and be provided with the necessary treatment with the support of medical specialists," he said.

Yermak thanked the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War and their team for assisting.

"We have to fulfill the President's task and return all of our people," CNN quoted Yermak as saying.

Without providing additional details, Dmytro Lubinets, the Human Rights Commissioner in the Ukrainian Parliament, said some of the released soldiers were injured.

Since the war began in February 2022, a total of 2,598 Ukrainians have been released from Russian captivity.

This is the 48th prisoners' exchange since.
Kiev, Aug 8 : The priest of a Russia-backed church in Ukraine has been sentenced to jail for five years for supporting the ongoing war, authorities said.

In a statement on Monday, the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) said that Metropolitan Ionafan, head of the Tulchin Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate in Vinnytsia region, was sentenced based on the evidence presented by the special services, Ukrainska Pravda reported.

The evidence has revealed thatthe priest had distributed pro-Kremlin propaganda leaflets and literature among churchgoers, in which he called for a seizure of power and a change in the state border of Ukraine, according to the SSU.

On one of the websites of the Russian Orthodox Church, Ionafan also posted material in support of the Russian invasion and war crimes, it added.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's office said on Monday that "he was found guilty of infringing on territorial integrity, actions aimed at violent change or overthrow of the constitutional order, violation of the equality of citizens, and justification, recognition of the legitimacy, denial of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine".

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church had traditionally been loyal to the Russian Orthodox Church, whose leader Patriarch Kiril has openly supported Moscowas brutal invasion of Ukraine.

Splitting with Kiril, the leadership of the church denounced Russiaas attack, and in May 2022, declared its independence from Russia, reports CNN.

Ukraine, however, has expressed concern about the loyalties of some of the priests.

Last month, Ukraine passed a legislation moving its official Christmas holiday to December 25, further distancing itself from the traditions of the Russian Orthodox Church, which celebrates the holiday on January 7.
Washington, Aug 8 : Two prominent Indian-American lawmakers, Ro Khanna and Shri Thanedar will travel to India with a bipartisan congressional delegation and attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Red Fort address on Independence Day.

Khanna is leading the delegation with Congressman Michael Waltz -- both co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans.

"As co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans, we are proud to lead a bipartisan delegation to India. We will be there to discuss how to strengthen economic and defence ties between our two counties, the oldest and largest democracies," Khanna said in a media statement.

"Both of us believe that the US-India relationship will be a defining one of the 21st century. India is a key partner in ensuring multipolarity in Asia and the denial of China as a hegemon," he said.

They will meet business, tech, government leaders, and prominent media personalities in Mumbai, Hyderabad and New Delhi, and visit Raj Ghat.

The delegation also includes Deborah Ross, Kat Cammack and Jasmine Crockett, along with Rich McCormick and Ed Case.

For Khanna, the visit is history coming full circle. His grandfather Amarnath Vidyalankar was an Indian freedom fighter who spent four years in jail alongside Mahatma Gandhi and later was part of Indiaas first Parliament, the media statement issued on Monday, said.

"We must continue to strive to make progress and build our partnership based on our shared founding values of democracy, freedom of the press and assembly, and human rights. This delegation is a historic opportunity to drive further collaboration and advance shared aims," Khanna said.

Earlier this year, Khanna and Waltz hosted a historic US-India Summit on the Hill featuring panels and remarks from government leaders, experts, and Indian-American leaders from across the country.

Khanna, 46, is the second Indian-American after Ami Bera to hold the position of co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans since its inception in 1993.

--IANS

mi/ksk
Hyderabad, Aug 8 : In yet another incident, a student of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Hyderabad has died by suicide allegedly due to mental stress.

Mamitha Nayak (21) was found hanging in her hostel room on Monday night. Hailing from Odisha, she had joined M.Tech first year last month.

Her classmates found her hanging from the ceiling fan. They alerted the hostel authorities and they in turn informed Sangareddy rural police. Her body was shifted for autopsy.

Police have reportedly found a suicide letter from her room in which she wrote that no one was responsible for her suicide. She wrote that she was taking the extreme step due to mental stress.

IIT Hyderabad is located at Kandi in Sangareddy district near Hyderabad.

This is the second suicide by a IIT Hyderabad student in less than a month.

D. Karthik (21) had died by suicide by drowning in sea at Visakhapatnam as he was depressed over his backlogs.

A student of B. Tech (Mechanical) second year, he had left the campus on July 17. His body was recovered on Visakhapatnam beach on July 25.

The student, who hailed from Miryalguda in Nalgonda district, was upset over being unable to clear the backlogs in examinations.

Four students of IIT Hyderabad have died by suicide in a year. In September last year, Megha Kapur (22), a native of Rajasthan, had jumped to death from a lodge in Sangareddy town, near IIT Hyderabad campus

She had completed B. Tech from IIT-H three months ago and was staying in a lodge.

In August,G. Rahul, a native of Nandyal in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh and a second-year M. Tech student, hanged himselfin his hostel room.
Washington, Aug 8 : Acting US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland met Niger's coup leaders to push for a solution to the current political crisis in the West African nation.

Addressing a teleconference on Tuesday, Nuland said that she met the self-proclaimed chief of defence of the July 26 coup Moussa Salaou Barmou in the capital city of Niamey along with three of the colonels supporting him for more than two hours for "extremely frank and at times quite difficult" conversations, Xinhua news agency reported.

Nuland's visit came as an ultimatum for the junta to release and re-empower the now deposed and detained President Mohamed Bazoum expired on Sunday.

Following a crisis meeting held on August 4, military chiefs of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) regional trading bloc which comprises 15 West African countries, including Nigeria, Senegal, Togo and Ghana, announced that they had drawn up a detailed plan for the possible use of force if Bazoum was not reinstated by 11 p.m. on August 6.

In response to the bloc's warning, a junta spokesman said that Niger's armed forces were ready to defend the country.

The junta also indefinitely shut the country's airspace, with the leaders showing no sign of willingness to cede power.

Nuland is the highest level US official to meet the coup leaders in person.

Her trip to Niamey was made at the request of Secretary of State Antony Blinken, CNN reported.

Nuland told reporters on Monday that the US "kept open the door to continue talking" and urged Barmou and his allies "to hear our offer to try to work with them to solve this diplomatically and return to constitutional order."

"I hope they will keep the door open to diplomacy. We made that proposal. Their ideas do not comport with the Constitution. And that would be difficult in terms of our relationship if that's the path they take, but we gave them a number of options to keep talking and we hope they take us up on that," she added.

Nuland also said that she was not granted a meeting with the self-proclaimed new leader of Niger, General Abdourahmane Tiani, "so we were left to have to depend on Mr. Barmou to make clear again what is at stake", reports CNN.

Nuland said she was frank about what is at risk if they do not reverse course and that she explained "very clearly" the US' legal responsibilities if the military takeover is formally declared a coup, telling them that "it is not our desire to go there, but they may push us to that point".

The US is required under law to cut foreign and military assistance to the Niger government if a formal coup designation is made.

On August 4, Blinken had announced the suspension of "certain foreign assistance programs" which he said were conditioned upon "democratic governance and respect for constitutional order".

There are roughly 1,000 US troops currently stationed in Niger.

Barmou had previously worked with US special forces in Niger for many years.

Nuland added that her request to see detained President Bazoum was denied, saying: We've talked to him on the phone, but we haven't seen him. We also asked for some gestures of health and welfare.

"He is in a very difficult situation under virtual house arrest along with his son and his wife. I hope over the coming period, the people responsible for the current situation will come back to those requests."
Pushed out of forests, leopards spread terror from Bengaluru to Belagavi. Image Source: IANS News

Bijnor : , Aug 8 (IANS) The search for two man-eater leopards has hit a snag due to the short battery life of thermal sensor-equipped drones.

According to forest officials, of the total seven drones the forest department owns, the two recently bought ones have thermal sensors that allow them to spot any living object even if it is hiding under the deep covers of a sugarcane field.

The key obstacle that the two unmanned aerial vehicles constantly face is their low battery life.

Sub-divisional officer Gyan Singh, an official deployed to locate the leopards, explained that their batteries get discharged within 20-25 minutes of usage.

"Five-ten minutes go in the take-off and landing of the drones. That gives us about 15 minutes to operate the drones," Singh said.

"While they manage to find their precise location, the drones cannot keep up with the animals due to their short battery-life and the operator has to fly them back," added Singh.

He said orders for batteries with better backup power have been placed.

The search teams, meanwhile, spotted the two 'man-eater' leopards in Rehar area of the district on Monday.

There, the animals hunted a goat placed as bait. A day after issuing kill orders for the two leopards, which have reportedly killed a dozen people and injured 50 others over the last seven months, the forest officials reiterated that their priority was to neutralise the animals and elimination was only a last resort.

Senior forest officials from Lucknow and other districts are camping in Bijnor to monitor the search operation.
United Nations, Aug 7 : The Unicef has raised an alarm over the impact of current global heat waves on children, saying that South Asia has the highest percentage of kids exposed to extreme high temperatures.

The frequency and severity of heat waves are expected to increase in the future with climate change, the UN agency said in a report on Monday.

South Asia has the highest percentage of children exposed to extreme high temperatures, and 76 per cent of children under 18 in this region -- 460 million -- experience 83 or more days in a year where the temperature exceeds 35 degrees Celsius.

This means that 3 in 4 children in South Asia are already exposed to extreme high temperature compared to only 1 in 3 children (32 per cent) globally, Unicef said.

In addition, the data also showed that 28 per cent of children across South Asia are exposed to 4.5 or more heatwaves per year, compared to 24 per cent globally.

July was the hottest ever month recorded globally, raising further concerns about a future where children, including those living in South Asia, are expected to face more frequent and severe heat waves, largely due to climate change.

"With the world at global boiling, the data clearly show that the lives and well-being of millions of children across South Asia are increasingly threatened by heat waves and high temperatures. Countries in the region are not the hottest in the world right now but the heat here brings life-threatening risks for millions of vulnerable children," said Sanjay Wijesekera, Unicef Regional Director for South Asia.

"We are particularly concerned about babies, toddlers, malnourished children and pregnant women as they are most vulnerable to heat strokes and other serious effects."

According to Unicef's 2021 Children's Climate Risk Index, children in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, and Pakistan are at "extremely high risk" of the impacts of climate change.

Monday's report said that even in the rainy season, the heat can exacerbate the situation for children.

"Since children cannot adapt quickly to temperature changes, they are not able to remove excess heat from their bodies. This can cause symptoms and illnesses such as higher body temperature, rapid heartbeat, cramps, severe headache, confusion, organ failure, dehydration, fainting and coma, in young children; poor mental development in infants; and developmental setbacks such as neurological dysfunction, and cardiovascular diseases.

"Early contractions, hypertension, seizures, high blood pressure, preterm births and stillbirths are risks for pregnant women, who are particularly susceptible to heat," Unicef added.
Rome, Aug 8 : Four people were injured as more than 50 wildfires continued to rage on the Italian island of Sardinia, forcing hundreds of residents and tourists to evacuate, local media reported.

The fires have been spreading since Sunday, due to hot, dry, and windy conditions, reports Xinhua news agency.

Teams of firefighters, some using water-carrying aircraft, are currently trying to bring the wildfires under control.

"Despite a large deployment of firefighters the situation is truly dramatic," Giorgio Fresu, town councilor for Posada, one of the towns closest to the fires, said on Monday night.

"The wind is blowing so forcefully that it is not a fair fight."

At least four people have been seriously injured, including a 78-year-old retired woman who was unable to leave her house as the fires approached.

The woman suffered burns on her arms and legs, Italian ANSA news agency reported.

As of late Monday, at least 600 people have been evacuated, including dozens of tourists on vacation in the northern and eastern parts of the island.

In the south, the mayor of the regional capital of Cagliari has ordered the closure of parks and cemeteries.

In total, more than 750 hectares of land have been severely burned, according to media reports.

Local officials and media have speculated that arson could be the cause of the fires in Sardinia, although the fire brigade has said there is no concrete proof.

Sardinia's governor Christian Solinas told local media that the possibility of arson cannot be ruled out, and has called for an investigation into the fires.

Solinas also asked for financial and logistical help from the national government to deal with the fires, adding that he has been in contact with mayors and local officials in the most-affected areas.

Sardinia's airports remain open, although ground transport across the island has been crippled.

Officials in Sardinia have warned of health risks for those not forced to evacuate, advising residents and visitors to limit exposure to smoke from the fires.

Those with chronic respiratory issues are at greatest risk.

However, according to weather forecasts, the wind that has helped the fires spread so quickly is set to progressively slow in the coming days.
Kanpur : , Aug 8 (IANS) The Uttar Pradesh government will launch a Triple Drug Therapy (TDA) from August 10 to August 28 to prevent and counter filariasis.

Filariasis is the second largest cause of long-term disability in the world. Avoiding mosquitoes and taking medicine is the only way to avoid it.

To make this campaign successful, it is necessary that every eligible beneficiary must take the medicine.

Chief medical officer (CMO) Dr Alok Ranjan has specifically appealed to the patients to take medicine only in front of the ASHA workers.

Nodal officer of vector borne disease control programme RP Mishra said that at present there are 3,551 filariasis patients in the district. Out of them, 660 suffer from hydrocele while the remaining 2,891 are lymphoedema patients.

He said 555 people suffering from hydrocele have been operated successfully and the rest are to be operated. Mishra said that in TDA 2023, about 46.31 lakh population of the district will be given anti-filarial medicine by the teams at booths and door-to-door.

The medicine should not be administered to children below two years of age, pregnant women and very seriously ill persons.

To achieve the 100 per cent target, 616 supervisors will be touring in the area, he said.

Nityanand Thakur, zonal coordinator, WHO said the disease is also known as Elephant's foot and its complete cure is not possible and can be controlled by cleaning and exercising the part affected by the disease. In such a situation, if antimalarial drugs are used continuously once in a year for three years during the TDA campaign, this serious disease can be avoided.

District malaria officer A.K. Singh said that anti-filarial drugs are completely safe. Although they do not have any adverse effect, yet if someone has symptoms like vomiting, dizziness, itching or nausea after taking the medicine, it is a sign that the parasite of filariasis is present in that person's body.
New Delhi, Aug 8 : Delhi Revenue Minister Atishi will be entrusted with the additional responsibility of overseeing both the Services and Vigilance departments, and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has forwarded a proposal to Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxsena in this regard.

This decision comes on the heels of the Delhi Services Bill securing Parliament's approval after the Rajya Sabha passed the measure which gives the Centre control over the bureaucracy in the national capital.

Previously under the purview of Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, these key departments have now been handed over to Atishi, reflecting a strategic realignment of administrative roles.

This move is anticipated to streamline governance and enhance efficiency within the state administration, as Atishi assumes her new dual role at the helm of these vital departments. As of now, the AAP has not officially announced anything in this matter.
New Delhi, Aug 8 : India's fabric care market is projected to grow from Rs 521 billion in 2022 to Rs 639 billion in 2025, with liquid detergents expected to dominate this market and lead in new product launches, according to Mintel's consumer research report.

Mintel pegs the India laundry care market to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of over 7 per cent, outperforming the growth forecasted for the global laundry care market at 4.28 per cent between 2022 and 2027.

According to a report by Technavio, the size of the global laundry care market will increase to $23.85 billion by 2027.

In India, the powder detergents have been traditionally the most preferred ones for fabric care. However, since 2019, liquid format launches have begun to overtake the powder format, and this trend will continue to dominate India's fabric care category in the near future, as per Mintel.

"The rising need for maintaining a healthy lifestyle has given a push to better quality detergents. This has led to consumers veering towards laundry care fragrances that impact our mood and preferences. It's not just about cleaning clothes anymore. It's also about having fresh-smelling laundry that provides an uplifting experience and helps consumers build an emotional connection with the brand that delivers them," says Manoj Arora, Managing Director of Sacheerome, a manufacturer and supplier of fragrances and flavours.

Ever since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, consumers have been more vigilant about the products they use, the sanitizers they buy and of course, way too particular about their houses and clothes smelling good, Mintel has noted in its consumer research of 3,000 plus respondents across India.

India has largely been a consumer of handwashing where powder detergents is the largest category in the market. However, with improved cleaning practices and with consumers seeking more comfort in household work, a dynamic change in the fabric wash and care industry is taking place, as per Mintel, which has resulted in increased penetration of washing machines in the country.

According to Gunjan Taneja, Founder and Head of Marketing at UClean, a Laundry and dry-cleaning chain, fragrance is becoming an important criteria among consumers in their laundry care decisions. "People are becoming aware of the impact of their choices in the environment and thatas becoming evident in their preference for high-quality liquid detergents. People want eco-friendly and sustainable laundry care today, even if that comes at a premium."

As per a recent KPMG study, consumers are looking for more sustainable cleaning solutions and 76 per cent of them make their purchasing decisions based on a company's environmental efforts.

While both powders and liquids are used in washing machines, liquid detergents are fast becoming a high-growth market -- dominating the fabric care category primarily in tier-1 locations, including metro cities, across the country, as per Mintel.

For Hindustan Unilever (HUL), 19 of its brands entered the Rs1,000-crore turnover club recently. Surf Excel became the first home and personal care brand in India to clock over $1 billion annual sales in FY23. HUL's home care liquids portfolio that includes fabric conditioners, liquid detergents and dishwashers, exceeded Rs 3,000 crore in annual turnover.

Homegrown D2C brands such as Hapiso and Volt are innovating in this space with products that stand out from the plethora of traditional formats, such as laundry pods. "Prime purchasers (i.e. Indian mothers) of the fabric care category believe powder detergents have superlative featuresa There is an opportunity to use fabric maintenance claims to premiumise consumers who are investing in premium clothing, and innovation with new formats can appeal to more evolved consumers," said Tanya Rajani, Senior Analyst, Beauty and Personal Care, of Mintel India, on the trends dominating the fabric care market.
Los Angeles, Aug 8 : Hollywood actress Sandra Bullock's partner Bryan Randall has died at 57 after a three-year battle with ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

Randall's family announced the news of the model-turned-photographer's death in a statement.

"It is with great sadness that we share that on Bryan Randall passed away peacefully after a three-year battle with ALS," his family said.

"Bryan chose early to keep his journey with ALS private and those of us who cared for him did our best to honour his request."

"We are immensely grateful to the tireless doctors who navigated the landscape of this illness with us and to the astounding nurses who became our roommates, often sacrificing their own families to be with ours," they said.

The family further asked for "privacy to grieve and to come to terms with the impossibility of saying goodbye to Bryan", 'The Hollywood Reporter' stated.

The 'Miss Congeniality' star and Randall began dating in August 2015 after Bullock hired him to photograph her son Louis' birthday that year. (Bullock adopted son Louis in 2010 and daughter Laila in 2015.)

However, it wasn't until October of that year that the pair made their red carpet debut at the premiere of Bullock's film 'Our Brand Is Crisis'.

Though Bullock lived her life in the public eye as one of Hollywood's most successful movie stars for decades, she is known to be private about her personal life. She did, however, open up a bit about her relationship with Randall during a 2021 appearance on Facebook Watch's Red Table Talk opposite Jada Pinkett Smith.

"I found the love of my life. We share two beautiful children - three children, (Randall's) older daughter. It's the best thing ever," Bullock said at the time. "I don't wanna say do it like I do it, but I don't need a paper to be a devoted partner and devoted mother. I don't need to be told to be ever present in the hardest of times. I don't need to be told to weather a storm with a good man."

"He's the example that I would want my children to have. I have a partner who's very Christian and there are two different ways of looking at things. I don't always agree with him, and he doesn't always agree with me. But he is an example even when I don't agree with him", she added.

Bryan shared adult daughter Skylar Staten Randall with his previous partner.

Randall, from Portland, Oregon, worked as a fashion model for luxury brands like Hugo Boss and Saint Laurent before a career transition led him to become a photographer.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as ALS and Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive neurological illness that is always fatal. Randall's family is suggesting donations be made to the ALS Association and Massachusetts General Hospital.
Kochi, Aug 8 : A Kerala court has sentenced a man to jail for harassing a lady police officer by calling her 300 times in a 48-hour period.

The Additional Judicial Magistrate court in Ernakulam sentenced Jose to three years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 10,000 for the offence of sexual harassment, as well as a sentence to one year of simple imprisonment for causing nuisance with a Rs 5,000 as fine.

The court ruled that both jail sentences will run concurrently.

Jose had made these calls from his personal mobile number to the official landline of a 'Vanitha' (all women) police station.

According to the lady police officer, Jose made these calls from July 10-11, 2019 and whoever picked up the phone had to hear his lewd remarks.

The officials at the station were forced to keep the phone receiver aside in an effort to put an end to the calls.

The court was also told that Jose had a history of creating such "nuisance" in many police stations.

A complaint was registered on July 11, 2019, which led to to Jose's arrest.

"The act of the accused has not only caused discomfort, mental pain and dislike to the prosecutrix and other staff members of the police station but also adversely affected their public duty to attend the phone calls which might be an emergency and may contain informations and grievance from general public which require emergent action," the court said in its order.

However, since there was no physical contact between the accused and the lady police officer, the judge acquitted him of the offence under Section 354A(1)(i) (physical contact and advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures).

"The prosecution has no case that accused ever contacted physically with the prosecutrix and advances any unwelcome or explicit sexual overtures. In these circumstances, I am unable to conclude that offence u/s 354A(1)(i) IPC would stand against the accused. Hence, the accused is found not guilty u/s.354A(1)(i) IPC," the court opined.

--IANS

sg/ksk
Authorities in Kosovo have reportedly revoked the licence of MTS Kosovo, a subsidiary of Telekom Srbija, with seemingly immediate effect.

In a statement, Telekom Srbija  owned by the Serbian state  decried the move by the Business Registration Agency (Agjencise per Regjistrimin e Bizneseve, ARBK) as lacking factual and legal basis.

MTS Kosovo was founded under the EU-brokered Brussels Agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, which requires all of the operators senior officials to use identification documents issued by Pristina authorities. Kosovos complaint appears to be based on a member of MTS Kosovos management allegedly holding a passport issued by the Republic of Serbia.

Local media have reported different reasons for the licence revocation, although Telekom Srbija accused media outlets of propagating inaccurate allegations. MTS Kosovo was placed on a sanction list by the Ministry of Industry Entrepreneurship and Trade (Ministarstvo Industrije, Preduzetnistva i Trgovine, MIPT) for filing registration documents in an unconstitutional fashion  specifically, for listing addresses located within Kosovar territory as being within Serbia.

Telekom Srbija underlined that the decision is unenforceable, and noted that it planned to continue operations while appealing against the decision to the ARBK. The operator also stated that its staff complied with the directive to use locally-issued identification documents.

CommsUpdate reports that MTS is currently under investigation over its failure to inform the relevant authorities that it acquired three companies between 2019 and 2021.
Stalin comes out heavily against EPS and AIADMK. Image Source: IANS News

Chennai, Aug 8 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin on Tuesday hit out at former Chief Minister and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami( EPS) for supporting Union government on the Delhi Service Bill that "truncates the power of a Chief Minister".

He said, "EPS, who was heading a party that has Arignar Anna's (C.N. Annadurai) name in it, sided with the Union government in support of a bill that truncates the power of a Chief Minister."

It was C.N. Annadurai, the towering leader of the Dravidian movement, who "finished" the rule of the Congress in Tamil Nadu leading to Dravidian parties forming the government in the state.

Stalin said that not just the people of Delhi but all the Indians would punish the BJP for passing the bill that would "tear down" the administration.

He also attacked the BJP government at the Centre for not giving attention to Manipur but "sabotaging" Delhi instead.

On Monday, after the bill was passed by Rajya Sabha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said that the bill does not violate the Supreme Court's judgment and aims towards a corruption-free administration in Delhi.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had travelled across the states ruled by opposition parties to gain support against the bill.

--IANS

aal/svn
RPS officer put under APO after pic with Monu Manesar goes viral. Image Source: IANS News

Jaipur, Aug 8 : Rajasthan government has put a RPS officer under Awaiting Posting Orders (APO) reportedly after his picture with accused Monu Manesar, who is currently absconding in murders of Nasir and Junaid in Bharatpur, went vial.

The officer concerned Vipin Sharma was recently appointed as additional DCP.

While the official orders did not quote reasons for the decision, a picture of the officer along with murder accused Monu, is speculated to be the reason.

The picture is believed to be taken before murder of Junaid and Nasir.
New Delhi, Aug 8 : A Parliamentary Committee has recently recommended bringing a legislation to make it mandatory for SC and HC judges to declare their property returns on an annual basis.

The Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice in its report 'Judicial Processes And Their Reforms' said that as a general practice, all constitutional functionaries and government servants must file annual returns of their assets and liabilities.

"The Supreme Court has gone to the extent of holding that the public has a right to know the assets of those standing for elections as MPs or MLAs. When so, it belies logic that judges don't need to disclose their assets and liabilities. Anybody holding public office and drawing a salary from the exchequer should mandatorily furnish annual returns of their property," said the Standing Committee, chaired by BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Kumar Modi.

The Union government told the parliamentary panel that there is a need to institutionalise the mechanism for regular filing of assets and uploading them in the public domain.

The "Restatement of Values of Judicial Life" adopted by the Full Court of the Supreme Court in 1997 made it mandatory for every judge of the Supreme Court and the High Courts to make a declaration of his or her assets and liabilities at the time of appointment and thereafter in the beginning of every year.

The full bench of the Supreme Court in 2009 resolved to put the declaration of assets on the Supreme Court's website, purely on a voluntary basis.

However, at present, the website of the Supreme Court contains data relating to declaration of assets with respect to only 55 of former Chief Justices of India and judges, which was last updated in March 2018.

Similarly, only five High Courts have data on their website related to the declaration of assets by a few judges of concerned High Courts.

"The Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill" enabling declaration of assets and liabilities of judges and laying down judicial standards to be followed by judges was lapsed on dissolution of 15th Lok Sabha.

The Committee recommended the Union government to bring about appropriate legislation to make it mandatory for judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts to furnish their property returns on an annual basis to the appropriate authority.

It said that declaration of assets by the judges of the higher judiciary will only bring more trust and credibility into the system.
Mumbai, August 8 : Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose' nephew Ardhendu Bose passed away in Mumbai on Monday due to a heart attack.

His wife, Kermeen Bose shared the news of his demise with the media.

Remembering Ardhendu, Kermeen said that he lived a proud man with his chest always high, and was very proud of his legendary uncle, his heroic deeds and sacrifice until the end.

A model and actor by profession, Ardhendu Bose was based out in 1970s Bombay where he started his career and starred in various Bollywood movies such as 'Cobraa, aMera Yaar Mera Dushmana, aVishkanyaa and Bengali films such as aKalkuta.

He began a strong successful career as a Bombay Dyeing model in the 1970s for many years and from then on made his way towards films.

Ardhenduas own life was not without hiccups, particularly back from his childhood in the 1960s to the 1980s as he, his father and mother all suspected that the government at the time was tapping their phones and keeping very high surveillance on them, he revealed back in 2015.

Apart from being an ardent nationalist, Ardhendu was very protective of his uncleas legacy and had long asked for Netaji along with the many soldiers of the Indian National Army to be given the recognition they deserved.

He was also highly critical of the Congress government, particularly in regards to figures such as Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru who he had said were given unfair credit for achieving Indiaas independence, always saying that it was the bravery of the Azad Hind Fauj that got India its independence.

Many others too have backed up this stance as the former English Prime Minister Clement Atlee had himself said so back in 1951.

Apart from his wife Kermeen, Ardhendu is survived by his son, Nedal Bose.

Ardhendu was also critical of Subhas Chandra Bosea daughter Anita Bose Pfaff and slammed for critiquing her fatheras stance on the use of violence.
Mumbai, Aug 8 : Malayalam star Fahadh Faasil is celebrating his birthday on Tuesday, and on the occasion, the makers of his upcoming highly anticipated film 'Pushpa: The Rule' dropped his look from the film, sending his fans in frenzy.

In the first part of the film, 'Pushpa: The Rise', which was released in December 2021 and became a massive blockbuster, Fahadh essayed the role of Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat, a cop who is set to have a major showdown with the titular character of Pushpa - Pushparaj in the second part of the film.

The poster features the actor in a bald look smoking a cigarette with swag as he dons a leather jacket rounded up with a pair of sunglasses and ear piercing. The poster has a monotone colour fill of blood red shade.

The makers further jotted down the caption while wishing Fahadh Faasil, "Team #Pushpa2TheRule wishes the Massively talented #FahadhFaasil a very Happy BirthdayBhanwar Singh Shekhawat Sir will be back on the big screens with vengeance (sic)".

Fahadh left an indelible mark on the audience with his performance of the antagonist in 'Pushpa: The Rise', and now with its sequel, the stage is set for an epic clash between Pushpa and Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat.

'Pushpa: The Rise' is known to have taken the box-office by storm during the third wave of the pandemic in India when the theatres were majorly shut across the Indian cities to curb the spread of the contagion.

The film still managed to beat the likes of 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' and the Ranveer Singh-starrer '83' and emerged as a winner on the box-office.

'Pushpa: The Rule' will see Sukumar reprising his role as the director and also stars Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna.

Produced by Mythri Movie Makers and Muttamsetty Media, the film is set for its release on December 22, 2023.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Are the Baloch coming together on a common platform in Europe to highlight Pak atrocities?. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Aug 8: Recently, Canadian Baloch leader and head of Baloch People's Congress (BPC) Dr Naela Quadri Baloch was in Europe recently to highlight the brutalities committed by the Pakistani Army against the common Baloch people. She met with former Dutch MP and activist, Harry Van Bommel and requested him to highlight the Baloch issue in the Netherlands and also in the European Parliament.

Qadri also requested the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva to send a fact-finding mission to Pakistan and appoint a special rapporteur for Balochistan.

Dr Quadri, who met with the Baloch diaspora, claimed that the Baloch People Congress (BPC) has opened seven new chapters in Europe. She also rallied Baloch and Sindhi organisations - Voice of Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP), Baloch Voice Association (BVA), Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSMM) and discussed ways to improve coordination among like-minded organisations regarding the human rights violations in Pakistan.

The presence of the UNHRC in Geneva has led to a surge of Baloch and Sindhi nationalists spreading themselves across Europe to highlight the gross abuse of State power in Pakistan.

The surge in transnational diaspora movements started in the 20th century when imperialism and colonialism were declining and native people were fighting for independence. Countries got independence from colonialisation but also found their people and societies fragmentated.

The British had not only divided India to create Pakistan but to make Pakistan a strategic base in the post-colonial world, they sided with the newly-created nation to invade Balochistan in 1948. As Baloch nationalists continue to fight Pakistani militarily on their soil, their political movements have found breathing space in Western countries where they are actively engaging with the lawmakers to keep them updated on the conflict in Balochistan.

Three major Baloch political organisations operating in Europe a" Free Baloch Movement (FBM), Baloch Republican Party (BRP) and Baloch National Movement (BNM) have found that their political workers are being targeted in Western countries and several journalists have been killed in mysterious ways by the Pakistani deep state.

However, the Baloch organisations continue to hold public rallies as well as engage with European parliamentarians to end human rights violations like enforced disappearances, extra-judicial murders and the existence of Death Squads managed by the Pakistani agencies. Baloch advocacy professionals have also given memorandums to law-makers including 10 Downing Street.

After the collapse of Afghanistan to the Taliban, FBM has become active in bringing Baloch organisations together to safeguard the Baloch community in Afghanistan. In a similar move the BNM has released a common-point agenda for other Baloch groups to join hands to give a push to the Baloch cause.

The Canada-based Qadrias visit to Europe to meet with global influencers in various countries was to not only generate sympathy for the Baloch cause but to also unify the Baloch movement and speak in one voice.

The Baloch community which is insignificant in numbers and influence in Europe constantly jostles to make ends and also compete with the huge and influential Pakistani diaspora. Islamabad has been able to sideline Baloch leaders like Brahmdagh Bugti and Mehran Marri from speaking at the UN.

With efforts among the Baloch diaspora to unite and speak in a common voice in Europe, and with support from European activists, the Baloch issue is on its way to becoming a millstone around Pakistanas neck. With the Baloch inherently following secular politics in Pakistan as well as in Europe, they are in a better position to influence European policies and make Europe look critically at the Pakistani violations in Balochistan.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)

--indianarrative

--IANS
Kolkata, Aug 8 : The judicial custody ordered by a special court of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for four teachers in state run-schools who got jobs paying money, is a step in the right direction, feel experts in the field of the legal system.

While ordering for the judicial custody of the four accused teachers on Monday, the special court judge Arpan Chattopadhyay observed that these teachers approached the people concerned with money and none approached them voluntarily for money.

"Those getting jobs by paying money are the roots of such corrupt activities," Chattopadhyay observed.

Supporting the observations of the special court judge, senior counsel of the Calcutta High Court Kaushik Gupta said that till now only the "demand" side of the corruption was seen in the cash for school job case.

"But now the process has started for addressing the "supply" side of corruption. As far as I know, the Central Bureau of Investigation named these four accused teachers as witnesses and not as accused. The judge of the special court of PMLA has rightly pointed out that these accused teachers are equally guilty for paying cash like those who received cash for jobs. This is a step in the right direction," Gupta told IANS.

According to retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and the former Additional Director General (ADG) of West Bengal police Nazrul Islam told IANS that in a way, these accused teachers represent both the "demand" and the "supply" sides.

"When they paid the money they represented the "supply" side and when they accepted the job against money they represented the "demand" side. But as you rightly said under the Prevention of Corruption Act in bribery cases, both the recipient and payer are guilty. While the recipient was beneficiary of cash he receives, the payer is beneficiary of the job they receive. There are separate sections under the Prevention of Corruption Act under which both the recipient and payer of the bribe can be punished," Islam told IANS.

Hailing the move the CPI(M) politburo member and the party's state secretary in West Bengal Md Salim said the court order is a step in the right direction since those getting jobs paying cash are blots in the noble profession of teaching.

--IANS

src/svn
Finally, ban on two more vet drugs to halt vulture decline in India. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Aug 8 : The Central government has finally imposed a long-awaited ban on two veterinary painkiller ketoprofen and aceclofenac drugs, considered a commonly used drug for cattle but deadly for vultures, to rapidly halt current population declines in four vulture species that have declined by up to 99.9 per cent.

This decision is being seen as the biggest step since 2006 when the government banned veterinary use of diclofenac that almost completely wiped out vulture populations across Asia since the 1990s.

Both of the newly-banned drugs are frequently used by vets to treat cattle across the region in place of the earlier banned diclofenac, vulture experts told IANS.

The Drugs Technical Advisory Board of India has recommended nationwide ban on manufacture, sale, and distribution of two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as they are as toxic as the banned diclofenac.

Hailing the decision, the SAVE (Saving Asia's Vultures from Extinction) Programme, a consortium of regional and international organisations, on Tuesday welcomed the prompt action to notification by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to provide legal reinforcement of national bans of the two veterinary drugs.

The gazette notification comes in the wake of recommendations last month.

"This is a highly significant step for vulture conservation, although further steps are still needed," SAVE said in a statement.

The Union Health Ministry and the Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation followed by a ruling of the Delhi High Court in response to a vulture conservation petition submitted by advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal.

This decision follows many years of safety testing and peer-reviewed publication of research results by the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and other SAVE Partners.

Chris Bowden, SAVE Programme Manager and Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) expert, told IANS: "The latest bans are a huge step in the right direction for the future of vultures in India, and the Indian government is showing other countries what is needed for vulture conservation.

"Once nimesulide is also banned and indeed a future testing protocol before drug licensing, then we really will celebrate knowing the future of these majestic environmental cleaners is far more secure."

SAVE chair Jemima Parry-Jones said: "This shows how long-term efforts are now being heeded, and the formal notification and legislation coming swiftly after the Advisory Board recommendation is a further credit to the Indian government in leading the way for the region."

Trivani Dutt, Director, ICAR-IVRI, also welcomed the decision banning NSAIDs toxic to vultures to save these most threatened species.

Another veterinary drug, nimesulide, has also been shown to be toxic to vultures. Evidence published by SAVE partners and by the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON) has shown that vultures treated with the drug are killed and also that deaths of wild vultures in India are linked to the use of this approved drug.

SAVE hopes that the Drugs Technical Advisory Board of India will soon recommend that veterinary use of this drug should also be banned.

Peer-reviewed publications demonstrated the toxicity of ketoprofen to vultures back in 2010, leading to immediate calls for bans on its veterinary use, but despite this there had been no such bans on a national scale until 2021 when a decisive step was taken by the government of Bangladesh.

Calls for banning aceclofenac in India formally began back in 2014, as recent IVRI publications have corroborated earlier evidence that this drug metabolises almost immediately into toxic diclofenac once it is inside cattle and water buffalo and is therefore equally lethal to vultures.

These decisions are therefore long-awaited but very welcome, being among the crucial actions towards saving Asia's vulture populations from further declines.

Saying this ban is probably the most significant step towards vulture conservation since the diclofenac ban of 2006, Abhishek Ghoshal from the Vulture Programme of BNHS said: "It's a result of long-term efforts from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and including state governments, especially Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Assam and alongside with NGOs. Timely order notifications and on the ground implementation will now be pivotal."

World acclaimed vulture expert Vibhu Prakash, who recently retired from the BNHS, said: "These bans are long awaited and can't happen soon enough. Wild populations of four critically endangered vulture species have declined by up to 99.9 per cent and are not recovering in India due to this ongoing threat from cattle drugs which urgently need such action."

Despite the great news surrounding the ban on aceclofenac and ketoprofen, some serious problems remain with another NSAID nimesulide not included in this decision.

The evidence that nimesulide is toxic to vultures is as strong as that for the other drugs, but despite this, veterinary use of nimesulide remains legal. Nimesulide use should also be banned, and even more importantly, there are no regulatory procedures in place to prevent new-to-market veterinary drugs being approved for veterinary use tomorrow.

This leaves vulture populations at risk of being wiped out within a few years and all progress made so far would be wasted.

Until this regulatory problem is fully resolved, the self-sustaining captive populations of the three critically endangered vulture species, which have been maintained in Vulture Conservation Breeding Centres by the BNHS for 20 years, remain of absolutely vital importance.

The crash in the population of vultures in India from an estimated four crore in the early 1980s to less than a lakh by 2007 is unprecedented in the animal world.

In 2004, the cause of their crash was established as diclofenac, a veterinary drug.

When the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are administered to cattle, and if the cow or buffalo dies within a few days and is consumed by vultures, it causes gout, kidney failure and death in the following days.

To save vultures from certain extinction, the government of India's Action Plan for Vulture Conservation in India, 2020-2025, which was presented to the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) secretariat in 2020, advocates the prevention of misuse of NSAIDs by ensuring their sale only on prescription.

The vulture conservation plan with an outlay of Rs 207.50 crore, part of the Gandhinagar Declaration adopted by CMS Parties in 2020, also strongly recommended that veterinary treatment should be given only by qualified veterinarians which would prevent overuse of NSAIDs in treating livestock as toxicity of most of the drugs is dose dependent.

Also, the scientific manner of disposal of livestock carcasses will ensure that the vultures do not get exposed to the carcasses of animals that died during treatment.

This should be done as soon as possible, says the five-year plan.

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at gulatiians@gmail.com)
Man stabbed to death in Delhi for refusing to share beedi. Image Source: IANS News

Hyderabad, Aug 8 : Husband of a councilor belonging to Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) was murdered in broad daylight in Korutla town of Telangana's Jagtial on Tuesday.

Two unidentified persons attacked P. Lakshmirajam (48) with knives when he was standing in front of a roadside hotel. He was critically injured and was shifted to a hospital in Karimnagar, where he succumbed while undergoing treatment.

According to police, Lakshmirajam was having tea at a hotel in the morning when two men armed with knives attacked him. The attack sent panic in the area. The assailants escaped on a two-wheeler.

A profusely bleeding Lakshmirajam was shifted to a hospital in Karimnagar, where he succumbed.

Police registered a case and launched a hunt for the killers. A police officer said they were investigating the motive behind the murder.
Chennai: Fishermen push back a boat at a Chennai beach on the seventh day of the fourth phase of the nationwide lockdown imposed to mitigate the spread of cornavirus, on May 24, 2020. . Image Source: IANS News

Chennai, Aug 8 : Despite high-level meetings and discussions, at least 94 fishermen from Tamil Nadu were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy in the past one year for crossing the International Marine Boundary Line (IMBL), while 14 mechanised boats were also seized.

The latest incident occurred on Sunday when the island nation's navy arrested 10 fishermen from Akkaraipatti village in Nagapattinam who had gone to the waters on August 3.

Their mechanised boat was also seized.

Speaking on the unabated arrests, R. Selvakumar, a fishermen's leader from Nagapattinam, told IANS: "We have been knocking at the doors of the Chief Minister, other ministers, opposition and Union government to bring out a permanent solution to this issue. Nineteen of our men are in Sri Lankan Navy's custody in two separate incidents and we cannot leave this as a soft pedaling issue anymore. We want the government of India to act immediately and to bring about a permanent solution."

He said that fishermen from all the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu would conduct massive protest marches in Nagapattinam soon.

Thomas Antony, another fisherman from Ramanathapuram, told IANS: "We have been hounded and harassed by the Sri Lankan Navy and its high time a strong warning is given from the government of India to the Sri Lankans. They have seized our boats and these costly boats are rusting in their custody. We are now totally lost as the loans taken for these boats remain unpaid and we are already in deep distress given the fear to venture into seas following intimdation by the Sri Lankans."

He said that the fishermen across all the coastal towns of Tamil Nadu are in unison against the high handedness of the Sri Lankan Navy.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has written a letter to External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar urging him to immediately intervene in the release of the 10 fishermen from Nagapattinam.

Sources in the fishermen groups of Tamil Nadu are gearing up for a massive agitation against this.

--IANS

aal/ksk
A rock fall on Sunday in the Congo Canyon, one of the largest submarine canyons in the world, has caused breaks in WACS and the South Atlantic 3 (SAT3) undersea cables.

The Congo Canyon is incised into the South Atlantic continental shelf and slope of western equatorial Africa, but the effect of the WACS break in particular is likely to be felt far away in South Africa; WACS links the South of Africa and Europe, spanning the west coast of Africa and terminating in the United Kingdom.

The 16,000-kilometre four fibre pair system has 15 terminal stations and is owned by a consortium of 18 international telecom carriers. The older SAT-3 cable system has a total capacity of 120Gbps and was ready for service in 2001.

According to news site MyBroadband it may take a month or more for a cable repair ship to reach the site of a break in WACS, though Telkoms wholesale and networks division, Openserve, has suggested the impact on its operations would be minimal.

Meanwhile theres better cable news for Angola, where the 2Africa subsea cable landed in the capital Luanda early last week. The landing is the first major part of the West African side of the 2Africa cable, which begins at MTNs Yzerfontein landing station in South Africa.

Meta, along with Telecom Egypt, China Mobile International, MTN GlobalConnect, Orange, STC, Vodafone, and the West Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC) announced the 2Africa cable in 2020. Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN) is to manufacture and deploy the 45,000-kilometre 16-fibre pair, 180Tbps cable.

2Africa will connect 33 countries with 46 landing points across Africa, Europe, and Asia when it is complete in 2024.
Bengaluru, Aug 8 : The Dalit community in Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka have boycotted two families from their own community for four years over property row.

The members of boycotted families, including children and women, are not allowed to eat in eateries and shops in the Dalit colony. The family members are also not invited or allowed to participate in the community religious programmes.

The children of these families are also not allowed to play with other children of the colony.

The boycott orders were given by the Dalit community elder Yajaman Channanjaiah, a retired teacher and Mahadevaiah, who is serving in City Municipal Corporation in the Water Supply Division. The boycott orders were given during a panchayat.

The two families, from Ramasamudra Ward, said that they are going through mental torture and humiliation and no one is giving them justice. They have urged the District Commissioner to intervene and revoke the ban on their families.

The victims have also lodged a police complaint, submitted memorandums to Tehsildar, Social Welfare Department and District Commissioner.

--IANS

mka/dan
New Delhi, Aug 8 : Versatile actor Ayushmann Khurrana, who is all geared up for the release of 'Dream Girl 2', called it a 'laugh riot', saying there was never a dull moment on the set of the movie.

It was a challenging role for Ayushmann considering he constantly had to switch between the two roles of Karam and Pooja, while all along ensuring the punches and comic timing hit the right note.

The movie boasts an ensemble cast including -- Ananya Panday, Paresh Rawal, Annu Kapoor, Rajpal Yadav, Vijay Raaz, Asrani, Abhishek Banerjee, Manjot Singh and Seema Pahwa.

Talking about the same, Ayushmann said: "Our director, Raaj Shandilya, who is also one of the most talented directors of comedy, has managed to get this eclectic bunch of fantastic actors under one roof, and kudos to him for this casting coup."

"Our producer Ekta Kapoor had the vision that she wanted to create a disruptive comedy like no other and I couldn't be happier to have creatively collaborated with one of the best minds in the business in 'Dream Girl' and 'Dream Girl 2'. Together, I think we have created a comedy like no other," he said.

The 'Dream Girl' franchise film is very different from Ayushmann's staple genre of films. He called the entire shoot schedule a joy ride.

Ayushmann said: "There was never a dull moment on set. It was a laugh riot, and I think this will get translated on screen when people will watch 'Dream Girl 2' in theatres. I want people to laugh their hearts out when they watch our film."

The 38-year-old actor said he is fortunate to have the opportunity to work with the best comic geniuses of the country like Paresh Rawal, Asrani, Annu Kapoor, Rajpal Yadav, Vijay Raaz, Seema Pahwa, Abhishek Banerjee and Manjot Singh in 'Dream Girl 2'.

"To me, we have the best exponents of the comedy genre in our film, the best of the best talents who have excelled in humour in cinema. This is one of the biggest USP's of 'Dream Girl 2' because it promises a super entertaining film to the audiences," he added.

The comedy drama will be released on August 25.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 8 : Kerala on Tuesday became the first state in the country when the Assembly passed a resolution against the Uniform Civil Code (UCC).

The Kerala Legislative Assembly unanimously demanded that the central government refrain from taking any steps on issues affecting the entire populace of the country

The resolution was moved by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and it was supported by the Congress-led opposition and it points out that the central government's unilateral and hasty move to impose a uniform civil code is voiding the secular character of the Constitution.

It further points out that the central government has proceeded with this unilateral move without engaging in an ideological debate or seeking consensus.

"This is causing concern among various sections of the population. The resolution indicates that this concern is shared by the Kerala Legislative Assembly. It underscores that a single civil code is a divisive move that threatens the unity of the people and is detrimental to the nation's cohesion," reads the resolution.

Incidentally, the Kerala Assembly on December 31, 2021 became the first state Assembly to pass a resolution demanding scrapping of the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Mumbai, Aug 8 : In a shocker, a 29-year-old woman was pushed out of a running train by a man after she fought off his attempts to rob and sexually molest her on the Udayan Express here, officials said here on Tuesday.

The accused was arrested later.

The incident occurred on Sunday night on the Bengaluru-CSMT Mumbai train around 8.30 p.m. as it was moving out of Dadar station before terminating at CSMT. Just then, a man barged into the unreserved ladies' compartment with very few passengers, targeted the woman, molested and attempted to snatch her bag containing cash and valuables.

As she screamed and fought off his attempts, the accused pushed her out of the train and fled from there.

On Monday, the victim approached the Government Railway Police to lodge a complaint and the accused was nabbed within a short time, said an official. The GRP scanned through CCTV footage and based on statements of eyewitnesses, managed to identify and track the accused.

A team was deployed which launched a manhunt and managed to nab him from near the CSMT station. He has been booked for molestation, attempt to murder, causing hurt, robbery and other charges and further investigations are on.
New Delhi, Aug 8 : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will be on two-day visit to his parliamentary constituency of Kerala's Wayanad on August 12 and 13, first time after his membership was reinstated by the Lok Sabha secretariat.

In a tweet, Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal said: "On 12-13 August, Rahul Gandhiji will be in his constituency Wayanad. The people of Wayanad are elated that democracy has won, their voice has returned to Parliament. Rahul ji is not just an MP but a member of their family."

His remarks came a day after the membership of the former Congress president was reinstated by the Lok Sabha secretariat, three days after the Supreme Court stayed his conviction in the 'Modi surname' remarks defamation case.

He had visited his parliamentary constituency alomng with his sister and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on April 11, first time after he was disqualified as the MP.

The Congress leader had then participated in a road show, which was joined by thousands of people from his constituency.

On Monday, Rahul Gandhi had received a grand welcome from several Opposition MPs when he entered Parliament after his parliamentary membership was restored.

The Gandhi scion offered his prayers in front of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi and entered into the Parliament building, where he also paid tribute to former Tamil Nadu Chief MInister M Karunannidhi in the office of the DMK.
Palestinian protesters throw stones at Israeli soldiers during clashes in Hebron. Image Source: IANS News

Jerusalem, Aug 8 : The Israel Army on Tuesday demolished the home of a Palestinian gunman who killed two Israeli brothers in the West Bank in February.

Abd el-Fatah Kharousha, 49, carried out a drive-by shooting attack near the Palestinian town of Hawara on February 26, killing Hallel Yaniv, 21, and Yagel Yaniv, 19, from the Israeli settlement of Har Bracha, reports Xinhua news agency.

Earlier in the day, the military released a video showing troops carrying out a controlled explosion of the suspected gunman's apartment located on the top floor of a three-storey building in the densely populated refugee camp of Askar, east of Nablus city.

The military reported that clashes erupted during the operation, with local Palestinians throwing stones and explosives at the troops.

The official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that Israeli soldiers fired live bullets and rubber-coated bullets, wounding at least six people.

Another 185 people were treated by the Red Crescent for suffocation from gas.

Kharousha was killed by Israeli soldiers during an Israeli operation in the Jenin refugee camp on March 7.

His six family members were living in the apartment.

Israel seized the West Bank, along with East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, in the 1967 Middle East war and has maintained control over these territories despite international criticism.

The Palestinians wish to establish their future state on these territories.
Hong Kong, Aug 8 : The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) here has warned investors to be wary of the risks of trading virtual assets on unregulated virtual asset trading platforms (VATP), saying some cryptocurrency firms are making fake claims about their compliance with the commission.

The SFC also noticed that some unlicensed virtual asset platforms continue to launch new services and products under their existing entities that may not comply with the applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

"The SFC has observed some unlicensed virtual asset trading platforms engaging in improper practices. This statement warns them of the potential legal and regulatory consequences of these improper practices and reminds investors to be wary of the risks of trading virtual assets on unregulated VATPs," said SFC.

Some unlicensed crypto platforms claim to have submitted license applications to the SFC when in fact they have not done so.

"These untrue and misleading claims give the public a false sense of assurance that the VATP is in compliance with the SFC's regulatory requirements," said the regulatory body.

It came to the attention of the SFC that, anticipating the transitional arrangements, some unlicensed VATPs set up new entities to provide virtual asset services in Hong Kong. They also publicly announced their intention to apply for licenses for these new entities.

"However, the services and products offered by some of these new entities may not be in compliance with the legal and regulatory requirements under the new regime," said the commission.

For example, they may launch certain virtual assets for trading by retail clients, trading services in virtual asset derivatives, or arrangements involving virtual assets such as virtual asset "deposits", "savings" or "earnings" which are not allowed under the new regime.

The SFC warned investors to be wary of the risks of trading virtual assets on an unregulated crypto platform.

"Investors may face the possible risk of losing their entire investment held on the VATP if it ceases operation, collapses, is hacked or otherwise suffers from any misappropriation of assets," it noted.
Kochi, Aug 8 : The Kerala High Court pointed out that while 'gender' and 'sex' are often used interchangeably, they are actually two distinct concepts, and the right to choose the gender vests with individuals, not the courts.

"The terms gender and sex are often used interchangeably in casual conversation, but are actually two distinct concepts related to human identity and biology. Sex refers to the biological characteristics of a person, particularly in relation to their reproductive anatomy and chromosomal composition. Gender, on the other hand, is a social and cultural construct that encompasses the roles, behaviors, expectations, and identities associated with being male-female or non-binary," the court observed.

The court made this observation while hearing a petition moved by the parents of a seven-year-old child born with ambiguous genitalia, seeking to conduct genital reconstructive surgery to raise the child as a female.

Although doctors advised genital reconstruction, they refused to actually go ahead with the surgery without orders from a competent court.

In a judgment dealing with the issues faced by intersex persons, the court went through the Supreme Court's landmark judgment in the NALSA case and observed, "If democracy is based on recognition of the individuality and dignity of man, the right of a human being to choose his/her sex or gender identity, which is one of the most basic aspects of self-determination, dignity and freedom, has to be recognised. Conversely, intervention with an individual's right to choose sex or identity will definitely be an intrusion into that person's privacy and an affront to his/her dignity and freedom."

On a reading of the provisions of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, the Court noted, "It is beyond cavil that the right to choose gender is vested with the individual concerned and no one else, not even the court."

In an attempt to understand the trials and tribulations of intersex persons, Justice V.G. Arun also included a few stanzas from the poem 'I'm Fluid' by Sarah Crouse, which he believed has "encapsulated the intersex psyche beautifully".

The court then touched on mythological and historical representations of people with genitalia of more than one sex.

It considered the views of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Children (UNCRC) on the problems faced by intersex infants and the views taken by other countries on genital reconstruction or gender affirming surgeries.

The court found that allowing the petitioners in this case to go ahead with the surgery on their child would impinge upon the child's rights under Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India and conducting the surgery without consent would violate the child's dignity and privacy.

"Granting such permission may also result in severe emotional and psychological issues if, on attaining adolescence, the child develops orientation towards the gender, other than the one to which the child was converted through surgical intervention," the vourt added.

However, the court ordered the constitution of a State Level Multidisciplinary Committee to examine the child and ascertain if there are any life-threatening medical issues. "If such was the case, permission can be granted for the surgery," said the court.

It also directed the state government to issue an order regulating sex selective surgeries on infants and children.
Panaji, Aug 8 : Aam Adami Party MLA Venzy Viegas on Tuesday alleged that statements of eyewitnesses, police and government differ in ' Mercedes' accident case and said that manipulation in investigation should not happen.

"Three persons have lost their lives in this accident. Law should be equal to all. One should not be protected because he/she is wealthy. In this case, statements of eye witnesses, police and government differ," Vigas, told reporters.

However, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday said that police are investigating the case. "The guilty will go behind bars," Sawant said.

On Sunday night, three persons were reported dead and as many critically injured after a speeding Mercedes rammed into three cars and two two-wheelers while heading towards Panaji on the Banastari bridge in Ponda taluka, around 17 km from here.

After the accident, the people present at the site told reporters that a woman was driving the car. However, Police have arrested a male.

As per police, the driver of the car Paresh Sinai Sawardekar (48) has been arrested for allegedly driving under influence of alcohol leading to the death of three persons on Sunday night.

Subsequent to the accident,Superintendent of Police (Traffick) Bossuet Silva told IANS that the transport department in past have issued four challans for over speeding to this vehicle.

"We checked its history, where it is found that this vehicle has been issued with four challans for over speeding," he said.

Sources informed that the occupants of Mercedes were returning from a 'Friendship Day' party.

Police are investigating the case further.
Mumbai, Aug 8 : In a heartwarming recovery, a seriously injured young Indian Sambar -- which underwent surgery -- nearly seven months ago, has fully recovered, and was recently released back into the wild in Thane forests, officials said here on Tuesday.

The wounded, bleeding and shocked female Sambar was found in the Tokawade Forest Range in Thane by the Maharashtra Forest Department rangers in January this year.

Seeing the creature, around nine months old, in a critical condition and in deep pain, the team of Pradeep Roundhal, RFO, rushed it to the veterinary experts of the Wildlife SOS (WSOS) for treatment.

The veterinarian team found that her body was covered with multiple wounds presumably due to dog bites or other predators, plus she had suffered a fracture on the right forelimb possibly due to a collision or a fall.

Seeing the critical condition, the vets decided to go all out to give her a second chance at life in the wild and made untiring efforts, at times almost round-the-clock to treat the Sambar.

First she underwent treatment at the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre in Junnar (Pune), according to Dr. Chandan Sawane, Veterinary Officer, WSOS.

"We first took help of fibreglass plaster but did not get the desired result. So we performed a minor surgery on the Sambar and then kept her under postoperative observation for a few months to assess whether she could walk properly or not," said Dr. Sawane.

After months of extensive treatment, observation and loving care, the Sambar finally made a miraculous recovery, she got back on her feet and was back to freedom in the forests, said a delighted CEO and Co-Founder of WSOS Kartick Satyanarayan.

"This is the third treatment and release in Maharashtra this year Earlier we helped and treated an injured Shikra bird and a Chinkara before sending them back into the wild habitat," said Satyanarayan.

Forest department officers lauded the WSOS efforts, saying it proves how dedicated their veterinary teams are and all were thrilled to see the Sambar regain her health and go back to the wild.

The charitable WSOS was formed in 1998 to rescue and rehabilitate wild animals in distress all over the country, promote conservation, combat poaching, illegal wildlife trading, etc.
Orange Jordan has selected Ericsson to enhance its core network infrastructure by implementing Ericssons cloud-native dual-mode 5G Core and 5G Charging solutions.

The upgrade of Orange Jordans network infrastructure will enhance end-user experiences and enable a transition to a 5G Standalone (SA) network and associated innovative use cases, such as network slicing.

Built on cloud-native, microservices-based technology, Ericssons dual-mode 5G Core will enable Orange Jordan to optimise its total cost of ownership (TCO) efficacy and have a controlled and smooth migration to 5G and 5G SA. It will also enable Orange Jordan to quickly introduce new functionalities, perform maintenance updates, and address new segments with flexibility and agility.

Ericsson Charging will provide Orange Jordan with an efficient, centralised service creation environment for 5G subscribers. The solution uses a single convergent Online Charging System (OCS) based on industry standards and protocol, which will enable swifter service launches as well as enchancing end-user experiences. Ericsson already provides Orange Jordan with charging for 3G and 4G subscribers.

Orange Jordans Chief Wholesale, Information Technology and Networks Officer Waleed Al Doulat said: Working with Ericsson is pivotal in Orange Jordans continuous efforts in evolving the Core network infrastructure to meet the growing connectivity demands in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Ericsson's dual-mode 5G Core and 5G charging solutions will enable us to deliver flexible, efficient, and scalable services to our customers, in line with the ambition to accelerate a more connected and digital society in Jordan.

Kevin Murphy, Vice President, Head of Customer Unit Levant at Ericsson Middle East, and Africa added: Working with Orange Jordan to enhance the network with Ericssons dual-mode 5G Core and 5G Charging solutions will contribute to building a more diversified and digital economy in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. By enabling innovative, best-in-class services for consumers and providing scalable and agile features, Orange Jordan and Ericsson are working together to strengthen the national telecommunications and information technology network of the Kingdom in line with Jordan Vision 2025.
Los Angeles, Aug 8 : Hollywood actress Jennifer Aniston has turned off comments on her Instagram account amid the controversy over Jamie Foxx's anti-Semitic comments.

Jamiecame under fire last week after he posted a message on Instagram that read: "They killed this dude called Jesus...what do you think they'll do to you???!" and used the hashtags #fakefriends and #fakelove.

Many people took this as an anti-Semitic post, as some believe that the Jewish people are to blame for the death of Jesus.

The message appeared to have been liked by an account using the name Jennifer Aniston. There are various accounts on the social media app that use the name 'Jennifer Aniston' in their bio.

The 'Friends' star quickly denounced the post and denied any connection to it in her Instagram Stories.

She clarified her stance earlier, saying: "This really makes me sick. I did not 'like' this post on purpose or by accident. And more importantly, I want to be clear to my friends and anyone hurt by this showing up in their feeds - I do NOT support any form of anti-Semitism. And I truly don't tolerate HATE of any kind. Period."

Jamiedeleted the offending post, and wrote a statement clarifying that he did not have the Jewish community in mind when he uploaded the note.

He clarified that he was "betrayed by a fake friend" and that's who he was calling out with the post, "not anything more".

Celebrities like Winnie Harlow supported Jamie by saying, " 'I'm so confused .. it's so clear what you were saying."

Rapper Waka Flocka spoke out supporting Jamie Foxx saying it was clear that he wasn't trying to be antisemitic.

Other X users agreed, with one writing: "Any black person growing up in the south will tell you that Jamie Foxx wasn't referring to Jewish people."
New Delhi, Aug 8 : The surprise decision by Congress not fielding Rahul Gandhi to initiate the discussion on the no-confidence motion, was taken as part of a well thought strategy, according to which he will speak after some big leaders from the BJP have spoken.

Party sources said that this decision was taken as part of a strategy of not exposing Gandhi to all the attack, which he would have faced, if he had spoken first.

Also as the no-confidence motion is against the government and since the Prime Minister was not in the House today, it was decided to field Rahul Gandhi towards the end of the discussion, which is to continue till August 10.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to reply to the motion on August 10.

"Had he spoken first, then BJP speakers would have reacted to it all through the day. So Rahul Gandhi will speak much later so that he can counter all points," a party source said.

Congress sources further informed that it was a last minute decision not to allow Rahul Gandhi to initiate the discussion.

Earlier in the morning, the Congress had given a letter to Speaker's office, informing that Rahul Gandhi will initiate the discussion.

However as Gaurav Gogoi, who had moved the no-confidence motion, stood up to initiate the discussion in Lok Sabha, Parliamentary Affairs minister Pralhad Joshi sought to know why Gandhi wasn't initiating the discussion, as the Congress had intimated about it to the Speaker.

To this, Gogoi responded that should the remarks made by the Prime Minister in Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's chamber be revealed in the House.

This evoked a sharp retort from home minister Amit Shah, who said the member cannot make unsubstantiated claims about the Prime Minister.

Treasury benches could also be seen protesting over the matter, with opposition members too shouting back.
Patna, Aug 8 : The Bihar government on Tuesday approved various developmental projects during the cabinet meeting which was chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

The cabinet approved the subway connectivity between Bihar and Patna museums. The cabinet has also passed a revised estimate for this purpose in tune of Rs 542 crore. The Patna museum is located on Budh Marg while the Bihar museum is located at Bailey road.

The cabinet has also approved two ITIs one at Garkha in Saran district and the second at Raghopur in Vaishali district. A total of 86 posts have also been approved at these two places while Rs 468 crore has been allocated for the financial year 2023-24.

The cabinet also approved the amendment in the Migrant Labourer Accident Bill 2008. The government will provide Rs 2 lakh cash in case of death taking place during an accident. Earlier, only Rs 1 Lakh was given as compensation to the victims family.

In case of an injured person, he or she will get Rs 50 thousand while a person who gets handicap permanently, will be given Rs 1 Lakh as compensation.

The cabinet has approved amendments related to environment, forest and climate change, industry, urban local body etc.
New Delhi, Aug 8 : Gal Gadot, best known for her role as Wonder Woman in the DCEU, is all set to release her upcoming action-spy-thriller film 'Heart of Stone'.

During the promotions for the movie, where she was sitting with her co-star Alia Bhatt, Gadot in a very surprising move spoke Telugu which really captivated the Indian audiences, particularly Telugu speakers.

The DC star was sitting with Alia as the latter tried to teach her a little bit of Telugu during their Q&A session on 'Wired' answering aGoogleas Most Asked Questions.a One of the subjects which emerged was aDoes Gal Gadot speak Telugu?a

To this, Alia, who is just now riding off the success of her film aRocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahania said that she can speak a little bit of Telugu though she is not fluent in the language.

Gadot asked Alia to teach her some to which she complied and taught her the line "Andariki Namaskaram," which roughly translates to "Hello everyone."

Gadot then proceeded to speak the sentence with confidence with the correct pronunciation, which really took everyone by surprise. The language has become a big phenomenon globally after the massive success of aRRRa in 2022 which brought Tollywood into the international limelight.

While Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam films had some audience outside of India such as Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Korea, China, Thailand, Japan, Bangladesh, the UAE, Russia, South Africa, Nigeria, Tajikistan etc. South Indian cinema only began gaining full on global traction with aBahubalia and then exploded with aRRRa gaining a massive audience in the West and even other countries such as Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Ireland and Israel.

aHeart of Stonea is directed by Tom Harper with Gadot also serving as producer where she will portray a lethal spy named Stone while Alia will serve as one of the primary antagonists Keya Dhawan, a proficient hacker and killer.

The movie will be released on Netflix on August 11, 2023.
Ahmedabad, Aug 8 : Gujarat Sessions Court on Tuesday turned down the pleas of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh for an interim stay on their trial in a criminal defamation case.

The case was filed by Gujarat University, following the AAP leaders alleged "sarcastic" and "derogatory" statements about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's degree.

The court's rejection of the interim stay requests signifies that the trial will proceed as planned on the given date.

The court of sessions judge A.J Kanani dismissed the applications and directed the AAP leaders to appear in court on August 11 in response to the previously issued summons.

The defamation case against Kejriwal and Singh was initiated by Gujarat University Registrar Piyush Patel after their remarks made during a press conference and on Twitter about PM Modi's degree.

The university claimed that these comments were "defamatory" and "damaging" the reputation of the institution.

Although the Sessions Court denied interim relief, the matter has been scheduled for the next hearing. Kejriwal and Singh's legal counsel, Punit Juneja, stated that they intend to seek relief before the Gujarat High Court. The Metropolitan Court had summoned the AAP leaders based on prima facie evidence under section 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

This decision comes after the Gujarat High Court set aside an order of the Chief Information Commissioner related to PM Modi's degree, leading to the filing of the defamation case against Kejriwal and Singh.
New Delhi, Aug 8 : Delhi Lieutenant Governor V. K. Saxena has accorded sanction for prosecution of two persons accused of spreading anti-national slogans like "Khalistan Zindabad" at the behest of banned outfit -- Sikh for Justice (SFJ) -- early this year.

According to information, accused Vikram Singh and Balram Singh were arrested by the Delhi Police for drawing multiple "pro-Khalistani" graffiti in areas of Vikaspuri, Janakpuri, Pachim Vihar, Peeragarhi, Meera Bagh and other adjoining parts of West Delhi on January 19.

Graffiti with anti-national slogans like "Khalistan Zindabad", "SFJ", "1984", "Punjab Banega Khalistan", "Referendum 2020 Vote for Khalistan", were drawn by the accused, who during investigation, disclosed that they indulged in such activities on the instruction of fugitive secessionist and SFJ founder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

"The L-G has granted the sanction for prosecution under Section 196 (1)of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973, in the case registered by the Special Cell of Delhi Police for the commission of offence under section 153B and 120B of the Indian Penal Code. Section 153B of IPC deals with Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integrity and social and religious harmony," said LG office.

During investigations, the Delhi Police seized USB Pen Drives containing CCTV footage, proof of payments and location of mobile phones of the accused in the area where graffiti were made.

"During investigations, it was revealed that a video was circulated on social media platforms wherein Pannu was advocating and encouraging secession through such graffiti and video message and conspiring to disrupt the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India," police said.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 8 : The Delhi High Court has observed that courts should prioritise the core objectives of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994 (PC&PNDT Act) when considering applications for the condonation of delay in cases related to the enactment.

A bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said that the primary purpose of the PC & PNDT Act is to protect the rights of unborn female children and promote gender equality by preventing the misuse of diagnostic techniques for sex determination.

"Therefore, while deciding applications seeking condonation of delay, courts should prioritise the Act's underlying purpose over technicalities," she said.

Her observation was made in response to a plea filed by a District Magistrate challenging the rejection of a revision petition by a sessions court. The revision petition was dismissed due to an unexplained delay of 28 days in its filing.

The case involved an FIR registered against a diagnostic centre, a doctor, and others under the Act and Indian Penal Code for allegedly conducting ultrasound examination and disclosing the gender of foetuses to patients.

The District Magistrate also lodged a criminal complaint under Section 28 of the PC & PNDT Act against the accused, which was dismissed by the Metropolitan Magistrate in April 2019.

Justice Sharma, while allowing the plea to condone the 28-day delay and remanding the matter to the trial court for considering the revision petition on its merits, noted that although delay cannot be condoned in every case, in situations involving broader societal interests, denying the trial of a case due to a relatively short delay would lead to a miscarriage of justice.

"Though in every case, the delay in filing the a petition cannot be condoned, however, in cases where the larger interest of the society is involved, denying trial of the case by dismissing an application for condonation of delay of 28 days will result in miscarriage of justice as the crime alleged is an offence against society," she said.

The court said that in such cases where the alleged crime affects society at large, the larger interest should take precedence.

The judge directed the trial court to decide the revision petition on its merits in accordance with the law. "Thus, keeping in view the mandate of judicial precedents and law, as discussed above, this court is inclined to allow the present petition and condone the delay of 28 days in filing the revision petition" before the court concerned.

"Accordingly, the case is remanded back to the court of learned ASJ to decide the revision petition on merits, as per law," Justice Sharma said.
Jaipur, Aug 8 : Congress leader and former Rajasthan Deputy CM Sachin Pilot on Tuesday reached village Narsihpura in Bhilwara district and met the family members of the girl who was allegedly gang-raped and body burnt in a brick kiln.

He consoled the family members and assured all possible help to the family.

So far, only BJP leaders have visited this village following the August 3 incident and have blamed the Congress government for the deteriorating law and order situation.

CM Ashok Gehlot, who had not commented on this issue, on Monday spoke on it during a meeting called late Monday night to discuss law and order arrangements.

"We are taking quick action to get harshest punishment for accused. However the matter is being politicised," he said.

The body pieces of the girl were taken to her village on Monday, six days after her gruesome murder post gang rape. Her father went inconsolable after seeing her body in pieces and also tried to jump into the pyre during her cremation.

The villagers were protesting here since last six days and had not allowed a post-mortem examination till their demands were met. The protest was ended on Sunday evening after which the post-mortem was performed at midnight.
New Delhi, Aug 8 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren to join the probe in connection with a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case. He has been asked to join the probe in the coming week.

Though, the ED has not made any official statement in this connection, the sources said that it could be related to a land grabbing case.

The sources aded that Soren has been asked to appear before the ED on August 14.

Earlier, Soren was questioned in connection with an illegal mining case for around 10 hours along with his wife at the ED's Ranchi-based office.

Further details are awaited.

IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 8 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren to join the probe in connection with a money laundering case.

A source said on Tuesday that Soren has been asked to join the probe next week.

Though the ED has not made any official statement on the matter, a source in the know of things said the summon could be related to the alleged land grabbing matter.

The Jharkhand chief minister has been asked to appear before the ED on August 14.

Last time, Soren was questioned in connection with the illegal mining case.

He was questioned for around 10 hours along with his wife at the ED's Ranchi office.

Further details are awaited.
Cuban socialists no longer believe in Marx... but they can't let him go A deputy minister of Economy and Planning in the regime recently stated that companies lack a figure functioning as an owner.

If there is one idea that defines Marxism, it is that owners are evil people who, without contributing anything in return, parasitize the toiling working class through surplus value, which is why it is not only justified, but imperative to eliminate them, wresting from them what they have so that property is "social;" that is, the government's, i.e. socialist.

This economic and philosophical notion posits the ownership of the means of production by all the people as a more efficient and just model than the capitalist one, something explicitly included in the last Cuban Constitution. This idea has justified all the abuses of private property and individual freedom committed wherever socialism, invariably through violence, has been instituted as a model.

Now the deputy minister of Economy and Planning Johana Odriozola (a daughter of senior officials at the Ministry of the Interior, which, together with her cold cynicism, augurs a bright future for her in Castroism) has stated that one of the reasons socialist state enterprises have not worked well is because "we have not had a figure, in the institutional designs, that functions as an owner. It is diluted in certain global ministries, branches and government boards." She added: "This is one of the issues we are working on, and, if approved, would constitute an important institutional change in the country."

Astounding. This is truly amazing, as the deputy minister has actually recognized that the Marxists who govern us know that the socialist property model does not work, and that the owner's role is important because they add value to the productive process. This debunks the idea that surplus value is theft and, thus, overturns the entire Marxist framework.

The deputy minister has demonstrated confidence in the Cuban socialist system, however, by pointing out that in the last two years state companies posting losses have dropped from 500 to 278, even while acknowledging that there are 309 other companies with profits on sales of less than two cents. Two cents! The deputy minister herself recognizes that these companies are "miraculously static," as they could easily incur losses, due to the slightest complication.

What Odriozola does not recognize, however, is the regime's "achievement" of managing for so many companies to stop reporting losses was not because the system is working, but because those companies are paying their workers less and less, as the socialists who govern us are devaluing the national currency.

The reality is that this system is so defective that, even after two years during which these socialists have subjected Cuba to a "neoliberal" blitzkrieg, more than 30% of state companies (counting the traditional ones and not the small, newly created subsidiaries) are still inviable.

The socialists who govern us are not worried about this, because, as Odriozola explains, the reason for so much inefficiency is that "there are companies losing money due to plans implemented in the country whose objective is for the final price not to rise despite the increase in the cost of many supplies." Huh?

Well, according to Johana Odriozola, there are situations where "to protect the population, the company assumes the increase in costs, and does not raise its rates." The company assumes them? But, aren't companies owned by the people, according to the socialists who govern us? So, if the company is owned by the people, then isn't it the people who are assuming the loss? This socialist approach is certainly a strange way to protect the population...

Having business losses means that expenses are greater than revenues. When the company is private, the owner covers the losses with his own funds. But, what happens when the company is owned by the people? Exactly the same thing: the "owner" (in this case, the people) puts up what is missing out of its pocket. But, as in the socialist system the people's pockets are managed by the government, they do not even know how much they have, or how much is being taken from them, on top of which they are supposed to thank the ruling socialists for "protecting the population."

Isn't socialism here and wherever it has been applied just an excuse for mass robbery and the oppression of those who stand up to those claiming to be putting socialism into effect while the elite lives as bourgeois millionaires?

Although the socialists in charge seem to have realized, fortunately, that Marxism is hogwash, unfortunately for us, whom they govern, they are not going to return what they stole. Nor are they going to step aside, apologizing for decades of "errors" and horrors. Rather, they are going to invent, in an upcoming Companies Law that they are cooking up, the position of "fictitious owner" for state companies, so that they can hoard the entire populations property.
New Delhi : IYC Srinivas BV along with party workers stage a protest over various issues. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Aug 8 : The Indian Youth Congress (IYC) on Tuesday staged a protest against the BJP-led government at the Centre over various issues, including Manipur violence, at Jantar Mantar here.

Scores of Youth Congress members under the leadership of IYC president Srinivas BV held the demonstration.

Referring to the violence in the Northeastern state, Srinivas asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi why he has not visited the strife-torn Manipur yet.

"Why the Prime Minister has not visited Manipur till date? Why did he take almost 80 days to speak on Manipur? Why he has not sacked the Chief Minister (N. Biren Singh) till date? He should answer," the Youth Congress president said in his address.

Taking a swipe at the Prime Minister, Srinivas said, "The person calling himself aVishwagurua spoke on Manipur only for 36 seconds, when the Supreme Court itself took cognizance. So far 150 people lost their lives in Manipur and over 65,000 people have become homeless. Manipur has been burning for the last 90 days but the Prime Minister is turning a blind eye."

"If Manipur is burning, then India is burning. Manipur is demanding justice today," said Youth Congress national in-charge Krishna Allavaru.

Ethnic clashes erupted in Manipur on May 3 and since then hundreds of people have lost their lives whereas thousands have been forced to take refuge in the relief camps. The Congress and other Opposition parties have been blaming the Biren Singh-led government for the current situation in the Northeastern state and demanded his dismissal.

--IANS

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Nifty up 865 points in last 8 trading sessions scaling new highs. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Aug 8 : Domestic equities along with its Asian peers were subdued after China reported weak trade data, Siddhartha Khemka, Head - Retail Research, Motilal Oswal Financial Services, has said.

Nifty, after opening on a positive note, edged lower and traded in a narrow range to close with a marginal loss of 26 points at 19,571 levels.

Broader market outperformed with Nifty midcap 100 and smallcap 100 up 0.2 per cent each. Sectorally, it was mixed bag with rally seen in PSU bank, which was up 3 per cent, he said.

Most of the sectoral indices were in red while Nifty PSU Banks, Nifty Pharma and Nifty Bank outperform today with gains of 3.37 per cent, 0.64 per cent, 0.28 per cent, Vaibhav Vidwani, senior research analyst, Bonanza Portoflio, said.

On August 10, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is expected to release its monetary policy.

Rate-sensitive industries like Banking, NBFCs, Infrastructure and Real estate, expected to be in the spotlight prior to the policy. Market anticipates the repo rate to remain unchanged that was one of the reason for PSU banks outperformance, he said.

Gland Pharma was up by 20 per cent because of increase in revenue by 41 per cent on QoQ basis in Q1FY24.

Despite the fact that Concord Biotech's initial public offering (IPO) was a comprehensive offer for sale issue, investors responded favourably to the company. Concord Biotech is supported by the late renowned investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala's Rare Enterprises, he said.

Hero MotoCorp, SBI Life Insurance, Cipla, Tech Mahindra and Wipro were the top gainer on the Nifty while losers were Adani Enterprises, Power Grid Corporation, Hindalco Industries, M&M and Divis Labs.

Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services said on the global front, investors are adopting a cautious approach even amidst declining bond yields as they await the release of crucial economic data.

The significant drop in Chinese exports has also contributed to concerns within the global market.

FIIs remain in a selling mode in the domestic market, yet active buying from DIIs is mitigating downside risks.

Among sectors, PSU banks and pharma stocks inched up, while mid- and small-cap stocks have continued to outperform the benchmark, showcasing their resilience, he said.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi lays the foundation stone for redevelopment of 508 railway stations. Image Source: IANS News

Jaipur, Aug 8 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a meeting with members of BJP Rajasthan unit in Delhi on Tuesday.

The MPs meeting with the Prime Minister comes in wake of the continued factionalism in BJP Rajasthan unit.

BJP State President C.P Joshi will also attend the meeting.

The factionalism in Rajasthan has been one of the main contentions for the BJP in run upto the upcoming assembly elections with various leaders supporting different fronts.

Party sources said that Modi may ask for feedback regarding the upcoming party programmes against the Congress government in the state and the other issues.

A discussion will also take place regarding the role of former chief minister Vasundhara during the upcoming elections.

BJP has also not yet announced the name of state election campaign committee shief.

Raje has been distancing herself from various party programs and also the expulsion of Devi Singh Bhati has raised concerns for the party. Bhati has been openly supporting Raje.

Sources said that Modi may also seek a meeting with state MLAs as preparations are underway for the meeting. The meeting between Modi and MLAs may take place in the last week of August.
Chennai, Aug 8 : A Divisional Revenue Officer (DRO) and a Thahsildhar were injured in an explosion in a firecracker unit in Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu on Tuesday afternoon.

The explosion took place while the duo, along with other officers, were inspecting a firecracker godown.

Police said that when the officials opened the shutter of the godown and went inside, firecrackers from upside fell on them and led to a blast injuring the two.

The officials were inspecting the firecracker godown in Krishnagiri district where an explosion a few days ago claimed nine lives and injured 13.

According to information, the DRO, Balaji, Thahsildhar Muthupandi and another revenue department official were injured in the blast that occurred inside the godown.

The three were immediately taken to a local hospital and are undergoing treatment.

The police said that the injured officials will be taken to a Bengaluru hospital after preliminary treatment at Krishnagiri hospital.

During firecracker unit blasts in Krishnagiri and Sivakasi recently, 11 people had lost their lives. While nine people died in the Krishnagiri blasts, two women employees were killed in the blast at Sivakasi in Virudhungar district of Tamil Nadu.

Sivakasi is the firecracker capital of South India with an annual turn over of around Rs 6,000 crore and employing around 8 lakh people directly and indirectly.

--IANS

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Hyderabad, Aug 8 : The Telangana government has decided to increase the commission of ration dealers in the state from Rs 900 to Rs 1,400 per tonne.

The announcement was made after Finance Minister T. Harish Rao and Civil Supplies Minister Gangula Kamalakar held talks with the representatives of the Telangana Ration Dealers Association here on Tuesday.

The governmentas decision will benefit 17,227 ration dealers across the state and will cost an additional Rs 139 crore to the state exchequer annually.

The ministers said after the meeting that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao is ensuring welfare of everyone and he directed them to address the problems faced by ration dealers. They recalled that when Telangana was formed, the commission of rational dealers was only Rs 200 per tonne and in a short span, it has been enhanced to Rs 1,400 per tonne.

They claimed that Telangana is the only state in the country to increase the commission by 700 per cent. The ministers also pointed out that no other state in the country is supplying rice above the Centreas quota.

To make sure that no one goes hungry, the Telangana government is supplying six kilogram rice to every person per month at one rupee per kg. In addition to this, the state government is also providing rice under the Centreas quota.

Every month, 91 lakh people are being supplied the rice through Public Distribution System in the state.

The state government has also accepted 13 other demands of the rational dealers. For the families of 100 dealers, who had died during Covid-19, the government has sanctioned dealerships on grounds of compassion. The government has also agreed to provide Rs 5 lakh life insurance each for ration dealers on the lines of the schemes being implemented for farmers and weavers.

The ration dealers will also be brought under the purview of Arogyasri, a health insurance scheme.
Srinagar, Aug 8 : Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday reviewed the preparedness for Independence Day celebration in Jammu and Kashmir.

L-G took appraisal of the campaigns and events planned by the district administrations and government departments in the run-up to Independence Day.

"We all must work together as a single unit for the successful conduct of 'Meri Mati Mera Desh', 'Har Ghar Tiranga' across the UT and 'Tiranga Yatra' in Jammu and Srinagar," L-G said.

"I am confident that this year too people in huge numbers will participate in Independence Day events."

He also directed the district administration and departments to organise activities under 'Har Ghar Tiranga Abhiyan'.

L-G also asked for active involvement of common citizens, public representatives, youth clubs, civil society, self help groups, ncc scouts and guides, army veterans, ex-servicemen, prominent citizens and educational institutions in the celebration of Independence Day.

"Independence Day celebration is not a government function but the country's most sacred festival which is observed by the entire society with the spirit of oneness, one emotion," L-G said.

L-G asked the Culture Department to come up with the monographs on martyrs.

He also directed the officers for tricolor illumination of prominent buildings, tourist spots, border villages, and organising activities in the honour of the prominent personalities who contributed in nation building.
Chandigarh, Aug 8 : Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Banwari Lal Purohit on Tuesday prohibited air travel and star hotels for officers of the UT visiting Delhi.

In a letter to the Advisor, he said: "As responsible officers, it is our moral duty that public money shouldnat be squandered and wasteful expenditure shouldnat be accepted at any cost.

"In this regard, a news item relating to the expenses incurred by the officers of Chandigarh Administration was brought to my notice. In the news item it was reported that officers stayed in five-star hotels in Delhi and travelled by business class in commercial flights.

"After a careful consideration of present circumstances, from henceforth, it is directed that no air travel is allowed to Delhi. All officials travelling to Delhi would travel by Shatabdi and Vande Bharat trains. Further, officials will stay at UT Guest House, Punjab Bhawan, or Haryana Bhawan but not in any star hotels," Purohit added.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 8 : Five men were arrested and four juveniles apprehended for employing website spoofing techniques to deceive individuals by promising distributorships under the prestigious banner of ITC (India Tobacco Company), said a Delhi Police official on Tuesday.

The official further said that these perpetrators went to the extent of launching online campaigns and advertisements on platforms like Google, wherein they provided fraudulent toll-free contact numbers associated with the ITC distributorship offers.

The accused were identified as Nishant Gupta (27), Suraj (29), Deepak (27), Santosh (27) and Sunil Shakya (41).

According to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (IFSO) Prashant Gautam, an FIR was registered on April 25 on the complaint of one Gulshan Chadha where he alleged that he received calls from unknown numbers who told him that they were executives of a reputed company.

They further managed to convince the complainant to get the distributorship of the firm and made him invest Rs 50 lakh. Later, the complainant came to know that he had been cheated.

During investigation, it was revealed that the accused persons were operating from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

"Police apprehended four juveniles from Patna in Bihar. A phone was recovered, which was used in net banking for the transactions of the cheated amount. Further, Gupta was arrested, who used to open the accounts of minors by luring them after changing their date of birth in their Aadhaar Card," said the DCP.

"The accounts opened were used in the transactions of the cheated amount. The flow of cheated money was also found in the account of one suspect, namely Deepak, who was arrested in Patna. Deepak, ran a CSP at SBI and did money transfers. Deepak used to keep the cheated money in his account," said the DCP.

Suraj, who developed the website itcdistributorship.org was also arrested from Ghaziabad.

"When Suraj's mobile phones and laptop were analyzed, it further led to another gang member, Santosh from Patna, Bihar, who was using a fake identity. The technical data proved that both accused worked together and that Suraj was paid for website spoofing," said the DCP.

"Another integral part of this scam was Sunil, who was arrested from Gwalior on the disclosure of accused Santosh. Sunil confessed that he ran online campaigns and ads for the distributorship of ITC on Google by giving false Toll-free numbers in the advertisements," the DCP added.
Bengaluru, Aug 8 : The fake letter row, that resulted in a war of words between the ruling Congress government and the opposition, was handed over to the special wing Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Tuesday.

The 'fake' letter targeted Minister for Agriculture N. Cheluvarayaswamy and alleged that he is demanding money from officers in the department. It was claimed that the officers have written a letter to the Governor and in turn the Governor had asked the Chief Secretary to look into the corruption charges.

However, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah clarified that there is no complaint or letter written by the Governor in this regard and the letter circulated to media and social media in this regard is bogus one created to bring disrepute to the government. He indirectly stated that it should be the handiwork of BJP leaders or former chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy.

Kumarswamy had lashed out at Siddaramaiah slamming him that he is an expert in making genuine letters into fake ones. Siddaramaiah is shamelessly standing behind the corrupt and it is a matter of shame, he attacked.

Following this, CM Siddaramaiah had held talks with Home Minister G. Parameshwara and declared that the issue of fake letters has been handed over to the CID.

Joint Director of Agriculture Department, Mandya district, V.S. Ashok had lodged a complaint with the Superintendent of Police in Mandya and demanded a probe into the circulation of fake letters. The Congress MLAs Ramesh Babu Bandisidde Gowda, Ravikumar Gowda, MLCs Madhu G Made Gowda, Dinesh Gooligowda have also lodged a police complaint regarding the matter.
New Delhi, Aug 8 : The confidential images of upcoming Ola Electric e-scooters, set to be launched on August 15, have allegedly been leaked, which has forced its CEO Bhavish Aggarwal demand an apology from the media person who leaked those images.

Aggarwal also said that going forward, the electric vehicle company may not showcase their products to journalists before the official launch.

The images, likely to be of Ola S1X e-scooter, were part of an auto media event the company held on Monday "and content from this event was supposed to be embargoed and confidential", according to Aggarwal.

"Auto media does their own credibility a massive disservice when they sneakily take photos at a confidential event. Breaks the trust the brand places in them. We work really hard to make great products and entertaining events for our customers and delight them. Such instances canat have any place in a mature ecosystem," the Ola Electric CEO posted in a tweet.

"Unless it is clear who did this and an apology (which is unlikely), we will not have auto journalists being showcased our products before launch going forward. They will be shown the products only after customers are shown products at launch events," an outraged Aggarwal added.

The company, which just launched the S1 Air, is reportedly planning to launch an electric scooter called S1X. It is expected to be an entry-level model, starting at less than Rs 1 lakh.

Ola currently offers S1 Pro, S1, and S1 Air electric scooters to the consumers.

"Ola Community, mark your calendar. On 15th August, weare celebrating Customer Day with the most electrifying event of the year - End ICE age Part 1. The doors of the FutureFactory will be open for you," Aggarwal tweeted last week.

--IANS

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Press Release

August 8, 2023 PRIVILEGE SPEECH OF SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE LOREN LEGARDA

"Taking on the Climate Change Challenge Together"

08 August 2023 Mr. Senate President, dear colleagues, my beloved fellow Filipinos: Long before Ondoy and Yolanda, I sounded the alarm in the halls of the Senate on the dangers of climate change. Now I stand before fellow lawmakers of the 19th Congress yet again as climate change and its impacts continue to worsen and bear down heavily on us all. Climate change is undeniably the global governance challenge of our generation. And we are called upon to act quickly and make certain that the required transitions are happening. It is global, as it affects the global community - no country can stand and survive alone; it is systemic, as each specific part is as important as the greater whole; and it is historic, as the challenges of today are compounded consequences of inaction and repeated neglect of those historically responsible for the greenhouse gas emissions. We have established policies and systems. In 2009, we created the Climate Change Commission, to comprehensively integrate policies and actions by all state and non-state actors, and to provide direction towards resilience based on science and evidence. As a fruit of inter-agency and multistakeholder coordination, we have set our national climate agenda. Articulated in our National Climate Change Action Plan, Nationally Determined Contribution, and even the Local Climate Change Action Plans, together, we have been paving the road toward greater strength. President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., since the beginning of his Presidency, has put climate change as our national priority. We have seen an improved budget allocation for climate actions. Government agencies, civil society, and the private sector are all doing their part. But we still need to ask the hard questions - How far have our decisions taken us? What else needs to be done? How much quicker should we act? Earlier this year, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded its sixth assessment report (AR6) cycle, issuing the latest findings and analysis on the science of climate change. AR6 cited with "high confidence" the following: First - Human activities caused global warming with temperatures reaching 1.1C above pre-industrial levels. Greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise due to unsustainable energy use, land practices, and consumption patterns worldwide; Second - Climate change is already impacting weather extremes and ecosystems globally. Vulnerable communities, that are least responsible for climate change, suffer the most from its consequences. Despite progress, there are gaps in adaptation efforts, and certain ecosystems and regions face limits to cope with climate change impacts; And third - Policies and finance flows fall far short of meeting climate goals across all sectors and regions, hindering if not making ineffective any implementation, particularly in developing nations. Against this backdrop, the UN Secretary General said: the AR6 is "Code Red for Humanity." This demands immediate and drastic action to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change. Most alarmingly, AR6 warns that drastic reductions made today will still cause some irreversible changes that are already set in motion, demanding adaptation measures to cope with the consequences. Hence, we ask - How much more science and evidence do we need before we change our minds - from procrastination to action, from stagnation to innovation? Mr. President, colleagues: The Philippines now stands as "ground zero" for climate change. The observed temperature in the country, according to PAGASA, is rising at an average rate of 0.01C per year and is projected to increase by 1.8C to 2.2C by 2050. Higher temperatures are generally expected for all regions of the country by 2050, with the rates doubling compared to 2020 levels. Scientists from the World Meteorological Organization confirmed that last July was the world's hottest month since record-keeping of global temperatures began. I agree with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who said, and I quote: "Climate change is here, it is terrifying, and it is just the beginning. The era of global warming has ended; the era of global boiling has arrived." Indeed, the latest reports on climate science tell us that we are running out of time to secure a livable and sustainable future for all. Enabling rapid and far-reaching transitions across all sectors and systems in this crucial decade will determine impacts and climate realities now and for the next thousands of years. These are not only accelerating, but they are also exhibiting feedback loops that increase that acceleration. Mr. President; colleagues: Those who are least responsible are the most affected. And those who are most responsible, therefore, need to do more. This is an issue of climate justice. We have barely recovered from Odette and Paeng. We have not even accounted for losses in ecosystem services due to these disasters, as if only crops and infrastructure support our economies. For this issue, the imperative of Loss and Damage financing has never been clearer. Our adaptive capacity as a country has its limits. Despite our best efforts, there are climate-induced losses and damages that we cannot avoid or recover from. Without support for and investments in rapid, deep, and sustained mitigation and accelerated adaptation actions, losses and damage will continue to increase, including projected adverse impacts in Asia, and will disproportionately affect the most vulnerable populations. Between 2011 and 2021, the Philippines incurred damage amounting to 673.30 billion pesos due to tropical cyclones alone. And from 2010 to 2019, a total of 12,097 deaths due to extreme weather events and disasters were recorded. Just recently, Typhoon Egay left 27 people dead, 52 injured and 13 others missing, and caused P3.5B worth of damage to infrastructure and P4.47B in agricultural losses in 50 provinces. Again, we have not even started to account for damage to our protected areas and wilderness, reefs damaged by waves, and siltation. By 2030, under a business-as-usual scenario, our loss and damage from climate change is expected to increase up to 7.6 percent of the country's gross domestic product, and 13 percent by 2040. These numbers are not merely statistics -- they are real and heart-wrenching experiences for our people. The Global Commission on Adaptation (GCA) Flagship study projects that by 2030, more than 100 million people in developing countries, including the Philippines, will live below the poverty line resulting from the impacts of climate change. This is less than seven years from now. And while our population is largely unaware of these threats, their daily toil and their dreams will be so severely affected that our obligations are clear. There is hope. The same study asserts what has been defined as the "adaptation triple dividend" -- that with proper adaptation interventions, we can "avert future losses, spur economic gains through innovation, and deliver social and environmental benefits to everyone, but particularly to those currently affected and most at risk." We need to make sure that the commitments of developed countries are delivered and mobilized. We need to ensure that the establishment of a loss and damage funding facility will materialize at the soonest possible time. We also need to bolster the call of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), for major polluting nations to increase their ambition by reviewing and strengthening their targets for 2030 under their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). We need to accelerate the way we "course-correct" and safeguard the 1.5C of the Paris Agreement--our climate threshold to survive and thrive. Mr. President, colleagues: The recent State of the Nation Address underscored the importance of disaster resilience and climate action and has made this a clear priority of his Administration, stating that progressive, livable, and sustainable communities can only be achieved by taking responsible action to mitigate and adapt to climate change. We must always consider our duty to future generations. Our Philippine Development Plan (PDP), with its dedicated chapter on climate change, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP), and Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) lay out crucial strategies and solutions for us to act upon. But we have to keep asking if these are sufficient and if they guide the rest of the budget. Individually and collectively, we must ask -- are we part of the problem or the solution? We need to ask ourselves if our shoulders are on the wheels or if we are obstacles to the transition. There are a good number of practical approaches moving forward as a country and as part of the global community. One - Adopt a transformative mindset in governance, mainstream science, and cascade opportunities to our Local Government Units (LGUs), the climate frontliners who bear the brunt of climate impacts and are expected to manage local climate risks and hazards. Two - Accelerate decarbonization efforts and ensure timely implementation of our Nationally Determined Contribution, without being restricted by the 2.71% unconditional share. Let us aim for higher ambition by embracing the Net Zero scenario, and its imperatives to combat further warming while ensuring access to more advanced, climate-benign technologies. Three - Revisit our environmental laws, especially the Clean Air Act, which no longer meets the World Health Organization 2005 and 2021 guidelines on air quality, and push for other key legislation, such as circular economy, blue economy, ecosystems regeneration, and forest management. Four - Optimize convergence between agencies and stakeholders, working with a whole-of-government, whole-of-society, and whole-of-world approach to maximize resources and impact for every Filipino. Five - Green our budgets. In the coming months, let us scrutinize the budgets of government agencies and see whether they are truly espousing President Marcos Jr.'s vision of a climate-smart and climate-resilient Philippines. Are we considering climate science in agency budgets? Are we budgeting for transformation, ensuring that every peso spent brings us closer to a sustainable future? Is our large infrastructure budget climate-proof? We have to consider if the reclamations consider sea level rise as well as cumulative impacts on hydrology. Mr. President, colleagues: I ask all my distinguished colleagues in this chamber: We may have done well in policies and legislation, but what else do we need to do? From ground zero, let us work hard to build the Philippines which is the center of resilience and strength felt through each community. Let the Philippines be known as a nation that did not surrender to the impacts of climate change but in fact, emerged stronger and smarter. The Philippines, as it were, that is not a lesson learned but a best practice for the rest of the world. Let us work continuously, conscientiously, and collectively - moving and transforming our nation and society from a state of fragility to one of agility. Patuloy tayong magbayanihan para sa klima; para sa buhay, kabuhayan, at kinabukasan ng ating kapwa Pilipino. Para sa Pilipinas, sikapin nating iangat ang katatagan ng bawat isa laban sa nagbabagong klima. Thank you, Mr. President.
Imphal, Aug 8 : Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey requested all Governors and Lt Governors of all states and UJnion Territories to ensure safety and security of the state's students pursuing studies in their respective states, Raj Bhavan officials said on Tuesday.

A Raj Bhavan official said that the Governor is deeply concerned about those students who are pursuing their higher studies and professional courses in different parts of the country since the ethnic violence that broke out in the state on May 3.

In her letter to all her counterparts, she had earlier requested them to ensure the academic pursuits of students from Manipur are not affected or disturbed.

"... all the Governors, Lieutenant Governors and administrators reciprocated that necessary arrangements have been made to ensure the safety of those students and their academic pursuits are not affected. Manipur Governor has expressed her gratitude to all the Governors, Lieutenant Governors and administrators for the invaluable cooperation extended to the students of Manipur at this critical juncture," a Raj Bhavan statement said.

It said that Governors of Tamil Nadu and Nagaland assured to extend the requisite assistance to those students in Tamil Nadu (20 students) and Nagaland (238 students) whenever necessity arises.

"Governor strongly believes that all concerned would keep continuing to extend their help till the situation is completely normalised. Further, she also believes that whenever necessity arises, those students can approach the respective Governoras Secretariats for help which they would certainly comply with," the statement said.

--IANS

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Patna, Aug 8 : A class 9th student was shot-at by a miscreant in Bihar's Arrah city on Tuesday.

The incident occurred near her school which is located near Arrah's Nawada police station.

The victim was identified as Somya Kumari (15), a student of BD Public School.

While the victim was on the way to home from school, she was intercepted by miscreants who started teasing her.

When she objected, one of them opened fire on the victim as she collapsed on the ground.

The locals rescued the victim and took him to Sadar Hospital for treatment.

She is under observation and her condition is said to be critical.

Bhojpur SP Pramod Kumar Yadav said: "The victim had some heated argument with them. The accused may have committed the crime to avenge the incident. Efforts are on to arrested the accused."
New Delhi, Aug 8 : BJP national president J.P. Nadda on Tuesday said the West Bengal government must take the responsibility of loss of lives during the recently concluded Panchayat elections in the state.

Nadda said this after one of the BJP's fact-finding panels constituted to inquire into the incidents of violence during the polls in West Bengal, submitted its report to him.

"Received the report by the BJP Fact Finding Team, constituted to inquire about the grave incidents of violence against the people and BJP karyakartas during the Panchayat Election in West Bengal," the BJP chief wrote in a tweet.

Taking a swipe at the Mamata Banerjee-led government in West Bengal, Nadda said: "The state government must take responsibility for the loss of innocent lives and work towards restoring order in the state. Our party stands with the people of West Bengal and will continue to raise their voice democratically."

On July 26, one of the fact finding committee-led by senior party leader Ravi Shankar Prasad, constituted by Nadda, to probe into the incidents of violence during the West Bengal polls, recommended investigation of all the cases registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The BJP had earlier alleged that the entire government machinery was engaged to make Mamata Banerjee win during the panchayat polls.
New Delhi, Aug 8 : Congress on Tuesday took a swipe at the government after Union Minister Kiren Rijiju remarks that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the cabinet ministers and ministers of state to visit northeast every 15 days saying we all know frequency of visits before any elections and dared him to furnish the details of the visits of union ministers in the last 97 days.

"During the No Confidence Motion in Lok Sabha, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has boasted about the Prime Minister's directions to Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State to visit Northeast every 15 days," Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a tweet.

"Yes, we all know about the frequency of visits of Union Ministers before any election. But it has been 97 days since the horrific ethnic violence broke out in Manipur. INDIA asks how many of Modi's Ministers have been to Manipur?"

"We challenge you to furnish details of the visits of Union Ministers to Manipur in the last 97 days," Ramesh, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP said.

His remarks came in the wake of the statement of Rijiju during the discussion on no-confidence motion in Lok Sabha.

While speaking in Lok Sabha, Rijiju said: "When our government was formed, in the first cabinet meeting, (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi ji made a group and said that every 15 days, five cabinet ministers and seven ministers of state must tour the Northeast. It is still going on, all the ministers sitting here have toured the northeast."

"PM Modi has also given directives to officials to visit the Northeast and meet people. There is no meaning of ruling from Delhi, one can reach the people through service. You never thought about this. The prime minister has won the confidence of the people."

He said that before 2014 people from the northeast faced racial discrimination in major cities of the country, including Delhi, but the situation changed after BJP came to power.

He also claimed that the Prime Minister also directed the police at the DGP conference in Guwahati to ensure the security of people from the northeast.

Indian National Devleopmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) has been demanding for a detailed discussion on Manipur and also a statement in both houses of Parliament by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Earlier in the day, while speaking on the no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said that the Prime Minister has taken 'Maun Vrat' (vow of silence) on Manipur and through this motion we want to break his 'Maun Vrat'.

He also said that the motion was brought in compulsion as for the justice to Manipur.

Ethnic violence erupted in Manipur on May 3 and since then hundreds of people have died while thousands have been forced to take refuge in the relief camps.
New Delhi, Aug 8 : A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court against calls for social and economic boycott of Muslims following the communal clashes that occurred in Haryana's Nuh.

"There is a very serious thing that happened in Gurgaon. There is a call that if you employ these people in shops, then you all will be gaddars (traitors)," senior advocate Kapil Sibal told CJI D.Y. Chandrachud when the Constitution Bench hearing pleas challenging Article 370 was breaking for lunch.

Sibal mentioned the matter and sought urgent listing of the interlocutory application.

The plea said that more than 27 rallies have been organised across various States where blatant hate speeches calling for the "killing and social & economic boycott of Muslims" have been openly delivered.

The application referred to a video where a procession by the Samhast Hindu Samaj can be seen walking through a neighbourhood in Haryana's Hisar in the "presence of Police officials issuing warnings to residents and shopkeepers that if they continue to employ or keep any Muslims after 2 days then their shops will be boycotted".

It referred to other "open calls for violence and boycott of Muslims" given by VHP leader Kapil Swami in the presence of police officials in Madhya Pradesh's Saugor on August 8.

"Such rallies that demonise communities and openly call for violence and killing of people will inevitably lead to communal disharmony and violence of an unfathomable scale across the country," the application said.

Last week, a special bench of the Supreme Court ordered police authorities of Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to ensure that no hate speech is given against any community or violence or damage to property takes place during the protest rallies being planned by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) in the national capital region.

In April this year, the top court had stressed that the Constitution envisages India as a secular nation, while directing all states and Union Territories to take strict action on hate speech cases, and registering criminal cases irrespective of religion against culprits without waiting for a complaint to be filed.

Communal clashes broke out in Haryana's Nuh in Mewat after a religious procession heading to a place of worship was allegedly attacked on July 31. The violence spread to Gurugram and some districts of Haryana adjoining Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.

Meanwhile, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on August 7 put a hold on the demolition drive in Nuh after the district administration had razed some of the buildings, including a three-storey hotel and a few medical shops, as part of its action against 'illegal constructions'.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 8 : Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora (GKPD) hailed the intervention application filed by Virinder Kaul, GKPD International Coordinator, in the Supreme Court with the plea for dismissing the petition of Shah Faesal and others who are seeking revocation of abrogation of these two 'undemocratic and unjust laws'.

The petition should be dismissed with utmost contempt, thereby, restoring the confidence of the people of this great nation in 'One Country One Constitution'.

Virinder Kaul, GKPD International Coordinator, said, "Dismissal of the petition will affirm Article 51A (a) of the Constitution of India which states that it shall be the fundamental duty of every Indian citizen to 'abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem'."

GKPD has submitted arguments in favour of abrogation of Article 370 and 35A citing provisions of the Constitution of India and relevant precedent examples across the globe.

Article 370 and 35A paved the way for the violent creation of a "Sheikhdom' within the Union of India primarily by snatching the rights and livelihood of oppressed minorities and women in favour of the majority population".

GKPD now urges the Supreme Court to take cognisance of our application during the hearing scheduled from August 2, 2023, ensuring that these draconian laws are not restored.

GKPD puts on record its deep appreciation to the Indian government for accepting the recommendation of the Delimitation Commission for nominating two members of the Kashmiri Pandit community to the Legislative Assembly.

This step will go a long way in addressing the compounding problems faced by the Kashmiri Pandit community.

GKPD looks forward to working with the Government of India to ensure inclusive representation of community interests.
Chandigarh, Aug 8 : Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Badal on Tuesday demanded registration of an FIR against Punjab ministers Lalchand Kataruchak and Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal for colluding with each other with the motive of transferring 100 acres of government land to private people for alleged gains.

Asserting that both ministers could not get off the hook by transferring the entire blame to a now retired official, Badal alleged that "they are the kingpins behind the transfer of Panchayati land to private persons. We demand a CBI inquiry into the entire issue to determine the money trail as well as identify all those who were party to this corrupt act".

"The link between the two ministers and the ultimate beneficiaries who were given a benefit of crores of rupees should also be probed," he said.

Stating that there could not be a bigger example of institutionalised corruption of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and its officials, Badal said that "while one minister (Kataruchak) recommended giving additional charge of the Additional Deputy Commissioner to Kuldeep Singh, the other minister (Dhaliwal) passed the order to this effect".

He said the very fact that official Kuldeep Singh was promoted on February 21 and given charge as ADC for four days till his retirement on February 27 points out to a "well-planned conspiracy" to defraud the panchayat of its land.

Questioning Chief Minister Bhagwant Mannas silence on this issue, Badal said in a statement that "earlier also you have defended Kataruchak who was accused of sexual misconduct with proof of the same being verified by the police authorities. Now if you remain silent on this issue which is a clear case of corruption and illegal mining it will be presumed that you are also in cohorts with the accused".

Badal also asked the Chief Minister to tell Punjabis why he had consistently defended Kataruchak.

"What hold does his immoral minister have over you that you find yourself incapable of sacking him from your Cabinet?" he asked.

--IANS

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Bengaluru, Aug 8 : Former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday in New Delhi. After the meeting Bommai stated that he cordially met Amit Shah and discussed various issues of state politics.

The meeting assumes importance as former chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa is pushing Bommaias candidature for the post of the leader of the opposition (LoP) in Karnataka legislature. The sources explained that Amit Shah is meeting Bommai to discuss the issue and take a final call on electing the LoP.

The appointment has been long pending and ruling Congress leaders are taking pot shots at BJP over the issue. Not able to take the criticism, Basavaraj Bommai recently stated that all 66 MLAs of BJP are leaders of the opposition and the ruling government must tread cautiously. However, the statement was further ridiculed in the political circles.

Sources explain that the high command is totally upset with Karnataka leadership after its humiliating defeat in the assembly elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah have lost interest in the state politics following the infighting within the BJP. The BJP was criticised as the party had to attend the budget session without LoP in Karnataka.

The high command had spoken to BJP MLA Basavanagouda Patil Yatnal and others. BJP MLAas Suresh Kumar (Brahmin), V. Sunil Kumar (OBC), C.N. Ashwath Narayan (Vokkaliga), R. Ashoka (Vokkaliga), Arvind Bellad (Lingayat) are also considered for the post.

Yediyurappa is opposing the candidature of Basavanagouda Patil Yatnal (Lingayat) as he was involved in activities that led to the stepping down of Yediyurappa.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 8 : Meta Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday announced the latest feature on WhatsApp that enables screen sharing during video calls.

The users can initiate screen sharing by clicking on the 'Share' Icon and choosing between sharing a specific application or sharing the entire screen.

"Whether sharing documents for work, browsing photos with family, planning a vacation or shopping online with friends, or just helping grandparents with tech support  screen sharing lets you share a live view of your screen during the call," the company said in a statement.

The WhatsApp users can also enjoy video calls in Landscape mode for a wider and more immersive viewing and sharing experience on smartphones.

WhatsApp debuted video calling for all users on the platform in November 2016.

Meanwhile, WhatsApp has announced that it is rolling out message editing support for media with captions on iOS.

"Added message editing support for media with captions," the company mentioned in the official changelog.

The company is also rolling out an updated user interface (UI) with translucent bars as well as new action sheets. The changelog also mentioned that the redesigned sticker tray with improved navigation and a larger set of stickers including more Avatars are still rolling out.

All these features will roll out over the coming weeks, the company said. Last month, the messaging platform WhatsApp had widely rolled out landscape mode support for video calls and silence unknown callers option, on iOS.

The Meta-owned messaging platform is also reportedly rolling out a new voice chat feature for group conversations on Android beta.
New Delhi, Aug 8 : Science and Technology Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday attacked the opposition in Lok Sabha, claiming that prior to 2014, many people from the Northeast faced racial discrimination and atrocities, however the situation has completely changed now.

"Before 2014, many people from the Northeast faced racial discrimination and atrocities in Delhi and other major cities of the country. After 2014 the situation changed, and the DGP conference was held in Guwahati for the first time after Independence. During this meeting, the prime minister directed that police must ensure the security of people from the Northeast," Rijiju said while participating in the discussion on the no-confidence motion.

He questioned the timing of the no-confidence motion, saying it had been brought at a wrong time and in a wrong manner.

Rijiju said this in the context of the fact that when the world is hailing prime minister Narendra Modi as a world leader and the country is marching ahead to become a developed nation by 2047, there was no need for such a motion against the government.

Rather, Rijiju said, the opposition should join hands with the government and work towards achieving the target set by the prime minister for the next 25 years.

"You may not like BJP or Modi, but you should support India," he said, adding, "You should not oppose India by assuming the name INDIA (opposition alliance)."

Talking about the European Parliament's resolution on developments in Manipur, the minister said India is strong enough to deal with domestic issues and no foreign power needs to interfere in the affairs of the country.

While speaking in Lok Sabha, Rijiju said, "When our government was formed, in the first cabinet meeting, (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi ji made a group and said that after every 15 days, five cabinet ministers and seven ministers of state must tour the Northeast. It is still going on, all the ministers sitting here have toured the northeast."

"PM Modi has also given directives to officials to visit the Northeast and meet people. There is no meaning of ruling from Delhi, one can reach the people through service. You never thought about this. The prime minister has won the confidence of the people," Rijiju said.

The Congress later took a swipe at Rijiju's remarks, with Jairam Ramesh saying, "Yes, we all know about the frequency of visits of Union Ministers before any election. But it has been 97 days since the horrific ethnic violence broke out in Manipur. INDIA asks how many of Modias Ministers have been to Manipur?"

"We challenge you to furnish details of the visits of Union Ministers to Manipur in the last 97 days," Ramesh added.

Meanwhile Rijiju while participating in the discussion on the no-confidence motion, said that in the past India did not manage to win medals in Olympics, while it was only in 2020 Tokyo Olympics that the country won seven medals for the first time, due to prime minister's "focussed attention" on players.

He went on to claim that even he would have won medals when he used to play, if Narendra Modi had been the prime minister at that time.

The Lok Sabha was later adjourned for the day at 6 pm, and the discussion on the no-confidence motion is to continue on August 9 also.
New Delhi, Aug 8 : The Delhi High Court has shown disappointment over the non-constitution of the permanent State Mental Health Authority under the Mental Health Act, 2017, and directing the Delhi Health Secretary to appear before it on the next date of hearing on September 15.

The court was dealing with a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Amit Sahni, who sought effective implementation of the Mental Healthcare Act.

Sahni's contention is that the absence of functional mental health authorities has a detrimental impact on the treatment and care of individuals suffering from mental illnesses.

A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula asked for Delhi government's compliance with Sections 45 and 46 of the Mental Health Act, 2017, and the Mental Healthcare (State Mental Health Authority) Rules, 2018.

It further directed constituting district mental health authorities in line with the statutory provisions.

The court said that despite the assurance given by the Delhi government's counsel in November, 2022, regarding the reconstitution of the State Mental Health Authority, no progress has been made in this regard. "It is unfortunate that till date the permanent State Mental Health Authority under the aforementioned statute has not been constituted. Therefore, this Court is left with no option, but to direct that the Secretary (Health), GNCTD, remain present in Court on the next date of hearing," the court observed.

In this matter, another individual has moved a plea alongside the PIL, also demanding the reconstitution of the State Mental Health Authority and the establishment of Mental Health Review Boards, as mandated by the new law. The court clarified that in case the Authority is constituted, the personal appearance of the Secretary shall be dispensed with.
Washington, Aug 8 : A bipartisan delegation of US lawmakers headed for India for, among other things, attending the Prime Minister's Independence Day speech from the Red Fort on August 15, plans to raise issues of democracy, minority rights and pluralism during its visit.

Ro khanna, a Democratic member of the House of Representatives, and Micheal Waltz, a Republican, who are also co-chairs of the India Caucus, are leading the delegation, according to an announcement.

They will be joined by Representatives Deborah Ross, Kat Cammack, Shri Thanedar, Jasmine Crockett, Rich McCormick and Ed Case.

The delegation will attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Red Fort speech on August 15, visit Raj Ghat and meet government, tech, business and film world leaders in Hyderabad and Mumbai, said the announcement from Khanna's office.

The delegation will also raise issues that may be considered uncomfortable to their Indian interlocutors.

"The delegation will discuss issues of democracy, freedom of speech, pluralism and minority rights," said a Congressional aide.

While there are no indications as to how and where the delegation will raise these issues, they are most likely to be raised in private conversations in line with what US officials have termed as their preferred platform, instead of public finger-pointing.

Khanna, who is an Indian-American, has been a keen observer of the developments in India. He was very critical, for instance, of the disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha in March, calling it a "deep betrayal of Gandhian philosophy and India's deepest values" in a post on Twitter (now 'X').

He had also urged Prime Minister Modi to reverse the decision for the "sake of Indian democracy".

In December 2020, the Indian-American lawmaker had sided with the farmers in their protests against the Modi government.

"India and the US share a rich tradition of democracy and peaceful protests. Farmworkers are the backbone of both our nations and must have their voices heard. I hope there's a peaceful and fair solution so they can provide for their families," he had tweeted.

Khanna has also been critical at home of 'exclusionary' assertion of Hinduism.

"It's the duty of every American politician of Hindu faith to stand for pluralism, reject Hindutva, and speak for equal rights for Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhist & Christians," he wrote in a tweet in 2019, adding a reference to his grandfather late Amarnath Vidyalankar, a freedom fighter and three-time MP as a member of the Congress in India.

The upcoming visit to India has been described as "history coming full circle" for Khanna, the announcement said.

"His grandfather Amarnath Vidyalankar was an Indian freedom fighter who spent four years in jail alongside (Mahatma) Gandhi and later was part of India's first Parliament."

Khanna's reference to his grandfather in the Rahul Gandhi tweet had met with a barrage of criticism from BJP supporters and activists who had pointed to Vidyalankar's vote in support of the declaration of Emergency by India Gandhi in 1971.He was then an MP from Chandigarh and never ran again for office.

Khanna had defended his grandfather then, writing in a tweet, "It's sad to see people maligning my grandfather who worked for Lala Lajpat Rai, was jailed in 1931-32 and 1941-45, and wrote two letters to Indira Gandhi opposing the Emergency, leaving Parliament right after. Attack me. Don't attack India's freedom fighters. And facts matter."

Khanna is a rising star in the Democratic party and is widely believed to be considering a run for the White House at some stage. Although a member of the progressive wing of the Democratic party, he has sought to pitch for the middle ground, aligning himself with President Joe Biden on many key issues.

"As co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans, we are proud to lead a bipartisan delegation to India. We will be there to discuss how to strengthen economic and defense ties between our two counties, the oldest and largest democracies," Khanna and Waltz said in the joint announcement

"Both of us believe that the US India relationship will be a defining one of the 21st century. India is a key partner in ensuring multipolarity in Asia and the denial of China as a hegemon. We must continue to strive to make progress and build our partnership based on our shared founding values of democracy, freedom of the press and assembly, and human rights. This delegation is a historic opportunity to drive further collaboration and advance shared aims."
London, Aug 8 : A 28-year-old Indian-origin police officer has been sentenced to three years in prison and disqualified from driving for over four years for dangerous driving, leading to the death of a woman in south London in 2021.

Police constable Nadeem Patel, who was driving at a speed of 83.9 mph while responding to an emergency 999 call, admitted to causing the death of Shante Daniel-Folkes, 25, in Brixton on the night of June 9, 2021.

He was dismissed without notice after a misconduct hearing on May 4.

Despite all efforts by officials and paramedics, Daniel-Folkes died at the scene.

The Old Bailey court in London heard on Monday that a collision occurred as two separate police cars responded to an emergency call.

Daniel-Folkes was struck by the second car, which was driven by Patel.

Police constable Gary Thomson, who was driving the first police car, was found guilty of careless driving by the court following a four-day trial.

He was fined 500 pounds and received five penalty points on his licence.

Charged with dangerous driving, Thomson had pleaded not guilty and was acquitted after a trial at the Old Bailey in July.

"My thoughts and condolences are with the family of Shante Daniel-Folkes. The circumstances are tragic and have brought upset to our communities in Lambeth," Commander Seb Adjei-Addoh, in charge of policing in Lambeth, said.

"Our Police Community Engagement team will be working hard to listen and respond to local concerns stemming from this incident and trial verdict over the coming days."

Patel and Thomson, who were attached to the Central South Command Unit of Metropolitan Police, were charged following an Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation.
Portable toilets for women to be must at all rallies in Maharashtra. Image Source: IANS News

Mumbai, Aug 8 : In a significant initiative, the Maharashtra government plans to make portable toilets for women compulsory at the venues of all rallies and events in the state, ahead of the Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections in 2024.

Women & Child Welfare Minister Aditi Tatkare has given a written assurance to a social group campaigning for #HerRightToPee by activist Tirtha Samant through her petition on Change.Org.

Tatkare said that she was in agreement with the suggestion and she would request Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar to issue relevant directions to all District Collectors, Police Commissioners, Superintendents of Police and others concerned.

They would be asked to ensure the facility of arranging for clean, portable toilets for women before granting permission for political rallies or events which attract huge crowds, including many women.

The petition, signed by over 2,000, has also urged the heads of womenas wings of all political parties like Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress, Shiv Sena, Shiv Sena-UBT, Nationalist Congress Party factions, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and others to ensure portable public toilets for women during their political events, especially the forthcoming parliament and assembly elections.

"Tirtha Samant from the aShe Creates Changea programme brought to my notice her online petition asking for portable toilets for women in political rallies. I have taken note of this and assured her of appropriate action," said Tatkare.

On her part, Samant said that gender equality begins with the most basic of things: access to a safe and clean toilet at public gatherings and expressed happiness that the state government took cognizance of her plea. She pointed out how lack of clean and safe public toilets for women is a longstanding issue and can prevent health problems like urinary tract infections, kidney diseases and a traumatic experience in public places.

Samant has also urged political parties to consider including a promise in the election manifestos to provide clean and well-maintained public toilets in each village in the state.
Tirupati : , Aug 8 (IANS) A row has erupted over the appointment of YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) MLA Bhumana Karunakar Reddy as the new Chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which runs the affairs the richest Hindu temple at Tirumala here.

The opposition parties have targeted the YSRCP government over appointing Karunakar Reddy despite his alleged Christian leanings.

The Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government on Sunday appointed Karunakar Reddy, who will succeed Y.V. Subba Reddy, whose two-time tenure came to an end on Monday.

Karunakar Reddy, who is a member of Assembly from Tirupati, is set to take charge as the new TTD trust board Chairman on August 10.

This is the second time that he will be heading the TTD board. He had earlier held the coveted post in 2006-2008 when Jagan Mohan Reddy's father Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR) was the Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh.

Karunakar Reddy, a staunch loyalist of the YSR family, was then in the Congress. After Jagan Mohan Reddy quit the Congress and floated YSR Congress following the death of his father YSR, Karunakar Reddy sailed with him.

Opposition parties have slammed the YSRCP government for appointing Karunakar Reddy, also a distant relative of Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, despite controversies during his earlier term.

BJP's Andhra Pradesh unit President and former Union minister D. Purandeswari said on Tuesday that only a person who believes in Hindu dharma should be appointed to the key post.

She said the TTD board Chairman is not a political rehabilitation post.

"Only those who believe in Hindu dharma can do justice to this post," she said.

Purandeswari also said the government had earlier appointed a board of trustees with 80 members. The appointment of 52 people was stopped after the issue was raised. This shows that the government is considering these appointments as political rehabilitation appointments.

"For the post of TTD Chairman, one who believes in Hindu dharma and who follows Hindu dharma should be appointed," she added.

Earlier, TDP state secretary Buchi Ram Prasad had alleged that Karunakar Reddy does not have any faith in Hinduism.

"Everyone knows he has Christian connections. We have all the evidence to prove this. In the past, there was a marriage at his residence, which took place completely as per Christian traditions," Prasad said.

He was apparently referring to the marriage of Karunakar Reddy's daughter Neeha Reddy in 2016. The picture of the wedding went viral on social media after a Government Order was issued appointing Karunakar Reddy as TTD Chairman.

Neeha Reddy was married to Y.S. Sumadhur Reddy, the son of Y.S. Ravindra Reddy and brother of Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR).

The YSR family practises Christianity and the wedding was also held as per Christian traditions. However, Karunakar Reddy claims that he is a staunch practising Hindu.

BJP leader and former Chief Secretary I.Y.R. Krishna Rao also came down heavily on the government over Karunakar Reddy's appointment.

He said it was unfortunate that the TTD trust board chief's post had become a political appointment.

"Only those who have immense faith in the Lord should be appointed as the TTD Chairman," said Rao, who had worked as TTD executive officer in the past.

YSRCP, however, defended its decision.

Party MLA G. Srikanth Reddy said there is absolutely no controversy over Karunakar Reddy's religious faith. Accusing the opposition parties of creating an issue, he said that people of Tirupati know Karunakar Reddy and his religious faith.

Controversies are not new to appointments for TTD board.

When Jagan Mohan Reddy had appointed his maternal uncle Y.V. Subba Reddy as TTD Chairman in 2019, critics had questioned Subba Reddy's religious credentials. He had to publicly claim that he was a staunch practising Hindu and not a Christian.

Subba Reddy was re-appointed to the post for another term of two years in 2021. However, the government's move of constituting a jumbo TTD board had come under flak from the opposition.

The government had constituted an 81-member trust including the Chairman and 52 special invitees.

The government had issued an ordinance amending the Endowments Act 1987 to allow the appointments of special invitees.

On a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the appointment of 18 board members and special invitees, the Andhra Pradesh High Court had suspended the Government Order.

The petitioner, Bhanu Prakash Reddy, a BJP leader, had alleged that 14 of the TTD members have criminal background while appointment of four others was purely political in nature.

The petitioner had contended that the government had scant regard to personal details of the members and special invitees and whether they had faith in the Hindu customs and traditions followed in the world famous temple.

The Sri Venkateswara temple at Tirumala is the world's richest Hindu temple with assets of over Rs 2.5 lakh crore, including 10.25 tonnes of gold and annual revenues of about Rs 3,000 crore.

The assets include land parcels, buildings, cash and gold deposits given as offerings by the devotees..

For 2023-24, TTD had passed a Rs 4,411 crore budget, a big jump of 43 per cent over the previous year. This is said to be the highest since TTD's inception in 1933.

The temple gets Rs 1,500 crore every year through Hundi collections or devotees' offerings.
Jammu, Aug 8 : DPAP chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad on Tuesday said that he will stand like a rock to defend the interests of local people and will not allow anyone to take over the local resources since the people of Jammu and Kashmir are its primary stakeholders.

Azad lashed out over the prevailing regime and said that the misgovernance and lack of transparency in the system has pushed the people of UT to the wall and the government of India must hold the Assembly elections.

"It is unconstitutional to deny people for so long their democratic right to choose their representatives. Jammu and Kashmir which was one of the oldest states of the country cannot be governed administratively.

"We need development, good governance and public participation to keep democracy alive in this part of country," he said while addressing a gathering of workers at Bhagwah, Dessa in Doda.

Azad said whatever good he had done in Jammu and Kashmir as Chief Minister; the present regime is destroying it brick by brick.

"Be it Roshni scheme, or other socioeconomic projects all have been targeted and people are systematically disempowered.

"Under the Roshni scheme people were empowered to secure their livelihood and the hospitals were built for proper treatment of patients, roads were built to connect people and economy.

"You can see now not only land rights were snatched, these hospitals have staff deficiency, roads are not maintained which has hit the economy of common people," he said.

Azad promised his workers, if he is elected to power, he will restore the Roshni scheme and will create abundant job opportunities for the local youth.
New Delhi, Aug 8 : The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Delhi Police has arrested a couple, who allegedly launched a project at Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh and allotted the same units to multiple buyers and mortgaged with several financial institutions.

The accused have been identified as Ashok Goel and Vandana Goel.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (EOW) Surendra Choudhary stated that a case was filed based on a complaint from a housing finance firm.

The accused, who were directors of Jaipuria Buildcon Pvt. Ltd, introduced the "Jaipuria Apartments Crossing Republic" project in 2007 along NH-24, Ghaziabad. Assured by the accused directors, the complainant approved 24 loans to project buyers.

Subsequently, it came to light that the accused had allocated the same flats to different buyers and financial institutions, resulting in a fraudulent gain of Rs 5.6 crore.

"After conducting multiple raids across Delhi/NCR, the accused were ultimately located in Pune and were arrested there on Thursday," said the DCP.
Kolkata: An Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) and Voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) during a voters awareness programme organised ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Kolkata, on March 19, 2019. . Image Source: IANS News

Kolkata, Aug 8 : By-elections for the Dhupguri assembly constituency in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri will be conducted on September 5 and the votes counted on September 8, the Election Commission of India said on Tuesday.

There will be by-polls in six other assembly constituencies in five other states on the same date and counting will also be held on September 8.

The by-polls in Dhupguri were necessitated following the sudden demise of sitting BJP legislator Bishnu Pada Roy on July 25.

He came to Kolkata to participate in the monsoon session of West Bengal Assembly but was admitted to a city hospital after he complained of the chest pain and died soon after.

A first-time MLA, he was also the first elected BJP legislator from Dhupguri.

--IANS

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Bengaluru, Aug 8 : The farmers in Karnataka farmers have decided to re-launch the agitation on the project on river Mahadayi -- popularly known as Kalasa Banduri Project. The Central government has approved the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Kalasa-Bhanduri project in December 2022.

The people of the northern Karnataka region have been demanding and agitating for the implementation of the project for three decades.

The project is expected to end the water crisis in major districts of northern Karnataka region.

The decision was hailed as a shot in the arm for the BJP in the state ahead of assembly elections. It was announced a few months ahead of the 2023 Karnataka Assembly polls.

Then chief minister Basavaraj Bommai had stated that "this was the commitment of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre towards the development of the state".

"I am happy... 30 years of struggle is being won. It is a victory for north Karnataka farmers," he had said, adding: "I will call for the tender as early as possible," he had then said.

Bommai had also said the issues related to forest, hydrology and other inter-state matters were cleared.

However, with the BJP facing defeat in the assembly elections and the neighbouring Goa government opposing the implementation of the project, the farmers are concerned over the promises made by the previous BJP government in this regard.

The Central government had given a one-year extension to the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal for submission of further report in July 2023.

The tribunal was originally required to submit its findings within three years from its Constitution, but due to various reasons, the deadline has been extended multiple times.

The farmers have been dubbing the announcements of the previous BJP government as "false promises aimed at electoral gains".

The farmers in Dharwad district held a meeting in this backdrop at the Vidyavardhaka Sangha.

The agitation for demanding the project had witnessed major violence in the region earlier.

The farmer leaders slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for failing to resolve the issues when the BJP was in power in Goa and Karnataka.

The majority of farmers urged to relaunch the massive agitation for the project. Political analysts believe the decision will directly impact the results of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
New Delhi, Aug 8 : Journalist Neerja Chowdhury on Tuesday, during the release of her new book 'How Prime Minister Decides', said that she initially intended to write on demonetisation however she had to abandon the idea knowing that she would not be able to acquire required information on the subject.

The author described Indian politics as a 'great Indian Nautanki' (drama).

NCP Supremo Sharad Pawar, who released the book, said that Narasimha Rao was the best prime minister.

The book launch took place at the Prime Ministers' Museum and Library Society, Teen Murti Bhavan.

Kerala Governor Arif Muhammed Khan, who was also a guest during the panel discussion, said that he had been reading the book for the last three days.

"Indian politics should transcend party lines and focus on working for the greater good. Making supreme sacrifices, possessing good manners and conduct, acquiring vast knowledge, and we should accommodate all," Khan said.

Journalist Rajdeep Sardesai said that the book unveils how the government operates and exposes mistakes of various political parties who have governed India.

BJP leader Dinesh Trivedi acknowledged Neerja's research efforts for writing the book.

Maharashtra former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said that no other author would have approached this book the way Neerja did.

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said it is a must read book.
New Delhi, Aug 8 : The Supreme Court is slated to hear on Wednesday the bail plea filed by student activist Umar Khalid, who was arrested and charged under the Unlawful Activities Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with the alleged larger conspiracy case behind the 2020 Delhi riots.

As per the cause list published on the apex court website, a bench of Justices A.S. Bopanna and Prashant Kumar Mishra will hear Khalidas special leave petition.

Khalid had approached the top court against denial of bail by the Delhi High court.

A bench of Justices Siddharth Mridul and Justice Rajnish Bhatnagar of the high court has rejected Khalid's appeal seeking regular bail on October 18 last year. He had challenged the trial court order which had denied him bail in connection with the UAPA case.

His alleged offensive speeches delivered at Amaravati during the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens were the basis of allegations against him in the riots case.

JNU scholars and activists Khalid, and Sharjeel Imam are among the nearly a dozen people involved in the alleged larger conspiracy case linked with the Delhi riots 2020, as per the Delhi Police.

The riots broke out in the national capital in February 2020 as clashes between the anti-CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) and pro-CAA protesters took a violent turn, in which more than 50 people lost their lives and over 700 were injured.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 8 : Congress leader Manish Tewari on Tuesday criticised the government over the situation in Manipur saying that the ongoing unrest in the northeastern state will affect other states in the country as well.

The former union minister also raised concern over the security scenario in the India-China border region.

Speaking in support of the no-confidence motion in Lok Sabha, the Congress MP raised concerns over the spillover of violence in Manipur to nearby states, including Mizoram.

Tewari said: "Manipur violence will affect other states too and the rest of the country."

Tewari also raised concerns regarding the security scenario in the India-China border region and cited a report by the SSP presented at a DGP-level conference.

"Currently, there are 65 patrolling points from Poratoram Pass to Chumar that are to be regularly patrolled by Indian Security Forces (ISF).

"Of these 65 patrolling points, our presence has been lost at 26 patrolling points due to restrictive or no patrolling by ISF," he said.

Tewari said that later, "China forced us to accept the fact that as these areas have not seen the presence of ISFs or civilians for a long time and the Chinese were present in these areas".

"This results in a shift of the border under the control of ISF towards the Indian side, creating a buffer zone in such pockets that ultimately leads to a loss of control over the areas held by India. This is a tactic employed by the PLA to gradually grab land, known as 'salami slicing'," Tewari, who was also a former union minister, said.

Taking a swipe at the government over the abrogation of the Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress leader said: "Even after four years after the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, no elections have been held so far."
New Delhi, Aug 8 : Congress Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi on Tuesday accused the BJP of ignoring the strife-torn Manipur.

"Being from the North East, on the issue of Manipur, I was the first person from the Congress to speak. BJP has two MPs from Manipur, one is Union Minister. Why did not BJP tell about the actual situation of Manipur through its MPs from the state?" Gogoi said.

Earlier in the day, the Congress MP from Assam's Kaliabor while speaking on the no-confidence motion in the Lower House said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken 'Maun Vrat' (vow of silence) on Manipur and through this motion they want to break his 'Maun Vrat'.

"When I spoke on Manipur, no MPs from Manipur and North Eastern Region, nobody challenged my statement," he said referring to the BJP and its alliance parliamentarian from the region.

"Those people from BJP giving speeches on Manipur, no one has gone to Manipur. The attitude BJP has shown today, clearly it shows they are ignoring Manipur and not giving importance to the state."

"Like Congress party has given its representative from North East to speak on Manipur. It would have been better if BJP would have done the same."

Ethnic clashes erupted in Manipur on May 3 and since then hundreds of people have lost their lives whereas thousands have been forced to take refuge in the relief camps.

The Congress and other Opposition parties have been blaming the Biren Singh-led government for the current situation in the Northeastern state and demanded his dismissal.
Mumbai, Aug 8 : Actress Faria Abdullah, who is awaiting the release of her upcoming streaming series 'The Jengaburu Curse', has shared that the team went 500 feet deep inside the mines to shoot some scenes of the series. For the same, they had to wear helmets and boots.

The shoot also also led to the dropping of oxygen levels. While talking about her shooting experience, Faria Abdullah, who portrays the character of Priyambada Das said that they had shot at real locations, be it the airport or the market.

She said: "The team has really put in efforts to hold on to the authenticity of the locations. I remember shooting in a buzzing market and the team constantly instructing people to not look in the camera and look elsewhere. The most exciting yet thrilling part of the shoot was to shoot in the real mines."

"We went 500 ft deeper inside the mines to shoot some scenes. We had to wear helmets and boots; the oxygen level dropped as we went deeper inside the mine. We were scared but the experience was surreal."

Produced by Studio Next, 'The Jengaburu Curse' is created and directed by Nila Madhab Panda. Written by Mayank Tewari, Paulo Perez serves as the DOP on the series. Alokananda Dasgupta and Durga Prasad Mohapatra serve as music directors and production designers respectively. Edited by Jabeen Merchant, the series features Faria Abdullah, Nasser, Makarand Deshpande, Sudev Nair, Deipak Sampat, and Hitesh Dave in pivotal roles.

The series is set to stream on Sony LIV from August 9.
New Delhi, Aug 8 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that it will hear on Wednesday the question of maintainability of various PILs filed against the remission granted to 11 convicts in the case of gang rape of Bilkis Bano and murder of her family members during the 2002 post-Godhra riots.

The Centre, Gujarat government, and the convicts have opposed the public interest litigations (PILs) filed by CPI-M leader Subhashini Ali, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, National Federation of Indian Women, Asma Shafique Shaikh and others, saying that once victim herself has approached the court, others may not be allowed to intervene in a criminal matter.

"Other writ petitions are in the nature of PILs. A preliminary objection has been raised with respect to the maintainability of the PILs. To hear the preliminary objection, list tomorrow at 3 p.m.," ordered the top court on Tuesday.

A bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan commenced final hearing from August 7 in the batch of petitions filed against the release of 11 convicts, including the one filed by Bilkis Bano.

Advocate Shobha Gupta, appearing for Bilkis Bano, had argued that the convicts in the case are not entitled for remission in view of the adverse opinion given by the trial judge who had convicted and sentenced them.

On May 9, the Supreme Court had directed issuance of notice to convicts, in relation with the convicts who could not be served notices. It had also directed publication of notices in local newspapers, including in Gujarati and English.

On May 2, the Centre and Gujarat government had told the Supreme Court that they would not claim privilege over the documents in connection with the remission of sentence of convicts in Bilkis Bano case, and agreed to share the documents with the apex court for its perusal.

The 11 men convicted in the case were released on August 15 last year, after the Gujarat government allowed their release under its remission policy. The convicts had completed 15 years in jail.
Bhubaneswar, August 8 : The Railway Protection Force (RPF) of East Coast Railway rescued 62 minor children from various railway platforms and trains in its jurisdiction during the month of July under operation Nanhe Farishte drive.

A total of 50 boys and 12 girls were reunited with their parents with the help of NGOs like Childline and District Child Welfare Committee in July, a railway official said on Tuesday.

The RPF personnel rescued the children who had fled from their homes to railway stations/other destinations by train without informing their parents due to family issues or in search of a better life. The RPF personnel also counselled them before reuniting them with their parents, the official said.

The Railways have also joined in the Bachpan Bachao Andolan drive to work towards eradicating human trafficking through railways. Apart from this, RPF also launched operation AAHT (Action Against Human Trafficking) and rescued human trafficking victims.

Among the 62 minors rescued in July, 33 boys and 2 girls were rescued from the Khurda Road division, five boys and four girls were rescued from the Sambalpur division, and 12 boys and six girls were rescued from the Waltair division.
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 8 : Exactly three weeks after the demise of veteran Kerala leader and two-time Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, the Election Commission on Tuesday announced the by-election to his Puthupally Assembly constituency in Kottayam district will be held on September 5 and the Congress fielded his son Chandy Oommen.

Oommen Chandy has had a record-breaking run as Puthupally legislator starting from his debut election in 1970 till July 18 when he passed away.

With his last journey from the state capital to his grave at his home parish St George Orthodox Church in Puthupally becoming one of the most talked about events as lakhs waiting to have one last glimpse of him, it was discernible that there is going to be a huge sympathy wave in his favour of Chandy and Congress party sources definitely pegged his son as the candidate.

The top brass of the Congress had recently met at Kottayam and had given the nod to its cadres to get ready and have asked Chandyas closest aides - senior party legislator Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan and former State Minister K.C.Joseph to lead from the front.

The ruling CPI-M has already started their work with allotting their top leaders to take over and commence their work for the upcoming election.

Chandyas elder daughter Maria Oommen, spotted at the Chandy house in the state capital, said neither she nor younger sister Achu are not into politics.

"If the party decides, Chandy Oommen will be contesting. We just heard the news of the election and it has come even as we are still with our mourning," she had said prior to the Congress announcement.

According to the Orthodox Church rituals after a death, there is family mourning till the 40th day.

Leader of Opposition V.D.Satheesan had said that now that the date has been announced, it will take only hours to name the candidate.

"The time has come for the voters at Puthupally and people of Kerala to expose both the state and Central governments and there is no better time than this to ensure our candidate will surely win with a record margin," he said.

Veteran party legislator Ramesh Chennithala had no doubts that their candidate will win with a staggering margin as Oommen Chandy practically knew most of his voters by their first name.

"The electorate will give a stunning blow to the misgovernance of the (Pinarayi) Vijayan government," he said.

Congress legislator T. Siddique said the Congress candidate at Puthupally will win with a record breaking margin.

"I told our legislator Uma Thomas (widow of sitting Congress legislator P.T.Thomas who passed away in December 2021) to pack her bags just as they did when they arrived to campaign for her last year and she won with a huge margin. At Puthupally, just wait and see, our candidate will break all records as this is going to be a vote for our dear Oommen Chandy," he said.

On the other hand, CPI-M state Secretary M.V.Govindan said they donat think that sympathy factor will work as they are seeing it as a political fight.

"People who are wanting development, will certainly vote for the state government who is going forward with a development agenda so they are not worried at all," he said.

State Cooperation Minister V.N. Vasavan, who hails from Kottayam and has been given the charge for the election, said none should forget that Kottayam district always thinks differently.

"Donat forget that soon after the assassination of Indira Gandhi, our CPI-M candidate Suresh Kurup won the Lok Sabha election, so history is on our side. Moreover out of the eight village councilas in the Puthupally assembly constituency, six are with us," he said.

Meanwhile, Vijayan's son-in-law and state PWD Minister P.A.Mohammed Riyas also expressed confidence that the Left government is sitting on a strong wicket and people will vote for the state government.

The names of Jaick C.Thomas, who twice contested unsuccessfully against Chandy, and Regi Zachariah, who contested once against Chandy, are the front runners from the CPI-M and one will have to wait till Friday when the CPI-M leadership meets to name their candidate.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 8 : A Delhi court has disposed of an application moved by Devangana Kalita, an accused in the 2020 North-East Delhi riots case, seeking copies of documents or relevant materials relied upon by the prosecution free of cost without any delay.

The court declined Kalita's plea as it refused to provide the complete CCTV footage related to the riots area, and chats from the WhatsApp groups of police officials.

It may be noted that it is a case under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) that alleges a larger conspiracy behind the violence.

Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Amitabh Rawat considered the ongoing investigation into individual riots cases and their nature. He agreed with the Delhi Police's stance that providing the entire relevant footage and chats to Kalita, as supplied to the accused in individual cases, was unnecessary for a UAPA case.

Special public prosecutor Amit Prasad said that relevant chats concerning the larger conspiracy case had been given to Kalita, except for the chats from the official police WhatsApp groups containing sensitive or privileged information.

The court observed: "This court had earlier ordered that supply of the complete chats of entire WhatsApp group to all accused persons but on the aspect of official/police WhatsApp group chats, it contains information about police officials and their activities and the relevant chats/relied upon have been filed and supplied."

ASJ Rawat added: "In my view, supply of the entire chats of the said group is not required under Section 207 of Cr.P.C. The same would hold for other police WhatsApp groups."

Earlier, the court had ordered that Kalita be provided with various documents, including chats from WhatsApp groups like DPSG, JCC, MSJ and CAB, along with documents related to AAZMI, which were kept sealed.

"In view of the above discussion, the aspect of compliance under Section 207 of Cr.P.C of accused Devangana Kalita stands disposed of," the court said.

The court also ordered day-to-day hearing on the issue of framing charges against the accused persons in the case.

The court's decision came after the stage of compliance under Section 207 of Cr.P.C in respect of all the chargesheeted accused persons, which completed on August 5, nearly three years after the proceedings in the case began in September 2020 with the filing of the first charge sheet.

"list the matter for arguments on the point of charge on 11.09.2023 onwards for day to day hearing. Ld. Special Public Prosecutor shall begin the arguments on 11.09.2023," the court said.

On April 5, compliance proceedings under Section 207 of CrPC were concluded for 17 accused individuals, excluding Kalita.

The accused persons in this case include Tahir Hussain, Umar Khalid, Khalid Saifi, Isharat Jahan, Meeran Haider, Gulfisha Fatima, Shifa-Ur-Rehman, Asif Iqbal Tanha, Shadab Ahmed, Tasleem Ahmed, Saleem Malik, Mohd. Saleem Khan, Athar Khan, Safoora Zargar, Sharjeel Imam, Faizan Khan, and Natasha Narwal.
New Delhi, Aug 8 : With the G20 summit just a month away, top functionaries of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Tuesday reviewed the preparations for the mega international conference.

Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, P.K. Mishra chaired the seventh meeting of the Coordination Committee on Indiaas G20 Presidency at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, where the event is going to be hosted.

The meeting covered summit preparedness in substantive as well as logistical aspects, official sources said.

Progress and outcomes on both Sherpa and Finance track were also reviewed. Presentations were made in this regard by the Sherpa (G20) Amitabh Kant, the Economic Affairs Secretary, and the Information and Broadcasting Secretary.

Discussion was held on Indian Presidencyas priorities including Green Development, accelerating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), strong sustainable balanced and inclusive growth, digital public infrastructure, gender equality and reform of multilateral institutions.

Kant informed that so far, a total of 185 meetings, including 13 at the Ministerial level, have been concluded covering almost all states and Union Territories in the country. Besides the 12 outcome documents, 12 other deliverables with consensus have been adopted, it was added.

The Economic Affairs Secretary informed that considerable progress has been made in the finance track including on crypto assets agenda, financial inclusion, mobilising climate finance and enabling finance for SDGs. The I&B Secretary briefed about the arrangements for media, like setting up of a media centre and media accreditation.

So far, more than 3,200 media personnel have registered for the summit, including 1,800 foreign and more than from 1,200 domestic media. Adequate arrangements are being made to facilitate both foreign as well as domestic media, it was informed.

Mishra also reviewed the implementation of past decisions pertaining to logistical and security aspects. Delhi government and security officials, including the Delhi Police Commissioner, briefed on steps being taken for hosting the visiting dignitaries, plans for traffic management, airport and security arrangements, and beautification drive being undertaken in Delhi NCR in the run up to the Leadera Summit.

Noting the positive progress achieved in hosting the G-20 Leaderas Summit next month, the Principal Secretary instructed all concerned to complete all arrangements in the next few days so that rehearsals could begin. Mishra emphasised on the continued importance of the whole of governmentas approach and action in ensuring timely and adequate preparations, official sources said.

He pointed out that with one month remaining for the summit, it was time for last mile delivery with precision.

Mishra said that detailed SOPs should be developed and specific duties be assigned to officers for smooth execution.

The Delhi Lt Governor, the Cabinet Secretary and Delhi government officers were also present during the meeting.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 8 : Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud late on Tuesday visited the Additional Building Complex of the Supreme Court to inspect the work progress of public canteen, consultation rooms, cubicles, etc.

During his surprise visit at around 07:30 p.m., the CJI Chandrachud walked up to the Advocates Chamber Block and interacted with the advocates.

In the day, a five-judge constitution bench, headed by the CJI and comprising Justices S.K. Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, B.R. Gavai, and Surya Kant heard a clutch of petitions challenging abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution.
OZARK  The towns of Pinckard and Napier Field are the legal owners of the power stretchers they each separately purchased two years ago, Thirty-third Judicial Circuit Judge Kimberly Crawford decided after a hearing at the Ozark courthouse Monday.

The Towns of Pinckard and Napier Field presented evidence that each purchased a power lift stretcher from FERNO via checks issued to and deposited by the vendor, Crawford ruled. Each town presented evidence of reimbursement for such purchases via copies of checks made payable to each entity by the state of Alabama.

At issue was the legal ownership of two medical transport stretchers purchased with Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security funds by the Dale County towns at a cost of about $15,000 each.

The power stretchers were then provided for use to the now defunct South Dale EMS for the purpose of serving residents of Grimes, Napier Field, Midland City, Pinckard and Newton. When the EMS ceased operations on Jan. 14 of this year, they did not return the stretchers to the purchasing municipalities but instead sold the ambulances, with the power stretchers inside, to Midland City Feb. 7.

Despite letters from Pinckard Mayor Bobby Borland and Napier Field Mayor Thomas Skeen requesting return of the stretchers, Midland City did not return them and the lawsuit against Midland City followed.

Pinckard and Napier Field maintained that equipment purchases with CARES funds cannot be sold to other entities. Borland told the court that his city had asked the state comptrollers office to clarify parameters for equipment purchased with CARES funds. We were approved to loan it to our EMS provider and we were told they could use it as long as they were giving us services, Borland said. The stretchers were never a gift to or sold to South Dale EMS.

Borland, one of five members of the South Dale EMS Board, said that he had cast the single vote against selling the ambulances to Midland City but that the sale would have included the manual stretchers that came with the ambulance and not the power stretchers. The law says you cannot sell or give away something that has been purchased with a grant, Borland said.

Crawford had given the town representatives 48 hours to decide on a temporary location for the power stretchers pending an ownership decision but when they could not reach agreement, she remanded the stretchers to the custody of the Dale County Coroner.

Gwen Hubbard, Midland City Clerk at the time the power stretchers were purchased, said the council voted unanimously to purchase three fully equipped ambulances for some $120,000. She said that the former South Dale EMS Director was at the meeting and there was no discussion about the power stretchers being a separate item. Midland City Mayor Pro tem Dennis Mathews agreed. Those ambulances arent worth two cents without stretchers in them, he told the court.

Testimony Monday was that the ambulances purchased by Midland City from South Dale County EMS were originally equipped with manual, non-power stretchers. Such ambulances were purchased by Midland City for the payoff amounts still owed on same; an amount that could not have included the costs of the power stretchers as they were not the purchased ambulances original equipment, Crawford ruled.

The judge noted that no evidence was presented that South Dale EMS ever paid Pinckard and Napier Field for the stretchers, nor was any evidence presented that the power stretchers were simply donated or given to South Dale EMS.

The only evidence presented reflected the power stretchers were shipped to South Dale EMS for use consistent with the testimony that the stretchers were permitted to be utilized by South Dale EMS so long as it provided services to the towns, Crawford ruled. No evidence was presented which indicated South Dale EMS had any authority to sell the two power stretchers.

The three manual stretchers are the property of Midland City as they constitute original equipment of the ambulances purchased, Crawford said. The power stretchers belong to the towns of Pinckard and Napier Field.
New Delhi/Imphal, Aug 8 : While the Lok Sabha debates on the Manipur issue, leaders of both tribals and Meitei community are lobbying in New Delhi and holding meetings with Home Ministry officials.

A meeting between Home Minister Amit Shah and leaders of Manipur's Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) was scheduled to take place on Tuesday but was not held as the Minister was busy with the Parliament session.

Senior ITLF leader and spokesman Ginza Vualzong said that the meeting with the Union Home Minister would now be held on Wednesday and they held meetings with the Home Ministry officials on Tuesday.

On the other hand, leaders of the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an umbrella body of the Meitei community, also held meetings with Central government officials in Delhi.

COCOMI spokesman Khuraijam Athouba said that his organisation vehemently opposed the Union Government's intention to "engage in talks with the self-proclaimed ITLF".

"This group is at the forefront of individuals directly involved in the ongoing violence in Manipur. Their members are known to be leaders of the immigrant Chin-Kuki Narco-Terrorist organisations, coercing innocent Kuki civilians into participating in violent activities. The Manipuri populace has been exposed to numerous video footage and images depicting these members brandishing sophisticated sniper rifles and operating drone cameras from hilltop locations within Manipur," the COCOMI alleged in a statement, issued from Delhi.

Accusing Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga of supporting ITLFas activities, the COCOMI spokesman said that various instances have emerged where the Chief Minister of Manipur has vehemently protested against the unwarranted interference in the state's internal affairs.

The COCOMI has been strongly opposing the ITLF and other tribal organisationsa demands for separate administrations (equivalent to separate state) for the tribals in Manipur.

Meanwhile, a four member delegation of the ITLF went to Delhi on Monday to meet the Union Home Minister to press for its demands, which include a separate state for the tribals. The other demands of the ITLF include state police and commando forces should not be deployed in the hill areas of Manipur, inmates lodged in the jails in Imphal should be shifted to others states of the country, and legalisation of a site for mass burial of tribals killed during the ethnic violence

"We will press for early solutions to our demands as the Manipur situation, due to the misgovernance of the Chief Minister N. Biren Singh-led government, has been deteriorating fast. Tribals are victims due to the state governmentas anti-tribal governance," Vualzong, who is also a member of the ITLF delegation, told IANS over phone.

Meanwhile in Manipur, security has been further tightened ahead of Wednesday's mass rally, to be organised by the United Naga Council (UNC), the apex body of the Nagas in Manipur. The UNC would hold a mass rally in the Naga areas of the state for resolving the decades-old Naga political issue based on the Framework Agreement, signed on August 3, 2015.

The apex Kuki tribal body Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) has announced to support the UNCas mass rally in four Naga-dominated districts -- Tamenglong, Chandel, Ukhrul, and Senapati.
Bengaluru, Aug 8 : The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday directed the Union government to obtain the order copy of the judgment from a Saudi Arabian court and related certified documents in connection with the conviction of a man from the state.

Shailesh Kumar, a resident of Barnakatte near Mangaluru in Dakshina Kannada district, has been awarded 15 years of imprisonment in Saudi Arabia for blasphemy.

The bench, headed by Justice Krishna S. Dixit, gave the directions to help in filing a petition before the Saudi king to review the punishment. It also directed the Central government to enlighten it about the procedure to file the mercy petition in connection with the cases of blasphemy, sedition and breach of trust cases.

Meanwhile, Mohin Khan, an officer at the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia appeared in the court online and said that officials in Saudi Arabia have already been contacted in connection with obtaining a copy of the conviction. He submitted that the copy of judgment was not available yet and the efforts are on to obtain it.

As the bench asked him how many days are required to obtain the copy, he told it that the courts in Saudi Arabia provide a copy of conviction to only those convicted and there is no provision to provide it to others. In spite of this, the efforts are on to get it and it canat be told exactly how many more days are required for obtaining a copy of the conviction, he added.

The bench then adjourned the matter to August 17.

The petition in this regard was filed by Kavitha, wife of Shailesh Kumar, who had been working in Saudi Arabia for 20 years. She had earlier pleaded with the Centre to get back her husband who has become a victim of hacking and got arrested by the Saudi Arabian government. She has also stated that he had been targeted for putting up a patriotic message on social media.

Kavitha, a resident of Barnakatte near Mangaluru, had claimed that miscreants had created a fake social media account of her husband and posted derogatory messages against the king of Saudi Arabia and Islam.

"During last February, my husband had put up a patriotic message on his social media account. He had received a threatening call from a stranger. The stranger had warned Shailesh to withdraw the social media account and if he didnat, they wouldn't allow him to be in Saudi Arabia. Shailesh, taking no chances, had taken off his account," she said.

After a few days, unknown people have created a fake social media account in the name of Shailesh Kumar and uploaded derogatory messages against Islam and the King of Saudi Arabia and hatched a conspiracy to get him arrested, she alleged.

BJP leader Jitendra Kottari had said that Shailesh Kumar is kept in the prison of Saudi Arabia for one and a half years and police have arrested him without any investigation. No advocate is coming forward to argue in favor of Shailesh and Indian organisations in Saudi Arabia are also silent on the issue, he claimed.

The matter was brought to the notice of BJP state President Nalin Kumar Kateel, who is also a local MP. Though, Kateel has written a letter to the Ministry of External Affairs, there is no progress.

There is an opportunity of his release if the MEA intervenes in the matter and the government should take necessary steps for the release of an innocent Indian landed in jail for no fault of his, Kottari demanded.

The court also had pulled up the callous attitude of the police department and officers in connection with the case. It had warned the action against the police for non-compliance of court directions with regard to the case.
Hyderabad, Aug 9 : The Telangana Police ranks first in the country in recovery of stolen mobile phones.

The state police have recovered 5,038 stolen/missing mobile phones using the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) which has been developed by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to curb the menace of mobile theft and counterfeit mobile devices.

Telangana Police achieved the first place in the country with the recovery rate of 67.98 per cent. Karnataka stands second with a recovery rate of 54.20 while Andhra Pradesh is at third place with 50.90 per cent.

The CEIR portal was officially launched nationwide on May 17 but it was started on a pilot basis in Telangana on April 19, 2023 while it was started on a pilot basis in Karnataka in September 2022.

A total of 5,038 lost/stolen mobile devices were recovered in a span of 110 days, of which the last 1000 were recovered in 16 days and handed over to complainants.

Director General of Police Anjani Kumar congratulated CEIR nodal officer and Additional Director General of Police, CID, Mahesh M. Bhagwat and team on this occasion for consistent monitoring and helping unit level teams in achieving this feat.

The portal is operational in all 780 police stations in the state. The ADGP, CID monitors the progress of work under CEIR portal. As per CEIR data pertaining to Telangana, 55,219 mobile devices were blocked, 11,297 traceability reports were received while 5,038 devices were unblocked and handed over to rightful owners.

Within Telangana, considerable contribution is made by Cyberabad Commissionerate by recovering 763 stolen/missing mobile devices. This was followed by Hyderabad Commissionerate with 402 mobile devices and Rachakonda Commissionerate with 398 devices.

To enhance user friendliness and serve the citizens of Telangana more efficiently, Telangana Police in coordination with DoT has successfully integrated CEIR portal with TS Police Citizen portal. As a result citizens are encouraged to utilise this service on the TS Police Citizen Portal instead of visiting MeeSeva or police stations for reporting lost/missing mobile devices.

--IANS

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Chennai, Aug 8 : Megastar Rajinikanth's upcoming film 'Jailer' is one of August's most anticipated releases alongside Sunny Deol's 'Gadar 2'.

Both have generated immense excitement across the country. However, when it comes to Rajinikanth, the craze in South India can never be matched.

In a surprising move, many offices in South India have declared holiday on August 10, the release date of aJailera.

And it is not just in Chennai or Madurai, but offices in other cities such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Thanjavur, Vishakapatnam, Mysuru, Ellore, Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi have also declared holidays, with many big companies handing out free tickets to their employees so that they can watch the film.

Many companies have taken to their X (formerly Twitter) account to share their holiday list. As such, people have already mass booked the movie in advance with big multiplexes in Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai and Bengaluru already becoming full.

Even in North India, in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat and Delhi, the movie has seen a great deal of bookings as Rajinikanth is a huge star across India, and coupled with the popularity of South Indian movies these days in the North, the advance bookings are not a surprise, particularly as the film marks the Tamil legendas return to the big screen after two years.

The story of the film revolves around a jailer named Muthuvel Pandian, also called aTigera, under whose custody a very powerful gangster from a notorious gang is imprisoned.

The members of the gang manage to rescue their leader, leading to Muthuvel tracking them.
New Delhi, Aug 9 : Delhi Police have arrested a 23-year-old man -- along with his two associates -- for allegedly making extortion calls to his employer by posing as gangster Neeraj Bawana, an official said on Tuesday.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Aarush Kashyap, Krishan Murari (22) and Vikram (22).

Their intent was to extort money from the victims and utilise it to relocate to Nepal, where they planned to establish a business.

As per the police, a complaint regarding extortion was lodged by Nikunj, a resident of Saraswati Vihar, who mentioned receiving a call demanding protection money.

The caller warned of dire consequences if the payment was not made.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Harendra Singh said: "The caller resorted to threats through text messages as well when the complainant ignored the calls. An FIR was promptly registered at Rani Bagh police station."

The caller demanded Rs 80 lakh as protection money, accompanying the demand with threats.

Subsequent investigations led the police to apprehend Murari, Vikram, and Kashyap.

Two mobile phones and SIM cards utilised for making the extortion calls were seized from them.

Elaborating on the background, it was revealed that Kashyap had worked at the complainant's factory for a span of four years, holding various responsibilities and developing a close rapport with the owner.

The trio, Kashyap, Murari, and Vikram, schemed the extortion plan meticulously, the police said.
Bhopal, Aug 9 : The political slugfest has intensified between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh over Bageshwar Dham head priest, Dhirendra Krishna Shastri's programme in Chhindwara.

The Congress seems to be looking to cash in on the popularity of the controversial self-styled godman after a three-day 'ram katha' was organised in Chhindwara district hosted by state Congress President Kamal Nath and his son and Chhindwara MP Nakul Nath. Lakhs of devotees attended Shastri's religious programme here.

On the one hand Kamal Nath seems to be getting along well with Shastri, which the state BJP leaders are calling as "Congress' hypocrisy".

Though, Dhirendra Shastri's ram katha in Chhindwara has ended but politics over it has intensified in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh.

At the conclusion of the ram katha, Kamal Nath said: "The relationship between me and Acharya Shastri is related to Hanuman ji, it is a relation of faith and belief. I have spent 40 years of my political life for the welfare of the people, similarly Shastri ji, you have narrated kathas at many places, but you will rarely find a place Chhindwara to narrate a religious lecture and devotees like in Chhindwara."

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also took a jibe at the Congress for the ram katha that took place in Chhindwara, saying: "The Congress is confused and is looking desperate. Those who once avoided taking the name of Lord Ram and called it a mythical figure, today they are participating in kathas and reciting Hanuman Chalisa. The Congress is forced to resort to such tactics since the elections are approaching. This is the electoral devotion of the Congress."

Chouhan also added, "Kamal Nath is thinking 'should I go here or there', it is very difficult where to go..? Now one of his party leaders has said that who should become the Chief Minister? Questions are being raised only on his existence as a leader. Now I feel that he has also started organising religious kathas to strengthen his position as a Congress leader."

State Home Minister Narottam Mishra also attacked Nath on the issue.
New Delhi, Aug 9 : Union Minister for Development of North-East Region (DoNER), G. Kishan Reddy, while informing that more than Rs 5 lakh crore has been spent in the last nine years for the northeast region, said on Tuesday that it has accelerated the pace of unprecedented development in the region.

The minister said this at the launch of a special skill development initiative for the northeast by the Ministry of Skill Development.

He also reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's belief that India cannot develop without the development of the NE region.

Stating that path-breaking decisions have been undertaken in connectivity and infrastructure in the region, Reddy said, "Till 2014, there were only nine airports, but today NE has 17 airports, giving a boost to tourism and mobility."

He also said that work is going on road projects worth over Rs 1.02 lakh crore and around Rs 82,000 crore has already been spent for railway connectivity.

The minster also said that the government is working on the target of full telecom connectivity in the NE region by the end of this year.

Lauding the Skill Ministry for the initiative, he said this will usher in a new dawn in skill development and entrepreneurship ecosystem in the region.

He added that the programme will prove to be a game changer for 2.5 lakh youth in the region.
New Delhi, Aug 9 : Congress MP from Tamil Nadu Manickam Tagore has written to Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, seeking his intervention in the Madurai-Tuticorin railway project.

In his letter to the Minister, he said: "Your kind attention is invited towards the matter of utmost importance that concerns the people of the southern district of Tamil Nadu - the Madurai-Tuticorin railway project. The people of the district have been eagerly awaiting the completion of this vital railway project, which was introduced under the Pragati Project of the Prime Minister's Office. The project is not only crucial for the region's economic development but also serves as a lifeline for the residents of Kariyapatti, Aruppukkottai and Vlathikulam areas.

"It pains us to inform you that despite the allocation of funds and completion of surveys, the project has been halted, causing great concern and dissatisfaction among the people, traders, industrial companies, and railway passengers. The railway project holds immense potential to contribute to the national freight handling target set by the Railways Ministry."

Its strategic location and connection to ports make it an essential link for transporting goods efficiently and supporting the economic growth of the entire region, the MP added.

"The successful completion of the Madurai-Tuticorin railway line will not only fulfil the aspirations of the people but also contribute significantly to the Ministry of Railways' freight handling target. This project aligns with the larger vision of enhancing connectivity and boosting economic activities in the region.

"We seek your personal intervention in this issue and direct the Southern Railways to continue the project without any hindrance for the benefit of people in the Southern district of Tamil Nadu," he added.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 9 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren to join the probe in connection with a money laundering case.

A source said on Tuesday that Soren he has been asked to appear before ED on August 14.

Though the ED has not made any official statement in this connection, the source in the know of things said that it could be related to a land grabbing matter.

Earlier late last year, Soren was questioned in connection with an illegal mining case.

He was questioned for around 10 hours along with his wife at the ED's Ranchi office.

In the land grabbing case, the ED has arrested 13 persons including an IAS officer.

On July 8, a raid was conducted at the residence of Chief Minister's legislator representative Pankaj Mishra. The ED found a cheque book linked to Chief Minister Hemant Soren's bank account. Subsequently, his name was connected to this case.

Mishra has been placed under arrest.

According to the source, the arrested accused used documents from 1932 to wrongfully seize people's lands by telling them that their lands had already been sold by their fathers or grandfathers.

They deceitfully took possession of the lands given on lease to the army and also fraudulently sold them elsewhere.

The agency seized a large number of fake deeds from their possession.

The ED had also conducted a raid on premises linked to IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan and later arrested her.

The case is from Jharkhand, but its ramifications extend to Bihar and Kolkata.

The source said that the accused used to occupy land by referring to pre-independence documents and creating fake documents from 1932. They claimed to have owned the land since the time when the entire region was West Bengal, including parts of Bihar and Jharkhand, encompassing both private and government lands.

When the ED conducted a forensic examination of the seized documents, it was revealed that all the documents were forged. The districts' names that did not exist before independence were mentioned along with pre-independence documents, and the PIN code from the 1970s was used in old documents. After uncovering these small discrepancies, the accused were arrested.

--IANS

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Jaipur, Aug 9 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Rajasthan on Tuesday criticised Congress MP Rahul Gandhi over several issues including waiving of farm loans ahead of his scheduled visit to the state on Wednesday.

The former Congress president is scheduled to visit Mangarh Dham in Banswara district on Wednesday on the occasion of World Tribal Day.

Slamming the Congress leader, the BJP asked: "Will he seek any answer from Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot regarding the promises made in the last assembly elections?"

Former state unit BJP president and ex-minister Arun Chaturvedi said: "Rahul Gandhi had promised to the people that if the Congress government is formed in the state, the loan of the farmers would be waived off. Will Rahul Gandhi tell if the loans of all the farmers have been waived in the state?

"Also, he had promised to provide employment for the youths. Will Rahul Gandhi tell about the 19 paper leaks that happened in Rajasthan? Whom will they hold responsible?" he questioned.

The BJP has also raised questions regarding the incidents of rapes happening in the state.

BJP national secretary Alka Gurjar said that when Rahul Gandhi comes to Mangarh Dham, "will he also go to meet the victim's family"?
OZARK-A Dale County man in Dale County Jail on $1,774,000 bond since 2019 pleaded guilty to two counts of production of child pornography Monday.

Daniel Gilley, 35, received a 22-year prison sentence from Thirty-third Judicial Circuit Judge Kimberly Crawford after pleading guilty to the two Class A Felony charges.

Originally from Dale County, Gilley, who was living in Rogersville, was arrested by the Dale County Sheriffs Deputies while he was visiting Dale County in August 2019 on four charges of the production of pornography with a minor, and three charges of possession of porn material of a minor. The charges involved films Gilley produced of himself and a female under the age of 17 performing sexual acts.

As part of the plea agreement, Gilley acknowledges that he will be a registered sex offender required to comply with all Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act laws.

Based on the statute and current Alabama law, Gilley will not receive good time or parole consideration, said Thirty-third Judicial Circuit District Attorney Kirke Adams. Under Alabama law involving a sex crime against a child under 12, Gilley is not eligible for parole, and therefore will serve 22 full years in prison, Adams said. Alabama has some of the toughest penalties for those that used to abuse children.

This investigation covered multiple jurisdictions and those officers worked very hard, Adams said, commending Caroline Jackson with the Dale county Sheriffs Office, Steve Sanders with SBI and Heather Whelan-Holt with the FBI.

Dale County Sherriff Mason Bynum echoed Adams praise of the investigators. I applaud Lt. Caroline Jackson and her team, along with our state and federal partners who aggressively go after those who choose to prey on our children, Bynum said. This is another example of us delivering on our promise to stand up for and protect our most valuable resource, which is our children.

By entering this plea agreement, the victim in this case does not have to come to court, and we do take that into consideration when trying to negotiate a settlement, Adams added. However, theres really no real proper penalty for abusing a child.
Guwahati, Aug 9 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday launched a veiled attack on the Congress, claiming that the northeast region was converted into a war zone during the Congress regime.

The Assam Chief Minister's sharp attack came in the backdrop of the opposition bringing a no confidence motion in the Parliament against the Central government over the continuing unrest in Manipur for more than three months now.

Speaking to reporters here, Sarma said that the Congress should seek apology for turning Manipur into a conflict state during the no confidence motion.

"I have no issue if the Congress says that it wants to tender an apology and that is why it has brought the no confidence motion," Sarma said.

"In Manipur, conflicts between ethnic communities existed for several decades. The state witnessed several unrests until 2014. At least 300 people died in 1990, whereas in 1993, 1,100 people died. Similarly in 2001, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012, many people became victims of violence in Manipur," he claimed.

According to Sarma, all these incidents of unrest occurred when the Congress ruled the state.

"The prices of essential commodities, including petrol and diesel, skyrocketed in Manipur when there was economic blockade. But the Congress took no step to ease the situation there," the Chief Minister said.

He also alleged that no Congress Prime Minister ever visited Manipur during the unrest when the party was in power.

"The conflict in Manipur was created due to the misrule of the Congress for decades and bringing complete peace there is an uphill task that requires continuous healing touch," Sarma said, adding, "Manipur witnessed peaceful environment only between 2014 and 2023."

The Assam Chief Minister also claimed that at a time when Manipur is limping back to normalcy, the opposition is shedding crocodile tears.

He even attacked the opposition alliance -- INDIA -- for its visit to Manipur.

"Leaders of INDIA went to Manipur for a few hours and they are now claiming themselves to be experts," Sarma said.
New Delhi, Aug 8 : Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday called upon the party leaders and workers of its state unit to Assam to reach out to people and expose the "misgovernance and incompetence" of the BJP-led government in the northeastern state.

His appeal came during a meeting convened by him with the leaders of the Assam Congress at the party headquarters here to discuss poll preparedness for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, in the presence of Rahul Gandhi, K.C. Venugopal, state chief Bhupen Kumar Borah and in-charge Jitendra Singh.

"In Assam, the Congress party is gearing up for the Lok Sabha elections. We are reinvigorating the organisation. All leaders and workers must reach out to people and expose the misgovernance and incompetence of the BJP," Kharge wrote in a tweet while apprising about the meeting.

He said: "Congress party built Assam, brick by brick, and ensured peace, progress and welfare of the state. Today, the strategy meeting with Assam leaders focussed on some crucial issues facing the state."

"Peace and prosperity have been the foundational pillars on which the Congress party built a progressive Assam. The misgovernance by BJP's adouble-enginea government has demolished these pillars. We are determined to ensure this trend stops, and the times change for the good for the people," Gandhi wrote in a Facebook post after the meeting with leaders of the northeastern state.

Talking to reporters, the party's Assam in-charge Singh lashed out at Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, accusing him of doing "divisive politics" in the state.

"In Assam, the government is anti-people, corrupt, and arrogant. The state longs for peace, communal harmony, and true governance rather than vendetta politics. The Assamese people's rage over the BJP's double-engineering will be palpable in 2024," he wrote in a tweet later.

Echoing similar sentiment, Venugopal, who is the party's General Secretary in charge (Organisations) took to the micro-blogging site and wrote: "In Assam, there is an anti-people, corrupt and arrogant government. The state is yearning for peace, communal harmony and genuine governance - not vendetta politics."

"The Assamese people's anger against the BJPas double engine malfunction will be crystal clear in 2024," he added.

Blaming the BJP for the Manipur situation and the recent violence in Haryana's Nuh, the Assam Congress chief claimed an attempt is being made to disturb the peace and atmosphere of the state.

Among others, Leader of Opposition in Assam Assembly Debabrata Saikia was also present in the meeting.

The Congress has been holding deliberations with its leaders of several states to chalk out the strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

--IANSstd/sha
New Delhi, Aug 9 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, addressing a meeting of NDA MPs from Maharashtra and Goa, lashed out at former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

According to sources, Prime Minister Modi criticised Thackeray without taking his name and said that he (Thackeray) "broke the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance, not the BJP".

He asserted that allies are important for the BJP.

Prime Minister Modi said that even when the Shiv Sena was in power with the BJP, Saamana (Shiv Sena's mouthpiece) used to criticise him and his government without any reason, to create "unnecessary controversies, but despite this the BJP followed the coalition ethics, tolerated it and took it very lightly at times".

Further targeting Thackeray, without taking his name, Prime Minister Modi said that he wants to remain in power and criticise at the same time. How can these two things (coalition and criticism) be possible together?, he asked.

Describing the NDA and its allies as "important" for the BJP, he said that the BJP made Nitish Kumar the Chief Minister of Bihar despite having less number of MLAs, when Eknath Shinde came with the BJP, "we made Shinde the Chief Minister of Maharashtra because friends and partners are important for the BJP".

"Whoever stays with the BJP will be respected," sources quoted the Prime Minister as saying.

Targeting Sharad Pawar, Prime Minister Modi said that Pawar did not promote many talented people due to nepotism.

Praful Patel and many other MPs of NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) were also present in the meeting.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the "contradiction in the relationship between Congress and Sharad Pawar", saying that Congress "did not allow Pawar to become the Prime Minister of the country because of dynasticism and it also did not promote many other talented leaders".

Giving a stern warning to those who did wrong while in politics, the Prime Minister said that he took action against those who did wrong while in power, cut off their tickets and even punished them for their mistake during the election campaign.

Earlier, during a meeting with the NDA MPs from Rajasthan, Prime Minister Modi called upon all the MPs to work unitedly to win the elections.

Addressing the Rajasthan MPs, Prime Minister Modi, according to sources, claimed that during the tenure of any government in Rajasthan, the condition of the state was not as bad as it is at present.

Referring to the Assembly elections to be held later this year, he said that for the development of the country, it is very important to win Rajasthan and for this everyone needs to work together.

Prime Minister Modi asserted that the BJP's aQuit Indiaa campaign will commence on Wednesday to fight dynasticism, corruption and polarization.
Tehran, Aug 9 : Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi has said that while the country will continue discussing the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal with "dignity", it will also work to counteract the US sanctions, as there is a lack of trust in "the other side".

He made these comments during the closing ceremony of the 21st National Media Festival of Iran, which coincided with National Journalist's Day on August 8, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a statement from the Iranian President's office.

"We have never violated the (nuclear) agreement and never left the negotiating table. Today, although we have the upper hand in the negotiations to lift the sanctions and solid demands, we will never trust the other side as we have, on numerous occasions, seen them breaking their promises," Raisi said.

Iran signed the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with world powers in July 2015, agreeing to put some curbs on its nuclear programme in return for the removal of the sanctions on the country. The US, however, pulled out of the deal in May 2018 and reimposed its sanctions on Tehran.

The talks on the JCPOA's revival began in April 2021 in Vienna, Austria. No breakthrough has been achieved after the latest round of talks in August 2022.
Global real estate investment company Kennedy Wilson (NYSE:KW) today announces that Capital Dock Residence, the residential portion within one of the largest mixed-use developments ever created in Ireland, has been awarded the prestigious WiredScore Platinum certification.

Capital Dock Residence, cur...

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For Marina Kostina, June 19, 2022, was a day that changed her life forever. A warm summer invitation to do tandem skydiving with friends took an almost fatal turn when a gust of wind twisted her parachute and unexpectedly shattered her physically and emotionally. Kostina reveals her fateful personal traumatic experience, her will to live again, and tools to help others in her new book called "52 Pieces: A Manual of Light to Survive the Abyss of Trauma." The book is an Amazon bestseller in the categories of inspiration, motivation, and personal growth.

CHICAGO, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- For Marina Kostina, June 19, 2022, was a day that changed her life forever. A warm summer invitation to do tandem skydiving with friends took an almost fatal turn when a gust of wind twisted her parachute and unexpectedly shattered her physically and emotionally. Kostina reveals her fateful personal traumatic experience, her will to live again, and tools to help others in her new book called "52 Pieces: A Manual of Light to Survive the Abyss of Trauma." The book is an Amazon bestseller in the categories of inspiration, motivation, and personal growth.

Kostina is the owner of the Chicago-based Ravenous for Life Healing Center, a hypnotherapist, and an energy healing practitioner specializing in trauma and addictions. En route to her skydiving adventure, she wrote about how her gut feeling, and her intuition told her to not go but she ignored it and went anyway. She recalled being nervous about pairing up with a young female instructor who weighed less than her.

"I expected  and wanted  a strong, big man to be my instructor," she wrote. "I verbalized these fears to my friend, and he made a joke that I, of all people, should be okay with our "girl power." The girl power argument was very intellectually convincing, and it was the last straw in shutting down my intuition completely. I mean, how could I argue with that? After all, I'm the one who dedicates her life to helping women feel their strength, uniting and supporting one another. The girl power mantra blinded, deafened, and paralyzed my "fight-for-your-life" intuition, and made me temporarily insane."

The aftermath of the accident left Kostina, a very active woman who taught Zumba exercises classes, yoga, and other activities, in a severely injured state, heavily medicated and hooked to life-saving machines for some days. She was horrified to learn that her face and body were broken into 52 pieces and temporarily paralyzed.

"I saw that my usually pretty face was completely broken," she explained, "I actually had no face. By the time, I woke up, I had surgery done to where the doctors were, what I would say, 'stitching pieces of meat together,' I was told that my movement will be impeded. I was immobile for two and half weeks where I could not even have anything in my mouth to drink."

Within a year, Kostina endured 10 reconstructive surgeries and the healing process is far from over as she has many procedures ahead of her. Her background as an energy healer and hypnotist aided her in her mental recovery.

"Thank to my background, I could recover faster between surgeries and could manifest faster deadlines and finding the right doctors to help me," she said. "I refer to this situation in a book chapter called Science of Miracles where I mention the work of such famous people as hypnotist Freddy Jacquin and scientist Dr. Konstatine Korotkov, both teachers to me. I also mention Joe Dispenza who I personally met. I also took his workshops that I used for my healing and manifesting miracles. While Western medicine blessed me with talented surgeons who put my face together, my background helped me survive on the psychological and emotional levels, while manifesting miracles."

Kostina also guides readers through a three-step journey from trauma to recovery to triumph and also created a set of 52 cards to help with emotional healing.

"I hope those of you who are going through emotional or physical trauma and reading this book will understand that you are not alone," she wrote. "Success is not the absence of dark times; it is the ability to move forward DESPITE those times, and to trust something bigger than yourself to make it all okay. Trauma is not necessarily the grand negative event that happens TO us, but our reaction to it. In the end, we have a choice to be absorbed by our "bad fortune" or transform it into something meaningful and powerful."

"52 Pieces: A Manual of Light to Survive the Abyss of Trauma," is available at Amazon.

About the book:

"52 Pieces : A Manual of Light to Survive the Abyss of Trauma" is based on Dr. Marina Kostina's near-death sky-diving accident and her miraculous journey back to life. Dr. Kostina's body and face were broken into 52 pieces, and it took 10 surgeries to put her back together. The book details the author's personal struggle with PTSD, depression, and anxiety through the abyss of her tragedy.

Using her background as an energy healing practitioner and hypnotherapist, Dr. Kostina offers useful "tools of light" for those who are going through traumatic events to find meaning and purpose in their seemingly desperate circumstances. She also reveals the secrets of manifesting faster timelines and healing, finding the right doctors, and creating miracles that defy laws of the physical world. by providing insights into the "science of magic," which helped her create full and complete recovery in a short time and beat many doctors' prognoses.

About Marina Kostina:

A bestselling author, award-winning transformational hypnotist, healing practitioner, TEDx speaker,7X winner of the US Department of Defense Grants, and researcher Dr. Kostina guides consciously-minded individuals on a journey to reclaim the fragmented pieces of their souls by breaking through their lethargic status quo and starting to live ravenously.

Dr. Kostina's accomplishments have been featured in Entrepreneur, Hay House, Hay House Live, WGN, Buzzfeed, Thrive Global, Authority Magazine, People magazine, USA Today, The Chicago Tribune, TEDx, Telemundo, and Chicago Latino TV.

She has been fortunate to work and interview such celebrities, such as Kanye West, Lorna Byrne, Mike Dooley, Her Holiness Living Saint Amma Sri Karunamay, presented and signed her book alongside Dr. Joe Dispenza, John Holland and Rebecca Campbell, and has learned from such incredible experts as Kris Carr, Marie Forleo, Simon Sinek and Brian Tracy, and was a business mentor at the Richard Branson Center for Entrepreneurship.

Media Contact

Marie Lazzara, JJR Marketing, 630-400-3361, marie@jjrmarketing.com

SOURCE Marina Kostina
Slow websites lead to a $2 billion loss in sales every year. DesignRush reveals the best web design companies that help businesses maximize revenue potential.

MIAMI, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- German businessman Ralf Speth's words resonate: "If you think good design is expensive, you should look at the cost of bad design." Slow-loading websites result in a loss of more than $2 billion in sales annually. This highlights the advantage of investing in professional web design services as a smart strategic move for any business.

DesignRush, a B2B marketplace connecting businesses with agencies, listed the leading web design companies that help firms foster sustained growth and strengthen their competitive edge online.

The top web design companies in August are:

1. JKI Marketing - jkimarketing.com

JKI Marketing specializes in websites crafted with their skills in marketing, SEO, photography, and graphic design, enhancing user experiences and increasing conversion rates. With offices in Morristown, NJ, and Tampa, FL, the agency focuses on helping small businesses succeed online.

2. WebJIVE - web-jive.com

With a local team of experienced web designers based in Arkansas, WebJIVE delivers websites that are functional and visually appealing. By combining industry knowledge with the latest design trends, the agency ensures your online presence effectively reaches and resonates with your target audience.

3. The Route Options - therouteoptions.com

The Route Options specializes in fast and user-friendly custom WordPress websites with advanced marketing capabilities. They empower small and medium-sized businesses to take full control of the website's content while providing hosting and maintenance. The agency complements these services with branding and eCommerce design to boost online presence.

4. American Web Designers - americanwebdesignersinc.com

Expertise: Web Design, Website Maintenance, Digital Marketing, and more

5. Nice Grizzly - nicegrizzly.com

Expertise: Web Development, Web Design, Graphic Design, and more

6. GluckAuf Design - glueckauf-design.de

Expertise: Google Ads, Web Design, Social Media Marketing, and more

7. Hello Different - hellodifferent.com

Expertise: Web Design, Digital Marketing, Email Marketing, and more

8. ThumBrand - thumbrand.com

Expertise: Graphic Design, WordPress Web Design, WordPress Maintenance, and more

9. Consensus Creative - consensuscreative.com

Expertise: Web Design, SEO, Branding, and more

10. Brandswaggin - brandswaggin.com

Expertise: SEO, Graphic Design, Web Design, and more

11. September Design Studio - septemberdesignstudio.com

Expertise: Branding, Web Design, SEO, and more

12. MNB Soft Solution - mnbsoft.com

Expertise: Digital Marketing, SEO, Web Design, and more

13. Othware - othware.co.ug

Expertise: Web Design, Managed IT Services, Software Development, and more

14. Source Code - sourcecode.mx

Expertise: Content Creation, Web Design, Web Development, and more

15. Allinclusive. - new.allinclusive.agency

Expertise: Email Marketing, SEO, Web Design, and more

16. Meaningful Gigs - meaningfulgigs.com

Expertise: Graphic Design, Web Design, Branding, and more

17. Dudka Agency - dudka.agency

Expertise: Branding, Web Development, Web Design, and more

18. ELEV8 Consultancy - elev8-me.co.uk

Expertise: Web Design, Branding, Business Strategy, and more

19. Concept Beans - conceptbeans.com

Expertise: UI/UX Design, Content Creation, Web Design, and more

20. AliTech Solutions - alitech.io

Expertise: Web Design, SEO, UI/UX Design, and more

21. Vanessa Ellen Web Design - vanessaellen.com.au

Expertise: Copywriting, Web Hosting, Web Design, and more

22. OMG! Creative - omgcreative.com.au

Expertise: Graphic Design, Web Design, Content Marketing, and more

23. Knfrmd Web Corp - knfrmd.com

Expertise: Web Design, Web Development, SEO, and more

24. Rising Sun Media - risingsunmedia.au

Expertise: Digital Design, Copywriting, Web Design, and more

25. E. Studios - e-studios.com.au

Expertise: Illustration, Web Design, Graphic Design, and more

26. Palpable Media - palpablemedia.net

Expertise: SEO, Web Design, Facebook Advertising, and more

27. David Aaron Services - davidaaronservices.com

Expertise: WordPress Web Design, Social Media Advertisements, Video Marketing, and more

28. Brandisfy - brandisfy.com

Expertise: Web Design, Web Development, Brand Identity, and more

29. Bizznet Web Design and Marketing - bizznet.co.za

Expertise: Graphic Design, Digital Marketing, Web Design, and more

30. Ploughman Designs - ploughmandesigns.com

Expertise: Logo Design, Web Design, Branding, and more

31. User Wise Solutions - userwisesolutions.com

Expertise: UI/UX Design, SEO, Web Design, and more

32. Elizabeth Torres - elizabethtorres.com.br

Expertise: Web Design, Digital Marketing, Brand Design, and more

33. BJ Group - bjgroup.agency

Expertise: UI/UX Design, Web Development, Web Design, and more

34. Roweme Design - rowemedesign.com

Expertise: Web Design, Graphic Design, Marketing Consulting, and more

Brands can explore the top web design companies by location, size, average hourly rate, and portfolio on DesignRush.

About DesignRush:

DesignRush.com is a B2B marketplace connecting businesses with agencies through expert reviews and agency ranking lists, awards, knowledge resources, and personalized agency recommendations for vetted projects.

Media Contact

Rizelle Leano, DesignRush, 8008565417, [email protected]

Twitter

SOURCE DesignRush
Chinese car Lynk & Co to come to Vietnam in October

A Lynk & Co 02 sports utility vehicle (SUV) is seen at Geely's Lynk & Co plant in Zhangjiakou, Hebei province, China April 26, 2018. Photo by Reuters

Lynk & Co cars will be sold in Vietnam from October, according to their distributor GreenLynk Automotive.

The brand is jointly owned by China's Geely and Volvo Car, who develop the cars on the compact modular architecture Evo platform with engines produced in Sweden and the vehicles assembled in China, GreenLynk said.

Its models have serial numbers rather than names, and currently the range extends from 01 to 09.

04 is a foldable electric scooter. GreenLynk said it would be selling 01, 03, 05 and 09. 01 is a C-segment SUV, 03 is a C-segment sedan, 05 is also a C-segment SUV but with a coupe-like hybrid design, and 09 is a midsize SUV developed with Volvo.

GreenLynk is an affiliate of transport infrastructure developer Tasco, which fully owns car distribution giant SVC Holdings.

It can thus take advantage of the 83 car showrooms SVC Holdings has, but has not said if it would use them for the Lynk & Co cars.

Lynk & Co was founded by Geely in 2016, six years after it bought Volvo from Ford.

In Europe, Lynk & Co does not sell cars in the traditional manner: Its customers do not own the cars, but pay a monthly or other usage fee.

It is the latest Chinese car brand to enter Vietnam in the last few months after Wuling and Haval.

According to experts, the wave of Chinese cars flooding Vietnam has become overwhelming this year though the vehicle market is dormant due to the economic situation.
The award-winning global learning solutions provider makes major updates to its LMS platform, content which includes a strategic partnership with Go1, and new services.

SAN RAMON, Calif., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Litmos, a leading global learning solutions provider to the world's top companies, today unveiled significant investment in its offerings to address the evolving training and development requirements. With innovations across their entire solution suite  including LMS platform, content and services - Litmos customers will gain tailored experiences supported by expert assistance to optimize and enrich their learning initiatives.

Professionals responsible for training and development of employees, partners, and customers face increasingly complex challenges adapting to the shifting business landscape, meeting training requirements, and attracting or retaining talented employees. To tackle these obstacles head-on, Litmos' newly formed Product & Technology leadership team is focused on executing a product vision and roadmap that meets the needs of today's enterprises and learners.

"Top-performing companies know that learning is a key connection between people and performance. Training plays a crucial role in an organization's ability to maintain a competitive edge. By implementing new platform and content advancements, we've made significant strides in improving the learning experience for our customers and their learners across the enterprise," said Tommy Richardson, Chief Product & Technology Officer at Litmos. "Our updates reflect our dedication to the learner, addressing real-time needs by creating a seamless environment that promotes engagement and collaboration."

Recent innovations to Litmos' award-winning learning solution platform, reflect the company's commitment to delivering an exceptional learner experience such as:

Litmos Learning Platform (LMS) Enhancements: Includes improved search functionality for quick content access and adaptive learning capabilities for personalized course assignments. Other developments include a centralized hub for managers, in-app messaging for seamless communication with learners, continuous innovation on the leading content authoring tool and AI video assessments, and deployment on Azure for global scalability and security.

Strategic partnership with Go1: Delivers 80,000+ training courses from top publishers, including Coursera, Harvard Business Corporate Learning, Pluralsight, and more directly through a user-friendly platform. "Our partnership with Litmos helps close the gap for customers who seek a more expansive and relevant content library. This is a very compelling offering that meets the diverse learning needs of all customers from small businesses to large enterprises," said Chris Eigeland, co-founder and Co-CEO at Go1.

Content collection expansion: To meet the needs of today's learners. Litmos Training Content collections now include dedicated compliance collections for the U.K., U.S. & Canada , and Australia and New Zealand , in addition to its industry leading collection of soft skills, general compliance, leadership and development courses.

, and and , in addition to its industry leading collection of soft skills, general compliance, leadership and development courses. New Litmos Professional Services: Encompassing a range of offerings, such as consulting services and subscription services like LMS administration support, among others. With these upgrades, Litmos customers gain access to comprehensive end-to-end learning program support.

For more information on Litmos' comprehensive learning solutions and how they can partner with organizations to achieve their learning program objectives, please visit http://www.litmos.com.

About Litmos

Litmos develops learning solutions for top-performing companies. An established leader since 2007, Litmos offers the world's easiest-to-use LMS, comprehensive content libraries, integrations with top workflow tools, and services to support success. Thousands of companies trust the solutions to create, curate, and connect learning content to employees, customers, and partners.

Acquired by CallidusCloud in 2011, SAP in 2018, and Francisco Partners in 2022, Litmos continues innovating award-winning learning technology and setting the standard for customer experience and satisfaction. The solutions are used by more than 20 million people in 150 countries across 35 languages.

Find more information at http://www.litmos.com.

About Go1

Go1 is the world's content expert and largest learning ecosystem powering the pursuit of potential. With expertly curated content spanning more than 80,000 courses from hundreds of industry-leading providers, Go1 delivers a seamless experience for both L&D leaders and employees in a single, easy-to-use platform. The company has raised over $400 million in funding from investors AirTree Ventures, Blue Cloud Ventures, Five Sigma, Insight Partners, Madrona, Salesforce Ventures, SEEK Investments, SoftBank Vision Fund 2 and Y Combinator. Go1 is a Y Combinator 2023 Top Company, an SAP Partner with an SAP Endorsed App and an EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award Nominee. To learn more, visit go1.com.

Media Contact

Gabby Derosier, Alloy, on behalf of Litmos, (855) 300-8209, gabby.derosier@alloycrew.com

SOURCE Litmos
HHAeXchange will provide Texas homecare agencies with the resources needed to improve compliance and health outcomes

NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- HHAeXchange, a leading provider of homecare management solutions for providers, managed care organizations (MCOs), and state Medicaid agencies, announced today the company has been selected to serve as the subcontractor in providing the state-funded Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) system in Texas. HHAeXchange's EVV solution  serving both Agency and Consumer-Directed Services (CDS) providers  is scheduled to go live Oct. 1, 2023, at no cost to providers.

The HHAeXchange platform will enable homecare providers to easily meet Texas state requirements, offering a streamlined experience for both back-office staff and service providers. In addition, Texas providers will benefit by leveraging the HHAeXchange Portal for workflow efficiencies such as schedule management, simple data migration from past years, seamless submission of homecare visits to the EVV Aggregator and the direct submission of EVV-compliant claims.

As part of the contract, HHAeXchange's Portal will be available at no cost to program providers, financial management services agencies (FMSAs), and Consumer Directed Services (CDS) employers. Beginning in July and running through August, HHAeXchange will host caregivers and agency owners at multiple information sessions that will include a demonstration of the HHAeXchange Portal, an overview of the transition and answers to any questions providers might have about the new EVV system.

"The HHAeXchange team is incredibly pleased to serve as the only state-funded EVV vendor, providing the necessary tools for gathering Texas' Medicaid visit data as part of a purpose-built solution designed to fit the state's changing homecare needs and requirements," said Stephen Vaccaro, President of HHAeXchange. "In supporting the state of Texas, we can ensure our software is helping all involved meet their individual goals and compliance requirements while keeping member care at the forefront  where it belongs."

HHAeXchange's user-friendly interface, convenient features and additional benefits were designed to support providers throughout the various stages of a patient's homecare journey, decreasing homecare workers' administrative duties and streamlining workflows. The solution differentiates itself from typical EVV models with the industry's most comprehensive connected-care framework, data-powered focus and cost savings, valuable self-direction tools and compliant-responsive technology, such as a robust mobile application available in over 20 languages.

The technology integrates seamlessly with homecare agencies' systems to connect payers, providers and caregivers. Allowing all parties to collaborate and communicate with ease results in improved efficiency, transparency and compliance. Additionally, payers are given helpful insights into their providers' performance as well as their members' health and progress, which contributes to improved outcomes and potentially lowers costs.

Homecare in Texas touches a significant portion of the state's Medicaid recipients. Approximately 250,000 Medicaid beneficiaries receive in-home personal care services that are currently subject to EVV or will be as of Jan. 1, 2024. As the state-funded EVV vendor, HHAeXchange will support approximately 235,000 homecare service providers and 18,000 Consumer Directed Services employers.

To register for an information session webinar, go to hhaexchange.com/txinfowebinars. To learn more about the new state-funded EVV system for homecare providers throughout Texas, visit the Texas Health and Human Services website.

About HHAeXchange

Founded in 2008, HHAeXchange is the leading technology platform for homecare and self-direction program management. Developed specifically for Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS), HHAeXchange connects state agencies, managed care organizations, providers and caregivers through its intuitive web-based platform, enabling unparalleled communication, transparency, efficiency and compliance. To learn more about the company's Electronic Visit Verification and full suite of solutions, visit hhaexchange.com or follow the company on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

About Gentiva

Gentiva is a family of industry-leading hospice, palliative and personal care providers with more than 430 locations and 30,000 associates meeting the needs of patients and their families across 36 states. Our place is by the side of those who need us, offering assistance with daily living and helping patients and their families manage the physical, emotional and spiritual effects of a serious illness or terminal diagnosis. Gentivas corporate headquarters is in Atlanta, Georgia, with providers delivering care across the U.S.



Media Contact

Michelle Rand, Alloy, on behalf of HHAeXchange, 855.300.8209, michelle.rand@alloycrew.com

SOURCE HHAeXchange
A machine learning model found that background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) on breast MRI is an indicator of breast cancer risk in women with extremely dense breasts, according to a study published in Radiology, a journal of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

OAK BROOK, Ill., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- A machine learning model found that background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) on breast MRI is an indicator of breast cancer risk in women with extremely dense breasts, according to a study published in Radiology, a journal of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

Women with extremely dense breasts are at a three- to six-times higher risk of developing breast cancer compared to women who have fatty breasts. Since mammography is less sensitive in detecting early-stage breast cancer in women with dense breasts, women between the ages of 50 and 75 years with dense breasts may benefit from additional MRI screening.

Another breast cancer risk factor is BPE, which is the level of normal fibroglandular tissue that enhances on breast MRI. However, not much is known about how BPE compares to other more established clinical risk factors of breast cancer, such as age, body mass index (BMI) family history, and breast density.

"Thus far, studies on breast cancer risk factors have typically focused on women at high lifetime risk of developing breast cancer," said study co-author Kenneth G. A. Gilhuijs, Ph.D., from the Department of Radiology at the University Medical Center Utrecht in the Netherlands. "This is the first study that we know of that demonstrates an association between background parenchymal enhancement and occurrence of breast cancer in women with extremely dense breasts."

To determine how much BPE is an indicator of breast cancer risk, the researchers used dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI exams from 4,553 participants in the Dense Tissue and Early Breast Neoplasm Screening (DENSE) Trial, a large multi-institutional study based in the Netherlands, to develop a deep learning model to automatically identify the fibroglandular tissue. The MRI exams were performed every two years in eight hospitals in the Netherlands between December 2011 and January 2016.

After adjusting for age, BMI and BPE, the researchers found that breast cancer occurrence was greater in women with higher volumes of enhancing parenchyma compared to women with low volumes of enhancing parenchyma.

Of the 4,553 women included in the study, 122 were diagnosed with breast cancer. Roughly 63% of them were diagnosed after the first round of screening. An average cancer detection time of 24 months was associated with the remaining women diagnosed with breast cancer.

"Parenchyma does not enhance uniformly on MRI," Dr. Gilhuijs said. "This method calculates all the different subvolumes at which the parenchyma enhances and sorts them from high to low."

The researchers point out that while the implementation of supplemental MRI screening in women with dense breasts will result in fewer interval cancerswhich are breast cancers that are diagnosed in between routine mammography screeningsit will also further strain radiologist workloads. Developing more personalized strategies to deal with the added number of screenings may help alleviate the strain on the healthcare field.

"Our study is a first step in a direction to further tailor the frequency of supplemental MRI screening to individual women with dense breasts, focusing not only on breast density as a main risk factor but also on other properties of the breast established from a first screening MRI," Dr. Gilhuijs said.

###

"Assessing Quantitative Parenchymal Features at Baseline Dynamic Contrast-enhanced MRI and Cancer Occurrence in Women with Extremely Dense Breasts." Collaborating with Dr. Gilhuijs were Hui Wang, M.D., Bas H. M. van der Velden, Ph.D., Erik Verburg, Ph.D., Marije F. Bakker, Ph.D., Ruud M. Pijnappel, M.D., Ph.D., Wouter B. Veldhuis, M.D., Ph.D., and Carla H. van Gils, Ph.D.

In 2023, Radiology is celebrating its 100th anniversary with 12 centennial issues, highlighting Radiology's legacy of publishing exceptional and practical science to improve patient care.

Radiology is edited by Linda Moy, M.D., New York University, New York, N.Y., and owned and published by the Radiological Society of North America, Inc. (https://pubs.rsna.org/journal/radiology)

RSNA is an association of radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and related scientists promoting excellence in patient care and health care delivery through education, research and technologic innovation. The Society is based in Oak Brook, Illinois. (RSNA.org)

For patient-friendly information on breast imaging, visit RadiologyInfo.org.

Media Contact

Linda Brooks, Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), 63--590-7762, [email protected]

SOURCE Radiological Society of North America (RSNA)
A stream of ore-processing sludge rushes down a neighborhood in Lao Cai Province in northern Vietnam, Aug. 8, 2023. Photo obtained by VnExpress

Thousands of cubic meters of water and sludge from copper ore processing barreled down houses in northern Lao Cai Province on Tuesday.

At around 8:30 a.m., the stream of blackish water coming from a reservoir that contains waste from the extraction of copper from ores rushed towards Ta Phoi Commune. The wastewater inundated houses and the commune's Peoples Committee office.

A local said the stream came quickly and without warning, so they could only escape with their lives, not having enough time to take their belongings.

Tran Van Hung, chairman of Ta Phoi Commune Peoples Committee, said the stream was caused by the breakage of the reservoir of Taphoi Copper company. The firm has already deployed vehicles and personnel to repair the reservoir.

"The wastewater entered 46 houses, affecting more than 200 people," Hung said, adding that the flow of wastewater has been stopped.

The Lao Cai Peoples Committee said long-lasting rains have contributed to the breakage, and the exact amount of damage incurred is being evaluated.

Hoang Duong Tung, former deputy head of the Vietnam Environment Administration, said what happened was a "serious environmental incident" as ore-processing sludge must be tightly managed and not allowed to be leaked into the environment.

"Emergency environmental response measures like soil and water quality checks need to be done," Tung said.

Pham Van Son, director of the Vietnam Environmental Incident Response Center, said the sludge from the company contains heavy metals and other chemicals, and once it enters the environment, there would be no way to completely clean them. These substances would seep into the ground and may contaminate groundwater sources, and part of them may be dissipated into the air.

Son said it would be impractical to remove millions of cubic meters of contaminated soil.

Lao Cai has been seeing rains over the past week, with the highest amount of rainfall seen on Monday night at 80 mm, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting. Heavy rains have triggered erosion at over 140 locations in Lao Cai, damaging more than 30 houses and flooding more than 110 others. Over 340 ha of crops and around 2 ha of aquaculture have also been damaged.
National Assembly chairman Vuong Dinh Hue proposed solutions to build a stronger ASEAN during his speech at a session of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in Indonesia on Monday.

Hue emphasized that ASEAN has always stood firm and has never been in such a strong position as it is today, despite facing many challenges. ASEAN has strived to play a central role in the greater Asian region, and has been one of the key factors in creating, shaping, and creating a safe, secure, and structured environment for cooperation and regional order.

National Assembly chairman Hue pledged that Vietnam will do its best to build a strong ASEAN and AIPA, and will always be adaptable in its aim towards a stable, prosperous, steady, and sustainable ASEAN community.

He proposed a series of solutions to AIPA such as strengthening solidarity, promoting ASEAN's central role and strategic values, and enlisting the support of partners in the international community. At the same time, parties involved need to ensure the principles of independence and self-reliance while maintaining consensus within ASEAN and settling all disputes by law.

Hue said that ASEAN needs to strengthen and expand inter-regional cooperation in many areas such as technology exchange, sustainable digital transformation, and equitable energy transition. ASEAN also needs to strengthen ties with partners to narrow the development gap and effectively respond to non-traditional security challenges.

Parliaments in ASEAN countries also need to continue to improve their role in law-making, create a favorable legal corridor, and strengthen their role in monitoring governments for the successful implementation of the ASEAN community building master plan for 2025 and beyond.

He suggested AIPA continue to innovate, become an effective parliamentary cooperation channel, and continue to focus on strengthening relations with partners who are AIPA's observers. Vietnam supports the parliaments of Cuba, Turkey and Armenia in their roles as observers of AIPA.

Vietnam proposed three draft resolutions to help ASEAN exploit its advantages in science, technology and innovation for economic recovery and development, and exploit its potential to develop the agricultural, food and forestry sectors. Vietnam wishes to receive the consensus and support of the parliaments of ASEAN countries, Hue said.

Vietnam will coordinate with the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to organize the ninth Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians in Hanoi in September.
Tisby Pair to Convergent

Jemar Tisby (The Color of Compromise) has signed a two-book, North American rights deal with Convergent executive editor Derek Reed. Lessons from an Evangelical Reject is a manifesto on belief and belonging drawing on Tisbys experience in the Christian racial reconciliation movement, and Delta Made, is an account of his 20 years living and working in the Mississippi Delta. Tisby was represented by Mel Berger at WME. No publication dates have been set for the books.

Two by Cho to WaterBrook

Faith Eury Chointernational speaker, pastor, church planterhas signed world-rights deals for multiple books with WaterBrook. The first is a picture book scheduled for spring 2025, signed with executive editor for childrens books Sarah Rubio. Tentatively titled Never Alone, it features a little girl who wonders what it means that Jesus is always with her. An illustrator has not been selected. The second deal, a devotional planned for fall 2024 and tentatively titled Experiencing Friendship with Jesus, was inked with acquiring editor Jamie Lapeyrolerie of the Ink & Willow imprint. It offers encouragement, prayers, and Scripture readings drawn from the writings of the Apostle Paul, and journaling space. Tom Dean of A Drop of Ink Literary represented the author for both deals.

WJK Book Looks to Rebuild Bridges

Jessica Miller Kelley, senior acquisitions editor at Westminster John Knox Press, has signed a world rights deal via Jevon Bolden at Embolden Media Group for Texas criminal defense attorney Robert Callahan IIs Fire in the Whole: Embracing Righteous Anger with White Evangelicalism and Becoming Whole Again. The book, to be published in fall 2024, details how the white evangelical church can rebuild the bridges it burned and foster healing.

Brazos Takes a Radical Look

Katelyn Beaty, editorial director for Brazos Press, acquired world rights to The Way of the Radical by Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez from Rachel Jacobson of Alive Literary Agency. The book, to be published in fall 2024, focuses on Gods vision for the church as a place to heal from racial trauma. The author is founder and CEO of Full Collective, a community for women, and host of the Yas and Amen Podcast.

Zonderkidz' Picture Book Dream

Katherine Jacobs, senior acquisitions editor at Zonderkidz, has acquired world rights for I Dream for You by Kate Wood, a picture book about a mothers love for her child. Mette Engell will illustrate, with publication scheduled for April 2025. Stacey Glick at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret represented the author, and Robbin Brosterman at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.

Lia Triggers for Moody

Judy Dunagan, acquisitions editor at Moody Publishing, acquired world rights from Janet Kobobel Grant of Books & Such Literary for Untriggered: 60 Days of Transformation for Angry Moms by Amber Lia. A film producer and author of multiple books in her "Triggers" brand, Lia's devotional is intended to offer grace and comfort to moms who struggle with anger. Publication is set for April 2025.

Zondervan Finds Joy

Kyle Rohane, senior acquisitions editor at Zondervan Reflective, bought world rights to Undaunted Joy: The Revolutionary Act of Cultivating Delight by Shemaiah Gonzalez, with the deal brokered by Keely Boeving of WordServe Literary. This book of essays offers a view of the world through the authors lens of joy and calls on readers to join in. The book is planned for spring 2025.

Bethany House Sings for Unsung Women

Trinity McFadden of The Bindery sold world rights to Bethany House acquiring editor Jennifer Dukes Lee to Your Name is Daughter: What the Unsung Women of the Bible Can Teach Us about Gods Love for Women by Amy Seiffert (Starved, Grace Looks Amazing on You). Seiffert illuminates stories of little-known women of the Bible to show women how their gifts are essential to Gods kingdom. A spring 2025 release is planned.

Sexual Identities Goes To Brazos

Brazos Press executive acquisitions editor Robert Hosack acquired world rights to the unagented Emerging Sexual Identities by Mark A. Yarhouse and Julia A. Sadusky. Yarhouse, director of the Sexual & Gender Identity Institute at Wheaton College, and Sadusky, clinical psychologist and fellow at the institute, offer help understanding diverse sexual identities. Publication is planned for fall 2025.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  The multiphase collaboration Arequipa Nexus Institute for Food, Energy, Water and the Environment has received funding for a third phase of projects from Universidad Nacional de San Agustin. Launched in March 2018 by UNSA in Arequipa, Peru, and Purdue University, the institute is an innovative collaboration focused on key challenges to create a sustainable future for the peoples of Arequipa.

The Arequipa Nexus Institute leverages UNSA faculty, students and infrastructure and the strengths of research faculty and infrastructure from many of Purdues colleges, including the College of Agriculture, College of Education, College of Health and Human Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and the Purdue Polytechnic Institute. The colleges will work with UNSA to build capacity and the strategic, long-term collaborations needed to address environmental, agroeconomic and social challenges.

We are thrilled to continue this important collaboration and provide support that will help UNSAs faculty address critical environmental challenges while also supporting communities with the greatest needs, says Lori Hoagland, professor in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture and co-director of the Arequipa Nexus Institute.

The initial phases of the collaboration occurred between 2018 and 2019 and engaged more than 170 faculty and staff, 38 postdoctoral candidates and over 50 graduate and undergraduate students. The six key topic areas of phases 1 and 2 were natural resources, agriculture and food, technology, sustainable design and teaching, community engagement, and administration. Since the beginning of the collaboration, 51 articles have been published in international scientific journals, over 100 presentations have been given at international conferences and over 100 videos and webinars have been created and distributed.

We are excited about this new phase of collaborative work with UNSA, says Daniel Leon-Salas, associate professor in the Purdue Polytechnic Institute and co-director of Arequipa Nexus Institute. The projects in this phase have been carefully selected based on their potential impact for the people of Arequipa.

The goal with phase 3 is to continue to build the knowledge, capacity and tools needed to address grand challenges in the region while also focusing on improving the livelihoods of underserved highland communities in the Colca Valley. The new funding from UNSA will focus on projects aimed at supporting the transition to organic food production, improving alpaca fiber quality, designing small-scale renewable energy systems and creating plans for regenerative tourism.

The ability to address environmental, agroeconomic and social challenges in the country and support the long-term relationship with UNSA is one of the exciting roles we play at Purdue, says Karen Plaut, executive vice president for research. It is about research, education and the ability to improve peoples lives by helping them meet their goals. We look forward to working with UNSA to make a difference for Peru.

For more information, visit: https://www.purdue.edu/discoverypark/arequipa-nexus/en/index.php

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a public research institution with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities and with two colleges in the top 4 in the United States, Purdue discovers and disseminates knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 105,000 students study at Purdue across modalities and locations, with 50,000 in person on the West Lafayette campus. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdues main campus has frozen tuition 12 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap, including its first comprehensive urban campus in Indianapolis, the new Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business, and Purdue Computes, at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.

Writer/Media contact: Nyssa Lilovich, nclilovi@purdue.edu

Sources: Lori Hoagland, lhoaglan@purdue.edu

Daniel Leon-Salas, wleaonsal@purdue.edu

Agricultural Communications: 765-494-8415;

Maureen Manier, Department Head, mmanier@purdue.edu

Agriculture News Page
President Vladimir Putin and Russia have given Ukraine an excuse to provide a haven for organizations aimed at destroying the current Russian state and its allies in Chechnya and Belarus. Since 2014, militant groups from Russia, Belarus, Chechnya, and elsewhere have established themselves as allies of Ukraine in its fight against Russia and its aligned forces. These groups started forming during the 20142022 Donbas War, but more groups have formed and taken up arms alongside Kyiv's soldiers since the February 2022 Russian invasion. The formation of these groups in Ukraine and their actions against Russia's interests is blowback for Russian military activities in Chechnya and Ukraine, its backing of Alexander Lukashenko's government in Belarus, and Moscow's own governance at home.

Among the newer organizations are those with goals focused on Russia, Chechnya, and Belarus. There are the neo-Nazi and Russian ethnonationalist Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) as well as the politically inclusive and democracy-promoting Freedom of Russia Legion (FRL). Both these groups seek to overthrow Putin's government. There is also the Separate Special Purposes Battalion (OBON), a Chechen separatist organization aimed at establishing an independent Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. Additionally, there is the Belarusian Kastus Kalinouski Regiment (KKR) that seeks to topple Lukashenko's government in Minsk.

Some have fought with Kyiv since before the February 2022 invasion. Among these groups are Chechen separatist outfits like the Dzhokhar Dudayev Battalion (DDB) and Sheikh Mansur Battalion (SMB) that have fought alongside Ukrainian forces against Russian separatists and their allies since 2014. Some of the newer groups consist of fighters who served as part of nonstate groups during the Donbas War, with some fighters from the RVC and KKR having fought with far-right groups including the Ukrainian Azov Brigade.

President Vladimir Putin and Russia have given Ukraine an excuse to provide a haven for organizations aimed at destroying the current Russian state and its allies in Chechnya and Belarus. Share on Twitter

Russia's backing of separatists in the Donbas from 2014 to 2022 is likely the inspiration for allowing these groups to organize, train, equip, fundraise, and fight alongside Ukrainian forces. These groups provide Ukraine with extra manpower to combat Russian-aligned forces. They also can serve as proxy forces to promote Ukrainian interests and fight its enemies abroad.

Kyiv has already permitted RVC and FRL raids into Russian territory from Ukrainian territory. Both groups appear set to carry out further raids and attacks against Russian forces. It is possible that Ukraine might go on to allow the DDB, SMB, OBON, or other Chechen separatist allies to launch an armed campaign in Russian territory as wellsomething that may have already begun.

Russia's invasion as well as its past backing of groups in Ukraine are likely reasons why Kyiv does not seek to prevent these groups from carrying out armed action within Russian territory. Beyond Russia, should Belarus choose to send troops to support Russia, Ukraine could allow the KKR and other Belarusian allies to carry out raids into Belarus.

Many of Ukraine's nonstate allies see Russian defeat in the Russo-Ukrainian War as a rung on the ladder toward achieving their ultimate goals. For Russian groups like the RVC and FRL, the war could present an opportunity to organize armed opposition to directly engage in fighting Russia to overthrow Putin's government. For Chechen groups, the war could be a way to weaken Russia and reopen an opportunity for Chechnya to split away from Moscow and remove the government of Ramzan Kadyrov. For the KKR, the war may present an opportunity to weaken Lukashenko's grip on power by significantly impeding or ending Russia's capacity to continue providing support to his government in Belarus.

Allying with Ukraine also could provide these groups with overt support for their overall causes. For instance, last fall, Kyiv recognized Chechnya as a Russian-occupied territory (though it has refrained from recognizing anyone as the legitimate government of Grozny). In the future, it may more overtly back the projects of groups like the KKR and FRL that seek to overthrow the current governments and establish democratic futures in Belarus and Russia respectively. However, support for the objectives of other groups is unlikely. For instance, Kyiv is unlikely to back RVC's efforts to establish a Russian ethnostate. In this circumstance, Ukraine seems to have made an alliance based on a shared enemy rather than support for the RVC's ideological project.

Many of Ukraine's nonstate allies see Russian defeat in the Russo-Ukrainian War as a rung on the ladder toward achieving their ultimate goals. Share on Twitter

Backing these groups presents risks for Ukraine. For instance, the RVC appears to be working with and supporting other neo-Nazi groups like the Polish Volunteer Corps and the German Volunteer Corps, made up of Polish and German nationals respectively. They could collaborate with neo-Nazis from other countries like the United States. This may cause tensions between Kyiv and its allies, especially if these groups seek to use military training, combat experience, and weapons from their time in Ukraine to carry out violence at home.

Additionally, incursions from Ukraine into Russian territory may further escalate the conflict. Kyiv may also be blamed if its nonstate allies commit war crimes or attacks that target civilians using weapons and equipment they obtained while fighting alongside Ukrainian forces regardless of how these tools came into their possession. Ukraine may be blamed whether or not it supported or had knowledge of such attacks in advance. Kyiv may also bear reputational costs due to its affiliation with extremist organizationsespecially given that Moscow has justified the invasion with false claims that Ukraine is a neo-Nazi-dominated state.

Though alignment with these groups presents clear benefits in the near term, Ukraine should be cautious since these groups could turn on it at any time should their interests no longer align with those of Kyiv.

Erik E. Mueller is a defense analyst at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation.

This commentary originally appeared on The Moscow Times on August 7, 2023. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis.
Passengers perform immigration procedures using the Autogates at Tan Son Nhat airport in HCMC, August 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Mai Ha

Ten automatic exit and entry control gates have entered service on a trial basis at HCMC's Tan Son Nhat airport, but are yet applicable to foreign visitors.

The Vietnam Immigration Department under the Ministry of Public Security put the gates, called Autogates, into use from the start of August.

Each gate has two layers. The first one requests passengers to scan the page of personal information on their passports and the boarding pass. The second one is where passengers have their portrait photos taken and fingerprints scanned.

When clearing immigration with the Autogates, passengers will no longer have their passports stamped by customs officials.

The entire process is said to take less than one minute. Passengers wait in line to complete customs procedures at Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by VnExpress/Mai Ha

The Autogates are now open for all Vietnamese citizens entering the country. For leaving Vietnam, the gates are only opened for those with diplomatic or official passports or flight crew members.

As for foreigners, Autogates are open for exiting the country to only those with permanent or temporary resident cards.

Foreigners entering Vietnam have not been allowed to use the gates.

Tan Son Nhat is the busiest airport in Vietnam, receiving 60,000-70,000 passengers a day on average.
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Porterville, CA (93257)

Today

Showery rains containing strong gusty winds and heavy downpours at times. High around 75F. Winds NW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Showery rains will be accompanied by heavy downpours and strong gusty winds at times, especially early. Potential for flooding rains. Low 68F. Winds WSW at 20 to 30 mph, becoming SE and decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
Porterville, CA (93257)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this morning will give way to cloudy skies and rain during the afternoon. Potential for heavy rainfall. High 78F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

A steady rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Potential for flooding rains. Low 68F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch.
August 7, 2023 | 05:09 pm PT

A few years ago I helped a foreign journalist interview a business executive in Vietnam.

After we finished the executive offered a small gift as a token of gratitude to the journalist.

It was a silk handkerchief. Though the gift had little monetary value, the journalist firmly refused to accept it. He said accepting a gift, regardless of its value, would create a conflict of interest that could undermine the value of the article.

"We are not family, not acquaintances, not friends. Then why do they give me a gift?" the journalist asked me on our way back.

I recall the recent defense by public officials who were tried for corruption related to the Covid-19 repatriation flights.

The defendants claimed to have merely received some "gratitude money" after the business transactions, which occurred "outside of the business environment," went smoothly and was "nothing unusual."

Their gifts were merely worth billions of dong (millions of USD). These claims were rightly dismissed by the court as Vietnams anti-corruption laws clearly dictate that "public officials cannot accept gifts, directly or indirectly, in any way from parties related to their official duties."

The rescue flights issue, no matter how the accused try to spin it, is a clear example of graft.

Admittedly, in practice, issues tend to be more opaque with "blacks" and "whites" not clearly defined. It is quite hard to distinguish between honest tokens of gratitude and implicit bribes, especially in cultures that value personal relationships like Vietnam's.

In Vietnamese offices, rarely will people consider a bottle of alcohol after a long business trip or before the Lunar New Year condemnable behavior. In a way, Vietnamese society even encourages that. People who do not do so might even be considered bad-mannered, a professional death sentence for aspiring office workers.

Outside offices, businesspeople dealing with government bureaucratic protocols usually know to express their "gratitude." Sometimes the gifts are honestly intended, but in most cases, business executives, by giving gifts, attempt to influence policymakers into making favorable decisions.

Sometimes it could be money merely to facilitate something, and the public official would not have to do anything that can technically be considered illegal, and just expedite some task.

But in many cases, the public official could be the final arbiter of whether a business succeeds or fails.

Singaporean-American sociologist Yuen Yuen Yang categorizes corruption into minor corruption, major corruption, facilitation payment (corporates/individuals paying money to expedite work), and relationship money (corporates paying money to build relationships with public officers).

To eradicate the first two is hard enough, but to eradicate the latter is even harder. How to establish a direct relationship between a corporate frequently visiting a senior government official and the frequency with which the person wins large government contracts?

How can we distinguish between innocent, real tokens of gratitude and disguised bribes?

Therefore, to prevent conflicts of interest, we should put an end to the "gratitude" culture inside and outside of the government structure.

This could be done by setting a limit on the value of gifts a public official can receive. In the U.S., public officials cannot accept gifts worth more than US$20 from anyone. The equivalent limit in Vietnam should be less than VND24,000 ($1).

Therefore, it is not uncommon for people in the U.S. and many other countries to open a gift they receive to make sure they are allowed to accept it.

More than just regulations and strong punishments are needed to eradicate facilitation and relationship monies.

Laws and regulations would be meaningless without a proper monitoring system, which requires the active participation of the citizens. Public officers in countries with high transparency levels refuse to accept monetary gifts not only because they are afraid of imprisonment, but also because of the intense and constant pressures from the public and voters. Even when public officers are sly enough to bypass all the legal chains, they are prone to punishments from the social contracts they entered with the public.

Finally, building up a government structure with efficiency and transparency needs to start with ensuring the livelihood for the public officers. If they are ensured a stable wellbeing, the public officers would unlikely to risk them all for small monetary gifts.

To public servants, gratitude can only be sincere without any material weight.

*Nguyen Khac Giang is a researcher in policy making and government transparency. He is a PhD candidate at the Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
Parliament has cleared the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023, recently.

Photograph: Steve Marcus/Reuters

The objective of the Act is to invite investments from the private sector, including foreign companies, for mining minerals such as lithium and other critical minerals.

Other than lithium, some of these minerals were classified as atomic minerals, including beryl and beryllium, niobium, titanium, tantalum and zirconium.

By odd coincidence this week, a Supreme Court-ordered trial court in Delhi highlighted another mining story, of coal, where the private sector has been involved.

Special Judge Sanjay Bansal convicted former coal secretary H C Gupta, former Lok Sabha MP Vijay Darda and businessman Manoj Kumar Jayaswal among others in different terms in jail, three to four years.

Not only are these cases related to mining, but they also have another unfortunate aspect.

The cases, like the one on Gupta and Darda, have run for nearly 10 years.

These developments present a stark reminder to the private sector about the risk of legal tangles associated with the mining sector in India.

This is particularly applicable to those areas of mining where the state has freed control, such as coal and iron ore, over the past three decades.

In coal mining, for instance, all activities were nationalised under the Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act of 1973 and opened to the private sector 20 years later in 1993.

One of the reasons the myriad coal cases reached the courts is the absence of clear rules about how the private sector was to be involved.

If a company has to spend money to invest in a project, it must have a clear vision of the revenue it will earn.

But successive governments since 1991 found it difficult to amend the Coal Act and instead wrote in ad hoc rules to allow private companies to mine and sell the mineral in the market.

For example, companies were told they could mine coal but only for captive use. Since they could not sell in the markets despite shortages this was an arbitrage waiting to be exploited.

While coal was a demonstration case of how not to denationalise an industry, the relaxation of iron ore mining rules also ran into trouble.

Many companies involved themselves with trading the ore, including for exports, without clear authorisation, causing the Centre to impose outright bans on these activities.

Some groundwork has been done with the amendment of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023.

The amended law declassifies not only the six atomic minerals but also puts out a list of 29 minerals including gold, silver, copper, cobalt, nickel, lead, potash, and rock phosphate.

Before this, the prospecting and mining of atomic minerals were reserved for government entities under the Act, and the mining of the other minerals too was restricted.

It also helps that the current secretary, mines, Vivek Bharadwaj, was the court-appointed nominated authority for the coal sector. His job was to hand out authorisation to companies to mine coal after having satisfied himself that they had won the rights to do so through an auction process approved in 2016.

The process offered him a valuable lesson in how short-circuiting the legal process of opening the mining rights to a mineral could have such disastrous consequences for the economy.

Commenting on the passage of the Bill by Lok Sabha, Rakesh Surana, partner, Deloitte India, said: The anticipated surge in mining activities will undeniably propel India towards sustainable progress and resource self-reliance.

The euphoria may have to be tempered as of now.

These, as we have said, are difficult areas though the government seems to have learnt its lessons.

The provisions note that all the allocations will be done by the auction route.

This is a valuable lesson drilled in as an after-effect of the coal scam.

The courts have also supported this method.

The exploration licence will be granted by the state government through competitive bidding.

"The central government will prescribe details such as manner of auction, terms and conditions, and bidding parameters for exploration licence through rules, said a commentary on the provision of the bill put out by PRS Legislative Research.

The step is useful since some of the most egregious violations of the mining rights have happened at the level of state governments.

For lease of minor mines such as sand, states have frequently given out the rights for free.

The new law, thus, treads a fine balance between the Centres tendency to ascribe to itself most of the powers and the rights of the state to get a fair share of the revenue from the mining.

If the resources are proven after exploration, the state government must conduct an auction for mining lease within six months of the submission of the report by the exploration licensee.

"The licensee will receive a share in the auction value of the mining lease for the mineral prospected by them.

"The share will be prescribed by the central government.

"If the state government does not complete the auction of mining lease within the specified period, it will pay to the exploration licensee an amount prescribed by the central government, the PRS note adds.

The Centre will have the rights to hold auctions for composite licence and mining lease for only a few specified critical and strategic minerals.

These minerals include lithium, cobalt, nickel, phosphate, potash, tin, phosphate and potash. However, concessions to actually mine the site by the company will still be granted by the state government.

The risks are obvious.

The states have had very limited exposure to auction the mining rights.

This is significant since the critical minerals are located in states that have been traditionally non-mining ones such as Jammu and Kashmir.

Yet whenever a new site or area is identified by the Geological Survey of India, the states will have to conduct two rounds of auctions, the first for an exploration licence and the next time to mine those.

Naturally, while it was a good idea to specify that the rights will be based on auctions, it shall be important to specify what sort of company would be allowed to participate in the auction.

Rules to specify a particular technology or a capital threshold can be used to screen competition.

Remember the quest for critical minerals is likely to be capital-intensive.

And then there are deep environmental concerns.

Regulatory capacity in this context counts.

Appointment of regulators in India may have led to issues in regulatory capacity leading to compromised regulatory substance in terms of quality that hurts credibility, K V Pratap, an IES officer wrote in Economic and Political Weekly (July 15, 2023) who has dealt extensively with infrastructure policy and finance in the Ministry of Finance.

Indias record of drawing in global mining companies is not good.

The race for extracting critical minerals, however, needs to improve on that patchy record.

Firm and transparent laws are key to attracting such investments.

Mine and matter

Bill introduces concept of exploration licence to authorise reconnaissance or prospecting

29 minerals under the ambit of Bill includes gold, silver, copper, cobalt, plus six minerals classified as atomic minerals like lithium

Exploration licence to be granted by state government through auctions but central government will prescribe details

Companies receive a share in the auction value of the mining lease for the mineral prospected by them. Share will be prescribed by central government

Auction for composite licence and mining lease of critical and strategic minerals like lithium, cobalt & nickel to be decided by the central government.<hr>

<p><strong><em>Disclaimer: This article is meant for information purposes only. This article and information do not constitute a distribution, an endorsement, an investment advice, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities/schemes or any other financial products/investment products mentioned in this article to influence the opinion or behaviour of the investors/recipients.</em></strong></p>

<p><strong><em>Any use of the information/any investment and investment related decisions of the investors/recipients are at their sole discretion and risk. Any advice herein is made on a general basis and does not take into account the specific investment objectives of the specific person or group of persons. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice.</em></strong></p>
None of these career extensions seems to have been caused by the indispensability of the selected incumbent or the non-availability of talent down the bureaucratic pyramid.

It all may owe to Modi's 'comfort zone', where he can trust individual officers and their judgement, their understanding of working with a do-or-die prime minister, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra D Modi with Union Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba during the Second National Conference of Chief Secretaries. Photograph: ANI Photo

Recent reports about a third extension granted to Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba and the fourth extension for Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla have caused eyebrows to rise in many circles.

Both get a one-year extension, say, that is, until after next year's Lok Sabha elections, and the twin questions on the government decision centres on their indispensability and whittled career chances of others down the line.

This is not the first time that the Cabinet secretary has stayed on in office for a long time, but the current extension, until August 2024, makes Gauba, a 1982 batch Jharkhand cadre IAS officer, the longest-serving CS. Gauba incidentally was the home secretary before elevation to the nation's top-most civil service position.

Before him, B D Pande had served in the same position for five years, from 1972. But that was in the era before the Supreme Court, in 2013, had ensured a minimum two-year term for those at the top of the bureaucratic pyramid.

More recently, however, the very same Supreme Court had the occasion to quiz the Centre if it there was no other officer than incumbent S K Mishra for the ED director's job, last month.

That was after the court had 'refused to interfere' with the government's order of the previous year, which retrospectively amended Mishra's appointment order to grant him one-year extension in the 'Common Cause' case, in 2021.

This time round, the Supreme Court however held as 'illegal' two successive extensions of one year each granted to Mishra and said the Centre's orders were in 'breach' of the writ of mandamus issued in the 2021 'Common Cause' verdict that the IRS officer should not be given further extension of service.

During the hearing of the case, the bench asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Union of India, if the entire department is 'full of incompetent people' except incumbent S K Mishra.

'Are we not giving a picture that there is no other person and the entire department is full of incompetent people?' the bench sought to know.

In the normal course, it should also involve the way international interlocutors perceive the competence of other ED officers from the country.

Yet, the court allowed Mishra to continue in the post till July 31, after taking into consideration the concerns expressed by the Union government regarding peer review of the international Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and smooth transfer of power.

On further representation by the Centre, the Bench comprising Justices B R Gavai, Vikram Nath and Sanjay Karol granted a further extension in 'larger public and national interest' but that Mishra will cease to remain ED chief from the midnight of September 15.

This is a month less than the original period of governmental extension for the incumbent -- a token demonstration of the judiciary's watchdog control over the executive, so to say.

IMAGE: Modi at the virtual foundation stone laying ceremony for the redevelopment of 508 railway stations, August 6, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

It is not as if Prime Minister Narendra D Modi's government has a soft corner only for top-most bureaucrats heading various departments that are considered the nerve-centre of civilian political administration.

The government had granted a year-after-year extension to then Attorney General K K Venugopal, until he said a firm 'No' last year, citing advancing age.

Even then, Mukul Rohatgi, who was the Modi government's maiden AG, was said to be the first choice.

Only after he declined the offer did the government begin looking around for another candidate. Today, R Venkataramani is the attorney general.

In a way, none of these career extensions at the top seems to have been caused by the indispensability of the selected incumbent or the non-availability of talent down the bureaucratic pyramid.

Many speculative theories and instances have been cited as the cause for such decisions, but none of them seem to fit the bill.

Instead, it all may owe to Modi's 'comfort zone', where he can trust individual officers (going beyond bureaucratic loyalty to the institution) and their judgement, their understanding of working with a do-or-die prime minister, and also to his limited or non-exposure to the way the Government of India worked when he came to power in 2014.

True, Modi is not the first regional politician to become prime minister directly without any experience or exposure to the Delhi Durbar -- though in reality, it means much more than what the term implies, half-mockingly.

Before Modi, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Deve Gowda was parachuted to be the PM, but he possibly did not expect to stay on for long, or for his post-poll coalition to survive beyond a year or two. In the process, Deve Gowda was PM for just about ten months, from June 1996 to April 1997.

IMAGE: Modi takes the oath of office as prime minister for the first time, May 26, 2014. Photograph: Press Information Bureau

That was not the case with Modi, who came to Delhi as a novice after winning the 2014 parliamentary polls but with a thunderous majority.

He had been Gujarat chief minister for three terms, and was seen as a very successful one at that.

After a point, and especially at the time of elections 2014, his 'Gujarat model' of development had crowded out the 'Gujarat riots' (2002) out of national discourse for most parts. And his BJP-NDA had offered the 'Gujarat model' as a dream scheme for the whole nation at the time.

Yet, there were areas of political administration in which the new PM was not very well exposed to, especially from this side of the table.

Included in this were areas such as public finance and monetary policy, defence and national security, among others.

Even visualising the nation as a developmental concept akin to a single-state 'Gujarat experience' would not have helped, given the diversity that India really was/is.

As the new prime minister, Modi was credited with bringing with him most bureaucrats from his chief ministerial secretariat in Gandhi Nagar, people who knew how he thought, spoke and worked -- thus making the transition smooth and comfortable for him, especially in the early months.

Even a whisper campaign was on in capital Delhi how many of those officials, especially in the prime minister's office, with proven competence at the state-level, had had no recent exposure (if at all) to the way the Government of India worked -- and had to work.

Much of it was lost in the din of the celebratory mood of and for the government that lasted, not just for weeks and months but for years.

There are those who still argue that some of the avoidable pitfalls of the government like 'demonetisation without preparations' owed to this lack of experience and exposure of the PMO bureaucracy.

It was further argued that those officials worshipped the path that the PM took, convinced as they were with his visionary zeal and commitment.

It was not for them to tell the boss that things could be done differently -- especially after a decision had been taken.

IMAGE: Union Home Minister Amit A Shah being presented with a sapling by Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla at the launch of the CAPF eAwas Web portal. Photograph: ANI Photo

All of it speaks only about one thing -- that the PM liked operating within a 'comfort zone', created by a set of officials, familiar with his ways.

In a different set-up it would have worked even better but not in a democracy, where both the elected leader and the selected bureaucrats have fixed terms of tenure.

However, it is this latter that the yearly extensions granted to individual bureaucrats have come to be the cause and justification -- as if coinciding with the elected term of a prime minister and his government.

There is thus no need to conjure up 'conspiracy theories', especially about the need for staying on with the incumbent, if only to ensure continued 'misuse' of the ED apparatus, or those of the I-T and/or CBI, to wreck 'political vendetta' against non-NDA politicians, including ministers and chief ministers.

Yet, there is the dichotomy of the BJP-ruled Centre wanting full freedom for the executive to make and unmake senior bureaucratic appointments, but does not want to confer the same right with other popularly-elected governments like that of the Aam Admi Party in Delhi, under Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Opposition speakers in Parliament referred to what they called an 'irony' during the debate on the Delhi Bill for a CM-led bureaucratic committee with two state officials to decide on all bureaucratic appointments, that too after the Supreme Court had struck down the Centre's assumed powers over such matters, promulgated through an ordinance.

Opposition speakers in Parliament had referred to the 'irony' during the debate on the bill that sought to negate the effect of the Supreme Court judgment that had stuck down the ordinance.

Incidentally, as Gujarat chief minister, Modi had fought for the rights of (all) states in every aspect of administration -- including when party veteran Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the BJP-NDA prime minister at the turn of the century -- but not anymore, it now looks like.

Is it because Modi has come to see the other side of national political administration as PM of a diverse country as India?

Or, is it because he is tuned to wanting his way and having it too, be it as chief minister earlier and prime minister, since?

After all, he is believed to have made a self-vow to enter the Gujarat assembly only as chief minister and Parliament, only as prime minister -- not anything less, say, starting as a mere minister and/or lawmaker.

Before Modi, prime ministers such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi too had had their way with bureaucratic and even constitutional appointments.

Thus, you had the 'supersession of judges' in the Indira Gandhi era, when Justice A N Ray became the Chief Justice of India over the heads of the three judges above him.

But then, the three judges that Ray superseded -- namely, Justices J M Shelat, K S Hegde and A N Grover -- quit office, for what was seen as their considered Constitutional position in the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973).

After Justice A N Ray's retirement -- no one is talking about a service extension for Supreme Court justices -- the Indira Gandhi government superseded Justice H R Khanna to name Justice M H Beg as the CJI. It was for Justice Khanna's position in the 'Fundamental Tights case' (ADM Jabalpur case) during the Emergency.

Why, as PM, Nehru had superseded Justices Patanjali Shastri and M C Mahajan to elevate B K Mukherjee as CJI in 1951, and repeated the feat a decade and more later in 1964, with Justice Gajendragadkar over the rightful claims of Justice Imam, who was said to be suffering from a 'mental illness'.

Rajiv Gandhi as prime minister even had the temerity to 'sack' Foreign Secretary A P Venkateswaran at a news conference.

The maiden Modi government came close to it when it replaced Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh with S Jaishankar, after cutting short the former's term, extended by the predecessor government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

IMAGE: Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Shah watch Sushil Kumar Rinku, who was elected from Jalandhar in a by-election, taking the oath as a Lok Sabha MP on the first day of the Monsoon session of Parliament, July 20, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

It is another matter that Modi's 'comfort zone' extends also to his senior political aides in the government and otherwise, too.

Thus you had his old friend and aide Amit A Shah becoming party chief when Modi's candidacy for the PM's job became apparent ahead of elections 2014.

After the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Shah also became Modi's go-to man for the party and officials, as the strongest home minister, more than even Sardar Patel and L K Advani in their time.

Even years after J P Nadda replaced Shah as the party chief, it is the latter who keeps calling the shots all the time -- as the 'conscience-keeper' of the PM.

Down the line, given his limited exposure to diplomacy, Modi elevated his erstwhile foreign secretary Jaishankar as external affairs minister, pleased as he was with the latter's handling of his maiden prime ministerial visit to the once adversarial America where the other was the Indian ambassador.

In the finance ministry, after the death of old friend and personal lawyer Arun Jaitley, likewise, Nirmala Sitharaman has become the second longest serving head (four years and 67 days) after Morarji Desai's two stints totalling seven years and 324 days.

In his first innings, Morarji put in five years and 122 days, 1958-1963, with Nehru as PM. And Desai, mind you, is still remembered for being the most difficult of senior ministers for any PM to handle -- including himself, in the era immediately after the Emergency (1977-1978).

N Sathiya Moorthy, veteran journalist and author, is a Chennai-based policy analyst & political commentator

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
If a 15 seconds-long mic problem merits a suo moto case being registered, then the police risk an avalanche of complaints of similar and greater gravity, seeking their intervention, notes Shyam G Menon.

IMAGE: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Congress state President K Sudhakaran, film director Adoor Gopalakrishnan and others at the memorial ceremony for Oommen Chandy at the Ayyankali Hall in Thiruvananthapuram, July 24, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Can a microphone launching into a high-pitch whine inspire a police case?

It did in Kerala.

First, some context. On July 18, 2023 former chief minister of Kerala and senior Congress leader, Oommen Chandy passed away.

Diagnosed with cancer, he had been ailing. The end wasn't unexpected. What stunned was the outpouring of grief at his departure.

Thousands converged to pay their respects at every venue the body was kept for public viewing.

People thronged the roads and highways along which the body travelled from the state capital to its resting place at a church in Puthuppally, Kottayam.

In death, an image of Oommen Chandy in the time he was alive, began to emerge.

It was clear that this unassuming leader, who represented Puthuppally for more than five decades, had touched the lives of many.

A devout church-goer whose appeal transcended identity by religion and community, he was widely spoken of as having helped people; been there for them at crucial junctures in their life, listened to the public and understood their complaints.

His unassuming nature and lack of airs seemed to rub off not only on the aura that surrounded him after his demise, it was also a sharp contrast to the attitude of the current Left Democratic Front (LDF) state government, which is seen to value distinction by rank and ceremony.

Not to mention the LDF had muddied Oommen Chandy's public image after some from his office were alleged to have links with those accused in the so-called Solar Panel Scam in 2013.

It was a testing phase in Oommen Chandy's tenure as chief minister.

Subsequent investigations by the state police, done after the LDF came to power, unearthed no evidence to implicate the former chief minister. Still, the case was handed to central agencies.

The whole episode was later seen as a clean politician humiliated by the LDF.

The spectre of thousands lining up to pay respects to Oommen Chandy upon his death, was therefore partly seen as a public backlash to the LDF for what it did to the erstwhile chief minister.

It wasn't long before political observers and commentators searched their memory and that of others for a demise in Kerala politics grieved by so many.

Only former chief ministers E K Nayanar (of the CPI[M]) and K Karunakaran (of the Congress) found mention.

But they appeared a distant second; the scale of grieving witnessed for Oommen Chandy has no parallel, yet, as regards Kerala politicians.

On a lighter note, an observation doing the rounds as the motorcade bearing the Congress leader's body navigated its way slowly through roads lined with people (it was telecast live on TV), was that contemporary Malayali politicians must be rattled wondering if they would ever merit such a send-off by the public.

IMAGE: Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi with Oommen Chandy's family in Bengaluru, July 18, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

On July 24, the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee held a meeting in Thiruvananthapuram to mark Oommen Chandy's passing and to remember him.

Among those invited was the current LDF chief minister, Pinarayi Vijayan.

At the meeting, as Vijayan moved towards the podium, he was greeted with sloganeering by some of the Congress supporters present.

When he commenced speaking, the microphone went into a high-pitch whine, much the same way mics do when caught in a feedback loop.

The next day, there was news of the police registering a suo moto case over the microphone problem that had interfered with the chief minister's speech for some 15 seconds.

Reports said, the electronic equipment involved was seized by the police and would be subjected to examination by experts.

By night, the relaxation of political divides to collectively condone a senior leader's passing, appeared ended; TV news showed Congress politicians holding forth on the Vijayan government's role in tarnishing Oommen Chandy's image.

July 26 afternoon, the media reported Vijayan advising the police not to proceed with the case.

It didn't stop the now liberated mic from acquiring a life of its own.

True to satire-loving Kerala, the mic in question was being referred to like a celebrity, in that evening's discussions on TV.

IMAGE: The mortal remains of former Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy being taken to Kottayam from Thiruvananthapuram for the last rites, July 20, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Two things stood out in the bizarre developments following the condolence meeting of July 24.

First, most of us beset with such a mic problem, wait for the high-pitch whine to die down and then continue talking.

Or we wait for the technician to do his bit, correcting the issue.

Politicians who are veterans of public speaking and misbehaviour by mics should be even more comfortable with technical setbacks.

In the specific instance from July 24, media reports said the problem was immediately rectified. Vijayan too resumed speaking after the brief glitch.

However, if a 15 seconds-long mic problem merits a suo moto case being registered, then the police risk an avalanche of complaints of similar and greater gravity, seeking their intervention.

Second, it appears the Congress is in no mood to let go of Oommen Chandy's victimisation in the Solar Panel Scam.

Both the refusal and the anger are easily understood, particularly given the public turnout witnessed earlier.

One may have liked to ask Oommen Chandy what he makes of all this.

Sadly, he is no more.

Shyam G Menon is a freelance journalist based in Mumbai.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
'It is this fear that is behind all that has happened to Rahul Gandhi.'

IMAGE: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi attends the proceedings of the Lok Sabha, August 7, 2023. Photograph: SansadTV/ANI Photo

It was on the 24th of March 2023 that Rahul Gandhi was disqualified as a member of the Lok Sabha after a Gujarat court convicted him on charges of defamation.

It was at a political rally in Karnataka during the 2019 general elections that Rahul Gandhi made the alleged comments.

On the 4th of August, the Supreme Court stayed the Gujarat verdict. On Monday, August 7, the Lok Sabha secretariat revoked his disqualification from Parliament and he returned to the Lok Sabha after 136 days as the MP representing Wayanad in Kerala.

An elated T Siddhique, the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee working president and the Congress MLA from Kalpetta which falls within Rahul Gandhi's Wayanad constituency, discusses the implications of the Supreme Court verdict with Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier.

The first of a two-part interview:

What kind of impact will these developments have on the Congress party?

First, it is a huge step forward for the INDIA movement when the BJP is trying hard to split the parties in the INDIA movement, when they are using agencies like ED (the Enforcement Directorate) to achieve it, when they are trying to destabilise state governments ruled by the parties that are in the INDIA movement.

The case against Rahul Gandhi, his disqualification from Parliament clearly show that the central government was deviating from democratic debates to indulge in destructive democratic practices.

It is because they are scared.

IMAGE: Congress workers celebrate the Supreme Court's interim stay on party leader Rahul Gandhi's conviction, August 4, 2023, here and below. Photograph: ANI Photo

Do you think the BJP was rattled after the Bharat Jodo Yatra?

Those who are scared of Rahul Gandhi's fearlessness, lovable nature and sacrificing mentality are Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and the central government.

It is this fear that is behind all that has happened to Rahul Gandhi.

They have been portraying Rahul Gandhi and insulting him using very derogatory terms on social media.

Though we were aware of his credibility, innocence, integrity and fearless approach to issues concerning the country, the general public somehow believed the perception created by the BJP and Sangh parivar propaganda machine.

The Bharat Jodo Yatra changed this and people saw the potential he had as a leader. They came to know who Rahul Gandhi really after the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

The two major reasons why they wanted to disqualify Rahul Gandhi are the positive image he created after the yatra and his ability to talk about truth fearlessly. They got scared because of these two reasons.

They questioned him for 56 hours, but he did not budge. What he said was, the finger I raised against you will not come down, and I would continue to raise questions.

It was after he led the debate in Parliament against (Adani Group Chairman Gautam) Adani that the Gujarat court verdict came.

It was after he spoke exposing the clear connection between Narendra Modi and Adani that he was disqualified.

Every incident is well-connected.

You said what happened to Rahul Gandhi was political conspiracy...

This is totally a political conspiracy. This case can be compared to the political conspiracies that were hatched during the British period against Indian freedom fighters.

Photograph: ANI Photo

How will this impact Indian democracy as a whole? Do you think this is against freedom of speech?

One of the most important rights given to the citizens of this country by the Constitution is Freedom of Speech and expression.

Do you know what Jawaharlal Nehru told the well known cartoonist, Sankar? 'Don't spare me. You should criticise me'.

Today, why do we ask thousands of questions to Narendra Modi not only inside Parliament, but outside also?

Because asking questions is the most important aspect in a democracy.

What we hear is only the one-sided loquaciousness of the prime minister through Mann ki Baat.

We don't hear the sacred debates that are the hallmarks of a democracy.

Is democracy in danger, according to you?

Every aspect of democracy is being destroyed in India now.

The violence in Manipur started on May 3. More than four months have passed.

The prime minister mentioned about it in passing only once, and that was before the Parliament session started.

The home minister went to Manipur just once. Manipur is still burning.

The Supreme Court said there was a complete breakdown of the Constitutional machinery in Manipur.

I don't think the Supreme Court had to speak like this about any other state till now.

Why is it that the state government is not dismissed even now?

What is to be spoken about, the prime minister would not speak, what is to be done, he would not do.

IMAGE: T Siddhique, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee working president and Congress MLA from Kalpetta. Photograph: Kind courtesy T Siddhique

What we see in Haryana now is the aftermath of hate politics.

As a political leader from the minority community, how concerned are you about hate politics against Muslims?

It may be Manipur today, it may be Haryana today, but it is already spreading to the rest of the country in one way or the other.

From Manipur, it has speared to Nagaland.

In our concept, the North East is the conglomeration of seven states or seven sisters! They are border states that require special consideration.

But arms and ammunition are reaching the hands of people.

The North Eastern states have never been in such a grave situation.

Can we forget the firing that happened in a train by an RPF officer? It is reported that he quoted Yogi and Modi after killing people.

This incident depicts the level to which hate politics has reached in India.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
'Radical Meitei organisations are checking the identities of soldiers from army battalions.'

IMAGE: Security personnel fire tear gas shells to disperse a crowd in Imphal, June 29, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

W L Hangshing is the general secretary of the Kuki People's Alliance, which withdrew support to the N Biren Singh government in Manipur on August 6.

Hangshing, who retired as the chief commissioner, north east region (GST and Customs) tells Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com how dangerous the situation in Manipur is for Kuki MLAs to attend the state assembly session which begins on August 21 and what could be the way forward in Manipur, which has seen four months of violence.

Why did the Kuki People's Alliance withdraw support to the N Biren Singh government in Manipur? Do you think it should have been done soon after the violence against Kukis began in Manipur?

The day violence and riots began in Manipur after May 3, we were actually technically, informally already out of the government.

No sooner did the violence begin we were all so scattered that we could not formally put it (the withdrawal of support) together. Then we started working on it last week.

We were trying to contact our office bearers and managed to string it (the withdrawal) together on Friday (Augist 4). Then there was no network (after the restart of violence in some parts of Manipur after Augist 4).

All our office bearers were living in either Churachandpur or in Imphal (the capital of Manipur dominated by the majority Meitei community) when the riots took place. We were all scattered, even myself.

I was in hiding somewhere. Then I was in the Army Relief Centre for about a week. Then I took a military convoy to escape the (Imphal) valley. So everybody was facing these problems. It (the withdrawal of support) was hardly of any urgency at that time to take a formal decision.

The delay (in withdrawing support) was just because of technical reasons.

Now that things have more or less crystallised, the picture has become clear and we thought we should formalise it (the withdrawal).

Our withdrawal of support has taken time, but it is a natural process.

How will the withdrawal affect the N Biren Singh government because it has the numbers?

Actually it doesn't affect (the stability of the government) whether we (support them or not) that's why from the beginning we didn't join the government. We supported it from the outside based on issues which they (the N Biren Singh government) never acknowledged. But in the (Manipur) assembly we were sitting with the Treasury (the government).

(For all this while) we were hoping some sense will prevail, some kind of reconciliation will come because this (violence against the Kukis) is not something that started happening from May 3. It has been happening since the last four or five years, which is one of the reasons why our party (the Kuki People's Alliance) was formed.

Today, it is proven that it was a false hope that we had. As evident from (what has been happening in Manipur since) May 3, the government has turned rogue. It is a rogue government now.

In fact, the latest scenario is that the (Manipur) assembly has been summoned at the instigation of COCOMI (Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity which had called for convening of the session before August 5; the session is scheduled to begin August 21) and the Meira Paibis (a group of Meitei women activists).

Who are these mobs to call an assembly (session)?

These organisations looking after the interests of Meiteis are the very groups who have declared war on the Kukis; if they are allowed to call assembly sessions, then this government is a total failure. It has lost its legitimacy.

The Manipur government is a government now ruled by the mob.

What message will your withdrawal send to your people as well as to the people of Manipur?

Message was already sent the day we announced we want separate administration; the message has already gone and this (withdrawal) will just be another formal reaffirmation of that reality. It really doesn't have any effect on the political ground situation.

There are as many as eight MLAs from the hills belonging to the BJP. Do you think they should also resign as BJP MLAs like the KPA MLAs did? Are you in talks with them to convince them to resign?

Out of the ten Kuki MLAs (from the hills), two of them are our party MLAs (Chinlungthang from Singhat (ST) constituency in Churachandpur and Kimneo Haokip Hangshing from Saikul) and our decision (to withdraw) is for our party only.

They (the Kuki MLAs from BJP) actually also are on the same ground; they have left Manipur now, whether they will formally leave the BJP or they will also withdraw support from the N Biren Singh government they will have to decide for themselves. As a KPA official, I cannot comment on that matter.

Are you in talks with them to convince them to withdraw or to resign?

I don't have to convince them; we don't even have to talk; we know each other and we are sitting together almost every week and we know our sentiments together; we are on the same page.

We always sort out our issues together and for them also to support the N Biren Singh government or not are only a technicality.

In fact, they are out of it the day they announced that they want a separate administration or a separate Union Territory or whatever it is, they are already out of the N Biren Singh government.

A group of people from the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum met Union Home Minister Amit A Shah today (August 7). Could tell us what this meeting was about? Who are these tribal leaders and what are they trying to achieve through this meeting?

The ITLF was formed in the last one-and-a-half or two months after the riots took place. It's an umbrella civil organisation of all the Kuki groups. They would be having the mandate of the Kuki people and I'm sure they would be in touch with the (Kuki BJP) MLAs also on what line to take, what line of argument to take. We are all together in this. We know each other.

IMAGE: Ethnic violence broke out on May 3 in Manipur. Photograph: ANI

How safe do the elected representatives from the hills feel in Manipur today?

We cannot go there (in the Imphal valley). We (none of the Kuki MLAs) cannot enter the valley right now. They will lynch us. They will kill us.

One (Vungzagin Valte, the BJP Kuki MLA from the Thanlon (ST) constituency in Churachandpur) was already lynched there. After a three-month battle he is recovering (Valte had suffered a serious skull injury in early May when violence gripped the north eastern state and is now recuperating in a hospital in Delhi).

The radical Meitei organisations are even checking the identities of soldiers from army battalions; they are checking the identity of the soldiers.

There's no governance anymore. The rulers should hang their heads in shame. There's no governance anymore. It is ruled by the mob.

Even the assembly (session) has been called by the mob, not by the chief minister of the speaker (of the Manipur assembly). Is this democracy?
A fresh plea has been filed in the Supreme Court over alleged "blatant hate speeches" calling for killing Muslims and their social and economic boycott delivered at rallies in different states, including Haryana where recent communal clashes claimed six lives.

IMAGE: A shop set on fire during the recent violence in Nuh, Haryana. Photograph: ANI Photo

The petition was mentioned on Tuesday before a bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal mentioned the plea before the CJI, who was heading a five-judge Constitution bench which is hearing arguments on the petitions challenging abrogation of Article 370 that accorded special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

As the Constitution bench was about to rise for lunch break, Sibal, who was arguing in the Article 370 matter, said a "very serious thing" has happened in Gurugram.

"There is a very serious thing that has happened in Gurugram where there is a call.... that if you employ these people (Muslims) in shops, you will all be gaddars (traitors)," he said. Sibal said a petition has been filed in the apex court over it.

The application, filed by journalist Shaheen Abdullah, has referred to the August 2 order of the apex court which said, "We hope and trust that the state governments and police will ensure that no hate speeches irrespective of the identity are made against any community and there is no physical violence or damage to the properties."

Observing that hate speeches vitiate the atmosphere, the top court had said that wherever required, adequate police force or para-military force would be deployed and the authorities, including the police, will use the CCTV cameras installed or record/make video recording in all sensitive areas.

The application said despite the apex court's order, over 27 rallies were organised in various states where hate speeches were made.

"Despite the aforementioned order, more than 27 rallies have been organised across various states where blatant hate speeches calling for the killing and social and economic boycott of Muslims have been openly delivered," it said.

The application contains a table showing some of the rallies that have taken place between August 1, 2023, and August 7 with relevant video links.

"In a video that surfaced on social media on August 2, 2023, a procession by the 'Samhast Hindu Samaj' can be seen walking through a neighbourhood in Hisar, Haryana in the presence of police officials issuing warnings to residents/shopkeepers that if they continue to employ/keep any Muslims after 2 days then their shops will be boycotted," it said.

The application claimed open calls for violence and boycott of Muslims were made by a VHP leader in the presence of the police in Sagar in Madhya Pradesh on August 4.

"It is submitted that such rallies that demonise communities and openly call for violence and killing of people are not limited in terms of their impact to just those areas that are presently dealing with communal tensions but will inevitably lead to communal disharmony and violence of an unfathomable scale across the country," it said.

It has sought directions to the commissioner of police, Delhi and directors general of police of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana and other authorities to take adequate action and ensure such rallies are not allowed.

If the authorities concerned fail to stop such rallies, an explanation be sought from them asking what measures the had taken and why they failed to prevent them, the petition says. It has sought immediate action against police officials participating in such rallies or failing to ensure that hate speeches are not delivered.

The top court had passed the August 2 order after senior advocate C U Singh, appearing for Abdullah, said that 23 demonstrations have been announced by Hindu right groups Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal in various parts of the National Capital Region (NCR) over Haryana clashes.

Six people, including two home guards and a cleric, died in last week's communal clashes that first erupted in Nuh when a Vishva Hindu Parishad procession was attacked by mobs. The communal clashes later spread to Gurugram.

A total of 312 people have been arrested and 106 taken into preventive detention in connection with the communal clashes in Haryana.

Besides, 142 FIRs have been registered in places including Nuh, Gurugram, Faridabad, Palwal, Rewari, Panipat and Bhiwani, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij said in a statement on Tuesday.
A 10-member delegation of Haryana Congress on Tuesday was stopped from entering violence-hit villages of Nuh district, police said.

IMAGE: Paramilitary personnel keep vigil following the clashes that took place between two groups, in Nuh on August 7, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Citing curfew imposed in the area and security concerns for the delegation, a senior police officer said the delegation was stopped at Rojka Meo village and were stopped from entering villages affected by the communal clashes in the district.

The delegation returned after that, police said.

Rajya Sabha MP Deepender Singh Hooda said they wanted to listen to the problems of affected people in Nuh city and send out a message of peace.

"If the huge force deployed today to stop us had been deployed that day also, there would have been no clash between the two communities. The government is entirely responsible for this whole episode. Obviously, the government was negligent and their intentions were not right," Hooda said.

"The purpose of the delegation was to meet traders and other affected people of Nuh city, and give out a message of peace after listening to their issues. We also wanted to visit the Shiva temple at Nalhar," he added.

The delegation was led by state Congress president Chaudhary Udaybhan. Deepender Singh Hooda, Captain Ajay Singh Yadav, Mahendra Pratap, BB Batra, Bajrang Das Garg, Rao Dan Singh, Pankaj Dawar and Jitender Bhardwaj were also part of the delegation.

Hooda also said that both the home guards who died in the violence should be given 'martyr status'.

The family of the deceased should also be given financial assistance and a family member should also be given a job, he said.

Slamming the Haryana government, senior Congress leader Captain Ajay Singh Yadav said, "The Haryana government is not even ashamed of its failure. Our delegation wanted to go to Nuh with the purpose of restoring peace. Politics is of no use at this point."

Party state chief Chaudhary Udaybhan said that they will inform the Congress high command that were stopped from visiting the affected parts of Nuh.

Meanwhile, the police said that a the work of the administration would have increased if there was a 'political visit'.

"Permission is not allowed due to the imposition of Section 144 in the district. The administration is making every possible effort to help the victims. If there is a political visit, the work of the administration will increase," Nuh SP Narender Bijarnia said.

"The situation is moving towards complete normalcy. To prevent any further disruption, we are requesting them to undertake their visit after the situation becomes completely normal," Bijarnia said.

Curfew was relaxed for four hours in Nuh during the day, according to the district magistrate.

Six people, including two home guards and a cleric, died in last week's communal clashes that erupted when a Vishva Hindu Parishad procession was attacked by mobs in Nuh and later spread to adjoining Gurugram.

A total of 312 people have been arrested and 106 taken into preventive detention in connection with the communal clashes in the state.

Besides, 142 FIRs have been registered Nuh, Gurugram, Faridabad, Palwal, Rewari, Panipat and Bhiwani and other places, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij said in a statement on Tuesday.
Nearly 33 years after retired judge Neelkanth Ganjoo was shot dead by militants, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday sought information from the general public to unearth the "larger criminal conspiracy" behind the killing.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Ganjoo had sentenced Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) founder Mohammad Maqbool Bhat to death in the 1960s in a case related to the murder of police officer Amar Chand. He was shot dead by militants in November 1989 and was among the prominent Kashmiri Pandits to be targeted.

"In order to unearth the larger criminal conspiracy behind the murder of retired judge Neelkanth Ganjoo three decades ago, the State Investigation Agency (SIA), through a communique, has appealed to all persons familiar with facts or circumstances of this murder case to come forward and share any account of events which has a direct or indirect bearing on the investigation of the instant case," an official spokesperson said here on Monday.

The spokesperson said the identity of all such persons shall be kept secret and protected, besides all useful and relevant information shall be suitably rewarded.

"The public has been asked to contact on 8899004976 or on email sspsia-kmr@jkpolice.gov.in for having any information related to this murder case," the spokesman said.
Manipur Police has registered a first information report (FIR) accusing the Assam Rifles of blocking their vehicle after an altercation between the two groups last week, while the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to replace Assam Rifles 'by any other paramilitary force permanently' from the state.

IMAGE: Security forces deployed in Imphal, Manipur. Photograph: ANI Photo

Security sources, however, described the FIR as a 'travesty of justice' and said the Assam Rifles was undertaking a task given by the command headquarters of ensuring sanctity of the buffer zones between Kuki and Meitiei areas.

The FIR, a copy of which is with the PTI, was filed on August 5 when police alleged that the Assam Rifles blocked police vehicles on the Kwakta Gothol road in Bishnupur district.

The FIR claimed Assam Rifles stopped its personnel from proceeding when 'the state police was on its way to Pholjang Road along Kwakta as follow up action to conduct search operations in an arms act case in search of Kuki militants'.

The police claimed that its personnel were stopped by 9 Assam Rifles which parked their 'Casper' vehicle blocking the road.

Defence sources reacted stating 'Assam Rifles was undertaking a task given by the command headquarters of ensuring sanctity of the buffer zones between Kuki and Meitiei areas'.

In the evening, the Manipur unit of BJP requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to replace Assam Rifles 'by any other paramilitary force permanently' from the state in the interest of the public and also sought his intervention to bring an amicable solution to the ongoing ethnic unrest at the earliest.

In a memorandum to Modi, the party's Manipur unit said, 'The role of Assam Rifles in regard to the ethnic unrest and in maintaining peace and tranquility in the state has been under considerable criticism and public outrage.'

'Since Day 1 of the violence on May 3, Assam Rifles has failed to maintain neutrality so as to restore peace in the state,' the party said, adding, 'The public anger and protest over Assam Rifles for playing the role of partisanship in this highly delicate and sensitive ethnic unrest continues to be witnessed unabated, the Assam Rifles has been charged by the public for their biased role in tackling the situation.'

The memorandum signed by its president A Sharda Devi and vice-president Chidananda recalled the recent incident when Assam Rifles allegedly blocked a team of the state police who were in pursuit of militants who had killed three civilians.

The memorandum comes days after Manipur Police filed an FIR against 9 AR for 'disobeying law by public servant with intent to cause injury to any person, obstructing public servant in charge of public function."

In another development, Assam Rifles personnel, based at Moirang Lamkhai checkpoint in Manipur's Bishnupur, where fresh violence erupted last week, have been withdrawn and substituted by the CRPF and the state police, a notification said.

The notification, issued by Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) L Kailun on Monday, said 'the checkpoint at Moirang Lamkhai on the Bishnupur to Kangvai Road shall be manned by the civil police and 128 Bn CRPF in place of 9 AR with immediate effect and until further orders'.

Assam Rifles has been contacted, and a response from the paramilitary force is awaited.

Meanwhile, security has been tightened across the state ahead of United Naga Council's proposed rallies in Naga-inhabited areas of the northeastern state on August 9 to press for successfully concluding the peace talks with the Centre based on the Framework Agreement.

In a statement, the United Naga Council (UNC) said rallies will be held in the district headquarters of Tamenglong, Senapati, Ukhrul and Chandel districts from 10 am on Wednesday.

The UNC, an influential Naga body, has appealed to all Nagas to participate in the rallies in large numbers.

Naga Hoho, a powerful civic body of the Naga tribes, has meanwhile asked the 10 Naga MLAs in Manipur not to attend the proposed assembly session from August 21, claiming that the Manipur government has been working against peace talks with Naga groups.

Most of the Kuki MLAs irrespective of their party affiliations are unlikely to attend the Manipur assembly session in view of the continued ethnic violence, according to leaders from the community.

There are 10 Kuki-Zomi MLAs, including seven from the BJP, two from the Kuki People's Alliance and one independent, in the Manipur House which has a strength of 60 members.

Rioting between the Meiteis and Kuki-Zomi communities broke out in May after protests over a court judgment which seemed to favour the majority Meiteis who live in the Imphal valley and who have been demanding Scheduled Tribe status, currently enjoyed by Kuki-Zomi and Naga tribals in the state.

More than 160 people lost their lives and several hundreds were injured since the ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur 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.

Tribals -- Nagas and Kukis -- constitute little over 40 per cent and reside in the hill districts.
Sparks flew in the Lok Sabha over the political upheaval in Maharashtra as Nationalist Congress Party leader Supriya Sule accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of toppling nine state governments during its nine years in power at the Centre and Shiv Sena member Shrikant Shinde took potshots at former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray.

IMAGE: NCP MP Supriya Sule speaks during the discussion on no-confidence motion against the central government in Lok Sabha during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, in New Delhi on Tuesday. Photograph: Sansad TV/ANI Photo

Shinde, participating in a discussion on the no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha, took a jibe at the opposition coalition Indian National Develomental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) describing it as a 'destructive alliance' and said the next elections will be fought on the issue of scams of the United Progressive Alliance and schemes of the National Democratic Alliance.

Shinde also accused the Thackeray-led Maharashtra government of indulging in corrupt practices instead of taking steps to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray member Arvind Sawant hit out at the BJP and claimed that the ruling party had embraced the leaders of the NCP, which it had described as 'Naturally Corrupt Party' and even made them ministers in the Maharashtra government.

Sawant slammed Shinde for criticising Uddhav Thackeray's handling of the pandemic in Maharashtra.

He said Thackeray's handling of the crisis was hailed by global organisations such as the World Health Organisation.

Union Minister Narayan Rane was engaged in a heated exchange with Sawant.

Rane, a former Maharashtra chief minister, said the Shiv Sena under Thackeray had weakened considerably.

"The Shiv Sena no longer has the roar of the tiger. It has now been reduced to a meowing cat," said Rane, a former Shiv Sena leader who joined the BJP after a long stint with the Congress.

Rane claimed that the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena has no 'stature' to speak against Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Home Minister Amit Shah.

Shiv Sena-UBT members tried to shout down Rane, who also appeared to become a bit aggressive, which prompted the Chair to call for the next speaker.

Sule, the Lok Sabha member from Baramati, said that in the past nine years the central government has destroyed institutions and the law and order situation, including in Manipur and some parts of Maharashtra.

"The BJP has toppled nine (state) governments in the last nine years -- Arunachal, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Meghalaya, Karnataka, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry and Maharashtra twice," said Sule.

"How can a party that toppled governments in nine states be called a party with a difference," she asked.

The NCP leader also called for the resignation of Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh.

Last year, Shiv Sena witnessed a split with Eknath Shinde walking out with a large chunk of MLAs leading to the ouster of the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress MVA government led by Uddhav Thackeray.

Shinde became the chief minister with support from the BJP.

Last month, the NCP split as senior leader Ajit Pawar and other MLAs joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government in Maharashtra.
Poe: PH must adhere to highest maritime safety standards

Sen. Grace Poe said the government must ensure compliance to the highest maritime standards for the safety of passengers traveling by water.

Presiding over the inquiry of the Senate public services committee on the capsizing of a motor banca in Binangonan, Rizal, Poe lamented the tragedy "revealed serious maritime safety compliance lapses that need to be revisited."

"Maraming pagkukulang na dapat matagal nang tinugunan. It should not have cost us 27 lives for our maritime authorities to realize these implementation gaps," Poe said.

"In a country composed of thousands of islands, Philippines should have the highest safety standards in water transportation," she added.

Poe said the investigation aims to make those responsible for the incident accountable.

"Alam nating hindi lamang iisang tao ang may pagkakasala at dapat managot dito. This is a systemic failure borne out of the lack of proper implementation of existing maritime safety laws," she said.

The senator also questioned the standards used in determining the seaworthiness of boats in carrying passengers and sailing.

Seaworthiness also involves the presence of competent vessel crew knowledgeable about safety issues and who can respond to emergency situations.

The senator pointed out that Republic Act No. 9993 mandates the Philippine Coast Guard to bar any vessel from sailing if found non-compliant to the regulations.

"Hindi ba't ang hindi pagsuot ng life vest at pag-o-overload ng bangka ay paglabag na sa safety standard? Bakit walang pumigil dito," Poe said.

"Meron nga bang kakulangan sa batas na magbibigay liability sa shipowner at boat captain kapag nagkaroon ng mga insidenteng tulad nito? We want to know if there were cases in the past when the boat captain and the shipowner were held liable," she added.

A total of 27 passengers perished in the July 27 incident involving MB Aya Express which sailed from the Port of Binangonan en route to Talim Island in the Laguna de Bay.

Poe said reports were clear that the boat was allowed to sail despite being overloaded and with incomplete manifesto. The passengers had no life vests. It was also discovered that the captain had no valid license.

"Indeed, this is a recipe for disaster - an accident waiting to happen. And it did," Poe said.
Foreign tourists walk past banners of the G20 summit near a venue for the G20 Finance Ministers Meeting in Nusa Dua on Indonesia's resort island of Bali, on July 14, 2022. Photo by Reuters

Indonesia will consider granting visa-free entry for foreigners based on the three criteria of "reciprocity, usefulness, and security," its tourism minister Sandiaga Uno has said.

The government will conduct an evaluation next month, Antara News Agency reported.

The minister said the government targets foreigners who will stay in Indonesia for more than seven days and spend US$1,000 per person.

Since 2016 Indonesia has waived visa requirements for travelers from 169 countries, including 10 ASEAN member countries.

The country recently suspended visa-free entry policy for citizens of 159 countries and territories outside ASEAN, amid concerns about "disruption of public order and potential transmission of diseases."

Southeast Asia's largest economy has recently stepped-up efforts to promote high-quality tourism and reduce the number of low-spending tourists on Bali Island.

It just launched a new task force in Bali that will crack down on badly-behaved foreigners on the island to restore its tourism reputation.
There is no question of a Brexit-like referendum on the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, the Supreme Court said on Tuesday, as it grappled with the question as to whether its repeal was constitutionally legal.

Photograph: Umar Ganie for Rediff.com IMAGE: BJP workers celebrate the 4th anniversary of abrogation of Article 370 in Srinagar.

India, it said, is a constitutional democracy where the will of its people can be ascertained only through established institutions.

Brexit was the name given to the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union. Britain's exit from the EU was actuated by a rise in nationalistic fervour, daunting immigration issues, and a distressed economy.

The remark by the five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud came following the submission by senior advocate Kapil Sibal that the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution, which accorded special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, was a political act like Brexit where the opinion of British citizens was elicited through a referendum. This was not the case when Article 370 was repealed on August 5, 2019, he said.

Sibal was appearing for National Conference leader Mohammed Akbar Lone, who has challenged the abrogation of Article 370.

Parliament accorded its approval to the executive act to unilaterally change the provision of the Constitution as applicable to Jammu and Kashmir. That's the central question this court has to decide, whether the Union of India could do it, he said.

Sibal has repeatedly questioned Parliament's power to abrogate Article 370 in the absence of the constituent assembly of Jammu and Kashmir.

He has persistently maintained that only the constituent assembly, whose term expired in 1957, was vested with the power to recommend repeal or modification of Article 370, and since it ceased to exist after 1957, the constitutional provision according special status to J&K, assumed a permanent character.

During the third day of the hearing on the pleas challenging the Centre's August 2019 decision, Sibal repeated his contention before the bench, also comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai and Surya Kant.

This court will remember Brexit. In Brexit, there was no constitutional provision (in England) seeking a referendum. But, when you want to sever a relationship which has been entered into, you must ultimately seek the opinion of the people because people are at the centre of this decision, not the Union of India, Sibal asserted.

CJI Chandrachud was, however, not impressed.

In a constitutional democracy, seeking the opinion of people has to be done through established institutions. So long as a democracy exists as it does, in terms of constitutional democracy, any recourse to the will of the people has to be expressed and sought through established institutions. You cannot therefore envisage a situation like Brexit type referendum, he told Sibal.

He concurred with Sibal's view that Brexit was a political decision but said, Within a Constitution like us there is no question of referendum.

Sibal said the repeal was a political decision taken unilaterally by the executive and it cannot be called a decision that was in consonance with the Constitution.

Sibal, who argued through the day, said whether Article 370 was a temporary or permanent provision does not matter now. He said the ultimate question is whether the Union of India can terminate that relationship which was constitutionally recognised under Article 370.

It is irrelevant. Temporary or permanent does not matter. The manner it was done is a fraud upon the Constitution. It is a politically motivated act. Executive orders are political acts not constitutional acts. Permanent or temporary at the moment is not the issue.

"The reason why I am saying this is because maybe there is a constitutional way of doing it. Though I am not addressing that (issue) nor have they (Centre) resorted to constitutional methodology. If they resort to it, it will be tested in the court of law," Sibal said.

Sibal has been insisting that Parliament could not have assumed the role of the constituent assembly to repeal Article 370.

He questioned the Centre's decision of dividing the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories and said the Constitution did not allow it.

You cannot divide Madhya Pradesh or Bihar into two Union territories. This is a representative form of democracy. In this case, where are the voices of people of Jammu and Kashmir? Where is the voice of representative democracy? Five years have passed... have you had any form of representative democracy? This way the whole of India can be converted into Union territories, he said.

Sibal said though the Constitution is a political document, one cannot manoeuvre or manipulate it as courts are not silent.

That's not how you interpret a Constitution. It is a political document but you cannot misuse it politically. What is a Constitution? It's a set of values. Values on the basis of which people will represent themselves and their voice will be heard. If you do such executive acts and silence the voices of people, what is left of democracy?

"All I can say is that this is the historic moment, historic not for the present but for the future of India. And I hope this court is not silent, Sibal said while concluding his arguments.

The hearing remained inconclusive and will continue on Wednesday when senior advocate Gopal Subramanian will advance his arguments for the petitioners.

Several petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, which split the erstwhile state into two Union territories -- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh -- were referred to a Constitution bench in 2019.
Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala on Tuesday indicated that there were shortcomings of the administration in assessing the situation in Nuh, where a communal violence erupted on July 31 during a religious procession.

IMAGE: Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala speaks to the media on the Nuh violence, on August 8, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

The state government has extended the suspension of mobile internet and SMS services in the district till August 11, where conditions are 'still critical and tense'.

Chautala said the Additional Director General of Police (law and order) had stated that permission for a procession having 3,200 people was taken by the organisers, and accordingly the police force was deployed.

"...Lack of assessment by administration which could not assess this entire episode properly. Nuh SP (now transferred) was on leave since July 22, the one who had additional charge could not assess it properly and the officials from whom permission (for the procession) was taken they too could not assess it properly. It is a point which is under investigation," he told reporters in Chandigarh when asked whether there was an intelligence failure to assess the situation.

The Jannayak Janata Party leader had earlier said that the organisers of the religious procession, which was attacked in Nuh by a mob, did not give a proper estimation of the expected turnout to the district administration, a lapse which may have led to the violence.

Six people, including two home guards and a cleric, died in the communal clashes that erupted in Nuh when a Vishva Hindu Parishad procession was attacked by mobs.

A total of 312 persons have been arrested and 142 first information reports (FIRs) registered so far in connection with the communal clashes in Haryana, Home Minister Anil Vij said in a statement on Tuesday.

When asked when did he get information about the July 31 incident, Chautala replied, "I came to know about it at 1:30 pm...I talked to ADGP (CID) and requested that SP Bhiwani be sent there (Nuh)."

For the first time, such atmosphere in the state has been created in a planned manner and strict action will be taken against those involved, be it a minor or major, he said when asked that some teenagers were stated to be part of those who indulged in stone pelting on the procession.

On allegations that 'one sided action was being taken', Chautala said all those being arrested do not belong to a particular caste or community.

Referring to communal clashes, the deputy CM said the government was able 'to control the situation within seven hours. In some other states, it has been seen such an incident continued for two-three weeks. I think it was our efficiency that we were able to curb anti-social elements'.

Curfew has been relaxed and it will be lifted gradually, he said.

The government on Tuesday evening extended the suspension of mobile internet and SMS services in Nuh district till August 11 to prevent any disturbance of peace and public order.

"It has been brought to my notice by Deputy Commissioner, Nuh, that the conditions are still critical and tense in the district. In order to stop the spread of misinformation and rumours through various social media platforms...the suspension of mobile internet services and bulk SMS, excluding banking and mobile recharge, has been ordered in the jurisdiction of district Nuh," said an order issued by Additional Chief Secretary (Home) T V S N Prasad.

The Gurugram police on Tuesday arrested three out of five accused for allegedly starting a fire in a mazar at Khandsa village.

According to police, the five men committed the act after getting influenced by social media posts on the communal clashes that began in the neighbouring Nuh district and spread to parts of the city and nearby areas last week.

Meanwhile, Muslim body Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind has moved the Supreme Court seeking directions for rehabilitation of those whose homes were razed by authorities in Nuh district of Haryana in the past few days.

The organisation of Muslim scholars, in a statement, said though the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered a halt on Monday to the demolition drive in violence-hit Nuh, it did not order rehabilitation of those displaced and compensation to them.

A 10-member delegation of Haryana Congress led by its president Udai Bhan was stopped from entering violence-hit villages of Nuh district.

Citing curfew imposed in the area and security concerns for the delegation, a senior police officer said the delegation was stopped at Rojka Meo village. The delegation returned after that, police said.

On Wednesday, a delegation of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's Haryana unit will visit Nuh and take stock of the situation in the district.

The opposition Aam Aadmi Party's Haryana unit chief, Sushil Gupta, said a delegation of his party will visit the "violence-affected people of Mewat area" the same day.

According to the BJP's state unit release, the party delegation will be led by Haryana BJP chief O P Dhankar and will also comprise state minister Banwari Lal and some party MLAs.

Meanwhile, the government has transferred Nuh DSP Jai Prakash to Panchkula. Prakash is the third officer after SP Varun Singla and Deputy Commissioner Prashant Panwar who have been transferred from Nuh since the violence erupted on July 31.

Nuh SP Narender Bijarnia on Tuesday said that a search operation is being conducted to arrest the accused in connection with the violence.

So far 57 FIRs have been registered and 170 people have been arrested in Nuh district. Apart from 1,900 police personnel, 31 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed to maintain law and order in the district. Posts on social media over missing people/women are misleading, said Bijarnia.

In Gurugram, police have registered a case for giving provocative speech in the mahapanchayat organized in Tigra on Sunday to protest the arrest of four men accused of killing a cleric.
Lok Sabha was briefly disrupted on Tuesday during a discussion on the no-confidence motion following opposition members' loud protest against tickers running on Sansad TV that highlighted development works of the government during the live broadcast of the debate in the House.

Soon after Bharatiya Janata Party member Nishikant Dubey began speaking against the motion, several opposition members, including the Congress, TMC and the DMK, protested over the issue.

Some members of the treasury benches, including ministers, were seen taking a swipe at the Opposition for its inability to come to terms with the development ushered in by the government.

Speaker Om Birla sought to calm down opposition members, noting that a different system was in place to run the Sansad TV after it was created following the merger of the Lok Sabha TV and the Rajya Sabha TV.

He later said he has given instructions, a suggestion that the tickers will stop running, and that happened in a couple of minutes.

Opposition members were seen saying that tickers should only refer to the current proceedings in the House.

A debate on the no-trust motion moved by the Opposition against the government is on and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to reply on August 10.
Sparks flew on the first day of the debate on the no-trust motion moved by the Congress with the Opposition on Tuesday asserting that it was forced to do so to break Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'maun vrat' (vow of silence) on Manipur and the treasury benches hitting back saying it was a no-trust vote against a 'poor person's son' who has worked for the welfare of the people.

IMAGE: Proceedings of Lok Sabha during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, in New Delhi on Tuesday. Photograph: Sansad TV/ANI Photo

The opposition leaders at various points during the debate also invoked Bharatiya Janata Party veteran Atal Bihari Vajpayee to target the Prime Minister and remind Modi of 'rajdharma'.

Initiating the debate on the motion in the Lok Sabha, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi raised a series of questions on Manipur, asking why the Prime Minister had not visited the state, why it took 80 days to break the silence on the state and why he had not sacked Chief Minister N Biren Singh.

Launching a scathing attack, the Congress MP from Assam said it was a matter of grave concern that a government that talked about 'one India' had created 'two Manipurs -- one living in hills and the other in the valley'.

He also demanded that Modi should visit Manipur, lead an all-party delegation to the north-eastern state, and make sincere efforts to restore peace by meeting various organisations there.

The opposition grouping Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) was forced to bring the no-confidence motion as this was never about numbers but about justice for Manipur, he said.

"If Manipur is burning, the entire India is burning, if Manipur is divided, the country is divided. It was our demand that as the leader of the country, Prime Minister Modi should come to the House and speak about Manipur.

"However, he kept a 'maun vrat' (vow of silence) that he will neither speak in the Lok Sabha nor in the Rajya Sabha," the Congress MP from Assam said.

"Through the no-confidence motion we want to break his vow of silence," he said.

Intervening in the debate, Union minister Kiren Rijiju said the Congress and other opposition parties have brought the no-confidence motion at a 'wrong time and in a wrong manner'.

At a time when Prime Minister Modi has emerged as the world leader and the country was marching ahead to become a developed nation by 2047, there was no need for such a motion against the government, the minister said.

Instead, the opposition should join hands with the government to celebrate 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' and work towards achieving the target set by the prime minister for the next 25 years, the minister added.

"Congress and opposition parties will regret bringing in the no-confidence motion at the wrong time and in a wrong manner," the minister said.

Gogoi said he would like to ask the prime minister why he had not gone to Manipur when Rahul Gandhi had gone as also Home Minister Shah and the minister of state for home (Nityanand Rai).

As the lower house took up the motion moved by Gogoi, there were heated exchanges between the opposition and treasury benches after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi wondered why Rahul Gandhi's name as lead speaker was withdrawn last minute.

On Wednesday, top ministers including Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani and Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia are likely to intervene in the debate, parliamentary sources said.

Referring to the issues facing the northeast, Rijiju said it was the Modi government that paid special focus on the region and today rail lines are being laid in several parts of the region. The Prime Minister wants the northeast to become an engine of growth, he added.

He said former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hardly met MPs from the northeastern states though he himself represented Assam in the Rajya Sabha.

Rijiju attributed the current problems in Manipur to the negligent attitude of the previous Congress governments.

He asserted that 'when our government was formed, in the first cabinet meeting, Modi ji made a group and said that every 15 days, five cabinet ministers and seven ministers of state must tour the Northeast. It is still going on, all the ministers sitting here have toured the northeast'.

Starting the debate from the government's side, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey said the prime minister has remarked that this is not a no-confidence motion against the government but was brought by the opposition to test the confidence of its own alliance members in each other.

Dubey took a swipe at the opposition parties, saying they were fighting among themselves and calling themselves INDIA.

In his remarks, Dubey also raised the issue of the Supreme Court staying Rahul Gandhi's conviction in the 'Modi surname' remark case following which his Lok Sabha membership was restored.

"There was such a brouhaha over Rahul Gandhi's return to Parliament but where had he gone...he was here in the Budget session. The Supreme Court has not acquitted him. He has also said he will not say sorry......He says I am not (VD) Savarkar, you can never be Savarkar," Dubey said.

In a dig at Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, who were both present in the House, Dubey said she was following the traditional Indian woman's way of 'Bete ko set karna hai, damaad ko bhent karna hai (Has to set her son, and gift to her son-in-law)'.

In another dig at Rahul Gandhi, Dubey also said that the former Congress president was expected to initiate the debate but did not do so last minute as 'probably he was not prepared and he got up late'.

Dubey also named various non-Congress parties of the INDIA bloc to claim that they had been targeted by the Congress in the past but they were now siding with the grand old party against the National Democratic Alliance.

The BJP MP said when the Prime Minister talks about 'parivaarvaad' it does not mean that someone cannot take up the profession of his or her parents but about the dynastic approach.

"This no-confidence motion is against the son of the poor, the no-confidence motion is against the person who gave people houses, the no-confidence motion is against the person who gave drinking water to the people, the no-confidence motion is against the person who gave toilets to the people, the no-confidence motion is against the person who tried to bring light in everyone's home," the BJP leader said.

"The arguments made by them would be to disrobe (cheerharan) the policies of the Modi government like the cheerharan of Draupadi...When Draupadi's 'cheerharan' was happening, Dhritrashtra, Bhishma Pitamah, Dronacharya, Arjun and Yudhishtr, were all 'maun (silent)' ... when they do 'cheerharan' of Modi, a person who works for the welfare of the people and they (opposition benches) are 'maun', none of them would survive in 2024, none of them would come back," Dubey said.

He also asserted that the BJP-led NDA will get more than 400 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The Biju Janata Dal opposed the no-confidence motion against the government on the Manipur violence, saying what happened in the state is due to 'legacy issues' running back several decades.

Participating in the debate, BJD MP Pinaki Misra said it is out of the question for the BJD to support any motion brought by the Congress.

Several Opposition MPs also demanded the resignation of Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh over the violence in the state.

Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy charged that Prime Minister Modi is destroying federalism in the country.

Nationalist Congress Party MP Supriya Sule also demanded the resignation of Singh.

"What happened in Manipur is shameful. I demand the chief minister should resign immediately. Can you allow this to happen and shame the women of this country? Ask your conscience how you can support this government. How can you allow this?" she said.

Among others who participated in the debate included Samajwadi Party's Dimple Yadav, Communist Party of India-Marxist A M Arif, BJP's Narayan Rane, Congress' Manish Tiwari, and Amravati MP Navneet Rana.

During the debate, Shiv Sena's Shrikant Shinde, son of Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde, recited Hanuman Chalisa while attacking Uddhav Thackeray.
A special court in Pune, Maharashtra on Tuesday directed the transfer of investigation into the alleged terror plot case in which five persons were arrested earlier from the state Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

IMAGE: Image used only for representation. Photograph: ANI Photo

The special court also directed the ATS to hand over the custody of all the five accused to the NIA and also granted their transit remand to the central investigation agency, said public prosecutor (ATS) Vijay Fargade.

The NIA has registered a fresh offence in Mumbai under Sections 379 (punishment of theft ), 468 (Forgery for purpose of cheating), and 511 (punishment for attempting to commit offences) of the Indian Penal Code, besides the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Arms Act.

Fargade said the court has passed the order to hand over the probe and the custody of the five suspects, including Mohammad Imran Mohammad Yunus Khan (23), Mohd Yunus Mohammad Yakub Saki (24), Zulfikar Ali Barodawala, and Qadir Dastgir, to the NIA.

The name of another arrested suspect is not given.

Four of the five men were arrested by the Maharashtra ATS, while Barodawala was in the custody of NIA.

Khan and Saki were nabbed by police in the Kothrud area of Pune city last month while stealing a motorcycle, but another suspect Shahnawaz Alam managed to escape.

The investigation revealed that Saki and Khan were wanted by the NIA in a March 2022 Rajasthan terror plot case, and they were the alleged members of the Al-Sufa outfit who escaped from Ratlam after NIA made some arrests in the case, investigators had said.

The NIA had told the Pune court that they have registered a fresh case in Mumbai and prayed to also hand over the entire case records, including the statements of witnesses, material articles, and case diaries, to the NIA chief investigative officer.

"The Central government is of the opinion that scheduled offences under the National Investigation Act have been committed, and having regard to the gravity of the offences and its inter-state linkages, it is required to be investigated by the NIA," the NIA told the special court and urged it to also transfer judicial records to the NIA Special Court in Mumbai.

Fargade said the court has given the transit remand of all the five accused to the NIA after the ATS surrendered their custody in court.

As per the ATS, Khan and Saki were hiding in Pune's Kondhwa area for the last 16 months and were sheltered by Qadir Dastgir.

The ATS had arrested one person- the fifth suspect- from Ratnagiri in Maharashtra for allegedly providing financial aid to Khan and Saki.

Barodawala, arrested by the NIA earlier, was the "mastermind" who used to handle Khan and Saki and used to provide aid.

The ATS claimed it had recovered several incriminating items, including chemical powder, a drone camera, equipment used for making bombs, two pistols, five rounds, one car, huge electronic data, images of the Chabad House, one of the 26/11 terror attacks sites, in south Mumbai.

Khan and Saki are accused of testing bombs in the jungles around Pune, the investigators had said.

According to sources close to the investigation, Barodawala, with the help of Khan and Saki, had imparted bomb-making training to some people close to him.
IMAGE: Kindly note the image has been posted only for representational purposes. Photograph: Kind courtesy Castorly Stock/Pexels.com and Pixabay.com

The top 300 pharmaceutical brands in the country will now bear a quick response (QR) code on their packaging to rein in spurious drugs and ensure better traceability.

Batches manufactured on and after August 1 will have QR codes printed on the packaging of the selected 300 brands, said Viranchi Shah, national president of the Indian Drug Manufacturers' Association.

Some of the popular brands impacted by this government move are Dolo-650 (Micro Labs), Allegra (Sanofi), Asthalin (Cipla), Augmentin (GSK), Saridon (Bayer Pharmaceuticals), Limcee (Abbott), Calpol (GSK), Corex (Pfizer), Thyronorm (Abbott), Unwanted-72 (Mankind Pharma), etc.

These high-selling brands have been shortlisted based on their moving annual turnover value or annual sales.

Sudarshan Jain, secretary general of the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance, which represents the large drug firms, said that the industry is ready for the switch.

A spokesperson for GSK said the company is prepared for the switch; the cost already factored into the overall plan.

India's largest drugmaker Sun Pharmaceutical Industries also said it was ready for the change.

However, industry sources revealed that there would be a cost escalation of 5-7 per cent due to the additional printing, and there might be a slight lag in batch production as well because of this additional step.

"The industry has already met the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) and voiced its concerns. We have requested considering the fact that there will be a cost escalation due to this step, and most of these drugs are already under price control," the source said.

Since these are the top-selling brands, he said most of them belong to large companies. Therefore, the industry at large has been ready for this switch, and there would be no delays.

Last March, the Union health ministry asked the Department of Pharmaceuticals to shortlist the 300 drug brands that can be included for the implementation of mandatory QR codes.

The NPPA had identified the list of 300 brands, which include widely used medicines like painkillers, contraceptives, vitamins, blood sugar, and hypertension medicines, etc.

In the draft notification issued on June 14, 2022, the ministry had said that the manufacturers of the said formulation products shall print or affix a barcode or QR code on its primary packaging label, on the secondary package label that stores data or information legible with a software application to facilitate authentication.

Thereafter, in November 2022, the Centre came out with a formal notification whereby manufacturers of these 300 brands will affix a QR code to the packaging.

The QR code will have information on the unique product identification code, proper and generic name of the drug, brand name, name and address of the manufacturer, batch number, date of manufacturing, date of expiry, and manufacturing license number.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 61F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 61F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
The United States remains gravely concerned by democratic backsliding across West Africa and the Sahel and supports the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, or UNOWAS, and its role in preventing and mitigating conflict, addressing election-related crises, and promoting dialogue in the region, said U.S. Ambassador Robert Wood, Alternative Representative for Special Political Affairs at the United Nations.

The United States recognizes the efforts of UNOWAS to help promote and sustain democratic elections in Sierra Leone, said Ambassador Wood:

Though we are concerned by the lack of transparency in the tabulation process for the June 24, 2023, general elections in Sierra Leone, and irregularities in the election results announced by the Electoral Commission, we applaud the people of Sierra Leone for participating in the elections, which play a vital role in any democracy.

We reiterate our support to transition processes in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea and continue to call for a return to democratic governance, declared Ambassador Wood. Transition governments must be held accountable for returning their nations to constitutional order in a timely manner, and for promoting stability in the region, he added.

In Mali, the transition government needs to hold accountable those responsible for the killings in Moura, said Ambassador Wood:

We reiterate our call on the transition government in Mali to pursue an independent, impartial, efficient, comprehensive, and transparent investigation to hold accountable those responsible for the civilian killings in Moura, Mali, consistent with the recommendation in the relevant May 2023 UN human rights report.

The United States remains deeply concerned by the spread of instability in coastal West Africa, both from national political dynamics and the proximity of violent extremism in the Sahel. The growing threats have cost thousands of lives and contributed to displacement across the region, noted Ambassador Wood.

We cannot ignore the fact that the Wagner Group is committing human rights abuses and endangering the safety and security of civilians, peacekeepers, and UN personnel, said Ambassador Wood:

They are obstructing the work of UN peacekeepers and not only failing to address the immediate violent extremist threat, but contributing to the likelihood it will grow.

Security Council members need to reinvigorate their engagement with African partners in addressing the cross-border threats to peace and democratic development in West Africa and the Sahel.
Governor Jim Pillen has appointed Chris Langemeier to fill a vacancy on the Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) Board of Directors. Langemeier will represent Subdivision 11, which covers counties in the northeastern area of the state.

Langemeier fills the open seat of NPPD board representative Fred Christensen, who passed away in early April. He will complete Christensen's six-year term, which ends January 8, 2025.

Langemeier is a real estate broker and appraiser with Land Mark Management & Realty, Inc., in Schuyler, NE. He previously served as state senator from 2005 - 2012 and more recently, was director of the Loup River Public Power Board.

CONTACT:

Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495
National Grid today (Aug 3) announced that Lisa Wieland will join National Grid as President of its New England business, and sit on the Group Executive Committee, further strengthening National Grid's leadership team and reinforcing its credentials as a leader in the energy transition. Lisa will report to National Grid CEO John Pettigrew. She joins the company in November.

Lisa joins from the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport), the agency that runs Boston Logan International Airport, the Flynn Cruiseport Boston, Conley Terminal, Worcester Regional Airport, and Hanscom Field and oversees a commercial real estate portfolio. She joined Massport in 2006. In 2013, she was promoted to chief administrative officer for Maritime, and in 2015 became port director for the Port of Boston. In 2019, she was appointed CEO of Massport. The Authority generates an annual economic impact of nearly $22 billion across New England.

"Lisa's experience working with government and community partners, and in large-scale infrastructure projects will bring real benefit to National Grid as we work to help Massachusetts achieve its net zero ambitions while delivering the safe and reliable flow of energy to our New England customers and communities. We welcome Lisa to National Grid and to our Group Executive," Pettigrew said. "Our entire executive team is focused on helping deliver solutions that address the challenges associated with the energy transition and enhancing our vision of playing a leading role in the clean, fair and affordable energy future."

Lisa will succeed Steve Woerner, who will continue to lead the New England business through 2023 having made the decision to leave National Grid at the end of the year.

"I would like to extend my personal thanks to Steve, who has made an important contribution to National Grid during his time as President of our New England business," said Pettigrew. "He oversaw the approval for and successful separation of our Rhode Island business and has set the foundation for grid and electric sector modernization across Massachusetts. Steve will leave us at the end of the calendar year after a transitional period with Lisa, and he will go with our deep gratitude for his leadership and everything he's achieved during his time with the company. We wish him the very best for the future."

National Grid is committed to a clean, fair and affordable energy future. In Massachusetts, National Grid is enabling the Commonwealth's energy transition and ambitious climate goals while ensuring the Governor's priority of keeping Massachusetts competitive in every way.

Lisa has deep experience working with community stakeholders, customers, and government officials while leading large-scale critical infrastructure projects, including the revitalization of the Port of Boston. During her tenure, Massport undertook significant construction projects including the modernization of Terminal E for international flights, a new post-security terminal connection and roadways to link the airport's busiest terminals, Terminals B and C, the dredging of Boston Harbor, and the modernization of Conley Container Terminal.

To support the Commonwealth's economic development and climate goals, Lisa and the leadership team at Massport also launched an ambitious Net Zero plan and expanded the Massport Model, the organization's diversity and inclusion initiative in commercial real estate that has become a model for development in the region.

Before joining Massport, Lisa worked as a consultant for Bain & Company in Boston and as an assignment editor for CNN in Los Angeles and Atlanta. She currently serves on the Boards of Boston Children's Hospital, the American Red Cross of Massachusetts, and the New England Council.

About National Grid

National Grid (NYSE: NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people through our networks in New York and Massachusetts. National Grid is focused on building a smarter, stronger, cleaner energy future transforming our networks with more reliable and resilient energy solutions to meet state climate goals and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

For more information, please visit our website, follow us on Twitter, watch us on YouTube, like us on Facebook and find us on Instagram.
Ambareesh Murty, the Co-founder and CEO of Pepperfry, a renowned online furniture and home decor company, has passed at the age of 51 due to a sudden cardiac arrest. The news was confirmed by his close associate and Pepperfry Co-founder, Ashish Shah.

Ambareesh Murty, known for his leadership in the e-commerce sector, was also recognised as an angel investor, contributing to the growth of various ventures. He had recently celebrated completing 12 successful years at Pepperfry, a milestone he shared on his LinkedIn profile.

I am deeply saddened by the sudden and untimely passing of #AmbareeshMurty, Co-founder of #Pepperfry.

My thoughts and condolences go out to his grieving family and friends during this difficult time.#OmShanti https://t.co/FqJaJhCL0W  M B Patil (@MBPatil) August 8, 2023

A distinguished alumnus of the prestigious Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta, Murty belonged to the 1996 batch and earned his Bachelor in Engineering from the Delhi College of Engineering in 1994. His academic prowess was matched by his professional acumen, amassing 27 years of general management experience across diverse industries including FMCG, financial services, and the internet sector.

Murty embarked on his career journey with Cadbury, where he gained valuable insights into sales and marketing. His professional path led him to short stints at ICICI Prudential, Britannia, and Levi's, further enhancing his expertise. Notably, he held leadership roles in these prominent companies.

The late CEO's profile on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) revealed his intriguing personality as he humorously referred to himself as a "closet sociopath." Apart from his business pursuits, Murty was an avid history enthusiast with a fondness for reading epic fantasies.

Origin Resources, a financial training and business consulting firm based in Bangalore, was one of Murty's significant ventures between 2003 and 2005. His journey then took him to eBay, where he served as the Country Manager for India, Philippines, and Malaysia, showcasing his prowess in e-commerce operations. In 2011, Murty, alongside Ashish Shah, established Pepperfry.

Ashish Shah, reeling from the loss, expressed his grief in a heartfelt tweet, "Extremely devastated to inform that my friend, mentor, brother, soulmate Ambareesh Murty is no more. Lost him yesterday night to a cardiac arrest at Leh. Please pray for him and for strength to his family and near ones."

(With PTI inputs)
Akshay Kumar is gearing up for the release of the sequel of his 2012 film Oh My God -- OMG 2. Akshay Kumar's film, which went through 27 modifications after the CBFC review in India, was also reviewed by the UAE censor board ahead of its release. Now, there is an update on the same.

3 things you need to know:

OMG 2 is clashing with the Sunny Deol starrer Gadar 2.

Both films are slated to release on August 11.

OMG 2 has been given an A certificate by CBFC.

OMG 2 gets clearance in the UAE

OMG 2 has been cleared for 12+ age group viewing by the censor boards in UAE and Oman, as per Ajit Andhare, the COO of Viacom 18 motion pictures. Ultimately, the film received an A certificate for the film, even after the suggested modifications in the film were executed. The same expectation was from the UAE censor authority.

(Akshay Kumar in a still from OMG 2 trailer | Image: akshaykumar/Instagram)

Sharing the news, Andhare said, Happy to share that censor authorities in Oman have cleared our film OMG 2 in 12+ category without any cuts. The film has also been cleared for exhibition by the censoring authority in UAE while Quebec, Canada has cleared it in the General category without cuts.

Why is OMG 2 'A' certified in India?

OMG 2 has been given an A (adult only) certificate in India. The film is said to be based on sex education for teenagers and young adults and features the struggles of an Indian family learning to overcome adversity. Despite all the suggested modifications, the film is expected to perform well in India.

Notably, Gadar 2 has many times the advance ticket bookings of OMG 2, which is likely to impact the Akshay Kumar film's box office collection.
A five-member delegation of Bangladesh's ruling Awami League met BJP chief J P Nadda here on Monday.

During the meeting, Nadda elaborated on the BJP's organisational structure and its grassroots activities, the party said in a statement. "They also discussed ways to enhance party-to-party interaction and Nadda ji shared with them the BJP's functioning, vision and contributions to India's progress," the party added.

The delegation of Bangladesh's ruling party is on a four-day visit to India on an invitation from the BJP.

The Awami League delegation comprised Bangladesh ministers Muhammad Abdur Razzaque and Hasan Mahmud, MPs Aroma Dutta and Merina Jahan, and the party's organising secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, according to the BJP.

Later, the Awami League delegation held a formal meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at Parliament House Complex and discussed various issues, the Bangladesh High Commission said in a statement.
A Palestinian teenager who was shot by Israeli troops last week after throwing a firebomb in the occupied West Bank died on Monday, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

It was the latest in a long string of violent incidents involving Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank in the last year and a half. It came after a bloody weekend in which a settler killed a Palestinian man and a Palestinian gunman killed an Israeli security guard in Tel Aviv.

The Palestinian official news agency Wafa reported that Ramzi Hamed, 17, was shot near the West Bank settlement of Ofra, near his hometown of Silwad north of Ramallah.

Fathi Hamed, the boy's father, told The Associated Press that his son was shot by Israeli troops early last Wednesday after throwing firebombs at soldiers operating near Silwad.

The Israeli military said it appears that Hamed had thrown the firebomb toward the settlement's front gate. It provided security camera footage of what it said was the incident, in which a young male is seen getting out of a vehicle, throwing a firebomb and speeding away in a car after an explosion. It was not immediately clear how close the explosion was to security forces or when the teen was shot.

Violence has surged across the northern West Bank with the rise of shooting attacks by Palestinian groups against Israelis, near-daily arrest raids by the Israeli military, and growing attacks by extremist Jewish settlers.

On Monday, the Israeli military said troops arrested 17 Palestinians across the West Bank overnight. Israeli media reported that five of those arrested were suspected of involvement in clashes with Israeli settlers on Friday that left one Palestinian dead.

Israeli settlers attacked a Palestinian village in the West Bank on Friday. They set fire to cars and fired on Palestinians who threw stones at them. Two Israeli settlers suspected of killing 19-year-old Palestinian Qusai Matan remained in police custody on Monday.

The surge in fighting is one of the worst between Israelis and Palestinians in recent decades. More than 160 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire this year in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, according to a tally by The Associated Press.

Israel says most of those killed have been militants, but stone-throwing youths protesting army raids and innocent bystanders have also been killed.

At least 30 people have been killed in Palestinian attacks against Israelis so far this year.

Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war, along with the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem. Palestinians seek those territories for their hoped-for independent state.
A roadside bomb struck a vehicle carrying a local politician and his friends in southwestern Pakistan on Monday, killing him and six others, police said.

In a separate bombing, two people were killed in the northwest.

The attack that killed seven happened in Kech, a town in Baluchistan province, local police officer Haider Ali said. He said that the slain politician, Ishaq Yaqub, was from the Baluchistan Awami Party and it was unclear who was behind the attack.

For years, Baluchistan has been the scene of a low-level insurgency by small separatist groups and nationalists who complain of discrimination and demand a fairer share of their province's resources and wealth.

The bombing in Baluchistan happened hours after a suicide bomber apparently detonated his explosives-laden vehicle prematurely in a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban, killing a married couple in a nearby car, officials said.

A local administration official, Rehmant Ullah, said the bombing happened in North Waziristan, a district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of northwest Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan.

He said a team from the bomb disposal unit was also present nearby when the blast took place, but they escaped unharmed.

We suspect that the suicide bomber detonated his explosives either by mistake or prematurely, but it killed a man and his wife whose car was near the vehicle of the bomber at the time of the blast, he said.

It is unclear who dispatched the car bomber to the area, but suspicion is likely to fall on the outlawed Pakistani Taliban, who are known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, and who have stepped up attacks on security forces since last year.

TTP is a separate group but is a close ally of the Afghan Taliban, who seized power in neighbouring Afghanistan in August 2021 as US and NATO troops were in the final stages of their pullout from the country after 20 years of war.

Although the Pakistani military claims it has cleared the North Waziristan region and other former tribal areas in the northwest of militants, the violence has continued, raising concerns that the Pakistani Taliban are regrouping in the area.
A 47-year-old Indian national was arrested on Tuesday from Nepal's Tribhuvan International Airport for illegally carrying more than Rs 5 lakh in Indian currency, police said.

Barunesh Chandra was arrested at the TIA for carrying Indian bank notes without any supporting documents.

Police confiscated 1,100 Indian bank notes with Rs 500 denomination, totalling Rs 5,50,000 without supporting documents, from Chandra's handbag.

Chandra was arrested during a security check when he was about to board a Delhi-bound Indigo Airlines flight.

The use of Indian currency notes with denominations of Rs 500 and above have been banned by Nepal's central bank. Travellers can carry only up to Rs 25,000 in cash to the Himalayan country.

The police have initiated an investigation into the matter and taken him into custody.
The diminutive woman with a white feather headdress stood on the stage of the majestic colonial theater in Brazils Amazon on Monday and addressed the crowd.

The woman, Minister of Indigenous People Sonia Guajajara, declared the day the milestone of Indigenous participation, then cited the national statistics institutes freshly released census data that revealed the full scope of the nations Indigenous population: 1,693,535 people.

While just 0.8% of Brazils population, the figure marks an 89% jump from the nations prior census, in 2010, due to greater willingness of people to recognize their roots and better survey methods, including access to previously unreachable villages, she said. The latter largely explains why their numbers within Indigenous territories grew 20%, to 622,066.

This a historic moment with that picture that the statistics agency has made, she said on the eve of the two-day Amazon Summit in Belem. Its a historic moment of the restart of social, popular participation, and of the dialogue of our civil society with government.

The setting seemed symbolic: a theater displaying European decor -- French chandeliers, Italian marble busts and a massive painting across the ceiling depicting Greek deities. It was built during the rubber boom, with fortunes amassed with raw material from deep in the Amazon, and little care for what its extraction implied for local communities. There is no trace of them in the so-called Theater of Peace -- except on Monday many of their descendants could be found from the floor seats up to the balcony boxes, wearing tribal vestments.

The gathering formed part of the events leading up to the Amazon Summit, during which presidents and representatives from the eight countries home to the worlds largest tropical rainforests will converge in this city to discuss how best to face up to its myriad challenges.

In the so-called Amazon Dialogues during the days before the summit, there was surprisingly diverse participation of delegations from regions of the Amazon. Some boat trips to reach Belem took as long as five days.

In some 400 events, representatives of Indigenous groups, riverine communities, fishermen and Afro-descendants discussed topics such as harassment from carbon credit companies, ending deforestation and illegal mining. One of their main demands was to cancel new oil projects in the region.

Though the large majority came from Brazil, which holds two-thirds of the Amazon, there were also representatives from all eight countries. Most events took place in the same convention center where the presidents will meet starting on Tuesday.

There, Indigenous Warao people from Venezuela sold crafts made of straw next to Kayapo Indigenous people painting their bodies with traditional designs. Riverine community stalls sold native honey, Brazil nuts and cassava flour. There were also protests against oil exploration near the mouth of the Amazon River.

You can clearly see that Brazil has a significant social problem to solve, a social problem left by the previous government, said Colombian Indigenous leader Anitalia Pijachi Kuyuedo, referring to the administration of far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro. There are many grievances, much pain, much anger, and you can feel the emotions in the words of those you speak with.

In an interview with The Associated Press on Monday, Guajajara, the minister, agreed that their anxiety has been palpable, but finally they have a forum.

There were six years of the complete silencing of civil society, and spaces for social participation were extinguished. People became very afraid to express themselves," Guajajara said. "This is the first moment when society is once again engaging in dialogue with the federal government.

Brazils government had expected 10,000 attendees, but instead, 24,000 had arrived, according to Guajajara.

Over 1,200 of them were camping in a private recreational park on Belems outskirts, with tents arranged in rows beside the stone trail gently winding through the jungle past waterslides coursing into man-made pools. Early Monday, they were rising to eat breakfast and prepare for the events of the day ahead.

Some smiled at the sight of Chief Raoni Metuktire, a leader from the Amazon known throughout the world for defending the environment, sitting on a flimsy chair beside the trail and smoking a pipe. He shook hands and exchanged pleasantries with well-wishers.

Diolina Krikati had traveled with about 40 others from her native Maranhao state. In an interview, she stressed the importance of the Amazon for generating the rains that irrigates crops in fields far from the forest  ensuring a livelihood not just for Indigenous people, but many non-Indigenous Brazilians, too.

(The summit) is like taking a moment to hear Indigenous people, and we need to be listened to. Its a moment we need to speak about our needs, and our difficulties, said Krikati, 31.

Another attendee was Naldinho Kumaruara, 29, a spiritual leader wearing a crown of blue macaw feathers and a necklace made of snake bones, and who held a giant maraca in his hand.

Kumaruara had come from his Indigenous territory  threatened by illegal logging and fishing, and predatory tourism  to Belem, the state capital. Already he had spoken with members of Para states secretariats of education and health who visited the park, as well also officials of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silvas general secretariat at the convention center.

He sees this gathering, bringing together all nations that are stakeholders in the Amazon, as a step forward, and also one that has better likelihood to advance Indigenous causes than others, like the Free Land Camp in the capital Brasilia.

Now it is different, because we can speak for ourselves; It isnt a white person coming and speaking for us. We are always involved, but we didnt have a position to speak, he said. Today, we can speak.

Later that afternoon, Naldinho was among those in the crowd of Belems colonial theater. From an upper balcony, he watched as a group of adolescent Indigenous people stomped and sang on the stage.

The interim president of Brazils statistics institute Cimar Azeredo announced the revised population statistic to the crowd, saying it had helped to rediscover Brazil.

Their larger numbers means a greater share of the government resources can be earmarked for investment in Indigenous peoples health and education, Planning and Budget Minister Simone Tebet said at the event.

And Guajajara stressed that it also means more money for security  a need she said was underscored just hours earlier, when three people of the Tembe ethnicity were shot.

And in coming months, she told the crowd, the federal government will expel invaders from 32 Indigenous territories; her announcement was met by cheers and applause from the audience, plus the shaking of maracas.

Never again a Brazil without us!
Georgia could join other states requiring children to have their parents' explicit permission to create social media accounts.

Two top Republicans in the Georgia state Senate  Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Sen. Jason Anavitarte of Dallas  said in a Monday news conference they will seek to pass such a law in 2024. The proposal could also restrict accounts on other online services.

Its important that we empower parents," Anavitarte said. "A lot of parents dont know how to restrict content.

Anavitarte said Georgia's rules would be modeled on a law Louisiana passed this year. That measure, which takes effect in 2024, says social media services must verify an account holder's age and can't let someone younger than 18 join without parental consent.

Arkansas, Texas and Utah also passed laws this year requiring parental consent for children to use social media. Some in Congress are also proposing parental consent for minors.

California last year enacted a law requiring online services to do more to protect childrens privacy and safety.

Anavitarte said he has briefly been in contact with Meta Platforms, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram. He and Jones said they would discuss plans with the social media giant.

The move comes after U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warned in May that social media hasn't been proven to be safe for young people. Murthy called on tech companies, parents and caregivers to take immediate action to protect kids now. He asked tech companies to share data and increase transparency and for policymakers to regulate social media for safety the way they do car seats and baby formula.

To comply with federal regulation, social media companies already ban kids under 13 from signing up to their platforms, but children have been shown to easily evade the bans.

Up to 95% of teens aged 13 to 17 report using a social media platform, with more than a third saying they use them almost constantly, the Pew Research Center found.

Anavitarte also said he wants to strengthen Georgia's law on cyberbullying. Existing law requires any student found to have engaged in bullying three times be sent to an alternative school. Anavitarte said he wants to revive his 2022 proposal requiring schools to warn students and parents that some acts of bullying could lead to criminal stalking penalties.

Meta announced last year that it was taking steps to verify someones age, including letting people upload their ID or record a video selfie; and partnering with an age verification company. Meta says it provides age-appropriate experiences for teens 13-17 on Instagram, including preventing unwanted contact from unknown adults.

Anavitarte this year sponsored a new law that bans TikTok, Telegram, WeChat and other applications from being installed or used on state-owned computers.

Free speech advocates warn the measures could lead sites to wall off information and even make it harder for adults to reach it.

The new laws could also lead platforms to require people to use government ID to verify age.

That's already happening on some pornography sites targeted by laws in Louisiana, Utah and Virginia. The Free Speech Coalition sued Utah and Louisiana on behalf of adult entertainers, erotica authors, sex educators and casual porn viewers, saying those laws were unconstitutional because they discriminate against certain types of speech. A Utah judge dismissed the suit there last week, saying the challengers couldn't sue because of how the law is designed.
The Consumers Energy Foundation is calling on nonprofit organizations across the state to submit letters of intent for the 2023 Prosperity Awards. The grants will provide as much as $250,000 to two or more Michigan nonprofits or municipalities to support economic development and improve community welfare. A total of $500,000 will be awarded through this grant program.

The Prosperity Awards are the third of three $500,000 signature grant rounds in 2023, totaling $1.5 million; Planet Award winners were announced in April, and People Award winners were announced in July. Letters of intent must be submitted by 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11 to be considered for the next phase of the application process.

The Foundation is accepting letters of intent in support of its Neighborhood Revitalization and Arts & Culture priorities:

Neighborhood Revitalization : Programs that cultivate attractive neighborhoods, revitalize commercial corridors, encourage downtown development, reduce blight and create safe and affordable housing.

: Programs that cultivate attractive neighborhoods, revitalize commercial corridors, encourage downtown development, reduce blight and create safe and affordable housing. Arts & Culture: Projects that enhance public assets and enrich the lives of community members, provide job and educational opportunities, attract visitors and support community vibrancy.

Last year, the Consumers Energy Foundation's Prosperity Awards helped Oxford and Muskegon Heights start major downtown and community transformations.

The Consumers Energy Foundation is the charitable arm of Consumers Energy, Michigan's largest energy provider. The Foundation contributes to the growth and strengthening of Michigan communities by investing in what's most important our people, our planet and Michigan's prosperity. In 2022, the Consumers Energy Foundation, Consumers Energy, its employees and retirees contributed more than $18.5 million to Michigan nonprofits.

Consumers Energy is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.7 million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

For more information about Consumers Energy, go to ConsumersEnergy.com.
Nationalist students slammed for painting over local artists' work in 'Marxist' dig at Western freedoms

Some of the pro-Chinese Communist Party graffiti [Chinese characters, in red] can still be seen under newer graffiti on a wall in Brick Lane, London, England, on Monday, Aug. 7, 2023.

Chinese art students daubed Chinese Communist Party propaganda slogans on a popular graffiti wall in London's Brick Lane, sparking a huge backlash of pro-democracy slogans that included calls for Xi Jinping's resignation and references to the 1989 Tiananmen massacre.

Students led by Wang Hanzheng, who is studying in London and uses the Instagram handle "Qiyue" painted over the colorful layers of graffiti left by previous artists in white paint, before daubing key words linked to ruling Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping's political ideology on the walls in red paint, using a style similar to propaganda slogans on buildings back home.

"Prosperity," "Civility," "Harmony," the characters blared out, although indecipherable to many passers-by. "Patriotism," "Integrity," "Friendship," they read, in a reference to Xi's "core principles of socialism."

Within hours, people started arriving and adding their own graffiti to the wall, much of it linked to Beijing's human rights record, and referencing recent protests.

In front of the characters for "democracy," someone wrote "No," while the words "404 Not Found" appeared underneath.

"Xi Jinping step down!" said another slogan, while others called for freedom for Tibet and Xinjiang and "Glory to Hong Kong," referencing the banned anthem of the city's 2019 protest movement.

"F**k communism," read another comment, while a sticker on the wall read "No Xi dictatorship." Above characters proclaiming "Equality," someone scrawled "but some are more equal than others," in a reference to George Orwell's dystopian novel Animal Farm.

Under the slogan "Freedom," someone had added "No freedom in China," while another slogan reminded people: "Never forget June 4," in a reference to the 1989 massacre of unarmed civilians by the People's Liberation Army following weeks of pro-democracy protests on Tiananmen Square.

In a post on his Instagram account, Wang claimed that there was no political meaning to his work, which was criticized in the comments section for totally erasing the work of earlier artists.

But he also claimed it was a Marxism-inspired attempt at "decolonizing the false freedoms of the West," later saying he had been the target of cyberbullying and declining to meet up with Radio Free Asia's reporter for a prearranged interview.

"The original intention was to trigger discussions on different environments and different people's attitudes," he said in an Instagram statement about his graffiti. "I love my country very much."

'No political stance'

Wang was widely criticized on social media for painting over the work of graffiti artist Benzi Brofman, which in turn commemorated late graffiti artist Myartis Frank.

He claimed on Instagram that he had obtained Brofman's consent before painting over his work.

Instagram user @elianpace dismissed Wang's claim that the slogans weren't political.

"Why do people who claim to have 'no political stance' use such strong political symbols as their creative material?" they wrote.

A man sprays a pro-democracy message on a wall that had been graffitied with Chinese Communist Party ideology, on Monday, Aug. 7, 2023 in Brick Lane, London, England. Credit: Carl Court/Getty Images

Council workers moved in on Monday to paint over Wang's work, but more people turned up to write and paint anti-Chinese Communist Party slogans.

"The struggle against totalitarianism is the struggle between memory and forgetting," wrote one person, quoting late Czech-French author Milan Kundera, listing a number of dates that are still marked by pro-democracy activists in mainland China and Hong Kong, including June 4, 1989 and June 12, 2019, when police first cracked down on unarmed protesters in Hong Kong with tear gas at the start of a mass movement against extradition to mainland China.

Someone else spray-painted a wall with a depiction of two hands holding up a blank sheet of paper, referring to the "white paper" movement of November 2022 in cities across China that saw scores of activists detained, but which was followed by the end of three years of grueling zero-COVID restrictions.

Some of the counter-graffiti was made by a pro-democracy group called China Deviants.

"There are also many people [here] who, like us, uphold the values of freedom and democracy, and hope to maintain them on British soil," one member of the group, who gave only the pseudonym Gonki for fear of reprisals, told RFA.

"At the same time, we hope that freedom and democracy will become a reality in China one day."

'Trampling on someone's epitaph'

Another group member who gave only the nickname Nuomici said Wang's daubing of Communist Party slogans had upset many Chinese people living in the United Kingdom.

"My friend's first reaction when he saw it was one of trauma," she said. "Because there are already so many walls in China with these socialist values painted on them, and so many different voices and artwork have been erased by the censorship system back home."

"I had hoped that coming to a foreign country would mean more space for self-expression, but now this is like an invisible red thread, binding us [to China]," she said.

She said Wang shouldn't have covered over Brofman's commemorative artwork.

"It's a bit like going to a cemetery and trampling on someone's epitaph," she said.

China Deviants said in a statement it would reach out to Brofman in the hope of finding a way to restore his work through crowdfunding.

Eventually, the council workers came back and painted over the second wave of counter-slogans too, according to photos posted by London freelance photographer Kit Y.

"Gone, gone, gone," the account tweeted on Tuesday morning local time, with photos of white walls, with just one slogan commemorating the Tiananmen massacre still visible.

Political graffiti is written on a wall in Brick Lane, London, England, Aug. 7, 2023. Credit: Henry Nicholls/AFP

Chinese Communist Party commentator Hu Xijin tweeted: "Chinese students who covered Londons Brick Lane with socialist core values graffiti are facing death threats."

"These students original intention was probably to test the true limits on Western 'freedom of speech.' And here are the limits," Hu wrote.

Exiled Chinese artist Badiucao countered on Tuesday: "A group of rich n privileged Chinese nationalist students from elite art school like Royal college of Art went to destroy entire street art scene by local grassroots artists from Brick Lane under the name of Marxism and de-colonization."

"Can it get more hypocritical and brutal"

X user @jajia said Wang's account on the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu suggests he is a "Little Pink" nationalist.



Translated with additional reporting by Luisetta Mudie.
Hacking spree described as deep and persistent, compromising East Asian ally that harbors US military bases.

Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Defense of the United States of America and Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi review an honor guard prior to the US-Japan Defense Ministers Bilateral meeting at the Japan Ministry of Defense on March 16, 2021 in Tokyo.

Tokyo on Tuesday declined to confirm reports that Chinese military hackers had compromised the most classified military secrets of the U.S.s vital East Asian ally, in a case that dates back to 2020.

Speaking at a regular news conference in Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said the government was aware of the news report but will refrain from providing detailed information due to the nature of the matter.

I am unable to provide further details of the communication, but we havent confirmed the fact that security information has been leaked due to cyber attacks, he said.

In a Monday report, the Washington Post revealed that Chinese hackers had achieved deep, persistent access, apparently chasing down anything they could get their hands on  plans, capabilities, assessments of military shortcomings.

The sources are three former senior U.S. officials  among a dozen current and former U.S. and Japanese officials  who spoke to the Post on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

It was bad  shockingly bad, recalled one former U.S. military official, on the previously unreported event.

It was in fact so bad that the head of the National Security Agency (NSA) and U.S. Cyber Command, and the White House deputy national security adviser at the time headed immediately to Tokyo.

There Gen. Paul Nakasone of the NSA and Matthew Pottinger, White House deputy national security advisor told first Japans defense minister and then the Japanese prime minister that Tokyos defense networks had been breached, in one of the most damaging hacks in that countrys modern history.

The hackers continued to infiltrate Japans networks into 2021, the paper said. It added the case was previously unreported.

Meanwhile, Tokyo may be hesitating to confirm the security breaches, but it has committed to beef up its cybersecurity, pledging to add 4,000 experts to its cybersecurity force over the next five years in an effort to increase network security,

A Japanese defense official told the Post that Tokyo has also launched a Cyber Command to monitor Japanese networks 24/7, while the government plans to spend U.S.$7 billion over five years on its networked security.

Growing threat

China is already thought to be home to more state-sponsored hackers than anywhere else in the world  and it shows no sign of slowing down.

Increasingly, Chinese hackers are targeting key network infrastructure in the U.S., Guam and elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific  notably, communication, transportation and utility systems, Microsoft said in May.

Less than two weeks ago, reports surfaced that the Biden administration was on the hunt for malware that threatened to compromise military and civilian power grids, communications systems and water supplies.

The malware, which is believed to have been inserted by Chinese hackers associated with the Peoples Liberation Army, could seek to disrupt and slow down any reaction by the U.S. military should China move against Taiwan.

One congressional official described the malware as a ticking time bomb that could make it possible for China to cut off power, water and communications to military bases.

The malware could equally impact the homes and businesses of ordinary Americans, the same official said.

In July Microsoft revealed that China-based hackers known as Storm-0558 had gained access to the email accounts of some 25 organizations, including U.S. government agencies.

Among those affected were officials at the U.S. State Department and Commerce Department including the email account of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and the U.S. ambassador to China.

Microsoft said the breach was detected on June 16, and that it believed the hackers had first gained access around May 15.

Members of Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force 1st Airborne Brigade take part in an annual new year military exercise in Funabashi, east of Tokyo January 13, 2013. Some 300 troops and 20 aircraft took part in the exercise. Credit: Reuters





Back to Japan, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida described the current situation at a news conference with President Biden in Washington in January as the most challenging and complex security environment in recent history.

Kishida noted that Japan is embracing a new national security strategy to boost its defenses.

This new policy, he said, will be beneficial for the deterrence capabilities and response capabilities of the alliance as well.

The new policy includes a counter-strike capability that can reach targets in mainland China, the Post reported.

Japan is buying U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles and allowing the U.S. Marine Corps to place a new advanced regiment in remote islands southwest of Okinawa, which would provide the U.S. military with proximity to Taiwan in the event of conflict with China erupting.

Edited by Mike Firn and Taejun Kang.
Kwok is one of a group of eight prominent overseas activists targeted with a bounty on their heads

Anna Kwok, a Washington, D.C.,-based Hong Kong activist, has been designated by the Hong Kong police as a fugitive with a $1 million Hong Kong dollars bounty offered for her arrest.

Hong Kong police on Tuesday took the parents of U.S.-based democracy activist Anna Kwok for questioning, in the latest in a series of moves targeting the relatives of eight prominent overseas activists wanted under a draconian national security law, according to a London-based rights group.

"Today, the Hong Kong national security police detained the parents of US-based pro-democracy activist Anna Kwok ... for questioning over whether they had any contact with, or had sent money to, their daughter," Hong Kong Watch said in a statement on its website, citing local media reports.

Kwok, 26, is the executive director of the U.S.-based political lobby group, the Hong Kong Democracy Council, and is applying for political asylum in the United States.

She was among eight exiled activists listed as wanted by Hong Kongs national security police, and is accused of "colluding with foreign forces" under the national security law, which bans criticism of the authorities.

Hong Kong leader John Lee has vowed to pursue the eight activists for the rest of their lives.

Kwok, who has a bounty of H.K.$1 million on her head, hadn't commented on her X account by 1000 GMT on Tuesday.

Photos of eight activists who are sought by Hong Kong police are displayed during a press conference in Hong Kong, July 3, 2023. Credit: Joyce Zhou/Reuters

Her parents' questioning comes after similar police action against the family members of the other seven activists on a "wanted" list announced in early July, along with bounties on the head of each activist.

The moves come as the ruling Chinese Communist Party takes more direct control over national security policy in Hong Kong, which was once the domain of China's cabinet, the State Council.

Adopting PRC tactics

So far, police have targeted the relatives of former pro-democracy lawmakers Nathan Law and Dennis Kwok, U.S.-based businessman Elmer Yuen and U.K.-based veteran labor activist Christopher Mung, also known as Mung Siu-tat. Australia-based former lawmaker Ted Hui and U.K.-based activist Finn Lau are also on the wanted list.

This is yet another outrageous escalation since the issuing of arrest warrants and bounties against the eight activists over a month ago," Hong Kong Watch policy and advocacy director Sam Goodman said in a statement. It is increasingly clear the Hong Kong government is adopting the tactics of the security apparatus in mainland China which targets family members to silence criticism overseas."

We emphasize that the Hong Kong National Security Law has no jurisdiction abroad, and governments must protect the rights and freedoms of activists in exile," he said.

The group called on the international community to treat China's claims that the national security law is applicable to anyone, anywhere in the world, as illegal.

"Hong Kong Watch calls for the protection of anyone who is threatened by the National Security Law abroad," it said.

Last week, police took away Elmer Yuen's ex-wife Yuen Stephanie Downs and their daughter Yuen Mi-shu and son Yuen Mi-man, the Ming Pao newspaper reported, while government broadcaster Radio Television Hong Kong cited police sources as saying Yuen's ex-wife, son and daughter had been hauled in for questioning.

Earlier this month, national security police raided the home of trade unionist Mung Siu-tat's brother, taking away him, his wife and son for questioning -- also on suspicion of "assisting fugitives to continue to engage in acts that endanger national security."

Police also took away the parents, brother and sister-in-law of exiled former pro-democracy lawmaker Dennis Kwok and questioned them on suspicion of the same offense, a few days after similar treatment was meted out to Nathan Laws parents and brother.

No arrests were made, and all of the activists' family members were released after questioning.



Translated with additional reporting by Luisetta Mudie.
In the remote Govi steppe, Mongolian herder Orkhontuya Oyun and her husband constantly move with their livestock in search of rain.

We lost 600 goats and sheep last winter. They were too weak to survive, even though we brought them inside our tents, said Orkhontuya, some 300 kilometers (185 miles) north of their home in Omnogovi in southern Mongolia.

In previous years, Orkhontuya did not have to move further than 40-50 kilometers (18-25 miles) from her area. After an extremely bitter winter, a sweltering summer has begun on the Mongolian steppe, as the semi-arid grassland is known.

We are now looking for rain, heading to wherever we hear its expected to fall, Orkhontuya said as she combed one of her goats with long, smooth strokes.

Wedged between China and Russia, Mongolia is known for its breathtaking landscapes, with snow-capped mountains, pristine rivers and lakes, and sweeping steppes. But the ancient home of Genghis Khan is now facing an environmental crisis.

A Mongolian yurt, or ger, is set up by herders next to a shipping container along the highway near Mandalgovi in Mongolia, June 13, 2023. Credit: Subel Rai Bhandari for RFA





Bat-ulzii Bat-Erdene, Mongolias environment minister, said the annual average air temperature in Mongolia has risen by 2-2.25 degrees Celsius in the last 80 years due to climate change, more than twice the global average.

The countrys permafrost is melting rapidly, and more than a quarter of its 1,200 rivers, streams, lakes and springs vanished over the past decade, according to the environment ministry.

Thats a grim prospect for the third of the 3.3 million population of Mongolia that still lives a nomadic or semi-nomadic lifestyle. Livestock accounts for more than a quarter of the countrys economy.

Millions of livestock have perished

Orkhontuya, 43, said this has been the hardest year shes experienced yet. Govi is the frontier of climate change, and we are experiencing it, she said.

The landscape around her attests to the problem. The soil is parched. Livestock is scattered. On the horizon, there is black dust kicked up by coal mining, which is conducted on a massive scale in Mongolia.

Weather patterns are growing more extreme.
Most of the minerals are exported to neighboring China.

An increase in the illegal mining of rare earth metals in northern Myanmar is being driven by demand from neighboring China for terbium and dysprosium  elements that are used in the production of electric vehicles, area residents and environmental activists said.

The practice is rampant in Kachin state, where successive governments have failed to regulate mining for gold, jade and other rare metals for generations. The number of unsanctioned operations ballooned after the militarys Feb. 1, 2021, takeover amid conflict between junta troops and armed resistance forces in the region.

In the first six months of 2023, the value of rare earth minerals exported from Myanmar to China reached nearly US$773 million, according to Chinese customs data.

In 2021, more than US$811 million worth of rare earth minerals were exported to China. That dropped to over US$615 million in 2022 amid instability and armed conflict, according to the data.

This year, rare earth mining has risen in the states northeastern Pang War and Chipwi areas bordering China, according to a Burmese resident who requested anonymity for safety reasons.

The surge is primarily due to the paramilitary militias, known as phithusit, engaging in mining because they lack other sources of income, the resident said.

In this early 2022 photo, a new rare earth mine is dug into the side of a mountain in Pangwa in northern Myanmar's Kachin state. Credit: Global Witness via AP

Because of the depletion of mining areas in Pang War, people have started mining in the Chan Maw Khone area of Chipwi township and in the vicinity of the town of Chipwi, which previously had not been mined, he said.

At least 4,000 Chinese nationals work at more than 200 mining sites in the area around Pang War. They transport chemicals used in the mining industry nearly every day, according to a person close to immigration officials in Pang War, who also declined to be named for safety reasons.

RFA could not reach Chinese companies or workers engaged in mining activities in the areas because they use Chinese mobile phone networks.

The Chinese nationals are believed to have entered the country illegally, but Myanmar officials cannot take action against them because only the Border Guard Force and the pro-junta Pyi Thu Sit militia operate in the area, the local said.

The Chinese embassy in Yangon didnt immediately respond to RFAs emailed requests for comment.

Various armed groups involved

Kachin state has been a hotbed of anti-junta resistance since the coup, with the military using heavy artillery and air strikes during clashes with an ethnic armed group and anti-regime Peoples Defense Force units.

Armed groups in Kachin state, including the Myanmar military, pro-junta militias, Border Guard Forces, and the Kachin Independence Organizations armed wing, have all profited from exporting metals to China, according to a Thailand-based researcher on Sino-Burmese relations, who declined to be named for safety reasons.

According to a July 26 listing of U.S. and Ireland-based Strategic Metal Invest, one kilogram of dysprosium was worth about US$500, while one kilogram of terbium was valued at more than US$2,000.

The illegal extraction of rare earth metals contaminates groundwater and soil, produces toxic dust, and leaves open pits with water tainted by chemicals. But the ongoing instability has made it difficult to do any prevention work, said an environmental activist from a group that observes the mining businesses in Kachin state.

Stopping the mining depends on the rule of law within the region, but currently environmental activist groups like ours are in a difficult position to [try to] work effectively, he said. We cant go to the excavation sites as we could before.

Junta forces keep a close eye on area activists to see if they meet with anti-regime armed groups, he said. The junta also restricts environmental protection groups from going to certain places, the activist said.

A rare earth mining operation in northern Myanmar's Kachin state, March 2022. Credit: Citizen journalist

Win Ye Tun, the junta's social affairs minister and spokesman for Kachin state, said the mining of rare earth metals is illegal there.

Our government has not officially approved any mining sites, he said. Some are still being verified, some are prohibited, and action will be taken against those mining, according to the law.

Its possible that armed groups themselves are conducting the mining, he added.

RFA couldnt reach the states Border Guard Force for comment.

Meanwhile, new mining is taking place in the Mai Ja Yang area controlled by the Kachin Independence Organization, or KIO, the political wing of the Kachin Independence Army, which controls the area and has clashed with the Myanmar military for decades.

KIO spokesman Colonel Naw Bu told RFA that the organization has only conducted some test-mining in the area.

Chinese companies mining rare earth minerals in Kachin state said they would stop their activities after more than 1,000 villagers in the area controlled by the KIO began protesting in December 2022, complaining of environmental damage caused by extracting the elements, Voice of America reported in April.

That month, the KIO gave the Chinese enterprises permission to mine in the state near the border with Chinas Yunnan Province.

Translated by Myo Min Aung for RFA Burmese. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Matthew Reed.
The boat which sank and later resurfaced in the Bay of Bengal, near Sittwe city, Rakhine state on August 8, 2023.

A boat carrying Rohingya people, reportedly heading for Malaysia, sank in the Bay of Bengal near Rakhine states capital city Sittwe, a village administrator told RFA Tuesday. He said all but 10 of the 55 people on board are missing.

Eight men were found alive on a beach near the citys Basara village on Monday night, hours after the vessel went down, along with the bodies of two women, said village administrator Soe Myint. He told RFA that authorities are still searching for the missing people.

The boat sank after taking on water due to heavy rains and high waves in the sea, he said.

Two dead bodies were found and eight people were recovered [alive]. The rest of the missing are likely to die. Now we are looking for the bodies on the beach.

He said 10 women and 35 men were unaccounted for, adding that eight people survived by holding onto plastic containers when the boat sank.

Residents said the survivors are being cared for in Basara village.

The junta-run Rakhine Daily News reported Aug. 7 that the Rohingya had left Rathedaung township heading to Malaysia by boat.

More than 740,000 Rohingya fled Rakhine following a military crackdown on the ethnic group that started more than five years ago, and now live in refugee camps in Bangladesh. Of the more than 600,000 that remained in Rakhine, around 125,000 are living in displaced peoples camps in the state.

Many Rohingya living in Rakhine state often leave by boat across the Bay of Bengal to Malaysia due to economic hardships and discrimination.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn and Taejun Kang.
The ruling regime tightened security and posted plainclothes officers in cities and towns.

Pro-democracy activists in the Dawei district of Myanmar's Tanintharyi region commemorate the 35th anniversary of the country's 8888 uprising, Aug. 8, 2023.

Civilians across Myanmar on Tuesday commemorated the 35th anniversary of a significant uprising as they held protests against the ruling military junta dictatorship amid heightened security measures imposed by the regime, activists said.

They gathered in Yangon, Sagaing, Mandalay, and Tanintharyi regions holding red umbrellas, putting up posters with anti-regime slogans, and burning mock-ups of the newly issued 20,000-kyat note to mark the anniversary of 8888.

The number signifies the wave of popular protests that began in Yangon on Aug. 8, 1988, and was met with a violent crackdown by a previous military junta that resulted in numerous casualties.



An activist who led a peaceful umbrella protest by Yangon Peoples Strike in the commercial hub said the umbrellas displayed slogans such as 8888 never ends. We will keep fighting with the people or 8th August 88.



The military junta increased security by posting authorities dressed in civilian clothes to crowded places like bus stops or markets to arrest protesters.

The protests occurred amid ongoing political instability and armed conflict across Myanmar between anti-regime resistance forces and the current military junta that seized power from the elected government in a February 2021 coup.



A pro-democracy activist from Yangon People's Strike commemorates the 35th anniversary of the 8888 uprising in Myanmar, Aug. 8, 2023. Credit: Yangon People's Strike/Facebook

Min Lwin Oo, leading member of the Dawei District Democracy Movement Strike Committee in Tanintharyi region, said his group staged a protest on the outskirts of the town of Launglon to avoid the tight security, including a navy vessel patrolling in a nearby river.

In Mandalay, a member of the citys boycott forces, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, said residents released balloons attached to banners to commemorate the 8888 uprising.



We have released a statement vowing to keep fighting for revolution and a video depicting the history [of 8888], he said.

We also want to remind [people] that we are still not free from military dictatorship, although the 8888 revolution has turned into the 2021 Spring Revolution, he said, referring to the nationwide wave of popular resistance to the Myanmar military following the 2021 coup.



Members of the Burmese diaspora also staged protests in various forms to commemorate the uprisings anniversary.

All of these shall end

In 1988, under the rule of strongman General Ne Win, an anti-dictatorship movement boiled into a nationwide uprising following the regimes announcement banning 25-, 35- and 75-kyat bills from circulation and later the killing of a university student by police.

The nationwide uprising, which peaked on Aug. 8 of that year, became a historic milestone that united Myanmars various ethnic groups, socioeconomic classes, and other communities against the ruling junta.

Nan Linn, a member of the University Students Unions Alumni Forces, said the Spring Revolution would end the string of successive military regimes that have suppressed popular uprisings and prevented Myanmars development, keeping it isolated and impoverished.



We are now very determined that all of these shall end with the Spring Revolution, he said. This time, in this revolution, they shall be punished for everything they have done to the people and the country.



The military junta has escalated the arrest, killing and sentencing of anti-regime activists.



Users of pro-military Telegram channels have posted threats against those who share any comments, photos or videos of the anniversary protests, saying they will be arrested and prosecuted under Myanmars Counter-terrorism Law.

Junta forces have arrested more than 24,200 civilians and activists across the country since the 2021 coup, according to a tally by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a Thailand-based rights group.

Burmese farmers in in Khin-U township, Sagaing region, commemorate the 35th anniversary of the 8888 uprising in Myanmar, Aug. 8, 2023. Credit: Ko Lu Chaw

The protests came the same day as the public release of an annual report by the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, citing strong evidence that the military and its affiliate militias are committing increasingly frequent and brazen war crimes.

Among the war crimes are indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks on civilians from aerial bombings, a rise in the number of mass executions of civilians and detained combatants, and the large-scale intentional burnings of civilian homes and buildings, the report said.

Our evidence points to a dramatic increase in war crimes and crimes against humanity in the country, with widespread and systematic attacks against civilians, and we are building case files that can be used by courts to hold individual perpetrators responsible, mechanism head Nicholas Koumjian said in a statement issued Tuesday.

The mechanism was set up by the United Nations Human Rights Council in September 2018 to collect and analyze evidence of serious international crimes and violations of international law committed in the country since 2011.

Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung for RFA Burmese. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Matt Reed.


Vietnam sentenced Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan to 30 years in absentia while she was on the run in Germany.

Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan is the former chairwoman and general director of Advanced International Joint Stock Company  known as AIC  in Vietnam.

The German government has warned Vietnam of serious diplomatic consequences should Hanoi attempt to abduct Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan, the former chairwoman and general director of Advanced International Joint Stock Company  known as AIC.

Nhan, who fled to Germany to avoid Vietnamese authorities, had been accused of masterminding bid-rigging to win 16 contracts to supply medical equipment to several Vietnamese hospitals. In January, the court found her guilty and sentenced her to 30 years in prison.

Berlin has refused an extradition request for Nhan.

Berlin-based freelance journalist Hieu Ba Linh told Radio Free Asias Vietnamese Service that according to reports published in the German daily newspaper Taz, the German Federal Foreign Office told Hanoi that The Federal government of Germany will not tolerate any foreign countries interferences in German territory.

The warning to Hanoi alluded to an incident in 2017, when Vietnamese agents kidnapped Vietnamese oil executive Trinh Xuan Thanh from German territory, after he fled there to avoid charges of deliberately violating State regulations, causing serious consequences the previous year.

Following Thanhs kidnapping, Germany expelled two diplomats from the Vietnamese Embassy in Germany. Their bilateral strategic partnership was frozen temporarily.

Linh said that should Nhan also be kidnapped, Hanoi could expect much more serious consequences.

If the abduction of Ms. Nhan happens, Germany will certainly deport the Vietnamese Ambassador, he said. Furthermore, the bilateral diplomatic ties will be frozen again.

According to Linh, since the abduction of Trinh Xuan Thanh, Vietnamese secret agents have not been able to act as freely as before because they are now subject to increased vigilance from German police and security agencies.

In addition, Germany canceled an agreement on visa exemption for diplomatic passport holders, making it difficult for Vietnamese secret agents to enter Germany.

However, there are still many Vietnamese agents in Germany, Le Trung Khoa, a journalist that edits the Germany-based Thoibao.de online Vietnamese-language news website, told RFA.

Internationally known

The Taz report included a profile of Nhan, 54, who has become well known internationally. She acquired two honorable doctorate degrees from a Russian educational institution and has received the prestigious Order of the Rising Sun medal from the Japanese government. She was also said to have a close connection with the Israeli government.

Nhan also played an important role for Vietnams military, having negotiated on behalf of Hanoi to purchase arms from many different countries.

She had been recognized by the Vietnamese government for her outstanding entrepreneurship, receiving honors as Young Vietnamese of he Year, and receiving the Red Star Award. Her company was also recognized as the Vietnamese Enterprise of the Year, and Most Outstanding National Brand.

But Nhan found herself at odds with the law when she was accused of bribing hospitals and violating bidding regulations.

The Taz report said Nhan and seven of her staff fled from Vietnam before being prosecuted and she has been living in a large German city for the past several months.

Though the German government did not directly respond to Tazs queries on Nhans case, the publications own investigations indicate that several German agencies are busy with the case, Linh said.

"Specifically, Vietnam sent Germany a request to extradite Ms. Nhan but the German Federal Ministry and Department of Justice rejected the request, Linh said.

The department has confirmed there was a request by the Vietnamese government to extradite Ms. Nhan, he said. They clearly explained that since the abduction of Trinh Xuan Thanh in 2017, all requests to extradite criminals to Vietnam have been rejected.

RFA emailed the German Embassy in Vietnam and the Federal Foreign Office, as well as the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment but did not receive immediate responses.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Berlin has been actively searching for information about Nhan, Khoa said.

Ms. Nhan is very important for unlocking many high-profile cases in Vietnam as well as arms deals concerning leading Vietnamese officials, said Khoa. As a result, Vietnam will try to bring her back by any means. Her importance is many times higher than the previous case of Mr. Trinh Xuan Thanh.

Though Vietnamese state media reports that Nhan is wanted for bid-rigging, Taz reported, citing Israeli media, that the search for Nhan is a result of infighting within the Vietnamese government regarding weapons procurement, as she was the broker of several arms deals between Vietnam and Israel.

Israel has been an important arms supplier to Vietnam, providing drones, air defense systems, tanks and missiles.

Translated by Anna Vu. Edited by Eugene Whong.
"Duke Energy's long-term success is deeply intertwined with the wellbeing of the communities we serve," said Kendal Bowman, president of Duke Energy North Carolina. "Many nonprofits have experienced unprecedented demand in the last few years. These grants focus on building nonprofits' capacities so they can meet the increased need."

In Raleigh, Oak City Cares has seen a rapid increase in demand from Wake County and the capital region. They are now serving 97% more individuals and families than last year.

"We are so grateful for the ongoing partnership we have with Duke Energy and the Duke Energy Foundation," said Kathy Johnson, executive director of Oak City Cares. "We have seen a 97% increase in guests seeking services at our center and Duke Energy Foundation's investment will help Oak City Cares expand our capacity to serve of our guests in meeting their basic needs and achieving stable housing. Not only are they providing this financial investment, but they are true partners on-the-ground in our work, providing both volunteers and in-kind resources to support our work."

In Winston-Salem, Crisis Control Ministry has seen a significant rise in requests for assistance, with volunteers interviewing over 200 potential clients weekly. In their fifty-year history, the organization has helped more than 100,000 residents in Stokes and Forsyth County meet basic needs and they expect the need for assistance with rent, food and prescriptions to continue to rise.

"Over the years, Duke Energy has been a wonderful partner to Crisis Control Ministry in our mission to support our neighbors in times of crisis," said Margaret Elliott, Executive Director of Crisis Control Ministry. "We are always looking for ways to better serve our community, and the recent grant awarded by Duke Energy will make it easier and more convenient for our neighbors to access our services."

Grants were awarded to the following 39 nonprofits in North Carolina across the state.

Duke Energy Foundation

The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation contributes more than $30 million annually in charitable gifts and is funded by Duke Energy shareholder dollars. More information about the Foundation can be found at duke-energy.com/foundation.

Duke Energy

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 27,600 people.

Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy transition to achieve its goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company has interim carbon emission targets of at least 50% reduction from electric generation by 2030, 50% for Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 upstream and downstream emissions by 2035, and 80% from electric generation by 2040. In addition, the company is investing in major electric grid enhancements and energy storage, and exploring zero-emission power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.

Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2023 "World's Most Admired Companies" list and Forbes' "World's Best Employers" list. More information is available at duke-energy.com.

Duke Energy media contact:

Emily Kissee

Media line: 800.559.3853

@DE_EmilyK
At least seven people, including a child, were killed and 129 were wounded in a Russian missile strike on the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv on August 19, Ukraine's Interior Ministry said, while President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said a "terrorist state" had carried out the attack and caused "a day of pain and loss."

Oleksandr Lomako, acting mayor of Chernihiv, said the attack was another blow to the city.

"This is another war crime by Russia against Ukraine. The blood of all innocent children and people is on the hands of Russia. We will not forgive this. Never," Lomako said on Telegram, adding that three days of mourning would be observed on August 19-21 under a decree he signed.

Zelenskiy, who is on a visit to Sweden, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, "Russian missile hit the heart of Chernihiv. A square, a university, and a theater." Zelenskiy also posted a video of the purported place of the attack.

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.

"Russia turned an ordinary Saturday into a day of pain and loss," said Zelenskiy.

"This is what it means to live next to a terrorist state," he said, adding, "I urge the world to stand up to Russian terror."

Regional Governor Vyacheslav Chaus said on Telegram that the attack was "probably a ballistic missile."

Separately, the Interior Ministry said a 6-year-old boy was killed and 15 other children were among the wounded by the missile, which struck Chernihiv's Drama Theater. The mother of the boy killed in the attack was in serious condition, authorities said.

Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said most of the victims were in vehicles or were crossing the street on foot. The people inside the theater reached a shelter in time after the air-raid alert was announced, he said.

The UN's humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine condemned the missile attack as "heinous" and called on Moscow to end strikes on populated areas.

"It is heinous to attack the main square of a large city, in the morning, while people are out walking, some going to church to celebrate a religious day for many Ukrainians," said Denise Brown in a statement.

"I condemn this repeated pattern of Russian strikes on populated areas of Ukraine, causing deaths, massive destruction, and soaring humanitarian needs."

Earlier on August 19, the Ukrainian military said that the air defense shot down 15 out of 17 Iranian Shahed drones that Russia used in its latest overnight attack on Ukraine.

"The air force in cooperation with the air defense and other components of the Defense Forces of Ukraine destroyed 15 enemy drones," the military said in its daily report, adding that the attacks targeted the eastern, northern, and western parts of Ukraine.

Russia's Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said on August 19 that its air-defense systems repelled a Ukrainian drone attack on a military airfield in Novgorod region located northwest of Moscow, but the attack resulted in a damaged Russian warplane.

There were no casualties in what the ministry's statement called "a terrorist attack," but a fire that broke out on the airfield causing damage to one of the warplanes parked there.

The information could not be independently verified.

WATCH: Residents of Kupyansk in Ukraine's Kharkiv region are being transported to safety amid signs of a buildup of Russian forces nearby.

The ministry earlier claimed that it had downed a Ukrainian missile over Moscow-occupied Crimea overnight.

On the diplomatic field, Zelenskiy and his wife, Olena, traveled to Sweden for talks on defense cooperation.

Zelenskiy visited Sweden with his wife, Olena, for talks on defense cooperation.

He announced that he and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson had agreed on 10 points, including cooperation on the production of powerful CV-90 combat armored vehicles in Ukraine, joint training on equipment provided by Sweden, and further steps to transfer Gripen fighter aircraft to Ukraine.

"I am grateful to Sweden for its firm and consistent support. Together, we protect life, freedom, and our common values." Zelenskiy said at the conclusion of his visit to Sweden, which has applied for NATO membership.

Kristersson said he was proud to have had the honor to welcome Zelenskiy.



"I highly appreciate our close contacts and cooperation. Swedens support for Ukraines freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity will continue for as long as it takes," Kristersson said on X.

Sweden, which abandoned its longstanding policy of military nonalignment to support Ukraine after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, is part of a coalition of 11 Western countries together with Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and the United Kingdom that pledged last month to train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16s.

On the battlefield, Ukrainian forces continue to advance in the areas near the southern cities of Melitopol and Berdyansk, the military said on August 19, adding that during the day Ukrainian forces fought a total of 26 clashes along the front line.

The General Staff's evening summary said Russian forces carried out five missile and 44 air strikes and 17 attacks from rocket salvo systems on troop positions and populated areas.



The push toward the Russian-occupied strategic city of Melitopol is part of Ukrainian forces' attempt to cut off Russia's land bridge to Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula.

It comes as a U.S. intelligence report quoted by The Washington Post assessed that Ukrainian forces do not appear likely to reach and retake Melitopol during the ongoing counteroffensive.



Russia controls nearly a fifth of Ukraine, including the Crimean Peninsula, most of the Luhansk region, and large tracts of the regions of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhya, and Kherson.

The Russia-installed head of the military in Kharkiv, Vitaly Ganchev, said on Russian television on August 19 that the number of communities Russia controls in the Kharkiv region had grown by five and now totals 33.



"The front line is slowly moving toward Kharkiv. Our troops are approaching the suburbs of Kupyansk," he said.



It is not possible for RFE/RL to verify either side's claims of battlefield success.

With reporting by Reuters and AFP
Crimea is facing a shortage of gasoline after Ukraine last month bombed the only bridge connecting the Russian-controlled peninsula to Russia.

Gasoline stations in Crimea have at times run out of the oil product over the past month, residents have told RFE/RL.

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.

One of the leading gasoline chains in Criema sent clients a text message last week urging them to stock up on the product amid concerns about a shortfall, residents said.

Russia, one of the worlds largest produces of oil products, has been supplying the peninsula with gasoline and other oil products via rail across the $4 billion Crimean bridge opened in 2018.

Ukraines armed forces on July 17 struck the bridge for the second time since Russia launched its full-scale invasion last year. The strike forced Russia to halt oil product shipments by rail.

The bridge has become a key Ukrainian target as it tries to drive Russian forces from its territory, including Crimea. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.

Oil products are now delivered via a slow ferry crossing that can only take place during the day.

Local residents have taken to social media to complain about the lack of gasoline.

There is no 95 [octane] for the third day in a row, especially at Atan [gasoline station chain], one resident posted on a Sevastopol community page on Vkontake, a Russian social network.

Following the July 17 bombing, Russian-installed Governor Mikhail Razvozhaev tried to calm residents, assuring them there wont be a deficit and said there was no need to stock up.

Misha, whats up with gasoline?  one resident wrote last week under Razvozhaevs Telegram channel, using the diminutive form of the governors first name in a sign of their displeasure. Do tankers only ship [Russian oil products] overseas?"

Some residents said gasoline can be found if you look for it. If some cases you need a ration card to fill up.

There is no gasoline at some gas stations. But there are plenty of those where it is sold freely. So you can find it when you need to fill up. I've filled up a full tank, and I only drive when its important business, one resident told RFE/RL.

There is gasoline, but you need a ration card. When I hear this, I feel that we have stepped 35 years into the past when you could only get sausage with a ration card, Nadezhda Golovanova wrote on a Sevastopol social media page, referring to food deficits during the Perestroika years.

WATCH: A section of the Crimea bridge was damaged by a deadly explosion last month. Moscow said two people were killed and a child was injured in the blast that it blamed on Ukrainian maritime drones.

Ukraine has sought to make life in Crimea untenable for Russia in an attempt to regain control of the peninsula.

With the receipt of new Western weapons and the development of indigenous ones, including drones, it has been making progress with that goal.

Kyiv has stepped up its targeting of Crimea in recent months and is also trying to cut off the land bridge from Russia to Crimea through the Donesk region with its latest counteroffensive. Ukraine has recently hit two bridges connecting Crimea to Ukrainian territory under Russian control.

Ukrainian military officials say the situation with supplies for residents will only get worse as Russia will need to prioritize deliveries to its military on Crimea.

Oleksandr Khmelevskiy, an independent expert, told RFE/RL that this could lead to social unrest, putting pressure on Moscow.

If the economic situation deteriorates significantly, support for the war from the population will decrease significantly. The further it goes, the more difficult it will be to explain to the population what Russia is fighting for, what this war was required for, he said.
A polytechnic school in Russias Tatarstan, a region some 900 kilometers east of Moscow, is using manufacturing facilities that are part of a nearby special economic zone to assemble Iranian attack drones and are increasingly turning to underage students as laborers, many of whom often work in exploitative conditions.

The revelations at Alabuga Polytechnic University raise troubling implications about the lengths that Russian authorities are going to in order to boost the war effort and how the advanced Iranian weaponry -- which is increasingly used to bombard Ukrainian cities and has only recently begun to be manufactured inside Russia -- could contribute to escalating tensions and rising civilian casualties.

The use of underage students as drone factory workers and the details of the manufacturing facilities were first reported by Russian independent media outlets Protokol and Razvorot, which published a series of investigations in July.

Since then, RFE/RLs Idel.Realities has spoken with students who describe grueling working conditions and interviewed dozens of parents whose children have been enrolled at Alabuga Polytechnic University -- some as young at 15 -- who say that their children were forced to work exceedingly long hours, often without proper breaks or meals, and under hostile conditions that have deeply affected their mental health.

My son enrolled and 2 1/2 months later he called for me to take him away, Zhanna, who asked to be identified only by her first name to protect against reprisals for speaking about the operation, told RFE/RL. He said to me on the phone, Come and get me or Ill die, so I picked him up immediately.

Zhanna, who asked that her underage sons name also not be used, says that she sent him from Nizhny Novgorod to study at Alabuga Polytechnic University in 2022 because of its reputation as a leading technical institution inside Russia.

The school offered students -- often between the ages of 15-18 -- an opportunity to get vocational training as part of a dual program that combines a classroom education with practical work experience. Students were also promised an opportunity to work and earn a locally competitive salary of up to 70,000 rubles ($700) a month as part of the work experience program that could further their career growth.

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.

But, instead, those enrolled were encouraged and in some cases pressured into working at the drone facility, where the salaries of the mostly underage laborers are contingent on meeting tough production quotas.

This is a textbook definition of what constitutes exploitation, Sergei Podsytnik, an investigative journalist at Protokol who worked on the series of reports, told RFE/RL. [Students] assemble drones, with the work taking priority over their studies.

The pressure to fulfill these quotas has allegedly led to strenuous back-to-back days -- with some shifts lasting up to 15 hours -- with little time for sleep or adequate sustenance. Overtime work is often unpaid, further highlighting potential labor violations. Exhausted students also reported not always meeting their quotas, which led to them not earning the salary initially promised by the school. Many students came from disadvantaged backgrounds and relied on their earnings to cover costs for tuition, room, and board and would send the remainder home.

Other parents, such as Marina, said she decided to take her daughter out of the program when she discovered that she was working in apparent unsafe conditions and that staff from the school had instructed students not to tell their parents about the drone assembly work.

This was the last straw for me, Marina, who also asked for her identity to be concealed, told RFE/RL. This is a dangerous production process that involves dangerous chemicals. They also forbid the kids from telling everything to their parents.

RFE/RL sent multiple requests for comment to various staff and administrators at Alabuga Polytechnic University but received no replies.

Making Iranian Drones In Russia

The complicated and concerning dynamic at Alabuga Polytechnic University stems from growing military cooperation between Iran and Russia that has accelerated since Moscows full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Iran has said it provided drones to Russia before the start of the war, but not since. However, U.S. intelligence officials have warned for months of continued deliveries and deepening cooperation between Moscow and Tehran, saying the two sides were exploring how to set up a manufacturing plant for Iranian drones inside Russia.

According to The Wall Street Journal, an Iranian delegation visited Yelabuga in Tatarstan on January 5, touring a potential site for such a factory at the Alabuga special economic zone close to Alabuga Polytechnic University. U.S. officials released satellite images in April of the plant being built.

Russia already possesses an array of unarmed aerial vehicles, or UAVs, which are used mainly for surveillance and artillery spotting, but has turned increasingly to Tehran for attack drones.

After being forced to abandon Ukrainian territory that its troops captured in the early stretches of the war, Moscow shifted to a strategy of relentless air assaults on Ukrainian cities. These attacks often rely on a combination of cruise missiles and self-detonating drones packed with explosives to knock out electricity and running water for the civilian population in Ukraine.

So far, Iran has provided Russia mostly with so-called "suicide" drones, known as the Shahed-136, that contain a modest amount of explosives that can detonate when the drones crash into targets, military experts say.

In acquiring its own domestic assembly line, Russia could dramatically increase its stockpile of the relatively inexpensive but highly destructive weapons systems.

WATCH: Russia has resorted to using Shahed-136 drones from Iran in its war on Ukraine. Ukraine says it's already downed many of the drones, which work by slamming into their intended target, laden with explosives. Ordinary Ukrainians say they can already recognize the sound of the drones, which use two-stroke engines like lawnmowers or motorbikes. Iran has denied supplying the drones to Russia.

The arrangement also offers substantial economic and political benefits for Iran, which has sought to portray itself as neutral in the Ukraine war. The appearance of Iranian-made drones over Ukrainian cities, however, has triggered threats of new economic sanctions from the West. The United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom have also all issued rules in recent months designed to cut off the flow of drone components to Russia and Iran.

The Washington Post reported in November 2022, citing unnamed U.S. intelligence officials, that the agreement to deliver Iranian drone schematics and materials for manufacture in Russia resulted from Iranian leaders believing that the arrangement would allow Tehran to avert new sanctions.

Foreign Recruitment And Patriotic Education

Alabuga Polytechnic University is formally not a college. All of its students are officially enrolled at nearby Yelabuga Polytechnic College, with the Alabuga institution existing on paper as a specialized program for students looking to break into high-tech industries.

Currently, about 1,000 students are studying at Alabuga Polytechnic University, with several hundred of them -- most of whom are between the ages of 15 and 17 -- involved in assembling the Iranian drones.

In addition to the work on the drones, there are other signs that point to blurred lines in Russia between the education system and the countrys military amid the war in Ukraine.

According to current and former Alabuga Polytechnic University students, team-building and organized extracurricular activities through the school often take on a patriotic character that may be designed to expose students to official government narratives of international events or echo talking points from state television.

Organized paintball games have become a mainstay for students, especially first-year arrivals, in which they are encouraged to compete against one another and then play together against more experienced outside players. Teachers and administration officials regularly refer to paintball as being part of a patriotic education needed to complement the technical aspect of their studies.

In one instance, a group of new students competed in paintball as Soviet soldiers against outside players who were dressed as troops from Nazi Germany in a capture-the-flag competition meant to simulate the World War II battle of Stalingrad. According to one student, the Nazi flag contained the compass symbol used by the NATO military alliance instead of the swastika used by Nazi Germany.

Other instances of political teachings from staff are more direct. In a recording obtained by RFE/RL from June 16, a senior administrator can be heard telling the teenagers that NATO launched a hybrid war against Russia back in 2011 and that it has slowly become more overt. The man then goes on to tell students that their hard work and exceeding long days at the drone factory are part of a nationwide struggle against the West and that their patriotism will be rewarded.

Several students and parents identified the man in the recording as Timur Shagivaleev, the director-general of the special economic zone where Alabuga Polytechnic University and the drone factory operate.

Shagivaleev did not respond to RFE/RLs request for comment.

The man in the recording then goes on to tell students not to take holidays and to continue working even if it's mom's birthday, before ending his speech with, Long live our great country.

WATCH: Amid a new wave of Russian drone attacks on Ukraine, analysts in Kyiv are gaining useful intelligence from a collection of downed Russian aerial weapons. They have been studying the remains of Iranian Shahed drones and Russian Kinzhal missiles, among others.

Multiple current and former students told RFE/RL that students who work in the drone factory are often praised by staff, while those who have refused or asked to be reassigned due to the high workload are often publicly shamed. In some instances -- according to recordings heard by RFE/RL -- staff even encourage students to bully others who are not deemed patriotic enough.

According to Protokol and Razvorots investigations, Alabuga Polytechnic University has also turned toward recruiting foreign students to enroll. The majority of them come from African countries, but also from Central Asia and Azerbaijan, where they are promised world class salaries as part of the dual-track world experience program.

However, these foreign students are then given low-skill and menial tasks around the campus and the special economic zone, such as janitorial work, and are also paid lower salaries than initially promised.

Written by Reid Standish based on reporting by RFE/RLs Idel.Realities
Pakistan's police detained dozens of supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan who gathered in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province on August 7 to protest against his arrest. Khan, who is chairman of the Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaf (PTI) party, was arrested on charges of selling state gifts unlawfully during his tenure as premier from 2018 to 2022. Khan rejects the charges and is appealing the conviction.
Highlights

Finding marks a critical step leading up to Vogtle Unit 4 fuel load

Georgia Power, Southern Nuclear look to next steps, startup process for the new unit

Georgia Power announced today (July 28) the receipt of the 103(g) finding from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for Vogtle Unit 4. This finding was confirmed in an official letter received by Southern Nuclear and signifies that the new unit has been constructed and will be operated in conformance with the Combined License and NRC regulations.

No further NRC findings are necessary in order for Southern Nuclear to load fuel or begin the startup sequence for the new unit.

The issuance of the 103(g) finding follows years of diligent and careful work by the team at the site to submit documentation that Unit 4 has satisfied 364 required inspections, tests, analyses, and acceptance criteria (ITAACs) as outlined in Southern Nuclear's Combined License - helping ensure the unit meets strict nuclear safety and quality standards. This process was completed on July 20, and the NRC conducted a thorough review process of each submission and targeted inspections of the facility before issuing the 103(g) finding. As required by the NRC, each ITAAC had to be verified before fuel load and operations.

The team at the site continues working diligently to make final preparations for Unit 4 fuel load, initiate startup testing and bring the unit online. Well-trained and highly qualified nuclear technicians will continue work required to support loading fuel, which is already onsite, into the unit's reactor. This will be followed by several months of startup testing and operations. Startup testing is designed to demonstrate the integrated operation of the primary coolant system and steam supply system at design temperature and pressure with fuel inside the reactor. Operators will also bring the plant from cold shutdown to initial criticality, synchronize the Unit to the grid and systematically raise power to 100%.

The new Vogtle units are an essential part of Georgia Power's commitment to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy to its 2.7 million customers. Once operating, each of the new units can produce enough electricity to power an estimated 500,000 homes and businesses. Southern Nuclear will operate the new units on behalf of the co-owners: Georgia Power, Oglethorpe Power, MEAG Power and Dalton Utilities.

About Georgia Power

Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America's premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to 2.7 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power focuses on delivering world-class service to its customers every day and the company is recognized by J.D. Power as an industry leader in customer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower), Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower) and Instagram (Instagram.com/ga_power).

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information contained in this release is forward-looking information based on current expectations and plans that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking information includes, among other things, statements concerning the completion of remaining work necessary to load fuel for Unit 4 and the future operation of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4. Georgia Power cautions that there are certain factors that can cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information that has been provided. The reader is cautioned not to put undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is not a guarantee of future performance and is subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of Georgia Power; accordingly, there can be no assurance that such suggested results will be realized. The following factors, in addition to those discussed in Georgia Power's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and subsequent securities filings, could cause actual results to differ materially from management expectations as suggested by such forward-looking information: the ability to control costs and avoid cost and schedule overruns during the development, construction, and operation of facilities or other projects, including Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, which includes components based on new technology that only within the last few years began initial operation in the global nuclear industry at this scale, due to current and/or future challenges which include, but are not limited to, changes in labor costs, availability and productivity, challenges with the management of contractors or vendors, subcontractor performance, adverse weather conditions, shortages, delays, increased costs, or inconsistent quality of equipment, materials, and labor, contractor or supplier delay, the impacts of inflation, delays due to judicial or regulatory action, nonperformance under construction, operating, or other agreements, operational readiness, including specialized operator training and required site safety programs, engineering or design problems or any remediation related thereto, design and other licensing-based compliance matters, challenges with start-up activities, including major equipment failure, or system integration, and/or operational performance, continued challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic or future pandemic health events, continued public and policymaker support for projects, environmental and geological conditions, delays or increased costs to interconnect facilities to transmission grids, and increased financing costs as a result of changes in market interest rates or as a result of project delays; the ability to overcome or mitigate the current challenges, or challenges yet to be identified, at Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, that could further impact the cost and schedule for the project; legal proceedings and regulatory approvals and actions related to construction projects, such as Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, including Georgia Public Service Commission approvals and NRC actions; under certain specified circumstances, a decision by holders of more than 10% of the ownership interests of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 not to proceed with construction; the notices of tender by Oglethorpe Power Corporation and the City of Dalton of a portion of their ownership interests in Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 to Georgia Power, including related litigation; the ability to construct facilities in accordance with the requirements of permits and licenses (including satisfaction of NRC requirements), to satisfy any environmental performance standards and the requirements of tax credits and other incentives, and to integrate facilities into the Southern Company system upon completion of construction; the inherent risks involved in operating and constructing nuclear generating facilities; the ability of counterparties of Georgia Power to make payments as and when due and to perform as required; the direct or indirect effect on Georgia Power's business resulting from cyber intrusion or physical attack and the threat of cyber and physical attacks; catastrophic events such as fires, earthquakes, explosions, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes and other storms, droughts, pandemic health events, political unrest, wars or other similar occurrences; the potential effects of the continued COVID-19 pandemic; and the direct or indirect effects on Georgia Power's business resulting from incidents affecting the U.S. electric grid or operation of generating or storage resources. Georgia Power expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information.
The Northland Reliability Project is an approximately 180-mile, double-circuit, 345-kilovolt (kV) transmission line, primarily following existing transmission corridors, from northern Minnesota to central Minnesota. It will help maintain a reliable and resilient regional power grid as more renewable energy is brought online, existing coal plants are transitioned, electrification continues to expand, and more frequent extreme weather events occur.

The jointly developed project is one of 18 transmission projects approved in July 2022 by the region's grid operator, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), in the first phase of its Long-Range Transmission Plan to integrate new generation resources and boost grid resilience as the energy transition continues. The Northland Reliability Project is the first project in this portfolio to reach this milestone of a state regulatory process.

"The pace of change is upon us and we are laser focused on getting this line built to ensure reliability for our members and customers in northern and central Minnesota," said Great River Energy's Vice President and Chief Transmission Officer Priti Patel. "We are proud to be developing this project responsibly at every juncture. We have gone to great lengths to engage with community members and critical leaders over the last year, understanding that no voice is more important than that of a cooperative member who will be hosting this project on their property."

The companies jointly held nearly 30 public open houses and numerous stakeholder meetings over the past year to provide opportunities for engagement with landowners, local governments, agencies, and Tribal Nations. This public feedback is reflected in the proposed route.

"Collaboration with other utilities is critical as we invest in the transmission needed to maintain a reliable and resilient grid in northeast Minnesota and the Upper Midwest," said Minnesota Power's Vice President of Transmission and Distribution Dan Gunderson. "Transmission is an integral part of Minnesota Power's EnergyForward strategy for serving customers and communities as we work toward achieving both our vision and Minnesota's energy policy goal of a carbon-free future. As energy resources change, the regional power grid that delivers energy needs to change, too. This project will help retain our outstanding reliability, provide system support as resources transition to different operating profiles, increase capacity, strengthen resiliency, and enhance grid flexibility."

Subject to regulatory approvals, the companies expect construction to begin in 2027 and the line to be operational in 2030. Total cost is estimated between $970 million and $1.3 billion. The MPUC will determine need and the final route, and separately review cost recovery for Minnesota Power's share of the project. MISO allocation will help offset costs for customers and members.

Utilities across the region are significantly increasing the amount of renewable energy they provide to their customers. By reducing coal-based energy and more than doubling renewable energy, Great River Energy anticipates that by 2035 its retail electric sales will be provided by a 90% carbon-free power supply in alignment with the Minnesota carbon-free standard. Minnesota Power was the first utility in the state to deliver 50% renewable energy to customers in 2021 with plans to be more than 70% renewable by 2030.

Project details

The Northland Reliability Project is divided into two segments.

Segment one: Approximately 140 miles of new 345-kV double-circuit transmission lines will be constructed primarily near existing transmission line corridors, from Minnesota Power's Iron Range Substation in Itasca County to Great River Energy's Benton County Substation near St. Cloud.

Segment two: A 20-mile 230-kV line will be replaced with two 345-kV circuits along existing transmission corridors from the Benton County Substation to a new Big Oaks Substation that will be built as part of a separate project. A 20-mile 345-kV line will also be replaced along existing transmission corridors from the Benton County Substation to the Sherco Substation in Sherburne County.

Other improvements: In addition to the transmission line, the Northland Reliability Project will expand the Iron Range Substation near Grand Rapids and the Benton County Substation near St. Cloud. A new Cuyuna Series Compensation Station will be built in Crow Wing County near the existing Riverton Substation.

For more information and a map of the Northland Reliability Project's route corridor, visit https://northlandreliabilityproject.com. People also can subscribe to receive updates about the project from the MPUC. Visit edockets.state.mn.us and enter docket 22-416 for information on the Certificate of Need or docket 22-415 for information on the Route Permit.

Great River Energy, Maple Grove, Minnesota, is a not-for-profit wholesale electric power cooperative which provides electricity to approximately 1.7 million people through its 27 member-owner cooperatives and customers. Through its member-owners, Great River Energy serves two-thirds of Minnesota geographically and parts of Wisconsin. Learn more at greatriverenergy.com.

Minnesota Power provides electric service within a 26,000-square-mile area in northeastern Minnesota, supporting comfort, security and quality of life for 150,000 customers, 14 municipalities and some of the largest industrial customers in the United States. More information can be found at mnpower.com. ALE-CORP

The statements contained in this release and statements that ALLETE may make orally in connection with this release that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward- looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and investors are directed to the risks discussed in documents filed by ALLETE with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Sheffield is renowned for hosting world class events and the inaugural Rock N Roll Circus Circus in the city is no different! Taking place at Don Valley Bowl this summer, the event has gone a long way to captivate the imagination of thousands of live music ticket hungry people in Yorkshire. Set to take place on Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd September, the event has been billed as a live music spectacular featuring a selection of the globe's leading artists all staged to the backdrop of a giant big top and all-out circus fanfare. The three day end of summer gathering in the heart of Sheffield features the ex-oasis legend Noel Gallagher (Friday) backed by the likes of indie icons Happy Mondays and Yorkshire's very own rock 'n' rollers The Cribs, as well as Rotherham's princess of pop Self Esteem (Saturday) supported on her specially curated bill by Confidence Man, the recently announced Australian sensation that is Natalia Imbruglia, the number one UK drag act Bimini and Arctic Monkeys tribute Arctic Numpties. And let's not forget about the Sunday, which will see the eagerly anticipated return of the much-missed Sheffield born club behemoth, Gatecrasher, bringing Sheffields first ever Rock N Roll Circus to a stunning and no doubt enormously memorable close.

THREE DAYS OF INCREDIBLE LIVE MUSIC UNDERNEATH THE BIG TOP!



With a special desire and ambition to support Yorkshire's stars of tomorrow, Rock N Roll Circus will also this year host a second stage, in collaboration with BBC Introducing, showcasing some of the best and finest emerging acts the county has to offer. Throw in the fact that Rock N Roll Circus will also feature incredibly talented circus performers who will also be putting on an unforgettable show with acrobats, fire performers and aerialists, an sumptuous food village with a vast selection of circus themed treats as well as hotdogs, burgers and pizzas, VIP packages to live it up in style and interactive workshops, the public are guaranteed a live spectacular like no other. Excited yet? Let's take a closer look at what's on offer!

A YORKSHIRE STRONG ROCK N ROLL CIRCUS LINE-UP



Aside from the fact that Manchester legend Noel Gallagher and his High Flying Birds will open the Rock N Roll Circus party on Friday 1st September, organisers of the three-day spectacle have made a special effort to engage with acts both new and current that belong and has its routes firmly in Yorkshire.

YORKSHIRE POP ROYALTY SELF ESTEEM

Born right here in Rotherham, Self Esteem is a name on everybody's lips right now. From her Meadowhall-inspired corset stealing the show at Glastonbury last summer to her most recent tour selling a whopping 44,000 tickets to rave national reviews, Rebecca Lucy Taylor, AKA Self Esteem, is in high demand.

Self Esteem's second studio album, the Mercury Prize nominated (and Guardian newspaper number-one ranked) 'Prioritise Pleasure' released late October 2021 propelled the Rotherham born Taylor onto the global stage.

Self Esteem's ability to convey feeling across all facets of the performance - from choreography to outfit changes to her lyricism and wall-to-wall pop bangers  has earned her plaudits from all corners and she can't wait to head to Sheffield this September to play for another eager Yorkshire crowd in what is poised to be a pivotal year for the artist.

GATECRASHER RETURNS TO ITS SPIRITUAL HOME

The global clubbing brand Gatecrasher made famous by legendary dance music events in Sheffield in the 1990s will return to its spiritual home for a one off special day of iconic classic dance music on the last day of Rock N Roll Circus.

The globally acclaimed DJ and audio architect Ferry Corsten headline Gatecrasher at Rock N Roll Circus and will be joined by the likes of Dutch DJ and producer Ruben de Ronde, Marco V and Sander van Doorn.

What started off as an ad-hoc club night became a brand so big it spawned 26 albums, played sold out venues around the world and hosted a millennium party that saw 25,000 ravers descend on Sheffield to welcome in the noughties.

Speaking about the return of Gatecrasher, a spokesperson for Rock N Roll Circus, explained: Gatecrasher was at the zenith of clubbing culture in this country for so many years and we're proud to be able to bring it back for this one-off, all-day spectacular in its spiritual home of Sheffield.

The millennium party it hosted 23 years ago is the stuff of legend, and we couldn't think of a better way to conclude our first Rock N Roll Circus in the city with an all-out Gatecrasher party featuring all of the DJs that helped propel its brand onto the international stage.

IT'S ALMOST SOLD OUT- SO YOU'D BEST ACT FAST!

Demand for tickets for Rock N Roll Circus has been phenomenal and there aren't many left!

Day, weekend tickets and VIP packages  which offers those who want to jump the queue and get the full rock star treatment - are still available but organisers encourage music fans who don't want to miss out to head to rocknrollcircus.co.uk to join in on the fun.


ROTHERHAM health bosses are working to prioritise resources and advising people to use A&E services wisely during planned industrial action by junior doctors.

Industrial action is due to take place across the country from 7am on Friday, August 11, until 7am on Tuesday, August 15.

It follows five days of strikes by junior doctors last month.

The British Medical Association said junior doctors in the NHS in England were taking strike action to achieve "full pay restoration to reverse the steep decline in pay faced by junior doctors since 2008/9".

Junior doctors are qualified doctors in clinical training and range from newly qualified doctors to those with many years experience.

A spokesperson for Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust said it was working to prioritise resources to protect emergency treatment, critical care, neonatal care, maternity, and trauma.

Some appointments and procedures will be rescheduled  however, patients who have waited the longest for elective care and cancer surgery will be prioritised

The trust will contact those whose appointments are impacted. If not contacted, patients should attend as normal.

Anyone who needs emergency medical care should still come forward during the period of industrial action.

If emergency medical care is not needed, patients are asked to consider alternative services to the Urgent and Emergency Care Centre such as NHS 111, GPs, and local pharmacists.

GP practices will be open as usual during the strikes.

Susan Douglas, deputy medical director at the trust, said: As with previous strikes, we have plans in place to maintain safe and effective care for patients.

We urge patients to use our services wisely and only attend UECC for urgent and emergency medical care.

We anticipate that patients could experience long waits in UECC during this time.

If you dont know where is best to seek medical advice, visit www.111.nhs.uk.

If we have not contacted you to cancel your appointment, please attend as planned.
A SENIOR councillor has backed calls for the government to ban disposable vapes.

Last month, the BBC reported that the Local Government Association (LGA) said 1.3 million vapes were thrown away each week with a call for them to be banned by 2024.

Figures from research firm NielsenIQ suggest the problem could be even bigger than that. It says nearly 300m e-cigarettes (disposable and otherwise) were sold in the UK over the last year.

Cllr David Roche, cabinet member for adult social care and health at RMBC, said the authority urged the government to ban disposable vapes to protect, keep children safe and save taxpayers money.

He added: Many councils across the country are collectively calling for a ban on single-use vapes given their appeal to children, their lack of recyclability and the dangers they pose in terms of fire risk.

Disposable vapes are fundamentally flawed in their design and inherently unsustainable products, meaning an outright ban will prove more effective than attempts to recycle more vapes.

In Rotherham, the council and its partners take part in a range of activities to encourage residents to stop smoking and have access to tailored support.

We have strong support services for those looking to stop smoking including through Get Healthy Rotherham, Rotherham Hospitals inpatient stop-smoking services, and Rother Hive.

The council is also working with schools to educate young people on the dangers of vaping, as well as the dangers of smoking.

However, John Dunne, director general of the UK Vaping Industry Association, said that the low price, accessibility and ease of use of disposable products had helped bring UK smoking rates to an all-time low.
Oil prices fell more than 1 percent on Tuesday as investors reacted to weak Chinese trade data and awaited the latest U.S. stockpile data.

Benchmark Brent crude futures dropped 1.4 percent to $84.16 a barrel, while WTI crude futures were down 1.3 percent at $80.87.

China's exports fell by 14.5 percent in July from a year ago, while imports dropped by 12.4 percent in U.S. dollar terms amid falling demand overseas and in the country, official data showed earlier today.

Both exports and imports sank at their fastest pace since the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, threatening recovery prospects and reinforcing the need for further stimulus measures from policymakers.

On the positive side, China imported an average of 10.29 million barrels per day of crude oil in July, down 18.8 percent from June but up 17 percent from a low base a year ago.

The American Petroleum Institute, an industry body, is scheduled to release its U.S. crude inventories data later in the day, with analysts expecting another drawdown after last week's hefty fall.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Market Analysis
At the meeting between Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and his Lao counterpart Saysomphone Phomvihane in in Jakarta, Indonesia, on August 7. (Photo: VNA)

Both leaders noted with pleasure that the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos have been deepened and enhanced through all channels and at all levels, particularly via the Party channel and from the central to local levels, and in all sectors, significantly contributing to maintaining political stability, security-defence, and socio-economic development in both countries.

They agreed to further increase the exchange of delegations at all levels, promote bilateral cooperation mechanisms, strengthen the linkages between the two economies, and carry out investment and trade cooperation agreements as well as important strategic joint projects. They also concurred to boost cooperation in agricultural product processing, jointly study and implement specific projects.

The Vietnamese and Lao NAs should continue their close collaboration, effectively conduct their regular cooperation mechanisms, step up cooperation in human resource training, enhance information exchange, share experiences, and coordinate in legislation, monitoring, and decision-making activities involving important national issues.

The two sides agreed to coordinate closely in organising the first high-level conference of the NAs of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam in Laos in December 2023, as well as AIPA 2024 chaired by Laos.

On this occasion, Chairman Hue invited the Lao NA to send a delegation to attend the 9th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians to be held in Hanoi in September./.
Molson Coors Beverage Company (TAP, TAP.A) has reached an agreement to acquire Blue Run Spirits, a producer of finely crafted bourbon and rye whiskies. Molson Coors said the acquisition will more than double the size of Molson Coors' spirits team, further

supporting the company's premiumization strategy. Blue Run is currently available in 31 states.

In March 2023, Blue Run announced plans to build a distillery in Kentucky. These plans will continue as part of the Molson Coors family. Blue Run's founders will all remain with the brand.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Thembi Nkadimeng. Photo cred: Chuma ka Sgadla.

Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Thembi Nkadimeng called for a reduction of municipal councillors power in order to achieve good governance. The Minister was making a keynote address at Rhodes University during first day of week-long Student Representative Councilors (SRC) Leadership Week series.

The minister spoke under the theme of promoting good governance and came down hard on municipal councillors, saying they fail to even produce a Local Economic Development Plan (LED). When you assess our councillors and you ask them about their LED units and strategy, they show you one or two people sitting behind an old building which is not even well taken care of and there is no LED strategy, said Nkadimeng.

She outlined good governance as the process of measuring how public institutions conduct public affairs and manage public resources and guarantee the realisation of human rights in a manner essentially free of abuse and corruption and with due regard for the rule of law. Minister Nkadimeng said good governance means that the governments decision-making needs to be prompt, on time and all processes must be aligned. S

Minister Nkadimeng said in order to achieve good governance, there is a need to define a clear line between political and administrative roles. At local government, one of the challenges we have is that these two lines are very blurred. In fact, I am arguing that in the review of local government we have to reduce the power of councillors if we want to do something about how we manage the affairs of the public, house rules and the citizens. You cant be a player and a referee at the same time. In council, a person today is a councillor, tomorrow an acting mayor reporting to himself on what he did today. The system has never been designed properly, added Minister Nkadimeng.

She lambasted Makana Local Municipality for spending 58% of its budget and not delivering services. She told the audience that she took a drive around Makhanda and saw the degenerating state of infrastructure around the City. Minister Nkadimeng also said that political interference is meddling with good governance. She said the municipalities sometimes hire competent people with proper skills and education, but politicians instruct them to do something else and when they defy them, they get suspended. To take decisions is not an issue, but to take a wrong decision knowing that it is wrong; I have a problem with that. Council in some instances openly and deliberately do this. They hire qualified people who will tell them this needs to be done this way and the Councillor will say we must do to the other way. When you dont do it, quickly tomorrow they call a special council, you are charged with insubordination, suspended for 90 days. They come with a further charge on the 90th day, you go to labour court and win, and they defy a court order. You cant sit with so much power today, she said.

Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sizwe Mabizela said politicians need to reach a level of maturity so that they serve the electorate with distinction. There is just too much ego, pride and opportunism so I really dont have much hope, said Professor Mabizela.

The Minister called on Rhodes University students to be part of problem-solving. She said: It is our belief that student leaders should not be confined to just their campuses; they should also be forerunners of change within their communities and beyond and this is predicated on the overriding perspective that you are members of the community before you are students. Through your actions, you must demonstrate that leadership is not about a title or position, but about the courage to take action, the willingness to step forward, and the determination to inspire others. In the Makhanda area, perhaps it would be important for students and their leaders to work with government and other stakeholders to resolve the water crisis that has hit the area.

The SRC Leadership Week will continue today with the Deputy Speaker of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature, Mlibo Qoboshiyane as the guest speaker. On Wednesday, the former Miss Universe, Zozibini Tunzi and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town, Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng will be speaking.
Along with a slew of new features, Ather is launching three new scooters on August 11th, 2023

Athers newest teasers on social media are building quite a hype. As per the teaser, they are going to launch not 1, not 2, but 3 new electric scooters. Ather calls this new range of 450 Series. It is not yet revealed what these 3 new scooters will be. If we had to guess, one could be 450S, which will take on Ola S1 Air. The second could be 450X Gen 4 to take on S1 Pro. What could be the 3rd one?

Ather Launching 3 New Scooters

The Indian electric mobility startup is known to surprise audiences at events like this. Athers Community Day event is a testament to that. The new Warp Through event on Friday will feature renowned stand-up comedian Jose Covaco, popularly known as Hoezaay.

Some glimpses from the latest teaser on social media hints at more power, more torque and greater range. Also, new features. Video even mentions Unmasking the new gen soon, which could be referring to Ather 450X Gen 4. One teaser suggests more performance with Warp Mode. Enhanced practicality with more luggage space could be a possibility as well.

Warp your way to the EV future!

Ather refers to the new robotic face in the dashboard as AtherBot and is likely to transform how we interact with the scooter. Athers new 450 Range of scooters will pack generational upgrades and will offer more tech and value for prospective buyers. All eyes are on the new 450S, with a supposed 3 kWh battery.

This new base model EV from Ather will pack 115 km of IDC-claimed range and 90 km/h top speed. It costs Rs. 1.3 lakh (ex-sh). Pre-order window is already open and will rival Olas newest S1 Air electric scooter and other scooters in the similar price bracket.

Recent updates from Ather

Ather Energy has reported remarkable sales figures for July 2023, selling 7,858 units, representing a substantial 229 per cent year-on-year increase. Comparing with the previous month, the company experienced a commendable 21 per cent month-over-month growth, selling 1,379 more electric scooters than Junes 6,479 units.

To further support the adoption of electric vehicles, Ather Energy has collaborated with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) to bolster its EV charging infrastructure. Leveraging BPCLs vast network of over 21,000 fuel stations across India, the partnership aims to facilitate the installation of Athers public fast-charging Grid.

The integration of Athers App into this expansion will play a crucial role in providing real-time information on charger availability, making it easier for users to plan their charging sessions efficiently. The increasing sales and strategic partnerships underline Ather Energys commitment to shaping a greener and more sustainable future for urban transportation in India.
New Honda SP160 will utilizes SP125s sporty profile, while borrowing the engine and other hardware from Unicorn 160

While introducing new products helps target a larger audience base, it isnt necessary to start from scratch every time. An easier and cost-effective way is to use an existing platform to develop new products. Sometimes, the best of two or more products can be combined to create something new and exciting.

A similar strategy is being used by Honda for developing SP160, a mix of Unicorn and SP125. While Unicorn is preferred for its well-rounded design and powerful performance, SP125 is popular for its sporty profile. A combination of these aspects has potential to create a bestseller.

Honda SP160 features

New SP160 borrows much of its styling from the smaller capacity SP125. The latter is designed to be a head-turner on the streets. SP125 boasts of a sharp LED DC headlamp, layered fuel tank design with sporty graphics, unique split alloy wheels, premium chrome muffler cover and edgy tail lamp. The colour palette for SP125 is a lot more vibrant in comparison to Unicorn. A similar set of features are on offer with the new SP160.

Honda SP160 will appeal to folks who are looking for a ride that is a lot more flamboyant. Of course, some platform-specific features of Unicorn will also have to be incorporated. But overall, SP160 will closely match the youthful exuberance associated with the smaller-capacity SP125. With Unicorns powerful engine, users can expect the best of both worlds.

Honda SP160 will have distinct colour options in comparison to Unicorn. These are Matte Marvel Blue Metallic, Matte Axis Gray Metallic , Matte Dark Blue Metallic , Pearl Spartan Red, Pearl Igneous Black and Pearl Deep Ground Gray.

There will be some differences in the hardware as well. For example, SP160 will have a smaller capacity 12-litre fuel tank. In comparison, Unicorn is equipped with a 13-litre fuel tank. Another difference is that SP160 will weigh 141 kg, as compared to Unicorns kerb weight of 139 kg. Users can expect better control and handling with SP160, as it will have smaller 17-inch wheels at both ends. In comparison, Unicorn has 18-inch wheels.

Honda SP160 performance, specs

2023 Honda SP160 will be utilizing the 162.71cc, SI engine that does duty on Unicorn. It generates 12.9 hp of peak power and 14.58 Nm of max torque. It is mated to a 5-speed gearbox. Honda had recently updated the engine to comply with the stricter OBD-2 emission norms. SP160 will get features such as engine stop switch, maintenance free battery and side stand engine cut off.

SP160 will have a Diamond frame, suspended on telescopic front forks and monoshock rear suspension. Braking duties will be performed by a 276 mm petal disc at front. At rear, users will have the option to choose 220 mm disc or 130 mm drum brake. Single-channel ABS will be offered as standard.

Similar to Unicorn, SP160 comes with 3-years standard warranty and 7-years optional extended warranty. Pricing for Honda SP160 is more than that of Unicorn. Unicorn 160 is available at a starting price of Rs 1,09,800 (ex.sh), while the new SP160 single disc variant is priced at Rs 1,17,500 while dual disc variant is priced at Rs 1,21,900. All prices ex-sh.
National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (left) and Indonesian President Joko Widodo. (Photo: VNA)

President Widodo spoke highly of Chairman Hues official visit to Indonesia on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the strategic partnership (2013 - 2023), saying it has created momentum for the bilateral cooperation to grow more intensively, extensively and practically.

The strategic partnership has not only brought benefits to the two countries but also contributed to peace, stability and prosperity in the region, he stressed.

Chairman Hue conveyed greetings and regards from General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong, President Vo Van Thuong and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to the Indonesian leader.

The chief legislator congratulated Indonesia on its 78th Independence Day, and noted his firm belief that the country will reap more achievements in all spheres, and hold an increasing role and position in the world.

Informing the host about the outcomes of his official visit to Indonesia and his attendance at the 44th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-44), Chairman Hue said the two legislatures signed a cooperation agreement aiming to boost their relations, thus contributing to fostering the Vietnam-Indonesia relationship, towards advancing it to a new height.

Both leaders rejoiced at the rapid, effective development of the strategic partnership in key spheres, especially trade with two-way revenue hitting a record of over 14 billion USD last year.

They agreed to step up the exchange of delegations at all levels and through all channels, and effectively implement signed agreements.

The two countries will work to raise their bilateral trade to over 15 billion USD by 2028 in a more balanced way.

The leaders also shared the view that the two countries need to further maintain existing supply chains, and closely cooperate to form new, strategic ones, saying both sides have strengths to boost collaboration in navigation and fishery, as well as new areas like digital transformation and just energy transition.

President Widodo thanked Vietnam for its support for Indonesias ASEAN Chairmanship in 2023, and suggested Vietnam continue its coordination to enhance ASEANs centrality and implement the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.

On this occasion, Chairman Hue conveyed invitations of Party General Secretary Trong and President Thuong to President Widodo to soon visit Vietnam this year./.
Mark Lane (left), one of the Break the Ban organizers, spoke about El Cajons ordinance against food sharing in city parks at a January press conference in Balboa Park.

A dozen people given misdemeanor citations at an El Cajon park in January for sharing food with homeless people in defiance of a city ordinance learned Thursday the charges have been dropped.

Activist Mark Lane, part of a group that calls itself Break The Ban, said he found out the charges filed by the city of El Cajon were dismissed against him and the others who were cited on Jan. 14 for giving out food to homeless individuals.

El Cajon City Attorney Morgan Foleys letter dated Feb. 26 informed Robert Scott Dreher, the lead lawyer for Break the Ban individuals, that the city would not be prosecuting those who were issued citations at Wells Park, including a 14-year-old child. Those cited were told they would have to appear in court, as well.

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His letter said the city was working with the El Cajon Police Department to be sure that all persons cited would receive a notice of dismissal.

No further action or appearance is necessary, Foley wrote.

El Cajon officials enacted a ban on sharing food in city parks last October as a safety measure after the San Diego County Board of Supervisors declared the regions growing hepatitis A outbreak a public health emergency. On Jan. 23, the county ended its health emergency and El Cajon also lifted its ban.

This was always about preventing hepatitis A, said El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells. Now that the emergency has been lifted, there is no compelling reason to press charges.

Shane Parmely, who also represents the group, said she wasnt surprised the charges were dropped, but she was still concerned about the plight of the homeless in El Cajon.

Its really the only logical thing to do, she said. The bottom line, though, is that homelessness is still criminalized in El Cajon. El Cajon, San Diego, Escondido and other cities in the county need to re-examine their laws and rescind laws that criminalize homeless and poor people.

Lane said he would still be part of a group called Food Not Bombs that continues to feed the homeless at Wells Park at 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays. Lane said the group was able to form an East County branch of Food Not Bombs because of a large response to the citys ordinance.

karen.pearlman@sduniontribune.com
By XU XIULI and LI XIAOYUN

A coming challenge for China is how to better coordinate with the existing global public goods system in specific fields, procedures and rules

LI MIN/CHINA DAILY

Over the past decade, China has emerged as a new contributor and innovator in the provision of global public goods, although it also faces unprecedented challenges. Although China has not used the term "global public goods" in official expressions for a long time, its foreign aid practices, as an important channel for providing global public goods, dates back over 70 years. In the early 1960s, China put forward the Eight Principles for Economic Aid and Technical Assistance to Other Countries, featuring equality, mutual benefit, respect for sovereignty and not attaching any strings or pursuing any privileges. Such principles provided new ideas and momentum for South-South cooperation at that time. The Tanzania-Zambia Railway was an important public good serving the national independence and development of African countries, promoting solidarity among countries in the Global South and pursuing an equitable international system during that historical context.

China has actively engaged in the supply and governance of global public goods with a more proactive stance since 2000, especially over the past decade.

Based on official data, China's annual foreign aid contribution over the past decade has reached $7 billion  about 10 times the average annual level over the past 60 years. It is now among the top 10 foreign aid providers. The international development cooperation being emphasized by China is not just foreign aid in a traditional sense. Moreover, it serves as a catalyst to promote global trade, investment, and other international economic cooperation, thus enhancing the multiplier effect of aid in promoting sustainable development. Additionally, Beijing has launched several international development cooperation financing mechanisms and platforms, including the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Silk Road Fund, the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, and the Peace and Development Trust Fund, which provide significant solutions to reduce the global development deficit.

China has played an increasingly active role in the construction of multilateral international organizations. Beijing has underlined the transformation of foreign aid into international development cooperation since 2000, especially after the establishment of the China International Development Cooperation Agency in 2018. Beijing has kept expanding mechanisms and channels for multilateral and trilateral cooperation, thus further deepening its involvement in the construction of the global public goods system. In traditional multilateral international organizations, China mainly contributes through two channels: First, in keeping with the payment standards of various United Nations organizations and Bretton Woods system organizations, China has become one of the major donors to international organizations. It has made voluntary donations to these organizations through trust funds and other means, making contributions and offering innovative ideas to the international multilateral architecture established after World War II. For example, by the end of 2019, through the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund, China had implemented 82 projects with 14 international organizations and agencies, including the UN Development Programme, the World Food Programme, and the World Health Organization, covering fields such as agricultural development and food security, poverty reduction, and health for women and children. Second, China has taken the lead in establishing new types of international multilateral organizations such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the New Development Bank, exploring more streamlined, green and locally adaptable operating paths, thus enhancing sustainable the development capabilities of different regions.

As China commits itself to the innovation of the global public goods system, it also faces unprecedented challenges. Apart from increasing vulnerabilities at the global level and deficits in governance, trust, peace and development, there are lingering tensions between China's innovative models and mechanisms of global public goods and the existing post-World War II governance framework.

First, China has been a pragmatic innovator. In innovating the global public goods system, instead of rigidly adhering to any particular value or ideological framework, China has made adaptive adjustments based on local realities, leading to the integration of various elements. This approach aligns with China's consistent emphasis on common development, non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, and encouraging countries to explore the development paths that suit their own national conditions. However, this pluralistic concept is now facing growing tensions with the Western concept of modernization, which is based on monism.

Second, through regional cooperation platforms with Africa, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Central and Eastern Europe, China has greatly strengthened the paradigm for horizontal partnerships among developing countries. The difference between this cooperation paradigm and the one advocated by the US and Europe since World War II, which emphasizes cooperation between the Global North and the Global South, may lead to conflicts due to differences in rules and interests. For instance, conflicts may arise concerning the rules of development cooperation, whether they are based on consultation and collaboration among relevant parties or designed on the basis of liberal and preconceived rationality, especially regarding the design of democratic political systems. China is currently the world's largest trading nation and a major trading partner and important exporter to more than 130 countries and regions. This has had a significant impact on global value chains, which were previously based in North America and Europe. In recent years, China has contributed up to about 30 percent of global economic growth, which has had an impact on the willingness and capacity of the original global public goods suppliers.

Third, the existing system for global public goods has become increasingly diversified with increasing participation from developed countries, developing countries, multinational corporations and social organizations. The establishment of multilateral organizations at the global and regional levels, as well as the development of specific rules and norms, has made the global public goods system more institutionalized at different levels. However, the increasing diversification of participants and a higher level of institutionalization has led to flaws such as the fragmentation of governance bodies, making multiple parties much less likely to arrive at consensus. This is evident in the current dispute settlement and negotiation mechanism of the World Trade Organization.

China's participation in the existing global public goods system through development cooperation mechanisms, including the forms of trade and investment, often prioritizes the actual results in the execution process, i.e., whether it can solve problems in an efficient manner. However, in the future, the challenge before China will be how to better coordinate with the existing global public goods system in specific fields, procedures and rules.

Xu Xiuli is the dean of the College of International Development and Global Agriculture and professor of Humanities and Development Studies at China Agricultural University. Li Xiaoyun is the honorary dean of the CIDGA and chair professor of China Agricultural University. The authors contributed this article to China Watch, a think tank powered by China Daily.

China Daily Aug. 8th, 2023




President Vo Van Thuong visits the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Vietnam at its office in Ho Chi Minh City on August 7. (Photo: VNA)

The State leader wished Archbishop Giuse Nguyen Nang and members of the Catholic Bishops' Conference as well as all Catholics across the country good health and happiness.

He said that with the joint efforts of the Party, State and people, Vietnam has reaped important achievements in all fields. The country has won COVID-19 pandemic and shown strong socioeconomic recovery and development, maintaining political stability, ensuring social welfare, defence and security, and strengthening foreign relations with outstanding results, he noted.

Thuong highlighted the active contributions from the Catholic community to this success, especially in the fields of social welfare, charity, pandemic prevention and control, and the spreading of humanitarian spirit, love and good values of the nation in general and the community in particular.

The Party and State always stay consistent to the policy of ensuring and respecting the freedom to religions and belief of all people, including the Catholic community, while creating optimal conditions for the community to practice their religion, he affirmed.

Briefing the conference on his visit to the Vatican, President Thuong said that he had a meeting with Pope Francis and Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Vatican.

He said that during his working session with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the two sides affirmed that the Vietnam-Vatican relationship is growing fruitfully, and concurred to continue to promote this sound relationship. Vietnam and Vatican also agreed on the Status of the Resident Papal Representative and the Office of the Resident Papal Representative in Vietnam.

For his part, Archbishop Giuse Nguyen Nang expressed his impression at the outcomes of the Presidents visits to Austria, Italy and the Vatican, saying they have helped enhance the international position and reputation of Vietnam, and bring the Vietnam-Vatican ties to a new development period with the approval of the Status of the Resident Papal Representative and the Office of the Resident Papal Representative in Vietnam.

The Vietnamese Catholic community is delighted as the Vatican will send its Resident Papal Representative to Vietnam, he said.

He affirmed that the community is always enthusiastic about practising the religion, living the gospel, and responding to the call of the Church and the Pope; and committed to serving the community, the society and the country.

He pledged that in the time to come, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Vietnam will continue its tradition and making more contributions to the countrys development. It also hopes to show deeper engagement in the fields of education, health care and social welfare, thus making more contributions to the community, he added.

He expressed his belief that with the policies taken by the Party and State, the Catholic community in Vietnam will further promote its potential and strengths, thus contributing more to the national construction and development in the future./.
* Xi demanded all-out search and rescue efforts to find people missing or trapped in floods.

* Xi emphasized that all regions and relevant departments must strengthen monitoring, forecasting and early warning efforts and enhance inspection measures.

* Party members and officials must charge forward, and primary-level Party organizations must play their roles so that the people can feel like they have something to rely upon, said Xi.

BEIJING, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- From 8 p.m. on July 29 to 7 a.m. on Aug. 2, Beijing recorded its heaviest rainfall since records began 140 years ago.

The heavy overall rains in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region caused anomalous floods in several districts of Beijing and several localities in north China's Hebei Province in the past few days.

At urgent times, the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee with Xi Jinping at the core kept standing firm in putting the people first and once again provided powerful backing for all those affected.

BEIJING MUST STAND THE TEST

Landing on the southeast Chinese coast on July 28, Typhoon Doksuri had not kept its realm in southern China as many other typhoons that weakened after landing but continued moving northward, bringing rain clouds to northern China.

President Xi closely followed the development of Doksuri, stressing that special precautions should be taken in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

Late July and early August are the usual rainy season in China. In early July, Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, asked relevant authorities to enhance coordination, step up monitoring and early warning, and provide targeted guidance over disaster prevention and rescue efforts.

In the face of Doksuri, authorities immediately mobilized, and multiple disaster alerts for mountain torrents, floods and waterlogging were announced.

Railway workers remove fallen trees from railway tracks in Shuiyuzui Village in flood-hit Mentougou District, Beijing, Aug. 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

Typhoon Doksuri brought heavy downpours in north China and resulted in floods and geological disasters.

On July 30, over 2,800 passengers were trapped on the K396, K1178 and Z180 trains in Beijing due to railways cut off by the rainfalls, facing a shortage of food and water and no communication signals.

The situation quickly came to Xi's notice and he immediately made instructions.

"Local authorities and relevant departments must get in touch with the trains and make every effort to arrange rescue and give out food and drugs to ensure the safety of the trapped passengers," Xi said in an instruction.

During the following days of rescue, Xi repeatedly stressed sound logistics guarantees for those temporarily settling where the trains were stuck, urging efforts to transfer trapped passengers to Beijing as soon as possible while ensuring their safety.

On Aug. 3, all the passengers were able to leave the temporary settlement spots.

Amid the rescue, Xi continued to give instructions concerning all those suffering from the natural disaster, stressing efforts to make appropriate arrangements for people affected by the floods and geological disasters, promptly repair damaged infrastructure, including transportation, telecommunications and electricity facilities, and restore order in work and life as soon as possible.

Party members and officials must charge forward, and primary-level Party organizations must play their roles so that the people can feel like they have something to rely upon, said Xi.

"As a modernized metropolis, Beijing must stand the test," he said.

Rescuers carry out drainage operation in Diaowo Township, Zhuozhou, north China's Hebei Province, Aug. 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

ALL-OUT RESCUE EFFORTS IN HEBEI

When Beijing was drenched, rainstorms also swept half of the counties and city districts in neighboring Hebei. Around 2.2 million people were affected.

Zhuozhou City in Hebei saw 60 percent of its urban areas immersed in water up to 6 meters deep.

Xi was deeply concerned about the disaster situation in Hebei. He learned about the water levels in places including Zhuozhou and instructed the province to mobilize rescuers and resources to promptly evacuate trapped individuals, ensure effective drainage in urban areas, and expedite restoring normal urban operations.

On Aug. 1, Xi demanded all-out search and rescue efforts to find people missing or trapped in floods.

The Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee has allocated 44 million yuan (about 6.16 million U.S. dollars) in funds to assist with flood control and disaster relief work in Beijing, Hebei and Tianjin.

On Aug. 4, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Water Resources allocated 450 million yuan for disaster relief in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei.

On the same day, the country earmarked an additional 100 million yuan from its central budget to assist in rehabilitation in Tianjin and Hebei.

Local authorities in Hebei mobilized large rescue forces to the flood-hit areas: 4,705 rescue teams consisting of 105,988 members were formed, and emergency departments of various levels exchanged information daily with the teams.

On Xi's instructions, the central government and Beijing also sent support. The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and the National Health Commission sent work teams and experts to guide the rescue efforts on site. Beijing Drainage Group dispatched four units of large-scale water pumps, 14 vehicles and 63 technicians to assist with water drainage.

Villagers of Qinglonghu Town have meal at a temporary shelter after being evacuated from flood-hit areas in Fangshan District, Beijing, Aug. 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

Currently, the ongoing rain has significantly eased, but flood prevention remains a tough challenge.

Xi emphasized that all regions and relevant departments must strengthen monitoring, forecasting and early warning efforts and enhance inspection measures.

On Aug. 4, Xi warned the disaster-affected areas, especially those in mountainous regions, to be vigilant against secondary disasters and not lower their guard.

Authorities in Hebei strived to ensure the safety of flood detention areas and made every effort to minimize losses caused by flood detention.

As of Aug. 4, about 1.6 million people have been evacuated in Hebei, and expressways have all reopened. In the worst-hit Zhuozhou, all 402 villages resumed contact with the outside world, and electricity supplies were restored in 75 urban neighborhoods suffering power cuts due to the flood.

"After the rescue teams cleared the roads, villagers actively took part in relief efforts and transported supplies," said Zhao Feifei, Party chief of Qiyu Township in the city of Baoding, Hebei Province, where a landslide took place.

"We are confident that we can help people restore normal life and production soon," she added.

Editor: WXL
Researcher Li Wenqin points to where white-headed langurs appear at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Li Mengxin)

Tourists view a white-headed langur at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

A white-headed langur climbs on a cliff at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

A white-headed langur forages at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

Researcher Li Wenqin (C) and Liu Yanchen and ranger Liang Zhizhang (L) observe white-headed langurs at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

Ranger Liang Zhizhang looks for white-headed langurs during a patrol at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 4, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

Ranger Liang Zhizhang looks for white-headed langurs during a patrol at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 4, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

Ranger Liang Zhizhang observes a white-headed langur during a patrol at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

A flock of white-headed langurs rest on a cliff at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

Researcher Li Wenqin (back) and Liu Yanchen observe white-headed langurs at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

Ranger Liang Zhizhang moves away a tree branch from a watering place made for white-headed langurs during a patrol at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 4, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

Researcher Li Wenqin (R) and Liu Yanchen wait as they observe white-headed langur at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

A white-headed langur looks out on a tree branch at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

A white-headed langur leaps at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

Three white-headed langurs rest on a cliff at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

Researcher Li Wenqin (R) and Liu Yanchen observe white-headed langurs at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Li Mengxin)

Tourists view white-headed langurs at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Li Mengxin)

A white-headed langur forages at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

Researcher Li Wenqin (C) and Liu Yanchen and ranger Liang Zhizhang (R) observe white-headed langurs at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

Researcher Li Wenqin (back) and Liu Yanchen observe white-headed langurs at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

Researcher Li Wenqin cleans mud from his sole at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

A white-headed langur is pictured at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

Ranger Liang Zhizhang cuts down bushes with a machete to make way during a patrol at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 4, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

Researcher Li Wenqin (R) and ranger Liang Zhizhang observe white-headed langurs at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Li Mengxin)

Editor: WJH
The State Property Fund of Ukraine (SPF) denies deliveries by PrJSC United Mining and Chemical Company, under whose management Vilnohirsk Mining and Metallurgical Combine (Dnipropetrovsk region) and Irshansk Mining and Processing Plant (Zhytomyr region) were transferred, of titanium ore to the aggressor country.

Regarding the accusation of allegedly supplying titanium raw materials to the Russian Federation, the State Property Fund emphasized that the company, which is under the management of the fund, conducts its activities transparently and openly.

It is specified that on August 7, one of the Ukrainian media disseminated information that Ukraine during the war was selling titanium raw materials to Russia for the production of aircraft and missiles, accusing the state-owned company of supplying raw materials to the aggressor country.

"The information given in the text does not correspond to reality, does not contain sources of information, and the representatives of the publication, while preparing the material, did not apply for a comment to the enterprise or the State Property Fund," the SPF comment states.

It is emphasized that the company does not cooperate with the aggressor state, the company's products are not supplied either to Russia or Belarus.

Moreover, since the fall of 2022, the company has strengthened measures to control export procedures and changed approaches to cooperation with buyers.

"The company's management closely cooperates with law enforcement agencies - information about all supply chains, end users, as well as control over the use of products is carried out by employees of the company and representatives of law enforcement agencies. The export of ilmenite concentrate to the end consumer occurs only when accompanied by authorized representatives of law enforcement agencies. Such coordination of efforts guarantees that raw materials will not get into the aggressor country," the statement says.
As part of the new harvest, Ukrainian farmers have already threshed almost 16.6 million tonnes of grain, most of all in Mykolaiv and Odesa regions, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has said.

"Thanks to the dedication of Ukrainian farmers, we are harvesting the second wartime harvest. Behind these figures of millions of tonnes of grain, there is the daily hard work of tens of thousands of people, often risking their lives," he said during a government meeting on Tuesday.

Shmyhal stressed that the synergy in the work between business and the state gives a clear understanding that there will be enough food both for Ukraine's internal needs and for export.

"Ukraine will continue to be one of the key guarantors of global food security. In this we count on the solidarity of our partners," the Prime Minister said.

He stressed that Ukraine needs more air defense systems to better cover the ports, and especially the Danube port cluster. And also Ukraine needs sustainable overland logistics routes with high capacity.

"Each exported tonne of grain strengthens Ukraine and the free world," the prime minister said.

That is why the priority of the government will remain the support of farmers. First of all, this concerns access to concessional loans and grants. He clarified that in January-July, under the 5-7-9 program, the state issued UAH 27.6 billion in loans. In total, 9,500 agricultural enterprises of Ukraine received UAH 45.5 billion in bank loans under all credit programs. Agrarians from Vinnytsia, Odesa and Kyiv regions are leading among the participants in state programs.

According to Shmyhal, this allowed many farmers to survive and allowed many to develop further.
Investors' focus on Tuesday would shift towards Asia and the latest Chinese foreign trade data that were due out overnight.

Against that backdrop, at 0600 BST, Germany's Ministry of Finance was due to release a reading for the country's Consumer Price Index in July.

Stateside, at 1o00 BST the National Federation of Independent Business would publish its Business Optimism Index for July.

It would be followed at 1330 BST by foreign trade figures for the US covering the month of June.

Financial markets would also be keeping an eye out for the results for the results of the U.S. Treasury's 52-week and three-year debt auctions at 1630 BST and 1800 BST, respectively.

Tuesday 8 August

FINALS

SDI Group

INTERIMS

InterContinental Hotels Group, SIG, IWG, Zotefoams, Glencore, H&T Group, Rotork

LungLife AI, Inc (DI), Abrdn

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

TI Fluid Systems

AGMs

APQ Global Limited

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

BRC Sales Monitor (00:01)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Consumer Price Index (GER) (07:00)

Balance of Trade (US) (13:30)

Wholesales Inventories (US) (15:00)
Building materials group SIG reported a 23% drop in first-half profits on Tuesday, but stuck to its full-year forecasts and painted an upbeat picture around the long-term demand for sustainable construction projects.

Underlying operating profits came in at 32.7m in the six months ended June 30, down from 42.5m the year before.

SIG, which supplies specialist insulation and other building products across Europe, warned back in July that profits would be at the lower end of expectations due to challenging and variable market conditions, with softer demand for new-build construction projects in Germany and France towards the end of the first half.

Revenues during the period were 1.42bn, a slight increase on 1.36bn the year before, but the underlying operating margin dropped from 3.1% to 2.3%.

Nevertheless, chief executive Gavin Slark said he remained confident in the companys medium-term margin target of 5%.

"Looking ahead, while we expect market conditions in the second half to remain difficult, we remain confident the business will grasp the opportunities it has to continue to improve its underlying operational performance, he said.

SIG said the second half of the year is expected to benefit from various productivity initiatives and full-year underlying operating profits are still poised to be in line with recently revised guidance.

In July, the company stated that full-year underlying operating profits would come in at the lower end of analysts expectations, which at the time ranged from 65.3m to 84m. In 2022, underlying operating profits were 80.2m.

Looking ahead, SIG said an expected increase in demand for sustainable construction projects and the decarbonisation of buildings should help the company over the medium term, with 80% of the group's sales covering insulation and the wider building envelope.

Shares in SIG were up 1.4% at 28.95p as of 1002 BST on Tuesday. The stock has come down significantly after reaching a high of 45.38p back in early May.
The FTSE 100 company said Nicholas Anderson, current group chief executive, had communicated to the board his intention to retire early next year.

It said Anderson's retirement would mark the end of his decade-long tenure in the role.

Following a thorough succession procedure, the board also announced that Nimesh Patel would succeed Anderson as group CEO, starting from 16 January next year.

Patel joined Spirax-Sarco in 2020 as its chief financial officer  a role he continues to hold.

Nick has led the group with distinction and meaningfully improved on the group's long record of consistent and quality growth, said board chair Jamie Pike.

Under Nick's leadership, group sales and profits grew by a multiple of over 2.5, the number of our colleagues has doubled and the market capitalisation has nearly quadrupled, firmly establishing our group as a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.

More than half of this growth was organic, with the balance coming from successful acquisitions that strengthened and enhanced the Steam Specialties and Watson-Marlow businesses, as well as established our Electric Thermal Solutions (ETS) business.

Pike noted that Anderson was also leaving the group with firmly embedded sustainability strategies, inclusion and equity programmes, as well as successful leadership and talent development programmes that contributed to the selection of an internal successor.

Pike added that Nimesh Patels appointment as group CEO marked the completion of the board's long-term planning for Andersons succession.

During his three-year tenure as CFO and a member of the board, Nimesh has played a significant role in shaping our strategy, working with colleagues to enhance our unique culture and business model to fulfil our purpose.

We have observed Nimesh's natural leadership style and proven ability to engage at all levels throughout the organisation and with external stakeholders.

His strategic approach and deep understanding of our businesses, together with his global and financial experience all underpin the board's confidence in the future leadership of our group.

Jamie Pike confirmed that Nimesh Patel would continue as CFO until 16 January 2024, adding that the board had started a process to appoint a successor to the role, which would be announced in due course.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
As result of attack on Pokrovsk, 67 wounded, incl two children  Interior Minister

As a result of a missile attack on Pokrovsk, Donetsk region on Monday, seven people were killed and the number of wounded rose to 67, Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko has said as of 07:00 on Tuesday.

"Seven people were killed. Some 67 were injured, including 29 police officers, seven rescuers and two children," the minister said on the Telegram channel.

According to the State Emergency Service, deputy head of the Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service in Donetsk region Andriy Omelchenko is among the dead.

"Colonel Omelchenko was 52 years old. He devoted half of his life to the service," the minister said in the statement.

Klymenko said at night the removal of rubble was suspended due to the high probability of repeated shelling, at the moment work is being resumed.

Prior to this, Head of Pokrovsk City Military Administration Serhiy Dobriak informed about seven dead and 57 injured.

As reported, on Monday, the Russians launched two missile strikes on the center of Pokrovsk, as a result of the attack, nine and five-story buildings, households in the private sector, a hotel, catering establishments, shops and office buildings have been damaged.
Elon Musk-run Tesla has appointed Indian-origin Vaibhav Taneja as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO), as the company targets India as it next major supply ecosystem creator. Taneja is currently serving as the Chief Accounting Officer and will take the CFO post as an additional responsibility. He will replace Zachary Kirkhorn who completes his 13-year stint with Tesla, according to repeats. "Being a part of this company is a special experience and I'm extremely proud of the work we've done together since I joined over 13 years ago," Kirkhorn said in a post on the professional networking platform LinkedIn.

The development comes at a time when Tesla has reportedly held discussions with Indian government officials to bring its auto parts and electronics chain to the country in the near future. Musk, during his June meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the US, said he will visit India next year.

Musk told reporters in conversations following his meeting with Modi: "He really cares about India because hes pushing us to make significant investments in India, which is something that we intend to do and were just trying to figure out the right timing." It was a change of plans for the mercurial Musk who had earlier refused to consider manufacturing in India unless India lowered tariffs for imported Teslas to be sold in India.
Team Computers, one of the leading IT solution providers in India, recently organized an event on 4th Aug 2023 in Chennai to showcase how the diverse range of CISCO Meraki devices can transform modern workplaces for organizations with better collaboration & security embedded in the devices. The central theme of the event, Connecting Minds, Simplifying Technology," set the stage for a dynamic showcase of the versatile range of CISCO Meraki devices. These devices, equipped with superior collaboration features and security measures, promise a revolutionary transformation for modern workplaces. The event underscored their potential to effectively support remote workforces, ensuring a safe, secure, and efficient work environment.

Team Computers Enterprise Business Head, Shyam Lodh, opened the event with a welcome address for the esteemed delegates. He shared his enthusiasm for technological advancement and hailed CISCO Meraki as an ideal resource to achieve this goal. This was followed by a series of lightning talks from leading industry professionals, offering insights into their journey. Cisco believes in making technology effortless for everyone, and its solutions are designed to be simple, intuitive, and reliable, allowing users to seamlessly connect, communicate, and collaborate without barriers or complexities. Cisco Meraki is a prime example of this mission in action, offering cloud-managed network infrastructure and multi-factor authentication, respectively, that make it easier for organizations to manage their networks and enhance their security.

The evening was marked by a vibrant exchange of ideas as IT leaders from diverse industries came together, showcasing the collaborative spirit of the tech sector. The dialogue revolved around harnessing the power of CISCO Meraki devices to drive innovation, increase efficiency, and create robust digital infrastructures. The discussions provided a platform for the leaders to gain insights into the best practices being implemented across the industry, thereby sparking novel ideas to address the unique challenges faced in their respective fields. With the forthcoming CISCO Meraki event in Kolkata, the journey continues towards a future where seamless collaboration, enhanced security, and simplified technology are not just aspirations but the driving force behind organizations' success.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  After a brief closure, Nuccis South has fired up its kitchen once again. Its business as usual for the Richmond Valley pizzeria and Italian restaurant as of noon on Monday, Aug. 7, says its management.

Nuccis closed temporarily in late July as owner Paul Montella took a brief respite. Going forward, he said lunch specials and the regular menu have returned in their entirety.

Montellas linen-cloth destination has been around for 20 years on the South shore. It started at 616 Forest Ave. in 1999, an address now home to DeLucas Trattoria.

Nuccis is located at 4842 Arthur Kill Rd., Richmond Valley, 718-967-3600; Nuccissiny.com. The strip mall in which it is located also is home to Starstruck Dance NY and a storefront formerly home to a gourmet coffee and dessert operation, Royal Coffee.

In 2018, Nuccis landed in the news when Pete Davidsons then-fiance Ariana Grande dined in the digs. Sources refer to the couple as the nicest people, stopping to take pictures with fans. Since then, Buffalo Calamari, escarole soup, affordable pizzas and copious pasta options have been the draw for audiences.

Pamela Silvestri is Advance Food Editor. She can be reached at silvestri@siadvance.com.

MORE STATEN ISLAND FOOD NEWS:

>> Chic Staten Island pizza and pasta restaurant closes for summer, but still available at ballpark

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>> A tip from our food editor: Try these three stellar Staten Island restaurants this summer
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Airborne pollutants may be exacerbating bacterial resistance to antibiotics, a new study found, worsening the impact of so-called superbugs that threaten global health.

Scientists at Zhejiang University in China and the University of Cambridge in England assessed data from 116 countries between 2000 and 2018, including 11.5 million lab tests that covered nine bacterial pathogens and 43 types of antibiotics, according to the research published Monday in The Lancet Planetary Health.

Antimicrobial resistance, or AMR, can occur naturally but is known to be aggravated by stressors like pollution, which can create favorable conditions for microorganisms to develop resistance. That could enable infections previously controlled by antibiotics to eventually be rendered ineffective.

The study found antibiotic resistance increases with a rise of a deadly form of pollution called particulate matter, otherwise known as PM2.5  fine particles that measure 2.5 micrometers and smaller (about one-thirtieth the width of a human hair).

Specifically, every 1% rise in air pollution led to between a 0.5% and 1.9% increase of antibiotic resistance, depending on the pathogen. That association, the researchers said, has strengthened in recent years, with the highest levels of antibiotic resistance occurring in North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia.

Levels in North America and Europe are comparatively low, the study said.

A total of 480,000 premature deaths are believed to be linked to antibiotic resistance resulting from air pollution in 2018, triggering $395 billion in economic costs. That outsized impact, said the study authors, points to a need to better control air quality.

Antibiotic resistance and air pollution are each in their own right among the greatest threats to global health, lead author Hong Chen, of Zhejiang University, said in a release. Until now, we didnt have a clear picture of the possible links between the two, but this work suggests the benefits of controlling air pollution could be two-fold: Not only will it reduce the harmful effects of poor air quality, it could also play a major role in combatting the rise and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

A United Nations report released earlier this year found runoff from sources like pharmaceutical production, livestock farming and hospital wastewater, combined with a lack of global regulation, are fueling the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Experts said 1.27 million deaths worldwide are estimated to be directly attributed to drug-resistant infections, and nearly five million deaths were associated with bacterial antimicrobial resistance. That impact is expected to grow in the coming decades, reaching up to 10 million deaths annually by 2050  equal to the yearly toll attributed to cancer.

Currently, misuse and overuse of antibiotics are the main drivers of bacteria developing resistance to antibiotics. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic set back the battle against antibiotic-resistant bacteria as hospitals struggled to slow the spread of pathogens and overprescribed antibiotics for the previously-unknown disease.

The latest findings, considered the first to directly link air pollution to global antibiotic resistance, have substantial policy and environmental implications by presenting a new pathway to combat clinical antibiotic resistance by controlling environmental pollution, wrote the study authors.

Without changes to current policies on air pollution, levels of antibiotic-resistant bacteria would increase by 17% by 2050, according to the research. However, limiting PM2.5 exposure to standards recommended by the World Health Organization may lead to a 23% reduction in premature deaths linked to antibiotic resistance and lead to yearly averted costs totaling $640 billion.

Our analysis adds to emerging evidence that PM2.5 air pollution is linked to increased antibiotic resistance, the authors continued. Although measures to regulate antibiotic use and improve basic drinking-water services are still needed, controlling PM2.5 might be a promising way to reduce global antibiotic resistance in the future.

The study included a handful of limitations, including weak data from many lower-income countries. The researchers said further studies will be needed to better verify the underlying mechanisms tying air pollutants to antibiotic resistance.



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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Gordon Flowers, a limited-mobility resident of the Fox Hill Apartments in Clifton, does most of his shopping these days online, like many New Yorkers.

However, unlike most, he doesnt do it out of convenience, but out of necessity. After he recently began needing a walker to get around, he finds it difficult to get his UPS deliveries.

Thats because the drivers wont come to his doorstep, or even the lobby of his building, due to a longstanding UPS policy, in effect for over three decades, that prevents delivery drivers from entering the Park Hill and Fox Hill Apartments and providing door-to-door service.

In hopes of changing this inequitable policy, Flowers is circulating a petition to demand UPS provide these Clifton residents the same services as everyone else.

For over 30 years, theyve had an unwritten policy that they dont come up in the buildings. We have to wait in a designated area to meet the truck, no matter what the weather, no matter what your health conditions are, no matter what your job schedule is. Were paying full price, and were not getting full service, said Flowers.

Gordon Flowers, a Clifton resident, is circulating a petition demanding that UPS provide door-to-door delivery service within the Park Hill and Fox Hill Apartments. (Staten Island Advance/Erik Bascome)

Residents of the federally-subsidized Park Hill and Fox Hill apartment complexes are subject to braving the elements, trekking to designated drop-off locations, waiting in long lines and then lugging their packages back to their homes.

Im disabled so I order a lot of stuff online. When I first got hurt, my packages came through UPS and I got a text saying your package has been delivered, but you werent home. Im saying, Im in the house and nobody came to my door, said Flowers.

So I called the Travis Avenue location and they said we dont deliver there, you have to go down to meet the truck. At the time, I didnt even know where the truck was, he continued.

Park Hill and Fox Hill residents, regardless of which of the many buildings they reside in, must wait outside 240 Park Hill Avenue from roughly 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the day their package is expected to arrive.

The policy was implemented more than three decades ago as a safety measure following five violent assaults against UPS drivers at the Park Hill Apartments, according to a 2006 CityLimits article.

The assaults included a female driver being beaten with a stick and urinated on, and a driver being beaten, stripped, tied up and left on the roof of a building while his truck was stolen and burned with all the parcels inside, according to the reporting.

A representative for UPS told the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com that the longstanding policy remains in place to ensure drivers remain safe and packages are delivered directly to those who ordered them.

We strive to provide outstanding service to every customer. However, for the safety of our people and security of our deliveries, were unable to offer door-to-door service at the Park Hill and Fox Hill apartments, according to a UPS spokesperson.

Gordon Flowers, a Clifton resident, walking to pick up his UPS packages from the designated drop-off location because the company refuses to provide door-to-door service in the Park Hill and Fox Hill Apartments. (Staten Island Advance/Erik Bascome)

RESIDENTS HAVE DIFFICULTY GETTING PACKAGES

Amparo Quinones, a 79-year-old whos lived in the Fox Hill Apartments for 34 years, said its not fair that older residents, many of whom struggle to walk long distances and wait in line, are forced to go retrieve their packages from the designated drop spot.

Thankfully for Quinones, her daughter-in-law, Daisy Batista, is willing to help pick up her packages, but not every older resident is so lucky.

She cant walk too long and stand there and wait for UPS, let alone bring all the packages upstairs, Batista said. Its not fair for the elderly people who have to travel over there, especially if they have no one to help them. Theyre stuck home, they lose their packages and their money.

Residents of the Park Hill and Fox Hill Apartments waiting to retrieve their packages from the UPS truck. (Staten Island Advance/Erik Bascome)

With UPS often arriving in the late morning or early afternoon, those who work standard, day shifts, like 35-year-old Ebony Morris, are unable to wait around for their packages.

Anyone who works, its impossible to get your packages. Its just not possible, said Morris. Typically, I work 9 to 5. How the hell am I supposed to get my packages? When are working people supposed to get their packages?

And when those packages arent picked up from the truck, theyre often rerouted and held at the UPS Customer Center in Travis, more than five miles away.

Ive had to go out of my way and go all the way out to the depot and if you dont have a car, how are you supposed to do that? she added. We deserve the same service as everybody else.

Getting packages sent to her apartment has become such a hassle that Morris has decided to ship her orders elsewhere.

Ive had to actually ship my things to my mothers house instead of my own. So I have to then burden her with getting my packages, and then make time to go pick them up, Morris said.

A petition circulating in the Park Hill and Fox Hill Apartments demanding that UPS provide door-to-door delivery service, as opposed to the company's current policy which requires residents to wait at a designated drop-off location. (Staten Island Advance/Erik Bascome)

THE PETITION

Aminat Fakunle, who assisted Flowers in creating the petition that currently has over 150 signatures, said its frustrating that all other delivery carriers -- like USPS, FedEx, DHL and Amazon -- enter the buildings and offer door-to-door service, but UPS refuses to do so.

I understand that UPS is a private company, but you dont always get to choose who your shipping provider is depending on where youre order from. So its not just a simple fix of just choose somebody else, Fakunle said.

I think its important for them to try and work with communities because FedEx delivers to the door, the Post Office delivers to the door, DHL delivers to the door, so what exactly is so dangerous that UPS cant do the same thing? she added.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the federal agency that subsidizes the apartments, said it has no control over package delivery practices, but will contact the owners of the buildings and encourage them to find a solution.

HUD does not manage or regulate package delivery at rent-assisted properties. HUD was unaware of any package delivery restrictions at Park Hill and will request the owners plan to address this issue, a HUD spokesperson told the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com.

Delshah Capital, which owns the Park Hill Apartments, did not respond to repeated requests for comment by the time of publication.

When attempting to reach Fox Hill Housing LLC, owners of the Fox Hill Apartments, the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com was redirected to the buildings manager, Ingrid Cunningham, who said there are currently no restrictions on package deliveries, noting that UPS is able to provide door-to-door service if they so choose.
Global air and sea surface temperatures reached record highs in July, according to the European Unions Copernicus Climate Change Service, continuing a streak of observations that will likely make 2023 one of the hottest years ever measured.

The findings underscore a stark proliferation of warming fueled by an El Nino weather pattern and human-induced greenhouse gas emissions. Persistent heatwaves that scorched parts of the United States, Europe and Asia led researchers to know July would be the hottest month since at least 1940, multiple days before the calendar even turned to August.

Temperatures hit a searing 128 degrees in Death Valley in California earlier in the month  just a few degrees below the hottest temperatures ever reached on Earth  and extreme heat oppressed millions in the Southern U.S. alone. In China, a new national temperature record was set on July 16 within Xinjiang province.

The extreme weather which has affected many millions of people in July is unfortunately the harsh reality of climate change and a foretaste of the future, said World Meteorological Organizations (WMO) Secretary-General Prof. Petteri Taalas. The need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is more urgent than ever before. Climate action is not a luxury but a must.

The average global surface air temperature was the highest on record for every month, reaching 0.72 degrees Celsius warmer than the average logged between 1991-2020. July was estimated to be around 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer than the average in the late 19th century.

That finding does not mean the planet has surpassed the threshold established by the Paris climate agreement to limit the Earths warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to the pre-industrial era. That figure references average temperatures that occur over a longer span than a single year.

Average sea surface temperatures have been unusually high since this spring, and scientists said that pattern continued to progress in July. Globally, temperature readings were 0.51 degrees Celsius warmer than the 1991-2020 measure, with the North Atlantic sitting at an unusually-high 1.05 degrees Celsius above average for July.

We just witnessed global air temperatures and global ocean surface temperatures set new all-time records in July, said Samantha Burgess, deputy director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service. These records have dire consequences for both people and the planet exposed to ever more frequent and intense extreme events.

The WMO predicts there is a 98% likelihood at least one of the next five years will be the warmest on record and a 66% chance the planet temporarily surpasses the 1.5 degree Celsius threshold for at least one year out of the next half decade.

International researchers have found the warmest 10 years in recorded history have occurred since 2010. A previous Copernicus analysis found average global temperatures have risen approximately 1.2 degrees Celsius above mid-19th-century levels  increasingly close to the 1.5 degree mark experts say could have cascading impacts to life on Earth.

2023 is currently the third warmest year to date at 0.43C above the recent average, with the average global temperature in July at 1.5C above preindustrial levels. Even if this is only temporary, it shows the urgency for ambitious efforts to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, which are the main driver behind these records.
A shark attack at Rockaway Beach in Queens left a woman with a severe injury on Monday evening. The incident was reported at 5:49 p.m. at Beach 59th Street and the 50-year-old victim remained in critical condition at Jamaica Hospital on Monday night, according to a spokesperson.

The woman was reportedly bitten on her left leg and suffered a severe wound that left her extremely bloodied. ABC News reported that the attack took place near the shore.

Lifeguards swiftly cleared the beach and and rendered aid, while a police helicopter unsuccessfully searched for the shark.

A sand tiger shark is believed to be the likely culprit. The monster fish can grow upwards of 10 feet and has become increasingly more abundant in the region, particularly off the Long Island coast, where numerous attacks have have taken place over the last year.

Rockaway Beach is subject to a delayed open on Tuesday, with the earliest possible start time to be 11 a.m. In the meantime, authorities will continue scanning the area for sharks.

We hope for a full recovery for this swimmer, the Parks Department said. Though this was a frightening event, we want to remind New Yorkers that shark bites in Rockaway are extremely rare.

But shark attacks in the region arent as rare as they once were.

According to the Florida Museums International Shark Attack File, just 20 attacks have been reported in New York State since 1837. However, eight of those took place in 2022 alone.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A Midland Beach assisted living facility will transform into a shelter for migrants in the coming months, local officials said Monday.

Led by City Councilman David Carr (R-Mid-Island), a group of elected officials penned a letter to Mayor Eric Adams administration against the plan to house migrants at the Island Shores facility at 1111 Father Capodanno Blvd.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted the need to return to Ukraine all who are in Russian captivity.

"Today we have an important result for our team that deals with exchanges. 22 more men are back home in Ukraine. 20 of them are soldiers and sergeants, two are officers. They are servicemen of the Armed Forces," he said in a video statement on Monday.

"We will do everything to bring back to Ukraine all our people who are now in Russian captivity. We remember everyone and are looking for everyone on the list of missing persons," he said.

"It is important that this is a common task. It is a task for those who organize the exchanges: Yermak, Budanov, Malyuk, Klymenko. Thank you, guys! And the task of those who replenish the exchange fund for our country. Everyone who captures the occupiers at the front, who is active on the frontline. Each such warrior of ours speeds up freedom for Ukrainians," Zelenskyy said.
IN CLASS: This feature is part of an ongoing education column highlighting the various activities that engage school communities.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Two talented Staten Island students recently received an award from the Archdiocese of New York for their work in a video contest.

The students, who attend Notre Dame Academy, Grymes Hill, received the third-prize Arch Media Award for Excellence in Multimedia Journalism in the elementary school category.

The team was led by Kayla Simas, who teaches the journalism elective and is the adviser for the student-written newspaper. Simas is also a breaking news freelance reporter for the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com.

Ava Paone, an incoming freshman at Notre Dame Academy High School, and Nia Turashvili, an incoming eighth-grader, worked on the multimedia project as a team.

They truly worked like young journalists  wrote the script, filmed, voice recorded, and edited the video ..., said Simas.

The theme of the contest was How are we, as the body of Christ, called to serve? Ava and Nia drew inspiration from one of the seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching, which is Caring for Gods Creation.

Kayla Simas, who teaches the journalism elective and is the adviser for the student-written newspaper at the Grymes Hill school, is pictured with Ava and Nia. (Courtesy/Kayla Simas)

In the video, they highlighted the beautiful 13-acre campus of Notre Dame Academy  from the early childhood center to the high school. It even featured some of the boroughs wildlife when turkeys were walking and sitting on the campus near Notre Dames St. Marguerites Way.

Simas was notified by the Archdiocese of New York of the win  presenting the awards to the two students in front of a large audience. The school also received a certificate.

They had no clue they were receiving the award, so to see the shock on their faces and pure excitement on their faces, it was a great surprise, said Simas. ... I am so happy they were recognized, because both Ava and Nia showed a great amount of dedication and creativity toward putting it all together  from start to finish they worked on this. Through the elective and part of lunchtime periods. They had a vision and ran with it like a professional journalist does, and I love that they are getting the experience so early on.

You can watch the student video here.

Simas also recently received the Fourth Estate Award, an honor thats been given annually by The American Legion since 1958 to individuals for their outstanding achievement in the field of journalism.

INFANT SLEEP STUDY

Dr. Sarah Berger, left, works with babies and their parents at the Child Development Lab at the College of Staten Island, Willowbrook. (Courtesy/College of Staten Island)

A College of Staten Island (CSI), Willowbrook, professor and members of the doctoral student cohort are breaking significant ground in a study of how sleep affects cognitive behavior in infants.

Dr. Sarah Berger, department of psychology professor, is working with students as part of a $630,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, titled The Role of Sleep In Infant Motor Problem Solving. It is a joint venture with Dr. Regina Harbourne of Duquesne University.

Berger and her students, working in the Child Development Lab in Building 4S, are primarily focused on how sleep is related to infant learning, and how the quality of sleep prepares infants to learn. More than 80 infants have participated in this vast study. Students seeking their doctorate in developmental psychology are analyzing how the cohort of infants engage in problem-solving after periods of observed rest.

The students are conducting research using a head-mounted eye-tracker that records an infants eye movements in real-time as they search for, reach, grasp and explore toys  before and after periods of sleep. They will ask whether infants ability to solve a kind of hide-and-seek problem with toys improves between training and testing, as half the babies are tested after a nap and the other half after staying awake.

Sleep is measured at infants homes, in their own cribs, using a Nanit home video baby-monitor system. The algorithms report infants sleep quality  and Berger and her students code infants behavior from video of their play-time at the research center, which will help to get an assessment of how sleep is affecting an infants capacity to learn and develop.

In previous work with older infants, Berger and her researchers found that infants who napped learned the task better than those who did not, even when tested the next day after a nights sleep. The current research asks whether this same pattern is true for younger infants of 6 to 8 months old.

This research is important, because it helps researchers, caregivers and policymakers understand the relation between sleep and learning, said Berger. Once we establish the importance of sleep for infants health and development, then we can make informed decisions about establishing sleep routines; best practices in early intervention, such as when therapy would be most effective; and planning infants daily schedules at home or day care. This study in particular allows us greater access to infants behavior in the crib than ever before, so we can observe infants at home, without disrupting their daily routines.

Families from the community are invited to participate in the study and work with Bergers team of researchers in the lab. The study includes babies born both prematurely and at full term. She said she hopes that the analysis and research can inform best practices in early intervention and in advising caregivers about the importance of sleep for healthy development.

We have a pretty good sense of how sleep impacts learning in older infants and young children, but infants sleep changes so much over the first year that we dont know whether we can generalize previous work to this population, she added. We will consider this work a success if we are able to expand our knowledge of the relation between sleep and learning to a broader population. Whether we discover that sleep impacts learning and problem solving in the same way across the first year or that there are changes in that relationship will be transformative to a theory of the relation between individual differences in sleep and learning.

The NSF grant is assisting students and has helped offset some of the costs associated with the cutting-edge technology needed for the study. The funding also supports the students with stipends so they can have the time to carry out the research required for their degree. CSI undergraduates also work in the center, gaining research experience while working on their honors thesis in high-level psychology courses.

For more information on The Role of Sleep in Infant Motor Problem Solving project, visit https://csichildlab.wixsite.com/csichildlab.

SEND US YOUR STORIES

Do you have a story idea for the In Class education column? Email education reporter Annalise Knudson at aknudson@siadvance.com.

ADDITIONAL IN CLASS COLUMNS

From new leadership to new initiatives, heres whats on tap at Staten Island Academy | In Class column

Students sign FerryHawks baseball for teacher hit by foul ball | In Class column

Students snag top prizes during national business plan competition | In Class column

Student-designed bench aims to raise awareness about mental health | In Class column

Staten Island middle school students become Sea Cadets, learn about maritime service | In Class column

PS 36 raises money for cancer during Relay for Life event | In Class column

Notre Dame Academy graduate follows familys footsteps to attend U.S. Naval Academy | In Class column

Lavelle Prep adopts new K-12 charter school model | In Class

Staten Island students win first place in NYC stock market game | In Class column

Staten Island Academy receives $25K grant to support those with learning differences | In Class column

Staten Island school dedicates Bennys Bench in memory of longtime custodian | In Class column

Cycle of love: Staten Island Academy students donate blankets to those in need | In Class column

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - Whether you prefer to schedule events well in advance or embrace last-minute adventures, having access to the New York City public school calendar allows families to make the most of each academic year.

The first day of public school for the 2023-2024 academic year is quickly approaching. And the New York City Department of Education (DOE) has released the school calendar for the next three years, allowing ample of time to plan vacations, coordinate family activities, and arrange for significant events.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A spurned political recommendation sparked a short-lived legal battle that has drama swirling in the Staten Island Democratic Party.

City Councilwoman Kamillah Hanks (D-North Shore) declined the local partys recommendation that her predecessor, former Councilwoman Debi Rose, be appointed as a county commissioner on the New York City Board of Elections (BOE), and that led the party, with Chair Laura LoBianco Sword at the helm, to sue the Council, as first reported by the New York Post.

The party filed the lawsuit July 18 in Manhattan Supreme Court hoping to force a vote on Roses nomination, but the judge sided with the Council pointing to state Election Law, which gives the legislative body the authority to appoint election commissioners partially based on recommendations from local political parties.

Supreme Court Judge Erika Edwards ruled in her July 27 decision that she did not have the authority to force the Council to hold a vote on Roses nomination, but said the law encourages compromise between local political parties and elected officials.

Unfortunately, the court shares Petitioners [Staten Island Democratic Party] frustration and concern that the process could continue indefinitely while citizens of Richmond County and the City of New York are deprived of their Democratic representative on the Board of Elections, however Petitioners failed to demonstrate that the court has the authority to compel Respondent [the Council] to appoint Petitioners second nominee, to vote on Petitioners recommendation, nor to act in any other manner with respect to this nomination, she wrote.

Former City Councilwoman Debi Rose, a WOA, 2019. (Staten Island Advance/Carol Ann Benanti)Staten Island Advance

The partys nomination of Rose followed an earlier nomination of local attorney Priscilla Marco, who formerly served as the chair of Community Board 1 but withdrew her nomination.

Hanks shared a Friday e-mail from Marco to the councilwoman, State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D-North Shore/Southern Brooklyn), and Assemblyman Charles Fall (D-North Shore/Brooklyn/lower Manhattan) in which she said her nomination withdrawal came as a personal decision.

In the email, Marco, wrote that she officially withdrew her nomination on May 4, but that a week before that, Sword told her she was willing to file a lawsuit on her behalf to force a Council vote.

I have not spoken to her [Sword] about this matter in over two months, yet I am told that rumors continue to swirl that I was pressured in some way to withdraw my nomination. Nothing is further from the truth, Marco wrote. I have not been contacted by anyone connected to the party to ask about my position, so I naturally assumed that everyone involved understood my reasons for withdrawing. I hope that this statement answers any remaining questions concerning my nomination.

Marco did not respond to multiple e-mailed requests for comment, but Hanks took the revelation about the other floated lawsuit as a challenge to her autonomy.

The need for a new Democratic BOE commissioner came after former Commissioner Patricia Anne Taylors January resignation. Rose appointed Taylor in 2019, which at the time was seen as a rebuke of then-Democratic Party Chair John Gulino.

Hanks said she was following her predecessors lead by rejecting the partys recommendation, and that she hoped to fill the position with another attorney, a desire she said she told Sword about.

This is a most unfortunate situation which has been largely misrepresented and unnecessary. I made it abundantly clear that I was interested in following in my predecessors footsteps by nominating a candidate for the Board of Elections Commissioner who had some legal experience to be able to interpret election law. In the short time I served with former Commissioner [Taylor] I found that her understanding of the law was beneficial to the role, Hanks said in a texted statement.

However, against the advice of my colleagues in government and party leadership, Chair Sword proceeded to nominate Ms. Rose. More importantly, when faced with the decision to put through the Countys choice for the BOE Commissioner, the former Council Member went against the party and chose the very qualified former commissioner, Ms. Taylor. It is perplexing to me that these precedents have been set by Debi Rose herself, and yet we find ourselves in this situation. I find it strange that this has gone to these costly and absurd lengths.

While the decision marks the latest kerfuffle in local Democratic Party politics, there is history between Hanks and Rose, who did not respond to a request for comment.

The sitting Councilwoman mounted a contentious primary challenge against her predecessor in 2017, but lost with Rose winning about 70% of the vote. Rose took Hanks concession call on speaker phone during her victory party, and it made its way onto Spectrum News.

For her part, Sword said the party chose to recommend Rose for her qualifications, and that it would move to recommend a third candidate for the position.

The executive committee of the party and the county committee voted for Council Member Rose because her deep political, legislative and community experience together with her proven ability to work collaboratively made her an ideal selection, she said. The court shared our frustration that we must continue a cycle of nominees but did not believe it had the authority to solve this problem. While we disagree with the courts decision, we will abide by it since we respect the rule of law. We also believe that legislation is needed to correct the defect that allows for a never ending process, as noted by the Court.

The party chair took things a bit further with the New York Post, likening Hanks block of Rose to Sen. Mitch McConells (R-Kentucky) blocking of President Barak Obamas Supreme Court nomination of Merrick Garland.

When asked what her relationship with Sword would look like going forward, Hanks simply replied no comment.
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Woodside has found two willing investors to buy into its $16.5 billion Scarborough gas export project, with Japanese companies Sumitomo and Sojitz Corporation buying a 10 per cent stake.

LNG Japan, a joint venture between Sumitomo and Sojitz, will pay $US500 million ($765 million) for the equity and a further $US380 million ($581 million) for its share of project costs and interest since January 2022.

Woodside CEO Meg ONeill faces two massive regulatory challenges in 2023: government intervention in the east coast gas market and securing approvals to construct its Scarborough gas project off WA. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

Separately, Woodside has also struck a non-binding deal to sell about 0.9 million tonnes a year of liquefied gas to LNG Japan from Scarborough. The projects total capacity stands at 8 million tonnes a year, with LNG expected to flow from 2026.

Woodside chief executive Meg ONeill said the deal was a testament to the quality of the project, which has been subject to intense opposition from environmentalists.
USA to announce new $200 mln military aid package to Ukraine on Aug 8  media

The United States plans to announce a new $200 million military aid package to Ukraine as early as Tuesday, Reuters said, citing two U.S. officials.

It is indicated that the new package will include mine clearance equipment, ammunition for Patriot air defense systems and Javelin anti-tank systems, GMLRS rockets for HIMARS MLRS, TOW and AT4 anti-tank weapons and other equipment.

In addition, it is noted that these funds are part of a larger amount that was released as a result of an accounting error in calculating the cost of military equipment, which the Pentagon reported in May.

Washington is currently working on a request for an additional budget to continue aid to Kyiv, the U.S. officials said.

As previously reported, a Pentagon audit of military assistance to Ukraine by the United States found a discrepancy between the estimated and actual cost of equipment at $6.2 billion.
Since former Coalition minister Rob Stokes left parliament at the last election, hes been a man of leisure. But the planning enthusiast and committed Christian has a new gig, albeit an unpaid one, that combines those two passions. And hes already coming up with ideas that may ruffle some feathers.

Stokes is the new chair of the Faith Housing Alliance, which advocates on behalf of faith-based social housing providers. Given the affordable housing crisis in Sydney, Stokes has his eye on a particular type of real estate thats usually in an excellent location and can be supplied for free: old, disused churches. Theres a lot of spare capacity in terms of churches that arent used, and theyre in a really good location, he told this column.

Former Coalition minister Rob Stokes has taken on a new role after leaving Macquarie Street in March. Credit: Louise Kennerley

And yet, given this involves building approvals in Sydney, faith groups often run into problems that test even their generous spirit. One example, Stokes said, was when a church in Marrickville that had been empty for seven years was offered for build-to-rent affordable housing.

Having the use of land just 150 metres from the station would have made the project far more affordable than land that had to be purchased, but a heritage order was slapped on the 120-year-old church that cost the social housing company more than $1 million to challenge. Stokes said the heritage value was low; he described it as the 31st best example of Queen Anne architecture out of 32 across the inner west.
Julia Zemiro wasnt interested in a travel show. Im not doing Getaway, is what she told producer Dan Goldberg when he asked if shed like to take a walk. Several long walks, in fact.

What swayed her however was the hangover from COVID-19. I couldnt believe we were outside again, she says. And I couldnt believe we were walking further than five kilometres. And I realised everything was so precious and could go in an instant.

Julia Zemiro agreed to do Great Australian Walks because it wasnt a glossy travel show like Getaway.

So she said yes to Great Australian Walks with Julia Zemiro, SBS new show that covers 10 day trips in NSW, Victoria, the ACT and Tasmania, from cities to the bush, beaches and beyond.

Great Australian Walks stand out because of the determination not to make it a travel magazine show, featuring five-star hotels, shiny restaurants and sanitised trips. Zemiro tackles not only the scenic stuff, like the gorgeous Kunyani/Mount Wellington in Hobart and the stunning Walgun/Cape Byron, but the political as well.
The NSW government is considering a shake-up of state-owned corporation Landcom to focus on building homes instead of selling off land to developers, as planners narrow down a list of Sydney sites for a housing density blitz.

It is also consulting stakeholders on a new transit-oriented state environmental planning policy, or SEPP, that would apply to land around train stations to allow higher density housing, which was an election commitment.

Government land next to the Bella Vista and Kellyville metro stations, which has been planned by Landcom but remains undeveloped.

Landcom has already been given extra powers. However, senior government sources, who did not want to be named because they were discussing internal policy debate, said they were considering changes that would reorient the corporation to direct housing development. This would also help it act as a counter-cyclical stimulant for housing growth.

It comes as Hills Shire Council sounds the alarm over public land near Bella Vista and Kellyville metro stations which is still empty despite being rezoned in 2017 for 8400 homes. That was later reduced to 5700 homes under Landcoms concept designs, which were approved in December.
A spectacular fossil discovered by a retired chicken farmer has been identified by palaeontologists as a new type of Triassic amphibian that stalked the freshwater streams of the Sydney basin 240 million years ago.

Mihail Mihailidis had purchased the 1.6-tonne sandstone slab for a retaining wall in his Umina Beach garden on the Central Coast, south of Gosford, nearly 30 years ago.

An artists recreation of the supine sand creeper, Mihail Mihailidis pictured in 1997 with the fossil he discovered, and the fossil today. Credit: Jose Vitor Silva, Alex Ritchie and Brook Mitchell

As the stone was hosed down, the dirt sluiced away and something extraordinary appeared: the mineralised remains of a 1.5 metre-long creature that pre-dated even the dinosaurs.

Mihailidis had made one of Australias most exceptional fossil discoveries. The find caused an international sensation, much of it highlighting the finders past as a chicken farmer. Time magazine proclaimed: Chance discovery of a fossil older than the dinosaurs may amplify the story of human evolution.
Examine, a free weekly newsletter covering science with a sceptical, evidence-based eye, is sent every Tuesday. Youre reading an excerpt  sign up to get the whole newsletter in your inbox.

When news about a new room-temperature superconductor crossed my desk, I was sceptical. Last group to claim this just had to retract their paper for being wrong, I wrote to my editor.

Scepticism is the default position for scientists and science journalists. But speaking to superconduction researchers today, I found them surprisingly open to the possibility of a breakthrough.

An artists conception of magnetic levitation above a superconductor. Credit: iStock

The search for a superconductor that can transmit electricity at room temperature much more efficiently than traditional conductors such as copper wire has been a goal of the physics community for decades. While superconductors do exist, powering MRI machines for example, currently they can only operate at extremely low temperatures. The prospect of a superconductor that can transmit electricity at room temperature with no loss of power in transmission opens up tantalising possibilities such as developing super-powered motors, which would speed up the electrification of transport.
More than 100 students were investigated for cheating in last years VCE exams  more than double the number two years ago  including a quarter found with unauthorised material and others accused of copying answers in multiple choice tests.

Examiners are still watching for notes on legs and smuggled smartwatches, but modern VCE coordinators are on alert for cheating that is difficult to detect with the naked eye  and they have the technology to help them.

More than 100 students were accused of cheating in last years VCE exams. Credit: iStock

Data analysis reintroduced last year after a pandemic hiatus can detect multiple choice answers that have been copied from another students paper in the exam hall.

Twenty per cent of the 110 students accused of cheating in the 2022 VCE exams were detected by statistical analysis. Four of those 22 claims were substantiated.
A bid to avoid sitting a guitar scales exam sent Lydia Gardiner down the path towards an arguably more challenging career  music composition.

Though she cant place exactly what made her want to avoid practising her scales for the year 11 ATARs, its hard to argue the decision to switch studies was the wrong one.

Perth composer Lydia Gardiner will travel to the Hague to study a masters of composition at the prestigious Royal Conservatoire. Credit: Cameron Myles

The 24-year-old University of Western Australia graduate will leave Perth in a few weeks for the Hague as a recipient of the Holland Scholarship to study a master of composition at the Royal Conservatoire.

Its the next step in a music career in which Gardiner has already appeared on stage alongside Icelandic sensation Bjork at this years Perth Festival as part of her choral group Voyces, and in Hobart for the Dark Mofo festival.
The Morrison governments growing record of wasting public money and dubious preferment is bolstered by revelations that controversial former cabinet minister Stuart Robert held multiple meetings with a tech company as it sought lucrative contracts, including a deal to build a government payment system.

The software was scrapped without ever being fully used, but still cost taxpayers $191 million.

Stuart Robert met tech giant Infosys 11 times when the company was seeking contracts with the federal government. Credit: Rhett Wyman

In a document released on Tuesday by a federal parliamentary inquiry examining close ties between Robert and his consultant friend David Milo, whose firm Synergy 360 asked companies for success fees to line up contracts in Canberra, tech giant Infosys revealed it held 11 meetings with Robert before and after contract negotiations.

The statement from Infosys to the federal parliaments Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit does not record the presence of any probity officer or federal official at the meetings.
Singapore: Australian company Mallee Resources has been lambasted over the sale of its multibillion-dollar mine in military-ruled, conflict-torn Myanmar to a group with alleged connections to the junta.

Formerly known as Myanmar Metals, the Perth-based entity had a 51 per cent stake in the Bawdwin mine in north-east Shan state, one of the worlds top silver, lead and zinc deposits.

The extraction of silver at the Bawdwin mine in Myanmar first took place in the 15th century.

In the wake of the brutal takeover in 2021 by the Tatmadaw, as the military is known, the company decided to exit the troubled country and change its name, offloading its majority share in the mine for $US30 million ($45 million).

The sale, however, drew complaints from civil society organisations over fears that proceeds from the mine  which is forecast to produce $US2.9 billion in 13 years once operational  could end up with the armed forces, which have waged a savage crackdown against resistance, and result in a spike in violence around the site.
Because in these kinds of conflicts, theres a percentage of people who are missing. Missing can encompass being a prisoner of war, having been killed in such a way your body is obliterated, or youve fallen somewhere, and they are yet to recover you - and wont for some time, he said. Theres uncertainty thats on both sides, and technology does not help, no matter what anyone thinks. Fighting escalated this week with a major Russian attack in Odesa destroying historic sites and critical infrastructure. Credit: AP With Russia and Ukraine eager to thwart the other from grasping a good sense of their military position, they have largely kept quiet on counts of their own military casualties. The Institute for the Study of War, an independent public policy think tank in Washington, says tolls in a conflict are intentionally opaque to obscure the current military potential and what is and is not working.

There is also an incentive for commanders and political leaders to assess down their sides own losses, while assessing up the enemy sides losses, a spokesman for the institute suggests. Ryan, who served in the ADF for more than 35 years and was commander of the Australia Defence College, said operational security was a major driver of the kind of information governments release, including numbers of killed, wounded, missing and prisoners of war. We see that every single day on [Ukraines] social media and in their Facebook daily operational updates, Ryan said. They update the count of about 20 different measures, including soldiers killed, tanks, infantry, fighting vehicles, aircraft...its part of this strategic influence battle both are fighting.

Ryan said the scale of death in Ukraine could not be compared to protracted conflicts in Iraq or Afghanistan, which were historically low tempo or low casualty wars for military forces. A Ukrainian soldier in a recently captured Russian trench with deceased Russian soldiers, on the frontline near Bakhmut, Donetsk region. Credit: AP You really have to go back to something like the Korean War [...] the mass forces used on both sides, to get a sense of this. A data collaboration project by two independent Russian media outlets and a data scientist at Tubingen University, Germany, in July suggested nearly 50,000 Russian men have died in the war. The analysis by Mediazona, Meduza and data scientist Dmitry Kodak probed Russian government inheritance records and official mortality data to apply a statistical method used widely during the COVID-19 pandemic to compute excess mortality.

Loading Calculating deaths by excess mortality was popularised during the pandemic because many nations lacked the data and resources to accurately report COVID-19 deaths. Excess mortality is defined as the difference in the total number of deaths in a crisis compared to those expected under normal conditions. In the pandemic, excess mortality accounted for the total number of deaths directly attributed to the virus, as well as the indirect impact from things like disruption to essential health services or travel disruptions. Kobak, who applied excess mortality when calculating COVID-related deaths in Russia during the pandemic, said the same concept could calculate war casualties. Using Russian government data, Kobak said the project estimated how many more men under the age of 50 died between February 2022 and May 2023 in comparison to pre-war years.

We wanted to look at young males and compare how the deaths in this specific age group and in this specific gender went up compared to...the deaths in young females of the same age. Because at least in Russia, all war casualties are men. So, this separates very cleanly, he said. Journalists from Mediazona, BBC Russia and volunteers had earlier obtained records of inheritance cases filed with Russian authorities detailing probate applications for more than 11 million people who died between 2014 and May 2023. Their analysis showed 25,000 more inheritance cases were opened in 2022 for males aged 15 to 49 than expected, AP reported. By the end of May, the number of excess cases had shot up to 47,000. A Meduza journalist, who requested anonymity because their work for the news outlet is punishable by up to 15 years jail, said the project highlighted the importance of an open-source intelligence revolution in the past decade. Its crucial to rely on objective data that can be proved or reproduced by independent researchers, they said.

This allows us to view the conflict in a completely different light, where [we are] not relying exclusively on intelligence or the statements of both sides of the conflict, but actually using objective data. Loading Asked about the study last month, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said mortality figures released by Russias Defence Ministry were the only ones who have that prerogative. Peskov has also dismissed US estimates of Russian casualties as incorrect. Both Medizona and Meduza are banned in Russia, where readers can only access the sites by VPN. As military watchers confront the difficulties of calculating lives lost on the frontline, aid and advocacy groups face similar challenges in their work to monitor civilian deaths.

Loading The most recent figures from the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine estimate about 9200 civilians have been killed since February 24 last year, with a further 16,300 wounded. Krzysztof Janowski, spokesman for the mission, said the conflict in Ukraine was unique to other wars because the UN was unable to work on both sides of the confrontation lines. Even in Bosnia during the darkest hours of the war [1992-95] and in Syria, the UN was able to cross the confrontation line and work on both sides. In Ukraine the UN is constrained to one side  the side controlled by Ukraine, he said. Every civilian death is one death too many.
Number of casualties as result of attack on Pokrovsk increases to 81 people  Donetsk authorities

As a result of a missile attack on Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, on Monday, the number of wounded rose to 81, Head of Donetsk Regional Military Administration Pavlo Kyrylenko said as of 11:00 on Tuesday.

"Updated data as of 11:00 on the victims of the Russian shelling of Pokrovsk. Seven people were killed (five civilians, a rescuer and a military man); 81 wounded (39 civilians, including two children - born in 2006 and 2012; some 31 policemen, seven employees of the State Emergency Service and four soldiers)," Kyrylenko said on the Telegram channel.

As the administration's head said, "12 high-rise buildings were damaged; the buildings of the hotel, the prosecutor's office, the pension fund, a pharmacy, two shops, two cafes and two civilian cars."

Kyrylenko said the Russians hit Pokrovsk on Monday evening, "carried out two strikes with Iskanders - at 19:15 and 19:52. They hit the city center."
London: Hostile actors targeted Britains Electoral Commission in a complex cyber incident that involved hackers accessing internal emails and copies of voter data, the commission said on Tuesday.

The Electoral Commission, the independent body which oversees elections and regulates political finance, said the incident came to light last year.

The Electoral Commission website. Credit: Getty

It did not provide further details on the identity of the hostile actors, but said the incident showed Britains democratic institutions remained a target for hackers.

They had access to servers that held its email, control systems, and copies of electoral registers.
POINTE BLANCHE:--- The maritime industry is the cornerstone of global trade and the lifeblood of the international economy, Port St. Maarten Group (PSG) pointed out, adding that more than 90 per cent of the worlds trade is carried by ships.

PSG considers the involvement of the nations youth in the development of the national maritime industry as a cornerstone of long-term sustainability and developing the next generation of maritime workers.

The countrys maritime industry needs a skilled and qualified workforce, and high school students need the opportunity to engage with the industry and be informed about the skills and career opportunities that can prepare them for their educational future.

PSG for the calendar year thus far has organized over 20+ tours where students were oriented via tours and presentations with different departments so they could get a better understanding of the roles of each division at Port St. Maarten.

Providing such details also includes career path opportunities throughout the maritime sector for the foreseeable future.

PSG also affords internships and summer job placements to students from high school through to College/University affording them real-world experiences enabling growth and development of both knowledge as well as relevant interpersonal skills.

In addition to this PSG has participated in the National Career Fair in the Netherlands which was last attended in November 2022 and will be attended this year as well. This career fair is geared toward students and young professionals. Locally PSG also participates in an annual career fair whereby all 3rd and 4th formers have the opportunity to obtain information on career paths within PSG and hear directly from various members of staff about what the job entails.

PSG also hosted its first bring your kids to school day which took place on July 13. The children of PSG staff received a full facility tour and introduction to the various departments.

The children also got the opportunity to take a tour with the water taxi to downtown and there were some fun activities arranged during their tour at Port St. Maarten.

K1 Britannia Foundations second chance program is another area where PSG partners, contributing to youth having a second chance at education and furthermore work placement allocation pending the area of interest of the youth enrolled in the program.

PSG also engages in Youth sailing and partners with programs through sponsorship of students and efforts that afford them sailing exposure.

Shipping is considered the most efficient form of cargo and goods transport.

Port St. Maarten caters to more than 1000 ship movements annually related to the import of cargo and goods as well as the cruise ship sector that brings in hundreds of thousands of guests yearly, making it the busiest seaport in the Northeastern Caribbean.

PSG adds that shipping affects every aspect of St. Maarteners lives on a daily basis even though it may not always be apparent; from the food we eat, the drinks we drink, electronics, furniture, construction and building materials, the energy that the country consumes, the clothes that we wear and the cars that we drive.

All the above must be transported to the island by ship. Once the cargo and goods arrive, they have to be offloaded by cranes or driven off Roll-On Roll-Off ships and transported across the island to customers.

Creating awareness is of critical importance to PSG as the entire workflow requires persons with various skill sets and thus early stimulation of this awareness is what PSG aims to provide.

The countrys maritime industry employs a considerable number of people who work for companies that support the entire sector and PSG would like to ensure that the future is lead by passionate, dynamic, and educated young people of the nation.

PSG takes this opportunity to thank all the students that have participated in internships and summer jobs, for their contribution, and wish them the best for the new school year.
PHILIPSBURG:---: In this year's IGT Coding and Robotics Rock! Camp, 72 students from six Caribbean countries came together to focus on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aligning with the camp's theme "Think it, Code it, Solve it." Both Level I and Level II students worked on creating captivating websites and petitions in support of SDGs.

During the Camp, the Level I and Level II students collaborated on group projects that revolved around several critical SDGs, including Zero Hunger, Life Below Water, Good Health and Well-Being, Clean Water and Sanitation, Life On Land, Affordable and Clean Energy, and Zero Poverty.

International Game Technology (IGT) has successfully completed the third edition of its annual virtual summer program, the IGT Coding and Robotics Rock! Camp, in collaboration with the Mona Geoinformatics Institute (MGI) at UWI.

The Camp took place from July 17 to July 28 and is a key component of IGT's After School Advantage (ASA) Programmea community initiative focused on providing young individuals with access to technology and promoting digital learning. MGI has actively contributed to the enactment of SDGs across 12 Caribbean countries through the development of decision support systems applications for governments.



Kevin Johnson, MGI's Lead Tutor, expressed his admiration for all the students' exceptional work in developing websites that effectively highlighted the SDGs in a creative and informative manner. He further highlighted the Level II students' outstanding efforts in creating petitions that advocated for Accessible and Inclusive Healthcare For All, The Preservation Of Natural Ecosystems Through The Establishment Of Nature Parks, and Maintaining Law And Order In The World's Oceans.

The theme of the Camp, "Think it, Code it, Solve it," was designed to empower students as digital architects, enabling them to influence the future of the Caribbean through their exceptional abilities in critical thinking, innovation, and problem-solving.

A total of 72 students from Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, St Maarten, St Kitts & Nevis, and the U.S. Virgin Islands participated in the Camp this year. These youngsters were chosen from non-government organizations that have benefited from IGT computer centers, generously provided through the ASA programme.

IGT has expanded its reach, with the recent addition of two new ASA computer centers at the Community Action Now (CAN) Romeo Malone Center, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, and at The Credo Development Centre for Boys in Trinidad & Tobago respectively.

Dexter Thomas, General Manager of IGT Trinidad and Tobago, states that he is proud of the IGT team's ability to offer a platform for youth development throughout the region, despite the challenges.

We are truly delighted to welcome new participants as this reaffirms our mission of narrowing the digital divide and extending the programme to help meet the great need among our youth for access to digital learning, said Thomas, who also congratulated all the students and the participants at the Camps conclusion.

Luke Buchanan, Senior Projects Manager at MGI, said that commencing a path towards a sustainable future begins with making a smart and economical investment in the nation's youth, which ultimately translates to an investment in sustainable development.

He further encouraged the students to apply the skills they acquired during the Camp to create a positive impact on the world, urging them to harness technology to address challenges, innovate, and build connections.

The IGT Caribbean Coding and Robotics Camps are perfectly aligned with both present and future needs, covering vital disciplines like robotics, artificial intelligence, coding, website development, geospatial sciences, and drone technologyessential for the world in the coming decades, Buchanan said.

Shelly Ann Hee Chung, IGT Barbados and The Antilles' Country Manager motivated the students to leverage their newfound competencies to keep pace with the swift currents of digital innovation.

"The IGT Caribbean Coding and Robotics Camps resonate with the immediate as well as prospective demands, encapsulating critical sectors such as robotics, artificial intelligence, coding, website development, geospatial sciences, and drone technology - cornerstones of the technological landscape of the future," said Hee Chung.

The resounding success of the recently concluded IGT Coding and Robotics Rock! Camp has propelled the team into immediate action, embarking on plans to further elevate the experience for next year's event, drawing upon the invaluable lessons gleaned from this year's transformative journey.

The third iteration of the IGT Coding and Robotics Rock! Camp received glowing testimonials from the participants, with one of the alumni from the Learning Centre recently earning an opportunity to study Computer Science at the University of The West Indies Cave Hill Campus. IGT envisages the upcoming year's Camp as a succession of meaningful digital interactions and eagerly anticipates the inauguration of a second ASA in Barbados in the coming year.
After Russian missile attacks on Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, on Monday evening, volunteers from the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) went to the sites of destruction to provide assistance to the victims.

"Volunteers of Myrnohrad Regional Disaster Response Team of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society went to the site of the consequences of Russian missile attacks on Pokrovsk to help people," the society said on Facebook on Tuesday.

The organization said the Ukrainian Red Cross Society is in coordination with government services to provide the necessary assistance.

At night, rescue work was suspended due to the high threat of repeated shelling. Currently, rescue operations have resumed.

As reported, on August 7, the Russians hit Pokrovsk with two Iskanders  at 19:15 and 19:52. As a result of the attack, seven people were killed and 88 were injured.
Minority Rights March

9th August, 2023

Press Statement

With unity and purpose, we have come together as a collective to initiate the first Minority Rights March. People who dont belong to the majority religion are persecuted in Pakistan every day. We see increasing attacks of discrimination and violence against Christian and Hindu communities, we see young and underage girls from these faiths being forcibly converted and married - against their will. While people of the minority faiths face everyday violence and discrimination and the large looming threat of the misuse of the blasphemy law causes fear and insecurity for young and old.

On 11th August, National Minorities Day, we will march together for Equality.

We will march for change. We will march for an End to Forced Conversions.

We will march for an end to the misuse of the blasphemy law.

We will march for an end to systemic discrimination against anyone from minority faith.

We will march for protection and security for churches and temples.

We will march for freedom and security for all citizens of this country.

We invite you to join us no matter what your faith or belief, as we collectively ask for justice and for equality!

Our Demands:

1. End religiously motivated crimes including abductions, harassment, forced marriages and rape of women and girls of religious minorities! All Political parties should support and unanimously pass legislation to curb and penalize forced conversion of faith and set up parameters to determine legitimate conversion to any faith. Laws pertaining to minorities (federal & provincial) must be made after consultation with women leaders from the respective minority communities.

2. Protect communal and worship places of all religious minorities with adequate measures, including creation of minority protection cells and deployment of a specified policing force in all major towns and districts. A centralized/digital data system of worship places be created to safeguard communal properties against illegal occupation.

3. We demand concrete actions to stop the abuse and misuse of blasphemy laws, that would discourage people from taking the law into their own hands. Recurring false accusations of blasphemy  particularly against members of minority communities  and the resulting mob violence warrant effective mechanisms, such as the development of an efficient system to alert the authorities of any allegations, in order to protect the communities most at risk.

4. Repeal all discriminatory clauses and articles in the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973, and amend Articles 41(2) and 91(3) to make the offices of the President and Prime Minister equally obtainable for all citizens on merit.

5. Increase reserved seats for minorities in Provincial Assemblies, National Assembly, Senate of Pakistan and District Councils and other elected bodies with special reserved seats for women from minority communities. Ensure representation of all communities including scheduled castes, Sikh and Parsi communities.

6. Restructure the job quota model for reserved seats of minorities in all provincial and federal agencies and create a special minority women quota as an affirmative action. Quota for religious minorities in law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

7. Eliminate all sort of hate speech and discriminatory material against religious minorities in the curriculum, make 11th August speech of Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah part of the curriculum at all educational levels in public and private institutions. Take strict action against hate speech in public and private places including educational institutions, social media and workplaces.

8. Implement the Supreme Courts verdict (PLD 2014 SC 699) on minorities in its letter and spirit including creation of an independent and powerful National Commission for Minorities Rights.

9. We demand non-discrimination and protection of rights of all workers from minority communities including sanitary workers, medical staff, farmers, factory workers and domestic staff. We demand the provision of social security including housing rights, health rights and the right to not be evicted from their homes, lands and workplaces.

10. Strict action against discrimination faced by religious minorities during humanitarian crises. We demand proper data on minority communities at all administrative levels and inclusion in disaster preparedness mechanisms and policies.

11. Communal properties belonging to religious minorities under illegal encroachment or unlawfully sold/leased to third parties be given back to the concerned community. No place of worship of any minority shall be sold. Denationalize institutions which were founded by religious minorities and handover their management to their founding organizations/trusts. In the event that the parent organizations/trusts are defunct, set up a new management with at least 50% of personnel and the principal/director/administrator belonging to the religious community of the original trust/organization. Restore and renovate on state expense all communal properties of minorities holding the status of Heritage.
The UNESCO mission will prepare a comprehensive report on the damage caused by Russian missile strikes to the world heritage in Odessa, the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy said.

"As for Odesa, we already have a fairly large list of over 50 objects, some of which have already been visited by UNESCO mission specialists. These objects were recognized as buildings with complex damage, some of them had up to 60-80% damage," the ministry said, citing Head of the UNESCO Desk in Ukraine Chiara Dezzi Bardeschi.

According to her, the task of the mission was to conduct a comprehensive technical assessment of the damage caused to cultural and religious property between July 20 and July 23, 2023, which included inventory and documentation of objects, an assessment of the structural integrity and a visual review of the stability of buildings to determine the degree of their damage.

It is noted that specialists have started creating documentation of the current state for the plan for the conservation and restoration of buildings, as well as the digitization of heavily damaged buildings, in particular the Transfiguration Cathedral and the House of Scientists.

The UNESCO Desk's head also said the organization has mobilized emergency funding for the first works through the emergency fund, which is provided by various donors.

"Following the results of the activities carried out, the UNESCO mission will prepare a comprehensive report on the damage caused by missile strikes to world heritage in Odesa for a meeting of the countries parties to the Hague Convention in December. This report can be used as evidence in international courts," the ministry said.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the counteroffensive "difficult," but noted that the initiative belongs to Ukraine.

"The counteroffensive is complex. It's probably slower than anyone wants," he said in an interview with Latin American media published on Tuesday.

But the counteroffensive, he said, "is when the army advances, and does not retreat back. And this is an important positive. The initiative is in the hands of Ukraine."

"It is very difficult to fight for so long. It is very difficult when you have a shortage of one or another weapon. All this is very difficult, because this is a war. I just know that it is difficult for us, but I know for sure that it is more difficult for Russians. There is fatigue in our eyes, and in their eyes there is fear," Zelenskyy said.

But, according to him, "Russia, unlike us, can really end this war faster, without unnecessary casualties. This is to get out of our territory. Because Ukraine is not going to continue the war on the territory of the Russian Federation. This was never our goal. We are de-occupying our territories. And this is the difference. They have places to go back, but we don't."
T he boss of serviced offices giant IWG today blasted a lack of sound government policy on affordable housing as the firm reported a surge in demand for workspace in the suburbs.

Mark Dixon, who founded the business in 1989, told the Standard: The affordability of London housing is not very good [and] people are fed up with the cost of travel.

Youll only get people back to an office in London if they live close by.

Its about government policy and local London policy.

Dixon said the firm was eyeing opening more sites in the capitals suburban districts to match new working trends. A new site will open shortly in Battersea, with more on the way for Barnet, Lambeth and Hampstead.

London cant just be a city for the wealthy, said Dixon, who has a net worth of $1 billion according to an estimate by Forbes.

Were seeing governments [overseas] starting to embrace the provision of affordable housing.

Thats what theyre doing in Paris and New York.

It comes amid a war of words between Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and London Mayor Sadiq Khan over a shortage of housing in the capital.

Sunak accused Khan of failing to deliver on housebuilding after he unveiled a 200 million commitment to building new homes on brownfield sites in the capital.

But Khan hit back, describing the remarks as desperate nonsense.

Are you the same guy who dropped his housebuilding targets? Because Im the guy who started building more council homes than the rest of England combined, he said.

There were 25,658 affordable housing starts in London in the year to March, according to data by the Greater London Authority, an increase of 36% on the previous year, while completions in the capital rose 35% to 13,954.

IWG, formerly known as Regus, today said it had seen an acceleration in demand for office space as major employers ditched major head offices in favour of smaller, flexible alternatives. IWG said it had signed contracts on 400 new locations in the first six months of the year in a bid to keep pace with demand.

Revenue in the first half of 2023 rose 14% to 1.5 billion, while gross profits were up 37% to 297 million.

Dixon said firms in the banking and insurance sectors have been among those most willing to shift from large head offices to smaller local outposts.

Companies need flexibility  they dont know what their business will look like in 5 years time, he said.

Dixon also said he was mulling a listing in the US and switching reporting to dollars, as the majority of IWG global revenues are dollar-denominated.
T he boss of office space provider IWG said companies have speeded up investment in new ways of working even as the pandemic subsided.

Mark Dixon said the first half of 2023, when the business made record revenue, was a period of strong evolution.

In short, it was a continuation of the Big Bang we started seeing in 2022, when the continuing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic finally led to the lift-off of the hybrid model that some of us have been anticipating for many years, he said.

Now we are seeing fast-growing numbers of businesses across the world adopt and reap the benefits of a model that involves employees working from home for a day or two each week, alongside collaborative time spent at a nearby flexible workspace and the occasional visit to corporate HQ.

The business said that revenue had increased by 14% to a little under 1.7 billion in the six months to the end of June.

The company revealed on Tuesday it made a pre-tax loss of 70 million, unchanged from the year before. Operating profit grew 154% to 94 million, IWG said.

The business, which is behind brands such as Regus and Signature, said it was cautiously optimistic about the rest of the year given the growing demand for hybrid working solutions despite foreign exchange movements and challenging competition.

The company said it is reviewing whether IWG should report in dollars, rather than pounds, because most of its revenue is linked to the US dollar.
T heres a line Ive thought about on and off for the best part of a decade but never had reason to share  until now. Back in 2015, the French economist and author of the best-selling Capital in the Twenty-First Century, Thomas Piketty, revealed he had turned down the Legion dhonneur. His reasoning? I do not think it is the governments role to decide who is honourable.

But thats not the quote I remember. That dubious honour belongs to Tanya Gold, who remarked:

Declining honours is the new receiving honours; why take one when you can be doubly honoured  for being honoured and for being so honourable as to be above honour?

Im not speaking from experience, but Im pretty sure it is considered poor form to publicly decline an honour in the UK. As I understand it, the King (or perhaps a junior cabinet office official) calls you up and asks if youd be interested in a gong of some sort. Only sometime after you agree does it become public.

I was thinking about this after Matt Dathan reported in The Times that two of the 16 people included in two-time Prime Minister of the Month winner Liz Trusss resignation honours list had turned down the nomination, albeit privately. According to Dathan, one said it would be humiliating to receive an honour from such a short-lived leader, the other that they did not deserve it.

There is perhaps one exception to this rule: Oliver Cromwell. Already head of state and head of government as Lord Protector, Cromwell was offered the crown by Parliament in 1657. He declined, on the basis that, having spent much of the previous decade fighting the monarchy, and already enjoying the status of de facto king, he need not take on the formal title. Or, in his words, build Jericho again. The Stuart Restoration took place three years later.

In the comment pages, Anne McElvoy declares Jeremy Corbyn to be back, and suggests he has much in common with Nigel Farage. Nimco Ali says never in her fight against FGM has she seen a penny of UK aid money save one girl. While Claudia Cockerell says Matt Hancock is giving her the IckTok.

And finally, is Hackney the new Clapham? Alexandra Jones (reformed northerner and self-acknowledged snob) answers the question in a way Im confident will offend no one.

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.
A ir pollution is invisible. But its threat is clear to see for all in London apart from those who want to close their eyes to it.

When the Standard launched its campaign around a decade ago to clean up the citys toxic air, some key figures in City Hall bristled at the criticism in these pages.

But others welcomed it, even encouraged it. They knew it was wrong, possibly criminally so, for babies in buggies to have to breathe in damaging fumes spewed out at exactly their height level, because of the failure to tackle air pollution.

Equally unacceptable was that so many of the citys children went to schools close to main roads, with toxic air, known to harm the lung development of at least some of them, billowing into the playgrounds.

The reason some in City Hall welcomed the critical focus is that they wanted to act but did not feel they had sufficient space or mandate to do so.

They pointed to how cyclists had successfully mobilised to get cycle lanes installed, also once controversial, but now widely accepted by most Londoners. They openly invited similar pressure to be piled on the Mayor to act over air quality which has significantly improved in recent years. The fight against climate change may also be at a turning point as it is now no longer a future threat in a far-off country.

Wildfires and record temperatures are making global warming plain to all but the most myopic

Wildfires in Sicily and Rhodes, record temperatures in Arizona and the UK last year, a heatwave in China, and ocean temperatures hitting a new peak are making global warming plain to all but the most myopic.

In democracies, political leaders of all hues can only get so far ahead of their electorates. Bolder ones may risk taking a greater lead, the more timid might retreat at the slightest opposition.

The danger for the eco-debate is its dominated by militant environmentalism or populist arguments pushing short-term measures, both with over-simplistic messaging.

Polls have shown that around three-quarters of Britons are concerned about global warming. This falls substantially when people are pressed whether they back some measures such as banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030. But support for action often grows when it is discussed in greater detail, such as in citizen assemblies.

So the public debate has yet to be won on the scale needed to save the planet. It needs to be won quickly and then our political leaders given the space, instruction and mandate to act. We choose them so ultimately its down to us.
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The new UK chair of the IPCC, the intergovernmental panel on climate change, has told the Evening Standard political leaders will be judged by their credible actions on the ground when it comes to tackling global warming.

In an exclusive interview Professor Jim Skea has warned global warming may be happening faster than expected.

Following a summer of erratic weather events, from extreme highs of 40 degrees celsius plus in parts of Spain and Italy, to the wildfires across Portugal and Greece, to the historic levels of flooding in the US state of Vermont - its clear climate change is having an impact now.

But will world leaders take note of Professor Skeas warnings that change is happening at a faster rate than predicted?

Our Political Editor Nicholas Cecil discusses the warnings issued by new IPCC Chair Professor Jim Skea .

Listen above, and find us on your Spotify Daily Drive or wherever you stream your podcasts.
M usicals should have chandeliers that come crashing down from the ceiling. They should have dashing farmhands singing about corn, vast kicking chorus lines, swooning romance, and they should be three hours long. What they should not be is 55 minutes in a damp-riddled underground car park in Edinburgh with a budget that would barely cover the weekly shop.

But every time the Edinburgh Fringe rolls around, it brings with it a brave new cohort of composers, lyricists and despairing producers hoping to do a Six, and match the success of the plucky little pop musical about Henry VIIIs wives which developed such a word of mouth following in Edinburgh in 2017 that it has now dominated the world, with smash hit runs on the West End and Broadway as well as tours in North America, Australia and the UK, and a production in Holland.

Six came to Edinburgh asking the question: what should be out there, what are we not seeing? says Hannah Sands, who directs a new musical called Public, about four strangers who get trapped in a gender-neutral toilet. And they were having such a good time on stage when they were doing it.

We didnt start this project with the aim of lets make this the next successful musical, says Publics co-writer Kyla Stroud. I went through a mental health dip during the pandemic and I was looking to bring some joy back into my days. One of the last times I was happiest was doing am-dram musical theatre when I was a kid. So they decided to write a musical, and just a few months later its premiering at the Fringe.

Thats one of the beauties of staging a show in Edinburgh: new musicals often go through years of development and workshops before ever getting in front of a paying audience, but anyone can apply to put on a show at the Fringe  there are more than 3,000 in the programme this year  and within months the curtain can rise on Edinburghs dazed, rain-soaked audiences.

That whirlwind is something Jessica Wu knows only too well. Shes the lyricist for the satirical new musical Hello Kitty Must Die, adapted from the novel by Kate Kamen (formerly Angela S Choi) about a woman desperate to destroy the cutesy Hello Kitty stereotype that gets attached to Asian-Americans.

Hello Kitty Must Die / Justin Barbin

I was brought onto the project three months ago, says Wu. Ive been walking around in a little bit of a dream state, like wow, this is happening, people are saying my words out loud now, and were going to Edinburgh.

Unlike the shoestring budget of many Edinburgh shows, Hello Kitty Must Die comes with some hefty backing. Its being produced by Alchemation, a company run by Kevin McCollum whose Broadway productions include Rent, In the Heights, Avenue Q and Mrs Doubtfire  essentially, hes got an ear for the next big musical hit. It was McCollum, too, who helped take Six to Broadway as its American producer.

Wu reckons the reason for making a new musical and taking it to the Fringe is simple. Theatre needs a new audience. Musical theatre is a 100-year-old art form that often has 100-year-old audience members. We need to change, we need to evolve. What are the stories we want to hear now, as opposed to just feeding up audiences the same thing theyve been eating for the last 100 years?

Levi Roots agrees. His musical Sound Clash: Death in the Arena is a dystopian love story set to Jamaican sound system music. I want to bring new audiences to the theatre. People who listen to sound system and young people that love music and DJing, theyre not typical theatregoers. I want to inspire these young people to see something they are in tune to.

Although better known as the inventor of Reggae Reggae Sauce  still the most memorable Dragons Den moment even 16 years later  Roots explains that being a chef was always a side order for him. Ive spent my life in the back of a sound system truck for nearly 45 years, and anyone that knows me will say that Levi isnt really about Dragons Den, hes a sound system man.

Roots came up with the idea while taking a shower. I thought, what about a sound play, which marries Jamaican sound system and a stage play. It was a light bulb moment. In sound system, a sound clash is a kind of gladiatorial battle between two rival sound systems, each with huge speakers, playing exclusive mixes of mostly reggae and dancehall music.

The cast of Sound Clash: Death in the Arena in rehearsal / Bonnie Britain

Youve got two groups with big speakers each playing music that says you cant play what Ive got. Its really a drama. In the original days everyone used to dress up. Sound system always had a bit of theatre in it, with characters calling themselves kings, princes.

Roots contacted acclaimed author Alex Wheatle to flesh out the story. While having a checkup for a toothache, his doctor happened to mention he knew Adrian Grant, producer of Michael Jackson musical Thriller. It was Adrians idea to premiere at the Fringe. Were doing what Six were doing, in the sense that they were a crazy sound that people hadnt heard on stage before. Its a big inspiration for me to see people do what Six did because its what Im known for: tearing up the rule book. Nobody wanted me to go on the Den with a guitar because it had never been done before. Sound Clash is a similar thing. Its breaking the mould.

The legacy of Six hangs heaviest, perhaps, over Palindrome, a new show being staged by the Cambridge University Musical Theatre Society (yes, CUMTS for short), the group responsible for taking Six to the Fringe back in 2017.

It doesnt add pressure, says Neve Kennedy, who has written the show along with Jas Ratchford and Maddy Power. Were so proud of Six. We dont feel like we need to meet that crazy high. It sort of feels like the distant past and were the present.

A show that was put on last term feels like a long time ago to us, adds director Flo Winkley. I saw Six at the Fringe when I was much younger. I cant believe that was a CUMTS show and now were doing the CUMTS show this year. Its exciting, its chaotic, its crazy. Were all doing multiple roles. Im directing and Im also the set designer. Were working out how to get a drum kit to Edinburgh.

Set in the Scottish Highlands, Palindrome looks at the fast-changing pace of life. The show is about a tension between the world moving forwards, and everyone needing to slow down and look backwards. Im not going to say it sounds like Six, but its the same kind of high energy songs with a couple of ballads, says Kennedy.

The team behind Palindrome the Musical / PR handout

Hello Kitty and Public have that pop sound, too  while also hoping to tackle big themes. Much of Wus career has been as a performer. Shes appeared in Broadway productions of Miss Saigon (One of these slits here will be Miss Saigon runs one line), The King and I (Western people funny, of that there is no doubt, they feel so sentimental about the Oriental) and countless other productions whose depictions of Asian characters have been written by white people.

The whole canon leans really heavily into exoticisation, and Hello Kitty Must Die is pushing against that. As someone who has spent a lot of years inside these productions, doing these shows eight times a week, its really exciting to push back against them.

For Stroud, I was going through a lot of gender discovery, and my queerness has always been a big part of my adult life. I wanted to have queerness at the heart of this show, but not let it be surrounded by a negative storyline.

Public has a strange link to Six, too: Six superfans may recognise the name of cast member Annabel Marlow, whose brother Toby Marlow co-wrote Six with Lucy Moss. Annabel played Katherine Howard in the shows first Edinburgh run.

I knew Toby was writing a show, he played a bit of it at home, says Marlow (who also performs her solo show Is This Okay?? at the Fringe this year). I was like, this is so cool and he said Its an open audition, get the train after school and come and audition. So I lied to my friends because I had promised to go Interrailing with them and if I got the part I knew I wouldnt be able to. So I told them I had to visit my grandma. A lot of the audition was about embodying a pop star and being really sexy, and we had to go up to Toby in the corner of the room and be as sexy as possible. In my head I was just like its ok, its not Toby, just go for it. Toby says he doesnt remember that bit. He obviously blocked it out.

Six the Musical made it from Edinburgh to the West End and beyond / handout

A musical about Jamaican sound systems, gender neutral toilets, a palindromic Highland love story and a murderous satire about Asian-American stereotypes. Four vastly different ideas, but what brings them all together is the hope that Edinburgh is the place where new audiences will be curious enough to take a punt on untested material and big ideas.

The beginning is the best time, says Stroud. Its the time when youre working your bum off and you have no money. Thats the time that feels the most exciting and the most rewarding.

Public the Musical is at Pleasance Two at Pleasance Courtyard on August 4-8, 10-20, 22-28 at 6.30pm; Hello Kitty Must Die is at Pleasance Two on August 4-7, 9-14, 16-21, 23-27 at 4.50pm; Sound Clash: Death in the Arena is at Pleasance One at Pleasance Courtyard on August 4-7, 9-20, 22-28 at 4.10pm; Palindrome is at theSpace @ Nidry Street on August 14-26 at 4.50pm
A man knifed his housemate to death after he burst into their local pub and demanded he be bought drinks, a court has heard.

Christopher Baptiste, 54, is accused of killing Sonny Booty, 36, with a 16in (40cm) carving knife at the terraced house where they both lived in Lewisham, south-east London, on August 13 last year.

Opening his trial at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, Robert OSullivan KC said the two men had a volatile friendship and had spent that evening drinking and playing pool at the Anchor pub.

Just after 10.30pm an argument broke out and the pair were asked to leave by the landlady, jurors were told.

Later, neighbours near their home in Loampit Vale allegedly heard voices saying Shut your mouth before I kill you and Stop it.

A housemate who had been watching television and listening to music in an upstairs flat was alerted by the defendant hammering on his door, the court heard.

Baptiste said he had a tear up with Mr Booty after he had shown him up at the pub in front of other people, demanding drinks, it was claimed.

He allegedly confided that it was really naughty what I done and he was going to get bird this time.

The defendant also called friends and allegedly told one: Ive killed my flatmate. This had been brewing for a while.

Just before 9am on August 14, Baptiste walked into Lewisham police station and said: Ive murdered my flatmate, the court heard.

The officer on reception replied: I beg your pardon?

Baptiste allegedly said: I think Ive murdered him, my flatmate. There was a knife being waved around and Ive got cuts on my hands.

Mr OSullivan told jurors: Police officers immediately went there and gained entry to the ground floor flat, where they discovered a trail of blood leading from the rear bedroom out into the back yard. A bloodstained carving knife was lying on the bed.

In the back yard they found Sonny Booty, lying on his back on the ground. He was dead and had clearly been dead for some time. He was covered in blood, which had dried, his body was stiff to the touch and had attracted flies.

He had suffered multiple stab wounds, including to his face, head, chest, buttocks and thigh.

A post-mortem examination found Mr Booty had been stabbed 14 times, with the fatal wound to the heart.

On August 15, Baptiste said in a prepared statement that he had to defend himself as Mr Booty had a knife.

Baptiste has since suggested that when he left Mr Bootys flat he was alive and well, the court was told.

But Mr OSullivan told jurors: The prosecution case is that the defendant, and no-one else, unlawfully killed Sonny Booty, just as he admitted to his friends that night and to the police when he handed himself in.

Sonny Booty received 14 separate stab wounds to his face and body, leaving no room, the prosecution says, for the suggestion that he was acting in self-defence.

Baptiste denies murder and the Old Bailey trial continues.
A murder investigation has been launched after a womans body was pulled out of a west London canal.

Police were called to Northumberland Crescent in Feltham shortly before 10.30pm on Sunday, August 6, and found signs of a disturbance inside the property.

A short time later they arrested a 33-year-old woman, found standing near a car on Greenford Bridge, on suspicion of the murder.

Officers searched the canal off Bulls Bridge Lane, in Southall, the next day and the remains of a body, believed to be that of a 57-year-old woman, were found.

A crime scene has been put in place in Northumberland Crescent and searches are continuing in the Canal.

Detective Inspector Ollie Stride said: A woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder and we believe this was an isolated incident.

We await formal identification of the deceased, however, specially trained officers are supporting the family. Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.

Searches are continuing in the area of Bulls Bridge Road and the Canal and I appreciate the publics patience while police cordons remain in place.

Chief Superintendent Sean Wilson, in charge of policing in Hounslow, said: This is a horrific incident and our thoughts are with the family of the deceased.

Officers are patrolling the area so please do stop and talk to them.

Anyone who has information or footage relating to this incident should call 101 or Tweet @MetCC quoting 6952/6AUG.

To remain 100% anonymous call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org
A man who raped a teenager five months before she was murdered by her brother has been sentenced to 10 and a half years behind bars.

Jamie Starrs, 20, assaulted Amber Gibson and raped her while she was asleep or unconscious at a property in Bothwell in June 2021.

Amber, 16, was sexually assaulted and murdered in November 2021 by her brother Connor Gibson, who was convicted last month following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

Starrs was found guilty of raping the teenager following a separate trial at the High Court in Lanark in July.

He was also convicted of raping another teenage girl in Bothwell, South Lanarkshire, in May 2021.

You have been convicted of appalling crimes against two innocent teenage girls

Judge Thomas Welsh KC handed Starrs an extended sentence comprising 10 and a half years in custody and two years of supervision upon release at the High Court in Edinburgh on Tuesday.

Sentencing Starrs, who appeared via video link from custody, the judge said: You have been convicted of appalling crimes against two innocent teenage girls and you have been assessed as being of very high risk of sexual violence on release.

I am required to take into account your age and difficult upbringing  however, the crimes remain serious and grave, and I will impose an extended sentence.

He said that he would have ordered 11 years to be served in custody but reduced this to 10 and a half years behind bars to take into account the time that Starrs has spent on remand.

The 20-year-old was also found guilty of a breach of bail conditions, and of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

He has been placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Giving a plea in mitigation, Michael Meehan KC, representing Starrs, highlighted that as he is under 25 the sentence must take into account sentencing guidelines which reflect that a younger person will have a lower level of maturity than an older person.

He said a report identified that Starrs shows cognitive and emotional immaturity.

The lawyer had also urged the judge to consider his clients adverse childhood experiences when sentencing.

He told the court that Starrs was removed from parental care at the age of three and developed addiction issues from the age of nine.

Mr Meehan said: He has a traumatic background from a young age which perhaps gives some degree of explanation.

The sentencing comes a fortnight after Connor Gibson, 20, was convicted of attacking his sister Amber in woodland in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, in November 2021, removing her clothes, sexually assaulting with the intention of raping her, inflicting blunt force trauma to her head and body, and strangling her.

Amber was reported missing on the evening of Friday November 26 and her body was discovered in Cadzow Glen at about 10.10am on November 28.

Stephen Corrigan, 45, was found guilty of attempting to defeat the ends of justice and breach of the peace by intimately touching and concealing Ambers body after discovering it, instead of contacting the emergency services.

Gibson will be sentenced on September 4 for a crime Judge Lord Mulholland described as depraved, while Corrigan will also be sentenced next month.

Commenting on the sentencing of Starrs, Detective Inspector Lorraine Wilson, of Lanarkshire divisions rape investigation unit, said: Jamie Starrs subjected two women to violent sexual attacks and he is now facing the consequences of his despicable actions.

The victims showed great strength in coming forward and reporting what happened to them. Despite one of the women having died before she was able to see justice being done, her evidence was key in securing his conviction.

Our thoughts remain with the other victim in this case and I hope this sentence will bring her some comfort and closure.

I want to thank everyone who worked on this investigation. Police Scotland is committed to bringing all perpetrators of sexual crimes to justice and I would urge anyone who wishes to report an incident of this nature, regardless of when it happened, to contact us.

We will investigate it thoroughly and youll receive support from police and partner agencies.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy hopes that Pope Francis will help return illegally deported children to Ukraine.

"The Pope told me that he would work on it. I am very grateful. This is not an easy issue. I will tell you frankly, if Pope Francis can return our children, I think that is enough. If he can return the children and come to Ukraine, we will be grateful. But if I had to choose only one possibility, then I would honestly focus on that," he said in an interview with Latin American media published on Tuesday.

According to Zelenskyy, he is very grateful to the Pope for the meetings. "Firstly, the fact that he supports people who believe in Ukraine with his prayers. This is already help, I think. Because people are grateful, we have many Catholics, but such signals are not only for Catholics. It seems that for all believers, even for those people who are atheists, because Pope Francis is a serious, powerful figure in the world, and therefore it is also important to get a signal from him," he said.

According to the president, "we invited Pope Francis, I personally invited him to Ukraine. I really wanted him to come. Any city in Ukraine, by the way, not necessarily in the capital, where he can. We are ready to meet the Pope in Western Ukraine. And I also told him about this. This is an important signal of support. And it seems to me that it would be very powerful for the Ukrainian society."
A man has been struck and killed in a horror collision with a lorry outside Goodmayes station.

The pedestrian, aged 45, was hit about 4.30pm on Monday.

He was rushed to an east London hospital where he later died from his injuries.

A Met spokesman said: His next of kin have been informed.

The driver of the lorry stopped at the scene. There have been no arrests.

Road closures remain in place.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has dash cam footage that could help police should call 101 ref CAD 5180/7Aug
A n anti-Ulez protester says he will starve himself for seven days in a bid to get Sadiq Khan to listen to the people and reverse his expansion of the ultra-low emission zone.

Prabhdeep Singh, 41, who previously worked in the British army in the dental corp, has set up camp outside Uxbridge station to protest the scheme, saying it wasnt the job of the Mayor of London to dictate his terms on Londoners.

It comes as London prepares for the city-wide, 12.50 daily charge for owners whose vehicles do not meet exhaust emissions requirements from August 29.

Speaking from his tent in the town centre, he told the Standard: It is Day 2. Im feeling ok Im surviving. When you are morally right the hunger doesnt bother you. Im fighting for the cause.

This country is a democratic country. Peoples lives should be the priority and thousands have signed petitions against it.

They are just trying to police us as badly as they can and we have to fight back.

Prabhdeep Singh served in the Royal Army dental corp / Prabhdeep Singh

He said he had garnered many messages of support from Uxbridge locals who narrowly voted Tory in a by-election following the resignation of Boris Johnson with Ulez proving the dividing issue.

Mr Singh said: I had one woman come to me and say her father can no longer drive for his weekly visit to the grave of her dead mother. Its tearing families apart. People are emotionally affected and its discrimination against people who cant afford it.

Mr Singh, who lives in Reading and drives a 2015 plate Vauxhall Insignia as a taxi, said he cannot afford to drop-offs in Heathrow and will have to pay 18,000 for a used Ulez compliant car.

He added: Clean air is a natural right, we dont deny it. But solving one problem by creating hundreds more is not the way.

Police have been in to check the protest but the cab driver said he was allowed to continue as they could see no-ones being harmed.

Mr Singh attracted attention by going on hunger strike to campaign against the cost of living crisis last year. He said he is on phase two of campaign as Ulez is merely an added tax burden for working people.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan insisted he was pressing ahead with the controversial expansion as he announced a major widening of a vehicle scrappage scheme.

City Hall is set to add a further 50 million from reserves to a 110 million fund to help drivers upgrade their cars, vans and motorbikes.

Hundreds of doctors urged politicians to toughen their stance on plans to tackle toxic air, saying they witness the devastating health consequences of pollution every day in the consulting room.

Pollution represents Britains biggest risk to public health from environmental factors, which is linked to up to 36,000 national deaths annually.

Mr Khans Conservative opponent in next years mayoral race, Susan Hall, says shell stop the Ulez expansion on day one if elected.
A West London kebab restaurant has had its licence suspended for three months after repeatedly hiring illegal workers over an eight month period.

Three immigration enforcement visits were made at Woody Grill on Uxbridge Road, Shepherds Bush, between March 2022 and May this year, and at each one officers found and arrested illegal workers.

During the third visit, the manager was accused of using delay tactics with enforcement officers so four illegal workers could escape through a window at the back of the restaurant.

One illegal worker allegedly attempted to leave as if he was a customer but was stopped.

There were serious failures to comply with right to work checks at the business, a Hammersmith and Fulham Council licensing sub-committee report said.

The premises appears to be operating with a complete disregard of the law, the report said, and despite advice being given to staff during each visit, and a fine issued, they continue to re-offend.

It comes as the Government announced that fines for employers who allow illegal workers will more than triple.

On Monday the Home Office announced that fines for employers, which were last increased in 2014, will be raised to up to 45,000 per illegal worker for a first breach from 15,000, and up to 60,000 for repeat breaches from 20,000.

Woody Grill has five branches across West London. Twelve people are employed at the Shepherds Bush kebab restaurant, most of whom live locally.

Three visits were made on behalf of the Central London Immigration Compliance and Enforcement (ICE) team after they received intelligence from the Home Office.

A visit on March 17 last year found four illegal workers - an Albanian woman, an Afghanistan and an Iranian man, and a Turkish man illegally working while on a visitor visa in the UK.

They were all escorted from the premises and the branch was fined 30,000 from the Home Office.

During a second visit on February 2 this year, following further intelligence, four workers escaped through a ceiling window at the back of the kitchen, the committee report said.

Immigration officer Leonard Johnson told committee members in a meeting last week that the manager was evasive and used delay tactics during this visit, while two workers were nervous and visibly shaken.

They slowly walked behind the counter and into the kitchen area, he said. Four workers then managed to stack up equipment and escape through a back window.

Another worker attempted to leave as if he was a customer but he was stopped.

Two workers who did not escape were found to be working illegally. An Afghanistan man arrested during the first visit in March 2022 and a failed asylum seeker of Albanian nationality were escorted from the premises.

During a third raid by immigration enforcement officers at 11.34pm on May 19, entry was gained via a warrant from Westminster Magistrates Court and two illegal workers were found, the report said.

A warning of a fine was left at the premises.

The councils licensing sub-committee made a decision on August 2 to suspend the restaurants licence for three months with immediate effect.

A reduction in the restaurants late night hours has also been ordered, and the manager banned from working at the branch.

Right to work audits must be carried out no less than 12 times a year, the committee decision said.

The Group Operations Manager for Woody Grill Group said they were both embarrassed and disappointed over the emergence of illegal workers at the Shepherds Bush branch, in a statement published by the council.

They claimed no other illegal workers were employed at any other Woody Grill branch.

That illegal workers were employed at the premises is unacceptable, the operations manager said.

As a Group we should have removed [the general manager] rather than try to retrain him. Once that retraining proved to have been ineffective, we should have moved him on sooner. We know this was our responsibility.

The general manager has now been removed from his position at the Uxbridge Road branch and the chains highest achieving general manager installed there instead, the statement said.
B ritains asylum system is like a leaky bucket, a Cabinet minister admitted on Tuesday as he defended the transfer of migrants to a barge off Dorset.

The reality is, if youve got a hole in the bucket and if you keep filling it, youre always going to have a problem, Justice Secretary Alex Chalk said on Times Radio.

The reality we have at the moment is there are still people coming over the Channel. The boats are still coming over, he said.

So what weve got to do, act one scene one, is to stop the boats, because once you stop the boats, there is no longer water flowing into that bucket. And that is why the Illegal Migration Bill is necessarily robust. Its robust but its fair.

The first 15 migrants, including asylum claimants, on Monday boarded the Bibby Stockholm barge moored in Portland, but the Care4Calais charity said up to 20 others were granted a last-minute reprieve after legal challenges.

The small number who boarded was frustrating, Mr Chalk said on BBC Breakfast.

It requires a huge amount of time and effort and organisation to procure these alternatives. I think the British people would expect their Government to do that if it is our cheaper alternative it doesnt diminish our resolve to solve this.

Mr Chalk also defended a new professional enablers task force announced by Home Secretary Suella Braverman to identify crooked lawyers, after reports that some solicitors were submitting false asylum claims in return for a fee.

Chalk, a barrister himself, said the overwhelming majority of lawyers do a good job. But a small minority were actively corrupt, he said after a Daily Mail expose last month, accusing them of lying, making up stories, abusing the legal system.

Such lawyers should be stripped out root and branch, the minister said.

But the Law Society, which represents solicitors in England and Wales, said the necessary powers were already in place if the government wanted to clamp down.

This task force which they tout with such aggressive language has been in existence for months now, David McNeill of the Law Society told BBC Radio 4.

So really from our perspective it just looks like a bit of lawyer-bashing as a distraction from really bad news for the Government on the number of asylum seekers now accommodated in hotels - 50,000, he said.

Its not in our interest to have any solicitor acting improperly or crookedly, but this announcement today is something of a red herring.

The Bibby Stockholm will take up to 500 male migrants when at full capacity, which Mr Chalk conceded was only a small minority of the 50,000 who were in hotels as of June - up by around 10,000 from December.

But the backlog of asylum cases has decreased by 17,000 over recent weeks, he told GB News.
S adiq Khan on Tuesday accused the Government of stoking division and hate after a foul-mouthed attack by a leading Conservative MP on asylum seekers.

The London Mayor spoke out after Justice Secretary Alex Chalk defended the remark by Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson, who said that any asylum seekers unhappy at being relocated to a barge off Dorset can f*** off back to France.

Mr Chalk said his Conservative colleague had used salty language in expressing the righteous indignation of the British public, insisting that asylum seekers should make their case in France rather than crossing the Channel.

Were a country that believes in fairness and playing by the rules and those who dont play by the rules  rightly cause indignation, and I think Lee was expressing that indignation in his own way, the Cabinet minister said on Times Radio.

But Mr Khan stressed: Language matters. This lot have been in Government for 13 years. After their abject failure all thats left is stoking up more division and hate. We deserve so much better.

Labour MP Rupa Huq accused the Tories of desperate gutter politics, adding it looks like they are trying to regain their reputation as the nasty party.

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Alistair Carmichael said Mr Chalks defence of Mr Anderson was toe-curling - and highlighted that his party is targeting the ministers Cheltenham seat as a key marginal in the next General Election.

Lifelong Conservative voters expect decent and respectful political debate, something completely lacking amongst Conservative MPs, Mr Carmichael said.

People in Blue Wall Cheltenham would have been spitting out their cornflakes listening to Alex Chalk this morning.

Independent MP Diane Abbott called Mr Andersons comments a new low even for the Tories.

TV presenter Carol Vorderman condemned Mr Chalk for defending his colleague. What does this country now look like to the outside world with this rabble of politicians? she tweeted.

A total of 15 people seeking asylum were moved to the Bibby Stockholm barge in Portland on Monday.

The asylum seekers, who are all believed to be adult men aged between 18 and 65, arrived on buses amid a heavy police presence. But up to 20 others won legal challenges against their relocation.

If they dont like barges then they should f*** off back to France, Mr Anderson told the Express website.

He added: I think people have just had enough. These people come across the Channel in small boats, if they dont like the conditions they are housed in here then they should go back to France, or better not come at all in the first place.

The floating accommodation block will ultimately house up to 500 men moved from hotels or elsewhere in Britain.

The barge, owned by a Swedish firm, was previously used to house oil field workers and migrants in other countries.

The UK Government has moved people there in a bid to cut the bill for sheltering migrants in hotels, which it puts at 6 million a day.

Mr Chalk said France is a safe country and a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights.

People should claim asylum in the first country  its not like there should be an open shopping list of where you want to go, he added.

(Mr Anderson) expresses himself in his characteristically robust terms but there is a lot of sense, in my respectful view, in what Lee says.
W orld leaders have been warned by the United Nations chief climate change scientist to stick to the shift from petrol and diesel to electric cars, and that opening new oil reserves was storing up very difficult choices for future governments.

In an exclusive interview with the Standard, Professor Jim Skea said that political leaders had a particular responsibility as the ringmasters or ringmistresses to lead the battle against global warming, which he warned may be happening faster than expected.

He also emphasised that they would be judged as global leaders, or not, on tacking climate change by whether net zero pledges are backed up by credible actions.

The professor of sustainable energy at Imperial College London was elected at the end of last month as chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the authoritative UN body on climate change science. In this role, he does not comment on the net zero plans of individual countries.

But his appointment came just days before Rishi Sunak sparked an outcry by backing hundreds of new oil and gas licences for the North Sea.

Professor Skea said that the IPCC had laid out that to limit global warming to two degrees above pre-industrial levels, 50 per cent of current oil reserves would need to stay in the ground. He explained: If you continue to add to these reserves, it adds to the amount of oil you need to leave in the ground  if youre going to meet the Paris (landmark 2015 climate summit) goals.

Sure, we can add to reserves now for energy security reasons. But that means that somebody in the future is going to have to make the choice. Do we leave that oil in the ground? Or do we meet our Paris goals? Climate change is a chronic disease of the planet... so the decisions we make now really have consequences for the future.

US president Joe Biden, Chinas Xi Jinping, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, and Rishi Sunak are among the leaders facing growing calls to act.

Concerns are rising that the Prime Minister and Sir Keir Starmer may scale back on eco-commitments as the general election approaches, the cost-of-living crisis continues and after the Ulez extension to Outer London was seen to have handed the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election to the Tories.

A Cabinet debate is reported to be happening over milestones on the way to phasing out the sale of new diesel and petrol cars by 2030, a date Mr Sunak appeared recently to wobble over before reconfirming support for it. Professor Skea said: Moving to electric vehicles is very much part of that transition (away from fossil fuels) that would need to be made if were going to reach the Paris goals. So, we need to stick to it.

The UKs own Climate Change Committee recently warned Britains leadership position on addressing global warming had been very substantially challenged by government chaos and actions over the last year or so.

Tackling climate change needs society wide action, including from governments, businesses, community groups and citizens. But political leaders have a particular responsibility because they set the tone for it all, he added. They are the kind of ringmasters or ringmistresses that try to co-ordinate the different actions.

As for how citizens could put more pressure on governments, he added: Keep voting... is the key issue. He highlighted how citizen assemblies had backed far more ambitious recommendations than politicians appear to be ready for, showing an appetite for change once economic and social impacts are explained.

For some parts of the world, including islands and developing countries, climate change is absolutely an existential threat, while other nations are less vulnerable and better able to mitigate against it so the whole planet is not necessarily going to fall apart.

But Professor Skea was clear: Climate change is happening now. You can see it on your TV screens, you can see even looking out the window, deciding what clothes you need to wear when you go out. All of this was predicted, but perhaps its happening more quickly than was anticipated.

Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion are keeping the issue of fossil fuels on the agenda but they may be alienating people with more moderate views who also have an important role to play in taking climate action.
B ritains data watchdog has annnounced it is urgently probing a huge cyber security breach at the organisation tasked with protecting elections in the UK.

Details of tens of millions of voters could have been accessed by hackers who targeted the Electoral Commission.

The elections watchdog said there was little risk of hostile actors being able to influence the outcome of a vote, but apologised for the breach in its systems.

The hack, which was publicly confirmed on Tuesday, allowed the attackers to access reference copies of electoral registers containing the names and addresses of people registered to vote between 2014 and 2022.

The Information Commissioners Office said it was investigating the hack as a matter of urgency.

In a statement posted on social media, it said: The Electoral Commission told us about this incident and we are currently making enquiries. We recognise this news may cause alarm to those who are worried they may be affected.

We want to reassure people that we are investigating as a matter of urgency.

The attack was identified in October 2022, but the hackers had first been able to access the commissions systems in August 2021.

Shaun McNally, the Electoral Commissions chief executive, said: The UKs democratic process is significantly dispersed and key aspects of it remain based on paper documentation and counting.

This means it would be very hard to use a cyber-attack to influence the process.

Nevertheless, the successful attack on the Electoral Commission highlights that organisations involved in elections remain a target, and need to remain vigilant to the risks to processes around our elections.

He said significant measures had been taken to improve security on the commissions IT systems.

We know which systems were accessible to the hostile actors, but are not able to know conclusively what files may or may not have been accessed, he said.

While the data contained in the electoral registers is limited, and much of it is already in the public domain, we understand the concern that may have been caused by the registers potentially being accessed and apologise to those affected.

The hackers were able to access reference copies of the electoral registers, held by the commission for research purposes and to enable permissibility checks on political donations.

The registers held at the time of the cyber-attack include the name and address of anyone in the UK who was registered to vote between 2014 and 2022, as well as the names of those registered as overseas voters.

But they did not include the details of those registered anonymously.

The register for each year holds the details of around 40 million individuals, which were accessible to the hostile actors, although this includes people on the open registers, whose information is already in the public domain.

The National Cyber Security Centre said it had provided the commission with expert advice and support.

A spokesman said: Defending the UKs democratic processes is a priority for the NCSC and we provide a range of guidance to help strengthen the cyber resilience of our electoral systems.

The Information Commissioners Office said it was looking into the incident.

We recognise this news may cause alarm to those who are worried they may be affected and we want to reassure the public that we are investigating as a matter of urgency, a spokesman said.

In the meantime, if anyone is concerned about how their data has been handled, they should get in touch with the ICO or check our website for advice and support.

Labours deputy leader Angela Rayner said: This deeply concerning attack serves as a reminder of the critical importance of Britains resilience to cyber-attacks.

Our democracy is a foundation of our society and every effort must be made to protect it.

This serious incident must be fully and thoroughly investigated so lessons can be learned.
As a result of the exchanges, 70 National Guard servicemen who were captured at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant (NPP) were returned home, commander of the National Guard Oleksandr Pivnenko said.

"During this time, based on the results of the exchanges, we have already managed to return 70 National Guard servicemen who were captured at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. This work continues and will continue until all our defenders are at home," Pivnenko wrote on his Telegram channel.

The National Guard commander said that on Tuesday he held a meeting with the families of military personnel of military unit 3041, who provided protection for the Chornobyl nuclear power plant and were taken prisoner by Russia.

"Once again, we discussed issues related to the exchange process itself, mechanisms for accessing information about prisoners of war. The main work here, of course, is the structures and bodies involved in this at the state level," Pivnenko said.

He stressed that in order to help those released from captivity, it is important to solve the issues of treatment and rehabilitation, as well as financial, social, documentary aspects that require the interaction of the relevant commanders and officials.
P rime Minister Rishi Sunak is planning to ban new oil boilers and introduce air-source heat pumps in off-grid homes from 2026.

The ban would impact the houses that are not connected to the gas grid and would see rural homes face these restrictions about 10 years before other UK homes face bans.

However, fuel-poverty campaigners and some Conservative MPs are worried about how the plan will financially impact the 1.7 million rural homes in Britain and, subsequently, if it will put people off from supporting the Tories.

According to the Energy Saving Trust, installing an oil boiler usually costs up to 4,000 while an air-source heat pump costs around 14,000 and a ground-source heat pump can cost up to 49,000 based on the type of installation. There are also worries about the lack of trained engineers to install these non-oil-using heating alternatives.

Today, on Tuesday, August 8, Tory MP George Eustice has written in the Daily Telegraph listing all his concerns, likening the plans to having their own version of the Ulez dumped on those living in rural homes.

The former Environment Secretary said: They should call off the ban on the sale of boilers and pursue a different strategy, which would be to properly incentivise renewable fuels in those boilers.

One suggestion he came up with was to convert existing kerosene boilers to run on hydrotreated vegetable oil made from waste cooking oil or vegetable waste, which he said would cost just a couple of hundred pounds to do. This way, he claimed, carbon emissions would be reduced by 88 per cent for a fraction of the cost.

Mr Eustice also said that instead of committing to technologies now, the Government should let innovation continue to take place so new solutions supporting the countrys net-zero goals can be discussed.

The Tory MPs comments were supported by the Country Land and Business Association, which said 2026 was nearly a decade too early for the ban and that starting this change with rural homes was targeting the highest-hanging fruit first.
C oncentrations of potentially harmful chemicals in dust collected from the International Space Station (ISS) exceed those found in floor dust from many American and western European homes, new research reveals.

In the first study of its kind, scientists analysed a sample of dust from air filters within the ISS and compared them to organic contaminants found in houses on Earth.

Researchers from the University of Birmingham, as well as the Nasa Glenn Research Centre, USA, say their findings could guide the design and construction of future spacecraft.

Our findings have implications for future space stations and habitats, where it may be possible to exclude many contaminant sources by careful material choices in the early stages of design and construction

Co-author Professor Stuart Harrad, from the University of Birmingham, said: Our findings have implications for future space stations and habitats, where it may be possible to exclude many contaminant sources by careful material choices in the early stages of design and construction.

While concentrations of organic contaminants discovered in dust from the ISS often exceeded median values found in homes and other indoor environments across the US and western Europe, levels of these compounds were generally within the range found on earth.

Contaminants found in the space dust included polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD), novel brominated flame retardants (BFRs), organophosphate esters (OPEs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

BFRs and OPEs can be used to meet fire safety regulations in consumer and commercial applications like electrical and electronic equipment, building insulation, furniture fabrics and foams.

PAHs are present in hydrocarbon fuels and emitted from combustion processes.

PCBs were used in building and window sealant, and in electrical equipment, while PFAS have been used in applications like stain proofing agents for fabrics and clothing.

But the researchers say their effects on human health have led to some of the chemicals being banned or limited in use.

Some of the chemicals are classed as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) under the UNEP Stockholm Convention, and some PAH are classified as human carcinogens.

According to the researchers, the use of off-the-shelf items brought on board by astronauts for personal use, such as cameras, MP3 players, tablet computers, medical devices, and clothing, are potential sources of many of the chemicals detected.

The air inside the ISS is constantly recirculated with eight to 10 changes per hour.

While carbon dioxide and gaseous trace contaminant removal occurs, the degree to which this removes chemicals like BFRs is unknown.

High levels of radiation can accelerate the ageing of materials, including the breakdown of plastic goods into micro and nanoplastics that become airborne in the microgravity environment.

The study suggests this may cause concentrations and relative abundance of chemical contaminants in the ISS dust to differ notably from those in dust from indoor microenvironments on Earth.

Scientists measured concentrations of a range of target chemicals in dust collected from the ISS.

In a microgravity environment like that on the space station, particles float around according to ventilation system flow patterns, eventually depositing on surfaces and air intakes.

Screens covering the filters accumulate this debris, requiring weekly vacuuming to maintain efficient filtration.

The material in ISS vacuum bags comprises previously airborne particles, clothing lint, hair and other debris generally identified as spacecraft cabin dust.

Some vacuum bags were returned to Earth for studies of this unique dust, with a small sample shipped to the University of Birmingham for analysis in the study.

The findings are published in Environmental Science and Technology Letters.
A council is investigating potential breaches of the law after the total demolition of a landmark pub within 48 hours of a severe fire.

South Staffordshire Council said its officers had carried out a site visit to the Crooked House in Himley, near Dudley, on Monday but had not agreed to the demolition of the whole structure or deemed that it was necessary.

Police and fire service experts are investigating the cause of a fire late on Saturday, which gutted the 18th century pub, two weeks after it was sold by brewer Marstons to a firm based in Warwickshire.

Dudley North MP Marco Longhi has said he is completely devastated and angry at what has taken place at the pub, and has written to Staffordshire Police to question them on how they are conducting their investigation.

The Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, is calling for the inn  known as Britains wonkiest pub due to mining subsidence  to be rebuilt brick by brick and for a ban on any other future use for the site.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, a day after a mechanical digger was used to reduce the remaining structure to rubble, the leader of South Staffordshire Council, Councillor Roger Lees, said: Our officers carried out a site visit to the site yesterday, prior to the demolition of the building.

Officers agreed a programme of works with the landowners representative to ensure the safety of the building and the wider site.

The agreed course of action included the removal of three elements of the first-floor front elevation only. This was only to avoid the weak parts of the structure from falling.

At no point did the council agree the demolition of the whole structure nor was this deemed necessary.

Cllr Lees said: This council finds the manner in which the situation was managed following the fire completely unacceptable and contrary to instructions provided by our officers.

As such, we are currently investigating potential breaches of both the Town and Country Planning Act and the Buildings Act.

The councillors statement said demolition of a building should be carried out in accordance with Schedule 2 Part 11 Class B of The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015.

Mr Lees added: The steps required by the legislation were not carried out in this case. We have referred these matters to our legal team with a view to taking enforcement action.

As soon as we were made aware of the breaches during the demolition, we notified the Health and Safety Executive.

We are also liaising with many other relevant statutory bodies, including Historic England, the police and fire services, amongst others.

These bodies will take the lead on investigating the issues surrounding the fire, safety of the unauthorised demolition and securing the ongoing safety of the site.

Our own investigation is in its early stages and whilst it continues at pace, we as ask for time to consider the facts thoroughly to ensure any future actions are meaningful and proportionate.

The council is incredibly saddened by the loss of the building which, whilst not listed, was a heritage asset and important landmark to the local area and community.

Over recent months, the council had been in conversation with the relevant national bodies regarding how best to protect and preserve this important heritage asset.

There have been multiple reports that mounds of dirt were blocking access roads to the pub after the fire started, something Mr Street confirmed in a letter to the police and fire services.

Staffordshire Police have said the force is progressing a number of lines of enquiry alongside South Staffordshire Council and continues to ask anyone with any information relevant to the inquiry to get in touch as soon as possible.

Chief Inspector Chris Cotton said: We recognise the cultural heritage and significance of the building within communities in the area and we understand that people are concerned about what happened over the last few days.

Id like to reiterate that speculation into the cause of the fire is not helpful at this time.

Officers have been working hard to examine all of the evidence available and continue to speak to members of the public who have been forthcoming with information which can help our investigation.

A cordon was in place temporarily whilst we carried out inquiries at the scene, but, due to the unsafe structure of the building, officers were pulled back and the scene was stood down.

Since then, the area has been in the care of the landowners.

Conservative MP Mr Longhi said in a statement posted on Facebook: I refuse to believe that what has taken place is normal procedure.

I have written to the police to question them on how they are conducting their investigation.

Surely, they would have needed access to the site to carry on their investigation with the help of forensics? How are they going to do this now that the building has been demolished?

Did the Police intervene during demolition? There are many questions that need answering and a thorough investigation needs to take place.
T he last former Minneapolis police officer convicted for his role in the killing of George Floyd has been sentenced to four years and nine months behind bars.

Tou Thao did not show repentance or admit any wrongdoing as he was sentenced on Monday for aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.

Thao held back concerned bystanders as white ex-officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyds neck for 9.5 minutes while he pleaded for his life on May 25, 2020.

A bystanders video captured Floyd, who is Black, saying I cant breathe. His murder sparked protests worldwide and highlighted police brutality and racism in the US.

At his sentencing hearing, Thao said he never intended to hurt anyone that day.

He spoke about his growth as a Christian during his 340 days behind bars but denied any responsibility for Floyds death.

I did not commit these crimes, Thao said. My conscience is clear. I will not be a Judas nor join a mob in self-preservation or betray my God.

Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill said he would have liked to have heard some kind of repentance from Thao on Monday.

After three years of reflection, I was hoping for a little more remorse, regret, acknowledgement of some responsibility  and less preaching, he said.

Thaos lawyer, Robert Paule, who called Thao a good and decent man with a family in court, said afterward that they will appeal in both the state and federal cases.

Assistant Attorney General Erin Eldridge said during the hearing that Floyds final words reverberated across the globe.

George Floyd narrated his own death over the course of a restraint that lasted more than nine long minutes until he lost consciousness, stopped breathing and his heart stopped beating, she said.

A protest in Minneapolis in May 2021 / AFP via Getty Images

Thao facilitated Floyds death, she said, because he stood by and allowed it to happen and stopped others from helping the dying man, including a Minneapolis firefighter who was a trained emergency medical technician and could have performed CPR on him.

He knew better, and he was trained to do better, Ms Eldridge said.

In his ruling that Thao was guilty, Judge Cahill said Thaos actions separated Chauvin and two other former officers from the crowd, allowing his colleagues to continue restraining Floyd and preventing bystanders from providing medical aid.

There is proof beyond a reasonable doubt that Thaos actions were objectively unreasonable from the perspective of a reasonable police officer, when viewed under the totality of the circumstances, he wrote.

He concluded: Thaos actions were even more unreasonable in light of the fact that he was under a duty to intervene to stop the other officers excessive use of force and was trained to render medical aid.

Thao had rejected a plea bargain on the state charge, saying it would be lying to plead guilty when he didnt think he was in the wrong.

He instead agreed to let Cahill decide the case based on evidence from Chauvins 2021 murder trial and the federal civil rights trial in 2022 of Thao and former officers Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng. That trial in federal court ended in convictions for all three.

Chauvin pleaded guilty to federal civil rights charges instead of going to trial a second time, though he plans an appeal of his state conviction to the US Supreme Court.

File photo of Derek Chauvin in June 2021 / AP

Lane and Kueng pleaded guilty to state charges of aiding and abetting manslaughter.

Lane and Kueng received three and 3.5-year state sentences respectively, which they are serving concurrently with their federal sentences of 2.5 years and three years.

Thao is Hmong American, while Kueng is Black and Lane is white.
A suspected meteor shower over the skies of Melbourne was actually a Russian rocket re-entering the earths atmosphere, the Australian Space Agency says.

There were multiple reports from Victoria and Tasmania of a bright light streaking across the sky leaving a trail of what appeared to be flames.

The object was thought by some people to be a meteor, but the Australian Space Agency said it was most probably man-made.

The flashes of light seen across Melbourne skies overnight were likely the remnants of a Russian Soyuz-2 rocket re-entering the Earths atmosphere, the agency said in a statement.

Launch of the Soyuz-2 rocket occurred from Plesetsk Cosmodrome earlier in the evening. According to Russian authorities the launch placed a new generation GLONASS-K2 global navigation satellite into orbit.

The space agency said Russian authorities gave notice of the launch and the remnants of the rocket were planned to re-enter the atmosphere into the ocean off the south-east coast of Tasmania.

The Australian Space Agency will continue to monitor the outcomes of this re-entry with our government partners.

Astronomer Alan Duffy from Swinburne University told ABC in Australia that the colours produced as the object streaked across the sky suggested it was man-made material.

So, pieces were coming off this object and in turn they were burning so what this means is that what we are seeing up there is something very large, its travelling very fast, Professor Duffy told ABC Radio Melbourne.

Its coming down from orbit some 7 kilometres per second.
A woman suffered a horrific leg injury in what is thought to be the first documented shark attack at a New York City beach for 50 years on Monday.

The victim, 50, was rushed from Rockaway Beach in the Queens neighbourhood to Jamaica Hospital where she is in a critical condition.

The attack prompted lifeguards to clear the beach as police in a helicopter searched unsuccessfully for the shark, the parks department said in a statement.

We hope for a full recovery for this swimmer, the parks department said. Though this was a frightening event, we want to remind New Yorkers that shark bites in Rockaway are extremely rare.

Multiple shark attacks were reported a month ago northeast of Rockaway, in the waters off Fire Island, off Quogue, a village on Long Island, and off Babylon, New York.

Sand tiger sharks, which can grow to 10 feet, have been spotted in relatively large numbers along the surf line off Long Island this summer.

Experts at the Florida Museums International Shark Attack File say they are attracted to the bays and baitfish of the Long Island coast.
A round 1,400 people including tourists have been evacuated as a huge wildfire tearing through land in southern Portugal continues to spread.

More than 850 firefighters and six water-bombing planes were on Tuesday tackling the blaze, which has scorched thousands of hectares of land since is began on Saturday, and is heading towards the Algarve.

Nineteen tiny villages, four tourist developments and a camping site have been evacuated out of precaution. Several roads have also been blocked off, authorities said.

The fire began on Saturday in the municipality of Odemira, in the Alentejo region, but has since spread south towards the Algarve, one of Portugals top tourist destinations and a favourite amongst British holidaymakers.

Shortly before sunset on Monday, the sky in Odemira turned dark as a huge smoke cloud filled the air.

Strong winds and high temperatures expected to reach around 40C have complicated efforts to fight the flames, which have destroyed around 6,700 hectares of land.

Jose Ribeiro, commander of the emergency and civil protection authority, said weather conditions were expected to remain a challenge.

Odemiras mayor, Helder Guerreiro, called the situation critical, difficult and complex while Mr Ribeiro said there was a lot of work ahead to bring the wildfire under control.

It is a worrying situation, Mr Ribeiro told reporters during a morning briefing on Tuesday, adding there were two active fronts, with one heading to Monchique, a lush green mountainous area in the Algarves countryside.

Monchique, which last burned in 2018, is popular among locals and tourists due to its thermal springs and hotels. It is among the 19 small villages that have been evacuated.

A firefighter airplane flies through the smoke columns of a wildfire in Carrascal, Proenca a Nova on August 6 / AFP via Getty Images

Southern European countries such as Portugal have been grappling with record-breaking temperatures during the peak summer tourist season, prompting authorities to warn of health risks.

Scientists say heat waves are becoming more frequent, intense and spread out across seasons due to climate change.

Monday saw a temperature of 46.4C in the Portuguese district of Santarem, the countrys hottest temperature of the year so far.

Three districts in Portugals north were placed under red alert on Tuesday as temperatures were expected to rise to 41C in the northern city of Castelo Branco.

In Alentejo, thermometers should reach 40C in Evora and 38C in Beja.

Authorities have declared more than 120 municipalities across Portugal, including in Lisbon, Alentejo and Algarve, at maximum risk of wildfires.

The weather conditions we are going to experience in the coming days means any small occurrence (fire) could become a big one, Civil Protection secretary of state Patricia Gaspar told a news conference.
During the day, about 20 clashes took place between the Ukrainian military and Russian occupiers on the front line, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports in a report published on Tuesday evening.

Ukrainian defenders continue to keep the defense in the Kupiansk, Bakhmut directions.

During the day, the Defense Forces repelled enemy attacks in the vicinity of Klischiyivka, as well as in the areas of Avdiyivka and Pivnichne in Donetsk region.

In the Maryinka direction, the Ukrainian military continues to hold back the offensive of the invaders.

In the Shakhtarsk direction, the enemy tried unsuccessfully to restore the lost position in the Staromayorske area.

"At the same time, the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to conduct an offensive operation in the Melitopol and Berdiansk directions, consolidate on the achieved lines, carry out counter-battery measures," the General Staff noted.
V ladimir Putin is supplying the RussianNational Guard with heavy weaponry to ensure regime security after the Wagner Group mutiny, British defence chiefs said on Tuesday.

They believe it is being better equipped to deal with internal security threats after it was seen to have failed to intervene against the aborted revolt led by Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin.

In its latest intelligence update, the Ministry of Defence in London said: On 4 August 2023, President Putin signed into law a measure which will allow Rosgvardia, the Russian National Guard, to be equipped with heavy weaponry.

A sprawling organisation of up to 200,000 frontline personnel, Rosgvardia was created in its modern form in 2016 and is led by Putins former bodyguard Viktor Zolotov. The decision to strengthen the force follows the abortive Wagner mutiny of June 2023.

The briefing added: Despite Zolotovs claim that his force performed excellently during the mutiny, there is no evidence that Rosgvardia carried out any effective action against Wagner: exactly the sort of internal security threat it was designed to repress.

With Zolotov previously suggesting that heavy equipment should include artillery and attack helicopters, the move suggests that the Kremlin is doubling down on resourcing Rosgvardia as one of the key organisations to ensure regime security.

In Ukraine, Russian missiles struck the centre of Pokrovsk, in the eastern Donetsk province, twice on Monday night killing eight people, including five civilians, regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said.

The second missile hit the Ukraine-controlled town near the frontline 40 minutes after the first, the governor said. It killed and injured first responders, according to local reports.

Two rescuers and one military person were among the dead. Nine policemen and one military person were wounded, but most of the 31 injured were civilians, including a member of the local city council, Ukrainian officials said.

Kateryna, a 58-year-old resident of Pokrovsk, was at home when she heard the first blast and thought that the attack spared her. She even told someone who called to check on her that she was alright but at this moment the place was hit for the second time.

"Thats it, bang  and thats all. A flame filled up my eyes. I fell down on the floor, on the ground. My eyes (hurt) a lot," said Kateryna, pointing at multiple scratches around her eyes. She had bandages on her forehead.

The footage from the town showed rescuers going through the rubble, a wreckage of a car and an apartment building with torn down balconies.

Another resident, 75-year-old Lidia, said she was also on the phone at the moment of the second blast. She had picked up from the floor a torn white curtain covered with broken glass.

"Suddenly this flew out and wrapped me up. Then the window fell on me," she said sitting on her sofa.

"My back has cuts. I just got back from the hospital My knee and my thigh have cuts. I had glass here," she said pointing at her head.

Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine's presidential administration, reported two more civilian victims of Russian strikes in Kruhliakivka village in the Kharkiv region.

A 45-year-old woman and a man around 60 were killed and five people were injured, Kharkiv regional governor Oleh Synehubov said.
P olice in Australia are investigating after three people died in a suspected mushroom poisoning and a fourth was left fighting for their life.

Couple Don and Gail Patterson and her sister Heather Wilkinson died from symptoms consistent with death cap mushroom poisoning after eating lunch in the small Australian town of Leongatha, a two-hour drive south-east of Melbourne.

But in a case that has gripped the country, the 48-year-old relative who cooked the meal said she had no idea what happened, and that she would never hurt her family, reported the BBC.

She is being treated as a suspect, but police have stressed they are keeping an open mind.

A fourth person, Heather Wilkinsons husband Ian, is currently in a critical condition after eating the meal, according to local media reports.

The case unfolded when Gail, 70, and Don Patterson, 70, stopped for lunch with their grandchildren at their daughter-in-laws home, alongside the Wilkinsons - Gails sister, Heather, 66, and husband Ian.

Hours after the meal, all four guests took themselves to hospital with a medical complaint, before dying of what police believe to be caused by eating poisonous mushrooms.

Officers say the woman who served the meal was not taken ill, nor were her two children, but said it is not clear whether she ate the same food as her guests.

Speaking to reporters, Homicide Squad Detective Inspector Dean Thomas told a press conference the woman was a suspect because she cooked those meals, but said it was a complex case.

"At this point in time, the deaths are unexplained, he said in comments reported by Australian media. It could be very innocent, but we just dont know."

The families paid tribute to their loved ones in a statement published in the local South Gippsland Sentinel Times.

They were parents, grandparents, siblings, children and pillars of faith within our community, read the statement.

Their love, steadfast faith, and selfless service have left an indelible mark on our families, the Korumburra Baptist Church, the local community, and indeed, people around the globe.
J amie Dornan has admitted he was quite jealous of his long-time friend Robert Pattinsons early career success.

The Fifty Shades of Grey star, 41, has known Twilight actor Pattinson, 37, since before they were both famous.

But in the latest edition of Wireds Autocomplete Interview video series, Dornan said he felt jealous of his friend when his acting career skyrocketed thanks to his pivotal role in the Twilight saga from 2008 to 2012.

Ive known Rob[ert] forever, Dornan said. Hes a really good friend. I love him. I think hes one of the most interesting, exciting actors around.

I probably at one point was quite jealous early on. We were all friends back in London and Rob was going places and we werent. I think hes the nicest guy in the world.

Robert Pattinson in 2022 / Getty Images

Dornan is currently promoting new Netflix film Heart of Stone  which also stars Gal Gadot and Alia Bhatt.

The actor had various parts in his early career  but shot to fame when he was cast in the Fifty Shades of Grey series, which was adapted from the books of the same name.

Last month, the books author E. L. James said that it was a traumatic time when Fifty Shades was adapted for film.

Dornan starred alongside Dakota Johnson in the 2015 film, which was followed in succession by movies Fifty Shades Darker (2017) and Fifty Shades Freed (2018).

The erotic romance series follows Anastasia Steele (Johnson) as she begins a complicated relationship with young entrepreneur Christian Grey (Dornan), a billionaire who is fond of bondage.

Speaking on ITV programme Lorraine, James talked about the release of the films and said: There were some good bits, there were some not so good bits, but it was a huge learning experience and I gained a lot out of it in those terms and hopefully we get to do it again.

Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson in the Fifty Shades of Grey franchise / PA

James also opened up about a bout of amnesia she had suffered from, following a period she termed the great madness.

She said: In 2018, the stresses of all of this, the great madness and the movies and everything, suddenly my brain just decided to reset.

I lost seven years in terms of my memory and my husband found me sitting in our rather lovely beach house in Cornwall and asked me, Are you okay? and I didnt actually remember where I was, so it was a bit of a shock for him and he was quite scared that Id had a stroke.

The Fifty Shades Of Grey trilogy made James a millionaire many times over and in 2015 the Sunday Times Rich List estimated her fortune at 75 million.

In 2012, publishers said that Fifty Shades Of Grey, the first in the trilogy, was the best-selling book in the UK since records began.
T he UKs Electoral Commission has admitted that it suffered a cyberattack over almost two years that potentially exposed the personal details relating to roughly 40 million voters.

The London-based elections watchdog announced the data breach on Tuesday afternoon and issued an apology to the public, as well as an FAQ webpage with details on the cyberattack and how the investigation has been handled.

The Electoral Commission said hackers had been surreptitiously accessing its computer network since August 2021. The attackers had access to servers that held the watchdogs email, control systems, and copies of the electoral registers.

This means the hackers would have been able to access the full names and addresses of all people in the UK registered to vote between 2014 and 2022, as well as the names of overseas voters. Anonymous voters are not affected by the data breach, the watchdog said.

The cyberattack was only detected in October 2022, after which the elections watchdog contacted the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and third-party external security experts to help investigate and secure its systems.

We regret that sufficient protections were not in place to prevent this cyberattack. Since identifying it we have taken significant steps, with the support of specialists, to improve the security, resilience, and reliability of our IT systems, said the Electoral Commissions chief executive Shaun McNally.

While the data contained in the electoral registers is limited, and much of it is already in the public domain, we understand the concern that may have been caused by the registers potentially being accessed and apologise to those affected.

However, he emphasised that it would be very hard to use a cyberattack to influence elections, as the UKs democratic process is significantly dispersed and key aspects of it remain based on paper documentation and counting.

Worryingly, the Electoral Commission said that it was still not able to establish what exactly the hackers had been able to look at or what information they might have stolen.

We know which systems were accessible to the hostile actors, but are not able to know conclusively what files may or may not have been accessed, added Mr McNally.

The watchdog has made it clear that the information exposed in the data breach would not be enough for someone to impersonate any voter under current voting rules, and the cyberattack will not impact your ability to take part in any future elections.

It added that the incident would not have an impact on anyones credit score.

This issue will be of less concern to users who have agreed for their names and addresses to be included in the open register, which is already publicly available, but it could be upsetting to people who opted out of the open register.

For these people, the Electoral Commission said it could only apologise. It said that it has taken steps to secure its systems better, including strengthening network login requirements, improving the monitoring and alert system for active threats, and reviewing and updating firewall policies.

Be prepared, more scams are coming

According to Rik Ferguson, vice president of security intelligence at US automated cybersecurity firm Forescout, consumers should definitely prepare for more scams to come their way.

This [cyberattack] represents another very large trove of data making its way, in all probability, to criminal underground marketplaces for sale and weaponisation, he told The Standard.

People should be working under the assumption that their names, addresses, and other personally identifiable information is in the hands of criminals and will actively be used to build more credible attack vehicles, such as email, SMS, or even telephone-based scams.

Mr Ferguson advises that we should all treat every unsolicited attempt at contact, whether it be an SMS text message, WhatsApp message, email or private message on a social media platform with suspicion.

If you are contacted unexpectedly and asked to give over information, to click a link, log into a website, or allow someone to access your data or systems, then do not comply or respond without doing your own verification, he explained.

Use links that you have typed yourself or stored in your own bookmarks, make your own call to numbers listed on those sites, and verify with friends and family if you are at all suspicious. Report any suspicious activity to Action Fraud.

There is mounting criticism online about why the Electoral Commission took so long to reveal the cyberattack to the public.

Several tech firms have told The Standard that a key problem is that many parts of the UK governments critical computer infrastructure sorely need an update, and cyberattacks like this will keep happening as there is an inconsistency in IT security that varies from department to department.

So many systems lag behind the needed updates and upgrades in order to enable an effective cybersecurity capability. Increase the use of automation and artificial intelligence. There is a critical skills gap in cybersecurity that we simply cannot hire our way out of, said Morgan Wright, chief security advisor at US-based cybersecurity firm SentinelOne.
Over the past day, the aircraft of the Ukrainian Defense Forces have inflicted nine strikes on the areas of concentration of personnel, weapons and military equipment of the Russian occupiers, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports in a report published on Tuesday evening.

Also during the day, missile and artillery units hit two command posts, five artillery weapons in firing positions, an ammunition depot and two enemy electronic warfare stations.
Former heads of the Gendarmerie were sent to trial by the prosecutors of the Military Section of the General Prosecutor's Office in the file regarding the protest of 10 August 2018, 312 injured persons becoming civil parties in the process, according to a press release from the General Prosecutor's Office.

It is about colonel (r) Gheorghe Sebastian Cucos, former head of the Romanian Gendarmerie, colonel Laurentiu Cazan, former deputy general director of the Bucharest Gendarmerie, currently an officer within the Gendarmerie and colonel Catalin Sindile, former first deputy head of the Romanian Gendarmerie.

The three are accused of abuse of office, and Laurentiu Cazan for the crime of intellectual forgery.In the same file, 13 other officers and non-commissioned officers from the Bucharest Gendarmerie were sent to trial for abusive behavior or complicity in this crime.According to the source, on 10 August 2018, at 11:11 p.m., on the occasion of the protest rally that took place in Piata Victoriei in the very core of Bucharest, in front of the Government building, colonel Laurentiu Cazan, as the commander of the action, as well as Gheorghe Cucos and Ionut Sindile, as coordinators of the same action, performed their duties in a defective manner and ordered the subordinate gendarmes, in violation of the legal provisions, to intervene by force in order to disperse the entire mass of protesters present in the square, approximately 30,000 people, an intervention that they actually led later.Their actions had the consequences of restricting the freedom of assembly and the right to physical and mental integrity of the demonstrators present in Victoriei Square, fundamental rights provided for by the Romanian Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), as well as causing physical suffering or injuries which required between one and 50 days of medical care to heal a number of 433 people, the investigators say.The prosecutors specify that, in this file, there were also settlement solutions, two dismissals against two defendants, with which two plea agreements were later concluded in terms of committing the crime of abusive behavior, as well as other dismissals in order to identify some gendarmes regarding whom, from the investigations carried out, there were indications of the commission of criminal acts.Until 1 August 2023, 312 of the injured persons were civil parties in the case.The military prosecutors ordered the introduction into the criminal process, as civilly responsible parties, of the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Gendarmerie and the General Directorate of Gendarmerie of the Municipality of Bucharest.The file was sent for trial to the Bucharest Military Court.
At the Nadlac II Border Crossing, 38 migrants were caught in three vehicles, driven by Romanian drivers."According to the documents accompanying the goods, the drivers were transporting installations and car components for commercial companies from France and Italy. Following the detailed control of the means of transport, 38 foreign citizens were discovered hidden in the cargo compartments. The persons were picked up and transported to the headquarters of the sector for investigations, where, following the checks, the border police established that they are citizens of Bangladesh, India, Egypt, Pakistan and Morocco, who entered Romania legally on the basis of personal documents," the Arad Border Police reported on Tuesday.Also, at the Nadlac I Border Crossing, 15 people from Pakistan, aged between 20 and 49, were found in a van driven by a 23-year-old Romanian.In all cases above-mentioned, the drivers are investigated for migrant trafficking.
Senate Chairman Nicolae Ciuca, the national leader of the National Liberal Party (PNL), said on Tuesday that when the amendments to the law on special pensions are agreed with the European Commission, Parliament will urgently convene.

"As soon as we have the amendments finalised, discussed and agreed with the [European] Commission we will urgently have a plenary session," Ciuca said at the PNL headquarters.

He emphasised that they would rather the amendments to the law on special pensions be adopted in an extraordinary session.

Last week, the Constitutional Court decided to resubmit to Parliament the law amending the special pensions after declaring unconstitutional some articles therein.
Kansas City Star. August 2, 2023.

Editorial: Ashcrofts pornographic rule has Missouri libraries confused about what kids can see

One of the best things about childhood is getting to go to the library. Oh, sure, public libraries are for adults too  but for kids, theyre often magical. Its not just all the thousands of books, but the stories within those books that spark the imagination. Getting a first library card is a rite of passage, a step into a wider world, a claiming of ones own emerging identity.

For some Missouri kids, though, obtaining that first card has become slightly more difficult.

The board of St. Charles City-County Library in eastern Missouri last month approved a new rule that teens under the age of 18 must bring a parent or guardian with them to sign up for a library card. (Previously, 16- and 17-year-olds could sign up without a parent.) That probably wont be a problem for most families, but for some young people whose parents are too busy with work  or who cant be bothered  the new rule will be an impediment to their full enjoyment of the librarys offerings.

Librarians usually prefer to expand rather than narrow access to their materials. So what happened?

What happened is Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, who in May implemented a new rule threatening to pull funding from states public libraries over providing materials considered pornographic or obscene to minors. Yes, we want to make sure libraries have the resources and materials they need for their constituents, Ashcroft said in May, but we also want our children to be children a little longer than a pervasive culture may often dictate.

That goal sounds potentially praiseworthy. In practice, though, the new rule has proven confusing and vague to Missouris librarians  What materials violate the policy? Does it count if minors are accessing a librarys digital services from their home?  and put them on defense, resulting in policy changes like the one in St. Charles.

Theyre treading cautiously.

Libraries throughout Missouri are taking various approaches in an attempt to comply with the rule, said Kimberly Moeller, president-elect of the Missouri Library Association. Many libraries have reached out to lawyers and to the secretary of states office for guidance, but there has been very little available, so each library is doing their best to comply.

While the association is trying to help local libraries, she said, it cant give much advice to our colleagues since the rule is so vague and open to interpretation.

The good news locally is that the Kansas City Public Library remains open to all ages. There is still no minimum age here to obtain a library card  one of the few big libraries in the state with such open access.

There are many factors that parents/guardians may take into consideration when or if theyd like their child(ren) to have their own card and those differ from family to family, the library says on its website. Therefore, the library does not presume to impose age restrictions.

But Ashcrofts rule has produced some changes locally. The library now offers a form that parents can fill out to deactivate their childs library card. And another new procedure allows patrons to request an age designation for some materials and exhibits  perhaps pushing items out of view of the childrens areas of the library.

So far, no one has utilized the new forms. But it is easy to see how they could be used or abused by the censorious-minded. Hopefully that wont happen.

Our goal is to have as open access as possible for teenagers and children, said Crystal Faris, deputy director of youth and family engagement at KCPL.

We previously expressed concern that Ashcrofts new rule opens the door to book bans in Missouri. Thats still a problem, but the real effects may be more subtle if no less pernicious: A slight narrowing of library access here, a bit of self-censorship there.

Missouris libraries are still magical. There is a danger, though, that the light is starting to dim.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch. August 6, 2023.

Editorial: Kehoes openness to a rape exception is a rare GOP nod to Missouris mainstream.

It speaks volumes about Missouris current Republican political landscape that Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoes openness to rape and incest exceptions to the states rigid abortion ban is widely considered a risky gambit in his bid for the GOP gubernatorial nomination next year.

In the upside-down world of state Republicanism today, Kehoe risks being defined as an extremist for even considering the possibility that women and girls who have already been victimized in some of the worst ways imaginable shouldnt be victimized again by the forced-birth policies of their own state government. Never mind that that view is far more in line with the view of regular Missourians, including regular Republicans.

Fellow candidates Jay Ashcroft and Bill Eigel will nonetheless inevitably try to cast Kehoe as out of step with his party for this most modest nod to reason and compassion. Yet there are strategic and philosophical reasons Republican primary voters should consider embracing it.

Immediately after the U.S. Supreme Court last year overturned Roe v. Wade, leaving the contentious issue of abortion to the states, Missouri enacted a law that makes abortion illegal from the moment of conception in almost all cases  rape and incest included  except in instances of vaguely defined medical emergencies. Doctors who violate the ban can face 15 years in prison.

To be sure, Missouri is a conservative state, but theres little if any indication that regular Missourians are so extreme on the issue. State polling shows that strong majorities of likely voters in Missouri  including some 60% to 64% of Republicans  favor exceptions for the victims of rape and incest.

In light of such numbers, Kehoes position would seem to put him closer to the Republican mainstream than his in-party opponents: His campaign says he would oppose any attempt to overturn the abortion ban itself, but as the father of three daughters, he would consider approving legislation brought forward by the General Assembly that contains exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother.

Missouri Republicans considering the issue should ponder it in those personal terms. What parents of a daughter (even a teenager; even a child) who endures a sexual assault would believe it remotely acceptable to force her to carry a resulting pregnancy to term against her wishes?

Yet that abject cruelty is exactly what Missouris current law mandates  a mandate that both Ashcroft and Eigel would insist on maintaining in its current, unyielding form, according to their campaigns.

Most elected Missouri Republicans know full well that such an extreme position doesnt reflect the will of the states electorate at large. They know that when citizens in Kansas and other conservative states were recently given the opportunity of up-or-down votes on abortion rights, they defended them.

Ashcroft knows this as well as anyone  which explains why hes diligently abusing his official authority in an attempt to thwart current efforts at getting abortion rights on Missouris ballot next year.

The irony is that a slight opening to moderation of the kind Kehoe suggests would actually reduce the chances that voters will overturn the overall abortion ban because its most unpopular element  re-victimizing rape victims  would already be gone.

Were not here to sing Kehoes praises for continuing to support the bulk of a policy which, even without that truly draconian element, would continue to render half of Missourians second-class citizens. As weve said before, the whole ban should go.

But Republican primary voters who disagree should keep in mind that Kehoes stance means they can now support the overall ban without having to accept what the majority of them know is an unjust burden on rape and incest victims. They finally have, well, a choice.

Jefferson City News Tribune. August 2, 2023.

Editorial: Senior tax relief law needs more work

The devil is always in the details.

Senate Bill 190, which sought to offer seniors tax relief, is certainly living up to the maxim that the particulars -- even the seemingly insignificant -- can end up causing problems.

In this instance, the legislation, which was signed by Gov. Mike Parson in July, lacks the details for how to implement and apply the tax relief.

The legislation seeks to offer seniors relief on their property and income taxes. The first part of the law authorizes counties to grant a property tax credit to eligible seniors; the second part eliminates income tax on Social Security benefits.

For the property tax credit to be available, counties would have to adopt ordinances authorizing the credits or residents would have to create petitions in support of the credits, which would then have to be approved by voters.

Under SB 190, once the credit is made available in a county, taxpayers could claim the tax credit if they are eligible for Social Security retirement benefits, own or have legal interest in a home and are liable for paying real property taxes on it.

The credit would essentially freeze the property tax at the time the county in which the property sits adopted the ordinance.

The sponsor of the bill said he was inspired to draft the legislation seniors in his district and around the state have seen dramatic increases in property tax assessments. Many of those seniors on fixed incomes are at risk of being forced out of their homes, or have already been forced out, because they cannot afford the taxes, he said.

SB 190 seemed like a straightforward bill.

But the bill, as signed and enacted, has left county collectors and Missourians with a lot of questions about the details.

Not everyone receives Social Security. Would retirees such as teachers and railroad workers who have retirement plans other than Social Security be eligible for the credits?

What is the age of eligibility? Seniors can start receiving Social Security benefits as early as 62, but full retirement benefits dont kick in until 66 or 67, depending on what year the person was born.

What if one of the homeowners is eligible, but the other is not; would the credits be granted?

Would potential lost revenue for taxing entities be confined only to the countys taxes or would it affect each city, township, fire department, school district and other entities as well?

In some counties, the lost revenue to those taxing entities could be devastating. For instance, in Cole County, 70 percent or more of the taxes the county collects goes to school districts.

These questions and others must be addressed for the laws property tax relief to work. Thankfully, collectors have seen the value of the legislation and have offered to help legislators find a path toward success. One would think much of the uncertainties of the bill might have been avoided if the conversations had happened during the drafting and vetting of the bill.

The second part of SB 190 seems more straightforward and would be welcome relief for seniors.

Missouri was one of only 12 states that taxed seniors Social Security income. SB 190 would change that.

Eliminating that income tax on Missouris seniors was a good move that will have a direct effect on seniors who are struggling to make ends meet.

If seniors are wondering when they might start seeing benefits from SB 190, the answer is it could be a while. Counties are holding off on passing ordinances in support until the law is further clarified.

We look forward to the Legislature tidying up this legislation when it returns next session.

END
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My mother had a theory that made traveling tolerable: Every town has a decent Chinese restaurant in it.

Im talking about decades ago  decades and decades, if you want to be cruelly accurate about it. Im talking about when I was young, back when roadside restaurants often promised good eats.

It was my experience that the first word was never true, and the second one only rarely.

The movies of the 1930s make roadside diners look almost irresistible. There was always a lineup of colorful characters seated at the counter, most of them without speaking lines, smoking their cigarettes and drinking their coffee and occasionally digging their cigarette ashes out of their coffee.

The guy behind the counter, whose name was usually Joe but could also be Gus in certain circumstances, would saunter over to ask whatllya have? The main character would order a bowl of chili.

It was always a bowl of chili. Never even a hamburger, and certainly never trout amandine or braised lamb shanks in a port reduction sauce. Chili, and nothing but chili, was all 1930s movie diner cooks knew how to make.

Oh, sometimes there would be doughnuts, too. Doughnuts and coffee, especially if the star was Clark Gable.

But in real life, the roadside diners of my youth were not as picturesque. The characters who crowded the counter looked like the strangers my parents warned me not to talk to. The food was on the bad side of good.

Except, oddly, the chili. The chili was always good. Those 1930s movie characters knew what they were talking about.

In general, though, the roadside restaurants of the 1960s could give you the sort of problems you didnt want to have when you were sitting in the back seat of a car for hours, especially when your brother wouldnt stay on his side of the seat.

And that is when my mother developed her simple, elegant theorem. Every town had a Chinese restaurant. Every Chinese restaurant had at least decent food.

This was when seemingly every Chinese restaurant in the country served Cantonese food and only Cantonese food. And it was certainly before we started calling Canton Guangzhou.

The Chinese food that was served in America at the time was invariably stir-fried, which is not a difficult technique to master. The ingredients for the simple dishes that were served then were easy to find fresh or, if need be, did not taste bad out of a can. And no one cared if the oyster sauce came from a jar.

When we were traveling, there was a better than fair chance that Chinese food would be better and more edible than the meatloaf or liver and onions from any place that loudly proclaimed its eats were good.

But time passed, and we became more sophisticated. Fast-food joints opened at every highway interchange, followed by chain restaurants.

It wasnt Le Bernardin, but you could be sure of getting an entirely edible, decently digestible meal of something called Santa Fe Chicken, or whatever.

But then something unexpected happened: Local restaurants started stepping up their game, too. Places that in the 1950s and 60s would be serving good eats are now serving eats that are actually good.

Circumstances and a story recently took me to Greenville, Illinois. Greenville is a pleasant town of 7,000 people, with a leafy town square, a medium-security federal prison and a Christian liberal arts university. It is home to the largest private manufacturer of scoreboards in the world and the worlds oldest and largest maker of band uniforms.

In other words, it is exactly the sort of place where, not too terribly long ago, you would not expect to find a meal worth eating. (Im not disparaging small towns; Im only saying many did not have a population large enough to support a restaurant with better-than-average food.)

In Greenville I went to a place called Kahunas. It offers a wide variety of smash burgers, sandwiches, wraps and salads. I had a smash burger, which was excellent, and then, because I was hungry and because I was feeling nostalgic, I had a bowl of chili. Also excellent.

But the next time I head to Greenville, I might not stop back at Kahunas. There are a couple of Chinese restaurants there that look pretty good.
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 2, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Artificial intelligence (AI) programs can safely be used to help radiologists review mammogram images and detect breast cancers, early results from an ongoing clinical trial show.

A single radiologist aided by AI wound up detecting about 20% more breast cancers from mammogram images than two radiologists working together, according to a report in the August issue of The Lancet Oncology.

The use of AI did not increase the rate of false positives, where a mammogram is incorrectly diagnosed as abnormal and in need of follow-up, the researchers found.

At the same time, AI assistance reduced radiologists' workload by about 44%, the results showed.

Our study showed that mammography screening with AI is safe, since the cancer detection did not decline despite the reduced screen-reading volume for the radiologist, said lead researcher Dr. Kristina Lang, an associate professor of diagnostic radiology at Lund University in Sweden. Women should, therefore, feel safe undergoing AI-supported screening.

AI-aided mammography already is available in the United States, with more than 20 AI systems approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, said Robert Smith, senior vice president of early cancer detection science with the American Cancer Society.

No question it is the way of the future, but I have to emphasize that theres still a lot of questions about how we use it and how we determine how systems must perform in order to be used in the clinical setting, he said.

Most studies of AI-aided mammography have been retrospective, with researchers testing the ability of computers to accurately evaluate past cases where doctors already know whether or not theres breast cancer, Smith said.

This new clinical trial, conducted in Sweden, is the first study to directly compare AI-assisted mammography against standard mammography.

More than 80,000 already have been randomly assigned to undergo either standard or AI-assisted mammography at four testing sites in Sweden, the researchers said. By the end of the trial, 100,000 participants will be enrolled and tracked for two years of follow-up.

The analysis is an interim safety report, to make sure that the women undergoing AI-assisted mammography arent facing undue risk.

Theres a shortage of breast radiologists in many countries, and accurate AI programs would relieve the workload, the study authors said in background notes.

The ultimate goal of the clinical trial is to see whether AI can help reduce the number of breast cancers missed during a screening. At this point, radiologists overlook highly suspicious early signs of malignancy in about 20% to 30% of breast cancers that are eventually detected, the researchers said.

For this interim report, they set a minimum limit for clinical safety at a detection rate of 3 cancers for every 1,000 screenings.

AI-supported screening resulted in a detection rate of 6 cancers per 1,000, compared with 5 per 1,000 for standard screening. Thats the equivalent of detecting 1 additional cancer for every 1,000 women screened, according to the report.

Women were recalled for further testing in about 2.2% of cases involving AI-aided screening and 2% of cases with standard screening. That resulted in 41 more cancers detected with the support of AI, of which 19 were invasive.

The false-positive rate was 1.5% in both groups, the researchers said.

At the same time, there were nearly 37,000 fewer screen readings by radiologists in the AI-supported group.

At that rate, AI helped cut four to six months off the workload of radiologists assigned to read the 40,000 images taken at this point, assuming a radiologist reads an average 50 mammograms each hour, the investigators estimated.

We found that AI-supported screening led to more detected cancers despite a substantial reduction of the screen-reading workload, without affecting false positives, Lang said.

However, she noted that the study emphasized the central role of radiologists in reviewing mammograms, even with the help of AI.

Currently, I do not believe that AI should operate alone," Lang said. "Human intelligence and AI complement each other, which I believe our study has illustrated.

She said there are potential downsides to widespread use of AI in mammography that need to be considered.

Radiologists might become over-reliant on AI over time, which could increase false positives, a negative effect of screening, Lang said.

Radiologists also might find themselves overworked anyway, if the use of AI results in the redistribution of more complex tasks to humans while the computers handle the relatively simple problems, she added.

Final results from the trial will show whether AI can help catch cancers earlier, at a stage when they are more easily treated, the researchers noted.

Is the AI picking up, for example, some slightly less aggressive tumors and possibly missing some more aggressive tumors? Smith said. We cant compare these numbers right now without digging deeper, although its a good sign that they picked up 20% more cancers. Thats encouraging.

Lang hopes other similar trials will be conducted as follow-ups.

The consequences of using AI need to be understood before a large-scale implementation should be considered, she said. Our results show great potential of the technique, but one study is not enough. Other prospective studies are needed to see whether our findings hold true for other screening programs and for other populations.

More information

The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more about mammograms.

SOURCES: Kristina Lang, MD, PhD, associate professor, diagnostic radiology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Robert Smith, PhD, senior vice president, early cancer detection science, American Cancer Society, Atlanta; The Lancet Oncology, August 2023
Cherkasy Regional Military Administration recommends Hasidic Jews to refrain from traveling to Uman to mark Rosh Hashanah but will take necessary measures to strengthen security, Head of Cherkasy Regional Military Administration Ihor Taburets has said.

"One month is left until Rosh Hashanah. We recommend the pilgrims to refrain from visiting Uman, taking into account the war, regular massive attacks on our country and possible provocations by Russia," he said on the Telegram channel on Tuesday.

At the same time, Taburets said that part of believers will decide to come, as it was last year, therefore, the local authorities are taking all necessary measures to strengthen security for the guests and local residents.

"Today, we held a meeting of a special commission on the issue with the participation of Deputy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Israel to Ukraine Liron Finkenstein," he said.

"First of all, we are coordination the work on security measures. They will be strengthened, as it was last year. We are working on other directions, having experience of previous celebrations. It is about medical assistance, work of catering establishments, work of municipal services, anti-epidemic measures, etc. The key priority did not change  security of the local residents and guests," Taburets said.
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 2, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Jeanne Marrazzo, M.D., was named on Wednesday to become the next head of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a job most recently held by Anthony Fauci, M.D., well known for his work on HIV and the pandemic.

Marrazzo will start her new job in the fall. She is currently the director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

"Dr. Marrazzo brings a wealth of leadership experience from leading international clinical trials and translational research, managing a complex organizational budget that includes research funding and mentoring trainees in all stages of professional development," Lawrence Tabak, M.D., acting director for the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), said in an NIH news release. "I look forward to welcoming Dr. Marrazzo to the NIH leadership team."

Marrazzo's background includes research on the human microbiome and its role in female reproductive tract infections and hormonal contraception, preventing HIV using biomedical interventions and management of bacterial vaginosis, sexually transmitted diseases in HIV-infected persons, and management of antibiotic resistance in gonorrhea.

She has been a principal investigator on NIH grants since 1997. Marrazzo has also mentored countless trainees, including on NIH-funded training grants. Marrazzo received the American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association Distinguished Career Award, which is the highest recognition of contributions to research and mentoring in the field. Her education includes a bachelor's degree in biology from Harvard University; a Master's of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Washington in Seattle; and an M.D. from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.
TUESDAY, Aug. 1, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Kombucha is a fermented tea that many folks believe offers numerous health benefits  and new research suggests they may be right.

Though the study was small -- 12 participants -- it found that kombucha may help lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Fermented with bacteria and yeasts, the drink has been consumed in China since 200 B.C. but it has been embraced in the United States only since the 1990s, researchers said.

Apple cider vinegar was really taking off and people were talking about it all the time and kombucha, said study author Dr. Daniel Merenstein, director of family medicine research at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. And they have a farmers market at Georgetown where they sell kombucha, so we just thought, this kombucha is more tasty, easier to drink than apple cider vinegar  so that's really what got us to do this study.

Not only was it easy to take, participants who drank kombucha had significantly lower average fasting blood sugar levels after drinking it for four weeks -- 116 versus 164 at the study's start, researchers found.

Participants who drank a similarly flavored placebo also saw their blood sugar drop -- from 162 to 141 -- but researchers said that change was not statistically significant.

For the study, participants downed 8 ounces of kombucha or a similarly flavored placebo drink daily for four weeks. Then, after a two-month break to "wash out" the biological effects of the beverages, the drinks were swapped between groups for another four weeks. None of the participants were told what they were drinking.

Though there had been some previous lab and animal studies of kombucha's benefits, Merenstein said researchers believe this is the first examining effects of kombucha in people with diabetes. He hopes it will act as a starting point for further research. Much more study is needed, he said.

Dr. Rifka Schulman-Rosenbaum, director of inpatient diabetes at Long Island Jewish Medical Center and an associate professor at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell in New York, reviewed the findings.

She cautioned against looking at these results with too much enthusiasm.

There's a lot of interest in kombucha and potential health benefits for multiple different conditions, but very little scientific proof of the benefits," she said. "And this study, while it did show a slight lowering on the sugar levels in the kombucha drinkers compared to the other sugary drink, it's hard to make a lot of strong conclusions from this study.

Schulman-Rosenbaum expressed another concern -- this one about patients themselves.

I have concerns with patients that focus too much on stuff like this and lose sight of the bigger picture, which is needing to follow up with their doctor, needing to regulate their monitor of their sugar levels, and if they're prescribed medications, take their medications, she said.

Thought to have been invented in China, kombucha is made by adding certain strains of bacteria, yeast and sugar to black or green tea and allowing it to ferment and produce acetic acid.

During fermentation, the bacteria and yeast form a film called a SCOBY, which is believed to have a probiotic benefit. Devotees also claim the tea helps with an array of health conditions from blood pressure to cancer, though this is largely anecdotal.

There's really just a lack of data out there and hopefully, this will push people like the NIH [National Institutes of Health] and other people to study these kinds of things, Merenstein said, because if it really is true, in a bigger population that a sugar drink can actually lower your blood sugar, that's pretty exciting to figure out the mechanism and just to maybe implement with patients.

In the meantime, Schulman-Rosenbaum recommends people maintain a healthy lifestyle to combat prediabetes.

Not only should you be monitoring your physical activity and your food intake and your weight, but you need to have regular doctors visits at least once a year, possibly more often depending on what other conditions you have, she said.

The study received no outside funding and used only one brand of kombucha, made by Brindle Boxer Kombucha. However, the authors said the major bacteria and yeasts in the drink are highly reproducible and likely to be functionally similar between brands.

The findings were published Aug. 1 in Frontiers in Nutrition.

More information

For more on prediabetes, see the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

SOURCES: Daniel Merenstein, MD, professor, human sciences, Georgetown University School of Health, professor and director, family medicine research, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C.; Rifka Chaya Schulman-Rosenbaum, MD, associate professor, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Great Neck, N.Y., and chief resident, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Queens, N.Y.; Frontiers in Nutrition, Aug. 1, 2023
TUESDAY, Aug. 1, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- One dose of the hallucinogenic ingredient in "magic mushrooms" may help some people with anorexia move past their preoccupation with body image, an early study suggests.

The study, of just 10 women with anorexia, tested the effects of a single dose of psilocybin plus psychological counseling sessions.

Researchers found that the treatment appeared safe, with patients rating the experience as a positive one.

And within three months, four of 10 women had a significant improvement in their eating disorder "pathology." That meant certain eating-disorder behaviors  including preoccupation with weight and body shape  improved to the degree that they were close to what's typical of people without an eating disorder.

There are plenty of caveats in the findings, however, experts said.

The phase 1 trial was small and designed primarily to make sure the treatment was feasible and safe. So, no conclusions can be drawn about the effectiveness.

Still, the early findings indicate that psilocybin is worth further study, said Dr. Evelyn Attia, director of the Center for Eating Disorders at Columbia University and Weill Cornell Medicine, in New York City.

"I'd very much like for this to be studied further," she said.

Attia, who was not involved in the study, is also with the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA).

At any given time, about 0.4% of young women and 0.1% of young men are suffering from anorexia, according to NEDA. People with anorexia obsess over weight and food, and typically have a distorted body image. They severely restrict what and how much they will eat, often to the point of becoming dangerously underweight.

"Anorexia is really, really difficult to treat," said lead researcher Stephanie Knatz Peck, an associate clinical professor at the University of California, San Diego's Eating Disorder Treatment and Research Center.

People with anorexia, she explained, often feel "ambivalent" about treatment because their entrenched behaviors are the very things that make them feel better. And while standard psychological therapies can help many people develop healthier attitudes toward food and their bodies, they are not always effective.

"Our treatments often fail patients," Peck said, noting that about 20% of people with anorexia develop a chronic condition.

So there's a great need for innovative options, she explained.

Enter psilocybin. As the active ingredient in so-called magic mushrooms, the substance has long been used recreationally as a hallucinogen  meaning it alters people's perceptions of their surroundings, and their own thoughts and feelings. That could end badly  if users think they can fly, for example.

But recent years have seen a growing interest in psilocybin as therapy. In the United States, researchers at institutions like New York University, the University of California and Johns Hopkins University are studying psilocybin-assisted therapy for psychiatric conditions like major depression and addiction.

For example, a 2021 study found that psilocybin was as effective as a standard antidepressant at easing patients' depression symptoms over six weeks. Both drugs were used along with psychological counseling  an essential component, experts noted.

For the latest study, published recently in the journal Nature Medicine, Peck's team recruited 10 women with anorexia, some of whom were in partial remission. They received one dose of a pharmaceutical-grade synthetic psilocybin formulation, under medical supervision, along with psychological counseling sessions before and after the treatment day.

Overall, the study found, the treatment was largely safe, though two patients had low blood sugar episodes. Three months later, the participants typically gave high ratings to the experience  with most saying they felt more optimistic and were placing less importance on physical appearance.

On average, participants' weight and body shape concerns decreased, and for four the improvement was "clinically significant," according to Peck's team.

But the study lacked a control group that did not receive psilocybin, Attia cautioned. So, it's not possible to know if the changes were due to psilocybin, or to taking part in a study of a novel therapy.

"You can imagine that people would come into the trial with a great deal of expectation," Attia said.

Nor did participants' body weight increase, on average.

What's needed is a larger trial that tests psilocybin against a comparator  and one is currently underway, Peck said.

The research is being funded by Compass Pathways, which is developing the psilocybin product. Peck is a consultant for the company.

How does psilocybin work? The drug's immediate impact stems from stimulation of brain receptors for the chemical serotonin, which helps regulate mood. What's unclear, researchers say, is why one dose of psilocybin can have longer-lasting effects.

Anorexia involves underlying biological vulnerabilities, Attia pointed out. However, there are no medications specifically designed for the disease, to make the treatment process easier for patients, she said.

Whether psilocybin targets any biological mechanisms involved in anorexia is unknown. But more research is needed in that area, Attia said.

More information

The National Eating Disorders Association has more on anorexia.

SOURCES: Stephanie Knatz Peck, PhD, associate clinical professor, Eating Disorder Treatment and Research Center, University of California, San Diego; Evelyn Attia, MD, director, Center for Eating Disorders, Columbia University Medical Center and Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City, co-chair, research advisory council, National Eating Disorders Association, New York City; Nature Medicine, July 24, 2023, online
ST. LOUIS  U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, during a visit to St. Louis on Tuesday, touted an Israeli firms plans to manufacture a key component for electric vehicle batteries in the city.

The Department of Energy is backing the $400 million project  to produce lithium iron phosphate for batteries  with a nearly $200 million grant to specialty minerals company ICL Group, whose U.S. headquarters is located in St. Louis.

The grant was authorized by the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The project at the companys current location in St. Louis Carondelet neighborhood is expected to create 150 new jobs.

While China has dominated lithium iron phosphate battery production, electric automakers in North America are increasingly transitioning to the technology over nickel and cobalt batteries in an effort to cut costs, according to Chemical and Engineering News.

Mining for the metals has also raised environmental and child labor concerns.

Ford, Rivian and Volkswagen have all said they would incorporate lithium iron phosphate, or LFP, into new North American models, Chemical and Engineering News reported, with Tesla leading the way in announcing its shift to LFP batteries in 2021.

Granholm, speaking at a groundbreaking ceremony for the new facility, tied the federal investment to the Biden administrations goal of transitioning to 100% clean energy by 2035.

If we can figure out how to crack the code, to reduce the cost of those critical materials, maybe by using some more abundant materials, like iron for example, then we can really bring down the price of electric vehicles and have more people driving them, Granholm said.

She said that while China decided it would corner the market on a number of clean energy technologies, President Joe Biden, a Democrat, had made it a priority to onshore the clean energy supply chain.

Enough of other countries cornering the market because they have a strategy, Granholm said. We want the full supply chain of these clean energy products.

Phil Brown, an ICL managing director, said the project represents the first commercial-scale plant in North America for this critical component required by the energy-storage, mobility and infrastructure end-markets.

Gov. Mike Parson, who joined Granholm at the event, said in regard to energy if youre not in, youre going to get left behind. ... Im going to do everything I can to make sure that Missouri is (as) competitive as we can be in that energy market when it comes to the battery situation.

The energy secretary defended electric vehicles when asked about the environmental costs of battery production.

Driving an electric vehicle is much better for the environment, Granholm said. We want to get the full supply chains here, and that includes responsible extraction of critical minerals in addition to finding alternatives to the critical minerals that are difficult to obtain in the United States.

Looking at nuclear legacy

Granholm later visited the Weldon Spring Site Interpretative Center, where she met with U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, D-St. Louis. In a statement after the meeting, which was closed to the media, Bush said she had a great discussion ... to share our communitys concerns about the radioactive waste in St. Louis.

I had a great discussion with @SecGranholm to share our communitys concerns about the radioactive waste in St. Louis.



I'm hopeful this conversation will move us closer to ensuring the federal government cleans up its waste so that we can build community health and trust. pic.twitter.com/wA4K9XW2t7  Congresswoman Cori Bush (@RepCori) August 8, 2023

Residents have voiced fresh concerns about radioactive contamination in the region following recent news reports and public meetings.

State Rep. Tricia Byrnes, R-Wentzville, said in a letter last week to the Environmental Protection Agency that the Department of Energy has managed the Weldon Spring site with a long-standing disregard for the concerns of Missouri state agencies and our residents.

Granholm said there was no doubt St. Louis-area sites need to be cleaned up, and that weve got to make sure that people feel safe.

But Granholm said she wasnt sure of the Biden administrations position on expanding an existing nuclear radiation exposure program to cover local residents. A measure to do so by U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., has cleared the Senate.

Hawleys measure, which has yet to pass the House, would provide reimbursement to people with a medical condition linked to nuclear radiation exposure and who were physically present in an affected area  defined by 20 ZIP codes  for at least two years after Jan. 1, 1949. The ZIP code areas cover most of north St. Louis County, the north riverfront area of St. Louis and a large swath of St. Charles County around Weldon Spring.

I cant speak for the administration on that particular piece because I just dont know the answer, but it certainly is something were looking at for sure to bring justice to families that have been affected, Granholm said.
ST. LOUIS  The closures of Tyson Foods plants in southern Missouri will be a hit to small towns that depend on the company for a combined 2,200 jobs.

The company announced plans on Monday to shut down four chicken processing plants, including two in southern Missouri. A plant in Dexter, in the Bootheel, will close Oct. 13. A plant in Noel, near the southwest corner of the state and about an hour south of Joplin, will close Oct. 20.

The Tyson plant in Noel employs about 1,500 people, said Mayor Terry Lance. As of the 2020 Census, Noels population totaled 2,100.

They are, by far, the largest employer, Lance said.

The closure of the plant in Dexter, a city of 7,900 people about an hour southwest of Cape Girardeau, will also be a hit to the area. The plant there employs 683 people, according to the city. The facility was first opened by the Swift Poultry Co. in the 1930s.

Dexter City Administrator Dan Wyman said city officials will work to encourage economic development following the shutdown.

We need to worry about the families here in town, and we need to be extremely smart about our expenses, Wyman said in a statement.

The company announced the cost-cutting move as it posted a $417 million loss for the third quarter of the year. During a call with analysts Monday morning, leadership said results were hurt by a drop in prices compared with last year.

A Tyson spokesperson said in an email that employees are encouraged to apply for other jobs within the company. At the Dexter plant, the company is paying a $1,000 retention bonus to hourly employees who keep working up until the plant closes.

Tyson has another facility about 45 miles south of Noel in Springdale, Arkansas, and another in Berryville, Arkansas, about 70 miles east, Lance said. Still, he expects that some residents will move out of town after the closure.

A portion of the workers at the poultry plant in Noel immigrated to the U.S. from Latin America, Somalia and the Pacific Islands.

Almost every culture, youll find in this plant, said Abdullahi Hussein, who works in quality assurance at the facility.

Hussein said the plant was his first employer after he and his family moved to the U.S. from Somalia. He said hed just heard the news.

RAISE, a refugee resettlement organization in the area, said it will support the states efforts to help immigrant workers affected by the closure. RAISE was founded in Noel in 2017 and is now located in Joplin.

The Noel processing plant was established in the mid-20th century, Mayor Lance said, first opened and operated by Ralston Purina. In the 1970s, Hudson Foods bought the plant, and in the 1990s, it was sold to Tyson.

Besides the Tyson plant, most of Noels business revolves around tourists who are drawn there to float and camp along the Elk River, which runs through town.

In an email to the Post-Dispatch, McDonald County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO John Newby called for the area to pull together and make a plan to rebound and focus on the local tourism industry. The communitys response to the closure, he wrote, will define Noel and McDonald County.

Lance noted that Noel doesnt collect sales tax from the Tyson facility because it is a wholesaler. So if a retailer bought the building and moved in, it could become a new source of revenue for the city.

The two other plant closures announced Monday were facilities in North Little Rock, Arkansas, and Corydon, Indiana.

A spokesperson for the states Department of Economic Development called the decision to close the plants unfortunate. U.S. Rep. Jason Smith, a Republican, said his office will work with state and local officials to determine options for the families harmed by the closures, and that he will work to incentivize meat-processing jobs in the state.

Tyson announced two other plant shutdowns, earlier this year. In March the company said it would shut down chicken plants in Glen Allen, Virginia, and Van Buren, Arkansas, which together employed about 1,700 people, Reuters reported. Earlier this year, Reuters reported that Tyson laid off 228 corporate employees who declined to relocate to the companys Arkansas headquarters.

Tyson employed 142,000 people worldwide, as of October, with 124,000 of them in the U.S., according to regulatory filings.
Children injured or killed by gunfire in the St. Louis area in 2023

Below is the St. Louis Post-Dispatch coverage of children who have been injured or killed by gunfire across the St. Louis metropolitan area in 2023. The children are 17 years old or younger.

Through Aug. 7, at least 50 children were injured or killed by gunshots. Sixteen were killed; 4 were 11 or younger.

These are not all the homicides involving children. For more details on local homicides, check the homicide tracker.
ST. LOUIS  A St. Louis Cardinals superfan charged last week in the Jan. 6, 2021, riots at the U.S. Capitol will be represented by high-profile local lawyer Al Watkins.

Rally Runner, who was charged as Daniel Donnelly Jr. but legally changed his name in 2016, is known by Cardinals fans as the man who donned red clothing, red face paint and circled Busch Stadium during games.

Runner was charged last week with one felony and multiple misdemeanors after he was caught on video near the front of a group of hundreds of people as they moved toward the Capitol building, court documents say.

Watkins said in a news release that his client was not a "leader" of any protesters.

"Mr. Runner exudes from every pore of his body heartfelt love for our national pastime," Watkins said in a release. "Perhaps Trump chose to speak truthfully when he referred to his supporters on January 6 as 'special.'"

In addition to Runner, Watkins represented four Capitol defendants, including Jacob A. Chansley, also known as the "QAnon Shaman."

He also represented the Cardinals' "Rally Cat" in a custody dispute between the team and a stray cat rescue after the feline streaked across the outfield in 2017 and, some say, led the redbirds to victory.

Runner is set to have his initial appearance in Washington D.C. federal court on Aug. 15.
BERKELEY  A man on Tuesday was charged in the accidental shooting death of his 7-year-old grandson one day earlier in Berkeley.

Walter Macon, 45, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child and armed criminal action. He was in custody at the St. Louis County jail on Tuesday, according to online records.

The 7-year-old boy, Darnell Macon, was shot inside a truck around 10 a.m. Monday in the 6700 block of Larry Lane, just off North Hanley Road. Police say Macon admitted he left Darnell in the truck with a loaded gun.

Investigators said Macon was loading studio recording equipment into his truck when Darnell climbed into the vehicle.

Macon told police he then left for about 5 minutes. When he returned, his grandson was slumped over with a gunshot wound to the head.

Darnell was pronounced dead at the scene.

Macon told police the gun was between the drivers seat and the center console when he left Darnell in the truck.

The boys death was the first of two children killed by gunshot wounds Monday in the St. Louis area. A 5-year-old girl was also shot and killed in Belleville. In all, at least 52 children have been shot so far this year in the St. Louis region.
CLAYTON  St. Louis County prosecutors last week dropped a murder charge connected to a September 2022 killing of a 23-year-old man in a North County grocery store.

Warren Smith Jr., 32, of Florissant, was charged with second-degree murder soon after the Sept. 7, 2022, killing of Kardaye' Moore inside the Beverly Hills Supermarket, at 6714 Natural Bridge Avenue. The shooting was caught on surveillance video in the store showing it stemmed from a fight between Smith's cousin and Moore.

Chris King, a spokesman for St. Louis Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell's Office, said in an email that the office dismissed the case last week after a "closer review of the evidence."

"When we slowed the surveillance video down, it appears that the defendant pulled his gun after the deceased began shooting," King wrote. "We couldnt proceed with prosecution ethically with a valid self-defense claim."

Smith's defense attorney Richard P. Hereford said the charge should have been dismissed earlier. The case was set to go to trial Monday before prosecutors dismissed it.

"He should have never been charged," Hereford said. "It was clearly a case of self-defense."

Surveillance videos show Smith and his cousin, Marcel Payne, coming into the store together the evening of the shooting, court documents say. Payne is shown getting into an argument with Moore in line before the two begin to physically fight.

Both prosecutors and Hereford now say that the video shows Moore shot first before Smith pulls his gun to return fire. Smith shot and killed Moore and also inadvertently shot his cousin, Payne, in the hands.

The killing was investigated by the North County Police Cooperative.

Hereford said his client was not released on bond and spent nearly a year in jail before the charges were dropped.

"His life has been nearly destroyed by this," Hereford said. "We'll be working now to get his arrest expunged."

Smith's cousin, Payne, pleaded guilty in April to felony third-degree assault for his role in the fight before the shooting. He was sentenced to one year in jail, with credit for time served.

'For what though?' Mother mourns son killed in St. Louis County grocery store shooting "Bullets dont have a name, and it doesnt even have to be about anything," said the victim's mother, Tanya Moore. "They took my baby. That was my baby. Hes not coming back. For what though?"
ST. LOUIS  The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is gearing up to ask voters to approve a rate proposal  with stakes that could send bills skyrocketing by more than 30%  and its already running into displeased customers.

The utilitys rate commission on Monday fielded public feedback on two measures that stand to raise rates, one to tackle sewer troubles and another that would grant new authority to address flood issues in the region.

But consumer advocates, industrial representatives and senior citizens urged the districts commission to reconsider the bulk of the increase. Utilities from natural gas to electricity to water are boosting rates, they said, causing undue financial strain.

People are really suffering, said Sandra Padgett, executive director of the nonprofit Consumers Council of Missouri. Its really going to be hard for consumers to keep up with this.

The first and largest increase centers on work legally required to address sewer overflows and discharges into regional waterways. MSD is asking voters to authorize $750 million in bonds to cover the upcoming four-year cycle of MSDs multi-decade, $7.2 billion push to target such issues.

Whether that bond financing is approved will determine how much bills rise. If the bonds are OKd, monthly bills for residential customers would rise by about 6% or 7% annually, from an average of $61 in 2025 to $75 in 2028.

If the bonding is rejected, the same monthly bills could jump by 35% in each of the first two years, soaring to averages of $77 in 2025 and $104 in 2026, before settling into the $85 range in later years.

Its like taking out a loan for a big purchase, MSD officials said, or opting to pay for it entirely in cash up front. One scenario will result in smaller payments that add in interest, over time, while the alternative requires a far bigger expenditure up front.

MSD is also crafting a second funding proposal that would ask voters if the utility should help tackle flooding issues by targeting $700 million in stormwater solutions over the next 20 years.

That proposal would raise typical residential rates by about $2 per month and charge nonresidential customers $1.05 for every 1,000 square feet of paved or impervious surfaces that do not absorb stormwater.

The rate changes outlined in the proposals would not affect MSD customer bills until 2025.

Some hope the utility, if rate increases are approved, will devote significant money to buyouts of properties at high risk for flooding.

Matthew Sisul, the president of the Ellendale Neighborhood Association  a pocket of St. Louis slammed by severe flash flooding last summer  warned the commission against inaction.

This is not a safe place for these people to live, Sisul said after the meeting.

It was mostly luck that prevented Ellendale deaths in the 2022 flooding, he said. I dont want to keep pushing our luck, he continued.

The rate commission, which includes a mix of MSD customers and community members, is reviewing proposals and is on track to issue recommendations to the full board next month.

Residents are set to vote next April.
The Lithuanian Interior Ministry and the State Border Guard Service will deploy reinforcements to the border with Belarus, State Border Guard Service Commander Rustam Liubayev said.

"Together with the Interior Ministry, we are exploring the possible enhancement of our capacities on the border with Belarus, i.e. the deployment of additional personnel," the Lrytas.lt website quoted Liubayev as saying.

"Respective decisions have been made, and we are planning to enlarge our contingent stationed on the border with Belarus shortly," he said.

"Tensions persist on the state border with Belarus and the Russian Federation. The probability of provocations is high, considering that Wagner forces maintain their presence in Belarus. However, we do not observe any particular provocations or extra activity on the border with Belarus and the Russian Federation for now," Liubayev said.

The exercise involving Wagner members, which is taking place near the Lithuanian border, "has a limited scale and does not pose a significant threat to us," he said.

"The measures taken on our border with Belarus are proportionate to the situation. There are plans of deployment, and we are capable of rapidly moving additional forces to respond to the situation on the border," Liubayev said.

"If tensions on the state border escalate, it will be possible to activate the protection plan, by which the border guards will be assisted by the Lithuanian army, the Lithuanian police and other entities," he said.
ST. CHARLES  A longtime St. Louis-area journalist has been hired to lead communications for St. Charles County.

St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann said Monday that KMOX reporter Kevin Killeen has been tapped to replace retiring Communications Director Mary Enger.

Mary Enger has built a great department that has been getting the story out on the good things happening in St. Charles County, Ehlmann said in a news release. Kevin also understands the vision the Council and I have for the County and the part we should play in regional affairs.

Before heading to KMOX in 1995, Killeen worked as a stringer at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the Suburban Journals and reporter for St. Louis Public Radio.

In recent years, I have taken interest in the growing population, business development and political influence of St. Charles County in the region, Killeen said in a news release. I look forward to helping further tell that story.

Killeens last day at KMOX will be Aug. 18. His first day on the county staff will be Aug. 21.

In his new role, Killeen will oversee a staff of 13 other communication professionals including videographers, a graphic designer, a digital media specialist and others that work in the countys in-house print shop and mailroom.

Killeen, who has spent 28 years working in newsrooms, said he is looking forward to the opportunity to work in St. Charles County.

It feels a bit like quitting The Beatles. There is so much fun to be had as a reporter, as that truth seeker, who is out there asking questions and gathering information for your readers or your listener. It got to the point, though, that I started looking at different opportunities, and this is an opportunity to work in a reputable county, a place that will help round out my career, Killeen said.

Killeen, 63, counts among his most memorable reporting experiences the late Pope John Paul IIs visit to St. Louis in 1999, the all-nighter he pulled following the plane crash that killed former Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan, and the fatal shooting last year on the shared campus of Central Visual and Performing Arts High School and Collegiate School of Medicine & Bioscience.

In addition to his work as a reporter, Killeen has written several books including Most Improved Sophomore and Never Hug A Nun, a semi-autobiographical novel detailing his childhood and educational experiences at a Catholic School in Webster Groves during the 1960s.

Killeen is a 1982 graduate of the University of Missouri-St. Louis with a degree in speech communications.

Enger, who has been in the role since 2016, will retire effective Aug. 24. Prior to working for the county, Enger worked for 24 years in marketing and public relations for SSM Healthcare and then briefly worked for an advertising agency before joining the county staff.
NEW YORK (AP)  Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis is replacing his campaign manager as the Florida governor resets his sluggish presidential campaign.

DeSantis is bringing on James Uthmeier, his chief of staff from his state office, to serve as his campaign manager, replacing Generra Peck, who led DeSantis' reelection campaign last year before jumping into the same role on his presidential bid.

Peck will stay on as a strategist.

The changes come after DeSantis made two big staff cuts in the past few weeks, laying off about a third of his staff in late July as the campaign faced financial trouble.

James Uthmeier has been one of Governor DeSantis top advisers for years, and he is needed where it matters most: working hand in hand with Generra Peck and the rest of the team to put the governor in the best possible position to win this primary and defeat Joe Biden, campaign spokesman Andrew Romeo said in a statement.

DeSantis has been Donald Trump's strongest rival in the crowded GOP presidential field, but the former president has kept a commanding lead in polls. Trump, who regularly needles DeSantis, declared on his social media network Tuesday, DeSanctimonious is CRASHING! Perhaps Party should come together???

As expected for someone still running a state, DeSantis has kept in contact with his chief of staff while campaigning, with a call to Uthmeier regularly being among the few items on the daily public schedule released by the governor's office.

Politico in October obtained text messages that showed Uthmeier was involved in Floridas program to fly migrants from Texas to Marthas Vineyard last year.

NBC News reported in June that while Uthmeier remained in DeSantis government office, he was also working as a political fundraiser for the governors presidential campaign. The arrangement was unusual, and government watchdog groups said it raised ethical questions.

Before he worked for DeSantis, Uthmeier worked in the Trump administration for U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. His work on the efforts to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census later became part of a congressional committee investigation.

Uthmeier will be on a leave of absence from the governor's office. Florida's Secretary of Commerce Alex Kelly will serve as acting chief of staff and work with senior adviser David Dewhirst, office spokesman Jeremy Redfern said.

DeSantis is also hiring an operative who was working on a super PAC that had been supporting his campaign. David Polyansky, who had been advising Never Back Down, will join the campaign as a deputy campaign manager.

Romeo said Polyansky will be a critical addition to the team given his previous experience working in early voting Iowa, which has become a proving ground for the DeSantis campaign.

Polyansky worked on the presidential campaigns of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in 2016 and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann in 2012. In Iowa, he helped Joni Ernst win election to the U.S. Senate in 2014 and helped Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee win in the Iowa Republican presidential caucuses in 2008.

Polyansky was traveling with DeSantis in Iowa to events Saturday sponsored by Never Back Down, which as a super PAC, can receive unlimited sums from donors but is barred under federal rules from coordinating with campaigns on how their money is spent.

Polyansky is listed as the chief strategy officer for Axiom Strategies, a political consulting firm whose founder, Jeff Roe, and other staffers are working for Never Back Down.

Brett Kappel, a campaign finance lawyer who has advised Republicans and Democrats, said it's not unusual for a consulting firm to have employees advising both a super PAC and a campaign, but such a person typically takes a leave of absence or signs document establishing a firewall against restricted coordination.

The DeSantis campaign did not respond to a message about whether Polyansky is staying at his firm or signing a firewall agreement.

The staff shakeup was first reported by The Messenger on Tuesday.

Associated Press writer Thomas Beaumont in Des Moines contributed to this report.
In a presidential contest cycle, Senate races dont get the same kind of attention when theres still a year to go until Election Day. But the start of the second fundraising quarter earlier this month brought a host of new candidate names  some declared and some still biding their time  that will help shape the race for control of the chamber in 2024 and the ultimate power dynamics for whoever is president in 2025.

With more candidates launching their campaigns this month, the prospect of competitive primaries has become more real  especially on the Republican side. Thats especially true in the top three seats most likely to flip, which represent the GOPs best chances to pick up the one or two seats theyd need to control the chamber, depending on who wins the presidency. (Rankings are based on CNNs reporting, fundraising figures and historical data about how states and candidates have performed.)

West Virginias GOP primary  mainly between the governor and a congressman  was already brewing, but its looking even more contentious with outside groups like the Club for Growths political arm touting the millions theyre planning to spend. This race will be a marquee battle between the national GOPs more establishment forces and the conservative outside group. And, as in other races like Montana and Nevada, this one will test the National Republican Senatorial Committees new strategy of picking sides in primaries.

Its impossible to talk about Republican primaries without discussing former President Donald Trump. Ever since 2016, loyalty to him has been a key litmus test for the GOP  often much more than actual conservatism. But adherence to his election conspiracy theories has sometimes hurt Republicans in general elections, with the 2022 midterms being a prime example.

The chairman of the NRSC, Montana Sen. Steve Daines, has endorsed Trump. And for now, at least, the former president appears to be playing along. CNN reported that hes informed two House Freedom Caucus members whom hes previously backed  in West Virginia and Montana  that they wont have his support for the Senate. (In Montana, Rep. Matt Rosendale hasnt yet announced his campaign but is expected to challenge the NRSCs preferred candidate.)

This months ranking isnt all about primary drama, however. In Pennsylvania, Republicans breathed a major sigh of relief in May when election denier Doug Mastriano, fresh off his 15-point gubernatorial loss, decided not to run. The expectation that Dave McCormick will get into the race with a clearer lane  and the GOPs lack of candidates right now in other states  bumps the Keystone State up one spot on this list as slightly more likely to flip.

Overall, the Senate map remains an offensive opportunity for Republicans. Democrats hold seven of the 10 seats most likely to flip next year, an independent holds one and Republicans hold two  a breakdown thats unlikely to change much, although the order of the ranking will likely evolve in the months to come.
KYIV, Ukraine  Ukrainian officials on Tuesday accused the Kremlins forces of targeting rescue workers by hitting residential buildings with two consecutive missiles  the first one to draw crews to the scene and the second one to wound or kill them.

The strikes Monday evening in the downtown district of the city of Pokrovsk killed nine people and wounded more than 80 others, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly address. According to Ukrainian authorities, one of those killed was an emergency official, and most of those wounded were police officers, emergency workers and soldiers who rushed to assist residents.

The Russian missiles slammed into the center of Pokrovsk in the eastern Donetsk region, which is partially occupied by Russia. Emergency crews were still removing rubble Tuesday. The Iskander missiles, which have an advanced guidance system that increases their accuracy, hit within 40 minutes of each other, according to Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko.

Since the start of the war, Russia used artillery and missiles to hit targets and then struck the exact same spot about 30 minutes later, often hitting emergency teams responding to the first blast. The tactic is called a double tap in military jargon. Russians used the same method in Syrias civil war.

All of (the police) were there because they were needed, putting their efforts into rescuing people after the first strike, Ivan Vyhivskyi, chief of Ukraines National Police, said Tuesday. They knew that under the rubble were the injured  they needed to react, to dig, to retrieve, to save. And the enemy deliberately struck the second time.

Russias Ministry of Defense claimed it hit a Ukrainian army command post in Pokrovsk. Neither sides claims could be independently verified.

Among those injured was Volodymyr Nikulin, a police officer originally from the now Russian-occupied port city of Mariupol.

Arriving at the scene after the first missile strike, Nikulin was wounded in the second strike when shrapnel pierced his left lung and left hand.

Today is not my happy day because Russian criminals committed another awful crime in Pokrovsk, he said in a video he sent to The Associated Press from a hospital ward.

In the video, he is seen lying on a bed shirtless, with dried blood on his side and covering his left hand. He moves with pain to show his wounds.

Pointing his camera to show other wounded security forces in the ward, he says: Look, these are Ukrainian heroes who helped (injured) people.

He told the National Police in a video that he feared a second strike but went to help anyway.

There were so many injured at the hospital that Nikulin was still waiting for surgery on Tuesday morning. He was later transported to a hospital in Dnipro, where he was to have the shrapnel removed.

Nikulin already witnessed some of the wars horrors. He helped an AP team escape after Russian troops that besieged Mariupol entered the downtown area.

He was featured in the award-winning documentary 20 Days in Mariupol, a joint project between The Associated Press and PBS Frontline about the earliest phase of the invasion of Mariupol.

In a statement, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine, Denise Brown, described Mondays attack as absolutely ruthless and said it was a serious breach of international law and violated any principle of humanity.

Since the beginning of Russias invasion in February 2022, Ukraines State Emergency Service saw 78 of its employees killed and 280 wounded while responding to Russian missile strikes, according to agency spokesperson Col. Oleksandr Khorunzhyi.

Ukrainian officials say rescuers are protected by international conventions, as they are providing humanitarian assistance and are not engaged in combat operations.

The head of the Pokrovsk city administration, Serhii Dobriak, described the attacks as a typical Russian scenario, with 30 to 40 minutes between missiles.

When rescuers come to save peoples lives, another rocket arrives. And the number of casualties increases, he said in a video comment to local media.

Kyrylenko, the regional governor, said that 12 multistory buildings were damaged in Pokrovsk, as well as a hotel, a pharmacy, two stores and two cafes.

The roof of one building was partially demolished, and rubble filled the sidewalk outside. Across the road, a childrens playground was wrecked.

Russian missiles, drones and artillery repeatedly struck civilian areas in the war. The Kremlin says its forces target only military assets and claims other damage is caused by debris from Ukrainian air defenses.

Meanwhile, an overnight attack on the town of Kruhliakivka, in the northeastern Kharkiv region, killed three people and injured nine others, Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said.

Russia also dropped four guided bombs on a village near Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region, killing two civilians, Ukraines presidential office said.

Rescuers later came under fire, and two of them were wounded, it said.

Also on Tuesday, Russian-installed authorities of the Donetsk region accused Kyivs forces of shelling the regions namesake capital and killing three people. The Moscow-appointed leader of the Donetsk region, Denis Pushilin, said Ukrainian shelling of the Russian-held city of Donetsk also wounded 11.

Photos: Russia bombards Ukraine's port city of Odesa, hitting beloved historic sites
WASHINGTON  At least two people died, thousands of U.S. flights were canceled or delayed, and more than 1.1 million homes and businesses lost power Monday as severe storms, including hail and lightning, moved through the eastern U.S.

The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for the greater D.C. area, lasting until 9 p.m., as well as a flood warning extending through Tuesday morning. A special Weather Service statement warned, There is a significant threat for damaging and locally destructive hurricane-force winds, along with the potential for large hail and tornadoes, even strong tornadoes.

The storms' spread was massive, with tornado watches and warnings posted across 10 states from Tennessee to New York. The National Weather Service said the area of greatest concern centered in the Washington-Baltimore region.

In Anderson, South Carolina, a 15-year-old boy who arrived at his grandparents house during the storm was struck and killed when a tree fell on him as he got out of a car, according to the Anderson County Office of the Coroner.

In Florence, Alabama, police said a 28-year-old man was struck by lightning and died, WAAY-TV reported.

By late Monday afternoon, more than 2,600 U.S. flights had been canceled and 7,900 delayed, according to flight tracking service FlightAware. More than a quarter of the cancellations were at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which was digging out from disruptions caused by Sunday storms.

The Federal Aviation Administration said it was rerouting planes around storms heading to the East Coast and warned it would likely start pausing flights in and out of the New York City area, Philadelphia, Washington, Charlotte and Atlanta.

The White House pushed up by 90 minutes President Joe Bidens departure on a four-day trip thats taking him to Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. The White House also canceled a back-to-school cybersecurity event that was to feature first lady Jill Biden, who is a teacher, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and school administrators, educators and education technology providers from around the country.

The Office of Personnel Management announced Monday that all non-emergency employees would have to depart before 3 p.m., when all federal offices closed.

This does look to be one of the most impactful severe weather events across the Mid-Atlantic that we have had in some time, National Weather Service meteorologist Chris Strong said in a Facebook live briefing.

Also concerning forecasters was the timing of the storms. They were expected to strike major population areas in late afternoon and early evening, prompting federal workers to be sent home early so they wouldnt be in their cars amid wind, hail and tornadoes.

Strong advised residents: Have yourself in a strong shelter. Be at home or be at work.

By early evening, more than 1.1 million customers were without power across Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia and Virginia  all states along the storm systems path, according to poweroutage.us. The Knoxville Utilities Board tweeted that the damage across its service area in Tennessee was widespread and extensive and will likely take several days to repair.

A row of utility poles were toppled in Westminster, Maryland, WJLA-TV reported.
ST. LOUIS (AP)  A Missouri man on Tuesday was charged with child endangerment and armed criminal action in the accidental shooting of his 7-year-old grandson, one of two children who died Monday in unrelated shootings in the St. Louis area.

Walter Macon, 45, was held Tuesday at the St. Louis County jail on a $100,000 cash only bond in the death of his grandson, Darnell Macon, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

St. Louis County Circuit Court did not have record of a lawyer for Walter Macon as of Tuesday, and contact information for his family was not immediately available.

Police said Walter Macon left his grandson alone in his truck with a loaded gun for less than 6 minutes as he was picking up recording equipment.

When he returned, he found the boy slumped over with a gunshot wound to his head, police said. The child was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 5-year-old girl from another St. Louis suburb also died Monday from a shooting, but police have not yet released additional information about her death.
That Omali Yeshitela holds what most Americans would consider some radical political views is beyond dispute. The 81-year-old activist based in north St. Louis has been demanding slavery reparations since long before it was fashionable, refers to the United States government as colonizers and heads an organization called the African Peoples Socialist Party. He has been open about his support for Russia in its unprovoked war against Ukraine.

Say what you will about any of that, but it appears on its face to be protected speech under the First Amendment. That principle is complicated, though, by the fact that Yeshitela and associates have accepted travel expenses and other funding from Russian operatives to help spread their criticism of the U.S. government  activities that a federal indictment alleges constitute illegal foreign attempts to sow discord in American politics.

It is incumbent upon prosecutors in this case to clearly prove that they arent attempting to criminalize unpopular political opinion. Thats a dangerous lid to open.

As the Post-Dispatchs Jesse Bogan reports, Yeshitela is accused of going on paid trips to Russia for the purpose of planning public media campaigns critical of the U.S. government.

The governments case hinges largely on the fact that Russian sources paid modest amounts of money for things like funding of trips abroad for meetings. Yeshitelas defenders argue that money obviously wasnt Yeshitelas motivation, since his anti-government activism far predates his Kremlin flirtations.

It should be noted that the wording of some of the allegations (Yeshitela associates caused electronic messages to be sent to others to draft a political statement and start pushing it on media everywhere) reads like a dictionary definition of protected free speech. That doesnt mean there arent legitimate questions about Russian financial involvement. These are issues a jury will eventually have to parse.

In any case, considering whats going on in putatively mainstream pockets of American politics today regarding Russia, the irony of these allegations is thick as borscht:

 The GOPs current front-runner for the 2024 president nomination is an ex-president who in 2016 publicly encouraged Russian election interference (Russia, if youre listening, ...); who later publicly lied about the purpose of a meeting between his campaign and a Kremlin-affiliated lawyer who was offering dirt on campaign opponent Hillary Clinton; and who was impeached in 2019 for trying to extort campaign help from Ukraines government by threatening to withhold crucial aid it needed to defend itself against Russian aggression.

 Donald Trump is now facing his own federal charges for attempting to overthrow the 2020 election results by slating fake electors, pressing state officials to falsify vote counts and ordering his vice president to corrupt the vote-certification process. All of these undisputed allegations were a far greater threat to democracy than anything Yeshitelas little-known fringe organization is accused of. Yet Trumps GOP defenders  none of whom appear to be leaping to Yeshitelas defense  are furiously alleging government overreach and violation of Trumps free-speech rights.

 Trumps defenders include Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley and other hard-right congressional Republicans who have suggested the U.S. should reduce or eliminate its support for Ukraine in its continuing defense of democracy against Russias authoritarian government.

As Trumps case so vividly demonstrates, there is a crucial difference between speech that expresses unpopular but protected political opinion, and speech that furthers illegal activity. As we have argued previously, Trumps conduct clearly constitutes the latter. Whether Yeshitela has crossed that line will hinge on the governments ability to prove more than his promotion of unpopular opinions.
Read the full MetLife 2022 Sustainability Report

Offices and Operations

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / MetLife is proud to have been the first U.S.-based insurer to reach carbon neutrality across our global corporate office portfolio, vehicle fleets and employee business travel, and we have maintained this designation for seven consecutive years.1

Globally, MetLife's offices amount to approximately 11.1 million square feet. We are committed to developing programs that improve the financial and environmental performance of building space that we own or operate. This includes a commitment to reducing our consumption of energy, water, plastics, paper and other natural resources, as well as to providing our colleagues with healthy spaces where they can thrive. We prioritize sustainable building materials and design, high levels of indoor air quality, natural light and amenities such as bike storage, healthy dining options and sit-stand desks. Please see ESG Scorecard for information and data regarding our energy, water use and waste diversion.

MetLife's GHG emissions have decreased 49% since 2019, our baseline year (see ESG Scorecard). Our progress to date positions us well to achieve our 2030 goal, despite an increase in emissions in the past year as colleagues returned to the office environment following the pandemic and business travel resumed. We expect to see further emissions reductions in the coming years as we implement strategies to optimize our office real estate portfolio.

We have achieved LEED certifications for approximately 40.7 million square feet of real estate-3.7 million square feet attributed to the MetLife corporate office network and 37 million square feet of MIM-managed real estate properties.2 In addition to LEED, MetLife prioritizes ENERGY STAR, Fitwel, Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) and other sustainable building certification programs.

1 MetLife's carbon neutrality efforts apply to global owned and leased offices, global vehicle fleets (Scope 1 and 2 emissions) and employee business travel (Scope 3 Category 6).

2 2021 figures derived from the Better Buildings Challenge public website. The metric has been updated to reflect the square footage of properties included in MIM's most recent GHG inventory for assets that are managed by MIM in our clients' real estate equity portfolios.

Following the success of our beehives at our Cary, North Carolina, campus, we have again partnered with Bee Downtown to bring beehives to our Tampa, Florida, campus.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from MetLife, Inc. on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: MetLife, Inc.

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/metlife-inc

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: MetLife, Inc.

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MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Alphinat Inc. (TSXV:NPA) a leading Canadian provider of innovative software solutions, is pleased to announce the appoint of Ms. Rachel Porteous to Alphinat Inc. board of directors.

Ms. Porteous is a senior IT executive with over 33 years of IM/IT experience; she brings a track record of successes in Digital Transformation, IM/IT strategic planning, project management, relationship management, change management, information management, application development, management of IT Infrastructure and Operations and Cyber Security. Strong leader able to drive transformations and service delivery while developing high performing teams. Ms. Porteous has been the Chief Information Officer at for a Government of Canadian agency since January of 2019. Ms. Porteous holds a Bachelor of Applied Science, with a Major in Computer Science from the Universite du Quebec en Outaouais. She volunteers as board member on two not-for-profit organization.

The company also announces the resignation of Michel Lemoine and Benoit Ste-Marie from the board of directors who were both long term board member and we wish to thank them for their many contributions over the years to the successes at Alphinat over the years. Michel had joined the Board of Alphinat in 2005 and for many years served as chairperson of the board of directors, until February 2023. Benoit Ste-Marie joined in 2009 and has been active on several board committees and was active on the HR & audit committee.

About Alphinat

Alphinat is a FINTECH company which develops software for governments and is actively used to serve over 50 million end-users of federal, state, and municipal digital services. Alphinat employs Artificial Intelligence and reduces the need to code, allowing managers to quickly deploy online solutions that easily integrate with existing systems.

Recent advances include LIVEaiASSIST which entered BETA release in July 2023. LIVEaiASSIST greatly accelerates solution development for easy-to-use digital services for public sector that are easy to use. Alphinat is also adding AI generate testing and training modules , both high value upgrades, to better test and scale solutions while enhancing transfer & retention of knowledge within organizations.

At Alphinat, we enable people to easily develop and deploy secure digital service leveraging our SmartGuide low code development software. We provide those closest to an application's end-users with an easy-to-use no-code software development platform. At the same time, we're constantly working to reduce the need to code to make application development and maintenance simpler and less error prone.

So, whether you choose to develop your applications with the help of our low-code platform SmartGuide, kickstart your project using one of our pre-built apps or engage us or one of our partners to do the work for you, we're here to help you deploy better applications in record time. Visit us at www.alphinat.com for more information. We look forward to hearing from you.

Forward-looking statements

Certain statements in this document, including those which express management's expectations or estimations with regards to the Company's future performance constitute "forward-looking statements" as understood by applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are, of necessity, based on a certain number of estimates and hypotheses; while management considers these to be accurate at the time they are expressed, they are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and risks on the commercial, economic and competitive levels. We advise readers that these forward- looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other known and unknown factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. A number of factors could cause significant differences between actual results and those described in forward-looking statements. These include, but are not limited to, the Company's capacity to increase acceptance of its products on the market, and to penetrate new markets; the potential existence of defects or undetected problems in the Company's products; the Company's ability to manage its growth; the Company's ability to compete with others; potential commitments; maintaining the Company's intellectual property rights and defending against litigation putting those rights in question; the Company's reliance on the knowledge of its key personnel; and the Company's access to sufficient capital to finance its future needs. This is a partial and non-exhaustive list of factors that could bear on any of our forward-looking statements. Investors are advised to not rely unduly on the forward-looking statements. This advisory applies to all forward-looking statements, whether expressed orally or inwriting, attributed to Alphinat or to any individual expressing them in the name of the Company. The Company is under no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information, future events, or other circumstances. Risks and uncertainties that bear on the Company are described in greater detail in the Company's Annual Report.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information please contact

Mr. Curtis Page

Chief Executive Officer

Alphinat Inc.

(514) 398-9799 ext. 225

SOURCE: Alphinat Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:
DAVIE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / BHG Financial (BHG) has announced that Chief Revenue Officer Juan Carlos Ortigosa has been selected to South Florida Business Journal's (SFBJ) 40 under 40 list. This award recognizes outstanding professionals for their leadership, success in business, and contributions to their communities.

From left to right: Eric Castro, BHG Financial co-founder; Juan Carlos Ortigosa, BHG Financial's Chief Revenue Officer; and Mel Melndez, Editor-in-Chief of South Florida Business Journal

In his role, Ortigosa has built one of the country's most agile data and analytics teams that actively enables BHG's growth. He has exponentially expanded several departments to drive success, and his continued focus on execution has helped BHG deliver exceptional results. He has formulated and delivered a suite of 100-plus models to drive revenue-generating strategies and fine-tune operations across BHG while mitigating credit loss. Additionally, he has a passion for helping mentor those working their way up in the industry and taking every chance to participate in BHG's many community volunteer opportunities.

"I am deeply grateful and honored to receive the prestigious 40 under 40 award from SFBJ," says Ortigosa. "My goal has always been to help transform the landscape of financial services and positively impact our clients' lives. This recognition wouldn't have been possible without our incredible team's hard work, dedication, and collaborative effort. This honor is motivation to continue driving innovation in the industry and my community."

BHG has diligently supported SFBJ for many years and is glad to be a sponsor of this award in 2023. The leaders on the 40 under 40 list have impacted their companies, industries, and communities and are shaping the future in South Florida.

"I am incredibly proud that Juan is being recognized for this award. He's been with BHG for over 10 years, and I've had the pleasure of witnessing both his impact and evolution as a professional," says Al Crawford, CEO and co-founder of BHG. "I can't wait to see what he does in the future."

About BHG Financial

BHG Financial is transforming the financial industry, leveraging the power of data, analytics, and cutting-edge technology to become one of the best sources for high-performing loans, and the creator of one of the largest community bank loan and product networks in the country.

Since 2001, BHG has originated more than $15 billion in loan solutions to top-quality borrowers, which community and midsize banks can access via a state-of-the-art loan delivery platform.

BHG Financials' dedication to providing services that meet the needs of its clients has led to the creation of a full family of brands that range from business, consumer, and SBA 7(a) loans to credit cards, risk management services, and point-of-sale financing.

Find out more about the company's financial solutions at https://bhgfinancial.com/. For more information about the BHG Bank Network, click here. Follow BHG on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Contact Information

Jasmine Heard

Communications Coordinator

[email protected]

SOURCE: BHG Financial

View source version on accesswire.com:
Exclusive interview of CEO of PJSC ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih (Dnipropetrovsk region) Mauro Longobardo to Interfax-Ukraine.

Text: Yuriy Guly



1. In mid-June after Russian occupiers blew up Kakhovska HPP dam ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih due to the problems with providing the plant with technical water reduced production to 15-20%. This forced the company to build a new pipeline for the city's water supply and full coverage of production needs. How is the water supply currently working and when will the plant resume production and to what extent? Recently, the press service reported that one blast furnace, four rolling mills, a converter shop and one CCM are currently in operation at the plant. Has the situation changed?

Of course, the situation with Kakhovska dam has created big issues. At the moment of that attack, we were operating with two blast furnaces. We thought that we could eventually extend the operation of two blast furnaces in parallel for a longer period of time and to keep the level of production between 40-50%. But, unfortunately, as soon as the dam was destroyed, the level of water in Kakhovska reservoir started reducing and because most of the water coming to Kryvyi Rih was pumped from there, we immediately suffered lack of water. At the time of the attack, we were consuming around 2500 cubic meters per hour of industrial water. And after the attack we actually got to a level of 900-1000 cubic meter per hour.

So in these conditions, we decided first of all to anticipate the capital maintenance of one of the blast furnaces. So in the first days after the attack we were operating only with one Blast Furnace - Blast Furnace No 8 and pig iron casters, which are actually connected to that, plus two coke batteries and keeping other two on idle condition. All the rest of the rolling facilities were stopped.

Then we got more information about the water and what it would take to get back to the previous level. We understood several projects were on the table from government side, city side, but we decided to make our own contribution on that, and we had the opportunity to connect the Inhulets river that is actually flowing on the west side of our facility to the Pivdenne reservoir.

And how to do that? We have already existing pipeline that we used to use in the opposite direction, coming from the Pivdenne reservoir. We needed to create a link between the river and this existing internal pipeline that we have. This link is five kilometers long approximately and it's been built by us, utilizing pumps that we had in warehouse and utilizing pipes that we previously bought at the beginning of the year for another project we have - the construction of a big tailing dump Karta III. In approximately 20 days we have been able to build a pumping station, to build a pipeline from Inhulets river to the existing ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rihs pipeline that is positioned in the south of the facility. We've been able to restore the flow on the opposite side from west to east and finally, by the beginning of this week, we have been able actually to feed the Pivdenne reservoir with approximately 3,400 cubic meters per hour of water from the Inhulets. I think this was a pretty big success. The pipeline is already operating and now the water is going there and is replenishing the reservoir.

We think that in the next couple of weeks we will be able to get an additional 1000 cubic meter per hour from the reservoir. The first period while this pipeline is working is dedicated to replenishing the reservoir mainly for the city of Kryvyi Rih. So once after the water level is enough for the people of the city, we will get extra water to restart with our facility. Currently, what we are trying to do with the available water, every day we decide which facility should be in operation. We still have the coke batteries No. 5, 6 operating, the coke batteries No. 3, 4 are on idle, Blast Furnace No. 8 operating, we operate steel mill and rolling mills depending on the availability of water.

Starting from the second half of August we expect to be able to come back steadily and continuously to 25-30% of production capacity. Every day we have very big variability in terms of equipment operating. But after mid-August we much probably will be able to come back to pre-attack levels, now excluding the Blast Furnace no. 6 that we are now repairing as we anticipated the capital maintenance. Blast Furnace no. 6 will come back later during the year, probably in Q4, once the maintenance is completed.

We expect the production to be linked to the blast furnace capacity. In August we might have a production between 100 000 and 150,000 tons of hot metal. It then can be transformed in steel or in pig iron. We will see what the best combination is according to our order portfolio. And what is the issue here? For 100 000 tons, we have enough water available. But if we produce more hot metal, we will not be able anymore to operate the downstream lines in a different moment. We will have to operate all production lines together, because we will need to evacuate the production of the blast furnace.

So Blast Furnace no. 8 might go from 3,500 tons per day production to 5,000 tons per day during August. The exact moment in which the blast furnace will go will be determined by the availability of the additional water that we are promised to receive during August. And we need to take into account that as soon as we go to the higher level of hot metal production then we are obliged to run all the downstream lines together and that will bring actually the water consumption higher. So the additional water needed is linked to the fact that because the production of hot metal increase, all the downstream plants must work together at the same time.



2. What are production results of the plant for the first six months of 2023 and in comparison with the same period last year?

The first six months of last year are not a good comparison because in the first couple of months the production was full. It's very difficult to compare the first half of the last year with the first half of this year. If you compare just the numbers, you will notice that this year we reduced the production compared to what was in the last year.

In the first half of 2022 we produced around 890,000 tons of crude steel and in the first half of 2023 we produced 390,000 tons  43% of H1 of 2022. But if we compare the war period, I will say that we are on the same level on average. Of course, if you consider the two weeks where the energy was not available or the months in which the energy was available but not in the quantity that we needed. You will see peaks, down peaks and so on. But in average, operating with one blast furnace in our case, we will be always around 20-30% of the production.

We are now having three blast furnaces, that can be operated, but one of them, Blast Furnace no. 9, covers 50% of the production. Blast Furnace no. 8 can cover 30-33% of the production, and Blast Furnace no. 6, is the smallest one, around 20%. So, if you operate Blast Furnace no. 6, we will always be around 20%. If you operate Blast Furnace no. 6 + Blast Furnace no. 8, we'll be at 50%. If we have Blast Furnace no. 9, we'll be at 100%.

When the water will be available, we'll be in the opportunity to reach 33-35%. So we will get back to 50% only when Blast Furnace no. 6 will be back.



3. Is there a sufficient supply of raw materials, in particular coal or coke?

If we consider the level we are operating now with one blast furnace, we can say that the coal that we are able to buy in Ukraine is somehow enough to produce coke for this level of operation. We just have to buy a small amount from abroad in order to improve the quality of the blend that we use in the coke batteries.

So at 25-30% we are OK with a small amount of import coal to optimize and to maintain the quality of our blend. If the operation increases to 50%, then we will have to import the remaining part of coal. We also consider that if our operation will increase to 50% means that situation is better, the markets are better. The fact that the market improved, the fact that the situation in Ukraine will improve is not generating only an improvement in ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, but in all mining and steel business so that the coal then will not be enough and should be imported.

Now importing coal from Polish ports, using the railway, for sure it will be a challenge from the logistic point of view, especially during the winter months, when the Polish ports are busy in importing thermal coal for energy production inside Poland. We had the same situation last year. When the winter came there was an order from the Polish government to prioritize the movement of the thermal coal to be used in their power stations and the cooking coal was somehow a second priority. In reality we didn't suffer so much because we were not producing so much but we know that in winter periods priority might go to thermal coal and importing big quantities of coal through the Polish ports and railway or even Romanian ports and railways might be a challenge.



4. How do you solve logistics problems? What should be done to remove this problem? Where does the company send its products now?

In the first half of this year, I will say that the logistics has been challenging for us but didn't represent the real obstacle to export to the European Union. And, of course, it is a big challenge in terms of business viability, because the extra cost that we are paying to ship the material all this distance compared to the cost that we had before, in many cases, makes us uncompetitive, makes us losing money instead of having a profit. But in terms of capacity available, at least during the first half of this year, we didn't suffer so much and the reason, as I mentioned, is simple. We have been producing between 20 and 30%. A lot of alternatives have been developed to export finished products to European countries without having delays or congestions.

The Grain Deal has not been extended. This is the peak season, so all these grains should be transported to another countries. This will add constraints and limitations to the available capacity.

In addition to that, there have been attacks to the port infrastructure. And we understand that a lot of work is now done to take out from the ports the material that is already stored there. Probably, soon there will be a congestion in the area of the ports, where all the agricultural ports operator will try to cooperate to remove the materials from the port and to redirect this material to the railway network.

So we do not have yet understanding of the limitations that we will face in the next months. It might be probably a congestion, especially in the next 30 days, if the situation will not go worst. And after that, probably the situation will be normalized, because the current moment is the worst moment. Peal season always was the worst moment even without the enemys attacks.



5.What is the share of sales in Ukraine?

In Ukraine in average during the first half of this year we have been selling around 30,000 tons per month. This is around 25% of what we used to sell to the market before the war. Before we had a domestic market of approximately 100,000-120,000 tons per months depending on, because some products have some seasonality.

Now we are seeing some increase, so let's see how we go. If we produce approximately 100,000 tons of hot metal per month, we can say that 30% was dedicated to the domestic market, 70% to export of which 50% is pig iron.

In the meantime, we have been developing some neighbor markets in European Union. Before the war we had a quota to export to Europe steel products. So we never actually thought this was a good market for us, because there was not enough capacity in this quota to have export there. In June 2022, the European Union removed quota, so it was possible for us to develop this new market.

Now, developing the new market doesn't mean that in one month we can quickly sell the material. We had to go through the process of certification for all our products. The European Union doesn't have a unique product specification that is valid for the full area of the EU27. Each country has its own certification, so finding the customers goes in parallel with certifying of our products.

Only in 2023, we started seeing some orders from the neighbor countries in Europe and this is linked to the fact that the logistics represent a big extra cost. So we will never be able to transport our goods in economical proper value to west of Europe without the ports of the Black Sea open.

For us steel market in Europe has been opening in the first half of this year. But in reality in order to find customers to certify, to make a trial order, it took some time.

Currently the European market for the products that we produce is depressed. The prices are extremely low, even European companies are in difficulties to keep the facility open. We have extra cost for logistic, and additional extra cost, because we kept all our workforce. If steel market in Europe will be better we will produce more steel rather than pig iron.

In previous years it was easy to plan each product at the beginning of the year for the full year unless big disturbances occurred, we were able to maintain the same product portfolio. In this situation it might change weekly. It's difficult to give you the precise data, because next week the split between the products might change. Suddenly the price of some products increases or decreases and so we need to adapt our production to actually cope with this market fluctuation. In our case are very impacting due to the extra cost.



6. After the de-occupation of a part of Kherson region, the work of ArcelorMittal Beryslav has been resumed, increasing the shipment of limestone for metallurgical production of ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih. How is the situation at the moment?

Yes, it is in operation. I personally visited the site as soon as the area has been liberated. And actually, at that time, we had some material in stock that we were not able to actually ship out, when the war started and the area was occupied. And as soon as the situation improved, we tried to find a way to resume the shipments to our facility using this stock material. And this has been done.

In the first months of this year, we already shipped out all the stock that we had here to ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih. And thanks to the support of the different authorities, military authorities, even from Kryvyi Rih, not only from Kherson, we were able to restart production. By the way, exactly the military authorities of Kryvyi Rih helped with demining of the territory. Our facility was occupied by the aggressors. They used our facility as a base that has been destroyed lately. All the area that was adjacent and close to our facility has been mined. It took some time to demine the area and to allow the equipment to come back to the mine and to restart the production. Now everything is working.

We think that by the end of the year we might be able to have 200,000 tons of limestone shipped out from Beryslav to ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, including the material that was in stock before. But you need to consider that the production of this facility in a normal situation could be 60,000-70,000 tons per month. So in a year could be even around 800,000 tons of limestones. So also here we will be more or less shipping 25% actually of what is the real capacity of the mine. Currently we don't require a bigger quantity.



7. ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih recently sent documents to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine again for approval of the construction of tailing storage facility  Karta III. As far as I remember, this is already the fourth submission of documents for approval of the construction of this tailing dump. What are the new requirements put forward by the Ministry of Natural Resources and why did the approval for construction take so long?

This is just a part of the normal workflow of the process that is not the quickest.We do not see issue there, we are not facing any problem now.

Karta 3 project is one of the flagship eco-friendly projects in our mining department that we are having currently. Karta 3 will be a state-of-the-art tailing dump in terms of ecological perspective. And the project is on time, it's ongoing. Id like to thank ArcelorMittal Group to allow us, even considering our negative financial results, to continue this project and the finance must go ahead. This year, overall, including Karta 3, we plan to have a capex expenditure of around $130 million, of which Karta 3 is playing an important role, a little bit more than half of it sum.

Now good weather allows us to proceed even quicker. We are not forecasting any problems for this project. And in terms of the permits, we hope that everything can be solved out quickly.



7. As reported, on June 27, The National Commission of the State Public Utilities Regulation established new maximum price caps for electricity on the day-ahead market, intraday market and balancing market, which took effect on June 30. How did it affect the additional costs of AMKR? How much have deductions for electricity increased?

Yes, this is a big issue for us. Before the war, honestly, Ukraine, taking the advantage of the nuclear power stations, was able to have a competitive price of electricity  on the level of $70-80 per megawatt. Anyway, always lower than the electricity price that is paid in Europe. Now, of course, Europe also has big differences, depending on the country, but in average we were always lower than the European price.

Then the full-scaled war started, we had the attacks on the energy infrastructure, mainly electricity. We didn't have electricity available. But by February-March 2023 the situation in terms of availability of needed electricity was solved, but the price never came back to the original figure. And we have been explained that damages to the electricity assets and to the grid, of course, despite the financing from outside, from other countries, should be repaid. Everything should be rebuilt. The maintenance of the facilities should be done.

Now, the fact that The National Commission of the State Public Utilities Regulation put a new cap is trying to confirm that this situation will be not coming back where we were before. The big issue here is that if we have the extra cost for the logistics, if we have the extra cost because we want to maintain our people and to help them to stay there to live not a normal life but at least to survive this war. We pay them 66% of the basic salary even if an employee is not at work. And now we have also this increase of electricity. This is very mathematical calculation for us. We can change every day but as much as the utilities are increasing and nothing changed on the logistic point of view and nothing changed in the market we will end up having a cost that is higher than the price. When we have a cost that is higher than the market price it's more convenient not to produce. How can we produce if we need to inject more money than the money that we will receive?

You know about the losses we record during 2022 and probably this year we will have again losses. Increasing of prices for utilities will increase our losses in the proportion in which energy is utilized. We would like to understand how the government can impact that. Can a transition exist? How the government intend to support the industry in this moment, not after the war in reconstruction period? We need Definite transition to survive. We do not consider that increasing the tariff is a good support in the current mode.



8. How is ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih currently operating - profitable or unprofitable? Last year, you attracted significant credit funds under the guarantees of ArcelorMittal Group. What is the situation now? How much did investment in production decrease?

Last year we had a consolidated net losses of around 1.3 billion dollars. And we had negative cash the Group had to inject in our company of approximately 600 million dollars. We were coming from good 2021 year, so we had some reserves at beginning of 2022. Of course, we have already used all these resources.

For this year we will probably have again negative results according to what I'm seeing now. I cannot say now, how much it will be negative, hopefully, will be less negative than last year. That is our hope and we are trying to reach better results than in 2022. But if tariffs rise, these negative results will be more negative than expected because our operating forecasts were different.

So far we are still in negative. A lot of uncertainties every day affect our forecast. So let's see. The company cannot survive if the situation continues in this way. State support can be a decisive factor. There is another factor, of course, that is the market. And if the market suddenly will improve and the prices will increase in Europe, then we might be able to improve our financial situations.

But so far all the forecasts that we are seeing are not showing sharp improvement of the situation during 2023. We might see some results in Q4, but it will be an effect of only three months. The impact of these 3 months will not be so big to compensate what was during the first 9 months of the year. Even if the situation improves today, we will see the effect only in Q4.

As market determine our price, we are trying to do our best to maintain, to mitigate and to reduce our cost, but then there are some part of the cost that we do not control. We cannot rule over the price of electricity. We can only improve the consumption of electricity, but we cannot rule on the prices.



10. Does the company have problems with VAT refund? What is the state's debt to ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih for VAT?

No, we don't have any overview over VAT refund. In this case, I really praise tax authorities and government to take care of us in this case and to allow the normal flow of VAT to be refunded according to the rules. We are happy that we could reach this level of VAT refund flow even in these conditions.



11. How acute is the company's problem with personnel, how do you solve the situation with a shortage of workers?

We kept all our workforce at payroll, even if a half of them were not at work for several months. Before the war, we had around 26,000 people, and all our employees are still at our payroll, including the contractors.

Now, approximately a half of personnel are at their workplaces. 2,700 of our employees went to the Army. Sometime, in some specific job positions we have more people going to the Army. And when we are going to search for this position the market is not so easy to find. However, we still have some people at home and we are trying to implement plans of retraining to help people train for different positions. So, for example, if we see that some of our assets will not restart in the short term, we try to invite our employees to retrain and to occupy another position inside our organizational chart. At the current moment with 25-30% of the plants load, the fact that there are not so many people available, that is also true, is not affecting our operation. At the current moment. We expect that we will start feeling it once we will be steadily around 50%. And it will become definitely a big problem, when the plant will ramp up to 100% hopefully when ports will be reopened.

What we are doing now: we keep the people at payroll even if they are idled. When they are at home, they receive 66% of their basic salary, while when they are at work, they receive 100% of their salary and whatever additional payment that they should get. The fact that they can be retrained to do another job would allow them to come back immediately to the plant and to work and get the full salary. Now this is for the short term.

For the long term, I agree with you, this is a big issue. And this is a problem not only for our plant. When the situation improves, everybody will go to search for new resources. And we do not expect that the resources to come back at 100% of capacity for all metallurgical plants of Ukraine will be available.

We are trying to understand how to solve this. Another program that we have is the work with the universities. They are working, and we have plans to extend the program that we started, when we announced our Nova Fabryka project, in which we try to attract the students from universities. We put them in the loop, we train them, we have a program of double degree. And when they finish their studies, they are already available to work for us. I think that is another big point that we can work on even increase the number of students that we follow, and we try to attract as soon as the war finishes to our plant.

Once we will restart with our investment program and we will put in place new strategic investment with new technologies and new assets, we will need people exactly after the universities, because all the new plants are very technological. The manual work is limited to the minimum. So people have to be able to work in systems, to work with the computers. All the investment that we are looking at in current moment, they have a high level of technology inside. It is important to attract the students now, to give them a perspective for the future. Exactly these people will be useful to us for the plant of the future.

Of course, the availability of resources in metallurgy and mining industry is a countrys issue that will have to be addressed if the country really wants to proceed and increase the capacity of this industry in the future.



12. How do you assess the initiative of the Office of the President to create a coordination platform that will consider problematic issues between business and law enforcement agencies?

Of course, positively. It's much better if the relationships with government will be via central institutions, which can collect all the issues and to make the full picture. Such a company like ArcelorMittal has the interactions with the government because of the size of the company. Our company is a member of business associations, EBA, American Chamber of Commerce, etc. So we are able to actually raise the issue and it will be sooner or later considered. Now we understand that there are the companies that are not of the same size and they need also to be able to raise their issues.

This is normal that in order to find the solution first need to listen, what is the problem. And having full understanding of the problem coming from different perspectives is very good. So I praise this initiative of having a structural way of receiving the issues linked to the relationship between the authorities and the business. This is a good way of collecting information and based on that prepare an action plan and a strategy to solve the problems that can arise.



13. How do you assess the situation in MMC of Ukraine and in worldwide in general? What is the forecast for the economic situation?

Metallurgy in Ukraine will be always great industry as it was always. And this will be Green Metallurgy. The industry itself is going to this direction for many years. Some countries work quicker. Some countries are a little bit slower. In less than 25 years, in 2050, we will see the famous target of decarbonization. And even today, as soon as you try to modernize the facility and to change some equipment, there is only the environmentally friendly one available to buy. Technologies and speed of the modernization will bring this industry in Ukraine and outside Ukraine to the green.

The main issue I see in the metallurgy world is there is much more capacity installed than demand. In order to survive, the company must be competitive. Otherwise, someone else will come that is more competitive and will take share of your market. I'm not talking about some special products, I'm talking about commodity business. Big volumes of steel are sold as a commodity.

Today in Europe, there are almost 10 million tons of unutilized capacity. There is not even the market for that. Now, this will determine the fact that only the competitive players will be able to survive.

How do we survive in this very competitive environment? First of all, we see that there are several countries in Europe, and also U.S., that are actually supporting specifically the steel industry in the transition to green. Europe, for example, is giving grants through different countries to several plants in order to facilitate the transformation of the industrial footprint to a full green footprint. In the U.S. there are the incentives on the taxes that these new plants will have to pay. Somehow there are de-taxation for the investment done in the green metallurgy sphere.

So my question is, what would be for the Ukrainian companies? Reconstruction of Ukraine will attract a lot of capital to the country. We must receive the same incentives that our competitors. We are trying to get inside the European Union as soon as possible. So as soon as we are inside, we will have more or less the same levels. Now, there will be rules to follow. Now, if we are inside, everyone will be more or less on the same levels. Rules will be set for everyone to follow. If we are inside, then we compete in the same market and should receive the same incentives.

It's a future of metallurgy for sure. We consider that Ukraine will be part of this, thanks to the resources available in Ukraine, specifically iron ore resources that are still there. But we must convince everybody that we need to value these resources. Because the resource itself, without help, without incentive aligned with the worldwide best practice, will be not enough to maintain our profitability. And we do not want to see Ukraine becoming a raw material supplier. This I do not want. Because if there are no clear incentives for investments in green metallurgy, much probably Ukraine will transform itself into a supplier of raw materials for Europe. This will be somehow a mistake if we are going in this direction. I would prefer to have a finished product coming out from Ukraine.

Often a company that annually produces 10 million tons of pellets might be only 1,000 people employed. A company that annualy produces 6 million tons of steel has 26,000 people employed. We need to analyze. So first of all, I would like Ukraine to develop the steel industry after war. So, if you are competitive and green, you will be one of the companies, surviving in this challenging market.
VICTORIA, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Boron One Holdings Inc. ("Boron One" or the "Company") [TSXV:BONE], is pleased to announce the implementation of a warrant exercise incentive program (the "Program") intended to encourage the exercise of up to 14,362,833 unlisted common share purchase warrants of the Company (the "Eligible Warrants") which were issued as part of the Company's private placements which closed on September 24, 2021 and September 22, 2020. The warrant issued on September 24, 2021 had an exercise price of $0.10, and the warrants issued on September 22, 2020 had an exercise price of $0.05. The board of directors of the Company have determined it to be in the best interests of the Corporation to reprice the warrants issued on September 24, 2021 from the current exercise price of C$0.10 per share of common stock to C$0.05 per Warrant Share (the "Warrant Repricing").

Each Eligible Warrant is exercisable for one common share of the Company (each a "Common Share") at a price of $0.05 per Common Share, subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange to the propose Warrant Repricing. The September 24, 2021 warrants expire on September 24, 2023 and the September 22, 2020 warrants expire on September 9, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. (Vancouver time).

To the extent that holders of Eligible Warrants take advantage of the opportunity to exercise their Eligible Warrants early, this will fund working capital purposes. Eligible Warrants that remain unexercised following the completion of the Early Exercise Period (defined below) will continue to be exercisable for Common Shares on the original terms as they existed prior to the Program.

Summary Information about Warrant Incentive Program

Pursuant to the Program, the Company is offering an inducement to each holder of Eligible Warrants ("Warrant Holders") that exercises Eligible Warrants during an early exercise period (the "Early Exercise Period") consisting of one new Warrant (the "New Warrant") in addition to the common share subscribed for. Each New Warrant is exercisable at $0.10 in the first year, and $0.20 in the second year, until August 30, 2025, subject to the right of the Corporation to accelerate expiry upon 30 days notice if the shares of the Corporation trade on the TSX Venture Exchange at or above $0.20 in the first year, and $0.40 in the second year, for a period of 10 days.

The Early Exercise Period will commence on August 15, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. (Vancouver time) and will expire on August 29, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. (Vancouver time) (the "Early Exercise Expiry Date"). The Incentive Warrants and any Common Shares issuable on the exercise thereof will be subject to a four-month hold period from the date of issuance of the Incentive Warrants pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws.

Depending upon the number of Eligible Warrants exercised during the Early Exercise Period, the Company expects to:

receive gross proceeds of up to $718,141.65;

issue up to 14,362,833 Common Shares pursuant to the exercise of Eligible Warrants in accordance with the terms of the Eligible Warrants; and

issue up to 14,362,833 Incentive Warrants to Warrant Holders pursuant to the exercise of the Eligible Warrants on or before the Early Exercise Expiry Date.

The terms and conditions of the Program and the method of exercising Eligible Warrants pursuant to the Program are set forth in a letter which is being delivered to the last known contact of each Warrant Holder. Warrant Holders who wish to participate in the Program will agree to exercise their Eligible Warrants and deliver the other necessary documents in consideration of the issuance by the Company of the Incentive Warrants.

The Program and the Warrant Repricing is subject to approval from the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") and is subject to the receipt of all final regulatory approvals, including final approval of the Exchange. The number of Eligible Warrants to be exercised by insiders of the Company is limited to no more than 10% of the total Eligible Warrants, being 14,362,833 Eligible Warrants, and the Company will issue no more than 1,436,283 Incentive Warrants to insiders under the Program. Insiders presently hold 1.0% of the Eligible Warrants.

Procedure for the Exercise of Warrants

Upon commencement of the Early Exercise Period, registered holders of Eligible Warrants may exercise their rights to acquire the Common Shares and Incentive Warrants.

All Eligible Warrants must be processed through the Company at the offices of the Company located at 203, 645 Fort Street, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 1G2.

To exercise Eligible Warrants during the Early Exercise Period, until August 29, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. (Vancouver time), a Warrant Holder must:

1. Surrender the original Warrant Certificate(s) representing the Eligible Warrants to the Company by hand or courier at the address noted above. The Warrant Certificate(s) representing the Eligible Warrants must be submitted together with:

(a) a duly completed and executed Subscription Form as attached to the Eligible Warrant Certificate, specifying the number of Eligible Warrants that the Warrant Holder intends to exercise; and

(b) a certified cheque, bank draft or money order in Canadian dollars, payable to or to the order of "Boron One Holdings Inc." in an amount equal to $0.05 multiplied by the number of Eligible Warrants that the Warrant Holder intends to exercise.

All Eligible Warrant Certificates surrendered for full exercise will be cancelled by the Company and will be of no further force or effect.

All Eligible Warrant Certificates surrendered together with a duly completed and executed Subscription Form, and payment of the applicable exercise price for the number of Eligible Warrants exercised will be deemed to be surrendered only upon personal delivery thereof to, or, if sent by mail or other means of transmission, upon actual receipt thereof by the Company. Any use of the mail to transmit Eligible Warrant Certificates is at the risk of the Warrant Holder. If such documents are to be mailed, it is recommended that registered mail, properly insured, be used with acknowledgement of receipt requested.

Fractional Shares

The Company will not be obligated to issue any fractional Common Shares, fractional Incentive Warrants or any cash or other consideration in lieu thereof upon the exchange of one or more Eligible Warrants. If any fraction of a Common Share or Incentive Warrant would otherwise be issuable, the number of such securities so issued will be rounded down to the nearest whole number without compensation thereof.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Tim Daniels, President

About Boron One Holdings Inc.

Boron One Holdings Inc. is an international mineral exploration and development company with boron assets in Serbia. Headquartered in Victoria, B.C., Canada, Boron One's shares are traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "BONE". For detailed information please see BoronOne's website at www.boronone.com or the Company's filed documents at www.sedar.com..

For further information, please contact:

Boron One Holdings Inc.

Blake Fallis, General Manager

Phone: 1-250- 384-1999 or 1-888-289-3746

[email protected]

www.boronone.com

Boron's Public Quotations

Canada

TSX Venture: BONE

Berlin: EKV

US: SEC 12G3-2(B) #82-4432ERVFF

OTCBB: ERVFF

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Boron One Holdings Inc.

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / CNH Industrial, a global leader in agricultural and construction equipment, reaffirms its commitment to prioritize skill development and education as key drivers for sustainable growth on Youth Skills Day.

Kavita Sah, CSR Lead at CNH Industrial, said, "Our commitment lies in driving productivity, innovation, and sustainability across industries through our skills development initiatives. By empowering individuals and communities with training and education, we positively impact both industry and society as a whole. In addition to providing training, we actively collaborate with dealers, industry players, and suppliers to facilitate employment opportunities. Our initiatives have already impacted over 15,000 families in India, and we remain dedicated to furthering the development of rural India through our existing and upcoming endeavors."

Recently, CNH Industrial's agriculture brands, New Holland and Case IH, introduced successful training programs targeting both farmers and equipment operators across India. New Holland Agriculture has launched an innovative initiative to equip individuals with the essential skills and technical expertise necessary for mechanized farming practices. Similarly, Case IH introduced the "Unnat Kaushal-Sugarcane Harvester Operator Training" program designed for operators working in sugarcane harvesting.

The company's financial services division, CNH Industrial Capital, has also trained farmers in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on financial literacy, farm mechanization, biomass management, and state agricultural subsidies.

CNH Industrial is committed to empowering local communities through educational business initiatives that make industry opportunities accessible to individuals in search of employment.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from CNH Industrial on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: CNH Industrial

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cnh-industrial

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: CNH Industrial

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Cyber Threat Intelligence Leader Leverages Generative AI and Accelerates the Release of New Features to Cybersixgill IQ Showcased at Black Hat USA 2023

Key Takeaways:

With the rapid evolution of generative AI, Cybersixgill is continuously leveraging the technology's full potential with innovative, new enhancements to help security teams accelerate investigations and more efficiently build defenses against the threats targeting them.

Combined with Cybersixgill's Attack Surface Management capabilities, Cybersixgill IQ introduces a groundbreaking new capability of factoring organizations' attack surface context to deliver generative AI-based CTI insights specific to each company.

New custom report-building capabilities streamline data aggregation and analysis, enabling easy sharing of critical information across the organization.

A new credentials module uncovers compromised credentials, including input from stealer logs, arming security teams against unauthorized access risks.

LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / (Business Meeting Room #485) - Black Hat USA 2023, Cybersixgill, the global cyber threat intelligence data provider, announced today new enhancements to Cybersixgill IQ, its generative AI solution launched less than two months ago.

As generative AI undergoes rapid evolution, so is Cybersixgill continuously pushing IQ and cyber threat intelligence (CTI) into new territory. Harnessing state-of-the-art generative AI technologies, Cybersixgill IQ makes CTI accessible to organizations at any security maturity level and addresses a multitude of user personas and cybersecurity challenges.

The new Cybersixgill IQ enhancements are built on the premise that as good as CTI is, it is critical to match intelligence with insights that matter to each company's specific context. Leveraging generative AI, Cybersixgill IQ's unique threat intelligence, embedded with its Attack Surface Management module, delivers contextual insights, allowing organizations to make significant strides in combating the most pertinent threats. Additionally, the solution overcomes issues of data trust found in other generative AI offerings and adheres to data privacy regulations by protecting users' data and never sharing it with the generative AI model or any third parties.

"Generative AI is rapidly evolving as vendors enhance their offerings to keep up with the transformative potential it brings to cybersecurity and threat intelligence," said Jon Oltsik, Distinguished Analyst and Fellow with Enterprise Strategy Group and the founder of the firm's cybersecurity service. "Cybersixgill's new generative AI contextual insights can provide incremental value in areas like EASM and CTI analysis while considering each organization's specific assets, attack surface, and other important attributes. These AI-driven insights can then help defenders stay ahead of the cybercriminal underground. Companies that use Cybersixgill's generative AI capabilities could easily see improvements in security efficacy and operational efficiency."

"Today, we are disrupting CTI by adopting generative AI across our platform to offer a groundbreaking new experience," said Gabi Reish, Chief Product Officer for Cybersixgill. "The ability to add each company's specific attack surface context to the equation truly unravels the most critical threat exposure challenges customers face daily and helps users build formidable defenses against the threats targeting them. As we strive to be the gold standard for AI-based threat intelligence, we are excited to introduce these new capabilities and demonstrate our ability to outpace the industry in bringing these important new features to the market."

Business-specific Insights and Custom Reports to Strengthen Cyber Defenses

Cybersixgill IQ is an end-to-end solution that seamlessly integrates into customers' existing CTI workflows, supplementing and enhancing the company's deep, dark web threat intelligence through its intuitive portal or API. The generative AI solution solves many pain points of overburdened security teams, such as addressing alert fatigue, sifting through overwhelming volumes of threat data, and managing and monitoring an ever-expanding attack surface. The combination of CTI, ASM - whether Cybersixgill's ASM module or that of another provider - and generative AI means organizations can receive the most relevant data and intelligence for their business, industry, region, and other factors.

Additional Cybersixgill IQ enhancements now available include:

A custom report builder to streamline data collection, analysis, and dissemination. Key capabilities include: Aggregates data, including screenshots, collected across Cybersixgil's Investigative Portal Enables generation of reports based on the collected data for leaders and practitioners across the organization

Entity Navigator has new intuitive features to accelerate investigations, including: Provides clear and consolidated information to individual threat intelligence entities, including APTs, IoCs, malware, and more Improves incident response, threat analysis, and threat-hunting use cases by offering seamless cross-referencing and correlation between entities

Credentials module that consolidates compromised credentials from repositories and stealer logs, arming security teams against unauthorized access risks. The module includes: Complete, unified view of compromised access vectors, including stolen email credentials and accounts accessed by stealer malware Advanced threat insights and analysis to uncover vital host information and identify and attribute compromised access to specific malware brands



Cybersixgill demonstrates the new IQ enhancements at Black Hat USA 2023 in Business Meeting Room #485. For more information or to schedule a meeting, please visit https://cybersixgill.com/events/black-hat-2023.

About Cybersixgill

Cybersixgill continuously collects and exposes the earliest indications of risk by threat actors moments after they surface on the clear, deep, and dark web. The company's vast intelligence data lake, derived from millions of underground sources, is processed, correlated, and enriched using automation and advanced AI. Cybersixgill captures, processes, and alerts teams to emerging threats, TTPs, IOCs, and their exposure to risk based on each organization's complete attack surface and internal context. Its expert intelligence and insights, available through a range of seamlessly integrated options, enable customers to pre-empt threats before they materialize into attacks. The company serves and partners with global enterprises, financial institutions, MSSPs, and government and law enforcement agencies. For more information, visit https://www.cybersixgill.com/ and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. To schedule a demo, please visit https://cybersixgill.com/book-a-demo.

Media Contacts:

North America

Liz Youngs

Trier and Company for Cybersixgill

Mobile: 1+843-412-6327

Email: [email protected]

Israel

Ayelet Elani

Mobile: Israel 972-54-6242458

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Cybersixgill

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / FedEx Corporation:

Originally published in FedEx's 2023 ESG Report

As a global business, we value the diversity of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences of our people and recognize DEI is essential to our success and the communities we serve. DEI fosters collaboration, enables us to recruit, retain, and develop a talented workforce, and underpins our business performance and sustainability. The continued integration of DEI into our business strategies and progress towards our DEI objectives supported our ability to respond to the challenging labor market our industry faced in recent years. We are proud of the work our people accomplished over the past year but understand there is always more to be done.

FedEx has a long-standing commitment to fully embrace DEI throughout our organization, from the Board of Directors to every employee. This commitment is communicated through our DEI framework and our four strategic pillars: Our People; Our Education and Engagement; Our Communities, Customers, and Suppliers; and Our Story. We use this framework to influence and inform our business strategy as we invest in our workforce, culture, and communities.

Our people

We understand the importance of actively recruiting, developing, and retaining our diverse talent. One of the most important outcomes of our DEI efforts is to grow and advance the gifted group of individuals that comprise FedEx.

Over the past year, we continued to roll out programs to ensure our people are engaged and can develop at FedEx. The FedEx Ground workforce career track program, Purple Pathways, directly targets our most diverse population, frontline managers and package handlers, to support their career growth. FedEx Ground won the American Transportation Association DEI Change Leader Award in 2022 for Purple Pathways. We are inspired to see over 33,000 team members registered in the program, with more than 1,700 Purple Pathways mentors. The OnDeck program, launched by FedEx Express, provides our front-line workers with the training and skills they need to grow into managerial roles.

In FY22, FedEx participated in a variety of employment events, including partnering with the Society of Women Engineers, the National Black MBA Association, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to expand our talent pool, increase hires from diverse populations, and establish FedEx as a positive ambassador for DEI. At FedEx Express AMEA, we set a DEI objective to increase the number of team members with disabilities by 5%. FedEx is part of the Tent Coalition for Refugees in the U.S. and has set goals for hiring refugees for roles with the company nationwide.

See the Data appendix and our EEO-1 Reports for statistics on workplace gender, race/ethnicity, and generational diversity.

Our education and engagement

We foster ongoing employee engagement and provide educational opportunities to build an inclusive working environment and help our people succeed. We strive to promote DEI and maintain open dialogue across all levels of the company.

We work to expand our team members' DEI knowledge through various learning opportunities. We recently introduced a DEI competency program for all our officers and directors. Through this program, enabled by the FedEx Learning Center, more than 87% of our FedEx Logistics managers, directors, and officers completed four DEI courses. In 2022, all FedEx Office leaders and key HR employees completed a year-long Inclusive Leadership program to address critical DEI topics. FedEx Express continued the Convene program, a virtual mentorship program between four vice president-level diversity sponsors and other team members. Across our operating companies, we offer a micro-learning platform to deliver digestible DEI content for all career levels.

Team members can participate in business resource teams, employee networks, and affinity groups to enhance DEI, build community, and inspire conversations across our operating companies. These groups include: Women in Leadership, Black Professionals Network, Hispanic Action Network, AllGenerations, Multi-Ethnic Leadership Community, Asian Network, Women Leading Change, LGBT & Friends, U.S. Military Veterans, Growing Professionals, Parents Working Together, EnABLE Network, Men Leading Inclusively, and Multi-Faith Network, among others. In FY22, FedEx Logistics launched its first business resource team, Women in Logistics, with plans to launch additional resource groups next year.

We include DEI-related questions in our FedEx Services, FedEx Ground, and FedEx Freight engagement surveys, allowing us to accurately capture employee perspectives on DEI within the FedEx workforce. The results from these surveys show that open dialogue regarding diversity and inclusion has improved since 2021. DEI metrics were added to FedEx Ground's performance management system to ensure intentional focus and engagement on DEI for all team members.

Our communities, customers, and suppliers

DEI must extend further than our people and our business. We are committed to investing in the communities, customers, and suppliers we serve. In FY22, we contributed $5.7 million to various non-profits aligned with our DEI commitment to increase equity in the communities we serve. We work with community partners, including the National Action Network, and sponsor events, such as the Rise Up and Memphis Proud Exhibits at the Memphis Museum of Science and History, to strengthen our position as a positive community ambassador.

In FY22, we provided over $800,000 for leadership development programs in the U.S., mainly through our seven scholarship funds. We also support endowed scholarships at eight HBCUs where we are expanding opportunities for students through a $5 million multi-year contribution to prepare students for the workforce. In FY22 we launched the FedEx-HBCU Student Ambassador Program, which provides empowerment, engagement, and education for students, and access to resources that will help them prepare to enter the workforce after college. Additionally, FedEx Ground launched the College Pathways Career Expose with seven HBCUs in February 2022. The College Pathways program exposes students to career opportunities in specific fields that align with their studies and provides students insights on real career experiences.

We work to recruit diverse candidates and develop a talent pipeline to build a workforce reflective of the communities we serve. We work to improve the inclusivity of our recruitment process by offering materials in Spanish and English. FedEx Logistics hosts the FedEx Logistics Academy, a program designed to introduce high school students to a variety of career paths as well as provide interactive lessons on teamwork and workplace culture. FedEx Freight expanded "The Boardroom Experience" program, which introduces students of color to career possibilities at FedEx through a simulated Board meeting. FedEx Express AMEA partnered with the Asian University for Women to provide mentorship for female students from various countries in Asia and the Middle East. FedEx Services implements the College Connections program to improve recruiting efforts with colleges near main FedEx Services hubs. FedEx Ground proactively recruits from its High School Pathways program, which teaches students about different roles within FedEx Ground, including tips on networking, interviewing, and mentoring. The FedEx Express HBCU Student Co-op Program is designed to attract, develop, and retain diverse talent. Students focus on project-based assignments directly related to their academic degree and gain mentoring and networking opportunities with FedEx staff, including executive management.

As a global business, we have the power to support a diverse supplier base. See the Our supply chain section for information on our Supplier Diversity program.

Our story

Throughout FedEx, we encourage team members to share their stories, celebrate their differences, and foster collaboration. We provide team members with DEI-related resources, events, and employee stories through our enterprisewide online platform, the DEI Depot. In FY22, FedEx Logistics circulated communications for 15 significant cultural moments and FedEx Ground launched the Story Depot to collect and share a variety of employee success stories. Across FedEx Corporate, FedEx Logistics, FedEx Express, FedEx Freight, FedEx Ground, and FedEx Services, we circulate a quarterly DEI newsletter, which provides managers and officers with resources, information, and best practices to ensure they effectively promote DEI throughout their teams.

Key links

FedEx Cares

DEI | FedEx Cares

EEO-1 Reports

Compensation and Human Resources Committee Charter

Read more



View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from FedEx Corporation on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: FedEx Corporation

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/fedex-corporation

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: FedEx Corporation

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Faraday Copper Corp. ("Faraday" or the "Company") (TSX:FDY) announces its financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023.

Year-to-Date Highlights

Announced results from a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") and an updated Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") for the Copper Creek Project on May 3, 2023 which included: Post-tax Net Present Value (7%) of US$713 million and Internal Rate of Return of 16%. Updated MRE outlining 4.2 billion pounds of copper Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources, and 628 million pounds of copper Inferred Mineral Resources.

Acquired a land package for $13.7 million (US$10 million) on March 6, 2023, consisting of approximately 6,000 deeded acres (private land) within 32,000 acres of grazing leases as part of a land consolidation strategy around the Copper Creek Project.

Completed a bought deal financing on February 14, 2023, for a total of 49,999,700 common shares sold at a price of $0.80 per common share for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of $39,999,760.

Announced results for the Copper Creek Project drill program on August 1, 2023, July 12, 2023, May 31, 2023, May 16, 2023, March 14, 2023, February 23, 2023, January 31, 2023 and January 17, 2023.

Completed the Phase II drill program with all results released, continued baseline environmental data collection, stakeholder mapping, and generative exploration targeting at the Copper Creek Project to provide a pipeline of future targets through ongoing geological mapping and recently reprocessed and newly acquired geophysical data.

Upcoming Milestones at Copper Creek

Q3 2023 - Commence metallurgical program for grind size optimization, gold deportment, and further test work on near surface mineralization

Q3 2023 - Release initial results from the gold assaying program of historical drill core

Q4 2023 - Initiate Phase III drill program

Financial Results

Three months ended Six months ended In Canadian dollars June 30, 2023 June 30, 2022 June 30, 2023 June 30, 2022 Exploration and evaluation expenses $ 4,170,334 $ 3,707,052 $ 9,409,364 $ 6,204,014 General and administration $ 319,721 $ 563,837 $ 1,199,750 $ 925,844 Share-based compensation $ 618,688 $ 1,612,575 $ 1,308,771 $ 2,618,865 Net Loss $ 5,497,051 $ 6,603,853 $ 12,665,010 $ 10,629,850 Basic and Diluted Loss per Share $ 0.03 $ 0.06 $ 0.08 $ 0.10

Note: The financial information in this table was selected from the Company's condensed interim consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 (the "Financial Statements"), which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and the Company's website www.faradaycopper.com.

Selected Financial Information

In Canadian dollars June 30, 2023 December 31, 2022 Cash and Cash Equivalents $ 22,299,409 $ 9,535,039 Net Working Capital $ 20,625,323 $ 6,642,161 Property Plant and Equipment $ 15,053,234 $ 1,444,054 Resource Properties $ 4,955,328 $ 4,955,328 Total Assets $ 42,654,671 $ 16,580,308

Note: The financial information in this table was selected from the Financial Statements, which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and the Company's website www.faradaycopper.com.

Cash flow, Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company is a resource exploration stage company and does not generate any revenue and has been mainly relying on equity-based financing to fund its operations. As at June 30, 2023, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $22,299,409 (December 31, 2022 - $9,535,039) and a net working capital balance of $20,625,323 (December 31, 2022 - $6,642,161). During the six months ended June 30, 2023, cash used in operating activities was $12,564,688 (2022 - $7,097,220), cash used in investing activities was $13,284,658 (2022 - $327,894), and cash provided by financing activities was $39,443,854 (2022 - $20,173,000). Cash used in investing activities was primarily related to the acquisition of the Mercer Ranch on March 7, 2023.

The Company will need to raise additional funding to finance its day-to-day operations and to enable the Company to achieve its long-term business objectives. On February 14, 2023, the Company completed an equity-based financing of $39,999,760 to fund its operations.

The Company will require additional financing either through equity or debt financing, sale of assets, joint venture arrangements, or a combination thereof to meet its administrative costs and to continue to explore and develop its resource properties. There is no assurance that sufficient future funding will be available on a timely basis or on terms acceptable to the Company. As such, there is a material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.

About Faraday Copper

Faraday Copper is a Canadian exploration company focused on advancing its flagship copper project in Arizona, U.S. The Copper Creek project, is one of the largest undeveloped copper projects in North America with open pit and bulk underground mining potential. The Company is well-funded to deliver on its key milestones and benefits from a management team and board of directors with senior mining company experience and expertise. Faraday trades on the TSX under the symbol "FDY".

For additional information please contact:

Stacey Pavlova, CFA

Vice President, Investor Relations & Communications

Faraday Copper Corp.

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.faradaycopper.com

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking statements" and are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Faraday to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information specifically include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the future drilling and exploration potential of the Copper Creek property.

Although Faraday believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements should not be in any way construed as guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include without limitation: market prices for metals; the conclusions of detailed feasibility and technical analyses; lower than expected grades and quantities of resources; receipt of regulatory approval; receipt of shareholder approval; mining rates and recovery rates; significant capital requirements; price volatility in the spot and forward markets for commodities; fluctuations in rates of exchange; taxation; controls, regulations and political or economic developments in the countries in which Faraday does or may carry on business; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, competition; loss of key employees; rising costs of labour, supplies, fuel and equipment; actual results of current exploration or reclamation activities; accidents; labour disputes; defective title to mineral claims or property or contests over claims to mineral properties; unexpected delays and costs inherent to consulting and accommodating rights of Indigenous peoples and other groups; risks, uncertainties and unanticipated delays associated with obtaining and maintaining necessary licenses, permits and authorizations and complying with permitting requirements, including those associated with the Copper Creek property; and uncertainties with respect to any future acquisitions by Faraday. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining, including environmental events and hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding and the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to cover these risks as well as "Risk Factors" included in Faraday's disclosure documents filed on and available at www.sedarplus.ca.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. This press release is not, and under no circumstances is to be construed as, a prospectus, an offering memorandum, an advertisement or a public offering of securities in Faraday in Canada, the United States or any other jurisdiction. No securities commission or similar authority in Canada or in the United States has reviewed or in any way passed upon this press release, and any representation to the contrary is an offence.

SOURCE: Faraday Copper Corp.

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / SAP

How can a three-year-old agroforestry company produce trustworthy, sustainable feedstock - raw materials for finished goods, energy, and more - while reducing the amount of carbon in the atmosphere?

"We do that by using the biodiversity of this region, the Cerrado in Brazil," Francisco de Blanco, S.Oleum co-founder and CEO, told SAP at the company's headquarters, an innovative farm just outside Joo Pinheiro.

Why the Brazilian outback? This tropical savanna is home to the macauba, a highly adaptable oil-producing tree with a penchant for scrubbing harmful CO2 from the air. Macauba fruit yields advanced vegetable oils (AVOs) and high-protein food - and it can be 15 times more productive than soybeans.

"We are restoring the landscape that was deforested&MacauIba was native here many, many years ago," Felipe Morbi, S.Oleum co-founder and Agroforestry VP, said. "Now we are bringing back these trees, and also all the other species, to restore this biodiversity."

S.Oleum seeks to accomplish this scientifically, using macauba and other crops in an integrated crop-livestock-forest approach, according to Morbi. The goal is to create working farms that rejuvenate degraded, low-yielding soil - and that sequester into the soil more carbon than they generate.

Science-Based Approach to Reforesting the Cerrado

"We are looking for the balance of the system," Morbi said in a new SAP video. "We will measure the amount of carbon in the soil, the moisture, the biodiversity in terms of the plants we have, and also native animals coming back to the area."

Toward that end, S.Oleum is starting small, but aiming big. Most of the current crop grows on a 700-hectare, or more than 1,700-acre, pilot farm. But S.Oleum intends to plant more than 65 million additional macauba trees by 2029, which would reforest 180,00 hectares - about 444,800 acres - in Brazil's southeastern state of Minas Gerais.

Over time, macauba trees also help improve the nutrient and moisture capacity of the soil, making it easier to grow other crops, according to de Blanco. And S.Oleum increases farm productivity by growing carefully chosen crops in between rows of macauba trees, such as sunflowers, peanuts, and yucas.

"If you do it right, agriculture as a system is positive for the environment," de Blanco said. "Plants that were deforested a few decades ago, they are currently in a poor state because they were depleted by poor management&We believe there are better ways, and that's what we are pursuing here."

An innovative case in point: macauba trees increase a biome's carbon sequestration levels. Removing this greenhouse gas helps more than the planet; S.Oleum also generates revenue by selling carbon credits and building trust via its data.

Any Little Bit of Data

"Any little thing, any generation of data that R&D is currently developing, is extremely important," Mirelle Santos, S.Oleum Agroforestry R&D manager, said. "We want to deploy technologies as dictated by those urgent needs."

This could include remote sensing via drones that run fruit-recognition software, according to Santos. This would help S.Oleum gather and compile data quickly, without human error - and without sending workers, who must dress in personal protective equipment (PPE) to defend against snakes, mosquitos, the brutal Cerrado sun (even in winter), and dangerous macauba thorns, which grow even on seedlings.

S.Oleum's intricate business model combines agriculture, forestry, biodiversity, and carbon offsetting - and that leads to a lot of complexity. SAP technology will be an important differentiator for this small enterprise, as well as a foundation for its future growth.

"We have a big project to run; so, a lot of people, a lot of machines, a lot of suppliers," Morbi said. "And we need everything in the right moment, in the right way."

How to Best Manage ESG Metrics

"SAP is different because it is recognized as one of the most reliable ERP systems on the market, not only based on the technology," de Blanco said. "Also, because it has well-established and well-defined processes."

Standardizing processes was "extremely important" for S.Oleum both internally and to inspire customer, stakeholder, and regulatory confidence, according to de Blanco. SAP will also enable S.Oleum to run its circular enterprise as well as record, report, and act on its sustainability data.

"We have a very integrated system, and a very circular way to produce things," de Blanco said. "Finding out where waste is generated - and where it's being used - is very important to ensure the carbon intensity and the circularity of our systems at our entire site&This is where SAP helps us."

SAP S/4HANA, SAP Ariba solutions, SAP Concur solutions, and SAP SuccessFactors solutions will help standardize all of S.Oleum's processes, which will improve transparency and compliance, according to S.Oleum IT Director Marcio Propp. To help better manage and understand its myriad environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics, the company has also begun implementation of SAP Sustainability Control Tower and SAP Sustainability Footprint Management.

"It is super important that we have a very robust core system in place because it will serve as the basis for all our other processes&and practically all niche applications focused on digital agriculture connect with this core with SAP," Propp said. "SAP is an agribusiness market standard, and it makes perfect sense for S.Oleum to be part of this ecosystem."

That's a big deal because compliant, transparent ESG metrics are crucial to S.Oleum's success, according to de Blanco.

A Matter of Trust

"Somewhere around one-third of our revenues come from carbon credits," de Blanco said. "This is our, let's say, core business&to convert sustainability into revenues and financial results."

That will require trust. SAP core technologies, such as SAP S/4HANA Cloud and SAP Sustainability solutions, will help S.Oleum keep that trust, thanks to a reliable foundation of sustainability data and robust, auditable ESG metrics for reporting.

"My advice for companies that are starting their sustainability endeavor: do it as quick as you can," de Blanco said. "And do it attached to science."

For more information on how SAP helps companies record, report, and act on their sustainability goals, visit www.sap.com/sustainability.

Photo Credit S.Oleum

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from SAP on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: SAP

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/sap

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: SAP

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COEUR D'ALENE, ID / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Idaho Strategic Resources, Inc. (NYSE American:IDR) ("IDR", "Idaho Strategic" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Carolyn Turner, CPA, MBA has joined the Company as an independent board member.

Mrs. Turner is currently the owner and principal of Graham Peak Consulting, LLC in Kingston, ID where she specializes in accounting and finance consulting in the mining and heavy construction industries. Prior to her time at Graham Peak Consulting, Mrs. Turner spent over 30 years in the mining industry with companies such as Silver Valley Resources (ASARCO), Coeur Mining, and Hecla Mining Corp. Mrs. Turner's experience includes mine operations, metals marketing, project development and financing. She previously served as the Treasurer for both Hecla Mining and Coeur Mining where her roles were centered around quarterly and annual budgeting, rolling monthly forecasting, economic modeling, mergers and acquisitions, as well as numerous treasury and audit functions.

Mrs. Turner's educational background consists of a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration Accounting from Montana State University - Billings, followed by a Master of Business Administration from Regis University, Denver. Mrs. Turner is a licensed CPA and has served numerous years as an elected trustee on the Kellogg Idaho Joint School District Board.

Idaho Strategic's President and CEO, John Swallow stated, "We are excited to have Carolyn join the team. She came highly recommended from a number of our employees and current directors. While her industry knowledge and career experience largely speaks for itself, Carolyn will also be a great fit with IDR culturally. She grew up in a small, rural community in Montana and has chosen to stay in the area where we operate and appreciates the challenges and nuances that naturally come along with operating a small and growing business in this industry - and within smaller communities such as ours. Our team will lean on her experience and utilize her expertise to help IDR take the next step as we continue to execute on our business plan."

Carolyn Turner added, "I have always appreciated Idaho Strategic's business model as a great fit for our local economy and an example of integrity for the mining industry in general. It is an exciting time and true honor to join the team as they further develop and expand the Golden Chest mine and facilities, as well as look toward the future of clean energy with domestic sourced critical minerals."

With the addition of Mrs. Turner, the Company's Board of Directors now consists of five total directors made up of three independent directors and two non-independent directors. Mrs. Turner will serve on the Company's Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.

About Idaho Strategic Resources, Inc.

Domiciled in Idaho and headquartered in the Panhandle of northern Idaho, Idaho Strategic Resources (IDR) is one of the few resource-based companies (public or private) possessing the combination of officially recognized U.S. domestic rare earth elements properties (in Idaho), the largest known concentration of thorium resources in the U.S., and Idaho-based gold production located in an established mining community.

Idaho Strategic Resources produces gold at the Golden Chest Mine located in the Murray Gold Belt (MGB) area of the world-class Coeur d'Alene Mining District, north of the prolific Silver Valley. With over 7,300 acres of patented and unpatented land, the Company has the largest private land position in the area following its consolidation of the Murray Gold Belt for the first time in over 100-years.

In addition to gold and gold production, the Company maintains an important strategic presence in the U.S. Critical Minerals sector, specifically focused on the more "at-risk" Rare Earth Elements (REEs) with an overall land position of approximately 18,030 acres in Idaho's REE-Th Belt. The Company's Lemhi Pass, Diamond Creek, and Mineral Hill REE properties are included the U.S. national REE inventory as listed in USGS, IGS and DOE publications. IDR's Lemhi Pass REE-Thorium Project is also recognized by the USGS and IGS as containing the largest concentration of thorium resources in the country. All three projects are located in central Idaho and participating in the USGS Earth MRI program.

With an impressive mix of experience and dedication, the folks at IDR maintain a long-standing "We Live Here" approach to corporate culture, land management, and historic preservation. Furthermore, it is our belief that successful operations begin with the heightened responsibility that only local oversight and a community mindset can provide. Its "everyone goes home at night" policy would not be possible without the multi-generational base of local exploration, drilling, mining, milling, and business professionals that reside in and near the communities of the Silver Valley and North Idaho.

For more information on Idaho Strategic Resources click here for our corporate presentation, go to www.idahostrategic.com or call:

Travis Swallow, Investor Relations & Corporate Development

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (208) 625-9001

Forward Looking Statements

This release 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 that are intended to be covered by the safe harbor created by such sections. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by forward-looking words such as "intends, "potential", "believe", "plans", "expects", "may", "goal", "assume", "estimate", "anticipate", and "will" or similar words suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, assumptions, intentions, or statements about future events or performance. The forward-looking statement information above, and those following are applicable to both this press release, as well as the links contained within this press release. With respect to the business of Idaho Strategic Resources, these risks and uncertainties include risks relating to widespread epidemics or pandemic outbreaks, if they occur, including our ability to access goods and supplies, the ability to transport our products and impacts on employee productivity, the risks in connection with the operations, cash flow and results of the Company relating to the unknown duration and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; interpretations or reinterpretations of geologic information; the accuracy of historic estimates; unfavorable exploration results; inability to obtain permits required for future exploration, development or production; general economic conditions and conditions affecting the industries in which the Company operates; the uncertainty of regulatory requirements and approvals; fluctuating mineral and commodity prices; the ability to obtain necessary future financing on acceptable terms; the ability to operate the Company's projects; and risks associated with the mining industry such as economic factors (including future commodity prices, and energy prices), ground conditions, failure of plant, equipment, processes and transportation services to operate as anticipated, environmental risks, government regulation, actual results of current exploration and production activities, possible variations in ore grade or recovery rates, permitting timelines, capital and construction expenditures, reclamation activities. 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. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such information. Additional information regarding the factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from this forwardlooking information is available in Idaho Strategic Resources filings with the SEC on EDGAR. IDR does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or other such factors which affect this information, except as required by law.

SOURCE: Idaho Strategic Resources, Inc.

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Leading tour operator is offering travelers an opportunity to immerse themselves in the untamed beauty of Alaska and explore the enchanting landscapes of Scandinavia.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Inspiring Vacations, a leading and award-winning tour operator specializing in unique and unforgettable adventures to the world's most iconic destinations, is thrilled to unveil its updated guided tours of Alaska and Scandinavia tours. The carefully crafted journeys are designed to immerse travelers in the natural beauty and cultural wonders of these captivating regions.

Inspiring Vacations

Inspiring Vacations

According to Inspiring Vacations, their Alaska tours promise an unparalleled experience of the Last Frontier. With its rugged landscapes, awe-inspiring glaciers and abundant wildlife, Alaska is a dream destination for adventurers and nature enthusiasts alike. The guided tours ensure travelers get the most out of their Alaskan adventure, with knowledgeable local guides leading the way to hidden gems and iconic landmarks.

Whether witnessing the majestic Northern Lights, cruising through the scenic Inside Passage or exploring the breathtaking Denali National Park, the tours to Alaska offer a balanced mix of exploration and relaxation. Travelers can indulge in a variety of activities, such as dog sledding, whale watching and hiking, all while being enchanted by Alaska's unique charm and untamed wilderness.

Scandinavia, renowned for its enchanting landscapes and rich cultural heritage, is another highlight of the Inspiring Vacations catalog. Their tours to Scandinavia invite travelers to discover the region's picturesque cities, fjords and mythical folklore. From the iconic Northern Lights in Norway to the historic streets of Stockholm and the modern marvels of Copenhagen, the tours showcase the best of Scandinavia's diversity.

The itineraries are thoughtfully curated to encompass both must-see landmarks and off-the-beaten-path gems, providing a comprehensive understanding of this fascinating region. Whether it's exploring the charming villages of the Faroe Islands or witnessing the stunning beauty of the Norwegian fjords, travelers are guaranteed an unforgettable experience with a selection of tours Scandinavia-wide.

As a trusted travel partner, Inspiring Vacations takes pride in providing exceptional service and memorable experiences. The guided tours are meticulously planned to cater to different preferences and interests. Travelers can relax and enjoy their journey knowing that all logistical aspects are taken care of, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in the beauty and culture of their destination.

To learn more, visit https://www.inspiringvacations.com/au.

About Inspiring Vacations

Inspiring Vacations is a renowned tour operator dedicated to crafting extraordinary journeys for discerning travelers. With a passion for exploration and cultural immersion, the travel specialists create unforgettable experiences in some of the world's most captivating destinations.

Contact Information

Inspiring Vacations

Marketing Manager

[email protected]

1300 88 66 88

SOURCE: Inspiring Vacations

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Mondelez International

Mondelez 2022 Snacking Made Right Report

Climate Risks

We know how important it is to identify and assess our climate risks. This informs our strategy and actions to support the resilience of the business.

We take a rigorous approach to identifying and managing our climate risks, in line with the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosure (TCFD). This enables us to expand and deepen our understanding of our impact on the planet, and to sharpen and enhance how we can mitigate climate risks.

TCFD provides voluntary climate-related financial disclosure recommendations designed to help companies support informed capital allocation decisions and provide better and consistent information to stakeholders. This includes a framework for companies to assess climate-related risks and opportunities through the use of climate scenario analysis and guidance on reporting strategies and actions to mitigate risks. The disclosure recommendations are structured around four thematic areas: Governance, Strategy, Risk Management, and Metrics and Targets.

We strive to provide our stakeholders with relevant information on climate-related issues following the TCFD recommendations. See our TCFD index for references to our CDP response and portions of this report on how we address the eleven recommendations of TCFD.

Identifying and Assessing Climate Risk

Climate risk management is driven by our Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) process for identifying, assessing, managing, and monitoring risks. We have a Risk and Compliance Committee (MRCC), co-led by our SVP & Chief Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer (Chief Compliance Officer) and SVP, Chief Audit & Controls Officer (Chief Audit & Controls Officer) and composed of leaders from the Finance, Accounting, Legal, Compliance, Internal Audit and People functions. The MRCC provides broad oversight of our enterprise risks and ERM process. The MRCC meets regularly and, through consultation with senior leaders and other managers with subject matter expertise, periodically assesses the key risks facing the Company, works with those risk owners responsible for managing each specific risk, and reviews mitigation actions and the status of the annual enterprise risk assessment. Our Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Audit & Controls Officer regularly report to the Audit Committee to provide updates on the status of the ERM process, which the Audit Committee Chair reports to the full Board. Similar risk and compliance committees exist on regional and local levels.

The identification of emerging climate risks is informed by external scans of megatrends, consultancy and industry reports, peer CDP disclosures, TCFD reports, annual reports and 10-Ks. For new and emerging climate risks, relevant internal stakeholders are engaged to review and rank the identified risks based on magnitude of potential impact and Mondelez International strategic priorities.

Annually, we use tools and third-party consultants to assess the potential financial impact of climate risk in the short-term, medium-term and long-term horizons. We also conduct frequent quantitative scenario analysis to understand the future-scenario based financial impact of climate risk. We supplement the analysis with ongoing site-level engineering assessments to consider plant-level exposures, taking into consideration risk mitigation measures already in place.

The MRCC assigns ownership of specific risks to the Mondelez Leadership Team. As owners of each specific risk, Mondelez Leadership Team members are responsible for overseeing that appropriate mitigation controls, monitoring and response systems are in place. With support from the global ERM team, Mondelez International develops a robust risk assessment, prioritization, and mitigation plan. This plan is based on our ERM risk rating criteria which includes risk impact, velocity, likelihood and management preparedness. The risks are then added to a global risk register, which is used to monitor all enterprise risks.

Managing, Mitigating and Monitoring Risk

The management and monitoring of risks, including climate risks, is reviewed annually by the global ERM team, while the implementation of mitigation plans and the monitoring of risk KPIs are ongoing at the global, regional or business level, where required. Based on the specific risk drivers and prioritization, we develop and implement our risk response strategies, which can be either mitigation (action plans), transfer (insurance), avoidance, or acceptance. We monitor performance against our risk response strategies using risk KPIs that are tracked by the respective risk owner and reported to the global ERM team.

The global ERM team is enhancing the integration of climate risk management into the overall ERM strategy and process.

Action Toward Net Zero

We are taking concerted, coordinated action to play our part in combating climate change - working toward our long-term ambition of net zero carbon and resilient landscapes. In doing so, we're transforming how we do business across our supply chain - from farmer's field to shop shelf.

OUR GOAL

10% reduction

We are in the process of adjusting our path towards our long-term goal of net zero, which is subject to verification by the SBTi (submission expected in 2023). In the meantime, we will continue to work towards our 2025 public goals, including reducing our absolute end-to-end GHG emissions by 10% by 2025 vs. a 2018 baseline.1

Working Toward Net Zero

For the past few years we have been on a path to reduce our carbon emissions and in 2021 we took an important step forward - aiming toward a long-term goal of net zero GHG emissions across our full value chain by 2050.1

As part of the goal, we have signed the Science Based Targets initiative's (SBTi's) Business Ambition for 1.5C, aligning our long-term emissions mitigation targets with the aim of limiting temperature rise in accordance with the Paris Agreement. We've also joined the United Nations Race to Zero Campaign to help build momentum towards a decarbonized economy.

A CLEAR WAY FORWARD

Achieving net zero is no easy task, and we are setting a path so we know what we have to do to steer toward our long-term goal.

Our principles for transition:

Transform the way we do business Build on our existing efforts, scaling proven models for wider impact Collaborate across the industry & sector and engage suppliers Invest in bold innovation to drive technological evolution Be transparent in progress, setting interim targets and communicating regular updates

WE'RE READY. WE'RE IN.

MondelAz International is joining the race to net zero and setting a goal of net zero emissions by 2050.

1 In the reporting year 2022, we have recalculated our base year, 2021 and 2022 inventory following the GHG Protocol Corporate Standards. For more details, please see the Carbon Accounting Manual. In 2021, MondelAz International announced its goal to reach net zero emissions by 2050 as part of the SBTi's Business Ambition for 1.5C campaign. In 2023, we plan on submitting our new emission reduction targets to the SBTi for independent validation. As part of the recent re-baseline event as well as new SBTi guidelines, we are in the process of updating our goal boundaries.

Read more in the MondelAz 2022 Snacking Made Right Report





View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from MondelAz International on 3blmedia.com.



Contact Info:

Spokesperson: MondelAz International

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/mondelez-international

Email: [email protected]



SOURCE: MondelAz International

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Troy Minerals Inc. ("Troy"or the "Company") (CSE:TROY)(OTCQB: TROYF) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a purchase agreement to acquire a 100% undivided interest in and to certainmineral claims known as the Lac Jaques Property located approximately 250km north of Montreal Quebec, Canada.

Under the terms of the agreement, the consideration for the acquisition of a 100% interest in the Property is as follows:

$50,000 in cash payable within seven business days of signing the agreement;

Common shares of Troy issuable in 60 days from the date of the agreement, and having a value equal to $50,000 determined using the average closing share price per share on the CSE for the seven trading days immediately prior to issuance;

A commitment by the Company to complete a $150,000 work program on the property within 12 months from the date of the agreement.

Pursuant to the agreement, the company will pay an additional $250,000 upon the establishment of a NI 43-101 resource on the property in the measured and indicated category, and a further $350,000 upon completion of a prefeasibility study on the property.

The Lac Jaques project is comprised of 17 claims totaling 994 ha. The project is located 250km north of Montreal with easy drivable access to all parts of the project area. Hydro power is located 2km away.

Past work on the project has discovered highly anomalous REE minerals hosted by a steeply dipping carbonatite dike (highly fractionated, with light rare earth enrichment) with multi-kilometer strike potential and widths up to 25m.

Additional information on the project will be provided by the Company in the coming weeks.

The Company also announces that it has granted stock options and restricted share units (RSU) pursuant to the company's omnibus plan. The Company granted an aggregate of 600,000 options and 500,000 RSUs to certain directors, officers and consultants of the company. Each option is exercisable to acquire a common share at a price of 35 cents per common share, expires five years from the date of grant and vests immediately. Each RSU granted vests immediately. All of the options and RSUs (and any common shares issuable upon exercise thereof) will be subject to a 4 month hold period under applicable stock exchange rules and Canadian securities laws.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD,

Rana Vig President and Director

Telephone: 604-218-4766

[email protected]

About Troy Minerals Inc.

Troy Minerals is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties. The Company currently holds interest in three assets;

The LAKE OWEN (formerly SW2) project is a highly perspective Vanadium, Titanium and Iron ore rich project that consists of 91 mineral claims located approximately 50km southwest of Laramie, Wyoming USA. The property is a one billion tonne plus target in a Proterozoic Layered Mafic Intrusive host with strong magnetite-rich cumulates and accompanying V/Ti and Pt/Pd/Au/Rh-bearing sulfide horizons.

The Green Gold project, in which the Company has the right to acquire 100% interest, is comprised of fourteen (14) mineral claims with an aggregate area of 11,238 hectares, is located in central British Columbia in the Cariboo Mining Division, approximately 34 kilometers (km) southwest of the city of Prince George.

The Ticktock project, a 1,065-hectare property located within the prolific Golden Triangle region of British Columbia, Canada, lies 23km northwest of the historic Eskay Creek Mine and sits between the Enduro Metals Newmont Lake property and the Aben Resources Forrest-Kerr property.

The scientific and technical disclosure in this news release was approved by William Cronk, P.Geo, a Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101, and a consultant to the Company.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information: This release includes certain statements that maybe deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release,other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that Troy Resources Inc. (the "Company") expects to occur, are 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 the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include results of exploration activities may not show quality and quantity necessary for further exploration or future exploitation of minerals deposits, volatility of commodity prices, and continued availability of capital and financing, permitting and other approvals, and general economic, market or business conditions.Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs,estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs,estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed this press release and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

SOURCE: Troy Minerals Inc.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. In total, 46 enterprises will operate in the agro-industrial park, built to increase the employment of the population returning to Azerbaijans liberated Lachin city, Efe Agro-Industrial Park Construction Department Head Emir Demirel told Trend.

According to him, it is expected that 80 percent of those enterprises will open by the end of this summer.

The new agro-industrial park under construction in Lachin is being worked day and night, he said.

This beautiful industrial park will start working soon. We are planning to build several more industrial parks. We regularly accept in our company everyone who wants to work, including residents of Lachin, he added.
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2023 / Enbridge:

Two teens are sitting outside their high school at lunch. One is having a tough time, feeling disconnected and hopeless.

The friend recognizes they need help. But in their rural community, in-person mental health services are hard to come by. They might need to wait weeks to see a professional, and the teen needs help now.

An idea comes to mind: they could call a crisis centre together.

That moment of identifying crisis intervention services is key, says Jeffrey Preiss, director of development and communications at the Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre of British Columbia.

"There comes a time for some folks where it's just too much, and the pain outweighs their ability to cope. That's when knowing about the crisis lines is really important," he explains.

Through the COVID-19 pandemic, the crisis centre saw an increase of 25% in the number of calls to its 24/7 emergency crisis care telephone line, which serves an area from the city of Vancouver in British Columbia's southwest up the coast to the remote community of Bella Coola.

Not only did call volume increase but so did the length of calls and the need for suicide risk assessments.

"That's a big shift," Preiss says, and "we haven't seen the increased volume go down."

The Crisis Centre of BC is funded partly by the provincial government; donations from the community and grants from businesses and organizations make up the rest of the funding. The latter allows the non-profit to complement its call centre and online chat services with prevention work, such as workshops in schools and programs to help specific at-risk populations, such as youth aging out of care.

Through our Fueling Futures program, Enbridge is committed to building safe, vibrant and sustainable communities in the regions where we live and work. A recent $5,000 Fueling Futures grant will support the Crisis Centre of BC's important work with youth, and help the centre improve services to rural areas.

"So many rural and remote communities don't have access to hospitals or mental health clinics or mental health walk-in centres like urban centres do," Preiss says. "We want to make sure youth in those communities have as many resources as they can to ensure their mental health is taken care of."

To better reach these youth, the crisis centre developed MindFlip, an online app that teaches users brain science and skills for mental fitness-emotional regulation, self-awareness, self-compassion and mindfulness. The app was designed in collaboration with a group of teens.

With call volumes at an all-time high, the centre must balance the need for prevention work while also being there at the moment of need.

"It's absolutely a human connection that people are craving in that moment of crisis. They need to talk to another human," Preiss says. "Our goal is to support youth and ensure they're safe and have resources they need for right now."

If you or someone you know is struggling, the Crisis Centre of BC encourages you to seek help.

Here are some warning signs:

Suicidal thoughts

Substance abuse

Anxiety

Feeling trapped

Hopelessness

Withdrawal

Anger

Recklessness

In case of emergency, call 1-800-SUICIDE in British Columbia or the Talk Suicide Canada line, which operates across the country, at 1-833-456-4566.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Enbridge on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Enbridge

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/enbridge

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Enbridge

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Lufax Holding Ltd (NYSE: LU) today announced that Mr. Guangheng Ji has tendered his resignation as a non-executive director and other relevant positions of the Company, due to change of his personal work arrangements. Mr. Ji's resignation took effect from August 8, 2023 . The board of directors of the Company has appointed Mr. Yonglin Xie as a non-executive director of the Company with effect from August 8, 2023 .

The Company would like to take this opportunity to express its appreciation to Mr. Ji for his significant contribution to the Company during his tenure of office.

Mr. Xie , aged 54, is currently an executive director, the president and co-CEO of Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China Ltd. (a company whose shares are dually listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange (stock code: 601318) and the Stock Exchange (stock code: 2318) and one of the controlling shareholders of the Company) ("Ping An Insurance") and the chairman of Ping An Bank Co., Ltd. (a company whose shares are listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (stock code: 000001)) ("Ping An Bank"). Mr. Xie joined Ping An Insurance in 1994 and has been serving as a director of Ping An Insurance since April 2020 . He was the deputy director of Ping An Insurance's Strategic Development & Reform Center from June 2005 to March 2006 . He held positions of the operations director, the human resources director, and a vice president of Ping An Bank from March 2006 to November 2013 , and served as the special assistant to the chairman, the president and the CEO, and the chairman of Ping An Securities Co., Ltd. from November 2013 to November 2016 consecutively. He was a senior vice president of Ping An Insurance from September 2016 to December 2019 . Previously, Mr. Xie served as the deputy general manager of sub-branches of Ping An Property & Casualty Insurance Company of China, Ltd., the deputy general manager and then the general manager of branches of Ping An Life Insurance Company of China, Ltd. ("Ping An Life"), and the general manager of the marketing department of Ping An Life. Mr. Xie graduated from Nanjing University with a Ph.D. in Corporate Management and a Master of Science degree.

About Lufax

Lufax is a leading financial services enabler for small business owners in China . The Company offers financing products designed principally to address the needs of small business owners. In doing so, the Company has established relationships with over 550 financial institutions in China , many of which have worked with the Company for over three years. These financial institutions provide funding and credit enhancement for the loans the Company enables as well as other products to enrich the small business owner ecosystem that the Company is creating.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement 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 Lufax's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Lufax has based these forward-looking statements largely on its current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends, which involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company's control. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about Lufax's goals and strategies; Lufax's future business development, financial condition and results of operations; expected changes in Lufax's income, expenses or expenditures; expected growth of the retail credit enablement; Lufax's expectations regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, its services; Lufax's expectations regarding its relationship with borrowers, platform investors, funding sources, product providers and other business partners; general economic and business conditions; and government policies and regulations relating to the industry Lufax operates in. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Lufax's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Lufax does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

Investor Relations Contact

Lufax Holding Ltd

Email: [email protected]

ICR, LLC

Robin Yang

Tel: +1 (646) 308-0546

Email: lufax.ir@icrinc.com

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SOURCE Lufax Holding Ltd
Nucor Corporation (NYSE: NUE) announced today that on August 7, 2023 , its Board of Directors elected Nicholas C. Gangestad as a director effective September 1, 2023 .

Mr. Gangestad , 58, currently serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Rockwell Automation, Inc., the world's largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation. Prior to joining Rockwell in 2021, he had a long career with 3M Company, a diversified technology company with a global presence in the fields of manufacturing, worker safety, healthcare and consumer goods. Mr. Gangestad served in various roles with 3M, including Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from 2014 to 2020; Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer from 2011 to 2014; Director of Corporate Accounting from 2007 to 2011; and Vice President, Finance and Information Technology of 3M Canada from 2003 to 2007.
New analytics capabilities enable corporate wellness platform providers to partner more closely with customer organizations to improve employee health and wellness

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered mental health screening pioneer Aiberry (pronounced I + berry) today announced a new version of the Aiberry platform specifically designed to meet the needs of corporate wellness platform users. Easily integrated with all leading corporate wellness platforms, Aiberry uses an AI-powered therapeutic assistant, Botberry, to conduct a conversation to detect mental health disorders by analyzing what is being said, the speech patterns being used and even subtle changes in facial expressions. New analytics capabilities introduced as part of the Aiberry corporate wellness platform enable corporate wellness program administrators to track utilization of the platform as well as employee wellness over time.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808359305/en/

Aiberry uses an AI-powered therapeutic assistant, Botberry, to conduct a conversation to detect mental health disorders by analyzing what is being said, the speech patterns being used and even subtle changes in facial expressions. (Graphic: Business Wire)

Aiberry for corporate wellness users comes at a time when the need for mental health programs in the workplace has never been greater. A recent survey conducted by Lyra Health revealed that while 86% of employees say they have experienced at least one mental health challenge in the last year, only 33% have received care. An additional 33% of employees said that their benefits fail to address their mental health needs, while 48% of managers say they lack the resources and training needed to support team members mental health. The availability of virtual, AI-powered platforms like Aiberry helps bridge the gap between what is needed and what is currently available by providing access to better initial assessments and continuous mental health monitoring 24/7 from any location.

The ability for us to introduce Aiberry into our clients corporate wellness programs is great for us, but even better for them, said Thomas M. Tegler, President, Wellworks For You. Aiberry not only allows them to offer assessments whenever and wherever they need them, at any scale, but the new analytics embedded in the platform allows us to give them very specific guidance about where the areas of concern are within their employee population and what additional programs and resources they may need to address them. The result is that we become a better partner to them, and, most importantly, the health and wellness of their employees improve.

Aiberry for corporate wellness builds on a solid foundation of use in clinical settings including leading national recovery centers. These facilities have seen assessment accuracy and patient well-being improve measurably since the platform was implemented. Futures Recovery Healthcare found that the percentage of clients receiving an official diagnosis for a depressive disorder rose from 24% to 46% after Aiberry implementation, due to the systems ability to detect depression in cases in which completion of self-reporting forms such as the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), currently the gold standard, did not. Futures found Aiberry to be more sensitive than traditional screening methods, as 45% of clients who scored in the severe range for depression on initial Aiberry assessment scored only moderate or mild when completing the PHQ-9.

The expansion of the Aiberry platform into corporate wellness brings the benefits of AI-powered mental health assessment to a critical population, American workers, which is massively underserved by currently-available behavioral health resources, said Aiberry Co-Founder and Co-CEO Linda Chung. This delivers on our mission to offer objective, reliable, and scalable solutions via the power of AI, making behavioral healthcare accessible to all, and helps bring our vision, to empower patients and providers with the tools to effectively and efficiently assess behavioral health, to reality.

About Aiberry

Aiberry (pronounced I + berry) is an innovative and practical mental health screening solution that improves efficiency and saves time for healthcare providers. Its cutting-edge AI technology is based on two decades of research bundled into a powerful solution that helps providers better serve their patients. Its Machine Learning (ML) pipelines are designed to eliminate biases, including those related to age, gender, sexual orientation and race. Seattle-based Aiberry is backed by leading VCs including Confluence Capital Group, Inc. (CCG) and Ascension AI. For more information, visit www.aiberry.io.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808359305/en/

Wilson Craig

Mindshare PR

[email protected]

408-516-6182

Source: Aiberry
Conference Call Scheduled for August 9, 2023

BAY SHORE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Air Industries Group (NYSE American: AIRI), an integrated Tier 1 manufacturer of precision assemblies and components for mission-critical aerospace and defense applications, and a prime contractor to the U.S. Department of Defense, today announced its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2023.

Commenting on the recent results, Lou Melluzzo, CEO of Air Industries Group, said, I am pleased that we delivered both top-line and bottom-line improved performance during the second quarter of 2023. Our gross profit margin for Q2 has risen impressively to 16.4% of sales, an increase from the 2023 first quarters 15.0%. Moreover, we successfully transitioned from operating losses in the past two quarters to achieving operating income in the most recent period.

Mr. Melluzzo also commented on the Companys business outlook, stating, As we look ahead, I am extremely encouraged by the positive feedback emanating from both our longstanding and new customers. The substantial investments we made over multiple years in new equipment, refined delivery processes, and elevated customer service are undeniably yielding fruitful results. I am confident that we are witnessing the commencement of a sustained period of improved order-flow trajectory, which bodes well for the future for our Company.

Second Quarter 2023 Results

Consolidated net sales for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023 were $13.2 million, representing an increase of $656,000 or 5.0% from $12.5 million reported for the first quarter of 2023. Second quarter 2023 net sales were lower by $803,000 or (5.7%) compared with sales of $14.0 million reported for the second quarter of 2022.

Consolidated gross profit for the second quarter of 2023 was $2.2 million, an increase of $289,000 or 13.3% from $1.9 million in the 2023 first quarter. Second quarter 2023 gross profit was lower by $253,000 or (10.5%) compared with $2.4 million in the second quarter of 2022.

Gross profit margin was 16.4% of sales for the second quarter of 2023, 15.0% for the first quarter of 2023, and 17.3% for the second quarter of 2022.

Operating expenses for the second quarter of 2023 were $2.1 million, slightly higher than $2.0 million in the first quarter of 2023, and lower than $2.2 million in the 2022 second quarter.

The Company achieved operating income of $90,000 in the second quarter of 2023 compared with an operating loss of $158,000 in the first quarter of 2023 and operating income of $250,000 in the second quarter of 2022.

Interest and financing costs for the three months ended June 30, 2023 were $500,000 compared with $476,000 in the first quarter of 2023, and $289,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2022. The increases in interest expense resulted from increases in the prime rate and from higher loan balances.

Net loss for the second quarter of 2023 was reduced to $395,000 versus a net loss of $618,000 in the first quarter of 2023. The net loss in the second quarter of 2022 was $7,000.

Six-Month 2023 Results

Consolidated net sales for the six months ended June 30, 2023 were $25.8 million compared with $26.1 million in the same period of 2022, a slight decrease of $316,000 or (1.2.%).

Consolidated gross profit for the six months ended June 30, 2023 was $4.0 million versus $4.5 million in the 2022 period, a decrease of $451,000 or (10.0%). Gross profit margin was 15.7% of sales for the six months ended June 30, 2023 compared with 17.3% for the first six months of 2022.

Operating expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2023 were $4.1 million, increasing $53,000 from $4.0 million in the 2022 period.

The operating loss for the six months ended June 30, 2023 was $47,000 compared with operating income of $457,000 reported for the 2022 period.

Interest and financing costs for the six months ended June 30, 2023 were $996,000 compared with $612,000 in the 2022 period, an increase of $384,000 or 62.7%, mainly due to the effect of increases in the prime rate and from higher loan balances.

Net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2023 was $1.0 million, compared with a net loss of $35,000 in the 2022 period.

Adjusted EBITDA for the six months ended June 30, 2023 was $1.6 million.

Reconciliation of Net (Loss) to Adjusted EBITDA (in thousands)

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2023 Net Loss $ (1,013 ) Add-backs to EBITDA Interest 956 Taxes - Depreciation & Amortization 1,273 EBITDA 1,216 Add-backs to Adjusted EBITDA Goodwill 163 Stock Compensation 232 Adjusted EBITDA $ 1,611

Additional information about the Company can be found in its filings with the SEC and by visiting the website at www.airindustriesgroup.com.

Investor Conference Call

Management will host a conference call on Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at 4:15 PM Eastern Time

Conference Toll-Free Number 877-524-8416

AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP is an integrated Tier 1 manufacturer of precision assemblies and components for mission-critical aerospace and defense applications, and a prime contractor to the U.S. Department of Defense.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain matters discussed in this press release are 'forward-looking statements' intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In particular, the Company's statements regarding trends in the marketplace, future revenues, earnings and Adjusted EBITDA, the ability to realize firm backlog and projected backlog, cost cutting measures, potential future results and acquisitions, are examples of such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the timing of projects due to variability in size, scope and duration, the inherent discrepancy in actual results from estimates, projections and forecasts made by management, regulatory delays, changes in government funding and budgets, and other factors, including general economic conditions, not within the Company's control. The factors discussed herein and expressed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission could cause actual results and developments to be materially different from those expressed in or implied by such statements. The forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

Adjusted EBITDA

The Company uses Adjusted EBITDA, a Non-GAAP financial measure as defined by the SEC, as a supplemental profitability measure because management finds it useful to understand and evaluate results, excluding the impact of non-cash depreciation and amortization charges, stock based compensation expenses, and nonrecurring expenses and outlays, prior to consideration of the impact of other potential sources and uses of cash, such as working capital items. This calculation may differ in method of calculation from similarly titled measures used by other companies and may be different than the EBITDA calculation used by our lenders for purposes of determining compliance with our financial covenants. This Non-GAAP measure may have limitations when understanding performance as it excludes the financial impact of transactions such as interest expense necessary to conduct the Companys business and therefore are not intended to be an alternative to financial measure prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Company has not quantitatively reconciled its forward looking Adjusted EBITDA target to the most directly comparable GAAP measure because such items such as amortization of stock-based compensation and interest expense, which are specific items that impact these measures, have not yet occurred, are out of the Companys control, or cannot be predicted. For example, quantification of stock-based compensation is not possible as it requires inputs such as future grants and stock prices which are not currently ascertainable.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808020721/en/

Air Industries Group

Investor Relations

631.328.7078

[email protected]

Source: Air Industries Group
Sole Asia Pacific-founded company featured in Digital Banking Solutions segment

SINGAPORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Airwallex, a leading global payments and financial platform, has been named to CNBC-Statistas Worlds Top Fintech Companies 2023 list. One of fifteen companies worldwide to have been awarded in the Digital Banking Solutions segment,1 Airwallex was the only Asia Pacific-founded company to be selected in the category.

"More than ever, companies rely on innovation to facilitate growth and enhance their businesses' productivity, efficiency, and security, said Jack Zhang, Co-Founder and CEO of Airwallex. We are excited and proud to be recognised as one of the Worlds Top Fintechs leading the charge to challenge the status quo of money movement and provision of financial services, taking the friction out of the process and empowering businesses to go global."

Zhang added, "From the beginning, we set out to build a financial infrastructure to support modern businesses that transcend borders in their financial services needs. This vision is what drives us onward as we continue to grow globally.

First established in Melbourne, Australia in 2015, Airwallex is today the leading financial technology platform for modern businesses, providing global payments and financial solutions in more than 150 countries. Earlier this year, the company secured its online payments licence in China, and expanded into Canada and Israel. The company is growing global revenue by 120 percent YoY.2

Airwallex continues to innovate its product stack to deliver unique financial operating solutions for businesses of all sizes. Over 100,000 customers worldwide tap into our suite of products, including online payments, business accounts, corporate cards, treasury management, expense management, as well as embedded finance solutions that allow them to provide financial services to their customers natively within their platforms.

CNBC and Statistas inaugural list assessed over 1,500 firms across nine different market segments, evaluating each one against a set of key performance indicators, including revenue, user numbers, and total funding raised. The final list includes some of the biggest companies in the sector as well as several up-and-coming startups seeking to mould the future of financial services.

Visit CNBC for the full roster of companies awarded in the 'World's Top Fintech Companies 2023' list.

About Airwallex

Airwallex is a leading global financial platform for modern businesses, offering trusted solutions to manage everything from payments, treasury, and spend management to embedded finance. With our proprietary infrastructure, Airwallex takes the friction out of global payments and financial operations, empowering businesses of all sizes to unlock new opportunities and grow beyond borders.

Proudly founded in Melbourne, Airwallex supports over 100,000 businesses globally and is trusted by brands such as Brex, Rippling, Navan, Qantas, SHEIN and many more. For more information, visit http://www.airwallex.com

1The Digital Business Solutions segment includes providers of Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) or Open Banking solutions.

2 As of July 2023

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230807426972/en/

Christa Yeo / Deanna Nabilah

RICE Communications, on behalf of Airwallex

[email protected]

Source: Airwallex
Proposed New Tax Regime Would Reinforce Bermudas Continuing Commitment to Global Compliance and Transparency

Proposed Tax Regime Developed to Support Bermudas Economic Goals

Begins an Initial Public Consultation Period for New Corporate Income Regime

HAMILTON, Bermuda--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today, the Government of Bermuda announced that it will issue a public consultation paper as part of its considerations on introducing a corporate income tax to apply to Bermuda businesses that are part of Multinational Enterprise Groups (MNEs) with annual revenue of 750M or more. The proposed corporate tax would be expected to be effective for 2025. To allow interested parties to offer comments on the proposed tax regime, the Government of Bermuda is opening the first of a series of consultation periods. This first consultation will end on September 8.

Bermuda is considering a corporate income tax that would be taken into account in calculating the effective tax rate of Bermuda businesses under the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Developments (OECD) global minimum tax rules. These rules require companies in scope to pay a minimum tax of 15 % in every jurisdiction in which they operate. The taxes paid under the proposed Bermuda corporate income tax regime would be those which would be payable to other jurisdictions under the global minimum tax framework. Any new corporate income tax adopted would also include certain tax credits which support Bermudas economic goals and maintains Bermudas global attractiveness. In addition, the Tax Reform Commission will examine the possibility of restructuring the islands existing tax regimes as a means of lowering the cost of living and doing business in Bermuda.

Bermuda is recognized for its commitment to global compliance and transparency and is considered by the EU to be a fully cooperative tax jurisdiction. Bermuda currently has 41 bilateral Tax Information Exchange Agreements (TIEAs) and more than 125 multilateral treaty partners. The Government believes this proposed tax regime is supportive of Bermudas status as a leading international financial centre. Bermuda plans to continue to invest in key policy initiatives including reduction in the cost of living, job creation, and other programs to stimulate the economy and enhance its attractiveness to MNEs.

Our approach is to use tax reform to bolster policy initiatives that will enhance Bermudas economic growth prospects, said Premier and Finance Minister David Burt. The Government continues to guide Bermuda to sustainable economic growth and development. We must attract and retain business in Bermuda, boost foreign investment, increase employment opportunities while expanding the workforce, and build our local economy to its fullest potential. These efforts will further our policies to make our island a better place to live and work. To assist in the appropriate policy development it is critical that organisations and individuals provide feedback on the matters addressed in the public consultation document.

As noted, the initial consultation period begins on August 8, 2023. All comments should be submitted prior to the deadline of September 8, 2023. For more information visit: https://www.gov.bm/.

Media Background Notes

1. Multinational Enterprise Groups (MNEs)  In Bermuda law, it is an MNE Group that includes two or more enterprises the tax residence for which are in different jurisdictions, or includes an enterprise that is resident for tax purposes in one jurisdiction and is subject to tax with respect to the business carried out through a permanent establishment in another jurisdiction; and is not an Excluded MNE Group.

2. Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)  The OECD is an international organization that aims to build better policies for better lives. The body works with governments, policy makers and citizens, to establish evidence-based international standards and finding solutions to a range of social, economic and environmental challenges. Part of the organizations work involves fostering strong education, fighting international tax evasion, best-practice sharing, and advice on public policies and international standard-setting.

3. About Bermuda  Bermuda has been a self-governing British overseas territory since 1620, with a stable Westminster-style parliamentary democracy and a legal system that is more than 400 years old. It ranks among the highest in the world by GDP per capita. Bermuda is not an offshore banking centre, nor does it have banking secrecy laws. Bermudas prosperity is not built nor dependent on tax avoidance strategies by multinational corporations or individuals.

For over 70 years Bermuda has had a public authority-held central register of beneficial ownership, and has at every opportunity shared the information requested by legitimate international authorities. Bermuda was an early-adopter of the OECD Convention on the Automatic Exchange of Information and signed the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement early in the process. Bermuda has consistently remained compliant with global anti-money laundering (AML) and anti-terrorist financing (ATF) standards.

A world-leading financial jurisdiction for insurance and reinsurance, investment funds, asset managers, family offices, trusts and other private client structures, the island is now driving the development of emerging technology sectors including fintech and insurtech. It has a 90% share of global insurance-linked securities issuances and is home to 15 of the worlds 50 largest reinsurance companies.

Bermudas financial services-based economy is dominated by our world-class re-insurance sector. Around 14% of the aggregate global reinsurance premium is written out of Bermuda, paying out substantial claims for many global catastrophes over the years. Bermudas reinsurance sector thrives because of Bermudas geographic and political independence, and strong regulatory framework. Bermudas commercial insurance regime reached full equivalence with the EU Solvency II Directive and was granted qualified jurisdiction and reciprocal jurisdiction status by the US National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

Published by the Government of Bermuda (https://www.gov.bm)

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808586769/en/

Media Contact

Honey S. Adams

[email protected]

Consultation Feedback

Collin J. Anderson

[email protected]

Source: Government of Bermuda
Revenue grew 2% Year-over-Year in the Second Quarter of 2023 and 9% YTD

Significant U.S. Army Contract Wins from AIMMS & GFIM Phase II Extension

Reiterating FY Guidance of Revenue between $155 million and $170 million

COLUMBIA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: BBAI) (BigBear.ai or the Company), a leader in AI-powered decision intelligence solutions, today announced financial results for the second quarter of 2023.

BigBear.ai CEO Mandy Long said, We continue to accomplish our goals in this foundational year for BigBear.ai. Our recent Army Test and Evaluation Command Integrated Mission Management System (AIMMS) win and Global Force Information Management (GFIM) Phase II system extension are evidence that we have momentum in the markets we serve.

Financial Highlights

Revenue grew 2.2% to $38.5 million for the second quarter of 2023, compared to $37.6 million for the second quarter of 2022.

Gross margin of 23.3% in the second quarter of 2023, a decrease from 25.5% in the second quarter of 2022, primarily driven by the elimination of revenue and gross margin from Virgin Orbit due to their bankruptcy announcement in the second quarter of 2023.

Net loss of $16.9 million for the second quarter of 2023, which includes $3.1 million of non-cash expense related to the change in fair value of warrants that were issued in 2023, and $4.0 million of equity-based compensation expense, compared to a net loss of $56.8 million for the second quarter of 2022 which included $35.3 million of non-cash goodwill impairment charges and equity-based compensation expense of $5.1 million.

Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA* of $(3.2) million for the second quarter of 2023 compared to $(7.7) million for the second quarter of 2022, primarily driven by reduced operating expenses including a 37% reduction in SG&A expenses compared to second quarter of 2022.

Ending backlog of $206 million, growing 5% compared to Q1 2023.

New Developments

U.S. Army AIMMS : An exciting win from the quarter was being selected as the single provider by the U.S. Army to implement Phase 2 of the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC) Integrated Mission Management System (AIMMS) in a single award contract worth over $7.7 million dollars over seven months. BigBear.ai was selected to be the single provider for Phase 2 after a competition following Phase 1. This Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) or prototype contract has the potential to result in a follow-on production, sole-source, contract.

U.S. Army GFIM OE Extension : We received a 6-month extension from the U.S. Army as the prime contractor for continuing work on the Global Force Information Management (GFIM) Objective Environment (OE) system, in a 6-month contract valued at just over $8.5M. The extension builds on BigBear.ais previous work in Phase 1 and Phase 2 and continues to show the strength of our relationship with the U.S. Army. The Governments current planning approach for GFIM OE is to demonstrate prototypes in two overarching Phases, culminating with a production release.

Leadership Updates: We continue to attract top talent following the onboarding of Theodore Tanner Jr. as our new Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Tanners extensive experience and expertise, most recently serving as CTO and Chief Architect at IBM Watson Health, now Merative, will be instrumental in delivering technology-led solutions for leaders in government and defense, manufacturing and warehouse operations, and healthcare and life sciences. His decades of experience working in AI architecture across some of the worlds largest organizations will only fuel further growth.

Registered Direct Offering : Successfully completed a registered direct offering of common stock and warrants for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $25M, further solidifying our financial foundation and bolstering our cash position.

Financial Outlook

The following information and other sections of this release contain forward-looking statements, which are based on the Companys current expectations. Actual results may differ materially from those projected. It is the Companys practice not to incorporate adjustments into its financial outlook for proposed acquisitions, divestitures, changes in law, or new accounting standards until such items have been consummated, enacted, or adopted. For additional factors that may impact the Companys actual results, refer to the Forward-Looking Statements section in this release.

For the year-ended December 31, 2023, the Company continues to project:

Revenue between $155 million and $170 million

Single Digit Negative Adjusted EBITDA*, in millions

Summary of Results for the Second Quarter and Year to Date Periods Ended June 30, 2023 and June 30, 2022 (Unaudited) Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended

June 30, $ thousands (expect per share amounts) 2023 2022 2023 2022 Revenues $ 38,459 $ 37,613 $ 80,613 $ 74,003 Cost of revenues 29,496 28,023 61,437 54,546 Gross margin 8,963 9,590 19,176 19,457 Operating expenses: Selling, general and administrative 16,930 26,952 37,292 48,972 Research and development 2,225 2,535 3,353 5,409 Restructuring charges 25  780  Transaction expenses  186  1,585 Goodwill impairment  35,252  35,252 Operating loss (10,217 ) (55,335 ) (22,249 ) (71,761 ) Interest expense 3,560 3,554 7,116 7,109 Net increase (decrease) in fair value of derivatives 3,121 (199 ) 13,688 (1,462 ) Other (income) expense  (26 )  4 Loss before taxes (16,898 ) (58,664 ) (43,053 ) (77,412 ) Income tax (benefit) expense (3 ) (1,820 ) 56 (1,743 ) Net loss $ (16,895 ) $ (56,844 ) $ (43,109 ) $ (75,669 ) Basic and diluted net loss per share $ (0.12 ) $ (0.45 ) $ (0.30 ) $ (0.59 )

EBITDA* and Adjusted EBITDA* for the Second Quarter and Year to Date Periods Ended June 30, 2023 and June 30, 2022 (Unaudited) Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended

June 30, $ thousands 2023 2022 2023 2022 Net loss $ (16,895 ) $ (56,844 ) $ (43,109 ) $ (75,669 ) Interest expense 3,560 3,554 7,116 7,109 Income tax (benefit) expense (3 ) (1,820 ) 56 (1,743 ) Depreciation and amortization 1,979 1,954 3,965 3,726 EBITDA (11,359 ) (53,156 ) (31,972 ) (66,577 ) Adjustments: Equity-based compensation 3,994 5,080 7,799 8,938 Employer payroll taxes related to equity-based compensation(1) 174  357  Net increase (decrease) in fair value of derivatives(2) 3,121 (199 ) 13,688 (1,462 ) Restructuring charges(3) 25  780  Non-recurring strategic initiatives(4) 813  2,321  Non-recurring integration costs(5)  2,024  4,399 Capital market advisory fees(6)  38  741 Commercial start-up costs(7)  3,063  6,490 Transaction expenses(8)  186  1,585 Goodwill impairment(9)  35,252  35,252 Adjusted EBITDA $ (3,232 ) $ (7,712 ) $ (7,027 ) $ (10,634 )

(1) Includes employer payroll taxes due upon the vesting of restricted stock units granted to employees. (2) The increase in fair value of derivatives during the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 primarily relates to changes in the fair value of PIPE warrants issued during the first and second quarters of 2023. The decrease in fair value of derivatives during the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 primarily relates to the Forward Share Purchase Agreements that were entered into prior to the closing of our business combination on December 7, 2021 (the Business Combination) and were fully settled during the first quarter of 2022, as well as the change in the fair value of private warrants. (3) In the first quarter of 2023, the Company incurred employee separation costs associated with a strategic review of the Companys capacity and future projections to better align the organization and cost structure and improve the affordability of its products and services. (4) Non-recurring professional fees related to the execution of certain strategic initiatives of the Company. (5) Non-recurring internal integration costs related to the Business Combination. (6) The Company incurred capital market and advisory fees related to advisors assisting with the Business Combination. (7) Commercial start-up costs include certain non-recurring expenses associated with tailoring the Companys products for commercial customers and use cases. (8) The Company incurred transaction expenses related to the acquisition of ProModel Corporation, which closed on April 7, 2022. (9) During the second quarter of 2022, the Company recognized a non-cash goodwill impairment charge related to the previously reported Cyber & Engineering business segment. During the first quarter of 2023, the Company reevaluated its operating and reportable segments following an organizational and legal entity restructuring, which allowed the Company to align its operations with how the business will be managed. As a result of this reevaluation, effective for the first quarter of fiscal year 2023, the Company determined it that it manages its operations as a single operating and reportable segment.

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 (Unaudited) $ in thousands June 30,

2023 December 31, 2022 Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 29,923 $ 12,632 Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts 36,269 30,091 Contract assets 346 1,312 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 5,042 10,300 Total current assets 71,580 54,335 Non-current assets: Property and equipment, net 1,199 1,433 Goodwill 48,683 48,683 Intangible assets, net 81,948 85,685 Deferred tax assets  51 Right-of-use assets 4,341 4,638 Other non-current assets 469 483 Total assets $ 208,220 $ 195,308 Liabilities and stockholders deficit Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 7,298 $ 15,422 Short-term debt, including current portion of long-term debt 522 2,059 Accrued liabilities 15,630 13,366 Contract liabilities 2,000 2,022 Current portion of long-term lease liability 850 806 Derivative liabilities 44,126  Other current liabilities 1,355 2,085 Total current liabilities 71,781 35,760 Non-current liabilities: Long-term debt, net 193,296 192,318 Long-term lease liability 4,714 5,092 Deferred tax liabilities 2  Other non-current liabilities  10 Total liabilities 269,793 233,180 Stockholders deficit: Common stock 17 14 Additional paid-in capital 291,933 272,528 Treasury stock, at cost 9,952,803 shares at June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 (57,350 ) (57,350 ) Accumulated deficit (296,173 ) (253,064 ) Total stockholders deficit (61,573 ) (37,872 ) Total liabilities and stockholders deficit $ 208,220 $ 195,308

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2023 and June 30, 2022 (Unaudited) Six Months Ended June 30, $ in thousands 2023 2022 Cash flows from operating activities: Net loss $ (43,109 ) $ (75,669 ) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: Depreciation and amortization expense 3,965 3,726 Amortization of debt issuance costs 1,006 1,047 Equity-based compensation expense 7,799 8,938 Goodwill impairment  35,252 Non-cash lease expense 297  Provision for doubtful accounts 1,557 44 Deferred income tax expense (benefit) 53 (1,594 ) Net increase (decrease) in fair value of derivatives 13,688 (1,462 ) Loss on sale of property and equipment 8  Changes in assets and liabilities: (Increase) decrease in accounts receivable (7,735 ) 758 Decrease (increase) in contract assets 966 (226 ) Decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets 5,244 535 (Decrease) increase in accounts payable (8,124 ) 874 Increase (decrease) in accrued liabilities 660 (2,509 ) Decrease in contract liabilities (22 ) (2,048 ) (Decrease) increase in other liabilities (1,066 ) 338 Net cash used in operating activities (24,813 ) (31,996 ) Cash flows from investing activities: Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired  (4,376 ) Purchases of property and equipment (2 ) (508 ) Net cash used in investing activities (2 ) (4,884 ) Cash flows from financing activities: Proceeds from issuance of Private Placement shares and Registered Direct Offering shares 50,000  Payment of Private Placement and Registered Direct Offering transaction costs (5,225 )  Repurchase of shares as a result of forward share purchase agreements  (100,896 ) Repayment of short-term borrowings (1,537 ) (2,312 ) Payments for taxes related to net share settlement of equity awards (1,132 ) (4 ) Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 42,106 (103,212 ) Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash 17,291 (140,092 ) Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at the beginning of period 12,632 169,921 Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end of the period $ 29,923 $ 29,829

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as believe, may, will, estimate, continue, anticipate, intend, expect, should, would, plan, predict, potential, seem, seek, future, outlook, and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding BigBear.ais industry, future events, and other statements that are not historical facts. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified herein, and on the current expectations of BigBear.ais management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by you or any other investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond our control. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those relating to: changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political, and legal conditions; the uncertainty of projected financial information; delays caused by factors outside of our control, including changes in fiscal or contracting policies or decreases in available government funding; changes in government programs or applicable requirements; budgetary constraints, including automatic reductions as a result of sequestration or similar measures and constraints imposed by any lapses in appropriations for the federal government or certain of its departments and agencies; influence by, or competition from, third parties with respect to pending, new, or existing contracts with government customers; changes in our ability to successfully compete for and receive task orders and generate revenue under Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contracts; our ability to realize the benefits of the strategic partnerships; potential delays or changes in the government appropriations or procurement processes, including as a result of events such as war, incidents of terrorism, natural disasters, and public health concerns or epidemics, such as the coronavirus outbreak; the identified material weakness in our internal controls over financial reporting (including the timeline to remediate the material weakness); increased or unexpected costs or unanticipated delays caused by other factors outside of our control, such as performance failures of our subcontractors; the rollout of the business and the timing of expected business milestones; the effects of competition on our future business; our ability to obtain and access financing in the future; and those factors discussed in the Companys reports and other documents filed with the SEC, including under the heading Risk Factors. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that BigBear.ai presently does not know or that BigBear.ai currently believes are immaterial which could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect BigBear.ais expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this release. BigBear.ai anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause BigBear.ais assessments to change. However, while BigBear.ai may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, BigBear.ai specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The financial information and data contained in this press release is unaudited. Some of the financial information and data contained in this press release, such as EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, have not been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). To supplement our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP in our press release, we also report certain non-GAAP financial measures. A non-GAAP financial measure refers to a numerical measure of a companys historical or future financial performance, financial position, or cash flows that excludes (or includes) amounts that are included in (or excluded from) the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in such companys financial statements. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the relevant GAAP measures and should be read in conjunction with information presented on a GAAP basis. Because not all companies use identical calculations, our presentation of non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.

The presentation of these financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered measures of BigBear.ais liquidity. Investors are cautioned that there are material limitations associated with the use of non-GAAP financial measures as an analytical tool. In particular, many of the adjustments to our GAAP financial measures reflect the exclusion of certain items, as defined in our non-GAAP definitions below, which are recurring and will be reflected in our financial results for the foreseeable future. In addition, these measures may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies, even where similarly titled, limiting their usefulness for comparison purposes and therefore should not be used to compare BigBear.ais performance to that of other companies. We endeavor to compensate for the limitation of the non-GAAP financial measures presented by also providing the most directly comparable GAAP measures and descriptions of the reconciling items and adjustments to derive the non-GAAP financial measures.

We believe these non-GAAP financial measures provide investors and analysts with useful supplemental information about the financial performance of our business, enable comparison of financial results between periods where certain items may vary independent of business performance, and allow for greater transparency with respect to key measures used by management to operate and analyze our business over different periods of time.

EBITDA is defined as net (loss) before interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA further adjusted for equity-based compensation, employer payroll taxes related to equity-based compensation, net increase (decrease) in fair value of derivatives, restructuring charges, non-recurring integration costs, capital market advisory fees, commercial start-up costs, and transaction expenses. Similar excluded expenses may be incurred in future periods when calculating these measures. BigBear.ai believes these non-GAAP measures of financial results provide useful information to management and investors regarding certain financial and business trends relating to the Companys financial condition and results of operations. BigBear.ai believes that the use of these non-GAAP financial measures provides an additional tool for investors to use in evaluating projected operating results and trends and in comparing BigBear.ais financial measures with other similar companies, many of which present similar non-GAAP financial measures to investors.

Management does not consider these non-GAAP measures in isolation or as an alternative to financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP. The principal limitation of these non-GAAP financial measures is that they exclude significant expenses and income that are required by GAAP to be recorded in the Companys financial statements. In addition, they are subject to inherent limitations as they reflect the exercise of judgment by management about which expense and income items are excluded or included in determining these non-GAAP financial measures.

Management uses EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as a non-GAAP performance measure which is defined in the accompanying tables and is reconciled to net (loss), the most directly comparable GAAP measure, in the tables above. The Company does not reconcile forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure (or otherwise describe such forward-looking GAAP measure) because it is not able to forecast the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP without unreasonable effort. Certain elements of the composition of the GAAP amounts are not predictable, making it impracticable for the Company to forecast. As a result, no guidance for the Companys net (loss) income or reconciliation of the Companys Adjusted EBITDA guidance is provided. For the same reasons, the Company is unable to assess the probable significance of the unavailable information, which could have a potentially significant impact on its future net (loss) income.

We present reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures in the tables above.

*Refer to the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section in this press release.

Conference Call / Webcast Information

BigBear.ai will host its earnings results conference call and audio webcast (listen-only mode) on Tuesday, August 8, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. ET. The earnings conference call can be accessed by calling 866-682-6100 (toll-free) or 862-298-0702 (toll). The listen-only audio webcast of the call will be available on the BigBear.ai Investor Relations website: https://ir.bigbear.ai. For those who are unable to listen to the live event, a replay will be available for two weeks following the event by dialing 877-660-6853 (toll-free) or 201-612-7415 (toll) and entering the access code 13739576. To access the webcast replay, visit https://ir.bigbear.ai.

About BigBear.ai

BigBear.ais mission is to deliver clarity for the worlds most complex decisions. BigBear.ais AI-powered decision intelligence solutions are leveraged in three core markets, including global supply chains & logistics, autonomous systems and cyber. BigBear.ais customers, which include the US Intelligence Community, Department of Defense, the US Federal Government, as well as complex manufacturing, distribution, and healthcare, rely on BigBear.ais solutions to empower leaders to decide on the best possible scenario by creating order from complex data, identifying blind spots, and building predictive outcomes. Headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, BigBear.ai is a global, public company traded on the NYSE under the symbol BBAI. For more information, please visit: http://bigbear.ai/ and follow BigBear.ai on Twitter: @BigBearai.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808272902/en/

BigBear.ai

Investor

[email protected]

Media

Shane Karp

[email protected]

FTI Consulting

[email protected]

or

[email protected]

Source: BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc.
ROSEMEAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- California American Water takes great pride in its ability to provide safe, reliable, and affordable water to its customers. Water service is vital, and affordability is key. To support the affordability of water service for our residential customers, California American Water is launching its Multi-Family Assistance Pilot Program (MAPP) that provides financial assistance to eligible residents in the City of Imperial Beach.

Given the severity of the economic downturn that accompanied the COVID-19 pandemic, California American Water sought and received approval from the California Public Utilities Commission to implement MAPP.

This pilot program is exciting because we are able to help residents in apartments, condos, and mobile home parks who have experienced financial hardship due to the pandemic, said Kevin Tilden, California American Water President. Im proud of our advocacy for these communities and pleased we can extend assistance to help multi-family customers who are in need of financial assistance.

MAPP is being offered to City of Imperial Beach residents who receive electric and gas utility assistance under the California Alternate Rate Energy (CARE) program and who receive water from California American Water through a master meter (for example, meters at apartment complexes, condominiums, or mobile home parks). These residents are not direct California American Water customers, but they do receive water service which is billed to their landlord, complex, or property owner.

The companys program administrator, Dollar Energy Fund, Inc. (Dollar Energy Fund), will implement MAPP and contact eligible Imperial Beach residents directly with a letter and a postcard in the mail. Those who receive the letter will be asked to return the enclosed postcard to enroll in MAPP.

Once enrolled, eligible residents will be mailed a check in the amount of $45.48 to defer any portion of, or increase in, their rent due to water consumption. Future payments, which may differ in amount, will then be sent on a quarterly basis.

About American Water

American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing by providing safe, clean, reliable, and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. American Waters 6,500 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the companys national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors, and other stakeholders.

For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About California American Water

California American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, provides high-quality and reliable water and wastewater services to approximately 700,000 people.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808969271/en/

Media:

Brian A. Barreto

External Affairs

Phone: 626-388-3784

Email: [email protected]

Source: California American Water
DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Civitas Resources, Inc. (NYSE: CIVI) (Civitas or the Company) today announced the appointment of Jeff Kelly as Chief Transformation Officer, effective August 3, 2023.

Chris Doyle, President and CEO, said, On behalf of the Board of Directors and the Company, I am excited to welcome Jeff to the Civitas team. He is a proven leader and brings experience across all aspects of our business. He will lead our transformation to a diversified business of scale and bring a disciplined and strategic approach that will ensure Civitas continues to execute its business and capture the tremendous value we see in our equity today.

Mr. Kelly will report to the CEO and lead the Companys integration of its recent transformative acquisitions in the Permian Basin. He will be responsible for establishing a high-performance organization, inspiring innovation to improve efficiency and effectiveness, and aligning stakeholders to help achieve the Companys strategic vision.

Mr. Kelly most recently served as Managing Director, Asset Management at The Blackstone Group where he drove strategic initiatives and value creation within their Private Equity Energy portfolio. Prior to Blackstone, Mr. Kelly served in increasing roles of responsibility and various operational leadership positions within the upstream and midstream divisions at Anadarko Petroleum Corporation. Mr. Kelly graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and Management from Oklahoma State University.

About Civitas Resources, Inc.

Civitas Resources, Inc. is an independent, domestic oil and gas producer focused on development of its premier assets in the Denver-Julesburg (DJ) and Permian basins. The Company has a proven business model combining capital discipline, a strong balance sheet, cash flow generation and sustainable cash returns to shareholders. Civitas employs leading ESG practices throughout the Company and was Colorados first carbon neutral oil and gas producer. For more information about Civitas, please visit www.civitasresources.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808012778/en/

Investor Relations:

John Wren, [email protected]



Media:

Rich Coolidge, [email protected]

Source: Civitas Resources, Inc.
Q: On August 7, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying that on August 5, in the waters adjacent to Renai Jiao, China Coast Guard took blocking and other aggressive maneuvers, including the use of a water cannon against the Philippine supply boats and Coast Guard vessels on a routine resupply mission to the military vessel grounded at Renai Jiao. The Philippines says such actions violate UNCLOS and the 2016 South China Sea arbitration award and infringe upon the Philippines sovereign rights and jurisdiction. What is your comment?

A: The spokesperson of China Coast Guard has given detailed information regarding the Philippines illegally sending construction materials to Renai Jiao in Chinas Nansha Qundao and the situation it caused at sea. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has lodged serious demarches to the Philippines.

I would like to stress that Renai Jiao is part of Chinas Nansha Qundao. The Philippines explicitly promised several times to tow away the military vessel deliberately and illegally grounded at Renai Jiao. However, 24 years have passed and instead of towing it away, the Philippines has sought to repair and reinforce it on a large scale in order to permanently occupy Renai Jiao. The Philippines action gravely violates international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) signed between China and ASEAN countries. China once again urges the Philippines to immediately tow away the military vessel grounded at Renai Jiao and restore Renai Jiao to its original state of having no personnel or facility on it.

The so-called South China Sea arbitration award violates international law, including UNCLOS. The award is illegal, null and void. China does not accept or recognize it, and will never accept any claim or action based on the award. This position is clear and firm, and is a legitimate step to uphold international rule of law.

For some time, China has repeatedly communicated with the Philippines through diplomatic channels on Renai Jiao. We made it clear to the Philippines that it must not send construction materials meant for repairing and reinforcing the grounded military vessel on a large scale, and we suggested that the two sides hold talks as soon as possible on ways to manage the situation at Renai Jiao. The Philippines, however, chose to ignore Chinas goodwill and sincerity and went ahead with sending construction materials for repairing and reinforcing the grounded military vessel on a large scale. This is the cause of what happened there this time. China Coast Guard responded in accordance with the law to safeguard Chinas sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. The maneuvers were professional, restrained and beyond reproach.

The Philippines is Chinas important maritime neighbor. Important common understandings exist between our two sides on managing maritime disputes. China stands ready to continue to work with the Philippines to properly handle maritime issues through dialogue and consultation and jointly uphold bilateral relations and maritime stability.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, August 8. Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are reviewing possibilities for launching oil transportation via the Baku-Supsa route, Almassadam Satkaliyev, Minister of Energy of Kazakhstan, told journalists on the sidelines of the government meeting, Trend reports.

"We have already reached agreements on exporting Kazakh oil through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, and possibilities to launch supply through the Baku-Supsa are being discussed. Additionally, as we have reported, Kazakhstan has begun supplying oil to Germany through the 'Druzhba' pipeline," said Satkaliyev.

According to the minister, these deliveries are carried out in accordance with previously concluded agreements regarding the transit of Kazakh oil.

Meanwhile, as Parviz Shahbazov, Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan, said earlier this year, by the end of 2023, 1.125 million tons of oil from Kazakhstan will be transported via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.

"Every month, Azerbaijan receives 12 to 14 tankers carrying Kazakhstani oil. This is a satisfying development. The initial agreement between the parties involved the transportation of 1.5 million tons of oil this year. However, considering that deliveries began in April this year, we will be able to transport 1.125 million tons of oil by the end of 2023," he said.
SPOKANE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Clearwater Paper Corporation (NYSE: CLW) today announced the appointment of Sherri Baker as senior vice president and chief financial officer, effective August 14, 2023, to oversee the companys finance and strategy.

Arsen Kitch, president and chief executive officer, said, On behalf of the board and our leadership team, I am pleased to welcome Sherri Baker to Clearwater Paper. Sherri is a proven leader with more than 25 years of experience building and leading finance teams. Her background in strategic, financial, and operational decision making will help us deliver on our key priorities. We look forward to Sherri being an integral part of our leadership team as we continue to create near and long-term shareholder value.

Ms. Baker joins Clearwater Paper with extensive finance and executive leadership experience. In her last two roles she served as CFO, first at PGT Innovations and then at Hyliion Holdings. Both are NYSE listed companies. Previously, Ms. Baker worked at Dean Foods from 2010 to 2019, where she held roles of increasing leadership responsibility in commercial finance, supply chain, investor relations, and corporate strategy. From 1997 to 2010 she worked at Frito-Lay where she progressed through finance roles covering accounting, tax, and procurement. Ms. Baker began her career at Ernst & Young in audit. She earned both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in accounting from the University of North Texas.

I am thrilled to join the team at Clearwater Paper, a values-driven company focused on delivering operational excellence, said Sherri Baker. I see meaningful opportunity for value creation as we build upon the companys strong operational and financial foundation.

ABOUT CLEARWATER PAPER

Clearwater Paper is a premier supplier of private brand tissue to major retailers, including grocery, club, mass merchants, and discount stores. In addition, the company produces bleached paperboard used by quality-conscious printers and packaging converters, and offers services that include custom sheeting, slitting, and cutting. Clearwater Paper's employees build shareholder value by developing strong relationships through quality and service.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including statements regarding the expected contributions and benefits of the new officer, and the companys operating and financial performance, strategies and shareholder value. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations that are subject to change, and actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include those risks and uncertainties described from time to time in the company's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements based on new developments or changes to the companys expectations.

For additional information on Clearwater Paper, please visit our website at www.clearwaterpaper.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808472902/en/

Investor contact:

Sloan Bohlen

Solebury Strategic Communications

509.344.5906

[email protected]

Media contact:

Julia Joy

Clearwater Paper Corporation

509.344. 5953

[email protected]

Source: Clearwater Paper Corporation
TAMUNING, Guam--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- GTA, the leading telecommunications provider in Guam, has announced that the GTA GNC Data Center is now a strategic point of presence (PoP) for Cogent Communications, one of the worlds largest Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230731710897/en/

GTA GNC Data Center - Piti, Guam (Photo: Business Wire)

As the United States westernmost territory, Guam is a landing point for many trans-Pacific cables, earning it the moniker the NAP of the Pacific. GTA operates Guams only modern, purpose-built carrier neutral data center that provides simple, direct connectivity to each of Guams cable landing stations and related 12 subsea cable systems with the ability to host content for the worlds largest companies. This partnership will provide Cogent Communications with a vital link between the Asia Pacific region and the US, offering their customers increased connectivity options, reduced latency, and enhanced route diversity.

Cogent Communications, a multinational Tier 1 ISP and one of the top five backbone networks globally shares the enthusiasm for this partnership. Vincent Teissier, Cogents Chief Marketing Officer, said, This collaboration strengthens Cogents connection between the Asia Pacific region and the US, as well as within the Asia Pacific region itself. This enables us to provide our customers with unmatched connectivity options, as well as reduced latency and enhanced route diversity. We are excited about the opportunities this partnership presents.

We are thrilled to welcome Cogent to GTAs GNC Data Center, said Roland Certeza, President, and CEO of GTA. The strategic position of our facility is increasingly appealing to carriers in need of an Asia Hub for IP transit, peering, and colocation with content data networks. The trust that major carriers place in our infrastructure is a testament to the quality of our Data Center and the benefits Guam provides with its close proximity to Asia combined with the benefits of US rule of law and banking system. With state-of-the-art facilities and a reliable, secure network, GTA offers carriers an unparalleled value proposition for their connectivity requirements.

About GTA

GTA provides complete communications services in Guam. These include local and long-distance telephone service, 3G, LTE, and 5G mobility service, High Speed Internet Access, Dedicated Ethernet, Carrier-Class High Capacity Services over SONET and SDH networks, and advanced television, or IPTV. GTA operates a data center on Guam offering a secure, managed environment for customers who need an alternative site for business data storage. The company also runs Guams first locally owned cable landing station and data center in Piti. Based in Tamuning, Guam, GTA is a U.S. and locally owned company and locally managed. The companys website is www.gta.net.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230731710897/en/

Michele Catahay Perez

GTA (Teleguam Holdings LLC)

[email protected]

+1 671-487-2316

@gtateleguam (IG)

https://www.facebook.com/gtateleguam (Facebook)

GTA TeleGuam - YouTube (YouTube)

Source: GTA
Digital Experience Analytics leader ranks #66 amongst top companies leading the way in cloud technology

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Contentsquare, a leading Digital Experience Analytics provider, announced that it was named to the Forbes Cloud 100, the definitive ranking of the top 100 private cloud companies in the world, published by Forbes in partnership with Bessemer Venture Partners and Salesforce Ventures.

Contentsquare ranked #66 in the global ranking, which was based on an evaluation process ranking companies across four factors: market leadership (35%), estimated valuation (30%), operating metrics (20%), and people & culture (15%). This is Forbes 8th annual Cloud 100 list, with rankings determined by a judging panel made up of leading public cloud company CEOs.

This years Cloud 100 list is one of the most dynamic in history. While the industry faced macro headwinds, the 2023 Cloud 100 winners displayed the innovation and resilience of the cloud economy and the combination of growth and efficiency that prove the power of the cloud business model. 95% of the honorees are forecasted to reach Centaur status  $100 million of annual recurring revenue  by the end of the year, said Mary DOnofrio, partner at Bessemer Venture Partners. It is further exciting to see so many honorees at the forefront of the AI revolution, which we believe will continue to transform the cloud and propel the next wave of growth for many of this years winners.

The past year our industry has seen a generational step forward in innovation and with AI leading the charge, we are witnessing one of the most important platform shifts in decades, said Paul Drews, managing partner, Salesforce Ventures. "The Cloud 100 list represents the best of the best and we've never been more excited about what the future holds, not only for the cloud but for the entire technology industry. We are proud of what these founders and their communities have already accomplished and look forward to seeing how they continue to transform the industry in the future."

Gaining momentum and making headlines in the areas of product innovation and customer satisfaction, Contentsquare has delivered tremendous value to its customers across verticals. With an NPS score of 49.5 (Retentlys 2021 NPS benchmarks puts the average Saas score at 40), Contentsquare has been helping the worlds leading brands win with Customer Experience (CX) in an increasingly competitive landscape and a challenging macroeconomic environment.

Were extremely honored to be included in Forbes listing of the worlds most important cloud companies, and to share this honor with some of the brightest and most innovative companies on the planet, said Jonathan Cherki, CEO & Founder of Contentsquare. This recognition is a testament to the potential and growth of our industry, but especially to the hard work and creativity of our team, the CSquad, whose dedication to our customers continues to inspire me every day.

The companies of the Cloud 100 list represent the best and brightest private companies in this crucial tech sector, said Kenrick Cai, the Forbes editor of the Cloud 100. This years companies had to react rapidly to AIs sweeping impact while contending with a market pullback. Their resilience puts them in elite company. Congratulations to each of the 2023 Cloud 100 honorees and the 20 Rising Stars who are showing early potential to one day join their ranks.

The Forbes 2023 Cloud 100 and 20 Rising Stars lists are published online at www.forbes.com/cloud100. Highlights of the list appear in the August/September 2023 print issue of Forbes magazine. So far this year, Contentsquare has been named third best in a LinkedIns Top Companies France list, recognized as a leader in 11 Categories in G2 Summer 2023 Best Software Awards, and honored as Microsofts 2023 French Independent Software Vendor Partner of the Year.

About Contentsquare

Contentsquare delivers the power to make the digital world more human. Its AI-powered platform provides rich and contextual insight into customer behaviors, feelings and intent  at every touchpoint in their journey  enabling businesses to build empathy and create lasting impact. A global leader in digital experience analytics, Contentsquare helps brands everywhere transform the way they do business, allowing them to take action at enterprise scale and build customer trust with security, privacy and accessibility. More than 1.3M global customers use Contentsquare to grow their business, deliver more customer happiness and move with greater agility in a constantly changing world. For more information, visit www.contentsquare.com.

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Media:



Erica Ashner

[email protected]

Source: Contentsquare
Clinics will focus on established non-traditional modalities to address post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and chronic pain.

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Dalrada Financial Corporation (OTCQB: DFCO, Dalrada), a problem-solving innovator that takes on complex, multi-disciplinary challenges in healthcare, climate technology, clean energy, and precision manufacturing, announced today that its healthcare division, Genefic Wellness Group, is launching a new company, Genefic Infused Clinics (Infused), to offer alternative therapies for post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and chronic pain.

With ongoing evidence supporting the effectiveness of non-traditional therapies such as ketamine infusion, many individuals are trying these innovative approaches toward healing. Infused will cater to the needs of these patients, including those who are failing traditional medication-based therapies for these chronic conditions.

Genefic Infused Clinics are a lifeline for anyone suffering from a debilitating condition like PTSD or anxiety, said Dan Riley, Genefic Wellness Groups President and Chief Operating Officer. Our therapies are a safe and effective alternative to SSRIs and other traditional treatments which are not working for so many patients.

The infusion experience will be fully immersive, with each patient receiving personalized, private care as well as a recovery process after completion. Patients will undergo therapy in a dedicated infusion room and then be moved to a separate recovery room for a calming, peaceful recovery.

While Genefic Infused Clinics will provide non-traditional therapies, each location will eventually offer classic infusion services including vitamins and antioxidants for hydration, energy, and general wellness.

The first Infused clinic is expected to open its doors in the coming weeks. It will operate at the site of an already well-established health and wellness clinic in Poway, a community in San Diegos north county.

About Genefic Wellness Group

With a dedicated commitment to health and wellness and improved patient care, Genefic Wellness Group delivers with bold ingenuity. Genefic companies create key products and services and build comprehensive solutions that provide better health outcomes through reimagined healthcare systems. From virus and disease screening capabilities to pharmaceutical goods and holistic wellness clinics, Genefic creates health innovations that make positive impacts around the world. To learn more, visit www.genefic.com.

About Dalrada Financial Corporation

Dalrada Financial Corporation (OTCQB: DFCO) is a progressive organization that drives innovation to impact people, businesses, and the planet positively. The company owns and operates a global group of healthcare, climate technology, clean energy, and precision manufacturing companies and produces disruptive technology products and services that mitigate the negative impact of climate change.

Dalrada companies are on the leading edge of developing and applying innovative eco-sensitive next-generation health, science, engineering, and technology, serving a broad range of industries and governments. The companys products and services significantly reduce energy costs and remove barriers for its clients, creating a more sustainable and prosperous future.

Dalradas subsidiaries and strategic partners operate in the United States, United Kingdom, India, Malaysia, and Spain and are centrally managed from the companys San Diego, CA headquarters.

For more information, please visit www.dalrada.com, and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

Disclaimer

Statements in this press release are not historical facts. The statements are forward-looking, including statements regarding future revenues and sales projections, plans for future financing, the ability to meet operational milestones, marketing arrangements and plans, and shipments to and regulatory approvals in international markets. Such statements reflect managements current views, are based on certain assumptions, and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results, events, or performance may differ materially from the above forward-looking statements due to a number of important factors and will be dependent upon a variety of factors including, but not limited to, our ability to obtain additional financing that will allow us to continue our current and future operations and whether demand for our products and services in domestic and international markets will continue to expand. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof or to reflect any change in the Companys expectations regarding these forward-looking statements or the occurrence of unanticipated events. Factors that may impact the Companys success are more fully disclosed in the Companys most recent public filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including its annual report on Form 10-K.

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Michael Eslinger

[email protected]

MARKET AWARENESS

StockWatchIndex, LLC

442-287-8059

[email protected]

Source: Dalrada Financial Corporation
BRAMPTON, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- DATA Communications Management Corp. (TSX: DCM; OTCQX: DCMDF) (DCM or the Company), a leading provider of marketing and business communication solutions, will announce its Second Quarter 2023 results the evening of Thursday, August 10, 2023.

The Company will host a conference call and webcast on Friday, August, 11, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time. Richard Kellam, President and CEO of DCM, and James Lorimer, CFO, will present the Second Quarter 2023 results followed by a live Q&A.

Instructions on how to join the webcast (via Microsoft Teams) and the call are available below. If youre unable to take part live, a replay of the webcast will be available on the DCM Investor Relations page.

Join on your computer, mobile app or room device

Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 294 185 849 646

Passcode: fLoJbK

Download Teams | Join via the web

Or call in (audio only)

+1 647-749-9154, 643054499# Canada, Toronto

Phone Conference ID: 643 054 499#

The Companys full results will be posted on its Investor Relations page and on www.sedar.com. A video message from Mr. Kellam will also be posted on the Companys website.

ABOUT DATA COMMUNICATIONS MANAGEMENT CORP.

DCM is a marketing and business communications partner that helps companies simplify the complex ways they communicate and operate, so they can accomplish more with fewer steps and less effort. DCM serves major brands in vertical markets including financial services, retail, healthcare, energy, other regulated industries, and the public sector. We integrate seamlessly into our clients businesses thanks to our deep understanding of their needs, transformative tech-enabled solutions, and end-to-end service offering. Whether were running technology platforms, sending marketing messages, or managing print workflows, our goal is to make everything surprisingly simple.

Additional information relating to DATA Communications Management Corp. is available on www.datacm.com, and in the disclosure documents filed by DATA Communications Management Corp. on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements in this press release constitute forward looking statements that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, objectives or achievements of DCM, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance, objectives or achievements expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. When used in this press release, words such as may, would, could, will, expect, anticipate, estimate, believe, intend, plan, and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect DCMs current views regarding future events and operating performance, are based on information currently available to DCM, and speak only as of the date of this press release.

These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions and should not be read as guarantees that future performance or results will be achieved. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance, objectives or achievements of DCM to be materially different from any future results, performance, objectives or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Additional factors are discussed under the headings Liquidity and capital resources and Risks and Uncertainties in DCMs managements discussion and analysis, annual information form, and other publicly available disclosure documents, as filed by DCM on SEDAR (www.sedar.com).

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in this presentation as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Unless required by applicable securities law, DCM does not intend and does not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808724757/en/

Mr. Richard Kellam

President & Chief Executive Officer

DATA Communications Management Corp.

(905) 791-3151

Mr. James E. Lorimer

Chief Financial Officer

DATA Communications Management Corp.

(905) 791-3151

[email protected]

Source: DATA Communications Management Corp.
LANCASTER, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fulton Bank today announced the appointments of Retired Rear Admiral Dr. Jan Hamby and CEO of The High Companies Mike Shirk to the Banks board of directors.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808010805/en/

Retired Rear Admiral Dr. Jan Hamby (Photo: Business Wire)

Dr. Hamby, a highly decorated naval officer, brings more than 35 years of expertise and leadership in telecommunications, space, cyber and national security to Fulton Banks board of directors.

Mike Shirk, CEO of The High Companies, one of the largest family-owned employers in central Pennsylvania, brings more than 25 years of business management, strategy and engineering experience to Fulton Banks board of directors.

We are thrilled to expand Fulton Banks board of directors with two accomplished leaders, Dr. Jan Hamby and Mike Shirk, said Fulton Chairman, President and CEO Curtis J. Myers. Their insights, expertise and unique perspective is extremely valuable to the work we do, both as a financial institution and community partner.

About Dr. Jan Hamby

Prior to retiring from the U.S. Navy, Hamby served as the Deputy Chief Information Officer for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and Vice Director of Command, Control, Computers and Communications for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Subsequent to her naval career, she served as the Chancellor for the College of Information and Cyberspace at National Defense University.

Currently, she serves on the board of Ligado Networks, and she previously served on the boards of the American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association and Cubic Corporation. Additionally, she holds advisory board roles with the Ocean Thermal Energy Corporation and George Mason Universitys C4I and Cyber Center. In addition to these board positions, Hamby co-owns Fair Winds Farm, LLC, and TwinSet Designs.

Hamby holds a Doctor of Management degree from the University of Maryland Global Campus, a masters degree in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College, a masters degree in information systems and a Master of Business Administration from Boston University.

About Mike Shirk

Shirk has led The High Companies as CEO since 2015 after starting as a member of the High boards of directors in 2011. In this role, he has been responsible for strengthening the family of 11 diverse companies. Prior to joining High, he served as Vice President of Architectural Specialties Worldwide for Armstrong World Industries, Inc. Additionally, he worked for Bain & Company, Inc., in Boston, a global business consulting firm where he advised companies across several industries on a variety of corporate strategy, growth and operational effectiveness issues. He also previously worked for Lockheed Martin Corporation in the maritime systems and sensors division headquartered in Moorestown, NJ.

Shirk holds an MBA from Massachusetts Institute of Technologys Sloan School of Management, and a masters degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. He attended Bucknell University, where he earned a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering.

For more than 12 years, Shirk has served as a board member with the PA Chamber of Business and Industry. Additionally, he has been an active advisory board member with the Lancaster STEM Alliance since 2016.

About Fulton Bank, N.A.

Headquartered in Lancaster, Pa., Fulton Bank, N.A., is a premier community bank in the Mid-Atlantic region. As a subsidiary of Fulton Financial Corporation, a $27 billion financial services holding company, Fulton Bank offers a broad array of products and services at more than 200 financial centers across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. At Fulton Bank, we seek to change lives for the better by building strong customer relationships, providing significant community support and empowering more than 3,300 employees to do the same. Through the Fulton Forward initiative, were helping build vibrant communities. Learn more at www.FultonBank.com. Fulton Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808010805/en/

Lacey Dean

(717) 735-8688

Source: Fulton Bank
New analysis of KinderCare's 2023 Parent Confidence Report uncovers generational differences, with Gen Z ranking child care above health insurance as a benefit

LAKE OSWEGO, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- As Gen Z ages into parenthood, data from a recent survey reveals they see child care as the most important benefit from employers, above health insurance. Once a niche perk, child care benefits are now key in employers efforts to attract and retain employees, especially Gen Z talent (those born between 1997 and 2012), who seem far more willing than older generations to switch jobs, move away, take a pay cut or even pause their career if it means finding affordable, quality child care.

Data from KinderCare Learning Companys 2023 Parent Confidence Report: Gen Z, conducted by Harris Poll, shows:

30% of Gen Z parents rated child care benefits above health insurance (29%)  when considering whether to stay or leave their current job; all other generations (Millennial, Gen X, Baby Boomer) rated child care benefits just behind health insurance as most important.

Nearly half (43%) of Gen Z parents would switch jobs for financial assistance to cover child care costs, far more than Millennials (33%), Gen X (26%) and Boomers (21%).

More than half (52%) of Gen Z parents say they would switch jobs for on-site child care

Citing difficulties finding or affording child care, 36% of Gen Z parents surveyed said they have accepted a job that pays less but has more flexibility, far more than Millennial (26%), Gen X (26%), or Boomer (19%) parents.

Nearly a third (29%) of Gen Z parents said they have moved to a new location to find child care, far more than Millennial (19%), Gen X (17%) or Boomer parents (14%).

19% of Gen Z said they are casually looking for new opportunities, a significantly higher percentage than Millennials (12%), Gen X (13%), or Baby Boomers (2%).

KinderCare partners with more than 600 employers around the country to offer employees a suite of employer-sponsored child care benefits, and has seen a shift away from on-site child care and toward flexible solutions better suited to meet the evolving needs of workers, whether theyre remote, hybrid or on-site employees. KinderCare works with clients like Walgreens, Tyson Foods and an array of employers from across the country to answer their working parents' call for quality child care in the communities where they work and live nationwide.

The quickly evolving world of work is affecting Gen Z in ways weve never seen before, said Paul Thompson, President of KinderCare Learning Companies. The shift to remote and hybrid models of work has been nothing short of seismic, and it's affecting not only how, when, and where Gen Z is working but also in what they expect from employers for the work that they do.

Thompson added KinderCare is hearing loud and clear that this generation of parents expect employer-sponsored child care as part of their benefits package, and that employers should recognize this need can be met in many different forms, whether thats back-up care, subsidized care, or on-site centers, there is always a way for any employer to find a way to better recruit and retain working parents.

To help prepare to meet the needs of their workforces shifting priorities, KinderCare partners with organizations across the U.S. to assist in the development of custom employer-sponsored child care benefits packages, with options ranging from tuition benefits, on-site centers, back-up care, before and after school care, and more to meet the needs of diverse workforces.

About KinderCare Learning Companies

A leading provider of early childhood and school-age education and care, KinderCare builds confidence for life in children and families from all backgrounds. KinderCare supports hardworking families in 40 states and the District of Columbia with differentiated flexible child care solutions to meet todays dynamic work environment:

In neighborhoods, with KinderCare Learning Centers that offer early learning programs for children six weeks to 12 years old and with Creme de la Creme , which offers a premium early education model using a variety of themed classrooms;

that offer early learning programs for children six weeks to 12 years old and with , which offers a premium early education model using a variety of themed classrooms; At work, through KinderCare Learning Companies for Employers , providing customized family benefits for employers across the country, including employer-supported child care benefits, on-site and near-site early learning centers and back-up care for last-minute child care, and

, providing customized family benefits for employers across the country, including employer-supported child care benefits, on-site and near-site early learning centers and back-up care for last-minute child care, and In local schools, with Champions before and after-school programs.

KinderCare programs meet the highest standards, validated by independent, third-party evaluation including:

Gallup , measuring workforce engagement,

, measuring workforce engagement, National Association for the Education of Young Children , ensuring individual early learning center quality,

, ensuring individual early learning center quality, Cognia , accreditation for before- and after-school programs

, accreditation for before- and after-school programs BRIGANCE and TerraNova assessments of childrens academic progress and achievement, and

assessments of childrens academic progress and achievement, and WELL Health-Safety Rating, validating health and safety practices in our facilities.

Headquartered in Lake Oswego, Oregon, KinderCare operates more than 2,000 early learning centers and sites. In 2023, KinderCare earned its seventh Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award  one of only four organizations worldwide to achieve this milestone for seven consecutive years. To learn more, visit KC-Learning.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808751025/en/

Colleen Moran

KinderCare Learning Companies

503-872-1300, option 3

[email protected]

Source: KinderCare
The company behind pentesting solution NodeZero, Horizon3.ai now scaling R&D to deliver unmatched, enterprise-wide security platform

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Horizon3.ai, a leading provider of autonomous security solutions, today announced $40M in Series C funding led by Craft Ventures with participation from Signal Fire. With 3x customer growth year-over-year, Horizon3.ais NodeZero platform has quickly become a leading industry tool for autonomous pentesting, helping customers quickly verify their security posture and reduce their exploitable attack surface. This funding will be used to build out Horizon3.ais enterprise-wide, proactive security platform, expand channel and partner presence and meet the growing demand of customers worldwide. Founded in late 2019, Horizon3.ai has raised a total of $78.5M to date.

The demand for NodeZero continues to skyrocket: Autonomous penetration testing was recently added as a new category in the U.S. Department of Defense Tech Watchlist. Customers using NodeZero today span 50 industries and 25 countries, including manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, education, and local government. With this new funding, Horizon3.ai will integrate pentesting, SOAR, and detection engineering into a security platform that enables customers to proactively secure their enterprise.

Being a CISO has never been tougher. Enterprises must now deal with securing their on-prem infrastructure, multiple clouds, hundreds of SaaS services, and IoT assets. Attackers have their eyes on increasingly critical infrastructure like satellites, connected vehicles, fighter jets, and industrial control systems. Whats more, attackers dont have to hack in using Zero Days like you see in the movies. Often, they are able to log in using easily guessable or breached employee passwords, said Snehal Antani, founder and CEO of Horizon3.ai. Customers turn to us to discover their exploitable attack paths, help fix their riskiest issues, and verify that their fixes worked before they fall into the crosshairs of attackers.

My former Commanding General often said, Dont tell me were secure, show me, then show me again tomorrow, and then again next week because our environment is constantly changing and our enemy is always evolving," said Antani. Looking at your enterprise through the eyes of the attacker, assuming breaches will happen, and continuously verifying your security posture are critical pillars for building secure organizations, and Horizon3.ai is leading the way.

We were super impressed by Horizon3.ai's fully automated approach to continuous penetration testing and security validation, said Michael Robinson, Partner at Craft Ventures. With every pentest executed, Horizon3.ais knowledge graphs get smarter, increasing its understanding of how an attacker can compromise a system. We are thrilled to be supporting Horizon3.ai on their next phase of growth.

Bob Cariddi, CRO at Horizon3.ai, commented, Driven by new and coming regulations including CMMC, DORA, and the recently announced breach reporting guidelines from the SEC, organizations want continuous risk assessment that proves their security effectiveness. Every major change to a companys environment - applying a patch, deploying new applications, or onboarding new employees - means their attack surface has changed. The pentesting frequency should match this change frequency so that for every Patch Tuesday, theres a Pentest Wednesday. This continuous assessment approach needs to become second nature  automated in the same fashion as other business processes. This is where NodeZero delivers, and why our customers love it.

The move from point-in-time to continuous pentesting has been occurring over the last several years. Horizon3.ais knowledge graph approach is the most scalable and effective method Ive witnessed to automate these processes in a way that truly mimics the behaviors of a certified pentester, said Bil Harmer, 5-time CISO and Operating Partner at Craft Ventures. Were excited about the value Horizon3.ai will bring to customers as they add more capabilities on top of their unique data set that doesnt exist commercially today.

About NodeZero

NodeZero provides autonomous penetration testing delivered as a self-service SaaS offering. Red Teams use NodeZero as a force multiplier that can conduct infrastructure pentesting at-scale so humans can be a scalpel. Blue Teams rely on NodeZero to proactively harden their infrastructure. SOCs use NodeZero as a sparring partner to tune their security tools. CISOs use NodeZeros results to prove their security posture to their boards, auditors, and regulators. NodeZero is safe to execute against production systems and is designed to enable a Purple Team culture by helping Red and Blue Teams work together to fix problems that truly matter.

About Horizon3.ai

Horizon3.ai was founded in 2019 by former industry and U.S. National Security veterans with the mission to help organizations see their networks through the eyes of the attacker and proactively fix problems that truly matter, improve the effectiveness of their security initiatives, and ensure that they are prepared to respond to real cyberattacks. Visit https://www.horizon3.ai/ for a free trial and let our results do the talking.

Follow Horizon3.ai on LinkedIn, YouTube, and Twitter.

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Media Contacts



Maureen MacGregor

Madison Alexander PR

978.473.1016

[email protected]



Dan Chmielewski

Madison Alexander PR

949.231.2965

[email protected]

Source: Horizon3.ai
 IGV-001 can induce stress on glioblastoma cells within the product, resulting in immunogenic cell death and consequent broad anti-tumor immunity 

 IGV-001 is currently being evaluated in a multicenter Phase 2b clinical study as a treatment, in combination with standard of care, for newly diagnosed glioblastoma 

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Imvax, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing personalized, whole tumor-derived immunotherapies, today announced the publication of preclinical research with IGV-001 in Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, the official journal of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC). The article  A biologic-device combination product delivering tumor-derived antigens elicits immunogenic cell death-associated immune responses against glioblastoma  is available online.

The publication presents preclinical data demonstrating that IGV-001, a biologic-device combination product candidate developed with autologous tumor cells using Imvaxs proprietary Goldspire platform, can induce oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress on glioblastoma (GBM) cells in IGV-001, resulting in immunogenic cell death, the release of a tumor antigen payload, and consequent anti-tumor immunity. This study provides further data concerning the mechanism of action of IGV-001 and supports the Companys ongoing Phase 2b clinical trial of IGV-001 in newly diagnosed GBM (NCT04485949).

The results of our prior Phase 1b trial in newly diagnosed GBM patients established the clinical potential of IGV-001, said Mark A. Exley, Chief Scientific Officer of Imvax. This newly published preclinical data confirms that our Goldspire platform induces immunogenic tumor cell death in IGV-001, which can lead to a sustained anti-tumor immune response.

The ability of cancer therapeutics such as IGV-001 to elicit cancer cell death along with the activation of a tumor-targeting immune response offers a considerable opportunity for the development of novel immunotherapeutic regimens for diseases, including GBM, that are poorly sensitive to conventional immunotherapy, said Lorenzo Galluzzi, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Cell Biology in Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY.

Imvaxs Goldspire immuno-oncology platform for solid tumors involves a unique approach to inducing a broad and durable immune response against tumors. This platform combines patient-derived tumor cells and an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (IMV-001) in proprietary biodiffusion chambers that are irradiated with a low dose of radiation before being returned to the hospital for implantation in the patient.

Phase 1 studies showed that IGV-001 was safe and well tolerated, and a Phase 1b study in newly diagnosed GBM (ndGBM) patients also yielded several efficacy signals, including significant improvements in progression-free survival, overall survival, radiographic evidence of tumor response and multiple biomarker changes that supported the presence of an immune response (Andrews, D.W., et al. Clin Cancer Res. 2021;27(7):1912-1922). In ten Stupp-eligible ndGBM patients in the highest dose cohort treated with IGV-001, median PFS was 17.1 months, compared with 6.5 months in historical standard-of-care (SOC) treatment, and median OS was 38.2 months, compared with 16.2 months in historical SOC. In March 2023, Imvax initiated a Phase 2b clinical trial of IGV-001 in ndGBM patients (NCT04485949).

About Imvax, Inc.

Imvax is a clinical-stage biotechnology company with a unique platform technology, Goldspire, focused on delivering personalized, whole tumor-derived immunotherapies across a range of solid tumors. Imvaxs most advanced program, IGV-001, is currently being evaluated in a Phase 2b clinical trial in newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients. Imvaxs portfolio also includes several other programs designed to stimulate a patients immune system against the entire antigen signature of their tumor. Imvax is headquartered in Philadelphia, PA. For additional information, please visit www.imvax.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808804385/en/

Media:

Thomas Stephenson

Ten Bridge Communications

[email protected]

(857) 244-0246

Source: Imvax, Inc.
SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Inszone Insurance Services, a rapidly growing national provider of benefits, personal, and commercial lines insurance, has announced the acquisition of Speck Insurance and Financial Services PLLC. The acquisition includes all operations of Speck Insurance and Financial Services, which will now operate from Inszone Insurance's local office, catering to the Katy, TX region.

Founded in 2001 by Sheree Covington Speck, Speck Insurance and Financial Services PLLC has established itself as a highly reputable personal and commercial insurance agency. With over four decades of diverse experience in the industry, Sheree has built a strong foundation for the business, with a focus on providing unmatched coverage solutions and serving clients' needs.

"Acquiring Speck Insurance and Financial Services PLLC is a great opportunity for Inszone Insurance," said Chris Walters, CEO of Inszone Insurance. "Sheree and her team have a long-standing history of serving their clients with the highest level of care, and we are excited to continue that tradition as part of Inszone Insurance. We look forward to expanding our presence in Texas and offering our clients an even broader range of insurance options.

Inszone Insurance is thrilled to bring Speck Insurance and Financial Services PLLC into the Inszone family. With this acquisition, Inszone is now able to offer even more comprehensive insurance solutions to our loyal clients in Texas, while continuing to deliver the great service and support that both Speck Insurance and Inszone Insurance are known for.

Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Sacramento, California, Inszone is a full-service insurance brokerage firm that provides a broad array of property & casualty insurance, along with employee benefits solutions. With a strong, experienced management team, Inszone continues to grow organically, as well as through acquisitions. With 42 locations across California, Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, and Utah, the company is looking to further expand throughout the United States.

For more information about Inszone, please visit www.inszoneinsurance.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808657481/en/

Inszone Insurance

Chris Walters  CEO

714-619-5620

[email protected]

Source: Inszone Insurance Services
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan plan to create a joint venture for the production of components for renewable energy sources (RES), Head of the Department of the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan Milana Bazarova said, Trend reports.

Bazarova during the round table on the topic "Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan: new horizons of cooperation" said that Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan have great prospects in this direction and this initiative will contribute to accelerating the achievement of a number of objectives.

"Uzbekistan plans to increase the production of renewable energy in the next few years to 25,000 megawatts, from 14 to 40 percent. Therefore, 10 solar and wind power plants are expected to be built by 2025. In addition, it is planned to generate about 3,000 gigawatts of energy by 2026, and by 2030 - to reach the figure of eight gigawatts," she said.

Bazarova believes that considering the renewable energy sector as a strategic direction of development for both Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan, it would be appropriate to build a joint venture to produce the relevant components.

Azerbaijans total renewable energy capacity in 2022 amounted to 1,339 MW. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), renewable energy capacity in Azerbaijan over the last year increased by 1.74 percent year-on-year (1,316 MW in 2021).

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan is working on various policies and incentives to attract investments in renewable energy projects. According to the resolution "On measures to accelerate the introduction of renewable energy sources and energy-saving technologies in 2023", Uzbekistan is launching large solar and wind power plants, installing solar panels on buildings and so on.
MORRISVILLE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The JF Petroleum Group (JF), the premier provider of maintenance & repair, equipment distribution, installation & construction services, and fueling system solutions in North America, announced today that it has acquired Miller Construction Management Inc. (MCM). Headquartered in Lakeland, Florida, MCM is a commercially certified, multi-industry contractor serving commercial and retail installation & construction sectors with specialized turn-key solutions for ground ups, remodels and building additions. MCM offers a single-source solution for Design-Build Services, Preconstruction Services, Green Building (LEED) Design & Construction, Project Management and General Contracting. The addition of MCM to the JF portfolio of companies solidifies its market leadership position in the commercial and retail installation & construction industries and enhances its ability to serve customers by adding additional turn-key services to its retail and commercial installation & construction offerings. The acquisition of MCM bolsters JFs General Contracting offering and expands its General Contracting reach across the Southeast and Gulf Coast regions.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230807181843/en/

JF Petroleum Group Acquires Miller Construction Management Inc., A Premier Florida General Contracting Firm (Graphic: Business Wire)

Keith Shadrick, CEO of The JF Petroleum Group, stated, The growing demand for installation & construction services in the retail, commercial, institutional, and government sectors will continue for the foreseeable future as the country continues to invest in its infrastructure and expands the development of residential communities. Given the growing demand for installation & construction services throughout our Southeast and Gulf Coast regions, this acquisition will significantly enhance our ability to provide best in class turn-key installation & construction solutions to our customers. The addition of MCM to our platform will also bolster the offerings and capabilities that Dykstra Construction has today, delivering a greater value proposition to our existing customer base. Dykstra Construction is widely recognized in the Southeast region for its exceptional quality, expertise in fuel system design and installation, general contracting, and their additional wide range of service offerings, all of which are in high demand. Bringing MCM within the umbrella of our General Contracting vertical and combining their strengths and capabilities with the Dykstra Team, will provide our customers an unparalleled service offering and uniquely position JF as the market leader in General Contracting, Turn-Key Installation & Construction Solutions and Petroleum Services. MCM will continue to operate under the leadership of Corey Miller, who has been designated as Vice President of Construction Management Services. Corey will report to Darry Dykstra, President of our General Contracting Business Unit. We are proud to welcome Corey Miller and the employees of MCM to the JF family!

Corey Miller, the founder of MCM, said, I am extremely proud of the accomplishments of MCM since our inception in 2002. Our success was made possible by the trust our customers placed in MCM and the competency and professionalism of our team. Our goal has always been to build strong, successful relationships and our motto has always been to Build a Better Way. That will not change. I look forward to continued growth in our industry, as well as the opportunity to work with JF to branch out into new sectors offering clients a truly turn-key experience. This is a great environment in which the employees of MCM can thrive and JF is an excellent fit for us moving forward given our shared values and focus on quality.

Barrett Gilmer, Chairman of the Board for JF, stated, The acquisition of MCM is yet another demonstration of our commitment to building the premier North American solution provider in JF. This acquisition expands our industry-leading service offering in one of the nations leading high growth market areas and uniquely positions JF as the provider of choice for turn-key solutions.

About JF Petroleum Group

The JF Petroleum Group (formerly Jones & Frank) is a leading provider of turn-key distribution, installation & construction, and service solutions to the North American fueling infrastructure industry. The company serves retail fueling stations, commercial and government fleets, and emergency power customers through its network of 40 branch offices, 4 distribution centers and over 1,200 employees located across the United States. The JF Petroleum Group represents the premier products in the fueling infrastructure marketplace, including Gilbarco Veeder-Root, VeriFone, OPW, Franklin Fueling and Containment Solutions. To learn more, visit www.jfpetrogroup.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230807181843/en/

Alex Perez

Director of Marketing & Communications

[email protected]

Source: JF Petroleum Group
Achieved record second quarter revenue, net income, EBITDA and backlog

Reduced net debt leverage to 2.3x EBITDA

Raised revenue and EBITDA guidance; initiated adjusted EBITDA guidance

BISMARCK, N.D.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Knife River Corporation (NYSE: KNF), an aggregates-led, vertically integrated construction materials and contracting services company, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808919416/en/

Second Quarter Financial Highlights

(In millions, except per share) 2023 2022 % Change Revenue $785.2 $711.8 10% Gross profit $153.0 $103.3 48% Net income $56.8 $38.6 47% EBITDA $125.1 $87.3 43% EBITDA margin 15.9% 12.3% Adjusted EBITDA $126.3 $90.4 40% Adjusted EBITDA margin 16.1% 12.7% Net income per diluted share $1.00 $0.68 47% Note: EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, EBITDA margin and Adjusted EBITDA margin are non-GAAP financial measures. For more information on all non-GAAP measures and a reconciliation to the nearest GAAP measure, see the section entitled "Non-GAAP Financial Measures."

"I am excited to highlight our record results, including our all-time second quarter highs in revenue, net income and EBITDA," said Brian Gray, Knife River president and CEO. "I want to thank our team members at Knife River for driving our success as a new independent, public company. We successfully completed the tax-free separation from MDU Resources Group, Inc. during the quarter, and we are now better positioned to effectively allocate both capital and resources, and to generate long-term value for our shareholders.

"Reflecting on the quarter, each of our regions benefited from disciplined materials pricing, targeted bidding and solid execution, which are key components of our 'Competitive EDGE' strategy  Knife River's plan for increasing adjusted EBITDA margins and executing on other key initiatives aimed at continued profitable growth," Gray continued. "As we head into the heart of the construction season, we look to further leverage our aggregates-led, vertically integrated business model to take advantage of industry tailwinds.

"Looking to the future, we remain optimistic that the demand environment, including local, state and federal funding, will continue to support strong construction activity," Gray said. "This funding has contributed to a record $1.04 billion in contracting services backlog at improved margins. We anticipate steady demand in the high-growth, mid-sized markets in which we operate and are further encouraged by aggregates opportunities currently within our acquisition pipeline. Since our spin-off, we have paid down $35 million in debt to reduce our net leverage to 2.3x EBITDA, providing us even more financial flexibility to invest and grow our business."

Gray concluded, "Based on our results from the first half of 2023, and the demand we are anticipating for the remainder of the second half of the year, we have raised our revenue guidance to a range of $2.6 billion to $2.8 billion, and raised EBITDA guidance to a range of $320 million to $370 million for fiscal year 2023. To help provide a clear comparison to last year and account for certain one-time costs related to our separation from MDU Resources, we also are transitioning to adjusted EBITDA guidance of $330 million to $380 million. We are highly committed to our EDGE plan, including 15% annual adjusted EBITDA margins by 2025, industry-leading return on invested capital and long-term value creation."

Second Quarter Consolidated Company Results

Knife River reported second quarter consolidated revenue of $785.2 million, a 10% increase from the prior-year period, led by strong results in each region and more than 10% price increases across all consolidated product lines. EDGE-related price adjustments and bidding strategies contributed to a 43% year-over-year increase in EBITDA, to $125.1 million. Contracting services backlog of $1.04 billion was a record for any quarter, and reflects margins greater than the same time last year. For the quarter, adjusted EBITDA was $126.3 million. See the section entitled "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for more information on all non-GAAP measures and a reconciliation to the nearest GAAP measure.

Financial and Operating Results by Reporting Segment

Pacific Alaska, California, Hawaii Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30, June 30, 2023 2022 % Change 2023 2022 % Change (In millions) Revenue $ 142.2 $ 128.4 11 % $ 209.9 $ 213.8 (2 )% EBITDA $ 22.0 $ 15.2 45 % $ 18.9 $ 20.6 (8 )% EBITDA margin 15.5 % 11.8 % 9.0 % 9.7 %

Second quarter revenue improved $13.8 million year-over-year to $142.2 million, led by strengthened results in Hawaii as the local economy continues to regain momentum through tourism and military spending. The segment also benefited from strong product pricing through continued EDGE-related pricing initiatives, as well as from increased ready-mix volumes in Northern California based in part on our late 2022 acquisition in Modesto. Partially offsetting the region's increased revenues were lower asphalt volumes and decreased contracting services revenues, both resulting from the late start to the construction season. EBITDA increased $6.8 million year-over-year to $22.0 million, the highest level for the second quarter since 2020, as the region saw higher realized prices and lower equipment operating costs, mainly fuel.

Northwest Oregon, Washington Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30, June 30, 2023 2022 % Change 2023 2022 % Change (In millions) Revenue $ 179.0 $ 151.0 19 % $ 294.9 $ 256.5 15 % EBITDA $ 40.7 $ 23.2 75 % $ 53.8 $ 36.0 49 % EBITDA margin 22.7 % 15.4 % 18.3 % 14.0 %

Second quarter revenue improved $28.0 million year-over-year to $179.0 million, led by strong product pricing and increased demand for contracting services. EBITDA increased $17.5 million year-over-year to $40.7 million, supported by consistent market demand and continued EDGE-related pricing initiatives. Contracting services backlog increased 52% year-over-year to an all-time record $257.3 million.

Mountain Idaho, Montana, Wyoming Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30, June 30, 2023 2022 % Change 2023 2022 % Change (In millions) Revenue $ 175.8 $ 170.4 3 % $ 236.4 $ 228.9 3 % EBITDA $ 32.6 $ 28.6 14 % $ 26.0 $ 20.6 26 % EBITDA margin 18.5 % 16.8 % 11.0 % 9.0 %

Second quarter revenue improved $5.4 million year-over-year to $175.8 million, with strong product pricing more than offsetting the absence of a significant airport project that largely occurred in the prior-year period. EBITDA increased $4.0 million year-over-year to $32.6 million, supported by demand and pricing momentum. Contracting services remains highly active across all markets, with backlog at an all-time second quarter high of $377.3 million, an 8% increase year-over-year.

North Central Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30, June 30, 2023 2022 % Change 2023 2022 % Change (In millions) Revenue $ 187.6 $ 167.2 12 % $ 208.6 $ 190.1 10 % EBITDA $ 24.4 $ 16.1 52 % $ .9 $ (8.2 ) n.m. EBITDA margin 13.0 % 9.6 % .4 % (4.3 )%

Second quarter revenue improved $20.4 million year-over-year to $187.6 million, led by strong product pricing across all product lines. EDGE-related aggregate price increases in the region more than offset lower volumes. EBITDA increased $8.3 million year-over-year to $24.4 million. Contracting services also began to benefit from the new EDGE-aligned bidding strategy, positively impacting current results and backlog margins. Second quarter backlog decreased 13% year-over-year to $255.4 million.

All Other and intersegment eliminations Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30, June 30, 2023 2022 % Change 2023 2022 % Change (In millions) Revenue $ 100.6 $ 94.8 6 % $ 143.3 $ 132.5 8 % EBITDA $ 5.4 $ 4.2 29 % $ 11.4 $ .1 n.m. EBITDA margin 5.3 % 4.4 % 7.9 % .1 %

Second quarter revenue improved $5.8 million year-over-year to $100.6 million, as a result of higher average selling prices for asphalt products and ready-mix concrete, offset in part by the sale of non-strategic assets in southeast Texas in December 2022. EBITDA improved $1.2 million year-over-year to $5.4 million as a result of increased pricing, partially offset by higher corporate costs as a result of Knife River standing itself up as a publicly traded company.

Liquidity and Capital Allocation

As of June 30, 2023, Knife River held $68.5 million of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, and $839.1 million of outstanding debt. The company had $155 million outstanding of the $350 million revolving credit facility at June 30, 2023. Net debt to trailing-twelve-month EBITDA was 2.3x. The company remains committed to the stated long-term annualized goal of approximately 2.5x net debt to trailing-twelve-month EBITDA.

Knife River has spent approximately $56.0 million of the planned $125 million of capital projects for 2023, with the majority allocated to maintenance projects. Future acquisitions are not included in this amount and would be incremental to the capital program. The company remains focused on its EDGE strategy, including a disciplined capital allocation plan.

Guidance

For the full year 2023, Knife River is increasing its guidance ranges on revenue and EBITDA to better reflect momentum in pricing strength, cost optimization, federal funding tailwinds, and continued positive impacts from the EDGE initiatives. The company also is transitioning to adjusted EBITDA guidance to more clearly account for certain one-time costs related to the tax-free separation from MDU Resources.

Revenues in the range of $2.6 billion to $2.8 billion.

EBITDA in the range of $320 million to $370 million.

Adjusted EBITDA in the range of $330 million to $380 million.

Capital expenditures of approximately $125 million.*

* Future acquisitions are not included in this amount and would be incremental to the capital program

Conference Call

Knife River will host a conference call at 10 a.m. EDT on August 8, 2023, to discuss second quarter results and answer questions. The event will be webcast at https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/986161993. To participate in the live call:

Domestic: 1-888-396-8049

International: 1-416-764-8646

About Knife River Corporation

Knife River Corporation, a member of the S&P MidCap 400 index, mines aggregates and markets crushed stone, sand, gravel and related construction materials, including ready-mix concrete, asphalt and other value-added products. Knife River also performs vertically integrated contracting services, specializing in publicly funded DOT projects and private projects across the industrial, commercial and residential space. For more information about the company, visit www.kniferiver.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

The information in this news release highlights the key growth strategies, projections and certain assumptions for the company and its subsidiaries. Many of these highlighted statements and other statements not historical in nature are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Although the company believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, there is no assurance the companys projections or estimates for growth, shareholder value creation and financial guidance or other proposed strategies will be achieved. Please refer to assumptions contained in this news release, as well as the various important factors listed in Part I, Item 1A - Risk Factors in the company's registration statement on Form 10 and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Changes in such assumptions and factors could cause actual future results to differ materially from growth and financial guidance. All forward-looking statements in this news release are expressly qualified by such cautionary statements and by reference to the underlying assumptions. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Except as required by law, the company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Throughout this news release, the company presents financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP, as well as EBITDA, EBITDA margin, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin, including those measures by segment, which are considered non-GAAP financial measures. The use of these non-GAAP financial measures should not be construed as alternatives to net income or net income margin. The company believes the use of these non-GAAP financial measures are beneficial in evaluating the company's operating performance. Please refer to the "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section contained in this document for additional information.

Knife River Corporation Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30, June 30, 2023 2022 2023 2022 (In millions, except per share amounts) Revenue: Construction materials $ 431.8 $ 381.1 $ 624.7 $ 576.8 Contracting services 353.4 330.7 468.4 445.0 Total revenue 785.2 711.8 1,093.1 1,021.8 Cost of revenue: Construction materials 316.2 303.5 510.3 506.3 Contracting services 316.0 305.0 425.7 411.0 Total cost of revenue 632.2 608.5 936.0 917.3 Gross profit 153.0 103.3 157.1 104.5 Selling, general and administrative expenses 59.5 42.9 108.1 88.7 Operating income 93.5 60.4 49.0 15.8 Interest expense 19.1 7.4 28.7 12.7 Other income (expense) 2.5 (2.8 ) 3.3 (4.8 ) Income (loss) before income taxes 76.9 50.2 23.6 (1.7 ) Income tax expense (benefit) 20.1 11.6 8.1 (.2 ) Net income (loss) $ 56.8 $ 38.6 $ 15.5 $ (1.5 ) Earnings (loss) per share: Basic $ 1.00 $ .68 $ .27 $ (.03 ) Diluted $ 1.00 $ .68 $ .27 $ (.03 ) Weighted average common shares outstanding: Basic 56.6 56.6 56.6 56.6 Diluted 56.6 56.6 56.6 56.6

Knife River Corporation Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) June 30, 2023 December 31, 2022 Assets (In millions, except shares and per share amounts) Current assets: Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash $ 68.5 $ 10.1 Receivables, net 418.6 210.2 Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts 58.0 31.1 Due from related-party  16.1 Inventories 374.4 323.3 Prepayments and other current assets 38.8 17.8 Total current assets 958.3 608.6 Noncurrent assets: Property, plant and equipment 2,533.4 2,489.4 Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization 1,221.9 1,174.2 Net property, plant and equipment 1,311.5 1,315.2 Goodwill 274.5 274.5 Other intangible assets, net 12.1 13.4 Operating lease right-of-use assets 45.9 45.9 Investments and other 40.6 36.7 Total noncurrent assets 1,684.6 1,685.7 Total assets $ 2,642.9 $ 2,294.3 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Current liabilities: Long-term debt - current portion $ 7.1 $ .2 Related-party notes payable - current portion  238.0 Accounts payable 174.6 87.4 Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts 44.6 39.8 Taxes payable 29.9 8.5 Accrued compensation 26.0 29.2 Due to related-party  20.3 Current operating lease liabilities 14.1 13.2 Other accrued liabilities 88.1 80.3 Total current liabilities 384.4 516.9 Noncurrent liabilities: Long-term debt 832.0 .4 Related-party notes payable  446.4 Deferred income taxes 170.5 175.8 Noncurrent operating lease liabilities 31.9 32.7 Other 129.2 93.5 Total liabilities 1,548.0 1,265.7 Commitments and contingencies Stockholders' equity: Common stock, 300,000,000 shares authorized, $0.01 par value, 56,997,350 shares issued and 56,566,214 shares outstanding at June 30, 2023; 80,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding, $10 par value at December 31, 2022 .6 .8 Other paid-in capital 611.6 549.1 Retained earnings 498.5 494.7 MDU Resources common stock held by subsidiary at cost - 538,921 shares at December 31, 2022  (3.6 ) Treasury stock held at cost - 431,136 shares (3.6 )  Accumulated other comprehensive loss (12.2 ) (12.4 ) Total stockholders' equity 1,094.9 1,028.6 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 2,642.9 $ 2,294.3

Knife River Corporation Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) Six Months Ended June 30, 2023 2022 (In millions) Operating activities: Net income (loss) $ 15.5 $ (1.5 ) Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities: 55.1 58.6 Changes in current assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions: Receivables (236.4 ) (215.2 ) Due from related-party 16.1 1.0 Inventories (51.1 ) (66.3 ) Other current assets (20.9 ) (16.8 ) Accounts payable 102.6 73.1 Due to related-party (7.3 ) 9.8 Other current liabilities 25.6 8.9 Pension and postretirement benefit plan contributions (.3 ) (.2 ) Other noncurrent changes 30.7 .8 Net cash used in operating activities $ (70.4 ) $ (147.8 ) Investing activities: Capital expenditures (66.6 ) (80.3 ) Acquisitions, net of cash acquired  (.5 ) Net proceeds from sale or disposition of property and other 4.1 4.3 Investments (1.6 ) (1.6 ) Net cash used in investing activities $ (64.1 ) $ (78.1 ) Financing activities: Issuance of current related-party notes, net  100.0 Issuance of long-term related-party notes, net 205.3 154.9 Issuance of long-term debt 855.0  Repayment of long-term debt (.1 ) (.1 ) Debt issuance costs (16.7 ) (.7 ) Net transfers to Centennial Energy Holdings Inc. (850.6 ) (29.3 ) Net cash provided by financing activities $ 192.9 $ 224.8 Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash 58.4 (1.1 ) Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash -- beginning of year 10.1 13.8 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash -- end of period $ 68.5 $ 12.7

Segment Financial Data and Highlights (Unaudited)

Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30, June 30, 2023 2022 2023 2022 Amount % of

Revenues Amount % of

Revenues Amount % of

Revenues Amount % of

Revenues (Dollars in millions) Revenues by operating segment: Pacific $ 142.2 $ 128.4 $ 209.9 $ 213.8 Northwest 179.0 151.0 294.9 256.5 Mountain 175.8 170.4 236.4 228.9 North Central 187.6 167.2 208.6 190.1 All Other and internal sales 100.6 94.8 143.3 132.5 Total revenues $ 785.2 $ 711.8 $ 1,093.1 $ 1,021.8 Gross profit by operating segment: Pacific $ 27.2 19.1 % $ 18.3 14.2 % $ 28.9 13.8 % $ 26.6 12.4 % Northwest 43.1 24.0 % 24.2 16.1 % 58.8 19.9 % 38.3 14.9 % Mountain 34.4 19.6 % 29.5 17.3 % 28.6 12.1 % 23.8 10.4 % North Central 28.4 15.2 % 17.9 10.7 % 8.2 4.0 % (3.1 ) (1.6 )% All Other 19.9 19.8 % 13.4 14.1 % 32.6 22.7 % 18.9 14.3 % Total gross profit $ 153.0 19.5 % $ 103.3 14.5 % $ 157.1 14.4 % $ 104.5 10.2 % EBITDA*: Pacific $ 22.0 15.5 % $ 15.2 11.8 % $ 18.9 9.0 % $ 20.6 9.7 % Northwest 40.7 22.7 % 23.2 15.4 % 53.8 18.3 % 36.0 14.0 % Mountain 32.6 18.5 % 28.6 16.8 % 26.0 11.0 % 20.6 9.0 % North Central 24.4 13.0 % 16.1 9.6 % .9 .4 % (8.2 ) (4.3 )% All Other 5.4 5.3 % 4.2 4.4 % 11.4 7.9 % .1 .1 % Total EBITDA* $ 125.1 15.9 % $ 87.3 12.3 % $ 111.0 10.2 % $ 69.1 6.8 % * EBITDA, Segment EBITDA, and EBITDA margin are non-GAAP financial measures. For more information and a reconciliation to the nearest GAAP measure, see the section entitled "Non-GAAP Financial Measures."

The following table summarizes backlog for the company.

June 30, 2023 June 30, 2022 (In millions) Pacific $ 78.3 $ 92.5 Northwest 257.3 169.4 Mountain 377.3 348.9 North Central 255.4 294.9 All Other 72.6 71.7 $ 1,040.9 $ 977.4

Margins on backlog at June 30, 2023, are higher than the margins on backlog at June 30, 2022. Approximately 84% of the company's contracting services backlog relates to publicly funded projects, including street and highway construction projects, which are driven primarily by public works projects for state departments of transportation. Period over period increases or decreases cannot be used as an indicator of future revenues or earnings.

Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30, June 30, 2023 2022 2023 2022 Sales (thousands): Aggregates (tons) 9,181 9,521 14,049 14,491 Ready-mix concrete (cubic yards) 1,113 1,140 1,674 1,873 Asphalt (tons) 1,913 2,101 2,092 2,417 Average selling price:* Aggregates (per ton) $ 15.95 $ 14.33 $ 16.37 $ 14.77 Ready-mix concrete (per cubic yard) $ 166.11 $ 147.53 $ 168.30 $ 147.67 Asphalt (per ton) $ 65.32 $ 57.85 $ 66.24 $ 57.77 * The average selling price includes freight and delivery and other revenues.

Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30, June 30, 2023 2022 2023 2022 Amount % of Revenues Amount % of Revenues Amount % of Revenues Amount % of Revenues (Dollars in millions) Revenues by product line: Aggregates $ 146.4 $ 136.4 $ 229.9 $ 214.0 Ready-mix concrete 184.9 168.1 281.7 276.6 Asphalt 125.0 121.5 138.5 139.7 Other* 143.2 124.3 181.8 161.8 Contracting services 353.4 330.7 468.4 445.0 Internal sales (167.7 ) (169.2 ) (207.2 ) (215.3 ) Total revenues $ 785.2 $ 711.8 $ 1,093.1 $ 1,021.8 Gross profit by product line: Aggregates $ 36.4 24.9 % $ 29.7 21.8 % $ 38.8 16.9 % $ 30.0 14.0 % Ready-mix concrete 28.1 15.2 % 23.4 13.9 % 36.8 13.1 % 32.7 11.8 % Asphalt 16.4 13.1 % 11.4 9.4 % 10.3 7.5 % 6.3 4.5 % Other* 34.7 24.2 % 13.1 10.5 % 28.5 15.6 % 1.5 .9 % Contracting services 37.4 10.6 % 25.7 7.8 % 42.7 9.1 % 34.0 7.6 % Total gross profit $ 153.0 19.5 % $ 103.3 14.5 % $ 157.1 14.4 % $ 104.5 10.2 % * Other includes cement, liquid asphalt, merchandise, fabric and spreading, and other products and services that individually are not considered to be a major line of business.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

EBITDA, EBITDA margin, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin, including those measures by segment, are considered non-GAAP financial measures and are most directly comparable to the corresponding GAAP measures of net income, net income margin, gross profit and gross margin. Knife River believes these non-GAAP financial measures, in addition to corresponding GAAP measures, are useful to investors by providing meaningful information about operational efficiency compared to its peers by excluding the impacts of differences in tax jurisdictions and structures, debt levels and capital investment. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA is a useful performance measure because it allows for an effective evaluation of the company's operating performance by excluding stock-based compensation and unrealized gains and losses on benefit plan investments as they are considered non-cash and not part of the company's core operations. The company also excludes the one-time, non-recurring costs associated with the separation of Knife River from MDU Resources as those are not expected to continue. Rating agencies and investors also use EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to calculate Knife Rivers leverage as a multiple of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA. Additionally, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are important financial metrics for debt investors who utilize debt to EBITDA and debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratios. Management believes EBITDA and EBITDA margin, including those measures by segment, are useful performance measures because they provide clarity as to the operational results of the company. Knife Rivers management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in conjunction with GAAP results when evaluating its operating results internally and calculating employee incentive compensation, and leverage as a multiple of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to determine the appropriate method of funding operations of the company.

EBITDA is calculated by adding back income taxes, interest expense and depreciation, depletion and amortization expense to net income. EBITDA margin is calculated by dividing EBITDA by revenues. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated by adding back unrealized gains and losses on benefit plan investments, stock-based compensation and one-time separation costs, to EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA Margin is calculated by dividing Adjusted EBITDA by revenues. These non-GAAP financial measures are calculated the same for both the segment and consolidated metrics and should not be considered as alternatives to, or more meaningful than, GAAP financial measures such as net income or net income margin and are intended to be helpful supplemental financial measures for investors understanding of Knife Rivers operating performance. Knife Rivers non-GAAP financial measures are not standardized; therefore, it may not be possible to compare these financial measures with other companies EBITDA, EBITDA margin, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin measures having the same or similar names.

The following information reconciles segment and consolidated net income to EBITDA and EBITDA to Adjusted EBITDA and provides the calculation of EBITDA margin and adjusted EBITDA margin.

Three Months Ended June 30, 2023 Pacific Northwest Mountain North

Central All Other and

Intersegment

Eliminations Consolidated (In millions) Net income (loss) $ 16.5 $ 31.0 $ 26.4 $ 18.3 $ (35.4 ) $ 56.8 Depreciation, depletion and amortization 5.5 9.7 6.2 6.1 3.6 31.1 Interest expense, net*     17.1 17.1 Income taxes     20.1 20.1 EBITDA $ 22.0 $ 40.7 $ 32.6 $ 24.4 $ 5.4 $ 125.1 Unrealized (gains) losses on benefit plan investments (.4 ) (.4 ) Stock-based compensation expense (.1 ) (.1 ) One-time separation costs 1.7 1.7 Adjusted EBITDA $ 6.6 $ 126.3 Revenue $ 142.2 $ 179.0 $ 175.8 $ 187.6 $ 100.6 $ 785.2 Net Income Margin 11.6 % 17.3 % 15.0 % 9.8 % (35.2 )% 7.2 % EBITDA Margin 15.5 % 22.7 % 18.5 % 13.0 % 5.3 % 15.9 % Adjusted EBITDA Margin 6.6 % 16.1 %

Three Months Ended June 30, 2022 Pacific Northwest Mountain North

Central All Other and

Intersegment

Eliminations Consolidated (In millions) Net income (loss) $ 9.9 $ 14.3 $ 22.8 $ 9.9 $ (18.3 ) $ 38.6 Depreciation, depletion and amortization 5.3 8.9 5.8 6.2 3.5 29.7 Interest expense, net*     7.4 7.4 Income taxes     11.6 11.6 EBITDA $ 15.2 $ 23.2 $ 28.6 $ 16.1 $ 4.2 $ 87.3 Unrealized (gains) losses on benefit plan investments 2.4 2.4 Stock-based compensation expense .7 .7 Adjusted EBITDA $ 7.3 $ 90.4 Revenue $ 128.4 $ 151.0 $ 170.4 $ 167.2 $ 94.8 $ 711.8 Net Income Margin 7.7 % 9.5 % 13.4 % 5.9 % (19.3 )% 5.4 % EBITDA Margin 11.8 % 15.4 % 16.8 % 9.6 % 4.4 % 12.3 % Adjusted EBITDA Margin 7.7 % 12.7 %

Six Months Ended June 30, 2023 Pacific Northwest Mountain North

Central All Other and

Intersegment

Eliminations Consolidated (In millions) Net income (loss) $ 7.9 $ 35.2 $ 13.8 $ (10.9 ) $ (30.5 ) $ 15.5 Depreciation, depletion and amortization 11.0 18.6 12.1 11.8 7.2 60.7 Interest expense, net*   .1  26.6 26.7 Income taxes     8.1 8.1 EBITDA $ 18.9 $ 53.8 $ 26.0 $ .9 $ 11.4 $ 111.0 Unrealized (gains) losses on benefit plan investments (1.7 ) (1.7 ) Stock-based compensation expense .8 .8 One-time separation costs 2.4 2.4 Adjusted EBITDA $ 12.9 $ 112.5 Revenue $ 209.9 $ 294.9 $ 236.4 $ 208.6 $ 143.3 $ 1,093.1 Net Income Margin 3.8 % 11.9 % 5.8 % (5.2 )% (21.3 )% 1.4 % EBITDA Margin 9.0 % 18.3 % 11.0 % .4 % 7.9 % 10.2 % Adjusted EBITDA Margin 9.0 % 10.3 %

Six months ended June 30, 2022 Pacific Northwest Mountain North

Central All Other and

Intersegment

Eliminations Consolidated (In millions) Net income (loss) $ 10.1 $ 18.8 $ 9.2 $ (20.0 ) $ (19.6 ) $ (1.5 ) Depreciation, depletion and amortization 10.5 17.2 11.3 11.8 7.3 58.1 Interest expense, net*   .1  12.6 12.7 Income taxes     (.2 ) (.2 ) EBITDA $ 20.6 $ 36.0 $ 20.6 $ (8.2 ) $ .1 $ 69.1 Unrealized (gains) losses on benefit plan investments 4.0 4.0 Stock-based compensation expense 1.4 1.4 Adjusted EBITDA $ 5.5 $ 74.5 Revenue $ 213.8 $ 256.5 $ 228.9 $ 190.1 $ 132.5 $ 1,021.8 Net Income Margin 4.7 % 7.3 % 4.0 % (10.5 )% (14.8 )% (.1 )% EBITDA Margin 9.7 % 14.0 % 9.0 % (4.3 )% .1 % 6.8 % Adjusted EBITDA Margin 4.2 % 7.3 %

Twelve months ended June 30, 2023 Pacific Northwest Mountain North

Central All Other and

Intersegment

Eliminations Consolidated (In millions) Net income (loss) $ 32.0 $ 85.2 $ 54.3 $ 50.5 $ (88.8 ) $ 133.2 Depreciation, depletion and amortization 22.1 36.5 23.5 23.6 14.7 120.4 Interest expense, net*   .2  43.9 44.1 Income taxes     50.9 50.9 EBITDA $ 54.1 $ 121.7 $ 78.0 $ 74.1 20.7 348.6 Unrealized (gains) losses on benefit plan investments (1.7 ) (1.7 ) Stock-based compensation expense 2.1 2.1 One-time separation costs 2.4 2.4 Adjusted EBITDA $ 23.5 $ 351.4 Revenue $ 464.7 $ 638.6 $ 549.5 $ 626.6 $ 326.6 $ 2,606.0 Net Income Margin 6.9 % 13.3 % 9.9 % 8.1 % (27.2 )% 5.1 % EBITDA Margin 11.6 % 19.1 % 14.2 % 11.8 % 6.3 % 13.4 % Adjusted EBITDA Margin 7.2 % 13.5 %

Twelve months ended June 30, 2022 Pacific Northwest Mountain North

Central All Other and

Intersegment

Eliminations Consolidated (In millions) Net income (loss) $ 40.5 $ 52.5 $ 46.4 $ 29.1 $ (60.8 ) $ 107.7 Depreciation, depletion and amortization 20.9 30.0 21.2 23.6 14.6 110.3 Interest expense, net*   .2  22.2 22.4 Income taxes     34.7 34.7 EBITDA $ 61.4 $ 82.5 $ 67.8 $ 52.7 10.7 275.1 Unrealized (gains) losses on benefit plan investments (2.9 ) (2.9 ) Stock-based compensation expense 2.4 2.4 Adjusted EBITDA $ 10.2 $ 274.6 Revenue $ 446.3 $ 523.5 $ 521.9 $ 559.2 $ 300.3 $ 2,351.2 Net Income Margin 9.1 % 10.0 % 8.9 % 5.2 % (20.2 )% 4.6 % EBITDA Margin 13.8 % 15.8 % 13.0 % 9.4 % 3.6 % 11.7 % Adjusted EBITDA Margin 3.4 % 11.7 % * Interest, net is interest expense, net of interest income.

The following tables provide the reconciliation to trailing twelve month EBITDA as of June 30, 2023, as well as the leverage calculation of net debt to trailing twelve month EBITDA.

Twelve Months

Ended

June 30, 2023 Six Months

Ended

June 30, 2023 Twelve Months

Ended

December 31, 2022 Six Months

Ended

June 30, 2022 (In millions) Net income (loss) $ 133.2 $ 15.5 $ 116.2 $ (1.5 ) Depreciation, depletion and amortization 120.4 60.7 117.8 58.1 Interest expense, net 44.1 26.7 30.1 12.7 Income taxes 50.9 8.1 42.6 (.2 ) EBITDA $ 348.6 $ 111.0 $ 306.7 $ 69.1 Unrealized (gains) losses on benefit plan investments (1.7 ) (1.7 ) 4.0 4.0 Stock-based compensation expense 2.1 .8 2.7 1.4 One-time separation costs 2.4 2.4   Adjusted EBITDA $ 351.4 $ 112.5 $ 313.4 $ 74.5

Twelve Months

Ended

June 30, 2023 (In millions) Long-term debt $ 848.4 Long-term debt - current portion 7.1 Total debt 855.5 Less: Cash and cash equivalents, excluding restricted cash 40.1 Total net debt $ 815.4 Net debt to June 30, 2023, trailing twelve month EBITDA 2.3 x

The following table provides a reconciliation of consolidated GAAP net income to EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA for forecasted results.

2023 Low High (In millions) Net income $ 110.0 $ 140.0 Adjustments: Interest expense 55.0 55.0 Income taxes 35.0 55.0 Depreciation, depletion and amortization 120.0 120.0 EBITDA $ 320.0 $ 370.0 Unrealized (gains) losses on benefit plan investments   Stock-based compensation expense 3.5 3.5 One-time separation costs 6.5 6.5 Adjusted EBITDA $ 330.0 $ 380.0

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808919416/en/

Media Contact: Tony Spilde, Senior Director of Communications, 541-693-5949

Financial Contact: Zane Karimi, Director of Investor Relations, 503-944-3508

Source: Knife River Corporation
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Metaplane, a leading data observability platform, today announced significant updates to its software, including a groundbreaking transformation to its data monitoring capabilities. The update includes several new features, including a comprehensive redesign of the monitoring UI, enhanced insight into the metadata of every table in a warehouse, and more performant and accurate data modeling.

The new interface boasts enhanced user-friendliness, simplified workflows, and improved contextual information, empowering users to efficiently identify and resolve data issues. These updates take an already simple product and streamline the process even further, says Daniel Corley, a Sr. Data Analytics Engineer at SpotOn. Proactively monitoring our warehouse allows for faster insights, all while navigating the blazingly fast UI. Metaplane has helped us take the guesswork out of data observability.

Metaplane has also expanded its data monitoring capabilities for Snowflake customers, providing visibility into the freshness and row count for every table in their database, not just the ones they choose to monitor. This valuable metadata ensures that users can easily delve into unmonitored data whenever necessary and eliminates the typical 3-5 day training period for adding new row count and freshness monitors, allowing users to start monitoring data instantly.

In addition, Metaplane's update introduces a more powerful and intuitive way to monitor segments of data within a table. Metaplane now offers a highly customizable query builder that enables users to write complex SQL queries to determine the segments of data within a table they wish to apply Metaplanes machine learning modeling to.

A key highlight of the update is the significant enhancement to Metaplane's architecture to be more performant and flexible, enabling accelerated development of new monitor types and capabilities. This commitment to innovation ensures that users will continue to benefit from the Metaplane platform as it evolves.

"We're committed to long-term success and building a platform that genuinely serves our customers' needs," said Kevin Hu, CEO of Metaplane. "By investing in this fundamental re-architecting of our monitoring capabilities, we are solidifying Metaplane's position as the go-to platform for data observability for teams of all sizes."

Data teams at high-growth companies (like Bose, Vendr, and Fair Trade USA) use the Metaplane data observability platform to save engineering time and increase trust in data by understanding when things break, what went wrong, and how to fix it  before a message about a broken dashboard.

About Metaplane

Metaplane is a market leader in Data Observability, an automated solution for data quality monitoring that integrates with your entire data stack to find and prevent future data incidents. Reach out or get started today!

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808172494/en/

Brandon Chen

[email protected]

Source: Metaplane
Kentucky-based Blue Run complements Molson Coors growing spirits portfolio with high-end, award-winning bourbon and rye whiskies

Blue Run co-founder and CEO Mike Montgomery to lead expanded Coors Spirits Co. team

CHICAGO & GEORGETOWN, K.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Molson Coors Beverage Company ("MCBC" or "Molson Coors") (NYSE: TAP, TAP.A) has reached an agreement to acquire Blue Run Spirits (Blue Run), a visionary and award-winning producer of finely crafted bourbon and rye whiskies. The deal represents another step in Molson Coors evolution as a total beverage company while providing Blue Run with resources to continue its growth.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808776583/en/

(Photo: Business Wire)

Based in Georgetown, Kentucky, Blue Run is one of the whiskey industrys most compelling new entrants since the brands launch in October 2020. The company has won numerous awards, including Best Small Batch Bourbon - 11 Years Old & Older and Best Single Barrel Bourbon - 11 Years Old & Older at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and most recently was awarded Best High Rye Bourbon at the 2023 New Orleans Spirits Competition. It has also gained international acclaim among whiskey experts and branding aficionados who laud Blue Runs divergence from traditional industry norms, which Forbes has called sneakerizing the bourbon industry, with premium whiskies that generate intense interest with each release.

As Molson Coors first spirits acquisition, the addition of Blue Run boosts the companys footprint in spirits as it continues to evolve from its storied history as a beer company and premiumize its portfolio. In tandem with the acquisition, Molson Coors has established Coors Spirits Co., an expansion of its existing spirits business, which will house Blue Run, Five Trail Blended American Whiskey, Barmen 1873 Bourbon and future innovation. This acquisition will more than double the size of Molson Coors spirits team, further supporting the companys premiumization strategy.

Molson Coors entered the whiskey space with the 2021 launch of Five Trail Blended American Whiskey (which won double gold at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition) and the 2022 introduction of Barmen 1873 Bourbon.

Molson Coors has been on a journey to broaden beyond our beer roots and build powerful brands in growing categories, and Blue Run joining us is an exciting next step as we establish Coors Spirits Co., Molson Coors Chief Commercial Officer Michelle St. Jacques said. Blue Run has accomplished in three years what many brands hope to do in a generation and has done it at the luxury end of the whiskey category. Importantly, we are committed to maintaining Blue Runs well-known quality, design and innovation as we continue to grow our spirits portfolio.

Currently available in 31 states, Blue Run, with its trademark butterfly medallion on the bottle, can be found at retail and on-premise accounts in every region of the U.S and online. In March 2023, Blue Run announced plans to build a distillery in Kentucky. Those plans will continue as part of the Molson Coors family. In addition, Blue Run has three new whiskies slated for late summer/fall release.

Blue Runs founders  Mike Montgomery, Tim Sparapani, Jesse McKnight and Andy Brown  will all remain with the brand. Montgomery will take on an expanded role with Molson Coors as its vice president of Coors Spirits Co. Bourbon Hall of Famer Jim Rutledge will continue to serve as Blue Runs distillery consultant and liquid advisor and recognized, whiskey community rising star Shaylyn Gammon will serve as whiskey curator for Coors Spirits Co. David Coors will continue to lead Molson Coors full-strength spirits strategy and business development as executive chair of Coors Spirits Co.

Since launching Blue Run, we have always strived to do things a little differently to truly embrace todays younger, more diverse generation of whiskey drinkers, Montgomery said. We are humbled by how the whiskey community has embraced our vision and that Molson Coors wants to join and support us in this journey.

Blue Run was represented by Samos Capital of Southlake, TX in the transaction and is legally represented by Foley and Lardner LLP of Milwaukee and Kaplan, Johnson, Abate and Bird LLP of Louisville, in addition to being supported by Joseph Goode and Cody Matthews of Truist Bank of Charlotte, NC. Molson Coors was legally represented by Quarles and Brady LLP of Milwaukee.

EDITOR NOTE: Media images can be found HERE.

ABOUT MOLSON COORS BEVERAGE COMPANY

For more than two centuries, Molson Coors has brewed beverages that unite people for all life's moments. From Coors Light, Miller Lite, Molson Canadian, Carling, and Staropramen to Coors Banquet, Blue Moon Belgian White, Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy, Vizzy Hard Seltzer, Topo Chico Hard Seltzer, Simply Spiked Lemonade, Creemore Springs and more, Molson Coors produces some of the most beloved and iconic brands ever made. While the company's history is rooted in beer, Molson Coors offers a modern portfolio that expands beyond the beer aisle with energy drinks, bottled spirits, ready-to-drink cocktails, cider and more. To learn more about Molson Coors Beverage Company, visit molsoncoors.com.

ABOUT COORS SPIRITS CO.

Coors Spirits Co. was established in 2023 to house Molson Coors growing spirits division as part of the companys shift from a beer company to a total beverage company. Molson Coors entry into spirits began with the 2021 launch of Five Trail Blended American Whiskey, which gained quick accolades that included Double Gold at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. In spring 2023, the company added Barmen 1873 Bourbon (a reference to the hometown of Coors Brewing founder Adolph Coors and the year he established the brewery in Golden, Colo.) to its lineup. And in August of 2023, Molson Coors acquired Blue Run Spirits of Georgetown, Ky, a distiller of luxury bourbons and rye whiskies to complement the portfolio. Further innovation is planned for the years to come.

ABOUT BLUE RUN SPIRITS

Georgetown, Kentucky-based Blue Run Spirits is an evolution of the traditional spirits company, creating award-winning bourbon and rye whiskies through time-honored traditions matched with inclusive, forward-looking vision. It all starts with the whiskey itself, carefully crafted by Blue Run Distillery Consultant and Liquid Advisor, Bourbon Hall of Famer Jim Rutledge and Whiskey Director Shaylyn Gammon. That precious liquid is then housed in striking packaging adorned with Blue Runs signature butterfly medallion, marking the metamorphosis of a centuries-old industry as Blue Run reaches across the bar to welcome todays younger, broader and more diverse whiskey drinker. Blue Run Spirits was founded in 2020 and was named one of the 50 most innovative companies in America by Bloomberg.

MOLSON COORS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws, including statements regarding Molson Coors strategy and organizational initiatives and goals. Although Molson Coors believes that the assumptions upon which its forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these assumptions will prove to be correct. Actual events or results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements due to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These factors include those detailed in Molson Coors public filings with the SEC, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Molson Coors does not undertake to update any forward-looking or other statements in this release, except as required by law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808776583/en/

Josh Noel

[email protected]

Source: Molson Coors Beverage Company
TSG Series Laboratory and Pharmacy Refrigerators are designed and constructed sustainably in a zero-waste facility, offering a cleaner alternative and improved performance at a lower cost.

CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in serving science, announced today a new line of Thermo Scientific TM TSG Series Refrigerators to ensure the safe storage of critical vaccines and pharmaceuticals for laboratory, pharmacy and clinical* environments.

The World Health Organization estimates that up to 50% of vaccines are wasted each year globally, primarily due to temperature control, logistics and shipment-related issues. The result is less vaccine availability for patients and caregivers and financial loss to physicians, researchers and institutions. TSG Series Laboratory and Pharmacy Refrigerators provide safe, effective storage of vaccines and other pharmaceuticals with less vaccine waste for our customers and is manufactured at our zero-waste-to-landfill facility in Asheville, North Carolina.

This new TSG series complies with NSF 456 performance standards, an American national standard that helps ensure storage equipment performs as intended to preserve the viability of vaccine doses. Compliance requires that vaccine storage equipment is tested against a rigorous protocol for construction and performance. The TSG series achieves this through optimum temperature performance, enhanced sample security, and an extended warranty doubled over previous models with full parts and labor.

At Thermo Fisher Scientific, weve been providing our customers with cold storage solutions they can rely on for more than 80 years, said Carlos Sevilla, Vice President and General Manager, Controlled Temperature Technologies. The TSG Series is cost-effective, reliable, and provides greater energy efficiency and less vaccine waste, enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer.

TSG Refrigerators also provide a 10% reduction in energy usage from previous models. They are Energy Star, EU F-Gas and U.S. EPA SNAP compliant and designed and constructed sustainably at a zero-waste facility in the U.S., furthering Thermo Fishers commitment to achieve Net-Zero Carbon Emissions by 2050.

For detailed product information and to order it now, click here.

*Note: These products are not considered as medical devices and have not been evaluated for use in environment or applications involving the diagnosis of diseases or other conditions, or in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in man or other animals.

About Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenue of approximately $40 billion. Our Mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, increasing productivity in their laboratories, improving patient health through diagnostics or the development and manufacture of life-changing therapies, we are here to support them. Our global team of more than 100,000 colleagues delivers an unrivaled combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and pharmaceutical services through our industry-leading brands, including Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, Unity Lab Services, Patheon and PPD. For more information, please visit www.thermofisher.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808354039/en/

Shannon Stoneking

Phone: 484-748-1279

Email: [email protected]

Source: Thermo Fisher
With safety as a top priority, Odfjell Technologys implementation of Kahuna skills management ensures competency assurance in all daily operations.

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Odfjell Technology is an integrated supplier for offshore operations, well services technology, and engineering solutions prioritizing the delivery of safe, efficient, and sustainable operations while reducing time, cost, and carbon emissions. With the implementation of Kahunas skills management software, Odfjell Technology advances the culture of safety across its global workforce population.

Odfjell Technology is a people business where a robust safety culture is a key ingredient to its success. They are committed to preventing harm to their peoples health and safety and believe that all accidents can be prevented. Their overall QHSE Strategy is to maintain and further develop safe operations by constantly driving continuous improvement toward zero injuries and failures.

Commitment, Safety Consciousness, Competence, Creativity, and Result Orientation are our core values at Odfjell Technology. Standardizing our competency management processes with Kahunas platform ensures we are consistently aligned with occupational health and safety, including environmental policies and regulations, required for safe operations, said Lise Budeng, Global Training and Competency Assurance Specialist at Odfjell Technology. Assuring competency at all levels and ensuring safe operations and the environment is vital for Odfjell Technology. By implementing Kahuna, Odfjell Technology standardizes and improves the efficiency of its competency management process to ensure employees are skilled and compliant in their job environment.

Kahuna also gives us the possibility to plan for and assure our employees professional growth and competence improvement. The integration functionality Kahuna provides with our existing systems, enables us to easily extract data to make more informed decisions for increased operational efficiency and safety, said Lise Budeng.

Understanding the skills, certifications, and compliance data of an operational workforce is a tedious and complex task without a centralized system to manage, measure, and validate the data, said Jai Shah, CEO of Kahuna. With Kahuna, Odfjell Technology can identify what their operational workforce is capable of, integrate industry-standard safety and compliance into the everyday operating environment, and be agile in serving customers safely and efficiently each time.

About Odfjell Technology

Odfjell Technology is built upon five decades of experience operating worldwide, serving both offshore and onshore markets. Odfjell Technologys integrated business model enables them to provide a comprehensive portfolio of products and services designed to create value for their clients. Their highly competent, dedicated, and experienced workforce are well equipped to find solutions to the challenges of today and tomorrow. With their multi-skilled employees, Odfjell Technology operates fixed and floating production drilling platforms in Norway and the UK, under the worlds most stringent regulatory environment. Under the Operational portfolio, they range from Platform operations, Mobile Offshore Unit Management, Plug & Abandonment Integrated Services, Modular Operations, and Construction & Installation. Odfjell Technologys Well Services business area has twelve base locations throughout Europe, the Middle East & Asia. Leading the way in TRS hands-free solutions and innovative drilling tools, we focus on delivering safe, reliable services that create value for our global clients and company alike. Odfjell Technology also offers the energy industry comprehensive experience and competence across a range of engineering disciplines, to provide the right technical solution for any given environment or situation. For more information, visit www.odfjelltechnology.com

About Kahuna Workforce Solutions

Kahuna Workforce Solutions is the only skills management software built for operations, learning, and human resources. Kahuna equips enterprise organizations with validated skills data to understand workforce capability, align talent supply and demand, and increase the return on training investment. Across a wide array of industries including healthcare, energy, manufacturing, and aerospace, Kahuna helps organizations build a more skilled, competitive workforce. For more information, visit www.kahunaworkforce.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808298282/en/

Torrye Metoyer

Director of Marketing

[email protected]

Source: Kahuna Workforce Solutions
MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Optum, a diversified health services company, and Capella University, an accredited online university, announced a new educational program designed to address the growing need for skilled, advanced practice nurses. The collaboration will pair Capellas unique educational capabilities with Optums clinical expertise and sites of care.

This program will provide students with the skills and knowledge to help prepare them for licensure and to lead in their field. In addition, many students will have the option to access Optums national network of care locations to develop real-world skills, as well as the benefit of dedicated Optum recruitment resources and the opportunity to apply for available positions at Optum.

There will be additional benefits to current Optum nurse practitioners seeking to advance their careers, including the opportunity for reduced tuition and leadership development.

Optum and Capella University are working together to help address the critical need for qualified clinicians we all rely upon to keep us healthy and well, said Kristy Duffey, chief nursing officer, Optum Health. By bringing together our unique sets of skills and capabilities, we will be able to train the next generation of highly qualified nurse practitioners equipped to take on the health care challenges of tomorrow.

According to Bureau of Labor Statistics projections, there will be more than 200,000 openings for nurses annually through 2031. At the same time, faculty shortages at nursing schools are not keeping up with the demand, with more than 91,000 qualified students being turned away from nursing programs due to the shortage of educators, clinical and classroom space and preceptors.

Capella University is honored to partner with Optum to support the need for nurse practitioners, said Dick Senese, president, Capella University. Capella has a reputation of strong industry leadership in nursing education that we are thrilled to bring to this program as we expand our portfolio.

The programs first offering is a Master of Science in Nursing  Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (MSN AG-PCNP). Enrollment is now open, with courses beginning Oct. 9, 2023. A Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program is expected to launch at a later date.

About Optum

Optum is a leading information and technology-enabled health services business dedicated to helping make the health system work better for everyone. With more than 220,000 people worldwide, Optum delivers intelligent, integrated solutions that help to modernize the health system and improve overall population health. Optum is part of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH). For more information, visit www.Optum.com.

About Capella University

Capella University (www.capella.edu) is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Founded in 1993, the university is dedicated to providing flexible, professionally aligned online degree programs designed to help working adults advance in their careers. Known for its commitment to learner success, academic quality and innovations in online education, Capella pioneered competency-based direct assessment programs allowing students to learn at their own pace. For more information, call 1.888.CAPELLA (888.227.3552).

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808055332/en/

Aaron Albright

Optum

202 383-6403

[email protected]

Elaine Kincel

Capella University

202 557-4920

[email protected]

Source: Optum
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- PACT Capital announced it secured the financing for a $362 million acquisition land loan for 1,600+ acres of one of the most coveted masterplan communities in Northern Californias San Joaquin County. The property is entitled for 5,500 residential units and 263+ acres of variously entitled multifamily, mixed-use, industrial, and general commercial real estate located less than 60 miles from San Francisco.

PACT Capitals advisory team was led by Co-Founders and Managing Partners Adam Mortanian and Tyler Shegerian; Associate Connor Haubursin; and Paul Monsen. The acquisition financing was provided through a real estate investment banking syndicate.

The buyer, a private family office located in Northern California, with holdings in agriculture and commercial real estate, prefers to remain anonymous. The sponsorship engaged PACT Capital and its principals for their particular asset class expertise in managing and underwriting credit for both agriculture and commercial real estate.

The purchase price and parties to the transaction are confidential.

In a region where city boundaries continue to expand, the rezoning and conversion of once-productive farmland into future single-family tract, commercial and industrial real estate developments has been trending. The sale of this portion of the master planned community is the culmination of that evolution.

Many of our clients have used agriculture and farming as a covered land play for decades, said PACT Capitals President and CEO Adam Mortanian. That strategy is proving to be profitable as the speed at which suburbanization is converting farmland to housing has accelerated in the new-era remote work economy.

Originally planned in the 1990s and now largely considered a residential and commercial real estate crown jewel, the master planned communitys remaining assets, left uncompleted since the 2007/2008 financial crisis, have become a blazing hot commodity in the post-pandemic environment. The community is ideally suited to a hybrid work week in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, with the added allure of a top local school district, larger home and lot sizes, and more affordable home prices.

Our clients are seeking a relationship that can provide guidance, constructive feedback and a certainty of execution, which is what we deliver, said Tyler Shegerian, PACT Capitals Chief Operating Officer. This transaction is a testament to our mission and unique position in the market of managing and underwriting real estate credit for both agriculture and commercial real estate.

About PACT Capital

PACT Capital is a direct agriculture lender and commercial real estate capital advisory and mortgage banking firm headquartered in Beverly Hills, CA with a specialized Agriculture Lending division office in Fresno, CA. As a direct bridge to permanent lenders, PACT Capital serves farmers, real estate investors, developers, business owners, home builders, and entrepreneurs in acquiring, refinancing, and developing a variety of investment and agriculture real estate. Learn more at pactcap.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808841143/en/

Media Contact:

Paul Williams

310/569-0023

[email protected]

Source: PACT Capital
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- QAD Inc., a leading provider of next-generation manufacturing and supply chain solutions in the cloud, is thrilled to announce its participation at the highly anticipated ASD Market Week Las Vegas event, taking place August 20-23 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

ASD Market Week in Las Vegas is one of the premier trade shows in the Wholesale industry, attracting thousands of attendees and exhibitors from all around the world. QAD's presence at this event reinforces the company's commitment to delivering exceptional software solutions that empower Wholesale Manufacturers to thrive in today's competitive landscape.

We are excited to showcase our innovative solutions, including QAD Digital Commerce (formerly WebJaguar), at ASD Market Week, said Michael Tew, vice president of global supply chain sales at QAD. Our mission is to empower businesses with tools that enhance customer satisfaction and retention. QAD Digital Commerces comprehensive features enable businesses to deliver personalized experiences, streamline operations and ultimately foster customer loyalty. We look forward to engaging with attendees and demonstrating how QAD can help businesses thrive in today's rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Event Details

What: ASD Market Week

When: August 20-23, 2023

Where: Las Vegas, NV - Las Vegas Convention Center (Booth W16141)

Registration: To register to attend ASD Market Week Las Vegas, click here.

About QAD  Enabling Adaptive Enterprises

QAD Inc. is a leading provider of next-generation manufacturing and supply chain solutions in the cloud. To succeed in a turbulent world, facing disruptions in supply and fluctuations in demand, manufacturers and supply chains must rapidly respond to change and seamlessly optimize agility, efficiency, and resilience for effective customer service. QAD delivers Adaptive Applications to enable these Adaptive Enterprises.

Founded in Santa Barbara, California, QAD has customers in 84 countries around the world. Thousands of companies have deployed QAD enterprise solutions including enterprise resource planning (ERP), digital commerce (DC), supplier relationship management (SRM), digital supply chain planning (DSCP), global trade and transportation execution (GTTE), enterprise quality management system (EQMS), connected workforce and process intelligence. To learn more, visit www.qad.com or call +1 805-566-6100. Find us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

QAD is a registered trademark of QAD. All other products or company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808663019/en/

QAD Inc.

Caleb Finch

Public Relations

805-566-6100

[email protected]

Beth Hespe

Analyst Relations

609-709-3769

[email protected]

Source: QAD Inc.
ChannelVision Identifies Industrys Best-in-Class

ROSEVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Quest Technology Management (Quest) is proud to announce that it has been recognized with two prestigious awards by ChannelVision Magazine in their 2023 Visionary Spotlight Awards. Quest was awarded in the categories of "Channel Programs of the Year" and "Vertical Markets and Deployments," an honor that underlines Quests commitment to innovation, client-focused solutions, and outstanding service.

ChannelVision Magazine, a leading voice in the field of technology and communications, presents the awards to acknowledge intelligent solutions and remarkable contributions to the industry. The Visionary Spotlight Awards honor outstanding companies like Quest that are reshaping the technology landscape.

The "Channel Programs of the Year" award recognizes Quests commitment to going beyond the traditional role of a Managed Service Provider (MSP). With more than 40 years of experience, Quest provides its partners with a variety of resources that extend into various IT and cybersecurity sectors. Quest strives to empower partners to deliver exceptional service to their clients and is proud to support its partners' growth and enhance their capacity to meet their clients' objectives.

In the "Vertical Markets and Deployments" category, ChannelVision highlighted Quests Technical Program Management (TPM) and Merger and Acquisitions Technical Management Solutions. These services provide comprehensive support to companies navigating the complexities of system unification, delivering on-site resources and adeptly managing intricate IT projects.

We are honored to present Quest Technology Management with a 2023 Channel Programs of the Year and Vertical Markets and Deployments VSA, said Beka Business Media president and CEO Berge Kaprelian. Congratulations to the entire team at Quest.

The Quest Technology Partner Program was established 15 years ago when Quest began providing its partners with access to a network of industry-leading technology specialists focused on combining their strengths with expertise and breadth of products and services. Quest helps propel businesses towards outstanding results while allowing them to work with a single provider.

This recognition demonstrates Quest's dedication to providing comprehensive solutions and expert guidance to our partners and clients, remarked Adam Burke, Vice President of Sales and Partnerships. Our unwavering commitment to industry excellence and our proactive approach to developing innovative solutions have distinguished us in our field. We're grateful to ChannelVision Magazine for this recognition and look forward to continuing our mission of driving transformation in the world of IT management.

About the Visionary Spotlight Awards

ChannelVisions annual Visionary Spotlight Awards competition was created to highlight channel and service provider innovation in communications. The awards honor outstanding products, services, and deployments across numerous technology categories. Visionary Spotlight Award winners exemplify this goal, showcasing the communications industrys overall innovation, capacity for future-thinking execution, creativity, and feature set differentiation; and offering channel partners a cornucopia of opportunities to boost their roles as trusted providers.

For more information about the Visionary Spotlight Awards program, click here or contact Berge Kaprelian at [email protected].

About Quest Technology Management:

Quest Technology Management is a leading global technology management firm. For over 40 years, it has worked seamlessly with its clients to achieve their technology and business goals. Quest delivers IT managed, cloud, consulting, staffing, and support services for cybersecurity, disaster recovery, incident response, unified communications and carrier solutions, virtualization, networking, application development, data center, and physical infrastructure including access control, wireless design, video conferencing, and cabling/fiber optic. Quests unique and flexible service level agreement, QuestFlex, allows companies to customize managed technologies on-premises, off-site, or in the cloud with one of our US-based or international service delivery centers.

For more information about Quest Technology Management, click here.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230807277453/en/

Darcy Baker

VP, Marketing

[email protected]

Source: Quest Technology Management
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 5. Azerbaijan continues to attach great importance to cooperation with our neighbor and partner Georgia, the publication of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan in the social network "X" ("Twitter") says, Trend reports.

"We fully support the resolution of the conflict in Georgia based on sovereignty and territorial integrity of states within their internationally recognized borders", the ministry noted.

The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Georgia over the last year totaled $1.3 billion, which is an increase of 18.1 percent year-on-year ($1.1 billion in 2021). Azerbaijans share in overall Georgias trade in 2022 accounted for 6.9 percent. Of this, Azerbaijani exports to Georgia amounted to $672.6 million, while imports totaled $642 million.

Furthermore, the number of mutual visits between the two countries is growing year-on-year. In 2022, 152,969 Azerbaijanis visited Georgia. This number has increased by 84.9 percent, compared to 2021, when 82,718 people traveled to Georgia from Azerbaijan. The number of Georgians visiting Azerbaijan in 2022, in turn, grew 1.5 times, and totaled 5.7 percent of all foreigners coming to Azerbaijan in the reporting period.
For the fourth time, the enablement category leader ranks among top cloud companies worldwide

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Seismic, the global leader in enablement, has been named to the Forbes 2023 Cloud 100, the definitive ranking of the top 100 private cloud companies in the world, published by Forbes in partnership with Bessemer Venture Partners and Salesforce Ventures. Seismic ranked #40 on this years list.

Were excited to share this recognition with our team, customers, and partners around the globe, said Doug Winter, CEO and co-founder, Seismic. Along with our fellow Cloud 100 honorees, Seismic has weathered market headwinds and industry-shifting innovation over the last year. Our leadership and resilience are due to our focus on our customers, commitment to our people, and drive to keep pushing the enablement industry forward.

The recognition follows a string of other accolades and organizational growth for Seismic, including:

More about the 2023 Cloud 100

For the eighth consecutive year, the Cloud 100 reviews submissions from hundreds of cloud startups and private companies each year. The Cloud 100 evaluation process involved ranking companies across four factors: market leadership (35%), estimated valuation (30%), operating metrics (20%), and people & culture (15%). For market leadership, the Cloud 100 enlists the help of a judging panel of public cloud company CEOs who assist in evaluating and ranking their private company peers.

The companies of the Cloud 100 list represent the best and brightest private companies in this crucial tech sector, said Kenrick Cai, the Forbes editor of the Cloud 100. This years companies had to react rapidly to AIs sweeping impact while contending with a market pullback. Their resilience puts them in elite company. Congratulations to each of the 2023 Cloud 100 honorees and the 20 Rising Stars who are showing early potential to one day join their ranks.

This years Cloud 100 list is one of the most dynamic in history. While the industry faced macro headwinds, the 2023 Cloud 100 winners displayed the innovation and resilience of the cloud economy and the combination of growth and efficiency that prove the power of the cloud business model. 95% of the honorees are forecasted to reach Centaur status  $100 million of annual recurring revenue  by the end of the year, said Mary DOnofrio, partner at Bessemer Venture Partners. It is further exciting to see so many honorees at the forefront of the AI revolution, which we believe will continue to transform the cloud and propel the next wave of growth for many of this years winners.

The past year our industry has seen a generational step forward in innovation and with AI leading the charge, we are witnessing one of the most important platform shifts in decades, said Paul Drews, managing partner, Salesforce Ventures. The Cloud 100 list represents the best of the best and we've never been more excited about what the future holds, not only for the cloud but for the entire technology industry. We are proud of what these founders and their communities have already accomplished and look forward to seeing how they continue to transform the industry in the future.

Visit Seismic.com to learn more about how companies enable their teams and grow revenue with Seismic. To see all open career opportunities at Seismic, visit seismic.com/careers.

About Seismic

Seismic is the global leader in enablement, helping organizations engage customers, enable teams, and ignite revenue growth. The Seismic Enablement Cloud is the most powerful, unified enablement platform that equips customer-facing teams with the right skills, content, tools, and insights to grow and win. From the worlds largest enterprises to startups and small businesses, more than 2,000 organizations around the globe trust Seismic for their enablement needs. Seismic is headquartered in San Diego with offices across North America, Europe, and Australia.

To learn more, visit Seismic.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

About Bessemer Venture Partners

Bessemer Venture Partners helps entrepreneurs lay strong foundations to build and forge long-standing companies. With more than 145 IPOs and 300 portfolio companies in the enterprise, consumer and healthcare spaces, Bessemer supports founders and CEOs from their early days through every stage of growth. Bessemers global portfolio has included Pinterest, Shopify, Twilio, Yelp, LinkedIn, PagerDuty, DocuSign, Wix, Fiverr, and Toast and has $20 billion of assets under management. Bessemer has teams of investors and partners located in Tel Aviv, Silicon Valley, San Francisco, New York, London, Hong Kong, Boston, and Bangalore. Born from innovations in steel more than a century ago, Bessemers storied history has afforded its partners the opportunity to celebrate and scrutinize its best investment decisions (see Memos) and also learn from its mistakes (see Anti-Portfolio).

About Forbes

Forbes champions success by celebrating those who have made it, and those who aspire to make it. Forbes convenes and curates the most influential leaders and entrepreneurs who are driving change, transforming business and making a significant impact on the world. The Forbes brand today reaches more than 140 million people worldwide through its trusted journalism, signature LIVE and Forbes Virtual events, custom marketing programs and 45 licensed local editions in 76 countries. Forbes Medias brand extensions include real estate, education and financial services license agreements.

About Salesforce Ventures

Salesforce Ventures helps enterprising founders build companies that reinvent the way the world works. Since 2009, weve invested in and partnered with more than 400 of the worlds most tenacious enterprise software companies from seed to IPO, including Anthropic, Cohere, Airtable, Databricks, DocuSign, Guild Education, monday.com, nCino, Snowflake, Snyk, Stripe, Tanium, and Zoom. Salesforce Ventures leverages our decades of expertise in the cloud and our long-term relationships with key decision-makers at thousands of businesses around the world to give our portfolio companies an advantage, help them build credibility, and accelerate growth. Salesforce Ventures has invested in more than 25 countries with offices all over the world including in San Francisco, Irvine, New York, London, and Tokyo. Follow @SalesforceVC and learn more at http://www.salesforceventures.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808384401/en/

Natalie Beaulieu

Communications Director, Seismic

[email protected]

Source: Seismic
TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Triple Flag Precious Metals Corp. (with its subsidiaries, Triple Flag or the Company) (TSX: TFPM, NYSE: TFPM) announced its results for the second quarter of 2023 and declared an increased dividend of US$0.0525 per common share to be paid on September 15, 2023. All amounts are expressed in US dollars unless otherwise indicated.

I am pleased to announce another quarter of record results for Triple Flag, in which we achieved record GEOs, revenue, adjusted EBITDA, and operating cash flow. The solid performance of our portfolio has provided the basis for us to increase our annualized dividend by 5%, the second consecutive increase since we listed in 2021. commented Shaun Usmar, CEO. Looking forward, our deal pipeline remains consistently active with actionable opportunities, and we are especially encouraged by an increasing cadence of new discoveries, reserve replacement and expansion at multiple assets across the portfolio such as Northparkes and Beta Hunt, and a number of important catalysts and operational milestones achieved within our portfolio as detailed below.

Q2 2023 Financial Highlights

Q2 2023 Q2 2022 Revenue $52.6 million $36.5 million Gold Equivalent Ounces (GEOs)1 26,616 19,507 Operating Cash Flow3 $40.9 million $29.9 million Net Earnings $16.0 million ($0.08/share) $10.9 million ($0.07/share) Adjusted Net Earnings2 $17.7 million ($0.09/share) $14.9 million ($0.10/share) Adjusted EBITDA4 $41.6 million $28.1 million Asset Margin5 91% 90%

GEOs Sold by Commodity, Revenue by Commodity, and Financial Highlights Summary Table

Three Months Ended June 30 ($ thousands except GEOs, Asset Margin and per share numbers) 2023 2022 GEOs1 Gold 17,134 11,446 Silver 8,215 6,717 Other 1,267 1,344 Total 26,616 19,507 Revenue Gold 33,856 21,412 Silver 16,232 12,564 Other 2,503 2,514 Total 52,591 36,490 Net Earnings 16,034 10,922 Net Earnings per Share 0.08 0.07 Adjusted Net Earnings2 17,660 14,854 Adjusted Net Earnings per Share2 0.09 0.10 Operating Cash Flow3 40,875 29,940 Operating Cash Flow per Share 0.20 0.19 Adjusted EBITDA4 41,630 28,144 Asset Margin5 91% 90%

Corporate Updates

2023 Guidance : Our guidance for 2023 was introduced on February 21, 2023 and remains unchanged.

: Our guidance for 2023 was introduced on February 21, 2023 and remains unchanged. Dividend: Triple Flags Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of US$0.0525 per common share that will be paid on September 15, 2023, to the shareholders of record at the close of business on August 31, 2023. This increases the annualized dividend by 5% from US$0.20 per common share to US$0.21 per share and is Triple Flags second consecutive annual increase of the dividend since its May 2021 initial public offering.

Triple Flags Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of US$0.0525 per common share that will be paid on September 15, 2023, to the shareholders of record at the close of business on August 31, 2023. This increases the annualized dividend by 5% from US$0.20 per common share to US$0.21 per share and is Triple Flags second consecutive annual increase of the dividend since its May 2021 initial public offering. Maverix Integration: The integration of Maverix Metals is substantively complete, and we have delivered the identified synergies outlined in our previous disclosures. Our acquisition and integration of Maverix assets has added further scale, cash flow, diversification, and optionality.

The integration of Maverix Metals is substantively complete, and we have delivered the identified synergies outlined in our previous disclosures. Our acquisition and integration of Maverix assets has added further scale, cash flow, diversification, and optionality. Agbaou Royalty Acquisition: In late June 2023, Triple Flag acquired a 2.5% net smelter return royalty on the producing Agbaou gold mine from Auramet Capital Partners, L.P. for consideration of $15.5 million, which included $13.5 million in cash and the remaining paid through an in-kind contribution of an asset held by Triple Flag. Agbaou is located in Cote dIvoire and is operated by Allied Gold Corp.

In late June 2023, Triple Flag acquired a 2.5% net smelter return royalty on the producing Agbaou gold mine from Auramet Capital Partners, L.P. for consideration of $15.5 million, which included $13.5 million in cash and the remaining paid through an in-kind contribution of an asset held by Triple Flag. Agbaou is located in Cote dIvoire and is operated by Allied Gold Corp. Release of 2022 Sustainability Report: Early this July, we released our 2022 Sustainability Report entitled Progress In Motion, showcasing our contributions and commitment to helping evolve market-leading sustainability performance. Subsequent to the quarter end, Triple Flag received a rating of AA in the MSCI ESG Rating assessment, placing us amongst the leaders in the gold sector.

Early this July, we released our 2022 Sustainability Report entitled Progress In Motion, showcasing our contributions and commitment to helping evolve market-leading sustainability performance. Subsequent to the quarter end, Triple Flag received a rating of AA in the MSCI ESG Rating assessment, placing us amongst the leaders in the gold sector. Prieska Royalty and Stream: The closing conditions related to the royalty (0.8% GR royalty on copper, zinc, gold and silver) have been met and the transaction has now closed. Orion Minerals Ltd expects to complete an updated feasibility study later this year, after which Triple Flag has the right, but not the obligation, to provide $80 million for a separate gold and silver stream on Prieska. Triple Flags funding is complemented by investment from the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa Limited (IDC) and Clover Alloys (SA), a privately owned South African mining group that has a track record in developing and operating chrome operations.

The closing conditions related to the royalty (0.8% GR royalty on copper, zinc, gold and silver) have been met and the transaction has now closed. Orion Minerals Ltd expects to complete an updated feasibility study later this year, after which Triple Flag has the right, but not the obligation, to provide $80 million for a separate gold and silver stream on Prieska. Triple Flags funding is complemented by investment from the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa Limited (IDC) and Clover Alloys (SA), a privately owned South African mining group that has a track record in developing and operating chrome operations. Team: Subsequent to quarter end, David Lee joined Triple Flag as Vice President, Investor Relations. Prior to joining Triple Flag, David held the role of Director, Investor Relations at Barrick Gold Corporation and has held positions in equity research with National Bank Financial and Desjardins Capital Markets and in Forensic Advisory at KPMG LLP.

Q2 2023 Portfolio Updates

Australia:

Northparkes (54% gold stream and 80% silver stream): Sales from Northparkes in Q2 2023 were 4,558 GEOs based on sales of 3,657 ounces of gold and 70,857 ounces of silver. Northparkes has now mobilized surface mining equipment for the commencement of open pit mining at E31, which hosts higher gold grades than the ore reserve average.

(54% gold stream and 80% silver stream): Sales from Northparkes in Q2 2023 were 4,558 GEOs based on sales of 3,657 ounces of gold and 70,857 ounces of silver. Northparkes has now mobilized surface mining equipment for the commencement of open pit mining at E31, which hosts higher gold grades than the ore reserve average. Fosterville (2.0% net smelter return (NSR) gold royalty): Royalties from Fosterville in Q2 2023 equated to 1,697 GEOs. Fosterville produced 81,813 ounces of gold during the quarter. The Victorian EPA lifted the prohibition notice on Fosterville with respect to low-frequency noise that was imposed in late 2021, which restricted underground activities from midnight to 6 a.m. The Fosterville mine returned to full operating hours in June, with the additional resources focused on advancing delayed mine development and upgrading of the primary ventilation system.

(2.0% net smelter return (NSR) gold royalty): Royalties from Fosterville in Q2 2023 equated to 1,697 GEOs. Fosterville produced 81,813 ounces of gold during the quarter. The Victorian EPA lifted the prohibition notice on Fosterville with respect to low-frequency noise that was imposed in late 2021, which restricted underground activities from midnight to 6 a.m. The Fosterville mine returned to full operating hours in June, with the additional resources focused on advancing delayed mine development and upgrading of the primary ventilation system. Beta Hunt (3.25% gross revenue (GR) gold royalty): Royalties from Beta Hunt in Q2 2023 equated to 1,443 GEOs. Karora Resources Inc. (Karora) announced record quarterly consolidated gold production of 40,823 ounces for Q2 2023 from its Beta Hunt and Higginsville mines in Western Australia. Over the course of 2023, Karora has had meaningful exploration results which indicate that the Fletcher Shear Zone is the third major gold system in the Hunt Block after the Western Flanks and A Zone.

Latin America:

Cerro Lindo (65% silver stream) : Sales from Cerro Lindo in Q2 2023 were 4,054 GEOs based on 337,096 ounces of silver sold. Nexa Resources S.A. (Nexa) expects to increase production in Q3 2023 due to renewed access to high-grade areas that were restricted in Q2 2023 after the rainfall-related shutdown in mid-March due to the effects of Cyclone Yaku, which impacted mine development for fifteen days before normal operations resumed. Nexa maintained 2023 guidance for Cerro Lindo, despite this interruption. During Q2 2023, Nexa remained focused on expanding orebodies within the stream area.

(65% silver stream) Sales from Cerro Lindo in Q2 2023 were 4,054 GEOs based on 337,096 ounces of silver sold. Nexa Resources S.A. (Nexa) expects to increase production in Q3 2023 due to renewed access to high-grade areas that were restricted in Q2 2023 after the rainfall-related shutdown in mid-March due to the effects of Cyclone Yaku, which impacted mine development for fifteen days before normal operations resumed. Nexa maintained 2023 guidance for Cerro Lindo, despite this interruption. During Q2 2023, Nexa remained focused on expanding orebodies within the stream area. Buritica (100% silver stream) : Sales from Buritica in Q2 2023 were 1,430 GEOs based on 118,626 ounces of silver sold. Production expectations for Buritica remain unaffected, despite a security incident earlier in the year, which tragically resulted in two fatalities.

(100% silver stream) Sales from Buritica in Q2 2023 were 1,430 GEOs based on 118,626 ounces of silver sold. Production expectations for Buritica remain unaffected, despite a security incident earlier in the year, which tragically resulted in two fatalities. Camino Rojo (2.0% NSR gold royalty): Royalties from Camino Rojo in Q2 2023 equated to 532 GEOs. Orla Mining Ltd. reported that Camino Rojo remains on track to meet its 2023 guidance.

(2.0% NSR gold royalty): Royalties from Camino Rojo in Q2 2023 equated to 532 GEOs. Orla Mining Ltd. reported that Camino Rojo remains on track to meet its 2023 guidance. Eastern Borosi (1.0% NSR gold and silver royalty) : Calibre Mining Corp. announced high-grade drilling results within the Eastern Borosi District that includes 12.9 g/t Au over 8.5 meters Estimated True Width (ETW), including 23.30 g/t gold over 1.6 meters ETW and 35.50 g/t gold over 1.24 meters ETW in Hole BL-23-097.

(1.0% NSR gold and silver royalty) Calibre Mining Corp. announced high-grade drilling results within the Eastern Borosi District that includes 12.9 g/t Au over 8.5 meters Estimated True Width (ETW), including 23.30 g/t gold over 1.6 meters ETW and 35.50 g/t gold over 1.24 meters ETW in Hole BL-23-097. Polo Sur (2.0% NSR copper, molybdenum and gold royalty): Antofagasta plc (Antofagasta) progressed studies relating to the development of Polo Sur; the project is expected to be reviewed by Antofagastas Project Committee in 2023.

North America:

Young-Davidson (1.5% NSR gold royalty) : Royalties from Young-Davidson in Q2 2023 equated to 700 GEOs. Young-Davidson produced 45,200 ounces of gold in Q2 2023. With production totaling 90,200 ounces through the first half of the year, and higher grades and throughput rates expected to drive stronger production in the second half of the year, Young-Davidson remains on track to achieve full year production guidance of 185,000  200,000 ounces of gold.

(1.5% NSR gold royalty) Royalties from Young-Davidson in Q2 2023 equated to 700 GEOs. Young-Davidson produced 45,200 ounces of gold in Q2 2023. With production totaling 90,200 ounces through the first half of the year, and higher grades and throughput rates expected to drive stronger production in the second half of the year, Young-Davidson remains on track to achieve full year production guidance of 185,000  200,000 ounces of gold. Gunnison (3.5% to 16.5% copper stream): Subsequent to quarter end, Excelsior Copper Corp. announced that it has entered into an option agreement with Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto venture, to further evaluate the use of its Nuton copper heap leaching technologies at Excelsiors Johnson Camp mine. Under the agreement, Excelsior remains the operator and Nuton funds Excelsiors costs associated with a two-stage work program at Johnson Camp. Johnson Camp is within the Triple Flag stream area and represents additional upside to our underwritten investment case. Excelsior remains committed to the in-situ leach project at Gunnison, and is pursuing Johnson Camp with Nuton technologies in parallel.

(3.5% to 16.5% copper stream): Subsequent to quarter end, Excelsior Copper Corp. announced that it has entered into an option agreement with Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto venture, to further evaluate the use of its Nuton copper heap leaching technologies at Excelsiors Johnson Camp mine. Under the agreement, Excelsior remains the operator and Nuton funds Excelsiors costs associated with a two-stage work program at Johnson Camp. Johnson Camp is within the Triple Flag stream area and represents additional upside to our underwritten investment case. Excelsior remains committed to the in-situ leach project at Gunnison, and is pursuing Johnson Camp with Nuton technologies in parallel. Nevada Copper (97.5% gold and silver stream): Nevada Copper Corp. provided a positive operational update at Pumpkin Hollow during Q2 2023, with development mining progressing ahead of schedule, a significant surface ore stockpile formed that is ready for the commencement of milling operations, and positive infrastructure-proximal drill results.

(97.5% gold and silver stream): Nevada Copper Corp. provided a positive operational update at Pumpkin Hollow during Q2 2023, with development mining progressing ahead of schedule, a significant surface ore stockpile formed that is ready for the commencement of milling operations, and positive infrastructure-proximal drill results. Hope Bay (1.0% NSR gold royalty): Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (Agnico) had a total of nine exploration drill rigs operating at the Doris and Madrid deposits and regionally during Q2 2023. Agnicos objective is to grow the mineral resources at both deposits to support future project studies and potentially resume mining at Hope Bay. The drilling has resulted in good grades and thickness at Doris and significant extensions to the Patch-7 Zone.

(1.0% NSR gold royalty): Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (Agnico) had a total of nine exploration drill rigs operating at the Doris and Madrid deposits and regionally during Q2 2023. Agnicos objective is to grow the mineral resources at both deposits to support future project studies and potentially resume mining at Hope Bay. The drilling has resulted in good grades and thickness at Doris and significant extensions to the Patch-7 Zone. Moss (100% silver stream): Sales from Moss in Q2 2023 were 1,494 GEOs based on 768 ounces of gold and 61,646 ounces of silver sold under the stream and related agreements. Elevation Gold Mining Corporation reported strong mineralization intercepts near the Reynolds Pit, extending a significant mineralized zone to the east, following an intersection of 225.6 meters of nearly continuous gold mineralization with an average grade of 0.56 g/t gold. These results fall within an area that is fully permitted for mining.

Rest of World:

RBPlat (70% gold stream) : Sales from RBPlat in Q2 2023 were 1,601 GEOs based on 1,600 ounces of gold sold. Subsequent to quarter end, Impala Platinum Limited (Implats) secured control of Royal Bakofeng Platinum (RBPlat), thereby concluding a prolonged competitive process. Implats is one of the worlds largest integrated PGM producers and brings a strong balance sheet as well as a track record of excellent operational performance and productivity at neighboring mines. RBPlats assets are contiguous and complementary to Implats operations, securing a significant Western Limb production base. We are encouraged by the outlook for this asset, particularly as the Styldrift mine ramps up to nameplate hoisting capacity of 230kt per month.

(70% gold stream) Sales from RBPlat in Q2 2023 were 1,601 GEOs based on 1,600 ounces of gold sold. Subsequent to quarter end, Impala Platinum Limited (Implats) secured control of Royal Bakofeng Platinum (RBPlat), thereby concluding a prolonged competitive process. Implats is one of the worlds largest integrated PGM producers and brings a strong balance sheet as well as a track record of excellent operational performance and productivity at neighboring mines. RBPlats assets are contiguous and complementary to Implats operations, securing a significant Western Limb production base. We are encouraged by the outlook for this asset, particularly as the Styldrift mine ramps up to nameplate hoisting capacity of 230kt per month. ATO (25% gold stream and 50% silver stream): Sales from the ATO stream and related interests in Q2 2023 were 2,843 GEOs based on 2,678 ounces of gold and 14,609 ounces of silver sold. Subsequent to quarter end, Steppe Gold Ltd. signed a binding term sheet for $150 million dollars to fully fund the Phase 2 expansion at ATO. Triple Flags gold and silver stream directly benefits from this investment that extends the ATO life of mine by a further 12 years to 2036, without the need for additional investment from Triple Flag.

Conference Call Details

Triple Flag has scheduled an investor conference call at 11:00 a.m. ET (8:00 a.m. PT) on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, to discuss the results reported in todays earnings announcement. The live webcast can be accessed by visiting the Events and Presentations page on the Companys website at: www.tripleflagpm.com. An archived version of the webcast will be available on the website for two weeks following the webcast.

Live Webcast: https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/816200992 Dial-In Details: Toll-Free (U.S. & Canada): +1 (888) 330-2384 International: +1 (647) 800-3739 Conference ID: 4548984 Replay (Until August 23): Toll-Free (U.S. & Canada): +1 (800) 770-2030 International: +1 (647) 362-9199 Conference ID: 4548984

About Triple Flag

Triple Flag is a pure play, gold-focused, emerging senior streaming and royalty company. We offer bespoke financing solutions to the metals and mining industry with exposure primarily to gold and silver in the Americas and Australia, with a total of 229 assets, including 15 streams and 214 royalties. These investments are tied to mining assets at various stages of the mine life cycle, including 29 producing mines and 200 development and exploration stage projects. Triple Flag is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange, under the ticker TFPM.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws and forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, respectively (collectively referred to herein as forward-looking information). Forward-looking information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, targets, expects, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, outlook, forecasts, projection, prospects, strategy, intends, anticipates, believes, or variations of such words and phrases or terminology which states that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might, will, will be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking information in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Companys preliminary sales and revenue information for the second quarter of 2023, the release of its financial results for the second quarter of 2023, the conduct of the conference call to discuss said results, identified synergies from the integration of Maverix Metals Inc., the payment of a dividend, developments in respect of the Companys portfolio of royalties and streams and those developments at certain of the mines, projects or properties that underlie the Companys interests. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, intentions, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts but instead represent managements expectations, estimates and projections regarding possible future events or circumstances.

The forward-looking information included in this news release is based on our opinions, estimates and assumptions considering our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, our assumptions regarding the acquisition of Maverix Metals Inc. (including our ability to derive the anticipated benefits therefrom), as well as other factors that we currently believe are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is also based upon a number of assumptions, including the ongoing operation of the properties in which we hold a stream or royalty interest by the owners or operators of such properties in a manner consistent with past practice; the accuracy of public statements and disclosures made by the owners or operators of such underlying properties; and the accuracy of publicly disclosed expectations for the development of underlying properties that are not yet in production. These assumptions include, but are not limited to, the following: assumptions in respect of current and future market conditions and the execution of our business strategies, that operations, or ramp-up where applicable, at properties in which we hold a royalty, stream or other interest, continue without further interruption through the period, and the absence of any other factors that could cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated, intended or implied. Despite a careful process to prepare and review the forward-looking information, there can be no assurance that the underlying opinions, estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. Forward-looking information is also subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, those set forth under the caption Risk Factors in our most recently filed annual information form which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. For clarity, mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability and inferred resources are considered too geologically speculative for the application of economic considerations.

Although we have attempted to identify important risk factors that could cause actual results or future events to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other risk factors not presently known to us or that we presently believe are not material that could also cause actual results or future events to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking information. 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, which speaks only as of the date made. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents our expectations as of the date of this news release and is subject to change after such date. We disclaim any intention or obligation or undertaking 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. All the forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements.

Cautionary Statement to U.S. Investors

Information contained or referenced in this press release or in the documents referenced herein concerning the properties, technical information and operations of Triple Flag has been prepared in accordance with requirements and standards under Canadian securities laws, which differ from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K (S-K 1300). Because the Company is eligible for the Multijurisdictional Disclosure System adopted by the SEC and Canadian Securities Administrators, Triple Flag is not required to present disclosure regarding its mineral properties in compliance with S-K 1300. Accordingly, certain information contained in this press release may not be comparable to similar information made public by US companies subject to reporting and disclosure requirements of the SEC.

Technical and Third-Party Information:

Triple Flag does not own, develop or mine the underlying properties on which it holds stream or royalty interests. As a royalty or stream holder, Triple Flag has limited, if any, access to properties included in its asset portfolio. As a result, Triple Flag is dependent on the owners or operators of the properties and their qualified persons to provide information to Triple Flag and on publicly available information to prepare disclosure pertaining to properties and operations on the properties on which Triple Flag holds stream, royalty, or other similar interests. Triple Flag generally has limited or no ability to independently verify such information. Although Triple Flag does not believe that such information is inaccurate or incomplete in any material respect, there can be no assurance that such third-party information is complete or accurate.

Endnotes

Endnote 1: Gold Equivalent Ounces (GEOs)

GEOs are a non-IFRS measure that is based on stream and royalty interests and calculated on a quarterly basis by dividing all revenue from such interests for the quarter by the average gold price during such quarter. The gold price is determined based on the LBMA PM fix. For periods longer than one quarter, GEOs are summed for each quarter in the period. Management uses this measure internally to evaluate our underlying operating performance across our stream and royalty portfolio for the reporting periods presented and to assist with the planning and forecasting of future operating results. GEOs are intended to provide additional information only and do not have any standardized definition under IFRS and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. The measures are not necessarily indicative of gross profit or operating cash flow as determined under IFRS. Other companies may calculate these measures differently. The following table reconciles GEOs to revenue, the most directly comparable IFRS measure:

2023 ($ thousands, except average gold price and GEOs information) Three months

ended June 30 Three months

ended March 31 Six months

ended June 30 Revenue 52,591 50,269 Average gold price per ounce 1,976 1,890 GEOs 26,616 26,599 53,215

2022 ($ thousands, except average gold price and GEOs information) Three months

ended June 30 Three months

ended March 31 Six months

ended June 30 Revenue 36,490 37,755 Average gold price per ounce 1,871 1,877 GEOs 19,507 20,113 39,620

Endnote 2: Adjusted Net Earnings (Loss) and Adjusted Net Earnings (Loss) per Share

Adjusted net earnings (loss) is a nonIFRS financial measure, which excludes the following from net earnings (loss):

impairment charges

gain/loss on sale or disposition of assets/mineral interests

foreign currency translation gains/losses

increase/decrease in fair value of financial assets

nonrecurring charges; and

impact of income taxes on these items

Management uses this measure internally to evaluate our underlying operating performance for the reporting periods presented and to assist with the planning and forecasting of future operating results. Management believes that adjusted net earnings (loss) is a useful measure of our performance because impairment charges, gain/loss on sale or disposition of assets/mineral interests, foreign currency translation gains/losses, increase/decrease in fair value of financial assets and non-recurring charges do not reflect the underlying operating performance of our core business and are not necessarily indicative of future operating results. The tax effect is also excluded to reconcile the amounts on a post-tax basis, consistent with net earnings. Managements internal budgets and forecasts and public guidance do not reflect the types of items we adjust for. Consequently, the presentation of adjusted net earnings (loss) enables users to better understand the underlying operating performance of our core business through the eyes of management. Management periodically evaluates the components of adjusted net earnings based on an internal assessment of performance measures that are useful for evaluating the operating performance of our business and a review of the non-IFRS measures used by industry analysts and other streaming and royalty companies. Adjusted net earnings (loss) is intended to provide additional information only and does not have any standardized definition under IFRS and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. The measures are not necessarily indicative of gross profit or operating cash flow as determined under IFRS. Other companies may calculate these measures differently. The following table reconciles adjusted net earnings to net earnings, the most directly comparable IFRS measure.

Reconciliation of Net Earnings to Adjusted Net Earnings

Three months ended

June 30 Six months ended

June 30 ($ thousands, except share and per share information) 2023 2022 2023 2022 Net earnings 16,034 10,922 32,568 26,811 Loss (gain) on disposition of mineral interests 1,000 - 1,000 (2,099) Foreign currency translation (gains) losses (6) 100 (52) 153 (Increase) decrease in fair value of financial assets 954 3,834 (2,699) 4,492 Income tax effect (322) (2) 358 969 Adjusted net earnings 17,660 14,854 31,175 30,326 Weighted average shares outstanding  basic 202,041,353 156,013,933 196,938,120 156,020,615 Net earnings per share 0.08 0.07 0.17 0.17 Adjusted net earnings per share 0.09 0.10 0.16 0.19

Endnote 3: Free Cash Flow

Free cash flow is a non-IFRS measure that deducts acquisition of other assets (excluding acquisition of financial assets or mineral interests) from operating cash flow. Management believes this to be a useful indicator of our ability to operate without reliance on additional borrowing or usage of existing cash. Free cash flow is intended to provide additional information only and does not have any standardized definition under IFRS and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. The measure is not necessarily indicative of operating profit or operating cash flow as determined under IFRS. Other companies may calculate this measure differently. The following table reconciles free cash flow to operating cash flow, the most directly comparable IFRS measure:

Three months ended

June 30 Six months ended

June 30 ($ thousands) 2023 2022 2023 2022 Operating cash flow 40,875 29,940 79,744 56,299 Acquisition of other assets - - - - Free cash flow 40,875 29,940 79,744 56,299

Endnote 4: Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA is a nonIFRS financial measure, which excludes the following from net earnings:

income tax expense

finance costs, net

depletion and amortization

impairment charges

gain/loss on sale or disposition of assets/mineral interests

foreign currency translation gains/losses

increase/decrease in fair value of assets/investments;

non-cash cost of sales related to prepaid gold interests; and

nonrecurring charges

Management believes that adjusted EBITDA is a valuable indicator of our ability to generate liquidity by producing operating cash flow to fund working capital needs, service debt obligations and fund acquisitions. Management uses adjusted EBITDA for this purpose. Adjusted EBITDA is also frequently used by investors and analysts for valuation purposes whereby adjusted EBITDA is multiplied by a factor or multiple that is based on an observed or inferred relationship between adjusted EBITDA and market values to determine the approximate total enterprise value of a company.

In addition to excluding income tax expense, finance costs, net and depletion and amortization, adjusted EBITDA also removes the effect of impairment charges, gain/loss on sale or disposition of assets/mineral interests, foreign currency translation gains/losses, increase/decrease in fair value of financial assets, non-cash cost of sales related to prepaid gold interests and non-recurring charges. We believe these items provide a greater level of consistency with the adjusting items included in our adjusted net earnings reconciliation, with the exception that these amounts are adjusted to remove any impact of income tax expense as they do not affect adjusted EBITDA. We believe this additional information will assist analysts, investors and our shareholders to better understand our ability to generate liquidity from operating cash flow, by excluding these amounts from the calculation as they are not indicative of the performance of our core business and not necessarily reflective of the underlying operating results for the periods presented.

Adjusted EBITDA is intended to provide additional information to investors and analysts and does not have any standardized definition under IFRS and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Adjusted EBITDA is not necessarily indicative of operating profit or operating cash flow as determined under IFRS. Other companies may calculate adjusted EBITDA differently. The following table reconciles adjusted EBITDA to net earnings, the most directly comparable IFRS measure.

Reconciliation of Net Earnings to Adjusted EBITDA

Three months ended

June 30 Six months ended

June 30 ($ thousands) 2023 2022 2023 2022 Net earnings 16,034 10,922 32,568 26,811 Finance costs, net 1,269 442 2,578 979 Income tax expense 1,626 1,269 2,992 3,412 Depletion and amortization 15,832 11,577 31,852 24,853 Loss (gain) on disposition of mineral interests 1,000 - 1,000 (2,099) Foreign currency translation (gain) loss (6) 100 (52) 153 (Increase) decrease in fair value of financial assets 954 3,834 (2,699) 4,492 Non-cash cost of sales related to prepaid gold interests 4,921 - 10,481 - Adjusted EBITDA 41,630 28,144 78,720 58,601

Endnote 5: Gross Profit Margin and Asset Margin

Gross profit margin is an IFRS financial measure which we define as gross profit divided by revenue. Asset margin is a non-IFRS financial measure which we define by taking gross profit and adding back depletion and non-cash cost of sales related to prepaid gold interests and dividing by revenue. We use gross profit margin to assess profitability of our metal sales and use asset margin to evaluate our performance in increasing revenue and containing costs and providing a useful comparison to our peers. Asset margin is intended to provide additional information only and does not have any standardized definition under IFRS and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. The following table reconciles asset margin to gross profit margin, the most directly comparable IFRS measure:

Three months ended

June 30 Six months ended

June 30 ($ thousands except Gross profit margin and Asset margin) 2023 2022 2023 2022 Revenue 52,591 36,490 102,860 74,245 Cost of sales 25,644 15,208 53,040 31,419 Gross profit 26,947 21,282 49,820 42,826 Gross profit margin 51% 58% 48% 58% Gross profit 26,947 21,282 49,820 42,826 Add: Depletion 15,740 11,485 31,668 24,664 Add: Non-cash cost of sales related to prepaid gold interests 4,921 - 10,481 - 47,608 32,767 91,969 67,490 Revenue 52,591 36,490 102,860 74,245 Asset margin 91% 90% 89% 91%

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Investor Relations:

David Lee

Vice President, Investor Relations

Tel: +1 (416) 304-9770

Email: [email protected]



Media:

Gordon Poole, Camarco

Tel: +44 (0) 7730 567 938

Email: [email protected]

Source: Triple Flag Precious Metals Corp.
University of Phoenix provides two scholarships to support students pursuing health care studies

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- University of Phoenix announces the student winners of the 2023 Future Health Professionals at the annual scholarship event of HOSA-Future Health Professionals, a global student-led nonprofit empowering students to become leaders in the global health community. The scholarships are for individuals planning to pursue health care profession studies and this years winners, Ayumi Vazquez, of Texas and Tristen Rothrum of Minnesota, who received a scholarship of $1,000 each, were announced at the June 21 scholarship event in Dallas, Texas.

"University of Phoenix is proud to continue our commitment to HOSA and their mission of fostering student leaders in health care professions," shares Donna Lindsay, account executive, Workforce Solutions. "These scholarships play a vital role in empowering students to achieve their aspirations and make significant contributions to the ever-evolving landscape of health care."

HOSA-Future Health Professionals is a global student-led organization with the mission to empower members to become leaders in the global health community, through education, collaboration, and experience, and which actively promotes career opportunities in the health industry and to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people. The HOSA-Future Health Professionals Scholarship Program allows sponsors to contribute $1,000 per award to recognize students academic excellence. This years program saw 92 scholarship recipients.

"Attending the Scholarship Dinner at HOSAs 2023 International Leadership Conference had to be one of my top highlights from the trip to Dallas, shares Rothrum. Seeing my hard work and dedication recognized meant the world to me, and I cannot thank the University of Phoenix enough for its generous contribution. This scholarship will help me attend the University of Minnesota, pursuing a degree in Neuroscience and Spanish & Portuguese studies. Thanks to the University of Phoenix, I am one step closer to my dream of becoming a pediatric neuropsychologist and I cannot thank the University enough." In addition to receiving the scholarship, Rothrum was announced at the International Leadership Conference on June 23 as one of HOSAs eight International Executive Council leaders and will serve as the Central Region Vice President.

I am honored and grateful to have received this scholarship from the University of Phoenix through the HOSA-Future Health Professionals (HOSA) program, shares Vazquez. Having participated in HOSA for all 4 years of my high school career, I am excited to continue applying the skillskindness, focus, and dedication among others I gained during competition in this next stage of my education. I hope to show everyone I meet what it means to be a member of the health care community thanks to the University of Phoenix. It is so much more than saving lives. It is teaching others, lending an extra hand, and never giving up.

Sarah Walters, Executive Director for HOSA-Future Health Professionals, expressed her gratitude for the scholarships stating, Industry contributions to student programs support the mission of HOSA-Future Health Professionals by providing resources that empower HOSA members to acquire the knowledge, skills, and expertise needed to save lives and make a positive impact on the world, she shares. We extend our sincere appreciation to the University of Phoenix as an industry partner with unwavering support who has made a significant difference in the lives of future health professionals. Such scholarships not only lighten the financial burden but open doors of opportunity for deserving students and pave the way for healthier generations to come.

The University of Phoenix Workforce Solutions team provides support for the annual HOSA event and scholarships. Workforce Solutions offers companies across diverse industries as well as community colleges tailored learning and career pathways to recruit, upskill, reskill, and retain their workforce in an affordable and timely manner. Their flexible solutions are aligned to workplace needs and feature live support, career guidance and support tools, education programs, learning pathways, and credit options, including certificates, workshops, single courses, degree programs, or any combination of these tools.

Learn more here about University of Phoenix Workforce Solutions.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix is continually innovating to help working adults enhance their careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, and Career Services for Life help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Michele Mitchum

University of Phoenix

[email protected]

Source: University of Phoenix
Leading trust management platform joins list of the worlds best private cloud computing companies

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Vanta, the leading trust management platform, today announced its inclusion in the Forbes 2023 Cloud 100 list, published by Forbes in partnership with Bessemer Venture Partners and Salesforce Ventures. Debuting at 82 among the top 100 worlds best private cloud computing companies, the ranking underscores Vantas rapid growth and position as the market-leading trust management platform over 5,000 companiesfrom scale-ups to enterprisesrely on today.

Trust is the cornerstone of success for any business, large and small, said Christina Cacioppo, CEO, Vanta. But to establish and maintain that trust, companies need to achieve and prove their security on a continuous basis. This has been our pursuit since our founding: to help our customers meet their evolving security needs so they can grow their business faster. The recognition from Forbes is a reflection of our unwavering commitment to help every business build, maintain and demonstrate their trustall in a way that's real-time and transparent.

Vantas inclusion in the Forbes 2023 Cloud 100 list builds on a momentous period of company growth. In the last year, Vanta doubled its customer base, serving over 5,000 companies across 58 countries, and expanded its global footprint with offices in Australia, Ireland and the U.S. To date, Vanta has raised $203 million in funding from investors Craft Ventures, Sequoia and Y Combinator, security industry pioneers like CrowdStrike, and leading cloud company investment arms Atlassian Ventures, HubSpot Ventures and Workday Ventures.

Underscoring Vanta's commitment to product innovation, the company recently appointed enterprise SaaS veteran Jeremy Epling as its Chief Product Officer, bringing his experience leading product at GitHub, and previously Microsoft. Earlier this year, the company launched its category-first Vendor Risk Management (VRM) solution and Questionnaire Automation, enabling customers to evaluate security in the buying process while closing their own deals fasterall in a single platform. Vanta also recently announced an expanded partnership with CrowdStrike to improve compliance and security operations for organizations of all sizes.

In addition to the Forbes Cloud 100, Vanta has received a number of high-profile accolades in 2023, including ranking #17 in CNBCs Disruptor 50 and earning a spot in Incs Best Workplaces.

The companies of the Cloud 100 list represent the best and brightest private companies in this crucial tech sector, said Kenrick Cai, the Forbes editor of the Cloud 100. This years companies had to react rapidly to AIs sweeping impact while contending with a market pullback. Their resilience puts them in elite company. Congratulations to each of the 2023 Cloud 100 honorees and the 20 Rising Stars who are showing early potential to one day join their ranks.

The Forbes 2023 Cloud 100 and 20 Rising Stars lists are published online at www.forbes.com/cloud100. Highlights of the list appear in the August/September 2023 issue of Forbes magazine.

About Vanta

Vanta is the leading trust management platform that helps simplify and centralize security for organizations of all sizes. Over 5,000 companies including Autodesk, Chili Piper, Flo Health and Quora rely on Vanta to build, maintain and demonstrate their trustall in a way that's real-time and transparent. Founded in 2018, Vanta has customers in 58 countries with offices in Dublin, New York, San Francisco and Sydney. For more information, visit www.vanta.com.

About Bessemer Venture Partners

Bessemer Venture Partners helps entrepreneurs lay strong foundations to build and forge long-standing companies. With more than 145 IPOs and 300 portfolio companies in the enterprise, consumer and healthcare spaces, Bessemer supports founders and CEOs from their early days through every stage of growth. Bessemers global portfolio has included Pinterest, Shopify, Twilio, Yelp, LinkedIn, PagerDuty, DocuSign, Wix, Fiverr, and Toast and has $20 billion of assets under management. Bessemer has teams of investors and partners located in Tel Aviv, Silicon Valley, San Francisco, New York, London, Hong Kong, Boston, and Bangalore. Born from innovations in steel more than a century ago, Bessemers storied history has afforded its partners the opportunity to celebrate and scrutinize its best investment decisions (see Memos) and also learn from its mistakes (see Anti-Portfolio).

About Forbes

Forbes champions success by celebrating those who have made it, and those who aspire to make it. Forbes convenes and curates the most influential leaders and entrepreneurs who are driving change, transforming business and making a significant impact on the world. The Forbes brand today reaches more than 140 million people worldwide through its trusted journalism, signature LIVE and Forbes Virtual events, custom marketing programs and 45 licensed local editions in 76 countries. Forbes Medias brand extensions include real estate, education and financial services license agreements.

About Salesforce Ventures

Salesforce Ventures helps enterprising founders build companies that reinvent the way the world works. Since 2009, weve invested in and partnered with more than 400 of the worlds most tenacious enterprise software companies from seed to IPO, including Anthropic, Cohere, Airtable, Databricks, DocuSign, Guild Education, monday.com, nCino, Snowflake, Snyk, Stripe, Tanium, and Zoom. Salesforce Ventures leverages our decades of expertise in the cloud and our long-term relationships with key decision-makers at thousands of businesses around the world to give our portfolio companies an advantage, help them build credibility, and accelerate growth. Salesforce Ventures has invested in more than 25 countries with offices all over the world including in San Francisco, Irvine, New York, London, and Tokyo. Follow @SalesforceVC and learn more at http://www.salesforceventures.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808646868/en/

Erin Cheng

[email protected]

Source: Vanta
Posts Sequential Revenue Growth and Margin Expansion

$14.7 Million in Q2 Revenue, up 14% from Q1

Adjusted EBITDA Margins Rise to 37%

Unless otherwise stated, all amounts are in U.S. dollars.

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- VerticalScope Holdings Inc. (VerticalScope or the Company) (TSX: FORA), a technology company that has built and operates a cloud-based digital platform for online enthusiast communities, today announced financial results for the second quarter (Q2 or "the quarter").

Our business results showed solid improvement from the trough we experienced in Q1. Improvements to our advertising technology and layouts and the addition of video advertising led to stronger performance as Q2 progressed and allowed us to grow digital advertising revenue 22% over Q1, commented Rob Laidlaw, Founder, Chair and CEO of VerticalScope. While our advertising revenue is seeing a steady improvement in month-to-month results, our e-commerce revenue remains quite challenging. In this operating environment, we are particularly pleased with the operating leverage we showed in the quarter as our Adjusted EBITDA margins improved to 37%, a 14 percentage point improvement over Q1. Our ability to generate Free Cash Flow has enabled us to continue to reduce our debt, with $8.5 million in principal repayments against our credit facility this year.

Financial Highlights for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2023 ("Q2" or "YTD" respectively). All comparatives, unless otherwise noted, are versus the same period in the prior year:

Q2 revenue decreased by 33% to $14.7 million when compared to record-breaking results in the prior year, with our strategic investments in digital advertising including video, layout, and technology improvements contributing to a 14% quarter-over-quarter gain compared to Q1

Adjusted EBITDA margins rebounded to 37%, a 14 percentage point improvement from Q1 driven by sequentially improving revenue and cost optimizations

Free Cash Flow Conversion maintained a healthy level of 76% in Q2 on $4.1 million in Free Cash Flow generated, which is consistent with the prior year's Free Cash Flow Conversion of 78% on $7.3 million in Free Cash Flow generated

In Q2 we generated $3.3 million in cash flow from operations, a decline from the strong performance in the prior year where $5.7 million was generated. In Q2 and YTD we made $4.9 million and $8.5 million in principal payments respectively against our credit facility, $4.2 million and $7.2 million of which were voluntary

Net Loss of $2.0 million and Earnings Per Share of negative $0.10 in Q2 were $5.0 million and $0.23 better than prior year. YTD Net Loss of $6.5 million is $12.4 million ahead of prior year and YTD Net Earnings Per Share of negative $0.31 is a $0.58 improvement over prior year

Laidlaw added, Our platform served 98.8 million monthly active users in Q2, which was down 9% compared to last year as a result of lower traffic from search engines, but represented a slight improvement relative to trends in Q1. In late May, and again in late July, we experienced a positive benefit from changes to search engine algorithms that increased our MAUs and will be reflected in future results. We are excited about the forthcoming rollout of our Fora mobile app which will provide an even more engaging platform for our product-focused communities.

Earnings Announcement

Management will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the Company's financial results at 8:00 am ET on Wednesday, August 9, 2023.

Live Call Registration and Webcast:

https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/528450009

Joining by telephone:

Canada: 1 833 950 0062

United States: 1 833 470 1428

Participant Access code: 941299

If you are unable to join live, an archived recording of the webcast will be available at: https://investors.verticalscope.com/.

About VerticalScope

Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, VerticalScope is a technology company that has built and operates a cloud-based digital platform for online enthusiast communities in high consumer spending categories. VerticalScope's mission is to enable people with common interests to connect, explore their passions, and share knowledge about the things they love. Through targeted acquisitions and development, VerticalScope has built a portfolio of over 1,200 online communities and over 90 million monthly active users. VerticalScope is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: FORA).

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation that reflects the Company's current expectations regarding future events. When used in this news release, words such as should, could, intended, expect, plan or believe and similar expressions indicate forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information, including the Companys plans for organic growth, deployment of capital, investments in our platform, the growth of revenue and MAU, information regarding our financial position, business strategy, growth strategies, addressable markets, budgets, operations, financial results, plans and objectives, is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Although the Company believes that its expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties and no assurances can be given that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the factors discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Companys Annual Information Form dated March 31, 2023, which is available on the Companys profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Actual results could differ materially from those projected herein. VerticalScope does not undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required under applicable securities laws.

Non-IFRS Measures

This press release references certain non-IFRS measures, including Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow, and Free Cash Flow Conversion as described below. This press release also makes reference to MAU, which is an operating metric used in our industry. These non-IFRS measures are not recognized measures under IFRS and do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Rather, these measures are provided as additional information to complement those IFRS measures by providing further understanding of the Companys results of operations from managements perspective. Accordingly, these measures should not be considered in isolation nor as a substitute for analysis of the Companys financial information reported under IFRS.

The Company uses non-IFRS measures including:

Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as net income (loss) excluding interest, income tax expense (recovery), and depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, adjusted for share-based compensation, share performance related bonuses, unrealized gains or losses from changes in fair value of derivative financial instruments, severance, adjustments to contingent consideration liabilities measured at fair value through profit and loss, gain or loss on sale of assets, gain or loss on sale of investments, foreign exchange loss (gain), impairment and other charges that include direct and incremental business acquisition related costs.

Adjusted EBITDA Margin measures Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue.

Free Cash Flow means Adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures and income taxes paid during the period.

Free Cash Flow Conversion is equal to Free Cash Flow for the period divided by Adjusted EBITDA for the period.

Monthly Active Users (MAU) is defined as the number of individuals who have visited our communities within a calendar month, based on data as measured by Google Analytics. To calculate average MAU in a given period, we sum the total MAU for each month in that period, divided by the number of months in that period.

Related Links

http://www.verticalscope.com

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow to net loss:

Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, (in thousands of US dollars) 2023 2022 2023 2022 Net loss ($ 2,012 ) ($ 7,001 ) ($ 6,509 ) ($ 18,872 ) Net interest expense 1,465 658 2,581 1,237 Income tax recovery (661 ) (380 ) (2,395 ) (1,573 ) Depreciation and amortization 5,280 10,055 11,787 19,816 EBITDA 4,072 3,331 5,464 608 Share-based compensation 1,313 2,816 2,382 5,669 Share performance related bonuses (1)  (690 )  (793 ) Unrealized loss from changes in derivative fair value of financial instruments 8 76 8 44 Severance (2) 34 10 1,440 634 Loss (gain) on sale of assets (10 ) (4 ) (11 ) 7 Gain on sale of investments (2 )  (2 )  Foreign exchange loss (gain) (57 ) 29 (24 ) 60 Adjustment to contingent considerations  3,239 (1,051 ) 8,866 Other charges (3) 123 508 211 1,503 Adjusted EBITDA 5,481 9,316 8,417 16,598 Less capital expenditures (571 ) (1,548 ) (1,117 ) (3,220 ) Income taxes paid (762 ) (477 ) (806 ) (531 ) Free Cash Flow $ 4,147 $ 7,291 $ 6,494 $ 12,846

(1) Share performance related bonus is included in wages and consulting on the consolidated statements of loss and comprehensive loss. (2) Severance is included in wages and consulting on the condensed consolidated statements of loss and comprehensive loss. (3) Other charges are included in wages and consulting and general and administrative on the condensed consolidated statements of loss and comprehensive loss. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, these charges include one-time legal related costs. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, these charges include direct and incremental asset acquisition or business acquisition related costs.

VERTICALSCOPE HOLDINGS INC.

Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Financial Position

(In U.S. dollars)

(Unaudited)

June 30, December 31, 2023 2022 Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 6,126,110 $ 8,766,769 Restricted cash 89,804 116,830 Trade and other receivables 9,983,857 15,712,508 Lease receivable 588,515 569,278 Income taxes receivable 441,243  Prepaid expenses 664,788 1,127,365 17,894,317 26,292,750 Property and equipment 894,425 1,065,888 Right-of-use asset 2,399,999 1,745,398 Intangible assets 60,411,592 70,579,988 Goodwill 52,635,164 52,635,164 Other assets 291,829 315,403 Deferred tax asset 24,702,589 23,991,561 Lease receivable 653,652 929,682 Total assets $ 159,883,567 $ 177,555,834 Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Current liabilities: Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 5,830,686 $ 8,334,556 Income taxes payable 390,393 549,713 Derivative instruments 8,267  Deferred revenue 958,008 889,259 Current portion of long-term debt 3,978,189 3,209,382 Lease liability 1,183,714 1,027,309 Contingent considerations  15,000,000 12,349,257 29,010,219 Deferred revenue 2,686 4,389 Long-term debt 60,911,584 54,883,514 Lease liability 2,844,288 2,518,053 Deferred tax liability 6,421,179 8,310,894 Contingent considerations  1,051,222 Other long-term liabilities 185,390 281,959 Total liabilities 82,714,384 96,060,250 Shareholders' equity: Share capital 162,054,221 160,559,106 Contributed surplus 26,111,119 25,306,872 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (127,953 ) (86,145 ) Deficit (110,868,204 ) (104,284,249 ) 77,169,183 81,495,584 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 159,883,567 $ 177,555,834

VERTICALSCOPE HOLDINGS INC.

Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Loss and Comprehensive Loss

(In U.S. dollars, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2023 2022 2023 2022 Revenue $ 14,664,619 $ 21,768,721 $ 27,536,431 $ 41,817,114 Operating expenses: Wages and consulting 6,686,010 8,455,869 15,028,835 18,228,747 Share-based compensation 1,313,193 2,815,783 2,381,549 5,668,699 Platform and technology 1,706,851 2,199,450 3,712,058 4,367,961 General and administrative 954,940 1,702,474 2,038,355 4,010,529 Depreciation and amortization 5,279,603 10,054,727 11,787,227 19,816,413 Adjustment to contingent considerations  3,238,838 (1,051,222 ) 8,866,083 15,940,597 28,467,141 33,896,802 60,958,432 Operating loss (1,275,978 ) (6,698,420 ) (6,360,371 ) (19,141,318 ) Other expenses: Loss (gain) on sale of assets (10,020 ) (4,129 ) (10,809 ) 7,128 Net interest expense 1,465,252 657,797 2,580,724 1,236,702 Gain on investments (1,895 )  (1,895 )  Foreign exchange loss (gain) (56,642 ) 29,412 (24,199 ) 60,220 1,396,695 683,080 2,543,821 1,304,050 Loss before income taxes (2,672,673 ) (7,381,500 ) (8,904,192 ) (20,445,368 ) Income taxes (recovery) Current 95,279 1,111,552 205,815 1,763,010 Deferred (756,227 ) (1,491,683 ) (2,600,742 ) (3,336,406 ) (660,948 ) (380,131 ) (2,394,927 ) (1,573,396 ) Net loss ($ 2,011,725 ) ($ 7,001,369 ) ($ 6,509,265 ) ($ 18,871,972 ) Other comprehensive income/(loss) Items that may be reclassified to net loss: Foreign currency differences on translation of foreign operations (19,471 ) 24,534 (41,808 ) (4,754 ) Total comprehensive loss ($ 2,031,196 ) ($ 6,976,835 ) ($ 6,551,073 ) ($ 18,876,726 ) Loss per share: Basic ($ 0.10 ) ($ 0.33 ) ($ 0.31 ) ($ 0.89 ) Diluted (0.10 ) (0.33 ) (0.31 ) (0.89 )

VERTICALSCOPE HOLDINGS INC.

Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Cash Flows

(In U.S. dollars)

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2023 2022 2023 2022 Cash provided by (used in): Operating activities: Net loss ($ 2,011,725 ) ($ 7,001,369 ) ($ 6,509,265 ) ($ 18,871,972 ) Items not involving cash: Depreciation and amortization 5,279,603 10,054,727 11,787,227 19,816,413 Net interest expense 1,465,252 657,797 2,580,724 1,236,702 Loss (gain) on sale of assets (10,020 ) (4,129 ) (10,809 ) 7,128 Unrealized loss in derivative instruments 7,565 76,251 8,267 44,046 Income tax recovery (660,948 ) (380,131 ) (2,394,927 ) (1,573,396 ) Adjustment to contingent considerations  3,238,838 (1,051,222 ) 8,866,083 Share-based compensation 1,312,681 2,815,783 2,381,293 5,668,699 5,382,408 9,457,767 6,791,288 15,193,703 Change in non-cash operating assets and liabilities (257,500 ) (2,328,338 ) 3,547,394 (2,193,828 ) Interest paid (1,061,062 ) (989,569 ) (2,092,251 ) (1,514,942 ) Income taxes paid (762,444 ) (476,711 ) (806,379 ) (531,405 ) 3,301,402 5,663,149 7,440,052 10,953,528 Financing activities: Repayment of term loan (625,000 ) (625,000 ) (1,250,000 ) (1,250,000 ) Proceeds from issuance of revolving loan   15,000,000  Repayment of revolving loan (4,250,000 ) (12,500,000 ) (7,250,000 ) (12,500,000 ) Proceeds from exercise of share options  186,477  186,477 Lease payments (360,264 ) (310,403 ) (744,084 ) (632,113 ) Proceeds from sublease 150,586 158,695 300,151 318,346 (5,084,678 ) (13,090,231 ) 6,056,067 (13,877,290 ) Investing activities: Additions to property and equipment and intangible assets (571,379 ) (4,376,125 ) (1,116,828 ) (7,043,224 ) Proceeds from sale of assets 11,533 19,619 20,957 26,734 Payment of contingent considerations   (15,000,000 )  (559,846 ) (4,356,506 ) (16,095,871 ) (7,016,490 ) Decrease in cash and cash equivalents (2,343,122 ) (11,783,588 ) (2,599,752 ) (9,940,252 ) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period 8,479,087 22,363,135 8,766,769 20,494,313 Change in restricted cash balances 1,928 10,133 27,026 13,128 Effect of movement of exchange rates on cash and restricted cash held (11,783 ) (134,961 ) (67,933 ) (112,470 ) Cash and cash equivalent, end of period $ 6,126,110 $ 10,454,719 $ 6,126,110 $ 10,454,719

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808348965/en/

For further information

Investor and media inquiries:

Chris Goodridge, President and COO

Tel: 416-341-7174, [email protected]

Source: VerticalScope Holdings Inc.
Molson Coors Beverage Company ("MCBC" or "Molson Coors") (NYSE: TAP, TAP.A) has reached an agreement to acquire Blue Run Spirits (Blue Run), a visionary and award-winning producer of finely crafted bourbon and rye whiskies. The deal represents another step in Molson Coors evolution as a total beverage company while providing Blue Run with resources to continue its growth.

Based in Georgetown, Kentucky, Blue Run is one of the whiskey industrys most compelling new entrants since the brands launch in October 2020. The company has won numerous awards, including Best Small Batch Bourbon - 11 Years Old & Older and Best Single Barrel Bourbon - 11 Years Old & Older at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and most recently was awarded Best High Rye Bourbon at the 2023 New Orleans Spirits Competition. It has also gained international acclaim among whiskey experts and branding aficionados who laud Blue Runs divergence from traditional industry norms, which Forbes has called sneakerizing the bourbon industry, with premium whiskies that generate intense interest with each release.

As Molson Coors first spirits acquisition, the addition of Blue Run boosts the companys footprint in spirits as it continues to evolve from its storied history as a beer company and premiumize its portfolio. In tandem with the acquisition, Molson Coors has established Coors Spirits Co., an expansion of its existing spirits business, which will house Blue Run, Five Trail Blended American Whiskey, Barmen 1873 Bourbon and future innovation. This acquisition will more than double the size of Molson Coors spirits team, further supporting the companys premiumization strategy.

Molson Coors entered the whiskey space with the 2021 launch of Five Trail Blended American Whiskey (which won double gold at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition) and the 2022 introduction of Barmen 1873 Bourbon.

Molson Coors has been on a journey to broaden beyond our beer roots and build powerful brands in growing categories, and Blue Run joining us is an exciting next step as we establish Coors Spirits Co., Molson Coors Chief Commercial Officer Michelle St. Jacques said. Blue Run has accomplished in three years what many brands hope to do in a generation and has done it at the luxury end of the whiskey category. Importantly, we are committed to maintaining Blue Runs well-known quality, design and innovation as we continue to grow our spirits portfolio.

Currently available in 31 states, Blue Run, with its trademark butterfly medallion on the bottle, can be found at retail and on-premise accounts in every region of the U.S and online. In March 2023, Blue Run announced plans to build a distillery in Kentucky. Those plans will continue as part of the Molson Coors family. In addition, Blue Run has three new whiskies slated for late summer/fall release.

Blue Runs founders  Mike Montgomery, Tim Sparapani, Jesse McKnight and Andy Brown  will all remain with the brand. Montgomery will take on an expanded role with Molson Coors as its vice president of Coors Spirits Co. Bourbon Hall of Famer Jim Rutledge will continue to serve as Blue Runs distillery consultant and liquid advisor and recognized, whiskey community rising star Shaylyn Gammon will serve as whiskey curator for Coors Spirits Co. David Coors will continue to lead Molson Coors full-strength spirits strategy and business development as executive chair of Coors Spirits Co.

Since launching Blue Run, we have always strived to do things a little differently to truly embrace todays younger, more diverse generation of whiskey drinkers, Montgomery said. We are humbled by how the whiskey community has embraced our vision and that Molson Coors wants to join and support us in this journey.

Blue Run was represented by Samos Capital of Southlake, TX in the transaction and is legally represented by Foley and Lardner LLP of Milwaukee and Kaplan, Johnson, Abate and Bird LLP of Louisville, in addition to being supported by Joseph Goode and Cody Matthews of Truist Bank of Charlotte, NC. Molson Coors was legally represented by Quarles and Brady LLP of Milwaukee.

EDITOR NOTE: Media images can be found HERE.
NUBURU, Inc. (NUBURU or the Company) (NYSE American: BURU), a leading innovator in high-power and high-brightness industrial blue laser technology, today announced it has been awarded a contract by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to demonstrate the feasibility of power beaming in space using the Companys proprietary Blue Laser technology. Through NASAs Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding initiative, NUBURU has been selected to create a qualified solution that mitigates the high costs associated with transporting copper or aluminum wires that are critical to provide power to lunar or planetary bases in remote locations.

Power beaming is one of the only effective and economical solutions to the power management challenges facing NASA and other space operators today, said Mark Zediker, CEO of NUBURU. Powered by our Blue Laser technology, the system we are developing will provide a unique solution that dramatically reduces the size and weight of the equipment needed to meet regular mission needs.

During the initial phase of the project, NUBURU will focus its efforts on establishing the scientific, technical and commercial merit and feasibility of its technology. From there, NUBURU aims to create a commercially viable product to tackle this ongoing problem and continue to develop innovative space-qualified hardware.

In addition to tackling the core business challenges associated with power transmission, NUBURUs laser technology can provide visual guidance to astronauts due to the scatter off either the fine regolith powder suspended above the moons surface or the Rayleigh Scattering off the Martian atmosphere and thus creating a guided highway across these surfaces. NUBURUs Blue Laser power beaming system will also be equipped with a high bandwidth laser communication link, ensuring laser safety and enabling data transmission between widely spaced habitats.

NASAs SBIR program funds the research, development, and demonstration of innovative technologies that fulfill NASA needs as described in the annual solicitations and have significant potential for successful commercialization. This three-phase process begins with a six-month idea generation period followed by a two-year prototype development phase that then leads to commercialization.

For more information on NUBURUs Blue Laser technology and capabilities, visit: www.nuburu.net.
NVIDIA today announced NVIDIA AI Workbench, a unified, easy-to-use toolkit that allows developers to quickly create, test and customize pretrained generative AI models on a PC or workstation  then scale them to virtually any data center, public cloud or NVIDIA DGX Cloud.

AI Workbench removes the complexity of getting started with an enterprise AI project. Accessed through a simplified interface running on a local system, it allows developers to customize models from popular repositories like Hugging Face, GitHub and NVIDIA NGC using custom data. The models can then be shared easily across multiple platforms.

Enterprises around the world are racing to find the right infrastructure and build generative AI models and applications, said Manuvir Das, vice president of enterprise computing at NVIDIA. NVIDIA AI Workbench provides a simplified path for cross-organizational teams to create the AI-based applications that are increasingly becoming essential in modern business.

A New Era for AI DevelopersWhile hundreds of thousands of pretrained models are now available, customizing them with the many open-source tools can require hunting through multiple online repositories for the right framework, tools and containers, and employing the right skills to customize a model for a specific use case.

With NVIDIA AI Workbench, developers can customize and run generative AI in just a few clicks. It allows them to pull together all necessary enterprise-grade models, frameworks, software development kits and libraries from open-source repositories and the NVIDIA AI platform into a unified developer toolkit. Leading AI infrastructure providers  including Dell Technologies, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, HP Inc., Lambda, Lenovo and Supermicro  are embracing AI Workbench for its ability to augment their latest generation of multi-GPU-capable desktop workstations, high-end mobile workstations and virtual workstations.

Developers with a Windows or Linux-based NVIDIA RTX PC or workstation will also be able to initiate, test and fine-tune enterprise-grade generative AI projects on their local RTX systems, and easily access data center and cloud computing resources to scale as needed.

New NVIDIA AI Enterprise 4.0 Software Advances AI Deployment To further accelerate the adoption of generative AI, NVIDIA announced the latest version of its enterprise software platform, NVIDIA AI Enterprise 4.0. It gives businesses the tools needed to adopt generative AI, while also offering the security and API stability required for reliable production deployments.

Newly supported software and tools in NVIDIA AI Enterprise that help streamline generative AI deployment include:

NVIDIA NeMo , a cloud-native framework to build, customize and deploy large language models. With NeMo, NVIDIA AI Enterprise provides end-to-end support for creating and customizing LLM applications.

, a cloud-native framework to build, customize and deploy large language models. With NeMo, NVIDIA AI Enterprise provides end-to-end support for creating and customizing LLM applications. NVIDIA Triton Management Service , which helps automate and optimize production deployments. It allows enterprises to automatically deploy multiple NVIDIA Triton Inference Server instances in Kubernetes with model orchestration for efficient operation of scalable AI.

, which helps automate and optimize production deployments. It allows enterprises to automatically deploy multiple instances in Kubernetes with model orchestration for efficient operation of scalable AI. NVIDIA Base Command Manager Essentials cluster management software, which helps enterprises maximize performance and utilization of AI servers across data center, multi-cloud and hybrid-cloud environments.

NVIDIA AI Enterprise software  which lets users build and run NVIDIA AI-enabled solutions across the cloud, data center and edge  is certified to run on mainstream NVIDIA-Certified Systems, NVIDIA DGX systems, all major cloud platforms and newly announced NVIDIA RTX workstations.

Leading software companies ServiceNow and Snowflake, as well as infrastructure provider Dell Technologies, which offers Dell Generative AI Solutions, recently announced they are collaborating with NVIDIA to enable new generative AI solutions and services on their platforms. The integration of NVIDIA AI Enterprise 4.0 and NVIDIA NeMo provides a foundation for production-ready generative AI for customers.

NVIDIA AI Enterprise 4.0 will be integrated into partner marketplaces, including Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure, as well as through NVIDIA cloud partner Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.

Additionally, MLOps providers, including Azure Machine Learning, ClearML, Domino Data Lab, Run:AI, and Weights & Biases, are adding seamless integration with the NVIDIA AI platform to simplify production-grade generative AI model development.

Broad Partner Support Dell Technologies and NVIDIA are committed to helping enterprises build purpose-built AI models to access the immense opportunity of generative AI. With NVIDIA AI Workbench, developers can take advantage of the full Dell Generative AI Solutions portfolio to customize models on PCs, workstations and data center infrastructure.  Meghana Patwardhan, vice president of commercial client products at Dell Technologies

Most enterprises do not have the expertise, budget and data center resources to manage the high complexity of AI software and systems. We look forward to NVIDIA AI Workbenchs potential to simplify generative AI project creation with one-click training and deployment on the HPE GreenLake edge-to-cloud platform.  Evan Sparks, chief product officer for AI at HPE

As a workstation market leader offering the performance and efficiency needed for the most demanding data science and AI models, we have a long history collaborating with NVIDIA. HP is embracing the next generation of high-performance systems, coupled with NVIDIA RTX Ada Generation GPUs and NVIDIA AI Workbench, and bringing the power of generative AI to our enterprise customers and helping move AI workloads between the cloud and locally.  Jim Nottingham, senior vice president of advanced computing solutions at HP Inc.

Lenovo and NVIDIA are helping customers overcome deployment complexities and more easily implement generative AI to deliver transformative services and products to the market. NVIDIA AI Workbench and the Lenovo AI-ready portfolio enable developers to leverage the power of their smart devices and scale across edge-to-cloud infrastructure.  Rob Herman, vice president and general manager of Lenovo Workstation & Client AI

The longstanding VMware and NVIDIA partnership has helped unlock the power of AI for every business by delivering an end-to-end enterprise platform optimized for AI workloads. Together, we are making generative AI more accessible and easier to implement in the enterprise. With AI Workbench, NVIDIA is giving developers a set of powerful tools to help enterprises accelerate gen AI adoption. With the new NVIDIA AI Workbench, development teams can seamlessly move AI workloads from the desktop to production.  Chris Wolf, vice president of VMware AI Labs

Watch NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huangs SIGGRAPH keynote address on demand to learn more about NVIDIA AI Workbench and NVIDIA AI Enterprise 4.0.

AI Workbench is coming soon in early access. Sign up to get notified when it is available.
Zevia PBC (NYSE: ZVIA) today announced the appointment of Bill Williamson to the role of Senior Vice President, Operations and Chief Supply Chain Officer.

Mr. Williamson joined the Zevia management team from Monster Energy, where he served as Senior Vice President, Operations and Supply Chain. He brings over 25 years of operations and supply chain experience in the beverage and consumer-packaged-goods (CPG) industries, with a proven track record of leading successful transformations and identifying and executing opportunities for improvement to drive revenue growth and increase profitability. He is responsible for leading operations, supply chain optimization and information technology to support growth and profitability initiatives and reports to Amy Taylor, President and CEO.

We are thrilled to welcome Bill to the Zevia team to lead our supply chain transformation, said Amy Taylor, President and CEO. He is a CPG veteran with a proven track record in beverage and decades of broad functional experience encompassing manufacturing, finance, distribution and retail. Bill brings a deep understanding of high-growth beverage brands along with a strong strategic background, a hands-on approach and passion for team building. He is uniquely qualified to drive immediate and sustainable improvements to our supply chain along with optimizing and scaling our network over the long-term to support future growth.

Most recently, Mr. Williamson was the Senior Vice President, Operations at Monster Energy Company, with responsibility for operations and supply chain continuity across the Americas. Prior to Monster Energy, he was with Pabst Brewing Company for approximately 10 years, where he held progressive roles of responsibility across commercial and operational areas including serving as Chief Supply Chain Officer from 2019 to 2021. Prior to Pabst, Mr. Williamson held leadership positions in sales and in operations within retail and in distribution, including time at Sams Club and at CHEP focused on the Walmart business. He received his BBA in Finance from Texas Tech University and is a two-time IronMan.
FILE PHOTO: A smartphone with a displayed Arm Ltd logo is placed on a computer motherboard in this illustration taken March 6, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

TOKYO (Reuters) -Apple and Samsung Electronics will invest in SoftBank Group-owned chip designer Arm at its initial public offering (IPO), expected in September, Japan's Nikkei newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Reuters reported in June that Arm was in talks with some ten companies - including Apple, Samsung and Intel - with the aim of bringing on one or more anchor investors in the offering.

Last month, Reuters and other media reported that Arm was in talks to bring in U.S. chip designer Nvidia as an anchor investor for the New York listing.

Apple, Samsung, Nvidia and Intel all plan to invest in Arm as soon as it is listed on the market, the Nikkei said. The SoftBank-owned firm will officially apply to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for the listing later this month, the newspaper said.

Arm plans to sell the chipmakers stakes of "a few percent each", the newspaper said.

SoftBank declined to comment. Apple and Intel did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment, while Samsung and Nvidia declined to comment.

The long-awaited IPO is seen as a potential windfall for Softbank founder and CEO Masayoshi Son's sprawling tech conglomerate.

SoftBank has been targeting a listing for Arm since its deal to sell the chip designer to Nvidia collapsed last year due to objections from antitrust regulators.

The planned U.S. listing could raise between $8 billion and $10 billion, sources told Reuters in April. At an earnings briefing on Tuesday, SoftBank's chief financial officer provided no details on a listing date or fundraising goal, but said preparations were going "very smoothly".

SoftBank posted a surprise loss on Tuesday but said it was dipping its toes back into new investments after its Vision Fund unit returned to the black for the first time in six quarters.

(Reporting by Anton Bridge, Additional reporting by Elaine Lies in Tokyo, Joyce Lee in Seoul and Akash Sriram; Editing by Louise Heavens, David Dolan, Miyoung Kim and Sharon Singleton)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 7. The Western Azerbaijan Community has condemned the biased appeal of the UN expert group on human rights of August 7, 2023, the Western Azerbaijan Community said in a statement, Trend reports.

"According to the UN Code of Conduct for Human Rights Experts, all statements must be supported by facts, evidence, and credible sources." The Western Azerbaijan Community regrets that specialists who violated the rule of conduct have become victims of the recent anti-Azerbaijani campaign by various circles. Furthermore, the Western Azerbaijan Community urges on UN experts to retain their independence and impartiality in compliance with the code of conduct," the statement read.

"The content of the statement, which contains such expressions as "blockade" and "humanitarian crisis", gives grounds to say that the UN experts are completely unaware of the issue on which they express their opinion.

Armenia has deported a community of Western Azerbaijanis from their native lands, but this has not attracted the attention of the international community, including the UN. This highlights that double standards and politicization regarding human rights are unacceptable.

The inclusion of a number of inappropriate political messages in the statement of the UN human rights experts once again indicates that they exceed their mandate by receiving instructions from external sources," said the statement.

The Western Azerbaijan Community urges UN experts to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries and not use incorrect terminology and toponyms.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American Pacific Mining Corp (CSE: USGD / OTCQX: USGDF / FWB: 1QC) (American Pacific or the Company) is pleased to provide an update on the ongoing activities at its Palmer Project (Palmer or the Project) near Haines, Alaska, US.

Palmer is an advanced-stage, high-grade volcanogenic massive sulphide-sulphate deposit (VMS) located in the Porcupine Mining District of the Haines Borough, Alaska. Constantine North Inc (Constantine), a subsidiary of American Pacific, is the operator for the Project and the US$25.5 million 2023 program is funded by joint venture partner Dowa Metals & Mining Co., Ltd (Dowa).

Drilling progress is ahead of schedule, and we are pleased to report that semi-massive and massive sulphide mineralization has been observed over drilled thicknesses of approximately 40 metres within the upper (Zone 1) and lower (Zone 2-3) VMS lenses of the Southwall Zone at the Palmer Deposit, stated Warwick Smith, CEO of American Pacific.

Plate 1: (left) Native copper in drillhole CMR23-152 at 177.6 m downhole (Southwall Zone 1).Plate 2: (right) Massive sphalerite from CMR23-153 at 156.9 m downhole (Southwall Zone 1).

Highlights:

4,178 metres (m) of the planned 9,000 m resource definition program has been drilled representing 46% of the planned 2023 program.

1,022 m of the planned 2,550 m geotechnical drill program has been drilled, representing 40% of the planned program. Hydrogeologic testing and monitoring well installations are ongoing to determine the hydrogeological characteristics and rock mechanics of the hanging wall and footwall.

The first 378 samples for assays were recently shipped to the laboratory with results expected during Q3, 2023.

Program Goals and Drill Program Overview:

One of the 2023 program goals is to build the foundation of people, infrastructure, and resources needed to operate through the advanced exploration and evaluation stages and complete feasibility-level engineering studies on the Project in the coming years.

The 2023 field season started with snow clearing along Porcupine Road, providing construction access for a safe and modern 60-person camp, scheduled for occupancy in August. The addition of these facilities is a major milestone and will support an expanded field season, year-round environmental monitoring and maximize productivity going forward, commented Peter Mercer, VP of Advanced Projects for American Pacific.

The 2023 diamond drill program is targeting high-priority areas in two unique mineralized lenses, which make up the Southwall Zone of the Palmer deposit. The knowledge gained from this program will provide insights to support feasibility-level studies of the Palmer deposit and future discovery focused drilling throughout the mineralized district. Two diamond drill rigs dedicated to the infill drill program have collared 14 holes, with good productivity and 46% of the program now complete. The third diamond drill rig, focused on hydro-geotechnical drilling in the immediate deposit area, has collared five holes, to date.

The 2023 drilling builds upon the Companys confidence in the current geologic modeling of the VMS lenses within the Southwall Zone, while gaining valuable geotechnical insight into the surrounding wall rock.

Figure 1: Oblique view of the planned 2023 drill program at the Southwall Zone with topography. Infill drillholes shown in white and grey; Geotechnical drillholes shown in pink.

Logging of drill core from Southwall Zone 1 indicates massive and semi-massive sulphide mineralization up to 43 m in drilled thickness and defined by a sphalerite-rich eastern limb, a chalcopyrite-rich core and increasing pyrrhotite-pyrite mineralization through the centre of the lens. Drilling will continue to test the western portion of Zone 1 and the extent of the mineralization.

Directional drilling of Southwall Zone 2-3 has provided insight into the structural complexity of the deposit at depth, allowing for precision targeting of desired intersections. Two distinct sphalerite-chalcopyrite-pyrrhotite-barite massive sulphide horizons have been visually identified through core logging at approximately 39 m in drilled thickness.

In addition, ongoing analysis of historical geochemical data continues to highlight areas with high-grade potential near the Southwall Zone.

Figure 2: Massive chalcopyrite-pyrrhotite-pyrite in directional hole CMR23-157-01, Lower Southwall Zone 2-3.

Figure 3: Banded sphalerite-pyrite-chalcopyrite-barite in hole CMR23-155, Southwall Zone 1.

Team and Safety

The Company is building the team and facilities to fully evaluate the Palmer Project over the next several years. This year's field program is being executed with 41 direct employees, 11 are year-round and 30 are full-time until late October. The Company has built a high-performing team, adding a Human Resources Manager, Financial Controller, Health and Safety Superintendent, Site Manager, Exploration Manager and several technical experts. The Project's ongoing hazard awareness and risk reduction focus will continually aim for industry-leading safety performance. The Companys safety record has remained excellent, with zero reportable lost time injuries to date.

Environmental Programs

An important part of Palmers 2023 programs is broadening the understanding of environmental conditions in and around the Project area. The environmental team has been planning baseline studies to properly evaluate new areas for potential infrastructure. These studies include wetland mapping, noise monitoring, measuring ambient light, and fish and wildlife surveys.

A continued priority for the environmental team is ensuring Palmers environmental studies and monitoring provide community confidence in the Project above and beyond regulatory compliance.

Geotechnical Studies

The 2023 geotechnical program will be focused on data acquisition to evaluate potential locations for Project infrastructure. The company has been working with contractors to be field ready marking the beginning of a multi-year effort to evaluate infrastructure locations and design. Overall, the focus of these programs will be to identify the best location possible for site infrastructure from multiple perspectives, allowing the Company to design the best project for the region.

Qualified Person Statement

The scientific technical information in this news release was reviewed and prepared under the supervision of Michael Vande Guchte, P.Geo., Vice-President Exploration for the Palmer Project. Mr. Vande Guchte is a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Vande Guchte has verified the data related to the exploration information disclosed in this press release through his direct participation in the work.

About American Pacific Mining Corp.

American Pacific Mining Corp. is a precious and base metals explorer and developer focused on opportunities in the Western United States. The Company has two flagship assets: the Palmer Project, a Volcanic Massive Sulfide (VMS) project in Alaska, under joint-venture partnership with Dowa Metals & Mining, owner of Japans largest zinc smelter; and the Madison Project, a past-producing copper-gold project in Montana partnered with Kennecott Exploration, a division of the Rio Tinto Group. For the Madison transaction, American Pacific was selected as a finalist in both 2021 and 2022 for Deal of the Year at the S&P Global Platts Global Metals Awards, an annual program that recognizes exemplary accomplishments in 16 performance categories. Also, in American Pacifics asset portfolio are three high-grade, precious metals projects located in key mining districts of Nevada, USA: the Ziggerat Gold project, partnered with Centerra Gold; the Gooseberry Silver-Gold project; and the Tuscarora Gold-Silver project. The Companys mission is to grow by the drill bit and by acquisition.

On behalf of the American Pacific Mining Corp Board of Directors:

Warwick Smith, CEO & DirectorCorporate Office: Suite 910  510 Burrard Street Vancouver, BC, V6C 3A8 Canada

Investor relations contact:Kristina Pillon, High Tide Consulting Corp.604.908.1695 / [email protected]

Media relations contact:Adam Bello, Primoris Group Inc.416.489.0092 / [email protected]

The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available athttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9d0037bb-9bef-49d3-93b5-60673b780844https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/54449c76-8d6a-4e09-ab3f-8246b0709313https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4f187917-b941-4e8b-9022-c0ea765d6f15https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dbdfd5b1-7123-4423-9f79-b535d0a81f80

Plate 1 (Left) and Plate 2 (Right) Plate 1: (left) Native copper in drillhole CMR23-152 at 177.6 m downhole (Southwall Zone 1).Plate 2: (right) Massive sphalerite from CMR23-153 at 156.9 m downhole (Southwall Zone 1). Figure 1 Oblique view of the planned 2023 drill program at the Southwall Zone with topography. Infill drillholes shown in white and grey; Geotechnical drillholes shown in pink. Figure 2 Massive chalcopyrite-pyrrhotite-pyrite in directional hole CMR23-157-01, Lower Southwall Zone 2-3. Figure 3 Banded sphalerite-pyrite-chalcopyrite-barite in hole CMR23-155, Southwall Zone 1.

Source: American Pacific Mining Corp.
GRIMSBY, Ontario, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Directors of Andrew Peller Limited (ADW.A / ADW.B) (the Company) announced today that it has approved a quarterly common share dividend of $0.0615 per Class A Share and $0.0535 per Class B Share to be paid on October 13, 2023 to shareholders of record on September 29, 2023. The Company has consistently paid common share dividends since 1979 and has increased dividends eight times over the last ten years, most recently in fiscal 2022. The Company currently designates all dividends paid as eligible dividends for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada) unless indicated otherwise.

About Andrew Peller LimitedAndrew Peller Limited is one of Canadas leading producers and marketers of quality wines and craft spirits. The Companys awardwinning premium and ultrapremium Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) brands include Peller Estates, Trius, Thirty Bench, Wayne Gretzky, Sandhill, Red Rooster, Black Hills Estate, Tinhorn Creek, Gray Monk Estates, Raven Conspiracy and Conviction. Complementing these premium brands are a number of popularly priced varietal offerings, wine based liqueurs, craft ciders, and craft spirits. The Company owns and operates 101 wellpositioned independent retail locations in Ontario under The Wine Shop, Wine Country Vintners, and Wine Country Merchants store names. The Company also operates Andrew Peller Import Agency and The Small Winemakers Collection Inc., importers and marketing agents of premium wines from around the world. With a focus on serving the needs of all wine consumers, the Company produces and markets premium personal winemaking products through its whollyowned subsidiary, Global Vintners Inc. (GVI), the recognized leader in personal winemaking products. More information about the Company can be found at www.ir.andrewpeller.com.

Forward-Looking StatementsCertain statements in this news release may contain forwardlooking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including the safe harbour provision of the Securities Act (Ontario) with respect to Andrew Peller Limited and its subsidiaries. These forwardlooking statements are subject to the risks and uncertainties discussed in the Risks and Uncertainties section and elsewhere in the Companys MD&A and other risks detailed from time to time in the publicly filed disclosure documents of Andrew Peller Limited which are available at www.sedar.com. Forwardlooking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions which could cause actual results to differ materially from those conclusions, forecasts, or projections anticipated in these forwardlooking statements. The Companys forwardlooking statements are made only as of the date of this news release, and except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forwardlooking statements to reflect new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.

For more information, please contact: Paul Dubkowski, CFO and Executive Vice-President, IT (905) 643-4131 Source: Andrew Peller Limited

Source: Andrew Peller Limited
TORONTO and CALGARY, Alberta, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Biosenta Inc. (Biosenta or the Company) (CSE: ZRO) is pleased to announce further advances in research and development of the Tri-Filler particle composed of Ca(OH)2 (calcium hydroxide) core with a CaCO3 (calcium carbonate) encapsulation. Ongoing development of new methods of production of Tri-Filler by Dr. Maen Husein of the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Calgary and his team have reduced aggregation and resulted in the production of Tri-Filler particles being more uniform in shape and morphology. Additionally, using these new production methods, Tri-Filler can now be produced continuously at a higher rate than previously achieved.

The University of Calgary team continues to investigate the mechanism of encapsulation of calcium hydroxide with calcium carbonate with a view to improving Tri-Fillers performance in industrial applications and exploring Tri-Fillers ability to serve as an effective carbon sink. Preliminary testing conducted by SGS Canada Inc. using accelerated aging, indicates that Tri-Filler may have a shelf life of up to 99 years.

Dr. Mehdi Mohammadi Ashani, a Postdoctoral Fellow in Microbiology and Bioengineering at the University of Calgary, continues to study Tri-Filler on its own and in combination with other materials, to assess its efficacy against a diverse range of microorganisms, encompassing gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria including S.aureus, P.aeruginosa, and E.coli as well as fungi, including C.albecan and C.auris. Lab testing of Tri-Filler as an anti-microbial has shown very promising results. Preliminary testing points to the Tri-Filler being effective in inhibiting the growth of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and fungi.

Of note, the addition of Tri-Filler in paint has demonstrated the capability to eradicate a broad selection of bacteria and more than 95% of fungi within a brief 10-minute duration. This anti-microbial activity has been shown to be effective to combat Candida auris (C.auris) fungus. This specific fungus presents a substantial global health risk, given its alarming rate of spread, as identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These preliminary results show a potential for Tri-Filler to target C.auris infections in hospital and clinic settings. Further investigation by the University of Calgary team, experimentation and refinement of the Tri-Filler particle continue.

Tri-Filler has been produced and tested in laboratory quantities and settings only. Biosenta and the University of Calgary team are in the process of assembling a bench-scale unit capable of producing Tri-Filler in more significant amounts to be used for commercial testing and as a precursor to developing and scaling up to a commercial plant.

Biosenta has identified a number of industry partners with whom Biosenta and the University of Calgary team are in various stages of talks for further research and commercialization. These partnerships will be the subject of future press releases if and as agreements with such industry partners are entered into. For certainty, while the Company has had initial conversations with potential partners, these conversations are preliminary, and the Company has not entered into any definitive agreements with any such partners.

Biosenta

Biosenta Inc., a ground-breaking pioneer in the field of antimicrobial solutions, is on a mission to revolutionize the material world. We develop cutting-edge chemical compounds designed to eliminate harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses for household and industrial uses, while ensuring safety for both humans and the environment. Our aim is to address the escalating global health crisis of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).

Our ground-breaking approach has birthed two main offerings:

true Disinfectant: Our pioneering, broad-spectrum, anti-microbial, dual-action disinfectant is recognized by Health Canada for use in the fight against COVID-19. We designed it to be tough on germs but gentle on humans, causing no irritation or harm. With its long-lasting disinfecting power, it effectively kills bacteria, germs, mold, mildew, and viruses. Our true technology leads the charge against the threat of superbug pathogens. Tri-Filler: Biosenta's flagship product, Tri-Filler, symbolizes our commitment to transforming the material world. The Tri in Tri-Filler represents three key characteristics: Antimicrobial Power: Tri-Filler delivers impressive antimicrobial protection, preventing the regrowth of bacteria, fungi, mold, and viruses. It provides a critical defence against the escalating Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) global health crisis. Material Enhancement: Ingeniously engineered by encapsulating calcium hydroxide with calcium carbonate, Tri-Filler is a food-grade, bio-compatible solution. It not only imparts antimicrobial properties but also enhances the strength, fire retardancy, and performance of various materials including plastics, paints, coatings, textiles, drywall and concrete. It fortifies these materials against forces and stresses that could cause damage or failure. Our accelerated aging tests show that this solution can maintain efficacy for up to an impressive 99 years. Eco-Efficiency: Tri-Filler represents a significant stride towards a greener future. By incorporating CO2 in the encapsulation process, Tri-Filler aids in reducing CO2 emissions, helping businesses in achieving their sustainability goals.

Proudly Canadian, Biosenta is at the forefront of reshaping the material world for the better, tackling significant global health and environment challenges. We are committed to making the world a safer and healthier place.

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (forward-looking statements), including forward-looking statements relating to: anticipated production rates and continuity of production for Tri-Filler, potential for improving Tri-Fillers performance in industrial applications, use of Tri-Filler as a carbon sink, the potential shelf life of Tri-Filler, Tri-Filler being effective in inhibiting the growth of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and fungi targeting C.auris infections in hospital and clinic settings, further investigation by the University of Calgary, future publication of results, assembling of a bench-scale unit capable of producing Tri-Filler in more significant amounts to be used for commercial testing and the potential to develop and scale up to a commercial plant, identification of industry partners and entering into agreements with these partners.

Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In particular, the results expressed in this press release are based on preliminary testing only, are subject to confirmation in further testing, and have not been tested in real world application or otherwise outside of a laboratory setting.

Such risks, uncertainties, assumptions and factors also include, but are not limited to: future testing may not yield results as promising as initial results, results of testing in a laboratory setting may not be applicable to real life settings, assumptions in respect of developing and scaling up to a commercial plant, the ability of Biosenta to fund continued research and development, the availability of industry partners and the ability to successfully negotiate agreements and consummate transactions with them and the ability to be able to further commercialize Tri-Filler. If any such assumptions become incorrect, or such risks actually occur, they could materially adversely affect the path to continued commercialization of Tri-Filler and, by extension, the Companys business, financial condition or results of operations. In that case, the trading price of the Companys common shares could decline, perhaps materially.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purposes of providing information about managements current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in the Companys expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.

Disclaimer

The CSE has in no way passed upon the contents of this news release and further, has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as such term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information please contact:

Am Gill, President and CEO Biosenta Inc. Phone: 416-410-2019

Source: Biosenta Inc
VILNIUS, Lithuania, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Digital health startup accelerator Kilo Health calls out to be the trailblazer with the bold leadership approach and join forces with the Kilo Health co-found program.

With a portfolio of over 30 digital health products and experience of 10 years being in business, Kilo Health invites innovators to join its co-found program, an opportunity for visionary doers who know what it takes to lead and scale startups. In 2023, Kilo Health aims to grow 12 new startups based in the EU, which will require the exact same number of CEOs.

By 2025, the global digital health market is expected to grow to a $650 billion market, according to Statista forecasts. Kilo Health has been at the forefront of this explosive growth, earning the title of Europe's second fastest-growing company, as recognized by the Financial Times. In recent years, Kilo Health witnessed more than 50% growth, securing an annual revenue of 2022 of $270 millions.

Ilona Bernotaite, Chief People Officer at Kilo Health and Forbes Council Member recalls the first wave of the co-found program:

"When we first called for applications in 2021, entrepreneurs from around the world flooded us with over 1,000 applications in 3 weeks. The demand was overwhelming, and now is another opportunity to join forces with Kilo Health."

Kilo Health delivers projects with a dedicated in-house marketing agency, research team and other vital teams of over 700 experts while being bootstrapped from the very beginning.

The track record of co-founded projects speaks for itself as well with successful launches such as Pullseto, Greatness, BomeranGO!, and Joggo.

Pulsetto CEO and co-founder shares his success story:

Back then, there were only two of us. I worked on business development while my colleague Povilas worked on the product  two people make a team, but the possibilities are limited. It turned out that Vitalijus already knew the CEO of Kilo Health, Tadas Burgaila, so we pitched our idea to him. Typically, it takes 23 years to develop a market-ready wearable device, but with Kilo Health's bold approach and quick decision-making, we were able to produce the market-ready product within 6 months,  Vitalijus Majorovas.

The co-found program is designed for professionals who dream of leading cutting-edge health and wellness products. The extensive resources and collaborative approach empower Kilo Health co-founders to transform innovative digital health and wellness ideas into reality.

Kilo Healths co-found program invites highly driven individuals to become real business partners. Applications are now being accepted here.

About Kilo HealthKilo Health is a digital health and wellness company with more than 5 million customers worldwide. Since 2021, it has been listed as the second fastest-growing company in Europe on the Financial Times FT 1,000 and the second fastest-growing company in Central Europe on the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 list.

Contact details:Monika Jura JakuciunieneHead of CommunicationsKilo Health[email protected]

Source: KILO GRUPE UAB
HAYWARD, Calif. and BINH DUONG PROVINCE, Vietnam, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CHawk Technology, the preferred global choice for precision components, subsystems and fully integrated assemblies supporting semiconductor and healthcare products, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony today for the opening of its new GTI Vietnam hub, a 51,000-square-foot facility with robotic plating lines and class 10k and class 100 cleanrooms.

CHawk, the parent of Gold Tech Industries (GTI), has manufacturing facilities in Singapore; Johor Bahru, Malaysia; Suzhou, China; and Hayward and Fremont Calif., in addition to an existing GTI operation in Tempe, Ariz. (GTI Tempe). With the addition of new GTI Vietnam hub, CHawk will leverage its strong Silicon Valley-based management team with decades of experience in the semiconductor industry to bring critical gold plating, ultra-high purity (UHP) stainless steel orbital welding and cleanroom manufacturing services closer to customers in Southeast Asia.

Expanding our footprint in Southeast Asia brings us closer to our customers and regional supply chain, helping to reduce lead times, logistics and skilled labor costs, said Chase Zunino, CEO of the CHawk Group of Companies. We have made a substantial investment in acquiring the factory in Vietnam and increasing its capabilities with the addition of five new and automated gold plating lines and constructing cleanrooms for orbital welding and contract manufacturing work. We intend to reproduce the high-quality, high-value capabilities that we have established in the US and expand those to Southeast Asia, while continuing to maintain our footprint and capacity in the US.

Zunino adds, While expanding our Southeast Asia footprint, CHawk remains committed to supporting the US efforts for reshoring critical semiconductor manufacturing.

One of CHawks specialties is a proprietary and highly specialized gold plating service, a capability the company intends to triple its US output with the addition of the new GTI Vietnam site. The facility will house a 6,760-square-foot class 10k cleanroom and a 1,357-square-foot class 100 cleanroom for assembly and UHP stainless steel orbital welding.

I started my career two decades ago with the ownership of a metal machine shop in the US that specialized in medical devices, and, like the medical industry, it is necessary to have a quality first mindset with no room for error in the semiconductor industry, said Cuu Banh, VP Operations, GTI Vietnam for CHawk. In support of our Quality First approach, weve added next-generation automation and robotics to the new facility. But not only that, as we look to create approximately 150 new jobs in the local community, we have a very skilled and motivated workforce to leverage. Vietnam boasts talented workers with a strong work ethic, and their dedication to excellence aligns perfectly with CHawks values, ensuring the highest standards of quality in our manufacturing process.

According to Kent Rossman, Senior VP and Head of Operations, ASM, GTI has been a key supplier for our Epi deposition product line for well over a decade and we look forward to continuing to grow together. The new GTI Vietnam site provides us with the logistic advantages of adjacent development capabilities with the ability to seamlessly scale high-volume production in support of our Southeast Asia facility.

CHawk will support the local Ho Chi Minh city workforce with scholarships, internship programs, on-campus recruiting, as well as sponsoring and advising the HCMC University of Technology and Educations high-tech programs.

GTI Vietnam facility is located at Lot A-2B-CN, My Phuoc3rd Industrial Park, Ben Cat Town, Binh Duong Province, Vietnam. For more information visit https://www.chawktechnology.com/ or contact sales at [email protected].

About CHawkCHawk Technology is a customer-focused, global precision component, subsystem and fully integrated assembly supplier to the semiconductor equipment industry, which makes the integrated circuits or chips. CHawk also serves the Healthcare industry. Core capabilities include precision CNC machining, bonding, fabricating, welding, forming and assembly / testing of a variety of different polymers and metals used in these industries. CHawk also offers UHP SST orbital welding and surface treatments including gold plating. CHawk currently operates in seven factories across five different countries. For more information visit: https://www.chawktechnology.com/.

Source: CHawk Technology Incorporated, Inc.
DANBURY, Conn., Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. (Ethan Allen) has been named to Newsweeks list of Americas Best Retailers 2023. This prestigious award is presented by Newsweek and Statista Inc., a leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider. The list was announced on July 19, 2023, and can be viewed on Newsweeks website.



Ethan Allen and other retailers named as Americas Best Retailers 2023 were identified based on the results of an independent survey of more than 9,000 U.S. customers who have shopped at the retail stores in person in the past three years. In total, over 140,000 evaluations were collected.

The final assessment and rankings were based on the likelihood of recommendation and the following five evaluation criteria:

Products: measures the quality, price, range, and variety of products offered in store

measures the quality, price, range, and variety of products offered in store Customer service: measures the friendliness, helpfulness, and availability of employees in store

measures the friendliness, helpfulness, and availability of employees in store Atmosphere: measures the general atmosphere, lighting/illumination, music, cleanliness of stores

measures the general atmosphere, lighting/illumination, music, cleanliness of stores Accessibility: measures the parking availability, store hours, convenience of store location

measures the parking availability, store hours, convenience of store location Shop layout: measures the order that products are displayed, aisle size, product presentation, store size



Ethan Allen is pleased to be recognized on Newsweeks list of Americas Best Retailers 2023, including as the #1 retailer of Premium Furniture, said Ethan Allens Chairman, President and CEO Farooq Kathwari. Congratulations to all our associates, who continue each day to uphold our reputation for quality, craftsmanship, and exemplary service.





ABOUT ETHAN ALLEN

Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. (NYSE: ETD) is a leading interior design company, manufacturer and retailer in the home furnishings marketplace. The Company is a global luxury home fashion brand that is vertically integrated from product design through home delivery, which offers its customers stylish product offerings, artisanal quality, and personalized service. The Company provides complimentary interior design service to its clients and sells a full range of home furnishings through a retail network of design centers located throughout the United States and abroad as well as online at ethanallen.com. Ethan Allen owns and operates ten manufacturing facilities located in the United States, Mexico and Honduras, including one sawmill, one rough mill and a lumberyard. Approximately 75% of its products are manufactured or assembled in these North American facilities.

For more information on Ethan Allen's products and services, visit www.ethanallen.com.

Media Contact:

Catherine Plaisted

Vice President, Marketing

203.743.8665

[email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/67a4442a-a45e-4452-9617-c2385f5dae26
WABASH, Ind., Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FFW Corporation (the Corporation) (OTC PINK: FFWC) (8/7/23 Close: $39.50), parent corporation of Crossroads Bank (the Bank), announced earnings for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023.

For the three months ended June 30, 2023, the Corporation reported net income of $1,343,000 or $1.19 per common share compared to $1,523,000 or $1.33 per common share for the three months ended June 30, 2022. Net interest income for the three months ended June 30, 2023 was $3,800,000 compared to $4,071,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2022. The provision for loan losses was $75,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and $200,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2022. Total noninterest income was $1,030,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2023 compared to $1,075,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2022. Noninterest expense was $3,349,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and $3,215,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2022.

For the twelve months ended June 30, 2023, the Corporation reported net income of $5,698,000 or $5.03 per common share compared to $5,721,000 or $5.00 per common share for the twelve months ended June 30, 2022. Net interest income for the twelve months ended June 30, 2023 was $15,849,000 compared to $15,409,000 for the twelve months ended June 30, 2022. The Company recognized a provision for loan losses of $550,000 for the twelve months ended June 30, 2023 and $405,000 for the twelve months ended June 30, 2022. Total noninterest income was $4,005,000 for the twelve months ended June 30, 2023 compared to $4,441,000 for the twelve months ended June 30, 2022. Noninterest expense was $13,433,000 for the twelve months ended June 30, 2023 and $12,933,000 for the twelve months ended June 30, 2022.

The three and twelve months ended June 30, 2023 represented a return on average common equity of 11.30% and 12.26%, respectively, compared to 12.63% and 10.85% for the three and twelve month periods ended June 30, 2022. The three and twelve months ended June 30, 2023 represented a return on average assets of 0.99% and 1.07%, respectively, compared to 1.16% and 1.10% for the three and twelve month periods ended June 30, 2022.

The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of gross loans receivable was 1.23% at June 30, 2023 compared to 1.28% at June 30, 2022. Nonperforming assets were $2,065,000 at June 30, 2023 compared to $2,345,000 at June 30, 2022.

As of June 30, 2023, FFWCs equity-to-assets ratio was 8.54% compared to 8.72% at June 30, 2022. Total assets at June 30, 2023 were $543,245,000 compared to $534,918,000 at June 30, 2022. Shareholders equity was $46,385,000 at June 30, 2023 compared to $46,648,000 at June 30, 2022. Crossroads Bank exceeds all applicable regulatory requirements to be considered well capitalized.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include expressions such as expects, intends, believes, and should, which are necessarily statements of belief as to the expected outcomes of future events. Actual results could materially differ from those presented. The Corporation's ability to predict future results involves a number of risks and uncertainties. The Corporation undertakes no obligation to release revisions to these forward-looking statements or reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

Crossroads Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of FFW Corporation providing an extensive array of banking services and a wide range of investments and securities products through its main office in Wabash and six Indiana banking centers located in Columbia City, North Manchester, Peru, South Whitley, Syracuse and Warsaw. The Bank also provides leasing services at each of its banking centers. Insurance products are offered through an affiliated company, Insurance 1 Services, Inc. The Corporations stock is traded on the OTC Markets under the symbol FFWC. Our website address is www.crossroadsbanking.com. Crossroads Bank, Member FDIC.

FFW Corporation Selected Financial Information Consolidated Balance Sheet June 30 June 30 2023 2022 Unaudited Assets Cash and due from financial institutions $ 8,686,057 $ 7,122,187 Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions 4,668,889 48,456,109 Cash and cash equivalents 13,354,946 55,578,296 Securities available for sale 110,063,452 115,717,308 Loans held for sale 80,000 248,000 Loans receivable, net of allowance for loan losses of $4,852,745 at June 30, 2023 and $4,342,121 at June 30, 2022 390,544,236 335,672,317 Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost 1,289,700 1,289,700 Accrued interest receivable 2,648,368 2,105,470 Premises and equipment, net 8,121,511 8,481,385 Mortgage servicing rights 1,128,019 1,138,165 Cash surrender value of life insurance 10,086,476 9,767,792 Goodwill 1,213,898 1,213,898 Repossessed Assets 109,596 75,025 Other assets 4,604,551 3,630,737 Total assets $ 543,244,753 $ 534,918,093 Liabilities and shareholders' equity Deposits Noninterest-bearing $ 53,267,081 $ 55,960,708 Interest-bearing 437,700,301 428,550,708 Total deposits 490,967,382 484,511,416 Borrowings 2,100,000 - Accrued expenses and other liabilities 3,792,808 3,758,195 Total liabilities 496,860,190 488,269,611 Shareholders' equity Common stock, $.01 par; 2,000,000 shares authorized; Issued: 1,836,328; outstanding: 1,126,357 - June 30, 2023 and 1,140,305 - June 30, 2022 18,363 18,363 Additional paid-in capital 10,150,145 9,940,774 Retained earnings 59,406,634 56,384,625 Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (10,588,876 ) (7,726,089 ) Treasury stock, at cost: 709,971 shares at June 30, 2023 and 696,023 shares at June 30, 2022 (12,601,703 ) (11,969,191 ) Total shareholders' equity 46,384,563 46,648,482 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 543,244,753 $ 534,918,093

FFW Corporation Selected Financial Information Consolidated Statement of Income Three Months Ended June 30 Twelve Months Ended June 30 2023 2022 2023 2022 Unaudited Unaudited Unaudited Unaudited Interest and dividend income: Loans, including fees $ 4,797,377 $ 3,562,772 $ 17,404,248 $ 13,660,543 Taxable securities 483,668 341,548 1,864,881 1,317,675 Tax exempt securities 426,926 423,846 1,804,825 1,652,828 Other 188,303 128,452 548,886 197,815 Total interest and dividend income 5,896,274 4,456,618 21,622,840 16,828,861 Interest expense: Deposits 2,095,131 385,508 5,216,815 1,419,669 Borrowings 1,059 200 7,096 201 Total interest expense 2,096,190 385,708 5,223,911 1,419,870 Net interest income 3,800,084 4,070,910 16,398,929 15,408,991 Provision for loan losses 75,000 200,000 550,000 405,000 Net interest income after provision for loan losses 3,725,084 3,870,910 15,848,929 15,003,991 Noninterest income: Net gains (losses) on sales of securities - - (3,633 ) - Net gains on sales of loans 15,397 75,450 166,999 523,219 Net gains (losses) on fixed assets - - (20,533 ) 34,283 Net gains (losses) on sales of REO 18,039 (17,909 ) 21,105 (6,623 ) Commission income 374,866 337,665 1,298,105 1,279,202 Service charges and fees 248,318 275,763 1,052,670 1,135,426 Earnings on life insurance 80,596 77,651 318,684 308,047 Other 292,868 326,669 1,171,991 1,167,426 Total noninterest income 1,030,084 1,075,289 4,005,388 4,440,980 Noninterest expense: Salaries and benefits 1,789,700 1,815,040 7,341,502 7,100,728 Occupancy and equipment 314,274 313,309 1,247,099 1,298,461 Professional 146,533 111,887 473,020 448,694 Marketing 83,207 90,882 364,422 394,013 Deposit insurance premium 82,000 38,304 201,968 140,752 Regulatory assessment 8,090 9,074 32,780 37,379 Correspondent bank charges 21,641 22,200 87,714 80,724 Data processing 419,607 337,292 1,655,966 1,584,725 Printing, postage and supplies 57,018 73,382 278,285 293,419 Expense on life insurance 21,785 21,132 87,767 85,128 Contribution expense 8,876 11,676 49,000 65,583 Expense on REO 2,837 5,412 9,377 7,505 Other 393,378 365,584 1,603,767 1,396,052 Total noninterest expense 3,348,946 3,215,174 13,432,667 12,933,163 Income before income taxes 1,406,222 1,731,025 6,421,650 6,511,808 Income tax expense 63,249 207,572 723,754 791,077 Net income $ 1,342,973 $ 1,523,453 $ 5,697,896 $ 5,720,731

FFW Corporation Selected Financial Information Key Balances and Ratios Three Months Ended June 30 Twelve Months Ended June 30 2023 2022 2023 2022 Unaudited Unaudited Unaudited Unaudited Per common share data: Earnings $1.19 $1.33 $5.03 $5.00 Diluted earnings $1.19 $1.33 $5.03 $5.00 Dividends paid $1.53 $0.26 $2.37 $1.04 Average shares issued and outstanding 1,126,522 1,141,763 1,131,761 1,143,428 Shares outstanding end of period 1,126,357 1,140,305 1,126,357 1,140,305 Supplemental data: Net interest margin ** 2.85 % 3.15 % 3.15 % 3.12 % Return on average assets *** 0.99 % 1.16 % 1.07 % 1.10 % Return on average common equity *** 11.30 % 12.63 % 12.26 % 10.85 % June 30 June 30 2023 2022 Nonperforming assets * $2,065,381 $2,344,693 Repossessed assets $109,596 $75,025 * Includes non-accruing loans, accruing loans delinquent more than 90 days and repossessed assets ** Yields reflected have not been computed on a tax equivalent basis *** Annualized

FOR MORE INFORMATION Contact: Kirsten Pendarvis, Treasurer, at (260) 563-3185

Source: FFW Corporation
With ImmigrationAI, the complex and time-consuming process of filing immigration paperwork is simplified like never before.

Salt Lake City, UT, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Filevine , the most powerful immigration case management software on the market, recently announced the launch of ImmigrationAI , a new tool that deploys artificial intelligence (AI) to help law firms streamline their immigration operations and simplify the immigration application process for their clients. ImmigrationAI joins Filevines other AI features , including AIFields and DemandsAI .

Utilizing existing case information stored in Filevine, ImmigrationAI extracts key data points from various documents such as licenses and passports, assists in completing USCIS forms, and tracks form statuses. Immigration attorneys and their clients not only benefit from AI-powered document scanning and automated form fill, unique to Filevine, but also application support via a questionnaire available in 170 languages and question guides to ensure completion.

The existing process for filing immigration paperwork is complex and time-consuming, but with ImmigrationAI by Filevine, assembling documentation, completing forms, and tracking progress has never been easier. Filevine's AI-enhanced immigration functionality streamlines the immigration process by automating tasks, reducing errors, and ensuring form consistency. ImmigrationAI automates the tedious, laborious grunt work of the immigration process and empowers immigration attorneys to support more clients by simplifying the demanding process for all those involved.

We built ImmigrationAI because we thought it was the right thing to do and the right time to do it, said Filevines Head Legal Futurist, Cain Elliott. We have so many new ways to deploy technology to allow immigration firms to focus on the individuals and companies at the heart of their practices, rather than paperwork. As with many others at Filevine, my own family has an immigration story at its center, so this is personal for us.

AI Automated Document Processing

The process begins by collecting all common identity documents, including birth certificates, licenses, passports, etc. Documents are easily and securely uploaded to a clients case file in Filevine via email, text or direct upload. The Filevine-trained AI tool, a first of its kind, then scans and captures data from the documents to populate form fields, thus preventing the need for manual data entry and reducing the risk of error. To further ensure accuracy, ImmigrationAI then scans the document data for inconsistencies to ensure that the correct information is used and to help avoid future delays.

Automated Application Completion

Next, clients complete a USCIS smart questionnaire to capture the remaining information not found in their government documents. The questionnaire offers translation in over 170 different languages and includes an AI-powered support tool to help users complete their application and minimize the number of skipped or unanswered questions requiring follow-up. Information from the questionnaire is combined with data pulled from their identity documents to accurately and securely complete the necessary USCIS paperwork. ImmigrationAI by Filevine ensures that the latest version of the USCIS form is available, so attorneys never waste time working on an outdated form.

Automated Form Tracking and Dashboard

Once submitted, users can easily track the questionnaire status and view all relevant documents, case details, and client information in one central dashboard. They receive automated, real-time updates when the application progresses and can take action immediately if there are any delays.

Whether you are reuniting families, naturalizing residents, or bolstering the workforce through EB-3 Visas, our tailor-made platform is a game-changer for immigration attorneys, said Ryan Anderson, CEO of Filevine. "It automates the most time-consuming and error-prone tasks in immigration law, freeing up invaluable time for lawyers to dive deeper into their current caseload, accept more immigration cases, and better serve the tremendous community need.

Comprehensive End-to-End Platform

On top of ImmigrationAI, Immigration attorneys will benefit from the comprehensive suite of features offered in Filevines all-in-one technology stack, including cloud-based case management, workflow automation, contactless intake management, communication tools, advanced document search tools, robust reporting, e-signatures, time and billing tools, and payment capabilities. Attorneys can communicate with their clients, track important deadlines, send invoices, and accept payments without leaving the platform.

When coupled with Filevine Document Assembly , immigration lawyers also can generate, collaborate on, and revise documents with ease and cut down on the time spent preparing forms. Information can be extracted directly from their files to create complex, personalized documents, saving invaluable time and reducing human error. Since immigration policy can change rapidly, this centralized process lets users quickly update form templates to stay up-to-date and policy compliant.

I see AI exactly the way [Filevine] sees it, as a tool to remove the mundane and focus on the real aspects of being a lawyer, which are the client relationships, effective communication and advocacy with all parties involved, said Gianfranco De Girolamo of DGO Legal. Im looking forward to a great partnership.

The Filevine Immigration License, including ImmigrationAI, will be available to all Filevine customers using Docs+. To request a demo of ImmigrationAI by Filevine, visit https://www.filevine.com/platform/immigrationai/ .

About Filevine

Filevine is changing the way legal work gets done for law practitioners and their clients. As the leading legal work platform, Filevine is dedicated to empowering organizations with tools to simplify and elevate complex, high-stakes legal work. Filevine powers everything from document management and client communication to contract lifecycle management and business analytics. Over 25,000 legal professionals use Filevine daily to deliver excellence in every contract, deadline, and result. Filevine is recognized on the 2022 Deloitte Technology Fast 500 and Utah Business Fast 50 lists, is a 2022 Top Workplace USA winner, and is among the fastest-growing companies on the Inc. 5000 list.

Attachments
Remote-First-Company | New York, NY / Abu Dhabi, UAE, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- G42 Cloud, a leading cloud provider in the UAE and VAST Data, the AI data platform company, have joined forces in an ambitious strategic partnership to reimagine the future of data-intensive AI computing. G42 Cloud selected the VAST Data Platform to build a central data foundation for a global network of AI supercomputers and to store and learn from hundreds of petabytes of data.

With a strong focus on harnessing the potential of high-performance computing, G42 Cloud is at the forefront of driving transformative advancements in the UAE and beyond. Leveraging the power of AI to deliver superior performance, G42 Cloud is furthering the development of a powerful AI-optimized cloud infrastructure, designed to make organizations more intuitive, agile, and effective in addressing real-world challenges.

The strategic partnership with G42 Cloud demonstrates the scale and power of VAST Data's new approach to building distributed data systems for enterprises and AI service providers. As part of this partnership, the VAST Data Platform will serve as a central multi-tenant and secure data platform that scales capacity and performance to power a multi-architecture high performance computing system as well as the recently announced worlds largest AI supercomputer, Condor Galaxy. In total, a single VAST Data cluster will support multiple ExaFLOPs of AI supercomputing capability in one of the worlds largest AI clouds.

"We are thrilled to announce our partnership with VAST Data," said Talal M. Al Kaissi, G42 Clouds CEO. "VAST's unique approach to consolidating and scaling data infrastructure aligns perfectly with our vision for eliminating the barriers to AI-based discovery. As the region's technology landscape evolves, through our collaboration with VAST, G42 Cloud will enhance the AI research capabilities of organizations working across healthcare, energy, financial services, and beyond, resulting in a tangible positive impact for the community.

G42 Cloud chose to partner with VAST Data due to the VAST Data Platforms simplicity, scalability, resilience, and overall cost of ownership benefits. The platform, built on VASTs Disaggregated Shared-Everything Architecture (DASE), offers G42 Cloud the scalability in both performance and size needed for exascale AI and High-Performance Computing (HPC). Additionally, it provides a global namespace and the multi-tenancy features essential for zero-trust cloud environments.



"The collaboration between VAST Data and G42 Cloud will set a standard of excellence as we work to shape the future of AI computing," said Renen Hallak, CEO of VAST Data. "Data is at the center of G42 Clouds computing mission, and VAST is honored to help build the systems that will unlock value from large reserves of data to help solve grand challenges across several computing disciplines."

About VAST Data:

VAST Data is the data platform software company for the AI era. Accelerating time-to-insight for workload-intensive applications, the VAST data platform delivers scalable performance, radically simple data management and enhanced productivity. Launched in 2019, VAST is the fastest-growing data infrastructure company in history. For more information, please visit https://vastdata.com and follow VAST Data on Twitter and LinkedIn .
Golar LNG Limited (the Company) advises that the 2023 Annual General Meeting of the Company was held on August 8, 2023 at 10:00 ADT at 2nd Floor, The S.E. Pearman Building, 9 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda. The audited consolidated financial statements for the Company for the year ended December 31, 2022 were presented at the Meeting.

The following resolutions were passed:

To set the maximum number of Directors to be not more than Seven. To resolve that vacancies in the number of Directors be designated as casual vacancies and that the Board of Directors be authorized to fill such vacancies as and when it deems fit. To re-elect Tor Olav Trim as a Director of the Company. To re-elect Daniel Rabun as a Director of the Company. To re-elect Thorleif Egeli as a Director of the Company. To re-elect Carl Steen as a Director of the Company. To re-elect Niels G. Stolt-Nielsen as a Director of the Company. To re-elect Lori Wheeler Naess as a Director of the Company. To re-elect Georgina Sousa as a Director of the Company. To re-appoint Ernst & Young LLP of London, England as auditors and to authorise the Directors to determine their remuneration. To approve remuneration of the Companys Board of Directors of a total amount of fees not to exceed US$2,050,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Hamilton, BermudaAugust 8, 2023

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act

Source: Golar LNG
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. The UK government has allocated an additional 500,000 pounds to support the demining of undermined territories in Azerbaijan, UK Ambassador to Azerbaijan Fergus Auld tweeted, Trend reports.

"These funds are aimed at building the capacity of Azerbaijan in the field of mine clearance and ensuring the safety of the "Great Return" program within the framework of the development program of the Mine Clearance Agency of Azerbaijan and the UN in Azerbaijan," he said.

Following the liberation of its lands from Armenian occupation in the Second Karabakh War, Azerbaijan started carrying out operations to clear its lands of mines, booby traps, and various weapons left behind by the Armenian troops.
NEW YORK, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Greystone, a leading national commercial real estate finance company, has provided $27,325,000 in total Fannie Mae Delegated Underwriting & Servicing (DUS) financing for a two-property portfolio in Greensboro, North Carolina. The financing was originated by Justin Hechler, Director at Greystone, on behalf of repeat client Featherstone Partners.

Terrace Oaks, which comprises 120 units, and Terrace at Olde Battleground, comprising 156 units, both received 10-year, fixed-rate Fannie Mae loans with 35-year amortizations and the first six years of interest-only payments. Both properties boast amenities including swimming pools and fitness centers, while the larger community, Terrace at Olde Battleground, additionally offering a playground, car wash station, dog park and wash station, and picnic area with fire pit.

In addition to these two refinancing transactions, Hunter Bowling of Cushman & Wakefield represented Featherstone Partners in the sale of Madison Woods, also located in Greensboro.

Exiting the portfolios existing debt all at once by way of three separate transactions was tricky due to the current capital markets environment -- having a thorough understanding of the mechanics that went into each step, along with having great financing partners like Greystone, made all the difference, said Chuck Patty, Managing Partner, Featherstone Partners.

It takes a true collaboration with clients to close financing so quickly, and the Featherstone team was prepared and responsive, enabling our team to guide them to closing in 28 days, said Mr. Hechler. Its also a testament to our commitment to clients when we have repeat borrowers return for new financing with Greystone.

About GreystoneGreystone is a private national commercial real estate finance company with an established reputation as a leader in multifamily and healthcare finance, having ranked as a top FHA, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac lender in these sectors. Loans are offered through Greystone Servicing Company LLC, Greystone Funding Company LLC and/or other Greystone affiliates. For more information, visit www.greystone.com.

PRESS CONTACT:Karen MarottaGreystone212-896-9149[email protected]

Source: Greystone
CONCORD, NC, Aug. 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire  Hydromer, Inc. (OTC: HYDI) today announced the resignation of all its board of directors. There were no disagreements between the Company and the board of directors. The company has swiftly acted to ensure continuity and has appointed new members to its board of directors.

The new appointees to the board include Braeden Lichti of BWL Investments Ltd., George Kovalyov, and Mike Torti, the current CEO of Hydromer, Inc.

Braeden Lichti, who is taking on the role of Chairman, expressed gratitude to the departing board members for their contributions to the company. He stated, "We are looking forward to a renewed phase of growth and innovation at Hydromer. Our new team is committed to delivering value for our shareholders."

Shareholders can anticipate further communication in the coming days. Chairman Braeden Lichti will be providing a n update to all stakeholders.

For further information, please contact Hydromer, Inc.'s corporate communications department.

About Hydromer

Hydromer, Inc & Subsidiary (the Company) is an ISO 9001:2015 global business-to-business (B2B) surface modification and coating solutions provider offering polymer research & development, and manufacturing services capabilities for a wide variety of applications. We are a U.S. public corporation domiciled in Concord, NC. Our customers are located across the United States of America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. The Company was established in 1980, originally incorporated in the State of New Jersey. We are a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 13485, and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001 production facility. For over four decades, the Company has developed value-added solutions to serve businesses in domestic and international markets, in a wide range of industries. We manage numerous global B2B services such as, coating services, research and development, analytical testing, technology transfer, and dedicated machinery building, installation, and support. We have successfully developed numerous proprietary formulations and secured many patents worldwide at separate times throughout our history including, anti-microbial, anti-fog, anti-frost, condensation-controlling, hydrophilic and thromboresistant coatings.

Contact:Hydromer Inc.Michael E. Torti1-800-326-5976[email protected]

Source: Hydromer, Inc.
Arlington Heights, Illinois, Aug. 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Little Health Ambassadors, a children's book franchise by clinician-turned-author Ken Korber, will release the second edition of its childrens activity book, Grace + Friends: Burn Prevention and Fire Safety, which was co-authored with Paul Possenti, Director of Trauma Services and Emergency Management at the Yale New Haven Health System's Bridgeport Hospital. It is expected to come out in early October, coinciding with Fire Prevention Week in the US.

First published in 2019, the book contains a variety of activities for children to teach them about fires and how to prevent burns, featuring eight-year-old Grace and her friends. These include matching columns for different types of fire extinguishers, solving a maze to rescue a puppy from a burning house, and drawing an escape plan for their family in case a fire happens. The second edition will increase the number of pages to 45, up from 30 in the first edition. There is also a page containing Grace's cooking tips, which reminds readers and their parents to set the grill in an open area away from the house.

According to Korber, he and Possenti decided to release a second edition of Burn Prevention and Fire Safety because of the very positive reception for the first edition. Korber provided copies of the book to around 40 fire departments in the Midwestern US for use in their outreach and education activities in local schools, and feedback from the fire departments said that the book has the potential to save lives by changing how children react during a fire. Korber also conducted a survey where first-grade teachers asked students 60 days after the event about what they remembered about the fire department's visit, and two-thirds of students mentioned the book.

I believe that was an incredibly positive assessment of stickiness and impact because most students still remembered our book two months after the big fireman in full gear visited their school. And, for first graders, 60 days is an incredibly long time, Korber says.

With the release of the second edition, Korber hopes to reach more organizations, such as medical groups and fire departments, across the country, and help them spread the message about burn prevention and fire safety. He is also open to partnering with organizations overseas and having the book translated into other languages. And, most of all, he aims to reach more parents and children and help them keep safe from the dangers caused by fire.

According to Korber, he was inspired to do the book by having encountered burn victims during his career as a physician assistant. Possenti, who is the medical director for a trauma and burn unit, provided his medical knowledge and perspective for the book. Both of them are alumni of Drexel University, and they received the People of Purpose Award from the university in 2020 for the book.

Our main goal in creating Grace + Friends: Burn Prevention and Fire Safety is to grow awareness of fire risks and help protect families from disasters, such as house fires. Most families don't sit down and talk to each other about a fire escape plan. But, through the book, we can be able to harness children's natural curiosity and make them aware about the need for an escape plan, and hopefully get them to talk about it with their parents, Korber says.

Media contact:

Name: Ken Korber

Email: [email protected]

Source: Korber Enterprises
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Interfield Global Software Inc. (NEO: IFSS) (the Company) is pleased to announce that its 100% owned e-commerce site Equipment Hound, the leading B2B e-commerce marketplace for industrial equipment, has signed its latest membership agreement with Leaders Oil Field Equipment LLC (Leaders Oil Field Equipment), a prominent supplier of specialized oil and gas equipment. Through this addition, Equipment Hound aims to expand its range of offerings, providing businesses worldwide with access to premium oil field equipment conveniently and efficiently.

Leaders Oil Field Equipment brings a wealth of expertise and a strong reputation in the oil and gas industry. With a focus on delivering cutting-edge solutions and top-quality equipment, their values align perfectly with Equipment Hound's commitment to simplifying the procurement process for businesses of all sizes.

Equipment Hound users will now have direct access to Leaders Oil Field Equipment's extensive inventory, which includes a wide array of oil field machinery, tools, and accessories. This new addition is set to benefit businesses operating in the oil and gas sector, enabling them to source the equipment they need from a trusted and reliable supplier.

"We are thrilled to welcome Leaders Oil Field Equipment to our ever-growing family of suppliers on Equipment Hound," said Steele Hemmerich, President of Interfield Global Software Inc, "Their expertise in providing top-notch oil field equipment will significantly enrich our platform, ensuring that our users have access to the latest advancements in the industry to enhance their operations."

By joining the Equipment Hound B2B e-commerce marketplace, Leaders Oil Field Equipment gains access to a vast network of potential customers, offering a global platform to showcase their products and expand their market reach.

With Leaders Oil Field Equipment now on board, Equipment Hound continues to solidify its position as the go-to destination for businesses seeking industrial equipment solutions across diverse sectors.

About Equipment Hound: Equipment Hound is a leading B2B e-commerce marketplace that connects businesses with a vast array of industrial equipment suppliers. By providing a seamless platform for equipment sourcing, Equipment Hound enables businesses to streamline their procurement processes, saving time and effort while accessing top-quality products.

About Leaders Oil Field Equipment LLC: Leaders Oil Field Equipment is a reputable supplier of specialized oil and gas equipment, known for its commitment to excellence and cutting-edge solutions. With extensive experience in the industry, Leaders Oil Field Equipment is a trusted partner for businesses seeking high-performance equipment to enhance their operations.

About Interfield Global Software Inc.

The Company is a publicly listed company, with its common shares listed on the Neo Exchange Inc. (NEO: IFSS) and operates in Dubai, U.A.E through its wholly owned subsidiary, Interfield Software Solutions LLC (Interfield Solutions).

Interfield Solutions is a software company that services numerous industrial segments worldwide including oil and gas, mining and renewables. Interfield Solutions has two operating divisions, E-commerce and Software as a Service. Equipment Hound, the companys flagship product of its E-commerce division, is an industrial equipment marketplace that connects buyers and suppliers around the globe. Equipment Hound manages a catalogue of equipment from various suppliers and provides procurement solutions for buyers. It includes features such as requests for quotes, logistics support and third-party verification. ToolSuite, the companys flagship product of its Software as a Service division, is a cloud based data collection and management platform that digitizes industrial processes and provides real-time auditable data for clients.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Harold Hemmerich

Harold Hemmerich, Chief Executive Officer & DirectorPhone: +971 50 558 8349

Bruce Nurse, Investor RelationsPhone: +1 303 919 2913

Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer and Reader Advisory

This news release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, forward-looking statements) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. 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 using phrases such as expects, anticipates, 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 are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; delay or failure to receive any necessary board, shareholder or regulatory approvals, including the approval of any applicable regulatory authority; and that factors may occur which impede or prevent the Companys future business plans. 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 the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements, whether they change as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Neither the Neo Exchange Inc. nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Neo Exchange Inc.) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Source: Interfield Global Software Inc.
Johnston, RI, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mobile Beacons Annual Wi-Fly Digital Inclusion Grant is open and accepting applications until September 30th. The Wi-Fly Digital Inclusion Grant provides grantees with 25 laptops, 25 mobile hotspots, and Mobile Beacons unlimited, uncapped mobile broadband service. The Wi-Fly grant is worth over $10,000 in donated technology and internet access. Eligible non-profit community organizations including schools, libraries, healthcare organizations, and religious organizations are encouraged to apply.

The grant is designed to work hand-in-hand with these community organizations to create digital inclusion programs that provide the internet and technology to combat the digital divide. Together, Wi-Fly grantees help connect underserved Americans to this vital tool to improve their lives.

Applications will be accepted until September 30, 2023. Two organizations will be awarded at the end of October. Past grantees used the Wi-Fly grant to create lasting programs in their communities including providing hotspots and laptops to participants to learn new technology skills, using the technology to devise workforce development programs, creating computer labs to provide access to residents, and providing off-campus access to students of all ages who do not have reliable internet access. Mobile Beacon encourages applicants to be creative in designing their digital inclusion programs to help solve the unique digital challenges faced in their specific communities.

The Wi-Fly grant allowed us to meet the technology and internet connectivity needs of the elementary students in an inner city elementary school in Phoenix," Rock Rockett, Project Manager, Future Stars, Inc., 2022 Wi-Fly Grant Winner said.

Mobile Beacons Wi-Fly Digital Inclusion Grant helps community anchor institutions launch digital inclusion programs aimed at closing the digital divide. To apply please visit our website at https://www.mobilebeacon.org/wi-fly-lending-launch-kit/. For more information questions please email [email protected].

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About Mobile Beacon: Mobile Beacon provides high-speed, low-cost, mobile internet access to the anchors of communities: the nonprofits, schools, libraries, and healthcare organizations that provide vital services to millions of Americans every day. Through this broadband service, organizations have an essential tool to fulfill their missions and maximize their philanthropic impact, which allows organizations to access more information, reach more people, and help more in their communities. Learn more at www.mobilebeacon.org.

Attachment

Lauren Yergeau Mobile Beacon 401-934-0500 [email protected]

Source: Mobile Beacon
PHILADELPHIA, PA, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Scientists have long used community advisory boards to engage communities and provide feedback on studies, but this model has limitations. Now, researchers from The Wistar Institute are sharing how a more inclusive model for community engagement can lead to deeper insights and greater community participation in HIV research. The community engagement group, or CEG model, is composed of a three-part structure with a Community Advisory Board (CAB), Community nonprofit organization, and researchers.

The more inclusive community engagement group model is a valuable resource for scientists because of the broader reach, deeper trust and credibility we can maintain with persons living with HIV in our community, said Luis Montaner, D.V.M., D.Phil., vice president for scientific operations, Herbert Kean, M.D., Family Professor, director, HIV-1 Immunopathogenesis Laboratory, and leader, HIV Research Program, Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center at The Wistar Institute. Unlike isolated advisory board models, in which researchers propose ideas and the board provides advice, the CEG model is a collaborative working unit at every stage of the research process.

As a clinic and service provider, Philadelphia FIGHT is constantly interacting with HIV patients and providers, as well as advocating for policy changes, giving it a role in the CEG that provides a much broader footprint than a traditional CAB, Montaner said. By combining Philadelphia FIGHT with the CAB, it also established greater access and trust within the target community.

This a unique, dynamic model because we all work together, said William B. Carter, chairman of the BEAT-HIV Community Advisory Board (CAB). We (the community) work in unison with researchers and Philadelphia FIGHT and its a brilliant thing. In my eyes, the scientists with collaborators dream up the roadmap to implement cure research. And then the community makes the dream our own. Scientists dreams don't come to light because they can't take that injection, they cant take that pill. You need health clinics and services to help organizations. Then you need us. I don't see how we can fail.

Projects are developed in partnership, Montaner said. As a larger working group with community nonprofit groups serving patient communities, together with community advocates sharing life experiences, the result of our joint work goes beyond just asking community members to be only advisors.

The Montaner Teams case study about their experience combining scientists, Philadelphia FIGHT and a CAB under a CEG model, entitled Community engagement group model in basic and biomedical research: lessons learned from the BEAT-HIV Delaney Collaboratory towards an HIV-1 cure, published June 8, 2023 in the journal Research Involvement and Engagement.

Montaner, who was senior author of the paper, said the Team published the report after hearing questions from other researchers about how to replicate the Wistar CEG model. Over time weve been asked, How do you do it? he said. Overall, were proposing a new model for community engagement.

The paper details the decades-long relationship between HIV researchers at Wistar and Philadelphia FIGHT, a nonprofit AIDS services organization, clinic, and advocacy group. The collaboration eventually led to the establishment of the BEAT-HIV Community Engagement Group or CEG when a CAB was added as the third component.

Along with a history of the collaboration, the report also documents examples of specific projects, and lessons learned, with potential strengths and challenges faced with the CEG since its start.

Were proposing a new, improved and more intentional model for community engagement with greater equity and roles than our previous practices, Montaner said. We are hopeful that other research programs, not just HIV cure-directed research, can adapt our experience to increase community partnerships into ongoing research efforts.

Co-authors: Karine Dube of the University of California San Diego; Beth Peterson of The Wistar Institute; Nora L. Jones, William B. Carter, Christine Dannaway, Steven Johnson, Roy Hayes, Marcus Hill, and Rease Maddox of the BEAT-HIV Delaney Collaboratory Community Advisory Board; Amy Onorato, David Metzger, and James L. Riley of the University of Pennsylvania; Jane Shull of Philadelphia FIGHT Community Health Centers.

Work supported by: the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases, the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and The Robert I. Jacobs Fund of the Philadelphia Foundation.

Publication information: Community engagement group model in basic and biomedical research: lessons learned from the BEAT-HIV Delaney Collaboratory towards an HIV-1 cure, Research Involvement and Engagement (DATE).

###

The Wistar Institute, the first independent, nonprofit biomedical research institute in the United States, marshals the talents of an international team of outstanding scientists through a culture of biomedical collaboration and innovation. Wistar scientists are focused on solving some of the worlds most challenging and important problems in the field of cancer, infectious disease, and immunology. Wistar has been producing groundbreaking advances in world health for more than a century. Consistent with its legacy of leadership in biomedical research and a track record of life-saving contributions in immunology and cell biology, Wistar scientists early-stage discoveries shorten the path from bench to bedside. wistar.org

CONTACT: Darien SuttonC: 215.870.2048[email protected]

Darien Sutton The Wistar Institute 215-870-2048 [email protected]

Source: The Wistar Institute
Trondheim, Norway, 8 August 2023: NORBIT, a global provider of tailored technology to carefully selected applications, will announce its results for the second quarter of 2023 on Tuesday 15 August 2023.



The interim report for the first half-year and the presentation material will be available from 07:00 am CEST at the company's homepage, www.norbit.com and Oslo Stock Exchange's news site, www.newsweb.no.

CEO Per Jrgen Weisethaunet and CFO Per Kristian Reppe will present the company's results at 10:00. The presentation will be held at SpareBank1 Markets, Olav Vs gate 5, 0161 Oslo. In order to register your attendance, please send an email to: [email protected].

It is also possible to follow the presentation via the following link:

https://channel.royalcast.com/landingpage/hegnarmedia/20230815_7/

For further queries, please contact:

Per Kristian Reppe, CFO, +47 900 33 203

About NORBIT ASA

NORBIT is a global provider of tailored technology to selected applications, solving challenges and promoting sustainability through innovative solutions, in line with its mission to Explore More. The company is structured in three business segments to address its key markets: Oceans, Connectivity and Product Innovation & Realization. The Oceans segment delivers tailored technology solutions to global maritime markets. The Connectivity segment provides wireless solutions for identification, monitoring and tracking. The Product Innovation & Realization segment offers R&D services, proprietary products, and contract manufacturing to key customers. NORBIT is headquartered in Trondheim with manufacturing in Europe, has around 450 employees, and a worldwide sales and distribution platform.

For more information: www.norbit.com

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements in the Norwegian Securities Trading Act  5-12.
In accordance with the initiative and decision of the Board of LITGRID AB (company code 302564383, registered address at Karlo Gustavo Emilio Manerheimo st. 8, LT-05131, Vilnius) (hereinafter  LITGRID, Company), the Extraordinary General Meeting of LITGRID shareholders is convened at the Companys registered office (address Karlo Gustavo Emilio Manerheimo st. 8, LT-05131, Vilnius, Room 229) on 30 August 2023, 10:00 am.

Agenda of the LITGRID Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders:

1) Election of the audit company of LITGRID AB and determination of the terms of payment for audit services for the period of 2023-2025.

The beginning of shareholders' registration: 9:30 a. m. on 30 August 2023.

End of shareholders' registration: 9:55 a. m. on 30 August 2023.

The record date of the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders: 23 August 2023. The right of participation and voting in the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders can be exercised only by the persons who remain shareholders of LITGRID by the end of the record date of the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders.

A person attending at the General Meeting of Shareholders and entitled to vote must provide a proof of identity. A person who is not a shareholder shall, in addition to the aforementioned document, provide a document confirming his/her right to vote at the General Meeting of Shareholder.

Participation and voting at the General Meeting of Shareholders by electronic means shall not be possible.

On 8 August 2023, the Board of LITGRID approved the agenda of the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders and the Draft Resolution of the meeting:

The agenda of the General Meeting of shareholders:

1) Election of the audit company of LITGRID AB and determination of the terms of payment for audit services for the period of 2023-2025.

Proposed Draft Resolution:

1.1. UAB PricewaterhouseCoopers, code 111473315 has been elected as the audit company that will perform the audit of the financial statements of LITGRID AB prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards adopted in the European Union for the period of 2023-2025;

1.2. To set a remuneration of no more than 482,300 euros (excluding VAT) (including the cost of the audit of interim financial statements of 160,800 euros) for the audit services referred to in point 1.1 of this Decision for the years 2023 - 2025.

The shareholders may familiarize themselves with the Draft Resolutions of the General Meeting of Shareholders and other additional materials related to the General Meeting of Shareholders also with the implementation of the shareholders rights at the Central Database of Regulated Information www.crib.lt and on Companys website www.litgrid.eu .

The shareholders of LITGRID, whose shares are entitled to at least 1/20 of the total number of votes, have the right to supplement the agenda for the General Meeting of Shareholders. The proposal to supplement the agenda shall be submitted in writing and sent by registered mail or delivered to the head office of the Company to the address: Karlo Gustavo Emilio Manerheimo st. 8, LT-05131 Vilnius (hereinafter  Head Office). Draft Resolutions on the proposed issues or, when it is not mandatory to adopt resolutions, explanatory notes on each proposed issue of the agenda of the General Meeting of Shareholders must be presented alongside the proposal. The agenda will be supplemented if the proposal is received not later than 14 August 2023.

The shareholders entitled to at least 1/20 of the total number of votes have the right, at any time before the General Meeting of Shareholders or during the meeting, to propose in writing new draft resolutions on the items put on the agenda of the General Meeting of Shareholders. Such proposal must be made in writing and submitted to the Company by registered mail or delivered to the Head Office. The proposal submitted during the meeting must be formalized in writing and delivered to the Secretary of the General Meeting of Shareholders.

Shareholders have the right to submit questions to the Company regarding the agenda of the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders to be held on 30 August 2023, in advance, but not later than 24 August 2023. Questions must be formalized in writing and delivered to the Company by registered mail or to the Head Office. The Company will not provide any answer to the question submitted by a shareholder personally to him / her in the case relevant information is available on the Companys website www.litgrid.eu .

Any shareholder has the right to authorize a natural or legal person to participate and vote in his/her behalf at the General Meeting of Shareholders. The proxy holder of the shareholder must have the document confirming the persons identity and the certified Power of Attorney issued and valid in accordance with the law, which must be delivered to the Head Office not later than before the end of the registration of the attendees of the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders. At the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders, the proxy holder has the same rights as would be held by the shareholder represented by him/her. The form of the Power of Attorney to represent at the General Meeting of Shareholders is available on the website of the Company: www.litgrid.eu .

On the issues on the agenda of the General Meeting of Shareholders, the shareholders may vote in writing by filling in a General Ballot Paper. On the shareholders request, the Company, not later than 10 days before the day of the General Meeting of Shareholders, will send a General Ballot Paper by registered mail free of charge or submit it in person against signature to the shareholder. The shareholder or his/her proxy holder must undersign the filled in General Ballot Paper. If the General Ballot Paper is signed by a person who is not a shareholder, a document certifying his / her right to vote must be appended to the filled in Ballot Paper. The duly filled General Ballot Paper must be delivered to the Company by registered mail or submitted against signature at the Head Office not later than before the end of registration of the attendees of the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders. The form of the General Ballot Paper is available on the website of the Company: www.litgrid.eu .

On the day of convocation of the Extraordinary General Meeting of the Shareholders the total number of shares was 504 331 380. All these shares grant voting right.

Information referred to in Articles 262 of the Law on Companies of the Republic of Lithuania will be available on the website of the Company: www.litgrid.eu .

Information about the additions to the agenda, as well as resolutions made by the general meeting will also be available in the Central Database of Regulated Information www.crib.lt .

ANNEXES:

Voting ballot. Power of Attorney form.

More information:

Jurga Eivaite

Communications Project Manager

+370 613 19977

[email protected]

Attachments
TORONTO, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NowVertical Group Inc. (TSXV: NOW) (OTCQB: NOWVF), a vertical intelligence (VI) software and solutions company, is pleased to announce that it has secured five new customers in the United Arab Emirates, expanding its position as a pioneer in delivering vertically specific data, technology, and artificial intelligence (AI) applications globally. The new customers encompass a number of core industries and include a prominent French cosmetics company, a renowned healthcare consulting firm, an international offshore drilling contractor, and an innovative new start-up.

"Adding new customers in new geographic locations is a key strategic move and a testament to our commitment to global expansion and innovation. Each new customer we work with represents an opportunity to transform industries, drive economic growth, and create a positive impact on a global scale," said Sasha Grujicic, CEO of NOW. "Our proprietary VI solutions are designed to transform AI investments into tangible value for our customers, enabling them to mitigate risks, accelerate their time to value, and optimize cost efficiencies. Together, we will revolutionize their market positioning and drive exceptional growth."

Government Vertical Earnout:

In addition, NOW is pleased to announce that it has fulfilled its earn-out obligation for the Company's financial year ended December 31, 2022, to the sellers and leadership of Allegient Defense, Inc. ("Allegient"), one of NOWs business units servicing its public sector customers, with the issuance of subordinate voting shares in the capital of the Company (the "Subordinate Voting Shares").

The vendors and the senior Allegient team will receive 694,945 Subordinate Voting Shares, subject to necessary corporate and regulatory approvals, including approval from the TSX Venture Exchange. The earnout is in connection with the previously announced acquisition of Allegient on December 21, 2021, and April 6, 2022. Earnout share terms are referenced in the release issued on December 21, 2021.

I am excited about the future of NowVertical and the tremendous opportunities ahead. Our partnership has been incredibly fruitful, and I am excited to be part of NowVertical's team, supporting its continued growth and success, said Dr. Angel Diaz, President of Allegient. As a shareholder, I have full confidence in the Company's vision and capabilities, and I look forward to contributing to its ongoing achievements in the vertical intelligence sector."

This announcement is a testament to the outstanding success and dedication of the team at Allegient in surpassing revenue targets in 2022, said Sasha Grujicic, CEO of NowVertical. It showcases the remarkable growth of our government vertical over the past year and emphasizes our shared commitment to rewarding and fostering mutually beneficial partnerships."

The Subordinate Voting Shares 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. Additionally, the Subordinate Voting Shares will be subject to a contractual lock-up for 12 months following the date of issuance.

About NowVertical Group Inc.

NowVertical Group is a Vertical Intelligence (VI) software and services provider that delivers vertically-specific data, technology, and artificial intelligence (AI) applications into private and public verticals globally. NOW's proprietary solutions sit at the foundation of the modern enterprise by transforming AI investments into VI, enabling its customers to minimize their risk, accelerate the time to value, and reduce costs. NOW is rapidly growing organically and through targeted acquisitions. For more information about NOW, visit www.nowvertical.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information, please contact:

Glen Nelson, Investor Relationse: [email protected]t: (403) 763-9797

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements (within the meaning of applicable securities laws) which reflect the Company's current expectations regarding future events. Forward-looking statements are identified by words such as "believe", "anticipate," "project", "expect", "intend", "plan", "will", "may", "estimate," and other similar expressions. These statements are based on the Company's expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections and include, without limitation, statements regarding the future success of the Company's business.

The forward-looking statements in this news release are based on certain assumptions. The forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to control or predict. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Readers, therefore, should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Further, these forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, except as expressly required by applicable law, the Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Source: NowVertical Group Inc
(All monetary references are expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise indicated)

MONTREAL, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Osisko Development Corp. (NYSE: ODV, TSXV: ODV) ("Osisko Development" or the "Company") is pleased to report its financial and operating results for the three months ended June 30, 2023 ("Q2 2023").

Q2 2023 HIGHLIGHTS

Operating, Financial and Corporate Updates:

3,830 ounces of gold sold by the Company from operating activities, comprising of: 1,576 ounces of gold sold from the Trixie test mine (" Trixie ") located within the Company's wider Tintic Project; 1,244 ounces of gold sold from the San Antonio Gold Project (" San Antonio ") by processing stockpiles via heap leaching; and 1,010 ounces of gold sold from the Cariboo Gold Project (" Cariboo ") by processing stockpiles at a third-party processing facility.



$10.8 million in revenues and $11.4 million in cost of sales generated from operating activities.

On May 5, 2023, the Company announced the supplemental listing of certain previously-issued common share purchase warrants of the Company (" Warrants ") on the TSX Venture Exchange (the " Exchange ") effective as of the opening of markets on May 8, 2023. These Warrants include: (i) an aggregate 7,752,916 Warrants expiring on March 2, 2027, and (ii) an aggregate 11,363,933 Warrants expiring on May 27, 2027 (see news release dated May 5, 2023). These Warrants have been subsequently listed for trading on the Exchange under the symbols "ODV.WT.A" and "ODV.WT.U", respectively.

") on the TSX Venture Exchange (the " ") effective as of the opening of markets on May 8, 2023. These Warrants include: (i) an aggregate 7,752,916 Warrants expiring on March 2, 2027, and (ii) an aggregate 11,363,933 Warrants expiring on May 27, 2027 (see news release dated May 5, 2023). These Warrants have been subsequently listed for trading on the Exchange under the symbols "ODV.WT.A" and "ODV.WT.U", respectively. The Company announced the results of its annual meeting of shareholders held on May 11, 2023, and on June 30, 2023, granted deferred share units of the Company (" DSUs ") to its independent directors as part of its regular annual remuneration program, in accordance with the DSU Plan of the Company.

") to its independent directors as part of its regular annual remuneration program, in accordance with the DSU Plan of the Company. As at June 30, 2023, the Company had approximately $86.9 million in cash.

Based on current projections, the Company believes that the capital resources available to Osisko Development as at June 30, 2023 are insufficient to fund its planned development, exploration and corporate activities for the next 12 months. To execute on its planned activities, the Company will need to seek additional funding and/or make adjustments to the timing thereof or reduce planned expenditures. The Company is exploring options to secure additional financing; however, there is no assurance that future financing(s) will be available or be available on favorable terms (refer to Note 1 in the financial statements relating to going concern).

Tintic Project  Utah, U.S.A. (100%-owned)

Approximately 85% of the 1,390 meter (" m ") (or 4,550 feet (" ft. ")) of the Trixie portal and underground decline ramp has been completed as at June 30, 2023. The Company anticipates completion of the decline ramp to the main 625 feet underground level by Q3 2023.

") (or 4,550 feet (" ")) of the Trixie portal and underground decline ramp has been completed as at June 30, 2023. The Company anticipates completion of the decline ramp to the main 625 feet underground level by Q3 2023. Target to ramp up processing capacity to 500 short tons per day is subject to completion of required mine and mill infrastructure upgrades, updated mineral resources estimate (" MRE " ) and ongoing technical work. Small-batch VAT leaching recommenced during the quarter as the Company advanced ongoing technical work in connection with the required mine and mill infrastructure upgrades.

" and ongoing technical work. Small-batch VAT leaching recommenced during the quarter as the Company advanced ongoing technical work in connection with the required mine and mill infrastructure upgrades. During the quarter, the Company continued underground exploration and delineation activities on the existing Trixie deposit with two diamond drill rigs operating as part of its 2023 underground infill and exploration program targeting a total of 5,000 m (16,404 ft.).

As of June 30, 2023, a total of 4,415 m (14,485 ft.) were drilled in 56 holes, with assay results for 19 holes released on May 17, 2023. Assay results for an additional 14 holes was released on July 18, 2023 (see Subsequent to Q2 2023). Assay results for the remaining drill holes are pending.

On April 3, 2023, and on May 4, 2023, the Company disclosed assay results from an aggregate of 50 diamond drilling holes from the 2022 underground exploration program at Trixie. On June 27, 2023, the Company also released underground sampling results from its ongoing 2023 exploration program at Trixie.

The Company is currently working on an updated MRE for the Trixie deposit to incorporate the new 2023 drilling results and the remaining 2022 drilling that was not included in the Tintic Technical Report (as defined herein) published on January 27, 2023 (with an effective date of January 10, 2023), due to assay lab delays. This new MRE is expected to be completed once the 2023 drilling program has concluded and all assay results have been received.

An initial regional surface diamond drilling campaign to test for copper-gold-molybdenum porphyry mineralization potential, namely in the Big Hill area, is anticipated to commence in the following months. Subsequent to quarter end, a diamond drill rig from Major Drilling America of Salt Lake City, Utah, arrived at site in preparation of the contemplated surface drill campaign (see Figure 1).

Data compilation from historic mines in the area is ongoing and anticipated to generate additional exploration drill targets on the greater Tintic Project property.

Figure 1: Diamond Drill Rig to Test Copper-Gold-Molybdenum Porphyry MineralizationPotential Arrives at Tintic Project in July 2023

Cariboo Gold Project  British Columbia, Canada (100%-owned)

On May 8, 2023, the Company announced the signing of two landmark permitting agreements, the Process Charter and the Joint Information Requirements Table, reaffirming the multilateral support of and commitment by the various levels of the Government of British Columbia (" BC ") to advance the approval process of the Cariboo Gold Project. The Company also executed several project electrification initiatives in partnership with BC Hydro's CleanBC Industry Fund and the CleanBC Facilities Electrification Fund, which are important steps in supporting the Company's efforts in reducing the carbon footprint of the Cariboo Gold Project.

") to advance the approval process of the Cariboo Gold Project. The Company also executed several project electrification initiatives in partnership with BC Hydro's CleanBC Industry Fund and the CleanBC Facilities Electrification Fund, which are important steps in supporting the Company's efforts in reducing the carbon footprint of the Cariboo Gold Project. The Company anticipates that the potential development of Cariboo may provide a basis for progress towards the establishment of a broader mining district camp, including development of multiple deposits over several trends totalling approximately 80 km of mineralization. For further information regarding Cariboo and the Cariboo Feasibility Study refer to Technical Reports.

The Company anticipates receiving the Environmental Assessment Certificate in Q3 2023 and permits by the end of Q1 2024, targets which are aligned with the timelines established in the Process Charter.

San Antonio Gold Project  Sonora State, Mexico (100%-owned)

As of June 30, 2023, the Company sold a total of 12,788 net ounces of gold (gross 14,072 ounces) from the San Antonio heap leach pad since commencing processing of stockpile inventory in Q1 2022. A total of 1,244 net ounces of gold was sold in Q2 2023 (gross 1,008 ounces).

On April 29, 2023, Mexico's Senate approved a wide-ranging reform of laws governing the mining industry, including a requirement that companies pay a percentage of profits to various stakeholders. The new mining law reduces the maximum length of concessions from 50 to 30 years, and may allow authorities to cancel concessions if no work is done on them within two years. The Company is closely monitoring the situation and will continue to assess the potential impacts on its Mexican assets.

The Company will continue its efforts on the remaining stockpile processing, which is expected to be completed in Q3 2023. The Company awaits next steps from the government of Mexico with respect to the permitting process.

SUBSEQUENT TO Q2 2023

On July 18, 2023, the Company disclosed assay results from 14 diamond drilling holes and chip sampling results from new development areas from its ongoing 2023 underground infill and exploration program at Trixie. Select assay results highlights included (see news release dated July 18, 2023): 65.00 grams per tonne (" g/t ") gold (" Au ") and 344.39 g/t silver (" Ag ") over 4.57 m in hole TRXU-DD-23-026 (1.90 troy ounces per short ton (" oz/t ") Au and 10.04 oz/t Ag over 15 ft.).



On July 6, 2023, the Company announced that in accordance with the terms of the Company's previously-completed acquisition in May 2022 of a 100% ownership interest in the Tintic Project, it had satisfied the first of five deferred payments to the sellers. Deferred consideration of US$2,500,000 was satisfied by an amount of US$250,000 ($334,400) paid in cash in June 2023 and an amount of US$2,250,000 ($2,986,425) settled by the issuance of 454,026 common shares on July 6, 2023.

Consolidated Financial Statements

The Company's unaudited interim consolidated financial statements (the "Financial Statements") and management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A") for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 are available on the Company's website at www.osiskodev.com, on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and on EDGAR (www.sec.gov) under Osisko Development's issuer profile.

Qualified Persons

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Maggie Layman, P.Geo., Vice President, Exploration of Osisko Development, and Francois Vezina, ing., P.Eng., MBA, Senior Vice President, Project Development, Technical Services and Environment, each of whom is a "qualified person" within the meaning of NI 43-101.

Technical Reports

Information relating to the Tintic Project and the current MRE for the Trixie deposit is supported by the technical report titled "NI 43-101 Technical Report, Initial Mineral Resource Estimate for the Trixie Deposit, Tintic Project, Utah, United States of America", dated January 27, 2023 (with an effective date of January 10, 2023) prepared for the Company by independent representatives of Micon International Limited (the "Tintic Technical Report"). Reference should be made to the full text of the Tintic Technical Report, which was prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and is available electronically on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and on EDGAR (www.sec.gov) under Osisko Development's issuer profile and on the Company's website at www.osiskodev.com.

Information relating to Cariboo and the Cariboo FS is supported by the technical report titled "Feasibility Study for the Cariboo Gold Project, District of Well, British Columbia, Canada", dated January 10, 2023 (amended January 12, 2023) with an effective date of December 30, 2022) prepared for the Company by independent representatives BBA Engineering Ltd. and supported by independent consulting firms, including InnovExplo Inc., SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc., Golder Associates Ltd. (amalgamated with WSP Canada Inc. on January 1, 2023, to form WSP Canada Inc.), WSP USA Inc., Falkirk Environmental Consultants Ltd., Klohn Crippen Berger Ltd., KCC Geoconsulting Inc., and JDS Energy & Mining Inc. (the "Cariboo Technical Report"). Reference should be made to the full text of the Cariboo Technical Report, which was prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and is available electronically on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and on EDGAR (www.sec.gov) under Osisko Development's issuer profile and on the Company's website at www.osiskodev.com.

Information relating to San Antonio is supported by the technical report titled "NI 43-101 Technical Report for the 2022 Mineral Resource Estimate on the San Antonio Project, Sonora, Mexico", dated July 12, 2022 (with an effective date of June 24, 2022) prepared for the Company by independent representatives of Micon International Limited (the "San Antonio Technical Report", collectively with the Trixie Technical Report and Cariboo Technical Report, the "Technical Reports"). Reference should be made to the full text of the San Antonio Technical Report, which was prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and is available electronically on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and on EDGAR (www.sec.gov) under Osisko Development's issuer profile and on the Company's website at www.osiskodev.com.

About Osisko Development Corp.

Osisko Development Corp. is a premier North American gold development company focused on high-quality past-producing properties located in mining friendly jurisdictions with district scale potential. The Company's objective is to become an intermediate gold producer by advancing its 100%-owned Cariboo Gold Project, located in central B.C., Canada, the Tintic Project in the historic East Tintic mining district in Utah, U.S.A., and the San Antonio Gold Project in Sonora, Mexico. In addition to considerable brownfield exploration potential of these properties, that benefit from significant historical mining data, existing infrastructure and access to skilled labour, the Company's project pipeline is complemented by other prospective exploration properties. The Company's strategy is to develop attractive, long-life, socially and environmentally sustainable mining assets, while minimizing exposure to development risk and growing mineral resources.

For further information, please contact Osisko Development Corp.:

Sean Roosen Philip Rabenok Chairman and CEO Director, Investor Relations Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Tel: +1 (514) 940-0685 Tel: +1 (437) 423-3644

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS

Cautionary Statement Regarding Estimates of Mineral Resources

This news release uses the terms measured, indicated and inferred mineral resources as a relative measure of the level of confidence in the resource estimate. Readers are cautioned that mineral resources are not mineral reserves and that the economic viability of resources that are not mineral reserves has not been demonstrated. The mineral resource estimate disclosed in this news release may be materially affected by geology, environmental, permitting, legal, title, socio-political, marketing or other relevant issues. The mineral resource estimate is classified in accordance with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum's "CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves" incorporated by reference into NI 43-101. Under NI 43-101, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies or economic studies except for preliminary economic assessments. Readers are cautioned not to assume that further work on the stated resources will lead to mineral reserves that can be mined economically.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Financing Risks

The Company's development and exploration activities are subject to financing risks. At the present time, the Company has exploration and development assets which may generate periodic revenues through test mining, but has no mines in the commercial production stage that generate positive cash flows. The Company cautions that test mining at its operations could be suspended at any time. The Companys ability to explore for and discover potential economic projects, and then to bring them into production, is highly dependent upon its ability to raise equity and debt capital in the financial markets. Any projects that the Company develops will require significant capital expenditures. To obtain such funds, the Company may sell additional securities including, but not limited to, the Companys shares or some form of convertible security, the effect of which may result in a substantial dilution of the equity interests of the Companys Shareholders. Alternatively, the Company may also sell a part of its interest in an asset in order to raise capital. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to raise the funds required to continue its exploration programs and finance the development of any potentially economic deposit that is identified on acceptable terms or at all. The failure to obtain the necessary financing(s) could have a material adverse effect on the Companys growth strategy, results of operations, financial condition and project scheduling.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Test Mining Without Feasibility Study

The Company cautions that its prior decision to commence small-scale underground mining activities and batch vat leaching at the Trixie test mine was made without the benefit of a feasibility study, or reported mineral resources or mineral reserves, demonstrating economic and technical viability, and, as a result there may be increased uncertainty of achieving any particular level of recovery of material or the cost of such recovery. The Company cautions that historically, such projects have a much higher risk of economic and technical failure. Small scale test-mining at Trixie was suspended in December 2022 and resumed in the second quarter of 2023. Even with the resumption of small scale test-mining at Trixie, there is no guarantee that production will continue as anticipated or at all or that anticipated production costs will be achieved. The failure to continue production may have a material adverse impact on the Company's ability to generate revenue and cash flow to fund operations. Failure to achieve the anticipated production costs may have a material adverse impact on the Company's cash flow and potential profitability. In continuing current operations at Trixie, the Company has not based its decision to continue such operations on a feasibility study, or reported mineral resources or mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability.

Cautionary Statement to U.S. Investors

The Company is subject to the reporting requirements of the applicable Canadian securities laws, and as a result reports information regarding mineral properties, mineralization and estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources, including the information in its technical reports, financial statements, MD&A and this news release, in accordance with Canadian reporting requirements, which are governed by NI 43-101. As such, such information concerning mineral properties, mineralization and estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources, including the information in its technical reports, financial statements, MD&A and this news release, is not comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").

CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained in this news release may be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These forwardlooking statements, by their nature, require Osisko Development to make certain assumptions and necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forwardlooking statements. Forwardlooking statements are not guarantees of performance. Words such as "may", "will", "would", "could", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "continue", or the negative or comparable terminology, as well as terms usually used in the future and the conditional, are intended to identify forwardlooking statements. Information contained in forwardlooking statements is based upon certain material assumptions that were applied in drawing a conclusion or making a forecast or projection, including the assumptions, qualifications and limitations of the results of the Technical Reports; the capital resources available to Osisko Development; the ability of the Company to execute its planned activities, including as a result of its ability to seek additional funding or to reduce planned expenditures; the ability of the Company to obtain future financing and the terms of such financing; management's perceptions of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments; the utility and significance of historic data, including the significance of the district hosting past producing mines; future mining activities; the timing and status of permitting; the timing and status to receive Environmental Assessment Certificates and permits, if at all; the impact of the Government of Mexico's legislative amendments on the San Antonio Gold Project; the timing and results of an updated MRE for the Trixie deposit; the unique mineralization at Trixie or the robust and production scale at Cariboo; the potential of high grade gold mineralization on Trixie and Cariboo; the results (if any) of further exploration work to define and expand mineral resources; the ability of exploration work (including drilling) to accurately predict mineralization; the ability to generate additional drill targets; the ability of management to understand the geology and potential of the Company's properties; the ability of the Company to expand mineral resources beyond current mineral resource estimates; the timing and ability of the Company to complete upgrades to the mining and mill infrastructure at Trixie (if at all); the timing of resumption of test mining activities at Trixie (if at all); the timing and ability of the Company to ramp up processing capacity at Trixie to 500 short tons per day (if at all); the ability of the Company to complete its exploration objectives for its projects in 2023 in the timing contemplated (if at all); the ongoing advancement of the deposits on the Company's properties; the deposit remaining open for expansion at depth and down plunge; the ability to realize upon any mineralization in a manner that is economic; the Cariboo project design and ability and timing to complete infrastructure at Cariboo (if at all); the ability and timing for Cariboo to reach commercial production (if at all); the ability to adapt to changes in gold prices, estimates of costs, estimates of planned exploration and development expenditures; the ability of the Company to obtain further capital on reasonable terms; the profitability (if at all) of the Company's operations; the Company being a well-positioned gold development company in Canada, USA and Mexico; the ability and timing for the permitting at San Antonio; the impact of permitting delays at San Antonio; sustainability and environmental impacts of operations at the Company's properties; as well as other considerations that are believed to be appropriate in the circumstances, and any other information herein that is not a historical fact may be "forward looking information". Material assumptions also include, management's perceptions of historical trends, the ability of exploration (including drilling) to accurately predict mineralization, budget constraints and access to capital on terms acceptable to the Company, current conditions and expected future developments, results of further exploration work to define or expand any mineral resources, as well as other considerations that are believed to be appropriate in the circumstances. Osisko Development considers its assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available, but cautions the reader that their assumptions regarding future events, many of which are beyond the control of Osisko Development, may ultimately prove to be incorrect since they are subject to risks and uncertainties that affect Osisko Development and its business. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, risks relating to capital market conditions and the Company's ability to access capital on terms acceptable to the Company for the contemplated exploration and development at the Company's properties; the ability to continue current operations and exploration; regulatory framework and presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; the ability of exploration activities (including drill results) to accurately predict mineralization; errors in management's geological modelling; the ability to expand operations or complete further exploration activities; the timing and ability of the Company to obtain required approvals and permits; the results of exploration activities; risks relating to exploration, development and mining activities; the global economic climate; metal and commodity prices; fluctuations in the currency markets; dilution; environmental risks; and community, non-governmental and governmental actions and the impact of stakeholder actions. Readers are urged to consult the disclosure provided under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2022 as well as the financial statements and MD&A which have been filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under Osisko Development's issuer profile and on the SEC's EDGAR website (www.sec.gov), for further information regarding the risks and other factors applicable to the exploration results. Although the Company's believes the expectations conveyed by the forward-looking statements are reasonable based on information available as of the date hereof, no assurances can be given as to future results, levels of activity and achievements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by law. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance and there can be no assurance that these forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

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. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

Figure 1 Diamond Drill Rig to Test Copper-Gold-Molybdenum Porphyry Mineralization Potential Arrives at Tintic Project in July 2023

Source: Osisko Development Corp.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. The opening of the school, which is being built with the support of Uzbekistan in Azerbaijans Fuzuli district, is expected in the near future, Chairman of the Board of the Center for Analysis of International Relations of Azerbaijan Farid Shafiyev said, Trend reports.

He said this during a round table discussion on "Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan: New Horizons of Cooperation."

He expressed gratitude to Uzbekistan for its unwavering support for Azerbaijan's territorial integrity.

"Today, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan are developing bilateral relations while also working to ensure regional security and rebuild their policies in light of current realities," he added.

Meanwhile, the school in the liberated city of Fuzuli is being built at the expense of the state budget of Uzbekistan. The school building will be designed for 960 students.
Will unify data security posture across enterprise, cloud, and SaaS to deliver cyber resilience

Announces intent to open new research and development (R&D) center in Israel to fuel cybersecurity innovation

LAS VEGAS, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BLACK HAT - Rubrik, the Zero Trust Data Security Company, today announced it has signed an agreement to acquire Laminar, a leading data security posture management (DSPM) platform. The combination will create the industrys first complete cyber resilience offering of its kind by bringing together cyber recovery and cyber posture across enterprise, cloud, and SaaS. This acquisition supports Rubriks leadership position as one of the preeminent data security platforms and furthers the companys mission to secure the worlds data. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Rubrik and Laminar share a common vision that cyber resilience is the next frontier in data security, Mike Tornincasa, Chief Business Officer, Rubrik. Laminars technology, ability to execute, and vision make it a perfect complement to our strategy and innovative roadmap. Together, our teams will create an integrated offering that gives customers the benefits of cyber recovery and cyber posture capabilities, and positions them to be resilient in their fight against cyberattacks.

There is a dark side to digital transformation in the form of shadow data, and more businesses are realizing they cant protect against what they cant seeleaving them vulnerable to cyberattacks, said Amit Shaked, CEO and co-founder of Laminar. We have found synergy with Rubrik, a company that cares just as deeply about ensuring that customers are prepared against the inevitable. The combination of cyber posture and cyber recovery will help create a cyber resilient future where organizations can take on any threat, at any stage of the attack.

One of the biggest challenges organizations face today is low visibility into data across increasingly fragmented environments. According to a recent Rubrik Zero Labs State of Data Security report, more than half (51%) of organizations cite visibility differences as a top issue contributing to misalignment between IT and security teams. Further, according to Gartner Hype Cycle for Data Security, 20231, As data proliferates across the cloud, organizations must identify privacy and security risks with a single product. DSPM will transform how they identify business risks that result from data residency, privacy, and security risks.

Laminar combines cloud-native design with deep security expertise to provide the visibility and control organizations need to protect their most sensitive data. Together, Rubrik and Laminar will further enable customers to be even more proactive in the fight against cyberattacks and provide businesses with cyber resilience. Key benefits to customers include:

Proactively improve cyber posture to stop cyberattacks before they happen by knowing where all of an organizations data lives, who has access to the data, and how its being used.

Expand focus beyond just network and endpoint security to include cloud and data security.

Prepare for more sophisticated cyber threats with AI-driven technology.

CISOs are under increased pressure to ensure their organizations are protected from sophisticated cyberattacks. Yet the traditional cybersecurity solutions they rely on lack visibility into where sensitive data lives," said Marene Allison, Former CISO, Johnson & Johnson and Rubrik CISO Advisor Board Member. "One of the ways to keep businesses from being vulnerable to bad actors is to leverage cyber posture and cyber recovery, as both are required to achieve complete cyber resilience."

Rubrik Continues Global Expansion with New R&D Center To fuel cybersecurity innovation, Rubrik will also leverage the Laminar team to create an R&D center in Tel Aviv, Israel. This will build upon the companys existing R&D centers in Bangalore, India and Palo Alto, CA. Rubrik is thrilled to welcome and join forces with the incredibly talented and innovative team at Laminar to accelerate a shared data security vision and deliver even greater value to customers.

More information about this announcement is available here.

Gartner DisclaimerGartner 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.

Hype Cycle a registered trademark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved.

About RubrikRubrik is on a mission to secure the worlds data. With Zero Trust Data Security, we help organizations achieve business resilience against cyberattacks, malicious insiders, and operational disruptions. Rubrik Security Cloud, powered by machine learning, secures data across enterprise, cloud, and SaaS applications. We help organizations uphold data integrity, deliver data availability that withstands adverse conditions, continuously monitor data risks and threats, and restore businesses with their data when infrastructure is attacked.

For more information please visit www.rubrik.com and follow @rubrikInc on X (formerly Twitter) and Rubrik, Inc. on LinkedIn.

DISCLAIMER:

Any unreleased services or features referenced in this document are not currently available and may not be made generally available on time or at all, as may be determined in our sole discretion. Any such referenced services or features do not represent promises to deliver, commitments, or obligations of Rubrik, Inc. and may not be incorporated into any contract. Customers should make their purchase decisions based upon services and features that are currently generally available.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS:

This communication contains forward-looking information related to Rubrik, Laminar and the acquisition of Laminar by Rubrik that involves substantial risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Forward-looking statements in this communication include, among other things, statements about the potential benefits of the proposed transaction for Rubrik, Laminar and their respective customers, and Rubriks plans, objectives, expectations and intentions with respect to the combined company.

Risks and uncertainties include, among other things, risks related to the ability of Rubrik to consummate the proposed transaction on a timely basis or at all; Rubriks ability to successfully integrate Laminars operations and personnel; Rubriks ability to implement its plan, forecasts and other expectations with respect to Laminars business after the completion of the transaction and realize expected synergies; and Rubriks ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction, including the possibility that the expected benefits from the proposed transaction will not be realized or will not be realized within the expected time period.

While the list of factors presented here is representative, no such list should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements included in this communication are made only as of the date hereof. Rubrik assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

ContactKelsey ShivelySr. Director of Global Communications, Rubrik[email protected]

_________________________

1 Gartner, Hype Cycle for Data Security, 2023, Brian Lowans, July 12, 2023

Source: Rubrik
MONTREAL, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stingray (TSX: RAY.A; RAY.B), a leading music, media, and technology company, today announced its decision to immediately suspend all advertising of its products on Facebook and Instagram in Canada. This decision comes in response to Meta's recent actions regarding Canadian journalistic content on its platforms, in light of the Online News Act (Bill C-18) and in support of Canadian news media publishers.

Eric Boyko, CEO and Co-founder of Stingray, commented, "We believe in the importance of a diverse and vibrant media landscape that supports a healthy democracy. We cannot tolerate Meta's recent decision to block news from Canadian news media publishers and their potential implications for Canadian news content. As a result, we have decided to pause our advertising on Facebook and Instagram."

Stingray also calls on businesses, governments, and institutions to express their disagreement with Meta's affront to public policy and the news media through their advertising placement choices.

Stingray will continue to monitor the situation closely and will reassess its position as necessary in response to the evolving landscape.

About StingrayStingray (TSX: RAY.A; RAY.B), a global music, media, and technology company, is an industry leader in TV broadcasting, streaming, radio, business services, and advertising. Stingray provides an array of music, digital, and advertising services to enterprise brands worldwide, including audio and video channels, over 100 radio stations, subscription video-on-demand content, FAST channels, karaoke products and music apps, and in-car and on-board infotainment content. Stingray Business, a division of Stingray, provides commercial solutions in music, in-store advertising solutions, digital signage, and AI-driven consumer insights and feedback. Stingray Advertising is North America's largest retail audio advertising network, delivering digital audio messaging to more than 20,000 major retail locations. Stingray has close to 1000 employees worldwide and reaches 540 million consumers in 160 countries. For more information, visit www.stingray.com.

For more information, please contact: Frederique Gagnier Public Relations Manager Stingray [email protected]

Source: Stingray Group Inc.
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via InvestorWire -- Sustain Southern California (Sustain SoCal) today announces that it will host the 8th Annual Water Solutions (WS8") event on Thursday, August 24, 2023. The event will be held in person at UCI Beall Applied Innovation, 5270 California Avenue, Irvine, CA.

Water Solutions 8 is a premier event focusing on exploring real-life strategies and innovations in reuse, desal, stormwater, energy nexus, contamination, investor and policy trends and big data in Southern California and the surrounding region.

The event will host renowned thought leaders and experts who are specialists in the design and implementation of pragmatic solutions to ensure sufficient and affordable supplies of water in the region. Speakers will participate in a variety of deeply engaging formats including keynotes, presentations, networking sessions and audience discussions.

Invited speakers at Sustain SoCal events are drawn from local government and other public agencies, utilities, technology companies, large corporate adopters, hospitals, hotels, schools, seasoned investors and non-profits.

To advance the discourse on sustainable and economic development in Southern California and the surrounding regions, Sustain SoCal is privileged to have Julie Kalansky, Ph.D., Deputy Director of CW3E and Climate Scientist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, as the keynote speaker. Drawing on her vast expertise, she will share her perspectives on an exciting field of research in a session entitled, Atmospheric rivers and focus on forecast-informed reservoir operations (FIRO).

With knowledge-packed sessions in an intimate setting, attendees will interact directly with the speakers, pose their questions, enquire about best practices and develop a better grasp on the opportunities and challenges in the current business, policy and regulatory landscape.

Post the speaker sessions, the Innovators Showcase will offer industry professionals and student attendees the unique opportunity to speak with C-suite executives and interact with cutting-edge concepts, technologies, products and new services.

During the networking session, attendees will interact with fellow professionals, expand their industry links and build genuine rapport in a relaxed and friendly environment.

We are very pleased to be able to advance the conversation on this crucial matter, catalyze the development of an ecosystem in our region, and support technological, policy and legislative shifts towards building out capacities to better manage this issue, says Scott Kitcher, President, and CEO of Sustain SoCal. At Sustain SoCal, we are thrilled to be bringing speakers with a deep well of expertise in Southern California and surrounding regions.

For more information on the event, visit:https://sustainsocal.org/event/water-solutions-8/

About Sustain SoCal

Sustain SoCal, a non-profit organization, accelerates sustainability and economic growth through innovation, collaboration and education in Southern California. The organization has a ten-year history of exploring and implementing pragmatic, real-world solutions to the challenges created by growth, change and inefficiency. It conducts conferences, workshops and networking events that lead to initiatives that positively impact our regions economic progress and sustainability.

For more information on the organization, please visit www.sustainsocal.org

Media Contact: IBN (InvestorBrandNetwork)Los Angeles, Californiawww.InvestorBrandNetwork.com310.299.1717 Office[email protected]

Source: Sustain SoCal
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trailbreaker Resources Ltd. (TBK.V) (Trailbreaker or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has consolidated the Castle Rock property on northern Vancouver Island, British Columbia (BC).

The property was initially acquired through claim staking, then expanded through a partnership with Cazador Resources Ltd. (Cazador) in January, 2023 (see January 20, 2023 news release). Trailbreaker has now signed an agreement with Cazador which provides Trailbreaker with the option to own 100% of the 3,108-hectre (ha) Castle Rock property.

Highlights of the Castle Rock property

Covers 3,108 hectares of land on northern Vancouver Island, approximately 70 km northwest of Campbell River, BC (Figure 1)

Claims cover 5 Minfile occurrences on a district-scale structure that is >5 km-long, and newly identified gold  copper-enriched intrusions

Relatively new discovery, in an area that hosts copper-gold (Cu-Au) porphyry and skarn deposits

Northern Vancouver Island is host to several large Cu-Au porphyry deposits including Northisles Hushamu deposit (Inferred Resource of 5.57 Moz AuEq)1, and BHP Billitons past producing Island Copper porphyry copper deposit (produced >2.7 B lb Cu and >1.0 Moz Au) 1

Newly accessible via recent logging activity

Historic chip sample returned assays of 2.0 g/t Au over 30 metres2 at the Heart zone, which is a brecciated zone containing 5 to 10% pyrite-chalcopyrite

Historic sampling returned assays up to 135 g/t Au from boulders, 1.5 km west of the Heart zone3

Gold is hosted in Jurassic granodiorite dykes which have been emplaced along a regional-scale fault zone separating Lower to Middle Triassic Daonella Bed sedimentary rocks from Upper Triassic Karmutsen Formation basalts

In September, 2022, Trailbreaker completed a 3-day first-pass evaluation program on the Castle Rock claims. The program successfully confirmed historic gold grades, with 2022 channel sample returning values up to 0.68 g/t Au over 13.11 m, including a subinterval of 1.85 g/t Au over 2.92 m. A soil geochemical survey outlined a 50 m x 400 m, northwest-southeast trending gold-in-soil anomaly interpreted to represent the surface footprint of the gold-bearing dyke exposed at the Heart zone. Soil values up to 5.44 g/t Au were returned, and the anomaly remains open.

Figure 1: Map of mineral claims colour-coded by pre-option agreement ownership. The soil anomaly associated with the Heart zone occurs on Trailbreaker claims and is open toward the southeast and northwest.

Option agreement with Cazador Resources

In January, 2023, Trailbreaker signed a partnership agreement with Cazador whereby each party owns 50% of the property.

Effective as of July 27th, 2023, Trailbreaker has signed an option agreement with Cazador which provides Trailbreaker the option to acquire the remaining 50% of the Castle Rock property (for 100% ownership) by completing the following:

Upon receipt of TSX-V approval for the option agreement, issuance to Cazador of 200,000 common shares;

A total of CAD$60,000 of expenditures on the Castle Rock property by the second anniversary of the effective date;

On the second anniversary of the effective date and annually to the fifth anniversary date, payment to Cazador of CAD$5,000 as advance payments on the royalty; and

On or before the fifth anniversary of the effective date, issuance to Cazador of a further 300,000 common shares.

Cazador will retain a 2% NSR (Net Smelter Return royalty) on claims currently 100% held by Cazador, and a 1% NSR on claims held jointly between Cazador and Trailbreaker. Once the option is exercised Trailbreaker may buy back 50% of the royalty by paying Cazador CAD$1 million.

2023 exploration at Castle Rock

During 2023 Trailbreaker plans to execute a property-wide geochemical soil survey to further expand the Heart zone soil anomaly outlined in 2022, and to explore for other mineralized intrusive dykes.

Numerous other historic showings remain underexplored, with no systematic exploration completed to date. The Flan showing, discovered in 2000, is located approximately 1.5 km west of the Heart zone. The showing consists of numerous high-grade boulders assaying up to 135 g/t Au. This indicates potential for the Castle Rock property to host much higher-grade gold mineralization than identified thus far.

The geochemical survey, combined with prospecting and geological mapping, is intended to lead to drill target generation at the Heart zone, and may result in further discoveries within the 3,108-ha property.

Message from the President

This is a step in the right direction for Trailbreaker and the project. I believe the Castle Rock area has been overlooked in the past and remains considerably underexplored. Given the propertys association with large, district-scale structures and open-ended anomalies, Castle Rock has the potential to be rapidly expanded into a significant gold prospect.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Daithi Mac GearailtPresident and Chief Executive Officer

Carl Schulze, P. Geo., Consulting Geologist with Aurora Geosciences Ltd, is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 for Trailbreaker's BC and Yukon exploration projects, and has reviewed and approved the technical information in this release.

Other

For new information about the Companys projects, please visit Trailbreakers website at TrailbreakerResources.com and sign up to receive news. For further information, follow Trailbreakers tweets at Twitter.com/TrailbreakerLtd, use the Contact section of our website, or contact us at (604) 681-1820 or at [email protected].

References

1) https://cmscontent.nrs.gov.bc.ca/geoscience/PublicationCatalogue/InformationCircular/BCGS_IC2014-04.pdf2) https://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=092L%20%203993) https://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=092L%20%20396

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "Forward-Looking Information") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, disclosure regarding possible events, conditions or financial performance that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action; expectations regarding future exploration and drilling programs and receipt of related permitting. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified by the use of words and phrases such as "anticipates", "expects", "understanding", "has agreed to" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "would", "occur" or "be achieved". Although Trailbreaker has attempted to identify important factors that could affect Trailbreaker and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-Looking Information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, if any, Trailbreaker has applied several material assumptions, including the assumption that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner. 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 statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on Forward-Looking Information. Except as required by law, Trailbreaker does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b1cf45d5-fe52-4412-9057-c8befb9030e5

Figure 1. Map of mineral claims colour-coded by pre-option agreement ownership. The soil anomaly associated with the Heart zone occurs on Trailbreaker claims and is open toward the southeast and northwest.

Source: Trailbreaker Resources Ltd.
IRVING, Texas, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- U.S. Oral Surgery Management (USOSM)  a specialty management services company that exclusively serves premier oral and maxillofacial surgeons  congratulates its surgeon partner Julia R. Plevnia  DDS, FACS, FACD  on her recent ACOMS Humanitarian Award. The award, given by the American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, recognizes outstanding philanthropic and humanitarian contributions made by oral and maxillofacial surgeons. It is awarded only to those of exceptional merit, not bestowed annually.

Dr. Plevnia is one of only 14 people to receive the award, since it was established in 1990. The last award was bestowed in 2016.

The ACOMS Humanitarian Award is a tremendous honor, and were thrilled for Dr. Plevnia to be recognized in this way, said USOSM President and CEO Richard Hall. It is only awarded when the board of regents finds someone they feel is truly worthy, and that speaks volumes. Dr. Plevnia is exceptional, and it shows.

Dr. Plevnia is an owner, partner and practicing oral and maxillofacial surgeon with Dry Creek Oral Surgery, a USOSM partner practice with an office in Parker, Colorado, and an office in the Denver Tech Center in Englewood, Colorado. Dr. Plevnia practices a full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS), with a clinical interest in orthognathic surgery, dental implants, tooth extractions and pathology with reconstruction.

I love what I do. I love being able to make a huge impact on someones health  to be able to change their face or profile. I love getting to know my patients and being a part of their lives. I love all the things that I learn from my patients  each one can teach you something, says Dr. Plevnia. Im making a difference and its never boring.

Dr. Plevnia earned dual bachelors degrees in communications and political science from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, and went to dental school on an Army scholarship. During the summers, Dr. Plevnia served in active duty training at Walter Reed in Washington, D.C., where she was introduced to the OMS specialty, working orthognathic and trauma cases.

The training I received there was amazing, says Dr. Plevnia. Seeing them rebuild peoples faces, helping our soldiers  that was the bug that bit me. From that moment on, I knew exactly what I wanted to do.

Dr. Plevnia graduated with her DDS from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, ranked number one both internationally and in the U.S. On graduation day, Dr. Plevnia was commissioned as a Captain in the U.S. Army. She went on to complete a year in advanced education in general dentistry at Fort Meade, Maryland.

After that, Dr. Plevnia served for two years as the officer in charge for a dental clinic at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. Following that assignment, Dr. Plevnia completed the officer advanced course in San Antonio, Texas, and then returned to Washington, D.C., to begin her OMS residency at Walter Reed. While there, she treated soldiers who were critically wounded in the wars of Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as retirees and family members of the Armed Forces.

Following her residency, Dr. Plevnia was awarded the distinguished Silver Scalpel Award and was asked to teach in the OMS residency program at Walter Reed. After teaching there, Dr. Plevnia was sent to Madigan Army Medical Center at Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Washington, where she served as the assistant program director of the oral surgery program and as a mentor for the advanced education general dentistry residency.

After that, Dr. Plevnia served at the Army Hospital at Fort Carson, Colorado, where she taught and mentored students in the AEGD program in the oral surgery department. During this time, she was selected by her residents  twice  as Mentor of the Year and received a number of military commendations. After several years serving there, Dr. Plevnia transitioned off of active duty to serve in the U.S. Army Reserves and went into private practice.

While serving in the reserves, the U.S. Medical Detachment Commander personally requested Dr. Plevnia as the Colorado State Dental Officer, a post that she held for about five years, before being promoted to Colorado State Surgeon in 2018 and the Colorado Army National Guard/Colorado Joint State Surgeon in 2020. She is the first female, first Dental Corp officer and first oral maxillofacial surgeon to hold those distinctions. As the Colorado State Surgeon, she also served as the advisor to the governor on COVID-19 response, vaccinations and other medical concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today, Dr. Plevnia continues to serve as the Colorado Army National Guard/Colorado State Surgeon and holds the rank of Colonel. She recently received the Order of Military Medical Merit for significant contributions to the U.S. Army Medical Education Department. Dr. Plevnia also is the DORA Anesthesia Office Inspector for Colorado, where she helps ensure that dental professionals who have sedation privileges are up-to-date on their training, certifications and onsite inspections.

In addition, Dr. Plevnia is an adjunct trauma lecturer at the Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine and a preceptor on trauma rotations for Idaho State University. She also is a member of the Trauma Emergency Specialty Surgery (TESS) Facial Trauma Panel, which responds to difficult, emergency facial trauma cases at all the Centura Littleton Adventist hospitals and urgent care centers throughout the state of Colorado.

Dr. Plevnia serves in a number of leadership roles for a variety of professional organizations. She is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American College of Dentists and is particularly active with the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and the American Board of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery.

Headquartered in Irving, Texas, USOSM has partner practices spanning 26 states. A shared services organization, USOSM collaborates with premier oral and maxillofacial surgeons to offer a partnership solution for continued and accelerated practice success. USOSM provides operational, marketing and administrative support services, reinvests resources, and applies best practices to improve clinical and financial performance and produce steadier, more profitable growth for all. For more information, visit https://www.usosm.com/.

Contact:Lyle RountreeU.S. Oral Surgery Management214-289-3799 [email protected]

Source: U.S. Oral Surgery Management (USOSM)
OTTAWA, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canadas unions applaud the federal governments release of a vision for a net-zero electricity grid as part of the transition to a sustainable economy. This investment offers immense economic opportunity and Canada's workers are ready and able to build the infrastructure we need to achieve this net-zero grid.

During a year when many communities are witnessing a worsening of the already-devastating impacts of climate change, the need for swift and widespread climate action remains urgent. Climate change is the defining crisis of our time and one that will include everyone from government officials to energy company executives, to front line workers and their unions, says Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. Workers in communities across Canada are leading the transition to powering the country with sustainable energy. They expect the government to take ambitious action to move with them.

Canadas unions are pleased that the vision document includes a plan to include workers and their unions in a meaningful way throughout the process. As Canada transitions to a net-zero economy there is immense opportunity to create and protect good, unionized jobs, with pathways into these jobs for women, Indigenous and racialized workers, and other equity-seeking groups.

These workers are the ones who will make our transition possible; we wont meet our climate goals without them, says Bruske. If Canada is going to achieve net-zero by 2030, the workers making that happen need good, union jobs.

Canadas unions will continue to push for investments in sustainable energy and climate action, including supports for workers whose jobs are affected by climate change and provisions like new jobs, comprehensive training initiatives, upskilling and reskilling, skills recognition, Employment Insurance (EI), mental health support, family support, pension bridging, relocation assistance, and other essential measures.

Todays announcement is a critical step in the climate action process. We remain committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure that workers are included in the creation of an equitable and sustainable future for all, says Bruske. We know that communities with good, union jobs embedded within them are stable and resilient. We are focused on making sure the transition puts as many of these jobs in as many communities as possible.

Please contact:CLC Media Relations [email protected] 613-526-7426

Source: Canadian Labour Congress
GEMXX (OTC: GEMZ), a leader in the Ammolite Gems mine-to-market segment, recently announced its entry into an Ammolite Master Supply Agreement (MSA) with Canadian Ammolite Gems by Kenneth Bradley. Kenneth Bradley, who hosts multiple live, on-air events annually featuring unique Ammolite jewelry designs, is one of the worlds most recognized Ammolite experts and is a Canadian influencer with a global following that continues to grow. This Ammolite supply agreement is a fundamental step in the companys expansion plans, Jay Maull, CEO and founder of GEMXX, said in the news release. GEMXX and Kenneth Bradley share a goal of creating awareness and expanding the global market for GEMXX Ammolite gemstones.

To view the full press release, visit https://ibn.fm/4K9wj

About GEMXX Corporation

GEMXX is a publicly traded, mine-to-market gold, gemstone and jewelry producer with global reach that owns mining resources, production facilities and operating assets. GEMXX controls each stage of its production including gold mining, gemstone production, jewelry manufacturing and global distribution. GEMXX is a leading producer of top-quality finished Ammolite and Ammolite jewelry. The companys world-class gemstone cutters and jewelry designers are continuously leading the Ammolite industry in new and exciting directions. The companys management team is made up of the industrys leading experts with a combined total of 160 years of Ammolite gemstone and jewelry business experience. For more information about the company, visit www.GEMXX.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to GEMZ are available in the companys newsroom at https://ibn.fm/GEMZ

About MiningNewsWire

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Orange, California--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2023) - ALL Trial Lawyers, a leading law firm in Southern California, is proud to announce that Mo Abuershaid, an experienced attorney in Orange County, Los Angeles County, Riverside County, and San Bernardino County, has been rated as the top CPS lawyer and Juvenile Dependency attorney by SuperLawyers, an acclaimed lawyer rating service.

Mo Abuershaid

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SuperLawyers is trusted by thousands of people looking for the best lawyers in more than 70 practice areas across the United States. They follow an extremely in-depth selection process to reveal the most skilled attorneys in various practice areas.

SuperLawyers' selection process evaluates the attorneys based on twelve indicators. These indicators include experience, certification, settlements, community service, awards, pro bono cases, and more.

The prestigious award recognizes Mo Abuershaid's competency and unwavering dedication to advocating. The top-rated CPS lawyer and Juvenile Dependency attorney has been fighting for the rights of parents unjustly separated from their children by child protection services.

Mo Abuershaid, the Founding Partner of ALL Trial Lawyers, has counseled and represented hundreds of parents against Child Protection Services (CPS), the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), and many other social service agency investigations.

Mo Abuershaid's reputation precedes him as a staunch advocate, safeguarding and championing parents in Juvenile Dependency Cases in Orange County, Los Angeles County, Riverside County, and San Bernardino County, amongst other regions in Southern California.

On this pivotal occasion, the leading Juvenile Dependency Lawyer expressed his deep gratitude and humility for receiving the esteemed recognition from SuperLawyers. He spoke passionately about his mission and heartfelt desire to fight for the rights of children and parents.

The ALL Trial Lawyers' attorney said, "As a devoted Juvenile Dependency Attorney, I am committed to advocating for the rights of children and families. I am passionate about my job and believe it is my true calling. I find solace in the relentless pursuit of justice. Every parent deserves the best possible representation. We at ALL Trial Lawyers ensure every parent's voice is heard and every family's rights are protected."

Over the years, Mo Abuershaid has established a strong foothold in managing Juvenile Dependency cases of varying severity. His expertise extends to handling a wide range of issues of general negligence, severe physical abuse allegations, sexual abuse, head injuries, traumas, broken bones, fractures, and more.

Despite the complexities involved, Mo Abuershaid has consistently demonstrated his upper hand in navigating delicate matters with utmost care. He continues to inspire others and bring a positive shift in the lives of those he counsels and represents.

Mo Abuershaid is an attorney at ALL Trial Lawyers in the United States. He is the lead attorney who handles the law firm's Juvenile Dependency cases and CPS Defence. He has counseled and represented hundreds of parents in Southern California, especially in the Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties.

Name- Mo Abuershaid

Company- ALL Trial Lawyers

Website URL- https://alltriallawyers.com/

Email id- [email protected]

City and Country- Orange, CA

Address- 333 city blvd west, suite 1742, orange, ca 92868

Phone Number- (866) 811-4255

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/175989
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2023) - BELGRAVIA HARTFORD CAPITAL INC. (CSE: BLGV) ("Belgravia Hartford", "Belgravia" or the "Company") invites individual and institutional shareholders who on the record held shares of the Company known then as IC Potash Corp. as of June 28th, 2017 until August 8th, 2017 to contact the company.

Belgravia is completing an investigation that could be of material value to the company and requests the cooperation of shareholders who may have received information about the company during that period.

Please contact President & CEO Mehdi Azodi at 416-779-3268 on or before August 18, 2023.

About Belgravia Hartford

Belgravia Hartford Capital Inc. ("Belgravia" or the "Company") is a publicly traded investment holding company listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange. Belgravia is focused on growing its assets and holdings and increasing its net asset value (NAV). Belgravia invests in a portfolio of private and public companies located in jurisdictions governed by the rule of law. It takes a multi-sector investment approach with emphasis in the resources and commodities sector. Belgravia and its investments are considered high risk holdings and it may expose shareholders to significant volatility and losses.

For more information, please visit www.belgraviahartford.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include 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 statements include, without limitation, statements regarding planned investment activities & related returns, the timing for completion of research and development activities, the potential value of royalties, and other statements that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, but not limited to, changes in market trends, the completion, results and timing of research undertaken by the Company, risks associated with resource assets, the impact of general economic conditions, commodity prices, industry conditions, dependence upon regulatory, environmental, and governmental approvals, and the uncertainty of obtaining additional financing. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.

For More Information, Please Contact:

Mehdi Azodi, President & CEO

Belgravia Hartford Capital Inc.

(416) 779-3268

[email protected]

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/176529
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2023) - Bracewell LLP announced today that Scott Le Bouef and Brian R. Rogers, two leading energy and commodity transactional lawyers, have joined the firm's New York office. Le Bouef and Rogers join the firm from Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, where Le Bouef was a member of the commodities and derivatives group and Rogers was co-chair of the debt finance practice.

"Scott and Brian are highly regarded lawyers, who bring a wealth of experience to our market-leading energy finance team," said Bracewell Managing Partner Gregory M. Bopp. "We are thrilled to welcome them to the firm."

Le Bouef represents clients in a wide variety of commodities and derivatives transactions and related regulatory matters, with a focus on energy commodities. He advises investment banks, brokers, energy and commodity merchants, hedge funds, producers, suppliers and end-users in energy and commodity trading and finance. He has extensive experience with the structuring and negotiation of purchase and sale agreements, intermediation arrangements, physically and financially settled hedge transactions, energy management agreements, tolling agreements, supply and off-take agreements, transportation agreements and storage agreements. Le Bouef earned his B.A. from Boston College in 1993 and his J.D., cum laude, from Boston University School of Law in 1998.

Rogers advises private debt funds, banks and other financial institutions, commodity merchants, private equity funds, family offices, and public and private companies in a variety of debt financing transactions in all levels of the capital structure, including term loans, asset-based loans, leveraged buyouts, restructurings, rescue financings and other special situation transactions. In addition, he negotiates transactions relating to renewable and conventional energy and commodities, infrastructure and related asset classes. Rogers earned his B.S. in Accounting and Business Management from University of South Florida in 2009 and his J.D., with honors, from Boston University School of Law in 2013.

"Scott and Brian have extensive commodity finance experience that complements the offerings of our energy finance and energy transactions teams," said Dewey J. Gonsoulin Jr., co-chair of Bracewell's finance practice. "Their experience in energy commodity transactions will prove invaluable in helping clients navigate the complexities of the evolving energy and financing markets."

Bracewell's finance practice advises global financial institutions, funds, institutional investors, and national and multinational companies on billions of dollars of financial transactions every year, with a particular emphasis on deals in the energy industry. Bracewell lawyers have extensive experience across the energy finance spectrum, including upstream, midstream, downstream, exploration and production, refining, oil field services, power, renewables and other adjacent industries. Bracewell represents both lenders and borrowers in large, syndicated and bilateral, secured and unsecured, and traditional and structured financing arrangements, including acquisition and working capital facilities, back-levering arrangements, asset-based loans, reserve based loans, dividend recapitalizations, institutional term loans, first and second lien arrangements, bond financing credit enhancement, project financings and contract monetizations. Bracewell represents borrowers and lenders in all stages of lending transactions, including restructurings, debtor-in-possession financing and exit financings.

"Bracewell is a strong platform, with deep experience in renewables and energy transition matters, as well as in traditional oil and gas upstream, tax and commodities matters that will well serve the needs of our clients," said Le Bouef.

"We're excited to join a firm highly regarded for its work in the energy and finance sectors and that is at the forefront of the renewables and energy transition space. We were drawn to Bracewell's outstanding culture and commitment to excellence in client service," added Rogers.

About Bracewell LLP

Bracewell is a leading law and government relations firm primarily serving the energy, infrastructure, finance and technology industries throughout the world. Our industry focus results in comprehensive state-of-the-art knowledge of the commercial, legal and governmental challenges faced by our clients and enables us to provide innovative solutions to facilitate transactions and resolve disputes.

###

Contact:

Jay Plum

T:+1.212.508.6197

E:[email protected]

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/176500
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. Political relations between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan remain at the highest level, Deputy Head of the Department of Eastern Europe, South Caucasus, Western Asia, and Central Asia of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Zamin Aliyev said, Trend reports.

He made the remark during the round table on the topic "Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan: new horizons of cooperation."

According to him, over 150 documents have been signed between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.

"In addition, memoranda on twinning have been signed between a number of cities of our countries, and events of various levels are held," he said.

He pointed out that the creation and opening of the Zangazur corridor create additional advantages for the development of Azerbaijan's transit capabilities.

"After the de-occupation of its territories, Azerbaijan has created a new reality in the region. Uzbekistan was one of the first to lend us a helping hand in restoring the liberated territories. So, a school for 940 children will be built in Fuzuli," he said.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2023) - Cabral Gold Inc.(TSXV: CBR) (OTC PINK: CBGZF)("Cabral" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Jon Gilligan, Ian Gendall and Larry Lepard to its Board of Directors, effective immediately.

Alan Carter, Cabral's President and CEO commented, "I am very pleased to welcome Jon, Ian and Larry to the Board of Directors. Our ongoing Prefeasibility Study on the near surface gold-in-oxide material at the Cui Cuiu district, and the recent transaction with Osisko Gold Royalties, means that additional skills and expertise will be required at the Board level. The fact that experienced and successful industry participants in the form of Jon, Ian and Larry have agreed to join our Board is another significant endorsement of the Cuiu Cuiu gold district."

Jon Gilligan has 35 years experience and a PhD in Geology (gold). He is currently the COO of Liberty Gold and previously held senior positions with Torex Gold, SSR Mining Inc., and BHP. Jon has extensive experience in advancing and building mines around the world including the Marigold open-pit heap leach operation, Nevada, USA; Chinchillas open pit mine, Argentina; Olympic Dam Expansion Project, South Australia and the Escondida and Escondida Norte mines in Chile. He was previously Manager Mine Operations at the giant Escondida copper mine in Chile. Jon has a proven track record of building high-performance exploration, development and operational mining teams in challenging environments.

Ian Gendall is the President & CEO of DLP Resources and was previously with Gencor, Billiton, Anglo American, Antofagasta and more recently OceanaGold. Whilst working with Billiton, Ian led the team that was responsible for the discovery of an entirely new porphyry copper district in southern Ecuador. One of the companies that acquired part of the district was subsequently sold to CRCC-Tongguan Investment Co., Ltd. for $679M. He has extensive knowledge of operating in Brazil and in particular the Tapajos region and was previously COO of Magellan Minerals.

Larry Lepard is Managing Partner at Equity Management Associates, an investment fund focused on the precious metals sector and which has over US$60M under management. Larry previously spent 25 years as a professional investor and venture capitalist with Geocapital and Summit Partners, and has an MBA with Academic Distinction from Harvard Business School and a BA in Economics from Colgate University.

The appointments of Jon, Ian and Larry to the Board brings the total number of Board members to six. They join the existing Board members of Mark Smith, Alan Carter and Sami Arap.

About Cabral Gold Inc.

The Company is a junior resource company engaged in the identification, exploration and development of mineral properties, with a primary focus on gold properties located in Brazil. The Company has a 100% interest in the Cuiu Cuiu gold district located in the Tapajos Region, within the state of Para in northern Brazil. Two main gold deposits have so far been defined at the Cuiu Cuiu project which contains National Instrument 43-101 compliant Indicated resources of 21.6Mt @ 0.87 g/t gold (604,000 oz) and Inferred resources of 19.8Mt @ 0.84 g/t gold (534,500 oz) as per the 43-101 technical report dated October 12, 2022.

The Tapajos Gold Province is the site of the largest gold rush in Brazil's history which according to the ANM (Agencia Nacional de Mineracao or National Mining Agency of Brazil) produced an estimated 30 to 50 million ounces of placer gold between 1978 and 1995. Cuiu Cuiu was the largest area of placer workings in the Tapajos and produced an estimated 2Moz of placer gold historically.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

"Alan Carter"

President and Chief Executive Officer

Cabral Gold Inc.

Tel: 604.676.5660

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Guillermo Hughes, MAusIMM and FAIG., a consultant to the Company as well as a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release.

Forward-looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively "forward-looking statements"). The use of the words "will", "expected" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon. The Company believes the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/176463
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2023) - Dolly Varden Silver Corporation (TSXV: DV) (OTCQX: DOLLF) (the "Company" or "Dolly Varden") is pleased to announce initial drill results from expansion drilling at Kitsol and Torbrit as part of the 2023 exploration program on the 100%-owned Dolly Varden property in BC's Golden Triangle. Due to drilling success and efficiencies, a fifth drill has been mobilized to site and the 2023 program has been expanded by approximately 10,000m to 55,000m of drilling. Over 70 drill holes have been completed to-date this season.

Highlights from the Kitsol Vein in the Torbrit Deposit area include*:

DV23-334: 297 g/t Ag over 8.32 meters including 1,090 g/t Ag over 0.90 meters at Kitsol

DV23-336: 342 g/t Ag over 18.00 meters including 2,270 g/t Ag over 0.50 meters and 995 g/t Ag with 3.6% Pb over 0.60 meters at Kitsol

DV23-337: 496 g/t Ag over 9.57 meters including 1,100 g/t Ag over 0.73 meters at Kitsol

DV23-348: 334 g/t Ag over 3.50 meters including 672 g/t Ag over 1.34 meters at Torbrit Main, south extension

* Intervals are core length; true widths vary from 64 to 87% of core length interval (see table 1), assays are uncut

"As the flow of results from our fully funded 2023 exploration drill program have started, we continue to see successful resource expansion drilling at the Kitsol Vein, intersecting high grade silver mineralization over wide intervals, that is potentially amenable to bulk underground mining methods," said Shawn Khunkhun, President and CEO of Dolly Varden Silver. "We are excited to have the fifth drill turning as it will allow us to allocate extra meters to exploration drilling on our priority list of targets along the Kitsault Valley trend."





Figure 1. Area of results released relative to Silver and Gold Deposits of Dolly Varden's Kitsault Valley Trend



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Holes DV23-334 and 336 extended the plunge extent of the wide, high grade, silver mineralization at the Kitsol vein for an additional 40m towards surface. The plunge direction has been extended to over 250m from the furthest southwest intercept, down plunge in drill hole DV22-323 (Figure 2). Drilling has identified a consistent, high-grade interval within the wide vein interval, associated with multiple phases of brecciation (DV23-334: 1,090 g/t Ag over 0.90 meters and DV23-336: 2,270 g/t Ag over 0.50 meters).

Drill holes DV23-335, 337, 341 and 343 tested the high-grade shoot along strike; hole DV23-337 was a 41 meter step-out, up plunge from DV18-131, confirming the consistent vertical dimension of the shoot to be of 50-75 meters, along the length of the plunge. The remaining holes intersected the Kitsol vein, either above or below the higher grade mineralized shoot.

Exploration holes to the west, testing for new structures in the hanging wall of the Moose Lamb fault encountered a block of the Kitsol vein in drill hole DV23-338 within a fault splay. Further modelling with the new oriented core data will guide targeting of the possible offset of the Kitsol Vein across the Moose Lamb fault.

At the southern end of the Torbrit Main deposit, drill holes DV23-348 and 350 were collared as a 31m step outs testing for the mineralized horizon. DV23-348 intersected mineralization consistent with the lower sequence of the basin fill-style silver zone at Torbrit, within potassic and chlorite altered volcanic tuff.





Figure 2. Kitsol Vein Longitudinal section with plunge of high grade silver shoot and 2023 results

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Figure 3. Drill hole DV22-336 (74.00m to 85.55m) from the Kitsol Vein deposit showing breccia vein style mineralization with argentite, native silver in a dark silica matrix and vein breccia fragments

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Addition of fifth Diamond Drill and start of Geophysical Survey

The 15km long extent of the prospective Hazelton rocks on the property is host to numerous surface occurrences of alteration and silver mineralization that have been prioritized for drill testing. With the addition of approximately 10,000 meters to the initial 45,000 meter planned program, the extra drilling will be allocated to discovery-focused exploration targets. Efficiencies and excellent drill production have allowed for the additional drilling within the current budget.

In addition, a MT geophysical survey conducted by Simcoe Geoscience has commenced. The ground survey will be run over post-mineralization sedimentary rocks over the centre of the valley. Additional surveys will be performed to the area west and north of Homestake Ridge, where extensive gold in soil anomalies coincident with strong quartz-sericite-pyrite (QSP) alteration in interpreted to suggest a possible source at depth for the structurally-controlled gold-silver mineralization at Homestake Main and Homestake Silver deposits.





Figure 4. Kitsol Vein Plan View showing Drill Hole locations with Lithology, this release.

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Table 1. Drill Hole Assays from 2023 Kitsol and Torbrit drill holes.

Hole ID From

(m) To

(m) Length

(m) True Width

(m) Ag*

(g/t) Pb*

(%) Zn*

(%) Au*

(g/t) DV23-334 63.00 71.32 8.32 7.21 297 0.28 0.22

including 65.10 66.00 0.90 0.78 1090 1.59 0.90

DV23-335 159.50 160.50 1.00 0.72 118 0.24 0.06

and 174.00 175.00 1.00 0.72 104 0.24 0.50

and 176.70 177.61 0.91 0.65 176 0.12 0.09

DV23-336 70.00 88.00 18.00 15.59 342 0.58 0.57

including 75.40 75.90 0.50 0.42 2270 0.10 1.13

including 79.65 80.25 0.60 0.51 995 3.60 1.48

DV23-337 122.33 131.90 9.57 7.94 496 0.78 0.38

including 122.33 123.06 0.73 0.61 1100 0.14 0.37

and 171.00 172.00 1.00 0.83 129 0.03 0.09

DV23-338 123.27 123.74 0.47 0.33 14 0.02 1.02

DV23-341 176.90 177.40 0.50 0.32 310 1.20 0.11 0.80 and 184.14 184.64 0.50 0.32 208 1.48 0.11

and 187.03 187.53 0.50 0.32 22 0.11 0.09 0.16 and 272.50 275.50 3.00 1.92 115 0.21 0.06 0.11 DV23-342







NSV





DV23-343 216.45 217.36 0.91 0.52 107 0.02 0.11

and 299.00 300.00 1.00 0.57 140 0.18 0.32

DV23-346







NSV





DV23-348 86.00 89.50 3.50 3.50 334 0.03 0.05 0.13 including 86.00 87.34 1.34 1.34 672 0.02 0.07 0.24 DV23-350







NSV







* Assays reported are uncut. NSV denotes 'No Significant Values'

Table 2. Drill Hole Collars for 2023 Dolly Varden Kitsol - Torbrit Area Drilling (this release)

Hole ID Easting

UTM83 (m) Northing

UTM83 (m) Elev.

(m) Azimuth Dip Length

(m) DV23-334 467617 6172166 380 100 -45 130 DV23-335 467569 6172125 408 113 -59 201 DV23-336 467617 6172166 380 81 -45 130 DV23-337 467569 6172125 408 104 -49 228 DV23-338 467482 6172082 410 108 -60 401 DV23-341 467543 6172134 405 122 -55 321 DV23-342 467482 6172082 410 130 -60 326 DV23-343 467543 6172134 405 121 -70 396 DV23-346 467482 6172082 410 120 -50 276 DV23-348 468321 6171190 562 45 -55 168 DV23-350 468321 6171190 562 45 -72 186

Quality Assurance and Quality Control

The Company adheres to CIM Best Practices Guidelines for exploration related activities conducted on its property. Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) procedures are overseen by the Qualified Person.

Dolly Varden QA/QC protocols are maintained through the insertion of certified reference material (standards), blanks and field duplicates within the sample stream. Drill core is cut in-half with a diamond saw, with one-half placed in sealed bags and shipped to the laboratory and the other half retained on site. Third party laboratory checks on 5% of the samples are carried out as well. Chain of custody is maintained from the drill to the submittal into the laboratory preparation facility.

Analytical testing was performed by ALS Canada Ltd. in North Vancouver, British Columbia. The entire sample is crushed to 70% minus 2mm (10 mesh), of which a 500 gram split is pulverized to minus 200 mesh. Multi-element analyses were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) for 48 elements following a 4-acid digestion process. High grade silver testing was determined by Fire Assay with either an atomic absorption, or a gravimetric finish, depending on grade range. Au is determined by Fire Assay on a 30g split.

Qualified Person

Rob van Egmond, P.Geo., Vice-President Exploration for Dolly Varden Silver, the "Qualified Person" as defined by NI43-101 has reviewed, validated and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release and supervises the ongoing exploration program for Dolly Varden on the Kitsault Valley Project.

About Dolly Varden Silver Corporation

Dolly Varden Silver Corporation is a mineral exploration company focused on advancing its 100% held Kitsault Valley Project (which combines the Dolly Varden Project and the Homestake Ridge Project) located in the Golden Triangle of British Columbia, Canada, 25kms by road to tide water. The 163 sq. km. project hosts the high-grade silver and gold resources of Dolly Varden and Homestake Ridge along with the past producing Dolly Varden and Torbrit silver mines. It is considered to be prospective for hosting further precious metal deposits, being on the same structural and stratigraphic belts that host numerous other, on-trend, high-grade deposits, such as Eskay Creek and Brucejack. The Kitsault Valley Project also contains the Big Bulk property which is prospective for porphyry and skarn style copper and gold mineralization, similar to other such deposits in the region (Red Mountain, KSM, Red Chris).

Forward Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements or forward-looking information under applicable Canadian securities legislation that may not be based on historical fact, including, without limitation, statements containing the words "believe", "may", "plan", "will", "estimate", "continue", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "potential", and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Dolly Varden to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements or information in this release relates to, among other things, the 2022 drill program at the Kitsault Valley Project, the results of previous field work and programs and the continued operations of the current exploration program, interpretation of the nature of the mineralization at the project and that that the mineralization on the project is similar to Eskay and Brucejack, results of the mineral resource estimate on the project, the potential to grow the project, the potential to expand the mineralization and our beliefs about the unexplored portion of the property.

These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and assume, among other things, the ability of the Company to successfully pursue its current development plans, that future sources of funding will be available to the company, that relevant commodity prices will remain at levels that are economically viable for the Company and that the Company will receive relevant permits in a timely manner in order to enable its operations, but given the uncertainties, assumptions and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements or information. The Company disclaims any obligation to update, or to publicly announce, any such statements, events or developments except as required by law.

For additional information on risks and uncertainties, see the Company's most recently filed annual management discussion & analysis ("MD&A") and management information circular dated January 21, 2022 (the "Circular"), both of which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The risk factors identified in the MD&A and the Circular are not intended to represent a complete list of factors that could affect the Company.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

For further information: Shawn Khunkhun, CEO & Director, 1-604-609-5137, www.dollyvardensilver.com.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/176403
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2023) - First Hydrogen Corp.(TSXV: FHYD) (OTC Pink: FHYDF) (FSE: FIT) ("FIRST HYDROGEN" or the "Company") is pleased to report the successful completion of the first two trials of the Company's hydrogen-fuel-cell powered vehicle (FCEV) with SSE Plc (SSE) and Rivus. The FCEV achieved a range of 630 kilometres on a single refuelling during the trials. Driver feedback from both companies complemented the Company's FCEV on its smooth and effortless drivability, quick refuelling times and automatic transmission. The Company will now look to speed up FCEV trials with the remaining 14 UK fleet operators, including grocery, utility, delivery and health care, by holding track days with multiple fleet operators.

Additionally, the Company will open up trials to North American companies. The Global Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCVs) Market was valued at US$ 9.3 billion and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 15.8% during 2023-20233(1). Hydrogen FCVs offer a viable solution in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as the FCVs produce zero tailpipe emissions contributing to cleaner air quality and mitigating the impact of transportation on global warming.

Data taken during the trials suggests that overall vehicle performance is even better than expected, as it exceeds the results set in pre-trial commissioning tests, especially when driven at a constant speed, as less braking and accelerating means less fuel is consumed. For several journeys, the FCEV drove fully loaded one way and was partly loaded on the return. SSE drivers noted that heavier loads did not noticeably decrease vehicle speed, reduce vehicle range, or affect fuel cell performance.

SSE was the first utility business to road test First Hydrogen's FCEV. As one of the UK's largest energy infrastructure companies, SSE has established a Net Zero Action Plan and has recently increased investment in renewables and its electricity networks to 18 billion. In 2019, SSE committed to transitioning over 3,000 fleet vehicles to electric by 2023, and already it has over 1,100 full EVs in its fleet.

Rivus, which manages approximately 120,000 vehicles, including approximately 85,000 LCVs, was the first fleet management company to test drive the first-of-its-kind hydrogen vehicle on UK roads. Fleet management specialists Rivus will use data gathered by First Hydrogen's onboard telematics to make direct performance comparisons between similar BEV and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles that have undertaken the same duty cycles.

Balraj Mann, Chairman and Group CEO, commented, "As our FCEV data is monitored with each real-world trial, adjustments have resulted with a 630 km range in the most recent trial with SSE. We are very pleased with the substantial increase from the 500 km range achieved during FCEV commissioning. Fuel consumption averaged an efficient 1.58kg H 2 /100m, the Company looks to improve fuel consumption under various real-world conditions during additional fleet trials in the coming months. We are seeing with trials that hydrogen is the better alternative to equivalent battery electric vehicles for commercial use."

(1)https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/06/01/2680455/0/en/Hydrogen-Fuel-Cell-Vehicles-FCVs-market-is-projected-to-grow-at-a-CAGR-of-15-8-by-2033-Visiongain.html





Image 1

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About First Hydrogen Corp. (FirstHydrogen.com)

First Hydrogen Corp. is a Vancouver and London UK-based company focused on zero-emission vehicles, green hydrogen production and distribution and supercritical carbon dioxide extractor systems. The Company has designed and built hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered light commercial demonstrator vehicles ("LCV") under two agreements with AVL Powertrain and Ballard Power Systems Inc. The LCV has a range of 630+ kilometres. These vehicles are being trialled with an initial 16 fleet operators in the United Kingdom. At the same time, the company has launched its bespoke vehicle design phase which will develop its fleet of proprietary zero-emission vehicles. First Hydrogen is also developing refueling capability working with FEV Consulting GmbH, the automotive consultancy of FEV Group of Aachen Germany. The Company is also pursuing opportunities in green hydrogen production and distribution in the UK, EU and North America.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of



FIRST HYDROGEN CORP.

"Balraj Mann"

Chairman & Group CEO



Contact:

Balraj Mann

First Hydrogen Corp.

604-601-2018

[email protected]



Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains information or statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or developments to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by words such as "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur.

Forward looking information may include, without limitation, statements regarding the operations, business, financial condition, expected financial results, performance, prospects, opportunities, priorities, targets, goals, ongoing objectives, milestones, strategies and outlook of First Hydrogen, and includes statements about, among other things, future developments and the future operations, strengths and strategies of First Hydrogen. Forward-looking information is provided for the purpose of presenting information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results.

The forward-looking statements made in this news release are based on management's assumptions and analysis and other factors that may be drawn upon by management to form conclusions and make forecasts or projections, including management's experience and assessments of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments. Although management believes that these assumptions, analyses and assessments are reasonable at the time the statements contained in this news release are made, actual results may differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. Examples of risks and factors that could cause actual results to materially differ from forward-looking statements may include: the timing and unpredictability of regulatory actions; regulatory, legislative, legal or other developments with respect to its operations or business; limited marketing and sales capabilities; early stage of the industry and product development; limited products; reliance on third parties; unfavourable publicity or consumer perception; general economic conditions and financial markets; the impact of increasing competition; the loss of key management personnel; capital requirements and liquidity; access to capital; the timing and amount of capital expenditures; the impact of COVID-19; shifts in the demand for First Hydrogen's products and the size of the market; patent law reform; patent litigation and intellectual property; conflicts of interest; and general market and economic conditions.

The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of First Hydrogen as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. First Hydrogen undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

NEITHER 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

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/176404
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2023) - Golden Goliath Resources Ltd. (TSXV: GNG) (OTC Pink: GGTHF) (FSE: GGZ)

Golden Goliath Resources is pleased to announce that they have now begun the exploration program at their Manicouagan Project central Quebec.

The Manicouagan Project consists of four properties covering anomalous Rare Earth Element occurrences just to the south of the Manicouagan impact crater in Quebec. This initial program will consist of ground geophysics, geology, and geochemistry to identify the source of lake sediment anomalies and to assess previous anomalous rock samples and the circular magnetic features found on some of the properties.

Along with highly prospective metamorphic and igneous complexes our Manicouagan project has excellent infrastructure with hydro power facilities and access with highway 389 splitting the properties and secondary access provided by recent forestry activities.





Figure 1: Manicouagan Project

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The anomalous values are from lake sediment sampling and limited rock sampling conducted by the Ministere des Ressources Naturelles. The properties cover areas with anomalous values in key REEs; Cerium, Lanthanum, Neodymium, Praseodymium and Rubidium. Many of the other REEs show elevated values.

The properties are all underlain by metamorphic and intrusive complexes of the Grenville geological province. The Bedard and Citadelle prospects are also associated with circular magnetic features which may also be related to the anomalous REE values.

++





Figure 2: Citadelle Prospect

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Figure 3: Bedard Prospect (Right)

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Golden Goliath's geological team has now mobilized to the area and has engaged with geological and geochemical fieldwork on the Ernest property on the project. Ernest was found to have very good access and exposure. Recent forestry operations have created new access and outcrop exposures through the thin till cover in the northeastern half of the property. Our geological team successfully located the site of the highly anomalous Ministre des Ressources Naturelles sample and located several similar occurrences within the new exposures. Principal orientations of target dykes were noted yielding key geometric data which will be used to focus upcoming geophysical work.

Golden Goliath CEO Paul Sorbara said, "I am pleased to have boots on the ground at our Manicouagan project. Initial reports are good. Field work is expected to continue into September and I look forward to visiting the properties myself. This area is underexplored, has excellent potential for critical minerals such as REEs and has very good road access and infrastructure including a hydro power station. Personally, I find the impact crater proximity very interesting. Rim collapse features of the Manicouagan Impact Crater are known to extend for a 60 km radius and we are within that zone. I think that the circular mag features, which are characteristic of some REE deposits including carbonatites, may be related to intrusions or other features at depth related to the impact event. There even happens to be another REE property related to an impact crater in Labrador, called Crater Lake, and they are building a significant resource."

This news release has been reviewed by Gordon MacKay, P.Geo., who is acting as QP under the NI 43-101 requirements.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Paul Sorbara, MSc, P.Geo.

CEO, Golden Goliath Resources Ltd.

About Golden Goliath

Golden Goliath Resources Ltd. is a junior exploration company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (symbol GNG). The Company is focused on exploring and developing the gold and silver potential of properties in the Red Lake District of Ontario. The Company also holds a 100% interest in the San Timoteo property, located in the Sierra Madre Occidental Mountains of northwestern Mexico, as well as NSR royalties on several other nearby properties.

To find out more about Golden Goliath visit our website at www.goldengoliath.com.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information

Certain statements included herein may constitute "forward-looking statements". All statements included in this press release that address future events, conditions or results, including in connection with exploration activity, future acquisitions and any financing, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may", "must", "plan", "believe", "expect", "estimate", "think", "continue", "should", "will", "could", "intend", "anticipate" or "future" or the negative forms thereof or similar variations. These forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by management in light of their experiences and their perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors they believe are appropriate in the circumstances. These statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those mentioned in the Company's continuous disclosure documents, which can be found under its profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). Many of such risks and uncertainties are outside the control of the Company and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In making such forward-looking statements, management has relied upon a number of material factors and assumptions, on the basis of currently available information, for which there is no insurance that such information will prove accurate. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements set forth above. The Company is under no obligation, and 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, except as expressly required by applicable law.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Golden Goliath Resources Ltd.

J. Paul Sorbara, M.Sc., P.Geo

President & CEO

Phone: +1(604) 682-2950 Email: [email protected]

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/176419
London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2023) - In a significant development, Holiday Swap, a trailblazer in the accommodation industry, has brought on board Eitan Neishlos as an investor and advisory board member. Neishlos, recognized for his contributions to fintech innovation, entrepreneurship, corporate law, and philanthropy, will be applying his extensive expertise to enhance the fintech and security aspects of Holiday Swap Group, in addition to providing substantial investment to fuel the company's growth.

Eitan Neishlos



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Eitan Neishlos stated, "I am inspired to join the advisory board and align our ethos with the vision of James and the leadership team. We at Neishlos are committed to positive disruption of the status quo through our media, fintech and security portfolio, extending into hospitality and aviation. Our commitment to Holiday Swap's innovative growth is demonstrated through an array of advisory, investment and technology contributions. Ready to work closely with the investors and management as we look onwards and upwards."

The acclaimed home exchange platform, Holiday Swap, operates in dozens of countries around the world, offering users the unique opportunity to swap or instantly book their homes with others, significantly reducing the high costs associated with travel accommodation. Holiday Swap's distinct model disrupts traditional norms in the travel industry and offers an affordable solution for accommodation, planning to reach over 20 million users globally.

Eitan Neishlos, the founder and chairman of Neishlos Capital, is renowned for his significant contributions in various industries. His portfolio includes being a major shareholder and director for several socially conscious companies such as Resonance Australia, CashD, AHNA Group and 18 Reflections. He has served on public and private boards, with various exits including from Capital Appreciation, DashPay and Caspit Payment Technologies. Currently, he advises and invests in various Israeli tech startups such as Leap and PalWallet. His passion for disruptive innovation makes him a perfect fit for Holiday Swap Group.

James Asquith, Holiday Swap founder and CEO, warmly welcomes Neishlos on board, "Eitan's inclusion as a shareholder and a member of our advisory board is an exciting development. He has demonstrated time and again his knack for innovation and disruption, which perfectly aligns with our ethos at Holiday Swap. His commitment to our cause will no doubt be a tremendous asset."

Apart from his corporate contributions, Neishlos is a noted philanthropist. His philanthropic arm has made various contributions including towards AIDS research and early-stage cancer detection for women. He has also contributed to the National Library of Australia, the National Library of Israel, the Sydney Opera House, and Know My Name, a Canberra-based arts forum for women. With his move to Dubai the focus has shifted towards economic and cultural kinship in the region.

Neishlos' commitment to Holiday Swap Group, coupled with his advisory role, propels the company towards an exciting phase of growth. With his diverse background and unique insights, he is set to contribute significantly to Holiday Swap's disruptive journey in the travel industry.

Holiday Swap Group's growth strategy is not limited to accommodations alone. It also includes an increasing interest in aviation assets. The company has made a strategic move towards expanding its Global Airlines subsidiary with the recent acquisition of four A380 aircraft, plus a partnership with American Express. This addition not only enhances the value of the company's aviation portfolio but also underscores its commitment to offering comprehensive and innovative solutions in the travel industry. The collaboration with Neishlos is expected to further strengthen these pursuits, highlighting the multi-faceted growth potential of Holiday Swap Group.

Press Contact:

Holiday Swap

Ahmet Fatih Durmaz, Digital Marketing and PR Specialist

[email protected]

London UK

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/176352
Impact Launchpad to emphasize Carbotura's jobs and economic impact program bringing non-governmental private investment to augment waste infrastructure and end reliance on landfills and sewage treatment facilities at zero net cost to taxpayers.

Austin, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2023) - Impact Launchpad, a venture studio for social impact innovation, today announced its agency relationship with Carbotura, a zero waste and landfill elimination solution that also achieves net carbon reduction, trapping atmospheric C02 during operation. As the threat of climate change accelerates, Carbotura's service model presents a unique and ready response. Through this partnership, Impact Launchpad will introduce the company's technology-as-a-service program to regions, states, and municipalities across the globe starting in North America, The UK, and Western Europe.





Impact Launchpad Announces Agency Relationship with Carbotura to Eliminate Landfills Worldwide

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Said Daniel Matalon, CEO of Impact Launchpad, "Carbotura has become our top priority. Its technology makes it possible for us to completely eliminate landfills from the ecosystem, which is accelerating our climate threat at a rate that is already higher than coal. Carbotura provides an urgent response for a closing window of time."

Tyler Wood, Director of Sustainability for Carbotura, said of the new partnership. "We are impressed with the broad alignment we have with Impact Launchpad in both its capital investment strategy, and in our broad range of mutual connections to climate leaders and social communities through its interests in The #IsThereEnough campaign. As a global citizen oriented community, it will help us expand our footprint. We can certainly benefit from that."

In addition to its zero-waste technology, what distinguishes Carbotura is its business model. Carbotura invests privately sourced capital into each project at no expense to the community. Governments do not need to do bond issues or raise taxes to move a green project of this magnitude forward. Carbotura's investment, to build and manage infrastructure, produces 100's of high paying jobs, and billions in economic impact. Municipalities, and commercial waste sites, can also use it to gain their own carbon credits without any outlay of expense, while furthering wider use of a solution that can eventually eliminate landfills from the planet.

Said Mr Matalon, " as game changing as the technology is, we were especially impressed that Carbotura made its proposition so viable through its business model innovations. Their zero risk model helps to support the successful introduction of a technology that is unknown to many in the waste management space before now and which garners expected skepticism. The program is fiscally compelling, even beyond that. It is as good a jobs generator and an economic stimulus as any movie studio or big box warehouse store coming to an area, and maybe better. We need more of this kind of investment thinking to more rapidly implement the technologies that are needed to address Climate Change."

About Impact Launchpad

Impact Launchpad is a UK based venture studio for social impact innovation focused on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's). It operates through a network of independent producers with offices in Canada, the US, the UK, Ireland, Sweden, and Australia. In alliance with its global collaboration project, #IsThereEnough, it presents a business model for The World Game, outlined by the late Buckminster Fuller in the 20th century. More at ImpactLaunchpad.com

About Carbotura

Carbotura, part of the Gravitas ecosystem of sustainability organizations, offers groundbreaking zero-waste, trash-elimination technology packaged in a unique waste elimination service. Its program also stimulates jobs and economic impact with 100% private investment for municipal benefit at no cost to taxpayers. More atCarbotura.com

Contact Info:

Name: David Stern

Email: [email protected]

Organization: Impact Launchpad

Website: http://Carbotura.ImpactLaunchpad.com

Video URL: https://youtu.be/qr_PZ9tFEsM

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/176450
New family of patent granted by Japanese Patent Office enhances BioMark's global intellectual property position in lung cancer detection using urine as a convenient biological sample medium.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2023) - BioMark Diagnostics Inc. (CSE: BUX) (FSE: 20B) (OTC Pink: BMKDF) ("BioMark"), an advanced stage liquid biopsy company with a focus on hard to detect and treat cancers is pleased to announce that the Japan Patent Office (JPO) has issued Divisional Patent Application N 7311659 titled "Methods of detecting lung cancer" using urine biomarkers. The issued patent belongs to a larger family of patents on the Company's biomarker panel for detecting lung cancer.

"We are excited to expand our patent portfolio by offering clinicians and patients another more convenient and non-invasive option to detect lung cancer using novel and urine-based biomarkers. This robust panel of biomarkers demonstrates the company's technological capabilities in accelerating translational science in the dynamic field of metabolomics. Over the years, the company has successfully developed highly sensitive assays using saliva, plasma, and urine mediums. In Japan approximately 125K new cases of lung cancer are reported annually," said Rashid Bux, CEO and President of BioMark. He further adds, "BioMark is proud to expand its patent assets in its cancer diagnostic portfolio. We anticipate more announcements in the upcoming quarters related to our patent status."

According to the Market Data Forecast report, the cancer diagnostic market in Asia Pacific is valued at $30B USD in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.1% reaching $47B by 2027 driven by higher chronic cancer cases and increasing demand for minimally invasive tests. BioMark's patent estate creates shareholder value by giving the Company an opportunity to tap into this vast cancer diagnostic market.

About BioMark Diagnostics Inc.

BioMark is a liquid biopsy company developing a molecular diagnostics technology platform that leverages the power of metabolomics and machine learning algorithms to bring new cancer diagnostics to market and improving cancer prognosis by allowing physicians to detect carcinomas in the pre-symptomatic stages. The technology can also be used for measuring response to treatment and potentially for serial monitoring of cancer survivors. While the Company's current focus is on the commercialization of its liquid biopsy test for early detection of lung, it has plans to expand into other hard to detect and treat cancers such as brain, ovarian and pancreatic.

Further information about BioMark is available under its profile on the SEDAR website www.sedar.com and on the CSE website https://thecse.com/.

For further information on BioMark, please Contact:

Rashid Ahmed Bux, President & CEO

BioMark Diagnostics Inc.

Tel. 604-370-0779, Email: [email protected]

Forward-Looking Information:

This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business of BioMark. Forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the management of BioMark. Although BioMark believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because BioMark can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. BioMark disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws.

The CSE has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the content of this press release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/176398
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2023) - Kenorland Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: KLD) (OTCQX: KLDCF) (FSE: 3WQ0) ("Kenorland" or the "Company") is pleased to announce final drill results from the 2023 winter drill program at the Frotet Project (the "Project"), located in northern Quebec and held under joint venture (the "Joint Venture") with Sumitomo Metal Mining Canada Ltd. ("SMMCL"). Assays from the remaining 8 of 15 drill holes completed, including 6,679 meters of the 13,360 meter program are reported herein. The Company is also pleased to provide an update on the upcoming fall drill program and exploration activities planned to begin in September.

Highlights include the following:

Newly discovered R10 and R11 deep zones extended to over 500m along strike

23RDD172: 2.56 g/t Au over 41.85m incl. 11.96 g/t Au over 4.45m at R11 (new vein discovery)

23RDD166: 3.28 g/t Au over 24.70m incl. 26.09 g/t Au over 1.77m and incl. 34.50 g/t Au over 0.35m at R5

23RDD169: 98.80 g/t Au over 0.35m at R5 and 5.31 g/t Au over 7.00m incl. 36.30 g/t Au over 0.60m at R6

23RDD170: 6.25m at 3.74 g/t Au incl. 9.18 g/t Au over 0.80m at R6

Updated geologic model of the Regnault vein system defining R1-R11 vein sets

Figure 1. Plan map of Regnault drilling including highlights from this press release





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Zach Flood, President and CEO of Kenorland, states, "The 2023 winter drill program was a great success highlighted by the discovery of multiple high-grade gold bearing structures intersected in the deepest drilling to date. The scale of this project is reaching critical mass and I believe the value of this will become recognized over time."

Discussion of Results

The reported intersections are the final 8 drill hole results from the 15-hole 2023 winter drill program at Regnault*. The majority of drilling was designed with broad step outs to follow up on multiple new vein discoveries of the 2022 program, including an area of limited drilling between the R5-R6-R7-R8 discoveries and the R2-R3 structures. Mineralisation was intersected across multiple structures, linking these two vein corridors for a combined strike length of 1.8 kilometers. (*See press release dated May 31, 2023)

Additional deep drilling was completed to explore for sub-parallel structures south of known mineralised zones within the Regnault intrusive complex. These deep holes were successful in discovering new vein systems at vertical depths of up to 1,000m (R9, R10 and R11 structures) and intersected mineralisation over strike lengths of up to 450m, remaining open in multiple directions. The intersections of high-grade gold mineralisation, including 4.45m at 11.96 g/t Au in 23RDD172, demonstrate the continued exploration potential of the Regnault system at depth.

Figure 2. Cross section through the Regnault gold system





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Drill hole intersections along the R1-R5 structures include 23RDD169 which returned 0.35m at 98.80 g/t Au. This hole extends mineralisation on the R5 structure at 300m vertical depth, and the structure at this area notably remains open at depth.

Drill hole 23RDD169 also tested parallel structures in the area of limited drilling between R2-R3 and the R5-R6-R7-R8 discoveries, returning 7.00m at 5.31 g/t Au, including 0.60m at 36.30 g/t Au. Along with intersections in 23RDD166 of 24.70m at 3.28 g/t Au including 0.35m at 34.50 g/t Au and 1.77m at 26.09 g/t Au as well as 23RDD168 of 4.89m at 3.00 g/t Au including 0.33m at 34.30 g/t Au, a link between the structures is indicated at the 300-375m vertical depth with mineralisation notably remaining open at depth on these trends.

Deep drilling testing for additional deep sub-parallel structures was successful, with drill hole 23RDD172 intersecting 0.34m at 31.70 g/t Au at 650m depth from surface and 41.85m at 2.56 g/t Au including 4.45m at 11.96 g/t Au at 1000m depth from surface. These intercepts confirm the significance of the new vein discoveries. Along with previously reported 2023 winter results including 23RDD159 which returned 4.75m at 5.97 g/t Au and 1.20m at 55.70 g/t Au, and 23RDD162 returning 2.01m at 5.25 g/t Au* on the R11 mineralised structure, a strike length of at least 450m is indicated, attesting to the continued potential of the Regnault system at depth. (*See press release dated May 31, 2023)

Figure 3. Plan view (looking down dip) of the Regnault gold system





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Gold mineralisation of the Regnault vein system is associated with multiple east-west trending and north-dipping shear zones. Mineralised structures transect both the multiphase Regnault intrusive complex and surrounding volcanic rocks and are defined by zones of moderate-strong strain, biotite-calcite  silica-chlorite alteration and disseminated pyrite (locally ranging from 3-10%). High grade intercepts are characteristically shear-hosted laminated quartz-carbonate-pyrite veins, often haloed by variably deformed extensional stockwork quartz veining locally containing up to 20% pyrite along with trace chalcopyrite, Au  Ag tellurides and visible gold.

Geological Modelling

Systematic 3D modelling was done at the Regnault system, utilizing logged geological data, core-oriented structural and geochemical information. The broad exploration step outs of the 2023 winter drilling have allowed for definition of important structural geometries in key areas hosting high grade quartz-sulphide veins. Principal outcomes include: the presence and sub parallel nature of the newly discovered R8-R9-R10-R11 structures, clear link between the R2-R3 and R5-R6-R7-R8 structures, and confirmation of the projected geometry of the Regnault intrusive complex at depth. This improved understanding of the system and orientation of mineralised zones indicates the potential for multiple mineralised structures of significant strike length within the Regnault system.

Regnault Summer 2023 Drill Program Update

At the conclusion of the 2023 winter drill program, a total of 70,356m over 173 holes have been drilled to date at Regnault, beginning with the discovery drill program in 2020. The upcoming fall drill program, anticipated to begin in mid-September, will include up to 11,300m of diamond drilling. A large-scale surface geochemical program, including the collection of ~1200 soil samples (glacial till substrate), will also be completed immediately to the east of the Regnault discovery to define additional targets for drill testing next winter.

Table 1. Table of remaining results from the 2023 winter drill program

HOLE ID From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Residual Au (g/t) 23RDD165A 91.20 93.65 2.45 2.83 2.62 And 298.30 305.05 6.75 1.34 1.26 And 309.30 313.80 4.50 3.50 2.64 2.55 Incl. 310.70 311.20 0.50 11.10 6.90 And 354.75 356.75 2.00 3.39 4.18 1.26 Incl. 356.25 356.75 0.50 9.77 12.80 And 485.95 489.85 3.90 4.10 8.42 1.90 Incl. 488.65 489.35 0.70 14.20 33.90 And 534.53 536.00 1.47 5.68 8.80 And 552.40 555.80 3.40 2.39 2.53 1.36 Incl. 553.40 554.10 0.70 6.36 4.30 23RDD166 55.50 63.50 8.00 1.36 2.23 And 475.00 499.70 24.70 3.28 3.60 1.01 Incl. 477.75 478.10 0.35 34.50 6.70 And Incl. 496.05 497.82 1.77 26.09 32.20 And 846.50 852.80 6.30 1.66 1.87 23RDD168 87.47 89.10 1.63 6.22 5.04 3.13 Incl. 87.47 87.78 0.31 19.40 16.90 And 383.26 388.15 4.89 3.00 1.51 0.74 Incl. 383.26 383.59 0.33 34.30 15.50 23RDD169 119.35 121.70 2.35 2.84 3.59 And 339.15 339.50 0.35 98.80 65.80 And 512.50 519.50 7.00 5.31 6.45 2.41 Incl. 516.50 517.10 0.60 36.30 48.30 And 672.20 675.00 2.80 1.79 1.03 23RDD170 480.75 487.00 6.25 3.74 4.61 2.94 Incl. 485.10 485.90 0.80 9.18 16.40 23RDD171 441.80 446.10 4.30 1.22 0.96 23RDD172 393.40 407.00 13.60 0.41 0.45 And 452.52 452.95 0.43 20.50 33.94 And 779.76 780.10 0.34 31.70 31.78 And 848.50 859.75 11.25 0.95 1.03 And 1032.32 1038.00 5.68 1.45 0.91 1.12 Incl. 1035.53 1036.40 0.87 3.27 2.17 And 1075.80 1082.74 6.94 1.28 1.30 1.03 Incl. 1076.67 1077.37 0.70 3.53 2.73 And 1149.50 1191.35 41.85 2.56 2.46 1.45 Incl. 1182.75 1187.20 4.45 11.96 7.87 And 1403.65 1414.70 11.05 1.03 1.26 23RDD173 190.50 193.90 3.40 1.36 1.23

*Assay intervals reported are core lengths, true widths have not been determined

**Residual Au (g/t) represents the average grade of the drill hole interval excluding the highlighted internal interval

Table 2. Drill collar table of reported remaining drill holes from the 2023 winter drill program

Hole ID Easting (NAD83) Northing (NAD83) Elevation (m) Depth (m) Dip Azimuth 23RDD165 519501 5620929 374 257.00 -66 161 23RDD165A 519501 5620929 374 713.00 -66 161 23RDD166 519288 5620762 374 1000.50 -55 156 23RDD168 519241 5620564 374 800.00 -56 156 23RDD169 519370 5620832 375 750.00 -60 162 23RDD170 519193 5620717 375 510.00 -56 154 23RDD171 519388 5620690 375 555.00 -58 154 23RDD172 519524 5620564 376 1614.00 -59 156 23RDD173 519572 5620849 374 479.00 -67 163

About the Frotet Project

The Frotet Project was first identified by Kenorland in 2017 after completing a regional prospectivity study over the Abitibi and Frotet-Evans Greenstone Belts of Quebec. The initial 55,921 ha property was acquired through map staking in March 2017 and optioned to Sumitomo Metal Mining Canada Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. in April 2018. Two years of property-wide systematic till sampling led to a maiden drill program in 2020 which resulted in a significant grassroots discovery at the prospect now named Regnault. The project is currently under the Joint Venture agreement between SMMCL and Kenorland Minerals Ltd., with interests being held at 80% and 20%, respectively. Under the Joint Venture, exploration is funded pro-rata and Kenorland is presently the operator of the project. Any party which does not contribute and is diluted below a 10% interest, converts its interest to an 2% uncapped net smelter royalty.

Figure 4. Map of Frotet Project showing regional till sampling geochemical results





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QA/QC and Core Sampling Protocols

All drill core samples were collected under the supervision of Kenorland employees. Drill core was transported from the drill platform to the logging facility where it was logged, photographed, and split by diamond saw prior to being sampled. Samples were then bagged, and blanks and certified reference materials were inserted at regular intervals. Groups of samples were placed in large bags, sealed with numbered tags in order to maintain a chain-of-custody, and transported from Chibougamau to Bureau Veritas Commodities ("BV") laboratory in Timmins, Ontario.

Sample preparation and analytical work for this drill program were carried out by BV. Samples were prepared for analysis according to BV method PRP70-250: individual samples were crushed to 2mm (10 mesh) and a 250g split was pulverized to 75m (200 mesh) for analysis and then assayed for gold. Gold in samples were analyzed using BV method FA430 where a 30g split is analyzed with fire assay by Pb collection and AAS finish. Over-limits gold samples were re-analyzed using BV method FA530 where a 30g split is analyzed with fire assay by Pb collection and gravimetric finish. Multi-element geochemical analysis (45 elements) was performed on all samples using BV method MA200 where a 0.25g split is by multi-acid digest with ICP-MS/ES finish. All results passed the QA/QC screening at the lab, all company inserted standards and blanks returned results that were within acceptable limits.

Qualified Person

Cedric Mayer, M.Sc., P.Geo. (OGQ #02385), "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release.

About Kenorland Minerals Ltd.

Kenorland Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: KLD) is a mineral exploration company incorporated under the laws of the Province of British Columbia and based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Kenorland's focus is early to advanced stage exploration in North America. The Company currently holds five projects in Quebec where work is being completed under joint venture and earn-in agreements from third parties. The Frotet Project and Chicobi Project are held under joint venture with Sumitomo, the O'Sullivan Project is optioned to Sumitomo, the Chebistuan Project is optioned to Newmont Corporation and the Hunter Project is held under option to Centerra Gold Inc. In Alaska, the Company holds the advanced stage Tanacross porphyry Cu-Au-Mo project, optioned to Antofagasta, as well as a 70% interest in the Healy Project, held under joint venture with Newmont Corporation.

Further information can be found on the Company's website www.kenorlandminerals.com

Kenorland Minerals Ltd.

Zach Flood

President, CEO and Director

Tel: +1 604 568 6005

[email protected]

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (together, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as "plans", "expects', "estimates", "intends", "anticipates", "believes" or variations of such words, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, that could cause actual results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing these forward-looking statements are reasonable based upon the information currently available to management as of the date hereof, actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. Readers are therefore cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed times frames or at all. Except where required by applicable law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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.

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About Alert 360

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Brad Henderson

Digital Strategist

www.alert360.com

214-682-0689

PR Contact

Noah Foster

[email protected]

www.pinionnewswire.com





Alert 360



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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2023) - Northern Superior Resources Inc. (TSXV: SUP) (OTCQX: NSUPF) ("Northern Superior" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") prepared in accordance with the National Instrument 43-101, Standard for Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") for the Philibert gold property, located 60 kilometres southwest of Chibougamau, Qubec, Canada (the "Philibert Project"; Northern Superior: 75%, SOQUEM: 25%).

Highlights Include:

48.46 million tonnes of Inferred Mineral Resource averaging 1.10 grams of gold per tonne for 1,708,809 ounces of gold;

7.88 million tonnes of Indicated Mineral Resource averaging 1.10 grams of gold per tonne for 278,921 ounces of gold;

Mineral resource estimated at a cut-off grade of 0.35 g/t gold;

Metallurgical testing with flotation concentrate returns recoveries up to 95.6% (see press release dated July 6, 2023) and 93% used for the pit optimization ;

; While the previous mineral resource estimate on the Philibert Project focused exclusively on underground resources from the western domains, with 239,202 ounces at 5.68 g/t gold, 1 the MRE announced today does not include any of the underground potential. Such potential will be further explored, evaluated and potentially included in a subsequent mineral resource estimate;

Further expansion is anticipated with: i ) certain zones along strike and down dip proven mineralized while requiring further drilling to qualify as resource, and ii ) the potential for parallel zones to replicate the Philibert mineralization to the North (see Figure 2); and

(see Figure 2); and Work conducted to date on the Philibert Project based on 3 km of mineralization while geophysics is indicative of an additional 4 km of mineralization spreading East and West (see Figure 3).

The MRE, independently prepared by GoldMinds Geoservices Inc. ("GoldMinds"), comprises a total Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources (as defined in the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") Definition Standards for Mineral Resources & Mineral Reserves incorporated by reference into NI 43-101) of 278,921 ounces of gold indicated and 1,708,809 ounces of gold inferred and has an effective date of August 04, 2023.

The Philibert Project is located only 9 kilometres from the Nelligan Project ("Nelligan"), owned by IAMGOLD Corporation and Vanstar Mining Resources Inc., which was awarded the "Discovery of the Year" by the Quebec Mineral Exploration Association (AEMQ) in 2019. Nelligan recently witnessed a 72% increase in its NI 43-101 resource estimate, and now encompasses a total of 1.99 million ounces at 0.84 g/t in the indicated category and 3.60 million ounces at 0.87 g/t in the inferred category, using a 0.35 g/t cut-off.2

Simon Marcotte, President & Chief Executive Officer of Northern Superior, commented: "With the Philibert Project having already achieved considerable size on its first NI 43-101 resource, coupled with its untapped potential, a relatively high-grade nature for a bulk tonnage operation which, generally speaking, provides for shorter payback periods, and attributes such as a low nugget effect, a low overburden cover, and favorable initial metallurgical recovery results, it is clear that the Philibert Project has firmly established itself as a cornerstone of the Chibougamau Gold Camp, which is swiftly gaining recognition. We look forward to continuing being part of this exciting development at a time when capital allocation is increasingly prioritized towards large and scalable opportunities as well as tier-1 jurisdictions such as Quebec. I seize this opportunity to congratulate our team and all parties involved in driving the project to this stage and I express my gratitude to the team at Soquem without whom this opportunity would have never arisen."

Table 1: Mineral Resource Estimates Philibert Property

Category

Pit-constrained Resources



cut-off grade: 0.35 g/t Au



Tonnes Grade (Au g/t) Gold (oz.) Indicated 7,883,900 1.10 278,900 Inferred 48,464,900 1.10 1,708,800

Notes:

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, market or other relevant issues. The quantity and grade of reported inferred Resources are uncertain in nature and there has not been sufficient work to define these inferred resources as indicated or measured resources. The database used for this mineral estimate includes drill results obtained from historical records and up to the recent 2023 drill program. Mineral Resources are reported at a cut-off grade of 0.35 g/t Au for the pit-constrained. This cut-off is calculated at a gold price of US$1,746.58 with an exchange rate of 1.3 US$/C$ per troy ounce. The pit-constrained resources were based on the following parameters: mining cost 3.25$/t, processing, transport + G&A costs $15/t, Au recovery 93%, bedrock slope angle of 45 degrees. The geological interpretation of the deposits was based on lithologies and the observation that mineralized domains. The mineral resource presented here were estimated with a block size of 5m X 5m X 5m for the pit-constrained. The blocks were interpolated from equal length composites calculated from the mineralized intervals. Prior to compositing, high-grade gold assays were capped to 26.74 g/t Au applied on 1-meter composites for the pit-constrained. The mineral estimation was completed using the inverse distance squared methodology utilizing three passes. For each pass, search ellipsoids followed the geological interpretation trends were used. For passe 1 and 2 a minimum of 4 composites and maximum of 12 composites with a maximum of 3 composites from the same drillhole (a minimum of two drillholes are needed to estimate each block). For passe 3 minimum of 3 composites and maximum of 6 composites were used. The Mineral Resources have been classified under the guidelines of the CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions and Guidelines prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions and adopted by CIM Council (2014), and procedures for classifying the reported Mineral Resources were undertaken within the context of the Canadian Securities Administrators NI 43-101. The classification using a minimum of three drillholes within 30 metres of each other or less defines indicated resources. The inferred resources were classified using 1 pass extends by a maximum of 120 metres and 30 metres thick using one drillhole with a minimum of 2 composites. In order to accurately estimate the resources, the claim limits were taken into consideration for the pit optimization. Tonnage estimates are based on rock densities of 2.8 tonnes per cubic metre for all the zones. Results are presented undiluted and in situ. This mineral resource estimate is dated August 02, 2023 and the effective date for the drillhole database used to produce this updated mineral resource estimate is May 25, 2023. Tonnages and ounces in the tables are rounded to nearest hundred. Numbers may not total due to rounding. The metal contents are presented in troy ounces (tonnes x grade / 31.10348). The Qualified Persons are not aware of any known environmental, permitting, legal, title-related, taxation, socio-political, or marketing issues or any other relevant issue not reported in the Technical Report that could materially affect the Mineral Resource Estimate.







Figure 1: Plan view showing the conceptual open pit and the pit-constrained block model; color coded Au g/t.

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Figure 2: Longitudinal view showing the conceptual open pit with block model filtered to 1.5 g/t Au, arrows identifying areas for expansion of mineralization.

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Figure 3: Plan view showing the conceptual open pit outline over High Resolution Total Magnetic Intensity Map with arrows identifying possible structures to test for mineralization.

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Table 2: Table showing the sensitivity to cut-off grade for Indicated and Inferred blocks inside the optimized pit (rounded values).

Category Cut-off Grade Tonnage Grade Contained (g/t Au) (Mt) (g/t) Gold (oz)



0.60 5,151,900 1.44 238,500

0.50 6,066,400 1.30 253,600 Indicated 0.40 7,195,100 1.17 270,700 0.35 7,883,900 1.10 278,900



0.30 8,711,700 1.03 288,500

0.20 10,842,100 0.87 303,300

0.60 30,308,300 1.48 1,442,200

0.50 35,904,800 1.33 1,535,300 Inferred 0.40 43,468,000 1.18 1,649,100 0.35 48,464,900 1.10 1,708,800



0.30 54,450,200 1.01 1,768,100

0.20 71,156,300 0.83 1,898,800

Northern Superior is also advancing the following projects in the area envisioning an eventual mining process where all resources would be treated as one operation, which is expected to greatly improve the economics of all projects:

Lac Surprise: the Falcon zone of the Lac Surprise, discovered approximately 2 kilometres to the west and on strike to Nelligan, has very similar mineralization styles with the same host rocks and structure ( see Figure 4 );

); Chevrier: located to the northeast of the Philibert Project, Chevrier is hosting an inferred mineral resource of 652,000 ounces of gold at 1.29 g/t (underground and open pit) and an indicated mineral resource of 260,000 ounces of gold at 1.26 g/t; 3 and

and Croteau: located to the North of the Philibert Project, Croteau is hosting an inferred mineral resource of 640,000 ounces gold at 1.70 g/t.4







Figure 4: Plan view showing the mineralization of Northern Superior's Philibert Project Resource Pit with respect to the Lac Surprise (Falcon zone) of Northern Superior and the Nelligan deposit of IAMGOLD and Vanstar.

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Mineral Resources Methodology and Assumptions

The Company and GoldMinds compiled, verified, and modelled all technical information available from the Project. A total of 17 wireframes were built for key structures hosting and constraining gold mineralization. Mineralization is hosted in a quartz rich differentiated gabbro sill named the Philibert Horizon, part of the Obatogamau Formation, and focused within west-northwest to northwest trending silicified shear zones with moderate dips to the northeast. Mineralization is characterized by strong silicification, ankerite, sericite and fuchsite alteration and quartz-tourmaline and dark grey quartz veining with rare visible gold and up to 10% disseminated pyrite and pyrrhotite mineralization. The Interpretation was made from cross-sections in Genesis software where selections of mineralization intervals on cross-sections and plan views were combined to generate 3D wireframes. The wireframes are generally snapped to mineralized zones intercepts. A minimum true thickness of 3.0 m was used for the creation of the domains to produce valid solids.

The assay values of the Philibert property were exported for statistical analysis. GoldMinds compiled and reviewed the basic statistics of the gold mineralization and exported only the composites within the envelopes for statistics analysis.

The blocks were interpolated from equal length composites calculated from the mineralized intervals. Prior to compositing, high-grade gold assays were capped to 26.74 Au g/t. The distribution is continuous and values higher than 26.74 g/t seem to be considerably isolated and off from the distribution.

The search ellipsoid orientation and dimensions were determined based on the geologist's interpretations and follow the wireframes orientations. Search ellipsoids were used to select the composites (point data) used in the estimation of the block grade.

In order to calculate tonnage from the volumetric estimates of the block models, a fixed specific gravity ("S.G.") of 2.8 t/m3 was used. This density reflects the typical mineralized interval composed mainly by gabbro and quartz gabbro lithologies. It is recommended to carry additional density measurements on fresh cores during the next drilling program in order to monitor the density.

The wireframes have been filled by regular blocks (5mE x 5mN x 5mZ) and only composites within the wireframes have been used to estimate the block grades. These block models were used for pit optimization and the estimation of the pit-constrained mineral resource. The mineral estimation was completed using the inverse distance to the square methodology utilizing three passes. Search ellipsoids were used to select the composites (point data) and followed the wireframes.

The technical content scientific aspects of this press release have been prepared by Merouane Rachidi, Ph.D. Geologist, Claude Duplessis, P.Eng., independent Qualified Persons of GoldMinds, and reviewed and approved by Mrs. Adree DeLazzer, P. Geo., a Qualified Person as defined by the NI 43-101. Mrs. DeLazzer is Vice-President Exploration of Northern Superior and is not considered independent.

A technical report, which is being prepared in accordance with the NI 43-101, will be available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under the Company's issuer profile within 45 days. The effective date of the current MRE is August 04, 2023.

Quality Control - Sampling and Laboratory

In 2021 and 2022 all NQ-size split core assays reported were obtained by fire assay with atomic absorption finish and samples returning values over 5 g/t Au in 2021 and 10 g/t Au in 2022 are re-analyzed, utilizing standard Fire Assay-Gravimetric methods. Samples were shipped to AGAT Laboratories with sample preparation done in Val-d'Or, Quebec and sample analysis done in Mississauga, Ontario. The quality assurance and quality control protocol include insertion of blank and standard every 25 samples on average, in addition to the regular insertion of blank, duplicate, and standard samples inserted by AGAT Laboratories during the analytical process. All NQ-size split core assays reported for 2023 were obtained by fire assay with ICP-AES finish and samples returning values over 10 ppm Au are re-analyzed, utilizing standard Fire Assay-Gravimetric methods. Samples were shipped to SGS Laboratories with sample preparation done in Val-d'Or, Quebec and sample analysis done in Burnaby, British Columbia. Samples with visible gold identified were analyzed by Au - metallic screening on a 1kg sample screened to 106m, 50g fire assay, gravimetric, AAS or ICP-AES of entire plus fraction and duplicate analysis of minus fraction. The quality assurance and quality control protocol include insertion of blank and standard every 25 samples on average, in addition to the regular insertion of blank, duplicate, and standard samples inserted by SGS Laboratories during the analytical process.

In 2021 independent sampling of historical witness core was conducted at the SOQUEM facilities in Chibougamau, Quebec where re-analysis returned similar results with acceptable gold repeatability. In 2022, GoldMinds conducted independent sampling on 2022 drill core drilled by Northern Superior and check assays were acceptable and repeatable. GoldMinds concluded the analytical results in the Northern Superior database can be relied upon which allows the current public disclosure of the mineral resources estimates.

About Northern Superior Resources Inc.

Northern Superior is a gold exploration company focused on the Chibougamau Camp in Quebec, Canada. The Company has consolidated the largest land package in the region, with total land holdings currently exceeding 62,000 hectares. The main properties include Philibert, Lac Surprise, Chevrier and Croteau. Northern Superior also owns significant exploration assets in Northern Ontario highlighted by the district scale TPK Project.

The Philibert Project is located 9 km from IAMGOLD Corporation and Vanstar Mining Resources Inc.'s Nelligan Gold project which was awarded the "Discovery of the Year" by the Quebec Mineral Exploration Association (AEMQ) in 2019. To date, more than C$15 million (historical value) have been spent on the Philibert Project, with more than 77,000 metres of drilling completed. Northern Superior holds a majority stake of 75% in the Philibert Project, with the remaining 25% owned by SOQUEM, and retains an option to acquire the full 100% ownership of the project. Chevrier hosts an inferred mineral resource of 652,000 ounces Au (underground and open pit) and an indicated mineral resource of 260,000 ounces Au.5 Croteau Est hosts an inferred mineral resource of 640,000 ounces Au.6 Lac Surprise hosts the Falcon Zone Discovery, interpreted to be the western strike extension of IAMGOLD Corporation and Vanstar Mining Resources Inc.'s Nelligan Deposit.

Northern Superior is a reporting issuer in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, and trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol SUP and the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol NSUPF. For further information, please refer to the Company's website at www.nsuperior.com or on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca).

About SOQUEM

SOQUEM, a subsidiary of Investissement Quebec, is dedicated to promoting the exploration, discovery, and development of mining properties in Quebec. SOQUEM also contributes to maintaining strong local economies. Proud partner and ambassador for the development of Quebec's mineral wealth, SOQUEM relies on innovation, research, and strategic minerals to be well-positioned for the future.

Northern Superior Resources Inc. on Behalf of the Board of Directors

Simon Marcotte, CFA, President and Chief Executive Officer

Contact Information

Simon Marcotte, CFA

President and Chief Executive Officer

Tel: (647) 801-7273

[email protected]

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This Press Release contains forward-looking information and statements (collectively, "Forward-Looking Statements") that involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made herein. When used in this document, the words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify Forward-Looking Statements. Such statements herein include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's ability to convert inferred resources into measured and indicated resources; parameters and methods used to estimate the mineral resource estimate (the "MRE") at the Philibert Project; the prospects, if any, of the Philibert Project and its other projects in the area; and the significance of historic exploration activities and results. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include the results of exploration activities, the Company's financial position and general economic conditions, the ability of exploration activities to accurately predict mineralization; the accuracy of geological modelling; the ability of the Company to complete further exploration activities; the legitimacy of title and property interests in the Philibert Project and its other projects in the area; the accuracy of key assumptions, parameters or methods used to estimate the MRE; the ability of the Company to obtain required approvals; the evolution of the global economic climate; metal prices; environmental expectations; community and non-governmental actions; the Company's ability to secure required funding; and other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators available at www.sedarplus.ca.

The Forward-Looking Statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. All Forward-Looking Statements in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake to update or revise any such statements contained herein to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

Information Concerning Estimates of Mineral Resources

The disclosure in this news release and referred to herein was prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 which differs from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The terms "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource" used in this news release are in reference to the mining terms defined in the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Standards (the "CIM Definition Standards"), which definitions have been adopted by NI 43-101.

Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral resources will ever be converted into reserves. Pursuant to CIM Definition Standards, "inferred mineral resources" are that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of limited geological evidence and sampling. Such geological evidence is sufficient to imply but not verify geological and grade or quality continuity. An inferred mineral resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an indicated mineral resource and may not be converted to a mineral reserve. However, it is reasonably expected that the majority of inferred mineral resources could be upgraded to indicated mineral resources with continued exploration. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource is economically or legally mineable.

Effective February 25, 2019, the SEC adopted new mining disclosure rules under subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SEC Modernization Rules"), with compliance required for the first fiscal year beginning on or after January 1, 2021. The SEC Modernization Rules replace the historical property disclosure requirements included in SEC Industry Guide 7. As a result of the adoption of the SEC Modernization Rules, the SEC now recognizes estimates of "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources". Information regarding mineral resources contained or referenced in this news release may not be comparable to similar information made public by companies that report according to U.S. standards. While the SEC Modernization Rules are purported to be "substantially similar" to the CIM Definition Standards, readers are cautioned that there are differences between the SEC Modernization Rules and the CIM Definitions Standards.

1 Historical information (Internal Report) : Roche Ltee., (1991) Economique, Propriete Philibert. Projet: 11044-001.

2Independent Technical Report for the Nelligan Gold Project, Quebec, Canada, February 22, 2023. Prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects Technical Report for IAMGOLD Corporation (IAMGOLD) and Vanstar Mining Resources Inc. (Vanstar) by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. (SRK).

3NI 43-101 Technical Report Mineral Resource Estimation for the Chevrier Main Deposit, Chevrier Project Chibougamau, Quebec, Canada, October 20, 2021, Prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 by Lions Gate Geological Consulting Inc. IOS Services Geoscientifiques Inc. for Northern Superior Resources Inc.

4 Chalice Gold Mines Limited and Northern Superior Resources Inc. Technical Report on the Croteau Est Gold Project, Quebec, September 2015, Prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 by Optiro Pty Ltd ("Optiro") to Chalice Gold Mines Limited and Northern Superior Resources Inc.

5NI 43-101 Technical Report Mineral Resource Estimation for the Chevrier Main Deposit, Chevrier Project Chibougamau, Quebec, Canada, October 20, 2021, Prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 by Lions Gate Geological Consulting Inc. IOS Services Geoscientifiques Inc. for Northern Superior Resources Inc.

6 Chalice Gold Mines Limited and Northern Superior Resources Inc. Technical Report on the Croteau Est Gold Project, Quebec, September 2015, Prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 by Optiro Pty Ltd ("Optiro") to Chalice Gold Mines Limited and Northern Superior Resources Inc.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/176374
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. The basis for the development of political and economic relations between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan was laid by national leader Heydar Aliyev, the Leading Advisor of the Center of Analysis of International Relations (AIR Center) Naghi Ahmadov said, Trend reports.

He made the remark during the round table themed "Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan: new horizons of cooperation".

Ahmadov reminded that Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan established diplomatic ties on October 2, 1995.

"Since that day, our countries have been dynamically developing political, cultural, and other bilateral relations. Furthermore, our countries have signed over 150 documents. The cultures, languages, traditions, and customs of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan are strikingly similar. Heydar Aliyev established all of this as a foundation for the expansion of bilateral relations in all directions," he added.

Back in February this year, the First Uzbek-Azerbaijani Inter-regional Forum was held in Tashkent, with the support of the Ministry of Investments, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan.

Within the framework of the forum, the sides signed an intergovernmental agreement on the establishment of a $500 million joint investment fund, which will play a significant role in economic cooperation, the implementation of new joint investment projects, and the creation of new job places.
The Augmented Reality (AR) integrated MET-UP application, developed by the Turkish Ministry of National Education, is set to revolutionize vocational and technical education through its digitalized training materials

Houston, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2023) - The Vocational and Technical Education Application Platform (MET-UP), an initiative by the Turkish Ministry of National Education, digitizes learning resources for both students and instructors in vocational education.





Turkiye launches MET-UP, a groundbreaking AR application for digitalized training materials



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The MET-UP project facilitates the display of hyper-realistic 3D models essential in technical education, enabling a comprehensive understanding of all material layers without any additional technology investment. This project aligns with Turkiye's objective to enhance educational equality via digitalization.

In the United States, labor dynamics such as The Great Resignation and The Great Shuffle have led to approximately 50 million employees leaving their jobs in 2022. Moody's projections indicate that the decreasing share of the working-age US population may result in persistent labor shortages.

Concurrently, the shift in companies' and countries' approaches to trade and supply due to the pandemic intensifies the competition in the global trade race.

Ali K1l1l1olu, Turkiye's Houston-based Education Attache, stated that vocational education has become crucial for developed economies to withstand and thrive in this environment. He said: "The significance of a skilled technical workforce will continue to rise in the future. Technological advances in vocational and technical education could help address labor shortages and offer countries a competitive edge."



MET-UP features digital twins accurately modelled and realistically functioning in areas such as aircraft maintenance, renewable energy technologies, electrical-electronics, machinery and design technologies, and motor vehicles. Users can interact with 3D models using virtual reality technology. The application, which simulates the assembly and disassembly of 3D models with lifelike animations in AR mode, eradicates the boundaries between physical and virtual realms in vocational education.

The MET-UP project facilitates the display of hyper-realistic 3D models essential in technical education



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According to the US Chamber of Commerce, technical education could foster entrepreneurship. Ali K1l1cl1olu observed that, as per research conducted in the USA, vocational education enhances employability and earnings. K1l1colu commented, "A scientific article examining the period 2016-2023 shows that AR-assisted education significantly improves students' learning outcomes compared to traditional methods. We are confident that the MET-UP project will redefine vocational education, making learning processes straightforward, accessible, and enjoyable."

Ali K1l1cl1olu also shared MET-UP's ambitions of becoming a diplomatic tool for Turkiye, stating: "Our application will enable educators, trainers, and users worldwide to create interactive and immersive AR and XR vocational training lessons. Furthermore, MET-UP will be available free of charge to vocational and technical education schools in the USA and globally."

MET-UP signifies a stride towards bolstering the value of vocational education and enhancing Turkiye's prominence in digital education. The application underscores Turkiye's dedication to nurturing skilled and well-equipped individuals for the future technical workforce.

To download Met-UP:

Contact:

Ali K1l1cl1olu

Turkish Education Attache in Houston

[email protected]

Tel: +1 (713) 6230632

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/176475
Middletown, Delaware--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2023) - The University of Closer is now offering a new program for Hispanics to achieve their financial goals using effective sales closing techniques.





Tino Mossu, Entrepreneur

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In recent years, there has been an exponential surge in the consumption of financial content, with individuals seeking guidance to navigate the intricacies of personal finance, investments, and entrepreneurship. Recognizing this rising need, the University of Closer has adopted a unique approach, focusing on sales closing techniques-an essential skill set for thriving in the modern economy.

The training covers a wide range of topics, including effective communication, negotiation strategies, and building lasting client relationships.

As the demand for financial education continues to grow, the University of Closer remains committed to staying ahead of the curve. Its dynamic curriculum is continuously updated to align with market trends, ensuring that students are well-prepared to navigate the ever-changing landscape of sales and entrepreneurship.

The University of Closer boasts a team of seasoned professionals who bring a wealth of experience in sales and networking. Through their guidance, students gain invaluable insights and real-world knowledge, accelerating their path to financial freedom. Its dynamic learning environment, infused with practical exercises and role-playing scenarios, provides students with hands-on experience to sharpen their skills.

Media Contact:

Name: Tino Mossu

Company: Factor Studios LLC

Address: 651 N Broad St, Suite 201, Middletown, DE 19709 United State

Email: [email protected]

Website URL: https://factorstudios.io/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/176370
Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation.

Huntsville's Zellus Marketing becomes North Alabama's first AI-trained marketing agency, recognized by the Marketing AI Institute. They completed the "Piloting AI For Marketers Series" and attended the esteemed MAICON event in Cleveland, solidifying their leadership in AI-driven marketing strategies.



Leading the charge in harnessing the power of artificial intelligence in the marketing realm, Huntsville's very own Zellus Marketing has proudly emerged as North Alabamas first agency to be officially certified by the Marketing AI Institute.

Through rigorous training and unwavering dedication, Zellus successfully completed the highly regarded "Piloting AI For Marketers Series," earning the official certificate of completion. This prestigious certificate is a testament to the companys commitment to staying ahead of the curve and integrating the latest AI technologies into their marketing strategies.

In addition to this achievement, representatives from Zellus also made their mark at the Marketing Artificial Intelligence Conference (MAICON) held in Cleveland, Ohio. Attendance at this esteemed event further solidifies their position at the forefront of the AI-driven marketing evolution.

"We are thrilled to be recognized by the Marketing AI Institute and to be at the vanguard of AI adoption in the marketing sector in North Alabama," said Carl Holden, "As we have been known as experts in SEO, our goal for Zellus is now to become the go-to agency for AI-powered marketing."

The agency recognizes the transformative potential of AI in reshaping the marketing landscape. The company envisions leveraging AI to analyze vast data sets for insightful trends, automate repetitive tasks, and personalize customer experiences. By integrating AI, Zellus aims to offer clients more targeted campaigns, efficient processes, and a deeper understanding of consumer behavior, setting new standards for data-driven marketing strategies. The recent conference has empowered it with all the tools to make this a reality for its internal and client campaigns.



Zellus's accomplishments pave the way for other professionals and businesses in the region to recognize and harness the transformative power of AI in the marketing domain. By leading with such an innovative approach, Zellus continues to set industry standards, promising a future where AI and Huntsville marketing professionals walk hand in hand, maximizing efficiency and results while keeping the human in the loop.



About Us: Zellus Marketing

Contact Info:

Name: Craig Stults

Email: Send Email

Organization: Rocket City Cast

Website: http://www.rocketcitycast.com



Release ID: 89104267

Should you identify any discrepancies, concerns, or inaccuracies in the content provided in this press release or require assistance with a press release takedown, we strongly urge you to notify us promptly by contacting [email protected]. Our responsive team is committed to addressing your concerns within 8 hours by taking necessary actions to resolve identified issues diligently or guiding you through the necessary steps for removal. Our dedication lies in providing accurate and reliable information.
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. , Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The El Camino Healthcare District and El Camino Health announced today that they will jointly grant $11.02 million to support local health programs and initiatives in the coming year.

The funding  made through their Community Benefit programs  will go to agencies that help create healthier populations and ensure health equity for community members in Campbell , Cupertino , Los Altos , Los Altos Hills , Los Gatos , Mountain View , San Jose , Santa Clara , Saratoga and Sunnyvale .

"These grants support invaluable programs and services that enhance the health of our neighbors, and each has a track record of success with demonstrated results," said Dan Woods , chief executive officer of El Camino Health. "Healthcare touches us all and we could not do what we do without these amazing community partners. We're grateful to them all."

More than $7.7 million of the total is being granted by the El Camino Healthcare District with the remainder coming from the El Camino Health.

"Supporting our community partners is the top priority of the healthcare district," said George Ting , M.D., and chair of the El Camino Healthcare District . "These are tax dollars entrusted to us by the public and every year we ensure that funds we invest are well spent on programs with a track record of helping people improve their health in a myriad of ways."

The boards of directors for both El Camino Hospital and the El Camino Healthcare District approved funding for a total of 100 grant proposals in fiscal year 2024, including eight new grant recipients.

Programs and agencies awarded grants include school districts, nonprofit organizations, safety-net clinics and community service agencies. Of the $11.02 million:

$4.935 million will go to agencies that expand healthcare access and delivery.

will go to agencies that expand healthcare access and delivery. $2.815 million will support behavioral health programs.

will support behavioral health programs. $2.16 million will fund diabetes and obesity programs.

will fund diabetes and obesity programs. $533,000 is dedicated to programs that address other chronic conditions, such as asthma and hypertension.

is dedicated to programs that address other chronic conditions, such as asthma and hypertension. $576,000 is going to agencies and programs that help improve economic stability or provide food and housing assistance.

Each fiscal year, the Community Benefit programs of El Camino Healthcare District and El Camino Health allocate crucial grant funding to community health services with the mission to expand healthcare access across age, education and income levels. During the past decade, both programs have contributed more than $100 million in community benefit grants.

The FY24 El Camino Healthcare District Community Benefit grant partner snapshots may be viewed online here. E-2611_FundingListsFY24_LtrSize_v3F_7-19-23.indd (elcaminohealthcaredistrict.org)

FY24 El Camino Health Community Benefit grant partner snapshots may be viewed online here. E-2611_FundingListsFY24_LtrSize_v3F_7-19-23.indd (elcaminohealth.org)

For more information on the El Camino Health and El Camino Healthcare District Community Benefit Program, click here.

About the El Camino Healthcare District

The El Camino Hospital District was established by voter approval in 1956 in accordance with California Local Hospital District Law. The purpose of the district is to establish, maintain and operate or provide assistance in the operation of health facilities and other health care services, provider groups and organizations that are necessary for the maintenance of good physical and mental health in the communities served by the district. The district, now known as El Camino Healthcare District , encompasses most of Mountain View , Los Altos , Los Altos Hills , a large portion of Sunnyvale , and small sections of Cupertino , Santa Clara , and Palo Alto . The publicly elected El Camino Healthcare District Board of Directors approves tax dollar expenditures, including expenditures for the award-winning Community Benefit program. Community Benefit funds are granted each year to local nonprofits, schools and government programs that provide critical health services to the underserved. All district board meetings are publicly noticed, open to the public, and available for viewing at https://www.elcaminohealthcaredistrict.org.

About El Camino Health

El Camino Health has served the communities of Santa Clara County for more than 60 years, with nationally recognized physicians and nurses at two not-for-profit acute care hospitals in Los Gatos and Mountain View , and primary care, multi-specialty care, and urgent care locations across the region. El Camino Health is dedicated to giving patients high-quality care utilizing the most advanced technology and research, delivering results first and respect always.

Aside from achieving outstanding patient outcomes, the hospitals have earned numerous awards for clinical excellence, including being named one of the World's Best Hospitals 2023 by Newsweek and becoming the San Francisco Bay Area's first Magnet hospital, earning four consecutive designations from the American Nurses Credentialing Center for nursing excellence.

Key service lines include cancer care, cardiovascular care, maternity care, mental health and addiction services, orthopedics, pulmonology, urology and women's health. Visit elcaminohealth.org to learn more.

Media contact:

Christopher Brown

650-694-3891

[email protected]

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SOURCE El Camino Health
According to ProChile, bilateral trade reached $35.4 billion in 2022, representing an annual average growth of 9.2% since 2003.

LOS ANGELES , Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Chile celebrates two milestones in its relationship with the United States in 2023: 200 years of diplomatic relations and 20 years of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

On June 6 th, 2003, Chile became the sixth country worldwide and the first from South America to have an FTA with the United States . It came into force on January 1 st, 2004, and since 2015, 100% of the bilateral trade enjoys free tariffs.

In the past two decades, trade between the countries has increased fivefold to $35.4 billion in 2022, with an annual average growth of 9.2% since 2003, according to ProChile, the government institution promoting goods and services abroad.

"As a small country, it was a historic milestone for us to sign this FTA. It not only gave us access to sell our products in the largest economy in the world, but it also deepened our strategy to develop an open, competitive, and export-oriented economy," said Ian Frederick , ProChile's Trade Commissioner in Los Angeles .

The United States is Chile's second-largest trade partner, and it's the biggest market for four export categories: food, non-traditional services, non-copper small and medium-sized export companies, and women-led export companies.

Chile was the leading supplier of 51 products for the US market last year, including fresh fruit such as grapes, cherries, oranges, and apples; salmon filet; mussels; lithium carbonate; and refined copper.

According to Frederick, the government is making an effort for more non-traditional Chilean companies to enter the American market. "In the last few years, we have launched different soft-landing programs for service industries, including tech, education, and health. Chile is the most innovative country in Latin America , and our businesses have developed solutions that can be used in different markets, including the United States ," he said.

ProChile will host multiple events in different US cities to celebrate the FTA's 20th anniversary and 200 years of diplomatic relations, including a wine tasting in San Francisco , a cooking demo in New York , and a discussion panel with local authorities in Miami .

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/20-years-after-signing-fta-trade-between-chile-and-the-us-has-increased-fivefold-301894728.html

SOURCE ProChile
Public meeting with live streaming available on Aug. 30

WASHINGTON , Aug. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Amtrak is committed to procuring a modern fleet to operate on its Long Distance route network that will improve the rider experience for customers with mobility disabilities. Public feedback on the future of accessible train travel is requested and Amtrak has made available options to provide comment online and to attend a public meeting in-person or virtually.

Feedback on the future of accessible train travel is requested and Amtrak has options to provide comment.

Amtrak has a website where the public can submit feedback and/or register to participate, either in-person or virtually. Details are below.

WHO: Amtrak officials

WHAT: Public Meeting

WHEN: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET ; Wednesday, Aug. 30

WHERE: Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill , 400 New Jersey Ave. ; Washington, DC , 20001

RSVP: Register for in-person attendance at the website by Aug. 25, 2023 . Virtual attendance registration is available at the website until Aug. 30, 2023 .

About Amtrak

For more than 50 years, Amtrak has connected America and modernized train travel. Offering a safe, environmentally efficient way to reach more than 500 destinations across 46 states and parts of Canada , Amtrak provides travelers with an experience that sets a new standard. Book travel, check train status, access your eTicket and more through the Amtrak app . Learn more at Amtrak.com and connect with us on Twitter , Instagram , Facebook and LinkedIn .

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SOURCE Amtrak
National Program Kicks Off with Complementary Live Online Event, Aug. 10

WASHINGTON , Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts (Escoffier) and the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) announce a new national collaboration designed to support the vital connection between farmers, ranchers and the culinary industry with education-focused programs, interactive events and training sessions.

Through this joint effort, AFBF will offer Escoffier culinary students unprecedented opportunities to interact with farmers across the country to better understand and experience sustainable farming practices and innovations in agriculture, including virtual learning sessions that augment Escoffier's curriculum as well as live farm-to-table events. In addition, the culinary-farmer collaboration includes Escoffier's participation in AFBF's Convention, "Target Training" conference, "Amplify Agriculture" online series and networking events. Escoffier also becomes the preferred culinary school of AFBF throughout the duration of the relationship.

"This new alliance opens the door for us to cultivate meaningful relationships with aspiring chefs and culinary thought leaders and share advances and innovations in farming," said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. "Farmers and ranchers produce the food that chefs choose and prepare every day. We look forward to sharing our stories and perspectives with those writing the menus that shape consumer dining trends."

With nearly 6 million member families and 2,800 county Farm Bureaus, AFBF is the country's largest general farm organization. AFBF's national Promotion and Education Committee will lead the collaborative effort for the federation. The committee works to equip grassroots farmer and rancher members with effective tools to increase consumer awareness and understanding of agriculture. Escoffier currently has more than 7,300 students and is the largest culinary school brand in the U.S. , with campuses in Austin and Boulder , including their degree and diploma programs offered online.

The collaboration kicks off Aug. 10 at 8:00 p.m. EDT with AFBF's "Amplify Agriculture" complementary online episode, "Sowing Seeds of Knowledge: Exploring the Essential Collaboration between Farmers and Culinary Education." Escoffier Provost and Boulder Campus President Kirk T. Bachmann and Director of Education Stephanie Michalak White will be interviewed and on hand for a live question and answer session. Registration is complementary and open to the public.

"It is essential to understand where our food comes from, how it's grown and produced, and who better than farmers and ranchers to bring lessons on agriculture and best practices to life," said Bachmann. "Escoffier's commitment to farm-to-table and teaching sustainable practices is a natural fit with the goals of Farm Bureau members who are passionate about conveying the significance of agriculture. We are grateful for this opportunity to work together," he added.

More about Escoffier

Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts (Escoffier) is the largest culinary school brand in the U.S. (based on comparable student population data currently reported in IPEDS) . Escoffier's Boulder, CO campus is the only accredited institution in the United States to offer both fully online diploma and degree programs with culinary classes and hands-on industry externships. Ranked in the top 10 culinary schools in the United States by USA Today and number one in the world by Chef's Pencil , the school's professional programs offer the proven combination of a classic and contemporary approach to industry skills training as well as sustainability-centered and business-focused curriculum. Escoffier is a Great Place to Work-Certified institution, a Newsweek Top Online Learning School and its Boulder (includes online programs) and Austin campuses are designated as Military Friendly Schools .

Escoffier offers diploma programs for culinary arts, pastry arts, food entrepreneurship and plant-based culinary arts as well as Associate of Applied Science degrees in culinary arts, pastry arts and Associate of Occupational Studies degrees in culinary arts, baking and pastry, plant-based culinary arts, hospitality and restaurant operations management, holistic nutrition and wellness and food entrepreneurship. Click for more information on Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts accreditations and degree and diploma programs .

More about American Farm Bureau Federation

As the nation's largest general farm organization, Farm Bureau is a grassroots membership agricultural non-profit. Farm Bureau organizes farmers and ranchers at the local, state and national levels to serve as the voice of agriculture. The issues and concerns that are most important to Farm Bureau's grassroots membership drive the work of the organization. Farm Bureau's mission is to build a sustainable future of safe and abundant food, fiber and renewable fuel for our nation and our world. Learn more at http://facebook.com/FarmBureau or follow @FarmBureau on Twitter or @farmbureau on Instagram.

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SOURCE Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts
ALPHARETTA, Ga. , Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Avanos Medical, Inc. (NYSE: AVNS) today announced that Michael Greiner, senior vice president, chief financial officer, and chief transformation officer will participate in a fireside chat at the UBS MedTech, Tools and Genomics Summit 2023 on Tues., Aug. 15 at approximately 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

A webcast of the conference presentation will be available on the Investors section of the Avanos Medical website and will be archived on that site.

About Avanos Medical, Inc.

Avanos Medical, Inc. (NYSE: AVNS) is a medical technology company focused on delivering clinically superior medical device solutions that will help patients get back to the things that matter. Headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia , we are committed to addressing some of today's most important healthcare needs, including providing a vital lifeline for nutrition to patients from hospital to home, and reducing the use of opioids while helping patients move from surgery to recovery. We develop, manufacture and market our recognized brands globally and hold leading market positions in multiple categories across our portfolio. For more information, visit Avanos.com and follow Avanos Medical on Twitter (@AvanosMedical), LinkedIn and Facebook.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/avanos-medical-inc-to-present-at-the-ubs-medtech-tools-and-genomics-summit-2023-301896335.html

SOURCE Avanos Medical, Inc.
BBCF Head Start schools are Alabama's first to adopt new technology.

SELMA, Ala. , Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Black Belt Community Foundation (BBCF) is delighted to announce its collaboration with Hatch Early Learning , a leading provider of educational technology solutions. This strategic partnership aims to advance the mission of BBCF and bring transformative educational opportunities to the Black Belt Head Start program in underserved communities.

Black Belt Community Foundation is pleased to announce its collaboration with Hatch Early Learning .

BBCF (www.blackbeltfound.org/) is a non-profit organization committed to creating positive change in the Black Belt region of Alabama . Their mission is to improve the quality of life and foster opportunities for growth and development for the residents of the Black Belt community. In 2017, BBCF began administrating six separate Head Start schools in four counties of the Alabama Black Belt ( Choctaw , Dallas , Marengo , and Wilcox ).

The Black Belt Head Start program has recently implemented broadband access in their facilities as part of their ongoing commitment to enhancing education. This significant step will bridge the digital divide and provide students and teachers with unprecedented access to resources and information.

To complement this broadband initiative, the Black Belt Head Start program has invested in twenty cutting-edge IgniteTables from Hatch Early Learning (www.hatchearlylearning.com). The IgniteTable is an innovative educational tool designed to engage young learners through interactive and immersive experiences. BBCF Head Start schools will be the first schools in Alabama to adopt this new learning tool.

The introduction of the IgniteTables, combined with the implementation of broadband, is expected to be game-changing for the students and educators in the Black Belt community. Students will be better equipped to develop critical skills and knowledge essential for their future success with enhanced access to educational content and interactive learning materials.

" Hatch Early Learning is thrilled to be partnering with the Black Belt Community Foundation to support their mission of providing quality education and opportunities in underserved communities," said Sam Bonfante , President of Hatch Early Learning . "We believe that every child deserves access to a high-quality education, and through this collaboration, we are proud to contribute to the positive impact on the lives of young learners in the Black Belt community."

According to BBCF President, Felecia Lucky , "Head Start focuses on the whole child with an emphasis on education, health, nutrition, and social-emotional well-being, while preparing them to enter elementary school. In addition, we provide family support and promote family involvement. Being able to equip our schools with the latest, state of the art learning tools helps us to ensure that our Head Start students have every advantage we can make available for them. Being the first schools in Alabama to adopt this technology is doubly exciting!"

Taquila Monroe , Director of the Black Belt Community Foundation Head Start Program, expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, "This collaboration with Hatch Early Learning represents a major milestone for our community. The introduction of broadband and the implementation of the IgniteTable solution will revolutionize the way our students learn and provide our educators with powerful tools to inspire and engage young minds. We are grateful for Hatch's support in advancing our educational initiatives and making a lasting difference in the lives of our children."

To mark the beginning of this transformative partnership, Hatch Early Learning will be coordinating a press event on August 11th in Selma, AL, in collaboration with the Black Belt Community Foundation. The event will include on-site training sessions and provide an opportunity for guests to meet with Sam Bonfante , the President of Hatch Early Learning , Taquila Monroe , the Director of the Black Belt Community Foundation Head Start program, and leaders of the Black Belt Community Foundation board of directors.

This momentous occasion signifies a step forward in educational innovation, equipping young minds in underserved communities with the tools they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world.

For media inquiries and further information, please contact:

Daron Harris

[email protected]

(256) 592-9153

Nicole Nesheim

[email protected]

(252) 561-5600

About Black Belt Community Foundation

The Black Belt Community Foundation (BBCF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in Alabama's Black Belt region. BBCF provides support to community efforts in education, health and wellness, economic development, and cultural heritage preservation.

About Hatch Early Learning

Hatch Early Learning is a leading provider of educational technology solutions designed to foster interactive and engaging learning experiences for young children. With a commitment to transforming education, Hatch offers a range of innovative products tailored to enhance early childhood education.

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LONDON , Aug. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Blockchain.com , one of the world's most trusted and earliest crypto platforms, announced today that it has been granted a major payment institution (MPI) license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) on 1st of August 2023 .

This announcement follows Blockchain.com receiving its in-principle approval from MAS in Sep 2022 , this license allows Blockchain.com to provide regulated digital payment token (DPT) services to its global institutional and accredited investor customers.

"We are thrilled to receive this license that will allow Blockchain.com to bring our industry-leading products and services to Singapore , we commend the Monetary Authority of Singapore on its transparent regulatory process that prioritizes crypto industry oversight while allowing innovation to thrive," said Blockchain.com CEO and Co-Founder Peter Smith .

Blockchain.com's presence and registration in Singapore is part of its broader commitment to compliance and regulation in every jurisdiction where it conducts business.

Singapore represents a large, profitable trading hub for Blockchain.com, serving global institutional and accredited investor clients trading in OTC Spot and Agency Execution.

represents a large, profitable trading hub for Blockchain.com, serving global institutional and accredited investor clients trading in OTC Spot and Agency Execution. Singapore also serves as Blockchain.com's Southeast Asia headquarters

also serves as Blockchain.com's headquarters Blockchain.com group CEO and Co-Founder Peter Smith will be a keynote speaker at Token2049 Conference in Singapore on September 13 .

Just last month blockchain.com group launched Blockchain.com Pay , a revolutionary white-label crypto on- and off-ramp designed to empower businesses and streamline the process of buying and selling cryptocurrencies for their users.

Since its inception in 2011, Blockchain.com has earned the trust of more than 90 million wallets and over 40 million verified users, facilitating over $1 trillion in crypto transactions. The company holds licenses and registrations in various regions, ensuring regulatory compliance in a range of markets globally.

About Blockchain.com

Blockchain.com is connecting the world to the future of finance. The most trusted and fastest growing global crypto company helps millions across the globe safely access cryptocurrency. Visit Blockchain.com for more info, follow us on Twitter @blockchain , on Instagram @blockchainofficial , check out The Blockchain.com Podcast , and read our blog for the latest company news.

Media Contact

[email protected]

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/blockchaincom-receives-major-payment-institution-license-from-monetary-authority-of-singapore-301895088.html

SOURCE Blockchain.com
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has presented the Istiglal Order to People's Artist Rasim Balayev, Trend reports.

The head of state first had a conversation with People's Artist Rasim Balayev.

Rasim Balayev: Salaam alaikum.

President Ilham Aliyev: Salaam, it is nice to see you.

Rasim Balayev: I had a dream to hug you after Karabakh, after all your work. Thank goodness, I am lucky to be able to do that.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you. First of all, I congratulate you on your birthday anniversary. I wish you good health and continued success.

Rasim Balayev: Thank you very much.

President Ilham Aliyev: You have been delighting the people of Azerbaijan with your art for many years. Your activities have been very productive, you have appeared in dozens of films. In general, you have made a great contribution to the cinematography of Azerbaijan, and this activity continues to this day. I am very pleased and happy with that.

Rasim Balayev: Thank you very much.

President Ilham Aliyev: At the same time, you are very active in the public life of our country. Your very valuable ideas are contributing to the overall development of our country. Of course, your cinema activities are also associated with the images of Babek and Nasimi  for the people of Azerbaijan. You have revived the images of our national hero Babek and our genius poet Nasimi, and you are associated with them in the imagination of the Azerbaijani people.

I want to sincerely congratulate you, wish you good health and a long life. The state of Azerbaijan highly appreciates your activity. You have received many awards during the Soviet era...

Rasim Balayev: The Great Leader always took care of me after I turned 50.

President Ilham Aliyev: Yes, indeed.

Rasim Balayev: And you are continuing that now.

President Ilham Aliyev: As you mentioned, during the years of independence, the Great Leader awarded you with the Shohrat Order on your 50th birthday anniversary.

Rasim Balayev: And you honored me with the Sharaf Order.

President Ilham Aliyev: Yes, I honored you with the Sharaf Order. On the eve of this jubilee, you were awarded with our highest order  Istiglal. I congratulate you once again.

Rasim Balayev: Thank you very much, Mr. President. What I wanted to say is that I support all your policies  both domestic and foreign. Our Great Victory is also associated with your name. I am always with the people and meet people of all walks of life, You have written your name in our history as the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, like Babek himself. You are the real Babek. I play him.

This award is a tribute to Azerbaijani art and artists. We are obliged to glorify our heroes and veterans through cinema, with you, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, being in the first place. It is our duty and we must do it.

As a citizen of our country, I closely follow all your activities and we have great faith in you. You celebrate your birthday with the people in the regions, in Karabakh.

President Ilham Aliyev: Yes, thank you.

Rasim Balayev: Everyone, the whole nation can see all this. I wish you every success on this path.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you.

Rasim Balayev: Let me say again, Mr. President, we owe you. We owe it to you and our people, and we should glorify this beautiful and magnificent Victory through cinema. Because the Victory, the heroism in the war, the sacrifice of the veterans who participated in it should be shown everywhere. I have been to Shusha once or twice, believe me, my eyes were filled with tears. Because I also went there in 1986, where we took a family photo next to the Isa spring. Then I went there in 2021. You gave us this happiness. You said that we have a strong army and that you know what to do and when to do it. You have finally brought us this success. People love you very much.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you very much, Mr. Balayev.

Rasim Balayev: We are always behind our state, our statehood, and we will try to live up to your attention through our future work. I am sure we will make films you and our people will love again.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you very much.

x x x

The head of state presented the Istiglal Order to Rasim Balayev.
HAMILTON, Bermuda , Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Borr Drilling Limited (NYSE: BORR) (OSE: BORR) plans to release its financial results for the second quarter 2023 on Thursday, August 17, 2023 .

A conference call and webcast is scheduled for 15:00 CET ( 9:00 AM New York Time) and participants are encouraged to dial in 10 minutes before the start of the call. The earnings report and presentation will be available from the Investor Relations section on www.borrdrilling.com.

In order to listen to the presentation, you may do one of the following:

a) Webcast

To access the webcast, please go to the following link:

https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/gpxrea2b

b) Conference Call

Please use the below link to register for the conference call, https://register.vevent.com/register/BIe0c497c4859747c3afe69955afc018ae. Participants will then receive dial-in details on screen and via email and can then choose to dial in with their unique pin or select "Call me" and provide telephone details for the system to link them automatically.

Replay Stream:

When the call is complete, participants can stream the replay of the call by clicking this link: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/gpxrea2b

CONTACT:

Questions should be directed to: Magnus Vaaler , CFO, +44 1224 289208

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/borr-drilling-limited--invitation-to-webcast-and-conference-call-q2-2023-results-301895851.html

SOURCE Borr Drilling Limited
FOSHAN, China , Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/  Bright Scholar Education Holdings Limited ("Bright Scholar," the "Company," "we" or "our") (NYSE: BEDU), a global premier education service company, today announced that it will release its unaudited financial results for the six months of fiscal 2023 ended February 28, 2023 , on August 16, 2023 , after the US market closes.

The earnings press release will be available on the investor relations page at http://ir.brightscholar.com.

About Bright Scholar Education Holdings Limited

Bright Scholar is a global premier education service company, which primarily provides quality international education to global students and equip them with the critical academic foundation and skillsets necessary to succeed in the pursuit of higher education.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the Company's business plans and development, which can be identified by terminology such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "potential," "continue," "is/are likely to" or other similar expressions. Such statements are based upon management's current expectations and current market and operating conditions and relate to events that involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company's control, which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under law.

IR Contact:

Email: [email protected]

Media Contact:

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +86-757-2991-6814

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bright-scholar-schedules-unaudited-financial-results-for-the-six-months-of-fiscal-2023-ended-february-28-2023-301895661.html

SOURCE Bright Scholar Education Holdings Ltd.
SHERIDAN, Wyo. , Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CedCommerce has developed TikTok Shop Connector , integration solutions that seamlessly connect eCommerce platforms with TikTok Shop allowing merchants in the UK and US to showcase and sell their products directly on the popular social content platform.

TikTok Shop offers a unique opportunity for businesses in the UK and the US to reach a vast and engaged audience.

Tiktok Shop is now accessible in the UK , with the shopping feature currently in beta for the US. Merchants in both regions can leverage this powerful shopping solution to boost their sales and drive growth.

To simplify selling on TikTok Shop, CedCommerce has developed specialized integration solutions for all leading eCommerce platforms like BigCommerce, Magento, Shopify, and WooCommerce.

Key features of TikTok Shop Connector:

Easy Setup: CedCommerce's user-friendly interface makes it simple for merchants to connect their online stores to TikTok Shop, streamlining the onboarding process. Product Listing: Merchants can effortlessly sync their product catalogs between their eCommerce store and TikTok Shop, ensuring accurate product listings. Real-time Inventory & Order Sync: Merchants can seamlessly manage their inventory across multiple platforms, preventing overselling and ensuring a smooth shopping experience for customers. 24*7*365 Dedicated account manager: With TikTok Shop Connector, merchants have access to a dedicated account manager who will guide them throughout the selling journey and address any concerns along the way.

This powerful integration has helped businesses scale and maximize profits. One such business, The Little Connection, successfully integrated its BigCommerce store and listed a staggering 20K products on TikTok Shop. The brand is now all set to optimize its sales potential.

"I installed the TikTok Shop Connector in 2 minutes. It's the EASIEST & FASTEST app to download & set up. I configured my attributes, uploaded my catalog, and got ready for business quickly. Install the TikTok Connector now. I would give it 10 stars if I could. It's almost too good to be true" Jasmin W, Founder, The Little Connection.

Become a Seller on TikTok Seller Center by completing the onboarding process and enjoy a 0% Referral Fee* till September 30, 2023 . JOIN HERE

"As the eCommerce landscape rapidly evolves, merchants recognize the need to diversify their portfolios. Platforms like TikTok, renowned for transforming product discovery into purchases, are increasingly becoming vital components of any eCommerce strategy for merchants looking to tap into the potential of these promising new channels. At CedCommerce, we're uniquely positioned to facilitate this shift. Our core strength is our innovative, seamless integration solutions that enable merchants to naturally extend from eCommerce platforms to multi sales channels like TikTok Shop. This not only saves merchants' time but also eases their adaptation to new channels, catalyzing their business expansion within minutes. As partners in their growth journey, we go beyond being just a solution provider, ensuring their success in this new and exciting commerce arena," states Mr. Abhishek Jaiswal , CEO of CedCommerce.

About CedCommerce

CedCommerce is a leading multichannel enabler that helps online merchants expand their business to international marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, Walmart, and Google via secure, optimized, and scalable integration tools and technologies. With 50+ sales channel tools for WooCommerce, Magento, BigCommerce, OpenCart, and Prestashop, over 40,000 merchants across the globe have benefited from CedCommerce's multichannel capabilities. Highly recommended by G2, Trustpilot, Capterra, Web Retailer, Cuspera, and Serchen, CedCommerce enables smooth merchant onboarding and streamlined product data feed flow.

Visit CedCommerce or follow them on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Facebook for more.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1420605/CedCommerce_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cedcommerce-simplifies-selling-on-tiktok-shop-with-platform-integration-solutions-301895542.html

SOURCE CedCommerce
CLIFTON, N.J. , Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ClassLink, the leading provider of identity and access management products for education, proudly announced today it is participating in the White House's Secure by Design cybersecurity pledge.

ClassLink was among the first cohort of leading edtech organizations invited to make the pledge, which encourages solution providers to prioritize cybersecurity in their products and practices to reduce the cybersecurity burden facing K-12 schools.

Developed by the White House, the Department of Education, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Secure by Design pledge is the latest step in federal efforts to support K-12 schools in improving cybersecurity.

"Keeping our students and our schools safe from cyberattacks comes down to equipping schools with three things  knowledge, resources, and people. This week, the White House worked to do just that - mobilizing funding, cybersecurity fact guides tailored for schools, and cybersecurity teams to visit schools and help them fight ransomware. We appreciate the innovative and meaningful private sector commitments in this ransomware fight, as we work together to keep kids cyber-safe online and in schools." - Anne Neuberger , Deputy National Security Advisor, Cyber and Emerging Technologies

ClassLink CEO, Berj Akian , will make the pledge at the White House convening, 'Back to School Safely: Cybersecurity for K-12 Schools', hosted by First Lady Jill Biden on August 8, 2023 .

By signing the pledge, ClassLink commits to actively supporting schools in improving cybersecurity by offering secure-by-design and secure-by-default products to ensure data protection.

"Let's face it: in today's digital age, our students and their teachers will increasingly use technology in the classroom. Schools have access to more devices and connectivity than ever before, and this technology in education has incredible potential to help students better connect with their learning and achieve, and teachers better engage with their students.

But to make the most of these benefits, we must effectively manage the risks. Just as we expect everyone in a school system to plan and prepare for physical risks, we must now also ensure everyone helps plan and prepare for digital risks in our schools and classrooms. The Department of Education has listened to the field about the importance of K-12 cybersecurity, and today we are coming together to recognize this and indicate our next steps." - Miguel Cardona , U.S. Secretary of Education

ClassLink already meets many commitments outlined in the pledge's core principles, including providing security audit logs at no extra charge and embracing transparency through open engagement with customers about identified cybersecurity risks, threats, and vulnerabilities. In addition, ClassLink offers multiple MFA options that help secure student, staff, and administrator accounts at no extra cost.

"At ClassLink, privacy and security are at the core of everything we do. Today, we reaffirm our dedication to supporting schools in their journey to a safe and thriving digital learning environment. We are honored to stand alongside the Department of Education and CISA in making the Secure by Design pledge." - Berj Akian , CEO, ClassLink

ClassLink continues to invest heavily in privacy and security initiatives. This includes signing and abiding by the Student Privacy Pledge and successfully completing third-party audits like SOC Type II, CSA STAR, and ISO 27001. ClassLink is a member of the Student Data Privacy Consortium (SDPC) and complies with many data sovereignty, protection, and privacy guidelines, including FERPA and COPPA.

ClassLink invites educators to explore its commitment to the Secure by Design pledge at classlink.com/secure-by-design.

About ClassLink

ClassLink is a global education provider of identity and analytics products that create more time for learning and help schools better understand digital engagement. As leading advocates for open data standards, we offer instant access to apps and files with single sign-on, streamline class rostering, automate account provisioning, and provide actionable analytics. ClassLink empowers 20 million students and staff in over 2,600 school systems. Visit classlink.com to learn more.

Related Links

www.classlink.com

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SOURCE ClassLink
On National Pickleball Day Established Indoor Pickleball Concept Taps into Leading Global Franchise Consulting Firm for Innovative Franchising Launch

COLUMBIA, Md. , Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- There's a new, hotshot competitor in the pickleball world that's about to take the nation by storm

As the fastest-growing sport in the country, Dill Dinkers is at the forefront of the pickleball phenomenon.

Dill Dinkers, a Maryland -based indoor pickleball concept and the first of its kind in the state, is quickly establishing a strong foothold, setting the stage for rapid franchise growth. In support of the brand's development efforts, the company announced on National Pickleball Day a strategic partnership with Franchise Well, a leading franchise consulting practice led by reputable industry veteran Dr. Ben Litalien .

As Chief Development Officer, Litalien is setting plans in place to launch Dill Dinkers' franchise program this fall. "A testament to following a passion, Founders Will and Denise Richard's appetite for playing pickleball that has equipped them with the aptitude to open an indoor facility is inspiring," said Litalien. "And now, the opportunity to bring Dill Dinkers to communities across the country through a regional developer franchise offer is an exciting step in the journey."

Since opening the original Dill Dinkers Pickleball Club last November in the Richard's neighborhood of Columbia, Maryland , the site is now in the process of expanding to 12 courts. Alongside its flagship location, the brand has successfully opened two more Dill Dinkers Pickleball Clubs in Maryland and the fourth is anticipated to open in Rockville in the next few weeks. Most recently, the brand signed a lease for the Manassas Mall in Virginia which will be the first dedicated indoor pickleball facility in Prince William County .

"We started Dill Dinkers because of our unwavering passion for the sport and the community it has provided us. Now, through Franchise Well, Dr. Litalien is offering us unparalleled franchising experience, giving us the confidence to craft an effective growth strategy for Dill Dinkers," said Co-Founder and CEO Will Richards , alongside his wife Denise, Co-Founder, and COO and brings his own franchise owner-operator experience to the table as a former Domino's multi-unit franchisee. "It was crucial for us to ensure both owner-operators and investors could succeed, and we've developed an innovative approach to achieve that by offering both single-unit and regional developer growth paths. We are thrilled to be launching our franchise program in the coming weeks as we already have a long list of interested parties."

As the fastest-growing sport in the country, Dill Dinkers is at the forefront of the pickleball phenomenon with its dedicated indoor facilities that allow players to enjoy year-round play. With a dedicated fanbase of pickleball players spanning all skill levels and coming from different parts of the country, Dill Dinkers aims to attract single and multi-unit franchise operators who are eager to capitalize on the pickleball craze by providing early entry to an ideal indoor offer.

"The world has gone crazy for pickleball, and the demand for an indoor experience is overwhelming," said Litalien. "Dill Dinkers has perfected its model to deliver an unbeatable environmentit's climate-controlled, structured play at an affordable price. Being able to extend the success of the Dill Dinkers brand into a world-class franchise offering is a great honor. So many franchise concepts that come to market are simply 'cookie cutter' replicas of other franchises. It was essential to develop a franchise strategy befitting of the great concept Will and Denise have created."

Dill Dinkers Pickleball Clubs will operate in 15,000 square feet or more of indoor space, to provide space for six to 12 courts. The primary focus is on ensuring the functionality of the facilities by administering safety during play to achieve a seamless player experience. To accomplish this, each facility will have a dedicated Director of Pickleball responsible for providing training, instruction, and organizing tournaments, leagues, and special events. Delivering a quality professional experience, the brand boasts its special partnership with Joola, a leading manufacturer in paddle sports, equipping each facility with top-notch Joola nets, paddles and other high-quality products to enhance the overall player experience. "We are truly excited to be partnering with Dill Dinkers to support their national franchise expansion," said Richard Lee , CEO of Joola, "Will and Denise have created an exceptional club concept dedicated to passionate pickleball players."

Besides the single Dill Dinkers Pickleball Club franchise offer, the company will offer territories for development featuring nine revenue streams, a robust operating system, a proprietary reporting and management platform that is mobile-enabled, an intensive training system, and a turnkey marketing program for grand opening and membership development. Regional Developers must open and operate a flagship location in their territory, but can meet their development schedule by opening more units with independent franchisees opening in their territory. The company will compensate regional developers for soliciting qualified franchisees and for providing ongoing support for all the clubs in the territory. "The regional developer model is ideal for entrepreneurs that want to rapidly build the Dill Dinkers brand in a market, without the usual capital required by the area developer model," said Litalien.

While spearheading the franchise development efforts, Franchise Well is working alongside other Dill Dinkers strategic partners including All Points Public Relations, the Strategic Factory, Joola, Morrow Hill Commercial Real Estate and Court Reserve.

For more information about Dill Dinkers, visit www.dilldinkers.com.

About Dill Dinkers Pickleball

Dill Dinkers Pickleball is the leading provider of dedicated indoor pickleball facilities on the east coast. With the announcement of their fifth facility, Dill Dinkers will offer 50 dedicated indoor pickleball courts in the DMV by early 2024. The Dill Dinkers brand is known for its fun, friendly, and welcoming environment where players of all ages and skill levels can play, socialize, and improve their skills. Each facility offers dedicated indoor courts with fences and outdoor surfaces, event space, a ball machine, and a state-of-the-art reservation system powered by Court Reserve. Dill Dinkers offers court reservations for members and visitors. They also offer clinics, private and semi-private lessons, leagues, business advertising, and rental for private events.

About Franchise Well

Franchise Well is a boutique consulting practice in strategic franchise development working with select clients with concepts that can benefit from effective use of using the franchise model. Led by Dr Ben Litalien , a certified franchise executive who also teaches franchising at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. and the Liniger Center on Franchising at the University of Denver. For more information on Franchise Well visit their website at www.franchisewell.com or contact [email protected].

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SOURCE Dill Dinkers
SINGAPORE , Aug. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- GAO Capital ("GAO"), an alternative investment multi-manager platform, today announced the addition of long/short and quantitative trading capabilities in its flagship ASV Fund. The enhanced strategy will be overseen by Lead Portfolio Manager, Yongjie Yi .

As ASV enters its fourth year, these additions further diversify the opportunities GAO provides investors. The Fund has steadily grown since its launch, crossing $100m AUM and winning the HFM & Eurekahedge Best Asia ex- Japan award in 2022.

"We continue to build out our Fund in seeking uncorrelated results to the broader market and diversification for our investors. Markets have changed significantly since the Fund started at the beginning of Covid which makes the ability to short indispensable in our portfolio management capabilities," said Chauwei Yak, CEO and CIO of GAO. "We have built research and trading infrastructure to expand to new markets for the Fund - Japan and India ."

Chauwei Yak has over 20 years of investment management experience. Prior to founding GAO in 2008, Ms. Yak led the research team at Ortelius Capital, where she developed their systematic monitoring process. She has extensive experience with alpha research and valuation stemming from her investment banking experience at JPMorgan and UBS, in New York and Tokyo . Ms. Yak graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Asian Studies and B.S. in Economics with Finance concentration from the Wharton School, with a Mathematics minor. She is a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) and a Chartered Valuer & Appraiser (CVA).

Yongjie Yi has over 20 years of investment management experience. Before joining GAO, Mr. Yi was a portfolio manager with Shidan Capital, a multi-strategy Japan fund with a focus on tactical trading using options and futures. His trading and risk management expertise stems from his experience at JPMorgan Tokyo as a Fixed Income Exotics Trader where he was ranked top 10% of his cohort globally. He holds a Bachelor's Degree (First Class Honors) in Electrical & Electronic Engineering from Imperial College of Science and Technology, and a Master's in Financial Engineering from Cornell University.

About GAO Capital

GAO Capital is an alternative investment multi-manager platform based in Singapore , regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).

For more information, please contact:

GAO Capital Pte Ltd

Tel: +65 6733 7088

Email: info@gao-cap.com

Website: https://www.gao-cap.com/

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gao-continues-multi-manager-asia-fund-expansion-with-launch-of-new-quantitative-trading-capabilities-301895267.html

SOURCE GAO Capital
LINCOLN, Neb. , Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- GRNE Solar, a premier solar engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) firm, announced today it has transitioned to the Nelnet Renewable Energy brand. The company was acquired by Nelnet, Inc., in 2022.

Since 2012, GRNE Solar has installed commercial and residential solar energy solutions and utility-scale solar systems across 13 states. While GRNE Solar's name and brand will no longer be used, the company's offerings remain unchanged.

"Our partnership with GRNE Solar aligned our complementary solutions with shared values and a focus on innovation and serving our customers," said Nelnet Renewable Energy President Scott Gubbels . "This transition supports a focus on operational excellence by optimizing people, systems, processes and workflows to ensure we maximize value for all our stakeholders. This name reflects our company's unwavering commitment to the solar industry."

"Our community is at the heart of our business, and customer satisfaction remains a top priority for us," said Eric Peterman , founder of GRNE Solar and Nelnet Renewable Energy's director of engineering, procurement and construction services. "We're excited about the continued growth and expansion of our EPC services, and we remain committed to providing a five-star customer experience. All aspects of our relationship will continue without disruption, and our team of dedicated professionals continue to provide exemplary service, guidance and collaboration."

In addition to offering expert residential, commercial and small utility-scale installation services and greenfield development, Nelnet Renewable Energy, as part of Nelnet, Inc. (NYSE: NNI), is a leading solar tax equity investor. The organization offers a unique solar tax equity co-investment platform, a first-of-its-kind sustainability literacy platform for educational institutions, and a venture capital investment team focused on supporting renewable energy innovation.

As Peterman pointed out, "Now, as part of Nelnet Renewable Energy, we'll be exploring additional and more innovative ways to make our clients' and customers' solar journeys rewarding, saving them money and helping to advance our country toward a clean energy future."

Founded in Illinois in 2012, GRNE Solar made its name offering solar services including engineering, operations and maintenance, installation, battery backup and electric vehicle charging stations. Based on its reputation for quality installation and exceptional customer experiences, the organization expanded to 10 offices in seven states: Colorado , Illinois , Indiana , Iowa , Missouri , Nebraska and New York . The same services continue to be offered from all these offices under the Nelnet Renewable Energy name. Previously found at GRNESolar.com, the organization's services may now be accessed along with Nelnet Renewable Energy's other diverse services and solutions at NelnetEnergy.com.

About Nelnet, Inc. and Nelnet Renewable Energy: Nelnet, Inc. (NYSE: NNI) is a publicly traded diversified financial services and technology company focused on offering educational services, technology solutions, professional services, telecommunications and asset management. As a brand of Nelnet, Nelnet Renewable Energy serves others by financing, developing, deploying and operating clean energy solutions that create sustainable value. Nelnet Renewable Energy offers a vast portfolio of solutions to help support residents, commercial and small utility-scale customers, landowners, developers, investors, municipalities, CleanTech innovators and educational institutions in meeting their renewable energy goals. As a leading tax equity investor, the organization developed a unique co-investment platform that provides its syndication partners the opportunity to make low-risk, impact investments and achieve competitive returns. Nelnet Renewable Energy's engineering, procurement and construction firm handles turnkey design, installation and maintenance of solar energy systems in houseand adds unique capabilities with strong financial backing and vertical integration of solar asset origination, development, financing and asset management. Rooted in innovation, the organization's venture capital team is able to bring enterprise-level resources required by early ventures focused on climate, resilience and sustainability. For more information, visit NelnetInc.com/capabilities/renewable-energy/.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/grne-solar-rebrands-as-nelnet-renewable-energy-301895922.html

SOURCE Nelnet Renewable Energy
CAIRO , Aug. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hayel Saeed Anam (HSA) Group and SAP have today announced the graduation of 27 candidates who have successfully completed the SAP Young Professionals Program, jointly delivered in Yemen and Egypt .

For the second year, HSA Group partnered with global technology leader SAP to host the SAP Young Professionals Program in 2023. The program is a pioneering initiative run in 41 countries by the Digital Skills Center of SAP that provides unemployed or underemployed recent university graduates with three months of digital skills training to become certified SAP Associate Consultants.

The program aims to upskill young talent and help unlock candidates' digital potential. This initiative is a core component of a wider strategic partnership with SAP that is enabling HSA Group to future-proof its operations and invest in the development of its people and technology across the markets in which it operates.

All recent university graduates in Yemen and Egypt were eligible to apply for the 2023 program, which received over 3200 applications. The successful applicants took part in a comprehensive training program that was designed to develop personal and business skills, as well as provide technical knowledge of cutting-edge SAP technologies.

Nabil Hayel Saeed Anam , HSA Group  Yemen region Managing Director said:

"On behalf of HSA Group, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to this year's graduates of the SAP Young Professionals Program. We were proud to collaborate with SAP for a second year to deliver the newly expanded program in Yemen and Egypt and look forward to continuing this partnership in the future.

"We remain committed to investing in the next generation of leaders and ensuring that they have the skills and experience they need to unlock their collective potential. We will be continuing to support this important program in Yemen and Egypt and wish all applicants the greatest success."

Alp Geckalan, Head of SAP Digital Skills Center said:

"The initiatives of the Digital Skills Center create a win-win situation: local youth find a job, SAP customers and partners find talent to succeed in the digital era, and countries benefit from the digital skills created. We are looking forward to continuing our partnership with HSA Group to create further capacity in future."

The 3-month program covers SAP software functional/technical knowledge and certification, with a key focus on SAP's latest innovations as well as soft and future skill trainings. In this year's program, candidates were certified in their use of SAP Business Process Integration with SAP S/4HANA 2020 & SAP S/4HANA Cloud (Public) Implementation with SAP Activate. They also undertook training to develop their interpersonal skills, foster design thinking and learn about innovation models and interview techniques.

The 2023 graduation took place on 8 August 2023 and was attended by program graduates, Mohamed Khalifa (CITO of HSA), Dmitrii Krasiukov (COO of SAP North Africa), Alp Geckalan (Head of Digital Skills Center of SAP), SAP employees and SAP customers and partners.

Notes for editors:

About HSA Group

HSA Group is Yemen's largest company and through its 50+ operating companies in Yemen , it manufactures and supplies essential goods and services to multinational organisations and communities, both in Yemen and across the MENA region. The company serves the needs of millions of Yemenis, local and international businesses every day. Its wide-ranging activities include: producing market-leading food and beverage brands, household goods and healthcare essentials; manufacturing a diverse range of industrial and construction materials; supplying automotive vehicles; and providing insurance and financial services to Yemen .

Throughout its 85-year history, HSA Group has adopted a values-led approach to sustainable growth. The company is driven by the philosophy set by its founders: a belief in doing well by doing good. The company's values prize and reward compassion, care for others and a community spirit, guiding how it works with its employees, partners and the societies that it serves across the world.

About SAP

Visit the Digital Skills Center to find out more about the SAP Young Professionals Program.

SAP's strategy is to help every business run as an intelligent, sustainable enterprise. As a market leader in enterprise application software, we help companies of all sizes and in all industries run at their best: SAP customers generate 87% of total global commerce. Our machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics technologies help turn customers' businesses into intelligent enterprises. SAP helps give people and organizations deep business insight and fosters collaboration that helps them stay ahead of their competition. We simplify technology for companies so they can consume our software the way they want  without disruption. Our end-to-end suite of applications and services enables business and public customers across 25 industries globally to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and make a difference. With a global network of customers, partners, employees, and thought leaders, SAP helps the world run better and improve people's lives. For more information, visit www.sap.com .

This document contains forward-looking statements, which are predictions, projections, or other statements about future events. These statements are based on current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and outcomes to materially differ. Additional information regarding these risks and uncertainties may be found in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to the risk factors section of SAP's 2022 Annual Report on Form 20-F.

 2023 SAP SE. All rights reserved.

SAP and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE in Germany and other countries. Please see https://www.sap.com/copyright for additional trademark information and notices.

To preview and download broadcast-standard stock footage and press photos digitally, please visit www.sap.com/photos . On this platform, you can find high resolution material for your media channels. To view video stories on diverse topics, visit www.sap-tv.com . From this site, you can embed videos into your own Web pages, share video via email links, and subscribe to RSS feeds from SAP TV.

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SOURCE HSA Group
Fueled by Declining Inventory and Accelerating Movement; Honda Leads in Five Regions, Including the Entire East Coast

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. , Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cloud Theory, the real-time automotive data insights provider, has announced that according to its proprietary Inventory Efficiency Index, Honda is now #1 nationwide, separating itself from last month's co-leaders Toyota and Kia.

Cloud Theory's patent-pending Inventory Efficiency Index (IEI) provides a previously unavailable real-time view of market-relevant supply and demand of all makes and models and across all geographies. Key decision-makers can use the IEI to confidently allocate valuable marketing and incentive dollars to models or geographies requiring a boost in demand, or to redistribute vehicles to locations that are moving inventory more efficiently. Cloud Theory's Inventory Efficiency Index assigns scores to vehicle makes and models based on current active inventory and sales data relative to competitors.

A score of 100 means that an OEM's demand is balanced with its relative supply in the marketplace.

A score above 100 indicates that a make or model is selling its inventory more efficiently than average.

A score below 100 means that there are opportunities to bring demand into better alignment with supply (or vice versa).

In last month's rankings, Toyota, Kia, and Honda were locked into a tight battle for efficiency supremacy, with those three brands separated by less than a point and a half. In July, however, Honda took clear leadership, surpassing Kia by almost eight points and separating from Toyota by almost 16 points. Honda's 13.8 month-over-month gain in efficiency was fueled by an improving Vehicle Movement position (up 11.5%) despite a 5.6% drop in its available supply. Several key modelsled by Accord, Civic, and Pilotcontributed to this outcome.

"Since the beginning of the year, we've seen Toyota, Kia, and now Honda in the top spot," said Rick Wainschel , Vice President, Data Science & Analytics at Cloud Theory. "While Honda is in the number one position now, recent history and fluid supply-demand dynamics would indicate that these three brands are likely to duke it out over the second half of 2023".

In the second tier of leading brands, it is notable that Cadillac continues to improve its score and rise through the ranks, with that make passing BMW and now in sixth position in the current month. Cadillac began the year ranked 13th.

On a regional basis, Honda now leads in five of the nine US Census regions, including all three encompassing the east coast. Kia's regional leadership is focused more in the country's lower Midwest, while Toyota is stronger in the West.

"Understanding a brand's relative efficiency position on a regional basis is crucial to making smart advertising, incentive, and vehicle allocation decisions," said Ron Boe , Chief Revenue Officer at Cloud Theory. "Identifying locations that have supply/demand imbalances is key to taking appropriate actions to ensure that money is spent where it is most needed," he continued.

About Cloud Theory

Cloud Theory is more than a concept. It is the eye of the storm, where cutting-edge data, software, and artificial intelligence meet deep industry knowledge and experience. Built for automotive manufacturers, agencies, and affiliates, Cloud Theory enables our customers to understand  in real time  the complex competitive world in which they do business and to make bold decisions that drive them forward. The combination of billions of data points, interactive tools, and expert consulting gives our clients the ability to weather any storm and find their way to clear blue skies. Learn more at cloudtheory.ai . To learn more about our entire portfolio of automotive brands, visit www.advancelocalautomotive.com .

For media inquiries, please contact:

Mike DeVilling

[email protected]

Rachel Slotnick

[email protected]

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SOURCE Cloud Theory
GREENWICH, Conn. , Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hunt Scanlon Ventures, a leading M&A advisory firm focused on the human capital markets, announced today that it has served as a strategic advisor to Asianet Consultants in its acquisition by global executive search firm TRANSEARCH. Asianet, with offices in Shanghai and Guangzhou , gives TRANSEARCH additional reach in Asia.

"We are delighted to welcome Mark and the team to TRANSEARCH," said Celeste Whatley , CEO of TRANSEARCH. "Not only do their values echo our own, but their in-depth understanding of the China and Hong Kong markets and steadfast commitment to exceptional client service further solidify our global approach."

By partnering with Asianet Consultants, TRANSEARCH will be able to offer its clients a wider range of services and resources and better serve their human capital needs in Asia and around the world, the firm said.

"TRANSEARCH International's global footprint and worldwide search capabilities combined with Asianet Consultants' local market knowledge and executive relationships will provide clients with powerful business growth solutions because of this transaction," said Scott A. Scanlon , CEO of Hunt Scanlon Ventures.

Asianet Consultants' talent acquisition services include executive search and hiring of C-suite leaders, division heads, and middle to senior management for companies ranging from multinationals to local enterprises. The firm works with leaders at all levels to enhance their skills, engagement, and performance for sustainable success.

"Joining TRANSEARCH, a company that shares our dedication to quality and client satisfaction, enhances our global service capabilities," said Mark Geary , CEO of Asianet Consultants. "This partnership will provide our clients with access to a broader talent pool and a wide array of resources."

Mr. Geary has been involved in the recruitment of senior international executives for over 30 years. Prior to joining Asianet, he held senior executive positions with major international companies such as ICI, Inchcape, and InterContinental Hotels. Mr. Geary is the founder and joint president of the International Executive Search Federation, which has 130 offices in 40 countries.

TRANSEARCH is a global search firm with representation in all of the major economic capitals, with about 60 offices in over 40 countries. It was founded in 1982 and today completes more than 1,500 senior executive search assignments a year. Its global client base is in the financial services, technology, consumer and retail, life sciences, and industrial and resources sectors.

About Hunt Scanlon Ventures:

Hunt Scanlon Ventures is an M&A advisory firm focused on the human capital markets. The firm assists in global merger and acquisition advisory, sourcing and facilitating transactions, buyouts, and growth capital investments as it guides founders to successful exits. Hunt Scanlon is an investor in data-driven and AI-powered human capital platforms where the firm works in partnership with management teams to scale and grow their businesses through a combination of capital investment, acquisitions, and other strategic initiatives.

Contact: Cody Crook

Managing Director

(317) 417-6936

[email protected]

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hunt-scanlon-ventures-serves-as-strategic-advisor-to-asianet-consultants-in-acquisition-by-transearch-301896034.html

SOURCE Hunt Scanlon Media
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. Representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) again visited two Azerbaijani servicemen held captive in Armenia on August 7, the Azerbaijani representative office of the ICRC said, Trend reports.

With the assistance of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Azerbaijani servicemen were able to call and write to their families.

"In accordance with its mandate, the ICRC evaluates detainee treatment and conditions." The ICRC also facilitates contact between inmates and their relatives. "Observations and recommendations regarding visits are only transferred to detainees in accordance with ICRC procedures," said the representative office.

Agshin Babirov (born in 2004) and Huseyn Akhundov (born in 2003) of Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic went missing owing to poor visibility in the Shahbuz district of Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic bordering Armenia.

In addition, video and photos of torture against Huseyn Akhundov in Armenia appeared in the Armenian media.

The Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan has launched an investigation in connection with the torture against a serviceman of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. The Ombudsman of Azerbaijan requested international organizations in this regard, and also demanded that the ICRC visit the Azerbaijani servicemen in captivity.
Q2 revenue increased to $34.5 million , up 4% year-over-year

Q2 measurement revenue contributed $7.8 million , up 10% year-over-year, representing 23% of total Q2 revenue

Innovid raises full year 2023 revenue and Adjusted EBITDA* guidance

NEW YORK , Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovid Corp. (NYSE: CTV) (the "Company"), an independent advertising platform for delivery, personalization, and measurement of converged TV across linear, connected TV (CTV), and digital, today announced financial results for the second fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2023 .

"We exceeded our guidance for the second quarter, and delivered strong results fueled by CTV and measurement growth," said Zvika Netter , Co-Founder and CEO. "Our dedication to driving profitable growth this quarter resulted in double-digit Adjusted EBITDA margins and a raised full year 2023 outlook. As our core products drive robust margins, our execution resulted in a significant flow through of incremental revenue to the bottom line.

"Innovid continues to benefit from the shift from linear TV to CTV. We are having a great deal of success adding new customers and are focused on deepening our relationships with customers to activate more products. We remain confident in our position as a clear leader in building critical technology infrastructure for the future of TV advertising, and specifically CTV."

Second Quarter 2023 Financial Summary

Revenue increased to $34.5 million , reflecting year-over-year growth of 4%.

, reflecting year-over-year growth of 4%. US revenue grew to $31.6 million , up 7% year-over-year.

, up 7% year-over-year. Measurement contributed $7.8 million , up 10% year-over-year, representing 23% of revenue.

, up 10% year-over-year, representing 23% of revenue. CTV revenue, excluding TVSquared, increased to $13.6 million , up 9% year-over-year.

, up 9% year-over-year. Net loss was $(19) million , compared to a net profit of $4.3 million for the same period in 2022. Q2 net loss was impacted by a one time non-cash goodwill impairment expense of $14.5 million , resulting from a decline in our share price during Q2 2023.

, compared to a net profit of for the same period in 2022. Q2 net loss was impacted by a one time non-cash goodwill impairment expense of , resulting from a decline in our share price during Q2 2023. Adjusted EBITDA* increased to $4.5 million , representing 13% Adjusted EBITDA margin.

, representing 13% Adjusted EBITDA margin. Cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2023 were $43.4 million .

Recent Business Highlights

CTV accounted for 51% of all video impressions served in Q2 2023, up from 50% of all video impressions served in Q2 2022.

Our measurement growth is being fueled by some of our announced wins in Q2, including our partnerships with NBCUniversal and Disney .

. We continue to win and expand more accounts including some of the largest auto brands such as Mazda U.S. and American Honda and some of the biggest global advertisers including Microsoft, Otsuka Pharmaceutical U.S. and Pluto TV.

Financial Outlook

Innovid is providing the following financial guidance for Q3 and full year 2023:

Q3 2023 revenue in a range between $33 million and $35 million .

and . Q3 2023 Adjusted EBITDA* in a range between $3 million and $5 million .

and . FY 2023 revenue in a range between $132 million and $136 million .

and . FY 2023 Adjusted EBITDA* positive for the full year, Adjusted EBITDA margin* at least 10% for the full year.

Governance Update

On August 3, 2023 , Jonathan Saacks notified the Company of his resignation for personal reasons from the Board of Directors (the "Board") and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board, effective from close of business on August 9, 2023 .

*See Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information and Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures table.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call and webcast to discuss second quarter 2023 financial results today at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time . Hosting the call will be Zvika Netter , Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer and Tanya Andreev-Kaspin , Chief Financial Officer. The conference call will be available via webcast at investors.innovid.com. To participate via telephone, please dial 888-645-4404 (toll free) or 862-298-0702 (international). Following the call, a replay of the webcast will be available for 90 days on the Innovid Investor Relations website.

Non-GAAP Measures and Certain Operational Metrics

Innovid prepares unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Innovid also discloses and discusses non-GAAP financial measures such as Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin.

We use Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin as measures of operational efficiency to understand and evaluate our core business operations. We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures are also useful to investors for period-to-period comparisons of our core business. Additionally, these figures provide an understanding and evaluation of our trends when comparing our operating results, on a consistent basis, by excluding items that we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance.

These non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for an analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of the limitations of these measures are:

they do not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect our capital expenditures or future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;

they do not reflect costs of acquiring and integrating businesses, which will continue to be a part of our growth strategy;

they do not reflect one-time, non-recurring, bonus costs and third party costs associated with the SPAC merger transaction and regulatory filings;

they do not reflect goodwill impairment;

they do not reflect severance costs;

they do not reflect income tax expense or the cash requirements to pay income taxes;

they do not reflect our interest expense or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments on our debt; and

although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges related mainly to intangible assets and amortization of software development costs, certain assets being depreciated and amortized will have to be replaced in the future, and Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements.

Other companies in our industry may calculate these non-GAAP financial measures differently than we do, limiting their usefulness as a comparative measure. You should compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our US GAAP results and using the non-GAAP financial measures only supplementally.

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net (loss) income attributable to Innovid, excluding (1) depreciation and amortization, (2) goodwill impairment, (3) stock-based compensation, (4) finance income, net, (5) transaction related expenses, (6) acquisition related expenses, (7) retention bonus expenses, (8) legal claims, (9) severance cost, (9) other, and (10) taxes on income. We calculate Adjusted EBITDA margin as Adjusted EBITDA divided by total revenue.

Innovid has provided a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin to net (loss) income, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, for historical period in the appendix hereto but is not able to provide a reconciliation of the projected Adjusted EBITDA or Adjusted EBITDA margin to expected net (loss) income attributable to Innovid for the third quarter of 2023 or the full-year 2023, without unreasonable effort, due to the unknown effect, timing, and potential significance of the effects of taxes on income in multiple jurisdictions, finance (income)/expenses including valuations, among others. These items have in the past, and may in the future, significantly affect GAAP results in a particular period.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1996. The Company's actual results may differ from its expectations, estimates and projections and consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as "expect," "estimate," "project," "budget," "forecast," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "should," "believes," "predicts," "potential," "continue," "aim," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the Company's expectations regarding its future financial results and expected growth. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results, including Innovid's ability to achieve and, if achieved, maintain profitability, decrease and/or changes in CTV audience viewership behavior, Innovid's failure to make the right investment decisions or to innovate and develop new solutions, inaccurate estimates or projections of future financial performance, Innovid's failure to manage growth effectively, the dependence of Innovid's revenues and business on the overall demand for advertising and a limited number of advertising agencies and advertisers, the rejection of digital advertising by consumers, future restrictions on Innovid's ability to collect, use and disclose data, market pressure resulting in a reduction of Innovid's revenues per impression, Innovid's failure to adequately scale its platform infrastructure, exposure to fines and liability if advertisers, publishers and data providers do not obtain necessary and requisite consents from consumers for Innovid to process their personal data, competition for employee talent, seasonal fluctuations in advertising activity, payment-related risks, interruptions or delays in services from third parties, errors, defects, or unintended performance problems in Innovid's platform, intense market competition, failure to comply with the terms of third party open source components, changes in tax laws or tax rulings, failure to maintain an effective system of internal controls over financial reporting, failure to comply with data privacy and data protection laws, infringement of third-party intellectual property rights, difficulty in enforcing Innovid's own intellectual property rights, system failures, security breaches or cyberattacks, additional financing if required may not be available, the volatility of the price of Innovid's common stock and warrants, and other important factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in Innovid's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 3, 2023 , as such factors may be updated from time to time in its other filings with the SEC, accessible on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and the Investors Relations section of Innovid's website at investors.innovid.com. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described in the documents filed by the Company from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings 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. Most of these factors are outside the Company's control and are difficult to predict. The Company cautions not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, including projections, which speak only as of the date made. The Company does not undertake or accept any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

About Innovid

Innovid (NYSE: CTV) powers advertising delivery, personalization, and measurement across linear, connected TV (CTV) and digital for the world's largest brands. Through a global infrastructure that enables cross-platform ad serving, data-driven creative, and measurement, Innovid offers its clients always-on intelligence to optimize advertising investment across channels, platforms, screens, and devices. Innovid is an independent platform that leads the market in converged TV innovation, through proprietary technology and exclusive partnerships designed to reimagine TV advertising. Headquartered in New York City , Innovid serves a global client base through offices across the Americas , Europe , and Asia Pacific . To learn more, visit innovid.com or follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter.

Contacts

Investors:

Brinlea Johnson

[email protected]

Media:

Caroline Yodice

[email protected]

INNOVID, CORP. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands, except stock and per stock data)



June 30, 2023

December 31, 2022

(Unaudited)



ASSETS





Cash and cash equivalents $ 43,384

$ 37,541 Short-term bank deposits 

10,000 Trade receivables, net (allowance for credit losses of $330 and $65 at June 30, 2023 ,

and December 31, 2022 , respectively) 43,238

43,653 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 4,123

2,640 Total current assets 90,745

93,834 Long-term deposit 260

277 Long-term restricted deposits 396

430 Property and equipment, net 18,959

14,322 Goodwill 102,473

116,976 Intangible assets, net 27,659

29,918 Operating lease right of use asset 2,008

2,910 Other non-current assets 834

938 Total non-current assets 152,589

165,771 TOTAL ASSETS $ 243,334

$ 259,605







LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY





Trade payables 4,421

3,361 Employees and payroll accruals 10,969

10,165 Lease liabilities - current portion 1,611

2,186 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 5,194

5,474 Total current liabilities 22,195

21,186 Long-term debt 20,000

20,000 Lease liabilities - non-current portion 1,081

1,636 Other non-current liabilities 9,461

6,554 Warrants liability 1,022

4,301 Total non-current liabilities 31,564

32,491 TOTAL LIABILITIES 53,759

53,677 COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES





Common stock: $0.0001 par value - Authorized: 500,000,000 at June 30, 2023 , and

December 31, 2022 ; Issued and outstanding: 138,737,104 and 133,882,414 at June 30 ,

2023, and December 31, 2022 , respectively 13

13 Additional paid-in capital 367,970

356,801 Accumulated deficit (178,408)

(150,886) Total stockholders' equity 189,575

205,928 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 243,334

$ 259,605

INNOVID, CORP. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands, except stock and per stock data)



Three months ended June 30 ,

Six months ended June 30 ,

2023

2022

2023

2022

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited) Revenues $ 34,546

$ 33,088

$ 65,031

$ 58,950 Cost of revenues (1) 8,591

7,351

16,856

13,277 Research and development (1) 6,876

9,710

13,993

16,964 Sales and marketing (1) 11,460

14,320

23,097

24,671 General and administrative (1) 8,924

9,955

18,574

21,410 Depreciation and amortization 2,064

926

4,094

1,599 Goodwill impairment 14,503



14,503

 Operating loss (17,872)

(9,174)

(26,086)

(18,971) Finance income, net (248)

(13,306)

(2,723)

(15,617) Loss before taxes (17,624)

4,132

(23,363)

(3,354) Taxes on income 1,335

(168)

4,159

(205) Net (loss) income (18,959)

4,300

(27,522)

(3,149)















Net (loss) income attributable to common stockholders $ (18,959)

$ 4,300

$ (27,522)

$ (3,149) Net (loss) income per stock attributable to common

stockholders













Basic $ (0.14)

$ 0.03

$ (0.20)

$ (0.02) Diluted $ (0.14)

$ 0.03

$ (0.20)

$ (0.02) Weighted-average number of stock used in

computing net (loss) income per stock

attributable to common stockholders













Basic 137,643,910

132,152,652

134,296,569

128,220,893 Diluted 137,643,910

139,988,123

134,296,569

128,220,893





(1) Exclusive of depreciation, amortization and goodwill impairment presented separately.

INNOVID, CORP. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN TEMPORARY EQUITY AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (In thousands, except stock data)



Common stock Additional paid-

in capital Accumulated

deficit Total

stockholders'

equity

Number Amount Balance as of December 31, 2021 119,017,380 $ 12 $ 293,719 $ (132,476) $ 161,255 Common stock and equity awards issued for acquisition of TVS 11,549,465 1 47,151  47,152 Stock-based compensation   1,496  1,496 Stock options exercised 1,521,927  462  462 Net loss    (7,449) (7,449) Balance as of March 31, 2022 (unaudited) 132,088,772 $ 13 $ 342,828 $ (139,925) $ 202,916 Stock-based compensation   4,628  4,628 Stock options exercised 322,943  174  174 Net income    4,300 4,300 Balance as of June 30, 2022 (unaudited) 132,411,715 $ 13 $ 347,630 $ (135,625) $ 212,018













Common stock Additional paid-

in capital Accumulated

deficit Total

stockholders'

equity

Number Amount Balance as of December 31, 2022 133,882,414 $ 13 $ 356,801 $ (150,886) $ 205,928 Stock-based compensation   4,897  4,897 Stock options exercised and RSUs vested 2,734,320  250  250 Net loss    (8,563) (8,563) Balance as of March 31, 2023 (unaudited) 136,616,734 $ 13 $ 361,948 $ (159,449) $ 202,512 Stock-based compensation   5,658  5,658 Stock options exercised and RSUs vested 2,120,370  364  364 Net loss    (18,959) (18,959) Balance as of June 30, 2023 (unaudited) 138,737,104 $ 13 $ 367,970 $ (178,408) $ 189,575

INNOVID, CORP. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands, except stock and per stock data)



Six Months Ended June 30, 2023

2023

2022 Cash flows from operating activities: (Unaudited)

(Unaudited) Net loss $ (27,522)

$ (3,149) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:





Depreciation and amortization 4,094

1,599 Goodwill impairment 14,503

 Stock-based compensation 9,865

5,634 Change in fair value of warrants (3,279)

(15,946) Changes in operating assets and liabilities





Decrease / (increase) in trade receivables, net 415

(4,624) Increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets (1,390)

(747) Decrease in operating lease right of use assets 902

872 Increase / (decrease) in trade payables 1,060

(321) Increase in employees and payroll accruals 804

1,044 Decrease in operating lease liabilities (1,130)

(1,208) Increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities 2,626

945 Net cash provided by / (used in) operating activities 948

(15,901) Cash flows from investing activities:





Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired 

(99,568) Internal use software capitalization (5,591)

(3,516) Purchase of property and equipment (189)

(221) Withdrawal of short-term bank deposits 10,000

 Increase in deposits 27

32 Net cash provided by / (used in) investing activities 4,247

(103,273) Cash flows from financing activities:





Proceeds from loans 10,000

9,000 Repayment of loans (10,000)

 Payment of SPAC merger transaction costs 

(3,185) Proceeds from exercise of options 614

636 Net cash provided by financing activities 614

6,451 Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash 5,809

(112,723) Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at the beginning of the period 37,971

157,158 Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at the end of the period $ 43,780

$ 44,435 Supplemental disclosure of cash flows activities:





(1) Cash paid during the period for:





Income taxes paid, net of tax refunds $ 879

$ 363 Interest $ 782

$ 137 (2) Non-cash transactions:





Business combination consideration paid in stock $ 

$ 47,152 Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the condensed

consolidated balance sheets





Cash and cash equivalents 43,384

44,024 Long-term restricted deposits 396

411 Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the condensed consolidated statements

of cash flows $ 43,780

$ 44,435

Key Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Adjusted EBITDA

In addition to our results determined in accordance with US GAAP, we believe that certain non-GAAP financial measures, including Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") and Adjusted EBITDA Margin are useful in evaluating our business. The following table presents a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, to the most directly comparable financial measure prepared in accordance with GAAP.



Three months ended June 30 ,

Six months ended June 30 , (in thousands) 2023

2022

2023

2022 Net (loss) income $ (18,959)

$ 4,300

$ (27,522)

$ (3,149) Net (loss) income margin (55) %

13 %

(42) %

(5) % Depreciation and amortization 2,064

926

4,094

1,599 Goodwill impairment 14,503



14,503

 Stock-based compensation 5,334

4,138

9,958

5,730 Finance income, net (a) (248)

(13,306)

(2,723)

(15,617) Transaction related expenses (b) 

164



392 Acquisition related expenses (c) 

768



4,971 Retention bonus expenses (d) 148

1,000

445

1,000 Legal claims 342

435

656

435 Severance cost (e) 



845

 Other 23

83

272

175 Taxes on income 1,335

(168)

4,159

(205) Adjusted EBITDA $ 4,542

$ (1,660)

$ 4,687

$ (4,669) Adjusted EBITDA margin 13.1 %

(5.0) %

7.2 %

(7.9) %





(a) Finance income, net consists mostly of remeasurement related to revaluation of our warrants, remeasurement of our foreign subsidiary's monetary assets, liabilities and operating results, and our interest expense. (b) Transaction related expenses consist of costs related to the SPAC merger transaction. (c) Acquisition related expenses consists of professional fees associated with the acquisition of TVS. (d) Retention bonus expenses consists of retention bonuses for TVS employees. (e) Severance cost is related to the personnel reductions that occurred during the first quarter of 2023.

Operational Metrics

In addition, Innovid's management considers the number of core clients, annual core clients retention and annual core clients net revenue retention in evaluating the performance of the business. These metrics are reported annually. Prior to our acquisition of TVS in 2022, our definition of a core client included only advertisers that generated at least $100,000 revenue in a twelfth-months period. Following our acquisition of TVS, we have included publishers as core clients.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/innovid-reports-q2-2023-financial-results-301895244.html

SOURCE Innovid
SAN FRANCISCO , Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Intercom , the next-generation customer service platform, built for an AI-first world, has been named to the Forbes 2023 Cloud 100, the definitive ranking of the top 100 private cloud companies in the world, published by Forbes in partnership with Bessemer Venture Partners and Salesforce Ventures . This is the seventh consecutive year Intercom has made the list.

Intercom is the only customer service solution that combines an AI bot, AI Help Desk, and proactive support tools into one seamless platform. More than 25,000 companies, including Amazon, Atlassian, and Microsoft, use Intercom to send over 600 million messages per month and enable interactions with over 800 million monthly active end users.

The company, a SaaS unicorn last valued at $1.275B , has narrowed its focus to become the primary customer support solution, bringing together AI technology to augment customer service teams. This strategy is resulting in strong demand from new customers, increased growth metrics, and a healthy business outlook, putting the company in a prime position to disrupt the customer service market.

The Forbes 2023 Cloud 100 and 20 Rising Stars lists are published online at www.forbes.com/cloud100. Highlights of the list appear in the August/ September 2023 issue of Forbes magazine.

About Bessemer Venture Partners

Bessemer Venture Partners helps entrepreneurs lay strong foundations to build and forge long-standing companies. With more than 145 IPOs and 300 portfolio companies in the enterprise, consumer and healthcare spaces, Bessemer supports founders and CEOs from their early days through every stage of growth. Bessemer's global portfolio has included Pinterest, Shopify, Twilio, Yelp, LinkedIn, PagerDuty, DocuSign, Wix, Fiverr, and Toast and has $20 billion of assets under management. Bessemer has teams of investors and partners located in Tel Aviv , Silicon Valley , San Francisco , New York , London , Hong Kong , Boston , and Bangalore . Born from innovations in steel more than a century ago, Bessemer's storied history has afforded its partners the opportunity to celebrate and scrutinize its best investment decisions (see Memos ) and also learn from its mistakes (see Anti-Portfolio ).

About Forbes

Forbes champions success by celebrating those who have made it, and those who aspire to make it. Forbes convenes and curates the most influential leaders and entrepreneurs who are driving change, transforming business and making a significant impact on the world. The Forbes brand today reaches more than 140 million people worldwide through its trusted journalism, signature LIVE and Forbes Virtual events, custom marketing programs and 45 licensed local editions in 76 countries. Forbes Media's brand extensions include real estate, education and financial services license agreements.

About Salesforce Ventures

Salesforce Ventures helps enterprising founders build companies that reinvent the way the world works. Since 2009, we've invested in and partnered with more than 400 of the world's most tenacious enterprise software companies from seed to IPO, including Anthropic, Cohere, Airtable, Databricks, DocuSign, Guild Education, monday.com, nCino, Snowflake, Snyk, Stripe, Tanium, and Zoom. Salesforce Ventures leverages our decades of expertise in the cloud and our long-term relationships with key decision-makers at thousands of businesses around the world to give our portfolio companies an advantage, help them build credibility, and accelerate growth. Salesforce Ventures has invested in more than 25 countries with offices all over the world including in San Francisco , Irvine , New York , London , and Tokyo . Follow @SalesforceVC and learn more at http://www.salesforceventures.com.

Contact

Christine Lees

[email protected]

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SOURCE Intercom, Inc.
MATERIAL FACT

SAO PAULO, Aug. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. ("Company" or "Itau Unibanco"), in compliance with Article 157, Paragraph 4 of Law 6,404/76 and Resolution no. 44/21 of the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission, informs its stockholders and the market in general that as of this date it has released its revised projections for the year 2023 in accordance with the provision in item 03 ("Projections") of the Reference Form.



Consolidated



previous reviewed

total credit portfolio growth between

6.0% and 9.0% maintained

financial margin with clients growth between

13.5% and 16.5% maintained

financial margin with the market between

R$2.0 bn and R$4.0 bn maintained

cost of credit between

R$36.5 bn and R$40.5 bn maintained

commissions and fees and results

from insurance operations growth between

7.5% and 10.5% growth between

5.0% and 7.0%

non interest expenses growth between

5.0% and 9.0% maintained consolidated efficiency ratio below

40% and below 38% in Brazil effective tax rate between

28.5% and 31.5% between

27.0% and 29.0%

(1) Includes financial guarantees provided and corporate securities; (2) Composed of results from loan losses, impairment and discounts granted; (3) Commissions and fees (+) income from insurance, pension plan and premium bonds operations (-) expenses for claims (-) insurance, pension plan and premium bonds selling expenses.

It's important to mention that, as of the third quarter of 2023, the Company considers in the management purposes a cost of capital of around 14.25% p.y.

Information on outlooks for the business, projections and operational and financial goals are solely forecasts, based on management's current outlook in relation to the future of Itau Unibanco. These expectations are highly dependent on market conditions, general economic performance of the country, of the sector and the international markets. Therefore, our effective results and performance may differ from those forecasted in this prospective information.

Sao Paulo, August 07 th, 2023

Renato Lulia Jacob

Group Head of Investor Relations and Market Intelligence

Contact:

Itau Unibanco  Comunicacao Corporativa

Telefone: (11) 5019-8880 / 8881

E-mail: [email protected]

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/itau-unibanco---projections-301895090.html

SOURCE Itau Unibanco Holding S.A.
GUANGZHOU, China , Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MINISO Group Holding Limited (NYSE: MNSO; HKEX: 9896) ("MINISO", "MINISO Group" or the "Company"), a global value retailer offering a variety of design-led lifestyle products, today announced that it plans to release its June quarter 2023 and fiscal year 2023 financial results before the U.S. market opens on Tuesday, August 22, 2023 .

The Company's management will hold an earnings conference call at 3:00 A.M. Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday , August 22, 2023 (3:00 P.M. Beijing Time on the same day) to discuss the financial results. The conference call can be accessed by the following zoom link or dialing the following numbers:

Access 1

Join Zoom meeting.

Zoom link: https://dooyle.zoom.us/j/87376379858?pwd=dEs5ZUFaRWxHTkxHVCtnaWc1MzdlZz09

Meeting Number: 873 7637 9858

Meeting Passcode: 9896

Access 2

Listeners may access the call by dialing the following numbers by using the same meeting number and passcode with access 1.

United States : +1 213 338 8477 (or +1 646 518 9805) Mainland China : 400 182 3168 (or 400 616 8835) Hong Kong, China : +852 5803 3730 (or +852 5803 3731) United Kingdom : +44 203 481 5237 (or +44 131 460 1196) France : +33 1 7037 9729 (or +33 1 7037 2246) Singapore : +65 3158 7288 (or +65 3165 1065) Canada : +1 438 809 7799 (or +1 204 272 7920)



Access 3

Listeners can also access the meeting through the Company's investor relations website at https://ir.miniso.com/.

The replay will be available approximately two hours after the conclusion of the live event at the Company's investor relations website at https://ir.miniso.com/.

About MINISO Group

MINISO Group is a global value retailer offering a variety of design-led lifestyle products. The Company serves consumers primarily through its large network of MINISO stores, and promotes a relaxing, treasure-hunting and engaging shopping experience full of delightful surprises that appeals to all demographics. Aesthetically pleasing design, quality and affordability are at the core of every product in MINISO's wide product portfolio, and the Company continually and frequently rolls out products with these qualities. Since the opening of its first store in China in 2013, the Company has built its flagship brand "MINISO" as a globally recognized retail brand and established a massive store network worldwide. For more information, please visit https://ir.miniso.com/.

Investor Relations Contact

Raine Hu

MINISO Group Holding Limited

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +86 (20) 36228788 Ext.8039

Eric Yuan

Christensen Advisory

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +86 1380 111 0739

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SOURCE MINISO Group Holding Limited
NEO: SHWZ

OTCQX: SHWZ

DENVER , Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Schwazze, (OTCQX: SHWZ) (NEO: SHWZ) ("Schwazze" or the "Company"), a multi-state operating cannabis company with assets in Colorado and New Mexico , announces the grand opening of its medical and recreational dispensary, R.Greenleaf Hobbs, which opened on Saturday, August 5, 2023 . The new store is located at 1901 Joe Harvey Blvd #130 in Hobbs, NM 88240. Store operating hours are 8a to 11p Monday through Saturday; 8a to 8p on Sunday.

The R.Greenleaf Hobbs store opening continues the Company's expansion throughout New Mexico and comes on the heels of eight additional R.Greenleaf store openings since Schwazze's acquisition of the retail banner in February 2022 . This opening along with the recent acquisition of Everest brings Schwazze's total number of New Mexico retail dispensaries to 33. All locations serve the needs of medical patients as well as recreational adult-use consumers.

"We are excited to be a part of the growing cannabis community in New Mexico and to open an additional R.Greenleaf dispensary in the state. The team has been hard at work preparing to serve our customers in and around the city of Hobbs offering a wide variety of quality products serviced by dedicated, knowledgeable staff," said Ken Bair , Senior Vice President of New Mexico Retail.

Since April 2020 , Schwazze has acquired, opened, or announced the planned acquisition of 62 cannabis retail dispensaries (bannered as Star Buds, Emerald Fields , R. Greenleaf , Standing Akimbo, and Everest) as well as eight cultivation facilities and three manufacturing plants across Colorado and New Mexico . In May 2021 , Schwazze launched its Biosciences division, and in August 2021 it commenced home delivery services in Colorado .

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.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements." Such statements may be preceded by the words "plan," "will," "may," "continue," "predicts," or similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future events or performance, are based on certain assumptions, and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control and cannot be predicted or quantified. Consequently, actual events and results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with (i) our inability to manufacture our products and product candidates on a commercial scale on our own or in collaboration with third parties; (ii) difficulties in obtaining financing on commercially reasonable terms; (iii) changes in the size and nature of our competition; (iv) loss of one or more key executives or scientists; (v) difficulties in securing regulatory approval to market our products and product candidates; (vi) our ability to successfully execute our growth strategy in Colorado and outside the state, (vii) our ability to consummate the acquisition described in this press release or to identify and consummate future acquisitions that meet our criteria, (viii) our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses, including the acquisition described in this press release, and realize synergies therefrom, (ix) the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, * the timing and extent of governmental stimulus programs, and (xi) the uncertainty in the application of federal, state and local laws to our business, and any changes in such laws. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as required by law.

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SOURCE Schwazze
WASHINGTON , Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights , the Center for Constitutional Rights and Texas A&M Law School Immigrant Rights Clinic and Civil Rights Clinic filed a case in the District of Columbia on behalf of two Cameroonian men abused by U.S. immigration detention officials and then deported back to persecution. The case, filed yesterday evening, seeks damages and return to the United States for a fair opportunity to apply for asylum.

As relayed in the complaint , detention officers pepper sprayed the two men and locked them in solitary confinement for peacefully protesting racist targeting by guards and denial of medical care. U.S. officials then deported the two men and illegally gave their asylum documents to Cameroonian officials, who imprisoned them as traitors. A 2022 Human Rights Watch report detailed the experiences of the plaintiffs and others who endured similar abuses.

According to one of the plaintiffs, JKA, "My life will never be the same because of the physical and mental pain I experienced in immigration detention in the United States . I am filing this lawsuit because I want to hold the United States government accountable for what it did to me." Another plaintiff, TBF, says, "When I was a detained immigrant in the U.S. , there were no human rights. I was tortured and there was no intervention to protect me. I plead that the world sees our fellow brothers and sisters who are detained as human beings in need of help."

"The plight of my fellow Cameroonian brothers stands as a stark reminder of the hardships and injustices we face as Black Immigrants abused by U.S immigration enforcement," said Daniel Tse , Founder of the Cameroon Advocacy Network and Legal Fellow at Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. "As an advocate for justice on behalf of my fellow Cameroonians, I denounce the unjustifiable cruelty they endured simply for pursuing the human right to apply for asylum. Because the U.S. government refuses to rectify its wrongdoing by bringing these men back for a fair opportunity to apply for asylum, we are going to court to seek accountability, restitution, and justice."

"The government used unlawful force, solitary confinement, and deportation to retaliate against two Black asylum seekers who resisted their harsh and discriminatory confinement in immigration jail through an organized hunger strike," said Samah Sisay , an attorney at the Center for Constitutional Rights. "Our clients have suffered and are fighting for redress and an end to these wrongful acts."

About Center for Constitutional Rights:

The Center for Constitutional Rights works with communities under threat to fight for justice and liberation through litigation, advocacy, and strategic communications. Since 1966, the Center for Constitutional Rights has taken on oppressive systems of power, including structural racism, gender oppression, economic inequity, and governmental overreach. Learn more at ccrjustice.org .

About Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights:

Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that has worked to realize Robert F. Kennedy's dream of a more just and peaceful world since 1968. In partnership with local activists, we advocate for key human rights issueschampioning change makers and pursuing strategic litigation at home and around the world. And to ensure change that lasts, we foster a social-good approach to business and investment and educate millions of students about human rights and social justice. Learn more at rfkhumanrights.org .

About Texas A&M School of Law Immigrant Rights Clinic:

The Immigrant Rights Clinic engages law students in direct representation of immigrants before the Immigration Courts, Board of Immigration Appeals, U.S. District Courts and U.S. Courts of Appeals. Our representation focuses on deportation defense, federal litigation on immigration detention and affirmative filings for survivors of crimes and abuse.

About Cameroon Advocacy Network (CAN):

Founded and led by Cameroonian immigrants in the diaspora in coalition with legal and migrants' rights advocacy organizations, CAN is uniquely situated to champion the freedom and dignity of Cameroonians, center the issues of Black immigrants, and build communities to thrive. CAN coordinates efforts dedicated to protecting displaced individuals affected by violence, humanitarian crises, persecution, and other human rights violations while spreading awareness to expose the root cause of migration from Cameroon , in solidarity with all Black immigrants fighting for liberation. Learn more at camadvocacy.org

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SOURCE Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights
ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill. , Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Gallagher, a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services company, commissioned a survey of 1,000 U.S. business owners aimed to glean insights on their mindset around risk mitigation. Despite the majority (97%) of business owners having business-related insurance policies, an overwhelming 83% expressed worries about specific events or losses that have the potential to affect their business, and another 83% are either actively looking or very likely to seek additional insurance policies to provide greater protection. Business-related insurance policies in top demand include:

Business Owners' Policy (BOP): 48% would consider expanding or getting new BOP coverage.

48% would consider expanding or getting new BOP coverage. Life Insurance: 48% would consider expanding or getting new life insurance coverage.

48% would consider expanding or getting new life insurance coverage. Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI): 45% would consider expanding or getting new EPLI coverage.

The survey uncovered that business owners  of all generations and company size  have a strong need for tailored business insurance coverage to alleviate concerns. Results serve as a reminder to reevaluate insurance needs that meet the uncertainties and complexities of the modern environment.

Major concerns that business owners have over the next 12 months include:

Climate Change and Natural Disasters: 68% have extreme or very high concern about how climate change and natural disasters could affect their businesses.

68% have extreme or very high concern about how climate change and natural disasters could affect their businesses. Jobless Claims: 69% expressed extreme or very high concern about the potential impact of jobless claims.

69% expressed extreme or very high concern about the potential impact of jobless claims. Cyber Attacks: 74% expressed extreme or very high concern about the impact of a cyber-attack on their business.

74% expressed extreme or very high concern about the impact of a cyber-attack on their business. Healthcare Costs: 70% expressed extreme or very high concern about healthcare costs on their business.

"Our goal is to position our clients for success, always striving for the best solutions, whether they be disaster recovery, employee wellness or claims outcomes," said J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., Chairman, President and CEO. "The findings from this survey are proof points of what we hear every day in speaking with our clients: 'These are my fears, how can you help?' We provide tailored risk management for their specific needs to instill confidence and offer the peace of mind business owners need to navigate the complexities of today's business environment."

Planning for the Future Boosts Business Owners' Confidence

Business owners who actively review and prepare for the future have increased confidence in their risk management strategies, which holds true for Millennials in particular. Millennials are twice as likely to review their business insurance coverage monthly (61%) compared to Gen X (28%) and Baby Boomers (26%). They also perceive their risk management strategies as extremely effective, with 50% expressing confidence, compared to Gen Z (28%) and Gen X (23%).

In the dynamic realm of modern business, staying afloat amidst complexities and uncertainties requires a strategic approach. The study reveals a fundamental truth: regular review and proactive risk management must serve as the compass guiding business owners through uncharted waters. By diligently assessing insurance coverage and implementing effective strategies, business owners can better chart a course to enhanced confidence and fortified protection.

"The big take-away from this survey is just how much insurance can help business owners. At the end of the day, business owners worry about how their business can support their family. Gallagher understands that  we are a family-driven business, and we work with companies of all sizes to lessen risk and make sure owners can continue operating and ultimately, providing for their families," Gallagher said.

Media contacts:

Gallagher: Kelli Murray, Director, Global Media Relations; Email: [email protected]; Tel: +1 847 273 3896

Prosek Partners on behalf of Gallagher: Jordan Specht; Email: [email protected]; Tel: +1 915 815 8335

Study Methodology:

The survey was conducted from March 29  April 11 by Wakefield Research among a representative sample of 1,000 American business owners from organizations ranging in size from 1 - 1,000, with the median organization size ranging from 101 - 500. The sample size and methodology ensure a statistically significant representation of the target population.

Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. For the interviews conducted in this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 3.1 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.

About Gallagher

Gallagher is one of the world's largest insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting firms. As a community insurance broker and trusted local consultant, we help people and businesses move forward with confidence. With more than 43,000 people working around the globe, we're connected to the places where we do business and to every community we call home. Managing risk with customized solutions and a full spectrum of services, helping you foster a thriving workforce, and always holding ourselves to the highest standards of ethics to help you face every challenge - that's The Gallagher Way . https://ajg.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-gallagher-study-reveals-business-owners-are-looking-for-tailored-increased-insurance-protection-301895817.html

SOURCE Gallagher
PEORIA, Ill. , Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly 500,000 people undergo open-heart surgery a year in the United States . New technology being used by OSF HealthCare is hoping to bring that number down.

Starting this year, OSF began offering the Alterra Pre Stent to patients in Peoria . The FDA-approved valve consists of a catheter-based stent (called Alterra), an artificial heart valve (SAPIEN 3) and the opportunity to implant the stent and valve without the need for open-heart surgery.

Priti Patel , MD, is the director of the Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory for OSF HealthCare. She says this new technology will expand peoples' lives and enhance their quality of life.

"The advantage of the procedure is that the patient is up and awake, walking around after six hours. They get to go home the next day," Dr. Patel says. "With open-heart surgery, they are in the hospital for a longer period of time, and they have to recover from the sternotomy. Here, there is no recovery. There are no stitches in the groin, and they are going back to school or work the following day."

The abovementioned sternotomy is a procedure where a surgical incision is made through the breastbone (sternum) to access the thoracic cavity for open-heart surgery.

"The goal is to prevent repeated open-heart surgeries. The more sternotomies and open-heart surgeries they have, the more risk they have each time. With this, you can prevent that from happening," Dr. Patel adds. "You can do the procedure and see the results right away. The patients feel good when they wake up, because it is easy to breathe."

Dr. Patel says the new pulmonary valve is supposed to last 10 years. This current pulmonary valve that is in place allows you to be ready for another less-invasive procedure when the time comes.

"Now when it's needed, you can put multiple valves inside it. So, you can get these 40-50 years out without needing any open-heart surgeries," Dr. Patel says.

Dr. Patel and her team administered four pulmonary valves in patients this spring, with two more procedures planned in August. These procedures happen at the OSF HealthCare Children's Hospital of Illinois Congenital Heart Center located at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center. Dr. Patel says these patients come from all across the State of Illinois and can continue their health journey with their care team at OSF. They can perform the procedures on people of all ages.

Additional assets including video, audio clips, and photos are available on the OSF Newsroom.

OSF HealthCare is an integrated health system owned and operated by The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, headquartered in Peoria, Illinois . OSF HealthCare has 15 hospitals  10 acute care, five critical access - with 2,084 licensed beds throughout Illinois and Michigan . OSF employs nearly 24,000 Mission Partners throughout 150+ locations; has two colleges of nursing; operates OSF Home Care Services, an extensive network of home health and hospice services; owns Pointcore, Inc., comprised of health care-related businesses; OSF HealthCare Foundation, the philanthropic arm for the organization; and OSF Ventures, which provides investment capital for promising health care innovation startups. OSF OnCall, a digital health operating unit, was established in 2020 to improve patient experience, using digital tools for 24-7 communication, on-demand care, remote patient monitoring, and offers the largest hospital-at-home program in Illinois . OSF HealthCare has been recognized by Fortune as one of the most innovative companies in the country. More at osfhealthcare.org.

Contact: Matt Sheehan , Media Relations Coordinator, OSF HealthCare | (309) 308-5015

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SOURCE OSF HealthCare
LONDON and WASHINGTON , Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A new report finds that the U.S. insurance sector held $536 billion in fossil-fuel related assets in 2019, despite some insurers citing climate-related risk and natural disasters as factors in raising premiums and/or dropping coverage within certain high-risk regions.

The top 16 U.S. insurers alone held more than 50 percent of fossil fuel-related assets owned by the sector

The report, Changing Climate for the Insurance Sector, conducted by Ceres, ERM, and Persefoni, reveals that the top 16 U.S. insurers alone held more than 50 percent of the half trillion dollars in fossil fuel-related assets owned by the sector. The quantitative analysis was undertaken using U.S. Insurers' 2019 assets compiled by the California Department of Insurance, the most complete and recent dataset currently available.

Some insurers are currently moving to curtail climate-related risk, with a growing number ceasing to offer certain policies in some locations. This includes State Farm's May 2023 decision to stop offering new home insurance policies in California due to wildfire risk, Farmers' July 2023 announcement that they will stop renewing almost a third of the policies the company has written in Florida , and close to 20 home insurers in hurricane-prone Louisiana either pulling out of the state or declaring insolvency.

The report also revealed that the top two U.S. property and casualty companies, Berkshire Hathaway and State Farm Insurance, owned 44 percent of total fossil fuel-related assets owned by the entire sector. Asset ownership among life insurance companies was more broadly distributed, with the top two life insurance companies, TIAA Family Group and New York Life, owning 14 percent of assets owned by companies in that sector.

Methodology

This research is based on quantitative analysis of U.S. insurance sector investments in fossil fuel and green bonds and the ways that insurers' approaches to fossil fuel exposure in investments and underwriting has evolved over the past five years. It was undertaken using data captured in a California Department of Insurance (CDI) database of US insurance companies operating in California , which covers the most recent years of data available (2018/19) and was released in 2022. As insurers reporting to the CDI database comprise 77% of all insurers operating in the US, the dataset is broadly representative of the overall US insurance sector. Please refer to the full report for further methodology detail.

About ERM

About Ceres

About Persefoni

Media Contact: Diane May , [email protected]

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SOURCE Ceres
Health care executive brings more than 30 years of clinical, business, and operational expertise to company

ATLANTA , Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nyra Medical, an innovative medical device company developing a next generation transcatheter mitral valve repair technology, announced the appointment of Lori Chmura as Chief Executive Officer and Board Director. Lori succeeds Dr Murali Padala , who founded the company and will assume the role of Chief Scientific Officer.

Nyra Medical, an innovative medical device company , announced the appointment of Lori Chmura as Chief Executive Officer

"Lori's track record of success in leading disruptive technologies to the market positions Nyra Medical well as we advance the Nyra technology into clinical stage," commented Amrinder Singh , Board Director and Principal at Vensana Capital. "Her industry and strategic expertise, paired with her tenacity make her the ideal candidate to lead Nyra Medical. We also acknowledge and thank Dr. Padala who built the foundation for a transformative treatment for patients with mitral regurgitation and look forward to his continued leadership at the company."

Ms. Chmura brings more than 30 years of business leadership experience within several leading medical device companies, including Medtronic, Covidien and Johnson and Johnson, with extensive experience in leading and growing medical device businesses in the United States and globally.

Most recently she served as President and Chief Executive Officer at Soundbite Medical Solutions, a privately held medical device company in Montreal , Canada. Lori provided strategic leadership to transform the business resulting in FDA clearance of its revolutionary device for the treatment of calcific occlusive cardiovascular disease using shock wave energy.

Prior to Soundbite, Ms. Chmura led Dune Medical Devices as the Chief Executive Officer, and member of the Board of Directors, exiting with a sale of the company's business in April 2020 .

Recognized by the Southeast Medical Device Association as its "Woman of the Year" in 2017, Lori's proven leadership, with a successful track record in transforming and growing global medical device businesses, has enhanced shareholder value among both large cap public companies as well as privately held, venture supported organizations.

"I am honored and excited to join the talented team at Nyra Medical as CEO at this pivotal moment in its journey toward developing the most innovative transcatheter solution to mitral valve regurgitation," said Chmura. With the recent funding round as well as compelling pre-clinical data, the CARLEN device is designed to safely and effectively correct mitral regurgitation across different valve anatomies, preserving the full range of other transcatheter and surgical treatments as future options. I also look forward to collaborating with Dr Padala , in his role as Founder and Chief Scientific Officer, as we build a world class leadership team poised to advance the company's mission of serving the multitude of patients suffering with MR each year."

In addition to her role at Nyra Medical, Lori currently serves on the Board of Directors, as a member of the audit committee, of OpSens Inc., a medical device cardiology-focused company delivering diagnostic and treatment solutions based on its proprietary optical technology.

Lori expects her MBA from Duke University Spring 2024 and received her BSN in Nursing from Southern Connecticut State University.

About Nyra Medical

Nyra Medical is a medical device company with the motto "simplifying transcatheter repair of heart valvesone valve at a time", developing the CARLEN technology, a transcatheter technology for the treatment of mitral regurgitation. CARLEN preserves the physiological valve geometry while restoring its function, eliminates the risk of stenosis, and offers the benefit of preserving a full range of transcatheter and surgical treatments as future options. Learn more at www.nyramed.com

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SOURCE Nyra Medical, Inc
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. Azerbaijan's Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsperson) Sabina Aliyeva has condemned the statement of the UN rapporteurs regarding the Lachin Road, Trend reports.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which is one of the main documents declaring human rights and freedoms, contains the principles of ensuring equality for all people and prohibits discrimination regardless of race, gender, language, religion, origin, or political beliefs.

"We believe that this document should become a fundamental source for the UN member states as well as institutions that are part of the UN system of mechanisms for the protection of human rights," Aliyeva said.

"I urge the speakers and independent experts of the UN Human Rights Council to carry out their activities in accordance with the principles established by the UN, not to allow double standards, refrain from statements that hinder the peace-building process in the region and create conditions for aggravation of the situation, take effective measures against Armenia, which constantly creates provocations in the region, and support the efforts of Azerbaijan to ensure peace and security," she said.

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 of November 10, 2020), and as an adequate response to the unilateral establishment of a border checkpoint by Armenia on the border with Azerbaijan on April 22, 2023, at the entrance to the Lachin-Khankendi road contrary to the trilateral statement of November 10, 2020, on April 23 this year, 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.
Scholars will practice in underserved or rural communities statewide, helping to close gaps in access to quality care

ATLANTA , Aug. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Last week, leaders from Peach State Health Plan, a care management organization that serves the needs of Georgians through a range of health insurance solutions and wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation, and the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, announced the 2023 "Peach State Scholars." The nine medical students were announced during an official pinning ceremony held at Augusta University. The students are the third class of Peach State Scholars participating in the Medical College of Georgia's 3+ Primary Care Pathway Program, a program established in 2021 that focuses on alleviating Georgia's physician shortage.

According to the 2022 Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce Report, nine counties in Georgia have no physicians, 18 counties have no family medicine physicians, 40 counties have no internists, 65 counties have no pediatricians, 82 counties have no OB/GYNs, 80 counties have no general surgeons, 90 counties have no psychiatrists, and 73 counties have no emergency medicine physicians. These ongoing shortages have resulted in serious gaps in access to quality health care in many areas of rural and underserved Georgia.

The MCG3+ Primary Care Pathway Program allows students to finish their medical school training in three, rather than four years, before directly entering a primary care residency in Georgia . In exchange for their commitment to serve in a rural or underserved area of the state, these students will receive a scholarship for tuition.

"Our partnership with Peach State Health Plan has been critical to getting the MCG3+ Primary Care Pathway Program off the ground to address Georgia's doctor shortages," said Augusta University President Brooks A. Keel , PhD. " Georgia is losing doctors in many of its underserved areas for a variety of reasons, including retirement of aging doctors and the desire of young doctors to open practices in more populated areas. These Peach State Scholars will help address these shortages for years to come."

"We have been proud to support the MCG3+ Primary Care Pathway program since its inception and are excited to see it expand into its third year with the 2023 Peach State Scholars," said Peach State Health Plan CEO, Wade Rakes . "These medical students will soon be on the front line of medical care in Georgia's underserved communities. As this innovative program continues, together, we'll help develop more doctors and create more sustainable access to quality medical care in rural communities across Georgia ."

The scholarship fund and ongoing support for the MCG3+ Primary Care Pathway Program were made possible by a $5.2 million donation from Peach State Health Plan in 2021. In 2021, Governor Brian Kemp and the Georgia General Assembly matched Peach State Health Plan's initial $5.2 million in funding help to kickstart the program. In 2022, Governor Kemp and the Georgia General Assembly added an additional $8.7 million to the program, which was matched by the Medical College of Georgia Foundation.

The 2023 Peach State Scholars, their hometowns and intended specialty are as follows:

Jordan Bothwell of Roswell, GA , Emergency Medicine

of , Emergency Medicine Madison Chimenti of Canton, GA , Emergency Medicine

of , Emergency Medicine Christopher "Chris" Dick of Dunwoody, GA , Internal Medicine

, Internal Medicine Samantha Feinstein of Hartsfield, GA , Pediatrics

of , Pediatrics Jessica McElrath of Woodstock, GA , Pediatrics

of , Pediatrics Brianna "Taylor" Nicholson of Suwanee, GA , Psychiatry

of , Psychiatry Caleb Padgett of Langley, SC , Internal Medicine

of , Internal Medicine Blayne Thomason of Dalton, GA , OB/GYN

of , OB/GYN Peter-Jon Williams of Douglasville, GA , Internal Medicine

About Medical College of Georgia

The Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University is one of the nation's largest medical schools by class size, with 264 students per class. The educational experience is anchored by the main campus in Augusta, regional clinical campuses for third- and fourth-year students across the state and a second four-year campus in Athens in partnership with the University of Georgia. MCG's expanding partnerships with physicians and hospitals across Georgia currently provides about 350 sites where students can experience the full spectrum of medicine, from complex care hospitals to small-town solo practices. MCG and its teaching hospitals also provide postgraduate education to more than 500 residents and fellows in more than 50 different Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-approved programs.

About Peach State Health Plan

Peach State Health Plan is a Care Management Organization that serves the needs of Georgians through a range of health insurance solutions. Peach State Health Plan serves the Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids population in partnership with Georgia Families. The organization also focuses on under-insured and uninsured individuals through its federal insurance marketplace plan, Ambetter, and its Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plan. Peach State Health Plan is a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation. For more information visit www.pshp.com.

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SOURCE Peach State Health Plan
Organization adds new leaders to accelerate growth among high-priority markets

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. , Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Premise Health, the largest direct health care provider and one of the largest digital providers in the country, announced the addition of two key executives to its already-tenured leadership team. Ben Miller joined the organization as the company's chief revenue officer (CRO), and Derek Brochu has been named executive vice president of growth and development.

Premise Health announced the addition of a chief revenue officer and EVP of growth.

Miller joins Premise with more than 20 years of health care sales experience. In his role as CRO, he is responsible for business development for new logo growth, sales strategies, and sales operations and CRM functions. Miller most recently served as vice president of marketing, sales, and business development for Kaiser Permanente Foundation Health Plan of Colorado , and his career includes more than 15 years in sales leadership positions at Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Brochu, who worked with Premise extensively during his time at OMERS Private Equity, will oversee enterprise strategy, enterprise product, strategic customer advisory, strategic partnerships, and corporate development in his role as EVP of growth and development. As a director at OMERS, Brochu served in a strategic role in the organization's acquisition of Premise in 2018. In addition, he played a large role in executing and managing private equity investments across North America .

"There is more opportunity than ever before in our industry, as large organizations come to terms with unsustainable healthcare cost increases for the foreseeable future, and Ben and Derek are uniquely qualified to lead these efforts," said Stu Clark , Chief Executive Officer, Premise Health. "Their combined extensive experience, familiarity with Premise, and deep understanding of our growth potential will help Premise maintain its position as a market leader. And, very importantly, they embrace our values and fit perfectly with our culture at Premise."

Miller received his degree from the University of Cincinnati and attended the Harvard University's Executive Leadership Program. He is the current president and board chair for the Denver chapter of the American Heart Association and serves as board member for the Jefferson County School Board Foundation and Denver Chamber of Commerce's Economic Development Council. Brochu studied business administration at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario . He serves as a board member for Gastro Health and CBI Health.

About Premise Health

Premise Health is the leading direct health care provider and one of the largest digital providers in the country, serving over 11 million eligible lives across hundreds of the largest commercial and municipal employers in the U.S. Premise partners with its clients to offer fully connected care  in-person and in the digital environment. It operates more than 800 onsite and nearsite wellness centers in 45 states and Guam , delivering care through the Digital Wellness Center and onsite, nearsite, mobile, and event solutions.

Premise delivers value by simplifying complexity and breaking down barriers to give diverse member populations access to convenient, integrated, high-quality care. It offers more than 30 products, delivering the breadth and depth of care required to serve organizations' total populations. The result is health care that meets the needs of members and their families, helping them live healthier while lowering costs for organizations. For more information on Premise Health, visit www.premisehealth.com.

Media Contact:

Valerie Somerville

(615) 727-4104

[email protected]

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SOURCE Premise Health
Scientists Say Extreme Temperatures Are Killing Five Million People a Year and Climate Change is Speeding Toward Catastrophe.

The Full Interview Will Air on The Weather Channel Television Network Starting Wednesday, August 9th at 6:00 a.m. EDT

LOS ANGELES , Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Byron Allen's Allen Media Group proudly announces that today, in an historic interview, President Biden , sat down exclusively with The Weather Channel to discuss climate change and climate policy.

President Biden has said that climate change is the "number one issue facing humanity" and that combatting climate change is a core tenet of his presidency. As Americans face increasingly extreme weather events, The Weather Channel is aggressively leading the climate discussion to effectuate positive change.

"Climate change and global warming are the greatest threats to human beings on planet Earth and that is why this interview is so important," said Byron Allen , Founder/Chairman/CEO of Allen Media Group, the parent company of The Weather Channel. "Understanding the effects of climate change and the actions necessary to combat it can help save lives. Saving lives and protecting property is the core mission of The Weather Channel. We are proud to be leading the climate conversation with the president of the United States and other world leaders."

The Weather Channel will air the full interview on Wednesday, August 9th during its flagship morning show, AMERICA'S MORNING HEADQUARTERS at 6:00 a.m. EDT . Subsequent airings will take place throughout the day on The Weather Channel and via The Weather Channel Streaming TV App.

ABOUT ALLEN MEDIA GROUP

Chairman and CEO Byron Allen founded Allen Media Group in 1993. Headquartered in Los Angeles , it has offices in New York , Chicago , Atlanta , and Charleston, SC . Allen Media Group owns 27 ABC-NBC-CBS-FOX network affiliate broadcast television stations in 21 U.S. markets and twelve 24-hour HD television networks serving nearly 220 million subscribers: THE WEATHER CHANNEL, THE WEATHER CHANNEL EN ESPANOL, PETS.TV, COMEDY.TV, RECIPE.TV, CARS.TV, ES.TV, MYDESTINATION.TV, JUSTICE CENTRAL.TV, THEGRIO TELEVISION NETWORK, THIS TV, and PATTRN. Allen Media Group also owns the streaming platforms HBCU GO, THE GRIO STREAMING APP, SPORTS.TV, THE WEATHER CHANNEL STREAMING APP, and LOCAL NOW--the free-streaming AVOD service powered by THE WEATHER CHANNEL and content partners, which delivers real-time, hyper-local news, weather, traffic, sports, and lifestyle information. Allen Media Group also produces, distributes, and sells advertising for 73 television programs, making it one of the largest independent producers/distributors of first-run syndicated television programming for broadcast television stations. With a library of over 5,000 hours of owned content across multiple genres, Allen Media Group provides video content to broadcast television stations, cable television networks, mobile devices, and multimedia digital. Our mission is to provide excellent programming to our viewers, online users, and Fortune 500 advertising partners. For more information visit: www.allenmedia.tv

ABOUT THE WEATHER CHANNEL TELEVISION NETWORK

Since its launch 40 years ago, The Weather Channel television network has become the top-rated and most widely distributed weather network in America. The Weather Channel television network has been the leader in severe weather coverage, providing the most comprehensive analysis of any media outlet and serving as the nation's only 24-hour source of national storm coverage. With trusted meteorologists who analyze, forecast, and report the weather, its expertise is unrivaled. In 2021 and 2019, The Weather Channel won Emmy Awards for its innovative Immersive Mixed Reality technology which is changing the standard in weather presentation. The Weather Channel CTV App is available on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Roku, Samsung, Vizio, and Xfinity Flex. For more information visit: www.weathergroup.com

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SOURCE Allen Media Group
PHOENIX , Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Rise48 Group and their philanthropic organization, Rise up Give Back, hosted their second annual "Rise Supplies" events last week in Phoenix and Dallas where they donated thousands of backpacks and school supplies.

These back-to-school events were hosted at all 33 of Rise48 Equity's apartment communities. With the help of corporate staff, each of the on-site property management teams hosted an event for their residents to pick up free back-to-school essentials, including backpacks, folders, notebooks, pencils, crayons, rulers, glue sticks, erasers, and more!

Each community celebrated the new school year with coloring stations, photo booths, ice cream socials, snow cone trucks, and other fun treats. The Rise48 teams also coordinated sticker stations and iron-on patch stations for kids to decorate their backpacks and school supplies with their own personal touch!

Rise48 Equity aims to improve living standards for all of their residents. Rise Supplies was created to ease the financial burden that parents often feel when buying school supplies for their children. The Rise48 Group was the primary donor of the events with a special thank you to the sponsors of this year's Rise Supplies events: Cox Communications, Apartments.com, RealPage, and Zillow Rentals.

Rise48 Equity CEO and Co-Founder, Zach Haptonstall , said "This is one of the really fun parts of the business, just being able to interact directly with the residents and their kids. I know it always sounds cliche for companies to say they like to give back to the community or donate to a charity, but with the Rise Supplies event we can truly see the impact firsthand that it makes. Some of us may take something simple like school supplies for granted, but for many of our residents this truly saves them a lot of money and is a big relief for them financially and emotionally. It's cool to see their reactions and gratitude for something that may seem simple. Year 2 was a success and we'll plan to continue this going forward across the portfolio."

About Rise48 Equity:

Since 2019, Rise48 Equity has completed over $1.99 Billion+ in total transactions and purchased 44 assets totaling 7,900+ units. They currently have $1.55 Billion+ of Assets Under Management in Phoenix, AZ and Dallas, TX. They have completed 11 Full-Cycle Dispositions and returned capital to investors. The company has 240+ full-time W2 employees on full healthcare benefits.

Rise48 Equity provides multifamily investment opportunities for accredited investors to protect and grow their wealth and achieve passive cash-flow. The team brings expertise to acquire, reposition and return capital to investors upon reaching the business plan.

Rise48 Communities is the vertically-integrated property management company that manages all assets owned by Rise48 Equity. The company does all of the construction management, property management, and asset management in-house.

For more information about Rise48 Equity, visit their website: rise48equity.com

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SOURCE Rise48 Equity
Visitors Get Free Music Lessons All Day

SAN ANTONIO , Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sage Music , an award winning music school that transforms students into musicians, will host their first annual Back To School Open House at Sage Music, 209 W. Poplar St. , San Antonio , T.X. 78212 on August 19, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Visitors will have the opportunity to tour the landmark facility, meet the staff, and take music lessons on any instrument.

This event is free and open to the public. Music lessons are offered on a first come, first served basis. Register here to guarantee admission. Students can choose from guitar, piano, voice, violin, cello, flute, clarinet, saxophone, drums, ukulele, trumpet, and more.

"When children choose their own musical instrument, they are much more committed to learning it", said Jason Sagebiel , Sage Music founder. "We are proud to offer this no cost opportunity for students to try any instrument. Parents will be happy with the increased commitment to learning."

About Sage Music

Sage Music is not your ordinary music school. With a goal of transforming students into musicians, the school's unique curriculum and Arpeggio music lesson system are derived from the science and psychology of learning, holistic approaches to well-being, and community.

ARPEGGIO was developed by Sagebiel after his experience of re-learning music after he suffered a brain injury in the Iraq War, where he served as a U.S. Marine. ARPEGGIO guarantees the best musical training and customer service is given for every lesson taught.

Sage Music offers music lessons on all instruments to students of all ages. Founded in New York, New York , Sage Music is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas . For more information, visit our website at www.sagemusic.co .

Mr. Sagebiel has been featured and made numerous media appearances including Houston Chronicle, New York Magazine, Washington Times, Fora.tv, WPAT 930AM Radio, WNYC's Soundcheck, KUHA's The Front Row , WQXR's New Sounds, NY1 News and many others! He has given 30+ world premiere performances, including works by Grammy and Emmy winning artists, and conducted at Carnegie Hall. He is the subject of two books: Martin Daughtry's Listening to War, and Jon Pieslak's SoundTargets.

Media Contact:

Mr. Jason Sagebiel , Sage Music

209 W. Poplar St. , San Antonio, TX 78212

(210) 664-1100

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SAN DIEGO , Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BetterNight, a leading provider of sleep health solutions, is proud to announce that Dr. Marc Benton has joined the company as a Staff Doctor. With over 35 years of experience in sleep medicine, Dr. Benton is recognized as a thought leader in the field and brings a wealth of expertise to BetterNight.

Dr. Marc Benton is an esteemed medical professional recognized as a Top Doctor by New Jersey Magazine and Castle-Connolly every year since 2001. He is a distinguished fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians, having previously served on their national Practice Management Committee and delivered lectures at their annual international meetings. Dr. Benton is also a fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and a member of the American Thoracic Society. He has taught as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Department of Medicine at The Mount Sinai School of Medicine, where he previously lectured to second-year students on Sleep Medicine. He will provide clinical leadership and guidance, drawing on his extensive experience in diagnosing and treating sleep disorders.

As a Staff Doctor with BetterNight, Dr. Benton will play a key role in expanding BetterNight's footprint in New Jersey , "I am excited to join BetterNight and help them make a positive impact on the sleep health of New Jersey residents," said Dr. Benton . "BetterNight's innovative approach to sleep solutions aligns with my passion for delivering high-quality care accessible to everyone. I look forward to working with the team to help grow the company's presence in the state." Dr. Benton was previously the medical director of the SleepWell Center at Madison , which has since become part of Summit Health. Under his leadership, he assembled a highly experienced team of medical professionals dedicated to providing state-of-the-art care for sleep disorders while offering top-notch customer service.

"We are thrilled to have Dr. Benton join our team as a Staff Doctor," said David French , CEO of BetterNight. "His deep expertise in sleep medicine and his strong reputation in New Jersey make him the perfect addition to our clinical team. We are confident that he will help us provide the highest quality care to our patients."

About BetterNight

BetterNight is the nation's leading comprehensive virtual-care sleep apnea solution. Results include lower unit costs, superior adherence, improved patient satisfaction, and higher health outcomes. BetterNight's mission is to positively impact the lives of people living with sleep disorders by simplifying the complex process from diagnosis to treatment.

For more information on the BetterNight and Dr. Benton partnership, visit betternight.com/benton.

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SOURCE BetterNight
NEW YORK , Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sotheby's International Realty today announced the opening of Turkiye Sotheby's International Realty. The addition marks the brand's continued growth in the Middle East and its 230th office in the EMEIA region.

Turkiye Sotheby's International Realty is owned by the Alfardan Group and will be led by Country Manager, Can Turkan, who has practiced real estate and led luxury real estate projects in the United Arab Emirates and Turkey for more than a decade. The company will serve the cities of Istanbul , Bodrum, and Antalya, and will be headquartered in the Six Senses Kocatas Mansions in Istanbul .

"The luxury residential real estate market in Turkey is experiencing significant growth and attracting both domestic and international buyers," said Philip White , president and CEO, Sotheby's International Realty. "The country offers a unique lifestyle, rich culture, and favorable climate, and its strategic location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia adds to its appeal. We're seeing interest from expatriates and high-net-worth individuals, and growing interest from tech entrepreneurs and investors due to the region's startup ecosystem. Can and his team have a strong understanding of the market and we are proud to have them represent the brand in Turkey ."

" Turkey's real estate market has become appealing for a variety of countries," said Turkan. "While domestic buyers remain prominent, international buyers, particularly from countries such as China , Russia , the Middle East , and European nations are increasing. At Turkiye Sotheby's International Realty, we understand that buying or selling a luxury property is a significant endeavor and our affiliation with Sotheby's International Realty allows us to market listings on a global scale and become the premier choice for luxury real estate services in the region."

The company has plans for continued growth with several real estate associates and two office locations in Istanbul  a sales lounge in Istinye Park and company headquarters at Six Senses Kocatas Mansions.

The Sotheby's International Realty network currently has more than 26,500 affiliated independent sales associates located in more than 1,100 offices in 81 countries and territories worldwide. Turkiye Sotheby's International Realty listings are marketed on the sothebysrealty.com global website. In addition to the referral opportunities and widened exposure generated from this source, the firm's brokers and clients will benefit from an association with Sotheby's auction house and worldwide Sotheby's International Realty marketing programs. Each office is independently owned and operated.

Sotheby's International Realty

Sotheby's International Realty was founded in 1976 as a real estate service for discerning clients of Sotheby's auction house. Today, the company's global footprint spans more than 1,100 offices located in 81 countries and territories worldwide, including 49 company-owned brokerage offices in key metropolitan and resort markets. In February 2004 , Anywhere Real Estate Inc. entered a long-term strategic alliance with Sotheby's, the operator of the auction house. The agreement provided for the licensing of the Sotheby's International Realty name and the development of a franchise system. The franchise system is comprised of an affiliate network, where each office is independently owned and operated. Sotheby's International Realty supports its affiliates and agents with a host of operational, marketing, recruiting, educational and business development resources. Affiliates and agents also benefit from an association with the venerable Sotheby's auction house, established in 1744. For more information, visit www.sothebysrealty.com.

The affiliate network is operated by Sotheby's International Realty Affiliates LLC, and the company owned brokerages are operated by Sotheby's International Realty, Inc. Both entities are subsidiaries of Anywhere Real Estate Inc. (NYSE: HOUS) a global leader in real estate franchising and provider of real estate brokerage, relocation and settlement services. Both Sotheby's International Realty Affiliates LLC and Sotheby's International Realty, Inc. fully support the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act.

CONTACT

Melissa Couch

Senior Manager, Public Relations & Communications

Sotheby's International Realty

973-407-6142

[email protected]

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SOURCE Sotheby's International Realty
Pre-clinical data strongly supports progression of a METTL3 inhibitor in an immuno-oncology setting

STC-15 is the first molecule specifically targeting METTL3 to enter clinical development

CAMBRIDGE, England , Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- STORM Therapeutics Ltd. (STORM), a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing novel small molecule therapies targeting RNA modifying enzymes (RMEs) for oncology and other diseases, is pleased to announce that it has published a scientific manuscript in the internationally recognised scientific journal Cancer Discovery.

The paper, entitled 'Inhibition of METTL3 results in a cell-intrinsic interferon response that enhances anti-tumour immunity', has been published in collaboration with Professor Mark Dawson's laboratory at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne, Australia , and reveals recent findings that demonstrate the therapeutic potential of drugs targeting METTL3 as immuno-oncology agents. Using pre-clinical cancer models, the study shows that pharmacological inhibition of METTL3 induces double-stranded RNA formation and a profound cell-intrinsic interferon response that potentiates T-cell killing of cancer cells. Whilst METTL3 inhibitors are equally efficacious to anti-PD1 therapy in pre-clinical models, the combination of the two agents has far greater activity, leading to tumour regression and durable anti-cancer immunity. A detailed investigation of the mechanism of action of the two treatments revealed that they act orthogonally and provides a strong rationale for their combination.

Oliver Rausch , Chief Scientific Officer of STORM Therapeutics and joint senior author of the study, said, "We are pleased to share this new data with the scientific community. Our study identifies a novel therapeutic mechanism triggered by METTL3 inhibition that opens a significant opportunity for METTL3 inhibitors in immuno-oncology. This work follows on from our previous work published in 2021 in Nature, demonstrating the efficacy of METTL3 inhibition in acute myeloid leukemia models, and illustrates the broad potential of this new class of drugs in oncology."

Dr. med. Josefin-Beate Holz , Chief Medical Officer of STORM Therapeutics, commented, "This exciting new data strengthens our hypothesis for the clinical development of STC-15 as a novel anticancer therapeutic in monotherapy and in combination with standard of care, including checkpoint inhibitors. We are looking forward to exploring these concepts following the conclusion of the current Phase 1 multiple ascending dose study with STC-15 in patients with relapsed solid tumours."

Jerry McMahon , Chief Executive Officer and President of STORM Therapeutics, added, "STORM is the first company devoted to pursuing RNA-modifying enzymes as drug targets, and our new study highlights the opportunities for new therapeutics targeting RNA modifications. We are encouraged by the progress of our ongoing Phase 1 trial of STC-15 in solid tumours and look forward to exploring its utility as an immuno-oncology drug in specific tumour types."

Citation:

Inhibition of METTL3 results in a cell-intrinsic interferon response that enhances anti-tumour immunity. Andrew A Guirguis, Yaara Ofir-Rosenfeld et al, 2023, Cancer Discovery (advanced online publication) https://aacrjournals.org/cancerdiscovery/article/doi/10.1158/2159-8290.CD-23-0007

NOTES TO EDITORS

About STORM Therapeutics

STORM Therapeutics (STORM) is a clinical stage biotechnology company creating novel therapies that inhibit RNA modifying enzymes (RME) for use in oncology and other diseases. There are more than 150 RNA modifications reported and approximately 300 RNA modifying enzymes which represent novel therapeutic targets.

STORM has leveraged its first-mover advantage to establish a novel drug discovery and RNA analytics platform leading to the identification of novel targets and a proprietary pipeline of first-in-class small-molecule drug candidates for potential use in oncology, inflammation, viral infection and CNS diseases.

The pipeline is exemplified by STORM's METTL3 inhibitor, STC-15, which has received IND approval and commenced its Phase 1 clinical study in cancer patients in November 2022 . STC-15 represents the first ever RNA modifying enzyme inhibitor to enter clinical evaluation in humans. Additional programs are planned for advancement into IND-track activities.

Fierce Biotech named STORM as one of its 2022 "Fierce 15", designating it as one of the most innovative, exciting biotechnology companies in the industry, pioneering novel drug targets.

STORM investors include M Ventures, Pfizer Ventures, Taiho Ventures LLC, Seroba Life Sciences, Cambridge Innovation Capital I Limited, IP Group plc, UTokyo Innovation Platform Co., Ltd. (UTokyo IPC) and the Fast Track Initiative (FTI).

For more information, please visit www.stormtherapeutics.com

About STC-15

STORM's lead clinical program STC-15 is a first-in-class inhibitor of RNA modification and is the first ever RNA methyltransferase inhibitor to enter clinical development. STC-15 is an oral small molecule that inhibits METTL3, an RNA methyltransferase implicated in oncology and other diseases. Certain RNA methyltransferases are important regulators of RNA sensing and innate immune activation and represent novel immune-regulatory targets.

STC-15 has also been shown preclinically to inhibit tumour growth through mechanisms involving anti-cancer immune responses, such as changes in interferon signalling and synergy with T cell checkpoint blockade.

STORM commenced the dosing of the first patient in a Phase 1 clinical study of STC-15 in patients living with solid tumours in November 2022 and anticipates presenting first results from its study in 2024. Details of the study can be found on clinicaltrials.gov under the identifier NCT05584111.

About Peter Mac

Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre is a world-leading cancer research, education and treatment centre and Australia's only public health service solely dedicated to caring for people affected by cancer.

About Cancer Discovery

Cancer Discovery publishes high-impact, peer-reviewed articles describing major advances in research and clinical trials. As the premier cancer information resource, the Journal also presents Review Articles, Perspectives and Commentaries, News stories, and Research Watch summaries of important journal articles to its readers to keep them informed about the latest findings in the field. Topics span the spectrum of cancer research and medicine from the laboratory to the clinic and epidemiologic studies.

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SOURCE STORM Therapeutics
The Literacy-Focused Collaboration Puts Wholesome Snacking and Learning Hand-in-Hand for Kids with Interactive Reading Resources and Access to More than 50,000 Books

FRESNO, Calif. , Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- After a summer of fun and play, kids everywhere are preparing to head back to school. To mark the beginning of the new school year, Sun-Maid Growers of California , maker of innovative snacks that feed imagination one little red box at a time, has announced a new collaboration with ABCmouse, the leading and most comprehensive digital learning program for children ages 2  8, and Little Free Library to expand access to literacy resources and bring bite-sized learning to every pack of its classic Sun-Maid Raisin boxes.

The multi-faceted literacy campaign presented by Sun-Maid, ABCmouse and Little Free Library will provide widespread access to at-home reading activities and books that inspire young readers, all while promoting better-for-you eating habits. As of August 7 , the iconic and beloved red Sun-Maid box will feature exclusive, limited-edition ABCmouse flash cards with a sight word lesson on every carton. In addition, each pack of six boxes will feature a custom link to an interactive and engaging microsite hosted by ABCmouse that includes a variety of imaginative and engaging activities, ranging from a full collection of sight word flash cards to worksheets and coloring pages.

The announcement comes alongside recent data that revealed that only 35 percent of students are reading proficiently by grade 4, and National Assessment of Educational Progress reading scores are the lowest they have been in decades. With these challenges in mind, Sun-Maid will expand its literacy efforts even further by teaming up with Little Free Library, a nonprofit with a mission to build community, inspire readers and expand book access. Through the partnership, Sun-Maid will sponsor the creation and installation of 100 Little Free Library book-sharing boxes throughout the U.S.

"Sun-Maid has long been known as parents' partner in better-for-you snacking, making sure kids have access to the snacks they need to succeed in the classroom as well as in imagination and play," said Steve Loftus , Sun-Maid President and Chief Operating Officer. "With less time in the classroom and reduced access to libraries for many, the last number of years have been challenging for many families. ABCmouse and Little Free Library are two of the finest education and literacy resources available, and we're proud to team up to inspire a love of reading and help feed hungry minds this back-to-school season."

Reading lovers around the country can get involved by voting to have a Little Free Library installed in their area via an online voting portal on the Sun-Maid website. With a global network and a mission of "Take a Book. Share a Book," the Sun-Maid sponsored Little Free Library book-sharing boxes will feature ABCmouse books and expand book access to thousands.

"Practicing sight words helps build more confident and fluent readers, and in teaming up with Sun-Maid we're taking the idea of wholesome snacking and learning and making it accessible to millions of families in bite-sized moments," said Christine Woertink , Senior Vice President of Consumer Product, Age of Learning, creator of ABCmouse.

As a whole, Sun-Maid's back to school efforts will have significant reach, including:

An anticipated 22 million cartons of raisins (bundled in packs of six), with access to the Sun-Maid x ABCmouse educational materials available, including ABCmouse 120 sight word flash cards and a link to a dedicated microsite.

Sponsorship of 100 Little Free Libraries , bringing access to books to some of the biggest literacy deserts in the country, including ABCmouse donated books within each of the libraries.

, bringing access to books to some of the biggest literacy deserts in the country, including ABCmouse donated books within each of the libraries. Access for young readers to an estimated 57,200 books shared through the Sun-Maid Little Free Libraries in the first year alone and an estimated 52,000 visitors to the Sun-Maid Little Free Libraries each year.

The Sun-Maid x ABCmouse packaging is available at retailers nationwide. For more information, please visit www.sunmaid.com

About Sun-Maid Growers of California

Founded in 1912, Sun-Maid Growers of California is a farmers' cooperative of hundreds of grower families with vineyards in California's Central Valley . From childhood to adulthood and generation to generation, Sun-Maid's innovative snacks continue to feed imaginations one little red box at a time--because when imagination is used for good, there's nothing more delicious! And while some things change, our real, minimally processed and consistently good ingredients haven't. Always starting with a whole fruit you can see and taste, Sun-Maid continues to offer a trusted go-to snack that's simple, wholesome and versatile--imagine that! For more information about Sun-Maid visit www.sunmaid.com and follow the brand on social media including TikTok, Instagram and Twitter.

About Age of Learning

Age of Learning is the leading education technology innovator, creating engaging and effective learning resources to help children build a strong foundation for academic success and a lifelong love of learning. The company's research-based digital education programs have been developed by an experienced team of education experts and have proven efficacy in increasing children's learning gains. Age of Learning's flagship product, ABCmouse.com Early Learning Academy, is an award-winning comprehensive curriculum for children. The company's school solutions programs include My Math Academy, an adaptive, personalized program proven to significantly accelerate math learning outcomes, and My Reading Academy, an adaptive program designed to help young learners build a foundation for reading comprehension and literacy and become fluent readers. With over 10 billion learning activities completed by more than 50 million children worldwide, Age of Learning is a global leader in efforts to advance equity, access, and opportunity for all children. To learn more about Age of Learning, visit www.AgeofLearning.com.

About Little Free Library

Little Free Library (LFL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that builds community, inspires readers and expands book access for all through a global network of volunteer-led Little Free Library book-sharing boxes. There are more than 160,000 registered Little Free Libraries worldwide in all 50 states, 120 countries and seven continents. Through them, over 300 million books have been shared since 2009. LFL received the 2020 World Literacy Award as well as honors from the Library of Congress, National Book Foundation and others. The organization grants Little Free Libraries full of books to underserved areas through its Impact Library and Indigenous Library Programs and champions diverse books through its Read in Color initiative. To learn more, visit LittleFreeLibrary.org.

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SOURCE Sun-Maid
DALLAS , Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Vari hit a milestone in its mission to make a positive impact on its communities  the donation of $8 million worth of furniture to U.S. nonprofit organizations.

Today, Vari celebrates a milestone  the donation of $8 million worth of furniture to nonprofits since 2018.

On average, office furniture and other overhead expenses typically account for 20%-35% of a nonprofit's total budget. Reducing that cost means more funds can go to furthering their missions. For Make-a-Wish, for example, Vari's product donation helped fulfill an additional 48 wishes.

"Giving back has been in our company DNA from day one," said Jason McCann , CEO and co-founder of workspace innovation company Vari. "Sometimes products would be returned in new condition, and we knew there had to be a better way  a solution to leverage this resource and create change. In 2018, we officially created the Vari Community Giving program as a way to not only support the communities around us but to reduce our environmental footprint." Watch video here.

The 10-year-old company has donated furniture to nonprofits including the American Heart Association, Boys and Girls Club, Feeding America, Make-A-Wish, and United Way. View photos here.

"We were fully prepared to operate on a startup budget, salvaging previously used office and classroom furniture," said Aventura Community School founder, Natalie Morosi , Ed.D. "Instead, our staff has new flexible working areas and students have classrooms that encourage collaboration."

Elevating Communities

In the largest donation to date, Vari provided more than half a million dollars' worth of furniture and design services to Metrocrest Services, which is building a new facility in response to a growing community need. The nonprofit specializes in helping individuals, families, and seniors navigate through crisis situations and work to stabilize their lives for a brighter future.

"Metrocrest Services benefits not only in terms of receiving this generous donation, but most importantly, from the expertise Vari has offered to us," said Metrocrest CEO Tracy Eubanks .

Over the years, Vari Community Giving donations have benefited nonprofits including The DEC at Redbird, the J.J. Barrea Foundation, Mesa Arts Academy, North Texas Food Bank, and St. Luke's Community House. Boys Town received $470,000 worth of furniture to support its facilities.

"With this generous donation, our new, state-of-the-art education center will be a comfortable and efficient learning environment for every child," said Rod Kempkes , CEO of Boys Town . "Effective learning spaces support the important work of helping our boys and girls develop into responsible, productive citizens."

Environmental Impact: Reusing and Reducing Waste

According to the EPA, Americans throw out more than 12 million tons of furniture every year. Reusing furniture extends the life cycle of the product. Donations to nonprofits ensure furniture bypasses the landfill, which reduces its environmental impact.

Creating a specific focus on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) improvement has become a vital part of Vari's strategy. The company published its first ESG Report earlier this year. The Vari Community Giving Program plays a key role by giving returned furniture new life.

Since 2018, Vari's award-winning charitable giving program has had a mission to elevate our communities. The Vari Community Giving program's goal is to alleviate operational costs to help nonprofits focus funds where they matter most.

About Vari

A workspace innovation company, Vari helps growing organizations unlock the potential of their space and their people. From a collection of office furniture to workspaces offering space-as-a-service, the company makes it easy for high-growth businesses to scale and flex their office space. Organizations all over the world  including over 98% of the Fortune 500  use Vari products, which are tested and certified to the highest industry standards.

Media Contact:

Katie Satarino

Phone: 512-773-7002

[email protected]

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SOURCE Vari
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. The currently operational Armenian mining plants utilize outdated equipment, violating ecological norms and standards, and heavily harming the environment, a veteran of the Azerbaijani security agencies, Colonel Azer Garayev told Trend.

He stated that Armenia's flagrant disregard for environmental standards undermines the ecological equilibrium of the South Caucasus region.

"Mining plants in Armenia discharge toxic chemical waste into rivers, causing significant damage to water resources and the surrounding environment along the border with Azerbaijan, while also destroying river fauna," Garayev explained.

He noted that Armenia does not maintain the equipment at these factories, and that using obsolete technology worsens the environmental damage.

"Armenia's such activities severely harm the environment of all countries in the region, including Turkiye and Georgia." Unfortunately, international institutions ignore Armenia's flagrant violations of applicable accords. "These organizations consistently use double standards, demonstrating a disregard for international law and fairness," Garayev continued.
The Cohen Clinic at Endeavors, Killeen has provided critical mental health services to more than 2,100 post-9/11 veterans, active duty service members, and military family members

KILLEEN, Texas , Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Endeavors, Killeen marked its five-year anniversary with a celebratory event attended by more than 50 military-focused community leaders, government officials, and local business representatives. Since opening in 2018, the Cohen Clinic at Endeavors, Killeen has delivered mental health care to more than 2,100 clients across Central Texas , nearly half of which have been military family members. The clinic has provided over 25,000 clinical sessions.

"This is a proud moment for our team as we reflect upon the deep impact this clinic has had on improving the lives of veterans, service members and their families throughout Central Texas ," said Kristy Dean , Regional Director for The Cohen Clinics at Endeavors. "As we mark the clinic's five-year anniversary, we remain committed to our clients and our communities, evolving to meet their needs."

The Cohen Clinic at Endeavors, Killeen uses evidence-based practices to treat depression, anxiety, adjustment issues, anger, PTSD, grief and loss, and more. It is part of Cohen Veterans Network (CVN), a national not-for-profit network of 24 mental health clinics serving post-9/11 veterans, active duty service members and their families. In addition to the clinic in Killeen , CVN and Endeavors are also partners in Cohen Clinics in El Paso and San Antonio .

Located near Fort Cavazos, which is home to some 53,000 soldiers and family members, the Cohen Clinic at Endeavors, Killeen serves a significant number of active duty service members and their families. In fact, over the last year, approximately 30% of clients at the clinic in Killeen have been active duty service members and their family members, including children.

"The need for accessible, high-quality mental health services for the military community throughout Texas is great," said Dr. Anthony Hassan , President and Chief Executive Officer of Cohen Veterans Network. "The Cohen Clinic in Killeen has been delivering critical support to our service members, veterans, and their families for five years and we look forward to many more years of saving lives, saving families, and saving futures."

In addition to providing mental health treatment, the Cohen Clinic at Endeavors, Killeen has become a hub for the Bell County military community, hosting timely workshops and events such as relationship management, financial wellness, and Parent Cafe, which provided free childcare to attendees this spring.

"Endeavors, in partnership with Cohen Veterans Network, has made a huge impact in Killeen since opening here five years ago," said Chip Fulghum , President and Chief Operating Officer of Endeavors. "As a Veteran, I feel a great deal of pride to serve with the clinicians and staff who make a difference here. They're helping thousands of Veterans and active duty service members, as well as their family members, change their lives for the better. It's our honor to serve those who serve."

Download high resolution photos or b-roll from the celebration here.

A Cohen Clinic at Endeavors tour video is available here.

About The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinics at Endeavors

The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Endeavors provides in-person and virtual high-quality accessible, and integrated mental health care to post-9/11 veterans regardless of role while in uniform, discharge status, or combat experience; active duty service members (with a TRICARE referral); and military families. There are three Cohen Clinic at Endeavors locations in Texas : Killeen , El Paso and San Antonio . All three clinics are part of Cohen Veterans Network (CVN), a national not-for-profit organization serving Veterans and military families via 24 clinics across the United States. Learn more about the Cohen Clinics at Endeavors here.

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SOURCE Cohen Veterans Network
BERLIN , Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Berlin (GTAI)  Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturer TSMC plans to construct a massive new production facility in the eastern German city of Dresden .

The volume of its Dresden expansion will be at least EUR 10 billion . The new plant for 300-millimeter semiconductors will be located in the heart of the electronics hub often known as "Silicon Saxony." The German government and the EU will reportedly offer major financial support for the project, pending EU approval.

The planned factory will have a monthly capacity of 40,000 wafers. Construction is scheduled to start in the second half of 2024, with the facility to go operational by the end of 2027. Bosch, Infineon and NXP are also participating in the project, with ten percent each.

The plant's products will be aimed primarily at the European and German automotive and industrial sectors, said TSMC. The project follows upon similar expansions by German chipmaker Infineon in Dresden and US giant Intel in Magdeburg, also in eastern Germany .

"With TSMC's investment, a further global player in the semiconductor industry is coming to Germany ," said Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Robert Habeck in a statement. "It shows that Germany is an attractive, competitive location, particularly for key technologies like microelectronics."

Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI), the German government agency for international business promotion, was involved in the initial consultations that led to the TSMC expansion.

"Among the many advantages of Germany as a chipmaking location are its European-leading automotive industry and the availability of clean forms of energy, which will become increasingly important to international companies in the years to come," says GTAI CEO Robert Hermann . "This new expansion is a fantastic contribution to Silicon Saxony and the German economy as a whole. It will surely stimulate further opportunities for international businesses in Europe's largest economy."

Contact:

Jefferson Chase

Senior Manager, Communications

Germany Trade & Invest

Friedrichstrasse 60

10117 Berlin Germany

+49 1796873724

Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) is the German government agency for international business promotion. It helps international companies set up shop in Germany and German companies do business abroad. It also promotes Germany in general as a business location.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tsmc-to-build-multi-billion-euro-chip-factory-in-germany-301895836.html

SOURCE Germany Trade & Invest
BREA, Calif., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Goodwood Festival of Speed witnessed a groundbreaking collaboration among ViewSonic Corp., a leading global provider of visual solutions; RM Technology, a British EdTech company; and SaxaVord, renowned for Europe's first vertical rocket launch. Together, they launched Starflight Academy  an immersive virtual experience to ignite children's passion for space exploration. Held within the festival's Future Lab space, Starflight Academy used ViewSonic's cutting-edge 3D virtual learning platform, UNIVERSE, to connect 750+ students with commercial crew astronaut, Mike Mongo, and showcase the limitless possibilities of space exploration, inspiring young minds to reach for the stars.

From July 13 th to 16th, amidst the grandeur of Goodwood House in West Sussex, England , Starflight Academy welcomed schools from across the United Kingdom to experience four captivating virtual sessions held within UNIVERSE's Space room. The highlight of the event was an interactive session with commercial crew astronaut, Mike Mongo, whose firsthand expertise inspired students. Through live chat and collaboration boards, students could interact with him and listen to his inspirational talk. As Mike expressed, " UNIVERSE is an immersive virtual environment, and we are going to be using it to travel all over the world - and maybe even in space! - in the future ".

During the virtual sessions, onlookers actively engaged in the discussions, posing questions through an additional on-site UNIVERSE account, while witnessing the interesting sessions on the impressive ViewBoard IFP7562 75" large-format interactive display, complete with live captions via myViewBoard . Mike stressed the educational value these experiences deliver, stating: "Engaging solutions like UNIVERSE and ViewBoard play a crucial role in inspiring the next generation of space explorers, providing them with innovative tools and immersive experiences to nurture their passion for understanding the cosmos."

Throughout the event, the 'Design a Rocket' competition sparked creativity among Starflight Academy visitors. The environment was filled with a wealth of rocket information, complemented by an impressive NASA rocket for students to explore and interact with. Immersed in the UNIVERSE virtual world, attendees explored an array of rocket information and designs on the Resource Boards, while strolling amidst captivating 3D models of rockets that ignited their imagination. Using myViewBoard software on the TD1655 16" Touch Portable Monitor, participants sketched their rocket designs and every day, the finest designs were chosen as winners. The UNIVERSE team worked through the night to transform these 2D drawings into breathtaking 3D models, proudly showcasing them in the Space room the following day.

The ViewSonic collaboration with RM Technology and SaxaVord at the Goodwood Festival of Speed proved to be a resounding success. Through innovative technology and a desire to inspire the next generation of space enthusiasts, this partnership left a lasting impact on all who experienced it. As we look to the future, the prospects of space exploration have never looked brighter, and with initiatives like this, the cosmos may soon welcome a new wave of explorers, scientists, and dreamers, ready to push the boundaries of human achievement beyond the stars.

About ViewSonic

Founded in California , ViewSonic is a leading global provider of visual solutions and conducts business in over 100 countries worldwide. As an innovator and visionary, ViewSonic is committed to providing comprehensive hardware and software solutions that include monitors, projectors, pen displays, commercial displays, All-in-One LED displays, ViewBoard interactive displays, and myViewBoard software ecosystem. With over 35 years of expertise in visual displays, ViewSonic has established a strong position for delivering innovative and reliable solutions for education, enterprise, consumer, and professional markets and helping customers "See the Difference." To find out more about ViewSonic, please visit www.viewsonic.com.

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SOURCE ViewSonic
NEW YORK , Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- WorkGenius, a freelance technology company headquartered in New York City , has announced the acquisition of Expertlead, a Berlin -based technology firm known for matching tech freelancers with companies and offering peer-to-peer live coding assessments. This marks the third acquisition by WorkGenius in the last 14 months, following the acquisitions of JBC and Agency WorX in the US and brings the Group's revenue to $150M .

Expertlead, founded by Arne Hosemann and Alexander Schlomberg , and funded by Rocket Internet, Acton Capital and SEEK, is well known for its offering that connects companies with skilled tech freelancers while also providing cutting-edge live coding assessments.

"With the rise of AI and Chat GPT, we have seen a need for actual live assessments as traditional asynchronous assessments lose value. Expertlead's technology and operations perfectly integrate with our WorkGenius technology and will be available for our entire client base," said Daniel Barke , Chief Product Officer and Co-Founder of WorkGenius.

Alexander Schlomberg expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, "With WorkGenius we found a global partner who believes in a combination of human touch and technology. Sharing that same vision will drive us to become the global human capital powerhouse of the future."

Expertlead's services and product, including their assessment technology, will be fully integrated into WorkGenius, expanding WorkGenius's reach in the technology freelance market. Both WorkGenius and Expertlead's clients will benefit from the synergies of the combined platforms.

"This acquisition builds upon the momentum created by our previous acquisitions of JBC and WorX. Expertlead's peer-to-peer assessment brings a complimentary dimension to our comprehensive offerings, making us a one-stop destination for talent management needs," stated Marlon Rosenzweig , CEO and Co-Founder of WorkGenius.

About WorkGenius

Founded by Marlon Rosenzweig and Daniel Barke in Hamburg, Germany , and now headquartered in New York City , WorkGenius has rapidly expanded its global presence, marked by successful acquisitions of JBC and AgencyWorX in the US. Bryan Zaslow , founder of JBC, joined the management team as President of WorkGenius Group. Now, with the addition of Expertlead, WorkGenius continues to build on its momentum to become a global leader in the freelance platform industry.

For more information about this acquisition and WorkGenius's full suite of services, visit www.workgenius.com.

Tom Rohricht

VP Communications

tom.roehricht@workgenius.com

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SOURCE WorkGenius
(Reuters) - Australia's prudential regulator said on Wednesday Bendigo and Adelaide Bank no longer needs to keep an additional amount of cash reserve after the mid-sized lender took steps to rectify issues related to liquidity requirements.

The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) in 2020 had taken action against the bank for breaching prudential standard on liquidity.

The regulator had then said it would require the bank to set aside an extra 10% on top of the liquidity cover ratio it calculated until the "short-comings have been rectified to APRA's satisfaction".

"APRA has confirmed the bank has satisfactorily addressed the conditions for removal of the overlay," Bendigo and Adelaide said in a statement.

The removal of the liquidity add-on is effective Aug. 9, the regulator said after Bendigo completed a comprehensive review into its adherence with APRA's liquidity requirements.

Bendigo and Adelaide, which operates primarily in retail banking, said the removal of add-on would contribute about 12 to 14 percentage points to its liquidity coverage ratio.

Australian financial institutions have faced increased scrutiny from regulators after a 2019 government inquiry found rampant fee-gouging and predatory sales tactics to inflate bonuses, leading to multiple lawsuits and customer remediation charges.

(Reporting by Rishav Chatterjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar)
FILE PHOTO: A Boeing logo is seen at the 54th International Paris Airshow at Le Bourget Airport near Paris, France, June 18, 2023. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo

By Gabriel Araujo

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazil has the potential to become one of the major global players in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), a Boeing executive said on Tuesday, as the sector attempts to meet its ambitious goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The target agreed within the International Air Transport Association (IATA) representing airlines will largely depend on the development and increased production of SAF, which is made from renewable resources such as vegetable oils or waste.

The South American country, one of the world's largest agricultural producers, is already a global leader in biofuels such as ethanol, made from sugarcane or corn, and soyoil-derived biodiesel.

"Brazil has the technical capacity, qualified workforce and raw material to post the concrete results and impacts needed for us to solve together this global challenge of how to decarbonize aviation," Boeing's Latin America and the Caribbean head, Landon Loomis, told a forum hosted by the company in Sao Paulo.

"Boeing already is one of the world's largest buyers of sustainable aviation fuel," he noted.

While radical technological change is deemed key to cutting aviation emissions, the sector's main focus has been on fuels that can be used in existing jet engines, such as plant or waste-based SAF and synthetic alternatives.

Securing enough SAF supply is the industry's biggest challenge in its push for net-zero emissions, amid high costs and slow production growth.

IATA estimates the use of SAF could account for 65% of the industry's efforts to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker in May suggested the sector would not be able to achieve the emissions target because of inadequate SAF supplies.

Brazilian airline Gol said it sees SAF supply as an urgent matter.

"If we don't start right now, we will not get there," Gol's Operations Control Center director Eduardo Calderon told the event on Tuesday, noting that SAF costs are currently three times higher than those of fossil fuels.

"The world is already lagging behind. If we don't start that SAF process very soon, we won't reach this ambitious 2050 goal."

(Reporting by Gabriel Araujo; Editing by Jamie Freed)
A general view of the biometric imaging device, the Orb of the identity and financial public utility Worldcoin, to create a World ID digital passport, being able to trade in cryptocurrency issued, in Berlin, Germany August 1, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse

By Anna Portella

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Eager early adopters recently descended upon a Mexico City cafe where their eyes were scanned by a futuristic sphere, part of an ambitious project that ultimately seeks to create a unique digital identification for everyone on the planet.

Mexico is one of nearly three dozen countries where participants are allowing the sphere, outfitted with cameras and dubbed an orb, to scan their iris. The project's goal is to distinguish people from bots online, while doling out a cryptocurrency bonus as a incentive to participate.

The so-called Worldcoin project is a biometric verification tool led by Sam Altman, the chief executive of Open AI, and the crypto company he co-founded, Tools for Humanity.

"(Privacy) is something that doesn't worry me too much," said Jose Incera, after allowing his iris to be scanned in exchange for the equivalent of nearly $54 in Worldcoin's cryptocurrency.

"In the digital era we're living in, sharing your information is unavoidable."

In a video interview, Sam Sadle, the public policy chief at Tools for Humanity, sought to calm worries over the project's use of personal data.

After the orb scanner captures each user's iris, it converts the image into a unique numerical code called an iris code, which Sadle stressed can only be used to prove the user's identity.

"The point of the iris biometrics is simply to confirm that you're human," he said. "The image on default is deleted and the only piece that is kept is the iris code."

Despite the professed safeguards, the project has generated concerns over security risks, including from Agneris Sampieri, a policy analyst with digital rights group Access Now.

"They don't clearly mention the time frame in which the biometric data they collect will be processed and retained," she said, adding that the ownership of the iris code is also unclear.

(Reporting by Anna Portella; Writing by David Alire Garcia; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)
FILE PHOTO: A family from Ecuador walks towards Border Patrol officers to seek asylum, as U.S. border cities brace for an influx of asylum seekers as COVID-era Title 42 migration restrictions are set to end, in Eagle Pass, Texas, U.S. December 19, 2022.

By Alexandra Valencia

QUITO (Reuters) -Lack of employment is pushing an increasing number of young Ecuadorean professionals to migrate, say officials and families, amid voter pessimism about economic revival promised by presidential candidates vying to win elections later this month.

Less than four of every 10 "economically active" people had adequate employment - or a job that provided benefits and more than the minimum wage of $450 per month - in the second quarter of the year, according to the statistics agency for the country. Ecuador's economy was battered by the COVID-19 pandemic, and more than half of workers had informal jobs.

Outgoing President Guillermo Lasso, who called early elections to avoid his possible removal by lawmakers, had pledged to create 2 million jobs.

His government says 500,000 new jobs were created during his two-year administration.

Lack of employment is a daily challenge for many Ecuadoreans, some of whom see migration, even in dangerous conditions, as the best option to improve their lives, said Francis Romero, director of Ecuadorean polling firm Click Report.

The top candidates in the Aug. 20 presidential vote have not made specific pledges about jobs, but have made other proposals.

In the lead is Luisa Gonzalez, who is backed by former President Rafael Correa and garnered 29.3% support in a Tuesday poll by Click Report. She has promised tax benefits for companies who hire young people and protections for working mothers.

Indigenous candidate Yaku Perez, with 14.4% of voting intention, has said he will analyze a reduction in working hours and regulate digital platforms.

Pro-market candidate Otto Sonnenholzner, polling at 12.4%, has said he will support employment for older adults through entrepreneurship initiatives, while conservative candidate Jan Topic, polling at 9.6%, has said he will promote public works and by-hour contracts with the agreement of employees.

Former lawmaker Fernando Villavicencio, with 7.5% voting intention, has pledged private investment in agriculture to create jobs.

Over 16.8% said they would vote for none of the candidates.

None of the candidates, who must get more than 50% of valid votes or more than 40% if they are 10 points ahead of their nearest rival to win in a first round, have included migration policies in their campaigning.

"We're really tired of officials' false promises, the hopes are nil," said Jefferson Goyburo, a 48-year-old taxi driver in Guayaquil, whose son Luis, 21, migrated to Spain. "Sometimes I want to cry because there's no work, nor any security, for anyone in this country."

Rising violence is also a major issue for voters - more than 3,500 violent deaths were registered in the first half of 2023.

WAVE OF MIGRATION

Some 822,000 Ecuadoreans between the ages of 18 and 45 left the country legally through June, according to the government, with a majority failing to return within the time frame stipulated by their visas for other countries.

During all of 2022 some 1.4 million Ecuadoreans left their country.

Top destinations were the United States, Colombia, Peru and Europe, while some 600,000 foreigners, particularly Venezuelans, entered Ecuador, increasing the demand for jobs.

"Lots of activity in human movement is without a doubt because of the lack of employment, the lack of security," Ecuador's migration sub-secretary Fausto Iniguez told Reuters.

The government does not keep figures on those who attempt risky migrations, but has recognized that criminal groups transport some people.

Some 25,000 Ecuadoreans have traveled this year through the dangerous Darien Gap between Colombia and Panama, nearly reaching the 29,000 figure recorded for all of 2022, according to Panama's migration office.

"Migration depends on the lack of jobs," said Flor Haro, who directs the Familia Sin Fronteras foundation, which provides information to migrants and is receiving four times its previous number of requests, some 2,000 per month. "It's a new migrant wave, it can't be treated as an isolated issue."

Remittances from those abroad help to soothe unemployment, she said.

The central bank said remittances rose 8% in the first quarter of 2023 compared to a year earlier, to $1.19 billion.

"They left because they were fired from their jobs and they couldn't find another; they had to help the family," said 61-year-old Yolanda Acosta about two younger cousins who are trying to reach the United States via the Darien.

(Reporting by Alexandra Valencia in Quito; Additional reporting by Yury Garcia in Guayaquil; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Aurora Ellis, Alexandra Hudson)
President-elect of Paraguay Santiago Pena attends a press conference after meeting with Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (not pictured)at the Alvorada Palace, in Brasilia, Brazil July 28, 2023. REUTERS/Adriano Machado

By Daniela Desantis

ASUNCION (Reuters) -South America's Mercosur trade bloc and the European Union should shelve talks over a free trade agreement, with current environmental demands from the EU "unacceptable", Paraguay's President-elect Santiago Pena told Reuters.

Pena, who takes office next week, said that the European bloc's proposals would hinder major soy exporter Paraguay's economic development. Paraguay is one of the four Mercosur member states along with Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.

The comments, Pena's strongest on the trade talks since winning election in April, underscore rising tensions as the European and South American blocs race to finalize a deal, long delayed due to doubts over Brazil's climate action commitments.

The European Commission, the EU's executive, said it was "fully committed to push the EU-Mercosur Agreement towards the finish line before the end of the year".

The South American countries, home to huge swathes of the Amazon, the Chaco forest and key wetlands, are major exporters of soy, corn and beef. They have increasingly pushed back against environmental demands from the EU, saying they amount to European protectionism and would hurt local production.

"This approach from the EU is simply unacceptable," said Pena, 44, who represents the ruling conservative Colorado party, during a rare interview at his home in Asuncion.

"What the European Union has to do is come clean about whether or not it wants to move forward with a free trade agreement. Today I question whether they have genuine interest."

Mercosur officials are working on a counter-proposal before meeting with EU negotiators. There are some hopes of reaching an agreement later this year on the trade deal.

"From our point of view, negotiations should be closed and the decision simply made: Do we want this to happen or do we not want this to happen?" Pena added.

The European Commission said its proposals were meant to address sustainability concerns, including on deforestation. It said it was waiting to see alternative ideas from Mercosur.

TAIWAN TIES, STABILITY FOR SOY

Pena, who has always pledged to stand by diplomatic ally Taiwan, a self-governed island claimed by China, doubled down on his supportive position. His government is also hoping for more investment from Taipei.

"These ties are not only friendship but also a conviction that on Paraguay's path towards an industrialized economy, the model Taiwan has developed can be a great lesson," Pena said.

Paraguay is the only South American nation left with formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

Pena said that he was not planning any new taxes on the agricultural sector, the economic engine in the world's No. 3 soybean exporter. He said some taxes on international trade could even be eliminated to boost competitiveness.

"Paraguay has to consolidate the model it has today of low taxes to attract investment and create jobs," he said. "Probably in the future with a more formalized economy... we could think of some adjustments in some rates."

The president-elect also said current agriculture minister Santiago Bertoni, who has the support of the country's soybean chamber, had done a "good job" and could remain in office.

Pena added that the previously announced transfer of the Paraguayan embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem would probably take place this year, without giving further details.

(Reporting by Daniela DesantisAdditional reporting by Gabriela Baczynska in BrusselsEditing by Adam Jourdan, Jonathan Oatis and Mark Potter)
An American Airlines plane takes off from Miami International Airport after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it had slowed the volume of airplane traffic over Florida due to an air traffic computer issue, in Miami, Florida, U.S. January 2, 2

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Tuesday said it has referred 39 unruly passengers to the FBI for criminal investigation this year, as it continues its zero-tolerance policy over aggressive onboard incidents.

The new cases, including 22 in the second quarter of 2023, bring the total of such referrals for violent and threatening behaviour on planes to more than 270 since late 2021.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland directed the Federal Bureau of Investigation to prioritize investigations of airline passengers committing assaults following a 500% spike in incidents in 2021.

The FAA last year said its crackdown on unruly passengers would become permanent even after the end of a mask mandate tied to most of the earlier reported incidents.

The regulator said the rate of passenger incidents has dropped by 80% since record highs in early 2021, but continues to be too high.

"Unruly behavior poses serious safety concerns for passengers and crew alike, which is why we are addressing this issue aggressively, said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

Reported unruly passenger incidents in 2021 jumped to 5,981, which included 4,290 mask-related incidents and has fallen to 1,177 so far this year. The FAA proposed $5 million in fines in 2021 and $8.4 million last year.

There were 207 such passenger incidents reported in July, down from the March 2021 high of 720.

The new cases included an April incident when a passenger yelled, cursed, threw objects at passengers and had to be restrained in cuffs, as well assaults of flight attendants, other passengers and an attempt to breach a cockpit.

In June, a 45-year-old Houston man was arrested after being charged with menacing a Southwest Airlines crew in June 2022 that forced the flight from Las Vegas to Houston to divert to Dallas Love Field.

In March, a bipartisan group of lawmakers made a new push for legislation to bar passengers fined or convicted of serious physical violence from commercial flights, arguing enhanced penalties are a strong deterrent needed to improve aviation safety.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Mark Porter and Sharon Singleton)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. French Senators stubbornly keep their neo-colonial mindset, Azerbaijani MP Jeyhun Mammadov told Trend.

He made the remark commenting on the letter of French senators addressed to French President Emmanuel Macron.

Mammadov noted that African countries no longer wish to tolerate France's colonial policies and are expressing their protest.

"One of the key issues here is related to the activities of French President Macron. The letter from the senators to Macron indicates that under his leadership, France's foreign policy is experiencing its greatest decline," the MP said. "No African country respects Macron anymore, does not consider him, and expresses their protest against France. This is a state that pursues colonial policies, trampling on the rights of African nations and exploiting their wealth for a long time."

"Despite this, French senators do not want to lose their influence, demonstrating that they are unwilling to give it up." This suggests that they are still living with this desire, despite the fact that it is no longer feasible. Africans view these issues differently, and France should apologize to these nations," Mammadov said.

He added that today France is trying to create confrontations even in the South Caucasus region, but it won't achieve anything in the region.

The mentioned letter to Macron was written by three French senators - Deputy Chairman of the Senate for International Relations Roger Karoutchi, Leader of the "Republicans" faction in the Senate, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Armed Forces Bruno Retailleau, and Christian Cambon. It was signed by 94 French MPs.
FILE PHOTO: Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan speaks with Reuters during an interview, in Lahore, Pakistan March 17, 2023. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro/File Photo

(Reuters) - Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan became the third former premier barred from public office since 2012 after the country's election commission on Tuesday banned him for five years.

The ban followed Khan's conviction in a graft case on Saturday. The law says such a conviction disqualifies an individual from public office for a period determined by the election commission.

Here are some facts about the bans and challenges faced by past leaders of Pakistan, where no elected prime minister has ever completed their full term in office since the country gained independence in 1947:

-Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani was barred from public office for five years in 2012 after he was removed from the premiership by the Supreme Court on contempt charges for refusing to reopen corruption cases against then-President Asif Ali Zardari.

Gilani missed the 2013 elections but successfully rejoined electoral politics in 2018.

-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was barred for life from electoral politics in 2018 by the Supreme Court after he was found guilty of not declaring his source of income.

But he continues to exercise power over his party, which is currently in power with his younger brother, Shehbaz, the prime minister.

-On 18 occasions, prime ministers have been removed for reasons including corruption charges, direct military coups and forced resignations due to infighting in ruling groups. There was one assassination.

Khan joined this group when he was removed in a no-confidence vote in 2022, which he says was orchestrated by the country's powerful military. The military denies this.

-Under Tuesday's ruling, Khan will be ineligible to run in the upcoming national elections, due to be held by November but which may be delayed for a few months.

There is no limit on the number of times an individual can become prime minister in Pakistan. Khan will be 75 when he is eligible again, unless this ban is overruled by a court.

-A number of prominent political leaders have also faced bans in recent years, including Khan's former close aide but now rival, Jehangir Tareen, who was banned for life, and two former Sharif cabinet ministers who were ruled ineligible for five years.

Pakistan also disqualified many political leaders under a draconian law in the 1950s.

(Compiled by Gibran Peshimam; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
FILE PHOTO: A view of the exterior of the JP Morgan Chase & Co. corporate headquarters in New York City May 20, 2015. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo

By Lananh Nguyen

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Financial firms that enforce strict return-to-office mandates could drive employees to leave, according to a study published Tuesday by accounting firm Deloitte.

Of 700 financial executives surveyed by Deloitte, 66% who worked remotely part time said they would likely quit if they were ordered to return to the office five days a week.

"Professionals - men and women alike - whose work and personal lives have been reshaped by remote work largely want to maintain flexibility even if it comes at a personal cost," Deloitte said.

Companies that insist on five days of in-office work are likely to see those policies backfire, the study showed. Firms could face resistance, higher resignation rates and difficulties recruiting talent, it added.

Across corporate America, employers are wrestling with the balance between in-person collaboration and flexibility.

Even among the large Wall Street banks, views have differed. JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley have been prominent advocates of in-office working for learning, innovation and culture. By contrast, Citigroup, UBS and Bank of New York Mellon have embraced more flexibility as a way to attract and retain talent.

The Deloitte survey showed caregivers with remote or hybrid arrangements were 1.3 times more likely to leave their jobs if that flexibility was taken away.

It also warned that "the risk of losing talented women to a competitor or to another industry is real." Poll results showed almost half of women in senior leadership roles were likely to leave their current employer over the next 12 months.

(Reporting by Lananh Nguyen; Editing by Conor Humphries)
Town sign of Forbach near the German-French border of the Saar region where a German national has been arrested on suspicion of having tortured, raped and imprisoned his wife at their home in Forbach, Eastern France August 8, 2023. REUTERS/Max Schwarz

SARREGUEMINES, France (Reuters) - A German woman who had called police for help from her residence in eastern France on Sunday, alleging she had been imprisoned for over a decade by her husband, was not a victim of any such crime, a French prosecutor said on Tuesday.

The 55-year-old husband, also a German national, has been held in police custody since Monday but will be released later on Tuesday, local public prosecutor Olivier Glady told a news conference.

The 53-year old woman, who had rung German police, who in turn contacted French police, suffered from illnesses that left her bedridden, Glady said.

"The situation of sequestration that she (the wife) kept complaining about (since Monday) did not exist," Glady said, citing official investigations carried out over the past day.

"The allegations by the woman are not backed by any police findings," Glady said, adding there had been thorough medical and police checks following her allegations of having been imprisoned, raped and tortured by her husband.

The case had grabbed headlines in both countries over the past few days. There were no reports in local media of comments made by either the wife, her husband or their legal representatives.

Glady said the couple had not registered with the French medical system, had not been registered with German health authorities for years or been in touch with their families.

(Reporting by Timm Reichert and Max Schwarz; writing by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
FILE PHOTO: An Iraqi national flag is seen near Iraqi embassy ahead of a demonstration in Stockholm, Sweden July 20, 2023. TT News Agency/Caisa Rasmussen via REUTERS/File Photo

(Reuters) -Iraq's official media regulator on Tuesday ordered all media and social media companies operating in the Arab state not to use the term "homosexuality" and instead to say "sexual deviance," a government spokesperson said and a document from the regulator shows.

The Iraqi Communications and Media Commission (CMC) document said that the use of the term "gender" was also banned. It prohibited all phone and internet companies licensed by it from using the terms in any of their mobile applications.

A government official later said that the decision still required final approval.

The regulator "directs media organisations ... not to use the term 'homosexuality' and to use the correct term 'sexual deviance'," the Arabic-language statement said.

A government spokesperson said a penalty for violating the rule had not yet been set but could include a fine.

Iraq does not explicitly criminalise gay sex but loosely defined morality clauses in its penal code have been used to target members of the LGBT community.

Major Iraqi parties have in the past two months stepped up criticism of LGBT rights, with rainbow flags frequently being burned in protests by Shi'ite Muslim factions opposed to recent Koran burnings in Sweden and Denmark.

More than 60 countries criminalise gay sex, while same-sex sexual acts are legal in more than 130 countries, according to Our World in Data.

(Reporting by Timour Azhari in Iraq and Omar Abdel-Razek in Cairo; Editing by Angus MacSwan and Christina Fincher)
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant attends a news conference with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at Ben Gurion Airport in Lod, Israel, March 9, 2023. REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File Photo

JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel threatened on Tuesday to "return Lebanon to the stone age" in any war against Hezbollah, following weeks of friction with the armed Iranian-backed group along the countries' border.

"Do not make a mistake. We do not want a war. But we are prepared to protect our civilians, our soldiers and our sovereignty," Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said in a statement, his remarks intended for Hezbollah.

Such rhetoric has been heard from both sides since the last Israel-Hezbollah war, in 2006. But it has become more pointed since a roadside bombing in Israel in March, which it blamed on an Hezbollah infiltrator.

The group did not claim responsibility for the bombing.

Recent weeks have seen face-offs between Lebanese civilians, at least one group of Hezbollah operatives and Israeli troops across the fortified frontier.

(Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Gareth Jones)
FILE PHOTO: The logo of Stellantis is seen on a company's building in Velizy-Villacoublay near Paris, France, February 23, 2022. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo

MILAN (Reuters) -The Italian government aims to agree a broad plan to 2030 for the country's automotive industry with carmaker Stellantis and other groups involved by the end of this year, industry ministry sources said on Tuesday.

Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares and Industry Minister Adolfo Urso said last month they were working on a deal to increase the group's annual automotive production in Italy to one million vehicles, without specifying a timeframe for the objective.

Urso, who initially said the deal could be struck by the end of July, said at a meeting with unions on Tuesday that he was looking at drawing up a work programme with Stellantis by the end of September, to prepare talks for the full agreement. The talks will also involve unions, local governments and lobby group ANFIA.

According to union sources, the programme could be announced as early as Sept. 10.

Discussions will focus on expanding Italy's vehicle production, R&D, labour costs, energy and logistics, and greater investment in green transition, ministry and union sources said.

A spokesman for Stellantis said the group was reaffirming its "strong commitment" to Italy and that it was ready to continue "dynamic and constructive" talks after the summer break.

"Together we are trying to create the conditions to keep Italy's leading role at the centre of Stellantis' strategy," he said.

The spokesman reiterated that a deal with the Italian government would need to take into account several factors including market forecasts, vehicle affordability, incentives both to car purchases and on energy costs and the impact of regulations such as Euro 7.

Tavares said last month that a production target of one million vehicles in Italy was feasible for Stellantis, but depended on adequate government support.

Italy is lagging most European markets in terms of full-electric car registrations.

Stellantis and the Italian government are expected to meet again on Aug. 30, union sources said.

The automaker, the parent of brands also including Alfa Romeo, Jeep and Peugeot, produced fewer than 700,000 cars and vans in Italy in both 2021 and 2022. According to forecasts, output this year should surpass 800,000 units.

Fiat Chrysler, which merged with France's PSA in early 2021 to create Stellantis, last produced more than one million vehicles in Italy back in 2017.

(Reporting by Giulio Piovaccari and Giuseppe FonteEditing by Keith Weir and Susan Fenton)
Telecom Italia (TIM) logo is seen displayed in this illustration taken, May 3, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File photo

MILAN (Reuters) - Italy's Treasury and U.S. fund KKR are negotiating a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that would set the terms of a state-backed bid for Telecom Italia's (TIM) landline grid, two people familiar with the matter said.

The preliminary agreement could be signed as early as this week, one of the sources said, adding that discussions were still ongoing.

The Treasury could join KKR in its preliminary 23 billion euro ($25 billion) bid for TIM's grid and secure a government stake in the venture that will own the network, alongside other potential state-backed investors, the sources said.

Debt-laden TIM has granted KKR an exclusivity period until the end of September to negotiate a binding bid for Netco, a venture comprising both TIM's fixed domestic access grid and submarine cable unit Sparkle.

($1 = 0.9127 euros)

(Reporting by Elvira Pollina and Giuseppe Fonte; writing by Valentina Za; Editing by Alvise Armellini)
FILE PHOTO: City skyline and harbour are seen at sunrise in Tokyo, Japan July 24, 2021. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo

By Satoshi Sugiyama and Kantaro Komiya

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan cancelled hundreds of flights and advised more than 60,000 households to evacuate some southern regions on Tuesday, as Typhoon Khanun, packing heavy rain and strong winds, slowly heads westwards days after raging through Okinawa.

The typhoon, which is projected to reach South Korea's southern coast on Thursday, is lingering in the Pacific Ocean, about 200 km (124 miles) south of Japan's third-largest island Kyushu, Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said.

Thunderstorms, with precipitation of up to 400 mm (16 inches), were expected to lash areas of Kyushu and neighbouring Shikoku island in the next 24 hours, JMA said. Areas as far north as Osaka and Nagoya are also likely to be affected.

"Due to the slow movement of the typhoon and its prolonged impact, total rainfall may greatly exceed the normal monthly rainfall for August," the JMA added. Khanun is moving at less than 10 km per hour (6 mph).

Trains, flights and ferries were cancelled for the next couple of days.

The city of Nagasaki also relocated a venue to commemorate the 78th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing on Wednesday to an indoor convention centre from a park.

In Kyushu's Kagoshima prefecture, about 950 km (590 miles) southwest of Tokyo, 60,000 households were advised to evacuate, Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency said. In the western part of the country's largest Honshu island, Mazda Motor said it would suspend production at its two plants in Hiroshima and Yamaguchi.

Khanun rolled into Japan's southernmost Okinawa last week, causing blackouts in more than 200,000 buildings. The storm has since gradually lost its strength but still packs winds of up to 144 kph (40 mph).

Airlines, including Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways, cancelled 222 flights on Tuesday, bringing the total number of flights disrupted by Khanun since last week to 2,715, according to a transportation ministry tally.

South Korea on Tuesday started evacuating thousands of participants at the World Scout Jamboree ahead of Khanun's approach.

Another typhoon has also emerged in the Pacific, the JMA said. Typhoon Lan, with winds of up to 180 kph is expected to reach central Japan on Sunday.

(This story has been refiled to add the dropped 's' in 'regions' in the headline)

(Reporting by Satoshi Sugiyama and Kantaro Komiya; Editing by Gerry Doyle and Miral Fahmy)
By Jorge Garcia

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -Los Angeles municipal employees went on a 24-hour strike on Tuesday to protest what their union calls bad-faith bargaining by city officials over a new contract, the latest in a series of job actions affecting Los Angeles.

Mechanics, lifeguards, traffic officers and others marched in picket lines at city hall and the Los Angeles International Airport, saying city management has engaged in unfair labor practices in contract negotiations.

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 721 said more than 11,000 workers went on strike in what the Los Angeles Times called the first major walkout of city workers in decades.

Outside the City Hall tower, hundreds of picketers in purple T-shirts and city uniforms marched through closed downtown streets, banging drums and ringing cowbells while hoisting signs in English and Spanish declaring "Striking for Respect."

"We're essential workers out here and we worked through the pandemic. We never wavered. And so just bargain in good faith and that's all we're asking. And when you don't bargain in good faith, this is what happens," said marching city worker Alfonzo Williams.

Some city services were unavailable as 40,000 nonstriking workers tried to pick up the slack, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement.

A number of the city's 55 swimming pools shut down, and trash pickups were pushed back a day. Passengers departing from Los Angeles Airport were advised to arrive an hour earlier than usual in case of delays.

"The City of Los Angeles is not going to shut down," the mayor said on social media, later adding: "The City will always be available to make progress with SEIU 721 and we will continue bargaining in good faith."

The walkout is the latest in series of organized labor job actions in Los Angeles.

Hollywood writers have been on strike for three months, and actors went on strike three weeks ago. In July, thousands of hotel workers in Los Angeles staged a three-day strike over wages, benefits and working conditions. That followed a three-day strike by Los Angeles School District workers in April that canceled school for 420,000 students.

(Reporting by Jorge Garcia in Los Angeles, Brendan O'Brien in Chicago and Daniel Trotta in Carlsbad, California; Editing by Jonathan Oatis, Sharon Singleton and Cynthia Osterman)
WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland's health minister has been dismissed, the prime minister said on Tuesday, after he provoked outrage by revealing details of a prescription a doctor who appeared in a TV news report critical of the health ministry had written for himself.

The episode has been problematic for ruling nationalists Law and Justice (PiS) as they prepare for elections scheduled for Oct 15, and the dismissal of Adam Niedzielski, a former head of Poland's National Health Fund (NFZ), had been widely expected.

"This is the election campaign period, and the election campaign period is a specific time when we must be particularly sensitive to any mistakes," Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told a news conference.

Niedzielski had angered doctors and reportedly many in his own party with the revelation about a doctor who had appeared in a TV news report flagging problems issuing prescriptions for certain painkillers after changes made by the health ministry.

Following the incident, Poland's Supreme Medical Chamber told the prime minister that doctors had lost confidence in Niedzielski and also informed prosecutors that he may have committed a crime.

Niedzileski will be replaced by Katarzyna Sojka, a PiS lawmaker and doctor.

(Reporting by Alan Charlish; Editing by Jan Harvey)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. Visa procedures for foreigners and stateless persons arriving in Azerbaijan are being simplified in connection with the 74th International Astronautical Congress to be held in Baku, Trend reports.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a relevant decree in this regard.

According to the document, foreigners and stateless individuals arriving in Azerbaijan due to the 74th International Astronautical Congress and presenting any of the documents mentioned in section 2 of this decree can obtain a visa at Azerbaijan's international airports from September 20 to October 7, 2023.

One of the following documents will be considered a basis for visa issuance:

- A document confirming registration through the electronic system in accordance with the rules of the 74th International Astronautical Congress organizer - the International Astronautical Federation.

- An official invitation letter to the congress from the "Azerbaijan National Space Agency (Azercosmos)" public legal entity under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan should inform the International Astronautical Federation and the relevant authorities of foreign countries about the simplification of visa procedures for foreigners and stateless persons arriving in Azerbaijan due to the congress.

In addition to this, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must also ensure the spread of information about the simplification of visa procedures for foreigners and stateless persons arriving in Azerbaijan due to the congress, as well as the possibility of obtaining electronic visas through the "ASAN Visa" system for foreigners and stateless individuals through the ministry's informational internet resources, as well as Azerbaijan's embassies and consulates abroad.

The State Migration Service of Azerbaijan has been instructed to inform airlines operating flights to Azerbaijan about the simplification of visa procedures for foreigners and stateless persons arriving in Baku due to the International Astronautical Congress.

The 74th International Astronautical Congress under the theme "Global Challenges and Opportunities: Give Space a Chance" will be held in the Azerbaijani capital, organized by the Azerbaijan Space Agency, on October 2-6, 2023.
Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the Security Council via video link at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia August 4, 2023. Sputnik/Alexander Kazakov/Kremlin via REUTERS/File Photo

(Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree suspending Russia's double taxation agreements with what it calls "unfriendly countries" - those that have imposed sanctions on Moscow - the state news agency RIA reported on Tuesday.

The measure had been proposed by the Finance Ministry and the Foreign Ministry in March.

Western countries have imposed successive waves of economic sanctions on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine in February last year, which it calls a "special military operation".

(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Kevin Liffey; Editing by Jon Boyle)
FILE PHOTO: A Starbucks sign is show on one of the companies stores in Los Angeles, California, U.S. October 19,2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo

By Daniel Wiessner

(Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Tuesday rejected Starbucks Corp's challenge to a ruling requiring the coffee chain to rehire seven employees at a Memphis, Tennessee, store who were allegedly fired for supporting a union.

The decision by the Ohio-based 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is the first from an appeals court involving a nationwide campaign that has seen workers at more than 300 Starbucks locations vote to unionize.

A three-judge panel said that by firing the workers last year, Starbucks likely discouraged other employees from exercising their rights under U.S. labor law.

"Fear of retaliation will exist unless the Memphis Seven, apparently terminated for their union support, are reinstated," Circuit Judge Danny Boggs wrote for the court.

The decision could embolden the National Labor Relations Board, which enforces U.S. labor law, to use the courts to aggressively police Starbucks' labor practices as they also come under scrutiny from shareholders and the U.S. Congress.

Starbucks and the labor board, which had sought the order reinstating the workers, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The company last year said it had rehired the seven employees to comply with a judge's order, but still pursued the appeal.

The Memphis store is one of nearly 300 Starbucks cafes in the United States to unionize since late 2021. The company was union-free for decades.

More than 600 complaints have been filed with the labor board accusing Starbucks of illegal labor practices such as firing union supporters, spying on workers and closing stores during labor campaigns.

The 6th Circuit is considering Starbucks' appeal of a February ruling in a separate case barring the company from firing or disciplining employees at an Ann Arbor, Michigan cafe.

Other U.S. appeals courts are considering rulings from the labor board that Starbucks illegally fired union organizers in Philadelphia and has refused to bargain with unionized workers in its home city of Seattle.

The company has broadly denied wrongdoing and said it offers employees competitive wages and benefits and respects their rights under federal labor law.

(Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
A view shows damaged residential buildings in the aftermath of Storm Hans in Valdres, near Oslo, Norway August 8, 2023. NTB/Cornelius Poppe via REUTERS

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Norwegian emergency services evacuated hundreds of people in various locations on Tuesday, the second day that heavy rains caused landslides, with the risk of more, as a storm sweeps over the Nordics.

Strong winds, intense rain and landslides hit parts of the Nordic region, knocking out power lines, flooding villages and bringing public transport to a standstill in the worst-affected areas.

The storm, which has been called "Hans," hit Sweden late on Sunday and reached Norway on Monday, with parts of Denmark and Finland also affected.

In southern Norway, floods and landslides blocked roads and halted key train services.

In the town of Valdres a landslide took down a house, but no one was injured, and in Hemsedal a small house came floating down a river.

On Monday, a Swedish passenger train derailed due to the weather, injuring three people.

(Reporting by Marie Mannes; Editing by Leslie Adler)
FILE PHOTO: Bags of wheat are arranged during a visit by Germany Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and her France counterpart Catherine Colonna to the World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse in Adama, Ethiopia January 12, 2023. REUTERS/ Tiksa Negeri/File Ph

By Dawit Endeshaw

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - The U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) said on Tuesday it had resumed distributing food aid in parts of Ethiopia's Tigray region after a three-month pause.

WFP paused food aid to the northern region in May following reports of widespread theft of donations. It then suspended aid to all of Ethiopia in June. The United States did the same.

More than 20 million people need food assistance in Ethiopia, Africa's second most populous nation, largely due to the Horn of Africa's worst drought in decades and a two-year civil war in Tigray.

The WFP had been providing emergency food assistance to nearly six million of them.

It said it started testing and verifying new measures on July 31 to deliver food assistance in four districts of Tigray to just over 100,000 eligible people.

"The test distributions are being rolled out at seven food distribution points where WFP and partners have completed targeting of beneficiaries and digitally registered them," the agency said in a statement.

The halt in aid was criticised by Ethiopia's government, which said it was investigating the claims of theft. The WFP and the U.S. Agency for International Development said they were working to ensure aid reached the intended recipients before resuming any assistance.

The WFP said it would continue to work with its partners in testing the latest measures prior to any wider distributions of aid, including to people in Amhara, Afar and Somali regions.

The development comes on the heels of fresh violence in Amhara, where clashes between regional militiamen and the military have quickly become Ethiopia's most serious security crisis since the end of civil war in Tigray.

(Reporting by Dawit Endeshaw Writing by Bhargav Acharya; Editing by Mark Potter)
A sign is seen at a polling station in Wakefield, Britain, June 23, 2022. REUTERS/Phil Noble

By Sachin Ravikumar

LONDON (Reuters) - "Hostile actors" targeted Britain's Electoral Commission in a complex cyber incident that involved hackers accessing internal emails and copies of voter data, the commission said on Tuesday.

The Electoral Commission, the independent body which oversees elections and regulates political finance, said the incident came to light last year.

It did not provide further details on the identity of the hostile actors but said the incident showed Britain's democratic institutions remained a target for hackers. They had access to servers that held its email, control systems, and copies of electoral registers.

Electoral security has emerged as a key issue in many countries ever since U.S. officials found Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election to boost Donald Trump's White House campaign.

A British parliamentary committee said in 2020 that Russia had interfered in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, while noting allegations of similar interference in the Brexit referendum.

"We know which systems were accessible to the hostile actors, but are not able to know conclusively what files may or may not have been accessed," Electoral Commission Chief Executive Shaun McNally said in a statement.

"The successful attack ... highlights that organisations involved in elections remain a target, and need to remain vigilant to the risks to processes around our elections."

Much of the data in the registers - including the name and address of those registered to vote between 2014 and 2022 and the names of overseas voters - was already in the public domain, the commission added.

Hackers had first accessed the Electoral Commission's systems in August 2021 and the incident was identified in October 2022, the commission said.

Britain last November formed a ministerial taskforce to tackle threats of foreign interference in its elections, while its recently passed national security law provides for higher penalties for such offences.

The Electoral Commission has worked with Britain's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and external experts to investigate the incident and had since made improvements to the security of its IT systems, it said.

(Reporting by Sachin Ravikumar and James Pearson; Editing by William James, Alex Richardson, Alexandra Hudson)
FILE PHOTO: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy discusses a restoration of the Black Sea grain initiative with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan via a phone line, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine July 21, 2023. Ukrainian Presidential P

(Reuters) - Ukraine's domestic intelligence agency said on Monday that it had detained a woman who it accused of gathering information about President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's itinerary ahead of a trip and also trying to pass information about military facilities to Russia.

The Ukrainian security service, the SBU, did not give the name of the alleged agent. A dark-haired woman in a black-and-white dress surrounded by two servicemen was seen in a picture published by the agency. All of the faces in the image were blurred.

The suspect was arrested in the southern Ukrainian port city of Mykolaiv, the security service said. Zelenskiy last visited the city on July 27, his media channel reported.

The SBU also accused the alleged agent of trying to establish the locations of Ukrainian electronic warfare systems and ammunition depots near the port town of Ochakiv, 30 miles (48 km) from Mykolaiv.

"Members of the SBU caught the traitor red-handed when she was trying to pass intelligence to the invaders," the SBU said, adding that additional security measures were taken during the presidential visit.

The woman is from Ochakiv and used to work at an army store selling goods to soldiers at one of the local Ukrainian military units, the SBU said. A court approved her arrest and, if convicted, she would face a prison term for up to 12 years, according to the statement.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Jamie Freed)
FILE PHOTO: Rep. James Comer (R-KY) attends a hearing of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic about the effect of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on students and schools, in Washington, U.S. April 26, 2023. REUTERS/Elizab

By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives Oversight Committee said on Tuesday it has opened a probe into the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) regulation of vision care over concerns about concentration in the insurance market.

"The vision insurance market is structured to place only a handful of companies in charge of the vast majority of vision insurance plans for Americans, raising concerns about effects on consumers, including potentially higher costs," Republican U.S. Representative James Comer, who chairs the panel, said in a statement.

Comer also wrote a letter to FTC Chair Lina Khan requesting a staff-level briefing to understand "the extent to which the FTC has worked to ensure that the vision care market serves the best interests of American consumers."

Comer requested the meeting by Aug. 15.

Vision insurance is offered by specialty insurance companies in the United States and the largest company, VSP Vision Care, (VSP) covers over two-thirds of U.S. enrollees who have vision-only insurance plans, Comer wrote.

"One company, VSP Vision Care (VSP), provides vision insurance for 82 million Americans nationwide," Comer said in the letter.

The FTC and VSP could not immediately be reached for comment.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Jamie Freed)
FILE PHOTO: A man carries his belongings after officers of the Haitian National Police fired tear gas to clear a camp of people escaping the threat of armed gangs, in front of the U.S. Embassy, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti July 25, 2023. REUTERS/Ralph Tedy Er

(Reuters) - The U.S. Embassy in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince said it was closed on Tuesday, with all personnel restricted to embassy compounds until further notice due to gunfire in the vicinity.

"Some routes to the embassy may be impacted due to continued rapid gunfire," the embassy said in a security alert.

The closure follows tense protests that rattled the capital on Monday, when demonstrators squared off against police, demanding protection from gang violence.

Gang violence in Haiti has sent kidnappings and homicides surging, while devastating health care. Some 5.2 million people - nearly half of Haiti's population  need humanitarian assistance, according to the United Nations.

(Reporting by Bharat Govind Gautam in Bengaluru and Brendan O'Boyle in Mexico City; Editing by Mark Porter)
FILE PHOTO: A Southwest Airlines aircraft flies past the U.S. Capitol before landing at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., January 24, 2022. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File Photo

By Daniel Wiessner

(Reuters) -Southwest Airlines Co on Tuesday said it will appeal a Texas federal judge's unusual order requiring three of its senior lawyers to attend "religious liberty training" by a prominent conservative Christian legal group.

The airline in a statement confirmed that it would file an appeal one day after U.S. District Judge Brantley Starr said the lawyers had undermined his earlier ruling in a religious bias case by Southwest flight attendant Charlene Carter.

Starr said that instead of notifying employees of their rights against religious discrimination, as he had ordered Southwest to do, the lawyers penned a memo warning workers not to violate the company policy that led it to fire Carter.

Carter says she was fired for criticizing her union's decision to participate in the 2017 Women's March, a nationwide protest following the inauguration of former President Donald Trump, because Planned Parenthood was a sponsor. Carter has said she is a Christian who opposes abortion.

Starr, a Trump appointee, gave the lawyers until Aug. 28 to attend an eight-hour training conducted by Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), which is routinely involved in high-profile court cases on abortion and religious liberties.

ADF has spearheaded efforts to restrict the availability of abortion pill mifepristone and helped draft a Mississippi abortion ban upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in its June 2022 ruling eliminating women's constitutional right to abortion.

Southwest in its statement did not elaborate on the basis for its appeal.

Carter is represented by the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, a conservative worker advocacy group. Mark Mix, the group's president, said Monday's ruling "shuts down Southwest Airlines bald-faced attempt to dodge its responsibility to inform flight attendants of its wrongdoing."

Judges often require employers to take steps to remedy discriminatory conduct, such as training workers and adopting new policies, but it is unusual for them to order company officials to undergo training conducted by specific groups. Starr cited older rulings requiring lawyers to attend continuing education or ethics training.

The ruling may be unprecedented, and the choice of ADF to conduct the training is troubling given its history of advocating a conservative Christian viewpoint, according to David Lopez, who was general counsel of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) during the Obama administration.

That could interfere with the lawyers constitutional rights, he said, especially if they practice other religions.

The court is moving into some really dangerous territory here, said Lopez, who is now a law professor at Rutgers University in New Jersey.

But Andrea Lucas, a current EEOC commissioner appointed by Trump, said the case highlighted that many companies view workers' religious liberty as an afterthought.

"Companies and their lawyers should take findings of religious discrimination as seriously as discrimination based on race (or) sex," Lucas said.

ADF's chief legal counsel, Jim Campbell, said the group was "happy to help" by providing training on laws barring religious discrimination.

Every company should respect religious liberty and diverse viewpoints in the workplace," Campbell said in a statement.

Southwest has maintained that Carter was fired for harassing coworkers about the Women's March on social media in violation of a company "civility policy."

A jury last year found that Southwest and Carter's union had engaged in religious discrimination. Starr ordered them to pay Carter more than $800,000 and reinstate her to her job.

Southwest and the union are appealing that decision, which also required the airline to notify employees of their right to express their religious views on social media.

Starr on Monday said Southwest flouted that order by instead telling employees that "the court ordered us to inform you that Southwest does not discriminate against our employees for their religious practices and beliefs."

Southwest in a memo drafted by the three lawyers - Kerrie Forbes, Kevin Minchey, and Chris Maberry - also defended Carter's firing and said it would continue enforcing its social media policy.

(Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York; Editing by Deepa Babington and Jonathan Oatis)
By Mayela Armas and Marianna Parraga

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's opposition-led National Assembly on Tuesday approved a proposal by committees overseeing the country's foreign assets to extend for five years the validity of billions of dollars in defaulted bonds issued by the government and state firm PDVSA.

The proposal opens the door to negotiations for debt repayment and restructuring, reducing the risks of additional legal actions in U.S. courts, where creditors have flocked to enforce awards related to expropriation cases and defaulted payments by Venezuela.

"It is necessary that, before the peremptory expiration date, since bondholders see opportunities to sue to obtain compensation... the National Assembly agrees to extend the bonds' expiration date," said lawmaker Jose Salazar during the session.

The decision's main goal is to achieve an "organized financial restructuring" of Venezuela's about $60 billion in external debt, so it encourages bondholders to avoid legal action during any debt restructuring talks.

President Nicolas Maduro and PDVSA made a similar move earlier this year. But since Maduro's government is not recognized by Washington, talks with bondholders to suspend statute of limitations on the debt have not progressed much.

Venezuela has two congresses, but only the one controlled by the opposition is recognized abroad and has received U.S. authority to negotiate any external debt payments. Following U.S. oil sanctions on the South American country in 2019, the opposition-led National Assembly has appointed commissions and boards to oversee Venezuela's foreign assets.

The Maduro administration halted payments to bondholders in 2017. In October, the default will have completed its sixth year, triggering legal options to claim the money.

The bonds' extension and any possible negotiations with bondholders, which are pending U.S. approval, do not imply that Venezuela would resign its right to foresee legal action to protect assets if necessary, according to the agreement.

(Reporting by Mayela Armas and Marianna Parraga; Editing by Gary McWilliams and Jonathan Oatis)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. Armenia is deliberately trying to manipulate the international publics opinion and pursues the continuation of illegal activities in the territories of Azerbaijan, Shervin Najafpour, Chairwoman at Cultural bridge builder organization (CAN)  voluntary organization that works with bridge building between Norway and Azerbaijan, said, Trend reports.

"Azerbaijan is falsely accused of isolating its Armenian residents from the rest of the world without access to food, water, medicine, fuel and electricity. Azerbaijan is willing to meet all the needs of Armenians, offering an open road between the district of Aghdam and Khankendi," she said.

Referring to her social media findings, Najafpour says that people in Khankendi seem to have an active social life, which once again shows that Armenia is deliberately manipulating the media narrative, as well as international public opinion, and that the claims of the "humanitarian crisis" and the "blockade" are pure political manipulation.

Meanwhile, in order to prevent the illegal transfer of personnel, ammunition, mines, and other military equipment from Armenia to Armenian armed formations in the territory of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan established a border checkpoint at the beginning of the Lachin-Shusha road, on the border with Armenia, on April 23, 2023. Since then, the Armenian population of Karabakh has been given the opportunity to freely travel through the Lachin border checkpoint from the Azerbaijani side.

Azerbaijan regularly allows the passage of vehicles belonging to the Red Cross for the delivery of medicines, and other necessities to the residents of Karabakh.
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris?smiles as she stops at Rewild, a plant shop in the Historic Eastern Market, during a tour of small businesses on Jobs Day in Washington, U.S., August 4, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Wurm/File Photo

By Jarrett Renshaw

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - The Biden administration moved on Tuesday to boost wages and worker protections on federally funded construction projects, drawing the ire of trade groups that warn the union-friendly changes could curtail investment.

Vice President Kamala Harris celebrated the new labor reforms at a Philadelphia union hall, calling the administration unapologetically pro-union.

"When union wages go up, everyone's wages go up. When unions are strong, America is strong," she said, adding that the policies would give workers a "raise."

The trip marks the latest in a string of visits by U.S. President Joe Biden and his administration to the electoral battleground state of Pennsylvania to court unions, a core constituency of his Democratic Party even as many rank-and-file members favor Republicans.

By making changes to a 1930s law, the Labor Department seeks to boost wages and protections as the federal government spends billions of dollars on new roads and bridges, and expanding industries like computer chips and green energy.

The Davis-Bacon Act of 1931 tasks the government with establishing wage floors - known as prevailing wages - that apply to construction projects funded by the federal government. Today, it applies to more than one million construction workers on $200 billion of such projects, the administration said.

Biden ordered the review of the labor law early in his administration. It will become effective in roughly 60 days.

Trade groups have long criticized the prevailing wage requirements, saying they discourage small businesses from seeking federal contracts.

The rule changes the way prevailing wages are calculated, basing them on the average wages paid to at least 30% of local workers, instead of the 50% threshold set in 1983. That raises the wage the government can set because they can eliminate more lower-wage workers from the calculation.

The Labor Department must currently periodically survey contractors and other parties to update wage rates, but will now be able to adopt prevailing wages determined by local governments, issue wage determinations for jobs when data is lacking and update outdated wage rates.

The change will add a new anti-retaliation provision to protect workers who raise concerns and strengthens the government's ability to withhold money from a contractor in order to pay employees their lost wages.

"This is yet another Biden administration handout to organized labor on the backs of taxpayers, small businesses and the free market," said Associated Builders and Contractors official Ben Brubeck.

Biden won 57% of union households nationwide in the 2020 election compared with 40% for Trump, according to Edison Research.

(Reporting By Jarrett Renshaw; Editing by Trevor Hunnicutt and Alistair Bell)
FILE PHOTO: Semi truck trailers are pictured at freight trucking company Yellows terminal near the Otay Mesa border crossing between the U.S. and Mexico, after the company filed for bankruptcy protection, in San Diego, California, U.S., August 7, 2023

(Reuters) - Trucking company Yellow Corp's assets have attracted significant bidders and their sale could likely surpass the company's $1.4 billion in secured debt, Fox Business reported on Tuesday, citing people with direct knowledge of the matter.

That means stock holders will get a payday if significant unsecured debt creditors do not emerge, Fox Business reporter Charles Gasparino said in a post on X social media platform, formerly known as Twitter.

Shares of the company closed 24% higher in regular trading after the news. They fell 16% in extended trading.

Yellow, a dominant player in the "less-than-truckload" segment, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday, leaving some 30,000 workers looking for new jobs.

The company blamed the International Brotherhood of Teamsters for the bankruptcy filing. The union represents about 22,000 of its employees.

Gasparino said that bidders were lining up for Yellow's assets because the company would be free of Teamsters membership in bankruptcy.

Yellow is also likely to seek damages representing its entire enterprise value of $1.5 billion from the Teamsters, Gasparino said.

(Reporting by Ananta Agarwal in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli)
Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On August 7, 2023, ADT Inc., a Delaware corporation (ADT), Iris Buyer LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (Purchaser), and, solely for certain purposes set forth in the Purchase Agreement (as defined below), Fire & Security Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, entered into an Equity Purchase Agreement (the Purchase Agreement). Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Purchase Agreement, Purchaser has agreed to acquire from a wholly-owned subsidiary of ADT all of the issued and outstanding equity interests of Fire & Security Holdings, LLC (the Transaction), which directly or indirectly holds all of the issued and outstanding equity interests in the subsidiaries of ADT that operate ADTs Commercial business (the Commercial Business).

The purchase price to be paid to ADT in connection with the Transaction is $1,612,500,000 in cash (the Purchase Price), subject to certain customary adjustments as set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

The Purchase Agreement provides that completion of the Transaction is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of customary closing conditions, including, among other things, obtaining certain required regulatory approvals.

The Purchase Agreement contains representations, warranties and covenants related to the Commercial Business and the Transaction, which the Company believes are customary for transactions of this type.

The representations and warranties of ADT and Purchaser contained in the Purchase Agreement have been made solely for the benefit of the parties to the Purchase Agreement. In addition, such representations and warranties (a) have been made only for purposes of the Purchase Agreement, (b) have been qualified by confidential disclosures made to Purchaser in connection with the Purchase Agreement, (c) are subject to materiality qualifications contained in the Purchase Agreement which may differ from what may be viewed as material by investors, (d) were made only as of the date of the Purchase Agreement or such other date as is specified in the Purchase Agreement, (e) have been included in the Purchase Agreement for the purpose of allocating risk between ADT and Purchaser rather than establishing matters as facts and (f) will not survive consummation of the Transaction. Accordingly, the Purchase Agreement is included with this filing only to provide investors with information regarding the terms of the Purchase Agreement, and not to provide investors with any other factual information regarding ADT or Purchaser or their respective subsidiaries, affiliates or businesses. Investors should not rely on the representations and warranties or any descriptions thereof as characterizations of the actual state of facts or condition of ADT or Purchaser or any of their respective subsidiaries, affiliates or businesses. Moreover, information concerning the subject matter of the representations and warranties may change after the date of the Purchase Agreement, which subsequent information may or may not be fully reflected in ADTs public disclosures. The Purchase Agreement should not be read alone, but should instead be read in conjunction with other information regarding the parties, the Transaction and other documents that ADT will file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC).

The foregoing description of the Purchase Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Purchase Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 2.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

On August 8, 2023, ADT issued a press release announcing the entry into the Purchase Agreement (the Press Release). A copy of the Press Release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

The information in Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto, is being furnished to the SEC and shall not be deemed filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section. This information shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

Forward-Looking Statements

ADT has made statements in this Current Report on Form 8-K that are forward-looking and therefore subject to risks and uncertainties, including those described below. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this Current Report on Form 8-K are, or could be, forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and

2
false 0001781405 0001781405 2023-08-07 2023-08-07

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):

Odyssey Semiconductor Technologies, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware 333-234741 84-1766761 (State or other jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer of incorporation) Identification No.)

9 Brown Road

Ithaca , NY 14850

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

Registrants telephone number including area code: ( 607 ) 351-9768

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 ( 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ( 240.12b2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None.

Section 7  Regulation FD

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

On August 7, 2023, Odyssey Semiconductor Technologies, Inc. (the Company) published a press release to announce its financial results for the second quarter of 2023. On the same day, the Company held a conference call and webcast to discuss its financial results for such periods and made available on its website the webcast.

Copy of the press release is furnished hereto as Exhibit 99.1. The information contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K (including the exhibits) is being furnished and shall not be deemed filed for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as otherwise expressly stated in such filing.

Section 9  Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c) Exhibits

Exhibit No. Description 99.1 Press Release of Odyssey Semiconductor Technologies, Inc., dated August 7, 2023 104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Odyssey Semiconductor Technologies, Inc. August 8, 2023 By: /s/ Mark Davidson Name: Mark Davidson Title: Chief Executive Officer

ATTACHMENTS / EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT 99.1

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0001487952 FALSE      0001487952 2023-08-08 2023-08-08





UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):

Vishay Precision Group, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Delaware 1-34679 27-0986328 (State or Other Jurisdiction of (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer Identification Incorporation or Organization) Number)

3 Great Valley Parkway, Suite 150 Malvern , PA 19355 (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

( 484 ) 321-5300

(Registrants Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered Common stock, $0.10 par value VPG New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (240.12b-2 of this chapter). Emerging growth company  If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. 









Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Conditions.

Vishay Precision Group, Inc. (the "Company") issued a press release on August 8, 2023 announcing results for the second quarter of fiscal 2023. The Company will hold a conference call at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time on August 8, 2023 to discuss its results for the second quarter of fiscal 2023. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K and shall not be deemed to be filed for any purpose.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.









SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Vishay Precision Group, Inc. Date: By: /s/ William M. Clancy Name: William M. Clancy Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer





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YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan  A new squadron appeared at this airlift hub in late July, a command unit that now has authority over Air Force special investigators throughout Japan.

The 9th Field Investigations Squadron, newly activated by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and commanded by Lt. Col. Adam Kurzen, stood up July 25 at a ceremony on Yokota Air Base.

The squadron will be creating an additional layer of leadership to engage with higher headquarters and Government of Japan counterparts, according to an Air Force news release.

The squadron will act as the central command for special investigators in Japan and strengthen tactical and operational support to U.S. and Japanese agencies that are OSI partners, Kurzen told Stars and Stripes by email in response to questions forwarded to him by the Office of Special Investigations Headquarters.

With the 9th Field Investigations Squadron as the command hub, the detachments at Yokota, Kadena, and Misawa air bases will continue to identify, exploit and neutralize diverse threats in the criminal, intelligence and terrorism realms throughout Japan, Kurzen said in the email Thursday.

The new squadron is now one of over 260 OSI field units worldwide that investigate intelligence threats, terrorism, fraud, sexual assaults and other crimes.

The new squadron will also provide a communications channel between the senior leaders of U.S. Forces Japan and the 5th Air Force, both headquartered at Yokota, Kurzen said in the email Thursday.

Kurzen did not respond to an Aug. 2 interview request from Stars and Stripes, but his record provides an example of the type of work Air Force investigators do.

In 2014 he was awarded a Bronze Star for his service in Afghanistan that led to the capture of seven Taliban insurgents along with weapons caches and improvised explosive devices.

Kurzens team in Operation Steel Trap also extinguished a terrorist financing organization involved in the theft of military equipment from Bagram airfield.

His leadership led to the termination of the companys contract, the ejection of 42 workers involved in the theft and the recovery of more than $600,000 in mission critical assets, according to a June 13, 2014, news release from Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., about the award.

The squadrons activation is the second special investigations unit activated at Yokota this year, the first being the Office of Procurement Fraud Detachment 8 in May.

Air Force investigators often work alongside other agencies to solve cases.

Air Force investigators, the IRS and the Army Criminal Investigations Division uncovered a major fraud case involving Keith Seguin, a former federal employee who pleaded guilty in April to accepting more than $2.3 million in bribes to funnel $100 million in contracts to specific companies, according to an April 25 news release from OSI.
NICOSIA, Cyprus  A multinational force is helping Cyprus fight stubborn wildfires in the summer heat, with Israel joining Lebanon, Greece and Jordan in sending aircraft to fight a blaze that has scorched miles of mountainous terrain, officials said Monday.

Israel said two "Air-Tractor" firefighting aircraft, ground crews and wildfire experts along with six tons of flame retardants were on their way to the island nation, adding to the 20 tons of material that Greece is sending.

Lebanon is pitching in with a pair of helicopters, while two Greek Canadair aircraft have been dispatched to help douse the fire in the mountains about 11 miles north of the coastal town of Limassol. Jordan has sent three aircraft of its own, including two Super Puma helicopters and a Russian-made Mi26 helicopter.

The multinational effort is battling a blaze that according to Agriculture and Environment Minister Petros Xenophontos scorched around 3.2 square miles of land.

Xenophontos said the fire had been largely contained overnight but had rekindled along several areas Monday, forcing air and ground crews to again mobilize. He said crews would remain at the scene for as long as needed to counter any flare-ups.

"Fires are here, climate change exists and unfortunately it won't go away," Xenophontos told reporters at a fire coordinating hub near the fire.

Justice Minister Anna Koukkides-Procopiou told reporters late Monday that firefighting aircraft would again operate early Tuesday as a precautionary measure to snuff out any potential pockets of fire because of concerns over rekindling in some areas.

Fire Department spokesman Andreas Kettis had earlier posted on the platform known as X, formerly Twitter, that ground crews were working to hem in the blaze by building firebreaks.

Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou tweeted on X that he has given instructions for an initial estimate of the damage to private and state-owned property.

Officials said the residents of three villages have returned to their homes after being instructed to evacuate as a precaution.

Gregoriou, who surveyed the area by helicopter along with the country's fire chief, told state broadcaster CyBC that "hundreds" of fire fighters, including volunteers, managed to contain the fire overnight because winds had died down considerably.

The fire started Friday, but authorities said a day later it had been contained.

Xenophontos said the fact that the fire reignited "is something that concerns us" and would be looked at by officials over the next few days. He downplayed suggestions that it may have been the work of arsonists, saying that strong winds were lashing the spot where the fire is believed to have reignited.

Some firefighters who have been on the front lines have been relieved to rest up for any possible fires elsewhere on the island, the minister said.

Associated Press writer Elena Becatoros in Athens, Greece contributed.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. The so-called "activist" Artur Osipyan from Azerbaijan's Karabakh urged to abandon attempts to deceive the world by claiming Armenian residents of Karabakh are starving to death, Trend reports.

He made the remark in response to Armenian media regarding "food problems" for Armenian residents of Azerbaijan's Karabakh region and rumors about the residents' food supply, denying these claims.

He stressed that the separatist regime of Karabakh exploited this region for 30 years, refuting that the bread queues are due to the so-called 'blockade' by Azerbaijan.

"One part lived well while others struggled to afford bread," Osipyan added.

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 of November 10, 2020), and as an adequate response to the unilateral establishment of a border checkpoint by Armenia on the border with Azerbaijan on April 22, 2023, at the entrance to the Lachin-Khankendi road contrary to the trilateral statement of November 10, 2020, on April 23 this year, 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.

Despite the fact that Azerbaijan ensured the passage of Armenian residents, representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Russian peacekeeping contingent through the border crossing, the Armenian side spread false allegations about the alleged "tense humanitarian situation" in the region in order to continue its illegal activities in our territories.

At the same time, Armenia committed provocations, such as shelling Azerbaijan's border guards on June 15, an attempt at smuggling, sending trucks to the territory of Azerbaijan on July 26 without permission.

Moreover, despite the fact that Azerbaijan put forward a number of proposals for meeting the needs of Armenian residents of Karabakh, including the use of the Aghdam-Khankendi road and other alternative roads, and they were supported by the European Union and the ICRC, the Armenian side opposes these proposals and blocked the entrance to the territory by erecting concrete barriers on alternative roads. All this once again showed that its statements about the "humanitarian situation" are political blackmail.
(Tribune News Service)  Robert Fowler had just graduated from Kern County Union High School, the campus that would later be known as Bakersfield High, when he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps at age 17. Nearly seven decades later, in 2012, he flew on the maiden voyage of Honor Flight Kern County and came home to Bakersfield, Calif., a changed man.

World War II airman, working man, husband, father and friend, Fowler outlived many of those who loved him. He died Wednesday at the retirement community where he had lived for a number of years. He was 97.

"I was there with him," said Fowler's nephew, Don Fowler, himself a Vietnam War veteran.

"He died peacefully, and he died without pain," the younger Fowler said. "I asked him if he was in any pain. He could hear me, and he indicated no."

Attendants at the facility had pushed Fowler's bed up against the wall in his room, and taped photos of Beverly, his late wife, to the wall next to the bed.

"On that last day, he was reaching toward the photos," Don Fowler said. "He loved his wife. He missed her dearly."

It was 1944, and the world war had been raging for years when Fowler and his classmates finally received their diplomas.

He was soon on his way to basic training like millions of other young Americans who served in the armed forces during World War II. After enduring weeks of boot camp in Biloxi, Miss., in the Deep South, the recruit eventually headed north to his duty station in Fairbanks, Alaska.

"I went to Alaska as part of a B-29 group," he said in an interview last year.

Fowler was referring to the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, a four-engine, propeller-driven bomber that extended the strike range of American air power during the war.

As part of the ground crew, Fowler helped keep the planes in the air.

Walter Grainger, a Bakersfield resident who also graduated from Kern County Union with the class of '44, joined the U.S. Navy after graduation. He said boys like he and Fowler didn't have the luxury of slowly putting away childish things.

"You grow up quicker," he said of serving during wartime.

After the war, Fowler married Beverly in 1949. They raised one adopted son, Ronnie Fowler. Ronnie died more than 20 years ago.

After the war, Robert Fowler went to work in maintenance and operations for the Kern High School District, where he labored for more than three decades.

"He was a painter, and eventually became a painter foreman," said Don Fowler.

In 2012, the aging World War II veteran became one of just 21 vets to embark on Kern County's first Honor Flight to the nation's capital.

His death leaves only one surviving veteran from that flight.

"That's when I first met Robert. I was his guardian on that first flight," said Charlie Wilmot, a Vietnam combat veteran who has volunteered as guardian on a record 25 flights.

As an Honor Flight volunteer from the beginning, Wilmot has become friends with many of the men who had the Honor Flight experience. And he's suffered the loss of many of those friends in the past decade.

"This one hurts a little bit more," he said of Robert's passing.

"It's painful when any of our veterans pass away," he said. "But Mr. Fowler, he was an 11-year relationship after that first flight."

Robert's wife, Beverly, his closest companion for 68 years, died in 2017. And Wilmot went through that loss with him.

Over the years, he could see his friend slowly decline.

"You know it's coming, but it's still a shock," Wilmot said. "Man, we really didn't sign up for this. It kind of slaps us upside the head as a group."

It's a double-edged sword, he said. The men and women on these flights are all getting on in years. And yet something in them is awakened on these trips.

Children and adults thank them in the streets. They receive letters and personalized cards from loved ones and strangers that express how proud they are of them.

"They are in tears during these experiences," Wilmot said. "They never forget that. They talk about Honor Flight 'til the day they die."

It changes their lives, he said. It changed Robert Fowler's life.

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Visit www.bakersfield.com

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Otis Thomas (29) is accused of striking the woman on the head, leaving her with a cut that had to be glued closed by a doctor

A Dublin man has been sent for trial accused of knocking his ex-partner unconscious with a vodka bottle after twice trying to choke her in a home invasion at her flat.

Otis Thomas (29) is accused of striking the woman on the head, leaving her with a cut that had to be glued closed by a doctor.

A book of evidence was served on him at Dublin District Court, where Judge Michele Finan returned him for trial to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Mr Thomas, with an address at Turnpike, Santry Cross, was charged with assault causing harm to the woman at her home on December 18 last year.

Two further charges were brought against him before he was sent for trial  another count of assault and producing the bottle as a weapon in the same incident.

Garda Ruairi Gleeson said Mr Thomas made no reply to the new charges after caution.

Judge Finan gave him the formal notice that he had 14 days to provide any alibi details to the prosecution.

She sent him forward to the next sittings of the circuit court, on a date in October.

Previously, the court heard it was alleged Mr Thomas pushed in the door of his exs flat, shouted at her and started to choke her, causing her to fall to the floor.

According to the prosecution, he then went to the kitchen and got an empty vodka bottle, went back to his ex and again tried to choke her. She began struggling and he allegedly struck her on the back of the head with the bottle, causing her to lose consciousness.
Liam Byrne and Kavanaghs son, Jack, are currently in custody in Spain fighting extradition to the UK as part of the same case

THOMAS Bomber Kavanagh has been charged in relation to firearms offences as part of the same investigation that has seen his son Jack and brother-in-law Liam Byrne fight extradition proceedings.

Kavanagh appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court this morning, along with co-accused Shaun Kent and Daniel McLoughlin.

Dubliner Kavanagh faces five charges: conspiracy to possess firearms without a certificate, possessing ammunition without a certificate, possession of a fire bull firearm  a weapon which can fire repeatedly without any pressure being added to the trigger  and possession of a dumdum bullet, which explodes prior to impact.

Kent and Kavanagh are also charged with conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

The court heard that the investigation centres on Encrochat handles and information received about firearms, some of which were hidden in Ireland.

The court also heard that 11 firearms are involved in the related charges and that Kavanagh will remain in custody to appear at the Central Criminal Court in London.

Kavanagh remained solemn faced throughout the proceedings from a lobby room and made no comments to the court.

The court heard that he had provided information in relation to the location of the weapons which were concealed in the Republic of Ireland.

He is already serving 21 years after he pleaded guilty to importing more than 30 million of cocaine and cannabis in a commercial-scale smuggling operation uncovered by the UKs National Crime Agency (NCA).

Liam Byrne and Kavanaghs son, Jack, are currently in custody in Spain fighting extradition to the UK, where it is alleged encrypted messages link the pair to a gang buying firearms for sale to other organised crime mobs.

Liam Byrne is arrested in Spain

Byrne was arrested as he holidayed on the island of Majorca  which is long associated with the Byrne Organised Crime Group and its leader, Thomas Bomber Kavanagh, who owns a waterside villa in the posh Cala DOr area.

Byrnes brother, David, a brother-in-law of Bomber, died at the Regency Hotel in 2016 when an attempt to assassinate Daniel Kinahan went wrong.

He later moved to Birmingham, close to Kavanagh and his sister Joanne, after the Criminal Assets Bureau raided his Raleigh Square home in Crumlin in March 2016.

In January 2017, a raid on a premises at Greenogue industrial estate, Dublin, uncovered Bomber Kavanaghs weapons stash, which resulted in the fall of his once-powerful gang.

The mob had been using a network of money launderers, organisers without major criminal convictions and seemingly-ordinary companies. Amongst them was Declan Brady, aka Mr Nobody, a childhood friend of Bomber, now serving a lengthy sentence.

Liam Byrne

Documents discovered in the raid were sent back to the UK  where Bomber was living in the posh Midlands suburb of Tamworth  and subsequently led to a major NCA investigation into an import-export firm.

Cops targeted his group in the UK and eventually a tracker device found with drugs in the port of Dover led officers to probe countless other drug shipments.

Thomas Kavanagh was jailed along with his co accused Gary Vickery and Daniel Canning, but a proceeds of crime case is still underway.

It focuses on Kavanaghs assets, including a haul discovered at his home Tamworth, Birmingham, which uncovered one hundred pairs of designer heels, 120 handbags, 36 pairs of Armani jeans, lines of Hugo Boss suits, closets full of Canada Goose and Moncler jackets and drawers full of expensive watches and jewellery valued at almost 500,000.

Cash in the region of 40,000 was found discarded around the house, stuffed into the back of the sofa and in a variety of Moschino, Gucci and Chanel handbags.

Police in the UK are also sifting through receipted purchases believed to be worth hundreds of thousands and recorded on high-end designer store cards where points were saved for discounts and access to services like personal shoppers.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. The remnants of the so-called "regime" in Karabakh region, internationally recognized part of Azerbaijan, continue attempting to "threaten" the country, thus further boosting anticipations of an anti-terrorism operation in the region, Trend reports.

The separatists' so-called "leader" Arayik Harutyunyan was the first to speak out.

He gave an "interview" announced for several days, conveying a message that he "has no intention of retreating or agreeing to Baku's demands".

Another person named Sargis Pogosyan, who identifies himself as the "commander of an armed group called the "Crusaders" made a statement which the "leader" of separatists didn't dare to.

"If the road to Karabakh isn't opened and the population isn't supplied with food by 6:00 (GMT +4), we'll open the road by force," Pogosyan said.

This statement further assures an impending anti-terrorism operation in Azerbaijan. Armenians seem to prepare another provocation. In this case, Azerbaijan has no other choice but to launch an anti-terrorism operation, as the terrorists have openly declared their intentions.

Significant construction and restoration work is underway in the areas liberated from Armenian occupation in Azerbaijan [following the 2020 Karabakh war], and former IDPs are returning to their homeland. However, terrorists leading armed formations, like Pogosyan, are attempting to disrupt Azerbaijan's plans for the "Great Return" with their provocations. Simultaneously, they aim to hinder the peace process between Baku and Yerevan.

These terrorist intentions pose a significant threat, both to the construction efforts and to the people returning to their homeland. Hence, with each passing day, Azerbaijan increasingly recognizes the need to neutralize these separatist terrorists to ensure the safety of its citizens.

While peace talks continue, the separatists and illegal armed groups are engaging in gunfire and making provocative statements, creating an abnormal situation.

Azerbaijan's patience has its limits. In a recent speech, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev reiterated that illegal armed groups must be removed from Karabakh.

Those elements disrupting the peace process must exit Karabakh, and those who resist must be dealt with. This is likely to happen soon, as it seems there's no other option. The separatists in Karabakh and their supporters are leaving no alternative.

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 of November 10, 2020), and as an adequate response to the unilateral establishment of a border checkpoint by Armenia on the border with Azerbaijan on April 22, 2023, at the entrance to the Lachin-Khankendi road contrary to the trilateral statement of November 10, 2020, on April 23 this year, 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.

Despite the fact that Azerbaijan ensured the passage of Armenian residents, representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Russian peacekeeping contingent through the border crossing, the Armenian side spread false allegations about the alleged "tense humanitarian situation" in the region in order to continue its illegal activities in our territories.

At the same time, Armenia committed provocations, such as shelling Azerbaijan's border guards on June 15, an attempt at smuggling, sending trucks to the territory of Azerbaijan on July 26 without permission.

Moreover, despite the fact that Azerbaijan put forward a number of proposals for meeting the needs of Armenian residents of Karabakh, including the use of the Aghdam-Khankendi road and other alternative roads, and they were supported by the European Union and the ICRC, the Armenian side opposes these proposals and blocked the entrance to the territory by erecting concrete barriers on alternative roads. All this once again showed that its statements about the "humanitarian situation" are political blackmail.
Ryan then asked the garda: do you want to learn?

The incident happened on the Liffey boardwalk in Dublin

A young man caught carrying a knife on the Liffey boardwalk asked gardai can you swim do you want to learn? as they struggled to arrest him.

Dane Ryan (30) made the threat as he kicked out at the gardai, called them scumbags and rats and told them they would regret it.

Judge Deirdre Gearty ordered a pre-sentence probation report and adjourned the case at Dublin District Court.

Ryan, with an address at McKee Park, Blackhorse Avenue, Dublin 7 admitted threatening to assault gardai, obstruction, possession of a knife and threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour.

Dublin District Court heard the incident happened at the boardwalk on Eden Quay.

Garda Ann Meenagh said she was on duty at 5pm on January 26 last year when she came across Ryan looking upset.

When she spoke to him, he stated he was depressed but he became abusive as she tried to get his details.

When she asked to search him, Ryan refused and said dont touch me, then became non-compliant and aggressive, the garda said.

The accused began swinging his arms and the garda tried to explain the reason for the search.

A knife was found in Ryans tracksuit bottoms and the accused resisted arrest, swinging his arms again, while threatening to bite and kick the gardai.

He kicked his legs out toward the gardai and asked can you swim? while looking toward the Liffey.

Ryan then asked the garda: do you want to learn?

The officers had to take him to the ground and restrain him, but his behaviour continued and he called them rats and scumbags.

He said we would regret it, Gda Meenagh told the court.

Ryan continued to be aggressive and abusive while they were waiting for transport to take him into custody.

After he was placed in the back of the patrol van, he hit and kicked the cell walls, continuing to be aggressive, the court heard

The garda agreed with the defence lawyer that she knew Ryan quite well.

The solicitor the asked the garda if she thought the accused was presenting much better in court.

I barely recognised him, she said.

Judge Gearty said she needed to see a probation report before finalising the case as theres obviously a story.

She remanded the accused on continuing bail to appear in court again on a date in October.
He also battered her around the head with a 15kg dumbell.

A roofer killed his girlfriend and their unborn baby girl in a frenzied attack with a pair of scissors because he wanted a boy, a court heard.

Liam Taylor, 37, stabbed Ailish Walsh 40 times at her home in Rectory Road, Stoke Newington, north London, on December 15 last year.

He slashed the mother-of-four a dozen times to her face, including her eye.

Some of the stab wounds were directed at the 22 week old foetus and his partner's genitals, the Old Bailey heard.

He also battered her around the head with a 15kg dumbell.

Taylor was upset about Ms Walsh's latest pregnancy because he had two girls and wanted a boy.

Ms Walsh, 28, had been trying to break up with Taylor because she thought he was seeing another woman and had found him taking cocaine.

Taylor, who went out to buy rum, coke and cigarettes after the killing, told police that wont bring her back though will it when he was arrested.

He added: Its crazy how one moment of madness can change your whole life."

Ms Walsh had four children aged between six and 10 from a previous marriage in Ireland.

Ailish Walsh

Taylor was jailed for a year in 2020 for beating his mother in the head and face with a metal pole.

On the day of the murder, Taylor and Ms Walsh were messaging about going Christmas shopping after work.

Ms Walsh worked in St James Kitchen cafe in Walthamstow and had told colleagues how excited she was about the pregnancy.

At 3pm, Ms Walsh texted Taylor and asked about another woman and whether he had been talking to her.

Taylor said he went to school with the woman but said he had not done anything with her.

Ms Walsh did not believe him and told him to leave the flat and that she was going to pack her things.

Taylor told his boss he needed the next day off to move out of the flat.

Ms Walsh went home and discovered Taylor taking cocaine.

She texted her father saying she wanted him out of the flat because he was taking drugs.

Her fathers friend rang her at 21.09 and heard a commotion, muffled noise and Ms Walsh screaming no.

Taylor was heard saying you cant do that to me, I wont let you do that to me.

A neighbour heard the scream over her noise cancelling headphones.

Ms Walshs father Larry Goulding went to the flat with his friend Joseph Crean.

Prosecutor Jane Osborne, KC, said earlier: When they got to the flat, the main door downstairs was open as was the door to the flat.

They went in looking for Ms Walsh but the layout of the flat was such that when the front door was open, the door to the bedroom was obscured.

Larry Goulding went straight to the lounge of the flat but as Mr Crean closed the front door to the flat, he saw the legs of a female on the floor in the bedroom and shouted for Mr Goulding.

As the two men entered the bedroom, they could see Ms Walsh on the floor.

There was a 15kg dumbbell on her right leg and there was a pair of scissors on the floor. There was blood all over the carpet.

Ms Walsh was covered from the waist upwards by two or three jackets which had been laid over her covering her upper body and her face.

When Mr Goulding entered the room, he immediately removed the jackets and pulled Ms Walsh into his lap.

Her face was then visible and was badly hurt, swollen and bloody.

Neither of the two men had mobile telephones with them so Mr Crean ran from the flat to see whether he could find a passer-by to call the police.

He managed to persuade a male in the street to allow him to use his phone and called for the emergency services.

They were directed to the top floor flat and found Larry Goulding still cradling his daughter in his lap on the floor.

Ailish Walsh was not breathing and although the officers carried out CPR until the ambulance crew arrived, her injuries had already proved fatal.

The post-mortem would later reveal that one of the stab wounds had severed her jugular vein.

Her father told police he thought Taylor was responsible and showed them his photo.

Ms Walsh and Taylor were seen on CCTV entering the flat together at 8.36pm, with Taylor wearing a blue t-shirt, black gilet, dark blue hat, light trousers.

At 9.06pm Taylor left the property in a black coat and pyjama style bottoms, holding a can of drink, before returning at 21.08pm.

At 9.14pm he left again wearing a khaki green t-shirt and blue jeans.

Ms Osborne said: The defendant, having spent two minutes outside the property, can properly be inferred to have re-entered the property, armed himself with the scissors and/or the dumbbell and attacked Ms Walsh with such ferocity that at 9.09pm the struggle between them could be heard, with the defendant described as breathless.

Within five minutes of that telephone call, the totality of the injuries had been inflicted on the deceased, the defendant had covered her with coats, taken her phone, changed his clothing, and left the property.

Taylor went to the White Hart pub on Stoke Newington High Street and told the bar tender he had been attacked, before ordering a triple rum and coke.

He visited a supermarket and bought a packet of B&H Super Kings cigarettes and a packet of Durex Pleasure Me condoms.

The killer then sent a text to Ms Walshs dads friend on her mobile phone saying its OK Liam angry I attacked him were sorting things out please ring him. Xxxxx.

Taylor went to another flat he had access to in Seymour Road, Haringey, where he and Ms Walsh had previously lived and neighbours saw him drunk in the corridor.

He was arrested at the flat on 16 December 2022.

There was evidence of cocaine use in the flat with small bags, rolled up paper and traces of white powder.

He told police he had been taking cocaine, cannabis and alcohol.

In 2015, Taylor was imprisoned for 12 months for head-butting his 16-year-old sister and in 2020 he was convicted for hitting his mother repeatedly to the head and face with a metal pole.

The couples neighbour heard arguments between them in the lead up to the murder.

They had been in a relationship since 2021.

Ms Walshs father Laurence Goulding said in a victim impact statement summarised to court how difficult it was to have to bury his daughter, and that he is angry she is gone.

He said he felt isolated as he has a terminal illness and Ailish had been his carer before her death.

The prosecution argued Taylor intended to kill the unborn baby but did not bring a charge of child destruction as the baby was within the legal limit for abortion and would not have survived outside the womb.

Taylor, previously of Rectory Road, Stoke Newington, admitted murder.

He has not had the courage to face the family in court and was absent again today (Tues) in a hearing to determine exactly how the injuries were caused.

Taylor is due to be sentenced tomorrow.
Dr Syed Waqas Ali Bukhari (34) was finally suspended from practising medicine in Ireland last month

Dr Syed Waqas Ali Bukari faces jail time for motor offences if he ever returns to Ireland

A drug-driving doctor who was facing five months behind bars for a series of motoring offences has fled the country and is unlikely to return to face justice.

Dr Syed Waqas Ali Bukhari (34) was working as a highly respected surgeon in Ireland when he ran up a string of convictions for offences including driving while under the influence of cannabis, drink driving, driving without insurance or a licence, using two fake driving licences and speeding at over 200kph.

He was finally suspended from practising medicine in Ireland last month after failing to abide by undertakings he had given to the High Court in relation to his behaviour and continuing to drive while banned from doing so.

The Sunday World can reveal the details of a Pakistani newspaper article and a false glowing reference which finally led to the High Court President suspending Dr Bukhari from practising medicine here.

Cavan Circuit Court last month also confirmed a five-month sentence previously handed down by the District Court in relation to his offending.

Dr Bukhari, who had been based in Cavan General Hospital, had appealed against two separate five-month sentences for driving offences but left Ireland for Pakistan on the eve of the appeals and has not returned.

The appeals were struck out at Cavan Circuit Court at separate hearings last month and in February of this year.

While Dr Bukhari will not be extradited from Pakistan over the offences, he will have to serve the jail sentences if he ever returns to Ireland.

Last September the Sunday World spoke to Dr Bukhari outside his Cavan home in relation to his convictions when he told us shit happens.

At the time, he was facing disciplinary proceedings at the Medical Council arising out of concerns about his convictions and drug use but he had not been suspended from practising after giving undertakings to the High Court.

He breached those undertakings and was once again given another chance but Mr Justice David Barniville finally suspended him two months ago after further information came to light.

At that stage Dr Bukhari was in Pakistan. He had broken off communication with the Medical Council for a number of months but eventually told them he had temporarily returned to Pakistan due to family issues.

He claimed he had not worked in a year and said he would give an undertaking that he wouldnt work in Ireland while a fitness to practice inquiry was ongoing, but asked that he not be suspended.

However, a Pakistani newspaper article revealed Dr Bukhari was back working in Pakistan.

Dr Bukhari also told the Sunday World that he had glowing work references when we spoke to him last year. I have like very good referees by colleagues and all given me excellent (recommendations).

Two of those references were claimed to have been provided by colorectal surgeon, Mr Pawan Rajpal.

However, Mr Rajpal contacted solicitors for the Medical Council on April 18 this year to say he had seen an article posted by Dr Bukhari on social media and he was concerned about misinformation which the surgeon was giving in Pakistan.

He also dropped the bombshell that he did not write a glowing reference provided to the Council which included the

statement that I have never found him to be intoxicated at work. As well as that, I have never seen Dr Bukhari compromise patients safety.

Mr Rajpal also said he had serious concerns about an article which appeared in the Daily Tarjuman newspaper in Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan earlier this year and which had been posted on social media by Dr Bukhari.

The Sunday World has tracked down a copy of this article and among other details it refers to Dr Bukhari having 10 years of work experience in the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland and being a senior member and surgical registrar in the UK.

In a ruling, Mr Justice Barniville said

he was now suspending Dr Bukhari from practising as the most important consideration was patient safety.
The three  two Albanians and a Romanian  appeared before a special sitting of Cork District Court following their arrest

There were no applications for bail made on behalf of any of the men

Three men have been charged following a 4.2m cocaine seizure in Cork.

The three  two Albanians and a Romanian  appeared before a special sitting of Cork District Court following their arrest on Saturday at Dunkettle on the outskirts of the city.

It is alleged that 60kg of the drug was seized following a major Garda and Revenue Commissioners/Customs and Excise operation.

Brothers Gentjan Dodaj and Donatel Dodaj of Paradise Road, Athlone, Co Westmeath, were charged alongside Daniel Afedoaei of Sli an Aifreann, Athlone, Co Westmeath with possession of cocaine and possession of cocaine for sale or supply on August 5 at Richmond, Dunkettle, Co Cork.

Judge Treasa Kelly was told that none of the three men made any reply to gardai when formally charged.

Detective Garda Gavin Curran gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution in the case of Gentjan Dodaj (39).

He charged the Albanian national at Togher Garda Station in Cork city at 6.52pm on Sunday.

Sergeant Pat Lyons applied for a remand in custody pending his next appearance before Cork District Court on August 14.

Mr Dodaj, who was wearing a black top and slacks, did not speak during the brief hearing.

Judge Kelly granted him free legal aid after she heard he had been in the process of setting up a business but was now without any income or assets.

Det Garda Val Russell gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution in the case of Daniel Afedoaei (22).

He charged Mr Afedoaei, who is a Romanian national, at Gurranabraher garda station in Cork.

Solicitor Dara Hayden made an application for legal aid in the case.

He said his client had been working as a mechanic but was of limited means.

Judge Kelly granted legal aid to Mr Afedoaei who was also remanded in custody to appear again on August 14.

The court was told an interpreter was required to assist Albanian national Donatel Dodaj (22).

Solicitor Shane Collins Daly said that his client only arrived in the State four weeks ago.

Since then he had been living with his older brother who was the first named accused.

Mr Dodaj was also assigned free legal aid and remanded in custody to appear before the court again by video link on August 14.

Bail applications were not made in relation to any of the three men.
John OConnor has lodged a planning application to build houses on a derelict site in Carrick-on-Suir even though he was extradited to Sweden earlier this year after going on the run.

John OConnor from Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary, at the Criminal Courts of Justice for an extradition hearing. PIC: Collins Courts

The plan submitted by John O'Connor for the site

Paving and driveway businessman John OConnor is currently serving a sentence in a Swedish prison

ONE of four brothers who carried out a massive 4.7 million driveway business tax dodge in Sweden is planning a property development in Co Tipperary despite being in prison.

John OConnor has lodged a planning application to build houses on a derelict site in Carrick-on-Suir even though he was extradited to Sweden earlier this year after going on the run.

OConnor, along with his brothers John, Mark and Darren OConnor, were convicted in Stockholm in 2021 following a huge police operation and was sentenced to three years and eight months.

John O'Connor ran a paving and driveway business

The brothers had run a paving and landscaping business but used false invoices and private bank accounts to funnel cash to Ireland instead of paying taxes.

The application by OConnor is seeking permission to build five houses on the site at New Street and Ball Alley Lane, in Carrick-on Suir, which has been derelict for some time.

The prime location had previously been targeted by developers, but plans were put on hold during the 2010 property crash and later acquired by OConnor.

The plan submitted by John O'Connor for the site

The plan is to build three three-storey terraced houses and two semi-detached single-storey homes on which had once been the site of a garage.

OConnor and members of the family are known to own a number of properties and businesses in the town, some of which have been leased out to third parties.

During the brothers trial in Stockholm two years ago details of some of the familys property interests emerged.

John O'Connor submitted plans for the site

Darren OConnor had filled out a registration form to allow him bid by phone for a house in Portlaoise, according to the evidence produced in court.

The address he gave on the form was the Shebeen Bar on Carrick-on-Suirs New Street.

The property up for auction, a fire-damaged house, sold for 85,000 in 2019  far higher than the guide price of 15,000  and later went back on the market with an asking price of 250,000.

His wife Chantal when asked to explain financial transactions, told investigators she had inherited property from her grandfather which had been partially sold off and she used that cash.

Another brother, Edward, told investigators he had rental income from Irish properties that paid him about 2,000 a month.

The oldest of the brothers John, was described by the Swedish woman who did administration work, as the boss. He had been living in Sweden the longest and was the only one not to be ordered to be deported on completion of his sentence.

Last year, it was heard in the High Court OConnor absconded to Ireland in July 2022 after serving 647 days of his sentence when on temporary release.

He was arrested in Ireland under a Schengen Information Service on September 3, 2022 and his lawyers argued against his extradition at a hearing last November.

Judge Kerida Naidoo rejected the arguments in February and ordered his surrender to the Swedish authorities.

John OConnor is now back in custody in Sweden but is due for release near the end of the year.
The ex-UDA commander and now convicted sex beast was snared in Scotland when cops caught him red-handed

A former top loyalist terror chief was convicted in court this week of serious child sex charges, the Sunday World has learned.

But Gary Smickers Smith  a one-time leading member of Johnny Mad Dog Adairs notorious C Coy murder machine  escaped jail by the skin of his teeth.

The ex-UDA commander and now convicted sex beast was snared in Scotland when cops caught him red-handed sending online messages to people who he believed were children.

Smith was convinced he was communicating with a 12-year-old boy. And he was in the process of grooming him for sex when police pounced on the 59-year-old loyalist.

The one-time loyalist heavy from Belfasts Shankill Road, had bombarded his target with lewd pictures and messages.

But all the time he was talking to undercover cops who were running a sting operation aimed at catching dangerous paedophiles.

However, Sheriff Alister Watson stopped short of sending Smith to jail when he appeared before Kilmarnock Sheriff Court this week.

Smith was given three years supervision and placed on the Sex Offenders Register after admitting two contraventions of the Sexual Offences Act.

He had committed the offences in his home in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, between September and October 2021.

Gary Smickers Smith, left, with Johnny Adair at Drumcree

Smith was scooped when paedo-hunting police raided his home and seized a range of electronic devices.

A defence lawyer told the court that Smith put away 24 bottles of beer and snorted three grammes of cocaine most evenings and he was heavily intoxicated when he committed the offences.

But solicitor Gillian Swanney also told the judge: Mr Smith is genuinely ashamed of his conduct and he has acknowledged these are serious offences.

Sheriff Alister Watson told the father of two daughters: I had considered sending you to prison, but will step back as the public protection would be better served with you monitored in the community.

And he ordered Smith to undertake a drugs and alcohol awareness course and to complete a sex offenders programme.

He has also been banned from owning electronic devices, unless under strict conditions. And hes been told not to have unsupervised contact with children under 16.

Smith also admitted a further charge of breaching bail conditions by contacting or attempting to contact his former partner.

Gary Smickers Smith once ran a pet shop in the Shankill area. He fled his native Belfast for Scotland after he and other members of the UDA were exiled following a murderous feud with the UVF.

Man-mountain Smith came to public prominence when he appeared alongside Johnny Adair supporting a mass loyalist protest at Drumcree after Portadown Orangemen were banned from marching down the mainly Catholic Garvaghy Road.

Both were wearing T-shirts bearing the slogan: Simply The Best  Their Only Crime Was Loyalty.

Smiths career as a leading loyalist gunman came to an end in 1994 when he and other C Coy men were intercepted during a UFF operation to kill two top IRA men in the Riverdale area of west Belfast.

The following year he was sent down for 16 years when he was convicted of conspiracy to murder and the illegal possession of weapons. But he was released in 2000 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

In August of the same year, a balaclava-wearing Smith was one of a number of loyalist gunmen who appeared on stage firing an AK47 rifle in the air during A Day of Loyalist Culture organised by Johnny Adair.

Last night Adair said: Ive not heard from Smickers for years. The last I heard, he was living in Kilmarnock.
It reflects the work that is undertaken every week by gardai in Dublin

More than 500 people have been arrested in just one week as part of a Garda operation in Dublin that gardai say is to keep people safe.

Gardai on operational duty in the Dublin region in the last week made over 500 arrests, conducted more than 680 searches, and carried 1,500 patrols between Friday, July 28, and Thursday, August 3.

Gardai in the DMR on patrol, on the beat, and engaged in active investigations to prevent and detect crime made a total of 509 arrests with 89 for drug trafficking.

Officers carried out 689 searches with approximately 500 of these under the Drugs Act.

There were 1,538 patrols, of which 57 were part of Operation Citizen and 154 Operation Saul, involving patrols on and around public transport, and 196 road safety checkpoints

Gardai also attended nine protests during this period alongside high profile sporting events at venues around the region.

"This amount and variety of operational activity in one week across the Dublin region shows the dedication of gardai to actively work in communities to keep people safe, said Assistant Commissioner, DMR, Angela Willis.

It reflects the work that is undertaken every week by gardai in Dublin. In the last week alone, this has seen significant amounts of drugs taken off the streets, lives protected on our roads, and enabled people and communities to enjoy a variety of events safely,

During the week, gardai responded to three separate robberies at premises in Cherry Orchard, on the Ballyfermot Road and on Talbot Street between July 29 and 30.

Three men were arrested for these separate incidents, all of whom have been charged and have appeared before the Courts.

On August 2, at Parnell Street, a male on an eBike was found in possession of cannabis herb and resin, cocaine, MDMA and LSD. The combined valued is almost 17,660. The male has since been charged.

On the same day, gardai responded to a burglary call in Dublin 8, in which a male was disturbed and had fled from the house. This man was later located. He was arrested and charged.

On August 3, members of the Ballymun Drugs Unit were on Operation Tara patrol when they observed a male run from a car and into an apartment block. The car remained parked outside.

The apartment block and car were observed for a period of time. The Ballymun Drugs Unit stopped and searched the male upon exiting the apartment block. He was found in possession of MDMA powder, valued at 61,200, a number of ecstasy tablets and a small amount of Alprozolam. He was arrested and brought before the courts where he was remanded in custody.

As part of a Day of Action in the J & R Districts on August 3, a search carried out in the Donaghmede area resulted in the seizure of combined drugs valued at 39,400. One male was arrested and detained.

Gardai obtained a warrant and searched an address in the Clondalkin area on 3rd August 2023. The search was positive for cannabis, with approximately 4.1kg seized. This has an estimated value of 83,000. Approximately 16,000 in cash was also seized.

A male was arrested and taken to a Dublin Garda Station where he was detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.
Its understood the officers have been deployed elsewhere and the protection has been replaced with regular garda patrols.

Gardai have removed the 24-hour guard of Patsy Hutchs home in Dublins north inner city six years after the start of the bloody feud that claimed at least 18 lives.

Patsy (62) had been provided around-the-clock protection after the Kinahan cartel led by Danial Kinahan (46) tried numerous attempts to have him shot in the months and years after 2016 Regency hotel attack.

Its understood the officers have been deployed elsewhere and the protection has been replaced with regular garda patrols.

Nothing ever happened, thank God, said one local.

A source told the Sunday World that people in the area did feel safer when the car was present.

We heard it was removed due to resources, said another.

Protection removed

Gardai prevented a number of assassination attempts on Gerry Hutchs brothers life, most notably a 2018 plot which saw a gang caught in an underground car park on Gardiners Street in a vehicle containing assault weapons.

Gary Thompson and his brother Glen from Finglas, Dublin 11, were two members of a three-man hit for hire gang that targeted Patsy that day.

They pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court in July 2019 to unlawful possession of four firearms with intent to endanger life at Belmont Hall Apartments on March 10, 2018.

The third member of the gang, a former British army soldier, Robert Browne, received an 11 jail sentence for his role in that crime.

The four guns included a 9mm Rak submachine gun, a .38 Special Calibre Rossi Make Revolver, a 9mm Beretta 92 semi-automatic pistol and a 9mm Makarov semi-automatic.

The three-armed men were caught just 250 metres from Patsys home during the garda operation.

It was reported the hit team involved had planned on luring their victim out of his home by vandalizing the home of a neighbour on Sean McDermott Street.

Former Garda protection

The garda post had been in place since the Kinahan Hutch feud erupted and reportedly cost the state more than 1.5 million. Four gardai were present every day of the year at a reported cost of more than 3,000 a week and are set now to be replaced by regular patrols.

Meanwhile, it was also recently reported that Gerard Hutch has returned to Ireland after spending the past ten weeks living in Spain.

The 60-year-old arrived home on Monday of last week, having left Dublin for Spain on May 15th  after been cleared of the murder of the Regency hotel murder the month before.

Gerry Hutch

It is understood that Hutch intends to spend a couple more weeks in Ireland, where many of his loved ones still live, with a family base in Clontarf.

A source close to the patriarch of the Hutch family said that he is not in any way in hiding and that some members of An Garda Siochana are aware of his return.

It is understood that the man known as The Monk has not been issued with a new Garda Information Message (GIM) since his recent return to Dublin.
Another funny and unexpected result to taking to social media platforms was I started receiving texts and contacts from a lot of ladies.

Ian Bailey has opened up about how he met his new love following his split from long-term partner Jules Thomas.

Bailey, was speaking on the latest episode of his podcast, Ian Bailey: In His Own Words

That summer I was squeezed out of my slot at the Schull Sunday market, Ian said.

Ian Bailey

Ironically, along with Jules I had been one of the original traders. I continued to trade selling my two books in poetry and stories and my hand carved wood bowls as an independent rebel trader.

In October of 2021, I was admitted to what is known as temporary emergency accommodation. Fortunately for me, I found myself in a small cabin in Glencarriff run by a wonderful, friendly and protective and supportive family.

I also found a new love. A lovely, colourful, cultured lady who came and visited me. The lady was wonderful. She journeyed down to West Cork and that was the beginning of a lovely affair, and it gave me a great lift to be appreciated and loved for what I am, said Ian.

In May 2019, Mr Bailey was tried in absentia before a Paris criminal court and was convicted of the murder of French writer Sophie Toscan du Plantier. A French magistrate imposed a 25 year prison sentence.

Over the past 13 years, the French have attempted to extradite Mr Bailey on three separate occasions - with the extradition bids rejected by the Irish courts on each occasion

The Manchester-born poet was twice arrested by Gardai for questioning in relation to the death of Ms du Plantier in 1997 and 1998.

He was released without charge on both occasions and has always maintained his innocence.

On the podcast, Mr Bailey also explained how he has been trolled and even received a death threat since setting up social media accounts.

Two years ago, Mr Bailey decided to set up online accounts, with the help of a companion. This led to some negative feedback, which he reported to authorities.

There are few dark patches. In the summer of 2021 I lost my social media virginity. A friend helped me get set up on Facebook, Instagram, the social media platforms including one called Twitter, which I call Twatter.

I received one direct death threat on Facebook, which I reported to the guards and I also noted that I had become the subject of what is known as trolling on Twitter.

Sophie Toscan du Plantier

Because inadequate and sick individuals can operate behind anonymous Twitter handles, I became the subject of abusive twitterings, he said.

The English man further described the interest he says he has received from women and talks about being brought by an attractive woman on holiday to Kerry.

Another funny and unexpected result to taking to social media platforms was I started receiving texts and contacts from a lot of ladies. Some of them are extremely beautiful. I actually met a few of them and Im in touch to this day with some.

Having been so vilified, demonised and subjected to nastiness, it was great to be on the receiving end of admiration, love and affection and appreciation, Mr Bailey added.

Back in 2020, the High Court ruled that Mr Bailey cannot be extradited to France to serve a 25-year prison sentence imposed on him by a French court for the murder of Sophie 24 years ago.

Mr Justice Paul Burns said that, for an extradition to be allowed under the European Arrest Warrant Act 2003, there had to be reciprocity between Ireland and the country seeking the extradition.

Mr Baileys solicitor, Frank Buttimer said at the time: Mr Bailey is extremely relieved at the decision that has been made today. The impact on his life of the entire situation has been extremely challenging for him for the past 24 years. He always expresses his sadness and his sympathy for the late Madame Toscan du Plantier, whilst at the same time always maintaining his innocence in relation to anything or any connection to that dreadful crime.
Jail insiders say he is extremely lucky to be alive because the blade just missed his jugular vein.

A 31-year-old man is in a serious condition in hospital after he was stabbed in the neck during a vicious assault in Mountjoy Prison on Sunday evening.

The inmate, who is from Crumlin in south Dublin, was attacked in the exercise yard of the prison. A chief suspect has been identified in relation to the incident.

The victim is now in a serious condition after being rushed to the Mater Hospital, where he required two lifesaving operations in the early hours of Monday.

Jail insiders say he is extremely lucky to be alive because the blade just missed his jugular vein.

This could easily have been a murder  it was an assault of the most serious kind, a source said.

It is understood the victim was eight months into a sentence of around 18 months for robbery and other offences.

The stabbing is the subject of a garda investigation as well as a probe by the Irish Prison Service (IPS) but no arrests have yet been made.

The chief suspect for the attack is a career criminal in his mid-20s who is originally from Dublin but had been living in the west of Ireland before being jailed.

He has convictions for burglary, threats to kill and theft along with a variety of other offences.

The suspect is also known for threatening prison staff.

The stabbing victim was on a protection regime in Mountjoy Prison before the Sunday evening attack because he was under previous threat from fellow inmates.

One line in the investigation is that the stabbing may be linked to a drugs debt built up within the jail.

The victim has a large number of previous convictions and, in December 2014, he was jailed for four and a half years for his role in a number of violent crimes including stabbing a bus passenger during a robbery and attacking a taxi driver while taking his vehicle.

On that occasion, Dublin Circuit Court was told, he and another man viciously attacked the taxi driver before they tied him up and dumped him head first into a ditch.

The victim managed to free himself and was later treated for a skull and multiple facial fractures.

The man who was attacked in Mountjoy on Sunday was on bail for a Roscommon robbery at the time of the incidents.

At that time nine years ago, he had 57 previous convictions including robbery, threats to kill, possession of knives, theft and road traffic offences.

He continued to be involved in crime since his release from that sentence.

In a completely separate case in Mountjoy, an inmate was found dead in his cell about 3.30am on Tuesday morning.

No foul play is suspected in the prisoners tragic death.

The Irish Prison Service can confirm that there was a death of a person in the custody of the Irish Prison Service on August 8, 2023 and the next of kin have been notified, an IPS spokesperson said.

This death in custody will be investigated by the Irish Prison Service, the Inspector of Prisons and An Garda Siochana, where circumstances warrant. The cause of death is determined by the Coroners Office, she added.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. Information about the detention and arrest of Fazil Gasimov in Turkey in connection with the case of Gubad Ibadoglu has spread on social networks, Trend reports.

This information was confirmed by the press service of Azerbaijans Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Gasimov, who is wanted in connection with a criminal case, was escorted to Azerbaijan, detained by an Interior Ministry officer, and given over to the inquiry, according to the source.

Based on intelligence received from the Turkish Ministry of Internal Affairs, Azerbaijan's Ministry of Internal Affairs recently conducted operational measures against FETO members in Azerbaijan.

One of the five inmates admitted to knowing Ibadoglu. Based on this statement, Ibadoglu's office was searched, and papers relevant to the investigation were discovered, leading to Ibadoglu's arrest on July 23. He was charged under Article 204.3.1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan (production, purchase, or sale of counterfeit money or securities by an organized organization).
We are hoping to raise funds to elevate the financial pressure on both families at this heart breaking time. The funds will distributed equally between both families as agreed.

A GoFundMe page set up to help alleviate the financial cost on the relatives of tragic Dlava Mohamed and Kiea McCann, who were tragically killed in a crash on the way to their debs last week, has raised over 14,000 to help cover funeral costs.

The best friends were killed when the car they were travelling in crashed near Clones as they made their ways to the debs ball last Monday night.

The collision left two people  driver Anthony McGinn (60) along with a teenage sister of Dlava  in a serious condition in hospital. Kieas date, Oisin Clerkin, who was also a passenger in the car, suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

The GoFundMe site reads:

Mary White, Pat Donnelly, Ahmad Ali (Monaghan Fix) and myself are hoping to raise some funds.

To help towards the funeral costs for Kiea McCann & Dlava Mohammed. As most of you will know Kiea & Dlava were going to their debs ball on the 31/07/2023 they tragically lost their lives on the way in a car accident.

Tribute

We are hoping to raise funds to alleviate the financial pressure on both families at this heart breaking time. The funds will distributed equally between both families as agreed.

All donations to be done through the go fund me link please. Any donations however big or small are greatly appreciated.

As of this week, the page had received donations exceeding 14,000 to help with the burial costs of the two youngsters.

Frankie McCann, the father of Kiea, took to social media recently to thank the people of Clones, Co Monaghan and the surrounding areas for their support. He thanked the emergency services, first responders, Gardai, fire fighters and "everyone who attended and helped us.

Mr McCann also extended his thanks to "everyone in this small island of Ireland" and to people from all over the world.

The family has received messages and cards from across the globe.

"I would also like to give a massive thank you to funeral directors," he added.

A local motobike club paid tribute to the schoolgirls by revving their engines at the funeral last week.

Mr McCann thanked them for their "great support and the way they stood for me, as well community of bikers that came from the bit of my heart and my wife and family.

"Thank you so much God bless everyone," Frankies post concluded.

Donations can be made here.
So severe were his injuries that surgeons needed to amputate one of Dillon's legs

A Co Donegal man has suffered horrific burns after the crane he was operating touched power lines.

Dillon Feely, a father of one, from Laghey outside Donegal Town, suffered the life-changing injuries a week ago on August 1st.

The 27-year-old was operating a truck-mounted crane while working on a project in the Midlands when it struck an overhead power line.

Dillon suffered horrific burns and was airlifted to James Hospital in Dublin for life-saving treatment.

So severe were his injuries that surgeons needed to amputate one of Dillon's legs.

However, Dillon's family have said that doctors treating him are amazed that he has survived his ordeal.

HIs family are determined to give him the best possible chance of recovery and getting his life back.

A family friend said the next 12 months are vital for Dillon's recovery.

Dillon is only 27 years old, and he has a long life ahead of him but his accident has put his family's plans on hold.

"Doctors have warned that Dillon may be in various hospitals in Dublin for the next 12 months of recovery.

"During this time, he will have to undergo extensive treatment and adapt to his new life with life-changing injuries.

He has the full-support of his loving partner Aine as well as his parents David and Connie who are by his hospital bedside in Dublin.

With Dillon unable to work and facing major medical bills, his family have set up a Go Fund Me page to help with the costs.

We, Dillon's extended family, have decided to launch this GoFundMe campaign to lend a helping hand in any way we can.

"Dillon is a fighter, and he is determined to recover from this accident. With your help, Dillon and his family can focus on healing and rebuilding their life.

To donate anything you can to this worthy cause, go to: https://gofund.me/2aaea78e
Workers claim that they haven't received pay, including holiday pay, since the store shut its doors and took to the streets on Monday afternoon to demand answers.

07/08/2023 Dublin Ireland. Independent Workers Union rep Alex Homits speaking outside the Iceland shop on Talbot Street Dublin while the union protest over the closure. Photo: Sasko Lazarov/ RollingNews.ie

Iceland workers held a rally in Dublin on Monday over claims of unfair treatment as their sit-in protest continues.

Employees have been occupying the Talbot Street branch since the end of June after the supermarket chain announced the sudden closure of three of its Dublin branches  Talbot Street, Coolock, and Northside.

In an examiners report seen by sundayworld.com, 12 Iceland stores are listed as closed on a temporary basis.

The other stores are Roscommon, Fermoy, Douglas, Letterkenny, Clonmel, Wexford, Nenagh, Longford and Midleton.

14 other outlets remain open nationwide at present. The closures resulted in 160 staff being placed on temporary layoff and reduced hours in the stores that remain open.

The report also states that it is now clear that certain stores will be closed on a permanent basis and says this is necessary for the survival of the company.

The document also reveals a large quantity of food imported by the company would have to be destroyed.

A notice served on Iceland by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) earlier this year required the company to withdraw and recall all imported frozen foods of animal origin from all of its stores brought into Ireland since March 3.

It was revealed 239 products sold by Iceland could be in breach of EU regulations as they were not veterinary certified from within the EU.

An initial examiners report revealed the company had been ordered to destroy food worth 360,000.

The company had been subject to a notice of withdrawal and recall by the HSE on June 15, 2023, and Import Control Notices issued by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

A total of six consignments were affected by the Import Control Notices. Five were already in Ireland with a sixth waiting in Liverpool Port. The company has confirmed the food in the sixth consignment will also need to be destroyed.

The report notes: In my first report I made reference to efforts to return the goods from certain of the above consignments to Great Britain and this would have avoided otherwise good food from being destroyed. I confirm this was not possible despite all parties working together to secure a solution.

In February, Iceland sold all its stores in Ireland to The Project Point Technologies, owned by Naeem Maniar, who had previously held the Iceland franchise in Ireland from 2008 to 2013. Project Point is the owner of Metron Stores, which operates Icelands stores in Ireland.

Workers claim that they haven't received pay, including holiday pay, since the store shut its doors and took to the streets on Monday afternoon to demand answers.

Staff held a rally at the inner-city establishment at around 3pm with the help of the Independent Workers Union, fellow employees, locals, and progressively minded people.

The demonstration was supported by Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham, who told Independent.ie that he was there to support the workers in their plight, adding they had every right to protest.

Actor Liam Cunningham at the Iceland supermarket on Talbot Street, Dublin 1. Photo: Mark Condren

And local artist Adam Doyle (also known as Spicebag), who made headlines earlier this year for his controversial garda eviction piece, created a bespoke mural on the walls of the Talbot Street building in solidarity with the workers on strike.

Designed to look like a promotional campaign, the art includes a series of slogans such as You are now entering free Iceland, Employment ceased before store closed, Were unemployed for summer!, and Bills to pay, families to feed.

A man with a fish head sits at the right side of the mural alongside the words Something smells fishy.

Mural at Iceland

According to union representative Alex Homits, the day was a success, especially with the new murals messaging.

I think it went well for the August bank holiday. There was a good vibe and the new mural thats been put on the windows has been attracting a lot of attention as well, he told sundayworld.com.

Homits said the rally was necessary to highlight what he says is the injustice experienced by workers at the hands of Icelands new management.

A worker who wished to remain anonymous told sundayworld.com Iceland workers all over the country have been allegedly mistreated by the supermarkets new owners and are standing in solidarity with staff at the Talbot Street store.

Occupied Iceland store on Talbot Street

In her case, she is still unsure about her employment status as her store in Fermoy, Co Cork shut its doors four weeks ago.

However, she claims that staff received no explanation for the closure and have not officially been told that their jobs were gone.

The day we were told to close, we were asked to join a conference call. While we were on the call, they closed the doors. The next day they went in and changed the locks, she claimed.

A lot of us are owed money. Im owed holiday hours. The hope is that our jobs are safe, and we get what were owed  our holiday pay, our back pay, our redundancy.

I want clarity that our jobs are gone and well never get them back. We hear nothing... I want to make sure my job is gone before I apply for another job.

It just feels like were being ignored and disrespected.

Metron Stores Ltd was contacted for comment but have yet to respond.
In the pictures a delighted Dee is seen smiling and laughing as she is surrounded by pink and golden balloons

Conor McGregor has declared his love for Dee Devlin on her 35th birthday as he shared a series of snaps of his pregnant partner celebrating her big day.

The fighter posted the pictures on his Twitter (X) account this afternoon alongside the message: Happy birthday Mammy, I love you so much 

In the snaps, a delighted Dee is seen smiling and laughing as she is surrounded by pink and golden balloons while one of her kids poses with a Chanel bag on their head.

The UFC star announced last month on Live with Kelly and Mark he and fiancee Dee are expecting their fourth child together.

McGregor and Devlin who have been together since 2008 got engaged in August 2020.

Their first child, Conor Jr, was born in 2017. Since then, theyve welcomed Croia and Rian into the family as well.

In recent weeks Conor has been treating Dee with numerous gifts and special treats.

Last week he boasted how he dominates the Irish skies after taking a 8,900-an-hour private jet out for a spin to France to bring pregnant Dee away for some sun.

He shared some photos and videos of Dee posing in front of a hired Global Express XRS private jet at Dublin Airport shortly before they flew to Nice.

An Aer Lingus plane can be seen in the background as the UFC star joins his partner for some pre-boarding snaps.

Hey baby! Yes... he says in one clip before directing a question at the pilot, saying: Here, excuse me captain, will you take a picture please?

Briefly returning his attention to Dee, he says: Baby, you look so gorgeous, yeah, and as the pilot approaches the plane, McGregor once again asks: Captain, can you take a picture? Can you take one?

Conor McGregor invites bare knuckle fighter Joe Joyce to pub

Captioning the post, the father-of-three wrote: Its Aer Lingus, Ryanair, and McGregor Aero that dominate the Irish skies. Taking my baby for some sun, I love you Ma".

McGregor often hires private jets to get around with Dee and their three kids Conor Jr.

In a description posted by hire company centraljets.com, it is revealed that the Global Express XRS aircraft flies under the tail number LX-JNC and is operated by EAC Group.

Built in 2007 by Bombardier as part of their Global Express XRS series, the plane's interior was refurbished in 2020 while its exterior received a makeover in 2021.

The jet is based at Luxembourg Airport and can carry up to 13 passengers.

Photos of the interior show cream leather chairs with comfy cushions and plush carpets, while platters of fruit and veggies await passengers.

According to Paramount Business Jets, the average hourly rental rate of the Global Express XRS is around 8,900 per hour.

It comes after McGregor splashed out on a new 150,000 Range Rover for his wife-to-be Dee last month.

The fighter forked out for the top-end motor, which came with personalised number plates that paid tribute to his hometown of Crumlin by bearing the Dublin post code 12.

In the video posted by McGregor on his Instagram page, Dee is seen laughing and smiling as Conor points out all the features.

Sharing a clip as Dee sits in the driver's seat of the brown seven-seater that comes complete with cream interiors and leather seats, Conor says: I have ya in Rangers years, yeah? Since the start, I got ya into the Rangers, yeah?

As he glides an appreciative hand across the steering wheel, Conor exclaims: Look at this.

Look at that, he adds, as he pans the video across the front interior of the car. That is an absolute beauty. Wow.

He then turns the camera around to show the seats in the back, and adds: All the kids, yup - all the kids into the back of that. Ah yes, get up.
Did the Western Bay of Plenty District Council have the weather warnings it needed to reduce the damage caused by floods in Waihi Beach?

The council said it didnt, but the MetService and community members believe it did.

On May 29 heavy rain and thunderstorms lashed the coastal town causing flash flooding and the towns dam to overflow.

Katikati/Waihi Beach ward councillor Allan Sole lives in nearby Athenree.

I was aware that we had a warning for here [Waihi Beach].

I was aware of a very real risk that we were going to have a fairly major weather event, says Sole.

I can't comment on what happened at council's office, because I don't know what they were or weren't told.

I think the event was way bigger than anybody expected, most people probably did not expect such a heavy amount of rain over a fairly short time.

Councillor Allan Sole said he was aware of a very real risk that Waihi Beach was going to have a fairly major weather event. Photo: John Borren/SunLive.

The council recorded 67mm of rain between 1pm and 2.30pm out of a total of 91.4mm on May 29.

This caused the Waihi Beach dam to overflow for 40 minutes from 1.26pm.

The water rushed through the northern end of the town, filling up creeks, spilling over roads, flooding homes and the holiday park.

Twenty seven people were forced to evacuate their homes, including two families at the holiday park and 11 elderly residents from the council owned pensioner housing on Beach Road. The water quickly rose to window height, causing the pensioners to flee and leave everything behind.

WBOPDC Waihi Beach stormwater project leader James Abraham initially told Local Democracy Reporting the council didn't get the heavy rain warning until 45 minutes before the flooding happened.

However severe weather warnings were provided by Metservice in the days prior. A heavy rain watch was issued for May 29 for the Bay of Plenty about and west of Whakatane on May 27 at 9.51am. An hour later this was updated to include all the Bay of Plenty.

The watch was upgraded to an orange heavy rain warning on May 28.

Another was issued 9.35am on May 29, saying to expect 60 to 90 mm of rain, with peak rates of 15 to 25 mm/h between 9am and 9pm, with thunderstorms possible.

Water rose to window height in the front seven pensioner units on Beach Road. Photo: Susan Lean/Supplied.

So what was the basis of James Abraham's claim there was no warning until 45 minutes before the flooding occurred?

Asked to clarify if he meant they hadn't received a localised warning specific to Waihi Beach, Abraham replied, Western Bay of Plenty District Council did not receive a formal rain warning that would trigger our pre-heavy rain checks for the 29 May event, so we did not do a heavy rain warning inspection or lower the dam.

It was typically the councils process to lower the dam in instances of heavy rain warnings, he says.

We [the council] had also recently done a pre-rain check on May 18.

We're referring to the official rain warnings that are issued through MetService and we also receive them through our civil defence contacts.

The council shared a Bay of Plenty Civil Defence post about the rain warning on its Facebook Page on May 28.

In explanation, Abraham says that warning was for Bay of Plenty about and west of Whakatane including Rotorua, and Bay of Plenty east of Whakatane and Gisborne north of Tokomaru Bay.

He said the Metservice forecast that LDR questioned him about didn't include the Waihi Beach, Tauranga or Coromandel area.

LDR sought advice from the Metservice which provided a graphic of the area covered by the orange rain warning.

It clearly shows Waihi Beach was definitely included The Metservice orange heavy rain warning covered all of the Bay of Plenty. Image: Metservice.

Metservice also gave information about the heavy rain watches for the Coromandel Peninsula for May 29.

Three were issued on May 27, two on May 28 and one was issued at 9.35am on May 29. It forecasted periods of heavy rain where rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria between 9am and 5pm that day.

MetService meteorologist John Law says as well as the broadscale warning, there was also a severe thunderstorm warning issued on the day for Waihi Beach.

These were only issued once a thunderstorm had formed and could be tracked on the radar network, he said. This was issued at 2.11pm on May 29 and was valid until 3pm.

Waihi Beach resident Chris Stanaway is angry the council deny getting a warning.

The entire North Island had a weather warning, and the simple fact is that council put in writing that before every storm they would lower the dam.

In his view, had the council lowered the dam, his friends and familys seven raised caravans at the Tasman Holiday Park wouldnt have been damaged.

My auntys caravan got dragged 35 meters with the annex, and [the water] was waist deep inside. If she'd been in it at the time, [she] easily could have been dead.

Their [the councils] negligence is disgusting, he claims.

Work being done to repair One Mile Creek, that runs through the holiday park, after the flash floods. Photo: John Borren/SunLive.

Some areas of the town are flood prone and a similar flood happened in 2012 after a weather bomb hit the town. But Stanaway says: Its never happened like that before at the holiday park and his aunty's caravan had been in the same spot for 40 years.

Sole agrees the dam should have been lowered and said the incident should be recorded as a near miss.

It is conceivable [that] a loss of life may have been an issue if it was late at night or [in the] early hours of the morning.

There is potential that the height that that water got into some of the houses and in particular some of the pensioner flats [it] could have been an issue.

Waihi Beach Community Board chair Ross Goudie also agrees: They'd have been asleep and the water would've been up around their beds  up to the window tops and in the dark no one knows what's going on.

LDR went back to the council with the information from MetService and asked again if they received a warning.

The councils communications team referred LDR back to Abrahams previous comments and said they did not want to comment further on that or Stanaways views.

A draft list of stormwater projects for Waihi Beach, worth $19.8 million, is being presented to the councils Projects and Monitoring Committee meeting for approval today.

Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.
Sealing works are being planned for the Wairoa cycleway, adjacent to State Highway 2, near Bethlehem.

Sealing of Tauranga City Councils Wairoa Cycleway project is scheduled for today, between the hours of 9am and 4pm.

"The sealing is being carried out on the cycleway, which is located adjacent to the state highway, between Wairoa Bridge and Bethlehem," says a Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency spokesperson.

"While works take place there will be a temporary speed limit in place of 50 km/h.

"As the work is off-road, it is not expected to result in significant disruption to the state highway network, however previous work in the area has resulted in additional travel time during peak hours.

"Waka Kotahi advises road users to consider their travel while this work takes place, and to plan ahead with the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic

"Work on the cycleway is expected to be complete in September."

Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey. Keep up to date with:
Cleanup operation makes progress after oil spill off Gibraltar A vessel was refuelling when one of its tanks experienced an overflow, causing oil to spill into the water

Officials at the scene of the oil spill clean contaminated rocks and rubble on the coastline

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Authorities are continuing a massive cleanup following an oil spill in the Bay of Gibraltar.

Department of Environment officials have been at the scene in the Rosia Bay area supervising works to clean stranded oil from the coastline.

A vessel, Gas Venus, flying the Panamanian flag, experienced an overflow of its tanks as it was refuelling in the southern part of the Poniente anchorage on Tuesday 1 August.

The incident has forced the suspension of operations in the port since last Tuesday. The amount of oil spilt in the sea has not yet been quantified.

In a statement, the Government of Gibraltar, said substantial improvement had been made at the weekend.

"Contaminated rocks and rubble have been individually assessed, with many being removed for cleaning off-site before being returned to their original location," it said.

"Rocks containing marine life are cleaned manually on-site to minimise disruption to the coastal environment. There are currently no significant free floating sheen patches at sea. This is being constantly monitored."

Ampliar

The Verdemar Ecologists in Action group in Algeciras criticised the incident, saying that "it has taken less than a year" to register "another incident" in the area. It comes after the bulk carrier OS35 incident last August when a ship sank 400 metres off the coast of La Linea.

Speaking to Europa Press, Antonio Munoz, also denounced "large-scale operations" which are being carried out around the Bay of Algeciras. He slammed the "the transfer" of "practically five million tonnes of marine oil fuel" in the Strait of Gibraltar, and that, "on many occasions, the operations are carried out without a full crew", something which he claimed as "the reason for this series of accidents".
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. The smuggling of a large number of drugs from Iran to Azerbaijan has been prevented, the Azerbaijani State Border Service told Trend.

The smuggling was prevented thanks to the vigilance of the 'Horadiz' border detachment of the State Border Service, located near Gazakhlar village of Azerbaijan's Fuzuli district, at 13:55 (GMT+4) on August 6.

As a result of the border searches and operational activities, over 15 kilograms of marijuana were found and seized.

Operational and investigative efforts are ongoing.

Previously, on July 14, an effort to import drugs from Iran to Azerbaijan was foiled near Boyuk Bahmanli village in Fuzuli district. Over 53 kilograms of marijuana were discovered and captured as a result of border searches and operational activity.

Smuggling attempts to European countries through Azerbaijan have recently increased due to the country's favorable relief conditions, which smugglers (mostly Iranian citizens) employ when attempting to carry drugs into Azerbaijan over the sea and difficult-to-reach mountainous areas.
A Syracuse lawyer has won the Onondaga County Conservative Partys backing for a Family Court judges seat after party leaders confronted her with questions about her husbands past.

Lourdes Rosario, 43, of Manlius, picked up the Conservative Partys designation to run for one of two open seats for Onondaga County Family Court on the November ballot.
Clay, N.Y. -- After hours of record-breaking rainfall Monday night Central New York is waking up to significant storm damage Tuesday including a partial roof collapse at Great Northern Mall in Clay.

Fire departments in Onondaga County were swamped with more than 100 calls Monday night and into Tuesday morning for scores of flooded homes, stranded vehicles, damaged roads and a structure collapse.

The flooding was mostly in Clay, Cicero and Baldwinsville with some damage reported in the western suburbs, according to the Onondaga County Sheriffs Office.

READ MORE: 7 inches of rain fell in one Central NY village. Thats two months worth

Moyers Corners Fire Department responded to nearly 60 emergency calls. The majority were homes with two to three feet of water in the basements.

At Great Northern Mall in Clay, the roof collapsed at the old Sears store, according to the Moyers Corners Fire Department. The former Sears store -- which is a part of the same building as the mall -- has separate owners from the rest of the property.

Firefighters described the collapse as catastrophic. A large portion of the roof completely caved in and exposed the vacant store to the heavy rains.

The vast majority of the emergency calls were reports of flooded homes, firefighters said.

The Baldwinsville Fire Department also shared that they were handling a high volume of calls regarding flooded roads, stranded drivers and flooded homes.

Multiple roads are severely flooded after hours of record-breaking rainfall in Central New York Monday, Aug. 7, 2023. (Provided by Moyers Corners Fire Department)

Crews had to rescue multiple people from vehicles after they attempted to drive through heavily flooded roads, according to a news release from the Baldwinsville Fire Department.

Several roads have also cracked due to the heavy flooding.

Canton Street near Connors Road in Baldwinsville has cracked and shifted due to the rains and is impassible, firefighters said.

The National Weather Service reported that 2.45 inches fell Monday at Hancock International Airport, the official measuring site for Syracuse. That broke the previous Aug. 7 record of 1.69, set in 1976.

The roof of the former Sears store in the Great Northern Mall collapsed after hours of record-breaking rainfall in Central New York Monday, Aug. 7, 2023. (Provided by Moyers Corners Fire Department)

More Syracuse.com stories on Aug. 7-8 storm

Just whoosh: Flash floods crept inside in minutes, winds shattered windows in CNY storms

7 inches of rain just fell in one Central NY village. Thats almost two months worth

Syracuse breaks 47-year-old rainfall record; nearby town gets over 4 inches

Update: Parts of I-81, route 690 remain closed due to flooding, others have reopened

Severe storms spawned several possible tornadoes in Upstate NY

Staff writer Anne Hayes covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at ahayes@syracuse.com.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. First Deputy Minister of Defense  Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev has met with the delegation led by the Chief of Intelligence of the General Staff of the Republic of Turkiye, Colonel General Ismail Gunaydin, Trend reports.

The Turkish delegation is on a visit to Azerbaijan.

The sides emphasized the development of mutual relations between the armies of the two countries, as well as cooperation in the field of military intelligence.

Prospects for the development of military cooperation between the two fraternal countries and a number of other issues of mutual interest were discussed at the meeting.
About 2 weeks ago, it was reported that the Nigerian Dangote refinery would start selling petroleum products by the end of July or the beginning of August. While this timeline may have been overly ambitious, the eventual startup of this facility will transform the markets in West Africa. Once the refinery is completely operational, it will be one of the largest refineries in the world, with a processing capacity of 650 thousand barrel per day (Kb/d). The refinery is located outside of Lagos and was built by Aliko Dangote, the richest person in Africa. The construction was hit by delays and cost over-runs, and in 2021, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) acquired 20% of the refinery. This reportedly gives NNPC the right of first refusal to sell crude oil to the refinery and provide them with access to 20% of the plants output. Nigeria is also upgrading some existing refineries that are currently operating significantly below their design capacity. This means that both Nigerian crude oil exports as well as petroleum product imports are likely to change dramatically in the coming months and years. This week we will look at the likely impacts of these altered commodity flows. Download The Weekly Opinion
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. An excursion was organized for Ukrainian children brought to Azerbaijan for rehabilitation with the organizational support of the Social Services Agency under the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Azerbaijan, the ministry told Trend.

The children visited the village of Basgal (Ismayilli district) where they got acquainted with the historical heritage of the country.

The following day, they were scheduled to visit the Gabala district. In addition to learning about the natural beauty of the area, the youngsters were escorted to recreation centers.

Ukrainian children receive art therapy, as well as individual and group treatment with a professional psychologist. They will also participate in psychosocial trainings, English language classes, photography workshops, national dances, and master classes.

In addition, an expedition to the Shaki and Shamakhi districts for Ukrainian youngsters is planned.

Within the framework of the 14-day social rehabilitation program, support is provided for stabilizing the emotional state of children, as well as ensuring their integration into society.
Facepalm: Generative AIs often get things wrong  even their makers don't hide this fact  which is why using them to help create code isn't a good idea. To test ChatGPT's general abilities and knowledge in this area, the system was asked a large number of software programming questions, more than half of which it got wrong. However, it still managed to fool a significant number of people.

A study from Purdue University (via The Reg) involved asking ChatGPT 517 Stack Overflow questions and asking a dozen volunteer participants about the results. The answers were assessed not only on whether they were correct, but also on their consistency, comprehensiveness, and conciseness. The team also analyzed the linguistic style and sentiment of the responses.

It wasn't a good showing for ChatGPT. OpenAI's tool answered just 48% of the questions correctly, while 77% were described as "verbose."

What's especially interesting is that ChatGPT's comprehensiveness and well-articulated language style meant that almost 40% of its answers were still preferred by the participants. Unfortunately for the generative AI, 77% of those preferred answers were wrong.

Also read: We Asked GPT Some Tech Questions, Can You Tell Which Answers Are Human?

"During our study, we observed that only when the error in the ChatGPT answer is obvious, users can identify the error," states the paper, written by researchers Samia Kabir, David Udo-Imeh, Bonan Kou, and assistant professor Tianyi Zhang. "However, when the error is not readily verifiable or requires external IDE or documentation, users often fail to identify the incorrectness or underestimate the degree of error in the answer."

Even when ChatGPT's answer was obviously wrong, two out of the 12 participants still preferred it due to the AI's pleasant, confident, and positive tone. Its comprehensiveness and the textbook style of writing also contributed to making a factually incorrect answer appear correct in some people's eyes.

"Many answers are incorrect due to ChatGPT's incapability to understand the underlying context of the question being asked," the paper explains.

Generative AI makers include warnings on their products' pages about the answers they give potentially being wrong. Even Google has warned its employees about the dangers of chatbots, including its own Bard, and to avoid directly using code generated by these services. When asked why, the company said that Bard can make undesired code suggestions, but it still helps programmers. Google also said it aimed to be transparent about the limitations of its technology. Apple, Amazon, and Samsung, meanwhile, are just some of the firms to have banned ChatGPT completely.
WTF?! Google regularly receives a consistent stream of requests to remove infringing URLs from its search results and web indexes. While Mountain View is quite willing to collaborate with third-party companies and law firms, a recent surge in these removal requests has been attributed to just one company, causing confusion.

Google provides a regularly updated transparency report regarding web content removal due to copyright violations. Law firms and other organizations can submit a DMCA notice to the company, detailing the infringing URLs. Google can then "delist" these URLs by removing them from its web search results. While the DMCA takedown process is well-established, some companies are taking advantage of Google's cooperative approach by flooding the platform with an excessive number of takedown requests.

As of October 2022, Google had taken down some six billion URLs. It took web companies and more than 326,000 rightsholders a decade to reach this point, with the top 10 most active organizations submitting nearly 2.5 billion URLs  accounting for over 40 percent of the total requests. The latest transparency report highlights a rapid and substantial surge in takedown requests attributed to MG Premium, the parent company of PornHub.

According to Google's updated report, MG Premium Ltd. has sent over 866 million DMCA notices in less than a year. The company is actively combating "unlicensed" websites that exploit official content from PornHub, which led to a significant increase in takedown requests starting around the beginning of 2023. Last year, MG Premium won a legal case against Daftsex in a US federal court; however, the site has continued to operate despite the legal victory.

After its main .com domain was taken down, Daftsex simply started using alternative domains that are still active today. In just a few months, MG Premium sent more than a quarter of a billion DMCA takedown requests related to dsex.to, daft.sex, and other alternative domains associated with the Daftsex lewd streaming service.

During its takedown spree, MG Premium was responsible for sending Google an average of two million DMCA requests per day. While the volumes have since decreased, the company was undeniably a significant contributor to Google's recent milestone of seven billion URL removal requests. This figure pertains to URLs reported to Google, encompassing duplicates or even web pages that were not part of the company's web index.

To avoid crawling infringing, non-indexed URLs in the future, Google maintains a special "watchlist." Despite reaching the seven billion milestone, the company rejects millions of takedown requests when they fail to provide clear links to infringing content. These rejections also encompass legitimate URLs from platforms like Netflix, NASA, the White House, or even the FBI, which were incorrectly flagged as copyright violations.
Despite ongoing efforts by officials in Washington and Beijing to stabilize their strained relationship, U.S. companies are intensifying their endeavors to lessen their reliance on Chinese suppliers.

(Photo : STR/AFP via Getty Images)

This aerial photo taken on May 8, 2019 shows a cargo ship berthing at a port in Lianyungang in China's eastern Jiangsu province.

Reducing Chinese Dependence

In a bid to navigate the uncertainties arising from the geopolitical tensions between the two countries, these companies are strategically diversifying their supply chains, aiming to mitigate risks and secure a more stable sourcing network. According to The Washington Post, U.S. imports from China have decreased by 24 percent in the first five months of this year compared to the same period last year.

In response, major corporations such as HP, Stanley Black & Decker, and Lego are realigning their supply chains to cater to American consumers. The move is driven either by the need to avoid getting caught in the crossfire between rival superpowers or as part of a broader strategic shift to manufacture goods closer to their customer base.

China's longstanding position at the heart of global manufacturing is now encountering its most formidable challenge since the country's integration into the global trading system over two decades ago.

Rivals such as Mexico, Vietnam, and Thailand are gradually chipping away at China's dominance in manufacturing, but while they lack China's sheer size and world-class infrastructure, their increasing competitiveness poses a notable threat to China's manufacturing stronghold.

US-China Relations

During the Trump administration, U.S. tariffs on approximately two-thirds of Chinese goods have resulted in reduced new orders from China. Moreover, the rise in wages for Chinese factory workers has undermined the country's once-strong competitive advantage.

The impact of Chinese President Xi Jinping's state-centric economic strategy, coupled with crackdowns on private companies and a cautious approach to the Biden administration, has also contributed to cooling commercial relations between the two nations.

The Biden administration aims to convey a positive approach to U.S.-China trade, assuring the Chinese government that their intentions are not to sever economic ties but to "de-risk" commercial relations. This de-risking strategy involves the relocation of critical supply chains to the United States or allied countries.

As national security concerns continue to escalate, NPR reported that the administration has taken significant steps to address the situation, imposing restrictions on the export of cutting-edge semiconductors to China.

Also Read: Beijing Commends Alibaba, Douyin, Other Chinese Companies for Tech Development

The commercial shipbuilding industry is significantly concentrated, in just three nations, China, South Korea, and Japan.

The potential risks of an Asian conflict pose a threat to these crucial sources of commercial shipbuilding, creating substantial repercussions on international markets and the United States. Heritage reported that similar concerns prompted Congress to pass the CHIPS Act, a flawed initiative aimed at incentivizing domestic semiconductor production.

However, unlike semiconductors, onshoring all shipbuilding production and resources proves unfeasible, adding complexity to the challenge of securing supply chains and critical industries in the face of geopolitical uncertainties.

Related Article: Apple India Production to Increase to 25%: Less Reliance on China?

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A groundbreaking robotic headgear has emerged, revolutionizing brain activity studies in mice. This innovative device allows mice to move freely while being connected to heavy brain-recording machinery, eliminating the need for fixed positions and rigid restrictions.

(Photo : PHILIPPE MERLE/AFP via Getty Images)

This picture taken on January 23, 2014 shows mice in a box at the Neurosciences rechearch Center CERMEP in Bron, near Lyon.

Allowing to Track Brain Activity in Motion

In a stunning leap forward for neuroscience, scientists have unleashed mice from the shackles of immobility, thanks to an extraordinary robotic headgear. Interesting Engineering reported that they can roam freely while their brain activity is meticulously recorded. This jaw-dropping development holds enormous promise for unraveling the neuropathy and other enigmas of the brain.

Back then, researchers had to constrain these curious creatures, limiting their range of motion and clouding the accuracy of their brain studies. With the futuristic robotic headgear, these mice now have the power of mobility at their paws, leading to mind-blowing discoveries in the realm of neuroscience.

The difference is night and day. It's like opening a door to a whole new dimension of research possibilities, exclaimed Ted Abel, the esteemed chair of neuroscience and pharmacology at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. "The vestibular system and interoception are important for navigation, and these sensations don't show up if the head is fixed," he added.

It's a neuroscience revolution, one that promises to unlock the secrets of the mind with unprecedented clarity. The possibilities seem limitless. From uncovering hidden neural pathways to deciphering the inner workings of complex brain disorders, the robotic headgear has set the stage for an era of breakthroughs in brain research.

Dubbing it as Cranial Exoskeleton

Dubbed the "cranial exoskeleton," Spectrum reported that this robotic headgear is paving the way for a revolution in neuroscience research. Equipped with three agile arms, the exoskeleton precisely senses the mouse's movements and follows its every step, all while recording intricate brain activity data.

Gone are the limitations of fixed positions under microscopes; now, mice can explore their surroundings freely, providing researchers with invaluable insights into their natural behaviors. As technology continues to evolve, we are poised on the brink of groundbreaking discoveries that could revolutionize our understanding of neural dynamics and reshape the future of neuroscience.

By capturing brain responses as mice explore and interact with their environment, researchers are gaining unparalleled insights into cognitive processes, neural plasticity, and even potential treatments for brain disorders.

Also Read: University of Rochester's AI-Based Method Breaks New Ground for Alzheimer's Research

Researchers conducted tests involving a 3D-printed implant that seamlessly connected a mouse's brain to cutting-edge robotic headgear. The robotic headgear, synced with the mouse's movements, acted as an extension of the mouse's natural motion, reporting data gathered during their exploration. Remarkably, the mice navigated mazes and performed decision-making tasks with remarkable ease, just like their unrestricted counterparts.

Pin-Hao Cheng reported that the experiment revealed that the robotic headgear had no adverse impact on the mice's innate ability to move freely, showcasing its potential as a seamless brain-to-robot interface.

Related Article: Scientists Create Mini-Brain Organoids Using Stem Cells

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Mark Zuckerberg knows that he's more than ready to fight against Elon Musk soon.

The upcoming match, touted as the greatest fight between CEOs might be staged inside the most prestigious Vegas octagon.

Zuckerberg is Ready to Square Off With Musk

The battle between the two billionaires is about to happen soon. Although there is no official date yet for the Musk vs Zuckerberg fight, people have already anticipated the hype that is currently building up.

In a post by Zuckerberg on Threads, he wrote that he's "not holding" his breath before the match. He even said that he was ready and suggested that their fight would be scheduled on Aug. 26.

According to Fox Business, Zuck's comment showed up after Musk posted that he was "lifting weights" as a preparation to defeat the Meta boss.

"Don't have time to work out, so I just bring them to work," Musk wrote on X.

According to several sources, the most exciting fight will be witnessed by the viewers on TV. Musk confirmed on Sunday, Aug. 6 that it will be live-streamed across social media sites including his own X platform, Twitter's new brand.

The Tesla CEO added that all the proceeds from the fight will go to the veterans' charity. In response, Zuckerberg replied that there should be a "reliable" platform when raising funds for charities.

As of writing, neither the two parties have confirmed the data of the match but early reports hinted that it would be staged in Nevada's UFC Apex.

The controversial match was not really in their plan, but it originated from Musk who challenged the 39-year-old Zuckerberg to fight him inside a cage.

Mark responded immediately and instructed Musk to "send the location" of the cage match. At this point, Musk chose "Vegas Octagon" as the venue for their upcoming battle.

Related Article: Mark Zuckerberg's Threads App Challenges Twitter With Memes

Elon Musk Might Undergo Surgery Prior to the Fight

For those who are closely stalking the posts of the two social media icons, we could conclude that the heat of the battle is about to boom.

The cage match that is continuously hyped by the media could attract millions of audiences from different parts of the world. More viewers mean more money to give to charitable foundations.

However, Musk has announced that he might get an MRI on his neck and upper back before the fight. According to Fox News, this could likely put the entrepreneur in surgery.

Exact date is still in flux. Im getting an MRI of my neck & upper back tomorrow.



May require surgery before the fight can happen. Will know this week.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 7, 2023

Meanwhile, Zuckerberg boasted that he's currently working out with Alexander Volkanovski and Israel Adesanya, two known UFC fighters. This only suggests that Mark is not kidding when he said that he's persistent to defeat Musk inside the octagon.



No fugazi with Mark 

This is Serious Business pic.twitter.com/nraS4DrvuO  Israel Adesanya (@stylebender) July 11, 2023

Musk is also catching up with the training by posting that he's been sparring with Brazilian Jiu-jitsu black belt Lex Fridman.

Read Also: Meta vs. Twitter: Elon Musk's Company Alleges Mark Zuckerberg For Stealing Trade Secrets For Threads

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Installing Windows 11 can be a hell of a chore if you're also installing the extra apps that are eating your PC's memory.

This annoying procedure is enough for you to revert to Windows 10 yet there's a sure-fire trick you can do to get rid of the bloatware.

Before Microsoft patches this, do this hack that will only require you two clicks.

Say Goodbye to Bloatware

Before we discuss how it works, let's first define what bloatware is. According to TechRadar, this refers to the pre-installed apps and games on computers or any devices.

In particular, you don't want your PC to get half-full even before you update your OS to the latest version. What's frustrating here is that you don't have any clue that there are anti-virus trials downloaded in the process.

Some apps might be useful for some users, but never-used software is what eats up the space in your device's memory.

Microsoft has not yet solved the riddle behind the bloatware and up to now, you can't perform a clean Windows 11 installation because of this extra junk.

Related Article: How to Screenshot on Windows 11 in 8 Ways [2023]

Do This Trick Before Microsoft Releases a Patch

It's no wonder why some people are ditching Windows 11 even though it has more advanced features than its predecessor operating system.

Windows 11 is quite impressive, but you should be aware that you will get bombarded by bloatware in an instant if you don't pay enough attention.

According to Windows Latest, the trick to a smooth installation of Windows 11 is simply setting your current region to Europe or English (World).

This neat hack will prevent the system from installing apps coded in European English ("en-150") and World English ("en-001").

While this is easier than it sounds, you should do it quicker or better now. This is because OS maker Microsoft is already looking for a solution to patch this up.

In an email interview with Windows Latest, the company's spokesperson confirmed that the Redmond giant is now finding ways to render it useless.

When your region is set to either European or World English, the Out of Box Experience (OOBE) won't be able to read it. Instead, the "OOBERREGION" error will pop out and you will be prompted to proceed. From here, you can simply tap "Skip."

If your PC or any device has bloatware or any OEM apps, they will get removed in the process. Again, this is just a temporary workaround you can do to escape the hellish Windows 11 installation. Do this quickly or suffer later.

It's a shame that Microsoft won't likely maintain this trick, but it's not a surprise either. It could be a part of its scheme to make more money from fixing the laptops of the users, a common tactic among manufacturers.

Read Also: How to Customize Windows Sounds With These Simple Hacks [2023]

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Elon Musk has revealed that he may need surgery before the planned "cage match" with fellow tech tycoon Mark Zuckerberg takes an unexpected turn.

Although the two billionaires agreed to physical combat, their viability remains in the air. Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg have managed to keep the audience interested despite the uncertainties by exchanging online jabs. Musk even revealed that the match will be live-streamed on his social media platform X, previously known as Twitter.

Musk's choice to give the fight's revenues to a veterans' organization gave the event a charitable spin. Mark Zuckerberg, though, questioned the selection and offered a more dependable method for financing. The CEO of Facebook's parent firm, Meta Platforms Inc., voiced skepticism about the upcoming bout and said he was not "holding" his breath.

Musk Suffering From Massive Back Pain

Elon Musk said that he would get an MRI of his neck and upper back owing to suspected medical issues, increasing the uncertainty. The 52-year-old tech tycoon said surgery could be required; further information is anticipated this week, according to AP News.

If surgery is necessary, it may affect the scheduled cage battle, raising questions about the high-profile event. Given his positions as the CEO of Tesla Inc. and Space Exploration Technologies Corp. and his ownership of the X platform, Elon Musk's health is a subject of curiosity for people worldwide.

Musk, renowned for his relentless work ethic, has previously spoken of experiencing "mega back pain" during a run-in with a sumo wrestler. Elon Musk has already used his health issues to enhance his public image. Last year, he challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin to "single combat" over Ukraine, alluding to an injury incurred during a sumo fight, per NDTV.

Musk has consistently made news due to his propensity for inciting internet spectacles, and his competition with Zuckerberg has only intensified the showdown. Many were surprised by Zuckerberg's reaction to Musk's statement.

Read Also: Elon Musk Secures ai.com URL: How Will It Impact the Tech Industry?

The co-founder of Facebook said, "I'm ready," thus reviving the discussion of the prospective mixed martial arts match. The notion of a "cage match" seemed to have waned in recent weeks, but it has been revived in light of Musk's affirmation of live broadcasting and Zuckerberg's preparedness.

Musk-Zuckerberg Cage Match Venue To Be Announced

The rumors of a Musk-Zuckerberg fight first surfaced in June when Elon Musk, the owner of X, replied to a tweet about Meta getting ready to launch Threads, a new Twitter competitor. A Twitter user then humorously forewarned Musk of Zuckerberg's jiu-jitsu training after Musk made fun of the world falling "exclusively under Zuck's thumb with no other options."

Elon Musk said he's "up for a cage match" if Zuckerberg is interested. Musk proposed the Las Vegas Octagon as a prospective location after Zuckerberg seemed to welcome the idea, per an NBC News report.

Given Musk's propensity to tweet impulsively or without taking action, it is still being determined if the battle between Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk will take place in the Las Vegas arena.

Even though their jokey interaction resulted in their consent to a cage bout, it nevertheless attracted much media attention. In reaction, a never-ending torrent of memes and "choose your fighter" messages appeared online.

Related Article: Mark Zuckerberg Ready to Take Down Elon Musk Today: 'Not Holding My Breath'

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Zachary Kirkhorn, the Chief Financial Officer of Tesla and dubbed the "Master of Coin," formally left his role on August 4 after an outstanding 13 years with the pioneering electric car maker. This momentous change in Tesla's senior management was made official through a regulatory filing.

Kirkhorn was instrumental in steering Tesla through difficult times when he served as CFO, notably during the problematic Tesla Model 3 manufacturing phase, which brought the business dangerously close to insolvency, according to TechCrunch. Sales records were broken in Kirkhorn's first year as CFO, underscoring Tesla's crucial role in the automobile industry's tectonic move toward electric cars.

Tesla made its first annual profit under Kirkhorn's financial management and continued to be profitable in later years. These accomplishments made Tesla a dominating force in the car industry and one of the most valued corporations.

Tesla's $1.5 billion investment in Bitcoin earned Zachary Kirkhorn the unique title of "Master of Coin" in 2021, according to Fortune. This amusing title echoed Tesla CEO Elon Musk's description of the organization as the "Technoking of Tesla," which reflected the business's dynamic and unusual corporate culture.

Taneja Takes Over

As Zachary Kirkhorn stepped down, Vaibhav Taneja, who serves as Tesla's chief accounting officer, takes over his job in the electric vehicle manufacturer. Kirkhorn will seamlessly move out of his position and continue to serve the firm until the end of 2023.

After SolarCity was acquired by Tesla in 2016, Taneja started working in the firm, holding positions in corporate control and accounting operations. Since March 2019, Taneja has served as Tesla's Chief Accounting Officer, a position he previously held while also acting as the company's corporate controller and assistant corporate controller.

Read Also: Elon Musk vs Mark Zuckerberg Fight Confirmed: Match Details Revealed

Previously, Tesla shareholders sued Elon Musk and the business because the purchase of SolarCity amounted to a bailout, and Musk had pressured Tesla's board into making the transaction. Musk's claim was supported by a Delaware judge's 2022 decision, however, as per a report from The Verge.

No Explanation on Kirkhorn's Tesla Exit Yet

While Kirkhorn's exit's precise reasons are still unknown, he provided no more information in a LinkedIn post announcing it. No word was given in Tesla's filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Taneja's potential succession as "Master of Coin." No one from Tesla commented on the matter as of the present reporting.

Tesla's shares witnessed a minor fall in reaction to this big leadership transition, which persisted when the market started its trading activity. The market's response highlights the impact of Kirkhorn's resignation and its prospective effects on Tesla's future strategic and financial orientation.

Related Article: Tech Times Weekly Wrap: Vegas Loop Expansion, Chrome's New Download Tray, and MMORPG Simulates the World's End

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. A regular meeting of the working group on transport, communications and high technologies at the Interdepartmental Center of the Coordination Headquarters, established to centrally resolve issues in Azerbaijan's liberated territories has been held in Lachin city, the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport told Trend.

Will be updated
Google will delete idle accounts for two years to safeguard user data and enhance security.

While the process of removing accounts is slated to begin on Dec. 1, Google has begun the preliminary step by notifying account holders. Users have an eight-month window during this transitioning time to take action and save their accounts from being lost, according to CNN.

This strategy, which Google first announced in May, addresses possible security vulnerabilities connected to inactive accounts. According to internal analyses, older accounts are more likely to use antiquated security methods, such as repeated passwords, rendering them vulnerable to dangers like phishing, hacking, and spam.

Which Google Accounts Will Be Deleted?

According to Google's earlier statement, the accounts that would first be deleted are those that users established but later abandoned.

Google stressed its commitment to protecting user information and preventing unwanted access while outlining the thinking behind this security-focused upgrade. This most recent policy emphasizes the company's commitment to maintaining customer data security even when the services are no longer used.

The internet giant has, however, listed a few exclusions from this new rule. Accounts linked to active YouTube channels, those with gift card balances, those that have enabled purchases of digital goods like books or movies, and accounts linked to published apps available in stores like the Google Play Store will not be deleted.

Read Also: August Must-Watch Horror Films on Netflix, Shudder, and Other Streaming Platforms

This policy modification represents a significant departure from Google's prior strategy. Google adopted policies to delete material from dormant accounts in 2020 while keeping the accounts themselves.

Users merely need to check in to their Google accounts or any other Google service at least once every two years to prevent their accounts from being deleted. This simple operation will preserve access and security by preventing the deletion of accounts and related data.

Upholding Cybersecurity

This action fits with Google's continued dedication to user security, but it has also raised discussions about the fine line between maintaining internet history and security precautions, per a Vice article. This new regulation highlights the changing reality of digital preservation, much like earlier situations when security improvements affected access to certain devices and types of information.

Google also has added the ability to use passkeys as an alternative to conventional passwords in a parallel attempt to increase security. Passkeys, which provide increased security and phishing resistance, may be used to access accounts via screen lock PINs, face scans, or fingerprint or fingerprint recognition, per CBS News.

Related Article: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Expresses Concerns About What AI Might Do in Elections

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A group of scientists from the US has announced that they have duplicated their ground-breaking energy achievement by getting more energy out of a fusion reaction than they put in, marking a considerable advancement in the science of nuclear fusion.

The most recent test carried out at the National Ignition Facility of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California produced significantly more energy than a prior one in December that drew global interest, according to The Washington Post.

Although this accomplishment represents a significant step toward the elusive objective of attaining fusion energy generation, experts stress that efforts to obtain limitless, clean electricity remains a long-term undertaking.

A Follow-Up Achievement

Paul Rhien, a Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory spokesman, subsequently verified the success of the experiment carried out on July 30 that repeated the ignition procedure accomplished in December. According to Rhien, the preliminary analysis suggested a more significant energy production than the previous test.

Rhien stated that in line with the lab's history of disseminating findings via scientific conferences and peer-reviewed publications, further in-depth analyses of the July experiment would be provided after additional investigation.

The first breakthrough in nuclear fusion was reported in late 2022 by people knowledgeable about the National Ignition Facility, who suggested that there would be a net increase in energy from fusion.

The successful nuclear ignition on December 13 was subsequently confirmed during a news conference that US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm had scheduled in response to this news, as Extreme Tech reported. The experiment's findings showed a 1.1 megajoule (MJ) net energy increase.

Read Also: #TechCEO: Jessica O. Matthews Brings Uncharted Power for the Future of Mankind

Even though the present energy production cannot support an entire electrical system, the accomplishment was considerably advanced. The experts at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory then concentrated on raising energy output even higher.

Fission v. Fusion

Despite delivering clean energy, fission, a process that involves breaking atoms, has created safety concerns and is used in conventional nuclear power plants. Fusion, on the other hand, produces energy by combining atoms.

Due to its potential to produce enormous quantities of clean energy without creating radioactive waste or running the danger of meltdowns, fusion has long served an ideological purpose. Additionally, it is unnecessary to mine uranium since fusion may be accomplished by utilizing plentiful materials like the heavy hydrogen atoms present in seawater.

In the past, generating net energy from fusion processes was challenging since they needed more energy than they produced. According to data released by the US Department of Energy in December, the initial fusion test used 2 megajoules of energy while producing 3 megajoules, per Gizmodo. The experiment used 192 lasers to provide the required high temperatures and pressures to initiate fusion in a target.

These developments hint at the possibility of using the physics of stars to generate clean energy on Earth, even if building actual fusion power plants is still a long way off. In line with international efforts to minimize greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change, nuclear fusion presents a possible route to abandon carbon-based fuels.

Related Article: Say Goodbye to Incandescent Light Bulbs as New US Energy Efficiency Rules Take Effect

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One of the most famous companies during the pandemic that made remote work effective, Zoom Communications, is now asking its employees to return to the office. However, this is not a full-on campaign that asks its workers to go to their site every day, as it would enforce a hybrid work setup for its employees once the shift starts.

Still, Zoom is also facing massive controversy regarding its latest privacy update, particularly about its user data access regarding its generative AI developments.

Zoom Asks Employees to Return to Office for Hybrid Work

(Photo : Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

According to Zoom's statement shared with CNN, the company is now asking its employees to return to the office on a "structured hybrid approach," where it would ask nearby workers to report to the office at least twice a week.

"As a company, we are in a better position to use our technologies, continue to innovate, and support our global customers. We'll continue to leverage the entire Zoom platform to keep our employees and dispersed teams connected and working efficiently," said Zoom.

This comes after different companies have already enforced a new policy post-COVID regarding a return to the office which also asks for a hybrid approach for some. This includes the likes of Google, Apple, Meta, Amazon, and more.

Read Also: Zoom Lays Off 1,300 Employees - 15% of its Total Workforce?

Zoom Defends User Data Access for Generative AI

Amidst this return-to-office deal, Zoom is getting a significant uproar from the public regarding its user access from its updated Terms of Service.

It reads,

"You agree that Zoom compiles and may compile Service Generated Data based on Customer Content and use of the Services and Software. You consent to Zoom's access, use, collection, creation, modification, distribution, processing, sharing, maintenance, and storage of Service Generated Data for any purpose, to the extent and in the manner permitted under applicable Law, including for product and service development, marketing, analytics, quality assurance, machine learning or artificial intelligence (including for training and tuning of algorithms and models), training, testing, improvement of the Services, Software, or Zoom's other products, services, and software, or any combination thereof, and as otherwise provided in this Agreement." via Zoom's release.

Still, the company defended itself regarding its data access from users, despite massive claims from the public regarding Zoom taking video and audio data for building its generative AI. The company claims that it does not share data, and is not used for training third-party AI or other technologies.

Zoom's Operations and App Development

Zoom is one of the most recognizable companies regarding video conferencing, being one of the most used services during the COVID-19 pandemic and companies that adopted a remote work setup after.

It grew to astronomical heights and the company experienced this massive high as people were not allowed outside their homes if they are not essential workers.

However, this died down significantly amidst 2022, when the world was seeing its return to normal and restrictions were dropped.

Now, the company is asking its employees back to the office in a hybrid approach but faces massive controversy regarding its data access for AI.

Related Article: Zoom Collaborates with ChatGPT Parent Company OpenAI to Bring Meeting Summary Feature

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A Tesla that caught on fire in California has recently noticed attention but not because of the fire and smoke it dealt with, but because of the firefighters who responded and tagged Elon Musk on X. While normally, Teslas that are caught in an accident would be processed and have authorities call upon the owner of the company.

Here, firefighters are taking the incident directly to the company owner and founder, Elon Musk, who is under heavy criticism because of the Tesla problems.

Tesla Caught Fire in California While Stored

(Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Firefighters from Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District have responded to an incident involving a Tesla Model S P100D that was sitting out in a yard from a high-end auto dismantler. It was said that the fire broke out spontaneously from the Tesla EV, with the car parked in the yard and not driven by anyone as it remained in the lot.

Metro Fire of Sacramento posted a tweet covering the incident, showing how the firefighters were extinguishing the fire that the electric vehicle caused.

The fire respondents had to use a forklift to tilt the car to its sides and spray it with the extinguisher to stop the fire from the underside of the vehicle.

According to Fox Business, the authorities claimed that the vehicle was involved in an accident a few months back.

Read Also: Elon Musk Enhances Tesla's AGI, Improving Navigation, Performance

Firefighters Tagged Elon Musk on X

Crews responded for a vehicle fire at a high end auto dismantler. The vehicle was involved in an accident several months ago, and was sitting idle when it spontaneously caught fire in the yard. Crews are unable to move it to a safe location to burn out, the vehicle is blocked in pic.twitter.com/8ShkbMEQUN  Metro Fire of Sacramento (@metrofirepio) August 3, 2023



The efforts of the firefighters saved other cars in the lot, as it was parked alongside high-end cars including Ferrari and Lamborghini.

However, what is more, peculiar about this post is that Elon Musk was tagged on X where it was posted. It prompted no replies from the tech CEO.

Tesla and its Issues, Accidents

One of the largest issues connected to Tesla EVs now is its driving range, as the vehicle owners claim that the distance it can travel is not exactly accurate as to what it displays. As per reports, Tesla is manipulating driving range estimates for owners, and it prompts many to book a repair or checkup from the company to address the issue.

However, there was also a report regarding Tesla's steering issues, as it is either hard to steer the car's dedicated round or yoke wheel. This issue mainly centers on new Teslas released this 2023, centering on the Model 3 and Model Y electric vehicles, and other reports center on its power steering which is hard to control.

Previously, there were reports of Teslas catching spontaneously on fire, or due to an accident that caused its batteries to start a fire, with EV power cells known for their high flammability. Now, the issue is with a Tesla sitting in a yard and catching on fire spontaneously, with the firefighters tagging Elon Musk on X to notify him of the incident.

Related Article: Tesla Sentry Mode Extinguishes Model S Fire! Turns Out, Battery Not to Blame

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Late last year, Japan has been intending to significantly expand its military cyber defense division by recruiting numerous personnel. Presently, the reason behind this move seems clearer. It was disclosed that Chinese hackers had established an enduring and profound presence within Japanese defense networks.

(Photo : ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP via Getty Images)

A woman uses a laptop on April 3, 2019, in Abidjan. - According to the figures of the platform of the fight against cybercrime (PLCC) of the national police, nearly one hundred crooks of the internet, were arrested in 2018 in Ivory Coast.

Gaining Unauthorized Access to Japan

A concerning revelation came to light at the National Security Agency in 2020. Classified defense networks belonging to the United States' key strategic partner in East Asia had been infiltrated by Chinese military hackers. Engadget reported that operatives from the People's Liberation Army had successfully gained unauthorized access to Japan's highly confidential computer systems.

Maintaining extensive and enduring access, the hackers seemed driven to acquire any available information, ranging from plans and capabilities to evaluations of military vulnerabilities. This insight comes from a group of three former high-ranking U.S. officials, who were part of a larger pool of both current and past U.S. and Japanese officials interviewed.

Efforts have been undertaken by Tokyo to enhance the resilience of its networks. However, these measures are still regarded as inadequate in shielding them from Beijing's intrusive gaze. This concern, officials assert, has the potential to hinder more extensive intelligence exchange between the Pentagon and Japan's Defense Ministry.

Telling Japan About the Hack

Nikkei Asia reported that the intrusion that occurred in 2020 was of such disconcerting nature that both Gen. Paul Nakasone, leading the NSA and U.S. Cyber Command, and Matthew Pottinger, the former White House deputy national security adviser, swiftly traveled to Tokyo.

They conducted a comprehensive briefing for the defense minister, whose level of concern was so substantial that he arranged for them to directly inform the prime minister. In their communication with Japanese authorities, they conveyed that Beijing had infiltrated Tokyo's defense networks, resulting in one of the most impactful cyber breaches in the nation's history.

The Japanese officials were surprised by this revelation but expressed their intent to investigate the matter. Upon their return, Nakasone and Pottinger held the belief that they had effectively emphasized their point, as recounted by a former senior defense official who was briefed on the situation.

Also Read: U.S. Companies Shift Supply Chains Away from Chinese Suppliers Amid Trade Relations

US' State

While in Washington, former President Donald Trump was preoccupied with disputing Joe Biden's election win, and his administration members were getting ready for a transition of power. As part of the transition process, senior national security officials briefed Jake Sullivan, the incoming national security adviser.

However, the incoming Biden administration was confronted with a multitude of challenges, including addressing a significant Russian cyber intrusion into U.S. agency networks, which had been uncovered during the Trump era. Amidst these concerns, certain U.S. officials perceived that the Japanese government might have been hoping for the issue to gradually lose significance.

As the early months of 2021 unfolded, The Washington Post reported that the Biden administration had firmly established itself, and experts in cybersecurity and defense came to recognize that the issue had not been resolved; the Chinese hackers were still entrenched within Tokyo's networks.

Subsequent to this realization and under close American observation, the Japanese authorities have publicly declared their intention to elevate network security measures. They have outlined plans to enhance the cybersecurity budget by ten times over the upcoming five years and to expand their military cybersecurity personnel fourfold, reaching a total of 4,000 individuals.

Related Article: China Allegedly Installs Surveillance Malware in US Systems in Guam, Microsoft Says

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Electrify America is sharing upcoming pricing changes. The app will provide transparent charger rates which users should verify on-site. Aside from this, Pass+ membership offers a 25% charging cost reduction.

(Photo : Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

CORTE MADERA, CALIFORNIA - JULY 28: In an aerial view, pedestrians walk by an electric vehicle charging station on July 28, 2023 in Corte Madera, California.

Shifting EV Charging Rates

Electrify America expresses its appreciation to its community of electric vehicle (EV) owners who have been instrumental in fostering the growth of sustainable e-mobility. As an integral part of this transformative journey, Energy Portal reported that the company is proactively sharing upcoming changes in its pricing structure.

Effective August 17, 2023, Electrify America is undergoing a significant pricing shift, transitioning from a uniform nationwide pricing model to a more dynamic station-specific rate approach. This shift will be accompanied by the reinstatement of idle fees at most of its nationwide charging stations.

To facilitate transparency and convenience, the Electrify America mobile app will provide precise pricing information for individual chargers. Users are advised to verify charging station rates on-site before initiating their charging sessions. Correspondingly, the Electrify America Terms of Use are undergoing revision to align with these updates.

This is an opportune time for users to explore the benefits of upgrading to the Pass+ membership, which offers a 25% discount on charging expenses. Electrify America's dedicated support team remains available to address any queries that users may have. The company extends its gratitude to the community for contributing to the advancement of sustainable transportation.

Idle Fees

In a bid to enhance the efficient utilization of its charging stations, Electrify America is set to reintroduce idle fees for users who extend their charging sessions beyond the necessary duration once their vehicles are fully charged. Users will incur a charge of $0.40 per minute for any additional time spent connected to the charger, excluding a 10-minute grace period.

Global Village Space reported that this initiative is designed to encourage users to promptly free up the charging station, allowing others to utilize the fast charging service without unnecessary delays. Through the implementation of these idle fees, Electrify America is addressing the challenge of extended charging sessions.

Thereby ensuring an equitable and accessible charging experience for all-electric vehicle owners. These fees serve as a gentle reminder for users to be mindful of fellow EV drivers and make optimal use of the available charging infrastructure.

Also Read: Electrify America is Also Adopting Tesla NACS Chargers by 2025-Will it be the Standard Soon?

Serving 40+ States

Presently, Electrek reported that Electrify America commands one of the most extensive DC fast-charger networks across the United States, effectively serving 46 states while persistently extending its reach within North America.

Notably, the company has introduced discounts for fresh electric vehicle (EV) adopters from specific automotive brands and has also expanded these advantageous offerings to include individuals in the gig economy, such as Lyft drivers.

While Electrify America does periodically present charging deals multiple times each year, it's important to acknowledge that EV charging fees have also experienced an upward trend. In the preceding February, the company announced its intent to initiate a price increase, that took effect in March.

Related Article: Electrify America to Increase Prices for EV Fast Chargers in March

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The massive shift to the 3nm processor is coming to Apple, and reports are now claiming that Cupertino is going big on this change with its partner manufacturer TSMC. However, Apple's actions are centering on buying every 3nm chip that was made by the manufacturers, with the tech company known for doing this before on other unified processors.

It remains unknown which chip Apple is developing for this 3nm process, but several fingers point to the M3 that is allegedly coming this year.

Apple is Going Big on 3nm Chips with TSMC

(Photo : Umberto on Unsplash)

According to the new report from The Information, Apple is buying a massive number of chips from TSMC, centering on the 3nm chips that it will use for the M3 and the A17 Bionic. It is a win-win for both sides as Apple gets a massive percentage of the products from TSMC from its purchases that are worth billions, with TSMC not charging the company for defective dies.

Every processor is mass-produced from one massive silicon wafer, and according to Ars Technica, the chip designer (Apple) would be charged for every defective die.

However, this is not the case for TSMC, as with the whopping transactions it has with Apple, it can afford to not charge the Cupertino company for every defective die that comes back.

Read Also: Prominent Apple Leaker Says M3 Chip-Equipped MacBook Pro to Launch in 2024: Device Would Skip on This Year's Release

Apple Buys Every 3nm Chip-For M3?

That being said, Apple's massive purchases of the 3nm chip is a significant buy for the company, as apart from its development of the A17 Bionic for the upcoming iPhone 15, there are also chips allotted for its plans to bring the M3 Macs in the future.

However, the reports did not mention anything regarding Apple's allocation of the huge order of chips, if it is meant for the iPhone or Mac. Still, reports are centering that the Mac will make an appearance this year instead of being delayed for 2024.

Apple's 3nm Chip for M3

No more staying in the M2 for Apple, as it is all about moving forward with its next-generation processor known as the M3, with the company testing out what will be added to its capabilities. It is known that the M-series chip are unified processor, with everything it needs right on the built product with 12 cores of CPU and 18 cores of GPU.

This is the most that the public will ever see on a Mac, highlighting the significant shift from its previous releases.

Despite the many changes Apple for its computers and the development of the M-series chips, the company is still staying with its trusted partner, TSMC, to create it. The Taiwanese company is also known for its creation of the M1 and M2 chips from before, as well as the iPhone, iPad, and other tech chips.

The race to bring the first 3nm chip now has Apple, Samsung, and Qualcomm looking to debut their new processor size to the world, known for its more powerful capabilities. That being said, Apple is hogging all of the 3nm chips that TSMC has to offer, with speculations that it will be used for the M3's development, with one device coming this year equipped with the SoC.

Related Article: Apple Is Releasing M3 Mac This October, Expands Testing of 6 Other Devices, Analyst Says

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A California judge junked Monday the request of Google for summary judgment in a lawsuit filed by users who claimed that the tech firm misled them into believing their privacy was being protected during incognito mode in the Chrome browser.

(Photo : TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images)

Google staff stage a walkout at the company's UK headquarters in London on November 1, 2018 as part of a global campaign over the US tech giant's handling of sexual harassment.

Junking Google's Plea

According to The Verge, the complainant alleged that Google's cookies, analytics, and tools in apps kept tracking internet browsing activity even after users turned on incognito mode in Chrome or other same features like Safari's private browsing, expecting a heightened degree of privacy.

Incognito and other similar privacy modes are expected not to track and save data about websites users visit and online searches. However, as The Verge reported in 2018, the reality contradicts this notion that private browsing modes provide absolute privacy.

In her ruling, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez-Rogers referred to statements in the Chrome privacy notice, Privacy Policy, Incognito Splash Screen, and Search & Browse Privately Help page. These statements discussed how incognito mode limits the stored information or how the users can control the information they share.

In her assessment, the judge noted that when considered collectively, there's a matter open for trial: whether these written statements establish a legally binding commitment from Google not to gather user data during private browsing sessions.

"Taken as a whole, a triable issue exists as to whether these writings created an enforceable promise that Google would not collect users' data while they browsed privately," Gonzalez-Rogers wrote.

Also Read: Google's Incognito Mode: How to NOT Allow Websites Track Search History; How Vivaldi Browser Works

Google's Response

Responding to the court's decision, Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda told The Verge about the company's stance against the allegations.

"We strongly dispute these claims and we will defend ourselves vigorously against them. Incognito mode in Chrome gives you the choice to browse the internet without your activity being saved to your browser or device," Castaneda noted.

Castaneda added that they clearly state each time a new incognito tab opens, "websites might be able to collect information" about the user's browsing activity during that session.

Another concern that goes against Google's arguments, which the judge cited, was that the complainants have evidence that the tech company stores users' regular and private browsing data in the same logs.

Google allegedly leverages these integrated logs for personalized ad targeting. Although the collected individual data points are seemingly anonymized, Google can reportedly use them to identify a user "with a high probability of success," when aggregated.

Pursuing Money Damages

The lawsuit filed by five users more than two years ago in the Northern District Court of California is seeking "at least" $5 billion in damages.

Plaintiffs are collectively pursuing monetary damages through a class action against Google's parent company Alphabet Inc. but have faced an initial setback.

Reuters reported that consumers suing Alphabet Inc. over its data collection practices lost their appeal earlier this year to pursue monetary damages.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco has denied their bid to appeal a lower court decision last year that junked class-action status for monetary damages claims against Google.

According to Forbes, the lawsuit seeks damages of $5,000 for each user who has used incognito mode since June 1, 2016.

Related Article: Google Chrome Incognito Privacy Lawsuit: Plaintiffs Lose Appeal to Pursue Money Damages

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A significant uproar has arisen due to the fiction analytics site called Prosecraft, which scanned and uploaded thousands of books into a vast dataset without obtaining the authors' consent.

According to TechCrunch, Prosecraft, developed by cloud word processor Shaxpir, aimed to compile a repository of over 27,000 books, subjecting them to comparison, ranking, and analysis based on the perceived "vividness" of their language.

Prosecraft Faces Backlash

Renowned authors, including Maureen Johnson and Celeste Ng, voiced their discontent with Prosecraft for using their literary works without proper authorization. According to reports, even books released as recently as a few weeks prior were not spared from this unauthorized scanning.

In the face of online criticism, the project's creator, Benji Smith, eventually took down the Prosecraft website, which had been operational since 2017. Smith noted his considerable effort in the project, spending thousands of hours on text organization, annotation, and refinement.

"But in the meantime, 'AI' became a thing. And the arrival of AI on the scene has been tainted by early use-cases that allow anyone to create zero-effort impersonations of artists, cutting those creators out of their own creative process," Smith added.

It is important to note that Prosecraft was not designed as a generative AI tool. However, concerns emerged within the author community regarding its potential to evolve into one.

Smith had amassed an extensive dataset comprising a quarter billion words from published books, primarily acquired through web crawling.

Prosecraft's methodology involved displaying two paragraphs from a book - one considered the "most passive" and another the "most vivid." The project subsequently ranked the books based on percentile scales corresponding to their vividness, length, and passivity.

Authors expressed their frustration at this approach, asserting that writing style is a distinctive aspect that goes beyond rigid rules such as active or passive voice conventions. Smith outlined his rationale in a blog post.

He argued that by publishing summary statistics and small excerpts from the books, he believed he was adhering to the Fair Use doctrine's spirit, which, in his interpretation, did not necessitate author consent.

However, some authors found that the excerpts on Prosecraft contained significant spoilers, adding another layer of discontent.

Read Also: Reporters Without Borders, Journalist Groups Partnered to Craft 'Responsible' AI Use Guidelines in Media

Writers Urge AI Companies to Honor Copyrights

Although Smith offered an apology, the authors continued to express their frustration over the situation. The widespread adoption of AI tools has contributed to an ongoing cycle of challenges for artists and writers.

Upon opting out of one database, they often find their creations being leveraged to train additional AI models, perpetuating a persistent cycle of aggravation and difficulties.

Renowned authors Margaret Atwood and James Patterson are among the thousands of writers urging AI companies to honor copyrights.

In an open letter to generative AI leaders, the Authors Guild "calls on the CEOs of OpenAI, Alphabet, Meta, Stability AI, and IBM to obtain consent, credit, and fairly compensate writers" before incorporating copyrighted materials into their technologies.

Related Article: SettleMint Introduces' AI Genie' to Help Developers Create Smart Contracts, Integrate Data, and More!

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. A groundbreaking ceremony was held for a new malting barley processing plant, which will create a value chain for beer production in Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

According to the Azerbaijan Ministry of Economy, the project will be conducted on the grounds of Azersun Holding's Imishli sugar mill with the joint participation of Azersheker LLC, Azersun Agricultural Products LLC, and the Azerbaijan participation Company.

The factory will first process 11,000 tons of malting barley; a subsequent stage would handle 17,000 tons.

The company will fully satisfy the raw material needs of beer producers, including the largest among them, Carlsberg Azerbaijan. The investment cost of the project is 25 million manat ($14.7 million), and 50 people will be provided with permanent work at the enterprise.

Thanks to the plant's activities, there will be no need to import these products, which will prevent the outflow of more than $10 million from the country. The plant will also produce over 510 tons of feed additives.

Within the framework of the project, a silo complex with a capacity of more than 20,000 tons will be built for the storage of raw materials.

In addition, Azersheker LLC will plant barley, sugar beet, and food wheat on a territory of 8,000 hectares in Aghjabadi, Imishli, and Fuzuli districts.

Deputy Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan Samad Bashirli informed the participants of the event about state support for stimulating the production of competitive non-oil products, improving the raw material base, creating new production sites for import substitution, and expanding export opportunities.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sarvan Jafarov noted that the opening of agricultural processing enterprises supports the activities of farmers.

Chairman of the Management Board of Azersheker Anar Mehdiyev provided information about the favorable investment environment created in Azerbaijan for entrepreneurs and pointed out that the plant, which will be built using Swiss technologies, will be the first such enterprise in the South Caucasus.

Director General of Agriculture and Processing Enterprises of Azersun Holding, Mohammad Gozal, noted the great importance of creating a raw material base in Azerbaijan for the production of final products.

Azersun Holding takes this factor into account in the production of feed, dairy products, canned fruits, and vegetables. The production of these products in Azerbaijan has become possible thanks to the use of local raw materials in the processing industry.

The CEO of Carlsberg Azerbaijan, Alius Antulis, stressed that the construction of the plant is a significant step in the localization of the production of raw materials used in brewing. The company's long-term strategy is to produce beer based entirely on local raw materials.

Azersheker and Carlsberg Azerbaijan has been implementing a project to grow malting barley in local conditions since 2019. Azerbaijan is cooperating with one of the leading producers of malting barley seeds in Europe, SECOBRA Recherches.
Deutsche Bahn is considering continuing to drive "on sight" in the future for people on the track

One dead and several injured in the fire of an apartment building near Paris

Record rating of the GameStar: Mr. Klinge, do you consider Baldur's Gate 3 to be the best computer game ever?

God's Tweeter Week: Those You Blocked Will Come Back to You

6 incredible places to go for a picnic less than an hour and a half from Madrid

"The number of heat waves will grow": a Russian climatologist on the causes of temperature records in Russia and the world

Fire in L'Ile-Saint-Denis: still in shock, residents help each other

"Cheems", the dog of the most viral memes on the Internet, dies

Superconductor hype: Hoping is ok, but it's not enough

Abuse allegations against Michael Jackson: Civil lawsuits against production companies can still go to court

To protect the ecological security barrier of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, a seminar on ecological restoration and comprehensive management of the Lhasa River Basin was held

Beyond the New U.S. Activism in the Middle East

Landmark of Lahaina on Maui: "As if the tree were in a coma"

In the future, Hamburg will pay primary school teachers in the same way as student councillors at grammar schools

Chaise longue, daybed, lounger or armchair with ottoman ..., and lie down to the bartola!

No confrontation in Cologne: Pro-Russian motorcade turns out to be much smaller than planned

The damn white glasses, a less military style and HIIT at 3,200 meters: "the plan" that led Maria Perez to gold

Rubiales kisses Jenni Hermoso on the mouth during the celebration: "I didn't like it"

The party of the Spanish team in the dressing room: "That the Queen! Let the Queen bounce!"

Chelsea lost to West Ham in the second round match of the Premier League

Saving time pressure: Goryachkina and Salimova drew the second game of the World Cup final and will play in a tie-break

Low-priced tours are frequently forced to consume, not all of which are caused by tour guides

Living in a bathing center is "cost-effective" Young people travel in the summer to live in new ways

New data and new highlights: China's industrial robot installed capacity accounts for more than 50% of the global

Look at China in ten dimensions! "Into the new state-owned enterprise  The "Clock-in New Coordinates" network interactive communication activity was officially launched

"Land-based aquaculture" away from the sea Major telecommunications companies enter the market one after another

The South China Expo held at the "Three Forks" in Asia: an important platform for exchanges and cooperation among nearly 40 billion people

Guatemala votes in an election marked by the judicial attempt to prevent the candidacy of the change

World: the president of the Spanish federation criticized for kissing Hermoso on the mouth

The occupation intensifies the search for the perpetrator of the Huwara operation, and Hamas warns of settler attacks

Two Israeli companies in the crossfire of X and Meta. What's up?

Fears of Wagner. Russian website: Is war breaking out between Belarus and its neighbors?

Iran summons the ambassadors of Denmark and Sweden to protest the insult to the Qur'an

Kristersson (M): The state cannot look at whether we are facing acute threats

Laura Escanes denounces that they have used her image to take her naked in photos manipulated with Artificial Intelligence

The actor of the series "Clinic" called on Zelensky to be treated for drug addiction

WP: The Armed Forces of Ukraine seem to have exhausted their options for a counteroffensive

Netherlands loses two golds in half an hour for two falls in full finish

Imani-Lara Lansiquot made a false start at the World Athletics Championships  but protested and was still allowed to run

Clashes are the most violent in Khartoum and an imminent humanitarian disaster in Fola and Nyala

Rubiales kisses Jenni Hermoso on the mouth during the celebration: "I didn't like it"

 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.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. Representatives of Azerbaijan's Economic Zones Development Agency met with an Austrian delegation led by Gunter Grabher, CEO of Grabher Group GmbH, to discuss the possibility of constructing a plant for processing various products within industrial zones using polypropylene manufactured by SOCAR Polymer, a resident of the Sumgayit Chemical Industrial Park, Trend reports.

Members of the group were told about the country's active industrial zones and their excellent investment potential for businessmen, as well as the applicable tax and customs benefits.

Trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Austria From January through May 2023 amounted to $183.96 million.

SOCAR Polymer, a significant investor of the Sumgayit Chemical Industrial Park, produces polypropylene and polyethylene.

The company's Made in Azerbaijan branded products are exported to over 10 countries, including Turkiye, China, Poland, Nigeria, Romania, Kazakhstan, Bulgaria, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. The price of Azeri LT CIF Augusta brand totaled $89.45 per barrel on August 7, decreasing by $0.66 compared to the previous price, Trend reports, referring to the source from the country's oil and gas market.

Azeri LT FOB Ceyhan brand currently costs $88.55 per barrel, which is $0.63 less than the previous price.

Additionally, Azerbaijan sells its URALS oil through the Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline from the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. URALS cost $72.74 a barrel when shipped from the port, a decrease of $0.55 from the previous price.

Meanwhile, the price of a barrel of Brent Dated oil produced in the North Sea lowered by $0.31 from the previous day on August 7 to $86.55 per barrel.

(1 USD = 1.7 AZN on August 8, 2023)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. Single Buyer Model (SBM) can play a central role in turning Azerbaijan into a major green electricity exporter, says the World Bank (WB), Trend reports.

Under the single-buyer electric market model, the utility company creates a supply purchasing group whose job is to competitively procure supply on behalf of all the utility's end-use customers.

WB notes that the export of electricity has emerged as a crucial topic for Azerbaijan.

Despite its strategic location, the country currently has limited electricity trade with neighboring systems due to both physical and economic constraints, especially concerning renewable energy (RE) developments. Nevertheless, promising initiatives are underway, including a potential project linking Zangazur to Turkiye and European markets, as well as a proposed Black Sea cable connecting Georgia to Romania. A significant step was taken on July 18, 2022, when the EU and Azerbaijan signed a memorandum in the energy sector, outlining a roadmap for the future, with a specific focus on connectivity, leveraging Azerbaijan's geographical location, and its vast RE potential.

To fully harness its RE potential and establish itself as a major green electricity and energy exporter, the government of Azerbaijan is planning to construct dedicated transmission lines. This will enable the export of RE electricity without utilizing the country's existing transmission and distribution (T&D) system for the majority of the planned capacity.

In this context, the World Bank believes that SBM can play a central role by adopting an efficient approach to generation resources, facilitating flexible dispatch, and accommodating more variable renewable energy (VRE) into the system. By optimizing thermal capacities to meet domestic demand, more green electricity can be allocated for export, either as electrons or as green hydrogen or ammonia.

The proposed SBM model aims to reduce overall system costs and cross-subsidy requirements. It also seeks to implement a transparent and cost-reflective pricing regime, instilling confidence in independent investors for both VRE and conventional generation assets. The SBM will enable a greater variety of contracting options, fostering a conducive environment for further growth in the energy sector.

By adopting these measures and capitalizing on the potential of RE, Azerbaijan can position itself as a leading player in green electricity and energy export, contributing to a sustainable energy future, says the WB.

Azerbaijan, Georgia, Hungary, and Romania signed an agreement in Bucharest on December 17, 2022 to build an underwater electric cable under the Black Sea. The project could become a new power source for the European Union. The 1,100-kilometer cable from Azerbaijan to Romania will provide Azerbaijani energy for the rest of the continent. The project could be completed within three to four years.

The results of the preliminary study on the project will be known in September.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Like a lot of young teens with so much life ahead of them, Gracie Limas had been toying with a few ideas about what her career could be as an 
Iraqs official media regulator on Tuesday ordered all media and social media companies operating in the Arab state not to use the term homosexuality and instead to say sexual deviance, the regulator said.

The Iraqi Communications and Media Commission said in a statement that the use of the term gender was also banned. It prohibited all phone and internet companies licensed by it from using the terms in any of their mobile applications.

The regulator directs media organisations ... not to use the term homosexuality and to use the correct term sexual deviance, the Arabic-language statement said.

A government spokesperson said a penalty for violating the rule had not yet been set but could include a fine.

Iraqs media have been advised not to use the term homosexuality and instead say sexual deviance. Credit: AP

Iraq does not explicitly criminalise gay sex but loosely defined morality clauses in its penal code have been used to target members of the LGBT community.

Major Iraqi parties have in the past two months stepped up criticism of LGBT rights, with rainbow flags frequently being burned in protests by Shiite Muslim factions opposed to recent Koran burnings in Sweden and Denmark.

More than 60 countries criminalise gay sex, while same-sex sexual acts are legal in more than 130 countries, according to Our World in Data.

Reuters
A new metro station in Sydneys CBD is set to be named after the local Indigenous people, putting an end to a protracted debate about what the stop should be called.

Pitt Street station, near Town Hall, is expected to be called Gadigal Railway Station, in honour of the original Indigenous people, and would become the first public transport station in Sydney to be explicitly named after its traditional owners.

The new metro station at Pitt Street in Sydneys CBD is set to be called Gadigal, pending final approval from Customer Service Minister Jihad Dib. Credit: Dion Georgopoulos

A spokesperson for Transport Minister Jo Haylens office said the name was still going through the Geographical Name Board process.

Final approval for the name lies with Customer Service Minister Jihad Dib, say well-placed government sources who are not authorised to speak publicly. Dib is responsible for the Geographic Name Board that approves names for the states roads, suburbs and stations. The government will have to announce the name in a parliamentary gazette.
Warning: Graphic and distressing content

Convicted murderer Adrian James Basham is fighting to keep the house he killed his wife in, telling a court he needs to sell the property to help pay his legal bills.

Victorias Director of Public Prosecutions has applied to confiscate the house on Seagrove Way in Cowes, arguing it is tainted property because Basham killed estranged wife Samantha Fraser there and then attempted to stage the scene to look like a suicide on July 23, 2018.

Adrian Basham (right) outside the Supreme Court in March. Credit: Paul Jeffers

The court heard that the pair were joint tenants and that following Frasers death, Basham became the sole owner under the law of survivorship.
A 60-year-old man has been charged with murder after a fatal house fire in Victorias Central Highlands late on Saturday.

Maree Vermont was found dead inside her house in Goldie near Kilmore in central Victoria after firefighters extinguished the blaze that destroyed the Mt William Road home.

Maree Vermont has been remembered as a kind and loving mother by her three sons. Credit: Nine News

On top of the murder charge, Timothy Loosemore was also charged with one count of criminal damage by fire in Melbourne Magistrates court on Tuesday. Loosemore was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after the blaze.

Loosemores relationship with Vermont, 60, was unclear and the circumstances of her death were also yet to be made public.
No holiday, please

I was surprised by my enthusiasm for a womens soccer game, but its been a joy to watch the Matildas. But, oh, Anthony Albanese, dont spoil it all. Im beginning to hope the Matildas dont win if Albanese suggests a public holiday. No. Please, no. I wont even be able to enjoy a cafe coffee, as public holiday rates mean my local cant afford to open.

Pam Cupper, Dimboola Repeated failures

The saying goes that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. What we have been doing for Indigenous Australians has been basically the same thing for decades and its been failing for decades.

Should we vote No to keep doing the same thing over and over again? Or should we try a fresh approach and allow Indigenous Australians to suggest new and more effective ways to assist them?

Doug Steley, Heyfield Exercise in damage

Plenty of people who are concerned about conditions in Indigenous communities have also raised legitimate concerns about the possible impact of a successful Voice referendum. In my view, they have been adequately addressed  in particular, the furphy that the Voice would undermine the authority of parliament. Peter Duttons No campaign is a cynical, clever, well-researched exercise; if you dont know, vote no could have been written by advisers to big tobacco with similar intent. It is harder to address because it has little to do with the pros and cons of the referendum, and more to do with damaging Anthony Albanese. If the referendum gets up  and I hope it does  the margin will not be huge. Dutton has already succeeded in dividing Australia.

Norman Huon, Port Melbourne Heres the mail ...

Has Australia Post considered that the reason for its declining or even non-existent profits this year might be because of its declining level of service (Protesters stamp feet as another post office axed, 5/8)? Letters that once upon a time were delivered the next day in the same suburb might arrive a week later after a scenic tour around the country. Postal deliveries that once occurred twice daily now sometimes happen only thrice weekly. If we could rely on Australia Post to actually provide a regular and reliable service, then surely usage and profits would increase.

Julie Moffat, St Leonards ... Its not good

I agree with your correspondent (Letters, 8/8)  the alternative post offices suggested by Australia Post are not always convenient.

Post boxes are also closing without any notice and you are expected to carry a smartphone to find the next closest, as demonstrated by the notice on a post box saying that there was a temporary closure and providing a QR code instead of the location. This occurred in Gilbert Road, Reservoir, when the newsagent closed, what a coincidence.

My morning walk extended another one to two kilometres  lucky that I am not one of the many elderly people in the area recovering from hip surgery or other impediments.

One of my elderly former neighbours approached the postie to complain and the postie volunteered to take any outward mail when dropping off the inward mail. Alas, what happened to the posties whistle signalling that you had mail? Obviously not part of Australia Posts service charter.

Wilma Hills, Echuca

All a bit rich

Donald Trumps gratuitous and mocking comments about the US womens World Cup players, including Megan Rapinoes dyed hair, are a bit rich coming from someone whose own thatch is prematurely orange.

Peter Russo, West Brunswick Best keep mum

Donald Trump would do well to heed the maxim: Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.

Matt Dunn, Leongatha Service? Dont bank on it

Further to your correspondents despair at NABs branch closure (Letters, 8/8), ANZ closed all branches on the Mornington Peninsula other than Mornington or Frankston, the former 40 kilometres from Rye, the latter 50 kilometres from Rye. It is particularly frustrating when, having travelled 50 kilometres, you find that the one ATM which accepts coins is out of order.

The usual political refrain of cross the road and change banks doesnt hold water when our banks operate as an oligarchy. And its not because we, the customer, have voted with our feet and only want to use electronic banking. We still want a decent level of customer service from our bank.

Rob Smith, Rye Dont pooh-pooh idea

We had a Moonee Valley creek clean-up last Sunday and among the 58 kilograms of rubbish was about a kilo of full dog poo bags. Yes, we sort and count the rubbish as part of a Melbourne water audit. Please dont just fill them and throw them away.

Tom Danby, Coburg North Large v small cars

The article Auto-besity a health risk for everyone (5/8) quotes a federal Department of Infrastructure spokesperson saying that road vehicle standards ensured all vehicles including the new generation RAM and Ford F-series utes were safe for local driving conditions. Driving conditions are not the only relevant issue.

Last week in my mechanics workshop two vehicles were on adjacent hoists. One was a massive Toyota HiLux twin cab. The other was a Fiat 500.

I suggested that he line up the front of the HiLux with the drivers door of the Fiat. Substitute any huge ute for the HiLux and any other small or micro car and you get the picture. Add driver attitude and you have a disaster in the making. What next? Mandating full-face crash helmets for the drivers of small cars?

Helen Moss, Croydon

Greatly missed

I am saddened by the death of former letters editor Peter Anthony. He rang me once and I was impressed that he would bother to ring me, a mere letter writer. He will be greatly missed.

Susan Munday, Bentleigh East Brilliant farewell

Jewel Topsfields memoriam to the comma mechanic, Peter Anthony, was brilliant (Wild, honourable and loved: The Age farewells its man of letters, 8/8). Anthony was many things to many people. Not least of which, to his prolific letter writers like myself with a lot to say, but within the prescribed word count by the word maestro.

Indeed, I concur with fellow letter writer Margaret Callinan that Peter made you feel like a person and not just some nutcase who writes letters to the editor (ie for very good reason!) because of his passion for people. Over and above his passion for language.

Heart-felt condolence to Peters surviving family and friends.

Jelena Rosic, Mornington Gentleman, scholar

Vale Peter Anthony: muso, foodie, lover of life, and formerly dedicated letters editor. A comma mechanic who serviced many of our letters over the years. I was fortunate enough to meet him, only once, last year  a visit he took with his customary good humour and a welcome smile. A gentleman and a scholar to the end, I dare say. Blessings on your journey, friend.

Michael Adam Puck, Maffra A big life, not long enough

I am sad to hear that Peter Anthony has died, at the age of 63. Jewel Topsfield wrote a beautiful article in February about a lunch she had with Peter. Diagnosed with terminal gastric cancer, his sense of humour and worldly outlook seemed undiminished. Im so sorry for his family and friends. And for him of course.

The few conversations I had with him have stayed with me. In what must be a high-pressure job, his approach was always so personable. He would ring if he wanted to check facts (I instantly knew Id made an error) or grammar (he was fastidious) or meaning (if he was diplomatically checking whether he had understood correctly, you knew it wasnt quite right).

It was all done with humour, warmth and openness. You were simply discussing a small matter of a letter to the editor, but a bigger conversation could have opened out at any moment. He lived a big life. Not long enough.

Fiona Colin,

Malvern East AND ANOTHER THING

Sport

Shine on you crazy Diamonds! The Australian womens netball team has won the world championships.

Robin Jensen, Castlemaine Dutton

Peter Dutton provides all the reasons why Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander people need a constitutionally enshrined Voice in parliament; which is, to prevent politicians like Dutton to act on matters concerning their welfare.

Henry Herzog, St Kilda East It appears Peter Dutton has been saying no for quite some time  especially when it comes to grants for Indigenous communities.

Alan Inchley, Frankston If we vote no, well never ever know  an alternate Yes campaign slogan?

Bernd Rieve, Brighton Furthermore

Working for one of the big four consultancy firms should disqualify a person from employment in the public service for at least five years.

John Walsh, Watsonia
Labor will seek to avert a damaging internal split over the Israel-Palestine conflict by hardening its language on the Palestinian territories, with the federal government to officially refer to Israels settlements in the West Bank as illegal and the territories as occupied.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced the shift in Tuesdays caucus briefing for Labor MPs, prompting the opposition to accuse her of showing more concern for factional tensions than international diplomacy.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has announced a hardening of Labors position on Palestine. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

The news was condemned by pro-Israel groups as one-sided, while Palestinian advocates celebrated the move but pressed Labor to go further.

The decision comes less than two weeks before Labors national conference, an event some party activists hope to use to strengthen Labors policy platform commitment to Palestinian statehood.
Former Liberal MP Bernie Finn is facing allegations of online harassment by a prominent former member of the Liberal Party over public posts on Facebook.

The Liberal Party member  who has requested not to be named  has initiated legal action against Finn and is seeking an intervention order to prevent him from continuing to publish her name on social media.

Former Victorian MP Bernie Finn described allegations of online harassment as nonsense. Credit: Joe Armao

Finn, who was expelled from the states parliamentary Liberal team in 2022 over online posts, described the allegations as nonsense and told The Age he was not going to allow anybody to misuse the court to blacken my name.

Legal action was initiated after the conservative politician and the woman saw each other in a car park recently in Melbournes CBD following Finns appearance on Sky News. After the encounter, Finn published a post on Facebook about the former Liberal Party member.
GM's BrightDrop EVs are Headed to Mexico

DETROIT August 7, 2023; BrightDrop is taking on North America by adding Mexico as the next country to receive its electric vans. With products in the United States, Canada and soon to be Mexico, GMs e-delivery tech business is helping commercial fleet customers with their electrification needs across the continent. The first two products coming to Mexico are BrightDrops flagship electric vans: the BrightDrop Zevo 400 and BrightDrop Zevo 600. BrightDrop launched in the U.S. in 2021 to provide smarter, safer and more sustainable solutions that help decarbonize the movement of goods and services. Following a successful launch delivering real results to some of the worlds biggest brands, BrightDrop expanded its business to Canada in late 2022 where it continues to gain strong demand. BrightDrop EVs are built at GMs CAMI Assembly plant in Ontario, Canada, the nations first large-scale EV factory. After completing the fastest plant conversion in GMs history, production of the Zevo 600 is ramping up with the Zevo 400 on track to begin in the next few months. BrightDrop Zevos will be available for customers to order in Mexico starting later this year. Read GM Mexicos press release or visit www.gobrightdrop.com for more information. Bringing BrightDrops products to Mexico is a key move in our mission to decarbonize delivery globally, while helping customers take advantage of the economic benefits of going electric. Electrifying vehicle fleets can positively impact the environment and companies bottom lines. By bringing BrightDrop solutions closer to our customers throughout North America, we can help make the EV transition as seamless as possible.  Steve Hornyak, chief commercial officer, BrightDrop. We are proud to introduce an unprecedented vehicle to the Mexican market. Its combination of advanced safety offerings, convenience features and best-in-class range make it the ideal option for our customers. Today's announcement reaffirms our commitment to achieve a zero-emissions future."  Paco Garza, president and managing director, GM Mexico.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, August 8. A number of important objects in the field of railway transport are returning to the ownership of Kazakhstan, the press service of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan said, Trend reports.

The transaction involving the transfer of these objects to a competitive environment was found illegal by the court.

The government was briefed on the present status of the return of these objects at a conference devoted to issues of economic demonopolization. Cases of misappropriation of received property have been identified. The investigation authorities confiscated these assets and temporarily transferred "Kazakhstan Temir Zholy" management until the final procedural judgment.

Kazakhstan's Prime Minister, Alikhan Smailov, has been directed to expedite the return of similar facilities in other parts of the nation.

Furthermore, a privately owned healthcare company can return to republican ownership. According to preliminary data, the private firm to which the administration of this asset was transferred has not fulfilled its commitments in line with the principal operations for an extended period of time, therefore breaking the terms of the investment program.

The Kazakhstani government stated that an interdepartmental committee will be formed, the results of which will be used to make a final judgment on the feasibility of terminating the contract and returning assets to state ownership.
The Laramie County Library was selected by the American Library Association (ALA) and WETA Washington, DC, to receive a programming kit for The Vietnam War, a 10-part documentary film by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick that began airing on PBS stations on September 17.

As part of the award, the Library will host a roundtable discussion with veterans of the Vietnam War, moderated by Maj. Elizabeth Evans, on Thursday, October 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the Cottonwood Room. Film viewing and discussion sessions will take place on October 18 and 25, and November 2. Complete details and schedule of events can be found on the Librarys online calendar or by picking up a Vietnam War event flyer at the Library.

In The Vietnam War, filmmakers Burns and Novick tell the epic story of the conflict as it has never before been told on film. The film features testimony from nearly 80 witnesses, including many Americans who fought in the war and others who opposed it, as well as Vietnamese combatants and civilians from both the winning and losing sides. Learn more about the film here.

The Laramie County Library was one of 50 U.S. public libraries selected to receive the kit through a peer-reviewed competitive application process. More than 350 libraries applied, according to ALA. View the list of selected libraries here.

With the programming kit, the Library received a copy of the 18-hour documentary series on DVD, with public performance rights; the companion book, The Vietnam War: An Intimate History by Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Burns (Alfred A. Knopf, a division of Penguin Random House, 2017); a programming guide; promotional resources; partnership opportunities and more.

The kit is designed to help libraries participate in a national conversation about one of the most consequential, divisive and controversial events in American history.

The project is offered by the ALA Public Programs Office in partnership with WETA Washington, DC.

Events at the Library:

Vietnam War Round-Table Discussion

Join local Vietnam War veterans as they share their experiences. Q&A to follow, moderated by Major Elizabeth Evans, Commander, 153d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 153d Airlift Wing, Wyoming National Guard.

(Adults & Teens; Cottonwood Room)

Thursday, October 12, 6:30  8pm
Wyoming is rich with minerals. The state has abundant energy minerals, such as coal and uranium; industrial minerals, like bentonite, trona, and gypsum; as well as critical minerals, metals, and gemstones. The Wyoming State Geological Survey (WSGS) has developed a new interactive map that will make it easier to research the states extensive mineral resources. The online Mineral Resources of Wyoming map will be routinely updated as new data become available.

Our suite of online maps continues to expand and is growing in popularity among users. The addition of our new Mineral Resources of Wyoming map provides the public with a central location for information about minerals in the state. We anticipate it will be useful to many individuals in the public, government, and industry, says Dr. Erin Campbell, WSGS Director and State Geologist.

The map is an update and expansion of the WSGSs 2018 Mines and Minerals map. New features include an interactive index of downloadable uranium logs, and locations of geochemistry results from reports and STATEMAP projects. External information detailing current mining, such as Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality active mines layers, and federal and state mineral leases have also been added.

The Mineral Resources of Wyoming map greatly expands the amount of geochemistry data and mine information over the previous map, as well as adding information regarding mineral leases, critical minerals, and dozens of WSGS and U.S. Geological Survey mineral reports, says Jim Stafford, a geohydrologist and map developer at the WSGS.

Also included are several statewide minerals maps published by the WSGS that have been made interactive and a series of layers showing study areas for WSGS mining district publications.

The goal with this map is to make mineral-related data more accessible and interactive to the public, says Stafford. Whenever the WSGS releases new mineral reports, they will be added. The map will be routinely updated as new data become available.

The map also highlights areas in the state with active WSGS projects that are tied to mineral research, adds Stafford. The WSGS is currently working on multiple, large, critical mineral projects that include on-the-ground analytical work as well as helicopter surveys to collect geophysical data. Links for these data will be posted to the map as the projects progress."

In addition to the Mineral Resources of Wyoming map, other WSGS interactive maps cover geothermal, geologic hazards, geology in Yellowstone National Park, groundwater, and oil and gas. The survey has also developed an interactive map of its geologic map index.
Local government mobilizes various rescue efforts in flood-stricken Shulan

Xinhua) 08:28, August 08, 2023

Rescuers search in Kaiyuan Town of Shulan City, northeast China's Jilin Province, Aug. 6, 2023. Shulan had experienced continuous rainy weather since Tuesday night. This round of rain has basically ended. The local government has mobilized various rescue forces to relocate residents, repair roads, and restore power and communication to resume people's normal lives as soon as possible. (Xinhua/Yan Linyun)

Workers repair wire damaged by flood water in Kaiyuan Town of Shulan City, northeast China's Jilin Province, Aug. 6, 2023. Shulan had experienced continuous rainy weather since Tuesday night. This round of rain has basically ended. The local government has mobilized various rescue forces to relocate residents, repair roads, and restore power and communication to resume people's normal lives as soon as possible. (Xinhua/Yan Linyun)

Transportation staff members repair road damaged by flood water in Shulan City, northeast China's Jilin Province, Aug. 6, 2023. Shulan had experienced continuous rainy weather since Tuesday night. This round of rain has basically ended. The local government has mobilized various rescue forces to relocate residents, repair roads, and restore power and communication to resume people's normal lives as soon as possible. (Xinhua/Yan Linyun)

Workers repair wires damaged by flood water in Kaiyuan Town of Shulan City, northeast China's Jilin Province, Aug. 6, 2023. Shulan had experienced continuous rainy weather since Tuesday night. This round of rain has basically ended. The local government has mobilized various rescue forces to relocate residents, repair roads, and restore power and communication to resume people's normal lives as soon as possible. (Xinhua/Yan Linyun)

Rescuers from Blue Sky rescue team search in Shulan City, northeast China's Jilin Province, Aug. 5, 2023. Shulan had experienced continuous rainy weather since Tuesday night. This round of rain has basically ended. The local government has mobilized various rescue forces to relocate residents, repair roads, and restore power and communication to resume people's normal lives as soon as possible. (Xinhua/Yan Linyun)

Rescuers transfer a trapped person in Shulan City, northeast China's Jilin Province, Aug. 6, 2023. Shulan had experienced continuous rainy weather since Tuesday night. This round of rain has basically ended. The local government has mobilized various rescue forces to relocate residents, repair roads, and restore power and communication to resume people's normal lives as soon as possible. (Xinhua/Yan Linyun)

Medical workers transfer a trapped person to a hospital in Shulan City, northeast China's Jilin Province, Aug. 6, 2023. Shulan had experienced continuous rainy weather since Tuesday night. This round of rain has basically ended. The local government has mobilized various rescue forces to relocate residents, repair roads, and restore power and communication to resume people's normal lives as soon as possible. (Xinhua/Yan Linyun)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Delve Into the Rollicking Conversion Story of a Married Catholic Priest

NEWS PROVIDED BYAug. 8, 2023SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 8, 2023 / Standard Newswire / -- There are only about 120 married Catholic priests in the United States and one of them, Father Dwight Longenecker, has finally released his entire conversion story in THERE AND BACK AGAIN: A SOMEWHAT RELIGIOUS ODYSSEY (Ignatius Press). An introvert by nature with a self-deprecating and honest sense of humor, Fr. Longenecker could see no reason to tell his tale. Yet, after speaking about it hundreds of times and writing more than a dozen books on theology, THERE AND BACK AGAIN went to print.Fr. Longenecker was raised in an Evangelical Protestant home, attended the fundamentalist Bob Jones University, pursued further studies in theology at Oxford, and was ordained an Anglican minister. In 1995, he was received into the Catholic Church in England and, eleven years later, he returned to his native United States to be ordained as a Catholic priest. He now serves as pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church in Greenville, South Carolina.THERE AND BACK AGAIN tells the incredible and wild tale of how he learned about the Catholic Church and its saints, met his wife and started his family, became an Anglican minister, and then made the decision to leave, along with 800 other Anglican ministers, due to the decision to ordain women.The journey in THERE AND BACK AGAIN has no shortage of supernatural interventions, hilarious moments from Fr. Longenecker's self-described snobby Protestant fundamentalism through the Church of England, and inspiring moments of God's providence. Fr. Longenecker and his family have lived an irregular and unusual life that cumulated in his becoming one of the few married Catholic priests in the United States."Father Dwight has written one of the most comedic conversion stories I've ever read," said Marcus Grodi, host of EWTN's The Journey Home. "His thoroughly enjoyable autobiography is a rollicking read. Best read wearing a smoking jacket, with pipe and scotch in hand."For more information, to request a media review copy, or to schedule an interview with Father Longenecker, please contact Kevin Wandra (404-788-1276 or KWandra@CarmelCommunications.com ) of Carmel Communications.SOURCE Carmel CommunicationsCONTACT: Kevin Wandra, 404-788-1276, KWandra@CarmelCommunications.com
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. There are 204 companies with Azerbaijani capital functioning in Uzbekistan, Deputy Director of the Center for Economic Research and Reforms under the Administration of the President of Uzbekistan Mukhsinjon Kholmukhamedov said, Trend reports.

He made the remark during the round table on the "Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan: new horizons of cooperation" topic in Baku.

According to him, Azerbaijan invested $12 million in economy of Uzbekistan in 2022.

"The main areas of activity of Azerbaijani companies in Uzbekistan are mechanical engineering and metalworking, light industry, food production, residential construction, services and others," he said.

According to Kholmukhamedov, the Azerbaijani market is of particular interest to Uzbekistan.

"We can expand cooperation in such areas as agriculture, in particular within the framework of the EKTIS (an electronic information system) project, the development of joint projects in the chemical and oil refining industries, the center for agricultural economics, as well as with other large companies for the production of building materials," he said.

The total trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan amounted to over $80 million from January through June 2023.

Moreover, the trade turnover between two countries increased by 1.5 times in 2022. The economies of both countries have sufficient potential to increase mutual trade indicators to $1 billion in the coming years.
Batavia, NY (14020)

Today

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low near 65F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low near 65F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, August 8. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed the law on ratification of the agreement on military-technical cooperation between Uzbekistan and Pakistan, Trend reports.

The agreement was signed during Shavkat Mirziyoyev's official visit to Islamabad (Pakistan) in early March of the previous year.

Pakistan is ranked seventh in the world army rankings for the year 2023. The defense budget for the country is anticipated to be $7.5 billion. Pakistan too possesses nuclear weapons.

Pakistan's military-industrial complex is capable of producing a wide range of weaponry, including short- and medium-range ballistic missiles, several types of ammunition, and armored vehicles.

The country also manufactures aircraft components. At the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), a contemporary JF-17 fighter-bomber and reconnaissance drones are being constructed.
American Whiskey editor Phoebe Calver selected as women of whiskey awards finalist

Phoebe Calver, editor of American Whiskey Magazine, has been selected as one of the finalists for the inaugural Women of Whisky Awards (WOW Awards) presented by Bourbon Women and the Bourbon Women Foundation.

The awards aim to recognise and honour the outstanding women in the industry who have made significant strides and have been instrumental in uplifting members in their teams.



Calver has been nominated in the category of Spirits Writer of the Year, with the criteria for the award highlighting the following: communication; creativity; professionalism; integrity and knowledge.



Calver has been editor of American Whiskey since September 2019, her first issue being number seven. Since taking charge, the magazine has rocketed in popularity, with a collection of impressive cover stars including Matthew McConnaughey, Melissa McCarthy, Ben Falcone, and Brothers Bond founders Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley.



Speaking on her nomination, Calver commented: It is a true honour to be included as a finalist in this category. In an industry that houses a selection of truly incredible spirits writers, Im over the moon to have been selected and filled with pride. Sharing stories, with our American Whiskey readers, of innovative whiskey makers and shining a light on those that may otherwise go unnoticed, is a role I take very seriously and hope to continue doing so for many years to come.



The awards will take place at the Bourbon Women SIPosium on Friday 25 August 2023, 6:30PM EST, in Louisville, Kentucky. The evening will bring together industry leaders and supporters to celebrate the achievements of women in the spirits world.



More information on the awards can be found at their website.

8 August 2023 - Bradley Weir
Molson Coors to acquire spirits producer Blue Run

Molson Coors Beverage Company has reached an agreement to acquire Blue Run, a spirits producer of bourbon and rye whiskies. The deal is another step in the brands revolution as a total beverage company.

Based in Georgetown, Kentucky, Blue Run launched in October 2020, gaining international acclaim among whiskey experts. As Molson Coors first spirits acquisition, the addition of Blue Run is hoped to boost the companys presence in the spirits industry as it evolves from its history as a beer company.

Blue Run is currently available in 31 states across the US through retail and on-premise accounts. In March 2023, the brand announced plans to build a distillery in Kentucky.

Chief Commercial Officer at Molson Coors, Michelle St. Jacques, commented: Molson Coors has been on a journey to broaden beyond our beer roots and build powerful brands in growing categories, and Blue Run joining us is an exciting next step as we establish Coors Spirits Co. Blue Run has accomplished in three years what many brands hope to do in a generation and has done it at the luxury end of the whiskey category. Importantly, we are committed to maintaining Blue Runs well-known quality, design and innovation as we continue to grow our spirits portfolio.

Blue Runs founders will remain at the brand, with one of its co-founders, Mike Montgomery, to take on an expanded role with Molson Coors as vice president of Coors Spirits Co. Jim Rutledge, a Bourbon Hall of Famer, will continue as distillery consultant.

Commenting on the acquisition, Montgomery added: Since launching Blue Run, we have always strived to do things a little differently to truly embrace todays younger, more diverse generation of whiskey drinkers. We are humbled by how the whiskey community has embraced our vision and that Molson Coors wants to join and support us in this journey.

Blue Run was represented by Samos Capital of Southlake, TX in the transaction and is legally represented by Foley and Lardner LLP of Milwaukee and Kaplan, Johnson, Abate and Bird LLP of Louisville, in addition to being supported by Joseph Goode and Cody Matthews of Truist Bank of Charlotte, NC. Molson Coors was legally represented by Quarles and Brady LLP of Milwaukee.

8 August 2023 - Bradley Weir
According to Yahoo! Lifestyle, the alleged girlfriend (now ex) of Jack wrote to The Wash that she was led to believe Jacob broke up with her because he was moving overseas for a job - my jaw is on the floor.
China, NewsClick, Congress linked to anti-India umbilical cord





NEW DELHI :

BJP leader and Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Monday alleged that China, NewsClick website and Congress are linked to an anti-India umbilical cord as he cited a news report which alleged that companies linked to China were funding the portal. In a report titled, A Global Web of Chinese Propaganda Leads to a US Tech Mogul, The New York Times has claimed that the news portal was part of a global network that received funding from American millionaire Neville Roy Singham, who allegedly works closely with the Chinese Government media machine. In New Delhi, corporate filings show, Singhams network financed a news site, NewsClick, that sprinkled its coverage with Chinese Government talking points.

Chinas history continues to inspire the working classes, one video said, The New York Times report noted. Addressing a press conference along with Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar at the BJP headquarters here, Thakur said India was telling the world that NewsClick was a dangerous global network of propaganda. When Enforcement Directorate raids were conducted against NewsClick two years ago, he said, the Congress and other Opposition parties stood by the news portal and questioned the Governments action, raising the issue of press freedom. The newspaper (NYT), about which Congress and Opposition parties talk big, has confirmed what India had said two years ago. In 2021, we exposed NewsClick and how foreign hand was working against India, Thakur said. The Congress and Opposition parties had then come in support of the anti-India, break India campaign, he charged. Congress, China and NewsClick are part of one anti-India umbilical cord, Thakur alleged, adding Chinese goods are being sold in Rahul Gandhi jis fake Mohabbat ki Dukan (shop of love).

The Minister said, If you see the funding network of NewsClick, it was funded by a foreigner, Neville Roy Singham, and he gets funds from China. Neville Roy Singham has direct contact with the propaganda arm of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese media company Maku Group, he said. They present fake news in the name of free news. Congress and other parties are supporting them, he alleged. Earlier in the day, BJP member Nishikant Dubey mentioned in Lok Sabha the New York Times report. There was no immediate reaction available from the news portal or Congress. ED probing Rs 86 crore doubtful foreign funding: THE Enforcement Directorate (ED) is probing alleged fraudulent foreign funds infusion of more than Rs 86 crore into a company that runs the NewsClick portal even as it is expected to soon file a charge sheet in the case being probed under the anti-money laundering law, official sources said on Monday. NewsClick is again in the spotlight after a New York Times report claimed that the news portal was part of a global network that received funding from American billionaire Neville Roy Singham, who allegedly works closely with the Chinese Government media machine.
Over 35K missing kids reunited with parents in Mah since 2015





MUMBAI,

MAHARASHTRA Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said that Maharashtra Police is successfully working on Operation Muskan since 2015 under which 35,000 to 40,000 missing children were reunited with their parents. The Maharashtra Deputy CM was addressing the State Assembly. Maharashtra police have succeeded in bringing back 96 per cent of children in 2021, 91 per cent in 2022 and in this year until now 71 per cent. Maharashtra Police is successfully working on Operation Muskan since 2015 under which 35,000 to 40,000 missing children were reunited with their parents.

Parliament has praised this mission, said Fadnavis. Operation Muskan also known as Operation smile is an initiative by the Ministry of Home Affairs. It was launched in 2015 with the purpose of rescuing and rehabilitation of missing children. Under the initiative, the ministry alloactes resources to the state police forces in order to carry out the operation. Significantly, the monsoon session of the Maharashtra Assembly began on July 17.
Bhoomipujan to redevelop Junnardeo, Pandhurna Rly stations performed





Our Correspondent

CHHINDWARA,

Under the virtual programme by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, bhoomipujan of Junnardeo railway station and Pandhurna railway station of Chhindwara district were performed under Amrit Bharat railway station scheme. On this occasion, District BJP President Vivek Bunty Sahu expressed gratitude by thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for selecting two stations of Chhindwara for Amrit station.

Sahu said that these stations of Chhindwara district have been included in the first list to become Amrit Bharat railway stations. After construction of Amrit station, there will be more development in these areas of Pandhurna and Junnardev and revolutionary changes will also take place in this area due to increase in facilities. Sahu said that under this scheme, 1309 railway stations across the country will be redeveloped. In the first phase, 508 stations have been included. In the first phase, 34 stations will be developed in Madhya Pradesh. Sahu said that I and all the workers of the district heartily thank Prime Minister, Narendra Modi for including two stations of Chhindwara in the first phase.
Debts of Rs 1.50 cr due to gaming fraud led Gondia boy to end life: Police





Staff Reporter

Nagpur Polices investigation in Rs 58 crore on-line gaming fraud case uncovered a link of the gaming fraud to the suicide of a 19-year-old boy hailing from Gondia. The teenager committed suicide last month at his residence in Gondia after losing a staggering Rs 1.50 crore in the on-line game. A senior police official said that the information of the link between the suicide and on-line game was shared with Gondia Police. Shockingly, after the suicide case, the accomplices of elusive gaming fraudster Ananth alias Sontu Navratan Jain had approached the family members of the deceased in Gondia. They reportedly handed-over a sum of Rs 1 crore to the family members to hide the suicide note, the official said.

The investigation further revealed that apart from Gondia suicide case, the gaming fraud had caused suicides of two other persons -- one in Odisha and another at Pune. On July 23, during the raid on Sontus residence, the police had seized Rs 17 crore in cash, 14 kg of gold, and 294 kg of silver with a combined worth of Rs 27 crore. Later, the police found Rs 85 lakh cash and gold worth over Rs 4.50 crore in the lockers of Sontu Jain. It has been revealed that the accused, Sontu, operated an illegal on-line gaming platform under the guise of Diamond Exchange.com. The platform allegedly manipulated unsuspecting victims into engaging in various gambling activities, such as Rummy and Teen Patti, leading to significant financial losses to many.

The investigation into this fraud case started when a Nagpur-based businessman approached the police, claiming to have been duped of Rs 58 crore by Sontus gaming platform. He alleged that the results were manipulated, leading to substantial financial losses. When the victim demanded his money back, Sontu not only refused but also issued threats. Under immense financial pressure, the victim had arranged Rs 40 lakh and transferred it to Sontu via a hawala trader.
India will become a global education hub: VC Professor (Dr) K G Suresh





By Bhavana Aparajita

Shukla

Ushering in to the new edition of global platform, State-owned, Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication, commonly known as MCU, signed an memorandum of understanding with Daffodils International University in Dhaka. Elaborating to about the new venture to The Hitavada over phone, Dr K G Suresh said the MoU with Daffodils International University has been signed. It is the largest private university of Bangladesh. On behalf of the said University, Professor (Dr) M Lutfar Rahman was present. It consists faculty and student exchanges between the two premier universities.

In his address, the V C said NEP is proving a landmark to the education system. Not only in country, but other nations are looking at India in view of its talent pool and prevailing education system. In future, India will become a global education hub. Academic fraternity from different parts of the State expressed happiness over this initiative. Professor Kamana Joshi from Jabalpur said, such initiatives will open new avenues for students as well as for faculties. It will give comprehensive approach to their respective fields. She further said that association of Asias first and Indias largest media University Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication, Bhopal, and Bangaldesh largest private university will consolidated two nations relations also. In his remarks, Professor Suresh termed the agreement as a landmark as it implemented the spirit of the National Education Policy 2020 which envisions internationalisation of Indian education and making India a global education hub.
NGOs demand free treatment at GMCHs, officials say not possible





By Vikas Vaidya :

Maharashtra Government has recently announced free treatment for everyone in all the hospitals under the ambit of Public Health Department. Against this backdrop, some Non Government Organisations (NGOs), have raised the demand for free treatment to be provided at all Government Medical College and Hospitals (GMCHs) run by Medical Education Department too. However, the officials concerned feel that it may not be possible to meet the demand in its entirety. The guidelines on the free-of-cost facilities to be provided at Public Health Department run hospitals have not come yet. But, as per the announcement, people of all strata will get free treatment at these hospitals. People will not have to pay registration fee, bed charges, food charges, testing charges etc. Most public health hospitals dont have tertiary healthcare facilities. They dont have Intensive Care Units, they dont have diagnostic tools like CT scan, MRI etc and no advanced surgeries are performed in these hospitals. If people need to undergo major surgery, they have to approach either private hospitals or GMCHs/Super Speciality hospital to avail better treatment, for which they have to apply under Mahatma Phule Jana Aarogya Yojna (MPJAY).

If patients are expected to approach GMCHs, then Medical Education Department that runs these hospitals should give free treatment, demanded Janmanch, a social organisation in Nagpur. Some former Deans also feel that GMCs can provide free treatment but not the complete procedure. Former Director of Medical Education and Research Dr T P Lahane said, Providing free treatment in tertiary care hospitals like GMCHs all over the State is possible provided no major consumable are involved in the treatment. For example, when a major surgery is conducted, on most occasions, costly implants or stents or other consumables are required. The required amount is substantial, so who will provide it? Secondly, unlike in public health hospitals, GMCHs make diagnosis through CT Scan, MRI or other diagnostic tools. There are several equipments used and the administration has to maintain ICU, Obstetric ICU, Neonate ICU etc. Lots of advanced treatments are being provided in skin, ENT, ophthalmology, orthopaedic, cardiology, urology, nephrology, gastroenterology, neurology etc. Similarly, GMCH has to take care of maintenance cost, depreciation value. The volume of Outpatient and Inpatient Department is quite huge. I feel, GMCH can waive off registration fees, bed charges, food charges.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. Protests took place in Iran's Tabriz this night.

The footage is distributed in Telegram channels, Trend reports.

It is reported that residents of Tabriz took to the streets due to lack of water.

Mohammad Khani, executive director of the Water and Sewerage Company of Iran's East Azerbaijan Province, said that the Nahand dam, which supplies drinking water to Baghmisheh district in the northern part of Tabriz, ran out of water.

"In order to permanently solve the water problem in Baghmisheh district of Tabriz, work is underway to connect the pipeline to the Zarrinarud river (Cighati). The problem of water shortages in the northern part of Tabriz will be solved within 4 days. All areas of Tabriz are supplied with water; only in Baghmisheh district will water be cut for 12 hours daily," he added.

Khani apologized to the residents for the problem of a water shortage in the north of Tabriz.
Parliament passes Delhi Services Bill





NEW DELHI :

The Bill gets support of 131 MPs in Rajya Sabha, while 102 members oppose it

PARLIAMENT on Monday passed a contentious bill that gives the Central Government control over bureaucrats in the Delhi Government with the Rajya Sabha approving it with 131 votes in favour and 102 against. Home Minister Amit Shah defended the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, saying the proposed legislation is aimed at providing effective and corruption-free governance in the national capital. Earlier, the Opposition bloc I.N.D.I.A. and the BRS vehemently opposed the proposed legislation, saying it was unconstitutional, undemocratic and against the spirit of federalism.

With Naveen Patnaiks BJD and the YSRCP supporting the Bill, the Opposition pulled all stops, including bringing former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on a wheelchair and an ailing Shibu Soren to the House, to shore up its numbers. On August 4, the Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha by a voice vote. The Bill seeks to replace an ordinance on the handling of transfers and postings of officials in the Delhi Government. Replying to a debate on the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, Shah assured that the Upper House the objective of the bill was only and only to provide efficient, corruption-free governance and popular Government.

He also assured the members that there is not even a single provision that changes the status of the system prevailing since the Congress regime. Shah asserted that the bill is constitutionally valid and it does not violate the Supreme Court judgement from any angle. He said Delhi is different from other States because it houses Parliament, embassies, the Supreme Court and regularly many State heads from different countries visit the national capital. Therefore, Delhi was made a Union Territory. Delhi is a Union Territory with an Assembly with limited powers, he said. In future, whoever fights elections in Delhi need to understand this character, Shah added. The Bill was passed by Lok Sabha last week.
Rahul Gandhis LS membership restored; returns to Parliament





NEW DELHI,

OVER four months after he was disqualified, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi returned to Lok Sabha on Monday with his membership of the Lower House restored in the wake of the Supreme Court staying his conviction in a defamation case. His return as an MP comes as a boost to the opposition ranks ahead of the no-trust motion against the Modi Government which is likely to be taken up in Lok Sabha on Tuesday. Gandhi is set to be one of the key speakers of the Opposition bloc I.N.D.I.A. that would look to send a message to the people through the motion even as its outcome is a foregone conclusion with the numbers heavily stacked in favour of the ruling NDA.

Announcing the reinstatement of Gandhi as an MP, a Lok Sabha notification said in the wake of the SC order Friday, the disqualification has ceased to operate subject to further judicial pronouncements. Soon after the Lok Sabha Secretariat communication, Gandhi reached the Parliament House and offered floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhis statue before entering the House to attend proceedings around noon. But the House was adjourned within minutes. Inside the Parliament premises, Gandhi was also seen spending time with his mother and Lok Sabha MP Sonia Gandhi. Gandhi was accorded a warm welcome by the Congress and other opposition MPs on his arrival in Parliament which saw festive scenes at the main gate with sweets being distributed and slogans being raised in favour of the former AICC chief.
SC sets up panel of 3 women ex-HC judges to look into Manipur relief work





NEW DELHI :

The committee will be headed by former J&K High Court Chief Justice Gita Mittal and include Justices (retd) Shalini P Joshi, a former judge of the Bombay High Court, and Asha Menon, an ex-judge of the Delhi High Court. Ex-Maharashtra police chief Dattatray Padsalgikar to monitor the probe in criminal cases. 42 SITs to look at cases not transferred to CBI.

AS MANIPUR sank deeper into ethnic violence, the Supreme Court on Monday ordered setting up of a committee of three former women High Court judges to oversee relief and rehabilitation of victims and compensation to them besides asking former Maharashtra police chief Dattatray Padsalgikar to monitor the probe in criminal cases. Observing that its effort is to restore peoples faith in the rule of law in the strife-torn State, the top court also decided to monitor the overall situation there.

The court said the three-member panel will be submitting reports to it directly. A bench chaired by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud said the committee will be headed by former Jammu and Kashmir High Court Chief Justice Gita Mittal and include Justices (retd) Shalini P Joshi, a former judge of the Bombay High Court, and Asha Menon, an ex- judge of the Delhi High Court. Cognizant of reports about the border State descending deeper into chaos, with more and more people getting killed and arson and mayhem prevailing, the bench, also comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, which had termed as deeply disturbing the video of women being paraded naked, said it will appoint a committee of three former High Court judges to oversee relief and rehabilitation of those affected.

We will appoint a committee of three former High Court judges, the bench said, adding the panel will be looking at issues including relief, remedial measures, rehabilitation, compensation and also restoration of homes and places of worship. The bench said the committee of judges will visit the relief camps and assess the conditions there. On the investigation of cases, the court said 11 FIRs will be transferred to the CBI. We are not going to supplant the CBI because you (the State Government) have the investigating agency which will be looking after the investigation, the bench said. The top court said to ensure there is a sense of faith, it will direct that at least five officers, not below the rank of deputy superintendents of police, be brought into the CBI on deputation from various States to oversee the probe.
Senior Congress leaders stage massive protest over increasing crimes in city





Staff Reporter

A number of senior leaders and workers of Congress Party, on Friday staged a massive protest in front of Superintendent of Police office to voice their concerns over escalating crimes in the city. Irritated Congressmen warned the police administration that if immediate action is not taken to improve law and order, they would resort to burning effigies of the State Government at every square and called for Jabalpur bandh. During the protest, Congress leaders pointed out the increasing incidents of crime in the city and growing sense of insecurity among the residents, particularly in the posh colonies along the railway line, where incidents of dacoities and criminal activities have been on the rise.

Holding the police administration accountable for the increasing crime rate, the Congress leaders and workers gheraod SP office and expressed their discontent with the poor performance of the law enforcement authorities. Congress workers said the recent spate of dacoities at the residences of industrialist Puspha Beri, renowned businessman Ramavatar Gupta, Nikhil Agarwal and Dalbir Singh Tuteja has angered the public. They demanded swift action from the police and district administration and staged protest to draw attention to all authorities concerned for immediate resolution. Congressmen stressed that if their concerns are not addressed promptly, they will call a Jabalpur bandh.

Those who participated in protest include Alok Chansoria, Alok Mishra, Abhishekh Chouksey, Dinesh Yadav, Manish Chansoria, Saurabh Sharma, Narendra Pandhe, Mukesh Rathore and others.
Shatayu College-offered courses getting good response from students





Business Bureau

Shatayu College, affiliated to RTM University, Nagpur and Tilak Maharashtra University, Pune, has always given the best result. This year also the college has given outstanding result of 95 per cent. Dr Sumukh Mishra, Managing Director of the college, said that the college is offering quality education and infrastructure due to which more students are getting attracted towards Shatayu College not only from the city but also from surrounding parts of Central India.

Till date courses like BCA, M.B.A & MCA (Computer Application) have witnessed about 80 per cent admissions and all seats are likely to get full very soon.

He said nowadays the students adopt more professional courses than Engineering or Science graduation. The college is also offering courses like BCA, BBA, B.Com, M.Com, B.A., M.A, M.sc / MCA (Computer Application) , M.B.A./ MCA and other courses as per schedule of Tilak Maharashtra University.For details, visit office at , Plot no.5, Near Hingna-T Point, Jalvihar Colony, Ring Road, Nagpur. Ph: 8087785070, 7385530360.
Time To Revive





By Deepika Bhan

IN THE fifth year since the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir, it is time for Kashmiris to reflect back and count the gains and losses. The gains are visible and noticeable, but the losses are deep within, manifested by broken communities and crashing identities. On August 6, 2019, Parliament approved the resolution to repeal Article 370, paving the way to truly integrate J&K into the Indian Union. And since then, a series of measures have been taken to normalise the terror-stricken place and the results are there before everyone to see. For the first time in the history of Jammu and Kashmir, a record 1.88 crore tourists visited the UT in 2022. From January 1 to June 19 this year, more than 15,000 foreign tourists have flocked to the Valley. The surge in the number of international tourists is a big leap from the figures of the previous year, when 4,028 foreign visitors arrived in the same period. The UT has seen a remarkable reduction in organised stone pelting incidents linked to the terrorist-secessionist agenda. The number of such incidents, which stood at 1,767 in 2018, has dropped to zero this year. The G20 Tourism Working Group meeting in Srinagar this past May, which was attended by 17 member countries, was a watershed moment in the UTs tourism history. The UT is emerging as a vibrant, fast-growing and attractive investment destination and big companies from across the country and abroad are showing interest in investing in J&K.

With the extension of 890 Central laws to J&K, the repeal of 205 State laws and modification of 129 laws after the abrogation of Article 370, a system of equitable justice has been established for all sections of people. The rights of weaker sections such as the Scheduled Tribes, other traditional forest dwellers, Scheduled Castes and Safai Karamcharis are now ensured by the application of the relevant Acts. Quota rules have been amended to extend the benefits of reservations to the left-out categories such as the Pahari-speaking people and the economically weaker sections. For the first time the spouse of a J&K domicile is now deemed as one too. Earlier, spouses of Permanent Resident Card holders were considered one a par, but still not regarded as domiciles. The list of gains is too long. The benefits that the people are now getting are unprecedented in the regions history. Perhaps, that is the reason for the mass silence in Kashmir. There are no protests, stone pelting or shutdowns even as day-to-day hearings of the petitions pertaining to Article 370 continue in the Supreme Court. Even the local press, which played a dubious role in fomenting terror in the late 1980s, and came across as mouthpieces of separatist groups, have avoided any debate over Article 370. There has been silence since August 5, 2019, when Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced in the Rajya Sabha that the Government has scrapped the Special Status granted to the State of Jammu and Kashmir by modifying Article 370 of the Constitution.

The same day the Rajya Sabha also passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, which proposes the bifurcation of the State into two Union Territories -- Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir. The unexpected decision stunned the people in Kashmir into silence. What added to this was the indifference of the big powers and the rest of the world to the Government of Indias action. Pakistan did go ballistic, but no one in the world cared and has not in the last four years. This added to the shock and created fear among the anti-India forces in Kashmir. The crackdown has blunted the so-called invincible image of the terror bogey created by Pakistan and its supporters in the Valley. The people are no longer behaving like the ones who used to follow the Pied Pipers of Pakistan. They are silently picking up all that they are getting after the abrogation of Article 370. Even as the nation celebrates Kashmir Integration Day, the people in the Valley need to reflect on this day. Mahatma Gandhi visited the Valley on August 2, 1947, and had said Kashmir is a ray of hope. He had also said, If anyone can save Kashmir, it is only the Muslims, the Kashmiri Pandits, the Rajputs, and the Sikhs who can do so. But terrorism laid bare the faultlines in the state as the minorities were targeted and forced to leave en masse. Around 7 lakh Kashmiri Pandits and hundreds belonging to other religious minorities fled the valley -- and the majority community remained silent. A society that lived in harmony once, is fractured today.

Kashmiriyat is a half-baked term today. It used to be about the co-existence of Kashmiri Muslims, Kashmiri Pandits and the Sikhs, about Kashmiri language, rituals, attire and above all -- the belief that all could live together. Kashmiri Pandits are out of the Valley and dispersed all over. With their roots cut, they are fast losing out on their rich culture, language and traditions. Though terrorism has been controlled to a large extent, other deadly problems are on the rise, of which drug addiction has become a serious worry. In March, a Union Minister told Parliament that nearly a million people in Jammu and Kashmir -- around 8 per cent of the regions population -- use drugs. Other crimes are also on the rise  sexual assaults and murders especially. Reeling under the terror threat for over three decades has taken its toll on Kashmiri society. Each and every Kashmiri family has paid a price for remaining mute to the perpetrators of terror, and to those who made them believe in the mirage of azadi. August 5, 2019, gave us a reason to reflect on why all those hundreds of innocent people had to die, and what purpose did the dislocation of hundreds of thousands of Kashmiri Pandits serve. Kashmir has got integrated, but Kashmiris need to integrate among themselves for Kashmiriyat to come alive again.(IANS)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. Iran has never left the negotiating table, as far as talks on nuclear program of the Islamic Republic are concerned, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said, Trend reports.

He made the remark at the "21st Iranian Media National Festival" held in connection with "Journalists' Day" in Iran on August 8, 2023.

Commenting on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and sanctions against Iran, Raisi said that Iran has never violated the nuclear agreement. The president noted that currently, Iran has a stronger position, as far as lifting of sanctions go, and logically, it doesn't trust the opposite parties (the US, Germany, the UK and France).

The president explained the mistrust due to other parties 'repeatedly violating the agreements'.

Along with continuing the discussions on the nuclear program, Iran is relying on local capabilities to better withstand against sanctions, and to be fully self-sufficient in agriculture, industry and other fields.

On January 16, 2016, Iran's nuclear program precipitated the establishment of the JCPOA between Iran and the P5+1 group (the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany). The US announced its departure from the agreement in May 2018 and implemented sanctions on Iran in November of the same year. To sustain the agreements established as part of the JCPOA, European signatories began in January 2019, and INSTEX, a financial vehicle for continuing trade with Iran, was formed.

On May 8, 2019, Iran announced that it will no longer meet its duties under the pact to sell more than 300 kilograms of uranium, citing the failure of other signatories to do so.

On July 7, Iran announced that it would not be fulfilling its commitments regarding the enrichment of uranium at 3.67 percent and the reconstruction of the Arak Heavy Water Reactor Facility as stated in the deal.

On September 5 of the same year, Iran announced its commitment to enrich uranium using next-generation centrifuges and not mix it with the enriched uranium residues as part of the third step of reducing commitments in the JCPOA.

On November 5, 2019, Iran announced that it had taken the fourth step in connection with reducing its commitments to the nuclear agreement. So, uranium gas is being pumped to the centrifuges at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant.

On January 5, 2020, Iran took the last fifth step in reducing the number of its commitments within the JCPOA.

On May 8, 2018, the US announced its withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and the 5+1 group (Russia, China, the UK, France, the US, and Germany) and imposed new sanctions against Iran as of November 2018.

Over the past period, the sanctions affected Iranian oil exports and more than 700 banks, companies, and individuals. The sanctions have resulted in the freezing of Iranian assets abroad.

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Follow the author on Twitter:@BaghishovElnur
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. Police in Yerevan has violently dispersed protesters, Trend reports.

A footage circulated on social networks has shown the protesters blocking the streets on the Republic Square.

Medics are treating several injured as a result of the actions of the police.

Such violence of the power structures against people has always been and still continues in Armenia. International organizations, international organizations that speak about human rights, are still silent and do not react to this. Even today, this violence continues to be repeated.

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Truepoint Inc. lifted its position in Chevron Co. (NYSE:CVX  Free Report) by 54.3% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 2,843 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after acquiring an additional 1,001 shares during the quarter. Truepoint Inc.s holdings in Chevron were worth $464,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CVX. Rebalance LLC purchased a new position in shares of Chevron in the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. NewSquare Capital LLC increased its holdings in shares of Chevron by 52.3% in the 1st quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 195 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 67 shares during the period. Artemis Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Chevron in the 1st quarter valued at $33,000. Western Pacific Wealth Management LP purchased a new position in shares of Chevron in the 4th quarter valued at $37,000. Finally, Red Tortoise LLC bought a new position in shares of Chevron during the 4th quarter worth approximately $37,000. 69.65% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Chevron Trading Up 0.4 %

Shares of NYSE CVX traded up $0.59 during trading on Monday, hitting $159.90. 13,923,692 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 8,130,422. Chevron Co. has a 12-month low of $140.46 and a 12-month high of $189.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a current ratio of 1.43. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $156.75 and a 200-day moving average price of $161.88. The firm has a market capitalization of $298.57 billion, a PE ratio of 10.17, a P/E/G ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 1.17.

Chevron Announces Dividend

Chevron ( NYSE:CVX Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 28th. The oil and gas company reported $3.08 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.95 by $0.13. Chevron had a return on equity of 19.48% and a net margin of 13.54%. The firm had revenue of $48.90 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $48 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $5.82 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was down 28.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Chevron Co. will post 13.01 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 11th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 18th will be paid a $1.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 17th. This represents a $6.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.78%. Chevrons payout ratio is presently 38.30%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have commented on CVX. Citigroup decreased their price target on Chevron from $180.00 to $170.00 in a research note on Tuesday, July 11th. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded Chevron from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating and increased their price target for the company from $165.00 to $180.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 1st. Piper Sandler decreased their price target on Chevron from $196.00 to $188.00 in a research note on Tuesday, June 13th. Mizuho lifted their price objective on shares of Chevron from $202.00 to $205.00 in a research note on Tuesday, July 11th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Chevron in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Chevron presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $191.05.

Get Our Latest Stock Report on CVX

Insider Activity

In other news, VP Jeff B. Gustavson sold 3,750 shares of Chevron stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $160.88, for a total value of $603,300.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 1,718 shares of the companys stock, valued at $276,391.84. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Insiders own 0.18% of the companys stock.

Chevron Company Profile

(Free Report)

Chevron Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in the integrated energy and chemicals operations in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Upstream and Downstream. The Upstream segment is involved in the exploration, development, production, and transportation of crude oil and natural gas; liquefaction, transportation, and regasification associated with liquefied natural gas; transportation of crude oil through pipelines; and processing, transportation, storage, and marketing of natural gas, as well as a gas-to-liquids plant.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. Kemerkoy thermal power plant brings about one billion dollars to the country's economy, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said after a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, Trend reports.

"This power plant, which produces nearly two-thirds of the electricity used in the South Aegean region, contributes approximately one billion dollars to our country's economy," he stated.

The Kemerkoy Thermal Plant was developed inside the Electricity Generation Company (EUA) to use the 95 million tons of lignite coal deposit in the Husamlar mine.

Kemerkoy Thermal Plant is made up of three units, each with a 210 MW power output, for a total power capacity of 630 MW. Between June 1984 until August 1993, the plant was under construction. The first and second units were operational in 1994, and the third unit was operational in 1995, and they are still in production today. The plant's yearly nominal output capacity is 4 billion 95 million KWh.
Bangladesh's Ashrayan Project (Shelter Project for the homeless') is empowering the marginalized people through inclusive development, as this housing project plays a vital role in alleviating poverty to help the country attain at least eight targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Ashrayan Project is now being used aptly as Sheikh Hasina Model for Inclusive Development, which has ushered in a new era of growth towards building a Bangladesh free from poverty and hunger.

Through the project, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina introduced a new dimension of growth and socio-economic development for the homeless populace based on the philosophy - No one will be left behind.

However, 22 thousand 101 more families are going to get new houses as a gift of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for landless and homeless people. These houses are being provided in the second phase of the fourth phase of the Prime Minister's Office Asharyan-II project.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will hand over these semi-furnished houses along with two hundred acres of land to the families for free on Wednesday. At the same time, the Prime Minister will declare 123 upazilas of the country as completely landless and homeless free. Out of this, all the upazilas of 12 districts are having this achievement.

In May 2020, Asharyan-2 project under the Prime Minister's Office was taken up to implement the declaration of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, 'Not a single person of Bangladesh will be homeless or landless in the Mujib year.' In January 2021, the Prime Minister handed over 63 thousand 999 single houses of the first phase of this project. At the same time, 3 thousand 715 families were rehabilitated in 743 barracks. In June of the same year, the Prime Minister handed over 53 thousand 330 houses of the second phase. The number of houses constructed in the third phase was 65 thousand 674. 39 thousand 365 houses of the fourth phase were handed over in March this year. The remaining houses of this phase will be handed over.

Under this project, 238851 families have been given houses with land in four stages. A total of 1194035 displaced people hasbeen resettled as an average of five members in each family. It is the largest government rehabilitation program in the world in terms of number of beneficiaries and rehabilitation methods.

Asharyan today is a unique project not only in Bangladesh but also in the world. In different countries of the world, there are various initiatives to help the backward people in different ways, but there is no precedent in the world to build a permanent these types of houses by giving ownership of government land in their name to the people who have no address, and build houses with electricity and sanitation facilities at government expense. In this project, homeless and landless families are provided ownership of two-room semi-paved single-family houses with electricity facility in the joint name of husband and wife with 2 percent Khas (government owned land) land settlement. Notably, the project is not only an opportunity for a man and his family to live with dignity, but also a unique example of women's empowerment by ensuring ownership of land to husbands as well as wives. Researchers can find such a unique example that no other will match.

How big and comprehensive this campaign is can be understood in some statistics. Studies have confirmed that 5,55617 families have been given shelter in the shelter project started in 1997, where 2778085 people have been displaced. Apart from shelters, almost similar projects are Veer Nibas, Minority Resettlement, Cluster Villages, Disaster Resilient Houses, Housing Fund Houses. Together with all these projects, 414800people have become house owners along with land ownership. More than 28,000 acres of land has been allotted for homestead alone. The visible result is that 334 upazilas including all upazilas of 21 districts of the country are landless and homeless today.

Realising the sufferings of the homeless marginal and ultra-poor people, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, after coming to power inThe Ashrayan project- home for the homeless- is seen as a Sheikh Hasina Model for inclusive development. So far, around 1 million families received such homes across the country, giving shelter to more than 3.5 million people. 1996, envisioned the Ashrayan project for rehabilitation of the millions.

Without increasing the statistics, the country's 334 landless and homeless free upazila shelters, if we look at similar projects, the red-green colored houses will lead us to a new one. In the meantime, we will see a different kind of trend and aesthetic impression of sustainable engineering thinking according to the landscape. In this house construction style of Asharyan project, we see, in general, two-room semi-furnished single house with toilet, kitchen and a balcony for each family, specially designed houses for riverside areas, specially designed houses for small ethnic groups in hilly areas, special designed houses for small ethnic groups in other areas. Design tong houses, multi-storied buildings for climate refugees, paved barracks for coastal people, semi-paved barracks for plain areas, barracks for charanchelors (Islands areas), single houses for beggars. This variety of house construction proves that this initiative is not just a cheap initiative, it has been implemented with a very carefulthought so that the beneficiary community actually gets the maximum practical benefit in their respective areas.

A house or a family on a piece of land is not only a housing facility, but shelter has also ushered in massive changes in the socio-economics of the country. Shelters and similar initiatives have empowered the backward communities as well as established them at unique heights of social status by empowering destitute women in land ownership, helping them to return to the mainstream. By eradicating hunger and poverty, providing permanent housing, education, health, sanitation, ensuring social equity, rehabilitating climate refugees, this initiative has brought massive and visible change to the rural economy.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's own and original philosophy in moving the country forward is not limited to theory or words. The practical aspect of this philosophy is also strongly visible. Shelters and similar projects are a visible form of the 'Sheikh Hasina Model of Inclusive Development'. The features of this model are- Increasing the earning power of the poorest people, establishing their respectable livelihood and social status, empowering women in land and house ownership, building self-confidence and self-esteem among them, skills and development, environmental protection, ensuring village-to-city facilities.

Analyzing the indicators of change in this model, it has been found that the beneficiaries of the shelter project have increased their sense of security by 98.87 percent, their social status has increased by 98.5 percent, the standard of living has increased by 95.2 percent, ability to buy new furniture increased 70.22 percent, positive behavior improved 60.78 percent, social harmony increased 60.21 percent, ability to buy electronic devices increased 56.78 percent, Savings rate increased by 44 percent and cultural activities increased by 35.5 percent. According to the information available till July 22, 1922, 350,000 tons of agricultural produce, 720 tons of fish, 130,000 cattle and 1000,000 poultry-pigeons [ According to media reports in 2022]. Without further ado, this is visible development, this is inclusive development. It must be mentioned that the asylum project, like several other initiatives of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has caught the attention of the world's policy makers as the largest rehabilitation project in the world. The project is being discussed in the United Nations Human Settlements Program known as UN Habitat. In the 77th session of the United Nations, held on September 21, 2022, policy makers from various countries including the United Nations participated in the discussion titled 'Refuge: Sheikh Hasina Model for Inclusive Development'.

However, today, people around the world can come and see, the poor, dishonorable and neglected women of Bangladesh have also become land owners, and have built their very own 'houses' with their husbands and families. This project has given them respect, dignity, strength and confidence.

Dr. Atle Pearson who is a Norwegian academic and analyst with experience in South Asian affairs research, diplomacy and geopolitics.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 9. Turkiye will continue to conduct anti-terrorist operations to speed up the process of voluntary return of refugees to Syria and Iraq, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, Trend reports.

"Our operations will continue until the terrorism that threatens the territorial integrity of Turkiye is ended. As the situation in Iraq and Syria stabilizes, there will be a voluntary, safe and dignified return of refugees to these countries. Turkiye is a country the participation of which has become a necessity in many critical issues. Our goal is to create a zone of peace, stability and prosperity around our country through dialogue and diplomacy," he said.
Phuket Marine Chief files police complaint over oil slick

PHUKET: Phuket Marine Chief Natchaphong Pranit on Monday (Aug 7) filed a formal complaint at Chalong Police Station in the hope of bringing legal action against the culprit responsible for unleashing a tide of oil that plagued Phukets west coast beaches over the weekend.

environmentpollutionnatural-resourcestourismmarine

By The Phuket News

Tuesday 8 August 2023 09:18 AM

Mr Natchaphong explained that the damage done included the harm done to sea animals, the water and the beaches affected, which included the beaches in all three districts along the west coast.

Under Section 119 of the Navigation in Thai Waters Act, people causing such damage were liable to up to three years in prison or a fine of up to B60,000, or both.

And they must pay for the expenses incurred in cleaning up the toxic substances and compensation for those damages as well, Mr Natchaphong said.

The Phuket Regional Marine Office together with officers from the Andaman Maritime Safety and Traffic Control Center (CSCA) checked for likely offenders through the Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) system monitored at the centre, which can monitor vessels up to 95 nautical miles from Phukets west coast, Mr Natchaphong explained.

From July 26 to Aug 3, a total of 81 vessels passed through the area, comprising 62 merchant ships, 18 tanker ships and one tug supply ship, Mr Natchaphong said.

Helicopters from the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command, based at Cape Panwa, had carried out aerial surveys along the coast of Phuket, and found no further oil slicks on the water,

If the weather continued as expected, the oil that plagued Phukets beaches for nearly a week was expected to be gone within one to two days, he said.

Meanwhile, cleanups have continued along the west coast, he added.

Officers at Sirinat National Park have joined with many parties, including volunteers and local government organisations in the area, to accelerate the cleaning and removal of oil patches and debris stained with oil from the area as soon as possible, Mr Natchapong said.

At Koh Racha Yai, south of Phuket, a cleanup effort led by local Navy personnel on Monday cleared some two tonnes of oil-marred sand and oil-stained debris from the island.

Despite the mass cleanups held over past days, tourists and beachgoers are still reporting oil residue still in the sand covering the hands and feet.
Wild idea of graveyard at somebodys backyard

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The deferred mass burial of Kuki-Zo people killed in the ongoing violent crisis at Torbung will surely be a litmus test for the Government of India. Official records have already shown that the area chosen for the mass burial belongs to the State. The arrogance behind the plan to bury the deceased Kuki-Zo people at Torbung has unmistakably gone beyond the limit. Turning the backyard of those people who houses have been burnt down and razed to ground into a graveyard or more precisely a memorial complex of the aggressors will surely be an antithesis to all peace initiatives. On the contrary, if the planned, now deferred, mass burial goes ahead with the blessing of New Delhi, we are afraid violence will only escalate to an unprecedented level. Such a graveyard or memorial complex on Government land at the backyard of the victims will unfailingly serve as a symbol of sheer injustice. It will also serve as a constant reminder of how a large number of unsuspecting people were driven out of their homes and victimised under the barrel of gun. By choosing Torbung for the mass burial, the Kuki-Zo leaders have revealed their expansionist policy. The way Kuki-Zo militants invaded Meitei villages, drove out villagers, built bunkers and kept these areas under their occupation is quite akin to the 19th or early 20th century warfare tactics of invasion, occupation and domination. Just because the particular area is currently under their occupation, they cannot claim ownership of the area. This will certainly invite eviction from the Government in the future, if not now. In nutshell, the plan to bury the dead Kuki-Zo people on Government land is simply preposterous and outrageous. It is not only illegal but also highly provocative. Any attempt to turn Torbung into a graveyard of Kuki-Zo people, we fear, will run into the stiffest opposition. Such attempts will only aggravate the situation and shut out all avenues of reconciliation and resolution of the crisis.

It was indeed a great relief that the High Court of Manipur and the Ministry of Home Affairs made timely interventions to stall the planned mass burial on August 3. But the preposterous and outrageous plan has not been dropped yet, it has been only deferred. Media reports say that Union Home Minister Amit Shah would hold a meeting with ITLF leaders on August 8 at New Delhi. We hope Amit Shah can instill sense and persuade the ITLF leaders to drop the plan of burying their dead people on Government land at Torbung. The Centre needs to talk straight that the plan is illegal and impermissible. The Government of India need not follow any appeasement policy with the exponents of such wild and highly provocative ideas. The Supreme Court has noted that there is complete breakdown of law and order and total anarchy in Manipur. If we are not mistaken, the apex Court was referring to both the valley and hill districts of Manipur. No doubt, law and order is a sine qua non for restoration of peace and normalcy in the State. But enforcement of law and order should be applied throughout the State, without any discrimination based on topography or ethnicity. Application of laws in only one part of the State will only breed more injustice. Just as many rioters and perpetrators of other unlawful activities have been pulled up in the valley, similar actions ought to be initiated in the hill districts too. Robbery of arms and ammunition from State armoury should be dealt with a strong hand. At the same time, there should be complete and effective disarmament on the other side too. But this is not happening as of now. The situation is really grave and the Centre needs to handle the situation with a firm hand. Following an inexplicable appeasement policy with respect to one group and dealing with the other with iron hand will only complicate the crisis.


Discover what the WorldTempus Team thought of this special Bovet Recital 23 Phase de lune

Sophie Furley

For those of you who dont know me outside of WorldTempus, when I am not writing about watches, I also write about animal conservation to support an organization called the Global Conservation Corps. I was recently in London with them for one of their charity events that was held in the Old War Office Building (OWO), where I had the pleasure of moderating a talk about art and animal conservation. The OWO has recently been reopened with a flagship Raffles Hotel and a series of exclusive private residences. Why am I telling you my life story? Well, 10 of the penthouse apartments come with a limited edition Bovet timepiece. So, when it came to choosing a wristwatch for my talk, it was obvious what I needed to be wearing!

Sophie Furley interviewing the wildlife photographer Will Fortescue

The lovely people at Bovet chose the Recital 23 for me. With its red gold oval-shaped case, diamonds around the bezel, vibrant green sub dial and large moon phase, it not only looked amazing on my wrist, but elevated my whole outfit to the next level. But not only that, it gave me a boost of confidence as I noticed other women in the room glancing at my wrist. It is amazing how a watch can do that. I only wish I could wear it every time I have to go on stage, think how amazing I could be!

Bovet Recital 23 Phase de lune  WorldTempus/Sophie Furley

Marie de Pimodan

Time is mans most precious asset, wrote Voltaire in his Precis of Ecclesiastes published in 1759. How can we contradict him, at a time when the days go by at breakneck speed, as magazine after magazine goes to press? While every minute counts and time seems to speed up and slip through our fingers, the Bovet Recital 23 phase de lune timepiece evokes a completely different temporality. Free time for daydreaming and poetry, a time when we allow ourselves to have our heads in the stars, to fly away to the moon.

In fact, it is the moon that catches the eye first, set majestically at the top of the Recital 23 dial, displaying its phases in the form of a hemispherical dome whose surface is finely engraved and filled with luminescent material. Delicate and refined, it is also precise with its mechanism requiring only a single one-day correction every 122 years, using a pusher discreetly integrated into the cabochon crown. Beyond the precision of the moon phase, it is the whole timepiece that invites you to slow down. The engravings on the dial, the graceful silhouette of the hour and minute hands that form a heart when they meet on the off-centred dial and the sensual oval shape of the diamond-set pink gold sloping writing case, all come together to make the Recital 23 phase de lune feel like a charm, a precious talisman that makes you feel good.

Bovet Recital 23 Phase de lune  WorldTempus/Marie de Pimodan

Camille Guille

Before every watch fair, I always look forward to discovering Bovets new launches. This time, the watch came to me as I had heard that the WorldTempus team was doing a Team Test of the Recital 23. In order to keep the surprise complete, I asked Sophie if I could try it on and I can tell you it had the wow effect. The thinnest rose gold case, an eye catching/hypnotical green dial and the engraving work were stunning. I immediately ran outside to take pictures and videos in the sunshine for Instagram content. The beautiful green alligator bracelet completed the aesthetic to perfection and I couldnt stop glancing at it all day long and staring at all the details of the moon phase, the 174 brilliant-cut diamonds on the dial, and the further 72 gemstones on the bezel!

When you wear a Bovet watch, you can feel the Maisons historical background, the meticulous work of the watchmakers, the engraving savoir-faire, and everything that has contributed to the Bovet success story over its two centuries. Dont forget to take a look at the caseback, you will see the engraving of the micro-rotor that is breathtaking. It truly is Haute Horlogerie in its purest form.

Bovet Recital 23 Phase de lune  WorldTempus/Camille Guille

Suzanne Wong

The Bovet Recital 23 is a pillar of the brands feminine timepieces, and its easy to see why. The elegant proportions, the refined oval case, the angled dial that allows for discreet reading of the time, the textured surfaces that offer a subtle play of light without overpowering the diamond-set bezel, the hour and minute hands that form a heart whenever they meet The watch is both a tactile and visual pleasure to wear.

Moreover, the watchs availability in a variety of materials and colours gives it a versatility that is truly appealing for the modern woman. This model, in rose gold with a deep green dial and strap, is a celebration of the verdant hues of summer. At first glance, you might think this a watch for the evening, due to the 256 diamonds on its case and dial, but I can personally attest that it also pairs excellently with a light sundress and sandals.

Bovet Recital 23 Phase de lune  WorldTempus/Suzanne Wong

Allissa Pataki

I have to admit, I was having a bit of a tough time writing this review. Not for lack inspiration  trust me! It just felt like whatever I would write could not possibly do the Bovet Recital 23 justice. I mean, come on. From its intricate and captivating design to the meticulously crafted movement, this timepiece is a work of art that embodies the essence of time itself. There is so much to say about all of its extraordinary features - from the mesmerizing hand-decorated dial to the slope red gold gem-set case and the three-dimensional moon phase. But even that would just be scratching the surface.

As I wore it on my wrist, I couldnt help but feel a deep sense of serenity and peace. I couldnt figure out why at first, but then it dawned on me. In a world that is ever moving, where time is fleeting and slips through our fingers at an uncontrollable speed; it is more valuable than ever to focus on the small things in life. And the Recital 23 offers a chance to do just that. With each flick of the wrist, I was transported into a realm of joy, beauty and art where time slows down  even just for a second. It is a beautiful reminder to cherish each moment.
Go back honestly to May 3 The start of it all

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The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) and the Kuki Inpi, Manipur (KIM) have so far not at all bothered to go back to the genesis of the clash that broke out in all its ugliness on May 3 evening at Torbung. The three organisations have also stepped clear of the question of how and why gun toting elements participated in the Solidarity March on the said day and for reasons that should be obvious only to itself, the All Tribal Students Union, Manipur seems to have taken a meaningful sabbatical, in so far as the ongoing clash is concerned. Remember the Tribal Solidarity March of May 3 was organised under the aegis of ATSUM. Other than raising the accusation that some Meiteis are involved in the drug trade, the said three organisations have also not answered who funded, organised and marketed the end products of the vast scale poppy plantation in Kuki dominated areas. This is a question which The Sangai Express has been raising consistently ever since the Government launched its War on Drugs campaign, obviously not satisfied with the reports of some small time tillers of the soil being pulled up. Who are the big fishes, is the persistent question that has been raised here but no answer had been forthcoming. There is still no answer other than the charges levelled by a former lady police officer on the television, but the story of the vast scale poppy plantation cannot be complete with just the allegations raised on the TV. The ITLF, CoTU and KIM have pointed their fingers at the Meitei community, but it has not gone beyond the stage of raising allegations. It would make so much more sense if they can only get hold of the infamous Lhoukhosei Zou and make his side of the story public. It would then go on to open the eyes of the public, but then again this is doubtful given the fact that Mr Zou and his followers were given a rousing reception after the charges against him were dropped by a lower Court. Why the case was not taken to a higher Court is something which only the Government of Manipur can answer, but with fingers pointed so blatantly at the Chief Minister, perhaps it would help for the Government to spell out the reason why it did not go to a higher Court. Or is it a case of the Government being satisfied with the ruling of the lower Court ?

War against narco terrorists is the eye catching slogan that has been used to good effect by the Co-ordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) and this is something that should not be swept aside easily. It would be interesting to see if ITLF, CoTU and KIM can negate the accusation raised by COCOMI coherently and not to kick start another round of trying to sell the victim story to the outside world. Not that anyone expects an honest answer from the said three Kuki organisations, but questions ought to be raised. From the day the clash started, The Sangai Express has been consistently going back to May 3 and tracing the genesis of the clash and this will continue, for to move forward it is necessary to go back to the beginning. The Tribal Solidarity March was far removed from the conventional understanding of a Solidarity March for it started with and ended up as a procession aimed against a particular community and the Nagas stayed clear of the violence that followed. It was not a march against the Government or any policy of the Government but a march against the Meiteis, a point which was proved beyond any doubt by the attack on the hapless villagers of Torbung. This is a fact and it cannot be brushed aside. ITLF, CoTU and KIM may say that setting on fire the Anglo-Kuki War Memorial Gate was the flash point, but why pick the Meiteis for that act of arson ? The Gate is situated at Leisang village, which is just 7.5 kilometres from Churachandpur town. Now which Meitei would have had the gumption to proceed to this village and set the gate on fire, that too on May 3 when the Tribal Solidarity March was on at Churachandpur ? Logic should give the answer.
Trinamul Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Monday launched a scathing attack against the Enforcement Directorate (ED) through social media from abroad. Banerjee is reportedly in the US now for his ophthalmological treatment and reportedly left the country after informing the ED on this count.

On Monday afternoon, he has issued an X (earlier Twitter) message and has accused the ED of leaking concocted tales to the media. It is truly disheartening to behold the presence of inept and incompetent individuals within the ranks of the Enforcement Director (ED), at who possess an unparalleled talent for disseminating concocted tales to the media on a bi- weekly basis, all in service of their political benefactors, his X message reads.

The Trinamul Congress national general secretary has claimed that despite investing years and spending taxpayers money into their investigating endeavours, they consistently fail to present substantive evidence before the court, thereby clearly neglecting their responsibility to serve the nation. It is worth noting that neither ED nor the media publications, much like the BJP leaders in West Bengal, possess the confidence, courage or conviction to explicitly accuse me in the allegations they expose.

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One cannot help but feel empathetic towards these unfortunate and frustrated souls. This leaves us no room for surprise as to why the EDs conviction rate languishes at a mere 0.5%. TRUTH is MIGHTY and will PREVAIL, the X message said. Recently, Trinamul Congress state spokesman in West Bengal Kunal Ghosh accused the media of floating reports of an anonymous influential individual person from West Bengal, of having doubtful overseas connections. Ghosh claimed that since the media entities concerned did not have the courage to name that influential individual, no one is able to file defamation suit against them.
Nabanna, the West Bengal state secretariat looks a little deserted on Tuesday August 8. At least more so than other weekdays. Its a cloudy, windy afternoon, and from the thirteenth floor of the building there is a birds-eye view of the Vidyasagar Setu, also called the Second Howrah Bridge or the Second Hoogly Bridge. Underneath flows the River Ganges.

But todays tale is not about the river but about the jungles of West Bengal situated far from the Howrah or Hoogly districts  in Jungle Mahal. The West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee is on a two-day tour of Jungle Mahals Jhargram, where she will attend an event on Wednesday, August 9, which is World Tribal Day. Situated nearly two hundred kilometers away from the capital city of Kolkata, Jungle Mahal is one of the three key areas (along with Singur and Nandigram) which propelled Didi to the forefront of West Bengal politics before the state elections of 2011 when she swept to power dethroning the Left Front government.

Jungle Mahal was one of the problematic regions she had inherited as it was in the grips of a violent insurgent movement, the Maoist movement and one of Didis first initiatives as chief minister was to try to bring peace to the area. It was within the first year that she had her police forces comb the dense jungles and flush out the insurgents from their hideouts. Since then she flushed the jungle villages with public distribution doles in an attempt to try to bring the tribal folk of this region back into the mainstream. The main reason for the tribal villagers to have been exploited by the insurgents was that they were completely neglected by the then state government in terms of the existing public distribution schemes reaching them, points out Tarun Ganguly, veteran Bengal political analyst.

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Didis schemes in Jungle Mahal include the Lakshmi Bhandar scheme, the Kanyashree, the Sabujsathi and other schemes which provide free rice and other ration, money in bank accounts every month and free education for girl children. These have really helped us, says a villager from Banstola in Jhargram.

Jungle Mahal is one of Mamata Banerjees success stories. She herself had once said, The jungles are now smiling.

Banerjees visit is unlikely to be just about attending a program. With the Parliamentary elections coming up in less than a year, she is going to try to gauge the ground strength of the once-disturbed area. Jungle Mahal is a remote region, regular monitoring and interaction with the ground are considered extremely important by Mamata and so the regular visits to the jungles is her priority.
The third and final meeting of G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG) under Indias Presidency will be held from 9-11 August in Kolkata.

Over 154 delegates from G20 Members, 10 invitee countries, and various international organizations will be attending the meeting.

It will be followed by the G20 Anti-Corruption Ministerial Meeting on 12 August, which will be chaired by Union Minister Jitendra Singh.

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This will be the second ever ministerial meeting of G20 ACWG and the first in-person ACWG ministerial meeting. The deliberations at the level of mMinisters will impart a further political impetus to combating corruption as ACWG plays a crucial role in leading international efforts to combat corruption.

Under Indias G20 presidency, ACWG has been able to achieve significant progress on anti-corruption cooperation regarding action against fugitive economic offenders and return of assets, guided by the Nine Point Agenda for Action Against Fugitive Economic Offences and Asset Recovery, presented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to G20 nations in 2018.

During the 1st and 2nd ACWG meetings held in Gurugram and Rishikesh respectively, India was able to forge a consensus in G20 to advance the international anti-corruption agenda by finalising three outcome documents (High Level Principles) on important and sensitive issues.

These pragmatic and action-oriented highest-level commitments will contribute towards prevention, detection, investigation, and prosecution of corruption offences, strengthening domestic anti-corruption institutional frameworks, extradition of fugitive economic offenders and recovery of assets of such offenders from foreign jurisdictions.

The High-Level Principles on Promoting Integrity and Effectiveness of Public Bodies and Authorities Responsible for Preventing and Combating Corruption will provide a guiding framework for strengthening the independence, transparency, and accountability of anti-corruption institutions. It will help in addressing the root cause of corruption including institutional weakness and lack of accountability.

The High-Level Principles on Strengthening Asset Recovery Mechanisms for Combating Corruption are a set of guiding principles to support establishment of a robust and effective framework for the expeditious recovery of proceeds of crime. These principles will deter economic offenders who seek refuge in foreign jurisdictions.

The High-Level Principles on Strengthening Law Enforcement related International Cooperation and Information Sharing for Combating Corruption is a 6-point plan to enhance inter-agency cooperation and international cooperation through information sharing amongst law enforcement agencies and countries. It will ensure timely and effective action against corruption offences, prosecution of offenders and recovery of proceeds of crimes.

ACWG is also focusing on the role of audit institutions in tackling corruption. Earlier, in the year, side events were also organized to highlight the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in reducing corruption in public administration and delivery of public services and gender related issues of corruption.

The discussion on impact of corruption on women initiated under Indias presidency will generate further concrete action towards collective initiatives for adopting gender-sensitive and gender-responsive approaches in anti-corruption strategies.

The 3rd ACWG meeting in Kolkata will give direction to the future work of ACWG and further the commitments made on law enforcement cooperation, strengthening asset recovery mechanisms, and enhancing integrity and effectiveness of anti-corruption authorities during Indias G20 presidency.
All private schools in Uttar Pradesh affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) and State Board, remained closed on Tuesday, following a decision by the Unaided Private School Association (UPSA).

The government schools remain open as usual.

The closure announcement came in solidarity and support for the school principal and teacher who were arrested on the charges of murder of a 17-year-old girl student who allegedly jumped off the third floor of the school building in Azamgarh and died.

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The victims family has claimed that their child took the extreme step over frequent harassment by the principal and teacher.

A mobile phone was also recovered from the student that was given to her by the parents.

Anil Agarwal, president of UPSA, said that the suicide case should be investigated thoroughly and action taken only if the charges are proven.

This symbolic protest seeks proper investigation into the case, and if the persons concerned are found guilty, then action must be taken. But if the student has taken a wrong step, that too should be thoroughly probed, he said.

Parents are not ready to listen to anything, they threaten to lodge an FIR on the slightest issue. If a student takes any wrong step, the entire blame falls on the school management, the association stated in a press release.

He further said that a system should be implemented so that innocent school employees can be prevented from going to jail in filed cases.

Our main problem with the case is that both the school employees were held without conducting a proper investigation, he added.
The confidential images of upcoming Ola Electric e-scooters, set to be launched on August 15, have allegedly been leaked, which has forced its CEO Bhavish Aggarwal demand an apology from the media person who leaked those images.

Aggarwal also said that going forward, the electric vehicle company may not showcase their products to journalists before the official launch.

The images, likely to be of Ola S1X e-scooter, were part of an auto media event the company held on Monday and content from this event was supposed to be embargoed and confidential, according to Aggarwal.

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Auto media does their own credibility a massive disservice when they sneakily take photos at a confidential event. Breaks the trust the brand places in them. We work really hard to make great products and entertaining events for our customers and delight them. Such instances cant have any place in a mature ecosystem, the Ola Electric CEO posted in a tweet.

Unless it is clear who did this and an apology (which is unlikely), we will not have auto journalists being showcased our products before launch going forward. They will be shown the products only after customers are shown products at launch events, an outraged Aggarwal added.

The company, which just launched the S1 Air, is reportedly planning to launch an electric scooter called S1X. It is expected to be an entry-level model, starting at less than Rs 1 lakh.

Ola currently offers S1 Pro, S1, and S1 Air electric scooters to the consumers.

Ola Community, mark your calendar. On 15th August, were celebrating Customer Day with the most electrifying event of the year  End ICE age Part 1. The doors of the FutureFactory will be open for you, Aggarwal tweeted last week.
Lucknow, August 8

The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday informed that legal action has been taken against 7,570 cyber criminals while Rs 90 crore has been recovered.

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Answering a query in the state assembly, Finance Minister Suresh Khanna said that that the governments interventions to curb cyber crimes led to significant outcomes and a total of 13,155 cybercrime cases have been registered between 2022 and March 2023, of which charge sheets have been filed in 4,372 cases, while final reports have been submitted in 4,606 cases. Besides, 45 cases have been rejected.

Khanna said that the government was proactively dealing with cases of cybercrime in the state.

It is worth mentioning here that the Yogi government has adopted a zero tolerance policy against crime including cybercrime. This has led to significant enhancement in the states crime statistics in the last six years.

Highlighting the impact of Yogi Governments tenure, the state finance minister emphasised a noticeable decline in crime rates since assuming power. He underscored the administrations unwavering commitment to dispensing the most stringent penalties for criminal offenses, often setting precedent through exemplary punishments.

Be it the NCRB data or local data, the policy of zero tolerance adopted by the government towards crimes has been fully implemented. As a result, UP has transformed into a benchmark, and the popular opinion is that the state of law and order is much better today than during the previous governments.
In a major boost to the prospects of fruit exports, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), which works under the aegis of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has facilitated the export of the first trial shipment of fresh pomegranate to the United States through air route.

The first export consignment of pomegranate to the US was initiated by APEDA in collaboration with National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of India, the USs Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (US-APHIS), Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board (MSAMB), ICAR-National Research Centre on Pomegranate, Solapur (NRC-Solapur) and others.

APEDA Chairman Abhishek Dev said that the increase in pomegranate exports to the US would result in higher price realisation and increase in farmers income. There has been an encouraging response from the importers of the pomegranate shipment.

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The trial shipment of pomegranate was carried out by the APEDA registered INI Farms, which is amongst the top exporters of fruits and vegetables from India. It has built a value chain of banana and pomegranate by working directly with farmers.

As a part of Agrostar group, complete services from agronomy, agri-inputs and off-take is provided to farmers with the produce exported to over 35 countries across the world. As the long-distance market and high cost was prohibitive in commencing commercial operations, the export of trial shipment of pomegranate would help in building capacities amongst Indian exporters and US importers by ensuring that quality fruits are exported.

Buoyed over the acceptance of Indian mangoes in US markets, exporters are hopeful that pomegranate would also become a successful product in the US. For ensuring traceability in the export value chain of pomegranate, APEDA organises sensitisation programmes on a regular basis in association with state governments to register farms under AnarNet  a system developed by APEDA.
Black holes can be called one of the most terrifying "beings" in the Universe. They have super-powerful gravity, from which even light cannot escape at a speed of almost 300 thousand kilometers per second and can completely swallow stars, planets and even other black holes. But are they voracious enough to swallow the entire universe?

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LiveScience asked scientists whether such a scenario is possible, and whether black holes are really as voracious as they are thought to be. Spoiler alert - not really.

According to scientists from NASA, there is no way that a black hole could eat not only the entire universe, but even a galaxy.

Black holes are formed as a result of the collapse of massive stars. During this process, the star shrinks, becoming a very dense object whose gravitational pull is so powerful that it cannot be overcome even by light. However, as Gaurav Khanna, a black hole physicist at the University of Rhode Island, explains, the idea that a black hole can swallow up the universe is a fallacy. It is probably based on the false notion that black holes work like vacuum cleaners. But they don't.

"They only suck up things that are very close," Hanna says.

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According to her, the object itself has to approach the black hole, or rather the event horizon (the point of no return), for it to rip it to shreds and swallow it.

As explained by the scientist, the event horizon is not infinite, so its strength is also limited. Thus, for a black hole with the mass of our Sun, it will extend only 3 kilometers, and for a black hole with the mass of the Earth - only a few centimeters.

As for the gravity of black holes, it can make planets and stars move in a certain way, but it does not cause them to be swallowed up. In particular, the orbital dance of objects in our Milky Way galaxy is also governed by the black hole at its center, but that doesn't mean we're all heading towards death.

To better understand this, University of York astronomy professor Paul Delaney suggests imagining a black hole of the same mass taking the place of our Sun. Despite all the claims about the power of gravity, this would have no effect on Earth.

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"Our planet would not notice any change in the gravitational force acting on it and would continue in the same orbit," he said.

In turn, an expert on black holes at the University of California at Berkeley Alexei Filippenko explained that a black hole can absorb a star only if it comes to it. That is, it is not a matter of pulling the star, but that its orbit will coincide with the black hole. In particular, as the expert explained, in order for this to happen to our Sun, it would take "a really gigantic amount of time."

In addition, as Hanna explained, nature also regulates the voracity of black holes. The thing is, a black hole absorbs matter but releases tons of radiation. This causes the matter around the black hole to heat up and ionize, making it harder for gas and dust to cool down and fall into the black hole. Thus slowing down the rate at which the black hole can feed. This self-regulation prevents black holes from consuming entire galaxies, let alone the entire universe.

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In addition, we should not forget that the Universe is in a state of expansion, and even when a black hole is growing, cosmic objects are moving away from it.

Earlier OBOZREVATEL also told about the fact that black holes can work as a time machine.

Subscribe to OBOZREVATEL channels in Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest news.
Drugs are killing Punjab youth like a deadly virus. No surprise, pictures of youth  mostly in their twenties or less  lying dead in secluded places with self-administered overdose of drugs is routine and common in vernacular media in the state.

And despite the Punjab Polices decisive war against drugs, most of the wailing mothers blame home delivery of drugs and the nexus of the authorities with drug peddlers for the menace in the border state.

As per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)report, 272 deaths took place in Punjab due to drugs between 2017 and 2021. The figure has crossed over 270 now since 2022.

As per the reports, as many as 222 deaths took place in the Malwa region of the state since January 2022 due to drugs. The highest number of such deaths, 56, have taken place in the border district Ferozepur, followed by Moga (47) and Bathinda (32).

The gravity of the situation can be gauged from the facts shared by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment report, which was tabled in the Parliament on 3 August.

This report said over 6,97,900 children in Punjab, aged between 10 and 17 years, are hooked to cannabis, opioids, sedatives, cocaine, amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS), inhalants and hallucinogens.

This report put the estimated number of current drug users in Punjab among adults aged between 18 and 75 Years at about 66 lakh. Of these, 21.36 lakh hooked to opioids, 30.68 lakh are regular cannabis users, 9.93 lakh are on sedatives, 1.87 on inhalants, 1.5 lakh on cocaine, and 1.36 on stimulants.

For the record , Punjab Police have arrested as many as 16,360 drug smugglers including 2351 big fish since July 5, 2022. Besides 1,073.44 kilogram (kg) heroin, the police have recovered 797.14 kg opium, 902.13 kg ganja, 375.47 quintals of poppy husk, and 65.49 lakh pharma opioids from across the state in one year.

But the demand as well as the supply of drugs appears as high as ever with Pakistani drones dropping drugs in the states border almost on a daily basis.

As per the official figures, there are 2.62 lakh addicts in government-run de-addiction centres and 6.12 lakh addicts in privately-run centres.

Speaking to The Statesman, a senior health department officer associated with the de-addiction programme in Punjab said the number of drug addicts is going up due to lack of proper policy to deal with the drug menace.

The government de-addiction centres have become like sarkari thekas (government vends for supplying drugs). The current policy is focussing on harm reduction in drug addicts (by making them give up drugs and shift to prescribed medicines). So drug addicts are now simply turning up for their quota of drugs from the government and we just cant say no to them even if the same is not helping them, the officer told The Statesman.

Nobody (addicts) is getting cured of drugs. I feel there is a competition between the government and the drug smugglers to get addicts hooked on their respective drugs. Nobody is bothered about curing drug addicts because it will take a big effort and setup. Nobody is treating the drug addicts, he added.

Ends

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The Bhakra power house has surpassed previous records of daily power generation and shattered the record of maximum instantaneous power generation in July 2023.

Congratulating Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) employees for this, the BBMB chairman Nand Lal Sharma on Monday also applauded the role played by Bhakra Dam in controlling the flood waters of Satluj during incessant rains from 9 July to 12 July.

Addressing the gathering during the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebration hosted by Bhakra Dam Outreach Programme on Monday at Bhakra Dam, Sharma urged employees to continue their efforts towards progress.

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The Bhakra Outreach programme was organised by the Department of Water Resources, Ministry of Jal Shakti, in collaboration with National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA), Central Water Commission (CWC) and the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) at Bhakra Dam to promote dam tourism and raise awareness about the importance of effective water resource management.

The Bhakra dam, a paragon of Indias progress, was identified as one of the 24 iconic dam sites across the nation as part of this initiative. This iconic structure, serving as a testament to Indias engineering prowess and dedication towards progress, encapsulates the spirit of the nations aspirations.

The event witnessed the active participation of local Panchayat Presidents who shared their sentiments about Bhakras substantial contribution to their communities. Representatives from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and various stakeholders also lent their valuable perspectives.
It was demanded that the entry of non-Hindus in the campus should be restricted and the Hindu symbols found in the Gyanvapi campus should be preserved until the Varanasi district court decides on the Shringar Gauri case.

Prayagraj, August 8:

The Allahabad High Court has, on Tuesday, dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) demanding a ban on the entry of non-Hindus into the Gyanvapi campus in Varanasi.

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This petition was filed in the high court on behalf of Rakhi Singh and others. It was demanded that the entry of non-Hindus in the campus should be restricted and the Hindu symbols found in the Gyanvapi campus should be preserved until the Varanasi district court decides on the Shringar Gauri case.

A division bench of Chief Justice Pritinkar Diwakar and Justice Ashutosh Srivastava heard the plea and gave its verdict.

The PIL stated that the age-old ruins of Shri Adi Vishweshwar Temple (present Gyanvapi campus) in Varanasi have to be saved. It was claimed that there used to be a grand temple at the disputed site (Settlement Plot No. 9130 Ward and Dashashwamedh Varanasi), where Lord Shiva himself installed the Jyotirlinga.

It was also stated in the petition that after the destruction of the said temple, the Muslims unauthorizedly encroached on the temple premises and built a structure, the so-called Gyanvapi Masjid.
Following disruptions in traffic movement that has adversely affected various sectors of Himachal Pradesh, the Anti-corruption Forum (ACF) has demanded the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) against the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under the Commission of Inquiry Act 1952.

The Commission of Inquiry should be headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court, preferably someone who has been from Himachal Pradesh, and the inquiry should go into details of the losses with a strong interface of the people, said ACF convener and former Deputy Mayor Shimla Tikender Singh Panwar while talking to media here on Monday.

The recent rain fury has exposed the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) in their two four-lane projects, Chandigarh to Shimla, and Kiratpur to Manali, he said.

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The NHAI officials along with the construction companies should be criminally prosecuted for their negligence and immediately a special investigation team (SIT) must be constituted by the government to look into the malfunctioning of the NHAI, he demanded,

It has been proved without doubt that the manner in which road construction was carried out is the main reason for both the roads being blocked intermittently. Against the norms of construction in the mountains, they were vertically cut and massive landslides got triggered after that, he blamed.

He said: Huge losses have been incurred to the people linked with agriculture, horticulture and hospitality in the regions linked with the construction of these two roads. The districts that have suffered the most are Solan, Shimla, Kinnaur, Kullu, Lahaul and Spiti, which are also the fruit bowls of the state.

In Shimla district itself, there are estimated 5,000 tourism units, which include hotels, home stays, B&Bs. These units are also supporting a number of family units by providing them direct employment in the industry, he said, adding that there are other related ancillary units like the tourist guides, taxi operators, shops, who have been completely devastated in the last two months, especially in July.

The NHAI should be made to pay a compensation of around Rs 500 crore to the hospitality industry in the two regions of Shimla, and Kullu, including the ancillary units, he demanded.

He also urged the state government to contemplate the losses that have been incurred during this monsoon season. The losses are happening frequently, year after year.
A distressing incident has come to light from Sangrur district in Punjab, which involves a man who allegedly killed his wife with an axe. This happened in broad daylight at Sangrurs Sunam Market, one of the most crowded market areas in the city. The video where the man kills wife is circulating on social media.

The man, reportedly in the midst of an ongoing divorce case with his wife, spotted her at the crowded market and went towards her and attacked physically.

This encounter escalated into a tragic turn of events as he attacked her with the axe, leading to her unfortunate demise. A lot of people gathered in that area when this happened, and still could not save the life of the woman.

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Following the attack, the man consumed poison in an attempt to end his own life. He was quickly taken to a nearby hospital, where he is currently receiving medical care and is reported to be in stable condition.

A man attacked his wife with an sharp edge weapon in broad daylight at market area of Sunam, #Sangrur. Later the accused also attempted suicide. pic.twitter.com/qi5UdiNy2y  Nikhil Choudhary (@NikhilCh_) August 7, 2023

The visual recording of the incident where the man kills wife was captured by an individual, which was later uploaded to social media. The video has been circulating on different social media platforms.

In the video, the man can be seen holding the axe while standing in the market. A crowd surrounds him, and in response to his actions, they retaliate by throwing objects like bricks and water buckets at him.

This causes the man to become agitated, and he can be seen reacting angrily and even making threats towards the crowd.

Local authorities are investigating the incident further to gather more information about the circumstances leading up to this tragic event.
Opposition MPS from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Tuesday moved notices in Rajya Sabha demanding a discussion on the Manipur violence.

AAP member Raghav Chadha and RJDs Manoj Kumar Jha gave suspension of business notice over the Manipur situation.

Chadha, through his notice, demanded discussion on the breakdown of law and order in state of Manipur due to the failure of Central and state government.

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The violence in Manipur has resulted loss of precious lives due to failure and incompetence of Central and state government, he said.

RJD MP Jha also demanded discussion on Union and state governments failure in restoring peace in Manipur.

A statement by the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi), followed by a comprehensive discussion shall send a message of healing to the people (of Manipur), Jhas notice read.

Ethnic clashes erupted in Manipur on May 3 and since then hundreds of people have lost their lives whereas thousands have been forced to take refuge in the relief camps.

The Congress and other Opposition parties have been blaming the Biren Singh-led government for the current situation in the Northeastern state and demanded his dismissal.
On the International Day of Worlds Indigenous People and to pay homage to the sacrifices of the unsung tribal heroes and martyrs of the freedom struggle, Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP, will visit famous Mangarh Dham in Banswara district tomorrow.

This will be his first visit to any state on getting back to Parliament after the Supreme Court stayed his conviction in the Modi surname case. The Rajasthan Pradesh Committee leaders including its in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa have been camping in Mangarh Dham and Banswara for the last couple of days and holding meetings after meeting with the partymen and workers with great enthusiasm.

Just three months ahead of upcoming assembly polls in Rajasthan, Rahul will also address a mammoth Congress rally in the afternoon, a party spokesman said here today. The Pradesh Congress is planning to woo voters of about 40 assembly seats despite the presence of Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) with two MLAs in the present Vidhan Sabha.

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Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, who has been recovering from his foot surgery in both legs since June 29 and doing the CM office work while sitting on a wheelchair, has scheduled his visit to Udaipur and Mangarh Dham tomorrow by a special plane and helicopter.

Mangarh Hill holds special importance for the Bhil community and other tribes of Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. During the freedom struggle where Bhils and other tribes engaged in a long stand-off with the British, more than 1.5 lakh Bhils rallied at Mangarh Hill on 17th November 1913 under the leadership of Shri Govind Guru. Britishers opened fire at this gathering, leading to Mangarh massacre where approximately 1500 tribals were martyred.

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited this place on November 1, 2022, he had asked four state governments of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra to work together and have a detailed discussion about preparing a road map so that this memorial site of Govind Guru finds a place on the world map. However the PM did not meet the demands of the public to declare Mangarh Dham as a National Monument.
Three decades after the assassination of a retired judge, Neelkanth Ganjoo, a Kashmiri Pandit, by terrorists in Kashmir, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) has, on Monday, sought public help to solve the case.

In order to unearth the larger criminal conspiracy behind the murder of the retired Judge, the SIA, through a communique, made an appeal to all those, who are aware of the facts or circumstances relating to the murder case, to come forward and share information that could have direct or indirect bearing on the investigation of the instant case.

The communique assures that confidentiality and the identity of all those who help the police with useful inputs in the case shall be maintained. Besides, all useful information relevant for the investigation shall be suitably rewarded.

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The public has been asked to dial 8899004976 or email at sspsia-kmr@jkpolice.gov.infor to share any information related to the murder case.
Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials on Monday took custody of Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji from the Puzhal prison in a money laundering case after a court granted custody to the agency following the dismissal of related petitions by the Supreme Court.

ED officials took Balaji from Puzhal prison to the ED office.

Earlier, the SC dismissed the pleas of Balaji and his wife challenging the Madras High Courts judgment which held his arrest legal by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the money laundering case.

A bench of Justices AS Bopanna and MM Sundresh while dismissing the plea of Balaji allowed his custodial interrogation by the Enforcement Directorate in cash for a job scam.

Last week, the bench reserved its order on a plea filed by Balaji and his wife challenging the Madras High Courts judgment.

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The Madras High Court, on July 14 held legal the EDs arrest of Balaji and subsequent judicial custody granted by a lower court on money laundering charges linked to the cash-for-jobs scam. The High Court order came on the habeas corpus petition filed by Megala, wife of Senthil Balaji.

The High Court found the habeas corpus plea not maintainable in law.

It further clarified that time spent by Balaji under medical treatment in a private hospital would be excluded from the period of custody allowed to the ED.

The ED had arrested Senthil Balaji last month in connection with the cash-for-jobs scam that occurred in the states transport department, and he continues to be a Minister without portfolio.

The ED had earlier approached the apex court contending that the Madras High Court erred in entertaining a habeas corpus petition filed by Balajis wife and allowing him to be moved to a private hospital in Chennai from the government hospital following his arrest by the ED.

After a division bench of the Madras High Court gave a split verdict on the habeas corpus plea filed by wife Balaji for his release in a case registered by ED, the Supreme Court asked the Chief Justice of the High Court to place the matter before the three-judge bench at the earliest.

The Minister for Electricity as well as Prohibition and Excise, Balaji, was arrested on June 14 and admitted to a government hospital in Chennai after he complained of chest pain. He was allowed by the Madras High Court on June 15 to be shifted to a private hospital of his choice.

He was later taken from the Tamil Nadu government Multi Super Speciality Hospital to Kauvery Hospital at Alwarpet. Doctors attending to him have recommended bypass surgery.

The interim order of the High Court was passed on a habeas corpus petition filed by the Ministers wife, who accused probe agency officials of not having followed due procedures, such as intimating the grounds of arrest, under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

His wife wanted the arrest itself to be declared illegal for the EDs failure to comply with the legal procedures.

The ED had arrested Balaji in connection with an Enforcement Case Information Register (ECIR) filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in 2021.

The ECIR was registered on the basis of three FIRs lodged against him by the local police in 2018 for his alleged involvement in a cash-for-job case when he was the Transport Minister in Jayalalithaas Cabinet in 2015.

The charges date back to his tenure as transport minister during the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government from 2011 to 2015.
The Congress-led UDF has named former Chief Minister Oommen Chandys son Chandy Oommen its candidate for the Puthuppally by-election scheduled to be held on 5 September.

KPCC president K Sudhakran has announced the candidature of Chandy Oommen in New Delhi, hours after the Election Commission announced that the bypoll to the Kerala Assembly from Puthuppally and five other constituencies in other states would be held on 5 September.

The bypoll was necessitated by the demise of former Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy on 18 July.

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On receiving news of his candidature, Oommen said, I am grateful to the party that has chosen me for this responsibility. This is a huge challenge for me.

He further said, I know that people of Puthuppally still remember my Appa. But this will also be a political fight against the LDF government in the state that has failed in every sector, Chandy Oommen said.

Oommen Chandy was an MLA for a record 53 years who won from Puthuppally constituency in every single Assembly election since 1970.

We will fight the elections ideologically and politically. Like the Thrikkakara bypoll, all UDF leaders will work together as a team and will ensure a big victory for the UDF, Opposition leader VD Satheesan said.

CPI-M state secretary MV Govindan said that LDF is prepared to face the election. Not sympathy factor, politics will turn crucial, he said.
National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) has reported 4% increase in net profit attributable to shareholders to BHD40.8 million ($108.2 million) in the first six months of the year, compared to BHD39.4 million ($104.5 million) in the same period of 2022.

The rise in net profit was driven by higher income from loans and investment securities, the bank said.

Earnings per share increased to 18 fils for the first half of 2023 compared with 17 fils in the same period of 2022.

Total comprehensive income attributable to NBBs shareholders for the period increased by 8% to BHD42.8 million compared with BHD39.5 million in 2022. The increase is mainly due to mark-to-market of the Banks investment portfolio.

PROFIT FALL IN Q2

Meanwhile, NBB posted an 8% decrease in its net profit attributable to shareholders to BHD18.4 million ($48.8 million) for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023, compared to BHD20 million in the same period of 2022.

The difference in net profit is predominantly due to lower realised gains from the sale of investment securities in 2023. Excluding the difference in gains in both years, the second quarters attributable net profit would register a growth of 23%, the bank said.

Earnings per share marginally decreased to 8 fils for the second quarter of 2023 compared with 9 fils in the same quarter of 2022.

Total comprehensive income attributable to NBBs shareholders for the quarter increased to BHD27.4 million ($72.7 million) compared with a loss of BHD1.4 million in Q1 2022. The increase is mainly attributable to the mark-to-market movements of the banks investment portfolio, the bank said.

Balance sheet

The groups total equity attributable to owners decreased by 2% as at 30 June 2023 to BHD556.9 million ($1,477.2 million) compared to BHD565.9 million ($1,501.1 million) reported at 31 December 2022. The decrease followed the payment of BHD51.5 million of cash dividends during the first quarter of 2023, largely offset by profits for the first half of 2023.

The groups total assets increased by 1% during the quarter to BHD4.81 billion ($12.758 billion) compared to BHD4.785 billion recorded on 31 December 2022. The increase was driven by the attraction of additional customer deposits into the group during the first half of the year.

Interim dividends

Following the groups strong performance, the Board of Directors proposed an interim cash dividend of BHD22.7 million, which represents a 10% per share dividend. The payment is subject to the approval of the regulatory authorities.

NBBs Chairman of the Board, Farouk Yousuf Khalil Almoayyed, stated: The National Bank of Bahrains solid banking fundamentals ensure its sustained prosperity and we have succeeded in building upon the profits seen during the first quarter. The bank has recorded a 7% and 2% increase in operating income and operating profit respectively. This is a testament to the strength of the Banks diversified revenue sources and its ability to efficiently manage its balance sheet. The growth in operating profitability is also a reflection of the groups strong underlying core business activities, highlighting the banks continued ability to generate returns for its shareholders.

NBBs Group Chief Executive Officer, Usman Ahmed, said: We are pleased to announce an attributable net profit of BHD40.8 million for the first half of 2023, which represents an increase of 4% compared to 2022. Our year-to-date success has not just been limited to financial outcomes. We remain deeply committed and focused on customer centricity and are pleased to have been recognised as the 'Best Bank in Bahrain' at the Euromoney Middle East Awards for Excellence 2023 and also being once again ranked first in the MENA Region on sustainability by Refinitiv ESG Scoring. This well rounded performance is indicative of NBBs continued development as one of the regions leading banking institutions.  TradeArabia News Service
Poland has banned Ukraine from exporting grain to their country (only transit is allowed). However, it continues to buy grain from Russia.

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As the President of the Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation Leonid Kozachenko told UNN , this is explained by insignificant volumes of purchases from Russia. At the same time Ukraine supplied such volumes that created competition for Polish agrarians.

"Many questions arise - why, when Ukraine is banned, they continue to work with Russian food. And honey is supplied by Russia, and other products. Why is Russia not treated so harshly? When we ask these questions, we are told about insignificant volumes, while Ukraine carries significant volumes of products across the border," he emphasized.

According to the expert, there is one right question in this situation: if the Polish side fears that the products of the Ukrainian agro-industrial complex will settle in its domestic market, it should carefully control the movement of cargoes. "At first they agreed, and then they said: aha, you sell to Italy and Spain, and we want to sell there. And we cannot compete with you there," Leonid Kozachenko explained the behavior of Polish partners.

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According to the head of the Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation, Poland is thinking about protecting its farmers, who cannot compete with Ukrainian ones "even in the conditions of war, when everything is not good in Ukraine". "But still Ukrainian agriculture is more powerful, it develops on a completely different principle than European agriculture. And this is indeed the reason," the expert commented on the Polish side's statements regarding the blocking of Ukrainian agro-exports.

As reported OBOZREVATEL, on July 17, Russia announced the withdrawal from the grain deal. As a result, the Russian Federation restored the regime of "temporarily dangerous area in the north-western waters of the Black Sea". The aggressor also launched massive attacks on Ukrainian ports.

In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine and Russia had not signed any bilateral agreements. Therefore, the Russian Federation is only disrupting its agreements with the UN and Turkey, while Ukraine's agreements with them remain in force. Thus, Ukraine will push its partners to continue grain exports in the Black Sea.

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Only verified information from us in Telegram-channel Obozrevatel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The BJP high command has decided to take out five Jan Ashirwad Yatras in the poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, during which five prominent leaders of the party will lead the campaign to seek support from people across all 230 assembly constituencies in the state.

The partys decision to deploy five leaders to lead the campaign is seen as a major blow to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who solely led the Yatra in 2018.

According to sources, the BJP has decided to take out five yatras from different parts of the state. These yatras will be started in September.

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Apart from Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister and Convenor of Madhya Pradesh Election Management Committee Narendra Singh Tomar, BJP National General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya and state BJP President V.D. Sharma will be the faces of the yatras.

Besides these five leaders, the party will also deploy several Union Ministers and veteran state leaders during the campaign.

According to sources, each yatra will cover around 46 assembly seats in the state. Thus, these yatras together will cover all the 230 assembly constituencies of the state. The campaign will conclude in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the state capital Bhopal.

Sources said that Prime Minister Modi will also address a Karyakartas Mahakumbh in Bhopal on September 25.

The decision regarding the Jan Ashirwad Yatra, according to sources, was taken in the meeting held at Union Home Minister Amit Shahs residence in New Delhi on Sunday late night.

Chouhan had also raised the issue of the programme and leadership of this yatra during the meeting, but the party high command, in a way, rejecting his suggestion, decided that it would not make any leader of the state its face this time, sources added.

With this decision, the BJP high command has given a clear indication it will contest Madhya Pradesh elections under collective leadership.
A discussion on the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Narendra Modis government began in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday with Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi initiating the debate.

Gogoi said that the opposition I.N.D.I.A. alliance has brought the no-trust motion for Manipur as the state wants justice.

We are compelled to bring the no-confidence motion. This was never about numbers but about justice for Manipur. I have moved the motion that this House expresses no confidence in the Government. I.N.D.I.A. has brought this motion for Manipur. Manipur wants justice, Gogoi said.

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Stating that the PM had taken a maun vrat (vow of silence) to not speak in the Parliament so the opposition was compelled to introduce the motion to break his silence.

Why did he not visit Manipur to date? Why did it take almost 80 days to finally speak on Manipur and when he did speak it was just for 30 seconds? Why has the Chief Minister not been sacked the Manipur CM so far?, Gogoi asked.

Earlier in the day Congress chief whip K Suresh had said that Rahul Gandhi, who was reinstated as the Lok Sabha MP a day ago will open the debate on the no-confidence motion.

According to sources, a time of 12 hours has been fixed for the discussion. The ruling BJP will get around seven hours to partake in the discussion and around one hour 15 minutes has been allotted for the Congress party.

YSRCP, Shiv Sena, JDU, BJD, BSP, BRS and LJP have been given a total of 2 hours, which has been divided according to the number of partys MPs in the House. A time limit of 1 hour 10 minutes has been allotted for other parties and independent MPs.

The debate on the no-confidence motion against the BJP-led government is likely to take place on August 8 and 9 in the Lok Sabha and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to give a reply on August 10.

Opposition members have been seeking discussion under Rule 267 in the Rajya Sabha since the beginning of the monsoon session of Parliament on July 20.

Manipur had been on the boil for the last three months after ethnic clashes broke out between two tribal communities Meities and Kukis, when the Manipur High Court asked the state government to consider adding one of the communities to the list of Scheduled Tribes.
The Uttar Pradesh government will soon be setting up guest houses in Ayodhya and Prayagraj and one each in Bengaluru and Delhi.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said that guest houses are urgently needed in Ayodhya, Prayagraj and Bengaluru and land for the same should be identified as soon as possible.

Even though Delhi has three state guest houses  UP Bhawan, UP Sadan and a new guest house Indraprastha in Dwarka  need was being felt for yet another guest house to service guests visiting the national capital.

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He said that there was suitable land for the facility in Noidas sector 148.

The chief minister also directed officials to complete the under-construction guest house Gomti, located on Lucknows Vikramaditya Marg which is close to the chief ministers residence.

According to a government spokesperson, The chief minister has said that there need to be high-level services available in the guest houses for which officials have been asked to take the help of field experts. He said that through outsourcing, qualified and skilled youth in the hospitality sector should be deployed in guest houses.

Regular employees must be deputed at each facility based on their qualification, efficiency and work behaviour, informed the spokesperson.

On the transfer of employees, the chief minister asked the department to follow its stated policy on the issue and ensure police verification of outsourced personnel.

For guests like Governors, judges, foreign and other special guests, the protocol must be strictly followed and new vehicles should be purchased for special guests.

On the issue of residences and guest houses for MLAs, the CM said that such buildings must have proper security and adequate facilities.

Visitors coming to any of the UP state guest houses should have a pleasant experience, right from hospitality to the food and room service. All necessary arrangements should be made while ensuring the security of buildings, including CCTV and fire safety. There should also be standard facilities available in all MLA residences, the chief minister said.
Handloom weaving has emerged as a powerful catalyst for womens economic empowerment, especially in rural and marginalised communities in India. The long-standing traditions provide a dignified opportunity for women to improve not only their economic status but also contribute to their overall empowerment and social standing in their communities, says Shweta Rawat, chairperson and founder of The Hans Foundation.

In India, handloom weaving dates back to the 18th century. It provides a source of revenue as well as a means of empowering women. Even after so many decades, the handloom sector has left its mark on the global map, with India ranking as one of the worlds main sources of handloom.

On the occasion of National Handloom Day, which is observed annually on August 7, IANSlife caught up with Shweta Rawat, Chairperson and Founder of The Hans Foundation  which has supported numerous large projects for livelihood, and education, from mid-day meals to computer training courses to the full adoption of schools. Rawat emphasises several aspects of handloom and the influence of handloom in India.

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Read excerpt:

In what ways has handloom weaving become a catalyst for womens economic empowerment in various communities?

Rawat: Handloom weaving requires intricate skills and craftsmanship, which are traditionally passed down through generations. However, today many organisations are working to provide training in these skills, allowing many more women to attain expertise and become skilled artisans and at the same time revive diverse dying traditions across the country. Handloom weaving is an integral part of Indias cultural heritage, and these newly trained women weavers and artisans will play a vital role in preserving this rich tradition by passing the traditions down to future generations.

Mastering the art of weaving translates into a stable income source. This financial independence not only elevates their economic status but also enhances their decision-making power within their households.

Thanks to various schemes and initiatives by the Indian government to support women handloom weavers, such as subsidies, financial assistance, and training programs, this is an ideal avenue for women to set up their own microenterprises and home-based businesses, within or without a cooperative structure.

Furthermore, the industry has also become a platform for women to showcase their creativity and entrepreneurial spirit. Many have ventured into designing and marketing their products, creating niche brands, and connecting with national and international markets. This exposure to business opportunities enhances their confidence and capacity to run successful enterprises.

What are the challenges faced by women who enter the handloom industry as entrepreneurs, and how can these challenges be addressed?

Rawat: Entering the handloom industry as an entrepreneur opens significant opportunities for women, but it also comes with challenges. Limited access to resources, market visibility, and balancing tradition with modern demands are some hurdles they face. Additionally, social norms and gender bias can discourage participation, while skill upgradation and innovation pose difficulties.

To empower women in this sector, targeted financial support, market linkages, and specialised training programs are essential. By addressing these challenges and implementing supportive measures, women entrepreneurs can thrive, fostering growth, sustainability, and gender equality in the handloom industry.

Can you highlight any specific measures or programs aimed at promoting gender equality and womens empowerment within the handloom industry?

Rawat: Womens indispensable role in the handloom industry, representing over 70 per cent of weavers and workers, is truly commendable. The Indian governments proactive measures through programs like the National Handloom Development Program (NHDP) and the Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) have significantly contributed to promoting gender equality and womens empowerment in this sector. Additionally, the Handloom Weavers Comprehensive Welfare Scheme (HWCWS) by the Office of the Development Commissioner for Handlooms ensures social security and financial assistance for their childrens education, further empowering women artisans.

Moreover, private philanthropies and not-for-profit organisations play a crucial role in providing skill development and addressing challenges faced by women weavers, such as market linkages. The Himadri Hans Handloom program, led by our foundation is one such initiative that is dedicated to supporting womens upliftment through targeted measures and programs.

Together, these efforts foster gender equality and empower women, leading to improved livelihoods and increased representation of women in leadership positions.

How can the handloom sector be linked with the global market to expand business opportunities for women weavers and entrepreneurs?

Rawat: Firstly, linking the handloom sector with the global market is essential for creating diverse business opportunities for women weavers and entrepreneurs. To achieve this, several strategies can be implemented.

Establishing a robust online presence through e-commerce platforms enables women weavers to showcase their products to a global audience while collaborating with established online marketplaces helps them reach customers worldwide. Additionally, organising export promotion events and trade fairs connects women weavers with potential international buyers and distributors, allowing them to build essential networks.

In addition to online platforms and promotion events, meeting international quality standards and obtaining relevant certifications enhances the credibility of handloom products in the global market. Support and training should be provided to help women weavers comply with these requirements. Market research and trend analysis are critical for understanding global consumer preferences, enabling women entrepreneurs to tailor their products to suit international tastes.

Furthermore, collaborating with international designers and partnering with global brands provides women weavers access to new markets and design ideas. Cultural exchange programs and residencies in other countries allow women weavers to learn from different cultures, adapt their skills, and gain exposure to international trends. Government incentives, financial support, export subsidies, and targeted training programs should be implemented to promote women-led handloom enterprises in the global market. Investing in attractive packaging and branding enhances the perceived value of handloom products, appealing to international buyers. Highlighting sustainable and ethical practices in handloom production attracts eco-conscious consumers globally.

By implementing these strategies, the handloom sector can effectively link with the global market, providing ample business opportunities for women weavers and entrepreneurs. Not only does this empower women economically, but it also contributes to the preservation of traditional crafts and cultural heritage on an international scale.

How has The Hans Foundations Himadri Hans Handloom program contributed to preserving and promoting this timeless tradition?

Rawat: Our Himadri Hans Handloom (HHH) initiative has made a significant contribution to preserving and promoting the beautiful tradition of handloom weaving in Uttarakhand. Our diverse collections, including Panchachuli Pride, Almora, Nandadevi, and Harsil, are inspired by the rich cultural heritage and history of the region.

The Panchachuli Pride collection showcases pure pashminas, supporting local weavers and preserving the tradition of the Johari Sauka Bhotiyas  traditional Trans-Himalayan traders. Our Almora collection revives designs introduced by the British in the mid-nineteenth century, sustaining cottage industries and preserving Almora towns cultural heritage.

The ancient capital of Chand Rajas is known for its rich culture and traditions. The tweeds of Chand Rajas has, through the decades, been linked to the rich customs of Almora. Inspired by this, our Almora Tweed collection is made of hand-woven natural Merino wool fabric. The collection has plain and twill weave, with evergreen check, herringbone and houndstooth patterns.

Drawing inspiration from the legendary temple of Durga on Kasardevi hill, our Nandadevi collection captures the essence of the gentle hills and valleys of Almora District. Through this collection, we support skilled Himadri Hans Handloom artisans from 50 surrounding villages, showcasing the cultural richness and artistic prowess of the region.

Our Harsil collection, named after the village, known for its locally sourced sheep wool, celebrates the raw and nostalgic texture found in traditional hill products. By incorporating this unique element into shawls, textiles, and blends, we empower local artisans and celebrate the beauty of traditional craftsmanship.

Our foundation, we take immense pride in not only preserving the timeless tradition of handloom weaving but also in promoting the rich cultural heritage of Uttarakhand. We are dedicated to sustaining the beauty and significance of handloom weaving, contributing to the socio-economic development of the region, and fostering pride in the craftsmanship of the state. Our thoughtfully curated collections provide a platform for local artisans to showcase their skills and craftsmanship, ensuring that this invaluable tradition continues to thrive for generations to come.

How has empowering women in the handloom industry positively impacted the overall development of the communities in Uttarakhand?

Rawat: The Himadri-Hans Handloom (HHH) initiative, in partnership with the Government of Uttarakhand, has had a transformative impact on women in the handloom industry. Through skill upgradation programs in weaving, reeling, knitting, and embroidery, rural women artisans in Kumaon have experienced increased opportunities and financial independence.

To bolster livelihoods, HHH has established five decentralized clusters in and around Almora, promoting self-help groups and creating sustainable income opportunities. This strategic approach paves the way for future collaborations with the government and ensures long-term growth for the communities involved.

To enhance capabilities, HHH conducts skill training programs in collaboration with DIC and Weaver Service Center, equipping rural women artisans with the expertise to secure a steady income and improve prospects for their families.

Recognizing the importance of sustainability, HHH advocates for the use of natural fibers like nettle and wool, sourced from local self-help groups and departments in Uttarakhand. This emphasis on eco-friendly practices not only conserves the environment but also contributes to preserving traditional crafts.

Moreover, by collaborating with various agencies and being certified with trademarks and trade organizations, HHH works towards promoting sustainable, equitable, and participatory development, fostering social welfare, and ensuring efficient human resource management.

Through these efforts, the Himadri-Hans Handloom initiative demonstrates its commitment to empowering women, uplifting communities, and preserving the rich cultural heritage of Uttarakhands handloom industry.

How does the commitment to environmentally friendly interventions enhance the programs impact and appeal to conscious consumers?

Rawat: The Himadri Hans Handloom programs focus on sustainability is evident in its Natural Fibers collection, which features a range of eco-friendly products like placemats, stoles, bags, fabrics, throws, and cushion covers. The use of nettle fiber extracted from dead plants during winter using traditional methods showcases the programs commitment to sourcing materials responsibly without harming the environment. Our weavers are also exploring bamboo fibers to create sustainable and delicate weaves for summer. This dedication to sustainability resonates with conscious consumers who prioritize eco-friendly and socially responsible products.

By promoting eco-friendly practices and showcasing the beauty and versatility of natural fibers, the Himadri Hans Handloom program not only enhances its impact on the environment but also appeals to a growing segment of conscious consumers seeking products that contribute positively to the planet and its communities. This dedication to sustainability not only supports local artisans and traditional crafts but also creates a lasting impression on consumers who value the preservation of culture, environment, and social well-being.

How does The Hans Foundation envision the future of the Himadri Hans Handloom program and its broader impact on the lives of women artisans and the handloom industry as a whole?

Rawat: We have been working with the women of Almora to revive local weaving traditions under the Himadri Hans Handlooms program for a few years now. Further training in skills like design, marketing, financial management, and enhancement of our artisans for true women-led development is very much the way forward. At the same, the future of the program also lies in both expanding our reach and taking the model to more locations and states as well as giving a new breath of life to rare and dying handicraft traditions.

As a foundation that also works significantly for Health interventions, our support to the communities of our women weavers also extends to ensuring that the health and well-being of the women and their communities are also comprehensively supported.

We also want to take the brand itself to new heights, so that each artisans work truly gains the recognition it merits. Technology is a great enabler with digital marketing, e-commerce platforms, and online marketplaces, all ways that will allow us to reach a global audience and enhance opportunities for women artisans. We are also working on increased linkages with B2B clients  both in India and abroad  for the same.

Additionally, we hope to keep working on continually making our processes greener and more sustainable, more focused on environmentally friendly practices, including using natural dyes, and organic fibers, and reducing waste in the production process.

As the program grows in scale and reach, we hope our program and operations bring economic empowerment to thousands of women across the communities that we work with as a foundation, serving as a catalyst for promoting better gender equity in their communities, and multi-dimensional reduction in poverty. As for the brand, we hope our work fosters a shift towards sustainable and eco-friendly fashion as well as cultural preservation of rare local traditions by bringing them forward to new and modern audiences.
A Ukrainian defence official stated that the countrys counteroffensive has regained over 200 sq. km. of territory. A report in the New York Times mentioned that Ukraine lost large quantities of equipment gifted by Nato and also suffered heavy manpower losses.

The report further assessed that Kievs chances of success are dim. Russia, aware that Ukraine would launch a counteroffensive, had spent months preparing for it. Truth has always been hard to come by in this conflict, though it is known that Ukrainian forces are weaker than Russias. Ukraine even attempted to take the war to Moscow. Kievs suicide drones hit Moscows financial district prompting Russia to respond in kind. Ukrainian sea drones attacked a naval base in Russia, damaging a warship in the Black Sea, hundreds of miles from Ukraine. Western support for Ukraine continues unabated, despite countries facing their own economic slowdown.

The US has even provided banned cluster ammunition, as it is unable to meet artillery ammunition demands of Ukraine. For the West, collapse of the Ukrainian offensive would signal the possible end of the war, forcing Kiev to the bargaining table, compelling it to accept Russian terms. A defeat of Ukraine would embolden Russia as also be a political challenge to ruling dispensations in the US and Europe. The public is unhappy at levels of finances being spent on Ukraine.

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Basically, western taxpayers are funding Ukrainian forces. A warning restricting Wests support to Kiev was given by Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russias security council, who stated, (If the offensive) succeeded and ended up with part of our land being taken awaythen we would have to use nuclear weapons. While Nato is providing weapons and paying Ukrainian mercenaries, it will not risk a direct confrontation with Russia. The withdrawal of the Wagner group does not appear to have altered the scenario on the front in any way.

Russia has now amended its grand strategy. On 17 July, it pulled out of the grain deal and began targeting Ukraines grain terminals in Odessa on the pretext of Ukraine damaging the Kerch bridge linking Russia to Crimea. This opened a new front. Simultaneously, Russias Black Sea fleet warned that any ship sailing to Ukrainian ports would be considered hostile and targeted. On 19 July, Russian missiles destroyed 60,000 tonnes of agricultural produce destined for China.

A few days later it targeted four grain hangars. Ukraines grain production had already been significantly hampered by the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam. After ports on the Black Sea were targeted and blocked, Ukraine switched to employing ports on the Danube River. Last week Russia targeted the Izmail port on the Danube, a short distance from Romania. Almost 40,000 tonnes of grain destined for the African continent, China and Israel were damaged. With the Black Sea route blocked, Ukraines grain exports would anyway drop by 50 per cent and become costlier. The strike on the Izmail port spiked global food prices. Ukraine is now attempting to utilize ports of European nations but faces roadblocks from Poland, Hungary and others.

The EU has banned Ukrainian grain imports till 15 September on demand from its members. The West has started accusing Russia of weaponizing food. Secretary Blinken stated at the UNSC, every member of the United Nations should tell Moscow enough, enough using the Black Sea as blackmail. Moscow is unwilling to return to the grain deal unless sanctions are relaxed and it is re-permitted to export grains and fertilizers. While Russias grain exports are not under direct sanctions, financial restrictions make payment for the same difficult. Simultaneously Russia needs to import agricultural machinery and spare parts. Reversing sanctions would be a loss of face for the West.

Russia is now attempting to force Ukraine out of the global food market thereby compelling the global south, mainly Africa, to apply pressure on Western nations to accede to Russian terms for restoration of the deal. This would also give Russia an enhanced foothold in Africa. Responding to a request to restore the grain deal at the Russia-Africa summit in St Petersburg, President Putin offered to provide 20-25,000 tons of free grains to six African nations. This was far less than the 725,000 tons provided by the World Food Program banking on Ukrainian exports last year.

Ukraine had, last year, shipped 625,000 tons of foodgrains as humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, payment for which was made by its Western allies. Putin also stated, Russia is ready to substitute Ukrainian grain in Africa, especially amid record harvests. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa responded, We would like the Black Sea initiative to be implemented and that the Black Sea should be open. We are not here to plead for donations for the African continent. This cut no ice with Putin. Russias influence in Africa appeared to be waning. Only 20 out of 54 nations attended the Russia-Africa summit as compared to 43 last year. Many skipped it on account of Russia withdrawing from the grain deal. Simultaneously, Russias Wagner group continues to expand its presence in Africa.

The group has its presence in Libya, Mali, Central African Republic, Sudan and the Congo. Moscow is unlikely to restrict Wagners expanding influence in Africa. Russia is also the largest arms supplier to the continent. Wagner head Yevgenny Prigrozhin, was present on the sidelines of the Russia-Africa summit. Latest reports indicate that Niger, post the coup, is in talks for deploying the Wagner group in the country as also to train Nigers armed forces. Meanwhile talks for ending the Russo-Ukraine conflict appear to be stonewalled.

Speaking at the RussiaAfrica summit, Putin stated, in response to calls for a ceasefire and talks, Why do you ask us to pause fire? We cant pause fire while were being attacked. The Saudi peace conference, which recently concluded in Jeddah, did not include Russia and would probably be another attempt with no end result. Putins changed strategy could lead to global food shortages in large parts of the underdeveloped world. It is essential that an amicable solution be found early and the grain deal restored. For this, all involved need to soften their stands.

(The writer is a retired Major-General of the Indian Army.)
The 2024 US presidential campaign looks set to only superficially resemble previous races for the White House. It will, of course, have debates and rallies, canvassing and television commercials, conventions and commentary, besides endless polling. Yet, it will be unlike any other, shadowed throughout by the singular focus on former President Donald Trump and his multiple legal battles. Bringing the focus of the election back to the future of America at home and abroad requires a collective effort from candidates, media, and the electorate. To achieve this, it is essential for candidates to prioritise discussing their policy proposals, visions, and plans for the countrys future rather than dwelling solely on individual legal battles or personalities. Voters can play a crucial role by seeking comprehensive information about each candidates plans and engaging in critical discussions about these.

Encouraging media outlets to cover policy matters more extensively and responsibly could also help shift the focus away from sensationalism and towards substantive debates. By promoting a constructive and informed dialogue, the elections focus can shift towards meaningful discussions on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the nation. Alas! All this could turn out to be wishful thinking. Polls show former Mr. Trump leading his nearest Republican primary rival, Florida Governor Ron Desantis, by 37 percentage points. With another poll showing that a significantly large number ~ 46 per cent ~ of voters view all legal actions ~ federal and local ~ against Mr Trump as politically motivated, analysts conclude the indictments have only propelled his campaign. That this allegation of political motivation holds water is strengthened by polls showing President Joe Biden stands a better chance of retaining the White House if the face-off is between him and Mr Trump. Polls show the current and former president neck-and-neck in a general election rematch while Mr Desantis would win the White House race if he secures the Republican nomination. While Mr Trump has accused Mr Biden of weaponising justice in a bid to prevent him from running for President, the Democrats appear to be wishing the former President prevails in the Republican primaries given his vulnerability in a general election.

Thus, accusations have been made that the Biden Justice Department is pursuing Mr Trump so that Democrats can keep the election focused on the former Presidents legal troubles. On his part, Mr Trump has made it clear he will be looking at every American voter as the real juror in the different cases against him, the latest being his arraignment for allegedly trying to overturn results of the 2020 election. Thus, there is little hope as of now that the campaigns focus will be on the future. That is unfortunate, given that the challenges America faces both domestically and on the world stage are daunting. Legal matters are subject to judicial procedures, whereas the electoral process is about voters choices and opinions. These must be informed.

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Indian-origin Zachary Kirkhorn, the previous CFO, stated his intention to step down, and Vaibhav Taneja is his new replacement, the manufacturer announced in a company filing on Monday.

After Kirhorn, Teslas Master of Coin and finance leader for the previous four years resigned from the position, Mr. Taneja, 45, was named Tesla CFO in addition to his present position as leader Accounting Officer (CAO) of the US-based electric vehicle giant.

A 13-year period of tremendous expansion and growth was characterized in the company filing as Mr. Kirkhorns time spent working for the Elon Musk-led American EV behemoth.

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Tesla acknowledges Mr. Kirkhorns valuable contributions. To ensure a smooth transition, Mr. Kirkhorn will continue to work for Tesla through the end of the year, the company said.

Vaibhav Taneja, our Chief Accounting Officer, will take over as CFO from Mr. Kirkhorn, Tesla stated this morning, according to Mr. Kirkhorns LinkedIn page.

Working here has been a unique experience for me, and Im really happy with the progress weve made since I started more than 13 years ago. I would like to thank Teslas bright, enthusiastic, and hard-working staff, who have accomplished things that many others believed (were) impossible, while I change my responsibilities to assist this transition. For his leadership and positivity, which have motivated so many people, I also want to thank Elon, the speaker added.

Since May 2018, Mr. Taneja has held the positions of corporate controller and chief operating officer of Tesla. He worked for SolarCity Corporation, a US-based manufacturer of solar panels that Tesla acquired in 2016, in a number of financial and accounting positions from March 2016 until May 2018, when he assumed the position of Assistant Corporate Controller.

Prior to that, Mr. Taneja worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers between July 1999 and March 2016 in both India and the US, according to a filing with the corporation.
The aggressor country Russia has emptied its largest warehouse of mothballed Soviet armored vehicles by more than 40 percent during its full-scale war against Ukraine. Old tanks and armored personnel carriers were removed from storage at the famous Vagzhanovo (277th) base in Buryatia.

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It is located near Ulan-Ude and occupies about 13 square kilometers, which is much larger than the areas of two dozen other known bases for storing military equipment in the Russian Federation. This was reported by The Moscow Times, an independent English- and Russian-language online newspaper, citing fresh satellite images from Google Earth (to see it, scroll to the end of the news).

It is noted that the investigators collected information about the location of the bases of mothballed military equipment from open sources - blogs of photographers, travelers and media publications.

Thus, it was found that five months before the full-scale invasion of Russian troops in Ukraine - in September 2021 - in "Vagzhanovo" under the open sky stood about 3,840 units of armored vehicles.

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Already after eight months of war - in November 2022 - about 2,600 armored vehicles remained on the base, and by May 2023 - 2,270.

"Thus, during this time, 1,570 or 40.8% of armored vehicles were removed from the base. And most of it (32%) left after the announcement of mobilization at the end of 2022," the journalists calculated.

They drew attention to the instructions of the Russian Ministry of Defense, according to which there are four categories of preservation of military equipment. The first and most valuable equipment is stored in special ventilated and heated rooms, the second - in unheated hangars. The third category of preservation is storage under tents, and the fourth - in the open air, as in Buryatia.

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"Where there are tent shelters - the equipment should be at least on the move. Under the open sky - what is not to be pitied," the publication quoted military expert Pavel Luzin as saying.

It was established that old Soviet equipment was stored in "Vagzhanovo" mainly in the open air. Images from November 2022 showed that about half of the armored vehicles were without turrets or had other traces of damage visible even from a satellite. Similar signs were observed in about half of the vehicles remaining at the base by May 2023.

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"There are also 10 hangars on the territory of the base, which, according to The Moscow Times calculations, can accommodate up to 400 armored vehicles. In the social networks of former Vagzhanovo servicemen, we found several large pictures of tanks stored there. The military experts interviewed identified them as T-62s, which were produced in the USSR from 1962 to 1975," the journalists stated.

As OBOZREVATEL reported, Russian occupation forces in the war against Ukraine began using old tanks as self-propelled bombs. Soviet T-54/55 they stuffed with TNT and sent towards Ukrainian positions.

Only verified information we have in our Telegram channel Obozrevatel, Threads and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The aggressor country Russia has rewritten a history textbook for 10th and 11th grade students, which will be the only one used in the educational process from September 1, 2023. On its pages, schoolchildren are told that Ukraine, against which their country is waging war, is an allegedly ultra-nationalist state.

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One of the authors of this writing was Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to the Kremlin dictator. The information was made public by propaganda media resources (to view photos containing Russian propaganda, scroll to the end of the news).

According to the author, the new textbook "radically rewrote the sections" concerning the events of the last fifty years. It also describes the Russians' annexation of Crimea and the attack on Ukraine, which the Kremlin calls a "special military operation."

On the pages of the textbook published by the Russian media, one can see the thesis that Western countries allegedly "sponsored Russophobia in the former Soviet republics" and "dragged Russia into conflicts."

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In addition, Russian schoolchildren will be persuaded that several generations of Ukrainians have been brought up in total dislike of Russia "on neo-Nazi ideas". Ukraine itself is called an "ultra-nationalist state".

The authors of the textbook also tell the new Russian generation that Russia invaded Ukraine merely to "protect Donbas and ensure its security," and the residents of the occupied Ukrainian territories "wanted to remain Russians."

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On the pages of the textbook, schoolchildren complained that Russians were allegedly forced to fight "ideologically pumped up, equipped with NATO weapons and trained to its standards" - the Armed Forces of Ukraine - while "completely illegal sanctions" were being imposed against them.

At the same time, the authors published photos and brief biographies about the so-called first "heroes" of the Russian "SWO", devoted separate paragraphs to "US pressure on Russia" and "falsification of history" allegedly on the part of Western states rather than the Russian Federation itself, and attached captured Ukrainian cities to "their landmarks".

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And, of course, on almost every page of a textbook with rewritten history, dictator Putin is "painted" - in a photo or in quotes.

Recall: analysts at the Institute for the Study of War emphasized that the Kremlin continues to express its cynical aspirations to continue significant military operations against the Ukrainian state. So they explained the vague and contradictory statement of the speaker of the Russian dictator Dmitry Peskov that Russia wants "full control" of the occupied territories of Ukraine.

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As reported OBOZREVATEL, the terrorist state Russia decided to teach children how to control drones. The Russian state Duma said that the lessons will include conducting reconnaissance of the area and ways to "counteract the enemy's UAVs."

Only verified information from us in Telegram channel Obozrevatel, Threads and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
By Dr Nisha Bhatnagar, Medical Director, Aveya IVF and Fertility Clinic

A recent report by World Health Organization released in April 2023 states that infertility affects 1 in 6 people, globally. The same largely affects India, being the most populous country. The Indian fertility rate in 2023 is at 2, lower than the replacement rate of 2.1: Right now, there is a large population in the reproductive age group. Eventually, the number of women entering the fertile age will decrease, leading to the population contracting.

To counter this, there are several advancements being made in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) to help couples fulfill their dream of a family. ART refers to a range of techniques used to achieve pregnancy by handling sperm or egg cells outside the human body and transferring embryos into the womans reproductive tract.

There are several techniques in ART that are suitable for the couple, depending upon their medical history and conditions. Fertility experts personalise each technique to get deseired results.

1. In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): IVF is one of the most common ART procedures. It involves the fertilization of an egg with sperm outside the body in a laboratory dish. The resulting embryos are then transferred into the woman's uterus. IVF can help couples overcome various infertility issues, including blocked fallopian tubes, low sperm count, and unexplained infertility.

2. Intrauterine Insemination (IUI): IUI is a less complex ART procedure where washed and concentrated sperm is directly placed into the woman's uterus during the fertile period. It can be used when there are mild sperm abnormalities or difficulties with sperm reaching the egg.

3. Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI): ICSI is a specialized form of IVF where a single sperm is injected directly into an egg to facilitate fertilization. It is particularly helpful in cases of severe male infertility.

4. Egg Donation and Sperm Donation: In some cases, when a woman is unable to produce healthy eggs or carry a pregnancy to term, egg donation can be viable options. In egg donation, a healthy egg from a donor is used for IVF, while in surrogacy, another woman carries the pregnancy on behalf of the intended parents. Similarly, sperm donation is often used when a male partner has fertility issues, such as low sperm count, poor sperm motility, or genetic abnormalities that could be passed on to offspring.

5. Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT): PGT involves screening embryos for genetic disorders before they are transferred into the uterus during IVF. This helps in reducing the risk of passing on certain genetic conditions to the offspring.

6. Egg Freezing/Embryo freezing: Egg freezing is a perticularly innovative method of ART where an unmarried women or a woman who wants to consider pregnancy in her late 30s can get her eggs frozen in her most fertile years. This method preserves the age of the egg through cryopreservation. This technique is also great for couples who are not yet ready for a child. They can get their good quality embryos (fertilised egg and sperm) frozen for later.

7. Fertility enhancing surgery like Laproscopy and Hysteroscopy: Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that allows a doctor to view and operate on the organs inside the abdomen and pelvis using a laparoscopea thin, lighted tube with a camera attached to it. The laparoscope is inserted through small incisions in the abdominal wall. Common fertility-related conditions such as Endometriosis, Ovarian Cysts, Pelvic Adhesions and tubal issues may be treated with laparoscopy.

Hysteroscopy is another minimally invasive procedure that allows a doctor to examine the inside of the uterus using a hysteroscopea thin, lighted tube with a camera attached to it. The hysteroscope is inserted through the vagina and cervix. Conditions such as Uterine Polyps, Uterine Fibroids, and Uterine Septum can be diagnosed and treated with hysteroscope.

To address the rising infertility rates in India, it is essential to raise awareness about infertility issues, improve access to healthcare, and provide affordable and quality ART services. This is specifically true for TierII,III and rural India where infertility is still considered a taboo. There is an urgent need to educate people about options available for planning a family.
Zoom, which became the most common means of communication while working from home during the Covid-19 lockdown, has ironically asked its staffers to return to the office for the first time since the pandemic.



The San Jose-based company, which is still the go-to video conferencing service, has asked all its employees within 50 miles of a company office to go on a hybrid schedule by working on-site at least two days a week.

We believe that a structured hybrid approach  meaning employees that live near an office need to be onsite two days a week to interact with their teams  is most effective for Zoom. As a company, we are in a better position to use our own technologies, continue to innovate, and support our global customers, a spokesperson told Business Insider.

Well continue to leverage the entire Zoom platform to keep our employees and dispersed teams connected and working efficiently, added the spokesperson.

According to the company website, Zoom has 14 global offices of which eight are in Asia, three in Europe, two in the US and one in Australia. Two of the Asian offices are located in India  Mumbai and Bengaluru.

An internal survey of Zoom staffers in 2021 revealed that only 1 per cent wanted to work full time in an office, while more than half of the employees preferred a flexible and hybrid schedule, according to Market Watch.

Following Zoom's move, social media was filled with reactions from users who were surprised by the twist.

One user posted on the X platform, saying, Still On Brand? Of all the companies in the world, ZOOM is ending full-time remote #work for the 1st time since the onset of the pandemic. ZOOM told employees who live within 50 miles of a company office to come in to work 2 days a week going forward.

Still On Brand?



Of all the companies in the world, ZOOM is ending full-time remote #work for the 1st time since the onset of the pandemic.



ZOOM told employees who live within 50 miles of a company office to come in to work 2 days a week going forward.#FutureofWork #WFH #HR  Mark C. Crowley (@MarkCCrowley) August 6, 2023

Another tweet read, In a surprising twist, the virtual meeting behemoth, #Zoom, is ushering its employees back to the physical office.

One user wrote, "The irony of Zoom telling their staff to return to work and not work from home."

The irony of Zoom telling their staff to return to work and not work from home   JY R (@connjam) August 8, 2023

Yet another tweeted, Zoom the company just said no more work from home for its employees lmao. The company whos whole schtick is WFH.

Zoom the company just said no more work from home for its employees lmao. The company whos whole schtick is WFH.  Mike not a Rapper tho (@HiddenLeafMike) August 7, 2023

A fifth user posted, "RIP remote work: The work-from-home boom seems to be coming to an end as even @Zoom calls its employees back to the office."
The stage is set for a fierce debate in Lok Sabha on Tuesday as the BJP-led government at the Centre faces a no-confidence motion moved by the opposition parties. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who returned to a rousing welcome to Parliament on Monday after the Supreme Court stayed his conviction in a defamation case, will lead the opposition's charge.

The motion, submitted by Congress's deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi on July 26, is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's second no-trust motionthe first in his second term as PM.

Since the start of the Monsoon Session of parliament last month, Opposition bloc leaders have been insisting on a discussion and a detailed statement from Modi on the violent clashes in Manipur. Amid these protests by opposition leaders, business in both Houses of the parliament have been repeatedly disrupted. The no-trust motion is seen as part of the Opposition's strategy to finally get the PM to speak on the issue in the Lok Sabha.

The Business Advisory Committee of the Lok Sabha has allotted 12 hours for the discussion on the no-trust motion. The debate will begin at 12pm on Tuesday and Modi is expected to respond to the debate on Thursday.

Political observers believe that the Opposition have given a platform to Modi, who is known for his oratorical skills, to forcefully make his points during the reply to the debate. But opposition leaders have said that this only a matter of morality as it is important that the prime minister, who has largely remained silent on the ongoing violence in the north eastern state, speak on the issue.

What is a no-confidence motion

A no-confidence or no-trust motion is meant to test whether the government enjoys the confidence of the majority of the housea government can only be in power if it commands the majority in the directly elected house. Parliamentary procedure allows the opposition to move the no-confidence motion to challenge the government.

Once it is supported by 50 members, the Speaker admits the motion and issues dates for debates. After the debate in Lok Sabha, comes the no-trust vote. The present no-trust motion will face the vote on August 10.

This is the 28th no-confidence motion in the history of independent India. According to reports, only once did such a motion lead to the fall of a governmentMorarji Desai-led administration in 1979.

What do numbers say

Though this is the Opposition's tactic to corner the BJP on the Manipur issue, the Modi government will sail through this test with the numbers comfortably stacked in its favour. In the Lok Sabha, where the halfway mark is 272, the BJP's strength alone is 301. With its allies, the BJP-led NDA has 332 MPs in the house.

There is no threat to the Modi government, but the voting patterns will be closely analysed in the run-up to the high stakes general elections next year. Y.S. Jagan Reddys YSRCP and Naveen Patnaiks BJD, both of whom tipped the scales in the BJP's favour in the Delhi Services Bill on Monday, are expected to support the government this time too. Together, they have 34 MPs, taking the government's numbers to 366. The Opposition bloc INDIA has only 142 members.

Modi govt's second no-trust motion

In 2018, PM Modi faced a no-confidence motion moved by Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party. The motion was defeated, with the government getting 325 votes. Only 126 votes were bagged in favour of the motion.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court's intervention on Monday had halted the bulldozer action carried out in the Nuh district after violence broke out in Haryana last week.

The Court noted that the Haryana government is "using force and is demolishing buildings on account of the fact that some riots have occurred in Gurugram and Nuh."

"Apparently, without any demolition orders and notices, the law and order problem is being used as a ruse to bring down buildings without following the procedure established by law," the Court observed, reported LiveLaw.

Division bench of Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Harpreet Kaur Jeewan had ordered halt of the demolition drive. "The issue also arises whether the buildings belonging to a particular community are being brought down under the guise of law and order problem and an exercise of ethnic cleansing is being conducted by the State," said the bench.

A suo motu cognizance was taken by the court regarding the ongoing demolition drive in Nuh, Gurugram which followed the communal clashes.

Home Minister Anil Vij had earlier said that bulldozers are part of the routine treatment against 'illegal' constructions and it will be used wherever necessary. On the Home Minister's remarks from the newspaper reports, Court noted that "power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely."

"We are of the considered opinion that the Constitution of India protects the citizens of this country and no demolitions as such can be done without following the procedure prescribed in law, said bench, reported LiveLaw.

Over 50 structures in different areas have been demolished so far. A 23-year-old mosque member was stabbed to death and a deputy Imam suffered grievous injuries in the mob attack on July 31.
Ukraine is not facing a food shortage. Moreover, the 2023 harvest will be enough not only to meet the country's domestic needs but also to sell abroad.

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This was announced by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. He noted that Ukrainian farmers have already harvested 16.6 million tonnes of grain. The leaders are two southern regions:

Mykolaiv and Odesa;

Odesa region.

"Behind these figures of millions of tonnes of grain is the daily hard work of tens of thousands of people who often risk their lives. [But] we already clearly understand that there will be enough food for Ukraine's domestic needs and for export," the Prime Minister said.

He also emphasised: Ukraine intends to continue to play the role of "one of the key guarantors of global food security". However, it needs the help of its partners to do so:

more air defence to "better cover our ports, especially the Danube port cluster";

sustainable land logistics routes with high capacity.

What about food prices

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Meanwhile, prices for borscht set vegetables in Ukraine have reached the bottom line. We are talking about:

potatoes

onions

cabbage

carrots

beetroot.

Ivan Stefanyshyn, advisor to the director of agriculture at the Shuvar wholesale agricultural market, told OBOZREVATEL that prices have dropped even compared to the beginning of August last year. The reason is an oversupply of basic vegetables.

"A lot of borscht set has been planted and there is no demand for it - the supply is too high. This shows the instability of our production and the desire to make a lot of money in a day. The situation is great for the population, but for the producer it is catastrophic," Stefanyshyn said.

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL reported that the forecasts of the expected shortage of watermelons in Ukraine also did not come true. At the end of July, prices for melons also began to decline, falling from UAH 30 to UAH 18-24 per kilogram in the markets and from UAH 35 to UAH 27-28 in supermarkets. Experts say this is not the end of the price drop.

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Only verified information is available on our Obozrevatel Telegram channel, Threads and Viber. Don't fall for fakes!
The Enforcement Directorate has summoned Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren for interrogation in a money laundering case, an official said here on Tuesday.

He has been asked to depose on August 14 at the federal agency's office here and record his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, the official said.

He is expected to be questioned in an alleged defence land scam case.

The 47-year-old Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader was interrogated for over nine hours by the ED in November last year in another money laundering case linked to alleged illegal mining in the state.

Neither Soren nor his office has reacted to the fresh summons.

BJP MP from the state Deepak Prakash Tuesday demanded Soren's resignation alleging that he was involved in the defence land scam in connivance with corrupt bureaucrats of the state.

Claiming to have been the first to have exposed the defence land scam, he said "We had requested the ED to investigate the case. Today, the result is that after the illegal mining case, the Jharkhand chief minister has been summoned by ED in connection with money laundering with respect to land held by the Army and others.

The central probe agency is investigating more than a dozen land deals, including one related to defence land, wherein a group of land mafia, middlemen and bureaucrats allegedly connived to forge deeds and documents of as long back as 1932.

A special PMLA court has already sent Jharkhand IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan, arrested by ED to jail.

The ED interrogated Ranjan for around 10 hours on April 24 in connection with its probe into money laundering in the alleged illegal land deals.

Ranjan was briefly questioned by the agency on April 13 as well when searches were carried out at his premises and those of some others in Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal.

The ED arrested several people, including a Jharkhand government officer, after the raids.

On November 17, 2022 the ED had questioned Soren for over nine hours in connection with its investigation into an alleged illegal mining case.

Soren had then claimed he was a "victim of conspiracy" by the opposition BJP in the state. He has been accusing the opposition of hatching a conspiracy to topple his government ever since the JMM came to power.

"The central agency should level allegations only after a detailed investigation into the matter ... I am the chief minister of the state and hold a constitutional post. But the way the summons were issued, it seems I will flee from the country," he had said.

Soren was initially summoned by the ED on November 3, 2022 but he did not appear citing official engagements. He had even dared the central probe agency to arrest him and then sought a three-week deferment of the summons.

The agency has so far arrested Soren's political aide Pankaj Mishra and two others in the case.

The BJP had also petitioned for Soren's disqualification from the assembly in an office-of-profit case in August 2022. The UPA constituents supporting Soren had in a joint statement on August 28 that year accused the then governor Ramesh Bias of encouraging political horse-trading.

On August 30 the coalition had shifted its MLAs to Raipur in Chhatisgarh by a chartered flight in a bid to thwart the BJP's possible attempt to poach ruling legislators. They flew back to Ranchi on September 4 to attend a special session of Jharkhand assembly on September 5 in which Soren won a confidence motion.
Suspension of MLAs during the Budget session is a closed chapter. For me, the Constitution is more important than any person or party. I was only upholding the dignity of the Constitution and parliamentary norms by suspending the ten MLAs, said Karnataka Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader, during a press interaction in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

Khader was defending his decision to suspend 10 BJP MLAs for "unruly" behaviour and disrespect to the chair during the Budget session of the state legislature held last month. His decision was criticised by both the opposition parties - BJP and JDS.

Commenting on the speculations that Khader had yielded to the pressure from the chief minister (Siddaramaiah) and the government and suspended the MLAs, Khader said, "Ultimately, the question is whether I followed the Constitutional norms. I treat every legislator equally, irrespective of his party affiliation. I have taken action against those legislators who violated discipline and decorum. Now, it is a closed chapter. Like the fight between two brothers, (which) invariably ends at the end of the day, legislators' fight ended when the session ended."

Asked if the 'disciplinary' action had helped improve the situation in the House, he said, "The outcome will be known in the next session. One has to start batting after the ball is thrown at you."

Khader (53), a former minister and a five-time MLA from Mangalore, was unanimously elected as the 23rd Speaker of the state after the Congress party won a thumping majority (135 seats out of the 224) in the Assembly elections held in May.

"As per the constitutional norms, after I took over as the speaker, I have given up the primary membership of the Congress party. So, as a speaker, I do not belong to any party, caste or religion. Constitution is my religion, Constitution is my party," said Khader on his new role.

Elaborating on the challenges of the new post, Khader said, "As I understand, a Speaker is the friend of the opposition parties. But as much as I am friendly to the opposition, they are apprehensive of me. While I give more time for the opposition parties to speak in the House, it is also my responsibility to ensure the ruling party does its work so that the government functions smoothly.

Sharing his dilemmas on conducting the House amid protests by the opposition parties, Khader said that the passage of the Bills was crucial as it is necessary for implementing people's programmes. "The government runs on (the concept of) majority and the opposition does not have the numbers to stall the bills. I have ensured that no bill is passed without a debate. At least the ruling party legislators have participated in the discussions in the absence of the opposition party members," added the Speaker.

The speaker stated that he was not concerned with the BJP delaying the election of the Leader of the Opposition (LOP). "I am not concerned with the issue. It is their (BJP) decision and responsibility. It makes no difference to me whether they have a LOP or not as long as the House runs smoothly. The House should discuss issues that benefit the people," said the Speaker.

On the controversy over inviting Sri Sri Ravishankar and Dr Veerendra Heggade to address the first-time legislators during the orientation workshop, Khader clarified that none of the MLAs had an issue with it. "There was some resistance only on social media. Anyway, the training went on well. I consider that episode to be a closed chapter," said Khader, referring to the outrage in social media by some Leftists that led to the invitees skipping the event.

"I am neither Left nor Right-leaning. I stand with people who are facing hardship and try to help them," added Khader.

'Kannada is not a spoken language in Dakshina Kannada'

Responding to the constant attack on his poor Kannada speaking skills (pronunciation) by the BJP members and trolls on social media, Khader explained how Kannada was not a spoken language in his home district, which has diverse language and culture.

"In Dakshina Kannada, we study Kannada in school. But we speak a different language at home. Mostly, Hindus speak Tulu, we (Muslims) speak Beary and Christians speak Konkani at home. All communities converse with each other in Tulu. It is not just in Mangalore. In Bengaluru too, the people from my district start speaking to each other in Tulu. Kannada was always confined to the books. So, I never gave it a thought or importance to speak Kannada with conviction. But now, after occupying the Speaker's post, I am focussing on my Kannada skills to be understood by people across the state. There could be some pronunciation errors. I am thankful to people who trolled my Kannada as it is helping me hone my Kannada speaking skills."
The Kerala Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution opposing any attempts by the Union government to implement a Uniform Civil Code (UCC). Kerala is the first state to adopt such a resolution since Prime Minister Narendra Modi rekindled discussions about the UCC in late June. In 2019, the Kerala assembly had passed a resolution calling for the repeal of the Citizenship Amendment Act, too.

The anti-UCC resolution was introduced by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. It said that the Kerala Legislative Assembly expresses its "concern and dismay" at the central government's endeavour to "impose" a UCC. It further states that the House believes such unilateral and hurried action by the Central Government could compromise the secular nature of the Constitution.

The resolution noted that Article 44 of the Constitution only proposes that the nation shall strive to realise a UCC. This maintains that it shall be accomplishable only through consensus and dialogues with various religious groups, over time. However, the central government has now come with an authoritarian move without consulting anyone or without trying to create consensus and this creates apprehensions among various sections of society. The Kerala Legislative Assembly is also expressing its concerns in this regard. Such efforts to impose Uniform Civil Code are communal and it can only be observed as harmful to the unity of the nation, read Vijayans resolution.

Earlier, the ruling CPI(M) and the main opposition Congress had held a series of seminars in Kerala against the implementation of a UCC.

Leader of the opposition, V.D. Satheeshan, commended the willingness of the ruling front to engage with the opposition before presenting the resolution in the assembly. Nevertheless, opposition parties, including the Congress and the Muslim League, expressed dissatisfaction with certain phrasings in the initial resolution put forth by the Chief Minister. For example, the closing paragraph of the initial resolution stated that the Kerala assembly "unanimously urges the Central Government to refrain from any overt actions 'until a consensus on issues' affecting our populace is reached through deliberations with various religious groups."

Muslim League MLAs, including N. Shamsudheen, Manjalamkuzhi Ali, and P. Ubaidulla, contended that there is no need for discussion on UCC in the future, too, and that the resolution should explicitly call on the Union government not to take any steps in this direction. Ubaidulla went on to assert that the notion of a UCC is itself contrary to the Constitution and secular principles.

Congress leader T. Siddique also voiced concern that the concluding paragraph might imply the possibility of implementing a UCC in the future after undergoing discussions.

Meanwhile, Satheeshan also brought attention to an issue within the final paragraph. "While the initial part of the resolution provides a thorough explanation, the concluding paragraph weakens these points," he asserted during the assembly session. He advocated revision of the resolution to explicitly state that the UCC should not be implemented at all, rather than suggesting its implementation contingent on consensus.

"Because the BJP argues that the Law Commission has received a plethora of recommendations from the public and numerous discussions are taking place throughout the state. Our resolution should include elements that firmly reinforce the stance against such arguments," Satheeshan said. "I believe that each one of us shares the same viewpoint, hence the resolution should accurately mirror this collective perspective."

Coincidentally, the ultimate resolution put forth by the chief minister underwent amendments, particularly in the concluding paragraph. It now stipulated that the Union government should refrain from pursuing any actions towards implementing a UCC that could impact the populace nationwide.

N. Shamsudheen had also called for the elimination of the second-to-last paragraph, which contained the following statement: "Ambedkar, who advocated Parliament passing the Uniform Civil Code by respecting citizens' rights to choose their laws, never pressed for one. So, its very clear that he was pointing towards a possibility. Common Civil Law was restricted to the scope of the Directive Principle of State Policy due to this opposition."

Shamsudheen argued that interpreting this paragraph could lead to the misconception that Ambedkar endorsed or intended to introduce the UCC. "The confusion arose due to the inadequate translation of Ambedkar's statements from English to Malayalam, which were included in the resolution," he remarked during the assembly session. The final resolution also underwent an amendment for this paragraph, stating that Ambedkar was merely indicating a potential scenario, and this was reflected in the fact that the common civil law was confined within the boundaries of the directive principle of the state policy.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will undertake the second leg of his Bharat Jodo Yatra from Gujarat to Meghalaya, a senior party leader said on Tuesday. In the first leg of the yatra, Gandhi had walked around 4,000 km from Kanyakumari to Kashmir.

"The second leg of Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra will begin from Gujarat to Meghalaya," Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole said, adding that party leaders in the state will hold a parallel march. He said the schedule of the march will be announced later.

Patole said Gandhi, whose Lok Sabha membership has been restored after the Supreme Court stayed his conviction in a defamation case, will be accorded a grand welcome by the party when he arrives in Mumbai for a meeting of the opposition alliance INDIA in August-end.

We will start a padayatra (in Maharashtra) when Rahul Gandhi starts his own padayatra from Gujarat to Meghalaya. The programme (to carry out the march in the state) has been given to us by the All India Congress Committee (AICC), Patole told reporters in Mumbai.

The Gujarat Congress has already invited Gandhi to start the second phase of the yatra from the western state.

"We have extended an invitation to Rahul Gandhi to start the second phase of Bharat Jodo Yatra from Gujarat, which is the land of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel. The second phase should begin from the state," Amit Chavda, Leader of Opposition in the Gujarat Assembly, said on Monday.

In the first leg, which began from Kanyakumari on September 7, 2022 and concluded in Srinagar on January 30 this year, Gandhi covered 12 states and two Union territories.

Meanwhile, the restoration of Rahul Gandhi's parliament membership has given a new vigor to the INDIA alliance formed to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Gandhi was disqualified as Lok Sabha member from Wayanad in Kerala on March 24 after a Surat court sentenced him a day earlier to two years in jail in a 2019 defamation case connected to the "Modi surname" remark.

The Supreme Court, on August 4, stayed the conviction, paving the way for Gandhi's reinstatement as LS MP.
Trinamool's Derek O'Brien has been suspended from the Rajya Sabha for the rest of the Monsoon Session on Tuesday. RS chairman and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar announced O'Brien's suspension over his unruly behaviour.

Leader of the House Piyush Goyal moved a motion for his suspension "for continuously disturbing the proceedings of the House, disobeying the Chair and contionusly creating disturbing in the House."

After the listed agenda was taken up in the House, the Opposition's demand on discussions regarding Manipur situation was referred by Dhankhar. Goyal said that he will check the availability of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and if the Opposition members are willing for the discussions at 12 noon.

Earlier Amit Shah had said that he was ready for discussions on Manipur.

O'Brien had stood up to raise a point of order. While, Dhankar has warned him not to say anything except the point of order. However, TMC MP had referred to the notices given by the opposition parties for discussion under Rule 267.

The Chair lost his calm and had named O'Brien to sit. Later, Goyal moved the motion of suspending him.

His suspension comes days after Dhankar and TMC MP had a heated argument in the Upper House of the Parliament. On Monday while discussing the Delhi Ordinance Bill, Dhankar had accused O'Brien of doing "theatrics" in the House to gain popularity.

"This has become your habit. You are doing this as part of a strategy. You think you will enjoy publicity outside. You ravaged this House," Dhankar told O'Brien, reported NDTV.
Lok Sabha takes up no-confidence motion debate against Modi-led government on Tuesday. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi opened the debate by asking three questions on Manipur situation.

PM took a 'maun vrat' to not speak in the Parliament. So, we had to bring the No Confidence Motion to break his silence. We have three questions for him - 1) Why did he not visit Manipur to date? 2) Why did it take almost 80 days to finally speak on Manipur and when he did speak it was just for 30 seconds? 3) Why has the PM not sacked the Manipur CM so far?," said Gogoi.

We were compelled to bring the no-confidence motion, he said.

This is never about numbers but about justice for Manipur. I move the Motion that this House expresses No Confidence in the Government. INDIA has brought this Motion for Manipur. Manipur wants justice, added Gogoi.

Meanwhile, BJP had criticised the Opposition's unity and had took a jibe at Rahul Gandhi. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi asked why the Congress leader did not open the debate on the no-confidence motion.

"What happened in the space of five minutes, sir? What is the problem, sir? We are very enthusiastic to listen to Mr Rahul Gandhi," said Joshi.

Earlier, reportedly, Rahul Gandhi was to open the debate, however it was later decided Gogoi to make the opening statement.

"This No Confidence Motion has been brought. Why has this been brought? Sonia ji (Gandhi) is sitting here...I think she has to do two things - Bete ko set karna hai aur Damad ko bhent karna hai...That is the base of this Motion," BJP MP Nishikant Dubey criticised the no-confidence motion in the House.

Ahead of the no-confidence motion, PM Modi slammed the Opposition by saying that they are "full of distrust".

He said that the Opposition brought the no-confidence motion against his government to test the confidence to test the confidence of its own alliance members in each other as the INDIA bloc is marked by distrust.

According to sources, it was noted that the opposition members had described the voting in Rajya Sabha as a "semi-final" before the Lok Sabha polls.

A time of 12 hours has been fixed for the discussion.
Coup leaders in Niger, on Monday, named Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine as the countrys new prime minister. Zeine was formerly the finance minister. The coup leaders also named Lieutenant-Colonel Habibou Assoumane as Nigers new commander of the presidential guard.



The military in Niger, on July 26, ousted the democratically elected president Mohamed Bazoum and suspended the constitution. The West African regional bloc the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had threatened military intervention if the military hadn't restored Bazoum as president by Sunday. ECOWAS will hold another emergency summit on Thursday in Nigeria to address the political crisis in after the military leaders ignored the deadline to cede power.

On Monday, Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland met with the coup leaders. Nuland said that the conversations had been "extremely frank and at times quite difficult," BBC reported. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in the meanwhile, stressing the need to reinstate Bazoum and for Niger to revert to its constitutional order, said that diplomacy is the 'preferred way' to resolve the crisis.

The coup leaders, however, refused to let Nuland meet Bazoum, who was detained by members of the Presidential Guard on July 26. "This was a first conversation in which the United States was offering its good offices if there is a desire on the part of the people who are responsible for this to return to the constitutional order," she told France 24.

Niger junta, on Monday, closed the country's airspace citing the possibility of military intervention from neighbouring countries. As a result, flights to certain African destinations were forced to divert.
Pakistan has extended by one year the visa of a 34-year-old Indian mother of two children who travelled to a remote village in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to marry her Facebook friend after converting to Islam, her Pakistani husband said on Tuesday.

Anju - who now goes by the name of Fatima after converting to Islam - on July 25 married her 29-year-old friend Nasrullah, whose home is in the Upper Dir district in the province. They became friends on Facebook in 2019.

On Tuesday, Nasrullah said that Anju's visa, which was earlier extended for 2 months, has now been extended for a year after their marriage. Her original one-month visa was set to expire on August 20.

"The visa of my wife Anju has been extended for a year after the provision of related documents to the Interior Ministry," said Nasrullah. "All Pakistani institutions are cooperating with us," he added.

Last month, a real estate company gifted the couple a plot of land in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and presented them with a cheque.

Anju, who was born in Kailor village in Uttar Pradesh and lived in the Alwar district of Rajasthan, travelled to Pakistan legally from India via the Wagah-Attari border. She was granted a 30-day visa, valid for Upper Dir only.

Anju is married to Arvind, who is in Rajasthan. They have a 15-year-old daughter and a six-year-old son.

Her story is similar to Seema Ghulam Haider, a 30-year-old Pakistani mother of four who sneaked into India to live with Sachin Meena, a 22-year-old Hindu man she got in touch with while playing PUBG in 2019.
Pakistan's jailed former premier Imran Khan on Tuesday challenged his conviction in the Toshakhana corruption case by a trial court, saying the verdict by a "biased" judge was a "slap in the face due process and fair trial" and "a gross travesty of justice".



Khan, 70, was arrested on Saturday shortly after an Islamabad trial court found him guilty of "corrupt practices" in the Toshakhana case and sentenced him to three years in jail. Khan is currently lodged in the Attock Jail.

Khan has appealed his conviction and the three-year prison sentence in the case by filing a plea through his lawyers - Khawaja Haris and Gohar Ali Khan - at the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

He said that the trial judge made the conclusions on the basis of a "predisposed mind" instead of merit of the case because the petitioner's lawyer was not given the right of presenting arguments.

Khan's plea stated that the judgment passed by the trial court judge was "tainted with bias, is a nullity in the eye of the law and is liable to be set aside".

It said the order was issued without providing the petitioner with a chance to fight his case and alleged that Additional District and Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar had refused to hear the arguments of Haris, Imran's counsel in the Toshakhana case, on the pretext that he was late - which the plea claimed was because he was filing other applications with the Supreme Court and Islamabad High Court.

Thus, the petition said, the verdict of the trial court was a slap in the face due process and fair trial and a gross travesty of justice.

"The impugned judgment was announced despite the fact that before commencement counsel for the appellant was very much in court fully prepared to address arguments after explaining the reasons for the delay in arriving in court, but the trial judge, who throughout the proceedings had been exhibiting his extreme bias towards the appellant and his counsel, and constantly using disparaging remarks against them, even in their absence, was bent on carrying out a well-orchestrated plan, it read.

He accused that the judgment given at the conclusion of hearing had already been prepared and written, which is why a 35-page verdict was issued within 30 minutes of the announcement of the decision through a short order.

The plea named the district election commissioner of Islamabad as the respondent in the case.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf announced on WhatsApp group of foreign media journalists that the court accepted the petition and fixed it for hearing on Wednesday.

Separately, the IHC granted permission to Khan's lawyers to meet him in jail as the court took up a petition filed by the party seeking A-Class facilities for the ex-premier.

Later, the court asked Khan's party to provide names of two lawyers who should meet Khan in prison.

Khan was convicted in the case filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) last year after it had disqualified him for not showing the money he received after selling the gifts he purchased at a discounted price from Toshakhana.

The Toshakhana case says that Khan 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).

This is the second time in three months that Khan has been arrested.

Khan was arrested on May 9 in Islamabad from the high court's premises in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case, sparking violent protests by his supporters.

Khan faces more than 140 cases across the country and charges like terrorism, violence, blasphemy, corruption and murder.
Ukraine's security service SBU said an alleged Russian spy has been arrested in connection with a plot to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The agency has published a photo of the woman with masked SBU officers in a kitchen. All their faces were obscured to keep conceal their identities.

The suspected female operative who was not identified publicly is from the southern Ukrainian region of Mykolaiv, said SBU, adding that she had tried to find out the travel plans of Zelenskyy.

Zelensky visited flood-hit Mykolaiv in June after Kakhovka dam breach wreaked havoc in the region and again in July following heavy Russian shelling.

The security service said the woman was caught red-handed while passing information about the locations of electronic warfare systems and warehouses with ammunition to Russia which allegedly planned a "massive airstrike on the Mykolaiv region," reported BBC.

In its statement, SBU alleged that the woman who worked at a military supply store in an army base in the region took pictures and video of Ukrainian military facilities.

This is not the first time Ukraine has accused local residents who support Moscow of passing information to help Russian military. Earlier, SBU arrested some "Russian agents" who allegedly assisted Russia in locate airstrike targets.

The woman could face up to 12 years in prison under charges of unauthorised dissemination of information about the movements of weapons and troops, if found guilty, the outlet reported.

At least 12 assassination plots against Zelenskyy have been foiled so far, according to intelligence reports. According to Ukrainian website Pravda, a Russia-backed Chechen strike group near Kyiv were eliminated in February 2022 while trying to assassinate Zelenskyy.

Speaking to CNN in July, Zelenskyy had said, Ill be honest with you, and tell you Ive decided, if I will be thinking about it constantly, I will just shut myself down. Very much like Putin now, who doesnt leave his bunker.

If I will isolate myself, I wont understand whats going on around me in the country. I will lose the connection with society. And if I lose this connection, we would lose the society. Im convinced that society has to see if they are at risk, their President is at risk, too  together, with them, he said.

Of course, they understand that I have protection, etc., but I have to be on the same side with my people. You know you can get yourself into a cage like an animal and chain yourself there constantly, thinking that you are just about to get killed, Zelenskyy added.
The First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, said that our country wants the war to end as soon as possible. That is why the world should accelerate its support for the Ukrainian people in the war against Russia.

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She stressed that Ukrainians pay for democracy with their lives. Zelenska said this in a video interview with The Independent.

"We constantly hear from our Western partners that they will be with us for as long as it takes. But the word 'long' is not the word we should use. We should use the word 'faster'," the First Lady of Ukraine said.

She emphasised that the aggressor's victory would be the worst case scenario for all of humanity.

"It would mean that global deterrents do not work. It would mean that anyone with power, strength and sufficient financial resources can do whatever they want in this world," Zelenska explained.

In addition, she stressed that Ukraine is now defending not only its interests, but also trying to maintain a democratic balance in the world.

"Ukrainians are paying for this with the lives of their compatriots, and the rest of the world is simply paying with its resources," the first lady concluded.

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As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, in late July, the United States announced a new $400 million military aid package for Ukraine. It included additional ammunition for the Patriot, NASAMS and HIMARS systems, as well as 32 Stryker armoured personnel carriers.

Only verified information is available on our Obozrevatel Telegram channel, Threads and Viber. Don't fall for fakes!
Edgar Herrera Pardo, aka El Caiman (The Alligator), an alleged violent cartel enforcer suspected of leading a group known as Los Cabos in Mexico, was extradited to the US on August 2 to face federal drug trafficking charges.



Herrera Pardo's Los Cabos group, which operated in Mexico's Baja California state, allegedly helped the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, commonly known as Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG), traffic drugs, including methamphetamine, through Tijuana into the US.

According to Times of San Diego, Los Cabos is accused of plotting more than 150 murders in just six months. Daily Star reported that Herrera Pardo is closely linked to CJNG drug lord Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes aka 'El Mencho'.

CJNG is known for allegedly forcing new members into cannibalism and sharing videos of cartel members feasting on the hearts of its enemies as part of its methods of intimidation, according to Daily Mail.

Herrera Pardo was apprehended by authorities in Mexico on August 5, 2019, and has been in custody there until he arrived in San Diego on August 2, 2023. He was charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances for purpose of unlawful importation and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Both charges amount to a maximum penalty of 10 years to life in prison and $10 million fine each.

Drug trafficking is a violent crime, said Shelly Howe, DEA Special Agent in-Charge. The alleged actions of Edgar Herrera Pardo demonstrate the devastation that drug trafficking can have on a community. The DEA and its partners at the local, state, and federal level are dedicated to protecting the community from the dangerous actions of people like Herrera Pardo.

The extradition was carried out as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the US using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach, according to the US Department of Justice (DOJ).

US agencies including Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, US Marshals Service, DOJ's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, DOJ's Office of Enforcement Operations, DOJ's Office of International Affairs and San Diego Sheriffs Department were part of the investigation.

US Attorney Randy Grossman said Herrera Pardo and his group of enforcers allegedly unleashed appalling violence on Tijuana on behalf of a powerful drug cartel that is responsible for moving large quantities of illicit drugs into the US.

This extradition shows that those who put American lives at risk through trafficking of dangerous substances will be held responsible, wherever they may be. The Department of Justice appreciates the cooperation of the Mexican authorities in this matter. With the assistance of our law enforcement colleagues at home and around the world, we will aggressively pursue drug traffickers and bring them to justice.
Kolkata, Aug 8 (PTI) Storage battery major Exide Industries Ltd on Tuesday said it expects to regain its pre-covid EBITDA margin of 13-14 per cent in the next one to two years.

The company's current EBITDA margin is 10.6 per cent, as input costs have remained erratic.

"We are seeing a revamp in demand after Covid and expecting both automotive and industrial verticals will do well. However, it will take another one to two years to get back to the pre-covid level of margin," Exide Industries MD and CEO Subir Chakraborty said.

Speaking about the company's Rs 6,000 crore 12GW lithium-ion cell manufacturing plant near Bangalore, Chakraborty said it is progressing well.

He said the company remains unperturbed about the emerging alternative technologies, given the growth of the storage battery market and that all technologies will be required.

Commercial production in the Bangalore plant will begin in 2024-25, attracting an estimated capex of Rs 4,000 crore.

Chakraborty said the company has received very lucrative incentives from the Karnataka government, which ranged between 18 and 20 per cent of the capex. However, the company could not qualify for the PLI scheme.

He also said that the anti-dumping by GCC countries on batteries will have a minor impact on the company. Currently, exports account for 8 per cent of total revenue and the company will explore newer markets to increase it to double digits in the near future.

Exide Industries has applied for regulatory approvals for the merger of its wholly-owned subsidiary Exide Energy Pvt Ltd (EEPL) with Exide Energy Solutions (EESL).

The merger is expected to be completed shortly, officials said.

EEPL has a 1.5GW fully automated lithium-ion battery packs and modules manufacturing plant at Prantij, Gujarat. EESL is the promoter of the lithium cell plant. The company aims to bring the lithium businesses under a single entity.

"We will continue to have the existing facility even after another module and pack facility in the new facility," Chakraborty said.

In the first quarter of the current financial year 2023-24, Exide's performance remained steady with sales growth of 4.2 per cent and EBITDA growth of 11.7 per cent.

"Our automation and cost optimisation initiatives are bearing fruit, thereby supporting enhanced levels of profitability. We will continue with innovations with new cutting-edge technology products," the executive said.
PUNE, India, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MIT Art, Design & Technology University, a trailblazer in fostering holistic education, illuminated the path for its incoming students during the 8th Induction Programme held at the esteemed Swami Vivekananda Mandapam on August 07, 2023.



Distinguished luminaries graced the occasion, exemplifying the convergence of visionary minds in the pursuit of knowledge and excellence. Padma Bhushan Shri Dr. B N. Suresh, an eminent space scientist and Chancellor of the Indian Institute of Space Technology (IIST) in Trivandrum, took center stage as the Chief Guest, casting a radiant light of inspiration on the gathering. Dr. Shailendra Gade, the Guest of Honour, added his distinguished presence as the Director General of Armament and Combat Engineering Systems at DRDO.

The event was presided over by the visionary Prof. Dr. Vishwanath Karad, Founder President of MIT-ADT University. Prof. Dr. Mangesh Karad, the Executive President & Vice Chancellor, along with Prof. Dr. Anant Chakradeo, the Pro Vice Chancellor, Dr. Mahesh Chopade, the Registrar, and Prof. Dr. Sunita Karad, the Director of MIT College of Management, added their esteemed presence, accentuating the university's commitment to academic excellence and holistic development.



The 8th Induction Programme marked the momentous occasion when fresh minds converged to embark on their academic journey within the hallowed halls of MIT-ADT University. The event was an embodiment of the university's values and vision, aiming to mold young minds into future leaders who not only excel in their chosen fields but also contribute to a more harmonious and prosperous world.



Prof. Dr. Anant Chakradeo, Pro Vice Chancellor, delivered a warm welcome to the incoming students, highlighting the rich legacy of MAEER'S MIT Group of Institutions and innovative spirit of MIT-ADT University. Dr. Chakradeo emphasized the institution's pioneering multidisciplinary approach, fostering a diverse range of programs spanning arts, sciences, engineering, and more. He underscored the university's alignment with the National Education Policy and its commitment to holistic student development through initiatives like the School of Holistic Education and the School of Corporate Innovation and Leadership. With an AIC-MITAD Incubator Forum incubation centre for startups and an expansive array of resources, students are poised for versatile success.



Prof. Dr. Mangesh Karad, Executive President & Vice Chancellor, welcomed the incoming students and distinguished guests, shedding light on the institution's impressive accomplishments. Dr. Karad celebrated the achievements of both students and faculty members, spotlighting their outstanding contributions in various fields. He reiterated the university's commitment to fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration, highlighting its mission to become the most sought-after new age university for research, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Dr. Karad's address emphasized the shifting landscape of Indian aspirations, from global employment to driving local entrepreneurship. He highlighted the remarkable surge in startups and the substantial foreign investments pouring into India, underscoring the vital role of educated and innovative youth in shaping the nation's future.



Guest of Honour, Dr. Shailendra Gade, Director General (Armament and Combat Engineering Systems), DRDO, delivered an empowering keynote address Dr. Gade acknowledged the significance of university admissions, highlighting the role of parents and professors in shaping students' dreams and aspirations. Dr. Gade emphasized the theme of self-reliance, invoking India's historical context of striving for independence. He encouraged students to work towards a self-reliant nation, stressing the importance of contributing positively to society and fulfilling national objectives. His keynote address highlighted the essence of pursuing education beyond material gains, focusing on satisfaction and meaningfulness. Dr. Gade urged students to embrace research and contribute to India's progress through innovation. He shared anecdotes from his own educational journey, emphasizing the value of true learning and knowledge.



Chief Guest, Padma Bhushan Shri Dr. B N. Suresh, an eminent space scientist and Chancellor of the Indian Institute of Space Technology (IIST) in Trivandrum, delivered a stirring message to the gathering. He commenced by lauding the students for their choice to be a part of the university, affirming that they had indeed chosen a fertile ground for their education. Dr. Suresh highlighted the pivotal role education and skill development play in shaping a nation's economic trajectory. He underlined that India, endowed with a demographic dividend and a young population, must harness the power of education to foster holistic understanding among its youth. Emphasizing the crucial link between education and national development, he noted that an educated country has the potential to transform into a developed one. He invoked the visionary Hon'ble Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, with whom he had the privilege to work closely for 17 years, and reminisced about Dr. Kalam's dream of propelling India into the realm of developed nations. Drawing parallels between education and technology, Dr. Suresh accentuated their intertwined nature. He lauded India's strides in various scientific domains, including space technology, nuclear energy, and defense manufacturing. He highlighted the nation's achievements in space exploration, with a recent successful mission to place Chandrayaan-3 in lunar orbit. This achievement, he projected, would further elevate India's stature on the global stage. Dr. Suresh's address resonated with a call to nurture curiosity, observational prowess, and innovative thinking. He attributed pivotal scientific discoveries to the insatiable curiosity of great minds like Sir Isaac Newton and CV Raman. He emphasized the symbiotic relationship between science, engineering, and technology, highlighting their roles in generating, harnessing, and commercializing knowledge. He urged students to approach challenges with resilience, considering failures as stepping stones to success and learning opportunities.



Prof. Dr. Vishwanath Karad, the visionary Founder President of MIT-ADT University Pune, delivered a thought-provoking presidential address during the eighth University induction program. He began by expressing his gratitude for the esteemed guests and highlighted the significance of the date, 7th August, as a day to remember. He acknowledged the distinguished guests, including Dr. Shailendra Gade and Padma Bhushan Dr. B N. Suresh, who share close ties with great figures like Vikram Sarabhai and APJ Abdul Kalam, invoking a sense of pride in the audience. Dr. Karad emphasized the university's commitment to nurturing well-rounded individuals with physical fitness, mental alertness, intellectual acumen, and spiritual elevation. He explained the essence of this holistic approach and urged students, parents, and guardians to comprehend the depth of the words "Science" and "Spirituality" in the context of the university's offerings. He recalled the visionary words of Swami Vivekananda, who highlighted the importance of merging science and spirituality to bring harmony and peace to mankind. He emphasized that only through the union of these two domains can true progress and understanding be achieved. Quoting Swami Vivekananda's words from 1897, Dr. Karad drew parallels to India's journey towards freedom and emphasized the power of focused determination. He noted the significance of the year 1947, when India gained independence, as a testament to the impact of unity and purpose.



In closing, Dr. Karad expressed his pride in the students and their potential to bring honour to their families and society. He invoked a sense of purpose, urging students to embrace discipline and character as tools for personal growth and contribution to a harmonious world.



The 8th Induction Programme heralded the beginning of a transformative journey for the incoming students of MIT-ADT University. With a confluence of eminent personalities, visionary leaders, and eager learners, the event set the stage for a future brimming with possibilities, innovation, and positive change.



About MIT-ADT University



MAEER's Trust which is known to set strong precedence for the privatization of Engineering education in Maharashtra had taken a first mover's advantage by establishing the Maharashtra Institute of Technology (MIT-Pune), in 1983, which continues to remain the flagship institute of the group.



MIT Art, Design and Technology University, Pune has been established under the MIT Art, Design and Technology University Act, 2015 (Maharashtra Act No. XXXIX of 2015). The University commenced its operations successfully from 27th June 2016. The University is a self-financed institution and empowered to award the degrees under section 22 of the University Grants Commission act, 1956. The University has a unique blend of Art, Design, and Technology as the core of its academics.



Recently, MIT Art, Design and Technology University, Pune has accomplished the following accolades:



1. Ranked in Band Excellent for ARIIA 2021 by the Ministry of Education, Govt. of India.



2. Received 5 Star rating for exemplary performance by the Ministry of Education's Innovation Council, Govt. of India.



3. Conferred with Best University Campus Award by ASSOCHAM, New Delhi



4. Granted with Atal Incubation Centre under ATAL Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, Govt. of India



MIT Art, Design and Technology University has been taking a holistic approach towards imparting education wherein the students are being motivated to build a complete winning personality which is 'physically fit, intellectually sharp, mentally alert and spiritually elevated'. The students are being encouraged to participate in yoga, meditation, physical training, spiritual elevation, communication skills, and other personality development programmes. Currently, we have 10,000+ students studying in various schools of higher education under the University viz. Engineering and Technology, Food Technology, Bioengineering, Arts, Design, Marine Engineering, Journalism and Broadcasting, Film and Television, Music (Hindustani Classical Vocal and Instrumental), Teacher Education, and Vedic Sciences.



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(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

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Mumbai, Aug 8 (PTI) Kolkata-based biscuits maker SAJ Food Products with its flagship brand Bisk Farm aims to have Rs 5,000 crore revenues by FY29 when it may also look at going public, according to a top company official.

The company nets almost 80 per cent of its sales from the Eastern market and is also expanding its operations.

SAJ Food is building a Rs 100 crore-plant in Guwahati with a monthly production capacity of 10,000 tonnes, taking its installed capacity to 3 lakh tonnes per annum, the company's Managing Director Vijay Singh told PTI here on Tuesday.

The company closed FY23 with a top line of Rs 2,100 crore from which it earned Rs 200 crore in net income.

"We have been growing at a compounded 15 per cent since 2020 when we had Rs 1,200 crore revenue. This makes us the fastest growing brand in the category. We grew 20 per cent in FY23 to clock a top line of Rs 2,100 crore and earn a net income of Rs 200 crore," Singh said.

Though currently rural demand is almost stagnant, as there is a wage distress in the hinterland markets, Singh said, "we hope to grow better with our geographical expansion away from our key market of the Eastern states from where we fetch almost 80 per cent of sales now".

"With this in mind, we have set a target of growing our revenue to Rs 5,000 crore by FY29 by when we also hope to take the company public," Singh said.

SAJ Food, founded by a Bengali entrepreneur Krishnadas Paul in 2000 when he was 60 and passed away in 2020 during the first wave of the pandemic, is now being run by his son Arpan Paul, who is the Executive Chairman and son-in-law Vijay Singh who is the Managing Director.

While primarily into biscuits, the company also has a snacks portfolio apart from cakes, cookies and rusk.

The company has six plants -- four in West Bengal (two in Siliguri and one each in Uluberia and Dhulagarh); Nagpur in Maharashtra and Bengaluru in Karnataka -- with an annual capacity of 1.80 lakh tonnes.

It is also building the seventh plant in the Assam capital of Guwahati at an investment of Rs 100 crore for a 1.2 lakh tonnes annual output. The Rs 100 crore- Bengaluru plant was commissioned in March 2022.

Its namkeen and sweets category is branded as Indiaah.

Even though it exports to the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia, Singh said the focus is the domestic market which is too large to be exhausted in the near term. In FY23 it earned Rs 50 crore from exports.
Colombo, Aug 8 (PTI) Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Tuesday briefed the Cabinet on intelligence reports warning of attempts by certain groups to create public unrest of the type that had happened on May 9 last year.

The Cabinet spokesman and minister Bandula Gunawardena said the water crisis for cultivation caused by the ongoing drought was used by opposition groups to create problems in the cash-strapped country.

The farmers in the southwestern region of Udawalawe have been protesting for weeks demanding water for cultivation from the Samanalawewa reservoir -- a dedicated reservoir to produce hydropower.

The officials have been reluctant to release water from the reservoir, saying it could cause daily electricity cuts.

There were attempts to surround the house of Agricultural Minister Mahinda Amaraweera while special protection had to be provided to the house of Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara," Gunawardena said.

Gunawardena said the intelligence reports suggested that at least two media institutions were behind the move to incite street violence using the drought-induced water crisis.

They had planned to organise May 9-like street protests with agitated farmers, causing a gunfire retaliation from the law enforcement and then using dead bodies to meet political ends," Gunawardena said.

In the May 9 incident last year, the then prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa was forced to resign as violence erupted across the island nation after government supporters attacked peaceful protesters agitating over the then governments inability to tackle the economic crisis which caused severe public hardships.

The farmer agitation ended on Tuesday morning with the cabinet decision to release the Samanalawewa hydropower reservoir water for farming purposes.

The energy minister informed Parliament on Tuesday the state power entity would be forced to make emergency power supplies at a higher cost to ensure uninterrupted power supplies.
Bengaluru, Aug 8 (PTI) State-run Bharat Electronics Limited has set a target of Rs 20,300 crore for financial year 2023-24 as demand for indigenous products is driving growth for the company, its Chairman and Managing Director Bhanu Prakash Srivastava said on Tuesday.

In an interview with PTI here, he said the order book of the 'Navratna' PSU under the Ministry of Defence stands at around Rs 64,800 crore as on August 1 this year.

The Bengaluru-headquartered company has plans to start marketing offices in Brazil, Armenia and Kazakhstan, Srivastava said.

He said export sales target for 2023-24 is USD 90 million.

BEL achieved a turnover of about Rs 17,300 crore in the previous financial year, a 15 per cent growth.

Srivastava pointed out that defence business in any country is closely linked to government policies that are based on factors like the geopolitical scenario, security threats and economic growth of the nation.

The Government of India, he noted, is focussing on self-reliance to encourage domestic industry and has imposed restrictions on import of certain category of defence equipment.

"This will enhance the demand for indigenous products and services in the near future," he said. "BEL being a leading indigenous solution provider in defence sector will have more opportunities in the coming years and this will drive the growth of the company".

In order to increase indigenisation and value addition, BEL, a technology-oriented company, has been investing approximately six to seven per cent of its turnover in research and development.

Constant efforts in indigenous development has led to achieving about 70 to 80 per cent of turnover from indigenous products, he said.

BEL, Srivastava said, is giving increased thrust to harnessing the export potential of its defence and non-defence products that represent its core areas of business.

"BEL has broadened its footprints into multiple geographic locations by opening overseas marketing offices in Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Oman, the United States, Singapore, Nigeria and plans to start marketing offices in Brazil, Armenia and Kazakhstan," he said.

Also, capex investments like infrastructure and facility, along with strategic alliances with niche companies, including startups and MSMEs, are also some of the key factors driving the growth of BEL, according to him.

The major orders expected by BEL during 2023-24 are: 'Buyer Nominated Equipment for Ships', 'Long Term Electronic Fuzes for Ammunition', Radars, Tank Upgrade products and Electronic Warfare Systems for Ships, he said.

According to him, the defence segment continues to be BEL's main business and provides about 85 per cent of revenues.

Segments like radar and missile systems, communication and network centric systems, anti-submarine warfare and sonar systems, tank electronics, gun upgrades, electro optic systems and electronic warfare and avionics systems would continue to drive the company's growth in the coming years.

In non-defence, EVMs, homeland security, Smart City projects are existing business opportunities for BEL.

Srivastava said BEL has been putting continuous efforts and focus to enter and address several new areas in both defence and non-defence for further expanding its business in new markets for sustainable growth.

Some of the areas being focussed upon in defence include missile systems, seekers, arms and ammunition, unmanned systems, airborne radars, next-gen solutions for night vision devices, Inertial Navigation Systems (INS), directed energy weapons, countermeasure systems for air platforms, avionics systems for next-gen aircraft/helicopters, software as a service, network and cybersecurity.

Some of the areas being focussed in the non-defence include: solutions for civil aviation sector, anti-drone systems, space/satellite electronics, space launch vehicles, satellite communication services, solar business, railway and metro solutions, homeland security, smart meters, medical electronics and healthcare solutions.
Chandigarh, Aug 8 (PTI) Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala on Tuesday said farmers whose crops were damaged in the recent floods will receive compensation in their bank accounts by September 7.

The Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) leader said compensation will be given after assessing the damage to crops in the recent floods.

Due to erosion of land, crops have not only been damaged, but also a large amount of silt has accumulated in their fields at some places, he said.

"In the interest of such affected farmers, the state government is preparing a new policy, under which the silt/sand collected in the farmer's field will be auctioned, in which one-third of the amount received up to Rs 10 lakh will be given to the farmer and two-thirds will be deposited in the government's account," he said.

This policy will benefit both the farmer and the government, he said, adding that Haryana will be the first state in the country to implement this policy.

Chautala said crops in about 4.08 lakh acres have been affected due to floods in the state. "If a farmer has not yet uploaded the report on his crop damage on the e-Kshatipurti portal yet, then it must be done by August 18," he said.

He further said once the reports are received, they will be assessed and by September 7, the compensation amount will be transferred to the bank accounts of the affected farmers.

Chautala said 475 houses were completely damaged in the state, of which claims for 108 houses have been settled.

He said more than 1,324 roads have been damaged in Haryana and losses are expected to be around Rs 338 crore.

Chautala, who holds the portfolio of revenue and disaster management, said 47 people have lost their lives in various rain-related incidents and Rs 1.6 crore has been provided to the next of kin of 40 deceased so far. The assistance amount will be transferred to the kin of other deceased soon, he said.

The deputy chief minister, who also holds the excise and taxation portfolio, said between April and July, collections for Goods and Services Tax (GST), Value-Added Tax (VAT) and excise duties stood at Rs 23,108 crore, as against Rs 19,133 crore during the corresponding period of the last year, registering an increase of 20.8 per cent.

Meanwhile, on the Opposition's allegations that at least 41 of 100 questions in two papers -- one on Saturday for 'Group 56' and another on Sunday for 'Group 57' for the Common Eligibility Test (CET) -- for recruitment to Group C and D posts in Haryana being found to be same, he said he will discuss the matter with the Chief Minister and urge that this be viewed seriously.

"The paper setters are different, still questions were similar. This is a matter of concern," he said.

He further said the intentions of the state government regarding holding exams and recruiting youth are clean and clear. "We want to clear the backlog, make appointments and fill vacant posts," the JJP leader said.

"Similar questions raise a particular view regarding the Haryana staff selection commission," he said, adding that the commission should increase its efficiency and should not let such an incident take place again.
New Delhi, Aug 8 (PTI) Vocalist V, a member of the South Korean music sensation BTS, is coming up with his solo album 'Layover' which will release on September 8.

BTS management agency BigHit Music made the announcement on the fan community forum Weverse on Tuesday.

"We are excited to share more details about the release of BTS member V's solo album 'Layover'," the agency said in a statement.

'Layover' consists of six tracks in total - five tracks and a bonus track, namely: "Rainy Days", "Blue", "Love Me Again", "Slow Dancing", "For Us", and "Slow Dancing (Piano Ver)."

The announcement comes a day after BigHit Music said BTS' Suga has started the military enlistment process, making him the third member of the South Korean music septet to fulfil his mandatory duty.
New Delhi, Aug 8 (PTI) "She's amazing, we hit it from the get go," says Hollywood star Gal Gadot, describing her bond with actor Alia Bhatt on the sets of their upcoming action-thriller "Heart of Stone".

Gadot, who has also produced the movie, said she found that they both share a lot during her interactions with the Indian star, who makes her Hollywood debut with the Netflix film.

"She's amazing, we hit it from the get go. I think we share so much in common for the fact that I'm from Israel and she's from India. We're both now making this film that is global and American.

"And we're both very dedicated and hard workers in what we do, but we also are very family oriented... It was like the smoothest getting into a relationship I've had," Gadot told PTI in a group interview.

"Heart of Stone" follows Gadot's Rachel Stone, a member of an elusive and mysterious group of elite spies called the Charter.

When the shadowy organisation's cutting-edge weapon, an AI-esque technological core called the Heart, is stolen by hacker Keya Dhawan (Bhatt), Stone embarks on a globetrotting adventure to prevent the weapon from falling into the wrong hands and saving the day.

Gadot said she enjoyed exploring the complex dynamic between the two main characters in the Tom Harper directorial that pits the two actors against each other.

"Once you have a partner that you can trust, you enjoy the push and pull between the characters, it gives you a fight that has a weight. And you know that she's not faking and she's affected in the right way from me and vice versa.

"It's just delicious. It's a delightful way to work. And I definitely had that with Alia," she added.

The 38-year-old actor, most famous for her role of superhero Diana Prince aka Wonder Woman in many DC-Warner Bros movies, described her "Heart of Stone" character as a person of "many contradictions".

"I enjoyed playing this character so much. She's a character of many contradictions. On one hand, she thrives on adrenaline. She likes the mission. She's an incredible secret agent.

"But at the same time, she's a loose cannon. She's having a hard time working within the system and following the rules. She's wild and she's not allowed to engage with people. And one thing she really wants is to engage with people and have these human connections in her life."

Gadot said she's a lot like Stone in real life.

"I think that the thing that really guided her was her instincts and the fact that she needs to follow her heart, literally, and listen to her guts. And that's something I try to do in my own life as well," she added.

In the film, the cornerstone of the Charter is its cutting-edge weapon called the Heart, a powerful AI which the organisation uses to tackle potential global threats and even find out the odds on the success in neutralising them.

The AI keeps track of people's entire online history, thus empowering it to even predict the future.

Hollywood is no stranger to the theme of artificial intelligence and how it has the ability to change the course of the world.

The genre is populated by films like "Terminator" franchise, Steven Spielberg's "A.I. Artificial Intelligence", Will Smith's "I, Robot", Keanu Reeves-led "The Matrix" series and even lower-budget films like "Ex Machina" and "Her".

But with the discourse around AI now hitting the headlines on a day-to-day basis, "Heart of Stone", just like Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise's latest "Mission: Impossible" film "Dead Reckoning Part One", feels timely.

And even Gadot agrees.

"When we started to conceptualize the film, we spoke to professional people that come from this industry and what makes sense for the Charter and what makes sense for the heart and how it operates and what's real and what's not and how it should look like.

"And we knew that everyone was talking about AI for the past many years, but we never anticipated that once the movie is going to come out, it's going to be the hottest subject," the actor said.

On a personal level, Gadot is fascinated and curious about AI and its potential but the actor said she is also afraid of it.

"When you hear people like the CEO of ChatGPT talking about the need for regulations and how responsible we have to be with it, we really need to take this seriously sooner rather than later," she added.

"Heart of Stone", which also stars Jamie Dornan, Sophie Okonedo and Matthias Schweighofer, will debut on Netflix on Friday.

The film has a screenplay by Greg Rucka and Allison Schroeder, and is produced by Gadot, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, Jaron Varsano, Bonnie Curtis and Julie Lynn.
London, Aug 8 (PTI) An Indian-origin police officer who pleaded guilty to causing the death by dangerous driving of a woman has been sentenced to three years imprisonment and disqualified from driving for over four years by a UK court.

Police Constable (PC) Nadeem Patel, 28, had been behind the wheel of the marked police patrol car responding to an emergency 999 call when it hit 25-year-old Shante Daniel-Folkes in June 2021.

The victims injuries proved immediately fatal. Fellow officer PC Gary Thomson, 31, who was driving a police car ahead of Patels vehicle, was convicted of careless driving by a jury at the Old Bailey court in London following a four-day trial on Monday.

Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Shante Daniel-Folkes following this avoidable tragedy, said Rosemary Ainslie, head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Special Crime Division.

PC Patel admitted causing the death of Ms Daniel-Folkes by driving dangerously and I hope his sentence, along with todays verdict for PC Thomson, offers some comfort to her family at this extremely difficult time, she said.

The CPS said both officers, although not bound by the 30mph speed limit in force in the area while responding to an emergency call, were driving at motorway speeds in a built-up urban area, with a number of potential hazards in the vicinity.

These included pedestrians, cyclists, and cars travelling in the other direction, as well as an open convenience store directly at the scene and a nearby pub in which 30-40 customers were present for a quiz night. There was an obvious risk of injury to a person from vehicles travelling at that speed in the dark, and both officers fell below the expected standard of a competent and careful driver that evening, added Ainslie.

The court heard that Daniel-Folkes was walking across the road around 11:20 pm close to a pedestrian crossing when Thomsons vehicle passed her with its emergency lights and siren activated.

Around three to four seconds later, Daniel-Folkes continued to cross and was struck by Patels vehicle. He had earlier switched off his front emergency lights to avoid affecting Thomsons vision in the lead vehicle but did have his siren activated.

The CPS said Patel reached a peak speed of 83.9 mph on Stockwell Road just 115 metres from the cars final stopping point. The car was travelling around 55mph at the time of the collision after Patel braked for two seconds from a speed of more than 81mph.

The vehicle being driven by Thomson also passed Daniel-Folkes at speeds between 70-79mph, and the prosecution was able to prove that he also drove at an excessive speed for a significant distance.

At the end of the trial this week, Thomson was convicted of careless driving but acquitted of dangerous driving and fined GBP 500 and awarded five penalty points on his driving licence. Patel is banned from driving for 54 months starting February this year.
The Ukrainian armed forces have managed to build on their successes after breaking through the occupants' first line of defense in some parts of the south. But information about the advance is being provided to civilian Ukrainians in a metered manner in order to preserve the lives of our defenders.

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This was stated by the head of the Joint Coordination Press Center of the Southern Defense Forces Natalia Gumenyuk on the air of the telethon. She emphasized that the liberation of territories is a rather difficult job for the military.

Gumenyuk called the current counteroffensive actions of the AFU on the southern front line only the first stage, when the defense line is broken through. After that, Ukrainian units need to entrench themselves in those areas and create security for the twin forces that made that breakthrough.

"Therefore, the news here may be a bit slow," explained the OC South representative when asked whether the AFU managed to develop successes after the breakthrough of the first enemy defense line in some areas.

At the same time, she once again emphasized that one must remember: behind this is a lot of hard work of the defenders.

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"Advancement is underway, but it is reported in a metered manner to save their lives," she emphasized.

According to the AFU General Staff as of the morning of August 8, the defenders continue to conduct an offensive operation in the Melitopol and Berdyansk directions, where they are consolidating on the achieved borders and implementing counter-battery measures.

Brigadier General Oleksandr Tarnavskiy, commander of the Tavria operational-strategic grouping of troops, said that the previous day the Defense Forces had advanced in the Tauride direction of the front, eliminating 46 occupants and 28 units of enemy equipment.

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While the hottest direction of the front is now Kupyansk - in the east of the country, where the occupants are trying to regain the positions lost in the fall of last year.

As reported by OBOZREVATEL, Deputy Defense Minister Anna Malyar summarized the results of the counteroffensive of the AFU for the past week, noting that in the south the defenders won tactical successes near Robotine. According to her, in the east, the enemy fired about 500 thousand rounds of ammunition at the Ukrainian troops and tried to attack in Donetschyna, Luhansk and Kharkiv regions.

Only verified information from us in Telegram-channel Obozrevatel, Threads and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Lahore, Aug 8 (PTI) The minarets of a worship place of the minority Ahmadi community were demolished by radical Islamists in Punjab province of Pakistan, police said on Tuesday.

The minarets of the Ahmadi worship place in Chak 168 Murad of Bahawalnagar district, some 400 kilometres from here, were demolished by unknown suspects on Monday, the police said.

Activists of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) were suspected to be involved in the incident, police said.

Ahmadis are usually referred to as Qadianis in Pakistan, which is considered a derogatory term for them.

Pakistans Parliament in 1974 declared the Ahmadi community as non-Muslims. A decade later, they were banned from calling themselves Muslims. They are banned from preaching and from travelling to Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage.

The TLP has been active in demolishing minarets of Ahmadi worship places across Punjab province.

Last month, the TLP men demolished the minarets of the Ahmadi worship place in the Jhelum district of Punjab.

The TLP first gives a warning to the police to either demolish the minarets of the worship places of Ahmadis or they would do it by themselves.

"The situation is becoming worse day by day for the already marginalised Ahmadis in Pakistan. Despite requesting police to protect our worship place in Bahawalnagar they did not act," Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Pakistan Punjab official Amir Mahmood told PTI on Tuesday.

He said the minority community continued to face persecution at the hands of the evil elements.

"The acts of desecrating the minarets of the places of worship in various areas of Pakistan especially Punjab continue unabated. It is a new norm and the authorities are doing nothing," he said, adding the government and the law enforcement agencies were partisan against the Ahmadis and instead of safeguarding their worship places they allowed its desecration.

Although the number of Ahmadis in Pakistan is around a million, unofficial figures put their population much higher.

In Pakistan, around 10 million out of the 220 million population are non-Muslims. The minorities in conservative Muslim-majority Pakistan often complain of harassment by the extremists.
Johannesburg, Aug 8 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the next BRICS Summit to be held here in-person from August 22, the South African government has said, dismissing some media reports as "rumours" that the Indian leader will not take part in the meeting of the five-nation grouping.

The BRICS bloc - comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - brings together five of the largest developing countries of the world, representing 41 per cent of the global population, 24 per cent of the global GDP and 16 per cent of the global trade.

Briefing the media on South Africa's preparations for the 15th edition of the summit, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor told journalists on Monday that the leaders of Brazil, China, India and host South Africa will participate in a range of discussions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will participate virtually, due to an ICC warrant which would have obliged South Africa to arrest him if he came in person.

I did speak to various colleagues in government and outside, and everybody was astounded by this rumour. I think that someone who is trying to spoil our summit is creating all sorts of stories that suggest that it wont be successful, Pandor said as she confirmed Modis attendance.

The Prime Minister of India has never said that he is not attending the summit. I am in constant contact with foreign minister Jaishankar. He has never said that. Our sherpas are in touch and they have never said it. So, we have all been trying to look for this needle in a haystack that began this rumour, Pandor said.

The Ministry of External Affairs said in New Delhi last week that Prime Minister Modi will be visiting Johannesburg to attend the BRICS Summit.

"President (Cyril) Ramaphosa invited PM for the BRICS Summit being hosted by South Africa on August 22-24, 2023 and briefed him on the preparations for the same. PM accepted the invitation and conveyed that he looked forward to his visit to Johannesburg to participate in the Summit," the MEA said in a press release on August 3 after the two leaders held a telephone conversation.

Reacting to a question on whether Modi had agreed to come after a phone call by President Ramaphosa, Pandor said the phone call had been in the planning for some time already for Ramaphosa to brief Modi on a number of issues as they developed.

The phone call was on our agenda. It had nothing to do with this rumour of non-attendance (by Modi), she said.

Pandor highlighted a wide range of activities which will take place during the Summit.

The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition and the BRICS Business Council will be hosting a content-rich BRICS Business programme from August 19 to 23; an event that seeks to foster economic growth, collaboration, attracting investment, and showcase opportunities within South Africa, Africa (as a continent) and all the BRICS countries, the minister said.

All Business Councils from the BRICS countries are expected to bring large delegations to participate in sector-focused visits to various South African areas.

Pandor said BRICS leaders are expected to discuss the opportunities for realising the full potential of BRICS for inclusive global recovery and sustainable development.

The leaders national statements at the plenary will be followed by reports of the president of the New Development Bank (NDB)as well as the South African chair of the BRICS Business Alliance and the BRICS Womens Business Alliance, which will be reporting in person to the BRICS leaders for the first time, Pandor said.

The minister explained how the NDB was established in 2015 to play a catalytic role in providing financial support to emerging markets and developing countries for infrastructure and sustainable development.

In late 2021, the Bank welcomed Bangladesh, Egypt, the UAE and Uruguay as new members, firmly positioning the Bank as a preferred global financing mechanism for emerging markets and developing countries, Pandor said.

The minister said it was important to remember that BRICS countries are at the centre of global recovery.

One of the stated objectives of BRICS membership is to leverage the political and economic relations as BRICS members to address the triple challenges of inequality, poverty and unemployment through increased intra-BRICS trade, investment, tourism, capacity-building, skills and technology transfer, Pandor said.
*Prime Minister Modi to attend BRICS Summit in South Africa: Foreign Minister Pandor

US raised human rights concerns with India in past and will do so in future: Official



US lawmakers to participate in Red Fort address of PM Modi on Indias Independence Day

House Resolution to declare August 15 as National Day of Celebration of world's two largest democracies introduced



Stories on political developments in Pakistan. *
Copenhagen, Aug 8 (AP) Now that July's sizzling numbers are all in, the European climate monitoring organisation made it official: July 2023 was Earth's hottest month on record by a wide margin.

July's global average temperature of 16.95 degrees Celsius (62.51 degrees Fahrenheit) was a third of a degree Celsius (six tenths of a degree Fahrenheit) higher than the previous record set in 2019, Copernicus Climate Change Service, a division of the European Union's space programme, announced Tuesday.

Normally global temperature records are broken by hundredths or a tenth of a degree, so this margin is unusual.

These records have dire consequences for both people and the planet exposed to ever more frequent and intense extreme events," said Copernicus deputy director Samantha Burgess. There have been deadly heat waves in the Southwestern United States and Mexico, Europe and Asia. Scientific quick studies put the blame on human-caused climate change from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas.

Days in July have been hotter than previously recorded from July 2 onwards. It's been so extra warm that Copernicus and the World Meteorological Organisation made the unusual early announcement that it was likely the hottest month days before it ended. Tuesday's calculations made it official.

The month was 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than pre-industrial times. In 2015, the nations of the world agreed to try to prevent long-term warming  not individual months or even years, but decades  that is 1.5 degrees warmer than pre-industrial times.

Last month was so hot, it was .7 degrees Celsius (1.3 degrees Fahrenheit) hotter than the average July from 1991 to 2020, Copernicus said. The worlds oceans were half a degree Celsius (0.9 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than the previous 30 years and the North Atlantic was 1.05 degrees Celsius (1.9 degrees Fahrenheit) hotter than average. Antarctica set record lows for sea ice, 15% below average for this time of year.

Copernicus' records go back to 1940. That temperature would be hotter than any month the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has recorded and their records go back to 1850. But scientists say it's actually the hottest in a far longer time period.

It's a stunning record and makes it quite clearly the warmest month on Earth in ten thousand years, said Stefan Rahmstorf, a climate scientist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Research in Germany. He wasn't part of the Copernicus team.

Rahmstorf cited studies that use tree rings and other proxies that show present times are the warmest since the beginning of the Holocene Epoch, about 10,000 years ago. And before the Holocene started there was an ice age, so it would be logical to even say this is the warmest record for 120,000 years, he said.

We should not care about July because it's a record, but because it won't be a record for long, said Imperial College of London climate scientist Friederike Otto. It's an indicator of how much we have changed the climate. We are living in a very different world, one that our societies are not adapted to live in very well. (AP) SCY

SCY
Brussels, Aug 8 (AP) Now that July's sizzling numbers are all in, the European climate monitoring organisation made it official: July 2023 was Earth's hottest month on record by a wide margin.

July's global average temperature of 16.95 degrees Celsius (62.51 degrees Fahrenheit) was a third of a degree Celsius (six tenths of a degree Fahrenheit) higher than the previous record set in 2019, Copernicus Climate Change Service, a division of the European Union's space programme, announced Tuesday.

Normally global temperature records are broken by hundredths or a tenth of a degree, so this margin is unusual.

These records have dire consequences for both people and the planet exposed to ever more frequent and intense extreme events," said Copernicus deputy director Samantha Burgess.

There have been deadly heat waves in the Southwestern United States and Mexico, Europe and Asia. Scientific quick studies put the blame on human-caused climate change from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas.

Days in July have been hotter than previously recorded from July 2 on. It's been so extra warm that Copernicus and the World Meteorological Organisation made the unusual early announcement that it was likely the hottest month days before it ended. Tuesday's calculations made it official.

The month was 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than pre-industrial times. In 2015, the nations of the world agreed to try to prevent long-term warming  not individual months or even years, but decades  that is 1.5 degrees warmer than pre-industrial times.

Last month was so hot, it was .7 degrees Celsius (1.3 degrees Fahrenheit) hotter than the average July from 1991 to 2020, Copernicus said.

The worlds oceans were half a degree Celsius (0.9 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than the previous 30 years and the North Atlantic was 1.05 degrees Celsius (1.9 degrees Fahrenheit) hotter than average. Antarctica set record lows for sea ice, 15 per cent below average for this time of year.

Copernicus' records go back to 1940. That temperature would be hotter than any month the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has recorded and their records go back to 1850. But scientists say it's actually the hottest in a far longer time period.

It's a stunning record and makes it quite clearly the warmest month on Earth in ten thousand years, said Stefan Rahmstorf, a climate scientist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Research in Germany. He wasn't part of the Copernicus team.

Rahmstorf cited studies that use tree rings and other proxies that show present times are the warmest since the beginning of the Holocene Epoch, about 10,000 years ago. And before the Holocene started there was an ice age, so it would be logical to even say this is the warmest record for 120,000 years, he said.

We should not care about July because it's a record, but because it won't be a record for long, said Imperial College of London climate scientist Friederike Otto. It's an indicator of how much we have changed the climate. We are living in a very different world, one that our societies are not adapted to live in very well. (AP)



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(Eds: Updates with 81 injured, missiles used, details of dead and injured, Russian tactic, police chief's quote on rescue workers being targeted, other attacks.)

Kyiv, Aug 8 (AP) The death toll from two Russian missile strikes that hit apartment blocks and other buildings in an eastern Ukrainian city climbed to seven, with 81 people injured, authorities said Tuesday, as officials accused the Kremlin's forces of targeting rescue workers.

Two Russian missiles slammed into the downtown area of Pokrovsk, in the eastern Donetsk region that is partially occupied by Russia, on Monday evening, officials said.

The dead were five civilians, one rescuer and one soldier, Donetsk Gov Pavlo Kyrylenko said. The wounded were 39 civilians, including two children; 31 police officers; seven emergency workers; and four soldiers.

The Iskander missiles, which have an advanced guidance system that increases their accuracy, hit within 40 minutes of each other, according to Kyrylenko.

Russia has since the start of the war aimed artillery and missiles at the exact same spot it struck around 30 minutes earlier, often hitting emergency workers who had deployed at the scene. It's a tactic, called a double tap in military jargon, that the Russians also used in Syria's civil war.

All of (the police) were there because they were needed, putting their efforts into rescuing people after the first strike, Ivan Vyhivskyi, chief of Ukraine's National Police, said Tuesday. They knew that under the rubble were the injured - they needed to react, to dig, to retrieve, to save. And the enemy deliberately struck the second time.

Kyrylenko said that 12 multi-story buildings were damaged as well as a hotel, a pharmacy, two stores and two cafes.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Moscow of trying to leave nothing but broken and scorched stones in eastern Ukraine.

Russian missiles, drones and artillery have repeatedly struck civilian areas in the war. The Kremlin says its forces target only military assets and claim other damage is caused by debris from Ukrainian air defense weapons. Neither side's claims can be independently verified.

Meanwhile, an overnight attack on the town of Kruhliakivka, in the northeastern Kharkiv region, killed two people and injured nine others, Gov Oleh Syniehubov said.

Russia also dropped four guided bombs on a village near Kupiansk, in the Kharkiv region, killing two civilians, Ukraine's presidential office said.

Rescuers later came under fire and two of them were injured, it said. (AP) SCY

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Colombo, Aug 8 (PTI) The Sri Lankan Navy has held 10 Indian fishermen and seized their trawler for allegedly poaching in the country's territorial waters, officials here said, in the third such incident in a month.

The fishermen were apprehended on August 7 off Alampil in Mullaitivu, the Sri Lanka Navy said in a press release on Monday. The detained fishermen are from Tamil Nadu.

The Navy said on Monday that it conducted a special operation to chase away a cluster of Indian trawlers, after having spotted they were engaging in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters off Alampil in Mullaitivu.

The operation led to the seizure of an Indian trawler "that continued to remain in island waters, with 10 Indian fishers aboard", it said.

The poaching trawler together with the 10 fishermen was brought to the port of Trincomalee and they will be handed over to the Assistant Directorate of Fisheries-Trincomalee through the Sri Lanka Coast Guard, for onward legal proceedings, the release said.

The Lankan Navy, which conducts regular patrols and operations in the island's waters to curb illegal fishing practices by foreign fishing trawlers, has seized 14 Indian poaching trawlers and apprehended 93 Indian fishermen so far in 2023, it said.

Earlier on the night of July 24, the Lankan Navy arrested nine Indian fishermen and seized two trawlers for allegedly poaching in the country's territorial waters off the Delft Island in Jaffna.

In a similar incident on July 8, the Navy held 15 Indian fishermen on board two trawlers for allegedly poaching in the same area. They were released later and on July 27, the fishermen arrived at Chennai from Colombo.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday requested External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to intervene to secure the immediate release and repatriation of 19 Tamil Nadu fishermen who are in the custody of Sri Lankan authorities.

The fishermen issue is a contentious one in the ties between India and Sri Lanka, with the Lankan Navy personnel even firing at Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait and seizing their boats in several alleged incidents of illegally entering Sri Lankans territorial waters.

The Palk Strait, which is a narrow strip of water separating Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka, is a rich fishing ground for fishermen from both countries.

There have been periodic instances of Indian fishermen being apprehended by Sri Lankan authorities for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line and fishing in Sri Lankan waters.

Illegal fishing in the Sri Lankan waters by Indian fishermen has been a recurrent problem despite many high-level talks held between the two sides.
Washington, Aug 8 (AP) US regulators are warning airlines to limit the use of an anti-icing system on Boeing 737 Max jets in dry air to avoid overheating engine-housing parts, which could cause them to break away from the plane.

The Federal Aviation Administration says the risk to the flying public is serious enough that it will put the order into effect in just 15 days, and without allowing public comment first.

The FAA said if the engine inlet gets too hot, parts of the housing could come off and strike a window, causing decompression and a hazard to passengers in window seats.

The finding affects LEAP-1B engines used on all versions of the Max. The engines are made by CFM International, a joint venture between General Electric and France's Safran.

In 2018, a Southwest Airlines passenger died after part of the engine housing on an older version of Boeing's 737 jet flew off and broke the window next to her seat. That engine failure started with a broken fan blade.

The FAA said there have been no reports of the overheating problem occurring on Max flights. It said the potential for damage was discovered during flight testing and analysis in June.

Boeing said overheating of the inlets  which are made by Boeing, not CFM  can only happen under very specific" conditions and wasn't known until recently.

Boeing has identified measures to mitigate the potential issue and (is) working with our customers to deploy those measures while a permanent fix is developed, the company said in a statement.

The problem highlighted by the FAA involves something called engine anti-ice, in which hot air from the engine is used to heat the housing and prevent the formation of ice that could be sucked into the engines.

The FAA is dictating that flight manuals tell pilots and airlines not to use engine anti-ice in dry air for more than five minutes. Otherwise, the FAA said, during certain combinations of altitude, total air temperature and engine settings, the engine inlet inner barrel could be heated beyond its design limit. That could cause the inlet barrel to fail and damage a piece of housing called the inlet cowl.

If parts break off from engine housing, it could not only break a window but might hit other key parts of the plane, causing pilots to lose control, the FAA said.

The FAA indicated it will publish the rule in the Federal Register on Thursday.

Two Boeing Max jets crashed in 2018 and 2019, killing 346 people. Investigations focused on an automated flight-control system that pushed the nose of the plane down based on faulty sensor readings. Boeing did not tell pilots and airlines about the system until after the first crash. (AP) PY

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Islamabad, Aug 8 (PTI) Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is likely to step down on Wednesday as the coalition government led by him is all set to dissolve Pakistan's National Assembly prematurely to get extra time for holding the general elections scheduled for later this year.

The five-year tenure of the lower house of the Parliament is ending on August 12 but it is likely to be dissolved on August 9 by Prime Minister Sharif who will send an advice to President Arif Alvi, a former leader of Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party. In case the president dithers, the assembly would be dissolved within 48 hours of advice given by the premier.

In an indication that Sharif would relinquish premiership, he made a farewell visit to the General Headquarters of the Pakistan Army in Rawalpindi.

Prime Minister Sharif paid his farewell visit to the General Headquarters (GHQ) on Tuesday, marking an important moment in his tenure as the head of the government, The Express Tribune newspaper reported.

The prime minister was warmly welcomed by Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir as the visit was replete with moving ceremonies and tributes to the nation's fallen heroes.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led coalition government would have liked to remain in power for a couple of more days and dissolved the Parliament on August 11 but it has a hunch that President Alvi might refuse to issue a notification immediately for the dissolution, political observers opine.

That is why the advice for dissolution is being given three days before the end of the assembly so that even if the president refuses to oblige the prime minister, the assembly would be dissolved before the end of its term, giving the Election Commission of Pakistan 90 days for elections.

In case the assembly completes its constitutional term, the ECP is bound to hold an election within 60 days. But even 90 days may not be enough for election as the new census has been endorsed by the Council of Common Interests, a constitutional body tasked to address issues involving the federating units, and after its approval, it is incumbent on the ECP to hold elections according to it.

Any new census entails a new delimitation exercise for which the ECP gets 120 days as per law. Once it completes the exercise, the process of elections would start, meaning that the polls would be delayed by a few months.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said that there is a possibility of a delay in holding the next general elections.

In an interview with Geo News on Tuesday, the minister said 2023 is not the election year.

"It is an absolutely straightforward answer - no," Sanaullah said when asked if 2023 was the year when elections would be held.

He reiterated that as per the Constitution, another general election could not be held on the 2017 census results as they had been accepted provisionally for a single time.

Emphasising that it was required by the Constitution to carry out the delimitation process after a census was notified, Sanaullah said, The caretaker government, while fulfilling this constitutional requirement, will carry out the delimitation process.

The minister noted that the process takes around 120 days so there was nothing about the elections being delayed by many months. As soon as this constitutional requirement of delimitation is completed, then after that, God-willing, elections will be held, he said.

Though the government is set to dissolve the assembly and allow delay in elections, the name of the caretaker prime minister has not been revealed as yet. But the government and allies are reportedly discussing names.

Talking about the candidate under consideration for the role of the caretaker prime minister, Sanaullah said they are all respected names and discussions were underway.

No name has been locked till now. Even if it is [decided], till today (Tuesday) evening or tomorrow (Wednesday) ...there are more chances that it will be locked tomorrow, he said.

Constitutionally, the incumbent prime minister would carry on until the caretaker is agreed.
(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)
Naval drones, which are already being used by our Defense Forces, will be useful during the de-occupation of Ukraine. In particular, they will play a key role in liberating the Black Sea coast from Russian invaders.

ADVERTISIMENT

Mykhailo Fedorov, Minister of Digital Transformation, told the Newsweek publication about this. He noted that the war against the Russian Federation has made our country a world leader in the field of unmanned weapons technology. We are talking about drones that operate both in the air and at sea.

The naval drones that have recently struck Russian targets in the Black Sea are a unique and classified Ukrainian development.

"Each naval drone is equipped with an autopiloting system, video surveillance subsystems, including night vision, special communication means protected from enemy electronic warfare equipment, backup communication modules, a combat unit, as well as a ground autonomous control station, transportation and storage systems, and a data center," Fedorov said.

According to him, naval drones are used for special operations and, undoubtedly, these drones will play their role in the liberation of the coastal part of the Black Sea temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation.

ADVERTISIMENT

We shall remind you that the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov said that Ukrainian military drones and naval drones are becoming more and more accurate with each task. According to him, August became particularly successful "for Ukrainian hunters".

As reported OBOZREVATEL:

- On the night of August 4 to 5, explosions were heard in the temporarily occupied city of Kerch in Crimea, near the illegally built Crimean bridge. The Russian Federation said a drone attack hit a Russian tanker.

- On the same day, the occupiers hunted for two hours for a maritime drone that sailed toward Sevastopol. In the end, the Russians claimed its destruction.

Only verified information from us in Telegram-channel Obozrevatel and in Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Niamey (Niger), Aug 8 (AP) Niger's military junta has refused the latest diplomatic attempt to reinstall the ousted president, rejecting a proposed visit by representatives of the West African regional bloc, the African Union and United Nations on Tuesday, according to a letter seen by The Associated Press.

The letter cited evident reasons of security in this atmosphere of menace" against Niger, two weeks after mutinous soldiers overthrew the country's democratically elected leader.

The regional bloc known as ECOWAS had threatened to use military force if the junta didn't reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum by Sunday, a deadline that was ignored.

On Monday, acting US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland met with the coup leaders and said they refused to allow her to meet with Bazoum, whom she described as under virtual house arrest. She described the mutinous officers as unreceptive to her appeals to start negotiations and restore constitutional rule.

These conversations were extremely frank and at times quite difficult because, again, we are pushing for a negotiated solution. It was not easy to get traction there. They are quite firm in their view of how they want to proceed, Nuland told reporters on a call from Niamey, Niger's capital.

ECOWAS is expected to meet again on Thursday in Abuja, the capital of neighbouring Nigeria, to discuss the situation. Niger's capital appeared more tense on Tuesday, with security forces checking vehicles.

Washington's diplomatic involvement is not meant to undermine ECOWAS efforts, said Rida Lyammouri, senior fellow at the Policy Centre for the New South.

Unlike ECOWAS, the US has yet to send any intimidating messages despite publicly stating support for the regional body.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking to Radio France International on Monday, said diplomacy is the preferred way forward, and he couldn't speculate about the future of 1,100 US military personnel in Niger.

What we are seeing in Niger is extremely troubling and provides nothing to the country and its people. On the contrary, the interruption of this constitutional order puts us, and many other countries, in a position where we have to stop our aid, our support, and this will not benefit the people of Niger, Blinken said.

Niger has been a crucial partner to the United States and other European countries, which viewed it as one of the last democratic nations in the vast Sahel region, south of the Sahara Desert, that they could partner with to fight growing jihadi violence linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.

The US has not yet called the junta's actions a coup, which would mean Niger would stand to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in military assistance and other aid. It also would mean US pulling its support for a major drone base it built in Niger to monitor extremists, which analyst Benedict Manzin of the risk consultancy Sibylline said the US would be loathe to do.

I understand that reticence ... essentially throwing away a USD 100 million airbase in Agadez, Manzin said.

Coups have been rampant in the region in recent years. Neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso have had two each since 2020, and ECOWAS had little influence in stopping them. The bloc's harsh response to Niger, by imposing economic and travel sanctions and threatening force, is an attempt to change course. But the junta doesn't appear open to dialogue. On Sunday, it closed the country's airspace and accused foreign powers of preparing an attack.

Analysts and diplomats say the window for military intervention is closing and without regional support for the use of force, ECOWAS and others are searching for a way out.

A lot of the tough talk from the region and beyond is perhaps more a reflection of how they wish they had responded to previous coups in Mali, Burkina and Guinea," said Cameron Hudson, a former official for the US Central Intelligence Agency.

Similarly, Washington and Paris will now have to make their own hard choices about working with junta leaders on counterterrorism or risk ceding hard-won ground to jihadist groups and possibly Russia, he said.

The junta, led by Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, has been exploiting grievances among the population toward Niger's former colonial ruler, France. It also has accused Bazoum's government of failing to do enough to protect the country from Islamic extremists, and has asked the Russian mercenary group Wagner for help. Wagner already operates in a handful of African countries, including Mali, and has been accused of committing human rights abuses.

We are always on the side of the good, on the side of justice and on the side of those who fight for the sovereignty and the rights of their people. Call anytime, Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a 30-second audio statement posted in a group-linked Telegram channel on Tuesday.

Niamey's mostly quiet streets have seen pro-junta rallies, anti-foreign rhetoric and residents waving Russian flags.

The ruling military has called on the population to defend the country. It's unclear how much genuine support there is for the junta, but it appears to have rallied some civil society and political groups to its side.

And since there has been no military intervention against the coup leaders, there is no real reason for them to believe that suddenly this whole thing is going to come crashing down, Manzin said.

Boubacar Moussa, a former jihadi fighter who joined a program that encourages fighters to defect and reintegrate into society, said that jihadis in Niger have been celebrating the chaos and greater freedom of movement since countries like France suspended military operations.

A couple hundred French soldiers had been conducting joint operations with the Nigerien military in the tri-border area between Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, and provided air support to Niger forces. But those operations are now on hold. France has some 1,500 soldiers in Niger. (AP) PY

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Washington, Aug 8 (PTI) Led by Indian-American Congressman Shri Thanedar, a group of US lawmakers have introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives to declare Indias Independence Day as a National Day of Celebration of the Worlds Two Largest Democracies.

The resolution expresses the belief that the strong partnership between the United States and India, rooted in shared democratic values, will continue to advance global democracy and foster peace, stability, and prosperity for all nations.

Introduced byThanedar and co-sponsored by Congressman Buddy Carter and Brad Sharman, the resolution seeks to declare August 15, Indias Independence Day as the National Day of Celebration of the World's Two Largest Democracies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modis Official State Visit to the United States on June 22, anchored the United States and India in a new level of trust and mutual understanding based on common interests and shared commitments to freedom, democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, and respect for human rights, it says.

Americans with Indian heritage enhance public life in the United States as government officials, military personnel, and law enforcement officers who diligently uphold the principles of the US Constitution and contribute to the enriching diversity of the Nation, the resolution says.

It is proper and desirable to celebrate with the Indian people, and to reaffirm the democratic principles on which the two nations were born, it said.
Islamabad, Aug 8 (PTI) Pakistan's top election body on Tuesday disqualified jailed former prime minister Imran Khan for five years following his conviction in a corruption case.

An Islamabad trial court on Saturday sentenced 70-year-old Khan to three years in prison in the Toshakhana corruption case in which the embattled former prime minister is accused of profiting from selling expensive state gifts when he was in power. Khan was subsequently arrested by Punjab police from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore.

In a notification issued on Tuesday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified Khan for five years.

The ECP cited the court order and declared Khan disqualified under Article 63(1)(h) of the Constitution read with Section 232 of the Elections Act, 2017.

"Therefore, Mr Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi is disqualified for a period of five years and is also de-notified as a returned candidate from constituency NA-45 Kurram-I, said the notification, a copy of which is available with PTI.

Earlier Tuesday, Khan filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court against the trial courts verdict, saying the said order was not sustainable and liable to be set aside.

The petition will be taken up on Wednesday by a two-member bench.
Belem (Brazil), Aug 8 (AP) Amazon rainforest nation leaders met on Tuesday for the first time in 14 years to find common ground on fuelling economic development while protecting an ecosystem vital to the battle against climate change.

Assembling on Tuesday and Wednesday in the Brazilian city of Belem are members of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization, a 45-year-old alliance that has met only three times before.

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has said that he hopes the summit will spur it to start taking far-reaching and effective action.

It has never been so urgent to resume and expand that cooperation. The challenge of our era and the opportunities that arise will demand joint action, Lula said at the start of the event on Tuesday morning.

The Amazon stretches across an area twice the size of India, and two-thirds of it lie in Brazil. Seven other countries and one territory share the remaining third. Presidents from Colombia, Peru and Bolivia are also attending, plus Guyana's prime minister, Venezuela's vice president and the foreign ministers of Suriname and Ecuador.

Massive destruction of the Amazon forest is a climate disaster and all the countries at the summit have ratified the Paris climate accord, which requires signatories to set targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. But that's about as far as their shared policy goes.

Few border areas are policed seriously and there has been scant international cooperation as rivals compete for drug-trafficking routes. Drug seizures have increased in Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia and Peru over the past decade, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported in June.

Homicide rates in Amazon municipalities are sometimes double or triple already-high national averages, said Rob Muggah, founder of the Igarape Institute, a security-focused think tank. Traffickers have diversified into businesses like narco-deforestation  laundering trafficking profits into land for agriculture  as well as financing and logistics for illegal gold prospecting that lays waste to the forest and poisons waterways, according to the UNODC report.

It's Lula's second attempt to form an Amazon bloc. He tried when the last Amazon summit was held in 2009, during his first presidency, but was joined by only one other president from the region, Bharrat Jagdeo of Guyana.

The event will also address how countries will prevent the Amazon from reaching a tipping point, in which the former forest releases carbon dioxide out of control. According to some scientists, this will happen when 20 per cent to 25 per cent of the forest is destroyed. The resulting decline in rainfall would transform more than half of the Amazon to tropical savannah, with immense biodiversity loss.

Forest protection commitments so far have been uneven. Brazil and Colombia have pledged to stop deforestation completely by 2030, but other countries are reluctant to follow.

Notable goals include:

 BRAZIL: Lula has said he will create 14 new Indigenous territories, and has already created six. He also said he will restore Brazil's official climate commitment, 37 per cent lower emissions by 2025 than in 2005, which was weakened under his predecessor. But it's just a promise and has not been formalized.

 COLOMBIA: President Gustavo Petro's government has laid out a 30-year strategy for reaching carbon neutrality by 2050, and reducing its greenhouse gases by 51 per cent.

He has sought to position himself as a leader in global climate efforts and protection of the Amazon.

 ECUADOR: President Guillermo Lasso has said that he will lead his country through an ecological transition to zero carbon emissions by 2050. By 2025, the nation aims to reduce deforestation to avoid 15 million metric tons (16.5 million tons) of emissions. Ecuador also hopes to create a bio-corridor that allows animals to roam over distances, Foreign Minister Gustavo Manrique said this year.

 PERU: Peru is seeking not just a declaration aimed at slowing the collapse of the Amazon, but agreements to fight drug trafficking and other illegal activities.

To face the threat the countries share from organised crime, Lula has already announced that Brazil will create a centre for international police cooperation in Manaus, the largest city in the Amazon.

The announcement underscored governments' realization that isolated raids and crackdowns have been ineffective.

Cross-border cooperation in the Amazon also has historically been scant, undermined by low trust, ideological differences and the lack of government presence.

Budding environmental consciousness and widespread recognition of the Amazon's importance in arresting climate change has invigorated the drive for a paradigm shift.

In 2018, Latin American nations signed the Escazu Agreement, which established the public's right to environmental information and participation in decision-making, and protected environmentalists. However, several countries, including Brazil, have not yet ratified it. The following year, they signed the Leticia Pact to better coordinate environmental protection.

Lula said he hopes a Belem Declaration  already drafted  will become the nations' shared call to arms as they move toward the global climate conference in November in Dubai.

This summit also reinforces Lula's strategy to leverage global concern for the Amazon's preservation. Emboldened by a 42 per cent drop in deforestation during his first seven months in office, he has sought international financial support for forest protection.

The leaders of Norway and Germany, large contributors to Brazil's Amazon Fund for sustainable development, were invited, as were counterparts from other crucial rainforest regions: Indonesia, Republic of Congo, and Democratic Republic of Congo. France's ambassador to Brazil will attend, representing the Amazonian territory of French Guiana.

Outside the official summit, some 20,000 Indigenous people and others from different Amazon countries have held 400 parallel events. In hours-long sessions, they presented demands to ministers mostly from Brazil, but also Colombia, Peru and other countries. On Tuesday, they also delivered a summary of these discussions to assembled presidents and officials, including a proposal that governments commit to preserving at least 80 per cent of the Amazon.

I had never seen a meeting so big to discuss the preparation for a COP," rubber-tapper leader Manoel Cunha, 55, told the AP, noting that even at major events ministers are usually thin on the ground.

Asked whether he was optimistic about concrete decisions and action coming from the summit, reknowned Indigenous leader Raoni Metuktire told the AP he intends to speak with presidents and make clear they effectively have no choice.

They have to make this deforestation stop. What I am going to say is that if the presidents do not take any measure, they are going to have serious environmental problems, he said Monday through an intepreter, speaking his native Kayapo language at an Indigenous emcampment. Natural disasters will be a problem for all us human beings. (AP) PY

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Washington, Aug 8 (PTI) A bipartisan group of US lawmakers are travelling to India to participate in the Red Ford address of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15 among other things, according to an official statement.

The bi-partisan Congressional delegation is led by Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna and Congressman Michael Waltz. The two are co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans.

The lawmakers will visit Red Fort where the Prime Minister will address the nation on August 15th, Indias Independence Day.

They will meet with business, tech, government, and Bollywood leaders in Mumbai, Hyderabad, and New Delhi and visit Raj Ghat, a historic memorial dedicated to Gandhi, the media release said.

Khanna and Waltz will be joined by Congressmen Deborah Ross, Kat Cammack, Shri Thanedar, and Jasmine Crockett along with Rich McCormick and Ed Case.

For Congressman Khanna, this is history coming full circle.

His grandfather Amarnath Vidyalankar was an Indian freedom fighter who spent four years in jail alongside Gandhi and later was part of Indias first parliament, said the statement issued on Monday.

As co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, we are proud to lead a bipartisan delegation to India. We will be there to discuss how to strengthen economic and defense ties between our two counties, the oldest and largest democracies, Khanna said.

Both of us believe that the US-India relationship will be a defining one of the 21st century. India is a key partner in ensuring multipolarity in Asia and the denial of China as a hegemon, he said.

We must continue to strive to make progress and build our partnership based on our shared founding values of democracy, freedom of the press and assembly, and human rights. This delegation is a historic opportunity to drive further collaboration and advance shared aims, Khanna said.

Earlier this year, Khanna and Waltz hosted a historic US-India Summit on the Hill featuring panels and remarks from government leaders, experts, and Indian-American leaders from across the country.
Washington, Aug 8 (PTI) The United States has raised the issue of human rights with India in the past regularly and will do so in the future, a senior official has said ahead of the next months presidential trip to New Delhi to attend the G-20 Summit.

"We regularly raise human rights concerns with countries with which we engage, have done that -- so in the past with India, and we'll do so in the future," State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters at his daily news conference.

Miller was responding to a question if President Joe Biden during his upcoming trip to India be asking of India regarding the alleged Christian persecution in the country.

"We have made very clear that we oppose the persecution of Christians and we oppose the persecution of any religious group, no matter where it takes place in the world," Miller said.
Mumbai, Aug 8 (PTI) A 32-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly kidnapping a 4-year-old boy at Maharashtras Kalyan station and trying to take him to Jalna, an official said on Tuesday.

Nashik resident Kachru Waghmare, alias Bala, allegedly committed the crime on Monday morning when the child was playing outside the waiting area at the station, on the outskirts of Mumbai.

The official said Waghmare left the station premises with the child. He went around Kalyan city and returned to the station to board a train to Jalna, some 350 km away.



Meanwhile, the boys father approached the Government Railway Police (GRP) saying his son had gone missing.

The GRP registered a first information report (FIR) and began scanning the footage of the CCTV cameras installed on the station premises. The footage showed Waghmare moving with the boy.



GRP nabbed Waghmare when he returned to the station, the official said, adding that he was planning to board a train to Jalna.

It is still not clear why Waghmare kidnapped the boy, the official said.
Bhopal, Aug 8 (PTI) A team of the Lokayukta's special police establishment (SPE) on Tuesday raided the premises of a retired employee of the health department at different locations in Madhya Pradesh and unearthed disproportionate assets worth Rs 10 crore.

Following a complaint, the SPE raided the premises of Ashfaq Ali, a retired health department employee, who was earlier posted as a store keeper at the district hospital in Rajgarh, the SPE's Superintendent of Police (SP) Manu Vyas said.

It is estimated that total disproportionate assets will be worth around Rs 10 crore, he said.

Documents related to 16 immovable properties, worth around Rs 1.25 crore, in the name of Ali, his wife, son and daughter were found during the searches at his houses in Bhopal and Lateri (Vidisha district), Vyas said.

Apart from this, they have also received information about four buildings, an under-construction shopping complex on 14,000 sq ft land, an acre of land and a grand building, he said.

Ali also runs a school in a three-storey building in Lateri, the official said, adding that some cash was recovered from the Bhopal house and jewellery and other valuables were also found.
Raipur, Aug 8 (PTI) Chhattisgarh Congress president Deepak Baij has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of playing "communal and divisive" politics in a bid to come to power in the state after the assembly polls due later this year.

The ruling Congress in the state has been keeping a close watch on all regional parties and small groups, seeking to contest the assembly polls in their areas of influence, particularly in tribal-dominated pockets, Baij told PTI.



The Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) does not have any electoral prospects in Chhattisgarh, he claimed.

The 42-year-old Lok Sabha member from Bastar seat (reserved for Scheduled Tribe candidates) also said the Congress will collectively fight the assembly elections under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, senior party leaders, and by highlighting the achievements of the state government's welfare schemes.



The BJP has been left with no issues to corner the Chhattisgarh government and therefore it has resorted to the policy of 'divide and rule'. Its agenda is to divide people on the lines of caste and religion and make people fight with one another, alleged Baij, who took over as the state Congress chief last month.

He referred to some alleged incidents of clashes over burial of the deceased belonging to tribal families that have converted to Christianity in Bastar region.



Ask those facing problems in burying their deceased family member when they have converted. They had accepted (Christianity) 10-15 years ago during the previous BJP rule in the state, the Congress leader claimed.



If any matter is related to a village, then villagers can resolve it on their own. Why are BJP people going to those places and spreading hatred? The BJP has been trying to destabilise peace in Bastar and Chhattisgarh in a bid to come to power. However, they will never succeed as the people of Bastar and Chhattisgarh have identified their real face, he further claimed.



Baij also slammed the BJP-led Centre over the Enforcement Directorate's action into the alleged coal and liquor scams in the state.

"The allegations levelled by the ED are baseless and the agency has just become a tool of the BJP. It is acting at the behest of the BJP in non-BJP ruled states," he alleged.

But, such action will not have any impact (on the poll outcome) in Chhattisgarh, he added.



Asked if he sees the forthcoming state polls as a challenge, Baij said, Every election is a challenge whether it is of assembly or panchayat. Our government has worked for the welfare of every section in the last four-and-a-half years. The party's organisation has been working right from booth level to state level. We don't have any problem.



On whether some sitting MLAs will be denied ticket, he said there is still time (left for polls) and equations may change in a day or night.

"Many MLAs are doing well...those who are coming to us, we are telling them to go and remain active on the ground. So, it is too early for me to say anything more on this as CM sahab has been working since the last four-and-a-half years, he has been in touch with each legislator and taking note of everything separately," he said.



To a query on the Sarva Adivasi Samaj's (SAS) plans to contest polls in tribal-dominated areas, he said, If some people want to do politics, then what can we do?"

Bastar had always been a bastion of the Congress, except in one or two elections when the people of Bastar were "misled by BJP's lies and deceit, Baij claimed.



SAS, an umbrella body of tribal groups in the state, has decided to contest polls in about 50 seats, including 29 reserved for Scheduled Tribe candidates.



Baij expressed confidence that the Congress will win all 12 seats in Bastar region.

He said the Congress has been closely monitoring the situation and if there are some shortcomings, they will be addressed.

"We do not have any problem in Bastar or elsewhere in the state. As far as the AAP is concerned, it is limited to Delhi and Punjab and it does not have any prospects in Chhattisgarh. However, we have been keeping a close watch on all small parties," he said.



In the 2018 assembly polls, the Congress returned to power in Chhattisgarh after a long gap by won 68 of the total 90 seats.

The BJP had finished a distant second by winning 15 seats, while the Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (J) bagged five seats and its ally Bahujan Samaj Party got two seats.

The Congress currently has 71 members in the state assembly.
Panaji, Aug 8 (PTI) Nearly 90 per cent of students who underwent training at the Aviation Skill Development Centre (ASDC) are now employed at Manohar International Airport (MIA) in Mopa, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told the state legislative assembly on Tuesday.

Responding to a question tabled by Pernem MLA Pravin Arlekar, the chief minister said while the objective of the ASDC is to train the youth of Goa to find employment in the industry, it does not, however, guarantee a job.

A total of 1,032 youths underwent training at the ASDC, of which 991 have been absorbed to work at the MIA as on June 30, he said, adding that the trend may not continue in the future, as most of the vacancies at the airport are already filled.

When MLAs Jit Arolkar (Mandrem), Venzy Viegas (Benaulim) and other legislators questioned ASDC's future, Sawant said that the centre will continue functioning with the introduction of new courses like hospitality.

The youth of the state are getting skilled at the centre and will have job opportunities across India and abroad.

AAP MLA Viegas then asked whether the courses offered by ASDC have international recognition.

To this, the chief minister said he does not have any clarity on this. However, if the courses are not recognised, he would ask the management of the ASDC to get recognised.
On the morning of August 8, occupation troops of Russia shelled the settlement of urban type Kozacha Lopan in Kharkiv region. As a result of the attack two people were wounded, they are hospitalized in serious and moderate condition.

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This was reported by the head of the Kharkiv regional administration Oleg Sinegubov. According to him, the blow was struck at about 9:20.

"There is a hit in private houses and outbuildings, there was a fire," - said the head of the regional military administration.

Emergency services are working to eliminate the consequences, Sinegubov added.

Vyacheslav Zadorenko, head of the Dergachi City Military Administration, specified that a 60-year-old man was seriously wounded as a result of tank shelling, a 52-year-old man was moderately wounded. Several private houses and outbuildings were damaged.

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As OBOZREVATEL reported:

- On August 7, the Russian army attacked Pokrovsk in Donetsk region. The occupants made two strikes, hit a multi-storey building. As a result of the shelling, 7 civilians were killed and 67 people were wounded. Among the injured are 29 policemen, 7 rescuers and 2 children. In particular, a policeman - the hero of the documentary "20 days in Mariupol" was wounded.

- On the night of August 8 in Kramatorsk in Donetsk region and Zaporizhzhya district there were explosions. The Russian Federation staged an attack with S-300 missiles.

Only verified information from us in Telegram-channel Obozrevatel, Threads and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Rewa, Aug 8 (PTI) Two minor girls were allegedly gang-raped in Madhya Pradesh's Rewa district and police registered a case against seven men after a video of the incident surfaced on social media, an official said.

Five of the accused have been arrested in connection with the incident which took place in a forest area under Hanumana police station limits some 25 days back. A video of it surfaced on Sunday, Additional Superintendent of Police Anil Sonkar told reporters on Monday.

The victims, both cousins aged 14 and 16, had taken goats for grazing in the forest, he said.

Some persons who were roaming there allegedly raped the girls and shot the video, the official said.

The accused threatened the victims that they will circulate the video if the girls informed about the incident to anyone, he said.

After the video surfaced on social media, the police started a probe and traced the victims, Sonkar said.

The girls told the police they got scared as the accused threatened them, hence they did not make any complaint in this connection earlier, he said.

The victims and their families complained to police on Monday and a case was subsequently registered against seven persons. Five of them have been arrested while search is on for the two others, the official said.

The accused have been booked under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for gang-rape and wrongful confinement as well as under the Information Technology Act for shooting the video and circulating it, he said.
Agartala, Aug 8 (PTI) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Tuesday chaired a meeting with the states police brass in which the issue of illegal infiltration of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis was discussed.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had recently said Tripura is being used as a corridor by the Rohingya infiltrators from Bangladesh to either go to Delhi or Kashmir with the help of brokers.

"We had a detailed discussion on the illegal infiltration of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis into Tripura," he told reporters after the meeting at Prajna Bhavan here.

Saha said he had recently visited Unakoti district to see how floods had caused extensive damage to the barbed-wire international fencing with Bangladesh.

"The river has changed its direction there causing extensive damage to the fencing. Now, infiltrators are using the damaged portion to cross the border. Police will enhance coordination with the BSF to prevent intrusion attempts," he said.

Reiterating that the crackdown on drug menace will continue, the chief minister said police have already begun using drones to map ganja plantations for destruction.

"We discussed the issue and police are seriously tackling the drug menace. The kingpins of the drug cartels will soon be arrested," he said.

Claiming that the states law and order situation is good, Saha said, Tripuras crime chart is among the lowest in the country according to the latest report of the National Crimes Record Bureau (NCRB)."

"I feel proud to say that the state was witness to a violence-free election in February and the credit goes to the state police," he said.

He said the states first cyber crime police station will come up by September.
Tinsukia), Aug 8 (PTI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday invited ULFA(I) chief Paresh Barua to visit the state as a "guest" and witness the changed situation over the decades.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme here, Sarma said the invitation to Barua is not for taking part in any talks, but to view the developed and peaceful Assamese society.

"Paresh Barua himself is a knowledgeable person. It does not mean that he will come because I have invited him. He has wisdom and logic of his own.

"However, I feel that if he stays in Assam for just seven days, he will realise that the old Assam has changed a lot... he said.

Sarma said that once Barua had a feeling that outsiders occupied everything in Assam, but Assamese youths nowadays stay in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in maximum numbers as the situation has changed.

United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) is a banned outfit by the home ministry.

Asked if he will facilitate the militant leader's visit to Assam, the chief minister said: "Yes, everything. As I am talking about inviting him, I will invite with full responsibility. If he comes and stays for 7-10 days, he himself will understand the situation.

Sarma also said that many youths who had joined the ULFA have returned, and many others want to come back to the mainstream, too.

On talks with Barua, he said without elaborating if there were not some practical difficulties, the talks would have taken place by now. We are trying to solve those practical issues.
Kolkata, Aug 8 (PTI) A 30-year-old Nepali man, who was found injured near a rail station in West Bengal a week ago, was reunited with his family on Tuesday, thanks to the efforts of a radio club.

The man, Kamal BK, could not provide his identity to the good samaritan, who took her first to a hospital and subsequently to her home. The only information he could provide was that he was from the neighbouring country.

The radio club took up the case and with another similar organisation in Nepal, discovered Kamals home at ward no. 5 of Jaimini Municipality in Baglung district. The man was officially handed over to the authorities of his country on Tuesday.

"We are happy that he is finally going home," said Ambarish Nag Biswas, founder of West Bengal Radio Club.

Runu Hawlader, who runs a small imitation jewellery shop near Bedberia station in South 24 Parganas district, noticed an injured man in front of the outlet on August 2.

He was bleeding and could not say anything. I decided to take him to a hospital and later took him to my house since he had nowhere to go. Then I contacted Ambarish Nag Biswas of HAM radio, Hawlader said.

The members of the amateur radio club traced the mans family in Nepal.

The Nepal Consulate was also informed, following which preparations to send Kamal back home started.

Eshor Raj Poudel, the Consul General of Nepal, told PTI over the phone that after he got the information, the verification process started.

After speaking to Kamal BKs family and after getting a letter from his ward councillor, we started the process of sending him back, Poudel said.

Poudel said he got a volunteer from the Nepali community here, who accompanied him home.

The consulate took care of all the formalities  getting tickets and making arrangements for his food.

On Monday, they have left for Raxaul from where he will cross the international border. Kamals brother was at the border to receive him, Poudel said.

Hawlader thanked the radio club for finding the address of the man.

For several years, these radio clubs have reunited lost people with their families at various places.

Our radio club has members outside West Bengal and also outside India. In places where we dont have members, we take help from other HAM radio operators to help people. This is how we got in touch with the Nepal mans family, Nag Biswas said.

The HAM radio members along with the police recently helped a girl from West Bengal, who was lost in faraway Kashmir a decade ago, to reunite with her family.

The radio club also helped an elderly woman to be reunited with her daughter after 17 years.

The woman from Bihars Katihar had gone to a local fair with her children and she could not spot her daughter after they took a ride on a Ferris wheel. Thinking that she lost them, the woman did not return home and somehow came to Kolkata.

She was found loitering in the city by the police during the COVID-19 period and was sent to a home run by a missionary. HAM radio members then tracked her daughter and reunited them.
Kolkata, Aug 8 (PTI) The West Bengal government's new education policy mandates that students will have to learn three languages in classes 5-8, with Bengali as a priority language, an official said on Tuesday.

Two languages will be taught at the primary level - of which one will be the mother tongue, the official elaborating on the policy cleared on Monday by the state cabinet said.

The official said that students of classes 5 to 8 would have to take three languages out of which the third one could be regional one or a foreign language.

"The third language could be a local or regional language as well as a foreign language, but priority must be given to Bengali, Sanskrit or Hindi. The main idea is to teach Bengali to youngsters in West Bengal," he added.

Asked when this three-language policy would be introduced, the official said that it would be done in phases.

Elaborating on the policy, the bureaucrat said that the policy has decided to adhere to the existing divisions in the education level - four years each of primary and upper primary and two years of secondary and another two years of higher secondary education.

Talking more about the policy, the official said, it would start a semester system from classes 8 to 12 and it would be introduced in phases over three years' time.
Guwahati, Aug 8 (PTI) The Trinamool Congress and All Assam Students' Union (AASU) held separate protests on Tuesday against the "excessive" rise in the prices of essential commodities.



TMC national spokesperson and the president of the party's Assam unit, Ripun Bora led the dharna near the Kamrup Metropolitan Deputy Commissioners office. He blamed the ruling BJP in the state and at the Centre for its alleged failure to control the hike in prices.

He claimed that BJP has always been busy with the politics of polarisation and as a result was not able to focus on governance which has resulted in the excessive hike in the prices of essential commodities, life-saving medicines and fuel among others.



Referring to the opposition's no-confidence in Parliament on Tuesday, Bora said that it will "at least make Prime Minister Narendra Modi break his silence and speak on the Manipur violence".



AASU on the other hand, observed a 10-hr protest in all the district headquarters of the state to protest against skyrocketing prices and the failure of the state government to check it.



In Guwahati, the students' organisation held its protest on the banks of Dighalipukhuri water body in the heart of the city from 6 am to 4 pm, sources in AASU said.
Gangtok, Aug 8 (PTI) Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang Tuesday announced a slew of measures for the preservation of the tribal Lepcha culture in the state.

Addressing a state-level function on the occasion of Tendong Kho Rum Faat, a Lepcha festival, he said here that the state government will construct a Lepcha Bhawan in the state capital and develop it as the Lepcha cultural center.

He urged the Sikkim Lepcha Association to identify land for the building.

Lechas are considered to be the original inhabitants of Sikkim.

The chief minister also announced to send Lepcha priests and religious persons called Bongthings in the tribal language on an annual exposure trip outside Sikkim.

With regard to the demand for the inclusion of Lepcha language in the 8th schedule of the Constitution, Tamang said that the state government has sought constitutional protection for Lepcha, Bhutia and Limboo languages.

Besides, the state government has set up a committee headed by Sanu Lama, a litterateur of Nepali literature, to restore the lost original names of places in Sikkim.

On the demand for doubling reservation for primitive tribes from the existing five per cent, he assured the Lepcha people to look into the matter in consultation with the concerned authorities.
New Delhi, Aug 8 (PTI) The Congress on Tuesday slammed Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for his criticism of the grand old party in handling the northeast over the years, calling him a "product of the BJP washing machine".

Sarma on Tuesday alleged that the Congress has blood on its hands in the northeast, and none of its PMs gave any healing touch to the region in the last 75 years. Addressing a press conference in Guwahati, to counter Congress' allegations during the no-trust motion in Parliament, Sarma said the distress in the region is due to the "faulty policies" of the grand old party.

Hitting back at Sarma, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh tweeted, "The Assam CM  product of the BJP Washing Machine  is now recounting all the so-called sins committed by the Congress in the Northeast."

"There are in fact only two real sins. One committed by Hiteswar Saikia, to give respectability to a young man who formed part of the Surrendered ULFA. The other was by Tarun Gogoi, who gave this rank opportunist positions of power and authority," Ramesh said.

"No mystery who the beneficiary was and who he is now," he said.

The Congress uses the term "BJP washing machine" to allege that all those against whom there were graft allegations earlier are suddenly free of all wrongdoings after coming into the saffron party fold.

In his remarks, Sarma said, "Congress' hands, as far as the northeast is concerned, are full of blood. No Congress PM extended any healing touch to the region in the last 75 years."

"The Congress must analyse why because of its wrong policies, Manipur is burning. They have created a sad situation in the northeast," he said.

Ethnic violence in Manipur since the last three months has claimed over 160 lives.

"The Congress created this sad situation in the entire northeast; communities didn't start fighting overnight," Sarma said.
New Delhi, Aug 8 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi has highlighted his government's several welfare measures in his interaction with ruling NDA MPs and asked them to tell people that it is "Modi ki guarantee" that they will continue to benefit from these schemes.

Sources said that he made the remarks in a meeting with MPs from Gujarat on Monday as part of his interaction with the parliamentarians of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance from across the country to shape the ruling bloc's strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

They said the prime minister mentioned the annual direct benefit transfer of Rs 6,000 to farmers, free health insurance for the poor under the Ayushman Bharat scheme and free LPG connection to poor households under the Ujjwala scheme among other programmes to make his point.

He asked them to reach out to people about these measures and tell them they will continue, sources said. It is "Modi ki guarantee", the prime minister added.

Continuing with his interactions with NDA MPs, the prime minister on Tuesday addressed parliamentarians from Rajasthan and Goa, and Maharashtra in two separate meetings.

The BJP has divided the ruling alliance MPs into 11 clusters regions-wise and Modi is scheduled to address all of them. With Tuesday's meetings, he has spoken to 10 clusters.
Gurugram, Aug 8 (PTI) A 10-member delegation of Haryana Congress on Tuesday was stopped from entering violence-hit villages of Nuh district, police said.

Citing curfew imposed in the area and security concerns for the delegation, a senior police officer said the delegation was stopped at Rojka Meo village and were stopped from entering villages affected by the communal clashes in the district. The delegation returned after that, police said.

Rajya Sabha MP Deepender Singh Hooda said they wanted to listen to the problems of affected people in Nuh city and send out a message of peace.

"If the huge force deployed today to stop us had been deployed that day also, there would have been no clash between the two communities. The government is entirely responsible for this whole episode. Obviously, the government was negligent and their intentions were not right," Hooda said.

"The purpose of the delegation was to meet traders and other affected people of Nuh city, and give out a message of peace after listening to their issues. We also wanted to visit the Shiva temple at Nalhar," he added.

The delegation was led by state Congress president Chaudhary Udaybhan. Deepender Singh Hooda, Captain Ajay Singh Yadav, Mahendra Pratap, BB Batra, Bajrang Das Garg, Rao Dan Singh, Pankaj Dawar and Jitender Bhardwaj were also part of the delegation.

Hooda also said that both the home guards who died in the violence should be given "martyr status". The family of the deceased should also be given financial assistance and a family member should also be given a job, he said.

Slamming the Haryana government, senior Congress leader Captain Ajay Singh Yadav said, "The Haryana government is not even ashamed of its failure. Our delegation wanted to go to Nuh with the purpose of restoring peace. Politics is of no use at this point," Yadav said.

Party state chief Chaudhary Udaybhan said that they will inform the Congress high command that were stopped from visiting the affected parts of Nuh.

Meanwhile, the police said that a the work of the administration would have increased if there was a "political visit".

"Permission is not allowed due to the imposition of Section 144 in the district. The administration is making every possible effort to help the victims. If there is a political visit, the work of the administration will increase," Nuh SP Narender Bijarnia said.

"The situation is moving towards complete normalcy. To prevent any further disruption, we are requesting them to undertake their visit after the situation becomes completely normal," Bijarnia said.

Curfew was relaxed for four hours in Nuh during the day, according to the district magistrate.

Six people, including two home guards and a cleric, died in last week's communal clashes that erupted when a Vishva Hindu Parishad procession was attacked by mobs in Nuh and later spread to adjoining Gurugram.

A total of 312 people have been arrested and 106 taken into preventive detention in connection with the communal clashes in the state.

Besides, 142 FIRs have been registered Nuh, Gurugram, Faridabad, Palwal, Rewari, Panipat and Bhiwani and other places, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij said in a statement on Tuesday. SKY
Law enforcers have shown the first minutes after a missile strike on Pokrovsk in Donetsk Region. Police officers who arrived at the scene of the attack also came under a second strike while evacuating civilians.

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The victims of the Russian terrorists were 7 people, another 81 were wounded. This was reported in the press service of the National Police of Ukraine (to watch the video, scroll to the end of the page).

The occupants struck two strikes on multi-storey residential buildings in Pokrovsk with an interval of several minutes. It is noteworthy that at the time of the second strike, police officers and the State Emergency Situations Service were already on the scene and were also injured. According to the acting head of the State Emergency Situations Service in Donetsk region Yaroslav Mezhenny, one rescuer is among the dead.

Immediately after the first missile strike, police officers, the State Emergency Service, medics and explosion technicians arrived on the scene to assist the injured and document the war crime. Some time later, there was a second strike, under which the police and rescuers were hit.

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The moment of the second explosion got on the cameras of the police. The guards had to quickly evacuate the injured civilians from the destroyed house. Rescuers had to pull many people out from under the rubble.

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As OBOZREVATEL reported:

- On August 7, the Russian Federation attacked Pokrovsk in Donetsk region. The occupants made two strikes, hit a multi-story house. 7 civilians died, 67 people were wounded.

- Among the wounded is a policeman Vladimir, the hero of the documentary "20 days in Mariupol".

Only verified information we have in Telegram-channel Obozrevatel, Threads and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
New Delhi, Aug 8 (PTI) Punjab has not taken up the branding of Ayushman Bharat- Health and Wellness Centres and the release of funds to the state is dependent on compliance with these guidelines, the central governmen told Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

All states and UTs have been requested to ensure the branding of all Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) in rural and urban areas, as per the design manual shared by the Ministry of Health with all the states and UTs on May 30, 2018.

It was also reiterated on February 1 and March 17 this year, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar said in a written reply.

All states and UTs execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Centre as per the framework of the National Health Mission (NHM) which mandates compliance by the states with the guidelines issued under it.

Further, several initiatives have been taken for strengthening healthcare systems to cater to future healthcare needs.

The PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) with an outlay of Rs 64,180 crores till 2025-26 envisages increased investments in public health and other health reforms to provide better access in rural areas by strengthening Health and Wellness Centres in villages and cities for early detection of diseases.

It also aims to add new critical care-related beds at district-level hospitals; support for Block Public Health Units (BPHU) in 11 high-focus states and Integrated district public health laboratories in all districts, Pawar said.

An amount of Rs. 755.65 crore has been allocated to the state of Punjab for 2021-22 to 2025-26 for the implementation of PM-ABHIM for the establishment of 22 Integrated Public Health Labs (IPHLs) and 21 Critical Care Blocks (CCBs), she said responding to a question on whether the government has taken any new initiative to strengthen health care system in Punjab.

The Fifteenth Finance Commission (FC-XV) has recommended grants through local governments for specific components of the health sector to the tune of Rs 70,051 crores and the same have been accepted by the Union Government, Pawar said.

These grants for health through local governments will be spread over the five years from financial year 2021-22 to fiscal 2025-26 and will facilitate the strengthening of the health system at the grass-root level.

For Punjab, the Commission has recommended Rs 2,131 Cr over the five-year period from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26.

The Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) aims at correcting regional imbalances in the availability of affordable tertiary healthcare services and to augment facilities for quality medical education in the country.

The scheme has two components ---setting up of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and upgradation of existing government medical colleges and institutions (GMCIs), Pawar said in the written reply.

So far setting up of 22 new AIIMS (Establishment of One new AIIMS, Bhatinda in Punjab) and 75 projects of upgradation of GMCIs have been approved under the scheme in various phases.
Lucknow, Aug 8 (PTI) The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday announced bypoll to the Ghosi assembly constituency in Mau district of Uttar Pradesh will be held on September 5.

The counting of votes will be taken up on September 8, the ECI said in a statement.

The gazette notification will be issued on August 10, while the last date of filing nominations is August 17. Scrutiny of nomination papers will be held on August 18 and August 21 is the last date for withdrawal of nominations, it said.

The bypoll was necessitated by the resignation of Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA and OBC leader Dara Singh Chauhan, who joined the BJP last month.

Chauhan submitted his resignation to Uttar Pradesh Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana on July 15.

He was the forest and environment minister in the previous BJP government headed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath before he resigned from the Council of Ministers in January 2022 and joined the SP.

He had also represented the Ghosi seat in the 15th Lok Sabha as a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) member.
Chandigarh, Aug 8 (PTI) The Haryana government has issued an order to transfer from Nuh a police officer in the rank of deputy superintendent.

According to the order issued on Monday, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Nuh) Jai Prakash has been transferred. He will take up a posting as the Deputy Superintendent of Police (Police Headquarters) in Panchkula.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (Siwani) in Bhiwani district Mukesh Kumar will take over from Prakash.

Earlier, Superintendent of Police Varun Singla and Deputy Commissioner Prashant Panwar were transferred away from Nuh.

Singla was on leave when communal clashes broke out in the district. Six people, including two home guards and a cleric, died in the clashes that erupted in Nuh over an attempt to stop a Vishva Hindu Parishad procession and spread to Gurugram and other places.

Singla has been posted as the Superintendent of Police (Bhiwani).

Narendra Bijarniya, who was holding additional charge in Singla's absence, took over as the new Nuh Superintendent of Police, according to a government order issued on August 3.

Panwar was replaced by Dhirendra Khadgata.
New Delhi, Aug 8 (PTI) "Once we cease to be judges, whatever we say is just opinion and they are not binding," Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said on Tuesday when remarks of former CJI Ranjan Gogoi on basic structure doctrine made in Parliament were referred.

On Monday, while participating in a debate on the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, Gogoi, now a nominated member of Rajya Sabha, said, "There is a book by (TR) Andhyarujina, the former solicitor general, on the Kesavananda Bharati case."

"Having read the book, my view is that the doctrine of the basic structure of the Constitution has a very debatable jurisprudential basis. I would not say anything more than this," the former chief justice of India said.

During the hearing on Tuesday, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for National Conference leader Mohd Akbar Lone who has challenged the abrogation of Article 370 which accorded special status to erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, referred to Justice Gogoi's statement made in the Upper House.

Sibal contended that the manner in which the Centre abrogated the special status of Jammu and Kashmir cannot be in any way justified "unless a new jurisprudence is brought so that they (Centre) can do whatever they like as long as they have a majority".

He said, "now one of your esteemed colleagues has said that in fact basic structure theory is also doubtful".

In the landmark Kesavananda Bharati verdict of 1973, the top court had propounded the basic structure doctrine of the Constitution and held that certain fundamental features such as democracy, secularism, federalism and rule of law cannot be amended by Parliament.

Responding to Sibal's submission, CJI Chandrachud said, "Mr Sibal, when you refer to a colleague, you have to refer to a sitting colleague. Once we cease to be judges, whatever we say, they are just opinions and are not binding."

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who is appearing for the Centre in the matter, intervened and said the proceedings in Parliament cannot be discussed before the court just like the court's proceedings are not discussed in Parliament.

He said, "Mr Sibal is addressing here, since he wasn't there in Parliament yesterday. He should have responded in Parliament."

Sibal, who is an independent member of Rajya Sabha, agreed with Mehta's submission and said he was not in Parliament on Monday during the debate.
Bengaluru, Aug 8 (PTI) The High Court of Karnataka has said that insulting a man for being dark-skinned by his wife constitutes cruelty as it underlined this as a strong reason for allowing his appeal and granted him divorce.

The HC stated this, in a recent judgement, while granting divorce to a 44-year-old man from his 41-year-old wife.

The evidence on record, from close scrutiny, also leads to the conclusion that the wife used to insult the husband on the premise that he is dark and for the same reason has moved away from the company of the husband without any cause, the court noted.

"To cover up this aspect, (she) has levelled false allegations of illicit relationships against the husband. These facts certainly will constitute cruelty," the HC said while allowing the petition for dissolution of the marriage under Section 13(i)(a) of the Hindu Marriage Act.

The couple from Bengaluru got married in 2007 and had a girl child. In 2012, the husband approached a family court in Bengaluru seeking divorce.

His appeal was heard by the division bench of Justices Alok Aradhe and Anant Ramanath Hegde, which gave the judgment.

"It is the case of the husband that the wife used to humiliate him on the pretext that he is dark-skinned. He has further stated that the husband used to bear insult for the sake of the child," the HC noted.

She had also filed a case under Section 498A (subjecting a married woman to cruelty) of the Indian Penal Code against her husband and in-laws.

The woman also filed a case under the Domestic Violence Act and left with the child to live with her parents.

She had denied the allegations in the family court and in turn alleged that it was the husband and his family members who were ill-treating her and subjecting her to cruelty.

She alleged that they demanded dowry from her and did not allow her to go out with her child. She also alleged that her husband had an illicit relationship with another woman and had a child with her.

The family court had dismissed the husband's petition for divorce in 2017 after which he approached the HC, which pronounced the verdict recently.

The HC said that the allegations levelled against the husband that he is having an illicit relationship with a lady is totally unfounded and baseless as well as reckless.

"This allegation made in paragraph No.10 of the statement of objections is serious. If such an allegation is made in the pleading, it can be certainly concluded that the person against whom such allegation is made will be subject to enormous mental cruelty. This fact has not been appreciated by the Family Court at all."

The HC also said that calling him dark amounted to cruelty.

"It is further stated that the wife has not made any attempt to join the company of the husband to come back and the evidence on record would establish that she was not interested in the marriage because of the dark complexion of the husband. By referring to these contentions, it is urged that the Family Court ought to have granted a decree for the dissolution of marriage," the HC said setting aside the family court order.
Bengaluru, Aug 8 (PTI) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday held discussions with Congress legislators from six districts amid reports of discontent brewing within the ruling party regarding development work in their constituencies and the functioning of the government and its ministers.





On the second consecutive day of such meetings chaired by the chief minister, he met separately with each of the MLAs from Raichur, Vijayapura, Koppal, Belagavi, Haveri and Kalaburagi districts.







On Monday, he had met MLAs from Tumakuru, Yadgir, Chitradurga, Bagalkot, Ballari and Dharwad.







"The chief minister held a discussion with ministers and MLAs of districts at the Home Office 'Krishna'. They discussed the development of respective constituencies, grants and preparation for Lok Sabha elections. Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar was present," his office said in a statement.







According to official and party sources, the MLAs discussed with Siddaramaiah about the allocation of funds to their constituencies and the fulfillment of promises made to the people locally ahead of the polls, other than the five poll guarantees.







The CM is said to have explained to the MLAs that the implementation of the five 'guarantee schemes' (poll promises) and the financial implications it will have on taking up major developmental projects this year.



However, he is said to have assured them that works that need to be done on priority will be taken up.







The meeting gains significance amid brewing discontent within the ruling party, with as many as 30 legislators reportedly having written to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the party leadership recently, expressing concern over non-implementation of development works in their constituencies and the functioning of certain ministers.







Several legislators are said to be miffed and have complained that they had not been able to get work done in their constituencies, and have not been granted transfers (of government servants) as requested. They are said to have expressed unhappiness in the letter regarding some ministers, alleging that they are not cooperating with them.







The Congress Legislature Party meeting held subsequently, last month, also witnessed scenes of discontent, with senior MLA B R Patil threatening to resign, citing "self-respect".







The behaviour and conduct of certain ministers has upset some legislators, Patil had said, warning that their fight would continue if it is not corrected.
Bengaluru, Aug 8 (PTI) A group of current and retired faculty members at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) has asked leaders of corporate India, to "de-fund" the spread of misinformation and hate speech through news channels and social media. In an open letter, written in their personal capacity, 11 present and six retired IIMB faculty members have said that they are drawing the attention of corporate India leaders to the "fragile state of internal security with an increasing risk of violent conflicts in the country."

Noting that over the past few years, an open and public exhibit of hatred towards minorities in public discourse has become common practice in India, in political discourse, television news, as well as on social media, the signatories said, the usage of othering, dehumanising and demonising language while referring to minorities has reached alarming levels, and acts of violent hate crimes, often by organised and radicalised groups, against minorities have seen a rise.

"The inaction of police and security forces during recent communal riots, as well as the acquittal or pardoning of culprits involved in rape and mass murder during previous instances of riots, coupled with the silence of authorities, has signalled a glaring level of complacency in place of urgency by the government," they said.

Further suggesting that these trends concern corporate India, as they point towards an increasing risk of violent conflicts in the country, they said, in the worst case, such acts of violence could culminate into a genocide, which would annihilate the social fabric as well as the economy of the country, casting a long dark shadow over Indias future.

Corporate India, which hopes to reach new frontiers of international growth and innovation in the 21st century, cannot afford to live with even a small possibility of such a scenario, they added.

The signatories to the letter are: Anubha Dhasmana, Arpita Chatterjee, B K Chandrashekar, Deepak Malghan, Hema Swaminathan, Krishna T Kumar, Malay Bhattacharyya, Mira Bakhru, P D Jose, Prateek Raj, Raghavan Srinivasan, Rajluxmi V Murthy, Ritwik Banerjee, Shalique M S, Soham Sahoo, Srinivasan Murali, and Vinod Vyasulu.

Highlighting that India has a long history of tolerance and peaceful coexistence of different faiths, the signatories said, "we would like to believe that the risk of large-scale violent conflicts or genocide in India is still small. However, this risk is no longer close to zero, as the rapidly increasing levels of radicalisation of citizens are fermenting an atmosphere conducive to large-scale violence being triggered due to unexpected disturbances."

"Even if India does evade such a risk, it is certain that the deteriorating social fabric in the country, due to increasing hate and dehumanising speech and radicalisation, shall inevitably lead to escalating violence and socioeconomic uncertainty, permanently paralysing the future of the country," they added.

Pointing out that maintaining peace, stability and cohesion in the country is of paramount importance to corporate India without which India cannot become an economic powerhouse, the letter says the leaders of corporate India have an important and substantial role to play in curbing the spread of hate and misinformation.

The old and current IIMB faculty appeal to corporate India to: stop funding hate, support responsible stakeholders, curate a welcoming work culture, and use your voice for fraternity.
New Delhi, Aug 8 (PTI) Several opposition leaders, including Congress MP Manish Tewari, on Tuesday targeted the government, alleging that it has failed to contain the violence in BJP-led states of Manipur and Haryana.

Participating in the debate on the no-confidence motion against the government, Tewari in Lok Sabha said it has "failed" on various fronts, including national security, economic growth, communal harmony and independence of institutions, in the last nine years. This is unfortunate, he said.

Manipur has been burning for the last three months and the government has hardly done anything to restore peace in the state, he claimed, adding that the Northeast is strategic in nature and disturbance in any state in that region has a bearing on national security.

He also alleged that despite the border row with China, trade deficit with the country is rising.

CPI(M) member A M Ariff alleged Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set the record of attending House proceedings the least number of times. While Manipur was burning, the prime minister went to France and delivered a speech on world peace, he claimed.

As the government failed in its duty, the Supreme Court had to appoint a three-member committee to oversee relief and rehabilitation of victims and compensation, the MP alleged.

The Supreme Court on Monday had ordered setting up of a committee of three former women high court judges to oversee relief and rehabilitation of victims in the ethnic-violence hit state and compensation to them besides asking former Maharashtra police chief Dattatray Padsalgikar to monitor the probe in criminal cases.

Observing that its effort is to restore people's faith in the rule of law in the Northeastern state, the top court also decided to monitor the overall situation there. The court said the three-member panel will be submitting reports to it directly.

The CPI(M) MP said after Manipur, now it is Haryana which is burning. Both states have governments led by the BJP and their "double engine" government seems to be promoting a "divisive agenda", Ariff said and added that another "divisive agenda is Uniform Civil Code (UCC)".

Six people, including two home guards and a cleric, died in last week's communal clashes that erupted when a Vishva Hindu Parishad procession was attacked by mobs in Nuh and later spread to adjoining Gurugram.

Demanding immediate removal of Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, RSP's N K Premchandran said this is a fit case for the use of Article 356 to impose President's Rule for failure of the law and order machinery in the state.

Not removing the chief minister is an indication that the Centre is indirectly supporting the action or inaction of the state government, the MP alleged.

He said the prime minister should call an all-party meeting, and confidence building measures should be undertaken immediately to stop the "internal war" going on between two communities in Manipur.

More than 160 people have lost their lives and several hundreds have been injured since the ethnic clashes broke out in the northeastern state 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. Tribals - Nagas and Kukis - constitute little over 40 per cent and reside in the hill districts.

Speaking on other issues, Premchandran claimed that the economy has gone from bad to worse, the agriculture sector is in a bad shape and unemployment has risen to eight per cent.

Lok Sabha was adjourned to meet again on Wednesday and continue debate on the no-confidence motion.
Law enforcement officers stand Northside Hospital Midtown medical office building, where a man opened fire in the medical center waiting room, killing one woman and wounding four, on May 3, 2023, in Atlanta. Data shows American health care workers now suffer more nonfatal injuries from workplace violence than workers in any other profession, including law enforcement. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Since the start of the war, 78 employees of the State Emergency Service (SES) have been killed and 280 others injured by Russian shelling while responding to the aftermath of missile strikes. The occupiers are shelling rescuers, ignoring international conventions.

ADVERTISIMENT

This was stated by Colonel Oleksandr Khorunzhyi, spokesperson for the State Emergency Service, at a briefing on 8 August. "Recently, the Russians have been increasingly using the practice of shelling rescuers during the aftermath of shelling or missile attacks, as well as using the practice of shelling fire and rescue units," he said.

Khorunzhyi added that the occupiers commit such crimes mostly in Kherson, Donetsk and Kharkiv regions.

"In total, 78 SES employees have been killed and 280 wounded since the beginning of Russia's large-scale invasion. I would like to note that rescuers are protected by international conventions because they do not go out to fight, but go to rescue people, clear debris and provide assistance. Russian terrorists are cynically ignoring all the rules of warfare," said the spokesman.

ADVERTISIMENT

As reported by OBOZREVATEL:

- "On 7 August, Russia attacked Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, hitting a multi-storey building with missiles, and when rescuers were working on the spot, a second strike was made. The shelling of the city killed 7 people, and according to the latest data, 88 people were injured, including 31 police officers, 7 employees of the State Emergency Service and 4 military personnel. Among the dead was the deputy head of the Donetsk Oblast State Emergency Service.

ADVERTISIMENT

- The first target of the attack on Pokrovsk was to kill civilians, and the second attack was aimed at the services working on the aftermath, the Donetsk regional military administration said.

Only verified information is available on our Obozrevatel Telegram channel, Threads and Viber. Don't fall for fakes!




(By: Sandy Eller)

Dozens of elected officials were among the hundreds of people who spent an evening networking and discussing shared goals at the Jewish Community Council of Boro Parks second annual legislative barbeque, held on August 2nd at the Brooklyn Square Rooftop. The barbeque has become the event of the year for Boro Park, celebrating partnerships and efforts benefitting local residents and often extending to Jewish communities both near and far.

The high energy event drew elected officials at the federal, state and city levels, as well as community and organizational leaders, and paid tribute to six outstanding individuals: United States House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein, Fidelis Care Senior Vice President Scott Averill, New York City Community Affairs Unit Commissioner Fred Kreizman, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Heritage Levavot founder Mrs. Olga Lipschitz.

City Councilman Kalman Yeger was the evenings emcee, introducing the many speakers of the night, starting with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a devoted friend of the Boro Park community for decades. Schumer spoke enthusiastically about the millions of dollars he secured for shuls, yeshivas and major Jewish organizations.

There were some in my party who said, We dont give money to religious organizations, and I said, Oh yes, we do. said Schumer. Our yeshivas got as much money as all the other public schools  over $300 million dollars.

That federal perspective was also shared by Jeffries, who noted that the Jewish community has experienced over 2,000 years of pain, persecution and pogroms.

Whenever we see a community under assault, it is our moral responsibility to stand with that community and so I pledge, in this era of rising anti-Semitism, is that we will always stand with Boro Park Jewish community and Jewish communities all across the country until we crush anti-Semitism, bury it in the ground, never to be seen again, said Jeffries.

Mrs. Lipschitz marveled at seeing political leaders openly expressing their love for the Jewish community, a stark contrast to her childhood memories of war-torn Hungary. Similarly highlighting strong local relationships, Averill reiterated Fidelis Cares commitment to supporting the community by making health insurance available to area residents.

One of several to address the room who was raised in Boro Park born, Kreizman spoke about his return to public service after years of private sector work, and praised Mayor Eric Adams and Boro Park JCC for their shared commitment to the local community.

This is my home and it is a homecoming for me to come here and accept this award, not only for me, but for the whole administration, remarked Kreizman.

Reynoso, who lit the Borough Hall Chanukah menorah this year together with a Holocaust survivor, lauded Boro Park JCC for helping those who are in greatest need of assistance.

Spread love  its the Brooklyn way, and nobody does that better than the Boro Park JCC, said Reynoso.

Eichenstein credited Boro Park JCC CEO Rabbi Avi Greenstein with taking the organization to the next level and, as one of the nights honorees, suggested that perhaps their positions should have been reversed.

I should be presenting the Boro Park JCC with the award, remarked Eichenstein. Boro Park JCC may be just two blocks from my office but at times it feels like we are just one long office, with us sending constituents to their office and vice versa.

Boro Park JCC president Isaac Stern highlighted the organizations ongoing initiatives that help residents find jobs, acquire training, health insurance and food assistance, and assist with immigration and parenting issues. While many hailed Boro Park JCC for its efforts, Stern shone the spotlight in a different direction.

All we do is complain about our elected officials, said Stern adding, The fact is that we at the BPJCC are able to help thousands and thousands and thousands of people because of how the elected officials go out of their way to help us, so tonight we are here to say thank you.

Gratefully acknowledging the events sponsors  Metropolitan Commercial Bank, Brooklyn Square and Fidelis Care, Greenstein categorized Boro Park JCC as a safety net for the community and underscored its mission of helping with heart. He described seeing the vast event space filled with people whose tireless efforts benefit area residents as an exhilarating experience for everyone present.

Day in and day out, there are countless people who work together to ensure that peoples needs are being met, a dynamic goal that keeps on evolving, said Greenstein. We are thankful to be able to continue doing what we have been doing for years and are deeply appreciative of our many partners who spend their days, and often their nights, advocating for others and finding ways to better their lives.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




Ukrainian security forces announced on Monday that they had successfully detained an informant involved in a plot to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The detainee, whose identity remains undisclosed, was reportedly sharing crucial intelligence with Russian operatives as part of the sinister plan.

Ukraines security agency, the SBU, divulged that the detained woman had been orchestrating preparations for an enemy airstrike on the Mykolaiv region. The plot allegedly unfolded during President Zelenskyys recent visit to the area. The SBUs statement, released online, stated that the agency had monitored the womans activities, which included collecting details about the Ukrainian leaders schedule and the locations he was scheduled to visit in the southern region.

According to a spokesperson from the SBU, the agency had credible reasons to believe that President Zelenskyy was the intended target of the planned attack. However, Ukrainian security forces acted swiftly to counteract the plot, implementing enhanced security measures during the presidents visit. President Zelenskyy has been known for his frequent travels within the country, especially to front-line areas and towns recently liberated, all under stringent security arrangements.

The SBUs official statement highlighted that this incident wasnt the first time that attempts on President Zelenskyys life had been thwarted. Since the early days of the ongoing conflict, the Ukrainian leader had faced numerous foiled assassination attempts, given his prominence as a key figure resisting Moscows influence.

The SBU continued its efforts to uncover more information about the detained womans alleged Russian handlers. Their investigation revealed that she had also been tasked with locating strategic assets of the Ukrainian army near the town of Ochakiv, situated within the Mykolaiv region. The agency asserted that these assets were earmarked by Russian operatives for launching a substantial aerial assault on the region.

The detained woman was apprehended red-handed while attempting to transfer intelligence to Russian contacts, the SBUs release said. Her identity was disclosed only as a resident of Ochakiv and a former military shop saleswoman. If convicted, she could face up to 12 years of imprisonment for her involvement in the assassination plot.

This incident follows a previous assertion by Russia in May, in which they claimed that Ukraine had attempted to assassinate President Vladimir Putin through a drone attack on the Kremlin. Ukraine promptly denied these allegations. Unlike President Zelenskyy, Putin rarely makes public appearances in proximity to conflict zones or even within Russia itself.

Recent weeks have seen both Kyiv and Moscow launching incursions deep into each others defensive territories. Despite these aggressive moves, Ukraines counteroffensive has yet to yield a definitive breakthrough on the battlefield, leaving the situation tense and fluid.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




Two Russian missile strikes hit the city center of the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk in the eastern Donetsk region on Monday, killing five people and wounding at least 31 more, Ukrainian officials said.

One of the strikes, which targeted the Ukrainian portion of a region partially occupied by Russia, killed four civilians, and the other killed the deputy head of the regional branch of Ukraines State Emergency Service, Ukraines Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said in an online statement.

At least 31 people  including 19 policemen, five rescuers and one child  have been wounded in the attack, the official said.

The strikes damaged a hotel, residential buildings and other civilian structures, Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an online statement accused Russia of trying to leave nothing but broken and scorched stones in eastern Ukraine. His remarks accompanied footage of a damaged, five-story residential building with one floor partially destroyed.

The deadly attack came just a day after officials from around 40 countries gathered in Saudi Arabia to find a peaceful settlement for the war in Ukraine. Russias Foreign Ministry on Monday denounced the two-day talks in Jeddah as not having the slightest added value because Moscow  unlike Kyiv  wasnt invited.

A statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry repeated previous assurances that Moscow is open to a diplomatic solution on its terms that would end the 17-month-old war, and that it is ready to respond to serious proposals. The Kremlins demands include Kyiv recognizing its annexation of four Ukrainian regions, which Russian forces at this point only partially control, and Crimea, which Moscow seized in 2014.

But Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Zelenskyy, ruled out Moscows previous demands that would give Russia time to dig in deeper in the parts of Ukraine it has occupied. He said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Russian forces must fully withdraw from the occupied areas and there would be no compromise by Kyiv on that.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Security Service announced Monday it had detained an alleged Russian informant who gathered intelligence about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys trip to the southern Mykolaiv region last month.

It claimed the woman was collecting data for an airstrike during Zelenskyys visit.

The woman attempted to establish Zelenskyys route, times and visits in the region. She was detained when she tried to pass the information to the Russians, the statement said, without providing evidence.

Zelenskyy has been a prime target for the Kremlin since Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022, when he refused to leave Kyiv as Moscows forces approached.

He has been one of Ukraines unexpected trump cards in the war, playing a key role in rallying public morale, including a nightly video address, and becoming a recognizable face across the world as he presses allies and others to help Ukraine.

Also on Monday, Russian shelling struck a nine-story residential building in the city of Kherson, killing one person and wounding four others, according to regional Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin. He said Kherson had endured a tough night as the Russians covered the central part of the city with fire.

A 57-year-old woman was killed and four people were wounded in the Russian shelling of a village in the northeastern Kharkiv province, Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said.

(AP)




A fast food restaurant named Honky Donky in the Argentinian town of Rafaela has ignited a wave of public outrage after offering a menu featuring offensive references to historical figures, including Adolf Hitler and Anne Frank. The establishments menu items, such as the Adolf cheese and bacon-covered French fries and the Ana Frank hamburger, are facing severe criticism for their lack of regard for historical sensitivities.

The controversy came to light when the Rafaela Jewish Community Facebook page condemned the restaurants menu, expressing their most heartfelt disapproval and indignation. The community urged Honky Donky to remove menu items associated with the Holocaust, specifically those referencing Hitler, Benito Mussolini, and Anne Frank.

Ariel Rosenthal, a representative of the Rafaela Jewish Community, stated that they were initially made aware of the disturbing marketing campaign in March. They engaged in discussions with the restaurants owners, who had promised to take down the offensive items. However, the menu choices remained unchanged, prompting the communitys strong rebuke.

Responding to mounting criticism, Honky Donky issued an apology via Instagram. The restaurant also announced plans to rename the controversial menu items after defenders of peace and human rights. Proposed new names include iconic figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Dalai Lama, Barack (sic) Obama, Teresa of Calcutta, Carlos Mujica, Nelson Mandela, Mikhail (sic) Gorbachev, Pope John Paul II, among others.

The incident has triggered a renewed discussion about Argentinas historical ties to Nazi Germany. Following the defeat of the Third Reich, numerous former members sought refuge in Argentina, purportedly with some level of support from the Argentine government. This controversial history has contributed to the resurgence of Nazi ideologies in pockets of South American society. In recent years, far-right movements in the region have seen a rise in Nazi sympathies.

Examples of this trend abound, including a school shooting in Brazil in November 2022 by a former student donning Nazi symbols, resulting in fatalities and injuries. Another incident in Brazil saw a teenager attack a school using homemade bombs while wearing a Swastika.

Instances of Nazi glorification have also emerged in other Latin American countries. A Colombian police academy hosted a state-sponsored cultural exchange event where participants dressed as Nazis, with one person impersonating Adolf Hitler. A Mexican couple even held a Nazi-themed wedding, bizarrely citing Hitlers veganism as their inspiration. And in Peru, authorities seized a significant amount of cocaine stamped with Swastika symbols en route to Europe in May.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




The U.S. Justice Department is cooperating with the International Criminal Court and supporting Ukrainian prosecutors carrying out war crime investigation s, Attorney General Merrick Garland said Monday as he reaffirmed his departments aid more than a year after the Russian invasion.

Congress recently allowed for new U.S. flexibility in assisting the court with investigations into foreign nationals related to Ukraine, and the Justice Department will be a key part of the United States cooperation, Garland said.

We are not waiting for the hostilities to end before pursuing justice and accountability. We are working closely with our international partners to gather evidence and build cases so that we are ready when the time comes to hold the perpetrators accountable, he said in a speech to the American Bar Association in Denver.

He appointed a prosecutor to serve at a center opened last month in The Hague to support nations building cases against senior Russian leaders for the crime of aggression. International Center for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression will not issue indictments or arrest warrants for suspects but will instead support investigations already underway in Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

The ICC does not have jurisdiction to prosecute aggression in Ukraine because Russia and Ukraine have not ratified the Rome Statute that founded the court, though Ukraines prosecutor general has said they plan to join.

The United States also is not an ICC member state. Since the Treaty of Rome, which established the court, took effect, successive U.S. administrations beginning during Bill Clintons presidency have taken a largely hands off approach toward the ICC due to concerns it might open investigations and prosecute American soldiers or senior officials.

Although it is not a member of the court, the U.S. has cooperated with the ICC in the past on war crimes issues, notably during the Obama administration when Washington contributed evidence to the investigation into atrocities allegedly committed by the Lords Resistance Army in Uganda and surrounding states in east Africa.

However, American antipathy toward the tribunal reached new heights during the Trump administration when it imposed sanctions on the former ICC chief prosecutor and several aides for pursuing investigations into alleged war crimes committed by U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq and Israeli servicemembers in the West Bank and Gaza.

The Biden administration rescinded those sanctions shortly after taking office and its decision to actively assist the court with Ukraine investigations marks another step toward cooperation with the ICC.

The Justice Department is giving wide-ranging assistance to Ukraine, from training on prosecuting environmental crimes to help developing a secure electronic case-management system for more than 90,000 suspected atrocity crimes. Garland also touted the $500 million seized assets and over three dozen indictments the department has handed down to enforce sanctions.

Ukraine must do three things simultaneously: it must fight a war; it must investigate war crimes; and it must ensure that a just society comes out on the other side of the war, he said. The Justice Department is honored to stand with them.

Garland also encouraged more private lawyers to volunteer to help Ukrainian victims. He recalled how his grandmother and his wifes family were able to flee Europe as refugees to the United States and avoid the Holocaust. Other relatives were killed by the Nazis.

We do not know if anyone involved in their deaths were held accountable, Garland said. The families of the victims of the current atrocities in Ukraine deserve to know what happened to their loved ones. They deserve justice.

(AP)




In a jaw-dropping incident reminiscent of an action flick, a car was purposely propelled into the air before crashing through the roof of a two-story Pennsylvania home, where it dangled perilously from a second-floor bedroom.

The dramatic event unfolded on Sunday afternoon, leaving locals and authorities astonished at the unbelievable spectacle.

At approximately 3:15 p.m., emergency responders from the Junction Fire Company were dispatched to Alfarata Road in Decatur Township, where the shocking crash occurred. Upon arrival, they were met with an astonishing sight: a Toyota Corolla had become lodged onto the homes roof and had pierced through a dormer, creating a gaping hole in the side of the house.

The driver somehow managed to exit the vehicle and was transported to a local hospital for medical evaluation. Remarkably, none of the occupants within the home suffered harm from the shocking incident.

Astounding photographs shared by the fire company captured the sheer intensity of the crash. The images displayed the Corolla perched atop the lower roof over the front porch, its front end severely damaged and wedged into the now-askew dormer. Fragments of shattered wood littered the roof and the yard below, creating a surreal scene.

From an internal vantage point, another photograph revealed the interior of the car juxtaposed with the external world. The wall of what was once a room adorned with plaid wallpaper was now nonexistent, replaced by the sight of the Corollas side within the dwelling.

The aftermath of the crash was strewn with debris and destruction. Broken wood and construction materials covered the floor, alongside remnants of an old treadmill that remarkably remained upright. A displaced bed added to the chaos, flipped onto its side in the midst of the wreckage.

Swift action was taken by emergency personnel to stabilize the structure and prevent further collapse. Homeowners worked with responders to cover the void with a tarp, a precautionary measure in anticipation of impending storms.

The circumstances surrounding the crash took an unexpected turn when Pennsylvania State Police announced that the incident was not merely an accident. Investigators from the states law enforcement agency shared their findings, revealing that a deliberate act was behind the astounding crash. State troopers disclosed that their investigation led to the conclusion that the crash was intentional, and charges were pending against the driver responsible for the astonishing event.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




Now that last months sizzling numbers are all in, the European climate monitoring organization made it official: July 2023 was Earths hottest month on record by a wide margin.

Julys global average temperature of 16.95 degrees Celsius (62.51 degrees Fahrenheit) was a third of a degree Celsius (six tenths of a degree Fahrenheit) higher than the previous record set in 2019, Copernicus Climate Change Service announced Tuesday. Normally global temperature records are broken by hundredths or a tenth of a degree, so this margin is unusual.

These records have dire consequences for both people and the planet exposed to ever more frequent and intense extreme events, said Copernicus deputy director Samantha Burgess. There have been deadly heat waves in the Southwestern United States and Mexico, Europe and Asia. Scientific quick studies put the blame on human-caused climate change from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas.

The previous single-day heat record was set in 2016 and tied in 2022. From July 3, each day has exceeded that record. Its been so warm that Copernicus and the World Meteorological Organization made the unusual announcement that it was likely the hottest month days before it ended. Tuesdays calculations made it official.

We should not care about July because its a record, but because it wont be a record for long, said Imperial College of London climate scientist Friederike Otto. Its an indicator of how much we have changed the climate. We are living in a very different world, one that our societies are not adapted to live in very well.

The global average temperature last month was 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than pre-industrial times. In 2015, the nations of the world agreed to try to prevent long-term warming  not individual months or even years, but decades  that is 1.5 degrees warmer than pre-industrial times.

Last month was so hot, it was .7 degrees Celsius (1.3 degrees Fahrenheit) hotter than the average July from 1991 to 2020, Copernicus said. The worlds oceans were half a degree Celsius (0.9 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than the previous 30 years and the North Atlantic was 1.05 degrees Celsius (1.9 degrees Fahrenheit) hotter than average. Antarctica set record lows for sea ice, 15% below average for this time of year.

Copernicus, a division of the European Unions space program, has records going back to 1940. Julys temperature would be hotter than any month the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has recorded and their records go back to 1850. But scientists say its actually the hottest in a far longer time period.

(AP)




Georgia could join other states requiring children to have their parents explicit permission to create social media accounts.

Two top Republicans in the Georgia state Senate  Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Sen. Jason Anavitarte of Dallas  said in a Monday news conference they will seek to pass such a law in 2024. The proposal could also restrict accounts on other online services.

Its important that we empower parents, Anavitarte said. A lot of parents dont know how to restrict content.

Anavitarte said Georgias rules would be modeled on a law Louisiana passed this year. That measure, which takes effect in 2024, says social media services must verify an account holders age and cant let someone younger than 18 join without parental consent.

Arkansas, Texas and Utah also passed laws this year requiring parental consent for children to use social media. Some in Congress are also proposing parental consent for minors.

California last year enacted a law requiring online services to do more to protect childrens privacy and safety.

Anavitarte said he has briefly been in contact with Meta Platforms, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram. He and Jones said they would discuss plans with the social media giant.

The move comes after U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warned in May that social media hasnt been proven to be safe for young people. Murthy called on tech companies, parents and caregivers to take immediate action to protect kids now. He asked tech companies to share data and increase transparency and for policymakers to regulate social media for safety the way they do car seats and baby formula.

To comply with federal regulation, social media companies already ban kids under 13 from signing up to their platforms, but children have been shown to easily evade the bans.

Up to 95% of teens aged 13 to 17 report using a social media platform, with more than a third saying they use them almost constantly, the Pew Research Center found.

Anavitarte also said he wants to strengthen Georgias law on cyberbullying. Existing law requires any student found to have engaged in bullying three times be sent to an alternative school. Anavitarte said he wants to revive his 2022 proposal requiring schools to warn students and parents that some acts of bullying could lead to criminal stalking penalties.

Meta announced last year that it was taking steps to verify someones age, including letting people upload their ID or record a video selfie; and partnering with an age verification company. Meta says it provides age-appropriate experiences for teens 13-17 on Instagram, including preventing unwanted contact from unknown adults.

Anavitarte this year sponsored a new law that bans TikTok, Telegram, WeChat and other applications from being installed or used on state-owned computers.

Free speech advocates warn the measures could lead sites to wall off information and even make it harder for adults to reach it.

The new laws could also lead platforms to require people to use government ID to verify age.

(AP)




Following the attempted terror attack that took place in the Kiryat Herzog neighborhood of Bnei Brak last month, the residents made a decision to strengthen Shemiras Shabbos and close the area to traffic on Shabbos.

About a month ago, an Arab terrorist stabbed an avreich in Kiryat Herzog, a formerly secular neighborhood that borders both Bnei Brak and Tel Aviv. BChasdei Hashem, the avreich was only lightly injured and the terrorist was quickly caught and arrested.

The nature of Kiryat Herzog has changed in recent years, with a rise in Chareidi residents, but the neighborhood was not closed to traffic on Shabbos. Following the attack, the residents of the area held a meeting, and the subject of the promise of HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, ztl, was brought up. HaRav Chaim, ztl, famously said in the name of the Chazon Ish that the zechus of the Torah learned in Bnei Brak protects the city from enemy attacks.

One of the neighborhood residents told BChadrei Chareidim: We discussed how after the previous attack in the adjoining neighborhood, Pardes Katz, during which two Jews [and three non-Jews] were murdered, which was after the death of HaRav Chaim, ztl  many asked if the bracha no longer applies after his petirah.

At the time, they sent the question to HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Zilberstein, who responded that the bracha definitely still applies after HaRav Chaims petirah but the problem is that there is Chillul Shabbos in Pardes Katz and the streets arent closed on Shabbos.

The letter caused quite a stir at the time. Now, following the attempted attack in Kiryat Herzog, all the Chareidi residents of the neighborhood woke up, and the amazing thing is that the secular residents also woke up, and got involved. A decision was made to take action and have all the residents sign a petition to close the roads of the neighborhood on Shabbos. It was unbelievable that many of the residents who arent Shomrei Torah UMitzvos hurried to sign the petition even before the Chareidi residents as they understood that Shemiras Shabbos would protect them.

So we began to pressure anyone we could in the municipality and managed to put the issue on the agenda of the Traffic Committee although it wasnt on the schedule. Even Bnei Brak Mayor Avraham Rubinstein, who usually doesnt attend the committees meetings, came especially so everyone can pull their weight with all the various parties, from the police to the Transportation Ministry, so that Kiryat Herzog can be legally closed on Shabbos. The request was approved by the committee and official traffic signs were placed at the entrance to Kiryat Herzog announcing that it is forbidden by law to enter the neighborhood on Shabbos Kodesh and Chagim.

After it was successfully approved, we told HaRav Zilberstein about how we were mechazik in Shemiras Shabbos due to his statements and requested a special bracha for the residents.

HaRav Zilberstein was very moved and said that Shabbos is the mekor of bracha and undoubtedly Shabbos will repay us many times over for our efforts for its kavod. Afterward, the Rav wrote a special letter of chizzuk, saying that Shemiras Shabbos protects us from our enemies and is a segulah to hasten the geulah and and Hashem will help that in the zechus of the increased kedushah in the neighborhood, there wont be further incidents on the streets.

HaRav Zilbersteins letter was distributed and hung everywhere in the neighborhood, in every building, and was the cause of great excitement among the residents.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Acwa Power, a Saudi-listed company and the largest private water desalination company, has been recognised by Global Water Intelligence (GWI) as the worlds largest water project developer outside of China.

Also the first mover into green hydrogen, and a leader in energy transition, Acwa Power takes a significant lead on GWIs July list of top global water project developers, with 6.8 million cu m per day of gross capacity and 3.2 million cu m per day of net capacity.

In 2022 alone, the company added 2.4 million cu m per day of water desalination capacity via four desalination plants in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE - the highest in its history.

The figures reflect Acwa Power's success in the highly competitive GCC desalination market, speaking to its capability in consistently securing development contracts for the most significant independent water projects in the region.

On the key recognition, CEO Marco Arcelli said: "We are honoured to have been recognised by an esteemed organisation such as the Global Water Intelligence as the worlds largest water project developer outside of China. Our impact extends beyond Saudi Arabia."

The GWIs list covers private and semi-private companies that have delivered water and wastewater treatment projects using private finance by taking equity stakes in project companies, covering both the gross capacity and the aggregated capacity based on the percentage size of stakes they hold in the plants.

"We are already present in 12 countries and counting, with our water portfolio represented in 4 of them, and we plan to more than double our capacity by 2030. We plan to invest in new markets in Central Asia, China, Southeast Asia, Africa, and of course the Middle East," he stated.

"Most importantly, we are incredibly proud of our teams that tirelessly strive and work closely with local communities and other stakeholders to ensure our projects are aligned with our commitment to provide potable water in a responsible, sustainable and cost-effective manner," said Arcelli.

With more than 15 Integrated Water Projects (IWPs) in the pipeline for the next five years in the GCC, Acwa Power is well-positioned to take advantage of these opportunities, while expanding its reach into emerging markets, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has recognized Ukrainian soldiers who have achieved significant success in destroying Russian occupants in the Bakhmut direction of the front. He thanked the rescuers and fighters of the Lyut brigade of the Offensive Guards.

ADVERTISIMENT

The head of state said this during his traditional evening address to the Ukrainian people on August 7. According to him, these successes are very important (to view the video, scroll to the end of the page).

"Front. I note the Bakhmut direction. The 3rd and 5th separate assault brigades, the assault brigade of the National Police Lyut, the 92nd separate mechanized brigade. There are successes in destroying the occupiers, important successes. I thank you, warriors!" - stated the guarantor.

ADVERTISIMENT

In addition, the President recognized the employees of the State Emergency Service of Kherson region: Vitaliy Murzenko and Volodymyr Yavtushenko, employees of the State Emergency Service of Kharkiv region: Serhiy Gladkikh and Andriy Solyanikov.

He also thanked the workers of the State Emergency Service of Dnipropetrovsk region: Kostyantyn Poturaiko and Vitaliy Denisenko, and all the workers of the State Emergency Service of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, Zaporizhzhya, Odessa region, and the entire staff of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.

At the same time, the President expressed condolences to the relatives of Colonel Andriy Omelchenko, deputy head of the State Emergency Situations Service in Donetsk region, who was killed as a result of shelling of Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, by Russian troops on the evening of August 7.

ADVERTISIMENT

As OBOZREVATEL reported, Russian war criminals have again committed a brutal crime against the Ukrainian people. They shelled Pokrovsk in Donetsk region. The occupiers struck two blows with minimal time difference and hit a multi-story building in particular. There are casualties among civilians.

Only verified information from us in Telegram-channel Obozrevatel and in Viber. Do not fall for fakes!




by Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Home

The incident happened a number of years before Rav Elyashiv ztl was niftar. There was some negativity on the part of some members of the right wing community rl against Rav Elyashiv ztl because they disagreed with one or two of his rulings. Some engaged in name calling rl against the Gadol HaDor. Others even did worse.

Once, Rav Elyashiv was walking with someone speaking in learning. Across the street, someone was engaged in vociferous name-calling. Rav Elyashive suggested that they cross the street and give him brachos and engage in Ahavas Yisroel.

They did. Rav Elyashiv ztl asked if he had children. He responded that he did not. Rav Elyashiv gave him a shefa of brachos that he should very soon merit yiddishe kinder and that he raise them al pi derech yisroel saba and that he should fulfill the Mitzvah of veshinantam levanecha in the greatest of hiddur and that he should be so busy with these that he will not have time for narishkeit.

Within a year of this incident, the persons wife gave birth to triplets. Within the next year, his wife had twins. The entire city of Yerushalayim was nishtomem from this remarkable incident.

The author can be reached at [email protected]




The prestigious Princeton University in the US is offering a new humanities course in the fall that claims, among other things, that the IDF harvests the organs of Palestinians, Ynet reported this week.

The course, called Decolonizing Trauma Studies from the Global South, is based on a book by Prof. Jsbir Puar in which she makes numerous fabricated claims, including that Israel has a policy of targeted shooting of Palestinians to maim, not to kill and that the bodies of Palestinian children are mined for organs for scientific research by the IDF.

Puar, who is the head of the Gender Studies program at Rutgers University in New Jersey, has repeatedly accused Israel of ethnic cleansing in worldwide lectures.

Several scholars have been tracing maiming as a deliberate biopolitical tactic on the part of Israel in the occupation of Palestine, Puar said in a talk on ecological feminism at Dartmouth University.

Medical personnel in both Gaza and the West Bank reported mounting evidence of shoot-to-cripple practices of the IDF, more accurately called the Israeli Occupation Forces, noting an increasing shift from using traditional means such as tear gas and rubber bullets, rubber-coated metal to disperse crowds to firing at knees, femurs or aiming for their vital organs, she added.

According to Ynet, the courses reading materials were carefully reviewed and approved by the faculty.

Other academics excoriated the courses content, saying that it provides zero educational value.

It just gives a lot of third-rate professors a platform from which to indoctrinate students into left-wing ideologies, said Professor Jason Hill from the University of DePaul in Chicago.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




Leftists traveled to the site where Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his wife are vacationing this week and when they were denied entry to the moshav, filed an urgent petition to the Supreme Court.

The Netanyahus are staying in the Panda Resort in the Neve Ativ moshav in Ramat HaGolan, at the foot of Har Chermon. Prior to their arrival, a large number of police forces hermetically closed off the moshav, allowing entry only to residents and hotel guests.

Dozens of protesters, who traveled to the moshav on Monday evening on organized buses, tried to infiltrate the moshav in roundabout ways but were stopped by police forces. Achim LNeshek protesters set up a tent camp outside the moshav and slept there overnight Monday.

Meanwhile, the protesters filed an urgent petition to the Supreme Court for a conditional order to allow them to enter the moshav and protest outside the hotel where Netanyahu is staying, claiming that the police are preventing them from exercising their basic right to freedom of expression and protest.

Attorney Gonen Ben-Yitzchak said: Were seeing an incident reserved for dark, dictatorial regimes. The ruler and his wife are on vacation in a site that was closed off. All thats missing is the Pirchei Yerushalayim choir to show up and cheer for the couple so they wont hear what the people think of them.

         ",   "   pic.twitter.com/CtqVUkhfZf    N12 (@N12News) August 8, 2023

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for The Five Towns Jewish Home

This Sidra has 20 Parshios

1. Choosing  Moshe tells us see that I placed before you a blessing and a curse. If we choose to follow Hashems path we will be blessed. If we choose not to listen to His Mitzvos we will be cursed. The word See is singular; and the word you is plural. The Kli Yakar explains that one individual can influence everyone to a particular path. Such is the power of one person! A Hitler ymach shmo influenced all of Germany to be Nazis. A Churchill influenced the British to fight them. This is a remarkable lesson.

2. Unity in Worship  Moshe tells us to surely destroy all the Avodah Zarah in the land and not to worship Hashem the way the nations in Eretz Yisroel lhavdil worship their gods. We offer Korbanos only in the place that Hashem will choose. Why the double language Abaid tabdun  you shall surely destroy? Rashi explains that when it comes to such vile evil as Avodah Zarah- it is not enough to destroy it, but to uproot it and steps must be taken to ensure that it not rise again. The Torah warns us against merely mowing the lawn with Avodah Zarah. This lesson is contemporary as well, and surely applies to countenancing murderers and terrorists within our midst too.

3. Meat not from a Korban  Moshe tells us that Hashem widens our borders and we will desire to eat meat we may do so in the manner that Hashem has taught us. The Kli Yakar points out that desire and the need for consumption only comes when we have a broadening of belongings. In other words, more belongings and material acquisitions breeds a greater desire for more. This is a lesson in providing for ourselves self-imposed limitations.

4. Worshipping Hashem with Avodah Zarah  The Torah warns us against utilizing foreign ideas in our worship of Hashem. Why is there a need to warn us, is this not obvious? Perhaps we can observe from here that the appeal of modern culture and the street is extremely strong and could warp our very method of thought.

5. The False Prophet  The verses tell us that if the words of a false prophet come out true and he tells you to follow other gods do not listen to him. The Ramban explains that some people have prophet-like powers (Koach Nevii) by virtue of extra insight into knowledge, even though they are not prophets. They do not know where this comes from and attribute it to prophecy. The lesson is that we should not be overly enamored by seemingly unimpeccable knowledge and insights  there are natural explanations for it.

6. A Maisis  Avodah Zarah Missionary  The punishment for someone who attempts to convert others to Avodah Zarah is that he is put to death by the very people he tried to influence. Rav Pam ztl pointed out that this is a serious punishment for someone who was woefully unsuccessful. The very person that he tried to influence turned against him  yet the punishment is so severe. Rav Pam explains that when someone is involved in outreach  even if he is unsuccessful, imagine how much more so is the reward!

7. An Ir HaNidachas  A City of Avodah Zarah. The Torah tells us to destroy it if it is in one of the cities that Hashem gives us. No mention is made of Eretz Yisroel. There is a debate between the Netziv (Yes) and the Vilna Gaon (No) as to whether this applies outside of Eretz Yisroel or not. Perhaps, according to the Vilna Gaon the Torah was purposely vague here as to how to darshen the verses in order to create doubt about we should interact with such a city outside of Israel and thus stay away from them. If so, we see that the Torah uses all sorts of methods, including purposeful vagaries, to ensure our adherence to Torah. We should learn to emulate this as parents and teachers in teaching.



8. Responsibilities of a Chosen People  The verses begin with the realization that we are Hashems children. The Ibn Ezra and other Rishonim point out that the realization that we are loved  even more so than children, will inspire us to careful adherence to Hashems Mitzvos which are ultimately for our good. This notion needs to be stressed more regularly. Realizing how and the extent of our being loved is crucial in leading the proper Torah life. This needs to be stressed.

9. Forbidden Animals

10. Fish and other Water Creatures

11. Birds. Hashem forbade the consumption of many animals, fish, and birds. The Ramban explains that there is a koach haTumah  a negative spiritual energy that descends upon a Jew who consumes the foods that the Torah forbade. This negative energy prevents us from thriving in Torah as well as in cleaving to Hashem. The laws of Kashrus are the flag of the Jewish people. Just as it is wrong to desecrate the American flag, it is wrong to desecrate the Jewish flag. People who were raised in a place where the values of America are not stressed, do not understand this. They should still respect the flag. Jews who were raised in a place where the values of Judaism are not stressed should likewise respect the Jewish flag.

12. Maaser Shaini

13. Maaser Ani  We switch to Maaser Ani on the 3rd and 6th years. The values of Maaser Ani is to teach us to help people, while the value of Maaser Shaini is to connect to Hashem in Yerushalayim. Rab SZ Revach explains that the Maaser years overlap in that at times we must remove one from the previous crop and the other from the current. This teaches us the importance of ensuring that we always retain both values.



14. The Shmitta Year  The Mitzvah of Shmita includes forgiving a loan to your brother. The Sefer HaChinuch explains that the purpose of this Mitzvah is to introduce into our souls the qualities of giving, of generosity, and of faith in Hashem. Forgiving a loan also assists us in staying far away from theft and robbery. While the introduction of the pruzbul (a workaround that enables loans to be collected even in Shmita) may have been necessary to ensure the economic viability of our system, it is still very important to imbue these values on perhaps some of our outstanding loans.

15. Charity- The pasuk introduces the Mitzvos of charity with the words If there will be within you a poor person.  The Alshich explains that the word  bcha WITHIN YOU is used here to tell you that Hashem sent the poor to you for YOUR BENEFIT. This is a lesson not to forget and to ensure that you never send them away empty-handed for your own benefit.

16. The Eved Ivri  The Torah tells us to provide for the Eved Ivri with Haanaka  cattle, sheep, and what Hashem has blessed you with  when he is about to be set free. The Midrash Lekach Tov explains that this assistance is whether or not you have seen success from his work from you. The implication is that if we have seen success from his work, we should give him even more. Our great Rabbis have said that we should treat employees following the same blueprint as the Eved Ivri. Behaving in such a manner not only fulfills Hashems will  it improves our nature as well.

17. First Born Animals  The Pasuk tells us that one may not consume the blood of the firstborn animal  rather it should be poured upon the ground like water. The Gemorah (Chullin 83a) derives from here that there is no Mitzvah of Kisui HaDam on domesticated animals  only upon birds and upon Chayos  undomesticated animals. Why the difference? Rav Malka of Carmiel cites a remarkable answer. The bird and the chaya prefer to cast their lot only with Hashem and always try to escape the dominion of man. Their blood must be covered because of the profound nature of their reliance upon G-d. The domesticated animal has severed its Bitachon in Hashem and prefers to cast its lot with man alone. Its blood can be cast upon the earth like water. Contemplating this idea can significantly improve our Emunah and Bitachon in Hashem.

18. Pesach  The Psukim previously had discussed the exodus from Egypt and the sanctification of the first born animals. Now the Psukim tell us of the Mitzvah of guarding the month of Aviv  which emans to ensure that this month will always come out in the spring (through adding an extra month every so often to make up for the 11 day discrpency between 12 lunar months and the solar year). The Psukim then tell of the Mitzvah of keeping Passover. The Tzror HaMor explains that this Mitzvah of guarding the month is given to us specifically because in this month the great redemption happened as well as the sanctification of the firstborn. We show appreciation even to inanimate and abstract things such as a month  to develop ourselves in appreciative human beings who recognize good and show hakaras hatov. This is a fundamental of the Torah way of life.

19. Shavuos  The Torah tells us to observe Shavuos and remember that we were once slaves in Egypt and should therefore observe these Mitzvos. The Chezkuni asks why Shavuos is the only Yom Tov where this is mentioned. He answers that since there are no other holiday specific activities to Shavuos  there is a concern that we will be lax and not observe the Mitzvah of going up to Yerushalayim. The Pasuk thus reminds us that we were slaves in Mitzrayim unable to be happy  therefore we must do it. We see from here that when we are not actively engaged, there is a chance of slacking off. The Torah teaches us to address these possibilities whenever there the issue of non-engagement arises. This is an important lesson.

20. Sukkos  The Torah tells us to celebrate Sukkos for seven days and to make the holiday joyous. The Baal HaTurim asks why the command to make the holiday joyous was not stated in regard to Passover. He answers that at this point, a persons crops are still in the field and it is not known whether they will be stricken. Thus, the command to be joyous would be hampered by the underlying anxiety. The Torah here is teaching us that we must be subtly sensitive to peoples situations, particularly as it concerns anxieties. Rather than demanding adherence to a near impossible requirement, the Torah realized our limitations and did not write the obligation of Simcha. The biblical obligation for Simcha does exist (See Tosfos Chagiga 8a), however, but the Torah realized that some will be unable to fulfill it, and thus did not mention it specifically.

The author can be reached at [email protected]




[By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Home]

A few years ago, a directive from the Israel Medical Association instructed all doctors and medics to triage all casualties at a terror scene according to the severity of their wounds. The directive explicitly said, including the terrorists who carried out the attack. This means that if a terrorist stabs five Jews, rl, and gets shot, if his condition is worse than the victims, he should be treated first.

The IMAs rules replaced an earlier 2008 directive that was based on the principle of charity begins at home, which enabled medical professionals to treat victims first. The decision to change the guidelines came after an appeal to the Ethical Bureau of the IMA. The appeal came from the Physicians for Human Rights group who argued that the previous rules contradicted accepted medical ethics and international humanitarian laws.

While Israeli doctors and medical staff see it as an ethical duty to attend to the injuries of terrorists and treat them the same as they would victims, until the recent change they were able to prioritize victims rather than perpetrators. But now, with the new directives, if the terrorist is more severely injured, he must be treated before his victims.

At first glance, it seems like the type of inane directive that would make ones blood boil.

The Ethics Bureau is the only legal body in Israel that decides ethical standards for Israeli medical staff. Its rulings apply to doctors, paramedics, emergency services, and nurses. But is the IMA correct?

As in all matters of halacha, the underlying issues need to be properly explored, and we must leave emotion behind. The underlying issue is the idea of Aiva and its parameters. Aiva literally means hate. Halacha tells us that when certain actions on our part would engender an excessive, hate-filled reaction on the part of others, we can and must temper or change those actions on our part.

In Shulchan Aruch (YD 158:1), we find that the idea of Aiva allows us to provide medical care that would save a life of someone that halacha would normally not sanction to provide for that care. Tosfos in Gittin 70a (Rav Shimi Bar Ashi) explains that Rav Shimi possibly cured such a person on account of Aiva. [Imagine that a Nazi leader was shot, for example, in Hitlers famous Beer Hall Putsch. Would it have been permitted for Jews to provide that Nazi leader with medical care? Normally, halacha would not sanction it, but if it may lead to Aiva, it would be permitted. As a historical note, two Jewish women did provide such medical assistance to Herman Goering, ys, when he was shot at the Putsch. Their actions did not help stop the Holocaust, however.]

In Shulchan Aruch (OC 334:26), the Remah rules that if a fire breaks out in a gentile location and the Jew is present, it is permitted to violate Shabbos and put out the fire, so that they not accuse us and the matter would lead to Aiva. Now, while it could be that this is considered a melacha shaina tzricha lgufa, it still appears to all as a full-fledged Biblical prohibition.

Why We Treat Terrorists In General

Terrorists are murderers of innocent people, and once cured of whatever ails them will probably go out and murder again. Yet if terrorists are not treated, then other innocents will suffer. Other countries and enemies will refrain from providing treatment to innocent people. Therefore, we are treating them so that mankind in general will benefit. When two doctors had the question of treating terrorists posed to Rav Elyashiv, ztl, he ruled that they should be treated on account of Aiva. This is cited by his son-in-law Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein shlita in his sefer.



Rav Chaim Kanievsky ztl, however, ruled that terrorists may not be treated.

A Fascinating Meshech Chochmah

Regarding the mitzvah of eishes yefas toar, Meshech Chochmah on Devarim 21:10, asks why it was necessary for the Torah to write the following bolded words in the whole verse, When you go to war against your enemies and Hashem delivers them into your hands and you take captives, if you notice among the captives a beautiful woman and are attracted to her, you may take her as your wife. It would have made sense to just write, When you go to war against your enemies and you take captives!

The Meshech Chochmah answers that only when you have completely vanquished the enemy would it be permitted to take a captive woman as a wife. Otherwise, the enemy may also capture your women and they may forcibly marry them against their will if they hear that you had married one of their captive women.

Not All Aivas Are The Same

Clearly, not every Aiva is created equally. Rav Moshe Feinstein, YD 1 #184 cites a number of sources where some Aivas would permit Shabbos violation, while others would not. The Chelkas Yaakov YD #168 also differentiates between different times and places in regard to Aiva. How bad is this particular Aiva and will it adversely affect the way innocent people are treated in other countries and places?

Where Could Aiva Still Affect The Innocent?

The terrorists who stab and kill still have lantzmen who empathize with them in Turkey, Iran and in other areas too. Is it really beyond the pale of our imagination that the Iranians and the Turks would not retaliate against Jews if we started to delay treatment of injured terrorists? Do they so understand the evils of terrorism that they would refuse retaliation?

Other Mitzvos in Treating the Victims First

Five other mitzvos, both positive and negative, are involved in treating the victims. Do we push off the fulfillment of these five other mitzvos on account of Aiva? Or should we first fulfill these Mitzvos?

The Positive Mitzvos

Vahasheivoso Lo. The verse in Parashas Ki Teitzei (Devarim 22:2) discusses the mitzvah of hashavas aveidah, returning an object with the words, Vahasheivoso loand you shall return it to him. The Gemara in Sanhedrin (73a), however, includes within its understanding of these words the obligation of returning his own life to him as well. For example, if thieves are threatening to pounce upon him, there is an obligation of Vahasheivoso lo. This verse is the source for the mitzvah of saving someones life. It is highly probable that it is to this general mitzvah that the Shulchan Aruch refers to in Shulchan Aruch, Orech Chaim 325.

Vchai Achicha Imach. The Sheiltos (Sheilta #37), based upon the Gemara in Bava Metzia 62a, understands these words to indicate an obligation to save others with you. The Netziv in his HeEmek Sheailah understands it as a full-fledged obligation according to all opinions. He writes that he must exert every effort to save his friends life, until it becomes pikuach nefesh for himself.

Vahavta Lreyacha Kamocha. The Ramban, Toras haAdam Shaar HaSakana (p42-43) understands the verse of And love thy neighbor as yourself as a directive to save him from medical danger as well.

The Negative Commandments

Lo Saamod Al Dam Reyacha. There is a negative mitzvah of not standing idly by your brothers blood as well. This is mentioned in Shulchan Aruch (CM 426:1) and in the Rambam. Collectively, if we adopt such a policy in having armed people in every beis midrash in Eretz Yisrael, we can ensure that we do not stand idly by our brothers blood.



Lo Suchal Lhisalaym. There is yet another negative commandment associated with the positive commandment of hashavas aveidah, and that is the verse in Devarim (22:3), You cannot shut your eyes to it. This verse comes directly after the mitzvah of hashavas aveidah. The Netziv (HeEmek Sheailah) refers to this mitzvah as well.

Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein relates (Shiurei Torah LRofim Siman 289) a story from the Beis HaLevi. The issue of reinstituting the Korban Pesach had come up. The Beis HaLevi explained that he could probably find a halachic solution to all the outstanding halachic issues, however, to the hate that will cause Muslims to feel toward Jews who now are sacrificing once again on Har Habayis, and the subsequent violence done to Jews  to that  he can find no heter!

Conclusion

A good argument can be made that the moral high ground that must be taken is to stand up against terror. Terrorists should realize that when they engage in the murder of innocents, they are tacitly giving up their right to be treated before the victims that they themselves had created  even if their injuries are greater. Any other alternative does not provide a disincentive to engage in terrorism  it encourages it.

But while this is certainly true, it may be that we do not have the right to place others in harms way by saying these things publicly. It is this authors view that there are different levels of Aiva, as seen in the aforementioned Poskim. The Aiva engendered from low level aiva , however, may not be of sufficient level to push off fulfilling the other five obligations. However, officially releasing that this is what they are doing is, in this authors view, grossly irresponsible. How so? It causes and brings to light more Aiva, and could endanger others in Iran and Turkey.

The author can be reached at [email protected].




Reb Aharon Rokeach ztl was known as a Malach Ha-Elokim, a Tzaddik Hador who brought wondrous salvation to those in need.





Send your personal request to the tzion of Reb Aharon of Belz ztl

Reb Aharon experienced the devastation of the Belz community during the Holocaust. He and his brother, Reb Mordechai of Bilgorai ztl, spent most of the war hiding from the Nazis. Eventually, they were taken out of Europe via a series of miraculous escapes.

Under Reb Aharons leadership, Belz was reborn after the war.

Reb Aharons tzion is the second most visited Kever after Reb Shimon Bar Yochai  hundreds of thousands come to connect to the tzaddik and daven for salvation in his merit.

Here is one of the many stories that exemplify his miraculous ongoing yeshuos.

Less than two years ago, a young man who was a great supporter of Torah began to suffer from headaches. The pain progressed, and within a short time, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor rl.

Despite the best treatments, the situation deteriorated, and the young man was hospitalized with little hope of returning home once more.

His close friend suggested they visit the tzion of Reb Aharon, which is well known as a source of yeshuos and refuos. They snuck out of the hospital together and visited the tzion.

The young man cried bitterly when he reached the tzion and poured out his heart through davening and Tehillim. He pledged tzedakah to Reb Aharons yeshivas as a merit for a miracle.

The pair returned to the hospital uplifted with hope.

Several days later, the young man received the good news he had desperately been waiting for. The doctors were astounded. The cancer had suddenly begun to recede, and he was on the way to recovery.

Reb Aharon lost all his children during WWII, and considered the students of his yeshiva as his own children.

He said, Whoever supports my yeshiva, it is as if he has given to me personally.

By supporting the tzaddiks Torah networks of over 16,000 talmidim learning in Eretz Yisroel, Reb Aharon ztl will surely beseech on your behalf.

He would say, Baruch Hashem, I never stayed owing someone a favor!

We all need yeshuos. Join Klal Yisroel as we connect to Reb Aharon ztl and daven to Hashem for blessings in his merit on this special day, 21 Av, the day of his yahrzeit.

Send your personal kvittel request to the tzion of Reb Aharon of Belz ztl via Belz Institutions in Israel
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TORONTO, CANADA  Last month, Rabbi Yitzchok Melber, shlita, Founder and Director of Tahareinu, visited Toronto, reinforcing the organizations mission to spread taharah resources globally.

The highlight of the trip was an accomplishing two-hour meeting in the home of renowned Posek, Rabbi Shlomo Miller, shlita. Also in attendance were prominent local dayanim, Rabbi Chanoch Ehrentreu, shlita, and Rabbi Yacov Felder, shlita.

Rabbi Miller was pleased to hear Rabbi Melbers detailed updates on the latest medical advancements affecting the field of family purity, and offered his psak halachah regarding each matter. He commended the organization for its tireless efforts and stated, they are knowledgeable in these matters and we must help and support them.

This meeting came on the tail of a similar asifas rabbanim in the community ten years ago.

Rabbi Melber also delivered essential lectures, attended by local rabbanim, askanim, and medical professionals, including many talmidim of Rabbi Miller. Presenting the latest medical breakthroughs through a prism of practical halachah, Rabbi Melber opened their eyes to the most recent innovative solutions in this ever-evolving field. He left these key communal players with lots of food for thought and practical tools in their arsenal to be able to assist local couples in need of support.

A parlor meeting was held in the home of Mr. and Mrs. David Stein, who share Tahareinus crucial vision.

Tahareinu also teamed up with Small Wonders, a local organization that provides emotional support, education, and financial assistance to couples facing infertility. Bridging Tahareinus reach with local framework is one aspect of Rabbi Melbers honed expertise at focusing on the specific needs of the community.

The whirlwind trip opened the door to a positive future for womens health in Toronto, as in every other community touched by Tahareinu.
Page Group has warned that workers are becoming more reluctant to accept jobs due to the economic climate.

The recruiting giant reported that it is on track to meet expectations, but that the market had become more challenging in the last half year.

Revenue increased 5.8 per cent to just over 1bn in the six months to the end of June.

Jobs threat: Page Group reported that it is on track to meet expectations, but that the market had become more challenging in the last half year

But pre-tax profit was down nearly 45 per cent to 63.3million as the firm also revealed it had cut 450 jobs this year after a slowdown in demand.

Page added that there had been some reluctance to accept offers among clients on its books.

Profit in Europe, the Middle East and Africa  which makes up 55 per centof Page Groups total  was up 8.1 per cent.

The company saw worse performances in the Americas - down 5.5 per cent - Asia-Pacific - off 18.3 per cent - and the UK - a fall of 13.2 per cent.

Boss Nicholas Kirk said: Looking forward, there remains a high level of global macro-economic and political uncertainty in the majority of our markets.
UK fund managers have come under fire after it emerged many had cut back their holdings in major British defence stocks since Russias invasion of Ukraine last year.

Fund managers based in the UK have slashed their holdings in companies including BAE Systems and Qinetiq by an average of 9 per cent since the start of 2022, according to data from the London Stock Exchange Group.

At the same time, EU investors increased their ownership of British defence groups by 9 per cent while raising exposure to European companies by 4 per cent.

The move by British fund managers underlines major concerns in Westminster that the sector lacks support in the City of London.

The decisions have also puzzled military observers, particularly as many firms have seen demand boom after the invasion of Ukraine in February last year.

Flying the flag: BAE Systems makes parts for the RAF Typhoon fighter jet - but UK investors have been dumping stock in British defence firms

The experience of the last 18 months in Ukraine shows we must have a sound defence industrial base in order to build the ships and vehicles we need, said Lord Dannatt, a former Chief of the General Staff.

He added: It is disappointing that Britain is de-investing in major companies like BAE Systems. We must ensure our defence industrial base is strong and that BAE remains part of our future.

A breakdown of the figures shows the amount of shares held in BAE by UK fund managers had dropped from 34 per cent in July 2021 to just under 30 per cent at the end of last month.

And Qinetiq saw its percentage drop even more sharply, falling from just over 70 per cent in August 2021 to just 36 per cent, according to the data.

Others in the sector also had funds pull back their investments, with engineer Senior dropping from 48 per cent to 43 per cent.

The moves have also sparked concerns that environmental, social and governance (ESG) guidelines are blocking firms from investing in the sector.

ESG investing  also known as socially responsible investing, impact investing and sustainable investing  aims to optimise the effect of investing on the environment, society and corporate governance.

Investments must include consideration of human wellbeing and the environment.

As a result, some investors are taking their money out of tobacco firms or oil giants.

But others  including the Church of England and Legal & General  are also avoiding the defence sector on ethical grounds.

City Minister Andrew Griffith said it was morally wrong for investors to shift funds out of these companies.

'Whether it is deliberate or the unthinking application of ESG policies, UK investors defunding defence is the opposite of social responsibility when peace and democracy is under threat, he wrote on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

The concerns were echoed by Kevin Craven, boss of defence industry trade body ADS Group, who said overcautious or misapplied ESG considerations were drastically impacting the ability of the defence sector to secure financing.

ADS also said it was aware of strong anecdotal examples of lenders withdrawing banking services or refusing loans to businesses due to their involvement with the defence industry.
New CEO Elie Maalouf says 'travel demand is very healthy'

The Holiday Inn owner's revenue per room up 24% year-on-year in first half

Intercontinental Hotels Group boasted 'very healthy' demand in the first half after revenues were boosted by the reopening of the Chinese economy.

The Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza owner's global hotel room revenue (RevPAR), a key profitability measure in the industry, surged by 24 per cent year-on-year in the six months to the end of June, taking total group sales to more than $2.2billion (1.7billion).

The FTSE 100 group's RevPAR in Greater China was up by 94 per cent year-on-year, while sales in Europe, the Middle East and Africa were up 42 per cent. Sales in the Americas were up by 11 per cent.

New CEO of IHG Hotels & Resorts, Elie Maalouf, released a statement following the results which show that 'travel demand is very healthy'

The group told investors the disparity in growth reflects 'the differing levels of travel restrictions that were in place' in the first half of 2022.

IHG reported an operating profit of $584million, a 62 per cent jump year-on-year over the six months.

Demand moderated in the second quarter but remained strong, with global RevPAR for the three months up 17 per cent year-on-year and 9.9 per cent on pre-pandemic levels.

The hotel group opened 21,000 new rooms across its 108 hotels in the first half and completed 47 per cent of an ongoing $750m share buyback programme.

New CEO of IHG Hotels & Resorts, Elie Maalouf, told investors on Tuesday:

'Our teams have delivered strong results in the first half, with financial performance, hotel openings and signings all significantly above prior year comparisons. Travel demand is very healthy, with RevPAR improving year-on-year across all our markets and exceeding 2019 pre-pandemic peaks for four consecutive quarters.'

Commenting on the results, Neil Shah, director of research at Edison Group said: 'Looking to the future, IHG can begin to forecast its finances and growth in a post-pandemic world.

'With a strategic focus on expanding its brand portfolio, including an anticipated launch of a new mid-scale conversion brand, IHG prospects seem promising, continuing to innovate its brand and offerings to stay competitive in the demanding hospitality market.'

IHG shares were up 2 per cent to 57.72 in early trading on Tuesday.

Maalouf takes charge May announcement that then chief executive Keith Barr was stepping down after 30 years at the company.

He added: 'The investments we're making in our powerful enterprise platform are delivering results for guests and owners - be it the breadth of attractive brands we now have in place, the excellent impact of our new mobile app, or the strength of our IHG One Rewards programme, which has seen enrolments jump by +60% since launch a year ago.
Ukraine has quadrupled the production of Stugna anti-tank missile systems since the beginning of 2023. Ukrainian defenders are using these ATGMs to destroy the military equipment of the Russian occupiers.

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This statement was made by Minister of Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamyshyn. He said this during a nationwide telethon.

"In July, we produced four times more Stugna than in January. And we are continuing to increase production. No matter how much we produce now, it will not be enough," Kamyshyn said.

According to him, Stugna is superior to the US Javelin ATGM in all technical parameters.

He noted that the Javelin is a very good weapon, but Ukraine wants to increase production of its own product and in the future fight for our product to be adequately represented in foreign markets.

Kamyshyn also added that Ukraine's defence industry is growing rapidly, in particular as a result of civilian enterprises reorienting to defence production.

"This is a good sign that the state is rebuilding the economy on a military basis," he concluded.

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It should be noted that the Stugna-P ATGM developed by the Ukrainian Design Bureau was adopted by the Ukrainian army in 2011.

The Stugna-P is supplied in two missile calibres - 130 and 152 mm. With the increase in calibre, both the range of the missile - more than 5 km - and the armour penetration increase. To fire at night, the system is equipped with a thermal imager - the range is limited to 3 km.

Stugna-P proved its effectiveness after the start of the full-scale invasion. Ukrainian soldiers used this system to destroy enemy helicopters and armoured vehicles.

As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, the Ukrainian defenders destroyed another Russian T-80 tank with the Stugna-P ATGM.

Only verified information is available on our Obozrevatel Telegram channel, Threads and Viber. Don't fall for fakes!
Beyond Meat revenues collapsed in the second quarter as demand for its plant-based burgers and sausages waned despite price cuts.

The group's reported revenue was down by 30.5 per cent year-to-year at $102.1million (80.4million) from April to June, the US company told investors this week.

California-based Beyond Meat now expects full-year sales of between $360million and $380million, slashing previous forecasts of between $375million and $415million.

The California-based company adjusted its full-year revenue forecast to $360-380million

Beyond Meat shares fell sharply in US trading.

Beyond Meat president and CEO Ethan Brown highlighted tough comparisons with the second quarter of 2022, which saw the company's sales boosted by the post-pandemic reopening of stores and restaurants.

Brown also told investors an ad campaign launched by the group last week will better explain its 'clean and simple' manufacturing process, and highlight the product's credentials.

He previously revealed Beyond Meat was finding it difficult to appeal to new customers because of perceptions that its products are unhealthy and overly processed.

However, the group's net loss for the period narrowed to $53.5million from $97.1million a year earlier.

He said: 'We're going to be much more aggressive in our marketing.

'It is an education issue. The facts are there. The health benefits of our products are very strong.'

Plant-based meat alternatives demand wanes

The emergence of a spate of meat alternatives businesses, including rivals like Impossible Foods, was initially met with fanfare, with firms attracting substantial valuations.

Consumers were attracted by the prospect of potentially healthier and more environmentally friendly meat alternatives.

However, momentum has not been sustained, with analysts at PGIM recently claiming demand had already 'either plateaued or peaked'.

The asset manager said: 'Plant-based meats have dominated headlines, but reality does not match the hype.

'Only a few years ago  as fast- food chains began to offer Beyond Meat burgers  There were expectations for continued exponential growth and drastic changes in consumer preferences.

'But growth rates have faltered, and today, the alternative meat market remains a tiny sliver  less than 0.2 per cent  of the $1.7trillion global meat market.

'In fact, alternative meat demand is in decline while global demand for animal-based meat is set to grow by 14 per cent by 2030.'
Trane Technologies plc (NYSE:TT  Free Report)  Stock analysts at KeyCorp lifted their Q3 2023 earnings estimates for Trane Technologies in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday, August 2nd. KeyCorp analyst J. Hammond now anticipates that the company will earn $2.65 per share for the quarter, up from their prior estimate of $2.58. The consensus estimate for Trane Technologies current full-year earnings is $8.85 per share.

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TT has been the subject of a number of other reports. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on shares of Trane Technologies from $194.00 to $204.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on shares of Trane Technologies from $210.00 to $231.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. 888 reissued a maintains rating on shares of Trane Technologies in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. Barclays increased their price objective on Trane Technologies from $210.00 to $222.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, August 3rd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price objective on Trane Technologies from $184.00 to $183.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 12th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $194.81.

Trane Technologies Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE TT opened at $208.35 on Monday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $187.91 and a 200 day simple moving average of $182.51. The company has a current ratio of 1.19, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. The firm has a market capitalization of $47.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.18, a PEG ratio of 1.79 and a beta of 1.02. Trane Technologies has a one year low of $139.07 and a one year high of $209.17.

Trane Technologies (NYSE:TT  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The company reported $2.68 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.56 by $0.12. The business had revenue of $4.71 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.61 billion. Trane Technologies had a return on equity of 31.22% and a net margin of 11.18%. Trane Technologiess revenue was up 12.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.16 earnings per share.

Institutional Trading of Trane Technologies

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of TT. Delta Asset Management LLC TN acquired a new stake in Trane Technologies during the 4th quarter worth $27,000. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC increased its position in shares of Trane Technologies by 453.6% during the second quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 155 shares of the companys stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 127 shares in the last quarter. Live Oak Investment Partners bought a new stake in Trane Technologies in the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. WealthPLAN Partners LLC acquired a new position in Trane Technologies in the 1st quarter worth $33,000. Finally, 1832 Asset Management L.P. bought a new position in Trane Technologies during the 1st quarter worth about $34,000. 81.23% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Trane Technologies news, SVP Keith A. Sultana sold 3,964 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $198.00, for a total transaction of $784,872.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 42,116 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,338,968. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, SVP Keith A. Sultana sold 3,964 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, July 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $198.00, for a total value of $784,872.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 42,116 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,338,968. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CAO Mark Majocha sold 2,202 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $194.28, for a total value of $427,804.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 3,797 shares in the company, valued at approximately $737,681.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 11,166 shares of company stock valued at $2,192,677. 0.39% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Trane Technologies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 1st will be issued a dividend of $0.75 per share. This represents a $3.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.44%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 31st. Trane Technologiess dividend payout ratio is 36.99%.

About Trane Technologies

(Get Free Report)

Trane Technologies plc, together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, sells, and services of solutions for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, custom, and custom and transport refrigeration in Ireland and internationally. It offers air conditioners, exchangers, and handlers; airside and terminal devices; air sourced heat pumps, auxiliary power units; chillers; coils and condensers; gensets; dehumidifiers; ductless; furnaces; home automation products; humidifiers; indoor air quality assessments and related products; large and light commercial unitary products; refrigerant reclamation products; thermostats/controls; transport heater products; variable refrigerant flow products; and water source heat pumps.

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IGM Financial (TSE:IGM  Free Report) had its price objective decreased by BMO Capital Markets from C$44.00 to C$43.00 in a report released on Friday, BayStreet.CA reports. BMO Capital Markets currently has a market perform rating on the financial services providers stock.

Several other research firms also recently commented on IGM. Scotiabank dropped their target price on IGM Financial from C$49.00 to C$47.00 in a research report on Friday, May 5th. TD Securities dropped their target price on shares of IGM Financial from C$48.00 to C$46.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price target on shares of IGM Financial from C$50.00 to C$49.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of C$45.63.

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Read Our Latest Research Report on IGM Financial

IGM Financial Trading Up 0.5 %

IGM Financial Announces Dividend

Shares of IGM Financial stock opened at C$38.12 on Friday. The firms 50 day moving average is C$40.30 and its 200 day moving average is C$40.67. The firm has a market capitalization of C$9.07 billion, a PE ratio of 8.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 14.05 and a beta of 1.54. IGM Financial has a 1 year low of C$33.45 and a 1 year high of C$43.97. The company has a current ratio of 1.81, a quick ratio of 0.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 35.67.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 29th will be issued a dividend of $0.563 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 28th. This represents a $2.25 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.91%. IGM Financials payout ratio is 51.96%.

About IGM Financial

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IGM Financial Inc operates as a wealth and asset management company in Canada. It operates through Wealth Management, Asset Management, and Strategic Investments and Other segments. The company offers financial advisory services; and IG Living Plan that provides financial planning services, such as investment vehicles, insurance products, mortgage and banking solutions, and charitable giving program.

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Fortis Inc. (TSE:FTS  Free Report)  Research analysts at Raymond James issued their Q1 2024 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Fortis in a note issued to investors on Wednesday, August 2nd. Raymond James analyst D. Quezada anticipates that the company will post earnings of $0.81 per share for the quarter. The consensus estimate for Fortis current full-year earnings is $3.00 per share. Raymond James also issued estimates for Fortis Q3 2024 earnings at $0.84 EPS.

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A number of other equities research analysts also recently issued reports on the company. Susquehanna Bancshares boosted their price target on Fortis from C$56.00 to C$57.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. Scotiabank boosted their price target on Fortis from C$58.00 to C$60.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. UBS Group cut their price objective on Fortis from C$54.00 to C$53.00 in a research note on Friday, May 19th. BMO Capital Markets cut their price objective on Fortis from C$60.00 to C$59.00 in a research note on Thursday, August 3rd. Finally, CSFB cut their price objective on Fortis from C$62.00 to C$61.50 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Monday, July 24th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Fortis currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of C$57.92.

Fortis Trading Up 1.1 %

Fortis stock opened at C$53.74 on Monday. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of C$56.53 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$56.94. The company has a market cap of C$26.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.28, a P/E/G ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 0.19. Fortis has a 52-week low of C$48.45 and a 52-week high of C$62.00. The company has a quick ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 0.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 127.94.

Fortis Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 1st. Investors of record on Monday, August 21st will be issued a $0.565 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 18th. This represents a $2.26 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.21%. Fortiss dividend payout ratio is presently 76.87%.

Fortis Company Profile

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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.

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Ceridian HCM Holding Inc. (NYSE:CDAY  Free Report)  Equities research analysts at William Blair boosted their Q4 2023 earnings per share estimates for Ceridian HCM in a research report issued on Thursday, August 3rd. William Blair analyst M. Pfau now anticipates that the company will post earnings of $0.10 per share for the quarter, up from their prior forecast of $0.08. The consensus estimate for Ceridian HCMs current full-year earnings is $0.35 per share.

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A number of other research firms have also commented on CDAY. TD Cowen lowered Ceridian HCM from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $69.00 to $71.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 13th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on Ceridian HCM from $75.00 to $65.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. Barclays boosted their price target on Ceridian HCM from $73.00 to $74.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday, August 3rd. Citigroup boosted their price target on Ceridian HCM from $74.00 to $84.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, July 21st. Finally, Credit Suisse Group dropped their price target on Ceridian HCM from $105.00 to $83.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Ceridian HCM has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $79.07.

Ceridian HCM Price Performance

Ceridian HCM stock opened at $73.26 on Monday. The stocks 50 day moving average is $67.14 and its 200 day moving average is $68.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 1.10. The firm has a market cap of $11.25 billion, a P/E ratio of -813.91, a P/E/G ratio of 4.95 and a beta of 1.44. Ceridian HCM has a one year low of $51.52 and a one year high of $79.66.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ceridian HCM

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Capital International Investors bought a new position in Ceridian HCM in the 1st quarter valued at $366,250,000. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its stake in Ceridian HCM by 17.8% in the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 21,691,635 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,391,519,000 after purchasing an additional 3,273,796 shares during the period. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership grew its stake in Ceridian HCM by 312.2% in the 4th quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership now owns 2,196,191 shares of the companys stock valued at $140,886,000 after purchasing an additional 1,663,456 shares during the period. Natixis grew its stake in Ceridian HCM by 909.2% in the 4th quarter. Natixis now owns 1,659,431 shares of the companys stock valued at $106,452,000 after purchasing an additional 1,495,006 shares during the period. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its stake in Ceridian HCM by 377.0% in the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 822,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $56,204,000 after purchasing an additional 649,656 shares during the period.

Insider Activity

In other news, CEO Leagh Erin Turner sold 6,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $66.26, for a total transaction of $397,560.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 245,201 shares in the company, valued at $16,247,018.26. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, EVP William Everett Mcdonald sold 4,917 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, July 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $65.77, for a total transaction of $323,391.09. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 48,884 shares in the company, valued at $3,215,100.68. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Leagh Erin Turner sold 6,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $66.26, for a total value of $397,560.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 245,201 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $16,247,018.26. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 32,223 shares of company stock worth $2,129,567 over the last quarter. 4.50% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

About Ceridian HCM

(Get Free Report)

Ceridian HCM Holding Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a human capital management (HCM) software company in the United States, Canada, and internationally. It offers Dayforce, a cloud HCM platform that provides human resources, payroll, benefits, workforce management, and talent management functionality; and Powerpay, a cloud HR and payroll solution for the small business market.

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Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (NYSE:FIS  Free Report)  Equities researchers at William Blair dropped their Q4 2023 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Fidelity National Information Services in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday, August 2nd. William Blair analyst R. Napoli now forecasts that the information technology services provider will post earnings per share of $1.61 for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of $1.65. The consensus estimate for Fidelity National Information Services current full-year earnings is $6.01 per share. William Blair also issued estimates for Fidelity National Information Services Q1 2024 earnings at $1.57 EPS and Q3 2024 earnings at $1.66 EPS.

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Other research analysts also recently issued reports about the company. Barclays raised their price objective on Fidelity National Information Services from $58.00 to $62.00 in a research note on Monday, May 1st. Credit Suisse Group lowered their target price on Fidelity National Information Services from $75.00 to $70.00 in a report on Friday, April 28th. Atlantic Securities raised Fidelity National Information Services from a neutral rating to an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, July 12th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their target price on Fidelity National Information Services from $81.00 to $71.00 in a report on Monday, July 10th. Finally, Mizuho raised their target price on Fidelity National Information Services from $78.00 to $80.00 in a report on Monday, May 1st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $84.62.

Fidelity National Information Services Stock Down 0.8 %

Shares of FIS stock opened at $58.33 on Monday. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $57.01 and its 200 day simple moving average is $59.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a current ratio of 0.74. Fidelity National Information Services has a twelve month low of $48.57 and a twelve month high of $103.62. The company has a market capitalization of $34.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -1.47, a PEG ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 0.83.

Fidelity National Information Services (NYSE:FIS  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The information technology services provider reported $1.55 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.48 by $0.07. Fidelity National Information Services had a positive return on equity of 12.54% and a negative net margin of 161.74%. The company had revenue of $3.75 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.71 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.73 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up .7% on a year-over-year basis.

Institutional Trading of Fidelity National Information Services

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators lifted its holdings in Fidelity National Information Services by 22.1% during the 2nd quarter. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators now owns 1,526 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $83,000 after purchasing an additional 276 shares during the last quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in Fidelity National Information Services by 130.8% during the 2nd quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 98,823 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $5,403,000 after purchasing an additional 56,000 shares during the last quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp lifted its holdings in Fidelity National Information Services by 0.4% during the 2nd quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp now owns 124,142 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $6,791,000 after purchasing an additional 433 shares during the last quarter. Desjardins Global Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Fidelity National Information Services by 68.8% during the 2nd quarter. Desjardins Global Asset Management Inc. now owns 9,849 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $539,000 after purchasing an additional 4,015 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Twin Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Fidelity National Information Services by 22.5% during the 2nd quarter. Twin Capital Management Inc. now owns 46,524 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $2,545,000 after purchasing an additional 8,545 shares during the last quarter. 90.21% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Ellen R. Alemany acquired 760 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 17th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $58.82 per share, with a total value of $44,703.20. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 3,743 shares in the company, valued at $220,163.26. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, CFO Erik D. Hoag sold 3,451 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.15, for a total value of $186,871.65. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 19,887 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,076,881.05. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Ellen R. Alemany acquired 760 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 17th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $58.82 per share, with a total value of $44,703.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 3,743 shares of the companys stock, valued at $220,163.26. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.56% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Fidelity National Information Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 22nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 8th will be given a dividend of $0.52 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 7th. This represents a $2.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.57%. Fidelity National Information Servicess payout ratio is currently -5.23%.

Fidelity National Information Services Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Fidelity National Information Services, Inc provides technology solutions for financial institutions and businesses worldwide. It operates through Banking Solutions, Merchant Solutions, and Capital Market Solutions segments. The Banking Solutions segment provides core processing and ancillary applications; mobile and online banking; fraud, risk management, and compliance; electronic funds transfer and network; card and retail payment; wealth and retirement; and item processing and output solutions.

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TopBuild Corp. (NYSE:BLD  Free Report)  Equities researchers at Seaport Res Ptn boosted their Q4 2023 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of TopBuild in a report released on Thursday, August 3rd. Seaport Res Ptn analyst K. Zener now anticipates that the construction company will post earnings of $4.22 per share for the quarter, up from their previous forecast of $3.97. Seaport Res Ptn currently has a Buy rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for TopBuilds current full-year earnings is $16.43 per share.

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TopBuild (NYSE:BLD  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 3rd. The construction company reported $5.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.30 by $0.95. The firm had revenue of $1.32 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.26 billion. TopBuild had a return on equity of 29.75% and a net margin of 11.61%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 3.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $4.43 EPS.

Several other research firms have also recently commented on BLD. Loop Capital lifted their target price on shares of TopBuild from $225.00 to $285.00 in a research note on Friday, June 30th. StockNews.com raised shares of TopBuild from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, July 6th. Stephens upped their price objective on TopBuild from $230.00 to $250.00 in a report on Monday, May 8th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on TopBuild from $262.00 to $320.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, July 13th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on TopBuild from $224.00 to $314.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Monday. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, TopBuild has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $276.67.

View Our Latest Report on BLD

TopBuild Stock Up 1.0 %

BLD stock opened at $297.19 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.86, a PEG ratio of 3.46 and a beta of 1.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63, a quick ratio of 1.86 and a current ratio of 2.37. TopBuild has a one year low of $140.66 and a one year high of $300.05. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $255.69 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $221.64.

Insider Transactions at TopBuild

In other news, insider Robert Jeffrey Franklin sold 1,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $212.97, for a total value of $212,970.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 19,091 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,065,810.27. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In related news, insider Robert Jeffrey Franklin sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $212.97, for a total value of $212,970.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 19,091 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,065,810.27. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Steven P. Raia sold 2,700 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $214.31, for a total value of $578,637.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 11,970 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,565,290.70. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 9,173 shares of company stock valued at $2,082,976 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.46% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of BLD. Principal Financial Group Inc. raised its stake in TopBuild by 8.0% during the second quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 136,848 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $36,404,000 after buying an additional 10,098 shares in the last quarter. Royce & Associates LP acquired a new stake in TopBuild during the second quarter valued at approximately $4,456,000. New York Life Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in TopBuild during the second quarter valued at approximately $422,000. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in TopBuild by 1.0% during the second quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 28,958 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $7,703,000 after buying an additional 289 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Savant Capital LLC acquired a new stake in TopBuild during the second quarter valued at approximately $208,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.27% of the companys stock.

TopBuild Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

TopBuild Corp., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the installation and distribution of insulation and other building material products to the construction industry. The company operates in two segments, Installation and Specialty Distribution. It provides insulation products and accessories, glass and windows, rain gutters, afterpaint products, fireproofing products, garage doors, fireplaces, closet shelving, roofing materials, and other products; and insulation installation services.

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China Yuchai International (NYSE:CYD  Get Free Report) is set to issue its quarterly earnings data before the market opens on Thursday, August 10th. Individual that wish to listen to the companys earnings conference call can do so using this link.

China Yuchai International Stock Up 1.1 %

NYSE:CYD opened at $11.15 on Tuesday. China Yuchai International has a twelve month low of $6.73 and a twelve month high of $11.36. The company has a quick ratio of 1.08, a current ratio of 1.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $10.20 and its 200 day simple moving average is $8.83.

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China Yuchai International Cuts Dividend

The business also recently declared an annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, August 7th. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 31st were paid a $0.28 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, July 28th. This represents a dividend yield of 2.56%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Susquehanna International Group LLP increased its stake in shares of China Yuchai International by 69.9% in the first quarter. Susquehanna International Group LLP now owns 31,200 shares of the companys stock valued at $246,000 after buying an additional 12,831 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in China Yuchai International by 0.9% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 296,320 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,338,000 after buying an additional 2,602 shares during the period. Millennium Management LLC acquired a new stake in China Yuchai International during the 4th quarter worth about $183,000. UBS Group AG raised its position in shares of China Yuchai International by 2.3% in the 4th quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 95,400 shares of the companys stock worth $675,000 after acquiring an additional 2,182 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC grew its stake in China Yuchai International by 293.6% during the third quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 3,397 shares of the companys stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 2,534 shares during the period. 19.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Separately, StockNews.com began coverage on China Yuchai International in a research report on Thursday, June 8th. They issued a buy rating for the company.

Read Our Latest Report on China Yuchai International

China Yuchai International Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

China Yuchai International Limited, through its subsidiaries, manufactures, assembles, and sells diesel and natural gas engines for trucks, buses and passenger vehicles, marine, industrial, and agriculture applications in the People's Republic of China and internationally. It operates through two segments, Yuchai and HLGE.

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Global Business Travel Group (NYSE:GBTG  Get Free Report) is scheduled to post its quarterly earnings results before the market opens on Thursday, August 10th. Analysts expect Global Business Travel Group to post earnings of ($0.07) per share for the quarter. Individual that wish to register for the companys earnings conference call can do so using this link.

Global Business Travel Group (NYSE:GBTG  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 9th. The company reported ($0.06) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.03) by ($0.03). The company had revenue of $578.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $555.50 million. Global Business Travel Group had a negative net margin of 1.30% and a negative return on equity of 2.09%. On average, analysts expect Global Business Travel Group to post $0 EPS for the current fiscal year and $0 EPS for the next fiscal year.

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Global Business Travel Group Stock Up 3.2 %

Shares of GBTG stock opened at $6.78 on Tuesday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $7.26 and a 200 day moving average of $6.88. The company has a current ratio of 1.64, a quick ratio of 1.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.00. The stock has a market cap of $3.15 billion, a P/E ratio of -10.94 and a beta of 0.26. Global Business Travel Group has a twelve month low of $4.26 and a twelve month high of $8.40.

Insider Activity at Global Business Travel Group

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

In related news, CEO Paul G. Abbott purchased 8,147 shares of Global Business Travel Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 16th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $6.25 per share, for a total transaction of $50,918.75. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 2,537,225 shares in the company, valued at $15,857,656.25. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website . 5.00% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. increased its position in shares of Global Business Travel Group by 8.2% during the first quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 21,623 shares of the companys stock worth $143,000 after purchasing an additional 1,630 shares in the last quarter. Prelude Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Global Business Travel Group by 13.4% in the 3rd quarter. Prelude Capital Management LLC now owns 48,645 shares of the companys stock valued at $275,000 after buying an additional 5,733 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC purchased a new stake in Global Business Travel Group in the 2nd quarter valued at $47,000. Credit Suisse AG purchased a new stake in Global Business Travel Group in the 2nd quarter valued at $69,000. Finally, Virtu Financial LLC purchased a new stake in Global Business Travel Group in the 2nd quarter valued at $80,000. 12.65% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Global Business Travel Group

(Get Free Report)

Global Business Travel Group, Inc provides business-to-business (B2B) travel platform in the United States and internationally. The company's platform offers a suite of technology-enabled solutions to business travelers and clients; travel content suppliers including airlines, hotels, ground transportation, and aggregators; and third-party travel agencies.

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Virgin Money UK (OTCMKTS:CYBBF  Free Report) had its price objective decreased by Berenberg Bank from GBX 400 ($5.11) to GBX 250 ($3.19) in a research report released on Friday morning, FlyOnTheWall reports.

CYBBF has been the topic of several other research reports. Barclays boosted their price objective on Virgin Money UK from GBX 220 ($2.81) to GBX 230 ($2.94) in a report on Monday, July 17th. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of Virgin Money UK from GBX 175 ($2.24) to GBX 180 ($2.30) in a research note on Thursday, August 3rd. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on shares of Virgin Money UK from GBX 205 ($2.62) to GBX 220 ($2.81) in a research note on Tuesday, May 9th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their target price on Virgin Money UK from GBX 210 ($2.68) to GBX 220 ($2.81) in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on Virgin Money UK from GBX 200 ($2.56) to GBX 180 ($2.30) in a research report on Friday, April 14th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $209.29.

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Read Our Latest Research Report on CYBBF

Virgin Money UK Price Performance

About Virgin Money UK

Shares of OTCMKTS CYBBF opened at $1.90 on Friday. Virgin Money UK has a 12 month low of $1.44 and a 12 month high of $2.29. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $1.86 and a 200-day simple moving average of $1.93.

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Virgin Money UK PLC provides banking products and services for consumers, and small and medium sized businesses under the Clydesdale Bank, Yorkshire Bank, and Virgin Money brands in the United Kingdom. The company offers savings and current accounts, mortgages, credit cards, and home loans; business loans, overdraft facilities, treasury solutions, and corporate and structured finance; asset and invoice finance services; risk management; international trade services; and home, car, and life and critical illness insurance products.

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Ukraine's defense forces continued counteroffensive actions on at least two sections of the front on August 7. While the Russian occupiers continue to try to mitigate the effects of recent Ukrainian strikes on key logistical nodes of the Russian Armed Forces.

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At issue is the silencing of information about the defeats of the Chongar and Genichesk bridges between the temporarily captured Crimea and part of Kherson region. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) pointed to the rhetoric of propagandists.

The counter-action of the AFU

The Ukrainian General Staff said that the Defense Forces were conducting offensive actions on 7 August in the Berdyansk (western part of Donetsk and eastern Zaporizhzhya regions) and Melitopol (western part of Zaporizhzhya) directions.

The deputy head of the Defense Ministry, Anna Malyar, also added that the fighting continued south of Bakhmut, and that it was the east of Ukraine that had been the epicenter of the fighting over the past week.

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"President Volodymyr Zelensky, in an interview with the Argentine publication La Nacion published on August 6, acknowledged that the pace of counter-offensive operations is slower than expected and noted that Ukraine needs patience to win," ISW recalled.

At the same time, the Ukrainian leader said that our Defense Forces are in the offensive phase of operations and continue to hold the initiative on the front.

What is the Russian Federation's propaganda focused on?

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Against the background of the Ukrainian army's successes, Russian troops and occupation administrations are trying to mitigate the consequences of the recent AFU strikes on logistics hubs between Crimea and Kherson Region.

The head of the joint press center of the Southern Protection and Defense Forces, Natalia Gumenyuk, noted that the Ukrainian strikes on the bridges over Chongar and Genichesk are aimed at disrupting the plans and strategies of the occupiers. Among other things, to interfere with their ability to deliver ammunition, equipment and personnel to the front.

She also emphasized that Russian forces must now channel supplies and mercenaries through Armyansk - right on the border between the Kherson region and Crimea and within 80 kilometers of the front line.

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The occupation head of Kherson Region, Volodymyr Saldo, has admitted that due to the damage to the Chongar bridge, his administration has temporarily changed the logistical and transport links between the region and the peninsula. In particular, the movement of buses between Simferopol (Crimea AR) and Genichesk (Kherson region) has been suspended.

"Russian pro-war bloggers have not commented on the consequences of the strikes at all, which further confirms our previous assessment that Russian officials may have ordered correspondents not to comment on Ukrainian strikes on Russian logistics hubs in Crimea to avoid creating panic in the information space" The ISW suggested.

As reported by OBOZREVATEL, the strikes of the AFU on the Chongar and Genichesky bridge forced the occupants to redirect the movement of vehicles from shorter eastern routes to longer western routes. Analysts believe that with such attacks the Defense Forces are creating conditions for decisive operations as part of a counter-offensive.

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Only verified information we have in our Telegram channel Obozrevatel, Threads and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
StockNews.com started coverage on shares of WidePoint (NYSEAMERICAN:WYY  Free Report) in a report published on Friday. The firm issued a sell rating on the technology companys stock.

WidePoint Price Performance

Shares of NYSEAMERICAN WYY opened at $1.81 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $15.81 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -1.04 and a beta of 1.04. WidePoint has a 12 month low of $1.70 and a 12 month high of $3.06. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $1.87 and its 200-day simple moving average is $1.93.

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WidePoint (NYSEAMERICAN:WYY  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 15th. The technology company reported ($0.11) EPS for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $25.27 million for the quarter. WidePoint had a positive return on equity of 2.98% and a negative net margin of 16.03%.

Institutional Trading of WidePoint

About WidePoint

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of WYY. Susquehanna International Group LLP acquired a new position in shares of WidePoint during the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. UBS Group AG acquired a new position in WidePoint during the first quarter worth $29,000. Citadel Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in WidePoint by 121.1% during the third quarter. Citadel Advisors LLC now owns 13,577 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 7,437 shares in the last quarter. EA Series Trust acquired a new stake in shares of WidePoint in the second quarter valued at about $35,000. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC purchased a new stake in shares of WidePoint during the second quarter worth about $37,000. 11.85% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

(Get Free Report)

WidePoint Corporation provides technology management as a service (TMaaS) to the government and business enterprises in North America and Europe. The company offers TMaaS solutions through a secure federal government certified proprietary portal and secure enterprise portal that provides ability to manage, analyze, and protect communications assets, as well as deploy identity management solutions that provide secured virtual and physical access to restricted environments.

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Suburban Propane Partners (NYSE:SPH  Get Free Report) and Savers Value Village (NYSE:SVV  Get Free Report) are both oils/energy companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, risk, earnings, dividends, institutional ownership, profitability and analyst recommendations.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current ratings and price targets for Suburban Propane Partners and Savers Value Village, as provided by MarketBeat.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Suburban Propane Partners 0 2 0 0 2.00 Savers Value Village 0 0 8 0 3.00

Suburban Propane Partners presently has a consensus price target of $16.50, indicating a potential upside of 10.59%. Savers Value Village has a consensus price target of $28.29, indicating a potential upside of 18.60%. Given Savers Value Villages stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Savers Value Village is more favorable than Suburban Propane Partners.

Earnings & Valuation

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Suburban Propane Partners $1.50 billion 0.63 $139.71 million $1.39 10.73 Savers Value Village N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

This table compares Suburban Propane Partners and Savers Value Villages gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Suburban Propane Partners has higher revenue and earnings than Savers Value Village.

Profitability

This table compares Suburban Propane Partners and Savers Value Villages net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Suburban Propane Partners 6.28% 16.35% 4.06% Savers Value Village N/A N/A N/A

Insider & Institutional Ownership

17.5% of Suburban Propane Partners shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.3% of Suburban Propane Partners shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

Suburban Propane Partners beats Savers Value Village on 6 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Suburban Propane Partners

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Suburban Propane Partners, L.P., through its subsidiaries, engages in the retail marketing and distribution of propane, renewable propane, fuel oil, and refined fuels. The company operates through four segments: Propane, Fuel Oil and Refined Fuels, Natural Gas and Electricity, and All Other. The Propane segment is involved in the retail distribution of propane for space heating, water heating, cooking, and clothes drying in the residential and commercial markets; for use as a motor fuel in internal combustion engines to power over-the-road vehicles, forklifts, and stationary engines, as well as to fire furnaces as a cutting gas to the industrial customers; and for tobacco curing, crop drying, poultry brooding, and weed control in the agricultural markets. It also engages in the wholesale distribution of propane to industrial end users. The Fuel Oil and Refined Fuels segment engages in the retail distribution of fuel oil, diesel, kerosene, and gasoline to residential and commercial customers for use primarily as a source of heat in homes and buildings. The Natural Gas and Electricity segment markets natural gas and electricity to residential and commercial customers in the deregulated energy markets in New York and Pennsylvania. The All Other segment sells, installs, and services a range of home comfort equipment, including whole-house heating products, air cleaners, humidifiers, and space heaters. As of September 24, 2022, the company served approximately 1.0 million residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural customers through 700 locations in 42 states primarily in the east and west coast regions of the United States, as well as portions of the Midwest region of the United States and Alaska. Suburban Energy Services Group LLC serves as a general partner of Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. The company was founded in 1945 and is based in Whippany, New Jersey.

About Savers Value Village

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Savers Value Village, Inc. sells second-hand merchandise in retail stores in the United States, Canada, and Australia. It operates stores under the Savers, Value Village, Village des Valeurs, Unique, and 2nd Avenue banners. The company purchases secondhand textiles, including clothing, bedding, and bath items; shoes; accessories; housewares; books; and other goods from non-profit partners, then processes, selects, prices, merchandises, and sells them in its stores. It serves retail and wholesale customers. The company was formerly known as S-Evergreen Holding LLC and changed its name to Savers Value Village, Inc. in January 2022. The company was founded in 1954 and is based in Bellevue, Washington.

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Bunge (NYSE:BG  Free Report) had its price objective lifted by Barclays from $121.00 to $125.00 in a research report report published on Friday morning, Benzinga reports. Barclays currently has an overweight rating on the basic materials companys stock.

Other equities research analysts also recently issued reports about the company. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on Bunge from $120.00 to $105.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 13th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on Bunge from $120.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, August 3rd. Robert W. Baird decreased their price target on Bunge from $115.00 to $110.00 in a report on Wednesday, June 14th. StockNews.com began coverage on Bunge in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Finally, Roth Mkm began coverage on Bunge in a report on Thursday, June 22nd. They set a buy rating and a $138.00 price target for the company. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $128.13.

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Bunge Stock Performance

Shares of BG opened at $115.99 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 2.07, a quick ratio of 1.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38. The firm has a market cap of $17.47 billion, a PE ratio of 8.96 and a beta of 0.67. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $99.42 and its 200-day simple moving average is $96.60. Bunge has a 12-month low of $80.41 and a 12-month high of $116.59.

Bunge (NYSE:BG  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The basic materials company reported $3.72 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.69 by $1.03. The business had revenue of $15.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $16.35 billion. Bunge had a net margin of 3.09% and a return on equity of 20.12%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 16.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.97 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts predict that Bunge will post 12.07 EPS for the current year.

Bunge Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 18th will be issued a $0.6625 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 17th. This represents a $2.65 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.28%. This is an increase from Bunges previous quarterly dividend of $0.63. Bunges dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 19.32%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Bunge

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Bunge by 200.0% during the 4th quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 282 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 188 shares during the last quarter. Sugarloaf Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Bunge during the 1st quarter worth $31,000. Pinnacle Holdings LLC acquired a new position in shares of Bunge during the 1st quarter worth $36,000. Spire Wealth Management raised its stake in shares of Bunge by 242.1% during the 1st quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 431 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $41,000 after buying an additional 305 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First Manhattan CO. LLC. acquired a new position in shares of Bunge during the 1st quarter worth $48,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.60% of the companys stock.

About Bunge

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Bunge Limited operates as an agribusiness and food company worldwide. It operates through four segments: Agribusiness, Refined and Specialty Oils, Milling, and Sugar and Bioenergy. The Agribusiness segment purchases, stores, transports, processes, and sells agricultural commodities and commodity products, including oilseeds primarily soybeans, rapeseed, canola, and sunflower seeds, as well as grains comprising wheat and corn; and processes oilseeds into vegetable oils and protein meals.

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Shares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft (NYSE:DB  Get Free Report) have earned a consensus recommendation of Hold from the eight research firms that are covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $13.00.

A number of brokerages have recently commented on DB. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods downgraded Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 12th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Societe Generale lowered shares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, July 10th. Finally, Citigroup upgraded shares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a report on Thursday, May 4th.

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Institutional Trading of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft

Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft Stock Up 0.8 %

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of DB. Financial Management Professionals Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft during the first quarter worth about $27,000. Spire Wealth Management lifted its position in Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft by 66.7% during the 4th quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 2,500 shares of the banks stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 1,000 shares in the last quarter. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC acquired a new position in Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft during the 1st quarter worth approximately $29,000. CWM LLC boosted its holdings in Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft by 150.0% in the 4th quarter. CWM LLC now owns 3,750 shares of the banks stock worth $43,000 after acquiring an additional 2,250 shares during the period. Finally, Ronald Blue Trust Inc. raised its stake in shares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft by 55.7% during the first quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 5,585 shares of the banks stock valued at $64,000 after purchasing an additional 1,997 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 23.92% of the companys stock.

DB stock opened at $11.11 on Thursday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft has a one year low of $7.24 and a one year high of $13.57. The stock has a market capitalization of $22.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 4.69, a PEG ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.31. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $10.66 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $11.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.69, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 0.79.

Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft Company Profile

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Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft, operates as a stock corporation, engages in the provision of corporate and investment banking, and asset management products and services to private clients, corporate entities, and institutional clients worldwide. Its Corporate Bank segment provides cash management, trade finance and lending, trust and agency, foreign exchange, and securities services, as well as risk management solutions.

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WESCO International (NYSE:WCC  Free Report) had its price objective decreased by KeyCorp from $210.00 to $185.00 in a research report report published on Friday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. KeyCorp currently has an overweight rating on the technology companys stock. KeyCorp also issued estimates for WESCO Internationals Q4 2023 earnings at $4.02 EPS.

WCC has been the subject of a number of other reports. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of WESCO International in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Robert W. Baird raised shares of WESCO International from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $180.00 target price for the company in a research report on Friday, May 5th. Loop Capital boosted their target price on shares of WESCO International from $170.00 to $210.00 in a research report on Wednesday, June 21st. Finally, Oppenheimer boosted their target price on shares of WESCO International from $180.00 to $190.00 in a research report on Friday, May 26th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $181.75.

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WESCO International Price Performance

NYSE:WCC opened at $153.83 on Friday. WESCO International has a 1-year low of $112.08 and a 1-year high of $185.23. The company has a current ratio of 2.39, a quick ratio of 1.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $167.55 and a 200 day simple moving average of $153.95. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.89 billion, a PE ratio of 10.19, a P/E/G ratio of 0.99 and a beta of 2.00.

WESCO International (NYSE:WCC  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 3rd. The technology company reported $3.71 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $4.45 by ($0.74). WESCO International had a return on equity of 20.41% and a net margin of 3.81%. The company had revenue of $5.75 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.94 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $4.19 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 4.5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts expect that WESCO International will post 15.5 EPS for the current fiscal year.

WESCO International Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 30th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 15th were given a dividend of $0.375 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a $1.50 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.98%. WESCO Internationals dividend payout ratio is 9.94%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP James Cameron sold 7,687 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $153.47, for a total transaction of $1,179,723.89. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 35,811 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,495,914.17. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other WESCO International news, EVP Nelson John Squires III sold 3,490 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $180.00, for a total transaction of $628,200.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 66,147 shares of the companys stock, valued at $11,906,460. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP James Cameron sold 7,687 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $153.47, for a total value of $1,179,723.89. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 35,811 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,495,914.17. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 14,668 shares of company stock valued at $2,418,849 over the last quarter. 2.60% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in WCC. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its stake in shares of WESCO International by 116.3% in the second quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 413,063 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $73,963,000 after buying an additional 222,092 shares during the period. J. L. Bainbridge & Co. Inc. acquired a new stake in WESCO International during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $10,560,000. Braun Stacey Associates Inc. increased its position in WESCO International by 89.2% during the 1st quarter. Braun Stacey Associates Inc. now owns 151,224 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $23,370,000 after purchasing an additional 71,289 shares during the period. American International Group Inc. increased its position in WESCO International by 12,007.8% during the 2nd quarter. American International Group Inc. now owns 68,046 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $12,184,000 after purchasing an additional 67,484 shares during the period. Finally, Eagle Asset Management Inc. increased its position in WESCO International by 28.9% during the 1st quarter. Eagle Asset Management Inc. now owns 244,975 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $37,858,000 after purchasing an additional 54,875 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.78% of the companys stock.

About WESCO International

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WESCO International, Inc provides business-to-business distribution, logistics services, and supply chain solutions in the United States, Canada, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Electrical & Electronic Solutions (EES), Communications & Security Solutions (CSS), and Utility and Broadband Solutions (UBS).

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Lenovo Group Limited (OTCMKTS:LNVGY  Get Free Report) shares crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $19.78 and traded as high as $22.49. Lenovo Group shares last traded at $22.32, with a volume of 48,455 shares.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have commented on LNVGY. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Lenovo Group from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 31st. Morgan Stanley raised Lenovo Group from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, May 2nd.

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Lenovo Group Stock Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $13.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.82, a PEG ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.99. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $21.07 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $19.82. The company has a quick ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61.

Lenovo Group (OTCMKTS:LNVGY  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 24th. The technology company reported $0.19 earnings per share for the quarter. Lenovo Group had a return on equity of 27.90% and a net margin of 2.60%. The company had revenue of $12.64 billion during the quarter. As a group, analysts forecast that Lenovo Group Limited will post 2.45 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Lenovo Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 17th. Investors of record on Thursday, July 27th will be paid a $0.7462 dividend. This is a positive change from Lenovo Groups previous dividend of $0.18. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, July 26th. Lenovo Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 58.89%.

Lenovo Group Company Profile

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Lenovo Group Limited, an investment holding company, develops, manufactures, and markets technology products and services. It operates through Intelligent Devices Group, Infrastructure Solutions Group, and Solutions and Services Group segments. The company offers commercial and consumer personal computers, as well as servers and workstations; and a family of mobile Internet devices, including tablets and smartphones.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of DHI Group (NYSE:DHX  Free Report) from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report released on Friday morning.

DHX has been the subject of several other reports. Barrington Research reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $10.00 target price on shares of DHI Group in a research report on Friday, July 28th. B. Riley cut their price objective on DHI Group from $9.00 to $7.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 11th. Finally, Lake Street Capital decreased their target price on DHI Group from $9.00 to $6.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 11th.

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DHI Group Trading Up 5.0 %

NYSE:DHX opened at $4.21 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $199.30 million, a P/E ratio of 105.25, a P/E/G ratio of 2.67 and a beta of 1.21. DHI Group has a 52 week low of $3.00 and a 52 week high of $6.56. The company has a quick ratio of 0.40, a current ratio of 0.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43. The company has a fifty day moving average of $3.81 and a 200 day moving average of $4.03.

DHI Group (NYSE:DHX  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 10th. The technology company reported $0.01 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.02) by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $38.62 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $37.78 million. DHI Group had a net margin of 1.13% and a return on equity of 2.02%. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.01 earnings per share. On average, research analysts predict that DHI Group will post 0.06 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On DHI Group

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in shares of DHI Group by 254.4% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 600,993 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $2,987,000 after purchasing an additional 431,395 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. purchased a new position in DHI Group during the first quarter valued at $2,168,000. Millennium Management LLC boosted its holdings in DHI Group by 108.4% in the second quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 658,665 shares of the technology companys stock worth $3,274,000 after acquiring an additional 342,668 shares in the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp boosted its holdings in DHI Group by 170.9% in the second quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 450,218 shares of the technology companys stock worth $2,238,000 after acquiring an additional 284,009 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Royce & Associates LP grew its stake in shares of DHI Group by 14.8% in the first quarter. Royce & Associates LP now owns 1,668,329 shares of the technology companys stock worth $6,473,000 after acquiring an additional 215,463 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 71.28% of the companys stock.

DHI Group Company Profile

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DHI Group, Inc provides data, insights, and employment connections through specialized services for technology professionals in the United States. The company operates Dice that offers job postings of technology and non-technology companies for industries, such as positions for software engineers, big data professionals, systems administrators, database specialists, project managers, and other technology and engineering professionals; and ClearanceJobs, an online career network, which matches security-cleared professionals with hiring companies searching for employees.

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Builders FirstSource (NYSE:BLDR  Free Report) had its price objective hoisted by BMO Capital Markets from $125.00 to $135.00 in a research note released on Friday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. BMO Capital Markets currently has a market perform rating on the stock.

A number of other equities research analysts have also weighed in on BLDR. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price objective on Builders FirstSource from $110.00 to $138.00 in a research report on Friday, May 5th. Truist Financial boosted their price objective on Builders FirstSource from $148.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. StockNews.com began coverage on Builders FirstSource in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on Builders FirstSource from $162.00 to $188.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. Finally, Stephens upped their price target on Builders FirstSource from $130.00 to $175.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Builders FirstSource has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $147.17.

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Builders FirstSource Price Performance

Shares of NYSE BLDR opened at $152.22 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $19.03 billion, a PE ratio of 11.79 and a beta of 1.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 1.84 and a quick ratio of 1.15. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $133.31 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $109.23. Builders FirstSource has a fifty-two week low of $52.70 and a fifty-two week high of $156.85.

Builders FirstSource (NYSE:BLDR  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 2nd. The company reported $3.89 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.69 by $1.20. Builders FirstSource had a return on equity of 45.73% and a net margin of 10.04%. The firm had revenue of $4.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.24 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $6.26 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was down 35.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts predict that Builders FirstSource will post 11.98 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, insider Jami Beckmann sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $120.69, for a total value of $241,380.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 41,262 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,979,910.78. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. 1.90% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Builders FirstSource

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Acadian Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Builders FirstSource in the second quarter valued at approximately $3,287,000. Modera Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Builders FirstSource during the second quarter valued at $272,000. Navellier & Associates Inc. grew its holdings in Builders FirstSource by 0.8% during the second quarter. Navellier & Associates Inc. now owns 50,181 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,825,000 after purchasing an additional 394 shares during the period. Versor Investments LP bought a new position in Builders FirstSource during the second quarter valued at $1,314,000. Finally, Mirabella Financial Services LLP bought a new position in Builders FirstSource during the second quarter valued at $843,000. 94.57% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Builders FirstSource Company Profile

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Builders FirstSource, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and supplies building materials, manufactured components, and construction services to professional homebuilders, sub-contractors, remodelers, and consumers in the United States. It offers lumber and lumber sheet goods comprising dimensional lumber, plywood, and oriented strand board products that are used in on-site house framing; manufactured products, such as wood floor and roof trusses, steel roof trusses, wall panels, stairs, and engineered wood products; and windows, and interior and exterior door units, as well as interior trims and custom products comprising intricate mouldings, stair parts, and columns under the Synboard brand name.

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John Wood Group PLC (LON:WG  Get Free Report) shares crossed above its 50 day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of GBX 137.74 ($1.76) and traded as high as GBX 164 ($2.10). John Wood Group shares last traded at GBX 164 ($2.10), with a volume of 2,208,603 shares changing hands.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, Citigroup restated a neutral rating on shares of John Wood Group in a research report on Tuesday, May 16th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of GBX 209.80 ($2.68).

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John Wood Group Stock Performance

Insider Buying and Selling at John Wood Group

The firm has a market capitalization of 1.11 billion, a PE ratio of -195.24, a P/E/G ratio of 0.33 and a beta of 1.61. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 34.13, a current ratio of 0.90 and a quick ratio of 0.75. The companys fifty day simple moving average is GBX 137.74 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 168.79.

In other John Wood Group news, insider Roy Franklin acquired 37,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 18th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of GBX 138 ($1.76) per share, with a total value of 51,060 ($65,252.40). In other news, insider Roy Franklin purchased 37,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 18th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of GBX 138 ($1.76) per share, with a total value of 51,060 ($65,252.40). Also, insider David Kemp purchased 3,237 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 15th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 130 ($1.66) per share, for a total transaction of 4,208.10 ($5,377.76). Insiders have acquired a total of 45,645 shares of company stock valued at $6,275,928 over the last three months. 1.73% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

About John Wood Group

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John Wood Group PLC, together with its subsidiaries, provides consulting, project management, and engineering solutions to energy and built environment worldwide. It operates through Projects, Operations, Consulting, and Investment Services segments. The Projects segment provides engineering design and project management services across energy and materials markets including oil and gas, chemicals, mining, minerals, and life sciences.

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Assetmark Inc. reduced its holdings in Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM  Free Report) by 5.7% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 10,283 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 622 shares during the quarter. Assetmark Inc.s holdings in Humana were worth $4,992,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Cibc World Market Inc. raised its holdings in Humana by 4.0% in the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 5,709 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $2,484,000 after buying an additional 217 shares during the period. Blair William & Co. IL boosted its position in Humana by 0.6% during the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 5,660 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $2,463,000 after purchasing an additional 32 shares during the period. Cetera Investment Advisers increased its holdings in Humana by 0.5% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 4,906 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $2,135,000 after purchasing an additional 26 shares in the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Humana by 19.0% during the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 615 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $268,000 after purchasing an additional 98 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. grew its stake in shares of Humana by 25.0% in the first quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 29,809 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $12,971,000 after buying an additional 5,964 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.21% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

HUM has been the subject of several recent research reports. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a $637.00 price objective on shares of Humana in a research report on Friday, July 14th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on Humana from $610.00 to $541.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 13th. SVB Securities reduced their price target on Humana from $640.00 to $600.00 in a report on Thursday, April 27th. TheStreet upgraded Humana from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Thursday, April 13th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reduced their target price on Humana from $637.00 to $594.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, August 3rd. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Humana currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $591.50.

Humana Stock Performance

HUM opened at $494.67 on Tuesday. Humana Inc. has a twelve month low of $423.29 and a twelve month high of $571.30. The company has a current ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58. The stock has a market cap of $61.29 billion, a PE ratio of 18.46, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.26 and a beta of 0.67. The businesss 50 day moving average is $463.57 and its 200-day moving average is $490.58.

Humana (NYSE:HUM  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The insurance provider reported $8.94 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $8.88 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $26.75 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $25.83 billion. Humana had a net margin of 3.42% and a return on equity of 20.70%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 13.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $8.67 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Humana Inc. will post 28.29 earnings per share for the current year.

Humana Profile

(Free Report)

Humana Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a health and well-being company in the United States. It operates through two segments, Insurance and CenterWell. The company offers medical and supplemental benefit plans to individuals. It also has a contract with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to administer the Limited Income Newly Eligible Transition prescription drug plan program; and contracts with various states to provide Medicaid, dual eligible, and long-term support services benefits.

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During the day of 8 August, Ukrainian defenders had to engage in more than 20 direct clashes with the enemy. The Russian army tried to break through at the Avdiivka, Maryinka and Shakhtarsk directions, but instead suffered significant losses.

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This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, publishing a daily summary of frontline events. Ukrainian aviation carried out nine strikes on areas where enemy personnel, weapons and military equipment were concentrated.

"Missile and artillery units hit two control points, five artillery pieces at firing positions, an ammunition depot and two occupiers' electronic warfare stations over the last day," our defenders reported.

However, the Russian invaders do not stop taking revenge, creating a dangerous situation under the threat of missile attacks. Such risks, as well as the possibility of Russian air strikes, remain throughout our country.

Also, according to the Ukrainian Armed Forces command, the situation on the key frontline areas was as follows over the last day:

In the Kupyansk sector, our troops are holding steadfastly the defence. The enemy carried out air strikes in the areas of Sinkivka and Kotlyarivka in Kharkiv region and Novoselivske in Luhansk region. More than 10 localities came under enemy artillery and mortar fire, including Figolovka, Novomlynsk, Dvorichna, Kucherivka and Kupyansk in Kharkiv region;

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in the Lyman direction, the enemy conducted air strikes in the areas of Bilohorivka in the Luhansk region and Terny, Serebryanka, Spirne and Veseloye in the Donetsk region. The enemy's artillery shelling targeted the towns of Bilohorivka in the Luhansk region and Verkhnekamyane, Spirne, and Rozdolivka in the Donetsk region;

in the Bakhmut sector, our soldiers are holding steadfastly the defence and successfully repelled enemy attacks in the vicinity of Klishchiyivka, Donetsk region. The enemy launched air strikes in the areas of Kramatorsk, Markove, Klishchiyivka, Severne and New York in Donetsk region. More than 10 localities suffered from enemy artillery shelling, including Vasyukivka, Orikhove-Vasylivka, Markove, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske in the Donetsk region;

in the Avdiivka sector, under heavy fire from enemy aircraft and artillery, our defenders successfully repelled attacks by Russian troops in the areas of Avdiivka and Severne in Donetsk Oblast. The enemy launched air strikes in the areas of Pivnichne and Pervomaiske in Donetsk region. Avdiivka, Tonenke, Solovyov, Pervomayske and Karlivka in Donetsk region came under artillery fire;

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in the Maryinka sector, defence forces continue to hold back the Russian offensive in the vicinity of Maryinka. The enemy conducted an air strike near Krasnohorivka. Krasnohorivka, Gostre, Maryinka and Novomykhailivka in the Donetsk region came under artillery fire;

in the Shakhtarsk sector, the enemy made unsuccessful attempts to regain the lost ground in the Staromayorsk district, launching air strikes in the areas of Vremivka, Blahodatne and Staromayorsk in the Donetsk region. Vodiane, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Niva, Blahodatne, Staromayorske in Donetsk region and Levadne in Zaporizhzhia came under artillery fire;

in the Zaporizhzhia sector, the enemy conducted air strikes in the areas of Novodanilivka and Robotyne in the Zaporizhzhia region. More than 15 localities came under artillery fire, including Malynivka, Huliaipole, Zaliznychne, Huliaipole, Mali Shcherbaki in Zaporizhzhia region and Nikopol in Dnipropetrovs'k region;

in the Kherson sector, more than 10 settlements came under enemy artillery fire, including Mykilske, Velykne in Kherson region and the city of Kherson, as well as Kutsurub and Ochakiv in Mykolaiv region.

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As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, President Zelenskyy congratulated the signalmen on the Day of the Communications and Cybersecurity Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and presented them with state awards. The head of state stressed that every success on the battlefield always includes the work of this army unit.

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Shares of Cummins Inc. (NYSE:CMI  Get Free Report) have earned an average rating of Hold from the seven brokerages that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and two have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 1-year price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $266.17.

A number of research analysts have commented on CMI shares. Citigroup increased their target price on Cummins from $265.00 to $290.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, July 18th. Credit Suisse Group reduced their target price on Cummins from $290.00 to $288.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday. VNET Group reaffirmed a maintains rating on shares of Cummins in a report on Wednesday, May 3rd. 888 reaffirmed a maintains rating on shares of Cummins in a report on Wednesday, May 31st. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on Cummins in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating on the stock.

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Read Our Latest Report on CMI

Institutional Trading of Cummins

Cummins Trading Up 0.3 %

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Peddock Capital Advisors LLC increased its position in Cummins by 2.6% in the 2nd quarter. Peddock Capital Advisors LLC now owns 7,928 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,944,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its position in Cummins by 24.7% in the 2nd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 835,756 shares of the companys stock valued at $204,894,000 after acquiring an additional 165,672 shares during the period. Earnest Partners LLC increased its position in Cummins by 1.3% in the 2nd quarter. Earnest Partners LLC now owns 278,697 shares of the companys stock valued at $68,325,000 after acquiring an additional 3,707 shares during the period. Acadian Asset Management LLC increased its position in Cummins by 40.5% in the 2nd quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 25,857 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,337,000 after acquiring an additional 7,450 shares during the period. Finally, Texas Permanent School Fund Corp increased its position in Cummins by 0.8% in the 2nd quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp now owns 29,691 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,279,000 after acquiring an additional 232 shares during the period. 82.72% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Shares of CMI opened at $237.29 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $33.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.29, a P/E/G ratio of 1.30 and a beta of 1.05. Cummins has a one year low of $200.40 and a one year high of $265.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 1.40. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $241.26 and a 200 day moving average price of $237.71.

Cummins (NYSE:CMI  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The company reported $5.18 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $5.19 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $8.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.39 billion. Cummins had a net margin of 7.89% and a return on equity of 25.46%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 30.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $4.77 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Cummins will post 19.97 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Cummins Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 7th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 25th will be given a dividend of $1.68 per share. This represents a $6.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.83%. This is a boost from Cumminss previous quarterly dividend of $1.57. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 24th. Cumminss dividend payout ratio is presently 35.18%.

About Cummins

(Get Free Report

Cummins Inc designs, manufactures, distributes, and services diesel and natural gas engines, electric and hybrid powertrains, and related components worldwide. It operates through five segments: Engine, Distribution, Components, Power Systems, and New Power. The company offers diesel and natural gas-powered engines under the Cummins and other customer brands for the heavy and medium-duty truck, bus, recreational vehicle, light-duty automotive, construction, mining, marine, rail, oil and gas, defense, and agricultural markets; and offers new parts and services, as well as remanufactured parts and engines.

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Integrated Advisors Network LLC lessened its stake in shares of Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK  Free Report) by 4.3% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 3,598 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 160 shares during the period. Integrated Advisors Network LLCs holdings in Rockwell Automation were worth $1,056,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. New Hampshire Trust acquired a new position in shares of Rockwell Automation during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Neo Ivy Capital Management acquired a new position in shares of Rockwell Automation during the 2nd quarter worth about $29,000. Clear Street Markets LLC acquired a new position in shares of Rockwell Automation during the 4th quarter worth about $30,000. Delta Asset Management LLC TN acquired a new position in shares of Rockwell Automation during the 4th quarter worth about $32,000. Finally, First Manhattan Co. raised its position in shares of Rockwell Automation by 150.0% during the 4th quarter. First Manhattan Co. now owns 125 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.28% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently issued reports on ROK shares. Wolfe Research raised shares of Rockwell Automation from an underperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 11th. StockNews.com cut shares of Rockwell Automation from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. Bank of America dropped their price objective on shares of Rockwell Automation from $375.00 to $335.00 in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of Rockwell Automation from $340.00 to $345.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. Finally, Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Rockwell Automation from $262.00 to $300.00 in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and five 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 an average price target of $288.24.

Insider Buying and Selling at Rockwell Automation

In other Rockwell Automation news, VP Scott Genereux sold 500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $280.00, for a total value of $140,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 3,376 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $945,280. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other news, SVP Cyril Perducat sold 645 shares of Rockwell Automation stock in a transaction on Friday, June 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $289.23, for a total transaction of $186,553.35. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 2,491 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $720,471.93. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, VP Scott Genereux sold 500 shares of Rockwell Automation stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $280.00, for a total transaction of $140,000.00. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 3,376 shares of the companys stock, valued at $945,280. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 15,338 shares of company stock valued at $4,736,430 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.64% of the companys stock.

Rockwell Automation Stock Up 3.9 %

Rockwell Automation stock opened at $310.46 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a current ratio of 1.12. Rockwell Automation, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $209.27 and a fifty-two week high of $348.52. The company has a market capitalization of $35.66 billion, a PE ratio of 25.32, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.02 and a beta of 1.43. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $319.13 and a 200 day moving average price of $295.67.

Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The industrial products company reported $3.01 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.19 by ($0.18). Rockwell Automation had a net margin of 16.51% and a return on equity of 40.33%. The business had revenue of $2.24 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.33 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.66 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 13.7% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts expect that Rockwell Automation, Inc. will post 11.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Rockwell Automation Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 11th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 14th will be given a $1.18 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 11th. This represents a $4.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.52%. Rockwell Automations dividend payout ratio is presently 38.50%.

Rockwell Automation Profile

(Free Report)

Rockwell Automation, Inc provides industrial automation and digital transformation solutions in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America. The company operates through three segments, Intelligent Devices, Software & Control, and Lifecycle Services. Its solutions include hardware and software products and services.

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Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. increased its holdings in Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC  Free Report) by 9.7% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 144,369 shares of the construction companys stock after buying an additional 12,767 shares during the quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. owned about 0.11% of Vulcan Materials worth $24,768,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Achmea Investment Management B.V. acquired a new position in Vulcan Materials in the 1st quarter worth approximately $29,000. New Hampshire Trust acquired a new position in Vulcan Materials in the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. CoreCap Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Vulcan Materials in the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Vulcan Materials in the 4th quarter worth approximately $38,000. Finally, Money Concepts Capital Corp acquired a new position in Vulcan Materials in the 4th quarter worth approximately $39,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.02% of the companys stock.

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Vulcan Materials Trading Up 1.2 %

Shares of VMC stock opened at $228.72 on Tuesday. The stocks fifty day moving average is $215.27 and its two-hundred day moving average is $191.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54, a quick ratio of 1.83 and a current ratio of 2.58. The firm has a market capitalization of $30.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 42.12, a PEG ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 0.78. Vulcan Materials has a fifty-two week low of $147.64 and a fifty-two week high of $229.75.

Vulcan Materials Announces Dividend

Vulcan Materials ( NYSE:VMC Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The construction company reported $2.29 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.91 by $0.38. Vulcan Materials had a return on equity of 11.64% and a net margin of 9.57%. The business had revenue of $2.11 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.05 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.53 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 8.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts expect that Vulcan Materials will post 6.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 6th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 17th will be given a $0.43 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, August 16th. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.75%. Vulcan Materialss payout ratio is currently 31.68%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Vulcan Materials

In other Vulcan Materials news, VP Randy L. Pigg sold 560 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $202.44, for a total transaction of $113,366.40. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 1,707 shares in the company, valued at $345,565.08. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Vulcan Materials news, CEO J Thomas Hill sold 4,695 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $201.79, for a total transaction of $947,404.05. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 80,039 shares in the company, valued at $16,151,069.81. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, VP Randy L. Pigg sold 560 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $202.44, for a total transaction of $113,366.40. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 1,707 shares in the company, valued at $345,565.08. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 7,644 shares of company stock valued at $1,529,014 over the last 90 days. 0.57% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on VMC shares. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on shares of Vulcan Materials from $191.00 to $186.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Raymond James raised their price objective on shares of Vulcan Materials from $202.00 to $243.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Vulcan Materials from $230.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on shares of Vulcan Materials from $227.00 to $250.00 in a research note on Friday, July 14th. Finally, Stephens raised their price objective on shares of Vulcan Materials from $230.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a 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 $238.80.

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Vulcan Materials Company Profile

(Free Report)

Vulcan Materials Company, together with its subsidiaries, produces and supplies construction aggregates primarily in the United States. It operates through four segments: Aggregates, Asphalt, Concrete, and Calcium. The Aggregates segment provides crushed stones, sand and gravel, sand, and other aggregates; and related products and services that are applied in construction and maintenance of highways, streets, and other public works, as well as in the construction of housing and commercial, industrial, and other nonresidential facilities.

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After participating in diplomatic talks in Saudi Arabia that were held without Russian participation, Beijing confirmed to Moscow that it maintains its "impartiality" regarding the war in Ukraine. The day after the summit, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

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This was reported by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During a telephone conversation on 7 August, Wang I told his Russian counterpart that China and Russia are "reliable friends and partners".

"Regarding the Ukrainian crisis, China will uphold an independent and impartial position, express an objective and rational voice, actively promote peace talks and try to find a political solution to any international multilateral event," the Chinese diplomat said.

For his part, Lavrov noted that Russia fully shares China's views on a political solution to the "crisis in Ukraine" within the framework of the position paper and "highly appreciates China's constructive contribution to this process."

For his part, Lavrov said that Russia fully shares China's views on a political solution to the "crisis in Ukraine" within the framework of a position paper and "highly appreciates China's constructive contribution to this process".

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The phone call followed two days of talks organised by Saudi Arabia. About 40 countries took part in these talks, including Ukraine's key allies, such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany, as well as India and countries from the Middle East. The main purpose of the meeting was to discuss the possibilities of resolving the war started by Russia on the territory of Ukraine, which has been going on for almost 18 months.

Earlier it was reported that at the summit in Saudi Arabia, China sought to show that it was "not the same" as the aggressor country Russia. Therefore, it actively discussed the option of ending the war put forward by our side.

As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, the participants of the event discussed the priority defence needs of our country, further steps towards Ukraine's integration into NATO, the release of Ukrainian prisoners, the extension of the grain deal and a number of other issues. Read all the details of the summit in our article.

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Gardai made over 500 arrests in Dublin in a seven day period recently, it has been confirmed.

Gardai on operational duty in the Dublin region in the last week made over 500 arrests, conducted more than 680 searches, and 1,500 patrols as part of on-going work to keep people safe, a garda spokesperson said.

There have been calls for extra gardai on the street in Dublin following an assault of an American tourist at Talbot Street and concerns over crime levels in the capital.



Between Friday, July 28, 2023 and Thursday 3rd August 2023, Gardai in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) on patrol, on the beat, and engaged in active investigations undertook the following activity to prevent and detect crime:

 509 Arrests  89 of these arrests were for drug trafficking

 689 Searches - approximately 500 of these were under the Drugs Act

 1,538 Patrols - 57 of which were part of Operation Citizen and 154 Operation Saul (patrols on and around public transport)

 196 road safety checkpoints



Alongside this activity, gardai have attended nine protests during this period alongside high profile sporting events at venues around the region.

"This amount and variety of operational activity in one week across the Dublin region shows the dedication of Gardai to actively work in communities to keep people safe. It reflects the work that is undertaken every week by Gardai in Dublin. In the last week alone, this has seen significant amounts of drugs taken off the streets, lives protected on our roads, and enabled people and communities to enjoy a variety of events safely, said Assistant Commissioner, DMR, Angela Willis.



Gardai in the DMR have made a number of drug seizures and arrests throughout this week. Examples of some of this enforcement activity include:



Gardai responded to three separate robberies at premises in Cherry Orchard, on the Ballyfermot Road and on Talbot Street between 29th and 30th of July 2023. Three men were arrested for these separate incidents, all of whom have been charged and have appeared before the Courts.



On the 2nd August at Parnell Street, a male on an eBike was found in possession of cannabis herb and resin, Cocaine, MDMA and LSD. The combined valued is almost 17,660. The male has since been charged. On the same day, Gardai responded to a burglary call in Dublin 8, in which a male was disturbed and had fled from the house. This man was later located. He was arrested and charged.



On the 3rd August, members of the Ballymun Drugs Unit were on Operation Tara patrol when they observed a male run from a car and into an apartment block. The car remained parked outside. The apartment block and car were observed for a period of time. The Ballymun Drugs Unit stopped and searched the male upon exiting the apartment block. He was found in possession of MDMA powder, valued at 61,200, a number of ecstasy tablets and a small amount of Alprozolam. He was arrested and brought before the courts where he was remanded in custody.

As part of a Day of Action in the J & R Districts on the 3rd August 2023, a search carried out in the Donaghmede area resulted in the seizure of combined drugs valued at 39,400. One male was arrested and detained.

Gardai obtained a warrant and searched an address in the Clondalkin area on 3rd August 2023. The search was positive for cannabis, with approximately 4.1kg seized. This has an estimated value of 83,000. Approximately 16,000 in cash was also seized. A male was arrested and taken to a Dublin garda station where he was detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.


Sinead OConnor had a moving and private funeral featuring Islamic prayers ahead of a funeral procession along a waterfront in Ireland.

The Chief Imam at the Islamic Centre of Ireland, who delivered Sinead OConnors funeral prayer, said OConnor never moved away from God unlike others who have difficulties and trials in their lives.

Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri told the PA news agency: The funeral was obviously private (for) the family and it was a very moving ceremony and I think it really reflected the beautiful personality of Sinead.

It was very spiritual and it reflected her Irish identity as well as her Muslim identity.

So I was with the members of the Muslim community and we performed the Janazah prayer, which is the Islamic funeral prayer, over Sinead.

Her funeral was attended by several political figures including President Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and musicians such as U2 frontman Bono and Bob Geldof.

Following the service, the hearse bearing OConnors coffin passed by her former home in Bray, Co Wicklow as hundreds of fans lined the streets.

Dr Umar Al-Qadri helped convert OConnor  who changed her name to Shuhada Davitt, later Shuhada Sadaqat  to Islam.

He also told PA: She was an amazing human being who was not just a great musician, artist, but one that would reach hearts of millions of people because of her voice but also because of the amazing content.

Whatever she said, had a deep meaning. She had always had strong faith and conviction in God and that is what motivated her to study theology.

She studied different faiths, religions and essentially, when she studied Islam it was for her like This was the religion I was always looking for. This was exactly the faith I was always looking for. I was always a Muslim, but I never realised.

Dr Al-Qadri was also present as the Irish Muslim Council laid flowers by OConnors grave.

He wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: May her family and loved ones find solace in the outpouring of love from the corners of this earth for this unique daughter of Ireland who moved so many hearts with her mighty voice and unflinching honesty as an artist, poet, and human being.

The Islamic scholar also revealed OConnors eulogy online saying he gave his heartfelt gratitude to her family and added that he was humbled by the privilege of delivering her service.

He wrote: Just as Sinead OConnor brought diverse souls together through her art, so have you orchestrated a symphony of unity during her final journey.

Your noble gesture has transcended boundaries and connected strangers, echoing the very essence of Sineads legacy.

In this shared moment of remembrance and prayer, we find ourselves united in a tapestry of love, compassion and reverence.

May this ceremony be a testament to the enduring power of humanitys collective spirit, as we bid farewell to a remarkable soul who touched us all.
August 08, 2023





With the regulations in place from laws such as the General Data Regulation Protection act and local and statewide mandates, safeguarding business assets from cyber attacks may be more crucial than ever. Youll also protect your data and prevent damage to your reputation.







Businesses want customers to trust them with their personal data. To earn their confidence, you must show them you will only use their info for the intended purpose and protect it. At the same time, hackers are waiting around every corner to break into your servers.

How can small businesses protect digital assets without spending a small fortune? Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to protect your company and your customers.

1. Insist on Strong Passwords

Get Cyber Safe organization advises never writing passwords down where others might copy them. They also point out that weak, easy-to-guess passwords cause data breaches.

Don't use personal details, such as a child's name, pet's name or part of your own name. The things everyone in the company can do to make passwords difficult to guess are fairly simple. Use at least eight characters that are a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Update passwords frequently and consider two-factor authentication.

2. Create New Policies

How does your company address security from the top down? Set up policies for what type of information you collect, how you secure it and how long you keep the data.

Create rules for passwords and how often employees must change them. You should also have a policy in place for how you handle a cyber breach should an incident occur. The faster you secure things, notify customers and take steps to prevent another attack, the less damage will occur.

3. Keep Virus Protection Up to Date

One way cybercriminals attack your data is by installing viruses on your system or website. In 2021, people paid an average of $570,000 for a ransomware attack and the number rises annually. Most small businesses can't take a hit. Many also feel it isn't wise to pay hackers ransom because it encourages further acts of aggression toward them or other companies.

Set your virus protections to update automatically. Most antivirus software releases new features as various new threats enter the market. Investing in the top programs ensures youre better protected against attacks.

4. Educate Employees

One of the simplest and most effective ways of safeguarding business assets from cyber attacks is to educate your employees on the threats. Once they understand why its vital to protect their passwords and avoid familiar scams, theyll be more likely to prevent cyber incidents.

Teach them what phishing looks like and to verify by always going directly to the person in your company or a website rather than clicking on any links in emails. Give them scenarios where someone might pretend to be a higher up in the company to gain access to sensitive data.

5. Update Plugins and Themes

WordPress (WP) is a popular content management system (CMS) for many small business owners. Since the open-source CMS software has a 64.3% market share, WP is a popular target for hackers.

They may try to harm your site by using common passwords to log in and take over your pages. Another tactic is a DDoS attack that overwhelms your system. One of the best things you can do to stop bad players is to keep your plugins and themes up to date. When WP releases an update, go ahead and install it. Many updates are meant to prevent backend attacks and make your site more secure.

6. Use Firewalls

Another thing you can do when safeguarding business assets or your CMS website is to install firewalls. These act as a first line of defense against attacks, stopping them in their tracks. The software spots patterns, such as someone trying multiple passwords in a short span of time, or trying to access files and conduct SQL injections.

Firewalls stop the majority of cyber attacks. You can add to their effectiveness by upgrading to pro features, blocking specific country IPs or creating a safelist of those who frequently access the site, such as official administrators.

7. Perform Frequent Backups

The Small Business Administration recently discussed how cyber attacks cost the United States economy billions annually. Small businesses are more at risk because they lack some of the infrastructure of large corporations.

At some point in your businesss life, youll likely become a victim of a hacking incident or your site might crash due to people trying to access it. In situations such as malware and ransomware, you may need to reupload your site before it comes under whatever virus or code changes the hackers implemented.

When you back up your site frequently, you have the files on hand to reinstate it once the attacks stop. A full site backup is crucial to handling an incident successfully after it occurs.

Be Vigilant in Safeguarding Business Assets

A company should train its employees to recognize hacking attempts, and invest in antivirus software and protections to prevent incidents. You should also regularly conduct security audits to ensure your site is safe. These might include hiring third parties to attempt a safe hacking incident and see how easy it is to break into your system. Such information allows a skilled IT professional to add safeguards to prevent bad players from accessing your pages.

Be vigilant, keep software updated and train employees, and youll reduce the risk of someone getting their hands on your customers data or shutting down your business for expensive days. A little work now prevents headaches later.
[August 08, 2023] Media Alert: Espressive CEO to Keynote at Digital Enterprise CIO Transformation Assembly Tweet

Espressive, the pioneer in automating digital workplace assistance, today announced that Espressive founder and CEO Pat Calhoun will deliver a keynote presentation titled, "Your Employees are Using ChatGPT. Is Your Enterprise at Risk?" at this year's Digital Enterprise CIO Transformation Assembly on August 8 in New Orleans, Louisiana hosted by The Millennium Alliance. Calhoun will discuss the opportunities and challenges large language models (LLMs) pose to organizations and explore how virtual agents unlock a new world of workplace assistance and productivity while minimizing privacy and security risks. WHO: Espressive founder and CEO Pat Calhoun is a visionary leader with an intense focus on user experience and customer adoption. He has founded two companies - Airespace and Espressive. As CEO at Espressive, Calhoun is set to transform enterprise self-service as we know it now to a consumer-like experience that drives employee adoption and significantly reduceshelp desk calls. Calhoun's first startup, Airespace, grew revenues to over $80M in two years before being sold to Cisco for $450M.



WHAT: Recent research revealed that 43% of employees are using ChatGPT for work-related tasks, and 68% of them are doing so without their manager's knowledge. While CIOs see ChatGPT as promising, they struggle with the potential loss of personally identifiable information or corporate secrets from employees sharing data. Leaders are challenged with staying innovative by incorporating LLMs in their tech stack, but also need to ensure the necessary security parameters are in place. During his presentation, Calhoun will delve into risks associated with LLMs including AI hallucinations, plagiarism, and dated information. Attendees will get an in-depth look at how virtual agents can provide safe and responsible access to ChatGPT in the workplace. While discussing the limitations of ChatGPT and other LLMs, Calhoun will also cover how to maximize investments in LLMs as well as additional advantages of deploying a virtual agent with supporting Espressive Barista customer use cases.

WHERE: The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans WHEN: Tuesday, August 8 from 1 to 2:00 pm CT About Espressive Espressive, the pioneer in automating digital workplace assistance and a 2022 Forrester New Wave Leader, redefines how employees get help by delivering exceptional employee experiences. Espressive Barista, the company's innovative virtual support agent (VSA) platform, takes on the role of the service agent, bringing the best of human experience with the best of artificial intelligence. Leveraging a proprietary and domain-specific large language model (LLM), the Employee Language Cloud, as well as integration with generalized LLMs, Barista automates resolution of employee questions, issues, and requests with personalized experiences that result in employee adoption of 80 to 85% and reduced help desk call volume of 50% to 70%. Espressive is backed by Insight Partners, General Catalyst, and Wing Venture Capital, and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California. Visit www.espressive.com for more information. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808977586/en/

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[August 07, 2023] Hayel Saeed Anam Group and SAP celebrate the graduation of the second cohort of the SAP Young Professionals Program in Yemen and Egypt Tweet

CAIRO, Aug. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hayel Saeed Anam (HSA) Group and SAP have today announced the graduation of 27 candidates who have successfully completed the SAP Young Professionals Program, jointly delivered in Yemen and Egypt. For the second year, HSA Group partnered with global technology leader SAP to host the SAP Young Professionals Program in 2023. The program is a pioneering initiative run in 41 countries by the Digital Skills Center of SAP that provides unemployed or underemployed recent university graduates with three months of digital skills training to become certified SAP Associate Consultants. The program aims to upskill young talent and help unlock candidates' digital potential. This initiative is a core component of a wider strategic partnership with SAP that is enabling HSA Group to future-proof its operations and invest in the development of its people and technology across the markets in which it operates. All recent university graduates in Yemen and Egypt were eligible to apply for the 2023 program, which received over 3200 applications. The successful applicants took part in a comprehensive training program that was designed to develop personal and business skills, as well as provide technical knowledge of cutting-edge SAP technologies. Nabil Hayel Saeed Anam, HSA Group  Yemen region Managing Director said: "On behalf of HSA Group, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to this year's graduates of the SAP Young Professionals Program. We were proud to collaborate with SAP for a second year to deliver the newly expanded program in Yemen and Egypt and look forward to continuing this partnership in the future. "We remain committed to investing in the next generation of leaders and ensuring that they have the skills and experience they need to unlock their collective potential. We will be continuing to support this important program in Yemen and Egypt and wish all applicants the greatest success." Alp Geckalan, Head of SAP Digital Skills Center said: "The initiatives of the Digital Skills Center create a win-win situation: local youth find a job, SAP customers and partners find talent to succeed in the digital era, and countries benefit from the digital skills created. We are looking forward to continuing our partnership with HSA Group to create further capacity in future." The 3-month program covers SAP software functional/technical knowledge and certification, with a key focus on SAP's latest innovations as well as soft and fture skill trainings. In this year's program, candidates were certified in their use of SAP Business Process Integration with SAP S/4HANA 2020 & SAP S/4HANA Cloud (Public) Implementation with SAP Activate. They also undertook training to develop their interpersonal skills, foster design thinking and learn about innovation models and interview techniques.



The 2023 graduation took place on 8 August 2023 and was attended by program graduates, Mohamed Khalifa (CITO of HSA), Dmitrii Krasiukov (COO of SAP North Africa), Alp Geckalan (Head of Digital Skills Center of SAP), SAP employees and SAP customers and partners. Notes for editors:

About HSA Group HSA Group is Yemen's largest company and through its 50+ operating companies in Yemen, it manufactures and supplies essential goods and services to multinational organisations and communities, both in Yemen and across the MENA region. The company serves the needs of millions of Yemenis, local and international businesses every day. Its wide-ranging activities include: producing market-leading food and beverage brands, household goods and healthcare essentials; manufacturing a diverse range of industrial and construction materials; supplying automotive vehicles; and providing insurance and financial services to Yemen. Throughout its 85-year history, HSA Group has adopted a values-led approach to sustainable growth. The company is driven by the philosophy set by its founders: a belief in doing well by doing good. The company's values prize and reward compassion, care for others and a community spirit, guiding how it works with its employees, partners and the societies that it serves across the world. About SAP Visit the Digital Skills Center to find out more about the SAP Young Professionals Program. SAP's strategy is to help every business run as an intelligent, sustainable enterprise. As a market leader in enterprise application software, we help companies of all sizes and in all industries run at their best: SAP customers generate 87% of total global commerce. Our machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics technologies help turn customers' businesses into intelligent enterprises. SAP helps give people and organizations deep business insight and fosters collaboration that helps them stay ahead of their competition. We simplify technology for companies so they can consume our software the way they want  without disruption. Our end-to-end suite of applications and services enables business and public customers across 25 industries globally to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and make a difference. With a global network of customers, partners, employees, and thought leaders, SAP helps the world run better and improve people's lives. For more information, visit www.sap.com . This document contains forward-looking statements, which are predictions, projections, or other statements about future events. These statements are based on current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and outcomes to materially differ. Additional information regarding these risks and uncertainties may be found in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to the risk factors section of SAP's 2022 Annual Report on Form 20-F.  2023 SAP SE. All rights reserved.

SAP and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE in Germany and other countries. Please see https://www.sap.com/copyright for additional trademark information and notices. To preview and download broadcast-standard stock footage and press photos digitally, please visit www.sap.com/photos . On this platform, you can find high resolution material for your media channels. To view video stories on diverse topics, visit www.sap-tv.com . From this site, you can embed videos into your own Web pages, share video via email links, and subscribe to RSS feeds from SAP TV. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/hayel-saeed-anam-group-and-sap-celebrate-the-graduation-of-the-second-cohort-of-the-sap-young-professionals-program-in-yemen-and-egypt-301894826.html

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[August 08, 2023] BharatRohan and Smart Village Movement Partner to Bring Drone Crop Monitoring to Ginger Farmers in Meghalaya Tweet

GURGAON, India, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BharatRohan Airborne Innovations Private Limited, a pioneer in agri-tech drone services, has announced a transformative partnership with the Smart Village Movement. This collaboration is set to revolutionize ginger farming in Meghalaya, by reducing their crop losses and improving their income and livelihoods. The project will leverage advanced drone-based hyperspectral imaging and data-driven insights, ensuring affordability for smallholder farmers. The partnership aims to empower farmers with precision agriculture techniques using UAV drones equipped with hyperspectral, multispectral and thermal sensors, capable of detecting minute changes in crop health. This real-time data enables farmers to make timely interventions to improve crop yield and quality. Moreover, the initiative promotes sustainable, residue-free ginger production, which will incentivize farmers with premium prices by creating better linkages for the export markets, enhancing income opportunities and economic growth for the local farming communities. "Our drones are equipped with hyperspectral imagery, provide real-time data and precise crop health assessments, enabling swift adaptation to shifting climate patterns. We believe in creating a sustainable agricultural ecosystem by producing residue-free, better-quality produce," said Rishabh Choudhary, CTO & Co-Founder of BharatRohan. Echoing this sentiment, Megha Raju, Project Lead at BharatRohan, highlighted the critical role of the collaboration: "Integrating UAV hyperspectral technology into smallholder ginger farming in Meghalaya, our collaboration becomes crucial in providing farm speci?c actionable advisory, supplying high quality agri-inputs and promoting sustainable and pro?table agricultural practices." Vivek Shah, CEO of Smart Village Movement, also voiced his enthusiasm: "As a facilitator to take technologies and business models in rural markets, SVM looks forward to the pilot with BharatRohan in addressing the pain points and aspirations of farmers. Our experience to drive other droneenabled use cases gives us great anticipation to propel the prospects in the agricultural sector as well. The outcomes of this would be key to understanding the technology readiness and resilience in unique conditions like dense clouds, high rainfall and the topography of Meghalaya, but most profoundly, to witness demand in villagers adapting to such innovations would be of essential value to our model."



The partnership received significant support from the NASSCOM 'Center of Excellence for IoT & AI' in India, which played a pivotal role. The center's contributions were crucial in making the partnership successful and impactful, enabling positive developments in rural regions. Initially, the partnership aims to collaborate with farmers in Ri Bhoi District, Meghalaya, with plans for further expansion. Farmers will receive personalized advisory services, UAV/drone-based prescription maps and agri-input suggestions through a very easy-to-use BharatRohan WhatsApp Chatbot, alongside market linkage opportunities.

The partnership plans to expand services to paddy, turmeric and pineapple-farming clusters in Meghalaya, further demonstrating their commitment to sustainable agriculture. Furthermore, they will host farmer meetings and capacity-building training programs, facilitating the understanding and effective use of UAV/drone technology in agriculture. About BharatRohan BharatRohan is an agri-tech start-up specializing in UAV/drone spectral imaging-based Decision Support System (DSS) for farmers. They offer a comprehensive procurement platform to institutional buyers with traceability as a key value addition. The solution is vertically integrated and offers farmers and FPOs access to the markets through buyback arrangements. The value proposition for paying customers is access to pesticide and residue-free agricultural commodities, along with a farm-traceability platform. The company is tapping into the export market demand, which can offer higher margins to the farmer. For more information, visit http://www.bharatrohan.com/ About Smart Village Movement The Smart Village Movement is a collaborative process facilitated by the SVM organization in conjunction with the Berkeley-Haas Center of Growth Markets, aimed at establishing a Smart Village ecosystem. The organization actively partners with government, academia, corporations, and rural communities, fostering independence and promoting sustainable rural development in Indian villages and other emerging markets. Its primary objective is to empower rural communities by leveraging digital technologies and open innovation platforms, thereby enabling them to access global markets. For further inquiries, contact: Megha Raju (Project Lead, BharatRohan)

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +91-92059 91781 Vivek Shah (CEO, Smart Village Movement)

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +91-9967484848 Photo 1: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2170421/BharatRohan_SVM_Meghalaya.jpg

Photo 2: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2170422/Farmers_BharatRohan_Drone_Survey.jpg

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[August 08, 2023] K&K Fashion partners with Appier to elevate marketing automation and personalized recommendations Tweet

Significant boost in click-through rates and conversions through AI-powered personalization HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Appier today announced the results of its collaboration with K&K Fashion, a prominent Vietnam-based e-commerce retailer specializing in women's office wear, aimed at revolutionizing the brand's customer engagement strategies. By integrating Appier's AI personalization cloud, AIQUA, K&K Fashion achieved significant improvements in marketing automation and personalized customer interactions. As a result, the Vietnamese fashion brand experienced remarkable increases in click-through rates (CTR) and conversion rates (CVR), enhancing its overall business performance. In 2022, Vietnam witnessed a substantial surge in its e-commerce revenue, reaching an impressive sum of approximately US$ 16.4 billion. Key indicators of the thriving e-commerce landscape in Vietnam are evident from a 2022 survey, which revealed that more than 60 percent of internet users in the country had embraced online shopping, contributing to a burgeoning community of online shoppers. Moreover, the e-commerce sector has exhibited remarkable growth in consumer expenditure across diverse product categories, encompassing consumer goods, digital media, and online travel, signifying a promising trajectory for Vietnam's digital marketplace[1]. With the explosive growth of ecommerce in Vietnam, K&K Fashion embarked on its own digital transformation journey to enhance customer engagement and drive stronger brand loyalty to elevate its business performance. Empowering personalized customer engagements Founded in 2010, K&K Fashion quickly gained popularity among its customers for its inclusive designs, high-quality materials, and sophisticated techniques. With 13 showrooms across Vietnam and a thriving e-commerce platform, the brand sought to enhance customer engagement and tailor their offerings to individual preferences. "We are thrilled with the results of our collaboration with Appier and the remarkable transformation it has brought to K&K Fashion. We have revolutionized our customer engagement strategies, leading to significant improvements in marketing automation and personalized customer interactions," said Thanh Le Viet, CEO, K&K Fashion. "The impact of Appier's AI-powered solutions on our marketing efforts has been nothing short of remarkable. Our partnership with Appier has been truly collaborative, and we value their dedication to refining the platform settings based on our feedback and evolving needs," Thanh Le Viet concluded. "Over the past three years, Appier has been an invaluable partner, continuously delivering tailored solutions that empower K&K Fashion to stay at the forefront of customer engagement and innovation in the competitive fashion landscape." K&K Fashion identified two primary objectives when seeking a marketing automation partner: accelerated audience segmentation and timely as well as engaging content delivery across multiple channels. With AIQUA's cutting-edge AI capabilities, K&K Fashion found the perfect solution to meet their goals effectively. Leveraging AIQUA, K&K Fashion efficiently personalized its customers' shopping experiences. The AI-powered system analyzed customer data and behavior to generate personalized product recommendations, significantly increasing the likelihood of purchase. By implementing AIQUA's "Autopilot" feature, K&K Fashion maximized CTR and CVR by dynamically selecting the most effective recommendation models for each customer. Driving unprecedented success The impact of AIQUA on K&K Fashion's marketing efforts has been transformative. The implementation of personalized product recommendations across their e-commerce platform led to a session duration 236% higher than the average of all channels and a conversion rate of 150% higher. Furthermore, AIQUA's data-driven segmentation empowered the brand to send out email marketing campaigns with relevant product recommendations, achieving a remarkable email conversion rate that was 10 times higher than the industry average. Over the past three years, K&K Fashion and Appier have fostered a strong and collaborative relationship. Appier continually refines its platform settings based on K&K Fashion's feedback, resulting in continuous improvement and tailored solutions that meet the brand's evolving needs. With a track record of success, K&K Fashion and Appier are poised to continue driving innovation in real-time, personalized marketing. The partnership has yielded exceptional results, and Appier is committed to supporting K&K Fashion on their journey to deliver exceptional customer experiences. About K&K Fashion Established in 2010, K&K Fashion is a prominent women's fashion brand known for its sophisticated office wear designs. With 13 showrooms across Vietnam and a thriving e-commerce platform, the brand caters to diverse customer needs and preferences. About Appier Appier (TSE: 4180) is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) company that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to power business decision-making. Founded in 2012 with a vision of democratizing AI, Appier now has 17 offices across APAC, Europe and the U.S., and is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Visit www.appier.com for more company information.







[1] Statista - E-commerce market value in Vietnam from 2014 to 2022

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/kk-fashion-partners-with-appier-to-elevate-marketing-automation-and-personalized-recommendations-301895359.html SOURCE Appier

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[August 08, 2023] Mesa Pro is the World's First IP68-rated Rugged Tablet with Active Cooling Tweet

LOGAN, Utah, Aug. 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Juniper Systems, Inc. is excited to announce that the all-new Mesa Pro Rugged Tablet is now available featuring an IP68 rating for ingress protection. The Mesa Pro is the first IP68-rated rugged tablet that uses an active cooling fan to cool the systems processor.

'This is a big moment for Juniper Systems', said Darren Hellstern, Mesa Pro product manager at Juniper Systems. 'We have a long history of offering IP68 on our rugged products. A lot of time and hard work has gone into securing the rating for Mesa Pro. Achieving this rating of ingress protection against water and dust in a tablet with a fan is an engineering challenge. Our team was up for that challenge and delivered for our customers'. Ingress protection (IP) ratings are used across the electronics industry to rate the protection a device has against solids and liquids compromising internal systems. A rating of 6 is the highest protection from solids, such as dust, sand, rocks, etc. An 8 is a rating against liquid ingress, this includes drips, sprays, and submersion. Mesa Pro is rated to and capable of submersion at one meter for 45 minutes. Featuring 11th Generation Intel Core processrs, a Microsoft Windows 11 operating system, device customization options, a large sunlight-readable display, a Juniper Rugged design, and now an IP68 rating, the Mesa Pro is the most robust rugged tablet on the market.



'Mesa Pro is a powerful laptop replacement for those who are looking for a more robust computer to fit their work needs', Hellstern said. 'Whether it is in the office or in the field, the Mesa Pro offers everything mobile workers need in a rugged computer'. Mesa Pro joins the Mesa 3 family of 7-inch tablets as IP68-certified devices, and helps Juniper Systems achieve its mission of providing powerful rugged computing and data collection solutions to mobile field workers everywhere.

Mesa Pro is ideal for industries like construction, utility mapping, manufacturing, field service, geomatics, mining, and for mounted and in-cab solutions. Mesa Pro is ready for any environment. To learn more, visit the Mesa Pro product page. Mesa Pro is now available and shipping to customers. Please reach out to us to learn more about pricing, customizations, and availability. About Juniper Systems Founded in 1993, Juniper Systems, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of ultra-rugged tablets, handheld computers, GPS receivers, mapping software, and field computing solutions. Professionals utilize Juniper Systems innovative mobile computers in natural resources, utilities and public services, geospatial, agriculture, industrial, and military markets. In addition, the companys HarvestMaster brand makes solutions for agricultural applications. Juniper Systems is based in Logan, UT, USA, and employs more than 190 people there, and at its EMEA office based near Birmingham, UK. It was twice-recognized as one of the fastest-growing companies in the Beehive State and honored with awards for best compensation, work-life balance, and employee happiness among small and mid-sized U.S. companies by business research firm Comparably. Visit us online at https://junipersys.com. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7d204dc2-5e0b-419a-93e0-83eb5c4e0ce3.



Contact: Bradley Thatcher +1 (435) 753-1881 [email protected] 1132 W. 1700 North, Logan, UT 84321 USA

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[August 08, 2023] Xceedance Names Amit Tiwari to New Strategic Leadership Role in London Tweet

Xceedance, a global provider of technology and digital solutions, claims services, and data and analytical insights to the insurance industry, announces the promotion of Amit Tiwari to the new role of president, EMEA & APAC. In his new role, Tiwari will focus on growing awareness of the Xceedance brand in the London, continental Europe, and Australia insurance markets and work to connect with industry professionals across those locations. Tiwari relocated to London as part of this new role and will work out of the Xceedance office in the City of London, located at 8 Lloyd's Avenue. This new position expands on Tiwari's previous responsibilities as EVP, chief operating officer - India and Poland for Xceedance. "Amit is a co-founder of Xceedance and one of the company's original 13 team members, which gives him a unique perspective on the company and how we want to advance as an organzation," said Arun Balakrishnan, chairman and chief executive officer at Xceedance. "I can't imagine a better person to fill this new strategic leadership role, and I can't wait to see Amit expand and grow Xceedance across Europe and Australia."



"I'm thrilled to assume the role of president, EMEA and APAC for Xceedance and to relocate to London, an international insurance hub," said Amit Tiwari. "From my initial role as chief technology officer to this new role leading the company's growth efforts in critical global insurance markets, I have always known that Xceedance occupies a unique space in our industry. I can now share that story directly with insurance professionals in the United Kingdom, across Europe, and Australia to see the impact of the work we do firsthand. I cannot wait to begin." To learn more about Amit Tiwari and other Xceedance corporate leaders, visit xceedance.com/who-we-are/our-team.

About Xceedance Xceedance provides strategic operations support, technology, and data services to drive efficiencies for insurance organizations worldwide. The company helps insurers launch products, implement intelligent technology, deploy advanced analytics, and achieve business process optimization. For more information, visit www.xceedance.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808883728/en/

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[August 08, 2023] INFiLED Partners with RealProtec for Gwangju Content Cube VX Studio Tweet

SHENZHEN, China, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Supported by a highly skilled team and leveraging cutting-edge LED technologies from INFiLED and Brompton Technology, RealProtec, a leading technology company specializing in innovative solutions for South Korea's film and media industries, has paved the way for the development of Gwangju Content Cube (GCC) VX Studio. Operated by the Gwangju Information & Content Agency, GCC VX Studio is the largest virtual production studio in South Korea. With the aim of streamlining production processes and bringing creative visions to life efficiently and cost-effectively, RealProtec, in collaboration with CJ OliveNetworks and Jinwoo M&C, has established GCC as a versatile space equipped with state-of-the-art content production infrastructure for movies, games, animations, and immersive experiences such as VR, AR, and MR. Moreover, GCC is expected to foster the growth of cultural content-related start-ups and stimulate the job market in Gwangju.



INFiLED's dedication to delivering cutting-edge LED technologies has made them an ideal partner for this project. The company has provided its state-of-the-art LED products, including the DB2.6 S8C LED panels, which measure an impressive 30m wide by 6m tall, for the main LED wall. Additionally, the DF3.9mk-C8 LED panels have been utilized for the 10m by 5m floor, while the AR3.91 S8C panels have been installed to create a visually stunning 15m by 10m ceiling. These LED panels offer exceptional image quality, reliability, and performance, guaranteeing an immersive content experience. In conjunction with INFiLED's LED solutions, Brompton's Tessera SX40 LED processors and Tessera XD 10G data distribution units have been integrated into the studio. This integration enables outstanding visual performance and ensures a seamless user experience, further enhancing the immersive environment.

The GCC VX Studio project, made possible through the collaborative efforts of INFiLED, Brompton, and RealProtec, showcases their commitment to offering top-tier LED display solutions. Michael Hao, CEO of INFiLED, expressed his excitement, "Partnering with RealProtec and Brompton Technology has allowed us to bring our expertise and technology to create a truly immersive content experience within the GCC VX Studio. As a leading player in the LED display industry, we prioritize innovation and quality to ensure we remain at the forefront of the market. The integration of xR/VP technology demonstrates our commitment to pushing the boundaries of the LED display industry." "We're thrilled to be part of the VX Studio project, a groundbreaking initiative establishing South Korea's first hybrid realistic photography facility, capable of simultaneously operating LED wall-based In-Camera VFX (ICVFX) and XR stages. This strengthens both local and global immersive content industries. Brompton Technology's continuous expansion of LED video processing possibilities, in collaboration with partners like INFiLED and RealProtec, is exemplified by remarkable projects such as GCC VX Studio. This underscores our team's unwavering dedication to innovative LED processing solutions." says Elijah Ebo, Director of APAC Operations at Brompton Technology. For more information about INFiLED's LED display solutions, please visit www.infiled.com, or contact via [email protected] . View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/infiled-partners-with-realprotec-for-gwangju-content-cube-vx-studio-301895137.html SOURCE INFiLED

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[August 08, 2023] The Positive Impact of Fintech in Serving The Underserved Community Tweet

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Access to financial services is a fundamental component of economic growth and social development. Unfortunately, a significant portion of the global population, particularly in emerging markets, remain underserved or excluded from formal financial services. Such as being disqualified due to low-income levels, lack of physical access to banking infrastructure, and inadequate financial literacy. Lack of financial inclusion also affects quality of life for the population in SEA. Many do not hold bank accounts and transact predominantly in cash, making it difficult to build a credit history that would enable them to access formal financial tools to make substantial purchases. The rise of fintech is providing innovative solutions to these longstanding problems. Besides making it more efficient for companies to provide financial services, it is also leading to a more accessible and transparent financial system, particularly for the underserved segment of society in Asia. Fintech solutions such as mobile banking and microcredit facilities, create new opportunities for MSMEs. These solutions are ideal for the needs of the underserved population as they are more accessible, affordable, and convenient than traditional banking services, enabling millions of people to access financial services for the first time. To this end, Boost's cross-border payment ecosystem powered by Boost Connect is bringing together underserved consumers and business in the Asian region with our solutions. Boost has rolled out Direct Carrier Billing (DCB) across multiple mobile carriers across Asia. DCB provides a convenient, secure, and accessible payment option that enables over billion users to make purchases simply by charging the cost to their mobile phone bill.



Another solution called Stretch was developed to address issues of insufficient prepaid balance by providing credit loan facility for customers to complete their digital content purchases and pay back the loan in their next prepaid top-up cycle. Stretch is also able to facilitate Credit Advance through DCB, giving customers a seamless experience in their digital transactions. Boost's AI-powered micro-financing business, provides tailored financial solutions to underserved communities in the region. Such as Invoice Financing for Distributors, allows distributors to finance their collective invoices by paying vendors upfront; Supply Chain Financing for Merchant Network, provides upfront financing to distributors to finance their merchant inventory orders; Capital X for Merchants, offers working capital loan to small businesses to help them manage their short-term cash flow needs; and Capital for Merchants, provides a 12-month working capital loan to MSMEs repaid through monthly installments.

Overall, these micro-financing products help to bridge the gap in access to credit and financing for the underserved populations in the region, from consumers to MSMEs. By empowering these groups to grow their businesses, create jobs, and enjoy a better quality of life, Boost the regional full spectrum fintech player is inspiring them to be unstoppable. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/the-positive-impact-of-fintech-in-serving-the-underserved-community-301895557.html SOURCE Boost

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ThreatX to Host Multiple Presentations, Books Signings, and Demos at Booth #3028 During Black Hat 2023

ThreatX:

What: ThreatX, the leading API and application protection platform, will be attending Black Hat 2023, located at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV from August 9 - 10. The company will host multiple informative presentations on topics including API Protection, Runtime API and Application Protection, and API Security Programs, open to all conference attendees.

In addition, ThreatX will be offering live demos of key platform capabilities, including both edge-based API & Application Protection (inclusive of the new Botnet Console and API Catalog 2.0), and the recently launched Runtime API & Application Protection (RAAP) solution.

They will also be distributing copies of their new report, All You Need to Know About Protecting Against Runtime Threats to APIs and Applications. ThreatX executives including CEO Gene Fay, Chief Product Officer and Co-Founder Bret Settle, and Field CISO Jeremy Ventura will be on site and available to discuss the company's latest news plus trends and best practices in API and application protection. In addition, the company will host book signings with industry experts Bruce Schneier and Nick Aleks.







Where: Booth #3028 (Business Hall Expo)

When: Conference attendees can participate in the following activities, hosted by ThreatX:

Book Signings at Booth #3028:

Booth Presentations at Booth #3028:

Wednesday, August 9 th API Protection by Sydney Coffaro, Senior Product Marketing Manager at ThreatX Time: 10:30 am, 1:15 pm, 2:15 pm, and 4:30 pm PT Runtime API and App Protection by Tyler Hill, Senior Product Manager at ThreatX Time: 11:00 am, 2:45 pm, and 5:00 pm PT API Security Programs by Jeremy Ventura, Field CISO at ThreatX Time: 11:30 am and 3:15 pm PT ThreatX Platform Demo by Bret Settle, Chief Product Officer and Co-Founder at ThreatX Time: 12:45 pm PT Insights from ThreatX Protection-as-a-Service team by Neil Weitzel, Director, Security Operations at ThreatX Time: 12 pm, 3:45 pm, and 5:30 pm PT

Thursday, August 10 th API Security Programs by Jeremy Ventura, Field CISO at ThreatX Time: 10:15 am and 12:45 pm PT Insights from ThreatX Protection-as-a-Service team by Neil Weitzel, Director, Security Operations at ThreatX Time: 10:45 am and 1:15 pm PT ThreatX Platform Demo by Bret Settle, Chief Product Officer and Co-Founder at ThreatX Time: 11:15 am PT Runtime API and App Protection by Tyler Hill, Senior Product Manager at ThreatX Time: 11:45 am and 1:45 pm PT API Protection by Sydney Coffaro, Senior Product Marketing Manager at ThreatX Time: 12:15 pm and 2:15 pm PT



More: Want to win ThreatX swag? Join ThreatX CEO Gene Fay's eXecutive Security podcast at Black Hat! ThreatX booth staff will be asking the following question to attendees throughout the event: "What's the one piece of advice you'd offer to someone trying to break into security?" Let the team record your answer to win a ThreatX hoodie and have the opportunity to be featured on the eXecutive Security podcast!

ThreatX is managed API and application protection that lets you secure them with confidence, not complexity. It blocks botnets and advanced attacks in real time, letting enterprises keep attackers at bay without lifting a finger. Trusted by companies in every industry across the globe, ThreatX profiles attackers and blocks advanced risks to protect APIs and applications 24/7. Learn more at https://www.threatx.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230801245676/en/
[August 08, 2023] eMerge Americas Appoints President & Co-Founder Melissa Medina as New CEO Tweet

Current CEO Felice Gorordo Joins the Leadership and Board of the World Bank MIAMI, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- eMerge Americas , a venture-backed platform transforming Miami into a global tech hub, announced today that Melissa Medina , president of eMerge Americas and part of the founding executive team, will step into the Chief Executive Officer role and continue to serve as president. Current CEO Felice Gorordo will step down to serve as the U.S. Alternate Executive Director of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and as a U.S. representative on the Board of the World Bank Group. Melissa Medina Appointed New CEO of eMerge Americas "I am extremely grateful to have been Felice's partner for the last five years. He has had an exponential impact on eMerge, and I'm incredibly proud of him as he transitions into this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Medina. "I look forward to continuing working with the eMerge team, being inspired by Felice's innovative thinking, continuing my father's bold vision, and leveraging the unique eMege Americas platform we've grown for nearly a decade to help innovators in Miami and around the globe flourish."



Medina will build upon the eMerge Americas legacy of creating a tech ecosystem that is uniquely Miami, while giving organizations the opportunity to attract and retain diverse talent and cultivate an inclusive environment. In her new role, Medina will propel innovation in South Florida and beyond, and facilitate connections between global technology industry leaders and investors, corporate business executives, government leaders and innovative entrepreneurs. "It has been an honor and privilege to serve as CEO of eMerge Americas and work alongside Melissa over the last five years in helping build out our tech ecosystem," said Gorordo. "Together with our partners, we have forever changed the course of history of South Florida and undoubtedly established it as a global hub of innovation and entrepreneurship. I'm more bullish than ever on what the future has in store for eMerge, and excited to see Melissa take our platform and ecosystem to the next level."

In the past five years, eMerge has grown from a single event into a year-round platform that fosters the South Florida innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem through new investor summits, startup pitch competitions, innovation challenges, hackathons, roadshows, masterclasses, webinars and other events. Additionally, eMerge launched and established the "eMerge Insights" reports, a leading publication for tracking venture activity, investment trends, emerging entrepreneurs and startups, and the "eMerge Membership Program," a year-round initiative that deepens their expansive network of high-value individual investors, entrepreneurs, innovators and executives. Moreover, eMerge has accomplished all of this while continuing to successfully expand its tentpole event, breaking records and surpassing all previous metrics and milestones for the annual eMerge global tech conference. Diane Vidoni will remain Chief Operating Officer and continue to be an integral part of the eMerge Americas executive team as she oversees the ongoing business operations of the company, expanded growth opportunities and overall event planning. Launched in 2014, the eMerge Americas annual conference now attracts more than 20,000 attendees from over 50 countries and 4,000 unique participating organizations, and features a diverse group of speakers, live workshops, interactive exhibits and product demonstrations centered on emerging technologies and entrepreneurial success stories. The tenth anniversary eMerge Americas conference will be held during Miami Tech Month on April 18 - 19, 2024, at the Miami Convention Center. To learn more about eMerge Americas, please visit emergeamericas.com . About eMerge Americas

eMerge Americas is a venture-backed platform transforming Miami into the tech hub of the Americas. The eMerge signature event, launched in 2014, is a global tech conference held annually at the Miami Beach Convention Center, attracting more than 20,000 attendees from 50 countries and over 4,000 unique participating organizations. In addition to the annual conference, eMerge organizes and hosts year-round executive summits, innovation challenges, startup pitch competitions, masterclasses, webinars, as well as publishes venture activity and investment insights reports. For the last decade, eMerge has served as a catalyst for innovation and investment across the Americas, working at the forefront of building the South Florida entrepreneurial and tech ecosystem. Visit www.emergeamericas.com for more information. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/emerge-americas-appoints-president--co-founder-melissa-medina-as-new-ceo-301894046.html SOURCE eMerge Americas

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[August 08, 2023] SustainCERT and Regrow Ag partner to Provide Agricultural Supply Chains with a Streamlined Solution for Decarbonization Projects Tweet

LUXEMBOURG and SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SustainCERT SA ("SustainCERT"), the leading climate impact verifier and Regrow Ag (Regrow), the leading Agriculture Resilience Platform provider, today announced a partnership to offer an end-to-end Scope 3 (value chain) GHG emissions measurement, reporting and verification solution for agricultural supply chains.

The UN FAO estimates the food and agriculture value chain contributes 31 percent of the worlds global GHG emissions. On the flip side, studies have shown that through natural climate solutions, like regenerative agriculture, food systems have the potential to contribute up to 37 percent of climate mitigation needed to reach the worlds 2030 climate goals. Regrow and SustainCERT have partnered to help companies make material impact and reduce their Scope 3 emissions. SustainCERT recently launched a world-first value chain decarbonization solution. This unique platform of software and services combines climate accounting expertise with industry-leading technology, providing companies not only with the ability to verify and claim GHG impact from interventions, but also the ability to transfer GHG impacts  verified by SustainCERTs auditors  between supply chain partners and other eligible entities. That means companies can credibly co-claim and co-invest in GHG reductions and removals in their supply chains, sharing costs of decarbonization and scaling action faster. Regrows Agriculture Resilience Platform leverages satellite data, machine learning, and robust soil modelling to quantify on-farm GHG emission baselines, reductions, and removals, including soil carbon sequestration, at the field level. Monitoring 1.2B acres and powering 2M+ acres of farmer-facing programs, Regrow enables farmers to financially benefit from practice change, ad companies to invest and report with confidence.



To date, the process of transferring farm-based emissions data from a measurement and reporting platform like Regrows to a verification partner such as SustainCERT was manual and time-intensive. By partnering to integrate the accounting platform with the verification solution, Regrow and SustainCERT will offer an industry-first end-to-end solution, creating a more efficient and streamlined process. Instead of having to rely on emailed spreadsheets and documents, this integration will enable Regrows measurement and reporting outcomes to feed directly into SustainCERTs digital verification system. We are delighted to collaborate with Regrow to identify scalable ways to support credible Scope 3 action, said Marion Verles, CEO of SustainCERT. This partnership will focus on combining the power and value of our market leading platforms to measure, report and verify agriculture Scope 3 climate impact projects. Regrows customers will benefit from a seamless verification process  providing more accurate project impact results, faster.



At Regrow, our mission is to make agriculture resilient, globally. We are dedicated to developing solutions that not only enhance the credibility of measuring and verifying farm-based emissions by eliminating potential human errors in manual data transfers, but also making the entire process more user-friendly and cost-effective, explained Anastasia Volkova, Ph.D., CEO and co-founder of Regrow. This advancement with SustainCERT will facilitate the implementation of robust on-farm programs at a large scale, ultimately helping to position agriculture as a pivotal force in achieving the worlds net-zero targets."



About SustainCERT

SustainCERT?is a climate?impact verifier,?bringing?credibility to climate action.? Our offer combines?established independent climate expertise with innovative,?cutting-edge?digital technology. It provides?impact validation and verification services for carbon markets and value chains. Founded as an independent standalone?organization?in 2018 from Gold Standard,? its?approach aligns with and contributes to leading international sustainability frameworks  including the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Gold Standard and Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi).? It is?also?the?co-founder?of?the?Value?Change?Initiative, a multi-stakeholder forum bringing together some of the worlds largest companies, leading civil society actors and internationally recognized frameworks to collectively focus on defining best practice for Scope 3 emission reductions at scale.? SustainCERT has developed the world's first platform for digital verification and management of climate?claims across carbon markets and value chains.?Verifying?against globally recognized standards, the digitization of this process will accelerate the speed, accuracy and quality of data measurement used for carbon credits and GHG impacts.? www.sustain-cert.com About Regrow

Regrow Ag powers Agriculture Resilience for todays leading retailers, CPGs, processors, and farmers. Recently named one of the TIME100 Most Influential Companies of 2023, Regrows rapidly growing list of partners includes Cargill, General Mills, and Kelloggs. With Regrows Agriculture Resilience Platform, companies across the ag supply chain gain the ability to perpetually ensure profitable supply and protect operational integrity by accelerating the needed scale of GHG emissions reduction, adoption of regenerative farming practices, and proactive adaptation to the changing climate. Regrow earned the standing of No. 41 on Fast Companys list of the Worlds 50 Most Innovative Companies in 2023 and was named the No. 1 Most Innovative Company in Agriculture. Learn more at www.Regrow.ag .



Note to editors: Trademarks and registered trademarks referenced herein remain the property of their respective owners. Media Contacts: Blakeney Communications for SustainCERT [email protected] The Devon Group for Regrow [email protected]

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[August 08, 2023] The MolinaCares Accord Supports Access to Health Care in Rural Georgia Communities Tweet

The MolinaCares Accord ("MolinaCares") presented a $75,000 donation to the Georgia Healthy Family Alliance (GHFA), the philanthropic arm of the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians (GAFP), in commemoration of the orgaization's 75th anniversary. The donation will support the GHFA's Rural Georgia Urgent Need Grants program, which is designed to improve access to quality health care for the underserved in rural Georgia communities.



To help individuals better manage chronic disease and reduce the need for emergency room visits, the program covers everything from the cost of infant formula and maternal health counseling for new moms to diabetic strips for the uninsured. "MolinaCares is dedicated to building stronger communities and removing barriers to health care," said Carolyn Ingram, executive director of The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation. "We are proud to support the Georgia Healthy Family Alliance to connect individuals and families to the quality health care services they deserve."

"We are grateful for this generous donation from MolinaCares," said Alice House, M.D., a leader of the Georgia Healthy Family Alliance and past president of the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians. "With this grant, we will be able to provide much-needed support to those in need in the most rural areas of Georgia." Part of the funds from the MolinaCares grant will go toward Mercy Med of Columbus in support of their Access to Healthcare for the Underserved in West Georgia project. About The MolinaCares Accord Established by Molina Healthcare, Inc., The MolinaCares Accord oversees a community investment platform created to improve the health and well-being of disadvantaged populations by funding meaningful, measurable, and innovative programs and solutions that improve health, life, and living in local communities. The MolinaCares Accord funds such measures through the Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)(3) established in 2020 by Molina Healthcare, Inc. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808209387/en/

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[August 08, 2023] Valor Capital Group Brings on Paulo Passoni to Lead its Growth Equity Business Tweet

Valor Capital Group, LLC ("Valor"), a leading cross-border venture capital and growth equity firm focused on the United States, Brazil, and Latin American technology markets, today announced that Paulo Passoni has joined the firm as a Managing Partner. In this role, Mr. Passoni will manage Valor's growth equity business and lead the sourcing of new investment opportunities while working with founders to support growth at the firm's existing portfolio companies. Mr. Passoni brings more than 15 years of investing experience across various asset classes, including private and public equities, private and public credit, infrastructure, and real estate. He has specialized expertise in growth equity and special situations. "We are thrilled to welcome Paulo to Valor as we continue to scale our growth equity business and serve entrepreneurs in their journey from start up, to scale up, to IPO," said Scott Sobel, Founding Partner and CEO of Valor. "Paulo has been a long-term friend of the firm and trusted advisor to many extraordinary founders and management teams in the U.S. and throughout Latin America. We are entering a cycle whereby the Series B+ opportunity set in Brazil and broader Latin America is highly attractive, due to the maturation of the market, the talent, and valuation resets. We look forward to continuing to operate as a trusted partner to local companies seeking global access and insights." "Valor has establisheditself as a true cross-border investment firm with a differentiated value proposition to portfolio companies and investors alike. The firm has a proven track record partnering with founders to scale promising ideas into resilient, valuable companies," said Mr. Passoni. "Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to work alongside disruptive companies at every step of their life cycles - from early stage to public markets - and I am excited to bring this same approach to Valor."



Most recently, Mr. Passoni served as a Managing Investment Partner of SoftBank's $8 billion LatAm Funds, where he contributed to the significant expansion of the business and investment team. Prior to joining SoftBank, he was a Managing Director responsible for emerging markets investments at Third Point Management. Previously, Mr. Passoni helped build the Latin America special situations investing team at Eton Park Capital Management. He began his career in mergers and acquisitions at Morgan Stanley. Mr. Passoni holds a joint degree from Harvard Business School and Harvard Kennedy School and an undergraduate degree in Business Economics from Fundacao Getulio Vargas in Sao Paulo. He has served on numerous company boards, including Quinto Andar, InCode, VTEX, Unico, Olist, MadeiraMadeira, Petlove, and CRM & Bonus.

The addition of Mr. Passoni to the Valor team follows the first internal promotion to Partner of Carlos Costa to further drive the firm's venture and fintech investing business. The firm has the largest venture team in the Latin America region, with professionals based in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Mexico City, New York City, and Silicon Valley. Mr. Sobel concluded, "The ongoing expansion of our talented team demonstrates Valor's strong momentum and our commitment to delivering excellence to our investors and portfolio companies." About Valor Capital Group Founded in 2011 and present in New York, Silicon Valley, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and Mexico City, Valor Capital is a venture capital and growth equity fund manager that pioneered the "cross-border" strategy, seeking to act as a bridge between the U.S. and Latin American technology markets. Its funds invest in transformative businesses from startup to scale-up stages. Valor is committed to the success of its investees, putting itself at the service of its entrepreneurs, providing capital, operational support, and global connections. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808447847/en/

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[August 08, 2023] FiscalNote Launches "FiscalNoteGPT", a Generative AI System Built Specifically for the Policy and Regulatory Industry Tweet

FiscalNote Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: NOTE) ("FiscalNote"), a leading AI-driven enterprise SaaS technology provider of policy and global intelligence, today announced the launch of FiscalNoteGPT, the first proprietary platform incorporating generative AI and large language model (LLM) capabilities customized for legislative, regulatory, and policy workflows. This large language model has been specifically adapted to a wide range of legal and regulatory data to support a diverse set of natural language processing (NLP) tasks within the legal and regulatory industry. FiscalNoteGPT leverages FiscalNote's proprietary legal, regulatory, and policy intelligence, processes it using the most powerful large language models and AI technology from industry leaders such as OpenAI, and applies FiscalNote's long standing expertise in AI and data collection, normalization, and curation in order to provide users with a reliable, trusted, and secure product experience customized to meet the specific needs of the legal, policy, and regulatory domain. With the launch of FiscalNoteGPT, the Company advances its technology and market leadership in the legal and regulatory data industry by creating the world's most comprehensive and reliable policy, legal, and regulatory AI-assistant. Among its initial capabilities, FiscalNoteGPT assists customers by identifying pressing policy and regulatory concerns, generating new insights and recommendations, summarizing timely and relevant issues, and finding pertinent answers and information from FiscalNote's proprietary databases, consisting of thousands of trusted internal and external sources which form the basis of FiscalNote's award-winning, incisive, and actionable content. FiscalNote plans to incorporate FiscalNoteGPT into its continuous innovation roadmap to support customers and deliver new AI-driven capabilities in its workflow and data solutions. "With this groundbreaking new release, we continue to push the boundaries of AI innovation in a way that benefits both FiscalNote and the industry," said Josh Resnik, President and Chief Operating Officer of FiscalNote. "No one is in a more unique position to do so than FiscalNote, given our 10 years of leadership in applying AI to a broad array of proprietary and external data and information in the regulatory and policy domain. What also sets FiscalNoteGPT apart as a clear, competitive differentiaor are our proprietary databases, consisting of thousands of trusted internal and external sources, which means our customers can engage with confidence to help guide and inform their decisions and results."



Despite major advances in AI and the use of LLMs in the technology industry, further domain-specific systems are needed to advance the use case of these models into industry domains. FiscalNote has developed a domain-specific approach in FiscalNoteGPT to address the unique complexity that exists in the legal and regulatory world and believes that, as it further develops FiscalNoteGPT, it will become critical for customers across the legal, policy and regulatory industry. To that end, the Company plans to leverage the system for key partnerships with other legal and regulatory data and software companies and new revenue streams via APIs, benefitting the broader industry by unlocking the full power of the Company's data and AI. FiscalNoteGPT was built leveraging the decade-long investment in AI, ML, and NLP in the legal industry, drawing on the Company's existing operations in data ingestion, collection, cleansing, and curation. FiscalNoteGPT represents a major advancement to leverage FiscalNote's domain-specific datasets to adapt an LLM for the legal and regulatory domain.

FiscalNoteGPT is currently being trialed by a select group of FiscalNote customers before being deployed more broadly later this year. In addition, FiscalNote is continuing its previously-announced collaborations with OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft which provide select legal, political, and regulatory data and information for users of those platforms. About FiscalNote FiscalNote (NYSE: NOTE) is a leader in policy and global intelligence. By uniquely combining data, technology, and insights, FiscalNote empowers customers to manage political and business risk. Since 2013, FiscalNote has pioneered technology that delivers critical insights and the tools to turn them into action. Home to CQ, FrontierView, Oxford Analytica, VoterVoice, and many other industry-leading brands, FiscalNote serves approximately 5,000 customers worldwide with global offices in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. To learn more about FiscalNote and its family of brands, visit FiscalNote.com and follow @FiscalNote. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808820833/en/

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[August 08, 2023] Grace Breeding's Environmentally Friendly WDS Climate Stress Tolerance Solution Receives its First European Product Registration in Germany Tweet

- Grace Breedings WDS, a proprietary and environmentally friendly formula to counteract crop climate stress, will be marketed under the brand name "ClimAid" in the European Union - This represents the Companys first product registration in the European Union and facilitates Grace Breedings registration process in various other EU countries -

REHOVOT, Israel, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Grace Breeding Ltd. (the "Company" or "Grace Breeding") (TASE: GRAC), a forward-thinking AgClimateTech company developing sustainable biological-based products to improve crop yield and vigor, today announced that it received product registration approval in Germany by the German Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) for its innovative WDS (Wide Defense System) climate stress tolerance solution, to be marketed as an adjuvant in combination with bacteria-based products in the Bacillus subtilis family for soil application use in open field and greenhouse vegetables under the brand name ClimAid. This represents the Companys first product registration approval for its WDS in the European Union (EU) and facilitates Grace Breedings registration process in other EU countries. Following our first approval of our NFT bio-fertilizer last quarter, we are very pleased to obtain another first approval in Europe related to our second sustainable product candidate, our WDS climate stress tolerance solution, said Assaf Dotan, Chief Executive Officer of Grace Breeding. Grace Breedings ClimAid is a biological compound and has the dual benefit of helping to increase plant resilience while also significantly increasing crop yield. By having this product in addition to our NFT bio-fertilizer product available in Europe, we will be able to provide sustainability ad meaningful value to farmers there.



In October of last year, Grace Breeding reported on field tests in Israel on its WDS formula on industrial tomatoes. Amid droughts and arid weather conditions in major tomato-producing locales like California, the WDS formula was shown to improve industrial tomato yields by 17 percent during field trials. The field trials also showed Grace Breedings WDS formula boosted growth of the tomatos root system and nutrient absorption from the soil, improving the crop yield. The registration with German authorities was obtained with the support of SCC (Scientific Consulting Company) GmbH, a regulatory consulting firm supporting Grace Breeding within the EU.

About Grace Breeding Grace Breeding is an AgClimateTech company focused on developing environmentally sustainable products that are biologically based and provide efficient and natural solutions for farmers and distributors. Grace Breeding aims to disrupt crop agriculture  by providing solutions for crop bio-fertilization and climate stress relief and offering innovative products and solutions that reduce the environmental damage caused by synthetic fertilizers. Grace Breeding has an R&D center in Israel and in parallel the company is developing its products with several leading research and development centers around the world. For more information, visit https://www.gracebreeding.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning our business operations and future plans. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements in this press release are made based on management's current expectations which involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. These statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the preliminary nature of the Company's business operations, the dependency on the success of future filed trials, the regulatory environment, the Company's financial position and other risk factors. For a more detailed discussion of these and other risks that may cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements in this press release, please refer to our most recent annual report. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements made herein. Contacts Grace Breeding Ltd. Investors

Jeremy Feffer

LifeSci Advisors LLC

[email protected] Media

Inbar Kneller

ReBlonde Public Relations

[email protected]



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[August 08, 2023] Revolo Biotherapeutics to Host Virtual KOL Event on '1104: A First-in-Class Peptide for Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) and Allergic Disease Tweet

NEW ORLEANS and CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Revolo Biotherapeutics (Revolo or the Company), a company developing therapies that reset the immune system to achieve superior long-term remission for patients with autoimmune and allergic diseases, today announced it will host a virtual KOL event on 1104, a first-in-class peptide for eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and allergen sensitivity on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, at 11:00 AM  noon ET.

The event will feature Evan Dellon, MD, MPH (University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill) and Mohamed Shamji, PhD (Professor of Immunology and Allergy at Imperial College London). The event will discuss disease pathogenesis, the unmet medical needs, the current treatment landscape, and Revolos recent positive phase 2a clinical data in patients suffering from EoE as well as the broad mechanistic effects of 1104 in allergy. A live question and answer session will follow the formal presentations. To register for the event, please click here. About Evan S. Dellon, MD, MPH

Dr. Dellon is a Professor of Medicine and Adjunct Professor of Epidemiology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill. Dr. Dellon received his undergraduate degree from Brown University and his medical degree from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He completed internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. He performed a clinical and a research fellowship in Adult Gastroenterology at UNC, during which he also received a Masters of Public Health degree in Epidemiology from the UNC School of Public Health. Dr. Dellon is currently the Director of the UNC Center for Esophageal Diseases and Swallowing (CEDAS) and has served as an Associate Editor for Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Dr. Dellons main research interest is in the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and the eosinophilic GI diseases EGIDs). The goal of his research is to improve the lives of patients with EoE and EGIDs by learning how to better diagnose, treat, and monitor these conditions.



About Mohamed Shamji, PhD

Dr. Shamji completed his clinical scientist fellowship training in clinical immunology at the Chelsea & Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in London, United Kingdom (UK) in 2004. He then pursued his interest in translational research and completed his PhD studies in allergy and clinical immunology at the National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College London, UK in 2010. He established his research group (Immunomodulation and Tolerance group) within Allergy and Clinical Immunology at Imperial College London. Dr Shamji has a specific interest in respiratory allergies, especially how disease-modifying treatments such as allergen immunotherapy, novel biologics and novel immunomodulators (Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) 7 and Surfactant protein (SP)-D) affect immunologic (T, B cell and immunoglobulins) responses leading to induction of immune tolerance, as well as the investigation of novel surrogate/predictive biomarkers of clinical outcome following successful immunotherapy. He is actively involved in evaluating novel approaches of allergen immunotherapy using modified hypoallergic form of allergen protein, subcutaneous immunotherapy in combination with novel adjuvants, sublingual immunotherapy, peptide immunotherapy, biologics plus allergen of interest strategies to improve safety, efficacy and induce immune tolerance to sensitising allergen. About Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE)

EoE is a chronic, allergic inflammatory disease that is characterized by the buildup of eosinophils in the lining of the esophagus. Patients with EoE may experience difficulty feeding, poor weight gain, and trouble swallowing among other symptoms. In the U.S., about 180,000 children and adults live with EoE.

About 1104

1104 is a first-in-class peptide that is involved in resetting the immune system. Revolo Bio has recently advanced 1104 through two Phase 2a trials: one in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and one in patients with allergen sensitivity while exploring its potential for other allergic diseases. Revolo Biotherapeutics

Revolo Biotherapeutics is developing therapies that reset the immune system to achieve superior long-term remission for patients with autoimmune and allergic disease, without the immune system suppression seen with current therapies. Its two drug candidates, 1805 and 1104, a protein and a peptide respectively, reset the immune system to prevent the chronic pro-inflammatory immune response that results in autoimmune or allergic disease. 1805 is a modified analogue of a key protein in immune function nearing initiation of a second Phase 2b clinical trial for moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis and a Phase 2a clinical trial for an additional autoimmune indication. The disease-agnostic mechanism of action of Revolo Biotherapeutics assets provides a potential platform for the development of treatments for multiple autoimmune and allergic diseases. For further information, please visit www.revolobio.com. Company Contact

Marylyn Rigby, VP Investor Relations & Marketing

[email protected] Media Contact

Monica Rouco Molina, Ph.D.

LifeSci Communications

+1-929-469-3850

[email protected]



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[August 08, 2023] Preamble joins NVIDIA Inception to boost AI safety and risk mitigation for enterprises Tweet

Preamble builds critical safety layers for responsible AI deployment PITTSBURGH, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Preamble, Inc., a technology startup company pioneering SaaS-based safety and ethical values systems for AI platforms, announced it has joined NVIDIA Inception, a program that nurtures startups revolutionizing industries with technological advancements.



Of almost 15,000 AI startups currently in the U.S., Preamble is one of the very few companies building a platform to address imminent AI safety, security, and inclusivity threats. Beyond applying values to AI, Preamble provides tools to red-team AI systems and subsequent policies to improve the active guardrails that businesses require. Customers can create individualized policies that align with their goals by leveraging Preamble's policy library, rigorous testing, and seamless integration into existing workflows. Preamble's API deployment ensures businesses maintain control over all interactions within their AI systems, significantly reducing their risk exposure.

The relationship with NVIDIA Inception will allow Preamble to collaborate with industry-leading experts and other AI-driven organizations for go-to-market support and technology collaboration. "Leveraging NVIDIA's powerful GPUs and development expertise will allow us to build a robust, fully customizable safety layer for our customers. This relationship will enhance our abilities, furthering our mission to build a safer and more inclusive AI future," said Dr. Jeremy McHugh, CEO and co-founder, Preamble. NVIDIA Inception helps startups during the critical stages of product development, prototyping, and deployment. Every NVIDIA Inception member gets a custom set of ongoing benefits, such as NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute credits, marketing support, and technology assistance, which provides startups with the fundamental tools to help them grow. About Preamble

Preamble democratizes a safety and security layer for generative AI systems. Its comprehensive platform and AI policy marketplace allow organizations, domain experts, and all stakeholders to curate shared values and deploy generative AI guardrails that integrate ethics, maintain security, comply with policies, and mitigate risk. Beyond applying values to AI, Preamble provides AI red-team tools to continuously improve safety guardrails. With a mission to develop safe, inclusive AI systems that respect diverse values and ethical principles, Preamble is committed to shaping the future of AI safety. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with employees globally, Preamble is a veteran-led business. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/preamble-joins-nvidia-inception-to-boost-ai-safety-and-risk-mitigation-for-enterprises-301895701.html SOURCE Preamble

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[August 08, 2023] Chargeflow Secures $14M in Funding Led by OpenView to Fuel its AI-Driven Chargeback Automation Solution Market Expansion Tweet

WILMINGTON, Del. and TEL AVIV, Israel, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chargeflow, the pioneering chargeback automation solution tailored exclusively for online businesses, today announced the successful closure of an $11 million financing round led by OpenView, a venture capital firm specializing in product-led business software. Building upon a previously undisclosed $3 million pre-seed round, this investment will empower the company to further enhance its technology development efforts and strengthen its growth trajectory in the US market, solidifying its position as a leader in the industry.

As online commerce continues to surge, more and more retailers are being victimized by incidents of chargeback fraudExperts report that chargebacks will cost merchants over $100 billion in 2023. Chargeback fraud occurs when cardholders make an online transaction with their credit card and then file a dispute with the issuing bank after receiving the purchased goods or services. Cardholders readily admit they file chargebacks out of convenience, and they are succeeding because retailers lack the resources, expertise, and technology to quickly identify and stop this fraudulent activity. Thats why more and more businesses are turning to Chargeflow, said Ariel Chen, co-founder and CEO of Chargeflow. Our team helps online retailers recover more revenue, and with this latest round of funding, we will further evolve our platform and scale our team to meet the surging demand from online retailers. We are excited to begin working with the OpenView team and leveraging their valuable expertise to help us accelerate the companys growth and achieve these goals. While other solutions in the market rely on manual, time-consuming proceses, Chargeflow sets itself apart with its fully automated chargeback mitigation platform. By analyzing millions of data points and utilizing Generative AI and machine learning modules, Chargeflow swiftly processes and generates customized dispute evidence for each chargeback, significantly improving the chargeback win rate for online businesses. The platform calculates the projected success of the chargeback dispute by comparing transaction data and leveraging its comprehensive data analysis capabilities.



One of the unique aspects of Chargeflow's approach is that it only bills merchants based on the successful recovery of disputes in their favor. This ensures that merchants are charged fairly and only for the value they gain from the platform's services. Additionally, Chargeflow understands the importance of meeting customers where they already are in as frictionless a way as possible. That's why Chargeflow seamlessly integrates with existing ecommerce platforms, payment service providers (PSPs), and other related tools. This integration allows online businesses to leverage Chargeflow's capabilities without disrupting their existing workflows, making the process effortless and convenient for our merchants. OpenView is committed to investing behind great entrepreneurs building category-defining companies, said Tom Holahan, a Partner at OpenView who will be joining Chargeflows board of directors. Ariel, Avia, Reem, and the rest of the Chargeflow team have built a platform that delivers significant and immediate value to customers. This has driven their exceptional growth and customer adoption, as well as their key relationships with organizations such as Shopify, Stripe, and PayPal. We are excited to partner with the team and to support Chargeflows continued growth.

Launched in 2021, Chargeflow has experienced surging demand from online retailers around the globe. In addition, Chargeflow is directly integrated with Shopify and its payment processor Shopify Payments, as well as PayPal, Stripe, Klarna, Braintree, and many more. About Chargeflow

Chargeflow is the world's first fully automated chargeback management solution, designed for e-commerce merchants by e-commerce entrepreneurs. Chargeflow leverages technology and Generative AI, along with human expertise, to help recover lost revenue and alleviate chargeback pains for online merchants. Chargeflow has an industry-leading win rate and guarantees return on investment providing a risk-free entry for any business interested in using its service. For more information, please visit https://chargeflow.io/ . About OpenView

Founded in 2006, OpenView is a venture capital firm investing globally in business software companies. With a mission to improve peoples working lives, OpenViews focused investment approach across sectors and stages enables the firm to identify and partner with category-leading business software companies. The firms focus extends to a dedicated expansion team with the operational expertise to help portfolio companies on sales, marketing, product-led growth, talent, and corporate development. The firm is based in Boston and has $2.4 billion in total assets under management. For more information, please visit https://openviewpartners.com/ Media Contact:

Doug Fraim

[email protected]



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[August 08, 2023] Wavemaker Announce Xiaohongshu SEED+ Product Seeding Solution Tweet

SHANGHAI, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Wavemaker, in partnership with social media platform Xiaohongshu, recently unveiled the Xiaohongshu SEED+ Product Seeding Solution. The initiative includes three key modules: the Precise Insight Methodology for Growth Opportunity, the Effective Approach to the Media Mix, and the Optimization of the Scientific Evaluation System. The debut module, the Precise Insight Methodology for Growth Opportunity, employs data analysis to provide insights into the platform's ecosystem, enabling brands to accurately identify growth opportunities with new communication track and implement precise, science-based product endorsement strategies. Evolving product seeding to a scientific level and transforming the marketing strategy landscape As the digital landscape evolves, Xiaohongshu has emerged as a crucial platform for brands to showcase, recommend and promote products. The diminishing benefits from internet traffic necessitate a move from traffic-centric marketing to data-driven, science-based product promotion strategies. As brand marketing extends beyond mere product promotion, brands now view Xiaohongshu as a comprehensive strategic partner rather than a mere product seeding platform. By leveraging the platform's extensive media resources, brands also aim to provide potential customers with data-driven, scientifically backed product seeding experience. The approach augments promotional effectiveness and fosters a holistic approach to platform marketing. At its annual Business Conference, Xiaohongshu underscored the significance of these data-driven product endorsement strategies by introducing its science-based product seeding concept. To capitalize on its data insight platform - Lingxi, Xiaohongshu and Wavemaker embarked on a joint project to create a practical, science-based solution They initiated the collaboration by brainstorming on how to better deliver data analysis, insight diagnostics, the marketing mix and optimization of the evaluation system, resulting in the SEED+ Product Seeding Solution, a response to Xiaohongshu's precision marketing challenges. An insightful approach to tackling brands' marketing challenges The SEED+ Product Seeding Solution comprises three key parts, with the Precise Insight Methodology forGrowth Opportunity forming the first step in building a holistic marketing journey. The methodology, based on the analysis of multiple data points, including brand tone of voice as well as product and audience characteristics, delivers precise data analytics and insights for brand marketing. It offers a useful, instructive, and science-based roadmap for the collaboration with Xiaohongshu. With its extensive experience and data capabilities, Wavemaker offers precise placement analysis and seeding for diverse growth opportunity by transformin its case study experience into quantifiable data. This pragmatic and instructive approach ensures that the methodology is not merely theoretical but rather addresses tangible challenges that Xiaohongshu encounters in real-world collaborations. The challenges include new product launches, product updates, the media mix and optimization of the evaluation system. Through accurate measurement and defining of growth opportunity, Wavemaker provides brands at different stages in their development cycles with science-based approaches and targeted growth strategies, enhancing the effectiveness of product seeding.



The Precise Insight Methodology for Growth Opportunity has been effectively deployed in several brand marketing campaigns, with Wavemaker's assistance to L'Oreal Travel Retail serving as a prime example. By analyzing consumer content preferences, search behavior as well as beauty and skincare trends observed on Xiaohongshu, Wavemaker provided a scientifically backed solution for L'Oreal's new product incubation model targeting the platform. This approach quickly raised the visibility of L'Oreal Paris Midnight Serum and the brand's Hainan pop-up shop, capturing the attention of Xiaohongshu's young female audience, as well as beauty and travel enthusiasts. Groundbreaking collaboration facilitates the creation of a comprehensive seeding-based marketing system

As part of the strategic collaboration, GroupM China and Xiaohongshu first decided on the Joint Business Partnership (JBP) framework in tandem with setting goals for further collaborations involving business strategy, science and technology, innovative solutions, and capacity building. One of the first results of the collaboration is the SEED+ Product Seeding Solution. The initiative, based on data empowerment, aims to further optimize Xiaohongshu's data insights while providing brands with comprehensive, precise marketing solutions, delivering a more science-based, targeted, and enhanced seeding experience. This partnership marks a significant milestone as it represents the first strategic collaboration between a 4A agency and Xiaohongshu in the industry. The strategic partnership centers around data empowerment. With the SEED+ Product Seeding Solution, Wavemaker seeks to improve the seeding effectiveness of brands by utilizing data processing to address Xiaohongshu's seeding system's shortcomings through a vast expansion in how the data is analyzed and leveraged. In particular, Wavemaker, by combining the platform's extensive user data and resources with the firm's proprietary data tools and third-party professional data platforms, conducts in-depth consumer, brand and sector analysis. The SEED+ Product Seeding Solution provides a complete marketing framework that leverages data as its underlying logic to enable evidence-based product seeding. The all-inclusive system not only enhances the accuracy of seeding but also assists platforms in providing resource integration strategies and suggestions, including stream seeding, keyword search enhancement and IP event marketing. The ultimate goal is to build a complete seeding-based marketing system. The strong alliance with Wavemaker enables Xiaohongshu to achieve sustainable and effective conversions Wavemaker China CEO Jose Campon stated that as the first 4A agency to form a strategic partnership with Xiaohongshu, Wavemaker is well-positioned to explore ways to help brands achieve their growth goals by fully utilizing the lifestyle platform. Given a longstanding demand for promoting products via Xiaohongshu, brands have been exploring a science-based business model for content marketing. Riki Li, Wavemaker's Chief Transformation Officer, explained that the firm's collaboration with Xiaohongshu is a full-spectrum marketing partnership. By leveraging the platform's data insights and an in-depth commitment to the consumer-centric journey, the partnership aims to create a precise branded content experience and attain conversion outcomes, added Li. The successful tie-ups with L'Oreal Travel Retail and CK have given both parties the confidence to explore further communication and business opportunities for customers in the future. Built on this success, Wavemaker will continue to work closely with Xiaohongshu in an effort to further leverage the benefits of integrated marketing across the entire supply chain, with the aim of aiding brands in attaining sustainable growth. "Xiaohongshu's natural Human2Human community boasts a large number of users who frequently communicate their product needs, enabling brands to connect with consumers through compelling content," noted Yuan Lang, Head of Xiaohongshu Commercial Agency Partnership. "Over the past few years, the platform has assisted in the growth of numerous superior products across various sectors. We talk about the most successful of these products in the 'Seeding Case' section on our platform." Leveraging its alliance with Wavemaker, Xiaohongshu has adeptly utilized its data capabilities to engineer unique marketing strategies. The platform eagerly anticipates offering brands finely-tuned marketing approaches, each meticulously designed to fit distinct product life cycles. By highlighting quality products on the e-commerce platform, brands acquire a promising launchpad for exponential growth. Moving forward, Wavemaker plans to capitalize on its strengths in integrated marketing to encourage data-driven expansion while steadfastly aiding and empowering platforms and brands. The ultimate aim is to provide a laser-focused and impactful marketing experience. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wavemaker-announce-xiaohongshu-seed-product-seeding-solution-301895157.html SOURCE Wavemaker

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[August 08, 2023] New Report Reveals Critical Perspective of Parents and Teachers on K-12 School Safety Tweet

Motorola Solutions (NYSE: MSI) released the findings of its 2023 K-12 School Safety Report which captured sentiments from 1,000 K-12 parents and 1,000 K-12 educators across the United States. The timely research reveals the most pressing concerns for those closest to school safety and highlights their perceptions about emergency preparedness plans, communication practices, school safety technologies and training for teachers and students. The new data shows that 67% of both parents and teachers are much more concerned about school safety now than they were five years ago, even as 73% of parents and 80% of teachers are confident that their school's emergency response plans are effective. "School safety is top of mind for parents and educators alike, with both groups expressing concerns about mental health issues, bullying and active shooter situations," said Todd Piett, vice president of Rave Mobile Safety at Motorola Solutions. "Ensuring that school personnel and families are aware of proactive planning practices, the notification methods employed by schools, technologies in place to thwart and report emergencies and school protocols for when incidents occur will not only help to alleviate worries, but ultimately improve safety outcomes." Key findings from the report include: Safety and preparedness plans are key to gaining parents' and teachers' trust: When looking at schools, parents and teachers both rank school safety as a critical factor (66% for parents, 72% for teachers). Student mental health continues to be a top concern: Sixty-four percent of parnts and 68% of teachers are very or extremely concerned about students' mental health. Additionally, parents and teachers are worried about the mental health of community members who may perpetrate acts of violence on a school campus and teachers' mental health.



Communication channels before and during crisis events are essential: Nearly half of teachers (48%) say that they are able to submit anonymous or confidential tips to their school, public safety or both, compared to 43% of parents. In the event of an emergency, 57% of teachers indicate they would typically use a classroom phone to call the main office - a time-consuming approach that does not simultaneously loop in school district officials, 9-1-1 call handlers or first responders who may need to act fast. School safety technology is in use - and can help to put parents at ease: Seventy-one percent of teachers say that their school has adopted new safety technology in the last two years, but 54% of parents say they haven't seen new technologies implemented. This disparity presents an opportunity for schools to periodically communicate with parents about the safety solutions they're implementing to reduce risk or expedite response. Almost half (46%) of parents say panic button apps that allow teachers and school staff to quickly notify 9-1-1 would increase their confidence in school safety.

Nearly all teachers and parents report participation in lockdown drills: Eighty-nine percent of parents say their child has participated in a school lockdown drill, with 96% of teachers reporting the same. Eighty-two percent of parents say their child has participated in a drill specifically for active shooter preparedness, while 73% of teachers have participated in such drills with students and another 10% without students. Thirty-six percent of teachers have not engaged in training with first responders but they want to. Motorola Solutions offers a full ecosystem of technologies for school safety including panic button and mobile safety apps, access control, video security, body-worn cameras, critical communications, weapons detection and command center technologies - all of which can help to address the challenges and opportunities outlined in this report. To view the full findings of the survey, download the 2023 K-12 School Safety Report here. Methodology The independent market research firm Researchscape conducted this survey. Respondents were 1,000 members of the public with children in grades K-12 and 1,000 teachers at K-12 grade levels. The survey was conducted in June 2023. About Motorola Solutions Motorola Solutions is a global leader in public safety and enterprise security. Our solutions in land mobile radio communications, video security and the command center, bolstered by managed & support services, create an integrated technology ecosystem to help make communities safer and businesses stay productive and secure. At Motorola Solutions, we're ushering in a new era in public safety and security. Learn more at www.motorolasolutions.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808835790/en/

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[August 08, 2023] Virtual Interactive Technologies Corp. announces the return of James Creamer as Chief Financial Officer. Tweet

Mr. Creamer returns to his former role as the Companys CFO as the Company continues its push to bring additional experienced management in anticipation of future growth.

Denver, Colorado, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Virtual Interactive Technologies Corp., (OTC: VRVR) ("VRVR" or the "Company"), an American multi-platform video gaming developer and publisher, is pleased to announce the addition of Jim Creamer as its Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Creamer is the founder and principle of Corporate Solution Advisors, LLC which offers fractional CFO services to small, growth-oriented companies in a variety of industries. Mr. Creamer has served in leadership roles for several publicly traded and private companies since 2005 following a fifteen-year investment banking career. Through his early career Mr. Creamer held positions as Vice President of Commercial Banking at Vectra Bank Colorado, Vice President of Investment Banking at J.P. Turner & Company, Director of Equity Research at Global Capital Securities and Vice President of Institutional Fixed Income Sales at Hanifen Imhoff, Inc. Mr. Creamer previously served as Chief Financial Officer of Virtual Interactive Technologies from 2016 to 2021. Mr. Creamer also served as Chief Financial Officer and Director of WestMountain Gold, Inc., a publicly traded gold mining company in Alaska. Mr. Creamer was the Chief Financial Officer for CapTerra Financial Group, Inc. and served in that capacity for approximately five years before he was named CapTerras President and Chief Executive Officer and served in that position until CapTerras acquisition by NexCore Healthcare Capital Corp. Mr. Creamer received a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Arizona State University and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. Mr. Creamers financial background and his extensive work with public companies are a welcome addition to strengthening corporategovernance and transparency for our shareholders. I am very happy to be back in the CFO role for Virtual Interactive Technologies and I look forward to helping the company during this exciting time as it plans to move forward in a more aggressive manner towards growth, shared Mr. Creamer.



Jason Garber, CEO of Virtual Interactive Technologies, stated, We are grateful to have Mr. Creamer back in the CFO role at Virtual Interactive Technologies. He added Being a publicly traded company comes with many challenges in todays environment and we are happy we have someone with Jims experience to help navigate us through the financial reporting process. About Virtual Interactive Technologies Corp.

Virtual Interactives Technologies Corp. (www.vrvrcorp.com) is a Denver, Colorado based video game production, publishing, and technology company. The company currently has a portfolio of five video game titles which include: Carmageddon MaxDamage, Carmageddon Crashers, Interplanetary Enhanced Edition, Worbital, and Catch & Release VR. The Company finances the development of video game projects to be release on various popular gaming platforms which include mobile gaming, virtual reality, PC, console and other new and emerging gaming technologies. We look to team with existing game developers as well as offering our own expertise in development solutions, publishing, and marketing video game products. We are constantly engaged in finding ways to reinvest our royalty income streams into further growing our royalty contracts and intellectual property in the video gaming industry. For Additional Information: Investor Relations [email protected] Safe Harbor Statement / Forward-Looking Statements Statements included in this press release, which are not historical in nature, are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements relating to the future performance of the Company are subject to many factors including, but not limited to, the customer acceptance of the products in the market, the introduction of competitive products and product development, the impact of any product liability or other adverse litigation, working capital and availability of capital, commercialization and technological difficulties, the impact of actions and events involving key customers, vendors, lenders, competitors, and other risks. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the Company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, the terms "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "may", "objective", "plan", "possible", "potential", "project", "will", and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and we do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of future events, new information, or otherwise. Source: Virtual Interactive Technologies Corp.



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[August 08, 2023]

Netskope Honored in Forbes Cloud 100 for Seventh Consecutive Year

SASE leader ascends to #12 on prestigious list in 2023

SANTA CLARA, Calif. , Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Netskope , a leader in secure access service edge (SASE), today announced that for the seventh consecutive year, it has been named to the Forbes Cloud 100. Published by Forbes, in partnership with Bessemer Venture Partners and Salesforce Ventures , the Forbes Cloud 100 list is the definitive ranking of the top 100 private cloud companies in the world. Netskope continues to be recognized as one of the world's most important cloud companies and among the top security providers. In the 2023 Forbes Cloud 100, Netskope is ranked #12, up from #30 on last year's list.

Enterprises are rapidly adopting SASE and Security Service Edge (SSE), with Gartner predicting 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. As a Leader in the 2023 Gartner 2023 Magic Quadrant for SSE , Netskope was this year placed highest in Ability to Execute and furthest in Completeness of Vision.

Netskope's award-winning converged SASE platform comprises its industry-leading SSE and Borderless SD-WAN capabilitiesall of which are crucial to offering a remote-first workforce the optimized access and zero-trust-based security required for success in modern business.

"Since day one of our journey, our platform has been purpose-built for the cloud and includes critical artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) capabilities that enable our customers to be mobile, efficient, and flexible while securing them, their data, and applications they access from anywhere," said Sanjay Beri, CEO and co-founder of Netskope. "We're honored to be recognized by Forbes for the seventh year in a row, and we are proud of this continued industry recognition that underscores our commitment to innovation."

This achievement follows a series of Netskope milestones and additional industry recognition over the past year, further solidifying Netskope's spot amongst the top technology companies shaping the way enterprises securely adopt cloud computing. Over the past 12 months, Netskope has expanded its market reach in the following ways:







"The companies of the Cloud 100 list represent the best and brightest private companies in this crucial tech sector," said Kenrick Cai, the Forbes editor of the Cloud 100. "This year's companies had to react rapidly to AI's sweeping impact while contending with a market pullback. Their resilience puts them in elite company. Congratulations to each of the 2023 Cloud 100 honorees and the 20 Rising Stars who are showing early potential to one day join their ranks."

"This year's Cloud 100 list is one of the most dynamic in history. While the industry faced macro headwinds, the 2023 Cloud 100 winners displayed the innovation and resilience of the cloud economy and the combination of growth and efficiency that prove the power of the cloud business model. 95% of the honorees are forecasted to reach Centaur status  $100 million of annual recurring revenue  by the end of the year," said Mary D'Onofrio, partner at Bessemer Venture Partners. "It is further exciting to see so many honorees at the forefront of the AI revolution, which we believe will continue to transform the cloud and propel the next wave of growth for many of this year's winners."

"The past year our industry has seen a generational step forward in innovation and with AI leading the charge, we are witnessing one of the most important platform shifts in decades," said Paul Drews, managing partner, Salesforce Ventures. "The Cloud 100 list represents the best of the best and we've never been more excited about what the future holds, not only

for the cloud but for the entire technology industry. We are proud of what these founders and their communities have already accomplished and look forward to seeing how they continue to transform the industry in the future."

The Forbes 2023 Cloud 100 is published online at www.forbes.com/cloud100 . Highlights of the list appear in the August/September 2023 issue of Forbes magazine.

To learn more about Netskope visit: www.netskope.com .

Gartner Disclaimer

Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Security Service Edge, Charlie Winckless, Aaron McQuaid, John Watts, Craig Lawson, Thomas Lintemuth, Dale Koeppen, 10 April 2023.

Gartner, Critical Capabilities for Security Service Edge, Thomas Lintemuth, John Watts, Charlie Winckless, Craig Lawson, Aaron McQuaid, 17 April 2023.

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 Gartner's 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.

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.

About Netskope

Netskope, a global SASE leader, helps organizations apply zero trust principles and AI/ML innovations to protect data and defend against cyber threats. Fast and easy to use, the Netskope platform provides optimized access and real-time security for people, devices, and data anywhere they go. Netskope helps customers reduce risk, accelerate performance, and get unrivaled visibility into any cloud, web, and private application activity. Thousands of customers trust Netskope and its powerful NewEdge network to address evolving threats, new risks, technology shifts, organizational and network changes, and new regulatory requirements. Learn how Netskope helps customers be ready for anything on their SASE journey, visit netskope.com .

Media Contacts:

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SOURCE Netskope
[August 08, 2023] Collibra Named to 2023 Forbes Cloud 100 Tweet

Data Intelligence Leader Honored for Seventh Consecutive Year NEW YORK and BRUSSELS, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Collibra , the Data Intelligence company, has been named to the Forbes 2023 Cloud 100 , the definitive ranking of the top 100 private cloud companies in the world, published by Forbes in partnership with Bessemer Venture Partners and Salesforce Ventures . Collibra ranked 47 on the list this year  its seventh consecutive appearance. "Collibra is the pioneer in data intelligence, and we're incredibly proud to partner with the world's leading brands to improve data democratization and access across the enterprise," said Felix Van de Maele, Co-founder and CEO, Collibra. "As every organization today looks to tap into the power of AI, this recognition validates the key role of AI governance to ensure that all data is high quality, responsible, and can be trusted to power AI initiatives. It is an honor to share this with our Collibra team and our innovative community of customers and partners." With hundreds of customers in every industry, leading enterprises across the globe rely on Collibra to do mor with trusted data. The Collibra Data Intelligence Cloud is a system of engagement that provides the flexible governance, continuous quality and built-in privacy needed to manage data and ultimately unlock it for business transformation.



For the eighth consecutive year, the Cloud 100 reviews submissions from hundreds of cloud startups and private companies each year. The Cloud 100 evaluation process involved ranking companies across four factors: market leadership (35%), estimated valuation (30%), operating metrics (20%), and people & culture (15%). For market leadership, the Cloud 100 enlists the help of a judging panel of public cloud company CEOs who assist in evaluating and ranking their private company peers. "The companies of the Cloud 100 list represent the best and brightest private companies in this crucial tech sector," said Kenrick Cai, the Forbes editor of the Cloud 100. "This year's companies had to react rapidly to AI's sweeping impact while contending with a market pullback. Their resilience puts them in elite company. Congratulations to each of the 2023 Cloud 100 honorees and the 20 Rising Stars who are showing early potential to one day join their ranks."

"This year's Cloud 100 list is one of the most dynamic in history. While the industry faced macro headwinds, the 2023 Cloud 100 winners displayed the innovation and resilience of the cloud economy and the combination of growth and efficiency that prove the power of the cloud business model. 95% of the honorees are forecasted to reach Centaur status  $100 million of annual recurring revenue  by the end of the year," said Mary D'Onofrio, partner at Bessemer Venture Partners. "It is further exciting to see so many honorees at the forefront of the AI revolution, which we believe will continue to transform the cloud and propel the next wave of growth for many of this year's winners." "The past year our industry has seen a generational step forward in innovation and with AI leading the charge, we are witnessing one of the most important platform shifts in decades," said Paul Drews, managing partner, Salesforce Ventures. "The Cloud 100 list represents the best of the best and we've never been more excited about what the future holds, not only for the cloud but for the entire technology industry. We are proud of what these founders and their communities have already accomplished and look forward to seeing how they continue to transform the industry in the future." The Forbes 2023 Cloud 100 and 20 Rising Stars lists are published online at www.forbes.com/cloud100. Highlights of the list appear in the August/September 2023 issue of Forbes magazine. About Collibra

Collibra helps our customers do more with trusted data. Our Data Intelligence Cloud brings flexible governance, continuous quality and built-in privacy to the world's leading brands. To learn more, visit collibra.com and follow us on LinkedIn , Twitter , Facebook and Instagram . View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/collibra-named-to-2023-forbes-cloud-100-301895818.html SOURCE Collibra

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[August 08, 2023] Blue Yonder's Order Management Microservices To Lead the Increase In Sales Across Grupo Coppel's Digital Channels Tweet

Blue Yonder's Order Management (OMS) solutions are microservice-based, API-first and cloud native, providing a consolidated and scalable foundation to drive incremental sales and seamless customer experiences. That's why Grupo Coppel, a Mexican company with more than 80 years of history, has selected Blue Yonder's OMS to continue the digital transformation of its supply chain. From March 2020 to March 2021, Coppel recorded a 300% increase in digital sales, the main reason the company sought to digitally transform its OMS capabilities. Coppel's goals are to align orders seamlessly, provide accurate inventory availability, make reliable promises to its customers, and optimize the orchestration necessary to meet the growing needs of the omni-channel consumer. The project will be implemented by Blue Yonder Global Professional Services, alongside Coppel's Development team and other internal providers. The Group is made up of three business units: BanCoppel, Afore Coppel and its stores. It has 1,750 points of sale and a wide variety of categories including furniture, appliances, electronics, apparel and shoes. It is also one of the largest retailers in Mexico and the third largest in terms of online sales with over 1.1 million visits per year. In April 2023, Coppel was recognized with the eCommerce Awards Mexico 2023 in the Retail category by the eCommerce Institute. "In a hybrid world where consumers shop both online and in-store, retailers need a solid order management solution to boost their business and improve competitiveness," said Eugene Amigud, senior vice president, Execution, Blue Yonder. "With the capabilities of Blue Yonder, Coppel can provide customers with a real-time view of available inventory, as well as purchase options in the nearest stores." Coppel will use the following Order Management services to meet the expectations of its clients and offer accurate promises while reducing service costs: Blue Yonder Inventory: An accurate, real-time view of inventory and availabilityat the location and enterprise level with a single source of truth for inventory availability enabling customers to locate and reserve products for purchase.

Blue Yonder Commits: Complete transparency for customers into their delivery options and accurate timeframes, including "order-by" and "get-by" timelines.

Blue Yonder Order Services: A single workflow engine and enterprise view across the order lifecycle from order creation to delivery, with visibility at each step, including proactive alerting and monitoring across order states, including processing and delivery.



"At Coppel, we are committed to the highest levels of customer service across all our channels. The implementation of a solid order management solution was identified as a critical strategy in the digitalization of our supply chain. We chose Blue Yonder because of their expertise and innovation in the order management domain," said Angelica Bojorquez, supply chain officer, Coppel.

"We believe a microservices-based approach to order management challenges will provide us faster time to value and allows us to quickly create a better experience for our digital channel customers, while at the same time supporting the future of our omni-channel ecosystem and the role of stores. We are very excited to start this project that will integrate multiple systems and functional areas within the Group," concluded Santiago Ontanon, director of Information Systems Business and Digital Transformation, Coppel. Additional Resources: Learn more about and Blue Yonder's Order Management (OMS) microservices and read the Microservices e-book

Read why Blue Yonder was named a Strong Performer by an analyst firm in this Order Management Research Report

Learn more about Blue Yonder's Fulfillment Item Forecasting, Fulfillment Order Forecasting, and Fulfillment Labor & Resource Forecasting About Blue Yonder Blue Yonder is the world leader in digital supply chain transformations and omni-channel commerce fulfillment. Our end-to-end, cognitive business platform enables retailers, manufacturers and logistics providers to best fulfill customer demand from planning through delivery. With Blue Yonder, you'll unify your data, supply chain and retail commerce operations to unlock new business opportunities and drive automation, control and orchestration to enable more profitable, sustainable business decisions. Blue Yonder - Fulfill your Potential blueyonder.com "Blue Yonder" is a trademark or registered trademark of Blue Yonder Group, Inc. Any trade, product or service name referenced in this document using the name "Blue Yonder" is a trademark and/or property of Blue Yonder Group, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of the companies with which they are associated. About Grupo Coppel Business group with 100% Mexican capital founded in Culiacan, Sinaloa, with more than 80 years accompanying their clients, bringing them a world of possibilities to improve their lives. It is present in all states of the country, has more than 120,000 employees and is one of the 10 main employers in Mexico. It is made up of three business units. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808348034/en/

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[August 08, 2023] Orca Security Named to 2023 Forbes Cloud 100 Tweet

Orca Security, the pioneer of agentless cloud security, today announced it has been named to the Forbes 2023 Cloud 100. The annual list serves as the definitive ranking of the top 100 private cloud companies in the world, published by Forbes in partnership with Bessemer Venture Partners and Salesforce Ventures. "Our team's unwavering commitment to delivering the most comprehensive coverage and visibility of all risks across enterprises' cloud estates has helped earn our spot on the Forbes Cloud 100 list, a recognition that affirms our success and growth as a company," said Gil Geron, Co-Founder and CEO of Orca Security. "We are inspired to continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in cloud security, and remain dedicated to providing world-class cloud solutions and delivering unparalleled value to our clients." For the eighth consecutive year, the Cloud 100 reviews submissions from hundreds of cloud startups and private companies each year. The Cloud 100 evaluation process involved ranking companies across four factors: market leadership (35%), estimated valuation (30%), operating metrics (20%), and people & culture (15%). For market leadership, the Cloud 100 enlists the help of a judging panel of public cloud company CEOs who assist in evaluating and ranking their private company peers. "The companies of the Cloud 100 list represent the best and brightest private companies in this crucial tech sector," said Kenrick Cai, the Forbes editor of the Cloud 100. "This year's companies had to react rapidly to AI's sweeping impact while contending with a market pullback. Their resilience puts them in elite company. Congratulations to each of the 2023 Cloud 100 honorees and the 20 Rising Stars who are showing early potential to one day join their ranks." "This year's Cloud 100 list is one of the most dynamic in history. While the industry faced macro headwinds, the 2023 Cloud 100 winners displayed the innovation and resilience of the cloud economy and the combination of growth and efficiency that prove the power of the cloud business model. 95% of the honorees are forecasted to reach Centaur status - $100 million of annual recurring revenue - by the end of the year," said Mary D'Onofrio, partner at Bessemer Venture Partners. "It is further exciting to see so many honorees at the forefront of the AI revolution, which we believe will continue to transform the cloud and propel the next wave of growth for many of this year's winners."



The recognition from Forbes is the latest in a string of notable achievements and honors for Orca. Earlier this month, the company was named to the inaugural Redpoint InfraRed 100 List. In May, Orca was named to the CNBC Disruptor 50 List for 2023, which recognizes the fastest-growing, innovative private startups advancing breakthrough technology for tackling some of society's biggest challenges across channels. Forbes also honored Orca in March by including it on the prestigous 2023 America's Best Startup Employers list. For the full list of Cloud 100 companies, please visit https://www.forbes.com/lists/cloud100.

About Orca Security Orca Security is the pioneer of agentless cloud security that is trusted by hundreds of enterprises globally. Orca makes cloud security possible for enterprises moving to and scaling in the cloud with its patented SideScanning technology and Unified Data Model. The Orca Cloud Security Platform delivers the world's most comprehensive coverage and visibility of all risks across the cloud. With continuous first-to-market innovations and expertise, the Orca Platform ensures security teams quickly identify and remediate risks to keep their businesses secure. Connect your first account in minutes: https://orca.security or take the free cloud risk assessment. About Bessemer Venture Partners Bessemer Venture Partners helps entrepreneurs lay strong foundations to build and forge long-standing companies. With more than 145 IPOs and 300 portfolio companies in the enterprise, consumer and healthcare spaces, Bessemer supports founders and CEOs from their early days through every stage of growth. Bessemer's global portfolio has included Pinterest, Shopify, Twilio, Yelp, LinkedIn, PagerDuty, DocuSign, Wix, Fiverr, and Toast and has $20 billion of assets under management. Bessemer has teams of investors and partners located in Tel Aviv, Silicon Valley, San Francisco, New York, London, Hong Kong, Boston, and Bangalore. Born from innovations in steel more than a century ago, Bessemer's storied history has afforded its partners the opportunity to celebrate and scrutinize its best investment decisions (see Memos) and also learn from its mistakes (see Anti-Portfolio). About Forbes Forbes champions success by celebrating those who have made it, and those who aspire to make it. Forbes convenes and curates the most influential leaders and entrepreneurs who are driving change, transforming business and making a significant impact on the world. The Forbes brand today reaches more than 140 million people worldwide through its trusted journalism, signature LIVE and Forbes Virtual events, custom marketing programs and 45 licensed local editions in 76 countries. Forbes Media's brand extensions include real estate, education and financial services license agreements. About Salesforce Ventures Salesforce Ventures helps enterprising founders build companies that reinvent the way the world works. Since 2009, we've invested in and partnered with more than 400 of the world's most tenacious enterprise software companies from seed to IPO, including Anthropic, Cohere, Airtable, Databricks, DocuSign, Guild Education, monday.com, nCino, Snowflake, Snyk, Stripe, Tanium, and Zoom. Salesforce Ventures leverages our decades of expertise in the cloud and our long-term relationships with key decision-makers at thousands of businesses around the world to give our portfolio companies an advantage, help them build credibility, and accelerate growth. Salesforce Ventures has invested in more than 25 countries with offices all over the world including in San Francisco, Irvine, New York, London, and Tokyo. Follow @SalesforceVC and learn more at http://www.salesforceventures.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808526683/en/

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[August 08, 2023] Sweater Introduces Category-Defining Partner Platform Opening Venture Capital to Everyone Tweet

Sweater, the first fintech company to offer main street investors access to a venture capital (VC) fund, announced today the launch of Public VC Funds, the world's first platform where qualified partners can create their own VC fund and invite their communities and the general public to participate, regardless of accreditation status. For over 50 years, VC funds have been exclusive by design, only allowing wealthy investors to participate, and typically requiring $500K minimums and offering fewer than 99 seats. Until recently, everyday investors had no way of accessing these funds unless they were accredited, meaning they were high-net-worth individuals or institutions with investable assets exceeding $1 million or an income over $200,000 for at least the last two years. "We built Sweater to create an inclusive VC community and help retail investors navigate past high wealth thresholds and exclusive networks that have locked out 99% of the population for decades," said Jesse Randall, Founder and CEO of Sweater. "This is the first time ever that communities such as fintech platforms, Discord channels, universities, and Hollywood celebrities will be able to launch their own fund and invite their audience and main street investors to participate in the asset class." The groundbreaking platform creates an entrely new category within venture capital. With these types of funds, anyone can invest, and the number of participating investors is unlimited. Qualified partners bring the audience, deal flow, and investment committee, and Sweater provides the technology and compliance expertise to operate the fund.



Sweater offers a number of customized options for qualified partners, handling all the heavy lifting, including back-office fund management, legal, compliance, portfolio valuation, and multiple tools to activate partners' communities and onboard new investors. To learn more, visit: www.sweaterventures.com/partners. About Sweater:

Sweater is the world's first mobile-forward platform to offer main street investors access to a fully-managed, evergreen, venture capital fund. The platform aims to level the playing field for everyday investors by opening an asset class previously reserved for the ultra-wealthy. Since launching in 2022, Sweater has attracted over 40,000 users and has invested in over 24 startups. Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, the company has raised over $15 million in capital from leading investors including Motivate VC, Akuna Capital, Jeffrey Cruttenden, Eli Broverman, and Litquidity Ventures, among others. To learn more visit sweaterventures.com. Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Sweater Cashmere Fund before investing. The prospectus contains this and other information about the Fund and can be obtained by calling 1-888-577-7987 or by visiting the Fund's website at www.sweaterventures.com/cashmerefund. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. All investments involve risks, and there is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. This press release is not an offer to sell the Fund's securities and is not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the Fund's securities or determined if its prospectus is truthful or complete. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808231276/en/

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[August 08, 2023] ITS Logistics' Indiana Warehouse Provides Distribution Space within Close Proximity to Midwestern Rail Ramps and Inland Ports Tweet

RENO, Nev., Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ITS Logistics, one of the fastest-growing logistics companies in the United States, today announced its national distribution space has expanded to nearly 4 million square feet with a newly built 700,000 square foot addition to the existing Indianapolis campus. The facility is near the inland ports (Burns Harbor, Mount Vernon, and Jeffersonville) and rail ramps of Chicago and Indianapolis. Aside from Indianapolis, ITS also has multiple warehouse locations in Reno and Dallas-Fort Worth with services that can reach more than 95% of the United States in two days.

The state of Indiana has invested $10 billion over ten years into transportation enhancement plans, said Ryan Martin, President of Assets for ITS Logistics. The efforts have resulted in 400 miles of new highways, dozens of bridge projects, and other infrastructure expansions. These new partnerships and programs include a long-term agreement with the Indiana Railroad Company and the Canadian National Railway that gives Indiana companies access to a secure network of rail lines with the potential to lessen transit times by 8-10 days for imports from Asia-Pacific. Indiana ranks seventh in the US for waterborne shipping with three maritime ports and the only statewide port system that has direct waterway access to two US coasts. Furthermore, the state is home to the second largest FedEx hub in the world and Chicago is less than three hours away, whichhas the largest rail hub in the US and the third largest intermodal container and trailer port in the world. In addition, the fourth busiest cargo airport in the world and the second busiest in the US is in Indiana at the UPS Worldport Air Hub.



With our recent expansions in Indy and Dallas-Fort Worth, we can offer our clientele unique and flexible nationwide solutions, continued Martin. This new facility in Whitestown, Indiana has immediate large-scale availability to provide a strategic location for a Midwest distribution hub. It will also be the terminal for a 75-tractor fleet with around 200 trailers and 100+ chassis. This will complement our overall 3PL campus strategy and give our customers more flexibility and efficiency in their supply chain. ITS provides handling of the entire delivery operation from drayage of containers at the port, transloading for truck delivery to the appropriate DC, omnichannel fulfillment, outbound truckload, LTL, and small parcel to its clients customers. ITS has drayage and intermodal in 22 coastal ports and 30 inland rail ramps with a full suite of asset and asset-lite transportation solutions. Indianas central location provides ready access to national and international highways, enabling ITS to reach 110 million people within a days drive.

To learn more about the new Indy 3 facility, ITS Logistics, its 3PL services, or employment opportunities, visit its4logistics.com or call 855-449-2885. About ITS Logistics

ITS Logistics is a premier Third-Party Logistics company that provides creative supply chain solutions with an asset-lite transportation division ranked #23 in North America, the #11 drayage and intermodal provider, a top-tier asset-based dedicated fleet, and innovative omnichannel distribution and fulfillment services. With the highest level of service, unmatched industry experience and work ethic, and a laser focus on innovation and technologyour purpose is to improve the quality of life by delivering excellence in everything we do.

www.its4logistics.com Media Contact

Amber Good

LeadCoverage

[email protected] A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/10868f34-0686-4b59-9d2b-e0f31854872a



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[August 08, 2023] University of Phoenix Announces Student Winners of HOSA-Future Health Professionals Scholarships Tweet

University of Phoenix announces the student winners of the 2023 Future Health Professionals at the annual scholarship event of HOSA-Future Health Professionals, a global student-led nonprofit empowering students to become leaders in the global health community. The scholarships are for individuals planning to pursue health care profession studies and this year's winners, Ayumi Vazquez, of Texas and Tristen Rothrum of Minnesota, who received a scholarship of $1,000 each, were announced at the June 21 scholarship event in Dallas, Texas. "University of Phoenix is proud to continue our commitment to HOSA and their mission of fostering student leaders in health care professions," shares Donna Lindsay, account executive, Workforce Solutions. "These scholarships play a vital role in empowering students to achieve their aspirations and make significant contributions to the ever-evolving landscape of health care." HOSA-Future Health Professionals is a global student-led organization with the mission to empower members to become leaders in the global health community, through education, collaboration, and experience, and which actively promotes career opportunities in the health industry and to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people. The HOSA-Future Health Professionals Scholarship Program allows sponsors to contribute $1,000 per award to recognize students' academic excellence. This year's program saw 92 scholarship recipients. "Attending the Scholarship Dinner at HOSA's 2023 International Leadership Conference had to be one of my top highlights from the trip to Dallas," shares Rothrum. "Seeing my hard work and dedication recognized meant the worldto me, and I cannot thank the University of Phoenix enough for its generous contribution. This scholarship will help me attend the University of Minnesota, pursuing a degree in Neuroscience and Spanish & Portuguese studies. Thanks to the University of Phoenix, I am one step closer to my dream of becoming a pediatric neuropsychologist and I cannot thank the University enough." In addition to receiving the scholarship, Rothrum was announced at the International Leadership Conference on June 23 as one of HOSA's eight International Executive Council leaders and will serve as the Central Region Vice President.



"I am honored and grateful to have received this scholarship from the University of Phoenix through the HOSA-Future Health Professionals (HOSA) program," shares Vazquez. "Having participated in HOSA for all 4 years of my high school career, I am excited to continue applying the skills-kindness, focus, and dedication among others- I gained during competition in this next stage of my education. I hope to show everyone I meet what it means to be a member of the health care community thanks to the University of Phoenix. It is so much more than saving lives. It is teaching others, lending an extra hand, and never giving up." Sarah Walters, Executive Director for HOSA-Future Health Professionals, expressed her gratitude for the scholarships stating, "Industry contributions to student programs support the mission of HOSA-Future Health Professionals by providing resources that empower HOSA members to acquire the knowledge, skills, and expertise needed to save lives and make a positive impact on the world," she shares. "We extend our sincere appreciation to the University of Phoenix as an industry partner with unwavering support who has made a significant difference in the lives of future health professionals. Such scholarships not only lighten the financial burden but open doors of opportunity for deserving students and pave the way for healthier generations to come."

The University of Phoenix Workforce Solutions team provides support for the annual HOSA event and scholarships. Workforce Solutions offers companies across diverse industries as well as community colleges tailored learning and career pathways to recruit, upskill, reskill, and retain their workforce in an affordable and timely manner. Their flexible solutions are aligned to workplace needs and feature live support, career guidance and support tools, education programs, learning pathways, and credit options, including certificates, workshops, single courses, degree programs, or any combination of these tools. Learn more here about University of Phoenix Workforce Solutions. About University of Phoenix University of Phoenix is continually innovating to help working adults enhance their careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, and Career Services for Life help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808758522/en/

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[August 08, 2023]

Unifor condemns SNC-Lavalin's union-busting termination of SPEA President

TORONTO, Aug. 8, 2023 /CNW/ - Unifor denounces the recent termination of Mark Chudak, President of the Society of Professional Engineers and Associates (SPEA) by SNC-Lavalin in what the union perceives as a hostile anti-union move.

"SNC-Lavalin has created a larger mess for themselves by taking punitive actions against Mark Chudak, a dedicated union representative" said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. "Unifor stands united with SPEA and calls on SNC-Lavalin to immediately reconsider their decision and reinstate Mark. Workers have the right to organize and advocate for their rights without fear of retaliation. This company must understand the severity of their action and the impact it has on labour relations and employee morale."







Unifor views the termination of Mark Chudak as an alarming signal of anti-union behavior within SNC-Lavalin. As a labour union committed to safeguarding workers' rights, Unifor believes that respecting the role of union representatives is crucial for maintaining a fair and constructive work environment.

"The labour movement in Canada has a long history of advocating for workers' rights, and Unifor remains at the forefront of championing the fair treatment of all workers, including union representatives like Mark Chudak," said Payne.

Unifor urges SNC-Lavalin to immediately reconsider its actions and take steps towards rectifying this situation both in this individual case and to rebuild employer-union relations at the company.

Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.

SOURCE Unifor
[August 08, 2023] Munchkin Expands Partnership with IFAW; Becomes Primary Investor of "Room to Roam" Initiative to Lease Tens of Thousands of Acres of Land In Africa to Protect Elephants Tweet

Munchkin, Inc., the beloved baby lifestyle brand that sells millions of imaginative products and gear per year, announced it has made a $1 million donation to the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) as a primary investor in the fund's Room to Roam Initiative. The donation makes Munchkin the first company to lease 90,000 acres of endangered African territory that is imperative for elephant migration and survival. The company has also released its annual Sustainability Report in which its efforts to support and protect families - human and animal alike - are detailed. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808610371/en/ (Photo: Business Wire) "Safeguarding the world's most vulnerable creatures is ingrained in Munchkin's ethos. Each year, we challenge ourselves to grow our efforts related to animal and plant conservation, and believe that a culmination of many little things truly adds up to make a big difference," said Diana Barnes, "DB," Chief Brand Officer & Creative Director and head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Munchkin. "That's why we joined IFAW in its initiative to protect endangered territory, and continue our work to reduce carbon emissions, plant millions of trees and innovate our products and packaging to become an ever-more sustainable organization." Climate hange, the rising human population, and the prevalence of poaching - the primary cause of elephant population decline - all threaten the existence of African bush elephants. In fact, more than 90% of this species has disappeared. The Room to Roam initiative is centered around preserving the now perilously endangered African elephant by giving this keystone species space to safely migrate through no-poaching territory. Over the next five years, Munchkin's increased donations to IFAW will fund the leasing of 90,000 acres situated in North Western Zimbabwe between Victoria Falls and Hwange National Park to ensure safe passage for elephants and 16 other migratory species that help proliferate life for countless plants and other animals.



Beyond announcing its engagement with Room to Roam in its 2023 Sustainability Report, Munchkin also details the impact of its robust CSR efforts in other areas: Munchkin financed the planting of one million trees last year, bringing the total to four million trees planted since the beginning of the company's partnership with Trees for the Future and its program "The Seedling Project," launched in 2015.

As the only baby lifestyle brand member of the United Nations Global Compact, Munchkin aligns with The United Nations Emissions Programme's aim to cut carbon emissions worldwide to avoid a cataclysmic natural catastrophe. In 2022, Munchkin diverted 82.58% of the waste from its U.S. warehouse away from landfills. Of the 82.58%, 22.59% was repurposed and 59.99% was recycled. The company's hybrid policy that allows employees to work from home two days per week offset 350,627 pounds of CO2.

Munchkin released its first line of bamboo feeding products for little ones earlier this year to lower the use of traditional plastics and greenhouse emissions. Bamboo grows quickly, has more muscle than steel, absorbs up to 12 tons of CO2 annually and releases 30% more oxygen than trees. To package the products in the bamboo line, Munchkin used 100% paper-based packaging with nearly 70% recycled content. To learn more and access Munchkin's 2023 Sustainability Report, visit https://www.munchkin.com/assets/munchkin-sustainability-report-2023.pdf.

About Munchkin Munchkin, Inc. is based in Los Angeles, California and has created innovative products for over 30 years. A global leader in children's feeding & care products, Munchkin has 329 patents to date and has earned more than 180 international product and brand design awards in the past several years alone. As the only baby lifestyle brand in the United Nations Global Compact, Munchkin's ongoing commitment to environmental protection and animal welfare is reinforced through its numerous corporate social responsibility initiatives and its annually published Sustainability Report. Over half of Munchkin's global workforce is female, and women make up the majority of Munchkin's leadership team and board of directors. The company was ranked #8 Most Innovative Companies by Fortune in 2023. Munchkin products are sold in more than 45 countries around the world and have received over 1.25 million five-star reviews. Munchkin is on a mission to be the most loved baby lifestyle brand in the world. www.munchkin.com Munchkin is evolving into a house of brands with the launch of Curio, a collection of finely crafted home goods made to transcend routine. www.curiohomegoods.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808610371/en/

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[August 08, 2023] Voya Financial names Brannigan Thompson executive vice president and chief human resources officer Tweet

Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), a leading health, wealth and investment company, announced today that Brannigan Thompson has been named company executive vice president and chief human resources officer (CHRO), reporting to CEO Heather Lavallee effective Aug. 16. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808182346/en/ Brannigan Thompson, executive vice president and chief human resources officer (CHRO), Voya Financial. (Photo: Business Wire) Thompson will be responsible for Human Resources, Corporate Responsibility and Voya Foundation and will direct a strategy aimed at building the organization's human capital by attracting, retaining and developing world-class employees and incenting them to deliver superior performance. He also will serve on Voya's Executive Committee. A 23-year veteran of Voya's HR team, Thompson joined predecessor company ING during 2000. "During Brannigan's two decades at Voya, he has earned the trust and confidence of leaders across our organization, with a remarkable track record of success in key roles across the HR function," said Lavallee. "Whether as an HR partner to our businesses or as talent development leader, where he has positively influenced the careers of numerous Voya executives, including me, Brannigan has played a key role in defining and advancing the Voya culture. Brannigan's unique combintion of HR expertise and extraordinary character makes him the perfect choice to lead our talented HR team, which plays a valuable role in our ability to deliver the outstanding experiences that our customers and clients deserve."



Before being named co-lead of Voya's HR team during May, Thompson was senior vice president, HR - Workplace, Corporate Functions and Talent & Leadership. During his Voya tenure, Thompson has provided HR support for each of the company's businesses and corporate functions. He has also led work and teams across various Voya HR functions, ranging from talent and leadership development to performance and rewards management. "I am honored to be named Voya's CHRO," said Thompson. "Our people are the key ingredient to Voya's success, and I am excited to work across our company to further advance our high-performance culture and business strategy - and enable our employees to achieve even more."

Thompson began his career as an executive compensation consultant for Towers Perrin, which is now Willis Towers Watson and branded as WTW. About Voya Financial

Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), is a leading health, wealth and investment company with 7,200 employees who are focused on achieving Voya's aspirational vision: Clearing your path to financial confidence and a more fulfilling life. Through products, solutions and technologies, Voya helps its 14.7 million individual, workplace and institutional clients become well planned, well invested and well protected. Benefitfocus, a Voya company, extends the reach of Voya's workplace benefits and savings offerings by providing benefits administration capabilities to 16.5 million individual subscription employees across four employer and health plan clients. Certified as a "Great Place to Work" by the Great Place to Work Institute, Voya is purpose-driven and committed to conducting business in a way that is economically, ethically, socially and environmentally responsible. Voya has earned recognition as: one of the World's Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute; a member of the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index; and a "Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion" on the Disability Equality Index. For more information, visit voya.com. Follow Voya Financial on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. VOYA-IR VOYA-CF View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808182346/en/

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[August 08, 2023] Danimer Scientific Invited into Due Diligence and Term Sheet Negotiation Phase for a Federal Financing Bank Loan and DOE Loan Guarantee Tweet

Danimer Scientific, Inc. (NYSE: DNMR) ("Danimer" or the "Company"), a leading next generation bioplastics company focused on the development and production of biodegradable materials, announced today that its subsidiary, Meredian Bioplastics, Inc. ("Meredian"), has been invited by the U.S. Department of Energy's ("DOE's") Loan Programs Office ("LPO") into the due diligence and term sheet negotiation process ("Due Diligence") of the DOE's Title XVII Loan Guarantee Program. The LPO's invitation follows the successful submission and review of the Company's Part II Application for Meredian's proposed bioplastics manufacturing facility which the Company intends to build in Bainbridge, Georgia, and is based on LPO's determination that the Project is highly qualified and suitable for a loan guarantee. Due Diligence encompasses detailed confirmatory review which may result in term sheet negotiations with the Company. If successful, a U.S. Department of the Treasury's Federal Financing Bank (FFB) loan guaranteed by the DOE would assist funding the Company's capacity expansion efforts to bring increased volumes of PHA and PHA-based resins to the marketplace. Completion of Due Diligence could ultimately result in a conditional commitment and final FFB loan guaranteed by the DOE. However, there can be no assurance that the DOE will issue a conditional commitment or a loan guarantee or that the Company will be able to secure a guaranteed loan on terms that are satisfactory to the Company. The foregoing matters are wholly dependent on the results of the Due Diligence and the LPO's determination of whether to proceed. Stephen E. Croskrey, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Danimer, commented, "We are pleased to have been successful in our Part II application leading to the DOE's invitation into the Due Diligence phase for a loan guarantee. Danimer Scientific has grown to become recognized as one of the most advanced and innovative biotechnology companies in the world and is deeply appreciative to the LPO team for their expression of support for our mission to reduce plastic waste in the environment. We look forward to continuing to build our relationship with the LPO team and to working closely with them throughout the Due Diligence process." About Danimer Scientific Danimer is a pioneer in creating more sustainable, more natural ways to make plastic products. For more than a decade, its renewable and sustainable biopolymers have helped create plastic products that are biodegradable and compostable and return to nature instead of polluting our lands and waters. Danimer's technologycan be found in a vast array of plastic end products that people use every day. Applications for its biopolymers include additives, aqueous coatings, fibers, filaments, films and injection-molded articles, among others. Danimer holds more than 480 granted patents and pending patent applications in more than 20 countries for a range of manufacturing processes and biopolymer formulations. For more information, visit https://danimerscientific.com.



Forward-Looking Statements Please note that in this press release we may use words such as "appears," "anticipates," "believes," "plans," "expects," "intends," "future," and similar expressions which constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are made based on our expectations and beliefs concerning future events impacting the Company and therefore involve a number of risks and uncertainties. We caution that forward-looking statements are not guarantees and that actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results of operations or financial condition of the Company to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to, the overall level of consumer demand on our products; general economic conditions and other factors affecting consumer confidence, preferences, and behavior; disruption and volatility in the global currency, capital, and credit markets; the financial strength of the Company's customers; the Company's ability to implement its business strategy, including, but not limited to, its ability to expand its production facilities and plants to meet customer demand for its products and the timing thereof; risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information with respect to the Company; the ability of the Company to execute and integrate acquisitions; changes in governmental regulation, legislation or public opinion relating to our products; the Company's exposure to product liability or product warranty claims and other loss contingencies; disruptions and other impacts to the Company's business, as a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic and government actions and restrictive measures implemented in response; stability of the Company's manufacturing facilities and suppliers, as well as consumer demand for our products, in light of disease epidemics and health-related concerns such as the COVID-19 global pandemic; the impact on our business, operations and financial results from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine; the impact that global climate change trends may have on the Company and its suppliers and customers; the Company's ability to protect patents, trademarks and other intellectual property rights; any breaches of, or interruptions in, our information systems; the ability of our information technology systems or information security systems to operate effectively, including as a result of security breaches, viruses, hackers, malware, natural disasters, vendor business interruptions or other causes; our ability to properly maintain, protect, repair or upgrade our information technology systems or information security systems, or problems with our transitioning to upgraded or replacement systems; the impact of adverse publicity about the Company and/or its brands, including without limitation, through social media or in connection with brand damaging events and/or public perception; fluctuations in the price, availability and quality of raw materials and contracted products as well as foreign currency fluctuations; our ability to utilize potential net operating loss carryforwards; and changes in tax laws and liabilities, tariffs, legal, regulatory, political and economic risks. More information on potential factors that could affect the Company's financial results is included from time to time in the Company's public reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based upon information available to the Company as of the date of this press release and speak only as of the date hereof. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808268698/en/

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[August 08, 2023] Quick Custom Intelligence Announces That Noel Laursen, General Manager, Red Earth Casino, Says "We are excited to begin using the QCI AGI Platform as it combines slots, host, and marketing tooling into one data-rich experience." Tweet

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Red Earth Casino and Quick Custom Intelligence ("QCI") jointly announced that the casino in Thermal, CA has begun installing the QCI AGI Platform. The QCI platform is currently being deployed throughout the property and the marketing, player development and casino operations teams will begin training soon. Noel Laursen, General Manager, Red Earth Casino said, "We are excited to add the suite of QCI products. They will not only make us more efficient but will assist us in achieving our goal of constantly improving the guest experience at Red Earth Casino." Dr. Ralph Thomas, CEO of QCI, stated "We thank Red Earth Casino for their decision to partner with QCI as their data and resort tooling provider. QCI is committed to further innovation to meet the need of gaming resort operators. The QCI AGI Platform was developed specifically for resort casinos, allowing their hosts, marketing executives and casino gaming operators team to function in a modern data-enriched environment. With over 4,000 gaming executives currently utilizing the QCI platform worldwide, we are confident our proven product will coninue to meet the dynamic needs of Red Earth Casino."



ABOUT Red Earth Casino

Red Earth Casino, located between Indio and Brawley on Highway 86, is known as the friendliest & cleanest casino in the valley. With over 400 slots, we've got everything to make Red Earth Casino a gamers' Jackpot paradise. www.redearthcasino.com ABOUT QCI

Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) has pioneered the revolutionary QCI AGI Platform, an artificial intelligence platform that seamlessly integrates player development, marketing, and gaming operations with powerful, real-time tools designed specifically for the gaming and hospitality industries. Our advanced, highly configurable software is deployed in over 140 casino resorts across North America, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Latin America, and The Bahamas. The QCI AGI Platform, which manages more than $24 billion in annual gross gaming revenue, stands as a best-in-class solution, whether on-premises, hybrid, or cloud-based, enabling fully coordinated activities across all aspects of gaming or hospitality operations. QCI's data-driven, AI-powered software propels swift, informed decision-making vital in the ever-changing casino industry, assisting casinos in optimizing resources and profits, crafting effective marketing campaigns, and enhancing customer loyalty. QCI was co-founded by Dr. Ralph Thomas and Mr. Andrew Cardno and is based in San Diego, with additional offices in Las Vegas, St. Louis, Dallas, and Tulsa. Main phone number: (858) 299.5715. Visit us at www.quickcustomintelligence.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/quick-custom-intelligence-announces-that-noel-laursen-general-manager-red-earth-casino-says-we-are-excited-to-begin-using-the-qci-agi-platform-as-it-combines-slots-host-and-marketing-tooling-into-one-data-rich-experience-301896234.html SOURCE Quick Custom Intelligence

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[August 08, 2023] Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC partners with Florida Prepaid College Foundation to Launch $2.8M Scholarship Program Tweet

Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC (Coke Florida) is excited to announce a ten-year, multi-million dollar commitment to award graduating high school students with scholarships to attend Florida postsecondary public institutions. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808412244/en/ Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC partners with Florida Prepaid College Foundation to launch a ten-year, $2.8M scholarship program. The newly established Coke Florida Refreshing Minds Scholarship will cover tuition and most fees for students attending a Florida public four-year university, two-year college, or technical/vocational school. (Graphic: Business Wire) Coke Florida's donation will be matched dollar for dollar by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation to fund the dreams of 250 economically disadvantaged students. The newly established Coke Florida Refreshing Minds Scholarship will cover tuition and most fees for students attending a Florida public four-year university, two-year college, or technical/vocational school. "We are committed to strengthening the communities we serve across the state of Florida through initiatives that support education and economic empowerment," said Troy D. Taylor, Chairman and CEO of Coke Florida. "By providing targeted and much needed financial resources to economically disadvantaged students, it is our hope that we can help empower students and address educational inequities, which we see as a root cause of generational poverty." Funded in part by matching contributions from the Florida Prepaid College Foundation, the Coke Florida Refreshing Minds Scholarship is a part of the Path to Prosperity Program. In launching the scholarship program, Coke Florida aims to advance its ongoing work to remove barriers that prohibit young people from reaching their full potential. Florida Chamber Foundation analysis shows that those with a college education are 3.5 times less likely to live in poverty. Research also shows that not all students are interested in a four-year university program. With this understanding, the program will also provide funding for students who choose to pursue two-year college programs and technical/vocational training.



"Our desire is to support students who aspire to further their education beyond high school despite their economic circumstance and who are highly engaged in the classroom and their community," said Percy L. Wells II, Group Vice President, Government Relations, Public Affairs, and Communications of Coke Florida. "We are passionate about enhancing our communities and offering solutions that allow individuals to prosper. While we currently provide thousands of backpacks filled with school supplies for children as they return to school each year and address the digital divide with our laptop giveaway campaign to hundreds of students throughout the year, this long-term partnership with Florida Prepaid College Foundation further strengthens our commitment to Florida's youth who need support as they work to secure a brighter future." "When companies like Coke Florida make long-term investments in education, we can increase our ability to reach more students," said Kevin Thompson, Executive Director at Florida Prepaid College Board and the Florida Prepaid College Foundation. "We commend Coke Florida for this incredible investment which contributes to our collective goal of reducing poverty rates statewide and providing opportunities for students to pay for college." Coke Florida and the Florida Prepaid College Foundation have elected to partner with Big Brothers Big Sisters Association of Florida and the Florida Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs to deliver the scholarship program. The organizations offer enrichment and support programs to their members and alumni and will assist students with the Coke Florida Refreshing Minds Scholarship application process. Scholarship eligibility criteria includes a focus on identifying students in geographic areas with the highest percentages of childhood poverty. Recipients will be announced annually in the Spring.

Information about the Coke Florida Refreshing Minds Scholarship will be available at www.cocacolaflorida.com. About Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC Established in 2015, Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC (Coke Florida) is a family-owned Coca-Cola bottler. Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, the company is the sixth largest Coca-Cola bottler in the United States. Coke Florida's exclusive sales and distribution territory covers over 21 million consumers across 47 Florida counties, and includes the major metropolitan markets of Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, and Tampa. The company markets, sells, manufactures, distributes, and merchandises over 600 products of The Coca-Cola Company and other partner companies including Monster Energy. Coke Florida is one of the largest Black-owned businesses in the United States and is Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certified. In 2022 and 2023, Coke Florida was named a US Best Managed Company by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal for excellence in strategy, execution, culture, and governance/financials. To learn more, visit www.cocacolaflorida.com.  2023 Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC. "Coke" and the Coca-Cola Contour Bottle are registered trademarks of The Coca-Cola Company. "Refreshing Minds Scholarship" is a service mark of Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808412244/en/

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Right now we want to focus on legal consequences and the case confronting a female suspect apprehended during a deadly shooting in an otherwise peaceful, suburban Kansas enclave . . .



Andrea Rene Cothran, 32 of Goodlettsville, Tennessee, has been charged with one count of aggravated battery, one count of fleeing law enforcement, one count of reckless driving and one count of felony theft of less than $25.000.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Woman charged after police chase leads to deadly shooting in Mission A Tennessee woman has been charged in connection to a police pursuit that lead to the fatal shooting of a Fairway, Kansas, police officer.

Fairway Police officer is the second in Kansas City to die on duty in 2023 Jonah Oswald, 29, was a four-year veteran with the Fairway Police Department. He was injured in a shooting at a Johnson County QuikTrip and died Monday at an area hospital.

'They're all routine until they're not': FRST Midwest responded within minutes to Fairway officer shooting The shock turned to grief tonight with the death of 29-year-old Fairway police officer Jonah Oswald.

Woman charged with multiple felonies in chase that resulted in fatal shooting of officer Andrea Cothran's bond was sent at $1 million, and she was scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday afternoon in Johnson County.

Radio traffic details how quickly scene unfolded before deadly gunfire exchange at Mission QuikTrip At 7:37 a.m. Sunday, the Johnson County Public Safety scanner traffic channel first mentioned the events that led to a deadly police shooting.

Developing . . .
A nasty story the earned nationwide headlines and sketchy racially-charged blogger speculation becomes even scarier . . . Here's today's main detail:



Officials said kayakers found a blue barrel on an island in the Missouri River in Saline County on June 24. Excelsior Springs Police Chief Greg Dull said the kayakers opened the barrel to find Jaynie Crosdale's remains in "advanced decomposition."



Excelsior Springs police previously identified Crosdale as a potential witness in the case against Timothy Haslett Jr.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Court rules that Timothy Haslett Jr.'s bond will remain at $3 million, next court hearing set for October 9 Timothy Haslett Jr. has been charged in connection to a kidnapping and rape case in Excelsior Springs, Missouri.

Potential witness in Missouri kidnapping case found dead in barrel Excelsior Springs police have released new information after a potential witness in a local kidnapping case was found dead.

Police confirm remains of missing woman found in blue barrel, similar to those seen at suspect's home, in Missouri River Excelsior Springs police chief says Jaynie Crosdale had contact with Timothy Haslett prior to a woman escaping Haslett's home last year

Developing . . .
Tonight we learn news of the tragic aftermath following weekend violence.



Here's the deadly suburban gunfire postscript that leads late evening Kansas City newscasts and will likely resonate across the nation . . .



Fairway police said 29-year-old Officer Jonah Oswald has died from his injuries. He was a 4-year veteran of the Fairway Police Department. The department said he leaves behind a wife and two young children.



Police said Oswald was one of many officers trying to arrest two suspects at a Mission QuikTrip when he was shot Sunday.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Fairway officer dies after shootout with 2 suspects at Mission QuikTrip Fairway, Kansas, Officer Jonah Oswald has died Monday after a shootout with two suspects at a QuikTrip in Mission over the weekend.

Fairway officer dies from injuries sustained in shootout Sunday at QuikTrip in Mission The Fairway officer who was injured in a shootout at a QuikTrip in Mission Sunday morning has succumbed to his injuries, police said Monday night.
A late night deadly shooting investigation spikes the local murder count once yet again . . . The tragic number jumps forward following a late death yesterday as KCMO continues along a RECORD BREAKING PACE which threatens to eclipse the deadliest year in local history.

Here's the latest report . . .

Homicide 59th and Virginia

Tonight about 11:40pm officers were dispatched to the area of 59th and Paseo on a sound of gunshots call.



On arrival to the area officers were directed to the front yard of a residence near 59th and Virginia where they located a male shooting victim, unresponsive.



Officers began rendering aid to the victim until EMS arrived and took over treatment. EMS transported the victim to the hospital where he was declared deceased.



Detectives are canvassing for witnesses and Crime Scene Investigators are processing the scene for evidence.



If anyone saw or heard anything they are asked to contact Homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS there is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline.



We are committed to assisting victims of violent crimes through use of Missouris Protection Program for Victims/Witnesses of Violent Crime. Funding for temporary, or even permanent relocation, may be available but is subject to pre-approval by the States administering agency.



We are working with Partners for Peace in all our homicide investigations to monitor risks for retaliation and provide social services to affected residents.

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Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Man killed in overnight homicide near 59th and Virginia Kansas City Police found a man who had been shot in the front yard of a home about 11:40 p.m. He died at the hospital.

KCPD investigating overnight homicide near 59th and Virginia Police were called to the sounds of gunshots in the area just before midnight

Developing . . .
Today we compile a great many headlines from across the metro but they're all impacted by the ongoing and HISTORIC disaster that KCMO is currently confronting.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

Recent gun violence claims lives of KCMO youth as city maintains pace for historically deadly year Recent gun violence in Kansas City, Missouri, has claimed the lives of three teens as the city maintains pace for a historically deadly year.

Suspect in Johnson County police shooting has criminal history FOX4 has learned the surviving suspect in this weekend's deadly police shooting, Andrea Rene Cothran, has a serious criminal history.

2-year-old injured in Kansas City, Kansas, double shooting A Kansas City, Kansas, 2-year-old is recovering after a double shooting near 5th Street and Oakland Avenue. An 18-year-old was killed.

Drink and ride? What Missouri, Kansas laws say about passengers with open containers Missouri and Kansas differ on the question of vehicle passengers carrying open alcohol containers. Here's what the laws say in each state.

Fairway police officer fighting for life following QuikTrip shooting The police officer was responding to a stolen vehicle pursuit that ended in Mission on Sunday.

Fairway officer shooting hits home for dry cleaning business who works on department's uniforms The Fairway community is reacting to a shooting that left an officer injured on Sunday morning at a QuikTrip in Mission.

Kansas City man hit by driver fleeing police in Westport had leg amputated, family says Augie Adan's family is raising money to help pay for a prosthetic leg, as well as his recovery after the crash.

Missouri seeing notable spike in motorcycle fatalities following change in helmet laws Missouri is one of the deadliest states in the country for motorcyclists

Kansas City, Missouri police officer Tyler Moss celebrated during medical retirement ceremony Kansas City, Missouri police officer Tyler Moss' career came full circle of sorts Monday morning as he was honored in a medical retirement ceremony.

Developing . . .
UAE-based Damac Properties has awarded contracts worth AED2.4 billion ($653 million) for its masterplanned Dubai community project - Damac Lagoons - during the first six months of this year.

Of this, a major contract worth AED 753.9 million was awarded to Ginco General Contracting for the main works of 1,127 villas and townhouses at the Malta cluster, while China Nuclear Industry 22nd Construction Company bagged the AED270 million order for the main works of 433 villas in the master developments Mykonos cluster and over AED 256.5 million in contracts for main works of 424 villas in the Monte Carlo cluster.

Earlier this year, the developer had signed up Danway Electrical & Mechanical Engineering to build a 132/11kV substation within the 48-million-sq-ft Damac Lagoons community. This was the second of three substations planned.

"Damac Lagoons is one of our most exclusive projects  in size, scope and offerings. I am delighted to see the progress it makes every day, often times exceeding expected dates of completion for various stages of construction," remarked General Manager of Projects Mohammed Tahaineh.

"We are pleased to see it grow in strength and are excited to see all 11 clusters come to life in a few years time," he added.

Tahaineh, expressing delight at seeing the community build take shape steadily, said: "We are proud to say that Damac Lagoons is one of the only communities in the UAE to have construction across the total area take place simultaneously, and not in phases."

"Our intent is to provide our customers with a product that is unique and exclusive, and I can confidently say we are on track to deliver what we have promised," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Two things . . .

I wanted to take a pause from the blog this morning because the recent murder of a local cop merits a moment of silence and careful consideration of where "we" are going as a metropolitan area.

Returning to news . . . We start with a screed that is so unhinged, predictable and lame that it also required deliberation.

The premise . . .

THE STAR SEYZ VOTING FOR PREZ TRUMP IN FREE & FAIR ELECTIONS IS AKIN TO VOTING FOR PUTIN?!?!

Let that sink in and then realize this lady was a finalist for a Pulitzer.

Let's get our TKC bias out of the way . . . I would rather vote for Donald Duck than Prez Biden OR former Prez Trump . . . I'll settle for Scrooge McDuck given that he has the funds to finance an effective third party campaign which would be more interesting than anything Jay Nixon is hyping.



However . . .

What TKC will never tolerate is unquestioned repetition of talking points from the Clinton foundation.

Even progressive pundit Van Jones accurately commented that Russian collusion allegations and so much innuendo about connections to Vladimir Putin leveled against Prez Trump were a "nothing burger" in the first set of indictments against the former Prez that, indeed, added up to NOTHING but a series of semi-funny SNL skits.



And so . . .

This leads us to our cowtown paper wherein the columnist gives conspiracy theories, forced analogies, partisan rhetoric and then an imagined conversation with a stern rebuke of the former Prez who earned the support of slightly more or less than half of the American voting public.



Humbly was ask . . .

WHAT READERSHIP IS THE STAR ATTEMPTING TO ATTRACT WITH THIS SCREED?!?

Progressive readers can witness better versions of this reasoning from MSNBC or CNN . . . And conservatives abandoned the daily paper long ago.

Local news overall is a fading institution that is better "covered" by social media algorithms and non-profit foundations.

Meanwhile, the newspaper is still a quasi-biz arrangement until their hedge fun owner decides to bust up McClatchy and profit from the spare parts.

In the meantime . . . We're merely share the money line of the screed and ask our best readers to try and make sense of it all . . . Here's the newspaper argument against the leading Republican presidential contender via a sketchy conversation that probably didn't happen:



What are we going to do about Trump? he asked. What I answered is not important, but what he said then really is.



I wasnt taking notes, so I am not going to put this in quotes, but its pretty close: We have to stop him, no matter what it costs us, or were going to lose everything, said my friend, who Im not naming out of concern for his safety. Were going to lose our democracy. Americans have had it so good for so long, they have no idea what that means, and I hope they never find out, but if we dont wake up, this is going to be no different from Putins Russia or Iran under the mullahs. You see that, right?



Unfortunately, yes.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Section V of the highest administrative court of Greece canceled the project because it lacked an environmental report

The Council of State canceled the license to build a Reception and Identification Center (RIC) for migrants and asylum applicants at Plati-Vastria on Lesvos island, following a petition by the North Aegean Region, it was announced on Tuesday, ANA reports.

Section V of the highest administrative court of Greece canceled the project because it lacked an environmental report. It also canceled the approval to build a road to the center through 2.1 hectares (21,011 sqm) of forestland.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons License: CC-BY-SA Copyright: Ggia
The latest data from UNWTO shows that tourism in the Americas is steadily recovering, with international arrivals reaching 86% of 2019 levels by the end of the first quarter of this year

UNWTO further strengthened its cooperation with the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean as it brought together public and private sector leaders to advance investments in the tourism sector.

Against the backdrop of the meeting of its 68th Regional Commission for the Americas in Quito, Ecuador, UNWTO hosted the Seminar on Sustainable Investments to explore the main challenges and opportunities around this topic in the region.

Tourism Investments: A defining priority

The latest data from UNWTO shows that tourism in the Americas is steadily recovering, with international arrivals reaching 86% of 2019 levels by the end of the first quarter of this year. Moreover, foreign direct investment (FDI) in the tourism sector, which had experienced a decline, is now showing signs of revitalization:

Registered projects investment projects rose by 185% between 2022 and 2021. These projects accounted for a total value of 192.6 billion USD, reflecting rising investor confidence in the region's potential.

Additionally, in 2021, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) surged to US$134 billion, a 56% year-on-year increase, reclaiming a substantial portion of the ground lost in 2020.

To realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Americas, attracting investments that actively support their achievement is of utmost importance. It is crucial to establish a robust multilateral regulatory framework that fosters sustainable investments, further propelling the region's progress toward the SDGs.

Quito Seminar Provides High-Level Platform

The Seminar on Sustainable Investments: A Strategy towards Competitiveness invited tourism ministers, traditional and non-traditional investors, multilateral funds, regional economic communities, tourism technology start-ups, and the media to share good practices and knowledge. Highlighting the level of high-level political support for UNWTOs work in this area, the Seminar counted on the presence of Ministers of Tourism of Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, and Puerto Rico and the Vice Minister of the Dominican Republic. The focus was on:

Encouraging strategic frameworks that facilitate the climate of doing business in the region, including measures to safeguard, attract and promote tourism investment projects to accelerate economic recovery and build resilience.

Fostering cooperation for the application of sustainable investment frameworks for the promotion of tourism investments and job creation, including through the promotion of incentives focused on innovative financing instruments.

Promoting regional cooperation for streamlining sustainable tourism investment mechanisms, through economic recovery and diversification instruments with multiplier effects.

Contributing to the discussions were high-level representatives of the Development Bank of Latin American and the Caribbean (CAF), fDi Intelligence of the Financial Times, IDB - Inter-American Development Bank and, representing investors and the private sector, Hotel Jama Campay, WAYRA (Telefonica), IMPAQTO, UnTours, Maraey, Metropolitan Touring, GHL Hoteles and the Confederacion Panamericana de Escuelas de Hoteleria, Gastronomia y Turismo, amongst others, sharing sustainable investment models in innovative infrastructure.

UNWTO and CAF

In January 2023, UNWTO and the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) announced a new partnership to promote and retain investment in tourism across the Latin American and Caribbean regions. In Quito:

UNWTO and CAF released the first of a series of investment guidelines titled "Tourism Doing Business. The first edition, Investing in Ecuador" aims to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) in Ecuador's tourism sector by showcasing the country's favorable conditions and solid economic recovery post-pandemic, demonstrated by a favorable 2.9% growth in 2022 alongside a 21.7% growth in FDI between 2021 and 2022.

The partnership includes the development of tourism investment guides for five countries: Barbados, Ecuador, El Salvador, Panama, and Uruguay.

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
Hi. Thanks for the update. The tour company sent me a new invoice with a payment button which took me to a generic dialog that asks for card #, exp date AND CVC. By using that dialog, my payment was finally successful.

This is the tour company's explanation:

"The CVC is not the problem, 3-D Secure protects our payments and the CVC is required at a different authorization stage. We have come to the unfortunate realization that some US banks have protocol issues with the Braintree Online Payment system we use, although it is a popular online payment provider. "

It seems that the tour company uses one dialog for the card number and exp date, and another for the CVC code. But the application bombed at the first dialog due to the missing CVC. So I never got a chance to reach the second dialog. This is just my own interpretation.

I actually had suspected the missing CVC code at the very beginning. But both Citibank and the tour company dismissed me, saying it's OK not to have it. Citibank support just kept asking me to retry, on the vendor's website. After two hours' failure, they said it might work if I waited for 5 hours. When I called back 5 hours later to say it still did not work, they simply said my card had been revoked and they would have to send a letter to my house with a secret code. The letter would arrive in 5 to 7 business days, and until then I could not use my credit card. At this point I saw no option but requesting a supervisor. And a supervisor finally got involved and confirmed my original suspicion.

I hope this post can help others to avoid a long saga.
Caribbean Airlines has put passengers on notice for disruptions and or delays in their fligh
Russian invasion forces set up a humanitarian aid point outside a Mariupol supermarket, which is exactly where they were piling up the bodies of local civilians they had slain.

Thats according to Petro Andriushchenko, the advisor to the Mariupol mayor in exile, Ukrinform reports.

"Left Bank, Svobody Avenue, the Schyriy Kum supermarket. Two photos from the same place with a one-year difference," he wrote in a caption to the images he posted on Telegram. As Andryushchenko explained, last year, the Russians would bring to the spot unidentified corpses of Mariupol residents from around the Left Bank area. According to him, the body dump was cleared late July or early August last year.

"The second photo shows marginalized residents of Mariupols Zhdanov district, who came in the 40-degree heat in hopes to get a free bottle of something to the supermarket, where a year ago the Russians were dumping the bodies of their neighbors," said the mayor's advisor.

In his opinion, the Russian policy of marginalization of the population can be considered a success in Mariupol. "To turn people into a marginalized herd within a year They succeeded to a large extent, unfortunately," Andriushchenko suggested.

As reported earlier, Russia's aggression caused in Mariupol one of the largest humanitarian disasters in recent history. Almost 90% of the city has been destroyed by enemy shelling. Normal supplies of electricity, water, and gas were never restored.

At the same time, the invaders tend to demolish the apartment blocks they damaged in order to hide the traces of their crimes.

The first photo is illustrative
Ukraines Naval Forces eliminated 20 Russian invaders and destroyed an anti-aircraft system and 35 enemy drones over the past day.

Thats according to the press service of Ukraines Navy Command, Ukrinform reports.

Also, during the past day, the Marines destroyed a Russian mortar, a truck, and a boat.

Read also: Another 22 Ukrainian POWs released from Russian captivity

The incoming reports on enemy losses are being verified.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, as of August 7, in the course of a full-scale war, Ukraines Defense Forces killed in action 250,240 Russian soldiers and destroyed thousands of units of Russian military equipment.
Military instructors from Lithuania left for the third Interflex international mission to train Ukrainian servicemen on British soil.

This was reported by Lithuanias national broadcaster LRT with reference to the spokesperson for the countrys armed forces, Ukrinform saw.

The group includes 10 servicemen from the General Stasys Rastikis School of the Armed Forces of Lithuania, five representatives of the General Adolfas Ramanauskas Combat Training Center, two from the Training Regiment of the Grand Hetman Janusz Radzivil of Lithuania, and one from the Jonas Basanavicius Military Medical Service.

"The purpose of the group is to give the Ukrainian military during basic military training the knowledge and skills necessary for battlefield survival and success. Training in handling weapons, precision shooting, equipment identification, as well as medical, engineering, and tactical training in urban and forest areas will be organized for servicemen," said Major Kyastutis Cekavicius, who heads the team of instructors.

As reported, 18,000 Ukrainian soldiers have already undergone training in Great Britain under the basic program.

Photo: facebook.com/LRKAM
Ukraine's defense forces are putting pressure on Russian troops staying on the east (left) bank of the Dnipro River in the Kherson region.

Andrii Yusov, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, said this on national television, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"[The situation with Russian troops there] is not fun, it's true. After all, this can clearly be traced by those draconian 'filtration measures' [that are carried out there]. In fact, it's just the terror of the local population, which has increased significantly recently," he said.

Yusov spoke about measures being taken by the Russians against civilian Ukrainians who found themselves in the temporarily occupied territories, including the seizure of vehicles, checks and seizure of documents, absolutely groundless detentions. He also added that the occupiers were afraid of peaceful Ukrainians living in those territories, because they understand that people hate them.

"And of course, the Russians are nervous about this, because, on the one hand, Ukraine's security and defense forces are putting pressure on them, and on the other hand, the local population does not support them. They feel like invaders, strangers there and that's what they are," he said.

According to military intelligence, very many Russians, even among those who signed the contracts, have no desire to be on the front lines or to perform any combat tasks.
F-16 fighters will certainly benefit Ukraine, but it is necessary to look very carefully at the added value and costs - whether it will be the most useful investment of resources.

The U.S. Permanent Representative to the OSCE Michael Carpenter said this in an interview with Ukrinform.

"I'm not going to preview any future decisions other than to say, and this is actually quite important, that we have launched the process of this training of Ukrainian pilots on the F-16 and then potentially other fourth generation aircraft," Carpenter said when asked whether the U.S. administration would approve the transfer of F-16s to Ukraine.

Carpenter pointed out that Romania and Denmark are currently the host countries and that other countries may join them in the future.

"But this is a critical first step  is having the pilots trained on these very complex systems. I don't doubt that they would be useful for Ukraine," the U.S. Ambassador to the OSCE said.

At the same time, he noted that, as with any other capability, "we have to look very carefully at the added value and the cost. Is this the biggest, as we say, again, in colloquial English, bang for buck? It may be. It may be," Carpenter said.

Against this backdrop, he pointed out that there are other systems "that are very important, that also provide for air defense coverage".

"And the goal for the Western community of nations that supports Ukraine  the Contact Group, if you will  has to be to provide a layered air defense, meaning sort of point-to-point short-range air defense, a more medium capability and then a longer-range capability," the American ambassador to the OSCE said.

As reported, at the NATO summit in Vilnius, the allies announced the creation of an aviation coalition. The Netherlands, Denmark and Romania have officially confirmed that they will train Ukrainian pilots.

Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said that training for Ukrainian pilots to operate American F-16 fighters would begin in August and take at least six months.
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine notes that the ongoing counteroffensive is probably developing more slowly than some would like, while the initiative remains in the hands of Ukraines Armed Forces.

Thats according to an interview with Latin American journalists, Ukrinform reports.

"A counteroffensive is complicated and its developing, probably, more slowly than anyone would like. But these are secondary issues because there are many various complications. A counteroffensive is when our Army advances and does not retreat. And here the initiative is in the hands of Ukraine," the president said.

Read also: Zelensky tells how Latin American countries can help Ukraine defend itself from Russian aggression

He noted that it is really difficult to fight for as long as Ukraine is fighting, and even more so when Ukraine experiences a shortage of certain weapons. "But I know for sure that it is more difficult for the Russians. Our people have fatigue in their eyes, but in their eyes theres fear. We will have to endure if we want to win. And we do," he said.

At the same time, Zelensky noted that Russia, unlike Ukraine, could end the war much faster, without unnecessary casualties. "They might not be thinking about our people so let it think only about their own. They can simply withdraw from our territory because Ukraine is not going to continue the war on the territory of the Russian Federation. This was never our goal. We are simply de-occupying our territories," the president emphasized.

According to Zelensky, the Russians have somewhere to return to but the Ukrainians dont, they have somewhere to go when leaving our territory but we dont because this is our only land.

As reported, the UK Minister of State for the Armed Forces, James Hippie, believes that the Ukrainian counteroffensive is developing in accordance with the plan drawn up by Ukraine together with the United States and Britain.
The most intense fighting on the frontline continues in the Kupiansk direction, where the enemy is redeploying its forces from the Avdiivka direction. In response, the Defense Forces are taking appropriate measures.

Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Hanna Maliar said this on the air of the "United News" telethon, Ukrinform reports.

"If we measure the intensity of the fighting, the hottest spot is in the Kupiansk direction. Indeed, the enemy is pulling up forces there, and we record that they are pulling up forces from the Avdiivka direction, where they have been unable to advance for more than a year. And not only to Kupiansk, they are also pulling up forces to Bakhmut. Why? Because we are on the offensive there, and they cannot withstand this advance and have to fortify themselves," Maliar informed.

She assured that the Defense Forces are taking appropriate measures that cannot be disclosed at this time.

Read also: Defense forces destroy eight enemy ammo depots in Tavria direction

"I can assure you that we are also taking appropriate measures to resist the enemy and prevent them from advancing along the offensive line. To make it clear, in addition to the soldiers who are directly engaged in this resistance on the front line, our headquarters are constantly working there around the clock, and the command is actually in the combat zone," the deputy minister said.

According to her, the Defense Forces are demonstrating their success in the Bakhmut direction and are also advancing in the south.

"There are certain advances in the south, and there, too, the enemy's potential is being destroyed in large numbers, and the enemy is resisting: they are mining, reinforcing key dominant heights with concrete and engineering fortifications. But nevertheless, the destruction of their defense potential leads to the fact that we are moving," Maliar added.

Read also: 8 enemy ammo depots destroyed in Tavria direction

As Ukrinform reported, on August 8, the spokesman for the Eastern Group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Serhii Cherevatyi said that Ukrainian soldiers retain the initiative in the Bakhmut direction, despite the fact that the enemy is putting up strong resistance.
The batch of up to eight Abrams tanks, which the Armed Forces of Ukraine are to receive from the United States in early fall is not a game changer but it is already a first swallow to this end.

Thats according to a Ukraine-based military expert Oleksiy Hetman, who spoke with Ukrainian Radio, Ukrinform reports.

"This does not solve all problems, but it is already the first swallow. We will quickly master them and use them in a narrow, specific area," he noted.

At the same time, the expert assessed the prospect of Germany handing over their long-range Taurus missiles. If Berlin dares to make such a delivery, Ukraine will receive both these missiles and the American ATACMS, Hetman noted.

He added that the Taurus missile hit targets at a longer range than the SCALP and Storm Shadow missiles already in service with Ukraines Armed Forces. "We need several dozen such missiles, at least 50. Not all missiles hit their targets as the share of interceptions by Russia must be taken into account. Lets see how Taurus will get through Russias air defenses. It is difficult for them to down Taurus, SCALP and Storm Shadow missiles," the expert said.

As reported earlier, at the end of May 2023, Ukraine asked the German government to provide Taurus cruise missiles with a range of 500 kilometers. The corresponding appeal was made against the background of the decision made by the UK and France to send Ukraine Storm Shadow and SCALP missiles. On July 26, Markus Faber, an MP with Germanys Free Democratic Party, which is part of the governing coalition, also called for the government to send Ukraine the Taurus missiles. Later, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that, as before, he was not ready to supply cruise missiles to Ukraine. On August 7, Andreas Schwartz, member of the Bundestag from Chancellor Olaf Scholzs Social Democratic Party, called for the Taurus to be provided to Ukraine.
Ukraine is making the de-occupation of Crimea more achievable and well thought out.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this in his nightly video address, Ukrinform reports.

Video: Office of the President of Ukraine / Telegram

Fellow Ukrainians!

This afternoon, rescue operations in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, after yesterday's missile attack by Russian terrorists have been completed. Nine people were killed. My condolences to the families and friends. 82 people were wounded. Everyone is being provided with the necessary assistance. Among the wounded are two children, boys, one of them is in serious condition. His name is Mykyta, he is only 11 years old, he is a 6th grade pupil. I wish a speedy recovery to everyone who suffered from this yet another Russian atrocity. There were several missile strikes. The second strike took place when the rescue operation began. This is a deliberate decision of the terrorists to cause the greatest pain and damage. And Russia will bear maximum responsibility for this - no matter how the events unfold, there must be sentences against the terrorists.

Today I would like to recognize the participants of this rescue operation in Pokrovsk. Those who proved themselves most active in helping people. These are civil protection service Senior Lieutenants Andriy Samusin and Oleksandr Shylo, and civil protection service Colonel Vyacheslav Filiushyn. National Police officers Lieutenant Oleksandr Chivenkov and Lieutenant Colonel Volodymyr Nikulin. I am especially grateful to all the medics working for people in Pokrovsk and other cities of Donetsk region, and today I would like to recognize feldsher of Myrnohrad Kateryna Zhelezniak and surgeon of Pokrovsk hospital Ihor Klimov. Thank you! I am grateful to everyone who saves lives and eliminates the consequences of Russian strikes.

Today I spoke with Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte, and the key issue in our conversation was the protection of people, protection from Russian occupiers. We discussed in detail how to reinforce our warriors on the frontline and provide greater security to our cities and villages, to our entire land. We are preparing new defense packages, and I am grateful to Mark personally and to everyone in the Netherlands - each and every one who stands with Ukraine. We are preparing to upgrade our aviation with modern aircraft, and it is the Netherlands that can become a leader in the issue of F-16s for Ukraine. It is important that the Netherlands acceded to the G7 declaration on security guarantees for our country, and we discussed how these guarantees can be specified at the bilateral level. In addition, I invited Mark, Mr. Prime Minister, to participate in the Crimea Platform Summit at the level of leaders, which will take place on August 23.

Today, I also held a meeting on the content of our return policy, specifically regarding Crimea and its reintegration. It is obvious that after the liberation of Crimea from occupation, economic opportunities, personal security for people, and a sense of real freedom, which has not been there since 2014, will return there. But all of this should not be just abstract - every detail of the de-occupation of Crimea should have a specific meaning. How exactly normal life returns. What exactly this means for Crimea and for all our people. This should be clear to everyone. Step by step, we are making the de-occupation of Crimea more and more achievable and well-thought-out.

Today I also held a meeting on the new educational season - September 1 will come soon. Parents and teachers have questions. There are various security and preparatory nuances. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko, Minister of Education and Science Oksen Lisovyi, and their plans were presented. The content is obvious: preparation of shelters, provision of textbooks, financial and organizational resources that are needed and which the state can help with. Government officials will soon present the relevant details.

And one more thing. Today, I had the honor to congratulate our warriors-signallers on their professional day and awarded the best of them. 24 people who serve Ukraine in different units and at different levels. Serve as efficiently as it is necessary. The Signal and Cyber Security Troops of Ukraine are not often talked about. But all types and branches of the troops depend on them, on the quality of their work. Because communication is one of the key resources.

And I thank everyone who serves our country well and works for the state efficiently. There must always be a result for Ukraine. Every day at the front and in the rear... Every such day - with results - brings our victory closer. Like today - with a law enforcement result for Ukraine. For the cleaning of Ukraine. We all know that our state must change, must undergo transformation. And this means that those who work for their own benefit, not for the sake of Ukraine, will not be in public office or MPs of Ukraine. Every such dealmaker will at least stand trial.

Glory to all who fight for Ukraine!

Glory to Ukraine!
A railway worker who passed data on the movement of Ukrainian defenders and military equipment to the Russian invaders was exposed in Kharkiv.

The Prosecutor General's Office reported this on Telegram, according to Ukrinform.

Under the procedural supervision of the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office, the citizen was served a notice of suspicion of collecting and disseminating information about the location of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (Part 2 of Art. 114-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

According to the investigation, an employee of one of the local railway stations, having pro-Russian views, actively assisted the Russian armed forces.

He recorded data on the location of Ukrainian military equipment, personnel of the Defense Forces, and critical infrastructure facilities in Kharkiv and the region.

Read also: SBU exposes FSB agent plotting terrorist attacks in Zaporozhzhia

This information was leaked to a pro-Russian Telegram channel.

"Later, the enemy used this data to plan and carry out fire attacks on units of the Defense Forces and critical infrastructure facilities," the statement said.

During a search of the suspect's residence, evidence of his illegal activities was found and seized.

At the request of the prosecutors, the suspect was chosen a measure of restraint in the form of detention.

Read also: Photographer from Kramatorsk sentenced to nine years in prison for passing data on AFU

As reported, law enforcement officers in the Dnipro region exposed an FSB agent who was collecting intelligence on the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
The largest European companies have suffered at least 100 billion in direct losses from their operations in Russia since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year.

According to Ukrinform, this is stated in the analysis of the Financial Times.

A review of 600 European companies' annual reports and financial statements for 2023 shows that 176 companies have recorded asset impairments, currency exchange costs, and other one-time expenses as a result of selling, closing, or downsizing their businesses in Russia since the start of its invasion of Ukraine.

Even if a company lost a lot of money by leaving Russia, those who stayed risked much greater losses. It turned out that the best strategy for companies that were deciding what to do at the beginning of the war was to cut and run. The sooner you left Russia, the lower your losses were, Nabi Abdullaev, an analyst at Control Risks, a strategic consulting company, said.

The largest losses were recorded in the oil industry. Only three companies, BP, Shell and TotalEnergies, reported total losses of 40.6 billion after leaving Russia.

However, these losses were largely offset by higher oil and gas prices, which helped these companies to post huge combined profits of about 95 billion last year.

Industrial companies, including automobile manufacturers, suffered losses of 13.6 billion. Financial companies, including banks, insurers, and investment companies, recorded 17.5 billion in write-downs and other charges.

As Ukrinform reported, President Volodymyr Zelensky calls on foreign businesses to stop working in Russia and not to finance Russia's war against Ukraine with their taxes.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine issued a statement on the 15th anniversary of Russias armed aggression, noting that Russia can be stopped only by joint efforts of the international community.

That's according to MFA's press service, Ukrinform reports.

Ukraine supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders, the statement stressed, noting that Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali/South Ossetia regions still suffer under Russian occupation," diplomats stated.

The ministry underlined that the Kremlin's illegal attempt to alter the borders of a sovereign state by force received no appropriate response from the international community. Diplomats recall that after occupying part of the territory of Georgia, Russia continued its aggressive policy and, occupying the Crimean Peninsula and parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions in 2014, launched full-scale armed aggression against Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

We are convinced that it is possible to stop the aggressive policy of the Russian Federation thanks to the joint efforts of the international community, clear compliance with the sanctions regimes against Russia and comprehensive support for the countries against which the Kremlin pursues its aggression, the statement notes.

Russia must de-occupy parts of the territories of Georgia and Ukraine, and Russian war criminals must bear the strictest responsibility, diplomats stressed.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksiy Danilov has called on the West to react to aggression in time.

The civilized world, I think, has already learned the lessons of 2008 - Georgia; learned the lessons of February 2014 - Ukraine; and learned the lessons of the summer of 2014 when the Russian regime killed 298 innocent people by shooting down a civilian plane flight MH17. They (Russia  ed.) did not bear any responsibility for that. And everyone must be held accountable for everything. Evil must be punished, Danilov stressed in a recent interview.
The lack of understanding by some countries why Russia must leave the territories of Ukraine to end the war was one of the most difficult issues on the sidelines of the summit in Saudi Arabia.

"The most difficult thing is always the discussion of the issue that Russia must leave the territory of Ukraine. Some countries, certainly not all, which have taken a pro-Ukrainian position since the beginning of this war, understand everything clearly, while some countries continue to think that this is a matter of territorial nuances. It is implied that the Russian Federation is attacking the territory for the sake of this territory  we are talking about the east of Ukraine. To leave something to the Russian Federation, even a small part, will mean that the war is simply postponed to the next stages," Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to the Head of the President's Office, made such a statement on the air of Radio Liberty.

He said that "certain countries continue to think that Russia and Ukraine have some territorial disputes."

Podolyak explained that "not all countries understand the nature of the Russian-Ukrainian war." He stated that "negotiations without Russias defeat discredit international law."

"Some countries do not have a deep understanding of this conflict, moreover, some countries continue to consider Russia capable of conducting large-scale military campaigns. It is difficult to explain that if we want to finalize the war itself, to find its finale, then Russia must lose. If we want to continue the war, and thus discredit international law as much as possible, then we need to agree on something with the Russian Federation. Not everyone understands this, and these are the most difficult issues," Podolyak said.

The adviser also added that "circumvention of sanctions allows suppliers to earn even more than they earned when they traded with the Russian Federation directly."

As reported, a second meeting at the level of national security advisers and political directors regarding the key principles of peace based on the Peace Formula of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky was held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on August 5-6.

According to Deputy Head of the Presidents Office Ihor Zhovkva, the responsibilities between the countries regarding co-organization or co-leadership in this or that point of the Ukrainian Peace Formula were discussed during the meeting.
Japans Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi during a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir Abdollahian in Tokyo on Monday urged Iran not to provide Russia with weapons for its war against Ukraine.

Thats according to Kyodo, Ukrinform reports.

The meeting was held amid statements by Ukraine and its western partners that Tehran sends Moscow massive military assistance, including drones and munitions. Tokyo seeks to use its traditional friendship with Tehran to contribute to stopping the war.

Japan holds this year's presidency of the Group of Seven nations, which have maintained economic sanctions on Russia over its war against its neighbor since February last year.

Read also: Ukraine aligns with EU sanctions on Iran over drone supplies to Russia

Hayashi also expressed "serious concern" about the expansion of Iran's nuclear activities, while calling for its "complete and unconditional cooperation" with the International Atomic Energy Agency, in light of a 2015 multilateral nuclear deal that Japan supports, the ministry said.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, the United States is ready without hesitation to apply additional economic and other restrictions against Iran due to the latters efforts to deepen military cooperation with Russia.

Photo: Kyodo
As early as August 8, the United States may allocate its latest package of military assistance to Ukraine in the amount of $200 million, which will include missiles for the Patriot and HIMARS systems.

Thats according to Reuters, referring to American officials, Ukrinform reports.

The package is expected to include demining equipment, Javelin, TOW and AT4 anti-tank systems, guns and ammunition, Patriot and HIMARS missiles, and other capabilities.

At the same time, it is noted that the new tranche is coming after the Pentagon discovered accounting errors in calculating the Ukraine aid cost in the amount of $6.2 billion. Now this money has become an additional fund to support Ukraine until the moment when Congress approves a new large-scale financial package.

According to U.S. administration officials, the authorities are currently working on a budget request for continued assistance to Kyiv.

As reported, in May 2023, the Pentagon announced it had erroneously estimated the cost of weapons sent to Ukraine at inflated purchase prices. The error benefited the Ukrainian side, as it allowed for the transfer of even more weapons, equipment, and ammunition.
France's Secretary of State for European Affairs Laurence Boone has praised as encouraging the recent meeting regarding peace in Ukraine, held in Saudi Arabia, because the delegates from the Global South have demonstrated they are on the side of protecting peace and democracy.

Thats according to Boones interview with LCI, Ukrinform reports.

"I think it's very positive that in Saudi Arabia we saw a wide range of countries, including the BRICS - Brazil, China, South Africa  about which we were told that the Global South was undecided on whom to side with. But they are clearly on the side of peace, democracy, and border protection. So this is the first extremely positive moment (in the negotiations - ed.) - the number of participants and the countries that took part," said the state secretary.

In her opinion, it is quite encouraging to see that all these countries are working together because they are all concerned about the catastrophic implications of Russia's war against Ukraine for food security and "a challenge to the principles of the UN Charter, that is, the principles of territorial integrity with clearly defined borders."

The French state secretary for European affairs emphasized that all countries take the 10-point peace plan proposed by President Zelensky as a basis and will continue to work on it, "which is a very positive sign."

She added that the main goal of these meetings is "to develop a peace plan that Ukraine will be able to present when it decides to do so, which will be supported by most countries around the world."

As reported, on August 5-6, a second meeting was held in Jeddah at the level of diplomatic national security advisors and political directors regarding the key principles of peace based on the Peace Formula put forward by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky .

According to the Deputy Head of the Ukrainian Presidents Office, Ihor Zhovkva, the participating countries discussed taking on responsibilities for co-organization or co-leadership in certain points of the Ukrainian Peace Formula.

Photo: diplomatie.gouv.fr
North Korean leader Kim Jong-uns recent visit to major weapons factories last week had "multiple" purposes, including a response to a scheduled military exercise between Seoul and Washington, and an intention for arms exports, including to Russia.

Thats according to Yonhap citing South Korea's unification ministry as saying, Ukrinform reports.

North Koreas leader inspected key weapons factories, including those producing shells for large-caliber multiple rocket launchers and engines for strategic cruise missiles, from Thursday to Saturday.

"(Kim's latest inspections) appear to have had multiple purposes -- show off the country's achievements in the defense sector, respond to Seoul-Washington's joint military drills and seek arms exports," Koo Byoung-sam, spokesperson at the ministry, told a regular press briefing.

During the tour, the North's leader used the expression of "the national defense economic work" for the first time. Experts said Pyongyang may seek to raise foreign currency earnings and bolster its moribund economy through its defense industry.

"It seems very unprecedented that the North used such an expression. If this means arms exports, it is deplorable that the North has publicly stated it will violate United Nations Security Council resolutions (banning its nuclear and weapons programs)," Koo said.

The publication notes that Kims "field guidance" came as South Korea and the United States plan to hold their annual summertime Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise later this month. It also came amid speculation that North Korea may seek arms exports to Russia for use in Moscow's war with Kyiv.

North Korea appears to be bolstering its military cooperation with Russia. Kim was joined by Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and a senior Chinese official during a military parade held July 27. He also gave Shoigu a tour of an arms exhibition in Pyongyang, including new attack and spy drones and ICBMs.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, North Koreas Kim ordered his defense industry to boost arms production in an ongoing effort to upgrade the countrys defense capabilities.
The implementation of President Zelensky's Peace Formula is the restoration of respect for the UN Charter and international law which was destroyed by Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

"The implementation of the Peace Formula is the restoration of respect for the UN Charter and international law which was destroyed by Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine," Head of the Presidents Office Andriy Yermak said at a meeting with representatives of Ukrainian and foreign mass media, talking about the Peace Formula, which the Ukrainian side presented to the participants in consultations in Jeddah on August 5-6, the President's Office reports.

He noted that the Ukrainian side formed a common vision for each of the ten points of President Zelensky's Peace Formula which reflects the positions of the majority of countries participating in the implementation of Ukraine's peace initiative.

The Head of the Presidents Office emphasized that the Peace Formula was built precisely on the key principles of the UN Charter and international law, as well as on respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries within their internationally recognized borders.

"It is these principles that were unanimously defined by the participants in the meeting of national security advisors held in Jeddah," he said.

In addition, Yermak informed media representatives about further practical steps to implement the Peace Formula.

"We will continue our work to elaborate the agenda, the documents, conclusions, and agreements we envisage for the implementation of each of the ten points of the Formula," he explained.

Yermak noted that another meeting of the ambassadors of the participating states would be held in the near future to coordinate further actions. Practical steps for the implementation of each point of the Peace Formula will be worked out. In parallel, the preparation of the agenda for the inaugural Global Peace Summit will continue.
Recently, the Verkhovna Rada passed in the first reading a draft law on the restoration of electronic declaration during martial law (No. 9534), as stipulated in the memorandum with the International Monetary Fund. Ukrinform spoke with Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Anti-Corruption Policy, MP from the Voice parliamentary faction, about the nuances of the relevant document, the attitude of MPs to the restoration of e-declaration, and the timing of its implementation after it comes into force.

SECURITY IS ONE OF THE KEY POINTS IN THE DRAFT LAW ON THE RESTORATION OF E-DECLARATION

- The international community has long insisted on the resumption of e-declarations. Last year, the Verkhovna Rada registered the corresponding draft law No. 8071, but it was never considered in the parliament. Just recently, the Parliament registered a second draft law No. 9534 to address this issue. This document was promptly reviewed by the Anti-Corruption Committee, after which the Parliament passed it in the first reading. What is the difference between these draft laws?

- Among the positive novelties, it is more clearly defined that Ukrainian servicemen do not have to declare their assets until the end of their military service or until the end of hostilities. This applies to both servicemen and their relatives. Military personnel are already fulfilling their public duty. It is clear that it is incorrect and unfair for the state to impose additional requirements while they are on military service. After the end of the war or military service, these individuals will have 90 days to file their declarations.

The security aspect is one of the key aspects of the project. By the way, the international community and the International Monetary Fund have emphasized that it is important to separate security issues for people directly affected by the war and officials who, thanks to the courage of our Defense Forces, are not in great danger now.

There are a number of technical issues that are being discussed by the IMF. They are all reflected in the draft law. For example, the limit for the valuation of real estate that needs to be declared. We understand that the standards of real estate valuation in Ukraine and in the countries of the International Monetary Fund differ significantly. The IMF has proposed not to declare real estate up to a certain valuation limit, which is criticized by the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption, which sees this point as a possibility of abuse.

Another point of discussion is the level of publicity. In fact, the Law on Access to Public Information stipulates that personal data of an individual is information that can be disclosed under certain conditions and a certain procedure. This information was closed in our declarations even before the war, but now the Ministry of Justice and the IMF propose to slightly expand the list of information that will not be available to the public, for example, only the country, region, and district are proposed to be indicated regarding the location of the declarant's real estate. The second point is that third parties, i.e. relatives of the declarant, will be displayed as person one, person two, person three, without a clear link.

The provisions are criticized by investigative journalists, but on the other hand, there is a war going on in Ukraine, and there is legislation that regulates access to personal information about a person, which states that this kind of data can be disclosed only under a certain procedure when investigative actions are underway against the person involved. At the same time, the NACP will have access to full information for verification.

- As far as I understand, the draft law passed by the Verkhovna Rada in the first reading was agreed upon by the Ministry of Justice and the IMF?

- Yes, it is. When the requirements of the International Monetary Fund emerged, we had to communicate and coordinate every step with IMF experts to ensure that the draft law met certain frameworks.

The IMF's initial wording was quite general. It was noted that it was necessary to return the declarations and report to officials for 2021-2022. At the same time, the issue of ensuring certain security parameters so that there are no holes in the declaration was the most controversial.

- Why did the Ministry of Justice appear in this communication?

- Since the Cabinet of Ministers is a partner in communication with the International Monetary Fund, the Ministry of Justice, as the "chief government lawyer," was tasked with communicating with the IMF. Having realized that the IMF and society would not accept the "holes" I have already mentioned, it was decided to go through the process of prompt registration of the new draft law.

THE DECISION TO RESTORE E-DECLARATION WAS INFLUENCED BY PUBLIC DEMAND

- In general, what was the reason for the intensification of this process right now? Pressure from international partners, other reasons?

- International partners never get involved in a topic for which there is no public demand. The high level of public demand for the resumption of e-declaration has been shown by all opinion polls conducted on the territory of Ukraine that is not under occupation. That is, the vast majority of people demand public reporting by officials. The request for the return of e-declarations was also constantly raised during every conversation of the Ministry of Finance about raising funds for reconstruction. This is the most logical mechanism to control the integrity of officials. A voluntary declaration campaign has even been launched. As you know, it was possible to declare, but the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (NAPC) had no mechanisms to verify this information. That is why the International Monetary Fund got involved.

- Why is the Parliament considering the draft law at such a fast pace?

- By July, we pledged to bring back e-declarations. We needed to take at least the first step, so the speed of the document's adoption was affected by the conditions set by our international partners. At the same time, the issue was more influenced by the public demand, because the government is sensitive to what society demands.

IT CANNOT BE SAID THAT MOST OFFICIALS ARE EAGER TO DECLARE.

- NAPC Chairman Oleksandr Novikov recently said that some MPs oppose the reintroduction of asset declarations. Do you see this trend?

- In fact, I cannot say that most MPs or most officials have a strong desire to file electronic declarations, because it brings certain inconveniences. I mean that your personal information as a public figure becomes more accessible than that of some of your fellow citizens. At the same time, we have to understand that it is reasonable that when citizens pay for public employees from the budget, they have the right to receive information about whether these managers are abusing budget funds or their powers.

As for MPs. The only outspoken statement about the untimely return of electronic declarations came from representatives of the banned "Opposition Platform - Za Zhittia". They said: "Well, we closed the declarations because there were security issues. Now they have not gone away. Maybe let's not declare until the end of the war?"

There are also certain legal nuances that were constantly emphasized by "Batkivshchyna" representatives. It is difficult to say for sure whether this is a delay in the process or an attempt to make the system more perfect. But the question still arises: why did the desire to make the system more perfect appear only when it was time to restore it?

In addition, there was a whole group within the "Servant of the People" who did not want to vote for this document until the very last moment. One of the ideological inspirers of this group was Maksym Buzhansky.

I will not say that there is a huge number of MPs who were happy to see the need to return the declaration. However, if we are conscious public figures and have to be accountable, the electronic declaration system is a great opportunity to show that the stories about total corruption in Ukraine are actually myths. According to statistics, 90% of declarants have no comments, questions arise to 10% of officials, and criminal cases are opened against less than 1% of declarants. That is, we can clearly see the proportion of honest and dishonest officials.

In general, there is dissatisfaction, there are arguments, there is discussion, but 299 real votes of MPs on the scoreboard clearly demonstrate that, at least at this stage, there are no politicians who do not understand the need to restore the declaration.

I would like to add something about the NAPC's work in the field of communications. To be honest, the NAPC's communication, which informs more about the number of open criminal cases rather than the number of honest officials, is somewhat alarming for the authorities. If you are honest, there are no comments on your declaration. Most likely, no one will remember you or use you as an example. However, if, God forbid, there is a mistake somewhere, you will have to explain the origin of your wealth and go through a long procedure to prove that you are actually honest.

In my opinion, in its communication, the NAPC should talk about the number of honest civil servants in Ukraine, thus popularizing integrity and anti-corruption.

One of the proposals we are currently working on is the following: if the NAPC does not comment on a public official's declaration for a certain period of time, the person is automatically recognized as having integrity. This will allow a person who, for example, has completed his or her work in a government agency, to claim that he or she is honest, responsible and has not had any questions about abuse of power during the years of public service. I am convinced that this step will be an important result of the declaration system.

THE DRAFT LAW ON THE RESTORATION OF E-DECLARATION MAY BE ADOPTED IN SEPTEMBER

- At what stage is this document being considered? Is the process of submitting amendments and proposals ongoing?

- The process of submitting amendments and proposals is currently underway. It is difficult to analyze how many of them there will be and what they will be about.

There are several sensitive issues. Firstly, we are studying the level of data protection of military personnel, their relatives, and prisoners of war.

Second, there will be a discussion among MPs about the level of publicity. A large number of public figures advocate that the addresses of Ukrainian officials should not be given by apartment number, but at least the street should be indicated, because there is a difference between fashionable areas in cities and ordinary residential ones. This may lead to a discussion on the level of security and privacy.

- When will you start working on the document for adoption in the second reading in the committee?

- Our committee plans to consider the amendments by the end of August or early September. We are currently collecting amendments.

We want to adopt this draft law as a law in mid-September at the latest. These deadlines have been agreed with our international partners.

- How do you plan to ensure the high quality and efficiency of the e-declaration system during a full-scale war?

- A lot of work has been done at the NAPC, the Ministry of Digital Transformation, and the Ministry of Justice to ensure that the maximum amount of information that the state already has can be automatically pulled into the system. This is done so that the declarant does not have to constantly enter information that is already known to the state. Currently, a working group is working within the NAPC, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Digital Transformation, as well as registry holders, owners of property information, and owners of financial information. Everyone is working together to make the procedure more efficient and take less time.

- What steps will be taken to ensure the reliability and security of the e-declaration system, especially given the possible access of unauthorized persons to sensitive information?

- Since February 24, the Security Service of Ukraine, cyber police and other agencies working in this area have not recorded any successful interference or hacker attacks on the system, and accordingly, no information has been leaked from the system. Thus, we can currently guarantee the level of security.

- How will the resumption of the e-declaration system affect the fight against corruption and transparency of public officials?

- After the temporary suspension of the declaration system, it became much more difficult to identify those who abuse their positions and so on. But our specialized agencies manage to identify violators.

Let's take the example of the Odesa military commissar. As you know, he is accused of abuse of office and illicit enrichment. This is actually the area that is being investigated on the basis of declarations. Currently, law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies have pre-war declarations of officials, where you can clearly see the wealth and property owned by the person and his or her immediate family. While the declarations were not mandatory for two years, people decided to take advantage of this and thought that no one would find out. Thanks to our journalists, everything became known. We just need to prove that it was purchased with illegal funds, that neither the relatives nor the person involved had the resources to buy it legally. In fact, law enforcement agencies and anti-corruption structures need to prove this not by direct but by indirect factors. And it is good if there is enough information to do so. But it may be lacking, or it may be that the person involved is so sophisticated that the legal system of property ownership is so hidden that it is much more difficult to conduct an investigation.

So does the absence of a declaration affect the effectiveness of investigations? It has a very specific impact. I really hope that when the three-month period after the adoption of the relevant draft law expires, at the beginning of next year, virtually all officials will be required to submit their declarations for 2021-2023.

Maryna Shykarenko, Kyiv

Photo by Hennadii Minchenko
Andriy Yermak, the head of President Volodymyr Zelensky's office, has said he thinks that the meeting in Jeddah will go down in history, because it proved that more and more countries are ready to work on the Ukrainian Peace Formula and the isolation of Russia is growing.

According to Ukrinform, he said this on national television, commenting on the results of consultations at the level of diplomatic advisors in Saudi Arabia, which took place on August 5-6.

"With each step, the number of countries that unconditionally respect Ukraine's independence, territorial integrity, sovereignty and are ready to work on a part or the whole of the Peace Formula is growing. And the isolation of Russia is growing as well. The implementation of Volodymyr Zelensky's Peace Formula is part of Ukraine's victory strategy. Therefore, the meeting in Jeddah will go down in history," Yermak said.

He said that this meeting in Saudi Arabia had definitely brought Ukraine closer to the implementation of the Peace Formula, and the overwhelming majority of partners clearly emphasized the need to withdraw Russian troops from Ukraine and the impossibility of freezing the war in any form, as this would only give time to prepare for new attacks on Ukrainian territory.

Yermak said that representatives of about 40 countries attended the consultations in Jeddah, which is three times more than at the previous meeting of this level in Copenhagen.

He called the participation of a Chinese representative in the consultations important and noted that it was made possible thanks to the great work done by representatives of Ukraine and Ukraine's partners from Saudi Arabia.

"The representative of China took an active part in the conversations and expressed his opinion. The main thing we heard from the Chinese representative is that China is ready to continue participating in this format," Yermak said.

According to him, the participants in the meeting in Jeddah agreed to continue working in this format, so it will only expand.

"We will continue to work on the preparation and holding of the Global Peace Summit, after which we will start working on the implementation of each of the ten points. Of course, including the point that will legally enshrine the end of this war," he said.

On August 5-6, Jeddah hosted a second meeting at the level of diplomatic national security advisors and political directors regarding the key principles of peace based on the Peace Formula put forward by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has announced 22 new sanctions on individuals and businesses outside Russia supporting Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine, as well as 3 Russian companies importing electronics vital to Russia's military equipment used on the battlefield.

The UK government said this in a press release, Ukrinform reports.

"Today's landmark sanctions will further diminish Russia's arsenal and close the net on supply chains propping up Putin's now struggling defense industry. There is nowhere for those sustaining Russia's military machine to hide. Alongside our G7 partners, the UK has repeatedly called on third parties to immediately cease providing material support to Russia's aggression or face severe costs," Cleverly said.

According to the press release, among those sanctioned are two Turkey-based businesses, Turkik Union and Azu International, for their role in exporting microelectronics to Russia that are essential for Russia's military activity in Ukraine.

Dubai-based Aeromotus Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Trading LLC was sanctioned for its role in supplying drones and drone components to Russia.

In addition, the UK government sanctioned Slovakian national Ashot Mkrtychev for his involvement in an attempted arms deal between the DPRK and Russia and Swiss national Anselm Oskar Schmucki for his role in Russia's financial services sector, including through working as Chief of the Moscow office of DuLac Capital Ltd.

"We are also taking further action to tackle Iran and Belarus' support for Russia's military," the statement said.

Today's sanctions include Iranian individuals and entities involved in the research, development and production of UAVs for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as well as Belarusian defense organizations linked to the manufacturing of military technology for the Belarusian regime, which has directly facilitated Putin's illegal war.

On July 17, the British government announced 14 new sanctions in response to Russia's attempts to destroy Ukrainian national identity, including 11 against those involved in the forced deportation of Ukrainian children.
During a telephone conversation, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte discussed the meeting on Ukraine in Saudi Arabia, the situation at the front, and strengthening Ukrainian air defense.

Prime Minister of Netherlands Mark Rutte said this on Twitter, Ukrinform reports.

"Today I spoke again with President Zelensky and I congratulated him on the successful meeting in Saudi Arabia on the war, where the Netherlands was represented. Its important to continue talking about peace in Ukraine with this broad group of countries," Rutte emphasized.

According to Prime Minister, the two leaders also discussed developments at the frontline and "the unrelenting, random and brutal attacks on Ukrainian civilian targets and food stocks".

"I underscored that the Netherlands will continue to support Ukraine, and that in particular were now looking into what else we can do to strengthen Ukrainian air defences. One way we are helping is by working with our partners to train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16s," Rutte wrote.

As reported, at the NATO summit in Vilnius, the allies announced the creation of an aviation coalition. The Netherlands, Denmark, and Romania have officially confirmed that they will train Ukrainian pilots.

Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said that the training of Ukrainian pilots to operate American F-16 fighters will begin in August and will take at least six months.

Photo: Office of President
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday that the Wagner PMC is taking advantage of instability in Niger.

Antony Blinken said this in an interview with the BBC, Ukrinform reports.

"I think what happened, and what continues to happen in Niger was not instigated by Russia or by Wagner, but... they tried to take advantage of it," Blinken said.

At the same time, Blinken noted that the United States was concerned that the "Wagnerites" could "possibly manifesting itself" in some parts of the Sahel region.

The American diplomat added that wherever the Wagner PMC goes, "death, destruction and exploitation" comes, and that "insecurity has gone up, not down".

Blinken said that Niger is now a "repeat of what's happened in other countries, where they (Yevgeny Prigozhin's mercenaries - ed.) brought nothing but bad things in their wake".

As Ukrinform reported, a group of military officers in Niger announced the removal from power of democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum and his government.

Ukraine's former Ambassador to France Oleh Shamshur said on Tuesday that in the event of an armed conflict in Niger, the putschists may be explicitly or implicitly assisted by mercenaries of the Wagner PMC, as Russia is interested in overthrowing the legitimate government.
In the war with Russia, Latin American countries can help Ukraine in various ways: humanitarian aid, demining, provision of equipment for water supply, energy sector, and informational support.

"First of all, we ask other countries to provide weapons. But not all of them can do this due to their domestic legislation or lack of weapons. However, humanitarian aid, aid in demining, drinking water supply systems, energy assistance, political and informational support  this is something with which other countries, including Latin American countries, can help," President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with Latin American media, Ukrinform reports.

According to him, people of different countries should first understand simple things about the war in Ukraine, and this does not require a deep analysis, but simply an understanding of the terrible things that Russia is doing in our territory.

As an example, he mentioned the scale of mine contamination of the Ukrainian territory which is nearly equal to the area of Uruguay.

"The area of 200,000 sq km is mined in Ukraine. For example, the area of Uruguay is about 200,000 sq km as well. Therefore, the people of Uruguay should understand that it is as if their entire country is mined. What is this? War? No, this is not war, this is terrorism: these are people whose limbs are torn off, these are farmers who cultivate their mined land. That is, the first thing to understand is the situation in Ukraine and to imagine the extent of the consequences of Russian aggression," Zelensky said.

The second example he mentioned is the explosion at the Kakhovka HPP. "There is no drinking water in five regions. This is a social explosion. And now imagine again that the territory of a country like Uruguay is left without drinking water," the President added.

According to him, these two examples vividly show what countries like Uruguay can experience due to war and terrorism. "It's like two of your countries: one is without water, and the other is mined. These are the consequences of the Russian war. That's why it's not a conflict and not even just a war. It's a terrible terror. They clearly understand that it will take decades to demine such an area," the Head of State emphasized.

Therefore, the President stressed, it is important that citizens of different countries understand why Ukraine should be supported.

As reported, the total area of mined territories in Ukraine is twice as large as the area of Austria, and four times larger than the area of Switzerland.

As a result of hostilities, Ukraine is currently the most heavily mined country in the world. Explosive objects contaminated an area of the country roughly the size of Florida or Uruguay. Demining will take decades and billions of dollars.
NATO has been closely monitoring all military operations in Belarus, seeing no direct or indirect threat to its member states posed by Russias Wagner Group.

NATO spokeswoman Oana Longescu said this in a comment to PAP, Ukrinform reports.

"NATO has significantly increased its defense presence in the eastern part of the Alliance in response to Russia's aggressive actions, and we continue to do everything in order to deter any possible threats and protect every inch of the allied territory. As NATO leaders said at the Vilnius summit in July, we ... condemn all those who actively support Russia's war," she said.

Read also: Latvian customs officers report about provocation on border with Belarus

The NATO spokeswoman added that Belarus continues to provide its territory and infrastructure for Russias attacks on Ukraine and support for Russian aggression. "NATO closely monitors all military activities in Belarus. We do not see any direct or indirect military threat from the Wagner Group mercenaries to our allies but we remain vigilant," she said.

As reported by Ukrinform, the Ministry of Defense of Belarus announced on Monday the start of the command and staff exercises involving the 6th Separate Guards Mechanized Brigade at the Gozhsky training ground and areas in Grodno region bordering Poland and Lithuania.

Read also: 16 Russian spies detained in Poland

The Polish Ministry of National Defense said additional military units would be sent to the Polish-Belarusian border to boost security in the area.
President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasizes that the Peace Formula is not only an important platform not for a fair end to the war that Russia has unleashed against Ukraine but it can become a universal basis for ending other armed conflicts.

Zelensky made the comment in an interview with Latin American journalists, Ukrinform reports.

"Today, the correct - and so far the only - diplomatic way to achieve peace is the Peace Formula initiated by Ukraine. Unfortunately, we are not alone, and this is not the last military conflict in the world. And I believe that after this war ends, such a Formula can be the basis for overcoming other global problems," the president said.

He noted that the Peace Formula is primarily about Ukraine, but if certain international institutions do not provide an opportunity to justly end such aggressive wars and achieve peace, which is eloquently demonstrated by the example of Ukraine, then the Peace Formula can become a new universal foundation for relevant decisions.

According to Zelensky, individual countries may have their own opinion on certain points of the Peace Formula, which is normal, as any platform is debatable.

"To agree with something and to disagree with something... To offer something unique And this is what our Peace Formula is based on. The basis must be Ukrainian because the war is raging in Ukraine. And proposals can be made by any state because for us, the experience and opinions of each of the countries that really seek peace, and not to play along with Russia, not to play along the Peace Formula for the sake of future economic relations with Russia, are valuable. Because this is a game involving real people," he emphasized.

The head of state emphasized that it is necessary to prepare for the Global Peace Summit, and he is interested in the maximum number of states being represented at the event.

"So that we politically decide that this is the right platform, and most countries in the world see this Formula as a basis, a roadmap, steps, and a plan to overcome this terrible tragedy," the president said.

As reported, on August 5-6, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, hosted a second meeting at the level of national security advisers and political directors regarding the key principles of peace based on the Peace Formula put forward by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Read also: Zelensky tells how Latin American countries can help Ukraine defend itself from Russian aggression

The Peace Formula is supposed to ensure radiation, nuclear, food, and energy security, the release of all prisoners of war and deportees, fulfilling the UN Charter, restoring the territorial integrity of Ukraine and the world order, withdrawing Russian troops and ending hostilities, restoring justice, countering ecocide, preventing escalation, and fixating the end of the war.

Photo: Ukrainian Presidents Office
The OSCE is unlikely to become the venue for negotiations on a peaceful settlement of the Russian war against Ukraine.

U.S. Permanent Representative to the OSCE Michael Carpenter stated this in an interview with Ukrinform.

"The OSCE does provide a unique platform with its inclusive membership. There may be a role for the OSCE once we have a peace negotiation underway. I would be hesitant to say at this point in time that the OSCE would be where that negotiation would take place. However, I do see potentially an OSCE role after a ceasefire is agreed," Carpenter said, commenting on the possibility of holding peace talks on Ukraine based on the OSCE platform.

At the same time, the American ambassador emphasized that, when it comes to a ceasefire, "it has to be a just and lasting peace that is on Ukraine's terms." "So that's a very important piece to this. But once we have that, at some point in the future, then, yes, OSCE instruments and tools could be brought to bear," he said.

According to his belief, we may be talking about some "arrangement that helps Ukraine with rebuilding its economy, reconstituting its infrastructure, supporting civil society."

Commenting on the OSCEs role in preventing a Russian war, the U.S. ambassador noted that the OSCE is not a military organization like NATO so it has no military forces. And therefore "it is not able to act as a deterrent for aggression."

"What the OSCE has done since its inception is to provide tools and instruments, to provide military transparency and to build trust and confidence. Now, when you've got a country like Russia, which has shredded all elements of trust and confidence with any of its neighbors or partners, and where it is hell bent on pursuing aggression of a type that we have not seen since World War II, there is little that an organization like the OSCE can do to prevent that from happening," he said.

At the same time, Carpenter pointed out that like-minded countries in the OSCE, before Russian invasion, managed to show and prove that the Russians' interest in diplomacy and dialogue was a lie and that they wanted to wage war from the very beginning. "I think that was useful with some of our participating States to be able to show that, yes, in fact, we did everything possible to try to engage in dialogue and to avert war prior to February of 2022, and that it was only one party, or one side, that wished to engage in warfare, and that was Russia. So it helped us to be able to point the finger," he said.

According to the American ambassador, now the added value of the OSCE is that "we have used instruments, primarily nonconsensual instruments like the Moscow Mechanism, to expose the degree of Russia's atrocities inside Ukraine."

In addition, for the first time in the history of the OSCE, it was possible to create a field mission in Ukraine, the Support Program for Ukraine, without reaching a consensus, which is being implemented without any Russian influence.

Read the full interview with Michael Carpenter here.
Strengthening Pakistan's Capabilities! A Workshop on Tailored Practical Guide for Navigating Electronic Evidence Across Borders

7-8 August 2023, Islamabad - With the financial support of Global Affairs Canada (GAC), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) and the Ministry of Interior (MOI) jointly organized a two-day Workshop on Customized Practical Guide for Pakistan on Requesting Electronic Evidence across Borders.

The primary objective of the workshop was to familiarize practitioners with the global and customized practical guide for obtaining electronic evidence across international borders. The participants gained essential knowledge and skills in various aspects, including casework practices for acquiring electronic evidence, drafting and sending preservation requests to foreign service providers, understanding available platforms for seeking electronic evidence through legal procedures and law enforcement guidelines, and using service providers mapping and model preservation request forms.

The workshop provided insights into data preservation, Pre-Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA), and Mutual Legal Assistance processes, addressing challenges, and identifying areas of improvement related to seeking electronic evidence and Emergency Disclosure Requests. It also featured presentations from TikTok and Booking.com, shedding light on the process of obtaining e-evidence from service providers. The presenters from Department of Justice Canada and the United States briefed the participants on how to send requests to seek electronic evidence from both countries.

A total of 19 participants, including a female attendee, took part in the workshop. They represented various law enforcement agencies, such as the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Counter Terrorism Department from Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Through groupwork activities, the participants had the opportunity to identify and share operational-level problems and challenges and seek expert guidance to find solutions. The workshop fostered transparent and collaborative efforts among law enforcement agencies by streamlining the process of requesting electronic evidence across borders.

At the conclusion of the workshop, participants expressed their appreciation for UNODC's efforts in organizing the event and acknowledged the Customized Practical Guide for Requesting Electronic Evidence Across Borders as a significant advancement in Pakistan's fight against terrorism. The knowledge and expertise gained during the workshop equipped law enforcement officials to combat terrorism more effectively using electronic evidence.

The successful training workshop was made possible with the generous support of Global Affairs Canada.

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MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 08th August, 2023) Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree on the suspension of certain provisions of Russia's tax treaties with unfriendly countries, including the United States.

The relevant document was published on the official legal information portal on Tuesday.

"Based on the need to take urgent measures in connection with unfriendly actions by a number of foreign states against Russia, its citizens and legal entities, I decide: ... to suspend the following provisions of international treaties of Russia ... the Treaty between Russia and the United States on the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect of taxes on income and capital," the document read.

Putin also instructed the Russian Foreign Ministry to notify unfriendly countries about the suspension of the provisions and the cabinet of minister to submit a relevant bill to the lower house of the parliament.
(@FahadShabbir)

BEIJING, Aug 8 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Aug, 2023 ) :China on Monday urged the United States to stop utilizing the South China Sea issue to sow confusion and discord, respect China's territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, and respect regional countries' efforts to uphold peace and stability in this region.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson made the remarks in response to a U.S. State Department statement criticizing China for obstructing Philippine vessels that sought to deliver new troops and supplies to a grounded military vessel at Ren'ai Jiao and firing water cannons.

The U.S. statement says such actions are "inconsistent with international law" and "threatening regional peace and stability" and calls upon China to abide by the South China Sea arbitration award issued in 2016. The statement indicates U.S. support for "the Philippines' lawful maritime operations" and says an armed attack on the Philippines' Coast Guard would "invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments under the U.S.- Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty." The State Department's statement, in disregard of the facts, attacked China's legitimate and lawful actions at sea aimed at safeguarding its rights and enforcing the law, and the statement also voiced support for the Philippines' unlawful and provocative behavior, the spokesperson said.

"China firmly opposes the statement," the spokesperson said.

For some time, the United States has been inciting and supporting the Philippines' attempts to overhaul and reinforce its military vessel that was deliberately grounded on Ren'ai Jiao. The U.S. even sent over military aircraft and vessels to assist and support the Philippines, and repeatedly sought to threaten China by citing the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty. The U.S. has been brazenly bolstering Philippines as it infringes upon China's sovereignty, but those moves will not succeed, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said Ren'ai Jiao has always been part of China's Nansha Qundao and the historical context of the issue of Ren'ai Jiao is very clear.

In 1999, the Philippines sent a military vessel and deliberately ran it aground at Ren'ai Jiao, attempting to change the status quo of Ren'ai Jiao illegally. China immediately made serious dmarches to the Philippines, demanding the removal of the vessel. The Philippines promised several times to tow it away, but has yet to act. Not only that, the Philippines sought to overhaul and reinforce the military vessel in order to permanently occupy Ren'ai Jiao, the spokesperson said.

On Aug. 5, in disregard of China's repeated dissuasion and warning, the Philippines sent two vessels that intruded into the adjacent waters of Ren'ai Jiao and tried to deliver the construction materials for overhauling and reinforcing the grounded military vessel. Such actions violated China's sovereignty and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). The China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels stopped them in accordance with law and warned them off through appropriate law enforcement measures. Their maneuvers were professional, restrained and beyond reproach, the spokesperson said.

The South China Sea arbitration was a pure political drama staged in the name of the law with the U.S. pulling strings behind the scenes. The so-called award contravenes international laws, including UNCLOS, and is illegal, null and void. The U.S.' attempt to make an issue of the illegal award will not affect China's firm resolve to safeguard its territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interests in accordance with the law, the spokesperson said.
(@FahadShabbir)

Niamey, Niger, Aug 8 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Aug, 2023 ) :The second-ranking US diplomat met Niger's military leaders on Monday to press to reverse a coup but reported no headway a day after an ultimatum from the West African bloc was ignored.

Victoria Nuland, a veteran envoy and acting deputy secretary of state, said she met for more than two hours with military chiefs who ousted democratically elected Western ally Mohamed Bazoum on July 26.

Nuland's trip, conducted in secrecy until she left, came after the expiration of a deadline set by the ECOWAS regional bloc to reinstate Bazoum by midnight (2300 GMT) on Sunday or risk military intervention.

The 15-nation ECOWAS bloc is reconvening for its own diplomatic push on the crisis with a summit Thursday in Nigerian capital Abuja.

A source close to ECOWAS said an immediate military intervention to restore Bazoum was not envisaged at this stage, adding that the path to dialogue still appeared open.

Speaking to reporters before her departure, Nuland described her talks as "extremely frank and at times quite difficult".

She said she offered the coup leaders "a number of options" to exit the crisis and restore the relationship with the United States, which like other Western nations has suspended aid.

"I would not say that we were in any way taken up on that offer," she said.

She added that the coup leaders did not respond to her requests to meet Niger's self-proclaimed new leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani, or the detained elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, although US officials have been in touch with Bazoum by telephone.

Nuland said she met Brigadier General Moussa Salaou Barmou, who has been named the new military chief of staff and who has worked closely in the past with the United States, which along with former colonial power France has based anti-jihadist operations in the Sahel out of Niger.

Nuland said she warned Niger against following neighbouring Mali in bringing in Russia's Wagner mercenaries.

"The people who have taken this action here understand very well the risks to their sovereignty when Wagner is invited in," said Nuland, who is known for her hawkish stance on Russia.
HANOI,Aug 8 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Aug, 2023 ) :Despite electronics being a vital driving force of Vietnamese exports, many Vietnamese electronics producers are still not up to the mark for supplying components to global heavyweights, local media reported on Tuesday.

In the first seven months of this year, Vietnam earned nearly 30.8 billion U.S. Dollars from exporting of computers, electronic products and components, down 3 percent year on year, according to the General Statistics Office.

In the same period, the country reaped 27.8 billion dollars from shipping phones and components, down 18.

3 percent year on year, said the office.

Vietnamese electronics producers were withstanding the global economic downturn quite well, however, many of them stayed on the sidelines when global heavyweights moved their facilities to the country and outsourced their production, Vietnam news reported, citing Do Thi Thuy Huong, a member of the executive committee of the Vietnam Electronic Industries Association (VEIA).

She said it is necessary to have a regulation that requires global heavyweights to employ a certain number of local producers as vendors when they are doing business in Vietnam.
RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Aug, 2023 ) :The Armed Forces of Pakistan, the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and Services Chiefs paid glowing tribute to Major Tufail Muhammad Shaheed, Nishan-e-Haider, on his 65th Shahadat Anniversary.

Major Tufail Muhammad, the second recipient of Nishan-e-Haider, embraced Shahadat while fighting gallantly at Lakshmipur sector in East Pakistan in 1958, an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) news release said.

The ISPR said Major Tufail Muhammad's martyrdom anniversary serves as a powerful reminder of the extraordinary sacrifices made by the Armed Forces of Pakistan to defend the motherland.

"Let us remember these heroes who have laid down their lives in defence of our motherland. The nation is proud of its gallant sons," it said.
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The newly named 'Allama Iqbal Avenue' has formally inaugurated during a well-attended ceremony in the Richmond Hill area of Queens.

NEW YORK: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-August 8th, 2023) With Pakistan's Independence Day approaching, a street in New York City's Queens borough has been designated in honor of Allama Muhammad Iqbal, Pakistan's national poet.

The newly named 'Allama Iqbal Avenue' was formally inaugurated during a well-attended ceremony in the Richmond Hill area of Queens. The event was marked by enthusiastic chants of 'Pakistan ZindaBad' as attendees waved the national flag.

This occasion represents the culmination of extensive advocacy by members of the Pakistani-American community over an extended period. The American-Pakistani Advocacy Group (APAG), a nonprofit organization, played a prominent role in advocating for this recognition.

Masood Khan, Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States, extended his congratulations to Ali Rashid, President of the American Pakistani Advocacy Group, for his leadership in securing the co-naming of the avenue as 'Allama Iqbal Avenue' in New York.

Khan also commended Rashid's unwavering efforts in fostering improved relations between Pakistan and the United States, while also raising awareness about Pakistan's history and culture in the U.S.

Adrienne Adams, Speaker of the New York City Council, expressed her honor in commemorating the co-naming of 109th Street and 101st Avenue as 'Allama Iqbal Avenue' as Pakistan's Independence Day draws near. She highlighted how Allama Iqbal's visionary work contributed to the establishment of Pakistan as an independent nation.
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The Prime Minister has also appreciated the role of Armed Forces in protecting the territorial integrity of the country and robustly fighting the menace of terrorism across Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-August 8th, 2023) Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has paid rich tribute to the Shuhada, Ghazi and their families for their countless sacrifices and contributions made for the defence of the motherland.

He was addressing a ceremony to pay tribute to the Shuhada and Ghazi at Army Auditorium at GHQ in Rawalpindi today.

The Prime Minister also appreciated the role of Armed Forces in protecting the territorial integrity of the country and robustly fighting the menace of terrorism across Pakistan.

He said Shuhada and Ghazis are our pride and their respect and honour are binding on each Pakistani.

Shehbaz Sharif said we must never forget that the peace and freedom we enjoy today is due to the ultimate sacrifices rendered by these brave sons of soil. I salute their families for sacrificing their loved ones for Pakistan.

The Prime Minister said it is now our earnest duty that we realise the supreme sacrifices of our Shuhada and Ghazis into prosperity and well-being of each Pakistani".

He further said those who resorted to desecration of monuments of Shuhada, their faces will remain blackened in the history of this country and proud people of Pakistan will never forget them.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister distributed cheques of special financial assistance amongst 70 families of martyrs and 30 War Wounded Persons. Laptops were also distributed amongst the wards of Shuhada undergoing their academic pursuits.

Earlier, upon his arrival, the Prime Minister, who made farewell visit to the GHQ, was received by the Chief of Army Staff, General Syed Asim Munir.

The Prime Minister met with the Principal Staff Officers and was presented with the Guard of Honour. He also laid floral wreath at the Yadgar-e-Shuhada.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 08th August, 2023) The delegation consisting of the representatives of the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United Nations will travel to Niger in the coming hours to hold talks with the coup leaders, French broadcaster RFI reported on Tuesday.

The delegation is set to arrive in the Nigerien capital city of Niamey "in the coming hours" to hold talks with the rebels on behalf of the international community in a move to restore the country's disbanded institutions, the broadcaster reported.
Dozens of Palestinians were injured on Tuesday in clashes with the Israeli army in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent

RAMALLAH, Palestine , (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Aug, 2023 ):Dozens of Palestinians were injured on Tuesday in clashes with the Israeli army in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said its crews dealt with dozens of injuries after the Israeli army raided the Askar camp east of Nablus city.

One of the injured was shot with live ammunition in the foot, three others were hit by rubber bullets, and 185 people were affected by tear gas, the Palestinian NGO said in a statement.

Eyewitnesses in the camp told Anadolu that hours-long clashes erupted after the Israeli army stormed the camp to demolish the house of Abdel Fattah Kharousha who was killed in March by Israeli forces after killing two Israeli settlers in February.

On March 7, an Israeli army raid in Jenin resulted in the killing of six Palestinians, including Kharousha.
Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, Niger's former economy minister, has been named as the new "prime minister" by the coup junta, Niger's news agency ANP reported on Monday

NIAMEY, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Aug, 2023 ):Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, Niger's former economy minister, has been named as the new "prime minister" by the coup junta, Niger's news agency ANP reported on Monday.

The junta's spokesperson made the announcement on television late Monday night.

Born in 1965 in Zinder, Lamine Zeine was minister of finance for former President Mahamadou Tandja before joining the African Development Bank, of which he was the representative in Chad until his appointment, the report said.

Niger's soldiers ousted President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, hours after the Nigerien president was allegedly held hostage.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a regional bloc comprising 15 West African nations, and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) met on July 30 in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, and decided to impose economic and financial sanctions in response to the military coup in Niger.

The junta has been given a one-week ultimatum to restore constitutional order, with the possibility of military intervention if non-compliance persists.

Abdourahamane Tchiani, head of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) in Niger, rejected those sanctions on Aug. 2.U.S. Acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland paid an urgent visit to Niamey to meet Niger's coup leaders on Aug. 7, hoping to get a negotiated solution to the crisis but in vain.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 09th August, 2023) Terrorists are making attempts to cross the line of contact in Syria and enter Aleppo and Latakia provinces from the Idlib de-escalation zone, Vadim Kulit, the deputy head of the Russian Defense Ministry's Center for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria, said on Tuesday.

"There are attempts by sabotage and reconnaissance groups of terrorists to enter beyond the line of contact in the provinces of Aleppo and Latakia from the territory of the Idlib de-escalation zone. The command of the Russian grouping of troops and the armed forces of the Syria are taking all necessary measures to eliminate the terrorist threat to the civilian population and government troops," Kulit told a briefing.

The Russian official added that US-led international coalition drones breached deconfliction protocols in Syria 10 times over the past 24 hours.

"On August 8, at 07:03 (04:03 am GMT), a dangerous convergence was recorded between an MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle of the coalition and a Su-34 aircraft of the Russian aerospace forces near the settlement of Ain Issa in the province of Raqqa, the distance was less than 100 meters," Kulit said.
Vietnam Briefing has developed into a premium source for insight on doing business in Vietnam. It publishes business news concerning foreign direct investment into Vietnam, including the most important tax, legal and accounting issues. The Vietnam Briefing Magazine was first published in 2009, and is contributed to by investment professionals based in Vietnam.
Nigerians in the border regions with Niger are calling on West African bloc ECOWAS to rethink sanctions on the country following last months coup. Residents say the closure of land borders has impacted their businesses and the cost of living has increased with no goods entering Nigeria from its neighbor.

When the West African regional bloc ECOWAS announced border closures with Niger on July 31, Nigerian truck driver Buwa Mohammed did not expect immediate repercussions.

For more than 10 years, he had been shuttling goods and passengers from Nigerias Jigawa state to Niger. Jigawa shares a border with the Zinder region in the Republic of Niger.

But now, speaking to VOA by phone, Mohammed said his business has come to a halt and it's impacting his family.

Soldiers from Nigers presidential guard overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26 and have held him hostage in defiance of calls from ECOWAS and Western allies for him to be released and restored to power.

In addition to closing land borders, ECOWAS has declared a no-flight zone over Niger and announced the seizure of public assets in member states.

The regional bloc had issued a seven-day notice for the military leaders to restore democratic order and threatened to unleash regional security forces on Niger if they failed to respond.

The deadline passed Sunday and anxiety is rising over the uncertainty of the situation.

Like Buwa Mohammed, Hassan Mohammed, a phone trader, worries that a military invasion would make matters worse.

I'm not happy with that because we trade, they come to do business here and we also do business in their market but this has all stopped, he said in Hausa. "Things are even worse for these past two weeks. Even eating has become a problem. We are begging the government to resolve this issue. We pray for God to intervene.

Over the weekend, Nigerian lawmakers from the border states warned against a military invasion of Niger, saying it will have serious consequences.

Nigerian economist Emeka Okengwu agrees.

"It does not necessarily need to be through cohesion or by military aggression, Okengwu said. Niger is a major trade route in the old trans-Saharan trade routes; a lot of the animals slaughtered during our festivities actually come from that route."

Okengwu added that a lot of food, especially cowpea, comes from around that area. Its also one of the fastest routes to the sea.

The impact on the economy will be very bad, Okengwu said.

In 2021, trade between Nigeria and Niger reached $180 million, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, an online data analysis group.

As of Monday, the sanctions remained in place and the next course of action by ECOWAS remained unclear. On Sunday, Nigerian President and ECOWAS chair Bola Tinubu met with governors of Sokoto, Kebbi, Yobe, Borno and Jigawa, as part of consultations on the matter.
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Trump legal team urges judge overseeing election conspiracy case to reject prosecutors proposed protective order on evidence in the case. Ukraine arrests a woman in conjunction with an assassination plot targeting President Zelenskyy. Tensions are mounting in Niger and its neighboring nations.
Israel threatened on Tuesday to "return Lebanon to the stone age" in any war against Hezbollah, following weeks of friction with the armed Iranian-backed group along the countries' border.

"Do not make a mistake. We do not want a war. But we are prepared to protect our civilians, our soldiers and our sovereignty," Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in a statement, his remarks intended for Hezbollah.

Such rhetoric has been heard from both sides since the last Israel-Hezbollah war, in 2006. But it has become more pointed since a roadside bombing in Israel in March, which it blamed on an Hezbollah infiltrator.

The group did not claim responsibility for the bombing.

Recent weeks have seen face-offs between Lebanese civilians, at least one group of Hezbollah operatives and Israeli troops across the fortified frontier.
With more than 10,000 rapes recorded in the first three months of 2023 and more than 900 women killed, one rights activist says there isn't much to celebrate as South Africa marks its National Women's Day on Wednesday.

The public holiday, marked every year on August 9 in South Africa, commemorates a historic protest of unjust laws under the then-apartheid regime.

"It comes from the call to action in 1956 by 20,000 women who marched onto the union buildings in Pretoria, singing, 'Wathint' abafazi, wathint' imbokodo!' 'You strike a woman, you strike a rock,'" said Caroline Peters, a women's rights activist.

While democratic South Africa now has a progressive constitution guaranteeing gender equality, Peters said an increase in the number of female homicide victims in the first part of this year means it's not a happy holiday.

"As a gender-based violence activist who's been working in communities for 30 years, I've never seen the level of violence. The violence on women's bodies has escalated.  I almost feel like we've got nothing to celebrate," she said.

Police statistics for the first three months of 2023 showed 10,512 rapes and 969 murders of women. President Cyril Ramaphosa has said South Africa has levels of gender-based violence that "are comparable to countries that are at war," referring to it as "a pandemic."

Lirandzu Themba, spokesperson for the ministry of police, said the South African Police Services, or SAPS, are very concerned about the safety of women.

"The SAPS is upscaling its operations to trace gender-based violence perpetrators, arresting serial offenders and rapists, as well as ongoing dialogues with men in various communities," Themba said.

But Mara Glennie, who runs the free crisis hotline TEARS, noted that women who report rapes are not always assisted adequately.

"Women who go to the police station are frequently asked to go home and make right with their partners rather than given the help they need," she said.

Asked why gender-based violence is such a scourge in South Africa, Sis'Mantoa Selepe, a gender-equality activist, said current socioeconomic malaise, as well as the brutal history of apartheid, play a part.

"I think with these men in South Africa we are dealing with generational anger that is cascaded down to generation after generation due to poverty and due to the injustice of the past as well," Selepe said.

It is vital the government invest in educating men about gender equality in order to challenge patriarchal norms, she added.
Leaders of eight South American nations that share the Amazon rainforest convene a two-day summit in Brazil Tuesday to reach a broad agreement on preserving the critical region.

The meeting of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization in Belem, capital of the Amazon state of Para, takes place as more than ten percent of the rainforest has been lost in recent decades due to unregulated cattle ranching and farming, illegal mining and logging and oil drilling. Much of the loss is in Brazil, which is home to two-thirds of the rainforest.

The Amazon region has been described as a carbon sink that can easily absorb pollution from emissions, making it a vital resource in reducing the effects of climate change. Scientists say the loss of between 20% and 25% of the Amazon region would be a tipping point that would transform it into a source of carbon emissions.

The ACTO member nations, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela and host, Brazil, are expected to announce a pledge Tuesday

to end deforestation by 2030 and a joint effort to crack down on illegal mining and logging.

The summit  the first since 2009 for the 28-year-old organization  was part of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silvas campaign platform last year in which he pledged that "Brazil is back" in the fight against climate change after a period of surging destruction in the Amazon under his far-right predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro.

The meeting will also serve as something of a dress rehearsal for the COP30 U.N. climate talks, which will be held in Belem in 2025.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse.
Bangladesh will tone down its Digital Security Act, criticized by many as a draconian curb on dissent, to allow bail for suspects and halt the jailing of journalists for defamation, the law minister said on Monday.

Journalists and rights activists have long demanded the repeal of the act to protect press freedom.

"Many sections of this act will be incorporated in the new Cyber Security Act. Major amendments will be brought in some clauses," Law Minister Anisul Huq told reporters after a Cabinet meeting.

Huq told parliament in June that there had been 7,001 cases filed under the act across the country from the enactment of the law in October 2018 until January this year.

The act combines the colonial-era Official Secrets Act with tough provisions such as allowing police to make arrests without warrants.

"I don't know whether the government is just (playing) a trump card under severe pressure both at home and abroad," said a journalist, who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisals. "I hope it will not be old wine in a new bottle."

Washington welcomed the decision, U.S. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters, adding that the law had been used to "arrest, detain and silence critics."

"We encourage the government of Bangladesh to give all stakeholders an opportunity to review and provide input on the new draft Cyber Security Act to ensure it meets international standards," Miller said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has maintained tight control since coming to power in 2009 and has been accused by opposition groups cracking down on free speech, suppressing dissent and jailing critics. Her government has denied the charges.

Western governments and rights groups have also criticized the government for cracking down on anti-government protests.

Opposition groups have held large protest rallies calling on Hasina to step down and for the next election, due in January, to be held under a neutral caretaker government.

In May, Washington said it would restrict visas for Bangladeshis who undermine the democratic process at home, after accusations of vote-rigging and suppressing the opposition marred elections in 2014 and 2018.
Botswana is aiming to recruit at least 1,000 pharmacists, some from abroad, after nurses said they would no longer dispense medications.

Nurses stopped filling prescriptions to patients last month, with the Botswana Nurse Union saying that doing so was outside their scope of work.

The situation has led to congestion at the countrys pharmacies and left some patients unable to get their medications at all.

Now the government is looking to bring in pharmacists from abroad to fill the void and avert a health crisis.

Speaking in parliament Monday, Botswanas assistant health minister, Sethumo Lelatisitswe, said that despite recruiting about 100 pharmacists over the last month, the shortage is still severe.

We only have a few pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in the market, Lelatisitswe said. In the coming weeks, we would have exhausted the Botswana market. However, we would still not have been able to replace all nurses and midwives that have been dispensing medications from as long ago as the birth of our health system. Our local tertiary institutions do not produce enough pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who can be engaged to serve our people.

The Botswana Nurse Union vice president responsible for labor, Oreeditse Kelebakgosi, said that it was unlawful for nurses to be dispensing medication and that it is only proper for the government to recruit pharmacists.

Kelebakgosi applauded the governments move to recruit from outside Botswana, saying the effort would bring relief to the nurses who have been dispensing medication outside their scope of work.

But assistant minister Lelatisitswe said it will not be an easy task to recruit the health-care professionals.

We need close to a thousand pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to have all our clinics and health facilities adequately covered, he said. Given the shortage of these professionals in the market, including regionally  it may take up to five years to have these numbers.

Lelatisitswe acknowledged that the nurses decision has led to a crisis.

HIV activist Bonosi Segadimo says the shortage of pharmacists will negatively impact the distribution of ARV drugs. Botswana has among the worlds highest HIV prevalence with nearly 21% of the adult population living with the virus.

This issue of nurses stopping the dispensing of drugs is a very bad idea, said Segadimo. Most clients have to take public transport to go and get their medications from clinics, where there are no pharmacists.

Botswanas problem is not an isolated one in Southern Africa, where health-care delivery has been disrupted by professionals leaving for better pay in wealthier countries, particularly in the United Kingdom.
Japanese media reported Monday that the country is due to start releasing wastewater used to cool the crippled reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant as soon as the end of August.

The reports say Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is expected to discuss the issue at a trilateral meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, scheduled August 18 at Camp David, Maryland.

Washington and Seoul have offered support for Japan after the United Nations nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, approved the plans to release the wastewater following a visit to the site July 4.

However, China has criticized the move and imposed restrictions on Japanese seafood imports.

Meltdown

Three reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant went into meltdown after the March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami cut power to the site.

Seawater from the adjacent Pacific Ocean has been used to cool the reactors. Over one thousand giant tanks now surround the wrecked plant, holding more 1.3 million metric tons of wastewater.

The wastewater has been treated using a system called ALPS to remove most of the radioactive contaminants. However, the water still contains the radioactive element tritium, explains American scientist Paul Dickman of the U.S. Argonne National Laboratory, who has been advising the Japanese government on the decommissioning process.

It is natural, it's in everything we eat, drink and breathe. Anything that has water in it has tritium in it, Dickman told VOA in an interview August 4.

All nuclear reactors produce, as a byproduct, small amounts of tritium. And the way that you deal with this - and we have, constantly - is to discharge this either through evaporation into the air or discharge it into a water body, particularly if you're by the sea. So that is standard practice that has been going on for decades now, he added.

Japan plans to release the water over 30 to 40 years, diluting the tritium concentration until it exceeds drinking water standards.

IAEA approval

The plan was approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency last month, after a two-year review showed the water release would have a negligible impact on the environment.

After meeting local fishing communities and environmental groups, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said the process would be closely monitored.

I don't have a magic solution for the doubts and concerns that may exist, but we do have one thing - we are going to stay here with you for decades to come... until the last drop of the water has been safely discharged, Grossi said July 6.

Reputation fears

Those assurances have not satisfied the plans critics. At Tokyos giant Tsukiji fish market, where millions of dollars of seafood are traded every day, stall holders told VOA that they fear reputational damage.

The Japanese brand will decline. People will ask, is it being properly checked? said Tomohisa Yoshimura, who sells dried bonito flakes, a staple of Japanese cuisine.

Matao Saito, a tuna trader, echoed those concerns. I'm worried about how other countries see it. I think that there are harmful rumors in Japan, he told VOA August 4.

China restrictions

The overwhelming majority of scientists say the plan is safe. But some of Japans neighbors, especially China, have strongly criticized the move. Beijing has imposed restrictions and extra checks on some Japanese seafood imports.

Our opposition to Japan's ocean discharge plan and the relevant measures we are taking are well grounded, said Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, after being questioned by reporters July 20.

Nuclear power stations across the world  including many in China  constantly dispose of tritium into the sea, says U.S. scientist Paul Dickman.

This was a political opportunity to basically poke (Japan) in the eye, Dickman told VOA. There is a point of hypocrisy here. They're accusing Japanese of doing what they do. The regulatory authorities both in Korea and China - who I think are pretty good - were quiet. They were silent on this. And yet they are authorizing their own companies and their own reactors to discharge into the sea every day. I think it was a big mistake and it undermines their authority, Dickman said.

Beijing does not publish figures of how much it releases into the oceans.

Communications campaign

Meanwhile Japan is conducting a mass communications campaign, with advertisements on billboards and in newspapers, and animated movies on television, to convince the public that the process is safe. TEPCO, the operator of the Fukushima Daiichi plant, has even set up a live stream of fish living in a tank of treated wastewater to prove its safety.

For the residents of Fukushima, the latest political and public relations battle is yet another strain after more than twelve years of suffering. Katsumasa Okawa runs a seafood business in Fukushima prefecture.

Countries such as China are saying they will halt the import (of seafood) if the water is released. The topic has become very diplomatic and political. I dont know whats happening anymore. I feel like the discussion has veered away from what really matters, Okawa told the Associated Press.
China is demanding the Philippines remove a scuttled naval vessel being used as an occupied base from a disputed reef in the South China Sea.

Tuesdays demand from Beijing comes three days after a Chinese Coast Guard ship fired a powerful water cannon at Philippine naval vessels cruising towards the Second Thomas Shoal on a resupply mission. Manila said the actions of the Chinese coast guard prevented one of the two resupply boats from unloading supplies needed by Philippine troops guarding the shoal onboard a long-marooned navy ship.

Chinas foreign ministry issued a statement calling on the Philippines to immediately remove the scuttled vessel from the Second Thomas Shoal and restore it to its previous unoccupied status.

But Jonathan Malaya, a spokesman for the Philippines National Security Council, told reporters Monday that the Philippines will never abandon our post in Ayungin Shoal, using the archipelagos name for Second Thomas Shoal.

The incident is the latest flare-up in the long-simmering territorial conflicts involving China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei in the South China Sea.

China claims ownership over virtually the entire strategic waterway despite international rulings that have invalidated Beijings vast territorial claims, such as that of 2016 by the Permanent Court of Arbitration, an international body based in The Hague.

Tensions between China and the Philippines over the South China Sea have risen since President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. took office last year and moved Manila back towards its longtime ally the United States, reversing the direction taken by his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte.

Some information for this report came from Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
Londons Brick Lane, famed for its street art, appears to be the scene of the latest face-off between pro-democracy supporters and Chinese loyal to President Xi Jinping's rule.

Over the weekend, big red Chinese characters painted on a white background, extolled core socialist values, sentiments first expressed by Xis predecessor, Hu Jintao, and embraced by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Most of the slogans have since been covered by anti-CCP sentiments, and a Chinese student who led the sloganeers says he has received death threats.

Early on Saturday, people whitewashed a section of the street art wall, then spray painted a set of 12 two-character words in Chinese. The words included Democracy, Civility, Freedom, Equality, Justice and The Rule of Law.

As the slogans attracted negative comments online, people went to Brick Lane to paint comments critical of Beijing such as Free Uighurs and Free Tibet. There were references to the bloody Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989.

When Voice of America visited the site on Monday afternoon, only the word Friendly remained on the wall with the other sentiments covered up by slogans targeting the CCP.

It remains unclear if the people who painted the original slogans were being serious or ironic.

Wang Hanzheng, a Royal College of Art student who signs his art with name Yi Que, named the piece East London's Socialist Core Values and said the graphic slogans did not carry a strong political message.

I wanted to see how the core values of socialism could bring a different impact to Brick Lane, which has long been symbolized and commercialized as a space of freedom. I wanted to explore a new way of commercialized artwork, he said.

A point of contention was whether it was reasonable for Yi Que to cover multiple artworks at once with white paint, even though local graffiti artworks are usually replaced by others every few weeks.

Yi Que issued a statement on Monday afternoon, stating that he held no political stance.

He said the work aimed to provoke discussions and it showcased conflicts arising from two extreme views. He said he loved China, but he also has the right to reflect on the country through art.

He defended his work and said the group had consulted local graffiti artists before whitewashing the wall and that the artists did not mind their work being covered.

Yi Que also said he and his team were facing cyberbullying and death threats. His personal information and that of his parents had been put online.

My parents are already quite old. I implore you not to do this. I am very concerned about their safety. Some of my social media accounts have been restricted, but at this moment, I cannot remain silent or back down. I really don't want to affect my family and friends. I am willing to bear all the doubts and consequences, he said. At the same time, I hope people from all walks of life and scholars can offer some assistance. I am in the midst of severe persecution, he said.

The whitewashed area of slogans covered a tribute to a popular street artist, Marty, painted by his fellow artist and friend, Benzi Brofman.

On Instagram, Brofman said painting over works like his was part of the street art culture.

Brofman told VOA Cantonese on Sunday that he was focused on creating new artwork and that Monday was also his birthday; thus, he would prefer not to waste my time and energy on this issue.

My mind is set on my future art projects that will, hopefully bring joy and comfort to people, he said.

In an interview with VOA Cantonese, Australia-based Chinese political cartoonist Badiucao called the graffiti a crude piece of work.

Regardless of whether Yi Que was trying to be patriotic or satirical, said Badiucao, the real cost was not borne by them, but the local street artists who have put in weeks or even months of effort for their work.

Some may ask, isn't graffiti about free expression? Aren't all artworks eventually covered by new ones? Yes, indeed, street art is like a carousel, but street artists don't cover other artworks randomly, he said. Often, we choose to cover old works or ones that have been tagged as heavily damaged. For new works, especially those with commemorative significance, artists tend to choose to show respect.

Perhaps in the eyes of many, this act has caused a thousand waves and is therefore a success, said Badiucao. It gave almost everyone what they wanted  Yi Que gained massive fame through the spectacle, little pinks patriots got the pride of their slogans being seen in the heart of London, dissenters got evidence exposing the Chinese Communist Party's threat to freedom of speech.

However, after the carnival of chaos, it's the local artists who are forced to pay the price. They have involuntarily born the cost of this publicity stunt, Badiucao said.
Australia will put climate change and gender at the heart of its international aid program in a policy revamp designed to compete with China's infrastructure-building in the Indo-Pacific region. Under the new rules, all international development projects will have to include environmental and gender equality objectives.

Australia says that global warming is the number one threat to the security and wellbeing of the Pacific.

From mid-2025, half of all new Australian aid investments worth more than $2 million will have to take climate change into consideration, rising to 80% by 2028, under a new policy. Officials say that roads, for example, would be built to cope with rising sea levels and schools would have cyclone-proof roofing.

All new international development projects worth more than $2 million will also have to include a gender equality objective. Officials say this could include providing safe accommodation for female market stall holders to protect them and their stock.

Analysts say the shift in Australia's international policy is a response China's security ambitions in the region. It's the first major overhaul to Canberras foreign aid program in more than a decade,

Pat Conroy, Australias Minister for International Development and the Pacific, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Tuesday that Canberra is eager to reassert itself in regional affairs.

There is a geostrategic competition in the region," Conroy said. "The last government (in Canberra) cut AUD$11.8bn (US$7.75m) in aid and that left a vacuum that other countries have filled. So, it is obviously about us being the partner of choice for our region, but it is also about lifting people out of poverty. Twenty-two of our twenty-six closest neighbors are developing countries. It is in our interests for them to be stable and prosperous, and to grow.

Canberras annual foreign aid budget is about $3 billion. The new strategy comes with no additional money, but its hoped that the private sector will help fund climate-related projects. Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said Monday that development and prosperity underpin peace and stability.

There has been no response, so far, from China.

Beijing has been in dispute with Canberra in recent years over various trade and political issues, including Chinas territorial ambitions in the Indo-Pacific.

Bilateral ties, though, have improved since the May 2022 election of a left-leaning government in Canberra that has tried to stabilize relations with its biggest trading partner, while acknowledging that there will be areas of disagreement and competition.
Appeals judges threw out a decision Monday by a United Nations court to set up a procedure for hearing evidence against an elderly Rwandan genocide suspect who was declared unfit to face trial.

The decision likely means that Felicien Kabuga's trial, which started last year in The Hague, will never be completed. The judges acknowledged this would be a blow to victims and survivors of Rwanda's 1994 genocide.

Judges at the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals halted Kabuga's trial in June because he has dementia and could not properly participate in the proceedings.

Kabuga, who is in his late 80s, is accused of encouraging and bankrolling the mass killing of Rwandas Tutsi minority. His trial came nearly three decades after the 100-day massacre left 800,000 dead. He is in custody at a U.N. detention unit in The Hague.

After declaring him unfit to stand trial, judges said they would set up an alternative finding procedure that resembles a trial as closely as possible, but without the possibility of a conviction.

Kabuga's lawyers appealed that decision and Monday an appellate panel ruled that neither the Statute nor the jurisprudence of the Mechanism and its predecessor tribunals allows for an alternative finding procedure in lieu of a trial, the court said in a statement.

The appeals decision said that the outlines of such a procedure appear to circumvent statutory guarantees afforded to all accused. They sent the case back to trial judges with instructions to impose an indefinite stay of proceedings in view of Mr. Kabugas lack of fitness to stand trial.

After years as a fugitive from international justice, Kabuga, who had a $5 million bounty on his head, was arrested near Paris in May 2020. He was transferred to The Hague to stand trial at the residual mechanism, a court that deals with remaining cases from the now-closed U.N. tribunals for Rwanda and the Balkan wars.

He pleaded not guilty to charges of genocide, incitement to commit genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide as well as persecution, extermination and murder.

The court said that appeals judges realized that victims and survivors of the crimes that Mr. Kabuga is charged with have waited long to see justice delivered, and that the inability to complete the trial proceedings in this case, due to Mr. Kabugas lack of fitness to stand trial, must be disappointing.
Dozens of second-hand Leopard 1 tanks that once belonged to Belgium have been bought by another European country for Ukrainian forces fighting Russia's invasion, the arms trader who did the deal said Tuesday.

The German-made Leopards were at the center of a public spat earlier this year after Belgian Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder said the government had explored buying back tanks to send to Ukraine but had been quoted unreasonable prices.

The clash highlighted a predicament faced by Western governments trying to find weapons for Ukraine after more than a year of intense warfare  arms they discarded as obsolete are now in high demand, and often owned by private companies. 'More than happy to take them'

Freddy Versluys, CEO of defense company OIP Land Systems, bought the tanks from the Belgian government more than five years ago.

He told Reuters he had now sold all 50 tanks to another European government, which he could not name due to a confidentiality clause. He said he also could not disclose the price.

Germany's Handelsblatt newspaper reported Tuesday that arms maker Rheinmetall had acquired the tanks and would prepare most of them for export to Ukraine.

The company declined to comment.

"The fact that they leave our company proves that we asked for a fair market price, and someone was more than happy to take them," Versluys said in a post on LinkedIn, accompanied by a picture of tanks next to a bottle of Ukrainian vodka. Battlefield ready in months

He said the tanks were now being transported to a factory for a substantial overhaul. Some of the tanks would be used for spare parts, while others would be repaired, he said. He estimated it could be four to six months before they were on the battlefield in Ukraine.

A defense source told Reuters that the German government was paying for 32 of the Leopard 1 tanks to be restored and sent to Ukraine and that this was part of a support package for Ukraine that Germany announced at the NATO summit July in Vilnius.

The German Defense Ministry had no immediate comment.

Several of Kyiv's Western allies agreed earlier this year to send modern Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and also to send older Leopard 1 models.

The Leopard 1 was made by German firm Krauss-Maffei starting in the 1960s. It is lighter than the Leopard 2 and has a different type of main gun. The models sold by Versluys were last upgraded in the 1990s.
Dell Technologies has announced its Partner First Strategy for Storage, which designates more than 99% of Dells customers and potential customers as partner-led for storage sales.

This new go-to-market strategy combines partner expertise and reach with Dells world-class team and storage portfolio, including data protection, to deliver transformational outcomes for customers.

Dell is effectively:

Compensating Dell sellers more when transacting storage through a partner.

Quadrupling the number of storage Partner of Record-eligible resale accounts for more predictability of engagement.

Investment in partnership

Dells investment in partnership runs deep. We have decades of experience working with our partner community to accelerate transformation for our customers, said Michael Dell, chairman and chief executive officer, Dell Technologies.

The Partner First Strategy for Storage extends our partner commitment and unites the strengths of our partners with the advantages of our world-class team and solutions.

An omni-channel business model with a robust partner ecosystem is at the core of Dells growth strategy, said Bill Scannell, president, Global Sales and Customer Operations, Dell Technologies.

The Partner First Strategy for Storage will incent Dell sellers to work even more closely with partners to acquire new business and deliver the right outcomes for customers. Its a win-win-win for customers, partners and Dell.

Market leader

Dell is the market leader in Enterprise Storage and best positioned to serve our customers in today's data-centric world," said Rola Dagher, global channel chief, Dell Technologies. "We can win more often  and faster  when we work side-by-side with our global partner ecosystem. With 99% of our customers and potential customers deemed as partner first for storage, were very clear about our intentions to embrace the channel.

The Partner First Strategy for Storage, including data protection, is a change in our go-to-market strategy designed to fuel continued storage growth in UAE, Qatar, and around the world, said Vangelis Lagousakos, General Manager - Channel Sales, Central Eastern Europe, Middle East, Turkey & Africa (CEEMETA), Dell Technologies.

By further embracing the power of collaboration with our partners, we win more deals and drive better outcomes for customers.-- TradeArabia News Service
The arrest of Chinese human rights lawyer Lu Siwei in Laos late last month highlights the risks Chinese dissidents face when they flee China through Southeast Asia.

Despite his holding valid visas for Laos and the United States and a valid Chinese passport, Laotian police arrested Lu while he tried to board a train for Thailand on July 28. He was planning to board a U.S.-bound flight in Bangkok to reunite with his wife and daughter.

Analysts say the incident reflects worsening human rights conditions in China and Beijings long-arm jurisdiction in Southeast Asia, which has long been a common yet risky transit point for Chinese dissidents attempting to flee repression in their homeland.

[The] Chinese governments efforts to tighten control over civil society have prompted more dissidents and persecuted religious groups to flee the country, Bob Fu, founder of the Texas-based human rights organization ChinaAid, told VOA.

China uses its economic influence over Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar to get local authorities to help arrest and deport dissidents or persecuted ethnic minorities back to China, Fu said.

In 2015, Thailand deported 109 Uyghurs back to China, which Thai officials characterized as a matter of protocol. At the end of March, Thai authorities detained more than 60 Chinese Christians for days before the U.S. government intervened, secured their release, and ensured their ultimate resettlement in Texas. In June, exiled Chinese critic Yang Zewei disappeared from his home in the Laotian capital, Vientiane.

Observers say there have been at least 22 cases of arrest or disappearance of Chinese dissidents in Southeast Asia in recent years, and Lus case is part of this trend. His case is the sixth we recorded in Laos, Peter Dahlin, director of human rights organization Safeguard Defenders, told VOA.

He said that in most cases, Chinese authorities are either working independently or joining forces with local governments in Southeast Asia that are cooperating to target Chinese dissidents. Lus case has caught the worlds attention, and it helps to highlight the issue of the involuntary return of Chinese dissidents to China, Dahlin said.

Before he fled China, Lu had a long history of taking on sensitive cases, including defending prominent Chinese human rights lawyer Yu Wensheng and 12 Hong Kong activists who tried to flee to Taiwan on a speed boat in 2021. After he took on that case, Chinese authorities revoked his license and banned him from leaving the country.

Increasingly risky route

ChinaAid has been able to help some Chinese dissidents safely reach democratic countries via Southeast Asia for years, but Fu said the number of people his organization can help is far lower than the number of people who have been deported to China.

Beijing has been able to mobilize resources or coordinate with Southeast Asian countries to help deport more than a hundred persecuted Chinese people back to China at once, he told VOA.

The threat of arrest in Southeast Asia may deter some dissidents from using the same route to flee China, but analysts say their desperation to leave the country may still prompt them to take the risk. There is simply no perfect solution for people to leave China, William Nee, research and advocacy coordinator at Chinese Human Rights Defenders, told VOA.

ChinaAid continues to receive many requests for assistance to leave China, but the increasing risks have forced Fu and his team to re-evaluate the feasibility of these efforts.

As a nongovernmental organization, we are limited in what we can do, he told VOA. With Chinas close coordination with Laos and Myanmar, the resources and cost of mobilizing Western governments to help rescue Chinese dissidents detained in Southeast Asia have dramatically increased.

International pressure

As part of the global effort to secure Lus release, 85 human rights organizations released a joint petition demanding that Laotian authorities halt all processes of repatriation for Lu Siwei and release him immediately according to its international human rights obligations.

In response, the Laotian government said in an e-mail to U.K.-based human rights organization 29 Principles that Laotian police are holding Lu on suspicion of using fraudulent travel documents while entering Laos. He is awaiting an investigation and, if found guilty, he faces deportation to China.

Analysts say the international community, including human rights organizations and foreign governments, need to apply pressure on Laos. Yaqiu Wang, senior China researcher at Human Rights Watch, said past cases show that international pressure works.

We should let Southeast Asian countries know that the world is watching, Wang said.
Last week, the Biden administration announced a $345 million military aid package for Taiwan, marking the first use of presidential drawdown authority for the island.



On August 3, Chinas state-run newspaper Global Times weighed in on U.S. arm sales to Taiwan:



"Converting the island of Taiwan into a porcupine is a plan that benefits only the US, and selling such amounts of outdated yet overpriced weapons also brings huge profits to the US' military-industrial complex."



That is false.



Military experts told Polygraph.info that the U.S. has sent top-of-the-line equipment to Taiwan for many years. The Foreign Military Sales (FMS) system, through which Taiwan obtains most of its U.S.-made weapons, treats all foreign customers the same, including pricing.



These weapons are not overpriced. The price reflects higher U.S. labor costs, as well as U.S. systems more advanced technology and greater capabilities.

Taiwan now employs the Porcupine Strategy, also known as asymmetrical warfare, as its main military strategy towards China. First introduced in 2017 by the then-chief of the Taiwanese military forces, Lee Hsi-Min, it involves a large number of small things, requiring Taiwan to stock up on smaller anti-air, anti-tank and anti-ship weapons rather than larger weapon systems to fend off a possible attack from China.



Since the U.S. Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act in 1979, Washington has been approving arms sales to the island to help it maintain a sufficient self-defense capability.

Are the weapons outdated?

Contrary to the Global Times claim, many of the U.S. weapons sold to Taiwan are quite advanced in terms of both technology and capabilities. That would include the Javelin and Stinger missiles sold to Taiwan in 2015, the Stinger missiles sold to the island in 2019 and the Harpoon missiles and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems sold to it in 2020.



For many years, the United States has sent top-of-the-line equipment to Taiwan. Taiwan's current requests include new F-16s, HIMARS rockets and Javelin antitank missiles. These are the same systems we are giving, or thinking about giving to Ukraine, Mark Cancian, a retired U.S. Marine Corps reserves colonel who is a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington, D.C., think tank, told Polygraph.info.



For example, in 2019, the U.S. government authorized the sale of 66 newly-built F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan.



According to the aviation industry news site Flightglobals World Air Forces directory, there are currently 2,184 F-16s active worldwide. It is the single most popular combat aircraft, with 15% of the worlds fleet.



The F-16Vs ordered by Taiwan in 2019, which have not yet been delivered, come with enhanced avionics, missiles and radar systems to counter PLA fighter jets, J-20 stealth aircraft and J-16s, which regularly cross into Taiwans air defense identification zone.

Another example is the U.S.-made FGM-148 Javelin missile, which Taiwan sought to boost its defense capabilities.

As one of the world's premier portable anti-tank missile systems, the Javelins warhead is capable of destroying modern tanks by striking them from above, where the tanks armor is weakest. The U.S. approved the sale of 200 Javelin to Taiwan, to be delivered between 2023 and 2024.

Also in 2019, Taiwan purchased 108 M1A2T Abrams tanks from the U.S. The M1 Abrams tanks, which the U.S. began deploying in the 1980s, repeatedly proved their reliability and effectiveness in the Persian Gulf War and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, among other conflicts.



Other countries, including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Australia, also use Abrams tanks.



The MIA2 comes with improved capabilities, including thermal sights, and can shoot two targets simultaneously.



Therefore, the U.S. has provided Taiwan with top-of-the-line weapons. CSISs Cancian noted that Taiwan tends to hold onto systems for a long time, making some of its systems, particularly in the islands army, outdated.



Are the weapons overpriced?



The Global Times also claimed that the U.S. weapons sold to Taiwan are overpriced.



Virtually all U.S. systems are more expensive than comparable systems produced by other countries, including China. According to Cancian, this partly reflects higher U.S. labor costs, but partly also reflects the more advanced technology and greater capability of U.S. systems.



Lee Hsi-Min, the former chief of staff of the Taiwanese armed forces who now is a senior fellow at the Project 2049 Institute, a think tank in Arlington, Virginia, told Polygraph.info that the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) system through which Taiwan obtains most of its U.S.-made weapons treats all foreign customer countries the same, including pricing.



An FMS program, he said, is comprised of subsystems, spare parts, logistical support and training, among other factors that make direct price comparisons difficult.

At the same time, many factors can affect the cost of a particular weapon at a particular time, including production line availability and the ability of a producer to offer discounts on the weapon if it is being sold to more than one customer.



Such variations in costs affect all FMS customer countries, including Taiwan, Lee said. Therefore, the U.S. weapons sold to Taiwan are not overpriced.



The latest $345 million in military aid to Taiwan is part of a drawdown from existing U.S. weapons stocks, meaning Taiwan is essentially getting the weapons for free.
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Russian strikes in Ukraines east kill at least eleven, with scores left injured. Even as Russian grain exports are not directly sanctioned by the West, Russia still faces problems in exporting its agricultural products. Plus, a film about Ukrainian teens, escaping from Russian-Occupied territory.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party government faced a no-confidence motion in parliament Tuesday over ethnic strife that has gripped the remote northeastern state of Manipur and his failure to speak on the issue for over three months.

The motion, brought by the INDIA alliance that includes 26 opposition parties, poses no threat to the stability of Modis government, which has an overwhelming majority in parliament.

Initiating a debate in parliament, Congress Party lawmaker Gaurav Gogoi said the no confidence motion was not about numbers, but one of justice for the people of Manipur. If Manipur is burning, India is burning. If Manipur has been divided, India is divided, he said.

Questioning the prime ministers public silence over the strife in a state that is ruled by the BJP, Gogoi said, our call is clear, that the prime minister should talk on the issue.

Modi has not commented on the violence that erupted in the state more than three months ago, except for brief remarks that he made after a video showing two women in Manipur being paraded naked went viral.

The clashes that have broken out between the majority Meitei group and the tribal Kuki community in Manipur have claimed over 150 lives and displaced about 60,000 people. Several incidents of sexual violence against women have been reported.

The violence erupted in the wake of an order by the Manipur High Court that asked the government to implement an affirmative action program. The program would give the Meitei community more access to land and jobs reserved for Kukis and other ethnic tribes.

The Supreme Court, which is hearing a case on violence reported against women in the state during the ethnic strife, has said it will monitor all cases of gender-based violence. It also said last week that the law and order machinery in the state appeared to have broken down.

Political analysts said the opposition INDIA alliance, which was formed by 26 parties last month, is hoping to gain political traction ahead of next years general elections by using the debate in parliament to focus attention on what it calls are divisive policies of the BJP.

From the oppositions standpoint, the no-confidence motion should be seen more in terms of building a tempo against Mr. Modi, said political analyst Rasheed Kidwai. What the opposition is doing through the Manipur crisis is to highlight these types of fault lines during BJPs rule.

Hoping to improve its prospects in the elections, in which Modi is widely expected to lead his party to victory, the alliance plans to fight jointly against the BJP.

Ruling party members who spoke during the debate highlighted the achievements of the Modi government, saying the nation was progressing rapidly under him and slammed the opposition.

It is a televised debate so they are using the opportunity to target the opposition alliance and the Congress Party. Also, since the Manipur issue concerns a remote part of India, it does not bring much traction in the rest of the country, so both sides are speaking consciously on broader issues as well, said Kidwai.

The motion will be voted on Thursday, when Prime Minister Modi is expected to speak. The BJP and its allies control more than 350 seats in the 545-member house.

This is the second time Modis government has faced a no-confidence motion during its nine-year rule. Another motion brought in 2018 was defeated.

Ahead of the motion, Congress Party leader Rahul Gandhi was reinstated as a lawmaker after the Supreme Court suspended a two-year jail term in a criminal defamation case over his comments on Prime Minister Modis surname. The conviction had led to his disqualification from parliament.
The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for an attack in the Menaka region of northeastern Mali last week, which it said killed 16 soldiers.

Mali's ruling junta has not spoken about the incident since reports of it began to emerge on Aug. 3.

In its Amaq propaganda platform, the Islamic State said fighters affiliated with it ambushed a Malian army convoy traveling toward Niger.

Dozens of soldiers were injured, and the fighting lasted about an hour, the group said.

Mali has since 2012 been battling a jihadist insurgency that began in the north and spread to the center of the country and to neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger.

The Menaka region has for months been at the forefront of a push by Islamic State in the Greater Sahara.

A recent Human Rights Watch report accused the group of being behind "hundreds" of deaths and forcing thousands from their homes since the start of the year.
An Israeli official brushed off on Tuesday the rare U.S. use of the term "terror attack" to condemn the killing of a Palestinian in the occupied West Bank, as two Jewish settlers held as suspects asked a court to release them from police custody.

With U.S.-sponsored peacemaking stalled for almost a decade, Washington has watched worriedly as West Bank violence spirals, including with settler revenge riots in which many Palestinians, among them U.S. dual nationals, have suffered property damage.

Israeli police arrested the two settlers over the killing on Friday of a 19-year-old Palestinian near Burqa village in what their lawyers say was a self-defense shooting by one of them at a much larger group of rock-throwers.

"We strongly condemn yesterday's terror attack by Israeli extremist settlers," the U.S. State Department's Near East Bureau said on Saturday, in its first application of the term in the context of settler violence.

Police initially accused the settlers of "deliberate or depraved-indifference homicide" with a racist motivation, but a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet argued that culpability for the Burqa death was far from clear.

"I wouldn't advise treating the U.S. definition as a precise professional definition. At the end of the day, they are not drawing on intelligence, but on media reports," said Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter, a former counterterrorism chief for Israel's Shin Bet security service.

"Everything gets poured into media reports  things that are correct, things that are wrong, tendentious and other things. In the end of the day, what is important as far as we are concerned is what happened there," he told Israel's Army Radio.

Police guard

Jerusalem District Court heard arguments that the suspects  one of whom had been hospitalized, with a police guard, for a head wound  should be freed pending possible prosecution.

"Their act was to save lives  their lives and others' lives," defense lawyer Nati Rom told reporters. "It's very sad to see them here in court and hopefully they will be released soon."

A police spokesperson did not immediately respond.

Separately, Israeli forces arrested five Palestinians from Burqa in an apparent effort to expand the investigation. They were due to appear before a military court in the West Bank.

The State Department appeared disinclined on Monday to elaborate on its sharpened censure over the Burqa killing.

"The thinking is that it was a terror attack, and we are concerned about it, and that's why we called it that," spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters.

"We have made quite clear our concerns, but I would note that the government of Israel has made an arrest in this case and is seeking to hold the perpetrator accountable, and that's an appropriate action."
Iran marked Journalists Day on Tuesday against the backdrop of several prominent reporters who remain behind bars.

August 8 is a day set aside in Iran to remember a state media reporter and eight Iranian diplomats who were killed in Afghanistan in 1988.

As media in Iran marked the day, journalists Niloufar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi remained in prison.

Hamedi and Mohammadi were detained last September for their coverage of the death and funeral of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman whom Tehran police arrested that month for allegedly not following Iran's strict Islamic dress code.

Amini's death in police custody triggered months of nationwide protests.

Iranian officials said the two journalists had been indicted on charges of collaborating with the United States, acting against national security, and creating "propaganda against the system."

A U.S. Department of State spokesman has rejected allegations the journalists had been collaborating with the United States.

On Tuesday, the Ham-Mihan newspaper paid tribute to Journalists' Day by featuring Mohammad and Hamedi on its front page.

In an article titled "Journalists: Lonelier Than Ever," the paper said, "Journalism these days has gotten riskier, like a daring adventure. The tough side of journalism is rooted in how our society is currently. Nothing seems to be in the right place, and wherever you look, problems pop up like crazy. People are unhappy about everything. But when we write about their pain, we must be super careful with every word, lest our communication create an issue."

Akbar Montajabi, a journalist and the chief editor of Sazandegi newspaper, penned an article titled "A Challenging Year." In it, he stated, "Journalists are not adversaries."

The Khabar Online website also featured an article by Jalal Khoshchehreh, where he said, "Media's current landscape is tough to navigate, leaving managers in a tight spot: should they stand up for the profession and its obligations or shield their team members who are facing unexpected challenges in the line of duty."

Media rights organizations report that since September 2022, at least 95 journalists have been taken into custody in Iran, with at least 24 of them being women. Consequently, Iran has currently assumed the unenviable distinction of being the global leader in imprisoning both journalists and female journalists.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

Dozens of secondhand German-made Leopard 1 tanks that once belonged to Belgium have been bought by another European country for Ukrainian forces fighting Russia's invasion, the arms trader who did the deal said.

Dozens of ships are backed up around critical Danube arteries close to Ukraine's river gateways days after Russian drone attacks on the country's ports, shipping data show. The river and its mouth are Ukraine's last remaining waterborne grain export route.

Britain slapped new sanctions on 25 companies and individuals to "close the net" on Russian President Vladimir Putin's access to foreign military equipment. Those targeted include people and businesses in Turkey, Dubai, Slovakia and Switzerland that the Foreign Office said are "supporting the illegal war in Ukraine.

Germany has offered to extend the deployment of its Patriot missile defense systems in Poland, likely until the end of the year, the Defense Ministry said in a statement released Tuesday.

Berlin sent three Patriot units to eastern Poland in January after a deadly blast struck a Polish village in late 2022. The strike is believed to have been from a stray Ukrainian air defense missile.

Originally, the deployment of the U.S.-made systems was to be for a maximum of six months. But the Defense Ministry said it had offered Poland to keep the systems "over the summer, probably until the end of the year."

However, starting in 2024, the systems would be an important contribution to a NATO rapid response force, the ministry said, adding there would be no extension beyond 2023 for Poland.

Poland initially pushed back against Germany's offer of the Patriot units, instead calling on Berlin to send the weaponry to Ukraine. Germany, which has been a major contributor of weapons to Kyiv, later sent a Patriot system to Ukraine as well.

Rescuers in the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk dug through the rubble of several buildings destroyed by two back-to-back Russian missile attacks Monday that killed at least nine people.

This afternoon, rescue operations in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, after yesterday's missile attack by Russian terrorists, have been completed. Nine people were killed. My condolences to the families and friends, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, adding that 82 people were wounded.

"Everyone is provided with the necessary assistance. There are two children among the wounded," Zelenskyy said in his evening video address.

Pokrovsk is in the Donetsk region, which has been the scene of some of the most intense fighting since Russia launched its invasion in February 2022. Pavlo Kyrylenko, the governor of Donetsk, says the two missiles struck about 40 minutes apart, destroying residential buildings, restaurants, shops and administrative buildings and a hotel popular with foreign journalists, aid workers and the military.

Meanwhile two people were killed in Russian missile strikes in Kruhliakivka village in Kupiansk district, according to Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraines presidential administration.

Some information for this article came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
U.S. Department of the Interior officials are visiting Native American communities to learn about the impact of government-run residential schools on former students and their families. The institutions once suppressed Native cultures, but the few schools that remain now celebrate them. Mike OSullivan reports from Riverside, California.
Pope Francis on Tuesday called for a global reflection on the potential dangers of artificial intelligence (AI), noting the new technology's "disruptive possibilities and ambivalent effects."

Francis, who is 86 and said in the past he does not know how to use a computer, issued the warning in a message for the next World Day of Peace of the Catholic Church, falling on New Year's Day.

The Vatican released the message well in advance, as it is customary.

The pope "recalls the need to be vigilant and to work so that a logic of violence and discrimination does not take root in the production and use of such devices, at the expense of the most fragile and excluded," it reads.

"The urgent need to orient the concept and use of artificial intelligence in a responsible way, so that it may be at the service of humanity and the protection of our common home, requires that ethical reflection be extended to the sphere of education and law," it adds.

Back in 2015, Francis acknowledged being "a disaster" with technology, but he has also called the internet, social networks and text messages "a gift of God," provided that they are used wisely.

In 2020, the Vatican joined forces with tech giants Microsoft MSFT.O and IBM IBM.N to promote the ethical development of AI and call for regulation of intrusive technologies such as facial recognition.
A Moscow court sentenced Russian writer Dmitry Glukhovsky on Monday to eight years in prison, finding him guilty of deliberately spreading false information about Russia's armed forces.

Glukhovsky, who is not in Russia and who was tried in absentia, is best known for writing a science fiction series and is the latest artist to be handed a prison term in a relentless crackdown on dissent in Russia. On Friday, imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was convicted on charges of extremism and sentenced to 19 years in prison.

Shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, lawmakers passed a bill that imposes prison sentences of up to 15 years on those spreading "fake" information that goes against the Russian government's narrative on the war.

Glukhovsky was found guilty of posting texts and videos on his social media channels that accused Russian servicemen of committing crimes in Ukraine and that Russian prosecutors said were fake.

In April 2022, when he was already outside Russia, Glukhovsky wrote that the war in Ukraine, "unleashed by Putin is becoming more terrible and inhuman every day, and the pretexts under which it was started look more and more insignificant and false."

Glukhovsky is a Russian journalist and writer who rose to prominence as an author of a widely popular post-apocalyptic novel, Metro 2033, which was followed by several sequels. Glukhovsky has been vocally critical of the Kremlin and was labeled a "foreign agent" in October 2022.

Also on Monday, Navalny's spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, announced that the politician was placed in solitary confinement immediately after he was convicted on extremism charges.

Yarmysh said Navalny has been placed in solitary confinement for two weeks, bringing his total time in confinement to 207 days. In addition to his 19-year sentence, Navalny is already serving a nine-year term on a variety of charges that he says were politically motivated.
Additional sanctions were levied against Niger on Tuesday, hours after its military leaders rejected the latest diplomatic efforts by a joint delegation from West African states, the African Union and the United Nations.

The junta leaders denied the delegation entry, saying a climate of threatened aggression made it impossible to hold talks on ending the constitutional crisis in Niger, where members of the presidential guard took control and continue to detain democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum and his family.

The West African regional bloc known as ECOWAS has threatened military intervention in Niger unless Bazoum is reinstated, though a Sunday deadline for the coup leaders to comply passed without action.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson on Tuesday said the United States still has hope for reversing Niger's coup but was "realistic.

"We do still have hope, but we are also very realistic," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters. "We do have hope that the situation will be reversed, but at the same time, we are making clear, including in direct conversations with junta leaders themselves, what the consequences are for failing to return to constitutional order.

Late Tuesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrote on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that had spoken to Bazoum to express our continued efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the current constitutional crisis.

The United States reiterates our call for the immediate release of him and his family, Blinken wrote on his official page.

On Monday, Victoria Nuland, a U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs, on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, expressed grave concern at the undemocratic attempts to seize power and urged a return to constitutional order.
Donald Trump's legal team told a judge overseeing the election conspiracy case against him Monday that the prosecutors proposed protective order aimed at preventing the public disclosure of evidence is too broad and would restrict his First Amendment rights.

Lawyers for the early 2024 Republican presidential primary front-runner said the judge should impose a more limited order that would bar the public release only of materials deemed "sensitive"  such as grand jury documents  rather than all evidence handed over by the government in the case accusing Trump of conspiring to overturn his 2020 election loss.

Prosecutors have said a protective order  not unusual in criminal cases  is particularly important in Trump's case because of his penchant for using social media. They have expressed concern that Trump could improperly share sensitive case information online that could have a "harmful chilling effect on witnesses."

In their filing Friday seeking the order, prosecutors included a screenshot of a post from Trump's Truth Social platform that same day in which he wrote, in all capital letters, "If you go after me, I'm coming after you!"

Trump's lawyers said that citing that post to claim there's a danger Trump might publish grand jury information was "a provocative claim when searching for headlines, perhaps, but one that falters under minimal scrutiny."

The former president's legal team said his post was "generalized political speech" and had nothing to do with the case. A Trump spokesperson said last week that the post was in response to "dishonest special interest groups and Super PACs."

Trump's lawyers, who have characterized the case brought by special counsel Jack Smith as an attack on his right to free speech, told the judge that the need to protect sensitive information about the case "does not require a blanket gag order over all documents produced by the government."

"In a trial about First Amendment rights, the government seeks to restrict First Amendment rights," Trump's lawyers wrote. "Worse, it does so against its administration's primary political opponent, during an election season in which the administration, prominent party members and media allies have campaigned on the indictment and proliferated its false allegations."

The defense filing was in response to the request Friday from Smith's team for the protective order, which would impose rules on what Trump and his defense team can do with evidence handed over by the government as they prepare for trial in the case unsealed last week.

Trump's lawyers Saturday had asked for an extra three days to respond to prosecutors' request for the protective order, saying they needed more time for discussion. But Judge Tanya Chutkan swiftly denied that request.

The prosecutors' proposed order seeks to prevent Trump and his lawyers from disclosing materials provided by the government to anyone other than people on his legal team, possible witnesses, the witnesses' lawyers or others approved by the court. It would put stricter limits on "sensitive materials," which prosecutors said would include grand jury witness testimony and materials obtained through sealed search warrants.

Prosecutors said that they are ready to hand over a substantial amount of evidence to Trump's legal team and that much of it includes sensitive and confidential information.

Trump has denied any wrongdoing in the case as well as another federal case brought by Smith that accuses him of illegally hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida.

He has characterized all the cases against him as an effort to take down his 2024 campaign. His legal team has indicated that it will argue that he had relied on the advice of attorneys around him in 2020 and that Trump had a right to challenge an election that he believed had been stolen.

Trump pleaded not guilty last week to four felony counts, including conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and conspiracy to obstruct Congress' certification of Democrat Joe Biden's electoral victory. The charges could lead to a lengthy prison sentence in the event of a conviction, with the most serious counts calling for up to 20 years.

It's the third criminal case brought this year against Trump. But it's the first case to try to hold him responsible for his efforts to remain in power during the chaotic weeks between his election loss and the attack by his supporters on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Smith also charged Trump in June with dozens of felony counts alleging the former president illegally kept classified records after he left the White House and obstructed government efforts to get them back. A new indictment recently unsealed in that case accuses Trump of scheming with Mar-a-Lago staffers to try to delete security footage sought by investigators.

Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart imposed a similar protective order in June that prohibits Trump and his legal team from publicly disclosing evidence turned over to them by prosecutors without prior approval.

Prosecutors are seeking another protective order in that case with more rules about the defense team's handling of classified evidence.
Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit the Iowa State Fair Saturday, a time-honored rite of presidential candidates working for support in the state's leadoff nominating caucuses next January.

Campaign aides Tuesday confirmed Trump's plan to visit the fair Saturday afternoon, on the 10-day event's first weekend. However, he is not planning to participate in a series of GOP presidential candidate conversations hosted by Governor Kim Reynolds, who is popular and influential among Republicans in the leadoff caucus state. Trump criticized her last month.

Trump's first Iowa State Fair visit was a circus of its own in 2015, when the then-emerging 2016 Republican presidential nominee drew hundreds of onlookers and news media as the New York real estate executive waded through the crowds at the fair, a celebration of Midwestern agriculture and rural life.

Saturday's scheduled visit is expected to be different, with the restrictions of free movement that come with the detail of Secret Service protection that accompanies any former president. Still, it was unclear on Tuesday precisely what Trump's campaign team had planned.

It also comes with the latest round of drama, in the wake of Trump's federal indictment last week on felony charges alleging he worked to overturn the results of the 2020 election. It also comes ahead of the first debate, set for August 23, of the 2024 Republican nominating campaign. The former president has not said whether he will attend.

One thing clear from Reynolds' public schedule is that Trump would not be joining her for a State Fair program her political team is putting on called "Fairside Chats," where GOP presidential hopefuls are to meet with the governor for public conversations.

Trump last month criticized Reynolds, who has pledged neutrality in the caucus campaign, for what he complained was her cozy relationship with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' campaign.

Reynolds has introduced DeSantis and his wife, Casey DeSantis, at campaign events, as well as other candidates, including Trump at his first campaign event in Iowa last March. Reynolds introduced South Carolina Senator Tim Scott at a Scott campaign event in suburban Ankeny last month.

Thirteen candidates are participating in the individual public conversations with Reynolds, including DeSantis, Scott, radio host Larry Elder, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, former Vice President Mike Pence, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, businessman Ryan Binkley, businessman Perry Johnson and former Texas Representative Will Hurd.
The United States and Iraq are hoping to take critical steps to expand their partnership from one focused almost entirely on countering the Islamic State (IS) militant group to one some U.S. officials describe as a 360-degree whole-of-government alliance.

Defense officials and diplomats from both countries met at the Pentagon Monday for the start of two days of talks that include a meeting between U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Iraqi Minister of Defense Thabit Muhammad al-Abbasi.

"We recognize  our military mission will change as your forces build up their capabilities," Austin told Abbasi, describing the talks as part of the "next step in our strategic defense partnership."

Speaking through a translator, Abbasi said that while it was crucial to "maintain the victories" Iraqi and U.S. forces had already secured, "[it is] most important now to enhance the relationships and the cooperation between us and the United States moving forward."

"We are very encouraged we are not going to leave Washington without success," he added.

The U.S. has about 2,500 troops in Iraq tasked with advising and assisting Iraqi security forces as they pursue the remnants of the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS or Daesh.

Getting results

U.S. officials say the arrangement, with Iraqi forces in the lead since December 2021, has proven successful. U.S. estimates show IS ranks have been cut to fewer than 1,000 fighters in Iraq while the group's leadership in Iraq has likewise been continually degraded by Iraqi forces.

The payoff has been a 64% reduction in IS attacks in Iraq so far this year, U.S. officials say. And the attacks that have taken place have been less deadly.

"I think it's fair to say decades into the future, U.S. forces will not be present in Iraq in the current formation that we are today," said Dana Stroul, deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, speaking to reporters prior to Monday's talks.

Exactly what the U.S. presence in Iraq might look like has yet to be determined. But the sustained success against IS is paving the way for discussions that could see Washington's relationship with Iraq begin to look more like other U.S. partnerships in the region.

"We are interested in an enduring defense relationship within a strategic partnership  not just a military, not just defense relationship," Stroul said. "We see a whole-of-government strategic partnership for many, many years to come."

U.S. State Department officials say that includes focusing more on the Iraqi economy, noting that some U.S. businesses such as Cinnabon and Burger King have already opened stores in Baghdad.

"That is [a] very strong symbol and signal that they [the Iraqis] want American products and they want American businesses, even if they are franchises," said a State Department official, briefing reporters on the condition of anonymity.

"We would like to continue to expand our engagement on energy, particularly on helping the Iraqis build their greater self-sufficiency in their energy sector," the official added, emphasizing there is a focus on finding ways "to keep young Iraqis employed."

U.S. officials say they have also been encouraged by Iraq's progress in fighting corruption, noting improvements especially in the banking sector, though Washington's decision to blacklist 14 Iraqi banks for alleged money laundering on behalf of Iran sparked protests last month.

Still, the heavy focus is likely to remain on defense cooperation given the ongoing, if somewhat minimized, threat from IS.

"I still believe the reemergence of ISIS is a, is a considerable risk," said Combined Joint Task Force  Operation Inherent Resolve Commander Major General Matthew McFarlane ahead of the U.S.-Iraq talks.

"Their ideology remains unconstrained and is still a threat as they seek to rebuild some capacity and capability to conduct attacks and to regain or reemerge as a, as a significant threat to the population," he said.

And while Iraqi forces have managed to maintain a consistent tempo of anti-IS operations, U.S. military officials still see areas that need to be strengthened, such as using drones and surveillance aircraft to find and eliminate IS targets.

"We are certainly working with them now to optimize the platforms that they have and integrate them into operations," McFarlane said.

A U.S. Defense Department Inspector General report released earlier this month also raised concerns about Iraq's elite Counterterrorism Service, noting it "has not recruited any new soldiers since November 2018."

U.S. officials say work also needs to be done to prepare Iraqi forces to take on security concerns outside the scope of IS and counterterrorism.

And U.S. officials are additionally aware there is competition from other countries that would like to increase security cooperation with Iraq, such as China, Russia and Turkey.

"That's why this dialogue  is so critical," said Stroul. "We have to work with the Iraqis on a holistic picture for bringing all of those [defense and security] resources to bear, plus their vision of their capabilities."
The World Food Program has started distributing food aid in Ethiopia's war-scarred Tigray region in a test of new monitoring measures, the United Nations agency said on Tuesday.

WFP and U.S. aid agency USAID halted food aid to Africa's second-most populous country in June after discovering that supplies were not reaching those in need, raising fears that millions of Ethiopians would be left in desperate straits.

On Tuesday, the U.N. food agency said it had "started distributing 15-kilogram (33-pound) pre-packed bags of wheat to just over 100,000 people" as part of a pilot project with improved monitoring mechanisms.

"On July 31, the World Food Program started testing and verifying enhanced controls and measures for delivering food assistance in four districts of Tigray," it said in a message to AFP.

The new measures include tracking supplies and the digital registration of recipients to prevent aid from falling into the wrong hands.

Millions of Ethiopians are facing severe food shortages following a brutal two-year war in Tigray as well as a punishing drought that has also struck Somalia and parts of Kenya.

A spokesperson for USAID, the U.S. government's main international aid agency, told AFP that U.S. food assistance in Ethiopia remains paused.

"We are committed to resuming food assistance as quickly as possible once we can be confident our assistance is reaching the most vulnerable that it is intended for," the spokesperson said.

The Amhara region, which neighbors Tigray, has also witnessed clashes between a local militia and the national army in recent weeks, affecting humanitarian operations there, according to the World Health Organization.

"WFP also plans to begin registering populations and rolling out the new enhanced control measures for targeted, vulnerable people in Amhara, Afar and Somali regions, as well as other parts of Tigray region, as soon as possible," the agency said.

The escalation in violence in Amhara prompted Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government to declare a six-month state of emergency there last week.

On Tuesday, Ethiopian Airlines canceled flights to Bahir Dar, the capital of Amhara, because of the clashes. Last week, the airline canceled flights to three other airports in the northern region.

The fresh unrest comes nine months after the end of the war in Tigray, which drew in fighters from Amhara.

Tensions have been rising since April, when the federal government announced it was dismantling regional forces across Ethiopia.
Former President Donald Trumps legal woes keep getting worse, and they threaten to jeopardize his presidential bid and personal freedom.

Last week, Trump was indicted on four felony counts in connection with his alleged efforts to reverse his election loss to President Joe Biden in 2020.

This was his third indictment in more than four months  one state and two federal. In all, the former president faces 78 criminal charges.

A fourth indictment is widely expected later this month in the southern U.S. state of Georgia, where a local prosecutor has been investigating Trump and his allies for election meddling in the state.

If convicted of all charges in the three indictments and given the maximum penalty, Trump could face up to 641 years in prison, according to a Politico calculation.

A conviction is not a given, however, and legal experts say the former president could avoid jail time by negotiating plea deals with prosecutors and appealing the verdicts.

Trump has pleaded not guilty in all three cases and termed the charges election interference designed to hurt his presidential run.

His legal troubles have not dented his dominance as the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination. But with at least two criminal trials looming next year, the criminal cases will likely cast a long shadow over the presidential race, as well as the news headlines.

Here is a look at where the cases stand.

Hush money payment

This case, announced in March, made Trump the first and only former American president to be charged with crimes.

On March 30, a Manhattan grand jury indicted him on 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with paying off an adult film star in 2016.

In an unprecedented scene, Trump surrendered to authorities five days later and was arraigned in a Manhattan courthouse.

Trumps lawyers sought to move the case from New York state court to federal court, arguing that his alleged conduct in the case was related to his official duties as president.

But in July, a federal judge rejected the argument, setting the stage for a trial in a state court.

The trial is scheduled for March 25, 2024.

Classified documents

This case, brought by special counsel Jack Smith, marked the first federal indictment of an American president, sitting or former.

The case grew out of Smiths monthslong investigation of Trumps handling of government secrets after he left the White House in January 2021.

On June 8, a grand jury in Miami indicted Trump on 37 felony counts, including 31 counts of illegally retaining national defense information, and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. Trumps valet, Walt Nauta, was also charged. Trump was arraigned on June 13.

In late July, prosecutors unveiled three additional charges and added another co-defendant to the case  Mar-a-Lago maintenance worker Carlos De Oliveira.

Among the new charges, Trump and his two aides are accused of asking another employee to delete security camera footage at the Mar-a-Lago Club to prevent the footage from being provided to a federal grand jury.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to the new charges.

The trial in the case is set to begin May 20, 2024, in Fort Pierce, Florida.

The trial date, set by the presiding judge, Aileen Cannon, was a compromise between a request by prosecutors to schedule the trial for December and Trumps request to put it off until after the presidential election.

2020 election

In what many see as the most damning indictment against Trump, this federal case is focused on the former presidents alleged efforts to subvert the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Last week, Smith issued a four-count indictment, charging Trump with three conspiracy counts and one obstruction count in connection with the scheme.

The indictment stemmed from the Justice Departments massive investigation of the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol by a mob of Trumps supporters.

On August 3, the former president appeared in Washington, D.C., before a federal magistrate judge, who gave prosecutors one week to propose a trial date.

The first hearing in the case before the presiding judge, Tanya Chutkan, has been set for August 28.

After his arraignment, Trump complained on his Truth Social platform that he cant get a fair trial in Washington, a Democratic-leaning city.

A judge would have to approve a change of venue request, and it remains unclear if it will be granted.

Georgia election interference

Trump could face criminal charges in Fulton County, Georgia, where District Attorney Fani Willis has been probing attempts by Trump and his allies to overturn the outcome of the presidential election.

A special grand jury examined the state case and issued a report in January recommending criminal charges.

Willis said shell announce charging decisions by mid-August.

More than a dozen people have been notified by Willis office that they are under investigation, suggesting some or all of them could face charges.

Implications for presidential bid

Although the outcome of the charges remains uncertain, there is a consensus among legal experts that even if convicted, Trump can still run for president.

The U.S. Constitution sets forth three key requirements for presidential candidates: they must be natural-born American citizens, at least 35 years old and residents of the United States for no less than 14 years. However, the Constitution is silent on the question of criminal records or convictions of candidates.

That means Trump could run for president as a convicted felon or even from behind bars, as Eugene V. Debs, the Socialist Party presidential candidate, did more than a century ago.
Ken Bredemeier

WASHINGTON  Former U.S. President Donald Trump is contending that the federal judge randomly picked to oversee the trial accusing him of conspiring to overturn his 2020 election defeat will not be fair to him and should be replaced.

Trump is also arguing the case should be moved out of Washington, where residents have overwhelmingly voted against him in two elections, and prospective jurors would be picked from among registered voters.

Trump, on his Truth Social site, said in all caps on Sunday, "There is no way I can get a fair trial with the judge assigned, referring to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan.

This undated photo provided by the Administrative Office of the US Courts shows US District Judge Tanya Chutkan.

He resumed his attack on Monday, saying that with Chutkan presiding over the case, deranged Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith will be prosecuting the case before his number one draft pick, the Judge of his dreams.

Trump also claimed that thug prosecutors are trying to stifle his comments on the case while at the same time illegally leaking, everything and anything to the mainstream news media.

Despite Trumps comments, his lawyers have not filed requests for Chutkan to recuse herself or for the trial to be moved outside of Washington. Trump attorney John Lauro on Sunday suggested that the trial be held in the eastern state of West Virginia, which Trump easily won in the 2020 election.

Chutkan has given prison sentences to all 38 Trump supporters who appeared in her court to face charges stemming from their roles in the January 6, 2021 riot, when thousands of Trump adherents rampaged into the U.S. Capitol to protest congressional approval of President Joe Bidens victory.

In four of the cases that Chutkan has heard, prosecutors had not asked for any jail time for the defendants. U.S. media outlets have reported that Chutkan, among two dozen federal judges hearing the January 6 cases, has proven to be among the toughest of sentencers.

A federal grand jury in Washington last week handed up a four-count indictment against Trump sought by Smith. Trump pleaded not guilty Thursday before a U.S. magistrate judge, but Chutkan has now assumed control of the case and plans to set a trial date at an August 28 hearing.

The case is being heard at the U.S. federal courthouse in Washington. The courthouse lies just blocks from the White House, where Trump is accused of plotting to illegally upend his election loss, and the Capitol, where then-Vice President Mike Pence oversaw the Electoral College vote count certifying that Biden had won the November 2020 election.

Against Trumps demands, Pence refused to send the vote back to legislatures in states that Biden had narrowly won, in an effort to reverse the result in Trumps favor.

A specially appointed committee in the House of Representatives examined the riot at length in public hearings last year and Chutkan played a role in the committees evidence gathering.



Trump sought to block the release of documents sought by the committee by asserting executive privilege over the material, even though he was no longer president and Biden had cleared the way for the National Archives to turn over the papers. Chutkan ruled that Trump could not claim that his privilege "exists in perpetuity."



Chutkan notably wrote, "Presidents are not kings, and plaintiff is not president."

Trump lawyer John Lauro, appearing on five news talk shows Sunday, suggested that the criminal case be tried in West Virginia, where Trump won 68.6% of the vote against Biden in 2020.

In Washington, Biden won by a 92%-to-5% margin, a worrying factor for Trump because the jurors would be picked from among registered voters if the case remains in the national capital city.

Federal judges overseeing the January 6 cases, including Chutkan, have repeatedly turned down requests for changes of venue. In one case, Chutkan ruled against a defendant who claimed that the jury pool would be politically biased against an accused protester.

Chutkan said the claim was not an appropriate basis for changing venue, writing, Jurors political leanings are not, by themselves, evidence that those jurors cannot fairly and impartially consider the evidence presented and apply the law as instructed by the court.

Trumps complaints against Chutkan came as Lauro rejected the premise of the federal indictment alleging that Trump fraudulently tried to overturn his 2020 reelection loss.

The lawyer said Trumps efforts in trying to keep Congress from certifying Bidens victory amounted to constitutionally protected free speech.

Smiths indictment alleged that Trump conspired to defraud the government to stay in power by getting Pence to block congressional certification of the vote and to send the names of fake electors to Congress supporting Trump in states he narrowly lost to Biden.

When youre engaging in free speech, youre not engaging in fraud on the government, Lauro told CNNs State of the Union show. Anything youre alleging is free speech.

Asking is aspirational; its free speech, he said of Trumps demand that Pence pause the congressional certification of the Electoral College vote on January 6, 2021, for 10 days so legislatures in some states Trump lost could reconsider the outcomes in their states. Mr. Pence rejected that.

The contentious jousting of Trumps trial to come is already on full display. Lauro said he would oppose Smiths bid for a protective order from Chutkan to keep Trump from disclosing sensitive grand jury testimony in the case or other documents indicating who might be witnesses against him at the trial.

Smith sought the protective order after Trump said Friday in all caps on the Truth Social media site he co-owns, If you go after me, Im coming after you! Trumps campaign said the warning was aimed at Trumps Republican political opponents.

Chutkan gave Lauro and other Trump lawyers until 5 p.m. Monday Washington time to respond to Smiths request for the protective order.

We will not agree to keep from the public nonsensitive information, from the press, Lauro said. Im shocked that the press has not lined up against this proposed protective order.

Meanwhile, Trump continued Saturday night to assail Smith and the charge that the former president tried to illegally overthrow the election.

At a political rally in the southern state of South Carolina, Trump said, We call it a sham indictment. They are trying to make it illegal to question the results of an election.

He went on to unleash new attacks on Smith, calling him mentally ill and a sick man.

The election fraud case is the third indictment against Trump in the last four months.

Other cases allege that he illegally hoarded highly classified national security documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida after leaving office and that he illegally altered business records at his family real estate conglomerate, the Trump Organization, to hide a hush money payment to a porn film star ahead of his successful 2016 presidential campaign. He also could soon face new election fraud charges in the southern state of Georgia.

Even with his increasing legal perils, Trump is far and away the leading contender among Republican voters for the partys 2024 presidential nomination. If nominated, he would likely again against Biden, who is seeking a second term.
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA  Two people were fatally shot Monday on a fifth day of violent protests in the South African city of Cape Town  sparked by a dispute last week between minibus taxi drivers and authorities.

A person was killed, and three others were wounded in a shooting near the Cape Town International Airport after a group of protesters pelted a car with stones and the driver responded by firing shots at them, police said. The shooting happened while minibus taxis blockaded a road near the airport, police said.

Police said the shooter would be investigated for murder and attempted murder.

A man died of multiple gunshot wounds in a separate shooting that police said they believed was also related to the protests.

The unrest on the outskirts of South Africa's second-largest city followed an announcement last Thursday of a weeklong strike by minibus taxi drivers, who are angered at what they call heavy-handed tactics by police and city authorities in impounding some of their vehicles.

The taxis' national union has said its members aren't instigating the violence and others are using the strike as an excuse to launch their own protests.

A community safety officer was killed Friday night, with city authorities also linking that officer's death to the protests. Vehicles have been set alight in numerous areas around the outskirts of Cape Town, where large, impoverished townships are often the scene of violent protests. One of the city's depots was firebombed over the weekend, authorities said.

Cape Town is viewed as one of the most beautiful cities in the world and is South Africa's tourist highlight, with its majestic Table Mountain and picturesque Atlantic seaboard.

But the areas on the city's outskirts have some of the highest homicide rates in the country and residents say they have been neglected for years and are now deeply troubled by violence and poverty.

At least 35 people were arrested in the protests Monday that occurred in several areas, city authorities said.

Four city buses, four private vehicles and two trucks were set on fire, while police officers reported being shot at while trying to move minibus taxis that caused another blockade on Cape Town's main highway, said JP Smith, the member of the mayoral committee in charge of safety and security. He also said there was another shooting at a railway station but gave no detail on any casualties.

"There have also been clear attempts to target city staff and infrastructure," Smith said.

Police have been deployed and are on high alert on a 30-kilometer (18-mile) stretch of highway from the edges of the city and out past the airport.
West African leaders say they will meet on Thursday to discuss the crisis in Niger after the countrys military rulers defied a deadline to reinstate the ousted president or face a possible military intervention.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said it would hold an extraordinary summit Thursday in Abuja, the capital of neighboring Nigeria, according to spokesperson Emos Lungu.

After the ECOWAS deadline passed Sunday for Nigers military to stand down and restore President Mohammed Bazoum, military leaders there issued a pledge to defend the country and closed Nigers airspace.

"Niger's armed forces and all our defense and security forces, backed by the unfailing support of our people, are ready to defend the integrity of our territory," a junta representative said in a statement on national television.

The spokesman said any attempt to fly over the country will be met with an energetic and immediate response.

International airlines have begun to divert flights around Niger's airspace. The United Nations said its humanitarian flights have also been grounded because of the closed airspace.

Also Monday, neighboring Mali said it and Burkina Faso would send a delegation of officials to Niger to show support for the military rulers.

Both countries  which have fallen to military coups in recent years  have said military intervention in Niger would be tantamount to a declaration of war.

On Friday, West African defense chiefs drew up a plan for a possible military intervention in Niger if the countrys military leaders did not release and reinstall President Bazoum.

"All the elements that will go into any eventual intervention have been worked out here, including the resources needed, the how and when we are going to deploy the force," Abdel-Fatau Musah, Economic Community of West African States commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, said Friday.

The 15-nation bloc has sent military forces into member states in the past. However, it is not clear if ECOWAS members will support military action in Niger to resolve the current crisis.

Nigerias Senate urged the bloc to focus on political and diplomatic options instead of the use of force.

Italy urged ECOWAS to extend the deadline for the Nigers military leaders back down and called for a diplomatic solution.

"A solution must be found. It's not set that there is no way other than war," Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told La Stampa newspaper.

Nigers military rulers have not shown much interest in negotiating.

An ECOWAS diplomatic delegation that arrived in Niger's capital, Niamey, on Thursday ended up leaving without meeting junta chief General Abdourahamane Tchiani or Bazoum.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reiterated Monday his full support to ECOWAS ongoing mediation efforts, and expressed concern over the continued detention of Bazoum and the failure so far to restore constitutional order in Niger, according to a U.N. spokesperson.

The coup has been widely condemned by the African Union, Western governments and the United Nations. U.S. President Joe Biden called Thursday for Bazoum's immediate release, adding that Niger is "facing a grave challenge to its democracy."

The U.S. paused some aid programs that benefited the government of Niger, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement on Friday. But he said humanitarian and food aid would continue.

The State Department said Monday the paused aid is valued at more than $100 million and includes development assistance, security assistance and law enforcement assistance.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said "hundreds of millions of dollars" in U.S. assistance is at stake if Nigers military leaders do not reinstate the elected government.

He said U.S. officials are still able to communicate with Bazoum and that their most recent contact was Monday. Miller also said there has also been direct U.S. contact with Niger military leaders, urging them to step aside.

Bazoum, who has been under house arrest with his family since July 26, described himself in a Washington Post column Thursday as a hostage, and warned that if the mutiny proved successful, "it will have devastating consequences for our country, our region and the entire world."

He called on "the U.S. government and the entire international community to help us restore our constitutional order."

On July 26, Tchiani, the former head of Niger's presidential guard, declared himself the countrys new leader, saying the power grab was necessary because of ongoing insecurity in the country caused by an Islamist insurgency.

Niger has been a partner in the fight against counterterrorism in the Sahel, where militants linked to al-Qaida and Islamic State are operating. Both the United States and France have troops in Niger focused on counterterror operations.

Last week, Nigers military leaders read a decision on national television ending bilateral military agreements with France, Nigers former colonial ruler.

It is not clear what will happen to the French military presence consisting of 1,500 troops or the 1,000 U.S. military personnel in the country.

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
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Nelson Chamisa of the Citizens Coalition for Change consoling the family of the late Tinashe Chitsunge, who was stoned to death by suspected Zanu PF activists last week. (Video: Godwin Mangudya)
Nelson Chamisa of the Citizens Coalition for Change crying foul over the killing of CCC activist, Tinashe Chitsunge, who was stoned to death by suspected Zanu PF supporters in Harare last week. He said there is no need for political violence in Zimbabwe. (Video: Godwin Mangudya(
One on One with Joe Korkowski, is heard Saturdays on KXRA-1490AM / 100.3fm/105.7fm (@7:40am) and KXRA-92.3FM (@7:00am), as well as each Sunday morning on KXRZ Z99.3fm (@10:15am).

The interview is also re-broadcast on Monday mornings on KX92 at 10:00am and on Z99 at 9:10am.
Photo: Lilly Lawrence/Getty Images

Travis Scott pulled off his Ye-esque performance of Utopia with help from Ye. Scott performed his Billboard album chart-topping album, interspersed with hits from previous albums, in Romes Circus Maximus. (The actual Roman ruin, not to be confused with Scotts film of the same name.) According to Pitchfork, Scott welcomed Kanye West onto the stage, his first performance after his antisemitic rants on social media. There is no Utopia without Kanye West. There is no Travis Scott without Kanye West. There is no Rome without Kanye West. Make some noise for Ye, Scott said, before the pair went into Yes Cant Tell Me Nothing. Other non-Utopia tracks Scott performed included Highest in the Room, Mafia, and Butterfly Effect.

The rollout for Utopia has been anything but, getting underway as the Astroworld tragedy continues to be litigated through the courts. Scott had originally announced that he would be performing at the Pyramids of Giza on the albums release date. Livenation eventually pulled the plug on that plan, citing complex production issues. Does Travis Scott have more wonders of the ancient world to visit, and will Ye be coming along? We do not yet know.
Oof, this episode is heavy and upsetting, to say the least. An overwhelming amount of crew-related situations occur, and its extremely bone-chilling to witness two instances of attempted sexual assault happen in a matter of minutes. Im sort of at a loss for words, but nevertheless, I persist. Lets get into the events of the second half of this weeks dark double-header.

The episode picks up where the last left off: with Luke retreating to his room after production caught him climbing into Margots bed while she was asleep. Laura checks in on him, and he tells her that he did nothing wrong to Margot and doesnt understand why the producers were interfering. At the same time, Aesha checks on Margot and tells her what just happened with Luke, and Margot confirms that she didnt give her consent to him.

Afterward, Laura joins Harry, Tzarina, Culver, and Adam in the jacuzzi. She once again gets very touchy with Adam, rubbing her back on his legs, clinging onto his back, and rubbing her body against his. Adam tells her no and to stop touching him several times, and hes clearly frustrated that she isnt leaving him alone. Laura then follows Adam back to his bunk, where she puts lotion on his back and begins giving him a massage after climbing into his bed, despite his constant refusal. The producers interfere and tell her to get out, but she continues trying to kiss and massage him until the producers finally get her to leave.

Im disgusted, and I feel horrible for Adam. To watch her do this to him, especially moments after Luke tried to assault Margot, made my stomach drop. Whats worse is that he feels like he shouldnt speak out about whats happening because he doesnt want to make things awkward or lead to her getting fired, even though she absolutely should (and eventually does).

Aesha, visibly shaken and in tears, wakes up Captain Jason and informs him about the Luke situation. Captain Jason asks if Margot is safe and then comforts Aesha, who tells him that its hard for her to see people get taken advantage of. She then shares with us that she has sexual-assault trauma from an experience similar to what Margot has just gone through. I could feel her pain when she was speaking to Captain Jason. Captain Jason immediately grabs a spare key to unlock Lukes door and tells him to leave and spend the rest of the night in a hotel.

The following morning, Margot tells Laura about what Luke did, and Laura says, Was his dick standing? Imagine that being your first thought? What an awful, awful human being. Aesha, Tzarina, and Margot then chat in Aeshas cabin, where they tell Margot everything that happened. Margots first instinct is to blame herself for being drunk and flirty, which is upsetting since Luke was the one who did something wrong, not her. Like Tzarina reminds her, women should be allowed to get drunk without the fear of being harmed. My heart breaks for Margot, but at least she had a good support system surrounding her.

Captain Jason then calls for a crew meeting to address Lukes absence and informs them that hes going to be fired, stressing the importance of consent and respect among the crew. Laura, unsurprisingly, only cares about the fact that she cant say bye to him. Luke returns to the boat, where Jason informs him that his employments been terminated and that he needs to pack and leave immediately. Good riddance! When Laura tells Harry that shes sad about Lukes departure, Harry says that he feels worse for Margot and that they need to focus on caring for her. The bar is on the floor, but Im proud to see that the rest of the men on board are all concerned for Margot and agree that Luke is a piece of shit who deserves to get fired (and worse if were being honest).

The same cannot be said about Laura, who spends the day expressing how sad she is not for Margot, but for Luke. Given that Laura also disregards consent and wasnt respectful of Adams boundaries, I cant say Im surprised that she feels bad for Luke. Paraphrasing wont cut it, so heres what she says directly to Margot, whos literally in the midst of processing a traumatic experience: Aw, poor Luke. I should have just kept him happy. If he comes naked in my cabin, Id be like, Hello! Yes! Like, what the hell??? She then says, We all feel bad, but he feels the worst right now. Lauras insensitive response to Margot is sickening. The lack of empathy she has for Margot  and the blatant support and sympathy shes showing for Luke, who doesnt even give two shits about her  is very telling of what type of person she is.

Meanwhile, down in the laundry room, Aesha tells Adam that shes noticed how intense Laura has been acting toward him and to tell her if anything is wrong. In a world full of Lauras, be an Aesha, who recognizes that Adam was being sexually harassed and wanted to help. He says that he feels he should be more stern with her instead of playing nice, but I think telling Jason that shes creating a toxic work environment is the best move.

With no bosun for the day, Culvers tasked with leading the deck crew, but unfortunately he doesnt quite pull it off. He doesnt give the boys clear directions, and both Harry and Adam share in confessionals that they think theyll be fucked because Culver lacks the initiative thats required of a successful bosun. I guess Culver should stick to what he knows best, which is keeping guests entertained.

Anyway, back to Laura and her increasingly awful comments. First, she complains to Aesha about how she didnt get to say goodbye to Luke and pretty much says that she doesnt think the situation was serious enough to warrant him being fired. In a confessional, she shares that she thinks he shouldve gotten a second chance. At what? Trying to sexually assault someone? Then in the laundry room, she tells Margot that she feels sad for Luke because she thinks he meant it as a joke and that he wouldnt rape you or anything. As if that wasnt bad enough, she implies that Margot didnt refuse his advances and that he felt welcomed coming to her cabin. Margot quite literally told him she wanted to sleep, and he hovered over her in bed while naked. How much clearer could she possibly have been? There arent enough words to express how much hatred I have for Laura.

Margot informs Aesha about Lauras inappropriate comments, and Aesha immediately makes Captain Jason aware of how Lauras making Margot feel worse. She also mentions Lauras unwanted pursuit of Adam, which Adam confirms when Captain Jason asks him about it. Captain Jason then calls Laura to the bridge, where he reprimands her for being insensitive toward Margot  which she denies, saying that she was checking in on Margot  and then fires her. Laura tells him that hes making a mistake and, in her final confessional, says that it isnt good leadership on his part. Thats obviously wrong because everyone  the crew, me, and probably all of you  feels a collective relief once shes gone. Weve waited for this moment for so long, and its finally here. We never have to see their faces again. Manifestation works!

Margot tells us that shes thankful to be surrounded by a group of people who comfort her and make her feel safe during such a difficult situation, which warms my heart. I want to give a shoutout to Captain Jason and Aesha, whose actions throughout this episode were truly admirable. Aesha is such a genuine and kind-hearted soul, and her support for both Margot and Adam was heroic. And good on Captain Jason for listening to his crews concerns and experiences without ever invalidating their feelings, for firing Luke and Laura without hesitation, and for prioritizing the well-being of his team.

In addition to other things revealed in the mid-season preview  including a new stew named Jamie who takes a liking to Culver, Margot drinking on charter, and porn star guests  we learn that Joao, who previously worked as bosun on Below Deck Mediterranean, will be joining the cast. Ill hold off on sharing all my feelings about this until the episode with his return officially airs, but let me leave you all with this: choosing to replace Luke with another problematic crew member is certainly a bold choice.
Tourists continue to deface historic landmarks in Italy.

Italian police on Monday detained a 19-year-old French tourist after she carved a love heart with her initials and those of her boyfriend into the facade of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Police intervened after an employee of the 12th-century landmark observed the tourist using her serpentine bracelet as a sharp tool to scratch into the stone on the seventh tier of the famed tower in Tuscany.

The tourist was taken to the police station and admitted her responsibility, telling officers that she engraved the initial of her first name and that of her boyfriend in the heart drawing.

She now faces charges of aggravated damage to a building of historic and cultural importance, an offence that can carry a penalty of up to one year in jail or a fine of around 2,000, according to La Repubblica newspaper.

The tourist reportedly expressed her surprise that what she had done was a crime, telling officers: "There were other things written. I didn't think I was doing anything wrong."

In 2019 two American brothers, both medical doctors in their 30s, were caught using a coin to carve the name "Jeffy" into the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Earlier this summer the Colosseum in Rome suffered a spate of vandalism, most notoriously by a tourist who smiled at the camera as he was filmed carving "Ivan+Hayley" into a wall of the amphitheatre.

After police tracked him down and informed him that he risked up to five years in jail and a fine of 15,000, the tourist begged for forgiveness and claimed he was unaware the Colosseum was an ancient site.
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You can think of the unfolding disaster in Niger in four ways, from embarrassing to ominous, catastrophic and apocalyptic. Embarrassing, because the countrys coup on July 26 is blowback for a clueless West: Neither the hapless former colonial power, France, nor the waning superpower, the US, saw this coming. Ominous, because its a windfall for Russia and China, as they vie with the West for influence in the region and world. Potentially catastrophic, because its a setback in the struggle against jihadist terrorism and uncontrolled migration. Possibly apocalyptic, if it marks a slide into world war.

And all this because a general heard that he might be fired and decided instead to oust the leader he was meant to protect. That  not ideology, not geopolitics, not the world food crisis, not anything large, but a staffing problem  is the immediate reason for Nigers coup, the fifth since its independence from France in 1960.

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It brings to more than half a dozen the putsches in the region just since 2020, including two each in Mali and Burkina Faso, and others in Guinea and Sudan. Chaos now reigns from the Atlantic to the Red Sea. If there is hell on Earth, its the Sahel, the arid and wretched savannas south of the Sahara.

The Nigerien generals name is Abdourahamane (Omar) Tchiani. As commander of the presidential guard, he was supposed to protect President Mohamed Bazoum, elected in 2021 and a rare American ally in the Sahel. But when Bazoum mused about replacing Tchiani, the general showed up with his junta and goons. Bazoum fled across the hall from his office into a safe room. Holed up, hes been begging the outside world for help, even dictating an op-ed article in the Washington Post by phone.

If the coups in Burkina Faso and Mali are any guide, heres whatll happen next. Nigers junta will kick out French and American troops stationed there and throw itself into the arms of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the Wagner Group, a ruthless Russian mercenary army. Even as the Nigerien revolt was underway, Putin was hosting other pliant African leaders in St. Petersburg, schmoozing them into supporting, or at least not opposing, his war against Ukraine.

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Prigozhin also showed up in St. Petersburg for photo ops with the African leaders. That may seem surprising, since the Wagner boss is supposed to be in Belarusian exile, in punishment for his short-lived mutiny in June. Apparently, though, Putins interests in the Sahel trump his concerns about Prigozhin.

For years, the Wagner Group has been fighting for the worst kind of people in Africa, hawking its services in return for concessions to diamonds or other riches of the soil. Putin blesses these Wagner operations and atrocities because hell do anything to pry countries away from the US.

In that way, Putin  like his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping  views the Sahel as just another front line in his civilizational struggle against the US-led West. Others run through Ukraine, obviously, but also Asia and the Arctic  last week, a combined Russian and Chinese flotilla sailed provocatively close to Alaska.

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Putin is particularly drawn to the Sahel because the region can destabilize the West in many ways at once. It has become the global epicenter of terrorism, as groups such as Boko Haram and the local branches of the Islamic State move into the power vacuums left by coups, ethnic uprisings, banditry and Wagner mercenaries. To fight the terrorists, Western countries, and notably France and the US, have stationed troops in the few places that remain cooperative. Niger has been among the most important, housing an American drone base. Without a Western presence, therell be nothing to stop the terrorists.

Putin loves that prospect. Itll cause even more suffering and even greater migrations northward and toward the European Union, which he loathes and wants to destabilize. Thats also a reason Putin has weaponized grain, which hes preventing Ukraine from exporting, fully aware that his blockade causes hunger in places like Africa.

The cynicism on the part of Putin and Prigozhin is breathtaking. Even as hes starving other Africans by bombing Ukrainian grain depots, Putin promised the ones who showed up in St. Petersburg free Russian grain instead  in amounts the United Nations considers risible. Prigozhin went on Telegram to praise the Nigerien junta for its righteous struggle against their countrys colonizers, by which he apparently means the French and Americans.

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The willful gullibility of their African audiences is just as shocking. It should be plain to all countries in the region, and indeed every human alive, that Russia is the cause of the worlds food crisis, and that Putin is nowadays the colonizer fighting an imperialist war of subjugation in Ukraine.

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What can the rest of the world do? Hard to say. The African Union and the West have of course condemned the putsch. The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), a bloc led by Nigeria, has stopped trade with Niger and shut off Nigerian electricity exports to it.

Ecowas even issued the junta an ultimatum to restore Bazoum to power or face military intervention. On cue, the pro-Russian regimes in Burkina Faso and Mali answered that theyd then come to the aid of the new leaders in Niger. With Russians in the second row on one side and Americans on the other, wed be in another proxy war, and another step closer to World War III.

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For now, Nigeria and the other Ecowas countries appear to have calculated that the risk is too great  they let their ultimatums deadline pass on Sunday without sending soldiers. The US and France are also unlikely to take up arms for Bazoum. They fear that Niger could be the next Iraq or Afghanistan, or worse, that they might end up shooting at Russians and igniting a global conflagration.

As I said, blowback. The US and its allies have for years neglected the region diplomatically. Of late, Washington hasnt even had ambassadors to Niger or Nigeria. Senator Rand Paul has until recently been blocking nominees to force the White House to release information on Covid-19; a new ambassador to Niger was confirmed only the day after the coup.

Politics must once again stop at the waters edge. As Putin and Xi see it, were already in the next world war, even if nobodys declared it yet or started shooting directly at the other side. The US, Europe and the wider West must support Africa  and indeed the whole Global South  not just now, but from now on. We have to make it easier for the world not just to stare down juntas, but to resist the dark side in geopolitics.

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More From Bloomberg Opinion:

 Putin and Wagner Are Still Gunning for Africa: James Stavridis

 Russia Outnumbers the US 10-to-1 in Tactical Nukes. Now What?: Andreas Kluth

 Wagner Is Losing Its Grip on Africa, Too: Bobby Ghosh

(Corrects status of US ambassador to Niger in 17th paragraph.)

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Andreas Kluth is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering US diplomacy, national security and geopolitics. A former editor in chief of Handelsblatt Global and a writer for the Economist, he is author of Hannibal and Me.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
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The head of Nigers presidential guard has declared himself the new leader of the uranium-rich country, a linchpin in the fight by Western and African forces against the spread of Islamist militancy across the Sahel. The move follows five successful coups in the past three years across the impoverished region. If the latest power grab succeeds  which looks likely  it would create a belt of military-run countries stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea  most of which are more closely aligned to Russia than to the West.

1. What happened in Niger?

General Abdourahamane Tiani appeared on state television on July 28 to name himself leader two days after his soldiers said they had detained President Mohamed Bazoum. The head of the army backed the coup, saying he wanted to avoid bloodshed. But the Economic Community of West African States, a 15-nation regional bloc, condemned the action and threatened to use force to restore the democratically elected leader. The African Union, the US, France and others suspended some aid and called for the immediate release and reinstatement of Bazoum, who hasnt resigned. The coup leaders have closed Nigers airspace to most flights, saying the step was to counter the threat of foreign intervention.

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2. What makes Niger strategically significant?

It has been a relative bastion of stability in one of the worlds most insecure regions and a key western ally. The US has a military drone base in the country, which it used to target insurgents affiliated with al-Qaeda and Islamic State in cooperation with the French military. The European Union also sees Niger as an ally in its efforts to tackle illegal immigration from Africa, some of which passes northward through the country en route to the Mediterranean. The bloc gave Niger $1.1 billion in aid between 2017 and 2020, with a quarter of the money aimed at migration control measures. Niger  more than twice the size of France  ranks among the least-developed countries and has one of the highest birth rates in the world.

3. Why has the region been so prone to coups?

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The events in Niger follow two coups each in neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso and another in nearby Guinea. The leader of Sudan in the eastern Sahel was overthrown in 2021, the same year Chads military replaced its late president with his son, an army general. All the military takeovers have been rooted in the economic malaise and weak governance that have fed frustration among civilians and  in West Africa in particular  the spread of extremist violence. However, despite claims by the new strongmen that they are tackling insecurity, the number of people killed in the Sahel region surged in the first half of the year, with much of the region now under military rule.

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4. What are the implications for the broader region and the fight against terrorism?

The coups in Mali and Burkina Faso saw their governments replaced by juntas that are hostile to ex-colonial power France, which had led the fight against extremism in the region for a decade, and are more friendly with Russia. Mali and Burkino Faso kicked out French troops and hired mercenaries from the Kremlin-linked Wagner Group. Niger has seen its role as the Wests most important regional ally grow as a result  but the new junta has severed its security ties with France.

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5. What are the economic stakes?

Niger is Africas second-biggest uranium producer, and exports most of its output to France, according to the World Nuclear Association. It produced 2,020 tons of the metal last year. Its unclear whether the coup will affect production, but all the other countries that have experienced military takeovers in recent years are resource-rich, and few have seen major disruption to mining operations despite the changes in power. In his statement, Tiani asked for support from Nigers international partners and vowed to honor its agreements with them.

--With assistance from Katarina Hoije.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
He points to Doves Real Beauty campaign, which encouraged women of all shapes and sizes to celebrate their bodies. Well, whats the masculinity version or the male version of that? Like other founders of the same millennial cohort as Thankyou Group and Who Gives A Crap, Johnson doesnt think profit and social good are mutually exclusive, and sees todays global consumer voting with their dollars. Products are quickly becoming a way that we can show our values, he said. Supporting young mens mental health is obviously good for him, but its great for his relationships. Were seeing so many mums or significant others buying STUFF as a gift because [they] know its not just good for mental health, but good for equality at the same time. Hunter Johnson and STUFF investor Ian Thorpe. Credit: Renee Nowytarger

Product, purpose, and profits Johnson quickly realised there were two things he had to nail to create a successful brand: the quality of the product itself, and to communicate its purpose effectively. On the product front, he has leaned on his book of extensive contacts, a network of high-profile Man Cave supporters with backgrounds in consumer goods including executives from Unilever, Coca-Cola, and Afterpay. STUFFs formulation has been developed in consultation with a former head of product at Aesop. The next step is to get in front of as many eyeballs as possible, and the brand has taken major strides on that front: STUFF is stocked in Woolworths, Priceline, The Shaver Shop, IGA and Terry White, with ambitions to conquer the rest. STUFF also made headlines for being the first mens brand to be stocked by global beauty retailer Sephora.They came to us, Johnson said. To do the mass market and the premium channel is kind of unheard of. Now Johnson is asking the public to pitch in to help it achieve scale. With the goal of crowdfunding $3.5 million in total, more than $1.6 million of this has already been given by high net worth investors, and Johnson hopes mum and dad investors will make up the difference. STUFF, operating with a team of five, is aiming to hit profitability within two years.

The brands greatest challenge is competing with long-time industry stalwarts LOreal and Nivea. Their market incumbency is both an opportunity and an obstacle: while it means the mens personal care space is ripe for disruption by a youthful new entrant, it also means getting the product in front of male consumers is one matter. Getting them to actually buy it is another. Loading People have been buying the other conglomerate brands for years. There [are] years of trust, safety, reliability. To earn the right for them to switch is like a chasm they have to jump over. But conquering the domestic market first remains the key milestone, before Johnson takes the brand to the rest of the world. Hes already fielding interest from international distribution groups in Asia. You gotta prove youre going to win on your own home turf before you earn the right to look elsewhere.
The magic portal would typically materialise on the bus. Too imposing to fit in a schoolbag, it would arrive under a careful arm: some gatefold conundrum by Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin or someone stranger. This is how music announced itself in the 1970s. A heavy, 12-inch-square head-trip foreshadowing unknown pleasures.

The poor mans art collection, is how Noel Gallagher describes the tactile wonders of the vinyl era in Squaring the Circle (The Story of Hipgnosis). It was later LP sleeves by the Smiths and the Jam he recalls turning his own bus trips to reveries. But youll find little debate from him or anyone else about who defined the golden age of album art.

Filmmaker Anton Corbijn Credit: Stefan Vanfleteren

The importance of Hipgnosis is obvious, states Anton Corbijn, Zooming in from a remote corner of Ibiza. The Dutch photographer and filmmaker (Control, The American) made the documentary about the seminal London design duo premiering at MIFF next week as a pandemic project.

Its not that I like all the stuff they do, but some of the stuff theyve done I absolutely love and admire and [it was] very significant for me when I grew up, he says. On a technical level they were amazing. The way they connected visuals to music  on something like Houses of the Holy or Wish You Were Here, I mean, these are pretty amazing sleeves.
Glam metal band KISS has said they are ready and able to rock out at the AFL grand final half-time entertainment show if the league decides to consider them.

The US band  which consists of founding members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, as well as Tommy Thayer (guitar) and Eric Singer (drums)  expressed interest in taking on the MCG after Crowded House reportedly pulled out on Monday, just 54 days before the show. The AFL had never announced Crowded House would perform.

Paul Stanley on stage with KISS, the band he co-founded in 1973. Credit: Supplied

KISS Australian tour promoter, Andrew McManus, said he called the band as soon as rumours of their Melbourne appearance began swirling.

I wanted to make sure they were 1) into it and 2) available to come to Australia four to five days earlier. The answer to both was yes, McManus said. The public is crazy about the idea of KISS. The amount of people that have called me  the KISS Army, the fans  since the rumours started, it just makes sense.
Its been over a year since Netflix released Jeen-Yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy, the three-part documentary series about Ye, formerly known as Kanye West. Rather than being a holistic portrait of Yes life and times (and controversies), Jeen-Yuhs was focused on the come-up. It told the story of a freakishly talented Chicago kid who would forever leave his imprint on music, art, fashion and culture.

Where Jeen-Yuhs didnt go is precisely where a new documentary, The Trouble With KanYe begins, picking up the story in 2016 following the cancellation of Yes Saint Pablo Tour after a series of onstage breakdowns. In the aftermath of the abandoned tour, Ye was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, coinciding with a religious awakening.

Rapper Kanye West, now known as Ye, is the subject of a new documentary, The Trouble With KanYe West. Credit: Washington Post photo by Calla Kessler

Written and presented by award-winning journalist Mobeen Azhar, The Trouble With KanYe examines the period between 2016 and the present day, where Ye has become associated with the far-right.

From dining at Mar-a-Lago with Donald Trump and white nationalist Nick Fuentes, to praising Hitler on Alex Joness Infowars, the documentary explores how Ye ended up in this position and what might happen next.
Its not just Hollywood actors and writers who have had enough. About 50 reality-TV stars are standing behind former Real Housewives of New York fan-favourite Bethenny Frankel, as she fights for better pay and conditions in the notoriously exploitative reality TV sector.

After two high-profile Hollywood attorneys  Bryan Freedman and Mark Geragos  were enlisted by Frankel last week to send a letter to NBCUniversal and its subsidiary Bravo, in which they accused the networks of subjecting its reality stars to grotesque and depraved mistreatment, dozens of other reality stars have raised similar concerns. From docuseries to competition shows, performers have claimed they are being used and unfairly treated by television networks and streamers, according to Variety.

Bethenny Frankel is leading the charge for better reality-TV star protections. Credit: AP

These individuals have been mentally, physically and financially victimised by NBC and threatened with ruin should they decide to speak out about their mistreatment, the lawyers wrote. As a result, the sordid and dark underbelly of NBCs widely consumed reality-TV universe has remained under wraps for far too long. Please be advised that the day of reckoning has arrived.

Frankel  who starred on The Real Housewives of New York for eight seasons  began voicing concerns after watching Hollywood actors and writers strike for fairer remuneration and streaming residuals. She argued reality stars should unionise and demand residual-like payments when their shows are replayed by networks or streamers across platforms.
Dr Gail Iles, a physicist from RMIT University, said there was a chance the fireball was a meteor, as the sighting coincided with this weekends Perseid meteor shower, but its far more likely that this is a piece of a rocket. The common consensus seems to be that the Russians launched a Soyuz rocket from Plesetsk  thats their northern launch site in Russia  and they were launching a navigation satellite at exactly the time that everyone would have seen this space debris, Iles said on 3AW. The United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency website shows a HYDROPAC navigational warning was issued days ago for space debris tracking over the western South Pacific Ocean. So if you look at that space track, then you will see that it passes directly over Australia, it passes over South Australia into Victoria, and then kind of bends around over Tasmania, and is likely to have ended up in the ocean, Iles said.

Iles said the Russian satellite was launched about 10pm AEST on Monday. The sighting over Melbourne was likely to be of the second-stage rocket returning to Earth after burning out roughly 170 kilometres above the ground, she said. It is steadily decreasing size, so the thing that we saw was probably one to two metres by that point. And I would say by the time it hit the ocean, it was much smaller, Iles said. Associate Professor Alice Gorman, a space archaeologist from Flinders University, said Victorians and Tasmanians saw an identical rocket  which weighs 105 tonnes and is 25 metres long  burning-up in May 2020. She said any remnants of this rocket wouldve ended up in the sea after last nights spectacular fireworks show.

There were also reports of a sonic boom and people felt their houses shake, Gorman said. Although it was moving much slower than a meteor, the rocket was still fast enough to break the sound barrier. When the US Skylab space station fell back to Earth over Western Australia in 1979, there was also a sonic boom and farmers reported animals being agitated. Loading Associate Professor Michael Brown, from the School of Physics and Astronomy at Monash University, said it was rare for space junk to damage property, although another Soyuz rocket re-entered over Melbourne back in 2014, and some pieces of the rocket were found in rural NSW afterwards.

Space junk re-entries are sometimes confused with meteors, which are also spectacular but usually far shorter events as they slam into the atmosphere at over 10 kilometres per second, Brown said. As orbital rocket launches have increased over the past decade, and everyone has cameras in their phones, more and more people are seeing space junk re-entries and recognising them for what they are. Iles, a lecturer at RMIT, said a shallow angle of re-entry helped Victorians view the space debris burn across the sky for a considerable amount of time. The physicist added: This was very controlled. This was predicted. It has been announced on the HYDROPAC website for days. We were going to see this for sure.

Duffy, the Swinburne University astronomer, said reports of people hearing sounds from the nighttime fireball were extraordinary. He said space junk re-entering the atmosphere usually prompted planes in the area to be put on hold to avoid an unlikely  but not impossible  midair collision. Professor Richard de Grijs, a Macquarie University astrophysicist and executive director of the International Space Science Institute  Beijing in China, said the chances of a piece of space junk falling back to Earth were increasing year-on-year. Astronauts on their way to or at the International Space Station or, for that matter, those travelling to Tiangong, the Chinese Space Station, are more and more at risk of being hit by random bits of junk, de Grijs said.
The government will also use money set aside to establish local Aboriginal consultation groups required under the 2021 Act to undertake a proactive program of heritage survey planning across the state rather than putting the onus on landowners. WAs 2021 Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act spent six years in development but just 39 days in operation, having taken effect on July 1. Amendments to the 1972 Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act The newly formed Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Council (which includes prominent West Australians such as Ken Wyatt) will take on the role of the committee established under the 1972 Act to make recommendations to the minister.

Proponents and Native Title parties will have the same right of review for section 18 decisions, with clear timelines and an ability for the Premier to call-in a decision state significance to act in the interests of all West Australians.

When a section 18 has been approved there will be a requirement for the owner to notify the minister of any new information about an Aboriginal site  an important reform to help prevent another Juukan Gorge incident.

Outlaw gag orders in indigenous land use agreements preventing Aboriginal groups from speaking about threats to cultural heritage. The backflip follows months of anger from the states farming sector, which struggled to grapple with the new requirements for landowners with properties larger than 1100 square metres to undertake in-depth heritage assessments and apply for permits to alter or destroy land with cultural significance. Some farmers had received quotes of tens of thousands of dollars to have this work done.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Tony Buti also apologised for the furore and said a complete scrapping of the act and simple changes to the old act was the best way forward. Our government has decided the best course of action is to repeal the 2021 act and reinstate the 1972 act, weve targeted simple amendments aimed at ensuring that there is no further destruction of cultural heritage, he said. Both Cook and Buti stridently defended the 2021 act against opposition scrutiny even after it came into effect on July 1, but refused to be drawn on this commentary on Tuesday. Labor has always been the party in government that stands out for the most disadvantaged in our community, and Im very proud of that track record and thats one that we continue, Cook said when asked to reflect on comments he made that the opposition was a dog returning to its vomit in parliament in June. WA Attorney-General John Quigley trumpeted his governments decision to scrap the act but conceded he had never witnessed the repeal of an act so soon after it came into operation.

Loading Quigley said the backlash was the result of unintended consequences of the government attempting to stop another Juukan Gorge from happening. I think this all is really a masterclass in the perils of the unintended consequence, he said. Ive got nothing but complimentary praise for the premier whos come here today and said it was wrong. As the new Premier, hell set it right. Thats historic in Western Australia.

Sucked in, Roger Reaction to the governments decision has been mixed, with the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura people  who were at the centre of the Juukan Gorge tragedy  lashing the governments decision. PKKP land and heritage manager Dr Jordan Ralph said reverting to the culturally inappropriate 1972 legislation was among the worst decisions for Aboriginal cultural heritage protection the country had seen. The PKKP are outraged that they, and Traditional Owners in Western Australia, are back to square one, and the Cook Government is reverting to laws that allowed to destruction of Juukan Gorge, he said. The PKKP has written to Buti demanding clarification on the decision.

Loading This is nothing short of a cluster and again, First Nations people are being treated as second class citizens in their own Country, Ralph said. The opposition was jubilant. Former Aboriginal affairs minister and Liberal MP Peter Collier blamed what he called WA Labors contempt for the opposition and parliament. Sucked in, Roger. Now lets see what youve got to say, he said outside Parliament House. This is a complete unmitigated disaster, he said.

And responsibility rests entirely at the feet of the Labor Party. Opposition planning spokesman Neil Thompson questioned the governments framing the backflip as listening to the people. I think its a statement by force, its the force of the community that has said you shall listen otherwise, we shall kick you out in 2025. Thats really what I think has happened here, he said. Kimberley Land Council chief executive Tyronne Garstone told the ABC Indigenous groups in the Kimberley did not support the 2021 act. It didnt go far enough and it was too bureaucratic, he said.

Ultimately, the principle should be that Aboriginal people are the experts around cultural heritage. They should be at the forefront when it comes to the destruction of cultural heritage. Association of Mining and Exploration Companies chief executive Warren Pearce welcomed the governments decision. While our members have put significant time and effort into implementing the soon-to-be repealed legislation, ultimately, we believe this is the right decision, and our members will be pleased with the change, he said. Cook not pressured by federal Labor on Voice The furore over WAs laws leached into the Voice debate, with opponents piggybacking off the controversy to warn Australians off any constitutional change.

Cook said he was not pressured by his federal Labor colleagues to scrap the act to give the Voice debate clean air in WA, which looks likely to vote down the proposal according to recent polling. Neither Cook nor Buti would not be drawn on the impact the heritage laws had on the Voice debate in WA. WA Senator Michaelia Cash said on Saturday the federal government should take notice of the chaos in the west and be cautious with any laws they proposed. The chaos that was caused in Western Australia is an indication of what could happen if a Voice to Parliament is enshrined in our constitution, she said. You can scrap a bad law, but you cant change the constitution once you have altered it. At the Garma Festival in Arnhem Land on Saturday, Yes 23 campaign director Dean Parkin welcomed news of the Cook governments decision.
Its never great when youre reading about someone being sued for doing terrible things and you think ... um, Ive done that. Or at least, Ive done some of it.

The someone in question here is Lizzo. Last week it was revealed the American musician is being sued by three of her tour dancers for a range of alleged incidents that fall under the banner of sexual harassment and creating a hostile working environment, including subjecting them to a 12-hour audition, and pressuring them about weight gain. Lizzo has called the allegations false.

Lizzo performing at Melbournes Rod Laver Arena last month. Credit: Martin Philbey

But it was the bit about Amsterdam that really caught my attention. The lawsuit claims that, earlier this year at an Amsterdam club, Lizzo allegedly began inviting cast members to take turns touching the nude performers, plus a few other activities involving dildos and bananas, and Lizzo yelling take it off when one of her security staff was invited up on stage.

This is awkward. Because all those things, pretty much word for word, were part and parcel of the European tour experience when I worked on them back in the early 2000s.
Loading But Beijing simply ignored the ruling and, in the years since, has kept applying physical pressure to the territories also claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan in the South China Sea, one of the worlds greatest commercial arteries. But the pressure is always beneath the threshold of traditional, kinetic war. The result? Over time, says the Lowy Institutes China expert, Richard McGregor, China is winning. In Saturdays example, the Philippines, a US ally, set out to resupply a territorial marker post, an old Philippines Navy vessel that was deliberately run aground on a coral reef, Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands group. To reinforce the countrys claim to ownership, the Philippines makes sure to keep the old hulk occupied continuously. In recent times its kept a small crew, around a dozen navy personnel, on the ship.

Every month or so, the Philippines Navy brings them fresh supplies of food, water, fuel, and it sometimes rotates its personnel. Except when China decides to interfere. On Saturday, a pair of the Philippines coast guard vessels escorted a pair of chartered supply boats towards the reef. A pair of much larger Chinese coast guard ships manoeuvred to block one of the supply boats. One turned its water cannon on the Filipinos. A chorus of complaints and condemnations went up. It was dangerous and illegal, according to Manila. Washington said Beijings forces had interfered with the Philippines lawful exercise of high seas freedom of navigation and jeopardised the safety of the Philippine vessels and crew. Canberra said it was dangerous and destabilising. And so on. But who won? One of the two supply boats was unable to unload the fresh crew and other supplies it had intended to deliver, and Beijing suffered nothing but noise from Manila and its indignant allies. Thats a clear win for China. In the Philippines own waters.

Loading Sure, the US reminded Beijing that it reaffirms an armed attack on Philippine public vessels, aircraft, and armed forces  including those of its Coast Guard in the South China Sea  would invoke US mutual defence commitments under Article IV of the 1951 US [and] Philippines Mutual Defence Treaty. But thats the brilliance of Xis way of war. It was not an armed attack. Last month Beijings ships successfully ran interference on another Philippines effort to resupply another occupied reef, and earlier this year China used military-grade lasers against Philippines ships crews. Such harassment is so frequent that Manila says it has lodged around 90 formal complaints against China. And thats just the Philippines. China wages a similar non-stop, low-level, grey zone campaign against Vietnam and Malaysia and other South-East Asian states as well, conducted mostly out of public view and unnoticed by the wider world. So far, McGregor notes, nothing any South-East Asian nation does, nothing the US does, is an effective deterrent.

Xi called Americas bluff years ago when Barack Obama demanded that China stop using sharp elbows to wrest maritime territories from its neighbours. Chinas forces simply pushed past everyone to occupy reefs and rocks and built them up into substantial new islands. Obamas former Asia policy director, Danny Russel, told me that the administration had concluded that the only way the US could have prevented Chinas takeover would have been through the use of force. War, in other words. It was too high a price, Obama decided. Xi Jinping has been smart where Putin has been stupid. Credit: Getty Images. Artwork Stephen Kiprillis Over time, China has been changing the status quo, McGregor says. They have military bases in the South China Sea they didnt have before, which are not small  theyre very large. They built up islands, they built up by far the biggest naval fleet by number of ships, bigger than the US. A former Philippines foreign secretary, Teodoro Locsin, said Chinas behaviour in the region was like a dragon in your living room. That was years ago, and still no one has worked out how to manage, let alone tame, the dragon.
London: A small group of asylum-seekers was moved onto a barge moored in southern England as the British government tries to cut the cost of sheltering people seeking protection in the country.

Fifteen people were transferred to the Bibby Stockholm, a floating hostel that will ultimately house up to 500 men, on Monday, London time, from other sites around the country, according to Cheryl Avery, director for asylum accommodation for the Home Office.

People boarding the Bibby Stockholm immigration barge in Portland, England. Credit: Getty

More were expected to arrive later as authorities seek to reduce the number of asylum-seekers housed in expensive hotel rooms that were requisitioned on an emergency basis as the number of arrivals surged in recent years.

Avery said there had been some minor legal challenges to the transfers, but wouldnt elaborate.
Rome: An Italian cheese maker has been crushed to death after thousands of giant wheels of cheese fell on top of him in a warehouse.

Giacomo Chiapparini was checking on a robot that automatically rotates the cheeses to help them mature when a shelf suddenly collapsed.

A grana padano warehouse in Italy. Credit: Wikimedia/CC

It caused a domino effect, with other shelves being knocked over and thousands of the heavy cheeses tumbling to the ground, burying the 74-year-old factory owner.

He was working alone and no one saw the freak accident or was able to help him.
Strong storms wreaked havoc in parts of the Lehigh Valley on Monday night.

Areas hit especially hard were neighborhoods in East Allentown and parts of Lower and Upper Saucon townships, where debris scattered roads and yards, several large trees were uprooted and roads remained closed Tuesday morning.

The National Weather Service's Mt. Holly office said it will send crews to survey storm damage in several areas Tuesday, including the Afton Village area of Upper Saucon Township, in the Center Valley area, and Midway Manor community of Allentown. Many 69 News viewers reported significant damage in those areas.

NWS crews will also visit Milford in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, and Chadds Ford and Glen Mills in Delaware County, Pa.

Damage was reported in numerous other parts of the valley as well. Branches and leaves were down, heavy rain caused flooding and homes lost shutters and yard furniture.

Critical Acclaim Tattoos on Lehigh Street in South Side Allentown had severe damage, with part of the roof ripped off.

Tens of thousands of people were without power Monday night. Electricity was slowly being restored through the night and Tuesday, but many were still without power in the morning.

Drivers Tuesday morning encountered some road closures, including part of Route 378 in the Center Valley area and some surrounding back roads.

Residents were out cleaning up their property, and officials were working to clear roads and clean up downed power lines.

People in the areas hit hardest wondered if a tornado may have touched down, but the National Weather Service has not yet issued storm damage reports.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Homemade explosives, grenades, and a number of drugs are among the items seized from the house of a man accused of threatening to set off a bomb at Musikfest.

Bethlehem Police say the man, 53-year-old Robert "Bob" Bowen, lived in the city and had been detonating devices in different areas prior to the threat.

Right now, they say they believe Bowen was acting alone, but they're still investigating simply because of how serious the situation could've been.

To put how serious some people say they worry the situation could've been, police say hundreds of thousands of people from the Lehigh Valley, from out of state, and even from outside of the country attend the 10-day festival.

Police describe the explosives as "weapons of mass destruction" - IED's with fuses and grenades with fuses - that the suspect said he was going to set off at the festival.

Bethlehem received tips Thursday evening that Bowen planned to set off an explosive at Musikfest; though, they say no specific time or place was provided.

"Can you imagine if he took those down there with him?" said Ida Walmer. "How many innocent people could have been killed?"

At Bowen's home on Wyandotte Street, authorities say they also found meth, heroin, and shrooms, and a homemade shotgun.

"Kind of scary, you know, knowing that somebody's making bombs or whatever, you know, in the house, just up the street from you," added Walmer.

Walmer says the initial raid to arrest the 53-year-old woke neighbors from a dead sleep.

"All of a sudden on the bullhorn, 'Come out with your hands up!'" she explained.

Prior to the arrest, Bethlehem Police say Bowen likely set off homemade explosive devices near his house, as well as near the Hill to Hill Bridge and on West Goepp Street.

"We put all hands on this," said Bethlehem Police Chief Michelle Kott.

Since last Thursday, Kott says it's been a round-the-clock operation to ensure Bowen is acting alone; she says that remains authorities' belief.

"Unfortunately, just because of the nature of what has been occurring in our country, we have to take all threats very, very seriously," added Kott.

Musikfest is an open festival drawing thousands of fans over 10 days.

Walmer says the incident causes her to pause, but she won't avoid the event.

"I can't live my life in fear," added Walmer. "The way the world is today, if you take everything into consideration, you will never step out your door."

Bowen is currently being held in Northampton County Prison on $500,000 bail.

Right now, Bethlehem Police have not released a motive; they are continuing to investigate.
ALLENTOWN, Pa. - The Lehigh County district attorney has ruled on a police-involved shots fired incident in Allentown earlier this summer.

The Pennsylvania state trooper was justified in firing shots at a drug suspect on June 16, said Lehigh County DA Jim Martin in a news release Tuesday.

That suspect, Paris Bartlett, was due in court Tuesday for a preliminary hearing on a slew of charges from the June incident, but the hearing was postponed to a later date, court officials said.

The police chase and shots fired started with a traffic stop at S. Third and W. Union streets. A trooper and an Allentown police officer tried to stop Bartlett, who was being surveilled as part of a drug investigation, after numerous traffic violations, Martin said.

That's when the 47-year-old Bartlett drove forward and hit the trooper, reversed into a car with two Allentown officers, then accelerated straight at the trooper, Martin said.

The trooper fired two shots, hitting the car's front windshield, and Bartlett took off, leading police on a high-speed chase through the city. He drove the wrong way on the Hamilton Street Bridge at one point, "endangering many operators," Martin said.

Troopers were able to stop Bartlett on S. Carlisle Street and had to physically remove him from the car, the DA said.

He was found with crack cocaine and marijuana.

Bartlett was taken to the hospital with injuries, but he had not been hit by the gunfire, Martin said.

He was charged with four counts of aggravated assault, two counts of reckless endangerment, and other drug and traffic offenses.

Martin said he reviewed many reports and videos in his investigation, and found the trooper was justified in firing his gun as it was necessary to prevent death or serious bodily injury to himself and the Allentown office.
We're learning that one of the suspects in a recent string of 7-Eleven robberies in part of the region was shot by the feds last week.

Police say Tahiem Cook was shot by an FBI agent in the 1700 block of West Venango Street in Philadelphia last Friday.

According to police records, Cook and another person allegedly robbed 7-Eleven stores in Bucks and Montgomery counties on July 30.

The FBI is also investigating other 7-Eleven robberies in Delaware County.
HOLLAND TWP., N.J. - In Hunterdon County, New Jersey, broken trees forced the closure of a small road.

And at one home on Crab Apple Hill Road in Holland Township, the fence got ripped off a dog kennel, and outdoor furniture blew into the homeowner's pool.

She tells us she's also been without power since about 6:30 p.m. Monday.
Stormy weather across northern Europe has killed at least one person and caused airport delays, suspended ferry services and a trains partial derailment. Police in Sweden said no one was injured when two of the trains passenger cars went off the tracks on Monday. They say the derailment happened because the embankment has been undermined by the heavy rain and landslides. The rain also kept ferries linking Poland to Sweden, two German islands to mainland Germany and Norway to Denmark remained in harbor. Latvian television reported trees getting knocked over in wind gusts of up to 108 kilometers per hour (67 miles per hour). In Denmark, the greater Copenhagen fire department urged people to stay away from parks and forests.
Residents of the Mississippi county where a rogue group of officers carried out a racist assault say a culture of corruption and violence exists within the sheriffs office. Six white former law enforcement officers in Rankin County have pleaded guilty to the assault on Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker. Some of them belonged to a group calling themselves "the Goon Squad. Court documents unsealed by federal prosecutors suggest only some members participated in the raid. The documents say there are other Rankin County deputies known to federal prosecutors.
A lawyer for Pakistans Imran Khan has met with him at a prison where the former prime minister is being held after his sentencing to discuss how to challenge the graft case that landed him behind bars. The lawyer, Naeem Haider Panjutha, told reporters that the countrys top opposition leader was being held in a small room where there is no air conditioner and where there are flies in daytime and insects at night. The lawyer was the first person to meet with Khan since his arrest on Saturday after a court convicted and sentenced him to three years in prison. The lawyer says they will challenge the conviction with a High Court on Tuesday.
MULTAN, Pakistan (AP)  Passenger rail service was partially restored Monday in southern Pakistan, a day after a train derailed in the region, killing at least 30 people and injuring scores, officials said. Families were holding funerals for the victims of the crash.

According to Aqeel Ahmed Qureshi, a doctor at a hospital in the district of Nawabshah in Sindh province, 27 bodies of the victims have been handed over to relatives for burials while three bodies have still to be identified.

Dozens of injured people remained in hospital as funerals got underway on Monday. Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq said engineers had opened a probe into the train accident.

Unfortunately," he told reporters, we don't have enough funds to properly maintain our aging railway tracks, and yesterday's train crash apparently took place because of it.

Sunday's crash happened when 10 cars of the Hazara Express train went off the tracks near the Sarhari railway station. Train traffic was suspended, and work on the main line is still underway, Baloch said.

On Monday, local television stations showed engineers clearing the railway track. We have been told by engineers that the rail service will be fully restored today, Baloch said.

After the crash, many passengers complained that they were waiting for the resumption of the train service from Karachi to the eastern Punjab province.

Authorities say military and paramilitary troops helped rescue workers to get trapped passengers. out The most seriously injured were transported to distant hospitals in military helicopters for better treatment.

Train accidents in Pakistan are often the result of poor railway infrastructure and official negligence.

In 2021, at least 65 people were killed in Sindh province when two trains collided in the district of Ghotki. In 1990, a packed passenger train plowed into a standing freight train in southern Pakistan, killing 210 people in the worst rail disaster in the nations history.
Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

Mostly sunny and continued dry and pleasant; a bit warmer than Saturday. Some haze is possible later in the day from Canadian wildfire smoke. .

Tonight

Mostly clear skies.
Agiliti (NYSE:AGTI  Get Free Report) updated its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Tuesday. The company provided earnings per share guidance of $0.54-$0.59 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of $0.65. The company issued revenue guidance of $1.16 billion-$1.19 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $1.18 billion. Agiliti also updated its FY23 guidance to $0.54-0.59 EPS.

Agiliti Stock Up 0.4 %

NYSE AGTI traded up $0.07 on Tuesday, hitting $17.03. 183,577 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 217,540. The company has a current ratio of 1.69, a quick ratio of 1.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.14. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $16.78 and a 200 day moving average of $16.07. Agiliti has a twelve month low of $14.15 and a twelve month high of $20.17. The company has a market capitalization of $2.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 189.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 19.42 and a beta of 1.21.

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Agiliti (NYSE:AGTI  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, May 9th. The company reported $0.16 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.14 by $0.02. Agiliti had a return on equity of 9.21% and a net margin of 1.18%. The company had revenue of $299.90 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $288.44 million. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.27 EPS. Agilitis quarterly revenue was up 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts expect that Agiliti will post 0.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Agiliti

In other Agiliti news, SVP Matthew E. Mccabe sold 35,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $18.51, for a total transaction of $647,850.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 26,091 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $482,944.41. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link . In related news, SVP Matthew E. Mccabe sold 35,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $18.51, for a total value of $647,850.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 26,091 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $482,944.41. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website . Also, EVP Robert L. Creviston sold 17,000 shares of Agiliti stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $18.39, for a total value of $312,630.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 54,515 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,002,530.85. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold a total of 248,036 shares of company stock valued at $4,223,858 in the last quarter. Insiders own 4.16% of the companys stock.

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Macquarie Group Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Agiliti in the 2nd quarter worth $28,000. Wells Fargo & Company MN grew its holdings in shares of Agiliti by 180.8% in the 4th quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 1,536 shares of the companys stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 989 shares during the last quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC acquired a new position in shares of Agiliti in the 4th quarter worth $40,000. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank acquired a new position in shares of Agiliti in the 2nd quarter worth $142,000. Finally, Argent Trust Co acquired a new position in shares of Agiliti in the 1st quarter worth $166,000.

About Agiliti

(Get Free Report)

Agiliti, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides healthcare technology management and service solutions to the healthcare industry in the United States. The company offers onsite managed services that are comprehensive programs for the management, reprocessing, and logistics of medical equipment at individual facilities and integrated delivery networks to monitor and adjust equipment quantities and availability to address fluctuations in patient census and acuity.

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The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG  Get Free Report) EVP Amy Stepnowski sold 336 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $72.96, for a total transaction of $24,514.56. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 6,965 shares in the company, valued at $508,166.40. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link.

Amy Stepnowski also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Thursday, July 6th, Amy Stepnowski sold 336 shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.72, for a total transaction of $24,097.92.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Trading Down 0.8 %

Shares of HIG traded down $0.56 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $73.08. 1,256,452 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,892,456. The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $60.17 and a 12 month high of $79.44. The company has a quick ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 0.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The companys fifty day moving average price is $71.79 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $72.04. The company has a market capitalization of $22.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.66, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.85.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Dividend Announcement

The Hartford Financial Services Group ( NYSE:HIG Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The insurance provider reported $1.88 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.85 by $0.03. The Hartford Financial Services Group had a return on equity of 17.54% and a net margin of 8.53%. The business had revenue of $4.08 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.09 billion. Equities research analysts predict that The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. will post 7.79 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 3rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 1st will be given a dividend of $0.425 per share. This represents a $1.70 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.33%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 31st. The Hartford Financial Services Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 27.33%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have commented on the stock. Evercore ISI reduced their price target on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $85.00 to $80.00 and set an in-line rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. Credit Suisse Group reiterated an outperform rating and set a $104.00 price target on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group in a research report on Monday, April 17th. Citigroup reduced their price target on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $92.00 to $85.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. Piper Sandler reduced their price target on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $94.00 to $93.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 31st. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price target on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $78.00 to $77.00 in a research report on Monday, April 10th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, The Hartford Financial Services Group currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $85.46.

View Our Latest Analysis on HIG

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. increased its stake in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 7.2% during the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 17,704 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $1,271,000 after purchasing an additional 1,185 shares in the last quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. boosted its holdings in The Hartford Financial Services Group by 9.1% in the first quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 3,952 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $284,000 after acquiring an additional 330 shares in the last quarter. Prudential PLC purchased a new stake in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group in the first quarter worth $674,000. Cetera Investment Advisers increased its holdings in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 88.6% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 11,238 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $807,000 after acquiring an additional 5,278 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Zions Bancorporation N.A. raised its position in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 235.4% in the 1st quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 1,070 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $77,000 after purchasing an additional 751 shares during the last quarter. 90.24% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc provides insurance and financial services to individual and business customers in the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally. Its Commercial Lines segment offers insurance coverages, including workers' compensation, property, automobile, general and professional liability, package business, umbrella, fidelity and surety, marine, livestock, and reinsurance through regional offices, branches, sales and policyholder service centers, independent retail agents and brokers, wholesale agents, and reinsurance brokers.

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Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp acquired a new position in Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) during the first quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm acquired 15,405 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $576,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of WFC. Madison Wealth Management raised its position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 8.7% during the first quarter. Madison Wealth Management now owns 13,641 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $510,000 after purchasing an additional 1,095 shares during the period. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. raised its position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 10.8% during the first quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 3,102,394 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $115,967,000 after purchasing an additional 302,791 shares during the period. Bradley Foster & Sargent Inc. CT raised its position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 1.1% during the first quarter. Bradley Foster & Sargent Inc. CT now owns 77,608 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,901,000 after purchasing an additional 880 shares during the period. Gibraltar Capital Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 1.2% during the first quarter. Gibraltar Capital Management Inc. now owns 143,615 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $5,368,000 after purchasing an additional 1,649 shares during the period. Finally, Integrated Advisors Network LLC raised its position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 5.9% during the first quarter. Integrated Advisors Network LLC now owns 29,633 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,108,000 after purchasing an additional 1,645 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 72.11% of the companys stock.

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Wells Fargo & Company Stock Performance

WFC traded up $0.22 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $45.07. The companys stock had a trading volume of 10,857,036 shares, compared to its average volume of 21,458,547. The stock has a market cap of $169.11 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.27, a PEG ratio of 0.91 and a beta of 1.13. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $43.12 and a 200 day simple moving average of $42.35. The company has a current ratio of 0.84, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05. Wells Fargo & Company has a twelve month low of $35.25 and a twelve month high of $48.84.

Wells Fargo & Company Increases Dividend

Wells Fargo & Company ( NYSE:WFC Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 14th. The financial services provider reported $1.25 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.16 by $0.09. Wells Fargo & Company had a return on equity of 11.15% and a net margin of 16.18%. The company had revenue of $20.53 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $20.11 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.74 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 20.5% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts expect that Wells Fargo & Company will post 4.86 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 1st. Investors of record on Friday, August 4th will be given a dividend of $0.35 per share. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.11%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 3rd. This is an increase from Wells Fargo & Companys previous quarterly dividend of $0.30. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 35.00%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

WFC has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on Wells Fargo & Company from $46.00 to $49.00 in a research report on Friday, April 14th. Barclays dropped their price target on Wells Fargo & Company from $64.00 to $54.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 12th. Odeon Capital Group lowered Wells Fargo & Company from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $43.75 price target on the stock. in a research report on Monday, July 17th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price target on Wells Fargo & Company from $44.00 to $46.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, April 17th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lowered their target price on Wells Fargo & Company from $54.00 to $51.00 in a research note on Monday, July 17th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $48.62.

Read Our Latest Research Report on Wells Fargo & Company

About Wells Fargo & Company

(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.

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Baker Ellis Asset Management LLC grew its position in John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:JHMM  Free Report) by 4.9% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 220,036 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 10,258 shares during the period. John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF makes up approximately 1.9% of Baker Ellis Asset Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 8th largest holding. Baker Ellis Asset Management LLC owned approximately 0.36% of John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF worth $10,535,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. CoreCap Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF during the 4th quarter valued at about $30,000. Money Concepts Capital Corp raised its holdings in shares of John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF by 139.3% during the 4th quarter. Money Concepts Capital Corp now owns 718 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 418 shares during the period. FMR LLC raised its holdings in shares of John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF by 300.0% during the 2nd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 1,148 shares of the companys stock valued at $51,000 after buying an additional 861 shares during the period. Harbour Investments Inc. raised its holdings in shares of John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF by 23.4% during the 4th quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. now owns 1,779 shares of the companys stock valued at $83,000 after buying an additional 337 shares during the period. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI raised its holdings in shares of John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF by 51.8% during the 1st quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 2,011 shares of the companys stock valued at $96,000 after buying an additional 686 shares during the period.

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John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF Stock Performance

Shares of NYSEARCA:JHMM traded down $0.30 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $50.46. 160,473 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 232,722. The firm has a market cap of $3.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.93 and a beta of 1.08. John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF has a 52-week low of $41.96 and a 52-week high of $51.96. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $49.42 and its 200 day simple moving average is $48.52.

John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF Announces Dividend

About John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, June 28th were issued a dividend of $0.2466 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, June 27th.

(Free Report)

The John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF (JHMM) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the John Hancock Dimensional Mid Cap index. The fund tracks an index of US firms ranked 200-950 by size, weighted by multiple factors relative to their sector peers. JHMM was launched on Sep 28, 2015 and is managed by John Hancock.

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Kosmos Energy (NYSE:KOS  Get Free Report) had its price objective dropped by Barclays from $9.50 to $9.40 in a research note issued on Tuesday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. The firm currently has an overweight rating on the oil and gas producers stock. Barclayss price objective indicates a potential upside of 31.65% from the stocks current price.

KOS has been the topic of a number of other research reports. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Kosmos Energy in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a sell rating on the stock. TheStreet upgraded shares of Kosmos Energy from a c rating to a b- rating in a report on Tuesday, May 23rd. Finally, Redburn Partners initiated coverage on Kosmos Energy in a research report on Thursday, July 20th. They issued a buy rating and a $9.00 target price on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Kosmos Energy has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $130.32.

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Check Out Our Latest Research Report on KOS

Kosmos Energy Stock Performance

Kosmos Energy stock opened at $7.14 on Tuesday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $6.40 and a 200-day simple moving average of $6.87. The stock has a market cap of $3.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 2.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.52, a current ratio of 0.71 and a quick ratio of 0.45. Kosmos Energy has a 1-year low of $4.64 and a 1-year high of $8.55.

Kosmos Energy (NYSE:KOS  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Sunday, August 6th. The oil and gas producer reported $0.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.10 by ($0.04). Kosmos Energy had a return on equity of 51.10% and a net margin of 15.16%. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.28 EPS. On average, analysts expect that Kosmos Energy will post 0.92 EPS for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Kosmos Energy

In related news, Director Deanna L. Goodwin sold 112,000 shares of Kosmos Energy stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $6.69, for a total value of $749,280.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 99,532 shares in the company, valued at $665,869.08. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 1.79% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its stake in Kosmos Energy by 143.6% during the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 3,579 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 2,110 shares during the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors lifted its position in shares of Kosmos Energy by 50.1% during the 1st quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 4,394 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 1,467 shares during the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Kosmos Energy in the 1st quarter valued at $45,000. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust grew its position in shares of Kosmos Energy by 33.0% in the 1st quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 7,054 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $52,000 after buying an additional 1,750 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Integrated Investment Consultants LLC acquired a new stake in Kosmos Energy during the 2nd quarter worth $62,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.51% of the companys stock.

About Kosmos Energy

(Get Free Report)

Kosmos Energy Ltd. engages in the exploration and production of oil and gas properties along the Atlantic Margins in the United States. The company's primary assets include production projects located in offshore Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, and the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, as well as a gas projects located in offshore Mauritania and Senegal.

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Braun Stacey Associates Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE:EXR  Free Report) by 91.6% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 27,180 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after purchasing an additional 12,995 shares during the period. Braun Stacey Associates Inc.s holdings in Extra Space Storage were worth $4,428,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of EXR. Private Advisor Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of Extra Space Storage by 5.6% in the 1st quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 1,404 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $289,000 after acquiring an additional 74 shares during the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL raised its position in Extra Space Storage by 16.5% during the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 1,502 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $309,000 after purchasing an additional 213 shares during the last quarter. Prudential PLC bought a new position in Extra Space Storage during the 1st quarter worth $625,000. Cetera Investment Advisers raised its position in Extra Space Storage by 8.2% during the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 2,522 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $519,000 after purchasing an additional 192 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dakota Wealth Management bought a new position in Extra Space Storage during the 1st quarter worth $332,000. 96.81% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Extra Space Storage Trading Down 1.4 %

Shares of EXR stock traded down $1.88 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $129.22. The companys stock had a trading volume of 615,270 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,487,107. Extra Space Storage Inc. has a 52 week low of $123.67 and a 52 week high of $216.52. The company has a market cap of $17.45 billion, a PE ratio of 21.39, a P/E/G ratio of 3.89 and a beta of 0.54. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $145.90 and its 200-day simple moving average is $152.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86, a quick ratio of 0.27 and a current ratio of 0.24.

Extra Space Storage Cuts Dividend

Analyst Ratings Changes

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 19th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, July 13th were paid a $1.01 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, July 12th. This represents a $4.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.13%. Extra Space Storages payout ratio is presently 65.91%.

Several research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Truist Financial lowered their target price on Extra Space Storage from $165.00 to $155.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 15th. Evercore ISI raised Extra Space Storage from an underperform rating to an outperform rating and set a $164.00 target price for the company in a research report on Monday, June 12th. Bank of America assumed coverage on Extra Space Storage in a research report on Monday, May 8th. They set a buy rating for the company. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on Extra Space Storage in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Extra Space Storage presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $165.43.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on EXR

About Extra Space Storage

(Free Report)

Extra Space Storage Inc, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, is a self-administered and self-managed REIT and a member of the S&P 500. As of March 31, 2023, the Company owned and/or operated 2,388 self-storage stores in 41 states and Washington, DC The Company's stores comprise approximately 1.7 million units and approximately 180.0 million square feet of rentable space.

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Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE:BR  Get Free Report) posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday. The business services provider reported $3.21 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.10 by $0.11, RTT News reports. The business had revenue of $1.84 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.87 billion. Broadridge Financial Solutions had a net margin of 9.33% and a return on equity of 40.29%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 6.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.65 EPS. Broadridge Financial Solutions updated its FY24 guidance to $7.57-7.85 EPS.

Broadridge Financial Solutions Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:BR opened at $166.15 on Tuesday. Broadridge Financial Solutions has a one year low of $131.35 and a one year high of $183.33. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $162.22 and its 200-day simple moving average is $151.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.04, a quick ratio of 1.35 and a current ratio of 1.35. The firm has a market cap of $19.60 billion, a PE ratio of 35.65 and a beta of 1.02.

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Broadridge Financial Solutions Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 5th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.80 per share. This represents a $3.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.93%. This is an increase from Broadridge Financial Solutionss previous quarterly dividend of $0.73. Broadridge Financial Solutionss dividend payout ratio is 62.23%.

Insider Buying and Selling

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Broadridge Financial Solutions

In other news, Director Leslie A. Brun sold 6,900 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $148.98, for a total value of $1,027,962.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 59,916 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,926,285.68. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website . In other Broadridge Financial Solutions news, VP Laura Matlin sold 4,052 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $153.73, for a total transaction of $622,913.96. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 5,825 shares of the companys stock, valued at $895,477.25. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link . Also, Director Leslie A. Brun sold 6,900 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $148.98, for a total transaction of $1,027,962.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 59,916 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,926,285.68. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . 1.60% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its position in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions by 32.5% during the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 367,080 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $53,803,000 after buying an additional 89,939 shares during the last quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions in the first quarter valued at about $114,000. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 49.2% during the first quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 4,176 shares of the business services providers stock worth $615,000 after buying an additional 1,377 shares during the period. Advisory Services Network LLC grew its position in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 2.1% during the 1st quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 15,802 shares of the business services providers stock worth $2,316,000 after purchasing an additional 328 shares during the period. Finally, Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. lifted its stake in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 1.1% in the 1st quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 11,280 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $1,652,000 after buying an additional 121 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 89.05% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the company. Royal Bank of Canada initiated coverage on Broadridge Financial Solutions in a research note on Monday, April 24th. They issued an outperform rating and a $169.00 price target on the stock. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Broadridge Financial Solutions in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $161.40.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Broadridge Financial Solutions

Broadridge Financial Solutions Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc provides investor communications and technology-driven solutions for the financial services industry. The company's Investor Communication Solutions segment processes and distributes proxy materials to investors in equity securities and mutual funds, as well as facilitates related vote processing services; and distributes regulatory reports, class action, and corporate action/reorganization event information, as well as tax reporting solutions.

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Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:BR  Get Free Report) rose 4.6% during trading on Tuesday after the company announced better than expected quarterly earnings. The stock traded as high as $173.99 and last traded at $173.74. Approximately 77,928 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 86% from the average daily volume of 541,825 shares. The stock had previously closed at $166.15.

The business services provider reported $3.21 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.10 by $0.11. Broadridge Financial Solutions had a net margin of 9.33% and a return on equity of 40.29%. The firm had revenue of $1.84 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.87 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.65 earnings per share. Broadridge Financial Solutionss quarterly revenue was up 6.7% on a year-over-year basis.

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Broadridge Financial Solutions Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 5th. Investors of record on Friday, September 15th will be issued a $0.80 dividend. This represents a $3.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.82%. This is an increase from Broadridge Financial Solutionss previous quarterly dividend of $0.73. Broadridge Financial Solutionss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 62.23%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on BR shares. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada initiated coverage on Broadridge Financial Solutions in a research report on Monday, April 24th. They set an outperform rating and a $169.00 price objective for the company. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $161.40.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Broadridge Financial Solutions

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Broadridge Financial Solutions news, Director Leslie A. Brun sold 6,900 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $148.98, for a total transaction of $1,027,962.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 59,916 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,926,285.68. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, Director Leslie A. Brun sold 6,900 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $148.98, for a total transaction of $1,027,962.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 59,916 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,926,285.68. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, VP Laura Matlin sold 4,052 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $153.73, for a total value of $622,913.96. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 5,825 shares of the companys stock, valued at $895,477.25. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.60% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Broadridge Financial Solutions

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in BR. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its stake in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 10.7% in the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 8,155 shares of the business services providers stock worth $1,270,000 after buying an additional 788 shares during the last quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS boosted its holdings in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions by 6.8% in the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 15,625 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $2,433,000 after purchasing an additional 992 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. increased its holdings in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions by 126.2% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 3,384 shares of the business services providers stock worth $527,000 after buying an additional 1,888 shares during the last quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board raised its position in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions by 1,851.9% in the 1st quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 527 shares of the business services providers stock worth $82,000 after buying an additional 500 shares during the period. Finally, Allianz Asset Management GmbH boosted its holdings in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 13.2% in the first quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 12,722 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $1,981,000 after acquiring an additional 1,487 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.05% of the companys stock.

Broadridge Financial Solutions Stock Performance

The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $162.22 and a 200-day simple moving average of $151.50. The stock has a market cap of $20.73 billion, a PE ratio of 37.70 and a beta of 1.02. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.04, a current ratio of 1.35 and a quick ratio of 1.35.

Broadridge Financial Solutions Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc provides investor communications and technology-driven solutions for the financial services industry. The company's Investor Communication Solutions segment processes and distributes proxy materials to investors in equity securities and mutual funds, as well as facilitates related vote processing services; and distributes regulatory reports, class action, and corporate action/reorganization event information, as well as tax reporting solutions.

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Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE:BR  Get Free Report) issued an update on its FY24 earnings guidance on Tuesday morning. The company provided EPS guidance of $7.57-7.85 for the period, compared to the consensus EPS estimate of $7.53. Broadridge Financial Solutions also updated its FY 2024 guidance to $7.57-$7.85 EPS.

Broadridge Financial Solutions Price Performance

Broadridge Financial Solutions stock traded up $9.61 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $175.76. 456,156 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 544,178. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.04, a current ratio of 1.35 and a quick ratio of 1.35. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $162.22 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $151.50. The company has a market capitalization of $20.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.73 and a beta of 1.02. Broadridge Financial Solutions has a 12-month low of $131.35 and a 12-month high of $183.33.

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Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE:BR  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 8th. The business services provider reported $3.21 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.10 by $0.11. Broadridge Financial Solutions had a return on equity of 40.29% and a net margin of 9.33%. The company had revenue of $1.84 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.87 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.65 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 6.7% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts forecast that Broadridge Financial Solutions will post 6.9 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Broadridge Financial Solutions Increases Dividend

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 5th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 15th will be given a dividend of $0.80 per share. This represents a $3.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.82%. This is an increase from Broadridge Financial Solutionss previous quarterly dividend of $0.73. Broadridge Financial Solutionss dividend payout ratio is 62.23%.

BR has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Royal Bank of Canada began coverage on shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions in a report on Monday, April 24th. They set an outperform rating and a $169.00 target price on the stock. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $161.40.

Get Our Latest Report on Broadridge Financial Solutions

Insider Buying and Selling at Broadridge Financial Solutions

In related news, VP Laura Matlin sold 4,052 shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions stock in a transaction on Friday, May 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $153.73, for a total value of $622,913.96. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 5,825 shares in the company, valued at $895,477.25. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Broadridge Financial Solutions news, VP Laura Matlin sold 4,052 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $153.73, for a total transaction of $622,913.96. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 5,825 shares in the company, valued at approximately $895,477.25. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Leslie A. Brun sold 6,900 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $148.98, for a total value of $1,027,962.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 59,916 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,926,285.68. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.60% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Broadridge Financial Solutions

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of BR. American Century Companies Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions by 10.7% during the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 8,155 shares of the business services providers stock worth $1,270,000 after acquiring an additional 788 shares in the last quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS raised its holdings in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 6.8% during the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 15,625 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $2,433,000 after buying an additional 992 shares during the period. Raymond James Trust N.A. raised its holdings in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 126.2% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 3,384 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $527,000 after buying an additional 1,888 shares during the period. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board raised its holdings in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 1,851.9% during the 1st quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 527 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $82,000 after buying an additional 500 shares during the period. Finally, Allianz Asset Management GmbH raised its holdings in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 13.2% during the 1st quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 12,722 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $1,981,000 after buying an additional 1,487 shares during the period. 89.05% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Broadridge Financial Solutions Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc provides investor communications and technology-driven solutions for the financial services industry. The company's Investor Communication Solutions segment processes and distributes proxy materials to investors in equity securities and mutual funds, as well as facilitates related vote processing services; and distributes regulatory reports, class action, and corporate action/reorganization event information, as well as tax reporting solutions.

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Brown Advisory Inc. trimmed its holdings in Edwards Lifesciences Co. (NYSE:EW  Free Report) by 1.8% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 14,088,366 shares of the medical research companys stock after selling 252,736 shares during the period. Edwards Lifesciences accounts for about 2.0% of Brown Advisory Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 8th biggest holding. Brown Advisory Inc. owned approximately 2.32% of Edwards Lifesciences worth $1,165,531,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Alliancebernstein L.P. increased its stake in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 27.5% in the 4th quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 21,874,280 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $1,632,040,000 after purchasing an additional 4,712,819 shares during the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 104,971.3% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 15,399,249 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $1,148,938,000 after purchasing an additional 15,384,593 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 1.7% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 12,136,243 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $903,771,000 after purchasing an additional 205,714 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Edwards Lifesciences in the 4th quarter valued at $658,390,000. Finally, Amundi increased its stake in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 26.0% in the 4th quarter. Amundi now owns 8,108,848 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $628,976,000 after purchasing an additional 1,673,580 shares during the last quarter. 79.78% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have commented on the company. TheStreet raised Edwards Lifesciences from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. Barclays boosted their price objective on Edwards Lifesciences from $94.00 to $102.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on Edwards Lifesciences from $75.00 to $87.00 in a research note on Monday, April 24th. Piper Sandler boosted their price objective on Edwards Lifesciences from $83.00 to $88.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 27th. Finally, Truist Financial boosted their price objective on Edwards Lifesciences from $101.00 to $105.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 19th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Edwards Lifesciences has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $92.68.

Edwards Lifesciences Trading Down 1.8 %

Shares of EW traded down $1.47 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $78.37. The company had a trading volume of 2,764,620 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,130,241. The firm has a market cap of $47.64 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.33, a P/E/G ratio of 4.29 and a beta of 1.02. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $88.51 and its 200 day moving average price is $84.34. The company has a quick ratio of 2.30, a current ratio of 3.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09. Edwards Lifesciences Co. has a 52-week low of $67.13 and a 52-week high of $105.79.

Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE:EW  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 26th. The medical research company reported $0.66 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.65 by $0.01. Edwards Lifesciences had a return on equity of 25.43% and a net margin of 24.56%. The firm had revenue of $1.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.51 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.63 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 11.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts predict that Edwards Lifesciences Co. will post 2.55 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity

In other Edwards Lifesciences news, CFO Scott B. Ullem sold 7,255 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $93.27, for a total transaction of $676,673.85. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 19,248 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,795,260.96. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other Edwards Lifesciences news, CFO Scott B. Ullem sold 7,255 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, June 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $93.27, for a total value of $676,673.85. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 19,248 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,795,260.96. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Michael A. Mussallem sold 29,350 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $79.87, for a total value of $2,344,184.50. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 54,252 shares in the company, valued at $4,333,107.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 240,376 shares of company stock worth $21,013,369 in the last quarter. 1.29% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Edwards Lifesciences Company Profile

(Free Report)

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation provides products and technologies for structural heart disease, and critical care and surgical monitoring in the United States, Europe, Japan, and internationally. It offers transcatheter heart valve replacement products for the minimally invasive replacement of heart valves; and transcatheter heart valve repair and replacement products to treat mitral and tricuspid valve diseases.

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BT Group  CLASS A (LON:BT.A  Get Free Report) insider Matthew Key bought 19,900 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, August 7th. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 113 ($1.44) per share, with a total value of 22,487 ($28,737.38).

BT Group  CLASS A Stock Down 1.3 %

BT.A stock opened at GBX 111.90 ($1.43) on Tuesday. BT Group  CLASS A has a 12 month low of GBX 110.55 ($1.41) and a 12 month high of GBX 165.76 ($2.12). The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 164.53, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.83. The companys 50 day simple moving average is GBX 129.50 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 139.19. The firm has a market capitalization of 11.16 billion, a PE ratio of 596.84, a P/E/G ratio of 3.05 and a beta of 0.64.

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About BT Group  CLASS A

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BT Group plc provides communications services worldwide. Its Consumer segment sells telephones, baby monitors, and Wi-Fi extenders through high street retailers, online BT Shop, and Website BT.com; and offers home phone, copper and fiber broadband, TV, and mobile services in various packages. The company's EE segment offers 2G, 3G, and 4G mobile network services; broadband, fixed-voice, and TV services; and postpaid and prepaid plans, and emergency services network.

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Shares of Canadian Utilities Limited (TSE:CU  Get Free Report) have received an average rating of Hold from the eight brokerages that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and one has given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is C$38.88.

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on CU shares. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price objective on shares of Canadian Utilities from C$39.00 to C$38.00 in a research report on Friday, July 28th. CSFB reduced their price target on shares of Canadian Utilities from C$40.50 to C$40.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 24th. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price target on shares of Canadian Utilities from C$43.00 to C$40.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, July 28th. TD Securities reduced their price target on shares of Canadian Utilities from C$39.00 to C$37.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, July 28th. Finally, CIBC reduced their price target on shares of Canadian Utilities from C$40.00 to C$38.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, July 21st.

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Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Canadian Utilities

Canadian Utilities Stock Performance

CU opened at C$31.22 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 1.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 143.66. The company has a market cap of C$6.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.63, a PEG ratio of 2.38 and a beta of 0.58. The companys 50 day moving average is C$34.47 and its 200 day moving average is C$36.33. Canadian Utilities has a 12-month low of C$30.64 and a 12-month high of C$41.51.

Canadian Utilities (TSE:CU  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The company reported C$0.37 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of C$0.43 by C($0.06). The business had revenue of C$879.00 million for the quarter. On average, equities research analysts predict that Canadian Utilities will post 2.1664393 EPS for the current year.

Canadian Utilities Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 1st. Investors of record on Thursday, August 3rd will be given a $0.449 dividend. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.75%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, August 2nd. Canadian Utilitiess payout ratio is currently 78.17%.

About Canadian Utilities

(Get Free Report

Canadian Utilities Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the electricity, natural gas, and retail energy businesses in the United States, Australia, and internationally. It operates through Utilities, Energy Infrastructure, and Corporate & Other segments. The Utilities segment provides regulated electricity transmission and distribution services in northern and central east Alberta, the Yukon, and the Northwest Territories; and integrated natural gas transmission and distribution services in Alberta, the Lloydminster area of Saskatchewan, and Western Australia.

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Cannell & Co. lifted its holdings in shares of Laboratory Co. of America Holdings (NYSE:LH  Free Report) by 7.2% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 127,545 shares of the medical research companys stock after purchasing an additional 8,561 shares during the period. Cannell & Co. owned 0.14% of Laboratory Co. of America worth $29,261,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. Ropes Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Laboratory Co. of America by 3.9% during the first quarter. Ropes Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,503 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $345,000 after purchasing an additional 57 shares during the period. Montgomery Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Laboratory Co. of America by 6.8% in the first quarter. Montgomery Investment Management Inc. now owns 10,460 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $2,400,000 after buying an additional 670 shares during the period. Eagle Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Laboratory Co. of America by 18.6% in the first quarter. Eagle Asset Management Inc. now owns 6,070 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $1,392,000 after buying an additional 953 shares during the period. M. Kulyk & Associates LLC lifted its holdings in Laboratory Co. of America by 8.6% in the first quarter. M. Kulyk & Associates LLC now owns 12,054 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $2,765,000 after buying an additional 953 shares during the period. Finally, Metis Global Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Laboratory Co. of America by 84.8% in the first quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC now owns 3,677 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $844,000 after buying an additional 1,687 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.75% of the companys stock.

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Laboratory Co. of America Price Performance

NYSE:LH traded down $1.31 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $213.09. The stock had a trading volume of 156,471 shares, compared to its average volume of 727,435. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $220.41 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $228.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 2.35 and a quick ratio of 2.12. Laboratory Co. of America Holdings has a one year low of $166.93 and a one year high of $222.33. The firm has a market capitalization of $18.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.13 and a beta of 1.07.

Laboratory Co. of America Dividend Announcement

Laboratory Co. of America ( NYSE:LH Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The medical research company reported $3.42 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.47 by ($0.05). Laboratory Co. of America had a return on equity of 14.63% and a net margin of 5.89%. The business had revenue of $3.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.77 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $4.96 EPS. Laboratory Co. of Americas revenue for the quarter was up 3.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts forecast that Laboratory Co. of America Holdings will post 13.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 8th. Investors of record on Tuesday, August 8th will be paid a $0.72 dividend. This represents a $2.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.35%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 7th. Laboratory Co. of Americas payout ratio is currently 31.07%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Robert W. Baird dropped their target price on shares of Laboratory Co. of America from $255.00 to $251.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, July 31st. Truist Financial dropped their target price on shares of Laboratory Co. of America from $275.00 to $270.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, July 28th. Citigroup dropped their price objective on shares of Laboratory Co. of America from $260.00 to $235.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Credit Suisse Group dropped their price objective on shares of Laboratory Co. of America from $247.41 to $231.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Laboratory Co. of America from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, July 28th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $254.25.

Get Our Latest Analysis on Laboratory Co. of America

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, EVP Der Vaart Sandra D. Van sold 212 shares of the businesss 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 sale, the executive vice president now 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 at this hyperlink. In other Laboratory Co. of America news, COO Mark S. Schroeder sold 1,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $216.77, for a total value of $325,155.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 6,687 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,449,540.99. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Der Vaart Sandra D. Van sold 212 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $240.00, for a total value of $50,880.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 7,605 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,825,200. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 6,012 shares of company stock worth $1,308,748 over the last three months. Company insiders own 0.65% of the companys stock.

Laboratory Co. of America Profile

(Free Report)

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings operates as a life sciences company that provides vital information to help doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, researchers, and patients make clear and confident decisions. It operates in two segments, Labcorp Diagnostics and Labcorp Drug Development.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Laboratory Co. of America Holdings (NYSE:LH  Free Report).

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Cannell & Co. cut its stake in Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW  Free Report) by 2.2% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 84,945 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 1,885 shares during the period. Cannell & Co.s holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $20,680,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of ITW. Spire Wealth Management grew its position in Illinois Tool Works by 39.8% during the 4th quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 3,055 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $673,000 after acquiring an additional 870 shares during the last quarter. Balentine LLC lifted its stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 25.9% in the 4th quarter. Balentine LLC now owns 5,063 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,115,000 after purchasing an additional 1,043 shares during the period. Flputnam Investment Management Co. raised its stake in Illinois Tool Works by 41.6% during the 1st quarter. Flputnam Investment Management Co. now owns 7,547 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,837,000 after buying an additional 2,216 shares during the period. CX Institutional raised its stake in Illinois Tool Works by 77.6% during the 4th quarter. CX Institutional now owns 2,092 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $461,000 after buying an additional 914 shares during the period. Finally, Edmond DE Rothschild Holding S.A. raised its stake in Illinois Tool Works by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Edmond DE Rothschild Holding S.A. now owns 13,920 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $3,067,000 after buying an additional 109 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 79.37% of the companys stock.

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Insider Transactions at Illinois Tool Works

In other news, CAO Randall J. Scheuneman sold 5,425 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $239.23, for a total transaction of $1,297,822.75. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 8,870 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,121,970.10. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.78% of the companys stock.

Illinois Tool Works Stock Down 0.8 %

Illinois Tool Works stock traded down $2.04 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $247.69. 299,756 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,094,227. The firms 50-day moving average price is $245.39 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $237.53. The company has a current ratio of 1.59, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.25. The company has a market cap of $75.27 billion, a PE ratio of 24.70, a PEG ratio of 4.40 and a beta of 1.13. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a one year low of $180.27 and a one year high of $264.19.

Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The industrial products company reported $2.41 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.39 by $0.02. Illinois Tool Works had a net margin of 19.30% and a return on equity of 94.14%. The business had revenue of $4.07 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.14 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.37 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 1.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts forecast that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 9.74 EPS for the current year.

Illinois Tool Works Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 12th. Investors of record on Friday, September 29th will be given a $1.40 dividend. This is a positive change from Illinois Tool Workss previous quarterly dividend of $1.31. This represents a $5.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.26%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 28th. Illinois Tool Workss dividend payout ratio is 51.83%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have recently commented on ITW. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price objective on Illinois Tool Works from $183.00 to $181.00 and set a sell rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 12th. StockNews.com raised Illinois Tool Works from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday, July 24th. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on Illinois Tool Works from $230.00 to $232.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on Illinois Tool Works from $236.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 19th. Finally, 3M reissued a maintains rating on shares of Illinois Tool Works in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $236.75.

Read Our Latest Analysis on Illinois Tool Works

Illinois Tool Works Company Profile

(Free Report)

Illinois Tool Works Inc manufactures and sells industrial products and equipment worldwide. It operates through seven segments: Automotive OEM; Food Equipment; Test & Measurement and Electronics; Welding; Polymers & Fluids; Construction Products; and Specialty Products. The Automotive OEM segment offers plastic and metal components, fasteners, and assemblies for automobiles, light trucks, and other industrial uses.

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Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado lessened its holdings in shares of Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (NYSE:FIX  Free Report) by 13.8% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 213,251 shares of the construction companys stock after selling 34,009 shares during the period. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado owned 0.60% of Comfort Systems USA worth $31,126,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in FIX. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank increased its stake in shares of Comfort Systems USA by 1.8% during the first quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 5,931 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $866,000 after acquiring an additional 104 shares during the period. Robeco Schweiz AG increased its stake in shares of Comfort Systems USA by 7.6% during the first quarter. Robeco Schweiz AG now owns 202,853 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $29,608,000 after acquiring an additional 14,379 shares during the period. Lisanti Capital Growth LLC acquired a new position in shares of Comfort Systems USA during the first quarter valued at approximately $10,266,000. Truist Financial Corp grew its position in Comfort Systems USA by 0.8% in the first quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 87,118 shares of the construction companys stock worth $12,716,000 after buying an additional 709 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Summit Global Investments grew its position in Comfort Systems USA by 28.0% in the first quarter. Summit Global Investments now owns 8,579 shares of the construction companys stock worth $1,252,000 after buying an additional 1,879 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 94.51% of the companys stock.

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Insider Transactions at Comfort Systems USA

In related news, Director Constance Ellen Skidmore sold 3,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $159.94, for a total value of $479,820.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 22,787 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,644,552.78. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 2.20% of the companys stock.

Comfort Systems USA Stock Down 0.7 %

Shares of FIX stock traded down $1.32 on Tuesday, hitting $179.83. The companys stock had a trading volume of 37,374 shares, compared to its average volume of 247,809. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a current ratio of 1.01 and a quick ratio of 0.98. Comfort Systems USA, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $95.28 and a fifty-two week high of $182.12. The firms fifty day moving average price is $162.97 and its 200-day moving average price is $145.96. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.76 and a beta of 1.19.

Comfort Systems USA (NYSE:FIX  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 26th. The construction company reported $1.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.64 by $0.29. The business had revenue of $1.30 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.22 billion. Comfort Systems USA had a net margin of 5.17% and a return on equity of 23.24%. Comfort Systems USAs quarterly revenue was up 27.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.17 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Comfort Systems USA, Inc. will post 7.51 EPS for the current year.

Comfort Systems USA Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 28th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 17th will be issued a dividend of $0.225 per share. This is an increase from Comfort Systems USAs previous quarterly dividend of $0.20. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, August 16th. This represents a $0.90 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.50%. Comfort Systems USAs payout ratio is presently 11.82%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com lowered shares of Comfort Systems USA from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday. UBS Group assumed coverage on shares of Comfort Systems USA in a research report on Thursday, June 1st. They set a neutral rating and a $162.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, DA Davidson lifted their price objective on shares of Comfort Systems USA from $175.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, July 28th.

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Comfort Systems USA Profile

(Free Report)

Comfort Systems USA, Inc provides mechanical and electrical installation, renovation, maintenance, repair, and replacement services for the mechanical and electrical services industry in the United States. It engages in the design, engineering, integration, installation, and start-up of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems; and renovation, expansion, maintenance, monitoring, repair, and replacement of existing buildings.

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Cumberland Partners Ltd boosted its position in shares of Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX  Free Report) by 183.8% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 140,925 shares of the natural resource companys stock after acquiring an additional 91,265 shares during the period. Cumberland Partners Ltds holdings in Freeport-McMoRan were worth $5,765,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC raised its position in Freeport-McMoRan by 3.2% in the 4th quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 7,589 shares of the natural resource companys stock valued at $288,000 after purchasing an additional 235 shares during the last quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co raised its position in Freeport-McMoRan by 2.5% during the 1st quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 10,450 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $428,000 after buying an additional 250 shares during the last quarter. FinTrust Capital Advisors LLC raised its position in Freeport-McMoRan by 5.1% during the 4th quarter. FinTrust Capital Advisors LLC now owns 5,252 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $200,000 after buying an additional 253 shares during the last quarter. West Family Investments Inc. raised its position in Freeport-McMoRan by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. West Family Investments Inc. now owns 72,530 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $2,756,000 after buying an additional 263 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Stephens Consulting LLC raised its position in Freeport-McMoRan by 28.0% during the 1st quarter. Stephens Consulting LLC now owns 1,280 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $52,000 after buying an additional 280 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.35% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

FCX has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. StockNews.com cut shares of Freeport-McMoRan from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, June 9th. Sanford C. Bernstein started coverage on shares of Freeport-McMoRan in a report on Thursday, June 29th. They set a market perform rating and a $41.00 price target for the company. Barclays raised their target price on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $24.00 to $29.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, April 21st. Raymond James raised their target price on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $43.00 to $44.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, July 21st. Finally, Scotiabank reduced their price target on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $49.00 to $48.00 in a research report on Tuesday, July 25th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $39.29.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Sara Grootwassink Lewis acquired 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 12th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $34.90 per share, for a total transaction of $139,600.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 17,800 shares in the company, valued at approximately $621,220. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders own 0.78% of the companys stock.

Freeport-McMoRan Price Performance

NYSE FCX traded up $0.34 on Tuesday, reaching $42.63. The companys stock had a trading volume of 7,128,874 shares, compared to its average volume of 12,546,210. Freeport-McMoRan Inc. has a twelve month low of $26.03 and a twelve month high of $46.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 1.72 and a current ratio of 2.94. The stock has a market cap of $61.10 billion, a PE ratio of 29.17 and a beta of 2.03. The firms 50 day moving average is $40.02 and its two-hundred day moving average is $39.88.

Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 20th. The natural resource company reported $0.35 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.36 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $5.74 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.61 billion. Freeport-McMoRan had a return on equity of 9.45% and a net margin of 9.63%. Freeport-McMoRans revenue for the quarter was up 5.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.58 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Freeport-McMoRan Inc. will post 1.61 EPS for the current year.

Freeport-McMoRan Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, August 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 14th were given a $0.15 dividend. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.41%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, July 13th. Freeport-McMoRans dividend payout ratio is 20.69%.

About Freeport-McMoRan

(Free Report)

Freeport-McMoRan Inc engages in the mining of mineral properties in North America, South America, and Indonesia. It primarily explores for copper, gold, molybdenum, silver, and other metals, as well as oil and gas. The company's assets include the Grasberg minerals district in Indonesia; Morenci, Bagdad, Safford, Sierrita, and Miami in Arizona; Tyrone and Chino in New Mexico; and Henderson and Climax in Colorado, North America, as well as Cerro Verde in Peru and El Abra in Chile.

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Cumberland Partners Ltd trimmed its position in shares of Alamos Gold Inc. (NYSE:AGI  Free Report) (TSE:AGI) by 7.5% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 387,320 shares of the basic materials companys stock after selling 31,550 shares during the period. Cumberland Partners Ltd owned 0.10% of Alamos Gold worth $4,722,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of AGI. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Alamos Gold during the 4th quarter valued at $41,367,000. Van ECK Associates Corp increased its holdings in Alamos Gold by 8.2% in the 1st quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 48,587,562 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $594,222,000 after acquiring an additional 3,686,948 shares during the last quarter. Triasima Portfolio Management inc. bought a new stake in Alamos Gold in the 4th quarter valued at $31,471,000. Two Sigma Investments LP bought a new stake in Alamos Gold in the 4th quarter valued at $22,409,000. Finally, Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. increased its holdings in Alamos Gold by 79.5% in the 4th quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 4,302,752 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $43,506,000 after acquiring an additional 1,905,419 shares during the last quarter. 63.16% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Alamos Gold from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, June 3rd. Royal Bank of Canada restated a sector perform rating and issued a $10.00 target price on shares of Alamos Gold in a report on Tuesday. TD Securities upgraded shares of Alamos Gold from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, July 28th. Scotiabank initiated coverage on shares of Alamos Gold in a report on Monday, April 24th. They issued an outperform rating and a $14.50 target price on the stock. Finally, Laurentian downgraded shares of Alamos Gold from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, April 27th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Alamos Gold has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $15.25.

Alamos Gold Trading Up 0.4 %

Shares of AGI stock traded up $0.05 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $11.67. 1,023,198 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,074,649. Alamos Gold Inc. has a 12-month low of $6.35 and a 12-month high of $14.12. The companys 50-day moving average price is $12.15 and its 200-day moving average price is $11.93. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.35 and a beta of 1.07.

Alamos Gold (NYSE:AGI  Get Free Report) (TSE:AGI) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The basic materials company reported $0.15 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.12 by $0.03. Alamos Gold had a net margin of 16.98% and a return on equity of 6.00%. The firm had revenue of $261.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $251.17 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.07 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 36.5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Alamos Gold Inc. will post 0.43 EPS for the current year.

Alamos Gold Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 29th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th were given a $0.025 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a $0.10 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.86%. Alamos Golds dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 24.39%.

Alamos Gold Company Profile

(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.

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Emfo LLC grew its position in Dominos Pizza, Inc. (NYSE:DPZ  Free Report) by 7.9% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 847 shares of the restaurant operators stock after purchasing an additional 62 shares during the period. Emfo LLCs holdings in Dominos Pizza were worth $279,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. abrdn plc grew its position in Dominos Pizza by 8.8% in the 1st quarter. abrdn plc now owns 10,436 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $3,443,000 after purchasing an additional 841 shares during the last quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund grew its position in Dominos Pizza by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 50,778 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $17,589,000 after purchasing an additional 1,397 shares during the last quarter. Strs Ohio bought a new position in Dominos Pizza in the 4th quarter worth about $12,124,000. PDT Partners LLC grew its position in Dominos Pizza by 207.3% in the 4th quarter. PDT Partners LLC now owns 11,559 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $4,004,000 after purchasing an additional 7,797 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Insight Advisors LLC PA acquired a new stake in shares of Dominos Pizza in the 4th quarter worth approximately $593,000. Institutional investors own 90.58% of the companys stock.

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Dominos Pizza Price Performance

Dominos Pizza stock traded up $3.33 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $398.69. The company had a trading volume of 382,443 shares, compared to its average volume of 740,816. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.22 and a beta of 0.86. The firms fifty day moving average is $345.23 and its 200-day moving average is $332.64. Dominos Pizza, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $285.84 and a fifty-two week high of $417.23.

Dominos Pizza Announces Dividend

Dominos Pizza ( NYSE:DPZ Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, July 24th. The restaurant operator reported $3.08 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.06 by $0.02. Dominos Pizza had a net margin of 10.49% and a negative return on equity of 11.24%. The company had revenue of $1.02 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.07 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.82 EPS. Dominos Pizzas quarterly revenue was down 3.8% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts anticipate that Dominos Pizza, Inc. will post 13.73 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 29th. Investors of record on Friday, September 15th will be issued a dividend of $1.21 per share. This represents a $4.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.21%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 14th. Dominos Pizzas dividend payout ratio is currently 36.58%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Cynthia A. Headen sold 382 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $400.00, for a total transaction of $152,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 4,333 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,733,200. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.76% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on DPZ shares. Piper Sandler upped their price target on shares of Dominos Pizza from $349.00 to $409.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 25th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Dominos Pizza from $425.00 to $440.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Dominos Pizza from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and upped their price target for the stock from $340.00 to $360.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 1st. Guggenheim upped their price target on shares of Dominos Pizza from $325.00 to $330.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Dominos Pizza in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have assigned a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Dominos Pizza has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $389.17.

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Dominos Pizza Company Profile

(Free Report)

Domino's Pizza, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates as a pizza company in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: U.S. Stores, International Franchise, and Supply Chain. It offers pizzas under the Domino's brand name through company-owned and franchised stores.

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Eagle Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in Evergy, Inc. (NYSE:EVRG  Free Report) by 1.4% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 437,853 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 6,074 shares during the quarter. Eagle Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Evergy were worth $26,761,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of EVRG. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its position in Evergy by 1.3% in the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 14,198 shares of the companys stock valued at $969,000 after buying an additional 179 shares during the last quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. lifted its position in Evergy by 25.8% in the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 5,924 shares of the companys stock valued at $405,000 after buying an additional 1,214 shares during the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL lifted its position in Evergy by 5.5% in the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 12,622 shares of the companys stock valued at $863,000 after buying an additional 657 shares during the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. lifted its position in Evergy by 28.4% in the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 322,941 shares of the companys stock valued at $22,058,000 after buying an additional 71,345 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board lifted its position in Evergy by 1,332.5% in the first quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 374,061 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,563,000 after buying an additional 347,949 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.74% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Evergy

In other Evergy news, Director Sandra Aj Lawrence sold 2,523 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, May 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.32, for a total value of $157,233.36. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 480 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $29,913.60. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other Evergy news, Director Sandra Aj Lawrence sold 2,523 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, May 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.32, for a total transaction of $157,233.36. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 480 shares in the company, valued at approximately $29,913.60. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, SVP Lesley Lissette Elwell sold 1,328 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $57.67, for a total transaction of $76,585.76. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 27 shares in the company, valued at $1,557.09. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 5,021 shares of company stock valued at $303,575. 3.08% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Evergy Stock Down 1.1 %

Evergy stock traded down $0.61 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $57.03. The company had a trading volume of 257,097 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,258,834. The stock has a market cap of $13.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.52, a PEG ratio of 3.04 and a beta of 0.50. Evergy, Inc. has a 1 year low of $54.12 and a 1 year high of $71.58. The company has a quick ratio of 0.28, a current ratio of 0.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06. The business has a fifty day moving average of $59.11 and a 200 day moving average of $60.22.

Evergy (NYSE:EVRG  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, August 4th. The company reported $0.81 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.77 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $1.35 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.45 billion. Evergy had a net margin of 12.97% and a return on equity of 8.94%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 6.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.86 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Evergy, Inc. will post 3.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Evergy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 20th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 21st will be paid a $0.6125 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 18th. This represents a $2.45 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.30%. Evergys dividend payout ratio is currently 74.47%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have commented on EVRG. Guggenheim decreased their target price on shares of Evergy from $72.00 to $68.00 in a research report on Friday, July 7th. Bank of America raised their target price on shares of Evergy from $55.00 to $59.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a report on Friday, April 14th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and two have assigned a hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $63.00.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Evergy

Evergy Company Profile

(Free Report)

Evergy, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity in Kansas and Missouri, the United States. The company generates electricity through coal, hydroelectric, landfill gas, uranium, and natural gas and oil sources, as well as solar, wind, other renewable sources.

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Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Get Free Report) updated its FY23 earnings guidance on Tuesday. The company provided earnings per share guidance of $9.20-$9.40 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of $8.73. The company issued revenue guidance of $33.4-$33.9 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $31.44 billion. Eli Lilly and Company also updated its FY 2023 guidance to $9.70-$9.90 EPS.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $408.00 to $430.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Friday, July 21st. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $505.00 to $565.00 in a research note on Tuesday, July 18th. SVB Securities upped their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $410.00 to $458.00 in a research note on Monday, May 1st. StockNews.com lowered Eli Lilly and Company from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday, June 12th. Finally, 22nd Century Group reiterated a maintains rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Tuesday, June 27th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and sixteen have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Eli Lilly and Company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $467.45.

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Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Eli Lilly and Company

Eli Lilly and Company Stock Performance

NYSE LLY opened at $454.08 on Tuesday. Eli Lilly and Company has a 12-month low of $296.32 and a 12-month high of $469.87. The company has a current ratio of 1.30, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.67. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $450.78 and a 200 day simple moving average of $393.53. The company has a market cap of $431.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 72.19, a PEG ratio of 2.07 and a beta of 0.35.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 8th. The company reported $2.11 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.98 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $8.31 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.58 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 20.54% and a return on equity of 61.42%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 28.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.25 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that Eli Lilly and Company will post 8.77 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Eli Lilly and Company Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 8th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, August 15th will be issued a dividend of $1.13 per share. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.00%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 14th. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 71.86%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Eli Lilly and Company

In other news, CAO Donald A. Zakrowski sold 600 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $435.29, for a total value of $261,174.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 5,978 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,602,163.62. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, EVP Patrik Jonsson sold 6,000 shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $429.46, for a total transaction of $2,576,760.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 36,941 shares of the companys stock, valued at $15,864,681.86. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CAO Donald A. Zakrowski sold 600 shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock in a transaction on Monday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $435.29, for a total value of $261,174.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 5,978 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,602,163.62. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 568,254 shares of company stock valued at $258,314,906. Company insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Eli Lilly and Company

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Fairfield Bush & CO. purchased a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the first quarter worth about $107,000. Cowa LLC purchased a new position in Eli Lilly and Company during the 1st quarter valued at about $206,000. Merit Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in Eli Lilly and Company during the 1st quarter valued at about $210,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new position in Eli Lilly and Company during the 4th quarter valued at about $210,000. Finally, CIC Wealth LLC purchased a new position in Eli Lilly and Company during the 4th quarter valued at about $210,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.25% of the companys stock.

About Eli Lilly and Company

(Get Free Report)

Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. It offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; and Jardiance, Trajenta, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes.

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Emfo LLC lifted its stake in General Electric (NYSE:GE  Free Report) by 712.0% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,283 shares of the conglomerates stock after purchasing an additional 1,125 shares during the quarter. Emfo LLCs holdings in General Electric were worth $123,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in General Electric by 1.9% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 18,952,831 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $1,584,662,000 after buying an additional 345,740 shares during the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in General Electric by 122,242.2% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 13,438,063 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $878,644,000 after buying an additional 13,427,079 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley raised its stake in General Electric by 13.8% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 8,765,177 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $734,434,000 after buying an additional 1,065,856 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in General Electric during the 4th quarter valued at $635,274,000. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of General Electric by 2.3% in the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 6,672,850 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $559,118,000 after purchasing an additional 150,527 shares in the last quarter. 74.75% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on GE shares. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on General Electric from $120.00 to $130.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 26th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price objective on General Electric from $120.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, July 17th. Barclays upped their price objective on General Electric from $125.00 to $131.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 25th. StockNews.com started coverage on General Electric in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on General Electric from $100.00 to $102.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $118.47.

General Electric Trading Up 1.5 %

General Electric stock traded up $1.67 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $114.73. The stock had a trading volume of 3,303,519 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,584,957. The company has a quick ratio of 0.90, a current ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. General Electric has a 52-week low of $48.06 and a 52-week high of $117.96. The firm has a market cap of $124.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 6.92 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a fifty day moving average of $108.37 and a 200 day moving average of $97.43.

General Electric (NYSE:GE  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 25th. The conglomerate reported $0.68 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.46 by $0.22. General Electric had a net margin of 13.32% and a return on equity of 9.30%. The company had revenue of $15.85 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.76 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.78 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 18.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts anticipate that General Electric will post 2.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

General Electric Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 25th. Investors of record on Tuesday, July 11th were paid a $0.08 dividend. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.28%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, July 10th. General Electrics dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 3.80%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other General Electric news, major shareholder General Electric Pension Trust acquired 35,160 shares of General Electric stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 30th. The stock was bought at an average price of $995.44 per share, with a total value of $34,999,670.40. Following the completion of the purchase, the insider now directly owns 175,160 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $174,361,270.40. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, major shareholder General Electric Pension Trust purchased 35,160 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, June 30th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $995.44 per share, with a total value of $34,999,670.40. Following the completion of the acquisition, the insider now owns 175,160 shares of the companys stock, valued at $174,361,270.40. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, SVP Michael J. Holston sold 112,614 shares of General Electric stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.20, for a total transaction of $12,973,132.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 57,923 shares in the company, valued at $6,672,729.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 344,779 shares of company stock valued at $36,385,935 over the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.67% of the companys stock.

About General Electric

(Free Report)

General Electric Company operates as a high-tech industrial company in Europe, China, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, and Africa. It offers gas and steam turbines, full balance of plant, upgrade, and service solutions, as well as data-leveraging software for power generation, industrial, government, and other customers.

Further Reading

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Martello Technologies Group (OTCMKTS:DRKOF  Get Free Report) and Oracle (NYSE:ORCL  Get Free Report) are both computer and technology companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, profitability, risk, earnings, analyst recommendations, dividends and valuation.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current ratings and recommmendations for Martello Technologies Group and Oracle, as provided by MarketBeat.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Martello Technologies Group 0 0 0 0 N/A Oracle 0 10 12 0 2.55

Oracle has a consensus target price of $119.37, suggesting a potential upside of 2.82%. Given Oracles higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Oracle is more favorable than Martello Technologies Group.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

Profitability

43.4% of Oracle shares are held by institutional investors. 43.7% of Oracle shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

This table compares Martello Technologies Group and Oracles net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Martello Technologies Group N/A N/A N/A Oracle 17.02% -470.73% 8.59%

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Martello Technologies Group and Oracles top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Martello Technologies Group N/A N/A N/A ($1.73) -0.01 Oracle $49.95 billion 6.31 $8.50 billion $3.06 37.94

Oracle has higher revenue and earnings than Martello Technologies Group. Martello Technologies Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Oracle, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

Oracle beats Martello Technologies Group on 9 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Martello Technologies Group

(Get Free Report)

Martello Technologies Group Inc. develops digital experience monitoring solutions in Canada, the United States, Europe, Asia, Latin America, Australia, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Modern Workplace Optimization and Mitel. Its products portfolio includes proactive Microsoft 365 monitoring, Microsoft teams call quality analytics, Microsoft active network path analysis, Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Teams advanced troubleshooting, Microsoft 365 ITSM incident workflows, Microsoft Teams performance, Microsoft Teams monitoring, and Microsoft Teams outage and down; and Vantage DX, a performance monitoring solution. The company also provides subscription and perpetual software licenses, hardware, maintenance and support, and training and professional services. Martello Technologies Group Inc. is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada.

About Oracle

(Get Free Report)

Oracle Corporation offers products and services that address enterprise information technology environments worldwide. Its Oracle cloud software as a service offering include various cloud software applications, including Oracle Fusion cloud enterprise resource planning (ERP), Oracle Fusion cloud enterprise performance management, Oracle Fusion cloud supply chain and manufacturing management, Oracle Fusion cloud human capital management, Oracle Cerner healthcare, Oracle Advertising, and NetSuite applications suite, as well as Oracle Fusion Sales, Service, and Marketing. The company also offers cloud-based industry solutions for various industries; Oracle application licenses; and Oracle license support services. In addition, it provides cloud and license business' infrastructure technologies, such as the Oracle Database and MySQL Database; Java, a software development language; and middleware, including development tools and others. The company's cloud and license business' infrastructure technologies also comprise cloud-based compute, storage, and networking capabilities; and Oracle autonomous database, MySQL HeatWave, Internet-of-Things, digital assistant, and blockchain. Further, it provides hardware products and other hardware-related software offerings, including Oracle engineered systems, enterprise servers, storage solutions, industry-specific hardware, virtualization software, operating systems, management software, and related hardware services; and consulting and customer services. The company markets and sells its cloud, license, hardware, support, and services offerings directly to businesses in various industries, government agencies, and educational institutions, as well as through indirect channels. Oracle Corporation was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas.

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FineMark National Bank & Trust trimmed its position in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report) by 3.2% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 32,567 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,081 shares during the period. FineMark National Bank & Trusts holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $3,167,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Riverpoint Wealth Management Holdings LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Red Tortoise LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Optiver Holding B.V. acquired a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Stone House Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Finally, BOK Financial Private Wealth Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $32,000. 77.43% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

PM has been the subject of a number of research reports. Stifel Nicolaus initiated coverage on Philip Morris International in a research note on Thursday, April 13th. They set a buy rating and a $114.00 target price for the company. 22nd Century Group reissued a reiterates rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a research note on Tuesday, June 27th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Philip Morris International in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Finally, Citigroup raised Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their target price for the stock from $109.00 to $117.00 in a research note on Tuesday, June 20th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $111.40.

Philip Morris International Price Performance

Shares of PM traded down $0.49 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $96.72. 451,849 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,387,494. The company has a market cap of $150.14 billion, a PE ratio of 18.79, a P/E/G ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 0.69. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 52 week low of $82.85 and a 52 week high of $105.62. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $96.02 and a 200 day simple moving average of $97.39.

Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 20th. The company reported $1.60 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.50 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $8.97 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.76 billion. Philip Morris International had a negative return on equity of 127.84% and a net margin of 11.63%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 14.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.48 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.21 earnings per share for the current year.

Philip Morris International Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 11th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 23rd were issued a $1.27 dividend. This represents a $5.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.25%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, June 22nd. Philip Morris Internationals payout ratio is presently 98.26%.

About Philip Morris International

(Free Report)

Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches.

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FineMark National Bank & Trust decreased its holdings in LyondellBasell Industries (NYSE:LYB  Free Report) by 4.9% in the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 19,760 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock after selling 1,014 shares during the quarter. FineMark National Bank & Trusts holdings in LyondellBasell Industries were worth $1,855,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. Federated Hermes Inc. boosted its stake in shares of LyondellBasell Industries by 93.4% in the first quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 3,996,089 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $375,193,000 after purchasing an additional 1,929,692 shares during the period. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank boosted its stake in shares of LyondellBasell Industries by 2.9% in the first quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 136,410 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $12,808,000 after purchasing an additional 3,805 shares during the period. Metis Global Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of LyondellBasell Industries by 86.6% in the first quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC now owns 9,985 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $937,000 after purchasing an additional 4,634 shares during the period. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. lifted its stake in LyondellBasell Industries by 7.3% in the first quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 210,960 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $19,807,000 after acquiring an additional 14,412 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wambolt & Associates LLC lifted its stake in LyondellBasell Industries by 14.8% in the first quarter. Wambolt & Associates LLC now owns 13,474 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $1,283,000 after acquiring an additional 1,738 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.58% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on LYB. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of LyondellBasell Industries from $100.00 to $95.00 in a research note on Tuesday, July 11th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price target on shares of LyondellBasell Industries from $130.00 to $121.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 3rd. Citigroup began coverage on shares of LyondellBasell Industries in a research note on Tuesday, June 13th. They issued a neutral rating and a $89.00 price target for the company. 888 reiterated a maintains rating on shares of LyondellBasell Industries in a research note on Thursday, June 29th. Finally, Scotiabank restated a sector perform rating on shares of LyondellBasell Industries in a research report on Friday, April 28th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, LyondellBasell Industries has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $97.76.

LyondellBasell Industries Trading Down 0.8 %

Shares of LyondellBasell Industries stock traded down $0.78 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $97.57. 335,297 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,000,430. LyondellBasell Industries has a twelve month low of $71.46 and a twelve month high of $101.30. The stock has a market capitalization of $31.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.36 and a beta of 1.22. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $91.43 and a 200 day simple moving average of $92.55. The company has a current ratio of 1.81, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79.

LyondellBasell Industries (NYSE:LYB  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, August 4th. The specialty chemicals company reported $2.44 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.30 by $0.14. LyondellBasell Industries had a net margin of 4.92% and a return on equity of 21.31%. The company had revenue of $10.31 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.79 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $5.19 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 30.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts forecast that LyondellBasell Industries will post 8.81 EPS for the current year.

LyondellBasell Industries Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 30th were issued a dividend of $1.25 per share. This is a positive change from LyondellBasell Industriess previous quarterly dividend of $1.19. This represents a $5.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.12%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 26th. LyondellBasell Industriess dividend payout ratio is presently 77.64%.

About LyondellBasell Industries

(Free Report)

LyondellBasell Industries N.V. operates as a chemical company in the United States, Germany, Mexico, Italy, Poland, France, Japan, China, the Netherlands, and internationally. The company operates in six segments: Olefins and PolyolefinsAmericas; Olefins and PolyolefinsEurope, Asia, International; Intermediates and Derivatives; Advanced Polymer Solutions; Refining; and Technology.

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Floor & Decor (NYSE:FND  Free Report) had its price target reduced by Citigroup from $133.00 to $122.00 in a report published on Friday, FlyOnTheWall reports.

FND has been the topic of a number of other reports. Truist Financial assumed coverage on shares of Floor & Decor in a research note on Friday, June 23rd. They set a buy rating and a $120.00 price target on the stock. Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on Floor & Decor from $110.00 to $120.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 26th. Wedbush raised their target price on Floor & Decor from $100.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, July 25th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Floor & Decor from $110.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 26th. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group reiterated a market perform rating and issued a $85.00 price objective on shares of Floor & Decor in a research note on Monday, July 31st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $103.19.

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View Our Latest Stock Analysis on FND

Floor & Decor Stock Up 1.4 %

Shares of NYSE:FND opened at $103.92 on Friday. Floor & Decor has a 1-year low of $63.51 and a 1-year high of $116.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 1.20 and a quick ratio of 0.15. The stock has a market cap of $11.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.92, a P/E/G ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 1.90. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $103.23 and a 200 day moving average price of $96.85.

Floor & Decor (NYSE:FND  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The company reported $0.66 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $0.66. Floor & Decor had a return on equity of 16.94% and a net margin of 6.55%. The firm had revenue of $1.14 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.15 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.76 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 4.2% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts predict that Floor & Decor will post 2.48 EPS for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Floor & Decor

In other Floor & Decor news, EVP David Victor Christopherson sold 5,804 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $110.00, for a total transaction of $638,440.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 36,552 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,020,720. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, EVP David Victor Christopherson sold 5,804 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $110.00, for a total transaction of $638,440.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 36,552 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,020,720. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Thomas V. Taylor sold 18,656 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.00, for a total transaction of $2,145,440.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 177,891 shares in the company, valued at approximately $20,457,465. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 48,920 shares of company stock worth $5,323,160 over the last ninety days. 2.50% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Floor & Decor

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in FND. Giverny Capital Inc. increased its position in Floor & Decor by 4.8% during the 2nd quarter. Giverny Capital Inc. now owns 277,959 shares of the companys stock worth $28,897,000 after purchasing an additional 12,615 shares in the last quarter. Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. raised its stake in shares of Floor & Decor by 93.1% in the 2nd quarter. Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. now owns 8,829 shares of the companys stock valued at $918,000 after acquiring an additional 4,257 shares during the period. Lincoln National Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Floor & Decor by 6.3% during the 2nd quarter. Lincoln National Corp now owns 4,930 shares of the companys stock valued at $513,000 after acquiring an additional 291 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in Floor & Decor by 14.0% during the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 438,682 shares of the companys stock worth $45,605,000 after purchasing an additional 53,974 shares during the period. Finally, Saturna Capital CORP increased its holdings in Floor & Decor by 1.0% in the 2nd quarter. Saturna Capital CORP now owns 19,437 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,021,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares in the last quarter.

About Floor & Decor

(Get Free Report)

Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc together with its subsidiaries, operates as a multi-channel specialty retailer and commercial flooring distributor in Georgia. The company offers tile, wood, laminate, vinyl, and natural stone flooring products, as well as decorative accessories, wall tiles, and installation materials and tools.

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Gaotu Techedu Inc. (NYSE:GOTU  Get Free Report) shares saw an uptick in trading volume on Monday . 1,686,556 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 53% from the previous sessions volume of 3,622,578 shares.The stock last traded at $3.36 and had previously closed at $3.77.

Gaotu Techedu Price Performance

The companys 50 day simple moving average is $3.24 and its 200 day simple moving average is $3.52. The firm has a market cap of $918.81 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 88.52 and a beta of -0.59.

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Gaotu Techedu (NYSE:GOTU  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 30th. The company reported $0.06 EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of $102.99 million during the quarter. Gaotu Techedu had a net margin of 2.99% and a return on equity of 2.39%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Gaotu Techedu

About Gaotu Techedu

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Keystone Investors PTE Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of Gaotu Techedu in the first quarter valued at about $23,522,000. Strategic Vision Investment Ltd increased its stake in shares of Gaotu Techedu by 218.0% during the first quarter. Strategic Vision Investment Ltd now owns 5,300,610 shares of the companys stock worth $22,369,000 after acquiring an additional 3,633,520 shares during the period. Acadian Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Gaotu Techedu during the first quarter worth about $13,951,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its stake in shares of Gaotu Techedu by 325.8% during the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 3,940,100 shares of the companys stock worth $6,777,000 after acquiring an additional 3,014,700 shares during the period. Finally, Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Gaotu Techedu during the second quarter worth about $6,524,000. 18.23% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

(Get Free Report)

Gaotu Techedu Inc, a technology-driven education company, provides online K-12 after-school tutoring services in the People's Republic of China. The company provides foreign language courses comprising English and Japanese, as well as test preparation courses for students taking language certification exams; and professional courses primarily for college students and adults preparing for professional qualification exams, such teacher's qualification, Chartered Financial Analyst designation, Certified Public Accountant designation, Certified Tax Agent designation, securities qualification exams, and other exams.

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Talon International (OTCMKTS:TALN  Get Free Report) and Delta Apparel (NYSE:DLA  Get Free Report) are both consumer discretionary companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, dividends, analyst recommendations, risk, earnings, profitability and institutional ownership.

Profitability

This table compares Talon International and Delta Apparels net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Talon International N/A N/A N/A Delta Apparel -3.90% -5.40% -1.85%

Risk and Volatility

Talon International has a beta of 0.01, indicating that its stock price is 99% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Delta Apparel has a beta of 1.42, indicating that its stock price is 42% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Earnings & Valuation

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Talon International $37.54 million N/A $1.72 million N/A N/A Delta Apparel $484.86 million 0.12 $19.74 million ($2.45) -3.28

This table compares Talon International and Delta Apparels gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Delta Apparel has higher revenue and earnings than Talon International.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

54.5% of Delta Apparel shares are owned by institutional investors. 20.3% of Talon International shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 9.4% of Delta Apparel shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current ratings for Talon International and Delta Apparel, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Talon International 0 0 0 0 N/A Delta Apparel 0 0 0 0 N/A

About Talon International

(Get Free Report)

Talon International, Inc. manufactures and distributes apparel components and accessories to manufacturers of fashion apparel, specialty retailers, and mass merchandisers. The company offers a line of metal, coil, and plastic zippers under the Talon brand name; apparel trim components, including tags, labels, buttons, rivets, leather patches, woven labels, heat transfer seals, tapes, ribbons, printed marketing material, polybasic, packing cartons, and hangers; Flex-It films, adhesive films, overlay films, seam sealing tapes; metal fasteners; stretch waistbands, shirt collars, and inner pocketing panels under the Tekfit brand, as well as packaging and other items; and specialty stretch technology for interlinings. It also provides outsourced trim design, sourcing, and management services, as well as supplies custom branded trim components. The company sells its products through its own sales force in the United States, Hong Kong, China, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Bangladesh, as well as through sales representatives in Europe. The company was formerly known as Tag-It Pacific, Inc. and changed its name to Talon International, Inc. in July 2007. Talon International, Inc. was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Woodland Hills, California.

About Delta Apparel

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Delta Apparel, Inc., through its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, sources, and markets activewear and lifestyle apparel products in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Delta Group and Salt Life Group. It offers on-demand digitally printed apparel products under the DTG2Go brand; silhouettes and fleece products; performance shirts that keep athletes dry under the Delta Dri line brand; ringspun garments; Delta Soft apparel products; and heritage, mid- and heavier-weight tee shirts under the Delta Pro Weight and Magnum Weight brand names, as well as polos, outerwear, headwear, bags, and other accessories. The company also distributes its products to various audience, which includes sporting goods and outdoor retailers, specialty and resort shops, farm and fleet stores, department stores, and mid-tier retailers, as well as through soffe.com website. In addition, it offers apparel, swimwear, board shorts, sunglasses, bags, and accessories under the Salt Life brand name; and craft beer under the Salt Life Lager brand through surf shops, specialty stores, department stores, and outdoor retailers, as well as through its saltlife.com ecommerce site. The company was incorporated in 1999 and is headquartered in Duluth, Georgia.

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Hilton Capital Management LLC lowered its position in EMCOR Group, Inc. (NYSE:EME  Free Report) by 17.8% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,779 shares of the construction companys stock after selling 386 shares during the quarter. Hilton Capital Management LLCs holdings in EMCOR Group were worth $263,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in EME. Zions Bancorporation N.A. purchased a new stake in shares of EMCOR Group during the 1st quarter worth $26,000. Arlington Partners LLC purchased a new stake in EMCOR Group during the 1st quarter worth about $27,000. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. acquired a new position in shares of EMCOR Group during the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust increased its holdings in shares of EMCOR Group by 66.2% in the 1st quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 251 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Benjamin Edwards Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of EMCOR Group during the 4th quarter worth about $31,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.67% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at EMCOR Group

In related news, EVP R Kevin Matz sold 13,462 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $165.46, for a total transaction of $2,227,422.52. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 191,709 shares in the company, valued at approximately $31,720,171.14. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, EVP R Kevin Matz sold 13,462 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $165.46, for a total value of $2,227,422.52. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 191,709 shares of the companys stock, valued at $31,720,171.14. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Anthony Guzzi sold 2,435 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $185.01, for a total transaction of $450,499.35. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 236,546 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $43,763,375.46. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 35,462 shares of company stock worth $6,423,718 in the last 90 days. 1.60% of the stock is owned by insiders.

EMCOR Group Stock Performance

EME traded up $3.77 on Monday, reaching $220.65. The company had a trading volume of 360,285 shares, compared to its average volume of 380,460. The company has a quick ratio of 1.26, a current ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11. EMCOR Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $112.85 and a 1 year high of $221.73. The stock has a market capitalization of $10.49 billion, a PE ratio of 21.80 and a beta of 1.12. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $185.01 and a 200-day moving average price of $167.59.

EMCOR Group (NYSE:EME  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The construction company reported $2.95 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.37 by $0.58. The business had revenue of $3.05 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.01 billion. EMCOR Group had a return on equity of 24.20% and a net margin of 4.13%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 12.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.99 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that EMCOR Group, Inc. will post 11.07 EPS for the current fiscal year.

EMCOR Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 31st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, July 20th were issued a $0.18 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, July 19th. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.33%. EMCOR Groups payout ratio is 7.16%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, StockNews.com began coverage on EMCOR Group in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a strong-buy rating for the company.

View Our Latest Report on EMCOR Group

About EMCOR Group

(Free Report)

EMCOR Group, Inc provides electrical and mechanical construction, and facilities services primarily in the United States and the United Kingdom. It offers design, integration, installation, start-up, operation, and maintenance services related to electrical power transmission, distribution, and generation systems; energy solutions; premises electrical and lighting systems; process instrumentation in the refining, chemical processing, and food processing industries; low-voltage systems, such as fire alarm, security, and process control systems; voice and data communications systems; roadway and transit lighting, signaling, and fiber optic lines; heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration, and geothermal solutions; clean-room process ventilation systems; fire protection and suppression systems; plumbing, process, and high-purity piping systems; controls and filtration systems; water and wastewater treatment systems; central plant heating and cooling systems; crane and rigging services; millwright services; and steel fabrication, erection, and welding services.

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Hilton Capital Management LLC cut its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Free Report) by 9.1% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 6,320 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 635 shares during the quarter. Hilton Capital Management LLCs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $455,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of BMY. Dakota Wealth Management purchased a new position in Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 1st quarter worth approximately $332,000. Covestor Ltd grew its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 111.5% in the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 2,052 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $150,000 after acquiring an additional 1,082 shares in the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 53.2% in the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 165,336 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $12,075,000 after acquiring an additional 57,444 shares during the last quarter. Ergoteles LLC purchased a new stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb during the first quarter valued at about $1,997,000. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 25.1% in the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 338,563 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $24,725,000 after purchasing an additional 68,018 shares in the last quarter. 74.57% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Bristol-Myers Squibb Trading Down 0.0 %

Shares of NYSE BMY traded down $0.02 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $60.47. 9,773,529 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 8,318,273. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 12-month low of $60.05 and a 12-month high of $81.43. The firm has a market cap of $126.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.08, a P/E/G ratio of 1.60 and a beta of 0.42. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $63.80 and a 200 day moving average price of $67.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.39.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement

Bristol-Myers Squibb ( NYSE:BMY Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.75 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.99 by ($0.24). The firm had revenue of $11.23 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.81 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 50.51% and a net margin of 17.62%. The firms revenue was down 5.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.93 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 7.47 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, August 1st. Investors of record on Friday, July 7th were given a dividend of $0.57 per share. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.77%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, July 6th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 60.64%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Bristol-Myers Squibb

In other news, EVP Robert M. Plenge sold 732 shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.14, for a total value of $44,754.48. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 6,584 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $402,545.76. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 0.08% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms recently weighed in on BMY. Atlantic Securities dropped their target price on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $90.00 to $85.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, July 28th. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an underweight rating and issued a $59.00 price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Wednesday, July 19th. SVB Securities began coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Monday, July 10th. They issued a market perform rating and a $66.00 target price on the stock. SVB Leerink restated a market perform rating on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Monday, July 10th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald decreased their price objective on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $88.00 to $85.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 19th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $71.14.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on BMY

About Bristol-Myers Squibb

(Free Report)

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, and neuroscience diseases. The company's products include Eliquis, an oral inhibitor for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in NVAF, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for anti-cancer indications; Pomalyst/Imnovid indicated for patients with multiple myeloma; Orencia for adult patients with active RA and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia.

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International Flavors & Fragrances (NYSE:IFF  Get Free Report) had its target price reduced by research analysts at Credit Suisse Group from $110.00 to $95.00 in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, MarketBeat.com reports. The firm currently has an outperform rating on the specialty chemicals companys stock. Credit Suisse Groups price objective would suggest a potential upside of 52.00% from the stocks current price.

IFF has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Citigroup initiated coverage on International Flavors & Fragrances in a report on Tuesday, June 13th. They set a neutral rating and a $84.00 price target on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on International Flavors & Fragrances from $110.00 to $93.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, July 18th. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on International Flavors & Fragrances from $122.00 to $112.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, June 30th. Barclays lowered their price target on shares of International Flavors & Fragrances from $81.00 to $75.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 11th. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of International Flavors & Fragrances in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a sell rating for the company. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, International Flavors & Fragrances currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $104.93.

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Read Our Latest Research Report on International Flavors & Fragrances

International Flavors & Fragrances Trading Down 22.2 %

NYSE:IFF opened at $62.50 on Tuesday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $80.32 and a 200-day simple moving average of $88.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a current ratio of 1.53. The stock has a market cap of $15.94 billion, a P/E ratio of -9.78, a P/E/G ratio of 4.63 and a beta of 1.09. International Flavors & Fragrances has a 1 year low of $62.50 and a 1 year high of $127.63.

International Flavors & Fragrances (NYSE:IFF  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, August 7th. The specialty chemicals company reported $0.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.10 by ($0.24). The company had revenue of $2.90 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.07 billion. International Flavors & Fragrances had a negative net margin of 17.12% and a positive return on equity of 6.64%. The businesss revenue was down 12.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.54 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that International Flavors & Fragrances will post 4.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at International Flavors & Fragrances

In related news, insider De Villeplee Christoph Fauchon sold 1,972 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $86.35, for a total transaction of $170,282.20. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 9,093 shares of the companys stock, valued at $785,180.55. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On International Flavors & Fragrances

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in IFF. SVB Wealth LLC increased its stake in shares of International Flavors & Fragrances by 4.0% during the 1st quarter. SVB Wealth LLC now owns 2,077 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $273,000 after acquiring an additional 79 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd increased its position in International Flavors & Fragrances by 48.8% during the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 244 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 80 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. raised its stake in International Flavors & Fragrances by 2.4% during the first quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 3,792 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $498,000 after purchasing an additional 90 shares during the period. Spire Wealth Management boosted its holdings in shares of International Flavors & Fragrances by 2.3% in the 4th quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 4,249 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $445,000 after purchasing an additional 97 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Greenwich Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of International Flavors & Fragrances by 0.7% during the 1st quarter. Greenwich Wealth Management LLC now owns 15,303 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $1,407,000 after buying an additional 105 shares during the period. 90.67% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About International Flavors & Fragrances

(Get Free Report)

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells cosmetic active and natural health ingredients for use in various consumer products in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Greater Asia, North America, and Latin America. It operates through four segments: Nourish, Scent, Health & Biosciences, and Pharma Solutions.

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Triumph Capital Management increased its stake in shares of iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:SHYG  Free Report) by 7.4% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 5,358 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 367 shares during the quarter. Triumph Capital Managements holdings in iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF were worth $223,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Scissortail Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF by 0.8% in the first quarter. Scissortail Wealth Management LLC now owns 37,574 shares of the companys stock worth $1,566,000 after purchasing an additional 283 shares in the last quarter. Delphi Financial Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF by 97.2% in the first quarter. Delphi Financial Group Inc. now owns 607,950 shares of the companys stock worth $25,339,000 after purchasing an additional 299,600 shares in the last quarter. Wayfinding Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF in the first quarter worth $523,000. OTA Financial Group L.P. bought a new position in shares of iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF in the first quarter worth $1,733,000. Finally, Hunter Associates Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF in the first quarter worth $214,000.

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iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF Trading Up 0.2 %

Shares of iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF stock traded up $0.07 during trading on Monday, hitting $41.31. The stock had a trading volume of 1,222,136 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,219,758. The business has a fifty day moving average of $41.28 and a two-hundred day moving average of $41.29. iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF has a fifty-two week low of $39.49 and a fifty-two week high of $42.78.

iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF Profile

The iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (SHYG) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in high yield fixed income. The fund tracks a market-value-weighted index of high-yield USD-denominated bonds with 0-5 years remaining in maturity. SHYG was launched on Oct 15, 2013 and is managed by BlackRock.

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John Wood Group PLC (OTCMKTS:WDGJF  Get Free Report) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of Hold from the seven brokerages that are covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12-month price target among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $189.25.

WDGJF has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of John Wood Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday. Canaccord Genuity Group downgraded John Wood Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. Finally, Morgan Stanley began coverage on John Wood Group in a report on Friday, May 26th. They set an equal weight rating on the stock.

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John Wood Group Trading Up 21.0 %

About John Wood Group

Shares of OTCMKTS:WDGJF opened at $2.13 on Thursday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $1.71 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $2.08. John Wood Group has a fifty-two week low of $1.19 and a fifty-two week high of $2.88.

(Get Free Report

John Wood Group PLC, together with its subsidiaries, provides consulting, project management, and engineering solutions to energy and built environment worldwide. It operates through Projects, Operations, Consulting, and Investment Services segments. The Projects segment provides engineering design and project management services across energy and materials markets including oil and gas, chemicals, mining, minerals, and life sciences.

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StockNews.com downgraded shares of KB Financial Group (NYSE:KB  Free Report) from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note issued to investors on Friday.

KB Financial Group Stock Performance

Shares of KB Financial Group stock opened at $39.67 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $16.01 billion, a PE ratio of 4.60, a P/E/G ratio of 0.32 and a beta of 0.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.43, a quick ratio of 1.69 and a current ratio of 1.69. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $37.70 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $38.49. KB Financial Group has a one year low of $30.14 and a one year high of $48.28.

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KB Financial Group (NYSE:KB  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Monday, May 15th. The bank reported $2.88 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.80 by $0.08. KB Financial Group had a net margin of 14.72% and a return on equity of 8.92%. The business had revenue of $3.81 billion during the quarter. Research analysts expect that KB Financial Group will post 10.06 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On KB Financial Group

KB Financial Group Company Profile

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. raised its position in KB Financial Group by 43.5% during the 4th quarter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. now owns 1,861,432 shares of the banks stock worth $71,954,000 after buying an additional 564,396 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its position in KB Financial Group by 86.3% during the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 600,940 shares of the banks stock worth $29,344,000 after buying an additional 278,345 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. raised its position in KB Financial Group by 13.1% during the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 1,685,229 shares of the banks stock worth $50,793,000 after buying an additional 195,313 shares during the last quarter. Orbis Allan Gray Ltd raised its position in KB Financial Group by 21.1% during the 1st quarter. Orbis Allan Gray Ltd now owns 855,740 shares of the banks stock worth $31,166,000 after buying an additional 149,080 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nordwand Advisors LLC purchased a new position in KB Financial Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $4,962,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 5.70% of the companys stock.

(Get Free Report)

KB Financial Group Inc provides a range of banking and related financial services to consumers and corporations in South Korea and internationally. The company operates through seven segments: Retail Banking, Corporate Banking, Other Banking, Credit Card, Securities, Life Insurance, and Non-Life Insurance.

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Metis Global Partners LLC lifted its position in Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI  Free Report) by 24.9% during the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 8,369 shares of the communications equipment providers stock after buying an additional 1,668 shares during the period. Metis Global Partners LLCs holdings in Motorola Solutions were worth $2,395,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Empire Life Investments Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Motorola Solutions by 0.6% in the first quarter. Empire Life Investments Inc. now owns 55,176 shares of the communications equipment providers stock worth $15,788,000 after purchasing an additional 321 shares during the period. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Motorola Solutions by 12.9% in the first quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 135,634 shares of the communications equipment providers stock worth $38,809,000 after purchasing an additional 15,461 shares during the period. Global Retirement Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Motorola Solutions by 52.9% in the first quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 4,409 shares of the communications equipment providers stock worth $1,273,000 after purchasing an additional 1,526 shares during the period. Assetmark Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Motorola Solutions by 19.5% in the first quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 12,156 shares of the communications equipment providers stock worth $3,478,000 after purchasing an additional 1,986 shares during the period. Finally, Renasant Bank increased its holdings in shares of Motorola Solutions by 7.3% in the first quarter. Renasant Bank now owns 902 shares of the communications equipment providers stock worth $258,000 after purchasing an additional 61 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 82.93% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Gregory Q. Brown sold 50,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $290.54, for a total value of $14,527,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 91,843 shares of the companys stock, valued at $26,684,065.22. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other Motorola Solutions news, CAO Katherine A. Maher sold 1,933 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $289.01, for a total transaction of $558,656.33. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 1,611 shares of the companys stock, valued at $465,595.11. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Gregory Q. Brown sold 50,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $290.54, for a total transaction of $14,527,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 91,843 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $26,684,065.22. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 101,933 shares of company stock valued at $29,642,156 over the last three months. Corporate insiders own 1.50% of the companys stock.

Motorola Solutions Trading Up 0.6 %

Shares of NYSE:MSI traded up $1.56 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $280.41. 882,701 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 753,993. The stock has a market capitalization of $47.02 billion, a PE ratio of 31.79, a P/E/G ratio of 3.08 and a beta of 0.92. The businesss 50 day moving average is $287.06 and its two-hundred day moving average is $279.34. The company has a quick ratio of 0.96, a current ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 17.14. Motorola Solutions, Inc. has a one year low of $212.76 and a one year high of $299.43.

Motorola Solutions (NYSE:MSI  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 3rd. The communications equipment provider reported $2.65 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.51 by $0.14. The firm had revenue of $2.40 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.36 billion. Motorola Solutions had a net margin of 15.72% and a return on equity of 2,157.02%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 12.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.87 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts forecast that Motorola Solutions, Inc. will post 10.07 earnings per share for the current year.

Motorola Solutions Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 14th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 15th were paid a dividend of $0.88 per share. This represents a $3.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.26%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, June 14th. Motorola Solutionss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 39.91%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages recently issued reports on MSI. StockNews.com lowered shares of Motorola Solutions from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, July 6th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on shares of Motorola Solutions from $310.00 to $335.00 in a research report on Friday, May 5th. Barclays cut their target price on shares of Motorola Solutions from $329.00 to $322.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Friday. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of Motorola Solutions from $290.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday. Finally, Raymond James upped their target price on shares of Motorola Solutions from $315.00 to $320.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday. Four investment 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, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $309.86.

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Motorola Solutions Company Profile

(Free Report)

Motorola Solutions, Inc provides public safety and enterprise security solutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Products and Systems Integration, and Software and Services. The Products and Systems Integration segment offers a portfolio of infrastructure, devices, accessories, and video security devices and infrastructure, as well as the implementation and integration of systems, devices, software, and applications for government, public safety, and commercial customers who operate private communications networks and video security solutions, as well as manage a mobile workforce.

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NioCorp Developments Ltd. (TSE:NB  Get Free Report)s share price hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as C$5.80 and last traded at C$5.84, with a volume of 6773 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at C$6.05.

NioCorp Developments Stock Down 4.6 %

The stock has a market capitalization of C$175.99 million, a P/E ratio of -3.38 and a beta of 0.29. The company has a current ratio of 1.55, a quick ratio of 0.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 17.34. The firms fifty day moving average is C$6.60 and its 200-day moving average is C$5.57.

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NioCorp Developments (TSE:NB  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, May 30th. The company reported C($1.35) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. As a group, equities research analysts predict that NioCorp Developments Ltd. will post -0.03 earnings per share for the current year.

About NioCorp Developments

NioCorp Developments Ltd. engages in the exploration and development of mineral deposits in North America. It owns and develops the Elk Creek niobium/scandium/titanium project that owns one 226.43-acre parcel of land and associated mineral rights, and an additional 40 acres of mineral rights, as well as an optioned land package that covers an area of 1,396 acres located in Johnson County, southeast Nebraska.

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Wrapmanager Inc. boosted its stake in Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF (BATS:NUMG  Free Report) by 6.5% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 84,466 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 5,150 shares during the period. Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF accounts for approximately 1.0% of Wrapmanager Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 21st largest holding. Wrapmanager Inc. owned 0.92% of Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF worth $3,229,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Commerce Bank boosted its position in Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF by 4.4% during the 1st quarter. Commerce Bank now owns 22,339 shares of the companys stock worth $854,000 after acquiring an additional 950 shares during the period. CX Institutional increased its holdings in shares of Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF by 7.2% in the 1st quarter. CX Institutional now owns 17,837 shares of the companys stock valued at $680,000 after purchasing an additional 1,195 shares during the period. US Financial Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF by 8.9% during the 1st quarter. US Financial Advisors LLC now owns 12,458 shares of the companys stock valued at $476,000 after acquiring an additional 1,014 shares in the last quarter. Vicus Capital boosted its stake in Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF by 102.0% in the first quarter. Vicus Capital now owns 19,373 shares of the companys stock worth $741,000 after purchasing an additional 9,783 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ameritas Advisory Services LLC boosted its holdings in Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF by 2.8% in the first quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC now owns 97,085 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,609,000 after acquiring an additional 2,601 shares during the last quarter.

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Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF Price Performance

Shares of BATS NUMG traded up $0.27 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $39.62. The companys stock had a trading volume of 21,449 shares. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $38.77 and its 200-day simple moving average is $37.92. Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF has a one year low of $26.00 and a one year high of $31.52. The stock has a market cap of $376.34 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.07 and a beta of 1.10.

Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF Company Profile

The Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF (NUMG) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI TIAA ESG USA Mid Cap Growth index. The fund tracks an index composed of mid-cap US companies with growth characteristics that also meet certain environmental, social, and governance criteria. NUMG was launched on Dec 13, 2016 and is managed by Nuveen.

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Shares of Ouster, Inc. (NYSE:OUST  Get Free Report) have been given an average recommendation of Moderate Buy by the six brokerages that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month price target among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $18.37.

Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an overweight rating on shares of Ouster in a research report on Monday, May 15th. Craig Hallum cut their price target on shares of Ouster from $15.00 to $10.00 in a research report on Friday, May 12th. Chardan Capital raised shares of Ouster from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $10.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 13th. Finally, Citigroup dropped their target price on shares of Ouster from $10.00 to $6.10 in a report on Friday, June 30th.

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Insider Activity at Ouster

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

In related news, CEO Charles Angus Pacala purchased 86,300 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 16th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $5.81 per share, for a total transaction of $501,403.00. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer now owns 562,381 shares in the company, valued at $3,267,433.61. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website . In other Ouster news, Director Virginia Boulet bought 11,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 23rd. The shares were purchased at an average price of $6.31 per share, for a total transaction of $69,410.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 71,489 shares in the company, valued at approximately $451,095.59. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Also, CEO Charles Angus Pacala bought 86,300 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 16th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $5.81 per share, for a total transaction of $501,403.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 562,381 shares in the company, valued at $3,267,433.61. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here . In the last 90 days, insiders have purchased 143,000 shares of company stock worth $837,501 and have sold 12,782 shares worth $72,385. 6.00% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. HighTower Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Ouster by 8.4% during the 1st quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 58,470 shares of the companys stock worth $265,000 after purchasing an additional 4,521 shares in the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers lifted its holdings in shares of Ouster by 4.9% during the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 135,490 shares of the companys stock worth $610,000 after acquiring an additional 6,307 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its holdings in shares of Ouster by 3.6% during the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 218,934 shares of the companys stock worth $183,000 after acquiring an additional 7,684 shares during the period. LPL Financial LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Ouster by 17.5% during the 2nd quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 59,621 shares of the companys stock worth $97,000 after acquiring an additional 8,900 shares during the period. Finally, Alliancebernstein L.P. lifted its holdings in shares of Ouster by 34.0% during the 3rd quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 43,000 shares of the companys stock worth $41,000 after acquiring an additional 10,900 shares during the period.

Ouster Trading Down 3.2 %

OUST opened at $5.36 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $208.02 million, a P/E ratio of -0.45 and a beta of 2.18. Ouster has a 12 month low of $3.21 and a 12 month high of $20.00. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $5.84 and its 200 day simple moving average is $7.75. The company has a current ratio of 4.40, a quick ratio of 4.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12.

Ouster (NYSE:OUST  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 11th. The company reported ($3.36) EPS for the quarter. Ouster had a negative net margin of 570.30% and a negative return on equity of 88.07%. The company had revenue of $17.23 million during the quarter. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Ouster will post -9.36 EPS for the current fiscal year.

About Ouster

(Get Free Report

Ouster, Inc designs and manufactures high-resolution digital lidar sensors and enabling software that offers 3D vision to machinery, vehicles, robots, and fixed infrastructure assets. Its product portfolio includes OS, a scanning sensor; and DF, a solid-state flash sensor. The company is based in San Francisco, California.

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Pennon Group (OTCMKTS:PEGRY  Get Free Report) and SJW Group (NYSE:SJW  Get Free Report) are both utilities companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, analyst recommendations, risk, profitability, institutional ownership, valuation and earnings.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Pennon Group and SJW Groups top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Pennon Group N/A N/A N/A $0.58 30.45 SJW Group $620.70 million 3.59 $73.83 million $2.86 24.51

SJW Group has higher revenue and earnings than Pennon Group. SJW Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Pennon Group, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Dividends

Profitability

Pennon Group pays an annual dividend of $0.17 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.0%. SJW Group pays an annual dividend of $1.52 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.2%. Pennon Group pays out 29.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. SJW Group pays out 53.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. SJW Group has raised its dividend for 56 consecutive years. SJW Group is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

This table compares Pennon Group and SJW Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Pennon Group N/A N/A N/A SJW Group 13.77% 7.89% 2.43%

Insider & Institutional Ownership

81.3% of SJW Group shares are held by institutional investors. 0.6% of SJW Group shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current recommendations for Pennon Group and SJW Group, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Pennon Group 0 3 0 0 2.00 SJW Group 1 4 0 0 1.80

Pennon Group presently has a consensus price target of $1,048.00, suggesting a potential upside of 5,830.96%. SJW Group has a consensus price target of $80.75, suggesting a potential upside of 15.18%. Given Pennon Groups stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, research analysts clearly believe Pennon Group is more favorable than SJW Group.

Summary

SJW Group beats Pennon Group on 9 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Pennon Group

(Get Free Report)

Pennon Group Plc provides clean water and wastewater services in the United Kingdom. It provides water and wastewater services for customers in Cornwall, Devon, and parts of Dorset and Somerset; water-only services in the areas of Dorset, Hampshire, and Wiltshire; and water and wastewater retail services to non-household customers in Great Britain. The company also offers regulated water to approximately 1.2 million customers in the Bristol region. Pennon Group Plc was incorporated in 1989 and is based in Exeter, the United Kingdom.

About SJW Group

(Get Free Report)

SJW Group, through its subsidiaries, provides water utility services in the United States. It operates in two segments, Water Utility Services and Real Estate Services. It engages in the production, purchase, storage, purification, distribution, wholesale, and retail sale of water and wastewater services. The company also provides non-tariffed services, including water system operations, maintenance agreements, and antenna site leases; contracted services and sewer operations to water utilities; and a Linebacker protection plan for public drinking water customers in Connecticut and Maine. Its water supply consists of groundwater from wells, surface water from watershed run-off and diversion, reclaimed water, and imported water purchased from the Santa Clara Valley Water District. The company offers water service to approximately 232,000 connections that serve approximately one million people residing in portions of the cities of San Jose and Cupertino, as well as in the cities of Campbell, Monte Sereno, Saratoga, and the Town of Los Gatos; and adjacent unincorporated territories in the County of Santa Clara in the State of California. In addition, it provides water service to approximately 141,000 service connections, which serve approximately 459,000 people in 81 municipalities with a service area of approximately 270 square miles throughout Connecticut and Maine, as well as approximately 26,000 service connections that serve approximately 77,000 people in a service area comprising approximately 268 square miles in the region between San Antonio and Austin, Texas; and approximately 3,000 wastewater connections in Southbury, Connecticut. Further, the company owns undeveloped land in California and Tennessee; and owns and operates commercial buildings and warehouse properties in Tennessee. The company was formerly known as SJW Corp. and changed its name to SJW Group in November 2016. SJW Group was incorporated in 1985 and is headquartered in San Jose, California.

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Penobscot Investment Management Company Inc. decreased its position in The Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE:TD  Free Report) (TSE:TD) by 24.0% during the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 8,254 shares of the banks stock after selling 2,600 shares during the period. Penobscot Investment Management Company Inc.s holdings in Toronto-Dominion Bank were worth $494,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Fairfield Bush & CO. purchased a new stake in Toronto-Dominion Bank in the first quarter worth $26,000. BlackRock Inc. raised its position in shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank by 6.3% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 914,064 shares of the banks stock worth $72,595,000 after purchasing an additional 54,121 shares during the last quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank in the 1st quarter worth about $200,000. Raymond James Trust N.A. raised its position in shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank by 1.7% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 9,868 shares of the banks stock worth $784,000 after purchasing an additional 161 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers raised its position in shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank by 21.8% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 12,022 shares of the banks stock worth $955,000 after purchasing an additional 2,154 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 44.92% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

TD has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. StockNews.com raised Toronto-Dominion Bank from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, July 15th. CIBC upgraded Toronto-Dominion Bank from a neutral rating to a sector outperform rating in a report on Monday, April 17th. Credit Suisse Group upgraded Toronto-Dominion Bank from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, June 8th. Finally, Barclays downgraded Toronto-Dominion Bank from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, May 9th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Toronto-Dominion Bank currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $101.83.

Toronto-Dominion Bank Stock Performance

Shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank stock traded up $0.23 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $64.79. 635,272 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,295,381. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $61.66 and a 200 day moving average price of $62.41. The firm has a market capitalization of $118.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.83, a P/E/G ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 0.90. The Toronto-Dominion Bank has a one year low of $55.43 and a one year high of $70.67. The company has a quick ratio of 0.99, a current ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11.

Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE:TD  Get Free Report) (TSE:TD) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 25th. The bank reported $1.43 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.52 by ($0.09). The firm had revenue of $9.12 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.10 billion. Toronto-Dominion Bank had a net margin of 17.72% and a return on equity of 15.51%. On average, equities research analysts expect that The Toronto-Dominion Bank will post 6.09 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Toronto-Dominion Bank Cuts Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 31st. Investors of record on Monday, July 10th were issued a $0.709 dividend. This represents a $2.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.38%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, July 7th. Toronto-Dominion Banks dividend payout ratio is 48.66%.

Toronto-Dominion Bank Profile

(Free Report)

The Toronto-Dominion Bank, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial products and services in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Canadian Retail, U.S. Retail, and Wholesale Banking. The company offers personal deposits, such as chequing, savings, and investment products; financing, investment, cash management, international trade, and day-to-day banking services to businesses; and financing options to customers at point of sale for automotive and recreational vehicle purchases.

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Picton Mahoney Asset Management decreased its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF (NYSEARCA:EWH  Free Report) by 5.3% during the first quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 21,980 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 1,220 shares during the period. Picton Mahoney Asset Managements holdings in iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF were worth $451,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Barclays PLC bought a new position in shares of iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF during the first quarter valued at approximately $176,000. CX Institutional purchased a new position in iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF during the 1st quarter worth $3,501,000. Millburn Ridgefield Corp increased its stake in iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF by 15.1% during the 1st quarter. Millburn Ridgefield Corp now owns 817,610 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $16,802,000 after purchasing an additional 107,108 shares in the last quarter. Sharper & Granite LLC increased its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF by 14.2% in the first quarter. Sharper & Granite LLC now owns 67,642 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,390,000 after purchasing an additional 8,415 shares during the period. Finally, Raymond James & Associates raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF by 3.0% during the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 279,796 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $5,750,000 after purchasing an additional 8,062 shares during the last quarter. 55.49% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF Trading Up 0.3 %

Shares of EWH stock opened at $19.16 on Tuesday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $19.43 and a 200 day moving average of $20.30. iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF has a twelve month low of $16.04 and a twelve month high of $22.65.

iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF Profile

iShares MSCI Hong Kong Index Fund, formerly Shares MSCI Hong Kong ETF, (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of publicly traded securities in the Hong Kong market, as measured by the MSCI Hong Kong Index (the Index).

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EWH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF (NYSEARCA:EWH  Free Report).

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StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Power REIT (NYSE:PW  Free Report) in a research note released on Friday morning. The firm issued a hold rating on the stock.

Separately, TheStreet downgraded shares of Power REIT from a c- rating to a d rating in a research note on Thursday, April 13th.

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Power REIT Stock Performance

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

PW opened at $1.61 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $5.46 million, a P/E ratio of 1.45 and a beta of 0.94. Power REIT has a 1-year low of $1.49 and a 1-year high of $21.80. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $1.71 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $2.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05, a current ratio of 1.89 and a quick ratio of 1.89.

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Pensionfund Sabic increased its stake in Power REIT by 71.7% in the second quarter. Pensionfund Sabic now owns 29,948 shares of the companys stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 12,511 shares during the last quarter. Pensionfund DSM Netherlands increased its position in Power REIT by 75.2% during the 1st quarter. Pensionfund DSM Netherlands now owns 74,563 shares of the companys stock worth $279,000 after purchasing an additional 31,997 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its stake in shares of Power REIT by 6.5% in the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 112,096 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,415,000 after purchasing an additional 6,795 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its position in shares of Power REIT by 11.5% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 8,362 shares of the companys stock valued at $329,000 after purchasing an additional 862 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vident Investment Advisory LLC grew its stake in Power REIT by 66.2% during the 1st quarter. Vident Investment Advisory LLC now owns 6,769 shares of the companys stock worth $267,000 after buying an additional 2,697 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 26.31% of the companys stock.

About Power REIT

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Power REIT, with a focus on the Triple Bottom Line and a commitment to Profit, Planet and People is a specialized real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns sustainable real estate related to infrastructure assets including properties for Controlled Environment Agriculture, Renewable Energy and Transportation.

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PPG Industries, Inc. (NYSE:PPG  Get Free Report) declared a quarterly dividend on Thursday, July 20th, RTT News reports. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 10th will be given a dividend of 0.65 per share by the specialty chemicals company on Tuesday, September 12th. This represents a $2.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.81%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, August 9th. This is a positive change from PPG Industriess previous quarterly dividend of $0.62.

PPG Industries has raised its dividend by an average of 6.9% annually over the last three years and has raised its dividend every year for the last 52 years. PPG Industries has a payout ratio of 30.9% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities research analysts expect PPG Industries to earn $8.29 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $2.60 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 31.4%.

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PPG Industries Price Performance

Shares of PPG stock opened at $143.26 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a current ratio of 1.49. The firm has a market cap of $33.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.72, a P/E/G ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.18. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $143.81 and its 200-day moving average price is $137.01. PPG Industries has a fifty-two week low of $107.40 and a fifty-two week high of $152.89.

Insider Activity

PPG Industries ( NYSE:PPG Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 21st. The specialty chemicals company reported $2.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.14 by $0.11. PPG Industries had a net margin of 7.38% and a return on equity of 23.59%. The business had revenue of $4.87 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.84 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.81 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 3.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that PPG Industries will post 7.51 earnings per share for the current year.

In other news, Chairman Michael H. Mcgarry sold 58,378 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $145.46, for a total transaction of $8,491,663.88. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman now directly owns 195,706 shares of the companys stock, valued at $28,467,394.76. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, Chairman Michael H. Mcgarry sold 58,378 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $145.46, for a total transaction of $8,491,663.88. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now owns 195,706 shares in the company, valued at $28,467,394.76. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Vincent J. Morales sold 3,700 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $143.33, for a total value of $530,321.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 22,665 shares in the company, valued at $3,248,574.45. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.55% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of PPG Industries

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Toroso Investments LLC raised its position in PPG Industries by 8.8% in the first quarter. Toroso Investments LLC now owns 5,454 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $729,000 after acquiring an additional 442 shares during the period. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. raised its holdings in PPG Industries by 36.5% in the 1st quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 337,524 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $45,085,000 after purchasing an additional 90,331 shares during the period. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC lifted its position in PPG Industries by 0.5% during the first quarter. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC now owns 137,059 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $18,308,000 after purchasing an additional 628 shares in the last quarter. KB Financial Partners LLC bought a new stake in PPG Industries during the first quarter valued at about $51,000. Finally, Chilton Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in PPG Industries during the first quarter valued at about $70,000. 78.95% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have weighed in on the company. Credit Suisse Group lifted their price objective on PPG Industries from $133.00 to $140.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a research report on Friday, July 21st. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on PPG Industries from $150.00 to $145.00 in a report on Thursday, May 25th. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on PPG Industries from $143.00 to $155.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, July 24th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on shares of PPG Industries from $145.00 to $158.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Monday, July 24th. Finally, Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on shares of PPG Industries from $150.00 to $160.00 in a research report on Monday, April 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, PPG Industries has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $156.47.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on PPG

About PPG Industries

(Get Free Report)

PPG Industries, Inc engages in the manufacture and distribution of paints, coatings, and specialty materials. It operates through the Performance Coatings and Industrial Coatings segments. The Performance Coatings segment supplies a variety of protective and decorative coatings, sealants, and finishes along with pavement marking products, paint strippers, stains, and related chemicals, as well as transparencies and transparent armor.

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PPL (NYSE:PPL  Get Free Report) issued an update on its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Monday morning. The company provided earnings per share guidance of $1.50-$1.65 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of $1.58. The company issued revenue guidance of -.

PPL Price Performance

Shares of PPL stock opened at $26.11 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a current ratio of 1.09. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $26.78 and a 200 day moving average price of $27.60. The firm has a market capitalization of $19.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.11, a P/E/G ratio of 2.22 and a beta of 0.78. PPL has a 52-week low of $23.47 and a 52-week high of $31.74.

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PPL (NYSE:PPL  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, August 4th. The utilities provider reported $0.29 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.32 by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $1.82 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.27 billion. PPL had a net margin of 8.79% and a return on equity of 7.75%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 7.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.30 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that PPL will post 1.59 earnings per share for the current year.

PPL Announces Dividend

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 3rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 9th were given a dividend of $0.24 per share. This represents a $0.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.68%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, June 8th. PPLs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 92.31%.

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. TheStreet downgraded PPL from a b- rating to a c rating in a report on Friday. Guggenheim cut their price target on PPL from $34.00 to $31.00 in a report on Friday, July 7th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on PPL in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on PPL from $30.00 to $31.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, July 21st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $31.71.

Check Out Our Latest Report on PPL

Hedge Funds Weigh In On PPL

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. acquired a new position in shares of PPL in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Worth Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of PPL in the 1st quarter valued at about $27,000. Compass Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of PPL in the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. ICA Group Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of PPL in the 4th quarter valued at about $59,000. Finally, State of Wyoming acquired a new position in shares of PPL in the 4th quarter valued at about $108,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 73.46% of the companys stock.

About PPL

(Get Free Report)

PPL Corporation, an energy company, focuses on providing electricity and natural gas to approximately 3.5 million customers in the United States. It operates through three segments: Kentucky Regulated, Pennsylvania Regulated, and Rhode Island Regulated. The company delivers electricity to customers in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Virginia, and Rhode Island; delivers natural gas to customers in Kentucky and Rhode Island; and generates electricity from power plants in Kentucky.

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Penobscot Investment Management Company Inc. increased its stake in shares of Prologis, Inc. (NYSE:PLD  Free Report) by 29.9% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 6,925 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after purchasing an additional 1,595 shares during the period. Penobscot Investment Management Company Inc.s holdings in Prologis were worth $864,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of PLD. Atwood & Palmer Inc. acquired a new stake in Prologis in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC acquired a new stake in Prologis in the 1st quarter valued at about $25,000. Sageworth Trust Co acquired a new stake in Prologis in the 1st quarter valued at about $26,000. Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new stake in Prologis in the 1st quarter valued at about $30,000. Finally, Osterweis Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Prologis in the 4th quarter valued at about $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.74% of the companys stock.

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Prologis Stock Up 1.8 %

NYSE:PLD traded up $2.22 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $124.46. 1,518,095 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,026,918. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $123.49 and a 200 day simple moving average of $123.65. Prologis, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $98.03 and a fifty-two week high of $138.86. The company has a current ratio of 0.34, a quick ratio of 0.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. The company has a market capitalization of $114.98 billion, a PE ratio of 32.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.44 and a beta of 0.98.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Prologis ( NYSE:PLD Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 18th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.83 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.68 by $0.15. The company had revenue of $2.45 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.72 billion. Prologis had a net margin of 42.52% and a return on equity of 6.17%. Prologiss quarterly revenue was up 95.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.11 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Prologis, Inc. will post 5.59 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

A number of analysts have commented on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price objective on shares of Prologis from $157.00 to $170.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. BTIG Research increased their price target on shares of Prologis from $152.00 to $154.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 19th. Robert W. Baird increased their price target on shares of Prologis from $125.00 to $133.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. 888 reissued a maintains rating on shares of Prologis in a research note on Wednesday, June 28th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reissued an overweight rating and issued a $128.00 price target on shares of Prologis in a research note on Thursday, July 20th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $143.48.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other Prologis news, Director George L. Fotiades sold 10,711 shares of Prologis stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $123.98, for a total transaction of $1,327,949.78. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.70% of the stock is owned by insiders.

About Prologis

(Free Report)

Prologis, Inc is the global leader in logistics real estate with a focus on high-barrier, high-growth markets. At March 31, 2023, the company owned or had investments in, on a wholly owned basis or through co-investment ventures, properties and development projects expected to total approximately 1.2 billion square feet (113 million square meters) in 19 countries.

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A number of research firms have changed their ratings and price targets for North American Construction Group (TSE: NOA):

7/28/2023  North American Construction Group had its price target raised by analysts at Raymond James from C$30.00 to C$40.00. They now have an outperform rating on the stock.

7/28/2023  North American Construction Group had its price target raised by analysts at Pi Financial from C$32.00 to C$48.00. They now have a buy rating on the stock.

7/28/2023  North American Construction Group had its price target raised by analysts at ATB Capital from C$32.00 to C$43.00.

7/27/2023  North American Construction Group was upgraded by analysts at TD Securities from a hold rating to a buy rating. They now have a C$36.00 price target on the stock, up previously from C$27.00.

7/27/2023  North American Construction Group had its price target raised by analysts at BMO Capital Markets to C$34.00.

North American Construction Group Stock Performance

Shares of North American Construction Group stock traded down C$0.15 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting C$33.15. 17,914 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 62,535. North American Construction Group Ltd. has a 12-month low of C$12.65 and a 12-month high of C$34.30. The stock has a market capitalization of C$875.49 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.64, a PEG ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 1.56. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of C$26.41 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$24.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 125.83, a current ratio of 1.15 and a quick ratio of 0.79.

North American Construction Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 6th. Investors of record on Friday, October 6th will be issued a $0.10 dividend. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.21%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, August 30th. North American Construction Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 16.46%.

North American Construction Group Ltd. provides equipment maintenance, and mining and heavy construction services in Canada, the United States, and Australia. Its Heavy Construction & Mining division offers constructability reviews, budgetary cost estimates, design-build construction, project management, contract mining, pre-stripping/pit pioneering, overburden removal and stockpile, muskeg removal and stockpile, site preparation, air strip construction, site dewatering/perimeter ditching, tailings and process pipelines, haulage and access road construction, tailings dam construction and densification, mechanically stabilized earth walls, dyke construction, and reclamation services; and Equipment Maintenance services.

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ResMed Inc. (NYSE:RMD  Get Free Report) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the nine analysts that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold recommendation and eight have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year target price among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $263.43.

Several analysts recently issued reports on the company. KeyCorp cut their price target on ResMed from $280.00 to $260.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday. StockNews.com downgraded ResMed from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, June 21st. UBS Group assumed coverage on ResMed in a report on Monday, May 22nd. They issued a buy rating and a $290.00 price target on the stock. Bank of America cut their price target on ResMed from $260.00 to $250.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised ResMed from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating and lifted their target price for the company from $262.00 to $284.00 in a research note on Tuesday, August 1st.

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Read Our Latest Research Report on RMD

Insider Activity at ResMed

Institutional Trading of ResMed

In related news, COO Robert Andrew Douglas sold 1,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $216.27, for a total value of $324,405.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 253,526 shares in the company, valued at approximately $54,830,068.02. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website . In other ResMed news, COO Robert Andrew Douglas sold 1,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $216.27, for a total value of $324,405.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 253,526 shares in the company, valued at $54,830,068.02. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website . Also, CEO Michael J. Farrell sold 5,675 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $232.10, for a total value of $1,317,167.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 436,930 shares in the company, valued at approximately $101,411,453. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold 24,075 shares of company stock valued at $5,374,291 over the last 90 days. 1.39% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in RMD. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of ResMed during the 3rd quarter worth about $26,000. Compass Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of ResMed during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV boosted its stake in shares of ResMed by 72.4% during the 2nd quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV now owns 131 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 55 shares in the last quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of ResMed during the 2nd quarter worth about $32,000. Finally, International Assets Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of ResMed by 3,940.0% during the 1st quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 202 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $44,000 after acquiring an additional 197 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 63.58% of the companys stock.

ResMed Price Performance

Shares of RMD opened at $186.68 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $27.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.60, a PEG ratio of 2.29 and a beta of 0.48. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $216.99 and a 200-day moving average of $219.92. The company has a current ratio of 3.12, a quick ratio of 1.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. ResMed has a 52 week low of $178.16 and a 52 week high of $247.65.

ResMed (NYSE:RMD  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The medical equipment provider reported $1.60 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.67 by ($0.07). The firm had revenue of $1.12 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.14 billion. ResMed had a return on equity of 24.94% and a net margin of 21.25%. ResMeds revenue was up 22.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.49 EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that ResMed will post 7.23 EPS for the current year.

ResMed Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 21st. Investors of record on Thursday, August 17th will be paid a dividend of $0.48 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, August 16th. This represents a $1.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.03%. This is a boost from ResMeds previous quarterly dividend of $0.44. ResMeds dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 28.85%.

ResMed Company Profile

(Get Free Report

ResMed Inc develops, manufactures, distributes, and markets medical devices and cloud-based software applications for the healthcare markets. The company operates in two segments, Sleep and Respiratory Care, and Software as a Service. It offers various products and solutions for a range of respiratory disorders, including technologies to be applied in medical and consumer products, ventilation devices, diagnostic products, mask systems for use in the hospital and home, headgear and other accessories, dental devices, and cloud-based software informatics solutions to manage patient outcomes, as well as provides customer and business processes.

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Ropes Wealth Advisors LLC trimmed its position in shares of Dominion Energy, Inc. (NYSE:D  Free Report) by 3.3% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 24,233 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 834 shares during the period. Ropes Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Dominion Energy were worth $1,355,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV raised its position in shares of Dominion Energy by 1.2% in the first quarter. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV now owns 10,630 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $903,000 after acquiring an additional 128 shares during the period. Golden State Equity Partners boosted its position in Dominion Energy by 1.7% during the first quarter. Golden State Equity Partners now owns 7,635 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $649,000 after purchasing an additional 129 shares in the last quarter. Covestor Ltd grew its holdings in Dominion Energy by 49.8% in the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 394 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 131 shares during the period. NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Dominion Energy by 0.3% during the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 40,479 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $3,440,000 after buying an additional 132 shares during the period. Finally, Ergoteles LLC lifted its position in shares of Dominion Energy by 3.2% during the 1st quarter. Ergoteles LLC now owns 4,719 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $401,000 after buying an additional 146 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 69.58% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

D has been the topic of a number of research reports. Bank of America decreased their price objective on Dominion Energy from $54.00 to $52.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 16th. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of Dominion Energy from $58.00 to $55.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, July 21st. Guggenheim lowered their target price on Dominion Energy from $63.00 to $60.00 in a report on Friday, July 7th. StockNews.com raised Dominion Energy from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, May 20th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on Dominion Energy from $63.00 to $55.00 in a research note on Friday, June 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have given 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 price target of $57.30.

Dominion Energy Stock Performance

NYSE D traded down $0.51 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $48.63. The company had a trading volume of 2,055,852 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,267,695. The business has a 50 day moving average of $52.25 and a 200-day moving average of $55.26. The company has a market cap of $40.65 billion, a PE ratio of 18.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.68 and a beta of 0.45. Dominion Energy, Inc. has a 1-year low of $48.32 and a 1-year high of $86.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.50, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.75.

Dominion Energy (NYSE:D  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, August 4th. The utilities provider reported $0.53 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.48 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $3.79 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.72 billion. Dominion Energy had a net margin of 12.71% and a return on equity of 11.96%. Dominion Energys revenue for the quarter was up 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.77 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Dominion Energy, Inc. will post 3.63 EPS for the current year.

Dominion Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 1st will be paid a dividend of $0.6675 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 31st. This represents a $2.67 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.49%. Dominion Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 98.89%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Dominion Energy

In related news, COO Diane Leopold sold 6,250 shares of Dominion Energy stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.16, for a total transaction of $307,250.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 100,115 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,921,653.40. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.15% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Dominion Energy Profile

(Free Report)

Dominion Energy, Inc produces and distributes energy in the United States. It operates through four segments: Dominion Energy Virginia, Gas Distribution, Dominion Energy South Carolina, and Contracted Assets. The Dominion Energy Virginia segment generates, transmits, and distributes regulated electricity to approximately 2.7 million residential, commercial, industrial, and governmental customers in Virginia and North Carolina.

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Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:SPR  Get Free Report) shares shot up 2.9% during trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $23.13 and last traded at $23.00. 459,505 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 83% from the average session volume of 2,635,763 shares. The stock had previously closed at $22.35.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have recently commented on SPR. Sanford C. Bernstein lowered their price target on Spirit AeroSystems from $38.00 to $29.00 in a report on Thursday, May 4th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on Spirit AeroSystems from $27.00 to $22.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered Spirit AeroSystems from a buy rating to a neutral rating and lowered their price target for the company from $45.00 to $30.00 in a report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Benchmark raised Spirit AeroSystems from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $45.00 price target on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. Finally, Barclays lowered their price target on Spirit AeroSystems from $50.00 to $40.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 9th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $32.43.

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View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Spirit AeroSystems

Spirit AeroSystems Stock Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $2.44 billion, a PE ratio of -2.81 and a beta of 1.64. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $28.92 and a 200-day moving average of $30.63.

Spirit AeroSystems (NYSE:SPR  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The aerospace company reported ($1.46) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.79) by ($0.67). The firm had revenue of $1.37 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.31 billion. Spirit AeroSystems had a negative net margin of 15.91% and a negative return on equity of 365.67%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 8.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned ($1.21) earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. will post -2.53 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Spirit AeroSystems

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its holdings in Spirit AeroSystems by 6,821.9% in the 2nd quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 4,591,729 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $134,538,000 after purchasing an additional 4,525,393 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC lifted its holdings in Spirit AeroSystems by 58.8% in the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 8,240,685 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $284,551,000 after purchasing an additional 3,051,014 shares during the last quarter. Maple Rock Capital Partners Inc. acquired a new stake in Spirit AeroSystems in the 1st quarter worth approximately $83,597,000. Wolf Hill Capital Management LP acquired a new stake in Spirit AeroSystems in the 1st quarter worth approximately $78,680,000. Finally, Earnest Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Spirit AeroSystems by 47.6% in the 2nd quarter. Earnest Partners LLC now owns 4,191,810 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $122,359,000 after purchasing an additional 1,352,432 shares during the last quarter. 89.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Spirit AeroSystems

(Get Free Report)

Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc engages in the design, engineering, manufacture, and marketing of commercial aerostructures worldwide. It operates through three segments: Commercial, Defense & Space, and Aftermarket. The Commercial segment offers forward, mid, and rear fuselage sections and systems, nacelles, struts/pylons, horizontal and vertical stabilizers, flaps and slats flight control surfaces, wing structures, and fully functional and tested wing systems.

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Spirit Realty Capital (NYSE:SRC  Get Free Report) updated its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Monday. The company provided EPS guidance of $3.56-$3.62 for the period, compared to the consensus EPS estimate of $3.65. The company issued revenue guidance of -. Spirit Realty Capital also updated its FY23 guidance to $3.56-3.62 EPS.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have commented on SRC. BNP Paribas began coverage on Spirit Realty Capital in a research report on Wednesday, June 14th. They issued an underperform rating and a $42.00 price objective on the stock. Truist Financial cut their price objective on Spirit Realty Capital from $50.00 to $46.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 15th. StockNews.com started coverage on Spirit Realty Capital in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lowered their target price on Spirit Realty Capital from $48.00 to $45.50 in a report on Thursday, May 4th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Spirit Realty Capital currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $43.06.

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Spirit Realty Capital Stock Up 0.7 %

Insider Buying and Selling

Shares of NYSE SRC traded up $0.29 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $39.82. 529,534 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 749,164. The company has a quick ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 0.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82. The stock has a market cap of $5.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.46, a P/E/G ratio of 6.02 and a beta of 1.24. Spirit Realty Capital has a 1 year low of $34.31 and a 1 year high of $44.93. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $39.92 and a 200 day moving average of $40.08.

In related news, Director Michelle M. Frymire sold 4,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $39.75, for a total transaction of $159,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 10,009 shares in the company, valued at approximately $397,857.75. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.54% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Spirit Realty Capital

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in SRC. Raymond James & Associates raised its stake in Spirit Realty Capital by 12.4% in the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 8,081 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $372,000 after buying an additional 893 shares during the last quarter. US Bancorp DE increased its holdings in shares of Spirit Realty Capital by 22.8% in the first quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 11,549 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $530,000 after purchasing an additional 2,143 shares during the period. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Spirit Realty Capital by 6.8% in the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 19,492 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $897,000 after purchasing an additional 1,234 shares during the period. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund acquired a new position in shares of Spirit Realty Capital in the first quarter valued at about $1,002,000. Finally, Rhumbline Advisers increased its holdings in shares of Spirit Realty Capital by 0.4% in the first quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 346,622 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $15,952,000 after purchasing an additional 1,256 shares during the period. 95.68% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Spirit Realty Capital

(Get Free Report)

Spirit Realty Capital, Inc (NYSE: SRC) is a premier net-lease REIT that primarily invests in single-tenant, operationally essential real estate assets, subject to long-term leases. As of March 31, 2023, our diverse portfolio consisted of 2,083 retail, industrial and other properties across 49 states, which were leased to 347 tenants operating in 37 industries.

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Staffline Group plc (LON:STAF  Get Free Report) insider Thomas Spain sold 46,761 shares of Staffline Group stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 30 ($0.38), for a total transaction of 14,028.30 ($17,927.54).

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On Tuesday, July 11th, Thomas Spain sold 44,994 shares of Staffline Group stock. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 27 ($0.35), for a total transaction of 12,148.38 ($15,525.09).

Staffline Group Stock Performance

Staffline Group stock traded up GBX 0.10 ($0.00) during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching GBX 32.10 ($0.41). 275,206 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 234,849. The company has a current ratio of 0.97, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 43.10. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 29.77 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 34.42. The firm has a market cap of 53.21 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 1,572.80, a PEG ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 1.69. Staffline Group plc has a fifty-two week low of GBX 25.11 ($0.32) and a fifty-two week high of GBX 48.90 ($0.62).

Staffline Group Company Profile

Staffline Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides recruitment and outsourced human resource services, and skills and employment training and support services. It operates through three segments: Recruitment GB, Recruitment Ireland, and PeoplePlus. The company provides solutions to the agriculture, supermarkets, drinks, food processing, manufacturing, e-retail, driving, and logistics sectors.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Superior Industries International (NYSE:SUP  Free Report) from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report report published on Friday.

Superior Industries International Stock Performance

Superior Industries International stock remained flat at $3.73 during midday trading on Friday. 49,706 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 76,262. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $3.64 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $4.58. The company has a current ratio of 2.27, a quick ratio of 1.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 25.43. The stock has a market cap of $103.96 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -3.96 and a beta of 3.82. Superior Industries International has a twelve month low of $2.88 and a twelve month high of $7.38.

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Superior Industries International (NYSE:SUP  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The auto parts company reported ($0.07) earnings per share for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $381.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $404.51 million. Superior Industries International had a negative return on equity of 156.56% and a net margin of 0.77%.

Insider Transactions at Superior Industries International

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Superior Industries International

In other news, CFO Timothy Trenary sold 10,817 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $3.48, for a total value of $37,643.16. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 281,394 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $979,251.12. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link . In other Superior Industries International news, major shareholder Mill Road Capital Iii, L.P. bought 9,352 shares of Superior Industries International stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 7th. The shares were bought at an average price of $3.64 per share, with a total value of $34,041.28. Following the acquisition, the insider now owns 4,274,128 shares in the company, valued at $15,557,825.92. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . Also, CFO Timothy Trenary sold 10,817 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $3.48, for a total transaction of $37,643.16. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 281,394 shares in the company, valued at approximately $979,251.12. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold 101,916 shares of company stock valued at $364,525 in the last quarter. Insiders own 8.90% of the companys stock.

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Marshall Wace LLP purchased a new stake in Superior Industries International during the 3rd quarter valued at $32,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its position in shares of Superior Industries International by 868.0% in the 1st quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 10,222 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $51,000 after purchasing an additional 9,166 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Superior Industries International in the 4th quarter worth about $52,000. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Superior Industries International in the 1st quarter worth about $52,000. Finally, Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Superior Industries International in the 1st quarter worth about $69,000. Institutional investors own 45.00% of the companys stock.

About Superior Industries International

(Get Free Report)

Superior Industries International, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and sells aluminum wheels to the original equipment manufacturers and aftermarket distributors in North America and Europe. It offers its products under the ATS, RIAL, ALUTEC, and ANZIO brand names. The company was founded in 1957 and is headquartered in Southfield, Michigan.

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Terril Brothers Inc. grew its stake in Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE:AEM  Free Report) (TSE:AEM) by 15.1% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 9,720 shares of the mining companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,275 shares during the quarter. Terril Brothers Inc.s holdings in Agnico Eagle Mines were worth $495,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. bought a new position in Agnico Eagle Mines during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC bought a new position in Agnico Eagle Mines during the 1st quarter worth about $30,000. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC increased its holdings in Agnico Eagle Mines by 124.2% during the 4th quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 834 shares of the mining companys stock worth $43,000 after purchasing an additional 462 shares in the last quarter. Almanack Investment Partners LLC. bought a new position in Agnico Eagle Mines during the 3rd quarter worth about $37,000. Finally, Geneos Wealth Management Inc. increased its holdings in Agnico Eagle Mines by 34.9% during the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 1,016 shares of the mining companys stock worth $62,000 after purchasing an additional 263 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 55.54% of the companys stock.

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Agnico Eagle Mines Price Performance

NYSE AEM traded down $0.27 on Tuesday, hitting $48.21. The stock had a trading volume of 2,072,993 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,774,023. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $50.64 and a 200-day moving average of $52.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 2.10. The company has a market capitalization of $23.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 21.60 and a beta of 0.80. Agnico Eagle Mines Limited has a 52-week low of $36.69 and a 52-week high of $61.15.

Agnico Eagle Mines Announces Dividend

Agnico Eagle Mines ( NYSE:AEM Get Free Report ) (TSE:AEM) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The mining company reported $0.65 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.55 by $0.10. Agnico Eagle Mines had a net margin of 40.06% and a return on equity of 5.63%. The company had revenue of $1.72 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.70 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.75 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 8.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts expect that Agnico Eagle Mines Limited will post 2.25 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 1st will be given a $0.40 dividend. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.32%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 31st. Agnico Eagle Miness payout ratio is 31.13%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the company. StockNews.com began coverage on Agnico Eagle Mines in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Barclays raised their price objective on Agnico Eagle Mines from $61.00 to $62.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, July 27th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on Agnico Eagle Mines from $64.00 to $67.00 in a report on Thursday, July 27th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Agnico Eagle Mines has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $67.75.

Read Our Latest Report on Agnico Eagle Mines

Agnico Eagle Mines Profile

(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.

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Twin Capital Management Inc. trimmed its stake in shares of AmerisourceBergen Co. (NYSE:ABC  Free Report) by 12.7% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 13,801 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,006 shares during the quarter. Twin Capital Management Inc.s holdings in AmerisourceBergen were worth $2,210,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in ABC. United Bank boosted its position in AmerisourceBergen by 16.6% during the first quarter. United Bank now owns 3,632 shares of the companys stock worth $562,000 after purchasing an additional 518 shares during the period. Raymond James Trust N.A. boosted its position in shares of AmerisourceBergen by 29.9% in the first quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 5,193 shares of the companys stock valued at $803,000 after acquiring an additional 1,194 shares during the period. Synovus Financial Corp boosted its position in shares of AmerisourceBergen by 123.4% in the first quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 6,301 shares of the companys stock valued at $975,000 after acquiring an additional 3,480 shares during the period. Vontobel Holding Ltd. boosted its position in shares of AmerisourceBergen by 22.5% in the first quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 2,767 shares of the companys stock valued at $430,000 after acquiring an additional 508 shares during the period. Finally, Blair William & Co. IL raised its stake in AmerisourceBergen by 12.4% in the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 8,124 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,257,000 after purchasing an additional 899 shares in the last quarter. 92.64% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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AmerisourceBergen Price Performance

ABC stock traded up $0.27 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $186.85. 817,959 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,361,942. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.51, a current ratio of 0.88 and a quick ratio of 0.52. The company has a market capitalization of $37.83 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.76, a P/E/G ratio of 1.84 and a beta of 0.56. AmerisourceBergen Co. has a 52-week low of $135.14 and a 52-week high of $194.79. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $185.53 and a 200-day moving average price of $170.42.

AmerisourceBergen Dividend Announcement

AmerisourceBergen ( NYSE:ABC Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The company reported $2.92 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.83 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $66.95 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $63.93 billion. AmerisourceBergen had a return on equity of 612.69% and a net margin of 0.66%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 11.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.62 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that AmerisourceBergen Co. will post 11.92 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 11th will be issued a dividend of $0.485 per share. This represents a $1.94 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.04%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 10th. AmerisourceBergens payout ratio is 23.63%.

Insider Transactions at AmerisourceBergen

In other news, CEO Steven H. Collis sold 10,499 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $178.44, for a total transaction of $1,873,441.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 257,967 shares of the companys stock, valued at $46,031,631.48. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other AmerisourceBergen news, CEO Steven H. Collis sold 10,499 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $178.44, for a total value of $1,873,441.56. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 257,967 shares of the companys stock, valued at $46,031,631.48. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, major shareholder Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. sold 292,792 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $170.77, for a total value of $50,000,089.84. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 33,366,388 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,697,978,078.76. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 1,938,174 shares of company stock valued at $359,043,236. 20.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have commented on ABC shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their target price on AmerisourceBergen from $174.00 to $182.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 3rd. Bank of America raised their price objective on shares of AmerisourceBergen from $200.00 to $212.00 in a research report on Monday, July 17th. Mizuho lifted their price target on shares of AmerisourceBergen from $174.00 to $192.00 in a research report on Tuesday, July 11th. 888 restated a maintains rating on shares of AmerisourceBergen in a research note on Friday, May 26th. Finally, Barclays lifted their target price on AmerisourceBergen from $182.00 to $189.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 3rd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $189.36.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on AmerisourceBergen

About AmerisourceBergen

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AmerisourceBergen Corporation sources and distributes pharmaceutical products. Its U.S. Healthcare Solutions segment distributes brand-name and generic pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter healthcare products, home healthcare supplies and equipment, and related services to acute care hospitals and health systems, independent and chain retail pharmacies, mail order pharmacies, medical clinics, long-term care and alternate site pharmacies, and other customers.

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Webster Financial (NYSE:WBS  Get Free Report) had its price objective increased by research analysts at Piper Sandler from $50.00 to $53.00 in a research note issued on Tuesday, FlyOnTheWall reports. Piper Sandlers target price suggests a potential upside of 18.30% from the companys previous close.

Other research analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Wedbush lifted their price target on Webster Financial from $40.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, July 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Webster Financial from $42.00 to $46.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 29th. Morgan Stanley reissued an overweight rating and set a $43.00 price objective on shares of Webster Financial in a research report on Tuesday, July 25th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of Webster Financial in a report on Thursday, May 25th. They issued a buy rating and a $47.00 target price for the company. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on Webster Financial from $51.00 to $53.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, July 21st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Webster Financial currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $51.20.

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Get Our Latest Analysis on WBS

Webster Financial Trading Down 3.4 %

WBS traded down $1.58 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $44.80. 213,124 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,330,889. The firms fifty day moving average is $40.78 and its two-hundred day moving average is $42.19. Webster Financial has a 1-year low of $31.03 and a 1-year high of $56.46. The company has a market cap of $7.83 billion, a PE ratio of 8.53 and a beta of 1.27. The company has a current ratio of 0.89, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67.

Webster Financial (NYSE:WBS  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 20th. The financial services provider reported $1.50 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.47 by $0.03. Webster Financial had a net margin of 26.69% and a return on equity of 13.68%. The firm had revenue of $673.20 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $690.83 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.29 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 10.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts forecast that Webster Financial will post 5.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Webster Financial

In related news, COO Luis Massiani sold 16,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $37.27, for a total transaction of $596,320.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 115,153 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,291,752.31. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.88% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Webster Financial

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. US Bancorp DE lifted its holdings in shares of Webster Financial by 217.7% in the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 6,646 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $372,000 after purchasing an additional 4,554 shares during the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Webster Financial in the first quarter valued at approximately $480,000. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC bought a new stake in Webster Financial during the 1st quarter valued at $410,000. Private Advisor Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Webster Financial by 78.6% during the first quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 11,359 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $637,000 after purchasing an additional 4,999 shares during the period. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Webster Financial by 78.5% during the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 18,398 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,032,000 after purchasing an additional 8,091 shares in the last quarter. 85.34% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Webster Financial

(Get Free Report)

Webster Financial Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Webster Bank, National Association that provides a range of financial services to individuals, families, and businesses in the United States. It operates through three segments: Commercial Banking, HSA Bank, and Consumer Banking. The Commercial Banking segment provides commercial real estate and equipment financing, business banking, asset-based lending, and commercial services; public sector finance; mortgage warehouse financing; treasury management services; credit, deposit, and cash flow management services; and wealth management solutions to business owners and operators, including trust, asset management, financial planning, insurance, retirement, and investment products, as well as derivative, treasury, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and trade products and services.

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...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT THURSDAY... * WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions with heat index values of 105 to 115 expected. * WHERE...Southern Illinois and southeast Missouri along with the westernmost portions of southwest Indiana and western Kentucky. * WHEN...From noon today to 10 PM CDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Extreme heat and humidity will significantly increase the potential for heat related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...This will likely be the worst heat wave we have experienced this summer in terms of duration. The multiple day aspect of this excessive heat will add to the impact. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1. &&
Weather Alert

...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 10 PM CDT THURSDAY... * WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions with heat index values of 105 to 115 expected. * WHERE...Portions of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana and western Kentucky. Generally locations along and northwest of a line from Fulton to Paducah Kentucky to Shawneetown Illinois to Princeton Indiana. * WHEN...From noon today to 10 PM CDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Extreme heat and humidity will significantly increase the potential for heat related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...This will likely be the worst heat wave we have experienced this summer in terms of duration. The multiple day aspect of this excessive heat will add to the impact. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1. &&
The four-legged lander, which weighs around 800 kilograms (1,750 pounds), is expected to touch down in the region of the lunar south pole. By contrast, most previous Moon landings have occurred near the lunar equator. The spacecraft is expected to reach the Moon around five days after launch.

Engineers have assembled a Soyuz rocket at the Vostochny cosmodrome in the Russian Far East for the launch of the lander, Roscosmos said. "The Luna-25 will have to practise soft landing, take and analyze soil samples and conduct long-term scientific research," Roscosmos said in a statement.

The launch is the first mission of Moscow's new lunar project and comes as President Vladimir Putin looks to strengthen cooperation in space with China after ties with the West broke down following the start of Moscow's offensive in Ukraine last year.

Russian space agency Roscosmos said it had scheduled the launch of the Luna-25 lander for the early hours of Friday. With the lunar mission, Russia's first since 1976, Moscow is seeking to restart and build on the Soviet Union's pioneering space program.

Russia said Monday it plans to launch a lunar lander this week after multiple delays, hoping to return to the Moon for the first time in nearly fifty years.

 'Total Sanctions'

After Putin sent troops to Ukraine last year, the European Space Agency (ESA) said it would not cooperate with Moscow on the upcoming Luna-25 launch as well as future 26 and 27 missions. Despite the pullout, Moscow said it would go ahead with its lunar plans and replace ESA equipment with Russian-made scientific instruments.

Speaking at the Vostochny cosmodrome last year, Putin said the Soviet Union put the first man into space in 1961 despite "total" sanctions. The Kremlin chief insisted Moscow would similarly continue to develop its lunar program despite current Western sanctions in response to the assault in Ukraine.

"We are guided by the ambition of our ancestors to move forward, despite any difficulties and any attempts to prevent us in this movement from the outside," Putin said.

In June, the head of Russia's space agency Roscosmos, Yuri Borisov, described the upcoming launch as high-risk. "This mission involves landing at the south pole. No one in the world has ever done such things," he said during a meeting with Putin. "The probability of successful completion of such missions is estimated at around 70 percent."

 Evacuation

Ahead of Friday's launch, local authorities said that residents would be evacuated from the village of Shakhtinsky in the far-eastern region of Khabarovsk, where the rocket's boosters are expected to fall.

During the last Soviet Moon mission in 1976, the Luna-24 brough back samples of lunar soil. With Sputnik, the Soviet Union launched the first man-made satellite into space in 1957 and later sent into orbit the first animal, a dog named Laika, the first man, Yuri Gagarin, and the first woman, Valentina Tereshkova.

But compared with the Soviet era, modern Russia has struggled to innovate and its space industry is fighting to secure state funding while the Kremlin prioritizes military spending.

Russia's space agency is still reliant on Soviet-designed technology and has faced a number of setbacks, including corruption scandals and botched launches. Moscow is also falling behind in the global space race, facing tough competition from the United States and China.
A state of emergency continues in Slovenia and southern Austria following severe floods. Massive rainfall and flooding in recent days means there is a threat of widespread landslides. The situation remains extremely tense.

Flooding in Crna na Koroskem, Slovenia. [AP Photo/Uncredited]

In Slovenia, six people have died so far. In the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana, a man died in the Sava River. Earlier, three people also lost their lives. Two of the fatalities are Dutch mountaineers presumed to be the victims of lightning strikes while hiking. Earlier, other Dutch holidaymakers were considered missing, but then found unharmed. Last Sunday a man was found dead in the Glan River in Carinthia, Austria.

Slovenia has been particularly hard hit. Prime Minister Robert Golob said the small country between the Alps and the Adriatic had suffered probably the greatest damage from a natural disaster in the history of independent Slovenia. The total damage is expected to exceed 500 million euros, he said. Slovenia has asked the EU and NATO for technical aid to repair riverbanks and destroyed houses.

The scale of the flooding is immense with about two-thirds of the country affected, following 36 hours of heavy rain last week. Numerous villages have been cut off from the outside world since Friday, and some are still inaccessible or can only be reached by special vehicles. Villages need to be supplied with drinking water and food because local infrastructure has collapsed.

Within 36 hours, civil protection services reported more than 3,700 operations nationwide, including rescuing people who had taken refuge in trees or on the roofs of houses.

On Saturday, a dam broke on the Mur Rver in the east of the country. As a result, more than 500 people were evacuated from the village of Dolnja Bistrica. In other parts of the country, people had to be rescued from the floodwaters. This was in some cases only possible from the air, following the flooding of railway tracks and motorways.

The area around Ljubljana was also badly affected. In Skofja Loka, 20 kilometres northwest of the capital, buildings were flooded and streets left under metres of water. In the Gorenjska region, on the border with Austria, there were extensive road closures due to flooding.

The town of Crna na Koroskem is one of the worst affected places. Three people died there within 24 hours of the start of the disaster.

The situation stabilised somewhat on Sunday due to decreasing rainfall, but massive landslides now threaten both countries.

In the Carinthian communities of Bruckl and Keutschach, dozens of houses were evacuated over the weekend due to the threat of mudslides. Here, too, several villages were completely cut off from the outside world. By Monday afternoon alone, 400 landslides had been reported to the authorities in Carinthia and Styria.

Neighbouring Croatia was also affected by the floods. The Sava, Drava and Mura rivers coming from Slovenia brought record water levels to the neighbouring country.

A state of emergency was declared in Rugvica, Botovo on the Drava, and Mursko Sredisce and Gorican on the Mura. It was only the rapid construction of dams made of sandbags that prevented major damage to residential buildings.

Politicians in both Austria and Slovenia have been making gushing promises to provide rapid and unbureaucratic assistance to help those affected by the flood disaster and repair the damage. Such promises cannot hide the fact that all politicians, regardless of party colours, have shown themselves to be completely incapable and unwilling to take the measures necessary to prevent such a foreseeable catastrophe.

During the last 30 years, Austria, especially on its border with Slovenia, has repeatedly experienced massive floods.

In 1991, the worst floods since the 1950s occurred when the rivers Salzach, Inn and Enns burst their banks. Within six days, six people died as a result of the floods, and the harvest was destroyed on around 6,000 hectares of farmland. Over 50 percent of the animal population in the affected areas was also wiped out.

Just three years later, massive rainfall occurred in the east of Austria killing one person and then in August 2002, the countrys so-called flood of the century caused damage on the order of several billion euros. Nine people died.

Between 2004 and 2007, floods occurred almost every year. In 2012, in Styria, which has again been affected, violent landslides occurred after a flood, killing one person. This was followed a year later by another severe flood, causing damage amounting to several hundred million euros.

Most recently, in Carinthia in 2018, numerous communities were cut off from the outside world by floods. Despite the increasing frequency of heavy rain, floods and landslides, no significant protective measures have been undertaken.

The latest flood disaster in Slovenia and Austria is only one of numerous natural disasters in Europe in recent years that show the growing impact of global warming and climate change.

Two years ago, at least 243 people died in floods all over Europe, the majority of them in Germany and Belgium. Property damage was in the tens of billions of euros, and 200,000 households were left temporarily without power.

Last month, large parts of Europe sweltered under a heatwave in which record temperatures were reached in several countries, with highs of up to 47 degrees Celsius (117 Fahrenheit) recorded in large parts of southern and western Europe. Thousands of people died and the heat sparked devastating forest fires in many regions.

As a result of climate change, extreme weather phenomena are becoming more frequent and more severe. In the end, climate change is man-made and due to capitalism, an economic system that puts the pursuit of profit above human life. Only a revolutionary transformation of society to socialism, uniting the working class internationally and placing human need first, can prevent a worsening of the climate catastrophe.
Australian Labor Party Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last weekend declared that his government would proceed, sometime later this year, with its referendum to entrench an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advisory body, called the Voice, in the countrys 1901 Constitution.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at Garma Festival in Australia, August 5, 2023. [Photo: Tiwtter @AlboMP]

Albanese made his vow in the face of media opinion polls showing collapsing support for the proposal. The latest Newspoll published in the Australian yesterday, indicates that support has dropped to 43 percent, from 54 percent in April, and is now below 50 percent in every state. To pass, the referendum needs a majority nationally and in four of the six states.

The prime minister was speaking at the annual Garma Festival organised by the Yothu Yindi Foundation, formed by five regional Yolgnu clan groups, held 40 kilometres from the remote Northern Territory township of Nhulunbuy. Albanese rejected calls, including from within the Yes camp, to postpone the vote. He stated: I can promise all of youand all Australiansthere will be no delaying or deferring this referendum.

Albaneses stand indicates how much is at stake for his government, as well as for big business, most of which publicly backs the referendum and provides much of the multi-million dollar funding for the official Yes campaign.

A wider political crisis is developing. There is growing distrust in the Voice project and the government itself, especially in the working class, amid falling real wages and a worsening cost-of-living and housing crisis, and opposition to the massive spending on AUKUS nuclear submarines and other weaponry for a US-led war on China.

From the day it narrowly won last years election, Albaneses government made the Voice plan a central feature of its entire political agenda. Its primary concern is fashioning and presenting a concocted image of Australian unity. At the same time, it is seeking to divide the working class along racial lines, in order to prevent a unified movement against the deepening assault on working-class living standards, including those of the indigenous workers, one of the most vulnerable sections of the working class.

In his Garma speech, Albanese again made this pitch. We can vote Yes, in a spirit of unity, he said. We can bring our country together. He emphasised that this unity included employers and business leaders, who understand the value and power of a Yes vote.

This appeal is being made for domestic purposes, to divert attention away from the intensifying class divide between the wealthy and the working class, including most indigenous people. It is also for geo-strategic purposes, to portray Australian imperialism as democratic and inclusive. That is particularly important in the South Pacific, where the Labor government is under intense US pressure to do more to bully countries into line against China.

Albanese once more tried to falsely present the Voice as a means to improve the appalling and still-deteriorating conditions of most indigenous peopleseeking to exploit the widespread public concern over these conditions. He cited some of the latest damning statistics, showing the shocking low life expectancy, and high disease and suicide rates, among indigenous people.

Only four out of 19 Closing the Gap targets on track, Albanese said, without referring to the fact that the last Labor government, that of Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard, set up the Closing the Gap program more than a decade ago, falsely promising that it would rectify the disaster.

Albanese could not explain how the Voice, a proposed unelected body whose members would be selected mainly by representatives of existing land councils and other government-funded indigenous organisations, would make any difference. For the past five decades, similar consultative bodies have failed to do so, while cultivating a privileged layer of indigenous business owners, media personalities and senior academics.

Nor could Albanese make any mention of the roots of the historic and ongoing social crisis, which lie in the past 235 years of history since British colonisation and the establishment of Australian capitalism. That silence is because the Labor government is totally committed to upholding the corporate profit system that has been responsible for the dispossession, massacres, destruction of communities, forced separations and ongoing trauma inflicted on the indigenous population.

The Voice would only continue that catastrophic record by strengthening the state apparatus of the parliament and executive government responsible for it. Members of the Voice and its accompanying staff and agencies would be integrated directly into this system of capitalist rule.

One of the architects of the Voice, right-wing Aboriginal lawyer Noel Pearson, outlined its pro-business agenda in an interview published by the Australian Financial Review last Friday. Pearson said the Voice would empower indigenous communities to help end passive welfare, which he blamed for the surging indigenous incarceration rates and over-representation of indigenous children in out of home care, separated from their families.

Pearson, himself an adviser to prime ministers since the 1990s, told the newspaper: I think for too long, at least for two decades, weve been in a world where everything that has gone wrong means the indigenous community can say, its the governments fault.

His comments serve to shift the blame away from the successive business-backed governments, Labor and Liberal-National alike, that have presided over the oppression, with the assistance of such figures. It also demonstrates what Pearson and other Voice backers mean by self-empowerment of indigenous people.

Pearson has long been an advocate of cutting people off welfare payments, which he derides as sit-down money, in order to coerce them into what are invariably low-paying jobs. At the same time, he encourages the expansion of the indigenous business elite, often on the back of land claims and deals with mining and pastoral companies.

The Garma Festival itself provided a picture of the pro-corporate agenda behind the Voice scheme. Initially launched in 1999, the festival has become an annual elite gathering of government leaders, capitalist politicians, bureaucrats and corporate chiefs.

Those in attendance this year included what the Australian Financial Review termed a large corporate delegation. It featured Business Council of Australia president Tim Read and executives from the countrys largest companies, such as Telstra, Qantas, Woodside, Woolworths, Rio Tinto and the big banks. It said business leaders welcomed the chance to explore commercial opportunities.

Far from being a grassroots affair, Garma is a ticketed event of 2,500 people, for which you had to register and be accepted. Tickets cost $2,503far out of reach for most peoplewhile businesses pay up to $5,000 for a corporate ticket. The basic price of $2,503 includes airport transfers, meals, accommodation (tent, air mattress and sleeping bag). Participants could drive, but the festival is about 700 kilometres from the nearest large town, Katherine.

Interviewed by the Australian, Yothu Yindi Foundation chief executive and Garma Festival director Denise Bowden basically echoed Pearsons perspective. She said: Across the nation we think people can learn from our strong law and cultural leadership. She said cultural authorities like the Dilak Council, headed by leaders of Yolngu clans, who own a range of businesses, including a mine, could help the Voice identify government waste and underperformance.

The festival is even run as a business venture. Speaking to the National Indigenous Times, Bowden said the event brought in millions of dollars in tourism revenue and supported 46 local businesses in the Arnhem Land region, as well as another 39 businesses elsewhere in the Northern Territory, while employing 160 Yolngu people.

Among the festival participants were indigenous leaders from 12 regions across Australia who represent an alliance called Empowered Communities. It boasts of speaking directly to governments since 2015 and depicts itself as proof that the Voice can work, including by producing substantial government savings.

Cape York representative Fiona Jose told the Australian that the Empowered Communities initiative showed indigenous people were ready and willing to cut waste. We make tougher decisions with and for our people than government will ever be able to do  Its possible because were doing it, she said.

This is the true face of the Voice. It is a pro-capitalist operation to promote indigenous business ventures, at the expense of ordinary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and thus perpetuate the economic system responsible for their impoverishment.

From the start, the Voice plan was orchestrated by Pearson and other hand-picked indigenous elite figures, working in partnership with the then Liberal-National government of Tony Abbott in 2015, to head off anger over that governments wholesale scrapping of indigenous welfare and health services, as part of its brutal austerity measures against the working class as a whole.

Far from being a movement from below, the Voice plan remains a bid to divert the ongoing anger and disaffection among ordinary indigenous people, and the rest of the working class, as workers and their families suffer the greatest cuts to their real wages and living conditions since World War II.

The historic and continuing crimes of capitalism can be rectified and overcome only through a unified struggle by workers, indigenous and non-indigenous together, in Australia and internationally, to overturn the profit system as a whole and develop a socialist society, based on genuine equality and democracy.
Floor of the 2023 DSA National Convention [Photo: DSA]

At the Democratic Socialists of Americas August 4-6 convention in Chicago, delegates gathered in person to restate the organizations half-century commitment to promoting the imperialist Democratic Party.

By a vote of 704 to 184, the convention passed a resolution on its electoral work which declares: It is not advisable for us to form an independent political party with its own ballot line at this moment.

On this basis, the delegates resolved that DSA commits to making electoral politics a priority for the next two years, that DSA will continue to pursue an approach of tactically contesting partisan elections on the Democratic ballot line, and that DSA will allow for more volunteer involvement in national electoral work to promote the Democratic Party in the 2024 national election.

The convention consistently rejected several amendments that would have held DSA elected officials to even the mildest political accountability, exposing that the DSAs claim to be left of the Democrats is merely for show.

Delegates vote to allow DSA members to break strikes, support imperialism

Delegates rejected by a 60-40 percent margin a proposed amendment to the electoral resolution which would have added language that it is DSAs expectation that socialists in elected office will vote and act in accordance with core principles of the socialist movement. Though this amendment also acknowledged that a majority of DSA members do not believe it is possible at this time to form an independent political party with its own ballot line, delegates evidently still found it too extreme.

In rejecting the proposed amendment, the DSA has resolved to support Democratic Party politicians no matter how right-wing they are and has explicitly stated its hostility to socialism. The rejected amendment would have required the DSA hold its members accountable if they vote for measures which expand or strengthen the police, vote for any restrictions on the independent action of the working class, such as the right to strike, or vote for military budgets, the imperial war machine, or military aid to US client states such as the apartheid state of Israel.

A further member-proposed resolution would have required the DSA political committee to publicly communicate disapproval to endorsed candidates and elected DSA members who explicitly or tacitly support centrist leaders of the Democratic Party, but this language was removed before the vote. The Socialist Majority Caucus, a group representing the most explicitly right-wing faction of the DSA, tweeted that its caucus is excited that the provision that would force DSA to criticize socialist electeds who endorsing [sic] centrist candidates was eliminated.

Suppressing debate on US/NATO imperialist war against Russia

The DSA leadership also blocked debate on several member-proposed resolutions that would have expressed hostility to US imperialism.

At the onset of the convention, DSA leadership put forward a proposed agenda that did not include debate on proposed resolutions calling for the DSA to oppose the US/NATO war against Russia and opposing DSA elected officials support for the Israeli occupation of Palestine. While DSA leadership claimed there was no time for such discussion, the proposed agenda included ample time to debate a resolution making an image of a rose holding a vote sign the DSAs official mascot.

This was so naked an attempt to suppress debate that it produced a certain level of dissatisfaction among the delegates. One DSA member wrote in a leaflet distributed to delegates that the leadership was placing a handful of uncontroversial elements on the consent agenda in order to ensure that we will have precious few opportunities to debate the burning questions of our movement.

The leaflet continued, If those who bemoaned the public spectacle of conflict that occurred in the [Jamaal] Bowman affair believe they can avoid it by suppressing important debate at the convention, they will find that suppressing the power of membership to shape our political strategy will only result in dozens more blowups of this kind.

When the membership voted by a narrow margin to reject the leaderships proposed agenda, the leadership updated the agenda, but not to include discussion on resolutions regarding the war in Ukraine or the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Instead, the leadership allowed for debate and discussion on a resolution calling for support for the rights of transgender people.

Suppressing debate on support for Palestine

The resolution on Israel that members were not allowed to debate noted that the founding merger that formed the DSA was heavily predicated on ensuring that the new organization would uphold one of its predecessors, Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee (DSOC), position of supporting continuing American aid for Israels Zionist colonial project.

The resolution cited Harringtons warped, racist writings and noted a growing appetite from rank-and-file DSA members and chapters to hold elected officials accountable, specifically referencing DSA congressman Jamaal Bowmans 2021 vote to arm the Israeli military.

The resolution that was ultimately passed on the DSAs international work made no reference to the US/NATO war against Russia, which its entire congressional slate (save one) has voted to fund. The resolution lyingly claimed the DSA opposes rising military spending, though the convention had just voted not to take action against its congressional members who voted for war against Russia. The resolution similarly states the DSAs opposition to the rising dangers of nuclear conflict, which the DSA has helped advance, and its purported opposition to military recruitment in schools, though Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez hosted a military recruiting event at a high school in the Bronx last year.

Promoting trade union bureaucracies and praising UAWs democratic election

The convention also passed a resolution supporting the DSAs work promoting reform factions of the trade union bureaucracies. The resolution declares that events in the UAW and IBT demonstrate the importance of a clear platform to promote union democracy, citing the first democratic elections in the history of the United Auto Workers as proof of the success of the DSAs rank-and-file strategy.

These are attempts to whitewash the pro-corporate role of the bureaucracies. The UAW election of 2022-23 was not democratic. It involved the disenfranchisement of hundreds of thousands of members, who were never informed that an election was taking place. The election was only historic in the sense that 9 percent turnout is the lowest in a national union election in US history. During the UAW election, the DSA supported longtime bureaucrat Shawn Fain, although Fain publicly stated he is not a socialist, and did not support rank-and-file Mack Trucks worker Will Lehmans campaign. Lehman has sued the Labor Department demanding the election be re-run with actual notice to the entire membership.

The DSAs labor resolution states a minimum set of democratic principles which it claims are necessary to guide DSA members when these issues arise. Among the principles are that all members [are] to receive a copy of the CBA [Collective Bargaining Agreement], prior to any contract vote, a complete copy (not just highlights) of proposed changes to the CBA will be available to all members, with time to review.

The UAW, which the DSA upholds as an example of union democracy, has systematically violated this minimum principle, as evidence in the strike by 500 Clarios battery workers outside of Toledo, Ohio earlier this year. The UAW bureaucracy under Fain refused to give workers a copy of the proposed collective bargaining agreement. It only provided lying highlights, and it did not give workers time to review or discuss the contract before voting. The reform faction leading the Teamsters is similarly attempting to ram through a sellout contract on 350,000 UPS workers whose contract expired July 31, also with the DSAs active support.

UAW Region 9A Regional Director Brandon Mancilla tweeted his support for the resolution on union democracy, which of course did not condemn the fact that his Assistant Director, Vail Kohnert-Yount, was appointed to a $175,000/year position after donating $25,000 to Shawn Fains campaign. Kohnert-Yount was also active on Twitter during the convention, promoting the DSAs labor resolution.

COVID safety resolution not debated

The DSA convention was held in person, despite the fact that over 400 DSA members signed on to a resolution that would require the DSA to hold the event remotely or in hybrid manner. COVID cases are increasing across the United States, and there are reports the DSA convention may have been a super-spreader event.

Many delegates were captured on video attending an indoor, crowded party in which none were wearing masks. As a result, one delegate tweeted Monday, Hearing scattered reports of delegates that are feeling under the weather, especially those that went to a big party The same delegate had previously tweeted, DSA could easily have offered hybrid, I know immunocompromised delegates that had to drop. COVID is on an uptick right now too.

The DSA leadership did not provide agenda space for the resolution on COVID safety, which would have also established contact-tracing measures to protect delegates and their loved ones returning from the convention. This, too, is in line with the DSAs support for the Democratic Party, which, like the Republicans, has abandoned any safety measures to stop the spread of COVID-19.

At its convention, the DSA continues to expose itself as a faction of the Democratic Party and supporter of imperialist war. Its purpose is to trap social opposition to capitalism and direct it into the two-party system where it can be suffocated. That is the role DSA has played since its founding and that is the role it will continue to play going forward.
In a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) sent to the State of Michigan on July 17, auto parts supplier Forvia announced the imminent closure of its Highland Park, Michigan, plant. The closure of the plant which produces seating for the Jeep Wagoneer sport utility vehicle will affect 511 workers.

The announcement comes just eight months after Forvia sent a similar WARN notice, originally dated November 30, 2022, and later updated on January 31, 2023, to announce the closure of the metals department within the same Highland Park plant. The metals department was responsible for the construction and framing of the seats for the Jeep Wagoneer. The closure of the department followed the elimination of the third shift at the Stellantis Warren Truck Assembly Plant (WTAP) where the Wagoneer is manufactured, and resulted in the permanent layoff of 268 temporary employees as the work was relocated to a Forvia plant in Monterrey, Mexico.

The closure comes as an amicable resolution between Forvia (formerly Faurecia) and Stellantis that allows the continuation of the Seat Frame activity, relocated in Monterrey (Mexico) and the termination of the Just-in-time business as from September 30, 2023, according to a July 27 press release.

Faurecia auto parts plant in Highland Park, Michigan. [Photo: Forvia-Faurecia]

The job cuts by Forvia take place as automotive suppliers are preparing for the impact of a possible strike against one or all three of the Big Three auto companies. In a report in Crains Detroit Business, Glenn Stevens, an industry consultant, said, Theyre all preparing to various degrees, in regard to the Center for Automotive Research Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City. If youre not anticipating that, youre flying blind, and companies arent doing that.

Workers have largely been left in the dark as to the details of the Forvia closure. In an email to the Detroit News, a company spokesperson said, the company is encouraging workers to apply for open positions at its other Metro Detroit operations.

It cannot be overstated the degree to which United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 155, which represents the workers whose livelihoods are on the chopping block, is fully complicit in this attack on workers. In December 2022, then UAW Local 155 Vice President Waymon Halty spoke with Automotive News regarding the closure of the metals department, noting complacently, it was a cost saving decision made a couple years ago.

A couple years ago? The Local leadership knew of the closure of a major department, employing over 250 workers, for over a year and did nothing! How long has the union known of the impending closure? What has the union done to notify workers and organize opposition? Word has gotten around on the shop floor, but not a single post has been made on the Local 155 Facebook page.

One day after the initial layoff announcement last December, a tragic shooting took place at the plant. Though apparently not directly related to the jobs cuts, the incident speaks to the enormous social tensions at the plant.

At the time, Local 155 responded to the layoffs by promoting anti-Mexican chauvinism in an effort to deflect blame for its own treachery.

These types of decisions are not made overnight. Automotive News reported that significant changes in the Wagoneer seating program were known at least since April. The Jeep seating business is being picked up by seating competitor Lear Corp., which said in an earnings presentation in April that it won a conquest award to supply complete seats for the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer launching in late 2023.

In order to fully understand the forces aligned against the Forvia workers and to develop a strategy to oppose this and future attacks, it is necessary to examine the circumstances around the closure in relation to the history of the Highland Park plant itself, and to place that within the broader context of the deep changes in the global auto industry associated with the transition to electric vehicles (EVs).

Highland Park is an enclave which, along with neighboring Hamtramck, is entirely surrounded by the city of Detroit. The now-impoverished city has a history of auto production that spans over a century. The Forvia plant located at 1300 Oakland Park Boulevard is located at the north end of the former site of the Chrysler world headquarters. It is located about one mile from the Highland Park Ford Plant which was the site of the first moving assembly line. The 150 acre brownfield was redeveloped into eight factory and warehouse spaces by Stuart Frankel Development Co. after Chrysler relocated its headquarters to Auburn Hills, Michigan, in 1996. The Oakland Park development has since been a major hub for auto parts production.

The plant has long been the site of seating production serving as a just-in-time (JIT) supplier for the many Big Three assembly plants in Detroit and the metropolitan area. Before Forvia, the plant was operated by Integrated Manufacturing & Assembly (IMA), a joint venture between Lear Corporation and Comer Holdings. Forvia, through its predecessor Faurecia, has operated the plant since 2019. Faurecia received a $2 million grant of state funds from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation in late 2019 for a planned $10.7 million investment in the plant and the creation of 500 jobs.

The Highland Park plant still maintains the Faurecia moniker. Significantly, the sign on the building at 1300 Oakland Park Blvd. was never upgraded to a permanent installation over the four years Faurecia/Forvia has operated the plant. To this day, a temporary banner is mounted over the former location of the IMA sign. This raises the question if the entire operation was planned by Faurecia executives as a temporary enterprise from the outset.

France-based Faurecia had been a subsidiary of PSA and became independent only with the formation of Stellantis through the merger of PSA with Fiat Chrysler in 2021. Faurecia formally changed its name to Forvia in February 2022 after completing the acquisition of German lighting company HELLA on January 31, 2022. Forvia claims the merger created the seventh-largest auto parts supplier.

The innumerable auto parts suppliers that began spinning off from the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the late 1990s and early 2000s have been in a perpetual state of flux with near constant bankruptcies, mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures. The announcement of the closure of the Forvia plant in Highland Park is only one expression of a renewed shakeup as the suppliers react to the changing demands of the OEMs as the global auto industry shifts to mobility and the proliferation of EVs. Automotive News reported that Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares warned, suppliers must work to cut costs as the automaker tries to compete against lower-priced Chinese EVs.

Throughout this process, the UAW has worked in tandem with Forvia and other auto parts makers at the supplier park, such as Magna and Johnston Controls, to ensure low-cost production and prevent strikes. Time and again the Local 155 leadership, like the national leadership of the UAW in Solidarity House, have demonstrated they are concerned only with maintaining their privileged position.

To advance their independent interests, Forvia workers must form rank-and-file committees independent of both the company and the UAW. The struggle for the defense of jobs and improvement of working conditions cannot be fought on the level of the individual plant or company.

The location of the Forvia Highland Park plant in the Oakland Park complex can be used to the advantage of the Forvia workers as they initiate their struggle. Workers should follow the example of the courageous workers in Matamoros, Mexico, in 2019 and send delegations to the neighboring plants of Magna, Yanfeng, Valeo Avancez, Mobis, Modular Automotive Systems and the other warehouses that line the boulevard.

The unity of auto parts workers in a common fight across company lines at these key plants could bring a substantial portion of the auto industry to a standstill. This fight in defense of jobs and safe working conditions would be welcomed by autoworkers in the Big Three as they enter a contract fight in September.

The newly formed committees should adopt the demands advanced by the Autoworkers Rank-and-File Committee Network in their July 9 statement as an important step in their own fight.
On Friday, a Russian court extended the nine-year prison sentence for Alexei Navalny, the most prominent NATO-backed critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, by another 19 years. While his earlier sentence had been based on charges of bribery and contempt of court, the latest sentence was based on charges of extremism.

Daniel Kholodny, who worked as a technician for Navalnys YouTube channel, also stood trial alongside Navalny and was sentenced to eight years in prison for organizing an extremist group. Navalny will have to serve the 19-year prison sentence in a maximum-security penal colony, reducing his ability to communicate with the outside world to almost zero. So far, Navalny had been able to continue to post political commentaries on his Telegram channel from prison. The trial proceedings were closed to the public as well as to his family members.

Earlier last week, another court rejected the appeal of the 25-year prison sentence of Vladimir Kara-Murza, who had been sentenced for treason and defamation of the Russian armed forces. Like Navalny, Kara-Murza is a central figure in the NATO-backed opposition to the Putin regime and has extensive ties to the ruling elites in Washington.

The sentencing of Navalny and Kholodny and rejection of the appeal for Kara-Murza come under conditions of a profound crisis of the Putin regime and infighting between warring factions of the state apparatus and ruling class. In late June, Evgeny Prigozhin, a billionaire mercenary-leader and long-time ally of Vladimir Putin, staged a coup attempt with an explicit appeal to the openly pro-NATO faction of the Russian oligarchy. Prigozhin and his Wagner troops have since been given carte blanche and appear to have been reintegrated into the regime. Wagner troops are still active in Africa on behalf of Russia and many of the troops are stationed in Belarus, a close ally of Russia. Prigozhin has been at a recent summit, hosted by the Kremlin with African leaders and diplomats, in St. Petersburg.

While essentially giving Wagner carte blanche, however, the Kremlin has also begun arresting a series of prominent political figures. Among them was Igor Strelkov, a former leader of the pro-Russian separatists in East Ukraine who has long called upon the Putin regime to impose a general mobilization. The Kremlin has also arrested Boris Kagarlitsky, a well-known leader of the pseudo-left and Stalinist milieu in Russia with long-standing ties to the oligarchy and state apparatus. Like Navalny, Strelkov and Kagarlitsky were also charged with extremism.

The US and the EU were quick to denounce the sentencing of Navalny. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken released a statement, noting The United States strongly condemns Russias conviction of opposition leader Aleksei Navalny on politically motivated charges. The Kremlin cannot silence the truth. Navalny should be released. The EU also strongly condemned the ruling. The WSWS has noted in the past the nauseating hypocrisy of these denunciations of the Putin regime by the imperialist powers. US and European imperialism are not only responsible for the bombing of multiple countries over the past decades, resulting in the death and maiming of millions. Washington and Brussels have also brutally persecuted and unlawfully imprisoned the Australian journalist Julian Assange, whose conditions of detention amount to systematic physical and psychological torture.

There is no question that the ultimate target of the attacks on democratic rights, now leveraged most publicly against opponents of Putin within the state and oligarchy, will be the working class. In particular, the charges of extremism and treason that were used most recently against Navalny, Kara-Murza, Strelkov and Kagarlitsky, are defined so broadly that they could easily be applied to genuinely left-wing and socialist opponents of the regime and the war in Ukraine.

However, in order to develop their political opposition to the Putin regime from their independent class standpoint, workers and young people must have a clear understanding of the political forces involved in this escalating infighting within the Russian oligarchy.

Contrary to his depiction in the Western media, Navalny is neither a democratic nor a popular critic of the Putin regime. With his base of supporters limited to privileged layers of the upper middle class, Navalnys political history is marked above all by his association with ultranationalist forces and sections of the ruling elites and state apparatus in both Russia and the US. He belonged to a rapacious and reckless layer of social climbers that tried to benefit from the 1991 destruction of the Soviet Union by the bureaucracy and the restoration of capitalism. He became involved in politics after his endeavors in banking and real estate had largely failed. In an early interview, he gave expression to his Social-Darwinistic views, stating, I wanted a market economy in the most wicked formthe strongest survive, the rest are simply superfluous.

Since 2010-2011, Navalny has been built up systematically by the Western media. At the time, he was a co-organizer of the far-right Russian Marches, and had released videos denouncing people from the North Caucasus as cockroaches. Navalny has also repeatedly called for a redrawing of the borders of Russia, without the predominantly Muslim North Caucasus. As the WSWS has documented, Navalny was built up by Washington and Berlin not despite but because of his ties to the far right.

Much as in Ukraine, where the descendants of the Nazi collaborators of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists have played a central role in the 2014 regime-change operation and the current war, the US-backed opposition in Russia has centrally involved far-right forces. They form a central component of the imperialist strategy to foment ethnic and national strife as part of the attempt to not only destabilize but also break up the country.

More recently, neo-Nazi forces with ties to the neofascist scene in Germany, as well as the Ukrainian regime and the NATO-backed opposition in Russia, were involved in incursions on Russian territory. Shortly after leading the most significant incursions to date, the neo-Nazi leader of the Russian Volunteer Corps, Denis Nikitin, was interviewed on Navalnys YouTube channel, with the interviewer being completely uncritical of Nikitins well-known and extensive ties in Europes neo-Nazi scene.

In addition to his relations with the far right, Navalny has retained ties to sections of the Russian elites and state apparatus. Among his earliest backers were figures such as the economist Sergei Guriev, a former adviser of ex-president Dmitry Medvedev, and the former banker Vladimir Ashurkov, now a leading figure of Navalnys Anti-Corruption Fund, both of whom have long fled the country.

Navalny, like Kara-Murza or the ex-oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky, thus speak for sections of the state and oligarchy that see in a complete line-up of Moscow behind geopolitical strategy of the US and in the break-up of the Russian Federation, the best means to advance their own economic interests in the exploitation of the raw material and social resources of the country.

The ever-more draconian prison sentences handed down to prominent representatives of the NATO-backed opposition in the Russian state and oligarchy are indicative of intense conflicts and crises unfolding behind the walls of the Kremlin, as the war in Ukraine is now well into its second year and all previous calculations of the Putin regime to somehow force the imperialist powers to the negotiating table have disastrously backfired.

But whatever their intense conflicts, all factions of the ruling oligarchy ultimately emerged out of the same historical process: The Stalinist reaction against the October Revolution, which included the mass murder of revolutionaries in the 1930s and culminated in the 1991 destruction of the Soviet Union by the Stalinist bureaucracy and the restoration of capitalism. The political opposition by the working class to the war and the Putin regime must be based on a strategy of international class struggle and the lessons of the entire history of the struggle against Stalinism by the Trotskyist movement.
Asteroid City is the latest effort from Wes Anderson, one of the more lively and intriguing US writer-directors of the last few decades, notable for films such as Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, The Grand Budapest Hotel and Isle of Dogs.

Andersons new film has several connected portions, one fitting into the other. In the 1950s, a southern playwright, Conrad Earp (Edward Norton), has written a play about a small desert town and the collection of people who gather there. A television host (Bryan Cranston) breathlessly promises to take us backstage to witness firsthand the creation, start to finish, of a new play mounted on the American stage. Considerably later, we meet the plays director, Schubert Green (Adrien Brody), and an earnest acting teacher, Saltzburg Keitel (Willem Dafoe).



The bulk of the drama, supposedly Earps play, takes place in the fictional southwestern US town of Asteroid City, during the period of nuclear testing. Grief-stricken widower and photojournalist Augie Steenbeck (Jason Schwartzman) has brought his brainiac son Woodrow (Jake Ryan) and three young daughters (triplets) to the hamlet for a Junior Stargazer convention and award ceremony. Also present is disconsolate movie star Midge Campbell (Scarlett Johansson), the mother of another Junior Stargazer, Dinah (Grace Edwards), also a genius.

Jake Ryan, Jason Schwartzman and Tom Hanks in Asteroid City

When his car breaks down in the town, Augie summons his successful, conventional suburbanite father-in-law, Stanley Zak (Tom Hanks), to come and help the family out.

The melancholic Augie and Midge fall in with one another. She tells him, deadpan: I prefer to play abused, tragic alcoholics, and one day, Ill probably be discovered lifeless in an overflowing bathtub with an empty bottle of sleeping pills spilled all over the floor, but the sad thing is Im actually a very gifted comedienne. Marilyn Monroe comes to mind. Further on, she asserts that the pair are two catastrophically wounded people who dont express the depths of their pain because we dont want to. The scenes are convincing and probably Asteroid Citys most affecting.

However, there is a good deal of sadness and anxiety to go around. Hosting a ceremony celebrating Asteroid Day, General Gibson (Jeffrey Wright) informs his listeners, If you wanted to live a nice, quiet, peaceful life, you picked the wrong time to get born. Nuclear tests continue to go off in the distance.

Woodrow is somewhat forlorn and subdued too, in part because of his mothers recent death. He develops a relationship with Midges daughter, Dinah. Meanwhile, an alien (Jeff Goldbum)very much a 1950s movie alien!descends from a spaceship and takes off with the towns small, signature asteroid.

After the alien appears, a naive, young teacher (Maya Hawke) tells her class: I want to emphasize that youre safe. We all are, here on Earth. Your parents have been notified of at least something. America remains at peace. The reassurance implies the opposite is the case.



The aliens presence sets the US government into motion, which proceeds to implement National Security Emergency Scrimmage Plan X, a measure that obliges the military to secure the site, cease the dissemination of information, collect and transport the totality of evidence to a hermetically enclosed, deep-underground secret storage facility and publicly deny all aspects of the event, including its existence, for a period of no less than 100 years.

In effect, the town is quarantined, presumably a reference to the recent pandemic crisis and phenomenon of mass death, an inference strengthened by the recent loss of Augies wife, who got too sick. And, to put it bluntly, after all the surgeries, therapies and interventions, after two years of struggling and suffering, she succumbed to her illnesses.



There are also various amusing or eccentric goings-on, the teacher and her elementary school class, an unlikely cowboy band, a local store-owner (Steve Carell) selling tiny portions of land out of a vending machine and more.

What is Anderson up to?

His new film revels in its self-consciousness, mannerisms, artifice, even at times preciousness. It has charming and original moments too.

Scarlett Johansson in Asteroid City

What can one conclude, based on a viewing of Andersons various films, that he stands for, generally speaking, as an artist?

He opposes conformism, authoritarianism and cruelty, he mocks standardized, regular patterns of behavior. The director identifies in particular with the enthusiasm, curiosity and rebelliousness of youth. What does he think of contemporary society? Anderson for the most part avoids taking on that question directly. He seems to suggest that one should live in a distinctive, individualist manner, keeping ones distance from the social conflicts, the danger of war, navigating literarily, gracefully, but with genuine feeling, around the large problems and obstacles. It is a quasi-utopian vision, a universe in the midst of our present reality where art and emotional intimacy hold sway, even if tenuously.

Where does that leave us here?

Two themes or moods seem to predominate in Asteroid City: first, despite the entertaining-humorous elements, a general melancholy, a restrained, hushed quality; second, the sense that the writer-director is to a considerable extent overwhelmed by events.

The characters struggle to make themselves understood or their presence felt, in the face of obstacles thrown up by American illusions, individualism, crassness, militarism. Woodrows first inclination is to project a US flag on the moon as part of the effort to communicate with extraterrestrial life. (Someone asks rhetorically, Is he trying to provoke World War Three or something?)

Woodrow then tells an actual adult scientist, Dr. Hickenlooper (Tilda Swinton), pointedly that I put the American flag just to be patriotic. Now we need to really mean something, and that This is our chance to be actually worthwhile in our lifetimes.

She responds, Its all worthwhile in your lifetime  Your curiosity is your most important asset. Trust it.  Trust your curiosity. Subsequently, Woodrow instead projects the initials of he and his new girl-friend (W.S. + D.C.). That seems friendlier and less threatening. Augie too evolves from hard-bitten war photographer, to genuine sadness (about his wifes death) and genuine love in the face of Midges obvious warmth and other qualities.

Creativity, inquisitiveness, philosophical tolerance or resignation (The time is never right. The time is always wrong) seem to be the characters most valuable or valued qualities. This is decent, humane, but a little tepid under the present circumstances.

In one of the latter scenes, Augie (or rather the actor playing him in the play within the film), asks the theater director (Brody) whether he is playing the character properly on stage every night. This exchange occurs:

-Youre doing him just right. In fact, in my opinion, you didnt just become Augie. He became you. -I feel lost. -Good. -Hes such a wounded guy. I feel like my heart is getting brokenmy own, personal heartevery night. -Good. -Do I just keep doing it? -Yes. -Without knowing anything? -Yes. -Isnt there supposed to be some kind of an answer out there in the cosmic wilderness?  Well, thats my question. I still dont understand the play. -Doesnt matter. Just keep telling the story.



Simply to keep creating (and loving) in the face of catastrophe, personal and social, and the apparent meaninglessness of existence. And to rely on the instincts, the unconscious. An acting class keeps repeating, You cant wake up if you dont fall asleep, in what seems to be an unhappy reformulation of the surrealist position, that dream life is more revealing and profound as the path to truth.

The German philosopher Hegel, on the other hand, argued that to grasp the reality of the actual world in the form of concrete imagery, the artist had to call on (i) the watchful circumspection of the intellect, and (ii) the depth of the heart and its animating feelings, that it was an absurdity to suppose that immortal works came to the poet in sleep and silly to believe that the genuine artist does not know what he is doing.

The artist, Hegel continued, must not only have looked around at much in the world and made himself acquainted with its outer and inner manifestations, but he must have drawn much, and much that is great, into his own soul; his heart must have been deeply gripped and moved thereby; he must have done and lived through much before he can develop the true depths of life into concrete manifestations.

This is difficult at this point for contemporary artists. They have to go beyond their limited, passive and non-committal approaches to life and society. Anderson is one of the more interesting ones, but the last number of decades have taken their toll on him too.
The meltdown of the Scottish National Party (SNP), culminating in the resignation and arrest of former First Minister and party leader Nicola Sturgeon, is a debacle for the pseudo-left groups.

In a matter of weeks, the SNP fell from a position of apparent unrivalled dominance in Scottish politics to one where much of its national leadership has either resigned or is preparing to resign. The party is subject to a police investigation into its finances while Sturgeon has been replaced by Humza Yousaf, a man predicted to lead the SNP into electoral disaster.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (left) poses for the media with husband Peter Murrell, outside polling station in Glasgow, Scotland, on December 12, 2019. The husband of former Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon was arrested in a party finance probe on April 5, 2023. [AP Photo/Scott Heppell, File]

In response, pseudo-left groups who all support Scottish nationalism have stepped up their efforts to save the perspective of Scottish independence from the shipwreck of the party most associated with the project.

Writing for the Socialist Party Scotland (SPS), in an article published June 23 to coincide with a recent SNP conference, Where now for Scottish independence?, SPS General Secretary Philip Stott captures the perplexed mood and reactionary outlook of the entire milieu.

Where now for Scottish independence? by SPS General Secretary Philip Stott [Photo: screenshot - socialistworld.net]

Stott bemoans the fact that the SNP crisis has made the prospect of a second independence poll, seeking a different result to that of 2014 when independence was rejected by 55 to 45 percent, seem distant.

Stott notes that there is an intensification of the class struggle. But this is only of interest to him because, in Scotland, it can perhaps be manipulated into backing a nationalist agendaeven when he notes that many strikes are seeing workers pitted against SNP politicians. He continues, This working-class fightback has the same roots of class anger as the 2014 indyref itself. Blocked, temporarily, on the national question, not least because of the misleadership of the SNP, workers have continued to fight on the cost-of-living issue. By using the strike weapon the class struggle has been taken onto a higher level.

Scottish independence and Brexit

Stotts conflating of the 2014 referendum with the current wave of strikes is bogus. The 2014 poll, like the Brexit vote across the UK two years later, did contain an element of protest. Sections of workers, abandoned by the Labour Party and the trade unions, facing the destruction of whole industries, austerity and endless pressure on living standards, voted against what they saw as the establishment position.

But this only drew them behind rival sections of the ruling class, those promoting Scottish separatism in 2014 or Brexit in 2016. Responsibility for this lies with the pseudo-left who portrayed by turns both an independent putative Scottish state and then an independent British state as mechanisms for implementing a platform of national reform. The first was based on extracting Scotland from the UK, the second through supposed British autonomy from the bosses club of the European Union (EU).

None felt the need to explore the contradictions between these two positions, despite the Scottish independence project being predicated on seeking EU membership, with the new state functioning as a cheap labour, low-tax investment platform for transnational corporations seeking access to the Single European Market. But it is entirely appropriate for the pseudo-left groups to advance one programme for Scottish workers and an opposed one for the whole UK.

Scottish independence is no less of a right-wing project than Brexit. Following the 2014 referendum, Sturgeon, who replaced Alex Salmond as SNP leader and first minister, oriented the SNP towards making a detailed economic case for independence that could convince the leaders and opinion formers of British and international capital of the profits to be made.

At the same time, to secure a majority for a second referendum, Sturgeon and the SNP continued to spin fairy tales that independence could provide resources for more social spending, better wages and the likeclaims amplified by its pseudo-left echo chamber. This claim relied materially on the marginally higher social spending made possible by the UKs Barnett tax distribution formula, which originated as a sop to stifle demands by the SNP in the 1970s to control the revenues from Scotlands oil and gas in the North Sea.

The propaganda was initially successful, given the widespread hostility to the Tory government at Westminster and the rightward trajectory of the Labour Partyand even survived efforts by Jeremy Corbyn after becoming leader in 2015 to offer the prospect of a more left-wing Labour Party. The SNP eclipsed Labour in Scottish national and local government and its membership ballooned to as many as 120,000.

Following the 2016 Brexit vote, Sturgeon also positioned the SNP as a key player in the drive to restore British links with the EU, hoping to garner influence and political support from the leading European powers and the most pro-EU sections of the British ruling class and from broad sections of the working class and middle classa majority in Scotlandwho viewed Brexit as an economic and social disaster.

Catalonia and the SNP

Events in Catalonia dealt Sturgeon and the SNP a serious blow. Scotland and Catalonia are both wealthy regions within major European powers with separatist movements. Representing sections of the regional bourgeoisie and upper middle class, these movements seek a greater share of profits extracted from the working class through direct relationships with global finance, transnational corporations and the EU, rather than via the UK or Spaingenerally complaining that taxes paid are being funneled to the capital city and to poorer regions.

In 2017, when the Catalan nationalists held an unauthorised referendum on secession from Spain, the EU, concerned over the stability of several member states, backed the brutal repression by the right-wing Popular Party government in Madrid. This destroyed the SNPs hopes for support from the EU apparatus in Brussels as a counterweight to Westminster, convincing Sturgeon of the need for a cautious approach to any second poll.

Spanish National Police storm Institut Pau Claris polling station in Barcelona on October 1, 2017 [Photo by Agapito - Own work / CC BY-SA 4.0

This alienated significant elements within the SNP, including former leader Alex Salmond, who formed his own Alba Party calling for a more aggressive drive for a referendum. The conflicts came to a head last year when the UK Supreme Court threw out an SNP case exploring the Scottish governments right to call a poll unilaterally.

Conflict with the working class

Over the same period, Sturgeon and the Scottish government have come ever more sharply into conflict with the working class, a process greatly accelerated by the pandemic.

Across the UK, millions of local government and health service workers, professionals, postal workers, teachers and lecturers, rail and bus workers have held determined and extended strike struggles in defence of wages, living standards and working conditions. These strikes, driven by the global crisis of world capitalism, erupted simultaneously with powerful movements and protests emerging across Europe and internationally.

Picket in Glasgow, Scotland during the national railway workers strike

The strikes revealed the social power of the working class, cutting across all national divisions and refuting in practice the pseudo-lefts promotion of Scottish and Welsh nationalism. Regardless of regional differences and nuances, workers have been confronted by the Tory government in London and the devolved nationalist and Labour administrations in Edinburgh and Cardiff, with equal hostility.

In response, the pseudo-left tendencies are desperately seeking a means to revive the stalled drive for a second Scottish referendum, whose primary impact would be to break up a unified movement emerging in the working class.

They have seized on Salmonds proposal for a revived Scottish Independence Convention, urging a broad and inclusive political and civic gathering of the independence movement aiming to field one single candidate in each constituency on a joint platform seeking a mandate to negotiate independence. Salmond hopes, having survived the SNP leaderships attempt to jail him for refuted sex crimes, to bring together all the independence partiesincluding the SNP, Alba, the Greens and the pseudo-left Scottish Socialist Party [SSP] in electoral pacts.

Several pseudo-left figures have already joined Salmonds party, including former SSP leader Tommy Sheridan, the Common Weal think-tank and former International Marxist Group member and SNP MP, George Kerevan. The SSPs current co-spokesperson, Colin Fox, called for an independence convention as soon as Sturgeon resigned to deliver our shared goal.

Stotts SPS is a component of the former Militant Tendency in Scotland from which emerged the SSP and Tommy Sheridans now disbanded Solidarity party. What became the SPS extracted themselves from the SSP over its too-overt nationalism. It retains links with the Socialist Party of England and Wales and its international affiliates in the Committee for a Workers International.

Stotts concern is that the convention as outlined by Salmond and Fox would be discredited from the start. He muses, While supporting an independent socialist Scotland we can have no faith, never mind an electoral agreement, with the leaderships of the likes of the SNP, and indeed Alba and the Greens, who have a record of making cuts and attacking workers.

Stotts reference to an independent socialist Scotland established at some undefined point after independence is common to all the pseudo-left groups. It is the preferred formulation to conceal their real perspective of support for an independent capitalist Scotland.

Aware of this, Stott adds, If inequality, poverty and the rule of the capitalist elite is to continue post-independence, why should the working class support independence? Thats why Socialist Party Scotland links the fight for democratic rights to the struggle for socialism.

Trade unions and the right to decide

The only right Stott genuinely upholds is the right of the trade union bureaucracy to control the working class. Despite minor rhetorical differences, the SPS with the rest of the pseudo-left are all encouraging the trade unions to play a leading role in promoting a second referendum.

As long ago as 2021, the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) voted in support of a motion that the Scottish Parliament should have the power to hold a referendum on Scotlands future and should not require UK Government consent. Speaking at an SNP conference last year, STUC leader Roz Foyer told delegates, We see the SNP as political allies of the trade union movement.

Roz Foyer speaking at a rally of the Trades Union Congress in London in June 2022

The STUC does not support independence, but significant sections of the trade union bureaucracy do. And posturing as being concerned over democratic debate while sowing divisions between workers in Scotland and the rest of the UK is like catnip for the union bureaucracy.

Stott turns to the STUC to uphold the right to decide after the trade unions and the Scottish governmentlike their counterparts across the UKhave daily collaborated to derail and close down strike after strike in the interests of the corporations. Repeated massive majorities for strike action have been ignored or squandered by trade union officials, seeking to preserve their cosy arrangements with management and local and national government as negotiating partners, in return for policing the class struggle.

The SNP, Alba and war

It is striking that Stott makes no mention of the escalating war crisis centred on Ukraine. This reflects concern that even a feeble pacifist appeal, that would at one time have been the stock-in-trade of the left, would expose the reactionary character of the nationalist, trade union and pseudo-left forces he hopes will unite in a push for a new referendum.

The SNP enthusiastically supports NATOs war against Russia. Sturgeon herself wrote in March, All of us want to see a speedy and decisive victory for Ukraine over Putins aggression, so that the country can once again live in peace and democracy, with its independence and territorial integrity restored.

Salmonds Alba Party, with the pseudo-left in tow, nominally opposes NATO membership despite Salmonds role in leading the SNP into supporting NATO in 2012. It supported the Minsk Accords and criticised NATO expansion in the immediate aftermath of the invasion but has since maintained complete silence.

Alex Salmond during a visit to the United States in 2012, pictured with Mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel [Photo by Scottish Government/Flickr / CC BY 2.0

Shortly after Russias invasion, the SSP issued a March 6, 2022 statement supporting both Ukrainian self determination and national rights of all minorities including those in the Donbas and Luhansk regions up to and including the right to democratic, independent self-government, calling for a ceasefire and negotiated political settlement. This was to be their last word on a war that threatens to escalate into all-out conflict between nuclear powers.

The SPS reproduces the political line of its international co-thinkers, publishing the criminally complacent ruminations of Tony Saunois asserting that it is not in the interests of western imperialism or Putin to allow this conflict to develop into an all-out war between NATO forces and Russia, to become a third world war, with a nuclear arms exchange. Instead of a call for unity between Russian and Ukrainian workers, he calls for a cross-ethnic, armed, democratically controlled defence force to wage the war on NATOs behalf.

No ostensibly left organisation in Scotland takes up an active struggle against war. Instead they champion the further national division of the world capitalist system that is the root cause of war. The call, Workers of the World Unite! is replaced by Workers divide on national lines!

Should an independent Scotland ever arise, it would be a minor, heavily militarised, pro-NATO imperialist power. Run by a narrow clique of financiers and nationalist politicians, it would be locked in brutal competition with much larger rivals for profits and investment through the further evisceration of workers living standards. Nothing the pseudo-left proposes mitigates this in the slightest or has anything to do with socialism.

The overthrow of capitalism in Britain demands the political mobilisation of the entire working class to dismantle all the state institutions of capitalist rulethe police, military, judiciary, intelligence services and the ancient junk of the monarchy, the church and all their trappingsnot their preservation under the Saltire rather than the Union Jack. Such a movement cannot be conceived outside of a powerful and integrated movement of the European and international working class, seeking the reorganisation of economic life to meet social need not private profit.

The issues posed to working people in Scotland are the same as those posed to workers in Britain and internationally. Faced with collapsing living standards, war, climate disaster and daily assaults on democratic rights, no way forward can be found through tinkering with the nation state system. To fight for their independent interests means workers rejecting all forms of nationalism, including its British and Scottish variants, and forging a political movement for a United Socialist States of Europe and the establishment of socialism worldwide.
The Socialist Equality Party (United States) held its biennial International Summer School from Sunday, July 30, to Friday, August 4. The school was devoted to a detailed review of the history of the Trotskyist movement, specifically the 33-year period between the founding of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) in 1953 and the split with the national opportunists in the Workers Revolutionary Party (WRP) in 1985-86.

The school was held online, allowing for the participation of members from all the sections and sympathizing groups in the ICFI. All the lectures and discussions were simultaneously translated and captioned into eight different languages using AI-based technologies. Moreover, the SEP leadership considers it ill-advised, to the point of irresponsibility, to hold a large, weeklong in-person meeting in the midst of a pandemic, when there exists a safe and effective online alternative.

A total of 12 lectures were delivered over six days by leading members of the ICFI and supporting groups from 10 countries. These lectures will be published on the World Socialist Web Site over the coming weeks, beginning with the introductory lecture published today, Leon Trotsky and the Struggle for Socialism in the Epoch of Imperialist War and Socialist Revolution, by WSWS International Editorial Board Chairman and SEP National Chairman David North.

The opening report recalled the overview of the history of the Trotskyist movement presented at the 2019 summer school. Five distinct phases in the history of the Trotskyist movement had been identified in the 2019 opening report. The first four were: 1) Between the founding of the Left Opposition in 1923 and the founding of the Fourth International in 1938; 2) Between the founding of the Fourth International and the formation of the International Committee in November 1953; 3) Between the formation of the ICFI and the final break with the national opportunists in the WRP in 1986; and 4) The period following the break with the WRP.

The 2019 opening report stated that the fifth stage, now underway, would be characterized by an enormous intensification of the capitalist crisis, escalation of the class struggle and the growth of the political influence of the ICFI.

The lectures at the 2023 school were focused on the third phase in the history of the Trotskyist movement. This was a period of intense conflict within the ICFI, in which the Trotskyists waged a protracted struggle against different forms of Pabloite liquidationism, which denied the revolutionary role of the working class and sought to subordinate the Fourth International to the Stalinist, social democratic and bourgeois nationalist movements.

The opening report by David North set the tone for the entire week. It began by dedicating the school to the life and memory of Wije Dias, who held the post of general secretary of the Sri Lankan section of the ICFI for 35 years until his death on July 27, 2022. In paying tribute to Comrade Wije, North called attention to the central role he played in the leadership of the Sri Lankan Trotskyist movement for over six decades. The outstanding characteristics of Wije were limitless and unaffected personal courage and unyielding commitment to political principles, North said. This was recognized even by his political opponents, who, when in his presence, could not help but feel somewhat ashamed of their own opportunism.

North then posed the question: To what extent has the evaluation in 2019 of a new stage in the Trotskyist movement been verified? Looking back over the past four years, he stated, it is an unarguable fact that the 2019 school took place on the very eve of a massive escalation of the economic, political and social crisis of imperialism. The main elements of this crisis include the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic in the initial months of 2020; the attempted fascistic coup in the United States on January 6, 2021; the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, which was instigated and has been relentlessly escalated by the US-NATO imperialist powers; and a huge upsurge in the struggles of the working class throughout the world.

Calling attention to the extreme recklessness of the Biden administration in the conduct of the war with Russia, North stressed that it must be understood as part of the protracted effort of the American ruling class to offset its deteriorating global economic position with military force. The preservation of the central role of the United States in global geopolitics, he explained, let alone its striving for hegemony, is entirely bound up with maintaining the US dollar as the indisputable world reserve currency.

North emphasized not only the scale of the capitalist crisis but the essential role of the ICFI and its publication, the World Socialist Web Site, in providing a perspective and orientation for the working class. The expansion of the political authority of the ICFI over the past four years can be seen in its central role in exposing the New York Times 1619 project; the mobilization of opposition to the ruling classs pandemic policy, including the founding of the Global Workers Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic; the campaign among workers and youth against the US-NATO war against Russia over Ukraine and the resurgence of fascism internationally; and the growing support for the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC), initiated by the ICFI in 2021.

He then summed up the basic political conception motivating the school. Our work proceeds from the fundamental and historically verified premise that the working class is the basic revolutionary force in society, capableby virtue of its objective role in the process of productionof overthrowing the capitalist system. Whether or not the working class can achieve the level of political self-consciousness and understanding of its historic tasks is not a matter for idle speculation. What can or cannot be achieved will be determined in practice. It is no doubt true that revolutions have suffered defeats. But it has been shownabove all, in the experience of the 1917 October Revolutionthat the working class, given the necessary leadership, can overthrow the ruling class.

Such a leadership must be based, above all, on an understanding of the immense experiences of the working class in the 20th century, which have been consciously reviewed and fought out in the history of the Trotskyist movement.

Meeting the challenges of a revolutionary period, North said, requires greater attention to the education of the party membership. The most important element of this education is raising the cadres knowledge and understanding of the history of the Trotskyist movement. He continued,

For the Marxist movement, historical knowledge has always been the foundation of revolutionary practice. The assimilation of historical experience is the basis for a theoretically guided practice, which must transcend a pragmatic approach to politics which generally takes individual experience and personal impressions as the starting point of political activity.

The entire school was animated by this perspective. A continuous theme was the relationship between revolutionary practice and history. In this sense the school was entirely unique. There is not a single other political tendency that can provide an objective and honest account of its role and political positions over the past decade, let alone the past century. Organizations like Syriza in Greece, Podemos in Spain, the Left Party in Germany and the Democratic Socialists of America in the United States base their politics on one pragmatic maneuver after the next, with each betrayal invariably followed by a further lurch to the right.

The lectures reviewed a series of critical experiences, including the political basis for Trotskys founding of the Fourth International in 1938; the establishment of the ICFI in the fight against Pabloite liquidationism in 1953; the Cuban Revolution and the ICFIs opposition to Castroism and petty-bourgeois nationalism; the Great Betrayal in Sri Lanka when the LSSP joined a bourgeois government in 1964; the complex political issues involved in the split with the OCI in France in 1971; the Marxist critique of Ernest Mandels neo-capitalist economic theories; the break with Tim Wohlforth in 1974 and the renewal of the struggle against Pabloism in the Workers League, predecessor of the SEP; the origins and development of the Security and the Fourth International investigation into the assassination of Trotsky, initiated in 1975; and the philosophical and political issues involved in the split with the Workers Revolutionary Party in 1985-86.

The collective review of this history was undertaken not from the standpoint of passive contemplation but revolutionary action. All the lectures and discussions during the school were imbued with the understanding that the experiences of the past are the basis for orientating the working class in the present. The history in that sense is an active force in the fight to build a political movement in the working class to take power, abolish inequality, end imperialist war, and reorganize social and economic life on the basis of socialism.

We urge all our readers to carefully study the reports from the SEP International Summer School and make them the basis for your own political education.
Public hospital workers in Australia are anonymously speaking out about how cuts to staffing levels are affecting their conditions and endangering their patients. Among them, a Victorian hospital worker contacted the Health Workers Rank & File Committee (HWR&FC) to discuss developments in their workplace.

Striking nurses in Sydney, February 15, 2022

The staffing cuts have intensified since Australian state and federal governmentsLabor and Liberal alikedismantled measures developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and reduced funding to many areas of public health. The Albanese national government chopped its share of public hospital funding from 50 percent to 45 percent, cutting $2.4 billion over four years, and reduced total federal health expenditure by $11 billion from 202122 to 202324.

While the recent Victorian state Labor government budget purported to invest in new hospital facilities, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported in May last year that 800 people daily were leaving hospital emergency departments before being treated, due to massive wait times, sometimes longer than 12 hours.

Last month, the ABC reported that critical care nurses have accused Melbournes Alfred Hospital, one of Victorias busiest, of not meeting legally mandated nurse-to-patient ratios, putting patients at risk.

The impact of the cost cutting is being felt across health care services and affects all levels of workers involved in health care. The worker who spoke to the HWR&FC works in catering and servicing at a major public hospital in Melbourne, the Victorian capital.

To protect the worker from victimisation we will not name them or their place of work.

The worker said that a month ago a notice was put up telling staff in the catering area that 21 hours per day would be cut from their working roster. This would be approximately equivalent to the loss of three full time staff per day among the workforce of about 35 people, some of whom only work part-time.

Workers discussed the edict among themselves, as no meetings were called about it, and decided that a delegation should complain to the manager regarding the extra pressure it was putting on workers. Casual workers were particularly angry, as the impact of the cutbacks would fall most directly on them through reduced hours and demands for a heavier workload.

The delegation was made up of permanent staff because the permanents were concerned that the casual workers could easily be victimised by being having their work hours reduced or entirely suspended. As the worker put it, casuals have no voice.

They told the manager the work was being made harder and the extra duties were too much. They complained about the amount of work and that we need an extra full-time position not a casual, the worker said.

The hospital increasingly relies on casuals for its kitchen and food distribution staff. When permanent members of staff leave, they are replaced by casual workers.

The manager told the delegation that the duties were being finished, so there is no problem. The worker commented that there is no problem from the managers point of view because the supervisors are pushing workers [harder] to get the job done.

Permanent staff at the hospital have specific job descriptions and so cannot be pressured in the same way as casual staff. For the casuals, they dont worry about them. They just push them to do whatever is necessary. The job gets finished by those means. Then the manager can say: Well whats the problem?

All the staff members, however, are under pressure from management to get the work done.

The worker explained that the combination of increasing demands on the catering staff along with the reduction of hours is taking a toll.

We have to do extra work. Workers are getting sick and getting mental depression. The delegation explained this to the manager, and he wrote down what they said, and said the next day he would talk to the supervisors. But then they only had a supervisors meeting and nothing came back to us. The supervisors are not telling us anything Its like its a confidential thing.

Additional demands are made of the workers, each of which require extra time and effort. Instead of being given more time and resources to accommodate to these demands, the time and staffing levels are being reduced.

They have made our work harder and harder and made the patients tray more complicated. Before it was cutlery, plate, soup bowl, but now they have added extra things. It is better for the patient but because of cutting the 21 hours, it is harder for the workers.

Bread used to be in a plastic bag, but now there has to be a separate plate for the bread and a lid for that. The trays are getting heavier. Dessert used to be in a plastic plate but now it is in a ceramic plate. The presentation is nice, but it is 100 percent heavier.

The kitchen staff thought they were the only ones facing reduced hours and staffing but flowing from a suggestion from the HWR&FC, the worker spoke to some personal care workers and cleaners at the hospital. These workers said their department also had cut staffing hours.

During the initial COVID-19 period many casuals had been taken on and now they have stopped calling the casuals. To the best of my knowledge, I think not only the kitchen staff, but all over Monash Health [covering southeastern Melbourne] they are cutting down numbers especially in cleaning.

Nurses, doctors and allied health workers face similar pressures. Many health workers quit their jobs during the pandemic as a product of workload pressures, health concerns and reduced resources.

The impact of the dismantling of the resources to deal with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic keeps re-emerging in different ways.

The pandemic is not finished, the worker said. From time to time it is rising, and then going down. At the start [the hospital] opened a COVID-19 ward. They put in restrictions, but now they have removed all the restrictions and treat COVID-19 patients like normal patients.

This also affected us, because when there was a COVID ward, we didnt go there to give the patients food, as special nurses and staff were doing that. But now we have to go and give them their meals, and wear a P95 mask and apron while we do it Also, while there is a pool of PPE near the rooms when you have to put it on and then change out of it, it makes you late to do the other work.

With the reduced hours this is time that the staff do not have.

There are many staff absences, but workers do not know if this is the result of COVID-19 or other infections.

If youre really sick you shouldnt come to work. But if youve got COVID-19 with few symptoms then people come to work. There is no more COVID-19 leave now. The government has stopped giving COVID-19 leave, so people are not staying home. Casual workers must come to work, or they dont get any money. And so maybe sometimes they come to work and they do have COVID-19.

The worker said the Health Workers Union (HWU) had done nothing for their situation. When a worker spoke to an HWU shop steward, the worker was told to just leave the kitchen. The worker explained that this is not a solution as it would be irresponsible to leave a kitchen unclean in a hospital. The result is that the supervisors have been pushing the casuals, so that the work has been finished in the correct time.

The HWU has called no meetings about the issue. The worker commented: Before we would have had meetings. I cant remember how long we have been separated like this. I think the union and management are doing these things together.

This situation is not just a problem for Victorian workers. The Health Services Union, the union that covers equivalent workers in New South Wales, has just enforced a wage deal with the state Labor government for a flat $3,500 pay increase among all staff. This effectively divided lower-waged workers against those receiving higher pay under conditions where all workers confront spiralling cost of living increases.

This situation described by the catering worker provides, in microcosm, a picture of the pressures confronting workers throughout public health services and across all sectors. The increasingly difficult conditions are being enforced through the collaboration of employers, governments and unions.

The Victorian governments recent budget further reduced the state public service by up to 4,000 jobs. The budget also reduced expenditure on public health units that work to protect the community against the growth of infectious diseases and were virtually non-existent in Victoria at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, by 40 per cent or from $80 million to $47 million over the next two years. Private health services such as pathology services, having made enormous profits feeding off government contracts from 2020 to 2022 are now restructuring at the expense of workers and patients to slash costs.

Workers need to break through the wall of silence erected around them to stop them unifying against the assaults on their living and working conditions.

The struggle of the catering workers points to what needs to be done. The permanent workers were concerned to protect their colleagues working on casual contracts. The workers jointly decided to act in a way that protected the most vulnerable. What the correspondent discovered when they spoke to other workers outside their immediate department was that those workers were going through similar experiences.

Building on these experiences and those of others across the world, workers need to establish organisations through which the rank-and-file can disseminate information, collaborate and organise unified struggles. Only in this way will they be able to confront the ongoing efforts by business and government to reduce services and resources. The HWR&FC is fighting to develop such a response throughout the health sector.

If readers have similar experiences, contact us, and we will discuss them with you and publish them to enable workers to get an accurate sense of what is taking place.

Contact the Health Workers Rank-and-File Committee:

Email: sephw.aus@gmail.com

Twitter: @HealthRandF_Aus

Facebook: facebook.com/groups/hwrfcaus
Hun Manet was appointed Cambodia's new leader by the king on Monday, after having effectively been given the post from his father, who ruled for nearly four decades.

Days after a landslide victory in July's election, Hun Sen -- one of the world's longest-serving leaders -- announced he was stepping down as prime minister and handing power to his eldest son.

The polls were widely decried as a sham after the main opposition challenger, the Candlelight Party, was barred from running over a technicality, with the ruling Cambodian People's Party winning all but five seats in the 125-member lower house.

On Monday, following a request from Hun Sen, King Norodom Sihamoni issued a royal decree stating that he "appoints Dr. Hun Manet as the prime minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia for the 7th mandate of the parliament."

To officially become the country's next leader, the 45-year-old and his cabinet must win a confidence vote in parliament set for Aug. 22. The lower house is overwhelmingly stacked with members loyal to Hun Sen and he has pursued a ruthless campaign against any opposition, banning parties and forcing adversaries to flee abroad.

Longtime rival Sam Rainsy -- self-exiled in France -- said any hopes for more freedom under Hun Manet or that he might distance the country from major benefactor China were misguided. "I think this is pure illusion," he told AFP ahead of the appointment. "You can change leaders many times but nothing will change because the system remains the same."

The incoming government will usher in a crop of young ministers, with some taking posts vacated by their fathers. While insisting he would not interfere with his son's rule, Hun Sen has also promised Cambodians that he will continue to play a prominent role in politics.

"It is not the end yet," he said Monday following the appointment, adding he would continue serving in other positions until at least 2033. After stepping down, Hun Sen will become president of the Senate early next year and acting head of state when the king is overseas.
The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) held a well-attended public meeting in Sri Lanka on July 29, on the first anniversary of the death of long-time SEP General Secretary Wije Dias. We publish below messages sent to the Colombo memorial meeting by leaders of sections of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI). The message sent by David North, chairperson of the International Editorial Board of World Socialist Web Site and the SEP in the US, is published separately in his opening address to the SEPs recent Summer School.

From the National Secretary of the Socialist Equality Party in Australia

Dear comrades,

On behalf of the Socialist Equality Party Australia, I send our revolutionary greetings to the meeting being held by the SEP Sri Lanka to commemorate the first anniversary of the death of Comrade Wije. It is being held under the most advanced conditions of economic, political and social crisis of imperialism for many decades, expressed as it is often the case so sharply in Sri Lanka itself.

SEP (Australia) National Secretary Cheryl Crisp

The SEP and the IC analysed the mass eruption of class battles in Sri Lanka in 2022, which resulted in the flight of President Gotabhaya Rajapakse and his brother from the island as a precursor of revolutionary struggles emerging throughout the world. This has been confirmed by the mass protests in France, and the strike actions in the UK and the US as well.



Comrade Wije spent the last days of his life discussing and collaborating with his international comrades, and in Sri Lanka, about the response of the party to these uprisings.



The call by the SEP for a Democratic and Socialist Congress of Workers and Rural Masses in Sri Lanka is a powerful programmatic initiative to unite the working class and rural poor on an independent socialist perspective. The party presented it as the principled opposition to and rejection of the invitation to serve in an interim government whose role was to suppress the mass struggles and impose the demands of the IMF onto the backs of the working class.



The IC, with Comrade Wije centrally involved in the discussions, brought to bear the lessons of the betrayal of the LSSP [Lanka Sama Samaja Party] in 1964 when it joined the crisis-ridden Bandaranaike government, the first time a party calling itself Trotskyist had provided crucial political support for a bourgeois government by joining it. The SEP will never enter such a path.



While Wijes counsel, wisdom and insights will be sorely missed, the historical lessons and political traditions to which he dedicated his entire adult life are imbued in the comrades whom he trained and educated.



Long live the memory of Wije Dias



Warmest revolutionary greetings,

Cheryl Crisp

SEP (Australia) National Secretary

From Nick Beams, a leader of the SEP in Australia

Greetings to the meeting to mark the first anniversary of the death of Comrade Wije Dias.



After first meeting Wije in 1975 I was honoured and privileged to be able to work with him for almost half a century. I learned so much from him in the course of my visits to Sri Lanka, his visits to Australia, and at meetings of the ICFI our world party.

Wije was an indefatigable fighter for the program of permanent revolution. He had a contempt, often couched in very humourous terms, for all the representatives of the ruling classes and their pseudo-left servants.



He has left a powerful legacy which continues to burn bright and which is embodied in the cadre he helped to educate and train.



Long live the memory of Comrade Wije Dias!

Nick Beams



From National Secretary of the SEP in Britain

Dear comrades,

I and every member of the Socialist Equality Party in Britain honour the memory of comrade Wije Dias, a courageous and indefatigable fighter for socialism.

SEP (Britain) National Secretary Chris Marsden

Throughout six decades of his adult life and for more than three as general secretary of the SEP in Sri Lanka, he stood as an exemplar of what it means to provide revolutionary leadership in the struggle for the liberation of the working class from capitalist oppression and war.

In his speeches and articles, his daily interventions in the work of the party in Sri Lanka and the International Committee of the Fourth International, he brought to bear a vast political experience and an incisive, historically grounded political intellect. His work was informed not only by his encyclopaedic historical knowledge, but, more than this, an intense familiarity with the history of the Fourth International represented today by the International Committee.

From his living experience in the struggle against imperialism, Stalinism, bourgeois nationalism and their Pabloite and pseudo-left apologists, he sought consistently to secure the political independence of the working class by the only possible means: Raising the political consciousness of the advanced workers and youth and developing them as cadre within the revolutionary party.

For Wije internationalism was his alpha and omega. His entire life was informed by an understanding of the terrible consequences that flow from the nationalist and opportunist betrayal of the struggle for world socialist revolution. His careful reading of Trotskys writings, of the seminal experiences of the degeneration of the Soviet Union and the historic defeats suffered by workers leading to the rise of Hitlers Nazi regime and the horrors of the Second World War, made him an implacable opponent of Pabloisms attempt to liquidate Trotskyism.

As an active participant on the struggle against the Great Betrayal of 1964, and then against the degeneration of the British Workers Revolutionary Party, he was singularly placed to assume leadership responsibilities following the tragic death of Comrade Keerthi Balasuriya.

His political biography is an unblemished record of integrity and political principle.

Like so many within our world party, I cherish the memory of my dear comrade Wije and mourn his loss. But this is tempered by a recognition that everything Wije stood for politically is embodied in the cadre of our Sri Lankan section, thanks to his role in preparing them to meet the great revolutionary challenges that lay immediately before us.

In this spirit, I send revolutionary greeting to this memorial meeting confident that we go forward together in struggle.

Long live the memory of comrade Wije Dias!

Chris Marsden

National Secretary of the SEP in Britain

From the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party, SGP) in Germany)

The SGP sends its revolutionary greetings to the meeting commemorating the first anniversary of Comrade Wijes death.



Wijes courageous and principled struggle for Trotskyism has played and will play an enormous role not only in building the SEP in Sri Lanka but for the development of the entire world movement.

SGP National Chairman Christoph Vandreier

Wijes live-long struggle against the betrayal of the LSSP and for the independence of the working class and for permanent revolution is of the greatest significance in this new period of war and revolution.



His political legacy, but also his extraordinary personality will never be forgotten by his comrades in Germany and the entire international working class.



Christoph Vandreier

Chairman of the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party, SGP)

From the Socialist Equality Group in Turkey

A year has passed since we lost Comrade Wije Dias. His death was not only a loss for the revolutionary struggles in Sri Lanka and the building of the Socialist Equality Party as the leadership of those struggles. It was also a major loss for the world Trotskyist movement to which he dedicated his life.



It must be noted, however, that this great revolutionarys contribution to the international struggle for socialism continues. His courageous and principled life and the role he played in ensuring the continuity of the Trotskyist movement is a guiding light for those who are and will be fighting to build a section of the Fourth International all over the world.



The opposition of the young Sri Lankan Trotskyists, including Comrade Wije, to the great betrayal of 1964, their principled advocacy of the revolutionary socialist unity of the working class and their defense of the oppressed Tamil people without any concessions to nationalism, and their carrying forward of the perspective of Permanent Revolution, played a critical role in the development of our group and in our assimilation and adoption of the historical foundations and perspective of the International Committee of the Fourth International.



On the occasion of this anniversary, we once again pay tribute to the memory of Comrade Wije Dias and send our greeting to all comrades in Sri Lanka.



Long live the memory of Wije Dias!

Long live the Socialist Equality Party in Sri Lanka!

Long live the ICFI!



Socialist Equality Group (Turkey)




Take up the fight against the contract and the sellout union bureaucrats by joining the UPS Workers Rank-and-File Committee. To contact the committee, email upsrankandfilecommittee@gmail.com or fill out the form at the end of the article.

UPS driver Joe Speeler makes a delivery on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021. [AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar]

As voting continues around the country, new questions are arising as to whether UPS may cancel out pay increases for many part-timers under the new tentative agreement.

While the Teamsters bureaucracy is dishonestly claiming the deal, reached last month to block a national strike, is historic, it in fact falls far below workers demands. But one of the key elements through which the Teamsters are trying to sell the contract is by pointing to pay raises for part-timers, who make up two-thirds of the companys 340,000 Teamster members. The new deal would increase starting pay to $21 for new hires, rising to $23 in 2028, the last year of the contract. Existing part-timers would also receive a $7.50 general wage increase spread out over the five years of the contract.

The issue workers are pointing to is whether these increases will apply in practice to workers hired under Market Rate Adjustments, or MRAs. The current contractual starting pay of $15.50 an hour is so loweven lower than nonunion Amazonthat in many areas of the country UPS has resorted to raising wages unilaterally using MRAs in order to attract enough workers into its facilities.

Because the MRA is implemented solely at the companys discretion, this means the company has the authority to raise, lower or eliminate them entirely as they see fit. Put a different way, the wages for a substantial portion of the companys workforce are set in practice by the company because the Teamsters over decades have bargained for wages that are so low that they are below prevailing market rates.

As a matter of fact, many workers, especially in the more expensive areas of the country, already make $21 an hour or more due to MRAs. These workers do not know what the status of their wages will be under the new contract, whether or not their general wage increases will be affected by cuts in base pay or even if they will even have their wages cut down to the new contractual starting pay.

At Local 89 in Louisville, Kentucky, which covers over 11,000 workers at the companys massive Worldport air freight hub, around 90 percent of the workforce is part-time, and starting pay is $20 for part-timers (with a $21 shift differential for night shift workers). The local, the former home of Fred Zuckerman, now the second-most powerful figure in the Teamsters union, had surprisingly been the only one to vote against recommending the Tentative Agreement in a meeting held July 31.

Within days, however, the local bureaucrats reversed themselves, obviously after getting their marching orders from the national apparatus. The local sent out a letter claiming that its opposition had previously been based on the MRA issue. But after further discussion with the unions administration, the letter claimed their objections had been satisfied.

On Monday, we had not gathered all the information we needed about whether UPS would take away MRAs and harm our members earnings.  [but] as a result of information gathering [from Zuckerman, General President Sean OBrien and the unions legal department] we can now say with confidence that this would not be the case, they said. UPS would be acting in bad faith and violating the National Master Agreement if the company attempted to reduce MRA wages in the future.

The letter, which does not explain what the factual basis for this confidence is, raises more questions than it answers. While the letter claims that UPS would be acting in bad faith and violating the contract by reducing MRAs, there is nothing in the contract which actually prohibits it from doing so. Moreover, the MRA in general has always been set unilaterally by the company in the past.

The only concrete language which the Teamsters have been able to point to back this claim is a side Memorandum of Agreement signed by the Teamsters and the union. This short document says in full:

The parties agree that in connection with the 2023-2028 [National Master Agreement], eligible part-time and full-time employees covered by an hourly Market Rate Adjustment (MRA) on August 1, 2023 or any subsequent August 1 shall receive the general wage increases outlined in Article 22, Section 5(a) and Article 41, Section 1, respectively, on top of the existing MRA hourly rate. By signing this Memorandum of Agreement, the Union does not waive any rights or arguments with respect to the Companys use of MRAs.

At the very least, the language is extremely vague and does not explicitly prohibit the company from reducing MRA wages. Whether or not this actually is construed to prohibit it would be a matter of interpretation and not laid out clearly, in black and white, in the contract.

Workers report being given conflicting answers from different locals and even individual officers within locals. One worker reported on Reddit: When I asked about the weak [MRA] language at the meeting theyve given me different answers. In front of everyone in the meeting, they told me that [Teamsters] will grieve if UPS tried to remove MRAs. When asked how, with such weak language, do they plan on winning that?, they said [Sean OBrien] has promised to enforce it. Total non-answer.

Another member then asked, so to confirm, we will keep our MRAs and UPS cant remove our raises? They said yes.

Outside after the meeting I spoke with a [business agent] and he admitted that yes, UPS can take the MRAs away because thats how MRAs are meant to work. He was basically saying that its only a bonus and to not count it as our true wage. They say one thing in front of a crowd, and something entirely different in private.

They are all willing to lie through their teeth to pass this yes vote, dont buy into it! Hold them to the fire!

One worker wrote in response: I think the protection on MRA is weak. The language basically means the MRA cant be reduced based solely on the raises. But the company can easily just say they no longer need the staffing to justify the reduction. I believe this would be very difficult to enforce.

Another wrote: I went to the meeting yesterday specifically to ask about contract wording for MRAs and there is none. I was told Sean OBrien is guaranteeing they wont take MRAs.

I said I thought they could take them anytime. And they told me they could only pull them prior to ratification, but I see no writing saying that anywhere. I was speaking directly to the local president and was the first to ask the question.

The worker concluded,  I dont know what to believe but what happens with MRAs will be the deciding point for me on yes or no.

Take up the fight against the contract and the sellout union bureaucrats by joining the UPS Workers Rank-and-File Committee. To contact the committee, email upsrankandfilecommittee@gmail.com or fill out the form below.
Korea, the U.S. and Japan are having difficulty fine-tuning a joint statement that will be issued after their leaders meet at Camp David on Aug. 18 because Tokyo insists on including support for the Fukushima wastewater release.

Japanese media on Monday said Japanese officials are trying to persuade their Korean and U.S. counterparts of the safety of the release of treated wastewater from the stricken nuclear plant to decide on a release date.

The aim of the summit is to present a united front in the Asia-Pacific region against China and Russia, but Japan is already straining the bonds with its insistence on putting the issue on the agenda.

The Korean government maintains that it is up to Japan to decide the timing of the wastewater release and it cannot express resounding support in view of many Koreans' fears that the release will contaminate the ocean.
Extreme weather is blighting fruit harvests across Korea, which could mean an expensive Chuseok this fall.

According to the Korea Rural Economic Institute, apple harvests this year are expected to decline 19 percent this year, and pear harvests 22 percent, peaches 12 percent and persimmons five percent.

Kim Hyoung-jin at the KREI said, "Farmers say it is difficult to forecast output due to wide climatic fluctuations."
The contest, which started in 2010, has launched several budding conductors on the international stage, including Birmingham Symphony Orchestra conductor Mirga Grazinyte-Tyla, Dutch National Opera conductor Lorenzo Viotti and Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra music director Aziz Shokhakimov.

The 29-year-old became the first Korean to win the contest, which drew 323 contestants from 54 countries. "I sweated a lot in rehearsal yesterday, but I didnt even feel hot today, perhaps because I was so nervous," he said.

Korean conductor Yoon Han-kyeol won the Herbert von Karajan Young Conductors Award, one of the top prizes for young conductors, in Salzburg, Austria on Sunday.

Born in Daegu, Yoon attended the Seoul Arts High School for one year before moving to the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich.

The winner of the biennial award gets the opportunity to conduct the Camerata Salzburg chamber orchestra at the Salzburg Festival the following year. Yoon also won the conducting award at the Gstaad Menuhin Festival in 2019 and conducted the Korean National Symphony Orchestra at the Seoul Arts Center Symphony Festival last year.

Last November he signed with Askonas Holt, one of the world's leading arts management companies in the field of classical music.

Askonas Holt manager Jack Haynes said Yoon will see major changes in his career and will be offered positions by major orchestras.

When asked who his role model is, Yoon said Manfred Honeck, the Austrian conductor who chaired this year's prize jury. "He is humble and kind, but unyielding when it comes to music," he said.
Leaders of eight South American nations that share the Amazon rainforest convene a two-day summit in Brazil Tuesday to reach a broad agreement on preserving the critical region.

The meeting of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization in Belem, capital of the Amazon state of Para, takes place as more than ten percent of the rainforest has been lost in recent decades due to unregulated cattle ranching and farming, illegal mining and logging and oil drilling. Much of the loss is in Brazil, which is home to two-thirds of the rainforest.

The Amazon region has been described as a "carbon sink" that can easily absorb pollution from emissions, making it a vital resource in reducing the effects of climate change. Scientists say the loss of between 20 percent and 25 percent of the Amazon region would be a "tipping point" that would transform it into a source of carbon emissions.
On Aug. 8, 1998, The Chicks Theres Your Trouble began a two-week reign on Billboards Hot Country Songs chart, marking the trios first of six No. 1 hits.

The song, penned by Mark Selby and Tia Sillers, was released as the second single from The Chicks breakthrough album Wide Open Spaces, their first to feature lead vocalist Natalie Maines. Group founders and sisters Martie McGuire and Emily Strayer round out the threesome.

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Wide Open Spaces became The Chicks first of five No. 1s on Top Country Albums, ruling for seven frames. It included five Hot Country Songs top 10s, with three reaching No. 1: Theres Your Trouble, Wide Open Spaces (four weeks) and You Were Mine (two). Lead single I Can Love You Better hit No. 7, marking the bands first of 15 top 10s, and fifth single Tonight the Heartaches on Me reached No. 6.

Related

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08/08/2023

Their chart domination was halted in March 2003 when on stage in London, on the eve of the Iraq War, Maines said, Were ashamed that the president of the United States is from Texas. Almost immediately, and unanimously, country radio bailed, removing them from playlists.

The Chicks didnt reach the Hot Country Songs top 10 again until September 2019, as featured on Taylor Swifts No. 10 hit Soon Youll Get Better (a peak driven predominantly by streaming).

In August 2020, The Chicks ruled Top Country Albums for two weeks with their most recent LP, Gaslighter, their first since Taking the Long Way, which reigned for nine weeks in 2006-07.

After postponing several dates because of illness, The Chicks have resumed touring, with their next stop set for Tuesday (Aug. 8) in Greensboro, N.C.

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Click here to read the full article.
A Texas family gets an unbelievable ending when their pooch turns up safe several years later

Friends of the Animal Village/Facebook

This story gets two paws up! A family in Texas had the surprise of a lifetime when one of their dogs whod gone missing three years ago was recently found safe and sound.



In July 2020, Rex and Britnee Smith had the perfect family unit in Little Rock, Arkansas with their daughter, just 5 years old at the time, and their two pit bulls, Jack and Jill. Unfortunately, according to USA Today, it was during this time that their two pups managed to wrangle their way from the familys fenced-in backyard, thus becoming lost.

Friends of the Animal Village/Facebook Texas family gets reunited with pet years later

Despite their best efforts, hanging flyers, canvassing the neighborhood, knocking on doors, and making social media alerts, the Smiths had no luck locating Jack and Jill. Eventually, the Arkansas clan had to pack up and relocate approximately 300 miles away to McKinney, Texas  without their furry family members.



Although occasionally the Smiths would get a phone call or alert claiming the canines were found, the leads always seemed to bark up the wrong tree. While the family kept hope alive, over time, they felt the chances growing smaller and smaller of being reunited with Jack and Jill.

"I didn't think our dogs would ever come back because they're such great dogs and I know no one would ever just turn them in or take them to the vet," Britnee shared. Their little girl especially missed the pups.



But then, in late July, everything changed. After several excruciating years, they finally got the phone call theyd been waiting for. Rex was contacted by Little Rock Animal Village and told that Jill was alive and well. Next, Rex phoned Britnee, who cried tears of joy after hearing the news. The clinic credits the reunion to the Smiths previously deciding to place a microchip in Jill.

If weve said it once, weve said it a thousand times microchips save lives, the Little Rock Animal Village said in a Facebook post on July 28. In the upload, Rex sat on the clinic floor, smiling as he petted Jill and his family happily stood next to him as they all posed for a couple of group pics. We love a happy ending, the animal village added before urging customers and readers alike to consider microchips for their fur babies. The facility noted that donations for the price of a cup of coffee could help others get the procedure for their pets.

Related: Microchip Helps 18-Year-Old Cat Missing for 14 Years Reunite with Her Family

The Smiths, who drove from Texas to Arkansas to retrieve Jill, admitted they were a bit nervous after spending so much time apart  afraid that maybe her temperament could have changed or she wouldnt remember them. However, after reuniting with her, Britnee said, "It's like she never left us. We picked up right off when she left three years ago. She came right into our arms."



The family, overcome with happiness, admitted they wish they knew what happened for all of those years after Jill disappeared, especially since she was found just a few blocks away from their old house. "We wish she could talk. We have so many questions and we just want to ask her 'Take us from the beginning, what happened?' " Rex confessed.

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.

Jill was examined by a vet and aside from minor scrapes, the pooch was declared healthy overall. Britnee also treated the pet to a day at the dog spa where she was groomed and had her teeth cleaned. "We found our family member," Rex added, sharing that Jill loves taking naps with their daughter.



As for Jack, he still hasnt been found, but the Smiths hope that one day they will all be reunited.



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A 74-year-old man is dead after being buried by thousands of wheels of cheese in northern Italy.

Speaking with AFP, per a report from the Guardian, firefighter Antonio Dusi said a shelf broke in Giacomo Chiapparinis warehouse in Lombardy on Sunday while he checked for ripening. The shelf break caused further collapse, ultimately sending thousands of wheels of grana padano downward, tragically crushing the man. The tallest metal shelf in the building reportedly stood at 33 feet at the time of the incident.

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According to Dusi, responding to the tragic accident required officials to move the fallen cheeses and related materials, an endeavor he estimates took around 12 hours before a body was found.

RIP.

Grana padano, a hard cheese, is often compared to parmesan but boasts some key differences. For example, the wheels are aged for a minimum of nine months, as opposed to 12 for parmigiano-reggiano. As Pamela Vachon wrote for the Institute of Culinary Education last October, grana padano is an alternative worth consideration, "especially if its additional sweetness and body have something to contribute to your dish."
How's this for a magic trick? This week on The Bachelorette, Charity sent one of her three final men home before the Fantasy Suite. But by the end of the episode, she still had a trio of men vying for her heart.

Let's recap!

Charity kicks off the final leg of her "journey" in Pacific Harbor, Fiji. "It is so romantic!" gushes Charity as she does the promotional-consideration-provided-by-walk through of her suite at the Pearl Resort and Spa. Though ending things with Aaron after hometown dates is still weighing on her heart, our Bachelorette is ready to move forward with Dotun, Joey, and Xavier. But first it's Jesse Palmer time!

Jesse Palmer hits the tropics on 'The Bachelorette'

ABC Jesse Palmer hits the tropics on 'The Bachelorette'

Pink linen for the win! The host has Charity run through her final three guys  she's got a few doubts that Xavier is ready to be engaged; things with Dotun are so amazing she wonders if he's too good to be true; and she needs confirmation that she's getting "the real Joey"  and then sums things up with a question: "Is it safe to say that you're still falling in love with three men at the same time now?" Short answer: Yes. On to the dates!

Xavier is up first. A boat called the Tropic Bird brings him to meet Charity on the private island of Nanuku, and they share a warm embrace on the beach. "I can see a future with him," says the Bachelorette, who is hoping that today's date will bring her "peace" with the idea that Xavier is ready to declare her the One. And Charity has come prepared. Bring in the reinforcements!

Fijian cultural leaders on 'The Bachelorette'

ABC Welcome, Joshua and Makareta!

"We are so happy to have you here with us today," says Makareta. She takes Charity aside to prepare her for today's demonstration of a traditional Fijian wedding ceremony. Joshua, meanwhile, helps Xavier get into his traditional Fijian attire and then paints and oils his bare torso. Okay, Xavier  now you're ready to receive your queen.

Charity makes a grand entrance on 'The Bachelorette'

ABC Charity makes a grand entrance on 'The Bachelorette'

(Did anyone else just break out into a chorus of, "She's your queen to be" from Coming to America? No? Just me?)

From there, Joshua and Makareta teach Charity and Xavier a traditional dance and then take them through a kava ceremony. It's all very special and beautiful, but it's also quite serious  which is making Xavier nervous. "It's pretty intense, I will say," he admits. "I still have a bit of fear because getting married is a huge responsibility." You are correct, sir, so don't f--- it up.

Hmmm, that's odd. Why are we suddenly in San Diego? Shouldn't we be moving on to the evening portion of Charity's date with Xavier? What is the meaning of this, Team Bachelorette?

Aaron B. on 'The Bachelorette'

ABC Aaron doesn't want this 'journey' to be over

Oh, hey Aaron. Why are you packing a suitcase, bud? Didn't you just get back to San Diego? "I just got eliminated by Charity a couple nights ago after hometowns," he says. "The last time I saw her, Charity tells me that she's not sure if she made the right decision There's a lot of things I want to say to her, so now I'm going to Fiji to go after the woman that I'm falling in love with." Interesting choice! I'll admit, Charity did sound quite unsure of her decision when she sent Aaron home, so I can understand why he's willing to give it another shot  especially when doing so involves a free trip to Fiji.

Back in the South Pacific, Charity and Xavier are sitting down for what just might be the worst pre-Fantasy Suites date in Bachelorette history. "My heart is fully committed, but my head is, like, putting my heart against the wall and telling it to stop," says Xavier in his confessional. "I'm nervous, obviously, about the things that I have to tell her, but I hope that she will accept me for me."

Hmmm what "things" could Xavier possibly have to tell Charity at this point? Surely, he hasn't waited until almost the very end of this "journey" to drop some kind of emotional bombshell on the Bachelorette, right? RIGHT?

Wrong.

He starts off with some vague warnings. "My heart is 100 percent with you, but I think the doubt and the fear [are] the boxes that can't be checked," says Xavier. Charity's spidey senses are clearly starting to tingle, but she's doing her best to both offer Xavier assurances about their relationship while also encouraging him to Open Up about his doubts more. And after some more hemming and hawing, he finally does.

"Another aspect that was very serious for me, that is very serious for me, is, you know Uh" Spit it out, dude!

Xavier on 'The Bachelorette'

ABC Oh, ffs dude

To quote Simone from A Black Lady Sketch Show: THE SCREAM I JUST SCRUMPT! Xavier, are you serious, bro? You know that infidelity is what ruined Charity's last relationship  and nearly ruined her self-esteem  and yet you hid your cheating past from her until it was time for Fantasy Suites? Hell to the no. Zero out of five stars.

"I wanted to tell you that because I know that that is, like, very triggering for you," says Xavier. "It was disrespectful. It's not the man that I am. And I know that for a marriage you cannot do that. That's why I felt the need to tell you because I thought you deserved to know."

Oh really, Xavier? You know that cheating is not okay in a marriage? Congratulations! Do you want us to put a gold star in your "Basic Facts of Human Existence" notebook or something? I'm sorry, rose lovers, but f--- this guy.

And yet somehow it gets worse. Naturally, Charity is very upset, and she excuses herself from the table to vent and cry on her own. "I've experienced infidelity on and off for about six years," she says. "It literally breaks you." Still, the Bachelorette feels like she owes it to Xavier and their relationship to "hear him out." She goes back to the table and is almost apologetic for her emotions  "it's a sensitive spot for my life"  and Xavier responds with, "Don't worry, I'll never be unfaithful again." Just kidding! Instead, he says, "If you do end up with me, I don't want to ever be unfaithful to you."

You don't want to? Guess who's in charge of that, sir: YOU! This is either an "I will" or "I won't" situation. What you want is secondary. Charity asks Xavier if he was unfaithful multiple times (yes, in the span of five days), and it happened two years into his relationship. "I just chose myself instead of choosing her," he admits.

Charity's response to this, however, is perfect: "Thank you for feeling that I am deserving to know, because I 100 percent am." Hell yeah, queen! And now she wants to know what work Xavier did on himself to become a "better person" after this moral failing. Rose lovers, I wish I could tell you he had a good answer  like therapy, repentance, staying out of the dating world for a while so he could grow as a person  but he does not.

"I think the main thing I learned and that I did to, like, grow from that was, to like, just be more introspective," he says. "I was just in tune with like, 'Okay, why am I doing this?'"

Yeah, he's basically just saying random words and hoping one of them sticks. And Charity knows it; you can tell by the way she starts downing her champagne out of pure frustration (and perhaps to stop herself from saying something she regrets).

Bachelorette gif

ABC New drinking game: Every time Xavier says something stupid, chug.

Once again, folks, it gets worse. Xavier says he "questions" whether he could resist the temptation to cheat if he's "put in that position again." In other words, if he's on vacation with his "boys" and some temptress is trying to lead him astray, will he remove himself from the situation? "I know how to deal with that now," insists Xavier, but Charity isn't buying it.

"I refuse to ever go back there," says the Bachelorette, who wants Xavier to tell her point-blank if he thinks it's possible that he could cheat again. Of course, his answer is terrible. "It's not a possibility if I chose to be with you and you choose to be with me," says Xavier. "Being in a girlfriend status and, like, doing that, that's like, 'Damn, that s--- sucks.'" Charity cuts him off: "I'll be damned!" she exclaims. "It's inexcusable for any level, are you kidding?"

No. No, he's not kidding. Oh, and by the way, Charity, Xavier wants you to know that "hell yes" it's going to be hard for him to be monogamous and give up the "freedom" of the single life. And this just truly blows her mind: Like bro, if we're in love and want to get married, it shouldn't be all that hard. When Xavier backtracks  oh, if we choose each other, it won't be hard  Charity tries again to get a clear answer. "Then you're saying you're good. Is that what you're saying?"

Xavier's response: "I'm good, but it's f---ing scary." Okay, fair enough. It would be foolish to leap into a lifelong commitment without acknowledging what a big, and at times scary, responsibility it is. Charity seems fairly satisfied with this answer, and she pulls out the Fantasy Suite date card. But she's got one more question before she's ready to hand it over.

Bachelorette grab

ABC Charity isn't sure if Xavier is Fantasy Suite-worthy

"The question of the day is, can you be someone that will show up for me at the end of this if we both feel like this is right in our hearts? Can this be somebody who will maintain loyalty to me?" She begins to cry. "I want this for us. I want this to work," Charity continues, wiping away tears. "I just need to know that you're going to put in the work to make it work. So will you do that for us?"

If you thought Xavier couldn't get any worse, rose lovers, you'd be wrong. Instead of giving Charity a simple and emphatic "yes" as an answer to her questions, he says this:

Xavier on 'The Bachelorette'

ABC Oh my GOD, stop talking, dude!

Okay, I'm paraphrasing. But what Xavier actually said isn't much better. "In my heart, there is not any f---ing doubt. But in my mind, there is that doubt. And for me to get to that point, it has to happen tonight. I need to see more."

Awwww HELL no. I need to say it again, rose lovers: F--- this guy. In this instant, Charity is done. "What do you need to see? Nothing!" she fumes in her confessional. "Us in a bedroom is not going to determine whether or not you can see longevity in a relationship."

Bachelorette GIF

ABC Truly.

Yes, f--- this. And F--- HIM. Time to send this trifling jackass home. "Me in this moment of being Charity Lawson, who Charity Lawson is in 2023, not willing to settle I'm going to be selfish in this moment," says our Bachelorette. She picks up the date card again. "I wish I could open this. But it's not happening." She says she's "sad and disappointed," but her decision is final. "Let's go," she demands, standing up. "Come on."

As they stand by the Reject Minivan, Xavier tries to save himself one more time. "You can put me in this car" But Charity interrupts him. "And I am!" That's right, dude! You are going home. And no last-minute "I love you" whispered into Charity's shoulder during your tense goodbye hug is going to change anything. Go away. Stop talking. And for God's sake, try therapy.

The next day, Charity is still upset, but she is confident in her decision. "I'm not here to fix anybody. I'm not here to build a man."

Bachelorette gif

ABC That's an amazing business idea, tbh.

Amen to that, ma'am. Now, on to your date with Joey!

Who doesn't love a little ATV ride through the jungle? Unfortunately, the ATV conks out just a few minutes into their ride. Is it foreshadowing? Or just one of the many vicissitudes of life that couples in the real world face every day? Either way, Charity is pleased with how chill Joey is about the whole situation. "He's just appreciating what this moment is supposed to be entailing, and that's just the both of us," she says.

Charity and Joey hit the road on 'The Bachelorette'

ABC Charity and Joey hit the road on 'The Bachelorette'

They stroll to a little waterfall and take a seat on a rock. The conversation turns to his hometown date, and Joey admits he spent the week worrying about why she was crying when she said goodbye to him. Charity tells him about Uncle Joe's comment and his concern that she wasn't seeing "the real Joey." To his credit, Joey doesn't get defensive. He explains that he wanted the date to go well, and he was caught off guard by his uncle showing up. "I think I just felt a lot of pressure," he says. "And then him showing up I was uncomfortable. That's the only way I can describe it."

He seems genuine enough, especially in comparison to Xavier. Charity says she feels "a lot better" about Joey, and they head to the waterfall to swim and make out. "I'm eager to tell Joey I'm falling in love," she says. "But I need to feel 100 percent sure."

Joey, meanwhile, hopes to use the dinner portion of the date to Open Up to Charity about how he's sometimes scared, nervous, less-than-confident  in other words, how he's a human being. "There is a part of me that has belief that sometimes people fall in love with the idea of me," he explains. "And then they get to know me a little bit better, they maybe don't think it's like who I truthfully am anymore." Joey adds that his only concern about the "journey" as it stands is that because it's so short, Charity hasn't had the chance to see him "in a funk."

Though he's a confident and cheerful guy on the outside, "I am human, and there are moments where I don't feel that way, but then I try to push to be that person that everyone sees me to be. That's the part that can be taxing." Joey says that's why sometimes being in a relationship with him can feel like "a roller coaster," and at this point, he's worried that if he proposes to Charity, she'll be unhappily surprised by what life with him is really like. But the Bachelorette appreciates his honesty and says she can relate to his self-doubt. "I feel I'm a lot like that in a sense," she says, adding that she's "actively working on" letting go of her people-pleasing ways.

It's all going so well that Joey upgrades his "I'm falling in love with you" to a full "I am in love with you." And she LOVES it. "After the day that we spent," she says, "it's not even a matter of am I falling in love with you? I am in love with you. It is the best feeling." Dang, that's huge!

Charity and Joey kiss on 'The Bachelorette'

ABC Charity and Joey kiss on 'The Bachelorette'

Look, I know we've all discussed some of our doubts about Joey  is he just putting on an act to be the Bachelor?  but now my emotional pendulum is swinging back in the positive direction. At this point, I believe Joey is genuine. Maybe I'll be made to look foolish for this statement, but it's a risk I'm taking willingly.

Anyhow, Charity gives Joey the Fantasy Suite card, and he accepts. Obviously. Cut to:

Charity and Joey enjoy the morning after on 'The Bachelorette'

ABC Charity and Joey enjoy the morning after on 'The Bachelorette'

"I am in love with Joey!" announces Charity. They sit down in front of a nice-looking breakfast  though they don't eat any of it, of course  and then part with mutual "I love yous."

I'll admit that I'm pretty surprised Charity went full "I love you" with Joey. I thought she was saving that for Dotun. But who knows  maybe she'll drop the L-bomb on the tall Nigerian sweetie during today's date.

Charity meets Dotun at the Royal Davui Island Resort, where a pair of jet skis are waiting for them.

Dotun and Charity ride jet skis on 'The Bachelorette'

ABC Dotun and Charity get their jet ski on

The Bachelorette reiterates her concern that Dotun may be "too good to be true," but she also knows that it's okay to stop looking for something to go wrong. They zip around the waves and beach up on a sandbar for some champagne. Charity raves about Dotun's parents, and how his mother prayed with her, which felt very special to our Bachelorette, who is a woman of faith. "My prayer life is very important," she says. "That moment with your mom was pure I literally love your family so much." (Same! Give Dotun's parents their own show!)

Dotun has something he wants to get off his chest as well: He did not know that people get engaged at the end of The Bachelorette. He had to ask one of the other guys a few weeks ago what happens in the finale of the show! When they told him it ends in an engagement, Dotun says he was taken aback for "a millisecond," but only a millisecond. "I thought about you," he tells Charity. "And I'm actually fine with that." Oh man, that is SO sweet. Look out, Joey  Dotun is coming for your frontrunner status!

Charity and Dotun smooch on 'The Bachelorette'

ABC Charity and Dotun share a smooch on the sandbar

"I'm smitten and in love with Charity," says Dotun, as he and Charity head to dinner. He's hoping to hear the same "magical words" from the Bachelorette before heading into the Fantasy Suite. But Dotun knows that you don't get something without giving something, so he begins the conversation by sharing all his feelings first. "The scary part is that I'm not scared," he says. "The way that I care about you, the way that I feel about you when I see you All these things are such a clear sign to me. It's scary how easy it is to say that I'm genuinely in love with you, Charity."

And she LOVES that love.

Bachelorette grab

ABC The l-bombs are flying!

"I don't want to hold that in, and I'm not going to hold that in anymore," continues the Bachelorette. "And it feels so fricking good to say!"

For those of you keeping score at home, Charity has now said "I love you" to Joey and Dotun. At least she doesn't have to choose between them this week, since Xavier already took care of the elimination by being a d-bag. For now, just bring on the old-timey Fantasy Suite key!

The Fantasy Suite key on 'The Bachelorette'

ABC These keys, LOL

Of course, Dotun is on board. "I say 100 percent yes, this night, and hopefully every night for the rest of our lives," he says. Swoooooon! Have a good night, you lovebirds.

The next morning, Dotun and Charity snuggle in bed for a bit before saying a sad goodbye. "I'm so over these goodbyes I respect her decision to make sure all options are exhausted," says Dotun. "But it doesn't feel good."

Welp, it must be time for the rose ceremony, right? Everybody put on your finest formal wear and Wait, sorry. There's a bit of a situation at reception.

Aaron shows up on 'The Bachelorette'

ABC No stalkers allowed

Oh, boy  Aaron's here, and he's determined to track Charity down. Though the nice lady at the front desk shuts him down (as she should), Aaron doesn't give up. He walks through the lobby and heads out back to the pool, where at last, he finds Charity relaxing on a deck chair with her blurry-faced friends.

Charity is surprised to see Aaron on 'The Bachelorette'

ABC What the WHAT?

Yeah, she's surprised. Charity gets up and gives Aaron a hug. "I can't believe my eyes," she tells producers. "I said goodbye to Aaron last week, but he's here in the flesh, and am I mad about it? No. Like, I'm excited to see him." Once she regains her composure, Charity sits down with Aaron for some real talk. Aaron says he's been thinking about their breakup since hometowns, and he knows there's more he could have given to their relationship. Plus, Charity's admission that she wasn't sure about the decision to send him home has been echoing in his brain ever since. "That's really why I'm here," he says. "I want to know if you've been thinking about it as well."

Short answer: Yes. "I've been thinking about it every single day," admits Charity. "That does still stand that I don't know if I made the right choice I was, like, falling in love, and that's something that I hadn't verbalized to you."

On the one hand, I appreciate Charity's honesty. On the other hand, I really don't want her to take Aaron back at the expense of Joey or Dotun. She's probably really second-guessing herself about Aaron after her disastrous dinner with Xavier, but from the outside, it doesn't seem like her relationship with him is better than it is with the final two she has now. Do you agree, rose lovers? For now, though, Aaron is thrilled to hear that Charity is "falling in love," and he's hoping that this means he won't have to get back on a plane to San Diego tonight. But first, Charity needs time to think.

Charity on 'The Bachelorette'

ABC Charity is in a pickle on 'The Bachelorette'

Aaand we end on a cliffhanger. We'll have to wait to find out what Charity decides about Aaron. Next week is the Men Tell All (a.k.a. the Everybody Hates Brayden and His Stupid Hair episode), and the edit for the finale makes it look like Aaron is still around. Until then, rose lovers, we're left with a lot of questions. First and foremost: How dare you, Xavier? Also: Should Charity choose Dotun or Joey? (Or, theoretically, Aaron?) And do you think Charity knows that those little lizards will just drop their tails if you attempt to pick them up with a broom? (True, and truly disgusting, story.) Let me know your thoughts on Twitter @KristenGBaldwin.

The Bachelorette airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

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"To the hundreds who dropped everything to brave the heat and help us search for Jessica, we cannot thank you enough," her mom said

Phoenix Police/ Twitter Jessica Lindstrom.

An Oregon woman who was reported missing while hiking in Arizona has been found dead, and authorities say her death appears to be heat-related.

Jessica Christine Lindstrom, 34, went hiking around 8:30 a.m. local time Friday and was declared missing hours later by police, officials with the Phoenix Fire Department told the Associated Press.

Lindstrom was last seen hiking in the Deem Hills Recreation Area near 51st Drive and Deem Hills Parkway, the Phoenix Police Department said.

Fire Department Capt. Scott Douglas told the AP that drones and technical rescue teams were used during a five-hour search before Lindstrom's body was discovered on a remote trail on the north side of the recreation area.

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There is nothing suspicious about the discovery of her body, the fire department told The Arizona Republic.

Douglas added that it is up to the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner to determine her cause of death, but preliminary information suggests Lindstrom was overcome by the heat while hiking.

"Unfortunately, Ms. Lindstrom was in town from Oregon, where it doesnt get this hot," Douglas told the AP.

The Phoenix Police Department and Phoenix Fire Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

Related: Hiker Who Died in Death Valley Spoke to Reporter About Risking Extreme Heat Hours Earlier: 'Why Not?'

Lindstrom, who previously lived in the Phoenix suburb of Peoria, was a registered nurse in Oregon, according to the outlets.

Her father told KTVK/KPHO that Jessica was in town to attend the baptism of one of her sons and that she had experience hiking in the area.

Related: Man Dies After Collapsing Outside Restroom in Death Valley National Park amid 121-Degree Heat

In a message shared on a GoFundMe page launched to help raise money for funeral expenses, Jesica's mom, Angela Adams, said it was with "very heavy and broken hearts that we announce the passing our beloved wife, mother, daughter, and sister."

"To the hundreds who dropped everything to brave the heat and help us search for Jessica, we cannot thank you enough," Adams added. "Our family has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support from our family, friends, strangers, and hundreds throughout our community who showed up to help us in every way."

As of Monday, the page has raised over $30,000.

Related: Man Found Dead in Car with 2 Flat Tires and Broken AC at Death Valley National Park amid Extreme Heat

Lindstrom's death comes as national and state parks in the Southwest have reported at least seven possible heat-related deaths this summer, according to The New York Times.

According to the AP, July was the hottest month on record in Phoenix, with an average temperature of 102.7 degrees Fahrenheit.

"It is safe to say that we just want to remind everybody right now during this heat just be very mindful of the times youre hiking and to take every safety precaution you can while hiking, Phoenix Fire Department Captain Kimberly Ragsdale told Arizona's Family.

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Read the original article on People.
Both Luke Jones and Laura Bileskalne were fired by Captain Jason Chambers after inappropriate behavior involving other crew members' boundaries

Two members of the crew from Bravo's Below Deck Down Under season 2 were swiftly fired after sexual misconduct following a night off the boat.

On Monday's episode, bosun Luke Jones was terminated by Captain Jason Chambers after climbing into the bed of Margot Sisson naked  and without consent  while the stewardess was asleep.

Second stew Laura Bileskalne was then also fired for the inappropriate way she reacted to the incident between Luke and Margot, as well as for her behavior toward deckhand Adam Kodra during the same night.

PEOPLE reached out to Bravo about the incidents.



Related: Watch the Trailer for 'Below Deck Down Under' Season 2

The sequence of events began as the crew went out together in Cairns, Australia. After many shots were consumed by all, Margot noted that she was really drunk at dinner. Later, as crew members made their way back to the boat in taxis, chief stew Aesha Scott told deckhand Culver Bradbury that she was going to watch Margot, adding, I just want to chaperone her a bit.

You should come and cuddle with me, Luke told Margot in the back of the car.



"No, let's go, said Margot.

I just want to go to bed, Margot then told Aesha as Aesha helped her onto the yacht and took her to her cabin.

Once in Margots cabin, Aesha told her, I dont want any drunkenness to be taken advantage of. So Id just like to see you get into bed safely. Ill get you water.

Luke then appeared in Margots cabin in his boxers and said, Let's have a f---ing jacuzzi, before going and getting into the hot tub.

I just saw the way that Luke was looking at you, and Im feeling very protective, Aesha told Margot.

Margot responded, I am glad that youre here. I dont want to go in the jacuzzi, I want to go bed. All I want is water and bed, no Luke.



Laurent Basset/Bravo via Getty Images

Related: 'Below Deck Down Under': Drunk Guests Defy Captain's Orders Despite a 'Hard No' on Night Swimming (Exclusive)

After getting out of the hot tub, Luke then went back to his cabin, removed his swim trunks and wrapped himself in a towel. Unexpectedly, after the power then went out on the boat, Aesha went to the crew mess, leaving Margot alone in her room. At that point, Luke went into Margots cabin and dropped his towel, fully naked as he climbed into her top bunk while she slept.

Producers quickly intervened and told Luke he had to leave because [Margot] wants to go to bed, but Luke ignored their instructions and repeatedly told them, Thank you, very much.

Luke finally got out of Margots bed once the lights came back on. He asked the camera crew, "Can you f--- off for a second? as he slammed the door to Margot's cabin, but producers pushed it open despite Luke repeatedly trying to close it.

We cant do that, she said no, she said no, the producers told Luke. A frustrated Luke then left Margots cabin naked and said, Jesus Christ, mate.

Aesha then appeared and told Luke as he left Margots cabin, Dude. What the f---?



Mark Rogers/Bravo

Laura then went to find Luke in his cabin and asked him, What did you do? Honey, what happened?

Nothing, f--- them, responded Luke. Nothing, I was just sitting there.I had nothing to do with her. F---ing hell, mate!

Back in Margots cabin, Aesha relayed to Margot what had happened. "So weve had a power shortage," said Aesha. "So, Laura and I went to the crew mess and I turned around and the producers were like, Get out, get out, and then Luke runs out of here naked.

A shocked Margot responded, Oh my God. Ew, he was naked?

"Did you consent to him being in here? asked Aesha.



"No, I was asleep, said Margot. I did not invite that at all.

This is why Im not f---ing comfortable leaving you here, said Aesha as she gets into bed with Margot. Im not having any of this f---ing s---.

I didnt even know, added Margot.



Mark Rogers/Bravo

Aesha began to cry as she went to Captain Jason's quarters to wake him up and tell him what had just happened.

Basically we came home tonight and I just kind of felt like Luke kind of wanted to take advantage of Margots drunkenness a little bit. She was pretty out of it, she said. And then the next thing I know the power goes out and Luke is f---ing running out of Margots bed naked. She was completely unconscious.

Did anything happen? asked Captain Jason.

No, said Aesha.

So shes safe? Shes safe, yeah? asked Captain Jason.

"Shes safe, Aesha confirmed.

Where is [Luke] now? Captain Jason asked.

Well now Luke is so freaked out that he got caught that hes locked himself in his room. Culver is locked out of his room. It was so f---ing wrong, continued Aesha, still crying. "And I just feel like a lot of women have had history with things happen, and it just stresses me out if I ever see anyone being taken advantage of.

Aesha, having shared in a 2019 episode of Below Deck Mediterranean her own experience with sexual assault, said in a confessional interview on Monday's episode: We dont actually know what would have happened, but being in her bed naked and shes got no idea, it actually makes my skin crawl.

She continued, You dont have the right to put someone unconscious into that position. I have had a drunken sexual assault experience before, and I never wanted that to happen to anyone else. And shes just such a sweet angel that the thought of anyone violating or being in her space, it just makes me feel sick.

Laurent Basset/Peacock

Captain Jason then got a key to open Luke and Culvers cabin and told Luke, Hey, mate. You need to get up, mate. You need to go, you need to get off the boat tonight. Were gonna put you in a hotel for the night.

What? asked Luke.

"Youre in a hotel for the night, said Captain Jason.

Why? asked Luke.

"Well talk about it tomorrow, responded Captain Jason.

"I dont need to be in a hotel, said Luke. Im good, Im good.

Youve gotta get off, come on mate. Up, insisted Captain Jason. Lets make it easy. Grab a shirt, put your shoes on.

The next morning, Margot asked Laura to jog her memory about the night out.

What did we do after the restaurant? We just come here? asked Margot.

Yeah, responded Laura.

What did I do? said Margot. Cause Luke got into my bed naked. And it was weird.

Was his d--- standing? asked Laura.

I dont remember, said Margot.

A visibly shaken Margot later went over the incident with Aesha and chef Tzarina Mace-Ralph and asked, How long was he in my room for? Do you know?

I dont know, responded Aesha.

"I woke up feeling weird, and I knew that whatever, like, happened wasnt OK, said Margot. I was, like, Am I gonna wake up and hes still here and I just have to act cool? But Im glad thats not the case because that would be reality hard for me. I just feel stupid.

Mark Rogers/Bravo

Dont ever feel stupid. He should feel stupid, said Tzarina, holding her hand.

"I mean yeah, said Margot. But  I was so drunk.

"Women should be able to be able to be red-hot drunk if they want to be, said Tzarina. We should be able to stand naked in a room and not have anyone do anything to us. You know, you were allowed to be drunk, you were allowed to be. Its the other persons problem.

In a confessional, a tearful Margot said, I feel like disappointed in myself, I feel embarrassed, sad. Im shocked and Im processing it, but Im honestly just, I just feel so loved. Its a lot of different emotions at once.

Margot then called her sister Anna and mom to tell them what happened.

"What the f---? Are you OK? asked her sister.

"Yeah, said Margot. I dont think he did anything because then the producers were knocking on the door and being like, Get out. They made him leave, thank God. I just feel really grossed out. I feel so stupid. I was probably being too flirty.

"Its not your fault, her mom told her. Sorry honey, sorry you had to go through that.



"Me too, added Margot.

Mark Rogers/Bravo

Captain Jason then texted Luke and asked him to return to the boat to talk. As Luke was on his way, the rest of the crew gathered in the main salon, where Captain Jason told them Luke would be coming back on board to collect his belongings because his employment was being terminated.

"We had an incident last night, and I want to stress that this is a place that we respect each other, Captain Jason told them. Our cabin is our safety zone. That door is our boundary, that door is not to be opened unless its consensual. To walk into into someone elses room without consent, indecent, is my limit.

"Are we allowed to say goodbye? asked Laura.

"No, said Captain Jason.

Luke then returned to the boat and went into the crew mess with Captain Jason and told him, I dont really know what happened, which is eating me up a little bit.

"Last night there were boundaries crossed, said Captain Jason. There was indecency, and you went into someones else cabin without consent.

Like I was naked? asked Luke.

Yeah, said Captain Jason. Unfortunately Ive got nothing else but to terminate your employment.

I accept that, said Luke. Im sorry, and Im just so disappointed in my myself.

Bravo via Getty Images

Later in the episode, Margot and Laura were cleaning together when Laura told Margot, S---, Im so sad. I cant believe Luke is gone.

Youre sad? Im not, said Margot.

"Youre not? said Laura.

No. I mean Im bummed about everything that happened, said Margot, who then told Laura what happened.

What would have happened if no one had been there?" Margot asked Laura. You know? I dont know. Im still kind of processing it.

"Oh poor Luke, said Laura. I should have just kept him happy. If he comes naked in my cabin, Id be like, Hello! Yes!

"Yeah you would have loved it, said Margot, growing uncomfortable.

"But its his fault, he rejected me, laughed Laura. If he wouldnt have done that, I would still be with him. I said I would make him regret, and that came true like very big time. Its his karma.

Im just happy that hes gone, said Margot.

But Laura wouldn't let it go. Oh God, and then he comes back for his bags and we cant be there, we cant say goodbye?

"Like, I dont really want to talk to him, said Margot.

In a confessional, Margot wondered aloud, What the f---? How are you pouting right now? Its all f---ed up. Shes f---ed up I think.

Mark Rogers/Bravo via Getty Images

In the laundry, Aesha then approached Adam, telling him shed noticed Laura had been pretty intense with him and wanted to check that he was OK.

"I think she thinks Im playing around because Im being nice about it, said Adam. I dont want to get anyone in trouble or anything like that, but maybe Ive got to be more serious.

I saw it and it and was like, Ive got your back, said Aesha.

Meanwhile, in a confessional, Laura said that Captain Jason should have given [Luke] a chance, in regards to Luke. Its not fair, said Laura. Its not deserved, and I dont agree with it.

She picked back up her incredibly inappropriate and uncomfortable conversation with Margot in the laundry. I just dont think its fair anyways, Im sorry for you, I just think it should be a warning, she said. I dont know. Im just sad. I think he just meant it as a joke. Hes a funny guy, I dont think he meant anything bad. He wouldnt rape you or anything.

"Yeah, said Margot blankly.

Laura continued, Hes a sexual person, Im a sexual person, youre a sexual person. We were joking, that thing was probably like, Hahaha, we all drunk.

I dont know, said Margot.

Laura then pointed a finger at Margots behavior the night before: And its not that you said no to him the whole night, like he didnt feel comfortable to come to you. He felt welcomed coming there.

I dont think so, though, said Margot. Aesha said, Dont go in there, over and over again. Said like, Shes really drunk leave her alone, dont go in there. Shes passed out.

Shortly after, Margot told Aesha about what Laura had been saying to her. Aesha immediately called Lauras response so f---ing inappropriate, then went straight to Captain Jason to recap the interactions, while also mentioning Lauras very inappropriate, borderline sexual harassment toward Adam.

She noted of Adam: Hes like, I feel like Ive told [Laura] no, and shes not listening.

Mark Rogers/Bravo

The night before, around the time the incident with Margot took place, Laura had also crawled into Adams bed and tried to massage him even though he had told her he didnt want her to come into his cabin and to "watch herself" when they were in the hot tub.

After conversations with both Margot and Adam, Captain Jason then called Laura to the wheelhouse.

He began, Two things: One, Adam feels uncomfortable with some moments out and hes tired to say no and you have not listened to him and his boundaries to be set. The second thing is, after my multiple speeches with the crew about boundaries, about respect, did you not go to Margot and say, Poor Luke, I wish he would come in and see me?

I actually went to her and asked how she's feeling and is she OK, claimed Laura.

Shes not OK. Theyre not OK, said Captain Jason. They feel theres a big disconnect now, and its not what I want from my team. Youve disrespected exactly what I set out to do.

"OK, but I understood what you said, I respect it, said Laura.

You didnt show that, countered Captain Jason. For you to go to Margot and say that shows you did not listen to a word I said about boundaries  and it showed little respect and empathy to Margot. Im trying to move forward as a team, Im trying to get that behind us and youve brought it straight back up, so in that Im going to terminate your employment today.

Wow, responded Laura. But I dont think I have done something wrong that I need to be terminated. Can you give me a warning?

"No, said Captain Jason. I cant go on with you as part of the team in the environment that Im trying to set.

Laura then told Captain Jason she thought his decision was a "mistake" before going to pack her belongings.

"I really think it was the right call," Aesha told Captain Jason.

For her part, Margot said in a confessional: "I feel so much relief, I feel like a weight has been lifted."

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Taylor Swift fans arrive at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Aug. 3 for the first of her six Eras Tour shows. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

When it comes to buying last-minute tickets to see Taylor Swift at SoFi Stadium, don't be the foolish one.

Sometimes there are great deals to be had for buyers in the right place at the right time. But there are far more scammers looking for overeager fans than legitimate sellers willing to unload tickets at below the going rate.

If money is no object, you can find tickets for any of the remaining sold-out shows in Inglewood through legitimate ticket brokers and resellers online, like StubHub, Vivid Seats and SeatGeek. These platforms offer money-back guarantees if your ticket turns out to not be valid (StubHub even pledges to try to get you in the door anyway and into a real seat). On Monday, for example, the least-expensive ones at StubHub.com were $843, and that was for seats in the upper deck or behind the stage.

And resale prices may come down more, if history is any guide. The New York Post reported that ticket reseller Vivid Seats saw prices for Eras Tour tickets in five other cities drop 50% at the last minute  although that's 50% off the considerably higher resale price, not the original.

Nevertheless, hope springs eternal for ticketless Swifties, which is why you'll find plenty of anecdotes online about tickets released at the last minute for sale at or below face value, or unloaded on the cheap by a desperate seller. And there are some groups out there dedicated to helping Swifties obtain tickets at face value or less  see, for example, @ErasTourResell on the social network formerly known as Twitter.

Before leaping at an offer that seems to fulfill your wildest dreams, however, consider the advice from experts on how to avoid being sold a worthless fake.

Read more: The ultimate guide to seeing Taylor Swift at SoFi Stadium

The most common piece of advice: Don't buy a ticket directly from an individual whom you don't know. It's far safer to buy from a reseller such as StubHub, which offers protection against scammy sellers. But that protection comes at a premium price.

Simply buying through a third-party platform like a Facebook group or Craigslist isn't enough, because the safeguards offered buyers vary from site to site. (And some, like Craigslist, don't offer any because they're simply advertising platforms, not ticket exchanges.) Worse, some scammers create fraudulent resale platforms to pull off their cons.

Never trust a link to a site sent via text, email or social media; not only might the link take you to a webpage loaded with malware, it could also send you to an expertly crafted knockoff designed to look just like a well-known reseller's site.

As the U.S. Public Interest Research Group notes in its guide to avoiding ticket scams, "A scammer can, for example, create a website with the URL: TlCKETMASTER.COM Did you notice that URL contains a lower-case L and not an I? Betcha didnt."

If you're willing to risk buying directly from a stranger, Step 1 is to make sure the ticket you're buying is a valid Ticketmaster digital ticket, which is the only type of ticket that will grant you entry into SoFi. Ticketmaster's website, however, offers no help on this front; it says flatly, "We can't verify tickets bought from a third party."

What you can do is make sure the seller is offering you a ticket directly from a Ticketmaster account. That's where all legitimate tickets reside, even the ones bought from resellers.

Sadly, many scammers know that too, and either offer a legitimate ticket that they don't deliver or show a bogus Ticketmaster account page with a fake ticket or a screenshot of a real ticket.

Here's an example from the Better Business Bureau's scam tracking site, which is filled with stories from people who paid for Taylor Swift tickets but never received them. A person reported seeing an offer of four SoFi tickets for $600 on a Facebook group called "Waitlisted For The Taylor Swift  The Eras Tour Presale."

"I messaged her, and she showed what I thought was verifiable proof, a screen recording, of her Ticketmaster account with her name and the tickets," the victim wrote. "After sending her the money for the tickets she wouldn't transfer them to me, like she said she would, and also stopped responding to my Facebook messages."

Read more: $11,000 to see Taylor Swift? How concert tickets got so expensive

So you're going to need to turn up your skepticism dial and look out for common scammer techniques, including:





Offering prices well below market. Granted, that's what you're looking for here, but it does set you up to be taken.

Seeking to be paid in a way that doesn't allow you to force a refund, such as Zelle, Cash App, or a PayPal "friends and family" payment. And if the seller wants to be paid in gift cards, that's the reddest of red flags.

Pressing for a quick decision. Scammers use a heightened sense of urgency to blow past your defenses.

Selling from an account that is brand new or curiously free of reviews.

If you're buying a ticket from someone in your community, do the transaction in person so that you can make sure the transfer happens, said Kevin Roundy, senior technical director at Norton. But the usual safety rules for in-person sales apply: pick a well-lit place filled with people, and don't bring cash.

If possible, pay with a credit card (not a debit card) because you'll be able to get a refund if you're defrauded. That's not practical when buying from an individual, though, so in those cases, insist on a payment platform that offers "purchase protection" as an option, such as Venmo, PayPal and Facebook Marketplace, and then be sure the transaction is covered by it.

When looking at sellers on Facebook, remember that people will hack a Facebook account and use it specifically for the purpose of ripping off Swifties, Roundy said. He added, "If you're a hacker and you wanted to monetize a hacked Facebook account right now, I couldn't think of a better way."

Another tip from PIRG: When buying a ticket, check the section and seat number on it to make sure it actually exists.

Remember, you can't buy a printed ticket for Swift's Eras Tour. All transfers have to be done through Ticketmaster's app or website. So if someone offers to sell you a paper ticket, walk away.

Read more: How to find parking for the Taylor Swift Eras concerts at SoFi Stadium

Finally, announcing on social media that you're looking for tickets will make you a magnet for scammers.

Longtime Taylor Swift fan Krista Smith illustrates this point, and a few other pitfalls faced her fellow Swifties. A native of Vancouver, Smith figured that while she was in Southern California for summer vacation, she might try to get last-minute tickets to the Eras Tour at SoFi. She watched ticket prices drop during the opening acts of Swift's first concert here Thursday, sinking under her budget of $300. So she and a friend made plans Friday to head to the stadium, starting by posting in a few Swiftie Facebook groups that she was looking for day-of tickets.

The first three people that messaged me were very obvious scammers, Smith, 28, said. She said all three sent similar messages, all mentioning that they were desperate to get rid of their tickets  the first red flag.

At this rate, no one is desperate, she said. Other sketchy signs included asking for payments over PayPal as "friends and family," instead of through the goods and services feature, which provides purchase protection.

She was still hopeful they could snag tickets through an online, verified resale vendor, such as Vivid Seats or Stubhub, but even as the opening acts continued, prices didnt fall  and seats were going fast.

We would refresh pretty often, and as we were putting tickets in our cart, theyre selling," she said. "Were all dressed up, were ready to go inside.  It was desperate.

At that point, Smith secured two tickets for about $1,400  Our budget kind of expanded when we got to the stadium, she laughed  but they werent downloaded instantly and the seller wasnt responding. Time kept ticking by. Swift took the stage, and Smith and her friend were still stuck waiting.

Vivid Seats eventually refunded them for the tickets, and the friends listened outside for a while, traded some friendship bracelets and bought some merch.

Its ok," said Smith, who has seen multiple Swift shows on previous tours before her sojourn in L.A. "Ill watch the livestreams and get my fix that way."

Times staff writer Emma Fox contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Jay Halstead and Hailey Uptons marriage might be in shambles on Chicago P.D., but portrayers Jesse Lee Soffer and Tracy Spiridakos showed a united front on the picket lines.

On Monday, Soffer posted Instagram photos with Spiridakos  as well as #OneChicago executive producer Derek Haas  along with the caption, Team, assemble!!

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SAG-AFTRA has been on strike since July 13 after the AMPTP, the collective bargaining representative for film and TV studios executives, failed to reach a deal with the actors guild. Meanwhile, WGA  the writers guild  has been striking since May 1, also due to stalled negotiations with the AMPTP. (Note: WGA and the AMPTP met for the first time in months last Friday but did not reach an agreement.)

Soffer and Spiridakos reunion comes after Soffer (whod been playing Halstead since Chicago P.D.s debut in 2014) departed the Dick Wolf procedural in early Season 10. On-screen, Halstead left for Bolivia, where he currently leads a military unit tracking the most dangerous cartel targets (all while not returning Uptons calls).

Later in Season 10, Soffer returned behind the camera for his directorial debut in the March 22 episode, Deadlocked, about Voights attempts to stop jury tampering for a major trial.

Soffer previously said that his Chicago P.D. exit was one of the toughest decisions Ive ever had to make in my life.

However, the actor also noted that he was still open to returning. Never say never, he shared. Halsteads always going to be in my blood. Thats never going to change.

Who else is all up in their #Upstead feelings after this reunion photo? Share your grievances (and wishes) below.

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Buck Meek, 36, points out the river with his finger. Its mid-morning, and he has taken the time to sit on the grass on the bank of the Manzanares river outside La Riviera concert hall. Tonight he has a concert in Madrid, and he is in the middle of a soundcheck with his band, Big Thief, when he comes outside to greet the journalist. He looks for a place to chat about his new album, Haunted Mountain, a folk-rock creation that reflects on the fullness of love. Its so great to be here! he exclaims as he fiddles with the grass. He seems like a happy guy.

Haunted Mountain is the confirmation of this happiness. It is his third album outside Big Thief, one of the latest American indie rock sensations thanks to their sweetly luminous songs and addictive beauty. Since he made his solo debut in 2018 with a self-titled album, Buck Meek has always tried to find his own path and style. Its something that has always worried me and, honestly, I think Ive achieved it, he says. In 2021, marked by a breakup with his previous partner, he released Two Saviors, and people began to take him seriously as a musician with his own voice.

Buck Meek photographed in the La Riviera concert hall in Madrid. Sharon Lopez

I think Two Saviors was a process of healing from loss and, in a way, it was letting in the seeds of a new love. This record is the celebration of the love that arrived. It is about his current wife, a constant inspiration with whom he has once again felt fullness. He gives an example: the song Paradise. There comes a moment when you look at the other person and in their eyes you find a kind of paradise. Its tremendous, but you wonder if love is a form of magic.

Meek grew up in a Texas town surrounded by blues and folk. That also led him to love fiction, both in songs and in literature. My grandfather was a devotee of Faulkner and my grandmother was a scholar of Shakespearean and classical Greek literature, he explains. Adding to that, I loved the stories of blues and folk outlaws songs. I would go to rodeos with my family and I heard these stories.

A poster for the band Big Thief. Sharon Lopez

After studying at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Meek moved to New York to find his own place. For eight years, he was a regular busker at the Union Square subway station. I played to pay the rent for the apartment, he says with a smile. New York is a city where the energy always gives you something to learn from. Between his personal search and New York came Big Thief, a band formed by former Berklee students.

When a couple of ducks pass near the banks of the Manzanares, Meek doesnt hesitate to point them out and associate them with the album. Everything in nature is a great inspiration for me. From the very title of the album, I try to convey the idea that the landscape can give us gifts, he explains. He says that most of the songs were written in the mountains, and he lists the important sites: the Sierra de la Estrella in Portugal, the volcanoes on the island of Milo in the Greek Cyclades, the Swiss Alps  where the cover photo was taken  and the Santa Monica Mountains, the place in Los Angeles he calls home, where he lives with his wife. Because love is making a home, he says.

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Getting married means cementing our relationship, for life, McKend tells PEOPLE exclusively of the couple's big day

Once Like a Spark Eva McKend and Dennis R. Bates Jr.

CNNs Eva McKend tied the knot with Dennis R. Bates Jr. in an intimate east coast wedding over the weekend.

During their three day celebration, the correspondent covering national politics and her husband exchanged vows Aug. 6 at a private, 300-acre estate in Frederick, Maryland, in front of 170 guests. McKend tells PEOPLE that she wanted a celebration that focused on bringing friends and family together.

"I love Vermont, where I previously worked as a journalist and where we got engaged, but we wanted to get married closer to home," she explains ahead of her big day. "This area of Frederick, about an hour and a half outside of Washington D.C., with its farmland, ponds and rolling hills was the perfect fit."

Adds McKend: "For us, a ceremony outdoors was key. We wanted to feel connected to nature but paramount is for people to be able to attend and feel comfortable. Ive encouraged friends to ditch the heels and wear flats!"

McKend first met Bates, a CPA and real estate investor, on the dating app Bumble in 2019 before the two got engaged in July 2022. Both say they value the same things and their personalities work well together.

Once Like a Spark Eva McKend and Dennis R. Bates Jr.

Related: New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson Marries High School Sweetheart Ali Marks at Chicago's Ritz Carlton! (Exclusive)

Dennis is smart, kind and easygoing, McKend shares of her husband. The best feeling is when I see him come in through the door from work or when I come home and I meet him waiting for me. I feel a near instant sense of relief as he has a calming and nurturing presence.

Bates adds that he is excited to build a life with his wife, who he describes as warm, outgoing, affectionate, intelligent and aware of the important issues of our times.

When looking for their wedding venue, the pair instantly fell in love with the aesthetics of the 300-acre estate.

When we visited, we drove up a winding road through miles of corn fields, McKend recalls of her first trip to the inn. It felt majestic.

Related: All the Celebrity Weddings of 2023

On the first day of the weekend's festivities, guests were met with a welcome celebration at a local Caribbean restaurant where the group dined on the couple's favorites including jerk salmon and fried plantains. The afternoon was spent honoring the bridal party and sweet speeches dedicated to the bride and groom.

It was important to us to have a celebration that felt accessible and allowed us to spend as much time as possible with our loved ones, McKend says.

For her walk down the aisle, the bride wore a Wtoo by Watters Austin Corset Tulle wedding gown from Anthropologie, a gown she found while shopping in New York City with her mom.

Once Like a Spark Eva McKend

"Its flowy and I cant wait to run up and down the hills on the farm with it and capture my dress flowing in the breeze," she says. "I did end up having my tailor (my moms good friend Miss Evelyn Nelson, a fashion design professor at Parsons School of Design) add straps and an amazing bracelet to stuff my train. I am all about sparkle and shine."

The lavender, ivory and dusty blue color scheme was incorporated in the florals, which were picked out by McKends bridesmaid in collaboration with the on-site florist Wendy Caroll. The decor for the night remained simple, as McKend notes that she wanted to let the beauty of the venue speak for itself.

At the ceremony, Bates and his groomsmen walked down the aisle to a song by his favorite music group, "The Fire" by The Roots. McKend followed in her charming gown as the "Goodness of God" by CeCe Winans played.

Once Like a Spark Eva McKend's bridal party

Related: Celebs Who Officiated Other Stars' Weddings

There were also some special touches  McKend's mom read Colossians 3:12-17 NIV and Bates longtime friend Priya Lamba shared a reflection from Invitation to Love, by Paul Laurence Dunbar. Bates sister Melanie, who is a violinist, played "Canon in D Major" as well, and Rev. Rashad Moore, Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Crown Heights married the couple after they read handwritten vows to one another.

Getting married means cementing our relationship, for life, says McKend. It was important to us to have our families and friends in attendance to witness the commitment we are making to each other.

At the reception, where McKend and Bates wanted guests to be rockin until the end of the night, the newlyweds shared their first dance to K-Ci and JoJos All My Life. McKend jokes that she was nervous about the moment after Dennis dropped me while we were practicing our dance a few weeks prior.

Once Like a Spark Eva McKend and Dennis R. Bates Jr.

Heres to hoping we both dont fall on the big day after the final twirl, she jokes.

The rest of the night was a warm celebration of love, friends, and family. Crab cake canapes (a Maryland classic) were passed around as hors d'oeuvres, and the dinner buffet featured grilled chicken breast with sundried tomatoes and feta, salmon with basil sweet sour sauce and tri-colored tortellini tossed in fresh pesto.

Once Like a Spark Eva McKend and Dennis R. Bates Jr.

Instead of a cake, the couple opted for a late night order of Insomnia Cookies.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Looking ahead, McKend and Bates plan to go on a minimoon to Savannah, Georgia, before heading to the beach on nearby Hilton Head Island for the first time.

I spent a lot of time in Georgia on the campaign trail last cycle and Savannah is a dream, she says, adding, We cant wait to try new food.

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David Noriega has joined NBC News and MSNBC as a correspondent based in Los Angeles.

Noriega previously was at Vice News, where he covered criminal justice, organized extremism and labor issues, as well as migration across North and South America, North Africa and Europe.

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Betsy Korona, senior vice president of editorial newsgathering, wrote in a memo to staffers that Noriega has reported nationally and internationally on a wide-range of stories including asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border, mass shootings in America, the fentanyl crisis, teachers strikes in Los Angeles and Denver, Brazils election upheaval, and the demobilization of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.

Noriega also hosted and was co-director of the digital series Border to Border, which looked at the international borders on three continents. He previously was a national reporter at BuzzFeed News. He received Emmy nominations for his coverage of Central American migration, the Venezuelan political crisis and the assassination of environmentalists in Colombia. His work won awards from The New York Press Club, The National Association of Hispanic Journalists and The French-American Foundation.

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Trustees of the DGA Pension & Health Plans have approved a free major medical plan for participants who lose coverage because of the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

I am proud to announce that the DGA-Producers Pension & Health Plans Board of Trustees has unanimously approved the creation of a critically important free major medical plan for Health Plan participants and their eligible dependents who have been financially impacted by the work stoppage, said DGA President Lesli Linka Glatter. This innovative effort by the Plans trustees will help Plan participants facing financial hardship retain basic health coverage during this difficult time.

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The new DGA benefit comes in the wake of a similar move by the Motion Picture Industry Pension & Health Plan  which covers members of IATSE, Teamsters Local 399 and several other unions  which recently eased the requirements that their members need to qualify for health coverage in order to help participants and dependents affected by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

So, among Hollywoods major guilds, that leaves only members of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA without similar protections, even though the major health plans are all funded by, and have management trustees represented by, the same companies. Carol Lombardini, president of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, against which SAG-AFTRA and the WGA are striking, serves on the boards of all four major P&H Plans.

The frequently asked questions page of the WGAs strike site notes, There is no Health Fund requirement that the Health Plan extend health insurance coverage during a strike, and Trustees are 50% management and 50% Guild. If you fall out of coverage during the strike, extended benefits may be available under COBRA. The WGA has been on strike since May 2.

SAG-AFTRA has been on strike since July 14, and its members are also facing the loss of health care coverage. Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the guilds national executive director, said in a recent podcast As far as health and pension go, eligibility requirements are going to remain the same during the strike. We would love to adjust those requirements or make special exceptions, however, as many of our members undoubtedly know, the Pension & Health Plans are run by a joint board of trustees, half of which are controlled by the studios and streamers  the management-side trustees  so there is no vision on the horizon where we can get these management trustees to agree to make adjustments to the eligibility requirements.

The DGAs P&H Plans new benefit is available to participants and their eligible dependents who meet certain eligibility requirements. The Major Medical Plus Plan will offer network-only medical coverage with certain benefit exclusions and prescription drug benefits.

Its strike-related Major Medical Plus Plan will be offered initially for three months from October 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023, with consideration for future quarters of eligibility to be determined later should the strikes. It will provide the following benefits:

Network coverage, including mental health and substance abuse benefits

Prescription drug coverage

Emergency Services (with specific guidance regarding non-network providers)

Hearing aids, chiropractic, acupuncture and foot orthotics are excluded from coverage under the Major Medical Plus Plan, as are dental benefits, vision benefits and special arrangements with UCLA Health/EIMG.

To qualify for the Major Medical Plus Plan, members must have worked under the Basic Agreement or the Freelance Live and Tape Television Agreement and meet either of the requirements below:

Members and eligible dependents who lost Earned Active or regular Carry-Over coverage as of June 30, 2023, and did not have sufficient earnings to requalify effective October 1, 2023, for the applicable work period July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023, and have at least $10,000 in initial compensation during the work period July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 and the DGA-Producer Health Plan is your primary plan; OR

Members and their eligible dependents who will lose Earned Active or regular Carry-Over coverage as of September 30, 2023, and did not have sufficient earnings to requalify effective October 1, 2023, for the applicable work period July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023, and have at least $10,000 in initial compensation during the work period July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 and the DGA-Producer Health Plan is your primary plan.

Qualified participants may include their eligible dependents for the duration of the Major Medical Plus Plan coverage. Participants who qualify for the Major Medical Plus Plan will receive a letter from the Health Plan with information on how to elect the coverage.

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Dominican project Tres balas (Three Bullets) has dominated the awards handed out by Open Doors, Locarno Pros talent development program for artists from underrepresented communities.

The pic, directed by Genesis Valenzuela and produced by Wendy Espinal, picked up three awards, including a CHF 20,000 ($22,000) Open Doors cash grant alongside a 8,000 development grand handed out by Frances CNC.

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Set in 1992, the project tells the true story of Dominican immigrant Lucrecia Perez, who was brutally murdered by four neo-Nazis while living in Madrid. The attack was the first case of racism and xenophobia recognized by the Spanish State.

The projects synopsis reads: Through a visually enthralling journey intertwining colonial history, displacement, and criminal investigation, the director will delve into Lucrecias life as a way to explore the diaspora experience and dislocate the grand narrative of history- as she currently shares Lucrecias undocumented status. The present and the past connect, while fictional representation will emerge as a mechanism to help fill the gaps in the Afro-descendant memory of the Caribbean.

The biggest Open Doors cash prize of CHF 25000 was picked up by Pantasma, a co-production between Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Honduras by filmmaker Gloria Carrion. The pic ic produced by Leonor Zuniga.

For the second of its three-year cycle, Open Doors this year focused on the region of Latin America and the Caribbean. A total of eight projects in development were selected for its coproduction platform, the Projects Hub, along with eight creative producers who participated in the programs talent incubator, the Producers Lab.

The Projects Hub jury consisted of Madeline Robert, Manager of visions sud est; Artistic Director of Fribourg International Film Festival Thierry Jobin; Michel Plazanet, Deputy Director of International Affairs at CNC; Head of Projects at ARTE France Cinema Eva Pons; and Lasse Skagen, Head of Programming at the Films from the South Festival.

Check out the full list of winners below:

Open Doors Grant

A total of CHF 50000 sponsored by visions sud est (with the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation), the City of Bellinzona, and the Open Doors initiative.

CHF 25000 to Pantasma

Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Honduras

Directed by Gloria Carrion, produced by Leonor Zuniga

CHF 20000 to Tres balas (Three Bullets)

Dominican Republic

Directed by Genesis Valenzuela, produced by Wendy Espinal

CHF 5000 to Desidia

Bolivia, Chile

Directed by Leandro Grillo, produced by Alejandra Antequera

CNC Development Grant

EUR 8,000 for development provided by CNC  Centre national du cinema et de limage animee

LOA. Mata a tus amos (LOA. Kill Your Masters)

Venezuela, Puerto Rico

Directed and produced by Carlos Zerpa

Prix ArteKino International

EUR 6,000 for development provided by ARTEKino.

Tres balas (Three Bullets)

Dominican Republic

Directed by Genesis Valenzuela, produced by Wendy Espinal

Srfond Award

Participation in the project to the Srfond pitching event in November including travel and accomodation.

Libertinas (Libertines)

El Salvador, Peru

Directed by Leslie Ortiz, produced by Adriana Moran

Rotterdam Lab Award

Provided by the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR). One of the Producers Lab participants is offered the opportunity to take part in the next Rotterdam Lab, including accommodation covered by the International Film Festival Rotterdam along with a contribution to the travel costs by the Locarno Film Festival. Ivana Urizar

Cine Mio (Paraguay)

Open Doors  BR Lab Award

Participation at the project development workshop BR Lab in Sao Paulo in November with travel and accommodation covered, provided by BR Lab.

El ultimo rey (Last of Kings)

Peru, Mexico, Germany

Directed by Victor Checa, produced by Jimena Ospina

Open Doors  World Cinema Fund Audience Strategy Award

The award provided by World Cinema Fund offers a specific program tailored and geared to closely follow the development of an audience engagement strategy, to a participant from a country in the ACP region and part of the Open Doors focus.

Tres balas (Three Bullets)

Dominican Republic

Directed by Genesis Valenzuela, produced by Wendy Espinal

Open Doors  OIF  ACP  EU Award

This collaboration provides a project or participant from an ACP country of the focus region with a consultancy for up to 18 months, script/treatment analysis, story editing, and polishing of the film dossier based on the specific needs of the awarded project. Provided by the Organisation Internationale Francophonie (OIF) and Initiative Film.

Raised by Goats

Jamaica

Directed by Gibrey Allen, produced by Nadean Rawlins

Open Doors  LEXIA Insights Award

This collaboration with experienced professionals will provide the awardee with research tools and methodologies to fine-tune the projects pitch, script, dossier, mood board and teaser.

Via Lactea (Milky Way)

Costa Rica, Uruguay

Directed by Paz Fabrega, produced by Federico Moreira

Open Doors  Moulin dAnde-CECI Award

Writing residency for the director of a first or second feature film project in development, with accommodation covered and a contrbution to travel costs, provided by the Moulin dAnde-CECI and the Locarno Film Festival

Carlos Ormeno Palma, La Fiebre Films (Peru)

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A man accused of kidnapping and imprisoning a woman who reportedly escaped from his garage once appeared as a plaintiff on beloved TV courtroom series Judge Judy.

According to an Aug. 2 press release from the FBI's Portland Field Office, 29-year-old Negasi Zuberi was taken into federal custody related to a case of alleged "interstate kidnapping after a Washington woman escaped his home in Klamath Falls, Oregon, claiming she was kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and locked in a cinderblock cell."

The release also noted that Zuberi has gone by the names "Sakima" and "Justin Kouassi" in the past, as well as "Justin Hyche," the name he used during a 2018 appearance in front of Judith Sheindlin on Judge Judy, which saw him successfully sue his then-girlfriend amid a dispute over damaged clothing.

Negasi Zuberi on 'Judge Judy'

CBS (2) Negasi Zuberi on 'Judge Judy'

FBI officials detailed the accusations against Zuberi throughout the release, which noted that the conflict began in Oregon before Zuberi reportedly fled to Reno, Nev., and had a brief standoff with police.

"According to court records, on July 15, 2023, Zuberi traveled from his home in Klamath Falls, Oregon, to Seattle, where he solicited the services of a prostitute, he then posed as an undercover police officer. The victim told investigators that he pointed a taser at her and placed her in handcuffs and leg irons and put her in the back seat of his car. He then traveled roughly 450 miles with the woman, sexually assaulting her during the trip," the release read. "According to the victim, once he arrived at his home in Klamath Falls, Oregon, Zuberi moved her into a makeshift cell that he had constructed in his garage. The cell was made of cinder blocks and a metal door installed in reverse so it could not be opened from the inside. Once Zuberi left, the victim says she repeatedly banged on the door and was able to break the door open and escape the room. She was able to flag down a passing motorist who called 9-1-1."

The FBI also urged more potential victims to come forward, as they believe Zuberi lived in 10 states over the last decade.

"According to the complaint, this woman was kidnapped, chained, sexually assaulted, and locked in a cinderblock cell. Police say she beat the door with her hands until they were bloody in order to break free. Her quick thinking and will to survive may have saved other women from a similar nightmare," FBI agent Stephanie Shark said in a statement. "We are fortunate that this brave woman escaped and alerted authorities. Through quick law enforcement action, we were able to get Zuberi in custody the next day. While she may have helped protect future victims, sadly we have now linked Zuberi to additional violent sexual assaults in at least four states, and there could be more."

The FBI's release finished by stressing that "a criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty."

Zuberi was one of thousands of guests on Sheindlin's daily syndicated show, which ran from 1996 to 2021. The 80-year-old then pivoted to streaming service Freevee for Judy Justice.

See footage of Zuberi's Judge Judy appearance in the video above.



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Queen Elizabeth's granddaughter has had a very social summer

Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Princess Beatrice attends day one of Royal Ascot 2023.

Princess Beatrice is ringing in a special royal occasion  her birthday!

Prince Andrew and Sarah Fergusons eldest daughter turned 35 on Tuesday and is marking the milestone privately as she has in the past. Unlike her mother, sister Princess Eugenie and husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Beatrice doesnt maintain a regularly updated public social media presence, but she is likely celebrating with loved ones around her. The royal shares daughter Sienna, 2 next month, with Edo, who is also dad to young son Christopher Woolf with his ex-girlfriend Dara Huang.

Princess Beatrices private birthday celebrations might be the icing on the cake of a fun summer. The princess and her husband have had a packed social calendar, and the festivities began with a royal wedding.

On June 1, the couple stepped out in Jordan for the royal wedding of Crown Prince Hussein to Rajwa Alseif (who is now styled as Princess Rajwa), which Prince William and Kate Middleton also attended. Beatrice sparkled in her second-ever tiara moment for the evening banquet at Al Husseiniya Palace wearing the York tiara. Her mother, the Duchess of York, later said on her podcast Tea Talks with the Duchess & Sarah it made her very proud to see her glitter in the headpiece she wore to marry Prince Andrew in 1986.

Royal Hashemite Court Princess Beatrice attends the Jordan royal wedding reception.

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A few weeks later, Princess Beatrice and Edo made their Royal Ascot debut of the year on June 20, entering the event with the Prince and Princess of Wales on June 23. The couples traveled by carriage in the Royal Procession, and Beatrice and Edo were seen eagerly cheering on the horse races from the royal box.

Related: Prince Harry Is 'Still the Best of Friends' with Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie (Exclusive)

Kirstin Sinclair/Getty Images for Royal Ascot Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi attend day four of Royal Ascot.

On July 11, the parents stepped out for dinner in London at The Twenty Two Hotel in Grosvenor Square and left hand in hand.

That Friday, the pair made their first outing of the year at Wimbledon in the front row of the Royal Box  which kicked off their anniversary weekend  and went out again that night to Oswalds, a private members club in London.



TheImageDirect.com Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi seen at The Twenty Two Hotel.

Queen Elizabeths granddaughter and her husband celebrated three years of marriage on July 17, and the property developer posted a thoughtful tribute in her honor with some previously unseen wedding photos.

"Happy wedding anniversary to the most beautiful wife in the world," Edo captioned the Instagram carousel, which began with a picture of the princess at Royal Ascot this year. "I am so grateful for every moment we have shared, every challenge we have overcome, and every dream we have pursued together. I love you more than words can say, and I can't wait to celebrate many more anniversaries with you. Xx"

Related: Fergie's Wise Advice for Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie: 'No One Wants to See a Grumpy Princess'

Edo also shared two shots that appear to be from their July 17, 2020 wedding day. One was a snap of Princess Beatrices hand  wedding ring on display!  holding her bouquet, and the other was a closeup of the floral arrangement that decorated the Royal Chapel of All Saints. About a year and a half after news of their relationship surfaced, the couple quietly tied the knot after pushing back their plan to wed in May 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic. The small, private ceremony heeded government safety guidelines amid the public health crisis, and Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were among the guests in attendance.

A few days after their third anniversary, Princess Beatrice and Edo were spotted out and about in Saint-Tropez, France. The two walked around the harbor near hotspot restaurant Club 55 on July 27 and shared a sweet hug while they waited for a boat.

France is a special place for the couple. Following their 2020 wedding, a source told PEOPLE that the newlyweds were on a "small honeymoon in France" with a "longer, more luxurious honeymoon" planned.

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Nakheel

The wealthiest Hollywood celebrities are eyeing one of the most exclusive penthouses in the Middle East, on sale for a whopping $137 million!

Even for the richest people in the U.S., this is one of the most expensive pieces of real estate ever sold, and it is located on the iconic Palm Jumeirah island in Dubai.

The property, listed by eminent property advisor Kamil Magomedov, is drawing in affluent buyers from the U.S., Russia, Europe, and China. At the stunning price tag of $137 million, it will be the most expensive apartment sold in UAE's history.

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Hollywood Stars Eyeing INSANE Dubai Penthouse Listed By Kamil Magomedov For $137 Million!

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Kamil Magomedov

The penthouse is the latest property developed by Nakheel and is 22,000 square feet. The apartment sits at the top of the tallest building in Dubia on a prime plot of the Palm Jumeirah offering stunning 360-degree views from the top floor. The five-bedroom duplex penthouse is located on 72-73 floors and has an immaculately landscaped rooftop terrace with a private pool, 10 parking spaces, and a private elevator.

This elegant private penthouse is regarded as the "most exclusive" and luxurious unit in all of the Middle East. That's not all, considering the modern lifestyle and high standards of living of its clients, all the luxurious furniture and interiors are done by Hermes!!

Plus, the penthouse is designed by the world-renowned Killa Design Architects, who have designed the famous Museum of the Future.

Nakheel

As for Kamil Magomedov, he is one of the biggest premium real estate brokers in the United Arab Emirates. According to Kamil, this "lavish penthouse is the epitome of luxury perfectly balanced with modern elegance complementing the surroundings of the Palm."

This massive real estate deal will rank amongst the biggest celebrity purchases in history. As you know, Beyonce and Jay Z just dropped $200 million on a property in Malibu, CA -- making it the most expensive home ever sold in California. The previous record was $177 million. It was the second most expensive real estate deal in the United States, second to a sale of a $238 million apartment in New York.

Kamil Magomedov

Speaking of Beyonce, Queen B performed a private concert right down the street from this building to open the Atlantis The Royal Hotel on the crescent of Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. She was reportedly paid $24 MILLION to appear at the event.

Maybe she is looking to add to her real estate portfolio?!

Nakhell


In one of several potential indictments against Donald Trump, evidence from his own wife may seal his fate, according to reports. Trump is set to defend himself in courtrooms in New York, Washington, Georgia, and Florida related to alleged illegal activities during his presidency and his involvement in the January 6 Capitol insurrection. And in the New York iteration of his legal battles, uncovering Melania Trumps emails is allegedly a main goal for district attorney Alvin Bragg and his staff.



The felony indictment against the former president, 77, accuses him of faking business records to hide a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign. Trump has denied Daniels claim that she had an affair with him in 2006 while Melania was pregnant with their son, Barron. She also alleges that she was paid to keep quiet about the alleged fling.

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Stormy Daniels



A source tells Radar Online that emails sent by Melania in the aftermath of the alleged affair becoming public could be a smoking gun in the trial as the former model allegedly did not hold back in displaying her heartbreak and plans to divorce Trump. Shes likely written multiple emails to counsel asking for guidance on her rights if her husband is convicted on all these charges, and if she should use whatever she knows to squeeze him in divorce court, a source close to the Trump family told Radar Online.



In July, a judge denied requests to view Melanias emails but the pursuit is allegedly not over for Bragg. Those emails could make Melania relive the entire betrayal again in the public eye, an insider alleges. It also would reveal what she knew about the affair along with many other humiliating aspects of her husbands business and personal life!

Click here to read the full article.



The last thing she wants is for people to know how much her husband put her through and her fraught relationships with Donalds children, the source continued. Theres no way the family could survive that kind of public humiliation! The emails hang the ex-president out to dry. The source claims Melanias emails could add to growing speculation that her relationship with Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner is fraught.



However, in spite of Melanias alleged fears and her absence from Trumps arraignments, other sources are claiming she and the disgraced former president are on good terms with her acting as a support system during his legal troubles. Last week, Trump was handed an indictment related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election won by President Biden by a grand jury that has been hearing evidence as part of Jack Smiths investigation into the aftermath of the election leading up to the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. In addition to this and the New York case, he is also facing separate legal cases in Georgia and Florida amid his ongoing attempts to secure a re-election.

Before you go, click here to see the biggest presidential scandals in US History.

Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton

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Peruvian villagers claimed to have been attacked by Predator-style aliens, The U.S. Sun reports.

Members of the Ikitu indigenous people in rural Alto Nanay claimed to have seen the beast after it attacked a 15-year-old girl. The native people alleged that the mysterious creature slashed her across the neck, which required heavy medical attention. Hunters from the tribe claimed to have fired at the armored beings. However, they soon discovered that the creatures are immune to human weapons.

The native people reportedly saw one of the seven-foot beasts disappear and reemerge on the spot. The Ikitu people have detailed that they may be aliens from another planet, while other citizens believe the creatures to be folklore monsters. The outlet reports that the Predators could be drones covered with cloth and masks to scare the locals by illegal miners in a Scooby Doo-style scheme.

Jairo Reategui Avila, one of the community leaders, spoke about the strange occurrence and described them akin to Spider-Mans nemesis, the Green Goblin, RPP Noticias reports.

These gentlemen are aliens. They seem armored like the Green Goblin from Spider-Man. I have shot him twice, and he does not fall, but rises and disappears. We are frightened by what is happening in the community, said the community leader.

Their color is silver, their shoes are round in shape, and with that, they rise up. They float one meter high and have a red light on the heel. Their heads are long and their eyes are yellowish. With that, they see you well, and they leave. They are experts at escaping.

Another witness to the action detailed that the beasts conceal their identities and can fly.

They dont let their faces be seen and their body is floating. They use their arms as balance (when flying), but they walk normally. Every time we arrive, they fly with an activation of something on the soles of their feet. They have wheels with lights, he told the troops.

Perus law enforcement and navy faction announced they would look into the matter.

#ufotwitterweek Mass UFO sighting, Aliens, attempted abductions, multiple victims, multiple witnesses, 7 foot tall non-humans that keep coming back at night, in Loreto Peru. Is this the real deal? It seems to be to these Peruvians and news reporters. Let me know what you think. pic.twitter.com/hsnB6L7QQE  Darcy Weir Films (@Occultjourneys) August 8, 2023

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The second in line to the Danish throne turns 18 in October

Franne Voigt An official portrait of Prince Christian released by the Danish Royal House in honor of his upcoming 18th birthday.

Prince Christian of Denmark can look forward to quite the birthday party this fall!

On Tuesday, the Danish Royal House announced the official plans for the princes 18th birthday on Oct. 15 and released new portraits. Prince Christian is second in line to the Danish throne behind his father, Crown Prince Frederik, while his grandmother is Queen Margrethe, and the court will mark the milestone will two events held one month apart.

Prince Christian switched between serious and smiling in the three shots taken by photographer Franne Voigt and shared to the palace's Instagram, which showed him seated in a studio. He sported a navy suit with a blue button-down in one photo and paired an unbuttoned tan jacket with a white tee and black pants in the two others.

On Sunday 15 October 2023, His Royal Highness Prince Christian turns 18. Authority Day is celebrated with a changing of the guard at Amalienborg, where the Prince, together with his family and Her Majesty the Queen, appear on the balcony of Frederik VIII's Palace. In the evening, the Queen hosts a gala dinner where the guests reflect Prince Christian's own generation, the Danish Royal House said.

Related: Crown Princess Mary Reveals World Cup Allegiance When Denmark Faces Her Home Country of Australia

The gala that evening at Christiansborg Castle will welcome reps from some of Denmarks youth organizations plus young people who have distinguished themselves in the world of sport, art and culture. Extending the guest list, the Royal Palace will work with local municipalities to coordinate invitations for around 200 young people from the Danish Commonwealth, giving each of Denmarks municipalities, Greenland and the Faroe Islands the opportunity to invite two 18-year-old guests to the party.

In June 2022, a gala for Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway's 18th birthday gathered royals from around the world to celebrate. Three other future queens and a future grand duke  Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands, Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, Princess Estelle of Sweden and Prince Charles of Luxembourg  posed with the birthday girl for a portrait.

The event also served as the tiara debut for Princess Catharina-Amalia and Princess Elisabeth.



Franne Voigt An official portrait of Prince Christian released by the Danish Royal House in honor of his upcoming 18th birthday.

The festivities continue one month later and take a more formal turn. On Nov. 14, Prince Christian will attend a meeting of the Council of State (which is comprised of government ministers) and declare that he wishes to comply with the Danish constitution.

Prince Christian will then be able to be appointed as head of state. Prince Christian will not get a seat in the Council of State until a change of throne has taken place, the Danish Royal House said of the step.

Christian is the eldest child of Crown Prince Frederik, 54, and Crown Princess Mary, 51. He is followed in the countrys line of succession by his younger siblings  Princess Isabella, 16, and 12-year-old twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine.

Related: Count Nikolai of Denmark Shares Photos of His 'Last Days in Europe'  Find Out Where He's Heading

Just like King Charles and the British royals, members of the Danish royal family traditionally fete special occasions like birthdays and regnal milestones with balcony appearances and glittering galas. The Danish royal family most recently came together for Queen Margrethes 83rd birthday in April, where she stepped out on the terrace of Amalienborg Castle in Copenhagen with her two sons, their wives and all eight of her grandchildren.



Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Queen Margrethe of Denmark with her grandchildren at the balcony of Amalienborg Palace in honor of her 83rd birthday.

The photo op was poignant as it marked the first time the Queen was seen with all of her family since she stripped Prince Joachims four children of their royal titles earlier this year. A father of four, Prince Joachim, 54, shares his two eldest sons, Nikolai, 23, and Felix, 21, with his first wife Alexandra. They divorced in 2005 after a decade of marriage, and Joachim remarried in 2008. He and Princess Marie went on to welcome two children  Henrik, 13, and Athena, 11.

In September 2022, Queen Margrethe unexpectedly announced that she was stripping Joachims kids of their prince or princess and "His/Her Highness" titles they inherited at birth and had been styled by all their lives. The Royal House of Denmark said that the siblings would retain their places in the line of succession and would be known instead by His Excellency Count of Monpezat or Her Excellency Countess of Monpezat starting on Jan. 1, 2023.



MADS CLAUS RASMUSSEN/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images Count Felix, Princess Marie, Prince Joachim, Countess Athena, Count Henrik and Count Nikolai.

Prince Joachim spoke out to the press about the way the situation was handled, claiming that he received five days' notice of the major shakeup and that his whole family was very sad. Queen Margrethe later made another statement saying she "underestimated" how the news would affect her second son and his kids, but she maintained that the plans were long in motion and stripping the royal titles was necessary future-proofing of the monarchy.

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Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Princess Marie and Prince Joachim attend a gala at Christiansborg Palace.

Embracing change, the Danish Royal House announced in March that Joachim and Marie are moving to Washington, D.C. on Sept. 1. Prince Joachim is set to start a new job at the Danish Embassy under the Ministry of Defense, helping strengthen the defense industrial cooperation with the United States and Canada. As the palace said the prince and his "family" will make the move, Count Henrik and Countess Athena are expected to join their parents.

While Count Felix has kept his plans for the fall private, Count Nikolai is embracing a new adventure  studying aboard in Australia!



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Spanish chef Daniel Sancho, the son of actor Rodolfo Sancho, who has confessed to the murder and dismemberment of Colombian plastic surgeon Edwin Arrieta on the Thai island of Koh Pha-ngan, was remanded in custody Monday by order of the Koh Samui Provincial Court. His possible cooperation in the investigation, the sentence that may be handed down if he is found guilty and the 1987 agreement signed between Madrid and Bangkok regarding cooperation in the carrying out of criminal sentences will decide the outcome of a complex and lengthy process Sanchos defense hopes will conclude with his transfer to Spain to serve any possible sentence.

What punishment could Sancho face if convicted?

If the authorities consider it proven that the Spanish chef murdered the Colombian doctor, both the circumstances of the crime  in this case the dismemberment of the body and his attempt to conceal it in various locations on the island, and his cooperation with the investigation, to which several sources state he has confessed, in locating Arrietas remains  may serve to both aggravate or mitigate the sentence that could be imposed if he is found guilty. Under Thai law, murder and manslaughter carry three types of sentences, depending precisely on these circumstances. The most severe is the death sentence, although a life sentence or up to 20 years imprisonment are also possible.

More information Family of Colombian doctor killed and dismembered in Thailand oppose death penalty for Daniel Sancho

If sentenced to death, what is the likelihood the punishment will be carried out?

While it is not uncommon for Thai courts to impose capital punishment, in most cases it is commuted to life imprisonment. According to sources familiar with the countrys judicial system, capital punishment is only applied in cases where the victims are members of the security forces or high-ranking government officials, and there are no known recent instances of a foreign national being executed. It is customary for King Maha Vajiralongkorn to take advantage of special dates, such as his birthday, to apply such pardons, as was the case in 2020 when another Spanish citizen, Artur Segarra, sentenced to death in 2017 for murdering and dismembering businessman David Bernat in Bangkok, had his sentence commuted to life imprisonment.

01:05 Daniel Sancho Daniel Sancho during a reconstruction of events with Thai police.

What if he is sentenced to life imprisonment?

If the sentence imposed is life imprisonment  either decided by the court or following the kings prerogative to reduce a death sentence, a process that can take years  it will still provide an obstacle to Sanchos possible transfer to Spain. Although the 1987 agreement between the two countries includes the possibility of repatriation, practice has shown that a life sentence complicates the process and makes it advisable instead to seek a specific date for finalization. This was the case with Maria Nieves Garcia Alcaraz, a Spaniard sentenced to life imprisonment in 2010 after Thai police found 3.1 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine in her luggage. Garcia Alcaraz pleaded guilty to avoid capital punishment, which is provided for under Thai law in certain drug-trafficking cases. However, she had to wait until King Maha Vajiralongkorn reduced her sentence to 25 years in order to complete the procedures for her transfer to Spain, which came in 2019.

What assistance do Spanish inmates receive abroad?

Spain provides citizens incarcerated overseas with consular assistance. Diplomatic sources explain that in addition to providing inmates with an amount not exceeding 120 per month if their families are unable to help them, consulate staff visit prisoners periodically to check their situation and facilitate contact with their relatives, in addition to providing information about lawyers in the country who can handle their case. They also ensure any medication they might need and attend trials in cases where it is suspected there will be no procedural guarantees. They also assist in applying for a transfer to serve a sentence in Spain, which many prisoners attempt to achieve, although not all of them are successful.

How is the transfer of a Spanish prisoner abroad managed?

There are two formulas. If the Spanish citizen is imprisoned in an EU country, the procedure is agile because as of 2014 it is carried out without the involvement of the Ministry of Justice and needs only the approval of a judge. The second concerns non-EU states and depends on the existence of a bilateral or multilateral agreement between the two countries concerned. Spain has agreements with 34 nations, including Thailand, as well as with the 67 members states of the Council of Europe. The 1987 agreement with Bangkok only vetoes the transfer of a prisoner when the crime committed is considered to have affected internal or external security, was directed against the head of state or members of his family or was related to the smuggling of antiquities or treasures of national artistic heritage. The formalities must be carried out through diplomatic channels and take into account that serving a sentence in the country of origin may contribute to social reintegration. The cost of the transfer is borne by the country of destination.

Imagen facilitada por la policia tailandesa de algunas de las bolsas halladas con los restos del colombiano Edwin Arrieta. Policia de Tailandia Daniel Sancho, custodiado por un agente, en una sala con sobres de pruebas en una imagen facilitada por la policia de la isla de Koh Phangan. ROYAL THAI POLICE (EFE) Sancho y Arrieta circulan en una motocicleta por las calles de Koh Phangan en una imagen de una camara de seguridad facilitada por la policia tailandesa. Policia de Tailandia Agentes de policia y forenses registran un vertedero en busca de los restos del colombiano Edwin Arrieta, presuntamente asesinado por el espanol Daniel Sancho. ROYAL THAI POLICE (EFE)

Can a sentence be modified once a prisoner returns to Spain?

The bilateral agreement with Thailand expressly states that the sentence will be carried out according to the laws and regulations of the receiving state, in this case Spain. If there is a disproportion (more than double) between the sentence imposed overseas and the maximum term for the same crime in Spain, Spanish legislation allows for the punishment to be reduced to the latter. This was the case with Nieves Garcia, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in Thailand for a crime that in Spain is punishable by up to eight years. Furthermore, Thailand reserves the right to pardon the offender or commute the sentence.

Under what conditions will Sancho be detained in Thailand?

As Koh Pha-ngan does not have a prison, the Thai authorities have transferred him to a jail on the neighboring island of Koh Samui. However, he is likely to be moved to Bangkok so that he can be more easily assisted by the Spanish consular authorities. Bang Kwang prison in the Thai capital is where most foreign nationals with convictions or charges pending trial are held. The British writer Sandra Gregory, who was sentenced to death for drug trafficking and later had her sentence commuted to 25 years, ironically named the prison the Bangkok Hilton in her book narrating her time there. Sources familiar with conditions in Bang Kwang describe them as very tough. It is overcrowded: inmates have to sleep on the floor in collective cells and they are only allowed outside to the courtyards for short periods. Food is also scarce, although the prison authorities allow family members to provide this during visits. The heat, humidity and unfamiliarity with the Thai language are other difficulties for foreign prisoners.

Are there more Spanish prisoners in Thailand?

According to data from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as of August 1 there were 907 Spaniards held in foreign prisons. Of these, four were in Thailand, all of them in Bangkok, to which Sancho will now likely be added. Two are imprisoned for the crime of murder, among them Segarra. The third was jailed for robbery, while the fourth did not commit a crime in Thailand but was arrested by the authorities in Bangkok at the request of the Spanish justice system so that he could be extradited.

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Puck, the media startup co-founded by Jon Kelly, has raised over $10 million in a Series B growth round led by British investment firm J Rothschild Capital Management.

Kelly revealed the news Tuesday to Axios.

Puck was founded in 2021 and launched after raising a $7 million Series A funding round. As of this year, the outlets combined free and paid subscriber base reached roughly 240,000 subscribers, with around 30,0000 of those being paid subscriptions.

Co-founder and CEO Joe Purzycki stepped down from his role in May, just as the company was beginning to pursue this round of funding. Puck has not yet named a new CEO, as the company continues to seek a replacement.

The new round of funding closed last week, with two of Pucks existing investors, Standard Investments and TPG participating. Although the two firms did not lead the Series B round, they continue to serve as the digital media companys largest investors.

With the funding, Puck plans to expand its subscription and advertising businesses, while bringing on more employees. Well be hiring more great authors, operators, and marketers; building out our I.P. business; and expanding our footprint into Hollywood and Washington, D.C., in particular, Kelly told Axios. Puck currently has 31 employees and intends to add eight to 10 more to the staff by the end of 2023.

The outlet is not yet profitable year-to-year but has seen several individual profitable months. The Series B funding round values Puck at around $70 million.

The business model of Puck allows its journalists to take a share of the subscription revenue that their reporting brings in, valuing talent that is able to build an individual brand for their consumers.

Were laser-focused on the task of building an amazing cultural product around a team of generationally talented journalists, Kelly told Axios. At the same time, were more committed than ever to redefining the business model of journalism, and ensuring that the creators remain in the middle of the equation.

The post Puck Raises More Than $10 Million in Series B Round appeared first on TheWrap.
Despite a bit of upheaval, Riley Keough says she and Priscilla Presley remain on good terms.

The Daisy Jones & The Six actor and her grandmother, the ex-wife of rock n roll legend Elvis Presley, became ensnared in a high-profile legal dispute after the death of Keoughs mother, Lisa Marie Presley, in January. By June, the two women had reached a settlement, with Keough reportedly agreeing to pay her grandmother a lump sum of $1 million, plus $400,000 in legal fees, to become the sole trustee of Lisa Maries estate.

In a candid chat with Vanity Fair, Keough spoke at length about the situation for the first time.

When my mom passed, there was a lot of chaos in every aspect of our lives. Everything felt like the carpet had been ripped out and the floor had melted from under us, Keough told the magazine in a story published this week. Everyone was in a bit of a panic to understand how we move forward, and it just took a minute to understand the details of the situation, because its complicated.

Priscilla Presley (left) and Riley Keough in 2016.

Priscilla Presley (left) and Riley Keough in 2016.

We are a family, but theres also a huge business side of our family, she said. So I think that there was clarity that needed to be had.

One of the reported points of contention in the dispute was Priscillas future gravesite. According to the terms of the settlement, she will now be buried at Graceland  Elvis estate in Memphis, Tennessee  per her request.

Keough suggested that any perceived conflict regarding her grandmothers eventual resting place had been blown out of proportion.

I dont know why she wouldnt be buried at Graceland, she said. I dont understand what the drama in the news was about. Yeah. If she wants to be, of course. Sharing Graceland with the world was her idea from the start.

From left, Lisa Marie Presley, Priscilla Presley and Keough in 2022.

From left, Lisa Marie Presley, Priscilla Presley and Keough in 2022.

Keough, whose Hollywood credits also include Mad Max: Fury Road and American Honey, went on to praise her grandmother for keeping her grandfathers musical legacy alive 46 years after his death.

There was a bit of upheaval, but now everythings going to be how it was. Shes a beautiful woman, and she was a huge part of creating my grandfathers legacy and Graceland, she told Vanity Fair. Its very important to her. He was the love of her life. Anything that would suggest otherwise in the press makes me sad because, at the end of the day, all she wants is to love and protect Graceland and the Presley family and the legacy. Thats her whole life.

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Up to $20 million could be pumped into independent film production in Switzerland thanks to revisions to the countrys Film Act, which will compel streamers such as Prime Video and Netflix to invest in the local film business.

A roundtable during the Locarno Film Festival titled Swiss Film Industry  New Film Act and New Opportunities outlined the changes that would come into force in the new year with the implementation of the revised act.

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According to Swiss law, local television companies must invest 4% of their revenue generated in Switzerland on independent film production. The amendment, which was approved by a referendum and was voted into law, extends this obligation to streamers, as well as mandating a 30% quota for European content.

The act will also oblige streamers to provide data transparency to the authorities, though the authorities will not be allowed to publish the data.

The regulation will say its okay for you to make money, but you have to give something back to the culture you are making money with, Matthias Burcher from BAC (Switzerlands Federal Office of Culture) commented.

The money, estimated to be 18 million ($19.7 million) a year, will be dispensed by the companies involved rather than a government fund. The money can be released in three ways: one, by licensing films which are already made; two, financing films completely; or three, participating in co-productions. The fund will be available for all kinds of films including fiction features, documentaries and shorts.

Chairing the discussion, Enrico Vanucci of European co-production funding agency Eurimages welcomed the news of these additional resources, but Gabriella Bussmann, a Swiss producer also on the panel, sounded a note of caution.

This new financing possibility will shake up the Swiss production landscape, thats for sure, she said. But it will be a minority of producers who are willing and also able to co-produce with Netflix and company. As a producer, I have also to be aware that with such co-productions, you become a minority. That also means giving up certain freedom, and handing over leadership to large platforms.

With more minority co-productions, she argued that it would be important to ensure the preservation and growth of existing funds.

Katrin Renz, a producer at Tellfilm, also remarked that she was already involved in a co-production as a result of the amended law. Its not that much money, its also very expensive money, because Ill get the money only three months after the delivery to Netflix. So its very, very late.

Marschall also gave a presentation explaining the work of Media Desk Suisse, a national fund which had been set up as a way of encouraging international co-development following the Swiss withdrawal from Creative Europe in 2014.

Modeled on the rules of Creative Europe, Media Desk Suisse fosters international co-productions at the development stage where Swiss producers have a majority share or are, in a new development, a minority partner. The development fund is worth 1.2 million ($1.3 million) per year and funds between 23 and 25 projects a year, of which two-to-three can be funded in the new minority Swiss co-development funding scheme.

This new funding scheme is intended to facilitate the Swiss joining projects that are initiated by and led by a foreign partner. And its not limited to countries that are signatories of the European Convention on Cinematographic Co-production but open to Mexico and Canada, which have bilateral agreements with Switzerland.

As well as the obvious financial benefits of the funds, Bussmann also insisted that co-production is always an added value to a film, because you bring the project from the beginning to an international level. This means more visibility and also more possibility for explanations. In this sense, I really welcome this new fund and this opens up a new possibility for us as partners and makes us more interesting for co-production partners abroad.

Although complexities and teething problems were anticipated  a young producer from the audience asked why experience was one of the criteria  there was a sense of cautious optimism that these new sources of funding would encourage further European production.

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Anthony Gonzales standing in front of an army vehicle. Anthony Gonzales

US Army soldier Anthony Gonzales went viral on TikTok for making videos mocking "Gen Z on the battlefield."

The 21-year-old says that he sees hate comments on his posts, but they don't bother him at all.

"Of course this ain't the old army. Time has passed and things have changed," Gonzales told Insider.

Anthony Gonzales, the US Army soldier who went viral for his "Gen Zs in the military" TikTok videos gets hate comments from "homophobic people and old vets," but says that people need to realize that times have changed.

"I see hate comments, but they don't bother me at all. You live your life and I'm going to live mine," Gonzales told Insider.

"All I can say is that I'm just one soldier. People think that one soldier is going to change everything. 'Our country is doomed,' I've read multiple times. It's not doomed just because of the things I say," Gonzales said.

The 21-year-old soldier is employed with the US Arkansas Army National Guard in Fort Chaffee. While he preferred to keep details about his specific unit private, Gonzales says his role involves distributing and managing fuel, as well as keeping up with fuel storage.

In response to the hate that he gets, Gonzales added that people need to start realizing that "this is a new generation."

"Of course this ain't the old army. Time has passed and things have changed. There is nothing wrong with that. Some people just have issues adjusting to change," he said.

The Gen Z soldier first blew up on TikTok in August 2021 when the first video in his "Gen Z in the battlefield" series went viral. His first video  captioned "It's me, I'm Gen Z"  has amassed over 22.5 million views and 5.1 million likes to date.

In the videos, Gonzales can be seen mocking Gen Z stereotypes by exaggerating the way they act and speak while dressed in tactical gear.

In one video uploaded in May, Gonzales pretends to be a dramatic Gen Z soldier on the battlefield screaming "My phone died!" while flailing his arms.

"There are no cute boys here. I'm leaving, you know what I'm saying?" he says in another section of the clip.

"You're a prisoner of war? Oh, sounds a little kinky. Wait, where are you going? You didn't even tie me up yet, you know what I'm saying?" he continues in the video, which has been viewed 5.3 million times.

In another video, which has 1.5 million views to date, Gonzales pokes fun at the stereotype that Gen Z has its priorities wrong.

"I ordered Chick-Fil-A. This is MRE, I can't eat that," Gonzales says in the clip while tossing a bag of military rations to the ground.

"We're not going to shoot you, we only shoot the ugly ones," he says in another part of the video.

"Don't shoot them, we need the WiFi password first, you know what I'm saying?" he continues in the video.

Gonzales stresses that he's patriotic and his TikTok videos are all in good fun. More than anything, he has immense respect for the military and all those who serve.

"I've also read stuff saying that I'm disrespectful towards old vets. No, I'm not. There's nothing wrong with having a little fun. I truly have so much respect for those who actually fought on the frontlines and all those who have died fighting for our country," he said.

"The videos mock Gen-Z people and really just myself," Gonzales added.

Read the original article on Insider
As a tourist haven and one of New Englands most picturesque areas, Cape Cod has always promoted its picture- postcard images of cozy cottages, butterfly-filled flower gardens and iconic seaside scenery.

Gregory Williams, on the other hand, has always been fond of depicting some of Cape Cods less hallowed images.

Williams hosts his first walking tour Aug. 12, with a second on Aug. 19

Williams, who retired in 2015 as a district court judge in Massachusetts, is a popular and well-known local speaker. He has made it one of his post-retirement callings to occasionally whisper in our ears that theres an all-too-human, darker side to some of the histories and anecdotes that populate our Cape Cod heritage. Witness his many talks and programs about local murder and crime, often dating back to the early days of the settlers and traders from Europe, as they arrived to explore and then build up the New England colonies.

Gregory Williams, a retired judge, is in front of the Olde Colonial Courthouse in Barnstable. The courthouse was built in 1763.

On Aug. 12, Williams will host his first walking tour through an atmospheric neighborhood of Barnstable Village, where hell meet participants to recount some dark tales concerning what he calls Law and Crime in Barnstable Village, stopping at each locale where the historical events took place. Participants will meet at 9 a.m. at Sturgis Library (3090 Route 6A) to begin the walk, which will be less than a mile in length.

Murder and mayhem along historic Old Kings Highway

Williams stories will span the years from the late 1700s all the way to the early 2000s. First up along the tree-shaded Old Kings Highway is the Olde Colonial Courthouse (c. 1760s), the second courthouse to be built in Barnstable. Williams will call upon the only known record of proceedings from that court, in 1791, which recount a crime concerning concealment of a pregnancy, a complex legal issue of that day.

The walk will pass by a plaque that marks the site of Barnstables very first courthouse, and continue on to the one-time Lothrop residence (1644) thats now the Sturgis Library, connecting to some of Williams stories about the Lothrop family and its cursed Sturgis descendants. Then its on to Crocker Tavern and the unfortunate tale of Ann Freeman, a village shopkeeper loyal to Britain in the time of the Revolution, who became a victim of brutal torture inflicted by a group of what Williams calls violent and nasty Revolutionary War patriots who were intolerant of her freedom of speech when it conflicted with their own views.

Local historian and former district court judge Gregory Williams talked about, on Halloween Eve, The Life and Death (Mostly Death) of Edgar Allan Poe.

Courthouse dramas in Barnstable County span more than 100 years

At the iconic 1830s Barnstable County Courthouse, Williams has tales to tell about infamous crimes, beginning with Charles Freeman, who murdered his own child in the late 1800s in a spate of religious fervor; and continuing all the way to the 1960s, when the trial of 20th century serial murderer Antone Tony Costa turned Truro into a sinister place for a time. Later came the infamous Cape Cod trial surrounding the murder of Christa Worthington in the early 2000s.

Across the street in the village, Williams shares another love-gone-wrong story from the 1920s, which ends in tragedy for yet another shopkeeper. The walk ends just up the street at the 1690 Old Jail in back of the Coast Guard Heritage Museum at Cobbs Hill.

How did it all begin, this idea of a retired judge dredging up old crimes?

Williams true crime stories about New Englands darker legacies and colorful characters have caught the interest of Cape Codders for nearly a decade, from his research into murder committed by a Mayflower passenger, to a whaleship mutiny, adventures clashing with pirates on the high seas and many more New England mysteries and sagas.

Not to be confused with other walks in Barnstable Village that relate to possible haunting presences in tavern or burial ground, Williams legal background has led him to revisit historical crimes and misdemeanors of the flesh-and-blood variety that have dotted our history, often illuminating political and social divisions every bit as rancorous as those we see today.

Williams is not exactly sure when or where his love for strange and macabre histories may have been born, but he remembers a few antecedents. My grandmother loved the National Enquirer, he said.

He also related that his mother took him to see his very first movie at the theater, in 1958. It was called The Screaming Skull. His reaction? I loved it.

If you go to 'Law and Crime in Barnstable Village: A Walking Tour

Law and Crime in Barnstable Village: A Walking Tour, led by Gregory Williams, will set off at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, and again the following Saturday, Aug. 19, from Sturgis Library, 3090 Route 6A, Barnstable Village. The less-than-one-mile walk will end at the Old Jail on Cobbs Hill, and takes between 60 and 90 minutes. Registration is limited. Pre-registration is required at reference@sturgislibrary.org

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Retired judge explores, on foot, picture-perfect Cape Cod's dark side
Addressing the tough animation industry climate, the nonprofit organization Women in Animation is launching a series of programs dubbed Animating Resilience: Surviving and Thriving in an Uncertain Industry, which will include adaptation and success strategies as well as those aimed at well being. WIA is also expanding its online career resource center, including new information for unemployed members, educational videos, and a recruiter directory.

In a letter sent to members on Monday, WIA president Marge Dean noted that she has heard estimates that suggest that as much as 30 percent of the Los Angeles animation workforce is unemployed. We saw drastic cuts in projects from all the major streamers long before the writers and actors went on strike, she wrote. Productions were abruptly ended, even when they were nearly or completely finished. Whole animation divisions were eradicated. This past year Netflix Animation, for instance, experienced layoffs, reorganized its management and canceled projects including Meghan Markles Pearl.

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Dean acknowledged that animation has had its ups and downs, but the impact of streamers and other newer players in the business made the most recent high tumultuous as it has changed the way the business runs. The explosion of production was so disproportionately large that there was no way that it wouldnt crash, she added. That is what weve been experiencing: a course correction.

She warned that simultaneously, theres been an attack at all levels of government on diversity, equity, and inclusion work. We must be diligent in protecting these efforts and continue to require all employers to value DEI as central to our collective success, she wrote, adding that organizations such as WIA and Black N Animated are all the more necessary. Groups like ours are more important than ever: we continue to beat the drum, reminding everyone that a diverse and inclusive workforce benefits everyone and is key to the survival of creativity and storytelling.

Dean expressed concern that the biggest casualties could be the newest members of the community, as well as older veterans who have justifiably worked their way to a higher salary range, and those returning to the workforce (primarily mothers and caregivers).

She urged support for working people as they stand up for fair participation in the benefits of the work that they do. This is directly connected to the struggles for equity across identities  pay equity and job access sit at the heart of the labor movement. Dean added: we probably have not hit bottom yet, but soon well see more shows being greenlit, more jobs opening up and a healthier work environment. It will probably never be what it was like just before the pandemic, and the coming months are going to be rough. When the agreements are settled, and the actors and writers return to work, it will take some time to get production rolling again. We all have to find ways to survive until we turn the corner.

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Plus, debunking which of these cats actually came from Egypt.

Egyptian cat breeds are among the most ancient breeds. In fact, Egypt is one of the places of origin for domesticated cats (the other is the Fertile Crescent in the Middle East). Domestic cats developed from small wildcat species in Egypt as far back as 1500 B.C. Very few modern cat species can trace their roots all the way back to Egypt, though some people think some cat breeds are Egyptian when their origins lie in other parts of the world.

Read on to meet two cat breeds that originated in Egypt and three cat breeds that people think are Egyptian, but actually are not.

History and Cultural Significance of Egyptian Cat Breeds

Cats are documented as living in ancient Egypt more than 3,000 years ago. Not only did cats provide valuable services protecting grain stores by hunting rodents, they also killed poisonous snakes in and around Egyptian homes.

Cats were revered by the Egyptians, even considered sacred and an important part of Egyptian culture. In life, they were pampered and revered. Egyptian royals even dressed their pet cats in gold and jewels. In death, Egyptians mummified cats and placed in tombs. The goddess Bastet, who took the form of a cat, appears in many ancient Egyptian works of art.

Getty Images/Milk Photography

The medium- to large-sized chausie (pronounced chow-see), is a hybrid breed created by crossbreeding domestic cats and a small wildcat species called the jungle cat that was revered by ancient Egyptians. Although the chausie is a modern breed created in the United States in the 1990s, their jungle cat heritage is what ties them directly to Egypt. Domestic cats used in the creation of the chausie include the Abyssinian and the domestic shorthair.







Breed Overview

Weight: About 15 to 25 pounds

Length: About 20 to 22 inches

Personality: Friendly, playful, active, affectionate

Coat Length: Short to medium, with a dense, soft undercoat and a somewhat resilient, slightly coarser outer coat

Coat Color: Brown ticked tabby, black grizzled ticked tabby or black

Eye Color: Any color, including blue or odd-eyed

Life Expectancy: 15 to 20 years







Getty Images/Mordolff

We have no written records of the Egyptian maus history, but its commonly accepted that the breed has ancient origins and developed from Egyptian street cats. Egyptian drawings show heavily spotted cats with the same mascara markings and barring pattern seen on the modern Egyptian mau. The breed is thought to have first appeared in the United States in 1956 when exiled Russian Princess Nathalie Troubetskoy brought her Egyptian mau cats with her.







Breed Overview

WEIGHT: 6 to 14 pounds

LENGTH: Up to 16 inches

PERSONALITY: Playful, active, devoted, loyal, alert, affectionate on their own terms

COAT LENGTH: Medium-length shorthair

COAT COLOR: Silver, bronze, or smoke with dark spots of varying sizes that occur only on the tips of the fur. Other characteristics include a dorsal stripe extending along the tail to a dark tail tip. The forehead has an M marking and the face has mascara lines that start at the corner of the eyes and sweep along the cheeks.

EYE COLOR: Green

LIFESPAN: 12 to 15 years







Getty Images/Josef Timar

The small, shorthaired Abyssinian is one of the oldest cat breeds. Perhaps due to the breeds striking resemblance to the cats depicted in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, many sources identify the Abyssinian cats country of origin as Egypt or Ethiopia (formerly known as Abyssinia). However, the most recent genetic research suggests the coast of the Indian Ocean and parts of Southeast Asia as the most likely birthplace of the Abyssinian cat. The breed name Abyssinian came about because in the 1800s, some English fanciers imported cats matching the description of todays Abyssinian and exhibited them at cat shows in England, stating that the cats were obtained from Abyssinia.







Breed Overview

WEIGHT: Up to 12 pounds

LENGTH: Up to 28 inches

PERSONALITY: Friendly, interactive, animated, active, and playful

COAT LENGTH: Short hair

COAT COLOR: Solid or ticked; ruddy, red, blue, cinnamon, or fawn

EYE COLOR: Green or gold

LIFESPAN: Up to 15 years







With their spotted coat, the Savannah cat might look like cats in Egyptian art, but they were developed in the United States in the 1980s by crossing a small, African wildcat species called the serval with domestic cats. Like their serval relative, the Savannah cat is tall and slender with a long neck, large ears, and a gorgeous spotted coat. This breed needs more exercise and mental stimulation than most cats, so don't plan to bring one home unless you can give them the exercise and stimulation they need to be healthy and happy.







Breed Overview

WEIGHT: 12 to 25 pounds

LENGTH: 20 to 22 inches

PERSONALITY: Affectionate and social with owners, pets, and older children; intelligent and trainable

COAT LENGTH: Short to medium hair

COAT COLOR: Tawny, black/brown spotted tabby, black/silver spotted tabby, or black smoke with a solid or tabby pattern

EYE COLOR: Amber or green

LIFESPAN: Up to 20 years







Getty Images/flukyfluky

Many people think that the Sphynx cat comes from Egypt due to their resemblance to ancient Egyptian depictions of cats. Its also possible that people confuse the Sphnyx cat with the mythical sphinxa creature with the head of a human, body of a lion, and wings of an eagle. Ancient Egyptians believed the sphinx could guard royalty, so they built many statues of the sphinx, including the most famous: the Great Sphinx of Giza.

Alas, the wrinkled, hairless Sphynx cat claims Canada, as their birthplace. Sphynx cats feel like warm suede or chamois because they are covered in a soft down. Sphynx dont shed and need no brushing, but they must be bathed somewhat regularly to remove any buildup of skin oils and to keep their skin healthy.







Breed Overview

WEIGHT: Less than 12 pounds

LENGTH: 13 to 15 inches, head to tail

PERSONALITY: Playful, affectionate, friendly, energetic, and loving

COAT LENGTH: Nearly hairless, peach fuzz

COAT COLOR: Any color, including white, black, red, brown, white, and lilac

EYE COLOR: Any color

LIFESPAN: 8 to 14 years







More Cat Breeds and Further Research

To explore more cat breeds, check out:
Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, the son of Spanish actor Rodolfo Sancho, was arrested in Thailand in connection to the murder of a Colombian plastic surgeon.

Police confirmed to NBC News that the 29-year-old chef was charged with premeditated murder and removing of body parts to cover up the death or cause of death of the victim, 44-year-old Edwin Arrieta Arteaga.

According to the Bangkok Post, police noted that Daniel had gone to the Koh Phangan police station on the night of Aug. 3, claiming that Arrieta Arteaga was missing. That same day, trash collectors found body parts in a landfill on Thailand's Koh Phangan island.

Then, on the following day, a black plastic bag was found in the landfill with two legs, a black t-shirt, shorts, and boxers.

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The Bangkok Post also reports that Daniel admitted to killing Arrieta Arteaga, who was his lover. He allegedly told police that they had been together for more than a year and had visited Koh Phagan to attend its Full Moon party.

The plastic surgeon allegedly wanted to have sex, but Daniel refused, which prompted him to punch his partner, making him fall and lose consciousness after hitting his head on the hotel's bathtub.

When Daniel realized Arrieta Arteaga was dead, he cut the body and disposed it in a garbage bin, and checked out from the hotel on Aug. 3 at 9 a.m., while still attending the Full Moon party with two women he met at the hotel. It was after the party that he decided to report Arrieta Arteaga as missing to cover his bases.

The Sancho family released a statement on Sunday asking for "maximum respect, both for Daniel Sancho himself and for the whole family, in these delicate moments of maximum confusion," per Reuters.

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ALS: What to know about symptoms, causes and treatments

Sandra Bullock's longtime partner Bryan Randall died at age 57 after privately battling ALS, or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, for three years, his family said. The news brought new attention to the disease and prompted questions about what the diagnosis means.

ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, making the brain unable to control muscle movement. As the illness progresses, people eventually lose their ability to speak, eat, move and breathe, according to the ALS Association.

It is also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, for the legendary New York Yankees player who was stricken with it in the late 1930s.

"ALS may be considered a rare disease, but it's actually more common than people think, affecting 1 in 300 Americans. It can strike anyone at anytime and is always fatal," Brian Frederick, senior vice president of communication at the ALS Association, told CBS News.

In the United States, more than 30,000 people are believed to be living with ALS, and an average of 5,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"ALS is a devastating illness," Dr. Sandeep Rana from Allegheny Health Network recently told CBS News Pittsburgh. "It's a neurological disease where patients start to get weak. They lose muscle strength. They lose muscle mass."

What causes ALS?

Experts don't know the exact cause of ALS. Only a small portion of cases appear to have a genetic component.

"About five to 10 percent of all ALS cases are familial (also called inherited or genetic). Mutations in more than a dozen genes have been found to cause familial ALS," the National Institutes of Health notes.

Nearly all other cases of ALS are considered sporadic, the NIH explains, meaning the disease "seems to occur at random with no clearly associated risk factors and no family history of the disease."

The disease can strike anyone at any time, but it usually appears between the ages of 40 to 70, according to the ALS Association.

The average life expectancy with the disease is 2 to 5 years.

ALS symptoms

According to the NIH, early signs and symptoms of the disease include:

Muscle twitches in the arm, leg, shoulder or tongue.Tight and stiff muscles.Muscle weakness affecting an arm, leg, neck or diaphragm.Slurred and nasal speech.Difficulty chewing or swallowing.

As the disease progresses, symptoms of muscle weakness spread to other parts of the body, causing more challenges to daily life, including:

Not being able to stand, walk or use hands and arms.Trouble chewing and swallowing food.Trouble speaking or forming words. Difficulty breathing.

"Individuals with ALS eventually lose the ability to breathe on their own and must depend on a ventilator," the NIH says. "Most people with ALS die from respiratory failure."

ALS treatments

Currently, ALS has no cure and there is no treatment to reverse its progression. The FDA has approved several medications, but their benefits are limited.

The search for new answers to fight ALS was the inspiration behind the hugely popular Ice Bucket Challenge a decade ago, which raised over $200 million for research.

"Thanks to the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge in 2014, we've been able to make some progress in changing the trajectory of ALS," Frederick said, adding that the money raised led to "new treatments being developed, new genes being discovered, new global research collaborations and the significant expansion of ALS care and support around the country."

But patients and families are still waiting for breakthroughs.

"We still have a long way to go, but we are hopeful that we can turn ALS from a fatal disease into a livable one by the end of the decade," Frederick said.

Red Sox players and staff participate in the Ice Bucket Challenge at Fenway Park, with co-founders Pete Frates, center, and Pat Quinn, left, on July 31, 2015. Frates died in 2019 and Quinn in 2020, of ALS. / Credit: Arthur Pollock/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images

For now, options to help people living with the disease include supportive health care from physicians, home care nurses and other medical professionals.

"These teams can design an individualized treatment plan and provide special equipment aimed at keeping people as mobile, comfortable, and independent as possible," the NIH explains.

In a statement, Bryan Randall's family thanked the "tireless doctors" and "astounding nurses" who helped care for him, "often sacrificing their own families to be with ours."

Patients may also benefit from physical and occupational therapy; speech therapists, who can help them maintain the ability to communicate; and nutritionists, who can plan and prepare balanced meals that are more easy to swallow.

Artificial intelligence is also starting to play a role in helping ALS patients communicate. CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook recently reported on new technology helping patients speak through a process called voice preservation.

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We recently asked brides of the BuzzFeed Community who called off their marriage on the wedding day (or very, very close to the wedding day) to share their stories and why they did it. Here are the shocking  and heartbreaking  results:

Note: Some submissions were also pulled from this Reddit thread and this one.

1. "I found him cheating with my sister the night before the wedding."

chloelaurel

Darya Komarova / Getty Images

2. "I just panicked. I was way too young to get married (I was 22), and I didnt really know the guy I was going to marry  who, by the way, was 10 years older than me. He seemed nice, but I hadnt known him for more than three months. His family was really rude to me. They made a lot of rude comments about how they were from a much wealthier background than I was, and my fiance may have been nice to me, but he didnt defend me whatsoever against these classist remarks."

"I felt like I had so much more that I wanted to do before getting married, so many more dates I wanted to go on. I wanted to one day marry a better man than him. I had to leave. So, I did. I wish things had ended more amiably, but I did what I had to do, and Ive never regretted it."

73, New York

Creatas Images / Getty Images

3. "I found out the day of my wedding while getting my makeup done that my soon-to-be husband was on Tinder. I found out because while GETTING READY FOR OUR WEDDING, he had matched with one of the guest's cousins and was actively messaging her trying to plan to see her before we went on our honeymoon! She just so happened to send the wedding guest a picture of him who immediately came and told me."

"If she hadn't sent that picture I would have 100% married him. I was so in love. I didn't say anything to anyone other than my family, and I left. I sent my brothers to get my stuff and dogs from our shared house and never spoke to him again."

28, Maryland

Igor Alecsander / Getty Images

4. "I have three cats who I love and have since before I met him. Then, the night before we got married, he casually said, 'Hey babe. Im allergic to cats, so when we move in together (which we hadnt yet because of financial concerns, but we were planning on doing soon after the wedding), youre gonna have to get rid of them.' I was shocked! Why had he not told me until now?"

"We could have worked something out! It occurred to me that if he didnt tell me something important like this, I couldnt trust him to be more open with me about other things. I left him and never looked back."

47, Michigan

Happy_finch / Getty Images / iStockphoto

5. "He casually informed me the morning of the wedding that I would be his SIXTH wife! He had NEVER told me that he had even one ex-wife, let alone five! I left him and have no regrets."

Anonymous, England

Satoshi-k / Getty Images

6. "I found out on our wedding day that my husband-to-be was seeing someone else. He didnt have the balls to tell me and was still going to go through with the ceremony. He thought he could just keep up with both relationships after we were married. His mom even tried to talk me into keeping up appearances for everyones benefit. She said that I needed to forgive and forget. I so dodged the intended bullet!"

"He did marry the other girl, and they divorced after a couple of years and two kids. I met my current husband six months after I called off my wedding, and he and I have been together for 26 years."

Anonymous, New York

Klaus Vedfelt / Getty Images

7. "He shat in the wedding cake. I wish I were kidding."

30, Maryland

Ivan / Getty Images

8. "We had been together for four years prior to this day. Never once did he talk about having a dom/sub relationship. My wedding day gift? A collar and a submissive contract for me to sign, the first line read: 'This is not an optional contract.' I immediately looked at my mom, had her help me out of my dress, and called my dad to get the car ready around the back."

"I left. My wonderful mother and her friends helped clear the venue. Haven't spoken to him since; he is married now, and it makes me sad to think what she is going through."

34, Texas

Prapass Pulsub / Getty Images

9. "At first, I was so excited that I found someone who I felt was my best friend and my match. Then, I started to noticed his mood changed, and he started to become more angry when he spoke to me at times. He became distant. When I confronted him about this change, I felt that I was being blamed for being too sensitive and that I was overreacting. Also, he was very secretive about his phone and where he would go. One night, it became too much for me, and I canceled the wedding."

"It felt liberating to do it and not have a date. That moment was a wake-up call for him. I'm an independent woman and professional. I refuse to allow anyone to make me feel that Im not worthy of proper communication. It was such a chore just to get him to talk without blowing up. He just doesn't know how to communicate in a relationship and doesn't have the emotional intelligence to be in a relationship without putting me down by blaming me for an argument when Im simply trying to have a conversation. There seemed to always be a blowup when I asked where he was after he was gone for several hours. I couldn't handle it anymore."

45, California

Studio4 / Getty Images

10. "He told me that he always kind of wanted to sleep with my sister and I at the same time. No thanks, I dont want to get involved with a guy like that for the rest of my life."

29, California

Marco Vdm / Getty Images

11. "Months before the wedding day we had been apartment hunting and when we found one we did the paperwork. A week before moving into the apartment he told me that he wasn't moving in with me because his mom still needed his financial help. The apartment was going to be under both of our names yet only I was expected to pay for it and he planned to visit me when he wanted to until he moved in after getting married. At that very moment, I gave the ring back to him and walked away."

34, San Francisco

Kali9 / Getty Images

12. "He wanted to wear a bucket hat to the wedding and wasnt taking no for an answer. Needless to say, I left and dont regret it."

41, Ireland

Jose Martinez / Getty Images

13. "I had to call mine off because the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with (or so I thought) decided to sit me down the night before and tell me all about the trysts and flings he had been having throughout our relationship together. He said if he doesn't come clean now, he wouldn't be able to live with himself. After the list was done, I was crying my eyes out. He said something along the lines of, 'Well, I didn't think you would take it THIS hard.' Seriously."

"We were going to have a huge wedding, even though I really didn't want a huge one (weird, I guess, but I never envisioned my wedding growing up like other little girls), so I had to call tons and tons of people and tell them it was off, listen to them try to console me over the phone, and crying every time I hung it up. He told me he didn't want to call anyone because he was so upset with me calling it off. He didn't want to see me ever again. That worked, because I found someone who actually loves me, and we have been married for three and a half years with a beautiful 2.5-year-old son. And he has never cheated on me. I never thought I could trust again, but I'm still slowly getting over that fear after all these years (It was 12 years ago)."

u/flipflop979

Delmaine Donson / Getty Images

14. "I was about to make a huge mistake. I realized my fiance was drinking too much, neglecting me emotionally, and was never actually there when I needed him (for example, a friend of mine died, and he didn't want to go with me to the funeral because he had a Magic: The Gathering tournament). I was marrying the completely wrong man, and thank god I realized it before it was too late and was brave enough to call it off."

"My family was super supportive, my super awesome grandmother took care of letting all the guests know. My dad had no problem with the money he lost in all the deposits. I gave my wedding cake to a homeless shelter since it was already paid for in full. Three years later, I married a wonderful man who is everything the first guy was not."

u/Sophie19

Sanneberg / Getty Images / iStockphoto

15. "My aunt just decided one hour before showing up to the city hall that she would not get married. My parents told me the guy was really nice but very boring (she is not). She never regretted it, though she felt bad for the guy. A couple of weeks later, she just decided to take a hitchhiking trip to Spain (from France), and she had a grand time. She was 20 or so."

"It took her 20 years to get her love life together in a satisfactory manner but at least, she didn't have to go through years of boredom and a painful divorce."

u/Tryingalways

Martin-dm / Getty Images

16. "I called off my wedding four days before the big day. Two of my bridesmaids (my best friend since high school and my cousin) got into a huge fight because they found out that he was sleeping with both of them. It was cheating within cheating and was easily the most surreal and heartbreakingly awful experience of my entire life."

u/throw_away_it

Azmanjaka / Getty Images

And finally...

17. "Its so hard to explain, but it felt like, in the night, everything, all the love I felt just fell apart as he slept, and I lay sleepless in our bed. It just crumbled and fell off and faded into nothing. I felt pained and frightened, but from a distance, if that makes sense. When the idea 'maybe I should leave him' formed in my head, my unease disappeared, but when I thought about why I shouldnt, it reassembled itself. I was so tired."

"I got out of bed, took a red-eye back to my hometown, and never looked back. I still see him in my dreams and my poems sometimes."

45, Vermont

Hitoshi Nishimura / Getty Images

Fellow brides, have you canceled your wedding on your wedding day (or right before)? Feel free to share your story in the comments below. Or, if you prefer to remain anonymous, you can use this Google form

Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Across all the territories that make up the Amazon regions, expectations are high. Between August 8 and 9, the presidents of the eight countries that each have part of the Amazon rainforest within their borders (along with some other associate leaders) will meet in Belem do Para, Brazil. They plan on issuing a crucial statement to the world, about how they plan to prevent this region from reaching a point of no return and further affecting the climate.

Its a political meeting, but also one thats vital for humanitys existence. Although the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (OTCA)  an intergovernmental body that these countries constitute  was created at the end of the 1970s, this will only be the fourth time the national leaders have met. For this reason, its expected that after the declaration is released, the ACTO will also be strengthened in the international context. In fact, the results of this summit will be taken to the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly  which is set to be held in September  and to the UN Conference on Climate Change (COP28), which will take place in the United Arab Emirates in early December.

EL PAIS takes a look at the state of six of the eight Amazon countries that will be represented at the summit in Brazil.

Brazil: a renewed vision of the Amazon

The summit  conceived by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva  is a golden opportunity for Brazil to display its new vision of the Amazon to the world. This comes after years of climate change denial and accelerated deforestation by former President Jair Bolsonaro. President Lula has made his promise to achieve zero deforestation by 2030 one of the key elements of his foreign policy. In recent months, he has managed to get countries like Germany and Norway to, once again, contribute funds to the preservation of the biome. New Indigenous lands have also been demarcated, environmental police and controls have been increased in the Brazilian countryside, and a tough battle has been waged to expel thousands of garimpeiros (illegal gold prospectors) from Yanomami Indigenous territory, along the border with Venezuela.

In June, the Brazilian government updated the national plan to combat deforestation, which, in the 2000s, achieved notable results against illegal logging. The turnaround in environmental policy is beginning to be noticed: in the first half of this year, deforestation in the Amazon fell by 34%, with 1,022 square miles of jungle being saved. The preliminary data  captured with satellite images  will have to be confirmed at a later date, although this would imply that a downward trend started at the beginning of 2023.

Bolivia: deforestation and rising mercury levels

Bolivias Amazonian territory  which covers 8.1% of the total Amazon, or more than 2.7 million square miles  faces numerous problems. A major one is the growing presence of illegal mining, in which mercury is used to extract gold from rivers that supply water to Indigenous and peasant communities, putting their health and integral development at risk. Added to this is deforestation: in 2022, nearly one million acres of virgin forests were destroyed, 32% more than in 2021, according to a study by Global Forest Watch. The platform estimates that Bolivia is the country that loses the most virgin forests worldwide, along with Brazil.

The government of Bolivia has announced that, at the summit, it will propose a mechanism to bolster cooperation between presidents and Indigenous people, to overcome the risks that threaten the Amazon basin.

With this mechanism, [we will] strengthen integration and cooperation, to take on the challenges that the region faces, [so that we may use the available resources] to assume the responsibilities and multilateral international commitments that Bolivia is party to, stated Freddy Mamani, the Bolivian vice minister of foreign affairs.

Aerial view of a part of the Amazon rainforest. The summit of the Amazon countries will be held in the city of Belem, to promote a new development model that will attempt to end the cycle of destruction. Antonio Lacerda (EFE)

Colombia: Deforestation decreases and government proposes saying goodbye to oil

This year, the news was good for the Colombian Amazon. According to figures provided by the Ministry of Environment, deforestation fell drastically in the country between 2021 and 2022. On the one hand, for the entire Amazon region of Colombia  which includes the departments of Amazonas, Guaviare, Guainia and Vaupes, and part of the departments of Putumayo, Caqueta, Narino, Cauca, Meta and Vichada  the reduction in deforestation was 36% compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, in the Amazon arc  an area that includes parts of Guaviare, Caqueta, Meta and Putumayo, where logging has historically been concentrated  deforestation decreased by 26%.

With this encouraging scenario, Colombia is coming to the summit with several proposals. Some of these, according to Minister of Environment Susana Muhamad, are likely to end up in the final joint declaration made by the countries, such as including the importance of an Andean-Amazonian agenda, as well as the famous debt swap that President Gustavo Petro has spoken about on several occasions (which consists of protecting land in exchange for debt relief from the international community). However, Colombia has also presented a more controversial proposal  one that isnt necessarily supported by the other governments  regarding the prohibition of the exploration and exploitation of oil or fossil fuels in the Amazon. While there are still several doubts and barriers for this measure to become part of the final declaration, the minister of environment affirmed that Petros position is to encourage the Colombian congresspeople to [propose this legislation].

Ecuador: on the edge

The government of Ecuador will attend the Amazon summit with its days numbered. On August 20, Ecuadorians will go to the polls to choose a new president. Citizens will also have the option of voting yes or no on a referendum, which asks the voting-age population if it wishes to extract the crude oil reserves from block 43-ITT, or leave the resources underground. The site is located in the most biodiverse reserve in the world called Yasuni, within the Amazon.

This consultation could open the door for people to decide on other oil and mining projects that affect the Indigenous populations of the Amazon, who already suffer the consequences of cutting down and burning trees, river pollution, diseases, armed groups and community clashes. Meanwhile, the governments position has been to extract every last drop of profit from our oil as President Guillermo Lasso said in his address to the nation in 2022. While he is eligible for a second term, he is not standing as a candidate in the August elections.

However, Ecuador will go to the Amazon summit to propose just the opposite of this, asking that the entire region develop projects that seek the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, the ecological transition and the protection of forests from all types of contamination by plastics, according to Ecuadors Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The government will also be seeking cooperation from the other nations in attendance to contend with one of the most devastating phenomena in the Amazon basis: forest fires.

Peru: the presidents first trip abroad

If, in 2020, Peru reached its highest deforestation peak in the last two decades  with 500,000 acres of forest having been cleared that year  2022 further highlighted the seriousness of the matter. According to the Monitoring of the Andean Amazon Project (MAAP), the country lost 355,517 acres of primary forest last year, ranking third in the region, only behind Brazil and Bolivia.

Peru arrives at the summit with another warning sign: since 2020, 14 Indigenous leaders and environmental activists have been assassinated at the hands of drug traffickers, land traffickers and illegal miners. Its a very critical issue that reveals the vulnerability of those who protect our forests, said Yvette Sierra, a Peruvian journalist from the specialized media outlet Mongabay Latam. She will be covering the summit in Belem do Para.

The summit is also the first one abroad attended by President Dina Boluarte  the first female president of Peru  since she took office eight months ago, after receiving authorization from Congress. As she does not have a vice president to govern while she is away, the countrys Congress had to approve the trip, amid questions from certain opposition groups.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Ana Cecilia Gervasi has announced that the Peruvian government will present a proposal for an Amazon with a human face, while centering Indigenous people. For her part, Albina Ruiz, the minister of environment, has publicly warned of certain legislative initiatives being proposed in the Congress of Peru that could hurt Amazonian communities. One bill seeks to take away powers from her portfolio to enforce the Forest and Wildlife Law.

Venezuela: armed groups, illegal mining and human rights violations

Multiple armed groups, including guerrillas such as the ELN, illegal miners and criminal gangs control much of the Venezuelan Amazon, and they do so with the complicity of the countrys military, which engages in numerous illegal activities. This scenario is one of the greatest threats to the future of the ecosystem.

Three of the most violent municipalities in the country are in the south, in the state of Bolivar. Meanwhile, El Callao  the mining epicenter  has the highest homicide rate in the country. This situation has only worsened since the government of Nicolas Maduro established the Orinoco Mining Arc: a portion of land that is equivalent to 12% of the national territory, now fully dedicated to exploiting minerals.

Venezuela is experiencing an environmental crisis, with serious levels of deforestation, mercury contamination and loss of species. [These are issues] that the region must face in a coordinated manner, since any one country cannot simply take action alone, as it would only displace the problem, emphasized biologist Bibiana Sucre. Shes a member of the Amazon Georeferenced Socio-environmental Information Network, which is participating in the summit on the sidelines, as a part of civil society.

Venezuela has turned a blind eye to these problems for years. The crisis in the oil industry has forced the government to focus on mining. But since Maduro attended the COP27 last November, in Egypt, the issue has been incorporated into his rethoric. A few months ago, he ordered an operation to evict 25,000 people living in illegal mining camps from the Yapacana National Park, in the state of Amazonas. In July, Maduro declared that the advance of illegal mining has been destroying the Amazon of South America and Venezuela, heating up the narrative for the Amazon summit. However, despite this, the position of the Venezuelan government isnt clear. Attending the meeting is part of the Chavista leaders return to international forums, after a years-long diplomatic siege, imposed due to the democratic, economic and humanitarian crises in his country. The summit is key in Maduros search to access multilateral financing.

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Watkins Glen, New York, is great to visit in any season.

DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images

The Finger Lakes region in upstate New York is known for its stunning scenery, world-class wineries, and charming small towns. (It was even named one of the 50 best places to travel in 2022 by Travel + Leisure editors.) At the southern tip of Seneca Lake  the largest Finger Lake by volume  is a hidden gem for visitors looking to explore the outdoors: Watkins Glen.

While many head here to visit Watkins Glen State Park  known for its 19 waterfalls cascading hundreds of feet down a winding gorge  the area is equally popular for its wine. The Seneca Lake Wine Trail, in particular, is one of the three unique wine trails in the Finger Lakes region and features 25 wineries.

Bruce Murray, who owns Boundary Breaks Vineyard, told T+L that the local community is tight-knit and highly collaborative, which leads to a welcoming environment. Part of what makes coming to places like this feel different is that you can see the owner pouring wine themselves, Murray said. You can tell that people are committed, and they really care.

Whether you're looking for a relaxing getaway or a fast-paced adventure, Watkins Glen is a great central town to kick off your Finger Lakes adventure.

Courtesy of Idlwilde Inn

Best Hotels

For luxury accommodations in town, the Idlwilde Inn is an 18-room retreat set in a renovated 1892 historic Victorian house. Less than half a mile away, the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel offers a stay right on the lake, with many rooms featuring waterfront balconies. Be sure to ask about their special package deal for the 2024 solar eclipse. (This upstate town is set to sparkle even more during the celestial event.)



A unique option is Grist Iron Brewery, which has an on-site guest house called the Farmhouse. It can accommodate up to 16 people and has a huge deck that boasts picturesque views of the sunset over the lake. Plus, it puts you within walking distance of the great beer and BBQ right up the hill at the brewery.

More of a wine lover? Glenora Wine Cellars has an inn offering stunning views of surrounding vineyards and easy access to the winery on the property.

There are a number of local bed-and-breakfasts sprinkled along Seneca Lake as well. And for more hotel options, check out the nearby town of Ithaca  it has several larger hotels and is only a 30-minute drive from Watkins Glen.

Peter Unger/Getty Images

Things to Do

While Watkins Glen itself is quite small, the real sights to behold are found in the surrounding natural beauty of the Finger Lakes. Watkins Glen State Park offers a full day (or more) of activities, including an Olympic-sized pool, tours through the gorge in the summer, campsites, picnic areas, and more. On its two-mile Gorge Trail, which is open seasonally, travelers will wind over and under waterfalls, through the spray of Cavern Cascade.

Seneca Lake is also a great spot to fish, or, for those more interested in swimming, a visit to the lakefront Watkins Glen Beach or Sampson State Park Beach is a refreshing way to spend the day.

Wineries are a top activity for many visiting Watkins Glen  charting a course along the wine trail is a surefire way to taste some of the regions best wines while taking in the beautiful surrounding views. The history of wine being made near Seneca Lake can be traced back to the mid-1800s. Some great wineries include Wagner, J.R. Dill, Damiani, and, of course, Murrays Boundary Breaks Vineyard.

Murray's hope is that visitors interested in Finger Lakes wine will expand their palettes beyond the riesling wines the area is best known for. People think red wines arent very good in the Finger Lakes, and for many years they werent. But thats changing, Murray told T+L. If youre on a wine tour and you want to get to know the best red wines in the Finger Lakes, you should try cabernet franc.

But there's more to the region than wine, according to Murray. People come to this region for the wine and craft beverage community, he said. We have beer, we have cider, we have distilled spirits, and within an hour of Watkins Glen, there are probably 100 choices.

If you're a racing enthusiast, be sure to check out Watkins Glen International, an automobile race track. This historic raceway has hosted numerous national and international events, including the United States Grand Prix.



The nearby Corning Museum of Glass is also a highlight for visitors of all ages. With glassmaking demonstrations, exhibitions, and galleries, plus kids and family programs, the museum is a top tourist destination and is only 25 minutes from Watkins Glen by car.

Best Restaurants

For an upscale dining experience, try the Blue Pointe Grill. This waterfront restaurant offers fresh seafood and steak dishes and stunning views of Seneca Lake. The Elf In The Oak is a highly rated local sandwich shop with covered patio seating.

Many wineries and breweries in the area offer tasting menus and local snacks. For a fun lunch while out wine tasting, try F.L.X. Wienery for gourmet hot dogs. Near Watkins Glen, Ithaca has a number of great restaurants, including Moosewood, a popular vegetarian spot.

aimintang/Getty Images

Best Time to Visit

Watkins Glen is a great year-round destination. In summer, the warm temperatures mean more nature trails and parks are open  but this also can draw larger crowds. The fall brings the harvest season and cooler temperatures, while spring sees the waterfalls surge back to life after the snowmelt. Winter, while cold, is also beautiful, with frozen lakes and cozy cideries.

The Finger Lakes Wine Festival takes place annually in July at Watkins Glen International, and it features samples from almost 100 New York state wineries and food vendors.



How to Get There

There are several airports in the Watkins Glen region, including Elmira/Corning Regional Airport and Ithaca Tompkins International Airport  both are about 30 minutes away by car. The largest nearby airport is Syracuse Hancock International Airport, which has more frequent flights and is about a 1.5-hour drive from Watkins Glen.

The drive to Watkins Glen is about 4.5 hours from New York City. It's also possible to take a train or bus to the Finger Lakes area, with both Amtrak and Greyhound offering service to larger cities. Trains run through Syracuse and Rochester, and buses stop in Corning and Ithaca.

How to Get Around

Having a car in this area is most convenient for exploring everything the Finger Lakes offers, especially getting to Watkins Glen itself. While rideshares are sometimes available, keep in mind the area is fairly rural and service might be limited.

While there are no car rental locations directly in Watkins Glen, renting a car from your arrival airport is easy, with major companies (like Avis, Budget, and Hertz) at the airports.

For larger groups looking to take on the Finger Lakes wine trail, there are also plenty of bus and shuttle companies that can safely drive your group to different wineries or other craft beverage stops. Make sure to check each winerys group policy before arrival. You can find recommended transportation services from the Finger Lakes Wine Country Tourism Association, the Seneca Lake Wine Trail, or the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance.

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Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.
Homepage image: As its name suggests, Dedons Mbrace collection of indoor-outdoor furnishings is designed to envelope the seater and is supremely comfortable with or without cushions | Courtesy of Dedon

Partnership |

By Siobhan McGowan

For Dedon, home is outdoors. Since its founding in 1990, the Luneburg, Germanyheadquartered company has explored the aesthetic and performance possibilities of luxury outdoor furnishings. By applying artisanal weaving techniques to its innovative extruded fiber and collaborating with international design talents on visionary collections, the brand creates elegant modern products that dont just celebrate life outsidethey transform it.

Developed in partnership with award-winning German designer Sebastian Herkner, the Mbrace series exemplifies the best of Dedons offerings and has become one of its most popular lines. Intricately interwoven in a distinctive meshlike triaxial pattern, eminently comfortable with or without cushions and economically proportioned on either a warm teakwood or smooth powder-coated aluminum base, the weatherproof, wide-backed seating provides an enveloping embrace. In fact, Herkner himself often retreats to his own daybed for an afternoon catnap on the terrace. Like all of Dedons portfolio, the luxurious yet laid-back Mbrace family is hand-woven in the Philippines by master artisans, who bring generations of tradition to every gesture. Business of Home editor in chief Kaitlin Petersen spoke with Herkner about his profound respect for craftsmanship, meticulous approach to color palettesand newfound appreciation of local produce.

Business of Home editor in chief Kaitlin Petersen in conversation with product designer and Dedon creative partner Sebastian Herkner about his furniture collaborations with the company - Photo Credit Courtesy of Joe U Photo

Kaitlin Petersen: How did your partnership with Dedon begin?

Sebastian Herkner: Dedon is one of my longest-term partners. We worked on the Mbrace collection for almost three years [prior to its debut in 2016]. They invited me to their factory close to the headquarters in Hamburg, where they originate their fiber, and we had a nice conversation. Thats always the starting point: meeting the people and looking behind the scenes to understand whats typical for the company. For Dedon, thats their patented fiber. They have seven huge machines extruding it like pasta. Then they ship it to the Philippines, where weavers do their magic.

Dedon is more than 30 years old, and founder Bobby Dekeyser began by using rattan and bamboo for outdoor pieces, but those materials are not weather-resistant [for] autumn and winter in Europe. Eventually he came up with this specific fiber. Id never made a plastic product before, and Id never use plastic for an indoor chair, but here it really makes sense because the products have a 10-year guarantee for all weather conditions. In a desert, in the tundra, neither heat nor snow, sun nor rain can damage them. [My husband and I] have had Mbrace on our terrace for six years already and the colors stay true.

Dedon was impressed by the way I work with colors, which is why they asked me to collaborate. They wanted to bring some new colorways to the brand.

We started with the idea for the design: OK, Dedon has a lot of big cubic sofas. Lets do something complementary. Lets take indoor [styles], like a daybed, a rocking chair, a high-back chair, a low-back chair, and create them for outdoors. Mbrace was the first line to use extruded fiber and teakwood together, and its an interesting balance, combining synthetic and natural materials.

Concept design was in Luneburg, but product development was in Cebu. I went on-site because I was curious to see how the items were made. Theyd ship the prototypes back to Germany for review.

Petersen: How did seeing the weaving capabilities in person change the product design?

Herkners Mbrace series features a meshlike tricolor weave of Dedons innovative performance fiber that is durable, stylish and supportive - Photo Credit Courtesy of Dedon

Herkner: We started with a cardboard model, followed by an aluminum frame. And then we developed the Mbrace weave with three colors: orange, blue and purple, for example. They mix together, almost becoming a new color. And I wanted to have an open weave so you would feel the air filtering through and hear the birds around you. But this took a while! The weavers begin with hundreds of meters of fiberthey look like my hair in the morning, going in every which direction. And they have to weave them so precisely that all the pieces look the same. There are maybe 100 weavers [at the facility in Cebu], and [each person] works two or three days on one chair. I tried it once for 10 minutes and was like, Oh, my God, I cannot weave one minute more.

Petersen: You mentioned shying away from plastic in most applications. What opportunities did the material allow you here?

Herkner: The great advantage is that you can work with all kinds of colors and its fade-resistant. Dedon has its own testing lab, and we tried different combinations. The red was not quite right at first; it faded. So they changed the ingredients and the composition to extrude a darker tone of red, and then it was stable. Dedon tests all the fibers over half a year in the lab with seawater, wind, sunshinethats the best way to get a long-lasting product. Its also about sustainability. Dedon gets copied a lot [by big-box home goods stores], but those products last two years and then the fiber starts to crack or the color begins to fade. I always say design is an investment, like an artwork or an apartment or a classic car. Something cheap or damaged, youll just throw it away.

Petersen: Thinking about your experiments with color, how did you land on the combinations that you did?

Herkner: We began with Mbrace in three colorways. There was a red, a blue and a more mineral one. A pepper, too, which is a bestseller. Its like producing textileswe do several swatches and samples. Then we add new color combinations based on feedback: Oh, the Florida market prefers white? We did a sea salt combination, which is more or less three white fibers together. We did a chestnut variation for another market. When you weave the different colored fibers, the effect can be completely unexpected. You cannot really simulate it in Photoshop. You need to see it.

Petersen: Is this a traditional weaving technique? You prototype the weave pattern?

Herkner: The pattern we create in our studio. Then the weavers in Cebu translate it into a tactile, dimensional shape.

Petersen: Youre also assigning each color to a position in the weave, correct? Does that change how it looks?

Herkner: Completely. If the diagonal fibers are now brown and the horizontal ones are now light, it changes the effect completely.

Petersen: Even if youre working with the same colors but in different positions?

The Mbrace dining chair is available in multiple colorways with either a powder-coated aluminum or natural teakwood base - Photo Credit Courtesy of Dedon

Herkner: Exactly. It completely changes the character of the chair. And then you have the powder coating. Recently, we introduced an aluminum base that is die-cast in one piece specifically for the Mbrace dining chair. Thinking about cruise ships and other hospitality spaces, some [customers] want their own color combinationsmaybe a green powder-coated base with a pepper weave, or a terra cotta one with brown fibers. We now offer more than 70 combinations of base material, furniture type and fiber colorway.

Petersen: The hand is so special.

Herkner: Crafted treasures, crafted emotions, crafted storiesthats whats important. Just imagine Venice without glass. Germany, Japan, England: Every country has its own way of shaping a material. And often, craftsmanship is passed down; its in the DNA. I dont know if we will have craftspeople in 20 years, but theyre so important for interiors, architecture, furniture and fashion design. Not 3D printing done by robot. No, its made by a human being, a pair of hands. So I try to be an ambassador for craftsmanship because they are the real heroes.

Petersen: With the surge in demand for outdoor furniture through the pandemic, are people living with these products differently now?

Herkner: I think they appreciate them more. There are still a lot of people working from home. Companies try to get them back to the office. They dont want to go. I take my nap in my own Mbrace daybed in the afternoon sometimes, and its comfortable and beautiful with or without pillows, which is unique for outdoor furniture. You can work in the chair, chill, have conversations. Its uses are quite universal.

Petersen: What does the design process look like to achieve that feeling of being embraced, as its name suggests?

Herkner: Well, weaving is tricky, because you cannot do all the shapes. The more aluminum [thats used for the framework], the [more the] price goes up. More welding, more pillowsthe price goes up. You cannot do completely wild organic shapes without a complicated internal structure to support it. So it was important to have a frame in the studio to start weaving or gluing cardboard on top of in order to create the curvature and shape the surfaces. And then go to the Philippines for the actual prototypes.

The biggest privilege is to travel. Before the pandemic, I was traveling like crazy. Then suddenly I had time to go to the local farmers market to buy my vegetables and meat. It changed the way I think about where products come from. If you have good ingredients, you cook in a different way. A chef is similar to a designer: You need the right ingredients, the right tools, ideas, fantasy, experience to create a nice dish.

Petersen: How does fantasy and inspiration play into your work?

Precisely hand-woven by artisans in the Philippines, the Mbrace collection can withstand all kinds of weather without fading - Photo Credit Courtesy of Dedon

Herkner: During Covid, it was fantastic just to travel around Germany to places Id never been before. You take hundreds of pictures to help find the right story [for a collection]. And you need the right partner, like Dedon. Without a strong partner, youre left with a lot of stories or sketches in your desk drawer.

My father was an electrician, my mother a nurse. We had a great life, but it was nothing fancy. It was not, Tomorrow we jet off to Mexico! For vacations, we went camping in France. Even though shes not religious, my mother loves churches. Two weeks camping meant 50 different church visits to see the beauty of the architecture, the stained-glass windows. Back then, I would have rather gone to the beach. But now I realize it may be the foundation of my career.

The first time I flew outside of Europe was for work. And then Dedon invited me to the Philippines. Id never even been to a Filipino restaurant. Id never had sushi. I invited my parents to New York, and next year Ill take them to Copenhagen, to give something back, because now I can.

Petersen: How did your upbringing shape your idea of what an object should be in a home?

Herkner: It needs to tell a story and support its owner; it needs to serve them as long as possible. It needs to be functional. But in the end, it needs to be beautiful. Sometimes its love at second sight: If you fall in love with something or understand it immediately, sometimes you forget it just as easily. Sometimes its good or brave to swim against the tide, create something different that people will discuss and interact with and think about after. And I dont care if people dont like a product [I designed]. If everyone likes it, maybe its not a good product.

Petersen: With Mbrace, what felt like this kind of risk?

Herkner: I heard a lot from the dealer side about the proportions because Dedon products are usually big. But I said, Come on, think about urban living, the balconies of skyscrapers in New York or Frankfurt. You want the same comfort, the same quality, so lets do smaller chairs. Because the future is vertical cities. Just look at The Line, this crazy project in Saudi Arabia. They will have small balconies. Its not about massive sofas.

Petersen: And youve been proven correct: The Mbrace collection is so popular.

Herkner: The nicest aspect of social media is seeing people [using Mbrace] or getting a message: Weve loved your chair for a couple of years, and now weve finally got our own, or We saved up money to afford one. I love those. I think design is the best of all worlds, with nice surroundings and nice people.

Petersen: Its true.

Herkner: I cannot think of a better job. Maybe chef. I do like cookies.

Among Herkners many other designs for Dedon are his Loon floor lamps and Mbarq daybed - Photo Credit Courtesy of Dedon

This story is a paid promotion and was created in partnership with Dedon.

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In a pioneering effort to enhance diversity and inclusivity within the travel industry, Expedia has joined forces with Green Book Global. The two company are introducing the inaugural Green Book Global Black Travel Review Month initiative. This partnership marks a significant step towards fostering representation and equity within the realm of travel.

Through this partnership, Expedia and Green Book Global aim to amplify the voices of Black travelers. They also are setting a precedent for an industry that values and embraces diversity.

At the heart of Green Book Globals mission lies a commitment to empowering Black travelers. Established in 2018, the platform enables Black travelers to share their firsthand experiences through the lens of Traveling While Black. It offers valuable insights to fellow community members. These reviews aid prospective travelers in making informed decisions about their destinations. They also serve as a catalyst for nurturing safe and inclusive travel experiences.

Expedia to Promote Diversity and Inclusion in the Travel Industry

Lawrence Phillips, the visionary CEO and founder of Green Book Global, underscores the importance of this endeavor.

Diversity and inclusion are essential in the travel industry, Phillips said. The Traveling While Black section on the platform gives Black travelers the insight they need to make an informed decision about where they will travel and how they will be treated once they arrive.

Lawrence Phillips, CEO and founder of Green Book Global | Photo Credit: Green Book Global

Expedia and Green Book Global meticulously curated a selection of top-rated and founder-recommended destinations. The Traveling While Black score, a hallmark of this initiative, is a culmination of candid anecdotes. Black travelers shed light on their experiences, and gauge the warmth and hospitality extended by locals.

Among the top-rated destinations, Dakar, Senegal, Panama City, Panama, New Orleans, London and the Bahamas emerge as shining examples of places that have received glowing reviews from Black travelers. These destinations are welcoming and offer enriching experiences for visitors from all walks of life.

In addition to the top-rated locations, the list includes Accra in Ghana, Johannesburg in South Africa, Portimao in Portugal, Marrakech in Morocco and Oak Bluffs in Marthas Vineyard. These destinations, handpicked by the founder, embody the essence of inclusive and culturally enriching travel.
As dozens of Italian towns sell off old houses on the cheap, foreigners who rush to grab one are often in search of a year-round sunshine spot, a vacation retreat, or just to live their Italian dream.

But one American family has done it to start a new life far from the United States.

In 2019, the Dawkins family  Nadine, 59, her husband, Kim, 61, and their children Lorenzo, 29, and DeNae, 27  bought a charming home in the town of Latronico. In the southern region of Basilicata, the town of 4,000 inhabitants is located within the pristine Pollino National Park and surrounded by hot springs.

They got excited after reading CNNs article about Latronicos initiative to sell cheap houses that are already inhabitable, rather than ruins for one euro, or a little over a dollar. The town advertises available properties on a dedicated website.

Reading the article at her home in El Paso, Texas, Nadine Dawkins, a retired former soldier and businesswoman, felt the pull of her ancestry.

Her great-great-grandfather was Italian and came to America in the 19th century.

After hearing my nonnas stories, I always felt a connection to Italy, she tells CNN Travel.

As a soldier stationed in the region many years later, I vowed to return. Years more, my husband and I brought our children over to see where they hailed from.

Her Italian ancestor took on an American name when he landed in the States: Clint Jeffrey. Nadine doesnt know much about her great-great-grandmother, Lucinda, who was an enslaved woman on an Arkansas plantation when Jeffrey bought her, and lived out the rest of his days with her, she says.

Unfortunately, I have no additional information about Lucinda. All I know is that she was a slave, and he purchased her. My grandmother and great-grandmother never told me anything else about her. I believe it was because of such atrocities that slavery, and the memories of it had on them; because of course being born in the 1800s and early 1900s was a hard time for all Black people in America.

Nadine and Kim Dawkins plan to move to Italy. - Nadine Dawkins

The family decided they wanted to leave the US in 2020, following the murder of George Floyd.

[It] showed the world how we as Black people in America have been treated for centuries, says Nadine.

All the racism, all the divisiveness, all the hate that the last administration brought to the forefront has caused an exodus from America of Black people who have the means to do so, she says.

Basically, police brutality towards Black people, mass shootings from domestic terrorists, and just the overall hate in this country is why we are leaving the USA.

Their move follows Nadines 30-year career in the military, while Kim Dawkins works for the US government.

The family will be shortly moving to Panama before taking the final leap across the Atlantic to Latronico.

Nadine doesnt know where exactly her ancestor hailed from, but snapping up one of Latronicos cheap homes seemed like a good way to reconnect with her roots.

I was up in the middle of the night during Covid, with lots of time to read, when I came across the CNN story. Immediately we sent an email to the deputy mayor Vincenzo Castellano and looked at properties online.

We didnt expect it  he contacted us the very next day. We set up a video call, he sent us a video of our selected home. That sealed our fate: We bought the house sight unseen, without going to Italy, she recalls.

When somethings right, its right

Their Latronico home was ready to move into. - casalatronica.eu

The Dawkins are grateful they found a dream team in Latronico  Castellano and his assistant Mariangela Tortorella  who helped them navigate the sales process, and found local firms to restyle and furnish their home.

In fact, they trusted Castellano  who launched the housing scheme  so much that they handed him power of attorney for all technical issues, as well as the translation of the purchase deed into English.

Their house in Latronicos historic quarter required little renovation to fit their needs, although the exterior got a fresh coat of paint.

The three-story home belonged to an upper crust villager, as Nadine describes the woman, who had elegantly decorated it with pieces of antique furniture.

The former owner left two beds, a wardrobe and trinkets including porcelain cups.

The family added two bathrooms, since all old houses in Latronico just have one. There are two bedrooms, a kitchen which they enlarged into a huge dining room, and an underground cellar.

Bug screens were added to all the windows, and the panoramic balconies overlooking the main church were spruced up to better enjoy morning espresso and evening aperitivo.

We picked it immediately and started the paperwork  when something is right its right. No hiccups, says Nadine.

The property deeds were signed in 2021, and the total final cost for the house was 42,000 euros ($46,700).

The pair barely needed to do any renovations. - casalatronica.eu

Vincenzos team made the whole process very easy. I trust them with my life and call them my nephews. If theres any issue, I can rely on them, she says. The family has hired Castellano as their property manager.

Doing it all alone would have been tough.

On my own I could see the issues I would have run into  for instance, the language barrier. They acted as spearheads.

Nadine wants to boost language exchange by teaching English to local youths once she moves to Latronico, and aims to help put the village more on the map.

We love the people, she says. Weve never met one single mean person, everyone offers coffee. One day we met a villager in a store and became like best friends  he took us to his house for espresso, even though I dont even drink coffee.

Building a new life

Kim and his wife Nadine plan to apply for an elective residence visa. - Nadine Dawkins

During visits, the Dawkins have appreciated the slower-paced lifestyle, sitting at the front door and watching people stroll by or listening to cats fighting in the otherwise silent alleys.

For now, they plan to spend six months a year in Italy (using the 90 days in every 180 days rule that non-EU citizens must abide by) then apply for a permanent elective residency visa which requires a certain annual amount of passive income. The rest of their time will be spent in Panama.

Ultimately they want to acquire Italian citizenship.

Clint Jeffrey was Dawkins' Italian ancestor. - Nadine Dawkins

Once in Italy, Nadine hopes to be able to start tracking down the real identity and origins of her Italian ancestor. She has no clue where exactly in Italy he came from but keeps an old photo of him in a thick wooden frame.

Of Lucinda  whose last name must have been the name of the plantation she was enslaved at, Nadine believes  she says that Black American history has been lost or eradicated from American culture.

We need to get out of America, so we leave. The US is a divided and a very divisive country, voting rights are being rolled back and Black history is undone. Im tired, says Nadine.

Kim, meanwhile, says that the only challenge in Latronico was overcoming language barriers, and getting used to the isolation.

People are patient for me to use my translator each time, and the village is remote so you really need a vehicle to move around beyond the places within walking distance, he says.

But the great thing is that even at night you can leave the keys in the door. Its a quiet, safe place that gives peace of mind.

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Enrique Olvera found his way when he allowed himself the freedom to play around with the Mexican cuisine he champions on the world stage.

Araceli Paz







Enrique Olvera and the Lesson of the Apple Trees

Welcome to Season 1, Episode 8 of Tinfoil Swans, a new podcast from Food & Wine. New episodes drop every Tuesday. Listen and follow on: Apple Podcasts, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, TuneIn.







On this episode

Picture Enrique Olvera in your mind and there's a good chance that he's moving across it in a Chef's Table glow, making the mole and tostadas and other dishes that made his flagship Mexico City restaurant Pujol into a global destination and landed it on Food & Wine's Global Tastemakers list for 10 Best International Restaurants. He expanded his reach into New York with Cosme in 2014 and Atla in 2017, and then Los Angeles in 2020 with Damian, and this year, he's adding more to the roster with Atla in Venice Beach and Tacos Atla in Brooklyn.

Olvera is a chef's chef; the biggest names in the culinary world plan trips to Mexico City specifically around their Pujol reservations and flock to his restaurants on America's coasts because he's got so much to teach them about the beauty and bounty of a cuisine that has long been undervalued outside of its country of origin. He has been at this for a long time now  Pujol opened in 2000  and it hasn't always been easy, but the two things he has never doubted are Mexican cuisine, and the people who devote their lives to making it. In this episode, Olvera delves into what keeps him going, how he shares this motivation and passion and energy with the people he trusts to keep such a big empire alive, and the beauty of taking some time to sweat  in a good way.



Related: The Best Places to Eat and Drink in Mexico City, According to Our Readers

Meet our guest

Enrique Olvera is the chef founder of the Casamata group of restaurants, including the internationally renowned Pujol in Mexico City, Cosme and Atla in New York City, Tacos Atla in Brooklyn, Damian in Loa Angeles, and Atla in Venice Beach. Olvera has been profiled on the Netflix show Chef's Table, as well as appearing on The Final Table, Ugly Delicious, and Somebody Feed Phil. He is the author of Tu Casa Mi Casa: Mexican Recipes for the Home Cook and Mexico from the Inside Out.

Related: 6 of Enrique Olvera's Best Mexican Recipes

Meet our host

Kat Kinsman is executive features editor at Food & Wine, author of Hi, Anxiety: Life With a Bad Case of Nerves, host of Food & Wine's podcast, and founder of Chefs With Issues. Previously, she was the senior food & drinks editor at Extra Crispy, editor-in-chief and editor at large at Tasting Table, and the founding editor of CNN Eatocracy. She won a 2020 IACP Award for Personal Essay/Memoir and has had work included in the 2020 and 2016 editions of The Best American Food Writing. She was nominated for a James Beard Broadcast Award in 2013, won a 2011 EPPY Award for Best Food Website with 1 million unique monthly visitors, and was a finalist in 2012 and 2013. She is a sought-after international keynote speaker and moderator on food culture and mental health in the hospitality industry, and is the former vice chair of the James Beard Journalism Committee.

Related: Padma Lakshmi Is Stepping Into Her Power and It Is 'Exhilarating'

Advice from the episode

Being high-minded

Food can actually make you feel like a better person. I remember walking out of the restaurant and just being, like, literally high from the food.



Finding my people

When I told most of my friends that I wanted to be a chef, everybody was really intrigued because nobody was a chef in Mexico. Back then, nobody chose that as a career path. Cooking chose you, you didn't choose cooking. I remember walking in just seeing so many people dressed in whites and feeling like, "OK, I'm not the weirdo anymore. There's so many people like me and that have the same interest." Most people in Mexico back then were either engineers or lawyers or architects, but I did feel immediately that sense of belonging.



Rising to the occasion

Because there was this huge movement in American cuisine, I always felt inside of me that this can be done in Mexico, because we have such a rich culture and such depth in our cuisine that it seemed natural. I was fortunate enough to move to Mexico right after working in Chicago and to be completely honest, when we started cooking at Pujol, most of the techniques were French because that's what I learned. That's what I knew. We did use some Mexican ingredients, but we were more concerned about creativity than actually rising Mexican cooking. It took us probably four or five years to realize that that was something that we can contribute to creating a new style of Mexican cooking instead of just having a good restaurant where you could eat deliciously.



Finding my voice

When I was at the Culinary Institute of America, I thought being a good cook meant following recipes to a T and being able to execute them perfectly. That was being a good cook. And then, I think when Ferran [Adria] became such a huge figure in the industry, being a good cook started to look more like being cultured, and being creative, and thinking outside of the box, and making people taste something that they've never tasted before instead of just tasting over and over the same thing. So to me, that license was super important because in a way, it also gave me license to start playing with Mexican food and that's where I felt more comfortable. As soon as we started playing with Mexican food, I also started showing more of myself.



Looking back and seeing ahead

In cooking when you feel like you're doing something new, you always realize there's nothing that new. I remember when I was in advanced cooking at the CIA, they asked us to create our own recipe. I remember doing a barley soup with saffron, and I thought it was very creative. And then a few years later, I found a very similar recipe in a medieval book. Not only was it not new, it was super old. I think that's something that we've also let go in the past few years in Pujol  like having that urge to create something new and just try to create something that is close to you. Authentic in the sense that it comes from you, and it doesn't matter if it's new or not really. As long as it's delicious and it represents the way you approach cooking, I think that's good enough for me now at least.



About the podcast

Food & Wine has led the conversation around food, drinks, and hospitality in America and around the world since 1978. Tinfoil Swans continues that legacy with a new series of intimate, informative, surprising, and uplifting interviews with the biggest names in the culinary industry, sharing never-before-heard stories about the successes, struggles, and fork-in-the-road moments that made these personalities who they are today.

Each week, you'll hear from icons and innovators like Guy Fieri, Padma Lakshmi, David Chang, Mashama Bailey, Enrique Olvera, Maneet Chauhan, Shota Nakajima, Antoni Porowski, and other special guests going deep with host Kat Kinsman on their formative experiences; the dishes and meals that made them; their joys, doubts and dreams; and what's on the menu in the future. Tune in for a feast that'll feed your brain and soul  and plenty of wisdom and quotable morsels to savor.

New episodes drop every Tuesday. Listen and follow on: Apple Podcasts, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, TuneIn.

These interview excerpts have been edited for clarity.

Download the Transcript

Editors Note: The transcript for download does not go through our standard editorial process and may contain inaccuracies and grammatical errors.

For more Food & Wine news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on Food & Wine.
Greece is taking a compassionate approach to support tourists whose vacations were marred by the devastating wildfires that raged on the beautiful island of Rhodes in July. The Greek government announced on Wednesday that it will offer a week-long complimentary stay in Rhodes in 2024.

The fires, which erupted on July 18 in central Rhodes and spread due to strong winds, wreaked havoc on the eastern and southern coast. This caused extensive damage to homes and hotels, and forced an evacuation of more than 20,000 people.

Tourism plays a pivotal role in Greeces economic resurgence, since it emerged from a crippling debt crisis in 2018. Rhodes is a beloved destination for those seeking solace in its sun-kissed shores.

Prime Minister Assures Safety

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis acknowledged the severity of the wildfires impact during an interview with Britains ITV. He stated that approximately 15 percent of Rhodes was affected by the disaster. However, he assured the public that the situation was under control and life on the island has returned to normal.

To alleviate the inconvenience experienced by tourists, the Greek government aims to entice them back to Rhodes. Prime Minister Mitsotakis announced that travelers can redeem a complimentary week-long holiday on the island. Those trips can be during the spring or fall of 2024. This gesture expresses Greeces commitment to preserving its allure as a cherished destination. It also ensures that visitors can once again relish the islands natural beauty.

In light of the recent wildfires and the broader context of climate change, Prime Minister Mitsotakis acknowledged that such blazes have become more intense and frequent in the Mediterranean region. This pressing concern underscores the need for greater environmental awareness and initiatives to safeguard the landscapes that draw visitors from across the globe.

The Damage

According to Greek authorities initial assessment, the Rhodes wildfires caused damage to 45 buildings on the island. As the nation grapples with the aftermath, the resilience of its people and their determination to protect their landmarks shines through.

In extending this generous offer of free stays, Greece demonstrates its commitment to standing with its tourists during challenging times. While also showcasing the indomitable spirit that defines this iconic destination. As the world faces an increasingly uncertain climate, Greeces response serves as a beacon of hope. It is also a reminder of the power of empathy and unity in times of crisis.
At Kann, Gourdet offers a deeply personal interpretation of Haitian cuisine.

Jose Mandojana Gregory Gourdet

"The griyo took five years to dial in," chef Gregory Gourdet says to me in a small office above his restaurant, Kann. Its early afternoon, and the building on Ash Street in Portland, Oregon, is buzzing with team members getting ready for that evenings dinner service: line cooks eating a family meal of pasta and salad, managers printing menus for review, servers polishing glassware and setting up the dining room. Despite the activity going on around us, Gourdet is calm, almost quiet, as he tells me about the most popular dish on Kanns menu.

Griyo is the kind of dish that takes multiple tries to do correctly, Gourdet informs me. Deceptively simple, it consists of luscious, crispy-edged pork pieces made by roasting the pork with aromatics and then frying it. Cook the pork too long, and youre left with mushy pieces that wont hold up to frying; not long enough, and youll get chewy pork that isnt properly rendered. Considered by some to be the national dish of Haiti, griyo (also spelled griot) is typically served with rice and pikliz, Haitis all-purpose pickled cabbage condiment, each component bringing its own texture to the dish. At Kann, Gourdets griyo is an explosion of color: tender, dark mahoganycolored lacquered pork pieces served alongside bright green avocado slices, golden fried plantains, and a fluorescent-pink pikliz. Its a visually playful take thats still recognizable to those who know the classic version  and most importantly, its delicious. It was really important to me to get that right, he says.

For Gourdet, learning to get it right is a theme of the lifelong journey that culminated in the 2022 opening of Kann, his much-acclaimed wood-fire-focused restaurant and culinary love letter to Haiti. In Kanns open kitchen, Gourdet and his team turn out warm plantain brioche buns; greens cooked down with peanuts and coconut cream; north Pacific salmon served with stewed peppers. The menu is the accumulation of a life and career of experimentation eventually giving way to Gourdets own unique expression of what matters most to him that he can share with others.

JosA Mandojana Gourdet (middle) and friends (clockwise from right) Varanya Geyoonsawat, George Faux, Elsy Dinvil, and Fatou Ouattara sit down to a summer feast

Gourdet grew up on the East Coast, raised in Queens, New York, by his Haitian parents and by his grandmother, who lived in Newark, New Jersey. After church on Sundays, he, his parents, and his sister would go to his grandmothers house for Haitian dishes like chicken in Creole sauce, diri ak sos pwa (rice and stewed red kidney beans), and fried plantains, either green and starchy or sticky-sweet, on the side. Gourdet first planned to be a doctor, attending NYU for a while for pre-med classes, before ultimately getting a degree in French from the University of Montana. While working at a sandwich shop, he discovered that he loved feeding people and opted for culinary school, attending the Culinary Institute of America. Afterward, he worked at Jean-Georges in New York City, making his way up from line cook to chef de cuisine. He moved to Portland in 2008, eventually garnering acclaim at Departure, where he cooked fresh takes on pan-Asian cuisine. As the years went by, the Haitian dishes of his childhood became a well of inspiration that he yearned to draw from.

Related: The 'Top Chef' Guide to Portland

The name Kann comes from Gourdets memories of visiting Haiti as a child and of street vendors yelling out the Haitian Creole word for sugarcane. The idea for the restaurant solidified during Gourdets season of Top Chef: All Stars L.A., which filmed in 2019 and aired in 2020, after which Gourdet continued exploring Haitian cuisine through pop-ups in Portland. When I first spoke to him about Kann in late May 2020, it was clear that the concept was fully formed in his mind. He was set on serving Haitian food on his own terms sometime in 2021, he told me then. Im just so excited to have more time to plan. What we didnt know then was that protests, heightened racial tensions, and waves of pandemic-related lockdowns would disrupt those plans for the next two years.

Adding to the tumult, in 2021 Gourdet was also called to task by former coworkers for not doing enough to protect former employees from workplace discrimination and harassment while working as executive chef and culinary director at Departure in Portland and Denver, respectively. The experience, he says now, helped him see the ways in which he had to grow as a leader. At Kann, he decided, things would work differently. The old hospitality adage of leave your feelings at the door had to go, and employees had to know their voices would be heard. Collaboration became a guiding principle for Gourdet, and he sees it as a vehicle for every employee who works at Kann. Kann also uses a tipping model that distributes tips among the front and back of house, and all servers and cooks are paid the same hourly wage.

JosA Mandojana Gourdet and his friend chef Elsy Dinvil share a laugh while preparing Akra

His food is shaped by his life experience and makes sense when you look at his story, says JJ Goode, coauthor of Gourdets cookbook, Everyones Table. Hes at this lucky moment in his career where he can use this cuisine to tell his story, Goode says. His cuisine is his life.

Thats true outside of the restaurant, too. Gourdet spends many of his days off cooking for his chosen family, a circle of friends who are mostly in the hospitality industry as well. On a recent afternoon at a friends house outside the city, Gourdet prepared a dinner for writer and director George Faux; Fatou Ouattara and Elsy Dinvil, two chefs from Cote dIvoire and Haiti, respectively, who also call Portland home; and Varanya Geyoonsawat, Kanns chef de cuisine. Its nice to stop and take care of them for a bit, Gourdet says. He prepared steelhead trout rubbed with epis, roasted sweet plantains with a jolt of jerk seasoning, and a salad of pickled peaches, roasted tomatoes, and fresh berries. The menu was a personal rendition of Caribbean cuisine, presented through the lens of someone who has found home on the West Coast and was exploring himself and his cooking there.

In Portland, that can be challenging, says Dinvil. Her company, Creole Me Up, specializes in allergen-free Haitian condiments, and she has lived in Portland since 1999. To be a Haitian chef in the city requires constant teaching, she says. But compared to when I started, people have come far. She sees Kann as a stepping stone for more Haitian-owned and Caribbean-focused businesses in the area. At Kann, Gregory not only brought Haitian cuisine but also Haiti as a country so beautifully, she says.

JosA Mandojana Gourdet with his dinner party guests

Because a cuisine cannot be extracted from the culture of the people who produced it and the history that informs it, Gourdet brought in Bertrhude Albert, an expert on Haitian history, to talk to his team about the background of certain dishes and ingredients in Haitian cuisine. She flew out and did two days with us: a full day on the history of Haiti, from the Indigenous folks, the Arawak, to Christopher Columbus landing, to Spanish rule, to the French and colonization, to the enslavement of the West Africans brought over, Gourdet says. Covering the Haitian Revolution and how Haiti became the first Black free republic in 1804 led to conversations about how Haiti has inspired liberation movements around the world. Its a complex history that is not often talked about, Gourdet says, and knowing it helps you understand the influences found within Haitian cuisine. Kanns akra, fritters made with taro root, for example, are directly tied to West African accara, fritters made with black-eyed peas. Servers give diners a brief history of dishes and encourage them to ask questions. For many chefs, creating a menu or a dish is about evoking a feeling or exploring an ingredient, but for Gourdet, his menu is about sharing with the public the nuances in Haitian cuisine. It would defeat the purpose of having a Haitian restaurant if youre not walking away and going, I know what Haitian food is now.

JosA Mandojana The Columbia River outside of Portland

Thats not to say that there arent some liberties taken. Gourdet uses locally grown habaneros when he cant find Scotch bonnets on the West Coast, and the crispy plantains are fried twice, similar to tostones or french fries, because he found that method produced the most satisfying texture. Its in this space, between Haiti as inspiration and the experimentation of a chef using a scientific approach to creating his own interpretations, that Gourdet and Kann exist. Some have asked if Gourdets cooking can even be called Haitian food, he says. Its a moot point. Is it good or not? Thats the question.

The answer is pretty obvious. Gourdets cooking envelops you with the smell of woodsmoke, a delicious level of heat, and the interplay of unctuous ingredients and textures. The flavors of the Caribbean are present and distinctly Haitian in orientation, bolstered by the bounty of the West Coast.

When I ask Gourdet if theres a sense of pressure, he quickly says no. A lot of things have fallen into place, and we do what we need to do. His journey has led to exactly where he wants to be  and hes still learning. When you find your calling, you start looking back and see all the things that led you to this place.

Gregory Gourdet recipes

Tomato Salad with Coconut Dressing

Jose Mandojana

Theres an interplay of savory and sweet in this dish, with the combination of tomatoes (concentrated from roasting), vinegar-brined peaches, and fresh summer berries. While Gourdet features peaches in this recipe, other stone fruit, such as nectarines, makes a good stand-in. Choose ripe but firm fruit to prevent the flesh from becoming overly soft while it pickles. Topped with a tangy coconut dressing, fresh herbs, and edible flowers, this salad is a summer stunner.

Get the Recipe

Epis-Rubbed Steelhead Trout

JosA Mandojana

Served with stewed peppers, this tender fish is infused with herb and oniony notes and a little vinegar-and-lime tang from Gourdets homemade epis, a fundamental Haitian seasoning paste. Scoring the trout helps evenly flavor the fish and makes cut- ting through the crispy skin easier.



Get the Recipe

Red Chile JerkSpiced Roasted Sweet Plantains

JosA Mandojana

Basted and glazed with his vibrant and fiery jerk sauce, Gourdets grill-roasted plantains are a caramelized combination of sweetness, heat, and spice. To cook the plantains evenly without burning them, begin by charring them over high direct heat on the grill, then coat them with the jerk sauce and finish cooking them at a lower temperature over indirect heat.

Get the Recipe

Pikliz (Haitian Spicy Pickled Cabbage)

JosA Mandojana

This spicy condiment is almost a given at the Haitian table. Gourdet makes this ver- sion with thinly sliced red cabbage, white onion, and carrots for a magenta-colored slaw that retains its crispness even after a daylong soak with vinegar, lime, and hot chiles. The taste of the cabbage and carrots intensifies with tangy, acidic flavor as the mixture sits, so dont skimp on the marinating time.

Get the Recipe

Akra (Crispy Taro Root Fritters) with Caviar and Remoulade

JosA Mandojana

Akra are crunchy root-vegetable-based Haitian fritters. Gourdet makes his by finely grating fresh taro root and tossing the shreds with scallions, garlic, chile, and herbs. Egg binds the mixture, which is fried in batches to achieve a crisp, golden crust that reveals a creamy, garlicky interior. Topping the akra with his zesty remoulade would be enough, but Gourdet takes this popular bite to a luxurious level with a finishing dollop of briny osetra caviar.

Get the Recipe

Diri ak Sos Pwa (Haitian Rice with Bean Sauce)

JosA Mandojana

For this traditional Haitian dish, rice (diri) is served with a flavorful bean sauce (sos pwa). In his version, Gourdet simmers kidney beans with onion, garlic, thyme, and a dash of clove for a hint of pungency and then blends them until smooth and saucy.



Get the Recipe

Pineapple and Tamarind Cooler

JosA Mandojana

This tangy and sweet nonalcoholic drink delivers a little kick of heat thanks to the mix of habanero powder and salt that rims each glass. Gourdet uses tamarind pulp to make a fruity, tart syrup that helps balance the tropical sweetness of the pureed pineapple. The drink has a slightly thick consistency, but served over plenty of crushed ice, its perfectly refreshing.

Get the Recipe

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Read the original article on Food & Wine.
Apple TV+ is one of the best streaming services around and one of its best shows, Hijack, finally finished with a tense seventh episode first airing on Friday 4 August 2023. If you've not watched it yet, we thoroughly advise you go do so before reading on.

And, if you've not watched any of the Idris Elba-starring series at all, you should go do that straight away  yes, it really is that good!

Those still with us, be prepared for a few spoilers as we look into the possibility of the show returning and, if so, when that might be, Plus, we look at a couple of plot holes that could be filled by Hijack season 2.

So fasten your seatbelts, it's time to takeoff.

What is Hijack?

Hijack is a seven-part TV series that's exclusive to Apple TV+  so it can be viewed with a TV+ subscription on Apple devices and the Apple TV app across games consoles, Smart TVs, and multiple TV streaming devices.

Created and written by the duo behind the Netflix police drama Criminal (UK, Germany, France and Spain), Jim Field Smith and George Kay, the show stars Idris Elba as Sam Nelson, a passenger caught up in the hijacking of flight KA29 from Dubai to London Heathrow.

Hijack on Apple TV+

The plot, Nelson's unique skillset, and the hijackers' demands are revealed along the way, while the focus also shifts to other passengers on the same flight, plus actions on the ground. Max Beasley's detective Daniel O'Farrell and Eve Myles' flight controller Alice Sinclair also stand out amongst an already excellent cast.

Each episode is around 45 - 52 minutes long.

It was seemingly devised as a complete mini-series, but critical success and a few unanswered questions at the end have left the door open for a follow-up.

Will there be a Hijack Season 2?

WARNING: There be spoilers ahead!!!

Although the ending of Hijack is pretty conclusive, there's definitely a possibility that Idris Elba could return for a second season.

Indeed, executive producer Hakan Kousetta told Variety in an interview that talks are already underway on how to bring it back: "We've thought about it, obviously," he said.

"[It] is really challenging. It is something that youre like, 'Wow, how would you do that and it not be completely ridiculous?' We talk about it  but yeah, well have to wait and see. Im never gonna say no."

Elba himself told Variety in June that he'd certainly be open for another run: "I'd like that," he revealed.

"But I just dont want to put him on another hijack. Im open to that character coming back. I think if people were compelled to like the character, then Im in."

When could a Hijack season 2 appear on Apple TV+?

Considering the production team and Elba (who is also an executive producer on the show) are yet to find a reasonable storyline for its return, it's impossible to say when Hijack could return to Apple TV+. One thing's for sure, it won't likely be available in 2024, considering the amount of work put into the first season to make us believe that it is (mainly) set on a jumbo jet.

If we were to put money on it, if it does return it'll be spring/summer of 2025.

What could happen in Hijack season 2?

Again folks, beware of spoilers here!

We have a couple of theories on what could happen in a follow-up to hijack. Although Elba states that he doesn't want Sam Nelson to be involved in another hijacking (so no aping Die Hard 2 here), one of the two organised crime bosses released from jail at the end of the first season is still at large. Could he want to exact his revenge on Nelson and his family?

Hijack on Apple TV+

Maybe he could organise a jail break for lead hijacker Stuart Atterton (played superbly by Neil Maskell)  and he certainly has a grudge to bear against Sam.

Also, what happened to the mysterious figure who helped to deliver the demands and orchestrate the media coverage, Devlin, as played by Kevin Eldon? He could reappear in some form or another.

Not every plot point was tied up, that's for sure.

In many ways, we're happy about that if it leads to a new series down the line.

We'll bring you more on it as we find out.
In a bid to rejuvenate the Nike Air Ship's retro appeal, Jordan Brand has partnered with a range of collaborators. After successful ventures alongside Awake NY and A Ma Maniere, the iconic Air Ship silhouette is receiving a refreshing update through a collaboration with Corporate Got 'Em.

At the helm of the Midwest retail chain is Matt Tomamichel, who has reimagined the sneaker's evolution from sport to lifestyle. Departing from traditional full leather, Tomamichel has chosen teal shaggy suede and leather panels to craft an engaging foundation. Subtly stitched in white on lateral heels, the store's name replaces customary "Nike" heel branding with personalized "Got 'Em" spell-outs. Adorning the collar's interior is the embroidered phrase "For the City" in white font, encapsulating Tomamichel's community-driven ethos.

The Corporate Got 'Em x Jordan Air Ship sneaker is set to launch on September 8, available both in physical stores and online; no SNKRS release is confirmed yet.

In other footwear news, LeBron James offers a sneak peek of the upcoming Nike LeBron 21 "Violet Dust."
If you drive a regular car, a simple tow truck will be enough to haul it away in the event it breaks down. Bigger vehicles naturally need bigger tow rigs, however, and that's precisely the business Miller Industries is involved in. This particular recovery rig is bigger than anything it has done before.

The company's latest effort is a gigantic wrecker known as the Century M100. Traditionally available as a twin-steer truck, Miller suggests this new build may be the world's first tri-steer wrecker. Built on a Peterbilt chassis for Modzelewski's Recovery and Heavy Hauling in Danbury, Connecticut, the towing provider is claiming it to be the biggest tow truck in the world.

The regular Century M100 is already one of the world's largest rotator trucks in its original twin-steer, five-axle configuration. It features a boom height of over 53 feet and a 100-ton capacity, and with a 360-degree crane on the back, it can cover a working area of over 8,000 square feet. The Drive reached out to Miller Industries, which confirmed the tri-steer variant boasts those same capable specs. This rig has to weigh around 100,000 pounds since a normal Century M100 weighs roughly 90,000 pounds.

It's not uncommon for heavy-duty trucks to use a twin-steer configuration that allows them to better handle extreme loads. Having two steering axles provides better weight distribution, often giving twin-steer trucks much higher load ratings than their conventional single-steering cousins.

https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FModzTowing%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02STwM8MamRsVq8ghhcEEu4RNVs8NgUqBfWyaN1ofn5pDtMEY6knQ3e48gP3FLP2eTl&show_text=true&width=500

The extra steering wheels are of particular utility on rough, unsteady, or slippery terrain, where it's beneficial to have more wheels helping to turn the truck. If one or more steering wheels lose grip, the others still help to turn the vehicle.

Going for three steer axles makes perfect sense for a heavy-duty wrecker dealing with the largest jobs. It should help the rig steer well even when towing the heaviest loads, especially in wet or slippery conditions. Big equipment can get stuck anywhere, so it's a good capability to have. A few extra wheels helping to point the truck can really pay off, particularly in Connecticut's cold, icy winters.

Got a tip? Let the author know: lewin@thedrive.com
Mahmud Hashimi stirs his cup of coffee as he sits on a spotless sofa in the lobby of the exclusive Carlton hotel in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar. A casual onlooker would have no reason to think this 38-year-old man with a nervous look shouldnt be in this luxurious five-star hotel. But its not his natural environment. Hashimi (who prefers not to tell us his real name) cannot afford the $122 (111) for a room here because hes barely making ends meet. Even if he had extra money, he wouldnt be allowed to register because he doesnt have a passport or an ID card. Hashimi is stateless  a citizen of no country. Being stateless is the inability to vote, access public services, obtain employment contracts or open a bank account.

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) estimates that at least 10 million people worldwide have no nationality. However, its difficult to quantify this accurately because it involves measuring something that officially doesnt exist. These stateless individuals often belong to marginalized minorities who face discrimination due to their ethnicity, religion or culture. Hashimi belongs to Madagascars Karana community, an ethnic minority group that does not automatically receive Malagasy nationality. Although the exact number is not known, community leaders and studies by Focus Development, an organization advocating for Karana rights, suggest that around 5,000 Karanas were stateless in 2018. Approximately 20,000 Karanas on the island have obtained naturalized citizenship through foreign birth, bribery or family connections.

Originally from the India-Pakistan border region, the Karanas emigrated to Madagascar more than a century ago. On a crisp, clear morning in early June, Hashimi told us his familys story. My paternal grandparents, they actually came from Afghanistan without any papers or even knowing where they were going. As for my maternal grandfather, he was from South Africa. I dont really know much about my maternal grandmother, but she definitely wasnt from here, said Hashimi. In short, they were all foreigners, so although their children were born in Madagascar, the law did not grant them automatic citizenship.

In the 1960s, Madagascar passed a nationality law that follows the ius sanguinis principle  citizenship is only granted to children born to a Malagasy father or mother. However, when the island gained independence from France in 1960, the Karanas were not given citizenship as they were not considered ethnic Malagasy. Noroarisoa S. Ravaozanany, the president of Focus Development, believes that their strong Muslim identity has also played a role in their ongoing outsider status.

Several generations of statelessness

Hashimis parents were stateless, and their six children have been as well. He vividly recalls the moment he first faced the reality of their situation. I was just six years old and my dad was hardly ever around. They told me that if anyone asked, I should say hes working overseas, he said. And when he and my mother were both away, we had to live with various neighbors so the police wouldnt get suspicious.

However, work was not the reason Hashimis parents and others were always disappearing. They had to hide from the authorities due to their lack of proper documentation. At the time, people without papers had to pay unaffordable fees to reside legally in Madagascar. They had no choice but to hide to avoid prison because they failed to normalize their immigration status. According to Graham Pote, the UNHCRs statelessness officer, many individuals continue to be held in prolonged pre-deportation detention because they are not recognized as legal residents and no country wants to accept them. If youre in jail, you cant work. And if you cant work, theres no money, said Hashimi.

Due to costly biometric identification fees, Ravaozanany says many Karanas now live in Madagascar illegally. Those who can pay the annual $330 (300) residence permit fee receive a card with indeterminate listed as their nationality.

In 2017, an amendment to the nationality law was passed that allowed the children of a Malagasy woman and foreign man to receive citizenship from their mothers (this was previously prohibited). Out of the 26 countries that still have similar laws, Madagascar was actually the first to eliminate that restriction. However, the administrative status of the Karanas still remains unresolved., said Pote.

Mahmud Hashimi, an ethnic Karana, during our interview in Antananarivo, Madagascar. Graham Pote

According to a 2017 UNHCR survey, almost all the Karana respondents said they unsuccessfully tried to obtain citizenship. They mentioned paying lawyers and submitting document requests for years with no response. According to the report, some say Malagasy passports can be acquired for overseas medical travel at a cost, but these are confiscated upon return.

Pote warns that statelessness primarily impacts Karanas with limited resources as they are unable to afford any form of documentation. But you see, a Karana doesnt have to be born in Madagascar. If theyre from another country like France or the United States, they wont have any issues whatsoever, said Pote. Indeed, some Karanas have obtained French citizenship through a program that France has offered to residents of its former colonies.

Having money makes obtaining a residence permit easier. The Karanas are well-known as successful entrepreneurs and dominate a sizeable part of the Malagasy economy. In 2017, Forbes listed five Karanas among the top 10 multi-millionaires in Madagascar, including Ylias Akbaraly, the owner of Sipromad Group, Madagascars largest privately-owned company. Some people have been able to start businesses and find success, but its often because they have a passport or an ID that allows them to do so. And they probably obtained them by paying bribes, said Pote.

Persistent racism

The state is hesitant to grant citizenship to the Karanas primarily because it would enable them to purchase land, a privilege reserved for nationals. This is a sensitive matter as the Malagasy people deeply cherish the land of the Great Red Island, which they view as a cherished inheritance from their ancestors. Theres this stereotype that all of them are rich, and thats why people think if theyre given papers and rights, theyll buy up all the land, said Ravaozanany.

Racism is a blatant reality. Since the 1980s, hate campaigns have ravaged minority neighborhoods in Madagascar, etching lasting memories in Hashimis mind. Back in the 1990s, there were so many riots happening. People were attacking our shops and we had to hide in mosques. I still remember seeing how they destroyed those shops. If people found out you were a Karana, they automatically assumed you were a bad person.

The Rosa Luxemburg Foundation has reported that since 2010, over 100 people have been kidnapped and released after paying hefty ransoms. Their economic status and negative public attitudes towards immigrants make it really tough to gain support for efforts to improve their legal status, said Ravaozanany. The Malagasy do not discriminate against stateless people, but they do discriminate against Karanas.

Beyond that privileged circle lie the poorest, like Hashimi and his family. He doesnt have a formal job and cannot sign an employment contract. I make my living by connecting people who want to buy and sell various goods, he said. Every month, his target is to earn 500,000 ariary ($112) to cover expenses like electricity, rent, school fees and rice. While he rarely reaches this goal, he is fortunate that his wife is a Malagasy teacher, which helps them get by.

Due to changes in the nationality law, Hashimis three children can now obtain citizenship through their mother. The Karana statelessness issue is also starting to get more attention from elected officials. In December 2019, Senator Mourad Abdirassoul introduced a bill with the goal of eliminating statelessness by 2024. The bill is currently under review.

Hashimi stopped paying his residence tax in 2000 when he moved to Fianarantsoa, located in the center of the island. Over there, the police dont really care whos who. Plus, Ive been trying to fit in with the community where I live, and theyve been really welcoming, he said. But he also says its crucial to keep his statelessness a secret.

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Newlywed Couple Poses for Most Majestic Photos with the Help of a Herd of Horses

Weddings can be special to a couple for so many reasons, but nothing makes a wedding more memorable than personal touches. Whether it's a handwritten letter from the bride and groom or a first dance with the dog of honor, those little things are the moments that guests remember.

While guests may not have seen this cinematic moment from the Wyoming wedding @colinandlakin shot video for, the photographer/cinematographer couple posted the stunning video to their TikTok account on July 12. Needless to say, viewers are gushing over their portraits with a herd of horses.

View the original article to see embedded media.

OMG! We don't know what we expected to see, but this was even better. We never expected dust to be romantic, but sure enough, it completes the atmosphere of this video. This cinematographer couple deserves a raise!

Naturally, Colin and Lakin's viewers are enchanted by the bride and her ethereal dress, but someone in the background caught everyone's attention. Did you spot him?

Commenter @crispym.2 sure did! They said, "the one mule has me laughing," and they weren't the only ones. We laughed out loud when we noticed him, too! If anything, the sweet mule simply added a little more magic and individuality to the video--don't you think? Of course, the natural beauty of this Jackson Hole wedding doesn't hurt, either.

View the original article to see embedded media.

This place is stunning! It sounds like Colin and Lakin were just as thrilled by the running horses as everyone on TikTok is, and it's easy to see why. We can only imagine how loud that herd was, too! Fortunately, it looks like the bride made it through the photoshoot without her dress getting dirty. Still--these beautiful horses were worth the risk!

Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos.

Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips.

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Plans are advancing for a summit later this month between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to find a way to restart a lapsed deal allowing Ukraine to get its grain to world markets. File Photo by Iranian Presidential Office/UPI

Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan later this month to discuss restarting a stalled deal that allowed Ukraine to export grain from its blockaded Black Sea ports.

The resumption of the Black Sea Grain Initiative with the aim of containing grain prices would be one of the main topics of Putin's tentative visit to Ankara in late August, the Russian news agency TASS said Monday, citing a diplomatic source.

"Obviously, one of the main issues during the Russian president's potential visit will be the revival of the grain deal. Progress in this area will make it possible to prevent further growth of grain prices after the suspension of the implementation of the Istanbul agreements," said the source.

"The current situation affects the countries most in need of agricultural products, and this problem should be solved in parallel with Russia's questions to the parties to the deal," the source said, adding that Ankara was confident of negotiating an agreement with Russia.

Erdogan's cabinet was scheduled to meet Monday to discuss the possible summit, which Erdogan first broached during a visit to Istanbul by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on July 9.

Putin and Erdogan agreed to plan for the meeting in a phone call last week in which Putin emphasized that Russia was willing to work with Turkey and other interested countries to figure out ways to get its grain to countries that needed it.

For his part, Erdogan pledged that Ankara would keep doing everything it could, including diplomatic means, to move toward an agreement on expanding the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

Russia quit the agreement on July 17, hours before the latest in a series of extensions was due to expire claiming it was not receiving the promised benefits of the deal.

Putin said Moscow had only agreed to the July 2022 U.N.-Turkey brokered deal because it was its moral obligation to "remove illegitimate obstacles to the supply of grain and fertilizers from Russia to world markets," but none of its provisions had been fulfilled.

The source was not forthcoming on tangible proposals that the Turkish side was weighing with representatives of the U.N., Russia and Ukraine, but he said he believed that a positive resolution would bolster Ankara and Moscow's standing in Africa and Asia.

Grain prices, which fell 23% while the deal was in force, according to Erdogan, soared 15% in the two weeks after the grain deal lapsed.
Cheryl Meany shares why she put her twins in a clinical trial, and what it's like to be part of an RSV breakthrough. (Image: Illustration by Quinn Lemmers/Yahoo News; photos courtesy of Cheryl Meany)

In July, the Food and Drug Administration approved a new treatment to help protect young children against respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. The drug, called Beyfortus, delivers long-acting antibodies to help lower the risk that recipients will get RSV.

RSV is a common childhood respiratory illness, but it can cause serious complications. Up to 80,000 children under the age of 5 in the U.S. are hospitalized with the virus each year, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), making this new treatment a welcome tool in the fight against RSV.

But Beyfortus was only approved after years of clinical research, including trials conducted on real children. Two of those kids were New York mom Cheryl Meany's twins, Cassidy and Stella Meany.

Eight years ago, Meany made the decision with her husband to enroll her then-unborn babies in the clinical trial on the advice of Dr. Joe Domachowske, a pediatrician at Upstate University Hospital. Now, she tells Yahoo Life, she's happy with the decision and even encourages other parents to consider enrolling their children in clinical trials. Here's what was behind the decision process, plus what the experience was like for her.

Why did you decide to enroll your daughters in the clinical trial?

Meany's husband was a teacher and had Domachowske's children as students. "We knew him a little bit as an acquaintance," Meany says. Domachowske was involved in research and clinical trials for Beyfortus and approached Meany's husband, knowing that the family was expecting twins. Meany was five months into her pregnancy at the time.

"At first, I was a little apprehensive," she says. "We had a very difficult time getting pregnant with the twins, and there were rollercoaster moments during the pregnancy." But Meany says she sat down with the doctor and asked "all sorts of questions" about the medication and how it worked.

Domachowske had been working on the treatment for "pretty much the entire span of his career," Meany says, noting that she felt comforted that this wasn't an entirely new medication. Meany says she knew that her daughters were likely to be born premature  more than half of twins are born before 37 weeks  which would put them at risk for severe complications of the virus, if they happened to get it. She also had a friend whose child had complications of RSV, which made her nervous about the virus.

"Dr. Domachowske's kids were older at the time, but I said, 'Would you do this for your own children?' He said, 'Absolutely.' That really sealed the deal for me," Meany says.

The only other RSV treatment approved for children, which is called palivizumab, was available at the time, but it's only given to very premature babies, so Meany's children wouldn't qualify, "They were born at 33 weeks. They weren't premature enough," she says.

What was the process like for you?

Meany says that the process was fairly easy for her family. Her twins were born prematurely and spent time in the NICU before they went home. About a month later, the family met with Domachowske at his office. "The twins were weighed, measured and had all their vitals taken," Meany says. After that, they were given the treatment via injection. "We had to watch them for any reactions," she says, noting that the experience was "like any other doctor's visit we had at the time."

Meany's daughters went back to the doctor every few weeks, with appointments being spaced further out with time. "The last time they went, they were about 18 months," she says.

The clinical trial was placebo-controlled and double blind, so Meany didn't know if her daughters were given the actual treatment or a placebo. "It was unblinded when they were 5," Meany says. "I had an inkling that they must have gotten it because they had very little illness in the first year. I'm a teacher, my husband had transitioned to working in the medical field, our daughter was in kindergarten ... our house was a cesspool of germs. The fact that they made it through that first year without getting sick is pretty incredible." Meany says it's her understanding that her daughters were the first children to ever receive Beyfortus.

Meany says her friends and family were supportive of the twins participating in the clinical trial. "Our family knew what we were doing and I would mention it to friends," she says. "They would say, 'Oh, I didn't know that was a thing they were working on.' That was in 2015 and the environment around immunizations was a little different."

Would you do another trial?

Meany says she would do another clinical trial  and her children already have participated in an additional study. "They made the decision to be part of the COVID-19 vaccine trial [for the Pfizer vaccine]," she says. The family also heard about that trial from Domachowske. "We sat down with them, explained it and, without hesitation, all three of my girls [said], 'Absolutely. If it means we can get back to school and playing with our friends, we are totally in,'" Meany says.

Meany encourages other parents to consider participating in clinical trials. "I had the opportunity to not only help my children, but others," she says. "This literally is going to save lives in the whole world and help prevent parents from having to watch their children not be able to breathe."

What an expert says

RSV is a common childhood virus  and nearly all children will get it before their second birthday, according to the CDC.

What is RSV?

RSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms, the CDC says. Most people recover in a week or two, but it can be serious. RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia (an infection of the lungs) in children younger than a year old in the U.S., the CDC says.

"The most severe infection is usually when you get it the first time," Dr. Thomas Russo, an infectious disease expert at the University at Buffalo in New York, tells Yahoo Life.

Who is most at risk?

RSV is more likely to cause serious health complications in infants and older adults, the CDC says. "Those who are at the greatest risk are those that are born prematurely," Russo says. "The more premature you are, the greater the risk."

Children with underlying health conditions, like congenital heart or lung disease, are also at a higher-than-usual risk of severe complications from RSV, Russo says.

Why is a preventative treatment a game-changer?

It's important to note that Beyfortus is not a vaccine. Instead, it's a preventative treatment that delivers long-acting antibodies in a process known as passive immunity, Russo explains. As a result, it doesn't require the immune system to activate to develop antibodies to RSV. "It basically skips a step," Russo says.

"Right now, we don't really have great treatments [for all at-risk children]," Russo says. "Preventing disease would significantly prevent bad outcomes for children involved." The treatment can also help protect grandparents and other vulnerable people who may interact with kids who would typically get RSV, Russo says.

How do parents find out about these trials? What are the risks of doing them?

All clinical trials are listed on the National Institutes of Health's website, Russo points out. "People can actively seek out ongoing trials," he says. If an academic center is doing a trial, they may also actively look for study participants, Russo says.

Clinical trials go through multiple phases and "it's possible that issues can occur," Russo says. "There is always a potential risk in terms of doing a trial," he says. "It's usually discussed and laid out that there are unknown risks."

Russo says the decision ultimately lies with parents. "Parents need to weigh risks and benefits with proceeding with a trial," he says, noting that they can help children get access to medications or treatments earlier than the general public. But Russo stresses the importance of having people participate in clinical trials. "Clinical trials are the foundation of advances in medicine," he says.

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LONDON  Tara Zadeh, a former graphic and handbag designer, has set up her own creative agency, Tara Zadeh Agency.

Her latest venture aims to help creatives from the Middle East and North Africa by providing them with consultation, communications and event planning services.

More from WWD

One thing that I would say is very important for me is that I really wanted people to recognize me as an Iranian designer, said Zadeh on a Zoom call about her past life as a handbag designer and why she wants to help those rising up in the creative industries.

I never lived in Iran, but I feel very, very strongly about my culture and tradition. I used to go back to Iran twice a year, but I havent been back, unfortunately, for the past three years now, she added.

Her client list includes the likes of Bocan Couture, Nur Karaata and Direct Message from Turkey; Rena, Zyne, Bovisaj and Dihyan jewelry from Morocco; Urfuur from Dubai; as well as brands outside of the diaspora, such as Orpheus Skin from Bulgaria and Welsh NYC and Nessy Khem, a New York-based brand with Tunisian heritage.

Tara Zadeh at work.

Zadeh revealed that shes growing her roster by working with brands from Greece, Spain, Egypt, Lebanon, Iran and Colombia in the coming few months leading up to the New Year.

Its a great moment now for Middle Eastern brands, especially with Fashion Trust Arabia, theyre doing a lot to really support emerging designers. Theres so much out there, I want to be the go-to person for brands from the MENA region, she reiterated.

Zadeh studied graphic design at Parsons School of Design in New York, which led to a job at Interview magazine as a senior designer before moving to London to become art director of mens luxury lifestyle magazine Gentlemans Journal.

After leaving the publishing world, Zadeh started making handbags that would later be stocked on Browns, Net-a-porter and Moda Operandi.

I will always say, take your time. Things with me went way too fast, but theres no need to go fast, she said, pointing out that her brand grew so big that she was getting orders of 300 units from stockists that hadnt even seen the product yet because of the influencers and celebrities carrying her handbags.

The idea to set up her own agency came out of a coincidence, where Zadeh was helping a friend of hers launch a face-fitness course by setting up the launch event in London.

She said it was a huge success which then snowballed into a job without her actively looking.

Zadeh said she only wants to work with smaller brands and help them grow, which comes as a result of having lived lives in publishing and the creative field.

Best of WWD

Click here to read the full article.
As an intermediate surfer, the journey to becoming a skilled rider involves finding the perfect surfboard that complements your abilities, wave conditions, and body shape. In this guide, we'll delve into the valuable insights shared by professional surfer Josh Kerr. Through his lens, we gain a profound understanding of the significance of fostering a robust bond with your local shaper, and the art of meticulously curating your surfboard selection to cater to your distinct requirements. Join us as we embark on a meticulous step-by-step journey, uncovering the art of surfboard selection in its entirety.

Step 1: Evaluate Your Surfing Environment

The first step in selecting the ideal surfboard is understanding the type of waves you frequently encounter. Whether you're riding the waves in Indonesia, California, or Australia, the wave characteristics play a pivotal role in determining the right board for you. Are you tackling smaller 1 to 2 ft waves, or do you venture out when the swells reach 4 to 6 ft? Matching your board to the wave conditions you'll be facing is crucial for a satisfying surfing experience.

Step 2: Consider Your Ability

Assessing your skill level is another key factor when choosing a surfboard. Your proficiency on the waves, from carving to maneuvering, should align with the board's design. Collaborating with a local shaper or surf shop expert who understands your region's waves can provide valuable guidance. Seek advice from someone who surfs well in your area and is willing to offer honest insights on the most suitable board for your skill level.

Step 3: Tailoring the Board to Your Body Shape

Your body shape influences how a surfboard performs under your control. Josh Kerr emphasizes the importance of matching your body's characteristics with the right board. For instance, if you're shorter and more robust, opting for a board with a bit of thickness through the middle and increased width can enhance your riding experience. The right board should complement your body shape, allowing you to maintain control and balance in various wave conditions.

Step 4: Rocker and Rail Considerations

Understanding the relationship between rocker (the curve from nose to tail) and rail (the sides of the board) is crucial for optimizing your surfboard selection. In flatter waves, a board with a flatter rocker and softer rail provides greater stability and prevents excessive biting during turns. As the waves become curvier and more hollow, you can opt for a board with a bit more curve in the rail to enhance maneuverability.

For a board with a rocket-like curve, balancing the curvature with the rail shape is vital. A more curved rocker allows for tighter turns, while a straighter rail facilitates longer engagement. Josh Kerr advises matching the board's design to the waves you'll be tackling, ensuring optimal performance and progression.

Step 5: Embrace Style and Fundamentals

Kerr encourages intermediate surfers to explore different board styles, even if they may seem unconventional. Experimenting with single fins, twin fins, or other classic board designs can enhance your fundamental skills. These style boards may not facilitate dynamic surfing, but they can help you iron out kinks in your technique and improve your overall style and control. Sometimes, taking a step back to these timeless designs can pave the way for significant progress in your surfing journey.

In the realm of intermediate surfing, the quest for the perfect surfboard is a harmonious blend of personal ability, wave conditions, and body shape. Following the expert guidance of professional surfer Josh Kerr, the process becomes more attainable. By establishing a strong relationship with your local shaper, you unlock a world of customized board options that align with your specific needs. As you embark on this journey, remember that experimentation and open-mindedness can lead to remarkable growth and an enriched surfing experience.

Learn More. watch These How To Surf Videos:

Understanding Intermediate Surfboards: A Variety of Options

As you transition from a novice to an intermediate surfer, the world of surfboards opens up to a plethora of options designed to elevate your performance. Each surfboard type possesses distinct characteristics that cater to specific wave conditions and riding styles. Let's explore these different intermediate surfboard options in detail:

Funboards: Funboards, also known as mini malibus, are an excellent choice for intermediate surfers seeking a balance between stability and maneuverability. Typically ranging from 7 to 8 feet in length, funboards offer enhanced paddling ease and wave-catching ability. Their wider outline provides stability, making them suitable for a variety of wave conditions. Funboards are perfect for honing your skills and experimenting with different techniques.

Fish Surfboards: Fish surfboards are recognized for their unique design, featuring a wide and flat outline with a swallowtail. This design excels in smaller and mushier waves, offering exceptional speed and agility. The twin fin setup, characterized by two fins, contributes to quick turns and a playful feel on the wave. Fish surfboards encourage creative and flowing maneuvers, making them a popular choice for intermediate surfers looking to add flair to their style.

Performance Shortboards: For intermediate surfers seeking to push their limits and tackle larger waves, performance shortboards are a suitable option. These boards feature a narrower outline, refined rocker, and sharper rails. Designed for more aggressive maneuvers, performance shortboards provide better control and responsiveness. Their streamlined shape allows for quick turns, making them ideal for experienced intermediates ready to take on challenging wave conditions.

Mini Longboards: Mini longboards, often around 7 to 8 feet in length, bridge the gap between traditional longboards and shorter performance boards. They offer enhanced stability and wave-catching ability compared to shortboards while allowing for more dynamic and agile movements. Mini longboards are versatile and well-suited for intermediate surfers looking to explore a variety of wave types and refine their technique.

Hybrid Surfboards: Hybrid surfboards combine elements from different board types to offer a versatile and adaptable option. These boards cater to intermediate surfers seeking a well-rounded experience across varying wave conditions. For example, a hybrid may incorporate features of a shortboard and a fish, providing the best of both worlds in terms of maneuverability and wave-catching ability. Hybrid surfboards encourage experimentation and skill development.

Twin Fin Surfboards: Twin fin surfboards feature a twin fin setup, which enhances speed and agility. The absence of a center fin contributes to a loose and playful feel on the wave, encouraging creative and flowing maneuvers. Twin fins are known for their ability to generate speed effortlessly, making them an excellent choice for smaller and more playful waves. Intermediate surfers looking to infuse their style with a sense of freedom often gravitate towards twin fins.

Finding Your Perfect Match

The world of intermediate surfboards is rich and diverse, offering a range of options to suit your evolving skills and preferences. Each surfboard type brings its own set of advantages, allowing you to tailor your selection based on the waves you encounter and the style you wish to cultivate. By understanding the nuances of each type, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your goals as an intermediate surfer. Whether you're drawn to the speed of a performance shortboard, the versatility of a hybrid, or the playful nature of a twin fin, your chosen surfboard will become an extension of your surfing identity, propelling you to new heights of performance and enjoyment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of surfboard should intermediate surfers ride?

Intermediate surfers should consider a surfboard that balances their skill level, wave conditions, and body shape. It's crucial to match the board's design with the type of waves you encounter and your unique body characteristics. Collaborate with local experts like shapers or surf shop professionals to find a board that suits your needs and enhances your surfing experience.

How do I choose the right surfboard as an intermediate surfer?

To choose the right surfboard, intermediate surfers should evaluate their local wave conditions, assess their skill level, and consider their body shape. Waves, such as smaller 1 to 2 ft swells or larger 4 to 6 ft breaks, influence the board's performance. Collaborate with knowledgeable local sources to receive tailored advice, ensuring you select a board that aligns with your abilities and enhances your ride.

What factors should intermediate surfers consider when selecting a surfboard?

Intermediate surfers should factor in wave conditions, skill level, and body shape when selecting a surfboard. Waves' characteristics, such as curve and hollowness, impact board performance. Matching the board's design to your skill level and body shape, with guidance from local experts, ensures a well-suited and satisfying board choice.

Can an intermediate surfer benefit from experimenting with different surfboard styles?

Intermediate surfers can greatly benefit from experimenting with various surfboard styles. Classic designs like single fins or twin fins, while not as dynamic, can help improve fundamental skills and overall style. These style boards provide a platform for refining techniques and enhancing control, fostering growth and progression in your surfing journey.

How important is it for an intermediate surfer to work with a local shaper when choosing a surfboard?

Working with a local shaper is highly important for intermediate surfers when selecting a surfboard. Shapers possess invaluable knowledge of local wave conditions and can tailor board designs to match your skill level and body shape. Their expertise ensures you get a customized surfboard that optimizes your performance and enhances your overall surfing experience.

What is the significance of matching body shape to a surfboard for intermediate surfers?

Matching your body shape to a surfboard is crucial for intermediate surfers. Body characteristics influence the board's stability, control, and maneuverability. For example, shorter, heavier individuals should consider boards with added thickness and width. Collaborating with experts who understand body-board dynamics helps ensure you select a board that complements your physique and enhances your ride.

How does wave type affect the choice of surfboard for intermediate surfers?

Wave type significantly influences the choice of surfboard for intermediate surfers. Different waves, such as flatter or curvier ones, demand specific board designs to optimize performance. Boards with flatter rockers and softer rails suit flatter waves, while boards with more curve and engagement match curvier, hollower waves. Tailoring your board to wave conditions ensures a seamless and enjoyable surfing experience.

Can riding classic style boards help intermediate surfers improve their skills?

Yes, riding classic style boards can greatly improve the skills of intermediate surfers. Classic designs like single fins or twin fins emphasize control, balance, and fundamental techniques. By mastering these style boards, intermediate surfers can refine their overall surfing style and become more versatile riders, ultimately enhancing their performance in a variety of conditions.

How does collaborating with a local surf shop benefit intermediate surfers in choosing the right surfboard?

Collaborating with a local surf shop offers numerous benefits for intermediate surfers in selecting the right surfboard. Local experts possess firsthand knowledge of your region's waves and conditions, allowing them to provide tailored advice. Their insights, combined with your skill level and body shape, result in a surfboard choice that optimizes your abilities and enhances your enjoyment on the waves.

What's the key takeaway for intermediate surfers when choosing a surfboard?

The key takeaway for intermediate surfers is to find a surfboard that harmonizes their skill level, wave conditions, and body shape. Collaborating with local experts, like shapers and surf shop professionals, is vital to ensure a well-suited board choice. By matching the board's design to your unique needs, you'll enhance your performance, style, and overall satisfaction while riding the waves.

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We're always on the lookout for amusing, interesting and engaging surf-related videos to feature on our channels. Whether you're a professional surfer or just an amateur, we want to see your best footage and help you share it with the world. Submit your video for a chance to be featured on SURFER and our social channels. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch high-quality surf videos.
Wiltshire on Market owner Susan Hershberg and her staff reopened the pantry in NuLu on Thursday afternoon following a 15-month closure due to Covid-19. 6/17/21

When a luminary on Louisville's culinary scene, Susan Hershberg, announced recently on social media that she was closing the longstanding and iconic Wiltshire on Market, there was some legit panic.

But don't worry, Louisville diners. Shes not retiring just yet, and she hand-picked her successor at the intimate little space in NuLu.

I caught up with Hershberg to do something a lot of folks havent done since March of 2020  take a breath and reflect.

The biggest takeaway for me during my lovely conversation with Hershberg while she was taking some necessary R&R in Maine, was how very fortunate we've been to have her nourishing us, and the Louisville food scene, for so many years.

With a solid catering operation plus later her Highlands bakery, downtown cafe, and Speed Art Museum outpost, the NuLu restaurant she opened 14 years ago at 636 E. Market St., was free to be a "creative adventure," Hershberg told me. "It was never a really serious business model if you will ... It was purely a culinary experiment where we change the menu every week and play with what we wanted to play with."

Wiltshire on Market's tomato salad is made with chunks of regular and cherry heirloom tomatoes, watermelon, mint, basil and feta cheese.05 September 2019

With only eight tables and limited opening hours, she was able to streamline operations to run it with a single team.

"We did it purely for the joy of that," she says. "We didn't worry about the bottom line, because we didn't have to."

While she would never say this herself, Wiltshire on Market was really a gift to the food scene in this city.

For nearly a decade and a half, she and her dedicated team shone a light on local farmers and producers, helping us love all that is good about Kentucky, and anchoring a part of town that has changed radically with an experience that's authentic and true to our roots.

The other gift was the launching pad she offered to rising talent. While chefs as a breed have a reputation for their own drive and ego, Hershberg takes genuine joy in the opportunity to showcase the talents of others. To see their creativity every week really was the exciting part of it, she says.

Wiltshire on Market chef Akeem Norris prepared pan seared wild sea bass and summer squash capallacci on Thursday night as the popular NuLu pantry reopened to customers after a 15-month Covid-19 related closure. 6/17/21

That path culminated with handing over the reins of the space when she brought in Noam Bilitzer as a chef in-residence to develop his new eastern Mediterranean concept, MeeshMeesh.

This was exceedingly intentional.

Specifically on the East Market corridor, Hershberg says, I did not just want to put a for rent sign on the window. She was committed, she says, to making certain the space remained independent as it's become increasingly harder for local entrepreneurs to break into the dining business.

"I mean, try to open a small independent restaurant right now," she says. Unless "you either have really, really deep pockets  which if you have pockets that deep you're  not working in the restaurant, or you are buried under debt."

Thankfully for us, she's now in this wonderful position where I can have somebody in the space that I know and trust, she says.

The summer squash capallacci at Wiltshire on Market features herbed goat milk ricotta, yellow coconut-parmesan curry, shaved baby squash, ricotta salata, squash blossoms and pea shoots. 6/17/21

After the bleak COVID-19 days, when many restaurants had to instantly get up and running again without a moment to draw a breath, she couldn't be as hands-on as she wanted at Wiltshire on Market.

"It was really, really hard to find somebody that could take it on and wanted to take it on. And then I had a couple of really unsuccessful attempts at trusting folks to go in there and cook and the public really became [nasty] and I was waking up to just hideous comments online.

"I just didn't have the tolerance for it anymore. So, I just closed the restaurant."

(Ahem, fellow diners: maybe think about that the next time you want to write something hateful about a local business online. The chefs giveth and the chefs can taketh away.)

But she feels good about this choice. Bilitzers skill blew her away, Hershberg says. He is extraordinarily talented.

And their several-month collaboration allowed him to properly ramp up MeeshMeesh, which honors the food traditions of the eastern Mediterranean, encompassing flavors from Israel  where Bilitzer is from  as well as Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and more.

Freedom Run smoked lamb hummus featuring lamb smoked by Red Hog Restaurant & Butcher Shop at MeeshMeesh Mediterranean restaurant in Louisville.

I wondered if this is a model used elsewhere  a seasoned restaurateur paving the way for a rising star. It makes perfect sense, after all. Hershberg isnt aware of anyone else having done this, but I, for one, hope this approach becomes more common as veteran industry stars begin to make their way out of the workforce.

On that, we truly don't have to worry just yet that she's exiting Louisville's culinary scene. Although she does have a plan in mind, all other operations, such as the popular Wiltshire Pantry Bakery and Cafe, 901 Barret Ave., are still in play, she assures us.

But she does have a caution, and request for us as diners.

"I think more than anything right now  I wish that we would extend quite a bit more grace to one another across the board," she says.

Restaurants have been through hell and back and we're still stuck in so many ways. And if ... small, independent creative folks are going to make it to the other side, we need committed followers. We need folks to really dig in deep with us and help us and be kind," she added. "If you have a bad meal, you know what? Bite your tongue. Because we're still really making our way out and, really, we're doing our best."

You may like: Chef taking over former Wiltshire spot brings 'very soulful' Mediterranean food to NuLu

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Tell Dana! Send your restaurant Dish to Dana McMahan at thecjdish@gmail.com and follow @bourbonbarbarella on Instagram.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Chef Susan Hershberg on why she closed Wiltshire on Market restaurant
Over the last year, tourism in Hanoi, Vietnam has increased. According to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, Hanoi welcomed 2.6 million foreign visitors this year.

Vietnams historic grace dates back centuries. Its one of the oldest nations in existence with empires dating back to 2879 BC. It is a rich city that is home to a group of proud citizens. Here are a few reasons why Hanoi is growing in popularity.

Old World Charm

Photo credit: Tomas Malik

Hanoi is full of old world charm. A melting pot of Vietnamese, French, and Chinese culture, the Vietnam city is a fusion of delicious flavor and vibrant culture. Theres plenty to explore for the traveling historian throughout the streets of Hanoi.

The Old Quarter, nicknamed 36 Streets, is one of the first neighborhoods built after Vietnam gained independence from China. Today it is the hub for craftsmen and artists. The streets are lined with Vietnamese art, tube-like houses and remnants of the past. They wind like a labyrinth through the boutique shops and cafes providing a new age glimpse into the citys history for visitors.

Beyond the Old Quarter, the French Quarter pays homage to Vietnamese cultures Francian influence. Here tourists find beautiful French architecture, upscale restaurants and Vietnams first university, The Imperial Academy. Ancient structures, like the Temple of Literature and One Pillar Pagoda, stand within the French Quarter, giving visitors more insight into Vietnams ancient past.

Food is a major component of tourism in Hanoi. Visitors enjoy being able to get a little bit of everything due to the citys diverse, culinary influences. While social media has popularized Vietnamese street food, experienced travelers suggest experiencing Hanois upscale dining scene. A three-course meal only will cost about $50 in the city.

Safe For Solo Travelers

Photo credit: Arnie Chou

Travel Off Path ranked Hanoi as one of the best destinations for solo travelers. While the Vietnam city has a flare that is unmatched by other Southeast Asian destinations, Hanoi is also extremely safe. This makes it a hotspot for people traveling alone.

Google search inquiries revealed that searches for solo travel to Hanoi increased over the last 12 months. For those looking to explore beyond tourist attractions, Hanoi is perfect for backpackers and bikers. The city has hostels dedicated to hosting backpackers and a historical backdrop for adventures on foot.
One of the three women who was brutally attacked by a river otter in Montana last week has shared graphic photographs of her injuries along with her account of the attack on Facebook. In a detailed post on Aug. 4, Jen Royce tells the story of how she and two friends were attacked by the wild otter while inner tubing on the Jefferson River, how they were rescued, and how shes recovering from the experience. Royce's story can also be found on the GoFundMe page, which was created to cover the women's medical expenses from their injuries.

Royce also took the opportunity to set the record straight, since she says that many social media users have blamed her and the other two victims for provoking the Aug. 3 attack. She and her friends were in the middle of a wide stretch of river at the time, and that they were not trying to get close to the otters. We didnt even know the otter/otters were there until we were attacked, she writes.

Its unclear how many otters were involved. Royce writes further down in her post that the otters attacked us but then repeatedly refers to the attacking otter as it. Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks clarified in a press release that multiple otters were observed, but that only one attacked the group. Regardless, Royce describes the one otter that attacked her as vicious and relentless.

Jen Royce was life-flighted off the Jefferson River on Aug. 3 after a river otter attacked her and two of her friends.

It bit my face in several places, both of my ears, my arms, my hands, my legs, my thighs, and my ankle, Royce writes. My friends were bit on the hands and on their bottoms.

She says they all felt helpless treading water in the middle of the river. All their tubes had been popped, and she writes that every time she kicked the otter away, it would attack her somewhere else. By the time Royce swam to shore, the three women had gotten separated.

I was on the south side of the river and had crawled up the hill, one friend was out on the north side by the railroad tracks, and my other dear friend was stuck on a rock still in the river, not able to get out since we didnt know where the otter/otters went.

One of the women was able to call 911, and they were rescued by first responders roughly an hour later. While Royce waited, she thought there was a real chance she might never get off the river.

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I was covered in blood, and it just kept pouring out from my face and nose, she writes. It was cold. We were wet. It was dark  All we could do was scream and call out to one another.

Fortunately, they all made it off the Jefferson River that night. Royce had the most severe injuries of the three, and she was life-flighted by helicopter to a hospital in Bozeman.

Royce had a chunk bitten out of her ear, along with deep gashes on her hands and legs.

I cannot begin to explain the huge relief and the hysterical release of tears knowing we werent alone and would soon be on our way out of HELL, she writes.

At the hospital, Royce received rabies vaccines and had the wounds on her face flushed with saline. Doctors stitched up her ankle, leg, arms, hands, and fingers. She also had surgery on her face and ears.

I have more stitches in my body than I can count, Royce writes. Besides my face, I have puncture wounds to my left ankle, both legs, back of my right thigh, both arms, both hands, and all fingers. My left ear is split in half from the top to the bottom and is being held together with some kind of yellow bandage and stitches on both sides. But I am lucky, and I am grateful, and I am alive.
Alec Wetzler was handcuffed at the conclusion of his Thursday sentencing hearing in Boone County Circuit Court to serve his two days in jail.

Wetzler, of St. Louis, was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity at the University of Missouri on Oct. 19, 2021, when it held an unsanctioned hazing event involving consumption of large amounts of alcohol by pledges.

Wetzler pleaded guilty to misdemeanor providing alcohol to a minor and possession of alcohol by a minor in connection with the event, but unlike other defendants, he was not charged with hazing.

During the incident, freshman pledge Danny Santulli became unresponsive and was resuscitated by personnel at University of Missouri Hospital. The alcohol poisoning caused brain damage that left Santulli unable to speak, walk or talk.

He's under constant care by his parents at their home in Minnesota.

"We know that one person nearly died due to this alcohol hazing event," said assistant prosecutor John McKenzie.

Santulli, Santulli's family and the community were "irreparably injured" by the event, he said.

Wetzler didn't offer aid to pledges but instead gave them more alcohol, McKenzie said.

Santulli wasn't the victim in Wetzler's case, a point Wetzler's attorney Rusty Antel, brought up repeatedly. Wetzler's victim was a fraternity pledge identified only with the initials R. E.

"Essentially what they want to do is punish him for what he's not being charged with," Antel said in court.

Wetzler was expelled from MU, his attorney said. He is employed and enrolled at another school, taking online courses.

"He takes responsibility for what he has done," Antel said.

There's a reason why the allegations are crimes, McKenzie said.

"The defendant actively participated in an alcohol hazing event," McKenzie said.

Screen shots from video surveillance from the fraternity at the hazing show Wetzler holding a beer bong - a funnel in which beer is poured connected to a tube in a person's mouth. The beer was consumed that way by Santulli and other pledges.

"There is direct involvement," Judge Stephanie Morrell said in sentencing Wetzler. "It wasn't just buying a bottle of alcohol for one of your friends."

There has to be consequences for actions, Morrell said.

"You will still have a future," Morrell said. "You will still do great things in your life."

The two day shock jail time was less than the 15 days suggested by the prosecution.

Wetzler also was fined $500. He's to be on unsupervised probation for two years. Morrell ordered Wetzler not to possess or consume alcohol or intoxicating substances and to stay out of bars and liquor stores.

Wetzler is the third defendant to be sentenced related to the hazing event.

Trial dates so far have been set for Samuel Morrison, Sept. 26; Ryan Delanty, Dec. 5; Samuel Lane, Dec. 19; Benjamin Parres, Jan. 23, 2024; and John O'Neill, Jan. 30, 2024.

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: Alec Wetzler sentenced after guilty pleas to misdemeanors
The silhouette of Rio de Janeiros iconic Sugarloaf Mountain is instantly recognizable, as is the giant Christ the Redeemer statue on a nearby hill. A visit to the two sites, connected by a century-old cable car, is a must for every tourist. Atop Sugarloaf Mountain, visitors are greeted with a breathtaking panorama of the ocean, Guanabara Bay, and the city nestled between lush mountains covered by tropical jungle. More adventurous tourists may soon be able to experience this landscape in a whole new way by soaring through the air on heart-pounding ziplines that can reach speeds of up to 50 miles per hour (100 kph). Its a vision developed by the company that manages the park, but many local residents have protested that it would mar the natural beauty of Rio de Janeiros vistas.

To construct the platforms for accessing the zipline, a significant amount of rock has been excavated from the top of Sugarloaf and the adjacent crag of Urca. What theyre doing is causing irreparable harm, because the rock just doesnt regenerate, said Julio Mello, one of the spokespersons for those who oppose the zipline. Concerned residents, climbers and environmentalists swiftly rallied together and released a manifesto with 27,000 signatures. While the project had been approved by the city council and other authorities like the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute (IPHAN), the attorney general launched an investigation of alleged irregularities. As a result, the construction was stopped, leading to scrutiny of those who approved the project.

Critics argue that the zipline is part of a larger project that aims to expand commercial space on the mountain peaks, areas that already house an auditorium, bars, souvenir shops and even jewelry stores. During a recent protest, demonstrators symbolically embraced Sugarloaf Mountain to highlight its protected natural monument status for the past 50 years. This status prohibits any further construction. The opposition appears to be winning this battle since work on the project was halted in late June by an appeals court judge, Luiz Paulo da Silva Araujo Filho, who said the project poses a risk to society, since the drilling and removal of rock cannot be restored.

The Aterro do Flamengo park has one of Rio de Janeiro's best views of Sugarloaf Mountain. Leonardo Carrato

The company that manages the facility, Parque Bondinho Pao de Acucar, is hoping for a favorable decision by the court in September. The zipline will cost approximately $10 million (9.2 million) and its promoters argue that the protests are unfounded. According to Sandro Fernandes, the companys director, the zipline platforms will utilize areas with existing construction and previously unused spaces. Yes, some rock has been removed, but we have also taken out some cement, he said. He confirms that only 14 trees were cut down, but many more have been planted to compensate. He also said the new construction mostly entails ramps to improve accessibility for individuals with reduced mobility.

Fernandes bristles at accusations that the project will overtax the mountain, and says they are not trying to bring in more visitors because the infrastructure cant handle it. The park already welcomes over 1.5 million visitors annually, making it the third most popular tourist spot in Brazil, after Christ the Redeemer and Iguazu Falls. Fernandes thinks the protests and legal setbacks damaged Rios reputation, caused legal uncertainty and created an unnecessary controversy. What theyre doing is just delaying development... I mean, can you imagine Paris without the Eiffel Tower? That was also controversial when they built it, he said. However, he acknowledges that the company does have long-term plans to take the park to a new level. With no specific timeline yet, these improvements would expand the top of Sugarloaf by over 1,500 feet (500 meters), although Fernandes says the visual impact will be kept to a minimum. The focus is on improving tourist facilities without adding shops and restaurants. Still, opponents of the zipline remain skeptical.

The beauty of this place and its magnitude, it just asks one thing  take a moment to appreciate it. Dont treat it like some hyperactive amusement park or something, said Claudio Pfeil, a resident of the Urca neighborhood. Locals are quick to note that the company has previously attempted various expansions, including extending the cable car to Copacabana Beach and constructing an amphitheater and childrens playground in the valley between the two hills. However, all these projects failed due to public opposition.

A cable car passes through the clouds on its way to Sugarloaf Mountain. Leonardo Carrato

UNESCO has also been pulled into the controversy. Rio de Janeiros unique landscape has been a World Heritage Site since 2012. UNESCO even created a specific category for this remarkable city  urban cultural landscape  which helps safeguard Rios iconic mountains, as any manmade changes could jeopardize the special designation. Sugarloaf Mountain is a geological wonder  a nearly 600-million-year-old granite formation and relic from when Africa and America were a single land mass. In 1565, Portuguese settlers picked a beach at its base to found the city of Sao Sebastiao do Rio de Janeiro.

In April, the Brazilian delegation of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), a UNESCO-affiliated advisory body, strongly urged for the immediate cancellation of the building permits for the zipline. They expressed surprise and firm opposition to construction on the mountains, going so far as to describe it as mutilation. UNESCO said it was closely monitoring the situation and has requested more information from Brazilian authorities. It intends to bring the matter to the World Heritage Committee if a resolution is not reached, which will then decide whether to withdraw World Heritage Site status. Only a few places have lost the designation, including a sanctuary for the Arabian Oryx in Oman, the Elbe Valley in Germany and the city of Liverpool, England.

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The National Weather Service has determined that the wind that damaged parts of northwest Delaware on Monday night was not a tornado.

The agency will release a full report by the end of the day on Tuesday, but said it was "straight line winds" that caused the damage. Straight-line winds do not rotate like tornado winds but can reach 100 mph.

Mondays storm path stretched from Newark into parts of Pennsylvania, with residents in the Ogletown and Hockessin areas reporting some of the worst damage in the First State. Many homes remain without power.

A storm damaged homes in the Cherokee Woods neighborhood in Ogletown on Aug. 7, 2023.

Meteorologist Eric Hoeflich said wind gusts in Hockessin reached between 45 and 55 mph, ripping out trees and damaging homes. And while it isn't unheard of for such a storm to brew in the late summer, Hoeflich said "it's rare that we get something that intense" past the spring.

Aftermath of the storm

In the Cherokee Woods neighborhood in Ogletown on Tuesday morning, numerous large trees were downed, ripped straight from their roots. Residents gathered outside to assess the damage, which work crews were busily trying to clean up.

Jeff Herbster was one of those residents. One of his front-yard trees was uprooted, and a power pole had fallen onto his truck. He said behind his house, a tree had crashed through his deck and partially landed on his roof, but his house was otherwise unscathed.

A storm damaged homes in the Cherokee Woods neighborhood in Ogletown on Aug. 7, 2023.

He said his wife had tried reaching out to their local state House representative for help but got hung up on before being able to speak to him. He said the damage was surprising.Ive only ever seen something like this on TV before, he said.

Surveying the damage

New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer toured the storm damage with the Office of Emergency Management on Tuesday morning.

He said as a kid growing up in Delaware, this kind of thing would happen once every 10 or 15 years. Now he feels like its happening every year or every other year.

Workers clear damage on Aug. 8, 2023, in the Hockessin area following a storm the previous day.

Other county officials were going house by house, posting red unsafe signs in the window of homes they deemed unsafe in the Cherokee Woods neighborhood.

A county inspector who was assessing homes for structural issues said he was making his determination based on several factors, but largely whether the homes are structurally sound. He said several on East Cherokee Drive will need to be looked at by an engineer, while others will need new roofs at minimum.

He called one home that was completely unscathed, located between two damaged houses, a miracle." He then placed a green sign on the window indicating that the house had been inspected and was safe.

Fallen trees, missing pets

Many of the homes were damaged by falling trees. Neighborhood resident Jenn Luna said she was in her bedroom Monday night and exited the room. As she left, a tree came through the bedroom. She just missed being hit.

"It definitely could've been worse," Luna said. "I'm very grateful right now."

Luna said she initially thought it was a regular storm and began her usual routine of making sure all the windows were closed. But when she got to her bedroom, she heard the wind howling and saw trees swaying outside. She thought a tornado may be brewing and ran downstairs.

A storm damaged homes in the Cherokee Woods neighborhood in Ogletown on Aug. 7, 2023.

The tree ended up going through the bedroom, though she was left unhurt.

Others werent so lucky. One woman had several broken bones  including broken ribs  after being hit by a tree while inside her home. She has since been hospitalized, and her husband and neighbors were outside Tuesday morning searching for a missing puppy.

An Animal Welfare officer also came to help out, going as far as to climb through a home's window to try to find a missing 7-month-old puppy. When the officer reemerged, she said she heard what she thought may be the puppy, but due to chainsaws on nearby streets and other local dogs barking, she couldn't be sure.

Fallen trees blocked traffic in Hockessin on Aug. 8, 2023.

A fallen tree inside the home prevented her from being able to get in far enough to continue the search and she later left, saying she wasn't particularly optimistic about the outcome.

Road closures in Hockessin

Fallen trees in Hockessin blocked traffic throughout several area roads on Tuesday.

Mitchell Road had narrowed to one lane of travel, and Old Wilmington Road by the Iron Gates neighborhood was closed as tree branches and debris covered the street. Construction crews were working to right downed power poles and clean up the trees.

Construction crews worked to clear fallen trees from the road in Hockessin on Aug. 8, 2023, following a storm the day before.

While homes in the area were mostly spared from damage, at least one car was crushed by a fallen tree. A resident also reported a nearby home had its roof partially torn off.

This is a developing story.

Power outage map: Is your power out from Monday's storm? Where power outages are and repair efforts

Warning vs watch: What's the difference between a tornado watch vs. warning? Find out and ways to keep safe

Did you lose power?: Check out our guide on how long food can stay in fridge without power

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware storm: NWS says homes damaged in Hockessin not due to tornado
Wagner boss Yevgeniy Prigozhin publicly mocked a top U.S. diplomat Tuesday for tryingand apparently failingto simmer tensions in Niger with the military junta that detained President Mohamed Bazoum.

U.S. acting deputy secretary of state Victoria Nuland traveled to Niamey earlier this week to negotiate with the military junta, with hopes that the United States could help serve as a mediator in the aftermath of a military coup that saw Bazoum deposed. She bluntly told reporters that the trip wasnt going according to plan.

The conversation was at times quite difficult, Nuland told reporters on a call.

During the trip, she urged General Moussa Salaou Barmou, who has been named chief of staff of the military after the coup, to not make deals with Russias Wagner Group, Prigozhins mercenary fighting group, she said.

Prigozhin was quick to respond to the comments in a Telegram post Tuesday: This brings joy, Mrs. Nuland, Prigozhin said.

Niger President Overthrown in Coup, Soldiers Announce on State TV

I am proud of the boys from Wagner, he added. Just the thought of them makes ISIS and Al Qaeda small, obedient, silky boys. And the U.S. has recognized a government that it did not recognize yesterday just to avoid meeting the Wagner PMC in the country.

Prigozhin, for his part, is chomping at the bit to get involved. In the days after the military junta detained the president, Prigozhin offered up Wagner mercenaries services to help out.

The mercenary boss' taunting comes as prospects for a negotiated outcome in Niger look slimmer by the hour. Nuland admitted that even after more than two hours of conversations and side bars, the meeting in Niger left a clear impression that the military junta has a different vision for how to proceed. She added that her conversations in Niamey did not shed light on how the junta is planning around possible collaboration with Wagner.

There was some side conversations. After that, I hope they will keep the door open to diplomacy. We made that proposal. Well see, Nuland told reporters. As I said, they have their own ideas about how this goes forward. They do not  their ideas do not comport with the constitution, and that will be difficult in terms of our relationship if thats the path they take.

A faction of soldiers from the presidential guard detained the Nigerien president, Bazoum, on July 26, and dissolved the constitution. The group has since claimed to install a new leader in the country. European countries and the United States have condemned the action, and neighboring countries threatened to use force to resolve the conflict if the military junta didnt reverse their plans by Sundaythreats that have failed to materialize.

Prigozhins decision to weigh in Tuesday on tense talks between the State Department and the military junta is just the latest sign that he is working to wedge his way into the crisis and come out on top.

Its not clear if the coup-plotters and Wagner fighters have reached any kind of conclusion on working together, according to the State Department.

Some of Prigozhins rhetoric, though, might help provide clues about whether coordination is looming, according to Sean McFate, a former paratrooper and officer in the Armys 82nd Airborne Division who has previously dealt with African warlords.

Prigozhin is likely still in the process of casting his net within Niger and working to get Niger coup-plotters to take him up on his offer, McFate told The Daily Beast.

It is trash talk, but it's trash talk with a purpose. He wants to publicly show the world and the Nigerien coup-makers whose side he's on and in a very anti-Western manner, and let's not forget that there's a lot of anti-Western anti-French sentiment already in Niger and across the Sahel, McFate said. Its a well-organized campaign thats part of his playbook that is meant to message his potential client, I am really on your side.

U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken warned that Wagner would be bound to try to leverage the situation.

What happened and what continues to happen in Niger was not instigated by Russia or by Wagner, but to the extent that they try to take advantage of itand we see a repeat of whats happened in other countries, where theyve brought nothing but bad things in their wake, Blinken told the BBC in an interview.

Wagner Bosses Vow New Beginning in Belarus: Welcome to Hell

Prigozhin is bound to try to exacerbate existing anti-Western sentiments to try to weasel his way in to Niger, just as he has in other countries, including in Mali and the Central African Republic.

The indicators suggest that Prigozhin and the junta leaders in Niger are going to probably work out some arrangement that will look something like his neighbors in Mali and CAR, McFate predicted.

Prigozhins status on the world stageand his Wagner Groups operations in African countrieshad been cast into doubt in recent weeks following his failed march on Moscow.

After reaching a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to exile in Belarus, however, Wagner Group has continued recruitment, and in all likelihood has reached a sort of symbiotic arrangement to continue operating in African countries so long as it continues to provide benefit to Moscow, McFate predicted.

Putin and Prigozhin also have a need for each other. Putin wants to extend his global reach into Africa It gets around sanctions, it directly funds the war, it does all sorts of things and Prigozhin needs the financial infrastructure of Russia, McFate said.

And although negotiations dont seem to be going well, even by the State Departments usually discreet take on matters, Prigozhin is still trying to sell himself in Niger, an indication that the military junta may still be weighing its options, said McFate.

If it were a sealed deal, I'm not sure Tori Nuland would go all the way out thereor if she did it would just be sort of like a last resort, McFate said. But I don't think her presence and her rank from the State Department is going to move the needle much in Niger amongst the generals.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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The United States has now had "direct contact" with Niger's junta leaders, but the conversations have yet to substantially move the needle as the West African nation -- a key ally on counterterrorism in the region -- faces an apparent coup, U.S. officials said.

U.S. Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller acknowledged for the first time during a press briefing on Monday that American diplomats have been speaking with Nigerien military figures behind the attempted takeover but said they "remain in touch with" the country's democratically elected president and other leaders in West Africa.

"There has been direct contact with military leaders urging them to step aside," Miller told reporters, insisting there was still a chance to turn things around despite the difficult realities.

"The window of opportunity is definitely still open," he added. "I don't want to put an assessment on when that window would be closed other than to say that using diplomacy to achieve this objective is our top priority with respect to Niger and we continue to pursue it."

Acting Deputy U.S. Secretary of State Victoria Nuland was among the American diplomats who recently traveled to Niger to meet with the power-players in the insurgent government there, telling reporters later Monday that the goal was "to get some negotiations going and also to make absolutely clear what is at stake in our relationship and the economic and other kinds of support that we will legally have to cut off if democracy is not restored."

But they were unable to make any significant progress despite speaking for more than two hours with Niger's self-proclaimed top defense official, according to Nuland.

"The conversations were extremely frank and at times quite difficult," Nuland said. "It was not easy to get traction there. They were quite firm in how they want to proceed."

MORE: Biden calls for immediate release of Niger's president amid apparent coup

FILE PHOTO: Members of a Nigerien military council that staged an apparent coup attend a rally at a stadium in Niamey, Niger, on Aug. 6, 2023. (Mahamadou Hamidou/Reuters, File)

Nuland told reporters that her requests to see Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum went unfulfilled and she was also not given an opportunity to meet with Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, the commander of Niger's presidential guard who has been declared the new head of state.

I hope they will keep the door open to diplomacy," she added. "We made that proposal. We'll see."

Despite the setbacks, Nuland said the U.S. was not yet ready to officially declare that a coup had indeed taken place in Niger.

"Obviously, we are at the stage where assistance is paused. There is still a lot of motion here," she told reporters. It is not our desire to go there, but they may push us to that point."

On July 26, a group of mutinous soldiers led by Tchiani placed Bazoum and his family under house arrest in the Nigerien capital of Niamey. They then announced on Nigerien state television that they have "put an end to the regime" of Bazoum due to "the continuing degradation of the security situation, the bad economic and social governance." The group, which calls itself the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Country, said "all institutions" have been suspended, aerial and land borders have been closed and a curfew has been imposed until the situation is stabilized.

"The defense and security forces are managing the situation. All external partners are asked not to interfere," Tchiani, flanked by soldiers, said in the televised statement.

Bazoum's apparent ousting marks the seventh attempted coup in West and Central Africa since 2020 and throws into question the future of Niger, a landlocked country that has had four coups since gaining independence from France in 1960. Bazoum was elected to office in 2021 in Nigers first peaceful democratic transfer of power.

As military leaders seized control last month, the streets of Niger's capital erupted in chaos as hundreds of people marched in support of the president while chanting "No coup d'etat." Thousands of others came out in support of the junta, waving Russian flags and holding signs that read "Down with France." Protesters also burned down a door and smashed windows at the French embassy in Niamey before being dispersed by Nigerien soldiers.

MORE: US orders partial departure of US embassy in Niger as political unrest escalates

PHOTO: Supporters of Niger's National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) demonstrate in Niamey on Aug. 6, 2023. (AFP via Getty Images)

France, along with several other countries, has since evacuated its citizens from Niger while the U.S. partially evacuated its embassy in Niamey. Although the U.S. embassy remains open for limited, emergency services to its citizens there, routine consular services were suspended and Americans were being advised not to travel to Niger.

"We can confirm that our non-emergency U.S. government personnel and eligible family members have departed from Niger," a U.S. Department of State spokesperson told ABC News in a statement on Monday. "We were able to accommodate nearly 100 private U.S. citizens with the extra capacity on the charter flight that relocated embassy employees and their family members on August 4. Some U.S. citizens also departed on flights organized by our French, Italian, and Spanish organized flight partners."

The ordered temporary departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel and eligible family members from the American embassy in Niamey has no impact on U.S. forces in Niger, according to U.S. Department of Defense spokesperson Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a regional body comprised of 15 West African countries, announced sanctions against Niger on July 30 and threatened to use force if the coup leaders don't reinstate Bazoum within one week. The African Union and the United Nations have also issued statements condemning the apparent coup.

Guinea, a nearby nation that has been under military rule since 2021, issued a statement on July 30 expressing support for Niger's junta and urging ECOWAS to "come to its senses." On July 31, the military-ruled governments of Burkina Faso and Mali, which share borders with Niger, released a joint statement denouncing the ECOWAS sanctions as "illegal, illegitimate and inhumane," refusing to apply them, and also warned that "any military intervention against Niger will be considered as a declaration of war against Burkina Faso and Mali."

Meanwhile, Benin, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Senegal -- all ECOWAS member states -- have indicated their willingness to send troops into Niger if the bloc decided to do so.

Senior officials within the U.S. Department of State told ABC News last week that ECOWAS is creating plans for military action if it becomes necessary but sees it as a very last resort.

In a televised statement on Sunday night, hours before the deadline set by ECOWAS, a spokesperson for the Nigerien coup leaders announced that the nation's airspace will be closed until further notice due to the threat of intervention being prepared in a neighboring country." The spokesperson warned that any airspace violation will be met with "an energetic and immediate response." At least 3,000 Nigerien troops have since been moved from the northern Agadez region to the country's southern border with Nigeria.

MORE: Niger's military announces ousting of President Bazoum in apparent coup

PHOTO: Supporters of Niger's ruling junta hold a Russian flag at the start of a protest called to fight for the country's freedom and push back against foreign interference in Niamey, Niger, Aug. 3, 2023. (Sam Mednick/AP)

Various sources told ABC News on Monday that an American delegation was currently in the Nigerian capital of Abuja to discuss a strategy to avoid neighboring Niger being overtaken by the Wagner Group, a Russian paramilitary organization, which could destabilize the entire region.

Bazoum's government has been a top ally to both the U.S. and Europe in the fight against violent extremists linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group in Africa's Sahel region. The U.S. Department of Defense said it has provided $500 million in military assistance to Niger since 2012, "one of the largest" security assistance and training packages in sub-Saharan Africa.

There are currently 1,100 U.S. military personnel in Niger as part of a long-running counterterrorism mission that trains the Nigerien military and runs drone operations from a large base in the northern city of Agadez, located in the Sahara desert. Those operations have been suspended in the wake of the apparent coup, namely the drone activity since Niger's airspace has been closed below 24,000 feet.

Other countries in the region, including Burkina Faso and Mali, have ousted the French military and instead enlisted the help of Wagner. In a voice message posted July 27 on social media channels linked to Wagner, the group's founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, appeared to endorse the coup in Niger and offer the services of his fighters to the junta.

So far, there has been no indication that Prigozhin's mercenaries have arrived in Niger, but the U.S. Department of State is aware of unverified reports that leaders of the Nigerien junta have traveled abroad to seek assistance from Wagner, according to Miller.

While the U.S. has freezed its funding to Niger amid the apparent coup, Miller said money could start flowing again as soon as Bazoum is back in control.

"That assistance will affect development aid to the government, security aid to the government. It's a significant amount," he told reporters on Monday. "I don't have a number because it's a pause, and it's a pause that we would hope would be reversed if the junta leaders would step aside and restore constitutional order."

"As we've made clear, hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake," he added.

ABC News' Luis Martinez, Emma Ogao and Joe Simonetti contributed to this report.

US says it has 'direct contact' with Niger's coup leaders but the conversations are 'difficult' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
WATERTOWN TWP.  Granger Waste Services proposed new landfill near Grand Ledge is so innovative its believed to be the first of its kind in the United States.

In fact, the company's idea  building a new landfill on top of a hazardous and abandoned landfill  has only been proposed once in the U.S., in Pennsylvania, according to Michigan regulators.

That Pennsylvania project, proposed three years ago, is still in the approval stage, with regulators in the Keystone State recently presenting developers with a nine-page list of engineering challenges needing solutions.

Michigan regulators can relate. They agree Grangers idea is innovative but told Clinton County officials, who get first say over whether the project can move forward, that there will be complicated engineering challenges, including dealing with a number of environmental problems at the former landfill.

The project is key for the more than 250,000 residents who call Greater Lansing home because landfills in the region have less than 15 years capacity and new laws ushered in by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will make it more difficult to create landfills in new areas, something that hasn't happened in Michigan since the 1990s.

There are a few dozen examples of building landfills on top of landfills, or what the industry terms piggybacking, but what makes this proposal different is that the now-closed landfill where the new facility would be built contains hazardous waste.

Piggybacking, also called vertical expansion, requires a lot of engineering, said Scott Dean, a spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy.

"The challenges are not typical," he said, in a statement about the Watertown Township site. "(The) closed hazardous waste landfill does not have a liner, it does not have a modern leachate collection system, and there has been recent evidence of high leachate levels and ongoing differential settlement."

Granger did a vertical expansion at its Wood Street landfill in 2022, said Tim Krause, the company's engineering director.

"The thing that makes this effort unique is that the existing landfill and proposed landfill are regulated by different federal and state rules and, therefore, different departments," Krause said in a statement. "It has been common practice not to mix the two. We believe that it will start to become more common."

The old landfill has been closed for 30 years and did not include modern landfill practices but "routine monitoring demonstrates that the landfill continues to be protective of the environment and meet the approval of the state regulatory authority," Krause said, in the statement.

Granger is looking to do the complicated work in part because it would be a good site for another landfill.

"It is far from the cheapest path forward," said Jim Grant, an engineer with Middle M Management who is working for Granger on the project, told Clinton County officials recently. "There are other ways for them (Granger) to try and create additional space for their landfill. They just see this as the best way to utilize the existing property that's already got a history."

It would be the third landfill on the same property off of West Grand River Highway.

Closed in the 1980s, the landfill is on roughly 60 acres of land. A currently-operating landfill is near the same plot of land, but that approximately 180-acre parcel has taken virtually no waste in the last few years.

The piggyback landfill would be a bit smaller than the 60 acres since there would need to be more buffer space around the edges. Most of the Greater Lansing area trash in recent years has gone to the other currently-operating Granger landfill on Wood Street north of the Eastwood Towne Center development.

Both Granger and state regulators said that the process would take roughly a decade, if the engineering gets approved and if local governments including Clinton County agree to the expansion.

Unprecedented landfill

The "piggyback" method has been done dozens of times around the world since the first attempt in New York State in 1987, according to a 2015 French research paper.

But the technology was so new then that many standards had not been settled, the authors said.

The challenges of a normal piggyback landfill include the extra weight on top of the old landfill, the potential for crushing the old pipe system that collects and pumps out leaks, and potentially instability of the foundations.

"Those are the engineering challenges in a typical vertical expansion," said Dean of EGLE in his statement.

The hazardous waste site is currently under corrective action plans for recent discoveries of a boron plume and volatile organic compounds, Dean said.

It is showing "recent evidence of high leachate levels and ongoing differential settlement in the waste mass," according to EGLE.

As far as Michigan regulators could find, the piggybacking effort happening in Pennsylvania offers a window into what Granger and Michigan regulators believe would be a 10-year process before a landfill could open.

The Pennsylvania proposal has spent three years under review without final approval.

The review into building a landfill on top of a "hazardous waste impoundment" there had been put on hold due to wetland issues and a revised site plan is now under review, said John Repetz, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

The list of agency concerns in that project includes wetland designations, environmental assessments and details about how the project would affect the community.

As with the Pennsylvania application, the one submitted by Granger would take some time.

At the moment, the proposed landfill is being considered by the Clinton County Solid Waste Committee and if the committee approves the plan, the full county Board of Commissioners is expected to consider it. Additionally, two-thirds of local municipalities would need to give approval before the plan would be sent to state regulators at the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.

Granger officials have estimated it would give another decade or more of capacity based on current usage.

Contact Mike Ellis at mellis@lsj.com or 517-267-0415

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Why Greater Lansing could be home to a first of its kind landfill
U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, walks into his election watch party to celebrate with supporters on election night, Nov. 8, 2022, in Laredo. Credit: Jessica Rodriguez for The Texas Tribune

U.S. House Democratic leaders are endorsing Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, as he prepares to run for reelection after weathering two bruising primary battles in recent years.

On Thursday, Cuellar revealed the endorsements of Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Whip Katherine Clark, Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar and Assistant Democratic Leader Jim Clyburn. He was also endorsed by former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, former Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and BOLD PAC, the political arm of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. The endorsements were first shared with The Texas Tribune.

Henry Cuellar is an accomplished advocate for the people of South Texas who is working hard to build an economy from the middle out and the bottom up, Jeffries, D-N.Y., said in a statement. I strongly endorse Congressman Cuellar and his continued representation of the people of the 28th congressional district.

The endorsements make clear early in the election cycle that senior Democrats will continue to have Cuellars back after last years shakeup in House leadership. Jessica Cisneros, Cuellars primary challenger in 2020 and 2022, has not ruled out another run against the moderate Democrat.

The previous leadership team, led by Pelosi, D-Calif., stood by Cuellar as progressives went all-out to try to unseat him in back-to-back election cycles. Pelosi campaigned for him in Laredo in 2020 and recorded robocalls for him two years later.

Cuellars 2022 primary was particularly intense. Cisneros forced him into a runoff after the FBI raided Cuellars home in Laredo  the reason is still unknown  and then the primary runoff overlapped with the leaking of the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade. That drew unwelcome attention to Cuellars lonely status as an anti-abortion Democrat.

Clyburn, D-S.C., visited San Antonio during the runoff and held a rally for Cuellar. He told reporters there that Democrats need to be a big-tent party.

Cuellar won the runoff by fewer than than 300 votes. Cisneros requested a recount, which confirmed Cuellars victory about a month later.

National Republicans targeted Cuellar in the November election as part of a new push into South Texas. But he won by a larger-than-expected margin, defeating GOP challenger Cassy Garcia by 13 percentage points. The National Republican Congressional Committee has not named Cuellar a target for the 2024 election so far.

In his statement, Jeffries said extreme MAGA Republicans targeted Cuellar last year, but his constituents decisively returned him back to Washington.

As the current session of Congress began, Jeffries wasted little time showing that Cuellar remained in the good graces of leadership. Shortly after becoming minority leader, Jeffries toured Cuellars district and held a news conference with him in Laredo, where he praised the Texans expertise on the border.

More than 200 speakers are now confirmed for the 2023 Texas Tribune Festival in downtown Austin from Sept. 21-23. Each year, the Festival engages, challenges and surprises attendees with unexpected talent mashups, must-see interviews and more, curated by the award-winning journalists at The Texas Tribune. See the lineup and get tickets today.
An officer in Kansas who was convicted of a dozen felonies, including rape, has lost his police license.

Todd W. Allen was an officer with the Hutchinson Police Department from October 1994 to January 2019.

According to records from the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training, Allen contacted women in various parks from October 2012 to July 2018. Though off-duty, he told them he was a law enforcement officer or security officer, used a flashlight to obstruct their view and sexually assaulted them, CPOST records said.

Starting in May 2019, Allen entered five properties and looked into windows. In July 2022, a witness caught Allen on a camera.

CPOST documents said Allen searched the police departments records to review the cases. Eventually he admitted he was the park prowler.

Allen was convicted of 12 felonies, including two counts of rape, two counts of kidnapping, two counts of aggravated sexual battery and one count of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, according to court records. He was also found guilty on five counts of breach of privacy. Allen was sentenced to 165 months on one of the rape charges with additional time on the other offenses running concurrently.

His attorney Chrystal Krier, now a judge in the 18th Judicial District, declined to comment.

CPOST, the state agency responsible for issuing and revoking police officer certification, rescinded Allens police license on July 12, citing his criminal conduct and failing to maintain good moral character.
Travelers appetite to fly internationally is increasing. The most recent report from the International Air Travel Association showed passenger traffic for international flights in May 2023 increased nearly 41% from May 2022 and reached more than 90% of pre-pandemic levels.

Some U.S. airlines, including Frontier Airlines and JetBlue Airways, reported in recent earnings calls that they expect demand for domestic travel bookings to soften in the coming months because of competing demand for international travel.

And Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is adding new international routes, including flights to Tijuana, Mexico, via American Airlines and Toronto via the Canadian ultra-low-cost carrier Lynx Air.

So when Sky Harbors passenger traffic data for June 2023 was released on July 31, a noticeable decrease in passengers for one of the airports two transatlantic routes stood out.

British Airways' Phoenix-London route experienced a 48% year-over-year dip to 9,405 passengers this past June, compared with the same month in 2022.

What is skiplagging? Everything about the controversial air travel hack airlines hate

Why did British Airways have fewer passengers in Phoenix last month?

A British Airways 747-400 lands on June 28, 2016, at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix.

The decline wasn't because the route is losing popularity. In fact, airport data showed it's more popular now than it was last year.

Staff with British Airways, one of two airlines offering service between Phoenix and Heathrow Airport in London, said the drop in passengers wasnt related to a decline in demand.

It had to do with a temporary adjustment in the airlines flight operations that was planned in the spring to add resilience to the airlines operations, British Airways spokesman Philip Stewart told The Arizona Republic.

Because of that adjustment, British Airways operated no flights between Phoenix and London for 11 days, from June 20 to June 30. Service resumed on July 1.

British Airways declined to clarify what it meant by adding resilience to its schedules.

Here's how many people flew from Phoenix to London on British Airways in June

British Airways flew 9,405 passengers from Phoenix in June, down about 48% from 17,958 passengers in June 2022.

The data showed British Airways had 18 landings at Sky Harbor that month, down 40% from 30 landings in June 2022.

Despite the 11-day break in flights in June, passenger traffic for British Airways flights at Sky Harbor increased in the year to date, airport data showed.

British Airways flights between Phoenix and London drew 84,128 passengers from January to June 2023. The carrier had 77,119 passengers in the first six months of 2022.

There are no U.S. markets were concerned about, Stewart said, adding the carrier has operated from Phoenix for more than 20 years. Were happy about how travel across the U.S. is performing for us.

What other airlines fly between Phoenix and Europe?

American Airlines offers once-daily service from Phoenix to London.

Sky Harbor also has transatlantic flights to Frankfurt, Germany, via Condor Airlines. Condor's seasonal service expanded from twice weekly to three times weekly starting in May.

American and British Airways are affiliated, as both carriers are members of the Oneworld airline alliance. This alliance, which includes 13 airlines around the world, offers an expanded network of flight destinations.

Some passengers had made reservations for June 20-30 flights before British Airways' decision to temporarily halt the route. When the carrier notified passengers of the flight schedule changes, Stewart said, they offered alternate flights via American Airlines.

Plan your international trip: International flights are expensive and scarce

Reach the reporter at Michael.Salerno@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @salerno_phx.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Why British Airways canceled 11 days of flights in Phoenix this summer
Each generation is characterized by something, and social media constantly reminds us of that. While millennials have a perfect command of technology, their parents need maximum screen brightness and make their application icons as large as possible. Some millennials have traveled around the world before they have turned 30, while their parents owned a house before that age. Its the new versus the old, but also the new against the even newer, such as the centennials, the youngest of the cataloged generations. The differences between age groups is common fodder for memes on social media, especially on TikTok, the platform dominated by Gen Z, which gave rise to the popular expression, OK, boomer.

There are lots of jokes about these generational differences, but there are also many negative stereotypes that widen the generation gap on social media. According to a new study, in over half of the videos on these differences, older adults were stereotyped by younger people as possessing values and beliefs at odds with millennials.

The results are overwhelming. We have found a clear trend towards ageism, and this is very worrying, since we know that this directly harms the mental health of those who suffer from ageism, says Reuben Ng, a researcher at the University of Singapore and co-author of the study. After analyzing more than a thousand videos with the hashtags #Boomer and #OkBoomer, researchers identified a series of recurring negative stereotypes: older adults were depicted as being slow, incompetent with technology, holding outdated values and suffering from poor health. These stereotypes are problematic when it comes to bringing older adults into the world of social media.

Although the term baby boomer has been used for more than half a century to identify the generation born after World War II, it was only in 2019 that it became considered an insult. That was when TikTok became inundated with videos of teenagers dismissing their parents sermons by saying, OK, boomer. The phrase captured millennials feelings towards a generation that they consider privileged, cut off from reality and, in some cases, even the cause of problems such as the decline of the economy and climate change.

At the age of 20, I had already bought a piece of land, a boomer tells a millennial in a TikTok video posted by Brandon Bryler, who is known for satirizing the generation gap. Your land cost what a kilo of eggs costs today, the young man replies. Paying rent is a waste of money, insists the adult. Right? Its not like were doing it because you bought all the houses and sell them at Ferrari prices, replies the youngster, who gives up further arguing once his father asks him when hes going to have a child.

The disconnect between the values and beliefs of the two generations is the most common stereotype on TikTok, according to the new study. Although most of the content is not ill-intentioned, that does not mean that it does not have a negative effect, regardless of whether the users are boomers or millennials. When young people watch videos that ridicule ageism and demonize the habits of the elderly, this has an impact on their health. After all, we are all destined to grow old. Todays millennials are tomorrows boomers, Ng explains. On the other hand, if older adults do not find content that reflects their reality, they will continue to feel out of place on TikTok and avoid it, which in turn, furthers the generational conflict on the platform.

Using humor to question power

What both social groups understand as a sense of humor is key to deciphering the social media tensions between the different generations. Currently, three forms of comedy culture coexist with one another. The oral medium, represented by jokes; the graphic, such as cartoons; and the digital, where the humor of this generation is inserted. What TikTok does is incorporate all these features and create transmedia humor, which on many occasions is not understood by [older] adults, explains Carles Feixa, a social anthropologist at Pompeu Fabra University.

The older generation may understand the intent behind these videos, but not always. There is, in fact, a whole subcategory of TikTok videos in which youngsters are seen showing their confused mothers memes. For them, its like learning a new language that is not their mother tongue. So sometimes they think that young people are insulting them, when all they are doing is expressing themselves, says Feixa.

According to the expert, this gap in understanding hinders effective communication, which millennials see as an opportunity for humor. Historically, it is a way of questioning power. The younger generations feel totally left out, they feel that all the political, economic and academic power is in the hands of the boomers. And since they cannot question it through other means, they use humor, and they do it on a site that belongs to them, such as TikTok, he adds.

This does not mean that social media is the cause of the friction between different generations, says Mariano Sanchez, director of the Chair of Intergenerational Studies at the University of Granada in Spain. Conflicts between generations have always existed. But they hide a misconception, since they start from the assumption that the categorization of generations is fixed, and it is not. We are all multigenerational, there is no one who can only be defined as a millennial, boomer or Gen Z, he says.

In fact, reality is very different from the world that TikTok paints. Studies and surveys carried out with representative samples show that the population does not perceive this conflict. Although it cannot be denied that there is frustration from the youngest, who feel different from the rest of the population. But this has always been the case, it is not limited to social media. The only thing that has changed is the spread and scope that the content has today, concludes Sanchez.

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YORK, Maine  Caroline Bruno has ridden in plenty of parades for the York Village Fire Departments Field Day, but never in the top spot held by Miss Flame.

The daughter and granddaughter of longtime Village firefighters, Bruno graduated from York High School in June, making her eligible to wear the Miss Flame sash and crown.

Ive been waiting since I was little, Bruno said. Its really cool to have this honor.

Caroline Bruno called it an honor to serve at Miss Flame in this year's Field Day, scheduled for Aug. 19 with a parade and firemen's muster.

The annual parade kicks off at noon on Field Day Aug. 19, an event in its 107th year. The day includes a firemen muster in which firefighters demonstrate their skills through a series of challenges.

Departments from around the region are invited to participate. The York Beach Fire Department holds its own Field Day with a parade and muster each summer as well, with one trophy in their department showing their event going back to at least 1934.

Its a longstanding tradition that we will certainly keep going with for many years to come, York Village Fire Chief Chris Balentine said.

Meet the Yorkettes: Seniors shake it up at Short Sands Beach with flash mob dance

Field Day to bring fun to York Village

Firefighters in York talk about Field Day like they do a major holiday, deeply embedded in their culture.

As a young boy, York Village fire Lt. Stephen Carr said he chased fire trucks around town on his bicycle, listening to a scanner. He started with the department as an explorer at 14 years old and always looked forward to Field Day, like it was a family vacation.

For as long as I can remember, this has been the most exciting day of the year, Carr said.

The parade formation of fire engines and other vehicles will start at 11 a.m. at Woodbridge and York Street. When the parade leaves at noon, it will go down York Street through York Harbor and the Village. Its destination is Moulton Park, where the muster will take place along with food, games for kids and up-close encounters with fire trucks.

Caroline Bruno (left) is this year's Miss Flame, which York Village Fire Lt. Stephen Carr (right) said was fitting given her parents and grandparents have served as firefighters.

The muster will include games involving firefighter equipment that test the speed with which participants can complete tasks. A dry hose exercise will have teams assemble a hose before running it to the finish. A wet hose exercise requires the same task, after which water is sent through the hose and aimed at a target. A race, where competitors rush up a fire ladder to ring the bell, will also be held.

Musters were once more common, todays members recalling days where nearby departments came together to test their skills against each other. Balentine said it is important for the department in York Village to hold the annual event. He said the department includes families like his own, with a few generations in the ranks who look forward to Field Day each year.

Wed be letting them all down if we didnt keep going, Balentine said. So, were going to keep the tradition alive.

Love, Lois: How an 80-year-old woman battling cancer became a local legend at York Beach

Miss Flame Caroline Bruno raised in York Village fire family

Bruno, 18, loves the Miss Flame title, because of what the Fire Department means to her family. Each year, Miss Flame is a different girl who is a relative of a York Village Fire Department member and a graduate from York High School that year.

Brunos father, Jamie Eslinger, is a current firefighter, and her mother, Amanda Bruno, was also one before leaving to become a nurse. Brunos grandparents, Mike and Sue Bruno, were also firefighters for 17 years.

Brunos grandfather Mike, a lieutenant, was a role model for Caroline Bruno, who said she recognized him to be one of the best lieutenants she had ever seen. He died in May at 72, and Bruno said she learned she would be Miss Flame only a few weeks later.

It was just kind of like a sign from him, Bruno said.

This year's Miss Flame is Caroline Bruno, who parents served many years for the York Village Fire Department. Miss Flame is the ambassador of the department at the annual Field Day scheduled for Aug. 19.

Bruno plans to attend the University of Southern Maine and is planning on a career in law enforcement. The blue runs in her family as well, her grandfather having been a police officer.

Bruno said no one in her fire family has given her a hard time about picking blue over red. Carr said police and fire are not big on rivalry in town, though they once held a softball game in which the two competed. Some police participated in the muster last year.

We let the police win a couple of trophies, Carr joked. They might have a few firemen trophies down at the lobby, but thats a pat on the back.

Carr said, in the end, both services go hand in hand when a crisis strikes.

Its all right, Carr said. Its all helping the public.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Caroline Bruno named Miss Flame: York Fire Dept. readies for Field Day
As the evidentiary hearing for Navigator Heartland Greenway, LLC's proposed carbon dioxide pipeline continues into its second week, testimony Wednesday shed light on an important but undisclosed component of the system.

South Dakota Public Utilities Commission heard from Matthew Frazell, a consultant with Texas-based Environmental Resources Management, Inc, regarding Navigator's plume model information. This data is crucial to understanding how carbon dioxide is dispersed in the event of a pipeline rupture, including how far the gas  a known asphyxiant at high concentrations  can travel.

Navigator's Heartland Greenway System, a $3.2 billion endeavor, is expected to run through about 111.9 miles of eastern South Dakota farmland between Brookings, Lincoln, Minnehaha, Moody and Turner counties. If built, the proposed system will connect to five ethanol plants under POET, one of the largest biorefiners in the U.S., as well as a Valero Renewable Fuels plant.

Navigator's plume modeling data has remained confidential throughout the hearing process, but certain witnesses like Frazell have been privy to observing the report.

More: Attorney argues against 'destruction' of South Dakota way of life in Navigator pipeline hearings

Frazell, in both his in-person and written testimony, said Navigator's report had not provided adequate information to prove that the proposed pipeline would not harm residents or communities in the event of a rupture.

He also admitted he was concerned Navigator had not included high consequence areas, such as populated areas, drinking water sources and unusually sensitive ecological areas, in their initial dispersion analysis.

The confidential data itself is in some ways bare, Frazell also observed. Navigator's Air Dispersion Guidance report, which contains plume modeling data, contained "just tables of data." Frazell said the documentation does not include "outputs," or visualizations or useful reports showing how communities would be impacted.

"[Navigator] does a really good job of saying what was done, what we plan to do, but doesn't say inputs or visual outputs of which HCAs are impacted," Frazell said.

Brian Jorde, an attorney representing landowners affected by Navigator's pipeline, called Navigator's models into question while examining Frazell.

Navigator's confidential report, according to Frazell's written testimony, indicated the company used two different software, ALOHA (Area Location of Hazardous Atmosphere) and PHAST, to study dispersion of CO2 in the atmosphere, though the exact usage of the modeling programs was not specified.

Jorde questioned the quality of the information provided by the software, however.

The attorney asserted the modeling software demonstrates CO2 dispersion distances for perfectly flat plains, which would not suit South Dakota's varied landscape.

Asked by Jorde whether ALOHA and PHAST have little or no ability to account for complex variables that can affect plumes  meteorology and terrain as prime examples  Frazell affirmed with a "yes."

Despite these shortcomings, Frazell went on to say that these models are also the industry standard and sufficient for Navigator's purposes.

"The modeling can be very good, but there will be some differences in real world events," Frazell said.

He suggested more advanced software, such as computational fluid dynamics modeling, could be used to model CO2 releases near high consequence areas but stipulated "[CFD] wasn't originally designed for large products such as a pipeline."

PUC Chairperson Kristie Fiegen later took a turn to query Frazell on whether CFD would be more useful in understanding how CO2 dispersion by South Dakota's rolling hills and terra.

"You can definitely get more detailed," Frazell replied. "It might not change the dispersion distance  but it's definitely going to be more detailed."

PUC questions PHMSA's 'reactive' decisions

The Wednesday hearing also delved into how the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration enacts its procedures for emergencies related to pipelines.

William Byrd, president of RCP Inc, an engineering and regulatory firm that offers its services to PHMSA-regulated pipeline companies, testified on Wednesday about the relationship between pipeline company and the federal agency and how that interacts with preventing or responding to emergencies, among other things.

Byrd said Navigator has come up with a "laundry list" of modern techniques to detect a CO2 leaks. They largely haven't been finalized, Byrd clarified.

Related: Pipeline to 'nowhere': Navigator CO2 routes in flux as Illinois resists project

He also asserted all of their emergency response plans are "on the table."

"You kind of have to keep the book open on all of these emergency response planning procedures because you don't want to stick with something too early," Byrd said.

Byrd also testified on PHMSA's regulations on how companies operate their CO2 pipelines, calling them "effective."

However, Byrd also pointed to some of the gray areas within PHMSA's regulatory process. PHMSA, Byrd said, does not keep "definitive maps" of high consequence areas, and it is up to a pipeline operator to determine where those areas  as well as places with unusually sensitive ecology  exist.

"I think the approval of the pipeline should be contingent on 'do you believe the operator is going to do a competent job and PHMSA is going to do a competent job of overseeing this operator?'" Byrd said.

PUC Chairperson Kristie Fiegen would later lean into this assessment in her questioning of Byrd. She stated she believes PHMSA is "gray" and can sometimes be more "reactive than proactive" when it comes to safety guidelines.

Byrd agreed in part.

"That's what the public kind of expects. If something happens that's tragic, they expect the government to react to it and PHMSA reacts," Byrd said. "But the vast majority of PHMSA's efforts are proactive."

Dominik Dausch is the agriculture and environment reporter for the Argus Leader and editor of Farm Forum. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook @DomDNP and send news tips to ddausch@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Consultant: Navigator's pipeline rupture data has some shortcomings
WASHINGTON  Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley on Tuesday argued that the monthslong hold Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., has imposed on military nominations is having a detrimental effect on service members as well as military readiness.

"Theres got to be other ways to go about doing this," Haley said on conservative Hugh Hewitt's radio show about Tuberville's blockade on military promotions, adding that service members don't feel like anyone has the military's back.

Tuberville has blocked nominees in the Senate from receiving promotions for more than 250 high-ranking military officers over a Defense Department policy that pays for the travel expenses of service members who go to other states for reproductive health care services, including abortions.

Service members "look at the fact that theyre, you know, dangling these promotions out there and using them as fodder," said Haley, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and governor of South Carolina. "I mean, theyre looking at the fact that people dont see these, you know, men and women who serve as heroes anymore. And thats sad, and its terrible. And you know, I appreciate what Tubervilles trying to do. I do. Like, its totally wrong that the Department of Defense is doing this. But have we gotten so low that this is how we have to go about stopping it?"

Haley said the Pentagon shouldn't have instituted this policy in the first place.

"You know, for my husband whos serving overseas, and for all those military men and women, the idea that this is what theyre looking back and seeing, and this is what they are dealing with on top of the stresses of keeping themselves safe and being away from their families, its wrong," she said.

Haley voiced frustration with the fact that many families, as a result of Tuberville's hold, are in limbo. "Its incredibly stressful for the family. But its incredibly stressful for the service member because their life is on hold," she said.

Asked for comment, Tuberville spokesman Steven Stafford said he didn't view Haley's comments as criticism, saying, "She regrets that it is necessary but doesnt seem to dispute that it is indeed necessary." Stafford also noted that the hold is on nominees for generals and admirals, not all officers in the military.

Former President Donald Trump, the front-runner in the polls for the GOP presidential nomination, has remained silent on the issue, including over the weekend when he took the stage with Tuberville in Alabama for a campaign event.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, also running for the White House, defended Tuberville's blockade in an interview with Hewitt last month. "They are funding abortion tourism, which is not an appropriate thing for the military to be doing, DeSantis said. So I think our Republicans in the Congress should just take a stand on this. The DOD [Department of Defense] should stand down."

Tuberville has spoken to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin several times, but he hasn't relented. President Joe Biden and the White House have repeatedly blasted his effort. Last month, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said that the Defense Department was unlikely to change the policy that Tuberville is protesting. "Its the right thing to do, and I dont think were going to change it, she told NBC News.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
PROVIDENCE  A 33-year-old man who was among three people wounded in gunfire last week at the Chad Brown housing complex has died, the police said Monday morning.

Jhensen Baldayac and two other men were shot Thursday night. They were taken to Rhode Island Hospital.

The crime scene encompassed a part of June Street near Pumgansett Street and a yard in the housing complex.

Providence police investigators process the crime scene on June Street at the Chad Brown housing complex Thursday night after three young men were shot.

A spokeswoman for Providence police, Lindsay Lague, identified Baldayac by name in a news release Monday morning.

Following the shooting on Thursday, Providence police Maj. David Lapatin said the circumstances of the incident weren't immediately clear.

One possibility was that the three young men had been wounded during an exchange of gunfire. The shooting left casings on June Street near a yard with a picnic table within the Chad Brown complex.

Hours later, police determined that a vehicle pocked with bullets and found on Goddard Street had been involved in the shooting, Lapatin said.

He had no further updates to provide in the case on Monday. The medical status of two other young men who were hit by gunfire Thursday wasn't clear.

The death of Baldayac marks the city's 11th homicide this year.

Pioneering police tactics: From wildfires to standoffs, UAVs are transforming RI policing

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Providence triple shooting victim dies after incident at Chad Brown
A new study from economists at MIT and UCLA observed that data-entry workers were 18% less productive at home than they were in the office. Mayur Kakade/Getty Images

A study from economists at MIT and UCLA found productivity dropped when people worked from home.

The study observed groups of data-entry workers in India working from home and from the office.

People who worked from home saw their productivity fall by 18%, the researchers said.

The debate on workers returning to the office could end up centering on a debate about productivity.

Some workers argue they're more productive working remotely. But some managers say employees are more productive when they're in an office. And at an extreme, some people even contend that working from home should be looked down upon.

Now, one new study could add some clarity to the competing views: It suggests that people are more productive working from the office, which could be good news for managers and tech companies trying to bring their employees back in.

In a working paper that's being circulated by the National Bureau of Economic Research, economists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of California, Los Angeles, observed data-entry workers in Chennai, India, across two groups  those working from the office and those working from home  over test periods of eight weeks.

The key finding? Those in the work-from-home group were 18% less productive than those working from the office.

How is "productivity" measured?

To gather subjects for the study, the researchers posted advertisements for entry-level data jobs in local newspapers, and ultimately observed a total of 235 workers, according to the study. These workers were then divided into two groups that were randomized across skill level and preference for working from home or the office  among other traits  and given identical tasks, resources, and goals.

The report noted that both groups were also asked to work for approximately 35 hours a week. However, those working from home were given the flexibility to choose when they worked, while those coming into the office were restricted to a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule.

For those working from home, the researchers also took low-resolution pictures of the workers every 15 minutes through a camera built into a laptop they provided, to ensure they weren't outsourcing their work.

The main measure used to gauge productivity in the study was "net typing speed," which the report defined as the number of correct entries typed per minute. The study also measured the "accuracy" of the workers by comparing the ratio of correct data entries to total data entries, along with idle times.

Why data-entry workers? The report noted they're widespread across India, the job has relatively low skill requirements, it can be easily performed in both remote and office settings, and collecting detailed measures of productivity and output for data-entry workers is a relatively straightforward process that focuses on measures like input per minute, errors, and time spent working.

David Atkin, one of the authors of the study, also told Insider that there is also little to no collaboration between workers in the data entry sector. "Thus, this is a setting where we might think that those working from home would not be disadvantaged compared to those working from the office," he wrote by email.

The bigger question, though, might be how these results can be extrapolated to other jobs, and even industries, where there is more collaboration across people and teams.

Atkin said that the study's estimates around productivity may "underestimate effects in other industries" especially those in which defining, isolating, and measuring productivity may be more challenging. We don't have reasons to believe that there will not be productivity effects in these settings even if they are harder to measure, he wrote.

Working from home can make communication more challenging

Still, one of the reasons remote workers could be less productive than their office counterpoints is because of challenges in communication that arise from virtual work.

An earlier study of more than 60,000 staff members at Microsoft who transitioned from office work to remote work between December 2019 and June 2020 found that the employees became "more siloed, less dynamic" and weren't able to form as many new connections compared to the pre-pandemic days. While people did form stronger connections with their immediate team members, the study found that they spent an average of 25% less time collaborating across groups.

These types of communication challenges can be particularly problematic for younger workers. A recent survey found that some Gen Z and millennial workers are struggling to feel included in virtual meetings.

Ultimately, employees appear to be most content when they have flexibility around their schedule. Some of the happiest employees last year were the ones who were working in remote-hybrid roles.



Nevertheless, this new data could bolster the case that some tech execs are making to bring people back into the office. In February, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy issued a mandate requiring corporate employees to spend at least three days a week in the office beginning May 1. And Mark Zuckerberg's Meta has asked most workers to return to the office three days a week.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The suspect accused of kidnapping and murdering 18-year-old Naomi Irion, who vanished in a Walmart parking lot, has died by suicide in his jail cell while awaiting trial.

The Lyon County Sheriffs Department wrote that on 6 August at 6.17pm, deputies assigned to the Lyon County Jail were conducting routine hourly cell checks and conducting inmate head counts when they discovered an inmate who was unresponsive.

The inmate was identified as Troy Driver, 43. Officers provided lifesaving measures on Driver, as did medical personnel from Yerington/Mason Valley Fire Department, but to no avail, the sheriffs office wrote.

Officers currently believe that Driver died of suicide by asphyxiation; he was being held in a maximum security cell and had no contact with other inmates, the release added.

Nevada State Police are investigating the incident, the sheriffs office said.

Driver was awaiting trial after being charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping in connection with the teens disappearance on 12 March, 2022.

Irion had moved to Nevada to live with her brother, Casey Valley, shortly before the incident.

Mr Valley reacted to the news of Drivers death on Facebook, writing: I deeply regret that he took the easy way out before the trial, but I have no doubt in my mind given what I have been privy to that he is the perpetrator. A lot of mixed feelings at the moment.

Following an anonymous tip, investigators discovered Irions body at a gravesite in a remote region of Nevada weeks after she vanished outside of a Walmart in Fernley, Nevada, 30 miles east of Reno.

Driver was a resident of Fallon, Nevada, who worked at construction company Ledcor. He was seen in surveillance footage as a hooded figure interacting with the 18-year-old in the Walmart parking lot. The footage captured Irion moving from the drivers side of her car to the passenger side.

The suspect in Irions murder had previously pleaded guilty to being an accessory to murder in 1997. Driver, then 17, reportedly assisted his girlfriend in disposing of the body of a methamphetamine dealer in Willits, California.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress and isolation, or are struggling to cope, The Samaritans offers support; you can speak to someone for free over the phone, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Helpline is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
Mongtomery Police Chief Darryl Albert said at a press conference shed light on the brawl that occurred along the waterfront over the weekend.

Chief Albert said that the Harriott II cruise ship, which takes passengers for 2-hour rides along the Alabama River, had 227 passengers on board when it tried to dock in its designated space, when it noticed a pontoon boat was docked there.

Damian Pickett, the Harriotts co-captain, waited for 40 to 45 minutes for the boat to move. A smaller boat picked up Mr Pickett and brought him to the pier to try to have a conversation with the pontoon boat owner so that he could park the large vessel in its spot.

Thats when the co-captain was attacked by several members of the private boat after they confronted him in a hostile manner, the police chief said. Mr Pickett was doing his job, he added. The videos of the incident that ensued have now gone viral.

He said that in addition to Mr Pickett, an employee on the smaller vessel that transported him to the dock, a 16-year-old White male, was assaulted by members of the pontoon boat.

On the night of the incident, police detained 13 individuals; the interviews lasted several hours, but all parties involved were released.

Now, three people have warrants out for arrest. Richard Roberts, a 48-year-old white male has two warrants for assault, Allen Todd, a 23-year-old white male has one warrant for assault, and Zachary Shipman, a 25-year-old white male, also has one warrant for assault.

All individuals with warrants were members of the pontoon boat, the police chief said. The mayor said they are not residents of Montgomery, Alabama.

The police chief said one person is in custody with the Selma Police Department, and two still have to turn themselves in within the hour, but he did not identify who had already been detained.

Chief Albert also called for Reggie Gray, who is seen wielding that folding chair in videos, to contact police for further interviews.

The police chief added that the Montgomery Police Department is working with the state police agency, DAs office and local FBI office; he said more charges are likely. The investigation is ongoing. He added that the police examined whether there was enough to file hate crime charges but these are the applicable charges with the footage they have so far. Chief Albert encouraged people to keep sending videos of the incident to the Montgomery Police Department.

This is not indicative of who we are as a city. We are much better than that, the police chief added. He called the incident disturbing.
The rise of antibiotic-resistant microbes has put the world on edge: superbugs already kill more people than AIDS, malaria and some cancers. And the short- and medium-term outlook is bleak. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers this phenomenon to be one of the biggest threats to global health and points to the improper and excessive use of antibiotics as an accelerator of the problem. While the inappropriate consumption of these drugs garners most of the attention, it is not the only cause being studied. New research, published Monday in The Lancet Planetary Health, has also found a correlation between antibiotic resistance and pollution: the more air pollution, the more antibiotic resistance there is.

But the authors admit that their findings are only an association; causality cannot be established, and the exact mechanisms that explain this relationship are not clear. However, the researchers argue that reducing air pollution levels could help reduce antibiotic resistance and project that, if WHO air quality guidelines are met, a 17% reduction in antibiotic resistance could be achieved by 2050.

Humans are exposed to superbugs through food or direct contact with infectious sources, such as animals. They can also be infected through water, soil or air. For example, resistant bacteria in hospitals or livestock could be transmitted to water treatment facilities or ecosystems, and even emitted from these environments into the atmosphere, [thereby] exposing humans [to it] through inhalation, the authors say in the article.

Air is a vector for disseminating resistance to antibiotics. In this study, the researchers focus on one of the main pollutants, fine particulate matter PM2.5: It has been shown that [these particles] contain various resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes, which are transferred between environments and inhaled directly by humans, causing respiratory tract lesions and infections, they explain.

Based on that premise, they analyzed available data from 116 countries between 2000 and 2018  all told, they studied nine pathogens and 43 drugs  and found that air pollution levels correlate with increased antibiotic resistance. For example, a 1% increase in PM2.5 was associated with a 1.49% increase in resistances of Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria to carbapenems, a type of broad-spectrum antibiotic. Globally, a 10% increase in annual PM2.5 could lead to a 1.1% increase in aggregate antibiotic resistance and 43,654 premature deaths attributable to antibiotic resistance, they state in the article. The research concluded that antibiotic resistance stemming from PM2.5 fine particulate matter caused about 480,000 premature deaths worldwide in 2018.

The main mechanism is the high PM2.5 concentration, which carries more antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes Zhenchao Zhou, Zhejiang University

The authors also found regional differences. Africa and Asia are the areas where the increases in PM2.5 could lead to the greatest increase in antibiotic resistance. In Saudi Arabia, for example, the researchers estimate that a 10% increase in PM2.5 would mean a 3% rise in bacterial resistance.

The researchers believe that reducing air pollution can have a double benefit because it can also prevent poor air qualitys harmful effects. The research modeled several future scenarios based on the fluctuation of several variables, such as air quality, healthcare spending and antibiotic use. The study concluded that, if nothing is done in the coming decades (through 2050), antibiotic resistance will increase by 17%, and deaths attributable to this cause will rise by more than 56% worldwide, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. However, if PM2.5 can be controlled to 5 g/m the threshold recommended by the WHO  global antibiotic resistance could be reduced by 16.8%, preventing 23.4% of the deaths attributable to this phenomenon in 2050.

The mechanism is unclear

The researchers concede the limitations of their study. That includes the data with which they worked, as certain countries did not provide all the necessary information. These shortcomings may influence the studys final results. The researchers also state that there may be other factors that are causing antibiotic resistance: Additional social, economic and environmental factors  such as food intake, use of veterinary antibiotics, exposure to other contaminants, extreme environmental events, habits and customs  should be introduced to comprehensively assess [their] association with antibiotic resistance, the article says.

They also note that the studys other major open question is that the underlying mechanism of air pollutants affecting antibiotic resistance is still unclear, and additional medical evidence is still needed to verify that information. The studys lead author Zhenchao Zhou, a researcher at Zhejiang Universitys School of Environmental and Resource Sciences in China, acknowledges the studys limitations. In an email response, he specifies that we all know that correlation does not represent causation, and for the sake of rigorous science, we say may be linked. In our analysis, we could say that the correlation between air pollution and antibiotic resistance is strong and significant.

It was already known that elements related to antibiotic resistance could travel in airborne particles, but this is an interesting message Juan Pablo Horcajada, Hospital del Mar in Barcelona, Spain

In regard to how the relationship between particulate pollutants and antibiotic resistance can be explained, Zhou says that the exact mechanism is not clear. But he adds that, according to reports in the existing literature, the main mechanism is that the high concentration of PM2.5 carries more bacteria and antibiotic-resistant genes, and direct exposure to these substances can lead to increased antibiotic resistance in the population.

Zhou also points out that it has already been shown that PM2.5 particles could increase cell membrane permeability to enhance horizontal gene transfers efficiency, accelerating the evolution and exchange of antibiotic resistance elements in bacterial pathogens.

More questions than answers

He goes on to say that five years ago, he and his team collected a hundred PM2.5 air samples from hospitals, farms and cities, and sputum samples from human airways. Surprisingly, he notes, they found that the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes in PM2.5 air was very high. Those airborne antibiotic resistance genes, he explains, were going to be directly exposed to the human body. We found that, together, outdoor and indoor PM2.5 particles contributed to 7% of antibiotic resistance genes in the airways of hospital patients, suggesting an important exchange between air and human commensals. So, we hypothesized that PM2.5 would affect antibiotic resistance, but at the time we didnt know what kind of impact. Now, using big global data, we [can] confirm that PM2.5 has a significant impact on antibiotic resistance, he says.

Juan Pablo Horcajada, the director of the Infectious Diseases Service at Hospital del Mar in Barcelona, Spain, calls this research innovative and provocative, although he observes that it involves data correlations and deductions from very different databases. He adds that it was already known that elements related to antibiotic resistance could travel in airborne particles, but this is an interesting message, he says. The specialist in infectious diseases argues that, if a causal relationship between contamination and antibiotic resistance is confirmed, the impact on the future of resistant microbes may be even greater than expected. Antimicrobial resistance worries us a lot, and that concern is growing. We no longer know which antibiotics to use to treat certain bacteria. It is of great concern because [we see this phenomenon] in hospitals, primary care and veterinary medicine, he says.

Kevin McConway, Professor Emeritus of Applied Statistics at the UKs Open University, tells Science Media Centre that interpreting [these results] requires a great deal of caution. He notes that while the authors found interesting correlations and associations, questions remain about cause and effect. McConway, who was not involved in the research, points out that the data come from countries as a whole, but there can be a lot of variability in air quality, for example, within a single region, and the average results may not represent what is happening in general.

The expert further advises that it is likely that there are other possible confounders for which they could not collect any data, and it is still possible that there are confounders at work that are involved in the causality of a countrys level of antibiotic resistance. He stresses that overall, this observational data analysis and modeling research indicate that it may well be worth looking further into the role of air pollution in relation to antibiotic resistance, but at this stage there remains a great deal of uncertainty about what is actually happening. I would say that the new research raises more questions than it answers.

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Three Romanian citizens accused of defrauding Target stores across the U.S. have been sentenced to prison, authorities said.

The trio used a sleight of hand trick to buy Visa gift cards without paying full price, according to an Aug. 7 news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Missouri. Sleight of hand is a cleverly executed trick or deception that requires skill and dexterity.

When purchasing the cards, they would display the full purchase price in cash, then fold over a portion and keep it while handing the rest of the money to store employees, officials said.

As part of the yearslong short-change scheme, authorities said the three people would target younger or less experienced store workers. They then wired profits of the scheme to family in Romania, according to the release.

The trio included a man, his wife and his sister-in-law, officials said.

All three also admitted entering the country illegally after being removed from the United States before, according to the release.

The defense attorneys representing the defendants did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News on Aug. 8

All three pleaded guilty in Missouri earlier this year to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and illegal reentry of an alien, records show. The charges are felonies.

Officials said one of the women was involved in stealing $224,666 since 2017, and the other admitted to being involved in the theft of $83,865. The man wired about $62,534, according to the release.

Fraud is often mistaken for a victimless crime, Taekuk Cho, acting special agent in charge of the Homeland Security Investigations. Kansas City Area of Operations, said in the release. But when individuals commit these types of crimes, whether it be through heightened prices to recoup lost funds, employee layoffs, or a multitude of other possible losses to the economy, these criminals are most certainly victimizing consumers and businesses.

The 30-year-old man has been sentenced to 15 months in prison, and his wife has been sentenced to two years in prison. Her sister was sentenced to 10 months in prison.

The wife has also been ordered to repay $224,666 in restitution, officials said. A restitution amount for the other two people will not be determined until Nov. 5, records show.

McClatchy News requested comment from Target on Aug. 8 and was awaiting a response.

Homeland Security Investigations and the Arnold Police Department investigated the scheme.

Arnold is part of the St. Louis metropolitan area.

Mans lottery scam cheated people out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, feds say

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A Texas judge ruled that a trio of senior Southwest Airlines attorneys must partake in "religious liberty training" from a conservative Christian hate group.

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Brantley Starr mandated the lawyers to take eight hours of training with Alliance Defending Freedom, which the Southern Poverty Law Center has labeled to be an anti-LGBTQ+ hate group.

"Founded by some 30 leaders of the Christian Right, the Alliance Defending Freedom is a legal advocacy and training group that has supported the recriminalization of sexual acts between consenting LGBTQ adults in the U.S. and criminalization abroad; has defended state-sanctioned sterilization of trans people abroad; has contended that LGBTQ people are more likely to engage in pedophilia; and claims that a 'homosexual agenda' will destroy Christianity and society," The New Republic reported. "ADF also works to develop 'religious liberty' legislation and case law that will allow the denial of goods and services to LGBTQ people on the basis of religion. Since the election of President Trump, ADF has become one of the most influential groups informing the administration's attack on LGBTQ rights."

The New Republic also reported that ADF played a pivotal role in the overturning of Roe v. Wade, eventually suing to remove the abortion drug mifepristone from the domestic market. The organization also represented plaintiff Lorie Smith in the SCOTUS case 303 Creative v. Elenis, in which the web designer was suing to refuse services to LGBTQ+ identifying people.

The Alliance Defending Freedom, according to Starr, who was appointed by Trump in 2019, is one of a number of "esteemed non-profit organizations that are dedicated to preserving free speech and religious freedom."

The sanctioned training comes as part of a larger lawsuit filed by a Southwest flight attendant who argued she was discriminated against based on her religious beliefs after the airline fired her in 2017 for sending anti-abortion messages to the president of her union. Charlene Carter, a "longtime union critic," called her union president despicable for attending the 2017 Women's Rights March in Washington, D.C., where thousands of women gathered to protest the inauguration of former President Donald Trump and rally for various other women's rights issues," according to The Associated Press.

In December, an $800,000 ruling was issued against the airline after a jury in Dallas found that Southwest had violated Carter's right to religious speech. Carter was also reinstated as a flight attendant.

In his triple-threat Monday order, Starr also sanctioned Southwest to cover Carter's most recent legal fees and dictated a statement for the airline to disseminate to its employees. The latest mandates come after he said Southwest took seeming liberties in one of his post-trial rulings, seemingly provoking the judge's ire. At the time, Starr ordered the airline to tell flight attendants that under federal law, it "may not discriminate against Southwest flight attendants for their religious practices and beliefs." Southwest instead told employees that it "does not discriminate" on religious beliefs, and cautioned telling flight attendants to heed the policy that it cited in terminating Carter.

The judge in this week's order ruled that Southwest "didn't come close to complying with the Court's order," and cited Merriam-Webster dictionary definitions of "may," "does" and "tolerate." Starr also demanded that Southwest share a new verbatim statement with its employees noting that the airline may not discriminate against flight attendants for religious beliefs "including  but not limited" to abortion.

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The left-leaning D.C. watchdog group Accountable.US called out Starr as a longtime Federalist Society member.

"This is a new low for our federal judiciary  even for an extremist Federalist Society judge," the group tweeted.

NEW: Judge Brantley Starr, a longtime @FedSoc member, ordered three @SouthwestAir lawyers to take religious-liberty training from hate group @ADFLegal.



This is a new low for our federal judiciary  even for an extremist Federalist Society judge.https://t.co/D4W5Gt1wfR  Accountable.US (@accountable_us) August 8, 2023

Slate legal analyst Mark Joseph Stern called the order "frightening."

"If upheld, Trump Judge Brantley Starr's order would let courts force lawyers to undergo religious indoctrination sessions from an extremist group that may well contradict their own deeply held spiritual beliefs and freedom of speech," he warned. "This cannot possibly be legal."

If upheld, Trump Judge Brantley Starr's order would let courts force lawyers to undergo religious indoctrination sessions from an extremist group that may well contradict their own deeply held spiritual beliefs and freedom of speech. This cannot possibly be legal.  Mark Joseph Stern (@mjs_DC) August 8, 2023

Read more

about the Alliance Defending Freedom
FREEHOLD  Two fugitives who were involved in a June shooting incident in Long Branch have been found and arrested, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced on Tuesday.

Michael O Rourke, 31, of Asbury Park, has been charged with first-degree conspiracy to commit murder, first-degree attempted murder, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun and second-degree certain persons not to possess a weapon, Santiago said. Brianna L. Graziano, 27, of Tinton Falls, was charged with first-degree conspiracy to commit murder and first-degree attempted murder.

Around 2:15 a.m. on June 12, Long Branch Police responded to the area of the Matilda Terrace apartments for a report of an altercation, according to Santiago. At the scene, they found the victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, including one to his neck. The victim was taken to Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch where he was treated and released for his injuries.

An investigation by the prosecutors Major Crimes Bureau and the Long Branch Police Department identified ORourke and Graziano as those responsible for the shooting, the prosecutor said.

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On Friday, ORourke was found and arrested in Ohio by members of the U.S. Marshals Mountain State Fugitive Task Force  Wheeling Office in West Virginia, Santiago said. Graziano was found in New Jersey by the U.S. Marshals NY/NJ Regional Task Force.

Santiago is urging anyone with information on this case to contact the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office Detective Joshua Rios at 800-533-7443 or Long Branch Police Department Detective Connor Mullan at 732-222-1000.

Convictions on first-degree criminal charges can be punishable by terms up to 20 years in state prison, according to Santiago.

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: NJ police capture fugitives in June 12 Long Branch shooting
Odesa, Ukraine  About 30 miles from the front line in eastern Ukraine, two Russian hypersonic missiles damaged an apartment building and a hotel popular with international journalists covering the war. Pavlo Kyrylenko, head of the regional military administration in the Donetsk region, said seven people were killed in the Monday evening strike with 81 more wounded, including two children.

Almost half of those wounded in the attack were Ukrainian fire and rescue workers, as the second missile struck about 40 minutes after the first. Emergency services rushed to the site of the first explosion, not knowing that a second missile was about to hit.

Rescuers work at the site of a building destroyed during in a Russian missile strike in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, Ukraine, August 8, 2023. / Credit: VIACHESLAV RATYNSKYI/REUTERS

Russia claimed it had struck a Ukrainian army command post in Pokrovsk, but Ukrainian officials accused Vladimir Putin's forces of deliberately targeting first responders.

"All of (the police) were there because they were needed, putting their efforts into rescuing people after the first strike," Ivan Vyhivskyi, Ukraine's National Police chief, said according to The Associated Press. "They knew that under the rubble were the injured  they needed to react, to dig, to retrieve, to save, and the enemy deliberately struck the second time."

Stunned and staring at an apartment building with its walls crumbling right after the strike, residents of the town of Pokrovsk quickly turned into rescuers, scrambling to help the wounded who lay sprawled out on the ground.

"The flames filled my eyes," said Kateryna, a 58-year-old local woman who was wounded in the attack. "I fell on the floor there's shrapnel in my neck."

Lydia, her 75-year-old neighbor, said a window fell onto her, leaving her back, knee and legs cut up.

Lydia, 75, a local resident, sits in her destroyed flat, at an apartment building destroyed during a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, Ukraine, August 8, 2023. / Credit: VIACHESLAV RATYNSKYI/REUTERS

Part of the local hotel Druzhba  which means "friendship"  was also smashed. It has been used by many journalists covering this war, including our own CBS News team who were there in June. They had to take shelter in the hotel basement when a missile exploded outside.

"Russia is trying to leave only broken and scorched stones," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "We have to stop Russian terror."

Local woman allegedly spying for Russia

That terror, according to Ukraine's counterintelligence services, included a sleeper cell of Russian agents within the local population.

Ukraine's SBU Counterintelligence agency said Tuesday that it had arrested three more Ukrainian women from the Pokrovsk district who were allegedly part of a covert network of Russian agents transmitting the movements of Ukrainian combat aircraft, personnel and military vehicles to the enemy.

An agent of Ukraine's SBU Counterintelligence agency is seen with a Ukrainian woman from the eastern Pokrovsk district who was arrested as part of an alleged network of Russian informants, according to a statement by the SBU published on August 8, 2023. / Credit: Handout/SBU Counterintelligence

The women "walked around the area and secretly took photographs of Ukrainian objects," the SBU alleged.

The claims came just a day after the spy agency said another Ukrainian woman had been detained and accused of gathering intelligence about a July visit by Zelenskyy to Mykolaiv, a city near the southeast front line, for an alleged assassination attempt on the president and a "massive airstrike" on the region.

The SBU's Tuesday claims, at least geographically, make sense: The eastern Donetsk region borders Russia, and the further east you go, the more of a historical affinity there is among the local population for Moscow.

"The peculiarity of the enemy group was that it consisted exclusively of local women who supported the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine," the SBU said in a statement revealing the arrests, alleging that the women worked "simultaneously" for Russia's FSB spy agency and the Wagner Group mercenary army.

Ukraine's SBU claimed the women arrested this week were in "standby mode," waiting since before the full-scale invasion was even launched in February 2022, for orders from Moscow.

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When I came to the Idaho Statesman as opinion page editor in 1999, it was suggested that I read a special section that the editorial department did on dam breaching. It was a gold-standard argument for saving salmon  the kind of effort that gets a Pulitzer Prize.

As the Statesman saw it, breaching the four dams on the lower Snake River was the only practical way that salmon could survive and the writers outlined a compelling case. The environmental, economic and scientific reasons clearly were on the side of breaching the dams.

Keep in mind, that was 24 years ago. The debate was raging long before that, and it continues today  without much movement in either direction. The groups that were for it decades ago are still for it, and those who have been opposed are still opposed. Idahos congressional delegation and state officials were  and still are  adamantly opposed to breaching. Predictably, conservationists and tribes favor it.

A big breakthrough on the breaching side came a couple of years ago when Idaho Republican Congressman Mike Simpson came out in favor of breaching and issued a $33 billion plan to get it done. He said at the time that he didnt know that breaching would save salmon, but he was certain that removal of the dams was the only chance.

Simpson doesnt have a lot of support from fellow politicians; even Democrats from Washington and Oregon are, at best, lukewarm to the idea. But Simpson is not one to give up easily, and he may have the biggest ally of them all on his side. President Biden has said he supports salmon and dam removal, drawing recent attention from national outlets such as Politico and the Wall Street Journal.

If salmon recovery becomes a legacy issue for Simpson (he has no shortage of those in his long career), he might consider establishing a Republicans for Biden committee, mixing with those within the GOP who dont like the idea of four more years of Donald Trump. Simpson often is reminded of his statement in 2016, declaring that Trump was unfit for the presidency  a statement that may be more applicable today than seven years ago.

Of course, Simpson wont break from Trump if he wins the GOP nomination  his caucus in the House wouldnt stand for it. But its a sure bet that breaching will not happen if Trump, or any other Republican, gets in the White House.

Idaho Sen. Jim Risch, for one, is taking the potential of Bidens intervention seriously. Risch is looking more toward the human benefits that the dams bring, such as hydropower and clean energy. The dams, he said, are a lifeline for the Port of Lewiston.

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, Risch wrote recently. Beyond us, there is strong, widespread support for the dams, including from Idaho officials and trade groups.

Risch points out that dam removal will not be an easy process, even if the president pushes forward. He has introduced the Northwest Energy Security Act, along with Republicans from Washington and Montana.

Congress authorized these dams, and only Congress has the power to remove them, he wrote. Thankfully, many of the congressional members elected to the area surrounding the Snake River dams are working to protect the economic and environmental benefits they provide.

Responding to Rischs efforts, Simpson said, While I respect Jims opinion, following his path forward would mean the annual loss of half a million-acre feet of water and extinction of Idahos salmon runs. This all to save four dams in Washington. Thats a path I cannot follow.

So, were back to where the breaching debate was when I returned to my home state 24 years ago. The way it looks, the rhetoric will be the same 24 years after Im gone from this earth.

By that time, salmon probably will be wiped out and the environmental argument will be about saving goldfish.

Chuck Malloy is a long-time Idaho journalist and columnist. He may be reached at ctmalloy@outlook.com.
A rendering of a new Veridian Credit Union standalone branch near The District at Prairie Trail in Ankeny.

A new Veridian Credit Union branch is under construction near The District at Prairie Trail in Ankeny.

Veridian services will move out of a nearby Hy-Vee store and into an expanded 3,400-square-foot standalone location at 2115 S.W. State St. with four drive-up lanes, including a lane with an ATM. There will be space for business and consuming lending services and a coin machine inside the building.

"We have a long history of partnering with Hy-Vee for Veridian branch locations, and were grateful for that partnership," said Shelly McGill, central Iowa regional manager for Veridian. "Shifting this location to a traditional, stand-alone branch less than half a mile away will allow us to offer drive-up service and more interior space, which will provide an overall improved member experience."

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The new branch is expected to open in spring 2024. The Prairie Trail Hy-Vee branch will close just before the new one opens. Employees at the Hy-Vee branch will transfer to the new location.

Chris Higgins covers the eastern suburbs for the Register. Reach him at chiggins@registermedia.com or 515-423-5146 and follow him on Twitter @chris_higgins.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: New Veridian branch under construction in Ankeny near Hy-Vee
MIDDLEBURY  Around 2:15 p.m. on Oct. 22, 2007, David Shaw,, who was then assistant chief of the Middlebury Fire Department, received a call about a train derailment in downtown Middlebury. As Shaw rushed to the fire station, he saw a large black plume of smoke rising in the sky. Little did he know that he was about to walk into the longest and one of the riskiest operations of his 43-year career.

The 2007 Middlebury incident was the largest train derailment Vermont has seen over the past four decades in terms of the number of train cars derailed. It was also the only time since 1988 that a train derailment in Vermont resulted in the release of hazardous materials, according to data from the Federal Railroad Administration.

"Nobody in this state had seen a freight incident like we had in downtown Middlebury," Shaw said.

The October 2007 Middlebury train derailment resulted in the release of about 800-1,800 gallons of gasoline into the environment, according to the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources.

Train derailments in Vermont: a broad view

While the Middlebury incident was Vermont's biggest train derailment in recent history, it was not the only one.

From 2006-2022, there have been a total of 31 train derailment incidents in Vermont, at least seven of which involved train cars carrying hazardous materials, according to data from the Federal Railroad Administration.

"[D]erailments involving hazmat are rare, and derailments overall have declined compared to previous decades," William Wong of the Federal Railroad Adminsitration said. "However, even one of these incidents is one too many, and there is still work to do to further cut down on the over 1,000 derailments that occur annually."

The October 2007 Middlebury train derailment resulted in the release of about 800-1,800 gallons of gasoline into the environment, according to the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources.

The most common hazardous materials carried by trains in Vermont are heating fuels, including propane and fuel oils, according to Patrick McLaughlin, chief of Vermont's state Hazardous Materials Response Team.

The dangers of train derailments involving hazardous materials came into the national spotlight on Feb. 3, 2023, when 38 cars of a freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, causing a fire that released toxic chemicals into the air.

An explosion avoided

The Environmental Protection Agency records the start of the Middlebury incident at around 2:15pm on Oct. 22, 2007, when 15 train cars carrying a total of 390,000 gallons of gasoline toppled on their sides. Five of those cars leaked gasoline into the surrounding soil and Otter Creek, according to Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Christopher Herrick.

"I was chief of the Hazmat team for 17 years," Herrick said. "This is perhaps the most significant event  certainly the largest derailment I ever went to."

Every fire department in Addison County responded to the scene, as well as the Vermont HAZMAT Team, Vermont Rail System, Coast Guard, Red Cross, and more. Police evacuated about 500 people to an emergency shelter.

A map showing the site of a train derailment in Middlebury in 2007.

Two fires broke out on the trains. While these fires were small, if they had reached the gasoline tank, it could have caused an explosion.

"I can't stress enough just how dangerous it was," Herrick said. "The explosive power of the aggregate amount of gasoline equaled that  I believe it was 64 million sticks of dynamite."

The train cars were directly behind a residential area which had not yet been evacuated, so the situation could have turned deadly.

At that point, Shaw had to make a decision: should he and his crew attempt to put out the fires, knowing that the train cars could explode in their face at any moment? Their answer was yes.

"We had made the determination to fight the fire, knowing that if we didn't do it right, it probably was going to be the last fire we ever fought," Shaw said.

Middlebury Fire Department Chief David Shaw standing on June 7, 2023 in front of the site where the 2007 Middlebury train derailment occurred.

Environmental pollution

After about 15-20 minutes, Shaw and his team had extinguished the fires with no injuries or casualties.

At that point, Shaw and his team turned their attention to the gallons of gasoline pouring into Otter Creek. What followed was a grueling two-and-a-half-day operation of pumping the gasoline out of the rail cars into a tractor-trailer.

By the end of the cleanup operation, the train cars had leaked about 6,000-10,000 gallons of gasoline  most of which was safely recovered, according to Herrick.

Emergency hazmat crews work to secure a freight train after several cars flipped over in downtown Middlebury in 2007.

"If this spill hadn't been handled as well as it was, I think the potential for a huge fish kill with significant," Herrick said. "So we averted a real dangerous situation."

About 800-1,800 gallons of gasoline were released into the surrounding environment and never recovered, according to Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Spill Program Manager Tim Cropley. Cropley said that the gasoline that entered Otter Creek dissipated quickly, and by Nov. 8 of that year, samples of the creek showed water quality just below the standard.

Remediation of the soil lasted for 14 days, according to the Department of Environmental Conservation's hazardous site manager Matthew Becker.

Responders to the 2007 Middlebury train derailment pumped spilled gasoline from the derailed train cars into a tractor-trailer.

A predictable catastrophe

Shaw, now chief of the Middlebury Fire Department, is proud of his team for how well they handled the derailment, but voiced criticism that more wasn't done to prevent this disaster in the first place.

"We, emergency services in Middlebury, knew that the rails were in deplorable shape," Shaw said. "We watched the trains come through on a daily basis, and you would see flex in the rail of two to three inches, which is a lot of flex in the rail."

As trains pass over the top of railways, it's normal for the rail to flex up and down slightly. But in Middlebury in 2007, the railway was flexing too much, according to Shaw.

Firefighters examine a derailed train in Middlebury on Monday, October 22, 2007.

"It was huge. You could see the entire rail moving on both sides as [a train] went through," Shaw said. "It was not surprising to us that this event happened in our area. The rail basically broke apart and caused a chain reaction, and the cars toppled over."

Damaged or malfunctioning train tracks are the most common cause of train derailments, according to the Federal Railroad Administration.

Contact April Fisher at amfisher@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter: @AMFisherMedia

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Have trains carrying hazardous materials derailed in Vermont before?
A supermarket security guard fatally shot a woman accused of attacking him with a fire extinguisher, California police say.

The deadly brawl broke out at about 3 p.m. Monday, Aug. 7, at a grocery store on Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles police said in a news release.

A woman in Ralphs supermarket attacked a security guard with a fire extinguisher, then set it down and pulled out a screwdriver, police told KABC.

The guard shot her after she made an aggressive move toward him, police told KCBS.

Police arriving at the supermarket found the uniformed security guard providing first aid to the injured woman, who later died at a hospital, the release said.

Police did not say how the altercation began.

They ask anyone with information to call 213-382-9470 or leave an anonymous tip at 1-800-222-8477.

Man caught hiding in hospital restroom secretly recorded women, California cops say

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Accused thief sets booby traps in home where he hid stolen goods, Washington cops say
A woman recorded her finals moments before she was killed, leading to decades of prison time for her brother, Colorado prosecutors said.

Casey Devol was sentenced to 31 to 97 years in prison after being accused of shooting and killing his sister, Jessica Mitchell, 32, her boyfriend, Bryan Gray, 34, and beating their dog to death February 2022, according to an Aug. 7 news release from the 18th Judicial District Attorneys Office.

Mitchells audio recording of her killing helped prosecutors piece this mystery together and bring justice to their families, District Attorney John Kellner said in the release. When no eyewitnesses to these murders existed, a digital recorder device became a voice for the victims.

Welfare check

Mitchell and Gray were found dead inside a Douglas County homes garage by one of their employers bringing over a car title on Feb. 8, 2022, prosecutors said.

Both had been fatally shot, according to prosecutors.

Surveillance cameras at the home showed a suspect carrying multiple firearms and entering the garage where the pair was found dead, prosecutors said.

Mitchells friend called investigators shortly after her death and told them she believed Mitchells brother, Devol, could be a suspect, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said Devols drivers license photo matched features of the suspect on the surveillance footage.

Instrumental recording

During Mitchells autopsy, a digital recording device was found, prosecutors said. The device captured the events leading up to and including the murders.

While we may never know why Jessica decided to start a recording, it was instrumental in helping us place the defendant at the home with the two victims, Chief Deputy District Attorney Andrew Steers said in the release.

Grays sister told The Denver Gazette that the recording captured the three having dinner with jovial conversation. However, during the meal, Devol leaves the house to get a gun.

Though the recording does not offer a motive for the killings, it does make one thing clear, according to Steers.

Two of the three people having dinner that night were murdered and the only person who can answer why is Mr. Devol, Steers said.

Devol, who was arrested at a Kansas hotel on Feb. 9, 2022, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder, as well as animal cruelty on July 19, according to prosecutors.

Douglas County is about 40 miles south of Denver.

Man kills, dismembers 82-year-old mom because he had spent all of her money, cops say

Man to face trial for fatally stabbing, burning his sister and unborn child in Fresno

Woman comes home to find parents dead in garage, Utah police say. Her son was arrested
The solar flare that occurred on August 5, visible on the right side of the Sun.

Two consecutive powerful solar flares have affected terrestrial communications and provided another fresh signal that the peak of our stars activity is approaching. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) explained that these flare likely caused the degradation or total loss of communications in the North American region, which at the time was facing the Sun.

At midnight on Saturday night into Sunday, NASA detected a strong flare that was classified as type X, the most severe, which it imaged through its Solar Dynamics Observatory. This flare was compounded when two powerful coronal mass ejections merged as they detached from the Sun, as reported by SpaceWeather, resulting in an even more powerful phenomenon. A new model from the SWPC shows that the second, faster ejection outpaced and cannibalized the first, potentially turning the sum of the two into a geomagnetic storm that was forecast to reach Earth on August 8.

On Monday August 7, NASA captured another strong solar flare. The image shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares, the U.S. space agency said in a statement. Meanwhile, the NOAA has detailed that a flare affected the Earth in an event that peaked at 20:46 UTC (4:46 pm EDT) on 7 Aug and likely caused HF radio communication degradation or completed loss on the sunlit side of Earth during the flares duration.

North America and the Pacific were affected by the blackout, as it began around 20:37 UTC over the west coast of Mexico and ended at approximately 21:51 UTC over the east coast of Hawaii. According to the SWPC, the event was graded as R3, that is, a strong blackout on a scale from R1 (minor) to R5 (extreme).

This second flare is also of type X, and of similar strength to the previous one: X1.5 and X1.6, respectively. The categories depend on the amount of energy released: there are five, with X being the maximum. NASA explains that the additional number provides more information about its strength and can reach a maximum of 10.

In both cases, the flare emerged from the same sunspot, cataloged as region 3386. Although sunspots are not the same as flares, there is a relationship between the two solar phenomena. More sunspots mean more activity and a higher probability of flares, Consuelo Cid Tortuero, a senior scientist at the Spanish National Service of Space Meteorology, recently explained.

Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy, NASA explains, and can affect radio communications, power grids, navigation signals and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts.

The phase known as the maximum of the solar peak was forecast to arrive in 2025, but these recent phenomena point to the solar maximum  denominated Solar Cycle 25  coming in late 2023 or early 2024, which would be a termination event, according to specialists. The phenomenon occurs when an 11-year solar cycle ends abruptly, changing the stars polarity, and begins again with greater intensity, causing geomagnetic storms that hit the Earth causing blackouts, but also spectacular aurora borealis in unexpected latitudes.

In June, the NOAA explained that the solar cycle had accelerated more quickly than scientists had predicted, producing more sunspots and flares than experts had forecast. As such, these solar events will continue to increase as our star approaches solar maximum. Though we are seeing increased activity on the Sun, we expect this solar cycle to be average compared to solar cycles in the past century, the NOAA said in a statement.

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I had been wanting to visit the Galapagos for years. So, why take the bucket list trip now?

Like many post-COVID Americans, I was eager to travel this summer, but every place seemed as if it would be hot or crowded. But In April, when my sister Janice suggested we finally go to the Galapagos, I immediately said yes.

The Galapagos, an archipelago of small islands 600 miles off Ecuador, were made famous by Charles Darwin. It was there, by observing differences in native species in 1831, where he honed his understanding of evolution. But these islands are equally well known as a unique natural kingdom teeming with wildlife  giant tortoises, unique species of birds, huge iguanas, even penguins.

Is a wellness retreat worth it? I spent a week surfing with women to find out.

The Galapagos had been at the top of my bucket list for many years. But life, as it so often does, got in the way  work, family, other trips.

Once the decision was made, it was surprisingly easy to make arrangements. Because everything in the Galapagos is highly regulated, our choices were limited  in a good way. Other than arranging our flights to Ecuador, we basically had two decisions to make.

Rhonda Abram's tour group.

First decision: Choose a sleep-aboard ship or be a day-tripper. On a sleep-aboard ship, you visit more islands with fewer people and have more interaction with wildlife. As a day tripper, you stay on one or two islands and spend hours on ferries to take day tours to the more limited islands that allow day visitors.

We wanted to see as much as we could and didnt want to waste precious daylight hours in transportation. We chose a sleep-aboard ship.

Second decision: Which ship? To protect the wildlife and fragile environment, Ecuador greatly restricts the number and size of ships in the Galapagos. The few largest ships hold up to 100 passengers. Most are small ships with fewer than 32 passengers.

I knew I wanted a small ship, but I also wanted comfortable quarters. I also wanted excellent naturalist guides with a more personal passenger-to-naturalist guide ratio. That led me to Ecoventura, one of the leading outfitters in the Galapagos, whose three ships are limited to 20 passengers. In the Galapagos, each guide is allowed to serve up to 16 tourists, but Ecoventura offered a maximum of 10 guests to every naturalist. Finally, I loved the fact that every one of Ecoventuras well-appointed staterooms has massive windows instead of portholes.

Six weeks after deciding on the Galapagos, my sister and I arrived in Quito, Ecuador. From there, we flew to San Cristobal Island, where our two naturalists  Billy and Martin  met us and the other guests. We were whisked to a Zodiac (a firm motorized raft) to be taken to our home for the week  the ship aptly named Evolve. We lucked out. Evolve was brand-new  entering service only in March 2023. And instead of 20 passengers, we had only 14. Very personalized service indeed!

Evolve ship stateroom featuring large windows.

Why the Galapagos?

Magical  thats the word Ive been using to describe the Galapagos ever since I returned. The main attraction, of course, is the wildlife. In the Galapagos, I was awed by the incredible beauty and diversity of birds and reptiles  and how close you can get to them without disturbing their habitat.

Moreover, in the Galapagos, the animals really do come first. Ecuador was the first country in the world to include the rights of nature in its constitution, and there are numerous restrictions to protect the fragile ecosystem. These include the number of visitors allowed each year, the number and size of boats, where and when tourists are allowed, and the requirement that a guide must be with visitors at all times in protected areas.

I absolutely fell in love with one of the birds most associated with the Galapagos: the blue-footed boobies. Forget the funny name: These birds are absolute charmers. With their teal flippers, they bounce around like a child wearing swim fins for the first time.

Nazca boobies

The waved albatross travel hundreds of miles to nest on the Galapagos island of Espanola. They were beautiful. The land iguanas  unattractive in close-ups pics (theyd never be Instagram stars) have a lively community. Their colors grow on you.

Hundreds of sea lions appear to own title to the Galapagos. They move in everywhere and anywhere they want. Theyre descendants of the California sea lions that laze on piers in San Franciscos Fishermans Wharf, but in the Galapagos, theyre lively and lovely personalities, frolicking with snorkelers, posing for pictures, "hugging" one another. One swam just inches from me as I was snorkeling.

Unexpectedly, there were also little penguins  the most northern penguins anywhere in the world. Adorable! And I was impressed by the Sally Lightfoot crabs with their neon orange, fluorescent blue and yellow shells, clambering up rocks. We saw dolphins and pilot whales and white-tipped sharks. Of course, we also saw Darwin finches, the little unobtrusive bird that has evolved into different species on different islands, which helped Darwin understand how evolution works.

I wanted to see wildlife  and boy, was I not disappointed!

How was the ship experience?

Rhonda Abrams hiking in The Galapagos.

My sister was worried about seasickness. (Fortunately, I dont get seasick.) But before she left the U.S., she got a prescription for the patch, and she never once experienced any seasickness.

Billy and Martin, our naturalists, were exceptionally knowledgeable and, like every Galapagos guide, were not only local and licensed but had to take exams every two years.

The rest of the Ecoventura staff was likewise attentive and skilled. We always felt safe, even catered to. There was always a hand to help us get in and out of the Zodiacs, eyes on us as we snorkeled, and hot chocolate waiting when we returned.

Why now?

OK, so why did I finally decide to go to the Galapagos if I had managed to put it off all these years?

I felt I had better hurry.

I wanted to be able to fully participate in the hikes, snorkeling and other activities that make the Galapagos experience extra-special. You dont have to be an athlete, but you should be fairly fit. Frankly, Im not getting any younger.

Evolve ship upper deck

Next, the Galapagos face some very real threats. Climate change is greatly affecting the fragile ecosystem. Most of these islands have little natural fresh water or foliage. The animals that live on each island have evolved to fit current conditions. Even small changes in temperature or the amount of rain challenge habitats and animal populations.

Then theres the illegal giant fishing ships. These massive floating factories stay just outside the 200-mile protected marine preserve during daylight, then illegally turn off their trackers at night to move in to harvest thousands of pounds of fish each day. Theyre oblivious to what they catch in giant nets  including endangered species.

Finally, I realized the Galapagos was truly one place I didnt want to miss in this lifetime. Ive seen a lot of world-famous cities, and if I missed one more, Id be OK. But missing the Galapagos? Id definitely regret that.

After all, its magical. Bucket list? Check!

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When is the best time to go to Galapagos islands? How my trip went.
You are the owner of this article.
Supporters of Former President Donald Trump gather near the E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Federal Courthouse, Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023, in Washington. Former President Donald Trump is due in federal court in Washington today, to answer charges he sought to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss.
Vincent August studies the way in which a societys dynamics change when conflict arises. He leads a newly created group at the Humboldt University of Berlin that investigates climate dilemmas, the way in which the groups that claim to represent the various agents involved in the climate emergency become established and the interactions that take place between them. In 2021, he published Technologisches Regieren: Der Aufstieg des Netzwerk-Denkens in der Krise der Moderne. Foucault, Luhmann und die Kybernetik [Technological governance: The rise of network thinking in the crisis of modernity. Foucault, Luhmann and Cybernetics], on how these two intellectuals elevated the concepts of flexibility and connectedness, and in 2019, in Der Transparenz-Imperativ [The transparency imperative], he warned about how the excess of government information ends up creating opacity.

August received EL PAIS at his college, in a building next to the impressive headquarters of Berlins oldest university. His office, spacious and sober, has a very German air. He is the picture of restraint.

Question. What kind of reactions does the climate emergency cause in society?

Answer. At the international level, we have a problem with the implementation of climate agreements. The countries do not implement the agreed-upon points.

Q. And how do we react to this, shall we say, betrayal?

A. There is a wide range of climate activists, but political parties and unions are also pushing the issue. Groups like Fridays for Future organize mass protests, but they tend to deflate after a certain amount of time. It takes a lot of resources to mobilize a large group of people, and they usually have other things to do in their lives.

Q. How long do these protests usually last?

A. Waves of solidarity have an inherent tendency to decline. Sociologist Randall Collins analyzed the internal wave during 9/11 and observed that, after reaching its peak, it began to decline after two or three months. The period lasted a maximum of six months. After that, people stopped sharing flags and other rituals.

Q. What other strategies do the... lets call them discontented, adopt?

A. Some organizations go for small, rather homogeneous groups that are far more mobile and committed. And other actors are trying to find new strategies with other actors, like unions. Unions are quite interesting actors in the ecological crisis because they come from classical modernity. Theyre linked to coal miners and steelworkers [...] but at the same time they have an understanding of being a progressive force. Some of them are joining these alliances; others are reluctant, even obstructive.

Q. Who gets the political or legal representation of a given group, such as the future generations?

A. Fridays for Future has been quite successful in making those claims to represent the future generations. But at the same time, they compete with other groups that also support the reduction of emissions. In every country, voices are emerging that claim to represent some group or other. In Germany, [conservative politician] Ralph Brinkhaus, gave an interview and he more or less argued that someone has to represent the steak eaters of society. He tries to basically make a claim to represent a certain group, but that was not a group before he made the claim. We can see how the conflicts create new social groups by making representative claims.

Q. You talk about an ecological crisis within democracy. What do you mean by that?

A. The institutions of representative democracy are challenged by groups that work on ecological issues. So it starts with questioning, how are the political institutions able to respond at all to the ecological issues?

Q. Then, in the face of an emergency, do we lose faith in democracy?

A. The general public doesnt have a good understanding of how a conflict works. The question is: are those conflicts going to be productive for democracies? Of course, they can also go in a different direction, be more destructive, but conflict can be highly productive for democratic societies.

Q. In Der Transparenz-Imperativ you write that when governments provide a lot of information they end up causing a lack of transparency. Can you explain?

A. Transparency creates more and more information, more and more documents. How are we able to sort that information? In an attempt to create transparency, governments create so much information that they become nontransparent. So what happens is that intermediaries step in, organizations that have the capacity, the manpower, the time, the skills to review all that information. NGOs, for instance. But in many cases, they are big companies. They can then use what they got from the mass of information to influence politics. So, in many cases you dont get citizen participation, but expert participation.

Q. In your latest book, from 2021, you talk about how Foucault and Luhmann emphasized the importance of connectedness and flexibility in our society, and how we remain stuck in that idea.

A. They developed a series of arguments that changed the way we interpret our world and the way we govern. Since that new view arrived, the idea that computerization led us towards flexibility and connectedness, it is still with us. Companies, society, continue to be imbued with that interpretation. Its not something evil; its how we look at ourselves. That thinking has shaped our everyday lives.

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Today

Windy with thunderstorms likely. Some may be locally heavy, especially during the morning hours. High 87F. Winds SE at 25 to 40 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Winds could occasionally gust over 50 mph.

Tonight

Cloudy and windy this evening, becoming partly cloudy after midnight. Low around 75F. SSE winds at 25 to 35 mph, decreasing to 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 50 mph.

Tomorrow

Mostly sunny. High 92F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.
Today

Cloudy and windy. High 91F. Winds SE at 25 to 40 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 50 mph.

Tonight

Windy. Mostly cloudy skies will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low around 75F. Winds SSE at 25 to 35 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 50 mph.

Tomorrow

Mostly sunny. High 93F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.
'Otoniel' boards a DEA plane to the United States. AFP

For years, the man known as Otoniel was seen as one of the worlds most dangerous drug lords, the elusive boss of a cartel and paramilitary group with a blood-drenched grip on much of northern Colombia. On Tuesday, Dairo Antonio Usuga was sentenced to 45 years in prison in the U.S. after saying he accepted responsibility for his deeds.

I apologize to the governments of the United States and of Colombia and to the victims of the crimes that I have committed, Usuga, 51, said through a court interpreter.

He had pleaded guilty in January to high-level drug trafficking charges, admitting he oversaw the smuggling of tons of U.S.-bound cocaine and acknowledging there was a lot of violence with the guerillas and the criminal gangs. The U.S. agreed not to seek a life sentence in order to get him extradited from Colombia.

Usuga and his lawyers sought to cast him as a product of his homelands woes  a man born into remote rural poverty, surrounded by guerilla warfare, recruited into it at age 16 and hardened by decades of losing friends, fellow soldiers and loved ones to violence.

Having been born into a region of great conflict, I grew up within this conflict, he said in court, advising young people not to take the path that I have taken.

We should leave armed conflicts in the past, he added.

But U.S. District Judge Dora Irizarry, invoking her own childhood in a South Bronx housing complex that she said was wracked with drug dealing and violence, told the kingpin that environment was no excuse.

People growing up in these communities who have the will and have the desire work their way out of it, she said, adding that Usuga had chances to leave this life behind  and you didnt.

For decades, nearly every Colombians life has been touched by the countrys many-sided conflict. A mish-mash of leftist guerrillas, right-wing paramilitary groups, narcotraffickers and other bands of criminals have warred for control of mountainous swaths of the country.

The violence has claimed the lives of more than 1 million people, and left millions more forcibly displaced, disappeared and otherwise harmed, according to data from the countrys Victims Unit. The government has sought to sign peace accords with the armed groups but has struggled to consolidate peace in a complex conflict rooted in rural poverty and lack of opportunities.

Usuga allied at points with left- and right-wing combatants and eventually joined the Gulf Clan, known as one of Colombias most powerful and brutal forces. He was Colombias most-wanted kingpin before his arrest in 2021, and he had been under indictment in the U.S. since 2009.

The Gulf Clan, also known as the Gaitanist Self Defense Forces of Colombia, holds sway in an area rich with smuggling routes for drugs, weapons and migrants. Boasting military-grade weaponry and thousands of members, the group has fought rival gangs, paramilitary groups and Colombian authorities. It financed its rule by imposing taxes on cocaine produced, stored or transported through its territory. (As part of his plea deal, he agreed to forfeit $216 million.)

In military work, homicides were committed, Usuga said, through a court interpreter, when pleading guilty.

Usuga ordered killings of perceived enemies  one of whom was tortured, buried alive and beheaded  and terrorized the public at large, prosecutors say. They say the kingpin ordered up a dayslong, stay-home-or-die strike after his brother was killed in a police raid, and he offered bounties for the lives of police and soldiers.

The damage that this man named Otoniel has caused to our family is unfathomable, relatives of slain police officer Milton Eliecer Flores Arcila wrote to the court. The widow of Officer John Gelber Rojas Colmenares, killed in 2017, said Usuga took away the chance I had of growing old with the love of my life.

All I am asking for is justice for my daughter, for myself, for Johns family, for his friends and in honor of my husband, that his death not go unpunished, she wrote. All the relatives names were redacted in court filings.

Despite manhunts and U.S. and Colombian reward offers topping $5 million in total, Usuga long evaded capture, partly by rotating through a network of rural safe houses.

After his arrest, Gulf Clan members attempted a cyanide poisoning of a potential witness against him and tried to kill the witness lawyer, according to prosecutors.

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Cinci persoane, ranite intr-un accident in judetul Giurgiu. A fost solicitat elicopterul SMURD

ISU Giurgiu a fost solicitat in aceasta seara sa intervina in urma unui accident rutier produs intre doua autoturisme, pe DJ 602, intre localitatile Sabareni si Joita. La fata locului s-au deplasat pompierii [citeste mai departe]
KYODO NEWS - Aug 8, 2023 - 20:39 | World, All

Former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso called Tuesday for a posture of strong deterrence to ensure peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, saying that Japan, the United States and Taiwan need to "resolve to fight" to deter possible attacks amid China's increasing military pressure on the island.

At a regional security conference in Taipei, Aso asserted that maintaining peace and stability in the strait is crucial for Japan and the international community. He emphasized, "The foremost priority is to prevent war in this region, including the Taiwan Strait."

To achieve this, Aso stated that Taiwan, Japan, and their allies need a deterrent, which he defined as defense capabilities, the will to utilize them if required and public consensus supporting their use. He added that it's crucial to communicate these defense capabilities and intentions to potential adversaries.

"There has never been a time like now when Japan, Taiwan, the United States and like-minded countries need to resolve to put into action a strong deterrence. This is a resolve to fight," Aso, who currently serves as vice president of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said at the forum.

He explained Taiwan's situation has reached a more critical level since China carried out large-scale military drills around the self-ruled democratic island in response to a visit by then U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi in August last year.

The military exercises included the firing of ballistic missiles that fell into Taiwan's surrounding waters, including Japan's exclusive economic zone, he said.

With Taiwan slated to hold its presidential election in January next year, Aso expressed hope that the next president will be determined to maintain the island's current status and fight together with Japan, stressing Japan's defense capabilities, which Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has decided to bolster.

The incumbent president, Tsai Ing-wen, is ineligible for a third term.

Later in the day, Aso met with Tsai. The 82-year-old former Japanese leader told reporters he asked her to "raise a next leader," urging the island to choose a "decent" president in the upcoming election.

If the successful candidate "suddenly shakes hands with China to secure business profits, the presence of Taiwan will be in danger," Aso said.

In the talks with Tsai, Aso expressed his willingness to play a role in strengthening Japan-Taiwan ties. "When friends are in trouble, they can lend a helping hand to each other," he said.

Referring to the popular Japanese manga series "One Piece," Aso said the protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy, never betrayed his friends and used it as a metaphor to describe the flourishing relationship between Japan and Taiwan.

In a separate meeting with Taiwan Vice President Lai Ching-te, a key candidate in the upcoming presidential election, Aso noted tensions have been rising in the Taiwan Strait as it is "threatened by Chinese expansionism," according to the Taiwan presidential office.

Aso also voiced concern about the possible evacuation of around 20,400 Japanese nationals living in Taiwan if the region becomes unstable, local reports said.

Lai said Taiwan will jointly safeguard the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region with Japan, the United States and other democratic countries, the presidential office said.

Aso is the highest-ranking LDP member to visit Taiwan since Tokyo switched diplomatic ties from Taipei to Beijing in 1972, according to the party.

Commenting on Aso's visit, China's Foreign Ministry said Monday in a written response to Kyodo News that it "firmly opposes and strongly condemns" interference in the country's internal affairs.

Communist-ruled China and Taiwan have been governed separately since they split in 1949 due to a civil war. Beijing regards the territory as a renegade province and intends to unite it with the mainland, by force if necessary.

Related coverage:

FOCUS: Expert warns nuclear proliferation could "spiral" out of control
Excel in academics at UW-Stevens Point

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point offers more than 120 undergraduate programs in 48 majors and 78 minors. As a Pointer, you will learn from a diverse faculty eager to guide you at one of the best colleges in Wisconsin and the Midwest.

About your academic journey

At UW-Stevens Point, you will enter a broad-based general education program. Our faculty will guide you toward global citizenship. They will challenge you to see the world from others perspectives.

Choosing a major

Your UW-Stevens Point major will give you hands-on classwork inside and outside classrooms to set you up for success.

UW-Stevens Points majors and minors, graduate programs and online programs are housed within four colleges:

University College helps students find services and programs that lead to a successful transition into UW-Stevens Point.



Discover more through the UW-Stevens Point course catalog. You also can examine the UW-Stevens Point timetable.



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We offer services such as the Tutoring-Learning Center. It provides help with writing assignments, assistive technology and computer programs, and math and science. Albertson Hall, which houses the University Library, supports students with research information, reference assistance and more.

The Disability and Assistive Technology Center helps UW-Stevens Point students who have disabilities. You also can get help selecting a major or with planning your career through the Academic and Career Advising Center.

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Learn more about us , visit UW-Stevens Point and apply today.

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The faculty and staff on campus are dedicated to the success of our students and institution through policies strengthened by university-wide inclusion. We hope you will consider serving on governance because we want your voice to be heard.



Shared Governance at UWSP



Common Council is the representative body of academic staff, faculty, and university staff in UW-Stevens Point shared governance. All university personnel (academic staff, faculty, and university staff) play an important role in recommending policies to the administration in many areas; academic and curricular issues are the specific responsibility of faculty and academic staff. The Chancellor has demonstrated a commitment to strong shared governance, the success of which depends upon the administration's openness to listening to and consulting with university personnel, and university personnel's willingness to participate in this important responsibility. All university members are encouraged to attend and participate in shared governance.





Interested in Serving on Common Council?



Shared governance committees, councils, and subcommittees are filled either through election or by appointment; committee, council, subcommittee membership specifics are specified in the Constitution of the Common Council. If interested in serving, please send an email message to Common.Council.Office@uwsp.edu.





Contact Information

Common Council Secretary, Kathryn Blakeman

Room 118 Old Main

Telephone: 715-346-2124

Email: common.council.office@uwsp.edu


We define progress by our continued steps forward toward building and championing a sustainable and inclusive UWSP. We aim to develop and support a community where all can safely maintain integral personal identities, be equitable participants, and learn from one another. Progress toward a sustainable and inclusive UWSP starts with you. That is our

.

In-Progress and Exploring



Campus Climate Survey

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Staff Awards

Campus Gender-Neutral Bathrooms

Launc hing an Inclusive Teaching Fellows program

Launc Designating a neutral space for those of multiple faiths to reflect or meditate



Nursing Mothers rooms

Changes and Initiatives



University-wide:

Procedure developed for flagging policies or practices that have inequitable effects

Differing Abilities Advisory Council



Faculty and Staff Gender-Sexuality Alliance



University Diversity and Inclusion pages added to standing University site (2017); site maintainence charged to Diversity Council (2020)



2017: Sent letters to federal legislators (Sen. Baldwin, Sen, Johnson, Cong. Kind and Cong. Duffy) to voice support for the Bar Removal of Individuals who Dream and Grow our Economy (BRIDGE) Act

2017: Survey of bathroom facilities in other campus buildings to look at expanding all-gender spaces completed

2016: Signed Statement in Support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program and our Undocumented Immigrant Students, joining college and university presidents and chancellors from across the county

Academic Affairs: The Department of Theatre and Dance forms the Advocacy, Allyship & Access committee which aims to dismantle racist and inequitable practices and policies

Lindsay Bernhagen appointed as first Diversity Officer for Academic Affairs by Provost Greg Summers

Academic Affairs Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategic Plan and Timeline are created

2020: Campus held its first career conference for LGBTQ+ students

The C enter for Inclusive Teaching and Learning leads the campus Toward a More Inclusive Campus training series and forms the Inclusive Pedagogy Learning Community

Toward a More Inclusive Campus Inclusive Pedagogy Learning Community Provost leading committee to work on strategies to increase and retain diverse and inclusive faculty and staff (Ethical and Equitable Search)

Student Affairs:

2019: Flags of the twelve tribes represented in Wisconsin are posted within the Dreyfus University Center

Hate & Bias Response Team, Case Manager position, & Online Reporting resources



Hate & Bias Response Team, Case Manager position, & Online Reporting resources Met with diverse stud ent organizations to discuss concerns raised about law enforcement and policing (law enforcement present at 4 of 6 meetings)

Center for Prevention implements a comprehensive sexual assault/interpersonal violence prevention and awareness program

Validation through representation within Coordinator positions for each of the Resource Centers (GSRC, MCRC, NAC) 

Validation through representation within Coordinator positions for each of the Resource Centers (GSRC, MCRC, NAC)  2019: Gender & Sexuality Resource Center, Multicultural Resource Center, and Native American Center all located within Dreyfus University Center

2017: Blessing/Smudging Ceremony of new Native American Center/DCA spaces lead by Elder Sonny Smart (Department of Sociology and Social Work faculty member)

2016: First required inclusivity training added to first-year student Welcome Week schedule Shared Governance: 2020: An Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Policy Committee with responsibility of reviewing all policies that come through Common Council for equity concerns is passed

2020: Guidelines for the Pedagogical Use of Offensive Language are passed

2020: The campus Diversity & Inclusion Statement is drafted, supported, and instituted

2019: Student Government Association and the Stevens Point Mayors office collaborated to install LGBTQ+ Pride crosswalk

Completed inventory o f all courses addressing race, ethnicity, LGBTQ+ and related topics

Completed inventory o 2018: Two members of each student organization are required to complete the Diversity & College Access-sponsored Diversity and Inclusion training

Passed resolution of support for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA)

Adopted the Indigenous Peoples Land Recognition statement to be read at SGA Generally Assembly and other SGA sponsored events

2016: A Call for Solidarity in the Face of Bias and Hate resolution passed and sent to all students, faculty and staff

Community: 2020: Portage County creates a Diversity and Inclusiveness Committee

2016: The City of Stevens Point's efforts on diversity and inclusion are noted in the resolution



resolution Annual installment of 4th Ave Teal Street Proclamation (Sexual Assault Awareness) and Pink Street (Breast Cancer Awareness)

Point
Page Content

Find the Report You Need



For All Students

Pursuant to the United States Department of Education's Program Integrity Rule and University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point internal policies, any student may file a formal complaint. The University has created a website if you would like to know more about filing an academic complaint, advising complaint, Americans with Disabilities Act complaint, or a UWSP institutional complaint.

Students are encouraged to first work with the appropriate individual, office, Department Chair, or Dean to address your concerns as most can be addressed at the point where there is an issue.



Student Grievances and Academic Complaints Report Form



If you are in immediate danger, dial 911 or your local law enforcement department. All students, faculty, staff, and guests are strongly encouraged to report crimes, submit concerns, and report alleged student misconduct to our office, regardless of where the incident occurred. If you have questions about which reporting form would be appropriate, contact our office at 715-346-2611.

Stevens Point Campus (Scroll Down for Marshfield/Wausau Reports)









Marshfield Campus











Wausau Campus







* Anonymous reports are accepted for all types of reports to include sexual assault, other forms of interpersonal violence, and reports of bias/hate (report does not contain any personally identifying information about the victim). Submitting a report that does not contain specific information may limit the institution's ability to respond.

* Responsible Employees must submit a complete and thorough report, to include the names of those involved, in accordance with Title IX requirements. Submitting a report does not automatically initiate an investigation.



* Sexual Assault Reported to University Employees (WI  36.11(22)(c)): "Any person employed at an institution who witnesses a sexual assault on campus or receives a report from a student enrolled in the institution that the student has been sexually assaulted shall report to the Dean of Students of the institution. The Dean of Students shall compile reports for the purpose of disseminating statistical information under par. (a)1.b."
UW-Stevens Point's Veteran Coordinator's primary role is to explain military educational benefit options, assist with the application for benefits, and provide campus and community resource information that will contribute to the academic success and well-being of all military-affiliated students.

Here's how we help:



Assist students to navigate and understand the process of applying for Federal and State VA benefits. See our federal benefit handout for a quick breakdown.





Connect students with resources on campus and other student veterans.





Reach out to faculty and staff on campus to support their efforts in serving our students.





Military Student Priority Registration

UW-Stevens Point provides service members, veterans, and ROTC students priority registration each semester in compliance with Wisconsin Act AB201 and Section 303 of the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017. Registration appointment times are based on student status or credits earned. Military students are given appointment times for the next level greater than their current status. For example, a freshman will receive appointment times based on sophomore status.



2019 WI Act 147



Students should be aware that they have a choice whether or not to accept the credits from their Joint Service Transcript (JST) or your Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) transcript offered to them by UW-Stevens Point. The 2019 WI Act 147 provides flexibility to veterans in determining whether they would like their credits transferred from military transcripts to the University of Wisconsin System or technical colleges. Specifically, it contains this language:



SECTION 2. 36.31 (4) (bm) of the statutes is created to read: 36.31 (4) (bm) An institution or college campus may not award academic credit to a student under par. (am) for each course for which the student, upon consultation with the institution's or college campus's staff, objects to the awarding of credit for that course.

Students who are given credits that may not pertain directly to their program could be disadvantaged for financial aid purposes or other professional groups or designations.



It is important to make your determination regarding acceptance of these credits, in consultation with your advisor, in your first semester.


Privacy Statement

Protecting the privacy of visitors to the UW-Stevens Point website

We want to ensure that users understand what information we collect and how it is used. Because UW-Stevens Point is a public university, information collected at this website may be subject to release under Wisconsin and federal open records laws. During your visit to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point's website, information is automatically collected and stored. For more detail on privacy, please see the expanded statement following.

This Privacy Statement explains the manner in which the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point collects, uses, maintains and discloses information collected from users (each, a "User") of the https://www.uwsp.edu website ("Site").

Personal identification information

We may collect personal identification information from you in a variety of ways, including, but not limited to, when you visit our Site, register on the Site, subscribe to a newsletter, respond to a survey, fill out a form, and in connection with other activities, services, features or resources we make available on our Site. You can always refuse to supply personal identification information, though it may prevent you from engaging in certain Site related activities. For information on student privacy rights and our compliance to the Federal Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), please refer to information hosted by our Registrar's Office.

Non-personal identification information

We may collect non-personal identification information about you whenever you interact with our Site. Non-personal identification information may include the browser name and version, the type of device and technical information about your means of connection to our Site, such as the operating system, the Internet service providers utilized, your IP address, and other similar information. We use this information in an aggregate fashion to track access to the Site.

Web browser cookies

Our Site may use "cookies" to enhance your user experience. Your web browser places cookies on your device for record-keeping purposes and sometimes to track information about you. You may choose to set your web browser to refuse cookies, or to alert you when cookies are being sent. If you do so, note that some parts of the Site may not function properly.

Third party vendors, including Google, may use cookies on our Site.

We use the Google AdWords remarketing service  including the DoubleClick cookie and remarketing pixels  to advertise on third party sites (including Google) to previous visitors to our site. It could mean that we advertise to previous visitors who haven't completed a task on our site, for example using the contact form to make an inquiry. This could be in the form of an advertisement on the Google search results page, or a site in the Google Display Network. Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on someone's past visits to the Site. Of course, any data collected will be used in accordance with our own privacy statement and Google's policy.

Opting out: You can set preferences for how Google advertises to you using the Google Ad Preferences page or the Network Advertising Initiative opt-out page.

We also use certain Google Analytics features-including remarketing and advertising reporting features that leverage cookies and tracking pixels-to monitor user behavior on our site and to better target our advertising efforts.

Opting out: You can install a browser add-on to opt out of Google Analytics tracking.

How we use collected information

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point may collect and use your personal information for the following purposes:

To improve customer service. Your information helps us to more effectively respond to your customer service requests and support needs.



Your information helps us to more effectively respond to your customer service requests and support needs. To personalize user experience. We may use information in the aggregate to understand how our Users as a group use the services and resources provided on our Site.



We may use information in the aggregate to understand how our Users as a group use the services and resources provided on our Site. To improve our Site. We continually strive to improve our website offerings based on the information and feedback we receive from you.



We continually strive to improve our website offerings based on the information and feedback we receive from you. To administer a contest, promotion, survey or other Site feature. We may send you information you agreed to receive about topics we think will be of interest to you.

We may send you information you agreed to receive about topics we think will be of interest to you. To send periodic emails. We may use your email address to respond to your inquiries, questions, and/or other requests. If you decide to opt-in to our mailing list, you will receive emails that may include university news, updates, related product or service information, etc. If at any time you would like to unsubscribe from receiving future emails, we include detailed unsubscribe instructions at the bottom of each email or you may contact us via our Site.

We may use your email address to respond to your inquiries, questions, and/or other requests. If you decide to opt-in to our mailing list, you will receive emails that may include university news, updates, related product or service information, etc. If at any time you would like to unsubscribe from receiving future emails, we include detailed unsubscribe instructions at the bottom of each email or you may contact us via our Site. To utilize third party service providers. We may use third party service providers to help us operate our business and the Site or administer activities on our behalf, such as sending out newsletters or surveys. We may share your information with these third parties for those limited purposes if you have not denied permission to share that information.

We may use third party service providers to help us operate our business and the Site or administer activities on our behalf, such as sending out newsletters or surveys. We may share your information with these third parties for those limited purposes if you have not denied permission to share that information. To serve advertisements on third party websites. We use third party remarketing services to advertise on third party sites to previous visitors to our site.

How we protect your information

We adopt appropriate data collection, storage and processing practices and security measures to protect against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure or destruction of your personal information, username, password, transaction information and data stored on our Site.

Sensitive and private data exchange between the Site and its Users happens over an SSL-secured communication channel.

Other websites

The UW-Stevens Point website contains links to other independently run websites within the UW-Stevens Point network and to some sites outside the "uwsp.edu" domain. These sites and services may have their own privacy policies and customer service policies. Browsing and interaction on any other website, including websites which have a link to our Site, is subject to that website's own terms and policies.

Changes to this privacy statement

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point has the discretion to update this privacy statement at any time. When we do, we will revise the updated date at the bottom of this page. We encourage you to frequently check this page for any changes to stay informed about how we are helping to protect the personal information we collect. It is your responsibility to review this privacy statement periodically and become aware of modifications.

Your acceptance of these terms

By using this Site, you signify your acceptance of this privacy statement. If you do not agree to this statement, please do not use our Site. Your continued use of the Site following the posting of changes to this statement will be deemed your acceptance of those changes.

Contacting Us

If you have any questions about this privacy statement, the practices of this Site or your experiences with this Site, or GDPR-related questions and requests, please contact us at:

Information Technology

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

900 Reserve Street ALB

Stevens Point, WI, 54481-3897

Or e-mail itsvdesk@uwsp.edu

715-346-4357

Privacy Statement last updated on Tuesday, May 25, 2021.


The opposition Socialist Party will continue its fight to ensure free access to public beaches around Lake Balaton, a party official has said.

Zsolt Molnar told a press conference from the lakeside resort of Berhida that he had asked mayors around Balaton why they charged bathers to use the lake, and they had referred to maintenance costs, wages, and other expenses.



Molnar, the partys director, said Berhida was a good example of a municipality offering a well-kept lakeside park for people to use free of charge.



He said he believed that the lake could be returned to the Hungarian people and that other mayors would take a leaf out of the Berhida administrations book. Molnar also proposed central budget compensation for municipalities which abolish beach fees.



MTI Photo: Balazs Mohai
All over the world, tax havens are causing massive losses to countries' budgets. The tax avoidance practices of corporations are costing USD hundreds of billions in lost revenue, but the flight of individuals' offshore assets is also causing massive losses.

Hungary is a tax haven for companies, but the wealthiest have saved nearly 5% of domestic GDP, according to a recent report by the Tax Justice Network analyzed by the financial news site portfolio.hu.



The analysis underlines that the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) monitors tax enforcement. This has created a global system that favors the wealthier countries, rather than a more equitable international environment.



That is why it is proposed that the United Nations should take over tax oversight responsibilities.



Cross-border corporate tax abuse remains the largest component of global tax losses. It is also something that is the result of the damaging tax competition of recent decades: most states have bid against each other to reduce corporate and profit tax rates in order to lure more and more companies under their tax jurisdiction.



This is how Hungary, with a nominal tax rate of 9%  but an effective tax rate of around 5%  became a tax haven.



That is why it is an important step forward that, under the OECD, the largest multinationals with consolidated group-wide turnover of EUR 750 million can no longer be taxed at less than 15%. And if a subsidiary in one place is not subject to at least this rate, it will be subject to a top-up tax in its home country.



The report underlines that higher income countries are responsible for 99.3% of all taxes lost to corporate tax abuse worldwide, although many of them also suffer losses, while lower income countries are responsible for only 0.7% of losses. Hungary suffers quite brutal losses.



Although Hungary can be considered a tax haven with a nominal corporate tax rate of 9%, it is still a big loser overall from tax avoidance by companies with aggressive tax planning and wealthier individuals. The result is that Hungary receives some USD 1,137 million in profit shifting due to the low tax rate.



But even this cannot offset the fact that, according to Tax Justice Network calculations, USD 3,502 million of profits have been shifted outwards by multinational companies operating here.



The outflow of profits represents items generated in Hungary but shifted outside the country to tax havens or other jurisdictions with lower tax rates, allowing companies to reduce their tax liabilities.



Annual tax losses due to corporate tax abuse amount to USD 315.2 million  HUF 110.5 billion  per year. More precisely, this amount represents the tax revenue that the Hungarian government is unable to collect due to profit shifting and other tax avoidance practices by multinational companies.



This amounts to 0.2% of the Hungarian GDP.
Zsolnay Gin was awarded two gold stars at an international food industry competition held in London.

"We are extremely happy with the result. We believed that the ingredients, due to the spices found in Mecsek, would suit Hungarian tastes the most, but it turns out that it holds its own on an international level as well," shares the creator of Buzavirag gin, Peter Barany.



The international, 400-member professional jury of the Great Taste Awards had their first taste of the Hungarian Zsolnay gin for the first time at the awards ceremony.



Although the judges were not influenced by the appearance, as the item was tasted without showing the packaging, the global brand and the drink's creators are very proud of the result achieved.



Until now, the uniquely packaged drink was often only available at airports, in high-quality restaurants frequented by tourists, and in bars of five-star hotels.



However, according to a press release issued by the company, [the acquisition of] the prize strengthened the brand owners' intention to export.
KYODO NEWS - Aug 8, 2023 - 21:39 | All, Japan

A record 2,322 scams in Japan to steal internet banking IDs and passwords have resulted in unauthorized money transfers totaling a record of around 3 billion yen ($21 million) in the first half of this year, a report by the National Police Agency showed Tuesday.

The number of cases mainly involving phishing this year has already surpassed the annual total of any previous year, with the financial loss approaching the record high of 3.07 billion yen set in 2015, according to the agency.

The agency attributes the surge in cases to expanding internet banking and increasingly sophisticated phishing emails. Financial institutions, particularly those without physical branches, were hit especially hard in the first half of this year.

Phishing emails and text messages typically impersonate financial institutions and redirect users to counterfeit websites, ostensibly to address urgent matters. These messages often prompt potential victims to input their passwords and other personal information.

Criminal groups are believed to use ill-gotten personal information to transfer funds from users' accounts to their accounts.

A 40-year-old Indonesian man was arrested in July by Indonesian police for illegally using the credit card information of a Japanese individual stolen through phishing, the agency separately said.

This marks the first arrest of an overseas suspect resulting from cross-border collaborations between the agency's National Cyber Unit, established in April 2022, and foreign authorities, according to the agency.

With Japan seeing a sharp rise in phishing scams, police have advised against clicking on links in suspicious emails and only entering sensitive information on official websites or apps.

In July, the agency also requested financial institutions via the Japanese Bankers Association to enhance their security measures.

Related coverage:

Japan crime rises in first half of 2023 as COVID restrictions ease
A high-tech slaughterhouse and processing plant is being built in Gorbehaza, NE Hungary. It is crucial for the fulfilment of the agreement signed with Singapore in April and Japan in May this year for the export of large quantities of Hungarian pigeon meat.

According to a statement from the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture, this will help to produce, sell and promote these luxury Hungarian products with high added value worldwide.



The initiative to reorganize and boost the Hungarian meat pigeon sector was launched in December 2018, as pre-refrigerated pigeons of uniform body size and high useful meat content can be a profitable export product, while ensuring a sufficient marketable commodity base, the statement said.



The aim of the state support in this area is to contribute to the livelihood of Hungarian families involved in the pigeon sector and to the population retention of the countryside, while developing the meat pigeon sector and strengthening the uniform commodity base.



Pigeon and pet pigeon breeding is a community-building activity, and the shared passion, successes and memories create a strong bond in which traditions and cultural values are passed down from generation to generation, according to the Ministry.
Hungarys Competition Office (GVH) has fined Bensons Europe, a Slovak business, close to 39 million forints (EUR 99,740), the maximum allowed by law, for illegally advertising the sale of Elf Bar vaping products to consumers in Hungary, the watchdog said.

GVH launched a probe into two Slovak companies last summer and found that Bensons Europe had wrongly suggested to consumers that sales of the vaping products from its Hungarian-language webshop were legal.



GVH noted in its statement that remote sales of vaping products are illegal in Hungary.



Bensons Europe was one of two Slovakian companies scrutinised by GVH for selling Elf Bar vaping products. It fined the other business, Yzer, 68 million forints late last year. GVH said Elf Bar vaping products are especially harmful because of their popularity with young people.



The statement quoted the president of the Hungarian tax authority (NAV) as saying that NAV rigorously inspected the illegal trade of Elf Bar.



As a result, illicit products worth over 160 million forints have been seized and fines worth 20 million forints have been levied, said Ferenc Vagujhelyi.
Opinions sharply diverge on the decision by the United States to limit the validity of visa-free entry permits for Hungarian citizens to one journey per year.

On Tuesday, the US Embassy announced that the validity period offered to Hungarians under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) will be reduced from two years to one and that only single visits will be allowed instead of multiple ones.



Hungary granted citizenship to about one million people between 2011 and 2020, but the US Embassy argued that the Hungarian authorities did so without adequate security measures in place to verify their identities. In a statement to the MTI news agency, the Hungarian Interior Ministry attributed the travel restrictions to Hungarys refusal to hand over to the United States the data of citizens of neighbouring countries who have been granted Hungarian citizenship.



The safety of Hungarians in neighbouring countries is at stake, the Ministry argued, therefore that data will not be forwarded to anyone.



In Magyar Nemzet, Zsolt Bayer suspects that the United States would have transferred the data of ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine with Hungarian citizenship to the Ukrainian authorities who could have clamped down on them, given that Ukraine doesnt allow dual citizenship.



He fulminates at the US administration which apparently considers such ethnic Hungarians a security threat, unlike the masses of illegal immigrants from Central America.



In Nepszava, on the other hand, Gabor Horvath takes the visa waiver restriction as a symbolic gesture by the United States to caution Hungary against continuing to sabotage US efforts on the international scene, including most recently, postponing the approval of Swedens accession to NATO. If nothing changes, he writes, Hungary may very swiftly find herself in very big trouble.



In a separate Nepszava column, Andras Rostovanyi finds some inconsistency in the American position, remarking that Hungarian citizens born abroad were already barred from the visa waiver program last year.



Otherwise, quoting former Foreign Minister Geza Jeszenszky, he writes that the new restrictions are aimed at the Hungarian government, rather than at ordinary Hungarians.



Further comments on US visa waiver restrictions

Although the new restriction on visa-free travel to the United States is largely symbolic, the issue has stirred strong emotional reactions in the Hungarian media.



On ATV News, travel writer Robert Richard Kiss remarks that the changes do not seriously harm Hungarians, as even if they wish to travel to the United States several times a year, they just have to fill in the ESTA form online each time.



Thats nothing like being interviewed when asking for entry visas, he added. On the same programme, liberal foreign policy expert Istvan Szent-Ivanyi believes that despite official statements to the contrary, the measure was, in reality, a warning to the Hungarian government which, in his words, roots for China instead of siding with America.



More serious consequences may follow if the government doesnt change direction, he adds.



In a second Magyar Nemzet editorial on the issue in as many days, Laszlo Szentesi Zoldi believes the United States just found a pretext to cause inconvenience to Hungarians.



The real threats to US security, he writes, are homeborn: violent attacks perpetrated by fascist, Islamist and violent woke groups as well as regular school shootings.



In an angry column on the Mandiner website, Szilard Demeter, a writer in charge of the Petofi Museum of Literature who was born in Transylvania, thinks the visa-waiver restrictions were motivated by hostile feelings towards Hungarys policy of support to ethnic Hungarians communities in neighbouring countries.



He accuses the United States of supporting the forcible assimilation of those Hungarians by local authorities.



Fears of further US travel restrictions

After a series of fierce reactions to the decision by US authorities to restrict the validity of visa-free travel by Hungarian citizens to the United States, observers fear that Hungary might be excluded from the US visa-waiver program altogether.



On Piac es Profit, editor Janos Hollos quotes an unnamed government source who interprets the restrictions announced by the United States on Tuesday as a last warning.



The veteran business reporter describes the measure of tightening visa-free entry to one journey over one year as a humiliating one for Hungary. He warns that the next step could be excluding the country from the visa-waiver system offered to 40 countries.



On Hirklikk, Zsuzsa N Vadasz reports that there are no more available dates this year for visa seekers on the webpage of the US Embassy in Budapest. She believes that frequent visitors must have tried to get visas fearing further restrictions.



On the Szabad Europa webmagazine, Andras Kosa hopes that an agreement can be reached by the two sides to avoid further restrictions. Negotiations have been underway, he writes, and a compromise was on the horizon before the restrictions were announced on Tuesday.



The Hungarian side refused to hand over to the US the full data of all naturalized Hungarians who are also citizens of neighbouring countries but offered to immediately transfer all available information on any individual cases if requested by the US immigration authorities.



He hopes such a compromise may help avoid further tightening of US visa-waiver rules for Hungarians.



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Fully 11 Hungarian universities rank among the worlds best, up from seven four years ago and nine in 2021, the ministry of culture and innovation noted.

Referring to this years Times Higher Education World University Rankings of 30,000 universities, the ministry said the advance was thanks to Hungarys reform of higher education which involved tying universities to economic sectors and businesses in their vicinity.



The reforms allowed more competitive, predictable, flexible and autonomous universities to emerge, it added in a statement.



Central funding for Hungarian higher education has doubled since 2022, with 40% allocated to universities with international rankings, it said, adding that Hungarian universities were highly popular with foreign students, with 42,000 currently enrolled.



The government aims for at least one university to be ranked among the worlds best 100 and at least three ranked among the EUs best 100 by 2030, the statement said.
Czechia will be the guest of honour country at this years traditional Festival of Folk Arts organised in the Buda Castle between August 18 and 20, the organisers said.

Craftsmen from Czechia will set up model workshops to present traditions in weaving, blue printing, embroidery, wool processing and wood carving to visitors, they said in a statement.



At workshops, masters from the Republic of Korea will present calligraphy, the traditional Korean patchwork jogakbo and traditional decorative colouring on wooden buildings dancheong.



The festival will also celebrate the 20th anniversary of Hungarys accession to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Convention.



It will feature communities representing crafts included in the UNESCO National and Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage such as the Matyo embroidery, blue printing, lacemaking, the Szeged mule slides and the Buso-s of Mohacs, among others.
150th York County

Fair a success!Thank you to everyone who made the 150th York County Fair a success! It was a fun fair celebrating the 150th with displays of previous exhibitors and fairs through the years, special events like alumni showmanship, ice cream, and the special awards. These milestones are quite a legacy and perhaps the current 4-H/FFA youth will be able to celebrate 200 years one day? Wishing everyone the best with the Seward County Fair this week as well!

Cover Crop & Soil

Health Field DayCover Crop & Soil Health Field Day will be held Aug. 9 from 9:30 a.m.  2 p.m at the 4-H Building in York followed by field tours at Bob Bettgers farm. Topics include: Progressive cover cropping in a corn an soybean rotation; exploring perennial cover crops in a corn and soybean rotation; presentation from The Nature Conservancy; full season cover crops for row crop acres; and assessing soil health on your own (which is part of the field tour). The event is free, but please RSVP for the meal to Nate Pflueger with Pheasants Forever at 402-646-5426.

Soybean Management Field DaysSoybean Management Field Days will be held this week on Tuesday, Aug. 8 near Rockville, Aug. 9 near Concord, Aug. 10 near Mead and Aug. 11 near DeWitt. This year is 25 years of SMFD with topics including sprayer cleanout and setup; disease and insect management; cover crops and soil health; irrigation & technology; and grain markets. The event is free thanks to the Nebraska Soybean Board but please RSVP for meal count to https://enreec.unl.edu/soydays or to 402-441-3240.

Soil Health and

Cover Crop Field DaySoil Health and Cover Crop Field Day will be held Aug 22 at Eastern Nebraska R&E Center near Mead from 9 a.m.  2:50 p.m. (Registration is at 8:30). The field day is co-sponsored by UNL and Cargill with topics on assessing soil health and summer cover crops. Equipment demonstrations will include a Highboy interseeder and roller crimper in the field followed by a tour of the UNL biochar study. No charge. More info. and RSVP for meal at: https://go.unl.edu/bosp.

Southeast Nebraska Alfalfa & Wheat ExpoThe Southeast Nebraska Alfalfa & Wheat Expo will be held Aug. 24 from 8:45 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (Registration is at 8 a.m.) in Crete. The morning topics are focused on wheat while the afternoon ones are focused on alfalfa. Wheat topics include: UNL breeding program, seed treatments, wheat production, round table discussion. Alfalfa topics include: variety selection and planting dates, insect management, alfalfa as protein supplement in fall. More info. at: https://croptechcafe.org/alfalfawheatexpo/.

Corn and Soybean ClinicsCorn and Soybean Clinics will be held Aug. 29 in North Platte and Aug. 31 at ENREEC near Mead from 9:30-3:20 p.m. (Reg. 9 a.m.). The clinics are designed to walk through the growing season addressing critical agronomic developmental events in corn and soybeans in addition to diseases, weeds, insects, nutrients, and irrigation management while being out in the field. 4.5 CCA credits are available. More info. and RSVP: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/enreec/nebraska-corn-soybean-clinic/

Hamilton County Corn Growers Plot TourHamilton County Corn Growers will have their plot tour on Aug. 28 at 5 p.m. near Giltner (1/4 North of Rd 6 and J). A meal sponsored by Bayer Crop Sciences will follow at 6 p.m. at the Giltner Community Center. Featured speakers are Chuck Woodside, CEO KAAPA Ethanol with updates from Nebraska Corn and Hamilton Co. FSA.

York County Corn

Grower Plot TourYork County Corn Grower plot tour and annual banquet will be held on Tuesday, August 29th beginning at 6 p.m. at Stone Creek Event Center in McCool Junction. Please save the date and plan to attend as we combine our plot tour with the annual banquet! Everything will be held at Stone Creek. At 6 p.m., seed reps will share on the hybrid entries they submitted in the plot followed by a social time at 6:30 p.m. and prime rib meal and program at 7 p.m. Cost is $15 for the meal. Please RSVP to York Co. Extension (402) 362-5508 or any York Co. Corn Grower director.

Upcoming EventsAug. 9: Cover Crop & Soil Health Day, 10 a.m.  2 p.m. (Reg. 9:30), 4-H Building, York, RSVP: (402) 646-5426

Aug. 9: Soybean Managment Field Day, Concord, (UNL Haskell Ag Lab)

Aug. 10: Soybean Management Field Day, Mead, (UNL Eastern Nebraska REEC)

Aug. 11: Soybean Management Field Day, DeWitt, (Blake Huls farm)

Aug. 15: Flame Weeding Workshop, ENREC near Mead

Aug. 22: Soil Health & Cover Crop Field Day, 9 a.m.  2:50 p.m. (Registration 8:30), ENREC near Mead

Aug. 24: Southeast NE Alfalfa & Wheat Expo, 8:45 a.m.  3:30 p.m. (Registration 8 a.m.), Crete

Aug. 28: Hamilton County Corn Grower Plot Tour, 5 p.m., Giltner area

Aug. 29: Corn & Soybean Clinic, 9:30 a.m.  3:20 p.m. (Registration 9 a.m.), West Central R&E Center, North Platte

Aug. 29: York County Corn Growers Event, 6 p.m., Stone Creek McCool Junction, $15 prime rib meal, RSVP 402-362-5508

Aug. 31: Corn & Soybean Clinic, 9:30 a.m.  3:20 p.m. (Reg. 9 a.m.), ENREEC near Mead
YORK  The York County fair wrapped up this last weekend with many fun and interactive activities for the community. Spanning all age groups there were plenty of ways for everyone to enjoy the summer weekend.

It all started on Saturday with the Waffleman. A 4-H fundraiser that supplied the masses with $5 all you can eat. A perfect start to the day especially with the loaded lineup that followed.

Kids got their groove on at Kids Day Under the Tent where a live performance by the String Beans was headlining. This Lincoln based band travels around the state, and sometimes parts of the country, and performs at fairs, festivals, libraries, schools, churches, museums and zoos. They write family-friendly songs about things kids enjoy: animals, cartoons, food, science and sports. Kids got to hit the dance floor and enjoy the goofy trio perform and interact with the band. Towards the final act of the show parents got moving by raising and lowering a parachute allowing the little ones to run across underneath it.

While the concert was in progress many other yard games like checkers and cornhole were spread on the outside of the tent for kids to get active. Kids even got a chance to show off their artist skills with a coloring contest and were able to get childrens tattoos to wear the rest of the day.

The York General had a table set up underneath the tent as well. Representatives of the hospital had a teddy bear repair shop with the theme of a doctors visit. Kids were able to bring their own teddy bear or stuffed animal and get a diagnosis by picking out pictures of x-rays to identify the problem. Afterwards they got the necessary tools and parts to repair the teddy bear.

Just across from the main tent the final livestock show was under way at the Cornerstone Ag and Event Center. The swine show got started at 10 a.m. starting off with the Showmanship category. In this category the majority of the judging was placed on the individual rather than the animal. Exhibitors have to show the ability that they can control the animal both in the show ring and holding pen. Then the judge asks questions about the animal and project as a whole. Following that category they got into the breeding and market classes. Where the judgment is more on how the animal looks and the condition the swine is in.

After the swine show kids gathered at the Grandstand to compete in the Kids Pedal Tractor Pull. This event had kids ages 4-12 operate a pedal tractor pulling a weighted sled. The winner is determined by who drags the sled the furthest. It may seem easy enough until the friction builds up making it harder to pedal the further you go.

The night ended with a live performance by Jordan Schoch under the main tent. Originally from Nebraska, Jordan travels across the state and performs his music that is heavily influenced by the farm life he grew up in. It was a great show for the whole family.

On Sunday, the final day, spectators gather to watch the Antique Tractor Pull. Much like the pedal pull it required tractors to pull a sled with the goal of who can pull it the furthest. Instead of small tractors fit for children, its contestants drove old tractors that the kids in the pedal pull wouldnt have been born when some of these tractors were built and sold.

Then kids got to show how much of a cowboy they really were at the Mutton Busting contest. This event is much like bull riding except it uses sheep instead of bulls. Additionally, the normal contestant for this contest is children. However, there are still age, height and weight restrictions to prevent injury to the animal. The contest also make sure the kids are safe as well. They require children to wear helmets and a protective vest. Most of the kids do inevitably fall off in eight seconds, but this contest is a great way for them to get experience in rodeos.

The final event to close out the 150th York County Fair was the Farm Olympics. Participants gathered at the north side of the beef barn to compete in five events that were farm related. The first event had the competitors change a simple tire on an axil in the fastest time possible. Following in the second event had them take and assemble a siphon tube to a water tank and run water to an empty jug. The third event was loading wood chips into a tub and hauling them to a specified destination. Fourth was a simple hammer and nails event where contestants battled to see who could hammer down the most nails into the board. The final event was a similar event that are usually held in lumberjack games. A giant saw was the tool used in the finale to see who could saw off a piece of a log the fastest.

This years fair was filled with great opportunities for 4-H kids to develop their skills. Fun activities for young ones and for older audiences. Most importantly though it was a great time for the community to get together and celebrate their great county.
The Director General Civil Aviation Monday (DGCA) has issued the license for Utkela airport in Odisha's Kalahandi district to start flight operations. Utkela airport, 15 km from the district headquarters of Bhawanipatna, is among the airstrips that have been listed under the regional connectivity scheme UDAN. This license from Civil Aviation has paved the way for regular flights of commercial aeroplanes from Utkella to Bhubaneswar and Raipur, capitals of Odisha and its neighbour Chhattisgarh respectively.

Glad to share that #UtkelaAirport in #Kalahandi district has received DGCA license to start flight operations. Soon flight operations will commence to #Bhubaneswar. It will boost connectivity, commerce & tourism, fulfilling aspirations of people of the region. pic.twitter.com/cWpGpcxXzt  Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) August 7, 2023

After Rourkela and Jeypore, the UDAN service will be launched soon in Utkela, an official said adding that initially GSEC Monarch has been given the license to fly nine-seated commercial planes.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik welcomed the DGCA's decision.

Glad to share that #UtkelaAirport in #Kalahandi district has received DGCA license to start flight operation. Soon flight operations will commence to #Bhubaneswar. It will boost connectivity, commerce & tourism, fulfilling aspiration of people of the region, Patnaik said in a statement posted on X, earlier known as Twitter.

Also Read -Domestic Air Carriers Report Over 300 Technical Snags In Flights Till July This Year

Also, DGCA has, since 2021, instituted a 'No Fly List', resulting in the prohibition of 166 passengers from boarding flights to/from India for a designated duration, the Parliament was told on Monday. Minister of State for Civil Aviation Gen VK Singh (retd) also told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply that the total number of complaints lodged by passengers were 4,786 in 2020, 5,321 in 2021, 5,525 in 2022, and 2,384 since January this year to date.

He also said that the fleet size of aircraft endorsed on the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) of the scheduled operators in the country in 2014 was 395 whereas in 2023 it is 729.

As per the information received by the DGCA, the total fleet size of the major domestic airlines in the country is expected to be approximately 1,600 in the next seven years, the minister stated.
New Delhi: Indian gaming app Mobile Premier League will lay off 350 employees as it takes steps to "survive" a tax imposed by the Indian government on online gaming companies, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters on Tuesday. The move comes on the back of the government's decision last month to impose a 28% tax on funds that online gaming companies collect from customers.

The new rule will increase the company's tax burden by 350%-400%, MPL CEO Sai Srinivas said in the memo, adding that the company is revisiting expenses related to their server and office infrastructure.

"Adjusting to a sudden increase of this magnitude means we need to make some very tough decisions ... We must take steps to bring these expenses down in order to survive and to ensure that the business remains viable," Srinivas said. MPL did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.



Half the workforce employed by the company could be laid off, with the product team to be the most affected with more than 60 job cuts, a source familiar with the information told Reuters. The source could not be named as they are not authorised to speak to the media.

It is not clear how many employees the company currently has. More than 100 gaming firms said in a letter to India's finance ministry that the tax will stifle foreign investment and put $2.5 billion already invested in the sector at risk.
KYODO NEWS - Aug 8, 2023 - 20:33 | World, All, Japan

The amount of radioactive tritium in wastewater from Chinese nuclear plants, recorded at 13 of the nation's monitoring points in 2021, surpassed the maximum allowable annual amount of the material contained in treated water set to be released from the Fukushima Daiichi plant, according to public data.

Beijing has been opposed to Tokyo's plan to begin releasing treated radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima plant into the sea and has tightened controls on seafood imports from Japan. Tokyo has not taken such measures despite the high level of tritium found in Chinese waters.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin has stressed the difference between the Fukushima water and that released by nuclear plants in normal operations, saying no comparison can be drawn between the two as the former "came into direct contact with melted reactor cores."

The Qinshan nuclear plant in the eastern Zhejiang Province discharged around 218 trillion becquerels of tritium in 2021, roughly 10 times the maximum annual release set for the Fukushima water at 22 trillion becquerels, according to the data from a yearbook on the Chinese nuclear power industry.

The yearbook contains radioactive material monitoring results of water released from 13 nuclear plants at 17 points in the country.

The amount of tritium found in water from the Daya Bay and Yangjiang nuclear plants in the southern Guangdong Province was around five times the maximum annual amount for the Fukushima water, while the Fuqing plant in the southeastern Fujian Province discharged 2.4 times more tritium than the Fukushima upper limit.

Under China's national environmental protection law and related legislation, the maximum annual release of radioactive materials from nuclear plants is determined based on the size of the facilities.

The Haiyang nuclear plant in Shandong Province released 82.6 trillion becquerels of tritium in 2021, close to the upper limit set for the facility.

Before the major nuclear accident in 2011, triggered by a massive earthquake and tsunami, the Fukushima Daiichi plant in northeastern Japan was releasing about 2.2 trillion becquerels of tritium annually, according to Japan's industry ministry.

In July this year, the International Atomic Energy Agency concluded in a report submitted to the Japanese government that the planned Fukushima water release aligns with global safety standards and will have "a negligible radiological impact on people and the environment."

However, China has contended that the IAEA did not adequately represent the perspectives of the participating experts in their review. Consequently, China implemented comprehensive radiation testing on all seafood imports from Japan to guarantee public health and food safety.

Related coverage:

Japan eyes Fukushima water release between late Aug. and early Sept.

Seafood import controls in China vex Japan eateries, dealers

FEATURE: Fukushima mothers taking radioactivity watchdog role into own hands
New Delhi: Cow is revered as the "mother" in India. In the case of this Kannada youngster named Jayaguru Achar Hinder the cow has cared for him in the same way that a mother does for her children. Hinder quit his 9 to 5 private engineering career to join his beloved family farm business. He currently makes a staggering 10 lakhs a month from dairy farming. The former engineer who now runs a dairy farm makes a fortune by selling milk, ghee, fertiliser, and even water used to bathe cows. His ingenuity and humble story could serve as an inspiration to everyone on how to build a big career out of a humble profession like running a cattle farm.

Jayaguru Achar Hinder's Success Story Of Leaving An Engineering Profession To Start A Farm Business

After receiving his civil engineering degree from the Vivekananda College of Engineering and Technology, Hinder worked as a civil engineer for a year with a private company, earning a salary of Rs 22,000 per month. However, Hinder soon grew tired of his engineering job, so in 2019, he decided to leave his job and join his family's business.

Hinder has always liked farming and spent a good time at home with his cattle. He decided to use his technical education and expertise to increase the farm's productivity. He thought of expanding the dairy and experimenting with innovative sales strategies when he was studying engineering. All that brainstorming was helpful later on when making actual decisions, he told the media.

Use Of Innovation To Create A Successful Dairy Farm

Hinder understood that in today's fiercely competitive environment, creativity is essential to surviving. He might help decrease waste in his agricultural business through innovation, giving him more time to concentrate on long-term objectives. So, he began implementing innovation in the family business with this concept.

His father had 10 cows at one time. But once Hinder got involved in the business, there were 130 more cattle. Additionally, Hinder purchased a device that dries cow manure and makes it easier for farmers to utilise. Today, he sells roughly 1,000 bags of this cow dung every day.

Hinder also uses a slurry of cow dung, cow urine, and water that he sells in quantities of roughly 7,000 litres daily. He makes sure that everything he uses, including the water he uses to bathe his cows, is put to good use.

Hinder is also involved in "Gonandajala," a procedure that helps in accelerating crop growth. When a cow dies, the body is placed in a tank with a calculated amount of substances. It is retained for several months. When the body has completely broken down, there remains fluid which is later used as liquid fertiliser.

Hinder sells 750 litres of milk and 3040 kg of ghee daily. Hinder's farm business currently generates income in the crores, which is an amount he perhaps would not have made in a private job.
New Delhi: Elon Musk-run Tesla has appointed Indian-origin Vaibhav Taneja as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Taneja who presently holds the position of Chief Accounting Officer, other than assuming the role of CFO will also continue to oversee the financial trajectory of the company

This strategic appointment reflects Tesla's bid to targets India as it next major supply ecosystem creator.

Taneja will replace Teslas its existing CFO Zachary Kirkhorn, who has significantly contributed to Tesla's growth over the last 13 years.



In his departure, Kirkhorn shared on LinkedIn, "Being a part of this company is a special experience and I'm extremely proud of the work we've done together since I joined over 13 years ago."

Who Is Teslas New CFO Vaibhav Taneja? Here is a beief profile

Taneja is a commerce graduate. He did his Bachelor of Commerce degree from Delhi University between 1996 and 1999. He also pursued his Chartered Accountancy from Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, between 1997 and 2000.

Taneja's Tesla journey began in 2017 as he switched from a dynamic solar energy firm, SolarCity, which had been acquired by Tesla. His journey began as the Vice President of SolarCity and eventually he went on to become the Corporate Controller. Taneja was highly credited for the seamless integration of accounting teams from both firms.

Before joining Tesla, Taneja worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers for a good 17-years span before he moved on to SolarCity, ending his PwC journey in March 2016.

This decision comes around the same time as Tesla's ongoing conversations with Indian government officials to establish its automotive components and electronics chain within the countrys borders.

The catalyst behind this development is said to be Elon Musk's recent meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the United States. Expressing his admiration for India's potential, Musk had revealed his intentions to visit India over the coming years. The conversations between the duo had covered a wide gamut of subjects including investment and collaboration, and Musk's vision for a mutually beneficial partnership.

Musk had told reporters in conversations following his meeting with Modi: "He really cares about India because hes pushing us to make significant investments in India, which is something that we intend to do and were just trying to figure out the right timing."
BHU UG Merit List 2023: The BHU UG Merit List 2023 for Round 1 admissions has been revealed. Candidates who applied for BHU UG Admissions 2023 will be able to view and download the Round 1 results on the university's official website, bhuonline.in. The Banaras Hindu University (BHU) Central Admission Committee has released the seat allocation list for the main campus and associated colleges. Candidates who have been assigned seats must pay the cost by August 8 at 5:59 p.m.

"First list for admission to various undergraduate programs has been released. The list of the main campus paid seats and affiliated colleges has been displayed on http://bhuonline.in. The fee deadline under the first list is 08.08.2023," BHU Tweeted.

BHU UG Merit List 2023: Steps to download here

1. Visit the official website- bhuonline.in

2. On the appeared homepage, click on the BHU UG Merit list link

3. A new login page would open

4. Enter the asked credentials

5. Access the BHU UG Admission portal and check the allotment order

6. Download the same and take a print out for the future references

When the seat allotment results are announced, candidates must accept the offer of admission and pay the money by the deadline. If a student does not accept the offer, they will be denied admission. BHU UG Admissions 2023 will take place in multiple rounds, including normal and mop-up rounds.
Kerala HSCAP 3rd Allotment 2023: The Kerala Department of General Education, DGE, released the third supplementary results of higher secondary (Class 11) admission today, August 7. Students who are concerned can now get the Kerala HSCAP 3rd allotment result 2023 on the official website. Students must pay admission fees in order to get enrolled.

On the DGE official website, students may also view the category-wise final ranks of each institution to which they have applied. All pupils who received an allotment should report to their assigned schools between August 7 at 10 a.m. and August 8 at 4 p.m.

Kerala HSCAP 3rd Allotment 2023: Steps to check here

1. Visit the official Kerala HSCAP website, hscap.kerala.gov.in.

2. On the homepage, on the left side, click the candidate login tab.

3. Candidates must then enter their user name, password, and district of choice in the following step. Then choose 'School Wise Admitted Students List'.

5. Choose a district to view the Kerala HSCAP third allotment result 2023.

6. Verify the allocation status and save the letter

7. Print a copy of the Kerala HSCAP allotment letter for future reference.

There were 25,735 vacancies that were advertised. The third additional allocation was considered for 11,849 students out of 12,487 applicants. Of these, 638 applications were rejected for allotment due to a lack of options and other reasons.
New Delhi: AIMIM leader and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has slammed the Haryana governments bulldozer action in the aftermath of the communal violence in Nuh, calling the move a collective punishment. The AIIM MP also accused Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar of usurping the rights of the courts of law in ordering bulldozer action after the violence in Nuh and punishing innocent Muslims.

He was responding to Nuh Deputy Commissioner Dhirendra Khadgata's statement that confidence-building measures are underway in the violence-hit area. "Confidence Building means buildings, homes, and medical shops, and shanties of one community (Muslims)should be Demolished without following due process to give collective punishment. The @mlkhattar government has usurped the rights of Courts of Law," he said in a tweet.





Confidence Building" means buildings,homes and medical shops &shanties of one community (Muslims)should be Demolished without following due process to give collective punishment.

The @mlkhattar government has usurped the rights of Courts of Law

 Confidence "is being given to https://t.co/t8WpMP1U7H  Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) August 6, 2023

Four teams of Haryana Police have been formed to investigate the cause of the violence that erupted in Nuh and later on spread to other districts of the state. As illegal structures are being razed in the violence-hit Nuh from where stones were allegedly pelted on a religious procession during the clashes, Nuh Deputy Commissioner Dhirendra Khadgata said that ban on the internet in the district will continue till the situation normalises.

"Ban on the internet will continue for now. Once we will witness changes in the situation we will lift it. An extra one hour has been added to the movement of the public from tomorrow when the Curfew will be lifted," Deputy Commissioner Dhirendra Khadgata said. M Ravi Kiran, ADGP, South Range said, "As of now 56 FIRs have been registered and 147 arrested. 4 teams have been formed and an investigation is underway."

As the drive against illegal constructions in the state continued for a third straight day, Deputy Commissioner Dhirendra Khadgata said that "Confidence-building" measures are underway and action is not being taken to target anyone.

Continuing their drive against illegal constructions in Haryana's Nuh, district administration authorities demolished a restaurant-cum-hotel which was used by hooligans to pelt stones during the recent violence there. "Confidence-building measures are underway, meeting held with both communities...Internet services suspended till August 8...," Nuh Deputy Commissioner Dhirendra Khadgata said.

Curfew Lifted In Nuh

Meanwhile, the curfew in the state was lifted for the movement of the public from 9 am to 1 pm on August 7. According to the order by Nuh District Magistrate, "ATMs opened in the MC area of Nuh, Tauru, Punhana, Ferozepur Jhirka and Pingwon and Nagina Block during the curfew relaxation period and Banks will remain open during the curfew period from 10 am to 3 pm for these areas. Cash transactions will be from 11 am to 2 pm only on August 7.

Internet Ban To Continue

Moreover, the Haryana government announced on Sunday that mobile internet services will remain suspended in the Nuh district till August 8. The order passed by the Haryana Home Secretary stated that the conditions in the district remain critical and tense.

"Whereas, it has been brought to my notice by Deputy Commissioner Nub that the law and order situation has been reviewed and the conditions are still critical and tense in the district," the statement said.

Furthermore, a four-member delegation of the Communist Party of India (CPI) was stopped from entering Nuh district. After a four-member delegation of the Communist Party of India (CPI) was stopped from entering Nuh district, MP Binoy Viswam slammed the police for preventing them to visit violence-hit areas in Haryana, adding that hooligans, goons and fascists are allowed to roam freely in the state.

Police stopped the delegation from visiting violence-hit areas citing prohibitions under Section 144 CrPC. The four-member delegation including CPI Rajya Sabha MP, Binoy Viswam, CPI general secretary Amarjeet Kaur, party MP Sandosh Kumar P, and party leader Dariyav Singh Kashyap will visit violence-affected areas in Gurugram and Nuh districts.

CPI MP Binoy Viswam said, "We have seen it, this is the plight of the country today. The reality of the day, the Police are not allowing even us. That means that under this rule, even the freedom of movement is prohibited. Hooligans, goons and fascists can move freely...We have been prevented here and we wanted to protest over that. But we don't want to create a tussle here..."

14 Arrested, 55 FIRs Registered

Haryana police said that as many as 141 people have been arrested and 55 FIRs registered in connection with the violence and rioting in Haryana's Nuh district on Monday. Meanwhile, the Gurugram Police said it has filed 27 FIRs and arrested 38 accused persons, so far, in connection with the violence in Gurugram and adjoining districts following the clashes in Nuh.

"We have filed 27 FIRs and arrested 38 persons in connection with the recent violence in Gurugram. We have also taken 60 persons under preventive detention," Varun Kumar Dhahiya, Assistant Police Commissioner (Gurugram), said on Friday.

The toll in the violence that broke out between two groups stood at 6, including 2 police home guards, while another 88 were injured, police informed further. Clashes between two groups broke out in Nuh on Monday afternoon after a religious procession passing through the district came under attack, leaving two home guards dead and dozens of peopleincluding around 20 policemeninjured in the frenzy of violence that followed.
New Delhi: Five Rajya Sabha MPs have accused Aam Aadmi Party MP Raghav Chadha of forging their signatures and adding their names to the proposed select committee on Delhi Services Bill without their permission. The AAP MP now faces a Privilege Motion from the aggrieved MPs. The five MPs who have lodged complaints are S Phangnon Konyak, Narhari Amin and Sudhanshu Trivedi of BJP, AIADMK MP M Thambidurai and BJDs Sasmit Patra. They claim that they were not consulted or informed about their inclusion in the proposed select committee on Delhi Services Bill.

Chadha, on the other hand, said that he will respond to the Privileges Committee when he receives a notice. AIADMK MP M Thambidurai has already written a letter to the Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar regarding the issue.

I have written to the Rajya Sabha Chairman to refer the matter to the Privilege Committee as I found my name in the motion, even though I did not sign any document. It seems someone has forged my signature, news agency ANI quoted AIADMK's Thambidurai as saying.



Raghav Chadha put my name in Select Committee. He never spoke to me, I never gave consent for this. He has done wrong. I have not given my signature," ANI quoted BJP MP Narhari Amin as saying.



BDJs Sasmit Patra also alleged that his name was added without his consent. When resolutions were being moved in the House (during the debate on the Delhi Services bill), I heard my name in a resolution that was moved by Raghav Chadha. My name cannot be put in the resolution without my prior consent. I hope the Chairman of the House will take action. I have filed a complaint. This is obviously a privilege issue. We all have filed our respective complaints, the Biju Janata Dal MP said.

After a long and heated debate of 8 hours, the Upper House passed the Bill to replace the Centres Ordinance for control of services in Delhi by a division vote of 131 to 102.

Earlier in the day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, The AAP has always been abusing the Congress since its inception. And, today, they are asking for Congress support to oppose this draft law. The moment this Bill is passed, Arvind Kejriwal-ji will change his tune. The National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was already passed by the Lok Sabha last week.
New Delhi: The ruling BJP, which managed to get the Delhi Services Bill secure parliamentary approval after a fierce debate on Monday, it also targeted the main opposition party Congress for forcing ailing former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh's presence in the Upper House. It may be noted that Congress-led Opposition brought a wheelchair-bound former prime minister Manmohan Singh and an ailing Sibhu Soren of the JMM to the House to shore up its numbers.

The ruling BJP took to Twitter and tweeted a picture of the former PM sitting on a wheel-chair. Calling it "utterly shameful", the BJP slammed the Congress saying that the nation will not forget its madness to force an ailing former leader to come to Rajya Sabha just to shore up its numbers.





It may be noted that the Rajya Sabha passed the contentious Delhi Services Bill that will give the Centre control over bureaucracy in the national capital, with the BJP-led NDA thwarting opposition challenge in the keenly-watched numbers game.

The bill that seeks to replace an ordinance was approved 131-102 during voting as the BJD and the YSR Congress Party backed the government in an exercise that was seen as a first major test for opposition unity after the formation of the 26-party alliance INDIA last month to challenge the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Bill Does Not Violate Supreme Court Order: Shah

Replying to a six-hour emotionally charged debate, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the bill handling the transfers and postings of officials in the Delhi government has been brought to safeguard the rights of the people and not to usurp the power of the AAP government. The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha last week.

Asserting that the bill does not violate the Supreme Court judgement in any manner and that it seeks to provide efficient and corruption-free governance and protect rights of citizens of the national capital, Shah also assured the members that there is not even a single provision that changes the status of the system prevailing since the Congress regime.

The BJP and its allies got a boost as the BJD, the ruling party in Odisha, and the YSRCP, which is in power in Andhra Pradesh, with nine MPs each, supported the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023. The ordinance that preceded the bill was at the centre of political acrimony for weeks.

On the other hand, the opposition got the backing of 102 MPs against the Bill. During the division of votes, the opposition got fewer votes than the anticipated 108 and the ruling alliance secured the support of more than the expected 128-129 MPs.

The Rajya Sabha has a current strength of 238 and there are seven vacancies. Members of the opposition alliance INDIA slammed the Centre over the bill, saying the proposed legislation was "unconstitutional" and against the spirit of federalism.

The opposition bloc also got support from Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao's BRS, which saw the bill as a move to usurp the powers of an elected government in Delhi.

Bill A Back-Door Entry: AAP

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called the passage of the bill a "black day" for the Indian democracy and accused the BJP-ruled Centre of trying to usurp power in Delhi through "back doors". In a video message, the AAP supremo accused the BJP of backstabbing the people of Delhi. The BJP on its part said the legislation will end the "anarchist aadmi party's heinous misuse of power" to intimidate government servants for their "corrupt objectives".

In his reply, Shah, who launched a scathing attack on the AAP and the Congress, said the urgency of first bringing an ordinance and now the bill was to stop Delhi's ruling AAP from transferring officials connected to the probe into the Rs 2,000-crore liquor "scam".

The BJP is in power in several states and does not need to usurp power in Delhi, he said responding to a charge that has been repeatedly levelled by the opposition. The Supreme Court had on May 11 ruled that the elected government of Delhi has control over services in the national capital, excluding the matters relating to public order, police and land.

On May 19, the Centre promulgated the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023 to create an authority for the transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi. The bill will now go to the President for her assent before it becomes law.

"We have not brought this bill to grab power for the Centre. The Delhi government is trying to encroach on the Centre's powers and the bill has been brought to legally stop them from doing so," Shah said. "We had to bring this bill as lawlessness had crept into Delhi's governance," he said, adding that for several years such a problem never cropped up even when there were opposing governments of the Congress and the BJP at the Centre and Delhi.

Shah accused Congress of opposing a constitutional amendment it had brought earlier only to appease its alliance partners for political reasons. On the charge of the bill being undemocratic, the home minister hit out at Congress saying it has no right to lecture on democracy as it had taken away the rights of the common people by imposing an Emergency in 1975.

The bill was passed after motions to send the proposed legislation to a select committee of the House, as well as amendments proposed by opposition members, were rejected by voice vote.

"The motion is adopted and the bill is passed," announced Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh after announcing the result of the division of votes sought by opposition members.

Soon after, BJP MPs chanted "Modi, Modi" and thumped desks.

A controversy erupted over one of the motions moved by AAP MP Raghav Chadha with at least four MPs, including Sasmit Patra of BJD and M Thambidurai of AIADMK, complaining that their names were included in the proposed select committee on the Delhi services bill without their consent.

Shah said the inclusion of their names without consent was a fraud with Parliament and needs to be probed. On this, Singh said the issue will be probed but did not give the details immediately.
New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday defended its MP Raghav Chadha after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused him of forging the signatures of five MPs in a motion related to the Delhi services bill in the Rajya Sabha, alleging that it is an "attempt to disqualify" him as a member of Parliament. Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh claimed that any MP can propose names for a select committee and that "signatures are not required" for it.

"Any MP can propose names for select committee without their signature. The BJP is spreading lies and rumours," he alleged.

AAP national spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that the BJP is "cooking up a false case" against Chadha.



"Those (MPs) who said that Raghav Chadha forged their signatures, they lied because there was no signature. Breach of privilege motion action can be taken against them. Just like they (Centre) disqualified Rahul Gandhi by creating a false case, BJP wants to do the same with Raghav too. These people are very powerful and can do anything. But we are not afraid of them," Bharadwaj claimed.

A select committee was proposed by Chadha in the Upper House on Monday to examine the Delhi services bill.

Senior AAP leader Atishi also claimed that the BJP accusing Chadha of forgery is "an attempt to take away his Parliament membership".

"It is BJP's attempt to take away the Parliament membership of Raghav Chadha through backdoor, just like Rahul Gandhi's membership was revoked," she alleged.

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh on Monday announced a probe into the complaints of at least four MPs that their names were included in a proposed select committee of the House for the Delhi services bill without their consent.

The select committee was proposed by AAP member Chadha in the Upper House to examine the Delhi services bill.

AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar said, "Raghav Chadha proposed the names of 19 MPs (for the select committee), of which five members refused. They made it a big issue out of it because they got scared of his speech."

After the deputy chairman read out the names to be included in the proposed select committee, Home Minister Amit Shah informed that five members have complained that their names were included without their signatures in the proposal moved by the AAP leader.

He demanded that this issue be investigated. Terming it a breach of privilege of the House, Shah said the matter should be referred to the privileges committee.

Then three members, including Sasmit Patra of the BJD, M Thambidurai of the AIADMK and S Phangnon Konyak of the BJP stood up and informed the House that their consent was not taken for the inclusion of their names in the proposed select committee.

To this, the deputy chairman said the complaints of the MPs will be probed. He, however, did not indicate the agency for the probe and the timeframe for completing it.

Parliament on Monday passed the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, that gives the central government control over bureaucrats in the Delhi government.
New Delhi: Delhis ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has said that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his party will continue to fight against the BJP, after the Rajya Sabha passed the keenly contested National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023 that gives the Centre control over Delhi's bureaucrats. Lashing out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, AAP leader and Delhi Minister Atishi AAP said, "There are many in the country who talk about the absence of democracy in Pakistan, wondering how Bills are passed by their Parliament without any debate or consent."

"Prime Minister Modi has made the situation in India worse than in Pakistan. This is very unfortunate. We, along with the people of Delhi, will continue our fight against the BJP," she added. She claimed that with the passage of the Bill in both Houses of the Parliament, PM Modi has "taken away the rights of the people of Delhi.

"Today with the passage of his draft-legislation by the Parliament, PM Modi has taken away the rights of the people of Delhi. We used to look at Pakistan not too long ago, wondering what kind of country passes Bills without discussions and debates," Atishi said.



In his first comment after the Bill was passed, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday launched a scathing attack on the BJP, saying that the draft legislation was a "back-entry" entry to rule Delhi.

"These people (BJP) have seen that it is very difficult to defeat AAP in Delhi. In the last four elections  2013, 2015, 2020 and recent MCD polls  the BJP lost to AAP. The BJP has not formed a government in Delhi for more than 25 years now. The people of Delhi sent them on exile for 25 years. Sensing it was difficult to defeat the BJP, these people are now trying to make a back-door entry to rule Delhi," Kejriwal said in a video message, soon after the contentious Bill was passed in Rajya Sabha.

The Upper House on Monday passed the Bill that empowers Lieutenant Governor of Delhi to control Group A services in Delhi, including on matters relating to appointments, transfers and postings. The Bill was passed after a division in which 131 MPs voted in favour of the legislation and 102 against it.

The Opposition, which put up a strong fight, was bested by the joint efforts of the Naveen Patnaik's Biju Janata Dal, Andhra Pradesh's ruling YSR Congress and opposition TDP, which declared support for the government last week.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who moved the bill, said the Delhi services bill doesn't violate the Supreme Court judgment, which maintained that the elected government is the boss in Delhi.

Delhi's ruling AAP, which would be most affected by the proposed law, has been campaigning against it for weeks, rallying the Opposition. AAP has argued that the proposed law will set a precedent that can be used to strip any Opposition-ruled state of its power of governance, sidelining the elected government.

Whats The Delhi Services Bill?

The National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which was passed by the Lok Sabha last week, replaces the Ordinance promulgated by the Centre earlier for handling the transfers and postings of officials in the Delhi government.

The bill now requires the President's sign-off to com into effect. The proposed law will empower the Central Government to control the functioning of the Delhi government by having the final say in the postings, transfers of bureaucrats and employees.
SRINAGAR: In a significant development, the killing of Kashmir Pandits during the insurgency will be re-investigated. The State Investigating Agency (SIA) has issued a public notice in the newspaper urging people to share information on Justice Ganju's murder.

After nearly 33 years, the Jammu and Kashmir Administration has decided to re-investigate the killings of Kashmiri Pandits since 80es-90s. The cases of the killings of Kashmiri Pandits are being reopened by the Jammu and Kashmir State Investigation Agency (SIA).

The first case which has re-opened is the murder of Justice Neelkanth Ganjoo, said reports. The State Investigation Agency (SIA) of the Kashmir Police has sought public assistance in re-investigating the murder case of High Court Judge Neelkanth Ganjoo.

Justice Ganju was murdered in broad daylight on 4 November 1989 by a group of terrorists. Security agencies had blamed the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) for the killing but no arrests were made at that time. The murder of Ganjoo was the first shocking murder of any Kashmiri Pandit since the insurgency started in Kashmir.

Justice Ganjoo was targeted as 1960 he had sentenced JKLF head Mohammad Maqbool Bhat to death in a case related to the murder of police officer Amar Chand.

The SIA has published a notice in the newspaper and urged people to share information on the murder of Justice Ganju so that the agency can firmly investigate against the killers. The agency said that the identity of anyone who will give information in this matter to the investigating agency will be kept secret, besides the informer will be suitably rewarded.

The public has been asked to contact 8899004976 or email sspsia-kmr@jkpolice.gov.in for any information related to this murder case, according to the notice.
KYODO NEWS - Aug 8, 2023 - 14:44 | All, Japan

The Japanese Foreign Ministry on Tuesday named Masataka Okano, a deputy head of the National Security Secretariat, as its new top bureaucrat.

The appointment of Okano, 59, as vice foreign minister was among a set of key personnel changes at the ministry endorsed by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's Cabinet the same day, effective on Thursday.

Okano, who also serves as assistant chief Cabinet secretary in charge of foreign policy, succeeds Takeo Mori, 62, who is retiring after holding the post since June 2021.

A University of Tokyo graduate, Okano entered the ministry in 1987, and served as director general of the ministry's International Legal Affairs Bureau and director general of its Foreign Policy Bureau before taking up the current positions in September 2022.

Among the other appointments, Takehiro Funakoshi, 58, director general of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, was tapped as senior deputy minister for foreign affairs in charge of political affairs, succeeding Shigeo Yamada, 59.

The government is considering naming Yamada as Japan's next ambassador to the United States to replace Koji Tomita, according to government sources.

Hiroyuki Namazu, 57, director general of the Economic Affairs Bureau, replaces Funakoshi, while Yutaka Arima, 55, director general of the Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department, was appointed as director general of the North American Affairs Bureau, replacing Yasuhiro Kobe, 55.

Kobe succeeds Keiichi Ichikawa, 57, as the head of the Foreign Policy Bureau, and Ichikawa takes over Okano's posts.

The reshuffling of senior Foreign Ministry officials came after Kishida's government hosted a Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima in May.
New Delhi: The Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Tuesday opposed the no-confidence motion against the government on the Manipur violence, saying what happened in the state is due to "legacy issues" running back several decades. Participating in the debate in Lok Sabha, Biju Janata Dal MP Pinaki Misra said it is out of the question for the BJD to support any motion brought by the Congress.

"They are very adept at cutting their nose to spite their face," he said targeting the Congress. It defies logic and political sense to bring a no-confidence motion that is bound to fail, Misra said and added that every time the prime minister gets up on the floor of the House, "he pushes the Congress party through the shredder".

"So let me make it clear we oppose this motion because of the fact that it has been brought by the Congress party. But there are many other compelling reasons," he said.



The conflagration in Manipur is not the result of the last 10 years, he said. "It is the result of nearly 50-60 years of strife in Manipur, the fact of the matter is the entire issue boiled earlier in the 1980s too," the MP said

Misra said the home minister had called an all-party meeting on Manipur where he gave an exceptionally detailed analysis of the situation there.

"I believe the central government missed a trick there. The central government asking for the matter to be remanded back to the High Court was a huge error and I pointed out there that the central government should have been happy to let the matter rest in the Supreme Court's lap because we have seen people of the country have faith in the Supreme Court," he said.

"Look at the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi issue which was not solved for decades but it was taken up by SC and both parties agreed to the decision," he said.

Misra also urged all parties to speak in one voice on the Manipur issue.

"What happened in Manipur is heart-rending and all parties must speak in one voice. What this parliament cannot afford is a no-confidence motion against the central government because each party must give constructive suggestions rather than blaming the central government on Manipur which is clearly a legacy issue running back several decades," he said.

ALSO READ: Manipur Violence: Oppn Forced To Bring No-Trust Vote To Break PM Modi's 'Maun Vrat': Congress

He also said that it is not clear how useful a step to impose President's rule in Manipur would be.

"If President's rule is imposed there I am not sure if it would have worked too. So the central government was confronted with a Hobson's choice and all political parties should have considered it. The need of the hour is to speak in one voice and not a fractious tone," he said.

Misra also said that what happened in Manipur is seen everywhere where there is strife and conflict.

"The way forward for women empowerment is to bring women reservation bill. One point that the government lacks the confidence of House is not to bring women reservation bill and I plead and urge the govt to bring it in the Winter session," he said.

He also took a swipe at Congress, saying the party is "adept at snatching defeat from the jaws of the victory".

"They are also very adept at cutting their nose to spite their face... Every time the PM gets up on the floor of the House, he pushes the Congress party through the shredder.

"They go through the shredding machine so I do not understand why they want to cut their nose to spite their face by asking him to come to the House. This defies common sense, defies logic, defies political sense," he said.

"It is for people to decide if it was right or wrong for him to speak and you take that to the people to decide.

"You don't bring a no-confidence motion that is doomed to fail, you don't bring it needlessly and waste the time of the House and disrupt the House. This kind of disruptive politics has not paid any dividend in past and it would not pay any dividend in the future," he said.

The BJD had provided crucial support to the government in Rajya Sabha on Monday on the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
New Delhi: Actress Sherlyn Chopra is known for her fearless and candid personality. The actress often hits the headlines for her bold and unfiltered presence. The Bigg Boss 3 contestant was once again in the news on Monday when she playfully answered a question about Rahul Gandhi.

Sherlyn recently asked whether she would like to marry Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and her reaction to it has gone viral on cyberspace. The actress was spotted in the city recently donning a beautiful off-shoulder black dress with a thigh high slit. While she clicked selfies with her fans patiently, a paparazzo asked her whether she would marry Rahul Gandhi and she replied in a yes, but with a condition. She said, "Yes, why not. But I would want that after getting married, my surname remains the same."

The video quickly caught the attention of the public and media and soon went viral on social media.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi himself has been in the news lately. The former Congress president was reinstated as the Lok Sabha MP from Kerala's Wayanad constituency after Supreme Court suspended his conviction in a case related to 'Modi' surname remark.

On the work front, Sherlyn is all set to make her comeback to the screen with 'Paurashpur Season 2'. She will be seen in the role of the enchanting and royal 'Maharani Snehlata' in the web-series. The 35-year-old star was the first Indian woman to pose nude for Playboy magazine back in 2012. Her photos were released two years later, reportedly. She was recently seen in the rap song 'Wo Karte Hai Judge'. She has also been a part of films like 'Dosti: Friends Forever' (2005), 'Red Swastik' (2007), 'Wajah Tum Ho' (2016), and has lately been trying her hands at making short films.
New Delhi: Popular Kannada actor Vijay Raghavendra's wife Spandana succumbed to heart attack at a hospital in Bangkok on Monday. Spandana was on tour with her husband Vijay. Though she was immediately shifted to the hospital, Spandana died.

Family sources explained that the body of Spandana will reach Bengaluru on Tuesday. The postmortem of her body will be conducted in Bangkok today. The death of Spandana, who is in her late 30's has shocked the film industry. She had also acted in films and she is the daughter of decorated senior police officer B.K. Shivaram.

The doctors said that Spandana had suffered massive cardiac arrest resulting in her death. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has stated: "The demise of Spandana, the wife of popular Kannada actor Vijaya Raghavendra has shocked me. I pray for her soul. I condole with the bereaved families of Vijaya Raghavendra and B.K. Shivaram."



Former CM Basavaraj Bommai stated that he is shocked after hearing about the demise of Spandana. "I pray to God that her soul rests in peace. I pray to God to give strength to the families of Vijaya Raghavendra and B.K. Shivaram in this moment of grief."
New Delhi: With complaints before Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over the manner in which Ranjith, chairman of Kerala State Chalachitra Academy runs the state film awards selection, is interfering in the decision of the jury when the awards were decided, director M. Lijeesh approached Kerala High Court on Monday, making the controversy murkier.

Lijeesh, in his petition, pointed out that since a few people have openly said about the way Ranjith interfered in the selection of awards, the Court should see that the awards that have been declared be canceled.

Incidentally, soon after the awards were announced last month, popular director Vinayan slammed Ranjith, for interfering in the decision of the jury when the awards were decided.



And to emphasis it, voice clips of members of the jury were also put out and then he approached Vijayan, who ordered a probe into the allegations.

Soon came the All India Youth Front ( AIYF), the youth wing of the second biggest ally of the ruling Left Front government CPI who also urged Vijayan to order a probe by an external agency into the ongoing controversy over the Kerala State Film Awards.

What raised eyebrows was Saji Cherian, Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs, strongly supporting Ranjith.

Now all eyes are on the High Court when it is likely to look into the petition in the coming days.

The saving grace for Ranjith has been when the chairman of the jury, Goutam Ghose denied any external influences, claiming that the selection was free and fair.
New Delhi: Ever since its announcement Pushpa 2 The Rule has been eagerly awaited by the audience. Kickstarting the Pushpa's rule with a video asset that started the hunt for Pushpa, the makers treated the audience with a thrilling first poster, on the occasion of Allu Arjun's birthday. As much as Pushparaj ruled the hearts of the audience, its was Fahadh Faasil aka Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat who left a significant mark on the minds of the audience. Today, as Fahadh Faasil is celebrating his birthday, the Pushpa team has come to make this day even more special by launching a poster of his character from the film.

Marking the special occasion of Fahadh Faasil, team Pushpa shared a stunning poster to wish the actor. The makers further jotted down the caption while wishing Fahadh Faasil -

"Team #Pushpa2TheRule wishes the Massively talented #FahadhFaasil a very Happy Birthday Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat Sir will be back on the big screens with vengeance

Fahadh Faasil as Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat in Pushpa: The Rise truly left everyone stunned with his performance. While the audience has seen just a little yet impactful appearance in the first instalment, they are eagerly waiting to watch more of him in Pushpa 2 The Rule. Fahadh is indeed one of the big reasons that the audience is waiting for the second instalment of the film.

Pushpa 2 The Rule is directed by Sukumar and stars Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, and Fahadh Faasil. Produced by Mythri Movie Makers and Muttamsetty Media, the film is all for its release on 22nd December 2023.
San Francisco: Tech giant Google has added a grammar check feature to its search engine 'Google Search'.

According to the company, its grammar checker will see if a phrase or sentence is written in a grammatically correct way or how to correct it, if not," reports 9To5Google.

Currently, the feature is only available in English'.



To use the feature, users just have to enter a sentence or phrase into Search along with grammar check", check grammar or grammar checker.

If there are no issues, a green checkmark will be shown in the "Grammar Check" section or card that displays as the first result. If not, Google will modify the sentence and highlight the changes. Spelling errors will also be fixed using this tool.

Also, a "Copy" button will become visible when users hover over the corrected version.

The tech giant warned that grammar checks might not be 100 per cent accurate, especially with partial sentences".

Users can also provide Feedback if they discover an issue. Grammar check will not be done if the content might be in violation of Google Searchs overall policies or these policies for Search features".

This covers inputs that are dangerous, medical in nature, or contain vulgar language and profanity".

A support page for this feature first went live late last month, the report said. Last week, the tech giant announced new features in Search to help users keep control of their personal information, privacy and online safety, which includes a feature that alerts users when their private contact info appears online.

Also, explicit imagery -- such as adult or graphic violent content -- will now be blurred by default when it appears in Search results.
San Francisco: Meta-owned messaging platform WhatsApp has announced that it is rolling out message editing support for media with captions on iOS.

"Added message editing support for media with captions," the company mentioned in the official changelog.

The company is also rolling out an updated user interface (UI) with translucent bars as well as new action sheets. The changelog also mentioned that the redesigned sticker tray with improved navigation and a larger set of stickers including more Avatars are still rolling out.

All these features will roll out over the coming weeks, the company said. Last month, the messaging platform WhatsApp had widely rolled out landscape mode support for video calls and silence unknown callers option, on iOS.

Users can silence unknown callers by going to Settings > Privacy > Calls. The platform also released the ability to natively transfer full account history when switching to a new device. This functionality can be accessed by navigating to Settings > Chats > Transfer Chats to iPhone. Last week, the Meta-owned platform WhatsApp started to roll out an animated avatar feature on iOS beta.

Beta users can share the animated avatars with anyone as it is not required to use the beta version to be able to receive them. The animated avatars are expected to bring more life and personality to stickers, allowing for a better communication experience.

It was also reported last month that the company released a feature on iOS beta, which allows users to send high-quality videos. While this feature preserves video dimensions, minor compression will still be applied to the video, thus sending videos in their original quality is not possible.
Varanasi: A team from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Tuesday arrived at the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi on the fifth day of the scientific survey to determine if the mosque was built over a temple. The ASI survey of the Gyanvapi mosque was delayed briefly on Monday due to a heavy rush of devotees at the adjacent Kashi Vishwanath temple.

#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh | A team of ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) arrives at the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi on the fifth day of the survey. pic.twitter.com/yAFAIwFniR  ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) August 8, 2023

Mondays in the month of 'Sawan' hold great significance for devotees, who queue up at temples to offer prayers to Lord Shiva. As a crowd of devotees gathered at the Kashi Vishwanath temple, the survey started three hours late at 11 am and continued till 5 pm. Monday was the fourth day of the exercise being carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on court directives.

Some members of the Anjuman Intezamia Mosque Committee, which manages the Gyanvapi mosque, and the local imam were present during the survey. The survey will resume at 8 am on Tuesday, government advocate Rajesh Mishra said. Measuring, mapping and photography of the entire complex is being done, he said.

The ASI expressed strong displeasure over rumours being circulated about the ongoing work and asked the administration to check this, Mishra said. On Sunday, the Muslim side had alleged that "rumours" were being spread that a Hindu idol and a trident were found during the survey. They had also demanded the administration put a stop to such "rumours".

Vishnu Shankar Jain, the Hindu side's advocate, said the ASI is surveying the entire complex by dividing its 42-member team into smaller groups. "It would be wrong to think that something new will be discovered every day as a detailed scientific study of the structure and architecture of the complex is being done. We will know the findings only after the report of the survey team comes," he said.

The Supreme Court had on Friday refused to stay an Allahabad High Court order that allowed the ASI survey of the Gyanvapi mosque, an exercise that the Muslim side said would "reopen wounds of the past".

The bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, however, asked the ASI not to carry out any digging during the survey.
Bharat Jodo Yatra Second Phrase: Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra's second phase is scheduled to start in Gujarat and end in the northeastern state of Meghalaya. While speaking to the media here, Nana Patole, the head of the Maharashtra Congress, confirmed the claim and informed reporters that party officials in the state would organize a parallel march. "The second leg of Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra will begin from Gujarat to Meghalaya," Patole stated. In several locations around the western state, prominent congress leaders will be leading the march.

Gandhi traveled about 4,000 kilometers (km) on foot from Kanyakumari to Kashmir during the first part of the yatra. The Bharat Jodo Yatra, which began on September 7 of last year in Kanyakumari and ended on January 30 in Srinagar, had traveled over 3,970 kilometers, through 12 states and two Union territories. It had taken more than 130 days to complete the journey. The new route's specifics and associated dates, however, have not yet been confirmed.

On Monday, the Gujarat Congress announced that it had invited Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the party, to launch the second leg of his 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' from the western state, which it described as the "land of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel. According to Amit Chavda, the leader of the opposition in the Gujarat Assembly, the second phase should start in the state. To plan the second part of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, a committee has been established at the national level. He said, "Since Gujarat is the home state of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel, we have extended an invitation to Rahul Gandhi to launch the second phase of the Bharat Jodo Yatra from there.

Chavda praised Gandhi's reinstatement to the Lok Sabha earlier that day and claimed the BJP had attempted to silence Gandhi's voice because he had brought up the ruling party's relationship with billionaire businessman Gautam Adani. Rahul Gandhi's roar will be audible in Parliament once more, according to Chavda. Gandhi was expelled from the Lok Sabha on March 24 from the Kerala district of Wayanad after receiving a two-year prison sentence in a defamation case from 2019 related to the statement about the "Modi surname" from a Surat court the day before.

Rahul Gandhi's reinstatement as a Lok Sabha MP was made possible by the Supreme Court's August 4 decision to stay the conviction. His disqualification was lifted and his membership was reinstated, according to a statement from the Lok Sabha Secretariat released on Monday.
KYODO NEWS - Aug 8, 2023 - 17:22 | All, World, Japan

Japan said Tuesday a treaty with Australia to facilitate joint drills and strengthen security cooperation will take effect Sunday, with the two countries seeking to address China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Japan-Australia Reciprocal Access Agreement is set to facilitate quicker deployment of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and Australian Defense Force personnel, much like Tokyo's existing Status of Forces Agreement with the United States does.

The deal, signed in January 2022 as Japan's first RAA, will also ease restrictions on the transportation of weapons and supplies for joint exercises and disaster relief operations.

The move came after the Japanese parliament in April approved legislation for the pact, along with one with Britain, to complete its domestic approval processes.

Through the security agreements, Japan aims to boost security ties with the United States and other like-minded countries to enhance deterrence against Beijing, which has become more militarily assertive in the Indo-Pacific region.

Agreeing to start talks on the RAA in 2014, Japan and Australia reached a broad agreement in November 2020. However, Japan's adherence to the death penalty system delayed finalization, as Canberra, having abolished capital punishment, urges other countries to do the same.

An appendix to the accord allows Australia the discretion to refuse the transfer of its soldiers accused of crimes in Japan, thereby preventing potential death sentences.

Japan and Britain concluded an RAA in January this year, but London has yet to finish its domestic procedures for its implementation.

Related coverage:

Japan, Australia sign defense cooperation pact amid China's rise

Japan Diet OKs defense cooperation pacts with Australia, Britain
NEW DELHI: With the Congress gearing up for the next year's Lok Sabha polls, party president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday chaired a meeting of Assam unit leaders at All India Congress Committee (AICC) Headquarters here. Party leader Rahul Gandhi was also present at the meeting. Following the meeting, the Congress chief said that the party in the Northeastern state is gearing up for the Lok Sabha elections and that they are reinvigorating the organisation.

"In Assam, the Congress party is gearing up for the Lok Sabha elections. We are reinvigorating the organisation. All leaders and workers must reach out to people and expose the misgovernance and incompetence of the BJP. Congress party built Assam, brick by brick, and ensured peace, progress and welfare of the state," Kharge said in a tweet.

"Today, the strategy meeting with @INCAssam leaders focussed on some crucial issues facing the state," he added. Apart from this, the Congress central leadership is stepping up preparations for Assembly elections in five states--Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram. The partys central leaders have met senior state leadership from over 20 states for better coordination and smooth planning for elections.



Party sources said Kharge will go for campaigning in the five-poll bound states beginning with Chhattisgarh next week. The Congress chief would hold rally on August 13 in Raipur, on August 18 in Telangana and on August 22 in Bhopal. Kharge is scheduled to address a rally in Jaipur on August 23.

Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will also be doing aggressive campaigning in poll-bound states.
New Delhi: The BJP high command has decided to take out five 'Jan Ashirwad Yatras' in the poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, during which five prominent leaders of the party will lead the campaign to seek support from people across all 230 assembly constituencies in the state. The party's decision to deploy five leaders to lead the campaign is seen as a major blow to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who solely led the Yatra in 2018.

According to sources, the BJP has decided to take out five yatras from different parts of the state. These yatras will be started in September.

Apart from Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister and Convenor of Madhya Pradesh Election Management Committee Narendra Singh Tomar, BJP National General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya and state BJP President V.D. Sharma will be the faces of the yatras.



Besides these five leaders, the party will also deploy several Union Ministers and veteran state leaders during the campaign.

According to sources, each 'yatra' will cover around 46 assembly seats in the state. Thus, these 'yatras' together will cover all the 230 assembly constituencies of the state. The campaign will conclude in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the state capital Bhopal.

Sources said that Prime Minister Modi will also address a "Karyakartas Mahakumbh" in Bhopal on September 25.

The decision regarding the Jan Ashirwad Yatra, according to sources, was taken in the meeting held at Union Home Minister Amit Shah's residence in New Delhi on Sunday late night.

Chouhan had also raised the issue of the programme and leadership of this yatra during the meeting, but the party high command, in a way, rejecting his suggestion, decided that it would not make any leader of the state its face this time, sources added.

With this decision, the BJP high command has given a clear indication it will contest Madhya Pradesh elections under collective leadership.
New Delhi: Several leaders of the INDIA alliance have given a privilege notice against leader of the house in Rajya Sabha Piyush Goyal over his certain remarks against some opposition leaders. Among the parties whose leaders gave the notice are the Congress, TMC, AAP, RJD, DMK, RJD, JDU, NCP and the Left parties.



Sources said leaders of the INDIA alliance members gave the notice to the Rajya Sabha chairman complaining against Goyal's certain remarks made while he was speaking on the issue of media portal 'NewsClick' receiving funding from China-linked firms allegedly to spread Chinese propaganda.



Goyal questioned the relationship between the opposition parties and a news portal that has been accused in a New York Times report of receiving funding from China-linked firms.



"Today at 1300 hrs, the floor leaders of INDIA parties in the Rajya Sabha submitted a privilege motion against Leader of the House Piyush Goyal for addressing the Opposition as all of them 'traitors'," Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter.



"Nothing less than an apology from him on the floor of the House, when it is in order, will do," the Congress leader, who is a signatory to the privilege notice, said.



The leaders also raised an uproar in the House and demanded an apology from Goyal when it met at 12.45 PM.



Congress leaders, including Digvijaya Singh, claimed that Goyal had accused them of accepting money from China which was not acceptable even as other Congress members demanded that Goyal tenders an apology to them in the House.



Amid the din created by opposition members demanding an apology from him, the chairman adjourned the House for lunch.



BJP sources said Goyal never used the word during his remarks in the House, on which the opposition was creating an uproar.



In the House, Goyal, however, said he takes back any words which may not be parliamentary and urged the chair to remove the same from the records.



The chairman said he will go through the records and if there is anything unparliamentary, that cannot remain as part of the records of the House. He said he would remove if there is anything which is unparliamentary.



Later after lunch, the opposition leaders again raised the issue and walked out of the House in protest subsequently.



"The INDIA parties walked out of the Rajya Sabha today for the rest of the day because of: The continued refusal of the Modi government to allow an immediate discussion on Manipur on the basis of a mutually negotiated Motion.



"The continued refusal of the Leader of the House Piyush Goyal to apologise for the highly objectionable and completely unacceptable remarks he made against leaders of the INDIA parties," Ramesh said in another tweet after the opposition parties walked out of the House.
The no-confidence motion saw some heated debates in the Lok Sabha. While opposition members slammed the government on a range of issues, the ruling party MPs recalled the development work done by the Narendra Modi government in the last nine years. Speaking against the no-confidence motion brought by the Congress, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said that while Congress MPs keep claiming that China occupied parts of Arunachal Pradesh, the truth is that the land was donated to China by former Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru. Rijiju even offered to take Congress MPs to Arunachal after the Monsoon Session of Parliament to show them the truth.

"In 1962, when China attacked Arunachal and Ladakh, then Atal ji had talked about steps to save our territory. I was not born then but the history and records show what transpired then. When the whole of west Arunachal was captured by China, they reached Assam, then Nehru ji sent a message through All India Radio saying 'my heart goes out to people of Assam'. What he meant was that despite being the Prime Minister, he cannot do anything and only feel the pain of the people of Assam. He should have said that don't worry, we will take back every inch of our land and our Indian forces will save you," said Rijiju in the Lok Sabha.

Slamming Congress for raking up the China incursion claim time and again, Rijiju said, "You (Congress) claimed many times in the past two-three years that China occupied Arunachal land, I want to tell you, in 1959, the land that China captured, it has set up villages there. Congress donated that land to China in 1959. I want to ask Rahul Gandhi ji and Congress MPs who are not in sync with my statement, please come with me to Arunchal after the Monsoon session, and I will show every inch of the land to you."

Rijiju also said that the days are gone when foreign powers would tell India what to do and what not to do. "Today, no foreign power can interfere in our internal matters...," said Rijiju.

He also said that before 2014, many people from the Northeast faced racial discrimination and atrocities in Delhi and other major cities of the country but the situation has changed after 2014 following PM Modi's intervention.
New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday got back his official residence in the national capital, a day after his membership of the Lok Sabha was restored in the wake of the Supreme Court staying his conviction in a 2019 defamation case. The Wayanad MP had vacated his official 12, Tughlaq Lane bungalow in April and shifted to his mother and Lok Sabha MP Sonia Gandhi's residence after he was disqualified from the Lower House of Parliament in March this year following his conviction in a 'Modi remark' defamation case.

"Mera ghar poora Hindustan hai (Whole India is my home)," Rahul Gandhi told reporters when asked about being allotted the official residence.

In April, Rahul vacated his official residence in central Delhi, in line with protocol, after he was disqualified as an MP. A disqualified lawmaker is not entitled to a government accommodation and gets a month's time to vacate the official residence.



Earlier on Monday, he returned to Lok Sabha over four months after he was disqualified. Announcing the reinstatement of Gandhi as an MP, a Lok Sabha notification said in the wake of the SC order Friday, the disqualification has ceased to operate subject to further judicial pronouncements.

Soon after the Lok Sabha secretariat communication, Gandhi reached the Parliament and offered floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi's statue before entering the House to attend proceedings around noon. But the House was adjourned within minutes.

Inside the Parliament premises, Gandhi was also seen spending time with his mother Sonia Gandhi.

With his Lok Sabha membership restored, the former Congress chief also changed his Twitter bio to 'Member of Parliament' from the earlier "Dis'Qualified MP" description.

Rahul Gandhi was disqualified on March 24

Gandhi was disqualified on March 24 after a metropolitan court in Surat in Gujarat convicted him in a defamation case and sentenced him to two years in jail. A punishment of two years and above automatically disqualifies a lawmaker.

Subsequently, he moved the Gujarat High Court, which dismissed his plea seeking a stay on the conviction on July 7.

He had then approached the Supreme Court on July 15, which stayed his conviction last week, paving the way for the restoration of his Lok Sabha membership. The stay will also enable the 53-year-old to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Rahul Gandhi to visit his constituency Wayanad

Rahul Gandhi is now scheduled to visit Wayanad in Kerala on August 12-13, his first trip to his constituency after being reinstated as a member of Parliament.

"On 12-13 August, Sh. Rahul Gandhi ji will be in his constituency Wayanad! The people of Wayanad are elated that democracy has won, their voice has returned to Parliament! Rahul ji is not just an MP but a member of their family!" Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi is expected to participate in the no-confidence motion discussion in Lok Sabha on Wednesday and in his place his sister Priyanka Gandhi will visit Rajasthan to participate in a rally in Banswara. Congress sources said that Rahul Gandhi was expected to leave for Rajasthan to address a rally in the poll-bound state on Wednesday after participating in the discussion on the motion.

However, Priyanka Gandhi is now expected to visit Rajasthan instead of Rahul Gandhi as the no-confidence motion is likely to be shifted to the afternoon slot. Sources said that Rahul Gandhi, who surprised the opposition today by choosing not to initiate the discussion in the Lower House, is likely to participate in the ongoing debate during the early afternoon hours on Wednesday.

They said that he might be among the initial speakers to participate in the discussion on the no-confidence motion, when the House convenes. The discussion is expected to continue till August 10 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to reply to the motion on the same day.



Congress deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi initiated the discussion after moving the motion, a move which surprised the treasury benches. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi was seen asking that why wasn't Rahul Gandhi initiating the discussion, when the Congress had intimated the Speaker about him initiating the discussion.

Sources had said that Gandhi's last minute withdrawal was part of a strategy, as it was decided that he will speak after some big leaders from the BJP have spoken. They said that this decision was taken as part of a strategy of not exposing Rahul Gandhi to all the attack, which he might have faced, if he had spoken first.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has declined to cancel the bail granted by the Gujarat High Court to an accused who had issued tickets to visitors on the day when the Morbi bridge collapsed last year, which claimed over 140 lives. A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra did not agree to the submissions of the lawyer, appearing for the Tragedy Victim Association, Morbi, seeking cancellation of bail of the man.

The bench while dismissing the plea on Monday said, He was just selling the tickets. Tragedy Victim Association, Morbi, approached the apex court seeking cancellation of bail granted to an accused Mansukhbhai Valjibhai Topia by the High Court on June 9.

The Association said the High Court wrongly granted bail to the accused. The Gujarat High Court granted bail to the accused while taking into note the fact that the investigation was over and the charge sheet was already filed.



More than 140 people died and over 100 people were injured due to the collapse of the suspension bridge over the Morbi Macchu River. As per reports, the British-era bridge was closed for about eight months for maintenance and the repair work was being completed by a private agency.

The Gujarat Police has filed a First Information Report under IPC sections 304 and 308 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) in the bridge collapse tragedy. The Gujarat government has constituted a five-member committee headed to probe the bridge collapse incident.
KYODO NEWS - Aug 8, 2023 - 17:36 | All, Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Tuesday instructed ministers to examine all data on "My Number" national identification cards by the end of November, amid public anxiety following a spate of registration errors and other administrative problems over the system.

The government has found around 1,000 new cases where My Number cards were mistakenly linked with the medical information of other individuals, officials said earlier in the day. This comes on top of roughly 7,400 instances already made public.

Around 20 percent of prefectural and major city authorities across the country have had instances of inappropriately registering My Number cards with someone else's personal information on disability certificates, the government officials added.

In June, following a series of personal information leaks and registration errors related to My Number cards, the Kishida administration set up a task force to investigate the issue.

On Tuesday, the government released an interim report on its findings regarding the errors, which are believed to be one of the main factors behind a significant drop in his Cabinet's approval ratings in recent months.

At a task force meeting, Kishida called on government officials to take measures to prevent the reoccurrence of similar problems and improve the public trust in the My Number card system to ensure a smooth transition to a digital society.

Despite growing skepticism over the national identification system, Kishida has said his government will adhere to its plan to scrap health insurance certificates and combine their functionality with My Number cards next year.

But Kishida also said at a press conference last week that his administration will carry out necessary inspections by the fall and, after assessing the outcome of the probes, decide whether "additional time will be needed."

In October 2022, Digital Minister Taro Kono abruptly proposed a plan to integrate national insurance certificates with My Number cards in the fall of 2024, as Japan has lagged behind other advanced economies in digital transformation.

Numerous My Number cards, however, have been erroneously registered, linking the information of other individuals, including bank accounts used to receive state benefits.

Under the My Number ID system launched in 2016, every citizen and foreign resident in Japan receives a 12-digit number linking various personal data, such as taxes and social security information.

The My Number card, which carries the number, photo, name and other personal information, is optional and can be used for identification in various administrative procedures.

Around 89 million people, about 71.0 percent of the total population in Japan, had obtained My Number cards as of the end of July, according to the internal affairs ministry.

Related coverage:

Japan to scrap health insurance cards in 2024 as planned: PM

41% of local leaders want "My Number" insurance card shift delayed
New Delhi: Ahead of the debate on the no-trust vote in Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday took a dig at the Opposition and said that it is a reflection of mutual distrust among INDIA bloc parties as they want to test who is with their proposal and who is not. According to sources, the PM in his address to party MPs at the BJP parliamentary meeting described the opposition alliance as 'ghamandia' (marked by arrogance) and congratulated the party's Rajya Sabha members for the "semi-final" win in voting on the Delhi services bill.

At the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting, according to Source present inside, PM Modi said, "Opposition is full of distrust and to show this, they have brought No Confidence Motion." Source also added that PM said, "A few people had said that the voting in Rajya Sabha will be https://t.co/2vknoUL5f3  ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2023

PM Modi, sources said, noted that some opposition members had described the voting in Rajya Sabha as a semi-final before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls as he exuded confidence about the BJP's prospects in the national elections.

The Delhi services bill secured parliamentary approval on Monday after the Rajya Sabha passed the contentious measure that will give the Centre control over bureaucracy in the national capital, with the BJP-led NDA thwarting opposition challenge in the keenly-watched numbers game. With the ruling party certain to defeat the no-confidence motion in Lok Sabha, where it enjoys a strong majority, PM Modi told party MPs hit "sixers" on the last ball before the 2024 polls.

The PM also referred to his 2018 speech in which he had wryly wished to the Opposition to bring a no-confidence motion against his government in 2023. In a swipe at Opposition parties, the Prime Minister said their leaders speak of social justice but harmed it most with their dynastic, appeasement and corrupt politics.

The Lok Sabha is set to witness a fierce debate on the no-confidence motion against the BJP-led government that is likely to start around 12 noon with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, whose membership was restored following a Supreme Court direction, likely to be the lead speaker of the opposition bloc INDIA. Congress' deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi's motion of no-confidence has been listed as agenda item three in the List of Business and takes place under the shadow of the ethnic violence in Manipur, which has led to repeated disruptions in both the Houses of Parliament.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to reply to the debate on Thursday. The numbers are comfortably stacked in favour of the government and the Opposition is expected to utilise the opportunity to demonstrate its newly firmed-up unity to take on the Modi-led BJP in the Lok Sabha elections next year.

Political observers believe that the Opposition had given a platform to the Prime Minister, who is known for his oratorical skills, to forcefully make his points during the reply to the debate on the no-trust motion.

Gandhi returned to a rousing welcome in Parliament on Monday afternoon soon after the Lok Sabha revoked his disqualification as member after the Supreme Court stayed his conviction in a defamation case in which he was awarded a maximum two-year sentence.

The maximum jail term for Gandhi had triggered provisions of the Representation of the People Act leading to his automatic disqualification from the Lok Sabha on March 24. Gandhi had approached the Supreme Court after he failed to get relief from the Gujarat High Court.

The Monsoon session of Parliament has witnessed repeated disruptions over the issue of ethnic violence in Manipur and the Opposition insisting on a statement from the Prime Minister in the House.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's top election body on Tuesday disqualified the country's former Prime Minister Imran Khan for five years following his conviction in the Toshakhana case last week, reported Dawn. An Islamabad trial court on Saturday (August 5) sentenced the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief, who was absent from the hearing  to three years in jail and imposed a fine of (PKR) 100,000 on him while hearing the ECPs criminal complaint against the PTI chief for concealing details of Toshakhana gifts.

The court found Khan guilty of corrupt practices" in the Toshakhana case. As per the case, the PTI Chief hid the "benefits he accrued from the national exchequer wilfully and intentionally, Dawn reported. Notably, Imran Khan was arrested by Punjab police at his Lahore home in Zaman Park residence.

He cheated while providing information of gifts he obtained from Toshakhana which later proved to be false and inaccurate. His dishonesty has been established beyond doubt, the court order read, according to Dawn. According to Article 63(1)(h) of the Constitution, "A person shall be disqualified from being elected or chosen as, and from being, a member of the Parliament if he has been, on conviction for any offence involving moral turpitude, sentenced to imprisonment for a term of not less than two years, unless a period of five years has elapsed since his release."



Imran was officially barred from holding any public office for five years as a result of the verdict. Imran petitioned the Islamabad High Court (IHC) earlier today, arguing that the trial court's decision was "not sustainable" and "liable to be set aside" and that the case should be dismissed. The case will be heard by a two-judge panel made up of Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri and IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq tomorrow (Wednesday), reported Dawn.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan is currently imprisoned in Attock Jail. Yesterday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) moved Supreme Court over Imran Khan's conviction in the Toshakhana Case asking it to declare the verdict "null and void", reported ARY News. According to the plea, which was submitted in accordance with Article 184(2) of the Constitution, Toshakhana's case is sought to have been reheard because the PTI leader did not receive a fair trial.

Earlier, the PTI also approached the IHC petitioning that Khan be moved to Adiala jail and be provided better or A-Class facilities, since he was "accustomed to a better mode of life."
KYODO NEWS - Aug 8, 2023 - 14:30 | All, Japan

A popular hiking app developed by a Japanese firm has become a useful tool for rescuers to locate stranded people on mountains, with the GPS technology enabling exact locations to be shared even when cell phone connections are cut.

Yamap Inc., a tech company based in Fukuoka in southwestern Japan, said it has been contacted by police, relief teams and others seeking the app data on 200 cases in 2022, sharply up from 46 in 2020 and 89 in 2021.

A total of 16 prefectural police forces across Japan, including in Iwate, Miyagi, Shizuoka, Nagano and Kumamoto, have signed an agreement with the company in a bid to seek swift access to accurate information on mountaineers potentially caught in accidents.

Users of the app can find their location on a map downloaded to their phones. The data can be shared with families and friends even when users are in a location with no cell service.

When informed of a stranded mountaineer, police and rescuers ask Yamap if the missing person is a user of the app. If so, the company then directly tells the rescue team the latitude and longitude of the location of the person.

One of the biggest obstacles, in the past, of locating a missing climber was that their trekking plans could only be obtained via a climbing registration form, which was either dropped into a designated box at the entrance of a mountain trail or sent to police by email.

But now, when users plan a hike in any of the 16 prefectures, they can submit the official mountain climbing registration form through the app and the information will be shared with police.

Kotaro Hara, chief of the Miyagi Prefectural Police, said the app "contributes to the swift discovery and rescue" of those caught in mountain accidents.

The app had been downloaded a total of 3.8 million times as of the end of July this year, a considerable ratio among the domestic mountain climbing population, which was around 4.4 million in 2021, according to an annual white paper on Japan's leisure activities.

The number of mountain accidents in Japan, meanwhile, hit 3,015 in 2022, up 380 from the year before and also the highest among comparable data available since 1961, as climbing trails and mountain huts started to reopen following the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the National Police Agency.

Yamap public relations manager Hidefumi Chida said, "It takes time to make rescue if the (stranded) person's location is not known."

"We hope the app will be used for quick rescues through expanded coordination," Chida said.

Related coverage:

Locals warn Mt. Fuji-climbing visitors to take challenge seriously

Climbing season on Mt. Fuji begins under cloudy skies

Number of hotel guests in June exceeds pre-pandemic levels in Japan
by Xinhua writers Zhang Jian, Li Wenzhe and Kang Yi

ZHENGZHOU/LUXEMBOURG, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Late into the night, when most people are asleep, the staff of the Zhengzhou station of Cargolux Airlines International, a Luxembourg-based cargo airline, have just begun their workday at the Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport in central China's Henan Province.

They are gearing up to unload 110 tons of goods from a direct flight from Luxembourg, and then reload it with some 130 tons of cargo. "The whole process will take two and a half hours," said Chen Pengchao, the operation director of the station, who is checking the cargo information with his colleagues. "After that, the flight will go to Chicago."

This flight is shuttling on a route launched nearly ten years ago. Back in 2014, Henan Civil Aviation Development and Investment Company Ltd. acquired a 35-percent stake in Cargolux, marking the start of an Air Silk Road that links Zhengzhou and Luxembourg. Over the years, the route has expanded to cover more than ten cities around the world, including London, Chicago and Milan, providing a reliable channel for logistics businesses and cross-border trade.

Shang Liang, CEO of Guangzhou Langtian Supply Chain Company, a close partner of Cargolux, attributed the company's robust growth over the past years to the inauguration of the Air Silk Road.

With the regular flights of Cargolux and the convenient customs clearance at the Zhengzhou airport, it takes only three days to transport goods from China to European countries, which fully meets the needs of cross-border e-commerce, said Shang.

Meanwhile, the launch of the Air Silk Road has sparked a surge in overseas firms' eagerness to explore the Chinese market, which in turn has brought Cargolux onto the fast lane of development. Even during the pandemic, flight operations along the route continued without suspension.

"During the pandemic, air cargo became really the vital part of the logistics chain because we were able to carry the much-needed goods in a very short amount of time," said Claude Zehren, executive vice president for flight operations of Cargolux.

In 2022, Cargolux's operating income reached 5.1 billion U.S. dollars with a net profit of 1.6 billion, making it the most profitable year in the company's history.

In June, Cargolux held its first post-pandemic meeting of Asia-Pacific managers in Zhengzhou, reflecting the company's confidence in the Chinese market and economy.

In the eyes of President and CEO of Cargolux Richard Forson, the Air Silk Road, which has facilitated the connectivity between China and Europe, is a success story of companies, people and nations that share a common vision for strong commercial ties.

"It is, therefore, with great pride and honor that we have not only witnessed the emergence of the Air Silk Road, but have also played a part in it," said Forson. 
BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- China will continue to enhance dialogue and communication with all parties and contribute to the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday.

The spokesperson made the remarks when asked for more information on Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Eurasian Affairs Li Hui's attendance of the meeting in Jeddah on the Ukraine issue last weekend.

The spokesperson said that on Aug. 5, Li traveled to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to attend the meeting on the Ukraine issue at invitation. Li had extensive contact and exchanges with participating parties, made clear China's position and propositions, listened to the opinions and advice from various parties, and worked for more common understandings on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. China's positive role in promoting talks for peace was fully recognized.

The spokesperson said that China will continue to act in the spirit of the four principles, joint efforts in four areas and three observations proposed by President Xi Jinping, work on the basis of the document of China's Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis, enhance dialogue and communication with all parties, and contribute to the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. 
GUIYANG, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- A Fuxing bullet train, with a designed speed of 350 km/h, departed on Tuesday morning from the southwest Chinese city of Guiyang, marking the operation of the Guiyang-Libo section of the Guiyang-Nanning High-speed Railway.

As one of the most typical areas in the world for karst landform development, mountainous Guizhou Province, of which Guiyang is the capital city, witnessed the miraculous journey of the train through its high mountains and steep valleys.

With one tunnel after another, one bridge after another, the light inside the carriage flickers. After more than six years of construction, the railway of Guiyang-Libo section takes passengers on a remarkable journey with rapid transition of scenes outside the window.

The Guiyang-Nanning High-speed Railway links Guiyang Province and south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, of which Nanning is the capital city. The Guiyang-Libo section has 86 bridges and 62 tunnels, while the mileage of bridges and tunnels accounts for 90 percent of the total mileage.

Among the first passengers of the train was 74-year-old Xu Jiyou, a retired railway worker. Xu and his wife were taking the trip in celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary, enjoying a unique sense of romance.

"We put in effort and sweat, dedicating our youth to the railways," Xu said. Back in those working years, there were only the green-painted slow trains for them to board in the country. But now, they ride the high-speed rail, which is convenient and comfortable.

Another passenger, 37-year-old Yang Shengquan, took out his phone to take pictures. "Look, that's our village," he exclaimed with excitement.

Yang, a resident of Lianmeng Village in Bouyei-Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Qiannan of Guizhou, captured this moment with pride. "The high-speed rail passes by our doorstep, and our village has made its share of contributions," he said. Many of his fellow villagers worked on the construction project, and they also made way for the railway with land requisition and house demolitions.

Facing complex geological conditions in the southwestern mountainous areas and a high degree of karst development, the construction team overcame numerous difficulties, including ecological protection and tourist attraction conservation.

Standing before a map, Long Zongming, chief designer of the Guiyang-Nanning High-speed Railway, told Xinhua the railway traverses the Yungui Plateau slope area with many mountains, an abundance of water, and many attractions.

The current terminal station of the train is Libo County, which boasts two impressive titles, namely the world natural heritage site of South China Karst and the reserve under the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme. As one of the counties with the richest tourism resources in Guizhou, 57 attractions are located here, including the Xiaoqikong scenic spot.

Ecological protection is Long's major concern. When passing through the world's natural heritage site, the high-speed rail line only goes through the buffer zone of the Maolan national nature reserve in Guizhou. Also, efforts were made to minimize the impact during construction.

Now the railway itself has become a new scene while facilitating travelers.

"It used to take at least two days to arrange a trip, with an overnight stay. Now, it can be done in a day," said Luo Jia, a tour guide from Guizhou, who was leading 52 tourists to the Xiaoqikong scenic spot. The travel time from Guiyang to Libo has been reduced from over 3 hours to 57 minutes.

"It's not just a major transportation artery but also a golden tourism channel," said Ding Yi, executive deputy head of Bouyei-Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Qiannan, who noted that the opening of the Guiyang-Libo section will have a significant impact on the entire prefecture, boosting the overall economic output, driving regional tourism, influencing the transportation pattern, and enhancing regional cooperation.

Data shows that Libo County has received over 14 million visitors this year, a year-on-year increase of 42.03 percent, and total tourism revenue reached 13.7 billion yuan (about 1.89 billion U.S. dollars), a year-on-year increase of 47.37 percent.

Guizhou has mapped out plans to transform Libo into a world-class tourist destination. "With the combination of various favorable policies and the opening of the high-speed rail, we are more confident in promoting Libo's tourism," Ding said. 
BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday allocated disaster relief funds totaling 732 million yuan (about 102.3 million U.S. dollars) to support the recovery of agricultural production, according to the country's finance ministry.

The funds were issued by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and will be channeled into nine provincial regions, including Hebei, Jilin, Heilongjiang and Fujian, as well as the Beidahuang Group, one of China's major agricultural and agribusiness groups.

The funds are intended to be used for urgent agricultural flood control and disaster relief work, and to support post-disaster agricultural production.

Appropriate subsidies will be applied to purchases of agricultural materials such as seeds, seedlings, fertilizers, pesticides and operational services to resume agricultural production, and to repairs of damaged agricultural production facilities, according to the finance ministry.

Record-breaking rains brought by Typhoon Doksuri have hit northern China, damaging crops and agricultural production facilities and leading to flooding in cities. 
Passengers are pictured aborad Train D6171 from Guiyang to Libo, both in southwest China's Guizhou Province, on Aug. 8, 2023. With Train D6171 pulling out of Guiyang North Railway Station in Guiyang, the Guiyang-Libo section of the Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway was officially put into operation on Tuesday.

Upon completion, the 482-kilometer Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway will allow trains to run at 350 kilometers per hour on it. The quickest trip between Guiyang and Libo takes less than an hour. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)

GUIYANG, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- A Fuxing bullet train departed on Tuesday morning from Guiyang, capital city of southwest China's Guizhou Province, marking the full operation of the Guiyang-Libo section of the Guiyang-Nanning High-speed Railway.

The Guiyang-Nanning High-speed Railway is the first high-speed rail with a designed speed of 350 km/h for both Guizhou Province and south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, of which Nanning is the capital city.

Due to complicated landforms along the rail section, including high mountains and steep valleys, the Guiyang-Libo section consists of 86 bridges and 62 tunnels. The mileage of bridges and tunnels accounts for 90 percent of the total mileage of the section. 

A young passenger takes photos of a conductor in traditional ethnic attire at Guiyang North Railway Station in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, on Aug. 8, 2023. With Train D6171 pulling out of Guiyang North Railway Station in Guiyang, the Guiyang-Libo section of the Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway was officially put into operation on Tuesday.

Upon completion, the 482-kilometer Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway will allow trains to run at 350 kilometers per hour on it. The quickest trip between Guiyang and Libo takes less than an hour. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)

Drivers of Train D6171 get prepared to start the train at Guiyang North Railway Station in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, on Aug. 8, 2023. With Train D6171 pulling out of Guiyang North Railway Station in Guiyang, the Guiyang-Libo section of the Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway was officially put into operation on Tuesday.

Upon completion, the 482-kilometer Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway will allow trains to run at 350 kilometers per hour on it. The quickest trip between Guiyang and Libo takes less than an hour. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)

Train D6171 pulls out of Guiyang North Railway Station in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, on Aug. 8, 2023. With Train D6171 pulling out of Guiyang North Railway Station in Guiyang, the Guiyang-Libo section of the Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway was officially put into operation on Tuesday.

Upon completion, the 482-kilometer Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway will allow trains to run at 350 kilometers per hour on it. The quickest trip between Guiyang and Libo takes less than an hour. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)

Passengers take photos before boarding Train D6171 at Guiyang North Railway Station in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, on Aug. 8, 2023. With Train D6171 pulling out of Guiyang North Railway Station in Guiyang, the Guiyang-Libo section of the Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway was officially put into operation on Tuesday.

Upon completion, the 482-kilometer Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway will allow trains to run at 350 kilometers per hour on it. The quickest trip between Guiyang and Libo takes less than an hour. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)

Train D6171 pulls out of Guiyang North Railway Station in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, on Aug. 8, 2023. With Train D6171 pulling out of Guiyang North Railway Station in Guiyang, the Guiyang-Libo section of the Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway was officially put into operation on Tuesday.

Upon completion, the 482-kilometer Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway will allow trains to run at 350 kilometers per hour on it. The quickest trip between Guiyang and Libo takes less than an hour. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)

Staff members wave goodbye to passengers aborad Train D6171 at Guiyang North Railway Station in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, on Aug. 8, 2023. With Train D6171 pulling out of Guiyang North Railway Station in Guiyang, the Guiyang-Libo section of the Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway was officially put into operation on Tuesday.

Upon completion, the 482-kilometer Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway will allow trains to run at 350 kilometers per hour on it. The quickest trip between Guiyang and Libo takes less than an hour. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)

Train D6171 pulls out of Guiyang North Railway Station in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, on Aug. 8, 2023. With Train D6171 pulling out of Guiyang North Railway Station in Guiyang, the Guiyang-Libo section of the Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway was officially put into operation on Tuesday.

Upon completion, the 482-kilometer Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway will allow trains to run at 350 kilometers per hour on it. The quickest trip between Guiyang and Libo takes less than an hour. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)

Passengers pose for photos with a conductor in traditional ethnic attire at Guiyang North Railway Station in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, on Aug. 8, 2023. With Train D6171 pulling out of Guiyang North Railway Station in Guiyang, the Guiyang-Libo section of the Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway was officially put into operation on Tuesday.

Upon completion, the 482-kilometer Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway will allow trains to run at 350 kilometers per hour on it. The quickest trip between Guiyang and Libo takes less than an hour. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)

Passengers of Train D6171 take souvenir photos at Guiyang North Railway Station in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, on Aug. 8, 2023. With Train D6171 pulling out of Guiyang North Railway Station in Guiyang, the Guiyang-Libo section of the Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway was officially put into operation on Tuesday.

Upon completion, the 482-kilometer Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway will allow trains to run at 350 kilometers per hour on it. The quickest trip between Guiyang and Libo takes less than an hour. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)

Conductors of Train D6171 welcome passengers at Guiyang North Railway Station in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, on Aug. 8, 2023. With Train D6171 pulling out of Guiyang North Railway Station in Guiyang, the Guiyang-Libo section of the Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway was officially put into operation on Tuesday.

Upon completion, the 482-kilometer Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway will allow trains to run at 350 kilometers per hour on it. The quickest trip between Guiyang and Libo takes less than an hour. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)

Passengers have their tickets checked before boarding a train at Libo Railway Station in Libo, southwest China's Guizhou Province, on Aug. 8, 2023. With Train D6171 pulling out of Guiyang North Railway Station in Guiyang, the Guiyang-Libo section of the Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway was officially put into operation on Tuesday.

Upon completion, the 482-kilometer Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway will allow trains to run at 350 kilometers per hour on it. The quickest trip between Guiyang and Libo takes less than an hour. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)

Staff members in traditional ethnic attire welcome passengers at Libo Railway Station in Libo, southwest China's Guizhou Province, on Aug. 8, 2023. With Train D6171 pulling out of Guiyang North Railway Station in Guiyang, the Guiyang-Libo section of the Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway was officially put into operation on Tuesday.

Upon completion, the 482-kilometer Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway will allow trains to run at 350 kilometers per hour on it. The quickest trip between Guiyang and Libo takes less than an hour. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)

Passengers pose for photos with a staff member in traditional ethnic attire at Libo Railway Station in Libo, southwest China's Guizhou Province, on Aug. 8, 2023. With Train D6171 pulling out of Guiyang North Railway Station in Guiyang, the Guiyang-Libo section of the Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway was officially put into operation on Tuesday.

Upon completion, the 482-kilometer Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway will allow trains to run at 350 kilometers per hour on it. The quickest trip between Guiyang and Libo takes less than an hour. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)

Passengers in traditional ethnic attire are pictured at Libo Railway Station in Libo, southwest China's Guizhou Province, on Aug. 8, 2023. With Train D6171 pulling out of Guiyang North Railway Station in Guiyang, the Guiyang-Libo section of the Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway was officially put into operation on Tuesday.

Upon completion, the 482-kilometer Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway will allow trains to run at 350 kilometers per hour on it. The quickest trip between Guiyang and Libo takes less than an hour. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)

Staff members in traditional ethnic attire and conductors in uniform welcome passengers at Libo Railway Station in Libo, southwest China's Guizhou Province, on Aug. 8, 2023. With Train D6171 pulling out of Guiyang North Railway Station in Guiyang, the Guiyang-Libo section of the Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway was officially put into operation on Tuesday.

Upon completion, the 482-kilometer Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway will allow trains to run at 350 kilometers per hour on it. The quickest trip between Guiyang and Libo takes less than an hour. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)

A passenger poses for photos with staff members in traditional ethnic attire at Libo Railway Station in Libo, southwest China's Guizhou Province, on Aug. 8, 2023. With Train D6171 pulling out of Guiyang North Railway Station in Guiyang, the Guiyang-Libo section of the Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway was officially put into operation on Tuesday.

Upon completion, the 482-kilometer Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway will allow trains to run at 350 kilometers per hour on it. The quickest trip between Guiyang and Libo takes less than an hour. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Over 3,000 U.S. sailors and marines have entered the Red Sea in the Middle East aboard two U.S. warships, the U.S. Navy said Monday, weeks after the Department of Defense (DoD) deployed additional military assets to the Strait of Hormuz in response to what Washington claimed were threats posed by Iran.

The service members belong to the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (USNAVCENT) said in a statement. They arrived in the region Sunday on board the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan and the dock landing ship USS Carter Hall after transiting through the Suez Canal.

"Bataan ARG/26th MEU units bring to the region additional aviation and naval assets, as well as more U.S. Marines and Sailors, providing greater flexibility and maritime capability to U.S. 5th Fleet," the statement said.

Based in Bahrain, the Fifth Fleet is under the command of USNAVCENT and operates in an area that covers the Gulf, "Gulf of Oman, Red Sea, parts of the Indian Ocean and three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, Suez Canal and Strait of Bab al-Mandeb," according to the statement. 
BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- China is once again urging the Philippines to immediately tow away the military vessel "grounded" at Ren'ai Jiao and restore Ren'ai Jiao to its original state of having no personnel or facility on it, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday.

On Aug. 7, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying that on Aug. 5, in the waters adjacent to Ren'ai Jiao, China Coast Guard "took blocking and other aggressive maneuvers, including the use of a water cannon" against Philippine supply boats and Coast Guard vessels on a routine resupply mission to the military vessel grounded at Ren'ai Jiao. The Philippines says such actions violate the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 South China Sea arbitration award and infringe upon the Philippines' sovereign rights and jurisdiction.

When asked for comments, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that the spokesperson of China Coast Guard had given detailed information regarding the Philippines illegally sending construction materials to Ren'ai Jiao in China's Nansha Qundao and the situation this action caused at sea. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has lodged serious demarches with the Philippines.

The spokesperson stressed that Ren'ai Jiao is part of China's Nansha Qundao. The Philippines explicitly promised several times to tow away the military vessel deliberately and illegally "grounded" at Ren'ai Jiao. However, 24 years have passed and instead of towing it away, the Philippines has sought to repair and reinforce it on a large scale in order to permanently occupy Ren'ai Jiao.

The Philippines' action gravely violates international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) signed between China and ASEAN countries, the spokesperson said, once again urging the Philippines to immediately tow away the military vessel "grounded" at Ren'ai Jiao and restore Ren'ai Jiao to its original state of having no personnel or facility on it.

The spokesperson said that the so-called South China Sea arbitration award violates international law, including UNCLOS. "The award is illegal, null and void. China does not accept or recognize it, and will never accept any claim or action based on the award. This position is clear and firm, and is a legitimate step to uphold international rule of law."

For some time, China has repeatedly communicated with the Philippines through diplomatic channels concerning Ren'ai Jiao. "We made it clear to the Philippines that it must not send construction materials meant for repairing and reinforcing the grounded military vessel on a large scale, and we suggested that the two sides hold talks as soon as possible about ways to manage the situation at Ren'ai Jiao," the spokesperson said.

The Philippines, however, chose to ignore China's goodwill and sincerity and went ahead with sending construction materials for repairing and reinforcing the "grounded" military vessel on a large scale. This is the cause of what happened there this time. China Coast Guard responded in accordance with the law to safeguard China's sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. The maneuvers were professional, restrained and beyond reproach, the spokesperson said.

The Philippines is China's important maritime neighbor. Important common understandings exist between the two sides on managing maritime disputes. China stands ready to continue to work with the Philippines to properly handle maritime issues through dialogue and consultation and jointly uphold bilateral relations and maritime stability, the spokesperson said. 
LA PAZ, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Six people were killed and as many as 20 injured after a passenger bus overturned in the early hours of Monday morning in southern Bolivia, said official sources.

"A bus that was traveling from the city of Sucre, in the Bolivian department of Chuquisaca, to La Paz sped into a curve, which caused the accident," said Colonel Jose Luis Assaf, the department's head of transit.

Most of the injured were transferred to Potosi, the capital city of the department of Potosi, for treatment. 
UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday voiced concern over the failure to restore constitutional order in Niger.

"The secretary-general is concerned over the continued detention of President (Mohammed) Bazoum and the failure so far to restore constitutional order in Niger," said Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for Guterres.

Guterres reiterated his full support for the ongoing mediation efforts of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). He emphasized the urgent need to ensure that life-saving humanitarian work continues unhindered, and that the UN Humanitarian Air Service, which provides a vital link to remote communities in Niger, is allowed to operate to and continue to serve those communities, said Haq.

The UN secretary-general's special representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Santos Simao, has traveled to Nigeria to provide good offices support to regional stakeholders, he said.

After the coup in Niger, ECOWAS gave a one-week ultimatum to the military junta, after whose expiration the regional bloc vowed to take all necessary measures, including the use of force, to restore constitutional order in Niger. The ultimatum has expired.

"We're well aware of the passage of that deadline. We're monitoring the situation," said Haq, adding that Santos Simao will be in touch with his ECOWAS counterparts. 
TEHRAN, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry Tuesday called on Afghanistan's caretaker Taliban government to reveal more details about the killing of eight Iranian diplomats and one journalist in a "terrorist" attack in the Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif 25 years ago.

In a statement posted on its website, the ministry condemned the "bitter and unforgettable" incident on its anniversary, honored those who lost their lives and called on the Taliban government to provide "clarity" on the incident.

On Aug. 8, 1998, during the Afghan civil war, the Iranian consulate general in Mazar-i-Sharif was attacked after the Taliban entered the city. Eight Iranian diplomats and a journalist was killed in the attack, which the ministry statement said was "in contradiction with the moral, humanitarian and international commitments."

After the attack, Iran blamed the Taliban for the killing, but the Taliban denied responsibility, saying the Iranians were killed by "renegade forces" who had acted without orders. 
A white-headed langur cleans its ears at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 4, 2023. The white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species and exclusive to China. The endangered animal, characterized by the white hair on their heads, are spotted in the karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in the city of Chongzuo, Guangxi.

In the 1980s, the population of white-headed langur dwindled to some 300 due to deforestation, land reclamation and poaching. Now the population of the animal has increased to around 1,400. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin)

A white-headed langur leaps at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. The white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species and exclusive to China. The endangered animal, characterized by the white hair on their heads, are spotted in the karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in the city of Chongzuo, Guangxi.

In the 1980s, the population of white-headed langur dwindled to some 300 due to deforestation, land reclamation and poaching. Now the population of the animal has increased to around 1,400. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

Tourists view a white-headed langur at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. The white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species and exclusive to China. The endangered animal, characterized by the white hair on their heads, are spotted in the karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in the city of Chongzuo, Guangxi.

In the 1980s, the population of white-headed langur dwindled to some 300 due to deforestation, land reclamation and poaching. Now the population of the animal has increased to around 1,400. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

A white-headed langur leaps at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. The white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species and exclusive to China. The endangered animal, characterized by the white hair on their heads, are spotted in the karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in the city of Chongzuo, Guangxi.

In the 1980s, the population of white-headed langur dwindled to some 300 due to deforestation, land reclamation and poaching. Now the population of the animal has increased to around 1,400. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin)

A white-headed langur leaps at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. The white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species and exclusive to China. The endangered animal, characterized by the white hair on their heads, are spotted in the karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in the city of Chongzuo, Guangxi.

In the 1980s, the population of white-headed langur dwindled to some 300 due to deforestation, land reclamation and poaching. Now the population of the animal has increased to around 1,400. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin)

A tourist takes photos of a white-headed langur at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 4, 2023. The white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species and exclusive to China. The endangered animal, characterized by the white hair on their heads, are spotted in the karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in the city of Chongzuo, Guangxi.

In the 1980s, the population of white-headed langur dwindled to some 300 due to deforestation, land reclamation and poaching. Now the population of the animal has increased to around 1,400. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

A white-headed langur runs past a journalist at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. The white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species and exclusive to China. The endangered animal, characterized by the white hair on their heads, are spotted in the karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in the city of Chongzuo, Guangxi.

In the 1980s, the population of white-headed langur dwindled to some 300 due to deforestation, land reclamation and poaching. Now the population of the animal has increased to around 1,400. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

A white-headed langur leaps at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. The white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species and exclusive to China. The endangered animal, characterized by the white hair on their heads, are spotted in the karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in the city of Chongzuo, Guangxi.

In the 1980s, the population of white-headed langur dwindled to some 300 due to deforestation, land reclamation and poaching. Now the population of the animal has increased to around 1,400. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

A white-headed langur leaps at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. The white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species and exclusive to China. The endangered animal, characterized by the white hair on their heads, are spotted in the karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in the city of Chongzuo, Guangxi.

In the 1980s, the population of white-headed langur dwindled to some 300 due to deforestation, land reclamation and poaching. Now the population of the animal has increased to around 1,400. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin)

A white-headed langur forages at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 4, 2023. The white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species and exclusive to China. The endangered animal, characterized by the white hair on their heads, are spotted in the karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in the city of Chongzuo, Guangxi.

In the 1980s, the population of white-headed langur dwindled to some 300 due to deforestation, land reclamation and poaching. Now the population of the animal has increased to around 1,400. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin)

A white-headed langur leaps at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. The white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species and exclusive to China. The endangered animal, characterized by the white hair on their heads, are spotted in the karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in the city of Chongzuo, Guangxi.

In the 1980s, the population of white-headed langur dwindled to some 300 due to deforestation, land reclamation and poaching. Now the population of the animal has increased to around 1,400. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin)

A white-headed langur forages at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 4, 2023. The white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species and exclusive to China. The endangered animal, characterized by the white hair on their heads, are spotted in the karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in the city of Chongzuo, Guangxi.

In the 1980s, the population of white-headed langur dwindled to some 300 due to deforestation, land reclamation and poaching. Now the population of the animal has increased to around 1,400. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

A white-headed langur leaps at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. The white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species and exclusive to China. The endangered animal, characterized by the white hair on their heads, are spotted in the karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in the city of Chongzuo, Guangxi.

In the 1980s, the population of white-headed langur dwindled to some 300 due to deforestation, land reclamation and poaching. Now the population of the animal has increased to around 1,400. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin)

A white-headed langur leaps at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. The white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species and exclusive to China. The endangered animal, characterized by the white hair on their heads, are spotted in the karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in the city of Chongzuo, Guangxi.

In the 1980s, the population of white-headed langur dwindled to some 300 due to deforestation, land reclamation and poaching. Now the population of the animal has increased to around 1,400. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

A white-headed langur leaps at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. The white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species and exclusive to China. The endangered animal, characterized by the white hair on their heads, are spotted in the karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in the city of Chongzuo, Guangxi.

In the 1980s, the population of white-headed langur dwindled to some 300 due to deforestation, land reclamation and poaching. Now the population of the animal has increased to around 1,400. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

A white-headed langur leaps at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. The white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species and exclusive to China. The endangered animal, characterized by the white hair on their heads, are spotted in the karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in the city of Chongzuo, Guangxi.

In the 1980s, the population of white-headed langur dwindled to some 300 due to deforestation, land reclamation and poaching. Now the population of the animal has increased to around 1,400. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin)

A white-headed langur leaps at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. The white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species and exclusive to China. The endangered animal, characterized by the white hair on their heads, are spotted in the karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in the city of Chongzuo, Guangxi.

In the 1980s, the population of white-headed langur dwindled to some 300 due to deforestation, land reclamation and poaching. Now the population of the animal has increased to around 1,400. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin)
YAOUNDE, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- At least three people were killed overnight into Tuesday in a terrorist attack on an internally displaced persons (IDP) site in Cameroon's restive Far North region, according to local and security sources.

The attack on the Bakarisse IDP site in Kerawa locality was carried out by militants of the terrorist group, Boko Haram, a local resident told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

"They (Boko Haram) killed three displaced persons and wounded a woman. Our vigilante members retaliated and killed one of the terrorists," the source said.

Bakarisse site hosts thousands of the displaced people who panicked after the attack. Security sources said some people had left the camp since attacks intensified in January. 
SINGAPORE, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Tuesday pledged to keep governing system free of corruption and called on citizens to strengthen trust in the authority while delivering his National Day message.

Noting that the city-state has seen disreputable cases involving political figures, Lee stressed that the government is determined to keep free of corruption and wrongdoing and will maintain high standards of honesty, integrity, and propriety.

The cases include allegations of preferential treatment in renting government properties by two ministers, a corruption probe into the transport minister, and the resignations of former parliament speaker and parliament member, Lee noted in his speech.

Lee filmed his National Day message at a new public flat community built by the country's Housing and Development Board (HDB) and reiterated the promise to offer good and affordable government-funded estates to the Singaporean people.

Singapore will celebrate its 58th National Day on Aug. 9. 
DUBAI, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed Monday an initial agreement with a blockchain company to create a national carbon credit system using blockchain technology.

The deal was signed between the UAE's Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MoCCE), the UAE-based Industrial Innovation Group (IIG), and Venom Foundation, an Abu Dhabi-based blockchain company.

The agreement, signed ahead of the COP28 climate summit in Dubai in November and December, aligns with the UAE's more stringent carbon emission reduction goals for this decade and its objective of achieving climate neutrality by 2050, a ministry statement said on Monday.

Organizations and nations employ blockchain technology to monitor carbon credits. The immutable data recorded on the blockchain ensures secure and transparent transactions for all involved parties. This enables government entities like the UAE's MoCCE to sell or issue credits to businesses.

Credit holders can then utilize these credits to emit a designated amount of carbon within a specific timeframe or trade them with other organizations seeking to offset their emissions.

The UAE is investing heavily in clean energy projects as the government has promised to invest at least 54 billion dollars in this aspect by 2030. 
KUNMING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- From backpacks and fans to wind chimes, Zuo Yuwei can transform bamboo strips into a myriad of artworks with his magical hands.

Nestled in the Donglianhua Village of Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture in southwest China's Yunnan Province, Zuo's bamboo weaving workshop is a haven of creativity. His creations, ranging from durable everyday essentials to exquisitely patterned furniture adornments, entice a continuous flow of intrigued visitors.

"I can split bamboo into thin strips even with my eyes closed," said the 52-year-old Zuo, who has honed remarkable craftsmanship through decades of dedicated practice. With his hands extended, he proudly displayed the scars from countless cuts endured during his journey of mastery.

Born into a family of bamboo craftsmen, Zuo began learning bamboo weaving at the tender age of eight and eventually blossomed into a locally renowned artisan, celebrated for his remarkable skills.

In the 1980s, bamboo products were widely used by people across China as everyday objects. However, with the country's rapid industrialization, such products were gradually replaced by plastic items, forcing many craftsmen to abandon their bamboo craft and seek jobs in big cities.

Zuo was no exception. In the 1990s, he migrated to booming cities such as Shanghai and other places to pursue opportunities.

But, bamboo craft remained a nostalgic companion, occasionally tugging at his heartstrings. Whenever he saw handicrafts in art shops or passersby carrying bags he would find himself contemplating how to recreate those items using bamboo strips.

"The happiest thing in life is to do what you like," he said. Therefore, following two years of employment elsewhere, he returned to his native village and resumed his old profession. Blending modern elements with traditional artistry, he began crafting an array of items, including tea tables, fruit baskets, as well as calligraphy and painting scrolls using bamboo.

At the same time, Zuo realized that to develop the bamboo weaving industry, artisans must "huddle together for warmth." In 2010, he and five other craftsmen jointly established a bamboo craft cooperative, providing a unified sales channel for bamboo artisans and an integrated business model involving material preparation, production and sales. To date, the cooperative has involved 20 households in the village and attracted more than 50 apprentices from outside to come and learn the craft.

Embracing the surge of online shopping, Zuo adeptly ventured into selling the creations through social media platforms like WeChat and TikTok, and to his astonishment, the bamboo products garnered immense popularity, finding buyers across the country and even reaching international markets.

At present, the annual income for each member of the cooperative exceeds 100,000 yuan (about 13,900 U.S. dollars), while apprentices can earn over 80,000 yuan a year.

Zuo's bamboo creations have even attracted foreign guests to visit the store. He fondly remembers a student from an American university who purchased his handicrafts to showcase in the university's exhibition hall. "The works of a Chinese bamboo artisan in the depth of a mountain could go across the oceans and reach an American university. It is such an honor for me, and also a good thing for Chinese bamboo culture," Zuo said with pride.

To promote bamboo weaving art, he visits nearby schools from time to time and gifts his creations to the students.

Despite dedicating over 40 years to the art of bamboo craft, Zuo remains committed to daily practice, often extending well into midnight hours. "I find that I can create better products during the quietness of night when I am at peace," he said.

With deft fingers, Zuo skillfully demonstrated how to make a small basket. "The more you immerse yourself in bamboo weaving, the greater your sense of tranquility and composure grows," he said. "When I sit down to craft bamboo, I forget everything and get lost in the bamboo world."

Zuo Yuwei has a well-defined vision for his bamboo weaving career, placing paramount importance on innovation.

Last year, he made an attempt to incorporate traditional Chinese elements such as embroidery into his bamboo creations. "I designed that bag and it is particularly popular among customers," he said pointing at a bamboo bag.

Talking about his aspirations, Zuo said he hopes for the cooperative to continue expanding so it can "involve more people, particularly the elderly left behind in the village, and help them increase their income." Enditem

(Reporting by Li Yingying, Yan Meng, He Zihan, Xiao Ying, Yi Aizhu, Lei Jiangyue and Bai Xu)
UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Kidnappings of children and women are spiking at alarming rates in Haiti amid gang violence, said the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Monday.

Nearly 300 cases of such kidnappings had been confirmed in the first six months of 2023, almost matching the total number documented for the entire previous year, and close to three times more than in 2021, said UNICEF in a press release.

In most instances, children and women are forcefully taken by armed groups and used for financial or tactical gains. The victims who manage to return home grapple with deep physical and psychological scars, possibly for many years, said the fund.

"The stories we are hearing from UNICEF colleagues and partners on the ground are shocking and unacceptable," said UNICEF regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Garry Conille, in the press release. "Women and children are not commodities. They are not bargaining chips. And they must never be exposed to such unimaginable violence. The growing trend in kidnappings and abductions is extremely worrisome, threatening both the people of Haiti and those who have come to help."

The overall situation in Haiti is catastrophic. Today, an estimated 5.2 million people, or close to half of the entire population, require humanitarian assistance, including almost 3 million children, said UNICEF.

In addition to children and women being taken from the streets and exposed to deep trauma and distress, reports indicate that local health care systems are teetering on the brink of collapse and schools are under attack, keeping civilians under constant terror, it said.

The increase in violence, looting, road blockades, and the pervasive presence of armed groups severely obstruct humanitarian efforts, making it difficult to deliver much-needed aid to affected communities, it added.

UNICEF urgently called for the immediate release and safe return of all those who have been kidnapped in Haiti and reiterated its commitment to delivering critical aid and support for Haitian children who have been impacted by these traumatic events. 
UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called on the Pakistani authorities to respect due process and the rule of law in proceedings against former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

"The secretary-general takes note of the ongoing protests that have erupted following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad, and he calls for all parties to refrain from violence," said Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for Guterres.

"He (Guterres) stresses the need to respect the right to peaceful assembly," Haq told a daily press conference. "The secretary-general urges the authorities to respect due process and the rule of law in proceedings brought against the former prime minister."

Khan was arrested on Saturday after a local court sentenced him to three-year imprisonment for hiding financial assets, which triggered protests. 
Great news! The iconic Longmen Bridge is soaring towards completion and will soon be ready to slash travel time in Guangxi, south China. Get a sneak peek at the construction process before the bridge opens to the public!
The staff of Zhengzhou station of Cargolux Airlines International were unloading cargo at Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport in central China's Henan Province on Aug. 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Jianan)

With the regular flights of Cargolux and the convenient customs clearance at the Zhengzhou airport, it takes only three days to transport goods from China to European countries, which fully meets the needs of cross-border e-commerce.

by Xinhua writers Zhang Jian, Li Wenzhe and Kang Yi

ZHENGZHOU/LUXEMBOURG, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Late into the night, when most people are asleep, the staff of the Zhengzhou station of Cargolux Airlines International, a Luxembourg-based cargo airline, have just begun their workday at the Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport in central China's Henan Province.

They are gearing up to unload 110 tons of goods from a direct flight from Luxembourg, and then reload it with some 130 tons of cargo. "The whole process will take two and a half hours," said Chen Pengchao, the operation director of the station, who is checking the cargo information with his colleagues. "After that, the flight will go to Chicago."

This flight is shuttling on a route launched nearly ten years ago. Back in 2014, Henan Civil Aviation Development and Investment Company Ltd. acquired a 35-percent stake in Cargolux, marking the start of an Air Silk Road that links Zhengzhou and Luxembourg. Over the years, the route has expanded to cover more than ten cities around the world, including London, Chicago and Milan, providing a reliable channel for logistics businesses and cross-border trade.

Staff were reloading cargo to a Cargolux Airlines International cargo plane at Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport in central China's Henan Province on Aug. 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Jianan)

Shang Liang, CEO of Guangzhou Langtian Supply Chain Company, a close partner of Cargolux, attributed the company's robust growth over the past years to the inauguration of the Air Silk Road.

With the regular flights of Cargolux and the convenient customs clearance at the Zhengzhou airport, it takes only three days to transport goods from China to European countries, which fully meets the needs of cross-border e-commerce, said Shang.

Meanwhile, the launch of the Air Silk Road has sparked a surge in overseas firms' eagerness to explore the Chinese market, which in turn has brought Cargolux onto the fast lane of development. Even during the pandemic, flight operations along the route continued without suspension.

"During the pandemic, air cargo became really the vital part of the logistics chain because we were able to carry the much-needed goods in a very short amount of time," said Claude Zehren, executive vice president for flight operations of Cargolux.

The headquarters of Cargolux Airlines International in Luxemburg on Aug. 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

In 2022, Cargolux's operating income reached 5.1 billion U.S. dollars with a net profit of 1.6 billion, making it the most profitable year in the company's history.

In June, Cargolux held its first post-pandemic meeting of Asia-Pacific managers in Zhengzhou, reflecting the company's confidence in the Chinese market and economy.

In the eyes of President and CEO of Cargolux Richard Forson, the Air Silk Road, which has facilitated the connectivity between China and Europe, is a success story of companies, people and nations that share a common vision for strong commercial ties.

"It is, therefore, with great pride and honor that we have not only witnessed the emergence of the Air Silk Road, but have also played a part in it," said Forson. 
Evacuation efforts stepped up in Jilin, Heilongjiang

Chinadaily.com.cn) 08:46, August 08, 2023

Rescuers build a rope bridge on the site of a bridge destroyed by flooding to evacuate trapped villagers in Shulan, Jilin province, on Sunday. Yan Linyun / Xinhua

Massive evacuation efforts are underway in Northeast China to relocate tens of thousands of people affected by heavy rainfall and flooding, triggered by the residual impact of Typhoon Doksuri.

Floodwaters have damaged houses, bridges, dams, water management facilities and communication and power infrastructure, and inundated agricultural fields in Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces, which received downpours between Aug 1 and Saturday, and are still recording light rainfall, local authorities said.

Shulan, a city in Jilin province, is among the hardest-hit places in the region. As of Sunday night, 14 people, including Shulan's vice-mayor Luo Xudong and two other officials, had died in rain-related incidents.

On Monday, video clips of Luo and the other officials responding to the flood crisis circulated widely on social media. In the videos, the vice mayor is heard issuing evacuation instructions and urging residents not to take any risks.

"Despite knowing there was a 100 percent chance of a flash flood, he bravely and selflessly rushed to the front line. He is an exemplary civil servant," said a user on Sina Weibo.

Jing Junhai, secretary of the Jilin Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, sent his condolences on Monday and praised the dedication of the deceased officials to their duties as Party members. He emphasized the need for all departments and authorities to effectively coordinate emergency forces and resources, implement comprehensive measures and minimize casualties.

As of Monday, 79,745 people in Jilin had been evacuated, according to the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters.

The Northern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army dispatched an emergency team of 1,000 personnel to Shulan, along with over 100 vehicles, engineering machinery and unmanned search and rescue equipment.

The water levels of major rivers and reservoirs in Shulan have started to recede and remained at a safe operating level, according to the local flood control headquarters.

Meanwhile, more than 50,000 people have been displaced in Wuchang, a county-level city administered by Heilongjiang's provincial capital Harbin. Waterlogging has damaged crops in Wuchang, which is among China's well-known rice producing areas, and in Shangzhi, another county-level city administered by Harbin.

During a meeting held on Sunday on flood control and disaster relief, Xu Qin, Party secretary of Heilongjiang, emphasized that safe evacuation of residents is the priority. He instructed officials to ensure that no one is left behind and stressed the importance of providing temporary shelters, food and medical supplies at relocation sites.

As of 8 am on Monday, 12 rivers in Heilongjiang were flowing above their respective danger levels and five large reservoirs were operating beyond their flood control limits.

The province, which has reported economic losses, is bracing for another spell of heavy rainfall as Typhoon Khanun approaches.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Over 3,000 U.S. sailors and marines have entered the Red Sea in the Middle East aboard two U.S. warships, the U.S. Navy said Monday, weeks after the Department of Defense (DoD) deployed additional military assets to the Strait of Hormuz in response to what Washington claimed were threats posed by Iran.

The service members belong to the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (USNAVCENT) said in a statement. They arrived in the region Sunday on board the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan and the dock landing ship USS Carter Hall after transiting through the Suez Canal.

"Bataan ARG/26th MEU units bring to the region additional aviation and naval assets, as well as more U.S. Marines and Sailors, providing greater flexibility and maritime capability to U.S. 5th Fleet," the statement said.

Based in Bahrain, the Fifth Fleet is under the command of USNAVCENT and operates in an area that covers "the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea, parts of the Indian Ocean and three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, Suez Canal and Strait of Bab al-Mandeb," according to the statement.

The latest deployment, which the statement said was a pre-announced arrangement by DoD, followed the Pentagon's announcement on July 17 that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin had ordered the deployment of the destroyer USS Thomas Hudner as well as additional F-35 and F-16 fighter jets to the Strait of Hormuz "to defend U.S. interests and safeguard freedom of navigation in the region."

The chain of events unfolded against the backdrop of Washington accusing Iran of seizing or attempting to seize merchant vessels transiting in waterways around the Persian Gulf that are vital to the flow of international commerce, especially oil trade.

Multiple U.S. media reported over the last few days that the United States is considering what would be an unprecedented action of putting troops on commercial ships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz to deter alleged Iranian seizures, which the United States claimed have been happening for years. The potential action risks further escalating the already tense situation in the region.

The Pentagon refused to confirm the veracity of those reports. Pentagon Press Secretary Pat Ryder told reporters during a briefing Monday that he has "no announcement to make." 
BEIRUT, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi said on Tuesday that the country's security situation is stable and under control, days after the outbreak of deadly armed clashes in a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon, the National News Agency reported.

"The security situation is well maintained by all agencies; if anything happens in the camps, it will remain confined inside them. The problems in camps are in the custody of the army, which acts with precision and wisdom," Mawlawi was quoted as saying.

On July 29, clashes erupted in Ain Al-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon between members of the Palestinian Fatah movement and Islamic activists. The clashes continued until August 3, leaving at least 13 people killed and dozens of others injured.

The clashes prompted Saudi Arabia and Bahrain to urge their citizens to leave Lebanon immediately, while Kuwait warned its citizens to stay away from areas of conflict.

While acknowledging the current situation in Ain Al-Helweh Camp is risky, Mawlawi said he had great confidence in the Lebanese army to confront any escalation of tension in the future.

The minister said he understood some countries' concerns about the safety of their citizens in Lebanon, adding there was no evidence to suggest that there may be armed clashes in other camps in the country.

Clashes between rival groups often occur in the Ain Al-Helweh camp, Lebanon's largest Palestinian refugee camp. 
This aerial photo taken on July 22, 2023 shows a container wharf of the Beibu Gulf Port in Qinzhou, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming)

BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- China's total imports and exports expanded 0.4 percent year on year to 23.55 trillion yuan (about 3.29 trillion U.S. dollars) in the first seven months of the year, official data showed Tuesday.

Exports grew 1.5 percent year on year to 13.47 trillion yuan, while imports declined 1.1 percent from a year earlier to 10.08 trillion yuan, according to the General Administration of Customs.

In July alone, foreign trade dropped 8.3 percent year on year, with exports down 9.2 percent and imports down 6.9 percent, the data showed.

In the January-July period, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) remained China's largest trade partner. China's trade with ASEAN countries rose 2.8 percent year on year and accounted for 15.3 percent of the country's total trade value.

China's trade with the European Union edged down 0.1 percent from a year earlier, and the country's trade with the United States declined 9.6 percent year on year in the first seven months.

During this period, China's trade with countries along the Belt and Road amounted to 8.06 trillion yuan, which jumped 7.4 percent year on year.

Private enterprises saw imports and exports grow 6.7 percent year on year to 12.46 trillion yuan in the January-July period. The trade value represented 52.9 percent of the country's total.

The import and export value of foreign-funded enterprises and state-owned enterprises accounted for 30.6 percent and 16.2 percent of the country's total, respectively.

China saw steady export growth of mechanical and electrical products, such as data processing devices, cell phones, and automobiles during this period.

The trade value of mechanical and electrical products added up to 7.83 trillion yuan, rising 4.4 percent year and year and accounting for 58.1 percent of the country's total exports. 
Researcher Li Wenqin points to where white-headed langurs appear at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Li Mengxin)

Tourists view a white-headed langur at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

A white-headed langur climbs on a cliff at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

A white-headed langur forages at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

Researcher Li Wenqin (C) and Liu Yanchen and ranger Liang Zhizhang (L) observe white-headed langurs at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

Ranger Liang Zhizhang looks for white-headed langurs during a patrol at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 4, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

Ranger Liang Zhizhang looks for white-headed langurs during a patrol at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 4, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

Ranger Liang Zhizhang observes a white-headed langur during a patrol at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

A flock of white-headed langurs rest on a cliff at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

Researcher Li Wenqin (back) and Liu Yanchen observe white-headed langurs at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

Ranger Liang Zhizhang moves away a tree branch from a watering place made for white-headed langurs during a patrol at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 4, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

Researcher Li Wenqin (R) and Liu Yanchen wait as they observe white-headed langur at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

A white-headed langur looks out on a tree branch at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

A white-headed langur leaps at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

Three white-headed langurs rest on a cliff at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

Researcher Li Wenqin (R) and Liu Yanchen observe white-headed langurs at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Li Mengxin)

Tourists view white-headed langurs at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Li Mengxin)

A white-headed langur forages at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

Researcher Li Wenqin (C) and Liu Yanchen and ranger Liang Zhizhang (R) observe white-headed langurs at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

Researcher Li Wenqin (back) and Liu Yanchen observe white-headed langurs at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

Researcher Li Wenqin cleans mud from his sole at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

A white-headed langur is pictured at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

Ranger Liang Zhizhang cuts down bushes with a machete to make way during a patrol at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 4, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

Researcher Li Wenqin (R) and ranger Liang Zhizhang observe white-headed langurs at a national nature reserve in Luobai Town of Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 5, 2023. China's white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are spotted in less than 200 square km karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in Chongzuo.

In recent years, in order to better protect the white-headed langur, patrolling and technological measures including infrared cameras and remote monitoring have been applied to track and monitor them around the clock. The latest figures show that the population of white-headed langurs has increased to about 1,400 thanks to a group of guardians who dedicate themselves to protecting those "elves" in spite of many difficulties. (Xinhua/Li Mengxin)
TOKYO, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- SoftBank Group Corp. announced Tuesday it logged a net loss of 477.62 billion yen (3.3 billion U.S. dollars) for the three months ended June, shrinking from the record loss it posted in the same period last year.

The Japanese multinational investment holding company sliced its loss by 85 percent for the three-month period from a record net loss of 3.16 trillion yen reported in the second quarter last year, thanks to an improving valuation for its flagship Vision Fund, as technology stocks rebound.

According to the company's financial statement, the company pared its investment loss in the quarter to 699 billion yen from 2.83 trillion yen a year ago as the stock prices of its holdings bounced back and due to gains from cashing out shares of top Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba Group Holding Limited.

The Japanese investment giant had already reported two consecutive years in the red, hurt by the slump in tech stocks, which has depressed the value of its investments. (1 U.S. dollar equals 143.03 Japanese yen) 
RAMALLAH, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Palestinians condemned on Monday the killings of Palestinians by Israeli soldiers and settlers in the West Bank.

At least four Palestinians were killed within the last 24 hours, including a Palestinian teenager who succumbed to the wounds inflicted by an Israeli guard in the West Bank last week, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

On Sunday, an Israeli army unit carried out an attack on a car near the village of Araba, located in the southern part of the West Bank city of Jenin, resulting in the death of three Palestinians inside the vehicle. The Israeli authorities said that the three individuals were believed to be on their way to carry out a hostile attack against Israel.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohamed Ishtaye said during a cabinet meeting that "the Israeli occupation, which persists in killing our children daily, must be brought to justice," according to an official statement.

Speaker of the Palestinian National Council Rawhi Fattouh also condemned the killings and called on the international community "to intervene urgently and decisively to put an end to the madness."

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned "the escalation of Israeli crimes against the Palestinians" in a press statement, and stressed that "the absence of the international will for peace" exacerbates the situation in Palestinian territories.

In Gaza, the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) said in a statement that the Palestinian people "will confront what is happening with all strength and valor and will respond firmly to crimes and transgression."

Since January, 27 people, most of them Israelis, have been killed in a series of attacks carried out by Palestinians, and more than 200 Palestinians were killed by Israeli soldiers and settlers, according to official figures. 
A truck drives in water in Houston, Texas, the United States, Aug. 27, 2017. (Xinhua/Zhong Jia)

As it sought a cash infusion that never came, it struggled with slowing business, an unaffordable debt load and a long-running battle with the Teamsters union.

NEW YORK, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Yellow Corp., a once-dominant U.S. trucking company, has filed for bankruptcy as it winds down its 99-year-old business, which concerns its 30,000 workers and a handful of heavyweight creditors.

The Nashville-based logistics provider announced on Sunday it had filed for Chapter 11 relief in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the district of Delaware. "It is with profound disappointment that Yellow announces that it is closing after nearly 100 years in business," CEO Darren Hawkins said in a statement.

"Today, it is not common for someone to work at one company for 20, 30, or even 40 years, yet many at Yellow did. For generations, Yellow provided hundreds of thousands of Americans with solid, good-paying jobs and fulfilling careers," noted the top executive.

Yellow said it expects to reach an agreement with its creditors, pending approval from the court, that will allow it to pay certain wages and benefits, as well as some obligations to vendors and suppliers.

The company disclosed a long list of creditors in its court filing, with Amazon (AMZN), Home Depot (HD) and Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (GT) among the top 30 with unsecured claims.

"The filing comes more than a week after the trucking company halted operations, putting 30,000 people out of work. It warned in a lawsuit last month it was at risk of running out of the money it needed to continue to operate," said Eyewitness News on Monday in its report of the development.

"As it sought a cash infusion that never came, it struggled with slowing business, an unaffordable debt load and a long-running battle with the Teamsters union, which represented 22,000 of its 30,000 employees, including its drivers and most of its dock workers," added the report. 
A Fireboat patrols over the coast along the English Bay in Vancouver, Canada, April 9, 2015. (Xinhua/Liang sen)

Canada's trade balance with the world went to a deficit of 4.7 billion Canadian dollars (3.5 billion U.S. dollars) in June.



OTTAWA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Canada's merchandise exports decreased 2.2 percent, while imports were down 0.5 percent in June, Statistics Canada said on Tuesday.

Merchandise exports declined for the second consecutive month following a 3 percent decrease in May, the national statistical agency said, adding that total exports in real terms fell 1.1 percent in June and export prices declined for the 11th time in the past 12 months.

The agency said the strike at British Columbia marine port terminals and severe flooding in Nova Scotia would have an impact on trade activities in July.

According to the agency, the port strike that significantly affected activity at British Columbia marine terminals began on July 1 and disrupted regular operations for more than 13 days. Canada's international merchandise trade, especially with Asian countries, relies heavily on these ports to move goods. In 2022, 9.2 percent of Canada's total exports by value were shipped through British Columbia via marine transportation. For imports, 5 percent of the total value was cleared by these ports in 2022.

Significant rainfall on July 21 in Nova Scotia led to flooding that damaged a section of the rail line that serves the port of Halifax which cleared 1.4 percent of Canada's total merchandise import value and 0.8 percent of total exports in 2022, the agency said. Rail service to the port had resumed by the end of July.

When international trade in goods and services are combined, exports decreased 1.7 percent to 75.4 billion Canadian dollars (55.8 billion U.S. dollars) in June, while imports decreased 0.4 percent to 80.1 billion Canadian dollars (59.3 billion U.S. dollars). As a result, Canada's trade balance with the world went to a deficit of 4.7 billion Canadian dollars (3.5 billion U.S. dollars) in June. 
LILONGWE, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Malawi has announced that cholera is no longer a national public health emergency in the southern African country as the recorded cases have kept declining in the past three months.

Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda made the announcement in a statement Monday, saying the decision is in line with the requirements of the World Health Organization.

Since February 2022, Malawi had been battling the worst cholera outbreak in the country's history, which forced President Lazarus Chakwera to declare it a public health emergency on Dec. 5, 2022.

Since July this year, the country has recorded at least five deaths, with the last death recorded on July 28, and 67 new cases cumulatively. As of Monday, the total number of cases and deaths recorded since February 2022 were 58,981 and 1,768, respectively.

According to the minister, 26 out of 29 districts in the country have controlled the outbreak and the remaining three districts are intermittently reporting less than five cases per day.

The health minister has, nonetheless, called for continuously implementing cholera prevention and control measures until the outbreak is over in all 29 health districts. 
BAMAKO, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- A total of 17 people were killed and two others injured in two terrorist attacks over the weekend in central Mali, local authorities said Monday.

The first attack took place on Saturday in Bodio village in Bandiagara region, leaving 15 people dead and two injured, according to a statement of the Bandiagara governorate. And two people were killed in another attack on Sunday at a mine between Bodio village and Anakanda village.

"Operations are underway to track down the perpetrators of this despicable act which will in no way discourage us from our eternal fight for the preservation of our country," the statement said.

The attacks occured one day after the handover of the Ogossagou camp, a military base in Bandiagara, to the Malian government from the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali. The United States Security Council on June 30 unanimously approved the complete withdrawal of UN peacekeeping forces in Mali in the next six months, at the request of the Malian authorities. 
LUANDA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The 43rd Ordinary Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit of Heads of State and Government commenced in Luanda, Angola's capital, Monday.

The summit, which will run until Aug. 17, will culminate in the election of Angola taking up the position of rotating presidency of the SADC for the 2023/2024 term, said summit spokesperson Jorge Cardoso during a briefing Monday.

According to Cardoso, who also serves as the director of Africa, Middle East, and Regional Affairs at the Angolan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Angola aims to enhance regional integration within the SADC.

The summit features a theme of "Human and financial capital: The key drivers for sustainable industrialization of the SADC Region," with diverse activities, including the Finance Committee meeting, the Organ Troika meeting, the Council of Ministers Troika meeting, and a public lecture for the youth.

The SADC is an intergovernmental organization consisting of 16 member states dedicated to socioeconomic cooperation and integration, as well as collaboration in politics and security among the countries of southern Africa. 
DHAKA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The young students are the "bridge of hope" to carry forward the traditional friendship between China and Bangladesh, making their own efforts for the bright future of China-Bangladesh relations, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen has said.

Yao made the remarks on Monday at the Farewell Reception for 2023 Chinese Government Scholarship recipients, which was held at the Embassy of China in Bangladesh here.

Toufique Hasan, Director-General of the East Asia and Pacific Wing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, and Munshi Faiz Ahmed, former Ambassador of Bangladesh to China and chief of the Association of Bangladesh-China Alumni attended the event.

The Chinese ambassador encouraged the students to cherish the present and assiduously study not only professional courses, but also Chinese history and culture, while exploring the streets in China and making more local friends.

Noting that China is Bangladesh's partner in development and the two countries have carried out a wide range of cooperations, Hasan said that he hopes these students will become young leaders of the country and make contributions to Bangladesh's development after they return home

Haima Haider Asha, a student who received the scholarship and will study at Nanjing Agricultural University in east China's Jiangsu Province, told Xinhua that "I feel so lucky to be a scholarship candidate among so many people."

Chinese universities are engaging in outstanding agricultural studies and China is also advanced in agricultural mechanization, said Asha.

"I want to finish my master's degree from a good university in China so that I can apply the knowledge in my country and I can make use of my education in the Bangladeshi agriculture field." 
HANOI, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Despite electronics being a vital driving force of Vietnamese exports, many Vietnamese electronics producers are still not up to the mark for supplying components to global heavyweights, local media reported on Tuesday.

In the first seven months of this year, Vietnam earned nearly 30.8 billion U.S. dollars from exporting of computers, electronic products and components, down 3 percent year on year, according to the General Statistics Office.

In the same period, the country reaped 27.8 billion dollars from shipping phones and components, down 18.3 percent year on year, said the office.

Vietnamese electronics producers were withstanding the global economic downturn quite well, however, many of them stayed on the sidelines when global heavyweights moved their facilities to the country and outsourced their production, Vietnam News reported, citing Do Thi Thuy Huong, a member of the executive committee of the Vietnam Electronic Industries Association (VEIA).

She said it is necessary to have a regulation that requires global heavyweights to employ a certain number of local producers as vendors when they are doing business in Vietnam.

She noted that a storm is looming on the horizon as VEIA members had received no new orders from their traditional markets such as the United States, China, European Union and South Korea by June. 
VIENTIANE, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The landslides triggered by heavy rains have killed two people in Bolikhamxay province, some 200 km southeast from the Lao capital Vientiane, as authorities raced to help victims of floods in the central provinces of the country.

Two people were killed by the landslide last Friday, while both of them had gone into a forested area to look for food. During the night, heavy and continuous rains caused a landslide at the mountain which killed both of them, according to local Bolikhamxay newspaper report on Monday.

Thousands of people across Laos have been affected by flooding and landslides as a result of continuous heavy rain, which caused havoc in several parts of the country.

Local authorities are now racing to help the victims of the floods by providing food, drinking water and medicines.

As part of efforts to deliver emergency aid to the victims, the Lao Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare will continue coordinating with provinces affected by the floods so that normalcy can be restored in these areas as soon as possible.

The Department of Meteorology and Hydrology under the Lao Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on Monday issued a warning, advising people across the country to monitor the weather and be on alert for possible flash floods and landslides. 
MADRID, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- The number of Chinese tourists visiting Spain increased by 420 percent in the first six months of 2023, according to a report released by the Spanish tourism agency Turespana on Monday.

In the first half of this year, 135,715 Chinese people came to Spain, compared to just 26,085 between January and June 2021.

The report was welcomed by Spain's acting Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism Hector Gomez, who said the return of Chinese tourists after the pandemic is excellent news.

Gomez added that the number of flights between Spain and China would further increase in the second half of the year.

"In 2023, with the incorporation (of new flights) this summer, we will recover 80 percent of the connections we had prior to the pandemic," Gomez said. "With all certainty, 2024 will be the year which sees the full consolidation of this market, which is so important for our country."

According to data from the Spanish Statistical Office (INE), 700,750 Chinese tourists traveled to Spain in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic. 
ROME, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Four people were injured as more than 50 wildfires raged on the Italian island of Sardinia Monday, forcing hundreds of residents and tourists to evacuate, local media reported.

The fires have been spreading since Sunday, due to hot, dry, and windy conditions. Teams of firefighters, some using water-carrying aircraft, are currently trying to bring the wildfires under control.

"Despite a large deployment of firefighters the situation is truly dramatic," said Giorgio Fresu, town councilor for Posada, one of the towns closest to the fires. "The wind is blowing so forcefully that it is not a fair fight."

At least four people have been seriously injured, including a 78-year-old retired woman who was unable to leave her house as the fires approached. The woman suffered burns on her arms and legs, ANSA news agency reported.

As of late Monday local time, at least 600 people have been evacuated, including dozens of tourists on vacation in the northern and eastern parts of the island.

In the south, the mayor of the regional capital of Cagliari has ordered the closure of parks and cemeteries.

In total, more than 750 hectares of land have been severely burned, according to media reports.

Local officials and media have speculated that arson could be the cause of the fires in Sardinia, although the fire brigade has said there is no concrete proof. Nevertheless, Sardinia's governor Christian Solinas told local media that the possibility of arson cannot be ruled out, and has called for an investigation into the fires.

Solinas also asked for financial and logistical help from the national government to deal with the fires, adding that he has been in contact with mayors and local officials in the most-affected areas.

Sardinia's airports remain open, although ground transport across the island has been crippled.

Officials in Sardinia have warned of health risks for those not forced to evacuate, advising residents and visitors to limit exposure to smoke from the fires. Those with chronic respiratory issues are at greatest risk.

However, according to weather forecasts, the wind that has helped the fires spread so quickly is set to progressively slow in the coming days. 
ZAGREB, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Seeing Chinese police officers, along with their Croatian colleagues, patrolling streets in the Croatian capital, Betty Xie was very excited.

Xie, a Chinese tourist with a tour group visiting Croatia, said she was more than happy to see Chinese police officers here as it would be more convenient to communicate and get assistance.

The joint Chinese-Croatian police patrol, part of Croatia's Safe Tourist Destinations project, has been in place since 2018. This year's project, the fourth of its kind, was launched on July 16 in Zagreb and will last for one month.

"It is a good idea and I support it (the joint Chinese-Croatian police patrol)," Xie said, believing that more Chinese tourists will come to Croatia on vacation.

Another member of the tour group, Long Meiyi, said, "Chinese policemen can help us with many things as we enjoy our vacation here," adding that people in Croatia are warm-hearted and it is quite safe to visit the country.

Xie and Long are among the increasing Chinese tourists visiting Croatia since the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic eased off. There used to be as many as 300,000 Chinese tourists visiting Croatia in the peak years of 2018 and 2019.

"With this year's number of eight Chinese police officers participating in joint patrols in Croatia so far, the total number is 30," said Zorica Lausic, chief of the International Police Cooperation Division at the Croatian Interior Ministry.

"All this makes us very proud and confirms our success within the project of Safe Tourist Destinations which would not have been possible without you, our strong partners," Lausic said at the joint patrol's launch ceremony.

The eight Chinese police officers are on duty with their Croatian colleagues in Zagreb, Zadar, the Plitvice Lakes National Park and Dubrovnik, all of which are main tourist destinations.

Local residents also warmly welcome the joint patrols.

"When I see Croatian and Chinese police officers patrolling the streets, I feel safer," Bozena Hajoin, a local resident, told Xinhua, adding that Safe Tourist Destinations is "a great project."

Vid Doric, a local tour guide, said the joint police patrol is "a very good thing" and tourists "are always reacting very well when they see people who can speak their language."

Echoing Doric, Edward Curran, a tourist from Britain, said it was a good idea for the Croatian and Chinese police officers to work together to provide assistance to tourists.

Mislav Svihir, a Zagreb police officer participating in the joint patrol, said that each year a different group of Chinese police officers arrives, but "it feels like we have always worked together."

Xu Jianjun, one of the Chinese police officers participating in the joint patrol, recalled that one day a Croatian student from the Confucius Institute at the University of Zagreb stopped them in the street and asked for a photo to be taken with them, saying "China, I love you."

"This was a quite touching and unforgettable episode," he said. 
Germany expands state guarantees for investing in Ukraine 8 August, 04:57 PM Flag of Germany (Photo:Pexels / Pixabay)

The German Economy Ministry has expanded its state program of investment guarantees for German companies in Ukraine, said the official press release on Aug. 7.

The program will now cover not only property damage up to a total loss of investment but also conversion and transfer risks for interest payments on quasi-equity loans.

This type of loan, which combines both debt and equity investments, is common in Germany.

Additionally, Germany will not charge any application fees for investment guarantees in Ukraine until at least 2025. Companies will only have to pay an annual fee.

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As of today, 14 companies use the guarantees with a total maximum liability of EUR 280 million ($307 million). However, more applications are to be considered soon, the ministry said.

Read also: Ukrainian Startup Fund launches selection for TechCrunch Disrupt 2023

Due to high risks, Ukraine will receive 90% of major global investments only after the end of Russias full-scale invasion, CEO of Dragon Capital, Tomas Fiala, stated recently.

Will you support Ukraines free press? Dear reader, as all news organizations, we must balance the pressures of delivering timely, accurate, and relevant stories with requirements to fund our business operations. As a Ukrainian-based media, we also have another responsibility  to amplify Ukraines voice to the world during the crucial moment of its existence as a political nation. Its the support of our readers that lets us continue doing our job. We keep our essential reporting free because we believe in our ultimate purpose: an independent, democratic Ukraine. If youre willing to support Ukraine, consider subscribing to our Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.

Please help us continue fighting Russian propaganda. Truth can be hard to tell from fiction these days. Every viewpoint has its audience of backers and supporters, no matter how absurd. If conscious disinformation is reinforced by state propaganda apparatus and budget, its outcomes may become deadly. There is no solution to this, other than independent, honest, and accurate reporting. We remain committed to empowering the Ukrainian voice to push against the muck. If youre willing to stand up for the truth  consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. Thank you very much.

Will you help tell Ukraines story to the world? Twenty years ago, most people hadnt even heard of Ukraine. Today, the country is on everyones lips and everyones headlines. War pushed us on the front page. But there are many other things we do that we are proud of  from music and culture to technology. We need your help to tell the world Ukrainian story of resilience, joy, and survival. If youre willing to back our effort, consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.

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China to adopt 'impartial, rational' position on Russian war against Ukraine, says foreign ministry 8 August, 11:07 AM Wang Yi (Photo:REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay)

China can be an "objective and rational voice" in achieving a peaceful settlement to Russias war against Ukraine, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in a phone talk on Aug. 8.

China also emphasized its "independent and impartial position" in a foreign ministry statement released following the summit in Saudi Arabia on finding a peaceful way to bring the war to an end.

The two-day talks helped "to consolidate international consensus," China's Foreign Ministry said.

Peace summit in Saudi Arabia: What is known

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Two days of negotiations on the Ukrainian peace formula took place in the city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Aug. 5-6. Top diplomats and officials from about 40 countries took part in it, including China, India, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Turkey, and South Africa with Russia excluded.

It is the second peace summit with the previous one held in Copenhagen, Denmark, in June 2023.

All countries participating in the peace talks for Ukraine in Saudi Arabia have reaffirmed their commitment to UN principles and respect for the countrys sovereignty and territorial integrity, Presidential adviser Andriy Yermak said.

Also, the participants agreed that any peace talks should be based on respect for the countrys sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Read also: Presidential adviser Yermak reveals details of agreement struck at peace formula summit in Saudi Arabia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented a 10-point "peace formula" at the G20 summit in November 2022. It includes the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity, the withdrawal of Russian troops, the release of all prisoners, a tribunal for those guilty of aggression, and security guarantees for Ukraine.

Will you support Ukraines free press? Dear reader, as all news organizations, we must balance the pressures of delivering timely, accurate, and relevant stories with requirements to fund our business operations. As a Ukrainian-based media, we also have another responsibility  to amplify Ukraines voice to the world during the crucial moment of its existence as a political nation. Its the support of our readers that lets us continue doing our job. We keep our essential reporting free because we believe in our ultimate purpose: an independent, democratic Ukraine. If youre willing to support Ukraine, consider subscribing to our Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.

Please help us continue fighting Russian propaganda. Truth can be hard to tell from fiction these days. Every viewpoint has its audience of backers and supporters, no matter how absurd. If conscious disinformation is reinforced by state propaganda apparatus and budget, its outcomes may become deadly. There is no solution to this, other than independent, honest, and accurate reporting. We remain committed to empowering the Ukrainian voice to push against the muck. If youre willing to stand up for the truth  consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. Thank you very much.

Will you help tell Ukraines story to the world? Twenty years ago, most people hadnt even heard of Ukraine. Today, the country is on everyones lips and everyones headlines. War pushed us on the front page. But there are many other things we do that we are proud of  from music and culture to technology. We need your help to tell the world Ukrainian story of resilience, joy, and survival. If youre willing to back our effort, consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.

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White House working on supplemental Ukraine aid request  CNN 8 August, 10:54 AM Joe Biden (Photo:REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo)

U.S. President Joe Bidens administration is working on a supplemental funding request for Ukraine that will likely be ready for Congress to consider by this fall, CNN quoted Army acquisition chief Doug Bush as saying on Aug. 7.

The administration is working on a package for Congress to consider this fall, Bush said, adding that the details still have to be determined by the Office of Management Budget.

Read also: Pentagon greenlights first batch of Abrams tanks for Ukraine

But I think well have a very strong case, and hopefully garner congressional support for continued funding  in particular for munitions production increases and munitions buys to support Ukraine, he said.

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The Biden administration is expected to announce $200 million of new weapons aid for Ukraine as soon as Aug. 8, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Aug. 7.

Will you support Ukraines free press? Dear reader, as all news organizations, we must balance the pressures of delivering timely, accurate, and relevant stories with requirements to fund our business operations. As a Ukrainian-based media, we also have another responsibility  to amplify Ukraines voice to the world during the crucial moment of its existence as a political nation. Its the support of our readers that lets us continue doing our job. We keep our essential reporting free because we believe in our ultimate purpose: an independent, democratic Ukraine. If youre willing to support Ukraine, consider subscribing to our Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.

Please help us continue fighting Russian propaganda. Truth can be hard to tell from fiction these days. Every viewpoint has its audience of backers and supporters, no matter how absurd. If conscious disinformation is reinforced by state propaganda apparatus and budget, its outcomes may become deadly. There is no solution to this, other than independent, honest, and accurate reporting. We remain committed to empowering the Ukrainian voice to push against the muck. If youre willing to stand up for the truth  consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. Thank you very much.

Will you help tell Ukraines story to the world? Twenty years ago, most people hadnt even heard of Ukraine. Today, the country is on everyones lips and everyones headlines. War pushed us on the front page. But there are many other things we do that we are proud of  from music and culture to technology. We need your help to tell the world Ukrainian story of resilience, joy, and survival. If youre willing to back our effort, consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
In this article, we will look at the 10 industries being revolutionized by AI and automation technologies. We have also covered some interesting insights about disruptions in industries as a result of AI along with companies that have been at the forefront of these transformations. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, head straight to the 5 Industries Being Revolutionized by AI and Automation Technologies.

Global Industrial Automation Market and Growth

According to Fortune Business Insights Report, the global industrial automation market was valued at $191.89 billion in 2021 with projected growth of $395.09 billion by 2029 and a CAGR of 9.8%. Even though the COVID-19 pandemic caused a temporary decline of 6.5% in 2020, but automation solutions have proved to be immensely crucial in mitigating its impact. Market players like Emerson Electric, ABB, and Rockwell Automation led the way with innovative technologies. Moreover, the rise of 5G, Industry 4.0, AR, digital twin, and IoT fuels automation demand across sectors. With significant growth prospects, automation remains vital in safeguarding processes, increasing efficiency, and meeting consumer demands in the future.

Industries That Have Been Disrupted By AI

With industrial automation growing in an unprecedented manner, AI has disrupted the healthcare sector by catalyzing a rapid digital transformation. From virtual triage to personalized treatments, AI has revolutionized patient care to new heights. Quicker diagnosis is now possible through AI-driven image interpretation, while deep techplatforms or even startups like Niramai in India can detect breast cancer early using thermography.

Moreover, clinical decision-making has been massively improved with AI's assistance in treatment design and genomics studies. Hospitals benefit from AI-based tools that automate their administrative tasks, optimize patient flow, and predict readmissions. On the other hand, patients get to enjoy enhanced experiences with AI assistants guiding them through their healthcare journey. Thus, we see how AI has shifted healthcare towards a digital, patient-centric model, that has not only improved accessibility but also promised efficiency, and preventive care. The future of AI holds even greater potential, as AI continues to empower medical professionals and revolutionize healthcare delivery worldwide.

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To exemplify, we can look at how Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) has leveraged AI in healthcare through two neoteric use cases. First, they developed the Ultreon software, which utilizes AI automation to provide precise micrometer-level medical imaging of arteries in the eye and heart. This AI-enabled technology offers real-time data to physicians during heart stint surgery, streamlining clinical decision-making and leading to better patient outcomes. A study sponsored by Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) revealed that 88% of physicians altered their treatment strategy when using the OCT solution paired with Ultreon which indicated a strong and high demand for this modern imaging platform.

Secondly, Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) deployed an ML algorithm to predict heart attacks and identify individuals at risk. By harnessing the power of machine learning, Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) can potentially save lives by detecting warning signs of heart attacks in advance and thus, enable proactive interventions.

AI's impact on the fashion industry has been nothing short of revolutionary as well. With the ability to analyze vast amounts of data, AI has transformed fashion designing by predicting consumer preferences and generating designson its own. It streamlines the design process by automating mundane tasks, that allows designers to focus on their creativity. Virtual prototyping through AI also enables designers to visualize their creations before physical prototyping which saves time and resources.

However, it is important to highlight that AI's role goes beyond the design phase. It enhances supply chain management by accurately forecasting demand and optimizing logistics. This efficient supply chain management ensures timely delivery and minimizes waste, that in return promises sustainability. Additionally, AI provides a personalized shopping experience for customers through accurate product recommendations, virtual styling, and AI-powered chatbots that offer real-time assistance.

For instance, Levi Strauss & Co (NYSE:LEVI) uses AI to enhance its website and mobile app by providing personalized product recommendations based on consumer data from specific markets. AI is helping Levi Strauss & Co (NYSE:LEVI) customize its stores to cater to the different needs and interests of local consumers which has increased their enrollments, revenues, and app registrations in their loyalty program.

Levi Strauss & Co (NYSE:LEVI) has recently announced their partnership with Lalaland.ai which is a digital fashion studio that uses AI to build customized hyper-realistic models of various body types, ages, sizes, and skin tones. Through AI-generated models, Levi Strauss & Co (NYSE:LEVI) aims to supplement human models and diversify their product representations, providing customers with a more inclusive and personalized shopping experience.

Moreover, AI aids in inventory management by tracking and predicting inventory levels, preventing stockouts, and enhancing customer satisfaction. Ai has given rise to the groundbreaking technologies of virtual try-ons, style recommendations, and trend predictions that have taken the shopping experience to another level of transformation. Thus, it is not wrong to say that healthcare and fashion are two industries which benefit massively from AI and automation.

However, there do exist industries that will not be affected by AI in the near future atleast. They include sectors with plenty of creative work like movie directors, human-centric roles like psychologists and counsellors and skilled trade workers like plumbers or electricians. Of course, there can be robots made for these jobs, but it will take some time to replace humans completely from these fields. We have also discussed interesting insights in our article related to AI jobs, if you are interested, please head straight to Jobs That Will Disappear in the Future Due to AI.

10 Industries Being Revolutionized By AI and Automation Technologies

Copyright: rawpixel / 123RF Stock Photo

Our Methodology

We conducted a comprehensive analysis of industries being revolutionized by AI and automation technologies by exploring various sources on the internet to identify common patterns and trends. After compiling a list of 15 such industries, we ranked them using exposure and consensus scores and the 10 highest ranked were eventually selected.

For the exposure score, we relied on MSCI's ranking of estimates for the share of employment exposed to AI automation in each industry. This score indicates how extensively AI and automation are already integrated into the workforce. Here, a higher exposure score equates relatively lower exposure.

For the consensus score, we considered input from multiple sources, with Reddit being a key platform where discussions about industries embracing AI and automation frequently occurred. Similarly, the industries with the most mentions and agreement on their automation practices received lower consensus scores. By averaging the exposure and consensus scores, we determined the final ranking.

Please note and remember that industries with lower average scores received higher ranks. In case of similar average score, industry with a lower exposure score was ranked higher.

Note: For the purpose of this article, we have treated industries and fields alike to to give you a broader perspective.

Here is a list of Industries Being Revolutionized by AI and Automation

10. Healthcare

Exposure Score: 10

Consensus Score: 10

Average Score: 10

Artificial intelligence has revolutionized healthcare in the US quite extensively. For instance, Ohio's Hospice introduced an intelligent automation platform, that allowed them to give back 24,000 business hours after the pandemic and achieved six speedy automated processes.

Highmark Health also cleared a backlog and processed over 200,000 claims in just five days using AI to ensure that 2.1 million patients' claims were paid. AI-driven digital workers have improved service delivery while coping with mounting workloads, and reduced costs. Digital-first strategies with AI, interoperable analytics, and advanced technologies are driving the future of medicine that put patient care at the heart of healthcare and minimize the long-term health effects caused by postponed services.

Healthcare professionals are also some of the most respected professionals in the world with well-deserved high compensation packages around the world, especially in the US.

9. Retail

Exposure Score: 8

Consensus Score: 9

Average Score: 8.5

Retail sector has utilized AI to improve customer experiences and optimize operations, making it one of the top industries/fields being impacted by AI. For example, Walmart Inc (NYSE:WMT) utilizes AI to improve customer and employee experiences across its vast network of stores. At Sam's Club, a membership warehouse club by Walmart Inc (NYSE:WMT), floor scrubbers equipped with AI technology capture real-time images of every item on shelvesthat enables better inventory management and ensure products are in stock. This AI-driven approach helps Walmart Inc (NYSE:WMT) personalize shopping experiences and streamline operations for increased efficiency and customer satisfaction. Hence, retail is one of the industries currently influenced by AI.

8. Computer and Mathematical

Exposure Score: 9

Consensus Score: 3

Average Score: 6.0

While the field of Math isn't particularly an industry in the same sense as others in our list, we've included it because Math plays a fundamental role in many industries dealing with bleeding edge R&D. AI is transforming the field of mathematics, an example is symbolic AI like Lean which is an interactive theorem prover. It enables mathematicians to check and refine proofs more efficiently, while avoiding endless debates. Hence, it is one of the fields being revolutionized by AI and automation technologies.

However, the rise of non-symbolic AI, like deep learning and neural networks, presents a divide between mathematicians and AI. While AI can prove theorems and solve complex problems, mathematicians believe their creative capacity sets them apart. This ensures that their roles are secure until AI becomes as creative as humans. Speaking of deep learning, you can also check out article on deep learning courses for high salary jobs.

7. Life, Physical, and Social Science

Exposure Score: 4

Consensus Score: 8

Average Score: 6.0

In social sciences, AI has the potential to revolutionize research by offering real-time interpretations of human conversations from the internet that also simulates social interactions between individuals, and even substitute human participants in data collection. However, concerns about bias reproduction and misinformation need to be addressed. For instance, large language models like ChatGPT could inadvertently spread false information if users rely solely on confident-sounding but inaccurate outputs.

In life sciences, AI has already made significant strides in clinical trials and manufacturing. In silico, clinical trials that are powered by AI have the potential to speed up the drug development process and reduce costs by eliminating the need for living cohorts. In manufacturing, AI streamlines biopharma processes and predicts roadblocks while also identifying quality control issues.

6. Community and Social Service

Exposure Score: 6

Consensus Score: 5

Average Score: 5.5

Social and community services are observed to be adapting AI by incorporating technologies like virtual reality and artificial intelligence into their curricula. For example, universities are using VR simulations to train social science students in child welfare investigations. Moreover, AI and telehealth services are also being utilized to provide better access to treatment and support for those in need in remote areas.

Click here to see the 5 Industries Being Revolutionized by AI and Automation Technologies.

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Disclosure: None. 10 Industries Being Revolutionized by AI and Automation Technologies is originally published on Insider Money.
Finding solid returns is the key to success in stock investing, but there are almost as many paths to that as there are investors. You can pack your portfolio with long-term stocks featuring slow appreciation; you can invest heavily in trending stocks that are riding a bubble, hoping to cash out at the right time; or you can buy into low-cost equities that feature high potential to boom. That last is the allure behind the penny stocks.

Traditionally priced for a dollar or less per share, today the pennies are considered those stocks trading for under $5. At this low price, even small changes in the share price are magnified  a small gain will turn into a high-percentage return, or a small dip can turn into a deep loss. While the reward potential is real, penny stocks are instruments for risk-tolerant investors.

So, how should investors approach a potential penny stock investment? By taking a cue from the analyst community. These experts bring in-depth knowledge of the industries they cover and substantial experience to the table.

Taking this into account, we used TipRanks database to identify two penny stocks that have earned a Strong Buy consensus rating from the analyst community. Not to mention each offers up massive upside potential and could rally to $10, or even more.

Milestone Pharmaceuticals (MIST)

The first penny stock were looking at is Milestone Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage biopharma firm with a focus on cardiac issues. Specifically, Milestone is working on an innovative therapy for cardiovascular conditions, and aims to fill the gap that exists between severe episodic cardiovascular conditions, such paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT), atrial fibrillation, and angina, and emergency room visits. Currently, these serious cardiac events usually result in an ER visit; Milestone wants to develop an at-home treatment for acute patients living with heart rhythm disturbances.

To achieve this goal, Milestone is working with the drug candidate etripamil, an investigational new drug for the treatment of PSVT, as well as atrial fibrillation and rapid ventricular rate (AFib-RVR). Unlike most medications for these conditions, which require administration by medical personnel, usually in a hospital setting, etripamil is designed to be self-administered by the patient, at home.

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Etripamil, a proprietary calcium channel blocker, is formulated as a nasal spray, which allows for rapid absorption due to the rich network of blood vessels in the nasal lining. This mode of administration ensures a quick onset of action with a short duration of effect, minimizing potential side effects.

Milestones progress is supported by two clinical programs, including a Phase 2 trial of etripamil in the treatment of atrial fibrillation and a Phase 3 trial focusing on PSVT treatment. On the PSVT track, the company published positive Phase 3 data showing that the primary endpoint was met, with 64.3% of patients who used self-administered etripamil showing a return to normal sinus rhythm within 30 minutes, compared to 31.2% of patients on placebo. In addition, the drug showed an acceptable safety and tolerability profile. The company is on track for an NDA submission by the end of September.

In the Phase 2 trial, data released by Milestone in May of this year showed that self-administered etripamil gave AFib-RVR patients a sustained reduction in ventricular rate, over a period of 60 minutes. Topline data from the study is on track for 2H23.

Currently going for $2.95 apiece, Cowen TDs 5-star analyst, Ritu Baral, believes MISTs share price presents an attractive entry point. The potential of etripamil as a game-changer, along with its large addressable market and consequent potential to generate revenue, form the thesis behind Barals bullish stance.

Etripamil demonstrated rapid, stat sig efficacy in the pivotal Phase 3 RAPID study, with excellent safety. MIST plans to submit an NDA in 3Q23. If approved, etripamil will be the first and only intranasal CCB for pSVT as current CCBs approved require acute intravenous administration under medical supervision. MISTs approach would potentially change the treatment paradigm with its ease of self-administration and portability, Baral opined.

We forecast U.S. peak sales of ~$668MM peak sales in 2030 (7 years after potential launch in 2024). We think the consistent safety and impressive efficacy profile will likely set up etripamil for great commercial success, particularly given the limitations of the current standard of care management for moderate to severe and massive unmet need in pSVT If etripamil demonstrates success in AFib studies, the market opportunity could nearly double for the therapy, the analyst added.

To this end, Baral rates MIST an Outperform (i.e. Buy), along with a $17 price target that implies a powerful upside of 476% for the year ahead. (To watch Barals track record, click here)

Similarly, other analysts are in MISTs corner. 4 Buys and 1 Hold assigned in the last three months add up to a Strong Buy consensus. Its $14.20 average price target brings the upside potential to 381%. (See MIST stock forecast)

Beyond Air (XAIR)

Next up is Beyond Air, a biotech medical researcher working on new treatments for severe lung conditions. The companys treatment mode involves the use of nitric oxide (NO), which in its medical grade can be mixed with common air and is used to treat lung infections, pulmonary hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and even some solid tumor cancers.

Beyond Airs research pipeline is based on its proprietary LungFit device, a medical device used for generating nitric oxide from room air  possible because NO gas is composed of nitrogen and oxygen, the most common components of the atmosphere  and mixing it with breathing air on demand. The LungFit can produce NO at a range of concentrations, from low levels below 80ppm to higher levels between 80ppm and 400ppm. The companys LungFitPH, the low concentration unit, is designed for use in hospital neonatal ICU settings, while the LungFitPRO and LungFitGO, the higher concentration units, are designed for hospital and home use respectively.

On the clinical side, Beyond Air has both the LungFitPRO and the LungFitGO undergoing trials, and is in discussions with the FDA on study initiation and pivotal trial design. The company plans to initiate further clinical studies of the LungFitPRO by the end of this year.

These discussions with the FDA follow the approval of the LungFitPH system for use. The approval covers persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), and commercialization activities began in Q4 of fiscal year 2023, which ended on March 31. Phase 1 of the commercialization included contracting with multiple hospitals in the US; Phase 2 of commercialization involves expansion of the commercial team to power an expanded release of the product.

In addition to these developments, Beyond Air has plans to submit a PMA supplement to the FDA, for a label expansion of the LungFitPH to patients undergoing cardiac surgery. The PMA is expected to be submmitted before the end of calendar year 2023.

This is another medical technology with game-changing potential, and Piper Sandler analyst Jason Bednar is impressed. He writes of the company and its product line, BeyondAirs LungFit PH solution should be no-brainer technology conversion for hospitals in our view. We say that as the therapeutic delivery and patient outcomes are consistent with technologies already established on the market while LungFit PH has the benefit of being a cylinder-free system. Eliminating the use of antiquated systems relying on bulky high-pressure cylinders for the treatment of PPHN should provide economic, logistical, and convenience benefits to hospitals.

The near-term investor focus will be on the success and ramp of LungFit PH in the U.S., but the long-term potential for XAIR is inclusive of an international rollout of LungFit PH, as well as having Nitrous Oxide delivery be a platform-type technology administered across multiple applications. CE Mark and an international partnership for LungFit PH could be solidified in the next year, while there are multiple regulatory and clinical data milestones over the next few years that could help XAIR establish footholds in new indications (Viral Pneumonia, NTM, COPD, Autism) and serve as positive stock catalysts that arent being readily accounted for by the market, the analyst added.

Looking ahead, Bednar gives XAIR shares an Overweight (i.e. Buy) rating, and he sets his price target at $10, showing his confidence that the stock will rise ~209% by this time next year. (To watch Bednars track record, click here)

Overall, the Strong Buy consensus rating on XAIR is unanimous, based on 4 positive analyst reviews set in recent weeks. The shares have a $12.75 average price target, even more bullish than Bednars, suggesting a 293% upside from the share price of $3.24. (See XAIR stock forecast)

To find good ideas for penny stocks stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Penny Stocks Screener.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.
In this article, well discuss the 25 countries with the most smartphone users in the world. If you want to skip our detailed analysis of the smartphone market and its recent trends, then go directly to the 7 Countries with the Most Smartphone Users in the World.

In an age where the palm of our hand holds a portal to the world, the impact of smartphones on global society has been nothing short of revolutionary. Despite being lighter than a roll of quarters and occupying less space than a paperback book, the smartphone's role in shaping human interaction in the 21st century has been as dramatic as it is far-reaching. Various countries worldwide have amassed the highest number of smartphone users, utilizing these devices for tasks ranging from managing finances and providing personal assistants to serving as medical instruments.

The Role of Smartphones in Revolutionizing Industries

Modern smartphones, far more than just communication tools, are catalysts driving transformative changes across various industries. From serving as medical diagnostic tools to enhancing accessibility and education, their impact is reshaping the world.

In medicine, smartphones have enabled groundbreaking innovations. Speech analysis on mobile devices is revolutionizing Alzheimer's diagnosis through remote AI-based screening. Beyond healthcare, smartphones are enhancing accessibility. GPS-enabled devices with haptic technology offer tactile navigation for the blind.

Industries like agriculture, forestry, and health monitoring have also been revolutionized. Smartphones facilitate data collection, analysis, and communication, leading to smarter decision-making and more efficient processes.

Moreover, camera and sensor technologies embedded within smartphones are detecting heart health indicators, increasing individual healthcare empowerment. For example, ultrasound scanners linked to smartphones for real-time heart monitoring and blood pressure tracking via camera waves exemplify the ever-expanding potential.

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The Global Smartphone Landscape

The smartphone industry has seen remarkable growth and innovation, characterized by wide market coverage and continuous technological progress. Year after year, there has been a steady increase in the number of countries with the most smartphone users. According to recent data, 7.33 billion people own either a cell phone or a smartphone, connecting a vast 91.40% of the global population through mobile networks.

In the domain of operating systems, Android has a significant force. As of 2023, android captures an impressive 70.93% share of the global smartphone market. On the other hand, iOS holds a considerable 28.37% of the market. Notably, Samsung is at the core of this major shift. During the third quarter of 2022, Samsung achieved a remarkable milestone by selling an impressive 64 million units globally. The trend continues, with forecasts suggesting a remarkable rise to about 270 million units sold in 2023.

Smartphones Lead the Way in Using the Internet

Based on findings from the World Advertising Research Center (WARC) and data provided by mobile trade body GSMA, an upcoming trend in internet behavior is evident. By 2025, an impressive 72.6% of internet users, amounting to almost 3.7 billion individuals, are projected to exclusively use smartphones to access the web. The surge in smartphone usage will be predominantly fueled by countries like China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Pakistan, shaping the future of online connectivity.

You must be curious about the country with the highest smartphone usage. We've got the answers and more coming up. Keep reading!

25 Countries with the Most Smartphone Users in the World

oatawa/Shutterstock.com

Our Methodology

For our list of 25 countries with the most smartphone users in the world, we considered NEWZOO Smartphone Figures. The ranking criteria is solely based on the total number of smartphone users in each country. The countries were then ranked in ascending order based on their smartphone user base.

Also, check out 16 Biggest Smartphone Companies in the World in 2023.

25 Countries With the Most Smartphone Users In The World

Following is the list of 25 countries with the most smartphone users in the world.

25. Myanmar

Total number of smartphone users: 12 million

Myanmar is a Southeast Asian nation and has seen substantial smartphone usage growth despite being less developed. With a high penetration rate, there were 73.48 million cellular mobile connections as of 2022. Despite its low development, affordable, fast, and reliable smartphones have been widely adopted across the country.

24. Venezuela

Total number of smartphone users: 13 million

In South America, Venezuela has a 38% smartphone penetration rate, with 13 million users. Popular brands like Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi, Apple Inc. (NASDQ:AAPL), and Motorola are widely used in the country.

23. South Africa

Total number of Smartphone users: 20 million

South Africa has a high smartphone penetration rate, counting 20 million users across the country. Samsung, Apple Inc. (NASDQ:AAPL), Huawei, Xiaomi, and Nokia are among the favored brands. Samsung dominates the market with a 48.26% share, making it the most popular brand in the country.

22. Nigeria

Total number of smartphone users: 26 million

In West Africa, Nigeria is home to an estimated 26 million smartphone users, with Tecno, Infinix, Apple Inc. (NASDQ:AAPL), and Samsung being popular brands. Tecno, a dominant Chinese brand, holds a 23.12% market share in Nigeria as of May 2023.

21. Bangladesh

Total number of smartphone users: 27 million

Bangladesh's smartphone usage has surged, with an estimated 62% of the population expected to own smartphones by 2025. There are around 27 million smartphone users. Samsung stands as a favored brand in Bangladesh, offering diverse models catering to various price points and features.

20. Egypt

Total number of smartphone users: 28 million

Egypt boasts a 45.9% smartphone penetration rate, with around 28 million users. Samsung holds the top spot as the leading mobile vendor with a 26% market share. Oppo and Apple are also prominent, while Xiaomi and Huawei are popular brands, offering competitive feature-rich smartphone models in the country.

19. Pakistan

Total number of smartphone users: 28 million

Pakistan is one of the countries with the most smartphone users in the world. Smartphone market is expanding, encompassing around 28 million users. Android prevails as the top operating system. This trend persists, with Samsung, Xiaomi, and Realme's Android-based smartphones gaining popularity. These brands cater to diverse Pakistani consumer needs and budgets with an array of devices at varying price points.

18. Iran

Total number of smartphone users: 29 million

With a smartphone penetration rate of approximately 40%, Iran had around 29 million smartphone users in 2021. Samsung takes the lead in the Middle Eastern market, holding 39% of all smartphones, followed by Huawei and Apple at 18% each, and Xiaomi at 6%.

17. Thailand

Total number of smartphone users: 30 million

Thailand enjoys a high smartphone penetration rate, with around 30 million smartphone users. The country's favorite smartphone brands include Samsung, Oppo, and Apple.

16. Turkey

Total number of smartphone users: 31 million

In Turkey, 49.1% of smartphone users are aged 18-24. By early 2023, there were 81.68 million mobile connections, covering 95.4% of the population. Samsung leads the Turkey market with a 36.5% share as of 2022. As for smartphones, there are approximately 31 million smartphone users across the country.

15. Italy

Total number of smartphone users: 34 million

Italy is one of the top countries with the most smartphone users. It has an estimated 34 million smartphone users. Samsung and Apple dominate as the most popular smartphone brands in the country, with Samsung leading as the top vendor, closely followed by Apple with a significant market share.

14. South Korea

Total number of smartphone users: 35 million

South Korea has around 35 million smartphone users. Samsung dominates as the leading smartphone vendor in South Korea, commanding a market share of over 70%. Additionally, popular smartphone brands in the country include Apple, LG, and Xiaomi.

13. Vietnam

Total number of smartphone users: 36 million

Vietnam boasts a substantial smartphone user base, estimated at around 36 million individuals. The foremost smartphone brand in Vietnam is Samsung, accompanied by other well-received brands such as Apple, Xiaomi, OPPO, and Vivo. These manufacturers present a diverse array of devices tailored to various price ranges and consumer inclinations.

12. Philippines

Total number of smartphone users: 48 million

The Philippines enjoys a high smartphone penetration rate, with an estimated 48 million users. Samsung leads the smartphone market with over 40% market share as of 2020. Additionally, other popular smartphone brands in the country are Oppo, Vivo, and Huawei.

11. France

Total number of smartphone users: 50 million

France boasts a high smartphone usage rate, counting approximately 50 million users. This surge has contributed to increased e-commerce transactions. In 2020, mobile e-commerce sales in the country amounted to 28.4 billion, representing 41% of total e-commerce sales.

10. United Kingdom

Total number of smartphone users: 55 million

Smartphone usage in the United Kingdom boasts an estimated 55 million users. These devices significantly influence online traffic, constituting 47.3% of it, underscoring their crucial role in online activities. Samsung stands as a prominent player in the UK's smartphone market, capturing approximately 30% of the market share as of 2021.

9. Mexico

Total number of smartphone users: 60 million

The count of smartphone users in Mexico has been steadily on the rise, reaching an estimated 60 million. Among mobile operating systems, Android dominates the market, holding a substantial share of around 77% as of April 2023. Following closely is iOS, the operating system utilized by Apple devices, securing a market share of approximately 22.6%.

8. Germany

Total number of smartphone users: 65 million

In Germany, the number of smartphone users stands at approximately 65 million. The top two smartphone brands in the country are Samsung and Apple. As of January 2023, Samsung's market share was 34%, while Apple held a higher market share of 40.4%.

Click to continue reading and see the 7 Countries with the Most Smartphone Users in the World.

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Disclosure: None. The 25 Countries with the Most Smartphone Users in the World. is originally published on Insider Monkey.
Bet_Noire / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Buying a condo or house, fixing it up to make it tenant-ready and renting it to a family or roommates is traditionally how we think of earning income through real estate. If you have a solid property and good, rent-paying tenants, all you have to do is sit back and collect the monthly checks.

Im a Real Estate Agent: These Will Be the Best States To Buy Property in the Next 5 Years

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But owning an investment property isnt all that easy. Repairs happen. Sometimes tenants might not prove as responsible as youd like. And what if it sits vacant for a few months or longer?

Not everyone has the time  or stomach  to be a landlord, but that doesnt mean you cant gain a passive income stream through real estate. Plenty of other ways exist to bring in money through properties that dont include responding to calls of an overflowing toilet or a broken furnace in the middle of the night.

GOBankingRates asked the experts for their ideas on how to make money in real estate in a more passive way  and they had plenty of thoughts.

Syndication

One common way to passively invest in real estate investment is a syndication, said Michael Margarella of Next Play Investments. In a syndication, a passive investor contributes capital toward the purchase, renovation and/or development of a large property  such as an apartment complex or self-storage facility  that is managed by a real estate professional. The passive investor is not involved in the day-to-day operations of the property and does not share any of the responsibilities of real estate management, but still receives equity in the property and a share of the profits generated by the property. This results in passive income and tax benefits.

Grant Cardone Says Passive Income Is the Key To Building Wealth: Heres His No. 1 Way To Get It

Private Lending

This strategy can be used to lend money to a real estate investor in order for them to be able to fund some of their property purchases or renovations in exchange for a passive return, said Sebastian Jania, the owner of Ontario Property Buyers. This return can be given on a monthly basis, through an equity split in the project, or in the form of a balloon payment at the end of a term. The benefit here is that the lender takes the role of a passive partner instead of a working partner so they are hands off and can verify the working partners abilities through their track record of deals.

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Buying a Mortgage Note

When you buy a mortgage note that is outstanding, you become the mortgage holder and recipient of the monthly principal and interest payments.

You are essentially acting as the bank, said Nick Disney, who runs Sell My San Antonio House. This gives you true passive income without having to deal with managing properties, late-night phone calls and repairs. You also get to retain the property as collateral for the length of the loan.

Lease Multiplier

If you buy a four-bedroom house as an investment, for example, you could make more passive income by dividing it into four separate rental rooms instead of marketing it as one property, said Ryan Barone, co-founder and CEO of RentRedi.

This can potentially increase the total rent collected from the property and make it more resistant to vacancy, Barone said. Losing one tenant doesnt mean the whole property is unoccupied.

Co-Living Spaces for Digital Nomads

Take the lease multiplier strategy a step further and fully furnish your space. Your tenants wont need to haul their beds and dressers in and out. Instead, they can just move in and have everything they need. This is especially appealing to people who can work anywhere and enjoy traveling from area to area to experience new places.

In recent years, the rise of digital nomads has created a demand for flexible, communal living arrangements, said Devraj Marigangappa, the head of marketing at real-estate developer Agrocorp. Investing in co-living spaces specifically designed for remote workers and freelancers can be lucrative. These spaces typically offer fully furnished rooms, shared amenities and high-speed internet, catering to the needs of the modern workforce. The trend of remote work will likely continue growing, ensuring a steady stream of potential tenants seeking comfortable and well-equipped living spaces.

Rent Out Your Extra Space

Many people rent spare bedrooms in their homes, but what if your extra space isnt a bedroom. Barone said it still can provide passive income.

Rent spaces like a garage as a storage area, workshop, or office space, he said. This taps into a market of people needing space without the need for living accommodations.

If you have a large lot with space for parking, many RV or boat owners would happily rent some of it.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 6 Easiest Ways To Earn Passive Income Through Real Estate, According to Experts
ADC Therapeutics SA

2Q 2023 ZYNLONTA1 net sales increased 11% year-over-year; Implemented new go-to-market strategy during the quarter to support growth



Operating expenses decreased 20%2 year-over-year due to portfolio prioritization and organizational efficiencies

Pipeline advancing with initial data readouts from the clinical trials of LOTIS-7, ADCT-601 targeting AXL and ADCT-901 targeting KAAG1 expected in 2024

Company to host conference call today at 8:30 a.m. EDT

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ADC Therapeutics SA (NYSE: ADCT) today reported financial results for the second quarter 2023 and provided business updates.

We continue to focus on unlocking potential value from multiple ongoing initiatives over the next 12 months, said Ameet Mallik, Chief Executive Officer of ADC Therapeutics. During the second quarter, we executed on our corporate and capital allocation strategy that streamlined our processes and prioritized our nearer-term clinical catalysts. We implemented the new commercial go-to-market model, enhanced investment in key pipeline programs, delivered organizational efficiencies and strengthened our capital resources. Our ongoing clinical trials of ZYNLONTA in earlier lines and combinations, as well as our earlier-stage pipeline programs, are expected to deliver key milestones in 2024. We look forward to keeping you updated on our progress.

Recent Highlights and Developments

ZYNLONTA (loncastuximab tesirine-lpyl)

ZYNLONTA generated net sales of $19.2 million in the second quarter of 2023, representing an 11% increase over the second quarter of 2022. The growth was partially offset by higher gross-to-net sales deductions due to the new Medicare Part B discarded drug policy effective January 1, 2023 and Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) contracting. Compared to the prior quarter, net sales increased 1.3% and volume increased 3.4%.

The Companys partner Sobi completed the first European commercial sale of ZYNLONTA with the launch in Germany in the second quarter of 2023. The first commercial sale in the European Union triggered a $75 million milestone payment to the Company from HealthCare Royalty Partners under the royalty purchase agreement.

The Biologics License Application (BLA) for ZYNLONTA submitted by Overland ADCT BioPharma was accepted for filing by the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) seeking an indication for relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) after two or more lines of systemic therapy. The BLA has been granted priority review by the NMPA.

During the second quarter, the Companys partner Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (MTPC) initiated the Phase 1/2 bridging study for ZYNLONTA in Japan.

The Company announced its plan to discontinue the Phase 2 LOTIS-9 trial studying ZYNLONTA in combination with rituximab in unfit or frail patients with previously untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) placed a partial clinical hold on the trial for new patient enrollment but will allow patients already on therapy who are deriving clinical benefit to remain on therapy after being reconsented. Following completion of treatment of any reconsenting patients, the Company will conduct the necessary steps to terminate the trial.

The LOTIS-5 Independent Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC) reviewed unblinded data at a regularly scheduled meeting in late July and noted that the study should proceed as planned. They also recognized that the LOTIS-9 and LOTIS-5 trials target very different patient populations.

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Pipeline

ADCT-601 (targeting AXL) : Dose escalation is progressing in the Phase 1b trial, and the maximum tolerated dose has not yet been reached. The trial has been amended to focus on patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and patients with sarcoma. The immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay is under final validation.

ADCT-901 (targeting KAAG1) : The Phase 1 study protocol amendment to explore different dosing schedules has been finalized and submitted to the FDA and will be submitted shortly to the regulatory authorities in Europe. Once approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB), the Company plans to advance to the next dosing level. The IHC assay is under final validation.

ADCT-602 (targeting CD22): Dose expansion in the Phase 1 trial in collaboration with MD Anderson Cancer Center is progressing and additional clinical trial sites have been selected.



Guidance

The Company maintains the following guidance based on its current business plan:

ZYNLONTA FY 2023 net product sales expected to grow by a double-digit percentage year-over-year. This includes a gross-to-net increase as compared to 2022 of: Approximately 2 to 3 percentage points related to Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) contracting Mid to high single-digit percentage points resulting from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Acts requirement for manufacturers of certain single-source drugs separately paid for under Medicare Part B and marketed in single-dose containers to provide annual refunds for discarded drug, effective January 1, 2023

Continued decrease in total operating expenses expected in 2023 and 2024 as compared to 2022 as a result of the implementation of the new corporate strategy

Expected cash runway to the middle of 2025



Upcoming Expected Milestones

ZYNLONTA

Grow ZYNLONTA net sales by a double-digit percentage year-over-year and achieve commercial brand profitability in 2023

Updated data from safety lead-in portion of Phase 3 LOTIS-5 study in 2H 2023

Complete enrollment of the LOTIS-5 study in 2024

Initial safety and efficacy data from the LOTIS-7 study in 2024

Pipeline

ADCT-901 (targeting KAAG1)

Initial data from Phase 1 study in 1H 2024



ADCT-601 (targeting AXL)

Initial data from Phase 1 study in 1H 2024



ADCT-602 (targeting CD22)

Additional data from Phase 1 study in 1H 2024



Second Quarter 2023 Financial Results

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents were $347.5 million as of June 30, 2023, compared to $326.4 million as of December 31, 2022. In June 2023, the Company received a $75.0 million milestone payment from Healthcare Royalty Partners, triggered by the first EU commercial sale. The Company expects its cash runway to extend into the middle of 2025.

Product Revenues

Net product revenues were $19.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, compared to $17.3 million for the same quarter in 2022. Net product revenues are for U.S. sales of ZYNLONTA. The increase of $1.9 million for the quarter was primarily due to higher sales volume, partially offset by higher gross-to-net deductions.

Research and Development (R&D) Expenses

R&D expenses were $31.9 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, compared to $48.5 million for the same quarter in 2022. R&D expenses decreased due to less investment in Cami (camidanlumab tesirine) due to the completion of the Phase 2 study in 2022 and the Companys decision to seek a partner to progress the program, as well as less investment in other development programs. R&D expenses in the second quarter of 2023 also decreased due to lower share-based compensation expense as a result of fluctuations in the share price, voluntary terminations and the reduction in workforce implemented in May 2023 creating organizational efficiencies. These efficiencies allowed the Company to enhance investments in prioritized portfolio programs.



Selling and Marketing (S&M) Expenses

S&M expenses were $14.5 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, compared to $17.7 million for the same quarter in 2022. The decrease in S&M expenses for the quarter was primarily due to lower share-based compensation expense resulting from fluctuations in the share price and award forfeitures in connection with voluntary terminations and the commercial realignment implemented in the second quarter.

General & Administrative Expenses

G&A expenses were $11.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, compared to $18.2 million for the same quarter in 2022. G&A expenses decreased during the second quarter of 2023 primarily due to lower share-based compensation expense due to fluctuations in the share price, transition of a board member, voluntary terminations and the workforce reduction implemented in May 2023.

Net Loss and Adjusted Net Loss

Net loss was $47.1 million, or a net loss of $0.58 per basic and diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2023. This compares to a net loss of $64.4 million, or a net loss of $0.84 per basic and diluted share, for the same quarter in 2022.

Adjusted net loss was $30.3 million, or an adjusted net loss of $0.37 per basic and diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2023. This compares to an adjusted net loss of $56.3 million, or an adjusted net loss of $0.73 per basic and diluted share, for the same quarter in 2022.

The decrease in net loss and adjusted net loss for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, as compared to the same quarter in 2022, was attributable to lower R&D expenses and higher product revenues during the second quarter of 2023. The decrease in net loss was also attributable to lower share-based compensation expense, partially offset by other financial expense arising from a cumulative catch-up adjustment associated with the valuation of the deferred royalty obligation with Healthcare Royalty Partners recognized in the second quarter of 2023 and from changes in the fair value of our convertible loan derivatives, which was recognized in the second quarter of 2022.

Conference Call Details

ADC Therapeutics management will host a conference call and live audio webcast to discuss second quarter 2023 financial results and provide a company update today at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. To access the conference call, please register here. Registrants will receive the dial-in number and unique PIN. It is recommended that you join 10 minutes before the event, though you may pre-register at any time. A live webcast of the call will be available under Events & Presentations in the Investors section of the ADC Therapeutics website at ir.adctherapeutics.com. The archived webcast will be available for 30 days following the call.

About ZYNLONTA (loncastuximab tesirine-lpyl)

ZYNLONTA is a CD19-directed antibody drug conjugate (ADC). Once bound to a CD19-expressing cell, ZYNLONTA is internalized by the cell, where enzymes release a pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) payload. The potent payload binds to DNA minor groove with little distortion, remaining less visible to DNA repair mechanisms. This ultimately results in cell cycle arrest and tumor cell death.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) have approved ZYNLONTA (loncastuximab tesirine-lpyl) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory (r/r) large B-cell lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not otherwise specified (NOS), DLBCL arising from low-grade lymphoma and also high-grade B-cell lymphoma. The trial included a broad spectrum of heavily pre-treated patients (median three prior lines of therapy) with difficult-to-treat disease, including patients who did not respond to first-line therapy, patients refractory to all prior lines of therapy, patients with double/triple hit genetics and patients who had stem cell transplant and CAR-T therapy prior to their treatment with ZYNLONTA. This indication is approved by the FDA under accelerated approval and in the European Union under conditional approval based on overall response rate and continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial.

ZYNLONTA is also being evaluated as a therapeutic option in combination studies in other B-cell malignancies and earlier lines of therapy.

About ADC Therapeutics

ADC Therapeutics (NYSE: ADCT) is a commercial-stage biotechnology company improving the lives of those affected by cancer with its next-generation, targeted antibody drug conjugates (ADCs). The Company is advancing its proprietary PBD-based ADC technology to transform the treatment paradigm for patients with hematologic malignancies and solid tumors.

ADC Therapeutics CD19-directed ADC ZYNLONTA (loncastuximab tesirine-lpyl) is approved by the FDA for the treatment of relapsed or refractory diffuse large b-cell lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy. ZYNLONTA is also in development in combination with other agents. In addition to ZYNLONTA, ADC Therapeutics has multiple ADCs in ongoing clinical and preclinical development.

ADC Therapeutics is based in Lausanne (Biopole), Switzerland and has operations in London, the San Francisco Bay Area and New Jersey. For more information, please visit https://adctherapeutics.com/ and follow the Company on Twitter and LinkedIn.

ZYNLONTA is a registered trademark of ADC Therapeutics SA.

Use of Non-IFRS Financial Measures

In addition to financial information prepared in accordance with IFRS, this document also contains certain non-IFRS financial measures based on managements view of performance including:

Adjusted net loss

Adjusted net loss per share

Management uses such measures internally when monitoring and evaluating our operational performance, generating future operating plans and making strategic decisions regarding the allocation of capital. We believe that these adjusted financial measures provide useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our operating results in the same manner as our management and facilitate operating performance comparability across both past and future reporting periods. These non-IFRS measures have limitations as financial measures and should be considered in addition to, and not in isolation or as a substitute for, the information prepared in accordance with IFRS. When preparing these supplemental non-IFRS measures, management typically excludes certain IFRS items that management does not believe are indicative of our ongoing operating performance. Furthermore, management does not consider these IFRS items to be normal, recurring cash operating expenses; however, these items may not meet the IFRS definition of unusual or non-recurring items. Since non-IFRS financial measures do not have standardized definitions and meanings, they may differ from the non-IFRS financial measures used by other companies, which reduces their usefulness as comparative financial measures. Because of these limitations, you should consider these adjusted financial measures alongside other IFRS financial measures.

The following items are excluded from adjusted net loss and adjusted net loss per share:

Shared-Based Compensation Expense: We exclude share-based compensation expense from our adjusted financial measures because share-based compensation expense, which is non-cash, fluctuates from period to period based on factors that are not within our control, such as our stock price on the dates share-based grants are issued. Share-based compensation expense has been, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future, a recurring expense in our business and an important part of our compensation strategy.

Certain Other Items: We exclude certain other significant items that we believe do not represent the performance of our business, from our adjusted financial measures. Such items are evaluated by management on an individual basis based on both quantitative and qualitative aspects of their nature. While not all-inclusive, examples of certain other significant items excluded from our adjusted financial measures would be: changes in the fair value of derivatives and warrant obligations and the effective interest expense associated with the Facility Agreement with Deerfield and the senior secured term loan facility and the effective interest expense and a cumulative catch-up adjustment associated with the deferred royalty obligation under the royalty purchase agreement with HealthCare Royalty Partners.

See the attached Reconciliation of IFRS Measures to Non-IFRS Measures for explanations of the amounts excluded and included to arrive at the non-IFRS financial measures.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as may, will, should, would, expect, intend, plan, anticipate, believe, estimate, predict, potential, seem, seek, future, continue, or appear or the negative of these terms or similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that can cause actual results to differ materially from those described. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: the success of the Companys updated corporate strategy including operating efficiencies, capital deployment and portfolio prioritization; the Companys ability to achieve the 2023 net product sales guidance for ZYNLONTA and the decrease in total operating expenses for 2023 and 2024, the expected cash runway into the middle of 2025, the effectiveness of the new commercial go-to-market strategy, competition from new technologies, the Companys ability to continue to commercialize ZYNLONTA in the United States and future revenue from the same; Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (Sobi) ability to successfully commercialize ZYNLONTA in the European Economic Area and market acceptance, adequate reimbursement coverage, and future revenue from the same; approval by the NMPA of the BLA for ZYNLONTA in China submitted by Overland ADCT BioPharma and future revenue from the same, our strategic partners, including Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, ability to obtain regulatory approval for ZYNLONTA in foreign jurisdictions, and the timing and amount of future revenue and payments to us from such partnerships; the Companys ability to market its products in compliance with applicable laws and regulations; the Companys expectations regarding the impact of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act; the timing and results of the Companys or its partners research projects or clinical trials including LOTIS 5 and 7, ADCT 901, 601 and 602, the impact, if any, from discontinuation of the LOTIS-9 study, actions by the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities with respect to the Companys products or product candidates, the timing and outcome of regulatory submissions for the Companys products or product candidates; the ability to complete clinical trials on expected timelines, if at all; projected revenue and expenses; the Companys indebtedness, including Healthcare Royalty Management and Blue Owl and Oaktree facilities, and the restrictions imposed on the Companys activities by such indebtedness, the ability to repay such indebtedness and the significant cash required to service such indebtedness; and the Companys ability to obtain financial and other resources for its research, development, clinical, and commercial activities. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements is contained in the Risk Factors section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F and in the Company's other periodic reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, achievements or prospects to be materially different from any future results, performance, achievements or prospects expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company cautions investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this document. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release, except as required by law.

ADC Therapeutics SA

Condensed Consolidated Interim Statement of Operations (Unaudited)

(in KUSD except for per share data)

For the Three Months Ended

June 30, For the Six Months Ended

June 30, 2023 2022 2023 2022 Product revenues, net 19,197 17,291 38,150 33,789 License revenues and royalties 86  125 30,000 Total revenue 19,283 17,291 38,275 63,789 Operating expense Cost of product sales (1,319) (2,266) (1,909) (2,795) Research and development expenses (31,944) (48,537) (71,424) (97,489) Selling and marketing expenses (14,456) (17,659) (29,807) (36,029) General and administrative expenses (11,353) (18,240) (26,496) (37,251) Total operating expense (59,072) (86,702) (129,636) (173,564) Loss from operations (39,789) (69,411) (91,361) (109,775) Other income (expense) Financial income 2,372 16 4,547 18,324 Financial expense (15,857) (8,801) (26,145) (18,018) Non-operating (expense) income (453) 12,875 (456) 26,317 Total other (expense) income (13,938) 4,090 (22,054) 26,623 Loss before taxes (53,727) (65,321) (113,415) (83,152) Income tax benefit 6,610 947 6,872 2,117 Net loss (47,117) (64,374) (106,543) (81,035) Net loss attributable to: Owners of the parent (47,117) (64,374) (106,543) (81,035) Net loss per share, basic and diluted (0.58) (0.84) (1.31) (1.05)

ADC Therapeutics SA

Condensed Consolidated Interim Balance Sheet (Unaudited)

(in KUSD)

June 30,

2023 December 31,

2022 ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents 347,510 326,441 Accounts receivable, net 23,866 72,971 Inventory 19,428 18,564 Other current assets 22,004 28,039 Total current assets 412,808 446,015 Non-current assets Property, plant and equipment 5,400 3,261 Right-of-use assets 10,971 6,720 Intangible assets 13,536 14,360 Interest in joint venture 28,322 31,152 Deferred tax asset 34,822 26,757 Other long-term assets 1,443 903 Total non-current assets 94,494 83,153 Total assets 507,302 529,168 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities Accounts payable 11,691 12,351 Other current liabilities 53,397 73,035 Lease liabilities, short-term 1,632 1,097 Senior secured term loans, short-term 13,861 12,474 Total current liabilities 80,581 98,957 Non-current liabilities Senior secured term loans, long-term 97,356 97,240 Warrant obligations 535 1,788 Deferred royalty obligation, long-term 299,279 212,353 Deferred gain of joint venture 23,539 23,539 Lease liabilities, long-term 10,762 6,564 Other long-term liabilities 3,839  Total non-current liabilities 435,310 341,484 Total liabilities 515,891 440,441 Equity attributable to owners of the parent Share capital 7,312 7,312 Share premium 1,007,755 1,007,452 Treasury shares (557) (679) Other reserves 164,175 155,683 Cumulative translation adjustments (46) (356) Accumulated losses (1,187,228) (1,080,685) Total equity attributable to owners of the parent (8,589) 88,727 Total liabilities and equity 507,302 529,168

ADC Therapeutics SA

Reconciliation of IFRS Measures to Non-IFRS Measures (Unaudited)

(in KUSD except for share and per share data)

Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, in KUSD 2023 2022 Change % Change 2023 2022 Change % Change Total operating expense (59,072) (86,702) 27,630 (32) % (129,636) (173,564) 43,928 (25) % Adjustments: Share-based compensation expense (i) 1,118 13,818 (12,700) (92) % 9,192 27,728 (18,536) (67) % Adjusted total operating expenses (57,954) (72,884) 14,930 (20) % (120,444) (145,836) 25,392 (17) %





Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, in KUSD (except for share and per share data) 2023 2022 2023 2022 Net loss (47,117) (64,374) (106,543) (81,035) Adjustments: Share-based compensation expense (i) 1,118 13,818 9,192 27,728 Convertible loans, derivatives, change in fair value income (ii)  (14,455)  (30,310) Senior secured term loans, warrants, change in fair value expense (income) (ii) 39  (617)  Effective interest expense on convertible loans (iii)  3,126  6,148 Deerfield warrants obligation, change in fair value income (ii) (20)  (636)  Effective interest expense on senior secured term loan facility (iii) 4,480  9,020  Deferred royalty obligation interest expense (iv) 5,829 5,545 11,575 11,687 Deferred royalty obligation cumulative catch-up adjustment expense (income) (iv) 5,417  5,288 (18,288) Adjusted net loss (30,254) (56,340) (72,721) (84,070) Net loss per share, basic and diluted (0.58) (0.84) (1.31) (1.05) Adjustment to net loss per share, basic and diluted 0.21 0.11 0.41 (0.04) Adjusted net loss per share, basic and diluted (0.37) (0.73) (0.90) (1.09) Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted 81,471,127 76,911,713 81,140,287 76,866,968





(i) Share-based compensation expense represents the cost of equity awards issued to our directors, management and employees. The fair value of awards is computed at the time the award is granted, including any market and other performance conditions, and is recognized over the vesting period of the award by a charge to the income statement and a corresponding increase in other reserves within equity. These accounting entries have no cash impact. (ii) Change in the fair value of the convertible loan derivatives, senior secured term loan facility warrants and the Deerfield warrant obligation results from the valuation at the end of each accounting period. There are several inputs to these valuations, but those most likely to result in significant changes to the valuations are changes in the value of the underlying instrument (i.e., changes in the price of our common shares) and changes in expected volatility in that price. These accounting entries have no cash impact. (iii) Effective interest expense on convertible loans and senior secured term loans relates to the increase in the value of our loans in accordance with the amortized cost method. (iv) Deferred royalty obligation interest expense relates to the accretion expense on our deferred royalty obligation pursuant to the royalty purchase agreement with HCR and cumulative catch-up adjustment expense (income) relates to changes in the expected payments to HCR based on a periodic assessment of our underlying revenue projections.

CONTACTS:



Investors

Eugenia Litz

ADC Therapeutics

Eugenia.Litz@adctherapeutics.com

+44 7879 627205

+1 908-723-2350

Media

Nicole Riley

ADC Therapeutics

Nicole.Riley@adctherapeutics.com

+1 862-926-9040

________________

(1) loncastuximab tesirine-lpyl; (2) on a non-IFRS basis or 32% on an IFRS basis including stock-based compensation expense. See reconciliation of IFRS measures to non-IFRS measures in accompanying financial tables.




Adeia (ADEA) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.26 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.22 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.52 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of 18.18%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this provider of chip technology for small electronic devices would post earnings of $0.34 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.48, delivering a surprise of 41.18%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times.

Adeia , which belongs to the Zacks Technology Services industry, posted revenues of $83.22 million for the quarter ended June 2023, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.13%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $234.02 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates three times over the last four quarters.

The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.

Adeia shares have added about 21.7% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 16.6%.

What's Next for Adeia?

While Adeia has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?

There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.

Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.

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Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Adeia: mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.31 on $98.49 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $1.37 on $407.17 million in revenues for the current fiscal year.

Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Technology Services is currently in the top 44% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

Boxlight Corporation (BOXL), another stock in the same industry, has yet to report results for the quarter ended June 2023. The results are expected to be released on August 9.

This company is expected to post quarterly loss of $0.16 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +33.3%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

Boxlight Corporation's revenues are expected to be $50.04 million, down 16.1% from the year-ago quarter.

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Zacks Investment Research
PHOENIX, Mauritius, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2021, FDI flows to Africa reached a record-breaking $83 billion  more than double the previous year.

As businesses strive to succeed, understanding and managing the "Cost of Compliance" becomes paramount. Africa is full of intricacies surrounding employment and employee remuneration. In this complex landscape, Africa HR Solutions underlines the importance of navigating these crucial steps the right way, as the benefits oftentimes outweigh the cost of compliance. Ensuring adherence to regulations and best practices not only fosters a positive work environment but also enhances long-term growth and sustainability for businesses operating in Africa. (Photo: Africa HR Solutions / iStock)



Despite challenges such as poor infrastructure, limited transparency and complex legal frameworks, multinational companies recognise Africa as fertile ground for business growth.

Although administrative barriers and legislative complexities may result in excessive costs, it is important to appropriately address these factors.

Cost of compliance

African governments demand absolute compliance from organisations, which comes at a significant cost when implementing frameworks across multiple jurisdictions.

While it may be tempting to 'skip a few steps', the cost of non-compliance in African countries far outweighs those of compliance.

In 2017, Ponemon Institute and Globalscape studied 53 multinational organisations to determine compliance costs for privacy and data protection regulations. Compliance averaged $5.47 million, while non-compliance reached $14.82 million  almost triple the value. Non-compliance costs extend beyond financial losses and can also include:

Employee malpractice: Uninformed employees unknowingly committing compliance-related infringements.

Loss of investment: Degradation of stakeholder trust leads to reputational damage.

Loss of productivity: Focused on tackling non-compliance issues instead of business development and strategic growth.

Capitalising on compliance

Investors should embrace compliance as the foundation for business success in Africa. To generate sustainable growth, organisations should design appropriate compliance strategies for their people, often regarded as the most important resource, including the following:

Navigating the complexity of payroll compliance. Establishing compliance processes relating to onboarding employees. Being mindful of well-established customary norms. Keeping up to date with changes in legislation.

How can Africa HR Solutions help?

"Organisations operating in Africa are continuously faced with the challenge of adapting to compliant best practice in-country in relation to payroll taxes and social security contributions," explains Mark du Preez, Head of Legal & Compliance at Africa HR Solutions.

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"Increasingly, we see new legislation across the African continent that requires more from organisations and their employees to remain compliant. At Africa HR Solutions, we have the in-depth knowledge and expertise to guide our clients through this process and ensure unwavering compliance."

Over the past 13 years, AHR has been a trusted service provider and advisor to 400+ organisations operating across 20 different industries in Africa. We provide employer of record and payroll outsourcing services in 46 African countries to listed multinationals, PE & VC-backed start-ups, global NGOs, international non-profits and leading universities.

Media contact: Grant Geraghty, Head of Client Relationships, info@africa-hr.com, +2304653100

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2168915/Africa_HR_Solutions_Ltd.jpg

Cision

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/africa-hr-solutions-highlights-the-importance-of-compliance-across-africa-301894421.html
In an official statement from the Vatican on Tuesday, Pope Francis sounded the alarm on the disruptive possibilities of artificial intelligence. The message came in a prelude to an upcoming homily, Artificial Intelligence and Peace, for World Peace Day on September 21.

The remarkable advances made in the field of artificial intelligence are having a rapidly increasing impact on human activity, personal and social life, politics and the economy, Francis said.

Francis called for open dialogue on AI and what the emerging technology means for humanity, saying AI is endowed with disruptive possibilities and ambivalent effects.

Word of an AI-generated deepfake of Pope Francis wearing a puffy white Balenciaga jacket and a diamond-encrusted necklace may have finally reached the pontiffs ears.

A deepfake is an increasingly common type of video or audio content created with artificial intelligence that depicts false events but is done so in a way that can be very difficult to identify as being faked.

Francis, who once told ABC News he never used a computer and admonished the faithful not to sit behind computers or lock themselves in their offices and argue like keyboard warriors, was the subject of multiple deepfake pictures that went viral earlier this year. One AI-generated image showed the leader of the Catholic Church walking a catwalk in a rainbow-colored see-through cape.

The topic of the modern Pope generated by AI (#midjourney) is getting out of hand for us   Prompts in ALT pic.twitter.com/9hJyQP369E  Javi Lopez  (@javilopen) March 28, 2023

Looking to stop the use of its technology to spread deepfakesincluding the Popes faux blinged-out appearancethe generative AI art platform Midjourney terminated its free trial version in March.

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The Pope urged the need to develop artificial intelligence responsibly. He stressed the need for vigilance to ensure that artificial intelligence does not fuel violence, and discrimination, especially that targets vulnerable and marginalized communities.

So that it may be at the service of humanity and the protection of our common home, requires that ethical reflection be extended to the sphere of education and law, Francis said.

Francis words echo statements by the United Nations Secretary-General, who in June warned against the use of ai-generated images to fuel hate in conflict zones.

The protection of the dignity of the person, and concern for a fraternity effectively open to the entire human family, are indispensable conditions for technological development to help contribute to the promotion of justice and peace in the world, Pope Francis said.
Algernon Pharmaceuticals

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (the Company or AGN Pharma) (CSE: AGN) (FRANKFURT: AGW0) (OTCQB: AGNPF), a Canadian clinical stage pharmaceutical development company, is pleased to announce that its subsidiary Algernon NeuroScience (AGN Neuro), has completed a feasibility study and has finalized its clinical trial design for a 40 patient Phase 2 DMT Stroke study. AGN Neuro is the worlds first company to investigate DMT for the treatment of stroke and its ability to promote neuroplasticity in the healing of brain injuries.



The Phase 2 human stroke trial will study an intravenous sub-psychedelic dose of DMT in patients who are hospitalized after having suffered an acute ischemic stroke.

Algernon consultant Dr. Rick Strassman, DMT research pioneer and author of the books DMT: The Spirit Molecule and The Psychedelic Handbook commented: I am encouraged by the results of Algernons Phase 1 study in which a prolonged infusion of DMT achieved the desired pharmacokinetics. In addition, psychological and physiological responses remain below those associated with psychedelic effects. These data support moving into clinical studies in stroke patients, and I will closely follow the Phase 2 study as it advances.

The decision to investigate DMT for stroke treatment was based on the ground-breaking 2020-published rat occlusion stroke study showing that DMT reduced infarct volume and led to an almost full recovery of motor function 30 days after a single treatment with statistical significance.This was also one of numerous pre-clinical studies that showed DMT increases brain derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), the main neurotrophin involved in healing the brain after an injury. DMT activates pathways involved in forming neuronal connections and has been shown to increase the capacity of neurons to form new neural connections by expanding cell morphology and the growth of dendritic spines; the sites of signal transduction between neurons. DMT has also been shown to protect at risk tissue from death, a process AGN Neuro plans to capitalize on by providing the drug in the acute period before damage has a chance to substantially expand.

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DMTs ability to promote neuroplasticity, already demonstrated preclinically, combined with its neuroprotective effects make it unique amongst potential therapies being investigated for stroke, said Dr. David Nutt, Edmund J. Safra Professor of neuropsychopharmacology at Imperial College London, and Algernon consultant. The potential benefits of DMT in stroke patients not only at the time of their injury, but also in the post-stroke recovery period, makes Algernons upcoming trial very, very exciting.

AGN Neuro is planning to conduct the study at multiple locations in Europe using the Companys existing finished product supply of intravenous DMT. Ethics submission is planned for later in Q3 with the study starting a short time after approval.

Phase 2 Stroke Study Design

Subjects with a confirmed diagnosis of ischemic stroke will be randomized in blinded fashion to receive either DMT or placebo. The primary outcome measure of the study will be safety, and information will be gained on measures of efficacy including preservation of brain tissue, motor recovery, depression and numerous biomarkers linked to the pathophysiology of stroke.

The decision to advance into a Phase 2 study was based on positive data from the Companys Phase 1 trial conducted at the Centre for Human Drug Research (CHDR) in Leiden, Netherlands. This study showed that plasma levels of DMT associated with neuroplasticity in preclinical studies could be achieved with a prolonged, 6-hour infusion of AP-188 at a dose which did not cause a psychedelic experience. The amount given exceeded the human equivalent of the dose used in preclinical studies in rats which demonstrated neuroprotective effects.

Our planned Phase 2 stroke study investigating DMT, the first of its kind in the world, is very exciting and we look forward to getting the trial underway as soon as possible, said Christopher J. Moreau, CEO of Algernon Pharmaceuticals. We are investigating DMT as a potential new therapeutic treatment that could have a positive impact on ischemic stroke patients worldwide.

About DMT

N,N-Dimethyltryptamine, or DMT, is a hallucinogenic tryptamine drug producing effects similar to those of other psychedelics like LSD, ketamine, psilocybin and psilocin. DMT occurs naturally in many plant species and animals including humans and has been used in religious ceremonies as a traditional spiritual medicine by indigenous people in the Amazon basin. DMT can also be synthesised in a laboratory.

DMT is an agonist of multiple receptors, including serotonin receptors and the sigma-1 receptor. Sigma-1 is a multi-faceted stress-responsive receptor which promotes cell survival, neuroprotection, neuroplasticity, and neuroimmunomodulation. Further, DMT promotes the release of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), a protein which can aid in recovery after a brain injury.

DMT has a rapid onset, intense psychedelic effects, and a relatively short duration of action at high doses. At sub-hallucinogenic doses, DMT has been shown to induce and improve structural and functional neuroplasticity in preclinical murine models.

Algernon has filed patents for DMT pamoate and nicotinate (novel salt forms of DMT), in addition to formulation, dosage and method of use claims for ischemic stroke and TBI. The Company has also filed claims for combination therapy of DMT and stroke rehabilitation including Constraint Induced Movement Therapy.

About Algernon NeuroScience

Algernon NeuroScience is a 100% owned private equity subsidiary of Algernon Pharmaceuticals and has been created to advance the Companys DMT stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI) research program. For more information visit www.algernonneuroscience.com.

About Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Algernon Pharmaceuticals is a Canadian clinical stage drug development and repurposing company investigating multiple drugs for unmet global medical needs. Algernon Pharmaceuticals has active research programs for chronic cough and chronic kidney disease and is the parent company of a private subsidiary called Algernon NeuroScience, that is advancing a psychedelic program investigating a proprietary form of psychedelic DMT for stroke and TBI. For more information visit www.algernonpharmaceuticals.com.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Christopher J. Moreau

CEO

Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc.

604.398.4175 ext 701

info@algernonpharmaceuticals.com

investors@algernonpharmaceuticals.com

www.algernonpharmaceuticals.com.

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.

CAUTIONARY DISCLAIMER STATEMENT: No Securities Exchange has reviewed nor accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release. This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to product development, licensing, commercialization and regulatory compliance issues 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 release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Companys expectations include the failure to satisfy the conditions of the relevant securities exchange(s) and other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by applicable law.




Allbirds unveiled better-than-expected results on Tuesday while it continues to focus on transforming its business.

In the second quarter, the San Francisco-based footwear company said decreases in average selling prices, foreign exchange headwinds and a highly promotional environment were to blame for a sales decline during the period. Compared to the prior year, revenues dropped 9.8 percent to $70.5 million in Q2. Allbirds posted a net loss of $28.9 million, or 19 cents per basic and diluted share.

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Allbirds has had trouble replicating the success of other emerging footwear brands, like On and Hoka. Its sustainability messaging, a central component of its brand identity, has failed to garner persisting strong demand among consumers, one analyst posited earlier this year.

Q2 revenues, while down, exceeded Allbirds projections from the prior quarter, when it expected net revenue between $64 million and $69 million in Q2. Adjusted EBITDA, or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, was a loss of $18.3 million, also ahead of Allbirds projections.

The news sent Allbirds shares rising slightly after the bell.

Inventories in the quarter were $92.8 million, a decrease of 24 percent compared with the prior year and the lowest level since Q2 of 2021.

Allbirds co-founder and CEO Joey Zwillinger said in a statement that the companys Q2 results represented solid progress in the brands transformation plan, meant to jumpstart growth and improve capital efficiency and profitability.

The brands restructuring costs in the first half of 2023, including professional fees and severance payments, represented $4.3 million, or 3.4 percent, of net revenue.

Most notably, we gained traction across key benchmarks, including reducing inventory levels, lowering operating cash use and exercising cost control, Zwillinger said. Our teams are laser focused on the four key pillars under our plan.

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Announced in March, Allbirds strategic plan centers on reigniting the product line, transitioning the footwear production to a new partner in Vietnam, moving toward a distributorship model in international markets and halting the brands retail rollout.

After Q2 closed, Allbirds signed non-binding letters of intent with distributor partners in Canada and South Korea. These deals are expected to close in the second half of the year.

Looking ahead, Allbirds expects net revenue of between $56 million and $61 million in Q3, which would represent a year-over-year decrease of between 23 percent and 16 percent. Adjusted EBITDA loss is expected to be between $23 million and $20 million. Allbirds did not immediately provide guidance for the full year.

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A sign indicates the direction to the offices of Progress Software in Burlington

Analysis-MOVEit hack spawned over 600 breaches but is not done yet -cyber analysts A sign indicates the direction to the offices of Progress Software in Burlington

By Raphael Satter and Zeba Siddiqui

WASHINGTON/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) -A hydra-headed breach centered on a single American software maker has compromised data at more than 600 organizations worldwide, according to cyber analyst tallies corroborated by Reuters.

But more than two months after the breach was first disclosed by Massachusetts-based Progress Software, the parade of victims has scarcely slowed. The tallies show that nearly 40 million people have been affected so far by the hack of Progress' MOVEit Transfer file management program. Now the digital extortionists involved, a group named "cl0p", have become increasingly aggressive about thrusting their data into the public domain.

"We are just in the very, very early stage of this," said Marc Bleicher, chief technology officer of the incident response firm Surefire Cyber. "I think we'll start to see the real impact and fallout down the road."

MOVEit is used by organizations to ship large amounts of often sensitive data: pension information, social security numbers, medical records, billing data and the like. Because many of those organizations were handling data on behalf of others, who in turn got the data from third parties, the hack has spiraled outward in sometimes convoluted ways.

For example, when cl0p subverted the MOVEit software used by a company called Pension Benefit Information, which specializes in locating surviving family members of pension fund holders, they gained access to the data of the New York-based Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America, which in turn manages pension programs for 15,000 institutional clients, many of whom have spent the past weeks notifying employees of their exposure.

"Theres this domino effect," said Huntress Security's John Hammond, one of the earliest researchers to start tracking the breach.

Hacks by groups like cl0p occur with a numbing regularity. But the sheer variety of victims of the MOVEit compromise, from New York public school students to Louisiana drivers to California retirees, have made it one of the most visible examples of how a single flaw in an obscure piece of software can trigger a global privacy disaster.

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Christopher Budd, a cybersecurity expert with the British firm Sophos, said the breach was a reminder of how interdependent organizations were on one another's digital defenses.

Progress said it had been the victim of "an advanced and persistent cybercriminal group" and that its focus was on supporting its customers.

'THOUSANDS OF COMPANIES'

Cl0p's hacking campaign began on May 27, according to two people familiar with Progress investigation.

Progress first got wind of the compromise the next day, when a customer alerted the firm to anomalous activity, these sources said. On May 30 the company sent a warning, and the next day issued a "patch", or repair, which partially thwarted the hackers campaign.

"Many organizations were in fact able to deploy the patch before it could be exploited," said Eric Goldstein, a senior official at the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

Not all organizations were so lucky. Details on the amount of stolen material or the number of organizations affected are not publicly available but Nathan Little, whose firm Tetra Defense - part of the security company Arctic Wolf - has responded to dozens of MOVEit related incidents, estimated the breach likely affected thousands of companies.

"We may never know the exact detailed number," he said.

Some analysts have tried to keep track. As of Tuesday, cybersecurity firm Emsisoft had totaled up 602 victims with 39.7 million people affected.

German IT analyst Bert Kondruss has come up with similar figures, which Reuters corroborated by cross-checking them against public statements, corporate filings and cl0ps posts.

WHO HAS BEEN EXPOSED?

Educational organizations - colleges, universities, and even New York City public schools - made up a quarter of the victims, with Emsisoft and Kondruss counting more than 100 in the U.S. alone.

The exposure has gone well beyond academia.

Drive a car? The Louisiana and Oregon motor vehicle authorities collectively disclosed the compromise of around 9 million records. Retired? Pension management organizations such as the California Public Employees' Retirement System and T. Rowe Price were breached via Pension Benefit Information. The breach at U.S. government contractor Maximus alone resulted in the compromise of between 8 to 11 million people's records.

A tenuous silver lining? The hackers may have ingested too much data to release it all.

Alexander Urbelis, senior counsel with New York-based law firm Crowell & Moring, which has helped victims gauge their exposure to the hackers dragnet, said extraordinarily slow download speeds from the hackers' creaky darknet website "made it all but impossible for anyone" - whether well-intentioned or otherwise - "to access the stolen data."

Goldstein, the U.S. official, said in "in many cases" data had yet to be leaked.

Cl0p, which didn't return Reuters' messages, seems to be trying to up its game. Late last month it created websites specifically intended to better spread stolen data. Earlier this week it started sharing the data via peer-to-peer networks.

That's bad news for the victims, said Surefire's Bleicher.

"Once this data starts to be slowly leaked, it shows up more on the underground," he said. The impact of the breach in turn "will probably get much larger than we think it is now."

(Reporting by Raphael Satter and Zeba Siddiqui; Editing by Chris Sanders and Grant McCool)
TOKYO (Reuters) -Apple and Samsung Electronics will invest in SoftBank Group-owned chip designer Arm at its initial public offering (IPO), expected in September, Japan's Nikkei newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Reuters reported in June that Arm was in talks with some ten companies - including Apple, Samsung and Intel - with the aim of bringing on one or more anchor investors in the offering.

Last month, Reuters and other media reported that Arm was in talks to bring in U.S. chip designer Nvidia as an anchor investor for the New York listing.

Apple, Samsung, Nvidia and Intel all plan to invest in Arm as soon as it is listed on the market, the Nikkei said. The SoftBank-owned firm will officially apply to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for the listing later this month, the newspaper said.

Arm plans to sell the chipmakers stakes of "a few percent each", the newspaper said.

SoftBank declined to comment. Apple and Intel did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment, while Samsung and Nvidia declined to comment.

The long-awaited IPO is seen as a potential windfall for Softbank founder and CEO Masayoshi Son's sprawling tech conglomerate.

SoftBank has been targeting a listing for Arm since its deal to sell the chip designer to Nvidia collapsed last year due to objections from antitrust regulators.

The planned U.S. listing could raise between $8 billion and $10 billion, sources told Reuters in April. At an earnings briefing on Tuesday, SoftBank's chief financial officer provided no details on a listing date or fundraising goal, but said preparations were going "very smoothly".

SoftBank posted a surprise loss on Tuesday but said it was dipping its toes back into new investments after its Vision Fund unit returned to the black for the first time in six quarters.

(Reporting by Anton Bridge, Additional reporting by Elaine Lies in Tokyo, Joyce Lee in Seoul and Akash Sriram; Editing by Louise Heavens, David Dolan, Miyoung Kim and Sharon Singleton)
(Bloomberg) -- Barrick Gold Corp. wont be pressured into making any major acquisitions even as its rivals pursue a flurry of dealmaking in the mining industry, Chief Executive Officer Mark Bristow said.

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The market is constantly dragging us into the M&A conversation, and we dont need that, Bristow said Tuesday in an interview at Bloombergs Toronto office. Were not anti-M&A  its a component of any industry rearrangement  but the problem is that, in the gold industry, most of the tier one assets remaining are embedded in bad assets. And you cant unlock them.

The worlds biggest gold miners have made blockbuster deals in the past couple years to boost production and replace older assets. Newmont Corp. is finalizing a $19 billion deal to buy Australias Newcrest Mining Ltd., solidifying its position as the top bullion producer. Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. has done two major deals since 2022 to become the third-largest producer of the precious metal.

Barrick, the No. 2 gold miner, is said to have approached copper producer First Quantum Minerals Ltd. earlier this year to informally discuss a deal and was rebuffed, Bloomberg reported in mid-June.

Every time anyone thinks of a potential transaction, someone brings up Barrick, Bristow said earlier Tuesday during a Bloomberg TV interview. Its something Ive gotten used to.

Barrick hasnt made any formal approach to buy the Vancouver-based copper miner, Bristow said during the Toronto interview.

Of course we look at everything, but I, to this day, havent sat down with Tristan or his father to try to work out something, he said, referring to First Quantum CEO Tristan Pascall and his father Philip Pascall, the chairman.

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First Quantum has major copper assets in Panama and Zambia  two countries Bristow says are challenging to operate in.

Im a cautious individual, he said. I might be able to take on these challenging jurisdictions, but its because were very diligent on this. Im not going to be reckless.

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(Bloomberg) -- French-Israeli billionaire Patrick Drahi says a corruption probe into executives central to his telecommunications empire Altice is having no impact whatsoever on the companys operations.

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Meanwhile, Altice USA has frozen some capital spending as it reviews its supplier relationships. The broader Altice group is conducting internal audits around the world, looking into procurement practices. More than a dozen employees have been suspended in relation to the allegations of corruption, money laundering and tax fraud. And according to people familiar with the situation, Altices supply chain has been thrown into a state of upheaval.

Also standing in stark contrast to Drahis comments: Concern over the fallout of the probe has seen Altice bonds fall deeper into distressed territory. Some had been trading at below 50% of face value, raising questions over how companies in the group will address a more than $60 billion debt pile. Altice Frances executives said on a call Tuesday that they are looking at options to cut debt, ranging from asset sales to an equity injection from Drahi.

Altice had hoped to sell its data center portfolio in France by the end of the summer  but the process has been extended due to the Portuguese probe, the company said.

Even still, Drahi said on the call with Altice Frances debt investors that the companys brand loyalty and reputation is not affected and there has been no impact whatsoever in our businesses so far. He went as far as to note that the only impact will be a positive one of saving money by buying direct in some cases, referring to how the company had severed ties with suppliers connected to the allegations.

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A three-year investigation led to 90 searches of homes and offices and several arrests, including Drahis right-hand man Armando Pereira, who remains under house arrest in Portugal. He has denied the Portuguese prosecutors allegations via his lawyer.

Read more: The Corruption Probe Rocking Altice Tycoons Empire: QuickTake

This week, during calls with debt investors, Drahi shed some light on the role that Pereira, currently under house arrest in relation to a Portuguese corruption investigation, played at his telecommunications empire.

Drahi said he appointed Pereira as an adviser to Mathieu Cocq, chief executive officer of Altice Frances mobile network SFR, when Cocq took the role in August 2022. The advisory role was terminated in July of this year, independently of recent unforeseeable events, he said during a call with Altice France debt investors on Tuesday.

The appointment underscores Pereiras influence on the company, despite not holding an executive role at Altice group in recent years. Pereira worked side-by-side with Drahi for two decades, and held roles where he was responsible for technical operations including procurement.

Drahis comments follow a debt investor call for Altice International, which includes the Portuguese unit, on Monday, where he said he felt betrayed and deceived by a small group of individuals, including one of our oldest colleagues, being investigated as part of the corruption probe. During the call, Drahi distanced himself from Pereira, emphasizing that he held no direct shares in Altice entities, although had made a small investment of less than 1% of the equity in Altices first acquisition.

Over time, the form of his economic interest evolved, and since 2005 he did not own a single share or right in any of the Altice entities but simply maintained a carried interest of around 20% of my personal economic interest, Drahi said.

When later asked about the 20% carried interest, Drahi said it was a personal issue that had no impact on Altice International.

Altice says that its a victim of the alleged wrongdoings and has opened its own internal audits in every region in which it operates. It is also conducting a full review and thorough reinforcement of the approval process on all procurement, payments, purchase orders and related processes, the company said Monday.

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Today, El Salvador's central bank and crypto regulator granted Binance a Bitcoin Services Provider License (BSP) and Digital Assets Services Provider license (DASP)

The new licenses now let the exchange offer custodial services, process crypto payments, provide digital wallets, and operate a digital asset exchange platform in the country.

Daniel Acosta, the firm's general manager for Colombia, Central America, and the Caribbean, said that the licenses allow Binance to expand the products and services offered including options tailored to the needs of our customers in El Salvador."

El Salvador has adopted a pro-crypto stance having declared Bitcoin legal tender in September 2021. In January this year, El Salvador's President Bukele passed a new Digital Securities Law, launching Bitcoin-backed government bonds and creating the National Commission of Digital Assets (NCDA) for overseeing crypto regulation.

Binance is the first crypto exchange approved by the NCDA to operate an exchange within the country.

In April 2023, El Salvadors regulators approved Bitfinex Securities' application for trading tokenized equities and yield-bearing assets like government bonds.

The positive regulator news in El Salvador comes on the back of various regulatory setbacks for Binance in the U.S. and Europe.

In the U.S., the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged Binance and its CEO, Changpeng "CZ" Zhao, with breaking securities rules and allegedly using unethical trading practices to enrich themselves by billions of dollars while placing investors assets at significant risk.

In Europe, the exchange has also faced regulatory challenges. The Dutch central bank fined Binance $3.6 million for operating illegally in the Netherlands. Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands have all denied Binance an operating license as well.

Despite these setbacks, Binance has continued to seek regulatory approval around the world.

Adding El Salvadors approval, the company has obtained licenses in 18 markets, including France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and Dubai.
Bitcoin and Ether fell during Tuesday afternoon trading in Hong Kong, along with most of the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. Long term investors continue accumulating Bitcoin, despite the assets recent price action, industry experts told Forkast.

See related article: Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin plunges under US$30,000 amid market turbulence. Is US$27,000 next?

Dogecoin leads declines across most top 10 cryptos

Bitcoin was little changed during afternoon trading in Asia, trading at US$29,161 as of 4:30 p.m. in Hong Kong after it fell below the US$30,000 support level on July 24. Despite struggling to rally higher in recent weeks, industry experts say that Bitcoins accumulation remains robust among long-term holders.

What we see today is very similar to this stage of previous cycles  an absence of speculative activity and intense accumulation with coins moving to high conviction, sticky hands  with more in cold storage than ever before, wrote Jamie Coutts, a senior market structure analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, to Forkast.

The metrics we track that encapsulate asset-accumulation behavior have never been more robust. Nearly 75% of the issued supply is held in wallets where the coins havent moved for more than six months. And for the first time, there are now over 1 million whole Bitcoiners  people owning at least 1 full BTC.

In the crypto market, Ether rose 0.21% during afternoon trading in Asia to US$1,828 and declined 0.36% during the past week.

Dogecoin was the days biggest loser in the top 10, after it fell 1.54% in the past 24 hours to US$0.07352, followed by Polkadots DOT token that declined 0.57% to US$4.96.

Leading the winners, the XRP coin rose 1.05% to US$0.6203, followed by Solanas SOL token that gained 0.68% to US$23.24

Total crypto market capitalization over the past 24 hours rose 0.21% to US$1.16 trillion while market volume increased 42.48% to US$32.32 billion, according to CoinMarketCap data.

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PayPals stablecoin lifts NFT sales on Ethereum, top NFT blockchains

The Forkast 500 NFT index rose 0.69% to 2,476.83 points in the 24 hours to 4:30 p.m. in Hong Kong but fell 1.3% during the week.

Bitcoins 24-hour non-fungible token sales continued yesterdays decline, falling 14.92% to US$365,955 with the network slipping to the eighth largest blockchain by 24-hour NFT sales volume, according to CryptoSlam.

Ethereums 24-hour NFT sales recovered after yesterdays slump, rising 19.43% to US$8.05 million, while sales for the largest Ethereum-native NFT collection, the Bored Ape Yacht Club, declined 10.40% to US$563,891. Its twin collection, the Mutant Ape Yacht Club, rose 26.24% to US$630,187, becoming the largest Ethereum-native NFT collection by 24-hour sales volume.

A rare day in the green with sales volume across most blockchains up double-digit percentages. Bitcoin however is still struggling, said Yehudah Petscher, NFT strategist for Forkast Labs.

Paypal announcing the launch of a stablecoin has excited the NFT market a bit, as they look forward to an easy way to onboard the masses to crypto.

Paypal launched the PayPal USD (PYUSD) stablecoin on Monday. The Ethereum-based token is issued by Paxos Trust Company  the U.S.-based issuer of Binances BUSD stablecoin  and is fully backed by U.S. dollar deposits, short-term U.S. treasuries and similar cash equivalents.

Among the Forkast Labs NFT indexes, the Forkast SOL NFT Composite and the Forkast POL NFT Composite were the only ones in the green for the day.

Asian equities, U.S. stock futures fall as investors await key U.S. inflation data

Image: elements.envato

Major Asian equities declined as of 4:30 p.m. in Hong Kong, except Japans Nikkei 225 that rose for a second consecutive day. Hong Kongs Hang Seng Index, the Shenzhen Component and the Shanghai Composite all posted declines.

Investor appetite remained subdued, after Chinas trade figures showed that exports from the country fell by 14.5% in July, the biggest fall since the beginning of the pandemic. Imports also dropped at the highest pace since January.

Despite yesterdays strong session, U.S. stock futures fell during Tuesday afternoon trading in Hong Kong, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures, the S&P 500 futures index and the tech-heavy Nasdaq-100 futures all declining.

Traders remained cautious ahead of the release of U.S. inflation data for July, scheduled for Thursday, as this can also signal the path for further interest rate decisions.

On the corporate front, investors are now anticipating earnings from companies like UPS, Zoetis and Duke Energy Corporation.

European equities fell on Tuesday, extending Mondays decline, with the Dax losing 0.9% and the pan-European Stoxx 600 index falling 0.71%, as markets lacked notable catalysts.

See related article: Standard Chartereds great expectations for Bitcoin in 2024

Updates with equities section
The Oregon coffee chain is set to open in Cedar Park, Texas

Black Rock Coffee Bar

Black Rock Coffee Bar in Cedar Park, TX

Portland, Oregon, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Black Rock Coffee Bar, founded in Oregon and known for its premium roasted coffees, teas, smoothies and flavorful Fuel Energy drinks, is expanding its footprint in Texas with the opening of a new store in the Austin metro area of Cedar Park, Texas.

Set to open its doors on Friday, August 11, 2023, this exciting addition brings the total number of Black Rock stores to 25 in the Lonestar state, with four locations and growing within the vibrant Austin area.

Located at 1909 East Whitestone Boulevard in Cedar Park, the new Black Rock store will celebrate its grand opening by offering all customers free 16oz drinks all day at this location as well as other specials throughout the following week.

There is no place like Austin. We are very drawn to the people, values and energy of the Austin community and are thrilled to be opening another location to serve them, said Jeff Hernandez, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Black Rock Coffee Bar. Cedar Park is a perfect area for us to open a new Black Rock Coffee Bar. Its an up-and-coming active community, and our baristas cant wait to connect with our customers on Friday.

The new 2000-square-foot Black Rock Coffee Bar store incorporates Black Rocks signature industrial modern design and features a large Texas-themed mural that is designed to connect to the region.

Black Rock Coffee Bar, which is celebrating its 15-year anniversary with more than 115 stores in the U.S., is guided by three principles - coffee, community and connection. Its mission is to be a positive force in the communities it serves.

Founded in 2008 in Portland, Oregon, an area of the Pacific Northwest known for its coffee excellence, Black Rock Coffee Bar continues its rapid expansion in the West and into the Sunbelt with locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Texas and Washington. The boutique coffee chain recently was named the Fastest Growing Private Company in Oregon and SW Washington in 2021 by the Portland Business Journal. Last year, Black Rock Coffee Bar ranked 837th among Americas Fastest-Growing Private Companies by Inc. Magazines 5000 Annual List.

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The Black Rock culture prides itself on providing opportunities for young people to learn how to lead, run a business, and develop people skills.

About Black Rock Coffee Bar

Black Rock Coffee Bar is a national boutique coffee shop that is known for its premium roasted coffees, teas, smoothies and flavorful Fuel energy drinks. Founded as a family owned and operated business in Oregon in 2008, Black Rock Coffee Bar has grown to more than 115 retail locations in seven states. The Black Rock culture prides itself on not only being a positive force for the communities it serves, but also the team members that fuel their locations day in and day out. An important aspect of their team mission is to recognize those that go above and beyond by displaying the 4Gs of Black Rock - grit, growth, gratitude, and grace.

For more information, visit https://br.coffee/

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CONTACT: Beth Gast Black Rock Coffee Bar 5037024405 beth.gast@bgpublicrelations.com




BlackRock Inc. (Trades, Portfolio), a leading global investment management corporation, has recently increased its stake in Codexis Inc., a prominent player in the biotechnology industry. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the transaction, profiles of both BlackRock Inc. (Trades, Portfolio) and Codexis Inc., and an examination of Codexis Inc.'s financial health and stock performance.

Details of the Transaction

On July 31, 2023, BlackRock Inc. (Trades, Portfolio) added 882,588 shares of Codexis Inc. to its portfolio at a trade price of $3.6 per share. This transaction increased BlackRock's total holdings in Codexis to 6,932,344 shares, representing 10.40% of the company's stock. Despite the significant share change, the impact on BlackRock's portfolio was not substantial due to the size and diversity of its holdings.

Founded in 1988, BlackRock Inc. (Trades, Portfolio) is a renowned investment management corporation operating through a vast group of subsidiaries. The firm's risk management division, BlackRock Solutions, monitors about 7% of the world's total financial assets. With 21 investment centers and 70 offices in 30 countries, BlackRock has a significant presence in virtually every financial market globally. The firm's top holdings include Apple Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Alphabet Inc., Microsoft Corp., and NVIDIA Corp., primarily in the technology and healthcare sectors. BlackRock's equity stands at a staggering $3,388.31 trillion.

BlackRock Inc. Acquires Significant Stake in Codexis Inc.

Profile of Codexis Inc.

Codexis Inc., a U.S.-based biotechnology company, specializes in providing enzyme optimization services, commercializing proteins, and developing biocatalyst products. Since its IPO on April 22, 2010, the company has grown to a market capitalization of $159.852 million. However, the company's stock performance has been less than stellar, with a year-to-date price change ratio of -50.96% and a price change ratio of -82.38% since its IPO. The company's GF Score stands at 65/100, indicating a moderate future performance potential.

Story continues

BlackRock Inc. Acquires Significant Stake in Codexis Inc.

Financial Health of Codexis Inc.

Examining Codexis Inc.'s financial health, the company's Financial Strength rank stands at 5/10, while its Profitability Rank is at 3/10. The company's Growth Rank is relatively higher at 7/10. Codexis Inc.'s cash to debt ratio is 2.25, ranking 1080th in the industry. However, the company's GF Value Rank is low at 2/10, indicating that the stock may be overvalued.

Stock Performance of Codexis Inc.

Despite the company's growth, Codexis Inc.'s stock performance has been underwhelming. The stock's gain percent since the transaction stands at -36.39%. The company's Momentum Rank is 4/10, indicating a lack of positive momentum in the stock's price. The company's RSI 14 Day Rank is 329, suggesting that the stock is currently oversold.

Conclusion

In conclusion, BlackRock Inc. (Trades, Portfolio)'s acquisition of additional shares in Codexis Inc. represents a significant investment in the biotechnology sector. Despite Codexis Inc.'s lackluster stock performance and financial health, BlackRock's investment could potentially stimulate growth and stability in the company. However, investors should exercise caution due to Codexis Inc.'s low GF Value Rank and Momentum Rank. As always, it is crucial to conduct thorough research and consider various factors before making investment decisions.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


The numbers are significant. A total of US$12.5 million in cryptocurrency donations reached the Syria-Turkey border in the weeks following the earthquake that devastated the region in February  to a cost of some 60,000 lives  according to a report by Blockchain analytics firm Elliptic.

These figures are even higher in Ukraine, where war continues to rage following the Russian invasion on Feb. 24, 2022. Analytics firm Crystal Blockchain estimates that Ukraine had received over US$225 million in crypto donations by the end of last month. That figure is roughly 20% of all the donations made to Ukraine in the 18 months since the start of the war.

[The use of crypto] really is a game changer when it comes to the delivery of emergency aid, especially as were seeing more of a need for it as well, not just with Russias invasion of Ukraine, but with climate change and the increase in extreme weather events, said Drew Simon, founder of Crypto Altruism, a platform that advocates for blockchain solutions in the non-profit sector.

Folks are being forced into having to leave their homes because of that. Theres going to be an increased need for more efficient and transparent delivery of aid, and I think blockchain enables that, he added.

Analytics firm Crystal Blockchain estimates that Ukraine had received over US$225 million in crypto donations by the end of last month. Image: Getty Images

Russia-Ukraine war

Picture yourself in Ukraine while your family members are living overseas, said Bohdan Opryshko, chief operating officer at Everstake, a Kyiv-based crypto staking firm. They want to send you money, but the banking system is not operational.

The direct and immediate nature of blockchain transactions allows users to bypass the structural and administrative difficulties faced by the war-time state and its institutions, explained Opryshko.

In that context, crypto serves as a backup option where banks fail to deliver. Moreover, your knowledge of what is achievable and what is not can help fill gaps where the government falls short, he said.

But its not just family members and other individuals who have been sending crypto to those in need in Ukraine. Institutions are also making use of blockchains possibilities.

Story continues

Kyiv, Ukraine. Image: Hristo Sahatchiev/Unsplash

In December 2022, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) adopted a first-of-its-kind program to distribute cash assistance to a small group of Ukrainian refugees in the form of USDC  the worlds second largest stablecoin.

The UNHCR partnered with the Stellar Development Foundation  specialists in crypto-to-fiat transfers  and MoneyGram International  a worldwide financial services provider with over 4,000 locations in Ukraine and almost 350,000 globally  to provide a broad and easily accessible range of withdrawal options for aid recipients.

Beneficiaries were able to activate the digital wallets within minutes and access their cash through the cash out network, said Carmen Hett, corporate treasurer at the UNHCR. The only prerequisites for beneficiaries who met the cash assistance criteria were digital literacy and possession of a smartphone, she added.

Hett confirmed that, after the successful completion of the pilot program in April, the UNHCR decided to continue with a small scale up of the operation.

We just won 'Best Impact Project Award' at #PBW2023 for a pilot project using blockchain technology to disburse cash to people displaced by the war in Ukraine. Gradual scale-up is planned, considering context and focusing on the people we serve. More: https://t.co/JCTvWxo5Wm  UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency (@Refugees) March 23, 2023

Advantages

Hett and the programs other organizers, which include USDCs Boston-based issuers Circle, found that the speed and scalability of the stablecoin made it well suited for delivering aid in high volumes and in a very short period of time.

Its really an amazing use of USDC, said Corey Then, Circles vice president of global policy during an interview in May. Folks who might be sitting in a basement while bombs are going off outside can receive money on this as long as they have an internet connection.

He highlighted the difficulties faced by organizations making humanitarian cash transfers in previous conflicts.

Some of that went to the right places, much of it didnt, so its a huge inherent advantage with USDC and the blockchain, he said. From the UNs perspective, not only can they get aid in faster, but they can actually track where its going. So this stands in stark contrast to some forms of aid disbursement.

A volunteer carries supplies at a Ukrainian cultural center in the countrys west. Image: Getty Images

Pegged to the US dollar, USDC also ringfences the beneficiary from local currency volatility  the central bank in Kyiv devalued the Ukrainian hryvnia by over 25% against the US dollar in July 2022, five months into the war with Russia  while the immediacy of each transfer cuts out the need for a middleman, reducing transaction fees.

That makes the use of stablecoins to deliver humanitarian aid highly auditable, being on an immutable blockchain, said Crypto Altruisms Drew Simon.

You can see exactly where the funds are going, he added.

Ukrainian suitability

When compared with many other places around the world  particularly low-infrastructure areas in the global south  Ukraine is well placed to carry out a pilot project involving stablecoins.

Even before the war, the country boasted a disproportionately large number of crypto users, retail investors and tech professionals.

While I cannot claim that cryptocurrency is an integral part of Ukrainian culture, it is undeniable that Ukrainians have a deep-rooted affinity for change and technological progress Bohdan Opryshko, chief operating officer at Everstake

While I cannot claim that cryptocurrency is an integral part of Ukrainian culture, it is undeniable that Ukrainians have a deep-rooted affinity for change and technological progress, says Everstakes Opryshko.

He highlighted Ukraines scarce investment opportunities and distrust of the national banking system as reasons that an estimated 15.72% of Ukrainians own cryptocurrency.

There are limited options to preserve money and generate passive income. We dont have a national stock market, and banks can face bankruptcy, leading Ukrainians to trust cryptocurrency wallets more, Opryshko said.

The not your keys, not your coins philosophy popularized in the crypto world to avoid scams also, he said, strikes many Ukrainians as a safer approach than keeping money under the pillow or in a bank.

Despite the shortcomings in Ukraines traditional banking and other administrative systems that, in many cases, predated the war with Russia, receptivity to technology  including the blockchain  extends to the national government.

On Feb. 26, 2022, the Ukrainian governments official Twitter page posted Bitcoin and Ethereum addresses for donations to the war effort as part of its Aid for Ukraine initiative.

According to a February report from Elliptic, by the end of 2022, the initiative had raised over US$29 million in Ethereum, US$22.7 million in Bitcoin, US$15.1 million in USDT and US$8.2 million in DOT, the native coin of the Polkadot blockchain.

Stand with the people of Ukraine. Now accepting cryptocurrency donations. Bitcoin, Ethereum and USDT.



BTC  357a3So9CbsNfBBgFYACGvxxS6tMaDoa1P



ETH and USDT (ERC-20)  0x165CD37b4C644C2921454429E7F9358d18A45e14  Ukraine /  (@Ukraine) February 26, 2022

Beyond Ukraine

While Ukraine may provide a receptive testing ground for blockchain-based humanitarian aid in times of war, Crypto Altruisms Drew Simon highlighted its use across a variety of different crisis situations.

He pointed to the millions of dollars in crypto donations that poured into Syria and Turkey in the wake of Februarys earthquake, including via a number of different NFT projects that helped Turkish and Syrian artists sell their work to raise funds for impacted areas. Those efforts combined with large crypto donation platforms like the Giving Block Endowment to solicit donations for specific aid organizations on the ground in the region.

We definitely saw an outpouring of support, maybe not to that same level as in Ukraine, but there were definitely a number of NFT projects, philanthropic campaigns in the Web3 space, Simon said.

Elsewhere in the Middle East, he continued, innovative use of blockchain technologies have emerged in various forms  including the World Food Programmes Building Blocks project. The project  which began in 2017  uses blockchain technology to securely transfer funds to displaced communities in a number of locations, including a settlement for Syrian refugees in Lebanon in September 2020.

Soldiers in the Syrian conflict. Image: Mohammad Reza Jofar, Rajanews, edited

Refugees had funds deposited into their wallet on a blockchain, they went to the grocery store, their iris was scanned and then it automatically pulled up their wallet so they could purchase groceries, Simon said.

The system was beneficial, he said, as individual recipients could avoid vouchers, cash and other physical payment methods that are harder to retain and keep track of in the challenging environment of a refugee settlement.

I know theres a lot of questions around the ethics around biometrics and I think thats a whole different conversation, but theres these really cool opportunities that make it a lot easier for folks that previously lacked access to traditional financial tooling, Simon added.

Potential pitfalls

Regardless of ease of use, such programs require beneficiaries to give up information that, in less strained circumstances, they may think twice about sharing. That involves a degree of trust in not only the technology but also the benevolence of program organizers. If missing, that lack of trust can prove a high hurdle to overcome.

The UNHCRs Carmen Hett conceded as much when discussing the USDC pilot program in Ukraine, saying that a lack of knowledge and distrust of the technology among a small number of potential beneficiaries had prevented their participation.

To avoid that scenario in future, she said, further investment in digital literacy is crucial for helping vulnerable communities in crisis situations adapt to the funding avenues opened up by blockchain technology.

Were just used to [the internet]. Its a part of everyday life, and I think that thats what we need to get to with Web3 as well, where the user interface and experience is so seamless and easy Drew Simon, Crypto Altruism

For Crypto Altruisms Drew Simon, that process can be simplified even further by removing the jargon that dominates the crypto industry, clouding understanding for newcomers.

Sure, its a revolutionary technology, but so is the internet and we dont talk about whether a website is hosted on WordPress or Squarespace, what coding language is used to write an app, or how our email gets from point A to point B. It just does it, right? Simon said.

Were just used to [the internet]. Its a part of everyday life, and I think that thats what we need to get to with Web3 as well, where the user interface and experience is so seamless and easy, he added.

Real-world use

Once those trust and understanding hurdles are overcome, the potential benefits could prove significant, with real world consequences for those in need.

Everstakes COO Bohdan Opryshko illustrated that point via a story from the early days of the Russian invasion, when an elderly priest living in a village in Ukraine contacted his firm by email.

Smoke behind buildings following bombings in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 27, 2022. Image: Getty Images

Most of the working-age villagers had left to fight in the war, the priest explained, so he was collecting donations to help support those who were left behind. But his efforts were frustrated by the difficulty in sending and receiving large sums in both Ukrainian hryvnia and other international currencies.

So, we suggested sending the funds in cryptocurrency. A few hours later, he contacted us again, having figured everything out, and created a wallet on Binance linked to his card, Opryshko said.

The elderly priest had defended his village through the use of crypto, Opryshko added  not the worst use case for blockchain technology.
If you havent used a sick day yet this year, you just might in a few weeksif youre like a good deal of American workers, anyway.

Aug. 24 is the nations sickest day of the year, according to new research by leave management platform Flamingo Leave Tracker. The company analyzed five years worth of data, looking for the most common dates that workers call in sick.

What they found: The sunny days of late summer showed a more significant drop in attendance than the frosty winter months typically associated with colds and the flu.

Make of the finding what you will. But the day approaches as the U.S. endures its fourth COVID summerand as levels of the virus in wastewater, and associated hospitalizations, rise throughout the U.S.

COVID on the rise

Nationally, COVID wastewater levels are similar to that of every pandemic summer except for 2022, when the world saw a spike due to Omicron variant BA.5. Thats according to BioBot Analytics, which monitors COVID wastewater levels for the federal government.

The data makes the case that COVID is not merely a winter respiratory virus like flu and RSV, but a summer one, as well.

By and large, outbreaks of COVID-19 are settling into a sort of seasonality, with predictable spikes after national holidays like July Fourth, Tom Cotterexecutive director of nonprofit Healthcare Ready, told Fortune.

The juries of some experts, however, are still out on summer seasonality. Since antibody immunityfrom infection or vaccinationonly lasts three to six months, its hard to definitely tell if the virus truly favors the summer and winter seasons, or if such spikes are simply a result of fading immunity.

When and why employees call out sick

The second sickest day of the year, Feb. 13, comes during the traditional winter respiratory illness season. But its also suspiciously aligned with the Super Bowl and Valentines Day. Well leave you to draw your own conclusions on the root cause.

The third through fifth sickest days of the year, according to Flamingos report: Oct. 25, Dec. 13, and April 18.

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More sick-day factoids researchers unearthed:

Slightly more than a quarter (26%) of Americans didnt take a sick day in 2022.

On the flip side, about 5% (approximately 10 million Americans) took more than 20 days off due to illness that year.

Stomach bugs (54%), COVID (25%), and anxiety (9%) were the three most common reasons given for calling in sick.

The majority (54%) of employees calling in sick use text, Whatsapp, or Slack to inform their boss. A third (33%) make a call, while 12% email, and 2% dont tell their boss at all. (Not sure how that worked out for them.)

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com

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From what we can see, insiders were net buyers in Brookdale Senior Living Inc.'s (NYSE:BKD ) during the past 12 months. That is, insiders acquired the stock in greater numbers than they sold it.

Although we don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing.

View our latest analysis for Brookdale Senior Living

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Brookdale Senior Living

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by Independent Director Frank Bumstead for US$154k worth of shares, at about US$3.09 per share. Although we like to see insider buying, we note that this large purchase was at significantly below the recent price of US$3.79. While it does suggest insiders consider the stock undervalued at lower prices, this transaction doesn't tell us much about what they think of current prices.

You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

Does Brookdale Senior Living Boast High Insider Ownership?

For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. Insiders own 1.8% of Brookdale Senior Living shares, worth about US$13m. This level of insider ownership is good but just short of being particularly stand-out. It certainly does suggest a reasonable degree of alignment.

So What Do The Brookdale Senior Living Insider Transactions Indicate?

The fact that there have been no Brookdale Senior Living insider transactions recently certainly doesn't bother us. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. Insiders do have a stake in Brookdale Senior Living and their transactions don't cause us concern. So these insider transactions can help us build a thesis about the stock, but it's also worthwhile knowing the risks facing this company. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Brookdale Senior Living you should know about.

Story continues

Of course Brookdale Senior Living may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of high quality companies.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Babylon's GP at Hand service serves over 100,000 NHS patients - M4OS Photos / Alamy Stock Photo

The tech company behind the NHSs GP at Hand app has warned it is on the brink of collapse as it launched a fire sale of its assets.

Babylon Health, which provides virtual appointments and a symptom-checker app, said it is looking to offload its UK business to third parties, which includes the GP at Hand service that serves over 100,000 NHS patients.

In a regulatory filing on Monday, the business said it was exploring rescue options in both the US and UK after a deal to merge with MindMaze, a Swiss healthcare technology firm, fell apart.

Babylon warned it may not be able to secure enough cash to fund the operations of the groups businesses, but it is understood its UK arm will continue for the time being.

Once viewed as one of Britains most promising start-ups, Babylon listed in the US for $4bn (3.1bn) less than two years ago.

However, it was forced into a restructuring deal in May after its share price plunged by more than 99 percent, wiping billions of dollars off its value.

Babylon said its owners were still seeking additional funding or a sale of its businesses, but if this failed, it would consider an orderly wind down.

It said this could include exploring US bankruptcy or filing for administration in the UK. It added it planned to shut down its core US division.

On Monday, a number of US-based Babylon employees revealed on LinkedIn that they had lost their jobs.

Earlier this year, The Telegraph revealed that Babylon was on the brink after accounts revealed it was set to run out of cash within weeks.

It was forced to turn to lenders AlbaCore for tens of millions of pounds in bridge financing and Babylon now owes the lender more than $300m.

Babylons IPO, completed in 2021 via a special purpose acquisition company, failed to raise as much funding as expected.

Chief executive Ali Parsa previously described the float as an unmitigated disaster and a very big mistake.

Mr Parsa previously founded Circle Health, which ran private hospitals in the UK.

Story continues

Babylon was subsequently launched in 2013 and soon became an NHS supplier.

The company was championed by Matt Hancock while he was Health Secretary, although Mr Parsa complained its NHS work failed to turn a profit.

While Babylon made Mr Parsa a paper billionaire when it went public, the business failed to ever make a profit and burned through hundreds of millions of dollars in funding.

In its annual results for 2022, Babylon reported revenues of $1.1bn and a net loss of $221m.

It laid off hundreds of staff to cut costs.

There is hope Babylon can still strike a deal to sell off its UK arm, as it said in its regulatory filing that it was exploring strategic alternatives in order to find the best possible outcome.

It said: Babylon remains focused on continuing the day-to-day operations of its UK business.

Both Babylon and AlbaCore declined to comment.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
(Bloomberg) -- A number of global investors including Warburg Pincus and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board are opting out of Ant Group Co.s proposed share buyback after the Chinese fintechs valuation was slashed by more than 70%, according to people familiar with the matter.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Carlyle Group Inc. and GIC Pte are also among top foreign shareholders that arent participating in the buyback, the people said, asking not to be identified because the matter isnt public. A few money managers, including Fidelity Investments and T. Rowe Price Group Inc., have agreed to sell their shares, one of the people said.

Pension funds and private equity firms that took part in early funding rounds for Ant in 2018 face sizeable financial losses from the buyback after the companys value plunged following its scrapped initial public offering in 2020. Asset managers are required to mark private assets to market prices to reflect fair value, though any loss would be on paper and could be reversed if Ant recovers.

Jack Ma-backed Ant last month proposed to buy back as much as 7.6% of its shares, giving investors a chance to pare back exposure to the company thats been ensnared by a years-long regulatory crackdown. The repurchase valuation of about 567.1 billion yuan ($79 billion) is a massive decline from an estimated $280 billion market capitalization ahead of the planned IPO.

Representatives for Ant, Warburg, Carlyle, Canada Pension, GIC, Fidelity and T. Rowe Price declined to comment.

Global funds have grappled with how to assess their Ant investments, many made five years ago when the company was valued at about $150 billion. Other overseas backers included Silver Lake Management LLC, Khazanah Nasional Bhd. of Malaysia and Singapores Temasek Holdings Pte.

Story continues

Boston-based Fidelity cut its estimated valuation for Ant to about $63.8 billion in November.

Some Chinese state-owned shareholders are planning to join the buyback, as they invested during the first two funding rounds when Ant raised at a reported valuation of about $45 billion and $60 billion respectively.

Ants early A-round of fundraising in 2015 included Chinas national social security fund and China Development Bank Capital Co. China Investment Corp. and CCB International Holdings Ltd. were among backers for its B-round the following year.

Chinese regulators are wrapping up a more than two-year crackdown on the countrys once-freewheeling technology giants after slapping more than $1 billion of fines on Ant and Tencent Holdings Ltd. in July. Ant is also preparing to break off its international business, blockchain and database management services, people familiar have said.

E-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. has decided not to sell any of its one-third stake in Ant, while Temasek has said its seeking a better understanding of how Ant arrived at its repurchase valuation.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Business owners in Saline County will have the opportunity to learn from faculty and staff from Wichita State University's Center for Entrepreneurship about sales and growth strategies, marketing, branding and more through a certificate program offered locally this fall.

The Salina Area Chamber of Commerce, NetWork Kansas and WSU's Center for Entrepreneurship partnered to offer the "Growing Rural Businesses" program in Saline County starting Sept. 7. The program is an eight-week training tailored to meet the needs of existing rural businesses that are ready to grow.

This is a program that specifically is targeted ... for business in that sweet spot of six months to five years operating," said Renee Duxler, president and CEO of the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce. "It will provide an opportunity for them to look at how they might be able to grow or expand, to help them focus on that part of their business."

Santa Fe Avenue, downtown Salina, Kansas.

Duxler said six months to five years into running a business can be a time when owners get weighed down with everyday tasks that limit time for focusing on longer-term goals.

Here's how this certificate program could help people who might be experiencing that.

Saline County business owners can learn from experts this fall

Faculty at Wichita State provides hands-on, practical solutions and techniques to grow and modernize business ventures while living in a rural setting.

Through small group exercises, case studies, and interactive discussions with peers, facilitators and industry experts, business owners will gain insight to the evolving business world and how it could apply to their business models.

More than 396 businesses across a variety of industries have participated in this instruction, which is offered less than a handful of times per year on a competitive basis. A grant to the Saline County E-Community from NetWork Kansas will provide part of the funding for the training and participants will have a small registration fee.

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Were really excited to be able to offer this; we know there are a lot of businesses in Salina in that six months to five-year time frame, Duxler said. A lot of (Chamber) support has been with startups, so this is exciting because it is really going to help those businesses that are running and might have reached forks in the road and can help support the direction they want to go.

How the program is structured and where to sign up

When: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m Thursdays, Sept. 2 through Nov. 2

Where: Visit Salina Annex, 120 W. Ash St.

There is a program fee of $250 per person. A $50 Early Bird Registration discount is available for those registering by Aug. 25 and those who attend six of the eight sessions will receive a $50 rebate upon conclusion.

The Chamber is partnering with local banks to provide participants with a light dinner each Thursday. The Chamber is also providing vouchers for those who might need childcare services during the sessions. Duxler said the Chamber did not want the cost of childcare to prevent a qualified person from participating.

"Growing Rural Business" sessions

Sept. 7: Entrepreneurial Mindset for Small Businesses

Sept. 14: Customer Discovery: The Roadmap to a Successful Marketing Plan

Sept. 21: The Digital Branding Intensive: Unleash Your Promotional Power

Sept. 28: Basic Sales Techniques and Practices for Selling

Oct. 5: Creating Value for your Customers

Oct. 12: Practical Legal Issues

Oct. 19 or Oct. 26: Keeping a Financial Focus

Nov. 2: Bringing It All Together: Developing an Effective Niche Strategy

More information and registration links for the Growing Rural Businesses Entrepreneurial Certificate Program can be found at www.wichita.edu/grb.

Kendrick Calfee has been a reporter with the Salina Journal since 2022, primarily covering government and education. You can reach him at kcalfee@gannett.com or on Twitter (now known as "X") @calfee_kc.

This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: 'Growing Rural Businesses' program will be offered in Saline County
A sign above an office of the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) is seen in Beijing

By Josh Ye

HONG KONG (Reuters) - China's cyberspace regulator said on Tuesday it has issued draft rules to oversee the security management of facial recognition technology in the country, following concerns raised in public about overuse of the technology.

The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said facial recognition technology can only be used to process facial information when there is a specific purpose and sufficient necessity, and with strict protective measures.

The use of the technology will also require individual's consent, the CAC said in a statement. It added that non-biometric identification solutions should be favored over facial recognition in cases where such methods are equally effective.

Biometric identification, especially facial recognition, has become widespread in China. In 2020, local media reported that facial recognition was used to activate toilet roll dispensers in public toilets, which triggered both public and regulatory concerns at the time.

Many Chinese courts and local governments have since ruled against and fined companies for facial recognition overuse, according to the South China Morning Post.

CAC's draft rules on Tuesday said image capturing and personal identification devices should not be installed in hotel rooms, public bathrooms, changing rooms, toilets, and other places that may infringe upon others' privacy.

The regulator added that image capturing devices should be installed in public places for only public safety purposes and with prominent warning signs next to them.

The draft rules come amid Beijing's effort to tighten data regulation by issuing an array of rules and laws. Most notably, China introduced its first law focusing on user privacy, the Personal Information Protection Law, in 2021 in a bid to rein in companies' overuse of user data.

(Reporting by Josh Ye in Hong Kong and Beijing newsroom; Writing by Liz Lee; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Lincoln Feast)
China's economy is sputtering as the nation's exports hit their lowest level in over 3 years

Shutterstock.com

China's exports tumbled in July, further denting hopes of a post-pandemic economic rebound.

The country's outbound shipments slid at their steepest pace since February 2020, per The Wall Street Journal.

Heightened geopolitical tensions between Beijing and the US have pushed some Western buyers to look elsewhere for supply chain needs.

China's ambitions for a post-pandemic rebound have yet to materialize, and the country's latest export numbers suggest the economy is struggling to revive itself even after COVID lockdowns were lifted at the end of last year.

Exports in July declined at the sharpest pace since February 2020, according to Chinese customs data cited by the Wall Street Journal.

Outbound overseas shipments from China dropped 14.5% on an annual basis, despite surging trade with Russia. Heightened geopolitical tensions between the Capitol Hill and Beijing weighed on Western business ties, in particular, with China's exports to the US and European Union falling by more than 20%.

Exports also tanked 12% in June, government data show.

Even though China eased COVID-19 restrictions last year, there's been little sign in 2023 of its eagerly awaited economic recovery. The domestic housing market faces instability, foreign investment and local spending is down, and deflation looms.

Meanwhile, a recent report from the consultancy Terry Group posited that China's not only facing a declining population, but specifically a drop-off in working-age citizens. The country reported its first dip in population last year since 1961, and researchers say the trend will be hard to reverse.

"In 1975, there were thirteen times as many children as elderly in China," the Terry Group researchers said. "By 2050, the UN projects that there will be twice as many elderly as children."

Officials in Beijing are attempting to mute downbeat sentiment. The Financial Times reported Sunday that the government has warned economists and experts not to paint the economy in a negative light.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The News

Chinas most recent trade data amplifies global worries of the countrys slowing economy.

Both imports and exports fell more quickly than expected in July, according to Beijings latest customs data, with imports dropping by 12.4% year-on-year and exports contracting by 14.5%. The exports drop is the fastest since the onset of the pandemic in 2020, with exports to the U.S. and EU falling by an even greater proportion.

The numbers come at a time where both EU and U.S. trade officials are calling trade with China unbalanced" and urging Beijing to drop import and export barriers.

Weve curated reporting and analysis from experts on what the latest trade numbers mean and how concerning are they.

Insights
China's working population will shrink in the coming decades and keep the nation's economy from surpassing America's, research firm says

A Chinese flag flying over Shanghai. Liu Liqun/Getty Images

Decades of China's one-child policy have led to an aging population and lopsided ratio between elderly and youth.

The country is on pace to lose nearly half of its current population by 2100, per Terry Group, which says that bodes poorly for economic growth.

Chinese government data showed China's population shrank in 2022 for the first time since 1961.

China's aging population will have a direct impact on its ability to compete with the US and other nations on the world stage, according to a report from consultancy firm Terry Group.

The latest United Nations projections say China will lose nearly 50% of its population by the end of this century. Further, the Terry Group researchers say it's not only overall population decline that poses a threat, but the climbing proportion of elderly people.

In 1990, 5% of Chinese people were 65 or older. Thats nearly tripled to 14% today, and the Terry Group anticipates the cohort making up 30% of the population by 2050.

These skewed proportions are "pushing China's overall dependency burden back up," the authors wrote. "In 1975, there were thirteen times as many children as elderly in China. By 2050, the UN projects that there will be twice as many elderly as children."

Chinese total dependency ratio of children plus elderly per 100 working-age adults Terry Group

Over several decades, China has undergone a shift from high mortality and high fertility to low mortality and low fertility. This year, China's population shrank for the first time since 1961, Chinese government data illustrate, and Terry Group researchers highlighted that old-age dependency burdens are climbing, which amount to a "demographic gauntlet."

"China's population is not only aging, but is also entering a gathering decline that will be difficult, if not impossible, to reverse," Terry Group researchers noted. "Gone are the days when China's deep reservoir of labor seemed inexhaustible."

According to the consultancy firm, by the next decade, the country will be losing an average of 7 million working-age adults each year, which will accelerate to 12 million a year by the 2050s.

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The UN projects China's working-age population to shrink by three-fifths by 2100, which in turn will put pressure on young people and government initiatives to support that cohort.

For comparison, between 1990 and 2010 when China's demographics were favorable, its working-age population grew 1.7% per year on average. Those figures are on pace to soon reverse, and instead the working-age population will contract at an annual rate of 1%.

"All other things being equal, this nearly 3 percentage point reduction in the growth rate in the working-age population will translate into an equivalent reduction in the growth rate in employment and potential GDP," the researchers said.

Meanwhile, the Financial Times reported Sunday that Beijing officials have been warning experts not to talk about the economy in a negative light. Specifically, sources told the FT that they weren't supposed to talk about slumping foreign investment, deflation, and faltering growth.

The crackdown follows months of data that point to a muted post-pandemic rebound in China and no economic recovery in sight.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Chipmakers are rebuilding the US semiconductor industry with $231 billion in new investments spurred by the enactment of the landmark CHIPS and Science Act a year ago.

But even as Biden officials celebrate the anniversary of that legislation this week, there are mounting concerns about whether enough skilled workers will be there to run these factories once they are online.

Labor shortages have already affected the construction of one major project in Phoenix. Meanwhile, a possible national shortfall could also complicate efforts in the year ahead by Intel (INTC) in central Ohio, Micron (MU) in upstate New York, as well as other new projects from Texas to Utah.

The issue could prove a headwind for America's efforts to reverse a decades-long decline in semiconductor manufacturing and also complicate a key tenet of Biden's case for re-election.

"The workforce issues are real," said Jennifer Harris, a former White House special assistant who focused on China and the labor market at the National Security Council.

She said chipmakers and other companies building factories this year could be in for challenges in the years ahead when more dramatic policy solutions could become unavoidable. Many of the current efforts are "not making much of a dent in the overall problem of getting a skilled workforce on time and on budget.

The stakes are high. The 2022 law was designed to help America compete with China to control the supply of these crucial components for modern life. The US role in semiconductor manufacturing has fallen so far that 100% of the worlds most advanced semiconductors were manufactured overseas in recent years, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association.

The Biden administration has set aside $200 million for workforce development efforts and is also pushing companies to do their own training but it's unclear whether that will be enough. The US unemployment rate is already at a rock-bottom rate of 3.6%.

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The future labor pool could get even shallower as these new factory jobs become available. Estimates from Deloitte and McKinsey peg the coming semiconductor worker shortfall at hundreds of thousands by 2030.

President Joe Biden signs into law the CHIPS and Science Act at the White House on Aug. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Challenges in Phoenixs effort to be a semiconductor 'hub'

The workforce challenges are on no greater display than in Arizona, with Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego in the thick of efforts to untangle the dilemma.

"I love the idea of Phoenix being the hub for supplying the entire United States," she said in a recent interview. Her city and state have positioned themselves aggressively, with Arizona in line for $61 billion in new semiconductor investments representing over a quarter of the national total.

But they've already faced some bumps in the road.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has been building a flagship fabrication plant in northern Phoenix since 2021 and recently announced a delay in the plants full-scale launch from 2024 to 2025. A key reason: the worker shortage.

Mark Liu, the companys chairman, said that delays became inevitable as the company progressed to more advanced construction work in Arizona. TSMC is currently importing workers from Taiwan to close the gap and offer training for American workers. The company promises that these foreign experts will only be in Arizona "for a short period of time."

To try and ensure that these workers are indeed temporary, Mayor Gallego spends much of her time these days visiting area high schools, community fairs, and basically anywhere else she can drum up applicants for the industry.

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, center in yellow, this June at an event at the Sandra Day OConnor College of Law in Phoenix for young students. (Photo provided by the Office of the Mayor)

Its an effort echoed at all levels of government, from Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo focusing on Gen Z workers to President Biden traveling to groundbreaking after groundbreaking to highlight the opportunities.

Gallego acknowledged there have been challenges in getting Arizonans without a previous connection to the industry to realize the opportunities. She actively promotes programs like one at Maricopa Community College that advertises training for certain jobs in as little as 10 days.

But it remains to be seen if enough Arizonans take advantage of that program or more advanced offerings that can take a year. Mayor Gallego also pointed out that some jobs require training with overseas travel which "is not doable for everyone."

The White House says across the country over 45 community colleges have announced new or expanded semiconductor workforce programs to try and close the labor gap.

More aggressive measures that may be needed

Mayor Gallego and other government officials said they remain confident that the job market will gradually stabilize, with a Commerce Department official adding: "We're confident the workforce will be there."

The official also emphasized that companies themselves are being put on the hook for training as a condition for their piece of more than $50 billion in CHIPS Act funding earmarked for the sector. Conditions around that money are still being negotiated but the funds are set to begin heading out the door in the months ahead.

President Joe Biden looks out over the large expanse where Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's first semiconductor fabrication plant in America is being built in northern Phoenix during a visit in December. (REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst)

If this mix of various efforts ends up proving insufficient, it could offer new urgency to Washingtons immigration debate and controversial efforts to allow more foreign workers into the US.

Of particular interest for the semiconductor sector will be the H-1B visa program that allows employers to employ foreign workers for specialty occupations. But the program currently has strict caps on how many people can take advantage.

For Harris, she said, "we need to look at some more ambitious, more structural fixes and quickly," noting both the immigration conversation as well as policies elsewhere that put even more onus on companies to shoulder the training burden.

In Germany, for example, a company can face additional taxes if they don't offer training up to a certain standard.

Such ideas would surely face fierce debate in Washington, but the question is whether, at some point in the near future, lawmakers will have no other choice.

Ben Werschkul is a Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance.

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The Cambria Hotel Copper Mountain opened in Colorado this year. Source: Choice Hotels.

Choice Hotels considers its recent acquistion of Radisson Americas to be a success and is open to pursuing additional mergers and acquisitions to keep expanding its hotel empire, according to executives speaking Tuesday during a second-quarter earnings call.

Weve certainly developed a pretty strong capability within the company to rapidly integrate brands, said president and CEO Patrick Pacious.

In less than a year after saying it would acquire Radisson Americas for $675 million, Choice onboarded the nearly 600 Radisson Americas hotels into its reservations software platform and integrated the 2 award-winning loyalty programs.

Touting Merger Gains

The Rockville, Maryland-based hotel operator  whose 7,472 hotels span 22 brands, such as its flagship upper midscale brand Comfort and roadside midscale brands like Quality Inn  touted early merger gains.

Choice Hotels said it is ahead of schedule in integrating Radisson Americas. It has gained $80 million in annual recurring synergies, exceeding targets sooner than executives expected.

They have fully integrated the Radisson Americas loyalty program and reservations systems with Choices platforms in less than a year since the acquisition closed.

Radisson Americas is already profitable in 2022, surpassing forecasts.

This acquisition has created a step function change in the size of our business, Pacious said.

Choice Hotels expects further benefits.

When we looked at buying this business, it was a business that was effectively underinvested in, Pacious said. We want to bring the value prop to these owners quickly.

Executives believe Choices software, marketing, and revenue management (rate-setting) software and practices will boost the performance of Radisson properties.

We were also able to leverage learnings from the Radisson Americas business division, which we believe will create significant value for our franchisees and guests, Pacious said.

One example Pacious cited was a new co-branded credit card deal, which he said was already exceeding initial expectations in generating profit.

Choice Hotels is also confident the Radisson acquisition will speed up the growth of its upscale brands Cambria and Ascend through cross-selling them to Radisson guests.

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Seeking Overseas Growth

Executives responded to questions from investment analysts about possible future mergers and acquisitions. They didnt address recent rumors of a possible merger between Choice and Wyndham, the nearest comparable publicly held hotel company, and they said none of their forecasts for growth counted on any acquisitions outside of the Radisson integration.

Yet they did provide commentary on their thinking generally.

Were always looking for M&A [mergers and acquistions] that fits the 2 litmus tests that we talked about, improving the ROI [return on investment] for the owners and growing the brands for the shareholders, Pacious said.

Executives look for acquisitions that will bulk up their brand portfolio into new segments or geographies to speed up growth. They said their $231 million WoodSpring acquisition helped them expand in extended stay, while buying Radisson Americas brought more upscale brands, boosted the membership in its loyalty program, and broadened its presence in North America.

While they see whitespace in the U.S., they also see a lot of potential opportunities on the international front.

So when you look at a lot of potential acquisitions outside of the U.S., the product type may be different, Pacious said. It may not be something that you see here in the U.S. that doesnt play well in the Americas region. Theres shorter stay, theres rooms where they convert from a business traveler to leisure travelers. So theres some different models out there on the international front that really work for certain international markets. But theres also different product types that are lodging alternatives in the international side as well.

Choices Strong Second Quarter

The hotel operators second-quarter earnings results were better than analysts expected on average and reflected even more optimism than the companys bullish update three weeks ago.

Choice generated a net income of $84 million from a year earlier on $227 million in revenue after deducting the revenue it collected and passed back to its managed and franchised properties.

Revenue hit a quarterly record.

The company raised its full-year forecast for net income to at least $298 million.

Hotel performance boomed

Choice Hotels saw brands produce comparable systemwide revenue per available room  a key industry metric  of $60, or 20% above the figure in the same period in 2019.

The gain was mostly driven by a 2.8% boost in its average daily rate at domestic properties and a modest rise in occupancy levels to above 60%.

Choice Hotels Brands, Explained

Choice Hotels Brands, Explained

Choice Hotels continues to grow in the domestic market, with a particular focus on the midscale and upscale segments. Its likely to add more brands soon.

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Get breaking travel news and exclusive hotel, airline, and tourism research and insights at Skift.com.
FCA

The City watchdog is to investigate the debanking of customers in wake of the Nigel Farage scandal.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will write to more than 25 of Britains largest banks and building societies on Wednesday requesting details on account closures.

The lenders will be asked to reveal how many bank accounts have recently been closed, suspended or denied and the reasons why those services have been refused.

The regulator has given banks just over two weeks to submit their responses by Aug 25, which will then be analysed and published by mid-September.

Lenders will also be required to disclose how many complaints they have received from blacklisted customers, and to outline the issues surrounding freedom of expression.

It comes after Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor, last week called on the FCA to urgently investigate the extent of debanking.

The Financial Conduct Authority has the right to fine banks very large sums of money if they find this practice is widespread, he said. I want to know if it is, and I want to know what they are doing about it.

In a letter to Nikhil Rathi, chief executive of the FCA, the Chancellor stressed that banks are banned from closing accounts or refusing services because of customers political views or beliefs.

In its response to the letter, the FCA said that it was already preparing a data exercise to understand the scale of the issue and drivers behind the reported increased in account terminations.

It comes after Mr Farage, former leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party and then the Brexit Party, revealed that his business and personal accounts were closed by private bank Coutts because of his political views.

The backlash from the decision has since led to the resignation of Dame Alison Rose  chief executive of the NatWest Group, which owns Coutts  and Peter Flavel, the Coutts chief executive.

It comes after former politician Nigel Farage revealed that his business and personal accounts were closed by private bank Coutts because of his political views - Gareth Fuller

Mr Farage is currently in talks with Coutts to keep both his accounts open, with new chief executive Mohammed Syed offering to reverse the original decision. He has not confirmed whether he has accepted the offer.

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The former member of European Parliament said that he has sought an apology and compensation from the bank over the scandal. Mr Farage has recently launched a website aimed at helping victims of debanking.

The Government last month announced new rules to combat debanking, which forces lenders to explain and delay any decision to close an account.

Under the changes, banks will have to provide savers three months notice and must spell out the reasons behind their decision, in a bid to increase transparency for customers.

Commenting on debanking, Mr Hunt said: Im worried that it may exist more than we had thought.

And the reason Im worried is because free speech is a fundamental human right. And you can agree or disagree with Nigel Farage but everyone wants to be able to express their opinions.

But in todays society you need a bank account to function and so a threat to be de-banked, as the word is now widely used, is a threat to your right to express your opinions.

The FCAs latest announcement follows calls for the Chancellor to investigate the regulator to restore integrity to the banking system.

A group of prominent Conservatives and former financial industry figures wrote to Mr Hunt sharing their concerns that the FCA had inadvertently encouraged a debanking culture by encouraging lenders to act responsibly under what is known as environmental, social, and governance principles.

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As it gears up for its mainnet launch tomorrow, Base, Coinbases Ethereum new layer-2 solution, just welcomed a new partner.

Chainlink, the leading decentralized oracle network, announced this Tuesday the implementation of price feeds into the chain.

The tool streamlines the integration of DeFi protocols, including externally connected DeFi applications such as lending and borrowing protocols, and derivatives markets.

The native integration of Chainlink Price Feeds into Base will enable developers with the tools they need to port existing applications over to Base and empower them to experiment with novel use cases that can be built on Bases hyper-scalable layer-2 environment, Jesse Pollak, Creator of Base and Head of Protocols at Coinbase, said in a statement.

Coinbase Enlists Coca-Cola, Atari Ahead of Base Mainnet Launch

Specifically, it facilitates the link between smart contracts and tangible data points, like asset prices. Chainlink's oracle promises dependable data delivery, collating information from multiple sources through a decentralized network of independent node operators.

The integration of Chainlink Price Feeds into Bases layer-2 blockchain is more than just a technical integration; its a strategic alignment of vision and values, Johann Eid, Chief Business Officer at Chainlink Labs, told Decrypt.

Each price data feed reflects a volume-weighted average across selected exchanges, including both decentralized and centralized exchanges, with built-in filters for suspicious volume and price outliers to ensure the delivery of a fair market price.

Base enters layer-2 arena

Opened to developers in July, the blockchain has an uphill battle of building attractive applications to stand out in the crowded layer-2 ecosystem.

In the past week, though, its already managed to attract a ton of liquidity thanks to a flurry of meme coins launching on the network.

The Base team has spent a long time helping to drive our industry forward, and both teams are dedicated to delivering robust solutions that open up endless possibilities for developers while ensuring accuracy and security, Eid told Decrypt. This collaboration is another step towards the ever-present end goal of preparing our industry for mass adoption.

Story continues

8 Billion People Will Go On-Chain Over the Next Decade: Coinbase Protocols Lead

With this perspective in mind, Bases team launched the Onchain Summer initiative in partnership with Coca-Cola, Opensea, and Atari.

It consists of a series of events in which creators and developers can make art or build applications on Base.
A rendering for a 12-unit condo project at 330 Grand Street on Manhattan's Lower East Side. Photo: Colliers

A partnership between developer Sheryl Hempel and Prosper Property Group has landed a $16 million debt package to complete a planned condominium development on Manhattans Lower East Side, Commercial Observer has learned.

Crestline Direct Finance and Summit Capital Funding supplied the two-year floating-rate loan for the sponsorships six-story, 12-unit condo project at 330 Grand Street.

The debt package will refinance an existing $12.35 million construction loan provided by Parkview Financial in late 2020, and also fund the balance of its development and carry costs.

Colliers (CIGI) arranged the transaction with a team led by Dylan Kane and Zach Redding  both managing directors in the brokerages New York capital markets group. Kane said that the development has faced delays stemming largely from the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the projects sponsors to pivot from modular to traditional construction methods.

We have a building that they took up to the full six stories, plus the rooftop. This loan will refinance the previous loan and then also provide capital to finish the enclosures and the interiors, Kane said. This gives them the capital they need to finish the project.

The 330 Grand Street project will feature 10,735 of sellable square feet, more than 2,000 square feet of private outdoor space and a resident rooftop lounge. The Kurv Architecture-designed propertys amenities will include a fitness center, storage units, bike storage and a virtual doorman.

Hempel acquired the 330 Grand Street property in 2017 and recently partnered with Prosper Property Group. The company is known as Prosper on the ownership side of the business and also has a construction contracting division called First Standard Construction.

What was great about this deal was the team at First Standard had just completed a similar-sized rental building at 282 Grand Street, just down the block, Kane said. They have a strong track record.

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The 330 Grand project is slated for completion in the first quarter of 2024. Residential sales will be led by Serhant beginning in early 2024.

As with any deal happening right now, the hurdles we came across were easily navigated because of the teams experience and commitment to the deal, Eddie Bender, principal and chief financial officer at Prosper Property Group, said in a statement.

Hempel did not immediately return a request for comment. Crestline Direct Finance and Summit Capital Funding declined to comment.

Andrew Coen can be reached at acoen@commercialobserver.com.

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Read the original story Crestline Direct Finance, Summit Capital Funding Lend $16M on Lower East Side Condo Building and others by Andrew Coen at Commercial Observer.
Delek Logistics Partners, LP (NYSE:DKL) Q2 2023 Earnings Call Transcript August 7, 2023

Operator: Good day, and welcome to the Delek Logistics Partners Second Quarter Conference Call. All participants will be in a listen-only mode. [Operator Instructions] Please note this event is being recorded. I would now like to turn the conference over to Rosy Zuklic. Vice President of Investor Relations. Please go ahead.

Rosy Zuklic: Welcome to the Delek Logistics Partners second quarter earnings conference call. Participants on todays call will include Avigal Soreq, President; Joseph Israel, EVP, Operations; Reuven Spiegel, EVP and Chief Financial Officer; and Odely Sakazi, SVP, Delek Logistics. As a reminder, this conference call will contain forward-looking statements as defined under the federal securities laws, including without limitation, statements regarding guidance and future business outlook. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ from our forecast. For more information, please refer to the risk factors discussed in the companys most recently filed annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC along with the press release associated with this call.

The company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements or information, which speak of their respective date. Ill now turn the call to Avigal for opening remarks.

Avigal Soreq: Thanks Rosy. Delek Logistics Partners delivered another great quarter with $93 million of EBITDA. Delek Logistics has been able to provide consistent results and stable cash flow. We are encouraged by our positive outlook. Asset production in Permian Basin ramps up, we continue on our promising goal spent with increased scale and efficiency. We are proud to say that our acreage is outperform average growth in the basin. The Midland Gathering System volume have more than doubled from a year ago and we are excited to identify more value add opportunities with our producers. Our Delaware Gathering assets are performing well and meeting our expectations. We now expect to exceed $100 million a quarter EBITDA run rate by Q4 of this year.

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Pipeline in industrial district

On July 26, our Board of Directors report 5.1% increase in the quarterly distribution from a prior year to $1.035 per limited partner unit for the second quarter of 2023. We are committed to continuing increasing the quarterly distribution. I will now hand it over to Reuven.

Reuven Spiegel: Thank you, Avigal. Total EBITDA for Logistics was $93 million for the second quarter of 23 compared with $65 million for the same period in 22. For the second quarter of 23 distributable cash flow was $60 million, and the DCF coverage ratio was 1.34x. For the Gathering and Processing segment EBITDA this quarter was $53 million, compared with $38 million in the second quarter of 22. The increase was primarily driven from strong contributions by the Midland Gathering System as well as Delaware Gathering. Throughput for the Midland Gathering averaged approximately 222,000 barrels per day for the second quarter of 23, more than twice the average 100,000 barrels per day in the second quarter of 22.

The Wholesale Marketing and Terminaling segment EBITDA of $28 million for the quarter, compared with $90 million in the second quarter of 22. The increase was due to higher terminaling throughput in East Texas and higher gross margin in our West Texas operation. The Storage and Transportation segment had EBITDA of $15 million this quarter, which is in line with the last year results. And lastly, the Investment in Pipeline Joint Venture segment contributed $7 million toward the second quarter of 23, flat with the second quarter of 22. Moving on to capital expenditures, second quarter of 23, capital spending was $19 million, most of that spent was for growth projects, namely advancing new connections in the Delaware and Midland Gathering Systems.

For 2023, we maintained with our capital outlook of $81 million. With that we can open the call for questions.

Operator: [Operator Instructions] Since we have no questions at this time, we will turn the conference over back to Avigal Soreq for any closing remarks.

See also 30 U.S. Cities With Highest Violent Crime Rates and 20 High-Paying Dream Jobs You Didnt Know Existed.

To continue reading the Q&A session, please click here.
Its been a busy summer for Bob Iger. The Walt Disney CEO extended his contract, welcomed back two former executives as advisors, and briefly became the villain of the Hollywood strikes. Iger is on a four-year mission to turn Disney around, but early results are a mixed bag. Despite Wall Streets longtime warmth toward the CEO, Disneys stock has fallen 11% since he returned to the company in November, while the S&P 500 index has swelled 13%.

The company will report quarterly earnings Wednesday after market close. Better-than-expected results could give Disney a much-needed stock boost after its share price has been tumbling for two years, today worth less than half of its 2021 peak.

Its earnings could also give the company a leg up over its competitors, which largely underperformed this quarter. Netflixs quarterly earnings disappointed investors last month. Its revenue fell short of analyst estimates, and shares slid 9%. Warner Bros. Discovery also missed revenue expectations last week, and its total subscriber count took a hit. But its stock rose a modest 2.5% after the company reported paying off debt, increasing free cash flow, and naming a new savings target.

The majority of analysts are optimistic on Disneys stock future, with two-thirds of Wall Street analysts advising investors to buy the stock, according to Seeking Alpha. Their reasons include Disneys recent cost-cutting measures and easing criticism from the political right and left. Analysts expect Disney to report $22.5 billion in revenue this quarter, up 3% from the previous quarter and 5% from the same time last year.

After disappointing Q2 results, the pressure for Disney to deliver on its bottom line is increasing, Vladimir Dimitrov, a strategy consultant, wrote for Seeking Alpha. Last quarter, Disney missed profit estimates and lost 4 million Disney+ subscribers, or 2% of its count. The results this quarter will be pivotal to appeasing Wall Street, he said.

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What will analysts focus on?

All eyes will be on Disneys streaming business, which Iger has made a top priority. Its properties include Disney+ and ESPN+, as well as a two-thirds stake in Hulu.

Disney is in a competitive position in the streaming wars, with a subscriber count second only to Netflix. Disneys combined properties boast 231 million subscribers, 158 million of which belong to Disney+. Netflix has 238 million. While Netflix makes the most revenue of any streaming business, Disney+ and Hulu follow.

Streaming assets throughout the media industry arent yet profitable, with the exception of Netflixs. Disney isnt losing the most money, but it isnt losing the least. Paramount, which owns Paramount+, has narrower losses than Disneys business does, though it has a fraction of Disneys subscriber count. In the year leading up to Disneys most recent earnings announcement in May, the company lost $4.2 billion on its streaming business. During that same period, it made $87 billion in revenue. The company expects the segment to start earning a profit by the end of fiscal 2024, and any progress toward that goal, or signs of slippage, will be important.

Disneys plans for ESPN are also up in the air. The company is looking to sell a stake of the asset to a company that could help with content or distribution, Iger said last month. While the channel is still profitable, its numbers are on the decline, according to the New York Times. The news reflects a larger trend away from traditional television and toward streaming, which is causing media companies to revise their business models. The shift for ESPN is inevitable, Iger said on a call with analysts in February.

Investors might also want to hear from Iger about the public relations mess he made for his remarks about the Hollywood writers and actors on strike. Theres a level of expectation that they have that is just not realistic, Iger said during an interview with CNBCs Squawk Box last month. He was speaking from the Sun Valley Conference in Idaho, the so-called billionaires summer camp. Celebrities and social media users were quick to point out the CEO is expected to make $27 million in 2023 and receive a pay increase next year, while calling the unions terms unrealistic. In the following days, Disneys stock fell 5%.

Actors and performers, represented by the SAG-AFTRA labor union, went on strike last month. They joined the union representing Hollywood writers, WGA, for the first time in 63 years. The unions and the trade association representing Hollywood studios couldnt come to terms on wages, benefits, and the use of artificial intelligence.

The work stoppage, which halted nearly all productions in Hollywood, could result in delayed film and television show releases in the coming months and years. But it is also contributing to major cost savings for studios. Due to the strikes, Warner Bros. Discovery saved at least $100 million during its most recent quarter, and Netflix expects an additional $1.5 billion in free cash flow by the end of the year, executives said during their recent earnings calls. If the trend continues, Disney could report an increase of cash on hand.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com

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(Bloomberg) -- Producers of ethanol, the biofuel made from corn, are finally catching a break as the summer US travel season is bringing an unexpected windfall to an industry thats been saddled with weak consumption since the pandemic.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Rebounding fuel demand and cheaper grain have lifted the profits of turning corn into ethanol by 70% this year to roughly 80 cents per gallon, according to Bloomberg Intelligence data. Last month, buoyed by a blockbuster July 4th holiday for road travel, ethanol margins touched the highest level since late 2021.

Thats a badly needed turnaround for ethanol makers such as Andersons Inc. and Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. The industry has struggled under the weight of sluggish consumption and skyrocketing corn prices following Moscows invasion of Ukraine. Things had gotten so bad that companies including Green Plains Inc. had idled capacity to help erase a glut.

Now, a rebound in driving demand, particularly for vacation travel, has lifted gasoline consumption and ethanol blending, said Pat Bowe, chief executive officer of Andersons, one of largest US grain handlers. US law requires most of the gasoline sold in the country to contain at least 10% ethanol. Throw in solid export demand for the biofuel, and margins have been firmer all year and higher than people anticipated early on, Bowe said in an interview.

Ethanol producers are likely to see margins stay elevated with rising oil prices and softer corn, a combination that makes gasoline more expensive and ethanol cheaper. A record US corn harvest this year is expected to make the raw material even more affordable for ethanol makers in the months ahead. The gasoline-to-ethanol spread is currently sitting at minus 62 cents, a level that incentivizes higher blending.

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Improving margins have already prompted producers to raise output by 26% so far this year, government data show. Ethanol margins are higher than normal because of the lower production earlier this year, according to Jordan Fife, president of BioUrja Trading in Texas. There is an increase in production right now because producers want to make money, Fife said.

Archer-Daniels-Midland and Andersons are among ethanol makers that have reported strong second-quarter earnings in their ethanol business, supported by rising margins. Others missed out. Green Plains had to take one of its largest and most profitable plants in Wood River, Nebraska, offline for weeks after an explosion. This and other unplanned outages led the ethanol powerhouse to miss its earnings target.

Longer-term challenges remain for the industry. The Biden administration pulled back blending mandates for 2024 and 2025, and gasoline demand, though better than last year, is no where near 2019 highs and will likely never return to pre-pandemic levels. Further out, the administrations crack down on vehicle pollution all but guarantees a bleak future for internal combustion engines and the liquid fuels that power them.

Still, ADMs CEO, Juan Luciano, said he expects biofuels demand to remain strong in the months ahead.

Through the first half of the year, we saw robust margins from biodiesel, strong demand for ethanol, and an increasing demand for vegetable oil from renewable green diesel, he said in a recent earnings call. We expect these trends to continue in the second half.

--With assistance from Gerson Freitas Jr. and Michael Hirtzer.

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
With a daily gain of 17.9%, a 3-month gain of 22.92%, and an Earnings Per Share (EPS) of 6.19, Eli Lilly and Co (NYSE:LLY) has shown impressive performance. However, the question remains: is the stock significantly overvalued? This article provides an in-depth analysis to answer this question, exploring the company's valuation, financial strength, profitability, and growth.

Company Introduction

Eli Lilly and Co (NYSE:LLY) is a leading drug firm with a focus on neuroscience, cardiometabolic, cancer, and immunology. The company's key products include Verzenio for cancer; Mounjaro, Jardiance, Trulicity, Humalog, and Humulin for diabetes; and Taltz and Olumiant for immunology. Despite its impressive market cap of $508.20 billion and sales of $27.70 billion, the company's stock price of $535.36 significantly exceeds its GF Value of $277.29, suggesting that the stock may be overvalued.

Eli Lilly and Co: A Deep Dive into its Significantly Overvalued Status

Understanding the GF Value

The GF Value is a proprietary measure that provides an estimation of a stock's fair value. It is computed based on historical trading multiples, a GuruFocus adjustment factor based on past performance and growth, and future business performance estimates. If a stock's price significantly exceeds the GF Value Line, it is likely overvalued and may offer poor future returns. Conversely, if the price is significantly below the GF Value Line, the stock is potentially undervalued and may offer higher future returns.

Based on this analysis, Eli Lilly and Co's stock is significantly overvalued. Given this overvaluation, the long-term return of its stock is likely to be much lower than its future business growth.

Eli Lilly and Co: A Deep Dive into its Significantly Overvalued Status

Link: These companies may deliver higher future returns at reduced risk.

Evaluating Financial Strength

Investing in companies with poor financial strength can lead to a higher risk of permanent loss. Eli Lilly and Co's cash-to-debt ratio of 0.19 is worse than 77.01% of companies in the Drug Manufacturers industry, suggesting fair financial strength.

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Eli Lilly and Co: A Deep Dive into its Significantly Overvalued Status

Profitability and Growth

Investing in profitable companies, especially those with consistent profitability over the long term, often poses less risk. Eli Lilly and Co has been profitable for 9 out of the past 10 years, demonstrating strong profitability. However, the company's 3-year average annual revenue growth rate of 9.8% ranks worse than 51.81% of companies in the Drug Manufacturers industry, suggesting room for improvement in growth.

ROIC vs WACC

Comparing a company's return on invested capital (ROIC) to the weighted average cost of capital (WACC) is another way to assess its profitability. Eli Lilly and Co's ROIC of 18.61 is higher than its WACC of 7.04, indicating that the company is creating value for shareholders.

Eli Lilly and Co: A Deep Dive into its Significantly Overvalued Status

Conclusion

In conclusion, Eli Lilly and Co's stock is significantly overvalued, despite its fair financial condition and strong profitability. To learn more about Eli Lilly and Co stock, you can check out its 30-Year Financials here.

To find high-quality companies that may deliver above-average returns, check out the GuruFocus High Quality Low Capex Screener.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


Tesla CEO Elon Musks attorneys argued on Monday that the billionaires legal battle with a group of disgruntled Dogecoin investors has dragged on for too long.

Musks counsel asked for the plaintiffs revised complaint to be dismissed, according to a filing submitted in a New York federal court. In a letter supporting the dismissal, Musk lawyer Alex Shapiro skewered the lawsuits latest complaint submitted on behalf of Dogecoin investors.

Enough is enough, Shapiro wrote. This action is yet another example of counsels abusive and belligerent litigation tactics.

Evan Spencer, the lead attorney in the class-action lawsuit against Musk, amended the lawsuits complaint for a third time in June, tacking on additional allegations.

Elon Musk, Tesla and SpaceX Hit With $258 Billion Dogecoin Lawsuit

The lawsuit, which initially sought $258 billion in damages when filed last June, accuses Musk of a deliberate course of carnival barking, market manipulation, and insider trading when it comes to one of cryptos most iconic meme coins.

Musks enthusiasm for Dogecoin has been well-documented over the years since his initial Tweet that Dogecoin may be [his] fav cryptocurrency in April 2019, and its only continued since his acquisition of Twitter last year.

The Tesla CEOs latest high-profile moment involving Dogecoin took place around (but not on) April Fools Day when Twitters logo was temporarily replaced with Dogecoins Shiba Inu mascot. In the amended complaint, Spenser notes the switch took place shortly after Musks counsel sought to dismiss the lawsuit in March and led Dogecoin to rally 30%.

Dogecoin Surges 20% as Doge Replaces Bird Logo on Twitter

In 2021, Dogecoin pumped to dizzying heights ahead of Musks appearance on NBCs Saturday Night Live only for Dogecoin to buckle after he called it a hustle on the late-night comedy show. Still, Musks counsel says any Dogecoin cheerleading their client has done over the years amounts to quintessential, inactionable puffery.

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There is nothing unlawful about tweeting words of support for, or funny pictures about, a cryptocurrency, Musks counsel wrote in Mondays motion, deriding the amended complaint as fanciful, meandering, and often incomprehensible.

Musks lawyers stated the lawsuits claims fail to hold up under scrutiny because allegations rest on Dogecoin sold by digital wallets that are not factually tied to Musk or Tesla. Additionally, Musks lawyers claim the lawsuit fails to demonstrate Musks comments about Dogecoin were materially false or misleading.

In June, U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, who oversees the case, set a deadline for Musks lawyers to respond to the amended complaint by Monday. In terms of filing their opposition to the motion for dismissal, attorneys representing Dogecoin investors have until early September.

Dogecoin Investors Decry 'Dirty Tactics' by Elon Musk Lawyers in Insider Trading Case

As June progressed, the legal battle took an acrimonious turn. Spencer accused Musks legal team of engaging in dirty tactics after an article in the New York Post cited a letter written by Musk lawyer Alex Spiro. Asking for several of Musks lawyers to be removed from the case, Spencer alleged it was an attempt to materially prejudice the lawsuit.

It appears defendants are using their bottomless war chest to finance an unlawful harassment campaign against me and my clients, Spencer wrote in a subsequent filing.

Musks lawyers shot back and called the request to remove counsel an insult, adding that allegations Spiro leaked the derogatory letter were baseless. They said that it was actually Spencer who was acting inappropriately and his allegations were so improper that Spencers Motion itself [was] sanctionable.
Generally, when a single insider buys stock, it is usually not a big deal. However, when several insiders are buying, like in the case of Pact Group Holdings Ltd (ASX:PGH), it sends a favourable message to the company's shareholders.

Although we don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether.

View our latest analysis for Pact Group Holdings

Pact Group Holdings Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when Non-Executive Chairman Raphael Geminder bought AU$441k worth of shares at a price of AU$1.55 per share. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at above the current price of AU$0.79. Their view may have changed since then, but at least it shows they felt optimistic at the time. To us, it's very important to consider the price insiders pay for shares. Generally speaking, it catches our eye when insiders have purchased shares at above current prices, as it suggests they believed the shares were worth buying, even at a higher price.

Pact Group Holdings insiders may have bought shares in the last year, but they didn't sell any. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

Pact Group Holdings is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Insider Ownership

Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. Our data suggests Pact Group Holdings insiders own 1.5% of the company, worth about AU$4.0m. We do note, however, it is possible insiders have an indirect interest through a private company or other corporate structure. I generally like to see higher levels of ownership.

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So What Does This Data Suggest About Pact Group Holdings Insiders?

There haven't been any insider transactions in the last three months -- that doesn't mean much. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. While we have no worries about the insider transactions, we'd be more comfortable if they owned more Pact Group Holdings stock. So while it's helpful to know what insiders are doing in terms of buying or selling, it's also helpful to know the risks that a particular company is facing. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Pact Group Holdings you should know about.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Forward Solutions

HERSHEY, Pa., Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Forward Solutions, a leading player in outsourced marketing and sales, is thrilled to announce two significant mergers that will expand its operations and pave the way for strategic growth in the electrical channel. These mergers will bring together the established ElectroRep Inc. and R/B Sales Corporation, combining their expertise, resources, and customer bases within Forward Solutions.



ElectroRep Inc., a trusted name since 1960, has successfully served customers in California and Northern Nevada, generating exceptional opportunities through demand creation for the manufacturers they represent. Their commitment to excellence and customer-centric approach has enabled them to build a strong reputation in the industry. R/B Sales Corporation, operating since 1977, has been a driving force in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, and Nebraska, with an unwavering focus on establishing deep relationships with national end users and providing unparalleled customer service support.

The strategic merger with both ElectroRep and R/B Sales is a natural fit that leverages each companys respective strengths, expanding Forward Solutions sales expertise and enhancing its ability to serve a broader customer base. By combining the data-driven systems of ElectroRep with the national end user relationships of R/B Sales, the new electrical division will bring a holistic approach to serving electrical distributors, OEMs, MROs, electrical contractors, specifying engineers, and other end users.

President / CEO of Forward Solutions, Joe Orednick, expressed great enthusiasm about the mergers, stating, "We are thrilled to welcome ElectroRep and R/B Sales into the Forward Solutions portfolio. These mergers mark the beginning of a new era as we strategically invest in the electrical channel. Additionally, it positions us to unlock immense potential, drive sustainable growth, and deliver unparalleled value to our customers through insights and data."

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Kelly Boyd, CEO and President of ElectroRep, expressed excitement about the collaboration, stating, Joining forces with Forward Solutions marks another thrilling milestone for ElectroRep. We were impressed by Forward Solutions remarkable track record in uniting multiple mergers seamlessly, making this partnership highly enticing. By combining our culture and investments with Forward Solutions resources, we have the catalyst to deliver diverse and unique solutions that address evolving trends in the Electrical market. This merger allows ElectroRep to maintain local strategies while implementing broader initiatives and enhancing specialization where needed. We are proud to be Forward Solutions first step into the electrical channel, unlocking compelling opportunities for our employees, customers, and the manufacturers we represent.

President of R/B Sales, Bill Devereaux, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the value that the merger will bring to customers. "We are excited to join Forward Solutions and become part of their growth strategy. Our unwavering commitment to growing sales, marketing, and service aligns seamlessly with Forward Solutions vision. Together, we will deliver exceptional experiences to electrical distributors, contractors, and other end users across the region."

The newly formed division will operate under the Forward Solutions umbrella while retaining the individual expertise, relationships, and strengths of ElectroRep and R/B Sales. Customers can expect business operations to continue without disruption. The capabilities of each business will be further enhanced to provide support that is both more comprehensive and personal in their established territories.

About Forward Solutions

Forward Solutions is a customer-centric company that combines experience, relationships, products, services, and data to deliver a unique commercial B2B experience. Our portfolio includes a range of divisions such as Avision, Curate, Integrated Access Corporation, OneSolution, RelyPak, and StruXur. These divisions cater to manufacturers who seek to effectively grow their businesses through outsourced sales, marketing, customer support, and data analytics. The various divisions of Forward Solutions collectively provide an array of products sold through distribution to schools, hospitals, restaurants, commercial businesses, office buildings, manufacturing plants, contractors, utilities, and more. In addition, our divisions, Allynt Solutions and C3Team, offer consulting services to manufacturers, distributors, and end users. With focused expertise in facility maintenance, cleaning, hygiene, foodservice disposables, foodservice equipment, industrial/MRO, safety, construction, utilities, telecom, and packaging supply channels, Forward Solutions is well-equipped to meet the diverse needs of our clients.

Contact:

Gina Tsiropoulos

678-389-7126

Forward-Solutions.com

gina.tsiropoulos@forward-solutions.com




(Bloomberg) -- The German government expects Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. to give the go-ahead for the construction of a 10 billion ($11 billion) facility in the eastern city of Dresden on Tuesday after a board meeting, according to people familiar with the matter.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Chancellor Olaf Scholzs ruling coalition will provide as much as 5 billion in subsidies for the plant, which will specialize in making chips for the automotive sector, Bloomberg has reported.

The imminent TSMC approval for the new fab was first reported earlier Monday by Germanys Handelsblatt newspaper. Spokespeople for the Economy Ministry in Berlin and the regional government of Saxony, where Dresden is located, declined to comment when contacted by Bloomberg about the article. TSMC spokeswoman Nina Kao said she has no further update.

Governments around the world are competing fiercely for new chip factories in an effort to secure more control over the manufacturing of the components critical to global supply chains.

A disruption of supplies at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic  particularly out of Asia  caused widespread shortages that rippled across industries including autos and consumer electronics, driving home the risks to all nations of depending on foreign inventories.

Germany has emerged as one of the most aggressive countries chasing after more domestic manufacturing. Scholzs government is expected to approve a plan this week to top up a fund targeting semiconductor production, along with climate-protection measures, by about $22 billion, according to people familiar with the discussions. Intel Corp. is set to receive about $11 billion in subsidies from the government in Berlin for its own chip complex.

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Taiwan-based TSMC has been in talks with partners including NXP Semiconductors NV, Robert Bosch GmbH and Infineon Technologies AG to invest in the new German venture, Bloomberg News has reported.

TSMC Chairman Mark Liu has since confirmed that his company is considering having customers hold minority stakes in the German plant, although he has not disclosed the names of the parties interested in doing so.

To mollify concerns from customers over growing tensions in the Taiwan Strait, TSMC has been expanding its overseas presence.

It has committed to creating two advanced facilities in the US state of Arizona with a total price tag of $40 billion, and its building a $8.6 billion plant in Japan with support from the government in Tokyo and investment from Sony Group Corp. and Denso Corp.

--With assistance from Alberto Nardelli, Lynn Doan, Agatha Cantrill and Christoph Rauwald.

(Updates with detail on TSMC expansion plans; a previous version corrected dollar amount in first deck head)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
DUBLIN, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Tea Market, Size, Forecast 2023-2028, Industry Trends, Growth, Share, Outlook, Impact of Inflation, Opportunity Company Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

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The Global Tea Market is projected to reach a value of US$ 70.45 Billion by 2028, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.2% from 2022 to 2028.

Tea holds a special place in the hearts of people worldwide, cherished for its affordability and delightful flavor. It plays a significant role in the global beverage industry and is grown in specific regions due to temperature and soil characteristics. Major tea producers include China, India, Sri Lanka in Asia, and Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda in Africa. Other regions like South America, the Middle East, and Russia also contribute to tea production but to a lesser extent. As of 2021, global tea production exceeds 6.5 billion tons.

The vast range of teas available offers substantial growth potential. Organic tea, green tea, fruit tea, chamomile tea, white tea, and other unique blends are gaining popularity among consumers. For example, chamomile tea, brewed from flowers, offers various health benefits, including improved sleep, digestive health, blood sugar management, and heart health. Peppermint tea is another herbal favorite known for its pleasant flavor derived from dried peppermint leaves.

In the pursuit of sustainability, Nestle S.A. has taken a significant step by introducing a zero-waste initiative to convert tea waste into beneficial fertilizer. This move prevents resource wastage, reduces energy emissions, and minimizes overall waste. Tea waste proves to be an excellent fertilizer as it contains essential components like potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus. With exciting new varieties and environmental measures, the tea industry has substantial growth potential, making it a favorite among consumers worldwide.

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Key Drivers of Market Growth:

Rising demand from Asia and the Pacific regions due to increasing incomes. Increasing popularity among young urban consumers due to health benefits and a variety of flavors and varieties. Anticipated growth in green tea consumption surpassing black tea in the future.

Green Tea Leading the Market:

Among various tea types, green tea is expected to be the most profitable due to increased demand for healthy beverages. Green tea is known for its health benefits, such as aiding in weight reduction, improving digestion, and boosting immunity. Matcha green tea, a well-known variant, is prepared by crushing the dried leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Notable green tea brands in the market include Lipton and Tetley.

Tea Bags and Packaging Trends:

The tea market offers various packaging options, including plastic containers, loose tea, paperboards, aluminum tins, and tea bags. Tea bags have gained popularity among travelers due to their convenience and mess-free use. The tea bag category is growing due to the preference for healthy and organic options, driven by the premiumization trend. However, the loose tea segment, valued for its superior flavor and aroma, presents a challenge to the tea bag business. Manufacturers are adopting technologies such as PLA and paper manufacture, as well as automation, to accelerate production and supply.

Distribution Channels:

The supermarket and hypermarket channels are experiencing significant growth in the worldwide tea market due to their vast product selections. However, the rapid rise of online shopping platforms challenges the dominance of mass merchandisers. Online platforms are becoming increasingly popular among consumers looking for organic tea options and convenient delivery choices.

India's Growing Role:

India is expected to show significant growth in the tea market during the forecast period. The country has a strong tea culture and a committed base of tea enthusiasts. The urban population is becoming more health-conscious, while tea continues to be a stress reliever for the rural population. Economic development and increased disposable income among the Indian middle class are driving tea industry growth and innovation. India also holds a prominent position in the global export market as the second-largest tea producer.

Key Players:

Key players in the global tea market include Unilever, Associated British Foods, Nestle SA, Hain Celestial, McleodRussel, Asian Tea and Export Ltd., Tata Consumer Product Ltd., and Starbucks.

The global tea market is poised for long-term expansion, driven by increasing demand from Asia and the Pacific regions, the popularity of green tea, and various packaging trends. The availability of a wide range of tea flavors and varieties is expected to contribute to the industry's optimistic future..

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/he3ztv

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-tea-market-2023-companies-innovate-with-zero-waste-initiatives-to-attract-environmentally-conscious-consumers-301895738.html

SOURCE Research and Markets
PLYMOUTH, Conn., August 08, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GoNetspeed today announced that the Town of Plymouth will soon have access to 100% fiber internet. Through GoNetspeeds privately funded $1.5 million investment in Plymouth, more than 2,700 homes and businesses will have access to future-proof fiber internet as early as the end of this fall with construction beginning next month. Residents and businesses interested in GoNetspeed services may visit gonetspeed.com to indicate interest and receive construction updates.

"The Town of Plymouth is grateful for GoNetspeeds commitment to our community. With their support, we will be supported by an infrastructure that will grow with Plymouth," said Mayor Joseph Kilduff. "With access to 100% fiber internet, Plymouth will have the opportunity to experience another provider option that is designed with our future needs in mind, all while supporting our growth and business development."

"GoNetspeed is thrilled to soon add the Town of Plymouth to our 100% fiber internet network. With access to high-speed fiber internet, Plymouth will be supported by a provider that can meet the growing demands for more broadband with faster speeds," said Tom Perrone, GoNetspeed Chief Operating Officer. "We thankful for the warm welcome we have received from Mayor Kilduff, the board, and the residents and we look forward to becoming a member of the Plymouth community."

GoNetspeed continues to ensure that more communities throughout Connecticut have access to a high-speed 100% fiber internet infrastructure. Currently, more than 30 communities throughout the state have access to GoNetspeeds service.

With a legacy of innovation and a commitment to customer service, GoNetspeed is continuing to accelerate the expansion of its fiber networks throughout nine states, including Connecticut. GoNetspeed continues to deliver more fiber, more access, more speed, and better reliability to residents and businesses throughout our footprint. With access to 100% fiber internet, customers have access to symmetrical upload and download speeds, ranging from 500 Mbps to 1 Gbps (1,000 Mbps). Learn more about GoNetspeed at gonetspeed.com.

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About GoNetspeed:

GoNetspeed, a high-speed fiber internet provider serving residential and business customers in Maine, Alabama, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and West Virginia, formed a partnership with Oak Hill Capital ("Oak Hill") in January 2021, allowing GoNetspeed to accelerate the expansion of its fiber network throughout the Northeastern U.S. Adding thousands of new service areas every year, GoNetspeed is one of the largest independent internet providers in the east. For more information about GoNetspeed, or to inquire about service in your residence, business or community, visit gonetspeed.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230808484951/en/

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By Diane Bartz

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Google asked a U.S. appeals court in New York on Tuesday to pause a decision to return an antitrust lawsuit filed by the state of Texas back to federal court in Texas.

The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation in June granted the state's request to send the lawsuit back to federal court in Texas. The lawsuit alleges that Google, a unit of Alphabet, abused its dominance in advertising technology.

The panel stayed the decision to give Google time to appeal its decision to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

After the lawsuit was filed in 2020, Google successfully petitioned for it to be moved from Texas to a federal court in New York, where other advertising technology cases were being heard.

But Texas convinced the judicial panel to move the case back to Texas, citing a measure that became law last year which gave state attorneys general the right to choose where an antitrust lawsuit will be litigated. The federal court in Texas has a reputation for moving quickly.

Google has argued that the law is not retroactive.

The search and advertising giant, which also makes a smartphone operating system and owns YouTube, faces antitrust lawsuits around the world that mostly allege abuse of dominance of one sort or another. Alphabet has denied any wrongdoing.

(Reporting by Diane Bartz in Washington; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
lithuim extraction in cornwall uk

The Government has backed plans for a Cornish lithium mine as part of efforts to boost Britains battery making industry.

The state-backed UK Infrastructure Bank has invested in Cornish Lithium as part of a 53m funding round, the company said.

Cornish Lithium is one of two companies in the county vying to get a working mine running.

Lithium is a crucial component for battery making and having a local supply will help cut carbon costs and logistical expenses of obtaining it from Australia, South America and China, where it is more common.

Cornish Lithium hopes to produce about 8,000 tonnes per year of battery-grade lithium hydroxide from 2026, which is about 10pc of the UKs forecast demand for the metal.

Andrew Griffith, the UKs economic secretary to the Treasury said: This investment supports plans laid out in the Governments critical minerals strategy by improving the UKs domestic supply of lithium, which will help the UKs transition towards net zero while boosting local and regional economic growth.

The new funding will significantly accelerate progress toward the creation of a domestic supply of battery grade lithium compounds, the company said.

It hopes the investment will unlock a further 168m of investment for kicking off production.

Cornish Lithium revealed in its annual report two months ago that it was facing a looming cash crunch, with chairman Ian Cockerill blaming the Government for failing to offer taxpayer-funded incentives to match those offered in the US and the European Union.

He said: The UK is currently being left behind in this global race to secure the industries that will drive the energy transition to renewable power and the electrification of transport.

The latest investment follows a flurry of positive news for green energy investment in the UK, including Tatas decision to build a gigafactory to supply Jaguar Land Rover production in Britain.

In 2021 then-prime minister Boris Johnson hailed Cornwall as the Klondike of lithium and raised the possibility of a gigafactory being built in the county.

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Energy & Minerals Group and existing shareholder TechMet both also provided cash to Cornish Lithium in the latest funding round.

Cornish Lithium plans a share offering for up to 6.9m for retail investors, it said.

The company received 18m from investment metals investor TechMet in 2021. A US government-backed investment company has also injected capital.

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.
RedDot Corp. announced Tuesday the company is investing $18 million to expand its manufacturing and distribution operations in Memphis.

The project will create 50 new RedDOT jobs in Shelby County, according to a news release from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.

Tennessee is the best state in the nation for companies to succeed, thanks to our strong economy, unmatched business climate and highly skilled workforce, Gov. Bill Lee said. I thank RedDot for its investment to expand operations in Memphis and create greater opportunity for Tennesseans across Shelby County.

The company plans to add approximately 175,000 square feet of space to its existing facility to help meet increased customer demand and market growth in the Southeastern U.S.

RedDot was previously approved for a 10-year payment-in-lieu-of-taxes incentive by the Economic Development Growth Engine board in 2021 to purchase the facility on President's Island formerly occupied by GlaxoSmithKline. The company planned to spend more than $14 million purchasing, renovating and equipping the site.

RedDot, founded in Seattle in 1965, the company manufactures premium mobile HVAC units and components for heavy-duty commercial and military vehicles.

FORD IN TENNESSEE: Meet the leadership team driving BlueOval City's EV plant

The company currently has facilities in North America, Europe and Asia. With the additional 50 new jobs in Memphis, RedDot Corp. will employ nearly 100 Tennesseans.

We are excited about the opportunity to continue our growth trajectory in the state of Tennessee and, in particular, Shelby County, said Mike Bruneau, RedDot Corp. chief operating officer, in a statement. RedDot has invested in new capabilities and additional capacity in our new facility where we will better serve our global customer base. The State of Tennessee offers a perfect combination of location, business support and a skilled workforce to help RedDot grow.

Omer Yusuf covers the Ford project in Haywood County, FedEx, tourism and banking for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached via email Omer.Yusuf@commercialappeal.com or followed on Twitter @OmerAYusuf.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: RedDot Corp. announces Memphis expansion, new jobs: Here's what we know
Elie Maalouf, the new group CEO of IHG. Source: IHG.

IHG Hotels & Resorts new CEO Elie Maalouf said his strategy is to make the companys portfolio as appealing to owners and guests as possible. Maalouf spoke to Skift on Tuesday after his first earnings call as CEO, having taken the helm last month.

Maalouf isnt a new kid on the block at the Windsor, UK-based hotel operator  whose brands include Holiday Inn, Avid, Kimpton, and Six Senses. He previously led the groups North American business for 8 years.

Its my sixth year on the board, so Ive been integral to not only our Americas strategy but also our global strategy, Maalouf said. Ive overseen the expansion of our portfolio into all segments, including luxury and lifestyle, our further expansion into the midscale, a global expansion geographically, and the strengthening of our loyalty plan and our enterprise systems and revenue management systems.

Maalouf touted on Tuesday IHGs 19th brand  as-yet-unnamed  that will be a conversion brand (rather than new construction) and a midscale offering. (In the world of STR classes, midscale hotels sit above the budget and economy classes and below the upscale and luxury classes.) IHG said it had definitive interest from owners of about 100 properties in the new brand.

If you were the owner of an existing good quality asset in the midscale, but it didnt really fit the shape and size and requirements of a Holiday Inn Express, we didnt have a brand to offer, Maalouf said. Now we do.

Yet IHGs top boss said the group remained committed to growing its luxury and lifestyle offerings, too.

Today, luxury and lifestyle globally represents 13% of all IHG rooms and represents 21% of our pipeline, meaning that, if we only stayed there, and opened just that pipeline, without adding any more hotels signed, we would be increasing that luxury lifestyle distribution around the world by 50%, Maalouf said.

IHGs New CEO

Maalouf cares about the guest experience, but a few analysts credit his rise to the CEO job to his special focus on a key plank in the companys strategy: differentiating IHGs owner proposition from its rivals by making its hotels more profitable to create and run.

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Maalouf launched new brands and formats in North America with lower hotel development costs and leaner operating models.

The biggest win was Avid, a brand his team launched in 2017. It has been so appealing to developers that its now IHGs second-largest contributor to system size after Holiday Inn Express. Avid has 59 open hotels and 147 in the works. Development costs for the typical 96-room U.S. property are in the $9.6 million to $14 million range. As context, thats roughly 25% less than the typical midscale limited-service brand, as reported in a survey out this week from HVS, a valuation specialist.

IHGs Americas region drove record profits under Maalouf. Now hell be overseeing all of IHGs corporate strategy worldwide. Key parts include enhancing the companys marketing, its loyalty program, and the technology that owners and guests use.

Wholesale strategy changes are unlikely, and frankly unnecessary, wrote Richard Clarke and his fellow analysts in a recent Bernstein Research note.

hotel indigo panama florida King Premium Bay view Balcony

Hotel Pipeline Watch

One thing investment analysts are especially watching is how Maalouf manages the pace of growth in IHGs empire. In his previous job, he grew the IHG footprint in North America by about 20%, or nearly 700 hotels, over 8 years.

Now that hes group CEO, can he prevent IHGs net rooms growth from sagging? The company said on Tuesday it had a net system size growth of 4.6% year-over-year in the first half of this year. Thats an improvement. But Marriott forecasts it will grow net rooms this year by at least 6.4%, and Hilton forecasts net unit growth for 2023 will be about 5%.

The sluggishness is part of a trend. IHG has had only a 3% annualized growth rate, on average, over five years, while many competitors of roughly equivalent size came in at roughly 4%. The company has partly blamed an effort to cleanse its system of owners who fail to keep their properties up to brand standards.

Earlier this year in the U.S., construction slowed for hotels because of a tightening of lending conditions for developers. Projects can have one-to-two-year timelines.

So some analysts worry net rooms growth may sag in 2024 and 2025.

When asked how he would reassure analysts, Maalouf said he takes the long view.

Were pleased with the growth that we had in the first half of the year, with 40% more openings by room count than we had last year at the same period and 11% more signings, Maalouf said. As long as demand stays strong  and demand is strong  that eventually translates into bringing back more financing and development.

Still, IHG faces headwinds. In the U.S., theres some distance between IHG and its peers. It has the third-largest pipeline of hotel projects, with 811 projects, behind Marriotts 1,511 projects and Hiltons 1,470 projects, according to Lodging Econometrics.

To keep the empire expanding, IHG announced a new conversion brand on Tuesday. Conversion brands can expand more quickly than new-build, which usually take longer because of construction delays.

Maalouf may eventually turn to mergers and acquisitions to sustain growth, too. But unlike IHGs recent deals  which involved luxury brands Six Senses, Regent, and Iberostar, a play for the middle of the market seems likely.

Notably, when Maaloufs team debuted Avid in 2017, he said the brand targeted a vastly underserved $20 billion segment of the US midscale market. He made a similar claim on Tuesday about wanting to target the under-served midscale market.

Every One of IHGs Hotel Brands, Explained

Every One of IHGs Hotel Brands, Explained

IHG has assembled a hospitality collection with some of the most wide-ranging and eclectic brands in the world. Heres what you need to know about every one of them.

Read More

Appealing to Owners

Maalouf said he cares about all the variables that affect IHGs algorithm for growth, such as the effectiveness of its loyalty program and its skill at setting rates for rooms and services.

But one of his hallmarks has been working closely with owners to try to position IHG brands as more competitive than rivals.

The strength of the owner proposition affects market share and pricing power for IHG, with a direct impact on new openings and chargeable fees, wrote Jaina Mistry and other Jefferies analysts in a recent report.

A case in point: Maalouf led the creation of Atwell Suites, which opened its first property in March 2022.

The brand is upper midscale, meaning it seeks a higher nightly rate than a typical business hotel  appealing to potential owners.

Atwell Suites rooms also resemble studio apartments, aiming to encourage business travelers to stay for more than one night. Getting guests to stay somewhat longer makes running a hotel more cost-effective for an owner. This is a classic Maalouf play at achieving a lean operational model.

We continue to evolve, Maalouf said. Where do we go next? We look for spaces where guests want to travel in a segment where were not offering something today and where owner capital wants to go where we lack an offering. Its that intersection of where guests want to go and what owners want in a space where we dont have an offer.

IHGs Steady Growth

IHG said it saw next-to-no slowdown in demand when it reported first-half earnings.

The hotel operator generated a profit before tax of $567 million in the first half, 61% above a year earlier.

Its revenue rose nearly 25% to approximately $1.02 billion after deducting the revenue it collected and passed back to, or set aside for, its managed and franchised properties.

In the first half, the company saw operational strength across its portfolio.

The companys global revenue per available room  a key industry figure  was 8.7% above the pre-pandemic period of 2019.

Occupancy was only 1.3 percentage points behind 2019 levels worldwide, on average.

CORRECTION: The story has been updated to say IHGs leisure and lifestyle hotels make 13%, not 30%, of its portfolio.

Get breaking travel news and exclusive hotel, airline, and tourism research and insights at Skift.com.
Dutch Bros Inc. (NYSE: BROS) posts 103% rise in second-quarter Ebitda

Revenue rose 34% in second quarter to $250 million on new locations, same shop sales

Raises full-year Ebitda guidance to $135 million and $140 million

President Christine Barone will become CEO and President in January 2024

Current CEO Joth Ricci to leave after five years at the helm

Company plans to keep focus on profits but also on trajectory to 4,000 shops long term

By John Jannarone

Dutch Bros Inc. (NYSE: BROS) reported a surge in second-quarter Ebitda, leading it to raise full-year guidance as it announced company President Christine Barone would become CEO at the start of 2024.

The fast-growing beverage chain, which went public just under two years ago, reported Ebitda of $48.6 million as compared to $23.9 million in the same period of 2022. The improvement was driven in part by strong traffic that led to 580 basis points of sequential same shop sales growth quarter-over-quarter.

In turn, the company now expects full-year Ebitda of $135 million and $140 million, up from at least $125 million.

Store growth also continues to be a key top-line driver, with at least 150 expected in 2023. The company has said it has a target of 4,000 shops over 10-15 years.

We plan to stay on that trajectory, Ms. Barone told IPO Edge in an interview. We have had eight straight quarters of 30-plus shop growth.

In conjunction with the earnings announcement, Dutch Bros said Ms. Barone would become CEO on January 1, 2024 having been named President in February. Joth Ricci, who has been CEO for about five years, will remain onboard until January to assist the transition.

This was a small regional business looking for a path to growth, Mr. Ricci told IPO Edge. We have achieved many of the goals we set out in August 2018.

He added that he has known Ms. Barone for a decade and is happy to pass the torch. It was a natural fit for her to come in, he said. We are looking forward to making it a great transition.

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Travis Boersma, Co-founder and Executive Chairman who started the company with his brother Dane in 1992, said, Joth has been a true partner and will forever be part of the Dutch Bros family Im confident in the foundation hes created and Im grateful for the years hes dedicated to Dutch Bros and our crews.

Turning to strategy, Dutch Bros will continue to focus on reaching a young, growing demographic of consumers whose tastes differ from older generations. Cold drinks, strongly preferred by younger customers, drove over 90% of sales last quarter, consistent with similarly high levels in recent periods.

Mr. Ricci pointed out that Dutch Bros continues to focus on innovations, such as the Firecracker Rebel energy drink with Soft Top & Poppin Candy. The special drink, designed to be a fun addition to Fourth of July activities, is a twist on the popular Rebel energy drink topped with fizzing candies similar to Pop Rocks.

Dutch Bros was started in Oregon but has made a steady march further afield, especially in the last few years. Asked about the companys expansion plans, Ms. Barone said the company pays close attention to what makes customers happiest as it rolls out new locations in states like Texas. It allows us to continue our move toward the east coast, she said.

Theres also scope to focus more technology as Dutch Bros grows in years to come, including a focus on an app for Dutch Rewards and the potential to harness more big data. Were at the beginning of our journey, Ms. Barone said.

Contact:

IPO-Edge.com

Editor@IPO-Edge.com

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To find a multi-bagger stock, what are the underlying trends we should look for in a business? Firstly, we'll want to see a proven return on capital employed (ROCE) that is increasing, and secondly, an expanding base of capital employed. Basically this means that a company has profitable initiatives that it can continue to reinvest in, which is a trait of a compounding machine. However, after investigating JHM Consolidation Berhad (KLSE:JHM), we don't think it's current trends fit the mold of a multi-bagger.

Understanding 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 JHM Consolidation Berhad:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.077 = RM26m  (RM476m - RM131m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2023).

Thus, JHM Consolidation Berhad has an ROCE of 7.7%. Ultimately, that's a low return and it under-performs the Electronic industry average of 14%.

View our latest analysis for JHM Consolidation Berhad

roce

Above you can see how the current ROCE for JHM Consolidation Berhad compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you'd like, you can check out the forecasts from the analysts covering JHM Consolidation Berhad here for free.

How Are Returns Trending?

On the surface, the trend of ROCE at JHM Consolidation Berhad doesn't inspire confidence. To be more specific, ROCE has fallen from 19% over the last five years. On the other hand, the company has been employing more capital without a corresponding improvement in sales in the last year, which could suggest these investments are longer term plays. It's worth keeping an eye on the company's earnings from here on to see if these investments do end up contributing to the bottom line.

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The Key Takeaway

Bringing it all together, while we're somewhat encouraged by JHM Consolidation Berhad's reinvestment in its own business, we're aware that returns are shrinking. And investors appear hesitant that the trends will pick up because the stock has fallen 39% in the last five years. All in all, the inherent trends aren't typical of multi-baggers, so if that's what you're after, we think you might have more luck elsewhere.

Like most companies, JHM Consolidation Berhad does come with some risks, and we've found 2 warning signs that you should be aware of.

While JHM Consolidation Berhad may not currently earn the highest returns, we've compiled a list of companies that currently earn more than 25% return on equity. Check out this free list here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
DALLAS (AP)  A judge has sanctioned Southwest Airlines, writing that the airline twisted his words and disregarded his order in the case of a flight attendant who claimed that she was fired for expressing her opposition to abortion.

U.S. District Judge Brantley Starr found Southwest in contempt for the way it explained the case to flight attendants last year after losing a jury verdict. In a blistering 29-page order, the judge said the airline acted as if its own policy limiting what employees can say is more important than a federal law protecting religious speech.

On Monday, the judge ordered Southwest to pay the flight attendant's most recent legal costs, dictated a statement for Southwest to relay to employees, and ordered three Southwest lawyers to complete religious-liberty training" from a conservative Christian legal-advocacy group.

Southwest filed an appeal of last year's judgement in May. A spokesman said Tuesday that the Dallas-based airline also plans to appeal the judge's new sanctions.

For Southwest, the sanctions add insult to injury. They stem from a roughly $800,000 judgment against the airline and the flight attendant's union. Although that was less than the jury's $5.1 million award, Charlene Carter also got her job back.

Carter, a longtime union critic, said she was fired after she called the union president despicable for attending the 2017 Womens March in Washington, D.C. At the event, women protested the inauguration of President Donald Trump and called for protecting abortion rights among many issues.

The airline and Local 556 of the Transport Workers Union said Carter had made offensive posts on Facebook and harassed the union president in private messages.

The jury in a Dallas court found that Southwest violated Carters right to religious speech.

After the trial last year, the judge  a Trump nominee who joined the bench in 2019  ordered the airline to tell flight attendants that under federal law, it may not discriminate against Southwest flight attendants for their religious practices and beliefs.

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Instead, the airline told employees that it does not discriminate," and it doubled down by telling flight attendants to follow the airline policy that it cited in firing Carter.

In an order this week that alternated between sarcasm and outrage, Starr ruled that Southwest didn't come close to complying with the Court's order. He schooled the airline on the definitions of may, does and tolerate"  complete with footnotes citing the Merriam-Webster dictionary.

The judge ordered Southwest to email a new, verbatim statement declaring that the airline may not discriminate against flight attendants for religious beliefs including  but not limited to abortion.

Starr ordered three company lawyers to undergo eight hours of religious-liberty training this month by the Alliance Defending Freedom, calling the group particularly well-suited for the work. The Southern Poverty Law Center has called ADF an anti-LGBTQ hate group. ADF disputes the characterization.

Starr held senior positions in the Texas attorney general's office for several years before Trump nominated him for the federal bench. The Senate confirmed his nomination 51-39, voting along party lines in the then-GOP-controlled body. He is a member of the conservative legal group the Federalist Society.
Nairobi police, along with multi-agency officials, raided a Worldcoin warehouse in the Kenyan capital last Saturday, local news outlets reported.

Police officers reportedly seized documents and machines which were allegedly sent to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters for examination.

According to local media, Immaculate Kassait, the commissioner of Kenya's Office of Data Protection, said Worldcoin's parent company Tools for Humanity failed to disclose its true intentions when it registered in Kenya.

When Decrypt reached out to local authorities for a statement, there was no response at the time of publication. A source close to the matter confirmed with Decrypt the raids took place.

Last Wednesday, the Kenyan government announced the suspension of Worldcoins activities in the country to examine the legality of the companys operations, the safety and protection of the data harvested, and how the company intends to use the data.

Worldcoin's data woes

Introduced in late July 2023 by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, users prove that they are humans by scanning their irises via a piece of hardware called an Orb.

In exchange, they receive 25 of the projects native cryptocurrency WLD. Those Orbs are now available in more than 300 locations around the world, with more than 2,200,000 persons already registered, according to Worldcoins official website.

Kenyan authorities' primary concerns are the same as in the other countries where Worldcoin operates. It revolves around the usage of the data the company collects when scanning peoples eyeballs.

Germany's Far-Right AfD: Worldcoin Orbs 'Solely for the Global Surveillance of People'

Asked for comments, a Worldcoin spokesperson emphasized the fact that the company does not and never will sell any user personal data. Worldcoin was designed to protect individual privacy and has built a robust privacy program, the spokesperson told Decrypt. The Worldcoin Foundation complies with all laws and regulations governing the processing of personal data in the markets where Worldcoin is available.

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According to the company, any images captured during the World ID verification process are promptly deleted from the Orb.

The Kenyan Capital Markets Authority (CMA) also expressed its reservations about the companys legal frame of its operations in the African country.

Moreover, the process of scanning itself reportedly caused security problems in Nairobi, by attracting massive gatherings. "The demand for Worldcoins proof of personhood verification services in Kenya has been overwhelming, resulting in tens of thousands of individuals waiting in lines over a two-day period to secure a World ID, a spokesperson for Worldcoin told Decrypt. Out of an abundance of caution and in an effort to mitigate crowd volume, verification services have been temporarily paused.

Worldcoin Bug Allowed Anyone to Become Orb Operator: CertiK

The company said it is now focused on adapting its processes.

During the pause, the team will develop an onboarding program that encompasses more robust crowd control measures and work with local officials to increase understanding of the privacy measures and commitments Worldcoin implements, not only in Kenya but everywhere, the Worldcoins spokesperson told Decrypt.
KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE:KKR) Q2 2023 Earnings Call Transcript August 7, 2023

Operator: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by. Welcome to KKR's Second Quarter 2023 Earnings Conference Call. During today's presentation, all parties will be in a listen-only mode. Following management's prepared remarks, the conference will be opened for questions. [Operator Instructions] Ill now hand the call over to Craig Larson, Head of Investor Relations for KKR. Craig, please go ahead.

Craig Larson: Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to our second quarter 2023 earnings call. As usual, I'm joined by Rob Lewin, our Chief Financial Officer; and Scott Nuttall, our co-Chief Executive Officer. We'd like to remind everyone that we'll refer to non-GAAP measures on the call, which are reconciled to GAAP figures in our press release, which is available on the Investor Center section at kkr.com. And as a reminder, we report our segment numbers on an adjusted share basis. This call will contain forward-looking statements, which do not guarantee future events or performance. Please refer to our earnings release and our SEC filings for cautionary factors about these statements. Turning now to the quarter. We're pleased to be reporting fee-related earnings per share of $0.67 and after tax distributable earnings of $0.73 per share.

I'm going to begin by walking through the financials. Management fees in the quarter came in at $749 million; net transaction and monitoring fees were $190 million in Q2, with capital markets generating $150 million of revenues. Capital markets activity was most pronounced in our infrastructure business, which contributed approximately 45% of revenues in the quarter. And along with core private equity, these two strategies generated over 60% of capital markets transaction fees in the quarter, reflecting the continued diversification of the business. So, in total, fee-related revenues were $967 million. This was up 7% from last quarter, and it's up 25% year-over-year. Fee-related compensation was right at the midpoint of our guided range at 22.5% of fee-related revenues and other operating expenses were $147 million.

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Putting this together, fee-related earnings came in at $602 million or $0.67 per share with an FRE margin of 62%, which continues to be best-in-class looking across our industry. And for the quarter, FRE improved 10% from last quarter and on a year-over-year basis, so this is compared to the second quarter of 2022, FRE is up 31%. Moving to realized performance income. Realization activity, as we discussed last quarter, was more muted against the slower transaction environment. So, for the quarter, we generated $149 million of realized performance income, while realized investment income came in at $115 million. In total, our asset management operating earnings were $752 million. Our Insurance segment generated $170 million of pretax earnings in the quarter as Global Atlantic continues to operate at a high level.

As a reminder, we expect pretax ROE to be in that 14% to 15% range, so performance this quarter was just above the top end of that range. In aggregate, this resulted in after-tax distributable earnings of $653 million or the $0.73 per share figure that I mentioned a minute ago. Next, moving to investment performance. The traditional private equity portfolio was up 5% in the quarter and over the last 12 months appreciated 2%. Importantly here, inception to date, IRRs for our blended flagship funds, so that's Americas XII, Europe V and Asia IV remains strong at 22%, which is meaningfully ahead of the corresponding 9% figure for the MSCI world. In real assets, the real estate portfolio was flat for the quarter and down 11% over the last 12 months.

Our portfolio continues to be heavily weighted towards those assets and themes where you're seeing strong fundamentals and cash flow growth. So, think industrial assets, data centers, rental housing, student housing, and self-storage. However, as cap rates have increased over the last 12 months, that more than offset the underlying NOI growth and that's what's leading to the decline you've seen over the LTM period. Infrastructure was up 2% in the quarter and up 10% over the last 12 months, reflecting the strength of the portfolio really on a global basis. And with higher interest rates, we've strategically leaned into more inflation protected assets. And in credit, the leveraged in alternative composites were up 3% and 2%, respectively for the quarter and 12% and 5%, respectively over the last 12 months.

Moving next to capital metrics. We raised $13 billion in the quarter. Fundraising activity was actually quite diverse, driven by our middle market private equity strategy. Our case series suite of products focused on private wealth, which Rob is going to touch further on in a moment. Our core infrastructure strategy and real estate across all geographies, and this is in addition to inflows from Global Atlantic as well as capital raised for our Ivy reinsurance sidecar fund, which held its final close in the quarter. With that, our assets under management increased to $519 billion and fee paying AUM to $420 billion. And finally, we've continued to deploy capital. In the quarter, we invested approximately $10 billion, pretty evenly spread across private equity, real assets and credit.

Deployment within private equity was largely driven by core PE, while real estate deployment was most focused on credit in the U.S. as well as equity investments in Asia. And in our credit business, deployment was relatively diversified across asset-based finance and direct lending. Now, before turning it over to Rob, we want to spend a minute or two on our work to create and protect value through sustainability, which we detailed in our 12th annual sustainability report that we published in June and is also available on our website. Now, one of the areas where we've shown real leadership is our work around broad-based employee ownership in our portfolio companies and billing off of the CHI overhead doors and Minnesota rubber and plastics examples discussed previously, we've another case study in RBmedia.

RBmedia is one of the largest audiobook publishers in the world, and in connection with our investment, we introduced a broad equity ownership program across the company. And by partnering with the workforce and through all of their great work, wonderful things have happened, including a 22% CAGR in its core publishing business EBITDA over the life of our investment. So, we announced the sale of RBmedia in late July, and this will be a very successful outcome for its employees. All RBmedia colleagues will earn significant cash payouts with non-management employees receiving a 100% of annual income on average, and the most tenured employees receiving two years of their annual income. This outcome can be a financial game changer for people, and it's driving real value.

Over these three recent exits, we've averaged approximately a 6x multiple of costs on behalf of our clients. So, at this point we've introduced broad-based employee ownership programs at over 35 companies and we've touched over 60,000 employees. And we expect these numbers to continue to grow from here and hope and expect we'll have more stories like RBmedia to share with you in the quarters and years ahead. And with that, I'll turn it over to Rob.

Robert Lewin: Great. Thanks a lot, Craig. The operating backdrop has begun to improve and as Craig just ran through, our model continues to deliver consistent results. With that, let's shift the focus of the conversation to the future. Our model, growth trajectory, and culture are differentiated within our industry. I thought it would be beneficial to go through three of the foundational building blocks that have driven much of our differentiation and will importantly be a key driver of KKR's future earnings quality and growth. We have taken very deliberate steps to build a business that benefits from several different growth engines, providing both greater earnings stability and significant long-term earnings power. Number one, we've built a business that has meaningfully increased the durability and recurring nature of our revenues, and we expect that trend to continue.

Page four of the earnings release highlights this point very well. On the left hand side of the page, you see that over just the past two and a half years, we have doubled our management fees, our most recurrent revenue stream from $1.4 billion in 2020 to $2.9 billion over the last 12 months, and fee-related earnings in turn have also increased meaningfully from $1.3 billion in 2020 to approximately $2.3 billion over the prior 12 months. Alongside this growth, the quality of these earnings has significantly improved as we've become much more diversified by strategy and by geography. In addition, the form of our capital base has also evolved, with our perpetual capital increasing from $22 billion at the end of 2020 to $200 billion today. Our perpetual capital now accounts for roughly 50% of our fee paying AUM relative to approximately 10% at the end of 2020.

Managing assets, Asset Management

Copyright: olivier26 / 123RF Stock Photo

We will continue this focus of increasing both our recurring revenue and profitability, as well as diversifying the form of our fundraising and capital base. The second building block are the multiple identifiable growth avenues at across our business. We have discussed a number of these drivers over the last couple of earnings calls, but today I'm going to focus on just two areas that have been more notable in the quarter. Insurance and private wealth. Global Atlantic has continued to be a fantastic acquisition for us. Looking at the past few months, we've highlight two very important initiatives. In May GA announced a reinsurance agreement with MetLife funded by GA's balance sheet, our Ivy platform and co-investors. With this transaction, AUM will increase by $13 billion upon closing, and the transaction will be beneficial, both management fees as well as insurance operating earnings.

And in June, KKR and GA together formed a strategic partnership with Japan Post Insurance. This partnership allows us to pursue additional growth opportunities through our collaboration with a key player in the Japanese insurance market. And as part of this, Japan Post committed meaningfully to Ivy II, which as Craig mentioned, held its final close in the quarter. Overall, GA is continue to demonstrate significant momentum with $144 billion of AUM as of Q2. This has doubled since we announced the acquisition in 2020, a further proof point of our acquisition and a demonstration of how the alignment we've created can drive real success. A specific area where GA has really helped accelerate the growth of one of our businesses is private credit.

Today, we manage $78 billion in private credit with $45 billion of that in asset-based finance. We are a leader in the ABF space, encompassing both our high grade and higher yielding strategies. And with recent regional bank retrenchment, the already five plus trillion ABF addressable market has even more structural tailwinds for us, as those seeking capital look to KKR as a real solutions provider with scale. The multi-year relationship announced in the quarter with PayPal is just one recent example. And now turning to private wealth. We've touched on this topic a number of times given the market opportunity alongside the significant investments we have made in order to launch and distribute a number of new products. In Q2, we started fundraising for two new private wealth strategies focused on private equity and infrastructure.

The launch of these products was a critical step in addressing the massive private wealth end market and introducing on a global scale products that traditionally have not been accessible to non-institutional clients. We're off to a really good start here. In total, including capital that has raised in Q2 and so far in Q3, we've raised $1.9 billion across these two strategies. While we are still in the very early days, these initial results are ahead of our expectations. We have also launched in just a handful of platforms so far, and we would expect that to increase over the coming quarters. In our credit business, we look forward to the launch of a new private BBC later this year. In addition to direct lending, the strategy incorporates a specific allocation to asset-based finance, which we think will be viewed as a real differentiator.

So, at this point, we have a full suite of private wealth solutions strategically aligned with our four key investment verticals across the firm. Our focus here remains very much long-term oriented, ensuring that we are a real winner in the space over the next five to 10-plus years. Our conviction around success is high and is driven by a number of factors, including our brand, investment track record, our significantly expanded distribution and marketing teams, and our scale to be able to invest into the opportunity set. And importantly, each one of our core products across PE, infra, real estate and credit have aspects that are unique and a real testament to the innovation capabilities of our team. Now turning to building block number three.

We continue to achieve substantial growth in our earnings power because of both an increase in our fee paying AUM and capital deployment. We currently have $10 billion of embedded gains that sit on our balance sheet. That's the fair value of our carry and investment portfolio relative to the underlying cost, that's up from $3.7 billion just a few years ago. This provides a real lens into our ability to create meaningful revenue outcomes in the future. And over the next few years, with continued investment performance and further capital deployment, that number is biased to increase, even as we expect to monetize more as the environment hopefully becomes more constructive. A reminder for how we think about earnings power. Distributable earnings is largely a cash metric.

So, in times like these, when we sell less through the monetization environment, we are underearning that intrinsic earnings power and embedded gains are only one piece of that equation. Our expectation here is for continued scaling of our more recurring revenue businesses as well. Just looking at management fees alone, without raising another dollar, we currently have $38 billion of AUM with a weighted average management fee rate of almost a 100 basis points, that is not yet turned on. This capital once activated, would directly flow into management fees and be additive to earnings, but is not reflected today in our FRE or after tax DE. We also have $100 billion of dry powder, 96% of which is carry eligible. When we invest that capital, it creates the potential for more embedded gains and therefore revenue over time.

These are the main reasons why we are so constructive around the potential for further significant and sustainable growth in our earnings per share over time. We have never been more confident around our model and our prospects, which is one of the reasons that you saw us buyback some stock in the quarter. Since the end of Q1, we have brought back or canceled approximately 6 million shares at an average price per share of less than $50 share. Repurchases have historically been and will continue to be an important driver of value creation for our shareholders. As a reminder, since we initiated our buyback program in 2015, we have bought back or canceled approximately 92 million shares at an average price per share of just over $27. This represents more than 10% of KKR shares outstanding today and almost 15% of our free float.

And with our recent acquisition such as KJRM, our Japanese REIT Manager and Global Atlantic, we have completed almost $5 billion of purchase price M&A with limited share issuance. We remain as a management team, the largest owners of stock, and are highly aligned with shareholders in our focus on equity value creation. So, to summarize, our earnings growth will continue to be supported by more stable forms of income, including our diversified high-quality and growing management fee business underpinned by our $200 billion of perpetual capital. Number two, we have several differentiated growth avenues, including insurance and private wealth amongst many others. And finally, our embedded gains and more broadly our earnings power is expected to continue to increase.

These compounding pieces are why we continue to feel more confident than ever in our 2026 targets of $4-plus of FRE and $7-plus of after tax De per share. With that, Scott, Craig and I are happy to take your questions.

See also 25 Highest-Paying Summer Jobs for Teens and 10 Best Restaurant Dividend Stocks to Buy.

To continue reading the Q&A session, please click here.
(Bloomberg) -- Private equity giant KKR & Co. has purchased a portfolio of prime auto loans from Georgia-based Synovus Financial Corp., as US regional lenders continue to sell assets to shore up capital.

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Synovus Bank  whose parent company is Synovus Financial  sold the $373 million portfolio to private credit funds and accounts managed by KKR, according to a statement seen by Bloomberg. The deal was signed in late July, said Dan Pietrzak, global head of private credit at KKR, in an interview.

Weve liked auto lending for some time, as it is a secured asset class, Pietrzak said. Plus, consumer performance has been strong, especially in the higher FICO score segment.

The trade comes as regional banks sell bundles of consumer debt on their books to improve liquidity following the crisis at regional lenders earlier this year, starting with Silicon Valley Banks collapse in March. Thats created an opportunity for private credit firms to snap up those portfolios at discounted prices.

What we have seen in the regional bank space in 2023 has caused some banks to think more seriously about the idea of partnering with us on certain asset portfolios, Pietrzak said, adding that he expects asset sales to continue in the medium term. This definitely widens the opportunity set for our asset based finance business.

Read More: Private Credit Funds Move From Mergers to Timeshares, Car Loans

Blackstone Inc. is among a number of private investment firms looking to buy assets and loans originated by US regional banks, while Ares Management Corp. recently purchased a $3.5 billion portfolio from California-based PacWest Bancorp, backed by consumer loans, mortgages and timeshare receivables.

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Other banks have followed PacWests lead. Truist Financial Corp. unloaded a $5 billion student loan portfolio that it described as non-core in late June, while Western Alliance Bancorp sold roughly $3.5 billion in loans tied to commercial real estate, residential and commercial and industrial lending, as well as mortgage servicing rights and a slug of securities that were primarily collateralized loan obligations.

As for KKR, this isnt the first time the firm has bought assets from a bank. In 2021, the alternative asset manager acquired a nearly $800 million portfolio of aviation loans from CIT Group Inc., a division of First Citizens Bank.

KKR has about $42 billion of asset-based finance investments under management, according to the statement.

Synovus Bank provides commercial and consumer banking services, with branches in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Florida and Tennessee, according to its website.

--With assistance from Ellen Schneider.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
SaaS Revenue Growth of 80% Drives Overall Revenue Growth of 45%

LIMERICK, Ireland, Aug. 8, 2023 /CNW/ - kneat.com, inc. (TSX: KSI) (OTC: KSIOF) ("Kneat" or the "Company") a leader in digitizing and automating validation and quality processes, today announced financial results for the three-month period ended June 30, 2023. All dollar amounts are presented in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated.

kneat.com, inc. Logo (CNW Group/kneat.com, inc.)

Second-quarter 2023 total revenue reaches $8.0 million, an increase of 45% year over year

Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) 1 at June 30, 2023 expands 75% year over year, to $28.4 million

SaaS ARR1 at June 30, 2023 reaches $28.3 million, an increase of 86% year over year

"With a record number of strategic wins in the first half of 2023, we are fortifying our revenue base for the next several years. We expect to see strong topline growth over the balance of the year, as we continue to grow into the investments we made over the course of 2022."

-said Eddie Ryan, Chief Executive Officer of Kneat.

Q2 2023 Financial Highlights

Total revenues increased 45% to $8.0 million for the second quarter of 2023, compared to $5.5 million for the second quarter of 2022.

SaaS revenue for the second quarter of 2023 grew 80% to $7.0 million, versus $3.9 million for the second quarter of 2022.

Second-quarter 2023 gross profit was $5.3 million, up 62% from $3.3 million in gross profit for the second quarter of 2022.

Gross margin in the second quarter of 2023 was 66%, compared to 59% for the second quarter of 2022.

EBITDA 1 in the second quarter of 2023 was ($3.5) million, compared with ($2.2) million for the second quarter of 2022.

Adjusted EBITDA 1 in the second quarter of 2023 was ($1.3) million, compared with ($0.7) million for the second quarter of 2022.

Net loss for the second quarter of 2023 was ($5.4) million, compared with ($3.6) million for the second quarter of 2022.

Total ARR 1 , which includes SaaS license and recurring maintenance fees, was $28.4 million at June 30, 2023, an increase of 75% from $16.3 million at June 30, 2022.

SaaS ARR1, the proportion of ARR attributable to SaaS licenses, was $28.3 million at the end of the second quarter of 2023, an increase of 86% from $15.2 million at June 30, 2022.

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________________________________ 1 ARR and SaaS ARR are supplementary measures. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-IFRS measures and are not recognized, defined or standardized measures under IFRS. These measures are defined in the "Supplementary and Non-IFRS Measures" section of this news release.

First Half 2023 Financial Highlights

Total revenues for the six-month period ended June 30, 2023 increased 49% to $16.0 million, as compared to $10.7 million for the comparable six-month period in 2022.

SaaS revenue grew 86% to $13.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023, versus $7.2 million for the comparable period in 2022.

Gross profit was $10.7 million, up 63% from $6.6 million in gross profit for the first half of 2022.

Gross margin for the first half of 2023 was 67%, compared to 61% for the first half of 2022.

EBITDA 1 for the first half of 2023 was ($4.1) million, compared with ($4.3) million for the first half of 2022.

Adjusted EBITDA 1 for the first half of 2023 was ($2.4) million, compared with ($0.8) million for the first half of 2022.

Net loss for the first half of 2023 was ($7.9) million, compared with ($7.1) million for the first half of 2022.

Q2 2023 Business Highlights

In early April 2023, Kneat announced a three-year Master Service Agreement with a division of one of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies in the world, as ranked by 2021 revenue. The Agreement, which is for elogbook management, demonstrates the appeal of Kneat's applicability for use cases outside of validation as well as the importance of Kneat's partners, one of which introduced Kneat Gx to the company.

In late April 2023, Kneat signed a Master Services Agreement with one of the top 20 contract development and manufacturing organizations ("CDMO") in the world, as ranked by 2021 revenue. The Agreement, which is initially for computer systems validation and does not expire, affirms Kneat's progress consolidating its leadership in validation for the life science space, particularly with companies in the pharmaceutical supply chain.

In early June, Kneat announced the appointment of Colum McNamara as its Senior Vice President of Global Operations. Colum is an accomplished business leader, with more than 25 years' experience in information technology. Colum served in varying leadership positions including Customer Success, Technical Support, Network Operations, and overall general management.

In late June, Kneat secured up to 15 million in secured debt financing from IPF Partners, a leading financing provider focused exclusively on the healthcare sector. Kneat intends to use the financing alongside its own funds from operations for general corporate purposes.

At the end of June, Kneat announced that it had signed a three-year Master Services Agreement with a division of a leading global pharmaceutical company, effective immediately and allowing the company to scale Kneat across all its business divisions and affiliates.

Kneat's business momentum has continued into the third quarter:

In July, Kneat announced that it had signed a three-year Master Services Agreement with a top-tier and fully integrated contract development and manufacturing organization ("CDMO") headquartered in Asia. The agreement expands Kneat's presence in Asia and allows the CDMO to scale Kneat across all its validation processes.

"We are pleased with our results year to date. The progress we made in the second quarter goes beyond our rapid revenue growth. It includes shifting more of our services to partners, expanding gross margins year over year, and securing financing to support our transition towards profitability."

-said Hugh Kavanagh, Chief Financial Officer of Kneat.

Quarterly Conference Call

Eddie Ryan, Chief Executive Officer of Kneat, and Hugh Kavanagh, Chief Financial Officer of Kneat, will host a conference call to discuss Kneat's second-quarter results and hold a Q&A session for analysts and investors via webcast on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. ET.

Interested parties can register for the live webcast via the following link:

Register here

Supplementary and Non-IFRS Financial Measures

The Company uses supplementary financial measures as key performance indicators in its MD&A and other communications. Management uses both IFRS measures and supplementary, non-IFRS financial measures as key performance indicators when planning, monitoring and evaluating the Company's performance.

Annual Recurring Revenue ("ARR")

ARR is used by Kneat to assess the expected recurring annual revenues from the customers that are live on the Kneat Gx platform at the end of the period. ARR is calculated as the licenses delivered to customers at the period end, multiplied by the expected customer retention rate of 100% and multiplied by the agreed annual SaaS license or maintenance fee. Since many of the customer contracts are in currencies other than the Canadian dollar, the Canadian dollar equivalent is calculated using the related period end exchange rate multiplied by the contracted currency amount.

Software-as-a-Service Annual Recurring Revenue ("SaaS ARR")

SaaS ARR is a component of ARR that is used by Kneat to assess the expected recurring revenues exclusively from license subscriptions to the Kneat Gx platform at the end of the period. SaaS ARR is calculated as the SaaS licenses delivered to customers at the period end, multiplied by the expected customer retention rate of 100% and multiplied by the full agreed annual SaaS license fee. Since many of the customer contracts are in currencies other than the Canadian dollar, the Canadian dollar equivalent is calculated using the related period end exchange rate multiplied by the contracted currency amount.

Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization ("EBITDA")

EBITDA is calculated as net income (loss) attributable to kneat.com excluding interest income (expense), provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization. We provide and use this non-IFRS measure of our operating performance to highlight trends in our core business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on IFRS financial measures. A reconciliation of EBITDA to IFRS financial measures is provided in the financial statements accompanying this press release.

Adjusted Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA")

Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as net income (loss) attributable to kneat.com excluding interest income (expense), provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization and stock-based compensation expense. We provide and use this non-IFRS measure of our operating performance to highlight trends in our core business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on IFRS financial measures and to inform financial comparisons with other companies. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to IFRS financial measures is provided in the financial statements accompanying this press release.

About Kneat

Kneat, a Canadian company with operational headquarters in Limerick, Ireland, develops and markets the next-generation Kneat Gx SaaS platform. Multiple business work processes can be configured on the platform from equipment to computer system validation, through to quality document management. Kneat's software allows users to author, review, approve, execute testing online, manage any exceptions, and post-approve final deliverables in a controlled FDA 21 CFR Part 11/ EU Annex 11 compliant platform. Macro and micro report dashboards enable powerful oversight into all systems, projects and processes globally. Customer case studies are reporting productivity improvements in excess of 100% and a higher data integrity and compliance standard. For more information visit www.kneat.com

Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, certain information presented constitutes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, the relationship between Kneat and the customer, Kneat's business development activities, the use and implementation timelines of Kneat's software within the customer's validation processes, the ability and intent of the customer to scale the use of Kneat's software within the customer's organization, our ability to win business from new customers and expand business from existing customers, our expected use of the net proceeds from the IPF Facility and/or any future offering, the anticipated effects of the IPF Facility and/or any future offering on our business and operations, and the compliance of Kneat's platform under regulatory audit and inspection. These and other assumptions, risks and uncertainties may cause Kneat's actual results, performance, achievements and developments to differ materially from the results, performance, achievements or developments expressed or implied by forward-looking statements.

Material risks and uncertainties relating to our business are described under the headings "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Information" and "Risk Factors" in our annual MD&A dated February 22, 2023, under the heading "Risk Factors" in our Annual Information Form dated February 22, 2023 and in our other public documents filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities, which are available at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking statements are provided to help readers understand management's expectations as at the date of this release and may not be suitable for other purposes. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Kneat assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as expressly required by law. Investors should not assume that any lack of update to a previously issued forward-looking statement constitutes a reaffirmation of that statement. Continued reliance on forward-looking statements is at an investor's own risk.

kneat.com, inc. Unaudited Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Loss and Comprehensive Loss (expressed in Canadian dollars)



























Three-month period ended



Six-month period ended















June 30, 2023



June 30, 2022



June 30, 2023



June 30, 2022 Revenue





















SaaS License fees

7,017,938



3,889,834



13,405,573



7,188,190 On-premise license fees

-



77,715



436,126



766,133 Maintenance fees

55,063



220,733



206,157



434,226 Professional services and other

966,238



1,359,720



1,956,291



2,359,055 Total Revenue

8,039,239



5,548,002



16,004,147



10,747,604























Cost of Revenue

(2,711,323)



(2,264,887)



(5,302,933)



(4,193,703) Gross Profit

5,327,916



3,283,115



10,701,214



6,553,901 Gross Margin

66 %



59 %



67 %



61 %























Expenses





















Research and development

(4,224,316)



(2,666,487)



(8,088,001)



(5,175,769) Sales and marketing

(3,338,280)



(1,703,420)



(6,293,020)



(3,003,290) General and administrative

(1,709,361)



(1,208,161)



(3,615,243)



(2,341,395) Total Expenses

(9,271,957)



(5,578,068)



(17,996,264)



(10,520,454)























Operating Loss

(3,944,041)



(2,294,953)



(7,295,050)



(3,966,553) Interest expense

(53,594)



(57,005)



(108,540)



(121,356) Interest income

2,185



276



4,119



1,026 Foreign exchange loss

(1,403,261)



(1,282,206)



(465,047)



(2,973,265)























Loss before income taxes

(5,398,711)



(3,633,888)



(7,864,518)



(7,060,148)























Income taxes

-



-



(8,550)



-























Net loss for period

(5,398,711)



(3,633,888)



(7,873,068)



(7,060,148)























Other comprehensive (loss) / income





















Foreign currency translation adjustment to

presentation currency

910,009



629,590



344,603



1,364,024























Comprehensive loss for the period

(4,488,702)



(3,004,298)



(7,528,465)



(5,696,124)















































Loss per share - basic and diluted $ (0.07)

$ (0.05)

$ (0.10)

$ (0.09)























Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding





















Basic and diluted

77,720,905



77,380,273



77,704,046



77,228,662























Reconciliation:





















Total loss for the period

(5,398,711)



(3,633,888)



(7,873,068)



(7,060,148) Interest expense

53,594



57,005



108,540



121,356 Interest income

(2,185)



(276)



(4,119)



(1,026) Income taxes

-



-



8,550



- Depreciation expense

199,637



212,524



403,253



433,112 Amortization expense

1,678,581



1,145,799



3,242,884



2,206,889 EBITDA Loss

(3,469,084)



(2,218,836)



(4,113,960)



(4,299,817)























Adjustments to EBITDA





















Foreign exchange loss (gain)

1,403,261



1,282,206



465,047



2,973,265 Stock-based compensation expense

784,680



232,714



1,274,079



558,318 Adjusted EBITDA Loss

(1,281,143)



(703,916)



(2,374,834)



(768,234)

kneat.com, inc. Unaudited Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (expressed in Canadian dollars) as at

June 30,





Dec 31,

2023





2022 Assets





















Current assets









Cash 13,524,050





12,282,478 Accounts receivable 6,992,401





8,914,980 Prepayments 938,626





931,856

21,455,077





22,129,314











Non-current assets









Accounts receivable 2,390,962





1,104,624 Property and equipment 7,350,443





7,807,042 Intangible assets 23,047,816





19,364,904











Total assets 54,244,298





50,405,884











Liabilities





















Current liabilities









Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 6,195,804





5,768,054 Contract liabilities 14,682,427





10,617,142 Lease liabilities 517,641





588,472













21,395,872





16,973,668











Non-current liabilities









Contract liabilities 252,773





949,224 Lease liabilities 6,128,451





6,503,041 Loan payable and accrued interest 6,717,637





-











Total Liabilities 34,494,733





24,425,933











Equity









Shareholders' equity 19,749,565





25,979,951











Total liabilities and equity 54,244,298





50,405,884

kneat.com, inc. Unaudited Condensed Interim Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (expressed in Canadian dollars) For the period ended





6 months

6 months





June 30,

June 30,





2023

2022 Operating activities









Net loss for the period



(7,873,068)

(7,060,148) Charges to loss not involving cash:









Depreciation of property and equipment



403,253

433,112 Share-based compensation expense



1,274,079

558,318 Write off of property and equipment



26,648

362 Interest expense



108,540

121,356 Amortization of the intangible asset



3,242,884

2,206,889 Tax expense



8,550

- Amortization of deferred contract acquisition costs



-

2,150 Impact of lease termination



(65,910)

- Other non-cash adjustments







- Foreign exchange (gain) loss



391,308

2,973,265 Increase/(Decrease) in non-current contract liabilities



(689,913)

17,662 Net change in non-cash working capital related to operations



6,633,799

3,796,757











Net cash provided by operating activities



3,460,170

3,049,723











Financing activities









Payment of principal and interest on the loan payable



-

(110,237) Proceeds from the exercise of stock options



24,000

69,808 Proceeds from the exercise of warrants



-

461,090 Repayment of lease liabilities



(381,334)

(418,729) Proceeds received from loan financing



7,187,700

- Issuance costs associated with loan financing



(470,063)

-











Net cash (used)/provided by financing activities



6,360,303

1,932











Investing activities









Additions to the intangible asset



(8,460,769)

(5,433,542) Additions to property and equipment



(79,227)

(153,821) Collection of research and development tax credits



-

912,191 Net cash used in investing activities



(8,539,996)

(4,675,172)











Effects of exchange rates on cash



(38,905)

(476,864)











Net change in cash during the year



1,241,572

(2,100,381)











Cash - Beginning of year



12,282,478

21,562,968











Cash - End of year



13,524,050

19,462,587

SOURCE kneat.com, inc.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/August2023/08/c3024.html
Revival Gold Inc.

TORONTO, Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Revival Gold Inc. (TSXV: RVG, OTCQX: RVLGF) (Revival Gold or the Company), is pleased to announce the appointment of Larry P. Radford to the Companys Board of Directors, with immediate effect.



Mr. Radford brings over 35 years of leadership and operational experience in the mining industry. Most recently, Mr. Radford served as President & CEO, and Director of Argonaut Gold Inc., where he led the 200,000 ounce per year gold producer and oversaw a turn around of the Magino Project in Ontario, Canada. Previously, Mr. Radford served as COO of Gold Standard Ventures Corp., where he led development of the South Railroad Project in Nevada, USA. Before Gold Standard Ventures, Larry held the role of Sr. VP & COO of Hecla Mining Company (Hecla) where he managed the operating portfolio of underground mines, including the Lucky Friday mine in Idaho, USA, the Greens Creek mine in Alaska, USA, the Casa Berardi mine, in Quebec, Canada and the San Sebastian mine in Durango, Mexico.

Prior to his role at Hecla, Mr. Radford held roles of increasing responsibility with Kinross Gold Corporation from 2007 through 2011, including Vice President & General Manager of the Fort Knox mine in Alaska, USA, Vice President of Strategic Mine Planning and Vice President of South American Operations. Mr. Radford worked with Barrick Gold Corporation from 1989 to 2007, including 14 years at the Goldstrike mine in Nevada, USA, two years at the Tambo mine in Chile and two years as General Manager of the Cowal mine in New South Wales, Australia.

Mr. Radford is a second-generation miner who began his mining career in 1984 with Coeur D'Alene Mines Corporation. He has received a Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering from the University of Idaho and an MBA from the University of Alaska. He is a member of AIME and a registered Professional Engineer in Idaho.

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We are thrilled to welcome Larry as an independent director to Revival Golds board. Larrys extensive leadership experience and operating background in underground and open pit gold mining, as well as heap leach and mill processing, will be invaluable to Revival Gold as we transition from explorer-developer to developer-operator, said President and CEO Hugh Agro.

Mr. Radford joins current directors Wayne Hubert (Non-Executive Chairman), Hugh Agro, Robert Chausse, Maura Lendon, Michael Mansfield, and Tim Warman effective immediately. In connection with Mr. Radfords appointment, Don Birak has stepped off Revival Golds board and transitioned to a senior advisory role with the Company.

Don is one of Revival Golds founding directors and was instrumental to the Companys success in assembling the Beartrack-Arnett project and making what amounts to the second largest new discovery of gold in the United States in the past decade, said Mr. Agro.

Dons critical eye, keen sense of curiosity and unwavering support for exploration and mining in Idaho are hallmarks of his involvement in Revival Gold that will live on in the Company, said Mr. Agro. On behalf of our entire management team and the board, I wish to thank Don for his past dedication and service and to say that we look forward to his continued involvement as a senior technical advisor to the Company, Agro added.

Subject to regulatory approval, Revival Gold has granted Mr. Radford 125,000 incentive stock options in connection with his appointment. Pursuant to the Companys Stock Option Plan, the options are exercisable at a price of $0.60 each for a period of five years and are subject to vesting provisions.

About Revival Gold

Revival Gold is a growth-focused gold exploration and development company. The Company is advancing the Beartrack-Arnett Gold Project located in Idaho, USA.

Beartrack-Arnett is the largest past-producing gold mine in Idaho. The project benefits from extensive existing infrastructure and is the subject of a recent Preliminary Feasibility Study for the potential restart of open pit heap leach gold production operations.

Since reassembling the Beartrack-Arnett land position in 2017, Revival Gold has made one of the largest new discoveries of gold in the United States in the past decade. The mineralized trend at Beartrack extends for over five kilometers and is open on strike and at depth. Mineralization at Arnett is open in all directions.

Additional disclosure including the Companys financial statements, technical reports, news releases and other information can be obtained at www.revival-gold.com or on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

For further information, please contact Hugh Agro, President & CEO or Melisa Armand, Investor Relations. Telephone (416) 366-4100 or email info@revival-gold.com.

Cautionary Statement

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

This press release includes certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation and forward-looking statements within the meaning of U.S. securities legislation (collectively forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Companys future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as believes, anticipates, expects, estimates, may, could, would, will, or plan. Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to the Company, the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet managements expectations. Risks, uncertainties, and other factors involved with forward-looking statements could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, the Companys objectives, goals and future plans, and statements of intent, the implications of exploration results, mineral resource/reserve estimates and the economic analysis thereof, exploration and mine development plans, timing of the commencement of operations, estimates of market conditions, and statements regarding the results of the pre-feasibility study, including the anticipated capital and operating costs, sustaining costs, net present value, internal rate of return, payback period, process capacity, average annual metal production, average process recoveries, concession renewal, permitting of the project, anticipated mining and processing methods, proposed pre-feasibility study production schedule and metal production profile, anticipated construction period, anticipated mine life, expected recoveries and grades, anticipated production rates, infrastructure, social and environmental impact studies, availability of labour, tax rates and commodity prices that would support development of the Project. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to failure to identify mineral resources, failure to convert estimated mineral resources to reserves, the inability to maintain the modelling and assumptions upon which the interpretation of results are based after further testing, the inability to complete a feasibility study which recommends a production decision, the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results, delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals, changes in regulatory requirements, political and social risks, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, uncertainties or challenges related to mineral title in the Companys projects, changes in equity markets, inflation, changes in exchange rates, fluctuations in commodity and in particular gold prices, delays in the development of projects, capital, operating and reclamation costs varying significantly from estimates, the continued availability of capital, accidents and labour disputes, and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, an inability to raise additional funding, the manner the Company uses its cash or the proceeds of an offering of the Companys securities, an inability to predict and counteract the effects of COVID-19 on the business of the Company, including but not limited to the effects of COVID-19 on the price of commodities, capital market conditions, restriction on labour and international travel and supply chains, future climatic conditions, the discovery of new, large, low-cost mineral deposits, the general level of global economic activity, disasters or environmental or climatic events which affect the infrastructure on which the project is dependent, and those risks set out in the Companys public documents filed on SEDAR. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.




Aug. 7 (UPI) -- At least three people died in a bus collision with another vehicle in Pennsylvania, authorities said.

Pennsylvania State Police said the crash happened on Interstate 81 late Sunday when a charter bus carrying 45-50 passengers collided with a passenger vehicle.

Authorities said the bus flipped on its side, killing "multiple passengers" while others sustained injuries and were taken to the Penn State Hershey Medical Center.

Injuries ranged from "minor to critical" police said, adding it wasn't immediately clear how many people had been injured.

The American Red Cross provided food, drinks and cots at the Chambers Hill Fire Department for passengers being discharged from the hospital, the fire station said.

Those who died have not been publicly identified and the cause of the crash was under investigation Monday.

Interstate 81 was reopened later Monday morning as troopers worked through the night before dawn to process the crash scene. State police said emergency crews transported numerous others with injured to
YWCA Knoxville is again honoring local women leaders by announcing the finalists for its 2023 Tribute to Women awards.

The finalists will be honored and winners announced at the 38th Tribute to Women Awards at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Knoxville Museum of Art.

YWCA's Tribute to Women recognizes the contributions and community impact of women all across East Tennessee, particularly women who exemplify the organization's mission: "empowering women, eliminating racism and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all."

The event celebrates the achievements of finalists in seven categories. The honorees are selected by judges who live outside the Knoxville area.

Arts and culture

Hannah Houser is the president of HH Creative LLC and a manager of internationally renowned musicians. She specializes in artist relations and management, community building and creative content management.

Courtney Bergmeier is the executive director of the Bijou Theatre, where she oversees the theater's business strategy, administration and more. Her goal is to propel the Bijou as a vibrant performing arts center that serves as a gathering place for the community and a platform for diverse cultural experiences.

Shanna Browning is the community outreach manager for First Century Bank and Dogwood Arts. She wants to create an inclusive environment in all areas of her life, from work to friendships to volunteering.

Business and Industry

Eugenia Almeida is the founder of A New Hue, specializing in plaster art and faux finishes. She came to the U.S. more than 30 years ago from Argentina and loves to help the community.

Jan Brown is the vice president of culture, inclusion and performance at the Tennessee Valley Authority. She is an inclusive, mission-driven leader committed to building and leading diverse teams.

Lauren Miller is a partner and CEO of MoxCar Marketing + Communications. She oversees the company's brand, vision, services and products and client satisfaction.

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Community Enhancement

Dr. Kathryn Ellis is executive director of the Knoxville Family Justice Center and works with more than 40 partners to ensure victims of domestic violence in Knox County and Knoxville get the help and support they need. Ellis has spent more than a decade raising awareness about the issue of domestic violence.

Enkeshi El-Amin is an assistant professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Agnes Scott College, the founder of The Bottom and creator and co-host of the Black in Appalachia podcast. Her research is focused on how racial practices shape Black places and how Black people in turn define, contest and reimagine places.

Chloe Akers is the president and founder of The Liminal Plan, a super PAC designed to moderate Tennessee politics. Akers spent 14 years practicing law as a criminal defense attorney, serving as both a state and federal public defender in offices from Philadelphia to Seattle.

Education

Christi Kirk is the family and community engagement manager for Project GRAD. providing service and support to students and their families. Kirk has been an educator in Knoxville for 22 years and specializes in connecting students with post-secondary and enrichment opportunities.

Jamea Beach is the education impact manager at United Way of Greater Knoxville, ensuring equitable access to community resources for students and families in the Knoxville area. Beach is a dedicated educator and community advocate with a passion for educational equity and access.

Dr. Elizabeth Foster is the director of the Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, where she provides new pathways to make higher education and industries more accessible and representative. Her research focuses on public health crises.

Emerging Leader

Shante Southwood is a diversity, equity and inclusion analyst at the Knoxville Utilities Board. The Knoxville native advocates for sponsorship and mentorship programs aimed at empowering underserved youth, particularly young girls.

Allison Comer is the executive director of Muse Knoxville, driving the museum's expansion while overseeing its strategic operations, and making play accessible to all families. She's the youngest CEO or executive director among Tennessee science centers, and leads the Science Alliance of Tennessee.

Angela Bartlett is the senior manager of community engagement and capacity building at the Knoxville-Knox County CAC Office on Aging. She works with the aging population to help them navigate and eliminate any barriers to care and helps shine a light on aging inequality.

Racial and Social Justice

Denise Dean is founder and executive director of the East Tennessee Freedom Schools, a six-week summer literacy and empowerment program where children learn. She serves on the board of Muse Knoxville, the East Tennessee Foundation and the Community Building Institute.

Femeika Elliott is the owner and founder of Meik Meals & Rooted East Knoxville. She's passionate about transforming everyday dishes into healthy masterpieces using fresh ingredients. Her businesses address the health crisis within the Black community, including mental health, postpartum, medical and food apartheid.

Kim Lauth is the chief operating officer of Positively Living & Choice Health Network. Through her work she strives to promote quality health care for all, uplift marginalized communities and dismantle barriers for Tennessees most vulnerable citizens facing challenges posed by HIV, homelessness, mental illness and substance use.

Science, Technology and Health

Dr. Mandy Halford is senior vice president, chief medical officer, and chief medical informatics officer for Covenant Health. She has served in health care leadership roles for more than 15 years and specializes in strategic leadership, expertise and dedication to patient care.

Jennifer Niedziela is a senior research and research group leader in the National Security Sciences Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Niedzielas physics research seeks to understand how disorder and defects in real materials affect their physical properties, especially as related to the nuclear fuel cycle.

Abby Henson Enns is a strategic consultant, regional relations at the Tennessee Valley Authority. During her career, she has worked with TVA's local power companies as a customer service engineer and improved the carbon footprint of the Tennessee Valley through her time on TVA's renewables team.

A previous version of this story misspelled Dr. Kathryn Ellis.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: YWCA Knoxville announces Tribute to Women honorees
The ghost kitchen company that runs MrBeast Burger has countersued Jimmy Donaldson, aka YouTube megastar MrBeast. Virtual Dining Concepts (VDC) alleges that Donaldson and his Beast Investments (BI) company failed to abide by contractual obligations, such as carrying out promotional work, and that they "materially damaged" its reputation. VDC is seeking over $100 million in damages according to Variety, which first reported the news.

VDC alleges that Mr. Donaldsons and BIs actions have materially damaged the reputation of MrBeast Burger and VDC, turned away customers, and shattered hard-won relationships with vendors and suppliers, damaging the bottom lines of hundreds of restaurants across the country and around the world, and causing damages to VDC that, according to VDCs evidence and Mr. Donaldsons own estimations are in the nine-figure range, VDC told Nation's Restaurant News in a statement.

Donaldson filed suit against VDC and its parent company last week. He sought to end his partnership with them, citing issues including "disgusting" and "inedible" food. The original suit claimed VDC caused material, irreplaceable harm to the MrBeast brand. Donaldson also alleged that VDC had generated millions of dollars in revenue but he had not received a dime.

In its countersuit, VDC claims that Donaldson made disparaging comments against the company and MrBeast Burger. It cites several tweets (some of which seem to have been deleted) from the YouTube sensation, including claims that he wanted to shut down MrBeast Burger and that the company I partnered with wont let me stop even though its terrible for my brand.

This case is about a social media celebrity who believes his fame means that his word does not matter, that the facts do not matter, and that he can renege and breach his contractual obligations without consequence, VDC's countersuit claims. He is mistaken.

MrBeast Burger primarily uses a ghost kitchen format, which VDC specializes in. Ghost kitchens don't have dedicated storefronts (though some operate out of existing brick-and-mortar restaurants) and only fulfill orders for delivery or pickup. When the first physical MrBeast Burger location opened in New Jersey with Donaldson and his crew in attendance last September, more than 10,000 people showed up.
(Bloomberg) -- The chief executive officer of NRG Energy Inc. vowed to fight for his job, citing stronger-than-expected earnings, despite an activist investor calling for his ouster.

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Im not going anywhere, CEO Mauricio Gutierrez said in a telephone interview. Right now, my focus is on executing this strategy.

That strategy involves NRG Energys move from being a traditional power generator to a company going beyond that to also manage energy for smart homes. Already a major retail power provider in the US, this pivot will allow the company to expand services to customers and, as a result, keep them for longer, according the Houston-based firm. NRG argues this is the best way to fend off increasing pressure from investor Elliott Investment Management LP.

NRG reported better-than-expected performance for the second quarter. That was thanks to strong operations in its core energy business and the first full quarter including the recent Vivint Smart Home Inc. acquisition, Gutierrez said.

Shares of NRG slipped 2.6% on Tuesday to $36.54 as of 11:33 a.m. in New York. The stock is down about 10% since the close of Dec. 5. The Vivint deal was announced Dec. 6.

Read More: NRG Lifts Buybacks, Mulls Board Moves Amid Elliott Criticism

In May, Elliott excoriated NRGs $2.8 billion acquisition of Vivint, a leading home security provider, as the power industrys worst deal of the decade because of the price tag and because it created a distraction from the companys main power business. Elliott then demanded Gutierrez be replaced.

Gutierrez said the second-quarter results are evidence NRG is heading in the right direction. The company said it generated $819 million in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization in the three months ended June 30, up from $386 million a year earlier. Analysts expected $763 million. NRG is reaffirming its 2023 adjusted ebitda guidance of about $3 billion to $3.25 billion, and Gutierrez said the company is trending toward the top of that range.

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NRGs power generating fleet performed more in line with expectations, Gutierrez said. The W.A. Parish coal-fired plant in Texas is slated to return to service by the end of this month. The company also grew its customer base in the second quarter by 7% from its new smart home unit and retail energy by about 2%, he said.

Vivint is foremost a technology platform that will give NRG the ability to manage devices, which can include smart thermostats and appliances, Gutierrez said. The acquisition is, in the early days, starting to drive crossover sales between NRGs energy and smart home businesses, he said. For me, this is the most exciting part of the power industry today. Vivint is an integral part of the strategy, Gutierrez said.

The push to electrify large swaths of the economy from home heating to electric vehicles and industry is creating a convergence of industries that were historically siloed. With rising electricity usage and more extreme weather already testing Americas aging infrastructure, consumers have been asked to do their part to keep the grid stable by curtailing energy usage during periods of stress. Harnessing that response in programs, like NRG to Telsa Inc. hope to do, to create more flexible consumers is increasingly seen as a critical piece of the energy transition. Its also a test for NRG to prove its new business model can be profitable for the long haul.

We need to have a deeper relation with the customer given the convergence with electricity and smart home technology, he said.

(Updates with more company comments, share price and context starting in the second paragraph.)

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
(Bloomberg) -- Oil rose after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said his country would retaliate if Russia continues to block Ukrainian ports.

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Zelenskiys warning triggered fresh buying in the futures market as traders weighed the possibility of supply disruptions, sending US prices briefly above $83 barrel and to the highest close since April.

Supply concerns have largely driven oils rally since late June, which erased its losses for the year as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies cut production. On Tuesday, cartel leader Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its commitment to voluntarily curb supplies next month.

Still, a weakening demand outlook is limiting the gains. The US Energy Information Administration on Tuesday lowered its forecast for US consumption. Reports from OPEC and the International Energy Agency coming later this week will offer further updates on the health of the market.

Read More: Chinas Oil Imports Slip to Six-Month Low on Sluggish Recovery

Adding to bearish pressures, Chinas trade plunged in July as slowing global demand clouded the outlook for exports, while the nations oil imports slipped to a six-month low. The dollar climbed and stocks fell as a ratings downgrade for 10 small and midsize US lenders exacerbated worries of renewed banking tumult.

Away from headline prices, Brent crude has weakened markedly versus other oil benchmarks in recent days. Its now trading at a rare discount to Middle Eastern Dubai crude as OPEC+ output cuts lift the cost of heavier supplies, while its premium to WTI also has contracted to around the smallest since May.

To get Bloombergs Energy Daily newsletter direct into your inbox, click here.

Story continues

--With assistance from Devika Krishna Kumar.

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Key Insights

Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Webjet fair value estimate is AU$11.71

Current share price of AU$7.65 suggests Webjet is potentially 35% undervalued

Analyst price target for WEB is AU$7.89 which is 33% below our fair value estimate

How far off is Webjet Limited (ASX:WEB) 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. We will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model on this occasion. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow.

We would caution that there are many ways of valuing a company and, like the DCF, each technique has advantages and disadvantages in certain scenarios. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model.

See our latest analysis for Webjet

The Method

We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. 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.

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:

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10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (A$, Millions) AU$134.9m AU$175.1m AU$178.3m AU$180.5m AU$280.6m AU$312.9m AU$340.1m AU$362.7m AU$381.8m AU$398.0m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x5 Analyst x5 Analyst x4 Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Est @ 11.55% Est @ 8.67% Est @ 6.66% Est @ 5.25% Est @ 4.26% Present Value (A$, Millions) Discounted @ 8.4% AU$124 AU$149 AU$140 AU$131 AU$187 AU$193 AU$193 AU$190 AU$185 AU$178

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = AU$1.7b

The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.0%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 8.4%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = AU$398m (1 + 2.0%)  (8.4% 2.0%) = AU$6.3b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= AU$6.3b ( 1 + 8.4%)10= AU$2.8b

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is AU$4.5b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of AU$7.7, the company appears quite undervalued at a 35% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent.

dcf

Important 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. 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 Webjet as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 8.4%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.084. 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 Webjet

Strength

Debt is not viewed as a risk.

Weakness

No major weaknesses identified for WEB.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the Australian market.

Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%.

Threat

Revenue is forecast to grow slower than 20% per year.

Next Steps:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. What is the reason for the share price sitting below the intrinsic value? For Webjet, we've compiled three important items you should look at:

Risks: As an example, we've found 1 warning sign for Webjet that you need to consider before investing here. Future Earnings: How does WEB's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the ASX 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.
Bipartisan Poll by The Nature Conservancy Finds Broad Support for Clean Energy Funding

HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As the first anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 approaches, both public and private sector organizations are working to implement the most significant climate legislation ever enacted by Congress. New research finds that the majority of Pennsylvanians support continuing these investments to advance the transition to a clean energy economy, with some of the highest levels of support coming from union households.

The Nature Conservancy

A recent bipartisan statewide survey found that majorities of Pennsylvania voters and labor union households support gradually transitioning to 100 percent of energy being produced from clean and renewable sources over the next 15 years. Nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of voters support this transition. The numbers are even higher among union households, with 73 percent saying they support the transition.

Commissioned by The Nature Conservancy and conducted by the bipartisan research team of FM3 Research (D) and New Bridge Strategy (R), the poll surveyed 600 registered voters across Pennsylvania between May 31-June 5, 2023. There was additional oversampling of 153 union households and 102 union members from the trades, manufacturing, shipping, driving, and freight worker sectors  representing industries which stand to benefit from these clean energy investments. The margin of error is +4.0%.

The poll found broad support from Keystone State voters and union members for federal laws that dedicate funding to help states address energy issues. Roughly two-thirds of each group (64 percent statewide; 68 percent among union households) reported wanting to continue these laws.

Nearly seven-in-ten voters statewide and eight-in-ten among union households say they would take advantage of tax incentives or low-interest loans to help them afford solar panels or improve energy efficiency if they qualified. Support for these policies likely stems from Pennsylvanians' agreement that climate change is an issue that should be addressed.

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"Overwhelmingly, Pennsylvanians are concerned about climate change and feel that we must act now to avoid the worst impacts to nature and people," said Lori Brennan, Executive Director, The Nature Conservancy in Pennsylvania and Delaware. "This poll shows that statewide, there is broad support for a range of policies to address energy issues and reduce emissions. Pennsylvanians want to seize opportunities to leverage our state's strong history of industrial innovation to power the clean energy economy of the future. One that benefits people and nature."

Additional findings from the poll include:

Pennsylvanians feel that climate change is happening and that something should be done to address it. Seventy-eight percent of voters feel that addressing climate change should be a priority, and 70 percent find transitioning to clean energy and reducing carbon pollution is a good investment of taxpayers' money. Among union households, 86 percent say addressing climate change is a priority and 78 percent say the transition is a good investment; over three-in-five say it is a very good investment.

Most Pennsylvania voters want to increase clean energy production. Nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of voters want to increase our use of solar energy to power homes and businesses in Pennsylvania, while 55 percent say the same about wind. Among union households, 62 percent say we should increase our use of solar and 61 percent say we should increase our use of wind energy.

Air quality, public health and energy reliability are seen as most likely to benefit from a transition to clean energy. Pennsylvania voters believe that this transition will positively impact a wide range of aspects of life in the state  from health to the economy.

There is strong support for providing tax incentives for wind and solar installations on brownfields, especially among union households. 70% of voters and 81% of union households are supportive of tax incentives for companies that are willing to locate wind or solar projects on brownfields -- lands that have previously been disturbed or polluted through industrial activities or mining.

The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. Working in 72 countries and territories: 38 by direct conservation impact and 34 through partners, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit www.nature.org or follow @nature_press on Twitter.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pennsylvanians-want-federal-investments-to-advance-the-clean-energy-economy-301895947.html

SOURCE The Nature Conservancy
In this article, we will be taking a look at the global cheese market and the 25 countries that consume the most cheese. If you wish to see the top five countries, head straight to the Per Capita Cheese Consumption by Country: Top 5.

Cheese has been consumed as a staple food for centuries and continues to remain a key ingredient to be used in various dishes worldwide. Cheese consumption among consumers is increasing considering its varieties and availability worldwide. European cuisines use more cheese compared to other ethnic dishes and they make up for a large portion of the global cheese market.

Global Cheese Market: An Analysis

Cheese belongs to the milk and dairy products industry, and the rise in global demand for milk and dairy continues to push the cheese market. With the rising population and income, more dairy products are expected to be consumed over the medium term. According to the OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2023-2032, the countries with the highest demand for dairy products include Pakistan, India, and many African countries. The report suggests that the European Union, the U.S., and New Zealand are on track to become the key exporters of processed dairy products. These regions are expected to jointly export 65% of cheese, 70% of butter, 70% of whole milk powder, and 80% of skim milk powder in 2032. In June, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations shared the Food Outlook of Biannual Report on Global Food Markets. The report highlights the export forecasts for cheese around different regions of the world. The European Union is expected to export 1.34 million tonnes of cheese in 2023. Whereas, the U.S., New Zealand, Belarus, and the U.K. are projected to export 468 million, 345 million, 307 million, and 179 million tonnes of cheese in 2023, respectively.

The U.S. continues to remain a big cheese market. The U.S. Department of Agriculture posted export statistics for cheese from 2022, with more than 450,000 metric tonnes of cheese exported worldwide. In 2022, the U.S. cheese export market value was reported at $2.3 billion. The main consumer markets for the U.S. remain Mexico, South Korea, Japan, Australia, and Canada. Mexico is the largest importer of U.S. cheese with 87% of its cheese imports coming from its neighbor in 2022.

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In June 2023, Fortune Business Insights published a report on the cheese market size, mentioning the global cheese market at $183.79 billion in 2022. The global cheese market is projected to grow from $187.42 billion in 2023 to $256.99 billion by 2030, at a compound annual growth rate of 4.61%.

The COVID-19 pandemic had different effects on both cheese importers and exporters. In exporting countries, the pandemic led to an oversupply of milk, and the producers experienced a drop in prices. Whereas, producers from the importing countries faced challenges mainly in the market channels. High-end speciality cheesemakers suffered as consumers were not willing to pay for high-end products during the pandemic.

However, the market is improving and continuing to experience strong demand after the reopening of global trade. Consumers are willing to try new tastes and cheese remains in high demand. Certain cheese types are higher in demand such as cheddar, mozzarella, and parmesan - to name a few. Some of the largest cheese markets consume various categories of cheese. For instance, the U.S. is a massive cheese market and it consumes different types of cheese. As we mentioned earlier, the most consumed cheese in the U.S. includes Mozzarella, Cheddar, Swiss, and Cream and Neufchatel cheese, among others.

Players in the Cheese Market

The leading cheese producing companies are back on track after a pause during the pandemic. Nestle S.A. (SWX:NESN) is one of the largest food companies in the world and also carries production in the dairy and cheese market. Other top players in this competitive market include Saputo Inc. (TSE:SAP), Danone S.A. (EPA:BN), and Lactalis. Lactalis is a French dairy producer formerly known as Besnier SA. On April 20, Reuters reported that Lactalis had suffered a 14% decline in its net profit which amounted to EUR 384 million in 2022. Despite the increase in the cheesemakers sales by 28.4% to EUR 28.3 billion in 2022, the drop in net profit indicates a rise in production cost. Lactalis is a French company and the main reason for its narrowed profit is a spike in food prices, influenced by the Russia-Ukraine war. Nestle S.A. (SWX:NESN) is a mega-conglomerate that stands tall in the food market. On July 27, Nestle S.A. (SWX:NESN) posted half-year results for 2023. The multinational firm reported sales of CHF 46.3 billion for the first half of 2023. The company reported earnings per share of CHF 2.13 for the first half. Nestle S.A. (SWX:NESN) shared its full-year outlook for 2023 and said it expects its organic sales to grow between 7% and 8%. Here are some of the comments from Nestles CEO, Mark Schneider:

"We pursued our strategic priorities with discipline and focus in a fast-evolving consumer environment. Based on the strong performance in the first half of the year we upgrade our organic sales growth outlook for 2023. At-home consumption post-COVID has now normalized, removing a growth drag on some of our categories. Out-of-home channels continue to see strong growth momentum. For the remainder of the year, we are confident that we will deliver a positive combination of volume and mix, an improvement in gross margin, and a significant increase in marketing investments. Combined with ongoing portfolio management and optimization as well as the continued implementation of our sustainability initiatives, we are well-positioned to grow and to generate value for our stakeholders."

Per Capita Cheese Consumption by Country: Top 25

Pixabay/Public Domain

Our Methodology

Finding data for the countries with the highest cheese consumption per capita was a challenging task due to a lack of data. We sourced our data for cheese consumption per capita for each country from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD) Data Explorer. We gathered the list of 35 countries and ranked them based on human consumption of cheese metric, measured in kilograms per person. We did not have separate data for some European countries, but we did have the human consumption of cheese for the EU region as a whole. Therefore we ranked those EU countries based on their respective population. We sourced the population of countries from the World Bank database. Here is the list of 25 countries with the highest cheese consumption per capita.

Per Capita Cheese Consumption by Country: Top 25

25. Brazil

Human Consumption of Cheese (2022): 3.91 Kg Per Person

Population: 215.3 Million

Brazil is one of the largest populated countries and a notable amount of cheese is consumed annually. In 2022, the country consumed 842.95 thousand tonnes of cheese. Brazil ranks among the 25 countries with the highest cheese consumption per capita.

Some of the renowned food companies that produce cheese include Nestle S.A. (SWX:NESN), Saputo Inc. (TSE:SAP), and Danone S.A. (EPA:BN).

24. Ukraine

Human Consumption of Cheese (2022): 4.54 Kg Per Person

Population: 38 Million

A variety of cheeses are consumed in Ukraine. Despite the war, Ukraine consumed 196.26 thousand tonnes of cheese in 2022. The Russian neighbor is ranked among the 25 countries with the highest cheese consumption per capita.

23. Egypt

Human Consumption of Cheese (2022): 5.55 Kg Per Person

Population: 110.9 Million

Egypt is one of the ancient civilizations and it uses cheese in its various traditional dishes. The country consumed 589.65 thousand tonnes of cheese in 2022 and makes it to our list of the 25 countries with the highest cheese consumption per capita.

22. Russia

Human Consumption of Cheese (2022): 6.04 Kg Per Person

Population: 143.5 Million

Russia ranks 22nd on our list of the 25 countries with the highest cheese consumption per capita. Russia consumed 880.26 thousand tonnes of cheese in 2022.

21. Saudi Arabia

Human Consumption of Cheese (2022): 6.66 Kg Per Person

Population: 36.4 Million

Saudi Arabia continues to consume more cheese each year. According to Mordor Intelligence, Saudi Arabias dairy product market is expected to increase from $5.27 billion in 2023 to $6.64 billion in 2028, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 4.71%. Saudi Arabia is among the top cheese-consuming countries in the Middle East and makes it to our list of the 25 countries with the highest cheese consumption per capita.

20. Argentina

Human Consumption of Cheese (2022): 8.62 Kg Per Person

Population: 46.2 Million

Argentina consumed 396.71 thousand tonnes of cheese in 2022. Argentina makes it to our list of the 25 countries with the highest cheese consumption per capita.

19. Chile

Human Consumption of Cheese (2022): 9.01 Kg Per Person

Population: 19.6 Million

Chile ranks 19th on our list of the 25 countries with the highest cheese consumption per capita. Chile is one of the largest cheese consumers in Latin America, with a total of 173.48 thousand tonnes of cheese consumed in 2022.

18. New Zealand

Human Consumption of Cheese (2022): 10.37 Kg Per Person

Population: 5.1 Million

New Zealand is not the biggest of countries but still manages to consume a large amount of cheese each year. In 2022, New Zealand consumed 50.81 thousand tonnes of cheese. The island country makes it to our list of the 25 countries with the highest cheese consumption per capita.

17. United Kingdom

Human Consumption of Cheese (2022): 12.11 Kg Per Person

Population: 66.9 Million

The Britishers consume a massive amount of cheese each year. In 2022, the United Kingdom consumed 829.47 thousand tonnes of cheese and ranks 17th on our list of the 25 countries with the highest cheese consumption per capita.

16. Australia

Human Consumption of Cheese (2022): 13.04 Kg Per Person

Population: 25.9 Million

Australia is one of the largest cheese markets with a total cheese consumption of 339.91 thousand tonnes in 2022. Considering Australias population, the consumption rate is high compared to many countries. Australia ranks among the 25 countries with the highest cheese consumption per capita.

15. Canada

Human Consumption of Cheese (2022): 14.02 Kg Per Person

Population: 38.9 Million

Canada is a land of diverse cultures with different ethnic cuisines and for that reason, Canadian people use cheese in various dishes. In 2022, Canada consumed 538.22 thousand tonnes of cheese and is ranked among the 25 countries with the highest cheese consumption per capita.

14. United States

Human Consumption of Cheese (2022): 17.87 Kg Per Person

Population: 333.2 Million

The United States is one of the largest cheese markets in the world, sharing a large portion in both the import and export of cheese. In 2022, the United States consumed 5.98 million tonnes of cheese and is ranked 14th on our list of the 25 countries with the highest cheese consumption per capita.

13. Israel

Human Consumption of Cheese (2022): 18.22 Kg Per Person

Population: 9.5 Million

Israel consumed 162.60 thousand tonnes of cheese in 2022. With a growing cheese market in Israel, it ranks 13th on our list of the 25 countries with the highest cheese consumption per capita.

12. Norway

Human Consumption of Cheese (2022): 18.40 Kg Per Person

Population: 5.4 Million

The Scandinavian country makes it to our list of the 25 countries with the highest cheese consumption per capita. In 2022, Norway consumed 101.39 thousand tonnes of cheese.

11. Iceland

Human Consumption of Cheese (2022): 21.67 Kg Per Person

Population: 381,900

Iceland has some of the finest cheese in the world. Iceland is a European Union country and with a population of 381,900, it ranks among the 25 countries with the highest cheese consumption per capita.

10. Luxembourg

Human Consumption of Cheese (2022): 21.67 Kg Per Person

Population: 650,770

Another European Union country, Luxembourg is one of the largest cheese consumers in the world. With a population of 650,770, Luxembourg is ranked 10th on our list of the 25 countries with the highest cheese consumption per capita.

9. Estonia

Human Consumption of Cheese (2022): 21.67 Kg Per Person

Population: 1.3 Million

Estonia is a European Union country with a population of 1.3 million. Estonia ranks ninth on our list of the 25 countries with the highest cheese consumption per capita.

8. Finland

Human Consumption of Cheese (2022): 21.67 Kg Per Person

Population: 5.5 Million

Finland is part of the European Union and has a population of 5.5 million. Finland makes it to our list of the 25 countries with the highest cheese consumption per capita.

7. Czech Republic

Human Consumption of Cheese (2022): 21.67 Kg Per Person

Population: 10.52 Million

The Czech Republic also known as Czechia is one of the leading cheese consumers in the region. With a population of 10.52 million, the Czech Republic makes it to our list of the 25 countries with the highest cheese consumption per capita.

6. Greece

Human Consumption of Cheese (2022): 21.67 Kg Per Person

Population: 10.56 Million

With a slight difference in population from the Czech Republic, Greece ranks sixth on our list of the 25 countries with the highest cheese consumption per capita.

Swiss multinational food giant Nestle S.A. (SWX:NESN) is among the top cheese producers in the world and some other well-known companies in this sector include Saputo Inc. (TSE:SAP) and Danone S.A. (EPA:BN).

Click to see and continue reading the Per Capita Cheese Consumption by Country: Top 5. Suggested Articles:

Disclosure. None: Per Capita Cheese Consumption by Country: Top 25 is originally published on Insider Monkey.
SHEBOYGAN  The latest stories we're following include plans for a Popeyes, construction at a 24/7 child-care center and updates on a housing redevelopment.

Here's what to know.

City conditionally approves a Popeyes on Business Drive again

A rendering of a Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen restaurant proposed at 3207 S. Business Drive in Sheboygan, Wis.

Popeyes is getting a second chance, following the City Plan Commissions conditional use permit approval.

The projects first conditional use permit was approved in 2021, but it expired during construction delays for other Popeyes locations in Wisconsin.

The roughly $1.2 million project could redevelop the former Ryder Truck facilities north side at 3207 S. Business Drive.

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The north facility will be demolished for the restaurant and drive thru. The south facility will stay until the site is developed.

Popeyes could employ up to 30 staff, serve about 2,000 customers a week and be open daily 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., according to the conditional use permit application.

Sheboygan's New York pizza shop: Looking for New York style pizza in Sheboygan? Heres where you can find it.

A Million Dreamz nears end of construction phase, waitlist grows to 350 kids

The next phase of construction at A Million Dreamz, 415 Euclid Ave., is under way.

This phase includes three classrooms, offices, a gross motor room and a kitchen space.

A Million Dreamz anticipates Jos. Schmitt Construction will be done by the end of August.

Next steps will include new paint and flooring.

The child-care center opened its first classrooms in March. It has four classrooms open now. One room is temporarily serving 3- to 13-year-olds based on needs.

The waitlist grew from nearly 300 to about 350 kids since opening.

The zoo room is still getting its theme painted on the walls as seen, Wednesday, August 2, 2023, in Sheboygan, Wis.

The center also enrolled more than 50 kids, expanded services to weekends and established apprenticeships with Lakeshore Technical College students for the fall.

Co-founder and CEO Angel Berry said A Million Dreamz is looking for more sponsors. It still needs to raise more than $1 million of its $1.8 million fundraising goal.

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A Million Dreamz operates from 5:30 a.m. to midnight but will be open 24/7. Berry said the center is outgrowing its classroom capacity and needs more staff.

Production Farm expands: Here's what to know about The Production Farm's new Sheboygan County site

Former Jakums Hall site awaits new development

The exterior of Jakums as seen, Tuesday, September 20, 2022, in Sheboygan, Wis.

The lot at 2535-2601 N. 15th St., formerly Jakums Banquet Hall, remains empty after the building was torn down.

The site was redeveloped for affordable housing, including demolition and some land restoration. The City of Sheboygan spent about $164,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to buy and demolish the building last year.

The planning department hasn't received any proposals for the site, according to Program Assistant Ellise Rose.

Jakums Hall was closed for several years before teardown. It once housed the Luedke Brothers Meat Market.

Contact Alex Garner at 224-374-2332 or agarner@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @alexx_garner.

This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: Popeyes in Sheboygan closer to opening, A Million Dreamz has wait list
Key Insights

Significantly high institutional ownership implies Prudential Financial's stock price is sensitive to their trading actions

40% of the business is held by the top 25 shareholders

Using data from analyst forecasts alongside ownership research, one can better assess the future performance of a company

Every investor in Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 60% to be precise, is institutions. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company.

Since institutional have access to huge amounts of capital, their market moves tend to receive a lot of scrutiny by retail or individual investors. Hence, having a considerable amount of institutional money invested in a company is often regarded as a desirable trait.

Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Prudential Financial, beginning with the chart below.

Check out our latest analysis for Prudential Financial

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Prudential Financial?

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 Prudential Financial does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Prudential Financial's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story.

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Institutional investors own over 50% of the company, so together than can probably strongly influence board decisions. Prudential Financial is not owned by hedge funds. The Vanguard Group, Inc. is currently the company's largest shareholder with 10% of shares outstanding. In comparison, the second and third largest shareholders hold about 9.1% and 4.6% of the stock.

A deeper look at our ownership data shows that the top 25 shareholders collectively hold less than half of the register, suggesting a large group of small holders where no single shareholder has a majority.

Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There are 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 Prudential Financial

While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO.

I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions.

Our most recent data indicates that insiders own less than 1% of Prudential Financial, Inc.. Being so large, we would not expect insiders to own a large proportion of the stock. Collectively, they own US$62m of stock. Arguably recent buying and selling is just as important to consider. You can click here to see if insiders have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 40% stake in Prudential Financial. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Next Steps:

I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Prudential Financial 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.
The nonpartisan Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure released Monday its study on freight train lengths. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

A report by a nonpartisan think tank suggests that policymakers and Congress take heed before regulating the length of U.S. freight trains, saying that available safety and operations data doesnt appear to show a causal relationship between train lengths and accident rates.

Rather, regulating train lengths could result in an increase in shorter trains blocking rail crossings at higher rates, according to the Alexandria, Virginia-based Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure (Aii), which said this is just one of the outcomes that policymakers should consider before regulating freight train lengths.

Despite the popular and negative gut-level reaction to longer trains, the data helps settle certain concerns while offering a lot of angles to consider before making public policy changes, author and Aii Executive Director Benjamin Dierker said in a Monday news release. There is certainly a reasonable limit to the length a freight train should be, but from accident reporting forms and public data, there is not yet a clear picture of what that length is or how it should be set  whether by a regulatory cap, industry leadership, or collective bargaining.

Aiis report comes as a number of governmental bodies are examining what impacts longer trains might have on operations and rail safety. The Federal Railroad Administration is considering collecting more data from the Class I railroads on train lengths and train weights, while the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine is conducting a study on train lengths. Congress asked the National Academies to examine the issue, and FRA is sponsoring the project.

Meanwhile, state lawmakers in places such as Nevada are considering or have tried to push for laws that would set limits on freight train lengths.

Balanced public policy must properly weigh the costs and benefits of train length. Once this analysis is completed, policymakers can be better equipped with data in hand to implement targeted reforms that will mitigate the costs of longer trains while enhancing the benefits they can provide, the reports executive summary said.

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One of the data points that the report examines is the number of incidents occurring at rail crossings. Its analysis of the data determined that over 87% of crossing incidents since 2000 have involved trains of typical length, with less than 1% of incidents involving very long trains.

Meanwhile, train lengths have grown since the 1980s in part because train car lengths have gotten longer, according to the report. While the average number of train cars on a train is consistent with 2022 numbers, train car length has increased, according to the report.

This means to some extent, train length has increased due to the long-term investment  by railroad companies and the logistics industry  in railcars and platforms to service intermodal containers, higher capacity for cargo, and more payloads of various kinds, the report said. The growth is not explained solely by railroad companies linking greater numbers of train cars to locomotives. With demand projected to grow for freight transport by as much as 30 percent in less than 20 years, it may be an economic necessity to the nations well-being to move more cars. Whether that is done on fewer or more trains may depend in part on this analysis.

As policymakers and regulators examine the issue of freight train length, they need to also consider the economic and environmental impacts that might occur because of restricting train size, according to the report. This includes collecting more data  but also having a timeline for that data collection so as not to rack up continued compliance costs.

Should any length restriction on freight trains be applied  though none is warranted from existing data  it should not be a fixed and general rule, the report said. Rather, limits on train length should be as narrowly tailored as possible to avoid imposing costs on railroads and their customers. For example, a train running through a densely populated and highly trafficked metropolitan area with numerous crossings is entirely different from a long-haul route that spans hundreds of miles with few or no crossings. Likewise, a train carrying mixed cargo in intermodal containers is vastly different from a single-commodity train of coal or one with certain hazardous materials.

The report continued: A rule that applies to both dissimilar trains without distinction is inefficient. Additional considerations should be applied based on factors such as traffic mix, region/terrain, population density, presence and volume of hazardous materials, train makeup, gross weight, integration of positive train control technology and similar tools, crew size, ground-based crew availability, automatic track inspection technology, season, and economic value.

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The post Report: Data should drive debate on freight train lengths appeared first on FreightWaves.
Some Republicans think Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is the partys best hope at dethroning Donald Trump. DeSantis keeps disappointing them.

With his polling numbers stuck far below Trumps, DeSantis has been facing blowback from big donors who think maybe hes not the GOPs savior, after all. The latest contributor to get the jitters is Las Vegas hotel magnate Robert Bigelow, who has been DeSantiss biggest donor so far, giving $20 million to the candidates super PAC.

Bigelow recently told Reuters he would hold off giving DeSantis any more money for the time being. DeSantis needs to shift to get more moderates, Bigelow told Reuters. Extremism doesnt get you elected. He cited just one policy: a bill DeSantis signed in April that would ban abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. That law is not yet in effect, pending a review by the Florida Supreme Court. Current law in Florida bans abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

Billionaire Ken Griffin, founder of the Citadel hedge fund, is reportedly reassessing his prior support for DeSantis, given the candidates weak traction with voters so far. Politico recently reported that billionaire businessman Ronald Lauder and other wealthy funders may be shifting their support from DeSantis to the more affable South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott.

Both parties have rich donors, and multimillion-dollar political contributions dont always win national elections. But big donors are crucial to funding the super PACs that can accept unlimited amounts of money and often do a lot of the advertising for a given candidate, including negative ads against the opposition. Regular political-action committees, such as those that fund routine campaign operations, have limits on donations and rely heavily on large numbers of donors giving relatively small amounts.

DeSantis seems like he ought to be a solid presidential contender. Hes the governor of a large state thats outperforming the country economically. He won reelection last year in a landslide, indicating broad popularity in a former swing state that now leans Republican. His sterling resume includes a degree from Yale, where he was captain of the baseball team, and a Harvard law degree. He joined the Navys Judge Advocate General Corps (JAG) after Harvard and served in combat zones in Iraq. Its possible no other 2024 candidate will have such all-American branding.

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Yet DeSantis is languishing. Early this year, before DeSantis formally announced his presidential bid, polls showed him 13 points behind Trump. The latest numbers show him 38 points behind Trump. No wonder donors are bailing. The idea of DeSantis as a presidential candidate is turning out way better than the reality.

In April 2022, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed HB 7, known as the "Stop WOKE' bill," in Hialeah Gardens. (Daniel A. Varela/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

[Drop Rick Newman a note, follow him on Twitter, or sign up for his newsletter.]

DeSantis has deficiencies. His personality can be abrasive. Sometimes he seems like a bully. He lacks Trumps dark genius for self-promotion (as do most other candidates). Then theres DeSantiss decision to stake his political future on an anti-woke crusade that decries liberal influence over policies at corporations, universities, and other influential organizations.

Ground zero for DeSantiss anti-woke war is a legal battle against the Disney Corp. over cultural values. The fight erupted after Disney opposed a law DeSantis signed last year governing sex and gender education for young children in Florida. Disney opposed the law, and DeSantis retaliated against Disney by challenging its long-held municipal autonomy at its Florida theme park. The matter is now mired in litigation. Disney CEO Bob Iger has called DeSantis anti-business.

In his memoir, published earlier this year, DeSantis bragged about taking on Disney. But in an important speech outlining his economic priorities on July 31, DeSantis didnt mention Disney once. Nor did he mention wokeism or anti-wokeism or whatever it's called.

As a presidential candidate, DeSantis leaves the impression hes trying on personas to see which might catch on with voters, then ditching them for something new if they dont work. That mirrors what is turning into a fair amount of campaign turmoil. DeSantis replaced his campaign manager on August 8, shortly after the campaign laid off a third of its staff. DeSantiss fundraising has been decent, but hes also spent a lot of money and he may have a weakness among the small donors that are the lifeblood of basic campaign operations.

DeSantiss biggest problem, though, is Trumps lock on the Republican Party. Despite indictments in three criminal cases this year, two-thirds of Republicans have a favorable view of Trump. That forces his challengers within the party to contort themselves into Trumpy candidates who can appeal to Trump backers while trying to distinguish themselves from the former president without alienating his base. If theres a workable formula, none of the 2024 presidential candidates has yet discovered it.

Big Republican donors are more practical than many of the rank-and-file Republicans who will stand with Trump even if he goes to jail. The big money wants a candidate who can win in the 2024 general election and institute conservative policies. Trump isnt their guy, and now it looks like DeSantis isnt, either. Maybe they'll need to wait until 2028.

Rick Newman is a senior columnist for Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter at @rickjnewman.

Click here for politics news related to business and money

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance
Dozens of homebuyers in Shanghai have threatened to stop repaying mortgages as they protest against a developer's delay in handing over flats, evoking memories of a nationwide boycott about a year ago that spread to more than a hundred cities as builders were behind schedule due to tight funding and strict Covid-19 curbs.

These warnings reflect the continued stress in China's property market as the government attempts to rebalance the sector, exposing developers to completion risk and marking the first mortgage boycott threat in the mainland's financial and commercial hub where residential units have long been viewed as safe investment amid a property boom.

These boycott warnings come at a time when property sales are sinking and could further pressure the liquidity starved sector. Property sales declined 33 per cent year on year in July, extending a 17 per cent fall in June.

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

The One - Rivera Shanghai, a project located on Puyi Road, Pudong, stalled construction due to a liquidity crunch it has faced since early 2022, which forced the company to miss delivery deadlines stipulated in the home purchase contracts.

A view of unfinished residential project The One - Rivera Shanghai on Puyi Road, Pudong. Photo: Zhang Shidong alt=A view of unfinished residential project The One - Rivera Shanghai on Puyi Road, Pudong. Photo: Zhang Shidong>

According to two buyers who asked not to be identified, about 100 people whose flats were not delivered on the due date have written to the developer and relevant housing and financial authorities complaining about the lapse and have warned they would stop making mortgage payments from September if construction did not resume by end-August.

"We, ordinary families, cannot withstand the losses incurred by the unfinished project," the homebuyers said in the letter that was obtained by the Post. "We made the decision [not to repay the mortgage] unless government authorities step in to ensure a resumption of construction."

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The developer, Shanghai Dongying Real Estate, could not be reached for comment.

The project comprises about 300 flats in two buildings. Homes in the first building were expected to be delivered to buyers by March 12, 2022 and the delivery date for the second lot was December 10, 2022.

"The protests left local authorities red-faced because a [potential] mortgage boycott would point towards the city's unsuccessful policies governing the significant real estate market," said Bob Fu, a senior manager with property agency Baonuo in Shanghai. "It remains to be seen whether the ripple effect will spread to other projects in the city."

The One - Rivera Shanghai, located in the area within the city's Inner Ring Elevated Road, offers flats at about 110,000 yuan (US$15,293) per square metre to buyers, with prices of each unit ranging from 15 million yuan to over 30 million yuan.

Flats built in areas within the inner ring road are popular with local homebuyers partly because of the government's price cap on new homes. Those new flats are often priced at a 10 to 20 per cent discount to those pre-owned units in the neighbourhood.

Buyers sign housing contracts, or sales of partially built homes, with developers, and start repaying mortgages before homes are delivered when construction is complete.

China's ailing real estate sector, along with related industries such as home appliances and construction materials, accounts for about a quarter of the country's economy.

Beijing's austerity measures to reduce developers' leverage ratios in 2020 resulted in a wave of bond and loan defaults involving developers from China Evergrande Group to Kaisa Group Holdings.

About 50 mainland developers have defaulted on some US$100 billion worth of offshore bonds over the past two years, according to a JPMorgan report in December, with 39 seeking restructuring plans with creditors for US$117 billion in stressed debt.

In August 2022, buyers of more than 320 residential projects in 100 cities collectively refused to make mortgage repayments on unfinished projects, according to real-time updates on "WeNeedHome" on GitHub, Microsoft's collaborative code-sharing platform.

Luxury homes in Shanghai have come under pressure amid worries about China's faltering economy, with some sellers cutting prices by up to 20 per cent to attract buyers, according to property agencies and consultancies.

Last November, Beijing rolled out a 16-point rescue plan for the property market, under which the banking regulators injected trillions of yuan into the property sector.

In July this year, Ni Hong, Minister of Housing and Urban-rural Development, said loosening measures, including lower mortgage financing rates and reduced down payment ratios, would be implemented to spur a market recovery while China's statistics bureau spokesman Fu Linghui said it was only a temporary setback as the industry clean-up had created turbulence. A resolution is around the corner, which could be a harbinger of long-term stability for the industry, he added.

"We have to think about the contingent impact if confidence collapses. That's the worst case," said analysts at Goldman Sachs in a note last year, highlighting that the cost for the government to eliminate completion risk was around 600 billion yuan.

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2023 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2023. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
FILE PHOTO: The logo of German industrial group Siemens is seen in Zug

VIENNA/MUNICH (Reuters) - Siemens is cooperating with authorities in Austria on an investigation into allegations of possible corruption related to hospital building contracts.

Several people are being investigated for serious fraud, the prosecutor's office in Feldkirch said on Tuesday, adding that the sums involved are believed to be less than 10 million euros ($10.99 million).

Siemens said the investigation was based on information the company had provided to the public prosecutor's office in the course of an ongoing compliance investigation.

"Siemens is cooperating fully with the authorities," the engineering company said, adding that it would not comment on ongoing investigations.

Austrian prosecutors said that five people had been arrested as part of the investigation, with several house searches taking place last week.

The prosecutor declined to confirm the name of companies or individuals involved.

German newspaper Die Welt on Tuesday said the alleged fraud concerned a "criminal system" in which suspects used forged documents to enrich themselves.

The allegations relate to inflated invoices for the delivery of building technology from Siemens' Smart Infrastructure division, the paper said, adding that the invoices were paid in connection with extensions and new buildings used by a public health operator in Vorarlberg.

The operating company, known as Vorarlberger KHBG, said it believed it was one of several companies affected by the alleged fraud.

"We are likely to have been overcharged over a long period of time," said supervisory board chairwoman Martina Ruescher in a statement. "The financial damage caused is considerable."

The company, which runs five hospitals in Vorarlberg, said it was considering seeking damages from Siemens, as well as examining its entire internal accounting systems.

($1 = 0.9098 euros) (This story has been refiled to remove superfluous phrase 'been of' in paragraph 9)

(Reporting by Alexandra Schwarz-Goerlich in Vienna and Alexander Huebner in Munich; Writing by John Revill; Editing by Friederike Heine, Miranda Murray, David Goodman and Louise Heavens)
SDI Productions / iStock.com

If you collect Social Security, some of your payments are subject to the same garnishment rules that apply to other types of income. This means your benefits can be withheld to enforce your legal obligation to pay child support, alimony or restitution  but not if those benefits are through the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program.

Social Security 2023: Recent Study Shows Quarter of Americans Underestimate Their Benefits By $5,000

Discover: 3 Ways To Recession-Proof Your Retirement

Unlike regular Social Security payments, SSI payments cannot be levied or garnished, according to the Social Security Administration. This rule applies even if you have unpaid federal income taxes.

See: 4 Social Security Shakeups from Biden That Could Hit Your Wallet by 2024

As the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau noted, Social Security and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits can sometimes be garnished to pay certain government debts, such as back taxes or federal student loans, and debts for child or spousal support. However, SSI benefits are protected from garnishment  even to pay a government debt or child or spousal support.

The SSI program is overseen by the SSA and provides a monthly benefit to adults and children with a disability or blindness and resources below certain financial limits. SSI payments are also made to seniors 65 and older who meet the financial qualifications even if theyre not disabled. You might be eligible for SSI benefits even if you already receive Social Security Disability Insurance or retirement benefits.

Although SSI benefits cant be garnished, thats not the case with other types of Social Security payments. As previously reported by GOBankingRates, the SSA can garnish current and continuing monthly benefits. You cant appeal to Social Security to challenge a garnishment, either. For that, youll need to contact an attorney or representative in the jurisdiction where the court issued the order.

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In addition to garnishing your benefits for child support, alimony or restitution, the U.S. Department of the Treasury can withhold Social Security benefits to collect overdue federal tax debts. The Treasury Department can use either a Notice of Levy or the Federal Payment Levy Program to collect overdue federal taxes. This allows the department to withhold up to 15% of your monthly Social Security benefits until you repay the debt.

You dont have to worry about these garnishments with SSI benefits. If someone attempts to garnish your SSI payments, the CFPB recommends immediately notifying the court, the bank and the person/business that is garnishing your account in writing to let them know you receive SSI benefits. You should also seek help from a lawyer.

Depending on your income, you might be eligible for free legal help. The Center for Elder Rights Advocacy can refer you to a local agency that provides free legal help to seniors who qualify. Contact the Center for Elder Rights Advocacy at 866-949-2372.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Social Security: Can Debt Collectors Garnish Your SSI Payments?
Douglas Rissing / Getty Images/iStockphoto

When it comes to federal government spending, two of the biggest outlays every year are for Social Security and national defense. But neither of those suck up as much of the federal budget as one other item, according to entrepreneur and Libertarian political activist Spike Cohen.

See: 4 Social Security Shakeups from Biden That Could Hit Your Wallet by 2024

Find: 3 Ways To Recession-Proof Your Retirement

In a July 31 post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Cohen wrote that the most expensive single program is paying the interest on the debt that Republicans and Democrats in Washington DC have run up in your name. The amount of that interest is higher than either military spending or Social Security, he claimed.

First Year of Retirement: 7 Money Moves You Absolutely Must Make

Thanks to decades of debt spending, which every Congress in our lifetimes has passed, and every President in our lifetimes has signed, it will cost nearly a trillion dollars this year just to pay the interest on the debts theyve run up, Cohen wrote.

At the bottom of his tweet, Cohen provided what looks like a screenshot of an unspecified fiscal year budget, though presumably it is the federal governments fiscal 2023 budget.

Cohens chart shows that estimated interest on Treasury debt securities will total $897.7 billion for the year. That compares to $771.2 billion for U.S. Department of Defense military programs. The budget estimate for the Department of Health and Human Services  which includes Social Security and Medicare  was $1.7 trillion, though there was no further breakdown on specific HHS expenditures.

GOBankingRates reviewed various government budget documents for fiscal 2023 but could not find the Treasury debt or military spending figures Cohen cited. That doesnt mean they arent accurate, though they dont line up with figures from certain other sources.

For example, a May 2023 analysis from the Peter G. Peterson Foundation  a nonprofit, nonpartisan fiscal watchdog group  said that spending on national defense totaled $766 billion in 2022, while spending on interest payments on the federal debt totaled $476 billion. The biggest outlay was Social Security, at $1.22 trillion.

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As the Peter G. Peterson Foundation noted, spending in the federal budget is grouped into categories known as budget functions. Each function includes a group of activities or programs that serve a similar public purpose. Here are the largest budget functions for 2022, according to the Foundation, which cited data from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget:

Social Security ($1,219 billion): This includes the two programs administered by the Social Security Administration  retirement benefits and disability insurance. Health ($914 billion): The Health function includes most direct healthcare services funded by the federal government other than Medicare, such as Medicaid, the Childrens Health Insurance Program, and activities carried out by agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration. Income Security ($866 billion): This includes programs that provide cash and other government assistance to individuals in need, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Supplemental Security Income and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. National Defense ($766 billion): This function covers the military activities of the Department of Defense. Some funding also goes toward defense-related activities of other departments, such as Department of Energy nuclear programs and the FBI. Medicare ($755 billion): The Medicare function consists entirely of the Medicare program, which provides health insurance to Americans 65 or over and people with disabilities. Education, Training, Employment, and Social Services ($677 billion): This function includes federal funding for the Department of Education and social service programs administered by a variety of agencies to educate and train workers. Net Interest ($476 billion): The Net Interest function includes interest payments on the federal debt paid to private holders of U.S. Treasury securities. It is partially offset by interest income on loans as well as earnings from the National Railroad Retirement Investment Trust.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Spike Cohen Asks If Social Security or the Military Is Governments Most Expensive Program  Heres the Harsh Reality
(Bloomberg) -- Late last year, Stability AI Ltd., a startup based in London, was at the center of the AI hype cycle thanks to the massive success of Stable Diffusion, an artificial intelligence model that enables users to create uncanny and sometimes startlingly realistic images based on prompts of just a few words.

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After raising more than $100 million, the company recruited a cadre of senior executives from larger technology firms as part of an ambitious plan to branch into new products and forge a viable business. Stability distinguished itself with its focus on open-source software, winning over experienced engineers and scientists from tech giants like Google, Amazon and Adobe, who saw making code public a better alternative to the closed AI models under development elsewhere. But with many other AI companies rushing their own models to market, Stability had to be fast.

Believing generative AI could be as consequential as the dawn of the internet, companies raced to develop this tech. During such periods of wild communal exuberance, Silicon Valley breeds not only successes but also CEO storytellers and hyperbolic claims. At first, Stability appeared to be on track to the top: The previously unknown company burst onto the startup scene in the fall as Stable Diffusion rapidly became one of the most popular image generators on the planet. In subsequent months, the company rolled out a slew of AI models and tools. Its leader, Chief Executive Officer Emad Mostaque, projected charisma and excitement.

Look, we came out of nowhere, we did a few things, and I think we flipped the world of artificial intelligence, Mostaque told a crowd at a splashy launch party in San Francisco in October, just after welcoming revelers with a giant projected image of himself astride a winged unicorn.

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Since March, however, optimism surrounding Stability has died down. At least six of its senior hires are gone, including the chief operating officer and head of research. As competing AI startups raked in financing, Stability was unable to raise new funding at a desired $4 billion valuation. (The company denies that it had difficulty raising money.) At least one prominent generative AI business has accused Stability of not paying a $70,000 bill in time or in full. And in July, one of the companys co-founders filed a lawsuit alleging he was tricked into selling his stake in the startup for $100. (Stability has said the lawsuit is without merit.)

Asked about the turnover and executive departures, the companys bespectacled 40-year-old co-founder responded in a statement that this is par for the course at any startup. Of course theres churn, Mostaque said, adding that this can happen especially when there may not be a cultural fit between employees and a company.

But interviews with nearly two dozen current and former employees, investors, vendors and contractors describe a disorganized company helmed by an inexperienced CEO with a history of outlandish claims and lofty promises that dont always come to fruition. According to these interviews, this helped drive away some of the very executives and engineers that Mostaque was relying on to push Stability forward during a critical period of growth.

Stability says it has not had trouble fundraising. Its not trying to raise more money at all, a spokesperson said. The company also pushed back on the idea of internal turmoil, noting that its been releasing new features, making key hires and is planning to grow its headcount beyond the 185 employees it had as of earlier this summer. Peter ODonoghue, Stabilitys chief financial officer and a board member, said it has reached an agreement with the generative AI company that complained it hadnt been paid.

The company also denied claims made in a June article in Forbes that its founder strays from the truth. On stage at a Bloomberg conference in June, Mostaque said that he sometimes is misunderstood. Im doing the best I can, he told the audience. I have a very definitive view of the future.

Under Pressure

Like many founders, Mostaque often talks about his company in utopian terms. Still, some of his statements defy belief, say people who have worked with Stability. Multiple people interviewed by Bloomberg News said the CEO told them that he once worked as a secret agent for the UK government. (When Bloomberg News asked about this, Stability declined to respond and a spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office declined to comment.)

While it's common for startup founders to embellish in order to make their companies appear more impressive, Mostaque has presented blue-sky conversations about partnerships and projects as sure things long before any agreement has actually been reached. In an April interview with Bloomberg News in San Francisco, for instance, he said that his company would soon launch a deepfake detection contest with an award of up to $1 million, partly in tandem with the nonprofit Thorn, which fights child sexual abuse material online.

Several months later, Thorn CEO Julie Cordua told Bloomberg News she had spoken to Mostaque in the spring about a competition, but the companies never ended up collaborating. I said, that would be interesting, but we did not pursue it, she said.

Mostaque has also claimed he has spoken to multiple prime minister offices about building AI models for nation states. All the largest companies in the world are now coming in to support us and partner with us, he said in a May interview at his office.

Yet when asked to name of some of its customers, Stability mentioned Tome  a startup in which Mostaque is an investor  as well as Amazon Web Services, which it pays for cloud services. (Amazon also offers Stable Diffusion via its Amazon Bedrock service.) AWS and Tome would not comment on the record. Stability also pointed to Jasper, an AI startup. Its CEO has publicly stated that Mostaque invested in the company, but a Stability spokesperson said Mostaque is not an investor. Jasper declined to comment.

In early June, Forbes published a scathing article citing interviews with 13 current and former employees and more than two dozen investors, former colleagues and collaborators, which accused Mostaque of embellishing parts of his past and stated that his company was losing far more than the $10 million in annualized revenue he said it was bringing in. (Mostaque and Stability disputed the report; in a blog post, Mostaque addressed many of the storys points but did not mention the companys revenue.) In a recent statement to Bloomberg, Mostaque said that Stabilitys projected annual revenue was more than $10 million as of October, but that this number has fallen as the company has focused increasingly on research and development.

Peter Diamandis, an entrepreneur and investor in Stability, acknowledged that the recent scrutiny has created problems for the company. It is difficult to raise money when youve got articles like Forbes coming out, he said of the situation in general. He also characterized the internal turmoil as normal. This is a startup thats in its period of birth. Its working to find the right team, the right management style, he said. Its always a turbulent time. In the spring, Stability sold a convertible note worth less than $25 million, according to people familiar with the deal. The company says that is inaccurate but wouldnt provide the amount it had raised.

New York hedge fund Coatue Management and Silicon Valley firm Lightspeed Ventures, two of Stabilitys main investors, declined to comment. Jim OShaughnessy, a Stability investor who serves as board chair, didnt respond to multiple requests for comment.

Mostaque has come under criticism from investors for his entrepreneurial ventures before. In 2019, the former hedge fund employee and software consultant took the lead of Symmitree, a blockchain-based mobile banking service for refugees. When that fizzled out, several investors raised concerns about the company, according to messages viewed by Bloomberg News and conversations with multiple shareholders who asked not to be identified when discussing private matters.

In a statement from his lawyer, Mostaque said Symmitree was a young company aimed at helping at-risk populations, and that he saw potential in the business, but ultimately was unable to scale it to the extent planned. Mostaque added that any messages Bloomberg reviewed were likely sent by a disgruntled investor before the shareholders received a majority of their funds back.

Three different Symmitree investors said Mostaques current Stability investors never contacted them for due diligence. Stabilitys largest investors declined to comment, and Diamandis said he did not reach out to prior investors but felt confident about Mostaques leadership.

Christian Cantrell, who spent about five months as Stabilitys vice president after two decades at Adobe and a stint working on his own startup, defended the CEOs unconventional style. I know theres a lot of controversy and a lot of people wondering about him, Cantrell said in a May interview. Ill just say hes incredibly intelligent and surprisingly warm.

Several weeks ago, Cyrus Hodes, a Stability co-founder, filed suit against Mostaque for allegedly violating his fiduciary duty. Hodes claimed that his former business partner effectively gave up on Stabilitys initial goal of building a pandemic-related data service, which it began working on in the early days of Covid-19. Hodes alleged Mostaque stopped communicating with him and began secretly diverting his time and company resources to what would become Stable Diffusion, the hit image generator. Hodes sold his 15% stake for $100  in two transactions in October 2021 and May 2022  alleging in the suit that Mostaque led him to believe their company was essentially worthless. Stability replied that the suit was without merit.

Stability is also warding off lawsuits from Getty Images and artists who claim that Stable Diffusion illegally ripped off their work. The company, which filed a motion to dismiss the claims, declined to comment on ongoing litigation.

There have also been questions about whether Mostaque tried to take credit for developing the technology underlying Stable Diffusion.

The first version of what would later become Stable Diffusion was created by researchers in Germany who, along with a research scientist from an AI startup called Runway, built an open-source AI model that could automatically generate computer images from brief text prompts. In mid-2022, Mostaque reached out to the group, offering to cover computing costs to improve that model. While its common for businesses to grow on top of open-source tech, when Stability touted the resulting work in late August  the public version of Stable Diffusion  and again in October, it didnt acknowledge the researchers, despite having done so in the past.

In an October press release announcing its $101 million venture funding round, Stability declared itself the company behind Stable Diffusion, a powerful, free and open-source text-to-image generator.

That didnt sit well with Bjorn Ommer, a professor at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, whose lab led the development of the algorithm underpinning Stable Diffusion. In science, you are supposed to credit somebody, to cite somebody, if you take something from somewhere, he said.

Stability has pointed out that it developed subsequent versions of Stable Diffusion in house, and that the company hired three of the researchers behind the original work. Following the criticism, the company has been clearer about the origins of the initial model.

Order to Chaos

Stability now faces the challenge of transforming enthusiasm for generative AI into a path to profitability. This is an issue that nearly all startups confront, and departed Stability staffers described continual difficulty settling on a business model and approach.

David Ha, a former Google researcher who resigned last month from Stability after an eight-month stint as its head of research, said that Mostaques relentless pursuit of ideas that others did not always understand made it difficult to figure out what exactly the company was aiming for or how it planned to achieve it. Another employee, a former contractor who worked for Stability in late 2022 and early 2023, described the company culture as siloed and secretive, with a confusing corporate structure and little communication about what work  if any  needed to be done. Stability declined to comment on this characterization.

Speaking to Bloomberg News about Stabilitys revenue strategy in May, Mostaque suggested that heavily regulated industries such as finance and health care would line up to pay for customized AI models using their own proprietary data over the closed versions being developed by competitors. Imagine if there was an open, auditable model with fully licensed data, he said. Thats what were building.

As Stability has worked to find its footing, rivals have gained ground. In July, Facebook parent Meta released its latest large language model, Llama 2, for commercial use. While Metas tool is more restricted than most open-source software, the product will directly compete with Stability. Ha wrote in a statement to Bloomberg News that despite helping create the field, Stability will need to find its own moat to be competitive.

Mostaque acknowledges that Stability has struggled to professionalize. In his May interview with Bloomberg News, he said that until the previous summer, the startup was a pre-seed company with heavy family influence reliant on his personal loans. Then we grew up, he added.

By the end of June, Daniel Jeffries, Stabilitys chief information officer, Scott Draves, the companys VP of engineering, David Ha, the research head, and Ren Ito, Stabilitys Chief Operating Officer, were also gone. In mid July, Louis Castricato, who worked on Stabilitys large language model efforts and was the co-leader of CarperAI  a research lab funded and operated by Stability  announced he was leaving both to work at EleutherAI, a nonprofit, independent research lab that has received funding from Stability (the company also serves on EleutherAIs board of directors). In late July, more than a half dozen other employees left Stability; a company spokesperson said that group was let go.

Startup environments do not suit everyone, ODonoghue, Stabilitys CFO, said in a July interview. We have brought in some amazing talent, and I can tell you they have to work really, really hard, he added. Theyre trying to bring order to chaos.

Yet from the outside, the startup can still appear chaotic. One business partner who worked with Stability on a monthslong project described the company as sloppy and disorganized  and reluctant to pay.

Last year, Stability had hired the startup, a prominent AI company based in California, to help manage the underlying data for a large language model. When it came time for Stability to pay its bill, about $70,000, the company dragged its feet and cancelled four meetings related to the payment, according to the CEO of the startup it hired, who asked not to be named so as to avoid being associated with Stability. At one point, a Stability employee forwarded an email chain in which its management discussed negotiating a much smaller payment or getting out of the contract altogether, according to another person familiar with the situation who asked to remain anonymous discussing private information.

Stabilitys StableLM large language model launched in April; it wasnt trained on the startups infrastructure, the person familiar with the situation said. In July, the companies negotiated the payment down to $40,000, which Stability paid. ODonoghue blamed the delay on the ordinary course of business in which parties disagreed on the value that was created.

Both parties are happy and weve moved on, ODonoghue said.

In recent weeks, Mostaque and his company have taken to social media to highlight what Stability has accomplished over the past year. It has rolled out multiple versions of Stable Diffusion, large language models, and the image creation and editing tool DreamStudio, among other products.

Mostaque, for his part, has no plans to slow down. In May, he said he wants to take Stability public once the time is right.

So, fingers crossed, sooner rather than later, he said. Because I think it should be a public company for scrutiny.

--With assistance from Hannah Miller.

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Members of the Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild walk a picket line outside of Paramount Pictures, in Los Angeles, California, on July 21, 2023. Tens of thousands of Hollywood actors went on strike at midnight on July 14, 2023, effectively bringing the giant movie and television business to a halt as they join writers in the first industry-wide walkout in 63 years.

With UAW leadership taking a much more assertive approach publicly to negotiations with the Detroit Three than in the recent past, the prospect of a strike has been a hot topic even before talks got under way last month.

But theres more to a strike than employees just walking off the job and hoisting signs.

Marick Masters, a Wayne State University business professor and labor expert, broke down some of the different types of strikes and their implications during a recent interview with the Free Press. Masters also offered his take on auto talks so far and whats at stake.

There are a few basic types of strikes, Masters said.

The most common is an economic strike, and that occurs when the parties reach an impasse over their negotiating positions. They cant settle the differences. As you know, (United Auto Workers union President) Shawn Fain came out with a very ambitious list of negotiation demands  and should the parties not reach an agreement over that then you would have an economic strike, Masters said.

One of the potential implications for workers during an economic strike is that strikers can be temporarily and permanently replaced by employers, he said, describing that, however, as highly unlikely in the case of the auto industry. Such a move by Ford Motor Co., General Motors or Stellantis, owner of Jeep, Ram, Chrysler, Dodge and Fiat, would be seen as a massively insulting step and quite impractical, he said.

Other types of strikes include an unfair labor practice strike, which could apply if a company refuses to bargain in good faith, or a wildcat strike, which isnt authorized by the union and happens at a particular work site. Unfair labor practice strikers can be replaced only temporarily; a wildcat strike would probably not be considered a legal strike. In addition, specific industries, such as the public sector or railways, might have different rules or prohibitions when it comes to a strike.

Masters also referenced another type of strike that is not common in the United States but he said was more frequent in the past  a general strike, which would involve workers striking across numerous industries in protest of a political or wider economic situation or in solidarity with other workers.

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UAW President Shawn Fain reveals "audacious" and "ambitious" member demands for the 2023 contract negotiations during a Facebook live meeting on Tuesday, August 1, 2023.

One of the milestones of the U.S. labor movement was the 1936 Flint Sit-Down Strike against General Motors, which led to the first contract between the automaker and the union. Masters said that would probably be considered an illegal strike today, but the union was seeking the right to be recognized.

Generally speaking, in strikes today, parties cannot occupy the facility and prevent the company from operating it, they have to remain in certain boundaries outside the facility and have pickets and they cant interfere with the employers ability to conduct operations, Masters said. In Flint, it was early days of (the National) Labor Relations Act, and employers were often very reluctant to grant recognition and unions had to resort to a variety of different tactics to achieve the goals.

Many unions today face different challenges, such as when dealing with high-profile companies like Amazon and Starbucks. Those workers might secure a union, but they face significant hurdles in getting to a first contract.

Masters said unions like the UAW and Teamsters do a fairly good job of both preparing and educating their members for and about strikes and their implications and in offering support, pointing to the decision by the UAW to increase weekly strike pay to $500.

However, he noted that anything could happen in the event of a strike.

The biggest tool that management has in an economic strike is it can replace these workers permanently, and so the workers may never get their jobs back even if they want them back. The strike wasnt per se illegal, but that doesnt mean they have a permanent right to their job back if the strike ends, Masters said.

Not all workers face the same risk of replacement, however.

Its impractical to contemplate permanent replacement workers at companies like UPS, where Teamsters members are currently voting on a tentative agreement, because of the scale of that operation and the pressure to settle a contract because of the potential loss of business, Masters said. In the case of the auto industry, Detroit Three automakers can do some stockpiling of vehicles but would likely have limited capacity to prepare that way for an extended strike and would risk losing too much business to competitors as well should a dispute drag on too long.

Those same factors might not favor Hollywood actors or writers, who are currently engaged in their own high-profile strikes, Masters said, noting that some of the companies involved in those sectors might be more motivated to try to break the unions.

Not all workers are equal in terms of their replaceability. I think thats the touchstone, he said, noting the 1981 strike by air controllers that ended in a mass firing by then-President Ronald Reagan as an example of what can go wrong for workers in a strike.

Masters big worry for the Detroit Three and the UAW is a miscalculation, and he urged the two sides to take stock.

I think its important for both sides to engage in reality checks at this point in time (to) preserve the capacity of the companies to survive, Masters said.

He noted, however, that while there's a distinct possibility of a UAW strike, he doesn't believe one is inevitable.

"There is a path to success in terms of achieving the objective of the parties  the devil's going to be very much in the detail. And there's not a whole lot of time to work things out, he said.

Speaking generally, Masters highlighted the role that strikes play in labor relations.

People have always understood the power of withholding your work is a real weapon, perhaps a weapon of last resort, but it's what gives workers their real punch in dealing with employers, he said.

Masters said many people believe no one benefits from a strike and its a miscalculation.

But it is an economic tool thats used to force employers to concede, and the threat of it is often more powerful than its actual usage, Masters said.

Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: What to know about labor strikes as UAW negotiates
TAIPEI/BERLIN (Reuters) -Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC on Tuesday committed 3.5 billion euros ($3.8 billion) to a factory in Germany, its first in Europe, taking advantage of huge state support for the $11 billion plant as the continent seeks to bring supply chains closer to home.

The plant, which will be TSMC's third outside of traditional manufacturing bases Taiwan and China, is central to Berlin's ambition to foster the domestic semiconductor industry its car industry will need to remain globally competitive.

The European Union has approved the European Chips Act, a 43 billion euro subsidy plan to double its chipmaking capacity by 2030, in a bid to catch up with Asia and the United States after shortages and high prices during the COVID-19 pandemic created havoc for the continent's carmakers and machine builders.

Germany, which has been courting the world's largest contract chipmaker since 2021, will contribute up to 5 billion euros to the factory in Dresden, capital of the eastern state of Saxony, German officials said.

"Germany is now probably becoming the major location for semiconductor production in Europe," German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said, less than two months after Intel announced a 30 billion euro plan to build two chip-making plants in the country.

"That is important for the resilience of production structures around the world, but it is also important for the future viability of our European continent, and it is of course particularly important for the future viability of Germany."

Taiwanese chip manufacturer TSMC wants to build a semiconductor plant in this industrial park in Dresden. (Photo by Sebastian Kahnert/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Saxony, centre of the former East Germany's electronics industry, already has several chip "fabs" and is heir to a tradition of precision craftsmanship: in one of the 40 rounds of talks, officials from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) were treated to a visit to see exquisitely-wrought jewellery in Dresden's Green Vault museum.

TSMC's is the single largest investment in Saxony's history and a boost for conservative state premier Michael Kretschmer, who faces a strong challenge from the anti-immigration, far-right Alternative for Germany party ahead of next year's regional election.

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Vote of confidence

"This will only work if Germany becomes an immigrant country," Kretschmer told a news conference, acknowledging that filling the 10,000-odd vacancies that would be created by the factory and its suppliers would take more than the investments in training that he was also planning.

TSMC said it would invest up to 3.499 billion euros into a subsidiary, European Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (ESMC), of which it will own 70%.

Germany's Bosch and Infineon and the Netherlands' NXP will each own 10% of the plant, which will make up to 40,000 wafers a month for cars and industrial and home products when it opens in 2017.

The factory will cost around 10 billion euros in total.

Semiconductor maker Wolfspeed too has already taken advantage of the subsidies on offer to set up shop in Germany, as the EU seeks to double to 20% its global market share in semiconductors by 2030.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (l-r) and Gregg Lowe, CEO of Wolfspeed, and Robert Habeck, federal minister for economic affairs and climate protection, hold a chip wafter at the future site of the Wolfspeed chip factory in Ensdorf in Saarland. Photo: Boris Roessler/dpa (Photo by Boris Roessler/picture alliance via Getty Images)

German Economy Minister Robert Habeck hailed the investment as a vote of confidence in a German economy that has been battered by high energy prices following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which triggered a slowdown and fears that Europe's economic powerhouse could be deindustrialising.

"There is going to be a real ecosystem for semiconductor manufacturing in Germany," he said. "It's going to generate orders for the whole sector: for machine builders, for optics manufacturers, for skilled workers."

TSMC is also investing $40 billion in a new plant in the western U.S. state of Arizona, supporting Washington's plans for more chipmaking at home, and is building a plant in Japan in a joint venture with Sony.

TSMC said in a statement after a board meeting that approved the German investment that it had also approved a capital injection of not more than $4.5 billion for the Arizona plant as part of the overall $40 billion investment.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Thomas Escritt, Additional reporting by Christoph Steitz. Editing by Louise Heavens and Mark Potter)
Tecan Group AG

Mannedorf, Switzerland, August 8, 2023  The Tecan Group AG (SIX Swiss Exchange: TECN) will hold a conference call to discuss the financial results for the first half year 2023 on Tuesday, August 15th, 2023 at 09:00 CEST. The results will be published on August 15th, 2023 at 6:00 CEST.

The conference call will be audio-webcast with synchronized presentation slides. The webcast and a replay of the webcast will be made available in the "Investor Relations" section of Tecan's website www.tecan.com.

Interested parties can also listen to the conference call by phone.

The dial-in numbers for the call are as follows:

Participants from Europe: +41 (0) 58 310 50 00 or +44 (0) 207 107 0613 (UK)

Participants from the U.S.: +1 (1) 631 570 56 13

Participants should if possible dial in 15 minutes before the start of the event.

On August 15th, the full 2023 Interim Report will be available on the company website www.tecan.com under Investor Relations.

About Tecan

Tecan (www.tecan.com) improves peoples lives and health by empowering customers to scale healthcare innovation globally from life science to the clinic. Tecan is a pioneer and global leader in laboratory automation. As an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), Tecan is also a leader in developing and manufacturing OEM instruments, components and medical devices that are then distributed by partner companies. Founded in Switzerland in 1980, the company has more than 3,000 employees, with manufacturing, research and development sites in Europe, North America and Asia, and maintains a sales and service network in over 70 countries. In 2022, Tecan generated sales of CHF 1,144 million (USD 1,192 million; EUR 1,144 million). Registered shares of Tecan Group are traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange (TECN; ISIN CH0012100191).



For further information:

Tecan Group

Martin Braendle

Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications & IR

Tel. +41 (0) 44 922 84 30

Fax +41 (0) 44 922 88 89

investor@tecan.com

www.tecan.com

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Teslas New CFO Now Has Two Jobs and a Lot of Question Marks

(Bloomberg) -- Tesla Inc. has a long history of promoting talent from within. Outside hires dont last for very long in the carmakers scrappy, hard-charging culture, and it takes a certain stamina to work for Elon Musk.

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Teslas new chief financial officer, Vaibhav Taneja, already has a hefty gig serving as the companys chief accounting officer. Tesla watchers were surprised to hear Monday that he was replacing Zach Kirkhorn, a 13-year Tesla veteran who abruptly stepped down from the CFO post.

While Kirkhorn has been a calm, steady presence and regularly spoke at length with investors, even playing the role of Musks surrogate the time he skipped Teslas earnings presentation, Taneja is less well-known. He worked for Teslas accounting firm and later at SolarCity, a troubled company many investors wish the EV maker hadnt acquired. He has spoken briefly on just one Tesla earnings call, back in early 2019.

Taneja, 45, didnt respond to a request for comment.

Shares of the company fell 1.1% on Tuesday to $248.58 as of 9:34 a.m. in New York. The stock has more than doubled so far this year.

The change comes at a critical time for Tesla. The company is building a new factory in Mexico and preparing to bring its Cybertruck pickup to the market as it fends off rivals in the increasingly crowded EV market. Tesla has been cutting prices across its lineup to maintain its position atop the electric-car industry, and profitability has taken a hit.

Taneja started his career in New Delhi. He graduated in 1999 with a bachelors degree in commerce from Delhi University, according to his LinkedIn profile. He then spent almost 17 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Teslas longtime accounting firm.

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He joined SolarCity in 2016 and became corporate controller. Tesla soon thereafter acquired the solar panel installer. The automakers shareholders later sued Musk and Teslas board, accusing them of hiding SolarCitys financial woes.

Taneja became Teslas corporate controller in May 2018 and was named chief accounting officer in March 2019. His predecessor, Dave Morton, had been hired away from Seagate Technology but resigned after less than a month.

Read More: Teslas Days of Splashy Hires Give Way to Internal Promotions

Unusual Arrangement

Greg Selker, a managing director at executive search firm Stanton Chase, said that the general trend in corporate America is to hire business-oriented CFOs with a lot of operational experience. Taneja came up through the auditing ranks at PwC and his two concurrent titles at Tesla are an unusual arrangement.

A CAO is responsible for all of the financial reporting  Taneja is really an accountants accountant, Selker said in a phone interview. Typically, a CFO has a broader business background.

Taneja may have been instrumental to Teslas early inroads in India. Hes one of the four directors at Tesla India Motors and Energy Private Ltd., which was established in 2021 in the southern city of Bengaluru, according to the the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Tesla doesnt sell any EVs in India yet.

He owned about 105,000 shares of the company as of July 7, a stake that is currently valued at about $26 million, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Musk, the richest person in the world, oversees six companies: Tesla, SpaceX, X (formerly known as Twitter), Boring Co., Neuralink and xAI, his most recent venture. Musks many interests and the competing demands for his time have long raised concerns about whether Tesla is too dependent on a single individual.

The EV maker has just four executive officers: Musk, Drew Baglino, the senior vice president of powertrain and energy engineering; Tom Zhu, senior vice president of automotive; and now Taneja.

--With assistance from Ragini Saxena.

(Updates with opening shares in fifth paragraph.)

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
(Bloomberg) -- Tesla Inc. Chief Financial Officer Zachary Kirkhorn stepped down after 13 years at the electric-vehicle maker, a surprise shakeup that raises new questions about succession in the top ranks of Elon Musks company.

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Kirkhorn, one of just four executive officers and a prominent voice for the company with shareholders, resigned from his duties Aug. 4, the company said Monday in a regulatory filing. Hell continue to serve in an unspecified capacity through the end of the year to support a seamless transition.

Chief Accounting Officer Vaibhav Taneja took on the CFO role in addition to his current duties, Tesla said. Taneja, 45, held several positions at the EV maker before becoming accounting chief in 2019. He previously worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers in India and the US.

Read More: Musks Finance Chief Quietly Tallies Profit Surge at Tesla

Tesla shares fell 1% in New York. The stock price has more than doubled so far this year.

Kirkhorns departure comes as Tesla builds a new factory in Mexico and prepares to bring its Cybertruck pickup to market as it fends off rivals in the increasingly crowded EV market. Tesla has lowered prices across its lineup to maintain its position atop the electric-car industry.

Hes done a 13-year tour of duty working for Elon, which is like working 50 years for anyone else, said Gene Munster, managing partner of Deepwater Asset Management. The fact that hes sticking around until the end of the year bodes well for the transition.

Still, the departure of Kirkhorn, who was considered a top contender to succeed Musk as chief executive officer, renews uncertainty over leadership at Tesla. It also instantly raises the profile of Taneja, who wasnt among the 16 executives invited on stage with Musk at an investor meeting in March.

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Musk thanked Kirkhorn in a tweet and acknowledged that his tenure wasnt an easy one. He didnt give any hints about what might be next for the outgoing executive.

Kirkhorn joined Tesla in 2010 as a senior financial analyst and was promoted five times, most recently to CFO in early 2019 at the age of 34. Before he took over, Tesla had a long history of losses and occasionally burned more than $1 billion of cash per quarter. The company has been consistently profitable since then and repaid about $10 billion of debt in the last three years, helping it secure investment-grade ratings. It also joined the S&P 500 Index in December 2020.

Kirkhorn, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, worked under his predecessors as CFO, Deepak Ahuja and Jason Wheeler. He spoke at length on Teslas quarterly earnings calls and was well-regarded by investors for reining in costs. He regularly talked about how recurring revenue from software would play an increasing role going forward.

Zach did a great job expanding margins, said Munster. Usually when companies scale up production, their margins come under pressure. He threaded the needle, and thats a hard thing to do.

Kirkhorn owned 197,540 shares as of last month, according to data compiled by Bloomberg, a holding valued at about $49 million. He recently sold about $1 million of shares.

Being a part of this company is a special experience and Im extremely proud of the work weve done together, Kirkhorn wrote Monday on LinkedIn. I also want to thank Elon for his leadership and optimism, which has inspired so many people.

Kirkhorn was a calm, steady presence on earnings calls, in stark contrast to Musks infamous bombast.

Ark Investment Management CEO & Chief Investment Officer Cathie Wood said in an interview with Bloomberg Television on Monday that she will miss Kirkhorns presence but that Taneja is well-suited to take on the CFO job.

We will miss him but his successor has been at Tesla right underneath him since 2018, Wood said of Kirkhorn and Taneja. He trained his successor well.

Tesla is the largest individual contributor to Arks flagship Ark Innovation ETF. It accounts for almost 11% of the net asset value of the fund, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

The executive added Master of Coin to his job title in early 2021, about a month after Tesla disclosed it had made a $1.5 billion investment in Bitcoin. The tongue-in-cheek title was given at the same time Musk became Technoking of Tesla.

The companys filing Monday did not mention Master of Coin as one of Tanejas roles as new CFO.

--With assistance from Craig Trudell, David Welch and Ed Ludlow.

(Updates with Musk tweet in eighth paragraph.)

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(Bloomberg) -- Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. has agreed to build a 10 billion ($11 billion) plant in eastern Germany in partnership with Infineon Technologies AG, NXP Semiconductors NV and Robert Bosch GmbH.

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The planned fab will be 70% owned by TSMC, which will operate the facility in the city of Dresden, with Infineon, NXP and Bosch each holding a 10% equity stake, subject to regulatory approval, the companies said Tuesday in a joint statement.

Slated to begin production by the end of 2027, it will provide chips for the automotive and industrial sectors and is a first step for TSMC in establishing a major European presence to counter risks from escalating US-Chinese tensions.

Its also another coup for Chancellor Olaf Scholzs ruling coalition, which has agreed 10 billion in aid for a new Intel Corp. plant in Magdeburg in a push to shore up the countrys tech sector and secure supplies of critical components. The government will provide as much as 5 billion in subsidies for TSMCs Dresden factory, Bloomberg has reported.

The Taiwanese company said in a separate statement that it will contribute 3.5 billion to the project, dubbed European Semiconductor Manufacturing Company GmbH. Total investment is expected to amount to more than 10 billion, including strong support from the European Union and the German government, and it will create about 2,000 direct high-tech jobs, the companies said.

TSMC shares in New York fell as much as 2.8% in early trading; NXP dropped as much as 2.5% on the news. Infineon declined as much as 3.4% in Germany.

The new site will boost Europes efforts to reduce its reliance on Asia for importing vital technology and comes after German carmakers including Volkswagen AG and Porsche AG highlighted their keen interest in having a TSMC plant in Europes biggest economy.

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Governments around the world are competing fiercely for new chip factories to secure more control over semiconductors critical to most electronics and next-generation technologies, including AI.

Robert Habeck, Scholzs deputy and the economy minister, said robust domestic semiconductor production is key to maintaining Germanys global competitiveness.

Semiconductors keep our world running and make the transformation to climate neutrality possible, Habeck said in an emailed statement.

Without them, no computer runs, no car drives, and neither wind nor solar plants can produce energy, he added. TSMCs investment will therefore make a substantial contribution to securing the supply of semiconductor chips for Germany and Europe.

TSMC, the main chipmaker for Apple Inc. and Nvidia Corp., has also approved major projects from the US to Japan to mollify customers concerned about a conflict in the Taiwan Strait.

Read more: EU Approves 8 Billion in State Subsidies for Chip Research

Beijings military has shown increasing signs of aggression as the Biden administration wields sanctions and trade restrictions to contain Chinas rise.

TSMC has committed to creating two advanced facilities in Arizona with a total price tag of $40 billion, and is building an $8.6 billion plant in Japan with support from the government in Tokyo, Sony Group Corp. and Denso Corp.

EU negotiators this year agreed on a final version of a 43 billion plan to help Europe manufacture 20% of the worlds semiconductors by 2030.

Germany has emerged as one of the most aggressive countries chasing after more domestic chip manufacturing. Scholzs government is expected to approve a plan this week to top up a fund targeting semiconductor production, along with climate-protection measures, by about $22 billion, according to people familiar with the discussions.

--With assistance from Katerina Petroff, Kamil Kowalcze and Michael Nienaber.

(Updates with shares in 6th paragraph.)

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(Bloomberg) -- Twilio Inc. shares rose in extended trading after the software company raised its profit outlook for the year and reported quarterly sales and profit that topped analysts estimates.

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Annual adjusted income will be $350 million to $400 million, from a forecast in May of as much as $350 million, the company said Tuesday in a statement.

Twilio, known for its communications services such as direct-to-consumer messaging, has been grappling with a rapid slowdown in revenue growth. It has also focused on improving profitability, announcing two rounds of job cuts over the last year. The company had 6,428 employees at the end of June, a decline of almost 29% from a September peak of 8,992.

Chief Executive Officer Jeff Lawson said in the statement that the company is committed to our focus of driving efficient growth across our business.

The shares gained about 7% in extended trading. Earlier, the stock had declined 5.2% to close at $58.40 in New York after software peer Datadog Inc. cut its revenue forecast. Twilios rally this year  19%  lags behind the 34% increase in the iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF.

In the second quarter, sales increased 10% to $1.04 billion, compared with analysts average estimate of $986 million. It marked Twilios slowest rate of growth since becoming a public company in 2016. Profit, excluding some items, was 54 cents a share in the period ended June 30. Analysts, on average, projected 29 cents, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The company added 304,000 active customer accounts in the quarter, in line with estimates.

Still, the software company projected revenue in the current quarter that fell short of estimates. Sales in the third quarter will be about $985 million. Analysts, on average, expected $1.02 billion. Adjusted profit will be about 35 cents per share, exceeding estimates.

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A special class of shares, which conferred additional voting power held before Twilios 2016 initial public offering by early employees and investors, converted into common stock last month. That change may help spur interest activist investors in the future. Management has met with activist Legion Partners, the Information reported in May.

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Boeing 747 freighter skids off runway at east China airport

Xinhua) 08:59, August 08, 2023

NINGBO, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- A Boeing 747 freighter of Kalitta Air skidded off a runway after landing at Ningbo Lishe International Airport in east China's Zhejiang Province on Monday afternoon.

All crew members have been evacuated and there is no visible damage to the aircraft. No deaths or injuries were reported, the airport operator said, adding that the cause of the incident is being investigated.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Two U.S. senators have re-introduced the Digital Asset Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2023 after months of delay, which puts greater emphasis on industry participants such as miners and validators. If the bill is passed, all crypto participants will be required to report transactions of over US$10,000.

See related article: Cryptos aversion to anti-money laundering standards is only hurting itself

Fast facts

Senators Elizabeth Warren  a longtime advocate of stricter regulations on the industry  and Roger Marshall reintroduced their crypto anti-money laundering bill, this time with Senators Joe Manchin and Lindsey Graham as cosponsors.

The reintroduction comes after Warren and Marshall first introduced it in December, requiring that U.S. cryptocurrency businesses follow the same know-your-customer rules as banks to prevent money laundering.

The Chamber of Digital Commerce, in opposing the bill, pointed out that the proposal may hinder digital asset innovation in the U.S. because it imposes compliance burdens on industry participants.

For example, digital asset validators and miners do not typically engage in activities that qualify them as financial institutions under the Financial Crimes Enforcement Networks (FinCEN) definition, the Chamber of Digital Commerce said in a statement.

FinCENs regulations are designed to cover entities that engage in traditional financial activities, such as accepting deposits, issuing loans, or engaging in other types of lending or financial intermediation. Digital asset validators and miners are generally involved in the technical operation of blockchain networks and do not provide financial services to customers, it added.

It also said that registering as a financial institution would impose a significant compliance cost burden on the digital asset industry and firms may be forced to depart the U.S., resulting in a brain drain of talented developers and technical experts.

Elsewhere in Asia, Japan introduced anti-money laundering rules on cryptocurrency transactions earlier this year. South Korea introduced FATFs travel rule last year, while India in March this year took a significant step towards regulating the cryptocurrency industry by expanding the Prevention of Money Laundering Act to include digital assets.

See related article: Binance says it complies with regulators following US anti-money laundering probe report
(Reuters)  United Auto Workers (UAW) union President Shawn Fain angrily tossed contract proposals from Stellantis (STLA) in a trash can on Tuesday, citing numerous concessions that the Chrysler parent is seeking in labor talks.

"Stellantis proposals are a slap in the face," Fain said during an online chat, disclosing the company is proposing cuts to health-care coverage, fewer vacation days for new hires, employer cuts to 401(k) contributions, and lifting a cap on the number of temporary employees. "Management has chosen to spit in our faces."

During the chat Fain tossed a copy of the Stellantis proposal in a waste basket. "That's where it belongs  in the trash  because that's what it is," he said.

The July 27 company document seen by Reuters makes many proposals aimed at reducing absenteeism, which the automaker said cost it more than 16,000 vehicles of lost production, or $217 million in lost revenue.

Stellantis also seeks to cut pension, health-care and other costs, saying that amid government electric vehicle rules, it "is imperative we find ways to reduce the overall fixed cost structure of our business."

The owner of the Jeep, Peugeot and Chrysler and brands said the cumulative increase in employee health-care costs over the next four years is expected to be $613 million.

The UAW said the automaker opposes an end to two-tier wages, a practice of newer hires getting paid much less than veteran workers.

Fain cited an Aug. 1 statement Stellantis made to Reuters that the automaker is "not seeking a concessionary agreement." Stellantis did not comment.

United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain (C) speaks with workers at the Ford Michigan Assembly Plant on July 12, 2023 in Wayne, Michigan, the start of contract negotiations with Stellantis. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

The UAW is seeking pay raises of more than 40% over four years, significant additional time off, and a restoration of defined-benefit pensions previously eliminated for newer workers.

Stellantis' proposal said it wants to "minimize pension costs," which are approximately $1 billion annually.

The current four-year contracts with Stellantis, General Motors and Ford Motor expire on Sept. 14. Fain warned Tuesday: "The clock is ticking - time to get down to business."

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Two people briefed on the matter told Reuters that automakers have estimated the UAW's contract demands could raise the current mid-$60-per-hour labor rate to more than $150 per hour.

The UAW is also seeking to make all temporary workers at U.S. automakers permanent, add a substantial increase in paid time off, and restore retiree health-care benefits and cost-of-living adjustments. The union also wants new limits on temporary workers.

(Reporting by David ShepardsonEditing by Bernadette Baum, Marguerita Choy and Leslie Adler)
(Bloomberg) -- UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly announced 25 new sanctions on individuals and businesses targeting the Kremlins access to foreign military equipment, part of efforts by Ukraines western allies to weaken Russias arsenal and choke its defense industrys supply chains.

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Among those sanctioned are two microelectronics businesses in Turkey and a Dubai-based drone manufacturer, according to a statement from the government in London. Alongside our G-7 partners, the UK has repeatedly called on third parties to immediately cease providing material support to Russias aggression or face severe costs, Cleverly said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned Russia that if it continues to dominate coastal waters, hamper transit and fire missiles at its ports, Ukraine will start doing the same. Zelenskiy earlier accused Kremlin forces of deploying Iskander ballistic missiles against a residential target in Mondays strikes on an apartment building in Pokrovsk in the eastern Donetsk region. Seven people were killed in the attack, according to Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko.

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European natural gas advanced, after fluctuating earlier, with traders weighing rising fuel stockpiles against the risk of further supply constraints.

The European Unions fuel inventories are more than 87% full  the highest level on record for this time of year, and just shy of the blocks mandatory target to have 90% by November, which is helping to keep a lid on prices. Some member states have already exceeded that level, including Spain and the Netherlands, while Germany and Italy are closing in.

Story continues

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(Bloomberg) -- United Parcel Service Inc. lowered its full-year profit forecast and revealed plans to cut management jobs as the courier contends with shifting consumer habits and rising costs after a tentative labor agreement.

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The company expects an adjusted operating margin of 11.8% in 2023, down one percentage point from earlier guidance. The move, along with a reduction in the revenue outlook, reflects the volume impact from labor negotiations and the costs associated with the tentative agreement, Chief Executive Officer Carol Tome said on a call with analysts Tuesday following the release of quarterly results.

The revisions underscore the challenges confronting UPS as it grapples with declining package volume, pushback from customers over pandemic-era price increases and rising expenses. The company will face higher labor costs after negotiating a five-year contract with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters that gives unionized workers hefty raises.

UPS said Tuesday that it will pare its management ranks by 2,500 jobs to help keep expenses in check.

The shares fell 0.8% at 9:32 a.m. in New York. The stock had climbed 4.8% this year through Monday, trailing an 18% gain in the S&P 500 Index.

Adjusted earnings in the second quarter fell to $2.54 a share, UPS said in a statement. That beat the $2.50 average of analysts estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Revenue was $22.1 billion, missing the consensus. The adjusted operating margin was 13.2%, down from 14.4% a year earlier.

Average daily volume fell about 10% at the domestic unit, which makes up about two-thirds of UPSs revenue, partially offset by a 3.3% increase in average price per package. Volume dropped 6.6% at the international unit.

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Volumes and revenue per piece both came in below our expectations across the board, Helane Becker, an analyst with TD Cowen, said in a note.

Lost Business

The results were impacted as UPS lost some recent business to competitors due to uncertainty around the labor negotiations and the prospect of a strike. The company expects to win that volume back by the end of this year, the CEO said.

As the noise level increased throughout the second quarter, we experienced more volume diversion than we anticipated, Tome said on the call.

The union has said that the new labor contract adds $30 billion of new money, including for costs to add air conditioning to UPS delivery vehicles purchased after the end of this year. The contract still must be ratified by the 340,000 workers it covers and the results of that vote will be given on Aug. 22, the union has said.

UPS plans to give a detailed breakdown of the contract and its effects after ratification.

For the full year, revenue is expected to be $93 billion in 2023, down from its prior forecast of $97 billion, UPS said. Thats short of the $96.6 billion expected by analysts.

(Updates with analyst comment, share trading, other details throughout)

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(Bloomberg) -- A US plan to restrict investment in China is likely to apply only to Chinese companies that get at least half of their revenue from cutting-edge sectors such as quantum computing and artificial intelligence, people familiar with the matter said.

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The revenue provision would limit the scope of an executive order the Biden administration is expected to unveil in the coming days as part of a push to limit Chinese access to sensitive technology. The rule would allow US private equity and venture capital firms to put their money in larger Chinese conglomerates that may have artificial-intelligence divisions but get most of their revenue from other sources.

The people who detailed the current thinking about the order asked not to be identified discussing a proposal that has yet to be released. One of the people said the order will prohibit investments in AI for military end users while requiring notification for investments in other AI activity. It is expected to ban investments in some quantum computing activities, such as key encryption and sensing, as well as certain super-advanced semiconductors.

That person also said the order will take about a year to go into force given the time required for additional industry comments and rule-making. It wont be retroactive so there wouldnt be restrictions on investments made during that period.

Read more: US Plans Narrow China Tech Investment Limits, Likely by 2024

The White House declined to comment, and the Commerce and Treasury departments didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.

US investors will be prohibited from investing in the most advanced semiconductors, specific areas of quantum computing, and AI activity designed for military end users, the person said. Investments in other AI activity in China will require notification, but wont be prohibited.

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The executive order, which has been more than a year in the making, is another prong in the Biden administrations effort to limit Chinas access to American technology and to funding to fuel its own innovation in areas that may pose a US national-security risk.

At the same time, President Joe Biden is determined to improve ties with Beijing and has recently sought to underscore that the order will be narrow in scope and shouldnt damage ties. The final version is expected to be far less ambitious than the earliest versions, and will likely only apply to new investments.

Last month, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the order will be narrowly targeted and wouldnt have a fundamental impact on the investment climate for China.

Yellen Says US Investment Curbs Wont Fundamentally Hurt China

Even with the administration messaging, China has pushed back against the proposed investment curbs. In July, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the country opposes the U.S. politicizing and weaponizing trade and tech issues.

The provision on revenue would mean that Chinese companies most affected by the limits will be early-stage Chinese startups. Thats intentional: The administration wants to make sure American investors arent helping Chinese companies develop technology and outpace the US. The difficulty of verifying the revenue streams for private Chinese startups may mean cautious US investors will pull back more than required.

--With assistance from Daniel Flatley and Billy House.

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By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Two tech groups on Monday backed TikTok in its lawsuit seeking to block enforcement of a Montana state ban on use of the short video sharing app before it takes effect on Jan. 1.

NetChoice, a national trade association that includes major tech platforms, and Chamber of Progress, a tech-industry coalition, said in a joint court filing that "Montana's effort to cut Montanans off from the global network of TikTok users ignores and undermines the structure, design, and purpose of the internet."

TikTok, which is owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance, filed a suit in May seeking to block the first-of-its-kind U.S. state ban, arguing it violates the First Amendment free speech rights of the company and users.

A hearing on TikTok's request for a preliminary injunction is set for Oct. 12.

TikTok, which is used by more than 150 million Americans, has faced growing calls from U.S. lawmakers for a nationwide ban over concerns about possible Chinese government influence.

TikTok says it "has not shared, and would not share, U.S. user data with the Chinese government, and has taken substantial measures to protect the privacy and security of TikTok users."

The tech groups said "if allowed to take effect, the ban will usher in a balkanized internet where information

available to users becomes regionally divided based on local politicians whims or preferences." They added "the internet,

as a whole, will become fragmented and its value to humanity diminished."

Montana could impose fines of $10,000 for each violation by TikTok. The law does not impose penalties on individual TikTok users.

TikTok estimates 380,000 people in Montana use the video service, or more than a third of the state's 1.1 million people.

Former President Donald Trump in 2020 sought to bar new downloads of TikTok but a series of court decisions blocked the ban from taking effect.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Edwina Gibbs)
Saudi Aramco, the third most valuable company in the world, saw its profits plummet 38% in the second quarter of the year as energy prices cooled.

Spiraling energy costs have squeezed household budgets over the past year while huge windfalls were recorded by oil and gas producersincluding Aramco, which raked in a $161 billion profit in 2022, the highest ever recorded by an energy firm.

However on Monday the companywhich is valued at more than $2.1 trillion, making Apple and Microsoft the only public companies in the world with higher valuationsreported that its net profit had fallen to 113 billion riyals ($30 billion) for the three months to June, a drop of almost 40% from a year earlier.

Aramco, which recently ranked No. 2 on the Fortune Global 500 list, cited lower crude oil prices and weaker margins in refining and chemicals as the drivers behind the decline.

Despite shrinking profits, Aramco said it would be paying a $19.5 billion dividend to shareholders for the second quarterwith the payout set to be delivered in the third quarter of the year. That was up from its $18.8 billion dividend payout for the second quarter of 2022.

Shareholders will also be receiving $19.5 billion in dividends for the first quarter of the year, the company addedmeaning investors in the company would get a $39 billion payout for the first half of 2023, up from $37.5 billion a year earlier.

From the third quarter onward, Aramco said it would begin paying performance-based dividends, a move that will continue for six consecutive quarters and begin with a $9.87 billion payout.

The company labeled its dividend payouts sustainable and progressive.

Our strong results reflect our resilience and ability to adapt through market cycles, Aramco CEO Amin Nasser said on Monday. We continue to demonstrate our long-standing ability to meet the needs of customers around the world with high levels of reliability. For our shareholders, we intend to start distributing our first performance-linked dividend in the third quarter.

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The Saudi state is Aramcos biggest shareholder. The government directly owns more than 90% of the company, while the sovereign Public Investment Fund and its subsidiary Sanabil hold a further 8% of the firms shares, according to news agency Reuters.

Turbulent times

Aramco isnt the only energy giant to have boosted dividends amid falling profits, with the Saudi powerhousethe largest exporter of oil in the worldfollowing in the footsteps of Shell and BP.

Much of the world, particularly Europe, was plunged into an energy crisis following Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The ostracizing of Moscow, given its position as a major energy producer, shook already undersupplied energy markets thanks to economic sanctions that included a ban on imports of Russian oil.

Oil giants scored record profits last year in the wake of the energy crisis, but more recently have seen their revenues dented by cooling energy costs.

Brent crude oil prices edged slightly lower on Monday, trading at just below $85 a barrel by 9:30 a.m. EST.

Used as a benchmark for much of the oil traded around the globe, Brent has been staging a recovery in recent weeks after dipping below $72 a barrela far cry from mid-2022, when the price surpassed $100.

Quincy Krosby, chief global strategist for LPL Financial, told Fortune on Monday that Aramco wasnt wrong to project a resilient market for oil going forward.

The global economic backdrop, as central banks complete their respective rate hike campaigns, coupled with a softer dollar, is expected to provide a markedly more resilient underpinning for oil prices, he said.

He added: With tighter supplies, oil prices have begun a steady ascent with expectations that prices will end the year higher as momentumand the global economycontinue to recover. Saudi Arabia, the de facto head of OPEC+, has signaled it will continue to adjust production in order to stabilize prices, but its clear they want to propel prices toward $90 a barrel.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com

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Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast to his 172 million subscribers on YouTube, is being sued by his food delivery service partner, Virtual Dining Concepts (VDC), over their MrBeast Burger agreement.

Donaldson filed a lawsuit against VDC last week, alleging the Florida-based virtual dining brand damaged Donaldsons reputation by serving customers low quality and, occasionally, inedible food.

In their lawsuit, VDC and its subsidiary, Celebrity Virtual Dining, LLC, assert that Donaldson and his company, Beast Investments, failed to keep contractual obligations and are suing over intentional tortious interference.

This case is about a social media celebrity who believes his fame means that his word does not matter, that the facts do not matter, and that he can renege and breach his contractual obligations without consequence, the lawsuit, which was filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the County of New York on Monday, states. He is mistaken.

The company says in the lawsuit that damages caused by Donaldson are in the nine-figure range.

An attorney for Donaldson declined to comment on Monday. An attorney for VDC said they had no additional comment.

Variety first reported news of the lawsuit.

Donaldson, famous for his expensive stunts and viral charity projects, and VDC first teamed up in December 2020 when they began selling branded burger-and-fries combos through restaurants and commercial kitchens across the nation.

Customers order through major food delivery service apps or via the MrBeastBurger website, which states menu items are available for restaurants to prepare out of their existing kitchens as a way to generate a new revenue stream.

Donaldsons original suit cited social media posts in which customers called the burgers, disgusting, revolting, and inedible.

VDCs lawsuit also says that Donaldson leveraged his massive social media presence to make disparaging comments about VDC.

In an effort to pressure Plaintiffs into transferring to him part of their interests in MrBeast Burger, Donaldson bullied Plaintiffs on social media and threatened to terminate the parties agreements if Plaintiffs did not accede to his demands, the lawsuit states. In so doing, he fabricated a number of purported breaches of the parties agreements, each of which was demonstrably false.

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Attorneys for VDC cited various social media posts from Donaldson, in which he wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that he signed a bad deal.

In one post shown in the lawsuit, Donaldson wrote that the company I partnered with wont let me stop even though its terrible for my brand. Young beast signed a bad deal. In another post shown in the lawsuit, which remains on Donaldsons social media account, Donaldson wrote, Yeah, the problem with Beast Burger is i cant guarantee the quality of the order. When working with other restaurants its impossible to control it sadly.

The lawsuit states that Donaldsons baseless and unlawful disparagement had the intended effect: MrBeast Burgers reputation was materially damaged if not destroyed."

VDC, which was co-founded by Robert Earl, the founder and CEO of Planet Hollywood, lists Mariah Careys Mariahs Cookies, Bravos The Real HouseBowls, and baker Buddy Vs Cake Slice as some of its other ventures.

VDCs hard-won relationships with vendors, partners, and suppliers were shattered, the lawsuit states.

Lawyers for VDC argue in the suit that every restaurant gets periodic bad reviews and every company that sells product to the public has unsatisfied customers.

The reality is that the overwhelming majority of customers were highly satisfied, and the product was excellent, according to the lawsuit.

In his original complaint, Donaldson said he is seeking to end his agreement with VDC, citing a lack of quality control and noting that his complaints fell on deaf ears. His suit states that MrBeast Burger generated millions of dollars, but adds that MrBeast has not received a dime.

The VDC lawsuit states that Donaldson is attempting to get out of his contract with VDC because he is seeking a better, more lucrative deal after the success of MrBeast Burger.

Like any party to a contract, Donaldson must be held to his word, the VDC lawsuit states, and held accountable for his contractual breaches and other misconduct.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
On the heels of another harmful algae bloom invading a section of Lake Anna, another area of the 13,000-acre manmade lake is now clear of the growths that have led to no-swim advisories the past six summers.

The Virginia Department of Health announced on Monday that the summers first no-swim advisory, issued in late June for the Upper Pamunkey Branch, is no longer in effect.

Samples were collected on July 18 and 31, which produced the necessary two consecutive acceptable levels and a swimming advisory is no longer needed.

A no-swim advisory remains in effect for the Upper North Anna Branch of the lake. The VDH issued the advisory for that area of the lake based on July 31 tests.

The tests revealed unhealthy amounts of algae blooms in the area known as the Sandbar, from the upper inundated waters of the North Anna arm of the lake downstream to the Rt. 522 Bridge, according to health department.

Harmful algae, called cyanobacteria, can appear when nitrogen and phosphorus pollution combine with warm water temperatures. The toxins can cause a skin rash, upset stomach, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The algae can affect people and pets alike.

The health department and the Virginia Harmful Algal Bloom Task Force monitor the lake and provide updates online.

This marks the sixth straight summer algae blooms have resulted in no-swim advisories at the Lake Anna, a popular recreational destination that also cools the Dominion Energy North Anna nuclear power plant. Last year, the lake was added to the states list of impaired waterways because of the algae blooms.

The state and the Lake Anna Civic Association have been investigating causes and remedies for the lake, with one treatment test proving successful in some areas of the lake, including the Upper Pamunkey.

The association is raising funds to further treat the lake, according to the LACA website.
Civil War Trails Inc., which bills itself as the worlds largest open air museum, has won Emerging Civil Wars 2023 Award for Service in Civil War Public History for its efforts to help the general public connect with Americas defining event, according to a news release.

The award was presented during the Emerging Civil War symposium, held Friday through Sunday at Stevenson Ridge in Spotsylvania County.

Emerging Civil War is a collaboration of more than 30 historians devoted to sharing the story of the war in an accessible way to the public. It started as a blog that gave a voice to up-and-coming historians, according to its website, and has grown to include numerous book series, a speakers bureau and an annual symposium.

Its ninth annual gathering focused on the theme, 1863: The Great Task Before Us, and included nine speakers and a tour of the first day at Chancellorsville Battlefield.

During the symposium, Chris Mackowski, editor-in-chief of Emerging Civil War, praised Civil War Trails, which has more than 1,400 sites across six states. Maps and highway markers direct travelers to sites and signs that tell stories about the history that took place there.

If youve driven the Civil War byways from Pennsylvania to North Carolina to Tennessee, youve seen the Civil War Trails bugle calling your attention to a roadside story, Mackowski said. Civil War Trails has made Civil War history accessible and immediate to travelers, who can explore the story of the war at their own pace and according to their own interest while enjoying plenty of surprises along the way.

The trails also allow travelers to drive the great campaigns turn-by-turn or to hike to remote artillery positions, to follow in the steps of freedom seekers or to visit homes of those caught between the lines, said Drew Gruber, executive director of Civil War Trails.

All signs are generated at the grassroots level. The community-driven approach allows Civil War Trails to tell history and share stories that oftentimes have not been heard before, according to a news release.

This award recognizes the work of thousands of community leaders, archivists and local historians who have proposed and researched their local stories which manifest as a Civil War Trails site, Gruber said.

Mackowski also touted the economic benefits of the program, which leads Civil War travelers to visit local restaurants, breweries and bed-and-breakfast facilities. The Trails organization works with hospitality and tourism organizations for all six states, Gruber said.

Past recipients of the award include the American Battlefield Trust, historians and directors at national battlefields and for well-known seminars, and the late D. P. Newton, founder of the White Oak Civil War Museum in Stafford County.
The Fremont Police Department (FPD) is stocking up on gear which would be used for riot control or dealing with barricaded suspects.

City financial records made public in the agenda for the Aug. 8 Fremont City Council meeting reveal the department is set to likely receive approval Tuesday night to make more than $7,000 in purchases to three companies.

What exact type of riot or barricaded situational gear the department is purchasing is not detailed in the citys financial records for the Aug. 8 council meeting.

However, the Tribune was provided invoices from the FPD with detailed descriptions of the purchases on Monday, Aug. 7, after making a public records request for the documents on Friday, Aug. 4.

One purchase was for a two-day training seminar for an FPD officer; another purchase was for seven military-style ballistic helmets; and the third purchase was for tear-gas type projectiles, belt-worn pepper spray cans and non-lethal beanbag shotgun ammunition.

Fremont Police Chief Jeff Elliott did not respond to an email seeking an explanation of the purchases or what was included in the orders.

While no riots have occurred in Fremont in recent decadesif everlocal law enforcement and the Fremont Police Department do respond to situations and calls with barricaded suspects.

On April 8, 2023, the joint Emergency Response Teama S.W.A.T-like unit composed of officers from the FPD and Dodge County Sheriffs Officewas utilized to capture a suspect who had been in an unarmed standoff with law enforcement for five hours.

A review of Fremont Tribune archives done by the Tribune staff did not find any news coverage indicating a riot has taken place in the city over the past 40 years.

Following the death of George Floyd, which was later ruled a murder and the officers involved in his death being convicted, several peaceful protests took place in Fremont.

A group of several dozen protesters laid on the ground for more than 9 minutes on the lawn of the Dodge County Courthouse. And, in June 2020, Midland University students helped organize peaceful protests that brought hundreds of individuals together in an effort to spread awareness.

None of those 2020 protests required any crowd control measures by law enforcement to be implemented and were considered peaceful.

3 purchases total more than $7,000

The three orders are listed in the bills-payable agenda item on the consent agenda. The consent agenda is a part of each city council meeting during which multiple items are voted on as one, and there is usually no discussion or debate over each item.

One purchase is listed as payable to the company Defense Technology Corp. of America, and totals $2,462.50. The company sells a wide range of items for law enforcement, the military sector as well as the corrections industry.

On the companys website, categories of specialty are broken down into law enforcement, the Department of Defense, corrections and international. In the products area of the site, offerings include batons, helmets, protective suits, restraints, shields, chemical agent devices, launchers and accessories, tactical devices, aerosols and impact munitions.

The chemical agent devices section of the website has eight pages of chemical grenade-like devices for sale, including military-style options that disperse smoke, CS gas  also known as tear gas, and cluster munitions that when launched, disperse four or more smaller containers of CS gas used for large crowd control.

According to an invoice from the purchase, the FPD purchased the following items:

. OC refers to oleoresin capsicum and is often called pepper spray. These hand-held cannisters are aimed at a suspect and sprayed into the face or head area.

30 rounds of six different types of

. These rounds look like a military grenade round but contain CS gasshort for the chemical compound 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile.

, and are designed to blow through windows, doors or thin walls and disperse the gas inside a closed area.

100 rounds of

, called drag-stablized ammunition. These projectiles are fired from a shotgun and are designed to stun a suspect without being fatal.

A second payment on the agenda for Tuesdays meeting is to a company called Hard Head Veterans, LLC, and is for $3,993.50. The companys website about us section describes the firm as, Veteran owned and operated, and located in Sweetwater, Texas.

Hard Head Veterans manufactures ballistic helmets and other protective head gear. We focus on employing veterans and innovative head protection systems, the website states. Trusted by over 500 federal, state and local agencies and 50,000-plus customers.

The company manufactures and sells what are called ballistic helmets, a type of cranial safety gear most commonly used by military special forces units, including the U.S. Army special forces, Delta Force and Pathfinders; the U.S. Navy S.E.A.L. teams; law enforcement S.W.A.T. teams; and assorted Marine Corps and U.S. Air Force special operations units.

The helmets are bullet-proof and designed to host a range of tactical equipment including night vision googles, head-mounted cameras, communications systems, flashlights and aircraft-visible infrared strobe light emitters.

According to an invoice provided to the Tribune by the city, the purchase was for seven ballistic helmets of the model ATE HHV, at a cost of $552.50. The city also bought seven helmet carrying bags.

The third purchase is to a company merely known as Pepperball, and totals the lowest cost of the three purchases at $549.

The companys website states it provides the, most reliable and non-lethal technology on the market today. The four categories of products the firm sells include launchers, projectiles, accessories and tactical gear.

Our mission is to ensure you can safely execute your mission, officials state on the website. As a complete non-lethal compliance system, PepperBall is a safe, effective, and simple-to-use alternative that can be used in a wider range of situations than any other product on the market.

According to documents provided by the city in response to the records request, the $549 paid for the training session for FPD Officer Jesse Headid, who took part in a two-day instructor-armorer training course conducted by Pepperball officials that was hosted in Omaha.

The Instructor/Armorer course certifies students as PepperBall Instructors and Armorers for their individual agency, allowing them to design a course in the safe and effective use of the PepperBall system and to service and maintain their launchers, a description of the course states on the company website. Every agency wishing to deploy the PepperBall system should have at least one certified officer.

In the course overview, the company describes the training as follows:

Students will develop the skills needed for the safe operation, deployment, and maintenance of the PepperBall system, company officials state on the website. They are given the knowledge and materials to build a custom PepperBall course that fits within their specific agency and adheres to their policies and procedures.

The Fremont City Council is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 8, in the council chambers on the second floor of the Fremont Municipal Building, 400 E. Military Ave.
If You Go

What: St. Pauls HOME Run/Walk Fundraiser.

When: Saturday, Aug. 26. Registration begins at 7:15 a.m. and the race at 8 a.m.

Where: It will start at the RVR Bank Complex, 390 W. Bell St., in Arlington.

Other: The 1-mile stopping point will be at the HOME Program, 455 Sixth St., and the 3-mile stopping point is at the RVR Bank Complex.
Catch a free concert before you catch your flight at Denver International Airport this summer.

DIA is hosting a free outdoor concert series every Sunday afternoon through Sept. 3 at the Park on the Plaza, a pre-security area between Jeppesen Terminal and the Westin Hotel.

Local and national jazz artists are among musical acts set to play and the concerts are free to those who register online. Gates open at 2 p.m. and music begins at 2:30 p.m.

Here's the schedule:

Aug. 20  Dotsero, with DJ Chonz and Conjunto Colores

Aug. 27  SUCH, with Jacob Larson Band and DJ Bella Scratch

Sept. 3  After 7, with Cass Clayton Band and DJ Al Your Pal (no tickets available)

Concert-goers can bring blankets and low lawn chairs. Food and beverages will be available for purchase at this event. The concerts will take place rain or shine.
The popular Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs is set to host "an evening of mindfulness" on Sept. 11 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

During this time, guests will be able to enjoy the zoo with only noises from the animals and the mountainside on which the zoo sits.

Guests will be expected to keep communication to a whisper, with noise-making devices silenced. There will be a designated noise-friendly space available if needed.

Compared to normal zoo operations, there won't be live music, there will be no announcements on the speaker system, and zookeeper talks won't take place. Giraffe and budgie feedings will still be available, as well as a low-noise dining experience at The Grizzly Grill.

Tickets must be purchased in advance and cost $17.75 for adults.
Colorado politicians basked in their Space Command victory Monday in America the Beautiful Park after facing uneven odds against Alabama on military-related congressional committees.

U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado Springs, noted that Alabama has seven members on the four committees with the most pull around a permanent basing decision. Lamborn is the sole Colorado voice on either one.

"It felt kind of lonely at times," he said, going on to say he got "a lot of guff. Some you heard about, some you didn't."

Alabama lawmakers have doubled down on their harsh rhetoric since President Joe Biden announced last week that Colorado would keep Space Command after a year's battle between the two states. The decision reversed President Donald Trump decision in 2021 to make Huntsville, Ala., the permanent home of Space Command.

Now, Alabama is promising the keep the fight going with the chairman of the House Armed Forces Committee, Mike Rogers, R-Ala., threatening to subpoena high-ranking military officials involved in the decision, Space Command leader Gen. Jim Dickinson and Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall.

National outlets reported last week Dickinson made the case for Space Command to stay in Colorado Springs, while Kendall advocated for Huntsville ahead of Biden making the call.

Sen. John Hickenlooper told the crowd that, while the command was going to reach full operational capability much faster in Colorado Springs, it is also going to be "an order of magnitude more capable" because the civilian staff will stay employed.

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About half of Space Command's staff is civilian and between 80% to 90% likely would not have moved to Huntsville, he said.

The command will also support the thriving aerospace industry in the state that employs 34,000 people and has grown 30% in the last five years, Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera said.

For Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade, the announcement was some of the best possible news 55 days into his job, he said, holding it up as an example of what's possible for the community.

"I believe greater things are still yet to come for Colorado Springs," he said.

While the gathering to celebrate Space Command under decidedly unsettled skies featured numerous politicos and aerospace industry representatives, some residents came out to mark the decision.

Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Gregory Davis was among them and brought some distinctive Army cheers gathering, saying in an interview afterward the decision has sweeping benefits.

"It's not just for Colorado Springs, it's for the security of the world," he said.
Jessica Mitchell's recording of her own murder was the critical clue investigators needed to arrest her younger brother for the bizarre crime.

On Monday, a judge sentenced Casey Devol to 31 to 97 years in prison for shooting and killing Mitchell, her boyfriend, and beating their dog to death last year, according to a news release from the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office.

Devol, 31, avoided trial and pleaded guilty last month to two counts of second-degree murder in the February 2022 shooting deaths of Mitchell, 32, and her boyfriend, 34-year-old Bryan "Todd" Gray, near Franktown.

Devol also pleaded guilty to one count of felony animal cruelty.

Other charges, including two counts of first-degree murder after deliberation, were dismissed.

Mitchell started recording at dinner and for some reason never turned it off.

"She hadn't stopped the recording yet so the entirety of the murder, him staging and taunting the bodies, him beating the dog with a hammer was all recorded," said Gray's sister, Lindsey Bingel.

She said that the recording of the dinner conversation was jovial, but that at some point Devol left the house to get his gun. According to the arrest affidavit, Mitchell was shot in the stomach and was found with a large pry bar lying across her body. Gray had a wound to his head and a plate of food on top of him, "as if he was getting ready to eat," the arrest document said.

Gray was the father of two young girls.

18th Judicial District Attorney John Kellner said that Jessica may have started recording because "she sensed something was wrong." Said Kellner, When no eyewitnesses to these murders existed, a digital recorder device became a voice for the victims."

A friend of Gray's found the bodies of Mitchell and Gray in their garage Feb. 8 when he visited the home to deliver a car title. Surveillance cameras on the property helped Douglas County detectives identify a suspect carrying firearms into the garage and a friend helped identify that person as possibly being Devol. He was arrested in Kansas the day after the bodies were discovered.

Mitchell's digital recorder containing the "lengthy recording" wasn't discovered until her autopsy.
Federal law enforcement agencies are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a man who escaped from the Bent County Jail in late July.

Mark Fox, 46, is wanted for a variety of charges, including escape, obstruction, conspiracy to commit fraud and extortion by use of mail, according to a Monday news release from the U.S. Marshals Service.

Fox is one of four men who apparently tunneled through sheetrock to escape their cell at Bent County Jail, which is southeast of Colorado Springs. Two of the escapees were found in a Las Animas motel suffering from drug overdoses. Those men have been returned to custody. A third was later found dead in Pueblo, also due to a suspected overdose, officials said.

Fox is 6 feet, 3 inches tall, about 175 pounds and bald, with green eyes and a tattoo on his abdomen and chest. His criminal history goes back to at least 1995 and includes theft, robbery, assault, and a previous escape from the Denver County jail. He should be considered dangerous, authorities said.

Anyone with information on Foxs whereabouts should contact the U.S. Marshals at 1-877-WANTED2 or submit information via the USMS Tips App.
Officials at a nursery school on Colorado Springs west side on Monday expressed their support of a controversial proposed apartment complex that would be built near the school.

Angela Conway, executive director of the Ruth Washburn Cooperative Nursery School, issued a statement in favor of the Launchpad Apartments, a 50-unit complex designed to house and support homeless young adults that is set to be built near the intersection of West Uintah and North 19th streets.

The statement comes the day before a group of 24 formal appellants is set to plead its case before the City Council. The group is expected to argue that the apartment complex  approved by the citys Planning Commission on June 12  poses a safety risk for the children at the school.

We feel thoroughly informed and confident that The Launchpad Apartments will be a welcome neighbor and enhance the security measures around Ruth Washburn, Conway said in the statement. We have found zero evidence of anything to the contrary.

In addition to security concerns, opponents of the project have taken issue with the buildings proposed height, density and the potential for landslides at the site. Additionally, some residents and parents have claimed that they werent made aware of the project until recently.

Conway disputed these claims in her statement, saying the nursery school held a public meeting about the apartments on Sept. 26, and that representatives from The Place  a nonprofit that would operate and maintain the building  were present at the schools Oct. 14 Harvest Festival to show blueprints and answer questions about the facility.

The Place is an outstanding organization that is using evidence-based strategies and trauma-informed practices to decrease the amount of people experiencing homelessness in Colorado Springs. They have an excellent success rate, Conway said.

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In an anonymous online survey created by former Ruth Washburn school board member Kevin Gigiano, 68% of the 57 current or former parents who responded said they were in favor of the Launchpad development; 57% said they were unaware of the project until recently; and 35% said they would rethink enrolling their child at Ruth Washburn if the complex is built.

To make the statement that building an apartment complex for troubled young adults right next to a pre-school will not result in additional risk to our children is wishful thinking at best, Gigiano wrote on the surveys website.

Attempts to reach Conway for comment on Monday were unsuccessful.

We will continue to support The Launchpad Project and The Place, she said in her statement. We are honored to share in such a great mission.

Gazette reporter Breeanna Jent contributed to this story.
An injured hiker was hospitalized after being rescued from a popular park in Colorado Springs Sunday night, according to the Colorado Springs Fire Department.

Around 8:30 p.m., crews responded to Pulpit Rock, located north of the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, and performed a high-angle rescue for the injured hiker, the department said in a social media post.

A little over an hour later at 9:45 p.m., the department reported the hiker had been brought down to safety. The extent of the hiker's injuries were not reported, but Gazette news partner KKTV said that the woman was able to drive herself to the hospital.
The 2023 annual report from the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses showed marijuana sales decreased in 2022 and criminal offenses related to marijuana remained a small portion of the citys overall crime.

On Jan. 1, 2014, Denver became the first U.S. city to allow regulated retail sales of marijuana.

In the years since, Denver has developed ordinances to regulate, license and tax medical and retail marijuana, making the city the gold standard for cannabis regulation and a worldwide leader, according to a letter from Mayor Michael B. Hancock included in the report.

Sales in marijuana, both medical and retail, have also decreased.

The Office of Marijuana Policy within the Department of Excise and Licenses compiled the report to give a transparent picture of the first municipality with legalized and regulated recreational cannabis sales in America.

In 2023, 877 licenses operated in 443 locations in Denver, with 492 being retail and 385 being medical.

Medical cannabis store licenses have been steadily going down since 2016, with 152 in 2022 and 144 in 2023. Retail cannabis store licenses have steadily increased since 2015, with 178 in 2022 and 188 in 2023.

Marijuana sales, both retail and medical, decreased 28% in Denver in 2022, with $497 million in marijuana revenue in 2022 as compared to $689 million in 2021, according to the report. Prior to 2022, sales had been steadily increasing.

Gross sales in Denver for medical marijuana decreased 44%, from $189 million in 2021 to $106.4 million in 2022.

Gross retail sales decreased 22%, from $500.6 million in 2021 to $390.2 million in 2022. Marijuana Industry Group officials highlighted that April had the lowest level of cannabis sales since 2018, as reported by the Colorado Department of Revenue.

Colorado cannabis small business owners count on the weeks leading up to the 4/20 holiday to be some of the strongest sales of the year, said Truman Bradley, executive director, in a news release. As an industry, we are strugglingwe are in dire need of a regulatory overhaul to prevent more cannabis small business owners from closing their doors and laying off their workers. We earnestly hope that Colorados policymakers will start taking a new approach to marijuana policy, one that will protect small business owners and the public programs funded by cannabis.

Numbers showed $131 million in marijuana sales for April 2023, according to the department, down from more than $153 million in sales in April of 2022.

This decline also impacts state tax collection, according to the MIG news release. Colorado collected 18.2% less in cannabis tax revenue in May 2023 versus May 2022, putting at risk critical public state and local programs that marijuana businesses help fund including housing, mental health, public safety, and education.

According to the Vangst 2023 Jobs Report, Colorado lost 10,481 cannabis jobs last year.

Some critics applauded the drop in cannabis sales numbers.

Luke Niforatos, executive vice president of the anti-marijuana group Smart Approaches to Marijuana, said the decline in sales should be celebrated.

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Big Marijuana profited off of increased addiction and use throughout COVID-19 lockdowns and the isolation that so many Coloradans felt during those years, he told The Denver Gazette in prior interview. What we are seeing now is likely a return to the pre-pandemic average use. This decrease should be celebrated, but we need to do more to educate the public on the harms of marijuana use and hopefully we will continue to see these numbers decline.

When it comes to crime, marijuana-related offenses make up a small portion of Denvers overall crime and decreased over the past year.

Total marijuana offenses make up 1% of overall reported offenses in Denver, according to the report.

In 2022, there were a total of 263 offenses reported to the Denver Police Department that had a clear connection or relation to marijuana out of 87,791 total criminal offenses in Denver.

Marijuana-related offenses where licensed marijuana businesses were the victims or perpetrators of a crime represented 0.19% of overall crime in Denver, with 162 total offenses.

Ninety-six percent of the industry-related offenses were burglary or attempted burglary, with 156 offenses. Theft made up the other 4%, or six offenses.

Violent offenses related to the licensed marijuana industry are rare and include homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault, according to the report.

In 2022, there were 14 violent offenses related to the marijuana industry, which is one per every 564 overall offenses.

Citations and bookings for violations of marijuana laws have decreased overall from 2021 to 2022. In 2021, there were 290 total arrests or citations for marijuana violations compared to 121 in 2022.

Over the years, overall impaired driving arrests have been on the decline in Denver, which can be attributed to factors such as public education campaigns and the rising popularity of ride-sharing services.

When Amendment 64 to legalize marijuana was put to Colorado voters, many feared that youth marijuana use and crime would skyrocket, Hancock wrote in the letter. To date, none of the extreme negative predictions about about legalization have come to pass in the Mile High City.

Denver still has work to do, however, according to Hancock. The city is continuously improving and evolving, particularly when it comes to social equity in the cannabis industry.

Denver has developed a multipronged approach to remove barriers and implement changes through its social equity program so there is more equitable access to the cannabis industry and the city can achieve the full promise of legalization, Hancock wrote.

In 2021, Denver began a partnership to give aspiring cannabis business owners disproportionately impacted by marijuana prohibition free entrepreneurial assistance programs.

I am proud of the foundation my Administration has built over the past decade and their dedicated efforts to ensure a bright future for this industry, Hancock wrote.
Americans should have a stake in the success of democracy abroad, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland told a gathering of lawyers in Denver on Monday, noting that the U.S. Justice Department is cooperating with the International Criminal Court and supporting Ukrainian prosecutors carrying out war crime investigations.

Congress recently allowed for new U.S. flexibility in assisting the court with investigations into foreign nationals related to Ukraine, and the Justice Department will be a key part of the United States cooperation, Garland said.

We are not waiting for the hostilities to end before pursuing justice and accountability. We are working closely with our international partners to gather evidence and build cases so that we are ready when the time comes to hold the perpetrators accountable, he said in a speech to the American Bar Association in Denver.

Garland spoke mainly about the Department of Justices focus on war crimes arising from Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2021  which he said he couldnt have anticipated would define his tenure when President Joe Biden nominated him a month earlier.

War criminals will find no refuge in America, he said.

Appointed by President Bill Clinton, Garland served on the federal D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals from 1997 until his nomination as attorney general. He also oversaw the investigation and prosecution of the Oklahoma City bombing.

President Barack Obama nominated Garland to the Supreme Court in 2016 to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia. But the Republican majority in the Senate at the time decided not to give Garland a confirmation hearing, and the seat eventually went to Justice Neil Gorsuch instead after Donald Trump took office.

In his speech, Garland outlined a few changes since the beginning of the war in Ukraine that have expanded the Department of Justices ability to indict and prosecute war criminals. One law change gave jurisdiction to the Justice Department over people within the U.S. from any country who are suspected of war crimes. Before Congress passed the Justice for Victims of War Crimes Act, the federal government had jurisdiction only if the offense was committed in the U.S. or if the victim or perpetrator is a U.S. national or servicemember, according to the New York Times.

Garland urged the bar association to support the recently established Victim-Witness Coordination Centre in Ukraine  created by the countrys prosecutor general, Andriy Kostin  which is meant to address the needs people displaced and harmed by the Russian occupation.

He said ABA attorneys could play a critical role in lending help to heavy workloads, including documenting harms suffered, securing reparations and filing claims for damages with a recently created registry.

The new center would greatly benefit from help from non-governmental organizations, he said.

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He also appointed a prosecutor to serve at the International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression Against Ukraine, which opened last month in The Hague to support nations building cases against senior Russian leaders. The center will not issue indictments or arrest warrants for suspects but will instead support investigations already underway in Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

The ICC does not have jurisdiction to prosecute aggression in Ukraine because Russia and Ukraine have not ratified the Rome Statute that founded the court, though Ukraines prosecutor general has said they plan to join.

The United States also is not an ICC member state.

The Justice Department is giving wide-ranging assistance to Ukraine, from training on prosecuting environmental crimes to help developing a secure electronic case-management system for more than 90,000 suspected atrocity crimes. Garland touted the $500 million seized assets and over three dozen indictments the department has handed down to enforce sanctions.

Ukraine must do three things simultaneously: it must fight a war; it must investigate war crimes; and it must ensure that a just society comes out on the other side of the war, he said. The Justice Department is honored to stand with them.

Garland also encouraged more private lawyers to volunteer to help Ukrainian victims.

He choked up as he spoke about members of his family, including his grandparents and mother-in-law, who fled to the U.S. to escape anti-Semitic persecution in Nazi-era Europe. The rule of law is instrumental in seeking justice for victims, he said.

Other relatives were killed by the Nazis, he said.

We do not know if anyone involved in their deaths were held accountable, Garland said. The families of the victims of the current atrocities in Ukraine deserve to know what happened to their loved ones. They deserve justice.

He added: As Americans, we have a personal stake in this work, and the success of democracy and the rule of law at home and abroad.

Lindsay Whitehurst and Nicholas Riccardi of The Associated Press also contributed to this story.
Outside of the El Paso County Sheriff's Office Monday morning, gray T-shirts bearing the words "No One is Coming" dotted the crowd between dozens of grey and blue deputy uniforms.

Many more community members and county staff gathered near a patrol car parked in front of the building in remembrance of Deputy Andrew Peery, who died in the line of duty one year ago on Aug. 7, 2022.

Peery, a highly decorated SWAT operator with the Sheriff's Office and U.S. Army veteran, responded to a reported shooting at a Security-Widefield residence last summer with a second deputy and a Fountain police officer. A suspect inside the home fired at the officers upon their arrival, killing Peery, 39.

"The debt of gratitude we owe you is immeasurable, and we'll do our best to live up to the precedent of bravery and steadfast commitment you exemplified," Sheriff Joseph Roybal said at the wreath-laying ceremony, addressing the fallen deputy. "No one is coming  it is up to us."

Peery, who leaves behind a wife and two children, had a history of service not only in law enforcement but to the county, Roybal said.

During his Army service, Peery served as an airborne infantryman. From 2001 to 2004, Peery was a member of the 173rd Airborne Brigade and stationed in Italy. He served three tours in Iraq  two as a sniper  and "developed and executed" over 600 operations abroad as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Roybal said.

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For his military service, Peery was awarded three Army Achievement Medals, seven Army Commendation Medals and a Meritorious Service Medal.

After his military service, Peery joined the Bakersfield Police Department in California in 2014 as a patrol officer and then joined the El Paso County Sheriff's Office in 2016, where he served as the Sniper Team Leader, Field Training Officer and a firearms and close quarter battle instructor.

During that time, Peery received five letters of appreciation, three Coins of Excellence, two Commander Citations, a Leadership Award and two Distinguished Service Medals. He was posthumously awarded two Medals of Valor and a Medal of Honor for his "ultimate sacrifice," Roybal said.

"(Peery) had that command presence to ensure that, when he was instructing, he would keep us safe ... everybody, including myself, listened to him," Roybal said. "But he knew when to deploy humor and when to have fun. He liked to keep things light because of this stressful job."

Roybal also remembered the life of Alexandra Paz, whose estranged husband shot and killed both her and Peery, and addressed her family.

"We are extremely sorry for their loss," Roybal said. "We feel their pain and share their pain."
A man wielding a sledgehammer forced his way into a home in east Colorado Springs prompting a shelter in place order Tuesday morning, according to the Colorado Springs Police Department.

Police said at 7:16 a.m. officers received reports of a burglary in progress at a home in the 100 block of Farragut Avenue, just a couple blocks from Memorial Park.

According to officials, the suspect, identified as Randy Holliday, forced his way into the home with a sledgehammer.

When officers arrived, Mr. Holliday barricaded himself in a different portion of the home and refused to surrender, A Lieutenant with CSPD said.

Just after 9 a.m., officials asked resident within a few-block radius to stay in their homes amidst the standoff with law enforcement. The shelter-in-place order was lifted just 30-minutes later after police convinced the suspect to peacefully surrender.

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According to officials, Holliday was taken into custody without further incident, and is facing charges of burglary. He was transported to a nearby hospital to be treated for an unrelated injury.

This article will be updated after more information is received.

Click or tap here for more local crime and public safety news.
No one was injured Monday when a car crashed into a scuba shop in Boulder.

The crash happened at Weaver's Dive Center, located at 637 S. Broadway, causing extensive damage to the front window and displays.

Boulder police said it appears the driver mistook the gas pedal for the brake while parking.

Police did not release any information on the driver or whether they issued a citation.
By David Shepardson and Diane Bartz

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Amazon.com is set to meet next week with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ahead of a potential long-awaited antitrust lawsuit against the retailer, according to a source familiar with the matter.

The FTC began probing Amazon during former President Donald Trump's administration when the government decided to investigate Amazon, Google, Faceboook and Apple for allegedly breaking antitrust law. The company has been criticized for allegedly favoring its own products and disfavoring outside sellers on its platform, among other allegations. Amazon has denied wrongdoing.

Amazon is expected to argue at the meetings with the commissioners that the FTC should not file an antitrust suit against the company, a separate source said. The FTC typically holds meetings with companies after lengthy investigations before deciding whether to file a suit.

The FTC declined comment on the planned meeting.

Before becoming FTC chair, Lina Khan in 2017 wrote a Yale Law Journal article tiled "Amazon's Antitrust Paradox," that argued that the traditional antitrust focus on price was inadequate to identify antitrust harms done by Amazon.

Amazon has faced a range of allegations from a long list of critics, including using third-party data to decide which products to sell, preferencing its goods to the detriment of independent sellers on the Amazon platform and requiring Prime sellers to use Amazon's logistics and delivery services.

Other critics have said Amazon abused its gatekeeper power by refusing to allow big rivals to advertise against its products on the Amazon platform and used below-cost prices on goods and services to keep customers, including on Prime.

The company, with about 1.5 million employees globally, has also been accused of abusing its power on labor and depressing wages.

After the Trump Justice Department and FTC opened probes into Alphabet's Google, Meta's Facebook, Apple and Amazon, a House of Representatives panel released major report that discussed how those companies dominate their industries.

The Justice Department has sued Google twice, once regarding its search business and a second time on advertising technology. The FTC has sued Meta's Facebook. None of those cases has yet gone to trial.

The FTC in June sued Amazon, accusing it of enrolling millions of consumers into its paid subscription Amazon Prime service without their consent and making it hard for them to cancel. Amazon called the FTC's claims "false on the facts and the law."

The FTC on May 31 announced a $5.8 million settlement with Amazon's Ring doorbell camera unit after the agency said cameras had been used for spying on some customers. Amazon also agreed in May agreed to pay $25 million to settle FTC allegations it violated children's privacy rights by failing to delete Alexa virtual assistant recordings at the request of parents and keeping them longer than necessary.

(Reporting by David Shepardson and Diane Bartz; Editing by Chris Reese, Mark Potter and David Gregorio)
(Reuters) -Canadian rapper Tory Lanez was sentenced on Tuesday to 10 years in prison, more than seven months after he was convicted of shooting fellow musical artist Megan Thee Stallion during an argument in 2020.

Judge David Herriford handed down the sentence to the 30-year-old rapper, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, during a hearing in Los Angeles Superior Court that had been pushed back by delays.

On Dec. 23, a jury found Lanez guilty of carrying a loaded and unregistered firearm in a vehicle, assault with a semiautomatic handgun and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.

Lanez was accused of shooting Grammy-winning rapper Megan Thee Stallion, 28, injuring her feet after a pool party in the Hollywood Hills in July 2020.

The shooting was preceded by an argument that became heated when the two began attacking each other's music careers, she told the court during the two-week trial.

Megan Thee Stallion, who was born Megan Pete, needed surgery and spent four days in the hospital before physical therapy allowed her to walk again.

She did not attend the sentencing hearing, saying she could not bear to be in the same room as Lanez but wrote a statement that was read in court on Monday, the New York Times reported.

"He not only shot me, he made a mockery of my trauma," the statement said. "This is a statement for all survivors that their lives matter and there is zero tolerance for the torture that accompanies violence."

Jose Baez, a defense lawyer representing Lanez, told reporters outside the courthouse that he thought the sentence was too harsh and that Lanez would appeal his conviction, saying he had not received a fair trial. Lanez' lawyers had sought a sentence of probation.

"I have seen homicide case, other cases where there's a death and the person still gets less than 10 years," Baez said. "It's just another example of somebody being punished for their celebrity status, someone being utilized as an example."

Megan Thee Stallion won Grammy awards for best new artist, best rap performance and best rap song in 2021. She has also been nominated for six more.

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon, whose office prosecuted the case, said after December's verdict that women, especially Black women, are afraid to report crimes such as assault and sexual violence because they are too often not believed.

"The fact that Ms. Pete is a successful entertainer has brought the spotlight on the important issue of violence against women," he told reporters after the verdict.

(Reporting by Jane Ross in Los Angeles and Jonathan Allen in New York; Writing by Brendan O'Brien; Editing by Aurora Ellis and Lisa Shumaker)
By Khalid Abdelaziz and Nafisa Eltahir

(Reuters) -Sudan's army on Tuesday intensified efforts to gain ground in the capital Khartoum in some of the heaviest fighting since the start of a conflict with a rival military faction that has caused a growing humanitarian crisis.

The army has launched air strikes and used heavy artillery since Monday to try to take a bridge across the Nile used by the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to bring reinforcements and weapons from Omdurman to the other two cities that make up the wider capital, Bahri and Khartoum, residents said.

The RSF, which occupied much of the capital at the outbreak of fighting in mid-April, responded forcefully, resulting in heavy clashes in residential neighbourhoods and civilian casualties and displacement.

Neighbourhood activists in eastern Omdurman said at least nine civilians had been killed.

"The situation in Omdurman is terrifying," Nader Abdullah, a 52-year-old resident, told Reuters by phone. "Gunfire, the sound of artillery, and air strikes ... there's bombardment in every direction."

The war broke out four years after the overthrow of Omar al-Bashir during a popular uprising, as tensions between the army and the RSF, which jointly staged a coup in 2021, erupted over disagreements about a plan to transition to civilian rule.

Both sides have claimed military advances in recent days but there are no signs of a decisive breakthrough. Efforts led by Saudi Arabia and the United States to secure a ceasefire have stalled.

More than 4 million people have been displaced, according to the United Nations, including over 900,000 who have fled to neighbouring countries already grappling with conflict and economic crises.

'WHAT'S LEFT TO WIN?'

The highest number - more than 377,000 - have fled to Chad from the western Sudanese region of Darfur, where witnesses have blamed Arab militias aligned with the RSF for a wave of ethnically targeted attacks against non-Arab groups.

People arriving in Chad from Mornay in West Darfur by foot, belongings piled onto horse-drawn carts or balanced on their heads, said they had been subject to rape, theft, and nighttime assaults and arrests.

"Whoever finds a way gets out, and whoever does not remains in suffering," said one refugee who gave his name as Haroun.

As a result of the conflict, hunger has been spreading and civilian casualties rising. With humanitarian funding and access limited, more than 300 deaths had been recorded between May 15 and July 17 due to measles and malnutrition, mainly among children under five, the U.N. refugee agency said.

"As many families have been on the move for weeks  with very little food or medicine  rising malnutrition rates, disease outbreaks and related deaths continue to be observed," UNHCR spokesman William Spindler told a briefing in Geneva.

The arrival of seasonal rains has caused displacement in some parts of Sudan and concerns that water-borne diseases will spread further.

On top of the fighting, residents in the capital have had to contend with extended power and water cuts, rampant looting by the RSF, the collapse of health services and shortages of food.

"Neither side is able to win outright and what we hear them say in the media is the opposite of what's happening on the ground," said Mohamed Usher, a 37-year-old living in southern Khartoum.

"What's left in Khartoum for them to win anyway? The institutions are destroyed, the universities, the markets are all destroyed."

(Reporting by Khalid Abdelaziz in Dubai, Nafisa Eltahir in Cairo, and Gabrielle Tetrault-Faber in Geneva; Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Nick Macfie and Jonathan Oatis)
By Mike Stone

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Joe Biden's administration will announce $200 million of new weapons aid for Ukraine as soon as Tuesday, U.S. officials told Reuters, as it begins to dole out $6.2 billion of funds discovered after a Pentagon accounting error over-valued billions of Ukraine aid, two U.S. officials said on Monday.

In May, the Pentagon announced it had mistakenly assigned a higher-than-warranted value to the U.S. weaponry shipped to Kyiv when staff used "replacement value" instead of "depreciated value" to tabulate the billions worth ammunition, missiles and other equipment sent to Ukraine.

Ukraine needs weaponry that can be shipped from U.S. stocks in a matter of days or weeks so it can keep up its fight to repel Russia's invasion - the accounting error worked to Kyiv's benefit because more equipment can be sent.

Beginning to use these discovered funds is significant because they represent the last of the previously congressionally authorized $25.5 billion worth of Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) the administration can utilize to ship weapons from U.S. stocks in the event of an emergency, the U.S. officials said.

Washington is currently working on a supplemental budget request to continue to aid Kyiv, the U.S. officials said.

Tuesday's expected announcement of $200 million would be the first tranche of the $6.2 billion windfall of previously authorized Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), the officials said.

Included in this package were items like mine clearing equipment, TOW and AT4 anti-tank weapons, guns and ammunition, air defense interceptors made by Lockheed Martin Corp for the Patriot system, Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets and Javelin anti-tank missiles made by a joint venture between Lockheed and RTX Corp, along with other equipment.

(Reporting by Mike Stone in Washington; Editing by David Gregorio)
Anheuser-Busch, the owner of Bud Light and several other beer brands, is selling off eight of its labels to Tilray Brands, a cannabis company based in New York City.

The eight labels the company will purchase from Anheuser-Busch include Shock Top, Breckenridge Brewery, Blue Point Brewing Company, 10 Barrel Brewing Company, Redhook Brewery, Widmer Brothers Brewing, Square Mile Cider Company, and HiBall Energy. The purchase of these labels includes the current employees, breweries, and brewpubs that are associated with these brands, according to the press release.

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"Today's announcement both solidifies our national leadership position and share in the U.S. craft brewing market and marks a major step forward in our diversification strategy," said Irwin D. Simon, the chairman and CEO of Tilray Brands. "We are excited to work with the teams behind these iconic brands that command great consumer loyalty and have a history of delivering strong award-winning products with tremendous growth opportunities. Tilray is fully committed to invest in and champion the future of the U.S. craft beer industry by fueling new innovation that excites and further accelerates the growth of its consumer base."

Through this purchase, Tilray Brands will become the fifth-largest craft beer business in the United States, up from its current position of ninth.

Anheuser-Busch selling eight of its labels comes as the company has endured financial losses throughout 2023, reporting a nearly $400 million loss in the second quarter. Many have attributed the company's financial losses to a partnership Bud Light did earlier this year with transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney.

FILE - Cans of Bud Light beer are seen, Thursday Jan. 10, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File) Jacquelyn Martin/AP

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A report from last month stated that close to 380 positions at the company are set to be terminated. The company has over 19,000 across the United States.

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The heir of Anheuser-Busch, Billy Busch, appeared in an interview where he expressed what he believed would have been his ancestors' disapproval of the company's recent marketing.

"I think my family  my ancestors would have rolled over in their graves," Busch responded when asked what he thought about the fallout following the company's involvement with Mulvaney. "They believed that transgender, um, gays, that sort of thing was all a very personal issue. They loved this country because it is a free country and people are allowed to do what they want, but it was never meant to be on a beer can and pushed in people's faces."

Original Location: Bud Light owner Anheuser-Busch to sell eight labels to cannabis company

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Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) is outlining his latest demands in the fight over appropriations and government spending, issuing an ultimatum to the Biden White House in exchange for his support on the must-pass legislation: the ouster of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

In a Dear Colleague letter sent out to lawmakers on Tuesday, Roy listed a number of demands the Texas Republican said must be met in order for him to support legislation funding the Department of Homeland Security or to vote for a continuing resolution ahead of the looming Sept. 30 deadline. Those demands include measures to tighten security at the southern border, which Roy argues is a "national crisis."

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"Enacting a CR would unacceptably mean continuing the funding level and policies of the disastrous FY 2023 omnibus, which Speaker [Kevin] McCarthy correctly argued perpetuates the border crisis," Roy wrote. "Passing a full-year DHS appropriations bill without forcing the significant change necessary to secure the southern border is equally objectionable, even with some policy riders."

In his Tuesday letter, Roy laid out four conditions that must be met in order for him to support any spending legislation, pressing the Biden administration to implement stronger border security measures. One of the conditions urges President Joe Biden to sign H.R. 2, a GOP-led measure passed by the House earlier this year that has been lauded by Republicans as the "strongest border security bill" passed by lawmakers in decades.

The letter also pushes the president to implement policies that give law enforcement officials the "tools necessary" to combat cartels attempting to cross the border, as well as a $10 billion reimbursement to the state of Texas for expenses used to secure the border.

Roy also demands the ouster of Mayorkas from his position as the head of DHS, urging the president to ensure he "is removed from office, resigns, or is fired."

"Simply put, no member of Congress should agree to fund a federal agency at war with his state and people. We have a moral obligation to protect our states, our nation, and, importantly, the migrant children getting abused from the disaster transpiring at our southern border," Roy wrote. "No border security, no funding."

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The letter comes after House lawmakers left Washington, D.C., for its six-week recess despite a lengthy to-do list and lingering negotiations over spending legislation. House leaders said they would continue working over the break, although it remains unclear whether lawmakers will meet in person to do so.

The House managed to pass its military construction appropriations bill before it adjourned, advancing only one of 12 of its must-pass spending bills before leaving town and returning on Sept. 12. That leaves Congress with just 18 days upon its return to pass its budget and avert a government shutdown.

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It's unclear whether the House would approve a continuing resolution, an agreement that allows the government to operate at the same spending levels until a new budget is passed, as some hard-line conservatives including Roy said they would oppose such a measure.

"I will not vote for a CR," Roy said before the House left for recess last month. "I will not help advance a CR in any way, shape, or form."

Original Location: Chip Roy threatens to withhold support on appropriations unless Mayorkas is fired

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Voting in Ohio for a measure championed by conservatives to raise the threshold to amend the state constitution will conclude on Tuesday. Should the measure fail, it could open the door for Democrats to make the right to have an abortion solidified in state law and give the party a boost heading into 2024.

Ohioans are heading to the polls in record numbers to vote on State Issue 1, a measure that would change the number of voters needed to advance a proposed amendment to the state's constitution. Passing the measure could be significant for state conservatives, who say their measure will protect the constitution from a "radical" liberal agenda that involves changes to gun control, abortion, and education.

UNDERDOG NO MORE: SENATE REPUBLICANS LINE UP BEHIND SAM BROWN IN NEVADA

Here is what to know about State Issue 1, who opposes it, and what implications the measure can have in the next election.

What is State Issue 1?

State Issue 1 would raise the threshold needed to amend the constitution from 50% plus one to 60%.

Several Republicans, including U.S. representatives from Ohio and Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, are adamant supporters of Issue 1. Anti-abortion groups have latched on to the measure, accusing liberal activists of bypassing lawmakers to push their agenda.

"At its core, it's about keeping out-of-state special interest groups from buying their way into our constitution, which we're seeing happen far too often," Amy Natoce, press secretary for Protect Women Ohio, told Fox News Digital. "They're circumventing the legislative process and going directly after the constitution."

Who is opposed to State Issue 1 and why?

State Issue 1, if passed, will take effect immediately, placing liberal groups at a disadvantage heading into November, when their ballot to enshrine abortion in the constitution will go before voters. Before State Issue 1, groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union were in a better position to gain the support necessary to pass their abortion measure through.

However, by raising the threshold, Democrats and liberal allies will need to attract another 10% of voters in a swing state that favors former President Donald Trump and trends more Republican each year.

The ACLU has blasted State Issue 1 as a method by conservatives to funnel power away from voters and into the hands of lawmakers.

"The purpose of Issue 1 is to silence the majority of Ohioans, and subject us to the policy preferences of a small group of extremists who have secured the favor of our unconstitutionally gerrymandered legislature," the union said of the measure earlier this year.

Millions are being funneled into Ohio's special election for Issue 1, with several abortion-rights groups, such as Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio and the ACLU, raising approximately $8.5 million. Most of the donations came from outside Ohio, arriving from Washington D.C., Oklahoma, New York, and other states.

A sign urging voters to vote "no" on Issue 1 in Ohio's Aug. 8 special election stands planted in the grass on the outskirts of a parking lot in front of the Franklin County Board of Elections in Columbus, Ohio on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023. (Samantha Hendrickson/AP)

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What are the November 2023 implications of Issue 1?

Polling in July showed that voters are split on Issue 1, with 42% saying they are a "yes" on State Issue 1, 41% saying they are a "no," and 16% are neutral. However, Democratic and Republican lawmakers are coming to the consensus that Democrats will likely prevail and Issue 1 will fail.

Anti-abortion advocates are hoping to stop the abortion amendment before it reaches voters. Groups against the proposed constitutional amendment filed a lawsuit in late July against LaRose and others to invalidate it, saying its broad language does not articulate what state laws would need to be repealed or replaced.

LaRose, despite his personal opposition, validated the signatures needed for the measure to appear on the November ballot.

The outcome in November could usher in a wave of pro-abortion rights voters at similar levels to the 2022 midterm elections, which was largely spurred by the Supreme Court striking down federal rights to abortion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. Several other red states, including Kansas, passed a similar abortion measure to enshrine it in their constitution shortly after the federal law was struck down.

What are the 2024 implications of Issue 1?

How the measure performs could have a drastic effect on the Ohio Senate race in 2024.

LaRose, who is running to replace Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), has been a staunch advocate of Issue 1 and a firm opponent of liberals' abortion measure up for votes in the fall. If Issue 1 were to fail, the secretary of state has the most to lose.

"Frank LaRose has wrapped his arms around this issue and staked his entire political career [on this]. He has spent the entirety of the summer campaigning on this issue, to the detriment of his day job," Ohio Democratic Party Chairwoman Elizabeth Walters told Punchbowl News. "He's taking a really big bet here."

The failure of Issue 1 could also set Republicans on a path of losses in several key areas important to voters, which they cannot afford.

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"If Issue 1 does not pass, then a lot of things are at risk," Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) told Punchbowl News. "Not only abortion but also gun ownership and possession, redistricting, education curriculum for our children, and other big issues. All these things will be at risk because a simple majority will be able to fundamentally alter our constitution on a whim."

Republicans face an uphill battle to appeal to moderate and independent voters, which could be a difficult task if they continue to support hard-line stances on matters such as abortion and gun control. Losing Issue 1 in Ohio could add more problems to the Republican Party's plate as it heads into 2024 with the goal to grow its House majority and flip the Senate and the White House.

Original Location: Issue 1: Everything you need to know about Ohio's constitutional amendment ballot measure

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's attorneys are moving to dismiss all articles of impeachment against him.

The motions were filed before the deadline on Saturday, but they were made public on Monday, the Texas Tribune reported. The Republican attorney general's individual motions to dismiss 19 of the 20 articles of impeachment were made known over the weekend, but his attorneys went a step further in moving to dismiss the impeachment entirely. Paxton's attorneys accused the House impeachment managers of attempting to subvert democracy, using "any means necessary" to "overturn the will of voters."

THE FOUR DEMOCRATS WHO COULD ATTEMPT TO UNSEAT BIDEN IN 2024 ELECTION

Suspended Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sits as he makes an appearance in the Harris County Courthouse on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023 in Houston. Paxton's years-delayed trial on securities fraud charges will have to wait until his separate impeachment trial is concluded, lawyers and the judge in the case said Thursday. (Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle via AP) Elizabeth Conley/AP

They also filed several more individual filings, looking to dismiss individual articles of impeachment. In one such filing looking to dismiss the article dealing with asking the state government to pay for his whistleblower settlement, the attorneys accused the House impeachment managers of having "done violence to our democracy" by impeaching him over a "routine" function of his job.

The House impeachment managers will have until Aug. 15 to respond in writing to every motion.

The motions will then go to the Senate for a vote, allowing the Republican-dominated Senate a second chance at rejecting the Trump ally's impeachment. Just 16 of the 19 Republicans' votes are needed, though most had previously voted to impeach.

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Both the motions to dismiss individual articles and to dismiss the impeachment entirely will be voted on.

Paxton is being impeached over accusations of bribery, obstruction of justice, and misappropriation of public resources. Most of these are centered on whistleblower accusations of misconduct in an investigation into a friend and political donor of the attorney general.

Original Location: Ken Paxton attorneys move to dismiss all articles of impeachment

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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) flexed some political muscle in Kentucky over the weekend amid increased concern over his health.

McConnell, 81, was met with both cheers and jeers from the raucous crowds at the annual Fancy Farm picnic, one of his home state's main political events, on Saturday. The seven-term senator, who is credited with leading the GOP's rise to power in Kentucky, received a prolonged standing ovation upon his arrival at the Graves County Republican Party breakfast.

RON DESANTIS ACKNOWLEDGES TRUMP'S 2020 ELECTION DEFEAT: 'OF COURSE HE LOST'

He quipped in a speech at the event that "this is my 28th Fancy Farm, and I want to assure you it's not my last."

At the marquee event later on, McConnell was undeterred by the loud chants of protesters screaming "Shame on you," "Ditch Mitch," "Retire," and "Lost the Senate."

The Republican leader plowed through his remarks, which took aim at Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY) as he sat smiling nearby, while making no acknowledgment of the hostile eventgoers. After he wrapped up the speech, he smiled and waved to the hostile crowd with his arm around his wife, former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao.

McConnell has been projecting normalcy since his highly publicized medical episode last month, in which he suddenly froze midsentence while speaking to reporters and looked ahead with an apparent blank stare for 18 seconds, sparked questions about his political future.

The top Senate Republican has largely tried to quash discussions about his health by noting that he's "fine." His office has not said if the minority leader has been seen by a physician since the freeze-up.

The lack of candor is not entirely surprising. McConnell, the longest-serving Senate leader in history, is revered as one of the greatest political operators of the last century. The GOP leader has been careful about how he presents himself to the press and the larger public, especially given that showing any signs of vulnerability could lead to questions about his power.

McConnell's defiant certainty about his political future is similar to that of other septuagenarian, octogenarian, and even nonagenarian politicians in Washington, D.C., and has sparked discussions about whether the United States has a gerontocracy problem.

President Joe Biden is 80. Former President Donald Trump is 77. Should both men be their party's nominee in 2024, as polling suggests is likely to happen, they'll be the oldest candidates in American history.

Biden has already made history as the oldest commander in chief the United States has ever had. If he wins a second term next year, he'll fall just short of making the top 10 list of oldest-serving leaders in the world. While the president and his team have framed his age as a reflection of his decades of experience, poll after poll shows it to be a liability for his reelection chances.

McConnell is both men's senior, and he's far from the oldest member of Congress.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), the Senate's oldest member, has had memory and cognition troubles for years, though it wasn't until her shingles diagnosis kept her out of the upper chamber for months that the 90-year-old's condition became headline news.

The California senator has faced questions about her mental acuity for nearly half a decade as story after story reported instances of her forgetting conversations with top lawmakers and staff. Some reports have described her not recognizing longtime colleagues she had known for years.

She revived those concerns when she appeared unaware that her office had sent out the press release announcing her Senate retirement in February. Feinstein said at the time that she wouldn't seek reelection in 2024, though she vowed to serve out the remaining 20 months of her term despite her recent shingles diagnosis and prolonged absence.

Facing resignation calls from House Democrats and frustration from her Senate colleagues that was spilling out into public view, a wheelchair-bound Feinstein returned to the Capitol in mid-May looking frail and at times disoriented. The 90-year-old has largely been kept out of public view since then, being whisked to and from votes and committee hearings by staff without taking many questions from journalists.

Feinstein has remained adamant that she will not resign before the end of her term despite concerns about her fitness to serve. She has described being a senator as her "calling."

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The six-term senator has had some struggles while carrying out her duties since her return. She garnered attention for disrupting a roll call vote at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing late last month when she became confused about what was going on.

A Feinstein spokesperson said the senator "was preoccupied" and was unaware a vote had been called.

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Feinstein's junior by less than three months, has defended his longtime Senate colleague against the flurry of resignation calls.

"I think it's a shame that they've been picking on her for two years," Grassley said in May. "They're picking on somebody that's older, and it just doesn't show the proper respect. So, let's just leave it this way. They should leave her alone. She's sick."

The 89-year-old senator has faced some questions about his ability to serve at his advanced age, though he has largely dispelled those concerns through his impressive fitness routine and his penchant for challenging naysayers to push-up contests.

On the House side, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), 83, and former House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), 84, stepped down from their leadership roles late last year to make way for a "new generation" to take over.

"For me, the hour has come for a new generation to lead the Democratic caucus that I so deeply respect," Pelosi said from the House floor while announcing her decision last November. "And I am grateful that so many are ready and willing to shoulder this awesome responsibility."

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, 51, has made age a focus of her 2024 bid, calling for mental competency tests for politicians older than 75. The Republican presidential candidate has also suggested that Biden is unlikely to survive a second term, of which he would be 86 at the conclusion.

"America is not past our prime. It's just that our politicians are past theirs," Haley said at her campaign launch in February.

Several older lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have rejected the idea, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Haley's 2024 primary opponent.

Sanders, 81, called the idea "absurd," saying in February, "We are fighting racism, we're fighting sexism, we're fighting homophobia  I think we should also be fighting ageism."

"Trust people  look at people and say, 'This person is competent, this person is not competent,'" the Vermont senator said at the time. "There are a lot of 40-year-olds out there who ain't particularly competent. Older people, you know, you look at the individual, I don't think you make a blanket statement."

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"Well, there's a mental acuity test every time you go to Iowa, and there's a town hall meeting with the questions from the voters. They do a pretty good job of assessing those issues," Hutchinson, 72, said late last month. "As a practical matter, you want a president to be in good health and in charge of the country in a good mental state, but the tests are not constitutional. And so it's really something that's a throwaway line that catches people's attention."

Trump, meanwhile, has embraced the idea, writing on his Truth Social platform in February, "ANYBODY running for the Office of President of the United States should agree to take a full & complete Mental Competency Test simultaneously (or before!) with the announcement that he or she is running, & likewise, but to a somewhat lesser extent, agree to a test which would prove that you are physically capable of doing the job."

Original Location: McConnell becomes latest target in backlash against older political leaders

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A senior U.S. diplomat traveled to the capital of Niger to hold "extremely frank and at times quite difficult" talks with the ruling junta after the country's military leaders seized power from the democratically-elected president last month.

"Traveled to Niamey to express grave concern at the undemocratic attempts to seize power and urged a return to constitutional order," Victoria Nuland, undersecretary of state for political affairs, announced on social media Monday evening.

THE FOUR DEMOCRATS WHO COULD ATTEMPT TO UNSEAT BIDEN IN 2024 ELECTION

Mohamed Toumba, one of the soldiers who ousted Nigerian President Mohamed Bazoum, addresses supporters of Niger's ruling junta in Niamey, Niger, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023. Nigeriens are bracing for a possible military intervention as time's run out for its new junta leaders to reinstate the country's ousted president. (AP Photo/Sam Mednick) Sam Mednick/AP

The United States and its Western allies have been fearful of the junta seizing power in the country as they watch their influence in the Sahel region of Africa diminish. Niger has been an important partner for the U.S. in recent years in its counterterrorism efforts.

France, Niger's former colonialist ruler, specifically urged its citizens not to travel to the country, citing anti-French sentiment, per the BBC. Other West African countries also appear to be concerned with the coup, as leaders from the region are set to meet on Thursday to discuss the precarious situation.

The U.S. maintains hope that the complete overthrow can be averted and President Mahmoud Bazoum, who has been in detention but reportedly has spoken to U.S. officials by phone, can be reinstated as the country's leader.

But presidential guard Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani's announcement that he has seized power places this future in doubt. And casting a shadow over the entire dilemma for the U.S. is the fact that Russia's paramilitary Wagner Group could plant forces in the country it has long coveted.

Supporters of Niger's ruling junta hold a Russian flag in Niamey, Niger, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023. Nigeriens are bracing for a possible military intervention as time's run out for its new junta leaders to reinstate the country's ousted president. (AP Photo/Sam Mednick) Sam Mednick/AP

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Should Bazoum continue to be detained and the coup continues, President Joe Biden has threatened to cut military ties to the country, something Nuland underscored during her visit this week. Her tone while speaking to reporters from Niamey, if not pessimistic, was sobering, as she met neither with Bazoum, who is in detention along with his wife and son, nor Tchiani.

She did, however, speak for two hours to other military leaders, such as chief of staff Brig. Gen. Moussa Barmou, where she said she offered, on behalf of the U.S., help "if there is a desire on the part of the people who are responsible for this to return to the constitutional order."

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"I would not say that we were in any way taken up on that offer," Nuland stated. Barmou is a U.S.-trained officer, Politico reported.

Reports have stated that the driving factor in the coup against Bazoum was that he was about to replace Tchiani as chief of the Nigerien presidential guard.

Original Location: Niger coup: US emissary 'expresses grave concern' while speaking to ruling junta

Washington Examiner Videos
Trump ally and former New York City Police Commissioner Bernie Kerik met with investigators from special counsel Jack Smith, according to a report.

CNN reported that Kerik met with investigators for about five hours Monday. His attorney, Timothy Parlatore, told the outlet that the questions mainly revolved around what Rudy Giuliani, former President Donald Trump's attorney, did to prove that the former president won the 2020 presidential election.

THE FOUR DEMOCRATS WHO COULD ATTEMPT TO UNSEAT BIDEN IN 2024 ELECTION

Kerik is a longtime close ally of Giuliani, going back to the latter's time as New York City mayor. Giuliani was repeatedly alluded to in Trump's latest indictment as a co-conspirator, though he hasn't been charged with anything. The former mayor has fervently denied any wrongdoing.

Parlatore told CNN there's "not a chance" Giuliani will be charged by the special counsel.

"The idea that Rudy Giuliani was intentionally pushing claims he knew were false is not something supported by the evidence," he added.

Kerik was part of the team led by Giuliani that investigated alleged voter fraud around the 2020 election. He has been in contact with the investigation previously; last month, he delivered a plethora of documents related to the investigation. Parlatore had first received permission from Trump's legal team before handing it over.

"I have shared all of these documents, approximately 600 megabytes, mostly PDFs, with the special counsel and look forward to sitting down with them in about two weeks to discuss," he said last month.

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Previously, Kerik had been the subject of false accusations regarding a meeting shortly before Jan. 6 by the Jan. 6 committee.

In 2010, Kerik was sentenced to four years in prison on felony fraud charges and making false statements to government officials. He was pardoned by then-President Trump in 2020.

Original Location: Trump ally Bernie Kerik meets with investigators in first sign of life since indictment: Report

Washington Examiner Videos
Former President Donald Trump referred to his latest federal grand jury indictment over his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election as "bulls***" during a campaign rally in Windham, New Hampshire, on Tuesday.

"How can my corrupt political opponent, crooked Joe Biden, put me on trial during an election campaign that I'm winning by a lot?" he asked. "But forcing me nevertheless to spend time and money away from the campaign trail in order to fight bogus, made-up accusations and charges, that's what they're doing. I'm sorry, I won't be able to go to Iowa today. I won't be able to go to New Hampshire today because I'm sitting in a courtroom on bulls*** because his attorney general charged me with something. Terrible."

TRUMP KEEPING AN EYE ON THESE SIX ALLIES TO JOIN HIM IN THE WHITE HOUSE

The elated crowd erupted in chants of "Bulls***!" repeatedly after Trump spoke. "Thank you very much," Trump said.

Trump was indicted for a third time last week, this time by a federal grand jury concerning his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Special counsel Jack Smith charged Trump with four federal counts, which the former president pleaded not guilty to when he was arraigned in federal court.

The former president claimed he was beating Biden in polls "by a lot" and that his chief rival, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), was losing to Biden.

"But these incredible numbers are the primary reason that crooked Joe Biden has weaponized law enforcement," Trump said. "He's done something that nobody thought, they talked about it but nobody ever did it, never to this extent, and ordered his top political opponent, me, arrested ... right in the middle of a presidential election that Biden is losing badly."

Trump claimed his poll numbers are rising despite his three indictments and a possible fourth indictment that could come from a Georgia investigation over Trump's alleged actions to overturn the 2020 results. "Every time you get indicted I like to check the polls because one more indictment, then I think this election is over," he said. "The latest Morning Consult poll has us far ahead. We're at 59% and the others are at, like, 12. One is at 12. I think that's DeSanctimonious. But he's rapidly being caught by [Vivek] Ramaswamy, who's good."

The latest Morning Consult poll has Trump at 59%, but DeSantis actually has 16% support among GOP voters, while every other candidate is in the single digits. In addition to calling DeSantis derogatory names, Trump also referred to him as a "son of a b****" while speaking about the aftermath of endorsing him in his successful 2018 gubernatorial campaign.

"These maniacs are screaming, would you run against the president? Would you run? Will you run? And he goes, 'I have no comment,'" Trump recounted. "To me, that means he's running. So I said, that son of a b**** is running. Can you believe it? I just got him elected. So that's why I've been particularly hard at him."

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Trump said the DeSantis campaign is "crashing" and speculated that he should have waited until later to run for president. "You know what he did wrong? He ran," Trump said. "What he did wrong is he should have waited till '28."

The former president reiterated his unfounded belief that the 2020 election was "rigged" and "stolen," a fact that is referenced in his 45-page indictment released last week.

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Trump also said he would not be "silenced" even though District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan said she would hold a hearing over a protective order on what Trump can share publicly about the case. "They want to take away my freedom because I will never let them take away your freedom. That's what's happening," said Trump. "They want to silence me because I will never let them silence you. And in the end, they're not after me. They're after you."

Trump remained defiant during his New Hampshire speech. "All I can say is the never-ending witch hunt continues and we have exposed so much, nobody's ever thought I have exposed so much," the former president said. "It's been incredible, but do not fear, we will win bigger and better than ever before."

Original Location: Trump calls indictment 'bulls***' during New Hampshire campaign rally

Washington Examiner Videos
With another indictment of former President Donald Trump expected in Georgia, the top Republican candidate accused President Joe Biden of "trying to steal the Election" amid his legal battle on accusations of subverting 2020's election results.

"He [Joe Biden] now wants Thug Prosecutor, Deranged Jack Smith, to file for a Court Order taking away my first amendment rights, SPEECH," Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social shortly after midnight on Tuesday. "So, based on yet another Radical Left Hoax, I'll be the only 'Politician' in American history not allowed to SPEAK. THE NEVER ENDING WITCH HUNT CONTINUES. MAGA!"

UNDERDOG NO MORE: SENATE REPUBLICANS LINE UP BEHIND SAM BROWN IN NEVADA

Trump's lawyers opposed special counsel Jack Smith's request for a protective order on Monday, arguing it was too broad and violated his rights under the First Amendment.

Trump is facing legal battles on at least three different fronts. Following his arraignment last week on Thursday on four counts related to the 2020 presidential election, prosecutors requested that U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan grant a protective order concerning Trump's social media usage in the case, which Trump's lawyers rejected this week.

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A magistrate judge in Washington, D.C., gave Trump a number of orders he must comply with, one being not to speak about the case to anyone without attorneys present. Just 24 hours after being told by the judge not to threaten witnesses or speak on the case, the former president appeared to violate the order by posting on Truth Social: "IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I'M COMING AFTER YOU."

On top of his newest criminal charges, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis seems to be gearing up to issue a fourth indictment to the former president after a yearslong investigation into Trump and his Republican allies' efforts to overturn 2020 election results.

Original Location: Trump hits 'Crooked Joe Biden' for 'bogus charges' as country waits for Georgia indictment

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The first Republican presidential debate is fast approaching on August 23rd, where candidates will hope to close the gap with former President Donald Trump and separate from the rest of the pack. In this series, Up For Debate, the Washington Examiner will look at a key issue or policy every day up until debate day, and where key candidates stand. Today's story will examine where the 2024 Republican presidential hopefuls stand on impeaching President Joe Biden.

Conservative House Republicans on Capitol Hill, including House Speaker Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), have contemplated bringing impeachment articles against President Joe Biden and his family, mainly due to his son Hunter Biden's business interactions while he served on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian gas company.

UP FOR DEBATE: TRUMP, DESANTIS, AND 2024 GOP HOPEFULS' STANCE ON SPENDING AND DEBT

"We've only followed where the information has taken us. But Hannity, this is rising to the level of impeachment inquiry, which provides Congress the strongest power to get the rest of the knowledge and information needed," McCarthy told Fox News's Sean Hannity late last month.

Republican members of the House Oversight Committee suggested that an impeachment inquiry was necessary after Devon Archer, a business associate of Hunter Biden, testified behind closed doors with the committee.

But the movement has divided more moderate Republicans who represent districts that Biden won and would face tough reelection bids in 2024 if impeachment charges were brought up, threatening the Republican House majority.

Senate GOP members have signaled they have less of an appetite for impeachment. "Staying focused on the future and not the past is in my view the best way to change the direction of the country and that's to win an election," Senate Republican Whip John Thune (R-SD) said.

Some of the Republicans running for president have not hesitated, however, to support the more conservative wing of their party in moving to impeach Biden.

HOW DEBATE CAN BE MAKE OR BREAK FOR CANDIDATES

Donald Trump

The former president has often called for the impeachment of Joe Biden as he faces his own legal problems with the Department of Justice, including three indictments and the possibility of another indictment before Labor Day. Trump has been indicted three times this year, first for an alleged hush money payment scheme to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential election and then again over allegations he mishandled classified documents after leaving the White House. Special counsel Jack Smith indicted Trump over his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and the subsequent Jan. 6 Capitol riot investigation. Trump also faces possible indictments in Georgia over allegations he sought to overturn the Peach State's 2020 election results.

On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump has often complained about the two-tier justice system between Republicans and Democrats. "SO, THEY IMPEACH ME OVER A "PERFECT" PHONE CALL, AND THEY DON'T IMPEACH BIDEN FOR BEING THE MOST CORRUPT PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES???" he wrote in late July.

At a speech in Eerie, Pennsylvania, over the weekend, he slammed Republicans for not bringing impeachment charges against Biden, suggesting he could endorse primary challengers against Republicans who do not favor impeachment. "The radical lunatic Democrats, they impeach me, they indict me, they rig our elections. And the Republicans just don't fight the way  they're good people, but they don't fight the way they're supposed to fight," Trump said.

"Any Republican that doesn't act on Democrat fraud should be immediately primaried and get out," Trump added, to loud applause.

Matthew Dallek, a political historian at George Washington University, said that Trump calling for Biden to be impeached is in line with his past strategy of deflection.

"His pressure on the House to impeach Biden is absolutely consistent with his double strategy of throwing everything possible at the wall to see what sticks and to divert attention from his own problems," Dallek said.

Ron DeSantis

Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), Trump's top rival in the 2024 race, has often dithered on questions about Trump's legal problems. Often DeSantis will excoriate the "weaponization" of the Justice Department and the FBI as he did after Trump was indicted for a third time. But when it comes to impeaching Biden, DeSantis is unequivocal.

"They impeached Donald Trump for a phone call. Are you trying to tell me Biden's conduct isn't as significant as that? It's way more significant," DeSantis told Fox News's Jesse Waters. "So they are absolutely within their rights to do that.

"I think the corruption that's surrounding this family is really unprecedented in the modern history of our country and the lack of interest on this from the FBI and the Department of Justice, it shows you weaponization," he continued.

The Florida governor again reiterated his call to impeach Biden in an interview with Newsmax.

"And the inquiry into Biden, I think that they should pursue that," DeSantis said. "The corruption is just incredible with what's happened there."

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Nikki Haley

Former South Carolina governor and United States ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said McCarthy and congressional leaders were within their rights to investigate the Biden family's business interactions.

"I think that you've got Congress oversight for a reason. And I think that they need to go and look at the evidence," Haley told Fox News last month. "I think Congress would be within their, you know, their right to go and have that oversight and ask the questions on behalf of the American people. Whether this is a Republican or Democrat president, we should want to know what happened, and no one should be above the law on this."

Haley has also called out the "double standards" between Trump and Hunter Biden and stated that she would "gut" the Department of Justice's senior management. "You've got to go back to the mission of what that agency is and we've gotta get to where people feel the government works for them and they don't feel that they're working for government," Haley said.

2024 candidates front row left to right Asa Hutchinson, Nikki Haley, Chris Christie, Mike Pence, Ron DeSantis; back row Donald Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy, Tim Scott, Doug Burgum Washington Examiner

Chris Christie

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, one of Trump's fiercest critics on the campaign trail, has slammed Trump's actions leading to his multiple indictments. Yet he too has called for an investigation into the Biden family.

"I've seen enough. We need a special counsel who has jurisdiction over any and all Biden family investigations. This is a charade," he wrote on Twitter. "Get rid of US Attorney Weiss & appoint a special counsel who will investigate with competence and independence."

Mike Pence

Trump's former vice president Mike Pence has previously slammed the Justice Department's credibility over its treatment of Trump. A Pence adviser told the Washington Examiner that impeachment of Biden is certainly worth exploring, and the candidate has full faith in McCarthy and House Republicans to make the right decision.

Yet, after Trump was indicted a third time, Pence has become more vocal in his criticism of Trump. "Our country is more important than one man. Our Constitution is more important than any one man's career," Pence said in a statement.

Others

Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson has exercised a more cautious approach compared to his 2024 rivals. "While the whistleblower allegations are serious and must be investigated, impeachment should not be an option until the investigation shows corrupt action by the president," Hutchinson said at the end of June about impeaching Biden. "Impeachment should not be used as a political weapon, but reserved for serious wrongdoing. The facts should determine what action, if any, Congress should take and impeachment should not precede a thorough investigation."

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Vivek Ramaswamy responded to Trump's latest indictment from Smith by filing a lawsuit against the Department of Justice and filing another Freedom of Information Act request seeking information on communications between Biden, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and Smith regarding Trump's legal prosecutions.

"Tell the truth. Biden, Garland tell us the truth about what you actually told Jack Smith," he said.

"Is this a politicized persecution through prosecution? I certainly believe it is. But it's the government's job to be transparent about exactly who told who what to bring about these prosecutions. Because the fact that they're arising at the same time is no accident," Ramaswamy added. "And I think it's best that the government now be transparent with the people about what their intentions actually are. Without that transparency, we can only expect far worse in the future."

Original Location: Up for debate: Trump, DeSantis, and other 2024 GOP hopefuls' stance on the impeachment of Joe Biden

Washington Examiner Videos
One day after the ACLU of Colorado filed a lawsuit against the Woodland Park School District, its board lifted an order to ban a critic from speaking at its meetings.

The Aug. 3 lawsuit alleges that after Logan Ruths made a brief sarcastic remark at the school board meeting June 14, the board's directors banished him from the meetings, school property and district-hosted events for more than a year or face criminal prosecution.

It was only after receiving pressure from the ACLU about WPSDs clear violation of Ruths constitutional rights to free speech and assembly, that the district decided to lift the unconstitutional banishment against him, said Tim Macdonald, ACLU of Colorado legal director.

In addition to the district, the lawsuit was filed against the school board and Ken Witt, the district superintendent.

Board president David Rusterholtz said that the board did not ban Ruths but rather issued a no-trespassing order after his June remarks.

I dont like the word ban because it just dramatizes everything, Rusterholtz said. Banishment is the word the ACLU uses.

Informed of the lawsuit while he was on vacation in Ohio, Rusterholtz said he took action.

When I heard (Ruths) was given the order for one year, I immediately called our attorney, Brad Miller, and asked him to rescind the order.

According to the lawsuit, Ruths made the sarcastic remark in response to a speakers comments that Ruths perceived to be anti-LGBTQ+.

Ruths followed with a comeback, which lasted three seconds. Where else do you do comedy? Id love to see your show sometime.

The exchange can be seen on a livestream video at: https://acluofcolorado.sharefile.com/d-s63ffc2a43de54d869091e1361b064c57.

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The lawsuit alleges that although Ruths comments were brief, Rusterholtz abruptly stopped the meeting and threatened to have Ruths removed. Ultimately, the board intimidated him into leaving the property, the lawsuit documents state.

Leaders within our public schools must be held accountable for their wrongdoings. That is what this case has done in Woodland Park, Macdonald said. We cannot allow leaders, especially those within organizations that influence our children, to support harmful speech they agree with and retaliate against speech that doesnt align with their anti-democratic interests.

The lawsuit is still pending, said Erica Tinsley, interim director of communications for the ACLU.

The ACLU did withdraw the motion for a temporary restraining order it filed to prevent the district from banning Logan from school board meetings and district property. Since the district rescinded its banishment order the TRO is no longer necessary."

Ruths is a vocal critic of the school board. He was the districts records clerk until March 2023, when he was fired, according to the ACLU.

According to court documents provided by the ACLU, during his tenure as official records custodian, Ruths grew concerned about district decisions to withhold or redact materials he thought were subject to disclosure under the Colorado Open Records Act.

Ruths served as records custodian from February 2022 until March 2023, during which time he processed and responded to an estimated 390 CORA requests.

Ruths raised his concerns about district CORA practices with Witt and the districts attorney, Miller, on multiple occasions.

The documents state that Witt and Miller were unhappy that Ruths believed and voiced that the district was not complying with its CORA obligations.

The district terminated Ruths employment on March 10.

Mr. Ruths was in no way fired or fired for cause, Rusterholtz said. Mr. Witt went through a reduction of administrative staff and in the IT (information technology) department, combined two jobs, thus, eliminating one position, that of Mr. Ruths. As a result, the savings due to the reduction in staff payroll was put entirely into the classrooms.

The next regularly scheduled school board meeting is 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9. Livestreaming will be available at: wpsdk12.org.
An unprecedented public censure handed down Monday to the former chief justice of Colorados Supreme Court represents another important step toward long-overdue reforms at the top of Colorados judiciary. It reaffirms the need for transparency and accountability in the state Judicial Department, long cloaked in secrecy and lacking independent oversight.

The censure of former Chief Justice Nathan Coats, who was the states top justice from 2018 through 2020, follows years of investigative reporting by The Gazette and other media into allegations of top-level improprieties. The censure was issued by a special judges tribunal.

The upshot of Mondays development is that Coats admitted to violating the Code of Judicial Conduct's requirement that judges competently and diligently perform their administrative duties.

As head of the judicial branch, Coats had authorized a multimillion-dollar contract with Mindy Masias, a high-ranking employee at the time, despite evidence suggesting she had falsified documentation. She previously had faced dismissal but threatened a tell-all sex-discrimination lawsuit. The suit promised to reveal years of alleged judicial misconduct that went unpunished or was covered up. Nevertheless, investigators werent able to establish a quid pro quo in which Masias was given the consulting contract as hush money to dissuade her from filing suit.

Coats censure could have been anticipated. A June 2022 independent inquiry had found Coats' lack of training as an administrator, his reliance on an untrustworthy subordinate and his poor judgment were partly to blame for the Masias scandal. And the censure follows a May 3 recommendation by the state Judicial Discipline Commission in favor of a censure of Coats given his role in awarding the contract and violations of the judicial code of conduct.

As so often is the case with incidents of government malfeasance, the Masias controversy wound up shedding light on a wide-ranging pattern of poor accountability at the Judicial Department  and of an ineffective discipline process governing judges and court staffers. It all set off calls for broader reforms, some of which were enacted by the Colorado Legislature earlier this year.

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Lawmakers approved a proposed amendment to the Colorado Constitution in which the current, decades-old process of judicial discipline would be shelved for one of greater transparency and accountability. The proposal makes a host of changes to the process. It now will go on the ballot before voters statewide.

Lawmakers also approved a companion measure that sets out in law the procedures by which the new judicial discipline system will work. Another measure approved by the Legislature establishes an ombudsperson's office to help anyone with concerns about misconduct in the Judicial Department. The offices function is to help guide victims through the complaint process, should the victim choose to proceed with a formal filing, or be an advocate for the victim and seek resolution of any matters brought forth.

In the light of the legislation as well as various investigations  including hearings conducted by a special legislative committee last summer  this weeks action against Coats amounts to a vindication of long-standing allegations about the Judicial Department and of the reforms themselves. And, in a sense, even that only scratches the surface.

There are yet other facets of Colorados judicial system  most notably, the way judges are reviewed and retained in office and the need for greater transparency in that process  that merit a reassessment.

Perhaps Coats censure will embolden policymakers to look into other policy reforms. Lets hope so.
At least 75 Colorado dispensaries haven't been inspected by the state in the last four years.

An audit released Monday uncovered wildly inconsistent inspections among Colorado marijuana businesses. Dozens of dispensaries haven't received any targeted inspections or underage compliance checks since 2019, the audit found. In that same timeframe, one dispensary was inspected 19 times.

From 2019 to 2022, 567 licensed retail marijuana stores were flagged for targeted inspections in monthly reports. The Marijuana Enforcement Division did not inspect 182  32%  of the stores during their respective months, and 75 stores were never inspected at all. Of the 629 stores flagged for monthly underage compliance checks, 75 (or 12%) were not checked.

The problems we found during this audit could erode public trust in the division and Colorados retail marijuana industry," said Laura Russell, legislative audit supervisor. "They create the perception that the division is not regulating the industry consistently across the state."

When stores were caught violating Colorado's marijuana laws, enforcement actions were similarly varied, according to the audit.

Of seven stores cited for selling marijuana to an underaged undercover operative, only three were cited for all four of the violations associated with underage sales. The violations not pursued included failing to verify an operative's age (only six of the seven stores cited), allowing an underaged operative into a restricted area (five stores cited), and transferring marijuana to a customer without a valid ID (three stores cited).

Overall, the Marijuana Enforcement Division did not bring penalties against stores for 23 out of 44 reported violations, the audit found. The violations ranged from underage sales to inventory tracking issues.

Mark Ferrandino, who led the Department of Revenue overseeing the Marijuana Enforcement Division at the time of the audit, blamed lacking inspections on a soon-to-be-replaced licensing system that cannot report data on risk factors or types of violations, and on COVID-19 restrictions regarding in-person inspections  which he said were compensated for using data analysis and video footage.

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Its important to remember we were the first state to regulate this," Ferrandino said at a meeting discussing the audit with state legislators on Monday. "We are held up as a gold standard in terms of the way we do this work. That does not mean theres not room for improvement.

Ferrandino also defended the effectiveness of the division, pointing to the success of licensed marijuana dispensaries not selling to people under the age of 21. He said the division prioritizes compliance over punishment.

Our compliance rate is currently around 99%  we do not see that compliance level at the liquor and nicotine side," he said.

Auditors recommended the Marijuana Enforcement Division modify inspection reports to include data on risk factors and prioritize businesses at the highest risk of noncompliance. They also recommended the division revise its policies to classify the severity of and appropriate disciplinary action for violations of marijuana laws and rules.

The division agreed to implement these changes by July 2024.

Advocates similarly concurred with the audit's recommendations.

"The audit highlights deeply concerning deficiencies in enforcement when it comes to preventing kids from buying marijuana directly from dispensaries across the state," said Henny Lasley, executive director of One Chance to Grow Up, a nonprofit focused on preventing youth marijuana use. We are pleased that the MED has identified and acknowledged these troubling gaps and agree with the recommendations."

The audit was requested by Democratic state senators Chris Hansen of Denver and Kevin Priola of Henderson. The full report is available at leg.colorado.gov.
After four years of uncertainty, Colorado Springs businesses got an answer on whether the U.S. Space Command, its 1,200 employees and $1 billion in annual economic impact will remain in southern Colorado when President Joe Biden on Monday canceled its move to Alabama.

The long-awaited announcement, reversing the move to Huntsville, Ala., ordered in January 2021 by former President Donald Trump two weeks before he left office, will allow military contractors, aerospace companies and others who provide products and services to the command to firm up plans on where they might expand, economists and industry officials said. Those decisions could come as quickly as a few weeks but probably will play out over several years.

This decision makes Colorado Springs more attractive to current and future businesses. Everybody can now get on with making decisions and plans, said Seth Harvey, CEO of Bluestaq, a Colorado Springs-based defense technology contractor with 100 employees. It also makes this community more attractive and desirable to startups (in aerospace and space). There will be a greater pull to attract the next (aerospace and space) entrepreneurs and startups to Colorado and Colorado Springs.

The command was revived in 2019 at Peterson Space Force Base as its temporary home, but the Department of Defense immediately began a selection process for the headquarters that initially picked Colorado Springs.

However, the Pentagon, facing political pressure, reopened the process that later led to Trump selecting Huntsville for the headquarters, triggering two government investigations over the decision and the drawn-out process reversing it.

Space Command employs about 1,200 service members from across the military branches to defend an area starting 62 miles above the Earth. It is separate from the Space Force, which is charged with organizing, training, and equipping guardians to carry out the Space Command mission. Trump ordered the standup of Space Force and Space Command.

Colorado Springs also is home to another joint command, Northern Command, that is responsible for defending North America and includes the U.S.-Canadian North American Aerospace Defense Command.

Robert Beletic, aerospace and defense manager for the Colorado Office of Economic and International Trade, said the agency is working with several aerospace companies and military contractors that are considering whether to bring thousands of jobs to the state.

He said many companies and contractors already are based in or have operations in Colorado to be near where they (the military) formulate requirements for weapon systems and services the military wants.

How much of that will occur, I cant speculate. But being near the command is important, Beletic said. Space Command is part of a greater (military space) ecosystem in Colorado. It is difficult to quantify the impact, but a lot of our leads bear fruit.

Bidens decision to keep the command in Colorado Springs may already be producing results. Dan Jaworowski, president of Colorado Springs-based Infinity Systems Engineering, said the decision definitely is influencing our expansion plans, especially where the expansion will happen.

He said the expansion involves a new product line but declined to provide further details about those plans, because the company hasnt yet made its decision on a location.

This (Bidens) decision keeps a lot of talent in Colorado Springs and brings more (talent) here, making this market more attractive to us and our peers, Jaworowski said. Infinity is negotiating with local and state officials about the planned expansion, he said.

The decision is timely for us and is a variable we will consider. It tips the scales more toward Colorado than other locations, which also included Huntsville and several other cities he did not identify.

Infinity employs 220 people in Colorado Springs and 65 in nine states and five international locations to provide engineering services for mission and space operations to the Space Operations Command and other military organizations.

For some companies like Colorado Springs-based Delta Solutions & Strategies, the nations prime contractor of the year with a $187 million contract with Space Command, Bidens decision meant keeping hundreds of employees in Colorado Springs.

Mark Stafford, Deltas president and CEO, said more than 200 of his employees had their long-term plans in flux for the past couple years, over whether they would move to Huntsville or stay in Colorado Springs. Those workers will stay here and the company will move forward with a 10,000-square-foot expansion of its headquarters.

Those 200-plus people sit with the government every day, Stafford said. So, part of our contractual requirement is for those people to be embedded with the government personnel they support both active-duty, reserve guard.

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Delta creates military training products and modeling simulations, and won the $187 million contract nearly a year ago, making the companys work in lockstep with U.S. Space Command as its primary contractor.

Stafford said the company will add employees in personnel, contracts, finance, security and recruiting as a result of the commands headquarters permanently remaining in Colorado Springs.

Tom Dickson, president of aerospace and defense contractor Boecore, said the company has been growing faster in Huntsville than in Colorado Springs, where more than half of Boecores 400 employees are based.

But Space Commands location is a factor in Boecore continuing to invest in Colorado Springs. For example, Boecore completed a series of acquisitions during the past year, including a local satellite and communications firm.

Having them (Space Command) here just reinforces what a great community Colorado Springs and Colorado is overall for space-based companies, Dickson said. Space is probably the No. 1 targeted area for which we're trying to grow.

Boecore works with operational military units more than Space Command, Dickson said, but access to military leaders in Colorado Springs and networking within the citys aerospace and defense ecosystem is invaluable.

They get the leaders to come to luncheons and do briefings ..., Dickson said. And if they're not here, that just doesn't happen.

ONeil Group, a major investor in Bluestaq that also owns the Catalyst Campus development near downtown that houses many aerospace and technology startups, probably will shift its expansion focus more toward Colorado Springs.

The company also operates other campuses in Ogden, Utah, and near Washington, D.C., and had been considering a fourth location in Huntsville but probably instead will expand in Colorado Springs and possibly Florida, said ONeil Group CEO Kevin ONeil.

This creates more opportunity for growth; what it looks like is to be determined, ONeil said. We have had multiple conversations about where to grow. We had been studying coming to Huntsville, and we had a partner and support from the city. This allows us not to have to move forward with those plans and we could instead open a campus in Florida, move our D.C. facility to a better location or expand here. With the command here, there is more activity and a greater ecosystem to support.

ONeil said Catalyst Campus is submitting bids to host two new research laboratories planned by Space Command focused on space domain awareness and surveillance, reconnaissance and tracking.

He said winning either bid would trigger expansion at Catalysts Colorado Springs location.

Keeping Space Command in Colorado Springs also could mean that aerospace and defense companies in Huntsville may have to consider expanding to Colorado Springs instead of Colorado Springs companies studying whether to expand to Huntsville, ONeil said.

Jessie Kimbers, vice president in defense development for the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC, said the Space Command decision has impact on economic development beyond Space Command personnel and space industry jobs.

For every new employee, or new mission that gets picked up, you'll see impacts across all of our sectors, Kimber said. Folks need housing, folks need to eat out, folks need all those variety of services that come with relocating.

Thats why Kimber said the chamber prioritizes jobs with competitive wages and is concerned about affordable housing options.

We can bring business in here, Kimber said. But if folks can't find attainable or affordable housing, then it's kind of a nonstarter."

Tatiana Bailey, executive director of Data Driven Economic Strategies, a Colorado Springs nonprofit focused on economic and workforce research, said keeping the commands headquarters here will help entrepreneurs and investors be more confident in starting and expanding businesses in Colorado Springs.

Bidens decision also means the local economy avoids the loss of the commands 1,200 employees, defense contractors and restaurants, retailers and others that serve those workers.

It really opens up opportunities for subcontractors who depend on government spending and solidifies their confidence level. Would you relocate or expand here for a temporary headquarters? Now that the location is permanent, business expansion is a distinct possibility, Bailey said. The main impact is that we avoided the downside. The potential is huge. All of the investment (by businesses) hasnt materialized yet. Those who were on the sidelines were waiting for this decision.

Gary Horvath, a Broomfield-based economist, said winning the commands permanent location will mean a lot for (Colorados) economy and makes a statement that Colorado is a player in aerospace. There is such a strong aerospace and defense industry in Colorado Springs and Colorado has the largest number of aerospace employees per capita (person) in the nation. The aerospace industry is a big part of the culture and economy of the state.

Joe Craig, interim director of the University of Colorado Colorado Springs Economic Forum, said keeping the commands headquarters at Peterson is great for the overall economy, especially since the jobs with the command are higher-paying positions. He is concerned, however, that military contractors may still be reluctant to make major investments in Colorado Springs with Alabama politicians saying they will fight to get Congress to overturn Bidens decision.
The federal appeals court based in Denver acknowledged on Monday that there were "valid questions" about whether Durango police had probable cause to arrest a man, but ultimately awarded immunity to the officers and prosecutors for their unsuccessful criminal case against the suspect.

Christopher Joe Clark alleged law enforcement should not have arrested him for attempted robbery because his description did not match the details the victim provided, and the investigating officer reportedly influenced the victim to identify Clark as the perpetrator. A state judge in La Plata County also found no probable cause to charge Clark with attempted robbery.

But a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit ruled that it did not matter whether the officers lacked probable cause to arrest him for attempted robbery as long as they had grounds to arrest him for "some offense." Because the victim's narrative supported a charge for felony menacing, Durango police properly arrested Clark.

"Even though Mr. Clark did not 'match exactly' the victims description of the perpetrator, 'he bore a fair resemblance' to it," wrote Judge Scott M. Matheson Jr. in the panel's Aug. 7 order.

Case: Clark v. Murch Decided: August 7, 2023 Jurisdiction: U.S. District Court for Colorado Ruling: 3-0 Judges: Scott M. Matheson Jr. (author) Harris L Hartz Timothy M. Tymkovich

Durango police responded to an alleyway one night in March 2019 after a report of an armed robbery. The victim described a "definitely" transient man asking him for money. When the victim refused and got in his car, the man began striking the victim's window with a knife or a flashlight. The victim said he "didn't get a real good look at" the perpetrator, but the man "definitely wasn't clean cut."

Shortly afterward, Officer Jonathan Cole Murch stopped Clark while on patrol. Murch learned that Clark had a knife on him and Murch took pictures of Clark and the knife. Another officer stayed with Clark while Murch returned to the victim's home.

Murch did not turn on his body-worn camera and testimony was hazy about the interaction between Murch and the victim. However, the victim later explained in state court that Murch said something along the lines of, "We've taken someone into custody that we believe is  you know, fits the bill for this crime." The victim then looked at the pictures of Clark and the knife and said, with 80% to 90% certainty, Clark was the man in the alley.

Police put Clark under arrest and prosecutors charged him with attempted aggravated robbery. A state judge later determined no probable cause supported that charge, but agreed there were grounds for a felony menacing offense. Days before trial, the Sixth Judicial District Attorney's Office dropped the case.

Clark then sued Murch, three other officers involved in the investigation, prosecutors Sean Murray and Zachery Rogers, and elected District Attorney Christian Champagne. Representing himself in court, Clark alleged the defendants "manufactured" probable cause to keep him incarcerated for 180 days. He pointed to Murch's suggestion to the victim that Clark was the perpetrator and the fact that he was clean shaven  contrary to the victim's description  as factors that undermined probable cause.

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U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael E. Hegarty initially recommended dismissing the lawsuit. He believed Clark could not challenge the state criminal proceedings in federal court, but even if Clark could, probable cause existed to arrest him.

"Plaintiff broadly met the description: a middle-aged adult white male wearing a black jacket. Moreover, he had ... a box cutter device that generally resembled a knife," Hegarty wrote in May 2022. "Plaintiff also was found on foot, relatively nearby, close in time to the assault, and at a time of night when few people are out and about."

As for Murch's alleged suggestion during the photo identification that Clark was the culprit, Hegarty saw nothing that "improperly swayed or affected the victims opinion." He added that the prosecutors were entitled to immunity for their conduct.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge Philip A. Brimmer agreed with those conclusions and dismissed Clark's lawsuit.

In reviewing Clark's appeal, the 10th Circuit noted Hegarty was mistaken that the federal courts had no ability to review Clark's state court proceedings, given that the case ended in Clark's favor. From there, the panel assumed it was true that officers had no probable cause to arrest Clark for attempted robbery.

"But it does not matter whether probable cause existed for the offense that the officers cited when they arrested him as long as they had probable cause to arrest him for some offense," Matheson wrote.

Even if Murch influenced the victim's identification or if Clark did not match the suspect's description entirely, Matheson elaborated, a "reasonable officer" could believe Clark had menaced the victim.

"Although Mr. Clark raises valid questions as to whether the officers had probable cause that he was the perpetrator," Matheson acknowledged, "he has not shown that arguable probable cause was lacking."

The case is Clark v. Murch et al.
A federal judge on Monday granted the request of two Colorado residents to block a new Colorado law generally raising the age limit for purchasing firearms to 21.

At the same time, in a separate lawsuit, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Philip A. Brimmer declined to bar enforcement of another recently-enacted law establishing a three-day waiting period for gun purchases.

Rocky Mountain Gun Owners challenged the constitutionality of Senate Bill 169, which took effect on Aug. 7 and created a misdemeanor offense for federally licensed firearms dealers to sell guns to people younger than 21. Similarly, it became a misdemeanor for someone under 21 to purchase a gun. The law created exceptions for police officers or those in the military.

In addition to the gun-rights group, two Colorado residents who were between the ages of 18 and 21, Tate Mosgrove and Adrian S. Pineda, also joined the litigation.

Brimmer agreed the plaintiffs had shown a likelihood that they would prevail on their underlying claims and decided to bar the state from enforcing SB 169 while the case unfolds.

"The court agrees with the individual plaintiffs that the Second Amendment includes the right to acquire firearms and, therefore, protects the individual plaintiffs proposed conduct," Brimmer wrote in an order granting the preliminary injunction.

Rocky Mountain Gun Owners has regularly sought to strike down gun safety laws following the U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen. The court's conservative majority laid down a new legal framework for analyzing the constitutionality of gun regulations broadly, scrapping the government's ability to illustrate how a limitation on Second Amendment rights would advance a compelling public safety goal.

Instead, Bruen requires the government to show a restriction is "consistent with this Nations historical tradition of firearm regulation."

Consequently, in contrast with other types of constitutional rights cases, the arguments over the legality of SB 169 unleashed dueling interpretations of history from the Founding Era through Reconstruction.

The plaintiffs argued the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms also encompassed the right to "acquire arms." At the Founding period, men under 21 routinely handled guns in their militia service, so a ban would have been incomprehensible.

"George Washingtons Continental Army consisted of thousands of young men under twenty-one and they regularly used firearms," wrote attorney Barry K. Arrington. "Young males were commonly required to possess firearms as part of their militia service."

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That was only half of the story, the state countered. At the time, 18-to-20-year-olds were still considered "infants" who lacked full legal rights. Colorado produced lengthy statements from multiple academics who attested that there was no unconditional right to firearms for young men, and restrictions did exist.

"Rather, access to, and the ability to keep or bear, weapons occurred in supervised situations where minors were under the direction of those who enjoyed legal authority over them: fathers, guardians, constables, justices of the peace, or militia officers," wrote Saul Cornell, a history professor at Fordham University.

Contemporary court decisions also revealed a split on the age question. The plaintiffs pointed to a federal judge's recent ruling in Virginia that struck down an age restriction similar to Colorado's on the grounds there was insufficient evidence such policies were part of the country's historical tradition. Colorado responded with a Tennessee Supreme Court ruling from 1878 that endorsed an age restriction for 18-to-20-year-olds as "wise and salutary."

And both sides directed Brimmer to the Atlanta-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit for opposite reasons. This year, a three-judge panel upheld Florida's 21-year-old age limit on firearm purchases, only to have the entire court vacate the decision last month, pending a rehearing.

Brimmer, an appointee of George W. Bush, noted Rocky Mountain Gun Owners itself had not established how it or its members would suffer injury from SB 169. Therefore, only Mosgrove and Pineda could seek an injunction as prospective gun purchasers.

Brimmer agreed the Second Amendment covers 18-to-20-year-olds and it protected Mosgrove and Pineda's right to obtain guns for self-defense. Therefore, Colorado had to justify SB 169 with historical tradition. Based on the government's cited regulations, many of which were dissimilar to SB 169 or came long after the Founding, Brimmer concluded Colorado had not met its burden.

Colorado "fails to point to any evidence during the founding era that a total prohibition on the sale of firearms to minors was consistent with the right to bear arms," Brimmer wrote.

"Since the day this legislation was introduced, we knew it was unconstitutional," said Taylor Rhodes, executive director of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, in a statement.

Brimmer's preliminary injunction bars enforcement of SB 169 until he can render a final decision in the case. Since the Bruen ruling, lawsuits against gun safety laws have produced mixed results. While local bans on "assault weapons" in Boulder County are on hold, judges have also upheld laws criminalizing gun possession in certain circumstances.

Separately, Brimmer is handling another lawsuit from Rocky Mountain Gun Owners to strike down House Bill 1219, which established a three-day waiting period for gun purchases from firearm dealers. Also on Aug. 7, he issued an order rejecting a preliminary injunction against the law. Neither Rocky Mountain Gun Owners nor the individual plaintiff, Alicia Garcia, demonstrated an imminent injury from the policy.

The case is Rocky Mountain Gun Owners et al. v. Polis.
In an extraordinary move, a federal judge in Colorado has called upon Congress to roll back the U.S. Supreme Court's broad limitations on suing federal officials for constitutional violations.

U.S. District Court Senior Judge William J. Martinez, in an Aug. 3 order, criticized the fact that prisoners, if they are in a federal facility, are largely precluded from holding corrections officials legally accountable. Martinez lamented that he had to dismiss a cruel-and-unusual punishment lawsuit from plaintiff Anderson Straker, even though Straker supplied evidence that guards goaded another inmate into attacking him  including a signed statement from his assailant saying as much.

"Congress must act promptly to rectify this gaping void in the remedies available to federal prisoners subjected to unconscionable misconduct on the part of federal corrections officers," Martinez wrote.

Lawsuits seeking money against federal officials are known as a "Bivens remedy," named after the 1971 Supreme Court decision Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents. The Supreme Court initially authorized Bivens remedies in three specific circumstances: unreasonable searches and seizures, sex discrimination and deliberate indifference to an inmate's serious medical needs.

However, the Supreme Court has since broadcast that it is largely unwilling to allow Bivens remedies in other types of cases. In contrast, a federal law known as Section 1983 facilitates lawsuits against state officials for constitutional violations. While state employees may still be subject to immunity depending on the nature of their conduct, there is no blanket prohibition on bringing such claims in the first place.

Henry Rose, a law professor at Loyola University Chicago, has advocated for Congress to expand Section 1983 to allow lawsuits against federal officials as well, breaking down the Supreme Court's barrier to plaintiffs. He said Congress, to date, has shown no interest in his suggested policy.

"My reaction to these judicial comments is that some federal judges are frustrated by their inability to provide justice to litigants whose constitutional rights have obviously been violated by federal actors," Rose said.

Colorado Politics sent inquiries to U.S. Reps. Joe Neguse and Ken Buck, who are members of the judiciary committee, as well as to U.S. Sens. John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet, but received no response.

Straker's lawsuit alleged that employees at the U.S. Penitentiary in Florence were responsible for instigating another inmate's attack on him, and then failing to do anything to help him. At the time, Straker was serving a life sentence for his role the death of a U.S. citizen in Trinidad and Tobago. The government eventually agreed to his resentencing and release after Straker and his co-defendants challenged the conduct of defense counsel and the prosecution.

Before coming to Florence, Straker was incarcerated in Allenwood, Pa. Other inmates attacked him there and officials allegedly prevented him from filing a grievance. Once at Florence, Straker was able to submit a grievance. However, a group of employees  who were not identified by their full names  put Straker in a cell with an "extremely violent" inmate.

The employees told the inmate Straker was a "snitch" who "killed a U.S. citizen." They promised he would not have to attend certain prison programming if he agreed to assault Straker. The inmate, within five minutes of being placed with Straker, proceeded to beat him up. He received "head nods and thumbs up" from the guards afterward. The defendants allegedly refused to provide Straker with medical treatment.

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In support of his lawsuit, Straker attached a signed statement from his assailant, Demetrius Puifory. Puifory attested the guards knew the word "snitch" was a "trigger for violence," and they chose him to attack Straker because of his violent history.

"Prior to this incident, I had not known Mr. Straker and I had nothing against him, nor do I have nothing against him now," Puifory wrote. "I committed this act specifically and solely at the request of the guards."

The government moved to dismiss Straker's lawsuit for cruel and unusual punishment and retaliation largely for one reason: there was no Bivens remedy. The defendants cited a 2022 decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit, which has jurisdiction over Colorado, blocking an inmate from suing a guard who allegedly assaulted him. The 10th Circuit agreed the Supreme Court had tied its hands.

Martinez acknowledged that Straker's allegations similarly fell outside the narrow category of cases the Supreme Court has allowed to proceed. But he made clear he believed that outcome to be unjust.

"Plaintiffs allegations discussed above portray a truly reprehensible and malicious course of conduct on the part of Defendants. Had the alleged events in this case occurred in state correctional facilities, Plaintiff would have very strong claims under Section 1983 for significant monetary damages," Martinez wrote.

"The slow and steady evisceration of Bivens by the Supreme Court over the years, coupled with the persistent failure on the part of Congress to provide federal prisoners like Mr. Straker with a statutory remedy," he continued, "has created a fundamentally unjust legal state of affairs."

Although it is uncommon for federal judges to encourage Congress to overturn the Supreme Court's line of case law, Martinez, a Barack Obama appointee, is not alone in venting his frustration. Judge Don R. Willett, a Donald Trump appointee in Texas to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, previously blasted the shield for federal officials in a 2021 opinion.

"Private citizens who are brutalized  even killed  by rogue federal officers can find little solace," he wrote.

Tricia S. Lindsay, a New York-based attorney who represents Straker, said she had never seen a federal judge call on Congress to overturn the Supreme Court's limitations on Bivens remedies, but she deemed it a "step in the right direction."

"These officials must be made to answer for their crimes and placed in the same facilities they are paid to police when they break the law," Lindsay said. "It is a dangerous signal to send that one's right to be safe, secure and protected can be eradicated without consequence by the very people meant to ensure these things. "

The case is Straker v. Stancil et al.
John Swartout, who has been executive director of Colorado Counties, Inc. since January 2019, has announced he plans to retire.

His last day is Aug. 11.

Swartout previously served as senior policy adviser to Gov. John Hickenlooper. He also served as rural policy and outreach director in the Hickenlooper administration, beginning in 2014.

He also previously worked for former U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard and former Gov. Bill Owens, focusing on federal land and environmental issues, and served as executive director of Great Outdoors Colorado and the Colorado Coalition of Land Trusts.

Leaders praised Swartout for his ability to build coalitions and partnerships, and to manage conflict resolution.

"He's been a godsend to this organization," said Eric Bergman, CCI's policy director. "He made everything he touched better."

Swartout "embodies the notion that was put forward by Wallace Stegner, that 'one cannot be pessimistic about the West. This is the native home of hope,'" Bergman added.

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Steve D'Orisio, president of CCI's board, told Colorado Politics Swartout has been outstanding.

"He has so much experience and institutional memory that carries across the entire state," D'Orisio said. "He was able to bring folks together across various political polarities we have in the state."

That means more than just Democrats or Republicans, D'Orisio said.

Colorado politics means understanding the difference between the folks in the north or south, or east or west, he said, adding that means understanding Adams County and Pueblo Democrats are different than Denver or Boulder Democrats, or that Republicans in the San Luis Valley may hold different views than Republicans on the northeastern Plains.

"It's the human element that made John successful in his prior career, and helped us be successful in his time at CCI," he said.

Swartout said he's taking some time off to travel and then figure out how he can help, especially on issues close to his heart, such as working with the Bureau of Land Management on protecting the greater sage grouse, which he had worked on while a member of the Hickenlooper administration.

CCI is accepting applications through Friday for Swartout's successor.
A state law proponents say will provide more transparency in ballot measures that raise or lower taxes has earned a legal challenge in Denver District Court.

Advance Colorado Institute filed the lawsuit Monday against House Bill 21-1321, which added requirements to the language in a ballot measure's title. The conservative group claims the measure is violating people's First Amendment rights.

Other plaintiffs in the lawsuit include former U.S. Sen. Hank Brown, R-Denver, Logan County Commissioner Jerry Sonnenberg, Mesa County Commissioner Cody Davis, El Paso County Commissioner Carrie Geitner, and Englewood City Councilman Steven Ward. The plaintiffs are represented by former U.S. Attorney Troy Eid.

HB 1321 required measures that reduce state tax revenue through a tax change to include specific language, spelled out in the law: "Shall there be a reduction to [a tax] by [a percentage], thereby reducing state revenue." The ballot title could identify up to the three largest program expenditures that would be affected by the change. Similar language is required for measures that deal with property taxes.

The lawsuit, which names Gov. Jared Polis and Secretary of State Jena Griswold as defendants, refers to the change as "poison pill language" that violates the plaintiffs First Amendment right to present their message undiluted by views they [do] not share.

That's a quote from the 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis case recently decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Information about fiscal impacts from ballot measures began with the General Assembly's Blue Book in 2001, as a result of Senate Bill 01-025. Legislation in 2015 required fiscal impact statements for ballot measures working their way through the process. In 2020, the law added fiscal impact statements when circulating ballot measures. That information has been produced by the nonpartisan Legislative Council staff.

But the title of a ballot measure, particularly one that would affect taxes, hasn't been touched until HB 1321.

The bill passed through the General Assembly with little challenge. No one from the public testified against the measure in either of its major committee hearings.

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Christy Hargrove, a Republican from Gunnison, spoke in favor of the measure in May 2021. This would give voters the full picture when they cast their ballots, Hargrove told the House State, Civic, Military & Veterans Affairs Committee. She said the Blue Book, a voter guide produced by the General Assembly, only gives a partial picture of what citizens are voting on.

"Voters don't have staff" who can work through the fiscal policy statements, where the money comes from or where it goes, Hargrove added.

"We don't have hours to focus on the Blue Book. The ballot should give voters the full picture. ... We are the ultimate policymakers and should be trusted as such," she said.

The bill, sponsored by Democrats, won passage in both chambers largely along party lines. Republicans challenged the bill as unnecessary and the language as biased.

The Advance Colorado Institute lawsuit claims the language from HB 1321 is "state-mandated language in the ballot title for citizen-initiated ballot measures that cut taxes." In a statement Monday, Advance President Michael Fields said because of HB 1321, "every measure must say that it 'will reduce funding for state expenditures that include but are not limited to education, health care policy and financing, and higher education,'" regardless of the facts.

"The requirement to include this language on citizen-initiated ballot measures represents a clear example of unconstitutional compelled speech, and even worse, it requires compelled false speech," Fields said. "The language must be used even when there is no guarantee that a reduction in tax rates 'will reduce funding' for any particular state program. Even worse, it is required even when it is provably and mathematically false. With Initiatives 21 and 22, Advance Colorado has experienced this firsthand, when the state-mandated language was required to be part of the title in an initiative it submitted to the title board."

Those two initiatives are currently being circulated for petition signatures for the 2024 general election. Ward is a proponent on both.

Initiative 21 would limit annual property tax increases to 3%, unless the square footage is increased by 10% or the building's use is substantially changed.

Initiative 22 would temporarily reduce the state sales and use tax rate from 2.9% to 2.89%, from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. The initiative's fiscal analysis from Legislative Council said it would have no measurable impact on state revenue for expenditures but would likely reduce TABOR refunds.

We filed this lawsuit because the state is violating the First Amendment by mandating untrue language on the ballot," Fields said. Politicians at the Capitol have unconstitutionally stacked the deck against citizen-driven ballot initiatives that reduce taxes, and Advance Colorado is suing to ensure that ballot initiatives generated by citizens are described accurately on the ballot and not subject to compelled speech or government-enforced lies.
Photo: Drive BC

Expect intermittent delays on the Trans-Canada Highway if you're heading to Alberta.

Starting today, traffic in both directions will be stopped for five minute intervals throughout the day near the MacDonald snow shed.

The temporary traffic stops will be to move equipment around during planned maintenance taking place at the snow shed, two kilometres west of the West Boundary of Glacier National Park.

The stoppages will continue until Sunday, Aug. 13.

The intermittent closures will happen between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.
After a nearly yearlong investigation into Albany Helping Hands, results are in, with state officials concluding the homeless shelter's board of directors' "governance and accounting practices have fallen below legal standards."

Now, the department's Civil Enforcement Division has shared its findings with the nonprofit. Mid-Valley Media obtained the letter, dated July 20.

Members of Albany Helping Hands say they will follow through with the guidance the department outlined.

Last year, an exodus saw key staff members  including Executive Director Emma Deane, Program Manager Allison Bumgarner and Leigh Matthews Bock, who handled marketing, human resources support and served as the grant manager  left the organization.

About the same time, complaints filed to the state Department of Justice detailed concerns over mishandling donations and allegations that money was being funneled to an unregistered nonprofit, Hands of Mercy.

The complaints also alleged unfair hiring practices, violating equal opportunity laws and breaching bylaws, including not holding elections and proper documentation of meeting minutes.

The nearly yearlong investigation involved reviewing bylaw, IRS forms, reviewing meeting minutes, financial materials and interviewing complainants.

What investigators found was potential noncompliance with tax laws, insufficient record-keeping and breached bylaws, among other concerns. Some allegations were not reviewed, because the DOJ said it was not the authority on those matters.

Money handling

The DOJ investigation uncovered areas of concern with respect to financial responsibilities, alleging problems in bookkeeping, potentially running afoul of tax laws and engaging in transactions with possible conflicts of interest.

For example, Albany Helping Hands receives grants and donations for expressed purposes. However, for the most part, the shelter pooled grants and donations together despite those restrictions.

Not accounting for restricted funds interferes with directors ability to fulfill their fiduciary duties and can potentially result in legal actions by the department, donors or grantors, or the IRS, the letter says.

The report also details concern over taxes that were not withheld or reported to the IRS.

Around $342,000 was paid out in the form of stipends, allowances or bonuses that were neither taxed nor reported to the IRS, according to the DOJ. Most of those receiving the stipends between 2015 and 2022 were residents or clients, unhoused individuals who had titles such as "thrift store manager" or "kitchen manager."

But such payments should be considered compensation and taxed appropriately if a stipend exceeds $500 a year or more than 20% of what an employee would be paid, the letter says.

Helping Hands made approximately $229,000 in payments to volunteers without withholding taxes and without reporting the payments via 1099 forms, according to the document.

The report details another $95,000 paid to staffers for monthly allowances for gas, phones and other expenses in which taxes were not withheld. Another $18,000 in bonuses were also not properly taxed or reported, according to the document.

The DOJ strongly encouraged consulting a tax accountant: Board members may be held personally liable for unpaid payroll taxes.

The report also detailed concerns over payments made to the former director of Sweet Homes H.O.P.E. Several Albany Helping Hands directors also serve in leadership positions in that organization.

The report details monthly payments, compensation and a loan which was later forgiven without explanation. The loan was contingent upon the election of five Helping Hands board members to the Sweet Home organization.

The DOJ found this problematic because H.O.P.E. bylaws state board members shall serve without pay and shall not receive direct or indirect benefit.

While serving on multiple boards is not uncommon, it can give rise to conflict-of-interests that may make it difficult for board members to fulfill their fiduciary duties to act in the best interests of the organization, the report reads.

Breaching bylaws

The letter also details an alleged breach in bylaws. The organization requires periodic elections of both directors and officers. The Department of Justice found that there were no records of the organization having elections before 2022.

When the DOJ asked why no elections had taken place, board members responded that they had not felt there was any reason to change the current officers, according to the report.

They (bylaws) are statutorily required and failing to follow the bylaws may put the board members, and the organization, at legal risk, the document, dated July 20, reads.

Lack of recordkeeping

The organization also failed to maintain meeting minutes for approximately 23 board meetings between 2015 and 2022.

When asked about the missing minutes, board members stated two computers had crashed, and the information could not be received, according to the document.

The meeting minutes were also insufficient and lacked important information, the DOJ said. For example, some meeting minutes did not record attendance, and often omitted the names of absent board members. This makes it difficult to judge if a quorum was present, the DOJ noted.

And any transactions that occur in the absence of a quorum are null and void, the report read.

Other information regarding voting was also lacking. Abstentions were not recorded, which are pertinent for votes involving conflict-of-interest transactions.

The minutes also detailed that one board member had been absent at least 85 times.

What now?

In its report the Department of Justice did not list any fees or penalties. The report did, however, outline some suggestions to the board to ensure compliance with the Oregon Nonprofit Corporation Act and the organizations bylaws.

They include:

Conducting elections.

Adequate maintaining meeting minutes.

Attend board meetings.

Implement appropriate accounting and recordkeeping systems for restricted grants and donations.

Abide by IRS regulations regarding compensations and withholdings.

Awareness of the effect of paying volunteers under labor and tax laws.

The DOJ received complaints over unfair hiring practices. However, the issue was not addressed in the review because the agency does not oversee adherence to equal opportunity employment laws. Other agencies such as the IRS were also listed as being authorities on matters regarding taxes and other areas of law.

Now that the investigation has concluded, Executive Director Don Sparks said he feels a sense of relief, as if the worst is behind them.

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Sparks believes that no criminal acts were found in the report. Since the onslaught of complaints, it has been a challenging time for the organization, Sparks said.

People stepped back from us, he said.

The organization even lost out on grant funding from the city, he added.

Since the beginning of investigation, there has been a general distrust for the organization, including among those who would have donated to the cause as well as city leaders. Because of a rash of 911 calls, in January Albany police identified the area as endangering safety, citing difficulties in getting the organization to partner with the Police Department.

Going forward, the organization plans to follow the recommendations outlined by the DOJ, Sparks said. The board has already started to improve their meeting minute-taking, he added.

As for the other concerns, including those with tax implications, that is still being discussed, he said.

We are doing our best to try to meet a need that is greater than ever, he said.

Related stories:
Photo: James OaBrien/OCCRP. The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project investigates money laundering suspects and their ties to British Columbia

?The 12 apartments above a sporting goods shop in Vancouver appear unremarkable, blending in with thousands of others in the beachfront Kitsilano neighbourhood.

But the building's bland, beige exterior hides a dark secret.

Authorities say the apartments are a key part of a money laundering operation run by Paul King Jin, an alleged member of a Chinese organized crime group, and a self-described loan shark.

Those details came to light through an ongoing civil forfeiture suit accusing Jin of laundering criminal money by having his niece buy the apartments with illicit funds, then taking out loans against them from a Hong Kong firm, which would be repaid in cash from illegal sources.

The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) has discovered that the money trail leads much deeper  into the murky underworld of organized crime in Asia.

The self-described loan shark Paul King Jin | Screenshot from World Champion Club/Facebook

Documents filed in B.C. Supreme Court by the provinces Civil Forfeiture Office name the Hong Kong company as Everwell Knight Limited, but they do not identify its owner.

OCCRP acquired corporate records showing that Everwell is owned by a Hong Kong property developer named Yu Shunhui, who has cultivated an image as a philanthropist and avid supporter of the Chinese Communist Party.

Behind Yus public persona, reporters found a web of underworld ties.

Yu owns a finance firm with three Macau-based brothers who controlled one of the gambling enclaves major junket companies, which organize trips to casinos for high-rollers. Australian and Chinese authorities have cited the junkets alleged involvement in money laundering in separate legal cases, but have not charged the brothers.

Curiously, Yu and two of the Macau-based brothers are included on a donors list for a charity that also received support from scores of accused organized crime figures.

But the Hong Kong property developers most obvious connection to alleged members of organized crime groups comes via the civil forfeiture suit, which accuses his company of laundering money for Jin.

Yu declined to comment for this article. Jins lawyer, Greg Delbigio, declined to comment on his clients relationship with Yu via Everwell, or other accusations made in the civil forfeiture suit, because the case is ongoing.

Jins niece, who is accused of acting as a proxy property owner for him, did not respond to requests for comment sent to her lawyer. However, her legal response to the civil forfeiture suit calls the allegations against her scandalous. Her court filing says the properties were purchased with legitimate funds, and have not been used to launder money.

Property in Vancouver allegedly used for laundering money | Chung Chow/BIV

Dysfunctional legal system

While Yu is relatively unknown outside Hong Kong and Macau, allegations about Jin have been splashed across Canadian media for years. Aside from the civil forfeiture case, Jin has been a suspect in two major police investigations into money laundering and organized crime.

Jin was charged in the first case, but it was withdrawn on a technicality. A prosecutor decided against filing charges in the second case, citing factors including the huge resources it would take to bring it to trial.

Jins activities were also scrutinized as part of the Cullen Commission, which was tasked by the provincial government to probe money laundering in B.C.

Jin was arrested in 2016 during the first investigation, dubbed E-Pirate, and questioned about alleged crimes, including extortion, running illegal gambling operations and money laundering. He denied the allegations, but told police he knew his activities put his life in danger.

I'm a loan shark. I have money, you know, he said, according to a police transcript that was filed as evidence in the Cullen Commision.

All charges stemming from E-Pirate were withdrawn when an informant was exposed in a document inadvertently handed to the defence after the police investigation was completed.

Calvin Chrustie, a retired senior officer with the RCMP who played a lead role in the investigation, blamed the mistake on disclosure laws that require defence lawyers to be provided with far more information than their counterparts in other countries.

Out of 500,000 documents, or whatever they had, someone had accidentally put one piece of paper in the wrong pile. And that was the end of the case, which seems like a ludicrous outcome for a minor human error, he said.

Christie, who now works with the security and intelligence advisory firm Critical Risk Team, said such lapses helped make Canada a safe zone for the worlds most notorious crime groups.

Canada provides a dysfunctional legal system that fosters a low-risk environment, he said.

After E-Pirate fell apart, Jin came into police sights again with another investigation called E-Nationalize. According to a statement by a special prosecutor appointed to evaluate the case, police recommended charges against Jin that included participation in the activities of a criminal organization, as well as instructing a person to commit robbery with firearm for benefit of criminal organization.

The evidence from E-Nationalize was handed to the British Columbia Prosecution Service in 2021. But after two years of consideration by the agency, special prosecutor Chris Considine announced in March that he would not press charges.

In his statement, Considine predicted considerable dispute over information gathered by police  including more than two million communications requiring translation from Chinese  which defence lawyers would claim access to under Canadas broad disclosure laws.

Considine cited gaps in Canadian legislation that would make it hard to convict Jin  even though police presented evidence that he ran money through an underground bank called Silver International. Consodine said the use of such an underground bank could be prosecuted as a criminal offense in the U.S. and U.K., but not in Canada.

British Columbias attorney general, Niki Sharma, told OCCRP that the decision not to press charges was frustrating.

For too long, international criminal organizations took advantage of B.C.s open economy  laundering billions of dollars a year, she said, adding that the government plans to strengthen civil forfeiture laws.

Proceeds of crime

Authorities are now using civil forfeiture to go after some of Jins alleged assets  including the Vancouver apartments, and the money sent to Yus Hong Kong company, Everwell Knight.

The civil forfeiture case, filed in July 2022, alleges that Jin was the beneficial or true owner and directing mind of Everwell and that he was using the company to launder money.

The suit also accuses him of laundering money through B.C. casinos, as well as the underground bank, Silver International.

That unlicensed financial network was allegedly run by a man named Jian Jun Zhu, who was killed in a 2020 shooting at a Japanese restaurant in Richmond. Media covering the attack reported that Jin was sitting next to him and survived, receiving a wound to the face from a piece of flying glass.

Silver International serviced clients including Asian, Middle Eastern and Mexican organized crime groups, according to a report Canada submitted to the Financial Action Task Force, a G7 anti-money laundering initiative, which was shared with journalists. The report said about $1 billion a year was laundered in the province through the underground bank and casinos.

The civil forfeiture suit reveals another method Jin allegedly used to clean illegal cash: With his niece acting as a proxy owner, police say Jin used illicit funds to purchase the 12 apartments above the store in Kitsilano, and one adjacent to it, as well as a property in West Vancouver. Together, they are worth about $12 million.

Jin took out phony loans against the properties in collusion with Yus company, Everwell, and used them to launder the proceeds of crime by using illicit funds to pay back the loans to the Hong Kong company, the civil forfeiture suit says.

But the legal documents leave many questions unanswered, including the role Yu played in the scheme.

A West Vancouver Property named in the civil forfeiture suit against Paul King Jin. Chung Chow/BIV

Who is Yu?

Yus business activities are characterized by complex layers of corporate ownership. He has been involved in more than 40 companies in Hong Kong, Macau, mainland China and the British Virgin Islands, according to corporate records.

At the same time, he has cultivated a public image as a cultured Hong Kong businessman who supports the Chinese government.

In 2021, as Beijing dismantled freedom of speech in Hong Kong, Yu wrote in the state-controlled newspaper Wen Wei Po that he had witnessed the great power of the leadership of the Communist Party of China. Elsewhere, he has praised Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Yu has portrayed himself as a patriotic philanthropist, supporting COVID pandemic relief efforts, cultural groups, and poverty alleviation for the families of martyrs in Sichuan province who died in the Communist revolution.

Back in the late-2000s, before he became known for his charity work, Yu was named in a corruption case involving a high-level official.

At that time, Yu was chairman of a real estate development company in Chinas southern Guangdong province, and he bribed a top provincial government figure, according to an official summary of a Chinese court case. The official was convicted, but there is no indication that Yu was charged.

That official, Chen Shaoji  reportedly known by the gangster epithet Uncle Ji  illegally provided Yu with an official government certification, and allowed him to use a backup police car license plate in return for two home theatre systems and a luxury Chopard watch, the court records allege.

Chen was handed a commuted death sentence in 2010 over the case.

Three years after Chens verdict, Yu resurfaced in Macau, the former Portuguese colony famous as Chinas gambling capital, and as a hotbed of organized crime. This was when he began cultivating his image as an entrepreneur and philanthropist.

Among the organizations Yu has supported is the Macau branch of the Hong Kong-based Tong Sam Charity Association. The donor list is a whos-who of alleged criminal figures, including Alvin Chau and Wong Tat Hou, who are both widely reported to be top members of the 14K triad organized crime group.

The Tong Sam Charity donors list also included two brothers from the Pang family, a gambling industry clan accused of having ties to organized crime.

Through a spokesperson, Yu declined to comment on his relationship to the Pangs, Jin and others mentioned in this story, or on allegations made against his Hong Kong company in the B.C. civil forfeiture suit.

We are not accepting any questions or interviews at the moment, Yus assistant said in a WhatsApp message.

The Pang Brothers

As it turns out, the Pang brothers  Pang Ngok Hei, Pang Ngok Wa and Pang Ngok Fong  are also in business with Yu.

The website of the Pangs Hong Kong-based conglomerate, Optimus International Group (HK) Limited, is peppered with business jargon like honesty, innovation and win-win. It also includes a list of Pang family firms in sectors like real estate, microcredit and jewelry.

One of the firms on the Optimus website, Zhongshan Lianfa Trading Co Ltd., is part-owned by Yus real estate company, Zhongshan Danan Group Co Ltd. There is little public information available about Zhongshan Lianfa, which was established to provide financial support [through] small loans, according to the website.

Pang Ngok Hei and his brothers also ran Meg-Star International Company Limited, a firm known as a junket, which facilitates trips to casinos  often in different countries  and commonly loans gamblers money. In 2022, Meg-Star was cited in a lawsuit by Australian authorities for alleged involvement in organized crime and money laundering.

A case brought by Australias financial regulator against Crown Melbourne Limited, a major casino operator, said multiple individuals associated with [Pang Ngok Hei] and Meg-Star junket were likely to be involved in serious criminal activity, including a junket representative allegedly linked to human trafficking and sex slavery.

In May this year, Crown agreed to pay a fine of 450 million Australian dollars (US$303 million) for violating anti-money laundering laws, including failing to "conduct appropriate ongoing customer due diligence."

The Australian regulator also noted in the suit that Pang Ngok Hei was a former executive at Suncity Group, Macaus biggest junket. According to corporate records, Suncity was run by Chau, the alleged member of the 14K triad who donated to the Tong Sam Charity along with Yu.

Chau was recently handed an 18-year jail sentence in China on 289 separate criminal charges. The verdict against Chau repeatedly mentions the Pang brothers Meg-Star junket as a vehicle for laundering money.

Gambling junkets are notorious for cleaning illicit funds, and for working with organized crime, said anti-money laundering expert Eryn Schornick. Money launderers also tend to use a diversified business portfolio, including companies in sectors like real estate, finance and jewelry, she added.

A second brother, Pang Ngok Wa, is closely connected to another well-known triad figure.

Macau corporate records reveal that he was a co-owner of a real estate and trading company with Wong Wan-wa, also known as Fat Girl, who was jailed in 1999 along with her boss in the 14K triad, Wan Kuok-koi, or Broken Tooth. They started the company after she was released from prison in 2007.

Yu also owned companies with a man named Liu Shaowu, who has held roles as a director or co-owner in firms that include Wong Wan-wa and the Pangs, according to corporate registry documents. Among those firms is Zhonghshan Lianfa, the micro-loan company owned by Yu and the Pangs.

The corporate secretary for Optimus and Meg-Star did not reply to emailed requests for comment. A person who answered the phone at Meg-Star said the junket company was out of business, and that the Pangs would not reply to emailed questions, adding: They dont give interviews.

Schornick said Yus alleged association with Jin, his business relationship with the Pangs, and the scores of firms he set up in different jurisdictions, raise questions about whether some of his companies may be used for money laundering.

Who is behind Yu? she said. For what purposes is he creating this web of corporate structures?

BIV and Glacier Media are proud to be the exclusive publishing partners of this Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project piece.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Chinas exports plunged 14.5% in July compared with a year ago, adding to pressure on the ruling Communist Party to reverse an economic slump.

Exports fell to $281.8 billion as the decline widened from Junes 12.4% fall, customs data showed Tuesday. Imports fell 12.4% to $201.2 billion in a sign of weak domestic demand, widening from the previous months 6.8% loss.

The country's global trade surplus narrowed by 20.4% from a record high a year ago to $80.6 billion.

Chinese leaders are under pressure to shore up business and consumer activity after the worlds second-largest economy grew by only 0.8% in the second quarter of 2023 from the previous three-month period.

The ruling party has promised measures to support entrepreneurs and to encourage home purchases and consumer spending but hasnt announced large-scale stimulus spending or tax cuts.
Nearly two weeks have passed since the coup in Niger, and the two men making competing claims to power have gone quiet in recent days. One is the ousted president, who said last week hes being held hostage and has been publicly silent since then. The other is the military junta leader who asserts he acted for the country's security and has encouraged Nigeriens to defend it from any foreign intervention. Heres a look at President Mohamed Bazoum and Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani as Nigers junta defies a threat by the West African regional bloc to step in and use force if necessary.
Iowa judges recently have sided with open government advocates trying to gain access to public records and attend public meetings  with the latest ruling requiring the state to pay $135,000 in legal fees for three media organizations denied records by Gov. Kim Reynolds.

But advocates would like to see courts and the Iowa Public Information Board use penalties already in Iowa law to discourage repeat offenses.

When a District Court judge ruled in June the Central DeWitt superintendent and school board violated Iowa law by holding closed meetings under false pretenses, school board members were unapologetic, according to Rep. Norlin Mommsen, R-Dewitt, who was one of 75 residents who attended a July 13 school board meeting.

The school boards response to this is was we did nothing wrong, Mommsen told The Gazette. Its this defiance. And maybe it is because theres no penalty.

Recent court wins for open records advocates

Iowa Code Chapter 22 requires government bodies  which include any state, county, city or school group supported with taxes  to allow people to view or copy public records in a reasonable amount of time for a reasonable cost, if not for free.

The sticking point often is whether specific records are considered confidential under one of more than 70 exceptions in the law.

But in a lawsuit settled in June, the plaintiffs sued not because Reynolds and her staff claimed the sought records were confidential, but because the Governors Office did not respond to records requests for more than 18 months.

The Governors Office fulfilled the requests in January 2022, a month after Clark Kauffman and the Iowa Capital Dispatch, Randy Evans and the Iowa Freedom of Information Council and Laura Belin and Bleeding Heartland filed the lawsuit.

The Governors Office asked to have the lawsuit dismissed, but the Iowa Supreme Court ruled in April the case could proceed. Reynolds team settled June 3, agreeing to let a state District Court resolve any open records disputes with the plaintiffs that may arise over the next year.

The Governors Office makes no admission of guilt in the settlement. Reynolds staff said the delays were caused by the state being busy dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 response put unprecedented demands on the governors team to meet the immediate needs of Iowans. As a result, responses to requests were unintentionally delayed, which is not acceptable, Spokesman Kollin Crompton said in June. Our office has assessed our internal processes and we continue to reevaluate the process to improve timeliness.

Evans said he hopes the ruling stops the worrisome trend of government bodies ghosting public records requests.

I was concerned if we didnt prevail it would embolden, not only the governor, but other state agencies and local governments as well, to drag their feet, Evans said. To take the position they (government bodies) hadnt rejected open records requests if they were too busy to get to it would cut the legs out from under open records statute.

School districts violate open meetings law

Other recent decisions show school boards trying to shield their discussions from the public.

Bettendorf Community School District in June settled a lawsuit filed by media outlets challenging the legality of a May 2022 board meeting.

One day after the Uvalde, Texas, school massacre, the Bettendorf superintendent and school board  minus one member  met with about 300 parents to discuss misbehavior and harassment by some middle school students. Journalists were blocked from the meeting and parents were told not to record the session.

Iowas public meetings law, outlined in Iowa Code Chapter 21, requires meetings with a board majority in which they are acting on their policymaking duties to be open to the public, including journalists.

As part of the settlement, the district acknowledged the meeting was illegal and promised future meetings would meet the laws requirements. The district agreed to reimburse plaintiffs $6,500 for attorney fees, reported WQAD, one of the plaintiffs.

In the Central DeWitt case, Superintendent Dan Peterson and the school board told the public they were closing their Feb. 7, 2022, meeting to the public to evaluate Petersons performance.

Instead, they discussed controversial topics, including gender and sexuality issues, instructional materials, and an administrative realignment, Seventh Judicial District Court Judge Mark R. Lawson wrote in a June 26 ruling.

First, the scope of the meeting was breathtaking in contrast to its stated purpose, Lawson wrote. In other words, this was not a minor or technical violation. Second, as noted earlier, no one in the meeting spoke up to argue the meeting was straying well beyond its stated purpose.

Lawson ordered the school district to pay Sycamore Media, which publishes the DeWitt Observer, more than $18,500 for legal fees.

Peterson told The Gazette he disagreed with Mommsens characterizing the districts response to the ruling as defiant.

We have accepted the District Court judges decision, will abide by the decision, and already have worked on improving our processes and procedures regarding scheduling and holding closed session meetings, he said in an email this week.

Iowa Supreme Court ruling in 2011 set precedent

When government bodies keep information secret, Iowans seeking access may choose to file a lawsuit. But hiring a lawyer can cost thousands of dollars, deterring many Iowans.

Not Allen Diercks. The 66-year-old Bettendorf chiropractor has been a government watchdog for decades, once filing more than 50 records requests in two years.

The public deserves public records, Diercks said. This isnt a political thing. Its really an American thing.

Diercks, represented by Bettendorf attorney Mike Meloy, won a 2011 Iowa Supreme Court case that set precedent for helping citizens recoup legal fees in public records cases.

Riverdale, a city of about 400 near Bettendorf, sued Diercks, Marie Randol and Tammie Picton in 2008 over whether the defendants were entitled to view security camera video showing then-Mayor Jeffrey Grindle arguing with Diercks over a records request.

Diercks, Randol and Picton won the case at trial and the District Court awarded them $64,732 in attorney fees. An appellate court reversed that award, but the Iowa Supreme Court later ruled the District Court was right.

Statutory attorney-fee awards motivate lawyers to step up and fight city hall on behalf of residents whose elected officials refuse requests for disclosure, Justice Thomas D. Waterman wrote in the Nov. 18, 2011, decision.

Lawsuit is last resort

Sycamore Media, which also publishes the Bellevue Herald-Leader and the Maquoketa Sentinel-Press, has filed two lawsuits in five years pushing back on government bodies trying to keep secrets.

Weve had two cases where the violations were so clear we felt obligated to pursue them to ensure transparency for the public, Sycamore Owner and CEO Trevis Mayfield said.

Sycamore and the Sentinel-Press in 2019 sued the Maquoketa Police Department after the agency refused to release body camera and dash camera footage of a traffic stop in which officers found then-Assistant Jackson County Attorney Amanda Lassance with bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and beer cans throughout the vehicle, court records show.

Jackson County deputies later cited Lassance for having an open container in a vehicle and gave her a ride back near her office.

Seventh Judicial District Judge John Telleen on June 22, 2020, ordered Maquoketa to release the videos.

Their squad car and body camera footage will show a portion of the incident not found in the public records already provided by the Clinton and Jackson County sheriffs departments. This information will give the public a fuller understanding of the incident in question, the ruling stated.

Lawsuits are a last resort, Mayfield said.

For the most part, we give people the benefit of the doubt, especially when youre dealing with city councils and school boards because they are elected volunteers, he said.

Public Information Board: Education, not punishment

The Iowa Legislature in 2012 created the Iowa Public Information Board as a cheaper, faster way to resolve disputes over Iowas open records and meetings laws.

The nine-person board that includes government officials, media and members of the public has accepted about 1,000 formal complaints in 10 years, but has only had five contested cases. The most recent was resolved in 2019.

If you look at the statute, it does try to prioritize informal resolutions and finding ways to resolve disputes, said Erika Eckley, who became the boards executive director in March. We get farther if we try to resolve issues by training than by being a punitive body.

Alan Kemp, executive director of the Iowa League of Cities, said he appreciates the boards approach.

Our smaller cities, they see a lot of turnover in city clerks, in elected officials, he said. Too often the people who come in have not had any chance to get any training and dont know anything about any of the requirements.

Evans and Mayfield said the board seems reluctant  particularly in recent years  to investigate and prosecute knowing violations.

I tell journalists that if you believe you have a strong case to win access to records or meetings, youre doing yourself a disservice by taking that case to the Public Information Board, Evans said.

Evans pointed to a complaint filed with the board in May 2022 over a vote in closed session to restrict access to a book in the Pleasant Valley School District. The board decided last month -- 14 months after the complaint was filed -- that while there was probable cause the book reconsideration committee violated open meetings law, because the school district held a training in June, the complaint would be dismissed.

While a case is pending before the board, no court case may move forward.

The Pleasant Valley School District has been allowed by the Public Information Board to simply drag its feet for months and months, Evans said.

Eckley said the board recently upgraded its case management system to keep better track of cases and make sure they arent lingering.

More accountability sought

Breaking Iowas open records or open meetings laws can result in a fine ranging from $100 to $500 or up to $2,500 for a knowing violation. But fines are rare.

Former Washington County Attorney Larry Brock agreed in 2014 to pay a $1,000 fine after a judge decided he knowingly violated open records law by waiting more than three months to provide records to a former park ranger.

In two other cases  one in Des Moines and one in Burlington  public officials were ordered to pay $100 and $200, respectively, for failure to comply with open records laws. Evans isnt aware of any other fines for Chapters 21 and 22 in recent decades.

Open government advocates want more accountability. Diercks suggested zero tolerance once public officials have signed off on taking an online course about open records and open meetings.

The very first offense you do after you know, you get a $1,000 fine, he said. The second offense you are out of office and you dont serve. Until they start making them pay for this, its not going to change.

Mommsen said he is considering proposing a bill that would make it easier for Iowans to recall school board members.

CPR can double or triple a persons chance of survivalheres how it was developed Heres how CPR was developed Before the 19th century: Varying methods from flagellation to bellows precede modern CPR 1868: First accounts of sternal compression recorded 1933: William Kouwenhoven accidentally develops modern CPR technique while researching external defibrillation 1938: Vladimir Negovsky establishes first resuscitation laboratory in Moscow 1949: Red Cross invites CPR pioneers to evaluate techniques 1956: Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation deemed an effective method for life-saving techniques 1960: First CPR training mannequin is created 1974: Standards for CPR adopted by various medical organizations 2010s: Hands-only CPR gains popularity for bystander use 2021: Five states pass laws requiring 911 dispatchers be trained in instructing CPR over the phone
A Pittsylvania County man died in a motorcycle crash last week in Campbell County, the Virginia State Police reports.

It happened shortly before 7 p.m. Aug. 1 on U.S. 501 near Browns Mill Road in Campbell County.

Corinne Geller, a spokesperson for the Virginia State Police, reported that 44-year-old Brian K. Witcher, of Java, was driving a 2006 Kawasaki ZX1000 motorcycle south on U.S. 501 "at a high rate of speed when it crested a hill and collided with a 1995 Chevrolet Camaro just as it was pulling out of a driveway."

Witcher was taken to Lynchburg General Hospital where he later died. He was wearing a helmet.

The driver of the Chevrolet, Warren K. Minifee, 62, of Madison Heights, was not hurt. He was wearing a seat belt.

No charges were placed, Geller said.

From staff reports
For Cathy Gore, leading the United Way of Danville-Pittsylvania County feels like a calling.

In her vast career, shes worked in education, government and the private sector.

Most recently she spent 13 years at Danville-Pittsylvania Community Services before taking over at the United Way in June 2022.

All that culminated to ... this is where I need to be today, she said in an interview at the United Way office in Danvilles River District.

Her goal is to raise awareness that the United Way  an outcome-based funder of community nonprofit organizations  is still around and has data to prove its contributions to 15 local organizations are leaving a tangible positive mark.

I want to make a difference in the community, she explained. I want United Way to be back in the forefront of a thriving nonprofit thats servicing Danville and Pittsylvania County.

Eventually, Gore would like to get it back to a $1 million United Way, as she called it, an admittedly lofty yearly fundraising goal.

However, with economic growth bringing more jobs to the Dan River Region, it may not be that far-fetched of a vision.

Last years goal was $625,000 and they raised about $450,000. When the annual campaign starts in September, the target will likely still be at the $625,000 mark.

With the kickoff event planned next month, shes already in campaign mode.

Payroll deductions are the main driver of donations for the United Way.

For those who want to give money to charity, but arent sure which organization would be best, Gore said the United Way is a good choice because the donations are spread around 15 different agencies.

Also, contributions go directly to individual programs. Money isnt spent on salaries or overhead.

My job is to go out and meet these decision makers, to network with individuals and to make people aware that United Way is thriving, she said.

We are raising awareness, Gore said. United Way is here.

And its not just about tossing funding at an organization. Supporting agencies also means going to events, finding volunteers to help a specific project or just listening to find out about the current need for a particular week or month.

How it works

Every two years, the local United Way will pick  via a request for proposal process  agencies in Danville and Pittsylvania County that are in the most need.

The process actually starts months before those request for proposals are started, with committee members looking at what the critical areas are in Danville.

The United Way model is outcome-based funding, she explained. We want you to tell us how you are going to measure whats the outcome for the people that you are reaching.

Basically, that means they are able to track the money to be sure its being put to the best use.

Although located in downtown Danville, the local United Way  which marked its 100th anniversary last year  is responsible for the city and county.

With an overall theme of Connecting Our Communities, its current two-year plan is divided into four general sectors: reading, education, work and health.

Education is one the United Ways foundational pillars of service, Billy Wooten, executive director of the Center for Community Engagement & Career Competitiveness at Averett University and a United Way board member, told the Register & Bee. We are committed to helping fund agencies that directly impact education from several angles.

For the Read Dan River part, the focus is on elementary education with a goal to have all students reading at the proper level by the time they reach third grade.

In the city, the Danville Church & Community Tutorial Program receives United Way funding. Book Buddies, a program with Pittsylvania County Schools, also is a supported agency.

In its annual report, studies show if children arent reading at grade level by the start of fourth grade, they are four times less likely to graduate on time.

For impact, 86% of the students who received local after-school tutoring were able to read at grade level.

We are a drop in the bucket, Gore explained since they only serve about 500 students in that program. While the overall data for city schools may not reflect it, zeroing in to students who are part of the Danville program, the details confirm the impact.

The Educate Dan River sector focuses on the make-it-or-break-it grades in middle school. Groups like Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Danville Area and Boys & Girls Club of Danville Area work with students to navigate the awkward time in middle school, so they are prepared for high school.

By tracking suspension and absenteeism for the students involved with these initiatives, Gore said they are able to push the children to understand the importance of taking responsibility.

Nearly three-quarters of middle school students who take part in after-school program decreased absenteeism, according to the United Ways annual report. A total of 85 local students were matched with a mentor.

The cradle-to-career strategy of the Danville-Pittsylvania County United Way ensures our dollars support early literacy for children 0 to 5, church-based tutorial programs for school-aged children, clothing and school supplies for families in need, strong youth programs such as the Big Brothers Big Sisters and Boys and Girls Club and employment training for young adults, Danville Public Schools Superintendent Angela Hairston, also a United Way board member, told the Register & Bee.

When it comes to employment, the Work Dan River sector can be somewhat misleading, Gore explained.

This isnt about finding jobs for people. Its about helping residents get the skills and connections they need to get to the point to find a job.

Goodwill Industries of the Valley  an organization that includes the local Goodwill  received money from United Way.

Goodwill is continuing to improve with its robust offerings that it has, Gore said, noting its Danville career center helps with resumes and offers vast resources for those seeking jobs.

The Virginia Legal Aid Society also factors into the working sector by helping residents not get evicted from their homes.

That workaround is also important when you talk about what is needed to stay employed, Gore said.

Almost 650 people received help to prevent unemployment and homelessness, the United Ways annual report stated.

Another funding benefactor, The Arc of Southside, Is just fabulously doing supported employment, Gore said. They are able to help people with disabilities get a job.

Last year, 19 people with a disability got a job in the community thanks to The Arc of Southside and the United Ways funding jolt.

The United Way has continued to impact our youth and young adults as we strive to ensure life and career readiness, Hairston said.

The Get Healthy Dan River aspect also could be considered a misconception, as it doesnt directly deal with physical issues like high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.

We dont touch those specific determinants of health, but we are aware of it and we participate in that collaboration, Gore explained.

Instead, they look at things that attribute to help, such as safe housing, basic needs for victims of domestic violence and access to transportation for seniors.

By supporting the American Red Cross, for example, they help people in dire need of housing after a fire or other disaster.

Habitat for Humanity also is a scale that is manageable for the United Way to meet specific needs.

We dont help them pick the family, we want to support them and know they are doing that well, Gore said.

From literacy programs that provide books to kids and tutor them on reading comprehension, to health-related programs that help ease barriers for a childs success in the classroom, we have moved the needle in positive directions in the Dan River Region, Wooten explained of the United Ways overall impact.

Other programs

Beyond providing funding for nonprofits, the local United Way also handles programs like the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.

Thats where children under the age of 5 can receive free books  once a month  courtesy of the country music legend.

Our goal is to reach 1,000 children by the end of 2023, Gore said. They are just slightly over the 800-mark now.

She wants to expand the reach since there are a little north of 4,800 children under 5 in Danville and Pittsylvania County, according to the latest census data.

The United Ways partnership with the Dolly Parton group started in 2020 and goes beyond just getting books in the hands of young children.

They also do things like send a birthday greeting to each child as an extra touch. When the child phases out of the program at age 5  Because Dolly has determined that when you go to school, you have access to books and youve created your library, Gore said  they ask parents if they want to pay it forward by sponsoring another child.

Another under-the-radar program helps Danville Pittsylvania County when Danville residents recycle glass.

Known as Glass4Good, its part of the charity arm of the local O-I Glass plant.

For the first quarter of this year, the program collected 21.1 tons of glass that resulted in $1,355 being donated to the United Way.

That money went straight to the local cancer agency for a program that reimburses patients for travel expenses associated with treatment.

Again, its not going to the general fund, its going to the specific need, Gore emphasized.

United Way also helps with The Transition Stop, a project that started with just a washer and dryer at a school in Danville.

Families needed a free place to do laundry, Gore said.

Normally targeting youth in elementary school, the idea is to help students identified as unaccompanied homeless youth. These children sometimes need things like clothing.

It also aims to reduce absenteeism. For example, a student may miss school not because of an illness, but simply due to the fact they dont have any shoes, Gore explained.

The lift provided by United Way for so many of our children is invaluable to improving student achievement and self-worth, Hairston said.

The impact

The powering stories that Gore hears reminds her why this feels like a calling.

In one example, Gore recalled a woman at Danvilles House of Hope who was thrown into unplanned homelessness.

With help of the House of Hope, that woman is now living independently with her daughter, working and thriving.

Gore is confident the funding courtesy of the United Way to the House of Hope played a role in that outcome.

So its the stories, she said when talking about her newfound mission in life.

Its about a child who received tutoring, got a scholarship and went to college.

Its also about the kids and families who beam with excitement when they get books from the Dolly Parton program.

Still, theres more to be done. Her goal in the first year was to maintain funding.

Check.

Now she wants to bring in more donations to provide a higher level of impact.

According to form 990 records  the Internal Revenue Services tool for gathering info on nonprofits  2015s donations were at nearly $700,000.

Although the pandemic didnt specifically impact a drop in contributions, Gore said there are normal ebbs and flows, especially during leadership changes.

When I came, last June, I heard a lot of this happened, that happened, Gore said. Well today, Cathy Gore is going to push it forward to the best of her ability through the confidence the board had when they hired me.
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GREENSBORO  A Triad company, whose workers said they had to participate in company-led prayer sessions as a condition of employment, will pay $50,000 to settle a federal lawsuit.

The settlement, announced in a news release from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, involves a 2022 lawsuit the agency brought against Aurora Pro Services.

The agreement also prohibits the Greensboro company from discriminating and retaliating against employees in the future under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The home service and repair company required all employees to attend daily Christian prayer meetings led by Oscar D. Lopez, the companys CEO and founder, the release said.

The prayer meetings could last 45 minutes or longer, the EEOC previously said.

They included Bible readings, Christian devotionals, and solicitation of prayer requests from employees, the release said. Auroras owner took roll before some of the meetings and reprimanded employees who did not attend.

Lopez could not be reached for comment Monday afternoon. In an email sent to the News & Record at the time the lawsuit was filed, Lopez denied the allegations.

No employee has ever been fired or will ever be fired for refusing to believe in Christ or for refusing to pray, Lopez said. We are a Christian company that encourages prayer and encourages employees to openly express their Christian faith and disciple to one another. We believe in the power of the gospel.

The EEOC filed the lawsuit on behalf of former employees John McGaha and Mackenzie Saunders. The document said that McGahas pay was reduced by 50% days after he asked to be excused from the prayer meetings in the fall of 2020.

He and Saunders ultimately were fired on the basis of their religious beliefs ... and in retaliation for their opposition to the prayer meetings, the lawsuit said.

Neither McGaha nor Saunders could be reached for comment Monday.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits religious discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in the workplace.

Under the settlement, Aurora Pro Services must implement a new anti-discrimination, non-retaliation, and religious accommodation policy and provide training to all managers and employees, including the owner, the release said.

Federal law protects employees from having to choose between their sincerely held religious beliefs and their jobs, EEOC attorney Melinda C. Dugas said in the release. Employers who sponsor prayer meetings in the workplace have a legal obligation to accommodate employees whose personal religious beliefs conflict with the companys practice.
This is a rare opportunity to own a 1903 Victorian masterpiece curated to its stately half-acre in the heart of Helenas historic Upper West Side. The main home contains 5 large bedrooms (+1 bonus), 3.5 bathrooms, and features original wood finishes, updated windows, and abundant natural light. With its timeless charm, ample living space, functional floor plan, and convenient amenities, you can showcase this Golden Era mansion as an integral part of your best Helena life. Looking for versatility as well? Housed above the detached garage youll find a cute 1 bedroom 1 bathroom apartment complete with laundry and a full kitchen. Use this space for guests or as an income-producing unit. Or, capitalize on investment potential by seeking a lot line adjustment with the City of Helena to split the seven-lot parcel into two, each with its own paved driveway access into this corner parcel. Call Ryan Stavnes 406-465-3830, Michelle Johnson 406-461-9685, or your real estate professional. As you step through the grand front entryway and pass through the antechamber, you are greeted by a classic Victorian foyer that opens across to a grand staircase. Three sets of French doors line the foyer, each leading to large inviting spaces. Nearest the entrance, the bright front room currently serves as an office. Additional French doors connect it to the expansive living room which walks through a small enclosed porch attached to a much larger sun porch which was added in 2006. Opposite the living room, the formal dining room sets the stage for memorable gatherings. The last door off the foyer discretely holds the main floor half bathroom. Moving further into the main level, youll pass into the back hall which accesses the kitchen, basement, or second entry to the large sun porch. The kitchen continues the functional layout with an adjoining butlers pantry complete with a formal swinging door connecting it to the dining room. From the kitchen, you can also pass through the large laundry room to a back door or ascend the back-of-house stairs to the second landing. The second floor is a haven of comfort and privacy. Four generously sized bedrooms provide ample accommodation for family and guests, while two full bathrooms offer convenience and style. This level lends itself to modern comforts featuring a new ceiling fan, updated windows, and large closets. A versatile bonus room can be customized to suit your needs, and a second sun porch provides a delightful spot to bask in the sunlight and enjoy the fresh air. The attic of this Victorian gem is complete with a wet bar and entertaining space, multiple storage areas, an enclosed porch, a large bedroom, and a full bathroom offering endless possibilities for personalization. With a full basement providing additional storage and utility space, this house caters to all your practical needs. Outside, the property spans half an acre and encompasses an impressive seven city lots. This property already has two access driveways and two separate dwellings making it simple to apply to the City to split this half-acre into two residences each on their own large lot. Mature landscaping includes shade trees, fruit trees, bushes, and flowers. Excellent location - close to shopping, amenities, schools, downtown, trails, and Hwy 12. 801 Stuart St. presents an exceptional opportunity to own a piece of history in one of Helena's most sought-after locations.

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A parking lot at the former Fiat Chrysler Auto Plant now owned by Stellantis, sits empty Monday, July 10, 2023, in Belvidere. Ill. Stellantis is moving to close the plant, which has become an issue in this year's contract talks with the company. Tensions rose in contract talks between the United Auto Workers union and Stellantis on Tuesday, Aug. 8, with the union president accusing the company of seeking concessions in contract talks when the union wants gains, as a September strike threat looms. (Charles Rex Arbogast/AP)

Tensions rose in contract talks between the United Auto Workers union and Stellantis on Tuesday with the union president accusing the company of seeking concessions in contract talks when the union wants gains, as a September strike threat looms.

UAW President Shawn Fain said in a statement that Stellantis has broken a pledge not to seek givebacks in this round of talks, in which the union is seeking more than 40% general pay raises over four years, restoration of pensions for newer hires, cost-of-living increases, an end to wage tiers, and other benefits.

A union spokesman said singling out Stellantis doesnt mean the UAW has picked a company as a strike target, and it could choose all three. Stellantis idled its Jeep plant in Belvidere earlier this year. Ford operates an assembly plant on Chicagos Southeast Side.

The unions contracts with General Motors, Ford and Stellantis all expire at 11:59 p.m. Sept. 14, and Fain has told workers they should be willing to go on strike to make major gains.

The UAW represents about 146,000 workers at the three companies. In the past its contracts had set the standard for manufacturing wages and benefits for blue-collar jobs nationwide.

As the industry undergoes a historic transition from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles, the automakers will need thousands of workers to staff battery plants that are joint ventures with battery companies. The UAW also sees this years contract as a crucial opportunity to ensure representation in the industrys jobs of the future.

In a Facebook Live appearance Tuesday, Fain clearly threatened to strike one or more of the companies. He told workers the UAW strike fund is healthy and the leadership has a plan for a work stoppage. Come Sept. 14, if these companies dont deliver, theyre going to see this plan unfold, he said.

Fain said bargainers are making progress, but hes been shocked to see Stellantis list of demands. The company, he said, wants to be able to punish workers more for missing work, has proposed additional tiers of wages, and is seeking cuts to existing medical coverage. It also wants changes in the profit-sharing formula, and cuts in 401(K) contributions, he said. Management chose to spit in our faces, he said.

Top scale production workers at the companies make about $32 per hour, and the companies have said its much higher when benefits and bonuses are added in. Ford, for instance, says in a statement that benefits and bonuses push the yearly package value to about $112,000.

Marick Masters, a business professor at Wayne State University in Detroit, said there is some deep friction between the union and Stellantis, especially over scheduling that can require workers to be on the job 12 hours per day for seven days per week.

It doesnt surprise me that theres tension between those two parties, Masters said. But I wouldnt read more into it than that. I dont think it means that Stellantis is the likely target in bargaining and possibly for a strike.

A message was left Tuesday seeking comment from Stellantis. On Aug. 1 the company said that it has been clear from the start that its not seeking concessions.

Last week the company said in a statement that intends to fairly reward union employees for their contribution to the companys success. It will be critical to find common ground that doesnt jeopardize our ability to continue investing in the affordable products, services and technology that our customers want and that would allow us to continue providing good jobs here at home, the statement said.

Executives at all three companies say they have invested in U.S. manufacturing and they have plowed much of their profits to develop and build electric vehicles.

The union says wages have been stagnant for years after it agreed to concessions to get the companies through the Great Recession.
Four Helena organizations received grants totaling $307,500 and were among $1.9 million given to various groups in Montana from the Otto Bremer Trust based in St. Paul, Minnesota, it was announced Tuesday.

Family Promise of Greater Helena received $20,000 for general operations to provide emergency shelter, case management, programming and transition services for children and their families experiencing homelessness.

Florence Crittenton Home & Services in Helena received $225,000 for general operations and a capital campaign to provide services that include housing, mental health care, substance use recovery, parenting education and child care.

The Montana Budget and Policy Center of Helena received $40,000 to improve the health and well-being of children in Montana and North Dakota through the collection, analysis and distribution of quality data and information.

Region IV Family Outreach Inc. of Helena received $22,500 to buy new vehicles to help people with disabilities in southwestern Montana.

We continue to be impressed by the many organizations committed to helping meet critical needs throughout the region, Daniel C. Reardon, co-CEO and trustee of Otto Bremer Trust, said in an email. These grantees are making a positive impact in their communities and we are pleased to support their incredible work.

The Otto Bremer Trust is a private charitable trust. Created in 1944 by business and community leader Otto Bremer, it supports a better quality of life for residents of Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and Wisconsin. The trust awarded $13,844,635 in grants and program-related investments overall in June and July 2023.

Since its founding, the trust has invested more than $1 billion in people, places and opportunities in its region. Visit ottobremer.org to learn more.
Nearly 200 people met Tuesday at a Helena elementary school to kick off a two-day summit geared toward school safety, bringing together educators, law enforcement and other professionals whose common goal is to make campuses more secure for everyone.

This year's theme for the fourth annual Jeremy Bullock Safe Schools Summit is "Growing Your School's Safety Culture."

The event was held at Central Elementary School in Helena. Its the first time it has not been held in Butte, the town where 11-year-old Jeremy Bullock was living in 1994 when he was fatally shot by a classmate on the playground of Margaret Leary Elementary School.

Bill Bullock, Jeremys dad, said the nonprofit decided it would like to have the summit in other Montana cities and keep Butte in the mix as well.

He said violence continues to plague schools.

Its not getting better by any means, Bullock said.

Emcee Ray Rogers said Central Elementary School is a showcase for school safety. He said the summit was not only in honor of Jeremy Bullock, but also for others whose lives have been impacted by tragedies in the nations schools.

He said the event unites superintendents, principals, counselors, mental health professionals, teachers and school staff, school resource officers, school-based law enforcement, school safety teams, youth and affiliated professionals to explore and advance best practices for fostering safe schools.

Thank you all for your own commitment to school safety and for giving up a couple of your last days of this beautiful summer to be with us here today, Rogers said.

Event organizers said Central Elementary School, which opened its new campus in 2019, was selected for the summit as it is a newer school and has a lot of safety precautions and features.

Helena Public Schools Superintendent Rex Weltz thanked people for attending and thanked the Bullock family for moving the issue to the forefront.

Academics is important, but getting kids home after school is one of the most important things that we have, he said. This is a great summit for us to keep it front and center.

Taylor Floming, a school psychologist for Helena Public Schools, said during a break she expected the summit to be helpful.

School safety is on the forefront of everybodys mind, she said, adding she was not only interested in the communitys insight, but what she can do on a daily basis to help make schools safer.

Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, spoke to attendees via online and said building a culture of school safety was not just a job for parents and teachers, its up to community officials and my colleagues back in Washington to make sure our kids feel safe in the classroom and beyond.

The summit was dedicated in memory of not only Jeremy Bullock, but also for his brother, Navy Lt. Richard Max Bullock, who died in a 2022 crash of his F-18 fighter jet.

The event included several workshops on topics such as a legislative update, cultures, bullying prevention and creating governance documents. Other workshops included school-based threat assessments, preventing school violence, family reunification and safe and supportive schools.

There were also several booths in the lobby featuring Montana State Fund, the University of Montana, Grand Canyon University and others.

The summit was held in partnership with Helena Public Schools and in conjunction with the University of Montana Safe Schools Center, Jeremy Bullock Memorial Trust and Bullock Families, Montana Office of Public Instruction, Jeremy Bullock Safe Schools Summit Planning Committee and the Helena Police Department.

The keynote speaker was Matt Bellace, a clinical psychologist, comedian and author, who recently wrote Life is Disappointing ... and other inspiring thoughts.

He talked about dealing with teen angst, encouraging parents to give a teen's hot brain five minutes to cool down. He also said teens thrive on social support. He encourages people to improve their mental health and to be resilient when facing stress.

The most beautiful waves come from the biggest storms, Bellace said.

Wednesdays events include a school safety recognition awards ceremony. For more information or to attend the summit, go to : https://jeremybullocksafeschools.com
Weekend rain and cool temperatures delivered mixed fortunes to western Montana and central Idaho wildfires: The rain dampened some blazes, failed to wet others, and in Idaho created landslides in a burn scar that stranded rafters on the Salmon River.

The Niarada fire sparked by lightning July 30 was 18,366 acres and 7% contained on Monday morning. Some weekend precipitation tempered fire activity over the weekend as the fires southeast front burns toward Marion Lane and Loon Lake south of Elmo. Northern Rockies Team 3, a national-level complex incident management team, took command of the fire Wednesday. The team is also overseeing the 2,135-acre lightning-caused Mill Pocket fire immediately west of the Niarada fire. Light precipitation and cool temperatures through the middle of the week were expected to reduce fire spread, according to an update Monday, but drier, warmer conditions toward the weekend could foment an increase in fire activity.

Gravel Pit fire

Meanwhile, 25 miles southeast of Libby along Highway 2 just west of Loon Lake, the Gravel Pit fire had scorched 304 acres by Sunday near where Silver Butte Road meets the highway. An evacuation order was issued for areas along Highway 2 near the fire, according to the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office, and residents in that area were notified. The human-caused fire was 0% contained Sunday, as rain led to moderate fire activity but minimal overall growth.

East Fork fire

Farther north, about 12 miles south of Trego, the East Fork fire grew to 1,247 acres by Sunday evening. The fire, started by lightning July 30, didnt get the rains that wetted the rest of western Montana and burned actively over the weekend with growth in all directions, but primarily to the east. The fire exhibited aggressive runs Saturday driven by wind and dense fuels, but it was not threatening any structures as of Sunday evening. The fire is burning mostly in the Kootenai National Forest, with a small portion in the Flathead National Forest.

Ridge fire

The Ridge fire just southeast of Hungry Horse and Martin City had burned 2,773 acres just north of the South Fork of the Flathead River by Monday morning, up from 50 acres less than a week ago. The fire, yet another sparked by lightning July 30, burned actively over the weekend with the most intense burning on the south and east sides. It is primarily spreading north toward Hungry Horse Mountain in steep terrain littered with dead and downed timber. According to an update Monday, fire managers primary goal is to keep the blaze east of private property around Hungry Horse, Martin City and Coram. The blaze was 0% contained Monday.

As of Monday, East Side Road (No. 38) was closed to Desert Mountain Road (Forest Road 497). West Side South Fork Road (No. 895) was closed to public travel past the Lid Creek Campground. Officials planned to close the West Side South Fork Road starting at Hungry Horse Dam on Tuesday.

Big Knife fire

The Big Knife fire just southeast of Arlee, about 22 miles north of Missoula, saw only moderate burning and growth over the weekend, according to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Division of Fire. The fire was 4,864 acres and 5% contained Monday morning. A pre-evacuation warning remained in place Monday morning for the areas at the base of the mountain on the fires west side, including the areas accessed by Francis, Jocko Canyon Canal and Jocko Canyon roads. More active fire behavior was expected later this week as dry, warm conditions return to the area. The fire was sparked by lightning July 24.

Colt fire

Containment on the Colt fire 15 miles northwest of Seeley Lake increased to 25% by Monday morning, with containment lines bounding the blazes east side, keeping it from Rainy Lake and Lake Alva. At the south end of that line, crews were extending line westward along the fires south end, up the West Fork Clearwater River. To the north, crews were extending containment line westward toward Colt Lake. The fire has burned 7,179 acres since it was caused by lightning July 17. About 0.8 inches of rain dampened fire activity Sunday, and crews worked over the weekend to address hot spots on the fires eastern side  although rainfall did hinder access to some locations, officials stated in an update Monday. Drier conditions later this week were expected to increase fire activity.

An evacuation order for areas along Highway 83 immediately east of the fire was lifted.

Landslides

Significant rainfall Saturday caused multiple rock- and landslides along the main Salmon River and other nearby areas in the burn scar of last years Moose fire northwest of Salmon, Idaho. According to the Salmon-Challis National Forest, a landslide impacted the Salmon River Road between Pine Creek and Panther Creek. The road was also impacted by large boulders that tumbled into the travel lane between Indianola Guard Station and the Spring Creek Campground near Shoup. Also, Panther Creek was blocked by a landslide near Beaver Creek.

Salmon River Road runs from Highway 93 at North Fork, Idaho, on the east to Corn Creek on the west, just downstream of where the Middle Fork Salmon River meets the main Salmon River. It is the primary egress route for rafters coming off the Middle Fork. Its also the main route down the main Salmon for rafters launching into the wilderness at Corn Creek. Panther Creek Road, which intersects Salmon River Road from the south roughly halfway between North Fork and Corn Creek, is the primary alternate route when the Salmon River Road is closed.

The landslides left rafters coming off the Middle Fork stranded until both roads were reopened Sunday evening. But the Forest Service still cautioned travelers on Salmon River Road not to stop between Spring Creek and Panther Creek because of an ongoing risk of landslides.
Montanas congressional delegation, the Office of Public Instruction and a statewide outfitters and guides group are all calling on the U.S. Department of Education to reverse a decision that blocks federal money from funding school archery and hunter education classes.

The U.S. Department of Education is interpreting the federal Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, passed in 2022, as a ban on using federal money for the classes. In a statement Monday, the department said it was following the law, but understood the concerns raised and was open to discussing a path forward.

In an Aug. 2 letter to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Montanas senior U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat, emphasized the bipartisan nature of the law and urged reconsideration of how its being implemented.

"In Montana, our schools have long offered shooting sport and hunter safety classes that play an important role in teaching safety and personal responsibility to students," Tester wrote. "Outdoor recreation is foundational to our western way of life and any reduction of federal support for these educational programs is unacceptable."

The letter said the congressional intent of the BSCA is to support the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 initiatives, which includes archery and hunter education programs, while diverting other money to school resource officers and what are called "school hardening" measures such as locked entrances.

"By misinterpreting which activities are now supported by ESEA, the Department of Education is limiting learning opportunities critical to student safety," Tester, who voted for the law, wrote.

All three Republicans in Montanas delegation sharply criticized the Biden administration for the action.

Sen. Steve Daines called it a "war on hunters and the Second Amendment."

"This move by President Biden's administration undermines the heritage of sportsmanship that is an important part of our way of life here in Montana and communities across the United States," Daines, who voted against the law, said in a statement. "I hope they reverse this radical, unfair decision."

Rep. Matt Rosendale, who represents Montanas eastern district, signed onto a letter with Reps. Lauren Boebert, R-CO, and Mary Miller, R-IL, calling the interpretation a misunderstanding of the legislation in order to advance a progressive agenda at the expense of Montanans and their way of life.

Hunting is a way of life in Montana, as it promotes conservation, stimulates the local economy, helps feed our population and builds strong family bonds among others, the letter reads. Teaching children how to hunt safely is basic common sense and would reduce accidental tragedies, which you claim to care about.

The letter said that in Montana, the department has awarded $4.8 million to 25 schools through the Stronger Connections Grant Program and that money cannot be spent if the schools offer an archery or hunter education program. It also pointed out the signers originally opposed the legislation.

Additionally, Rep. Ryan Zinke, who represents the western district, signed onto a letter with more than 60 other representatives also calling the move a "gross misinterpretation of the law" and saying the Biden administration's "abuse of executive authority harms kids and communities all across the country, all in the name of moving forward with a radical anti-Second Amendment agenda."

"These scholastic programs are where millions of kids learn safe and responsible firearm handling and storage, and this egregious, irresponsible overreach by your department will have far-reaching negative consequences," the letter reads.

Zinke was not in Congress when the law passed.

In a press release, Republican Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen said there is error or confusion in the narrow interpretation of this federal statute by the U.S. Department of Education.

While I applaud the congressional purpose to protect our students and schools from threats of violence, I disagree with the constraint on the delivery of educational opportunities that Montanans value, Arntzen wrote.

The Montana Outfitters and Guides Association also called for a reversal of the interpretation.

In a state like Montana, outdoor recreation and hunting are woven into the fabric of our cultural heritage. It is incomprehensible that positive programs like (hunter education) and archery would be used as political pawns, said Mac Minard, the groups executive director, in a press release. Disgusted doesnt even come close to how we feel about this type of government intervention. Youth-focused programs play a critical role in teaching safety and personal responsibility to the next generation of hunters. We urge Montanas congressional delegation to fix this and oppose efforts by the Department of Education to cut the programs which are so important to our youth.

The U.S. Department of Education on Monday confirmed it received the letter from Tester and the one Zinke signed onto. The department said it was following the law passed by Congress and it is open to ways to address the issue.

"The Department of Education continues to implement the law as developed by Congress. The department recognizes the limits this language may place on certain enrichment opportunities with ESEA funding, a spokesperson said. We are happy to provide technical assistance on legislative language to address this issue and restore allowability of ESEA funding for valuable enrichment opportunities for students, such as archery and hunter safety programs.
A pair of out-of-state investors is challenging Montana's residency requirement to own or invest in a licensed business in the state's marijuana market.

Tom Reed and his father, Jerry Reed, last month sued the Montana Department of Revenue in two separate filings, one in federal court and the other in state court in Lewis and Clark County. Together, the lawsuits add up to allegations of "economic protectionism," contending that Montana's residency requirement violates their right to do business in the state.

While the entire industry in one way or another relies on out-of-state components, out-of-state business owners or investors are unfairly cut out of the enterprise, the Reeds argue in court filings. Out-of-state residents are allowed to come to Montana and buy marijuana; producers must obtain lights and soil nutrients from out-of-state vendors for their cultivation operations; and the Cannabis Control Division under the Department of Revenue uses METRC, a Florida-based software company, to track products in the market from seed to sale.

The route in which the Reeds find themselves challenging the case is, as their Helena attorney Brian Miller put it, complex.

"It never was their intention to come here and challenge the residency requirement," Miller said. "They initially got into this whole thing as passive investors.  It just so happened they got involved in a situation that ended up being way more complicated."

Montana's recreational marijuana market went live at the start of 2022, and sales have shown continued growth. Now in the market's second year, total sales (recreational and medical marijuana combined) have outperformed the same month in the previous year by an average of $1.2 million, according to figures available on the Department of Revenue's website.

The Reeds approached Montana's industry in 2021, after voters approved recreational marijuana legalization the year prior but before the sales start date set by the Legislature. According to court filings, they landed on an investment opportunity posted online with MBM Management and Consulting, which was operated under another company's marijuana business license. The Reeds state in court records MBM provided them with a brochure laying out its operations plan, projected revenues and more, without mention of the state's residency requirement.

Together, the Reeds bought ownership shares with MBM at a price of $2.2 million. They allege, however, that MBM quickly became unstable; the company's proprietors demanded more funding and the Reeds suspected product was being diverted, according to the lawsuit. Roughly a year later, the market had been underway for six months, and the Reeds ultimately purchased MBM in an attempt to salvage their investment, which by then had exceeded the initial $2.2 million, according to court papers.

The next month, the Reeds filed a lawsuit against the previous MBM proprietors, alleging fraud, deceit, breach of contract and other civil allegations. That case is still pending in Madison County District Court.

With more attention on rescuing MBM, the Reeds reached out to the Cannabis Control Division for transaction records of Therapeutic Essentials, the licensed marijuana business under which MBM was operating. The Cannabis Control Division in turn became aware of the Reeds' involvement in the business, and notified Therapeutic Essentials it had initiated an administrative process to potentially revoke its business license.

An official with Cannabis Control Division declined to comment on the matter, citing state policy to not discuss pending litigation.

"We fully support the license holder and we are 100% behind them," Miller said in a phone interview Monday. "We hope that they are able to prevail and get something worked out with the department."

The Reeds filed their federal suit against the Department of Revenue on July 24, alleging the residency requirement violates their right to interstate trade under the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

The state case, filed July 25, hangs on the Montana Constitution's equal protection clause, arguing the law discriminates against them based on residency status.

The residency requirement has been in place for nearly 20 years, since Montana's medical marijuana program launched in 2004. It carried over into the recreational market in the 2020 ballot initiative language to legalize recreational sales and became law in 2021 after the Legislature passed the Montana Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act, known more commonly as House Bill 701, in response to voters approving legalization.

"It's very normal in the development of state medical markets that states have included those residency requirements," Kate Cholewa, government affairs specialist with the Montana Cannabis Industry Association, said Tuesday. "These are state markets, one state at a time, thats how this has evolved. Therefore when people from out of state want to participate they often get involved in complicated business arrangements, and perhaps eliminating the residency requirement is a path they see out of those relationships."

The Legislature this year also extended its moratorium on new licenses until 2025, meaning only the existing license holders that were doing business when voters approved legalization in 2020 will be able to stake out the new recreational market for the first four years. During the last two sessions, lawmakers have held up such measures as a way to allow previously vetted businesses the opportunity to ramp up production to the market demands and for the Cannabis Control Division to get its regulatory footing before the market is flooded with new businesses.

Miller, the Reeds' attorney, emphasized the case at hand only challenges the statute as it applies to his clients, but if the residency requirement falls, others can pick up the judge's ruling and make an effort to enter the market.

"If this is struck down, the department may have to make changes in making sure out-of-state buyers go through additional quality checks, which I think is a reasonable thing," Miller said.

As for the purpose of the residency requirement, Miller argues his clients are within their right to do business in Montana.

"I can't think of any other purpose (for the requirement) other than economic protectionism," Miller said. "Public safety or anything, that has nothing to do with being in the state of Montana."
A pair of environmental groups is preparing to challenge Montanas program for exporting wolf pelts, contending the states recent moves to liberalize wolf trapping has put endangered lynx in the crosshairs as well.

The Center for Biological Diversity, a national organization based in Washington, D.C., and Hamilton-based Trap Free Montana on Tuesday sent a letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, spelling out their intent to sue the agency over its continued approval of Montanas program for exporting wolf pelts.

The state is one of just two, along with Alaska, that have been approved for the programs. Once listed under the Endangered Species Act throughout the Lower 48 states, gray wolves were removed from the list in Montana and most of the Northern Rockies in 2011.

The Fish and Wildlife Services Division of Management Authority oversees Montanas pelt export program, which was approved in 2014. The approval process included a biological opinion detailing how wolf killing in the state wouldnt significantly impact other protected species, including lynx.

But the groups allege that changes to Montanas wolf policies, particularly those that became law after the 2021 legislative session, are sufficient to require the feds to revisit that document.

Montanas new wolf trapping rules explicitly contradict assumptions that the (biological opinion) relied on in approving Montanas wolf pelt export program, the Center wrote in its intent-to-sue-letter. The rules reject conservation measures to reduce the likelihood of incidental trapping of lynx considered in the (biological opinion).

The groups say the approval of Montanas pelt export program relied on a prohibition on the use of snares, required setbacks from roads and trails and a season length that was limited to avoid accidentally trapping protected species.

Each of those assumptions was upended by the 2021 Legislature, they argue. The allowable window for the wolf trapping season was extended by more than 30 days, some setbacks were eliminated and snares are now allowed on public and private land.

The Fish and Wildlife Service ignored the fact that Montanas horrifying new trapping regulations have widespread environmental consequences, including harming rare and beautiful lynx, said Sophia Ressler, an attorney at the Center. Allowing even more of Montanas wolves to be trapped and tortured puts lynx and other wildlife in the crosshairs of the states war on wolves. Thats simply unacceptable.

A spokesperson for the Fish and Wildlife Service didnt immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday.

The notice of intent to sue starts a 60-day clock, after which the groups can file a petition in federal court to challenge the agencys continued approval of the export program. Ressler said the lawsuit will ask the court to require that the agency issue an updated biological opinion analyzing the changes to Montanas wolf seasons.

It would be one of several legal actions challenging the state's new wolf policies in the past couple years.

A 2022 lawsuit filed by WildEarth Guardians and Project Coyote alleges that Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks failed to timely review its 2002 wolf management plan, that its use of a model to estimate populations was adopted without public comment and that killing wolves near national parks conflicts with federal law. The case is still pending in Lewis and Clark County District Court after a judge last November denied the groups' request for an injunction to restrict the state's hunting and trapping season.

And last month, another Helena judge issued a summary judgment finding the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission's rules implementing a 2021 law went beyond the limits of the statute. That law authorized hunting wolves on private land outside of daylight hours with the use of artificial lights and night-vision scopes. Ruling in favor of Trap Free Montana and Wolves of the Rockies, that judge found that a rule allowing the use of infrared technology to kill wolves was not authorized by the new law.
This isnt your typical college lab course.

This particular lab is more than 2,190 miles long.

Emory & Henry Colleges Semester-A-Trail program offers college credit for attempting a long-section hike of the Appalachian Trail along with training and an academic component.

More than two dozen Emory & Henry students earned college credit this summer in what Jim Harrison, director of the Center for Outdoor studies called the definition of exceptional hands-on learning in a gorgeous outdoor lab.

Emory & Henrys Outdoor Programming Specialist Lauren Smith participated in a section hike of the Appalachian Trail during the summer. Smith, who instructs students in preparing to undertake a section hike of their own in the Semester-A-Trail program, said her hike prepared me to help students succeed on the trail, noting that the peacefulness and beauty is astounding.

Our students train and learn how to hike the trail to be prepared, Harrison said. Prior to the trip, they learn wilderness first-aid techniques and receive instruction on packing, nutrition, safety and mental wellness. Being on the trail for long periods of time can be physically and mentally challenging, yet so rewarding and breathtaking, said Harrison.

The program is open to college students around the globe in addition to Emory & Henry students. Students from other institutions are welcome to transfer to Emory & Henry for the Semester-A-Trail to engage in a once-in-a-lifetime experience while earning college credits.

I grew up hiking the A.T. and always had a dream of thru-hiking the trail, said E&H senior James Tucker Grimshaw, an environmental studies major. Im most excited to meet new people that have adventure goals that are similar to mine, he said before embarking on the Semester-A-Trail Program.

Ive always loved nature, as well as hiking and camping, so when this opportunity came along, I couldnt help myself, said University of Maryland transfer Matanya Loewenthal. I first saw this program in a video someone sent me, and I signed up on the website within the hour. Im glad I did.

The Appalachian Trail, Grayson Highlands State Park, the South Fork of the Holston River and Hidden Valley Climbing Area are minutes from campus. Students who engage with the Center for Outdoor Studies hike, paddle and climb amidst the natural beauty of Southwest Virginia.

According to the E&H website, student hikers have a pair of options.

One is a section-hiker program, a 470-mile route from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Damascus, Virginia. The site says the hike begins in early March and typically is completed by late April.

The second option is the thru-hike.

Participants in Semester-A-Trail typically enroll in 12 to 15 credit hours; some are condensed courses on a seven-week schedule that are completed by departure for the trail experience, and others are project-pased and are begin before the hike and completed after. All participants take Nature Writing, Stories of Place, Memory and Justice and Long Distance Hiking.

The Center for Outdoor Studies is interviewing future students for the Semester-A-Trail Program for the spring 2024 cohort. The program encourages students to apply for a semester transfer from their home institutions.

Transfers have attended from Temple University, University of Maryland, Capital University, Olin College of Engineering, Bates College and more.

To learn more about the program and interest form, go to www.ehc.edu/ outdoor-program/semester-atrail.
The American Civil Liberties Unions Virginia chapter has filed a lawsuit against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on behalf of three Central American immigrants who they say are being detained unlawfully in Virginia jails against the instruction of federal policy.

It alleges that the immigrants, one from Honduras and two from El Salvador, won a legal protection that prevents their deportation back to their home countries. The protection was won by demonstrating to an immigration judge that doing so would expose them to being tortured or killed.

Despite winning that protection, ICE has not yet released the men, the suit says.

One of the detainees, German Cano Fuentes, was picked up in a traffic stop in August. His lawyers say he fled to the U.S. in 2021.

In March of this year, a judge ruled that Fuentes faced a significant threat of persecution by El Salvadoran gangs and police, and blocked his deportation on humanitarian reasons. Cano Fuentes, who is 29, has remained incarcerated in Virginia since that ruling.

His lawyer, Sophia Gregg, said Cano Fuentes has been languishing in a jail in the middle of nowhere Virginia.

She also believes that the case underscores rogue behaviors at the Washington Field Office of ICE, which handles removals in D.C. and Virginia.

Gregg, who has worked in immigration law since 2016, says ICE has long had a nationwide policy favoring a non-citizens release for individuals who win human rights protections, like Fuentes and his fellow plaintiffs.

In 2021, that policy was reiterated in a memo from ICEs then-acting director, Tae Johnson, who said the policy helps preserve the agencys limited detention resources.

However, Gregg says Fuentes case demonstrates that the Washington Field Office is not following those instructions.

In late July, Erik Weiss, a deputy from the field office, told Cano Fuentes that he could not be released because he had not proved he was not a flight risk or that he would not pose a danger to the community.

This is a pattern of the Washington Field Office, Gregg said. Theyre not following what Secretary Mayorkas has laid out as the policy of ICE.

The ACLU believes that the three men remain detained because the agency still hopes to deport them to a different country or to a third-party country. However, none of the men in question has relationships with other countries, she said, which makes the identification of a country willing to accept them nearly impossible.

James Covington, a spokesperson for ICE, did not return a request for comment.

The suit was announced by ACLU VA in tandem with a broader push to litigate more immigrants rights cases. In the past, the ACLU has focused on advocating against anti-trans policies, solitary confinement and voting restrictions.

Our new Immigrants Rights project will bring extra firepower to the existing fight by using our signature mix of litigation, policy, and organizing capacity to advocate for fairness in Virginia courts, according to the groups news release on Friday.
BETHLEHEM  The Bethlehem Lions Club meeting was held at the Bethlehem Fire Department on Aug. 3. After the business meeting, Dr. Donald York, president, called up several Lions to present and/or accept awards that were received at the recent Zone 1 meeting from District 31-I Governor Lion Kathy Poirie.

Past Bethlehem Lions Club president and current vice president Lion Kathy Bethany was honored with the Gary Steele Outstanding Zone Chairperson Award and the club received the District 31-I Bennie Pugh Membership Growth Award for the 2022-23 Lions year.

Bethlehem membership chair Lion Greg Conrad was honored once again by the district with the Gene Everette Membership Award for his recruiting efforts for the Lions Club of Bethlehem over the past year.

Lion John Lackey, a Melvin Jones Fellow himself, presented Lion Jon Snellings with a Melvin Jones Fellow plaque from the Lions International Foundation for dedicated humanitarian services. The award was named for the founder of Lions International and is the highest form of recognition and embodies humanitarian ideas consistent with the nature and purpose of Lionism. This was bestowed upon Snellings for his leadership and service with the Unifour Kids Sight Vision Van screenings serving western North Carolina.

For more information about Lionism and its services, contact Danny Seaver at 828-322-5155 or dwseaver@aol.com.
On a rainy Thursday morning, the construction for the new Fonta Flora Trailhead and Arrowhead Park formally kicked off in Old Fort.

A ground-breaking ceremony originally was scheduled to take place Thursday off Lackey Town Road by the Friends of the Fonta Flora State Trail and officials from the town of Old Fort and McDowell County. But due to the rainy weather, the event was moved to the inside of the Old Fort Depot.

Judge Bob Hunter has long worked on this project and is a board member emeritus with the Friends of Fonta Flora State Trail Board. He welcomed all those who attended the ceremony.

This long-awaited project is the result of a Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) grant of $330,000 with a $330,000 community match provided by the town of Old Fort, McDowell County and Friends of Fonta Flora State Trail, whose collaborative efforts made it possible. The trailhead marks an important milestone in the ongoing 100-mile plan for the Fonta Flora State Trail that will connect Morganton with Asheville, according to a news release.

Things are coming together, Hunter said at the ceremony.

Amanda Elledge Finn, executive director of the Friends of Fonta Flora State Trail, pointed out the features of the new park and trailhead on a map.

Spanning 10 acres, the trailhead and park are in the first phase of construction and will include 100 parking spaces, a dog park, restrooms, a picnic shelter and 1,300 linear feet of the Fonta Flora State Trail. Future phases include a playground, a pump track, an event lawn, a pollinator meadow with walking paths, a fitness playscape and a hammock grove. It is designed by Destination by Design to be a hub of family-friendly outdoor recreation for the town of Old Fort and McDowell County residents. Its location off of Interstate 40 also will serve as an enticement to bring visitors to downtown Old Forts businesses. This new trailhead, when open, will offer outdoor recreation for walkers, runners and bikers.

The trailhead and park project will tie into the Recreational Trails Program Grant recently awarded to Friends of Fonta Flora State Trail for the trailhead entry road and trailhead extension that will offer an additional half mile of natural-surface trail that will begin construction immediately following the completion of the trailhead and park. Baker Grading and Landscaping, a company located in Old Fort, received the bid to complete the project, according to the news release.

Friends of the Fonta Flora State Trail is the official nonprofit partner of the Fonta Flora State Trail whose vision is to promote, plan, build, maintain and advocate for the Fonta Flora State Trail with diverse trail partners in western North Carolina through the Fonta Flora State Trail to promote physical health, mental wellness, economic development, and outdoor recreation for the enjoyment and education of all people.

Brian Strong, acting director of the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation, talked about all the different partners who are working to make this happen.

It takes this many people to build a park, he said. Its amazing how much has been done here in a short period of time.

Alderman Wayne Stafford said the town of Old Fort is proud to be a part of this effort.

We are a small town with limited funds but we do what we can, he said.

County Commission Chairman Tony Brown said McDowells government is excited to be a partner and to promote the countys natural beauty through the Fonta Flora Trail.

We have one of the greatest natural resources in the nation, said Brown. Its an honor to be a part of this.

Hunter reminded everyone this new trail running from Morganton to Asheville will go around Lake James and connect with Marion, Old Fort and Black Mountain.

Steve Pierce, president of the McDowell Trails Association, said his organization gave a donation to the county for the establishment of a dog park in McDowell County. He added that 2023 is being celebrated as the Year of the Trail in North Carolina and this celebration should continue after 2023 is over.

Hunter concluded the event by saying the new trailhead and park should be completed a year from now.

Hopefully, we will see a dedication next year, he added.
A severe thunderstorm swept through the Catawba Valley on Monday afternoon leaving behind a mess of downed trees and power outages in Catawba and Alexander counties.

The majority of outages are in Catawba County. Nearly 12,500 customers in the county were still without power Tuesday morning, according to Duke Energys outages map. The map said that 388 customers were without power in Alexander County.

Alexander County Public Information Officer Gary Herman said around 378 EnergyUnited customers are also without power in the county.

The most heavily impacted areas are in and around Mountain View, Catawba, Conover and Newton, according to the map. An alert on the map said that crews are working to assess damages and make repairs across the Carolinas.

At one point Monday afternoon, 90% of Newton was without power, according to the city of Newtons website.

Catawba County

Around 20 structures were reported to have been damaged in Catawba County, the countys public information officer Amy McCauley said Tuesday morning.

McCauley said the county received a lot of reports about trees blocking roads and damaged powerlines. She added that the bulk of the damages were reported in Conover and Newton, but that calls were received from throughout the county.

McCauley said emergency management was working Tuesday morning to assess the damage and crews were working to clear roads and restore power.

The most important thing is that no significant injuries were reported, McCauley said.

Conover officials reported no injuries from the storm.

City workers said there were more than 50 reports of blocked roads, downed trees, and downed powerlines caused by the storm in Conover.

Hickory Communications Specialist Sarah Killian said the city is not aware of any injuries or fatalities due to the storm.

No significant damages reported  mainly trees down on power lines, in roads, and on a couple structures, Killian said in an email at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Several smaller streets are still blocked due to trees across the road with power lines attached. Once Duke Energy removes the lines, City crews will be able to clean them up and reopen roadways. Multiple traffic signals are still down due to power outages.

As of 1 p.m. on Tuesday, about 170 Newton residents are still without power, according to an update on the city website.

Crews are working to repair the system issues that are causing the remaining outages, and we expect the number of affected customers to continue to decline until power is restored to everyone by Wednesday evening, the update said.

Newton City Manager Alex Frick said Tuesday afternoon that major roads are now clear and most traffic lights are now working. Frick said only minor injuries were reported in the storms aftermath, including several vehicle wrecks.

We thank our residents and businesses for their patience as we work to collect yard waste and storm debris, the update said. Our yard waste collection staff were stretched thin before the storm, and they will be working even harder now to maintain collection schedules.

Claremont City Manager Jason Brown said there were no injuries reported. Trees fell on vehicles, houses and in the road, Brown said. He also noted the towns Main Street was blocked for a time. As of this morning, all roads are clear in Claremont, he said.

Maiden Town Manager Todd Herms said three households lost power for around two hours on South F Avenue, but no injuries were reported. Herms said one tree that fell on a powerline caught fire but caused no major damage.

Herms said electricity was restored between 7 and 8 p.m. Maidens crews then went to help in Newton and were there until about 5 a.m., Herms said.

Herms said the Maiden Town Council recently voted to spend more money on trimming trees near powerlines. Herms said he thinks, in this case, the $90,000 budgeted for trimming paid off.

Alexander County

The storm ripped part of the roof off of a building at the Taylorsville Lions Club Fairgrounds, leaving a room exposed to the elements.

In photos provided by the Central Alexander Fire Department, insulation, tin roofing and other debris could be seen strewn about the buildings yard. Another photo taken from inside the building showed tiles scattered across the floor and the sky through a gaping hole.

Huckleberry Ridge Road, Lentz Road and Willie McLeod Road were still closed due to trees on powerlines, Herman said. No injuries were reported in Alexander County.
The Crimean Wars roots lay in a tangled web of religious tensions and geopolitical ambitions. The Ottoman Empire found itself at odds with the Russian Empire over the rights of Christian minorities in Palestine, then part of the Ottoman realm. France advocated for Roman Catholic rights, while Russia supported those of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Russian expansionism, fueled by the decline of the Ottoman Empire and the Russian-Turkish wars preceding the Crimean War, also played a significant role, with Britain and France seeking to preserve the Ottoman Empire to maintain the balance of power in Europe and counteract Russian expansion.

The conflicts main theatre was in Central Asia, encompassing regions in modern-day Ukraine, where the Russian Empire faced off against an alliance of Ottoman, British, and French forces. The campaign in Crimea exposed the military and logistical incompetence of the British forces, juxtaposing it with the bravery and endurance of the Russian forces.

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As the war unfolded, the British and French governments saw the need to form an alliance to support the Ottoman Empire, counterbalance Russian power, and protect their trade interests in the region. This alliance would prove to be a crucial factor in the Crimean War, shaping its outcome and leaving a lasting impact on European politics.
AFP Commander Helen Schneider said most of the men arrested were IT professionals. Photo: Supplied

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) have arrested 19 Australian men, the majority of which worked as full-time ICT professionals, after unwinding technologically sophisticated obfuscations  including an encrypted dark web peer-to-peer network  in a major operation stemming from the murder of two FBI agents.

Thirteen children were removed from harm in Australia during the culmination of Operation Bakis, an AFP investigation that began in 2022 after two FBI agents were fatally shot by a Florida computer programmer as they were serving him with a search warrant related to an ongoing investigation in that country.

Revelations that the programmer was involved in a global peer-to-peer child abuse network, which also included Australian members, led the AFP to commence the operation  which partnered the AFP with state police in Queensland, NSW, South Australia, Tasmania, and Western Australia in what AFP Commander Helen Schneider called a demonstration of the unique ability of the AFP to connect with its partners in law enforcement on a national level as well as engaging with international partners like the FBI.

The FBI  which arrested 79 individuals in the US as part of its own investigations  supplied a package of 211 international leads, which helped the AFP and specialists at its Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) track down and rescue the 13 Australian children.

The investigation also led to the discovery of many terabytes of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), which has seen the 19 Australian men charged with 138 offences, with two already sentenced to jail  including an ACT public servant sentenced to 14-and-a-half years, and a NSW Central Coast man who was sentenced to five years imprisonment after pleading guilty to possessing around five terabytes of child abuse material.

Undertaking the complex investigation was made harder because the men, most of whom work as ICT specialists, were using encryption and other methods to avoid law enforcement detection whilst they were sharing videos and files of child abuse material, Schneider said during a press conference announcing the operation.

Members of the child-abuse ring  who were aged between 32 and 81 years old  used anonymous file sharing, message chat and website tools that also allowed them search for and distribute images and videos.

Some of the offenders  the majority of whom Schneider said were experienced in ICT or working full-time in current ICT roles  were judged to have been committing offences for more than ten years, using the secure peer-to-peer network to avoid detection by authorities.

They had a higher level of technical competency, she said. Viewing, distributing and producing child abuse material is an horrific crime, and the lengths that this network went to to avoid detection is an indication of just how dangerous they were.

A call for global action

The arrests come just weeks after a United Nations call to action, backed by 74 countries, called for urgent efforts to proactively remove and combat child sexual exploitation and abuse material online.

That statement called for governments, internet service providers, and other actors to work together to facilitate an effective response to the problem, as well as calls for stronger public awareness campaigns about the scourge of child abuse materials.

Authorities received more than 21 million reports of CSAM in 2020, including more than 65 million images, videos, and other files, according to the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children.

And while a recent Australian Institute of Criminology review found that conventional and social-media anti-CSAM campaigns have successfully reached large numbers of offenders, both detected and undetected, program outcomes were mixed, with initiatives aimed at child sexual abuse offenders not necessarily effective in reducing CSAM offending.

Improving the effectiveness of public education and law-enforcement campaigns will be assisted by the use of common data-driven systems, the UN said, advising authorities to work together to build common data sets, for or among competent authorities, of known child sexual abuse materials to assist in the detection, reporting and removal of CSAM.

The AFP, FBI and their international partners will continue to work tirelessly and relentlessly in this crime type, Schneider said, calling the culmination of the investigation a very significant outcome.

Our investigators are extremely passionate about this, and I have every confidence that with our partners, we are tackling this type of crime effectively.
CHARLOTTE  Atrium Health announced that 20 of its nurses were named North Carolina Great 100 nurses for 2023, more than any other organization in the state.

Out of hundreds of applications, only 100 nurses are selected each year by their peers for this prestigious honor, which recognizes nursing excellence in North Carolina.

These 20 nurses represent the continued commitment to nursing excellence across Atrium Health, said Mary Beth Kingston, executive vice president and chief nursing executive for Advocate Heath, of which Atrium Health is a part.

Atrium Health nurses have long led the way in nursing excellence, innovation and care. For these 20 nurses to be recognized by their peers for this once-in-a-lifetime honor highlights their extraordinary commitment to our patients, their families and the communities we are privileged to serve.

The Great 100, Inc. has been honoring North Carolina nurses commitment to excellence for more than 30 years and also provides scholarships for nursing education in the state. This years Great 100 class was selected from hundreds of applicants, based on several criteria:

Promotes and advances the profession of nursing in their practice setting and/or community.

Demonstrates integrity, honesty and accountability.

Displays commitment to patients, families and colleagues.

Demonstrates caring and assists others to grow and develop.

Radiates energy and enthusiasm and contributes to overall outcomes in their practice setting.

The nine nurses recognized in the Charlotte area are: Phyllis Justus from Atrium Health nursing administration; Ashleigh M. Taylor from Atrium Health Levine Childrens Hospital; Cyril Amoin, Sidonne Hobbs and Miranda Scoggins from Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center; Jaclyn M. Duncan from Atrium Health Kings Mountain; Kotaya Griffith from Atrium Health Senior Care; Venice Dixon from Atrium Health Union; and Missy Baker from Atrium Health Union West.

The 11 nurses recognized in the Winston-Salem area are: Sandra Bowman, Makia Cade, Tawanna Hairston, Carolyn Huffman, Jennifer Ingle, Anika Lyerly, James (Mack) Tolbert, Carolyn Williamson and Laneita Williamson from Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist; Heath Earley from Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Brenner Childrens Hospital; and Rebecca Tamayo from Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist High Point Medical Center.
A Burke County woman convicted of second-degree murder for a fatal 2012 DWI crash has continuously written letters to the victims father, the man said during a court hearing on Monday.

David Britt said he has felt harassed because April Cheri Childers sends him letters around the anniversary of his sons death and his sons birthday. Britt made the statements during a session of Catawba County Superior Court on Monday.

On April 13, 2012, Ashley Shane Britt died in a traffic crash on N.C. Highway 127 in Hickory when a car driven by Childers crossed the center line and collided with Britts vehicle. Britt was 37 when he died.

Ashley's father David Britt said that even after moving to Wake County, Childers found his address and continued to write. He said he does not want to hear from Childers anymore.

One of these letters is telling me how now she is a grandmother. Shes got five grandkids, David Britt said to Superior Court Judge Ed Wilson. She killed my son, sir. I will never have the opportunity to be a granddad. He was my only child.

Judge Wilson told Childers to stop contacting the victims family.

On Sept. 17, 2013, Childers, 37, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and aggravated felony serious injury by motor vehicle in the death of Ashley Britt, according to a previous Hickory Daily Record article.

Childers was previously convicted of driving while impaired on May 6, 1997, in Burke County, July 8, 2003, in Caldwell County and on May 10, 2006, in Catawba County, according to a previous Hickory Daily Record article.

David Britt said he was upset to be back in court because he thought this case was over with.

Childers was in court because she was requesting that the nearly $13,000 in restitution she was ordered to pay the family be made into a civil judgment. Childers said that she has not paid any of the money because she is not allowed on work release due to a medical condition.

Wilson ordered Childers to pay the family $12,701.40. The restitution was to cover the cost of the funeral, tombstone and graveyard plot, David Britt told the court.

Its not about the money to me, Britt said. Its about the court ordered this. She needs to do what the court said.
A combination of good domestic, exports, and after-market sales of automotive components last fiscal resulted in the industry logging a 32.8 percent growth to Rs.5.60 lakh crore or $ 69.7 billion, said top officials of the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA). Sharing his insights on the performance of the industry, ACMA President and Chairman, Sona Comstar, Sunjay Kapur said: "On the front of trade, it is appreciable that there has been steady growth in exports despite recessionary trends in Europe and the US which are key export destinations for the auto components industry. Strong rebound in vehicle sales in the domestic market also led to a sharper rise in imports that has translated into a trade deficit this year."He said sales of cars, commercial vehicles and tractors have now reached the pre-pandemic levels and even the two-wheeler industry has recovered well. "With significant mitigation in the supply-side issues of availability of semiconductors, input raw-material costs and logistics, the vehicle industry is expected to continue to perform well in FY24, which augurs well for the auto components sector. That apart, exports and growth in the domestic aftermarket continue to be robust," Kapur said.Looking back at the fiscal that went by, ACMA Director General Vinnie Mehta said: "The component industry sized up to Rs 5.60 lakh crore ($69.7 billion) registering 32.8 percent growth, thus outpacing its highest ever turnover of Rs. 4.20 lakh crore in FY 21-22. Exports grew by 5.2 percent to Rs 1.61 lakh crore ($20.1 billion) while imports grew by 10.9 percent to Rs 1.63 lakh crore ($20.3 billion). The Aftermarket, estimated at Rs. 85,333 crores also witnessed a steady growth of 15 percent. Component sales to OEMs in the domestic market grew by 39.5 percent to Rs. 4.76 lakh crore."Key findings of the ACMA Annual Industry Performance Review for 2022-23: Auto Component sales to OEMs, in the domestic market, at Rs 4.76 lakh crore ($59.3 billion) grew 39.5 per cent compared to the previous year. Consumption of increased value-added components and shift in market preference towards larger and more powerful vehicles contributed to the increased turnover of the auto-components sector. Exports of auto components witnessed growth of 5.2 percent to Rs 1.61 lakh crore ($20.1 billion) in 2022-23 in contrast to Rs 1.41 lakh crore ($19 billion) in 2021-22.North America, accounting for 32 percent of exports, saw a growth of 8 percent. Europe accounted for 31 percent and Asia for 26 percent, grew 3 percent and 4 percent, respectively. The key export items included drive transmission and steering, engine components, body/chassis, suspension, braking and others. Traction in the domestic market also reflected on imports of components into India. Component imports grew by 10.9 percent in 2022-23 to Rs 1.63 lakh crore ($20.3 billion) from Rs 1.36 lakh crore ($18.3 billion) in 2021-22. Asia accounted for 66 percent of imports, followed by Europe and North America at 26 percent and 6 percent, respectively.Imports from Asia grew 12 percent, while those from Europe by 6 percent and from North America by 23 percent. Increased movement of vehicles post-pandemic and surge in demand for used vehicles led to buoyancy in the aftermarket across all segments. The turnover of the aftermarket in FY 2022-23 stood at Rs 85,333 crore ($10.6 billion) compared to Rs 74,203 crore ($10 billion) in the previous year.
British telco provider BT announced that the first seven of its Street Hub 2.0 units have been installed in Newcastle, bringing Wi-Fi, free calls, wayfinding information, and rapid device charging.

The units provide directions for tourists and have the capacity to be fitted with signal boosting 4G and 5G cells.

The first Street Hubs were switched last Thursday at the sites including streets in Byker, Benton, Heaton and Haymarket.

The hubs are part of BTs initiative to improve Wi-Fi for communities across the UK.

As part of the initiative, BT will also be gifting free advertising to small businesses as they face increased costs during the current economic situation.

The company is donating up to 7.5 million of outdoor advertising space to small businesses across the UK as part of the rollout of the new digital units.

Gifting free advertising to small businesses in the city also means we are able to play our part in supporting its economy, said BT head of street Michael Smy.

One of the first businesses in the city to benefit from the free advertising space will be Bud Couriers, based in the city. The organisation won a competition to land the free advertising as part of the introduction of hubs in the city.

"The BT Street Hubs have been a blessing for my small business. This month, with the introduction of the clean air zone in Newcastle city centre, these adverts are positioned perfectly to reach those affected by the issue, said Bud Couriers owner James Tyer.

Using these boards, we are able to showcase our role as an authority in Newcastles urban sustainable logistics."

BT is rolling out the Street Hub units across a range of major cities in the UK with Sheffield joining places like Birmingham, Nottingham, and Glasgow.
Economic actions attempt to curb technology firms

China Daily) 09:35, August 08, 2023

People visit the ZTE booth at the Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Jan 9, 2018. ZHANG SHUO/CHINA NEWS SERVICE

The United States has continuously expanded the scope of its economic sanctions and export controls pertaining to China.

The US does this primarily through the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons, or SDN, list; the Non-SDN Chinese Military Industrial Complex list; and the Entity List, mostly made up of companies from China, and some from other countries.

Published by the US Commerce Department Bureau of Industry and Security, or BIS, the Entity List is a trade restriction document consisting of certain foreign persons, entities or governments. Entities on the list are subject to US license requirements for the export or transfer of specified items, such as some US technologies.

There are more than 700 Chinese companies on the list, most recently 43 companies that were added in June, several having to do with the aerospace industry.

The recent additions include Aviation Industry Corp of China 612 Institute, Aviation International Corp of China International Simulation Technology Service Co Ltd, Beijing China Aviation Technology Co Ltd, and Shanghai Aerospace Science and Technology Development Co Ltd.

Most of the US economic sanctions against China began in 2018, when then-US president Donald Trump's administration banned US agencies from using any systems, equipment and services from Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, alleging the company was aiding the Chinese government in "espionage activities".

The efforts continued under the Joe Biden administration with the aim of trying to slow the growth of China's technology sector.

An action that drew widespread media coverage was the US Congress' ban on the popular video app TikTok on federal government devices in December. More than half of US states have enacted similar mandates. Under the measure, federal employees were barred from using the app owned by ByteDance of Beijing on government devices and gave the Biden administration 60 days to issue agency directives.

In August 2018, Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 that banned equipment from Huawei and ZTE Corp from being used by the US federal government, citing security concerns.

On May 15, 2019, the US Department of Commerce added Huawei and 70 foreign subsidiaries and "affiliates" to its Entity List under the Export Administration Regulations.

It said the company had been indicted for "knowingly and willfully causing the export, re-export, sale and supply, directly and indirectly, of goods, technology and services (banking and other financial services) from the United States to Iran and the government of Iran without obtaining a license from the Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control".

That restricts US companies from doing business with Huawei without a government license.

Various US-based companies immediately froze their business with Huawei to comply with the regulation.

On Oct 7, the BIS implemented controls related to advanced computing and semiconductor manufacturing in China.

"These updates will restrict (China's) ability to both purchase and manufacture certain high-end chips used in military applications," the BIS said.

"The export controls  restrict (China's) ability to obtain advanced computing chips, develop and maintain supercomputers, and manufacture advanced semiconductors."

In March, the Commerce Department added 28 Chinese companies to the Entity List, including Inspur and Loongson, saying they acquired US technology in support of China's military.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Elementary school students are becoming more discerning by the year and want stylish backpacks that dont look too babyish. While most kids used to be happy with Sonic or Pokemon backpacks, youll have to do better than that these days.

If you're looking for trendy backpacks for elementary school students, start with popular brands. Then you can look at color and print options with tie-dye and color gradients being big hits with kids right now.

What to look for in a backpack for an elementary school student

Size

There's no single correct size for an elementary school backpack. The amount a first grader needs to carry is significantly less than what a fifth grader must take to school each day. Not to mention that little kids aren't capable of carrying as much as older students.

A good way to find a backpack of a suitable size is to measure the length and width of your child's back. Kids shouldn't wear backpacks that are larger than their backs. If you check the measurements of any bags you're considering and compare them to the back measurement you've taken, you won't accidentally choose a bag that's too large.

Comfort

It's important that your chosen backpack is comfortable for your child to wear, even when full. Padded straps reduce the feeling of pressure on the shoulders, which can make a big difference.

It's also nice to have a layer of padding on the back wall of the bag that sits between the bag's contents and the back of the child carrying it. This keeps the corners of books and binders from digging into kids' backs.

For the comfort and well-being of your child, make sure their backpack doesn't weigh more than 10% of their body weight when full. Anything heavier than this can lead to back pain.

Compartments

Kids need to stay organized at school, which is easier with backpacks that have a range of compartments. Side pockets are great for holding water bottles, while front and interior zippered pockets are handy for holding small items they need easy access to, such as spare pens. Interior dividers can also help with organization. For instance, they're useful for keeping homework separate from textbooks.

Brand

Some brands are more popular than others. For instance, Fjallraven backpacks are so on-trend at the moment that it's rare to walk down the street without spotting someone wearing one. Older elementary school students are more likely to care about brands than younger ones, but the fact remains  if you want a trendy backpack, brand matters.

Sportswear brands like Nike and Adidas never go completely out of style, so they're safe choices if you're not sure what's popular right now. The same goes for Eastpak and JanSport backpacks, which are enduringly popular. Vans is a fun brand for kids into skating or alternative style.

Color or print

You can find school backpacks in practically every solid hue and color combination imaginable. Some kids prefer single-color backpacks or those with mixed block colors, such as a red body, blue front pocket and green side pockets.

Other kids may prefer prints that make their backpacks stand out. Tie-dye is currently a hugely trendy print, thanks to a resurgence of 90s and early 2000s fashion. However, you'll have countless other options to choose from, including color gradients, animal print, camo and floral prints. It's a good idea to consult your child before buying, unless you're certain what they'd like best.

Small backpacks for elementary school student

[ Fjallraven Kanken Mini Classic Backpack ]

This mini version of the iconic Fjallraven Kanken backpack is great for kids who don't have a huge amount to carry. Measuring approximately 11 inches tall and 8 inches wide, it comes in many colors, including plum and black with rainbow straps.

Sold by Amazon

[ Nike Kids' Classic Backpack ]

Available in either solid black or solid pink with a Nike logo, this is an understated choice for kids who want something basic and stylish. The shoulder straps are well-padded and easy to adjust.

Sold by Amazon

[ Puma Kids' Meridian Backpack ]

Kids will easily stay organized with this backpack, thanks to the array of pockets and compartments offered. It comes in three color combinations: black and silver, gray and yellow and red and camo.

Sold by Amazon

[ State Kane Kids Backpack ]

Simple and stylish, this is a perfect backpack for kids who want to look effortlessly trendy. It's not too large but still roomy enough to fit folders, pencil cases, lunch bags and so on, and there are ample pockets to stay organized.

Sold by Bloomingdale's

[ Simple Modern Fletcher Collection Kids Backpack ]

Super light and compact, this is a great backpack for first- and second-graders. The prints offered range from understated, such as stripes and galaxy prints, to fun animal themes, such as dinosaurs and sea creatures.

Sold by Walmart

Large backpacks for elementary school students

[ JanSport Big Student Backpack ]

Just right for older elementary school students, this is a bag that will see them through into middle school. It's roomy, with space for a 15-inch laptop plus plenty of books and other school essentials. Additionally, it includes large pockets and compartments.

Sold by Amazon

[ Adidas Back to School Creator 2 Backpack ]

Spacious but not oversized, this backpack is suitable for kids in third grade and up. You can choose from a range of cool designs, including a rose pink and onyx gray gradient print and a stonewashed rainbow print.

Sold by Amazon

[ Vans Old Skool III Backpack ]

This Vans backpack is a great choice for young skaters or kids who like bags with clean, timeless profiles. This one comes in a range of solid colors and prints, including a classic red checkerboard print and a black tie-dye print.

Sold by Amazon

[ Eastpak Padded Pak'r Backpack ]

With its classic design and spacious interior, this Eastpak backpack is a practical choice for older elementary schoolers. It comes in several solid colors and prints, including blue, pink and palm leaf print.

Sold by Amazon

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COMPANY NEWS: Cequence Security, the leading provider of unified API protection, today shared details of its growth during the second half of FY23. Cequence's unique approach to uncovering and preventing API threats that can lead to fraud, business logic attacks and data loss has resulted in the company protecting US$9 trillion in assets among Fortune/Global 500 companies and more than two billion user accounts worldwide. In addition, 24% of our customers are Global/Fortune 500.

Cequence achieved several major milestones in the second half of FY23, including a 555% growth in customer expansion, 230% growth in annual recurring revenue (ARR), 300% growth in new customer logo acquisition and an expanded footprint into new countries and verticals.

The company secured investments from Hewlett Packard Pathfinder and Prosperity7 Ventures to accelerate product innovation, keep up with increasing demand and expand the secure connectivity needed to mitigate business interruptions and bring peace of mind to enterprises. Most recently, Cequence secured two additional investments from Sanabil Investments, to further the company's expansion into the Middle East and The Cash Catalyst, to further help CISOs, CIOs and other executives struggling with discovering and protecting their APIs.

"We are extremely pleased with the rapid adoption of our unified API protection platform by some of the largest organisations in the world," said Cequence founder and CEO Ameya Talwalkar. "Our ability to increase valuation, raise funds and drive extensive growth across our customer base and ARR in this tough macroeconomic market is a testament to our comprehensive product offering and proven ability to land and expand at some of the largest enterprises in the world."

"Cequence has rapidly emerged as a key and influential player in the API security market. Most recently, we were recognised as a best-in-class vendor in the recent API Security Evaluation report, earning one of the highest product scores in the history of Datos Insights evaluation reports," continued Talwalkar.

Throughout the second half of FY23, the company also successfully implemented a strategic product update, expanded into new geographic markets and garnered prestigious awards and certifications, including:

 Enhancements to the unified API protection platform: With the latest unified API protection (UAP) platform updates, organisations can now protect their users from online fraud, operationalise security findings with low-code/no-code API SOAR-like workflows and rapidly deploy API security testing with built-in generative AI automation. These capabilities continue to set Cequence apart from other point API security, bot management, anti-fraud and WAF vendors by having the industry's first and only unified API protection platform that covers the entire API lifecycle. With UAP, customers can discover with API Spyder, comply with API Sentinel and protect with API Spartan.

 Increased protection and intelligence from the CQ Prime Threat Research Team: In the second half of 2023, the team saw traffic increase more than 3x year-over-year, mitigated more than 38 billion malicious API transactions, protected 50% more users and topped out with protecting 30 million unique user accounts in March. The industry-leading intel database grew 23%, with intelligence on more than 75 million malicious attacker IP addresses and more than 600,000 being ingested every day.

 Geographic expansion: Cequence announced the appointment of Glen Maloney as ANZ country lead to accelerate the company's expansion in Australia and New Zealand. Cequence also opened a new office in India and appointed Robin Panwala as its first functional leader and head of India.

 Industry accolades: Cequence's unified API protection solution was named the gold winner for API Management, Full Life Cycle API Management and "T Solutions for Retail categories in the 2023 Globee awards for information technology.

 Industry recognition: Cequence was recognised as a "best-in-class" solution in the Datos Insights Vendor Evaluation: API Security Solutions report, earning one of the highest product scores in the history of Datos Insights vendor evaluation reports.

 Increased customer growth and user adoption: New customers included the biggest supermarket chain in Australia, the largest telecom company in the Nordic and Baltic region, one of the largest airline companies and most valuable brands in Europe and one of the largest global providers of cloud-based human capital management (HCM) solutions.

 Certifications: Cequence announced it achieved ISO 27001 certification for the information security management system in support of its Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). This certification gives clients peace of mind that Cequence's policies, processes and standards fulfill the stringent security and compliance criteria for protecting customer data.

 Advisors: Cequence added Dr James I. Cash to its strategic advisory board.

"With the increasing adoption of APIs, cloud computing, mobile applications and IoT devices, the attack surface has dramatically grown, and APIs have become the number one attack surface," said Cash, who is founder and CEO of The Cash Catalyst, and a retired board member from numerous Fortune 50 companies. "This makes API security solutions indispensable. Cequence is uniquely addressing this problem and proving their ability to protect some of the largest organisations in the world. We look forward to supporting the Cequence team and helping as they continue to scale the business."

"APIs are a huge attack surface that unfortunately are being more frequently exploited by attackers," said Dell Technologies Capital managing director Deepak Jeevankumar. "It's therefore imperative that CIOs and CISOs have an API security strategy. As an early investor in Cequence, we are very pleased by continued growth even during this tough macroeconomic market. From the beginning, Cequence took a unique approach to the API security problem and went beyond just testing and detecting to prevent an attack. They also have proven their ability to protect some of the largest organisations in the world. With the unified API pProtection platform combined with the unique expertise of the CQ Prime Threat Research team, Cequence is providing the only solution on the market that covers the full API security lifecycle."

About Cequence Security

Cequence, a pioneer in unified API protection, is the only solution that unifies discovery, compliance, and protection across all internal and external APIs to defend against fraud, business logic attacks, exploits, and unintended data leakage. It takes less than 15 minutes to onboard an API and requires no instrumentation, SDK, or JavaScript deployment. 24% of Cequence customers are large Fortune 500 organisations. Cequence secures more than 6 billion daily API calls and protects more than 2 billion user accounts across these customers. Its flexible deployment model supports passive/inline, 100% on-prem, SaaS, and hybrid deployments.
Telco operator TPG Telecom has appointed former Vodafone New Zealand executive John Boniciolli as its new chief financial officer, replacing Grant Dempsey who will be retiring from the company in November.

In a statement, TPG Telecom said Dempsey will remain as the group's CFO in an advisory capacity to assist the handover until 13 November.

According to reports, Boniciolli is currently Domain Holdings Australia CFO where he has served for seven months. He was with Vodafone, and held senior executive positions at Telstra and Lendlease.

"We are pleased to welcome John to TPG Telecom and believe his time with Vodafone New Zealand and proven expertise and vision will play a crucial role in driving the next stage of our sustainable growth," said TPG Telecom chief executive Inaki Berroeta.

Johns appointment reinforces TPG Telecom's commitment to securing top-tier talent to contribute to the Company's continued success in the dynamic and highly competitive Australian telecommunications sector," he added.

Berroeta thanked Dempsey for his contribution to the company, and wished him the very best for his retirement.

Dempsey joined TPG Telecom in February 2022 from mining company Alumina.

He worked at JP Morgan from 2007 to 2017 as head of investment banking and at Citi as managing director for investment banking from 2004 to 2007.

On behalf of the board and our leadership team, I would like to thank Grant for his significant contribution, guidance and commitment to TPG Telecom during a period of transformation and growth, Berroeta said.

The CEO wished him well and thanked him for his service.
NEWTON  A Newton man has been arrested and charged with first degree murder in the June death of another Jasper County man.

Paul S. Schoonover, 30, of Newton was charged Monday Jasper County Circuit Court with five counts of first degree murder and two counts of aggravated battery in the June death of Terry L. Eastep, an Illinois State Police news release said.

Schoonover is being held in the Jasper County Jail on a total of $1,650,000 bond in two cases, requiring $165,000 to be released. A preliminary hearing is set for Sept. 7.

Eastep, 59, also of Newton, was discovered with life-threatening injuries inside a residence in the 100 block of Marion Street in Newton early on June 8, the release said. Eastep died as a result of his injuries on June 11.

The Newton Police Department requested the aid of the State Police Division of Criminal Investigation in the homicide investigation. The departments were also assisted by the Jasper County Sheriffs Office and State Police Crime Scene Services.

The news release said the charges followed a "thorough investigation."

No additional information is being released.
MATTOON  Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation is pleased to announce the Mattoon High School seniors that have been named recipients of the 2023 MHS Alumni Scholarship.

A total of $17,500 has been awarded to the following students:

Emma Davis has received a $2,000 Carl Eatchson Education Scholarship. She plans to attend Eastern Illinois University to study education.

Blaine Powers has received a $1,000 Helen Janssen Scholarship. He will attend Lake Land College to begin pre-med studies.

Mitchell Gergeni has received a $500 Carl Eatchson Education Scholarship. He plans to attend Lake Land College to pursue a secondary education degree.

Rease Daniels has received a $2,000 First Mid Bank and Trust Scholarship. She plans to attend the University of Tampa to pursue pre-med studies.

Luke Perry has received a $1,500 Florence Parker Scholarship. He will begin pursuing an architecture degree at Ball State University.

Ava Willingham has received a $1,500 First Mid Bank and Trust Scholarship. She will begin pre-med studies at the College of Charleston.

Students receiving a $1,000 Mattoon High School Alumni Scholarship are:

Laney Wright, who will study business and art at Eastern Illinois University..

Ty Eastin, who will study engineering at Kaskaskia College.

Jason Skocy, who will attend the University of Mississippi to study criminal justice with an emphasis on homeland security.

Quentin Wright, who is pursuing vocational studies at Parkland College.

Berit Haldorsen, who is pursuing a business degree at Eastern Illinois University.
SHELBYVILLE  The county farm bill birthed out of an ongoing debate in Shelby County has been signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

House Bill 1076  a bipartisan effort spearheaded by State Rep. Lance Yednock, D-Ottawa  was approved by the governor on Friday.

The now public act amends the Illinois Counties Code and allows, with some restrictions, the leasing of county-owned farmland. But the bills path to becoming law proved controversial to many in Shelby County, and it has failed to provide any clarity on the future of the countys farmland.

Hundreds of self-identified Shelby County residents filed witness slips in support of HB1076, which was approved unanimously by the state legislature after being amended in the Senate.

Many of those residents sought legislative protections for the continued farming of the county-owned farmland. Others say the land fails to provide an explicit public purpose, thereby making farming of the land unconstitutional.

The Illinois Attorney Generals Office has not released a formal opinion on the Shelby County debate but has also never taken action against the county or suggested continued farming would be unconstitutional.

At least two dozen other Illinois counties currently cash rent or lease their farmland.

The county farm bill was written, in part, by former Shelby County States Attorney Nichole Kroncke but then opposed by current States Attorney Robert Hanlon. One of Hanlons first public appearances as Shelby County states attorney was testifying against the bill in the House Counties & Townships Committee on Feb. 23.

Hanlon later told the Herald & Review he is not opposed to HB1076 as amended.

Rep. Brad Halbrook, a Shelbyville Republican, similarly voted against the bill three times before voting yes during the final floor vote on May 25.

The Shelby County farmland includes 197 tillable acres, but spans roughly 240 acres because of a cemetery also on the property. It was leased from the 1950s until about three years ago, when questions about the property began to arise, ultimately leading to the proposed legislation.

The county board was evenly split on a vote to continue farming the land back in June.

During the boards July meeting, Chairman Robert Bobby Orman, R-Windsor, resigned from his spot on the Farm Committee and unexpectedly appointed Carol Cole, R-Shelbyville, to serve as the committees chair.

A Farm Committee meeting originally scheduled for last week was canceled. The boards primary focus in recent weeks has been the countys dive team, every member of which resigned one-by-one in July following a controversial stand down order issued by a county board member.

The Shelby County Board has had a contentious year, with the public comment portions of its meetings regularly being dominated by public criticisms on a number of issues, including the county board, the dive team, an alleged toxic work environment at the Shelby County Courthouse and more.

The Shelby County Board meets at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10, in the Shelby County Courthouse.
MATTOON  The route for the annual truck convoy fundraiser for the Illinois Make-A-Wish Foundation on Saturday, Aug. 12, has been expanded from Coles County into Cumberland County.

The Central Illinois Truck Convoy will start at 11:30 a.m. on the grounds of Lake Land College in Mattoon and then travel through Mattoon, Charleston, Greenup and Toledo before ending back on campus.

This is the fifth year weve had the truck convoy. We changed the name this year from Coles County Truck Convoy to better reflect the wider area where our truck drivers are coming from and the new route, said Doug Overmyer, president of the convoy board.

Participating truckers will travel north from campus on U.S. Route 45 to Broadway Avenue, east on Broadway through downtown and past Peterson Park to Logan Street in Mattoon. They will then take Illinois Route 16 east, Lerna Road north, and Illinois Route 316 east on the way to Charleston.

The drivers will follow Illinois Route 130 south through Charleston to Greenup and then travel west through downtown on Illinois Route 121 to Toledo, going around the square. They will conclude by continuing east on Route 121 to Route 45, where they will head north back to campus if they wish.

Overmyer said this year's procession is expected to include more than 100 trucks. There will also be a variety of activities on campus before the convoy, including a car show, food trucks, shopping vendors, bounce houses, and a live auction.

All proceeds from the convoy will benefit the Illinois Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants family vacations, special birthday parties and other wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. The foundation has granted more than 10,000 wishes in Illinois since its inception in 1983.

This event is a great way to support the foundation and help make a difference in the lives of children with critical illnesses," Overmyer said.

Participating trucks will start lining up at 7 a.m. Saturday on Lake Land's campus. The car show and other activities will start at 8 a.m.

The convoy debuted in 2019 at the Coles County Fairgrounds in Charleston. The fundraiser was held at the Coles County Memorial Airport in 2020 and the former Trailmobile factory site in Charleston in 2021 before being hosted on Lake Land's campus for the first time last year.

Lake Land President Josh Bullock said the college is thankful for the convoys efforts in supporting the Make-a-Wish Foundation, helping provide life-changing experiences that enrich the lives of children in need and touch the hearts of their communities.

"We are proud to be a part of this event and support this valuable mission by hosting the convoy for the second year in a row," Bullock said.

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Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist said Tuesday it has hired internal medical specialist Dr. David Zaas as its next system president, effective Sept. 1.

It is the No. 2 executive post for the Winston-Salem system. Dr. Julie Ann Freischlag is the systems chief executive.

Zaas also will be a professor of internal medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Zaas most recently served as chief executive for the Charleston division of the Medical University of South Carolina Health, as well as chief clinical officer for the entire system and a professor in its medical school.

I am so privileged to join the outstanding team at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist at such a pivotal time, and I am extremely grateful for this unique opportunity, Zaas said in a statement. With its rich, 100-year legacy of excellence, Wake Forest Baptist is one of the top academic health systems in the country.

I am excited to help build on its strong foundation to prepare us for the next 100 years and help us make an even greater impact on the health of our communities throughout the state and beyond.

Zaas succeeds Dr. Kevin High, who is transitioning after eight years as system president to a new role as vice chief academic officer for Advocate Healths academic learning health system. High has been with Baptist since 1993. He will begin his new duties Sept. 1.

Baptist serves as the academic medical center for Advocate, which is the parent company of Atrium Health of Charlotte and Advocate Aurora of Milwaukee. Freischlag serves as Advocate Healths chief academic officer.

Zaas will represent Baptist on the Advocate Health board and its health executive leadership team.

Baptist said High will continue to see patients in internal medicine and infectious diseases, as well as continue his research activities with the Sticht Center for Healthy Aging.

Freischlag cited Zaas expertise in academic medicine as a key component for his hiring.

He is an accomplished leader in academic medicine as a physician, scientist and educator, and he will help guide us, as the academic core of Advocate Health, as we work together to improve the lives of those in our communities, our nation and the world, Freischlag said.

Zaas will have executive responsibility for Baptists clinical enterprise, including all patient care services, operations, strategy and growth. This includes inpatient hospitals, outpatient clinics, physician management, and oversight of co-management teams, nursing and administration and support services.

Zaas is familiar with the North Carolina health-care system, having been president of Duke Universitys Raleigh hospital and vice chairman of the Department of Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine.

Zaas wife, Aimee, is a professor of infectious diseases at Dukes medical school, and program director for the internal medicine residency program.

As a pulmonary and critical care medicine physician, Zaas research has focused on improving outcomes from lung transplantation and he is actively engaged in the education of students and graduate trainees.

Atrium did not disclose Zaas compensation package.

For fiscal 2021, the latest available, High received a 9.4% increase in base salary to $817,598, incentive and bonus pay rose 50% to $438,008, and a 20% increase in total compensation of $1.71 million.
Wells Fargo & Co. has informed its federal regulator  the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency  of the official closing of another 17 branches nationwide, though none in North Carolina.

Since July 2020, there have been at least 65 Wells Fargo branch closings in North Carolina, including three in Winston-Salem and nine in the Triad.

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.
Two years after videos showing a Chicago police officer grabbing and restraining a woman walking her dog at North Avenue Beach went viral, prosecutors dropped charges against the former officer who resigned following the furor over the on-duty incident.

Bruce Dyker, 53, was charged last year with aggravated battery in a public place and two counts of official misconduct in connection with the alleged attack. Attorneys in the case previously reserved a bench trial date for Tuesday.

The videos triggered a federal lawsuit, an investigation by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, as well as a response from then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who said she was quite disturbed by the footage.

After consultation with the victim and her attorney, the Cook County states attorneys office (CCSAO) will not be proceeding with the criminal charges against former CPD Officer Bruce Dyker, a spokeswoman for the office said in a statement, adding that a civil case is pending.

Tim Grace, Dykers attorney, said Dyker was in a no-win situation and that the case should have never been charged.

The officer was doing his job. His job is to make sure that people do not go on the beach when the park is closed and once again were in a situation where he gave verbal direct order that was legal, he said. Some people dont believe they need to follow the orders of police. He was put in a position where she wouldnt leave and he had to move her off the beach.

Videos of the August 2021 incident  including one taken by bystanders and another captured by Dykers body camera  show Dyker, who is white, approaching Nikkita Brown, who is Black, at North Avenue Beach around midnight. Dyker ordered Brown to leave the park, which was closed, as she backed away from the officer.

Brown told Dyker to not come closer because he wasnt wearing a mask, according to the video, while he continued to approach to order her to leave the beach.

Get out of the park. What do you not understand about that? The park is closed. You are trespassing on city property, and you will go to jail if you dont take your dog and leave, Dyker eventually yelled at Brown, according to the video.

I feel threatened, Brown says as she stops walking.

Good, Dyker said in the video. Im about to put handcuffs on you if you dont keep walking. Do you want to test me on this.

Dyker grabbed her arm, according to the video, and tried to restrain her as she shouted, Let go!

After about a minute of tussling with her, the two separated, and Brown picked up her phone and walked out of the park with her dog on a leash as the two argued.

In a report following the investigation, COPA found that Dyker used an unreasonable level of force and did not properly use de-escalation techniques.

Video footage of this incident has been widely circulated and brought significant discredit to the department, the COPA report said. Officer Dykers entire interaction with (Brown) was an abject failure.

The office, though, found that Dyker did not racially profile Brown because, according to body-worn camera footage, Dyker appeared to also give a Black couple and four white or Hispanic males the same order to leave the park before his interaction with Brown.

A lawyer for Brown previously said it was an obvious case of racial profiling.

Dyker, a 23-year veteran of the Police Department, left the force before the department had announced any formal disciplinary action taken against him.

Brown sued Dyker and the city of Chicago last year, alleging excessive force and other constitutional violations. The lawsuit accuses Dyker of having a shocking history of misconduct against minorities during his more than twenty-year career as a CPD officer.

The complaint says Dyker racked up at least 24 civilian complaints and has been named in two civil rights lawsuits brought by minority plaintiffs.

Dyker is one of a number of local police officers charged in recent years with allegations related to actions conducted while on duty, but the dropped case underscores challenges in obtaining convictions for officers for the alleged on-duty incidents.

In January, a judge found a Chicago police lieutenant not guilty after he stood trial on accusations that he shoved a flashlight between a clothed teens buttocks during an arrest.

Months earlier in November, CPD Officer Melvina Bogard was acquitted by a judge after prosecutors charged her with aggravated battery and official misconduct in connection with a shooting at the Grand Red Line stop in 2020.

There are at least five other officers facing charges in Cook County connected to on-duty incidents.

Among those, a Cook County grand jury earlier this year indicted an Oak Lawn police officer for aggravated battery and official misconduct for allegedly striking a Bridgeview teen more than 10 times in the face and head as he was laying face down in the street during an arrest captured on video.

mabuckley@chicagotribune.com
The sale of the historic Weeks plant in northwest Winston-Salem has been approved by a federal bankruptcy judge as part of a $65 million bid of Phoenix Acquisition for the United Furniture Industries Inc. portfolio.

Meanwhile, 12 former United employees, including five from North Carolina, have filed an amended complaint in their attempt to force the defunct manufacturer to meet WARN Act requirements for final compensation and benefits for about 2,700 employees.

Judge Selene Maddox approved the sale on Aug. 1.

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.

The next step is for trustee Derek Henderson to file a report addressing how the sale will be completed. 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-is conditions.

At least $27 million of the proposed purchase price would go toward the Winston-Salem, Lexington and Trinity properties, according to court documents.

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.

Background

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 on Nov. 22, 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, 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.

WARN Act update

United has not filed a WARN notice addressing the abrupt shutdown in California, Mississippi or North Carolina where it had operations.

The majority of companies going out of business, or conducting job cuts affecting at least 50 employees, typically file a WARN notice in which they agree to pay 60 days worth of wages and benefits to affected workers.

The former employees are requesting class-action status in the six filed federal WARN lawsuits, some of which have been combined.

The plaintiffs also are requesting unpaid commissions, bonuses, accrued holiday pay, accrued vacation pay, and pension and 401(k) contributions, and other ERISA benefits. They claim none of those compensations has been made since the abrupt shutdown.

According to N.C. law, the defendants may be liable for civil penalty of up to $250.00 per employee with a maximum per employee of $2,000 per violation of WARN Act requirements.

However, the WARN Act lacks enforcement teeth, with several studies showing it has lots of loopholes, and virtually no enforcement authority from federal, state and local officials.

Henderson claims former employees are barred from claims by the unforeseeable business circumstances exception in the act.

Henderson summed up his opposition to the WARN lawsuits by saying that although United did not provide a notice in November, he denies that United violated the act and/or any state law because the shutdown and layoffs were due to unforeseen business circumstances, as well as the inability to obtain financing.

These efforts at refinancing and to provide alternate means for its continuing in business were suddenly and abruptly rejected, leaving the debtor with no choice but to cease operations.
Wells Fargo & Co. has been fined a combined $200 million by two federal regulatory agencies, the largest penalty among 11 financial services groups addressing recordkeeping policies.

The Securities and Exchange Commission levied a $125 million fine collectively to Wells Fargo Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC and Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network LLC.

The fines were for widespread and longstanding failures by the firms and their employees to maintain and preserve electronic communications.

Meanwhile, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission disclosed a $75 million fine to Wells Fargo Bank NA and Wells Fargo Securities LLC.

Wells Fargo said in a statement that were pleased to resolve this matter.

The SEC said its investigation uncovered pervasive and longstanding off-channel communications at all 11 firms.

The financial institution admitted that from at least 2019, their employees often communicated through various messaging platforms on their personal devices, including iMessage, WhatsApp, and Signal, about the business of their employers.

The firms did not maintain or preserve the substantial majority of these off-channel communications, in violation of the federal securities laws.

By failing to maintain and preserve required records, certain of the firms likely deprived the (SEC) of these off-channel communications in various SEC investigations. The failures involved employees at multiple levels of authority, including supervisors and senior executives.

The combined $200 million regulatory fines are just the latest in a series of regulatory and other federal fines and consent orders for Wells Fargo since its fraudulent customer account scandal erupted in September 2016. During that time period, total regulatory penalties have added up to at least $11.74 billion.

On May 18, Wells Fargo agreed to pay $1 billion to settle a federal class-action lawsuit addressing whether the bank misled investors about the pace of resolving the scandal.

Chief executive Charlie Scharf said during the banks July 17 second-quarter analyst call that it continues to make incremental progress on resolving a total of nine consent orders with federal regulators.

However, Scharf remains tight-lipped on any timeline for when Wells Fargo might be able to grow in a meaningful way beyond the $1.97 billion asset cap ordered by the Federal Reserve in February 2018.

The SEC said the fines were issued to the 10 financial institutions in their capacity as broker-dealers, as well as one dually registered broker-dealer and investment adviser.

The other companies are: BNP Paribas Securities Corp. and SG Americas Securities LLC (both fined $35 million); BMO Capital Markets Corp. and Mizuho Securities USA LLC (both fined $25 million); Houlihan Lokey Capital Inc. (fined $15 million); Moelis & Company LLC and Wedbush Securities Inc. (both fined $10 million; and SMBC Nikko Securities America Inc. (fined $9 million).

The firms admitted the facts set forth in their respective SEC orders, the SEC said.

They acknowledged that their conduct violated recordkeeping provisions of the federal securities laws, agreed to pay combined penalties of $289 million as outlined below, and have begun implementing improvements to their compliance policies and procedures to address these violations.

Sanjay Wadhwa, the SECs deputy director of Enforcement, said the penalties are meant to ensure that regulated entities, including broker-dealers and investment advisers, comply with their recordkeeping requirements, which are essential for us to monitor and enforce compliance with the federal securities laws.

Recordkeeping failures, such as those here, undermine our ability to exercise effective regulatory oversight, often at the expense of investors.

With the CFTC, the other financial institutions that were fined are: BNP Paribas (BNP Paribas S.A. and BNP Paribas Securities Corp.) $75 million; Societe Generale (Societe Generale SA and SG Americas Securities LLC) $75 million; and Bank of Montreal $35 million.

With todays actions, the CFTC has now brought enforcement actions against 18 financial institutions, and imposed over $1 billion in penalties, for violations of the CFTCs recordkeeping and supervision requirements involving the use of unapproved communication methods, Director of Enforcement Ian McGinley said.

The firms were required to keep certain of these written communications because they related to the firms businesses as CFTC registrants.

These written communications generally were not maintained and preserved by the firms, and the firms generally would not have been able to provide them promptly to the CFTC when requested.

Further, some of the same supervisory personnel responsible for ensuring compliance with the firms policies and procedures themselves used non-approved methods of communication to engage in business-related communications, in violation of firm policy.
William Patrick Pat Pate has accepted a contract with Winston-Salem to become the next city manager, and will begin work in early November, Pate said on Tuesday.

On a 5-3 vote, the Winston-Salem City Council voted on Monday to approve Pates contract. Pate, who is currently city manager in Manassas, Va., said that under his agreement with that city, he is to give 90 days notice on leaving, which he has now done.

Pate said he would not comment on the controversy that arose when three of the citys eight council members backed Assistant City Manager Patrice Toney for the job. Toney was one of three finalists for the position, and had she been hired, would have become the citys first Black female city manager. Pate and the other finalist, Assistant City Manager Ben Rowe, are white males.

I do know that the selection process that we went through was very thorough and strenuous, Pate said. It was one of the longest processes that I have gone through. I think the city council used a process to select the person they thought would be the best fit for the community.

Pate said he will be making $285,000 per year. Thats an increase from his current annual salary of $260,617.35 in Manassas, and more than the $250,000 that former city manager Lee Garrity was making when he retired in June.

Pate said he and his wife, Sandra, are very excited to be coming back to North Carolina. Pate was a budget analyst for the city in the late 1980s, and later did budget work in Greensboro before working as an assistant city manager in High Point from 1999 to 2013, when he became city manager in Manassas.

The city councils vote came on Monday after a closed session that lasted almost an hour, and the vote fractured along the same lines as it did on July 14, when the three dissenters backed Toney for the job.

Voting Monday to approve the contract were council members D.D. Adams, Robert Clark, John Larson, Jeff MacIntosh and Kevin Mundy. In opposition were council members Barbara Burke, Annette Scippio and James Taylor.

It was Burke who led the charge for Toney on July 14, saying that she had the most experience in working with people in Winston-Salem and was most qualified for the job.

In the days after the boards July 14 decision, the NAACP and a clergy organization whose members are mostly from the citys Black community both took stances objecting to the citys action. Both groups questioned whether the hiring process had been fair and unbiased, and the NAACP charged that the city had treated Toneys quest for the job with blatant inconsideration.

The Ministers Conference asked for a meeting about the hiring process with Mayor Allen Joines and the city council, which City Attorney Angela Carmon turned down on the councils behalf. Carmon said that too many confidential personnel issues were involved to have that kind of discussion. The NAACP called on the city to condemn any criticism that Toney received after she expressed dissatisfaction over not getting the job.

Pate said he had no comment on the statements that had been made by the NAACP and the Ministers Conference of Winston-Salem and Vicinity. Pate did say he supports city efforts to support a culture of diversity and inclusion, which are values that both groups spoke to in their statements to the city.

We will uphold that to the highest level we can, he said. It speaks highly of the city that they had internal candidates that they felt were qualified and who went far in the process. Pate went on to say that it is not unusual for new city managers to work with assistants who were themselves finalists for the job, and that a manager wants very strong assistant managers who know the organization well, are trusted by the council and work as a team to make things happen.

In talking with council members, Pate said, he learned that the citys elected leaders want to focus on improving the quality of life, creating affordable housing, providing good services and to make sure no part of the community is left behind.

A lot of what I heard is that they want to make sure Winston-Salem is on the leading edge, he said.

Pate said he has two adult children in their early 30s, but that he and his wife, who is a nursing home administrator, will be making the move to Winston-Salem.

Pate grew up in Duplin County. He earned his bachelors degree in political science and religion, and a masters degree in public administration, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
GREENSBORO  A 22-year-old man jailed in Forsyth County is now facing a first-degree murder charge in the fatal shooting of his father, Douglas Lane Gillie, on June 29 in Greensboro, according to court documents filed in Guilford County.

For weeks, Thomas Gillie has been a suspect in the homicide of his 62-year-old father, with whom he lived at 5100 Bayberry Lane. Gillie is also charged with two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder that same date in Forsyth County.

He is being held without bond at the Forsyth County jail, where the warrant charging him with his fathers homicide was served July 26, court records show. Authorities believe the shooting on Bayberry preceded the shootings at a Kernersville apartment complex.

Gillie is accused of killing Kevin Dale Smith and Nathaniel Tyshawn Burt and attempting to kill Lori Ann Darby and Thomas Allen Doub at approximately 12:30 a.m. June 29 at an apartment complex at 9102 Stafford Country Lane in Kernersville, according to an arrest warrant.

After Kernersville police arrived at the scene, they exchanged gunfire with Gillie, who surrendered shortly thereafter.

Kernersville police then alerted Greensboro police at 1:20 a.m. June 29 to a potential victim at 5100 Bayberry Lane, which is where officers found Douglas Lane Gillie dead with a gunshot wound.

Greensboro attorney Daniel A. Harris was appointed to represent Gillie in the first-degree murder case involving the death of Gillies father. Harris is out of the office this week and could not immediately be reached for comment.

Gillies next court date in Guilford County is scheduled Aug. 17, according to online court records.
A John Deere manufacturing affiliate is the applicant for up to $1.32 million in performance-based incentives from the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners.

County staff released Tuesday a draft resolution on the incentive request by John Deere Electric Powertrain LLC.

The board has set a public hearing for 2 p.m. Thursday on the incentive application. The incentives would come from the county General Fund over a seven-year period.

The John Deere affiliate is proposing establishing an electric battery module facility that would represent a $69.6 million capital investment and the creation of a least 87 full- or full-time equivalent jobs.

The Kernersville plant is at 1000 John Deere Road. The company has more than 1,100 employees according to latest count provided.

The incentives would go toward helping a manufacturer expand an existing facility and adding machinery.

The project could qualify for state incentives if the manufacturer is considering out-of-state facility options. Forsyth officials said John Deere has a Georgia plant in consideration.

According to the resolution, the average annual wage for the new jobs would be $62,951.

The affiliate is expected to request a state incentive package as well.

In September, Deere & Co. announced plans to expand production for batteries used in a sole- or hybrid-propulsion system.

In addition to a production facility in Rainbach, Austria, John Deere said it would add two plants to increase the production capacity expansion of Kreisel Electric. Deere & Co. purchased majority ownership of Kreisel in early 2022.

John Deere said the U.S. production component would feature battery assembly to support the growth of its customers and John Deere products.

This investment will put a strong focus on the industrialization and automation of the entire production process, as well as research and development capacities at Kreisel HQ in Rainbach, Jennifer Preston, global director for John Deere Electric Power, said in a September news release.

Kreisel said in September that now is the time for us to start running and demonstrate leadership in the pursuit of electrification.

The location of the potential Kernersville expansion was not listed in the resolution.

In June, an affiliate of John Deere Kernersville paid a combined $1.38 million for three properties near the main manufacturing campus, according to a county Register of Deeds filing.

The most likely site is one that Deere & Co. paid $1.7 million for in June for a vacant 14.31-acre tract adjacent to the manufacturing facility in Kernersville, according to a Register of Deeds filing. The property at 900 W. Mountain St. is zoned commercial.

The properties were sold in two transactions: a 32.1-acre tract at 249 Perry Road and a 2.01-acre lot at 241 Perry Road were sold for a combined $969,000; and a 2.35 acre lot at 229 Perry Road for $408,000.

The buyer is Perry Road Properties LLC of Kernersville.

In August 2022, an industrial building was purchased for $3.8 million by a John Deere affiliate, according to a Register of Deeds filing. The 7.13-acre property at 230 Perry Road contains a 39,514-square-foot building.

The buyer was John Deere Kernersville LLC of Kernersville.
Glorious Tuesday. Dont strain your back picking up all those limbs in the yard.

DANBURY  That didnt take long.

Fifteen, maybe 20 minutes into a work session of the Stokes County Board of Education Monday evening, members arrived at a unanimous decision: North Stokes High School will not close.

Its not binding, not yet anyhow, as the five-member board still faces difficult choices in a round of school consolidation for 2024-25 forced by restrictive budget considerations.

No school is going to close in three weeks, said chairman Von Robertson. We dont want there to be any confusion about that.

Stokes County has 19 elementary, middle and high schools but only enough money to maintain and operate 15 or 16.

The schools' $17 million current expense budget is being cut by $2.8 million  16.5 percent  and county commissioners who control local purse strings have made clear that spending cuts, rather than enormous tax hikes, is the way to address shortfalls.

And with enrollment at North Stokes dipping below 300 students, fewer course offerings and projected population increases in other parts of the county, converting the little high school into a middle school was presented last month as one viable option.

Were being forced by the commissioners to do this, said board member Mike Rogers. Everybody will feel some pain.

But after hearing from residents in the northern end of the county, the board made clear they would look to consolidate and close elementaries rather than cut out the beating heart of a rural community.

We had a consensus all along, Robertson said. Weve not had anybody say we want to close North Stokes. Ive yet to hear any board members say Close North Stokes.

Still, despite the reprieve, the school board hopes by months end to finalize a plan to identify which schools to close, hold the legally required public hearings and vote on it.

Potential targets include Lawsonville, Sandy Ridge, Pine Hall and London elementaries. Big decisions based on details about bus routes, travel time for little kids and potential cost savings remain.

None of us wants to make this hard decision, said vice chairman Dwayne Bryant, but its what our job is.

Emerging unscathed

WINSTON-SALEM  Compared to other places, a downed tree that closed a single intersection and a couple hundred homes that lost power mean that Forsyth County made it through a line of violent storms in relatively good shape.

High winds and thunderstorms across the East Coast killed two people and knocked out power to more than 1 million utility customers from Georgia to Pennsylvania.

A 28-year-old man was killed by lightning in Florence, Ala. and a 15-year-old boy died in Anderson, S.C. after being struck by a falling tree in his grandparents driveway.

Elsewhere in North Carolina, more than 20,000 Duke Energy customers near Charlotte lost power and about 10,000 each in Cabarrus, Iredell and Rowan suffered the same fate.

So the closing of the intersection of Brewer Road and Peters Creek Parkway Monday  Winston-Salem police reported shortly after 6 a.m. this morning that the road had reopened  and some 1,700 houses without power in Forsyth County should be considered annoyances.

Pressure to pray leads to settlement

GREENSBORO  Company- led prayer sessions will cost Aurora Pro Services $50,000 to settle a federal lawsuit filed for violating the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Oscar Lopez, the founder and CEO of the home service and repair company, required employees to attend daily Christian prayer meetings that could last up to 45 minutes, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said in a news release.

The sessions could include Bible readings, devotionals and solicitation of prayer requests.

Auroras owner took roll before some of the meetings and reprimanded employees who did not attend, the EEOC wrote.

Whoops.

Being that this is America  the land of the free and home of the litigious  a lawsuit was filed in 2022 on behalf of two former employees who said in court papers that they were fired on the basis of their religious beliefs ... and in retaliation for their opposition to the prayer meetings.

When the suit was filed, Lopez denied the charge in an email to the News & Record. A request for comment after the settlement was announced was not answered.

Some may ask, Yeah, whats wrong with a little prayer?

Before answering, imagine how youd feel if the boss handed out rugs, made you bow to the east and pray Salah five times a day? Or made you genuflect and recite the Rosary before work?
A Tecumseh woman was sentenced to seven years in prison Monday in Johnson County District Court after pleading guilty to motor vehicle homicide and two other felonies.

Chelsy Kress, 36, admitted to causing the death of Logan Ascheman, 22, of Tecumseh on March 16 while driving recklessly. A judge ordered her to serve three years for motor vehicle homicide and three to four years for failure to stop and render aid, with the sentences to be served one after the other.

Kress was also ordered to serve two years in prison for possession of a controlled substance, with that sentence to be served at the same time as the previous two sentencings. According to the sentencing order, Kress will be eligible for parole after serving 3 years.

She will be credited with 145 days served while waiting for trial. Following her release from prison, Kress must serve three years of probation.

Deputies from the Johnson County Sheriff's Office in south-central Nebraska responded to a call from Kress at about 2:30 a.m. March 17. According to an affidavit, Kress called the Sheriff's Office to say that "she believed she hit someone with her vehicle."

A deputy went to the area of First Street and the railroad tracks in Tecumseh and located Ascheman, who was deceased. The deputy then went to Kress' home and found damage to her vehicle "consistent with striking a pedestrian."

Investigators said surveillance video shows Kress traveling northbound on First Street about 10 p.m. on March 16. Kress, they said, struck Ascheman with her vehicle and left the area without stopping to render aid.

Kress then returned home and did not contact law enforcement for 4 hours after the incident, authorities say.
At his first town hall as a U.S. congressman, Rep. Mike Flood on Monday exalted the need for civility and bipartisanship as he grappled with questions that were sometimes rooted in neither.

Gathered in a gymnasium at Southeast Community College in Lincoln, Flood, a Republican who represents Nebraska's 1st Congressional District, fielded more than a dozen questions Monday night in front of a crowd of about 100 attendees, some of whom used the opportunity to seek the congressman's thoughts on myriad culture war issues.

For close to an hour, constituents lined up for a chance to ask Flood questions that, more often than not, dealt with election integrity concerns, immigration or the political opponents of Republicans  from President Joe Biden to local Democratic leaders, whom one attendee suggested had carried out an "invasion" of public office in Lincoln.

"We're all Nebraskans, at the end of the day," said Flood, who at times took hardline stances on issues such as gun control and student loan forgiveness, but more often tried to seek a middle ground in the district he won reelection in by nearly 36,000 votes last November.

"Every time I have went over to the Democratic side and I have found a Democratic co-sponsor," Flood said to muted applause after an attendee questioned the congressman on the GOP's seeming inability to govern.

"So I do believe in working in a bipartisan way," he said.

Dual crises at the border

In responses to three separate questions on border security and immigration at large  including one written inquiry that asked him, simply, "Why must Western countries accept so many migrants?"  Flood described the situation at the country's southern border "not just a national security issue for Americans" but as a "humanitarian issue."

"We have to get a handle on that no matter what we do," he said. "Am I for making our immigration system more efficient? Yes."

Flood said he has supported efforts to increase funding to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to process a backlog of visa applications, which he called "unacceptable."

Pointing to the Statue of Liberty as a beacon of the country's status as a refuge for migrants, Flood said the U.S. still has a system  albeit a cumbersome one  that allows document migrants to enter.

But he also warned about fentanyl "rushing over the Southern border," ending up in Nebraska towns and cities.

"We have to make sure we know who's coming into the United States," he said.

The congressman also acknowledged that "workforce is an issue in Nebraska," where the unemployment rate was 1.9% as of June, and it's one he hopes to address.

"But it does not start with amnesty," he said. "It does not start with extending voting rights to people who are not here legally. It does not extend to wiping away the laws that we have on the books."

Gun control a nonstarter

In his responses to three separate questions on the congressman's potential support for even modest gun control efforts, Flood drew a hard line against the notion of limiting access to any kind of firearms.

"I do not support infringing the rights of law-abiding Nebraskans," he said, instead pointing to increased mental health care, school security and traditional law enforcement methods as means to stop gun violence, which was among the five leading causes of death for people ages 1-44 in the United States in 2020, according to CDC data.

"I know firsthand that mental health issues are at the heart of what happens with gun violence, and I think we need to make sure not only our state's (mental health care providers) but our out-of-facility providers are also reimbursed fairly for providing that service," he said.

Noting a decrease in patients institutionalized at the Lincoln Regional Center over the past two decades, Flood suggested there needs to be a reinvestment in long-term care facilities.

Asked why he doesn't support a ban on assault weapons or high-capacity magazines, Flood said "ultimately, the people pulling the trigger are the ones responsible."

Flood also said he supports increasing funding for schools to hire school resource officers and invest in other security measures.

And, pointing to this year's downtick in homicides in Omaha and crediting Omaha police and nonprofits, Flood said Nebraska could and should be a model for reducing gun violence without infringing on constitutional rights.

"There are solutions for gun violence out there, and it's not by arresting our way out of the problem," he said. "It's about our communities working together. And, quite frankly, the solution is right under our nose in our state's largest city in Omaha."

Mostly plainspoken on culture war issues

Facing questions on missing ballots, the potential impeachment of Biden and the supposed Democratic "invasion" of elected offices in Lincoln, Flood, for the most part, leaned on evidence, due process and the principles of democracy  disappointing some of the town hall's most right-leaning attendees.

Repeatedly, Flood noted that there have been numerous lawsuits filed around the country challenging the results of the 2020 election, "but we have not seen evidence ... that would have impaired the end result."

"I believe, in Nebraska, the state that we reside in, our elections are safe," Flood said. "Because I have not seen any evidence that has ended up in a court of law that has disputed that."

Flood, who noted that he supported the voter identification requirements that Nebraskans passed via a ballot initiative last year, also flatly dismissed the notion that the Capital City has somehow been infiltrated by Democrats, in a move that one attendee suggested was an "invasion" despite the fact that Lincoln's mayor and the Democratic majority on its City Council were all selected by the city's voters.

"We disagree," Flood told the man, who asked what he could do as the district's congressman to protect Lincoln "from invasion."

"I do not think there has been a 'constitutional invasion,'" Flood added later.

Flood, though, declined to say one way or another whether he would vote to impeach Biden given the opportunity to do so in the House, where the Oversight Committee has for months been investigating the president and his son Hunter Biden's business dealings.

"I have an obligation to make sure, as I vote, I do so based on the evidence," Flood said, noting he would have the opportunity to sit in on open hearing and "read the record" before ever voting to impeach the president.

"I will tell you there are a lot of issues surrounding President Biden and his son that I have serious concerns about," Flood said, later adding: "There are reasons to be suspicious. That's why we have to sort through it."

Photos: Mike Flood hosts first Lincoln town hall as congressman Flood town hall, 8.7 Flood town hall, 8.7 Flood town hall, 8.7 Flood town hall, 8.7 Flood town hall, 8.7 Flood town hall, 8.7 Flood town hall, 8.7 Flood town hall, 8.7
While the nonprofit is more than 130 years old, Lutheran Family Services now has a bright and shiny new headquarters.

A ribbon cutting at Lutheran Family Services new headquarters at 7929 West Center Road in Omaha on Friday marked the official move from its previous headquarters at 24th and Dodge streets.

Its a new beginning, CEO and President Chris Tonniges said. A lot of work goes into a move like this and a change like this, so the ability for us to have a ribbon cutting and move forward is significant and meaningful.

The nonprofit offers behavioral health services and support for foster children and refugees in several communities across Nebraska and Iowa.

The new headquarters will allow Lutheran Family Services to continue its mission of bringing safety, hope and well-being to the people it serves, Tonniges said while speaking at Fridays event.

While we spread throughout communities in Iowa and Nebraska, having a home base is important, Tonniges said. This beautiful building is that for us.

The new headquarters features less administrative space than the previous location to accommodate the modern hybrid work environment, Tonniges said.

Instead of having assigned desks, many employees will reserve a desk for the day when theyre in the office.

That reduction in administrative space leaves more room for the nonprofits warehouse and foster care closet. The closet includes clothes, shoes, toys, books and more for foster children of all ages.

While it was previously split between different rooms, the closet is now in one big space, making it easier for employees and foster parents to see what is available, said Tawny Bruyette, foster care supervisor.

The new space also has a dedicated wing for behavioral health services.

Omaha City Councilman Danny Begley, who serves the district where the new headquarters is located, spoke at the event about the importance of the services Lutheran Family Services provides.

LFS and similar organizations bring a level of stability to our communities that I think is often taken for granted, Begley said. We are blessed to have an organization like LFS so committed to making our community the best it can be.

State Sen. Tony Vargas spoke about his experience working with Lutheran Family Services in the Nebraska Legislature and said he appreciates the organizations commitment to advocating for behavioral health care, foster care and assistance for refugees.

Im very proud to have worked with LFS and equally proud to understand their commitment to the region and to the state, he said.

Top Journal Star photos for July 2023
A person walks past prayer ribbons for reunification of the two Koreas on a wire fence at the Imjingak Pavilion, near the Demilitarized Zone, on July 19, 2023, in Paju, South Korea. (Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

July 27 marked the 70th anniversary of the armistice agreement establishing a cease-fire in the Korean War. This temporary agreement has never been replaced by a permanent peace treaty. As a result, more than 75 million people on the Korean Peninsula (more than the population of the United Kingdom or France) live in an ongoing state of war, experienced as the potential for active hostility at any time.

We are all longtime residents of Chicago, and all of us have close family members and friends in South Korea. Many of them live in Seoul, a metropolitan region of almost 10 million people, which is only 35 miles from the Demilitarized Zone and border with North Korea. All men in South Korea are required to serve in the military for at least 18 months. And a large percentage of the budgets of both South and North Korea is diverted into maintaining the most heavily fortified border in the world, resources that could be put into health care, education, housing and the environment. All of these take a heavy toll on the mental health of people living in South Korea, which has one of the highest suicide rates in the world.

As members of the Korean American Peace Fund, we attended the Korea Peace Action: National Mobilization to End the Korean War, which included a rally and symposium in Washington on July 27-28. One of the main goals of this convening was to urge our government to pass House Resolution 1369, the Peace on the Korean Peninsula Act, which would create a pathway to a peace treaty between the United States and North Korea  the first, essential step toward building true collective security in the region.

[ M.J. Moore: Cultural artifacts inspired by the Korean War prove it is hardly forgotten 70 years later ]

The bill urges the U.S. government to engage in direct talks with the North Korean government and end the ban on travel by U.S. citizens to North Korea. More than 100,000 Americans are directly affected by the travel ban. Some are relatives of prisoners of war or soldiers missing in action lost during the war who are still searching for their family members remains. Many others affected by the travel ban are Korean Americans who yearn to see mothers, fathers, siblings and other loved ones in the North, separated now for almost three-quarters of a century. Most of these divided family members have already died without ever reuniting with their loved ones.

One of us, JeeYeun, has a grandfather who was taken by North Korean soldiers during the early part of the war. Her grandmother was able to see him once while he was in custody in Seoul before he was taken across the border. Decades later, her father traveled to North Korea in search of him, but the family never saw or heard from him. Only in the process of advocating for HR 1369 did JeeYeun even consider visiting North Korea herself to seek information about what happened to her grandfather, showing the level of resignation that many of us feel about the permanence of Koreas division.

But all residents of the United States are affected by this un-ended war.

As the blockbuster drama Oppenheimer reminds us, the existence of nuclear weapons makes any war a potential global catastrophe. The continued presence of the U.S. military in the Korean peninsula heightens tensions, making us one bad decision away from nuclear war, as stated by Dan Leaf, retired Air Force general and former deputy commander of the U.S. Pacific Command. Within the last two weeks, two U.S. nuclear-powered submarines have landed in South Korea after months of joint U.S.-South Korean live-fire military drills that have sharply intensified in scale and frequency; during the same time, a U.S. soldier on a guided tour of the DMZ crossed the border to North Korea. Improving diplomacy and direct communication with North Korea would allow the U.S. to resolve sensitive matters and deescalate tensions more quickly.

[ Daniel DePetris: The Korean Peninsulas never-ending security dilemma ]

Because of the perceived threat of North Korea and now China, South Korea is home to the third-largest overseas U.S. military presence in the world. This expenditure siphons valuable resources away from the basic needs of Americans here at home, for housing, health care, education and a clean environment.

As the leader of the United Nations Command during the Korean War, only the United States can sign a peace agreement with North Korea. It is in the best interest of our country to do so.

Its time to end the longest war in U.S. history.

Becky Belcore is co-director of the National Korean American Service and Education Consortium. Inhe Choi is executive director of the HANA Center, a Chicago-area nonprofit. Youngju Ji and JeeYeun Lee work for the Korean American Peace Fund.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
OMAHA  A pair of Omaha civic leaders want Nebraska parents to start thinking about a planned behavioral health facility for children in Omaha as an emergency room where they can bring their kids if they have concerns about their mental health.

On Friday, they and others officially broke ground on the $110 million Behavioral Health & Wellness Center at Childrens, which will be west of 84th Street and West Dodge Road.

Slated to open in early 2026, the center will house 38 inpatient hospital beds, which will more than double the capacity in the community. It will also offer a suite of other services along the behavioral health care continuum, including a first-in-the-region behavioral health emergency assessment center, a pediatric mental health urgent care center and a pediatric primary care clinic with integrated outpatient mental health services.

Other offerings will be an outpatient eating disorder center and an expanded partial hospitalization program for youths who no longer require inpatient treatment yet still need daily support and ongoing therapy. The center will be operated by Childrens Hospital & Medical Center and situated on the west edge of its campus. The nonprofit Mental Health Innovation Foundation is managing the planning, design, fundraising and construction of the facility with the goal of increasing mental health services in the community.

Omaha philanthropist Ken Stinson, the foundations president, said most parents probably dont know where to go if they believe their child is experiencing a mental health challenge. Some now go to Childrens emergency room. A critical part of the new facility will be the emergency assessment center, where staff will be able to help determine what kind of behavioral health help children and adolescents need.

Weve got to educate the community over time, Bring them here, he said.

Chanda Chacon, Childrens president and CEO, said the new center will operate like a hospital emergency room, with different levels of care in one location. It also will offer easy access to physical health care, which patients also may need.

The goal is to get them in a better environment, built for kids with mental health conditions and behavioral health challenges, so that we can help them easier, faster, in an environment thats built for them, she said.

Plans for the facility have expanded in scope and cost since Stinson and Chacon in November announced what was initially billed as an $89 million, 103,500-square-foot center on seven acres.

The foundation hired New York-based conceptual architect Frank Pitts, who is nationally known for his consultation on the design of mental health facilities. We attribute to him some expanded thinking on how  the pieces should fit together, Stinson said.

Project organizers also visited the Big Lots Behavioral Health Pavilion at Nationwide Childrens Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Officials there advised taking the inpatient portion of the facility vertical  it will have four stories vs. two in the rest of the center  to improve efficiency for staff, who also have had input into the design. Chacon said the arrangement also makes it easier to arrange patients by age.

Stinson said organizers also figured in additional square footage, including room for 10 more inpatient beds, should it be needed in the future. That brought the facility to 107,250 square feet.

The changing environment in mental health for kids would suggest that were more likely to go up than go down, he said.

The extra research may have extended a bit the time it will take to bring the project online, Stinson said. But what organizers learned will make the center better.

The priority was, this is going to be here for a long time, he said. Weve got to do it right the first time. If it means it will take a little longer to get there, well pay that price.

Chacon said the flexibility built into the facility also is an important step toward making it a hub connecting spokes across the state where mental health care is delivered.

If organizers can help curb increases in mental health concerns among youth and help kids earlier, she said, theyll not only provide better care for kids and families but also be able to meet the need with the center as planned.

In addition to the pediatric behavioral health urgent care that will be housed in the Omaha center, Childrens is establishing a second one near one of its clinics in Kearney.

Childrens also is training primary care providers to care for young people with mild and moderate mental health challenges through its Childrens Hospital & Medical Centers Outreach for Provider Education, or COPE, program. The health system held the first session this spring.

The goal is to train as many as 200 providers over the next three years. The local program is based on a national model. Trained providers also have access to a dedicated consultation line they can call to seek advice in managing behavioral health care for kids.

Chacon said the idea is to create a network across the state before the facility opens to help keep kids out of the center and to better support those who come when they return home. Childrens also is collaborating with other mental health care providers in the state.

The more we work together, the better we believe this whole model will be and the (more successful) well be with the Behavioral Health & Wellness Center, she said.

Stinson noted that the center also will be a hub for training pediatric mental health care professionals. Project organizers also have been working to build the pipeline of health care providers.

Chacon said Childrens currently is conducting a national search for a senior vice president to lead the center. Officials hope to make that selection within the next several months. Having that leader on the ground early will help ensure the facility starts strong, she said.

Stinson said the foundation is close to raising the $110 million budgeted for the project. Organizers have a list of items they can add if they exceed that goal, which he believes they will do.

Of the total, $16 million is expected from the $40 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds the Nebraska Legislature designated in 2022 for mental health projects in the state. Childrens is contributing $15 million and the rest will come from private donors.

Our donors, weve had such a great reception from them, said Stinson, who has focused on addressing mental health challenges for years. He and fellow philanthropist Rhonda Hawks were among a group who raised money to start Omahas Lasting Hope Recovery Center, an inpatient adult treatment center near downtown Omaha that opened in 2008.

I dont think the world (paid) much attention to mental health 20 years ago, he said. But everybody (pays) some attention to it now.

Photos: the groundbreaking of the Behavioral Health & Wellness Center at Children's Hospital
Ever since Joe Biden announced his run for the White House, the media has been asking about his involvement in his sons business dealings with foreign countries.

Hunter Biden was paid handsomely for serving on the board of directors of Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company. Hunter Biden also worked with a scandal-plagued (and now-bankrupt) Chinese energy company called CEFC China Energy. They paid $4.8 million to LLCs controlled by Hunter Biden and James Biden.

All along, President Biden denied any knowledge of it, saying, "I've never spoken to my son about his business dealings. He said that during a debate, and he said it to numerous reporters at different times in recent years.

Lately, however, the White House press secretary has changed the wording a bit. When she was asked about the ever-changing narrative, she said, "The president has never been in business with his son," as opposed to the president never speaking to Hunter about it.

In sworn testimony, Hunter's ex-business partner Devon Archer told a congressional committee that Joe Biden had dinner at the Cafe Milano with Hunter Biden and his foreign associates Kenes Rakishev, Karim Massimov and Yelena Baturina. Are we supposed to believe Joe Biden that he knew nothing of Hunters business dealings? The committee investigating all of this has uncovered more than 20 LLCs set up by Hunter and James Biden to receive money from foreign interests. What did those LLCs do to earn money? What was their product? You know the answer: influence.

Dave Kirby, Lincoln
The extreme partisan gerrymanders under Republican-drawn legislative maps violate the state Constitution by diluting and debasing Wisconsinites ability to vote, a group of liberal voters and redistricting advocates argue in a new lawsuit.

The lawsuit is the second filed directly with the Wisconsin Supreme Court and requests new legislative maps ahead of the 2024 election. The first lawsuit was filed a day after Justice Janet Protasiewicz was sworn into office, giving liberals a 4-3 majority on the states highest court.

The latest lawsuit was filed Friday by voters who support Democratic candidates and several members of the Citizen Mathematicians and Scientists, a group of professors and research scientists who submitted proposed legislative boundaries leading up to the state Supreme Courts 2022 decision adopting the GOP maps.

The complaint seeks to undo the high courts decision last year that helped Republicans increase their majority in the Legislature and led to a supermajority in the Senate. Like the other case filed this month, the complaint doesnt challenge the states congressional maps.

The new lawsuit states that current maps violate Wisconsins free speech guarantee by diluting the voting power of Democratic voters in the state. Additionally, it states the maps violate the states constitutional guarantee to equal protection under the law by entrenching a GOP majority in the state Legislature.

And voters engagement with, and interest in, Wisconsins elections will decline because mapmakers have effectively predetermined the results, the lawsuit states.

Much like the lawsuit filed last week by several voters, including a former Democratic legislative candidate, the new complaint also asks for every Wisconsin legislator to be on the ballot next year under newly drawn maps, including the half of state Senators who otherwise wouldnt be on the ballot until 2026.

In Wisconsin, the present partisan gerrymandering in the Legislative Plans is so extreme that it must be eradicated entirely in time for the 2024 elections, according to the lawsuit. Every Wisconsin voter should have the opportunity to vote for both Senate and Assembly members in 2024 and for the remainder of the decade under legislative plans that comply with the Wisconsin Constitution.

Redistricting experts say the states political geography, with Republicans spread out over the state but Democrats concentrated in the states biggest cities, makes it unlikely that any new set of legislative maps would give Democrats a legislative majority. But they also say that Wisconsins maps are among the most gerrymandered in the nation and Democrats would likely win many more seats under nonpartisan maps.

Previous rulings

The Wisconsin Supreme Court and U.S. Supreme Court ruled on the states set of 10-year legislative and congressional maps early last year after Evers vetoed Republicans preferred maps in 2021.

After calling for maps that made minimal changes to previous legislative district boundaries, the Wisconsin Supreme Court selected Evers preferred legislative and congressional maps. But Republicans alleged the governors legislative maps included a racial gerrymander and appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The nations highest court then struck down Evers legislative maps but accepted his preferred congressional maps. The Wisconsin Supreme Court then selected the GOP-drawn legislative maps.

Plaintiffs in the latest lawsuit argue that, by ordering minimal changes to the states previous maps, the state Supreme Court created an even greater partisan skew.

The result is legislative districting plans that violate multiple rights guaranteed by the Wisconsin Constitution, the lawsuit states. This Court should act swiftly to establish new maps that fully cure the rampant constitutional violations in the current plans.

Since the adoption of current legislative boundaries, the Wisconsin Supreme Courts liberal justices have dropped hints that they would move away from the least change approach, which the court ordered leading up to the adoption of current maps.

Additionally, the liberal majority could draw their own maps rather than choose from a selection of predrawn maps.

Like the previous lawsuit challenging the states maps, the latest complaint does not specify how it wants the Wisconsin Supreme Court to choose new maps.

Election advantages due to district mapping
1. Yes. As long as the basic ordinance is still intact, its smart to adjust to the local market.

2. Yes. If part of the ordinance isnt workable, it doesnt make sense to force the issue.

3. No. City staff worked hard on those design standards; its not fair to scrap them now.

4. No. Developers and builders shouldnt get to set their own rules. Keep the standards intact.

5. Unsure. Its best if the city and developers work together, but the city has the last word.

Vote

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Donald Trumps lawyers have already begun sounding out what the former presidents defense is going to be to charges that he tried to subvert the will of voters and prevent the peaceful transfer of power to Joe Biden.

His assertion that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him is speech protected by the First Amendment, theyll argue. Trump likely will also claim he indeed believed he was the victim of election fraud, even if that notion was wholly baseless. And he might chalk up his actions to bad postelection advice from his lawyers.

No one would be surprised, however, if the anchor to his defense turned out to be an all-out effort to stall, delay, drag out. If Trump were to win the 2024 election before trial, he could effectively shut down the federal cases pending against him and could in turn show special counsel Jack Smith the door.

[ Editorial: The latest indictment of Trump really is about a threat to democracy ]

Consider what one of Trumps lawyers, John Lauro, said during an interview on NBCs Today show Aug. 2. Smith had more than three years to build a case against Trump, so why cant Trump have the same amount of time to craft a defense?

Why dont we make it equal? Lauro told NBCs Savannah Guthrie. The bottom line is that they have 60 federal agents working on this. Sixty lawyers, all kinds of government personnel, and we get this indictment and they want to go to trial in 90 days. Does that sound like justice to you?

The former president is entitled to ample time to build his defense in this latest indictment, and in previous charges in New York relating to hush payments made to a pornographic actress and charges in Florida that he illegally kept classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago resort and tried to prevent the federal government from getting them back.

Thats due process, and like any other criminal defendant, Trump deserves a right to fair trial and the right to get up to speed with every facet of the prosecutions case against him, no matter how voluminous that case is.

That doesnt mean, however, that Trump gets to forestall justice by churning out a series of delay tactics aimed at running out the clock. In the case revolving around Trumps attempts to subvert the 2020 election, its on U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkans shoulders to ensure that the former president doesnt stall his way out of a verdict.

[ Daywatch: Whats in the indictment against Donald Trump? ]

Chutkan has yet to set a trial date. Appointed to the federal bench by Barack Obama, the 61-year-old jurist is an experienced trial judge with a reputation for meting out tough sentences for individuals convicted in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. We believe she has the right perspective on the events of that horrible day. In handing down a tough sentence on one of the rioters in the fall of 2021, Chutkan said, The country is watching to see what the consequences are, adding, There have to be consequences.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to the latest charges and to charges in the previous two indictments. Like any defendant, he is presumed innocent. Were confident Chutkan will oversee this trial fairly  and just as important, expeditiously.

A complicating factor in the proceedings surrounding all three cases is the fact that Trump is a candidate for the GOP presidential nomination who, as it stands now, leads in the polls by a wide margin. Moreover, its possible scheduling might be made even messier by a fourth indictment: Prosecutors in Fulton County, Georgia, are looking into whether Trump should be charged for his alleged role in trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

Chutkan, however, should not concern herself with Trumps campaign schedule. Nor should any other judge presiding over a criminal case against the former president. Judges in these cases against Trump have a single, paramount assignment  ensuring that justice occurs fairly and unimpeded. That means resisting any ham-handed attempt by Trumps lawyers to stave off trial proceedings.

[ Stephen Asma: Donald Trump appeals to our prehistoric, tribalistic selves ]

Succumbing to such attempts could allow Trump to sidestep accountability  an unspeakable prospect given the sheer contempt that the former president displayed for this nations democratic ideals in the weeks leading up to Jan. 6, and on that day.

Theres another reason why the trials Trump faces, particularly the election subversion charges, should be firewalled from any Trump team stalling.

If Trump is guilty of attempting to undermine democracy, Americans should know that before they vote in the 2024 presidential election. Its hard to imagine anything more disqualifying or more antithetical to what it means to be president than that.

Join the discussion on Twitter @chitribopinions and on Facebook.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has advised that Simmons Island Beach is safe to open, following a temporary closure on Monday due to unsafe conditions.

The City of Kenosha had closed the beach in compliance with an order by the state, related to conditions for dangerous currents. Other Kenosha beaches also are open. The DNR provides updates on beach safety at its web page: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Beaches/AdvisoryMap.html

Beach-goers are reminded to take safety precautions in and around water, including:

Never swim alone.

Stay in designated swimming areas.

Drink plenty of fluids.

Wear sunglasses that absorb at least 90 percent of UV sunlight.

Wear sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) and a wide-brimmed hat.

Spend part of your day in shaded areas.

Wash your hands before eating.

Shower after swimming.

Dont swallow the water.

Avoid swimming after heavy rain.

Dont swim near storm drains.
Pillar Health and Kenosha Community Health Center are marking National Health Center Week, a nationwide celebration of community health centers role in delivering preventive and primary care services.

The week runs Aug. 6-12, highlighting the commitment of health centers in providing affordable, quality healthcare to under-served communities.

The Health Center has locations in Kenosha at 6226 14th Ave., 4536 22nd Ave., 4006 Washington Road, at the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha, and in Silver Lake.

Pillar Health and KCHC provide services to over 15,000 residents of Kenosha, Racine, and Walworth counties. They deliver care in a unique model integrating medical, dental, and behavioral health care services tailored to individual needs.

With one in 11 Americans being health center patients, the centers serve a significant portion of the population, including 20% uninsured, 59% publicly insured, 90% low-income, and 65% belonging to racial and/or ethnic minority groups.

Access to basic care remains a challenge for over 100 million people in the United States, particularly those residing in remote and under-served communities where providers are scarce. National Health Center Week aims to raise awareness of the issue and rally support for health centers nationwide.

Consistent with national trends, access to affordable care and mental health services has been identified in community needs assessments in Kenosha County and southeast Wisconsin.

Pillar Health and KCHC leaders are committed to closing those service gaps. Most recently, they announced the expansion of mental health and pediatric services by board-certified providers to double local care access for the medical and mental health needs of both families and children.

Health centers collaborate with healthcare payers, systems, the private sector, and all levels of government to respond to emergencies like pandemics, natural disasters, the opioid crisis, and maternal mortality. They rapidly adopted telehealth during events like the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring patients received necessary services while breaking down barriers to care.

Addressing social needs that affect health is an important part of care delivered by health centers. It can include poverty, homelessness, substance use, mental illness, access to nutritious food, and unemployment.

Pillar Health and Kenosha Community Health Center are active in the community as well. Team members are embedded in various community events to encourage healthy behaviors, prevention, and management of chronic health conditions. They provide health education or screenings at the Kenosha Expo, the Kenosha YMCA Family Fun Day, and during National Night Out. They also work in area churches, residential centers, and are engaged with area businesses.

Both invite the public to join in celebrating National Health Center Week and acknowledge the contributions of health centers in providing accessible, comprehensive healthcare to communities nationwide.

Call 262-656-0044 to schedule an appointment or to inquire about local services.
If theres any event insulated from the softness in beer festivals in this uncertain post-pandemic environment, its the Great Taste of the Midwest.

The regions premier beer festival, which returns to Olin Park on Saturday for its 36th iteration, draws some 10,000 people to Madison every year, and tickets sell out months in advance. People queue up overnight to buy Great Taste tickets in person in May, and hundreds if not thousands trying their luck in the ticket lottery are turned away.

Still, I couldnt help but notice that the secondary market for tickets was a lot looser last year  both in the days leading up to the fest and outside the gates at Olin Park that morning. Ive begun advising folks who want to go but dont have a ticket to just go to Olin Park; it wont be hard to find one.

Does this mean the Taste is losing its shine?

I dont think so, and neither do its organizers at the Madison Homebrewers and Tasters Guild.

We saw a significant uptick in sale and trade of tickets on social media, said Doug Randall, who is the first-time chairman of the event. Last year we had a reasonable turnout, but there was a lot of pandemic uncertainty still in the air in 2022. Were still pretty proud of hosting a sold-out event every year.

The raison detre for the event in its early years  the inability to find even remotely interesting beers at local bars and liquor stores  has largely evaporated, mission accomplished. But the focus has shifted in recent years for both the guests and the brewers who attend.

For Fred Swanson, the MHTGs brewer liaison whos been part of the Taste for 29 years, it starts with taking care of the breweries and the staff they bring to Madison.

One of the things that we got right back in the day  and we didnt know it at the time but it has proved extremely prescient and very much what were known for  was the notion that the person or persons behind the table are the people who touch the beer, made the beer, can answer your questions, he said.

From the minute the brewers arrive at Olin Park on Friday  often after a drive of several hours  MHTG volunteers unload the kegs, keep them safe and cold, and deliver them to the brewers tent location on Saturday morning. It may not sound like much, but that peace of mind allows brewery reps to kick loose on Friday night for a weekend thats like a cross between an industry convention and a family reunion for Midwestern beer.

When brewers show up on Friday, we say two words to them: Welcome home. Because we want them to feel like this is their house also, this town is their town, Swanson said.

We want them to feel differently than when theyre going to any other commodified beer festival anywhere in the country.

The venue is great, the execution is great, the selection is great, but for true beer geeks, what sets the Taste apart from every other festival is that ability to ask the person who made it about the beer youre sampling.

Thats what attracts the people to the festival who want intimate knowledge, Swanson said. Do it that way, make sure you treat the brewers right, and everything else falls into place.

A look at the 2023 edition of Great Taste of the Midwest, by the numbers:

200  Approximate number of breweries. The actual number may fluctuate even in the few days before the event as brewers drop out and a replacement cant be arranged.

1,300-1,500  Number of beers to be poured, a relatively stable figure in recent years.

30  Approximate number of rookie breweries attending for the first time, a number thats been fixed for a few years at 15% of the total. Its a good festival strategy, said Fred Swanson, brewer liaison for the Madison Homebrewers and Tasters Guild.

That is many hundreds of peoples day at the Great Taste. Its like, sure, Ill intersperse a few beers Ive never had, but Im going to visit those 30 rookies, Swanson said. It is our No. 1 search term on our app: rookies.

35  Number of previous Great Tastes. The first was held in 1985 and the event is still run exclusively by volunteers  the largest such festival in the country.

3  Number of times  at least  the filter is changed during the event on the supply for the drinking water stations throughout the park.

$30,000  Amount of proceeds from each Great Taste the MHTG typically donates to local charities.

6  Number of pinball machines Mikerphone Brewing is bringing to the festival  with a leaderboard for the best scores recorded by Tasters. The Elk Grove Village, Illinois, brewery is located a mile and a half from the headquarters of pin manufacturer Stern Pinball.

64  Number of slots in Lone Girl Brewings Great Taste rock-paper-scissors tournament.
This summer the growing season has been challenging in many parts of the state where drought conditions have reduced forage yields and stressed pastures.

To help beef producers manage these challenges, The University of Wisconsin-Madison, Division of Extension will host a workshop to provide information about wintering the beef herd and recovering from the drought of 2023.

Bill Halfman, beef outreach specialist, will discuss winter feeding strategies for the beef herd. Steve Okonek, outreach specialist for Jackson and Trempealeau counties will discuss forage management to recover from the drought and alternative crops to fill feed gaps. The workshop will be held Tuesday, Aug. 22 at the Blair Community Center (fire hall), 103 E. Broadway St. in Blair. Registration starts at 5:30 p.m., meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided by the Western Wisconsin Beef Producers Cooperative.

If you have any questions, please call Steve Okonek at 715-538-5097.
COLUMBUS, Ohio  Ohio voters on Tuesday resoundingly rejected a Republican-backed measure that would have made it more difficult to change the states constitution, setting up a fall campaign that will become the nations latest referendum on abortion rights since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned nationwide protections last year.

The defeat of Issue 1 keeps in place a simple majority threshold for passing future constitutional amendments. It would have raised that to a 60% supermajority, which supporters said would protect the states foundational document from outside interest groups.

Opposition to the proposal was widespread, even spreading into Republican territory. In fact, in early returns, support for the measure fell far short of former President Donald Trumps performance during the 2020 election in nearly every county.

Dennis Willard, a spokesperson for the opposition campaign One Person One Vote, called Issue 1 a deceptive power grab that was intended to diminish the influence of the states voters.

Tonight is a major victory for democracy in Ohio, Willard told a jubilant crowd at the opposition campaigns watch party. The majority still rules in Ohio.

President Joe Biden hailed Tuesday's result, releasing a statement saying: This measure was a blatant attempt to weaken voters voices and further erode the freedom of women to make their own health care decisions. Ohioans spoke loud and clear, and tonight democracy won.

A major national group that opposes abortion rights, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, called the result a sad day for Ohio" while criticizing the outside money that helped the opposition  even though both sides relied on national groups and individuals in their campaigns.

Republican lawmakers who had pushed the measure  and put it before voters during the height of summer vacation season  explained away the defeat as a result of too little time to adequately explain it to voters. A main backer, Republican Senate President Matt Huffman, predicted lawmakers would try again, though probably not as soon as next year.

Obviously, there are a lot of folks that did not want this to happen  not just because of the November issues, but for all of the other ones that are coming, he said.

While abortion was not directly on the special election ballot, the result marks the latest setback for Republicans in a conservative-leaning state who favor imposing tough restrictions on the procedure. Ohio Republicans placed the question on the summer ballot in hopes of undercutting a citizen initiative that voters will decide in November that seeks to enshrine abortion rights in the state.

Other states where voters have considered abortion rights since last years Supreme Court ruling have protected them, including in red states such as Kansas and Kentucky.

In trying to explain the defeat the Tuesday evening, state Rep. Jim Hoops, the House GOP whip, said the debate over Issue 1 became overly politicized because of the looming abortion rights question: Its just unfortunate that it became political."

Interest in Ohio's special election was intense, even after Republicans ignored their own law that took effect earlier this year to place the question before voters in August. Voters cast nearly 700,000 early in-person and mail ballots ahead of Tuesdays final day of voting, more than double the number of advance votes in a typical primary election. Early turnout was especially heavy in the Democratic-leaning counties surrounding Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati.

One Person One Vote represented a broad, bipartisan coalition of voting rights, labor, faith and community groups. The group also had as allies four living ex-governors of the state and five former state attorneys general of both parties, who called the proposed change bad public policy.

In place since 1912, the simple majority standard is a much more surmountable hurdle for Ohioans for Reproductive Rights, the group advancing Novembers abortion rights amendment. It would establish a fundamental right to reproductive freedom with reasonable limits.

Eric Chon, a Columbus resident who voted against the measure, said there was a clear anti-abortion agenda to the election. Noting that the GOP voted just last year to get rid of August elections entirely due to low turnout for hyperlocal issues, Chon said, Every time something doesnt go their way, they change the rules.

Voters in several states have approved ballot questions protecting access to abortion since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, but typically have done so with less than 60% of the vote. AP VoteCast polling last year found that 59% of Ohio voters say abortion should generally be legal.

The result came in the very type of August special election that Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose, a candidate for U.S. Senate, had previously testified against as undemocratic because of historically low turnout. Republican lawmakers just last year had voted to mostly eliminate such elections, a law they ignored for this years election.

Al Daum, of Hilliard, just west of Columbus, said he didnt feel the rules were being changed to undermine the power of his vote and said he was in favor of the special election measure. Along with increasing the threshold to 60%, it would mandate that any signatures for a constitutional amendment be gathered from all of Ohios 88 counties, not just 44.

Its a change that Daum said would give more Ohio residents a chance to make their voices heard.

GOP lawmakers had cited possible future amendments related to gun control or minimum wage increases as reasons a higher threshold should be required.

Voters rejection of the proposal marked a rare rebuke for Ohio Republicans, who have held power across every branch of state government for 12 years.

Ohio Right to Life, the states oldest and largest anti-abortion group and a key force behind the special election measure, vowed to continue fighting into the fall.
A worker walks into the back of the Conservatory Apartments in Garfield Park on Aug. 2, 2023. The apartments are being constructed to the Passive House standard that combines technology for ventilation, insulation and airtightness with design solutions that help retain heat in the winter and keep it out in the summer. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

A German-born energy efficiency standard is catching fire in the multifamily housing development industry in Chicago, bringing reduced carbon footprints, improved air quality and lower costs for tenants.

The Passive House standard combines technology for ventilation, insulation and airtightness with design solutions that help retain heat in the winter and keep it out in the summer, with a 40%-60% reduction in energy usage for multifamily and single-family properties, according to Phius, a Chicago-based nonprofit that certifies Passive House buildings.

Multifamily developers, particularly those building affordable housing, in Chicago have begun to embrace Passive House design in the last few years thanks to local industry professionals advocating for changes in the city and state building energy codes, as well as buy-in from ComEd, the primary energy provider in the state.

A.J. Patton, CEO and managing partner of 548 Enterprise in Chicago, said he started his company in 2016 to lower peoples costs and build sustainably. Building to the Passive House standard is one way to do this, he said. Patton has two multifamily affordable housing projects in the pipeline incorporating Passive House design, and he said he thinks more developers would use the standard if they saw it being done to scale.

He hopes his projects will inspire others to construct sustainable buildings.

Its a followers market, Patton said. Leadership matters, precedent matters, experiences matter. And so thats part of what were going to do here with our developments.

Passive House design focuses on making a building tightly sealed by including features such as triple-paned windows and wraparound insulation to keep outside temperatures from creeping in (and noise too), as well as ventilation systems to keep air quality fresh. These features drive down utility bills for residents and make the building more environmentally friendly. And the standard is tailored to the range of climates in the United States.

Founded in 2007, Phius certified its first property in 2010, according to the company. The nonprofits co-founder, Katrin Klingenberg, built the first residential Passive House project, a single-family home, in the U.S. in Urbana in the early aughts.

Single-family Passive House homes were built years prior to the multifamily projects, as the standard was originally geared toward single-family homes, according to Isaac Elnecave, policy specialist at Phius. Illinois has 20 Passive House single-family homes underway or completed, 13 of which are in the Chicago area, according to Phius certified project database.

The database shows seven Phius-certified multifamily developments underway or completed in the Chicago area, with an additional development outside of Chicagoland. One of Pattons projects, Humboldt Park Passive Housing, has not been officially certified yet, according to Phius database.

In 2023, around 275 Passive House multifamily projects, or about 16,000 units, are being constructed or have been built nationwide, representing less than 1% of all multifamily housing construction, according to a recent study from the Passive House Network, an education- and policy-oriented organization. Most of these projects have been constructed or designed since 2018, according to the study. Phius database has the total number of multifamily construction projects in the pipeline or already built at 398.

The Passive House Network study finds that multifamily building costs for this standard are around 1%-4% higher compared with other buildings, but that is before monetary incentives are taken into account. The study said in order to speed up the pace of Passive House development, local, state and federal policymakers should finance incentive programs, offer professional training, increase provisions in state affordable housing programs and amend compliance rules in energy codes.

Chicago and the state of Illinois have taken some of these steps in recent years.

Chicagos Department of Planning and Developments Sustainable Development Policy requires developers receiving city funds to include sustainable elements in their projects. In 2017, the policy was amended to include the Passive House principle as one of the elements to help projects qualify.

Chicagos building code was changed to accommodate the Passive House standard in 2022 with the adoption of the Chicago Energy Transformation Code, which allows Phius-certified buildings as an alternative method of compliance with building energy codes. A statewide building energy code will be implemented soon, Elnecave said.

Starting in the 2022-23 fiscal year, the Illinois Housing Development Authority began scoring developers applying for low-income housing tax credits  the main source of federal financing behind affordable housing developments across the country  higher if their projects would be built to the Passive House standard.

ComEd has monetary incentives for developers. In 2021, the company launched a pilot program for new affordable housing projects to encourage developers to build to Passive House design and boost energy savings, according to ComEd. The company told the Tribune in a statement that there are five projects participating in the program, with each project estimated to receive between $241,000 and $326,000 in incentives.

The pilot program will run until all the projects are completed, by 2025, and then ComEd will evaluate the final cost to determine if the program will continue or be expanded, the company said.

The first multifamily Passive House building completed was a six-flat constructed by Latin United Community Housing Association in 2018 in Humboldt Park. The developer built a nearly identical six-flat to federal Energy Star standards  another energy efficiency standard  and, according to a study prepared for ComEd, found that the Passive House property had much lower seasonal heating usage, around 65% less.

The next Passive House multifamily building expected to be completed, likely by the end of the year, is the 43-unit affordable and supportive care housing at the Conservatory Apartments in Garfield Park. Deborahs Place, a nonprofit that helps women experiencing homelessness, will retain most of the units for its clients, with the rest set aside for the states list of people who have been housed in places like mental health institutions who dont need that level of care, according to the development team.

The front of the Conservatory Apartments in Garfield Park is seen Aug. 2, 2023. It will offer affordable and supportive care housing. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

The project, developed by Interfaith Housing Development Corp., is expected to cost about $13 million, with the development team estimating annual energy usage to be about 35%-40% less than a traditional building, translating into $15,000 to $20,000 in cost savings for the building owner. Residents will then also save on their rent, which includes utilities.

I truly believe this is the way were going to build in the future, said Susan King, principal with HED and the architect for the project. We have to be more conservative with our resources.

CJ Miller, left, and Tom Deneen install a trunk line for an HVAC system that will supply fresh air in the Conservatory Apartments in Garfield Park on Aug. 2, 2023. The system reuses conditioned air for energy savings. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

A project that recently broke ground is Fifth City Commons, a $38 million, 43-unit affordable housing development in East Garfield Park being constructed by the Preservation of Affordable Housing, a national nonprofit development organization.

The group was chosen in an international competition designed to inspire highly energy-efficient buildings in cities, with the original goal of being net zero  a structure that produces as much energy as it uses in a year  turned into implementing Passive House design, according to Bill Eager, senior vice president of the Midwest branch of the Preservation of Affordable Housing. This will be the groups first Passive House project in Chicago, with four other new construction projects in the works nationally.

Eager said he expects Fifth City Commons to be completed by fall 2024 and has a goal of up to 75% energy reduction, which will reduce residents and the building owners energy costs.

Fifth City Commons, shown here in a rendering, is a $38 million, 43-unit affordable housing development in East Garfield Park. (Perkins & Will)

548 Enterprises two multifamily Passive House projects are expected to break ground either at the end of this year or early next year.

Galleria 89 is a $37 million, 58-unit affordable housing development project in South Chicago. The project is an Invest South/West development, the hallmark initiative by former Mayor Lori Lightfoots administration to revitalize the South and West sides of Chicago.

Galleria 89, shown here in a rendering, is a $37 million, 58-unit affordable housing development project in South Chicago. (Farr Assoc./Rivetna Architects)

Humboldt Park Passive Living is a $40 million, 60-unit mixed-income project in West Humboldt Park in the Invest South/West corridor along Chicago Avenue. Based on the current listed projects on Phius database, this would be the largest Passive House affordable housing development in the city if the project receives Phius certification.

As for costs, Steve Gerson, chief financial officer of 548 Enterprise, said the company is seeing a 7% increase in items such as windows and insulation for its Passive House developments compared with the less energy-efficient items they use for non-Passive-House projects. But, utility costs will be lowered for residents, Patton of 548 Enterprise said.

All of the Chicago projects in the works included in this story will be subsidized by ComEd grants.

Humboldt Park Passive Living, shown here in a rendering, is a $40 million, 60-unit mixed-income project in West Humboldt Park. (Lamar Johnson Collaborative)

Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut lead the way in multifamily buildings being developed to meet the Passive House standard, with each state having more than 50 properties in the pipeline or already completed, according to Phius database.

Those states are ahead of Chicago and Illinois because of their earlier adoption of building code changes, earlier involvement from energy companies and aggressive carbon emissions reduction goals, according to Ken Levenson, executive director of the Passive House Network.

The Phius database shows Chicago is one of the national leaders in the Passive House commercial development space, with a handful of school and government buildings being designed or completed to meet the standard.

Elnecave of Phius said there has been a fairly significant acceleration in Passive House building over the last three years, which he attributes to more recognition of the standard through outreach efforts to the construction community.

Looking ahead, Elnecave said he wants to see more Passive House building by familiarizing more people in the industry with the standard, and for the standard to be used more as a way to reduce the load on energy grids.

Our vision is to have a professional community to really be able to build so that as they build more Passive House, they happen more quickly, they happen at reduced costs and it becomes, ultimately, the basic standard for construction, Elnecave said.

ekane@chicagotribune.com
Phonics is where written language meets spoken language.

Phonics teaches students the relationship between the letters of written language and the sounds of spoken language. The goal of phonics is to help students learn how to use the alphabet to read and write words. It also helps them understand writing.

Teaching tips for phonics

Effective phonics instruction should:

include letter shapes and names

work with each separate sound in a word

include all major letter-sound relationships

Teach phonics in a clear and direct way with a plan.

When you teach letter-sound relationships tell your students the goal of the lesson. Explain the learning strategies you plan to use. After you teach something such as words or spelling patterns, plan to use them often with your students. Use them in sentences, songs, or poems. Play games with them. Read texts and stories using words or letters. Practice writing them.

Teach the ABCs.

Singing the ABC Song is a great place to start. As you say each letter, point to it. This will help teach the connection between letters and sounds. Have them write letters early and often.

However, do not teach the alphabet in order from A to Z.

It is fine to say or sing the full alphabet in order. However, when you begin teaching individual letters, experts advise against teaching them in order. Teachers often start with this group of letters  s, a, t, i, p, n. They make more three-letter words than any other six letters. Have them write letters early and often.

Teach commonly confused letters or sounds separately.

Some English language learners confuse some letters. If that is the case with your students, teach them separately. Let the students master one letter sound before moving to a similar one. Some commonly confused letters are:

- b, d, p

- e, i

- m, n

- t, d

If a sound is written more than one way, teach the different spellings one at a time. For example, the long /a/ sound can be spelled several different ways. Try teaching its forms in order:

First, -ai as in train;

Next, -a_e as in gate;

Then, -ay as in day;

Finally, use them together in a game or activity.

Teach short vowel sounds first. Words with short vowel sounds are usually easier to say and spell. At this stage, teach single-beat (syllable) words with short vowel sounds, like sat and pat. However, short vowel sounds can be confusing. So, teach them separately.

Teach easy and common consonant letter sounds first.

Some consonants are easier than others. Usually, consonants that you can stretch out are easier to say  letters like m, s, and f.

With some consonant combinations you can hear each letter, such as fl, sp, tr, and st. (These are called blends. In the video for this article, you can hear them all.) Teach these with short vowel sounds, for example flap, spin, trim, step.

With some consonant combinations, the consonants become one sound, such as the /sh/ in sheep. (These are called digraphs.) Teach common consonant combinations like ch, sh, and th. But keep in mind, some students may have a hard time with these.

For all of these suggestions, teachers must decide which sounds are easiest for their students.

Learning strategies for teaching phonics

Learning Strategy: Use all the senses.

Let the students see your face and mouth make the sounds. Use a mirror so the students can see their own mouths make sounds.

Have students touch their throats and say letter sounds. Some letters move the throat. Some letters do not move the throat.

Put a tissue in front of your face and show how some sounds make the tissue move while others do not.

Have students draw letters with their fingers while saying them. Students can draw letters in materials like sand or paint.

Students can also build letters with their bodies. Put students in groups. Give them a letter or they can pick a letter. Then they make the letter with their bodies.

Learning Strategy: Alphabet Matching

Young learners are just beginning to understand that there are relationships between written letters and spoken sounds. They are also learning that these relationships follow rules. They are learning the alphabetic principle.

Teachers can help students develop this understanding with fun activities that play with alphabet letters and sounds  for example, games that match lowercase and uppercase letters.

Assessment for phonics

Ask students questions about lesson material. Some assessments will be spoken, and some will be written.

Sample questions:

What sound do the letters s and h make when you put them together?

How do you spell the /sh/ sound?

How can I turn the word bit into bite?

Ask students to pick out the following in a text:

uppercase and lowercase letters

consonant sounds and letters

long vowel sounds and letters

short vowel sounds and letters

Read short vowel sounds in consonant-vowel-consonant words:

mat, cat, bag, bat

Read consonant combinations with short vowels:

flag, trim, brag

Read long vowel spellings:

- long /a/ sound spelled ai, ay, a_e

- long /e/ sound spelled ee

Read words with many syllables:

- treehouse

- rainbow

- bookbag

- syllable

Use these tips, strategies, and assessment methods that best serve you and your learners. Change them to fit your students and teaching situation.

Im Anna Matteo. And Im Caty Weaver.

Anna Matteo wrote this article for VOA Learning English. It is part of a larger collection of Early Literacy Materials.

_____________________________________________

Words in This Story

syllable n. a natural division of a word based on sound; a sound unit that makes up a word

blend n. A blend is two consonants together that each make a sound. In the word "stop" the /s/ and the /t/ each make a sound.

digraph n. A digraph has two letters but only one sound. In the word "shop" the /sh/ makes only one sound.

alphabetic principle n the idea that there are systematic and predictable relationships between letters and the sounds they represent

_____________________________________________

Resources

Put Reading First  Kindergarten Through Grade 3, The Research Building Blocks for Teaching Children to Read, U.S. National Institute for Literacy;

Teaching Our Youngest, U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Early Childhood-Head Start Task Force, Washington, D.C. 2002;

For Students Who Are Not Yet Fluent, Silent Reading Is Not the Best Use of Classroom Time, Hasbrouck, J., American Educator, Summer 2006, 30(2);

What Does Research Tell Us About Teaching Reading to English Language Learners? Suzanne Irujo, Reading Rockets;

Types of Informal Classroom-Based Assessment, Reading Rockets
Nigers military rulers have rejected the latest diplomatic attempt to return to power the countrys ousted president.

The coup leaders refused to meet with a delegation of West African, African Union and United Nations representatives. In a letter Tuesday, the new rulers said a climate of threatened aggression made it impossible to hold talks on ending the constitutional crisis in Niger.

The crisis began on July 26, when members of the presidential guard seized control of the government. They detained and continue to hold the democratically-elected leader of Niger, President Mohamed Bazoum and his family.

The West African political and economic organization, ECOWAS, threatened military intervention in Niger unless Bazoum was returned to power by August 6. ECOWAS stands for Economic Community of West African States.

Earlier, a top U.S diplomatic official visited Niger to urge the military rulers to restore the democratically elected Bazoum to power.

U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland said she traveled to the capital Niamey to express grave concern at the undemocratic attempts to seize power and urged a return to constitutional order. She made the comment on the social media site X, formerly Twitter.

Nuland told reporters in a conference call Monday that she met with Nigers self-appointed ruler Brigadier General Moussa Salaou Barmou and three other military officials during her visit. She described the talks as extremely frank and at times, quite difficult.

She said the military officials are quite firm on how they plan to move forward and those plans do not comport with the constitution of Niger. She said the officials refused her request to meet directly with ousted President Bazoum and his family, as well as coup leader General Abdourahamane Tchiani.

ECOWAS leaders are preparing for a meeting Thursday to discuss their situation with Nigers ruling military.

Niger is the world's seventh-biggest producer of uranium. Uranium is the most widely used fuel for nuclear energy, adding to its importance.

"There's no doubt that diplomacy is the best way to resolve this situation," American Secretary of State Antony Blinken told French radio station RFI.

He said the United States was backing ECOWAS efforts to bring order. He declined to comment on the future of about 1,100 U.S. troops in Niger. French, German and Italian troops are also present in the country.

Blinken later told the BBC he was worried that Russia's Wagner mercenaries were using the instability in Niger to strengthen their presence in the Sahel.

ECOWAS has ordered sanctions on Niger and Western allies have suspended aid.

Residents of Niamey who spoke to Reuters were strongly supportive of the overthrow.

Im Dan Novak.

Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by Reuters.

____________________________________________________

Words in This Story

coup  n. a sudden attempt by a small group of people to take over the government usually through violence

grave  adj. requiring or causing serious thought or concern

frank  adj. used to say that someone is speaking or writing in a very direct and honest way

sanction  n. an action that is taken or an order that is given to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade with that country, by not allowing economic aid for that country, etc.

comport  v. to behave in a certain way

resident  n. someone who lives in a particular place
Some single women in Taiwan are medically freezing their eggs although they cannot currently use them to have children unless they marry.

The women say they want to make sure they have usable eggs stored in case the islands government changes its current law. Taiwanese law currently permits single women to freeze their eggs. But it is only legal for them to use those eggs if they marry a man.

Self-ruled Taiwan has a fertility rate of 0.89 children per woman. That is less than half of the replacement rate of 2.1 necessary to prevent decreasing population. It is also one of the world's lowest rates, following South Korea and Hong Kong.

Doctors in Taiwan say the law has led to about eight percent of women using their frozen eggs. This compares to about 38 percent of women in the United States.

Vivian Tung is a 33-year-old Taiwanese marketing director. She injects herself with a drug daily over a two-week period, which was part of the process needed to freeze her eggs. The drug Rekovelle is a hormonal medicine used to improve egg production.

Tung is one of a rising number of Taiwanese women who are choosing to freeze their eggs so that, later in life, they can become pregnant and have a child. "It's my insurance policy," she told the Associated Press. She explained that many women in Taiwan are independent, career-centered, and not necessarily looking for a husband to have children with.

"My family is very supportive and respect my choice. When they hear that I buy insurance for myself, they also feel very good," Tung said.

Taiwan became the first place in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage in 2019. In May, the islands government gave same-sex partners the right to jointly adopt a child.

Records show that only about four percent of children in Taiwan are born out of wedlock, or born to parents who are not married. This compares with about 40 percent of children in the United States.

Demand for egg freezing in Taiwan has risen sharply in recent years. A study carried out by National Taiwan University Hospital showed that, over the past three years, the number of women aged 35 to 39 who froze their eggs was up 86 percent.

More than 12 centers offering egg freezing services opened in Taiwan in the year following the COVID-19 pandemic, said Dr Lai Hsing-Hua. He is founder of Taiwan's first egg bank, the Stork Fertility Clinic.

Lai said the fertility centers in Taipei and Hsinchu have reported a 50 percent increase in patients from the year before. As a result, the centers have frozen the eggs of more than 800 women.

Im Bryan Lynn.

The Associated Press and Reuters reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English.

_______________________________________________

Words in This Story

hormone  n. a natural substance that is produced in the human body and determines how the body grows or develops

insurance  n. an agreement in which you regularly pay a company money so that it will pay to cover your costs if you have an accident, injury, or lose the use of property you own

adopt  v. to legally become the parents of someone elses child and to take responsibility for them

(born) out of wedlock  idiom born when ones parents are not married

___________________________________________________

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Tensions have again risen between China and the Philippines over a disputed area of the South China Sea.

In 1999, the Philippines ran aground an old warship from World War II on a small piece of land called the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea.

The move was to reinforce its claims of sovereignty, or control, of the area within the countrys exclusive economic zone. However, China claims the Philippines is illegally holding the land.

Since then, a number of soldiers have lived on the ship. Boats from the Philippines come often to exchange soldiers and bring supplies.

On August 5, the Philippines military said China interfered with its supply ships. They said a Chinese boat sprayed them with a water cannon. No one was hurt, but only one Philippines boat completed its resupply mission. The Philippines called the action excessive and offensive.

China said the incident was a "warning" and that it has exercised "rational restraint." It also accused the Philippines of using the incident as a way to get support from the United States and other allies.

On Tuesday, China again asked the Philippines to remove the old warship. Its embassy in Manila also released a statement criticizing other nations for getting involved in the dispute between the countries. It said other nations are making mischief and sowing discord in the South China Sea.

Security experts who follow the issue say China wants the ship, called the Sierra Madre, to move so it can claim the area for itself.

Rommel Ong is a security expert and retired vice commander of the Philippine Navy. He said his country needs to re-establish control of the shoal to keep supplying the Sierra Madre. The last time China aimed a water cannon at a ship from the Philippines was in November 2021.

Collin Koh is a security expert at Singapores Rajaratnam School of International Studies. He said China would not want to use more force to occupy the shoal. Such an action could launch a defense treaty signed by the Philippines in 1951 requiring the United States to offer military support.

Koh said: Theres probably no question about whether China has the means to do something more than shoot water. But he believes China is worried about political risks."

Jonathan Malaya of the Philippines National Security Council urged China not to escalate matters and put lives at risk.

And Japan and France, through their embassies in Manila, have expressed concern over China's recent actions. The two also repeated their support for a 2016 ruling against Chinas claim over all of the South China Sea.

Im Dan Friedell.

Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by Reuters.

____________________________________________________

Words in This Story

sovereignty n. a countrys independence and right to govern itself

exclusive adj. having the right to do something alone, something no one else can claim

spray v. to shoot a stream of liquid

rational adj. thoughtful and measured

mischief n. activities meant to provoke a response

discord n. a situation where many people or groups are upset with each other

escalate v. to push something to a more serious or dangerous level

____________________________________________________

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LINCOLN  After four years and more than 3,700 students surveyed, Nebraska Community Foundations Greater Nebraska Youth Survey affirms young Nebraskans desire to include the state in their future and a preference for smaller communities.

Year after year students tell us about their preference for small communities. They point to safety, good schools and proximity to family as the most important characteristics of the places they choose to live. They say in the future, they are likely to live in the area they live now, and they do not recognize a negative stigma with remaining in or returning to your hometown, said Jeff Yost, president and CEO of Nebraska Community Foundation. We believe these youth survey results are a critical tool for understanding the priorities, values and desires of young Nebraskans and that they can help us create the kinds of communities of choice our young people want to return to.

This year, NCF and the Center for Public Affairs Research at the University of Nebraska at Omaha surveyed 980 middle and high school students in 11 communities: Arcadia, Crofton, David City, Diller-Odell, Imperial, Ogallala, Ord, Paxton, Pender, Shickley and Stuart. Key findings included:

Students still prefer small towns. Year after year, students have expressed a preference for small communities with 64% of respondents saying their ideal community size is small, like my hometown. Only 4% say their ideal community is larger than those that exist in Nebraska. Importantly, the vast majority (72%) say there is no stigma attached to living in a rural community. They want to remain in Nebraska. The majority (58%) report that they are extremely or somewhat likely to live in the area they live now. A job or business opportunity is the topmost reason to live elsewhere.

They desire safety. Safety, good schools, and proximity to family continue to be the top three most important factors in their ideal community  qualities that are abundant across Greater Nebraska. However, 42% report that they have been bullied and qualitative data demonstrates students wishes for more welcoming, inclusive communities.

The active participation of young people in rural Nebraska bodes well for the future of rural communities, said CPAR Director Josie Schafer. It indicates that many of them are likely to stay or return to their hometowns later in life.

Despite high levels of engagement in local organizations and businesses, most students (76%) said they do not feel like they play a role in their community. Adults in Greater Nebraska can help these youth feel more involved by inviting them to take part in local organizations, offering them a seat at the table.

Additional engagement of youth in local decision-making and planning can further connect students to their communities, Schafer said.

Students cited job opportunities elsewhere as the main reason they would not live in their community as an adult. They understand the availability of health care and agriculture jobs in their towns, but do not perceive possible opportunities in other fields, such as the arts, recreation, tourism, business management, information technology and media, among other careers in which they expressed interest.

While students overall expressed positive sentiments about their communities, there were differences evident in responses when broken down by gender identity, race and ethnicity. Female students, for instance, reported being less likely to live in their current community as adults. Students of color reported feeling less connected to their communities and were more likely to report having been bullied and having witnessed someone being treated unfairly in the community due to age, race, gender, sexual orientation, physical illness or mental health. Nearly 75% of all students reported they would act to stop unfair treatment, and 60% said they are likely to advocate for diversity and inclusion.

Rural communities must foster an inclusive and supportive environment for everyone, Schafer said. Emphasizing safety, diversity and inclusion aligns with the values expressed by the rural youth in the survey and as a result should have a positive impact on population retention and attraction.

About the Center for Public Affairs Research

The Center for Public Affairs Research collaboratively produces and disseminates high-quality public scholarship about topics that impact the lives of Nebraskans. Ongoing projects from CPAR include policy analyses for the Planning Committee of the Nebraska State Legislature, the Nebraska Rural Transit Project, governing.unomaha.edu and designation by the U.S. Census Bureau as a statewide liaison for disseminating a range of data products. To learn more about CPAR and access many of its data resources go to cpar.unomaha.edu.

About Nebraska Community FoundationHeadquartered in Lincoln, the Nebraska Community Foundation serves communities, donors and organizations by providing financial management, strategic development, education and training to a statewide network of 1,500 volunteers serving more than 270 communities. In the last five years, donors have made 46,653 contributions to Nebraska Community Foundation and its affiliated funds. Since 1994, Nebraska Community Foundation has reinvested $463 million in Nebraskas people and places. For information, visit NebraskaHometown.org.
Emergency responders from multiple area fire and police departments were on scene Aug. 4, 2023 at Arlington Lake in Arlington Heights where the body of a man was recovered from the water. (Arlington Heights Police Department) (Arlington Heights Police Department)

Emergency responders pulled the body of a 51-year-old man out of Lake Arlington earlier this month after a Park District worker discovered some personal belongings near the sail boat launch at Lake Arlington, and a land and water search was started.

According to an Arlington Heights Police Department news release, a 9-1-1 call was placed Aug. 4 after the Park District worker found the items in the 2200 block of North Windsor.

Responding officers spoke to Park District employees near the scene and examined what was found. In addition to the personal items, a vehicle was located in an adjacent parking lot and it was determined to belong to the same person as the items, the release states.

Officers learned a family member had recently reported this person as missing to Wheeling Police, with specific concerns for their wellbeing, authorities stated in the release.

The Arlington Heights Fire Department was also called to the scene and fire personnel requested an under water search, according to the release.

AHFD activated a MABAS (Mutual Aid Box Alarm System) Division One Dive Team response, the release states.

Lake Arlington is located midway between Arlington Heights and its northeast neighbor Wheeling.

Divers from the Arlington Heights, Des Plaines, Elk Grove Village, Mount Prospect, Palatine, Schaumburg, Streamwood and Wheeling fire departments responded to the MABAS call, according to the release. In total, 25 chief fire officers, divers and paramedics answered the mutual aid call.

Authorities stated in the release that police closed the adjacent park and people were asked to leave as the search got underway. Arlington Heights and Wheeling officers launched drones to peer over the water, shore line and wooded areas.

The grounds were searched by officers on foot, in squad cars and on motorcycles, the release states.

Dive team specialists utilized sonar technology that was deployed by a fire boat and supported by scuba divers to search under water.

At approximately 11:15 A.M., sonar identified an anomaly roughly 30 feet off shore from where the personal belongings were found. Divers investigated the area and located a body, the release states.

The body was recovered and removed from the water, and paramedics determined that the unidentified man could not be resuscitated.

An autopsy done by the Cook County medical examiners office determined that the man died as a result of drowning.
The NCTA Heifer Link initiative was launched at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in January 2015 as an integral part of the Ownership Advantage Program. With Heifer Links introduction, students are given a unique chance to receive a bred heifer during their fourth semester.

This year, Hadley Sayer of Wallace took advantage of this opportunity to support his goal of expanding his operation raising purebred show cattle in Nebraska.

Sayer said, Over the past two years, NCTA has allowed me to develop useful connections that I will utilize throughout my future endeavors. The Heifer Link Program through NCTA has provided me with a great addition to my herd. I am truly grateful for this opportunity, and all the others, that the college has provided me with.

Under the guidance of experienced faculty members, the Heifer Link program aims to equip students with hands-on knowledge and skills crucial for successful careers in animal agriculture. Students participating in the program gain valuable experience in livestock management, animal husbandry, and overall farm operations.

Apart from the day-to-day responsibilities, students also participate in projects related to livestock production, nutrition, and genetics. These projects provide an additional avenue for students to delve deeper into the field of animal agriculture and contribute to advancements in the industry. They also gain hands-on experience in reproductive management, including artificial insemination and pregnancy diagnosis.

NCTA and its partners have been committed to empowering students starting out in the livestock industry through the Ownership Advantage Program, said Dr. Larry Gossen, dean of NCTA. By introducing the Heifer Link component, where students take ownership of a donated heifer during their academic journey and leave the NCTA campus with a bred heifer, we aim to provide our next generation with a remarkable head start on building their own herds.

Beyond the campus, Aggie students have the unique opportunity to work on the ranch crew to care for our expanding herd at our 2,147-acre Leu Ranch, at our adjacent campus cattle facilities, and participate in internships with cattle ranches and feedlots, gaining invaluable hands-on experience.

Additionally, the program provides an excellent platform for networking with industry producers and engaging in discussions on pressing industry issues. Gossen said this program not only equips students with practical skills but also fosters a deep understanding of the cattle industry, preparing them to excel in their future careers. Part of the University of Nebraska system, the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture is a two-year institution with a statewide mission of preparing students for successful careers in agriculture, veterinary technology, and related industries. NCTA is known for its affordable tuition, high job-placement rate for its graduates, and student teams success in competitive activities, including crops judging, ranch horse events, livestock judging, shotgun sports, stock dog trials, and intercollegiate rodeo. The college is consistently ranked as one of the best two-year schools in the nation.
The next phase of the local Easy Transfer service shall see instant transfer of HKD, the Monetary Authority of Macao (AMCM) has announced on its website.

When the AMCM unveiled the Easy Transfer service  the local term for instant transfer or Fast Payment System (FPS)  in April last year, it said that the second phase of the service shall see transfers facilitated for HKD and credit card payment between different banks.

The second phase will also see transfers made between banks and e-payment operators.

Currently, local bank account holders can register for the service and transfer up to MOP10,000 per day to another local account using phone numbers, FPS codes or by simply keying in the recipients account particulars.

For a number of banks, the transfer will be conducted in an immediate manner. For other banks, it may be handled at the end of the workday. These transfers can only be conducted between registered banks. Financial institutions not holding banking licenses, such as e-payment operators, are not part of the loop.

The date for introduction of the second phase of service has not yet been announced. Nonetheless, the AMCM said that introduction is imminent.

Local media Macao Daily News has spoken to unnamed local banking practitioners, who expressed their support for the second phase of the FPS service. They said that although the HKD is not a legal tender in Macau, it is widely used in the city for transactions of a wide array of commodities. It is expected that the service will see high popularity and demand.

According to the news report, the AMCM and local banks have upgraded their systems to unleash the second phase. It is the AMCMs call as to when the service will be officially launched. The bankers think it will benefit local service users.
The Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng has expressed condolences over the death of Tong Chi Kin, a former spokesperson of the Executive Council, who passed away Saturday.

Tong Chi Kin loved the country and Macau all his life, cared about the society, and made a lot of contributions to the development of Macau. In particular, he devoted himself to education and cultivated talents, he said, as cited in a statement.

Tong was also a veteran leading figure of the Macau Federation of Trade Unions (FAOM).

Ho recalled that Tong participated in and discussed state affairs for many years, actively offered advice and suggestions, cared about the affairs of the country and the SAR, and was committed to promoting the successful practice of One country, two systems in Macau for steady and long-term development.

Tong once served as the principal Lou Hau High School and held other teaching positions. He co-founded the Association for the Promotion of Post-Secondary Education of Macau. He cared about the development of talent education throughout his life and never quit to serve the society, the statement read. Staff reporter
China has released a new documentary about the armys preparation to attack Taiwan and showcasing soldiers pledging to give up their lives if needed as Beijing continues to ramp up its rhetoric against the self-ruled island.

Chasing Dreams, an eight-part docuseries aired by state broadcaster CCTV earlier this week to mark the People Liberation Armys 96th anniversary, features military drills and testimonials by dozens of soldiers, of which several express their willingness to die in a potential attack against Taiwan.

The Chasing Dreams documentary showcased, among other things, the PLAs Joint Sword drills, which simulated precision strikes against Taiwan. The exercises were undertaken around the self-governed island in April after a visit by Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen to the U.S.

Among the more dramatic parts of the program are pledges by PLA soldiers from various divisions to relinquish life in a potential attack on Taiwan.

If war broke out and the conditions were too difficult to safely remove the naval mines in actual combat, we would use our own bodies to clear a safe pathway for our (landing) forces, Zuo Feng, a frogman with the PLA Navys minesweeper unit, said in a testimonial.

Li Peng, a pilot from Wang Hai Squadron under the PLA Air Force, echoed his statement, saying his fighter jet would be the last missile rushing towards the enemy if in a real battle, I had used up all my ammunition.

Fan Lizhong, a special tactics unit commander, said in the docuseries that while losing comrades is painful, he has to remain calm to respond to emergencies and always be ready to fight.

The documentary also features Shandong, one of Chinas three aircraft carriers, sailing in formation with several other warships. MDT/AP
The second innovation and entrepreneurship camp for youth talent from Guangdong and Macao was held in the Zhuhai UM Science & Technology Research Institute in the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin from August 3 to 4. Consisting of activities such as team building games, a sharing session delivered by corporate executives, lectures by industry insiders, and a ground tour of the industrial environment in Hengqin, this event attracted 40 students, graduates and entrepreneurial youth from Guangdong and Macau.

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Hong Kong government said yesterday it was seeking to appeal against the courts refusal to ban a protest song at its request, renewing worries over further erosion of freedom of expression in the city.

The courts decision on July 28 was a setback for Hong Kong leaders who are trying to crush dissidents after a massive pro-democracy movement four years ago pushed hundreds of thousands of people into the streets.

Drama ensued after the Glory to Hong Kong  written during the 2019 protests with lyrics calling for democracy and liberty  was mistakenly played as the citys anthem at international sporting events instead of Chinas March of the Volunteers.

The Department of Justice said in a statement that its secretary, who acted as a guardian of public interest, pressed for the ban on the basis of safeguarding national security. The court can decide whether to review or dismiss the request for an appeal.

The department did not share further its legal grounds for the appeal in the statement.

The announcement came after multiple pro-Beijing lawmakers urged the department to file an appeal. The governments move has renewed concern over possible ramifications caused by the ban.

Critics have warned that granting the request to prohibit the broadcast or distribution of the song would add to a decline in civil liberties since Beijing launched a crackdown following the 2019 protests. They said granting the court order might disrupt the operations of tech giants and hurt the citys appeal as a business center.

The government went to the court in June after Google resisted pressure to display Chinas national anthem as the top result in searches for the citys anthem instead of Glory to Hong Kong.

The proposed injunction would target anyone who uses the song to advocate for the separation of Hong Kong from China. The government also would also seek to ban any actions using the song to incite others to commit secession and insult the national anthem, including online.

KANIS LEUNG, HONG KONG, MDT/AP
Nigers mutinous soldiers closed the countrys airspace and accused foreign powers of preparing an attack, as the junta defied a deadline to reinstate the ousted president.

State television announced the move yesterday [Macau tiem], hours before the deadline set by West African regional bloc ECOWAS, which has warned of using military force if the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum isnt returned to power.

A spokesman for the coup leaders, Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane, noted the threat of intervention being prepared in a neighbouring country, and said Nigers airspace will be closed until further notice. The junta also claimed that two central African countries are preparing for an invasion, but did not say which ones, and called on the countrys population to defend it.

The junta said any attempt to fly over the country will be met with an energetic and immediate response.

International airlines have begun to divert flights around the airspace of Niger, which the United States and others had seen as the last major counterterrorism partner in the vast Sahel region, south of the Sahara Desert, where groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group are expanding their influence.

In Mali, the armed forces said today that it and Burkina Faso, both neighbors of Niger run by military juntas, were sending a delegation of officials to Niger to show support. Both countries have said they would consider any intervention in Niger as a declaration of war against them.

Regional tensions have mounted since Nigers coup nearly two weeks ago, with the mutinous soldiers detaining Bazoum and installing Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, former head of the presidential guard, as head of state. Analysts say the coup is believed to have been triggered by a power struggle between Tchiani and the president, who was about to fire him.

It was not immediately clear what ECOWAS will do now that Sundays deadline has passed. The region is divided on a course of action. There was no sign of military forces gathering at Nigers border with Nigeria, the likely entry point by land.

On Saturday, Nigerias Senate pushed back on the plan to invade, urging Nigerias president, the blocs current chair, to explore options other than the use of force. ECOWAS can still move ahead, as final decisions are made by consensus by member states.

A former British army officer who worked in Nigeria said military officials there told him Monday that President Bolu Tinubu had not given orders to use military force. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.

Guinea and neighboring Algeria, which is not an ECOWAS member, have come out against against the use of force. Senegals government has said it would participate in a military operation if it went ahead, and Ivory Coast has expressed support for ECOWAS efforts to restore constitutional order.

The junta does not appear interested in negotiation. An ECOWAS delegation sent to Niger last week for hours of talks was not allowed to leave the airport and met only with Tchianis representatives.

At a rally yesterday, thousands cheered junta leaders who said their loyalty would be repaid.

We are with you against them. We will give you the Niger that you are owed, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Toumba said. After his speech, The Associated Press saw rallygoers behead a chicken decorated in the colors of former colonizer France.

The junta is exploiting anti-French sentiments among the population to shore up its support base and has severed security ties with France, which still has 1,500 military personnel in Niger for counterterrorism efforts. On Monday, Frances Ministry of Foreign Affairs formally discouraged any travel to Niger, Burkina Faso or Mali, and called on French nationals to be extremely vigilant. The day before, the ministry announced that France had suspended development aid to Burkina Faso.

Its not clear what will happen to the French military presence in Niger, or to the 1,100 U.S. military personnel also in the country.

Many people, largely youth, have rallied around the junta, taking to the streets at night to patrol after being urged to guard against foreign intervention.

While they (jihadists) kill our brothers and sisters  ECOWAS didnt intervene. Is it now that they will intervene? said Amadou Boukari, a coup supporter at Sundays rally. Shame on ECOWAS.

Nigers junta has also asked for help from the Russian mercenary group Wagner, which operates in a handful of African countries including Mali.

But others have expressed concerns about the juntas tightening grip.

One official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment, said the junta is scaring people into joining it. SAM MEDNICK, NIAMEY, MDT/AP
The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) held the Quality Tourism Services Accreditation Scheme Mid-phase Review Briefing Seminar for the Food and Beverage Sector and Travel Agency Sector recently, to offer participating merchants a review of the inspections and assessments conducted for the first stage. In line with the Macao Courtesy Campaign, the seminar featured a special session to brief industry participants on the practice of courtesy and quality services to advocate the spirit of hospitality towards visitors. At the seminar, MGTO acting director Cheng Wai Tong hopes that local businesses can advance their service quality, professional knowledge and hospitable attitude for customers through participation in the scheme so that residents and visitors can experience warm and stellar services.

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Summits Steak-n-Egger restaurant re-opened last week after it had been closed since a St. Patricks Day fire in the kitchen. (Bob Bong/Daily Southtown)

Steak-n-Egger reopens in Summit after fire

Terry Carr wont soon forget St. Patricks Day 2023. It was the day he got word a kitchen fire had hit the Summit location of the Steak-n-Egger restaurant chain he owns.

Carr, who also is mayor of McCook, took advantage of the downtime while repairs were underway to the kitchen and made some upgrades to the restaurant hes operated at 5611 S. Archer Road in Summit for the past several years.

We made it better, he said Monday, a week after the restaurant reopened. We have all new equipment from the top to the bottom.

Besides the newly remodeled kitchen, Steak-n-Egger has a new ceiling and new floor in the front of the restaurant.

But the price tag was an eye-opener, Carr said.

The cost of the equipment doubled from when we opened seven years ago, he said. And the timetable. Instead of six days it took six weeks to get the new equipment. Unbelievable.

In an effort to keep the staff working while repairs were being made, Carr opened a video gaming cafe at 79th Street and Harlem Avenue in Bridgeview named Lucky Cindys after his mother.

He was noncommittal about more locations for the gambling outlet in the future.

It was our first one, he said. Well see how it goes.

Steak-n-Egger operates six other locations in Cicero, McCook, Midlothian and Chicago, and a new restaurant is planned in Justice.

Fratellos departs Tinley for Mokena

Fratellos Cafe and Deli moved recently from its home in Tinley Park to new digs on Wolf Road in Mokena.

The new location is at 19901 S. Wolf Road and its sign facing Wolf is hard to see because of a tree that obscures the view. Parking is available in the rear of the building.

Fratellos is only offering pickup and delivery at the present time and store hours are limited to 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the week. Its closed on weekends. Catering is available seven days a week.

According to a Facebook post, the owners decided to move after they were robbed and vandalized in January.

The company was started by Adriano Martino and Marco Caso in 1997 as a catering business. The first Fratellos opened in Homewood in 2015 and a second location followed in a former Quiznos and then the Tinley Park location opened in 2017 in a former Submarina sandwich shop. The Homewood locations were closed some time ago.

New fitness center planned in Lyons

Brookfield residents Shawn and Victoria Groll, who own Strive fitness centers in Riverside, La Grange Park and Chicagos Garfield Ridge neighborhood, are planning on opening a fourth center at 7905 W. Ogden Ave., in downtown Lyons.

Overstock rebrands as Bed Bath & Beyond

Overstock has acquired Bed Bath & Beyond and is rebranding with that name.

The company said they will not be reopening any of the stores, but the home products that were available at Overstock will be listed on the new Bed Bath & Beyond website and app.

Overstock accounts, order histories, and saved items will still be available.

BuyBuyBaby and Harmon are not affiliated with the new Bed Bath & Beyond.

All sales are final for Bed Bath & Beyond purchases made prior to August 1, 2023 and are no longer eligible for returns. Purchases made as of August 1, 2023 are eligible for a return within a 30-day window.

The new Bed Bath & Beyond will not honor gift cards that were issued and unused. Gift card balances from preexisting digital and physical gift cards expired under previous Bed Bath & Beyond ownership.

New Bed Bath & Beyond gift cards are in the works and are expected to be ready by the fall.

Only Bed Bath & Beyond coupons sent on or after August 1 will be honored.

Bob Bong is a freelance columnist. He can be reached at bobbong@hotmail.com.
KYIV, Ukraine  Two Russian missile strikes hit the city center of the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk in the eastern Donetsk region on Monday, killing five people and wounding at least 31 more, Ukrainian officials said.

One of the strikes, which targeted the Ukrainian portion of a region partially occupied by Russia, killed four civilians, and the other killed the deputy head of the regional branch of Ukraine's State Emergency Service, Ukraine's Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said in an online statement.

At least 31 people  including 19 policemen, five rescuers and one child  were wounded in the attack, the official said.

The strikes damaged a hotel, residential buildings and other civilian structures, Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an online statement accused Russia of trying to leave nothing but "broken and scorched stones" in eastern Ukraine. His remarks accompanied footage of a damaged, fivestory residential building with one floor partially destroyed.

The deadly attack came just a day after officials from around 40 countries gathered in Saudi Arabia to find a peaceful settlement for the war in Ukraine. Russia's Foreign Ministry on Monday denounced the two-day talks in Jeddah as not having "the slightest added value" because Moscow  unlike Kyiv  wasn't invited.

A statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry repeated previous assurances that Moscow is open to a diplomatic solution on its terms that would end the 17-month-old war, and that it is ready to respond to serious proposals. The Kremlin's demands include Kyiv recognizing its annexation of four Ukrainian regions, which Russian forces at this point only partially control, and Crimea, which Moscow seized in 2014.

But Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Zelenskyy, ruled out Moscow's previous demands that would give Russia time to dig in deeper in the parts of Ukraine it has occupied. He said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Russian forces must fully withdraw from the occupied areas.
Does aspartame really cause cancer?

Following the recent decision of a World Health Organization (WHO) agency to classify aspartame as "possibly carcinogenic to humans," many may be left wondering whether it is safe to use the popular artificial sweetener.

What exactly does this mean, and should you be worried? It's a question nutritionists and oncologists here at the Smilow Cancer Hospital get asked often, and the answer is not as clear as you might hope.

Aspartame is one of several artificial sweeteners approved for use in the United States. It may be found as a standalone sweetener (it accounts for nearly 75% of artificial sweetener sales in the United States) or in many prepared food and beverage products.

Read more here:

Psilocybin may help some who battle anorexia

One dose of the hallucinogenic ingredient in "magic mushrooms" may help some people with anorexia move past their preoccupation with body image, an early study suggests.

The study, of just 10 women with anorexia, tested the effects of a single dose of psilocybin plus psychological counseling sessions.

Researchers found that the treatment appeared safe, with patients rating the experience as a positive one.

And within three months, four of 10 women had a significant improvement in their eating disorder "pathology." That meant certain eating-disorder behaviors  including preoccupation with weight and body shape  improved to the degree that they were close to what's typical of people without an eating disorder.

Read more here:

One personality type is more prone to be an anti-vaxxer

When studying which personality types were more likely to resist getting vaccines, researchers got a surprise.

It was the extroverts who were more vaccine resistant. Compared to other personality styles, extroverts were 18% more likely to refuse the COVID-19 vaccine, the new study finds.

We expected that people who were especially high in extroversion would be more likely to get the vaccine, said lead author Melissa Baker, an assistant professor at the University of Texas at El Paso. We figured those people would want to get back out in the world and socialize, right? Its actually the opposite, she added in a university news release.

The researchers hope their findings may help with future public health messaging and vaccination campaigns.

Read more here:

Lead exposure in utero or in childhood tied to higher risk for criminal behavior

There is a higher risk for criminal behavior in adulthood when an individual is exposed to lead in utero or in the early years of childhood, according to a review published online Aug. 1 in PLOS Global Public Health.

Maria Jose Talayero, M.D., from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and colleagues conducted a systematic literature review to explore the effect of lead exposure on criminal behavior at the individual level. A total of 17 manuscripts representing 13 studies around the globe were included in the analysis.

The researchers found a wide range of diverse outcomes between exposure to lead at multiple windows of development and later delinquent, criminal, and antisocial behavior. However, more evidence is necessary to evaluate the magnitude of the associations identified in this review because data at the individual level are limited on the effects of prenatal, childhood, and adolescent lead exposure and later criminal behavior.

Read more here:

Breastfeeding tied to big reduction in infant deaths

Experts have long recommended breastfeeding for its many benefits for infants, but a new study puts a hard number on breast milks lifesaving effects.

Breastfeeding is associated with a 33% reduction in infant deaths in the first year, according to the study of nearly 10 million U.S. babies.

The research looked at babies born in 48 states and Washington, D.C. between 2016 and 2018. It expands upon smaller studies that had found a reduction in deaths of between 19% and 26%.

Breastfeeding is so protective against many acute and chronic illnesses for infants and children, said lead investigator Dr. Julie Ware, of the Cincinnati Childrens Center for Breastfeeding Medicine.

Read more here:

Kombucha may help control blood sugar in folks with type 2 diabetes

Kombucha is a fermented tea that many folks believe offers numerous health benefits  and new research suggests they may be right.

Though the study was small -- 12 participants -- it found that kombucha may help lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Fermented with bacteria and yeasts, the drink has been consumed in China since 200 B.C. but it has been embraced in the United States only since the 1990s, researchers said.

Apple cider vinegar was really taking off and people were talking about it all the time and kombucha, said study author Dr. Daniel Merenstein, director of family medicine research at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. And they have a farmers market at Georgetown where they sell kombucha, so we just thought, this kombucha is more tasty, easier to drink than apple cider vinegar  so that's really what got us to do this study.

Read more here:

Leprosy on the rise in Florida

A wave of leprosy cases in Florida has led public health officials to conclude the disease-causing bacteria may be naturally found in the state.

In the past, most people with leprosy in the United States had been first infected in some other country where it might be more common. But the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a new report this week about a wave of cases in Florida, particularly in the central part of the state. Leprosy also exists in other parts of the United States. For example, one recent report described six cases of leprosy among California residents. All were diagnosed between 2017 and 2022.

Also called Hansen disease, leprosy remains extremely rare in the United States, noted Andrea Maderal, M.D., director of the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital Hansen's Disease Program.

Read more here:

Leprosy on the Rise in Florida FRIDAY, Aug. 4, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- A wave of leprosy cases in Florida has led public health officials to conclude the disease-causing bacteria may be naturally found in the state.

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A Marshall man who admitted to investigators that he fired a gunshot as a police officer chased him on foot after an incident at a liquor store was charged Monday with attempted first-degree intentional homicide.

Jeremy J. Wilz, 21, told police he wasnt aiming at the officer when he fired the gun on Aug. 2 after trying to steal four large bottles of liquor from Caps & Corks Liquor on Plaza Drive in Marshall, according to court documents, but that he fired his gun into the air to scare officers away from him.

I dont want to hurt anyone, he told investigators, according to a criminal complaint. I wished they would have handled it better.

But another officer who also was chasing Wilz told investigators that Wilz was only five feet away from a colleague when the shot was fired.

Officer Kelly Towne said she saw a bright flash and heard a gunshot and thought her colleague, Raul Sepulveda, had been shot, according to the documents, which include the complaint and a probable cause affidavit.

Wilz appeared in court on Monday, where he was ordered jailed on $500,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 15.

In addition to attempted homicide, Wilz was charged with three misdemeanors including retail theft, battery and obstructing an officer.

According to court documents:

A store employee told police that around 7:40 p.m. on Aug. 2 Wilz walked into the store and was walking around lifting different liquor bottles and setting them down. When Wilz attempted to leave the store with four bottles, the employee said he tried to stop Wilz.

During a struggle outside, a handgun fell from Wilzs clothing. The employee said he grabbed the gun, went back inside and tried to call police, but Wilz vaulted the counter and they fought over the gun. Wilz got his gun back and left.

During the incident, the employee sustained a cut to his knee requiring eight stitches, along with other injuries.

About 45 minutes later, Officer Brian Faulhaber spotted a man who resembled the person wanted for the liquor store incident riding a motorized scooter. He called for other officers to assist.

Police told the man on the scooter to stop, but he hopped off the scooter and began running. As officers gave chase on foot, Towne said, she saw that the man, later identified as Wilz, had a gun, and she saw and heard the shot that appeared directed toward Sepulveda.

Wilz kept running after firing the shot. Sepulveda later reported that he had drawn his Taser and told Wilz to stop, and thats when Wilz fired the shot. Sepulveda said the gun was pointed directly at him.

Wilz was arrested about 40 minutes later. He told investigators, I made a dumb decision and added, I was scared for my life.

Wilz said he didnt realize until after he was inside the liquor store earlier that he didnt have any money, so he wanted to take the liquor to a friend outside who had money, and then go back inside and pay for it.

During the struggle with the store clerk, he said, his gun fell out. Wilz said he didnt threaten anyone with it. He said he believed things were left civilly after he got his gun back from the clerk.

Later, he said, when he encountered the Marshall officers, he ran because the officers did not say why they wanted him to stop.

During his encounter with police, Wilz said, he 100% thought (I) was going to be shot.
A second, outside investigation recommended serious disciplinary action, up to and including termination for the Madison School Districts former spokesperson, citing his efforts to retaliate against staff and mislead his bosses, among other policy violations.

Tim LeMonds, the districts former director of communications, retired July 17 after documents pertaining to an earlier, internal investigation into his behavior came to light. That investigation last fall found allegations that he had retaliated against employees to be without merit but also included allegations that he repeatedly bullied staff and disparaged local news reporters.

LeMonds separation agreement with the district provided him with a $40,000 lump sum payment, the cash value of any unused sick time and a promise from district administrators not to hinder his job search.

In a 10-page July 7 response to the second investigation, LeMonds attorney, Paul Kinne, blamed the medias vendetta against his client for the districts continued scrutiny of his work, and said that if the district fired LeMonds, he would litigate this matter using every legal option available.

According to 4 pages of findings from the second investigation, released July 5, LeMonds retaliated against and bullied two communications office employees, Ellie Herman and Michael Wetzel, after Herman went to the Human Resources Department directly to ask about a salary increase and after Herman and Wetzel filed complaints against him.

The investigation also found that LeMonds had been dishonest with district staff, including his supervisor, Richard McGregory, a senior executive director for district staff, by giving McGregory inaccurate information about a complaint about another employee and by bucking directives from the HR department.

The report also faulted him for his leadership style, saying the districts communications department experienced significant challenges because of it.

They struggled to understand their role and to work collaboratively and efficiently as a result of Mr. LeMonds refusal to utilize a set structure, organizational chart, job descriptions, or other methods of assigning responsibilities to employees to avoid overlaps and gaps, the report says.

In his response, Kinne says any employee put through the microscopic scrutiny Tim has experienced would show some areas where he could do better.

But his letter also goes point-by-point through the allegations to say, among other things, that LeMonds advocated for a salary increase for one of the employees he allegedly retaliated against, sought to protect his staff from negative media attention, communicated with and followed directions from the HR department, and received accolades from inside and outside the district for his work.

We realize that the medias unfair obsession with Tim puts (the district) in a difficult position, Kinne concludes, calling the negative press coverage of his client the elephant in the room.

The media want (the district) to fire him, Kinne writes, and as long as Tim remains employed by (the district), (the district) itself has a public relations problem.

Constant anxiety

In their initial complaint against LeMonds, communications department employees Herman, Wetzel and Brad Mackey wrote that it is difficult to fully convey the effect years of screaming, demoralizing criticism, name-calling, belittling, lying and intimidation has had on us as employees.

For current employees, every day there is a gnawing knot in the pit of our stomachs, a constant anxiety that one phone call or unsuspecting Zoom meeting could end with being yelled at or having our jobs threatened, the complaint says.

The staff also told district investigators that LeMonds frequently expressed his disdain toward certain reporters, all of them women.

On Oct. 6, 2022, he allegedly told members of the districts communications department that there was no way he would respond to three interview requests from an unnamed reporter, described as a woman of color, because he didnt like her. In that same meeting, he asked staff to share any negative experiences they had with former Wisconsin State Journal reporter Elizabeth Beyer, whom he called a horrible human being.

He also reportedly called WMTV (Ch. 15) reporter Elizabeth Wadas a pig of a journalist, who was quickly becoming the sleaziest journalist in Madison.

LeMonds in June pointed to the districts initial investigation findings as proof absolving him of the claims. Two months earlier hed sued his employer to prevent the release of the records including those claims. That bid was denied in late May.

Kinne said Tuesday that his client had no comment on the latest developments in his case.

Open records concerns

Details about the second investigation into LeMonds came to light after the district on Tuesday fulfilled a public records request by Madisons WISC-TV (Ch. 3) for documents related to the investigation, and only days after the district agreed to pay $18,000 to settle a public records lawsuit brought against it by the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, or WILL.

The activist law firm says that as part of that settlement, the district also agreed to take a number of steps to improve its lengthy and long-maligned process for fulfilling public records requests.

After WISC posted a story about the investigation on its Channel 3000 website earlier Tuesday, district spokesperson Ian Folger initially declined to provide the Wisconsin State Journal with the same documents provided to Channel 3000, saying the newspaper would have to go through the districts formal process for requesting records.

State Journal reporter Anna Hansen, however, already had requested the documents Aug. 2. The district provided the documents to the State Journal shortly after 4 p.m. Tuesday.

WILL had sued the district in January after the district failed for more than a year to fulfill one of the firms requests.

The district did not respond to requests for comment on that settlement Monday, and on Tuesday, Folger said that as of right now, the district does not have a statement prepared to address the WILL settlement.

Reporter Anna Hansen contributed to this report.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers on Tuesday called a special legislative session for September in a longshot attempt quickly dismissed by Republicans to approve funding they rejected earlier this year for child care services, a family leave program, the University of Wisconsin System and other efforts targeting the state's worker shortage problem.

Republicans who control the Legislature said they opposed his plan because it would increase government spending rather than cut taxes.

Republicans are under no obligation to debate, let alone vote, on the more than $1 billion in funding proposals Evers put forward. Republicans have routinely ignored special session calls Evers has made in the past on a wide array of issues, including legalizing abortion, cutting taxes, gun safety, updating the state's unemployment system, addressing problems in the dairy industry and increasing funding for schools.

But calling a special session, which Evers did for Sept. 20, does bring attention to the issue. Evers has been highlighting child care access and the worker shortage problem at stops across the state ever since Republicans did not include funding for it in the state budget passed in June. Evers signed the budget, which runs through the middle of 2025, in July.

Evers said he was giving Republicans another chance to fund critical areas it rejected. He said the $1 billion in proposals could be paid for by tapping the state's projected $4 billion budget surplus.

These challenges that have plagued our state for generations will continue, holding our economy, our families, and our state back if Republicans in the Legislature dont take seriously the second chance Im giving them, and urgently, Evers said in a statement. We must work together in the coming weeks so we can bolster our states workforce, maintain our economic momentum, and most importantly, do the right thing for Wisconsin.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos called his proposal nothing more than a rehash of Tony Evers tax and spend budget. Vos and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu said Republicans priority is passing a middle class tax cut similar to the one Evers vetoed in the budget.

Evers is calling on the Legislature to spend $365 million on child care statewide, primarily to make the pandemic-era Child Care Counts Program permanent. The program is slated to run out of funding in January. The program has handed out nearly $600 million to more than 4,900 child care providers from March 2020 through March 2023, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau.

Child care providers and other advocates have warned that losing the program would be devastating for families that have come to rely on it, particularly the working poor who have few affordable child care options.

Gov. Evers proposal to give childcare providers a one-time payment of $365 million is another 12-month patch to match what they just lost through the federal stimulus plan, Vos said. It is unsustainable and does nothing to address the long-term problem faced by the childcare industry.

Evers is also urging Republicans to spend $243 million to fund a paid family medical leave program that they also voted not to include in the state budget. The governor said the program would be self-sustaining by 2026, with benefits paid for through payroll contributions from both employees and employers.

Under his proposal, workers would be eligible for up to 12 weeks of paid family leave starting in 2025.

Evers is also calling for spending more than $66 million more on the University of Wisconsin System. The news comes a week after UW-Oshkosh announced it would be laying off workers, issuing furloughs and taking other steps to deal with an $18 million budget shortfall.

Evers also wants the state to spend nearly $200 million to build a new engineering building on the UW-Madison campus. The project was the top priority for university leaders, but Republican lawmakers rejected it. They said at the time that they were open to considering funding in the future.

Evers is also calling for spending $100 million to continue a regional workforce innovation grant program, $60 million to address health care workforce shortages and $16 million targeting teacher shortages.
U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien, owes Senate pages an apology.

Van Orden came across the pages while they were taking a tour of the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Some were laying on the floor of the rotunda to get pictures of the dome. Accounts say he yelled at the pages, who are high-schoolers, called them lazy and used profanity while demanding they get off the floor.

Van Ordens outburst drew an entirely predictable rebuke from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. More surprising was that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-K.Y., joined in, saying everybody on this side of the aisle feels exactly the same way.

As a member of the House, we suspect Van Orden is fully aware of the role pages play in the functioning of our national Legislature. Many people probably arent. The program brings high school students from across the nation to work with legislators. Pages deliver correspondence and legislative material to congressional members offices. They prepare the chambers for sessions and work on the floor to assist during votes. They support members during debates, delivering amendments and bills for consideration.

Senate pages days begin with school at 6 a.m. They have to be at work an hour before the Senate comes into session or 10 a.m., whichever is earlier. Half get off work at 6 p.m. The other half? Depends on when the Senate adjourns.

Does any of that sound lazy?

Van Ordens initial reaction was to point out that the rotunda was used as a field hospital during the Civil War and tell the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel it would be terribly disrespectful to lay on the grave of a soldier who died fighting for freedom.

Hes right on both points. The rotunda was used as a field hospital. We would join him condemning anyone lying atop a soldiers grave in such a manner. But that defense misses a critical point: The rotunda was a field hospital, not a graveyard.

A later statement said the Capitol should never be treated like a frat house common room. Again, thats a fair point. But his argument has a significant flaw. The rotunda is unambiguously a work of art. We know of precious few frat houses with ceilings worthy of a photo.

Had Van Orden asked what the teens were doing, that would have been an appropriate way to handle the situation. ...

Directing profane insults at any group is beneath the dignity of a member of Congress. Doing so to students who have worked hard to keep the Senate running was unacceptable. Van Orden owes the pages an apology.
Questions about how to describe a proposed ballot initiative that would change Idaho elections were the focal point of oral arguments before the Idaho Supreme Court on Monday in Boise.

The case involves the ballot titles for a proposed ballot initiative brought forward by Idahoans for Open Primaries. The ballot titles are important because they describe to voters and the public what the initiative is and what it does. There is a short ballot title of 20 words or less and a longer ballot title of 200 words or less.

The ballot initiative was in front of the Idaho Supreme Court on Monday because Idahoans for Open Primaries and Reclaim Idaho filed a legal challenge to the ballot titles that Idaho Attorney General Raul Labradors office assigned to the ballot initiative on June 30. Reclaim Idaho is the same group that was behind the 2018 Medicaid expansion ballot initiative.

JONES: Labrador performs political hatchet job on Open Primaries JONES: Labrador fears the initiative because it would give a voice to all Idaho voters, rather than the small clique that has taken state politics to the brink of extremism.

The short title from Labrador doesnt call the ballot initiative an open primary but calls it a nonparty blanket primary.

MEASURE TO (1) REPLACE VOTER SELECTION OF PARTY NOMINEES WITH NONPARTY BLANKET PRIMARY; (2) REQUIRE RANKED-CHOICE VOTING FOR GENERAL ELECTIONS, the short ballot title reads.

Mondays hearing included an array of questions posed by several of the justices themselves and a lengthy discussion of a tweet Labrador posted May 2 writing, in part, Lets defeat these bad ideas coming from liberal outside groups.

During Mondays hearing, attorney Deborah Ferguson argued Labrador failed at his duty to be an objective and impartial officer in his handling of the ballot titles. Ferguson also argued the term nonparty blanket primary is inaccurate.

Glaringly absent in that title is any mention that the law would create an open primary system in Idaho, Ferguson said.

This is such an important part of the initiative process and the short title especially is the headline by which the public will know it, Ferguson added.

Idahoans for Open Primaries are asking to have Labradors ballot titles thrown out and corrected by the court.

Meanwhile, the Idaho Attorney Generals Office is asking for the challenge to be dismissed and the titles to be retained. Idaho Solicitor General Theo Wold, who argued the case for the AGs office, said Labrador followed the law and described the initiative in language that is truthful and neutral.

Petitioners want the ballot title to call the measure an open primary, but it is not, Wold argued. Idaho used to have an open primary, but the system proposed here is distinctly different. The initiative proposes a nonparty blanket primary.

Wold also argued that in his tweet Labrador was arguing against the concept of ranked choice voting, not the specific ballot initiative he was reviewing and assigning titles for. Wold argued that the justices should simply look at Labradors work product to determine he did not violate his role with the initiative.

Will the Idaho Supreme Court supply new ballot titles?

During oral arguments, Idaho Supreme Court justices raised questions about the accuracy of both the supporters use of open primary and Labradors offices use of nonparty blanket primary.

I was unable to find another external source that referred to this type of primary as an open primary, Idaho Supreme Court Justice Colleen D. Zahn said during the beginning of the hearing. Instead, they appeared to define open primary as still a party primary, but anybody, regardless of party affiliation is allowed to vote.

About 20 minutes later, Zahn questioned Wold over how the Idaho Attorney Generals Office came up with the term it used.

I couldnt find where the term nonparty blanket primary has ever been used by anybody other than the attorney general, Zahn said.

During oral arguments, Ferguson and Idaho Supreme Court Justice Gregory W. Moeller discussed the possibility of instead using new ballot titles that refer to it as a top-four open primary with ranked choice voting in the general election.

Zahn also discussed the term top four primary.

Oral arguments lasted just over an hour Monday. At the end, Chief Justice G. Richard Bevan announced the justices would take the matter under advisement. The justices did not announce a deadline for issuing a ruling.

In some notable recent cases, the Idaho Supreme Court has issued rulings in a matter of weeks.

For example, in the 2020 case of former Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra vs. the Idaho Legislature, the court held oral arguments June 5 of that year and issued a ruling June 22.

What happens next for the Idahoans for Open Primaries ballot initiative?

The ballot titles are an important part of the initiative process, and supporters of the initiative cannot move forward with their signature drive until the ballot titles are in place.

As things stand now, the group Idahoans for Open Primaries has until May 1 to turn in signatures to qualify the initiative for the 2024 general election. To qualify, they will need signatures from 6% of Idaho voters statewide and 6% in 18 of the states 35 legislative districts. To meet the 6% statewide total, supporters will need to gather about 63,000 signatures from registered voters.

Then, if the initiative makes the election, it would take a simple majority of voters to approve it at the polls.

The initiative supporters have also requested an extension to their deadline to turn in signatures, saying the case over the ballot title issues has already dealt a significant setback to the effort.
Bond was July 30 at $75,000 for a Calumet City man accused of leading police on a high-speed chase Saturday July 29 from Oakbrook Center.

Chevelle Carter, 31, of the 12000 block of S. Ada Street, was charged with two counts of aggravated fleeing and eluding, a Class 3 Felony, and one count of attempting to elude a peace officer, a Class 4 Felony. Carter is scheduled to appear in court again Aug. 28 for arraignment in front of Judge Mia McPherson, according to information from the office of DuPage County States Attorney Robert Berlin.

According to Berlins office, an Oak Brook officer on patrol in the Oakbrook Center parking lot about 7:20 p.m. Saturday July 29 observed three people repeatedly entering and exiting their vehicle and entering the mall. A short time later, Oak Brook police received a call about multiple people acting suspiciously with credit cards that were repeatedly denied.

The officer then observed the same vehicle pull up near Macys and pick up two people. The officer approached the vehicle in his squad car at which time the vehicle reportedly began to drive away, weaving in and out of the parking lot and striking a parked car, causing a minor injury to the cars occupant.

The officer activated his emergency lights and attempted to pull the car over, but the vehicle, reportedly driven by Carter, exited the mall, ignored a red light at a traffic signal and drove eastbound on 22nd Street.

Carter reportedly drove about 100 mph on 22nd Street to York Road and again ignored a traffic signal to head north on York Road, again reaching a speed of approximately 100 mph.

From there, Carter reportedly went eastbound on Roosevelt Road and came to a stop just before entering the Interstate 290 ramp, after driving over spike strips placed by another officer.

Carter and two other unidentified people reportedly fled the vehicle on foot, and a short time later, officers took Carter into custody, according to Berlins office.

When officers searched the vehicle, they recovered one Smith and Wesson 9 mm firearm and two Glock 9 mm firearms, Berlins office reported. All three guns were loaded and the Smith and Wesson was reported stolen out of Indiana. Through their investigation into the matter, authorities learned that Carter has a fugitive warrant out of Lake County, Indiana, for probation violation on vehicle theft charges. All three weapons recovered were sent to the DuPage County Crime Lab for analysis.

What I find extremely troubling about this recent epidemic of people fleeing from the police is that we had two cases this past weekend involving a defendant allegedly fleeing from police that caused injury to an innocent person, Berlin said in a release. We are all very thankful that the injury sustained by the innocent man in the parked car does not appear to be serious.

This phenomenon of ignoring the police and putting innocent motorists in harms way must stop before someone gets killed. I urge all motorists, if you hear sirens and see flashing lights behind you, pull over. Not doing so will not only make matters worse, but also puts all those involved as well as innocent people at risk.

Oak Brook Police Chief Brian Strockis said his department is 100% committed to keeping the community safe.

Police pursuits are extremely dangerous but its also dangerous for criminals to believe that there are no consequences for their actions, he said in the release. If you come to Oak Brook to commit a crime, you will be caught, arrested, charged and prosecuted.

Strockis said Oak Brook detectives are working to identify the others involved in the incident, and they will be brought to justice.

An investigation into the matter continues. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Sgt. Jason Wood of the Oak Brook Police Department, (630) 368-8750
JEROME  Kirk D. Rose told the district judge he doesnt know why he did it. According to him, he had never had that urge before, the desire to inappropriately touch a girl.

It was while the two, Rose, 62, and an 8-year-old girl, were having a tickle fight, and he did the unthinkable.

Many times, sex assault victims endure years of humiliation before the truth comes out. But this wasnt not going to happen in this case.

The girl took out her phone and called her mother. Not only that, but she barricaded a door so Rose couldnt get in.

Within a short time, the incident had been reported to police and law enforcement officers were at the scene.

Judge Rosemary Emory, speaking at Roses July 17 sentencing hearing, praised the girl and her mother. They had a plan in place in case anything like that were to happen.

You didnt know she had been taught, the girls grandmother told Rose as she addressed the court as part of a victims impact statement. You messed with a superhero, so you lose.

But the one-time experience still affected this superhero. She now has trust issues with older men, although I feel better now that I know he wont come near me again, she told Emory.

She said she might have saved other girls from suffering the same fate.

Due to Roses connection to the girls family, the impact of his action has been horrendous, the girls mother said.

It was not supposed to end this way. In fact, the girl was excited to become acquainted with Rose, who, as a Navy veteran, had plenty of stories to tell. The girls mother envisioned Rose as being part of the girls life.

THE RIGHT TO A SPEEDY TRIAL? The February 2023 bar exam passage rate fell to 35.5%, the lowest mark in recorded history, according to the Idaho State Bar, and the consequences are real.

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But now, relationships have ended.

The mother said during Roses sentencing that this was going to be the last time he will see her. Ever.

They said they hoped the incident would bring awareness to the crime that on its face seems to be a growing, or at the very least, a continuing problem in Magic Valley.

Notices of lewd conduct or sex abuse cases involving minors from Twin Falls and Jerome counties seem far too common, for such a heinous crime.

It isnt a topic that makes for polite dinner-table conversation, but yet has the potential to turn lives upside down and split families.

These kinds of cases are very, very hard on society, said Minidoka County Prosecuting Attorney Lance Stevenson. Not only are they hard on a defendant who is asked to pay a price to society, but they are also very damaging on relationships, family and on victims.

He points out that it isnt just the child who is the victim, but their support group gets victimized, but parents, grandparents, the whole family.

According to RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network), sexually abused children are four times more likely to develop symptoms of drug abuse, and four times more likely to experience post-traumatic stress disorder as adults, and three times more likely to experience a major depressive episode as adults.

Its not like you can give the candy bar back to the store and its good, Stevenson said. It has a lasting effect; it can be difficult to deal with for years.

Lt. Justin Dimond of the Twin Falls Police Department said that the department stresses to officers that they start by believing potential crime victims, whether they be children or adults, when they come forward with allegations.

Quote I honestly feel we have to be extremely harsh on those cases for deterrent purposes because we are getting a lot more of them. Lance Stevenson, Minidoka County prosecuting attorney

That is something we hammer into our officers, Dimond said.

After further interviews and investigation, sometimes by administering polygraph examinations to suspects and referring possible victims for interviews at St. Lukes CARES, decisions are made on whether to file charges.

As far as numbers go, the case against Rose is really just the tip of the iceberg. While Rose was sentenced for a single count of sex abuse, Robert Kolb Sr., a former Twin Falls resident, faces a dozen counts of lewd conduct with a minor. He has not been found guilty.

But it shows you that even a single incident can turn lives upside down.

Immediately prior to Roses sentencing hearing that day in Emorys courtroom in Jerome, Alfredo Ochoa-Villalobos was sentenced to two counts of lewd conduct.

As an undocumented migrant, he will likely be deported after serving his sentence.

The two back-to-back cases involving sex crimes against minors could be an indication of how prevalent cases are.

It is probably way more common than we think, Dimond said.

Coming up with definite numbers of how many children are abused nationwide is difficult because so much of it goes unreported, say agencies. According to one 2014 study, one in nine girls and one in 20 boys under the age of 18 experience sexual abuse or assault.

Stevenson said he is seeing increasing numbers.

We are prosecuting more cases, he said. At any given time, we have five to 10 cases on our docket.

He attributed an uptick in the case numbers to law enforcement officers being more proficient in investigating sexual abuse cases and finding perpetrators, and that more individuals are willing to come forward after being abused and say this is wrong, Stevenson said.

A Times-News count showed four new cases filed in July involving sex crimes with children, with the crimes ranging from a former youth pastor charged with improperly touching a 16-year-old student at a church school, to a Castleford man suspected of taking a 13-year-old girl to his house, committing lewd conduct and forcing her to sniff drugs.

While no new cases were found in a search in Jerome County, judges still heard matters dealing with child sex abuse charges, from a pre-conference with Rusnell Hunter, charged with 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a child, to Matthew Cheyenne Adams, facing four counts of lewd conduct with a child, and two counts of enticing children over the internet.

Its almost too much to cover and notes from various hearings could, and have, filled reporters notebooks.

The 2022 Crime in Idaho report, released in July, details some of the numbers statewide. Twenty Idaho girls 10 and under were raped, 12 sodomized, the report says, and 220 fondled.

Twenty-nine girls age 10 and under were sexually assaulted with an object, the report says. Girls that age arent the only victims: 87 boys age 10 and under were fondled and 12 were sodomized.

In the category of girls between 13 and 14 years old, 66 were raped in Idaho in 2022 and 157 were fondled. Eighteen were sexually assaulted with an object. Five boys in that age group were reported to have been raped and three sodomized.

The unpleasant statistics run on and on.

Statewide, nonconsensual sex offenses against children declined in 2022 compared with 2021, the report says, from 1,498 to 1,296.

Nonconsensual sex offenses are defined as any sexual act directed against another person, forcible and/or against that persons will; or not forcible or against the persons will where the victim is incapable of giving consent. In Idaho, the age of consent is determined by the age of the older partner. In some circumstances, it is 16 while in others it's 18. Prior to reaching the age of consent, you can not legally consent to a sexual act.

In Twin Falls County in 2022, there were 82 reports of fondling and 15 of them were cleared, according to the latest Idaho crime report. The number was 121 in 2021, with 19 of the cases cleared.

Numbers for 2023 wont be available for almost a year.

In cases reported to law enforcement, 93% of child abuse victims know their perpetrators, according to RAINN. It is mostly common for child abuse victims to know the perpetrators, with 59% being acquaintances, 34% family members, and 7% strangers.

But dont discount the number of cases that could be perpetrated by strangers.

Dimond points to online stings conducted by police officers in Magic Valley where a law enforcement officer will pose online as an underage child. Numerous people have been caught trying to solicit sex from children they dont know.

Whether the child knows or doesnt know his victim, even one case is too many. And when someone is found guilty, a price needs to be paid.

There is the protection of society to consider. Stevenson said a lot goes into sentencing, the pre-sentence report and the psychosexual evaluation, to determine whether the person is a predator or not.

I honestly feel we have to be extremely harsh on those cases for deterrent purposes because we are getting a lot more of them, Stevenson said.

Ochoa-Villalobos was given a sentence of seven years fixed and 15 years indeterminate for each of his two counts of lewd conduct that he plead guilty to as part of a plea agreement, with 371 days credit for time served.

And in Roses case, a plea deal was struck between the prosecutors office and Rose, who was represented by public defender Charles Rodriguez. Under the deal, prosecutors recommended a sentence of 10 years fixed prison time plus 10 years indeterminate, but that sentence would be suspended, and he would serve 10 years probation. As long as he met the terms of probation, Rose wouldnt have seen jail time.

But this hearing had a surprise ending.

Deputy Prosecutor Sam Beus told Emory he wasnt involved with the plea deal, and said although the deal was made, he made the recommendation to her with some trepidation.

He said Rose had tried to minimize his behavior, and before admitting guilt, he had told police that the victim had pushed his hand down to her genitals.

Rodriguez, however, said Rose has come to terms with his actions and has taken responsibility. He said evaluations came to the conclusion that the chance that Rose will re-offend is very low.

He emphasized Rose was a one-time offender. If he was suspected of other abuse, police would have done other investigations, maybe issuing search warrants.

Judges arent required to follow recommended sentences involving plea deals. Its up to the courts discretion and Emory weighed the risk of Rose re-offending.

Emory said she thought jail time was appropriate, and instead of following the recommended sentence, levied a two-year fixed term and 18 years indeterminate, with credit for 61 days of time served.

And with that, Rose was remanded into custody.

Rose has since appealed the sentence, and Emory has filed an Order Appointing State Appellate Public Defender, as Rose has been found indigent.

So the case of Kirk Rose goes on.

And, tragically, the number of cases involving victimized children continues to climb as well.

Your news on your smartphone Your story lives in the Magic Valley, and our new mobile app is designed to make sure you dont miss breaking news, the latest scores, the weather forecast and more. From easy navigation with the swipe of a finger to personalized content based on your preferences to customized text sizes, the Times-News app is built for you and your life. Dont have the app? Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
TWIN FALLS  Sen. Mike Crapo and Rep. Mike Simpson each say they would work to find federal support for a third crossing of the Snake River Canyon.

On Monday, the Idaho senator and the congressman were in Twin Falls and each paid a visit to the Times-News Editorial Board while they were in town.

Simpson, who is on the House Appropriations Committee, indicated that once the Idaho Transportation Department and local entities agreed on a plan to build a bridge  and where it would go  he felt some funding could be worked out from the federal end.

In terms of making the decision that you guys will make, thats all up to you. In terms of funding, we may be able to help, Simpson told the board. It absolutely needs to get done.

COMING SATURDAY The Times-News Editorial Board shares its take from Monday conversations with Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo and Rep. Mike Simpson.

Crapo agreed, saying that while he was a fiscal conservative committed to stopping unjustified spending, things such as infrastructure and national defense were appropriate.

I absolutely believe that not only is (a third crossing) an appropriate place for federal support, but it is a place which pays for itself in terms of the increased strength that it gives to the economy, Crapo told the board.

Crapo said hes watched the Magic Valley grow throughout his life. In childhood, he would visit his grandparents in Kimberly. As he sees it, the growth was the result of investments made in infrastructure, which bring businesses and grow the economy.

Those businesses bring in jobs, salaries, benefits, the opportunities to build a family, to get your hand on the ring, to build your own future, thats the American dream. The American dream is facilitated by making sure that we have the infrastructure in place for the economy and the opportunity.

Both Simpson and Crapo spoke about civility, compromise, and the state of American democracy. Each said their offices received floods of phone calls and emails whenever they worked across the aisle to move legislation forward.

I was one of the 18 Republican senators who voted for the infrastructure package in the last congress, for which Ive paid unmitigated heck, Crapo said.

I love the ones where a guy sends me a note that says, I voted for you every year, but never again because you voted for the debt ceiling deal, Simpson said. We do get a lot of those calls  but there are some people who think shutting down the government for not fulfilling our obligations is a legitimate political point. Its not.
The Department of Foreign Affairs on Monday said Chinas recent water cannon attack and continued dangerous maneuvers against Philippine personnel in the West Philippine Sea may harm its relations with the Philippines, as it expressed its disappointment in the futility of various diplomatic actions Manila has always been taking.

In a joint press conference with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the National Security Council (NSC), the DFA said the latest incident in the Ayungin Shoal does provide tension in our bilateral relations.

Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza (right) watches footage of a Chinese Coast Guard ship using a water cannon against a Filipino resupply vessel during a press conference at the DFA offices in Manila on August 7. AFP

Saying the Philippines values its ties with China, the agency hopes the latter would do the same.

This incident undermines efforts to strengthen peoples trust and confidencea crucial element in friendly relations among states, Ma. Teresita Daza, DFA spokesperson, said.

Daza said the agency is disappointed that the direct communication mechanism established to address sea row concerns following President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr.s trip to China in January did not work.

The DFA was unable to reach its counterpart to the maritime communication mechanism for several hours while the incident was occurring, and expressed the hope that the Chinese side will reciprocate the same sense of urgency, Daza said.

Despite the many diplomatic protests filed by the Philippines against China, which have been falling on deaf ears, Daza said the government will still exhaust all diplomatic efforts and take advantage of various fora to address the matter.

On Saturday, August 5, a total of 10 Chinese vesselscomposed of those from the Chinese coast guard, the Peoples Liberation Army Navy, and the Chinese militiaconducted what looked like concerted dangerous actions in the Ayungin Shoal against Philippine vessels, according to PCG spokesman Jay Tarriela.

Ayungin Shoal is part of the countrys exclusive economic zone, as defined by the International Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Such actions included blocking, dangerous maneuvers and water cannon attacks that almost rammed and eventually prevented two Philippine boats to do their resupply mission to the Philippine navy vessel BRP Sierra Madre.

The DFA has demanded China to immediately stop its illegal activities in the Philippine maritime zones as the agency asserted that China cannot lawfully exercise sovereignty over the Philippine waters.

The DFA is one with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard in their pursuit of our shared mandate to protect and uphold our legal maritime entitlement, she said.

Daza said the DFA will exercise all possible actions, including the summoning of Chinese Ambassador to Manila Huang Xilianwhich it already did earlierto handle the issue.

DFA Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations Ma. Theresa Lazaro summoned Huang early Monday to convey the governments strong protest and handed yet another note verbale over the incident, Daza said. There are already 35 note verbales filed by Manila against Beijing just in 2023 or 445 in total since 2020.

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A Taiwanese businessman and his son have been indicted for recruiting two soldiers who allegedly helped them collect confidential information for China about the islands largest military exercise, prosecutors said.

After moving to Chinas southeast Fujian province in 2015 to do business, the man, identified by his surname Huang, and his son were lured by two Chinese officials he met to collect confidential national defence documents, said Taiwan High Prosecutors Offices Tainan branch.

The duo intended to endanger national security, and to jointly develop a network in Taiwan to lure and absorb active-duty servicemen, prosecutors said in a statement issued late Monday.

The Huangs were charged with violating national security law and the state secrets protection act, while the soldiers were indicted for violating the Criminal Code of the Armed Forces and for corruption.

Accused of enlisting the two soldiers who worked for the air forces air defence and missile division, the father and son had asked them to sign a letter to pledge allegiance to Beijing as well as arranging for them to meet Chinese officials abroad, the statement said.

Then together they collected eight items about the Han Kuang exercise  Taiwans largest annual wargames which took place two weeks ago  and other confidential military documents to hand over to Chinese officials either in person or by mobile phone, prosecutors said.

China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its territory and has ramped up military and political pressure on the island in recent years as tensions rose.

The two sides have been spying on each other since the end of a civil war between Chinese nationalists and communists in 1949.

The Huangs case came after Taiwans defence ministry vowed to bolster its anti-espionage efforts last week following the detention of an army lieutenant colonel who was allegedly collecting intelligence for Beijing.

A number of former high-ranking Taiwanese military officials have in recent years been accused of spying for Beijing.

In March, a retired navy rear admiral and a former lawmaker were charged over an alleged bid to build a spy network for China.

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The Department of Health commenced its wellness program for healthcare regions, aiming to promote the well-being of medical frontliners across the country.

The health department welcomed 7,200 healthcare workers into The Wellness Movement during its program launch at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine.

Drawing on practical applications of scientific behavior change approaches, this program supports doctors, nurses, and allied health staff in adopting effective wellness behaviors to bolster their well-being over the long term, aligning with the Departments 8-point action agenda, The DOH wrote in a statement.

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa recalled the progression of the program which was piloted in five hospitals in 2020, before expanding to 21 more in 2021, and eventually reaching 28 additional hospitals in the previous year.

The Wellness Movement fits right into two points of the 8-point action agenda of the Department and aligns seamlessly with our endeavor to provide a humanistic approach in the work that we do  Welfare and rights of healthcare workers and their comfort of mind and feelings), Secretary Herbosa said in English and Filipino.

Meanwhile, the DOH has also kicked off with a tobacco cessation contest Stop and Gain in partnership with the lung center of the Philippines.

We encourage the public and private health advocates and health champions to strictly enforce the provisions of the Vape Law, and implement our smoke-free and vape-free playbooks, such that we are enabled to live in a healthier and fresher environment, Sec. Herbosa expressed.

The contest aims to encourage smokers to quit while celebrating a healthier life and is open exclusively to smokers and vapers who have quit since July 1, 2022, or in the last six months.

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TAIPEIFormer Japanese prime minister Taro Aso warned a Taipei security forum Tuesday the international community must wake up to the worsening situation surrounding the Taiwan Strait, a hotspot waterway separating the democratic island from China.

Taiwan has in recent years been under increased political and military pressure from China, which claims the island as its territory and has vowed to retake it one day.

The past year has been especially charged with Beijing enacting two massive rounds of wargames around the island, simulating a blockade of Taiwan and missile strikes.

The live-fire exercises also affected Taiwans northeastern neighbor when ballistic missiles were launched near Japans coastal waters, the 82-year-old ex-premier said.

The important thing for us now is that there should be no war in the region, including the Taiwan Strait, said Aso, one of the keynote speakers at an annual security forum that gathers defense and maritime experts.

We need to wake up now. From Taiwan to the United States and other like-minded countries, its time to demonstrate our will and determination to fight, and our power of deterrence.

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Quezon Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga on Tuesday hailed Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez for gaining a commitment from Vietnam to continue supplying the Philippines with affordable rice.

Romualdez was able to do this last Sunday in Jakarta, Indonesia, during a side meeting with Vuong Dinh Hue, President of the National Assembly of Vietnam on the eve of the formal opening of the 44th AIPA (ASEAN Parliamentary Assembly) General Assembly.

Speaker Romualdez displayed once again why he is the alter ego of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with the move to secure rice imports at a crucial time for the Philippines. In terms of team sports, this was a clutch move, said Enverga, chair of the House Committee on Agriculture and Food.

The threat of El Nino is still present despite the recent rains, and we are still trying to boost our crop production. Other countries are restricting their rice importation policies. Speaker Romualdez knows that we need all the help we can get to ensure a stable supply of rice, he said.

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Japan has committed to provide an P11-billion loan that the Philippines can use anytime to fund its various calamity response programs.

Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo and Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko on Tuesday signed an exchange of notes to formalize the loan facility under Japans Official Development Assistance (ODA).

The initiative is the Post Disaster Stand-by Loan Phase 3 (PDSL 3).

According to the Japanese Embassy in Manila, PDSL 3 seeks to support swift recovery in the aftermath of natural and health-related disasters, providing a quick-disbursing budgetary support for the Philippines calamity response programs.

Kazuhiko said the move was the third PDSL to be provided for the Philippines.

First in 2013 to support the recovery from Typhoon Yolanda, and then in 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic response, he said.

With Typhoon Egay having attacked the Philippines just last month, it is evident that our countries are frequently exposed to natural disasters such as typhoons, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions, he added.

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The Marcos administration has asked Congress to earmark about P31 billion in calamity funds for 2024.

Meanwhile, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has set aside over half-a-trillion pesos under the proposed P5.768-trillion 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP) for programs and projects aimed at addressing the impact of climate change.

Under the 2024 NEP, about P17.949 billion of the proposed calamity fund or the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF) would be allotted for aid, relief and rehabilitation services to communities or areas affected by natural and human-induced calamities.

The remaining P13.051 billion would be used for the repair and reconstruction of permanent structures, including other capital expenditures for disaster operation and rehabilitation activities.

The proposed NDRRMF is higher by P11 billion than the P20.5 billion appropriated under the 2023 General Appropriations Act.

The allocation of funds is subject to the approval of the President, taking into consideration the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) for local disasters or the appropriate agency for international crises.

In making recommendations, the NDRRMC should consider the donations or grants received by concerned agencies in support of efforts to address calamities.

A separate P7.425 billion worth of Quick Response Fund (QRF) will be appropriated to nine government agencies.

The DBM, in a statement, said the nine offices that would receive the QRF are considered first responder agencies during calamities and disasters, such as typhoons, earthquakes and fires.

About P3 billion of the P7.425-billion QRF will be given to the Department of Education; P1.25 billion to the Department of Social Welfare and Development; P1 billion each to the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Department of Agriculture; and P500 million each to the Department of National Defense and the Department of Health.

The Philippine Coast Guard will receive P75 million, while the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Philippine National Police will get P50 million each.

Once their QRF dips to 50 percent or less, the nine agencies may request the DBM, subject to the Presidents approval, for replenishment through the NDRRMF.

The DBM noted that under Republic Act 11936, there is also a Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) for local government units (LGUs).

According to the special provision of the LGSF under the 2023 General Appropriations Act, about P1.9 billion will be used for financial assistance to LGUs and about P7.2 billion will be tapped in support of capital outlays and social programs of the local governments.

The LGSF financial aid to the LGUs may only be used until Dec. 31, 2024.

In a statement, the DBM said it set aside P543.45 billion under next years spending program to mitigate the repercussions of severe weather patterns, such as intense typhoons and worsening floods, within the Philippines.

The amount, which constitutes 9.4 percent of the total proposed budget, would be used for climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. The allocation also surpasses the anticipated eight-percent contribution stipulated in the Philippine Development Plan for addressing impacts of climate change.

Recognizing its fundamental importance, the bulk of climate change expenditures will be allocated for water sufficiency projects with P294.46 billion to benefit communities all over the country, said Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman.

Likewise, in his 2024 Budget Message, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. underscored the administrations efforts in tackling climate change.

With global temperatures reaching record highs, with floods and droughts that displace millions, we have made future-proofing a top priority of this administration to address climate change. In fact, for fiscal year (FY) 2023, the allocation for this purpose was increased by over 60 percent to P464.5 billion. For FY 2024, this has been increased even further to reach P543.4 billion. Of this amount, P168.6 billion will be allotted for mitigation, while P374.9 billion will be for climate adaptation, said the President.

The DBM said the government prioritizes adaptation measures due to the countrys vulnerability to the impacts of climate change.

The agency said this was outlined in the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP).

In particular, the DBM said the NCCAPs list of strategic priority areas includes the following:

Water Sufficiency (streamlining of water governance structure, improving sanitation in infrastructures), P294.46 billion; sustainable energy (promotion and expansion of energy efficiency and conservation, development of sustainable and renewable energy and transport), P180.72 billion; food security (climate-resilient crop and livestock production systems and technologies, early warning systems), P40.18 billion; knowledge and capacity development, 12.97 billion; climate smart industries and services, P6.02 billion; ecosystem and environmental stability, P5.95 billion; human security, P2.58 billion; and cross-cutting, P550 million.

The DBM, meanwhile, said it has institutionalized Climate Change Expenditure Tagging (CCET) together with the Climate Change Commission (CCC).

The CCET) provides guidelines for tracking and reporting government agencies climate-related budgets and has been helping government agencies and local government units (LGUs) plan their respective climate-and-disaster responsive budgets.

The DBM has also adopted the Program Convergence Budgeting (PCB) into the allocation process.

The PCB is a budgeting approach that utilizes government resources for key programs and projects in coordination with attached departments and agencies.

It said that one of PCBs undertakings is the Risk Resiliency Program (RRP) which aims to reinforce the governments crisis management and adaptive capabilities.

The PCB has a proposed budget of P424 billion and is expected to adapt to and mitigate the damaging effects of climate change and disasters in the country.

The DBM said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)which will receive the highest climate change expenditure budget at P308.08 billionwill also get P215.643 billion for flood management, which includes the construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of various flood mitigation and control structures, as well as for water supply/septage and rainwater collection infrastructure.

Under the DPWH project, theres a flagship project called Flood Management Program. This year, we have a budget of P185 billion, and for 2024, we proposed P215.643 billion, Secretary Pangandaman said, adding that two other projects will be supported by a loan from Korea Eximbank, the credit agency of South Korea.

Other proposed allocations include P1.397 billion for the Pampanga Integrated Disaster and Risk Resiliency Project; P7.4 billion for the Bulacan Angat Water Transmission Project; and over P1 billion for the Metropolitan Manila Development Authoritys (MMDA) flood control initiatives.

Aside from the aforementioned funds, theres also the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF).

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House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez shared the philippines roadmap toward a stronger and more resilient economy with a special focus on the creation of jobs and livelihood opportunities for filipinos.

Romualdez made the statement in front of fellow Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) lawmakers during the plenary session of the 44th AIPA (ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly general assembly.

Romualdez highlighted the crucial role of the partnership between Congress and the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. in achieving such a goal.

A UNITED ASEAN. Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez walks with Dr. Puan Maharani, Speaker of Indonesias House of Representatives at the 44th AIPA (ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly) General Assembly in Indonesia. (Inset) Romualdez and Maharani later joined other ASEAN leaders in a gesture of unity. Maharani is also the current AIPA president. Ver Noveno

Romualdez urged fellow ASEAN lawmakers to use the occasion as a platform not only for dialogue but, more importantly, to share best practices among member parliaments.

Following the lead of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., we have adopted a Medium-Term Fiscal Strategy that aims to support economic recovery while ensuring fiscal sustainability, Romualdez said.

Together with the Executive, we have focused on creating more job opportunities for Filipinos and improving their employability.

Productivity-enhancing investments have been promoted while exercising prudence in fiscal management, he added.

He said the countrys leaders adopted such a policy, recognizing that the pandemic has exacerbated income insecurity, especially for those without any access to social protection, and those working in the informal economy.

Retooling and re-skilling to sharpen the competence of our job seekers has been our priority, together with the development of sustainable technologies to create more green jobs, Romualdez said. Under his leadership, Romualdez said the House of Representatives has passed 33 out of 42 priority measures adopted as the Common

Legislative Agenda of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) by the end of the First Regular Session.

Towards the end of 2022, we have taken pride in our accomplishments of the 19th Congress in its first five months, acknowledging the swift but thorough passage of a substantial number of the Presidents legislative agenda, including our priority measures in the House, he said.

The results thus far have inspired confidence for us to pursue this further, until our development goals are met, Romualdez added. Among others, Romualdez cited the approval of the Maharlika Investment Fund bill hailed by President Marcos as essential in order to establish a sustainable national investment fund as a strategic mechanism for strengthening the investment activities of top performing government financial institutions, and thus pump-prime economic growth and social development. He also noted the timely signing of the P5.268-trillion 2023 General Appropriations Act, which is the most important and potent tool that the President, his economic team, and the entire government can use to accomplish the goals of the prosperity roadmap. He informed fellow ASEAN lawmakers that this week the proposed FY 2024 National Budget was already submitted to Philippine Congress for consideration.

We intend to review and deliberate on the finer points of the proposal to ensure that it becomes the foundation of our vision for economic transformation, Romualdez said.

Such sharing of best practices among ASEAN parliaments, according to Romualdez, will help build regional solidarity and cooperation which is vital to help build back a more resilient and sustainable ASEAN community.

In addition, Romualdez said AIPA represents an effective platform for dialogue on inter-parliamentary concerns and diplomacy based on equal partnership, mutual respect, and mutual benefit and sustainable ASEAN community.

In addition, Romualdez said AIPA represents an effective platform for dialogue on inter-parliamentary concerns and diplomacy based on equal partnership, mutual respect, and mutual benefit.

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The Porter County Sheriffs Department is investigating a Tuesday afternoon shooting at a Washington Township gas station on U.S. 30 that resulted in a man being airlifted to a Chicago area hospital.

This appears to be an isolated incident and a person of interest is being questioned, Sgt. Ben McFalls, the departments public information officer, said in a release.

Officers were dispatched at approximately 2:27 p.m. to investigate a battery with a firearm that occurred at the Pilot gas station, 4105 E. Morthland Drive.

Deputies located a male victim with gunshot wounds. The injured male was flown to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Illinois for treatment.

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact the sheriffs department at (219) 477-3000.

The department did not have further comment regarding the ongoing investigation.
As a sign of protest to Chinas persistent bullying of the Philippine Coast Guard, Navy, and local fishermen, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri called for a boycott of Chinese goods and all Chinese companies.

Earlier, Zubiri sponsored a Senate Resolution condemning Chinese incursions on Philippine territory.

In an interview over Radyo 630, Zubiri said like Vietnam, we should start looking for other trading partners instead of relying on China. We should look for other trading partners where we can grow and improve our countrys economy without being dependent on China, he said.

We should not be relying on China for our products, he further stated.

Zubiri related the Philippines may reopen its free trade agreements with countries like the United States, European Union, Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asian countries.

So that we can boycott Chinese-made products, boycott Chinese companies entering the Philippines to show our anger towards them in that way, he added.

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The Armed Forces of the Philippines is studying the concerns raised over an exchange program that sends Filipino military officers to China  including whether to discontinue it  amid Beijings continued incursions in the West Philippine Sea.

We are looking at that issue. We are doing a thorough study, AFP spokesman Col. Medel Aguilar told Manila Standard in a phone interview.

That (whether to discontinue the program) is part of the (study) requirements given to another staff, he added.

Senator Jinggoy Estrada, chairman of the Senate Defense Committee, said he has asked the AFP to submit a report on the military exchange program that is paid for in full by the Chinese government.

Senator Francis Tolentino described the military exchange program as very alarming while Senator Raffy Tulfo said it was a slap in the face of Filipinos amid Chinas aggressive acts.

Tulfo said the exchange program gives China an opportunity to infiltrate the AFP hierarchy.

Stop the government program sending AFP officials to China for studies and training, Tulfo said during Mondays hearing on proposed amendments to the decades-old National Defense Act.

So, they have an allowance from the Chinese government? It must have an allowance  like for billeting, lodging, accommodation, Tolentino said.

You will receive a patch if you graduate, and you must learn and sing the national anthem of the Peoples Republic of China. Alarming indeed With the tensions in the West Philippine Sea, I dont think its good to send our officers there, he added.

Defense Senior Undersecretary Irineo Espino said only officers with the rank of lieutenant colonel or higher apply for the yearlong training in China.

The Philippines on Monday summoned Beijings envoy to protest the use of water cannons and dangerous maneuvers against Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said

Our secretary of Foreign Affairs summoned Ambassador Huang (Xilian) today and gave him a note verbale including pictures (and) video about what happened and we are awaiting their reply, Mr. Marcos said.

The position of China, of course, is they say this is ours so we are defending it and we, for our part, are saying no, we own it so we are defending it. So that becomes a gray area that we are discussing.

The incident happened Saturday as the Philippine Coast Guard escorted charter boats carrying food, water, fuel, and other supplies for Filipino soldiers stationed at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the Spratly Islands.

Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, through which trillions of dollars in trade passes annually. It has ignored a 2016 international court ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.

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The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Tuesday said it will bolster its presence near Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea after the Chinese Coast Guard fired water cannons at boats carrying food, water and fuel, and other supplies to Filipino troops stationed there.

National Task Force on West Philippine Sea spokesperson PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela said they would consider sending more vessels to escort resupply missions.

We can also consider deploying the 97-meter vessel or the 83-meter vessel for us to have a much bigger boat to support the resupply mission, he said.

Tarriela also said that the PCG is requesting a higher intelligence fund, which has been pegged at P10 million a year in the last 15 years.

With the magnitude of the function of the coast guard, not to mention the maritime safety and the maritime environmental protection, it is important for the Philippine Coast Guard to receive a larger intelligence fund to support our operations, Tarriela said, urging Congress to add some zeroes in our intelligence funds.

Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea by its discredited nine-dash line and has ignored a 2016 international court ruling that its expansive claims have no legal basis.

Ayungin Shoal is about 200 kilometers from the mainland Palawan province and more than 1,000 kilometers from Chinas nearest major landmass, Hainan island.

Chinas Ambassador Huang Xilian accused the Philippines of repeatedly taking unilateral actions to undermine the existing status quo on Ayungin Shoal.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) had summoned Huang on Monday to protest the water cannon incident and the Chinese Coast Guards dangerous maneuvers against Filipino vessels in the Philippines exclusive economic zone.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier said a note verbale was sent to Huang in connection with the water cannon incident.

The PCG vessels were escorting boats chartered by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to deliver food, water, fuel, and other supplies to military troops stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre, which has been beached on Ayungin Shoal.

The ship manned by more than a dozen Marines and sailors has become a symbol of Philippine sovereignty in the offshore territory.

China on Monday accused the Philippines of seeking to permanently occupy Ayungin Shoal and again raised its demand that the BRP Sierra Madre be removed.

However, the PCG on Tuesday said the BRP Sierra Madre in the West Philippine Sea is within the Philippines exclusive economic zone (EEZ) (see banner story  Editors).

In 2013, the Philippines challenged Chinas legal basis for its vast claim in the South China Sea before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands. Manila won the case in a landmark award in 2016 after the tribunal invalidated Beijings assertions.

China has ignored and belittled the ruling, maintaining an indisputable and historical claim over nearly the entire waters despite widespread international support for the Philippines.

Chinas Foreign Ministry on Monday night maintained that it has territorial sovereignty, maritime rights, and interests in the whole South China Sea, saying the 2016 Arbitral Ruling was a pure political drama staged in the name of law.

The so-called award contravenes international laws, including UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), and is illegal, null and void, Chinas Foreign Ministry said, without elaborating which part of the international law was violated.

UNCLOS sets the limitation of a countrys exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The 2016 arbitral ruling affirmed the Philippines territorial integrity over the West Philippine Sea, which is part of its EEZ.

Beijing also accused the US of sowing confusion and discord in the region as it attacked Chinas legitimate and lawful actions at sea aimed at safeguarding its rights and enforcing the law.

The statement that Washington released after the incident also voiced support for the Philippines unlawful, provocative behavior, Chinas Foreign Ministry said.

China firmly opposes the statement. For some time, the US has been inciting and supporting the Philippines attempts to overhaul and reinforce its military vessel that was deliberately grounded on Renai Jiao, it said, using the Chinese name for the shoal.

The US has been brazenly bolstering the Philippines as it infringes upon Chinas sovereignty, but those moves will not succeed, it added.

Japan and South Korea have expressed concerns about Beijings aggression and said they are now taking action to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

This came as Japan on Tuesday extended a 1.1-billion yen (P432 million) grant to the Philippines to allow the PCG to procure a state-of-the-art Satellite Data Communication System.

Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko said the initiative is expected to improve PCGs maritime domain awareness and maritime law enforcement capabilities.

He said the program could also contribute to the Philippines economic and social development and the strengthening of cooperation in the Sulu-Celebes Sea.

In light of the situation in the South China Sea, this is a very timely cooperation that will enable the decision makers of the Philippine government here in Manila to grasp in real time the situation offshore, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko said.

Moreover, this will be extremely effective in terms of crisis management and response, he added.

Japan also committed to continue its cooperation with the Philippines to enhance its security to build back better societies as it also recently called totally unacceptable Chinas recent water cannon attack against Philippine personnel.

Chinas immediate neighbor, South Korea, also expressed deep concern about Beijings activities in the South China Sea.

On the recent use of water cannons against the Philippine Coast Guard vessels in the South China Sea, the ROK Embassy in the Philippines is concerned about the actions that raise tensions in these waters, it said.

The embassy reaffirms its support for peace, stability, and rules-based order in the South China Sea, as an important international sea lane of communications, and for the freedom of navigation and overflight based on the principles of international law, including UNCLOS, it said.

The French Embassy in Manila, meanwhile, reiterated its support for the 2016 Arbitral Ruling, which had invalidated Chinas sweeping claims under the so-called nine-dash line over the sea lane.

France expresses its deep concern about the dangerous maneuvers carried out by Chinese coastguard vessels in the South China Sea, it said.

It reiterates its support for international law and the UNCLOS, and recalls the decision handed down by the Court of Arbitration in 2016 concerning the South China Sea, it added.

In a press conference on Monday, Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said the incident clearly undermines efforts to enhance China-Philippine relations.

[W]e hope that they do value the relations with the Philippines. But clearly, this incident undermines efforts to strengthen mutual trust and confidence  crucial elements in friendly relations among states, between our countries, and it does provide tension in our bilateral relations, she said.

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Will Beijing take kindly to all these Philippine initiatives? We dont think so

How do you think China will respond to the Senate resolution strongly condemning its continued harassment of our Coast Guard and fishermen in the West Philippine Sea by their Coast Guard and militia vessels?

Senate Resolution 718, principally authored by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Sen. Risa Hontiveros, urges the Philippine government to take appropriate action in asserting and securing the Philippines sovereign rights over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

The resolution is the end-result of consultations by senators with officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) led by Secretary Enrique Manalo and the Armed Forces of the Philippines headed by Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner .

Earlier, the two senators filed Resolution 659 urging the DFA to sponsor a resolution before the United Nations General Assembly, calling on China to stop its harassment of Philippine vessels in the WPS.

Resolution 718 slams Chinas continued incursions in the WPS as illegal, as it violates the 2016 landmark ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

The lawmakers agreed there is no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within the nine-dash line and that Beijings claims ran contrary to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Rather than comply with the decision, the Chinese government has instead chosen to ramp up its harassment of Philippine vessels, including those of the countrys fisherfolk, navy, and coast guard, thus undermining peace and stability in the region, the resolution read.

In clear violation of the Arbitral Award, China has built artificial islands in various parts of the WPS  fortified with airstrips, military installations, hardware, and equipment-and has militarized at least three of those artificial islands, arming them with anti-ship and anti-aircraft missile systems, laser and jamming equipment and fighter jets, it added.

The resolution also noted that in the past two months, the Philippine Coast Guard and military noted the increased presence of Chinese vessels and maritime militia swarming the Recto Bank and Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc.

If we have not manifested our position, then it is as if China had succeeded in muzzling the Philippine Senate,  the senators said.

What, then, should the Philippine government do to address Chinas incursions in the WPS aside from holding dialogues with the Chinese government?

One, bring international attention to Chinas harassment of Filipino fishermen in the Philippine EEZ and its continued violation of the Hague Ruling and the UNCLOS.

Two, use international fora to rally multilateral support for the enforcement of the Hague Ruling and raise awareness on the real situation in the West Philippine Sea.

Three, engage like-minded countries in various international organizations, meetings, and other fora to urge China to respect the Hague Ruling and the UNCLOS.

Four, file a Resolution before the United Nations General Assembly calling for the cessation of all activities that harass Philippine vessels and violate the Philippines established rights in the West Philippine Sea.

And five, pursue other diplomatic modes as the Department of

Foreign Affairs may deem appropriate and necessary.

In fact, the DFA is already expanding ties with Vietnam, including security cooperation.

Last week, Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo went on an official visit to Vietnam for the 10th Philippine-Vietnam Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation where the two countries discussed areas of cooperation such as defense, maritime, economic and people-to-people ties.

In a speech delivered at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam on Aug. 1, Secretary Manalo said that while Manila and Hanoi had competing claims in the South China Sea, this underscored the need for the two countries to work together.

Our geographies and status as major littoral and claimant states in the South China Sea make maritime cooperation a vital point of interaction between our two countries, as economic and security partners. As in centuries prior, this body of water connects our peoples, despite some differences, Manalo said.

From Hanoi, Manalo also visited Vientiane for the 2nd Philippines-

Laos JCBC where the two sides explored ways to expand bilateral ties, including security cooperation.

The JCBC is the primary mechanism for the Philippines to discuss with both Vietnam and Laos possible strengthening of bilateral relations, as well as various regional and global issues.

Will Beijing take kindly to all these Philippine initiatives? We dont think so.

Perhaps they will even slam these as an affront to their sovereignty.

But we should insist on our legitimate rights under international law, and resolutely resist their use of force to and outright bullying and intimidation to settle the territorial and maritime disputes in the South China Sea.

(Email: [email protected])

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Ripples, yet again, in the West Philippine Sea, when China less than a week back was reported by the Philippine Coast Guard to have blocked its vessels for a resupply mission.

The PCG said its vessels were en route to Ayungin Shoal, when China blocked and fired water cannons against the mission the former said directly threatened the peace and stability in the region.

Chinas coast guard countered it was implementing necessary controls in accordance with the law to deter Philippine ships, which it accused of trespassing and carrying illegal building materials.

China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, an assertion rejected internationally, while Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan and the Philippines have various claims to certain areas.

Immediately, the US Department of State said the Peoples Republic of Chinas firing of water cannons and employing unsafe blocking maneuvers against PCG vessels on Saturday interfered with the Philippines lawful exercise of high seas freedom of navigation and jeopardized the safety of the Philippine vessels and crew.

In a statement shared by the US Embassy in Manila via Twitter, the State Department reaffirmed its commitment with the Philippines and called on China to follow international rules and order because it has no lawful claim to the resource-rich region.

The United States stands with our Philippine allies in the face of dangerous actions by the Coast Guard and maritime militia of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) to obstruct an August 5 Philippine resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, the statement read.

Firing water cannons and employing unsafe blocking maneuvers, PRC ships interfered with the Philippines lawful exercise of high seas freedom of navigation and jeopardized the safety of the Philippine vessels and crew, it added.

The US State Department wrote: By impeding necessary provisions from reaching the Filipino service members stationed at Second Thomas Shoal, the PRC has also undertaken unwarranted interference in lawful Philippine maritime operations.

The US also expressed Washingtons willingness to invoke its mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 US Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty in case of an armed attack on Philippine public vessels, aircraft, and armed forces  including those of its Coast Guard in the South China Sea.

It called on China to abide by the arbitral ruling (in 2016 that invalidated Chinas nine-dash line claim) as well as to respect the freedom of navigation  a right to which all states are entitled.

We hope to see more positive collaboration beyond words.

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Growing up, Rhidian Davis parents had instilled in him the notion that he could be anything he wanted to be. As a teenager, however, Davis came to learn that the old adage carried with it some stipulations.

The underlying message was that he could be anything as long as he wasnt gay or transgender. A point that was further highlighted when he expressed that he was, in fact, transgender.

Davis says that with no support at home, he turned to the only other constant in his life: his school community.

It became his lifeline.

After I came out, I was a lot more confident sticking up for myself and making my needs known regardless of some people around me trying to not listen to me at all, Davis said in an interview. I went my entire high school years like a new, happier person.

Davis credits much of his late teen years to his time at school. Hailing from Henrico County, Davis attended both Henrico and Hermitage High Schools, which he said were affirming environments for trans youth.

If it wasnt for the support he found in his school community, he wouldnt be the confident young man he is today.

According to the a study published by the National Library of Medicine, 80% of transgender youth think about suicide and 40% have attempted it.

If his teachers and administrators were not affirming of Davis identity during his high school years, he said, I would have gone back into the closet, I probably wouldnt have a home.

For hundreds of transgender kids across Virginia, an alternate universe where some school administrators dont affirm transgender kids could become a reality.

Youngkins model policies

The Youngkin administration recently released its K-12 transgender policies, effectively rolling back some of the protections afforded to transgender students under the previous Northam administration.

The states guidance requires students to use school bathrooms that match the sex they were assigned at birth except to the extent that federal law otherwise requires.

Additionally, the new policies require school division personnel to refer to each student using only the pronouns appropriate to the sex appearing in the students official record  that is, male pronouns for students whose sex is male, and female pronouns for a student whose sex is female unless a student is emancipated or if their parent provides written instruction saying otherwise.

When the policies went into effect, Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in a statement: All children in Virginia deserve to have a parent engaged in their life and to be treated with dignity and respect. He said the updated policies reaffirm my administrations continued commitment to ensure that every parent is involved in conversations regarding their childs education, upbringing and care.

While the new policies have gone into effect, they will not have any immediate impact on all school divisions practices. The policy serves as a model for local school boards, which, by law, must implement their own policies that are consistent with the states model policies.

Localities can choose whether or not to adopt policies consistent with the states guidance. While no state funding is tied to the law, school boards that do not comply could open themselves to litigation.

Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras says he will recommend the school board reject the states new model guidance and maintain its current policies.

At RPS, our motto is Teach with Love. That means embracing and protecting our students for exactly who they are, Kamras said in a statement.

Presently, Richmond Public Schools operates under guidance issued under then-Gov. Ralph Northams administration that allows students to use names and pronouns that reflect their gender identity without any substantiating evidence.

In their words

For Taliah, a 16-year-old Manchester High School student, life has brought its share of hardships and much of her life has been a constant battle.

Taliah became a product of the foster care system after facing physical parental abuse, she said, when she initially came out as gay.

Afterward, Taliah bounced from family to family, all the while knowing she was transgender, but never feeling comfortable expressing it.

Then, at the start of March 2020, she went to live with the Hall family  a decision that would change her life entirely.

According to Taliahs now-mother Lanette Hall, the goal was to always foster a sense of acceptance and care. Within a few weeks, Taliah, feeling the support from her new family, came out as transgender.

Its something shes known but was looking for acceptance this whole time, Hall said.

Since then, Taliah says, she has been out and proud. Like any normal teenager Taliah plays sports, spends time with her friends and has begun going on dates.

While it hasnt always been easy  she still faces her fair share of naysayers and bullies  she is still in a school system that affirms her gender and allows her to be herself.

If Taliah is having an exceptionally difficult day, she knows she can always go to her English teacher or her guidance counselor. She is free to use the girls restroom and participate on the girls cheerleading team, and her teachers respect her pronouns.

Without the support from her family and her school, Taliah said her life would probably look a lot different.

A lot of trans girls, we have thick skin, we really do. It takes a lot of courage to do what we do, Taliah said. It takes a lot of time and patience and it makes us confident because with each obstacle we grow. If I didnt come out, Id be closeted and scared.

Because there is no funding or enforcement mechanism tied to the legislative mandate, there is no way to enforce the law. As a result, there will likely be a patchwork response across the state as some localities follow the guidance and some choose to ignore it.

It may splinter the school divisions into red and blue, which I think would be unfortunate, said Carl Tobias, a professor at the University of Richmond School of Law. Thats one of the perils of taking on culture war issues.

In Hanover County, which previously passed controversial transgender policies, some families say the school systems students dont enjoy the same peace of mind as those in places like Richmond.

The Hanover County School Board last year adopted a policy that requires transgender students to submit a written request to school administration asking for access to the schools facilities that align with the students gender identities. The school board has the final say in the decision. It suggests that students and their parents submit documents including students disciplinary or criminal records, among other personal documents.

For Atlee High School student Ember Berg, even though his legal name and gender marker is changed, some of his teachers in Hanover County still misgender him.

If the Hanover School Board adopted policies more in line with the Youngkin administrations guidance, that would definitely push it in an even less supportive environment, said Embers father Chris Berg. There are definitely a few things in the policy that would be more restrictive than where things are right now.

As of now, its a waiting game. Parents of transgender students around the state are bracing to find out what policies their local school boards will implement.

Its tough enough to be a trans kid, but having to try to get through school in a hostile environment is difficult, Chris Berg said.

Its hard to keep your grades up and focused on what youre supposed to be doing to get through school and do that while youre worried about what stuffs going to look like in the next couple months, or whether youre going to be treated like a second-class citizen in school because of a policy change, or because your teacher doesnt think trans people deserve respect or something like that. Its not a great learning environment.

Across the state

Bettie Thomas, a resident of Montgomery County, in Southwest Virginia, first came out as non-binary at 6 years old, explaining at the time: I know Im not a boy. But I dont feel like a girl. Am I both?

For Courtney Thomas, Betties mother, it was like flipping a light switch. Before, Bettie had only expressed the sentiment through kicking and screaming.

While the familys home life improved, school was another story. For Bettie, it was horrible.

Honestly, it was pretty bad. Because in my school, they didnt know what to do with queer kids, said Bettie, now 12. My teachers wouldnt use my pronouns, my classmates wouldnt use my pronouns. And honestly every day was misery for pretty much the entire year.

When schools shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic, Bettie was homeschooled, then attended Christiansburg Middle School after schools reopened in 2021. The school division adopted policies similar to the state guidance put out under the Northam administration. Bettie said the teachers, administrators and classmates were affirming and supportive.

All of the stress and all of the anxiety and all of the frustration that Bettie had experienced, being a non-binary child who was constantly misgendered, really evaporated, Thomas said.

The Montgomery County School Board has worked with the Thomas family and adopted policies that affirm transgender students identities. As far as next year, Bettie isnt too concerned with the possibility of transgender students rights being rolled back because of the new state guidance.

There is a little fear for me but honestly I have a feeling Im gonna be okay because my principal and school board and my school system and my parents are very supportive and they understand, Bettie said. Im a little bit concerned for my other friends who have not come out yet to their parents or who have unsupportive parents. Im afraid their lives are going to be miserable.

Thomas said that she does understand and sympathize with the notion that parents know best, an idea the Youngkin administration has used in defense of its stance on K-12 transgender issues.

All I can do is speak for myself and say, I didnt, she said. If I could go back in time and have a supportive teacher or counselor to look at Bettie and say what you are describing seems like you might be non-binary and that you might be experiencing gender dysphoria in an age-appropriate way, and then could have helped Bettie have that conversation with us, we could have saved years of suffering. Sometimes we need teachers and counselors who know things that we dont, to tell us, to help us understand our children better.

Thomas and her child say they want people to know that having an affirming space makes it possible for transgender and non-binary kids to connect with others and live authentically.

There are a lot of people out there who think that using a kids pronouns is an attack on them, on their rights and on their beliefs, Thomas said. I am not out here trying to make a political statement when I tell you that you have to use my childs pronouns. Im trying to save my childs life.
After more than 20 years, it appears that re-establishing passenger rail travel from Salisbury to Asheville has become more than just talk.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation has a draft feasibility study for a western passenger rail that looks at where stops along the line may be, the length of time it would take to get to a destination, funding the line and potential revenue.

In 2001, the North Carolina Department of Transportation started looking into offering western rail service that would run from Salisbury to Asheville.

But state officials have long said it would take federal money to make a western passenger rail line a reality. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act bill, passed by Congress in late 2021, could be the much-needed shot in the arm to make a western line an actuality.

The $1 trillion law provides $550 billion from 2022 through 2026 for investment in infrastructure, including in roads, bridges, mass transit, water infrastructure, resilience and broadband, according to the Federal Highway Administration.

When President Joe Biden first unveiled his proposed infrastructure bill in April 2021, Amtrak said in a release that the $80 million proposed to go to the company would be used to expand rail to underserved communities, create jobs, improve the quality of life, reduce carbon emissions and generate economic growth. It also released a map showing its plans and it included a new western North Carolina rail line from Salisbury to Asheville.

The western rail line

The proposed passenger rail corridor spans around 139 miles between Salisbury and Asheville, NCDOT says.

And adding the Western North Carolina Passenger Rail service would extend service to an additional 1.03 million state residents, the study says.

The study says the population within the Salisbury-to-Asheville corridor is also home to a population with a higher proportion of residents over the age of 65 and a higher proportion of disabled residents than in the Charlotte-to-Raleigh corridor.

The study says access to passenger rail service provides increased accessibility and mobility particularly for those with limited available transportation options. Low-income and elderly riders benefit from rail and other transportation alternatives compared to using individual vehicles to get to work, school, errands, medical care and recreational activities, the study says. With the passenger rail services, disadvantaged populations are able to access locations outside of the cities and towns where they live, which benefits them by increasing their access to employment, educational, medical and recreational opportunities, it says.

The Western North Carolina Passenger Rail Corridor would be a connection to major metropolitan areas throughout the state, such as Charlotte, Greensboro and Raleigh, the study says. Those cities have important health care centers and facilities, as well as four-year universities.

Asheville also is a health care hub and home to Mission Hospital and numerous other health facilities and doctors, as well as a four-year university.

Salisbury has the benefit of being a connector to other rail corridors going both north and south to other states and areas of the country.

It also would connect western North Carolina to rail routes on the East Coast, the study says.

In addition, tourism is a major part of the local economy in western North Carolina. Along with the national forests, the region also contains a large portion of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as well as several lakes and dams such as Lake Lure and Fontana Dam, the draft feasibility study says.

In addition to those, Burke County boasts South Mountains State Park  the largest state park  and Lake James State Park, as well as Fonta Flora State Trail, Overmountain Victory Trail and the future Wilderness Gateway Trail that will run through Catawba, Burke, McDowell and Rutherford counties.

The draft feasibility study says each year the western part of the state welcomes millions of visitors for camping, hiking, whitewater rafting and other recreational activities. It is a popular spot for tourists, outdoorspeople and holds the historic Old Fort Loops that sit along the rail corridor from Salisbury to Asheville, the study says.

The study says that just east of Black Mountain is a 13-mile section of railroad that twists, winds and curls its way through tunnels and over bridges up the Eastern Continental Divide and through the Blue Ridge Mountains. The loops were necessary to spread the vertical change of the Continental Divide out over the railroad track length to minimize the grade of the railroad, the study says.

Stations

So where would potential stops along the western line be located?

Morganton and Valdese have long been noted as potential stops by NCDOT.

The draft feasibility study said in some cases, station buildings are present and have been renovated in preparation for future passenger services. In some communities, station buildings need to be constructed.

The study says the 2015 Comprehensive State Rail Plan from NCDOT said some initial station planning has occurred between Salisbury and Asheville. Several station buildings along the Salisbury-to-Asheville route, including Conover, Marion, Morganton, Old Fort and Statesville have already been renovated and are housing other interim compatible uses.

The city of Morganton renovated its train station, off Green Street, in the early 2000s.

Morganton City Manager Sally Sandy said if the western passenger rail line becomes a reality, the city would like to be a stop. As for the station, Sandy said doesnt know whether it would meet the standards that would be required or if additional changes would need to be made.

While she said the city would be supportive of looking into it and seeing if a stop in the city could work, its not on the top of the priority list of things the city is trying to accomplish right now.

The draft feasibility study said in Asheville, Valdese and Black Mountain, future potential station sites have been identified in past studies.

The old Valdese train depot has long since been demolished. It was across from the current town hall at the corner of Massel and Rodoret streets. An iron artwork structure was installed several years ago at the location depicting the first Waldensian settlers getting off the train. The art piece sits in front of the train tracks and also includes a small walkway to a covered train depot with seating.

Valdese Town Manager Seth Eckard said that area would likely be where a new train station would be built, if it happens. He said the town hasnt had discussions with any agencies about how it all would work.

The NCDOT draft study said during the development of the study, Hickory also expressed interest in being a stop along the line.

The study says estimates include costs to provide platforms, canopies and buildings, where needed, at each intermediate station. It said separate station tracks are not budgeted at any of the intermediate stations. Traditionally, NCDOT has partnered with communities to pursue grants to help with construction, but through agreements, towns and cities help fund ongoing maintenance of station buildings, the study says.

An allowance associated with improvements at seven potential intermediate stops has been included in the cost estimate, although additional planning is needed to optimize service development planning and stopping patterns, the study says.

The study shows the cost estimate for the stations along the line at $81 million. Station costs include those for the Biltmore Village site alternative, Salisbury and seven other locations along the line.

In Asheville, NCDOT and Asheville own land near Biltmore Village near Garfield Street, north of the train corridor, which may be used for a potential future passenger rail station, the study says. A platform, station track and layover track would need to be constructed, in addition to a station building, it says.

The study says that at a meeting with the French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization, a request was made for NCDOT to consider building the station in an alternate location near the River Arts District closer to Ashevilles downtown. However, that would mean an additional $5 million tacked onto the cost, the study says. Similar station infrastructure would be needed for the River Arts District Station, and additional right of way or use of railroad right of way would be required, it says.

Salisbury has an existing station and will serve as a connection to trains serving stations between Charlotte and Raleigh along the Piedmont and Carolinian corridors. The station is already set up to accommodate a future additional platform that will also be able to accommodate a new station track extending from the new service along the Norfolk Southern AS-Line, the study says.

Cost and revenue

So how much would a western passenger rail line cost?

The total capital cost for everything including the three sets of trains needed, maintenance, stations, controls, signal infrastructure, crossings and signals, track infrastructure and class of track improvements is $665 million, according to the study. It says all costs are conceptual and are subject to change pending freight railroad coordination.

That breaks down to:

$119 million for track infrastructure and class of track improvements;

$169 million for grade crossing and grade crossing signal upgrades;

$35 million for rail signal infrastructure;

$45 million for Positive Train Control, which are systems designed to prevent train-to-train collisions, over-speed derailments, incursions into established work zones, and movements of trains through switches left in the wrong position, according to the Federal Railroad Administration;

$81 million for stations along the route;

$160 million for equipment (three train sets); and

$55 million for maintenance facility.

As for net operating and maintenance costs per year, the study estimates it to be between $7.3 million and $10.9 million.

It says the annual operating and maintenance costs were calculated by applying unit costs associated with the Piedmont service to the corridor length and number of trains anticipated on the proposed western rail corridor.

As for the revenue projected, the study says a projected yield of approximately 17 cents per passenger mile (the current yield for the Piedmont service) was applied to the passenger-miles to estimate revenue. A 17 cents yield results in a potential $24 fare (reflecting current 2023 pricing assumptions) to travel the distance from Asheville to Salisbury, the study shows, with a caveat that ticket prices and revenue are preliminary and could change prior to the service being implemented.

The study says that with a potential yearly ridership of between 245,000 to 390,000, total potential yearly revenue, based on 2023 prices, would be between $5 million and $8.6 million.

Whats next

The feasibility study says its information is conceptual and can be used to initiate conversations between NCDOT, Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and Rural Planning Organization (RPO), Norfolk Southern Railway, Amtrak, and other key stakeholders on design requirements and pursuing funding to re-establish passenger rail between Salisbury and Asheville.

It says municipalities and their respective MPO/RPO will need to work together and consider including passenger rail services and its associated station and rail infrastructure improvements in the regions comprehensive transportation plans (CTP) and long-range transportation plans (LRTP).

The study says MPOs and RPOs can use the information in the report to submit the project for funding consideration through the NCDOT Strategic Transportation Investments (STI) law prioritization process, which allocates available project funding based on data-driven scoring and local input. If the project scores well enough to receive state transportation funds in STI, it will be included in the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), the study says. The study says MPOs and RPOs should consider submitting the project into STI prioritization process during the next submission window, which opened in July.

The study says state funds secured through the STI process can also be used as leverage or match to pursue a federal competitive discretionary grant, which would greatly reduce the burden on state funds for development. A federal grant will help offset up to 80% of the costs associated with the project, the study says.

The study says letters of support from communities along the corridor will be needed to go after the most appropriate federal grant program, which is the FRAs Federal State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail.

Liz Macam, communications officer for the Rail and Integrated Mobility Divisions of NCDOT, said generally, station projects are eligible for federal grants and inclusion in the state Strategic Transportation Investments (STI) law funding process with local support.

But for federal funding, the proposed western rail corridor would have to be chosen in the FRAs Corridor Identification and Development Program (CID), according to the study.

Following the service development plan, the Corridor Identification and Development Program (CID) would fund 80% percent of the costs to prepare environmental documentation in compliance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The study says the FRAs intent is that projects that move through the CID steps will be eligible for and positioned for grants through programs like the Federal State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail.

NCDOT submitted an application to FRA for the Asheville-to-Salisbury corridor to be included in the Corridor Identification and Development Program (CID), the study says.

The Federal Railroad Administration anticipates announcing corridors selected for the CID Program in the fall, according to the study and NCDOT.

Macam said NCDOT is hopeful the western line will be one of the corridors selected.

She said if the corridor is selected for Corridor ID, feasibility studies, planning work and preliminary engineering for stations will be eligible for FRA Corridor ID funding.

If selected, Macam said the NCDOT Rail Division will begin more detailed coordination with the freight railroads and local stakeholders on the project.

The study says if the corridor is selected into CID, the program will fund 90% of the costs to develop a service development plan for the project. It says a service development plan is a high-level business, operating and capital plan with the objectives of demonstrating operational and financial feasibility and the value of the proposed service.

Macam said NCDOT is working to ensure it receives final input from project stakeholders and intends to issue a final study report this fall.
The Dobson Knob No. 2 Fire is showing no smoke or active burning after receiving over 3 inches of rain within a 24-hour period.

Mapping showed the final fire size at 11.8 acres, 8.8 acres on U.S. Forest Service and 3 acres on private property. The fire is now 95% contained. All trail closures have been lifted, according to a news release from the U.S. Forest Service.

Following significant, soaking rain last Thursday, no additional active burning has been seen in the fire area. Firefighters monitored the fire throughout the weekend. Even with hot, sunny afternoons on Saturday and Sunday, no smoke was seen in the fire area. Firefighters will continue to patrol and monitor the Dobson Knob No. 2 fire this week to ensure no large fuels re-ignite in the fire area. The Mountains to Sea Trail from the north fork of the Catawba River to Dobson Knob Road (FSRD No. 106) on the west side of Linville Gorge has reopened as of Monday.

The Dobson Knob No. 2 fire was reported Friday afternoon, July 28. The fire was burning in McDowell County on the north side of Dobson Knob near the North Cove community, north of Marion and west of the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area.

Eyewitnesses reported a lightning strike as the source of ignition, which was quickly verified by lightning-strike mapping from fire managers in collaboration with McDowell County Emergency Management. Lightning ignited downed trees on a rocky knob within the fire scar of the Dobson Knob Fire, which burned 1,760 acres in 2017. The knob was an area that burned particularly hot in 2017, leading to a large buildup of receptive fuels that burned hot over the initial 48 hours after ignition. However, surrounding the knob, the in-tact forest was less receptive to fire spread. Once fire burned through the fuels on the rocky knob it slowed significantly, and fire activity decreased as weather moderated, according to the release.

Fire managers determined early in the fire response that direct suppression actions would not provide for adequate firefighter safety due to the steep, rocky inaccessible site conditions. Multiple water drops by the North Carolina Forest Service on the western edge kept the fire from further spreading onto private property. The fire area was bordered on the south by the Bald Knob fire in 2015 and three U.S. Forest Service prescribed fire units. The history of fire in the area, both prescribed and wildfire, meant fire managers could fall back to existing firelines as contingency lines. No new firelines were created, minimizing resource damage.

Although firefighters were able to use pre-existing containment lines, multiple structures were constructed between 2017 and today in the area bordering the forest boundary. Fire managers, in collaboration with the North Carolina Forest Service, were able to take the opportunity to assess future wildfire mitigation needs and action plans for these communities. Any residents living near the forest boundary should be aware of Firewise planning around their homes. For more information and resources about Firewise visit www.resistwildfirenc.org.

Firefighters responded from the U.S. Forest Service, North Carolina Forest Service, McDowell County Emergency Management and the North Cove Volunteer Fire Department.

We would like to extend gratitude to all the firefighters who helped manage the fire and inform our local communities throughout the response, the release said.
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:

Walking in Territory summer heat can be dangerousfar better to nap or wait for better conditions. Credit: Shutterstock

When it's hot outside, it's safer to head for air-conditioned shelterright?

Not always.

In northern Australia's intensely hot climate, air conditioners were once luxury items. Houses were built to catch the breeze, and everything slowed down when the hot weather arrived. But over the last few decades, most people in hot cities like Darwin started spending much more time in air-conditioned comfort.

But our new research has found Territorians have become more likely to die from heat over the last 40 years, even as cooling has become more widely available. Why? If people spend all day in air conditioning set at 21, not only are they living more socially isolated and less active lives, but their bodies may not acclimatize to the heatand that can make them more vulnerable when they do emerge into a steamy wet season afternoon.

An even more interesting finding is that the Northern Territory's First Nations people are no more vulnerable to heat despite higher burdens of chronic disease, extreme poverty and very poor housing conditions for most. In many communities, air conditioning is expensive or unavailable.

How can that be? In part it is because First Nations people are protected by their culture, as co-author and Warumungu elder Norman Frank Jupurrurla knows firsthand. "When we look at the road crews working in 45 heat, we thinkwhy are you killing yourself for your job?" he says. "Why not stay in the shade, have a nap, and come out later?"

In countries such as Spain, the traditional siestaa similar cultural method of coping with heathas been all but extinguished because of the impact on the economy. But as the world grapples with ever-hotter temperatures, we may well need to relearn the art of the afternoon nap.

What's the risk of living in constant cooling?

The Northern Territory is one of the hottest places on Earth, compounded by intense coastal humidity during the October-to-April wet season.

Heat can kill quickly, especially if you have pre-existing health conditions. Many heat-related deaths come from heart attacks, as the heart has to work harder in intense heat. Others come from dehydration, renal disease and frailty. The impact of intense heat builds, as wellif you don't get a chance to cool down, you're more at risk.

This is one reason people in hot countries often take a nap or siesta. As the world heats up, even siesta skeptics such as Germany are rethinking their opposition. Siestas aren't about avoiding heat entirelythey're about getting out of direct sun and resting.

But what happens if you swap cultural practices of gentle heat exposure like the siesta for air-conditioned offices, cars and homes? You miss out on the physiological adaptations your body is capable of. It takes us around 15 days to acclimatize to a new heat regime.

The way we sweat, how our kidneys filter, even the way our hearts pump will change with acclimatization. Our bodies are capable of adapting to hotter weather, to a point. That's why Australia's athletes went to Darwin before the Tokyo Olympicto get ready for the to the humidity of the Japanese summer.

How can you tolerate life without cooling?

Co-author Norman Frank Jupurrurla lives in Tennant Creek, between Katherine and Alice Springs. In the wet season, it's stifling.

As he says, "During the day, it gets up to 45. You can't do anything when it's that hot. You'd never start walking or working outside. You want to do that, do it early in the morning or late in the afternoon or night. Otherwise you'll just kill yourself. In the heat, you have a napthat's the only thing you can do, in the shade. Roadworkers, fencers, workerswhen we see them working, it's like a machine that can't stop even if its destroying itself. Is it their job? The money? If you have to do it, do it before the sun. Or wait for a cooler season."

Climate change is making it hotter still: "It's getting warmer and warmer. We live here, we notice it. The weather is changing. My nanna, my grandfather, told us it was never this hot. We never felt the sun coming down like this."

Mr. Jupurrurla grew up on the town's outskirts, living in tin sheds. Only recently, at the age of 44, was he able to get decent housing. His upbringing would not have been possible now, as intensifying heat means informal housing is no longer safe. Even some formal housing isn't safe.

"Houses weren't built for the climate. They just burn [with heat]. We have to make them safer."

On especially hot days, traditional methods of coping reach their limits. There's nothing to do but to find a house with an air-conditioned room and stay in it. The problem is, it's very expensive.

Norman Frank Jupurrurla's experience is common. Houses in the Northern Territory have Australia's lowest energy efficiency despite being exposed to climate extremes.

What should we take from this?

Reducing physical exertion during the hottest part of the day is a powerful mechanism to protect your health. On days that don't involve extreme heat, siestas are free, carbon neutral and healthy. Policymakers need to engage with cultural adaptations like the siesta as tools to prepare for a hotter future, just as they are in Germany.

Just as important is making sure houses are built for their climate, as we are trying to do in Tennant Creek. Well insulated and well ventilated houses need much less air conditioning to remain comfortable and safeperfect for a nap.

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:

Clinical Characterization of Patients Seropositive for Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein (MOG) Immunoglobulin (Ig) A A, Frequency of disease manifestations for patients with isolated MOG-IgA and MOG-IgG. B, Frequency of positive and negative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)specific oligoclonal bands (OCBs) in MOG-IgA seropositive multiple sclerosis (MS) compared with seronegative MS. C, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of patients with MOG-IgA highlighting the following disease phenotypes: neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD, often presenting with myelitis), atypical MS (often presenting with periventricular lesions), and atypical demyelination (often associated with brainstem syndrome or with tumor-mimic/atypical demyelination). D, Clinical features frequently observed in isolated MOG-IgA seropositive central nervous system demyelination. Arrows indicate high and low frequencies. Credit: JAMA Neurology (2023). DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2023.2523

It has been known for several years that the diagnosis "multiple sclerosis" conceals a whole range of different illnesses, each requiring customized treatment. Researchers at the University of Basel and the University Hospital of Basel have now described a possible new MS-like disease and explained how to diagnose it.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by areas of inflammation in the central nervous system. The immune system attacks the body's own structures and destroys the covering of nerve cells, known as the myelin sheath. The picture research has painted of the illness is somewhat more complicated, however. It can cause a variety of neurological symptoms, like paresthesia and paralysis of the limbs, which progressively or abruptly worsen. Which parts of the nervous system are affected varies substantially between individuals.

A treatment may work for some patientsbut make the condition worse in others.

"There's a huge amount of diversity in how inflammatory autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system like multiple sclerosis present," explains Professor Anne-Katrin Probstel of the University of Basel and University Hospital Basel. Researchers have been gradually discovering the key distinctive features of "atypical" cases of MS for the past ten years.

A few of these autoimmune diseases have been given different names to better distinguish them from MS even though they also destroy the myelin sheath. Victims of these diseases often have inflammation in their spinal cords or optic nerves.

In a study of roughly 1,300 patients, Probstel's team has now discovered a biomarker that may make it possible to differentiate another MS-like illness from the others. The researchers have reported their findings in the journal JAMA Neurology.

Antibodies as biomarkers

The team discovered a specific antibody, a type of immunoglobulin A (IgA), in one group of patients. The antibody attacks a component of the myelin sheath called "MOG" (which stands for "myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein"). IgA antibodies are typically responsible for protecting mucous membranes.

The precise role of MOG-IgA in this autoimmune disease remains unclear, however. "Victims experience inflammation particularly in their spinal cords and brain stems," Probstel explains. This group of patients was missing other typical biomarkers related to MS or similar diseases.

Next, the researchers want to decipher the role of MOG-IgA and the clinical characteristics arising from it in more detail. "By distinguishing between myelin-destroying autoimmune diseases that were previously all called MS, we're taking an important step towards a better understanding of the causes of these illnesses and towards individualized treatments," says the neurologist. Ultimately, the researchers hope to discover what treatments are most effective under what conditions.

More information: Ana Beatriz Ayroza Galvao Ribeiro Gomes et al, Immunoglobulin A Antibodies Against Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein in a Subgroup of Patients With Central Nervous System Demyelination, JAMA Neurology (2023). DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2023.2523 Journal information: Archives of Neurology
From backpacks and fans to wind chimes, Zuo Yuwei can transform bamboo strips into a myriad of artworks with his magical hands.

Nestled in the Donglianhua Village of Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture in southwest China's Yunnan Province, Zuo's bamboo weaving workshop is a haven of creativity. His creations, ranging from durable everyday essentials to exquisitely patterned furniture adornments, entice a continuous flow of intrigued visitors.

"I can split bamboo into thin strips even with my eyes closed," said the 52-year-old Zuo, who has honed remarkable craftsmanship through decades of dedicated practice. With his hands extended, he proudly displayed the scars from countless cuts endured during his journey of mastery.

Born into a family of bamboo craftsmen, Zuo began learning bamboo weaving at the tender age of eight and eventually blossomed into a locally renowned artisan, celebrated for his remarkable skills.

In the 1980s, bamboo products were widely used by people across China as everyday objects. However, with the country's rapid industrialization, such products were gradually replaced by plastic items, forcing many craftsmen to abandon their bamboo craft and seek jobs in big cities.

Zuo was no exception. In the 1990s, he migrated to booming cities such as Shanghai and other places to pursue opportunities.

But, bamboo craft remained a nostalgic companion, occasionally tugging at his heartstrings. Whenever he saw handicrafts in art shops or passersby carrying bags he would find himself contemplating how to recreate those items using bamboo strips.

"The happiest thing in life is to do what you like," he said. Therefore, following two years of employment elsewhere, he returned to his native village and resumed his old profession. Blending modern elements with traditional artistry, he began crafting an array of items, including tea tables, fruit baskets, as well as calligraphy and painting scrolls using bamboo.

At the same time, Zuo realized that to develop the bamboo weaving industry, artisans must "huddle together for warmth." In 2010, he and five other craftsmen jointly established a bamboo craft cooperative, providing a unified sales channel for bamboo artisans and an integrated business model involving material preparation, production and sales. To date, the cooperative has involved 20 households in the village and attracted more than 50 apprentices from outside to come and learn the craft.

Embracing the surge of online shopping, Zuo adeptly ventured into selling the creations through social media platforms like WeChat and TikTok, and to his astonishment, the bamboo products garnered immense popularity, finding buyers across the country and even reaching international markets.

At present, the annual income for each member of the cooperative exceeds 100,000 yuan (about 13,900 U.S. dollars), while apprentices can earn over 80,000 yuan a year.

Zuo's bamboo creations have even attracted foreign guests to visit the store. He fondly remembers a student from an American university who purchased his handicrafts to showcase in the university's exhibition hall. "The works of a Chinese bamboo artisan in the depth of a mountain could go across the oceans and reach an American university. It is such an honor for me, and also a good thing for Chinese bamboo culture," Zuo said with pride.

To promote bamboo weaving art, he visits nearby schools from time to time and gifts his creations to the students.

Despite dedicating over 40 years to the art of bamboo craft, Zuo remains committed to daily practice, often extending well into midnight hours. "I find that I can create better products during the quietness of night when I am at peace," he said.

With deft fingers, Zuo skillfully demonstrated how to make a small basket. "The more you immerse yourself in bamboo weaving, the greater your sense of tranquility and composure grows," he said. "When I sit down to craft bamboo, I forget everything and get lost in the bamboo world."

Zuo Yuwei has a well-defined vision for his bamboo weaving career, placing paramount importance on innovation.

Last year, he made an attempt to incorporate traditional Chinese elements such as embroidery into his bamboo creations. "I designed that bag and it is particularly popular among customers," he said pointing at a bamboo bag.

Talking about his aspirations, Zuo said he hopes for the cooperative to continue expanding so it can "involve more people, particularly the elderly left behind in the village, and help them increase their income."
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Patient with Parkinsonian gait disturbances seeking brain stimulation to improve walking dynamics. A sinusoidal waveform was utilized to delivery electrical current on the cerebellum. The initiation of each current coincided with the moment of heel contact on the affected side during a self-paced four minutes gait. Credit: Ippei Nojima

Gait-related disturbances adversely affect the quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), a condition affecting millions worldwide. Although various pharmacological, surgical, and rehabilitative treatments exist, their effectiveness is limited. Now, a team of researchers from Japan has successfully addressed this limitation.

Using a novel neuromodulation approach that incorporates gait-combined closed-loop transcranial electrical stimulation, the team demonstrated significant gait improvements in patients with various neurological disorders including PD.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor function decline, particularly in relation to gait disorders. These gait disorders manifest as decreased step length, reduced arm swing, slow movements, rigidity, and postural instability, which are prevalent among patients with PD.

While non-pharmacological approaches like transcranial direct current stimulation show promise in improving motor function, recent research focuses on gait-combined closed-loop stimulation, which synchronizes brain stimulation with the individual's gait rhythm. A recent study published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry proposes a novel intervention for gait improvement, thus creating new hope for patients with PD.

"We recently developed a novel neuromodulation approach using gait-combined closed-loop transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) and demonstrated promising gait improvements in patients who are post-stroke. Here, we tested the efficacy of this intervention in patients with Parkinsonian gait disturbances," explains lead author Ippei Nojima from Shinshu University and Nagoya City University, Japan.

To this end, the clinical researchers from Japan recruited twenty-three patients with PD or Parkinson's syndrome. All study participants were randomly assigned to receive either the active treatment or a "sham" treatment that mimics the active treatment but does not offer any therapeutic benefit.

During the course of the trial, an electrode carrying a low current (up to 2 mA) was externally affixed to the occipital region of the head. A reference electrode was then placed in the neck region to establish a stable electrical reference point and to complete the electrical circuit. The treatment included performing tES on the cerebellum in a non-invasive manner. The brain side showing severe impact was specifically targeted during the electrotherapy.

"Gait disturbance lowers activities of daily living in patients with PD and related disorders. However, the effectiveness of pharmacological, surgical, and rehabilitative treatments is limited. Our novel intervention might be able to improve physical function for not just patients with PD but also for those with other disabilities," comments senior author Yoshino Ueki from the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Nagoya City University.

The cerebellum plays a key role in gate control. Therefore, the electrical stimulation of this region is likely to exert therapeutic benefits. The therapy showed encouraging results after just ten repetitions. The treatment group showed a significant improvement in gait parameters including speed, gait symmetry, and stride length.

Says Professor Nojima, "These findings showed that gait-combined closed-loop tES over the cerebellum improved Parkinsonian gait disturbances, possibly through the modulation of brain networks generating gait rhythms."

Interestingly, no patient dropped out during the study. Moreover, patients from both the groups (treatment and sham) showed good and comparable compliance. Side effects such as skin irritation, vertigo, or odd sensations/perceptions were also not observed in any of the volunteering patients. This study has special significance, considering the fact that Japan is witnessing a sharp rise in its elderly population.

"Patients with impacted gait have restricted daily activities. We successfully developed a new non-pharmacological and non-invasive intervention for the rehabilitation of patients with PD and other neurological disorders. Our breakthrough method could be used to restore gait in these patients," concludes Professor Ueki.

Although the study has certain limitations, it suggests that the personalized brain stimulation, synchronized with individual gait rhythm, can effectively enhance gait function in PD and has the potential to be used as an adjunct therapy for gait rehabilitation.

More information: Ippei Nojima et al, Gait-combined closed-loop brain stimulation can improve walking dynamics in Parkinsonian gait disturbances: a randomised-control trial, Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry (2023). DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2022-329966

Provided by Shinshu University
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A sign announcing a face mask requirement is displayed at a hospital in Buffalo Grove, Ill., Friday, Jan. 13, 2023. COVID-19 hospital admissions are inching upward in the United States since early July 2023. It's a small-scale echo of the three previous summers. Credit: AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Here we go again: COVID-19 hospital admissions have inched upward in the United States since early July in a small-scale echo of the three previous summers.

With an updated vaccine still months away, this summer bump in new hospitalizations might be concerning, but the number of patients is far lower than before. A look at what we know:

HOW BAD IS THE SPIKE?

For the week ending July 29, COVID-19 hospital admissions were at 9,056. That's an increase of about 12% from the previous week.

But it's a far cry from past peaks, like the 44,000 weekly hospital admissions in early January, the nearly 45,000 in late July 2022, or the 150,000 admissions during the omicron surge of January 2022.

"It is ticking up a little bit, but it's not something that we need to raise any alarm bells over," said Dr. David Dowdy, an infectious disease epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

It's likely that infections are rising too, but the data is scant. Federal authorities ended the public health emergency in May, so the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and many states no longer track the number of positive test results.

WHAT ABOUT DEATHS?

Since early June, about 500 to 600 people have died each week. The number of deaths appears to be stable this summer, although past increases in deaths have lagged behind hospitalizations.

HOW ARE WE TRACKING THE VIRUS?

The amount of the COVID-19 virus in sewage water has been rising since late June across the nation. In the coming weeks, health officials say they'll keep a close eye on wastewater levels as people return from summer travel and students go back to school.

Higher levels of COVID-19 in wastewater concentrations are being found in the Northeast and South, said Cristin Young, an epidemiologist at Biobot Analytics, the CDC's wastewater surveillance contractor.

"It's important to remember right now the concentrations are still fairly low," Young said, adding it's about 2.5 times lower than last summer.

And while one version of omicronEG.5is appearing more frequently, no particular variant of the virus is dominant. The variant has been dubbed "eris" but it's an unofficial nickname and scientists aren't using it.

"There are a couple that we're watching, but we're not seeing anything like delta or omicron," Young said, referencing variants that fueled previous surges.

And mutations in the virus don't necessarily make it more dangerous.

"Just because we have a new subvariant doesn't mean that we are destined to have an increase in bad outcomes," Dowdy said.

WHEN IS THE NEW VACCINE COMING?

This fall, officials expect to see updated COVID-19 vaccines that contain one version of the omicron strain, called XBB.1.5. It's an important change from today's combination shots, which mix the original coronavirus strain with last year's most common omicron variants.

It's not clear exactly when people can start rolling up their sleeves for what officials hope is an annual fall COVID-19 shot. Pfizer, Moderna and smaller manufacturer Novavax all are brewing doses of the XBB update but the Food and Drug Administration will have to sign off on each, and the CDC must then issue recommendations for their use.

Dr. Mandy Cohen, the new CDC director, said she expects people will get their COVID-19 shots where they get their flu shotsat pharmacies and at workrather than at dedicated locations that were set up early in the pandemic as part of the emergency response.

"This is going to be our first fall and winter season coming out of the public health emergency, and I think we are all recognizing that we are living with COVID, flu, and RSV," Cohen told The Associated Press last week. "But the good news is we have more tools than ever before."

 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Skin, the largest organ of the human body, is home to a vast array of bacteria, fungi, and virusesmicroorganisms that compose the skin microbiota. Among other things, these microbial populations, which are organized in complex community structures, protect against pathogens.

Prolonged exposure to UVR is associated with damage to DNA in skin cells, inflammation, and premature skin aging, yet intentional sun-seeking behaviors remain common.

Due to a lack of studies focusing on how individual behavior influences UVR-associated microbiota shifts, and how this may relate to skin health, researchers in the UK have now examined the effects of sun-seeking behaviors on the skin microbiota composition of holidaymakers.

"Here we show in a cohort of holidaymakers that their sun exposure behavior significantly affects the diversity and composition of their skin microbiota," said Dr. Abigail Langton, principal investigator at The University of Manchester and corresponding author of the study published in Frontiers in Aging.

"We have demonstrated that the development of a tan is associated with lower Proteobacteria abundance immediately post-holiday. However, the microbiota of all holidaymakers was recovered a few weeks after they stopped spending extended time periods in the sun."

Sun-seeking harms skin bacteria

Prior to vacations to sunny destinations, which lasted at least seven days, the researchers analyzed participants' skin. The skin microbiota is largely made up of three bacterial communities on the surface: Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Firmicutes. On day one, 28, and 84 post-holiday, participants' skin microbiota was assessed again.

Additionally, each holidaymaker was assigned a group based on individual tanning response. Eight out of 21 participants, who picked up a tan while on holiday, were deemed 'seekers.' The 'tanned' group was made up of seven individuals who already had a tan at departure and kept it throughout their holiday. These two groups were classified as 'sun-seekers.' The remaining six participants were deemed 'avoiders;' their skin tone was the same pre- and post-holiday.

"This study was performed in real-life holidaymakers and provides important insights into how sun exposure resulting in a tanning responseeven over a relatively short sunny periodcan lead to an acute reduction in Proteobacteria abundance, which decreased skin microbiota diversity," Dr. Thomas Willmott, the study's first author and researcher at the University of Manchester, explained.

Despite the rapid reduction of Proteobacteria and the accompanying shift in skin microbiota diversity, the bacterial community structure had recovered 28 days after individuals had returned from vacation. "This indicates that UV exposure on holiday has an acute effect on the skin microbiota, but recovery is relatively rapid once the person returns to a less sunny climate," Willmott continued.

Microbiota disturbance can cause health problems

"Proteobacteria dominate the skin microbiota. Accordingly, it is not surprising that there would be rapid recovery of the microbiota to re-establish optimal functioning conditions for the skin," Langton pointed out. The authors state that what might be more concerning is the rapid alteration of microbiota diversity, which has been linked to disease states.

A decrease in skin bacterial richness, for example, has been previously associated with dermatitis. Fluctuation in Proteobacteria diversity specifically has been associated with skin problems like eczema and psoriasis.

Future studies should examine why Proteobacteria seem to be particularly sensitive to UVR and how this change in diversity impacts skin health in the longer term, the researchers noted. "Ideally, such studies will aim to increase the number of participants to allow further insights," Langton said.

More information: Abigail Langton et al, Behaviour and Sun Exposure in holidaymakers Alters Skin Microbiota Composition and Diversity, Frontiers in Aging (2023). DOI: 10.3389/fragi.2023.1217635 , www.frontiersin.org/articles/1  gi.2023.1217635/full
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When a middle-aged man arrived at Margate's HCA Northwest Hospital emergency room with major muscle cramping from his feet to his shoulders. Dr. Craig Kushnir knew right away what was going on.

"He was dehydrated," the emergency room doctor said, adding that he has seen several patients with intense muscle cramping in the last few weeks as South Florida temperatures have climbed.

Doctors say all kinds of offbeat heat-related illnesses are cropping up from this summer's extreme heat and sending people to local emergency departments. While heat stroke is one of the most worrisome health risks, the health impacts of scorching temperatures can include anything from horrible anxiety dreams, to painful kidney stonesto people being burned just by falling on the ground.

Rashes and burns

At Cleveland Clinic Florida in Weston, Dr. Aisha Subhani, chair of the emergency department, has had patients arrive with ghastly rashes. "They don't understand why they are breaking out so badly and think they are having an allergic reaction to something," she said. "Most end up just being heat rashes."

Then there are the odd burns caused by the near-100-degree temperatures: Children who scorch their rear ends on the playground slide; the beachgoer who fries the bottom of his foot on the broiling sand; or the senior who falls and burns themself on the pavement.

In Florida, where falls are the leading reason people visit emergency rooms, it can take only minutes when bare skin hits the heated asphalt to cause dangerous injuries.

"The burns can be pretty serious," Subhani said.

Sunburns this summer also are intense. "You've got people who fall asleep on the beach, and wake up and they are toast with severe sunburns," she said. "We have to treat them like a burn patient."

Kidney stones

People in pain with kidney stones are frequent visitors to emergency departments this summer, too, doctors say.

Super-hot weather tends to trigger dehydration, which can lead to stone formation.

Dr. Raymond J. Leveillee, a urologist with the Center for Advanced Robotics and Urologic Care at Baptist Health Medical Group North, said Florida is a high-risk zone for kidney stones, particularly in the summer.

People don't drink enough fluid and get dehydrated, increasing the chance that crystals can form, Leveillee said. While Floridians outdoors lose fluids through sweating, those going into air conditioning are at risk too, he explains.

"In air conditioning, we can get dehydrated from water evaporating from our skin and not seeing it," he said. "It's important to keep your body temperature cooler, but also recognize even in the A/C you need to hydrate."

The amount of fluid each person needs to drink varies based on how much they sweat, he says. A good way to measure is that you should urinate about a half-gallon of liquid each day.

Some smaller stones can be flushed out by drinking lots more water or lemon-lime drinks.

Leveillee advises anyone with signs of stones, such as pain under their rib cage that comes and goes, or has blood in their urine, to go to a doctor. "If you are in agony, go to an ER."

Medication reactions

AARP has alerted its members that soaring temperatures put peopleespecially older adultsat risk for medication interactions. Certain medications reduce blood flow to the skin and interfere with your body's ability to cool itself down. That makes it harder for someone to handle the heat.

"This issue is particularly important for older people because they tend to be on more medications," said Kushnir at HCA Northwest Hospital. "If you feel weak and dizzy and are sweating like crazy, that can quickly progresses to heat stroke."

Heart medications, antidepressants, antipsychotics, ADHD medications, anticholinergics prescribed for Parkinson's disease and overactive bladder, antihistamines and decongestants can affect your heat tolerance.

Other medications can cause dehydration, and may make the skin more sensitive to the sun, raising the risk of a rash or sunburn.

Medicines that make your skin sensitive in the sun and put you at greater risk for sunburn-like symptoms are antibiotics, antifungals, statins and diabetes medications.

Gastrointestinal illness

In extreme heat, leaving food in the car or outside on a table can cause it to spoil much faster than people are used to, even in Florida. Subhani at Cleveland Clinic says she has treated patients who are vomiting or have severe diarrhea that they eventually trace back to spoiled food.

Preterm birth

Pregnant mothers need to be extremely careful with Florida having just closed out its hottest month on record.

A study of close to 14,500 births by researchers at the Kaiser Permanente found exposure to high temperatures, including in early stages of pregnancy, are associated with premature birth and stillbirth.

The study shows living with unusually warm temperature during weeks 1-7 and 15-21 in particular are associated with increased risk of pre-term birth and low birthweight.

In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found pregnant women are more likely to get heat exhaustion, heat stroke, or other heat-related illness sooner than non-pregnant women. When pregnant, women's bodies must work harder to cool themselves down as well the developing baby. Pregnant women also are more likely to become dehydrated.

The CDC warns pregnant women to limit outdoor activities and drink plenty of fluids.

Sleep issues

Sleep experts are seeing an increase in people with insomnia and anxiety dreams stemming from the record heat.

If someone's bedroom is too warm, natural temperature fluctuations in the brain and body can be affected, and not only can they have trouble falling asleep, but the hot air can interrupt their rest at various points throughout the night, said Dr. Jaime Tartar, research director with Nova Southeastern University's Department of Psychology and Neuroscience

"This is important because during REM sleep, we process our emotions, and interruptions to REM sleep can impair our daytime mood," Tartar said.

Climate also can affect how you dream, and what you remember.

When your body is hot, dreams can become more vivid, unpleasant and cause you stress long after you wake up. You may even wake up feeling more tired and stressed than you did when you fell asleep.

Tartar recommends keeping the bedroom dark and cool, at an ideal temperature of 65F.

Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are a risk, too.

Overall, emergency medicine doctors in South Florida say they are seeing patients with heat-related illnesses that could be prevented. "If you plan on hydrating once you start sweating, then it's too late," Kushnir says "You have to do it before."

2023 South Florida Sun Sentinel.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Infographic: Study calls for mental health support to reduce the risks of self-harm and suicide in autistic individuals. Credit: ICES

Autistic females (assigned sex at birth) have an 83% increased risk of self-harm leading to emergency health care relative to non-autistic people, according to a new study from ICES and the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).

Autistic males also had a 47% greater risk of self-harm events and had the highest incidence of suicide death compared to autistic females and non-autistic individuals.

The study, "Self-Harm Events and Suicide Deaths Among Autistic Individuals in Ontario, Canada," was published today in JAMA Network Open and is the first in Canada to explore suicide rates and self-harm events in autistic versus non-autistic individuals factoring sex, sociodemographic and clinical risk factors.

"The presence of psychiatric illnesses substantially accounts for these increased risks," says lead author Meng-Chuan Lai, staff psychiatrist and senior scientist at CAMH. "We know that many self-harm and suicide-related events could be prevented when people have access to tailored mental health supports and services, and this is crucial for autistic people."

The study included cohorts of 379,630 and 334,690 individuals in Ontario, Canada to understand the incidence of self-harm events and suicide death, respectively. Autistic and non-autistic individuals were followed for self-harm events that resulted in emergency care (from 2005 to 2020) and death by suicide (from 1993 to 2018).

Study findings show:

There were significantly more self-harm events leading to emergency health care in autistic compared to non-autistic people, across both males (47% increased risk) and females (83% increased risk), after adjusting for neighborhood income and urban/rural status, intellectual disabilities, and psychiatric diagnoses.

Although both autistic females and males showed higher incidence of suicide death than non-autistic females and males, these increased suicide death risks in both sexes were explained by the presence of psychiatric diagnoses.

"In my twenties, I accessed the emergency room a number of times seeking help for suicidal thoughts and ideations. During that time, I struggled with accessing mental health counseling and support in my city that didn't have at least a six-month-long waiting list or were affordable, and I waited a over a year to access a psychiatrist," says Megan Pilatzke, an advocate and autistic woman.

"This is a wake-up call," says Yona Lunsky, Adjunct Scientist at ICES and Director of the Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Center at CAMH. "As mental health providers, we need to do more in terms of mental health promotion, and we have to work together with autistic people and their families to make sure that timely mental health supports are accessible, and adapted to meet their needs."

"Autistic people are continually forced to mask and hide who we are to accommodate a world that generally does not accept our traits," says Megan. "I want people to understand that autistic people are struggling because our needs are just not being met throughout society."

"Our health care system should take a two-pronged approach to support autistic people," says Lai: "Enhancing access to mental health services, and autism-informed accommodations for those services. For example, we can support autistic individuals who come into the health care settings by offering calming spaces, providing maximal predictability possible, understanding their communication styles and preferences, meeting their sensory needs, and supporting them if they wish to come accompanied by a person they trust."

The CAMH Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Center offers resources and tools aimed at individuals, their families, and clinicians to support the mental health of autistic people.

One limitation of the study is that the number of autistic individuals may be underestimated, because individuals who had yet to receive a formal diagnosis, or whose diagnosis was made by private practice psychologists may not have been included. Autistic people could have been miscategorized in the non-autistic group, which would have underestimated suicide-related outcomes in the autistic group.

Finally, many self-harm events are not captured by health records, as individuals may not visit the emergency department for health care in these situations.

More information: Self-harm events and suicide deaths among autistic individuals in Ontario, Canada, JAMA Network Open (2023). Journal information: JAMA Network Open

Provided by Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences
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Karola Marky (left) and Rebecca Panskus interviewed people about the electronic patient record. RUB, MarquardThe image may only be used in the context of the press release "How do people really feel about electronic health records?" Credit: Ruhr-Universitaet-Bochum

In Germany, patients with statutory health insurance have had the option of using an electronic health record since January 2021. However, not many people have been taking advantage of it so far.

Researchers at Ruhr University Bochum, Leibniz University Hannover and CISPAHelmholtz Center for Information Security have conducted an interview study to show that there are many misunderstandings about the digital infrastructure on which the records are basedfor example, about who can view which data. Most importantly, people express skepticism about the role of health insurance companies.

Professor Karola Marky and Ph.D. student Rebecca Panskus of Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, presented their findings at the Symposium on Usable Privacy and Security in the US on 8 August 2023. They collaborated for the research with Professor Sascha Fahl of Leibniz University Hannover and CISPA, and Max Ninow from Hannover University.

"As far as the digital infrastructure of electronic health records is concerned, there is ample room for improvement," is the conclusion Karola Marky draws from the study. "For example, health insurance companies shouldn't be providing the apps used by policyholders to authorize access to their data. Plus, we need to educate people on the issuerather than relying solely on family doctors and pharmacies to do all the work."

Poor understanding of the digital infrastructure

In the first step of the study, the researchers asked 21 people with statutory health insurance to draw a picture of what they imagined the digital infrastructure behind the patient records to look like. They were given the following scenario to guide them: imagine you go to the doctor and want to grant them access to your patient file. What do you think the data flow would look like?

The respondents were given a set of printed icons they could use. They depicted, for example, a doctor, a smartphone, the health insurance company or a hospital. The set also included icons of facilities that aren't part of the digital infrastructure. The participants selected the icons they thought were relevant and sketched in the links between the selected elements by hand. At the same time, they were interviewed about their choices. None of the 21 subjects guessed the structure as it actually is. Moreover, no two individuals came up with anything like the same image.

The study revealed some misconceptions. For example, people assumed that all doctors' offices could automatically view the data in their records. In reality, however, the patients have to authorize access for doctors on an individual basisvia an app or using their health insurance card and a PIN.

Critical view of the role of health insurance companies

In the next step, the participants were presented with the actual digital infrastructure and asked which of its features they rated as positive and which as negative. Criticism was mainly directed at the role of the health insurance companies. A total of 85 health insurance companies currently provide their policyholders with apps that they can use to grant doctors' offices access or to edit their records, for example by deleting entries.

"There are legal regulations governing which data health insurance companies are allowed to view," explains Karola Marky. However, the fact that health insurance companies provide the apps suggests to many policyholders that the insurance companies can view more data with digital records than they can with non-digital records. The researchers didn't establish in this study whether this is actually the case. Still, "From a security perspective, it would be better to offer a single open-source app that all policyholders across Germany can use," points out Marky. "That would make people trust the app more, ensure a consistent security standard and reduce maintenance requirements."

The researchers also argue that there should be multiple options for accessing the file, for example via desktop applications, in order to make sure that people without a smartphone can use the services as well.

The ability to delete records, both a curse and a blessing

The fact that policyholders can delete entries from their records prompted mixed feelings among the respondents. On the one hand, they appreciated having control over their own data. On the other hand, they also saw potential for abuse: for example, someone could have the same medication prescribed by two doctors and delete the relevant information. For this reason, the German Medical Association already recommends that doctors' offices with access to electronic health records should automatically store a copy of the files locally.

Finally, the research team suggests that the electronic health record should be easily accessible in the event of a medical emergency, as patients themselves may not be able to provide access at that time.

More information: Privacy mental models of electronic health records: A German case study. www.usenix.org/conference/soup  presentation/panskus
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

An article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) highlights a case of lead toxicity from Ayurvedic medicines in a young woman, and the complexity in diagnosing the rare condition.

"Given that lead toxicity is uncommon and its presentation nonspecific, patients are often seen by many health care providers before the diagnosis is made," writes Dr. Julian Gitelman, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, with co-authors. "A careful exposure history is essential to suggest the diagnosis."

The patient, a 39-year-old woman, visited the emergency department 3 times in 6 weeks for abdominal pain, constipation, nausea and vomiting. On her third visit, she was admitted to hospital for anemia and possible gastrointestinal bleeding. Numerous, invasive investigations failed to reveal a cause of her symptoms. At a follow-up visit weeks later, she reported having taken Ayurvedic medicines daily for more than a year to treat infertility. Her blood lead level was high at 55 g/dL, compared with a normal level of less than 2 g/dL. The patient stopped taking the Ayurvedic treatments and began chelation therapy. Her blood lead level decreased and her symptoms resolved.

Once the diagnosis of lead toxicity was made, the medical team contacted Public Health Ontario (PHO), which tested 17 different pill samples provided by the patient. After testing revealed high levels of lead in most of the pills, PHO involved the local public health unit, Toronto Public Health, and Health Canada, as it regulates natural health products. A joint investigation of the Ayurvedic clinic resulted in the seizure of hundreds of pills due to noncompliance with the Natural Health Products Regulations. Both Health Canada and Toronto Public Health issued public advisories to warn people that the products from this specific business were health hazards.

The authors emphasize the importance of communication and collaboration between clinicians and public health to minimize the health risk of lead in consumer products. "A recent systematic review of case reports on lead poisoning found traditional or herbal medications to be a common cause." the authors write. "Heavy metals are sometimes intentionally added for their perceived healing properties."

"When consumer products may be contaminated with lead, or when lead exposure is linked to sources in the community, involving public health can facilitate broader actions to reduce and prevent exposures to other people at risk," they conclude.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Price increases were the largest source of spending per visit in emergency rooms over the past decade in four of five states studied, according to a new report from researchers at Rice University and UTHealth Houston School of Public Health.

"Price increases versus upcoding as drivers of emergency department spending increases, 201219" was published today in Health Affairs. In the study, the authors analyzed more than 3 million emergency room visits and resulting insurance claims from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association to better understand the growing costs of health care, particularly visits to the emergency room.

"Americans are feeling increasingly vulnerable to the rising costs of health care, particularly when it comes to ER visits," said Vivian Ho, the James A. Baker III Institute Chair in Health Economics, a professor in the Rice Department of Economics and the study's lead author. "However, it has been difficult to analyze the underlying reasons for these rising costs."

Ho said that health care facilities defend rising costs, arguing that ER patients have more complex and severe illnesses and injuries. Insurers counter that hospitals are engaging in upcoding, which occurs when a provider or facility submits billing codes for more severe and expensive diagnoses or procedures than those actually observed in, or provided to the patient. Meanwhile, other research suggests that most increases in health care spending are due to price increases in health care services and drugs.

The researchers found that price increases accounted for 51%, 70%, 57% and 79% of ER spending for Colorado, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas, respectively. In contrast, upcoding represented 30%, 23%, 8% and 16% of these states' increases in spending per visit.

In Massachusetts, price increases accounted for just 26% of the increase in average spending per visit, while upcoding accounted for 49%. However, spending per ER visit only rose $228 in Massachusetts between 2012 and 2019, whereas average spending increases for the other states ranged from $703 to $976. Massachusetts' Health Policy Commission conducts detailed cost benchmarking, which may have restrained price growth.

"We suspected upcoding and price increases were both important sources of rising costs for patients, but we were surprised by how much more dramatically price increases explained cost growth," said co-author Heidi Russell, a professor of management, policy and community health from UTHealth Houston School of Public Health.

"Other research suggests that health system consolidation has increased hospitals' negotiating power with insurers, which may explain these significant price rises," Ho said. "Next, we need to identify which provider types are most closely related to the largest price increases and upcoding. Knowing which of these are responsible for cost increases and why is crucial for formulating strategies for payers and policymakers to restrain spending growth."

More information: Vivian Ho et al, Price Increases Versus Upcoding As Drivers Of Emergency Department Spending Increases, 201219, Health Affairs (2023). DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2022.01287 Journal information: Health Affairs
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Sub-Saharan Africa is the region with the highest prevalence of sickle cell disease. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Sickle cell disease refers to a group of inherited blood disorders with symptoms like anemia and blocked blood vessels. About 80% of the world's sickle cell disease cases occur in sub-Saharan Africa. Lack of access to comprehensive health care in the region adds to the burden of the disease.

Nigeria has the largest population of individuals with the condition globally. Reports indicate that about 25% of Nigerians carry the gene that causes it and 2% to 3% of the population suffer from sickle cell disease.

The mortality rate for children ranges from 50% to 80%. Clinical presentations vary among sickle cell patients. Some include leg ulcers, fatigue, dizziness and end organ damage.

My team and I at Nigeria's National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development undertook a critical review to investigate the challenges associated with sickle cell disease in sub-Saharan Africa.

We urge governments and relevant stakeholders in this region to prioritize policies that can underpin effective management of the disease. We recommend implementing relevant strategies that will reduce the burden while targeting total elimination. These include counseling about how genetic conditions might affect a family. We propose premarital genotype screening and comprehensive health insurance coverage for all sickle cell disease patients.

Gaps in the management of sickle cell disease

Our review focused on publications in English language journals between 2003 and 2021. The review provided insight on relevant medical interventions and helped to identify prospects for overcoming the burden of sickle cell disease.

We found that most of the studies in this area were undertaken in the West African region.

Some centered on hydroxyurea in the management of the condition. This drug treats anemia by helping to prevent the formation of sickle-shaped red blood cells. It has contributed towards reducing the burden of the disease globally. Furthermore, it was observed that the drug has robust efficacy and safety in the treatment of children with sickle cell anemia.

Niprisan has also proven to be effective in the management of sickle cell disease. This intervention is classified as a phytomedicine, which refers to medicines derived from plants in their original state. Developed by Nigeria's National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, it contributed towards reducing the number of hospital admissions among patients.

A review of 55 publications found that access to comprehensive management of sickle cell disease was lacking. Specific interventions such as neonatal screening, early diagnosis and preventive penicillin therapy (an important part of infection prevention in sickle cell disease) were not readily available in countries like Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A lack of adequate knowledge about sickle cell disease in countries like Nigeria, DR Congo, Cameroon and Nigeria contributed to the high prevalence of the condition. A more informed populace will reduce the disease burden. Similarly, poor prioritization of premarital genetic counseling and screening severely limited its utility in the prevention of the condition. In countries like Cyprus, Greece and Italy, premarital genetic testing is standard practice. However, in most of the reviewed countries, most couples were not aware of genetic counseling. Others did not know the location of facilities which offered the service.

Sickle cell related interventions are expensive. It exposes families to financial hardships as most have to seek loans to pay hospital bills and other health care costs. In Nigeria for example, the findings of a study showed that few participants (7.2%) were enrolled in the National Health Insurance Scheme. Monthly household income ranged from 12,500 (US$27.15) to 330,000 ($716.64), while health expenditure was between 2500 ($5.43) and 215,000 ($466.90). Kenya also has similar examples. Health insurance can be an invaluable tool that can help ease the financial burden associated with the management of sickle cell disease.

Saving West African lives

There is a need to increase public awareness regarding sickle cell disease. This will correct some of the negative attitudes and wrong practices such as disregard for sickle cell screening prior to marriages, as well as a willingness to marry among individuals with genotype incompatibility. Campaigns should be targeted at correcting misconceptions that the disease is a death warrant and contagious.

People should know it is possible to live a long life with proper health care after diagnosis.

Campaigns aimed at improving relevant knowledge, alongside pre-marital screening and counseling, could significantly reduce the prevalence of the disease in West Africa. One idea could be to use public figures such as musicians, actors and social media celebrities in public awareness campaigns.

Countries with a high burden like Nigeria also need:

adequately equipped and revitalized health facilities

regular training of health care practitioners

comprehensive health insurance coverage for all sickle cell disease patients

higher prioritization as well as increased investment in research and development.

Given the high prevalence of sickle cell disease in the region, the continent should lead initiatives to end the disease. New multidisciplinary programs for affected populations need to be considered. Strategies to prevent, reduce, eliminate and manage the disease have to be integrated and pursued aggressively.

A fresh approach needs to harness political will with science-led interventions. Collaboration with private sector entities, development partners and philanthropists must be improved and embedded in strategies. Funding for research and other evidence-based interventions is abysmalresources must be mobilized to these areas.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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